The Valley Sentinel_December 2011

Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.390 Diablo Road, Ste. 145Danville, CA 94526925-820-6047

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Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

VOL 16, NO 12 December 2011 SEVENTY-FIVE CENTSalways for the community valleysentinel.com SENTINELTHE ALLEYV

SPOTLIGHT

Special Sections inside...

Find out what’s new in the Valley at

Activities • Businesses • Seniors • Education • Sports and more...www.valleysentinel.com

Holiday Giving page 7

Senior Living page 10

See CHIEFpage 5

On Thursday, November 17, 2011, at 2:25 p.m., students dropped their backpacks at the door, streaming into the multi-purpose room at Los Cerros Middle School to put the finishing touches on a community service project two months in the making. Robin Greenblatt, Basket Brigade Chairman, has coordinated the project for the past three years, but the project is a Los Cerros tradition in its seventeenth year. As a result of “Basket Brigade,” 350 families receive a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including canned goods, fresh produce, pantry items and a Safeway gift card to cover the

Basket Brigade: Reaching Families in Need for the 17th YearBy Tari Perdue, Teacher at Los Cerros Middle School

cost of a turkey, all lovingly packed in a brand new laundry basket, thanks to the many hands that get involved. To personalize the gift even further, each basket includes a toiletry gift bag, a loaf of homemade pumpkin bread, and a handmade Thanksgiving greeting card.

I t t akes a conce r t ed effort of many caring people to make “Basket Brigade” poss ib le, f rom s tudents, t h e i r p a re n t s , a n d L o s Cerros staff to community members and ded i ca t ed volunteers, all looking outside of themselves to make a d i f f e rence. The Produce

Exchange, Las Trampas, Inc., Rudney Associates, Safeway, Draeger’s, and Watchismo.com all give generously to the project. Students at Los Cerros carefully create each of the cards that go into the baskets and are also responsible for the canned food drive that provides the staples for each one. Finally, hands of parent volunteers bake and wrap homemade pumpkin loaves for each recipient.

Al l o f the e f for t and materials are organized by Robin Greenblatt. Like an orchestra conductor, she made music the event all

came together and volunteers in assembly line fashion, within a thirty-minute time frame, filled 350 baskets. Friday, a caravan of thirty-eight SUV’s lined up in front of Los Cerros to deliver the baskets to nine dif ferent organizations in Alameda and Contra Costa counties so that 350 families will know that there are people out there that still care. This is Robin’s last year to chair the project, but she is already training new volunteers to coordinate the event so the tradition of giving and community service will continue in Danville at Los Cerros!

The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is proud to announce that Fire Chief Richard Price has been selected by the American Heart Association as the 2012 “Heart of Gold” honoree. The Heart of Gold Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the advancement of cardiovascular disease protection and has enhanced the welfare of the Greater Bay Area community.

In January 2011 the San Ramon Valley Fire District, led by Fire Chief Richard Price, released an innovative new location-aware mobile phone application that empowers everyday citizens to provide life-saving assistance to victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Application users who have indicated they are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can now be notifi ed if someone nearby is having a cardiac emergency and

San Ramon Valley Fire Chief Richard Price Named 2012 American Heart Association Heart of Gold Honoree

For the best in local restaurants read our newest publication,

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Robin Greenblatt, Basket Brigade Chairperson, at Los Cerros MiddleSchool stands amid the completed baskets, surrounded by students who helped collect the goods and pack them all. This is the 17th year that students at Los Cerros have worked to provide needy families for Thanksgiving. Photo by Wayne Francis

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • dining out • music • art • theater • fun eventspage 2 valleysentinel.com

December 2011

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Open daily from November 11-January 16 at Civic Park

Children’s Winter Festival Saturday, November 12 from 11am-2pm.

Skating, face painters, balloon makers, ice sculpture, photos, live music, food, drinks & much more!

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Now - Dec. 31 The Winter Wonderettes

Join the Wonderettes as they entertain at the 1968 Holiday Party for Harper’s Hardware. Full of humor and classic melodies. Campbell Theatre, 636 Ward Street, Ma r t i nez . I n f o rma t i on , t ickets and show t imes: 798-1300.

December 3-17 Home for the Holidays – A Musical Review

Let us lift up our Christmas spirit with music and a story that will bring laughter and touch your heart. Meet the Natale family and friends who drop by to bring good cheer and a variety of entertainment for the family and for you. Front Row Theater, San Ramon. Information: www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/default.htm.

December 8-18A Christmas Carol

Brimming with music and dance, love and laughter, spectacular special effects and scary ghosts, it’s no wonder the critics have called it “THE Christmas Carol to see in the Bay Area.” Join the thousands who make this theatrical event part of their annual holiday traditions. Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. Information: www.lesherartscenter.org.

December 13Fratello Marionettes presents “Vaudeville Follies”

4:00pm. Come get the feeling of an old-time music hall with this variety show.

Vaudeville Follies performers include Puddles the Dog, Crepe Suzette the ballerina chicken and Pierrot who has a clever trick for you! You’ll enjoy this imaginative performance by the Fratello Marionettes. Fun for the whole family. Danville Library. Information: ccclib.org/locations/danville.html.

December 14-15 M o n t e V i s t a C h o r a l Department presents the Winter Concert

7:00pm. These concerts

feature the complete Monte Vista choir groups, with the traditional singing of Carol of the Bells, Silent Night by current students and alumni as well as the ever-festive Jingle Bells by current and alumni Beautyshop. Al Gentile Theatre at Monte Vista High School in Danville. Tickets will be available at www.mvchoir.org (email–[email protected]) from December 5 through December 12.

December 15-16 Civic Arts Education’s Youth Theatre Company presents “A Year with Frog and Toad”

7:00pm. Arnold Lobel’s characters hop from the page to the stage in Robert and Willie Reale’s musical version of the show. True to the original story, it follows the cheerful, popular Frog and the grumpy Toad through four fun-fi lled seasons as they learn important life lessons, including the values of friendship and individuality. Shadelands Audi tor ium, Walnut Creek. Information: www.youththeatrecompany.org, tickets at 925-943-5846.

December 15-19Thirteen Days of Christmas Annua l Ho l i day show presented by the Peter Pan Foundation.

When the town of Evergreen is beset by a blackout, missing tree ornaments, and arguments over the disappearance of favorite toys, the community bands together to restore peace and holiday cheer. Tuneful, funny, and family-friendly all the way. Directed by Leslie Noel. Del Valle Theatre, Walnut Creek. Information: www.lesherartscenter.org.

December 18 Handel ’s “S ing-a - long” Messiah

7:00pm. The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra presents one of the best Messiah Sing-A-Longs in the Bay Area! Four soloists will perform with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Tim Smith. The chorus is made up of those in the audience who wish to add their voices to the inspiring strains of George F. Handel’s most festive of oratories-The Messiah. San Ramon Presbyterian Church. Tickets are available at the performance.

December 19A Chanticleer Christmas

7:30pm. “A Chanticleer Christmas” continues a beloved local tradition as this Grammy Award-winning group of 12 crystalline voices returns to

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• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • dining out • music • art • theater • fun eventsvalleysentinel.com page 3

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the Bankhead Theater with their holiday program of music, from Gregorian chant to modern works and classic carols. Chanticleer’s unique blend of voices will ring in the holiday season with a delightful evening of profound, peaceful and joyous music. $39/$51/$62/$14 students. Bankhead Theater, Livermore. For tickets call 925-373-6800 or www.bankheadtheater.org.

December 19-22Bay Area Children’s Theatre presents “Rudolph the Ugly Duckling and Other Cracked Up Holiday Tales”

Unwrap a gift and you never know what you will find in this zany, fast-paced version of all your favorite holiday tales scrambled up and twisted around. With the audience deciding the order of the show,

it is never the same twice. Bay Area Children’s Theatre - Shows for the whole family by professional adult actors. Front Row Theater, San Ramon. Information: bactheatre.org.

December 20-21Lareen Fender’s The Ballet Joyeux presents “Once Upon a Christmas”

A delightful a n d colorfully n a r ra t e d h o l i d a y ballet that features Santa, his Elves and all the Toys in the Workshop. ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS is a family friendly holiday tradition allows audience members of all ages to pass across the threshold of make-believe into a world where dreams can and do come true by learning to first believe in oneself. Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek. Information: www.lesherartscenter.org.

December 22-25 “Twas the Night”

Delight in a warm and intimate program, and sing along with your favorite holiday tunes, all performed

by members of the Symphony’s brass section and singers from the SFS Chorus, and accompanied by the gorgeous Ruffatti organ. Create loving memories with your family that will last a l ifetime. Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. Information: www.sfsymphony.org.

December 31 New Year’s Eve with Flash Cadillac

8:00pm. The Bankhead’s annual New Year ’s Eve celebration starts the minute Flash Cadillac hits the stage with everyone’s favorite tunes from the 1950s and 1960s. They played on American Bandstand, appeared on the television show Happy Days, and were featured in American Graffiti. These guys have been entertaining for more than 40 years...they know how to get the party going! Bankhead Theater, Livermore. For tickets call 925-373-6800 or www.bankheadtheater.org.

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Showing of “Temple Grandin” To Benefit Women’s Education, ResearchBy Staff Writer

The San Ramon Branch of the American Association of University Women presents its third annual Celebration of Women in Film on Saturday evening, January 21, 2012, with a showing and discussion of the HBO film Temple Grandin. Proceeds from the event, which will be held at the Front Row Theater, Dougherty Station Community Center, San Ramon, will go to AAUW funds that support women seeking fellowships and grants to further their education and research.

The winner of 7 Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award, the film stars Claire Danes in a riveting portrayal of a young woman whose struggles against sexism are compounded by a brain disorder – autism – that is misunderstood to this day. As Grandin has said herself, she sees and experiences life differently, and her differences made her subject to bullying in school and being discounted by most of her teachers.

“If anyone exemplifies our AAUW theme of ‘breaking through barriers’ it is Temple

Grandin,” said Janice Colby, chair of the film committee, “because she turned her differences into a gift. This is a film that will appeal to a broad audience. Temple’s ordeals and triumphs will make you cry and laugh, feel extremely inspired, and very fortunate.”

Today, Temple Grandin is a professor at Colorado State University, renowned for her contributions to animal science, for sweeping changes in the humane treatment of cattle raised for human consumption, and equally for her advocacy for individuals – and their families – who face the challenges of living with autism.

Tickets are $25, with minimal processing fees for tickets purchased online or mailed, and are tax-deductible. To purchase tickets, call (925) 973-3343 or go to www.sanramon.ca.gov/parks/theater/default.htm. The Front Row Theater is located at 17011 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. Seating is limited. Refreshments will be served at the intermission.

The Valley SenTinel December 2011 valleysentinel.com

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Back Pain getting on your nerves? Exploring Class IV Laser Pain Relief for Low Back and Pain and SciaticaBy Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

Advertorial

The condition known as Sciatica is one of the most common conditions that we treat at Align Healing Center. Some of the common symptoms of Sciatica are sharp pain in the low-back and/or buttocks accompanied by numbness, tingling, and aching or burning in the back of the legs. In severe circumstances, weakness in the legs may also be seen.

The Sciatic Nerve is large and travels down the back of the leg to the foot. The nerve is buried deep within the muscles of the buttock and leg making it difficult to treat with common physical therapy methods. The Sciatic Nerve is composed of several smaller nerves and originates

from the low back. It passes under the piriformis muscle (underneath the main buttock muscles) on its way down the leg. Irritation of the Sciatic Nerve at any point along its path is commonly known as “Sciatica”.

Understanding SciaticaLet’s talk about nerves

for a moment. Nerves are the electrical wiring of the human body. They carry the signals that allow us to move, feel, digest, detoxify, respond to our environment, and so much more. Plain and simple, if the nerves do not work the body will not work. That being said, it is important to understand that unlike other tissues, the primary blood supply to nerve tissue is actually located WITHIN the nerve itself. So, if a nerve becomes impinged or

compromised, so does the blood supply to the nerve. Without proper blood supply, the nerve does not receive the energy and nutrition that are needed for the nerve to heal itself. Over time neural impingement leads to a painful chronic condition called Neuropathy. The definition of neuropathy is a disease or injury affecting nerve cells. The common symptoms of Neuropathy include sharp pain, burning, muscular weakness, numbness or tingling either at the site of the nerve injury or wherever the nerve travels. The condition known as Sciatica is a form of Neuropathy that specifically affects the Sciatic Nerve.

How can Class IV laser help my Sciatica?

For the past eleven years Align Healing Center has been offering many different modalities to reverse Sciatic Neuropathy. In 2009 we began using Class IV Laser Therapy and the results have been outstanding! Class IV Laser Therapy allows the practitioner to stimulate healing within the nerve tissue by delivering the necessary energy directly to the injured area. During each painless t rea tment l a se r ene rgy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen, and nutrients to the damaged area. Laser therapy is a photochemical process that is able to bypass

the arterial “highway” that was damaged as a result of the initial injury. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level and metabolic activity increases within the cell, improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA has been active in natural health & wellness since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

During the holidays we often think of helping others and expressing gratitude for our many blessings. For me, the East Bay Regional Park District is one of the greatest blessings in our community, and so are the thousands of volunteers who help the parks every day in many ways. Something truly special happens when you share yourself with others.

This year, nearly 13,000 volunteers gave over 125,000 hours of their time to park projects and programs. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, ranging from one-day events to ongoing programs.

T h e Pa r k D i s t r i c t part ic ipates annual ly in

‘Tis the Season for VolunteeringBy Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Park District Board Member

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service in January; Earth Day events in April; and California and National Trail Days in June, where hundreds of volunteers pitch in to keep our shorelines clean and improve our trails.

Addit ional volunteer opportunities in the parks include working on habitat restorat ion for wi ldl i fe, resource protection for native plants, and maintaining and repairing trails and parkland facilities. We also have docent training programs at all of our visitor centers that include working alongside naturalists to provide hands-on learning opportunities to students and visitors.

Tw o v e r y p o p u l a r volunteer programs for active park users are the Volunteer Trail Safety Patrol and the Regional Parks Ambassadors. Volunteer Trail Safety Patrol members assist park users

with trail safety, etiquette and directions. You’ll find these friendly folks on the trails either hiking, or on horseback or bike. There is also a companion dog program, and some members of the Safety Patrol groups a l so pa r t i c ipa te in the District’s Search and Rescue unit.

The Ambassador program is geared to those who like to attend events and talk about the Regional Parks with the public. After a one-day training, Regional Parks Ambassadors can sign up to accompany park staff or other ambassadors to fairs, park dedications, festivals and other community events. This program is a wonderful opportunity to engage in your community.

Volunteers of all ages have something to offer and are welcome. Projects can be tailored for school groups, i n d i v i d u a l s , s t u d e n t s , corporate groups, Scout groups, service clubs, and Eagle Scouts.

For information, e-mail v o l u n t e e r s @ e b p a r k s .o rg , ca l l t he vo lun tee r c o o r d i n a t o r a t ( 510 ) 544-2515, or visit www.ebparks.org/getinvolved/volunteer.

In this holiday season, consider giving a gift of your time and talent as a volunteer in the East Bay Regional Parks.

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Misconceptions About Radiation Treatment For CancerBy Gautam Prasad, M.D., Ph.D.

Advertorial

Recently, there has been some negative press about the dangers of radiation. But the beneficial effects of radiation are not often publicized. For instance, did you know that radiation has been used to treat cancer for over a century? During that time, the field of Radiation Oncology (using radiation to treat cancer) has constantly evolved with better technology, techniques and training that have increased efficacy and dramatically decreased side effects.

Radiation has been proven to increase patient survival in a variety of different cancers including cancers of the breast, brain, lung, cervix, prostate, and many others. Despite these

facts, many of my patients are apprehensive about their radiation treatments. However, after a thorough discussion with me they are quite relieved that what they heard or read is exaggerated. Below, I’ve tried to address some frequently expressed concerns:

Will my skin be burned by radiation?

N o . W i t h m o d e r n technology, we now utilize high-energy x-rays which actually spare the skin.

Will I be radioactive?No. The radiation is

only “on” during your actual treatment. Once you leave the treatment room, you may freely interact with your family and friends without worrying about the risk of spreading radiation.

Will I lose all my hair?No. Except for rare cases,

where the whole brain needs to be treated, you will not lose your hair.

W hy d o r a d i a t i o n treatments sometimes last for weeks?

We do this to help minimize side effects. Radiation, when given in low doses over weeks, kills cancer cells very well. At the same time, giving radiation in low doses helps the rest of your body heal between treatments.

What is radiosurgery? Does it involve cutting?

There i s no cut t ing involved in radiosurgery. Instead, radiosurgery uses very focused radiation and can shorten treatment to 1 to 5 days. Radiosurgery is possible when you have a small cancer where only a small area needs to be treated. Early stage lung cancers, for instance, may be treated this way.

Who is involved in my radiation treatments?

S i n c e r a d i a t i o n treatments are so complex and sophisticated, we need

a highly skil led team of specialists. The Radiation Oncologist is the “captain” of the team. He or she is a medical doctor with at least five years of specialty training after medical school. The Radiation Physicist oversees the radiation planning process and also performs important quality assurance to ensure the machines are working pe r f e c t l y. Dos ime t r i s t s help the doctor plan each treatment using a complex

arrangement of radiation beams. Therapists operate the machine and position the patient for treatment each day. Nurses meet with patients often to see how they are doing and help manage side effects. Dr. Gautam Prasad is a R a d i a t i o n O n c o l o g i s t with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com.

may require CPR.If the cardiac emergency

is in a public place, the application, using sophisticated location-based services, will alert citizens in the vicinity of the need for CPR. The application also directs these citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest public access Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Since its release earlier this year the application has received worldwide attention and acclaim.

“Each year, we search for an individual who stands out in the fight against cardiovascular disease and stroke to honor with our Heart of Gold award,” said Jill DiGiacomo, Executive Director of the American Heart Association’s Greater Bay Area Division. “Our hats are off to Chief Price for developing this cutting-edge and innovative technology.”

“A phone app that alerts CPR-trained citizens to respond to an emergency will literally save lives. For the American Heart Association, it doesn’t get any better than that. We applaud Chief Price and look forward to honoring him at our Heart of Gold Ball on June 2 at Livermore’s Wente Vineyards.”

A 32-year veteran of the Fire Service, Chief Price joined the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in 2006 as the Assistant Fire Chief of Operations and was named Fire Chief in 2008. Price is also the President of the

PulsePoint Foundation. Price holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University Hayward. He is a California State Certified Fire Chief and is an internationally certified Chief Fire Officer. In 2009 Price completed the four year Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. Price is a graduate of the Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at the Kennedy School of Government and the Strategic Management of Public Organizations Program at the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. In 2011 Price graduated from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Executive Leaders Program at the Naval Postgraduate School.

“I am extremely honored to receive this level of recognition from the American Heart Association,” said Chief Price. “I’m also very excited to be in a position to enable citizen superheroes by extending the reach of the CPR/AED mobile application worldwide through the PulsePoint Foundation.”

“Every day nearly 1,000 people die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the U.S. alone – one every two minutes,” continued Price. “I believe this app can significantly improve that outcome through increased citizen engagement and awareness.”

The Heart of Gold Ball raises funds that support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier

lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Money raised at the gala pays for re s e a rch , d eve l opmen t programs and community outreach efforts.

About the DistrictThe San Ramon Valley

Fire Protection District is an internationally-accredited special district that provides fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the communi t ies o f Alamo, Blackhawk, the Town of Danville, Diablo, the City of San Ramon, the southern area of Morgan Territory and the Tassajara Valley, in Northern California (Contra Costa County). The District’s service area encompasses approximately 155 square miles and serves a population of 170,000.

About the American Heart Association

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 950,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2008–09 the association invested $525 million in research, profess ional and publ ic education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit www.heart.org.

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At Danvil le’s annual Community Service awards Ceremony on December 6th, Awards were given to the following recipients for their dedicated service to the community:

Volunteers of the Year Parks & Leisure Services

Commission Volunteer of the Year Award to Amelia and Heidi Abramson for their work on proposing and developing plans for the Bounty Garden at Hap Magee Ranch Park.

A r t s C o m m i s s i o n Volunteer of the Year Award to Stephen Rodriguez for years of helping to coordinate the Art in the Park festival for the Alamo Danville Artists’ Society.

Volunteer of the Year Award to Harry and Barbara Hubinger for their countless hours of dedication and volunteering for the Danville Police Department.

Service Awards:Four Years of Service

The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 27th Annual Night of the Stars Community Awards was held on December 8th at the Bridges at Gale Ranch.

San Ramon Chamber award Recipients honoredBy Staff Writer “The community awards

recognize individuals from San Ramon who strive to make a difference,” said Award Chairperson Terence N. Church, J.D., partner, Brown, Church and Gee, LLP.

The San Ramon Chamber presented six awards. The recipients this year were: Citizen of the Year: Shirley Ernest; Business Person of the Year: Steve Wilcox – Summit Financial; Educator of the Year: Christy Tyler – science teacher at Gale

Ra n c h M i d d l e S c h o o l ; Employee of the Year: Kari Gardella – ClubSport San Ramon; Green Company of the Year: Food Service Technology Center. The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the Year award went to Nancy Bambino.

Town of Danville honors Community Service By Staff Writer to Patricia Dobbin (Heritage

Resource Commission), and J o L o e c h e r ( A r t s

Commission )Eight Years of Service

to Candace Andersen (Town Council) and Kent Rezowalli (Parks and Leisure Services Commission)

Twelve Years of Service to Randy Haberl (Heritage Resource Commission)

Twenty Years of Service to Mike Doyle (Town Council)

Awards of Merit:S a n R a m o n Va l l e y

United Methodist Church, for organizing the “Mission Saturday” event, volunteering their time with non-profits in the Tri-Valley area, and deepening their commitment to serve others.

Al issa Anderegg, for raising the awareness of Alzheimer’s disease in the community.

Landon Gervase Mello, for his fundraising efforts for the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park.

Village Theatre Art Gallery – Curatorial Committee, (Constance Anderson, Arthur King, June Krug, Tricia Grame) for providing guidance and direction to the Village Theatre Art Gallery.

Je f f Phe lps, fo r h i s service to the Danville Police Department and the Danville community.

Sagan Richardson, for the “haunted house” fundraiser benefitting local schools.

Barbara Farmer, fo r enhancing the arts in the Danville community.

Michael K. Shimanski Community Service Award: presentation by the Shimansky family to: Turner Stanton, for dedicating his time serving as Youth Representat ive on the Danville Parks and Leisure Services Commission; assisting the SRV Community Resource Network in planning a community-wide event dedicated to educating parents, you th , and communi ty leaders about identifying and preventing cyber bullying; and, volunteering at the 2011 summer car shows.

The Danville Award to Exchange Club of the San Ramon Valley, for their tireless work of providing living American history education and scholarships for youth in the San Ramon Valley; for presentations of historical documents, youth debate forums about current issues, “living history” discussions led by veterans, and for developing the traveling Freedom Shrine in conjunction with the Town of Danville.

F ina l ly, V ice Mayor Candace Anderson was sworn in as the new Town Mayor for 2012. Refreshments were served in the Fireplace Room at the Danville Community Library.

Leadership San Ramon announced the Hero of the Year award recipients. They were, Courtney Cheng and Art Peterson.

The San Ramon Chamber of Commerce office is located at 2410 Camino Ramon, Suite 125, Bishop Ranch 6, San Ramon, CA 94583.



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It’s that time of year once again. Bright lights decorate homes and businesses, and carols and jingling bells can be heard. Family and friends come together to be merry and bright… and the scramble for last-minute gift purchases is here.

Do not fear if you were one of the few shoppers that did not raid stores on Black Friday and are still at a loss when it comes to fi nding the perfect gift. Every year during the holidays, popular gift trends and items line the shelves of retail stores. Seize the opportunity to snag a few of the hot items listed below to impress your gift recipients before they’re all gone!

Popular gifts for young children this year, include interactive toys like Fijit Friends and Let’s Rock Elmo, dolls and action fi gures with names like Lalaloopsy and Transformers, and building sets from brands such as LEGO and Hot Wheels. Parents of very young children might appreciate an educational game such as the LeapFrog LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet.

Grade schoolers asking for games this year will be happy to receive Nintendo’s Wii and 3DS which are as popular as ever, with games like “LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7,” “Kirby’s Return to Dreamland” and “Just Dance 3” for the Wii. “Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” is age-appropriate for 10 years and above. Popular games for Nintendo’s 3DS include “Super Mario 3D Land,” “LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars,”

and the December 4 release of “Mario Kart 7”. Apple products like the iPod Touch and iPod Nano are all the rage among children as well.

Although most young people have grown up with backlit screens and personal devices, non-technological games do continue to capture their imaginations. Bananagrams, Hedbandz, and various LEGO collections, including Harry Potter and Star Wars, top the list of popular toys and games that require neither cords nor Internet connections. Although dolls have seen decreasing popularity in recent years, girls can still allow their creativity to fl ourish through do-it-yourself kits for jewelry-making, tie-dying, nail-painting, etc.

For the teenage young adult crowd, technology is an ever-present aspect of life. In order to stay current, even more advanced devices than last year’s models are at the top of young adults’ wish lists. In other words, the iPhone 4 is as outdated as the typewriter, now that the iPhone 4S has arrived in all its shiny, voice-controlled glory. Also, the large-screen tablet iPad 2 and portable iPod Touch continue to be popular gadgets among teenagers. Gismos that accompany iProducts like alarm clocks that sync up to iPods, cases for Apple devices, and funky headphones like those from WeSC and Skullcandy are also popular. If a pricy Apple product is not in your holiday budget, non-Apple devices such as the Kindle and smartphones like Motorola’s Droid Bionic are also desirable. For the

gaming teens, the recently released “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and “Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” for the Wii have many gamers in a frenzy. The Kinect Sensor for the Xbox 360 continues to gain popularity as more games are released for use with the console.

If you are looking for fashion trends for female teens,

Tom’s shoes, stylized watches, patterned scarves, and knit sweaters are all the rage. You cannot go wrong with gift cards; Amazon and Target gift cards give teens the freedom they seek to find whatever music or item they want, store credit to department stores and certifi cates for nail salons give young women the opportunity to give in to their guilty pleasures guiltlessly. Gift cards to Starbucks, movie theaters, and other food venues are

Gift ideas for everyone in the familyBy Stephanie Steinbrecher

always appreciated as stocking-stuffers.

Finding appropriate gifts for adults can be diffi cult. A great variety of interests and hobbies exists among the adult population, making gift-fi nding challenging. Jewelry, clothing, and home furnishings can all be wonderful feminine gifts, as long as you know the tastes of the woman you are buying for. Gift certifi cates for massage, salon services, and gym workout sessions are always a hit.

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on the road and empty crates that are full to avoid overflow. The most needed items are protein sources like peanut butter and canned meats, all canned goods, dried beans, rice, pastas, iron rich cereal, tomato products, and 100% fruit juice. Food Bank officials have asked that no glass containers be donated as they can easily break during transportation and sorting.

“This economic downturn has been longer and deeper than past recessions, and has caused more people to be out of work and in need of help. We have seen a 46% increase from 2006-2010 in demand for food,” said Renee Baptiste, spokesperson for the Food Bank. “The County Connection and their riders are helping to fill a very important gap.”

The County Connection provides fixed-route and ADA paratransit service throughout central Contra Costa County. For information on bus routes and schedules, call Customer Service at (925) 676-7500 or visit www.cccta.org.

Holiday Giving

San Carlos1123 Industrial

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Mountain View141 E. El Camino Real

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Campbell930 West Hamilton Ave.

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Danville, CA 94526925-866-6164

Corte Madera801 Tamalpais Drive

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Your four-year old is outgrowing the red tricycle. Is it time to buy the first two-wheeler? Most experts agree that depending on the child, somewhere between ages 4 and 8, a bike with and later without training wheels enters the picture. And, a new bike with a bright ribbon under the tree is a familiar sight in many homes.

However, given the fact that children ages 5 to 14 have the highest injury rate of all riders, it’s a good idea to keep a few factors in mind in making a selection. The first step in picking a bike is not the color, but determining the right size for the child. Where adult bikes are sized by the frame, children’s bikes children are sized by wheel size-- 12”, 16”, 20” and 24”. An easy way to determine proper fit is checking that the child can dismount and

Key factors in selecting a child’s first bikeBy Joan Trezek comfortably straddle the bike

flat footedly. Knees shouldn’t hit the handlebars. In the early stages of learning to ride, much of the steering is done through the handlebars. More adept riders learn to

shift weight and lean in the direction they want to go. When there are training wheels on the bike, all of the steering is done with the handlebars.

Because having control of the bike is important for safety, brakes are the most

important mechanical parts of a bike. Kids’ bikes usually have either coaster brakes (brakes engaged by pedaling backwards, or handbrakes (brakes engaged by a grip on the handlebars) or both.

Until a child’s hand is strong enough to use a handbrake, the first bike is likely to have coaster brakes.

The frame of the bike is another consideration and, of course, cost. As children grow, the first two-wheeler is usually replaced with another, more sophisticated multi-speed bike. Given the many bike trails and cycling clubs in the area, the San Ramon Valley has

a number of bike shops with knowledgeable staff to guide parents in making a good bike choice. One essential add-on is a helmet that fits properly. Look, too, for a helmet that has been approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Now that the Thanksgiving leftovers are put away, it’s time to take a moment and consider those with no leftovers. In the spirit of giving and generosity, for two weeks in December County Connection will ask employees and passengers to donate food for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Beginning Monday, December 5th, County Connection buses will become rolling collection points for passengers wishing to donate food. The tradition, which began over twenty five years ago, brings much needed food to our community each year.

“Now more than ever, the need for nutritious food is in high demand throughout the region” said Amy Worth, County Connection’s Board Chair. “We are so grateful to our passengers who always come through to help those that have hit hard times.”

All County Connection buses will have plastic milk crates placed near the front of the bus to hold donations. When needed, road supervisors will meet buses

County Connection’s Annual Food Drive Begins December 5, 2011


Holiday Giving

Collected by the San Ramon Valley Rotary Clubthrough Wednesday December 14th, 2011

For drop-off sites visit www.sanramonvalleyrotary.com and click “Events & Program Calendar”

One Warm Coat“Protection from the cold”

Donations for those in need to Local East Bay

& outreach charities

Coats – Sweaters – Blanketsfor

Men, Women, Children & Infants

(Clean & in good condition)

The Giant Quick-Fix Kit Ultra Combo pack is the perfect gift for the cyclist in your life. At only $39.95 it is a must-have for anyone who rides regularly so that they are safe in the case of a fl at tire. This repair kit contains: 65ci Giant Shadow Seat Bag, Control Patch Kit, 2 Tire Levers, Control Blast CO2 Infl ator & 16g Cartridge, and a 12 Function Multi-tool. You can fi nd this gem at Danville Bikes, 175 Hartz Ave. , Danville, Call for information at (925) 837-0966.

Express your love with a stunning14k white gold and diamond wedding set.

Pictured here are rings by Allison-Kaufman, using only the most brilliant diamonds meticulously hand-set into exquisite, handcrafted rings. These beauties can be found at Mark Kahn Jewelers, 3202 Danville Blvd, Alamo, CA. Tel: 925-837-3262.

The new Portland Collection by Pendleton maintains their defi ned classic style. Pendleton, The Portland Collection has fl own off the shelves in every small boutique it has taken space in and there is no question why. Made with the same quality and conservative style as in the last 100 years, but three amazing designers, dresses, jackets and statement-making scarves can take you through the holidays into spring. Find the beautiful Harding print, Shift Dresses, Quilted coats and Scarves ... while they last at Olive, located in the Rose Garden, 730 Camino Ramon, Suite 130, Danville.

Queen of Arts Creative Studios offers classes and workshops for children and adults. Classes range from traditional arts like watercolor and pencil drawing to creating beautiful collage and jeweled boxes. They also sell a variety of vintage art supplies such as ephemera and glass glitter, along with vintage furniture and many hand crafted gift i tems. Queen of Arts is located at 155 Railroad Ave., Suite D in Danville. For more information call (925) 263-2533.

The absolutely hottest thing at Rick’s Picks right now is the new Beer Pong tables, easy to set up and ready for the party. Pictured above is the “Battle of the Bay” table. These add fun to any party with beer. At only $149, these are great for a last minute gift for the man who has it all. All manner of fantastic buys at 40-80% of brand names can be found here. A real treasure-trove! Rick’s Picks is located at 375 Hartz Ave., Danville. Call for information at (925) 837-DEAL.

Savvy Holiday gifts that don’t empty your wallet!!!

The Savvy Shopaholic is a contemporary consignment boutique that also carries brand new apparel for both women & teens. Here you will find Hidden Holiday Gems That Make Great Gift I tems: 400+ brand new accessories, headbands, and watches! Jewelry: $4-$40, Handbags/wallets: $16-$49, and Scarves, hats & knit headwraps: $10-$18.www.thesavvyshopaholic.com (925)362-3677.411 Hartz Ave. #G, Danville.

At Sweet Celebrations, SWEET is the key word! These 1.5 oz. Party Truffl es are great for any occasion. These are called “Party Hardy”, and has a dark chocolate center dipped in milk and then in dark chocolate. After being drizzled in white chocolate it is topped off with sprinkles and a jelly bean. These and many other varieties are to be found at Sweet Celebrations, where every day is a party! Gifts, supplies and balloons are al l here, 170 Alamo Plaza, Suite C, Alamo. Call (925) 866-4640 for more information.

Alamo Pet Store has a unique and fun selection of pet related items perfect for Christmas. Paradise Horses

“Couture” is attitude. Find yours at Consignit Couture. Avant-garde to soccer mom, fi nd the treasure that refl ects the real you from jeans with bling to the perfect black dress. Complete the experience with designer handbags, shoes, boots, and jewelry. Find yourself. 398 Hartz Avenue (next door to Starbucks) Danville, (925) 837-7100 www.consignitcouture.com.

are highly detailed toys with expressive features, and brushable manes. Kids will witness the wonder of the insect life cycle with live butterfl y, ladybug, and other insect habitat kits. Ready to add a companion pet to your family, Alamo Pet Store has that too. But hurry, Santa contacts Alamo Pet Store daily for items to fi ll his sack. Alamo Pet Store is honored to be an Offi cial Santa’s Helper, caring for Santa’s Pets until Christmas Eve night …at no charge to Santa of course. 925-838-3828 170-A Alamo Plaza. (925) 838-3828. www.alamopetstore.com.


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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare is adding coverage for preventive services to reduce obesity. This adds to Medicare’s existing portfolio of preventive services that are now available without cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act. It complements the Million Hearts initiative led jointly by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with other HHS agencies, communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners across the country to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next 5 years. “Obesity is a challenge faced by Americans of all ages, and prevention is crucial for the management and elimination of obesity in our country,” said CMS Administrator Donald M.

Medicare covers screening and counseling for obesityDecision adds a new preventive service for Medicare beneficiariesBy Jack Cheevers, U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Berwick, MD. “It’s important for Medicare patients to enjoy access to appropriate screening and preventive services.

Over 30% of both men and women in the Medicare population are estimated to be obese. Obesity is directly or indirectly associated with many chronic diseases, including those that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Addressing the prevention of obesity related disparities has the potential to reduce obesity prevalence while also closing the gap on health disparities among Medicare beneficiaries.

Screening for obesity and counseling for eligible beneficiaries by primary care providers in settings such as physicians’ offices are covered under this new benefit. For a beneficiary who screens

positive for obesity with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, the benefit would include one face-to-face counseling visit each week for one month and one face-to-face counseling visit every other week for an additional five months. The beneficiary may receive one face-to-face counseling visit every month for an additional six months (for a total of 12 months of counseling) if he or she has achieved a weight reduction of at least 6.6 pounds (or 3 kilograms) during the first six months of counseling.

“This decis ion is an important step in aligning Medicare ’s por t fo l io o f preventive services with evidence and addressing risk factors for disease,” said Patrick Conway, MD, MSc, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Agency’s Office of Clinical Standards and Quality. “We at CMS are carefully and systematically reviewing the best available medical evidence to identify those preventive services that can keep Medicare beneficiaries as healthy as possible for as long as possible.”

Through the end o f October, 22.6 million people with Original Medicare have received one or more of the free covered preventive services this year.

To read the final decision on the new national coverage determination, visit the CMS website at: www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-decision-memo.

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Sharing holiday memories with Patricia Graber(center), Danville Seniors President, are Diane Morgan and Matt Byrne.

Christmas trees, laden with ornaments; visits to the mall to see Santa; stringing lights along the roofline with numbed fingers, lighting the Menorah and preparing latkes—all part of the Holiday activities celebrated in the U.S. In other countries, other variations.

Matt Byrne, born in Argentina, some 84 years ago speaks with a decidedly Irish English accent. His parents and grandparents emigrated to Argentina, near Buenos Aires, following the Potato Famine and continued their lives as farmers while also maintaining a sheep ranch–the principal source of their income. He remembers his years as a boarder at an all-boys parochial high school where discipline was strict and proficiency in both English and Spanish emphasized. “All morning our classes were in Spanish; then in the afternoon our classes were in English and taught by priests.”

What Byrne remembers most about Christmas upon returning home for vacation was the holiday meal consisting of barbeque meats—mostly lamb. “You could smell roasting meats everywhere.” There was a tree, but not decorated, and gifts were rather modest because his family was not one of means.

Despite his long tenure in the U.S., Byrne returns to Argentina often to visit a brother and to indulge his love for hunting small game. He has enjoyed sharing his Argentinian roots with two teenage grandchildren who live in Alamo and are proficient in Spanish thanks to their visits there as well as some intense study in Spain.

Asked what he is most grateful for as the holidays approach, Byrne answers, “good health…and the fact that my blood pressure this morning was normal.”

Hailing from Norwidge, near Norfolk, England, Diane Morgan came to the U.S. in 1946 as a war bride. She met her American GI husband on a merry-go-round and often stated in their 63 years of marriage,

Seniors Carry Memories from Christmas PastBy Joan Trezek that they were still going ‘round

in circles. Her husband, now deceased, had family in Danville so they eventually settled here.

One of Morgan’s strongest memories of Christmas in England entailed the making of a Christmas pudding which she likens to a fruitcake, but “not quite.” The pudding was steamed for hours and ingredients included suet, an animal fat, and often Guiness or Stout. The day the pudding was made (traditionally called Stir Up Sunday and observed on the last Sunday before the season of Advent) brought the whole family together to take a turn stirring the mixture and

making a wish. “We put in a small coin, smaller than a six-pence, and the tradition was that whoever found the coin would have good luck.”

Trees were small, table-top size, and decorated with small oranges or nuts. And, stockings were hung on the bedpost and presents likely to be found at the foot of the bed rather than under a tree. Singing was part of the holiday too—carols, pub songs, “whatever we knew the words to,” says Morgan. She says she’s grateful for friends, good health, and positive thinking. “Don’t forget to say that America has been very good to me,” she adds.

Note: Both Byrne and Morgan are long-time members of the Danville Seniors Club which meets every Monday morning at the Community

Center near the Library. For more information about the Club, contact Patricia Graber at 925.443.0268

Decebmer • Decebmer • Decebmer • Decebmer • Decebmer • Decebmer • December

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Please email or fax your Calendar Events to the Sentinel by 5pm on the 15th of the month proceeding publication month. Fax No. 925-820-6048,[email protected] or go to valleysentinel.com to enter your event online.

Inclusion in the calendar pages is at the sole discretion of Sentinel Newspapers, Inc.

For additional Community Events visit: www.ValleySentinel.comIf your event is not listed... Please do so by clicking on CALENDAR and Post an Event

We hope to see you there!

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

December 10Fall Trail Mixer Sunol Regional Wilderness, Sunol9am-12pm Same Trail Mixer program, just different and out-of-the-area trails! We’ll stay in the East Bay but we’ll explore trails in regional parks together. Meet in the Danville Community Center parking lot at 9am and caravan to each location. Plan on being gone until the mid to late afternoon. Information about the Trail Mixer will be emailed out a day or two prior so please make sure your email address is accurate in your Town of Danville account. FREE! Pre-registration is required; to register for this Trail Mixer visit danvillerecguide.com and search for barcode 23596. Information: [email protected]. December 10Elf Workshop 9:00am-1:30pm. Children will love this holiday craft workshop. Refreshments will be served while children create holiday crafts and get a chance to visit and take a photo with Santa! Space is limited! Pre-registration is required; register online. Information: danvillerecguide.com or 314-3400.

December 10 “Proven Paths to Successful Writing and Publishing”Three local authors will share “Proven Paths to Successful Writing and Publishing” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC). Featuring Judith Ingram, Jeryl Abelmann, and Nannette Rundle Carroll. Check-in begins at 11:30am, with a seated luncheon following a short meeting. $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests. Reserva-tions are required, contact Jean at [email protected] or 934-5677. Confi rmation only if you e-mail your reservation. Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill. Informa-tion: cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com.

December 11Magic of the Mistletoe Hike2-4pm. Livermore Area Recreation and Park District with leader Ranger Amy Wolitzer. A kiss under a sprig of mistletoe in a door-way is nice, but a kiss under mistletoe growing from the boughs of an enormous oak is a magical experience. We’ll go on a leisurely four-mile walk up into the hills of Sycamore Grove in search of this strange parasitic plant. Along the way, we’ll talk about the natural history of mistletoe as well as its role in folklore and legend. $5 parking. Meet at Wetmore Road entrance to Sycamore Grove Park, Livermore. Information: savemountdiablo.org.

December 14The Cloud of Dust - 9/1111:30am. Joe Viscuglia, Danville 9/11 survivor and motivational speaker. Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley. Information: (925) 275-2412 or [email protected].

December 15Surfaces: Fiber Arts Closing Reception and Gift Sale4-7pm. California Fiber Artists is a group of independent fi ber artists who have joined their collective works together forming exhibitions and diverse fi ber art. CFA artists describe their work as fusion art using fi ber as well as other mediums to develop texture, shape, design and color. Please join us for a closing reception. Light refreshments served. Featured artists will have small fi ber art gift items available for sale, one night only! Come early for best selection. This is a fundraising event for the gallery, so please come show your support for the arts in Danville. The Village Theatre, Danville. Information: danville.ca.gov. December 16Friday Night Out!7-9pm. Middle Schoolers need a night out, too! Friends, games, food, and good times. Each Friday Night Out has a different activity and its own brand of fun. Bring your friends, or make some new ones. Featuring glow in the dark capture the fl ag! $10, includes pizza and drinks. Diablo Vista Middle School Community Gymnasium, Danville. Information: danville.ca.gov.

December 17Breakfast with Santa8:30–9:45am or 10:30–11:45am. Santa has taken time off from his busy schedule to join you and your child for a morning of holiday cheer and live entertainment. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage and more. Don’t forget your camera! Must pre-register by Dec 14. $9/adult; $8/child. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill. Information: 682-0896.

December 27-29Winter Break Movie Marathon 3pm. Spend an afternoon at the library during your school break enjoying free family fi lms. Title and rating information is available at the libraries. Dougherty Station Library and San Ramon Library. Information: 973-2850.

November 15-January 16Walnut Creek on IceWalnut Creek on Ice is anticipating our best season ever. This year The Rink is new, improved, and covered to keep you dry should it rain. The Rink is also bigger than ever with a new confi guration, a food vendor, and sitting area under individual covered side tents. You will have more space to skate and enjoy the wonderful holiday season under a lighted, decorated tent. 1375 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: iceskatewalnutcreek.com.

December 31New Years Eve Countdown Massive Music Festival6pm-2am. New Years Eve Countdown Music Festival and Celebration with DJ performances of Club and Electronic Music. Carnival games. Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton. Information: 626-961-6522 or [email protected].

January 14First Annual Walnut Creek on Ice Gala6:30pm - 11:00pm. Join us for this very special, unique end-of-the-season celebration. The event will include cocktails, entertainment, ice sculpting, full sit-down dinner, and wine generously donated by Shadowbrook Winery. Join the Walnut Creek community as we celebrate the best Ice Rink season to date. 6:30pm - Wine from Shadowbrook Winery, Beer, Jazz with Jack Pollard, Ice Sculpting. 7:30pm - Sit-down Dinner catered by Scott’s Seafood. 8:45pm - Ice Dancing by Dan Ashley Partner. 9:30pm - Music performed by Push. Reservations required; seating is limited based on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis. The event will be fully tented and heated. Formal cocktail attire; 21 and over, please. $125.00 per person, $1,150.00 per table of 10. Information: iceskatewalnutcreek.com.

SENIORS

Danville Seniors

Sneaker Trips: All trips meet at the Danville Park & Ride lot unless otherwise noted in the trip details. Reserve your spot at the Danville Com-munity Center, 420 Front Street, on or before the registration date beginning at 8:30am. Information: 314-3400.

December 14Danville Area Senior HikingMeet at the Danville Park and Ride at 8:45 am. We’ll arrange carpools from there. 40 miles round trip so pay drivers $4 and it’ll take 30 minutes to travel each way. Bring adequate water, sturdy shoes with non-slip soles, hat or visor for sun, and snacks. Information: 314-3491.

December 14-15Senior Sneaker trips registrationRegistration for January and February Senior Sneaker trips will take place on December 14 for Danville residents and December 15 for non-residents. You can submit your registration form from the Silver Streak newsletter to the Danville Community Center on or before the registration date. Registration forms will be processed on the date listed above beginning at 8:30 a.m. Danville Community Center, 420 Front Street, Danville. Information: 314-3400

Buzz Sessions: Get the buzz on topics and issues facing today’s older adults and talk with the experts. Buzz Sessions are always free! Information: 314-3400.

San Ramon SeniorsThe following events are held at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. Information: 973-3250

Wisdom Wednesdays: Free Workshops geared towards infor-mational sessions that benefi t your needs. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 973-3250.

Trips :Trip Desk is open Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-1pm. Information: 973-3250. Sign up for Casino Trips and Van Trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registration form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway.

Monday Lunch Trips - Taste of the Tri-Valley Explore local restaurants with others from the Senior Center. Larry Rossi will pick up San Ramon Residents from their homes at approxi-mately 11:00am. Non-Residents will have to fi nd their own way to the Senior Center to be picked up there at 10:30am. Each lunch trip will be approximately 2 ½ hours. The fee pays for the transportation, all participants will be required to pay for their own meal. $5 (R)/$6 (N).

BUSINESS

Danville Chamber of Commerce EventsDecember 14: Chamber Holiday Open House – Chamber Of-fi ces, 3:00pmSan Ramon Chamber of Commerce EventsDecember 15: Third Thursday Holiday Mixer, 5:30-7:30pm. $5 members, $20 non-members. Summit Financial Group, 2000 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 450, San Ramon.

CLUBS

December 12The Walnut Creek Garden Club General Meeting11am. Entertainment will be San Ramon Valley High School Choral Group. Reservations are made by sending a $25.00 check made out to WCGC c/o Suzie Paul, 521 Allegheny Dr. Walnut Creek. Meeting at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill.December 20Page Turners Senior Book Club1:30-2:30pm. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. Alcosta Senior and Community Center. Information: http://www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/welcome.htmlMondaysDanville Rotary12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Monday. Faz Restaurant, Danville Information: Call Victor at 838-8721.TuesdaysDanville/Sycamore Valley Rotary7am. Join us at the Crow Canyon Country Club every Tuesday morning for a good breakfast and great company. Information: Call Scott Sampson at 743-8449.WednesdaysAlamo RotaryNoon. Meets every Wednesday at Round Hill Country Club, Alamo. Information: Call Mark Kahn at 837-3262.ThursdaysRotary Club of San Ramon12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Thursday at the Crow Canyon Country Club, San Ramon. Information: Call Bill Nethercott at 337-3311.Exchange Club of the San Ramon Valley2nd Wednesdays lunch at FAZ. 600 Hartz, Danville. Information: (925) 275-2412 or [email protected] Ramon Valley Rotary Club7pm. Guests welcome. Join us at the Crow Canyon Country Club every Wednesday for dinner. This is a great way to make new friends. Information: 365-1435.Blue Star Moms7-9pm. Chapter 101 meets every second Wednesday of the month at Hap Magee Ranch Park Swain House at 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville.Kiwanis of San RamonNoon. Meets every Thursday at Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Round Hill Rd., Alamo. Information: 648-4800.


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Classifieds FOR SALE

Goldblatt Electric Cement mixerVery Good Condition $150Call Chris at (925) 890-4483.

’94 Electra Glide Custom Black on Black. 21” front wheel. Thunder header, etc. $8500.00.Contact Marc 925-639-4474.

Beautiful Minolta Digital Camera hardly used, in box. Must see, one year old. Paid $550, will sell for $200. Call (925) 735-3895.

JVC Movie Camera, digital, almost new. Paid over $600, will sell for $250. Call (925) 735-3895.

SERVICES(K-12) Tutoring by California State Certifi cated TeacherReasonable rates, fl exible tutoring schedule to meet the student’s needs . Con tac t i n fo rma t ion : [email protected] or (925) 339-8943.

Pool Service–If your pool looks like a pond, call John at 925-584-6333. It’s the last pool maintenance call you will have to make.

HELP WANTED

Sales Execut ive: The Val ley Sentinel Newspaper has immediate openings for two sales positions. No sales experience necessary, we w i l l t r a in . Mus t have an outgoing personality and a positive attitude. Compensation based on performance. The Valley Sentinel covers the most desirable areas of the Bay Area–Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo and San Ramon. Please email your resume and request for interview to us at [email protected]

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390 Diablo Road, Suite 145Danville, CA 94526925-820-6047

Community News & Information

Publisher/Editor – Denise Rousset Chief Financial Officer – Jeff GummereWriter, Auto – David & Judy ColmanContributing Writer – Joan TrezekGraphic Designer – Laurie PrindleIntern – Stephanie Steinbrecher

I t s eems the wor ld brightens as the Holiday Season approaches: lights and candles brighten our homes; our kitchens turn out tasty treats, often from well-loved family recipes; and our hearts open up to others who may need a helping hand.

Part ic ipat ing in this effort to help others are the various places of worship in the Diablo Valley whose members support a wide array of outreach programs. While it isn’t possible to include all the activities underway, this sampling gives ample evidence of the generosity and social concern of those in the Diablo Valley.

Many places of worship have Adopt-A-Child or Adopt-A-Family type programs whereby they partner with other organizations to provide holiday meals, gift certifi cates, and items of need or want for children, seniors, families with limited means. St. Isidore’s in Danville partners with St. Mark’s Parish in Richmond to assure 850 children have a good holiday. St. Mark’s qualifies the candidates to verify there is fi nancial need and that the candidate is a member in good standing of the parish. St. Isidore’s parishioners select a child by choosing an ornament from a giving tree which states one item the child needs and one item wanted. The program was started by Pat Black and Bea Bustamente about six years ago serving 300 children; these women now handle the Adopt-a-Family program to assist those in the St. Peter Martyr Parish in

Spirit of Generosity strong in the San Ramon ValleyBy Joan Trezek Pittsburg. According to Linda

Zagarino who has taken over coordination of Adopt-A-Child with help from Maribel Gee and Eileen McCauley, the tripled numbers enables some 600 parishioners to participate. “Many adopt two children or a family of siblings,” adds Zagarino.

St. Joan of Arc in San Ramon has had a Giving Tree program in place for many years. Chairperson Kathy Barnards and her volunteer team start the process in September, making 2000 paper ornaments for the trees. Parishioners select ornaments, which represent eight sponsoring organizations, such as Tri-Valley Haven in Livermore, which assists battered women, Bay Area Crisis Nursery in Concord, and Hosanna Homes for foster children in San Ramon. St. Joan’s acts as a conduit between these organizations and the parishioners who fulfi ll the requests for various items: gift cards from grocery stores, clothing items for the homeless or seniors, and toiletries. While it’s diffi cult to know how many people benefi t from the Giving Tree gifts, Barnard acknowledged that some $28,000 in cash and gift cards was collected last year in addition to all the gift items. “It’s quite a sight to see all the gifts on the altar before the distribution process begins, she says.”

Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville is also a participant in Adopt-A-Family and the Holiday Food Bank. According to Melissa Flansbaum, synagogue administrator, a group from the Congregation also supports

Winter Nites Shelter during the cold weather months, a program established by St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. The team provides meals for the homeless sheltered at the church and spends the night on site as well. Although not just a holiday activity, the Congregation nurtures social action among young people who staff a “mitzvah table” each month to benefi t a worthy organization the young people have voted to support. Their “good deeds” have benefi ted such organizations as Animal Adoption & Rescue Foundation and Blue Star Moms who support families of our service men and women as well as those in the military.

The Adopt -A-Fami ly ho l iday program at S t . Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Danville has a goal this year of providing 200 food boxes for the Monument Crisis Center, Concord. Each box is intended to feed a family of fi ve for a few days. The Parish provides the box and a list of specifi c food items costing $45-$50. A variation of the Adopt theme running alongside the food collection is the Adopt-a-Family Bike program, which St Timothy runs during November and December. Parish volunteers accept donated bikes, repair them and distribute them to a number of local charities, among them, the Monument Crisis Center and the Salvation Army. In addition to bikes for children, others are essential for teenagers and adults as a means of transportation to work and school. The program started in 2002 and continues with some 35 volunteers repairing several

hundred bicycles each season. One teen found working with the program provided an avenue to earning an Eagle Scout badge.

Among the outreach ac t iv i t i es o f Danvi l l e ’s Community Presbyterian C h u r c h i s “ O p e r a t i o n Christmas Child” whereby parishioners fill shoeboxes filled with gifts, toys, and personal items, which are then delivered to Samaritan Purse to be distributed worldwide. In addition, a special Christmas offering allows support for three mission partners. The funds donated by parishioners allow those who wish to participate in short-term missions to travel to such places as Uganda and Haiti; to assist in building a Bible Translation Center for Zapotec Indians in Oaxaca, Mexico, and to enable more than 100 students to undertake mission work there. On their trip to Mexico, the youth will build 6 houses for people who are otherwise living in very poor conditions.

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Linda Zagarino, Chair of St. Isidore’s Adopt-a-Child Christmas Program, addsornaments indicating what items a child wants and needs. Parishoners assist 850 children in having a memorable Christmas.

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AUTOmaintenance • new cars • used cars • after market • safety

March 2009page 14 December 2011 The Valley SenTinel valleysentinel.com

I f y o u a s s o c i a t e ha t chback w i th cheap , get over it. Granted, the ha t chback concep t has long been favored for front wheel drive econoboxes. But things started to change when BMW equipped their luxurious, $60,000, 550i GT with an ingenious Dutch door hatchback lid. Then Ferrari turned the impecunious hatchback concept upside down wi th the i r recent introduction of the megabuck FF spor t wagon . These innovative and expensive hatchbacks should make you feel better about shelling out just $68,000 for the new Audi A7. The bargain basement hatchback concept has finally jetted up-market.

Here’s the formula for the A7: take an outstanding luxury sedan like the Audi A6, chop the trunk off and replace it with a much more useful–and better looking–hatchback tail section. The end result of the graft is an exceptionally handsome product, much more aerodynamic than either the stodgy BMW 550i GT or the cartoonish Ferrari FF. And then there’s the gain in practicality. So large is the area enclosed by the A7’s swinging tailgate that you can store almost anything back there. In addit ion, both rear seats fold forward, making car camping possible. An opening between upright rear seats accepts long items like skis or boards. Attached to the underside of the hatch is a vast privacy screen that keeps prying eyes out of your A7’s storage compartment when the lid is shut. A remote button on the key fob opens the tailgate, and a button on the underside of the lid shuts the hatch automatically.

Aside from its storage virtues, the A7 is a brilliant piece of engineering.

On a twisty road, it’s quick enough to hold its own with a wel l r idden superbike. After squirting the A7 through a couple of dozen curves ahead of a Supersport Ducati, I exchanged mutual admiration glances and upped thumbs with the rider of the Duck. The A7 really is that quick. Fast enough, for sure, to put away anything in the

2012 AUDI A7 3.0 Sportback SedanBy David and Judy Colman

current sedan arsenal from BMW, Mercedes or Cadillac. For the kind of maximum adhesion we enjoyed in our Ducati joust, you’ll want to order the optional ($1,200) 20 inch wheels, which not only sparkle appearance, but also performance, thanks to Yokohama Advan rubber (255/35/20 front, 265/35/20 rear).

Although the A7 lacks paddle shifts for the 8-speed automatic transmission, I never missed them because it’s so easy to select a gear by popping the console-mounted lever into the manual gate and whacking the s t ick forward for downshifts and backwards for upshifts. The task is easy because the stick is mounted high and rearward, like the sequential shifter in a World Cup rally car. The supercharged V6 engine is explosive. Although only rated at 310hp, it pulls more s t rongly than the numbers indicate. Thanks to supercharging, boost is instantaneous, accompanied by a turbine-like whine that is highly entertaining. If you can keep from triggering full boost, the A7 will return 28 MPG on the highway (18 MPG in town), and a full tank is good for over 400 miles of travel.

New ideas are few and far between these days in the automotive realm. But the A7 defines a new niche and fills it very well. Instead o f cumbersome s ta t ion wagon proportions, or bulky SUV architecture, Audi has re-envis ioned the lowly hatchback as a svelte and sexy luxury touring sedan. It’s a successful gestation, done with the company’s customary élan, bravado, and elegance.

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For many in Con t ra Costa County, these issues are familiar: a utility bill too high, a home hard to keep comfortable and a local economy stuck in neutral. Nearly every week in Contra Costa County, homeowners and contractors gather to hear about a new solution: Energy Upgrade California, a statewide program that s ave s m o n ey, r e d u c e s energy use and helps create and susta in local green jobs.

Homeowners in Contra Costa County have access to rebates and incentives of up to $11,000. To learn more about the rebates, go to www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org, a one-stop-shop where homeowners can enter the county name and gain access to a list of participating c o n t r a c t o r s w h o h ave completed rigorous training and certification on home energy upgrades.

A new concept: The “Whole House Approach”

Energy Upgrade California emphasizes a “whole house” approach, in which a home is viewed as a complete system. Everything—heating, air conditioning, water, windows,

New Energy Effi ciency Program Saves Contra Costa County Homeowners Money, Creates JobsBy Colin Clark, Senior Program Manager, Energy Upgrade California

ducts and insulation—should work together effectively to minimize energy use. The result can be lower energy b i l l s , more comfor tab le homes and better indoor air quality.

Boosting the “green economy”

E n e r g y U p g r a d e Ca l i f o rn i a p rov i d e s an o p p o r t u n i t y f o r l o c a l contractors to expand their skills and build new business. T h e p r o g r a m r e c e n t l y l aunched a Subs i d i z ed Contractor Training Program (SCTP) , a program that is valued at $1,600 and offered at the very low-cost of $65. The program offers technical training to building professionals, trades persons and other motivated individuals.

SCTP helps bui ld ing p ro f e s s i o n a l s i n c r e a s e business opportunities and can be a major step toward becoming an Energy Upgrade Participating Contractor—the only professionals who can qualify homeowners for more than $11,000 in rebates for home improvements. The SCTP program is available through March 2012. Energy Upgrade California is funded

t h ro u g h a p a r t n e r s h i p among the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, major utilities and local and regional governments.

For homeowners and contractors alike, Energy Upgrade California provides a path to a more sustainable future in a three key ways. First, the program sustains the planet by reducing the po l l u t i on and re sou rce depletion associated with energy consumption. Second, i t helps sustain famil ies by s av ing homeowne rs money (that they can then circulate back into our local economy). And third, the program helps sustain local small businesses that create and retain “green collar” jobs.

If you’d like to help keep an eye on the environment—as well as your household’s bottom line and our local e c o n o m y — c o n t a c t a participating contractor today about doing a whole house energy upgrade.

For more information, Energy Upgrade California’s local contact is Jeffrey Liang, [email protected]. To find out more online visit www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org.

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2020 North Main StreetWalnut Creek

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†Based on 2001 - 2011 YTD sales. All vehicles subject to prior sale, plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer docu-ment preparation charge and any emission testing charge.

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for the holidaysfor the holidays

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Balloon Delivery

Sweet CelebrationsWhere everyday is a party!

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Danville BikeSales & Service

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Christmas Layaway Service

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• Housewares • Seasonal • Health & Beauty• Furniture • Luxury Bedding • Gifts & Cards

Sale & Clearance items may not be included. Exp.12/31/11

This collection of throws is created for beauty and comfort. Not only a functional beautiful decorative accessory for your home but it can also be made into a cozy body wrap designed for your comfort. Choose any of our comforting throws to be a warming wearable wrap!

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The Valley Sentinel_December 2011

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Transcript of The Valley Sentinel_December 2011