lafayette today, march 2011

[email protected]

Home Maintenance for the ElderlyBy Fran Miller

Visits to his elderly father’s home and the inevitable list of home maintenance chores that always awaited him are what led Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club member Hays Englehart to establish one of the area’s most valuable resources for seniors. “My dad was fortunate that he had me to help around the house, but it got me thinking that there must be many seniors who don’t have available family help, or the resources to hire-out for a leaky faucet or blown fuse,” says Englehart, co-founder of Lamorinda Sunrise’s “Rotary HOME Team” program (Home Maintenance for the Elderly).

The Rotary HOME Team program responds to seniors in the community who need assistance with home maintenance issues. A phone call, fax, or email to the program’s coordinator results in a Saturday visit from a minimum two person Rotary volunteer team who will handle the repair in an efficient and friendly manner. “Most of our members possess repair know-how, and some know nothing about home maintenance, but they are nonetheless invaluable in that they often just talk with the senior while the other makes the repair,” says Englehart. “Sometimes this can be as beneficial as the repair itself.”

Volume V - Number 3PO 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.

March 2011 Serving the Lafayette Community

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit 21

Lafayette CA

See EBCT continued on page 17

See Home continued on page 24

That’s Our Snow White 2009 EBCT production

Members of the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club prepare to depart for maintenance house calls as part of the Rotary HOME Team program.

Citizen of the YearOn March 25th, the citizens and business owners of

Lafayette will come together to honor Karen Mulvaney as the 2011 Lafayette Citizen of the Year. Karen has gone above and beyond to contribute to our community.

Anyone who has worked on a school parcel tax, the library, or the many projects Karen has worked on knows that she gives it her “all.”

Karen has stepped in and taken on many thankless jobs that have to get done. Karen and her husband Tom have been major donors to many of the Lafayette’s projects and causes.

The “Citizen of the Year” dinner will be held at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa on March 25th. To register, visit www.lafayettechamber.org. Congratulations!

East Bay Children’s TheatreBy Fran Miller

How might a group of retired teachers and actors motivate legions of disadvantaged students to explore new ideas that ignite their interests and imaginations? How might this same group pro-mote academic achievement in literacy through multi-dimensional learning? By putting on a play, of course.

Since 1933, the volunteers of East Bay Children’s Theatre (EBCT) have been delivering the heritage of traditional folk tales via musical theater to economically disadvantaged elementary school children in Oakland and surrounding areas. EBCT is the oldest continuously performing theatre group in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through their non-profit productions, EBCT volunteers strive to highlight important moral lessons that promote positive values and strengthen self-esteem. Approximately 9,000 elementary school children (pre-K through grade 5) each year are inspired and entertained during EBCT school visits.

“Our fractured fairy tale plays are filled with music, dancing, singing, and fun, fun, fun,” says Judy Rosenberg, president of EBCT’s board of directors. “We hit the road in mid-February and go until mid-April, performing every Tuesday and Thursday morning at schools where students rarely ever see a live performance. With so much of the arts being removed from our schools, this is one way we can help to put it back.”

EBCT auditions begin in early October, and rehearsals start in January. The majority of participants are 65 plus, and many have been involved with EBCT for decades. This year’s play is Beauty and the Beasty, by EBCT’s own playwright Ron Lytle who has penned the group’s plays for the past eight years. Director Sue Ellen Nelsen has directed for the past 12 years.

“EBCT has progressed since I started with them in the mid-60’s and is much more professional with a script writer, director, choreographer, set designer, and costumer,” says Marty Gulko, a Danville resident who has volunteered off and on with EBCT through the years. Gulko remembers when they all used to make their own sets and costumes. She marvels at the longevity and dedication of many of the volunteers. “Some of the women I worked with in the sixties are still members and are still acting!”

Gulko could volunteer her time to any number of organizations, but the fulfilling nature of EBCT keeps her in the fold. “The productions are hard work but such fun when you see the children react to all your effort,” says Gulko. “We reach out to children who would otherwise not experience live theatre, and it is rewarding to see the children responding to each perfor-

www.yourmonthlypaper.commother wanted to get a portrait of her only granddaugh-ter. She helped ar-range an afternoon at the photo studio. My sister was visit-ing our family at the time and she and her kids came along. Photo after photo was taken. My daughter started getting cranky, and her eight-year-old brother decided to make her laugh and smile. He started playing with his gum, pulling it in and out of his mouth in a long string. He then proceeded to paste the end of it in his hair. After retrieving a pair of scissors, a divot of hair was removed, and the photoshoot continued.

Spontaneously we decided to take a picture of all of the grandkids to wrap up the photo session. The boys, not prepared at all for a photo shoot, stripped down to their shorts which all matched as their aunt had just sewn them during her trip. We told all the boys to look “mustangular,” a word we had coined to have them show their muscles, and a great photo of them all was captured.

Fast forward eight and a half years, and we were looking for a Christmas present idea for great-grandma. My sister and I thought it would be great to get the kids to recreate the photo. I am not sure the kids felt the same way, but they went along with it. The once spontaneous photo was made current and has become a family treasure.

After stumbling on the Back to the Future blog I started thumbing through other photos that would be fun to recreate. There are a whole bunch of good candidates. Now I just need everyone to cooperate again to help recreate new memories of the old times.

- March 2011 ~ Lafayette Today

Editors Jennifer Lopez and Alisa Corstorphine

The View from HereBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

Last month I mentioned a “time-passing” website called StumbleUpon (www.stumbleupon.com). While passing time waiting on hold for a phone call the other day, I was multi-tasking and “stumbling.” I landed on a blog titled, “Back to the Future.” (http://www.stumble-upon.com/su/189H04/www.pondly.com/2011/02/back-to-the-future/). On the blog it highlights a photographer who asked her friends to re-enact old photos of them-

selves for a project she was working on. Wearing similar clothing, in similar locations, and with similar expressions, photos were brought to life again at a later time. The project reminded me of a similar photo we have sitting on our shelves.

In the summer of 1996 we were living in Kirkland, Washington. My grand-

[email protected] Lafayette Today ~ March 2011 -

Lafayette’s Summer Music Jazz Workshop Lafayette’s Summer Music Jazz Workshop is now accepting applications for their summer

program. Go online to www.lafsmw.org to download your application and learn more about this incredible summer program. The workshop is for middle school to college aged students. The workshop is presented by Generations in Jazz Foundation, a non-profit organization. Spend six incredible days with top music professionals. Workshop is July 31 – August 5, 2011. Intimate classes cover music theory, ear training, improvisation, and combo performances. Enjoy a superior music experience for students interested in learning an American Art form of JAZZ!

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

designed by John Montgomery on Saturday, May l4th from 11AM to 4PM, at a cost of $25 per person. This second annual event is a fundraiser with proceeds to benefit Hospice of the East Bay, the Tech

Trek program sponsored by the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch of The American Association of University Women, and other local charities.

John Montgomery, whose gardens are famous, believes the function of the garden is to rejuvenate, inspire, and relax one’s spirit. Come chat with John Montgomery, nibble goodies during an outdoor cooking demonstration by A Loveable Feast, participate in a lively presentation by The Urban Farmers, and enjoy serene live music by the Danville Community

Band as you stroll through all five of these distinctive gardens. To purchase tickets, please contact O-M-L AAUW member Pat Lopker at (925) 376-5l55 or sign-

up on John Montgomery’s website - go to www.jm-la.com and click on “Garden Tour.” For any other questions, please contact Debbie at [email protected].

Lafayette Recreation Spring GuideThe Lafayette Recreation Spring Guide is here, and it’s filled with classes

and activities for all ages and interests! We have fun as shown in these spring program highlights. New classes for kids include Glee! Singing class, Growing Gardeners, and Radio Control Car Racing. For adults, check out Soccer for Moms or Journalism: An Introduction. We also still offer your favorites such as yoga, cooking, aerobics, and dog obedience.

Don’t miss Camp Awesome Spring Break April 4-8, 9AM - 2PM for ages 4-14. Spend your spring break having awesomely cool fun doing arts and

crafts and playing sports and games at the park and on the Rink. Camp will be visited by Games 2 U, with Laser Tag, Wii Sports, and Hamster Balls, and bring skates or scooters for “Wheels on Wednesdays.” Camp Awesome is $158 for 5 days, and before and after care is available. Register and view class schedules online at www.LafayetteRec.org or call 925-284-2232.

Lafayette Hiking GroupThe Lafayette Hiking Group’s next outing will be on March 26 and will be a

hike on the Canal Trail in Walnut Creek. Enjoy the scenery of the area including a panoramic view while covering about 7 miles on this paved, relatively flat trail. The group meets in the parking lot in front of the Lafayette BART entrance at 8:30AM and will take BART to Pleasant Hill to walk the eastern portion of the Canal Trail to Concord BART and return. Bring lunch, water, layered clothing, good walking shoes, sun protection, and BART money.

Tri-City DanceHey sports fans, don’t miss the Fan Fest, a sport-themed LamorindaTri-City

Dance for high school students on Friday, April 22 at The New Rheem Theatre! The teens of the Lafayette Youth Commission, the Moraga Youth Involvement Committee, and the Orinda Teen Advisory Council are joining together to support this drug and alcohol free event. Current Acalanes, Campolindo, and Miramonte students are welcome to attend. The LYC, MYIC, and OTAC will be collecting $2 donations at the door that will benefit the Athletic Departments of the three schools. Tickets are available at the Rheem Theatre box office. For full details, call the New Rheem Theatre at 925-388-0751, or find the event on Facebook.

Assistance League of Diablo ValleyYou’ll know that spring has arrived when you visit Assistance League®

Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located at 3521 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette, the week beginning March 22nd. Our spring merchandise will unveil a palette of colors and a myriad of styles to help you make a fashion statement while maintaining a healthy bank statement. Put your best foot forward by selecting that perfect pair of shoes to complete your wardrobe. Typically spring merchandise moves quickly, so you might want to do likewise.

Time also moves quickly, as quickly as flipping the page on your calendar from March to April. Easter merchandise and little girls’ Easter dresses will be on the floor from April 5 to (can’t promise) April 23. Please be advised that the indefatigable member volunteers claim no responsibility for over-zealous grandmothers who will be in stealth-like pursuit of that perfect Easter ensemble for their progeny.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley can not thank you enough for your donations and purchases. They give families hope, teach teens the importance of giving back to their community, help children enjoy a successful school experience, and keep homebound seniors connected to an ever changing world. While your generosity can be measured on a spreadsheet, its impact is also seen in a child’s smile and heard in a senior’s voice. To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley and the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, visit our website at diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - March 2011 ~ Lafayette Today

Middle School Writing Contest and Workshops By Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff

Middle school students all over Contra Costa County are preparing for the annual Young Writers Contest. Since 1995, the California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch, has offered cash prizes and certificates to students for their writing.

First, second, and third place winners and their parents and teachers are invited to the awards banquet held in May at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant in Pleas-ant Hill. This year, the event will be held on May 21st, and Tricycle Book Editor Abigail Samoun is our featured speaker.

If you have a middle school student or know of one, please visit http://mtdia-blowriters.org/youngWriters.html to discover the complete writer’s guidelines for our contest. The deadline for this year’s contest is April 1!

The latest news for our Young Writers Program is exciting in these days of budget cuts. We’ve been awarded a grant from the Leroe Foundation to place authors in local classrooms. If you are a principal or teacher who would like a free writing workshop at your school, tell us why by e-mailing [email protected].

And finally, if you are an adult who enjoys writing and/or reading, the California Writers Club, Mount Diablo Branch meets the second Saturday of every month at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant. We listen to speakers discuss their books and the publish-ing world. We are open to the public as long as you send us your reservation ahead of time. Visit us online at http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/.

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.

Chastity Schults is our winner!Luther was hiding on page 17 last month.

Lafayette Luther is MissingHe has become lost in this paper.

Cantare Con Vivo’s Presentation of Missa Solemnis

Maestro David Morales and the Cantare Con Vivo Chorale present Beethoven’s dramatic Missa Solemnis complete with soloists and orchestra. This breathtaking and deeply profound concert will be performed on Saturday, March 19th at 7:30PM at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 LaCassie Avenue, Walnut Creek. Ticket prices are $40 general, $35 senior, $30 Young Professionals (ages 22 – 35), and Youth $10 (21 & under). Advanced purchase of tickets is recommended by going online to www.cantareconvivo.org or by calling the Cantare office at (510) 836-0789. A pre-concert lecture will be presented at 6:30PM. This venue is wheelchair accessible.

Tossed Treasures SaleLafayette Service League’s Annual Tossed Treasures Sale will be held

on Saturday, April 30th from 9am to 3pm and on Sunday, May 1st from 11am

to 2pm at the Lafayette Community Center located at 500 St. Mary’s Road in Lafayette. Plenty of free parking is available.

The League is looking for donations of jewelry, glassware, knick-knacks, collectibles, kitchenware, small appliances, linens and tableware, fabric, small furniture, art work and decorative pieces, CD’s and DVD’s, books (but please no magazines, technical books, or encyclopedias), baskets, toys, games, tools, and garden items. No clothing please!

Proceeds will benefit Hospice Foundation of the East Bay and the Community Center.

If you have items to donate, please call Judy 284-9266, Diane 283-8790, or Jackie 284-4131.California Explorer Search and Rescue Camp

The California Explorer Search and Rescue (Cal-ESAR) summer camp will be geared toward beginner and intermediate Search and Rescue volunteers or those who are highly motivated to learn quickly and work hard to become one. Although Summer Camp and Cal-ESAR in general is youth oriented, all ages are welcome.

Cal-ESAR has been conducting SAR training in Yosemite for over 20 years. The mission of Cal-ESAR's Yosemite Search and Rescue Summer Camp is to introduce motivated young people to the fundamentals of Search and Rescue and volunteerism in general and to refresh the skills of seasoned SAR professionals. Summer Camp also provides a venue for members of other SAR teams to share tactics and techniques.

Summer Camp is held June 11- June 18th in Yosemite National Park. Each day has an average of 2-3 training classes. The first two days are an intensive introduction to the basic terminology and tactics of SAR and wilderness survival. The second three days focus on more technical aspects of SAR such as navigation, tracking, and field operations. The final few days cover advanced topics such as search management, working with helicopters and search dogs, and self-rescue techniques (e.g. rappelling).

The $225 fee covers basic costs of camp including food and training ma-terials. Camp is run by trained Search and Rescue volunteers. This camp is designed to make proficient and professional Search and Rescue volunteers.

For more information, visit http://training.cal-esar.org/Home/yosemite or email Bryan Sardoch, Summer Camp Director at [email protected].

Candlelight Labyrinth WalkOn Friday, March 18th come celebrate the coming spring equinox with

a walk on the labyrinth at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church in the early evening hour. The Chartres-style labyrinth will be surrounded by candlelight, and a flutist will be performing live music.

The Chapel will be open for prayers, and there will be occasional readings. You are invited to meander freely between the labyrinth and the Chapel. Guides for walking the labyrinth will be available if desired. Labyrinths are an ancient tool which are undergoing a revival of interest and use.

Join us for a quiet evening walk in preparation of spring. Walk in gratitude, reflection, or prayer. Come anytime between 7 and 8pm.

The church is located at 49 Knox Drive in Lafayette. Everyone is welcome. For questions, call 925-283-8722 or 925-820-4332.

Lafayette Juniors Host 12th Annual Lafayette Kitchen TourTickets are on sale for the 12th Annual Lafayette Kitchen Tour scheduled for Saturday, May 14th

from 10AM until 3PM. Guests will have the opportunity to visit six exquisite kitchens located in Lafayette. Attendees will receive an event guide detailing all design elements and information on the contractors, architects, designers, and design resources featured in each home. Tour an array of brand new kitchens, showcasing the latest and up-to-date trends in kitchen design and style.

“This is a fabulous Lafayette tradition that you will not want to miss that also raises much needed money for local charities,” says Rosylyn Stenzel, President of the Lafayette Suburban Junior Women’s Club.

Over the past eleven years, the Lafayette Juniors’ Kitchen Tour has raised over $240,000 for local charities such as Brighter Beginnings, Youth Homes, Inc., We Care, Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center,

and Futures Explored. This year’s major beneficiary is Contra Costa Interfaith Housing, a program committed to creating a permanent solution to local homelessness. Through a collaboration of interfaith communities, its mission is to provide permanent supportive housing to high-risk individuals and families in Contra Costa County. They also provide intense professional and volunteer services designed to help families, especially children, stabilize, increase self-sufficiency and succeed academically.

Tickets for the Kitchen Tour are $35, $25 of which is tax deductible. They may be purchased in advance from a Lafayette Juniors member, online at www.lafayettejuniors.org, at Douglah Designs, 3577 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 925-284-4560, or at Premier Kitchens, 3373 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, 925-283-6500.

The Lafayette Suburban Junior Women’s Club, chartered in 1953, is an organization of approximately 50 women dedicated to promoting social welfare, education, and civic improvement in the Lafayette and surrounding community. For more information, visit www.lafayettejuniors.org.


Have a Question About County Government?County residents now have an additional avenue to use in order to receive

answers to questions they may have concerning the County. The County’s website, www.co.contra-costa.ca.us, now has a live “chat

mode” where users can post questions for County staff and get prompt answers. The chat feature will be staffed Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5pm.

What kinds of questions? Well, what do you want to know? Maybe you like to know things like, “Where do I go for a building permit?”, “What do I do about barking dogs?”, “Is there a bus to the Martinez hospital?”, or “Where do I vote?” The possibilities are endless.

The same chat mode has been running successfully on the County’s Li-brary website for years. The same employees who answer these questions will handle the main website’s chat.

For now, the chat feature is being operated as a trial run. If it is successful, the County will make it permanent.

Try it out and let us know what you think. User feedback is important to knowing what is working and where to improve.

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Learning Consortium and JFK UniversityBy Fran Miller

Two namesake institutions – two nearly identical missions. The bevy of opportunities for lifelong learning offered through both the Lafayette Library’s Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium and John F. Kennedy University make for a propitious alliance.

Providing the East Bay an inclusive forum for discovery and for an open exchange of ideas, the Library, its Consortium, and its partners allow for community engagement far beyond mere book reading. As one of the twelve Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium partners, John F. Kennedy University brings a sense of inspiration reminiscent of the late President’s “Ask Not” inaugural speech - a speech that continues to inspire many Americans one half century later. In establishing itself with President Kennedy as its namesake, JFK University committed to Jacqueline Kennedy 47 years ago that it would be a learning institution honoring his vision in its educational mission and activities. Since it’s founding in 1964, JFK University has held true to this commitment.

JFK University is a fully accredited private university offering working adults a range of curriculum including undergraduate-completion programs, graduate and doctorate degrees, and continuing education certificates. Students find an educational experience that combines the benefit of an interactive, student-focused classroom with the convenience of evening and weekend schedules and easily accessible Bay Area campus locations. But thanks to JFK University’s participation with the Consortium, one need not be a JFKU student to reap the benefits of the University’s knowledge base. For instance, JFK University President (and presidential historian) Dr. Steven A. Stargardter will lecture later in the spring on the topic of John F. Kennedy, the Camelot years, and how the JFK legacy continues to thrive and grow.

“President Kennedy once wrote that Leadership and learning are inextricably linked,” says Anne Marie Taylor, vice president of advancement at JFK University. “The Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium proves that link as a catalyst for changing our world. We are encouraging a deep love of learning, and in this way, we are growing generations of informed leaders.

“It is an honor for John F. Kennedy University to be a Consortium partner,

in conjunction with so many other mission-driven Bay Area organizations,” says Taylor. “The Consortium allows us to pool resources and community outreach efforts, tapping into what each of the partner organizations does well. Our participation helps us connect with a larger audience and introduces the community to a plethora of intellectual opportunities.”

Taylor says that their partnership with the Lafayette community is of particular importance not only because many of their students and graduates reside and work in Lafayette, but also because local neighbors and community organizations help the University and its staff to hold fast to Kennedy's vision of lifelong learning and service to others. “The people and businesses in Lafayette are committed to the call for social justice and community service as articulated in President Kennedy's impassioned inaugural speech,” says Taylor. “That speech forever changed the paradigm of volunteerism and continues to guide us in providing lifelong learning to diverse populations.”

“Your wonderful library has become an adventure in itself; the facilities are extraordinary and have given us a wonderful site for community engagement,” says Taylor. “And nothing beats with quite as much strength and passion as the heart of a community library.”


The Book WormBy Joan Steveson

Fashion Week moves from New York and Paris to Lafayette! The Third Annual East Meets West Fashion Show Luncheon will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 23rd from 10:30AM to 2 PM at the Veterans Memorial building. This year’s event will be presented New York-style, with a choreographed runway show called Fashion

That Transcends Cultures. This annual event is created both as a fundraiser for the Library and Learning Center and as a way to build cultural bridges. The show features the collections of Prima Jiva, Swati Couture Daywear, designer jackets from China, and alina b. boutique of Walnut Creek. Tickets are $85 ($50 tax deductible). This is always a fabulous visual treat from the lunch with the diverse flavors of East and West, to great boutique vendor shopping, to the auction and raffle opportunities which include a weekend getaway at Sea Ranch, to an antique Chinese necklace, and much more. It is a special way to celebrate our community. Tickets sell fast, so visit [email protected] or call 925-283-6513 x101. See you there!

The Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center (LLLC) will welcome New York Times bestselling authors Martin Anderson and Annelise Anderson. In writing Reagan’s Secret War, the Untold Story of His Fight to Save the World from Nuclear Disaster, the authors drew upon their unprecedented access to more than eight million highly classified documents housed within the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California - unseen by the public until now. Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz said of the book, “An immense contribution . . . the authors have defied assumptions about what Reagan thought and said and conducted painstaking research to get at the truth of what he really planned and executed.” The authors will speak at the Sweet Thursday event on March 24th, at 7:30 at the LLLC Community Hall.

On Sunday, April 17th from 4PM – 5PM at Acalanes High School auditorium, the community is invited to attend a very special presentation by LLLC. Lafayette will roll out the Red Carpet for two Olympic legends when John Naber presents a conversation with Louis Zamperini. Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit, has told Mr. Zamperini’s remarkable story in her best selling book, Unbroken. The Bookworm just finished the book and I can tell you it is a page-turner, from his teenage escapades to his 47 day odyssey adrift in the Pacific, followed by years of brutal internment. Its hero, Louie Zamperini, is a loveable, disciplined champion racer who competed in the Berlin Olympics. He is also a reformed juvenile delinquent who put his teenage thieving skills to good use in the POW camps. In other words, Louie is a total charmer, a lover of life, whose will to live is cruelly tested when he becomes an Army Air Corps bombardier in 1941. His is a story of survival and redemption. This event is hosted and underwritten by Tom and Karen Mulvaney with proceeds to benefit the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. It is a presentation designed for all ages. General seating: $25 and limited reserved seating: $125 including a signed book, Devil At My Heels and an opportunity to meet Louis and John. Email: [email protected] (limit four per order) Call: (925) 283-6513 extension 101. Bring your card and borrow a copy of the book (extras have been ordered) at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

For more information on programs visit: www.lafayettelib.org.

LAFAYETTE LIBRARY AND LEARNING CENTER HOME OF THE GLENN SEABORG LEARNING CONSORTIUM

March-May 2011 ~ Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation ~ LLLCF.org or 925-283-6513 x.101

created by teachers and students following and visualizing thee

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

Date and Time YOUTH SERIES Date and Time ARTS [email protected] Wed. Apr. 6 Ses. 1 - 10am Ses. 2 - 11am lawrencehallofscience.org 2 Saturdays 11am-12pm Apr. 16 A&S May 14

Oakland ZooMobile brings delightful critters. FREE Learn about these animals' habits and habitat. 2 sessions - reserve to guarantee a space Lawrence Hall of Science (GSLC) Ages 3-7 $20/class Frogs and Toads ~ Touch slippery frogs and bumpy toads, watch them swim and hop. Learn their life cycles.

Air, Air Everywhere! What does wind do? Test a hot air balloon, kite, other materials in a special Wind Tube

No reservations required Mar.25, Apr.22 1:30-3pm

Thursdays 7:30-9pmMar. 24 CH Apr. 28 CH Thursday 7-8pm Apr. 21 A&S

Senior Services Center's Piano Recital FREE Hear jazz and familiar tunes in the Community Hall

Friends of LLLC ~ Sweet Thursday FREE Annelise & Martin Anderson, Reagan's Secret War Shilipi Somoya Gowda Secret daughter Berkeley Rep Docent Talk FREE The Three Sisters, Chekhov’s masterpiece, tells of humor and heartaches for an entire village of lovers

COMMONWEALTH CLUB SERIES (GSLC) JOHN MUIR HEALTH SERIES (GSLC) commonwealthclub.org Mon. Mar. 28 5:45-7:30pm

Tuesday 5:45-7:30pm Apr. 5 CH Thursday 5:45-7:30pm Apr. 21 CH

Members $12 Non-members $22 Students FREE Teachers' Union vs the State, for a hot national debate

When Gadgets Betray Us ~ Author Robert Vamosi on how technology is encroaching on our personal lives

The Science of Geniuses: The 2010 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Winners

www.johnmuirhealth.com or call 941-7900 x.3

Tuesday 7-9pm Mix & Mingle 6:30pm Mar. 22 CH

Wine, Women & Chocolate - Simple Pleasures FREE Sip a glass of wine, nibble on chocolate and enjoy an intriguing evening with Dr. Sondra Altman and Dr. Jeanne Leventhal, women's health specialists. New series by John Muir Health

ALTA BATES HEALTH SERIES SCIENCE SERIES [email protected] or call 510-869-6737 Thurs. Apr.14 6:30-8pm Note: at Mercantile Bldg, 3595 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #315

Precocious Puberty ~ Dr. Suruchi Bhatia discusses challenges when puberty comes too soon. First program in a series by Alta Bates Summit Women's Health Center

Sunday 1-3pm Apr. 3 A&S Tuesday 6:30-8pm Apr. 19 CH

Greenbelt Alliance's Ken Lavin shares stories FREE and a spectacular slideshow of wildflowers.

Science Cafe: Using Google Earth, Jerome Burg, creator of googlelittrips.org, undertakes virtual expeditions that visualize the travels of characters in great literature

Third Annual EAST MEET WEST FASHION SHOW LUNCHEON ~ "Fashion That Transcends Cultures"

Wednesday, March 23, 10:30AM-2PM at Veterans Memorial ~ Asia and Western designers bring high fashion this year on a New York style runway!Trunk shows, specialty boutique vendors. Tickets $85; premier seating tables $1,000. Tables seat 9. Seating is limited. ~ [email protected]

SPECIAL PROGRAM ~ Acalanes Performing Arts Center Sunday, April 17, 4 pm ~ NY Times bestseller, Unbroken, A Conversation with Louis Zamperini and John Naber ~ Reserve NOW!! Details at LLLCF.org

NOTE: Always Check Schedule Changes, Updates at LLLCF.org ~ click “Join Email List” for AdLib e-newsletter


To advertise contact Lafayette Today at 925.405.6397 or email [email protected]

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Wayside Inn Ice Cream ParlorDid you know the Wayside Inn used to be an ice cream parlor? The

photo below was taken some time after 1925. Lizzie Medau, the co-owner, is shown with her grandson, Rothery McKeegan. Lizzie’s husband, Pat Medau, bought the Inn in 1921 for $2,850. At first he ran a meat market

in the building, then in 1925 he moved the market to Mt. Diablo Blvd. and opened an ice cream parlor in the former inn. To see other photos like this and glimpse at Lafayette’s recent history visit the History Room on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10AM – 2PM. The History Room is located downstairs at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center.

Contra Costa Taxpayers Association Jeff Adachi, San Francisco Public Defender, Pension Reform Advocate

and author of Pension Reform: The Time is Now, will speak at the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association breakfast meeting on Friday, March 25th at 8am.

The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Summerfield Suites located at 2611 Contra Costa Blvd., in Pleasant Hill.

Tickets are $20 and include a full breakfast. The meeting is open to the public. Please make reservations and remit

prepayment via the Paypal website by Tuesday, March 22nd, or send a check, payable to Contra Costa Taxpayers Association, and mail to P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553. Additional details are available at the club’s website at www.cocotax.org.

International Film Showcase Presents Red Like the Sky

Good family movies (not animated) are a rarity. Inspiring films are even harder to find. Our International Film Showcase is proud to present a USA Premiere of Red Like the Sky. This exclusive engagement begins on March 18th at the Orinda Theatre.

For seven days each month we will screen a feature film that has never been released commercially in the Bay Area and is not currently available through any other medium. These exceptional films cannot be downloaded, rented, or viewed anywhere else.

This project is the brainchild of Efi Lubliner and Jo Alice Canterbury. For years Efi and Jo Alice have been screeners/attendees at festivals around the country and have compiled a list of films which they believe deserve wider distribution and recognition throughout the United States. After repeatedly recommending their favorite films to friends, they were frustrated to discover that these gems were neither screened in local theaters nor released on DVD.

Please check www.lfef.org or the International Film Showcase page on Facebook regularly for information on upcoming films, trailers, and reviews. Make sure to tell your friends and we look forward to seeing you at the movies!

Adult Literacy FundraiserElizabeth Rosner, author of The Speed of Light and Blue Nude, will be

the guest speaker at The Bookies, Project Second Chance’s (PSC) benefit for adult literacy programs. The event will be held Thursday, March 31st at 6pm at the Lafayette Park Hotel. The evening will include dinner, wine, and a silent auction. Tickets are $50 each. This 11th annual event benefits the Contra Costa County Library adult literacy program, and it is co-sponsored by the Lafayette Book Store.

For more information, please look under PSC News and Events on the PSC website at www.ccclib.org/psc or call the PSC office at 925-927-3250.

American Association of University WomenThe Orinda/Moraga/Lafayette (OML) branch of AAUW proudly

invites the public to one of its most outstanding general meetings of the year - and its only evening meeting - at 7PM on Tuesday, April l2th at the Serbian Cultural Center, l700 School St., Moraga. Following refreshments and a brief business meeting, local Junior High and High School students will be awarded scholarships, and two women professionally engaged in scientific research will lecture.

The Junior High scholarship winners who have demonstrated unusual aptitude in the sciences and math will be present and will receive hands-on learning experience at Stanford Tech Trek Camp this summer. In addition, two working women scientists will share insights into emerging career opportunities in the science field and discuss how scientists from various fields (physicists, chemists, statisticians, and biologists) collaborate to solve complex biological problems. One of the speakers, Dr. Kris Kulp, has expertise in understanding the role of dietary carcinogens in the role of human cancer.

Our second distinguished speaker, Melinda Moir, co-director of the Tech Trek Camp at Stanford, will give us a brief insight into the exciting activities in store for our Junior High School students. The two will be a source of inspiration to the nascents scientists as well as a source of interesting information for the general public.


Sustainable Lafayette Tip of the Month The average kitchen in Lafayette is loaded with activity – refrigerators opening and closing,

dishwashers running, grocery bags arriving, burners going, lights shining, water running, coffee makers percolating, etc. Because of all that activity, the kitchen typically uses the most energy (besides heating and cooling) and generates the most waste of any room in the house. So, if you want to green your home a little bit, there’s no better place to focus than your kitchen. Following are easy steps you can take without any remodeling or changes to your kitchen appliances that can help transform your kitchen from an energy eater to a savings superstar.

Choose local, low-impact foods – Nothing makes a bigger difference than this. Choose fresh, local unwrapped produce. Buy food in bulk when possible, and try skipping meat sometimes since the livestock industry generates a whopping 18% of worldwide greenhouse gases. To reduce energy and waste, minimize use of foods from distant lands, prepared frozen meals, and snack foods with excessive packaging.

Compost food scraps – Did you know that 70% of household and yard waste can be composted rather than thrown in the trash? Using the in-sink garbage disposal burdens water-treatment facilities with viscous sludge, which requires additional water to treat. Instead, collect your biodegradable kitchen waste in a bin or bucket, and when it’s full, tote it to your backyard compost bin or drop it in your green yard waste bin. Learn more at www.wastediversion.org/app_pages/view/48.

Recycle everything possible – Everyone knows you can recycle glass and cans, but these days there’s so much more kitchen waste that we can put in our brown recycle bins, including plastics (#1-5 and #7), milk/juice cartons, any non-soiled paper or cardboard, yogurt containers, and more. If you end up with plastic shopping bags or produce bags, collect them in a bag under the sink, and then bring them back to the grocery story where they have recycling containers.

Move from disposable to reusable – Disposable items generate a lot of unnecessary trash that mostly goes to the landfill. Instead of using disposable paper towels and napkins, which are often made from virgin forests, opt instead for reusable cleaning wipes and cloth napkins. Also try reusable glass leftover containers (The Container Store has many) and reusable lunch kits for your kids (ecolunchboxes.com). Reuseit.com has many reusable kitchen products.

Clean up naturally – The list of what goes into regular petrochemically-based dishwashing liquids, detergents, and floor and surface cleaners is enough to turn anyone's stomach. Fortunately there are now plenty of companies producing non-toxic, biodegradable, plant-based detergents and cleaners, including Seventh Generation, Method, Mrs. Meyers, Clorox GreenWorks and others. Diablo Foods has a great selection.

Choose energy-efficient cooking options – It takes a lot of energy to heat up an oven, so take advantage of it by cooking more than one thing at once. For small dishes, using a toaster oven or reheating in a microwave saves energy. When cooking on the stove, use a lid whenever possible to prevent heat from escaping. Even better, pressure cookers reduce cooking time by up to 70%. Of course raw foods—like salads—are the most energy efficient and healthy of all.

Run your dishwasher efficiently – Save energy and water by washing only full loads and letting the dishes air dry when the cycle is done. Light the kitchen with CFL or LED floodlights – Above your stove, over your sink and in your overhead lighting, switch to using CFL and LED bulbs

instead of incandescent. CFLs last up to 10 times longer and use 75% less energy. CFL and LED bulbs cost more up-front but pay for themselves quickly by using less energy and lasting much longer.

Switch to biodegradable trash bags – Most of the plastic garbage bags that people use in their kitchen for trash take decades to decompose in landfills (if they ever do). Try biodegradable kitchen garbage bags like the ones offered from BioBag (BioBag.com).

Ditch the water bottles – Cases of plastic water bottles seem inexpensive and convenient, but a case a week means over 600 plastic bottles a year that take a lot of energy to produce and ship and mostly end up in landfills. Our tap water is outstanding, and reusable water bottles are inexpensive and easy to clean.

Reuse water (extra credit!) – You can reuse water from boiling (let it cool down) or washing vegetables to water your household plants.To see more tips and read real-life success stories about how residents in Lafayette are living more sustainably, please visit www.sustainablelafayette.org.

The Lafayette City Council is Soliciting Applicants to Fill the Following Volunteer Vacancies:

• Representative to the Advisory Council on Aging• Circulation Commission• Code Enforcement Appeals Board• Community Center Foundation• Creeks Committee• Senior Services Commission• Representative to Central Contra Costa County Transit Authority• Downtown Street Improvement Implementation Committee (DSIMPIC)To learn more about these volunteer opportunities and to obtain an application, visit the City’s website www.ci.lafayette.ca.us. Positions are open until filled.

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Lafayette World Thinking DayLafayette Girl Scouts will be celebrating World Thinking Day with the

theme Women Around The World: How They Make a Difference on March 25 from 4-6PM at Lafayette Methodist Church located at 955 Moraga Road.

Troops will represent a famous woman and set up a display and booth teaching about her and her country. Guests can “visit” other countries, learning about famous women from around the world. Guests can also enjoy entertainment, food, and fun activities. This World Thinking Day will also be a Girl Scout recruiting event, so scouts are encouraged to bring a school-aged girl guest, and the scout will have her name entered in a drawing for a Powell's gift certificate.

This event is for all ages, families, friends, and the public! It is being hosted by Troop 31042, 9th grade seniors and will be a benefit celebration for the Monument Crisis Center.

Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassador Troops are wanted to host booths.

For registration and information, visit sites.google.com/site/worldthinkingday2011/ or contact Maureen Behrendt at [email protected] or (925) 938-8268.

More information about Lafayette Girl Scouts can be found at www.lafayettegirlscouts.org/.

Free Tax Preparation Free tax preparation for the 2011 tax season is offered by Tax-Aide’s AARP

sponsored program. For information or to make an appointment, call (925) 943-5851 Walnut Creek Senior Club site, (925) 405-6278 Walnut Creek Grace

Presbyterian Church site, or (925) 979-5013 Walnut Creek St. Paul’s Episcopal Church site. For general information and other site locations, call (925) 405-5135.

Girl Scout Troop 32149 recently held a bake sale to raise money for the Lafayette Early Intervention Program and to adopt an animal at the Oakland Zoo. They baked with some of the kids from Early Intervention. The event was a great success – raising $192 despite a day of rain and hail. Pictured above are girls from the Troop and the Early Intervention Program.


Wine March Madness By Monica Chappell

Who says wine appreciation has to cost a fortune? The game plan: Be adventurous by exploring wines that might not yet be in your wine vocabulary. Wines often cost more when they come from a well-known wine making region or are made from a popular grape vari-ety, so rather then heading straight for the same wine, expand your horizons and beat the budget crunch! Get to Know the Other Grapes

There is life after Chardonnay and Cabernet. Instead of seeking out the famil-iar, try something unusual made from a grape you’ve never heard of. For starters, try to learn the names of less popular grapes like Gewürztraminer or Malbec. It seems the more difficult a grape is to pronounce, the better of a value the wine is likely to be. Let me introduce you to some of my favorite wines, Nero D’Avola, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Viognier to name a few.Look for Lesser-Known Regions

Major wine growing regions are reliable sources but often expensive as well. Lesser-known appellations are home to some of the best bargain bottles. No single country seems to have a lock on producing good value wines, so have fun traveling the globe in search of top values.

• Southern Italy - For delicious, unfussy wines at reasonable prices, one of the best sources is southern Italy, which is home to notable wine regions such as Apulia, Campania, and Sicily.

• Southern France -This part of France produces lots of delicious wines, but there are also a number of not-so-good bottles. Bargain hunters must tread carefully. The red blends of Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages offer some of the best buys.

• California Central Coast - Bargain hunters gave up on Napa years ago, so look to the Central Coast for bargains. With its state-of-the-art winemak-ing techniques and nearly ideal weather, it’s easy to understand how this expansive region continues to pump out bargains.

• South Australia - No place in the world produces more consistently good inexpensive wines than South Australia. The best value wines are typically

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Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes Diablo Country Club Concert Event

“Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes” is an organization committed to honoring the families of law enforcement and fire service personnel who, in the performance of their duties, paid the ultimate price, the loss of life. The all-volunteer “Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes”, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, is sponsoring a fund-raising dinner concert featuring the celebrated tenor George Komsky for an evening of Italian songs titled An Italian Night in Diablo at the Diablo Country Club in Diablo on Thursday, April 14th. The dinner benefit will begin with ap-petizers at 5:30PM and will include a no-host bar and limited live auction for $100 per person.

An Italian Night in Diablo will feature Italian opera arias by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and other favorite timeless pieces.

The concert proceeds will support “Police and Fire: The Fallen He-roes” with funds to assist the families of law enforcement and fire service personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

For more information, go to www.thefallenheroes.org, e-mail [email protected], or call (925) 831-2011.

labeled South Australia or South Eastern Australia. • Chile Central Valley - Chile offers some of the best value wines, yet

unfortunately the quality of Chilean wines can vary considerably. Most of the Chilean wines from the Valle Central, or Central Valley, come from the country’s best-known regions, Maipo and Rapel valleys.Shop the Deals

Often retailers will offer additional discounts on case purchases so take advantage. When you find a wine that’s special, stock up and save.

With a little bit of know how, seeking out wines that fit the bill without breaking the bank can be easier then you think. You may even find that your new favorite is a tournament Cinderella.

Monica Chappell teaches Wine Appreciation classes in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville, and Pleasant Hill. To register for Italy Uncorked on April 8 go to www.walnutcreekrec.org.


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A Leap of Faith By Daniel A. Barnes

Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith.Other times, you don’t have to, but you feel you

“should.”The latter compelled me to sign up for my own

radio show on KDIA AM 1640 last month. I don’t know what came over me. I mean, I like

to talk, but, radio?What I really don’t like to do, though, is cold-call

people. I think in my five years in business, I haven’t even made 100 cold calls. I just hate it, so I’m obliged to build a business the meek-fashioned way, by writing a newspaper column and hoping my phone rings!

Well, maybe reality is actually a bit different than that, but you get the point: I’d rather market by teaching people some things about money than by talking about how great I am and asking for their signature.

Radio seemed like a great idea. I’d develop a new skill, talk on the air, and meet new people.

And so far, so good.My show will be live on KDIA for the next 15 weeks (14 by the time you

read this). It airs at 11am on Saturdays. Downloadable recordings of the show from my

website should be available by the time this issue arrives in your mailbox. My first show was March 5th. I decided to speak about gas prices, gold, real estate,

and retirement planning. It started off without a hitch. At least until after the show. I asked about a copy, and it appears the first show didn’t get recorded. Snafus happen!

Sputtering out of the gate, I welcomed my audience and shared the question: “Are rising gas prices inflationary or deflationary?”

It’s a good question, and the answer is that they are deflationary because taking money out of people’s pockets and putting it into the pump is reducing the amount of money we have to buy other things.

Hence, higher gas prices are a brake (or a wet blanket) on the economy.But alas, I sputtered with the analogies a bit. It was, after all, my first

radio show segment ever.Boy, was I thankful as we broke for a commercial!The second segment was about gold. Now, I’m more of an expert on

gold than I am on gas. I started by asking my fabulous board operator Clifford, who has a beautiful booming baritone, what he thought an ounce of gold might have bought you in Roman times.

Alas, I think I caught fleet-speaking Clifford a bit flat-footed here, because the answer is as simple: A very fine set of clothes. In that day, it would have been the most proper “toga.”

Fast forward 2,000 years, and an ounce of gold once again buys about the same thing: A set of very fine clothes from Nordstrom’s (for $1,400 bucks).

We talked about how in the last bull market in gold, gold rose from $35 to $850 an ounce, an increase of 24-fold. The current gold bull market began with gold at $250. I do believe that gold could easily see $6,000 an ounce before this bull market is over.

Then we talked about real estate. Real estate is difficult because it entirely depends on a person’s situation. While this is true of all investments, it’s especially true of investments where the roof can leak and the toilet may back up! As an advisor, I told my radio listeners that I help clients assess whether they really want to manage properties and the recurrent maintenance and even liability issues associate with investment properties.

Finally, we talked about retirement planning. Retirement is all about crafting a life after work, or a second career, within the constraints of living within your means. I honestly don’t remember everything I talked about, but retirement planning is going to be something I talk about frequently on the show, as retirement planning is a major focus of our core strategy, which is to create a rising paycheck that replaces our clients’ salaries as they enter into retirement.

I think this is going to be a fun venture, this radio thing. In any case, I’m banking on the time-tested value in taking “a leap of faith.”

Tune in next week at KDIA AM 1640 on Saturdays at 11am, and send me your questions to [email protected].

Barnes Capital LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor located in downtown Lafayette in the Bay Area. We manage trusts and retirement income portfolios. Financial planning is an integral part of our process. We protect client capital using municipal bonds, high-quality dividend-increasing companies and precious metals which have protected wealth in every epoch spanning five millennia of bankruptcies, inflation and other forms of attrition. Call 925-284-3503 and visit www.barnescapital.com. Advertorial

Schools Face Huge Cuts Due to Inadequate FundingBy Fred Brill, Ed.D., Superintendent Lafayette School District

These are extremely challenging times for most public and private organizations, and the Lafayette School District is no exception. Over the past three years, the State has reduced our funding by $1,089 per student, resulting in a reduction of $3,403,125 to our district (18% reduction in State revenues). Our Governing Board members have worked hard to maximize opportunities to procure additional revenues and take advantage of cost saving measures (solar projects; rental of school fields and facilities; reduced vacation pay-outs; reduction of professional development, etc.). Nonetheless, over the past three years, the Lafayette School District has cut more than $2 million from its budget, eliminating 16.3 teaching positions, 10 classified positions (secretaries, custodians, grounds, maintenance, etc), and 4 administrative/district office positions. Additionally, all employees in the district have taken two furlough days (administrators have taken three furlough days).

Unfortunately, funding for K-12 education in the State of California remains inadequate and extremely uncertain. Governor Brown has proposed a budget that includes $12.5 billion in cuts and he is working to put a tax extension on the ballot in June that would bring in an additional $12.5 billion to the State each year for five years. School Services of California, the foremost authority on K-12 financing, is advising school districts to make cuts of $330 per student in planning for the 2011-12 school year. The Lafayette School District is now facing a structural deficit of $2,240,000 in 2011-2012. It should be noted that this is not a worst-case scenario. A more challenging scenario would leave our district with a $3.2 million structural deficit. The Contra Costa County Office of Education (who approves our budget) strongly suggested maintaining an additional reserve of $300 per student, an extra $1 million in contingency reserves for the Lafayette School District to protect against further cuts coming down from the State.

While Lafayette Partners in Education (formerly LASF) and parent organizations have worked tirelessly to raise funds on behalf of the students in Lafayette, these resources are already built into our budget: they are providing precious revenues for music, art, science, classroom supplies, instructional aides, library services, computers, counseling services and professional development. We appreciate and highly value their ongoing contributions to our district.

See Schools continued on page 22

[email protected] Scanning … Give New Life to Your Old Photos!By George Swan, Aberscan Imaging

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lafayette Today ~ March 2011 -

Cinema ClassicsBy Peggy Horn

This month’s film for review, Hands Across the Table, is from 1935 and stars Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray. In this movie, beautiful Miss. Lombard plays the part of Regi Allen, a manicurist with a mission: to marry a wealthy man. She meets a fellow gold digger, Theodore Drew (III), played by Fred MacMurray, a ne’er do well who has the name, prestige, and reputation of having money, but in fact, he has none. Although the course of their romance bears some resemblance to the plot of It Happened One Night,

with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable, it has its own amusing situations that make this movie worth seeing. The funniest lines are delivered by handsome and vibrant Fred MacMurray, who as a young man seems nothing like his later grown up self that many of us remember from films like Double Indemnity and The Shaggy Dog.

In the movie, Regi Allen’s best friend is a numerology devotee who advises her about the potential for success of various situations, based on the numbers, particularly in Regi’s quest to marry money. Ironically, Miss. Lombard’s real mother was a great believer in numerology and apparently predicted the possibility of an accident or death before their flight home from Indiana following a successful promotional tour to raise money for the United States government during the Second World War. Unfortunately, in 1942, Miss. Lombard and her mother were both killed in the crash of the plane they were in which was taking them home from the tour to reunite them with Miss. Lombard’s husband, Clark Gable.

Although watching any movie with Carole Lombard is a little bit of a melancholy reminder of her fate, this is still a very funny movie that combines romance and comedy with gorgeous cinematography. Just as entertaining as the witty dialogue is the illustration of life during the forties, including the swanky manicure and beauty salon that is part of a hotel offering many lavish services to their clients and the elegant night clubs for dining and dancing that I wish were still available for present day attendees such as myself!

This movie is available inexpensively on line and very much worth the effort to find.

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Shop Talk from Urban Suburban Understanding the nervous system of your carBy René Aguirré

With each year, our vehicles are becoming more efficient, more user friendly, and better equipped to help us in a variety of situations. Last month we talked about all the new gadgets and gismos in the car. Not only did we cover GPS and DVD players, but we also mentioned park assist and other functions. All of these things add to the technological advances and complexities in our cars. How do all of these things work? What causes our check engine

light to go on? How do we know our tires are low? Let’s try to work out some of these details to understand what is happening beyond the mechanics of your vehicle.

Your car- vehicle or computer? As vehicles continue to advance in technology, so do the tools we use to diagnose and fix them. The inner workings of our cars are beginning to look alarmingly similar to computer networks. Instead of having one main computer with everything reporting to it, each vehicle has many separate computer networks focusing on a particular function in the vehicle. Depending on the manufacturer, your car can have a computer for the engine management system, one for the ABS brake system, one for the AC/heater system, one for the transmission, one for the alarm system, and one for body control. The body control system exists to handle things like door locks, windows, tires, and suspension. In our vehicles, all these systems are in place to monitor everything to make sure it works.

The engine management system is one of the more complicated systems in the vehicle. Some of the things this system is responsible for are letting you know when you need an oil change, if you’re going to pass smog, monitoring your fuel mixture, and tracking various temperatures. Each component has at least one wire running from the engine management system computer to a sensor in the mechanical part. The sensor tracks the functionality of the part to ensure it is working at its maximum efficiency. If the part fails or the sensor fails, a message is sent to the computer. In some cases, you will see the associated light on the dash, like the check engine light. In other cases, your car may not run as efficiently. In these cases, your mechanic is able to plug in a diagnostics scanner, which is like a small computer, to figure out what the issue is. Sometimes it is not the sensor or the part that fails. The wire delivering the information can have problems as well. We have seen many reasons for the wires to fail such as weather conditions, chaffing, age, fender benders, and even mice.

With any of these issues, your mechanics work hard to keep up with technology. With up-to-date training, tools, and diagnostic equipment, mechanics are able to successfully diagnose any problems your car might be having.

Team Urban around town- Spring is right around the corner! I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the warm weather! Spring in Lafayette brings many fun things to do around town like the local Farmers Market. You never know, you might see an appearance or two from the Green Cow alongside the farmers. In April, we are looking forward to making an appearance at the Earth Day events in Lafayette. We will be ready to talk about our Green Cow Certification program for local businesses, recommendations for going green, and our committment to encouraging local businesses to participate in the Lafayette community. Thank you to Jay and friends at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for inviting us!

Looking a little further into the year, we are already gearing up for the second annual Motorama event presented by the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club. This year we have added an additional event to Father’s Day weekend, The Motorama- World of Wheels Pre-Event Gala, on June 18th at 6pm. At this wonderful event, we will have a catered sit down dinner, live entertainment, and a live auction. The Gala will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building of Lafayette. A limited number of tickets to the Gala are available. Tickets are $100 each and are going fast! This will be a great date night and a great way to celebrate Fathers’ Day weekend. For every pair of tickets sold, you will get one complimentary VIP pass to the Motorama – World of Wheels main event on Sunday, June 19th. All proceed raised from these two events will support the programs Rotary is active in. To learn more about Motorama and Rotary, please visit www.motorama.us. Tickets are available online for the Gala and the VIP tent. We would like to thank Big O Tires of Lafayette for being our first official sponsor!

If you have any questions about this or any other Shop Talk issues, call US today at 925-283-5212 or visit our website www.urbansuburban.com. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 5pm. Urban Suburban is your auto repair specialist for Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, Saturn, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Dodge, Chevy, Porsche, Jaguar, Acura, Volvo, Saab, Nissan and more. We are your dealership alternative! We provide free shuttle service to the local area. Advertorial

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Healthy Garden Workshop Save time, energy, and resources with gardening practices that pro-

tect our families, wildlife and water. Sponsored by the City of Walnut Creek, the free one day Healthy Garden Workshop will be presented by the Gardens at Heather Farm on Saturday, April 9th, from 9AM-2:30PM. Register by March 25th by calling (925) 947-1678. There is a $20 refund-able registration fee, due to limited seats.

Topics presented to establish your own sustainable garden include: appropriate plant selections for your garden, building and maintaining healthy soil, creating a wildlife habitat that attracts birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects, and managing pests and weeds the least toxic way.

For more information go to www.gardenshf.org.

[email protected] in the Lafayette GardenMore Than a GardenBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

Over the many years of writing Life in the Lafayette Garden and following up with my clients after they have lived in their gardens, I have discovered some new distinctions about our Lafayette gardens. There are so many aspects to a garden, and I have attempted to cover the important ones over the years. I have

talked about the various elements of design as well as practical advice such as how to save and conserve water and plant selection for deer territory. As a landscape architect with more than 35 years of experience in California, I have come to the conclusion there is so much more to a garden that meets the eye.

When you think about it, it is more than a garden! It has the power to rejuvenate, inspire, and relax. When you take in consideration how we use our Lafayette gardens, what comes to mind are the endless hours of peaceful contemplation, lively gatherings, and toiled love. We use our gardens not just for something beautiful to look at, although that is part of it. When I design a client’s garden, I first have them answer a questionnaire that I have developed over many years. I ask many questions spanning the gambit from functionality and budget to their vision. I delve into specifics, but I also try to go deep into what makes them feel the way they want to feel when they are in their garden. What I am bringing to the design is more than a garden! In this busy world we all deserve our own little paradise where we can retreat to.

We are blessed to live in such a beautiful area where we can consider the garden as an extension of our homes. Here in Lafayette we can live outside just about as much as we live inside. Consider the time spent in the swimming pool, playing sports with the kids, barbecuing and eating outdoors, harvesting fruits and veggies, and reading a good book under a shade tree on a warm spring day. All these activities add so many dimensions to our lives outdoors making it more than a garden.

When it is more than a garden we have the opportunity to use our gardens for other activities that contribute to our families, friends, and community. Think of the limitless activities and special events you can have such as weddings, anniversary celebrations, graduation parties, birthday parties, etc. Garden tours have become a viable way to raise needed donations for some very worthy organizations. A well designed garden can present endless opportunities to bring family and community together.

Over the years my wonderful clients have so generously offered their gardens for various garden tours. Last year we organized our own “Life in the Alamo Garden” fundraiser. It was a surprising success! We had between 300-400 people and generated close $10K for wonderful organizations like Hospice of the East Bay and others. By popular demand, I have been requested to organize a 2nd annual tour of gardens exclusively designed by my firm that will benefit several great organizations.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: JMLA is delighted to announce our 2nd annual Garden Tour Fundraiser: “Life in the Lafayette Garden” a tour of five distinct Lafayette gardens. I invite you to come enjoy the afternoon with us: stroll the gardens, chat with me, and enjoy several surprises we have planned. Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14 from 11AM - 4PM. For more info go to our website-garden tour page. It will be a


Montelindo Garden ClubThe Montelindo Garden Club holds general meeting and speakers on the

third Friday of the month, September through May at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda.

Refreshments are served at 9AM, a meeting is held at 9:30, and a speaker is featured at 10:30. On Friday, March 18, K. Ruby Blume, founder of The Institute of Urban Homesteading in Oakland, will present Put a Bee in Your Bonnet- An Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping.

The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. For more information, go to http://www.montelindogarden.com or e-mail [email protected].

pleasure to meet you all!Gardening Quote of the Month: “Gardeners are - let’s face it - control

freaks. Who else would willingly spend his leisure hours wresting weeds out of the ground, blithely making life or death decisions about living beings, moving earth from here to there, changing the course of waterways? The more one thinks about it, the odder it seems; this compulsion to remake a little corner of the planet according to some plan or vision.” - Abby Adams, What is a Garden Anyway

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

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Spring Pruning By Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

Once again, it’s that time of year when the landscape grows lush, beautiful – and out of control. At Brende & Lamb, we prune to balance the practical with the aesthetic. When our clients ask us to restore their

views, bring more light into their gardens, and reduce fire hazards, we do our best to keep their screening intact and to protect their privacy. At the same time we work hard to enhance the natural beauty of their trees. Balancing your tree care needs are skills we’ve developed over decades of caring for trees.Aesthetic Pruning

Each plant has a natural growth pattern. Aesthetic pruning accentuates the shape given the plant by nature. Good pruning creates a light and open feeling. A well pruned plant enhances the observer’s experience by accentu-ating the interplay of light and shadow, open spaces and denser spaces, and by revealing the sculptural elements of trunk and branch.

The first step in aesthetic pruning is to see the flow of the tree. We begin by looking at the base of the trunk, then let our eyes follow the trunk upward into the branches and out to the branch tips. We notice how the flow of the branches determines the tree’s form. The form may be weeping, as with Wil-lows and Chinese Elms. Perhaps, as with Monterey Cypress, the branches form at acute angles to the trunk, giving the tree an upswept look. Or the branches may bend and twist, forming complex arcs, as does the Coast Live Oak. Within these patterns, each tree has its own unique form and flow.Pruning and Size Reduction

It is important to prune in a manner that does not harm the health of the tree. When thinning a pine, for example, it is important not to strip the major branches of their smaller branches, a practice called “lion-tailing” which leaves a branch denuded except for foliage at the end. Lion-tailing

increases the chance of branch failure by concentrating the weight at the branch tips. A healthier tree, and more subtly beautiful look, is achieved by thinning to highlight the spaces or “layers” in its natural patterns. Removing diseased wood, and removing or reducing crossing branches that interrupt the natural flow, lets in more light and air, encouraging interior growth and overall health. Careful pruning can increase desired screening over time by encouraging interior growth. Aesthetic View Work

In view work, the beauty of the view and the beauty of the tree often seem to be in conflict. Some tree-workers will sacrifice the tree for the view by “topping” the tree. Topping is almost always a bad idea. “Topping” creates a dense re-growth in water-sprouts that is unsightly. But more than the tree’s beauty is at stake here. Topping wounds the tree and promotes disease, including heart rot, and can make the tree dangerous. The water-sprouts on a topped tree are not deeply anchored in the trunk and are subject to failure in high winds. Add in the fact that these sprouts may be anchored onto a rotting trunk, and you have a safety problem that gets worse over time. Re-sponsible arborists do not top trees. Removing a tree, perhaps replacing it with a smaller variety that can be kept out of the view, is usually preferable to beheading it.

Looking at tree and view as two elements that complement each other can often solve view problems. Sometimes, lightly bringing the tree back without cutting into major branches can prevent further encroachment on the view.

To open even more of the view, we create windows by selectively removing branches not essential for the tree’s natural form. We can enlarge these windows by removing branchlets that rise or drop into the view. Thinning above and below the window creates a feeling of openness, rather than gaping hole. The image formed by Mt. Diablo, framed by the trembling leafs of a well-windowed tree, proves that nature and civilization can complement each other.

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

Gardening with KateBy Kathleen Guillaume

We are sitting on the very edge of spring. I finally have my beds all cleaned of leaf litter, and I have managed to spray my apricot, cherries, peaches, and apples with horticultural oil before the long rains last month. I am waiting now for the first dry week so I can get the rest of my roses sprayed. When that is done, I will be able to mulch my beds. I had hoped to have this all done by now, but everything took a

little longer this year.I did have my garden guy help me eliminate some roses this year. A few

weeks ago he came over with his crew and took out thirteen roses. I just tagged four others which I will have him remove on his next trip. I never thought I would be removing some of my favorite and cherished roses, but I just don’t have the energy to prune and care for that many roses any more. Besides, I am quite committed to making room for more food producing plants.

This year I will have room for double the amount of sugar snap peas and snow peas. I am horrid with beans, so frozen Haricots Verts will be chosen as they are far better quality and are a far better price than anything I can produce in my garden.

We are coming upon my very favorite time of year. We should be past late spring frosts by the end of the month, so I can plant my tomato crop. I will stick with ‘Early Girl,’ my perennial favorite, as it will set blossoms even when the evenings are still cool.

In late March, I will buy several 4” pots of ‘Early Girl’ and move them up to one gallon for a few weeks so I can get them about one foot tall. Then into the ground they go. Remember to plant tomatoes deep with only the very tops of the growth sticking out of the ground. All of those branch and leaf formations will create roots. Tomatoes have very deep roots if they are not overwatered, so be sure to prepare your bed by working in organic material at least 18” deep. I put lots of manure at the bottom, which weathers in before

my one gallon plants are ready to place on the holes I’ve prepared. Next, I pick a sweet cherry tomato variety and some plum tomatoes...and count down the early summer weeks until I will have my first tomato sandwich. I mix a little lemon juice in with Best Foods Mayo, tomatoes, and salt and pepper. Yum!

This is also the time of year to shop for those wonderful woody vines that bloom spectacular blooms, the clematis. My favorite supplier is Brushwood Nursery. You can find them online at www.gardenvines.com. The quality of their stock is so high; all of the clematis that I purchased last year bloomed their first season. They are shipped bare root and are several years old already. Mine have leaf buds forming as I write this. The most important thing to remember with clematis is that they need good drainage. Most of us have a fairly clay based soil, and that can be overcome by planting the clematis high in an artificial mound of soil. They also need to have their roots shaded, so I plant alyssum, or thyme, or any other low growing plant around their base to make sure their roots stay cool. When you go online and look at their inventory, you will be amazed at the variety and the colors. It is one gift to your garden that gives you years and years of late spring and summer glory with very little maintenance. Also remember to plan in advance where you will place them and get the bed prepared; clematis do NOT like to be moved once their roots get established.

This year another great plant I will scatter around my garden is the perennial snapdragon. Annie’s Annuals has several. Ask your nursery to order some for you. They are absolutely breathtaking and have a very long bloom cycle. My favorite has tones of orange, yellow rust, and rose like Antirrhinum majus Double Azalea Apricot, or Chantilly Peach. These two are stunning next to clumps of any of the larger blue salvias. www.anniesannuals.com.

Rejoice! It is almost spring, my fruit trees are budded out, my hellebore are in their glory, and all is right with the world.

Happy Gardening,Kate


Stress Free Home Buying 2011By Art Lehman, Village Associates Realtors

It is a good time to buy, and I thought I’d pass on some tips to keep in mind as you go through the home buying process. Buying a home should be fun, not stressful.

1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but it is also an emotional one. It’s critical that

the REALTOR® you chose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.

2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer — you risk losing out on the home of your dreams. The housing market usually doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home in our market won’t stay available for long.

3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate family — the people who will be living in the home.

4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof might need repair. Make a list of your top priorities, and focus in on things that are most important to you. Let the minor ones go.

5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation is give and take.

6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself — room size, kitchen, etc. — that you forget about important issues such as noise level, location to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life.

7. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigate home insurance, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers. In this financing climate you really want all your ducks lined up first.

8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even if

you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But it also yields big benefits. Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.

10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. A home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live.

If you have any questions on selling or buying a home in the area, please contact me 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. Advertorial

www.yourmonthlypaper.comSensible Steps to Limit Liability From Investment Property and Small BusinessesBy Robert J. Silverman, Esq.

Do you own any investment real estate in which title is held in your own name(s)? Do you own a small business that is a sole proprietorship?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, do you understand the scope of your liability if someone

sues and obtains a judgment against you on a claim arising out of or related to your business or real estate investment activity?

The first question you should ask yourself is what types of liability (for which you could be sued) are covered by applicable insurance coverage. You may be relieved because you are confident that you have a terrific homeowner’s and/or business general liability policy with broad coverage. Fortunately, having the right kind of policies, coverage and limits, will protect you against many, if not the vast majority, of potential kinds of liability.

Of course, it’s prudent to: a) verify with your property and casualty insur-ance agent that you have the broad scope and limits you think (or hope) you have as a result of the premiums you pay; b) ask your agent about whether cer-tain “endorsements” or “riders” are available to purchase, at a premium cost you deem worthwhile, that satisfactorily expand the scope of your coverage; and c) explore the feasibility and desirability of purchasing a personal and/or business umbrella policy that expands the limits of any and all underlying policies (those specifically designated to be under the “umbrella”).

Although your “first line of defense” is insurance, you will never be able to cover every kind of potential liability. Some coverage is simply commercially unavailable, severely restricted, or financially impractical. You need to read your policy(ies) carefully and talk to your insurance agent regarding details; but, here are a few examples of investment property-related liability for which coverage is customarily excluded or extremely limited: claims by tenants for personal injury from mold at the premises; certain kinds of water damage; landlord discrimi-nation; embezzlement or malfeasance of a resident manager. Similarly, small business owners frequently have gaps in insurance coverage.

To protect against these inevitable insurance coverage voids, it’s smart to evaluate a “second line of defense” - forming a business entity, such as a Lim-ited Liability Company (LLC) or Corporation. Properly formed and operated business entities offer enormous value by shielding the owner’s personal assets from potential creditors. Instead of being exposed to “unlimited liability” as to any real estate and business assets you own personally, you are entitled to “limited liability” as to any real estate or business assets titled in a business entity that is formed, capitalized and operated properly.

An example illustrates the difference in exposure. Facts: John and Mary Doe hold title in their own names to a rental property

with $200,000 in equity. They own other net assets (e.g. home, savings, stocks and bonds) totaling $2 Million. Their tenant sues the Does for a type of risk not covered by insurance and obtains a judgment against the Does for $1 Million.

1) No Business Entity: The tenant can seek to satisfy his judgment by seizing the Does’ investment property and/or $1 Million of other assets owned by the Does.

2) Business Entity: The entity limits the tenant to seizing only those as-sets owned by the business entity – the investment property with $200,000 in equity; and thus, the LLC enabled the Does to protect $800,000 (of their other assets) from the judgment creditor.

Many factors should be considered, including the cost, time, and effort involved in forming and maintaining a business entity, before deciding whether or not to form one. Nevertheless, many people find it an easy deci-sion to form a business entity for extra peace of mind, particularly given the litigious society we live in.

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.

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 communi-cation 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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What Privacy? By Evan Corstorphine

For the past fifteen years, something has been happening that’s never happened before. It started without your consent, you have to pay money to try to correct it, and even if you do pay, you probably aren’t going to be successful. What is it? It’s the loss of your privacy.

As the world wide web has grown, more in-formation has become available and searchable.

Public agencies began automating the process of data collection, storage, and delivery of their public records. Information formerly contained in their card catalogs and microfiche readers was suddenly available online. Before the web, newspaper reporters used to go to the courthouse and dig through records to research background on a story. Maybe they were looking for a business record or who the owner of a property might be. The public records laws were written at a time long before the world wide web. Now you can go to just about every county seat and look up all the information you want electronically from your own home.

What are the implications? I could write volumes about this, and oth-ers already have. Showing you is a lot faster. Try typing your name into the search boxes on the following websites - www.google.com, www.whitep-ages.com, www.peoplefinder.com, www.zabasearch.com, www.pipl.com, and www.123people.com, and see what you find. A couple of these will want money to delve deeper (I tend not to pay as sometimes it leads into a scam). A couple of them have a startling amount of free content, and collect information that goes way back into your past. For example, I found records of my past residences and even items I once sold on the internet back in 1988. I found out my age, that I’m a HAM radio operator, my sibling names, my home address, and what I look like from a few pictures of me (extracted from Facebook and others). This dovetails completely with my warning to never post embarrassing information on Facebook or Myspace (or anywhere), because it doesn’t go away. If I was willing to pay $35, I could find out a whole bunch more that they hold back.

I typed in the address I found for me into www.zillow.com, and found out how much my house is worth (maybe skip this site – too depressing!), and the home prices of all my neighbors. From there I looked at the “Street View” to see what my house looked like for someone driving by, and I saw my wife’s car and my truck parked in the driveway. All of this is now pub-licly available information. How do you feel about it? How does this change things for you? Does it matter to you that someone can find out your age, or knows how much your house is worth? Are there safety considerations here? What do you think?

I think information freedom is a good thing, and it’s also very powerful. For instance, free information flow is the first thing tyrannical governments attempt to cut off when the unwashed masses get uppity. Information and knowledge equal power. Power can be used for good, and it can be used against us, too.

There are services being created to deal with the personal privacy problem. Perhaps there is information about you that you’d rather not have floating around, accessible for others to read.

A couple of firms popped up when I began research for this article. One is called “Reputation Defender” (reputation.com). Their website is too detailed to fully describe here. Suffice it to say they have a service that can help scrub your records off the internet, which will monitor the internet for any new things about you, and will try to get them removed if you request it. They charge anywhere from $4 to $11/month. The other service I found is called Remove Your Name (removeyourname.com). They have similar services and costs, and I urge you to review both of these websites to see if they have anything to offer your particular situation.

It’s important to know the information that is available about us. Being an anonymous citizen is a thing of the past. There are tools you can use to mitigate the availability of your personal information to others. It’s a very broad subject, and a good place to read more can be found here: www.squi-doo.com/personalInformation. For more information or to discuss your particular situation, call or email your trusted advisors at Portable CIO, 925-552-7953 or [email protected]. Advertorial

mance. These kids are so used to television – seeing real people on a stage is often a first for them.”

Vicky Yancey, an EBCT volunteer from Orinda remembers one particularly poignant performance a few years back. “We were performing at a school in West Oakland,” says Yancey. “The principal was so happy that we had come that day because there had been a shooting on the campus the day before, and we were able to take the focus off of that incident and help the children to forget that awful event.

“I have chosen to be a member of EBCT because being able to perform for children in underprivileged schools is very gratifying,” continues Yancey, who is in her 38th year with the group and never tires of the cre-ative thank you letters and drawings sent by the students after each show. “The children seem to be overjoyed at our performances. I took my own child to the EBCT community performances many years before I joined, and she enjoyed them very much, as did my grandchildren many (should I say many, many!) years later.”

“It is common for children who saw EBCT years ago to now bring their own children to the performances,” says Gulko. “The performances inspire children to become more involved with the stage, drama, and musicals. Hopefully, EBCT will continue to bring the joy of theatre to young children for many years to come.”

EBCT will visit about nineteen schools during their season and perform for roughly 9,000 students – all for free. In addition to theatrical exposure, the schools are also provided educational packets containing story synopses, vocabulary words taken directly from the play, and critical thinking activities focused on writing, math, science, social studies, language arts activities, and art, and a bibliography detailing versions of the story from other cultures and eras. Program funding comes mostly through grants and from three paid performances, which this year will take place at the Lakeside Theatre in Oakland’s Kaiser Center on March 19th, The Castro Valley Performing Arts Center on March 27th, and Town Hall Theater in Lafayette on April 10th.

For more information on EBCT and to purchase tickets to one of their three community performances, visit: www.ebctonline.org or call 510-846-4779.

Rumpelstiltskin 2007 EBCT production

EBCT continued from front page

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www.yourmonthlypaper.com - March 2011 ~ Lafayette TodayNeurology in the Dark AgesBy Dr. Michael Nelson

Okay, by the Dark Ages, I really mean before CT and MRI scans. Actual neurological care in the Dark Ages was based on the belief that there were four humors in the body, and they needed to be in balance. The four humors were black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. Bloodletting by leeches

or venesection (surgical incision into a vein) was a common treatment.The very earliest neurological treatments were prehistoric and involved

a procedure called trepanation. Trepanation is the process of drilling holes into the skull with a tool known as a trephine. At the time, it is postulated that healers thought that neurological disorders like epilepsy or mental illness may have been attributed to evil spirits that could only be released through the drilling of holes into the skull. Patients would have been fortunate to merely survive these ancient treatments. If you didn’t survive, then I suppose death does provide a 100% cure rate of any disease.

Moving forward several hundred years brings us to x-ray technology. The advent of this technology was at the end of the 19th century. With x-ray, we could see inside the body without cutting it open for the first time. As with any new technology in the health field, x-rays were used to image all parts of the human body. It is best at seeing the difference between densities, such as a broken arm or detection and location of foreign bodies. Because the brain has relatively the same amount of density, taking an x-ray of the head only provides details of the bony structure of the skull itself.

In order to see the brain better, Dr. Walter Dandy developed the technique of diagnostic encephalography by being the first to inject air into the head in 1918. The thought was that the air would provide a clearer image of the brain itself by creating a greater contrast in densities.

Weight Loss for KidsBy Linda Michaelis, Your Personal Nutritionist

I was glad to let you know last month what it’s like to work with a personal nutritionist. Each person I encounter helps expand my 25 year experience and knowledge base, so I thought I’d provide an inside view of a real life case study.

Joey, 12 years old, was referred by his pediatrician for being overweight and having high cholesterol. I assured his mom that losing weight by following my

suggestions, accompanied by a consistent exercise regimen, will bring her son’s cholesterol into the normal range.

After a little probing, I identified what Joey eats and what his favorite foods are. Breakfast for him consisted of a Pop-Tart, bagel with cream cheese, toast with butter, or empty cereals such as the popular Honey Nut Cheerios and Strawberry Special K. His parents thought these supposedly low sugar cereals were healthy. The big issue here is they have absolutely no protein or fiber. You can count on these breakfasts to create constant hunger and a poor attention span at school.

For snack Joey ate a granola bar, fruit leather, yogurt or a piece of fruit with goldfish crackers or Wheat Thins. For lunch mom packed him a sandwich with a small amount of meat, leftover pasta, pizza, Hot Pockets, macaroni and cheese, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich usually accompanied by some type of cracker or chips, a fruit, and a dessert. After school Joey usually munched on fruits, crackers, chips, or yogurt, and he never managed to feel full. The prob-lem here is what I call “paste and glue,” where the typical meals and snacks are terribly low in protein and fiber, and what is consumed ends up on the hips and makes bellies bulge. The challenge is to have tasty meals and snacks with more protein and fiber.

I first provided a brief education for the family on how to read food labels for protein, fiber, sugar, and percentage of fat. They were shocked to see the fat and sugar content of some of their favorite foods. For example, Joey’s parents were shocked to learn that 2% milk actually is 50% fat. His several glasses of milk a day, plus heavy cheese consump-

tion, can explain his high cholesterol. After Joey tried some samples of cereals in my office, he seemed to

like Frosted Mini Wheats, Oatmeal Squares, Fiber One, and Kashi Go Lean Crunch.

For lunch I suggested packing leftovers from last night like chili, chicken stir-fry, the equivalent of a deli sandwich, or Joey’s favorite, a burrito with chicken, beans, and salsa. Joey loves having a treat for lunch such as a couple of Oreos which I explained is a better choice than a large bag of chips or crackers.

I told the family all the fruit Joey eats after school on an empty stomach just makes him more hungry. I noted that when the fruits are accompanied with snacks of beef jerky, hard boiled eggs, and peanut butter on apples or celery, a delicious and nutritious snack is enjoyed. Since Joey loves soups, I encouraged substituting a cup of noodles when he came home with a bowl of protein rich minestrone soup, bean soup, or mom’s homemade chicken soup accompanied by veggies and ranch dressing. Even a scrambled egg with a whole wheat English muffin is much better than all the crackers and fruit Joey had been grazing on.

The objective of a solid lunch and afternoon snack is to avoid being too famished for dinner and overeating. Joey’s parents often attempted to stave off snacks to save room for the large, traditional, protein laden, dinner. As usual, this approach backfired where famished Joey ate as much as his dad. My ap-proach is to use protein as a condiment ingredient for dinner. I suggested to mom to serve a small steak or dishes with a small amount of meat and more vegetables along with a salad lightly dressed with a vinaigrette.

Joey is very fond of pasta. I now have mom serving him a cup of cooked pasta with a light meat sauce or his favorite vegetable of asparagus. A yummy low fat dessert is permissible a few times a week if starch portions are kept in control.

I am thrilled to say that after working with the family for two months, Joey has lost weight, and his cholesterol is going down to a normal range.

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

How do you get air inside the head? Excellent question. Dr. Dandy, as a neurosurgeon, would drill a small hole into your skull. The technique was later changed to using a lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. Spinal fluid was drained, and then air, oxygen, or helium was injected through the spinal needle. The air would then travel up to the brain, and a head x-ray was performed. This procedure is called a pneumoencephalogram.

Now, those of you who have had a lumbar puncture are probably shocked that you would have to go through the pain of a lumbar puncture in order to take an x-ray of your head. Trust me, the lumbar puncture would have been nothing compared to the pain of having air injected into a space never meant to hold air. The fact that this procedure was featured in the film, The Exorcist, should be a clue to the level of pain. Severe headaches and vomiting were common side effects. The pain and other side effects would continue for weeks as the air was slowly absorbed.

Fortunately, CT scans were developed in the 1970’s and were in common use by the early 1980’s. These scans made pneumoencephalograms obsolete. The first CT scans took nine days to complete and took 21 hours of computer processing time. Now, you can have a CT scan in a few minutes. CT scans allow much greater detail than x-rays and are still extremely valuable to today’s physician. You can thank Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Allen Cormack who won the Nobel Prize in 1979 for developing the CT scan. After the development of the CT scan, modern neuroimaging techniques have had a rapid rate of development and now include MRI, MRA, functional MRI, nuclear medicine, CT-angiograms, CT-perfusion studies, PET, and SPECT scans. I hope this historical perspective can help you the next time your physician sends you for a CT scan or MRI.

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, CA. He can be reached at 925-299-9022 to schedule an appointment and can also be found on the web at www.michaelnelsonmd.com. Advertorial


What Are You Weighting For?By Jeffrey Johnson, D.C.

Over the past two years more than three thousand people have found their way to an improved way of living that embraces clean, con-scious eating through the 28 Days to Health™ program and products.

Our four week healthy eating and lifestyle modification program was created to educate and empower people to pro-actively improve their health and how they feel. 28 Days to Health™ program is not a fad or diet. It is completely safe and doesn't include calorie counting or deprivation. Thousands of people have regained their health through our simple, logical and easy to follow system. It takes 21 days to make a habit, give us 28 Days to Transform Your Life!How 28 Days to Health™ Works

Our bodies are exposed to toxins every day from the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and the medications we con-sume to our own body's metabolism. Many of the chemicals detected are known to disrupt hormones, cause cancer, and contribute to many health problems including fatigue, auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia and weight gain.

Our body's detoxification system neutralizes metabolic products and toxic compounds into safe by-products for eliminations through our sweat, urine, and stools. The 28 Days to Health™ program is designed to be a safe and effective method for minimizing the intake of inflammatory foods, while maximizing the body's clearing of unhealthy toxins from the fat storage sites of the body for elimination from the body.

To sustain renewed health and vitality after the 28 Days to Health™ pro-gram, we focus on educating and empowering you to continue to make good choices. At the conclusion of our course you will know how to:

• Minimize your intake of inflammatory foods• Maximize your body's natural detoxification pathways• Maintain appropriate hydration levels• Prepare balanced, nutrient dense meals• Avoid the “common criminals” in your diet that deplete your health and vitality• Improve your body’s PH

28 Days to Health™ BenefitsOur four week program provides you a proven, safe, systematic way to

improve your health. The average man loses between 12-15 pounds, while the average woman loses 6 to 10 pounds. More importantly, participants are keeping the weight off and in many cases continue to lose significant amounts of weight for months to come. One of our clients has lost 180 pounds over the

Ask Dr. HappyDear Dr. Happy,

I have been dating Martha, a widow, for almost six months; we are both in our 60’s. I am a widower, having lost my wife three years ago. Martha recently moved in with me, and we plan to marry this October. We’ve been planning the remodel of my “bachelor-pad” condo together, but, more and more, she’s kind-of taken over. She wants pastel walls, chintz curtains, ruffles, and, well, you get the

drift. I’m beginning to feel like I’ll be a stranger in my own home. We get along well so well otherwise, but she’s being really bullheaded around this redecorating, and I feel myself getting angrier and angrier. I don’t want to screw up a good thing. What should I do? ~Pushed AroundDear Pushed Around,

Clearly, at this point, you and your new love need to do more negotiating and less doing. You didn’t mention the size of your condo, but perhaps you could divide up the redecoration such that for some rooms she has the final say, and for other rooms, you do. For example, she might have

Committed to your health and wellness

Free Community Lecture Tuesday March 29, 2011 at 7pm

Lauren Masi, Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, and Certified Orthopedic Specialist will be giving an informative lecture on:

Body Maintenance and Repair, Posture, and Injury Prevention and Care

Seating is limited; please RSVP to 925-284-6150 to reserve your seat. Convenient location off of CA-24 Extended Hours 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Suite B110, Lafayette, CA 94549

www.LafayettePT.com past two years! Other benefits include weight loss, clearer skin, pain relief, improved digestion, increased lean muscle mass, improved blood sugar lev-els, enhanced performance, increased productivity, improved mental clarity, increased energy, reduced high blood pressure, and reduced cholesterol.How Clean is Your Lifestyle?

Ask yourself the following questions, and answer them honestly. I am certain that all of you reading this article could benefit from the28 Days to Health™ program in some way.

• Are you getting enough “clean” protein, healthy fat, high fiber carbs, low Gl fruits, and non-starchy vegetables in your diet?

• Do you fall asleep easily, stay asleep all night, and wake up refreshed?• Do you naturally have enough energy to get through your day?• Are your eyes and skin clear and hydrated?• Do you have difficulty losing weight, or does your weight fluctuate constantly?• Do you suffer from muscle and joint pain or headaches?• Do you have cravings for sugar, caffeine, or alcohol?So, the real question is “What are you weighting for?”For more info go to www.movepastyourpain.com, visit us on Facebook,

or contact Dr. Johnson at Johnson Chiropractic Group, 115 Town & Country Dr., Suite E in Danville. 925.743.8210. Advertorial

the last word on the bedroom, you the study, she the dining room, you the living room. More important, however, is to do this in the spirit of fun together. I want to encourage you to work this out with an attitude of compromise and negotiation rather than judgment and hostility. Use this as an opportunity for developing marital communication skills. This can then become a marvelous way, before you actually marry, of strengthening and enriching your relationship. After all, negotiation skills are important tools for creating a successful marriage.Happiness Tip

Remarrying later in life carries with it both disadvantages and advantages. On the minus side, both people come into this new marriage with more fixed positions and less flexibility than do those who are younger and in first marriages. On the plus side, both people have greater self-knowledge as well as more understanding of how to negotiate their differences with their spouse. A happy marriage requires that both parties be willing to compromise when disputes arise. Try, whenever possible, to find solutions where both of you get something you want. Remember, when one of you loses, both of you pay.

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


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

Barnacles of Aging By Kelly Hood

This month I’ve been asked to write about growths that appear on the skin as time goes on.

One of the most common are brown age spots or liver spots. These are flat brown areas called lentigi-nes. They have nothing to do with the liver, they are caused by sun exposure over the years. Common loca-tions are the face, hands, back and legs. These are generally harmless. They may look like

melanoma and therefore require evaluation. Proper treatment done in a dermatology office can help these lesions disappear.

Seborrheic keratosis: These brown or black spots or wart-like growths look like they are stuck on the skin surface. They are common in older people and are not caused by the sun. If annoying, these can easily be removed by a dermatologist.

Cherry angiomas: These are harmless, small, bright red, raised bumps created by dilated blood vessels. They occur more com-monly in women and elderly people, usually on the trunk. Electrocautery, laser or other surgical therapies remove these spots.

Actinic keratosis are among the most common barnacles of aging. These are red or brown spots that become crusty and tender. If ignored, these may become skin cancers. In the early stages they can be removed by freezing with liquid nitrogen, applying chemotherapy cream, or by skin resurfacing.

Squamous cell carcinoma typically develops on the rim of the ear, the face, the lips, or the back of hands. These skin cancers

can be aggressive and oc-casionally spread to inter-nal organs. It is important that these be removed in the early stages.

The most common form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. It usually appears as a small shiny bump or pinpoint red bleeding lesion. These occur commonly on the face or chest. They are more com-

mon in older, fair-skinned people with blond or red hair and blue or green eyes. Untreated these lesions grow locally and slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. When treated early, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carci-

nomas have a 95% cure rate. Malignant melanoma is a less common, but more serious, form of skin

cancer. This skin cancer usually appears as a dark brown or black spot with irregular borders and variable colors. Men over 50 are at the highest risk for melanoma, but it can affect anyone of any age. Melanomas are more common in frequent tanning bed users and those who had severe sunburn as children. The most common location is the back in men and the legs in women.

Any change in an existing mole or the rapid ap-pearance of a new mole could be a sign of melanoma and should be examined immediately. Melanoma can spread to other organs and can be fatal.

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 Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, [email protected]. Advertorial

Local Cancer Center Recognized for High Quality CareBy Sarah Buenviaje, Oncology Nurse Practitioner

I am proud to announce that Diablo Valley Oncology and Hematology Medical Group has become one of the first on-cology practices in the nation to be recognized by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The QOPI® Certification Program is a new initiative to certify oncology practices that meet rigorous standards for high-quality cancer care. Diablo Valley Oncology is one of five in Califor-nia and the only cancer center in the East Bay to achieve this

certification. In fact, many of our procedures exceeded the QOPI requirements and may be incorporated in future ASCO guidelines.

“Increasingly, educated patients and families demand accountability and the highest standards from cancer care providers,” said Douglas W. Blayney, MD, immediate past president of ASCO. The QOPI certification allows oncologists in the com-munity to be at the forefront of cancer care and to be recognized for their quality. The Certification Program helps practices determine whether they are providing the best treatment and care possible to their patients, and it demonstrates a commitment to excellence and ongoing quality improvement in the hematology-oncology outpatient practice.

“Our mission has always been to provide excellent oncology and blood disorder care to every patient - every day. To be recognized by these national organizations (ASCO and QOPI) is extremely gratifying.” said Matthew Sirott, MD, the managing partner of Diablo Valley Oncology. Advertorial

Cancer Support CommunityAll classes take place at the Cancer Support Community, 3276 McNutt Av-

enue, Walnut Creek and are free. Reservations are required. For information call (925) 933-0107.

Brain Tumor Family Caregiver Workshop –Are you caring for a loved one with a brain tumor? Presentations will include an overview of brain tumors, cop-ing with cognitive and personality changes, clinical trials, care for the caregiver, and palliative care. Saturday, March 5th from 9PM – 5:30PM.

Five Wishes – This program helps you decide for yourself your personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes should you be-come seriously ill. It is a way to discuss end-of-life wishes and to document them so it’s clear to your medical team and those close to you. For people with cancer and their caregivers. Facilitated by Cynthia Carter Hill, MPA. Tuesday, March 22nd from 2PM – 4PM.

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

Compassionate Communication – Compassionate Communication is a way to communicate with greater compassion and clarity. It focuses on honest self-expression and empathy. This six-week series will combine learning the concepts along with expe-riential practice in each session. For people with cancer and their caregivers. Facilitated by Jared Finklestein. Fridays, March 25th through April 29th from 2PM – 4PM.

Getting A Good Night’s Sleep – Sleep challenges? Attend this workshop on natu-ral methods to improve quantity/quality of sleep without unwanted side effects that may accompany some sleep aids. Appropriate for cancer patients and/or their caregivers. Facilitated by Barbara Anson, MA. Saturday, March 26th from 1PM – 3PM.

Facing Death While Living Life – In this workshop, we talk about our fears, beliefs, desires, and hopes regarding death. We listen to the stories of others. Join us for a screening of the award-winning film, Facing Death. . . With Open Eyes, and an engaging discussion about living with dying. With Michelle Peticolas, PhD. Michelle is a sociologist and filmmaker. Tuesday, March 29th from 6PM – 8PM.


is to remove specific pockets of fat and achieve skin retraction. The fat can be separated with ultrasound waves and then suctioned out of the body (high defini-tion Vaser), suctioned out (“Suction-assisted Lipectomy”), treated with a laser (“Smart Lipo”) or treated with laser and then suctioned out (“Slim Lipo”). Excess Skin

After significant weight loss, excessive skin folds are able to be removed by surgery. A plastic surgeon can perform a face lift, neck lift, breast lift, arm lift, panniculectomy, tummy tuck, belt lipectomy, butt lift or a thigh lift as needed to remove excess skin and fat. These procedures remove the excess skin and tighten the underlying muscles in the case of a face lift and tummy tuck. Some of these procedures may be covered by insurance. Fat Injection

After all that hard work of losing weight, we are often left with hollow areas: cheeks, temples, buttocks, and breasts. Fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Perlane, Sculptra, and Artefill may be used to fill the hollows of your face. The gold standard, as I have discussed in previous arti-cles, is fat grafting. Fat grafting or fat injections involve taking an amount of fat from one area of your body and injecting it into the areas desired to be filled out. I find that fat grafting of-fers a more permanent result for my patients.

Weight loss and a healthy lifestyle will help you feel much better overall. The Body Mass Index Chart offers a guideline for healthy height to weight ratios for adults. I am happy to consult with you, no matter where you are on your weight loss journey and can offer help and support regarding achieving your desired result.

Barbara Persons MD may be reached at Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. located at 925 Village Center, Suite 6 in Lafay-ette. Please call 925-283-8811 or email at [email protected]. Dr Persons welcomes your emails with questions or suggestions for future articles. Advertorial

Weight Loss, Now What? By Barbara Persons, MD

You work out, eat a healthier diet, have finally lost weight and are feeling much better. Weight loss and exercise, however, does not guarantee anyone his or her desired shape and contour. When we lose weight, whether by dieting or by gastric bypass surgery, we are often times left with excess folds of skin and pockets of fat that are impossible to lose with exercise or diet alone. Ironically, after weight loss some areas of our face and body become

gaunt and have too much laxity and can benefit from fat injections as well as a lift. In order to get the desired look after weight loss, the answer is sometimes

found in plastic surgery. Non-surgical solutions include novel and sometimes unproven skin tightening technologies, while surgical solutions include re-moving excess skin and fat from the face, arms, chest, abdomen, and thighs. The following outlines some of these procedures:Non-invasive Skin Tightening and Fat “Melting”

Vaser Shape, Thermagem and Titan are a few of the non-invasive skin tightening technologies available today. These technologies utilize ultrasound energy, radio frequency energy, and light energy, respectively, to effect the tightening of the skin or tissue. These treatments each target heat to the deep dermis below the skin’s surface to rejuvenate collagen and improve tone, texture, and fine wrinkles. The collagen remodeling continues to improve results for up to six months. Results can often be improved with a series of treatments and can be targeted to other parts of the body.

There is a lot of press regarding the non-invasive fat melting (Zerona), fat freezing (Zeltiq Cryolipolysis), and injections designed to melt fat and have it absorbed by the body (Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve). New technology is often exciting and promising. In my opinion, these treatments are relatively safe and not painful. Although intriguing, the proven benefit of these treat-ments do not yet compare to surgical therapies. We are planning studies with some of these modalities and will inform you of the results. Lipectomy or Liposuction

The surgical removal of excess fat pockets from the neck, arms, breasts, abdomen, flanks and thighs is done via lipectomy or liposuction. The objective

Heartfelt & Supportive

At All Times...

www.excellentcareathome.com

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

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

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

925-284-12131-888-812-9125

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

Body Maintenance and RepairLafayette Physical Therapy, Inc. is hosting an

informative talk on Tuesday, March 29th at 7pm. Lauren Masi, Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, and Certified Orthopedic Specialist will speak on body maintenance and repair, the importance of postural alignment, and injury prevention and care. Seating is limited, please RSVP to 925-284-6150. The talk is free and will be held at 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Suite B110, Lafayette.

Hospice Launches Vigil Program The passage into death is as momentous as the passage into life. Dying

alone is often listed by patients as their greatest fear as they face the end of life. Yet many people are left to make the journey alone. They may have few, if any, relatives living nearby, or they have outlived their family and friends, or they are, for whatever reason, estranged from family. Such patients face the disheartening possibility of ending their lives with no one at their side.

In an effort to make patients’ final passages as peaceful and dignified as possible, Hospice of the East Bay works to bring them physical, emotional, and spiritual relief. Nothing is more central to the idea of hospice care than ensuring that each patient has someone with him or her at the end of life. However, it is difficult to predict exactly when the end will come much less guarantee that each patient’s loved ones can be present during the final hours or days of life.

To fill this gap, Hospice of the East Bay has launched a Vigil Volunteer Program where trained patient support volunteers are at the bedside of actively dying patients. The Vigil Program helps Hospice of the East Bay support its patients every step of the way - bringing relief to family members who are unable to be present for the death of their loved one. And, most important, patients will know that they are not alone.

To learn more, or to make a donation of time or money, contact (925) 887-5678, or visit www.hospiceeastbay.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. Give Lafayette Senior Services a New Name and Win!

Lafayette Senior Services and our online newsletter can use a name makeover. You can help. And, in addition to being the proud originator of a name that will last for generations, you will win our grand prize of an overnight stay for two at the luxurious Lafayette Park Hotel. Submit as many names as you can dream up. Send your ideas to us at Lafayette Senior Services, 500 Saint Mary’s Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549, email [email protected], or just drop by. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony during our concert by the Windsong Harp Ensemble on Friday March 25th. Winning entry for multiple submissions of the same name will be determined by the date and time of receipt.


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.Wine 101 – Putting Flavor into Words with Monica Chappell ~ Monday, 3/21, 11am-noon

Quick! How many tasting terms for wine can you list that everyone agrees on precisely? Better yet, how many precise words are there to describe any flavor? Tasting is, of course, an extremely subjective exercise and you must ultimately let your own palate be your guide. Join us for this fun and informative class taught by Monica Chappell, local wine writer and educator. Come and learn more. The class will be held in the Sequoia Room.Harp Concert by the Windsong Harp Ensemble ~ Friday, 3/25, 1:30-2:30PM

Join us for a special performance by the Windsong Harp Ensemble comprised of younger as well as mature musicians. Enjoy music from Bach to Bebop and learn about the history and anatomy of this glorious and ancient musical instrument. Live Oak Room Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Basics ~ Tuesday, 3/29 10:30am-noon

Come to the Elderberry Room to learn about the differences between normal aging and dementia, the basics of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, the diagnostic process, and management of the disease. Additional topics consist of community resources including the Alzheimer’s Association, planning for the future, and how family members and caregivers can help the person with dementia. Anne Randolph - Physical Therapist - Workshop• Abatable Arthritis - 3/25 11:30AM-12:30PM

Did you know that you can do more besides taking medication to decrease arthrit-ic pain? Muscle control is responsible for 80% of the support of your joints. Come and learn exercises to control pain, improve function, and protect your joints.Following Abatable Arthritis:* Free Blood Pressure Screening ~ 3/25 at 12:30PM, Blood Pressure screening is brought to you through John Muir Medical Center Senior Services and is available for a one-time check or to assist individuals who monitor their health status regularly. No appointments are required. Free Memory Screening ~ 3/25 Call for an appointment available at 12:30PM, 12:50PM, and 1:10PM

Patient Safety Week Recognized Safety Tips Offered for Seniors During and After Hospital DischargeBy Joyce & Jim Newport, Owners, Right at Home of Mt. Diablo

March 6th to 12th will be recognized as Patient Safety Week, an annual education and awareness campaign led by the National Patient Safety Foundation (http://www.npsf.org/) to encourage and strengthen collaboration between patients, families and healthcare providers.

Patient Safety Week highlights the need for healthcare participants to be informed, involved, and invested in making healthcare safe. Our aging loved ones often require special attention and care to help them remain safe during and after a stay in a healthcare facility.

When patients are discharged from the hospital, the effects of their condition are not necessarily gone when they return home. This often makes it difficult for a patient to safely adjust back to daily life. If your aging loved one has recently been hospitalized, the following tips can help him or her remain safe during and after the discharge process:

• Be involved in decision making. Talking with your loved one and his doctors ensures that everyone has the same goals and infor-mation, which is an important step toward a safe and healthy recovery.

• Discuss medications. Before your loved one is discharged, talk with the doctor about the medications he will be taking. Discuss the purpose, dos-age, and side effects of each so both you and your loved one can be prepared if any complications arise. One of the main causes of a slower recovery is improper use of medications.

• Schedule follow-up appointments. Find out what follow-up appointments and tests are needed. If your loved one needs assistance getting to these appointments, consider hiring an in-home care agency such as Right at Home to provide transportation since regular doctor visits are important to most patients’ recovery. About Right at Home

Jim and Joyce Newport opened Right at Home in Pleasant Hill in 2009. Right at Home works closely with discharge planners to develop a personal-ized plan for support services to allow patients to get back on their feet while safely recovering in their home. Services provided include communication with family and healthcare providers, regular visits, medication reminders, transportation to doctors appointments, meal preparation and housework. Right at Home directly employs all caregiving staff, each of whom are thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. For more information on RightTransitions or other Right at Home services, call us today at (925) 256-HOME (4663). Advertorial

Photo by www.JamieWestdal.com

Hearing Screening- Is Your Hearing Not What It Used to Be? ~ Ongoing Monthly Hearing Screenings by Dr. .Mimi: Wednesdays: 4/13, 10:30AM, 10:50AM, 11:10AM, 11:30AM, 11:50AM, and 12:10PM. Self-Discovery and Aging Creative Writing Workshop - 3/18, 4/1, 4/15 ~ 2:30-4:30PM • Elderberry - Write to explore issues around aging, emotion and perception – or get support to do your own thing! Workshop sessions include feedback and encouragement, writing prompts, and information about the world of writers, writing, and publishing. Bi-Monthly Caregiver Support Group Mondays, 3/28, 4/14 • 1:30 – 2:30PM - Caring for older adults in the home often creates great stress and emotional anguish for spouses and family members. Certified Geriatric Care Manager offers a support group for family members involved with the care of an older relative.Tea Dancing - Enjoy afternoon Tea Dancing and light refreshments at the LCC Live Oak Room every Wednesday from 12:30 - 3PM, and learn some great new dance moves. $2 Members/ $4 non-members. Positive Living Forum (a.k.a “Happiness Club”) - 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. Next meeting 4/14 • 10:30 – noon. 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.

Schools continued from page 10

Even with such tremendous support, our Board must make difficult decisions to address our $2.2 million structural deficit; they are expected to make $1.1 million in cuts on March 9. Please note that 89% of our budget is comprised of staff (mostly teachers), and such cuts will certainly have an impact on the quality of our educational program.

Rather than simply making cuts, the Governing Board passed a resolution to put a temporary parcel tax before the voters on May 3 (Measure B) to raise an additional $1.5 million per year for four years. These additional revenues cannot be used for administration and cannot be taken away by the State. The purpose of Measure B is to protect our core instructional program which our community values, including: Music and the arts, science and technology, a strong intervention/support program for our students, and the ability to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers.

The citizens of Lafayette demand that we provide an education of the highest quality, and our students deserve nothing less. I feel proud to serve in a community that has a long history of coming together and doing what is necessary to provide the best opportunities for our children, for our students. Our schools are strong and effective, not just because of the outstanding teachers and support staff, but because of the ongoing involvement and support of parents and community members.

[email protected] Trip Down Memory LaneBy Mary Bruns, Program Coordinator Lamorinda Senior Transportation, An Alliance of Transportation Providers

Walking up to the office a few weeks ago, I noticed the young children playing in the playground - particularly one little girl who appeared to be on the shy side. I remember thinking that her developmental path in life is going to require her to become stronger, braver, and more outgoing. When I was working with parenting teens some years ago, we were presented with a child development model to help young parents work with their children more effectively. Babies and toddlers were evaluated as one or more of the following types: feisty, fearful, or flexible. The idea was to understand what type of child the parent had, and help her/him be more effective with that personality type. The model rang true for me as I thought about my own children and how different they were; and it still rings true as I watch children at play.

As seniors taking a trip down memory lane, we can see what life has required of us. Perhaps we began as that little girl has, a little shy or on the “fearful” side. Or perhaps we were one of the “feisty” or “flexible” ones. However we started out, there were gifts and talents we had to help us and challenges to overcome.

If you began as a feisty child, can you think of the life challenges that essentially forced you to develop a softer, kinder, more compassionate side? If you began as a fearful child, think about the life challenges that you experienced which caused you to become stronger, more courageous, and more outgoing. And if you began as a very flexible personality, what were the impacts of that start in life? How has being flexible served you, and how has it been a challenge for you?

These questions offer you the important opportunity to reflect back on your life and look at your life experience through a slightly different lens, bringing you a new perspective about your own evolutionary path. What skills and strengths have you developed? Who helped you along the way? What work is there left to do?

One of the Recreation Staff at the Lafayette Community Center received a very complimentary letter about how helpful the coaches were to her young son in helping him enjoy basketball. You may also have had an important person(s) in your life who helped you overcome challenges you were facing. Self reflection helps us raise our experience into pearls of wisdom while releasing any baggage and emotion we still carry, creating inner resolution and inner peace. Upcoming Mini-Trips – sponsored by the Lafayette Garden Club

The Spirit Van Program is offering two upcoming trips to local gardens: April 23 to Heather Farms and May 14 to UC Botanical Gardens. Call us at

283-3534 to reserve your space if you would like to join like-minded seniors for a three to four hour outing to see beautiful gardens and gain ideas for adding plants to your own home and garden. Please bring a bag lunch.


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.

Lamorinda Senior Transportation An Alliance of Transportation Providers

YOU CAN HELP! VOLUNTEER DRIVERS ARE NEEDED. Call each program for information, opportunities to volunteer, and to make tax-deductible donations. Lamorinda Spirit Van 283-3534

Taking Lamorinda Seniors to medical appointments, grocery shopping and lunch at the C.C. Café. $10 round trip; rides to lunch are free. Reserve your seat two business days ahead of time by 1PM. Call for information about mobile advertising.Contra Costa Yellow Cab and DeSoto Company 284-1234

20% discount for Lamorinda seniors. 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 County seniors with rides to doctors’ appointments during the week, grocery shopping on Saturdays.

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]

LAKE ALMANOR LAKEFRONT LODGE - Gorgeous gated area of millionaire (non-rental homes). Your personal lawn, sandy beach, and dock buoys. Sleeps 8-9 comfortably. No pets or smokers. Gardener provided. $4000/week or $3800/week - 2 week rental. Rarely available or rented. Never advertised. 100% repeat guest business. Call for wonderful and important details 925-283-7323. Photos at www.shawcabin.tumblr.com.

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Since implementing the Rotary Home Team program in November 2009, Englehart and his 49 fellow Rotarians at Lamorinda Sunrise have donned their tool belts every other month and responded to requests to repair a multitude of issues including but not limited to weather-stripping, fence repair, installation of grab bars, loose drawer pulls, leaky faucets, hanging of blinds and drapes, and painting. In the event a job requires additional expertise or is

beyond the scope of their capabilities, volunteers will attempt to find appropriate assistance.

“Seniors often have a difficult time with many common household repairs due to either a physical condition or safety issues,” says Englehart. “And the cost of hiring a handyman or contractor to perform minor repairs can be prohibitive. That’s where we come in.”

While many may regard Rotary to be a business and social club, it is first and foremost a service club. Established more than a century ago in Chicago, Rotary Clubs now exist in more than 200 countries. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self,” and every Rotary branch sponsors a particular community service project. Rotary HOME Team has become the marquee community project for the Lamorinda Sunrise chapter; but they are not territorial. Englehart is quick to point out that the program is meant to be replicated. “We’ve created an operations manual that is meant to be shared,” says Englehart. “Any Rotary Club who would like to replicate this project is welcome, and we are happy to share our knowledge and our experiences.”

Getting the program started was easier than Englehart had imagined. “We asked all our members to look through their toolboxes and donate any duplicate tools and supplies,” says Englehart, who notes that


Home continued from front page

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Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club member Hays Englehart makes a minor repair during participation in the Rotary HOME Team program. the response was overwhelming. Within a

matter of days, five complete tool sets and toolboxes were compiled. Bob Smith of Orinda Hardware joined the cause by setting up an account specifically for the program. And Episcopal Senior Communities acts as the liaison for the request calls. After a service call, Rotary HOME Team volunteers are asked to report back to Episcopal Senior Communities on the overall status of the senior they’ve visited.

“When Hays first approached me about the Rotary HOME Team Project concept, we did not know how it was going to go,” says Rotarian and project co-founder Joe Bettencourt. “I work in the senior health care market, and I know that senior programs are fading or being scratched altogether due to budget cuts. And, we have a population of 65 and older that will grow faster than the total population in every single state. So the timing was right for this idea.”

Bettencourt recalls the first Rotary HOME Team project he and Engelhart completed. “Hays and I visited Anita in Concord who had lost her husband years ago and lived alone. She needed help to repair a rotted handrail to her back door. In about an hour, Hays and I replaced the old wooden rail with a brand new, custom made, galvanized steel rail that will last longer than the house. Anita was so appreciative of our work, and pronounced it ‘a job well done.’ The project was quick, simple, and it made a huge difference. We knew we were on to something.”

Rotary HOME Team is always seeking to schedule more repairs. “We know there are seniors out there who have maintenance needs but who don’t know about us,” says Englehart, who requests that readers spread the word. He also points out that you need not be a Rotarian to volunteer your time on project days.

The Rotary HOME Team program operates on a modest budget, subsidized primarily through Lamorinda Sunrise’s annual “Motorama” Father’s Day Car Show at Lafayette’s Postino where exhibitors pay a fee, and patron admission is free. Visit www.motorama.us for more information. For general information about Rotary HOME Team and how to schedule a maintenance call, visit www.rotaryhometeam.com.

lafayette today, march 2011

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