the valley sentinel_july 2012

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

Postm

aster

: Date

d Mate

rial

ECRW

SS

PRES

ORTE

DST

ANDA

RDUS

POST

AGE P

AIDDA

NVILL

E, CA

PERM

IT NO

. 70

Alamo • Danville • Blackhawk • Diablo • San Ramon

VOL 17, NO 7 July 2012 SEVENTY-FIVE CENTSalways for the community valleysentinel.com SENTINELTHE ALLEYVSPOTLIGHT

Find out what’s new in the Valley at

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

Senior LivingThis month’s Special Sections:

pages 8-10

Home Improvement page 11

The mountain lion, puma or cougar (Puma concolor) is an apex predator still coexisting with us in the east San Francisco Bay area. They are a “keystone species” that refl ect the health of the environment by their mere presence. In Contra Costa and Alameda Counties mountain lions are faced with several challenges, particularly the fracturing of their habitat. They require large tracts of land for their territories and home range. Our freeways and suburbanization have divided the region into isolated, disjunct areas where a mountain lion must navigate through these ecological barriers to fi nd a preferred habitat. Vehicles are the second leading cause of death for these animals in California. Occasionally, as they follow deer, their primary prey,

Mountain Lions–The Mysterious American CatBy James Hale into our backyards or cities,

they pose a potential public health concern. Unfortunately, the offending individual is usually a dispersing subadult or transient in search of its own territory and is dispatched. That has been the case in recent years in both north Berkeley and Livermore. None of these animals exhibited aggressive or threatening behavior towards humans. A “mountain lion response matrix” is needed where a trained team of wildlife biologists, California Department of Fish and Game wardens, animal control personnel and law enforcement offi cers are the fi rst responders who escort or allow the wayward cat to retreat back to their habitat. This concept could be developed and implemented into a statewide

or regional standard protocol for dealing with human-lion encounters.

Your chances of being attacked by a mountain lion in California are extremely low. There have been fewer than 20 people attacked by mountain lions in California since 1890. For comparison, one is 1000 times more likely to be struck by lightning and 500 times more likely to be attacked and killed by a domestic dog. Most alleged mountain lion sightings are domestic cats misidentifi ed as lions at a distance, golden retrievers, bobcats or coyotes. Mountain lions have learned to coexist with us undetected.

The East Bay Area has excellent mountain lion habitat in our East Bay Regional Parks, Mount Diablo State Park, CCWD

and EBMUD watersheds, open space districts, and county and city parks. In suburban areas, riparian zones and creeks provide ribbons of signifi cant habitat for wildlife and their movements. Several researchers, including myself, are looking i n t o t he i d en t i f i c a t i on , preservation and conservation of wildlife corridors that allow safe passage for large mammals such as the mountain lion.

See MOUNTAIN LIONpage 13

Mary Shelton, the San Ramon Va l l e y U n i f i e d School District’s new Superintendent of Schools, replaces Steven Enoch, who retired after 4 years as Superintendent for SRVUSD and 40 years in public education. Shelton joined the district effective July 1.

“We had an exceptional pool of candidates to select from, with applicants from throughout California and across the country. Mary Shelton quickly rose to the top,” said Board President Greg Marvel. “She has a proven track record as an effective educational leader and consensus builder.

SRVUSD Board Names New SuperintendentMary Shelton succeedsSteven Enoch as the new leader of the San Ramon Valley Unifi ed School District

See SUPERINTENDENTpage 5

Graduating Monte Vista Seniors who will be competing in college athletics (see article page 7) Top Row L to R: Janet Terranova, Principal, Monte Vista High School, Jack McFarland, Dan Gallagher, Drew Feldman, Trevor Furhiman, Alex Bizzack, Tony DeMartino, Kevin Wexler, Tyler Nevins, Jeff Lockie, Ryan Neil, Makay Redd, Craig Bergman, Athletic Director, Debon Salgado, Dan Scritchfi eld, Nick Sherrif, Larry Beil, Monte Vista Dad. Middle Row L to R: Ashley Hertz, Anne Kelly, Chrisina Coffi n, Shannon Low, Montana Berg, Angelyn Brown, Taylor James, Megan Harder, Rachel Mitchell, Paige Southmayd, Kyle Bowser. Front Row L to R: Jack Peterson, Gus Gradinger, Sam Lagnon, Casey Sbrana, Lexy Troup, Malia Malin, Cameron Parsons. (Photo by Monica Colvin of Creative Imaging)

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

July 2012West Coast. The Ruth Bancroft Gardens, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. Information: ruthbancroftgarden.org.

July 12-August 9 Danville Thursday Night Street Festivals

5:30pm-8:30pm. Fun booths, live music, entertainment and demonstrations, bistro dining, Kids Zone. Downtown Danville on Hartz and Propsect Ave n u e s . I n f o r m a t i o n : DiscoverDanvilleCA.com

July 14Wesla Whitfi eld

5pm. Jazz and cabaret meet with Broadway tunes, movie songs and Hit Parade numbers known as the Great American Songbook. Backing Wesla will be the Mike Greensill Quartet. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Call for ticket information: 943-7469

July 14Make Our Garden Grow

8pm. A benefit concert for Festival Opera. Lesher

Cardburg 2012: The Super Track exhibitNow-August 12

Cardboard Institute of Technology is a team of artists who use recycled cardboard to create enormous site-specific installations. This summer, CIT will transform the Bedford Gallery into a miniature speedway for racing high speed remote controlled art cars, as well as a low-powered interactive micro radio station. Bedford Gallery, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: 925-295-1417 or bedfordgallery.org.

Sculpture in the GardenNow-July 14

10am-4pm. The Ruth Bancroft Garden presents the 18th Annual Sculpture In the Garden. The Annual Sculpture in the Garden is a one-of-a-kind art event in the East Bay. The Ruth Bancroft Garden’s famous collection of rare and beautiful succulents features sculpture by artists from all over the

For more information, visit www.DiscoverDanvilleCA.com

~ Family-fun booths hosted by local businesses & community groups

~ Entertainment & demonstrations~Bistro dining in the street

~ Kids Zone with bounce house, face painting, balloons,

Museum of San Ramon Valley train & much more!

Live music featuringAlma Desnuda

Street closures events in Downtown Danville

Hartz & Prospect Avenues

Center fo r t h e A r t s , 1601 Civ ic Dr., Walnut Creek. Call f o r t i c k e t information: 943-7469

July 14 Sierra Guitar at Walnut Creek featuring Celso Machado

7 : 1 5 p m . A master of t r a d i t i o n a l Brazilian music and classical composer, his

concerts include percussion to bird calls. Walnut Creek Schedule for 2012: Trio Seven, Sunday, July 29, 2:15pm, Viviana Guzman and Jeremy Jouve, Sunday, August 5, 2 : 15pm, Mesu t Ozgen , Thursday, August 9, 7:15pm, Thibault Cauvin, Saturday, October 27, 7:15pm. Classical Guitar Hol iday Concert , Sunday, December 2, 2:15pm. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr. Walnut Creek. Call for ticket information: 943-7469.

July 19 2012 Danville Hot Summer Nights Hot Rod and Classic Car Show

2pm. Car Staging:, Show hours: 4-9pm. Rare one-of-a-kind collector cars, powerful hot rods and muscle cars of the 1960’s, custom designed cars and beautifully maintained classic originals–up to and thru the year 1976. The show stretches from Faz’s restaurant on Hartz Avenue

proceeding north to San Ramon Valley High School and extends to many of the side streets as well. Information: danvillehot-summernightscarshow.com

July 21Devil Mountain Jazz Band

Come to the Grange Hall in Danville, 743 Diablo Road, the 3rd Saturday of every month from 2 to 5 to listen or dance to the music of Devil Mountain Jazz Band. Great Dixieland Jazz music, a large dance fl oor and lots of free parking. Admission is $15. Bring your own beverages, snacks and a friend or two and enjoy the afternoon! Information: contact Ken at wwwjazznut.com or phone (925) 625-2707.

July 216th Annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival

10am to 4pm. This event will feature more than two dozen professional family performances in the Lesher Center ’s three theaters, lobbies and ou tside areas. Free activities and events will surround the Center! $5 for ticketed shows. Lesher Center for the Arts,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: visit lesherartscenter.org/theatrefestival or call 943-7469.

Red Dragonfl y Productions presents Annie SampsonJuly 21

8-11pm. Annie Sampson’s unique approach to song incorporates blues, rock,

c o u n t r y / w e s t e r n , a n d modern folk. Presented at the intimate and eccentric setting of Armando’s. Ages 21 and over. $15 cover. Armando’s, 707 Mar ina Vista, Martinez. Information: reddragonfl yproductions.net.

July 21 & 22, 27-29, August 3-5.Oklahoma

8 p m . The high-s p i r i t e d r i v a l r y b e t w e e n t h e l o c a l f a rme rs and cowboys provides the colorful background against a handsome cowboy and a winsome farm girl. Tickets: $27.50 - $37.50. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Information: 373-6800.

July 22Walnut Creek Concert Band, Summer Pops Concert

7:30pm. Missed your summer travel plans? Join the Walnut Creek Concert Band on a fun and entertaining worldwide tour of song and dance. Tickets: $17. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: walnutcreekband.org

Tuesday Night Blues presents Willie GJuly 246:30-8pm. Bay Area soul-jazz blues veteran Willie G has been singing and emoting a fantastic old-styled stage show for nearly fortyyears. A compelling vocalist--from bass to baritone to tenor--his excellent, story-telling lyrics are enhanced by his topnotch band. Todos Santos Plaza, Willow Pass

DanvilleMusic in the Park at Oak Hill Park 3005 Stone Valley Road, Danville.

Shows begin at 6pm. Residents are encouraged

to bring blankets and snacks.

July 23 - Evolution: Well known Journey tribute band

August 6 - Colour my World: Chicago tribute band

August 20 - Whiskey Dawn: Country band with

exciting original music

San RamonSummer Concert Series at San Ramon Central Park

12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon Shows begin at 5:30pm.

Bring a picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. Adult beverages, soda and ice cream available for purchase.

July 15 - Sun Kings: Beatles Tribute July 22 - Livewire: 70’s, 80’s & 90’s

July 29 - FabulousCruisetones: Oldies

August 5 - David Martin’s house party: High Energy Band

Free Summer Concerts

See CALENDARpage 3

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

July 2012

Road and Grant Street, Concord. Information: 925-671-3464 or concordfirst.org.

July 27 Sunset Social

5:30-8:30pm. “Bluegrass, Bra ts and Beer” a t the Ruth Bancrof t Gardens, 1 5 5 2 B a n c r o f t R o a d , Walnut Creek. Information: ruthbancroftgarden.org.

July 27, 8pm. July 28, 2 & 8pm.The Mikado

A tale set in a make-believe town where flirting is a capital offence, The Mikado is a satire on Victorian British society. Chaos, desperation, and comical mayhem reign. Lesher Center for the Arts,1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Information: Lesherartscenter.org/theatrefestival or call 943-7469.

925-890-4482ExpEriEncE thE DiffErEncE

Fastest Growing property management firm–Why?

We have The lowest rates with no long term contracts.

98% client retention rates! 90 days trial or cancel your service

We will refund 100% of your management fees!Mention this ad and get your first month FREE

• Tenant Screening & Placement • Rent Collection & Accounting

24/7 On Call Maintenance

Hitchcock Realty

Call Chris RoussetRealtor

Over 25 years experience!

Also Sellers / Buyers / Investors Foreclosures / Short Sales

DRE#01848037

•

is a non-profit organization providing monetary contribution in support of art programs in the San Ramon Valley Schools. Membership includes artists and patrons who appreciate the visual arts. ADAS hosts distinguished and nationally known guest artists at the monthly meetings.

The Alamo Danvi l le Artists’ Society (ADAS) is celebrating the 95th birthday of its co-founder Beth Batchelor. It also coincides with the 35th Anniversary of the founding of ADAS by Beth and Ida Farese.

Beth remains very busy working on art commissions, teaching painting and exhibiting her art. She will be very happy to see her friends and ADAS members. Those who don’t know Beth will have a chance to meet in person one of the most extraordinary local citizens.

A reception will be held at the Blackhawk Gallery, 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506 on Sunday July 29 from 3 to 5 pm.

The Alamo Danville Artists’ Society, founded in 1977,

95th Birthday and 35th Anniversary CelebrationBy StaffWriter

ADAS co-founder Beth Batchelor

on the trombone. A hard-swinging artist with deep roots in the jazz tradition. Performed with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Call for ticket information: 943-7469.

Concord Sunday Pro Jam presents Gail MuldrowAugust 5 7-11pm. Gail Muldrow from The Brides of Funkenstein offers an irresistible mixture of blues, funk, soul, R&B, rock, grunge, and heavy metal. The Sunday evening pro jam provides an intimate concert with a diverse range of talented musicians. Ages 21 and over. $21 cover. Vinnie’s Bar & Gril l , 2045 Mount Diab lo S t ree t , Concord. Information: vinniesbar.com or call 685-9515.

This is not a loan commitment, nor is it a guarantee of any kind. This comparison is based solely on estimated figures and information available at the time of production. Interest rate is subject to borrower and property qualifying.

Stonecastle Land and Home Financial, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Lender.

Jason Brown Sr. Vice President Mortgage Consultant DRE License #01190676/NMLS #270050

[email protected] Line (925) 785-4200

GREAT JUMBO FIXED PERIOD ARMS TO $2,000,000

319 Diablo Road, Suite 103Danville, CA 94526

CA DRE:#01327738NMLS #280803

Providing Premier Loan Products and Service From the Most Experienced and Solution-Oriented Professionals in Your Community.

“

RATE RATEAPR APR30 Year Fixed15 Year Fixed

Fixed Rates to $417,000 Fixed Rates to $625,500

3.500% 3.924% 4.012%2.875% 3.000%3.144% 3.388%

3.750%

5/1 ARM 3.000% 3.101%7/1 ARM 3.250% 3.376%

Fixed Conforming Loans

RATE APR

Is your Mortgage Upside Down?HARP 2.0 is here to help!

Check to see if you qualify at www.FindJasonBrown.com

Record Low Rates!

CALENDARfrom page2

Stress-free Camping Don’t worry about planning your menu and activities for your camping weekend, the

Town of Danville will do it for you. Join the Town for a suburban camping experience at Oak Hill Park. You will enjoy swimming at Monte Vista Community Pool, youth crafts, family games and a movie under the stars. Dinner Saturday night and a continental breakfast Sunday morning will be provided. Families will check in Saturday, July 21 at 10:00 a.m. and check out by Sunday, July 22 at 12:00 p.m.

All family members who will be camping must be registered. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Registration is limited to online or mail-in only. Register online at www.danvillerecguide.com. For more information visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400.

July 28 John Pizzarelli

5pm. Jazz guitarist known for brilliant guitar work and smooth vocals. From Carnegie Hall to Melrose Place, he has gained a wide following from his numerous stage, screen and television appearances. Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. Call for ticket information: 943-7469

August 4 Wycliffe Gordon 5pm. One of the great performers

For more A & E, see our website at www.valleysentinel.com/pages/living_arts_entertainment_events.

The Valley SenTinel July 2012 valleysentinel.com

The Back Doctors are a network of CHIROPRACTORS,MEDICAL DOCTORS and other health care professionals all with one common goal, the effective treatment of your pain.

Don’t Ignore These warning signs of spinal misalignment

Do you know what to do about back pain?WE DO.

• Recurring Headaches• Low Back and Leg Pain• Neck, Shoulder and Arm Pain• Pain Between Shoulders

• Muscle Spasms• Difficulty Sleeping• Numbness in Limbs• Dizziness/Ringing in Ears

Phillip Runco, D.C.Call for appointment now! 685-0335

The Back DoctorsA CHIROPRACTIC/MEDICAL NETWORK

OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCESaturday and evening appointments available • Most insurance accepted • Workers compensation welcome

Pilates Body

Strong, LeanBalanced and Healthy

Mat, Reformer & Tower Pilates

[email protected]

Tammy ChristensenPrivate Studio Instruction

Invite Your WIld Friends to

dinner!

East Bay Nature1270 Newell Ave., #A

Walnut Creek

925-407-1333www.eastbaynature.com

Expires 7/31/12

15% Off Any Single Item*

*Offer does not include sale items & optics.

The Traff ix program, which was started as a way to relieve traffic congestion during peak a.m. commute times in busy areas, has already started selling out of tickets for their new high school program, according to officials.

Traffix announced a one-year, pilot shuttle program for California High School in San Ramon and Monte Vista High School in Danville to begin with the 2012-2013 school year, said Alex Weis, Traffix program manager.

The pilot program set up one bus per high school to travel to both schools for the duration of the school year and offer the same program to high school students as has been offered to the middle and elementary schools in the area since 2009.

“The bus serv ice to Monte Vista High School sold out of tickets within six hours,” according to a press release.

CHS passes were still available as of June 26.

The program also serves the two middle schools and

Traffix’s new high school program already “selling out” five elementary schools in San Ramon and Danville.

Passes for all of the middle and elementary schools were available as of June 26.

More passes are available for those schools because they offer a full program with multiple buses traveling to and from the schools, as opposed to the one bus allotted per school for the new high school program.

M o r e m i d d l e school and elementary s c h o o l s t u d e n t s also fit on the buses.

Elementary buses can hold up to 70 kids, while middle school buses can hold up to 60 and high school buses reach capacity at 50, Weis said. The elementary and middle school buses don’t usually reach capacity though, with 16 buses running 32 individual routes.

If the high school program becomes extremely popular and successful, the school will reevaluate mid-year to

determine if they have the funds to grow the program and offer it for upcoming years, Weis said. This may be done by reallocating funds from underutilized routes.

Traffix, which officially began in 2009 after a pre-planning stage that began in 2006, is funded by Measure J, the 1/2 cent sales tax approved by Contra Costa

voters in 2004, according to the Traffix website.

Part of the sales tax was allotted for providing safe transportation to children, which is how Traffix receives most of their funding from

the program, Weis said.The rest of the money

used to run the program comes from the Transportation Demand Management fund (TDM) and money received from bus pass sales, he said.

“[The program has] been extremely well received,” Weis said, who mentioned he receives positive feedback

from the community r e g a r d i n g t h e Traffix program.

The d i s t r i c t doesn’t offer any transportation for students, aside from special education buses, which aren’t for all students to

use, so this is the only public transportation they have available, he said.

In addit ion to being convenient, the program also allows for parents to cut down on gas costs and time, and kids

like to ride the school bus, Weis said.

The program is also safe, according to officials.

“Children who ride school buses are 25 times less likely to be injured in an accident than kids driven to school in private vehicles,” according to the Traffix website. “With seat belts, steel reinforced side panels, GPS and video monitoring, school buses are the safest vehicles on the road today.”

The program, which often offers the tickets for a discounted rate when purchased early, charges less than their operating costs for the service, Weis said.

Tickets for the program can be purchased online at www.ridetraffix.com for $275.

The 4 agencies who govern the Traffix program include Contra Costa County, the town of Danville, the city of San Ramon and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

The idea behind cancer screening is for screening tests to be able to catch cancer in individuals who are otherwise asymptomatic in the early stages so as to make avai lable more effective therapies. While n o t a l l c a n c e r s l e n d themselves to be screened easily, colorectal cancer is one that can be because of its predictable progression from pre-cancerous polyps to malignant tumors.

C a n c e r S c r e e n i n g Techniques

The simplest forms of colorectal cancer screening a r e s t o o l - b a s e d t e s t s . This includes guaiac and immunohistochemical tests that detect presence of fecal hemoglobin. While simple to perform, compliance may be low due to need for dietary restrictions in some forms of the test. The drawback with this test is that it is neither diagnostic nor therapeutic, and requires follow-up with additional testing for any abnormal results.

The “gold-s tandard” f o r c o l o r e c t a l c a n c e r screening involves the direct visualization of the intestine via endoscopy. There are

Life Saving Benefits in Colorectal Cancer Screening TestsBy Tyler Kang, MD

Advertorial

two forms of endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, in which the endoscopic camera is passed into the latter half of the colon, or colonoscopy, which reaches into the entire colon. These endoscopic procedures are useful not only in diagnosing malignant tumors, but they are useful in identifying pre-cancerous polyps and removing them before development of actual cancerous lesions.

Future DirectionsTo avoid the invasiveness

o f d i re c t endos cop i e s , specialized cameras the size and form of medicine pills have been developed which can be swallowed and allow visualization of the colon without the discomfort of traditional sigmoidoscopies or colonoscopies. Another method of visualizing the colon is the use of computed tomography (CT), which c a n r e n d e r a v i r t u a l reconstruction of the colon as well as any tumors or polyps within. However, these procedures still require adequate preparation of the colon, and an actual direct endoscopy will still need to be done if an abnormality is identified for the purpose of obtaining biopsies.

While colorectal cancer screening reduces colorectal cancer rates due to the ability to remove early or precancerous lesions, there has been scant evidence that i t improves overal l survival. But now we have pub l i ca t ion o f a l a rge, randomized trial by Schoen et al (New England Journal of Medicine, May 2012) that shows s igmoidoscopies, along with the use of other s c r e e n i n g t e c h n i q u e s , actually reduces the fatality rates from colorectal cancers. Unfortunately, compliance w i th co l o re c t a l c ance r screening is low, ranging from as high as 68% to as low as 30%.

In order for screening to work, the population at large must understand the benefits of these tests. Hopefully, with improved understanding and better public knowledge about these procedures, along with their associated risks and benefits, more lives will be saved as we increase the rates of compliance with these screening tests.

Dr. Kang is a board certified Medical Oncologist and Hematologist with Epic Care, a group of experts in the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of cancer and blood disorders. www.epic-care.com

By Nora Heston

valleysentinel.com July 2012 The Valley SenTinel page 5

171 Front Street, Suite 103Danville, CA 94526Phone: 838-8111 Pager: 274-6248

We’ve Moved!To the beautiful new Vechi Suites

in the beautiful Vecki Suites

Gentle Chiropractic Care

Dr. SuSan r. WeSt

Painless Chiropractic Care

Joint pain, known as arthritis, comes in many forms. The most common type is osteoarthritis, known as “wear and tear arthritis”.

Joint pain can flare up for a number of reasons — some of which may be overlooked by conventional practitioners. Many of my patients ask me if their pain is caused by arthritis. Sadly, it is estimated that one in five Americans has been diagnosed with some form or arthritis. There are over a hundred different arthritic conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis being the most well known.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease causing inflammation in the synovial fluid of the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in the hands and feet and is frequently accompanied by a hot or warm feeling in the joint, stiffness for over 30 minutes in the morning, the same joint affected on both sides of the body, polyarthritis (more than one joint affected at a time), and pain that can last through the night. With this form of arthritis, most of my patients notice the pain eases the more they use the joint.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, feels worse the more we exercise and as the day wears on. Also linked to inflammation, this type of arthritis can be traced back to a breakdown in

Soothe Your Arthritis Pain, Naturally! By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC

Advertorial

the joint cartilage. It generally affects the hips, knees, spine, hands and feet and develops as more of a wear-and-tear situation, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is closely tied with genetic factors that lead to an autoimmunity problem.

What you need to know if you suffer from arthritis?

All forms of arthritis involve some kind of inflammation — either local or systemic. When injured, a chain of events in your immune system known as the inflammatory cascade is triggered. This is what causes the redness, swelling and pain we often see with an acute injury. When this process, known as local or acute inflammation, turns on and then off in response to injury it’s a sign of a healthy immune system. Yet when the symptoms of inflammation don’t disappear, it tells us that your immune system is unable to turn itself off when it should, therefore leading to a state of chronic inflammation.

How do I begin to heal my arthritis pain?

1. Adopt a healthy diet rich in natural anti-inflammatories. Eat small meals often and choose a diet of richly colored fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and pure omega-3 fatty acids.

2. Class IV Laser Therapy. Ending the pain caused by arthritis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that

can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is quickly relieved.

3. Rule out infection and allergies. Special testing is available to identify subclinical infections and allergies to foods and toxins.

4. Remove/reduce the toxins in your life. If you cannot understand the ingredients on the label don’t buy the product.

5. Reduce stress. Exercise, meditation, nature walks, yoga, prayer … The beauty of stress reduction is that it’s never a waste of time — it serves you on every possible level.

We have great success helping people solve the causes of their joint pain. If you suffer from arthritis it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain — and which combination of therapies will help heal it. The good news is — you can do it without drugs, and you don’t have to give up any of the activities you love!

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

The Board was particularly impressed with her passion for excellence in public education.

Shelton had been an administrator in the Sacramento City Unified School District for 11 years, a district that serves 48,000 students on 81 campuses. Prior to her tenure at SCUSD she spent 11 years at Jesuit Catholic High School in Sacramento as a mathematics instructor and assistant principal. “I was drawn to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District because of the commitment by the Board and staff to continuous improvement for all students,” said Shelton. “SRVUSD is a high-performing district that is intent on equipping all of its students with the knowledge and skills needed for college and careers in the 21st century. I am excited to work with such a focused Board and staff and I am honored to lead a district with such a great reputation.”

Shelton spent her first four years in education

SUPERINTENDENTfrom page 1

teaching college mathematics at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, Louisiana and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to that she was a computer programmer for Chevron Oil Company in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shelton has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from the University of Tennessee and a Masters of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi. Shelton has two grown children, an attorney and a civil engineer. Both live out of the area.

About SRVUSD The San Ramon Valley

Uni f ied School Dis t r ic t encompasses the communities of San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo. The district has 35 schools, over 30,000 students, 2,800 employees, and an annual budget of approximately $220 million. SRVUSD has been consistently recognized for high student achievement and community involvement.

Some of the district’s recent and ongoing accomplishments include:

• 8th highest unified school district in the State of California according to the California Academic Performance Index (highest among unif ied districts with more than 9,000 students);

• 95% of graduating seniors attending college or university;

• 41 SRVUSD high school students were chosen as National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists;

• 14 Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year finalists in the last 15 years;

• Newsweek Magazine included all of SRVUSD’s eligible high schools on its list of “America’s Best High Schools”;

• A pub l i c /p r i va t e partnership that will provide land for future school and park in the Dougherty Valley area of east San Ramon;

• SRVUSD parents provide more than 300,000 hours of volunteer service to the district each year.

BART’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget uses operating dollars to fund important capital projects for the future, including the next generation of rail cars. The BART Board of Directors voted recently, eight to one, to adopt the budget, which went into effect July 1, 2012.

BART will use a total of $45 million in operating funds toward the $3.2 billion new rail car project, an additional $2.4 million to pay for new seats and new floors in existing rail cars and about $600,000 to pay for an extra hour of train service on the Daly City to Richmond line (trains currently stop running on the line at 7 pm; this proposal would fund train service until 8 pm).

The budget also includes $1 million in material costs for the escalator/elevator maintenance division, which has brought in outside contractor assistance in recent weeks to tackle an unusually high number of escalator outages. Under the FY12 operating budget, eight new positions were added to the existing team of 41 BART staffers in the escalator/elevator division.

Fare Increase Contributes to Financial Health

The budget includes a 1.4% fare increase that began July 1. The fare increase is expected to generate $4.8 million, contributing to BART’s overall financial health. This fare increase will be the last in the current program to raise fares on

a regular basis according to the rate of inflation minus one-half percent.

Many riders, including those who pay the minimum fare of $1.75, will see no increase in fares thanks to BART’s method of rounding to the nearest nickel. The maximum additional amount passengers will pay July 1 is 15 cents. This will be the first time BART has raised fares since July 1, 2009.

Increased Ridership Helps the Bottom Line

BART’s $672.1 million operating budget is benefiting from ridership that is projected to increase by 3% in FY13 to an average weekday ridership of 376,000 for the year, which would be an all-time high. Fare-paying customers account for 78% of the operating funds in the FY13 budget. The second largest source of operating revenue, dedicated money from sales taxes, is expected to increase by 5%.

In the current f iscal year, BART is experiencing increased revenues. BART staff has proposed using $15M in additional revenues in FY12 to fund critical capital needs, including $7.5 million to waterproof and modernize Powell St. Station, $2.3 million to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning on 110 rail cars, another $2 million for power and propulsion work on rail cars and the remaining funds would be used for initiatives ranging from computer servers to pigeon abatement. Learn more about the BART budget by visiting www.bart.gov/board.

BART raises fares to balance budgetBy StaffWriter

• Education • libraries • schools • camps • events valleysentinel.com page 6

KlabLab, the company “leading the education revolution one song at a time”, recently announced that four students from Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon are the grand-prizewinners of the first-ever Sound of Knowledge Tour contest. The winning students, from Karie Chamberlain’s 11th grade U.S. history class, wrote and performed “Fighting for our Rights,” a song about Mexican workers’ fight for equality in the United States.

As part of the tour, the KlabLab team and its tour bus – outfitted as a recording studio – visited Dougherty Valley High School on March 16, 26, 29 and April 30. KlabLab ran 12 workshops, helping more than 450 students create educational songs about the content they were learning – similar to an audio report set to popular music.

KlabLab congratulates the winning students:

• Omar Akbar, 16, who is interested in speech and debate, tinkering with Android software and history.

• Rylan Alfonso, 16, who enjoys his AP music theory class, playing video games and the piano.

Bay Area High School Wins $10,000 Mobile Recording StudioStudent-Created Song on Immigrant Rights Wins KlabLab’s Inaugural Sound of Knowledge Tour Contest

• Jeff Babu, 16, who likes computer programming, making music and volunteering.

• Jonathan Lim, 17, whose goals include traveling around the world to explore different cultures, trying new foods and taking unique photos.

Thanks to these students’ creativity, KlabLab awarded Dougherty Valley High School a mobile $10,000 multimedia studio to be used for ongoing creative collaboration and content production at the school. Akbar, Alfonso, Babu, and Lim, along with runners-up, received iPads as well.

“We really believe in the power of collaboration when it comes to music, technology and education, and our mission for the Sound of Knowledge tour was to engage these kids while having fun learning,” said Dave Haberman, KlabLab co-founder. “It was a great experience traveling to each school and meeting students across California, and working with them to create music about subjects like history, math and science.”

KlabLab enables teachers and students to collectively create new ways to learn through music, video and innovative

lesson plans. To engage students and bring this collaborative approach into the classroom, KlabLab embarked on the Sound of Knowledge Tour 2012 on their tour bus, outfitted as a mobile recording studio. The student-created content generated on the tour was posted to the KlabLab website, where students and educators from around the country voted for their favorites. The spring 2012 Sound of Knowledge Tour lasted seven weeks and included 10 schools, 32 teachers, 86 workshops and more than 3,000 students. The tour traveled throughout California in the spring and will go nationwide this fall.

“The juniors in my U.S. History class absolutely loved KlabLab and working together to write the songs about topics they read about every day in their textbooks,” said Karie Chamberlain, the Dougherty Valley High School teacher whose students won the grand prize. “I personally loved seeing students who usually never get involved or appear to enjoy history, come alive. The four boys who won are great examples of that. I never knew they had a passion for music.”

By StaffWriter

The Contra Costa Council honored five student winners in the recent Contra Costa Science and Engineering Fair, who also took honors in state and international science fairs. They included Eric Sauer, 11th grader at Monte Vista High School, Danville; Raymond Zhu, 12th grader at Dougherty Valley High School, San Ramon; Aryo Sorayya, 11th grader at Monte Vista High School, San Ramon; Chad Wakamiya, 8th grader at Pine Valley Middle School, San Ramon; and Dhuvarakesh Karthikeyan, 8th grader at Iron Horse Middle School, San Ramon. Students displayed and presented their science project findings to dinner guests. For more information, see www.cccsef.org.

San Ramon Valley students receive honors at science fair

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District recently refinanced several outstanding general obligation bonds, a move projected to save property owners more than $17 million in taxes. The bonds, totaling $167.9 million, were originally authorized when voters passed the district’s Measure A Facilities Bond in 2002. The bond was used to repair and upgrade aging facilities throughout the district. The District was able to take advantage of a historically low interest rate environment. The interest rates on the outstanding bonds from the 2002 authorization ranged from 3.55% to 4.77%. The interest rates for the new bonds issued on June 19th range from 0.52% to 3.14%, a difference that will save property owners $17,002,379. The refinancing of the bonds was authorized by the Board of Education at its May 22nd meeting. “Ten years ago, the community generously voted to support its schools by passing

SRVUSD Saves Taxpayers $17 million through Measure A bond refinance Moody’s gives District highest bond rating in the state

KlabLab, presents Dougherty Valley HighSchool in San Ramon with $10,000 to be used for a recording studio. Four DVHS 11th-graders earned the prize for their school by winning the KlabLab Sound of Knowledge Tour contest.

Measure A,” said Superintendent Steven Enoch. “Taking advantage of the low interest rates and the district’s favorable bond rating allowed us to generate considerable savings for property owners .” Prior to the bond sale, the District’s bonds were rated by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, which provide credit ratings and research covering debt instruments and securities worldwide. Moody’s assigned the District the rating of “Aa1” with a “stable” outlook. The rating of “Aa1” is the highest rating ever assigned to a California school district. Standard & Poor’s assigned the rating of “AA” with a “stable” outlook, and referenced the “high desirability of the district’s educational services, and good financial performance demonstrated by the district’s strong reserve levels.” In addition to the lower interest rates, the District also chose to restructure future debt payments of Measure A bonds to provide taxpayers with a more stable tax payment each year.

• Education • libraries • schools • camps • events

page 7valleysentinel.com

Rakestraw Books“The Bookstore in Danville”®

• Author appearances • Book groups • Great recommendations

925-837-7337

522 Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville

www.rakestrawbooks.com

Monte Vista Seniors to compete in college athleticsBy StaffWriter

On Thursday, May 31st thirty-three Monte Vista High School graduating senior student athletes were honored for their commitment and stand out performances in their sport during their four years at MVHS. Out of a graduating class of 507, these students will be playing at the collegiate level of competition. Larry Beil, sports anchor for ABC Channel 7 hosted the event with Janet Terranova, Monte Vista’s principal and Craig Bergman, Monte Vista’s Athletic Director handing out certifi cates of excellence.

Coaches, parents, staff and their classmates were in attendance as they recognized student athletes like Lexy Troup who will swim at UCLA and recently broke two 28-year old Monte Vista school records. She now holds the record in both the 200 and 500 yard freestyle. Or track and cross country athlete, Trevor Fuhriman, who will

attend Brigham Young University and is the 2012 North Coast Section champ in the mile and holds both the 800 (1:54.04) and the mile (4:13.09) school record, breaking a forty one year streak! Or nationally known and ESPN All State Athlete Jeff Lockie, quarterback for the Mustangs, who will don an Oregon Ducks jersey next fall.

Casey Sbrana, captain of the Monte Vista soccer team and one of only three freshmen recruits to Azusa Pacifi c University, said, “It was great to be honored. I’ve played a lot of soccer in my life but there’s been nothing more gratifying than playing as a Mustang. I’ve loved wearing red and black on the pitch and representing my school, my community and my family. I may be a Cougar at APU in just a couple of months, but I’ll always be a Mustang!”

Craig Bergman, Monte Vista’s Athletic Director, said, “I’m very excited for our young

From left to right: Tori Edwards, Allison Brown, Paige Southmayd, Lauren Nakaso

Danville Rotary names Female Athlete of the Year By Denise Rousset

Alamo Hay & GrainWe Feed Them All—Dogs, Cats, Birds, All Other Livestock

3196 Danville Blvd., 837-4994Open: Mon – Sat, 8 – 6 • Sunday, 9 – 4

For All Your Pet or Animal Needs!

$500OFF

ANY PURCHASEOF $35 OR MORE

exp. 8/4/12Not applicable to advertised items.

with coupon $3.00 each

exp. 8/4/12

$2599

exp. 8/4/12

with coupon

Straw Bales for RENT!Indoor/Outdoor Decoration for Events, fundraisers, school, church, etc.

$250BALE

Premium No-Waste Wild Bird Food

“Will not grow!”

$1995 20lb. Bag

Premium No-Waste Wild Bird Food

exp. 8/4/12

Baby Chicks

(Delivery Available)

NigerThistle

20 lb.

Mark Curtis, an award-winning journalist and political author, has earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership degree from St. Mary’s College of California.

Curtis completed his Doctoral Dissertation in a study of how Rhode Island voters in generational age groups made different media choices in terms of how they gained information about politics in the 2008 Presidential election and beyond.

“People are very much creatures of habit,” said Curtis, “They gravitate toward what they grew up with or used all their lives in terms of news

Local businessman earns DoctorateBy StaffWriter coverage.” The study found

that voters over age 60 still gravitate to traditional media of newspapers, radio and television. The youngest voters, age 18 to 30, are completely opposite, using Internet based news and social media, almost to the exclusion of newspapers and TV.

“Any candidate running for offi ce needs to use a two-tiered media strategy if they want to appeal to all voters,” Curtis said. Many analysts credit a similar strategy for Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 Presidential campaign.

Curtis is the Chief Political and Investigative Reporter for WLNE-TV ABC 6 in Providence,

Rhode Island. In addition, Curtis is an Ad-junct Lecturer in the Com-munica t ion Department at Rhode Island College. He is also the owner of MarkCurtisMedia.com, a communications and political consulting fi rm in Dan-ville, California.

In addition to his Doctorate from St. Mary’s College Curtis earned his Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication from Marquette University and his Master of Arts in Mass Com-munication from the University of Florida.

Deep & Effective Gentle & Rejuvenating

Also please see my other email with the corrections.

Please call me at 925-567-6710I could stop by at the office later. Let me know when.

Are Aches and Pains Limiting Your Activities?Medical Massage can enhance your Active Lifestyle

• Neck and Back Pain • Headaches • Frozen Shoulder • Tennis & Golfer Elbow• Chronic Pain• Sports Injuries etc. • Juvenile Growing Pains

Kathrin Montoya, CMTAdvanced Massage Therapy

& Bodywork

925-567-6710Danville, 390 Diablo Rd, #115

Lafayette , 3744 Mt Diablo Blvd, #102 925-567-6710

20% off with this ad(New clients only. Exp 7/31/12)since 1996

men and women who will be moving on to play intercollegiate athletics. We wish them nothing but the best and look forward to following their collegiate careers.”

Monte Vista has produced countless hard working athletes of excellence over the last several years, all of whom have represented their school and community well. Recent grads include Courtney Jones, Class of 2008, who just signed with the Boston Breakers, the professional women’s soccer league, after an outstanding career at University of North Carolina; and Ryan Whalen, a 2007 grad, who’s in his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Maggie Steffens, Class of 2011, is traveling with the USA Women’s Water Polo team, preparing for the summer Olympics, and Mark Appel, Class of ’09, is a starting Stanford Pitcher and part of the MLB draft in June.

be kind to the environment please recycle this newspaper

Danville Rotary held its fifth annual Female Athlete of the Year Awards luncheon on Monday, June 4th and the winner was swimmer, Allison Brown, a senior at San Ramon Valley High School. Each year, Danville Rotary honors the most outstanding female athletes from each of our four area high schools and this year’s nominees were all exceptional. The other athletes nominated were Tori Edwards from California High School nominated for Track & Field and Basketball; Lauren Nakaso from Dougherty Valley High School, Nominated for Soccer; Paige Southmayd from Monte Vista High School, Nominated for Lacrosse.

Heather Johnston, Head Swim Coach at San Ramon Valley High School said, “Allison made a huge impact from the very fi rst time she swam for San Ramon Valley High School. I knew this girl had the determination and the drive to make the highest level possible in this sport. She immediately became a leader and a motivator to her fellow teammates, and is extremely versatile with the number of events she can swim and score points. ”

Some of the high school highlights for Allison are as follows:

She was a member of the United States National Junior Swim Team 2011-2012: Member San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) Women’s Varsity Swim

Team, 4 years; Team Captain, Pleasanton Seahawks Swim Team, 2009 – present; Member California Scholarship Federation (CSF), 2008 – present, and Member SRVHS Photography Club, 2010 – present.

Allison was recognized at local and national levels for: 18-time High School All-America honors (13 awarded + 5 for this season); 2012 Olympic Trials – Women’s Swimming Qualifi er – 5 events; SRVHS Women’s Swimming Record Holder – 4 individual and 2 relay events; 4-time Pacifi c Swimming Age-Group Athlete of the Year; FINA Top 100 World Ranking in 2011 for the 200 IM (LCM); Competed at and a championship fi nalist at FINA World Cup 2010 (Berlin and Moscow), 2011 (Singapore);

Completed at and a championship f inalist representing the US at FINA World Junior Championships, Lima Peru, August 2011; Championship Final is t a t US Nat ional Swimming Championships 2011; Championship Finalist at US Junior National Swimming

Championships 2011; Top 10 Finisher at US National Open Water Championships 2011 (5k)

Allison will continue to swim at Stanford in the fall, said Coach Johnston, “ and the Wolves will look forward to following her career over the next 4 years.”


Focus: Senior Living

Breathe Again!!!CALIFORNIA

SINUS CENTERS & Institute

Atherton (Stanford area)

Walnut Creek (East Bay)

San Francisco

Sacramento

www.CalSinus.com

We CARE for:Bacterial Infections / Sinusitis

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Imaged Guided Surgical Navigation

Revision - complex cases

Frontal Sinusitis

Advanced endoscopic techniques

Sinuplasty

Sinus surgery WITHOUT packing

Nasal obstruction / Septoplasty

Allergic Fungal Sinusitis

Culture directed treatment

Orbital Decompression -Grave’s disease

Tear Duct surgery - Watery eyes

Sinonasal tumors / polyps

Smell / Taste Problems

Complications of Prior Surgeries

CSF leak repairs

Mucoceles / Abcesses

In-office CT scanner

Urgent appointments

Joint care: ENT- Allergy - Pulmonary

Karen FongMD

Winston Vaughan MD

Sherry DerakhshandehPA-C

Kathleen LowNP

16 Crow Canyon CourtSan Ramon

Day/Night, Live-In or Live-Out CareRespite for Family CaregiverYOU choose the CaregiverCriminal background checks on all CaregiversExperience Visiting AngelsPersonalized Service System with a FREE In-Home Consultation

Up to 24 hour careMeal PreparationPersonal Hygiene AssistanceErrands & ShoppingRewarding Companionship

www.jmhomecare.com

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that the Affordable Care Act helped 1,180,220 people in California with original Medicare receive at least one preventive service at

Health care law delivers free preventive services to 1,180,220 people with Medicare in California By David Sayen no cost to them during the

first five months of 2012. This includes 89,595 who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit provided by the Affordable Care Act.

Nationally, 14,297,266 people in Medicare received at least one free preventive service during the first five months of this year. This includes 1,100,592 people who benef i ted f rom the Annual Wellness Visit. In 2011, 32.5 million people in Medicare received one or more preventive benefits free of charge.

“Thanks to the health care law, millions of Americans are getting cancer screenings, mammograms and other preventive services for free,” said CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “These free preventive services are helping people in Medicare stay healthy and lower their health care costs.”

One of the major goals of the Affordable Care Act is to help people stay healthy by giving them the tools they need to take charge of their own health and prevent health problems before they happen.

Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Under the Affordable Care Act , prevent ive benef i ts are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early. The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare—an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice—at no cost to beneficiaries.

For more information on Medicare-covered preventive s e r v i c e s , p l e a s e v i s i t : www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services.

To learn what screenings, vacc ina t ions and o the r preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the “myhealthfinder” tool at www.healthfinder.gov.


How Do You Define

The Stratford defines living well as enjoying your independence in the loveliest of settings, where your health and happiness is our priority.

Living Well ?

increasing needs

transportation a lively activity calendar

views of Mount Diablo

Why is Home Care Assistancethe San Ramon Valley’s premier choice for in-home senior care?

● Home Care Assistance lets you select the caregiver of your choice from our extensive roster.

● Home Care Assistance is the leader in contract-free homecare services, ranging from short term to 24/7 live-in care.

● Home Care Assistance provides high quality, bonded and insured caregivers, who are experienced in care for older adults.

● Home Care Assistance helps with meals, personal care, transportation and more.

● Home Care Assistance wrote the books Handbook for Live-In Care and Happy to 102, available on Amazon.com.They serve as a resource for the industry, as well as families.

Meet Jesse Walters. Jesse is the Client CareManager for our Danville/ Walnut Creek office. He has been working with older adults issues for more than ten years and specializes in home care. Please call Jesse to answer any questions you may have about home care.

Call Jesse for a free consultation at: 925-817-0416www.HomeCareAssistance.com480 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville, CA 94526

If you’re caring for an aging loved one, you’re likely faced with a variety of safety and social concerns. As your relative’s forgetfulness progresses to potential for harm, you can take steps to protect your parent or spouse, to educate yourself, and to determine when to pursue more help.

To protect your family member from potentially dangerous situations, ensure that the home is suitably designed and maintained to minimize the possibility of falling. Install hand rails in the bathroom. Remove throw rugs, extension cords, and other tripping hazards. Ensure that the l ight ing in the house is adequate. Many families also opt for an emergency call button that can alert the authorities and send help immediately if needed.

Besides addressing safety concerns, you can he lp relatives maintain quality of life through social interaction. It’s tempting for a senior to sit in the house and waste away the day watching TV, but the mind needs to be

stimulated! The San Ramon Senior Center offers a game room, fitness classes, and even transportation. Ensure that your loved one is getting out of the house whenever possible, and that family members and caregivers don’t let them remain sedentary and disengaged. Play games, do puzzles, look through photo albums.

Another temptation is for seniors to eat frozen meals or canned food. Beware: these meals are often very high in sodium and fat but low in vi tamins. Proper nutrition feeds the mind and body, regardless of age. You may choose to have meals delivered by Meals on Wheels, have your loved one eat at the Senior Center a few times a week, or have a caregiver assist in preparing healthy meals. You can easily modify recipes l ike tuna casserole or “fried” chicken to make them healthy and appealing.

As a family caregiver, you also need to make your own health a priority. Be proactive about your own well-being by setting aside time to rest, seeking help

in the form of respite care, or joining a support group. Of course, there will come a time when every family caregiver needs support to adequately care for an aging parent or loved one. In these instances, hiring a caregiver from a home care agency can be an effective solution. Look for a reputable agency like Home Care Assistance, which is bonded and insured. Its caregivers are trained in caring for daily needs, as well as creating healthy meals, planning activities and engaging in conversation.

To d ay t h e re a r e 61 million family caregivers in the United States. There are many local organizations that offer support, services and advice. If you are a c a re g i ve r f o r a f am i l y member or anticipate being in that situation soon, take advantage of the information and resources available to help you.

Resources:San Ramon Senior Center

(925) 973-3250 or www.sanramon.ca.gov/Parks/programs/ages55+.htm

Family Caregiver Alli-ance www.caregiver.org

Safety and Social Interaction: Key Aspects of Caring for Aging Family MembersHome Care Assistance (925)

820-8390 or www.BayArea-HomeCareAssistance.com

Books: Happy to 102 and The Handbook of Live-In Care, authors Kathy N. Johnson, PhD, and James H. Johnson, PhD. Both are available at Amazon.com.

By Jesse Walters Jesse Walters is a Client Care Manager for Home Care Assistance in Danville with over 10 years experience. He is also a member of the Pro-fessional Fiduciary Associa-tion of California.

Tender Heart Home Care

Referral Agency

Family ownedand operated.

Let Us Put our Heart in your Home

925-838-4444

WE’RE ALWAYS THERE WHEN YOU NEED US!

Personal Care, GroomingMedication RemindersLight HousekeepingBathing AssistanceMeal Planning & PreparationGrocery Shopping & ErrandsAppointments

ON CALL 24/7Locally Owned & Operated2694 Bishop Dr., # 260San Ramon, CA 94583www.atenderheart.com

20% Off first week of

services(New clients only)



www.innercompassreiki.com

Find a more peaceful, balanced life through the gentle healing energy of Reiki.

Chellie Kammermeyer, Reiki MasterDanville • 510.499.4332

Plantar FasciitisBunions • Neuromas Heel SpursKnee Pain Back Pain Hammertoes

190-D Alamo Plaza, Alamo, CA 94507925-831-3600

M-F: 10 to 6; Sat: 10 to 5Closed Sunday



P lan ta r Fasc i i t i s

19

$10 off any $100 purchasethrough June 2, 2012 with this ad.

Valid only in Alamo. Not valid with other of fers. WL

BunionsNeuromas

Back Pain Hammertoes

Heel Spurs Knee Pain



P lan ta r Fasc i i t i s

$10 off any $100 purchasethrough June 2, 2012 with this ad.

Valid only in Alamo. Not valid with other of fers. WL

BunionsNeuromas

Back Pain Hammertoes

Heel Spurs Knee Pain

$10 off any $100 purchase through August 1, 2012 with this ad

Valid only in Alamo. Not valid with other offers

A diagnosis of kidney failure could be a real shock. And it ’s becoming more common as the number of Americans with diabetes and high blood pressure grows. But even with this serious diagnosis you can survive and move on.

Medicare can help. The program helps pay for kidney dialysis as well as kidney transplants.

Chronic kidney disease is a serious health problem in the United States. In 2010, more than 20 million Americans ages 20 and older had this disease.

And in 2008, near ly 550,000 Americans were getting treated for end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, which is permanent kidney failure.

Most people have to be at least 65 years old to get Medicare. But people with ESRD can get Medicare at any age. Even children with ESRD can enroll in Medicare.

ESRD i s t re a t ed by dialysis, a process which cleans your blood when your kidneys don’t work. It gets rid of harmful waste, extra salt, and fluids that build up in your body. It also helps control blood pressure and helps your body keep the right amount of fluids.

Dialysis treatments help you feel better and live longer – but they aren’t a cure for permanent kidney failure.

Medicare Covers Kidney Disease By David Sayen M e d i c a r e c o v e r s a

number of things related to dialysis.

If you’re admitted to a hospital for special care, Medicare covers inpatient dialysis treatments under Part A, which is hospital insurance.

M e d i c a r e P a r t B covers outpatient dialysis treatments and doctors’ fees for outpatient care.

Part B a lso pays for self-dialysis training, which includes instruction for you and the person helping you with your home dialysis treatments.

And Part B covers home d ia lys is equipment and supplies – like the machine and water treatment system – as well as most drugs for home dialysis.

How much would you have to pay for dialysis in a Medicare-certified facility? If you have Original Medicare, you ’d pay 20% o f t he Medicare-approved amount for all covered services.

Medicare pays the other 80%.

Dia lys i s and k idney transplants are paid through Original Medicare.

In most cases, you can’t join a Medicare Advantage plan if you have end-stage renal disease.

Ke e p i n m i n d t h a t dialysis can be done in your own home or in a Medicare-certified facility.

Ask your kidney doctor what facility he or she works with. Or you can look for a faci l i ty on Medicare’s “Dialysis Facility Compare” website, located at www.medicare.gov/dialysis.

The website has important information such as addresses and phone numbers, how far certain facilities are from you, and what kind of dialysis services the facilities offer.

You also can compare facilities by certain quality-of-care information.

I f you don’ t have a computer, you can call us, toll-free, at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Medicare Part A also helps pay for hospital inpatient services if you need a kidney transplant.

Medicare will help cover the costs of fi nding the proper kidney for your transplant, and the full cost of care for your kidney donor.

For more deta i l s on transplants, please consult our pamphlet, “Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis & Kidney Transplant Services” (CMS Product No. 10128).

It’s available online or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacifi c Trust Territories. You can get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).


“In taking on the role of caregiver, I was quite overwhelmed by how quickly things unfolded and the difficult decisions that needed to be made. Your expertise and support prepared us for what was to come.

“Beyond the hospital bed and medicines, the oxygen and the bedside care, all provided quickly and at no cost, it was the compassion of your team that made all the difference to her.

“The tender care she received, especially the lipstick and splash of cologne your aide provided after each bath, brought dignity and comfort to a very classy woman. It meant the world to her to receive such tender loving care.”

For further information, visit HopeHospice.com (925) 829-8770

I promised my mom that, when the time came, I would take care of her

at home. You helped me do that.at home. You helped me do that.at home. You helped me do that.

I promised my mom that, when the I promised my mom that, when the I promised my mom that, when the time came, I would take care of her I promised my mom that, when the time came, I would take care of her I promised my mom that, when the

Supporting You with Compassion, Dignity and ExcellenceHospice care is covered by Medicare,

Medicaid and most insurance. No one is turned away due to inability to pay.

~ Mary P.

In a three minute painless, in-office procedure using nothing morethan radio frequency energy (no laser cutting), we gently change the shape of your cornea to allow you to see up close without glasses.

CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) is a fast, safe, noninvasive procedure to help improve your near vision.“Dr. Lerner is a phenomenal surgeon. His reputation makes him the choice of other doctors.”

You can with NearVisionCK.

Lerner Eye CenterConcord • Pittsburg • San Ramon1-888-820-9600 • www.lernereyecenter.com

Dr. Eric Mariotti, Plastic Surgeon, Concord

HILARY JON LERNER, M.D.Eye Physician & Surgeon


Summer is a great time to get your roof in shape!

• Rain Gutters • Gutter Cleaning and Screening • Roof Power Washing and Repair • Sheet Metal

Summer Special

925-381-7620All Raingutters Systems, Inc.

We’ll Beat Any Written EstimateOver 20 Years Experience

Gutter Installation Starting at $4.75 L.F. Seamless

Lic #793315

Please view my online portfolio at www.craiglandscaping.com

Award winning quality, value and service since 1988

lic contractor #545003

free estimates 925-935-5269

LANDSCAPING?

DESIGN NOWfor stunning beauty,minimal maintenance

and water

INSTALLATION by our A+ teamNon-toxic, expert GARDENING

During Cat Independence Days, July 5-22, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) liberates all adult cats six months of age or older from their adoption fees. All standard adoption criteria apply. Before adoption, all cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, wormed, checked for feline leukemia and FIV, and microchipped. Adoption hours are Wednesday, noon - 5 p.m., Thursday - Friday, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. Stop by ARF at 2890 Mitchell Drive (off of Oak Grove Road) in Walnut Creek to check them out, or get to know them online at www.arf.net.

ARF saves the lives of loving dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters, giving another chance at life to animals who otherwise would have been killed. ARF provides the care and attention they need, including spay or neuter surgery, until a new home of their own can be found.

To celebrate Independence Day,ARF is the Land of the Free!

On June 7th, key executives and representatives for the globally recognized and New York-based Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) were in Danville to recognize a local “all volunteer” fundraising organization, The Danville d’Elegance (DDE) Foundation for its ongoing charitable efforts and extensive fundraising support for Parkinson’s research and patient care.

In nearly eight years, the Danville program, which

Danville D’Elegance recognized by Michael J. Fox Foundationincludes its annual Danville Concours d’Elegance, has remained “the little Concours that could,” raising more than $1.3 million for the Parkinsons cause.

At an awards ceremony last month in New York City, DDE earned the number three spot in the organization’s “Top 10” and was recognized within the annual “Team Fox MVP Awards Honoring Highest 2011 Fundraisers.”

This year’s event will be held the weekend of September

15-16, 2012 and can be viewed at www.danville-delegance.org.

Danv i l l e d ’E legance Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations in their pursuit to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, while specifically raising funds to benefit the advancement of Parkinson’s research and patient care. Since 2004 the Foundation has raised in excess of $1.3 million for this cause. All of the annual weekend activities for Danville d’Elegance are planned,

Mark Madrid, a former Contra Costa resident is fi ghting for his life. Now, isolated on an Oklahoma reservation he is far from the hospital and in need of a liver transplant. In 1967, he required surgery after a motorcycle accident. A portion of his leg was amputated, and he contracted hepatitis C after receiving a blood transfusion that was unknowingly tainted with the disease. Doctors say a liver transplant is critical to his survival, and he’s been on the transplant waiting list since April this year.

Mark and Jeanne, his wife of nearly 40 years, have four children and nine grandchildren. A lover of the outdoors, Mark loves fi shing, biking, canoeing,

Liver transplant help neededarchery and playing sports with his grandchildren. Mark has spent time on both sides of the camera, as he has acted and has also created, edited, written and produced fi lms. He worked dedicatedly to produce a bilingual TV show for Native American children.

A f t e r re c e i v i ng h i s transplant, Mark hopes to educate others about the dangers of hepatitis C, as he spent many years not knowing the effect it was having on his health. He wishes no one else would ever have to go through what he’s experienced battling liver disease. But right now, he needs your help.

Mark’s hope for life comes at a very high price. Besides the over $550,000 for the transplant,

he faces ongoing medical costs for medications and travel to and from the hospital that is 120 miles away. What if your life depended on the compassion and generosity of others?

The National Foundation for Transplants (NFT) is working with volunteers and supporters to help relieve Mark’s growing burden of expenses. NFT has been assisting transplant patients with fundraising support for 29 years. Your gift—of $25, $50, $100 or more—will enable NFT to provide Mark with the fi nancial support he desperately needs.

You can help by visiting patients.transplants.org/markmadrid to make a tax-deductible donation to NFT in his honor.

For more information about NFT, contact 800-489-3863.

By Denise Rousset

Plans are underway for The Taylor Family Foundation’s 22nd Annual Day in the Park auction fundraiser, scheduled for Sunday, August 26 at Camp Arroyo in Livermore. Proceeds from the auction support The Taylor Family Foundation’s (TTFF) mission to preserve the wellness and enhance the quality of life for children in Northern California living with life-threatening and

22nd Annual Day in the ParkFundraiser aims to raise $1 Million

By StaffWriter supported and completely run by a team of volunteers, a majority whose lives have been touched by Parkinson’s disease. The

Foundation’s funding efforts are aligned with both The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Parkinson’s Institute. For more information, please visit www.danville-delegance.org .

chronic illnesses, developmental disabilities and youth at-risk through unique therapeutic experiences and support.

Th i s yea r ’s auc t i on fundraiser includes gourmet food and wine from some of the Bay Area’s top restaurants and the fi nest Northern Californian wineries. Mingle with local celebrities, bid on more than 150 silent and live auction packages and buy raffle tickets for a

chance to win a 2012 Toyota Prius. Priceless and rare live auction items include celebrity dinners and sports packages, private air accommodations to red carpet events, luxurious vacations and other glamorous packages. Individual tickets are $175 and tables of 10 are $2,000. Sponsorships range from $3,000 to $100,000.

For tickets/tables and event sponsorship opportunities for Day in the Park, please visit www.ttff.org or call (925) 455-5118.

July • July • July • July • July • July • July • July • July • July

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Please email your Calendar Events to the Sentinel by 5pm on the 20th of the month preceding publication month. [email protected] or go to valleysentinel.com to enter your event online.

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

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

We hope to see you there!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Operation Welcome Home If you know of any Danville residents who are returning military service members, please contact Assistant to the Town Manager, Rochelle Flotten at 314-3328, or rfl [email protected].

July 13 All in Good Time: Sustainable, Seasonal Bouquets 8:30am-12:30pm. Lectures and fl oral-design demonstra-tions will show you the path to enjoying the full fl oral bounty the Bay Area has to offer. Also handy - and green - bouquet-making tip. Admission: $45. Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek. Information: 944-9352.

July 15 Moonlight Movies on the Town Green8:15: Free Willy. 420 Front Street, Danville. Information: www.danville.ca.gov. or call 314-3400

July 18Art for Elephants, Parrots and Rhinos 7:00pm. In conjunction with the upcoming art gallery exhibit Spaces and Places, local mosaic artist Connie English will facilitate a free video and photo presentation of the various “places” she has traveled, while creat-ing art and awareness for animals and conservation. Village Theatre Art Gallery. 233 Front Street, Danville. Information visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call 314-3400.

July 19 – August 7 Before BART and Model Trains The Diablo Pacifi c Short Line with a large “G” scale line also known as a Garden Train. Topping off the model train group is the little “N” scale train mounted atop a door a working Sacramento Northern electric car setup. Museum of San Ramon, 205 Railroad Ave., Danville. Call for open times: 837-3750.

July 21 Summer Plant Sale 10am-3pm. Sale features great drought-tolerant plants, with a bonus 30% discount on select specimens. Free. Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Rd., Walnut Creek. Information: 944-9352.

San Ramon Library Summer Book SaleJuly 28-29Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm. 100 Montgomery Street, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-2850 or Sanra-monlibraryfriends.org.

July 26 Young at Art 3:30-5:30pm. Budding Artists will be able to view the latest gallery exhibits and learn about contemporary art in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Registration required. Village Theatre Art Gallery. 233 Front Street, Danville. Information visit www.villagetheatreartgallery.com or call 314-3400.

August 2 National Night Out The Town of Danville will send its police staff out into the neighborhoods to remind residents of the importance of having a strong community when it comes to preventing and reducing crime. Several members of the Danville will visit registered neighborhood block parties throughout the Town to discuss issues and concerns from residents. To

register your neighborhood for the event, contact Crime Prevention Specialist Mike Wells at 314-3707.

San Ramon Library Summer Book SaleJuly 28-29Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm. 100 Montgomery Street, San Ramon. Information: 925-973-2850 or Sanra-monlibraryfriends.org.

August 6 & 7 Electronics & Textile Recycling Event9am-3pm. Drop off is free for all California residents and businesses. Danville Park and Ride. NW corner of Syca-more Valley Road & Camino Ramon. For more informa-tion, call (888) 832-9839 or visit www.unwaste.com.

SENIORS

Danville SeniorsUnless otherwise noted, the following activities are held at the Danville Senior Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 115 E. Prospect, Danville. For more infoma-tion call 314-3490.

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

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

Senior Trips for July Please call the Senior Center at 314-3490 for more information on the following trips: July 19 - River Rafting on the American River: 8:15am-9pm. July 22 - Les Miserables, Orpheum Theatre: 10:30am-6:30pm. July 25 - Pt. Reyes Station/Oyster Farm & Cheese Tasting: 8:15am-5:30pm. August 5 - War Horse, Curran Theatre: 5:50-11:45pm.

July 12 New Walking Club 8:30am. The hour long walk along the Iron Horse Trail will begin in front of the Danville Senior Center. If interested call 314-3490 for more information.

July 13 Bastille Day Celebration 10-11:30am. Vive la France! Celebrate Bastille Day with a morning of croissants and coffee. We are so pleased to have a Nordstrom’s stylist show us the timeless French techniques of Scarf Styling. Bring your favorite scarf and embrace your inner French! Cost: $5 resident, $6 non-resident.

July 17 Being Prepared, Ready and Responsive 9-11am. Learn to improve your ability to protect and provide for yourself and your loved ones at a time of disaster in a lively discussion of questions and answers.

July 25 Sub-Committee 4pm. Do you have an idea for a new activity or an improved procedure for Senior Services? Attend this meeting.

July 31 Senior Housing Options: Right Here in Danville 9-10am. Discuss senior housing options in Dan-ville and the surrounding community and what is included when you rent in an independent senior community, an assisted living facility, or a board and care home.

San Ramon SeniorsThe following events are held at the Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon, unless otherwise noted. For more information call 973-3250

Wisdom Wednesdays: Free Workshops geared towards informational sessions that benefi t your needs. They will give you free access to coffee, knowledge and a better understanding of important issues. Information: 973-3250. Trips Trip Desk is open Tuesday & Thursday, 10am-1pm. Infor-mation: 973-3250. Sign up for Casino Trips and Van Trips at the travel desk or by depositing payment with registra-tion form in the gold drop box found at the main entryway.

July Senior TripsJuly 14: Sausalito VillageJuly 18: Union Square, S.F.July 25: Chinatown, Grant Avenue, S.F.

July 12 Ice Cream Social2pm. Alcosta Senior & Community Center.

July 20 Senior Summer BBQ’s 12-2pm. Be outdoors, see old friends, make new friends and enjoy a delicious lunch including barbequed hot dogs or hamburgers, chips, salad or beans, drink and dessert. Bocce Ball, Croquet, and Horse Shoe equip-ment will be available. Pre-Registration at the front desk is required.

BUSINESS

Alamo Chamber of CommerceJuly 255:30 - 7:30pm. Business Mixer. Alamo Optometry, 3201 Danville Blvd., #165 Alamo. Hosted by Hospice of the East Bay. $5 members, $10 soon to be members. Bring a raffl e prize and you will have the opportunity to give a 30-second commercial!Danville Chamber of CommerceJuly 12 – Business Mixer: 5:30pm. College Nannies and Tutors, 3520 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville.July 23 - 2012 Aloha Golf Classic, Dinner & Auction: 9am. Diablo Country Club, 1700 Clubhouse Rd., Diablo. ONLY 11 SPOTS LEFT ON THE COURSE - REGISTER TODAY. Call the Chamber at 837-4400 for more details!

San Ramon Chamber of CommerceJuly 19 – Business Mixer: 5:30-7:30pm. Alamo Danville Artists’ Society, 3461 Blackhawk Plaza Cir., Danville. $5 for Members and $20 for Non-Members. No RSVP Required. Checks and Cash only please.


The Valley Sentinel is seeking interns with web experience and interest in journalism, marketing, and community outreach. Please email us at [email protected], with your qualifications and interests. We’re developing various outreach projects in several departments and would love an interested person along who wants to learn and be part of the team.

JRW CONSTRUCTION, INC.381 Hartz Ave., Danville, Suite B

phone 925.831.1615fax 925.831.1643

lic. 694292

CUSTOM HOMESADDITIONSREMODELS

BATHROOM AND KITCHEN REMODELSTENANT IMPROVEMENTS

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL

Health Plans• Individual & Family Plans• Group Plans• Medicare Supplement

5100 B-1 Clayton Rd., Suite 362, Concord, California 94521

CA License #0688647

800-799-0917

Marc WilliamsHealth & Dental Insurance

Classif ieds FOR SALE

Exceptional landscaping plants at great low prices. Local. Call (925) 285-0351

Lt. Maple Bedroom furnture; nightstand 24x26, dresser 66x32, chest of drawers 63x28. Best Offer. Call 925 858-2186.

SERVICES

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

HELP WANTED

Senior Consultant positions available in the San Ramon, CA area. Duties include: Design and implement new products and enhancements; create and manage software upgrade tools; assist customers in on premise implementations; work with PeopleSoft, Oracle, and Java/J2EE. Travel/relocate as required. Send resume to: Yaaga, Inc., 7509 Balmoral Way, San Ramon, CA 94582.

Sales Executive: The Valley Sentinel Newspaper has immediate openings for two sales positions. No sales experience necessary, we will train. Must have an outgoing personality and a positive attitude. Compensation based on performance. The Valley Sentinel covers the most desirable areas of the Bay Area–Alamo, Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo and San Ramon. Please email your resume and request for interview to us at [email protected].

July 24 - New & Future Member Orientation: 4-5pm. Learn about the various Chamber services that can benefi t your business. We will have some of our Am-bassadors and the Chamber’s President/CEO, Stewart Bam-bino, here to greet you. Bishop Ranch 6, 2400 Camino Ramon, Conference Room 158/K, San Ramon.August 7 - San Ramon Cham-ber Day with the Oakland A’s: 7-10pm. San Ramon Chamber members and their friends and families can purchase Lower Box seats for only $20 when the A’s play the LA Angels. Field Level Tickets: $20 (Normally $30.) Information: 510-563-2227. Oakalnd A’s Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland.

CLUBS and ORGANIZATIONS

Fibro? CFIDS? Chronic Pain? If this is familiar to you, call about the San Ramon Val-ley support group for people who need support, informa-tion, classes and friendship from people who know what it’s like. We tend toward laugh-ing while getting well. Call 837-0510.

Recurring:

Mondays:Danville Rotary12pm. Meets every Monday. Faz Restaurant, Danville. Info: danvillerotary.org.

Tuesdays:Danville AM Toastmasters7-8:30am. Meets every Tues-day. New members welcome. Father Nature’s Restaurant, Danville. Info: danvilleam.freetoasthost.org.

Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary7am. Meets every Tues-day morning. Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville. Info: dsvrotary.com.

Diablo View Toastmasters8:15-9:15am. Meets every Tuesday. CMG Mortgage - 4th Floor Conference Room, 3160 Crow Canyon Road, San Ramon. Info: 4160.toastmas-tersclubs.org.

Walnut Creek Kiwanis Club12:10-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Massimo’s Ristoran-te, 1604 Locust Street,Walnut Creek. Info: kiwanisofwalnut-creek.org.

Walnut Creek Rotary 12:15-1:30pm. Meets every Tuesday. Heather Farms Gar-den Center, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek. Informa-tion: rotarywc.org.

Wednesdays:Alamo Rotary 12:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. Round Hill Country Club, 3169 Roundhill Road, Alamo. Infor-mation: alamorotary.org.

Walnut Creek Host Lion’s Club12:15pm. Meets the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Black Bear Diner, 700 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. In-formation: walnutcreeklions.org.

San Ramon Valley Rotary7pm. Meets every Wednesday. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Dan-ville. Information: sanramon-valleyrotary.com.

Danville Toastmasters #17857:30-9pm. Meets every Wednesday. Information: dan-villetoastmasters1785.com.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR (CONTINUED)

Danville • Blackhawk • Alamo • Diablo • San Ramon

www.valleysentinel.com 390 Diablo Road, Suite 145Danville, CA 94526

Publisher/Editor – Denise Rousset

Chief Financial Offi cer – Jeff Gummere

Graphic Designer – Laurie Prindle

Community News & Information

Working with Save Mount Diablo and Muir Heritage Land Trust in the acquisition of greenbelts that link essential habitat is tantamount to the mountain lions’ survival. Recent purchases have linked habitat north and south of Altamont Pass with wildlife passage made possible under eleven lanes of Highway 580 through tunnels. The Bay Area Critical Linkages Project is focusing on corridors and essential habitat throughout the San Francisco Bay area.

The Bay Area Puma Project has expanded to the East Bay. Mountain lion ecology is being studied in a cooperative effort with the Felidae Conservation Fund, the East Bay Regional Park Distr ict , Cal i fornia Department of Fish and Game and several researchers. Remote infrared/motion detection cameras are used to capture images of mountain lions and other wildlife, which may provide insight into their population. This study will lead to biotelemetry

MOUNTAIN LIONfrom page 1 re sea rch w i th s a t e l l i t e

linked accelerometers that wi l l moni tor indiv idual mountain lion movements and behavior.

Most East Bay residents will never see a mountain l ion . I ’ve been b lessed with many encounters. It’s important that we support our parks, land preservation and conservation organizations that work to save wildlife habitat. Hopefully, these e f for ts wi l l ensure that mountain lions will continue to be an integral part of our landscape.

James M. Ha l e i s a Wildlife Biologist, East Bay Conservat ion Assoc ia te, Felidae Conservation Fund collaborator.

Walnut Creek Toastmasters7-8:15pm. Meets every Wednesday. 1660 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Information: walnutcreek.freetoasthost.net.

Blue Star Moms7-9pm. The second Wednes-day of every month. Danville Veterans Memorial Building, 400 Hartz Ave. Information: bluestar-moms.org.

Thursdays:Clutterers Anonymous7:00 - 8:00pm. Meets every second Thursday of the month.St Luke’s Lutheran Church, Room 7, 2491 San Miguel Drive, Walnut Creek. Informa-tion: [email protected]

Diablo Valley Lions Club7:30pm. Meets every 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursday. 1400 Montego Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: diablovalleyca.lionwap.org.

Rotary Club of San Ramon11:45am. Meets every Thurs-day. Crow Canyon Country Club, 711 Silver Lake Drive, Danville. Information: sanra-monrotary.org.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers ClubMeets every third Thursday. The speaker for July 19 is Susie Cher-ry and Globie from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Luncheon at The Brass Door, San Ramon. For res-ervations and information, please contact Grace at 828-8554.

Saturdays:Diablo Region of the Porsche Club of America7:30-9am. Meets every Saturday. Buttercup Bar and Grill, 660 Yg-nacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek. Information: diablo-pca.org.

Ready To Lease Your Property or Looking To Rent It?

Come ToHitchcock Realty

Property ManagementRentals, Listings, Advertising, Maintenance

Full Services, Low Rates

Call Chris today 925-890-4482 925-820-6047

Writer, Auto – David & Judy Colman

Intern – Stephanie Steinbrecher

IT Support – Light Speed Systems

AUTOMarch 2009

page 14 July 2012 The Valley SenTinel valleysentinel.com

Pleasanton 374 St. Mary St. • 925-846-5614

Call Now for afree consultation

Walnut Creek 21 Broadway Ln. • 925-935-4863

(between Macy’s & Nordstorm)

LOSE WEIGHT & KEEP IT OFF!

• Latest FDA approved medication• A variety of healthy diet programs• Staffed by professional doctors and nurses• Non-medication programs available• Gourmet meals - optional

Botox • Restylane • PerlaneLaser Hair Removal • Dermabrasion

Facials • Obagi Product Line

San Ramon 2701 Crow Canyon Blvd. • 925-837-6400

Botox Treatment Only $10.00 per Unit!!!

Patient Required 25u of Botox for treatment = $250

Saturday and Evening Appts. Available

Lunch, evening &Saturday appts. available

Fairfield1630 Gateway Blvd. #E • 1-800-MY-BOTOX

Having just spent the prior week driving a storied sports sedan, we were prepared to be “underwhelmed” by the performance of this tall, rather ungainly looking, sports utility.

But beauty is as beauty does, and what the FX35 does best is cover ground fast. Faster, in most instances than that storied sports sedan we thought we’d be missing so much. To the everlasting credit of Infiniti engineers, they have produced a lithe and agile package that belies

2012 Infi niti FX35 AWDBy David and Judy Colman its looks, its weight and its

perceived station in life. If there’s a sporting award for SUVs, the FX35 is a clear fi rst place winner.

Its effi cient 3.5 liter V6 proves you don’t need a V8 to wring top drawer performance from such a sizeable vehicle. Despite the Infiniti’s curb weight of 4,156 lb., the 303hp motor is adequate to any acceleration need, and will also tow 3,500 lb. Just fl oor the throttle, or select the appropriate gear of the 7 available, and the FX fl ies into action like a Special Forces

commando truck. Although you can also order a 390hp V8 version of the FX designated FX50, you’ll sacrifice the decent (16/21 MPG) gas mileage of the V6 for the voracious appetite (14/20 MPG) of the 5.0 liter V8. Thanks to the responsiveness of the V6, the V8 is more motor than you need.

The engine’s stellar power band, silken transmission, and perpetual all-wheel-drive wouldn’t be worth much without suspension to match, but the underpinnings of the FX offer sportscar alacrity at the cost of ride comfort. Unlike so many SUVs that depend

on live rear axles inherited from truck architecture, the crossover FX features mu l t i - l i nk independen t suspension front and rear. Ground hogging 10-spoke, 21 inch graphite alloys, which measure 9.5 inches in width, mount 265/45R21 Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400 tires. This jumbo rubber combines with the race-bred suspension to keep the FX fi rmly planted in even the most testing series of corners. Steering feedback is reassuringly accurate, and the stiff chassis structure never heels over, even in the sharpest turns. But this exemplary sportscar handling comes at the price of a stiff, unyielding ride that is harsh over pavement imperfections. The rear seat , which is perched directly over the rear axle, suffers notably from this drawback. Even on smooth freeway slabs, we had eyeball jiggling diffi culty focusing on printed matter when seated in back.

The front compartment, however, is a different story. Here, ride quality is quite acceptable, thanks to lavishly overstuffed leather seats that feature 10-way adjustment for the driver and 8-way adjustment for the passenger. Both front seats are heated. Heating and cooling vents for the aft compartment make life back there more tolerable.

Infi niti packs an enormous amount of technology into the standard FX. You do not need to pay extra to acquire: Navigation, XM satellite radio, an 11 speaker Bose Premium Sound System, or Bluetooth

Hands-Free Phone System with Streaming Audio. Even photo monitoring of outside front, side and back areas is standard thanks to the “AroundView” Monitor which produces a sonar display on the Navigation screen. The FX35 is one of the most fully equipped vehicles you can buy, and to prove the point, our $52,445 test model did not include a single, optional extra. That’s sort of an Olympic accolade for any test review car or truck, which are generally loaded with expensive options, and it really speaks to the value inherent of the base model FX35. If you need an SUV that handles like a Corvette, then this Infi niti is the one to chose.

2012 INFINITI FX35 AWDENGINE: 3.5 liter DOHC,

24 Valve V6HORSEPOWER: 303hp TORQUE: 262 lb.-ft.FUEL CONSUMPTION: 16

MPG City/ 21 MPG HighwayP R I C E A S T E S T E D :

$52,445 F O R : P r e c i s i o n

Re s p o n s i v e n e s s , F i e r y Acceleration

AGAINST: Choppy ride, Awkward Reach to Rearview Mirror Button

STAR RATING: 9.5 Stars Out Of 10

DIABLO MOTORS

2067 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon(925) 830-8747

www.diablomotors.com

AUTO SALES, BROKERAGE, CONSIGNMENT & SERVICE

STILL the ONLY Diamond Certified Dealership in the ENTIRE EAST BAY!

Come in and visit us at our new showroom and take advantage of our

$69.99 Oil Change

(includes 5 qts oil, oil filter, and inspection)

coupon expires August 1, 2012

Buy any vehicle in stock at the advertised sale price and get

FREE MAINTENANCE FOR ONE YEAR!

(Excludes broker orders and consignment vehicles.)

coupon expires August 1, 2012

Summer Specials!Summer Specials!


Zerona is the only clincally-proven body slimming treatment that removes fat & reduces inches with:Zero Pain • Zero Surgery • Zero Downtime • Lose 2 dress sizes in 2 weeks!

As Seen onDr. Oz & 20/20

Call for Your FREE Consultation! Call 1-800-My-BOTOX

Pleasanton 374 St. Mary St. 925-846-5614

Walnut Creek 21 Broadway Lane

(between Nordstrom & Macy’s)1-800-MY-BOTOX

San Ramon 2701 Crow Canyon Rd.

925-837-6400

Lunch, Evening andSaturday appts. available

Non-invasive laser that reduces fat cells

Resol-YOU-sions

Fairfield1630 Gateway Blvd. Ste. E

1-800-MY-BOTOX

Michael J. Tomcik, MD

ADvAnceD LAser & skin cAre cenTer

101 Park Place • San RamonOn the corner of Crow Canyon and Park Place

www.SanRamonDerm.com

Blending Art and Science–

Offering Surgical and Non-Surgical

Bodyshaping Solutions

VASER®

LiposuctionQuick 3 Day Recovery! • Safe In-Office Procedure

• No General Anesthesia

VASER Shape®

Non-surgical ultrasonic

body sculptingLook your best and

make clothes fit better

Please call for more information/consultation

925-743-1488

Reduce: • Love handles • Waist • Saddlebags & hips • Abdomen • Thighs • Neck & jowls • Arms(models)

The East Bay Regional Park District has two new brochures featuring short hikes in scenic parks. Most are about a mile or two in length with relatively minor hills, or flat terrain.

As the weather heats up, getting out in the morning on these trails and bringing water would be a perfect way to begin a summer’s day.

East Bay Regional Park District Publishes New Easy Trails BrochuresBy Beverly Lane, East Bay Regional Park District Board President

The brochure for the Northern Region includes 19 routes in more than a dozen parks, such as the Bollinger Creek Loop in Las Trampas Regional Park and the Castle Rock Loop in Diablo Foothills Regional Park.

An extens ion of the brochure’s Castle Rock short-loop hike in Diablo Foothills will take you on a scenic walk that is mostly in the shade, farther up Pine Canyon past the Castle Rocks. Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area is located at the end of Castle Rock Road in Walnut Creek, a mile or two past Northgate High School.

Short trai ls, whether loops or out-and-back, are good introductions to some Regional Parks you may not yet have visited.

You can view and print easy loop trail descriptions and maps online at www.ebparks.org/shortlooptrails. or find the brochures at one of the Park District’s Visitor Centers, or send an e-mail with your mailing address to [email protected].

Remember, you can still take part in the 2012 Trails Challenge, sponsored by the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. The self-guided, self-paced hiking program is free to residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

Step one is to register for an account at www.regionalparksfoundation.org . Then you can download your guide to hikes in 20 East Bay Regional Parks. While supplies last, you can get a specially designed, organic t-shirt. Track your progress in the Trail Log, and when you complete five trails or travel 26.2 miles of trails, you’ll receive a 2012 commemorative pin at the end of the year.

More information about all East Bay Regional Park District trails and parks is online at www.ebparks.org.

Beverly Lane is a member of the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors. Her ward includes Central Contra Costa County from San Ramon through Concord and Pleasant Hill through Clayton.

At their Tuesday, June 19 , 2012 mee t i n g , t h e Danville Town Council voted unanimously to approve the Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for the 2012-13 fiscal year. The $34 million spending plan calls for $26.1 million budgeted for Town expenses, $2 million for the Town as Successor Agency to the former Danville Community Redeve lopmen t Agency and $5.9 million in capital expenditures. The approved budget is down from the 2011-12 expenditures of $35.2 million.

Tow n M a n a g e r J o e Calabrigo said that the Town was affected by the State of California’s elimination of redevelopment, but due to careful financial planning, Danville was able to approve a balanced budget.

“The goal of the budget process is to keep the Town’s highest priorities in focus,” Calabrigo explained. “That way we can provide services that are most important to the largest possible segment of our community, while staying

Danville Town Council approves budgetwithin our means.”

Calabrigo said the Town will continue to operate with sound financial planning, with ten year projections showing that Danville is following a course that is fiscally sustainable.

Cop ie s o f the Town Manager’s Budget in Brief and CIP in brief messages as well

as the budget in its entirety are avilable for viewing on the Town’s webs i t e at www.danvil le.ca.gov/Council_and_Government/Departments/Finance.

For more information on the budget, contact Town Manager Joe Calabrigo at (925) 314 -3388 or [email protected].

A scenic trail in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.

A father and his twin girls enjoy a walk in Castle Rock

Regional Park.

Phone (925) 820-4603

Fax (925) 820-4604

DANVILLE SAN RAMON PHARMACY

Your Health is Our Concern

Are You Getting the Personal Service You Deserve from Your Pharmacy?

• Same Co-Pay, Better Service• Competitive Pricing (guaranteed lowest)• We Accept ALL Insurance• Greeting cards & more• No Waiting • Free Delivery

905 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Suite 106 Danville, CA 94526

(Located in the Victorian Medical Center)Plenty of Free Parking!Monday ~ Friday 9 - 6

Saturday 10 - 2

Come in for a FREE Latte and Experience a Different Kind of Pharmacy!

Come in for a FREE Latte and Experience a Different Kind of Pharmacy!

Transfer your prescription to Danville San Ramon Pharmacy

& receive $10 in FREE shopping!* *Limitations apply, see pharmacist for details.

San Carlos650-577-8979

Mountain View650-964-7212

Campbell408-871-8890

Danville925-866-61641901-F Camino Ramon

Corte Madera415-924-6691

www.theHomeConsignmentCenter.com

You and your friends can find one-of-a-kind treasures at Home Consignment Center.

It’s no secret.It’s no secret.

Designer Furniture, Accessories and Jewelry all at Consignment Prices!Designer Furniture, Accessories and Jewelry all at Consignment Prices!

the valley sentinel_july 2012

Documents

mountain lionpage

mountain lion response

humanlion encounters

preferred habitat

east bay area

d en t i f i c

n t o t

east bay regional parks