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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& OCTOBER 2026
A COMMUNITY MODEL FOR MENTAL HEALTH: DISCOVERY COUNSELING CENTER
By Traci Wyss
It isn’t often that you can make a tangible, positive impact on your community by cleaning out your house, so when you can, seize the day! Discovery Counseling Center (DCC) of Danville is improving outcomes for local youth and community members of all ages. Your donations of gently used clothing and household items to the Danville Thrift Station support their mission while benefitting our community. Back in 1971, Danville residents were noticing high numbers of troubled teens hanging around downtown using alcohol and drugs. Concerned, they reached out to Peter Strauss, a local high school counselor. Peter, with the help of a $300 grant from Danville Rotarians and inaugural meetings held in the Foster’s Freeze parking lot, began counseling local youth. Additional community support led to a brick and mortar space opening its doors in June 1971. This began Discovery Counseling Center’s 55-year legacy of mental health support for kids, teens, and, eventually, community members of all ages. Over the years, DCC has evolved to meet community needs as they changed. For the last 36 years, Discovery Counseling Center has provided mental health services on campus to all San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) schools. Today, that is 36 schools across the district. DCC serves an average of 400 kindergarten through 12th grade students in the district each year. The School Counseling and Intervention Program (SCIP) places pre-licensed counselors closely supervised by DCC licensed staff therapists in the schools to provide individual and group counseling to students. Each school has a dedicated SCIP counselor for Danville Thrift Station volunteers run every aspect of the thrift store that supplies 30% of DCC’s operating budget. They are open for weekly sessions. There are a variety shopping and donations Monday through Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM. of reasons a child may benefit from SCIP services, both school-related and nonschool related. A death in the family, academic stressors, divorce, behavioral struggles, or social challenges are a few examples of when students may be referred to SCIP counseling. Parents are given the option to enroll their child in once weekly sessions on campus.
See Health continued on page 18
THE CAMERA THAT NEVER MISSES A SUNRISE
By Haider Jarral, Danville resident
Every morning, while most of Danville is still asleep, a small camera on my balcony wakes itself up, points at the hills east of town, and starts filming. It watches the sky turn from black to blue to gold, and by the time I’ve had my coffee, it has edited its footage into a thirty-second video, picked out a piece of music, added an inspirational quote, and shared the finished sunrise with a few thousand p e o p l e around the world. It has now done this more than a hundred mornings in a row. It has never overslept. I wish I could say the same for myself. The project started in the spring with a simple thought: the sunrise over our hills was too good to keep to myself. I had an old camera gathering
See Sunrise continued on page 23
BE PREPARED!
Who knows what our fall and winter weather will bring this year? Emergencies are inevitable; being prepared is paramount and can give you and your family an edge on knowing how to handle a situation. The Contra Costa Community Warning System (CCCWS) is one of the nation’s most modern and effective all-hazard community warning systems. You can receive alerts via phone calls, text messages, and email from the CWS in times of local emergencies such as gas leaks, fires, hazardous material incidents, law enforcement activities, and more that will include basic information about the incident and what specific protective actions (shelter in place, lock-down, evacuate, avoid the area, etc.) that are necessary to protect life and health. Register to receive emergency alerts, and learn more at cwsalerts.com.
LEARN MORE!
Everyone, join the Alamo Improvement Association (AIA) via Zoom and learn more about the CCCWS during a presentation to be held at 6PM on Wednesday, October15th. Details and Zoom link available at www.AlamoCA.org.
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, & Danville
Volume XXVI Number 10
Volume XVII Number 10
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
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PAGE 2 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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BOULEVARD VIEW
By Alisa Corstorphine, Editor and Publisher
Jewelry Fundraiser Faire Thursday, November 19th ~ 10 am to 5 pm Friday, November 20th ~ 10 am to 4 pm Beautiful Costume Jewelry starting at Just $5 Designer Jewelry 50% Off or “Priced as Marked” (PAM) Come Shop with Us! New Items are Added throughout the Sale!
Alamo Women’s Club, 1401 Danville Blvd. Alamo Proceeds benefit scholarships, AWC, and our philanthropies, as we continue our efforts to support our community.
Together We Give! Save the Date ~Next Jewelry Sale ~ February 4th and 5th
17th Annual San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church Harvest Festival and Boutique Saturday, November 14th, 2026 9:00—2:00 902 Danville Blvd., Alamo Shop for everyone on your list!
Quality handcrafts by local artists Unbeatable DEALS! Support the SRVUMC Youth Bake Sale
Fabulous lunch at the Harvest Café Homemade soups & salads Delicious homemade pies
These days, it’s often hard to tell what is real, what is AI, and what has been manipulated to tell a tale that someone wanted us to hear, rather than the truth. I recently received a call from “JP Morgan/ Chase”...or at least JP Morgan/Chase was what Caller ID said. The caller identified himself as a banking representative and noted there was someone from Long Beach trying to extract two large sums of money via Zelle from one of my accounts. I am well aware of many of the tricks and scams used to con us into giving up our hard-earned money and identity. That said, the scammers are good and tricky. They know how to play on our emotions, get us fuddled and confused, and pretend they are our best friends at the ready to help us from the “bad guys.” Good thing I was already flustered and dealing with another crisis (I had just squirted brown furniture stain all over and made a huge mess), and I wasn’t very nice to the caller. It turns out, that was to my benefit. The caller kept asking me if I had authorized the Zelle charges. They gave me a “case number,” they kept asking if I used Zelle, and to confirm my account. I kept saying, “I don’t know,” “There are multiple accounts it could be from...” my confusion led the initial caller to transfer me to another “support” person. I was still brusque and flustered, but gave the caller no information. He then supposedly transferred me back to the initial agent, but the line hung went dead. I dodged a bullet. My rudeness actually may have saved me from falling down the rabbit hole of fraud. While fraud and manipulation are all around (see the technology articles on pages 16 and 17), I choose to focus more on the positive. I’ve previously mentioned a company that sells aprons. Their Founder and “Chief Brand Officer,” Ellen Marie Bennett, sends great emails. I don’t need aprons, but I enjoy her inspiration. While her advice is written to businesses, I also reflect on patronizing businesses where they consider factors like she notes. A recent email went like this: “The difference between customer experience, service, and hospitality. How do you make someone feel so good that they want to come back? Great freaking question. And here’s my spicy take: sometimes we’re trying to solve the wrong problem. We’re staring at loyalty programs, reviews, conversion rates, and retention KPIs. All great things. But the real question is much simpler: Did we make someone feel considered? Did we do something they didn’t expect? That, to me, is hospitality. Let me tell you about my neighbor Doug. When we first moved into our neighborhood, he texted me: “Hey, are you home right now? I’m swinging by with homemade sourdough bread I baked this morning.” A few minutes later, Doug showed up with warm, freshly baked bread. I was floored. I felt thought of. Cared for. Noticed. Welcomed. I instantaneously categorized Doug as my favorite person on the street and decided Pasadena was the friendliest place on earth. All because of this bread. It still holds true! That, to me, is hospitality. It’s not always the giant gesture. It’s often the tiny thing that says, I thought about you before you even had to ask. So what’s the equivalent of warm bread in our businesses? What’s the little touch that makes someone feel like more than an order number, a reservation, or a credit card swipe? Because we are in the business of making people feel something So I dare you to sit down with your team and map it out... ...Write down every touch point your customer goes through, from the first moment they hear about you to when they walk in, order, ask for help, come back, tell a friend, or don’t. Then look at it honestly. Where is the friction? Where is the weird, clunky step everyone knows could be better? And most importantly: where could the magic happen? Where could you make someone feel considered, noticed, remembered, or taken care of before they even have to ask?... I bet if you get your whole team in a room and do this together, you’ll come up with some amazing ideas. Real ideas that make the customer experience better, the team experience smoother, and the whole operation feel a little more human... As fall and winter approach, gatherings and celebrations begin, how can we connect and make each other feel, “a little more human?” Where can we add “hospitality” and make “the magic” in our daily lives so those around us feel cared for and not just a number? We can do this individually and with each other. That to me is community with real interactions and feelings and something that is not artificial.
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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 3
A NEW PARTNERSHIP. ONE CLEAR STRATEGY. I’m pleased to introduce my business partner, Jessica Nance. Together, we bring Alamo & Danville homeowners a strategic, handson approach to preparing and selling their homes. From determining which improvements are worth making, to coordinating trusted vendors, staging and extensive marketing. We can also provide options to fund improvements with no upfront cost. Every great sale begins with an even better plan. Call us to start planning your next move. Carolyn Gwynn
Jessica Nance
carolyngwynn@compass.com 925.336.7525 REALTOR® DRE 01888136 carolyngwynn.com
jessica.nance@compass.com 925.956.9552 REALTOR® DRE 01960286
STRATEGY • PROJECT MANAGEMENT HOME PREPARATION • STAGING MARKETING • VALUATION • NEGOTIATION
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
GET READY TO VOTE NOVEMBER 3RD TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN!
Presented by the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs (SRVCPTA), the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, and the San Ramon Public Library.
SRVUSD SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM
Come to the SRVUSD School Board Candidate Forum on Thursday, October 8th from 7:30-9PM. The forum will be held at Iron Horse Middle School located at 12601 Alcosta Blvd., San Ramon. The SRVCPTA and the AAUW are pleased to present a Candidate Forum for the SRVUSD Board of Education Trustee seats. Area 5 candidates are Rachel Hurd and Joel Woods. Everyone is welcome to attend to learn more about the candidates before voting. The Forum will be Moderated by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley. Advanced registration is not required. To view the SRVUSD Trustee Area Map, visit www.srvusd.net.
2026 NOVEMBER BALLOT MEASURES – PROS AND CONS
On Wednesday, October 14th from 6-7:30PM at the San Ramon Library located at 100 Montgomery Street, San Ramon, learn about November’s ballot measures from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley. No registration required everyone is welcome! The speakers from the League will provide a nonpartisan overview of each ballot measure and a neutral explanation of what a “yes” or “no” vote would legally change. This event is sponsored by AAUW Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek, AAUW San Ramon, the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, and the San Ramon Public Library and is open to the public. To learn more about, visit ccclib.org/locations/25.
DANVILLE WOMEN’S CLUB OPEN HOUSE
The Danville Women’s Club will be hosting an Open House on October 22nd from 6-7pm at their clubhouse located at 242 W Linda Mesa Ave, Danville. Please join in to learn about membership at the Danville Women’s Club. Email membership@danvillewc.org for more info.
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PAGE 4 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MSRV IN OCTOBER
This years First Peoples exhibit, “Walking in the Footsteps of the Past,” invites visitors to honor and learn from the Miwok, the first residents of the San Ramon Valley. The exhibit explores the lasting connections between the Miwok people and the valley they called home. Through this journey, visitors will discover how many traditions, foods, and cultural practices rooted in Miwok heritage are still kept alive today. The Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV) is proud to feature a special exhibit from the Phelps Collection, a stunning array of handwoven Native baskets. These exhibits offer a meaningful opportunity to recognize the enduring presence of the Miwok. The exhibit will close on November 6th. Join us for a fee virtual program on October 15th at 11:30AM The virtual program will be the story of the USS Hornet hosted by Hornet volunteer Chuck Meyers. The Hornet has a long and quite fascinating history. To attend, visit museumsrv.org, select “What’s On,” and then “Virtual Programs.” The Museum is located at 205 Railroad Ave in Danville. Hours are Tuesday - Friday 1PM-4PM, Saturday 10AM-1PM, and Sunday noon-3PM. For more information, visit museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750.
CONNECT, LEARN, AND SERVE WITH ROTARY
What do business leaders, community volunteers, lifelong learners, and global change-makers have in common? They all understand that the best opportunities often begin with a conversation over lunch. The Rotary Club of Alamo invites you to join us on Wednesday, October 14th at 12:15PM at Round Hill Country Club, where Rotary members gather on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month to connect, learn, and serve.
DISCOVER THE JOY OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING!
LIVELY MUSIC • LASTING FRIENDSHIPS • FUN FITNESS
Are you looking for a new way to stay active, meet people, and have fun? Join us for Scottish Country Dancing! Weekly classes for adult beginners are now being held Tuesday evenings from 7:30PM to 9PM at our new location at the Resurrection Lutheran Church, 7557 Amador Valley Blvd in Dublin. Class starts Tuesday, October 13th! • No partner or experience needed • Great exercise disguised as fun • Dance to toe-tapping Scottish reels, jigs, and strathspeys • Make friends, laugh lots, and learn something new • Wear comfortable clothing and soft sole shoes • Join our beginners class for only $10/week! Weekly classes for intermediate dancers continue to be held on Thursday evenings from 7:30PM – 9:30PM at the Danville Grange located at 743 Danville Rd. Contact Monica at monica.van.eck@gmail.com or visit the RSCDS-SF Branch website at rscds-sf.org/classes for additional
SRV GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Join with the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society (SRVGS) for a free Zoom meeting on Tuesday, October 20th, at 10AM. The keynote speaker will be Katy Bodenhorn, presenting “Hidden in Plain Sight - Using the Full Text Search Tool on FamilySearch.org” To attend, email president@srvgensoc.org for the Zoom link. Katy has a B.A. in Family History and Genealogy from Brigham Young University and over ten years of experience as a professional researcher, speaker, and editor. SRVGS was organized in 1985 to provide its members with resources, assistance, and educational opportunities that help them successfully research their ancestry. The group publishes a monthly newsletter, has a dedicated website, and offers monthly special interest group (SIG) meetings. The society also provides monthly general meetings featuring nationally known professional speakers. To learn more, or become a member of SRVGS, visit srvgensoc.org or email president@srvgensoc.org.
See Rotary continued on page 19
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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 5
YO U R N E I G H B O R I N A LA M O , DA N V I L L E & D I A B LO
Before You Buy the House Most buyers get caught up in kitchens, ßoor plans, schools, and mortgage payments. But thereÕs one question just as important. What kind of life actually comes with this house? Here’s what I really help you find. A life. The neighborhood you grow into, the easy morning
CRISTINA MATEI, REALTOR®
walks with the dog, the friends made a few doors down. A house is just a structure. A home is
Keller Williams Danville
the life you’ve been picturing, come true. This isnÕt just a house. ItÕs the life youÕve always wanted.
T HE QUESTION I ASK F I RST
Before anyone falls for a house, I like to ask them to picture a regular Wednesday, three years from now. Where do you wake up? Where do the kids go to school? WhoÕs showing up on Saturday? Usually, those answers are the life youÕve been picturing all along. The right house is just how you get there. Because at the end of the day, this isnÕt just a house. ItÕs the life youÕve always wanted. CRISTINA MATEI, REALTOR®
503.784.7202 | cmatei@kw.com | cmatei.kw.com | DRE #02445143 Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
WHEN LIFE HAPPENS
By Cristina Matei, Realtor
There are moments in life when everything changes, even though the house around you hasn’t. The kitchen still looks the same. The family photographs are still on the walls. The familiar chair is still in its place. But somehow, the life that filled that house has changed. Maybe the children have grown up and left. Maybe retirement has arrived. Maybe a new opportunity is calling from somewhere else. Maybe a parent needs to be closer to family. Or perhaps something happened that you never expected, and suddenly you’re faced with a decision you weren’t prepared to make. When life happens, home can become part of the decision. I’ve thought about this a lot over the years, both as a mother and as a REALTOR®. In my personal life, I’ve always tried to put my children first. Not because I could make every decision for them, but because I wanted them to know that someone was always in their corner. When they were little, that meant the obvious things: being there, protecting them, solving problems and making sure they were okay. As they grew older, it changed. Being there meant listening. Asking questions. Helping them see possibilities they hadn’t considered. Speaking up when I thought something mattered. And, perhaps most importantly, knowing when to step back and let them make their own decisions. I realized that putting someone first doesn’t mean telling them what to do. It means caring enough to understand what matters to them. That realization has shaped the way I work with my clients. When someone comes to me about buying or selling a home, I don’t see a transaction first. I see a person who is making a decision that is connected to something happening in their life. And I want to know what that something is. Why are you thinking about moving? What are you hoping will be different? What are you worried about? What would make you look back six months from now and feel that you made the right decision?
Sometimes the answer is straightforward. A growing family needs more space. Someone has found the perfect opportunity in another community. A homeowner is ready to simplify. Other times, the answer is much more complicated. And that’s when I believe having someone in your corner matters most. My job isn’t simply to tell you what your home is worth, show you properties or guide you through paperwork. Those things are important, of course. But they are only part of the job. I want to understand your priorities before I recommend a path. I want to explain your options so you can make an informed decision. I want to ask the questions that might otherwise be overlooked. And if I think something isn’t in your best interest, I want you to know that too. Because I don’t believe being a good REALTOR® means always telling a client what they want to hear. Sometimes caring means saying, “I think we should slow down and look at this another way.” Sometimes it means telling someone that now may not be the right time to sell. Sometimes it means negotiating firmly when it matters and knowing when to let something go. And sometimes it simply means being the person on the other end of the phone when everything feels overwhelming. I’ve learned as a mother that you cannot always remove the difficult parts of life for the people you love. What you can do is make sure they don’t have to face them alone. That’s how I want my clients to feel. Heard. Respected. Informed. Confident. Never pressured. Because ultimately, the home is yours. The decision is yours. The life you’re building is yours. My role is to listen, guide, advocate and help you see the path forward clearly. Whether you’re making a move you’ve been planning for years or responding to something life unexpectedly placed in front of you, I believe you deserve someone who is genuinely invested in getting it right for you. Because when life happens, real estate isn’t always about finding another house. Sometimes, it’s about finding the right way forward. Reach out to me at 503-784-7202, cmatei@kw.com, or cmatei.kw.com Advertorial to start the conversation about what’s next for your home.
PAGE 6 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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NORTHERN SPIRITS: SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 2
CHROMATICA, EAST BAY’S POPULAR CHORUS, ANNOUNCES ITS 15TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
TWO CONCERT SERIES IN NOVEMBER 2026 & APRIL 2027
Chromatica invites you to “Our Journey Home,” with captivating music celebrating “home” in all its forms. Fall concerts will be held at 3pm on November 7th at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 433 Moraga Way in Orinda, and at 7pm November 8th at Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara in Danville, The Danville concert will include Chromatica’s popular post-concert wine reception. Chromatica’s first public concerts were performed in 2012. Performing a repertoire significantly different from other community Chromatica in concert in Santa Fe New Mexico – January 2026. choruses, Chromatica has sung music from the 12th to the 21st centuries, in many different languages and genres. It has carved out a unique identity along with three commissions developed exclusively for it. The latest, Christopher Tin’s Transfigurations, was performed to a standing ovation by Chromatica in Santa Fe New Mexico in January 2026 – its first trip outside the Bay Area. Transfigurations will travel to London in 2028. Chromatica is already working on a new major
See Chromatica continued on page 22
CAN MUSIC CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY?
Three hundred years ago, George Frideric Handel explored a bold idea: that music doesn’t simply accompany a story, it can change how people think, feel, and act. This November, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale presents Handel’s The Power of Music, featuring Alexander’s Feast, a masterpiece inspired by a legendary banquet celebrating Alexander the Great’s victory over Persia. As the feast unfolds, the poet and musician Timotheus leads the conqueror through a whirlwind of emotions, ultimately changing the course of history. Bay Area audiences will be the first in the United States to hear the 1742 Dublin version of Alexander’s Feast, adapted by Handel during a remarkable stay in Ireland that culminated in the premiere of Messiah. Performed on period instruments and in the style of the time, you’ll hear the music much as its first audiences did. Music Director Peter Whelan leads Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale, joined by soprano Sherezade Panthaki, mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson, and tenor James Way. Stanford: Wednesday, November 11th at 7:30PM (Bing Hall) San Francisco: Friday, November 13th at 7:30PM (Herbst Theatre) Berkeley: Saturday, November 14th at 2:30PM (First Congregational Church) Tickets as low as $40. $20 tickets for Under 30s available in San Francisco and Berkeley. Learn more at philharmonia.org/power or call 415-295-1900.
The Diablo Symphony Orchestra (DSO) opens its 2026–2027 season “Breathe” on October 25th at 2PM at the Lesher Center for the Arts with a concert featuring works that celebrate the indomitable human spirit. Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, characterized by contrasting musical symbols of death and resurrection, forms the heart of a program that also features Sergei Piano soloist Leyla Kabuli Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Leyla Kabuli, award-winning pianist and PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley, brings fire to Prokofiev’s iconic work. In contrast is Carlos Simon’s meditative piece “Breathe,” composed, in Simon’s words, to encourage listeners “to simply reflect and breathe.” The work was premiered in 2021 by the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Inspired by this work, the DSO’s new season promises concerts as places to find inspiration and joy as well as moments of peace and reflection in an uncertain world. Tickets are $45 for adults, $15 for ages 13-17; children 12 and under are free (but need a ticket). Discounted adult season tickets are also available. Visit diablosymphony.org or call the Lesher Center Ticket Office at 925-9437469 (open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 6PM).
BLACKHAWK CHORUS PRESENTS "BELIEVE"
A HOLIDAY CONCERT EXPERIENCE
This December, the acclaimed Blackhawk Chorus invites you to an evening of inspiring music and holiday spirit with “Believe,” its annual concert celebrating the season through song. Experience the powerful harmonies of this 100-voice community choir at
See Blackhawk continued on page 23
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A
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 7
D AN VILLE
L EG A CY
SPAN NI NG
T HREE
G E N E R AT IO N S
A Legacy of Danville Luxury
RECENT SOLDS
SOLD
SOLD
5102 BLACKHAWK DRIVE DANVILLE SOLD FOR
$2,600,000
SOLD
1394 VAN PATTEN DRIVE DANVILLE SOLD FOR
$2,125,000
323 LAUREL DRIVE DANVILLE SOLD FOR
$1,800,000
FEATURED LISTINGS
NEW PRICE
222 ABIGAIL CIRCLE DANVILLE OFFERED AT
$1,539,000
ACTIVE
14 DANVILLE OAK DANVILLE OFFERED AT
$849,000
Joseph Gatti B R O K E R A S S O C I AT E 925 , 5 8 8 , 3 59 0 D R E # 0 1 9 1 4 4 87 J O S E P H @ GAT T I R A L E STAT E . C O M GAT T I R A L E STAT E . C O M
“The article will return next month as I’ll be away celebrating my wedding!”
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PAGE 8 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
MONTE VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
By Dr. Kevin Ahern, Principal
Things are starting to settle in now that the schedule change window has closed. The Monte Vista (MV) Counseling Team received over 1,700 course requests over the first three weeks of school—major kudos to the team them for working so hard to help our students adjust their schedules! September brought an incredible amount of activity to the campus, and I am excited to share a few highlights. On September 11th, 14 MV seniors were recognized as 2026–27 National Merit Semifinalists, alongside 42 additional students who earned commendations for their outstanding performance on the PSAT. Congratulations to these incredible scholars for representing the MV community through their academic excellence! MV students recently participated in our annual Voter Registration Drive, coordinated through the Contra Costa County Elections Division. This year, MV received an award from the county for Outstanding Civic Engagement and Voter Registration. Special thanks to Social Science teacher Lora Hartig for her ongoing dedication to bringing this event to our campus. Adding to the excitement this month, MV once again hosted Polish students from Queen Hedwig Academy in Warsaw. Our guests visited classrooms, toured the campus, and participated in engaging activities with their MV peers. Thank you to Angie Corritone for organizing and leading this annual exchange! MV celebrated Homecoming 2026 with an action-packed week of events. In addition to hall decorations and spirit days, our community enjoyed exciting volleyball and water polo matches against Carondelet and De La Salle, as well as a Flag Football game against Alhambra. The week culminated with a morning rally, a pre-game tailgate and carnival, and our varsity football game against James Logan High School. Students capped off this special week with a Homecoming Dance, celebrating our amazing community and the final weekend of summer. A huge thank you to our MV Leadership students; their advisors, Tommy Greenless and Chris Connor; our many booster club and parent volunteers; and a special note of gratitude to Natalie Worth for her hard work planning and organizing the dance!
Our Visual Arts and Performing Arts Department had a busy month as well. MV’s Choir performed the National Anthem at the September 21st San Francisco Giants game and hosted their “Bach to School” concert on September 25th. MVs Marching Band delivered two fantastic performances at both home football games. And, MV’s Theater program is currently hard at work preparing for this year’s Haunted House and the fall play, The Shadow Box. MV Athletics begins with a strong fall season across the board. MV Women’s Volleyball is off to a stellar 11-2 start while playing against some of NorCal’s top competition. MV Football is currently 3-0 and eager to extend their win streak deep into EBAL play. Women’s Flag Football is building great momentum with a 2-2 record in EBAL action. Both our Mens’ and Womens’ Water Polo teams are off to hot starts at 2-1 in EBAL play. MV’s Cross Country, Tennis, and Golf teams are also pushing hard as they enter league seasons. And, finally, MV’s Cheer & Pom have been delivering polished, high-energy performances, and preparing to expand their routines as the season continues. As fall officially takes hold, there is plenty more ahead on the MV campus. We welcome everyone to come out and catch a show, match, or game — be sure to check our website’s event calendar for upcoming dates and times at mvhs.srvusd.net.
TASSAJARA 4-H, DANVILLE
National 4-H week is October 4-10th. Members will celebrate the program and learn new skills involving leadership and planning. 4-H is a nonprofit youth organization focused on giving kids hands-on experiences with the motto, learn by doing. The club offers many diverse activities including archery, cake decorating, robotics, arts and crafts, woodworking, vet science, meat goat, and much more. There are club bonding experiences such as bowling, ice skating, corn mazes, and ice cream socials. 4-H is a great way to learn public speaking, leadership, and important organizational skills that can help kids in their future. It’s a fantastic way to bond with kids of all ages and gives many the opportunity to be a part of a community. Learn more by emailing tassajara@contracosta4h.org or info@tassajara4h.org.
SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL By Naomi Guss, junior
Happy October! Hopefully everyone has found a good routine for themselves since the school year started and is successfully balancing all of the demands of daily life. October is packed with events ranging from musical to academic, festive to athletic, spirited to spooky, and I can confidently say that campus is going to be busy. San Ramon Valley (SRV) High’s music program is composed of incredibly talented musicians, and I highly encourage you to see so for yourself on October 8th. The Instrumental Music Fall Pops Concert will take place from 7-9PM in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at school. Students and senior citizens are admitted for free, otherwise tickets can be purchased at the door with all proceeds going directly towards the music program. Later in the month, on October 21st, the Fall Choir Concert will be held from 7-9PM, where the melodic voices of our students will echo throughout the PAC, making this a show you should be sure to attend — acappella, jazz, concert choir, and more will be literal music to your ears. Also on October 21st, SRV’s juniors and seniors will be offered the opportunity to take the SAT in the Commons. The PSAT and ACT will be administered at school on October 17th. At SRV, we pride ourselves on academic excellence, and I wish everyone the best of luck on their standardized tests this season. In yet another tradition to celebrate Senior Year, Senior Kickball begins the week of October 19th and concludes on October 23rd. Seniors form teams and compete on the Auxiliary field throughout the week during lunch. Even if you aren’t playing, watching is always a fun (and often hilarious) experience, especially since a team composed of SRV teachers and staff members typically enters the tournament as well. In the same week, SRV will be hosting its annual Special Olympics on October 23rd. This is an incredibly beautiful event which SRV Leadership helps to put on, and it is a true testament to the immense talent, persistence, and joy that the comrades in our community contribute to our school and town. Furthermore, the Comrades Halloween Dance is on October 30th in the Auxiliary Gym, and I already know that it is going to be a wonderful, festive celebration. And speaking of Halloween, it is going to be especially busy this year! SRV is playing against California High School at Home on October 30th. Plus, it’s Senior Night, where all of the senior players will be honored in a special ceremony with their families on the field. Make sure to wear your Halloween costume to the game, everyone is encouraged to attend. Meanwhile, SRV’s Youth & Government club will be spending the spooky holiday at its first of two annual conferences at Camp Roberts in Paso Robles. From October 30th to November 2nd, they are going to meet with over a thousand other high schoolers from across the state to debate bills, draft legal arguments, and hold mock elections as a model of the California government. I wish them the best of luck in their exciting weekend. With fall (finally) upon us, incredible performances showcasing the sheer talent of our community, athletic celebrations, and so much more, I am incredibly excited for what this month is going to bring. Stay in the loop through the SRV website (srvhs.srvusd.net) or Instagram (@srvhswolfpack and class pages: @srvhsclassof(year)). Happy October, and as always, Go Wolves!
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 9
Hello FALL D U D U M R E A L E S TAT E G R O U P
COMING SOON
JUST LISTED
ACTIVE
6512 HORSEMANS CANYON, WALNUT CREEK 3 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 2,082± SF, 0.12± ACRE LOT OFFERED FOR $2,300,000
1232 ROSE LANE, LAFAYETTE 5 BEDS, 5.5 BATHS, 6,924± SF, 1.03± ACRE LOT ADU & POOL CABANA | OFFERED FOR $12,000,000
2516 ROUNDHILL DRIVE, ALAMO 4 BEDS, 3.5 BATHS, 3,514± SF, 0.47± ACRE LOT OFFERED FOR $2,475,000
LORI LEGLER & CHERYL HATA | 925.286.1244
TINA FRECHMAN, REALTOR® 925.890.4909 | DRE# 01158988
ACTIVE
PENDING
SOLD
608 BANYAN LANE, WALNUT CREEK 4 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,930± SF, 0.23± ACRE LOT OFFERED FOR $1,675,000
2706 CANYON CREEK DRIVE, SAN RAMON 4 BEDS, 2 BATHS, 1,894± SF, 0.21± ACRE LOT OFFERED FOR $1,499,000
3170 PADRE STREET, LAFAYETTE 4 BEDS, 3 BATHS, 2,180± SF, 0.23± ACRE LOT SOLD FOR $1,300,000
ANGIE CLAY | 925.207.9366
SUZY PECK, REALTOR® 925.200.2988 | DRE# 01224695
THE HUMPHRIES TEAM | 925.298.2249
ANGIE CLAY | 925.207.9366
WE LIVE HERE. WE WORK HERE. WE SERVE HERE.
ANGIE CLAY 925.207.9366
BONNE WERSEL 510.304.3303
CHERYL HATA 510.912.5882
FONIA HUMPHRIES 925.998.4444
REALTOR® | DRE# 01361143
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BROKER ASSOCIATE | DRE# 01019063
JULIE DEL SANTO 925.818.5500
LORI LEGLER 925.286.1244
MARGY LYMAN 925.963.6380
MARISA COX 925.383.3084
SCOTT HUMPHRIES 925.298.2249
BROKER | DRE# 01290985
REALTOR® | DRE# 00805132
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WALNUT CREEK
LAMORINDA
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BRENTWOOD
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©2026 The information herein was obtained by sources deemed to be reliable by Dudum Real Estate Group. Dudum Real Estate group has not independently verified the information contained herein and therefore, assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should investigate any matters or items disclosed, identified or about which they have concerns to their own satisfaction. DRE Lic. 01882902
PAGE 10 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
CONTRA COSTA’S MEASURE X: FIVE YEARS OF LOCAL INVESTMENTS AND EXPANDING PRIORITIES By County Supervisor
Candace Andersen
Have you ever voted for a sales tax and wondered where that money was really going to go? In Contra Costa County, the Board of Supervisors wanted to make sure there was a clear level of transparency so residents could see firsthand where their dollars are at work. Passed by voters in November 2020, Measure X established a 20-year, halfcent countywide sales tax. Proposed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a critical lifeline to protect public health and safety, the ballot measure aimed to support essential safety-net services, keep regional hospital facilities open, and expand emergency response capabilities across local communities. Now, five years into implementation, Measure X has consistently generated revenue well above original projections. Initially anticipated to generate roughly $81 million annually, actual tax receipts have climbed to approximately $120 million per year, accumulating over $500 million in total revenue since collection began in April 2021. To maintain public trust and fiscal accountability, the county established a robust governance model centered around an extensive community needs assessment process. Recommendations were shaped by the Measure X Community Advisory Board, with final funding decisions made by the County Board of Supervisors. The sales tax expenditures are independently audited and reviewed by the Measure X Fiscal Oversight Committee to ensure every dollar aligns with voter intent. Across local communities, that transparency translates into tangible public safety and health investments. In our end of the county emergency services have been enhanced. Measure X helped fund San Ramon Valley Fire’s Fire Fighter First Mental
HEALTH TIPS FOR TEENS
ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR By Serena Hicks, MVHS junior
The word “anti-social” is often used incorrectly. Many individuals may describe someone as antisocial when they actually mean that the person is shy, quiet, introverted, or just prefers being alone. In terms of mental health, however, antisocial behavior refers to patterns of behavior that disregard other people’s rights, safety, or well-being. This can be attributed to characteristics such as repeated lying, aggression, manipulation, stealing, deliberately breaking important rules, or showing little concern for how one’s actions affect others. Enjoying alone time, or deciding not to speak to people after school, does not make a teenager antisocial. What really matters is pattern, frequency, and the impact of the behavior. Adolescence is a time period when the brain and social environment are changing quickly. Teens are developing greater independence, navigating peer interactions, learning how to manage emotions and relationships, etc. Stress, family conflict, bullying, trauma, substance use, and negative influences can all contribute to various behavioral issues. However, this does not equate to a teenager being destined to develop serious antisocial conditions. Antisocial behavior can stem from a plethora of variables such as genetics, childhood experiences, familial environment, peer influence, unstable mental health, and social/community spaces. Patterns correlating with antisocial behavior include, but are not limited to, disregarding other people, difficulty respecting boundaries, acting aggressively, showing little concern about consequences, being emotionally detached, impulsive/reckless, etc. Nevertheless, you can’t identify antisocial behavior just by looking at someone. It is important to pay attention to these patterns because they can affect more than just the person displaying them. These patterns can damage friendships, create conflict at home, and interfere with school and academics. Over time, this condition will become harder to change if it is being ignored. Simultaneously, labeling a teenager as “bad” or “antisocial” can just make the situation worse. A behavior is something a person does, it does not have to define who they are. If you notice these patterns in yourself or a friend, start by paying attention rather than immediately judging. Think about whether this demeanor is becoming frequent, causing problems, or hurting other people. If you are struggling with
www.yourmonthlypaper.com Health program and provides critical capital for fire response training facilities. It has also expanded regional safety-net resources, providing dedicated support for the South County Family Justice Center and establishing the county’s groundbreaking A3 (Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime) mental health crisis response system. Beyond public safety, Measure X funding reaches across health and social services. The largest ongoing single commitment remains operational support and capital updates for Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and community health centers. In housing, $10 to $12 million annually fuels a dedicated Housing Fund for interim shelter, permanent supportive housing developments like micro-units in San Pablo, and eviction prevention. Further investments support the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, early planning for the African American Holistic Wellness Center, recently named the Federal D. Glover Center, library literacy programs, illegal dumping enforcement, public EV charging installations, early childhood education, food insecurity initiatives, and youth centers. While the measure’s financial output has exceeded expectations, its evolving scope has prompted healthy local debate. Proponents point to tangible infrastructure upgrades, expanded mental health outreach, and fortified public safety services. Meanwhile, community feedback and fiscal discussions have centered on ensuring funds are deployed swiftly to meet urgent community needs rather than getting delayed in administrative roll-outs. Five years after voter approval, Measure X remains a transformative revenue source for Contra Costa County, using direct community oversight and transparent tracking to shape regional health, public safety, and social services across every district. My office is here to serve the residents of Contra Costa County District 2, which includes Alamo, Blackhawk, Canyon, Danville, Diablo, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Rossmoor, San Ramon, Tassajara Valley, and parts of unincorporated Walnut Creek. Please contact us if we can provide you with additional information on this topic or on other County issues. I can be reached at SupervisorAndersen@bos.cccounty.us or 925-655-2300. anger, impulsivity, or relationships, talking to a trusted adult, school counselor, doctor, or mental health professional can help you understand what is happening. Asking for help is not the admission that something is wrong with you, it is a way to investigate what is behind these actions and learn healthier ways to respond. For friends, the best approach is to avoid labels. It is important to be open and understanding. At the same time, you can care about someone without excusing harmful behavior. If a friend is repeatedly hurting others or putting themselves or someone else in danger, involve a trusted adult rather than trying to handle everything yourself. Being a teenager comes with a lot of changes, and struggling with behavior does not make someone a bad person. The goal is to not put a label on yourself or someone else. The goal is to recognize unhealthy patterns, understand where they may be coming from, and get the needed support before these patterns become more serious. S e r e n a Hicks is a junior at M o n t e Vi s t a High School (MVHS) and Te e n H e a l t h Advocate, hoping to i m p ro v e t h e health of her community one column at a time.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 11
QUICK TRIPS By Linda Summers Pirkle
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, DOING BEAUTIFUL THINGS, IN BEAUTIFUL PLACES
Slim Aarons (born George Allen Aarons, 1916 – 2006) was an American photojournalist known for his environmental portraiture of the rich and famous. His work appeared on the covers of, and Rate movement for home insurance is finally happening! within, major mid-century publications including The Good News comes with a Caution Warning, “One size doesn’t fit all.” Holiday, Town & Country, and LIFE. Aarons spent Rates are going down with more choices available, but beware of Carriers promising his half-century career chronicling “beautiful people lower rates and not offering adequate coverage. The cheap price looks good, but the doing beautiful things in beautiful places.” coverage may not be enough. Use this easy test to decide for yourself. Aarons’photos are known for their magnificent backdrops: luxury estates, pristine Divide the Total Coverage on any policy by your home square footage to arrive at a swimming pools, sun-drenched beaches, and manicured lawns. He used no makeup dollar amount per square foot. Call a home contractor and ask it that amount is adequate or fashion stylists, natural light, and his thousands of photos are still referenced to rebuild. is no standard number everybody is different. YouThere don’t need tobecause use every thehome CAandFairplan! today by fashion houses, high fashion designers, interior, and lifestyle designers. That’s where we help you set the coverage according to your home’s unique construction. His long time assistant Laura Hawk wrote, “Slim’s skill at finding the world’s Your policy should be more than “just a rate” given after a street address is put into a computer. Your home is different shouldn’t your coverage be the same? most glamorous people, gaining unprecedented access to this extraordinary group **************************************** Give us a call and we will show you. of individuals, and making them look their best outside the studio with minimal equipment and support is without question his principal legacy.” & Teresa Allstate Insurance WeBill are easily White, writing Home Insurance Aarons was not always a photographer of the rich and famous. He joined 472 Hartz Ave, downtown Danville the U.S. Military Academy at West Point at 18 and began shooting training policies in Danville, Blackhawk, Diablo maneuvers. When WWII broke 925-820-7220 BillWhite@allstate.com CA license 0533649 out, Hollywood director Frank and Alamo areas Capra (then a major in the U.S. Army Signal Corps) noticed the No need to stress, call us! young, handsome, six-foot-four Aarons and recruited him to go overseas. He spent six years as a combat photographer and earned a Purple Heart for bravery, which he notoriously gave to “a pretty girl who liked the color.” ********************************************* He is quoted as saying, “I’d wandered through enough concentration camps and bombed-out villages. I’d slept in the mud and been shot at. I owed myself some easy, luxurious living. I wanted to be on the sunny side of the street.” William W.on "Bill" White One of my favorite Slim Aarons photos is Hollywood Kings, taken New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1957 at Romanoff’s restaurant in Beverly Hills. Legend has it that the four actors, Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Van Heflin, and Gary wereWhite, laughing Allstate Insurance Bill & Cooper Teresa Kings of Hollywood , 1957 Photo by Slim Aarons/ with Slim about his famously bad acting skills. He failed screen test after HultonArchive/Getty Images. screen test. He is quoted as saying, “All these short tall guys. 472directors Hartzlove Ave. Downtown, Danville That’s why the minute I came to Hollywood, everyone wanted to make an actor out of me. I can’t be anything but me! That’s the problem. That’s why I’m no good in these movies. I can’t play somebody else. You follow?” In the famous 925-820-7220 Hollywood Kings shot, the “kings” are roaring with laughter because Clark Gable was actively making fun of Slim’s terrible acting skills and Slim was there to record the moment. Aaron’s good friend Jimmy Stewart sometimes jokingly replied, “No, I’m Slim Aarons,” if asked if he was an actor. Stewart’s playful quip was a badge of honor, acknowledging that he had spent months onscreen playing the part of a WWII photojournalist adjusting to civilian life in Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Slim’s real apartment was used as a blueprint for the film. If you’d like to pay homage to Slim Aarons, whose 110th birth anniversary is October 29th, you can visit some of his local photo-shoot spots. The Palace of Fine Arts is a backdrop in a 1961 photo of Dorothy Fritz, a San Francisco Socialite Dolly Fritz, Palace of Fine Arts heiress as she stands with gloved hands, a cigarette, and a mink stole in front of the lagoon. Another is San Francisco 1961. Photo by Slim Aarons/HultonArchive/ Getty Images. Bay, 1960, taken looking out toward the bay from a high elevation with sweeping landscape. Check out the documentary Slim Aarons: The High Life released in 2016, directed by Fritz Mitchell. It’s available on Amazon Prime. All six of his photography books are beautiful. Lucky you if you find a signed first edition A Wonderful Time (1974) which had a limited original print. It’s value is $4,500! Linda Summers Pirkle is a travel writer and long-term Danville resident. To share your “Quick Trips” ideas, email coverthemap@gmail.com.
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SONS IN RETIREMENT (SIR) 128 SAN RAMON VALLEY
Are you a man over 50 in the San Ramon Valley looking to make new friends and enjoy life a little more? SIR 128 could be exactly what you’ve been searching for. We’re a friendly, welcoming community where men connect and make the most of this stage of life together. Our members stay active with activities like biking, wine tasting, cribbage, poker groups, cooking, walking, and golf (both 9 and 18 holes), just to name a few. We also host monthly outings for members and their partners, so there’s always something fun and social on the horizon. But honestly, the best part is the people. You’ll form great friendships with men who understand exactly where you are in life and are ready to enjoy it fully. Each month, our luncheons bring great food, engaging speakers, and lively conversation. Coming for the first time on your own? No worries we set aside a special table just for newcomers and solo guests, so you’ll feel welcome right away. We’d love to have you join us at our next gathering. To learn more or reserve your spot, email membership@sir128.com or visit www.SIR128.com. Come and see what makes SIR 128 special.
MEN’S RETIREE SOCIAL GROUP - SIR 146
STAY ACTIVE, HAVE FUN & LIVE LONGER!
SIR Branch 146 is a vibrant social group for retired and semi-retired men in Central Contra Costa County, offering a friendly community to help you make the most of retirement. With over 250 members, SIR146 features more than 25 activity groups, including golf, hiking, travel, dining, cards, photography, and cooking. Most activities are co-ed, welcoming spouses and partners. Members enjoy a monthly luncheon with guest speakers and plenty of camaraderie. Coming for the first time? “We Got Ya!” We have a table reserved for you so you can comfortably meet some of our members. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other men who share similar interests and enjoy an active lifestyle. Founded in 1988, SIR146 helps men build friendships, stay mentally and physically active, and even live longer—members average 6 years longer than other men in the county. Guests are always welcome. Learn more at sir146.com or email sir146inquiries@gmail.com.
PAGE 12 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE By Jill Appenzeller
I used to think I was a good gardener. My Siberian irises, Oroville Fey and Sky Wings were four feet tall and bloomed spectacularly in spring, sporadically throughout the summer, and my friends oohed and aahed and asked for divisions. My alleé of cherry trees was spectacular. I had clematis ‘General Sikorsky’ twining its china blue blooms with pale pink Penelope roses. Then I moved, and I realized it’s not me. It’s the soil. I grew up on the bank of a creek. For years the creek had flooded its banks and deposited rich soil, just like the banks of the Nile. And like the denizens of the Nile, we took that soil for granted. Especially me. I live on a hill now, and I’m more than a little annoyed that all good soil, all the compost and leaf mold moves downhill. Love the views. The gravity, not so much. I have left all the leaves to compost, I’ve put nearly a hundred yards of compost into the garden. I have planted two dozen Siberian iris. They have all died. The Penelope roses I started from cuttings died. The only clematis that thrives in my garden is a common purple, mislabeled and planted by mistake. At least it’s still alive, although it seems determined to strangle my Cox’s Orange Pippin apple, no mater how many times I whack it back at the wrong time of the year. Clematis are not as delicate as you think. Before I gave up, I tried moving the Siberian iris to more sun, less sun. More water, for they are supposed to be an aquatic plant. I tried planting them in rich soil where my compost heap used to live. I haven’t had my soil tested yet, for many things are doing okay, and I compost and feed organic and compost some more. And hope. I am humbled by what does well and what refuses to grow despite following all sorts of expert advice. I am reminded of the story of how proteas got their start, told to me by a UCSC person. Several specimens had been sent to UCSC, and the best minds in horticulture tried everything to get those proteas to grow, for they saw potential for the cut flower market. They tried duplicating their native conditions — the proteas languished. They tried drier, wetter, warmer, cooler, more humidity and less, acid and alkaline. Finally they piled the proteas into a wheelbarrow and dumped them over a fence into a rubbish heap in a field. The following year someone happened by the rubbish heap, and the proteas were huge and blooming their heads off. Now you can find them at the San Francisco Flower Mart and in arrangements everywhere. I’m not giving up. I’m planting a new Oroville Fey in a damp area in the heaviest soil I have, and I’m ignoring him. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m still working on the soil, but I am getting discouraged. I add inches of compost, dig it in when planting, and then I go to find a spot for some fuchsia cuttings and it’s all clay and so hard you need a jackhammer not a shovel, and I know no self respecting plant would grow in that, so I move on … and find the same. So I cherish the plants that thrive, the hellebores and the sarcococca, the surprisingly tough Annabelle hydrangeas and the less temperamental roses. I’m giving up on the dahlias except in raised beds. Ditto the vegetables, although after they used up all the nutrients their first year in the raised beds (that new soil was rich) they have turned out to be voracious feeders. To do now: Stop feeding. Let plants harden off for the winter; fresh new growth is more likely to be damaged by frost. Watch the watering. Your garden will still need water in these rolling heat waves, but less as the weather cools. But don’t turn the water off completely until the rains start, and if it gets dry between rainstorms, you may still need to water. Plant everything. Now, before the soil cools and roots have a harder time getting established, when seeds rot instead of germinating. Plant sweet peas from seed that you’ve soaked or sprouted, plant winter vegetables like lettuce and brassicas (look it up) and edible peas. Seed parsley and cilantro and dill and chervil — all winter plants. And if you want your soil tested, look at the Contra Costa County Cooperative Extension website - https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa-county/article/soil-and-water-testing-laboratories. Jill Appenzeller has lived and gardened in Danville for longer than she cares to admit.
WRITING MATTERS By Linda Hora
THE PESKY APOSTROPHE
The Joneses’ Cat aka the Jones Family’s Cat 444 Camino Tassajara
We all know about keeping up with the Joneses — or Jones’s — or Joneses’: Danville, CA 94526 hard to do and, apparently, even harder to write! With so many options, a writer The Jones Family or can’t be blamed for getting confused. How do you make the plural for a word The Joneses 555 Stone Valley Rd that ends in “s”? How do you show possession? When do you just stick an aposAlamo, CA 94507 trophe at the end of a word? For most of us, we know what we want to say but can’t remember which rule applies to which situation. So here comes a quick refresher on what to do. Think about what you intend to convey. Once you know that, the rules will dictate how to present your idea. Let’s return to that Jones family. Do you want to reference many of them? Then, make the family name, Jones, plural by adding “es” to the end. Typically, we just add “s” to make a plural, but for names that end with a ch, s, x, or z sound, we add “es” to form the plural. (And, of course, exceptions exist: to form the plural for names ending in “ch” that are pronounced with a hard “k” sound or names that end in an ”x” that is silent, simply add “s,” rather than “es.”) Adding the “s” or “es” to the surname shows that you are referring to more than one in the family. No apostrophe needed. If, however, you want to indicate that a Jones owns, has, or possesses something, use an apostrophe. The apostrophe rule states: add ’s to indicate possession. For example: the teacher’s books — the teacher possesses some books; the lunch’s protein — the lunch has protein; Mr. Jones’s cat — Mr. Jones has a cat. So far, so good. But Mr. Jones happens to have a wife and five kids who also own that cat. They are the Joneses, but how do you reference something they possess? Here comes the often-forgotten part of the apostrophe rule: for plural words that end in “s,” add the apostrophe to the end of the word, but do not add an “s” after the apostrophe. Let’s make the examples above plural: the teachers’ books — many teachers possess many books; the lunches’ protein — multiple lunches contain protein; the Joneses’ cat — many Joneses own the cat. Remember, the rule only applies when indicating possession; if you’re not referencing possession, don’t write an apostrophe. But do write. As we approach the season of cards and correspondence, you may wish to create a letter or two. Go with confidence and send that letter to your friend, your friend’s friend, your friends, or your friends’ friends. Of course, do this not to “keep up” with those Joneses but rather to thrill your recipient and yourself. As always, feel free to practice your skill by writing to me at thewritinggoal.com.
editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 13
TREE & SHRUB CARE
By Joe Lamb, Brende & Lamb Tree and Shrub Care
Greetings from Europe, where I am visiting trees with my daughter. So many beautiful ash trees! We’ve had the great fortune of going to Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland. In both places human found ways to work cooperatively to accomplish great feats. Trees played an important role in neolithic societies, and not just in helping transport massive stones. Though I wish we could be here to celebrate summer solstice, I am very happy to visit these sacred places near equinox. But then again, the idea of a sacred place is a complicated one. As the great poet Wendell Berry so eloquently wrote, “There are no unsacred places; / there are only sacred places / and desecrated places.” May the blessings of equinox be upon you. In a world with so much darkness, when so many places are being desecrated, it is important to remember that there is much worthy of our rejoicing. I rejoice in those protecting the world’s forests. I also rejoice in those who are healing the desecrated places, like the Yurok Tribe who removed the Klamath dams to restore salmon to the river. When the woes of the world gather around me like a shadow, I take refuge in trees. A great joy of being an arborist is that trees can be your teachers. Trees teach that being grounded allows you to weather storms so that you can break into flower when the darkness passes. One way I remain grounded is by giving thanks, by expressing gratitude. Not surprisingly, I ground myself by expressing gratitude for the power of trees. Wendell Berry expressed the healing power of trees in his poem, “Woods.” I part the out thrusting branches and come in beneath the blessed and the blessing trees. Though I am silent there is singing around me. Though I am dark there is vision around me. Though I am heavy there is flight around me. Trees bless us in many ways. Along with oxygen, shade, and places of refuge, they have provided us with fruit, lumber, medicine, and much more essential to human survival for years beyond count. Trees’ blessings extend into the non-physical realm. They also bless our spiritual and metaphorical world. One stand-out example is the Tree of Life, which appears in the essential stories of countless cultures throughout all of what we know of human history. The Tree of Life, which contains every creature alive today, as well as every creature who has ever existed, is a magical metaphor that sews together our fragmented knowledge of nature and human nature into a kind of crazy quilt which you can wrap around your shoulders when you look up into the night sky and contemplate a universe that goes on forever and ever. When I contemplate forever an awed chill sweeps all the way down into my bones, leading me to appreciate a quilt, no matter how crazy, offering metaphorical warmth. Warmth is its own kind of truth. I am grateful for warmth, for the truth offered by trees. One of the superpowers of the Tree of Life is her ability to weave our divided world, human vs. nature, light vs. darkness, back together. She does her weaving in both worlds, the physical and the imaginary. In both realms, the Tree of Life exists in a world that is visible, and then one that is hidden. From the top of the root crown to the tips of the highest branches, trees can be seen. But, from the bottom of the root crown, downward and out into the soil where the many branching roots reach far beyond the branches, trees carry on vital business in the darkness. Much of the essential work on which life on earth depends takes place in that hidden realm, in the darkness. Thank you, for sustaining us, physically. And thank you also for the reminder that darkness is not inherently evil, that much of life is nourished by, depends on, darkness. Trees, for those of us who listen to their sermons, preach the necessity of humility, the healing from acknowledging what we don’t know, and what we will never be able to know. In this sacred season when darkness and light are in equal balance, we at Brende and Lamb wish you the blessings of the trees. If you would like one of our arborists to come and make sure your trees are healthy and happy, please call us at 510-486-8733, or visit www. brendelamb.com to see before-and-after photos, client testimonials, and Advertorial work in your neighborhood.
VALLEY VIGNETTE By Beverly Lane
MOUNT DIABLO: THE HISTORY OF ITS’ DIABOLICAL NAME FUELS ARGUMENTS
Contra Costa County and Mount Diablo were officially named in 1850, but controversy dogged the mountain’s name well into the next decades. In his famous report to the first California legislature, April 1850, Mariano Vallejo said: Mt. Diablo, which occupies a conspicuous place in modern maps, is the center of this county. It was intended so to call the county, but both branches of the state legislature, after heated debates on the subject (the representatives of the county opposing the idea of a Mount Diablo County) resolved upon the less profane one of Contra Costa. At that point Contra Costa really was the “opposite coast” from San Francis- Gen Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. co, spreading from the Bay to the Delta. In 1853, Alameda County was formed from Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties in part because the county seat Martinez was such a long day’s trip from Oakland.
THE NAMES KAHWOOKUM, KAH WOO KUM, KOO WAH KOOM
Arguments over the diabolical nomenclature continued. In the 1860s, Congregational Church members began a campaign to remove the devil’s name from the mountain. One churchman indicated that an old Indian said the original Indian name for the mountain was “Kahwookum,” meaning “Everywhere Seen.” He contended that this name was far preferable to that of the devil. The Congregational petitions were presented to the Senate by San Francisco State Senator Henry L. Dodge on January 17, 1866. Newspapers had a field day with the debate. The San Francisco Bulletin wrote “it may possibly be a trick of the devil himself to get another ‘alias,’ or perchance the prayer comes from a bevy of ‘out-cropping poets,’ living at the base of the mountain, who want the name changed to Parnassus… (or) some mining company who want to get that name changed to ‘Coal Hill.’” The state Senate Committee on Public Morals held hearings on the issue and, in a 16th Senate Session report, came to this conclusion: This Legislature has no authority to “strike out and insert” in case of a name which runs through the records of the United States Land Department, through the certificates and patents of the government, through the charts of navigators, and the records of the transactions of scientific societies throughout the world. And further, the committee found there was “nothing in the name which need be construed offensively” and recommended that the petition be “indefinitely postponed.” The name “Kawookum” did appear, several more times. In 1868, a 19th century author, Titus Fey Cronise evidently took the Congregationalists’ word
See Diablo continued on page 21
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PAGE 14 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
THE COST OF AVOIDING ESTATE PLANNING CONVERSATIONS By Waldron Partners
There are some conversations families are remarkably good at avoiding. What happens if Mom can no longer manage the finances? Who should make healthcare decisions for Dad? Why was one child chosen as trustee? Where are the important documents? Who do we call first? What happens to the family home? These questions can feel uncomfortable when everyone is healthy and life is moving along. So, families tell themselves they’ll talk about it later. The problem is that “later” sometimes arrives as an emergency. And suddenly, the people you love are trying to make important financial, healthcare, and estate decisions while also navigating one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
YOUR FAMILY DOESN’T NEED EVERY NUMBER. THEY NEED A ROADMAP
EXPLAIN THE “WHY” WHILE YOU CAN
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A productive family financial conversation doesn’t require parents to disclose every account balance or tell their children exactly what they may inherit. It’s about creating enough clarity that your family knows what to do when responsibilities eventually shift. Who is your financial advisor? CPA? Estate planning attorney? If something happened tomorrow, who should your family call first? Where are your estate documents stored? Is there a current list of major accounts, insurance policies, real estate, and business interests? Who holds financial and healthcare powers of attorney? And perhaps most importantly: Do the people you’ve chosen for these responsibilities know you chose them? These may seem like basic questions. During an emergency, they can become incredibly important ones.
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YOU DON’T HAVE TO NAVIGATE THE CONVERSATION ALONE
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Estate documents can tell your family what you decided. They don’t always explain why. Maybe you selected one child as trustee because they are particularly organized. Perhaps another child is better suited to make healthcare decisions. Maybe an inheritance won’t be divided equally because of circumstances your children don’t fully understand. Or there may be very specific intentions for a business, family property, charitable giving, or support for grandchildren. Without a conversation, family members are left to interpret those decisions themselves. That is where confusion can turn into resentment. Fairness can be mistaken for favoritism. Siblings can disagree over what their parents “would have wanted.” Having these conversations now allows your children to ask the questions that may otherwise surface when you are no longer there to answer them. For many families, the hardest part is figuring out how to begin. A financial planner can help facilitate these conversations by asking questions families may not think, or feel comfortable enough, to ask themselves. What happens financially if one spouse dies? Is there a plan if long-term care is needed? Does the surviving spouse know where everything is? Are beneficiary designations and estate documents current? Do the children understand who will be responsible for financial, healthcare, and estate decisions? Your financial planner can also help coordinate with your estate planning attorney, CPA, and other professionals so that the conversation reflects the broader financial picture. Having a neutral professional at the table can help keep the discussion focused on planning rather than inheritance. Because ultimately, this isn’t a conversation about who gets what. It’s a conversation about what happens next.
CLARITY IS PART OF THE LEGACY
Thoughtful estate planning should extend beyond documents and asset transfers. It includes preparing the people who may eventually be responsible for carrying out the plan. Clear communication can reduce uncertainty, help siblings understand their respective responsibilities, and give families an opportunity to discuss difficult questions before they become urgent ones. You spent a lifetime making thoughtful decisions about your family and your wealth. Give your family the opportunity to understand the thinking behind them. Because the best time for your children to ask, “Why did you decide this?” is while you’re still there to answer. You don’t have to navigate these conversations alone. Waldron Partners can help you bring your family to the table, ask the right questions, and create greater clarity around the decisions you’ve made and the responsibilities ahead. To start the conversation, email us at team@waldronpartners.com. Disclosure: Osaic Wealth, Inc. and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult a legal or tax advisor regarding any legal or tax information as it relates to your personal circumstances. Peter Waldron CA Insurance License #0E47827. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth. Advertorial
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MANAGING CAPITAL GAINS TAX ON HIGHLY APPRECIATED ASSETS
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 15
AGGRESSIVE & SKILLED LEGAL ADVOCACY
Protect your rights after serious injury or wrongful death.
By Robert J. Silverman, Esq. (left), Silverman & Jaffe
Highly appreciated assets can present an estate-planning dilemma. While concentrated stock positions, appreciated real estate, and closely held businesses are common components of building wealth, selling can trigger capital gains tax that reduces wealth. In recent years, Federal Estate/Gift Tax exemptions have reached an unprecedented level (currently $15 million per person). Hence, tax-related estate planning has begun to focus much more heavily on income (e.g. capital gains) tax issues. Query as to your highly appreciated assets: should the asset be sold, retained, gifted, donated, or transferred through a structure providing diversification, income and/or charitable benefits? The answer should depend on your objectives, family circumstances, charitable intentions, estate-tax exposure, and liquidity needs.
DIVERSIFYING CONCENTRATED STOCK POSITIONS
The sale of a concentrated stock position often results in a substantial capital gain. On the other hand, foregoing a sale and continuing to hold it exposes the owner to significant risk. A planned, multi-year diversification strategy may reduce that risk, while managing the timing of taxable gains.
CHARITABLE REMAINDER TRUST (CRT)
A CRT can be a particularly useful strategy for clients who own appreciated property, want to diversify, and have charitable and income generation objectives. It is, however, irrevocable, and certainly not appropriate for everyone. Generally, the client – donor transfers appreciated property to an irrevocable trust (the CRT). Unlike an individual taxpayer, the CRT can sell the property and reinvest the proceeds without the client immediately recognizing the entire built-in capital gain. Then, at set intervals, at least annually, the CRT distributes either a set amount or set percentage of the reinvested assets to the donor or other beneficiaries (e.g. the donor’s children) for life or a specified term. At the termination of the trust, the remaining assets pass to one or more charities. A CRT may also provide a meaningful, up-front charitable income-tax deduction, and CRT income is thereafter subject to a multi-tiered tax, spread out over time. In my article next month, I will explore CRTs in greater detail, focusing on how CRTs can fit into one’s broader estate plan.
HOLD UNTIL DEATH OR SELL DURING LIFE?
Let’s go back to the critical question facing people who own highly appreciated assets: should I sell and realize the gain during my life or continue holding the asset for possible transfer when I’m gone? Under federal law, property included in a decedent’s estate generally receives a new (adjusted) income-tax basis. Basis is, essentially, the floor from which gain is calculated upon a sale. The new basis is its fair market value at death (commonly known as a “stepped-up” basis), subject to applicable exceptions and limitations. Suppose you own stock worth $5 million, with a $500,000 basis. A lifetime sale netting $5 million (before tax) would produce approximately $4.5 million of taxable capital gain. If you instead retain the stock until death, basis is adjusted to its then-current fair market value. Your beneficiaries then have an opportunity to sell the stock without triggering any capital gain attributable to the appreciation during your lifetime. As appealing as that may be, if you don’t sell and continue to hold the stock, you may be accepting substantial investment risk in exchange for a potential future tax benefit. You may also need liquidity and/or higher income.
COORDINATING THE PLAN
The ability of your loved ones to receive a stepped-up basis should not automatically dictate your decision to hold any particular appreciated assets until death. Clients should consult with experienced professional — legal, tax, and financial — advisors to help evaluate how these and all other assets can best serve the client’s lifetime needs, diversification goals, charitable intentions, and wealth-transfer objectives. Estate Planning | Trust Administration & Probate | Real Estate Please contact me to request a complimentary: i) Estate Planning Primer, ii) Real Estate titling brochure, and/or iii) an introductory meeting. I am an attorney with Silverman & Jaffe, 1910 Olympic Blvd., Suite 330, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 705-4474; rsilverman@silvermanjaffe.com. This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain specific advice from their own, qualified professional advisors. Advertorial
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FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH ASSISTANCE
Are you looking for your ancestors? Do you want to do a little genealogy research or start your family tree? Could you use some help, direction,or tips for using online genealogy tools? Bring your questions and any information you have (names, dates, places, documents) to get started to the Danville Library, located at 400 Front St., Danville on Tuesday, October 13th from 10am-1pm. Genealogy docents from the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society will be available to help you take your research further with print resources from the library’s genealogy collection or online material. The free genealogy research assistance is provided by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society in partnership with the Danville Library. For questions, call 925-314-3750 or visit srvgensoc.org.
TAX-AIDE LOOKING FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
AARPs Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation service in Contra Costa County. Tax-Aide needs individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. While prior tax preparation experience is beneficial, it is not a requirement. Volunteer positions include Tax Counselors, who are trained by Tax-Aide and certified by the IRS and Client Facilitators, who schedule appointments and assist clients at tax sites. ● To learn more and apply on-line, visit www.aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer or call 925-726-3199 for additional information. ● Orientation Sessions will be held in December 2026 and Certification Classes start in January 2027. ● Tax preparation service is from February through April 15, 2027. ● For additional client information, visit tinyurl.com/tax-ccc.
CAN YOU PURCHASE A MATTRESS?
Contra Costa Interfaith Coalition (CCIC) is a local nonprofit founded in 1992 that provides housing essentials to people transitioning from the shelters and streets to permanent housing. Last year of the 610 people in our county they supported, 303 children were children, and 100 of the deliveries were to single parent households. Clients are referred by case managers from over 20 Contra Costa County agencies, as well as Hope Solutions, Independent Living Resources, Welcome Home Baby, and Trinity Center. The group is 100% volunteer (over 40 volunteers), and works out of donated storage spaces, picking up donations and delivering to clients in their own vehicles. The biggest expense needing support is for new beds. Other furniture placed is gently used. Most of the time, until the volunteers arrive, clients are sleeping on the floor. The group is constantly in need of funding for beds. When funds get low, as they are now, they have to put a stop on ordering beds. Can you, your company, your church, or your local group sponsor even one mattress? If so, please reach out to Tania at taniahd@comcast.net. Learn more at www.ccichope.org.
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PAGE 16 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
PARTY CRASHERS By Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO
ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (AIA)
By Roger Smith, President ALAMO FARMER’S MARKET
During October, our Harvest Festival returns. Join us every Sunday at the Market! On October 18h there will be a vendor decorating contest, children’s entertainment with a puppeteer, balloon artist, face painter, SRV Fire Department engine and CPR dummies, “Guess the Weight” of the pumpkin, and new hot food vendors Dumpling Bros., Taza Pan Asian, and Willie’s Hot Dogs. Come pick up fall fruit including pomegranates, grapes, persimmons, and apples and enter to win an Alamo Farmer’s Market Gift Basket! The Alamo Farmer’s Market, sponsored by AIA, is open rain or shine on Sundays from 9AM – 2PM in Alamo Plaza, off of Danville Blvd., near Bank of America. Look for updated information about the Market on NextDoor. Come enjoy top quality produce, free parking, and live music.
EARTHQUAKE SAFETY - GET READY
The Great California “Shake-out” will occur at 10:15AM on Thursday, October 15th. What we do now will determine our quality of life after our next big earthquake. Are you prepared to survive and recover quickly? Participating is a great way for your family or organization to be prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes — wherever you live, work, or travel. Register at www.shakeout.org/california/register. The MyShake app — California’s new statewide earthquake early warning system — is now available on both Apple App and Google Play stores.
COUNTY WARNING SYSTEM - LEARN MORE!
Join us via Zoom and learn more about the Contra Costa County Warning System during our presentation to be held at 6PM on Wednesday, October15th. Details and Zoom link available at www.AlamoCA.org.
13 TH ANNUAL AUTOS OF ALAMO - THE BEST YET!
A big “Thank You” to all of our sponsors and committee members who helped with the Autos of Alamo event including: Gwen Gallagher, Sandy Fink, Valerie Schooley, Rick Lyding, Denis Le Breton, Tim Fiebig, Lou Plummer, Joanne Quijano, and our great volunteers (including owners that presented their prized autos). A special “Thank you”also to our sponsors: Alamo Plaza, Bare Bottle Brewery, Blackhawk Museum, Cole European, Fremont Bank, Glennhawk Winery, Porsche of Walnut Creek, Mercedes Benz of Walnut Creek, Poplar Spectacles, Safeway, Saintsbury Winery, Sequioa Grove Winery, Short Line Railroad, The Agency Real Estate, United Construction, and Unlocked Investments.
AIA’S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Now celebrating its 71st year, AIA, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has an outstanding history of serving our community and helping shape it into “Alamo – the place where we love to live”! Visit www.AlamoCA.org and www.AlamoVision2040. org for information on AIA, articles of interest to residents, membership, and more!
You get a message from somebody you know. “I sent you an invite, check your spam folder if you don’t see it.” Or, a nicely formatted email arrives from what looks like Evite: a graduation, a get together, a baby shower. You tap the button to see who’s hosting, and a login page pops up asking for your email address and password so it can “verify” you before showing the invitation. That page is the whole scam. Nothing else in that email matters. I’ve had several of these come through this month, and the Federal Trade Commission put out a formal alert on it in May. The fake invitation is a delivery vehicle. What the crooks want is your email login, because your email is the master key to everything else you own online. With that and some fast work, they backwards engineer access to important websites you use to run your life. This isn’t a virus that infects a device. The link you click opens a web page, and web pages work the same on an iPhone, an Android, a Mac, or a Windows PC. If you type your password into the fake page, the crook has it, and it makes no difference where you typed it. In fact, phones are the easier target. The screen is small, the senders name looks familiar, and you’re probably standing in line at Safeway when it arrives. The last person I helped through this had it happen on her phone. As soon as the crooks had her email and password, they logged into Yahoo and setup a rule that immediately moved incoming messages into a folder named “o” and a copy of the message to themselves. All of her messages were still there, and once I deleted the rule, I was able to copy her messages back into the Inbox. So, if you were hit by this and all of the sudden you don’t seem to be getting any email, that’s why: look for a new folder and an email processing rule in your account that moves new messages somewhere else. There are worse versions of this. After you enter your password, the page asks for the six-digit security code your provider just texted you. What happened is the crook typed your password into the real Gmail or Outlook at that exact moment, which triggered a genuine code to your phone, and you handed it right over. In about 15 seconds your two-factor authentication was defeated, and it was with your help. Now the damage. Once they’re inside your email, they read it. They find your bank alerts, your Amazon receipts, your medical portal notices, etc. They set up a forwarding rule so copies of your mail keep flowing to them even after you change the password. They use “forgot password” on your other accounts, and the reset links arrive in the Inbox they now control. Then they send the same invitation to every contact you have, from your real address, so it lands with your name on it. The next round of victims trust it because it came from you. That’s how it spreads through a family, a church, a club. What to do is simple. A real invitation never needs your email password. Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl, none of them ask for it. If a page wants your login to show you a party, close it. If you’re not sure, call the person who supposedly sent it. And if you already entered your password on one of these, change your password right now. Then check your account for forwarding rules you didn’t create, and warn your contacts immediately. One last thing, because it bothers me. The company Evite has nothing to do with any of this. They’ve been sending party invitations since 1998, they employ real people, and they’ve done nothing wrong except build a brand recognizable enough for criminals to borrow. Yet every news story, every security blog, and every warning email now calls this “the Evite scam.” Search their name and the first page is full of it. Imagine spending 28 years building your brand with a solid reputation and having it turned into the label for someone else’s crime. There’s no correction coming. The name is stuck. So, when you warn your friends, and please do, maybe say “the fake invitation scam” instead. Evite doesn’t deserve the blame. Evan Corstorphine owns Portable CIO in Alamo. Questions about a suspicious message? Call or text 925-552-7953 or email support@pcioit.com. Advertorial
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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 17
YOU DON’T HIRE THE BOUNCER AFTER THE FIGHT
By Jeremy Davis, CloudMinders
If you’ve ever met me in person, I probably don’t look like what you’d expect from the president of an IT company. I’m a big, bald guy with a lot of tattoos. I’ve been told more than once that I look more like the bouncer at a bar than the guy you’d call to talk about cybersecurity. I’m actually okay with that. Because the more I think about it, a good bouncer and good cybersecurity have a lot in common. You don’t hire a bouncer because you want him breaking up fights every night. Ideally, very little happens at all. He’s watching who’s coming through the door, paying attention to what’s happening around him, and stopping problems before they turn into something much bigger. Cybersecurity works much the same way. And both have another thing in common: security can seem unnecessarily expensive right up until the moment you need it. As a business owner myself, I understand why. Every dollar in a business has somewhere it could go. Payroll. Benefits. Marketing. New equipment. Hiring another employee. Expanding the office. Improving the customer experience. Cybersecurity has to compete with all of those things, and it has one major disadvantage. When cybersecurity works, nothing happens. There’s no shiny new machine on the shop floor. There’s no new salesperson generating revenue. There’s not necessarily a line on your financial statement showing what you received for the money. The desired outcome is remarkably boring. Your employees come to work. They log into their computers. Your systems operate. Your customers’ information stays private. Everyone goes home. That’s success. Unfortunately, that can also make cybersecurity an easy place to question the budget. Research cited by IBM found cybersecurity budgets represent about 5.7% of overall IT budgets. At the same time, ISACA’s 2025 State of Cybersecurity research found that 53% of cybersecurity professionals believed their organizations were underfunded. Only 41% expected their cybersecurity budgets to increase. Meanwhile, small and midsized businesses are far from immune to cybercrime. A 2025 Mastercard survey of more than 5,000 small and midsized business owners found that 46% had experienced a cyberattack against their current business. Even more concerning, nearly one in five businesses that experienced an attack subsequently filed for bankruptcy or closed. Think about that for a moment. For a small business, a serious cybersecurity incident isn’t necessarily an inconvenience that the IT department handles while everyone else continues working. It can become an event that threatens the business itself. Yet something interesting happens after a business experiences a serious cybersecurity incident. The budget conversation changes. Things that seemed expensive before suddenly seem incredibly reasonable. Multi-factor authentication? Absolutely. Better backups? When can we get them? 24/7 security monitoring? Sign us up. Employee cybersecurity training? Let’s schedule it. Cyber insurance? Call the broker. The irony is that almost all of those things were available before the incident. It’s a little like owning a bar and deciding a bouncer is too expensive. Maybe you decide you don’t need cameras either. Nothing bad has happened before, so why spend the money? Then one night somebody walks through the front door, starts a fight, destroys half the place, and puts you out of business for a week. Nobody stands in the wreckage afterward and congratulates themselves for saving money on security. That’s the strange economics of cybersecurity. Before an incident, cybersecurity is judged against what it costs. After an incident, it’s judged against what the incident costs.
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support@pcioit.com www.pcioit.com And those are very different numbers. The answer isn’t simply to throw more money at cybersecurity. Spending more doesn’t automatically make a business secure. Good security requires the right combination of technology, policies, employee education, backups, monitoring, planning, and people. The important part is understanding your actual risk and deciding what level of risk you’re willing to accept. No cybersecurity strategy can guarantee that a business will never be attacked. That’s no more realistic than a bouncer guaranteeing that nobody will ever cause trouble inside a bar. The goal is to make it harder to get through the door, recognize trouble quickly when someone does, and have a plan for what happens next. So here’s a question I think every business owner should ask: If you knew your company was going to experience a cyberattack six months from now, what would you change today? Would you improve your backups? Require multi-factor authentication everywhere? Train your employees? Replace outdated systems? Increase monitoring? Spend more on cybersecurity? Whatever your answers are, there’s one more question worth asking. Why wait until after the fight to hire the bouncer? Jeremy Davis is a technology strategist who helps businesses use cybersecurity, modern IT, and artificial intelligence as engines of growth. As founder and president of CloudMinders, he advises organizations on turning complex technology challenges into lasting competitive advantages. To learn more, email info@ cloudminders.com, visit www.CloudMinders.com, or call 925-269-9966. Advertorial
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PAGE 18 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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THE EYE OPENER
WHAT I’VE LEARNED ABOUT EYE CARE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EXAM ROOM By Sloane Kraft with Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo Optometry
Hello! My name is Sloane Kraft, and I work in the back office at Alamo Optometry. Prior to joining the team, I was a stay-at-home mom, and before that, I worked in high tech. Once my kids graduated from high school, I decided it was time to get out of the house and re-enter the workforce. Returning to work after a nine-year hiatus was an adjustment, but optometry was also an entirely new world for me. A year ago, I could not have told you what Myopia Management was, what a Retinal Wellness Screening could tell us about the health of our eyes, or how many different treatment options are available for people struggling with dry eyes. After spending the past year behind the scenes at an optometry practice, I have learned quite a bit about our eyes—and about eye care—that I never knew as a patient. Here are a few of the things that surprised me most.
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO MANAGING NEARSIGHTEDNESS THAN I REALIZED
I had always thought that if a child became nearsighted, the solution was straightforward: get glasses or contact lenses and update the prescription as needed. I had no idea there were treatments designed to help manage the progression of myopia in children. At Alamo Optometry, one option involves specially designed contact lenses that are worn overnight. While the patient sleeps, the lenses gently reshape the surface of the eye, allowing many patients to see clearly during the day without glasses or contacts. For children, this type of treatment can also be part of a plan to help slow the progression of myopia. This was one of my first “I had no idea we could do that!” moments.
WATERY EYES CAN ACTUALLY BE DRY EYES
Before working at Alamo Optometry, I would have laughed if someone told me I had dry eyes. My eyes watered all the time—how could they possibly be dry? As it turns out, excessive watering can be a symptom of dry eye. I’ve also learned there isn’t necessarily one solution. Depending on the cause and severity, things like warm compresses, changes in screen habits, and other treatments recommended by your eye doctor can make a difference. This one was particularly memorable because I wasn’t just learning something about our patients. I was learning something about my own eyes.
EYE DOCTORS DO A LOT MORE THAN PRESCRIBE GLASSES
Before I started working in optometry, I primarily associated an eye doctor with an annual eye exam, glasses, and contact lenses. I’ve since learned how much more there is to the job. Our eyes are specialized organs, and optometrists and ophthalmologists have equipment and expertise specifically designed to examine, diagnose, and treat them. Patients come into the office with infections, injuries, and painful eye conditions that require much more than a new pair of glasses. One treatment that particularly surprised me was the use of a bandage contact lens. Much like a bandage protects an injury on your skin, a special contact lens can sometimes be placed over an injured cornea to protect it while it heals and help relieve discomfort. Until I started working here, I had no idea such a thing existed. I’ve also learned that optometrists and ophthalmologists often work together, with each playing a significant role in providing comprehensive eye care.
OUR EYES DON’T STAY THE SAME
Just like the rest of our bodies, our eyes change throughout our lives. Regular eye examinations aren’t simply about determining whether your glasses prescription has changed; they’re also an opportunity to evaluate the health of your eyes. Technology such as retinal imaging has been another eye-opener for me. A Retinal Wellness Screening captures detailed images of the back of the eye, giving the doctor another way to monitor eye health and look for changes over time. After a year at Alamo Optometry, I’m certainly not an optometrist—and I still learn something new all the time—but, I am a much more informed patient than I was when I walked through the door on my first day. And perhaps that’s the biggest thing I’ve learned: taking care of our eyes is about much more than whether we can read the bottom line of an eye chart. Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at (925) 8206622, or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165, in Alamo. For more information, visit www.alamooptometry.com, or follow on Facebook and Instagram @Alamo Optometry. Advertorial
Health continued from front page
DCC Executive Director, Sumita Bhandari, notes that many parents don’t make the connection that Discovery Counseling Center is the non-profit providing services on campus to their children at no cost to families. She emphasizes that “having a positive mental health interaction for students in the district is a fundamental that can set them up for long-term happiness.” The in-school counseling program is designed as a short-term intervention, typically lasting 10-12 weeks for each student in the program. This allows SCIP counselors to help as many students as possible during the school year. Based on the needs of the student, their program may be shorter, longer, or they may transition to in-clinic counseling at Discovery Counseling Center for more in-depth therapies. Providing counseling that is free and onsite during the school day helps remove barriers to ensure students receive the help they need. Outside of the school setting, DCC is available for all community members. DCC offers individual, family, and couples therapy on a sliding scale, providing financial assistance as needed. Anyone seeking support need only fill out a form online or call to get started. From there, information is collected about goals for therapy as well as Discovery Counseling Center board members and staff attended the Livermore a need for financial assistance. An intake coordinator then reaches out to the individ- Valley Wine Auction in September as DCC was fortunate to be selected as one ual to discuss a comfortable sliding scale fee based on household income. Full price of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser. sessions are $160, at or below market rate for the Bay Area, and those paying full price are helping to defray costs for others. Once fees are agreed upon and all intake information is gathered, individuals are matched to a therapist within 5-7 business days, though Bhandari credits DCC’s transition to a mental health electronic records system to being able to assign people to providers in closer to a 48 hour timeframe. Frequency and duration of therapy fully depends on individual needs of the client. There is no cap on sessions, even if someone is receiving financial assistance. DCC will re-evaluate the sliding scale at the six-month mark, but will continue if it is still appropriate for the client. Many clients start at once or twice a week and may whittle down to twice a month over time, this fully depends on the individual and their needs. One unique offering that DCC has over other non-profit mental health models is the increased accessibility of telehealth sessions. Clients must be in
See Health continued on page 20
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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 19
ARE YOU LIVING THE LIFE YOU WANT, OR THE LIFE YOUR BODY ALLOWS?
Michael Tomcik, M.D., FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
Where patients are treated like family.
By Dr. Niele Maimone, DC
Cosmetic Dermatology
Have you ever turned down a trip because your knee couldn’t handle the walking? Skipped a gathering because you were too exhausted? Quietly stopped hiking, golfing, or getting on the floor with grandchildren because your body no longer felt dependable? Sometimes the clearest sign your health needs attention isn’t a diagnosis — it’s realizing you’ve started choosing your life based on how you feel, not what you want to do. At Align Healing Center in Danville, we hear this from patients across the Tri-Valley and East Bay every week. It’s why our practice looks different from a typical clinic.
• Micro-Fractional CO 2 Laser Skin Resurfacing • 532 Laser (red vein treatment) • Botox/Dysport • Fillers • Pharmaceutical Grade Skin Care Products
Medical Dermatology
• Skin Cancer Treatments • Mole Removal • Rashes • Skin Tags • We accept Medicare and most PPO insurances
ONE QUESTION, MANY ANSWERS
For more than 25 years, our work has centered on one question: what would it take to help you live more fully? The answer depends on the person in front of us. For someone managing chronic knee, shoulder, hip, or back pain, the conversation often looks beyond symptom relief toward advanced regenerative therapies that support the body’s own healing, sequenced around what that person’s body actually needs rather than used all at once. Take “Mark,” a 58-year-old Danville hiker whose knee pain had taken over his life for nearly two years, making stairs uncomfortable and turning his weekend hikes into a memory. Rest, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy gave him only short-term relief, so we built a sequenced regenerative plan instead: preparing the joint and surrounding tissue, an initial regenerative treatment, a course of supportive therapies to rebuild function, and a follow-up treatment months later to lock in his progress. Today, Mark is back on the trails most weekends. “I stopped planning my life around my knee,” he says. “Now I just go.” For someone who says, “I just don’t feel like myself anymore,” the conversation looks different. Fatigue, brain fog, weight changes, and the changes that come with menopause and aging often have overlapping causes. That’s where functional medicine comes in: we look at inflammation, hormones, thyroid function, and gut health, with a plan that might include lifestyle changes, customized supplementation, hormone optimization, and other targeted therapies built around what your body’s systems need.
REAL HELP
Most clinics start with a symptom and reach for a treatment. We start with a question: what’s actually standing between you and your ability to heal and to age well? To answer it, we run specific testing designed to find exactly where those blocks are hiding: how efficiently your body produces energy, where your hormone levels stand, and how well your tissues are equipped to heal. It’s the difference between guessing and knowing. Two people can walk in with the same knee pain or the same fatigue and walk out with different plans, because once we see what’s holding you back, we can finally do something about it. That’s how we make sure your plan fits what your body truly needs.
ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION
Are you choosing what you want to do, or what your body lets you do? Health isn’t simply the absence of disease. It’s having the strength, energy, and confidence to participate fully in your own life. If your health has quietly started limiting the life you want to live, it may be worth exploring what can change. Your life should be built around the experiences you want, not the limitations you’ve learned to accept. Do you live in the Tri-Valley? Call 925-362-8283 to schedule a discovery appointment today. We’ll listen, build a plan around your goals, and help you get back to the life you want.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. “Mark” is an illustrative patient example; name and details have been changed. Regenerative and functional medicine therapies discussed here have not been evaluated to cure, treat, or prevent any disease, and outcomes vary by individual. Advertorial
All services provided exclusively by Dr. Tomcik.
Call Today 925-743-1488
3168 Danville Blvd., Suite B, Alamo (in the CVS shopping center)
www.alamoderm.com
Voted runner-up by Diablo Magazine
Rotary continued from page 4
In a world where meaningful relationships can be difficult to build, Rotary offers something increasingly valuable: genuine friendships with people you might never meet otherwise. Members come from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, creating a unique environment for networking, exchanging ideas, and discovering new perspectives. Whether you are a business owner, professional, retiree, nonprofit leader, or someone simply looking to make a difference, Rotary provides a welcoming place to belong. But, Rotary is about more than networking. It is about action. Together, Rotary members work to create positive changes in our local community and around the world. Each meeting offers opportunities to learn about important issues, hear inspiring stories, and explore ways to make an impact. On October 14th, we are pleased to welcome Robert Freeman, Founder and Executive Director of the Global Uplift Project, as our featured speaker. Mr. Freeman leads an organization dedicated to improving educational opportunities for children in some of the world’s poorest countries. Under his leadership, the Global Uplift Project has completed more than 600 projects, including classrooms, playgrounds, science laboratories, libraries, wells, and medical clinics. In addition to his humanitarian work, Freeman is the author of The Best One-Hour History series, a collection of concise and engaging books that explore key turning points in Western Civilization. This promises to be a fascinating and inspiring program. If you have wondered what Rotary is all about, this is an excellent opportunity to find out. Join us for lunch, meet our members, hear an outstanding speaker, and explore how Rotary can enrich your personal, professional, and civic life. To reserve a space or learn more about membership in the Rotary Club of Alamo, please contact Club President Dale Jones at jonesdale384@gmail.com. Come for the speaker. Stay for the friendships. Leave with new ideas and new ways to make a difference. Rotary is where service, learning, and community come together.
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PAGE 20 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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Dr. Hyland has been in private practice since 2000. She received a DDS degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas. Following dental school, she pursued a hospital-based General Practice Residency at the Veteran’s Medical Center in West Los Angeles for two years. Realizing this was not the end of her formal education, she completed a successful three-year post-graduate surgical residency in periodontics. Dr. Hyland’s experience and professional skills excel in every aspect of dentistry from general cosmetic procedures to complex surgical cases. She has placed thousands of successful dental implants and is highly trained in all phases of gum disease therapy, tissue and bone grafting procedures, and wisdom teeth extraction. Dr. Hyland understands the desire to provide the very best care for the entire family. As a resident of Alamo, she strives to meet community needs by providing unparalleled services for those seeking the finest complete dental care in one location. In her spare time, Dr. Hyland enjoys spending time with her husband Terry, two sets of twin boys, and their three rescue dogs adopted from ARF.
Health continued from page 18
California to receive them, but if a person struggles with mobility or, the example Bhandari shared, a college student has relocated to university within the state, they can maintain the support of their therapist from a distance. DCC also offers free group therapy for those who could benefit from mutual support. Their senior support group for ages 65 and up meets on Tuesdays. DCC also has adult support groups for caregiving, grief, somatic and intuitive eating, as well as an LGBTQ+ teen support group. The DCC offerings are very unique, as not many communities have therapy available on a sliding scale, and free support groups make care even more accessible. Bhandari shares, “At our core we feel that making these services as accessible as possible to the community is benefitting us all.” While different cultural and generational views on therapy can create barriers, DCC is doing all they can to break down the stigma of getting help. As Bhandari puts it, “We all are looking for that state of well being, whether it be talking to family or friends; a therapist is trying to find that opening to help.” A space set up for some of DCC’s youngest clients. They are looking forward to having more She continues, “These are coping and resiliency skills that none of us room for these types of therapy rooms in their new location opening in 2027. really grew up being taught…This is one of our responsibilities as community members and parents, to make sure that fellow community members and youth have the ability to cope with life adversities.” It truly is a skill set that can set you up for success for your entire life. While the benefits of mental health support are plenty, finances are a common barrier. Nearly 90% of DCC clients are on some level of financial assistance. According to Bhandari, this is up significantly from a few years ago when it was in the 70% range, possibly reflecting the economic challenges of our current times. According to last year’s annual report, DCC gave about $573,655 in financial assistance back to the community through offsetting fees. Thanks to grants, individual donations, and DCC’s own fundraising activities, they are able to continue meeting the growing needs of our community. A hefty 30% of DCC’s operating budget comes from the Danville Thrift Station. The thrift store, run by The Friends of Discovery, a women’s auxiliary supporting DCC, is located in The Crossroads Shopping Center at 486 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville. The Danville Thrift Station is, incredibly, 100% volunteer run. Every single one of the 130, volunteers sorting, organizing, cleaning, and working the cash register is donating their time to help raise money to fund Discovery Counseling Center. With the amount of sorting and management they must do in addition to maintaining 10AM to 4PM hours Monday through Saturday, that is an unheard of amount of volunteer hours being given. Bhandari reflects, “It is such a community grounded model–the beauty of people dropping off donations of pre-loved goods, donations being purchased and the money going back into the community to serve fellow community members is a beautiful synergy.” The Thrift Station has done especially well to support DCC as thrifting has become more trendy among younger crowds. And DCC is making the absolute most of every single dollar raised. An impressive 93 cents of each dollar goes back to care provided to our community
See Health continued on page 22
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THE ART OF LOOKING NATURAL
UNDERSTANDING WHAT CREATES A NATURAL RESULT IN FACIAL REJUVENATION By Dr. Barbara Persons, MD, FACS
One of the most common concerns I hear from patients considering facial rejuvenation is, “I want to look better, but I still want to look like myself.” Achieving a natural result begins with understanding that every face ages differently. There is no single procedure or treatment that can address every change that occurs with aging, and more treatment does not necessarily mean a better result. As we age, changes occur in several areas of the face. The skin gradually becomes thinner and loses some of its elasticity. Facial volume changes, and the tissues that support the skin gradually shift. These changes can lead to wrinkles, hollow areas, jowling, loss of definition along the jawline and changes in the neck. Because these changes occur at different levels, it is important to understand what is actually causing the concern before deciding how to treat it. For example, skincare and laser treatments can improve skin texture, pigmentation and sun damage. Neuromodulators such as Botox can soften certain lines caused by repetitive muscle movement. Fillers or fat transfer can restore volume in carefully selected areas. When there is significant excess or lax skin, surgical procedures such as facelift, neck lift or eyelid surgery may be more appropriate. A natural result does not mean eliminating every wrinkle or making the face completely smooth. Facial expression is an important part of looking like yourself. Overcorrection of volume, excessive tightening or treating areas that do not need treatment can sometimes create an appearance that is less natural. I also believe that knowing when not to treat something is an important part of aesthetic medicine. During a consultation, I look at the face as a whole rather than focusing only on the area that initially concerns a patient. Facial
October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 21
proportions, symmetry, skin quality, and the relationship between different areas all contribute to how we perceive someone’s appearance. The goal of facial rejuvenation should not be to make everyone look the same. It should be to understand the individual changes that have occurred and determine whether anything needs to be done, and, if so, what approach is most appropriate. After more than 25 years of practicing plastic surgery, I continue to believe that the most satisfying results are those that refresh the face while preserving the patient’s individuality. Ultimately, good aesthetic treatment should not announce itself. It should simply allow someone to look rested, healthy and naturally like themselves. Barbara L. Persons, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Lafayette, with more than 25 years of experience in aesthetic facial surgery, breast surgery and body contouring. Her office is located at 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205. She can be reached at 925-283-4012 or drpersons@personsplasticsurgery.com. Advertorial
CAN YOU GIVE RIDES TO SENIORS & VETERANS, OR DO YOU NEED A RIDE?
Are you an ambulatory senior or veteran who needs a ride to medical appointments, the grocery story, or other essential services? Or, are you aged 25-75 and able to volunteer just three hours a month to help provide a ride? Mobility Matters (MM) is a nonprofit agency that has been serving otherwise homebound residents trying to age in place in Contra Costa County since 2004. MM provides free, door-through-door, one-on-one, escorted rides for seniors and disabled veterans with volunteer driver programs, and they match riders to accessible transportation providers through their Transportation Information and Referrals Helpline. If you need a ride, call 925-284-6161. For volunteer opportunities, call 925-284-2215. For more details, visit www.mobilitymatterscc.com.
Diablo continued from page 13
for it and said the “aborigines called this great landmark ‘Kah Woo Kum.’” One San Francisco newspaperman announced that, in 1916, he “named the mountain ‘Koo Wah Koom’ to help a slow-moving Walnut Creek real estate development,” according to a later Oakland Tribune column. He translated it to mean “The Laughing Mountain” to try to encourage sales “where the devilish name perhaps hindered them.” As recently as 2005, an Oakley resident unsuccessfully petitioned the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to re-label it “Mount Kawukum.” According to ethnohistorian Beverly Ortiz, there is no independent evidence to indicate that the name was ever used by Indians.
MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK
The Sierra Club and the Danville Grange played major roles in making part of the mountain – with its name — into a park and game refuge in 1921. A decade later, it was dedicated as Mount Diablo State Park with two parcels of 348.5 acres and public access to the summit. Since then, the park has grown to 20,000 acres surrounded by city open spaces and East Bay Regional Parks. On April 23, 1978, the summit was recognized with the California Historical Landmark Number 905, an effort led by Egon Peterson. The San Ramon Valley Plaque dedication with Egon Peterson and Mary Bowerman in 1978. Historical Society assisted with the dedication and gave this landmark their plaque # 6.
A BELOVED, NAMED MOUNTAIN FROM THE BEGINNING
Mount Diablo’s name has had a checkered history. Sacred to the Indians, for years it was called Sierra de los Bolbones after the Bay Miwok Volvon tribe which owned much of the mountain. Spanish soldiers under Luis Peralta first used the name “monte de diablo” for a thicket in north Concord after an 1804 conflict with Chupcan Natives. American travelers and others attached the name first to the north peak and then to the whole mountain. “Diablo” continues to be used for any number of items including roads, housing development, foot races, and school districts. In World War I, the first big steel steamer constructed in Contra Costa was called Diablo, a name chosen by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson. The mountain is a constant presence for all of us who live nearby. J.P. Munro-Fraser described it in the flowery terms of a 19th century historian: The view from the summit is magnificent – beyond all description. Standing there on a clear day, and overlooking the craggy precipice and deep ravines, which impart an air of wild grandeur to the immediate vicinity, you behold, in all the elegance of their graceful outline and the beauty of their light and shadow, the admirably rounded foothills, gradually diminishing in prominence until they merge with the delightful valleys though whose groves of wide-spreading oaks and sycamores the eye involuntarily traces out the meandering course of the sparkling waters. Sources: California Senate Journal, 16th Legislative Session, 1865-6, p. 1710; Contra Costa Gazette, Jan. 27, 1866; Coy, Owen C., California County Boundaries, 1923, pp. 1-2; Cronise, Titus Fay, The Natural Wealth of California, 1868; Illustrated History of Contra Costa County, California, 1879, p. 9 ff; Vallejo, Mariano, California Special Commission on the derivation and definition of County Names, 1850; Lane, Beverly The Valley Pioneer, Sept. 9, 1987; Munro-Fraser, J. P., History of Contra Costa County, Slocum, p. 43ff.; Oakland Tribune, 1961; Ortiz, Beverly, personal communication.
PAGE 22 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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Health continued from page 20
members. Charity watchdogs, like Charity Watch, consider a nonprofit highly efficient if 75% of what they raise is going toward their mission with only 25 cents per dollar going toward overhead. DCC easily exceeds that benchmark by keeping their administrative costs incredibly low. On the horizon for DCC is some very exciting news — they are moving! Their current location is slated for redevelopment, so they have been searching for their next home. DCC has found the perfect spot in Center Plaza in San Ramon, not too far from Danville. The new space will offer over 2,000 square feet of additional usable space providing more rooms for group and family therapy and they will be able to expand from the 13 counseling offices they have today to 21 updated offices. DCC is hoping to be fully relocated by early 2027. When asked what the community can do to support DCC, Bhandari explained that everyone can help destigmatize seeking mental health support. “Having those conversations in your own social circles does a lot to give people the ability to reach out when they need help. It shouldn’t have to be something that people view as a weakness; it’s a strength and benefits everyone around you.” Donating to DCC is also incredibly easy and goes a long way to providing mental health support to community members and SRVUSD students. You can donate your A Danville Thrift Station volunteer urges everyone to follow gently used clothing the Thrift Station on social media to keep up with current sales and household goods and shop news. anytime during the Danville Thrift Station’s business hours. You can view donation guidelines on the DCC website under the Thrift Station tab. Financial donations are also gratefully accepted. DCC accepts donations via their website of one-time, monthly, or legacy giving. They also put on their yearly Music and Magic fundraiser each year in May with a magic show, live music, and a silent auction. Attending or donating items for their silent auction are appreciated to help DCC continue their mission. Learn more and donate at www.discoveryctr.net. We all hit rough patches in life. When the world knocks you down, it’s important to know that reaching for a hand doesn’t mean you aren’t strong, but that you know how to rebuild with new tools. Therapist, author, and speaker, Teal Swan, known for her work on emotional healing and self‑integration notes, “It’s not trying to get you to feel better, it’s to get you better at feeling.” Helping our kids and our community access these tools is the greatest gift we can give one another.
Chromatica continued from page 6
commission from a nationally recognized composer. Chromatica’s final 15th anniversary concerts will be performed in April 2027 and will include pieces that have delighted our audiences and singers over the past 15 years. “It is astonishing to look back over the past 15 years and remember our beginnings with eight singers. We have come a long way and I’m immensely proud of what Chromatica has achieved. But, I do believe this is only the beginning as we look towards our next major commission, and planned travel overseas in 2028. I’m very grateful to our audiences and of course our singers – these will be memorable concerts” said Chromatica’s director David Huff. For more details and tickets, visit www.chromaticachorale.org.
SKINtheNEWS By Jerome Potozkin, MD
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SCULPTRA BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK
If you spend any time on Instagram or TikTok, you have probably encountered strong opinions about Sculptra. Unfortunately, social media is also filled with misinformation from self-proclaimed “influencers” who may have little or no medical education. So, what is Sculptra, what does it actually do, and who is it for? Sculptra is different from traditional fillers. Its active ingredient is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible, biodegradable material that stimulates your body to produce new collagen. Rather than simply placing volume beneath the skin, Sculptra works gradually by encouraging fibroblasts to produce collagen, helping rebuild some of the structural support that diminishes with age. I like to think of Sculptra as a treatment for pan-facial volume loss. As we age, our faces gradually lose volume and structural support. Imagine a balloon that has slowly lost some of its air. Sculptra helps “reinflate the balloon.” Another analogy is turning a raisin back toward a grape. The goal isn’t to change the shape of your face or make you look “filled,” it is to gradually restore some of what time has taken away. That gradual improvement is one of Sculptra’s greatest advantages. You don’t leave the office with your final result. Instead, collagen develops over the following weeks and months. When performed properly, friends shouldn’t ask, “What did you have done?” They should simply think you look refreshed. How is this different from hyaluronic acid fillers? Products such as Restylane and Juvéderm are gels that provide volume immediately where they are injected. They are excellent when we want to address a specific area or create precise contour. Sculptra is fundamentally different: the product itself is not intended to provide the lasting correction. It stimulates your body to produce collagen over time. One important misconception deserves clarification: Sculptra does not mechanically lift the face. It has no true lifting properties. Adding volume and improving skin support can make facial contours look better, but Sculptra cannot physically reposition sagging tissue or reproduce the effect of a surgical facelift. Finally, Sculptra is highly technique-dependent. Product selection is only part of a successful injectable treatment. Understanding facial anatomy, appropriate patient selection, placement, dilution, dosing, and, perhaps most importantly, knowing when not to inject are critical. At Potozkin + Ellis Dermatology & Aesthetics, we have vast experience with Sculptra, hyaluronic acid fillers and other injectable treatments. Our goal is never to make someone look “done.” It is to select the right treatment, or combination of treatments, to create a natural, balanced result that still looks like you. Dr. Jerome Potozkin is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Board Certified Micrographic Dermatologic Surgeon specializing in minimally and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. He is the author of “Botox and Beyond: Your Guide to Safe Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures.” The practice is accepting new patients and can be reached at (925) 838-4900 and www. Advertorial potozkinellis.com.
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October 2026 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 23
YOUR PERSONAL NUTRITIONISTS By Linda Michaelis RD, MS and Jackie Peterson RD CDCES
HOW TO EAT HEALTHY AT A RESTAURANT AND STILL ENJOY THE MEAL
The good weather brings people out to enjoy our local restaurants. We have observed that healthy eaters at home are not often healthy eaters at restaurants. We often hear clients say they just want to indulge, or they want to eat what they want. Others say there is never anything healthy on a menu or the healthy items don’t look appetizing. Honestly, this is where diners go wrong with this kind of mentality. As nutritionists, it’s our job to coach clients into understanding that they do not have to deprive themselves at a restaurant, and can always walk out feeling like they enjoyed the meal. 1. Speak to a Manager (not the server) - Instead of ordering one of the “healthful” items on the menu (let’s face it they can be bland) you can order “off the menu.” You will need to talk to someone who knows all about the food and can make some revisions in preparation methods such as using no butter or less oil, grilled or sauteed instead of fried. Managers are able to offer more interesting and flavorful suggestions according to your palette. I suggest clients call the restaurant prior to the meal so they do not feel that they are holding up the party with their higher needs. We often will call a restaurant for clients to figure out the best entrees ahead of time. They are so happy to dine and order, and have the challenges removed on where to begin. 2. Skip the Salad - If you are ordering the salad “because it is healthy” or to “get your veggies,” forget it. Salads often consist of lettuce of low nutrient value (dark greens have the highest nutrition) along with high fats with croutons, cheese, nuts, bacon, and dressing — adding up to as much as 500 calories for a side salad. 3. Don’t Trust Your Instincts - Unless you decide from the beginning to share an entree with your friend, it is best to avoid restaurants that serve large portions. Dr. Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, and author of Mindful Eating, showed in his research that people tend to eat 30-50% more when served large portions in restaurants, even if it does not taste good. 4. Ask for a Doggie Bag with Dinner - We recently read in People magazine that it is “chic” to order a doggie bag along with your dinner order. Put half of your meal aside before you begin eating. Out of sight, out of mind, really works. Chances are you won’t even miss it and you’ll have a great lunch the next day. 5. Stand Up and Lose Weight - Have you often noticed that it is not until you stand up at the end of a meal that you notice how full you are? It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to send the “full message” to your brain. Find an excuse to stand up midway during your meal — go to the bathroom and “check in with yourself,” and see if you’ve had enough to eat. 6. Look at the Dessert Menu - If you enjoy dessert, look at the dessert menu first, and then order backwards. Plan your meal around the wonderful cheesecake! This means go lite on the bread and eat more protein and veggies for your entree. 7. Create Closure to the Meal - Most of us need a signal that the meal is over. Unfortunately for many, it is when the food is gone and your plate is empty. We suggest a closure technique to reduce nibbling such as moving the plate away or covering it with salt and pepper or ordering a cup of coffee to nicely end the meal. We assure you, if you take seriously the above suggestions, you will not gain weight when eating out — even if you dine out several times a week. If you feel like you need a coach to hold your hand and help you lose weight the right way for once and for all we would be thrilled to help you. The good news is that most insurance companies pay for nutritional counseling including ABMG, Aetna, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, CCHP, Cigna, Hill, Sutter, UHC, and others. We are happy to call on your behalf and see what your plan offers. Please visit www.LindaRD.com to learn more about our services. Email us at lifeweight1@yahoo.com, or 925-855-0150 to tell us about your nutritional concerns and see how we can help you. Advertorial
Sunrise continued from front page
dust, a balcony with a clear view east, and a curiosity about how much of the process could run on its own. The answer, it turns out, is all of it. The system checks the weather, calculates the exact minute the sun will crest the ridge, starts recording before first light, and handles everything through to the finished video — every single day, whether I’m home, traveling, or fast asleep. What I didn’t expect was what a hundred straight sunrises would add up to. Watched back to back, they’ve become a kind of time capsule of our valley: the green hills of April slowly turning gold, June fog pouring over the ridge like slow water, the smoke-tinted skies we all remember from a few weeks ago, and those mornings — you know the ones — when the whole sky catches fire and you find yourself pulling over on Camino Tassajara just to look at it. The camera has taught me something I didn’t fully appreciate before: no two sunrises are remotely alike. Same camera, same balcony, same hills, one hundred completely different skies. Some mornings the show is subtle — a thin line of pink that lasts ninety seconds. Other mornings it looks like someone spilled paint across the entire sky. The hills themselves change costume through the seasons. The sky never repeats itself. After a hundred mornings, I’ve become convinced it never will. People from as far away as Japan and Germany now start their day with our little corner of the world — the same view Alamo and Danville residents get for free just by looking east. There’s something I love about that: our hills, our fog, our ordinary Tuesday morning, being someone else’s moment of calm on the other side of the planet. Lately the camera has been branching out. It has learned to film the moon rising over the ridge on the nights the geometry works out, and it caught last week’s crescent moon climbing out of the pre-dawn haze. On August 12th it stayed up all night watching for Perseid meteors. I mostly just let it do its thing at this point — it has better attendance than I do. If you’d like to see what our hills look like at 6AM without setting an alarm, the sunrises post every morning at @danville.dawns on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Look for the sunrise number in each video — the streak is alive and counting, and the camera has no intention of stopping. And if you’re ever up before dawn anyway: look east. The best version has always been the real one.
Blackhawk continued from page 6
one of two special performances: • Saturday, December 12th, at 7PM, at the De La Salle Theatre in Concord • Sunday, December 13th, at 5PM, at The Rock Church in Danville Tickets are $40 for adults and $20 for children (12 and under) and will be available starting Tuesday, October 13, at www.blackhawkchorus.com/events. Group tickets are also available. For more information, email info@blackhawkchorus.com. Whether you're returning year after year or joining us for the first time, “Believe” is a heartfelt celebration of community, music, and the joy of the season. Don’t miss this special event!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ADULT DAY CARE
Valley Oak Respite Center, in Danville has provided adult day care for local memory-impaired adults for more than 30 years. Caring for loved ones with dementia is a 24/7 responsibility. Respite care allows caregivers freedom for four hours a day that they would not otherwise enjoy. The program helps adults with dementia to be more social and outgoing. Activities include games, crafts, painting, drawing, exercise, sing-along music, daily facts and memory joggers. Volunteers assist staff in providing conversation, companionship, and assistance in activities. To volunteer, you must be at least 18 years old and should have a genuine love for older adults. For more information, or to become a volunteer, please visit valleyoakrespite. org or call 925-915-0095.
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PAGE 24 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • October 2026
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1315 Alma Avenue #211, Walnut Creek 2 BD · 2 BA · 914 SF $650,000
PENDING 3108 Sombrero Circle, San Ramon 4 BD · 3 BA · 1,972 SF · .09 ACRES $1,450,000
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