editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
February 2015
Serving Alamo and Diablo
Shopping for SHELTER – Circle of Friends Delivers the Goods By Jody Morgan
Each year an estimated 15,000 Contra Costa County residents experience an episode of homelessness. They come from every county town. Studies indicate that for every six months a child is homeless, he or she falls a year behind in school. Founded in 1986, SHELTER, Inc. serves 5,000-6,000 low-income Contra Costa clients annually, helping to keep families at risk in their homes and to provide transitional housing and counseling for homeless families focused on attaining self-sufficiency. Circle of Friends, a social group sharing monthly
Circle of Friends has 19 members. Seen left to right : Saharon Maybe, Clare Daum, Donna Mikolaj, Judy Holmes, Janice Fassiotto, Maureen Schreiber, Pat Madsen, Toni Brien and Pat Wilhelm.
activities, realized they could help. Twice a year, armed with a wish list from SHELTER, Inc., these local ladies put their bargain-hunting skills to work to deliver a carload of new clothing, sheets and towels, or kitchen essentials. Since first coming together in May 2005, a group of San Ramon Valley women recently renamed “Circle of Friends” has enjoyed exploring the Bay Area together. Each member takes a turn at organizing the monthly outing. A few years ago, Danville resident Janice Fassiotto asked the group whether they would consider accepting the task of shopping for SHELTER. “I read about SHELTER, Inc. in a newspaper and went out to their offices with Maureen Schreiber, a friend from our group, to learn more,” Fassiotto relates. “The Executive Director, Timothy O’Keefe, took us on a tour that included some of their sites and introduced us to some of the counselors. He gave us detailed information about SHELTER and the way they work with the homeless.” Each member of the Circle supports many charitable enterprises individually. Would they adopt another cause collectively? “We are a group of ladies Hikers of all ages take to Mount Diablo trails each who care about each other. When I October raising funds and awareness in the Hike shared my experience at SHELTER, for SHELTER. Photo courtesy of SHELTER, Inc. Inc., I suggested that we support them See Circle continued on page 27
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Valley Pioneers’ Golden Wedding Anniversaries By Beverly Lane
They were indeed a sturdy stock, our San Ramon Valley pioneers. In an era when life expectancy was shorter, five of the valley’s first couples celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries. And what celebrations they were! Some had parties which lasted for days. Cynthia Rice and Charles Wood were married in Marysville in 1857. They came to the valley and established the Wood Ranch in 1862, moving into the two-story Mendenhall/ Wood House and raising four children there. They were active in the Grange, educated their Albert J. and Mary Shuey Young and family. children, and survived memorable fires and earthquakes. Their anniversary party lasted a full three days from April 26-28, 1907, during which family
See Wedding continued on page 22
A.A., A Supportive Community By Fran Miller
The number of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings available within the greater Contra Costa area is illustrative of alcoholism’s pervasiveness. That these meetings are held privately and quietly, drawing perhaps your neighbor or your co-worker, is illustrative of AA’s success in maintaining anonymity for its members. Every day of the week, nearly every hour of the day, individuals in need can find a local AA meeting where members convene to share their experiences, their strength, and their hope in order that they may solve their common problem of alcoholism and help each other to recover. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. AA members include those from every segment of society. Grandmothers, bosses, public servants, husbands and wives - alcoholism knows no boundaries and has a dramatic impact not only on the drinker, but on family and friends as well. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, nearly 8.5 percent of American adults meet Volume XV - Number 2 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, the diagnostic criteria for alcoholism. Alamo, CA 94507 More than one half of American adults Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 have a close family member who is an Fax (925) 406-0547 alcoholic, and children of alcoholics Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher are significantly more likely to develop Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com alcohol use disorders. Sharon Burke ~ Writer What are the diagnostic criteria for The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do
See AA continued on page 28
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