August 2019

Never mistake someone who is in a wheelchair and needs assistance doing daily tasks as someone who is weak.  If you currently have a stereotype about anyone diagnosed with special needs, then you need to meet Jane Coggins. This driven, unique and positive young lady wakes up every morning excited about her day. Her talent with digital animation through the assistance of her communication devices has her focused on pursuing animation courses. Persevering through any challenge, she matches the vision board that hangs in her bedroom with persistent action and, with the help of her mother Kelly, has recently contacted a media company for a job in the animation field. 

Diagnosed with “SMA” which stands for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, her voluntary muscles do not receive the messages of the nerve cells (motor neurons) of her spinal cord. There are different levels of muscular limitation based on what age the onset of SMA occurs. The earlier the onset, the more affected the individual.  Jane was diagnosed at 10 months old and receives 24-hour assistance.  Do not dismay (fiery and creative Jane doesn’t, so why should we?) because the village surrounding her provides not only assistance with basic needs but with friendships where the connections run deep. 

The first connection for Jane began with her friend Raquel, in kindergarten.  Fast forward to 2nd grade at Buena Vista Elementary in Walnut Creek, California, through the inclusion focus within educational settings, children from mainstream classes were asked if they would like to partner up with individuals in the special needs’ classes

It was this blessed connection that formed “The Lunch Bunch” and added to Jane’s friend list was Madi, Gabi, Alisa, Kathryn and Amelia.  These seven musketeers will show anyone a thing or two about never putting a person of any age or “disability” into a box.  If you are ever worried about the future of our world, the teenagers that will soon take the paths provided for them along with paving new ones, please refer to this article as many times as needed.  The driven, devoted and compassionate actions of this group spark the light of hope. 

For example, Amelia started a bracelet fundraiser when they were all in 7th grade to help raise funds for a hot tub that provided physical therapy for Jane.  Titled “Come Together for Jane,” Amelia and the rest of the Lunch Bunch raised $1000.00 selling the bracelets at school and in their neighborhood. Gabi dedicated a whole page of their school’s yearbook to share Jane’s story. They wrote a letter and obtained 300 signatures to petition the Acalanes Unified High School District to provide appropriate education as Jane transitioned from 8th grade into high school. This year they will all take part in the “Walk-n-Roll” fundraiser to help raise awareness and research funds for SMA.  They all show up through major efforts but, most importantly, they all show up for Jane daily and keep her a part of their daily lives—hanging out, holidays, trick or treating, and birthday celebrations, to name a few.

As a mom who sees these displays of light towards her daughter while also looking within, Kelly expresses her gratitude for growing up in the Walnut Creek community. Being a parent who appreciates all that life offers, she practices Reiki and is active in the “Yoga Works” community, and even conducted a fundraiser called  “Yoga From the Heart for Jane.”  

Sitting down with the “Lunch Bunch” gives one a new perspective—one where you realize there are selfless people everywhere willing to encircle others with emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual support. But you won’t be “sitting” for long, as this group will pull you back up in so many wonderful ways. 

So, as they prepare for the “Walk-n-Roll” fundraiser walk on August 24th at Kennedy Grove in El Sobrante, California, in an event  benefitting SMA research and treatment, you’ll see a group of women who don’t just sit with a friend, they hold her hand as they all walk this thing called life—a good life indeed, with the “Lunch Bunch.” 

For more information about the Walk-n-Roll, Cure SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) contact Cure SMA at http://events.curesma.org/norcalwalk, or call 800.886.1762, or email info@curesma.org

Stefanie Boggs-Johnson is the author of “I See You, Little Naomi” and “I See You, Little Andrew.” Her educational children’s books promote special needs awareness and compassion. She is also a licensed cosmetologist and owner of For Every Season, a mobile beauty service for the special needs community. For more information visit ForEverySeasonServices.com

VW goes Electric!

With gas prices on the rise again we might be pondering if our next vehicle should be electric. There are various points to be considered with the gas vs. electric decision. For example, how far is your daily commute, or do you have a secondary vehicle for those long road trips, or do you have the ability to charge your electric car overnight? Some apartment dwellers might not. I once was stuck at a charging station for three hours to generate enough energy to get home since my hotel fell flat with their promise of allowing me to plug into their building. Luckily, we are seeing the range of electric vehicles continue to grow. VW claims the 2019 e-Golf has a battery range of 186 miles, but the reality is much closer to 125 miles, so plan carefully!

Pricing and Trims
The2019Volkswagen e-Golf comes in two versions: SE ($31,895) and the SEL Premium ($38,895). My test vehicle was the SE with the Driver Assistance Package ($850).

What’s new for 2019?
The 2019 e-Golf is now available with the two trims: SE and SEL Premium. The new SE trim is a standard DC Fast Charger, enabling the battery to be charged to approximately80 percent within an hour at a DC fast charging station. A Driver Assistance Package is available, with additional safety features what I would recommend. It includes Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), Blind SpotMonitor, Rear Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The SEL Premium trim now offers an even greater selection of standard driver-assistance safety features including Front Assist, Active Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, ACC, Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Park Assist and High Beam Control (Light Assist).

Interior Highpoints
The 2019 e-Golf interior is very similar to its gasoline-brother with only minor graphic changes indicating the state of charge, battery range and some detailing in blue to remind you are the electric version. The seats are comfortable, and the front offers a wide range of adjustment. The back seat has adequate headspace due to the boxy design of the Golf. I did find a disappointing lack of USB outlets (only 1) in the SE model. Otherwise, the dash was nicely laid out and the touchscreen auto/navigation/information center operated with ease and offers multiple ways to integrate your smartphone. The overall fit and finish are clean.

Exterior Highlights
The exterior styling is handsome with a few blue markings to show that it is electrified. The e-Golf/Golf is designed with clean simple lines in a hatchback package that offers decent cargo storage and some hidden space as well. One thing missing compared to its gasoline version are the rear exhaust tips not needed with an electric car. Since the e-Golf is a compact car sitting at 168.1 inches in length, the wheels are pushed as far forward and backward as possible to help improve the ride. Because of its size, the front windshield quickly rakes upward to the roofline that remains straight, providing better headroom and cargo space over a sloping roofline.

Performance Specs
The e-Golf’s power spawns from a 100-kilowatt, AC motor, and a 35.8-kW battery to release 134 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque which is an improvement over the original 2015 e-Golf. The e-Golf is front-wheel drive featuring three driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Eco+. When operating in the Eco+ mode the A/C will not operate. There are also three levels of regenerative braking. There are two drive modes – D and B. I found that the “B” mode increases the brake charging when letting off the gas pedal. The e-Golf’s handling felt well-balanced through corners.

Cool Features:

• DC fast charger now standard on the SE trim

Safety &Integrity
The 2019 VW e-Golf includes a number of safety driver aids – some standard and others optional depending on the trim level. The rear parking sensors and a rearview camera are standard. Other safety features available beyond the standard airbags include forward collision warning with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane assist, parking steering assistance, and rear cross-traffic alert system.

In Summary –The 2019 e-Golf is a great electric vehicle choice especially if you are looking for a nondescript electrified model. There are other electric vehicles with a longer battery driving range, so make sure to calculate your driving habits into your decision. Typically, the longer the driving range translates into a higher price tag. One of the strengths of the VW e-Golf is its clean styling and attractive interior.

Specifications.

2019 Volkswagen e-Golf SE

Base price:  $31,895 as driven: $33,440 (including destination & optional features)

Horsepower: 134 horsepower

Torque: 214 pound-feet of torque

Drive: Front-Wheel Drive

EPA Class: Compact

Seating: 5-passenger

Cargo space: 22.8 to 52.7 cubic feet

Curb weight: 3459 pounds

EPA mileage: City 126 / Hwy 111 / Combined 119 MPGe

Range: 125 miles

Wheelbase: 103.5 inches

Warranty: 3 years/36,000-miles

Also Consider:  Fiat 500e, Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq EV, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius Prime

I recently experienced the mother of all epiphanies, as the fate of humanity may rest upon my sharing it with my fellow Americans. My awareness first came in pieces; a grand realization arriving as intersecting threads overlapping one another, ultimately woven into a tapestry—a map— depicting the future of our planet.

The first piece came as seemingly credible news reports lately about military pilots encountering UFOs, lending credence to years of sighting reports stretching back to the Roswell New Mexico incident (see George Kapus’ story on page 18 ) and beyond. There is just so much of this stuff! Maybe there is some truth to it, I thought.

Then, I learned about “Storm Area 51.” What began as a joke on Facebook just a few short weeks ago has grown to well over a million people who have pledged to rush the military facility and overwhelm its security, to see if they can find evidence that Earth has, indeed, been visited by extra-terrestrials.  

The next piece of the puzzle came when I began to realize that so much of what I had been hearing in the news—impending doom in twelve years; an ongoing plot by evil capitalists who have somehow tricked people into believing that money must be earned; the idea that Republicans are in some way evil for believing in outdated notions like national sovereignty, citizenship, or birth  gender; and that the leader of the free world is, in fact, a part of the Invisible Empire—has all been suggested and promoted by something or someone plotting our demise.

Finally, the threads accumulated, en masse, creating a picture in perfect clarity—it is the image of aliens who mean to destroy us. These are not the “aliens” illegally sneaking over our Southern border, mind you. These are the real deal… I think, from “somewhere else.” Their plots are insidious; cunning, and very effective—and they have already succeeded to a large degree, right under our noses.

They have been working at their corrosive enterprise for decades; deliberately, stealthily  transforming otherwise normal human beings into mere caricatures of real people who can no longer think rationally; planting and spreading strange, ultimately destructive ideas that sound appealing and good for our country, when in fact, what they are disseminating is akin to but a basket of shiny, mouth-watering, poison apples.

They began their mission first by infiltrating our institutions, and particularly our public schools, where young, fertile minds yield without resistance. They’ve convinced many—the powerful, the highly educated, and the media elites—using emotional appeals rather than logic, and through trickery and deception. They promise to fulfill every want, with no accounting for cost-free healthcare, free college, free childcare, guaranteed monthly income—as they vilify large swaths of society, cleverly dividing people by labeling them: “corporations,” “millionaires and billionaires,” “the rich,” “the NRA,” “the insurance industry,” “the pharmaceutical industry,” “the oil and gas industry,” “ICE agents,” “white males,” and people who are “not ‘people of color’.” I keep thinking: “who’s next?”

They even speak openly about “fundamental change” and a “green new deal.” Hmmm. Green? As in “little green men?” Just a slip of the tongue? Or, is it an Alien code? Think about it. Convincing Earthlings that carbon dioxide—a natural component of our atmosphere that feeds all plant life, and ultimately, us—is now bad.

The final piece of the puzzle was revealed during the last democrat debate, as I wondered: Where on Earth does a name like “Beto” come from? Precisely. Nowhere!

You see, they have cleverly suggested Storming Area 51 as a distraction, knowing that nothing will be found. They are hoping once again that Americans will be distracted, as they were by claims of “Russian” everything, so that we won’t realize they are already here. But they are. They’ve been among us for quite a while, and they’ve succeeded in anesthetizing the minds of vast numbers of Americans.

Don’t be fooled. Forget Area 51. Storm the ballot boxes in November 2020 instead, so we might still have a chance to save planet Earth after all.

One day, as I walked along one of her glorious, paths, I could not help but wonder how long Mother Earth would last. After all, the Creator gave us to her and her to us—it was to be a relationship that the Creator thought would be based on trust.

When Mother Earth has bare, she bred, coddled, and nourished us. Man, in return, has done nothing but pillage and plunder the Creator’s precious gifts—the gifts He made especially for and gave to us.

Man has cut down trees in forests of rain. Man has also killed some species to where they no longer exist amongst the rest of us. Man has contaminated many waters and polluted Father Sky. The air has been filled with toxins, causing the sky to shed many tears of acid rain.

And man has done all that and so much more without compassion; without mind and without heart, causing irrefutable damage for our children and their children, as well as our precious Mother Earth.

Mother Earth, I would say, needs our help; help to survive and sustain life, for life as we know it to be.

If not, our grandchildren will not survive till 50, much less 103. The Creator, Father Sky, and Mother Earth are always wise and awake. So I suggest we all join them, instead of closing our eyes in excess slumber, or only turning our heads so that we do not notice the damage that we wreak.

The answer to my question, truly, nobody knows. It would be like asking which way today shall the wind blow, or will it rain enough this year to help the farmer’s crops grow? Only the Creator knows how long Mother Earth will go.

But we, as humans, truly do not know.   

A placebo is a pill without active ingredients; a sugar pill or starch pill. Placebo is Latin for “I shall please.” It also refers to a technique, such as a fake bit of surgery or pretend psychotherapy. In 1955, H.K. Beecher began exploring this approach after finding that the condition of almost one-third of the sick people in his studies improved after being given placebos.       

This news hadn’t reached me in 1991 when I signed up as a volunteer for a study of a prostate drug called Finasteride. For seven years I took a pill daily and visited an Oakland medical center every six months for an exam. I decided they were giving me the real McCoy, and the exams indicated positive results. Then came the biopsy. I was in the placebo group, and my PSA shot upward. Maybe I should have heeded Alexander Pope. He said, “Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

The benefits of Prozac and similar anti-depressant drugs may be attributed almost entirely to the placebo effect, says Irving Kirsch, a University of Connecticut psychologist. His research indicates that the expectation of improvement accounted for 75 percent of the effectiveness of Prozac and similar drugs.

Which reminds me of the woman ahead of me in the line at the drug store counter. She was commenting on how helpful her medicine was, thanks to the comments of her pharmacist’s co-worker. “Oh, what did he advise?” the cashier asked. The woman pulled a pill out of the bottle and said, “Be sure that the green half goes in first.”

According to a book entitled Follies & Fallacies in Medicine,  a doctor’s manner and confidence, and the patient’s faith in the physician are almost guaranteed to produce an improvement and sometimes a cure. 

There’s a challenge of naming a placebo. I found these: Confabulase, Deludium, Hoaxacillin. Another discovery: there’s no truth to the rumor that doubling the dosage of a placebo will improve test results

The attempts for increased longevity often hinge on fakery. In 600 B.C., Chinese Taoists recommended eating food consisting of animals with long life spans. Perhaps that explains the popularity of turtle soup and elephant chowder. During the 13th Century, Roger Bacon achieved distinction for his attempts of alchemy—the conversion of base metals into gold. He also sought an elixir of immortality. His potion, however, contained arsenic, sulfur, mercury, and other poisonous compounds. You won’t read about any Methuselahs from that era.

Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth in 1513 after becoming Puerto Rico’s governor. In St. Augustine there’s a park dedicated to the idea, and tourists really go for the bottled water.

A man named Serge Voronoff came up with a theory that internal secretion of the testicles preserves a man’s energy and stimulates the mind. To test his idea, he grafted testicles of young sheep onto old rams. He reported that the rams were rambunctious—full of energy and vitality. Next, he rounded up some elderly men, but he struck out when it came to finding young male donors. That didn’t stop Voronoff. He grafted the gonads from monkeys onto the old men. The experiment was a great success, he claimed. His test subjects, the geezers, were really gallivanting.

Alas, by the time of Voronoff’s death in 1951, many of the grafts had been rejected. Another problem: the monkeys suffered from syphilis, and most of the old men ended up with this disease. 

You might say, beware of researchers bearing gifts that sound too good to be true.

One of Danville’s leading citizens, Kenneth E. Behring, passed away on June 25 just days after his 91st birthday. I recall his poignant answer during my last ALIVE Magazine interview. “Mister Behring where do you get your unbounded energy to do all the things you do?” He answered with humility. “I have such little time and so much to do for all the people who really need help…” 

In September 2008 I wrote an article for ALIVE Magazine on Kenneth E. Behring entitled, “A Man on the Move.” He was an energetic philanthropist who did extraordinary works of charity in the United States and in over one hundred countries. 

In my article, I used the word “Wheels” metaphorically to describe the man on the move who was literally born in a moving elevator when his mother was en route to the maternity ward and he never ever slowed down. 

Ken Behring was born in Illinois and raised in Wisconsin, and in 2004 he penned his best-seller autobiography, “Road to Purpose,” revealing that he had earned his first million dollars by age 27 and shared what had given him the impetus to succeed beyond his wildest dreams. With his dynamic wife of seventy years, Pat Behring, at his side, he never considered the possibility of failure and approached each challenge with gusto and an inimitable drive to succeed. Behring exhibited the simple eloquence of determination, dedication, and a solid, “hard work” ethic. 

Behring’s business successes and works of charity are too numerous to mention, however, a few monumental achievements define his love of life. Ken Behring bought and sold cars; invested in properties; developed the town of Tamarack in Florida; was one time majority owner of the Seattle Seahawks football franchise; planned and developed the Blackhawk housing community and golf courses; donated 2,800 acres to Mt. Diablo State Park; built the Blackhawk Automotive Museum in 1988; supported the Smithsonian’s Hall of Mammals at the Museum of Natural History, and the American History Museum in Washington, D.C.. 

On Ken Behring’s birthday in June 2000, he was eager to share his good fortune, as he founded the nonprofit venture, “Global Health and Education Foundation,” and financed and delivered over 1,100,000 wheelchairs to people in need of mobility in over 100 countries. 

In 1988, Behring and partners built the world-class Blackhawk Museum that exhibits some of the nation’s finest classic car collections. After succeeding in multiple museum ventures, Behring challenged himself by spearheading 25 museums in China. The Blackhawk Museum today boasts several permanent exhibitions other than classic cars; Spirit of the Old West, Out of Africa, Into China, and The Wonderful World of Nature, featuring an extensive collection of natural history specimens and artifacts.

The legacy of the Kenneth E. Behring Global Health and Education Foundation will continue to be headed by sons David and Jeff Behring, and Mrs. Pat Behring will continue to chair Blackhawk Museum Volunteers who assist with docent tours and fundraising for the bus transportation of school children to visit the many permanent exhibitions at the Blackhawk Museum.

Our community was made better—extraordinary, in fact—largely due to the equally extraordinary efforts and man, Mr. Kenneth E. Behring.   

It’s common knowledge that corn and tomatoes are the two summer vegetables that simply can’t be faked. Unless you hit a farm stand or grow your own, the only way to ensure the quality we’ve come to expect is to shop at the farmers’ market.

While there, load up on crunchy, bursting-with-flavor cucumbers; a spectrum of sweet and spicy peppers; mountains of tiny summer squash; and tender young green beans. The disappointment that may come with the waning profusion of locally-grown blueberries and blackberries is tempered only by the arrival of early apples and table grapes. And for desserts and warm-weather snacking, there’s still time to get our fill of juicy watermelon and glistening red strawberries.

All of this terrific produce heralds prime-time for homemade salsa. This one, dotted with oven-roasted sweet corn for depth of flavor, is a welcome diversion from the classic tomato-centric variety.

The recipe is quite forgiving; so vary the ingredients to suit your mood. A whiff of finely minced garlic; chopped fresh cilantro and/or creamy cubes of diced avocado would be right at home here.

It’s no surprise that Roasted Corn Salsa makes a terrific appetizer with tortilla chips; but also try it alongside grilled meat or fish, quesadillas, or scrambled eggs.

Roasted Corn Salsa with Poblano & Lime

Poblano chiles are usually rather mild, but some mavericks can be surprisingly hot. To err on the safe side, taste the roasted peppers before adding the full amount to the salsa.

2 fresh poblano chile peppers

Kernels from 4 ears of farm-fresh corn (about 2 cups)

1 tablespoon California olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 vine-ripened tomato, seeded and chopped

1 green onion (scallion), thinly sliced or chopped

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1. Place the peppers on a broiler pan or small baking sheet and broil as close to the heat as possible, turning with tongs, until charred all over, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, roast the peppers directly over a gas flame, turning, until charred, about 5 minutes.) Seal the peppers in a paper bag and let steam for at least 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle. Peel and/or rub off as much of the blackened skin as possible. (It’s okay if small bits of it remain.) Cut the peppers open and discard the stems and seeds. Finely dice the poblanos.

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the corn kernels with the oil to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Spread out the corn into an even layer and bake, stirring once or twice, until some of the kernels are lightly browned at the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl and let cool slightly.

• Add the diced poblanos, tomato, onion, lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently to mix.

• Transfer to a bowl and serve at once, or cover and refrigerate for up to 6 hours. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

Recipe adapted from Great Party Dips by Peggy Fallon (John Wiley & Sons 2009)

A Bit of Corny Advice

There are dozens of varieties of corn, each of which differs according to sweetness and tenderness. To find which is best for you, ask the grower who is selling it. He or she has invested a lot of love into this crop, and will happily share their passion.

The minute corn is picked, its natural sugars begin to convert to starch. For the best possible flavor, serve corn the same day you purchase it. At most, refrigerate unhusked ears in a plastic bag for up to 3 days.

Mind your market manners! Peeling back the layers of husk to expose the kernels dries out the corn for other shoppers. 

For the best flavor, avoid buying pre-shucked corn as it is nearly impossible to determine how long ago it was picked. Instead, look for tightly closed, plump green husks with fresh-looking cuts at their stems. The golden-brownish silk at the very top of the ear should appear glossy and feel slightly sticky.

Don’t shuck corn until you’re ready to use it. To remove the husks, peel down with a firm tug–and listen for that squeak of freshness. Pull off as many of the fine silks as you can, then wipe off the remaining threads of silk with a damp towel.

If boiling is your preferred method of cooking, freshly shucked ears require only 1 to 3 minutes.

Grilled corn on the cob is a little bit smoky and totally irresistible. And yet another delicious vehicle for consuming melted butter. It’s also warm, sweet, and slightly crunchy—with a preferred manner of eating that defies every rule of etiquette. To cook, place farm-fresh ears in their husks over a medium-high hot grill. (There’s no need to pre-soak in water.) Grill, turning occasionally, until evenly charred, 15 to 20 minutes. When cool enough to handle, the husks and silk will come off easily.

Removing kernels from long ears of corn can be problematic, if not outright dangerous. The tapered ears are wobbly and impossible to keep in place, and the kernel trajectory as you cut can be downright frustrating. A little bit of prep work will make the job a snap: Place a small cutting board in the middle of a rimmed baking sheet. Cut each shucked ear of corn in half crosswise. Working one at a time, carefully hold the top of the cob with your fingers and firmly place the cut (flat) end of the ear on the cutting board. To remove the kernels, use a large, sharp knife to cut downward with a gentle sawing motion. The ears remain more stable this way, and the baking sheet will catch any flying kernels. Scrape the bare cobs with the dull side of a knife to release flavorful milky juices to add whatever corny dish you’re preparing, and freeze those naked cobs to flavor soup stock.

If you find yourself with an extra ear or two in the refrigerator, consider removing the kernels and tossing them into a green salad. Other fitting destinations include pancakes or waffles, muffins or cornbread, polenta, pasta, omelets, or any sort of veggie stir-fry.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well!