Column

Over the years as I have traveled to more than one hundred countries, there have been times that I was embarrassed by American policies. But, generally it has been the reverse. Again and again I have been proud to be a citizen of our great nation. We’ve certainly done a number of foolish things, but these have been balanced by our generosity and positive actions.

When you and I travel we are recognized as being from the United States. Our clothes, baseball caps, shoes, khaki pants, cameras – all cry out “USA”, and we are well received. Admittedly, upon occasion I have been embarrassed by other Americans while off shore. Most of us are fluent in only one language, while Europeans speak three or four. This limits and frustrates some as they attempt to communicate their needs. From time to time one may run across a fellow countryman who is demanding and/or who ignores or makes fun of local customs. In general, however, I find most of my U.S. traveling soul mates courteous and kind and very respectful of any local conditions that may cause them to be uncomfortable. I believe most of us are endowed with a great sense of humor which often helps us through trying situations.

So, where is this leading us? There was one instance, one moment – where I grew ten feet tall and my chest swelled, filled with American pride. It was an instance that is hard for me to forget. Let me tell you about it.

We were traveling in Austria in early October. The weather was perfect, and the rolling hills covered by trees in the process of turning red were gorgeous. Vienna is a grand old city and contains any number of pleasant tourist attractions. It is always clean as a whistle and hosts tons of great eating places. Salzburg is another one of those cities that conjure up pleasant memories. The castles, walks along the river, and of course the hearty food washed down with the local beer. I also cannot visit Salzburg without humming some of the “Sound of Music” tunes. We chose a number of one-day outings while in both cities, and we selected a day trip to Mauthausen – one of the lesser-known concentration camps during World War II. While Dachau is the more publicized, I believe Mauthausen is better preserved.

The buildings were old, mostly of brick, and they called out “confinement.” The interiors showed crowded conditions with three tiered bunk beds. The displays showed us sparse eating tools and pictures of starving inmates. We were shown the rock quarry where these men worked, hacking out huge boulders for use in construction elsewhere. Our guide took us to the top of the quarry and told us that hundreds of prisoners who were unable to stand the pressure jumped to their death in the quarries. The guards carelessly called them “parachutists without chutes.”

As we toured the barracks, the gas chambers, the ovens – the feelings of suppressed horror were evident. Our voices were lowered – we were mostly silent. Our moods soured and became blacker and blacker as we moved about. By the time the tour ended, we were speaking in whispers and spending moments in quiet contemplation. Tears fell easily.

Then as we left I saw this sign.

On May 4, 1945 this camp was liberated by the US 41^st Recon Platoon of the 11^th US Armored Division.

A group of young American soldiers had placed themselves in harm’s way to perform a memorable humanitarian act. I was very proud to share in their heritage.

 

History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.

                                                                                                                —Napoleon Bonaparte

I was in high school during the final years of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. My father worked at Penny Saver Market in downtown Berkeley at the time, and I recall his telling about watching the clashes between protestors and National Guardsmen, as they exchanged volleys of tear gas and rocks, back and forth on Shattuck Avenue, in front of the store.

A majority of Americans supported the war effort in its early years, but as the first “televised war,” that support waned as graphic images of casualties and nightly body counts were repeated, night after night. After the Tet Offensive in1968, turmoil at home became the norm. People argued about the war, and “peace” marches and anti-war protests occurred at college campuses across the country. Anarchist groups like the Weathermen and the SDS sprang up, using their so-called opposition to war as a pretext for violence. From the era of Kennedy, to Johnson, to Nixon, the central, substantive issue in America, was the war in Vietnam.

As public opinion about Vietnam was largely affected by the media coverage at the time, a valid question is: Just how objective was the reporting? Did the cameras show what really happened, or was their focus directed by some agenda, consciously or otherwise? After Saigon fell in 1975, the opinions of Americans about Vietnam continued to be shaped, no longer by the press however, but by Hollywood. Starting with The Deer Hunter in 1978, Apocalypse Now in 1979, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Born on the Fourth of July in the 1980s, and ending with Forest Gump in 1994, the stage was set for negative stereotypes of Vietnam veterans that still exist today. Vietnam veterans are portrayed in these films as everything from rapists to murders, drug dealers and addicts, deserters, suicidal crazies, and just plain stupid.

What did the soldiers who served in Vietnam do to deserve such treatment? The men and women who served there answered their country’s call, just as previous generations had, albeit in a war that was horribly mismanaged by the politicians in Washington. And regardless of stories and movies to the contrary by the profiteers of misinformation, like Oliver Stone, the factual record conclusively shows that the vast majority of those who served in Vietnam did so honorably, and then they came home to become productive, law abiding, tax paying citizens.

Several months ago, an extraordinary man named Bruce Cowee, a retired Western and Delta Airlines pilot who served in Vietnam, came to ALIVE bearing a manuscript he had been working on for 20 years. It was a collection of true, historic accounts from 35 other men who had also served in America’s “un-popular” war. After reading several of the stories, I knew this was an important work that needed to be published.

Cowee’s book, Vietnam to Western Airlines, presents an oral history of the war in Vietnam. It includes the stories and photographs of more than 30 pilots and several ground-force Marines, all of whom served honorably in Southeast Asia. Every man featured in the book is the “real thing;” their stories spanning a nine-year period from1964 to 1973. The book is about a group of young men in their 20s, thrust into situations of incredible excitement and danger, given an awesome amount of responsibility, and responding with performances that defy any measure you could come up with to evaluate them, only to return to an unappreciative and often hostile home front.

Vietnam to Western Airlines is a long-overdue tribute to the brave men who served in America’s most misunderstood war. In telling their stories, Cowee’s hope is to not only to honor them, but to change the stereotypes of these heroic veterans, as portrayed in books and by Hollywood, opening a fresh dialogue as we welcome back a new generation of young men and women from their service in the Middle East.

The best way to know the truth of history is to learn from those who actually lived it. Reading Vietnam to Western Airlines will allow you to do that.

Vietnam to Western Airlines is available at www.vietnamtowesternairlines.com

The Giants have a new stadium. The 49ers are building a new stadium. Oakland’s three Major League sports franchises are in the process of looking to move. Can’t anybody stay put? Let’s review some of the local stadiums of the past and ones in other California cities.

1. When the Giants moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958, they played in an ex-Pacific Coast League stadium for two years. What was its name?

2. The A’s have only played in one stadium since moving to Oakland in 1968. From which middle West city did they move ?

3. The Golden State Warriors played in two arenas in San Francisco before moving to Oakland. What were the two arenas in San Francisco?

4. The 49ers first season was 1946. (I saw their first game.) What stadium in SF was their first home until 1970?

5. Before moving to the Coliseum, the Raiders played four years in San Francisco. They moved to Oakland in 1964 and played in a temporary stadium near the center of Oakland. What was the name of that stadium?

6. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (what a name!) have played in Anaheim several years. Originally, they were the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 and, like the Giants, played in a former Pacific Coast League stadium. What was its name?

7. The Dodgers also moved to California, with the Giants, in 1958. At what spacious stadium did they play until the park at Chavez Ravine could be built?

8. Brooklyn hearts were broken when their beloved Dodgers moved west. What was the name of their stadium in Brooklyn?

9. Less traumatic was the move of the Giants westward. What was the name of the quirky park they called home in New York?

10. I have not mentioned a NFL franchise in Los Angeles. They don’t have one anymore since the Rams moved to St. Louis in the 90’s. The Rams originally moved to Los Angeles in 1950. From what Midwest city did they move?

 

Last season the Warriors made the playoffs for the first time since the “We Believe” year of 2006. They accomplished that despite having just one All Star, David Lee, and one other near All Star, Steph Curry. They extended the eventual Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs to seven games before a second round elimination.

The question before the house is, can they recapture the magic?

Coach Marc Jackson thinks unprecedented depth, at least in comparison with recent seasons, will help the Warriors. “It’s fun for me to have a talented team with a bunch of weapons,” Jackson told the San Francisco Chronicle. “It doesn’t matter who starts.”

“I’m going to try to put together the best starting five and the best collective unit as a team,” he continued. “We’ll find that out as we move along. It may not even be the best five guys starting, but it will be what’s best for this basketball team. It’s just awesome to have options.”

The major off-season move this year was signing guard Andre Igoudala to the squad via sign and trade. He brings a veteran presence to a spot where the Warriors are young. The also added depth up front with Toney Douglas, Marreese Speights, and Jermaine O’Neal from free agency as well. Speights gives the team another interior defender with his long arms and is deadly from mid-range with his jump shot. O’Neal also provides great veteran experience and low post defense.

The key to the whole operation might be center Andrew Bogut. Last year he missed about three quarters of the season due to complications from an injured ankle. This year he should be ready to carry an NBA starting center load. Reports from camp were encouraging. Bogut is playing without the limits on minutes and back to back games he played under last year when he was healthy enough to suit up. He is running the floor at an NBA level. “He’s looking very good and you can tell by the smile on my face” Jackson said. “He’s healthy. … I’m just happy that for the first time in a long time that there aren’t any restrictions on him. I know how passionate he is and how committed he is and he deserves to be on the floor with no physical concerns.”

“I haven’t had any restrictions since July,” said Bogut, “Five-on-five, three-on-three, four-on-four, conditioning drills, running, jumping, weights—no restrictions. It’s been a great feeling to come into a gym and not have a trainer tell me, ‘You can only do 30 minutes. You can only do this. You can only do that.’ …Very happy to not hear that.”

In addition to proclaiming that he is finally once again at 100 percent, Bogut also claimed that he considers himself a top-3 center in the NBA, though he qualified that statement. “Yeah … when healthy,” he said. “And I’m healthy now.”

With a strong core of returning players, a good crop of free agent signings, and a healthy dose of confidence it says here that the Warriors will not only make the playoffs but also be a strong contender to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals.

 

 

 

If I owned a car dealership, Forbes Mill would be my car out front on risers, slightly tilted to attract the passer-by, but quite possibly without any pricing stickers because deep down, I have such an affinity for her, I wouldn’t want to see her go.

Forbes Mill is where I finely tuned my management skills. Prior to the Steakhouse, I was the food and beverage director at Ruby Hill Golf Club and was a sweat-equity partner in a bar and grille in San Francisco, but Forbes Mill was (pardon the expression) the meat and potatoes of my time in the trenches.

Opened 2003 in Los Gatos by three gentlemen in the Marie Calendars family, Forbes Mill didn’t get to Danville until 2006, riding the mighty coat tails of her predecessor. Therein laid the challenge. I arrived on January 1, 2007 to introduce Forbes to the community that raised me, and for the next three years I proceeded to make that challenge the focal point of my life.

When Forbes set up shop in the back of the Danville Livery, the challenges were mighty. Number one: Everything in the Livery is wood colored, set back from the street, in…you guessed it…the woods. Hard, if not impossible, for any passerby to see the building out of the corner of their eye and allow themselves to be drawn in.  Number two: They opened on the platform of, “the place to get Kobe Beef.” This brought the curious elite of Danville in droves, concentrating on just one of the many menu items and splurging to indulge, but quickly deducing that to go to Forbes Mill was an expensive experience and to be done only once in a while. Well, “once in a while” doesn’t pay the rent, so the next three years of my life was getting people to understand just how much more is available there on any budget.

Yes, the tables are covered in white linen, and yes, the wine list makes Napa blush, and yes, you can still create a bill there that might cut the kids’ college education short, but wait…there’s more!

Forbes offers the best lunches for the money than anybody in town. They have combo plates that are directly in the price wheelhouse of any lunch; all while being served to you by a professional server. Your bill won’t reflect that. And their salads were invented and created by a knowledgeable executive chef, so it’s not just your standard, “Caesar,” or “Mixed Greens.”

The bar is amazing! Granite tops with space between stools, tear-drop blown glass lights and a back bar that you would find in Vegas with two televisions for the sporting event of the day.

The colors, sights and sounds of Forbes were a delight to go to everyday, and often I miss the energy. The lights are low, and on any given evening there are professional servers scurrying about spewing knowledge and finely tuned skills at every table. The murmur of fellow diners in the open dining room does not overpower the clinking of crystal wine glasses and even if you are there to spend $25.00 a person (which you can do) for dinner, you feel as though you valet parked your private jet.

Call ahead to make reservations for your special occasion and the management will make sure that you get a wonderful, take-home, personalized menu acknowledging your day.

As I stated before, my personal choices have led me to greener pastures and I am all but a vegetarian. The reason that I can never full go vegan or veggie is that I understand that as primal man, sometimes you just need a steak. I made the decision long ago that when that primal urge arises, the only place I will go is Forbes Mill Steakhouse—and no, it won’t cost me an organ. Just go!

200 Sycamore Valley Road West, Danville

 

 

Hardly identified as Americana, and certainly not indigenous to the new world is the music of Scotland. It is primarily exemplified by the music of bagpipes—the national instrument of Scotland—and drums.

Surprisingly, Scottish music, pipe bands and highland dancing has enjoyed an increase of interest and popularity in the past 20 years. This form of music has always been popular in the British Isles but its infectiousness has spread across the “pond” to the United States.

The Bagpipe

A Bagpipe consists of a bag, a chanter and several pipes to produce its unique tones. Air is blown into the bag through a blowpipe. The bag is a reservoir which holds the air and regulates the release of air into the pipes by squeezing it. The chanter is the melody pipe played with the hands like any woodwind instrument. The difference between it and other woodwinds is the chanter only has seven to nine holes. The Great Highland Bagpipe usually has three drone pipes. Drone pipes sound a continuous tone while the chanter plays the melody.

Pipe Bands

A pipe band consists of a number of bagpipes, snare drums, tenor drums and a bass drum. One of the pipers is called the pipe major, usually a senior member, highly qualified and proficient on the instrument. He frequently instructs the other pipers in technique and style of playing. The band is led on the march by the drum major who gives all the directions and signals for marching and starting and stopping of the music. The marching style of the drum major and the use of the baton or mace is very formalized, stylized and quite uniform among all drum majors. However, each drum major projects his own individual style as well.

It is truly amazing to realize how many pipe bands there are in the U.S. Many police and fire departments support a contingent of pipes and drums used for mostly ceremonial functions such as weddings, funerals, parades and many occasions both commercial and private.

The Edinburgh Festival

            The granddaddy of all ceremonial events or meetings is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, held each August in Edinburgh, Scotland. The term Tattoo is derived from the Dutch for “last orders.”  In military parlance it was used to describe the last duty call and also a ceremonial form of evening entertainment by military music personnel.

This annual meeting of military bands, massed pipes and drums and other military units is so popular that it draws over 200,000 spectators each year on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. It has sold out in advance for the last decade. If one is fortunate enough to obtain a ticket, the military tattoo is performed every weekday evening and twice on Saturday through the month of August. A testament to its popularity is, it is televised in 30 countries and over 100 million people view it worldwide.

The preponderance of the performers is from the British Isles. They include: Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment); Royal Highland Fusiliers (Kings Own Scottish Borderers); Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment); The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

In addition to these British units, many international regiments have performed over the years. The Royal Netherlands Grenadiers were the first regiment outside of the United Kingdom (U.K.) to perform at the tattoo in 1952. Since then many countries have sent representatives to perform. Each evening concludes with the massed pipes and drums joining the bands and playing Auld Lang Syne. The flag is lowered and they all march off to Scotland the Brave.

Scottish Games at Pleasanton

Locally we can enjoy a taste of this wonderful pageantry at the annual Scottish Highland Gathering and Games at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. This gathering of the clans is held over the Labor Day weekend. For the past 148 years the Caledonian Club of San Francisco has presented this event—that is the largest gathering of its kind in the U.S.

This annual event draws thousands of spectators, many in kilts and traditional native costumes. Some highlights are viewing the bands, Scottish dancing, athletic events include—tossing the caber and competitive games of strength—and Scottish fiddling and piping.

At the conclusion of each day, the massed pipe and drum bands, dressed in their Scottish regalia, bring the ceremonies to a close with an incredible sound like no other. “There is nothing quite like the flurry of dancing feet, the humming bagpipes and the fierce, precise drum patterns, all performed by players in full traditional uniforms,” stated Jessica Novak in the article Pipe Dreams.

            Speaking of uniforms, it is not inexpensive to outfit a performer. “Kilts can range in price from $400 to $600. Entire uniforms can cost $1,000 or more, and full military dress can cost upwards of $2500,” Novak reported. A set of bagpipes can be purchased from around $1,000 to $2500, depending on the make and quality of the instrument.

If you are planning a trip to Europe and specifically the U.K., August is a good month to go and enjoy the marvelous Edinburgh Festival. Be sure to reserve tickets well in advance. You won’t be sorry as it is definitely worth the time and effort to get there.

Not going to Europe in the near future? Then next September drive to Pleasanton and see the mass pipes and drums in their awesome pageantry. Once you’ve been you’ll want to return. My good friend, Lyle Seeband, who took up the bagpipes 50 years ago said, “I’m going to do this until I drop.”

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.  

 

 

 

I reviewed The Ultimate Gift in my column six years ago, and guess what? You’re getting it again. Not because I’m lazy, but because The Ultimate Gift is just that good. I’ll admit right up front that this movie is just a dab “preachy,” but if you’ll trust me, you’ll be inordinately pleased. The Ultimate Gift is a movie you’ll probably buy after you spent the four bucks to rent it. Now how silly is that?  The reason I say that is that I know of at least four people who have, just like I did. Why?  Because the message is just so good that you will think: now who could I loan this to?

Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) is a spoiled young man who’s never had a job, lives off his trust fund, and has a shallow but pretty girlfriend. When Jason’s rich businessman grandfather, Howard “Red” Stevens (James Garner), dies Jason doesn’t really care, as he feels the man ruined his life. Nevertheless, Jason’s interest is piqued when Red’s business associate and friend, Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs), along with his associate, Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether), inform him that he’s set to inherit “the ultimate gift,” if he can pass a number of tests previously arranged by Red.

He reluctantly agrees to the challenge presented by his grandfather through a series of taped statements. His initial bad attitude makes you want to dislike him, but somehow you just can’t—even from the beginning. Here begins the episodic journey during which Jason learns about poverty, compassion, friends, death and yes, spirituality. Jason is ultimately instilled with a character that makes him give back more than he gets.

This twelve-step crash course on life takes Jason down a path that will change him forever and answer the ultimate question: “What is the relationship between wealth and happiness?” At this point you may be thinking that you’ve already seen Pursuit of Happyness, but this is a very different movie.

Along the way, Jason encounters work-ethic Gus (Brian Dennehy), a little girl Emily (Abigail Breslin) whose sharp wit and tongue manifest wisdom that leads to the bonding of Jason and Emily’s mother Alexia (Ali Hillis), and a host of other characters in the various parts of the world where Jason’s journey takes him.  The end result is an examination of life that is told with enough humor and realistic dialog that it works. Jim Stovall wrote the best selling novel that features an all-star cast, including Golden Globe winner and six time Emmy nominee, Brian Dennehy, Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee James Garner, and Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin. The film is the winner of the Heartland film Festival’s Crystal Heart Award.

The storyline is not just the story of some rich, arrogant, indulged, spoiled man. It speaks to the very essence of the human spirit—what it takes to be a truly unique, caring individual whose inner soul really understands the gifts we are all given. If you pass by this DVD because you fear it is just another sappy lecture, you will miss the pleasure of entering the realm of tender communication delivered with style and sincerity. And we all need that, especially now.

Thanksgiving is coming. The Ultimate Gift would be the perfect ending to a wonderful day spent with family. I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

 

 

 

 

Due to a couple of scheduling conflicts, Thanksgiving is coming to my house a week early. The date really doesn’t matter to me; the important thing is that our family is together.

I’m honestly looking forward to this year’s celebration more than usual, for all my planning and shopping and cooking will be but a distant memory when the actual holiday finally rolls around on November 28. By then, while others frantically circle crowded supermarket lots in search of an empty parking space, I’ll be stowing away the last of the platters.

Even though the grocery stores won’t be so crowded when I shop, I still plan to keep those purchases to a minimum. The unquestionable showstoppers of the meal will come from the farmers’ market—as will my centerpiece and floral arrangements.

Over time, my family tree has become a little top-heavy with vegetarians; but I’ve always considered that more of a challenge than a stumbling block. It’s actually quite easy to accommodate their preference by serving plenty of interesting veggie-centric salads and side dishes. If recent history is any indication, the few remaining carnivores will politely nibble on turkey, but mostly load our plates with November’s farm-fresh bounty. And then, of course, dessert will be a free-for-all.

For a fleeting moment I considered eliminating turkey from the menu altogether, but decided that might be a little too radical an idea. If for no other reason, I’ll roast a turkey just to get the requisite aroma wafting through the house. Even the vegetarians find that nostalgic smell irresistibly comforting.

One of the special dishes I plan to make is butternut squash lasagna. If you haven’t dabbled in less-than-classic lasagna before, I urge you to give it a try. A couple of winters ago I made a very similar recipe that appeared in Fine Cooking magazine. After minimal tweaking, this is my adaptation, and the one I will be serving to my family this year. It is also a great company dish to carry through winter.

This is not one of those heavy pasta dishes that lands in your stomach with a thud. It’s substantial enough to be a main course for vegetarians, yet so delicate and ethereal it can stand in as a side for others. The secret is to use fresh rather than dried pasta. No option there.

And please don’t be put off by the length of the recipe. As you read through you’ll see that most of the components can be prepared separately at your leisure, and the entire casserole can be assembled a day or two in advance. (Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and return it to room temperature before baking.)

I’m pretty sure this is going to be the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition.  I just hope somebody eats that darn turkey.

Butternut Squash Lasagna with California Goat Cheese

1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds), halved lengthwise and seeded

2 large cloves garlic, unpeeled

1 bunch fresh thyme

2 teaspoons California extra virgin olive oil

Coarse (kosher) salt

Freshly ground black pepper

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 bunch fresh sage

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

3 cups whole milk

1 1/4 cups (about 4 ounces) crumbled fresh California goat cheese

1 cup (about 2 ounces) finely grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg

1/4 cup coarse dry breadcrumbs, such as panko

1 pound fresh pasta sheets (homemade or store-bought), cooked 30 seconds to 1 minute until barely tender, then rinsed with cold water and drained well

Optional: about 1/3 cup Fried Sage Leaves for garnish (instructions follow)

1. To roast the squash and garlic: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Arrange the squash cut-side up on a large, heavy, rimmed baking sheet. Put 1 garlic clove and 1 sprig of thyme in each cavity. Drizzle each half with 1 teaspoon of the oil, then season each with 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grindings of pepper. Roast until the squash is browned in spots and very tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. (This can all be done a day in advance, if you like.)
2. Discard the thyme sprigs. Peel the garlic and put it in a large bowl. Scoop the squash flesh from the skins and add it to the garlic. Mash with a fork until the mixture is well blended but still maintains a bit of texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
3. To make the goat cheese and sage sauce: In a 2-quart saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add a couple of large sage sprigs and cook 2 to 3 minutes to flavor the butter. Discard the sage. Add the flour and whisk over medium heat until smooth and golden, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes. Stir in the goat cheese, 1/2 cup of the Pecorino, the nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and a few grinding of pepper. Taste, adding more salt and pepper if needed. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the sauce, and mix the rest into the mashed squash.
4. To make seasoned breadcrumbs: Finely chop about 2 teaspoons of thyme and 1 teaspoon of sage leaves. In a small skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Stir in the breadcrumbs, chopped sage, chopped thyme, a pinch of salt, and few grindings of pepper. Remove from heat and mix well to coat the crumbs.
5. To assemble and bake the lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup of the reserved cheese sauce over the bottom of a large gratin or other 3-quart baking dish. Cover the sauce with a slightly overlapping layer of cooked noodles, cutting them as needed to fill any gaps. Spread 1 cup of the squash mixture evenly over the noodles. Add another layer of noodles and repeat the layers as instructed above, to make a total of 4 squash layers and 5 pasta layers. Spread the remaining 1 cup cheese sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup pecorino. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is browned and bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. If desired, scatter fried sage leaves over the top before cutting into squares to serve. Serves 6 to 8.

To make fried sage leaves: Heat about 1-inch of oil in a pot until it reaches 365 degrees on a deep-fry thermometer. Working in batches, fry whole sage leaves, turning once, for 3 to 5 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; season with salt. (These can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store at room temperature in an airtight container lined with a paper towel.)

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and 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.com. 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.

 

 

 

 

You would think one brain would be enough, but we actually have two brains; one at the top of the spinal cord and one large, powerful “brain” in the gut, called the enteric nervous system. Anyone that has given a speech and experienced the predictable performance-related stomach distress knows that your gut is listening closely to your brain. But what can the brain learn from the stomach? As it turns out, plenty.

You see, the brain and the gut, including the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, and colon, are intimately connected by the huge vagus nerve in a two-way street. Scientists were recently shocked to learn that about 90 percent of the vagus neurons carry information from the gut to the brain and not the other way around. In fact, a new successful treatment for depression is vagal nerve stimulation, which shows that gut activity has a direct effect on the brain’s sense of well-being.

This means that your general state of mind and your emotions are greatly affected by the health of your gut. This can happen because there is a “second brain” in the gut so extensive (100 million neurons) that activities of the gut are a major influence on the brain. Many studies have shown that this constant exchange of electrical messages and chemicals are actually considered to be one entity and form the “brain-gut axis.” This is why ailments like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, Parkinson’s and depression, have symptoms at both the gut and brain level. Patients with anxiety will have problems in the gut, and patients with heartburn will have changes in the brain.

Unfortunately, drugs have been the first approach to controlling symptoms and have many side effects related to the brain-gut axis. Drugs used for depression (SSRI’s) increase the levels of serotonin in the brain but because 95% of the serotonin in the body is found in the digestive system, taking SSRIs can lead to GI problems such as nausea, constipation or diarrhea—what some call, “mental illness,” of the second brain. Increased serotonin in the gut also has the surprising affect of increasing the incidence of osteoporosis.

Valium and sleeping pills affect the brain, but also depress gut function (via GABA receptors) leading to constipation, indigestion and colon spasms. Almost every hormone or neurotransmitter the brain needs in order to function are also located in the gut and are affected by gut health, as are the major cells of the immune system, or GALT (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue).

Even sleep is disturbed by poor communication between brain and gut. Most people know of the 90-minute cycles of REM sleep (dream sleep) but the gut also has 90-minute cycles of slow wave muscle contractions followed by short bursts of muscle movement. People with bowel problems, like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s Disease, have abnormal REM sleep because of this relationship between REM sleep and gut contractions.

Most people don’t realize that the gut has such a significant role in emotions and well-being. Unfortunately, because of this, digestive health is often overlooked as a major contributor to brain function or overall health. We include this very important aspect of health in our evaluations and treatment protocols. When appropriate, we evaluate the gut to see what may be affecting the brain, and visa versa. We measure gut function by testing the levels of good and bacteria, mal-absorption, H-pylori (the bacteria that causes ulcers), possible parasites, and the most common gut irritant: gluten. These tests, along with information on the adrenal glands that evaluates problems with sleep and stress, can go a long way in formulating a plan to get back on track with both the “first” and “second brain.”

Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4325 (HEAL). Visit us walnutcreekthyroidinstitute.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I pointed out October’s ALIVE, Chronic Inflammation is the number one cause of death, according to the World Health Organization. Some might disagree and say it is Heart Disease or Cancer, but chronic inflammation is the major cause of both of those diseases.

In my field of Tempromandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ) and Sleep Apnea, chronic inflammation is heavily involved. It is a major cause of arthritis and fibromyalgia, both involved in TMJ, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) causes chronic inflammation. This condition can result in severe stress, and stress can also cause chronic inflammation.

Your body creates chemicals that cause and fight inflammation. A major player is called “Prostaglandins.” They come from the nutrients in the foods you eat and, according to bad or good food; they will produce inflammation or fight inflammation.

There is a big plus here; the discovery of the importance of chronic inflammation has made it possible for the patient to be more proactive in preventing and even curing his or her disease. In October’s ALIVE I went over the bad guys that cause chronic inflammation. You can now find sources which give an inflammatory index which will help you value almost all foods as good or bad. Some of the best anti-inflammatory foods are:

• Wild Salmon: (never farmed) Great source of omega-3. On the anti-inflammatory index, most fish score very high. If you don’t like fish, it is probably because you don’t know how to buy it and cook it. It’s great! Because I am and avid fisherman I can tell fresh just looking at it. I see fish for sale in markets that I would throw out. Find a fish market you can trust.
• Olive oil (extra virgin): Olive oil is so good for you that you can almost consider it a dietary supplement. Great for the skin.
• Organic vegetables:  especially broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts and bok choy.

All veggies are great, but these are especially anti-inflammatory.

• Garlic: Garlic and onions are quite high on the inflammatory index.
• Ginger:  Contains many other benefits in addition to being very anti-inflammatory.
• Blueberries (organic only): organic because the small size makes them hard to wash for removal of sprays. This food is like a prescription drug for good health and it is anti-inflammatory.
• Sweet Potato: everything good—fiber, beta-carotene, minerals and vitamins plus anti-inflammatory.
• Turmeric: Multiple benefits and a great addition to not only you diet but to tastier cooking.
• Kelp: could be one of the most anti-inflammatory foods around plus a great source of most minerals.

I am well aware that, to many readers, cooking is too much effort. It is so important to understand that eating fresh can totally change your life. Once you experience that new, healthy feeling, you might even have enough increased energy to want to cook. On the internet you can find not only recipes for anti-inflammatory meals but many cook books dedicated to eating for good health.

There are several other ways one can have an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. Recent discoveries, which are going to change western approach to medicine, have been able to find the actual mechanisms by which the mind can create disease as well as help to cure it.

Now we really know how important it is to have a holistic approach to an illness. Every aspect of the body, including one’s thoughts, must be considered when determining the many factors that create a disease. I would rather look at it positively and understand that now we are getting the knowledge that will allow us to be free of the enemies of health and youthfulness.

Finally, we are getting the information we need to truly be proactive in giving ourselves the best chance at a healthy, energetic and vital life. If the doctor you go to for a symptom does not react to what you have learned, you definitely need to find a doctor who does and is happy that you want to be proactive.

In the next issue I will go into other ways our lifestyle affects inflammation and what to do about them. Just following some of the guidelines can make a difference.

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.