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Where is Our Government?

March 30, 2016 by Dr. Robert Brown Leave a Comment

One would think that the first duty of our government would be to protect you and me, yet it appears they are doing the opposite. One of the more recent acts of stupidity is allowing a GMO that allows a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH), Monsanto’s Roundup, to be sprayed on crops meant for our consumption.

In a recent report in the Journal of Environmental Health some of the grossly underestimated risks of GBH use were revealed. One danger, not anticipated, is that GBH can last up to one year in the soil and can build up over time.

Some of the effects to the consumer are liver and kidney damage, hormone problems and disturbance of the bacteria in our digestive system. Presently there are no studies being done in regard to these dangers.

To add insult to injury, the use of GBH has a damaging effect on the soil which relies on the normal weeds for its rejuvenation. The dirt found in farms using this herbicide has become hard and compact, making it even difficult for the crops to obtain nutrition. Fertile soil is a very important resource of any nation, yet this abomination of a practice is destroying this resource. Certain butterflies rely on special weeds for their survival along with many organisms.

Who cares about soil and insects when more profits can be made? It is quite clear that a monster cover-up is taking place and I am sure further research will find many more health risks and birth defects associated with this practice motivated by greed, and supported by neglect. Don’t hold your breath waiting for someone to do something. There are powerful forces aligned against what needs to be done.

YOU MUST TAKE ACTION. WHAT CAN YOU DO? Take every effort to avoid foods that may contain GBH or GMO grains, like those found in packaged foods containing corn, wheat or soybeans. Over 90% of soybean samples in one study contained GBH. Shop organic. If you must buy breakfast cereal, make sure it is not a GMO grain.

I would strongly suggest research into the GBH levels found in grain-fed meat. They are even feeding grain to farmed salmon. America is the sickest developed nation in the world considering we, by far, spend the most money on healthcare. Something must be done to shake up the present system that is contributing to this ugly reality.

In my practice of TMJ disorders I use a holistic approach to relieving pain. In the majority of my most successful treatments, diet and lifestyle changes were essential. In some cases another health problem was the root of symptoms. In other cases, multiple prescriptions with multiple side effects contributed. Anything that diminishes one’s health can cause a multitude of symptoms.

Sadly, it looks like even profits in the medical industry will be helped by Monsanto.

For a free TMJ or Sleep Apnea consultation: Advanced Oral Diagnosis & Treatment Center 925-837-8048 or www.aodtc.com

Get a grip on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome—Naturally

March 30, 2016 by Dr. Niele Maimone Leave a Comment

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on the median nerve—the nerve in the wrist that supplies feeling and movement to parts of the hand. It can lead to numbness, tingling, weakness, or muscle damage in the hand and fingers. The median nerve provides feeling and movement to the “thumb side” of the hand (the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger). The area in your wrist where the nerve enters the hand is called the carpal tunnel. This tunnel is normally narrow, so any swelling can pinch the nerve and cause pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome.

Causes and risk factors

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in people who perform repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. Typing on a computer keyboard and using a mouse are the most common causes of carpal tunnel. Other causes include:

Driving
Assembly line work
Painting
Writing
Use of tools (especially hand tools or tools that vibrate)
Sports such as racquetball or handball
Playing some musical instruments

A number of medical conditions are associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
Bone fractures and arthritis of the wrist
Diabetes
Alcoholism
Hypothyroidism
Menopause, PMS and Pregnancy
Infections
Obesity

Symptoms

Numbness or tingling in the thumb and next two or three fingers of one or both hands
Numbness or tingling in the palm of the hand
Pain extending from the elbow
Pain in wrist or hand in one or both hands
Problems with fine finger movements (coordination) in one or both hands
Wasting away of the muscle under the thumb (in advanced or long-term cases)
Weak grip or difficulty carrying bags or opening a jar (a common complaint)
Weakness in one or both hands

Class IV Laser Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Until recently the most common treatment for Carpal Tunnel has been the use of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, wrist splinting and surgery. These treatments do not treat the cause but the symptoms only and are not always effective long-term.

Now, however, we have a powerful, effective, non-invasive solution to reverse the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Ending the symptoms caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome requires stopping the cycle of inflammation at its source. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser CUBE a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. Therefore, laser therapy creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function and strength are restored and pain is relieved.

Relief is Possible!

At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating carpal tunnel, plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, tendonitis, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. Arthritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

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

New Skin Care: Science not Fiction

March 30, 2016 by Theresa Taylor Grutzeck Leave a Comment

Fact: The Rouge Cosmetics has moved the needle in anti-aging innovation with Ongrien Technologies. Real results start now.

Future Perfect Skin:

Buzzing with great cosmetics and highly-advanced scientific skin care since it opened its doors more than ten years ago, The Rouge Cosmetics offers the most effective skin care products in the industry. The Rouge products start with science, with their Ongrien Advanced Skin Care Treatments. The Rouge Cosmetics along with Ongrien Technologies’ research team has helped pioneer the advent of cosmeceuticals and has continued to lead the industry as one of the first companies to provide scientific evidence to support product benefits. Their anti-aging, nutrient-based products deliver advanced protection, while neutralizing free radicals. Better than organic, Ongrien Technologies is a nutrient-based line that is healthy for the body, with valuable vitamins that ensure safety, all designed to prevent damage to the skin. Qualified and proven as one of the most superior anti-aging products on the market, while backed with scientific facts on repairing skin from the inside out, these anti-aging treatments help reduce fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother complexion and healthier skin for the future. Aging Is Optional!

Break-up with Break-outs

Using new technologies and science-based techniques to repair, control and reduce break-outs, Ongrien Technologies has come out with an acne treatment line that helps reduce acne and skin related problems. While the cause is still unknown, hormones and stress are contributing factors; that is why Ongrien developed a Clear Skin System that treats acne for those with sensitive skin. Treating the skin delicately without harsh chemicals is key, while using triple action exfoliating agents and perfectly balanced glycolic acids to unclog pores and kill bacteria, it improves the skin’s balance and controls breakouts. Pathogenic bacteria lives on acne skin types, so reducing bacteria on the skin helps prevent future breakouts.

Pure Skin Appeal

Ongrien’s nutrient-based anti-aging treatments are healthy for the body and given the attention and nourishment that your skin deserves, it can be strengthened, toned, and indicative of the youthful and healthy beauty you always wanted. Harness the scientific benefits of Ongrien Advanced Skin Care Collection that has been created with YOU in mind—Ongrien Technologies offers state-of-the-art skin care solutions and products meant to respect every skin type and need. There is no one-size-fits-all skin care solution, so they have developed options for every woman’s skin type.

Ongrien Technologies has formulated these science-based products, using perfectly balanced antioxidants and peptides with the highest quality ingredients and formulations including:

DMAE – Repairs, Restore, Thickens The Skin and Lifts.
Lipoic Acid – 400 Times Stronger Than Vitamin C, Smoothing Effect.
Ester-C – Exceptional Antioxidant To Reduce Free-Radical Damage.
Co-Enzyme – Restores & Regenerates Cells.
Neuropeptides – Lifts And Slows Down The Aging Process And Formation Of Wrinkles.

Through years of research, Ongrien Technologies has formulated a collection of world-renowned, pharmaceutical-grade, anti-aging skin care products, that deliver powerful, effective benefits to provide a youthful, toned and radiant appearance to the complexion.

For more information related to your specific skin concerns, The Rouge offers skin care consultations to help you choose the correct balance, regime and treatments for the future of healthy skin.

Tales of Two Women: Brooklyn and the Piano

March 30, 2016 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Have you ever watched a film that just stayed with you? One you can’t even decide whether you liked or not? A film so raw it’s makes you—I’m not quite sure of the word I want to use—uneasy?

I was browsing through some movies looking for something interesting and I stumbled on a movie that had been recommended to me several years ago. I was actually looking for a “girl” movie to follow my war movie last month. Having no preconceived idea what The Piano was about, I paid my rental fee and dived right in. All I can say is WOW!

Firstly, let me make a point: it is a real R. This is due to sexually explicit content. Do not pick this for “family night.” The Piano is a 1993 New Zealand drama about a mute piano player and her daughter. Set during the mid-19^th century in a rainy, muddy frontier backwater town on the west coast of New Zealand, it revolves around the piano player’s passion for playing the piano and her efforts to regain her piano after it is sold.

The Piano was written and directed by Jane Campion, and stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin in her first acting roll. The film’s score, by Michael Nyman, is one of the 100 top rated soundtracks in history and Holly Hunter actually performed her own pieces for the film and taught sign language to the cast as well.

I’ll come back to The Piano.

After a little time had passed and deciding not to review The Piano, I watched Brooklyn which is a current hit. While contemplating the two movies, I was struck with the similarities. I was also amazed at how different two movies could be, east and west, north and south.

Brooklyn is a beautifully sweet movie. It’s about a pious female Irish Catholic immigrant who comes to New York City in the 1950s and finds true romance, but must decide whether to return there when a tragedy forces her to return to Ireland for a month to comfort her distraught mother after the death of her only sister. She has to choose between two totally different lives, one where everything is familiar the other where nothing is familiar.

Saoirse Ronan, playing Eilis, is the sweet innocent personified. After the initial pain of home-sickness she meets Tony (Emory Cohen), a handsome young Italian plumber who “likes Irish girls.” They fall in love.

Brooklyn is a glimpse of post war America; the beauty, optimism and open arms. It must have felt like a level playing field for new beginnings.

So, here you have it. The Piano is a little mind bending, exotic and hypnotic. Brooklyn is as sweet and simple, almost as peaceful, as The Piano is agitating. While both are about women moving to a different life in a different world the films are dramatically different.

Brooklyn was either nominated or won many awards including Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Piano had five Academy nominations, winning Best Actress for Holly Hunter, Best Supporting Actress for Anna Paquin (2^nd youngest at 11 years old) and Best Original Screenplay for Jane Campion.

This month you get two to choose from, depending on your taste in films. I will await your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

He Said/She Said with Robin and Shawn

March 30, 2016 by Robin Fahr and Shawn Alikian Leave a Comment

Dear SSHS,

I have guests in my home quite regularly, and I’m getting fed up with all the dietary restrictions out there. From gluten and dairy-free to Vegans and Atkins, I feel like I’m running a restaurant when people come to stay. Any suggestions? Juan Menu, Lafayette

She Said: Real food allergies and Celiac disease aside, it is not your obligation to check in with everyone coming to your lovely B&B to see what they will and will not eat. People are constantly jumping in and out of fad diets or eliminating food groups entirely, making it very difficult on hosts. I knew someone who went from Atkins to vegetarian in the same week, and expected everyone to oblige. That’s just bad manners. Do not cater to picky eaters. Issue your invitation and let all know what will be on the menu and that they are welcome to supplement their diets with items brought from home.

He Said: There’s nothing worse than taking the time and effort to host guests in your home then hearing them say they can’t eat this or that. It just makes you want to never have another guest in your house again. You can’t be expected to cater to everyone’s finicky food habits or needs so I suggest you politely ask ahead of time if they have any preferences. If any requests are unreasonable, then simply ask that they bring their own food that meets their needs or point them in the direction of the nearest store that has what they want. You’re providing the shelter and basic food, if they want more than that, that’s on them.

Dear HSSS,

A friend of a friend recently moved to the area, and I’ve been asked to show her around a bit and help her get acquainted with the area. I have a hectic work schedule and family life and really don’t have the time. Plus I don’t care for this person much. How can I get out of this? Janice, Danville

He Said: It’s always nice when a local can show a transplant around, but it’s not fair for a friend to expect this of you. First I would explain to your friend that you have other priorities and that you just can’t spare the time. Then, I would definitely let the friend know that you’re not fond of this person. If you don’t, this won’t be the last time this newbie reaches out to you. You can ask your friend to keep this info confidential or not, it’s really up to you. Also, there are literally a million social apps and websites where people can reach out and get info or meet people from an area when they move. Let the technology be their friend, not you.

She Said: It’s time to just say no, and you will be amazed at how great that feels. You have little enough time as it is for your real obligations, and people will always ask, so it’s your job to protect your limited time. But, I do want to play devil’s advocate here a bit. You say you don’t care for this person, but how about inviting her to coffee when she arrives, telling her where some of your favorite hotspots are and giving her a second chance to be someone you do care for. Some of the best friendships start with two people not liking each other that much. Her moving to the area could be a real game changer.

Robin Fahr is a communications specialist and host ofConversations seen daily on Tri-Valley TV, Channel 30 and online at trivalleytv.org. Shawn and Robin also host He Said/She Said on TheTalk Pod.com. Send your questions to AskHeSaidSheSaid.com.

45 Degrees Kitchen

March 30, 2016 by Toby Tullis 1 Comment

This month’s installment combines two of my “feels.” Granted to actually eat here is a bucket list thing, or at the very least, a “when in Rome thing.” Nevertheless, I truly hope that this might create a moment when we find ourselves in Nairobi, Kenya engaged in the universal conversation of “I don’t know, where do you want to go?” and then we get stricken with the thought….aha! Remember what Toby was “having.” Let’s backup a bit first.

Show of hands: who remembers my love of Kenya? Those that raised, thank you, but I can’t see you, so I will assume everybody thrust their digits skyward. That’s right, I lived in Nairobi for three months and the experience changed my heart. But wait, I am not writing about some “local’s only” mom and pop in the heart of the city center; I am writing about an endeavor that has its roots right here in Pleasanton and Danville.

I was lucky enough in the first stage of my food and beverage career to be mentored by a genius Chef, Harold Sena-akoto. I was not “back of the house” (kitchen staff), but this man took the time to teach me food costs, wine pairings and management styles that I still use today to lead flocks.

Harold was the Executive Chef at Ruby Hill Country Club in Pleasanton. On a nightly basis he would create masterpieces for the same people with an infectious smile and energy that could not be rivaled. He was the exact opposite of the knife and temper wielding chefs that I had come to expect, and would later be personally subjected to.

Harold is a Nairobi native, and last year, after a stint heading up the food program at Choice Lunch and Choice Kitchen in Danville (another one of my articles), he packed up his girls (wife Rose and beautiful daughter) and headed back to his family’s plot in Nairobi Kenya to open his lifelong dream: 45 Degrees Kitchen.

45 Degrees Kitchen is a rugged structure built on an old poultry farm in Garden Estate. The rustic interior décor and flow to the natural African surroundings put the emphasis on nature, whereby gentle sounds from the outdoors form the backdrop to your evening. The tall Eucalyptus trees in the distance and rustic surroundings are comforting and put guests at ease, making it easy to focus on the work to be done for your dining experience. The fine dining restaurant features a sustainably and organically grown ingredient-driven menu, utilizing produce from the restaurant’s organic garden. The menu is influenced by modern Californian, provincial French and Italian cuisine.

Chef Harold is the type of man with an inviting aura that leaves everybody he comes in contact with feeling better about the interaction they just had. Along with his equally as positive energy wife Rose, they are doing what everybody longs to do at least once in their lives—they are taking their passion and creating something from the ground up.

45 Degrees hosts private events, caters off-site parties, does cooking classes and offers the outdoor/indoor African experience that was once reserved only for safari but from a culinary standpoint.

Our local loss has become Nairobi’s gain, and generally speaking, in any other circumstance I would feel the pangs of loss when a friend moves worlds away, however with the Sena-akotos I feel their presence daily through Facebook (www.facebook.com/45degreeskitchen) and know that they are simply giving me one more reason to return someday.

Bookmark this culinary adventure for your next trip to Africa and tell them Toby sent you, although you would get the same incredible hospitality no matter who you are.

Garden Estate, Nairobi Reservations 0705151086/0705150898

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

March 30, 2016 by Ben Fernandez Leave a Comment

As spring splashes its way in, we are encouraged that Baseball is back. How do we exist the rest of the year when there is almost always a Major League game being played in the area? It is well nigh impossible to go to the park every day, but the magic of TV and radio brings it all home to us. What else is there to say? Play ball!

1. Where did the SF Giants play their home games their first two seasons in San Francisco 1958 and 1959?

2. Who played Dizzy Dean in the movie biopic “Pride of St. Louis?”

3. What Broadway musical hit was based on Douglas Wollop’s book “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant?”

4. Sam Malone, the owner of Cheers of TV fame, had been a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. What was his nickname as a pitcher?

5. Who threw a perfect game for the Oakland A’s in 1968?

6. Who wrote the book “Moneyball?”

The Time of March

March 6, 2016 by Edwin Cohen, Ph. D. Leave a Comment

Here it comes, folks. None of us can stop it. It is as inevitable as death and taxes. Oh, yes, that’s what it is: taxes. Does the term 1040 strike terror into your hearts? “But,” you say, as though words could hold back the tide, “this is only March.” True, but remember, you only have until March forty-sixth to do the deed. (I prefer not to besmirch gentle April—see next month’s “Alive.”)

With this most frightening, almost immoral, subject breached and in the open, I must at this point render a confession: “I do not mind paying income tax.” There, I feel better having gotten that off my chest. Wait, I need to amend that slightly: “I do not mind paying MY FAIR SHARE OF income tax.”

In no way whatsoever am I complaining about my personal life style. I have never missed a meal due to lack of money—time, yes, but never due to money. I do not need or want the latest fashions in clothes. I love my three year-old little Honda Fit. Shirley and I live quite nicely in our 3BR, 2BA condo in Rossmoor. But it frosts my buns, now in their ninth decade, when people who make vastly more money and live infinitely more luxurious lives than I pay less in taxes and, indeed, sometimes even pay NO taxes.

Nor am I happy about my tax money purchasing $200 screw drivers, or whatever that nonsense was. I do not appreciate a Congress that bellows platitudes, keeps all their own perks perking, while the bulk of the nation’s government was shut down. I do not want my bucks keeping legislators in office for years while sitting on their hands and not attacking the problems we face as a nation; waiting to retire and become consultants in order to accumulate Jillions of dollars. (My fellow democrats, do not get holier than thou about that last issue. “I ain’t gonna tackle that one ‘cause I might not get re-elected,” crosses party lines.)

Why then do I not mind paying taxes? Simple. That is the necessary cost in order to live in, what in my opinion, is the greatest nation in the world—now or ever! Does “greatest” mean we have no problems? Of course, not. We got ‘em and we got ‘em in spades: race; internal violence; immigration; Social Security; policing the world, especially the 12th Century Middle East; the ugliness of modern politics; trying to force other countries to accept democracy; the list could on and almost everyone reading this could add to the list.

Of course we have problems, but if a person should want to call the sitting President, regardless of party, a dirty, rotten @#%&* or call him/her the greatest person alive, neither has to worry about being carted off in the middle of the night and simply disappearing.

Although I am not an observant or religious person, being Jewish probably makes me a bit more sensitive to this issue. Both my wife and I are first generation Americans, born in California and Pennsylvania, respectively. In order to escape the pogroms, my mother’s family came to this country from what was then Czarist Russia, now Lithuania, in 1905 when Mother was about eight months old. My father was born in England of English and German parents who, seeking a better life, brought him here in 1901 when he was four or five. They were both naturalized citizens, voted and paid taxes. I have voted in every election since I was first eligible in 1952—sometimes voting for someone I truly respected; sometimes just choosing the lesser of the “evils.”

A couple of chaps named Joe and Adolph would have seen to it that I would never see the light of day had those two families not come to the country where the streets were not paved with gold, but opportunity lay waiting for everyone equally. (Well, almost equally; there are still some who have to work a lot harder to achieve the degree of “equality” others enjoy.)

Even in our wonderful country some people still live in “ghettos.” Those ghettos, however, are economically imposed, not instigated by the government with imprisonment or even death being the punishment for violating the ghetto law. In my lifetime and the lifetimes of many of the readers of this treatise, governments of sophisticated, modern countries tried to systematically eliminate people because of their religion, ethnicity, sexual choice, and because they spoke out against the reigning authorities.

Here we may dislike or even despise someone else’s life style, but law and tradition prohibits us from harming them or hindering their opportunities. What percentage of one’s income is that worth? Ten percent? Twenty? Thirty? Although I cannot put a specific number on it, to me it’s a hell of a lot.

This November we who are caring citizens will have the magnificent opportunity to select a President and other high officials to govern us. About a third of us will vote one way; another third the other way; and the final third will decide the elections. How glorious is that! Or would we prefer that the gang with the most fire power and willingness to harm others decide for us all.That too has got to be worth a portion of our income.

The sad part of the process falls to the large numbers who cannot or will not take the time and energy to take advantage of this wonderful gift. I cannot help but wonder how much complaining and hot air those who do not vote generate, despite their complacency.

As a concerned citizen, I recognize many of the problems facing our country, but we are still able to discuss, debate, and, legislators willing, even tackle some of the problems. To solve the problems we will all have to give a little and settle for less than what we each consider ideal.

Guess what! The good ole U. S. of A. will, in William Faulkner’s words from his Nobel Prize speech, “not only survive, we will prevail.”

So if you haven’t already, sometime between March 1 and March 46, PAY UP OR SHUT UP!
(It is the best investment you will ever make.)

Meet the Danville VIPS

March 6, 2016 by Harry Hubinger Leave a Comment

It’s extremely difficult these days to pick up a newspaper, watch a television news broadcast or, for that matter, have a friendly discussion without being exposed to some incident involving the police. The featured stories cover a wide range of police activities. In some articles the officers are portrayed in a favorable light–helping to protect us from crime and violence. In other pieces they’re described in a negative manner–perhaps displaying some insensitivity.

It’s not my intent to either defend or condone these commentaries. I’ll leave that to professional journalists–all of whom are closer to the actual situations than I am. Rather I’d like to tell you about my experiences with the Danville Police Department. I’ll hide behind a mythical character named Darren who pursues an “after retirement investigation” into volunteering as a VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service.) Admittedly most of these stories are mine, but using Darren’s name protects my occasionally faulty memories and forgives any enthusiastic exaggerations.

“Darren”and his family moved to Danville almost five decades ago. They chose Danville because it was a nice, quiet, clean, and comfortable place. The schools were good – in fact they were excellent. The shops and restaurants were numerous. Not a lot of glitz and the thought of crime of any type was far away. Life was good, and they prospered.

The kids grew up, went to school, and moved away. Work slowed a bit, and retirement arrived. Ah, but now a new problem presented itself: How to fill in all those empty hours, and more important, how to repay the community for all that it had given to him and his family?

And then a neighbor introduced an exciting possibility. There was a small group of residents who worked with the Danville Police Department known as VIPS (Volunteers In Police Service.) This group was formed to give a community assist to the department. Here was a way to pay back the town he respected, and it even had a little bit of excitement connected to it. But how did all of this work?

The first thing he discovered was that the Danville Police Department, as well as the Alamo and Blackhawk neighborhoods are actually part of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. These local entities contract with the County to furnish police protection to their respective areas. The advantages of these contractual arrangements are numerous. The County is able to furnish well-trained, seasoned officers who rotate through the region. In addition, they provide the backup and support of a larger entity with resources not financially feasible for the locales. These resources include a professional crime lab, SWAT teams, three detention facilities, and a major communication network which covers a wide area. Our small towns have access to a major police department.

The next thing Darren found was that he needed a lot of education before he could even be considered as a VIPS. Potentially harmful situations might be encountered, or conditions could prove legally detrimental to the Town. This education was to be obtained by attending a series of classes conducted by the Danville Police Department and known as the Danville Police Citizens’ Academy. Darren was up for this and immediately enrolled in the next academy. Thankfully the wait wasn’t long as two such classes were held each year.

The classes weren’t simple. They extended over a multi-week period and were comprised of six three-hour evening sessions and two eight-hour Saturday events, but they were both interesting and proved to be exciting.

The two Saturdays included tours and activities that were a part of the regular officer training program. They visited the Martinez Detention Facility – thankfully as visitors not criminals. The class was allowed to drive regular patrol cars around the county test track – very exciting. Think about getting into a black and white and racing around the course! They toured the shooting range, and the class was permitted to fire weapons similar to those used by the officers. In the training facility in Concord, attendees were presented with potential real-life situations. The students were placed about twelve feet from a very large wall screen upon which potentially- threatening situations were displayed in video form. Class members demonstrated their ability to respond to these circumstances with the best possible snap decision. They learn a lot about themselves when placed in hazardous situations. The county-wide dispatch facility was also on the list. This is where 911 calls are taken and relayed to the officers in the field.

The evening classes were equally informative. Deputy District Attorneys from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office spoke on the need for factual reports being received from the officers. These reports could then be used to win convictions. The time between arrests and trials is often long, and these reports help refresh officers’ memories. Regular beat officers spoke about how DUIs were handled.

Detectives shared investigative information into non-violent crimes which had occurred, such as identity theft. Police sergeants and officers spoke about the procedures that were used in high-speed chases and how the different police jurisdictions cooperated when needed. Actual videos were shown of routine traffic stops and how they could suddenly turn into gravely dangerous conditions for the officers. One develops a great deal of empathy for the officers when one realizes the difficulties that can occur.

Darren was made aware of how carelessly allowing newspapers to accumulate in front of a house can advertise that a family is gone for a week’s vacation, inviting burglary.

After completing the Academy he came to the conclusion that police officers are people – no different than our fellow workers or our friends. Oh, granted some are friendly and easy to get along with while others are more aloof, a bit standoffish. But what’s different about that? They have families, spouses, and children. They get tired, they laugh, and sometimes get a bit grouchy like we all do. One of the tasks that differentiates officers from the rest of us is that each day they are forced to make life-changing decisions.

The results of these decisions influence everyone involved. They can be praised for the successful choices and be admonished for any poor ones. Like most situations in life, the poor choices are splashed across the media, while the successful choices are often lost to the public.

Prior to this Academy most people’s only contact with the police was being stopped for some traffic violation or perhaps being questioned about a theft or some other crime they had witnessed. All in all, the academy was an eye opener, and an excited Darren applied for acceptance into the VIPS program. Little did he realize that the simple portion of the program was past, and there was still more complexity to come.

The time between offering his service and acceptance into the program seemed endless. One interview followed another, and a detailed background check seemed to go nowhere. But like all things in life, there is an end. Darren was given his uniform, a badge, and his smile got bigger and bigger. He was now a novice VIPS.

Part Two Next Month – Darren shares his continuing education and tells about some of his experiences. .

Singing

March 6, 2016 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

Have you ever found yourself singing in the shower, especially when you think no one is listening? Whether you can carry a tune or not, you’ve probably done it.

Sometimes there is a nice echo or reverberation, depending on how your bathroom is constructed. You don’t necessarily have to be musical to express your feelings through song; singing can be one of the most intimate and personal satisfactions in life.

“Singing, a great and most cherished gift and privilege, has magical qualities that transcend all words, lifts the spirit and the soul and frees the singer to hope and dream in ways the human spirit longs for,” said the Founding Director of the Blackhawk Chorus, Diane Gilfether.
It is, no doubt, the most wide-spread kind of music making—being the only one, besides whistling, that does not depend on another instrument, according to the Harvard Dictionary of Music.

Indeed, the voice, as manifested in singing, is truly the first instrument.
The human voice sets us apart from all other creatures on earth. It is certainly one of the defining aspects of being human. The voice’s ability to sing and change pitch, makes it the most highly developed and sophisticated of all musical instruments.

“Being part of something bigger than yourself is not only enjoyable but beautiful and emotionally stirring,” according to William Hartshorn in his article, “The Role of Listening.” In Basic Concepts in Music Education he wrote, “It’s important for a child to listen to his own singing as well as that of others. By listening to themselves they may also find a basis for improving the quality and blend of their own voice.”

Vocal music reached its zenith in terms of development and perfection long before instrumental music. Development of instruments started out very crudely; all hand-made without modern acoustical equipment.

The early Colonists brought to America what they knew and were accustomed to in Europe, and particularly in England.

Singing schools emerged in the early 18th Century to teach and enhance singing, primarily for religious services in the Puritan churches. These schools were well established. They were taught by itinerant singing masters and were paid for by the people attending the schools.

Their purpose was to develop the ability to read music and interpret a wide variety of choral works. The rudiments of music and sight-singing were the basic core subjects. For better than a century, the singing schools were the primary institutions for musical training. They were an integral and omnipresent feature of American life and customs. The schools were in essence the forebears of contemporary public school music. By the close of the 18th Century, singing schools had become widespread. These schools lasted about 150 years.

An interesting sidelight of singing is found in an article in “Making Music,” Singing Helps Parkinson’s Patients to Communicate Better. Professional singer, Linda Ronstadt, stated that because she has Parkinson’s disease she can no longer sing.

This was disputed by Melinda Kurowski, a board certified music therapist. She works with Parkinson patients and says “Yes! They can sing.” It takes more effort to sing than it does to speak. The patients take part in exercises that teaches them what is involved in breath support. This makes the process of singing much more enjoyable even though the effort to sing requires more energy and diligence for them.
Through singing exercises they learn how to project their voices and have better articulation. Kurowski said that she can help over 90 percent of Parkinson’s patients.

Nick Stewart and two students from Oxford Brooks University in the United Kingdom, conducted a study with over 375 people who either sang in choirs, sang alone or were members of a sports team.
Stewart asked them about their experiences in their activities and they said their activities seemed to enhance their sense of well-being. Those who were singers saw their choirs as more “meaningful” than those that did not sing and those involved in team sports.

“Whether a professional or an amateur, a soloist or a chorister, a beginner or a seasoned veteran, the outpouring of emotion from the dedicated singer reaches to the heart of the listener,” said Gilfether. “It creates a communication of boundless pleasure and spirituality in a most unique way.”

Today singing is heard everywhere you go; from the nursery through elementary, high school and college, community groups and at local and national events. The music industry has ballooned exponentially in the past years with technological innovations bringing music and singing to the forefront of daily life.

There are all kinds of singers, from the lowest bass to the highest soprano; from the wildest rocker to the accomplished opera diva. The wonderful human voice is a marvelous machine of tones, melodies, inflections and sounds that no other instrument can duplicate.

So use your voice for your own enjoyment or for others to hear, and gain the satisfaction and fun it gives you—whether you can carry a turn or not. It’s an instrument you’ll always have with you and one you can cherish for a lifetime.

The Danville Community Band presents “Museums Around the World,” its annual concert at the Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA. Sunday, April 10. 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Concert included with museum entrance fee. (Free to museum members). 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.