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Tiger Talk

December 31, 2011 by Dave DeLong Leave a Comment

Everyone has an opinion and most have, in one way or another, followed the career of Tiger Woods. He has climbed to the top, fallen from grace and is making his way back. Will it ever be what it was or will he even compete with the up and coming sensations that are apparently dominating the spot light on the world stage of championship golf?

The coming year will prove to the skeptics and harsh critics that he is still Tiger Woods, the man on the verge of becoming the greatest golfer ever. Fourteen major championships and only four more to tie Jack’s record of 18, Tiger is not finished. More than once he has reinvented his golf swing and gone on to dominate, much to the dismay of the critics. From Butch to Haney, and now Sean Foley, Tiger will once again, climb to the surface and break through.

Three surgeries, one divorce and another swing change later, Tiger once again has calmed the troubled waters while his life is moving forward, reminding all of us not to dwell on the past. Life moves forward, not backwards. Perhaps the healing started when he fired his long time caddie, Stevie Williams, and replaced swing coach Hank Haney with Sean Foley. Foley’s impact on Tiger has been holistic from the standpoint of mind and body approach. Not to mention another surgery demanding more time off for rehabilitation.

Certainly, the early pick of admirer and President Cup Captain Fred Couples instilled faith in him and pushed him to work even harder to prove his worth. Long time friend and partner Steve Stricker’s advise to release the putter reignited the feel on the green and the camaraderie shared with his teammates in the win “down under” has helped. Maybe all the above helped him believe in himself and gave him the confidence during the season finale win at his own tournament. Yes, his name was back in the winner’s category at the close of the year.

Even though many people turned away — from fans, to sponsors and just followers of the game — Tiger is rebuilding. Still having the fire to win, narrower stance to soften his thrust and torque on that leg and add length in years to his career, Tiger appears to be headed into 2012 needing golf and golf needing him. With another title sponsor along with Nike on board riding his coat tales, Tiger is a force in the world of golf, like it or not. It’s been two years since he lost that sponsorship from Cadillac, you remember when he crashed the vehicle and then soon after crashed the life as he and we knew it to be. Now he is climbing back up and the talk will soon, again, be about history, Tiger and how the two are on a collision course!

Market Fresh – Starting Fresh

December 31, 2011 by Peggy Fallon Leave a Comment

In the aftermath of holiday excess, it is comforting to sit down to a healthy meal at home…providing it’s something appealing and delicious. The good news here is that the words “healthy” and “delicious” need not cancel out each other.

I would be the last person on the planet to recommend dining on a tablespoon of cottage cheese and a few limp carrot sticks. (I’m all for maintaining high standards, regardless of the circumstances.) So instead of partaking in dreary rabbit food, how about something fresh and colorful, brimming with bright flavors and a variety of textures? How about a dinner where nearly every ingredient can be purchased at a fair price, directly from the grower?

Because we have access to excellent produce throughout the year, Californians are known for their inventive seasonal salads. I realize a cold dinner is about the last thing on anyone’s mind in January—but take a minute to walk through the farmers’ market and think outside the ice box. What if one of our salad’s main ingredients was roasted to cozy perfection in your oven?

There is a whole world beyond that wedge of crisp iceberg drizzled with blue cheese dressing or, far worse, those wilted lettuce leaves and anemic tomato slices drowning in a bottled vinaigrette. Californians know how to make the most of the most humble, any time of the year. With sweet chunks of roasted winter squash, crunchy toasted walnuts, and tart dried cherries, the following salad is hearty enough to stand on its own for dinner—and a worthy side dish for any potluck.

Make this the main event one Meatless Monday this month—accompanied by a warm, crusty loaf of artisan bread and a glass of crisp California Chardonnay to toast in a new year of good eating.

Honey-Glazed Butternut Squash Salad

1/2 cup California walnut halves and pieces
1 (2-pound) firm winter squash, such as butternut, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes (about 5 cups)
2 tablespoons California extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse (kosher) salt
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or rosemary leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/8 teaspoon crushed hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons California walnut oil or olive oil
6 cups baby arugula leaves (about 7 ounces)
1/2 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
Optional: crumbled California goat cheese, blue cheese, or shaved Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the walnuts in a small pan and bake, stirring once or twice, 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside to cool; then chop coarsely. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees.
To facilitate clean-up, line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment. Combine the squash, olive oil, about 2 teaspoons of coarse salt, the thyme, and crushed red pepper on top; toss to mix. Spread into an even layer and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with honey; stir carefully with a spatula, and once again spread into an even layer. Return to the oven and bake until the edges are nicely browned and the squash is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 5 to 10 minutes longer. (If desired, squash can be baked up to 2 hours in advance. Just cover loosely with foil and let stand at room temperature.)
To make the dressing: In a large shallow serving bowl, whisk together the orange juice and the lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk in the walnut oil. Add the arugula, walnuts, and dried cherries and toss gently to coat. Taste, adding more salt and pepper if needed. Use a spatula to scrape the warm (or room temperature) squash and any cooking juices over the salad. Top with cheese, if desired. Serve at once.

Serves 4 to 6.
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.

New Coach, Defense and Ball Protection – Keys to 49ers’ Resurgence

December 31, 2011 by Paul Hirsch Leave a Comment

In August most NFL observers believed the 49ers would be one of the teams most hurt by the NFL lockout. The conventional wisdom was that a new coaching staff would not have sufficient time to install its playbook and the team would flounder as a result. Another long year was expected for the 49er Faithful.

Fast forward to January, and the 49ers have made the playoffs as NFC West Champions. This is their first trip to the NFL postseason since 2002 when Steve Mariucci was coach. Only one player, long snapper Brian Jennings, remains from that team. The 2011 49ers have had a remarkable year, regardless of their performance this month.

What were the keys to the turnaround? Here are the three leading factors according to Off the Bench:

The environment fostered by new coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff
A remarkably stingy defense led by All Pro linebacker Patrick Willis
The ability of the offense, particularly quarterback Alex Smith, to hold onto the ball and cash in on most of its opportunities

Excellent special teams have also played a part, especially the kicking of David Akers and the punting of Andy Lee. Both have a chance to make the Pro Bowl. But specialists don’t get a chance to make an impact unless the factors listed above are in place. Let’s review them one by one.

Coaching: The 49ers made several expensive mistakes before finally Harbaugh. Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary were often outmatched, outfought and outthought by their peers across the field. Reports have surfaced indicating that Erickson was unprepared, Nolan lacked confidence and Singletary was more style than substance.

Harbaugh, on the other hand, has been everything anyone could have hoped for and more. He is the first coach in six years to have put quarterback Smith in a position to succeed. He seems to have a knack for understanding when to gamble and when to pull back, and his defiant nature with the press and the handshake incident with Lions coach Jim Schwartz seemed to have helped rally the troops. For the last several years San Francisco looked like a team that hoped to win. The 49ers now expect to win, and a lot of that is to the credit of their head coach.

Defense: Through November, the 49ers gave up fewer rushing yards than any team in the NFL. They have three times as many interceptions as their opponents. They lead the NFC in fewest total yards allowed. Linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis have more than 100 tackles, and they have created 16 more turnovers than the team has allowed. Against the toughest competition, the 49ers defense has kept the team in the game and allowed the offense time to figure out how to penetrate its opponents.

Offense and Alex Smith: Until this year the most apt comparison to Smith was Giants pitcher Barry Zito. Both appeared to be expensive disappointments and impediments to winning. The Giants’ success in 2010 occurred when Zito was deactivated from the postseason roster. Smith’s emergence this season has ended such comparisons. Going into this season, Smith’s passer rating was 75.3, an historic low for a quarterback who had about four seasons worth of starts. This season it has settled in the low 90s, slightly above league average. Smith’s ability to run away from potential sacks helps slow down opposing defensive lines, and he is among the most successful quarterbacks in putting up points when the team crosses its opponent’s 20 yard line. He is setting career highs in most statistical categories. Harbaugh, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, is considered a catalyst for Smith’s success.

It might be premature to dream of a Super Bowl with the defending champion Packers in the same conference. It is not too early to declare that the 49ers are back among the NFL’s elite and that things should only get better as Harbaugh and his staff get more time to implement their approach.

Music Industry Jobs

December 31, 2011 by Lawrence E. Anderson Leave a Comment

The myriad jobs in the music industry is growing by leaps and bounds and too numerous to go into great detail here. However, here are a few jobs that may spark an interest in this fast growing field.

Mix Engineer
A mixer takes individual instrumental and/or vocal tracks and combines them. He assembles tracks and adds effects for sound quality and aesthetic enhancements. This position is extremely important in the final performance before mass production of the recording is offered for sale. An experienced mixer may take four to six hours to complete one song. If a compact disc (CD) has 12 to 15 songs it may take several days of concentrated work.

A degree is not necessarily required to do this job but college level or technical school training in audio design, recording arts and sound engineering are vitally important. Creative and technical elements of music production and genuine appreciation of many styles of music are important for this position.

Employment may be either a full-time position at a recording studio or a free-lance contractor in many venues. Entry level positions or internships are a good starting point for employment. Being a mix engineer is not a job learned from a textbook but rather by observing and working with an expert in the field.

Event Promoter
Creativity, tenacity and a knack for knowing what makes an audience tick are the staples of a successful event promoter. The basic job of the promoter is to create interest and a “buzz” in what is being promoted. Their object is to get people to buy tickets and get them in the door.

The imaginative promoter uses all the media – radio, television, print and the internet to create and reach a potential audience. Knowing the demographics in the local area is vitally important to promoting the event. Ticket sales can be increased by knowing where, how and when to advertise the event being promoted.

A successful promoter may benefit from an educational background in public relations, marketing and advertising, the entertainment business and production. Organization, communication, networking and good people skills are essential to the successful event promoter. Above all, it’s important to be creative, aggressive and really know your audience.

Other Industry Jobs
Music industry positions vary, some examples are:

Music Copyright & Publishing
Concert Management & Publicity
Music Merchandising
Record Label Development
Retail Promotions
Contract Negotiations
Business Accounting & Finance
Music Business Law
Recording Assistant

Teaching
There are many employment opportunities available to college graduates with a degree in music, as well as those without a degree. People with music degrees usually fall into several categories: Performance, which includes Conducting, Music Education, Musicology, Composition and varied courses in the music industry.

The majority of music graduates enter teaching careers in public schools, community colleges and universities. Public schools require a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential. A master’s degree is essential to teach at a community college and teaching at a university would generally require a doctorate degree. University level curriculum is very specialized into several categories:

Performance – music majors with intensive study of instrument or voice can lead to jobs in professional orchestras, bands, choruses, church jobs, pop and rock ensembles and more.
Music Education – program preparing college students for teaching careers in elementary, high school or college.
Musicology – the study of music history and literature usually leads to teaching positions in colleges and universities.
Composition – the study of composing and arranging prepares one to work as a freelance composer or a composer and arranger for professional organizations.

There are many avenues to a fulfilling and enjoyable career in music. One has to have the passion and interest and go for it. There are no shortcuts and the road isn’t an easy one but it can be a very worthwhile and satisfying life endeavor.

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

Shoulder Pain Relief: Healing Rotator Cuff Injuries – Exploring Class IV Laser Therapy for Shoulder Rehab

December 31, 2011 by Dr. Niele Maimone Leave a Comment

The Rotator Cuff muscles (four muscles in total) are the primary support structures for the shoulder. Therefore, even minor dysfunction associated with these muscles can create pain and decreased performance of everyday tasks. A Rotator Cuff injury can be caused by many everyday activities. These activities include traumatic events (e.g. fall on an outstretched arm, “yanking” of the arm), repetitive motion (e.g. throwing a ball, carrying children) and chronic improper posture (e.g. operating a computer, driving).

There are three major types of Rotator Cuff injuries that we treat successfully:

Rotator Cuff Muscle Tears: This is a partial tear of one or more of the four Rotator Cuff muscles. Rotator Cuff muscle tears are often accompanied by deep achy pain in the shoulder and arm weakness.
Tendonitis: Tendons are at the ends of each muscle and attach the muscles to the bones they move. When there is inflammation of these tendons it is called Tendonitis. The symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tendonitis are often trigger point pain at the location of the tendon irritation accompanied by deep, achy pain in the shoulder and arm weakness.
Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome: Chronic injury of the Rotator Cuff can lead to a “pinching” of the nerves passing through the shoulder. This is commonly referred to as a Shoulder Impingement or Rotator Cuff Impingement. Symptoms often include numbness, tingling or sharp, shooting pain into the arm or hand.

HOW DO I HEAL MY SHOULDER PAIN?

The most common forms of medical treatment for Rotator Cuff injuries are anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and surgery. Although meds and injections may reduce the severity of pain associated with rotator cuff dysfunction they are not a long term solution and may do more bodily harm than good in the long run. Surgery is a last resort and should only be used if there is irreparable damage to the shoulder that cannot be handled with proper rehabilitation.
THE NATURAL APPROACH

First: Heal the Damaged Tissue
Ending the pain caused by a Rotator Cuff injury requires stopping the cycle of inflammation that is creating the pain. 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. 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 creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, pain is relieved and function is restored.

Second: Correct the Shoulder and Postural Mechanics
Long term pain relief of shoulder injuries involves rehabilitation of the shoulder, neck, thoracic spine. Shoulder rehabilitation is achieved by utilizing specific postural adjustments, stabilization exercises and postural correction taping in order to re-establish proper motion and strength of the shoulder joint. Ongoing strengthening and stretching exercises are used to rehabilitate of the musculature of the shoulder to ensure lasting results.

GIVE US A CALL
If you suffer from chronic pain it is worth your while to spend some time figuring out which of any number of factors are contributing to your pain — we will help you explore which combination of therapies will help you heal it. The good news is — you can do it without drugs, and you can get back to the activities you love!

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

Historic Diablo Country Club – Century Old Gem of the Valley

December 4, 2011 by Anita Venezia Leave a Comment

The historic Diablo Country Club was established in May 1914. Part of a large land parcel purchased by developer Robert Noble Burgess in 1912, it was known as the Oakwood Park Stock Farm stretching over 6,000 acres from Green Valley Road to Mount Diablo’s peak. The grassy knolls and woodsy terrain was home to thoroughbred trotters, contentedly grazing alongside cattle herds in the shadow of Mount Diablo. A eucalyptus stand bordered the raceway and horse feed was sheltered in Swiss chalet barns in the shade of heritage oaks and rocky outcrops. Crops of hay, wheat, barley and alfalfa grew near the fruit orchards.

Burgess was a trailblazing entrepreneur who bought the land and developed the Diablo Country Club in 1914 to encourage investors to buy lots for summer homes. Despite the imminent possibility of the First World War on the horizon, the developer attracted wealthy buyers from The City by running four trains transporting the urban folk on the ‘millionaires special’ to the rocky hills to build country homes off the beaten path. The journey from San Francisco or Oakland to Diablo was truly an unbeaten path in the early 1900’s. Paved roads were sparse and automobiles few. Passengers traveled on the Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Electric Railway, to the pristine country that included Diablo, far from big city life and still years from the Great Depression that altered ostentatious luxury.

Tycoon William Randolph Hearst, whose printed words were peerless, compared the rugged wild magnificence of Mount Diablo to Yosemite; his newspapers focusing on Diablo Country Club’s sporty horsy set, Jazz-era dances and parties that he splashed across the society pages—dimmed only by movie stars’ antics at his own Hearst Castle. The Bay Area’s social upper crust flocked to be near their own kind.

They were not the first Big City seekers of peace who migrated to the serenity of Diablo’s undulating hills—green in winter, golden in summer—a palette of painterly perfection. In the late 1880s, Golden State captains of industry, the Southern Pacific Big Four; Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, Collis Huntington and Mark Hopkins, ran the land parcel as the Railroad Ranch. They left their marks of luxury on the rolling hills, an imprimatur of pioneering prestige if you will, and other entrepreneurs followed.

Burgess carpeted advertising all over the Bay Area and people flocked to the raw beauty of the storied place. By building the Diablo Country Club; he knew they would come—600 potential buyers arrived in one day.

The 128 acre Diablo Country Club was a parcel cut from the original 6,000 acres. Club members enjoyed camaraderie—dining in the Red Horse Tavern with panoramic views, riding horses at gymkhanas, canoeing or swimming in the man-made lake, dancing at midnight parties, playing golf and attending harvest festivals—the club anchoring them to the pristine community, while lending a sense of belonging, a sense of place.

The serene hideaway mushroomed from a sleepy resort to year-round living for over 400 families who took ownership of the club in the 1920s. As the arrival of guests burgeoned, Burgess built the 28-room Chalet in 1922 to serve as an inn. The present clubhouse served as a gambling casino, movie theatre and billiard hall during the heyday of The Jazz Age.

All was well until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, leading to World War Two. When supplies were restricted and food shortages trickled down to rich and poor alike—rationed gasoline hindered driving from San Francisco and neglected golf greens turned to seed. Diablo Country Club was put to wartime use for housing Naval Officers and military personnel stationed at Parks Air Force Base in Pleasanton, and 30 female telephone operators. The horsy history of the club slowed and the property gradually fell into disrepair.

Renaissance of Diablo Country Club

The legendary Diablo Country Club that today occupies 115 acres, part of the 6,000-acre Oakwood Park Farm, was previously on a land mass parcel that encompassed 50,000 acres from Diablo and Green Valley Roads to the mountain peak, clear across to where the Blackhawk Development is today. By 1948 Diablo Country Club, the spread of “God’s most beautiful acreage,” had seen better days and was in need of deep restoration. Investors put the club up for sale to a developer who planned to densely carpet the golf course greens with post-war $10,000 G.I. loan houses.

The clustered home-sites near-disaster was thwarted by one-time Vallejo naval ship builder, turned golf course architect, Larry Curtola, who bought the estate for $175,000 in April 1948, restoring grounds and refurbishing the buildings. Curtola built a sparkling new clubhouse with the stately columns reclaimed from the Pony Express barn on Mount Diablo, and added a ballroom spacious enough for big band dances.

The new upscale club instantly attracted dances, wedding parties and social functions—again taking its well-earned place, nestled among 400 private residences—as one of the most prestigious country clubs in Northern California.

Larry Curtola, one-time partner with Joe Alioto, gave new life to the club, growing the membership with social activities; the upgraded facilities becoming a viable and vital asset to Diablo’s community. Curtola’s success grew; designing the Auburn Country Club, and in 1952 purchasing Castlewood Country Club, later devastated by fire in 1969.

In 1961 the Diablo Country Club members purchased the facility from Larry Curtola for $445,000, and in 1988 invested $5.2 million to rebuild and renovate the existing structure.

Diablo Country Club offers many upscale amenities; seven tennis courts, of which five are lighted, a pro-shop and lounge, fitness centre, Olympic-sized pool, bocce ball courts and year-round recreational activities. The golf course has small but demanding greens; tough par 3’s and challenging bunkers—designed for walkers and carts. The PGA pro, Jason Walter, is dedicated to the needs of guests and members.

Diablo Country Club, set on a knoll above the greens, managed by a superbly professional staff, offers elegant facilities for weddings, social functions, business meetings and charity fundraiser events in several small rooms, the old-world charm bar or the spacious ballroom.

Historic Diablo Country Club, its white building shimmering in the light of uninterrupted panoramas, reminiscent of antebellum grandeur, nestles near majestic Mount Diablo. The celebrated club remains a favorite destination for great golfing, socializing and elegant functions, offering a unique banquet ambiance exuding a warm welcome and a long-standing heritage of excellence mirrored by a traditional sense of place and a century of stories.

For more information about the Diablo Country Club, go to www.diablocc.com, or visit the club at, 1700 Clubhouse Drive, Diablo, CA 94528. Phone: 925. 837.4221

Occupy North Pole

December 4, 2011 by Michael Copeland Leave a Comment

If you read my last article, Another Election Year, in the November issue of Alive Magazine, you would know that I’m not overly political. I am proud to be an American citizen and I do exercise my right to vote, but it’s not like I would ever join a call center movement and interrupt your dinner hour with a courteous reminder to support my candidate or vote down a referendum. In the past, I was never one to protest. While I whole-heartedly believe that protests have their time and place, I’m just not a joiner—that is, until me and my bowling group of dads decided to fly to the North Pole and “Occupy” Santa’s Workshop. It’s not that we have anything against Santa or Mrs. Claus; we were just caught up in the moment.

We got our idea from Occupy Wall Street (“OWS”). OWS, as most everyone knows, is a people-powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and over 1,500 cities globally. OWS is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, and aims to expose how the richest 1% of people are writing the rules of an unfair global economy that is foreclosing on our future. I got that from their website www.occupywallstreet.org.

I would be lying if I told you we have enacted some altruistic global movement to liberate the working class elves, to determine if Santa’s monopoly on Christmas has made him a billionaire or to expose the NYSE symbol “SWS” as Santa’s Workshop. From what I’ve seen, the elves seem to be pretty merry. Santa runs his operation as a Not for Profit and SWS is actually a failing solar company headquartered in Sunnyvale. Granted, the folks at PETA might have something to say about the cruelty of making reindeer fly, but to a man, our group of super athletic suburban dads agreed that if we could fly we would gladly pull Santa’s rig.

Can you imagine a bunch of premium-jean-wearing-dad’s, from the I-680 corridor, pulling Santa’s sleigh? Santa might yell out, “On Blackhawk, On Diablo, go Crow Canyon and Round Hill.” No, the truth is, me and my boyz were just looking for something different to do during our holiday break and a trip to the North Pole sounded cool. No pun intended.

The occupations around the world are being organized using a non-binding consensus-based decision-making tool known as a “people’s assembly.” We don’t even know what that means. This process of organizing your local community and bring awareness to social injustice makes sense and it’s sure popular, but I’ve heard many people verbalize that a great majority of the occupy participants just seem to be on the “encampment bandwagon.” I’m not saying that Occupy North Pole was well thought out, but we’re going to cause trouble. We actually did have a “hidden agenda.” We wanted to see how the toys were made.

For my entire lifetime, I’ve heard about Santa’s Workshop. Who doesn’t know about the “naughty and nice” list, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman? It wasn’t too hard to convince sixteen beer drinking suburban dads to take a little road trip for the good of mankind. I also promised them we would stop at In-N-Out Burger. Ultimately, what got my brothers to jump in our SUVs and begin the 13,000 mile journey from Danville to the North Pole, was that I promised anyone that accompanied me that they would be able to ask Santa one question.

After a rather long drive, our occupation began once we set up our tent city and began making protest posters. Slogans such as; Less than 1% of the world has Mistletoe, Jingle Bells the Government Smells and, Frosty is Cold Blooded seemed harmless enough. Truth be told, we were just hoping to get some face time with Mr. Kris Kringle and enjoy the hot chocolate dispensing fire hydrants. If we could score a University of Santa’s Workshop hoodie and a candy cane foam finger, the trip would be considered a success. Sadly,

Santa didn’t appreciate our occupation. He came out a few times and told us to go home because he was busy working on the logistical challenges of delivering presents to the seven billion people that now inhabit the earth. Needless to say, he was a bit more effective than Mayor Quan in Oakland.

Sometime after our beer buzz wore off and the ten thousandth elf thrown snowball rained down on Occupy Wiener Roast, we decided to pack it in and head home. It’s not that we didn’t believe in our cause… wait, what was our cause? No, we just realized that we could be more effective at home being good dad’s to our kids during the holidays. Not to mention that we froze our “bowling” balls off it was so cold.

Santa reminded us that the holidays are a time for family not fighting … or something like that. The Jolly one is usually munching cookies and mumbles a lot. Maybe next year, we’ll Occupy Arizona “Spring Training” or Occupy San Diego with the kids (the zoo, Sea World and LEGOLAND) for spring break.

We’d like to Occupy Maui or Orlando during the summer if the economy picks up. I just hope my wife doesn’t expect me to Occupy Michigan (the in-laws) for Thanksgiving or you’ll really hear me protest.

Bear Valley Mountain: The Outdoor Classroom for Adventurers of All Ages

December 4, 2011 by Jason B. Smith Leave a Comment

Interest in outdoor education and recreation has spiked significantly in recent years; cautionary stories about our sedentary digital lives abound, as do ad campaigns and editorials imploring us to get outside and explore. As more of our culture looks to reconnect with an authentic experience in nature, schools are also looking for ways to broaden the classroom walls and incorporate hands-on outdoor learning into their curricula. Mountain resorts like Bear Valley now find themselves in a unique position to respond to these needs, and are creating a new outdoor resource for school groups and adults alike.

“We recognized that by combining our year-round mountain recreation with the expertise of our local outdoor professionals, we could offer really valuable programs to people of all ages that go beyond sports,” said Rosie Sundell, Bear Valley’s marketing director. “It’s really a way for people to connect to the mountain and learn about the different ways to experience it.” Inspired by the new opportunities to combine adventure with outdoor education, Bear Valley has launched an exciting new line-up of programs for the current season.

Adventure Academy
In a partnership with local outfitter, Bear Valley Adventure Company, and mountain guide service, Mountain Adventure Seminars, the resort earlier this year inaugurated the Sierra Adventure Academy. In this program, school groups can customize their own multi-day adventures that combine environmental education and team building activities with a variety of seasonal mountain sports. A typical summer itinerary might include rock climbing, kayaking, nature hikes and mountain biking, all the while surrounded by a living classroom of Sierra geology and ecology. Winter courses will generally include skiing, snowboarding and cross-country ski instruction with hands-on workshops in avalanche awareness, building snow shelters and backcountry travel. The concept is for educators with an existing science and environmental curriculum to look to Bear as a venue and technical facilitator to help bring the courses to life in a real world setting.

Reading Challenge Program
Continuing with their efforts to reach out to the student population within their region, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to ski, Bear is now offering a special incentive to encourage literacy, outdoor education and recreation. The Reading Challenge Program, launching this fall, will award lift ticket, lesson and rental packages to elementary students who complete the month-long assignment, which will correspond to their grade level. For example, a second grader would complete 300 pages in a month, while a sixth grader would need to read 400 in the same time span. For the high school crowd, the stakes get a little higher, and instead of reading the challenge will instead be multimedia creation. Basically, students will work in teams to produce a short video piece that demonstrates how they connect to the outdoors. Winning pieces will be featured on the resort’s website and the winning teams will be awarded a comprehensive snowsports package.

While most of the schools within Bear’s immediate vicinity have welcomed the reading and multimedia programs, the opportunity is being made available to any school within Bear’s market, which includes Central Valley and Bay Area schools. Those interested should contact Bear Valley Mountain for further details.

Grown-ups will find plenty of ways to improve both their skills and snow safety awareness as well this year at Bear. New lessons and clinics being offered by the resort include Powder Progression, a group workshop specializing in powder skiing technique. “Last season we started offering these in response to the enormous quantities of fresh snow that seemed to be forever falling on the resort, and they were wildly popular,” according to Snowsports Manager Chris Moore. Since the clinics are completely weather dependent, and conditions change from one day to the next, anyone interested in improving their powder turns should sign up for “powder alerts” on the resort’s website. Powder clinics will meet in the early morning and last a couple hours. If you prefer to catch air and pull tricks in the freestyle park, there is the Park Progression series for you. Sunday afternoons, freestyle instructors will be on hand at the mountain’s beginner/intermediate park for clinics on railslides, aerials and other park techniques.

Moving beyond the resort’s boundaries, a new partnership with Mountain Adventure Seminars opens up the backcountry and “sidecountry” (terrain that is outside the official boundary, but still skiable with lift access) for special adventure tours, including half day snowcat tours accessing untouched powder for groups of up to eight people, and ski descents of the fabled “Zones,” a closed area with technically demanding chutes and steeps. Along with the great skiing these trips offer, MAS also provides a comprehensive set of courses in everything from avalanche rescue to snowshoeing to winter mountaineering, all within the vicinity of Bear Valley Mountain.

This season MAS will also be teaming up with the resort’s ski school for two programs—the Adventure Ski Team and the All Access Team—specifically for teens that want to learn solid snow safety and backcountry skills to combine with all mountain free riding. The resort’s other team opportunities are Competitive Ski Racing and All Mountain. The Competitive categories are for youth only and include Competitive Freestyle Teams. The Development teams in the Competitive category are specifically focused on preparing youth athletes for competition but do not travel. The All Mountain teams are development teams for youth and adult athletes that will cover a variety of technical skills, techniques and terrain across the entire mountain, including parks and side country.

To keep up to date with new events or to sign up for any of the above mentioned programs, please visit the Bear Valley Mountain website at www.bearvalley.com, or call their central reservations line at 209-753-2301 ext.777.
To learn more about Mountain Adventure Seminars, visit them at www.mtadventure.com, or 209-753-6556. Bear Valley Adventure Company is found at www.bearvalleyxc.com, or 209-753-2834.

Points of Life – A Resource for Families

December 4, 2011 by Michael Copeland Leave a Comment

I typically write about family issues in the context of my most embarrassing stories growing up;, my daughters’ total disregard for my amazing sense of humor or how our dog’s persistent flatulence condition has ruined many a family fun night. However, a larger majority of us deal with much more serious family matters, especially when it comes to the care of their aging or ailing parents. “Caring for sick, disabled or dying parents will never be easy,” says Richard Wexler, founder of Points of Life, “But if you are prepared it will make the process easier.”

Richard, an attorney and former national sales manager for a software company has created a family resource service driven by personal experience. Some time ago, both of his in-laws and his own father were diagnosed with various forms of terminal cancer during a six month period. At that time, Richard and his wife, Anna, juggled the responsibilities of work, home and children while getting their parents to countless doctor appointments and making plans for their short and long term care.

“Everyday approximately ten thousand baby boomers turn 65 years old. With aging, there are questions and issues that require attention and planning.
Should we keep the house?
Is our estate in order?
Will our money last once we stop working?
Who will care for us should we become infirm?
Which sibling should take the lead?
How will finances be managed and should we designate a power of attorney?
Could we move in with our children or is a retirement home or assisted living facility appropriate?
If we choose a facility, how do we make that choice?
Who will pay for everything?

“These are important decisions to make, but often times our parents need their children to take an active role in the planning process,” Richard says.

Roughly seven months ago, while delivering an elder care presentation to a community service organization, Richard was approached by Marilyn Ellis, a business coach and thespian, about giving his talk more pizzazz and making the whole subject more entertaining. Richard says, “We practice a process called “elder Ed,” teaching families to plan for life’s stages, so they can retain and control their lifestyle.” At Points of Life presentations, this information is disseminated through a series of humorous vignettes performed by Richard, his partner Marilyn, and a growing group of the lawyers, financial planners and health care providers who have subscribed to be part of the network “dream team,” in each chapter.

“Everyone is welcome at our presentations, but the people that get the most of it are those that have parents in their late sixties,” fellow ALIVE writer Paul Hirsch, who works with Points of Life, states. “Once someone reaches age 70, chances are they will wear down over time and require care in their latter years. Only about one person in 20 dies suddenly at that age.” With innovative skits and songs the Points of Life ensemble use levity to lighten the mood of the audience. With titles such as Help, My Hair’s on Fire, Denial isn’t a River in Egypt and Pushing Up Daisies, the vignettes deal with difficult topics in a light hearted, yet sensitive, manner.

There’s something to be said for dealing with the heavy topics of aging, illness and death with a laugh. “Often times the people in attendance come ins with a heavy heart. We try and help lighten the mood so that after the ninety minute presentation they will engage with our team of experts there to answer questions show,” says Paul. The company’s mission is to help of families plan for life’s stages so they can retain and control their lifestyle. Medicare will cover a person’s hospital stay and rehab, but not the “at home” care, which can be very costly often times running $8,000 to-$10,000 a month. Children of failing parents often aren’t prepared to cover these expenses out of pocket.

“As our parents live longer, they inevitably run into more medical issues. This often translates to family financial pressure. With no plan in place, families will run into a myriad of problems, stress and anxiety,”, Richard says. Richard personally screens all interested professionals and selects who will ultimately make up that county’s chapter. “Most of our experts come through referrals and recommendations, but now we’re starting to get highly qualified people to approach us.”

Being the executor of my parent’s estate gave me the ability to handle necessary matters when they grew ill and passed away just four years apart in the 1990s. However, being in my early thirties, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. A living trust is a great place to start, but there are so many issues that come up related to various levels of care, hospitalization, hospice, funerals, finances and family dynamics that are tested during a difficult time. I relied on friends who had lost parents when questions came up or decisions needed to be made. Having access to a resource such as Points of Life would have made my life easier. Having been there, Richard Wexler is trying to help make an emotional time for families easier and more manageable.

Points of Life’s presentations are often held at schools, churches, senior centers and hospitals. A schedule of upcoming performances can be found on their website at www.pointsoflife.org.

4 Vital Secrets to “Stress-Less” Holidays

December 4, 2011 by Trina Swerdlow Leave a Comment

Have you noticed that combining unrealistically high expectations with the chaotic pressure of the season is a “perfect recipe” to create holiday stress? In addition, when insecurities are stirred into the mix of our holiday behaviors, the natural joyful flavor of the season…often soggily sinks to the bottom.

Can you relate? I sure can. Unfortunately, the holidays can escalate our stress levels—especially if we allow our own competitive (or perfectionist behaviors) to take over. Meanwhile, when we succumb to these stress-generating modes, we act out our insecurities and our vulnerabilities.

Furthermore, when we relentlessly push ourselves to check off tasks from our mile-long “to-do” lists—we often end up with intense holiday exhaustion that prevent us from enjoying (or appreciating) the moment. In this way, we transform a holiday—an uplifting celebratory event—into an exhausting drama!

So, now that we’ve illuminated the shadow side of the season (and hopefully clarified how we don’t want to spend our holidays), let’s focus on how we can create what we do want. Here are my 4 Vital Secrets to Stress-Less Holidays.

~ Mindfully G.I.V.E. ~

The acronym G.I.V.E. is an invitation to trade in holiday exhaustion for holiday exhilaration. This concept came to me during a recent morning meditation and it can serve as a reminder that… Generous Intentions = Vital Energy.

G: Generous

I: Intentions

V: Vital

E: Energy

Okay, let’s explore the individual aspects of G.I.V.E. now:

G: Practice opening your heart to an attitude of GENEROUS abundance.

When you open to a sense of generous abundance you shift away from scarcity thinking, such as: there aren’t enough positive resources—like attention, love, or joy—to go around. If you practice embracing sincere generosity, then you align yourself…with free-flowing abundance.

I: Ask yourself, what is my INTENTION for:

Buying (or making) a gift for someone?

Creating (or attending) a celebratory event?

First, notice if your intentions include perfectionist tendencies or being overly concerned with, “What will people think?” If you identify these stress-generating intentions, then remember that you can’t control what anyone else thinks. So, consider focusing your energies on what you can control.

Next, clarify and connect with positive intentions. For example, when it comes to gift giving: “I’m buying a gift for my brother to express love and care. I don’t need to compete with other family members by spending more than I can afford.”

And, when it comes to attending a celebratory event: “I’m going to my friend’s holiday party to connect with people I care about and to have fun. I don’t need to impress anyone to feel okay about myself.”

After clarifying your intentions toward various holiday activities (especially the ones that feel stressful), spend a few minutes jotting down your thoughts on paper. While writing, invite your own supportive wisdom to flow.

V: Nurture your VITAL needs. Maintaining your needs is essential year round—and crucial to create “stress-less” holidays. For example, remember these basic daily needs and:

Breathe deeply and slowly…to calm yourself (especially while sitting in holiday traffic)

Keep yourself well-hydrated (even at the mall)

Exercise regularly (according to your doctor’s recommendations)

Eat balanced, healthy meals (avoid skipping meals and increasing “overly zealous” holiday snacking)
Make time to receive lots of nourishing sleep (savor those z-zzz’s)

E: Honor the natural ebb and flow of your ENERGY during the holiday season. So, if you need a break while shopping, decorating your home, or cooking, then listen to your body and momentarily hit the “pause button.” Then, head for a café (or your kitchen table), sit down, and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. On the other hand, if you’re home, consider taking a short nap. The good news is—resting, regrouping, and recharging leads to increased positive mind/body energy.

Finally, you might want to keep these 4 Vital Secrets to Stress-Less Holidays in mind as you G.I.V.E. to yourself and others. Then, invite in the exhilarating gift of Generous Intentions = Vital Energy. My best to you as you consciously create…a stress-less and play-more holiday!

Join Trina and attend her upcoming Walnut Creek workshop for women and men: Managing Emotional and Compulsive Eating—John Muir Women’s Health Center: Monday, December 19, 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost: $40 (Includes Weight Loss: 2-CD set). Seats are limited—register today for this inspiring workshop: (925) 941-7900 option 3. For more info, go to www.TrinaSwerdlow.com & click on “Private Sessions & Workshops.”

Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal: Meditate and Journal Your Way to Better Health. Trina has a private practice in downtown Danville. She soulfully shares her creative approach to personal growth and passionately supports her clients in reaching their goals. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com.

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.