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Your skin—almost 20 square feet—is the window into your body. The skin is the largest most visible organ of the body and reflects the status of your overall health. It is the first line of defense against disease, infection, and other environmental factors. It helps control body temperature, reflects your health, and plays a vital role in your appearance.

Diagnosing and managing conditions of the skin, hair, and nails is the lifelong passion of a Dermatologist who knows that when something’s going wrong on the inside, the first place it often shows up is on the outside. If you are overworked, run down, fatigued, and your skin is pale and dry, you could have any number of health conditions that your dermatologist can often spot before your family doctor.

So, if you have an itch, a rash, or something weird going on with your skin, it could be your body’s way of telling you to take a closer look. Most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. But a skin condition that’s severe or just does not go away with home treatment is a signal to check with an expert.

Here are some health secrets that your skin cannot hide from your dermatologist.

Secret #1: An Overall Itch Can Signal Internal Trouble

Among the causes of severe itching are anemia, liver or kidney problems, drug reactions and allergies, or even internal cancer. Such problems affect everyone from newborns to great-great-grandparents, and being healthy is fundamental regardless of your age. Itching can be treated but it is also important to look further and address diet, exercise, overdue mammogram or colonoscopy, blood pressure, and other imbalances in health and wellness.

Secret #2: Hair Loss in Women

Dermatologists treat problems with one’s hair and nails too. One frequent complaint:  Hair loss that continues for months or even years. It’s almost an epidemic among women. In postmenopausal women, it often turns out that their ratio of androgens (often referred to a “male” hormone, even though they’re present and play a role in both men and women) to estrogens (“female” hormones) increases. And when higher levels of androgens are circulating in women, hair loss is a common, early symptom.

The good news, this type of hair loss is often temporary. You may not regain your hair’s full volume, but there are many simple cosmetic ways and products to make the hair look thicker. And for more serious loss, dermatologists also recommend topical solution minoxidil 5% and a newer technique called platelet-rich-plasma therapy (PRP).

PRP requires a small amount of your blood and a machine then separates the red blood cells and plasma. This platelet-rich -plasma (PRP) is then injected into the scalp to encourage growth of the hair follicles. The procedure takes just about 30 minutes and uses your own growth cells to stimulate the production of new hair without the worry of allergic reaction. You will return for repeated injection based on your particular needs and response.

Unfortunately, in some cases, other health conditions might be at play. The American Academy of Dermatology counts some 30 diseases that can cause hair loss, including thyroid disease and anemia. The first thing we do is test your blood to check hormone and thyroid levels and we may also check for levels of ferritin, which shows how much iron your body is storing. If it’s low, that’s likely causing hair loss. After taking iron supplements the shedding usually stops. As always, before taking any new medications, let your doctor know about any prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, or supplements you take.

Secret #3: Unsightly Skin Growths May Be More Than Age Spots

New skin growths are common after age 55, and many are harmless. Skin tags, for example, are flesh-colored growths that look like a soft fold of skin. They’re rarely harmful, but if they frequently get caught on your clothes or jewelry, they can be removed.

Another common issue: seborrheic keratoses, which are scaly, wart-like growths on your face, chest, shoulders or back that vary in color from light tan to brown or black. Like skin tags, if seborrheic keratoses get irritated from your clothes they can be removed safely.

The challenge: It is difficult for a layperson to distinguish between harmless and harmful growths. One sign you should call your dermatologist is a sudden appearance of new growths or any growth that appears to be changing. Any growth on your body that changes in size, color, or shape, could turn out to be melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer.

Secret #4: Cracked, Dry Skin Can Reveal a Serious Health Problem

This is something that hits almost everyone in the dead of winter. But if it lasts well into spring or if you don’t usually experience dry skin, this could be a sign of a more serious health problem. If it also becomes itchy, painful or even bleeding it could be a sign of an underlying problem, including diabetes, kidney disease, or underactive thyroid. All these conditions impact your body’s ability to stay hydrated and maintain healthy moisture levels. As a first step, try drinking more water and massaging a thick, oil-based cream moisturizer into your skin. If that doesn’t help, it may be the warning signal that gets you into our office for a full checkup.

Secret #5: Skin Discolorations Could Mean You’re Missing Key Nutrients

Sometimes, people experience a dusky yellowish change in the color of their skin. You might even see a little yellowing in the whites of your eyes. This can be a sign of dehydration or a vitamin deficiency. Your skin cells count on a steady diet of water and a full range of vitamins—including A, B12, C, E, and K for a healthy complexion. Feeling pretty good about your eating habits and water intake? Sallow skin can also be a sign of jaundice, hepatitis or gallstones. And yellow nails could indicate a bacterial or fungal infection. Your skin could be discolored even before you have any other internal symptoms. So, if your color looks “off,” your next call should be to your dermatologist.

It makes sense to trust something as important as your skin to an expert with years of experience. A Board-Certified Dermatologist MD is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD). Many MDs call themselves dermatologists or cosmetic skin care specialists, but do not have the extra years of training and national testing required to achieve FAAD.

Advanced Laser & Skin Care Center provides full service cosmetic and medical dermatology for the entire family in a conveniently located spa-like environment.

While I was growing up, we moved a lot. Not far mind you—just from town to town, throughout Contra Costa County. Between birth and age eighteen, our family lived in Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Martinez, and Concord.

As for school, I attended Kindergarten at Oak Park Elementary in Pleasant Hill (no longer there), first grade at Happy Valley in Lafayette, second and third grades at Walnut Heights in Walnut Creek, fourth and fifth at Rancho Romero in Alamo, sixth at Vista Grande in Danville, seventh at Los Cerros in Danville, eighth at Valley View in Pleasant Hill (we lived in Martinez then), and all four years of high school at Las Lomas in Walnut Creek. In case you weren’t counting, that’s eight different schools.

Why all the moves? My mom. She’s always been a “grass is greener over there” person. Even after I moved away from home, my parents continued moving to other places even farther away, including Angel’s Camp, Jamestown, Murphy’s, Arnold, and Gardnerville, Nevada. And after my dad passed away in 1995, mom continued exploring, adding Altaville, Avery, and Westpoint, California, as well as Wyoming, Las Vegas, and even the Virgin Islands, to her resume.     

One of the—I suppose you could say “benefits”—of moving so often, was that we kept things cleaned-out. In fact, I realized later in life that my mom wasn’t, and isn’t still, what one would call a “sentimental person.” She threw stuff out. There are no gold star-laden tests, hand-print turkey posters, or macaroni collages cluttering up her closet. I think she does still have a resin “diamond” necklace that I made in fourth grade for her, but not much else that I know of. Even family photos weren’t off limits, as I once had to intervene when I found her tossing Kodak prints into the fireplace because we “had too many photos.”

Another benefit of moving so often was I learned to become fast friends (I mean “fast” as in “quickly”) with anyone next to me, whether sitting in class or otherwise. If you’re a parent wondering how best to accelerate your kids’ relationship skills, just yank them out of school every year and deposit them in amongst a new set of classroom chums. It’s a sink or swim experience to be sure, but fortunately, I managed to stay afloat long enough in the early years, to then develop the strokes necessary to carry me the entire distance.

I can imagine some perhaps reading this, thinking, “How awful; what insensitive  parents!” I believe, today, making kids change schools is generally avoided at all costs. Afterall, they might be traumatized; they might not be able to handle it!

Seriously, if you’re a parent who is perhaps dealing with making decisions about your kids changing schools, take a deep breath and relax. My parents never seemed concerned about moving and school changes, so while I may have been a tad bothered by it, I certainly wasn’t “traumatized” by the experience. They didn’t make it a big deal, so it wasn’t one to me, either. In fact, looking back on it, I’d say it was all a net-plus.

To this day, I love meeting and getting to know people, and enjoy conversations with just about anyone. Yeah, my wife, Peggy, rolls her eyes all the time because now I’m that (old) guy who talks to grocery clerks, waiters and waitresses, shoppers in line, or the guy (or woman) in the car next to me at the gas station.

Are you moving again? Are your kids facing a new class full of strangers? 

Just throw ‘em in. They’ll do just fine.

Hear me, my chiefs. Please, hear me wise elder Indian woman. Hear me young Indian braves and mighty warriors. Hear me beautiful young Indian maiden. And most of all, hear me all young red children and our ancestors alike.

For long now we had struggled. For so long now we have been oppressed. For too long now, like the land, like all the Creator’s gifts, we have been ravaged by rage. Ravaged by rage so dastardly, so cowardly, so defiantly, that at times it seems that we have been turned into nothing but the dirt of the land. That a polished America would rather close its eyes and turn its head, so as not to see the red ones like you and me; like the ashes that fall to the ground as we dance and burn the sacred Sage.

Hear me now, my red sisters and brethren alike. Hear me as I say to you, that we must now make our point and take a stand. We must make our voices heard—loud, strong and clear—and not just wave our hands, with our fingers in the air.

Please. Hear me, my red family, as I say once again, that we must be loud enough to be heard, by not only ourselves but also by those in charge—the government men, who they themselves, do not know, but who are all but a group of ignorant, un-compassionate, robotic, workshop elves.

Hear me, all government men and ladies alike, and those who stand unjustly in the shadows as well. For 525 years you have beguiled, tattered, slammed, and battered us—our women, our children, and our Mother Earth, the land itself.

Maybe, if you felt as American Indians, Mr. Government Man, after all you have done to shame and disparage us; sent here to do all that you have done, in the form or by the existence of the Creator’s hand, then, and only then, maybe we would understand.

But as we see it, all you have come here to do with us and the land, as accorded by your ruling hand, is what must be a part of the devil’s grand plan and evil brand.

So please hear me, Mr. Government Man, as we ask you when—when will you one-day wake up from your demonic sleep, to see us as red-skinned, red-blooded Americans, not as problematic, abominations of nature, but literally as your fellow man? Hear me, ALL people. Please, hear me!                                                                

When you think of a musical instrument one does not necessarily think about its size. However, one of the largest instruments is the traditional pipe organ. Obviously, it’s not the small organ found in many homes, but the massive instrument found in many churches and auditoriums.

The theatre organ, a close cousin of the pipe organ, is an even larger, more massive instrument than its cousin. The theatre organ is a musical instrument phenomenon of the early 20^th century.

Ancient origins of the organ date to circa 250 BC. The main developments occurred between the 14^th and 18^th centuries with many newer innovations in the 19^th century. Interestingly, the organ was basically the only instrument not prohibited by the church in the Dark Ages. 

The Theatre Organ

The theatre organ would not have existed without the advent of motion pictures and the impressive buildings where they were shown. Theatre organs were used for Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies. One can readily see how important the theatre organ was to the budding motion picture industry. The organ and its various components brought excitement and created a sense of realism to the silent images portrayed on the screen.

Some of the theatres were known as “movie palaces” or a “cathedral of motion pictures.” Since early films were silent, music was needed to enhance the drama on the screen. Musicians were hired and in the larger venues a full orchestra was used. However, in smaller houses only a few musicians were needed and just one was often hired in many theatres.

An instrument was needed to take the place of an orchestra or small ensemble—enter the theatre organ. There was also an economic factor in the equation;  it was more economical to hire only one musician rather than many in an orchestra.

At first the traditional pipe organ was used but that proved inadequate. With new innovations, the pipe organ was adapted to achieve the desired purposes that better suited the action on the screen.

Builders: The new renovations to the pipe organ were the brain-child of English inventor, Robert Hope-Jones. Many of his innovations were done in England. When he arrived in America, he partnered with German immigrant Rudolph Wurlitzer and his company in New York. Hope-Jones ideas were brought to fruition with Wurlitzer and the resulting instrument was called the “Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra,” that became the “Mighty Wurlitzer.” This instrument was a one-man substitute for the orchestra.

            Unfortunately, because of differences with the Wurlitzer Company, in 1914 Hope-Jones committed suicide. His ideas and inventions went on to markedly influence the building of theatre organs. The Wurlitzer Company continued to expand, and it became the largest maker of theatre organs in the world.

Other manufactures were: Bartola Company in Wisconsin; Robert Morton Company in California; Marr and Colton Company in New York and the Page Organ Company in Ohio. Builders of church and pipe organs also built theatre organs in the teens and the 1920s. Many theatre organs were installed in sports arenas, civic buildings and churches. Many were electric powered in the 1920s and 1930s.

Organ Components: There are characteristics that distinguish a theatre organ from a traditional pipe organ in a church or concert hall. In small venues and private homes, the components are all housed in a self-contained enclosure. In larger venues the components were installed in various spaces in the building. The console was visible near the stage. The other components were usually not seen.

The horseshoe shaped console consists of two, three or more manuals (keyboards); a semicircle of “tongue-shaped” stop tabs, like knobs you pull, and a foot pedal board played by the feet, plus many other buttons and pedals that control the swell shutters and other mechanics. The console is often positioned on a lift or elevator in front of the theatre screen.

The relay controls the “brains” of the instrument. When keys or stops, are activated, electronic signals direct the correct pipes and other components to sound the pitches.

The blower is a fan that directs the air to blow through the pipes. It also provides the air to sound the pneumatically operated instruments (traps). The blower also operates the swell-shutters and pistons that change many stops. The wind chest is a wood container that houses the pressurized air from the blower.

A set of pipes is known as a “rank of pipes.” Most ranks contain 60 to 70 pipes. The size of the organ determines the number of ranks- small organs have three or four ranks; large organs can have over 50 ranks and 3,000 to 4,000 pipes. Pitch is determined by the size of a pipe. Some pipes are smaller than a pencil. The lowest bass pipe in a large instrument is about 32 feet in length. The differences in pipe size can be enormous.

The traps are real percussion instruments including piano, xylophone, glockenspiel, orchestra bells, and cymbals, among others. These instruments are in pipe chambers. They are actuated from the console and sound by pneumatic action. Beaters are located above the percussion instruments. All the drums, both snare and bass, are activated in the same way.

Other sound effects like sirens, horns, whistles, sleigh bells and bird calls are all sounded from the console. Sometimes miles of electrical and wind lines are used for all components of the organ.

Many of the traps and components are at various distances from each other. One example is the organ in New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The Wurlitzer Organ, installed in 1932, has 56 ranks – and is the largest original Wurlitzer installation. This one organ has more wiring than all of Rockefeller Center.

There are many large theatre organs located in various parts of the country. Locally, one can hear an authentic theatre organ concert on the Spreckels Organ, at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor Art Museum, at Lincoln Park in San Francisco.

Are you interested in playing the organ?

Before you can learn to play the organ, most teachers will advise you to study the piano for at least a year. The challenges involved in learning the organ—using the keyboards and foot pedals, plus learning to read the musical scores—makes learning this instrument difficult. One must be dedicated to master the organ.

Many thanks to Professor Donald Plondke, organist, pianist and vocalist, for his contribution to the research for this article.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danville.org  for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.  

I recently found a gem—a South African Diamond—so to speak.  I’m not sure where it was, or me for that matter in the last ten years, but there it was in my local library ready for me to “discover.” Invictus is a film that I can’t say loudly enough, is not to be missed! It was given to us by producer-director Clint Eastwood, and let me say, it is a gift to humanity. 

This story is a little slice of the life of Nelson Mandela taken from his book, Playing the Enemy. Mandela is played brilliantly by Morgan Freeman. Apartheid is over but definitely not forgotten, and Mandela shows up for his first day as president of the Union of South Africa to find the “whites” from the former government packing up their offices in boxes and leaving—an assumption. Mandela calls a staff meeting and tells them they are not fired and that if they feel like they can work with him, he would like them to stay. As expected, most leave but a few faithful South Africans choose to stay, some his personal bodyguards. 

Creating a new government-based on a different mindset was, as expected, virtually impossible, made even more so with his hope of inclusivity. I dare say most expected him to toss out the old and bring in the new. In retrospect, from a world apart that would have just been another coup, another transfer of power, where eventually the power would probably have shifted back and forth forever. Nelson Mandela had something different in mind. This story, told through a quite different lens, was a turning point.

Springbok Rugby in South Africa was primarily a “whites” sport. The “blacks” preferred soccer. Mandela approached the Captain of the Springboks, Francois Piennar (Matt Damon), with the challenge of actually winning the Rugby World Cup in 1995, the year after he took office. Francois saw Mandela’s vision of unification and took up the challenge, pulling his team together, working them mercilessly until the last drop of blood, sweat, and tears. 

Invictus is brilliantly acted and insightfully directed. It should have swept the Oscars, but if you recall, there was a lot going on in the United States during that time. 

Nelson Mandela died in 2013. Seventy countries were represented at his memorial services, including four United States Presidents. If this review and film does nothing more than peak your curiosity enough to do a little more research about this brilliant man who spent 27 years in a tiny jail cell for the freedom and equality he believed in, I have made a difference here.   

 A Rugged Subcompact SUV!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Jeep?” Is it when Radar on the hit TV show, M.A.S.H, sent an entire Jeep home, piece by piece, or is it the ruggedness and off-road, all-terrain ability that is synonymous with the word “Jeep?” Either way, both thoughts are correct and amusing.

For kicks and giggles, I once drove a Jeep up the rocky side of a mountain! Okay, perhaps, it was a hill, but it was rated a #5 on the off-roading scale, and it scared the heck out of me. My point is, Jeeps are extremely capable and do not need a road, or even a path, to get you to your destination. There are many models in the Jeep stable and one of them is the 2019 Compass that has earned the boasted “Trail-Rated” title that gives it street cred or in this case, off-street cred!

Pricing and Trims
The 2019 Jeep Compass is available in five trim levels: Sport 2WD ($22,790), Latitude 2WD ($26,090), Altitude 2WD ($27,410), Limited 2WD ($29,290), and Trailhawk 4WD ($30,290).

What’s new for 2019?
The Sport models are available with the optional Upland special edition package that includes 17-inch Trailhawk wheels, front Trailhawk fascia with Matte Black tow hooks, front suspension skid plate, Gloss Black grille with black rings, fog lamp bezels and badges, Gloss Black roof, silver anodized interior accents, bright chrome exhaust tip and Trailhawk all-weather mats.

A new High Altitude Appearance package is available on the Limited models that includes 19-inch Satin Gloss Granite wheels, Uconnect 8.4-inch infotainment center with navigation, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with signature LED light, LED tail lamps, Satin Gloss Granite grille surrounds, “Altitude” badging, Gloss Black roof and deep-tint glass, anodized gunmetal interior finishes, and tungsten interior stitching.

Interior Highpoints
The 2019 Jeep Compass states that it seats five, with two in the front and three in the back. Like most vehicles of this size, the person sitting in the middle in the back seat will not be the most comfortable. That said, all will experience plenty of head room. With the rear seats up, the Compass provides 27.2 cubic feet of cargo room and 59.8 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down. I found that the interior materials to be soft and comfortable with easy access to all of the tech elements and general buttons and knobs. The Compass Sport is equipped with a 3.5-inch black and white digital driver’s display and a standard 7-inch touchscreen that runs Jeep’s Uconnect 4 infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.

Exterior Highlights
The 2019 Compass borrows heavily from its larger siblings: the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, which includes  wearing the same Seven-Slot Grille. The Compass has smooth lines while still projecting a rugged look. The Trailhawk models deliver a tougher feel with different front and rear bumpers for better clearance and red tow hooks, plus beefier tires. 

Performance Specs
A 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque mated to a 6-speed manual transmission or an available 9-speed automatic transmission. The Compass is available in both 2WD and Jeep’s Active 4WD drive system that operates much like an all-wheel drive setup.

Cool Features:

• Rugged Trailhawk option
  
  
• Respectable fuel economy
  
  

Safety & Integrity
The 2019 Jeep Compass earned the IIHS “Good” scores and a “Superior” score for its optional front-crash prevention for the small crossover SUV category. In the federal test it didn’t perform as well producing a marginally low rating of four-stars for overall scoring and a very low three-stars for rollover. Jeep does offer active safety features including forward-collision warnings with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors (except on the base version) blind-spot monitors, rearview camera, traction control, and 7 airbags.

In Summary                                                                                                                                                        The Jeep Compass was last redesigned in 2017 and for 2019 offers a handsome vehicle both inside and out at an affordable price point. It may not be as off-road ready as some of its other Jeep family members, but Jeep made sure it was more rugged and off-road capable than most of its compact SUV competitors. Jeep lovers will appreciate the Compass’ design that features a low-priced entry fee.

Specifications.

2019 Jeep Compass High Altitude 4×4

Base price:                 $29,695 as driven: $37,360 (including destination & optional features)

Engine:                       2.4-liter 4-cylinder

Horsepower:             180 hp @ 6,400 rpm

Torque:                      175 lbf-ft @ 3,900 rpm

Transmission:            9-Speed Automatic  

Drive:                          4WD

Seating:                       5-passenger

Cargo space:               27.2/59.8 cubic feet (rear seats up/down)

Curb weight:              3,327 pounds                                   

Ground Clearance:     8.2 inches

Fuel Capacity:             13.5 gallons

Fuel Economy:            22 MPG City, 30 MPG Highway

Wheelbase:                  103.8 inches

Warranty:                    3 years/36,000-miles

Also Consider:            Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Crosstrek,  Toyota RAV4

The idea of “Popular Music” has been around for centuries.  Mozart wrote “pop music.”  His works were successful among the populace in the 1780s and are still hummed now.  Billboard Magazine was founded in 1894 and Billboard’s Hot 100 still reflects the most popular music of today in America.  Let’s get a little nostalgic with pop music of recent decades, going back in time…

1)“Chasing Cars” is considered the most popular song of the 21^st century.  It has had more radio play than any other song and spent hundreds of weeks on various charts throughout the world. Name the Irish-Scottish band that had this 2006 massive hit.

2)  In the 1980s Michael Jackson was the “King of Pop.”  But there were two Queens, both with seven # 1 Hot 100 records in the decade. Name these two pop divas.

3)  Speaking of, the song “Pop Muzik” was a robotic homage to pop music of the previous 25 years.  Name the single-lettered British artist to hit # 1 in 1979 with “Pop Muzik.”

4)  There was no band more popular in 1964 than The Beatles. On April 4^th they held all five of the Top 5 spots on the Billboard chart.  How many of the five can you name?

5)  The very definition of popular music is Francis Albert Sinatra. Frank recorded his first # 1 album in 1946, appropriately titled “The Voice of Frank Sinatra.” What record label released his early hits?

6)  What item contributed to the rise of popular music in the 1930s?  This item was heavily advertised in Billboard Magazine.  Hint: Not a radio.

This is the month when magazines, newspapers, and foodie websites bestow valuable space to inspirational menus for the perfect Thanksgiving. My advice is to forget perfection: just make food that tastes good. Your family has been looking forward to this meal. Any innovative dish that requires herculean efforts should be reserved for a less stressful day. No one will be disappointed if eggs aren’t suspended in aspic and your turkey is not encased in puff pastry.

Equally important, not every dish needs to be dripping in butter, drowning in dairy products, or buried under a shroud of molten marshmallows. Simply roasted Brussels sprouts or winter squash—or steamed veggies like green beans or broccoli—can be equally festive, and are a welcome diversion from all the rich side dishes associated with the day.

Whether you’re the harried host or a lucky guest on November 28, the Danville farmers’ market has a plethora of products to elevate every aspect of the meal. Fill your shopping basket with voluptuous pears; bright and shiny persimmons; plump pomegranates; tiny kumquats; moist raisins; this year’s crop of walnuts; truckloads of apples; all the basics for farm-fresh salads, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes…and unbelievable deals on just-picked flowers.

Since “yam” is a misnomer commonly applied to the sweet potato, the age-old confusion over the difference between the two seems to resurface this time each year. So here’s the dirt:

Real yams are starchy tropical tubers—often one to four feet long—and rarely seen outside of obscure ethnic markets. Chances are you will never encounter one.  

What we see labeled as “yams” are actually a red-skinned variety ofsweet potato. Sweet potatoes ordinaire have a gold-ish-color skin and flesh, and a drier texture inside, similar to a russet potato.

The yam variety of sweet potato (such as Red Garnet and Jewel) has dark, reddish-purple skin and bright orange flesh. All varieties of sweet potatoes are interchangeable in recipes, though most prefer the vibrant color and moist, creamy texture of the yam. So there you have it.

Here’s a make-ahead recipe that would be right at home on any table, any day. It’s as pretty as it is delicious, and the recipe is easily doubled for crowds. And unlike many holiday sweet potato preparations, it’s light, fresh, and healthy.

SWEET POTATO PUREE with ORANGE, GINGER, and POMEGRANATE

4 large red-skinned (yam variety) sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds), scrubbed but not peeled

2 medium oranges

3 to 4 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger, to taste

Salt

Arils (seeds) from 1 pomegranate* (about 1/3 cup), at room temperature

1. Place sweet potatoes in a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, until very soft, about 50 minutes.
2. Grate the zest from 1 orange and chop finely. Halve and juice both oranges, straining out any seeds. (You should have about 2/3 cup juice.)
3. Drain the potatoes in a colander and rinse with cold water; drain again. When just cool enough to handle, peel and cut into large chunks.
4. In a food processor or blender, working in batches if necessary, combine the sweet potato chunks, orange zest, orange juice, and ginger. Process until smooth. Season to taste with salt. Before serving, reheat gently in a saucepan or in the microwave. Transfer to a warmed shallow 1 1/2-quart serving bowl, and scatter pomegranate arils over the top. Makes about 5 ½ cups, to serve 6 to 8.

Cook’s Tip:

* When not handled properly, fresh pomegranates can create a mess, and airborne arils can stain everything in sight. Here’s the right way:

1. Cut a slit in the center of the pomegranate, large enough to insert both of your thumbs. (I also wear latex gloves, when I think of it.)
2. Submerge the pomegranate in a large bowl of cold water.
3. Working underwater, insert your thumbs into the slit and pull the fruit apart into 2 pieces. Use your fingers to loosen the arils from the white membrane within. The arils will float to the surface—rinsed and ready to be lifted out with a fine mesh strainer or your fingers.

• ­­­A Happy Coincidence

I recently returned from a delightful vacation in France. On the first morning, over breakfast at a chateau in Normandy, I discovered that two of the people in our small tour group are diehard fans of ALIVE Magazine. How cool is that? (Bonjour, Valerie and Courtney!)

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

            Please note: Perhaps the following can be placed in a sidebar:

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The Life of Pie

For most of us, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without pie; specifically, pumpkin and/or apple. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for ingredients at the farmers’ market.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins and other winter squash abound at the market. If you’re a purist who eschews anything that comes out of a can, don’t be tempted to buy the biggest pumpkin you can find. Instead, purchase several of a smaller variety (such as Sugar Pie or Cinderella) that are better suited for eating. Also consider buying organic.

Organically-grown pumpkins store better than those that have been force-fed with chemicals, mainly because artificial feeding changes the molecular structure of the vegetable so it takes on more water weight. This is obviously good news for the vendor sitting at a roadside pumpkin patch–selling big ol’ jack-o-lanterns by the pound–but it’s bad news for those of us who are looking for firm, flavorful squash.

And here’s another little factoid to ponder: Some canned “pumpkin” puree is actually made from a blend of one or more types of winter squash, such as butternut, Hubbard, or kabocha. These squash varieties can be less stringy and sweeter, with color richer than actual pumpkin. Because they fall under the same genus, the USDA does not make a distinction for labeling purposes.

There are actually a lot of people who insist butternut squash makes the best “pumpkin” pie!

Apple

Not surprisingly, the quality of apples you use in a pie makes all the difference.

If you think you’ll save money by using sour, wax-coated apples on sale at a supermarket, save yourself some work and just skip the whole process. You’ll be  better off buying a pre-made pie from a reputable baker.

But if you want to treat your family to something special and shop the farmers’ market for tangy, tree-ripened apples such as McIntosh, Rome Beauty, Pink Lady, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or a combination thereof, get ready for some first-class all-American comfort food. It will be the pie everyone wishes their mom had made.

            Thanksgiving is the perfect occasion to explore food and wine pairing. With a wonderfully diverse menu, the traditional Thanksgiving feast presents a multitude of exciting opportunities. However, the wealth of wines available to consumers makes it easy to get overwhelmed. How do you find a wine that will successfully pair with everything? With so many wines on the market today, where on earth do you start?        

            Why not make it simple this year and stick to one incredibly versatile grape? The grape that lives up to such a bold challenge is France’s illustrious Chenin Blanc. The delightful variations of Chenin Blanc are just what you need for a successful and delectable Thanksgiving table.

            From savory to spicy to meaty to vegetal to sweet, if there is a wine grape that can effortlessly compliment everything, surely it is Chenin Blanc. Chenin Blanc is produced in a range of styles, from bone dry to off-dry to lusciously sweet. The wide array of dishes that grace our holiday tables demands wine that will embrace all of the eclectic flavors and textures. Chenin Blanc is the answer.

            A white grape originally from France’s historic and beautiful Loire valley, the wines produced from Chenin Blanc have been a favorite in the chic bistros and restaurants of Paris for centuries. With soft floral and fruit aromas on the nose and flavors of honeycomb, lime, and ripe pear, with zippy acidity on the palate, Chenin Blanc is fine wine at its best.

            Chenin Blanc has great adaptability and can be grown successfully in both cool and hot climates. Chenin Blanc’s naturally high acidity makes it desirable to winemakers, as acidity is one of the keys to a balanced wine. Chenin Blanc was one of the first white grapes to be grown in California in the 19^th century. Unfortunately, in the early days of California, the wines were produced emphasizing quantity rather than quality, and Chenin Blanc was relegated to the dregs of bulk wine production. Its potential for greatness was ignored and Chenin Blanc became known as a cheap jug wine in the United States.

            Today, Chenin Blanc continues to be undervalued in the USA, in spite of the valiant efforts of forward-thinking wine producers. It still battles its jug wine reputation and is easily overshadowed by the more popular chardonnay, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc. Of course, economically, this is to the benefit of the informed consumer.  Due to the low demand, superb imported and domestic Chenin Blanc is available for a song.

            If you’d like a sampling of classic Chenin Blanc from its native land, French Chenin Blanc won’t disappoint. Seek out a sparkling Cremant de La Loire and a crisp, dry Savennieres. Vouvray and Montlouis are spectacular off-dry wines that will add finesse to your table. Try a sweet, unctuous dessert wine from Coteaux du Layon with your pumpkin pie. You may never go back to coffee!

            The popularity of domestic Chenin Blanc is rising and many small producers in California are making well-crafted Chenin Blanc with aplomb. The grape is rising to new heights of excellence. If you prefer to serve American wine for this American holiday, don’t hesitate to pick up a few bottles of delicious Chenin Blanc from fine California boutique winemakers. Excellent producers can be found in Santa Barbara, Mendocino, Sierra Foothills, and the Central Coast. Delight in the bounty of Chenin Blanc!

            Happy Thanksgiving! And cheers!