Children Getting into the Spirit of Christmas
Cold weather didn't dampen the festive spirit at Alamo's tree lighting. The annual tree lighting festivities Sunday evening was attended by well over 200 people, including little wide-eyed youngsters anxious to tell Santa their Christmas wishes. One little girl was overheard to tell Santa her desires for computer equipment.
After the officials thanked dozens and dozens of volunteer workers and merchants that supplied all the free food and refreshments, high school and grade school choral groups sparked a lot of smiles and support from the crowd. Individual lady singers also presented Christmas carols to an appreciative audience.
Several local and county police officers along with three fire units managed traffic control for the large amount of pedestrian traffic crossing Danville Boulevard.
All during the festivities, people manning the twenty some tables were busy handing out food and drink, along with two tables dedicated to entertaining youngsters with craft activities.
This was a fun time for all.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Alamo Tree Lighting
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
PG&E Offers Safe and Better Way to Light up Your Holidays
SAN FRANCISCO – Thanksgiving Day weekend signaled the time when people began to decorate homes and trees for the holidays. Holiday lights bring joy to the season, but they can also bring hazards and added costs to your energy bill. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) encourages customers to stay safe and save energy this holiday season by offering the following tips.
Holiday Lighting Safety and Energy Efficiency Tips
- Look up and live! Before stringing outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines. Never place yourself or any object in a position where you or it may come in contact with a power line—the result can be fatal. Look up before raising ladders or other objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines.
- Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven't grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees and even the ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power lines.
- Make sure lights used to decorate the outside of the house are approved for outdoor use. Never use indoor lights outdoors.
- Follow the manufacturer's limits for the number of light strings that can safely be connected together.
- Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation, or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires. Discard damaged sets of lights.
- Route cords inside your home so they won't trip anyone. Don't place them under rugs, furniture, or other appliances. If covered, cords can overheat or become frayed, increasing the risk of fire.
- Always turn off decorative lights—indoors and outdoors—when leaving the house and before going to bed.
- Do not place your tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks.
- Purchase energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights. LED lights can reduce energy consumption as much as 90% over traditional holiday lights and can burn brightly for over 100,000 hours.
- In addition to being shatterproof and shock resistant, LED lights produce almost no heat, making them safe to touch and greatly reducing the risk of fire.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to 15 million people in northern and central California. For more information, please visit www.pge.com.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Holiday Hugs Care Package Donation Drive Pleasanton
Nan Fuchs
Air Force Mom
Care Package Co-Chairmom
San Francisco East Bay Blue Star Moms
925-648-1549
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Gallery Event to Help Fund School Arts Programs
One goal of the Alamo Danville Artists Society (ADAS) is to create art and make it available to the community through the Pioneer Art Gallery in downtown Danville.
Another objective is to help fund arts education in the schools. Now the gallery's members have combined these two objectives by providing an opportunity for the community to purchase original art without breaking the bank.
For three days in late November, more than 20 local artists will be offering at least 100 original works to the public for $100 per work or less. This event represents a great opportunity to find gifts for the art-lovers in your life, or to supplement your own collection.
Ten percent of all sales will go directly to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District for the schools' art programs.
The "100 for $100" event will take place at the Pioneer Art Gallery, 524 Hartz Avenue, Danville, at the following times:
November 28, noon-9:00 P.M.
November 29, 9:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.
November 30 noon-5:00 P.M.
Gallery members invite the community to come to the event, enjoy art, music, and refreshments, and best of all, help support school arts programs.
For more information, contact www.adas4art.org
Alamo Danville Artist Society
522 Hartz Avenue
Danville, California
Regular Gallery Hours:
Friday 5–9 PM, Saturday 11 AM—7 PM, Sunday 1-5 PM
View Larger Map
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Hats Off America 10K Run 5K Run/Walk
13th Hats Off America Red T-Shirt 10K Run/5K Run or Walk
--Founder Sparky George of San Ramon has run 10,500 miles since September 2002 to honor memory of fallen soldiers--
Come and join Sparky George, the Bear Flag Runner and an old Marine, at the 13th Hats Off America Red T-Shirt 10K Run/5K Walk on Saturday, November 8 beginning at 10 a.m. at Sycamore Valley Park, 2101 Holbrook Drive, Danville, rain or shine. Entry fee is $35 per person. There is no entry fee for volunteers. All runners and volunteers will receive a red t-shirt, and lunch donated by El Balazo Restaurant.
Hats Off America will send a check for $3,000 to the Gold Star Arroyave family, bringing the total to $11,100. See their story at www.hatsoffamerica.us.
Founder Sparky George, owner of Classic Auto Restoraton and Repair in San Ramon, has run 10,500 miles since September 2002 to honor the memory of fallen soldiers. Sparky has been running six miles a night, five nights a week, with a five-pound weight pack since September 15, 2002 and has run 10,500 miles (by the run date)and counting for Hats Off America, a non-profit organization that raises money and awareness for the families of soldiers who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
El Balazo, four years, Domenico's and Danville Advertising are HOA sponsors.
Ten Hats Off America fundraising events are held each year and include Hats Off America 10K Run/5K Walk on September 6, 2008, November 8, 2008, February 7, 2009 and June 6, 2009; 6th Annual Casino Night, March 21, 2009 and the 6th Annual Car Show, May 16/17, 2009.
For information or to register or volunteer, contact Sparky George at (925) 855-1950 or thebearflagrunner@yahoo.com The site includes links to other organizations that support our troops. Hats Off America is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
Hats Off America, Americans taking care of American families.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tri-Valley Clay Figure Sculpting Classes
Adam Reeder, an accomplished Bay Area Figure Sculptor, will be teaching clay figure sculpting classes to members of the Tri-Valley community.
Adam, who has a studio in San Francisco, but lives in San Ramon, has been a figure sculptor for 10 years.
His recent accomplishments include:
- 1st Place Figure Sculpture in the Academy of Art 2008 Spring Show
- Juried into the National Sculpture Societies 2008 Figure Sculpture Competition
- Juried into the Loveland Colorado Annual Sculpture Invitational 2008
"There are very few people who teach figure sculpting, and I want to be able to share my love of sculpting with others," Adam said. Adam focuses on sculpting people, both male and female. He specializes in sculpting realistic form with accurate anatomy and proportions.
Adam has been asked by many to teach classes and share his love of figure sculpting with the community. He has decided to start a few classes in the East Bay.
Adam's recent sculpting work can be viewed at www.adamreeder.com
The classes will be held on:
Monday nights from 6-8:30 starting Oct. 20th at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore. Located at: 2466 Eighth St., Livermore, CA, 94551
And
Tuesdays from 6-8:30 starting Oct. 14th at Tri Valley Monart in Pleasanton. Located at: 3015 Hopyard Rd # I, Pleasanton, CA
The classes will continue indefinitely. The cost of the classes are $30 per class.
For now, the classes are for adults 18 and older.
Adam is also working on setting up classes in Danville and San Ramon beginning in the spring and winter of 2009.
If you are interested in learning more about clay figure sculpting and taking a hands-on class, but don't see the times or locations that would work for your schedule, please contact Adam for more information.
Times and locations are subject to change, so please call or email Adam ahead of time to register for the class.
His number is 801-671-6994
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Learn The ABCs of Starting a Business
SBDC Presents Pre- Venture Training - For those who are thinking of Starting a Business. Learn the ABCs before you begin . . .
What: The Contra Costa Small Business Development Center presents "Pre-Venture Training" - a 3-week entrepreneurial training program that helps you gather your thoughts and organize your ideas before you start.
Pre-Venture Training focuses on what it takes to be an entrepreneur and to be your own boss. Classes are hands-on with real world instruction that includes presentations, individual and group work sessions, group discussions.
The goals of the Pre-Venture Training Program are to:
- Assist you in developing your business idea.
- Introduce you to the business plan and the planning process.
- Provide you with a collaborative and interactive learning environment.
- Present business education as it applies to your small businesses.
- Encourage networking opportunities
- Facilitate the start of your profitable business.
When: Three Wednesdays: November 5th, 12th & 19th; 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Cost: $59 for all three sessions.
For more information, please call the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at 925-646-5377
The Contra Costa Small Business Development Center is a partnership program with the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) and is co-sponsored by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County, City of Pittsburg, Antioch, Contra Costa County and Walnut Creek Community Development Block Grants.
Website: www.ContraCostaSBDC.com
