Send announcements of your special events, club or organizational meetings, grand openings, fund raisers, celebrity appearances, to contact@sanramonobserver.org.  We shall provide free listings to all qualified announcements.  No commercial listings please.

Scroll down to see continuing events, needs, and opportunities.

Online Encyclopedia Now Available

The Contra Costa County Library is pleased to announce the addition of the World Book Online Reference Center to our growing collection of electronic resources available 24/7.  This comprehensive site includes all the articles from the 22-volume print set, plus thousands of more, with state-of-the-art multimedia, maps, editor-reviewed Web sites, and more.  Also included are World Book Kids, and the Spanish-Language Encyclopedia (Estudiantil Hallazhgos en Linea).

Highlights of World Book Online include:

·         Accurate, authoritative, easy to read articles from The World Book Encyclopedia, plus related articles from major newspapers and magazines (over 40,000 encyclopedia and reference articles).

·         Extensive graphic and multimedia enhancements, including photographs, maps, illustrations, tables, animations, and audio/video clips.

·         Special Reports that broaden and deepen coverage for selected topics.

·         Back in Time, a captivating, you-are-there chronicle of events from the World Book Year Book that begins in 1922 and unfolds in the distinctive voice and perspective of each successive year.

·         Extensive dictionary and atlas.

·         Correlations to state and provincial curriculum and achievement standards, plus educator tools, student activities, and interactive games and activities.

All that is required for access is a Contra Costa County library card or e-card.

For more information about online services, contact your local community library, or go online at http://ccclib.org.

Cal High Music Fundraiser

Support the music programs at California High School in San Ramon by purchasing a 2008 Entertainment Coupon Book for only $25 each, including free delivery.  These are big thick coupon books with loads of 2-for-1 offers, movie coupons to buy tickets for only $6 each, bay cruise discounts, grocery store coupons, etc.  We have the Greater East Bay Edition in stock now, ready for immediate use.  This book covers Contra Costa County, Alameda County, AND Solano County, and is valid until 11-1-08, with a travel section valid until 12-31-08.  To purchase a book, please call Cam Reed at (925) 829-0628 (home) or (925) 997-2047 (cell), or e-mail at camreed@comcast.net.  Thank you for supporting music at California High!!

EAST BAY FIT

East Bay FIT is part of a larger, national program called USA FIT, which was developed to prepare people of all fitness levels to RUN or WALK a marathon or half marathon using a proven 6-month training plan.  We use mostly paved trails around the East Bay as part of our training.  We will do a few runs on unpaved trails as well.  Long group runs are done together on Saturday mornings, and weekday runs are left to individual members.  For more information, please visit www.eastbayfit.net or call 1-866-333-9828.

Cal High & Iron Horse Win Blue Ribbon

Congratulations to California High School, Iron Horse Middle School and Stone Valley Middle School in Danville. These three schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District were selected as 2006 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon Schools. This elite recognition by the U.S. Department of Education is given to K-12 schools that are either academically superior or demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Schools apply for the program and must be nominated by their respective state. Cal High, Iron Horse and Stone Valley are three of only 31 public schools in California and only four in Contra Costa County to receive the recognition. Representatives from each school will travel to Washington DC in November to participate in the Blue Ribbon ceremonies.

Bishop Ranch Wins EPA Award

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) presented Marci McGuire, Manager of the Bishop Ranch Transportation Center, with their highest honor—a “Best of the Best” Award — at the Association for Commuter Transportation International Conference in Boston, Massachusetts last week.  This is the first time US EPA, which sets the bar for outstanding programs with their National Standard of Excellence, has ever presented “Best of the Best” awards. Marci also accepted a Gold Award of Excellence for the second year in a row.

Bishop Ranch was selected as a result of the Best Workplaces Race to Excellence, a 10-month competitive national challenge developed by US EPA to encourage, recognize, and highlight commuter benefit programs.  All participants submitted an application and supporting materials describing activities and accomplishments from August 1, 2005 to June 1, 2006.  McGuire and her assistant met the challenge by reducing the number of employees that drive alone to work from 69% to 67%, increasing rail and transit use, and creatively and consistently promoting carpooling, vanpooling, transit and biking to a workforce of 30,000.  A new Earth Day E-Waste Recycling & Commuter Fair event launched during the competition was so popular it will be repeated in mid-October.

“This recognition couldn’t come at a better time,” said McGuire. “Employees are tired of high gas prices and facing increases for rent, food, many other basic necessities, and are eagerly taking advantage of our 56 free express buses to nearby rail and train stations, free taxi rides home, and other amenities and incentives.  Employees need to know their consistent efforts to conserve fuel, reduce congestion, improve air quality and perhaps stave off global warming are recognized and appreciated by the EPA, their employers and the local community.  Individual efforts really add up when thousands of people are doing it.” McGuire concluded. For more information contact Marci McGuire at the Bishop Ranch Transportation Center at (925) 830-0101.

Chevron Gives $50,000 Grant to CBO

The Center for Community Benefit Organizations, (CBO Center), a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation headquartered in Concord, CA and serving the East Bay, announced receipt of a $50,000 grant from Chevron Corporation for one of its key nonprofit capacity building strategies.   The grant will be used to support and strengthen nonprofit leaders by creating opportunities for peer learning and support, by leveraging the considerable knowledge and wisdom of experienced executive directors through a mentoring program for younger, newer executive directors, and by expanding efforts to bring executive coaching to the nonprofit sector.

“We believe that this strategy, and particularly executive coaching and mentoring, will make a significant difference in the quality of nonprofit leadership in the East Bay," said Liz Callahan, executive director of the CBO Center. "These programs draw on and leverage the considerable expertise, experience and institutional knowledge of those who have been serving the sector for years.   In that way, they align closely with Chevron's core value of promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability through the creation of community-based networks of learning and support."

Chevron believes that the development of nonprofit leaders strengthens their organizations, thereby enriching the communities they serve," said Matt Lonner, Chevron's Manager of Public Affairs.   "The East Bay is fortunate to have a resource like the CBO Center to offer peer support and mentoring, which are essential elements of professional development."

Over the next year, It Takes a Village activities will include monthly roundtables for executive directors, board members, development directors and consultants serving the sector, one-on-one mentoring, monthly facilitated peer learning dinners, a resource and support group for founders transitioning into retirement or new endeavors, and a pilot coaching program for seasoned executive directors that will assess the impact of executive coaching on areas such as job satisfaction, leadership, tenure and turnover, and effectiveness.   In addition to the It Takes a Village strategy, the CBO Center provides training and technical assistance through workshops, consulting and an information and resource center located in downtown Oakland.

For further information about the Center for Community Benefit Organizations and its various programs and services, please contact our offices at 925-602-6760.

Aurora Creative Studios Offering Ceramic Classes

When the former Art 'N Play shut down in San Ramon, they forwarded their email list to us, Aurora Studios, where we're continuing to do the same thing that they did! We have all the things you need to make a beautiful ceramic piece, to learn art, or to have a birthday party! We specialize in painting your own ceramics as well as teaching classes to both children and adults. Aurora takes people of all levels...we will teach you everything! We'd love to see you come in and visit our new location, 1021 Marketplace in San Ramon.  Come on in! We have:

·         Ceramic studio

·         Framing studio

·         Fine art gallery

·         Kids' play area

·         Custom window treatments

·         Birthday or adult parties

·         Summer camp

·         Art classes

Parents without Partners

Parents without Partners is a non-profit club for single parents and their children. Monthly club activities for members and their children include discussions, dances, dining out, tours, concerts, game nights, picnics,  camping, bowling, holiday events, and hiking. Local chapter services the Tri-Valley/Concord area. For further details about the organization, contact the chapter President, Bill, at 925-447-9676.  

Monthly fund-raiser dances for adult members and non-members, open to the  public, the second Saturday of every month in Dublin. Dance is at the Rhythm Street Dance Studio, from 8:00-12:00pm, cost of $12.00 for non-members.  Contact Mary Anne at 925-227-1792 for further details.  

Orientation meetings for prospective members are the second Saturday of  every month, in Dublin, prior to the dance, from 7:15-7:45. They are also held the fourth Tuesday of every month at Round Table pizza in Pleasanton, from 7:00-7:30pm. Contact Maralynn at 925-556-1834 for further details.  

Special open to the public, family fund-raiser dance will be at the Rhythm Street Dance Studio in Dublin on Saturday, September 23, 2006 from 7:00-10:00pm.  Orientation meeting will be held prior to the dance from 6:15-6:45pm.  Contact Rick at 925-803-1786 for further details.

Sons in Retirement

Sons  In  Retirement is a nonprofit public benefit corporation for retired men, devoted to the promotion of independence and dignity of retirement.  Here is the URL to the Web Page: http://sirinc.org/index.html.  There is a monthly Web publication providing inter-chapter information at http://sirinc.org/sirformspro/Happenings-Apr-06.pdf.

There are 5 chapters in the San Ramon/Dublin/Pleasanton/Livermore area.  Our chapter, #128, meets every 3rd Wednesday for lunch at the San Ramon Golf Course, starting at 11:30 AM, no-host cocktails.  It is open to any retired male. 

Medical Center Recognized as Outstanding

San Ramon Regional Medical Center is one of 22 hospitals in California recognized for its outstanding commitment to health care quality and patient safety with a new award presented by four of the state’s leading health plans—Aetna, Blue Shield of California, CIGNA HealthCare, and United Healthcare.  The award, “Excellence in Patient Safety & Health Care Quality Award,” is based on results from The Leapfrog Group Hospital Quality and Safety Survey.

San Ramon Regional Medical Center is among the top 10 percent of the 216 hospitals statewide responding to the Leapfrog survey. Each of the winning hospitals holds a contract with three or more of the four health plans.

“We take patient safety and health care quality very seriously,” said Gary Sloan, CEO, San Ramon Regional Medical Center. “This award is a reflection of the commitment of our doctors, nurses, and staff to put patient safety and quality care first.”

San Ramon Regional Medical Center received this recognition based on outstanding scores for instituting or making great strides in achieving The Leapfrog Group’s four hospital quality and safety practices. 

VCM Announces Building Plans

The Valley Children's Museum held a media event on April 27, 2006 to announce that the Museum would be located in Dublin in the new Camp Parks development.  Featured speakers included Janet Lockhart, Mayor of Dublin, Marshall Kamena, Mayor of Livermore, Jennifer Hosterman, Mayor of Pleasanton, Karen Stepper, Mayor of Danville, H. Abram Wilson, Mayor of San Ramon, and John Chen, President and CEO of Sybase, Inc. Chen presented the VCM with a check for $25,000, and the VCM presented Chen with its first Founding Sponsor Award.

Pictorial History of San Ramon Valley

(12/4/05)

Beverly Lane, former Mayor of Danville and current Director of East Bay Regional Parks, co-authored a pictorial history of the San Ramon Valley. The earliest settlers in the valley were Indians.  In the 1770's the Spanish built missions and later awarded rancheros cut from the land. One of the most famous went to Jose Maria Amador, which now takes the name Amador Valley. The book covers the history of settlers from what eventually became the Alameda-Contra Costa County line to Danville and Alamo.  An ad for an early Danville housing development lists home prices under $10,000. 

Danville, Dublin, and San Ramon were incorporated as cities in the early 1980's.  An early photo of the Brass Door Restaurant, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, shows the original size. The building had the back half cut off when the I-680 was built. It's especially fun to look at the photos of the first City Councils of Danville and San Ramon, with the venerable old guard (including Lane herself) looking like spring chickens.  The book is available for $20 + tax at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley.