Grill Marks
By Chef K. Marie Paulk
Spring is here, and summer is right around the corner. With the longer days upon us, many of us will be firing up the barbecue. Seems like only yesterday when I was in my second semester at culinary school, and “protein” was the subject for the next six weeks. I was more than a little nervous about grilling, especially when grill marks were mentioned. Grilling was not really something I had big interest in since my husband, the self-declared grill master, was so eager that he’d always take the lead at home. It turns out that grilling isn’t so hard; I guess that is why so many of us love it. Once you learn where your hot spots are on your grill, it is pretty easy to control, especially with an instant read thermometer.
Usually, when we refer to meat, we are talking about an animal’s muscle because it’s the major component of meat as we know it. But animals are made up of four major tissues: muscle, fat, bone, and connective tissues. Lean meat is about 72% water, 20% protein and about 7% fat. The fat increases and water decreases in muscle as the animal grows older.
Personally, I am not a big eater of red meat. Chicken is normally my choice, but a bone in ribeye or tri-tip is something I crave now and again. When I lived in Texas, I found it strange that I could not seem to find a tri-tip. However, with a drive about two hours north to New Mexico, tri-tip was readily available.
A good ribeye needs to have plenty of marbled fat (connective tissue). This fat is the main consideration in the grading of the meat. Prime grade (the best grade) has the best marbled fat, which makes the meat more tender. Fat stretches the connective tissue, surrounding meat fibers, making them soften during the cooking process, and it also contributes to the flavor by melting into the fibers, so that the meat melts in your mouth.
Everyone has a preference on how they would like their steak seasoned. Salt is the one component that is needed, and it is best to use a coarse salt. After ten minutes, the surface of the steak become moist as the salt draws out juices (which are water and savory liquefied protein). Ideally, you should salt your meat at least one hour before grilling, letting your steak rest under refrigeration; some of the liquid will be reabsorbed with the salt to add flavor and moisture. If you have the room in your fridge, you can salt up to eight hours before and even more will reabsorb. Prior salting will leave a thickened liquid on the surface that will help with creating a crust during grilling.
Back to the grill marks, you may have been told that searing the meat will seal in the juices of the meat; however, that is not true—the key to a juicy steak is not to overcook it. When your meat approaches 120°F, the protein will start to coagulate and squeeze water from the cells. Cooking your steak above 155°F will cause most of the moisture to be lost, which will result in a dry steak.
Another factor for tenderness is how long the meat was aged. Using dry or wet aging will not make a big difference in taste, but when the butcher trims a dry-aged piece of meat, there will be more loss, so dry aging will cost more. Aged beef, without a doubt, makes the meat more tender and flavorful. Aging allows enzymes in the meat to break down proteins into more flavorful amino acids, glycogen into sweet sugars, and fats into aromatic fatty acids. It allows the meat to tenderize more quickly and at a lower temperature, meaning less water is squeezed out during the cooking process.
Here in the Bay Area, we can find all kinds of different cuts of meat. Some can be costly to a large party or family but knowing more about the different cuts and knowing where to find (or ask for) them can help.
Sirloin Flap Steak: These are well-marbled strips, the tails of the porterhouse and T-bones. More tender than skirt steak but with similar grain and meatiness. You could also find it labeled as bavette or flap meat.
Tri-Tip Roast: This cut comes from the bottom of the sirloin. If you see a steak labeled Newport steak, it was cut from the tri-tip.
Skirt Steak: Used famously for both fajita’s and in Philadelphia steak sandwiches. Believe it or not, as my husband told me, the butcher would normally throw this piece away back in Texas in the 70’s. It is a well-marbled muscle cut from the diaphragm and the abdominal muscle.
Flat Iron Steak: Cut from the shoulder blade, once the gristle is removed you get two 12 to 16 oz. steaks. This steak will stay tender, even when it is cooked medium well.
Top Butt: It comes from the tender part of the sirloin, which your butcher can cut to any thickness.
Hanger Steak: This is probably the most difficult to find since there is only one per steer. It comes from the last rib attached to the diaphragm. It is also known as the Butcher’s Steak, since some butchers would keep this piece for themselves.
I hope you find this information helpful, unless you are a vegetarian or pescatarian, in which case I can recommend some tasty grilled vegetables with perhaps a nice halibut or sea bass. Happy grilling!
Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs
By Nate Gartrell
In a highly anticipated move, the Bay Area’s independent professional baseball league is expanding from four teams to six this year, with the additions of new clubs from Napa and Martinez.
The home openers for the Napa Silverados and Martinez Clippers is just weeks away. The teams will join the defending 2017 champion Vallejo Admirals, along with the Sonoma Stompers, San Rafael Pacifics, and Pittsburg Diamonds as part of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs.
“The men and women who play in this league—they just love the game. They’re not willing to give up on it,” League Media Director and the Marketing Director for the Stompers Hayley Slye said. “They just love baseball, and they want to keep playing. I think that pure love of the game and that drive is super infectious.”
The Pacific Association, which morphed from a similar league that hosted teams in California and Hawaii, has been on steady footing since 2013, but has been longing for expansion. In the years the league has been around, it has made baseball history for a multitude of reasons, set new records for professional clubs, and brought live baseball to pockets of Northern California that haven’t seen anything like it in years. League executives still hope to grow into an eight-team league, and they’ve welcomed the Clippers and Silverados with open arms.
“I think the location of the two new teams is particularly important,” Vallejo Admirals Assistant GM Matthew Snyder said. “Napa and Martinez both have their own life, and I think there’s a great potential to build natural rivalries between the teams. Adding new faces makes it fun.”
California has a legendary baseball history that goes back way before the major leagues came here, and it includes some accomplishments to be proud of. Teams like the Sacramento Solons or the San Francisco Seals entertained large crowds from as early as the turn of the 20th century into the 1970s, as part of the independent Pacific Coast League, which has since morphed into a Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball. Back in the Pacific Coast league, players would spend their summers at the ballpark and the offseason working 9-to-5 jobs. Some were businessmen, others worked with their hands, and many went on to play in the majors on and off.
In Southern California, there existed an independent winter league that attracted major leaguers during the offseason, and it was racially integrated years before Jackie Robinson broke barriers in the majors as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers. In the 21st century, the Pacific Association has been making history in a similar way, with the signing of Sean Conroy, the first openly gay professional player, who pitched a complete game shutout in his first start with the Sonoma Stompers in 2015, gaining national attention.
“We’ve had items requested from the National Baseball Hall of Fame three years in a row,” Hayley said. “We’re very proud of it.”
In the following year, Stompers teammates Anna Kimbrell and Kelsie Whitmore, became the first female battery (that means pitcher and catcher, for readers not in tune with baseball lingo) in the history of men’s professional sports.
‘These two women are playing for the Sonoma Stompers,” Hayley said. “It was amazing to hear that that was happening and know these women were doing it.”
Last year, the Stompers made history again, when pitcher Stacy Piagno became just the third woman since the 1950’s (Negro Leagues) to get the win a game in a men’s professional baseball league.
“I was the one writing that game recap, and I remember thinking, ‘Wow. I can’t believe I get to witness this’,” Hayley said. “It was just really cool to watch.”
Those familiar with the league say the skill level is somewhere between Single-A and Double-A in the minor leagues. Its players have a special tie to their cities; not only are players often seen playing catch with youngsters or signing autographs before games, but also each year, every team makes its annual call for host families—folks in the community who are willing to house the players for the duration of the 80-game, three-month season.
The Pacific Association’s rosters are made up of former affiliate ball players who have been signed to big league clubs, and every season at least a few former major leaguers stop by to play. In recent years, the league has even brought former Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco out of retirement. On the flip side, locals are also given the chance to see if they’ve got what it takes to play; a tryout session for the league has been scheduled for 8 a.m. on April 21, at Albert Park in San Rafael.
The Pacific Association’s 80-game season kicks off May 31. For a full schedule, ticket prices, and other information, visit www.pacificsbaseball.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
Three months down and tax day is on the horizon. Spring has sprung; and before you know it, we will be pulling out our bathing suits for a trip down to the pool or the beach. Until then, we hopefully will enjoy a bit more rain before we gear up for the warmer months.
April is always a busy time of the year for events, and this year is no different. Mother’s Day and Memorial Day are the two big ones in May. Easter was early and has already past; so beyond tax filing day (which it is always nice to have a glass of cheer once you get those pesky returns taken care of), we have Earth day, Take Our Daughter and Sons to Work Day, and Arbor day (we are big fans of the trees). May Day, Star Wars Day and, of course, Cinco De Mayo are all in May as well. All my teacher friends will remind me that May 8th (the Tuesday of the first full week in May) is National Teachers’ Day, which shares the date with V.E. Day (Victory in Europe Day) as well. V.E. is not celebrated as much anymore, nor is May 19th Armed Forces Day. I guess people save it all up for Memorial Day. I am sure many of you have a few birthdays sprinkled in there (we have a few big ones to celebrate ourselves) in addition to some family days, perhaps an extra work day or two (especially if you are in the tax business), but most of our calendars are filling up fast—which is why it is SO important to use our calendar to find out about all the other great things you could be doing when you have a bit of downtime.
April is also the month when the Boys of Summer return to town: the Giants and the A’s are once again setting their sights on the postseason. Hopefully, both of them will be playing well into October. Who would not love another all Bay Area series? In addition to those Boys of Summer who play in the “bigs,” there are the minor league teams full of plenty of hopefuls. Make sure to read about the local minor leagues that play right around us from late May to August. It is a wonderfully affordable way to enjoy a baseball game and be able to root for the home team!
As I said earlier, April is a busy birthday month for us over here at Local Happenings Magazine. We celebrate our father’s birthday (we: Deanna and Robert; we are brother and sister as well as business partners and creators of this “Happening” publication). We also celebrate Deanna’s birthday and Robert’s eldest son’s—all three falling in April! To our friends and family, Happy Birthday! This list includes, but isn’t limited to: Jackson, Debbie, Lindsay, Judy, Bonnie, John, Eric, Ronda, Juanita, Dennis, Shawn, Donna, Greg, Stacey, Dave, Carol, Sherri, George, Jim, Adam, Jimmie, David, Norman, Leeann, JD, Michael, Dan, Mike, Leonard, Amber, Benny, Steve, Joey, Tom, Scott, Renee, Kelly, Leah, Cathy, Jonathan, John, Leanne, Russ, Colleen, Leslie, Kathy, Wanda, Kim, Jeanne, Miguel, LaGuan, Marc and all the rest of you wonderful people out there who make our community so amazing. We hope each of you have a fabulous birthday and great year!!
Until next issue, cheers!
Robert Briseño & Deanna Troupe
By Nate Gartrell
If you head down past the Shell refinery toward the waterfront of historical downtown Martinez, you may notice some new construction by the train tracks. That’s because the city is working to build a brand new stadium to welcome one of the newest additions to the Pacific Association, and Contra Costa’s second pro baseball team, the Martinez Clippers.
“We’ve built it, they’ve come,” said council member Mark Ross at a recent council meeting. “It’s time to step up to the plate! I think baseball is going to have a resurgence in the next decade.”
The Clippers will make their home debut on May 31, against the Sonoma Stompers. They are owned by Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, the owners of DC Solar, who were warmly welcomed by city leaders and Pacific Association executives when they offered to set up a Martinez team. League executives have been trying to expand the league for years.
The name Clippers is an homage to the famous Yankees slugger Joe DiMaggio, who was born in Martinez in 1914. DiMaggio was nicknamed the “Yankee Clipper,” a reference to clipper sailing ships, which are known for their speed. DiMaggio, a nine-time world champ, also had plenty of lesser-known connections to the proud tradition of independent baseball in California. His brother, Vince DiMaggio—a California baseball legend in his own right—was playing for the San Francisco Seals when he convinced the manager to let Joe take over at shortstop, which turned out to be the start of his career. During his time at California’s Pacific Coast League, Joe DiMaggio set a hit streak record, a feat he would repeat as a Yankee.
Martinez has honored its connection to DiMaggio in many ways over the years: the Joltin’ Joe—a yacht DiMaggio used to romance Marilyn Monroe on—stayed moored at the city’s marina for decades. The addition of the Clippers, however, will ignite a new connection to that era. “I think this is a really exciting development for the city,” Mayor Rob Schroder said.
The Clippers may have a natural rivalry with Contra Costa’s established Pacific Association team, the Pittsburg Diamonds, which in recent years has established itself with the most formidable lineup around. In recent years, they’ve been led by former major leaguer and world champion Aaron Miles, a veteran infielder who played for several teams before retiring in 2012. Miles wasn’t able to stay away from baseball for long, and he took over the Diamonds in 2014. Like his counterpart at the Vallejo Admirals, Miles may occasionally be seen in the Diamonds’ lineup.
The Diamonds, more than any other Pacific Association team, are known for surprising their fans by signing former major leaguers to the team. Most notably, former Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco has made annual appearances since 2015, where he’s wowed fans with his cockeyed pitching skills to strike batters out. They’ve signed two of the only Australian natives to play in the majors, Trent Oeltjen and Travis Blackley, and they also signed former A’s second baseman Tony Phillips shortly before Phillips passed away in 2016.
The Diamonds will host the Sonoma Stompers for their June 2nd home opener. For additional information on them, such as their schedule and ticket prices, visit www.diamondsproball.com.
For additional information about the Clippers, including announcements about new player signings, visit: www.twitter.com/MartinezClipper.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track.
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By Nate Gartrell
The Vallejo Admirals will enter the 2018 season in a position that they’ve never been in before: the defending champs of the Pacific Association. They were the comeback kids last year when they took what looked to be a surefire miserable season and changed the tide midway through, ultimately defeating the favored Sonoma Stompers 11-8 in a one-off, Superbowl-style championship game.
Riding that wave of momentum, the Admirals made several front office changes over the offseason, adding an assistant GM and a new marketing director and broadcaster. This year, they’re ramping up efforts to partner with local businesses and service groups, and coming up with themed days, prize giveaways, and special events throughout the schedule.
“We’re creating even more reason to come to the ballpark,” Assistant GM Matthew Snyder said. “We’re maturing as an organization. We’re generating an environment at the ballpark that centers on cleanliness, friendliness, food, music, and promotion.”
When the Admirals came to Vallejo in 2013, it was a welcome surprise to many in the community. There were early hardships, as there often are in the rough world of independent baseball, but even before they won their first championship the Admirals had become a local household name. The team’s players participate in local events, including youth baseball camps, and vendors all over town offer their customers free tickets to Admirals games. By coincidence—or maybe not—the Admirals’ rise has coincided with the establishments of other businesses that are new to Vallejo, like a Mare Island winery and a waterfront brewery.
The Admirals are known for their creative giveaways, including a popular free car wash from 7 Flags that goes to the dirtiest car in the lot (this author may have won that one once or twice). Next season, Snyder said fans should show up to the ballpark expecting to leave with a souvenir. “You’ll always have a chance to win a prize or leave with a giveaway,” Matthew said. “Every single game.”
Despite some of the front office changes, two things will remain the same: their enthusiastic owner Kevin Reilly is still at the helm, and manager PJ Phillips will be coming back with hopes to lead the team to a consecutive championship. Phillips, a former prospect of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, played professional ball from 2005 to 2013. He started with the Admirals as a player, and every once in a while might stick himself back in the lineup for an at-bat or two. His leadership is credited with bringing much-needed stability to the club last year.
“Having somebody like PJ, who you can trust implicitly with the baseball side of it, is amazing,” Matthew said. “His results speak for themselves. Once he got ahold of the team, they had such a tremendous second half.”
For the Admirals, last year’s championship was a long time coming after a history of hardships. The team was briefly suspended due to financial woes in 2013, its uniforms were burglarized in 2015, and new ownership groups took over time and time again. In 2016, on their way to a paltry 32-46 record, the Admirals fired their manager mid-season and ended up finishing last place overall. In 2017, under the guidance of their new manager, Phillips, they started off the year with more of the same, finishing 12-27 in the first half.
But then, just as quickly, they turned things around. In July and August, the Admirals were the team to beat, finishing off the regular season with a three-game win streak against the San Rafael Pacifics. Their efforts were in part thanks to their closer, Sammy Gervacio, a quirky right hander who brought an intensity to the field despite partaking in seemingly oddball antics, like regularly changing his windup. Gervacio, who pitched for the Houston Astros during the 2009-10 seasons, was the first former major leaguer to ever sign with the Admirals. In 2017, he racked up a crucial 18 saves in the 78-game season, becoming arguably the most reliable closer in the team’s history. His efforts attracted the New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which signed Gervacio for 2018.
The Admirals’ home opener will kick off May 31st with a ring ceremony, and then a game against the Pittsburg Diamonds. Ticket prices range from $5-$10 and concessions and fan gear are comparably affordable. For a full schedule list including game times, visit www.vallejoadmirals.com. For regular updates on everything Admirals related, go to and like www.facebook.com/VallejoAdmirals.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”default” el_class=”sidebar-area-right sidebar-area”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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By Nate Gartrell
For years, rumors swirled around the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs that one day the league would expand into Napa and other cities on the outskirts of the Bay Area. This year, what seemed like a pipe dream is finally coming true: the Napa Silverados’ home opener is just weeks away.
“This is going to be something Napa has never seen before, and we are so excited to be able to share our passion for baseball and Silverados with Napa this summer,” said Megan Castellucci, Silverados’ assistant general manager. She later added, “It has been a really fun offseason putting this team together and creating something that is fun and affordable for the Napa Community.”
The Silverados, along with the brand new Martinez Clippers, will expand the Pacific Association to six teams. The name ‘Silverados’ will be forever tied to the history of the Napa Valley because of the mining town, Silverado, located alongside Mount St. Helena. It was immortalized by Robert Louis Stevenson in the book The Silverado Squatters, a travel memoir of Stevenson’s experiences in the Napa Valley.
“I think it’s great the league is expanding,” Pacific Association Marketing Director Hayley Slye said. “It gives us two really great markets. The bottom line is we’re really excited.”
Since announcing they were bringing baseball to Napa, the Silverados have hit the ground running in a very public way. Late last year, they announced the signing of Team President Bruce Johnston as their new general manager, Castellucci, and Manager Tito Fuentes, Jr.
“I am ecstatic to have both Megan and Tito on board with me. They both have strong ties to the Napa Community, and they both bring the kind of energy and experience I need to create a strong organization focused toward quality baseball and a terrific fan experience,” Johnston said in a news release.
Fuentes is the son of Tito Fuentes, Sr., a longtime second baseman for the San Francisco Giants and fan favorite, who has been doing Spanish broadcasts for the Giants for years.
The Silverados also announced the signing of their first player, Contra Costa native Scott Harkin, who played in an Arizona league with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2013, and has a 3.14 ERA in his pro baseball career. Harkin is scheduled to be the Silverados’ opening day starter.
News of the Silverados introduction to the league was welcomed by their soon-to-be rivals as well.
“How cool is it to have a baseball team in Napa?” Vallejo Admirals’ assistant GM Matthew Snyder said. “That’s pretty crazy, they have so much good stuff going on, and it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way…’ I think they’ll do great there.”
The Silverados expect to announce their promotional calendar soon, which Megan said will feature 40 fun and individual events that are surrounded by a baseball game.
“We have the opportunity to be creative and innovative and have some fun while doing it,” she said.
The Silverados signed a five-year lease to play at Napa Valley College’s Storm Field. They will have their home opener June 2 against the San Rafael Pacifics. For additional information and a full schedule, visit www.silveradosbaseball.com.
Nate Gartrell grew up in Benicia, studied journalism in college, and has written for a handful of media outlets since age 15. He aspires to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums and to hit the trifecta at the horse track. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”default” el_class=”sidebar-area-right sidebar-area”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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Your children’s teeth are in good hands at Pinole’s Eastshore Pediatric
By Matt Larson
If your child has fallen ill, chances are you’d rather take them to a pediatrician, as opposed to a general practitioner. Well, the same goes for dentistry! Pediatric dentists are like pediatricians for your kids’ mouth and teeth. In order to become a pediatric dentist, one must complete an additional 2-to-3-year residency in pediatric dentistry after completing four years of dental school. The dentists at Eastshore Pediatric Dental Group have done just that, and more.
Teri Kim, DDS, and Thea Dosanjh, DDS, co-owners of Eastshore Pediatric, are pediatric dentists, and they’re also diplomats of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. This distinction is not a required for pediatric dentists, but here at Eastshore doctors Kim and Dosanjh want to provide only the best. They specialize in infants, toddlers, children, teens, and kids with special needs.
Most of us have had experiences at a dentist’s office that maybe weren’t comparable to a casual stroll in the park. For many children, Eastshore Pediatric is there very first dental experience. As dentistry is such an incredibly important part of our lives, creating a positive dental experience for these kids from the very beginning is of utmost importance.
“A big part of pediatric dentistry isn’t necessarily the dental work, it’s also about the emotional and psychological components working with young children,” said Dosanjh. “Protecting a child’s psyche is one of the most important things we do in our job.”
By the age of 1, or within 6 months of their first tooth, children are recommended to start seeing a dentist. “As pediatric dentists, we’re big on prevention and educating families,” said Kim. “We go over diet assessment, and we provide a comprehensive array of treatment options for our families.”
At many dental offices, if your child has a cavity, there’s often just one solution—fix it! However, at Eastshore, they have more to offer than just a quick fix. “We won’t just say ‘Oh, your child has a cavity.’ We’ll talk about ways to prevent new cavities,” said Dosanjh. “We’ll go over X-rays with families and actually show them what they’re looking at. We really try to teach families and work with the kids.”
Working with kids isn’t always easy; however, since they opened their doors for business in late 2011, parents have been shocked that their kids are actually excited to go to Eastshore Pediatric. “We do a lot of work to make kids feel comfortable in the chair,” said Dosanjh. “We use child-friendly terms, we have TVs over each chair so the kids can watch a show, and they get awards if they’re cavity free! We try to make it as positive an experience as possible.” Kim added, “It’s about targeting them young and desensitizing them, so they have a positive experience from the beginning.”
As soon as the kids arrive, they see Eastshore’s “Toy Tower,” adorned with possible prizes that can be earned from a cavity-free visit. After their checkup, they’re given a coin that can be redeemed for any one of 10 prizes. Similar practices can even work at home to help kids maintain a healthy dental routine. “Kids respond so well to positive reinforcement,” said Dosanjh. “So if you’re praising them for doing a good job, that’s a big deal for kids.”
There’s a myth we’d like to debunk, that since your children’s baby teeth will eventually fall out, that they’re less important to be maintained. “A lot of people don’t realize that you don’t lose all your baby teeth, on average, until age 12,” said Dosanjh. “Primary teeth are important for speech, chewing, and are also a placeholder for permanent teeth.” Also, Kim said, you don’t want your kids to experience dental pain.
Children should start seeing a dentist as early as possible for a multitude of reasons. “If your child ever falls, or if you think there’s a spot on the tooth and it’s concerning to you—your child has a place where you have a baseline exam already done,” said Dosanjh. “A huge part of our first exam is education: teaching parents how to brush, at what point do you introduce fluoride, at what point do you start flossing, what you do about giving milk or breastfeeding at night; so we talk a lot about trying to prevent the start of cavities in the first place.”
An added benefit of taking your child to Eastshore is that if your child needs special treatment of any kind, they can have their procedure done in the comfort of an actual hospital. “We’re the only pediatric dentist in the area that is privileged through Kaiser hospital,” Kim said. So for procedures requiring a lot of anesthesia, or for patients who can’t tolerate treatment in the chair, Eastshore can reserve a room at Kaiser to perform the dental work there. They can also offer silver diamine fluoride (SDF) if the child isn’t quite ready to have a procedure. “It gives us another way of helping prevent that cavity from getting larger,” Dosanjh said. “We see a lot of young children who have decay, and they can’t sit for treatment, but they don’t necessarily need to go to the operating room either, so we’ll use this as a holding care until they’re ready to tolerate treatment for the fillings.”
Suffice it to say, whatever the case may be with your child, Eastshore Pediatric has you covered. Schedule an appointment today by calling them at (510) 964-0168, or email them at info@eastshorepdg.com. They’re located at 2000 Appian Way, Suite 303, in Pinole.
“We have a child-friendly office, we have a warm and welcoming staff,” Dosanjh said. “We take a lot of pride in our office and in our treatment,” added Kim. “We have our own children, and we treat everybody’s children like we would treat our own.”
For more information visit www.eastshorepdg.com.
Larson is an actor/comedian/director from Vallejo who lives a double life between the Bay and LA. When he’s not writing for Local Happenings Magazine he could be editing a short film or working on his next rap album—who knows!
Keep up with all things Larson at: www.MarsLegstrong.com.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″ el_class=”vc_sidebar_position_right” offset=”vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9 vc_col-sm-12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”default” el_class=”sidebar-area-right sidebar-area”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″ el_class=”vc_sidebar_position_right” offset=”vc_col-lg-9 vc_col-md-9 vc_col-sm-12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”default” el_class=”sidebar-area-right sidebar-area”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
2018 has arrived … and we were just getting used to 2017! We always enjoy this time of year: the dead of winter in Northern California. Just cold enough to need a jacket, but not so cold that you want to stay in all day. We also enjoy the ever-increasing daylight that comes with each passing day this season. Before you know it, we will “spring” forward with our clocks, and then we’ll be dusting off our swimsuits! (UGH!) Perhaps not that fast, but sooner than later! So, if you are a winter sports fan and enjoy going up to Tahoe, make sure to start planning now before the snow melts away. Hopefully, we get a few more winter storms so that we can have plenty of snow, and plenty of water so that our gardens can prepare for the summer as well.
With the cold requiring us to bundle up in our jackets, whatever could there be for us to do? You may be surprised…We’re always amazed by the array of events, festivals, theatre performances, music, and other fantastical things to do that fills our calendar each week. Our only wish is that we had more time to enjoy them all. So, don’t feel trapped in your house this wintery season, as there is still plenty to do! Our calendar, within these pages, is just the start. There are literally thousands of local events listed on our online calendar that are located all around the Bay Area—most just a short drive away—for you to enjoy. You can also filter your search by event type, date, and location!
As our cover implies, this issue also contains our 7th Annual Local’s Choice Awards! We began these awards during our second year of publishing Local Happenings Magazine, in case you were wondering how long we’ve been around. We’re pleased to have been able to present a Local’s Choice Award to so many wonderful people and companies over these past seven years. Thousands of you have voted year after year, which has been wonderful for us to see so much interaction. Flip the pages and see who won this year! We have 36 winners in 12 categories and three counties. As always, if your favorite did not win, make sure to vote in the fall when our polls open up again for our eighth annual awards.
Here are some birthday wishes for the coming months. We would like to start with our oldest brother Larry: we wish you a very happy birthday! And we offer even more birthday cheer to Stephen, Megan, Jo Ann, Mars, Marco, Tracey, Johnny, Myrna, Judy, Askari, John, Gary, Marc, Socorro, John Troupe, Louise, Betsey, Tim, Erin, Shane, Rafaela, Christina, Patti, Dennis, Elizabeth, Judi, Dalia, Uncle Gabe, Frank, Francis, Raymond, Judi, Dennis, Louise, Reyna, Judy, Liz, Eric, and Juanita.
We hope all of you enjoy our upcoming spring season to the fullest. Cheers!
Robert Briseño & Deanna Troupe
