Bay Vein Associates can help if you’re one of the millions suffering from chronic venous insufficiency
Sometimes if something in your body feels a little off, you may impulsively brush it aside as it’s “probably nothing.” Plus, if you responded with a red alert at every abnormality you’d be shunned as a hypochondriac. But sometimes your concerns are not overreactions, and it’s very important to listen to your body. If you sense something is wrong, it’s definitely worth getting checked out by a professional.
If lately, or for years even, you’ve noticed symptoms like varicose veins developing on your legs, or you’ve felt as if your legs were unusually heavy or fatigued, general leg pain, swollen limbs, skin changes or ulcerations, it is possible that you’re experiencing what’s known as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). With approximately 20 million Americans suffering from CVI or varicose veins, you are certainly not alone. There’s actually an entire medical field dedicated to this very issue. If you think you need a consultation, your best bet is with Dr. Christopher Lee of Bay Vein Associates with locations in Pinole and Pleasanton.
“Dr. Lee is a vascular specialist, and out of anyone in this area he has the most training, has done the most cases and has the best hands,” said Hung Ly, Practice Development Coordinator for Bay Vein Associates. “He’s specially trained in vascular interventions.” And that’s what Bay Vein is here to provide. “We treat solely venous problems that have to do with CVI. It sounds specialized, but there are millions of people who have this condition.” Twenty million, to be approximately exact.
“For people who have this condition, it interferes with their lives to a point where it decreases their ability to do things like walk a block or stand for 15 minutes,” Ly explains. “Their legs get swollen, they feel heavy, they get varicose veins and spider veins; actually varicose veins and spider veins can be a precursor to more serious symptoms that are associated with CVI. It may get worse, it might not, but if it gets worse we can definitely do something about it.”
Some patients can be as young as 25 years old. In general though, their main patients are females from age 35 and up, all the way to 85. As far as deciding whether or not you need treatment, “It’s really a question of symptoms,” says Ly. “Some people are more concerned about cosmetics—having unsightly veins and spider veins. You can treat those as much as you want on the surface, but if you don’t treat the underlying condition due to CVI those are going to keep coming back. Some patients get their cosmetics treated every 6 months for years because new veins keep coming back.”
As far as treating cosmetically or treating the underlying issue, Ly uses the following analogy: “If you have leaky pipes in your basement, then you can go down there every day and mop up the leak. Of course, it’s only going to clean it temporarily, so what you really need to do is fix your pipes. What we will do is fix the leaking pipes.” In other words, Dr. Lee will go down deeper than the cosmetic surface level and make sure the problem isn’t going to come back. “We’re trying to stop that cycle by treating the underlying condition.”
Main risk factors for CVI include professions that require a lot of standing or walking, such as teachers, nurses, people who travel and fly a lot, as well as women who have had multiple pregnancies. For some women after their first pregnancy they’ll develop bulging veins that will then go away, but after the second pregnancy the bulging veins return to stay. “Those are adaptations that your body has made to have more blood flow, but they never get restored back to pre-pregnancy condition,” said Ly. “That’s a big risk factor.”
By now you could be wondering what this procedure actually entails, and you may be pleased to know that it’s an in-office procedure and there’s no down time. You can even go back to work the same day! The whole thing takes about an hour in the office. “We go in and take malfunctioning veins out of the system and your body finds other healthy veins to start pushing blood back,” Ly explains. “We’re not removing them! It’s called ablation: an office procedure where we use a little wire to burn the vein, then your body finds other healthy veins. It’s pain free and people feel the difference within a few days.”
It’s a multi-step process. You’ll first have to get scanned to see if you’re even eligible for the procedure. They they’ll submit for insurance and so on. Ly says it comes out to about four or five visits per leg (often times it happens in both legs). As well as a follow-up appointment to make sure all is copacetic.
Bay Vein Associates in Pleasanton has been open for business for just a year and a half, and their clinic in Pinole has been open for 3 years. Dr. Lee was also at work in a hospital for 3 years prior to starting his own practice. He does all the procedures himself, commuting between the two cities, so rest assured you’ll be worked on by only the best. And he does much more than just work on the physical…
“We are focused on patient education,” said Ly. “Dr. Lee spends time with every patient to help them better understand exactly what their problem is and what their treatment is. We want them to be informed and in control of their own health.” Speaking of control, Ly tells us that this procedure is covered by most insurance plans, including medicare. And if you’re considering a purely cosmetic procedure, Dr. Lee can accommodate, however Ly explains that they mainly focus on medically necessary vein treatment. They do also do cosmetic veins but remember, that’s the same as mopping up water in a leaky basement. Ly says, “Oftentimes we’ll fix the pipes first and then we’ll mop up after.”
So if you feel any of this applies to you, give Dr. Lee a call. It’s a minimally invasive procedure, you can usually return to your normal activity within the same day, average treatment time is less than an hour, you’ll feel the benefits within days and it’s covered by most insurance companies! If you’ve been experiencing mysterious leg pain for far too long now, it’s time to consult. Call Bay Vein Associates today at (844) 400-VEIN. Visit them in Pinole at 2150 Appian Way, Suite 104, or in Pleasanton at 5924 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 103. For more information visit www.bayvein.com.
Matt Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias @MarsLegstrong. He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
Spring has bloomed into summer and 2016 is halfway over! This is always the high season for outdoor events (and events in general) and this year is no different! Lots to do every weekend and many weekend nights as well. Years ago we helped to put on a weekday music event every summer that was very popular with the community—in fact, it’s one of the reasons we decided to create this magazine and website. It was always so much fun to get out and enjoy not only the weather but the friendships that were created and nurtured by it as well.
We like to remember that we only have so many summers to enjoy in our lives with a precious few of them where we have the freedoms to fully enjoy them as we wish. We always encourage our readers to visit another community and checkout local events, especially the smaller intimate ones. It is a wonderful opportunity not only to enjoy yourself but to explore the different lands, culture and customs of those very strange people who live but one town away from us. We find it so much fun to realize just how much is happening all around us and to see how much energy is being poured into the community by so many people of such varied walks of life. It is not just the “artists,” the “retired” people or “students” that are creating interesting “happenings” all around us but it is the bankers, lawyers, police officers, garbage company employees, moms, dads, young, old, middle aged and literally all “types” of people that make our community so diverse and amazing.
This vast array of people includes our neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters, even the strange guy four cubicles down from us at the office. They’re in Rotary, Lions, Soroptimist, Kiwanis, the Scouts, and a host of other clubs and organizations that dot our communities. It is wonderful to see all of that energy and different perspectives coming together. We have been counted as “those” type of people that help put on “those” events for many years. We have been stopped at the grocery store to be asked, “when is that event starting up?” or “are they doing it this year?” Those of you that have spent some time (or lots of time) organizing an event, a parade, a gathering or memorable spectacle, remember the time and energy it took. It probably took a chunk of time away from your family, work, hobbies or favorite TV shows. You still may be working on an event and some of us can only say: “I remember when…”.
The point of this is not to encourage you to volunteer more (though we all should) but to remind us that right now, as you’re reading this, there is a dedicated group of people that are pouring their energy and time into an event that will soon appear in these pages (or maybe it is there now) and they are hoping and praying that we, our friends and family, show up so that it will be a success. That success of course translates into MORE time and energy for them next week, month or year when they do it again.
Come and enjoy that energy with us. Enjoy their vision and creativity. Enjoy the events in these pages or the ones on our website. “Those” people have invested their time to help the community to be better… and because they put on the event AND because we attended it, the community is better. Now go forth and enjoy this summer with us and all the rest of the summers that we still have on this little blue marble that is hurtling through space at thousands of miles an hour. We would also suggest that when all of us are on our last summer that it will be these events and the people we shared them with that we will remember, more than the time we spent relaxing on our couch.
To our all friends and family that are marking the annual completion of their rotation around that giant ball of plasma that sits in the center of our universe we say Happy Birthday!! Here are but a few of them that we have the space to mention: our mother, Genevieve, Robert’s daughter Veronica as well as our niece, Danielle, along with Julie, Jim, Lisa, Donna, Christine, Victor, Kyle, Sam, Ken, Maureen, Marc, Faith, Ann, Lynn, Karen, Juan, Jodi, Julie, Gigi, Sherry, Kenny, Jack, Jay, Tom, Matt, Jennifer, Clint, Ken, Phil, Amelia, Tina, Doug, Krystal, Bob and Pippen.
Cheers!
Robert Briseño
& Deanna Baillie
On Saturday, June 25th, Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group/Vallejo Cancer Care (MDSOG) presents their Wings of Hope Butterflies and Kites Event. It is held at Blue Rock Springs Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is a family event suitable for all ages with a ceremonial butterfly release, kite flying, and other fun activities. It is a time of reflection as participants honor those who have been touched by cancer and remember those who have been lost by the disease.
Chip Carter who attends the event every year says, “The Butterfly Event is an event the whole family can enjoy. I lost my son Brian to cancer 5 years ago and he left behind 2 little boys and a wife so I always attend the Butterfly Event and release a Butterfly in his memory. This year, I am bringing along my grandsons, so that they can release butterflies in their dad’s memory. Our Vallejo Executive Lions Club donated money to sponsor the event and our car club, Boyz Under The Hood, will display about a dozen of our classic cars again this year.”
Beau DeFehr, Administrative Director at Mount Diablo Solano Oncology Group/Vallejo Cancer Care says, “We are dedicated to making a positive impact here in Vallejo. A few years ago, we teamed up with local non-profit, Cancer Support Community, to see what could be done in here in Vallejo. We agreed that there are much needed resources missing for our cancer patients and their families in our community and we needed to take action.”
In order to make this happen, local businesspeople stepped forward to sponsor this event and its vision. Their dreams became a reality when they began offering the free Healing Yoga for Cancer class every Tuesday morning at Dan Foley Cultural Center at 10 a.m. Tiana Duvachelle, the class instructor says, “It’s truly an honor to be a part of this community of patients, survivors and supporters. To be able to share my love of yoga to a group that can benefit on a physical, mental and emotional level is a beautiful thing. From simple breathing techniques, to standing postures and guided meditations, together we conquer anxiety, boost mood, and increase strength. And you ask what is most empowering? The love and support that fills the room of all my newfound friends.”
The ceremonial butterfly release is a time when cancer patients and survivors come forward together and release beautiful monarch butterflies. It is a sight not to be missed.
“This event is special as it celebrates the continued fight against cancer and the symbolic moment as the butterfly opens its wings in the warmth of the sun and takes flight, is both beautiful and very personal in every sense of those words,” states Tom Phillips from Recology, the event’s Butterfly sponsor.
To RSVP or for more information about the event, please email butterflyvallejo@gmail.com or call (707) 847-5723.
A new season for minor league baseball, The Vallejo Admirals
During a hot morning in late April, more than 100 young men made their way to a Vallejo baseball diamond, each waiting patiently in line to audition as a group of local scouts watched on. They were all pining for a shot to play for the Pacific Association of Baseball Clubs, an independent league based in California that offers its players an average salary of about $600 a month. There are only four teams in the league: The Sonoma Stompers, the San Rafael Pacifics, the Pittsburg Diamonds, and the Vallejo Admirals. Besides that, only a small handful of spots were open. Each who auditioned had to know that their chances of making a team were around 10 percent, or less.
But they still turned out and, as a matter of fact, hundreds of players from all over the world have flocked to the Pacific Association in recent years, including a few former major leaguers. Many who come to play are hoping for a chance to make it to “the show,” but a lot are simply doing it for the love of the game.
“If you love baseball, you don’t play it for the money; it’s something that’s played with your heart,” newly appointed Admirals Manager Mike Samuels said. “Willie Mays told me he wouldn’t pay players a million dollars. I asked him why, and he said, ‘Because if you’re playing baseball for the money, you should be doing something else.’”
The 2016 Admirals season began on May 31, and will end August 28. Due to the small size of the league each season is broken into halves and the leaders from each half compete during a championship game at the end. Those familiar with the league say the skill level is comparable to Double-A minor league baseball, and some former league players have been drafted into affiliate ball.
“Even for us working in the front office or things like that—I’m in it to climb the levels of broadcasting and media relations,” Admirals broadcaster and media relations director Tim Fitzgerald said. “We’re all in it to start that path, to start in rookie ball and work your way up.”
In the olden days, before Major League Baseball came here, California was a hub for independent baseball leagues year-round, with long-forgotten team names like the San Francisco Seals, the Oakland Oaks, or the Sacramento Solons. Many who played for those teams went on to become major leaguers, while others retired and spent their days plowing farms or forming their own mom and pop shops. There was even a winter league in Southern California that became the first in the nation to be integrated (and ended the same year Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers). But nowadays, only a handful of independent leagues exist around the country.
Going into this season, the Admirals’ front office was optimistic of the team’s chances of putting up a winning record. They’ve ramped up their scouting efforts, even traveling as far as Florida to snag players from Major League Spring Training, and re-signing key players from last year.
“We’re evolving in everything we do,” owner (and local real estate agent) Kevin Reilly said.
They’ve also been stepping up their sponsorship game, and as Reilly pointed out, “If you’re clever, you won’t ever have to buy a ticket.” That’s because the Admirals front office has handed out hundreds of tickets to local sponsors, like Gracie’s restaurant, the Mare Island Dry Dock, Sprankles Village Deli in Benicia, and Gentleman Jim’s Sports Bar to name a few. Generally, customers of Admirals sponsors who ask for free tickets will get them, so any baseball fans that happen to traverse those places in the next couple weeks, don’t forget!
The Admirals are coming off a year that saw them finish last place in the league with a 25-53 record, but the year had a few highlights. Among them, the Admirals completed the season with a victory against former Oakland A’s slugger Jose Canseco, who took the mound that day as a starting pitcher for the Diamonds. Coincidentally, the Diamonds also signed former A’s 2nd baseman Tony Phillips (who has since passed away) last year, and he played what turned out to be his last game as a pro ball player against the Admirals at Wilson Park.
During the offseason, Reilly took full ownership of the team following a public fallout involving former owner Kathy Beistel. He has since made a number of offseason changes, including hiring Samuels — an Admirals coach since 2013 — to replace last year’s manger, Garry Templeton II. Samuels, a former Reds prospect, has been involved in Solano County baseball for decades. He’s a colorful character whose passion for baseball and competitive spirit shine through.
“I don’t go on baseball fields to lose, and I don’t put guys on the field who are gonna embarrass me,” Samuels said. “If I see a ballplayer, I wanna know that guy can get on the field with me.”
The Admirals are also bringing more to the off-field aspect of the game. They’ve acquired a hot dog warmer that was used for years in Candlestick Park and they’re stepping up the between-innings entertainment, with public calls for local acts to audition and with plans to set up an entertainment stage behind the visitors’ dugout at Vallejo’s Wilson Park (the Admirals Home). They’ll also have discounts available on Tuesdays, they’re coordinating with Vino Godfather Winery for “Winesday Wednesdays” (where Italian food will be served), and beer promotions for “Thirsty Thursdays,” where they’ll offer sausages and other German selections.
“We want to deliver a sense of value for coming to the ballpark, and we have that with everything we do,” Reilly said. “For five or 10 bucks, we want to give folks a great game, some great food, and then you’re back in your house in five minutes.”
The Admirals will be playing 38 home games in June-August. All home games will be played at Wilson Park, located at 119 Stewart Street in Vallejo.
They are also looking for local talent for between-innings entertainment, so if you’re an entertainer or know someone who is, email Fitzgerald at tfitzgerald@vallejoadmirals.com.
For more information or to buy tickets, call (707) 647-1111 or swing by the Admirals front office at 444 Georgia Street, in downtown Vallejo. It’s open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends. You can also visit www.vallejoadmirals.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.
Many organizations across the country celebrate diversity, but Touro University California is committed to not only celebrating its already diverse student population but also paving the way to a future of diversity in the healthcare and education fields overall and resolving healthcare needs in those in underserved communities. As 2016 has progressed Touro has been dedicated to those efforts.
Winter and early spring saw milestone moments and the launch of cutting-edge studies, such as those working to link diabetes detection and prevention, to fingerprints especially in varying predisposed ethnic groups. Clinics, taking place throughout Vallejo and surrounding cities, will further this study and others to narrow the risk of diabetes. The campus, which sits on historic Mare Island, celebrated many more pivotal moments as the warmer weather moved in.
In early May, smiles, tears and laughter filled the Farragut Inn Ballroom at Touro as several students from the College of Education and Health Sciences (CEHS) became proud recipients of this year’s diversity scholarships only available to students within that program. Maintaining its commitment to the promotion of health and well-being of local and global communities through education, service, and research, the CEHS department provided a total of $12,000 in scholarships to students in each of the CEHS programs.
Over the course of several days ending May and kicking off June, the higher learning institution celebrated the graduation of 449 total degree candidates at the 2016 commencement ceremonies, which included 133 students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine (Doctoral Degree); 96 from the College of Pharmacy (Doctoral Degree); 30 from the School of Nursing Program (Master’s Degree); 38 from the Physician’s Assistant Program (Master’s Degree); 57 from the Master of Public Health; 15 from the Master of Science in Medical Health Sciences; 15 from the Master of Science in Medical Health Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences; and 60 from the Graduate School of Education (Master’s Degree).
“Our students are great examples of people who take what they have learned and combine it with their own talents to become the best prepared healthcare providers and educators,” said Shelley Berkley, CEO and Senior Provost of Touro Western Division.
On June 9th the institution held its inaugural campus-wide diversity scholarship fundraising event, which encouraged the local community to get involved, in addition to those on campus already making strides. The goal of these scholarships, which are open to students from all university programs, is to retain and support underrepresented minority students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as to encourage scholarship recipients to use their degrees to improve the health and educational status among poor and underserved communities locally and abroad. Great food, music and coveted silent auction items set the scene as guests raised needed funding for student’s futures.
“Touro University California’s commitment to underrepresented communities is steadfast,” Marilyn Hopkins, PhD, Provost and Chief Operating Officer of Touro University California, said. “It is important that the future of healthcare and education here in California and across the country is diverse. To be able to provide an opportunity for a student who has overcome obstacles to be here, or one whose obstacle is strictly financial, is our ultimate goal with these events and fundraising opportunities.”
Touro University California has the vision of educating caring professionals and providing quality educational programs in the fields of health care and education in concert with the Judaic commitment to social justice intellectual pursuit and service to humanity.
Despite the scholarship fundraising event having passed, the community can get involved on a continual basis and help to support the dreams and aspirations of a student by visiting www.tu.edu or by contacting the Touro University California’s Office of Development at 707-638-5460.
A ruff time for those having a rough time
Cancer is all around us. If you’ve been lucky enough to not have been touched by it, chances are you know someone who has. It is a very real part of life. From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, it is a very involved process and different people handle it different ways. One thing that seems pretty consistent among those going through it is the importance of having a support group. We don’t all have big families or loyal friends that are willing (or wanted) for helping with the coping process, but we do have organizations like Relay For Life via the American Cancer Society that can at least help take the edge off and provide some serious support.
One of very many ways that the American Cancer Society can help is by making us aware of our resources. Aside from friends and family, canines can actually help the healing process quite a bit with their unconditional love and affection. To bring awareness of canine caregivers for cancer patients the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Benicia is hosting a fun fundraiser, a fun..draiser, called Bark for Life on August 20th of this year.
“The Bark for Life event is an opportunity for people to celebrate canine companionship and fight back against cancer with their dogs,” said James Long from Pups ’n’ Purrz pet store in Benicia who was instrumental in bringing the event to Benicia. “Every person who has been close to a cancer experience and has a dog in their life is invited.” So most everyone is indeed invited.
The event is to be held at Benicia Middle School from 8 a.m. to noon, and you are very much encouraged to bring your own canine companion along with you, as this is really an event for them! This event is celebrating the lifelong contributions these dogs are providing for their cancer patient guardians. And what’s a celebration without some fun happenings?! Event festivities will include doggie games, dress-up contests, raffles, music, food, and doggie laps, as well as a walk to honor what these loving animals have done for their cancer patients and cancer survivors. You can also be sure to enjoy the Benicia PD K9 unit presentation and Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate tournament.
While this is sure to be a very fun event, it is designed to be a fundraiser to help the American Cancer Society help you, and/or your friends and loved ones who may be diagnosed with cancer. If you’re looking for a place to donate—you’ve found it. Funds raised at these events actually do save lives by funding groundbreaking research, supporting education efforts and providing free information and critical services for cancer patients. Last year more than 20,000 registered canine and caregiver participants at 300 Bark For Life events across the country raised $1.2 million. So even if you’re only giving a little bit, that little bit goes a very long way when combined with everyone else.
The American Cancer Society is the largest voluntary health organization. As a global grassroots force of 2.5 million volunteers, they are “saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.” It’s quite the undertaking indeed, but with more than 800,000 men and more than 800,000 women expected to becoming diagnosed with cancer in 2016, we really need all the help we can get. It’s worth supporting the American Cancer Society as their methods are making an impact and are changing the world for the better.
Having contributed to a 22 percent decline in cancer death rates in the United States during the past two decades, as well as a 50 percent drop in smoking rates, the American Cancer Society has a lot to be proud of. And anyone who has ever supported them can be just as proud as well. With a thanks, in part, to their progress, nearly 14.5 million Americans who have had cancer will be able to celebrate their birthdays this year. “We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer,” they say. “As the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, we’re finding cures and ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and are continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more.” That’s probably more than you’re personally willing to take on, but you could at least support their Relay For Life events and donate what you can. And you can start (or hopefully continue because you’ve supported before) with Bark For Life!
The Benicia PD K9 presentation is certainly not to be missed, and the Disc Dogs Tournament is always a crowd pleaser. The event opens with, well, an opening ceremony, followed by a survivor/caregiver/canine ceremony, then the adoptable canines lap, and then party time! You must attend this event with a positive attitude as it will be the only way to fit in.
For more than 65 years the American Cancer Society has been finding answers that save lives, be it discovering important changes in lifestyle, new approaches in therapies, and just improving general quality of life for cancer patients. It can be a very demanding process on someone’s life, so even the finer details make a big difference. For patients who have to travel for treatment but can’t afford accommodations, the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge facilities provide a free and comfortable place for patients and their caregivers to stay. If patients have trouble with transportation, the American Cancer Society Road To Recovery program will partner them up with specially trained volunteer drivers. There are many, many ways that the American Cancer Society will make good use of every dollar you donate, so now is your chance to help them make a difference.
Bark For Life, presented by the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Benicia, is to be held on August 20th from 8 a.m.-noon at Benicia Middle School, 1100 Southampton Road, Benicia. To register or for more information, visit relayforlife.org/barkbeniciaca or call the American Cancer Society at (707) 720-0104. Hope to see you there, and don’t forget to bring the pooch!
Saving Lives One Step at a Time
As the weather turns warm, many of us are thinking about the fun we can have over the summer. Some of us, however, are thinking about the fun we can no longer have with someone dear to us who was taken away by cancer. And for the millions of folks suffering from cancer nationwide, their idea of fun would be to simply enjoy a pain-free day that could be spent with family and friends.
Each year, people in communities across the country are remembering those we have lost due to cancer, and those that are still struggling with it. Many of us choose to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Annual Relay for Life event that happens during the late spring and early summer months each year. It’s a way to not only remember those lost or in the middle of a fight with cancer, but to help raise money and awareness to fight this scourge.
Most of us have a story to tell about how cancer has impacted our lives, either directly, or with a friend or family member. Therefore, each of us should work together to help solve this medical riddle that has struck down so many of us far too soon. To help you connect with a Relay for Life event near you, here is a partial listing of events in our area:
June 25 – Vaca Pena Middle School, 200 Keith Way, Vacaville
June 25 – Encinal High School, 210 Central Ave., Alameda
June 25 – Donaldson Way Elementary School, 430 Donaldson Way, American Canyon
June 25 – Heritage High School Amphitheater, 101 American Ave., Brentwood
July 16 – Todos Santos Plaza, 2151 St., Concord
July 16 – Armijo High School, 825 Washington St., Fairfield
July 16 – Pittsburg City Hall, 65 Civic Ave., Pittsburg
July 17 – Cerrito Vista Park, 950 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito
July 23 – Heather Farm Park, 301 N San Carlos Dr., Walnut Creek
July 23 – Pleasanton Middle School, 5001 Case Ave., Pleasanton
July 23 – Martinez Junior High School, 1600 Court St., Martinez
July 30 – Napa Valley College Track, 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy., Napa
August 6 – St Patrick/St. Vincent High School, 1500 Benicia Rd., Vallejo
August 6 – Collins Elementary School., 1224 Pinole Valley Rd., Pinole
August 13 – (Bark for life) Pleasant Hill City Hall, 100 Gregory Ln., Pleasant Hill
August 13 – Mt. Diablo Elementary School, 5880 Mt. Zion Dr., Clayton
August 14 – Harper Jr. High School, 4000 E Covell Blvd., Davis
August 15 – Mt. Diablo Elementary School, 5880 Mount Zion Dr. #8206, Clayton
August 19 – Benicia Middle School, 1100 Southampton Rd., Benicia
August 20 – Albany High School, 603 Key Rte. Blvd., Albany
August 27 – (Bark for life) Hellman Hollow JFK Drive and 25th Ave., San Francisco
To learn more about this important event please visit www.relayforlife.org
Matt Larson is a writer/actor/comedian native to Vallejo who travels back and forth from Los Angeles way too much. He’s desperate for attention and urges you to follow him on all social medias @MarsLegstrong. He lives for likes, please keep him healthy.
The Napa Kids Project
Do the kids whine when you wine? Now there is help for you and your little ones on your next to trip to Napa.
My wife and I LOVE to go wine tasting and we especially like pairing wine with good foods, all while spending it with friends or making new ones. We also have three little children who we LOVE even more. Spending time with them most often wins out, but on occasion we have been able to steal away and spend an afternoon or two to indulge ourselves. How magical would it be if we could do both? We share time with them over Legos, princesses and spaceships, so why not have them share some time with us over chardonnay, cabernet and charcuterie? Perhaps even a mutually agreeable cheese as well?
A mere folly? An impossible daydream? Well, someone is attempting to scale that wall and perhaps more. Just as this little magazine that you are holding in your hands or the website you are reading this on attempts to marry event goers with events, a woman is trying to bring kids to kid’s events … in the Napa Valley!
I have always thought of the Napa Valley as a place that adults visit without their kids, though I would venture to say that at least a few families were started at the end of a day of wine tasting. I know that people live there AND have children but I never considered how they entertained them or how I might entertain mine on my next adventure to Napa. Well, there are children that live and visit Napa, that magical land of grapes and good food, and they want to enjoy the area as well. Holly Kassner Dawson, a parent, faced such a dilemma. She wanted to find a dance class for her daughter but it was taking a myriad of websites to locate what they needed. Then the moment struck where she asked the critical question: “How can I do this more easily and how can I help others do it as well?” She knew that there were busy parents like her in the valley and that there are businesses that catered to children. But how could they connect more efficiently?
Then, the project emerged with one simple thought: “What if I created a website that served as the conduit of information that these busy parents that live in or visit Napa need?” She then began the arduous task of doing just that. She talked to friends and business associates and through those conversations she developed her “advisory council” of people in the community that were already providing services to local children and it grew to this collection of individuals:
John Coates, Napa Parks and Recreation Director
Olivia Everett, President & CEO, Arts Council Napa Valley
Clay Gregory, President & CEO, Visit Napa Valley
Danis Kreimeier, Director of Library Services and Community Outreach, Napa County Library
Erika Lubensky, Executive Director, Community Resources for Children
Barbara Nemko, PhD., Napa County Superintendent of Schools
Sally Sheehan-Brown, Executive Director, First 5 Napa County
Together with her council, and countless others, she built us a database of information on the events, classes, camps and businesses that are primarily designed for kids. She also rapidly discovered that there was LOTS more to do for children than she had even imagined in the Napa area. Especially in the area of summer camps and programs.
There were so many summer camp programs that she was able to develop a summer camp guide for parents that came out before her full calendar had been set up. The camp section has a robust and diverse selection of choices which range from day camps to summer-long options for your little ones. There is the Mamma Mia Theatre camp in St. Helena, which develops theatre skills and has the kids put on a show based on the Broadway musical Mamma Mia! There are art camps, a Star Wars Camp, a life on the farm camp, a dinosaur camp, a Giants baseball camp, music and dance camps and more! There is literally a camp for everyone right in Napa County! It is incredible to scroll through the list and see just how many there are. The best part is that if you are planning a trip to the Napa Valley over the summer for a day, week or more, you can also take advantage of these and provide your little ones an opportunity to learn and play in a safe environment while you learn and play in the Napa Valley. Just think, your kids could be participating in an advanced robotic and game design coding camp while you are taking a class on how to enjoy a full bodied cabernet with dark chocolate or learning about the differences of stainless steel over oak in aging a chardonnay. My brain just spins at the countless opportunities that open up for the travel adventures for parents wanting to visit Napa. No longer will you be trying to figure out if little Johnny and Suzie will be interested in the ideal brix of merlot grapes or how long will the de-stemming machine hold their interest. And while the various wine caves in the valley do hold a certain bit of promise of adventure for your children wouldn’t they have more fun at the Minecraft Math Facts and Experiments for Scientists Camp?
There are literally well over one thousand wine producers in Napa Valley. I find a bit of comfort in the fact that I can find a similar number of adventures for my children to take on my next visit to the valley. Their full calendar will be online about the time this issue comes out. Visit their site to see how much more there is for your children to do in Napa, not just in the summer, but for the whole year. Oh, and did I tell you the best part? It’s all FREE. Just like our Local Happenings project, Holly is gathering all of this for you and putting it out there for the public to use without cost to you. Now you will be able to pick up another bottle of wine on your next adventure with all the time and money you saved by using her site: www.NapaValleyKid.com
Robert Briseño – Robert has three little ones that he is constantly on the lookout for fun and affordable adventures that he and his wife can take them on.
Spring has sprung and here we are, already in the second quarter of 2016. The rain this year has certainly helped but we are still not out of this drought. We here at Local Happenings Magazine would encourage everyone to continue with their water conservation efforts and to make them a more routine part of your lives. Gas prices continue to stay low, which is great for all of our pocketbooks, but we all know the saying, “what goes up, must come down,” … so, hopefully not vice versa! But just in case, to help with your fuel conservation efforts we have a feature this month about electric and hybrid cars. The better job we all do with our resources today will allow us to have a better tomorrow for future generations. Remember, April 22nd is Earth Day and we all have a part to play in helping to keep this little blue and green marble we live on in great shape.
Beyond saving water, fuel and the earth, make sure to save time so that you will have more of it to enjoy all there is to do in April and May. Once you have wrapped up your spring-cleaning there are lots of outdoor events coming up for you and the family to enjoy. Take a look at our calendar to start planning your adventures now. Remember, the pages of the print magazine holds only a fraction of the events we have in our online calendar. If you have not been to our website to see the calendar listing there make sure to visit today! Your smartphone can pull up our website as well so that the calendar can be at your fingertips that much faster. Just a reminder, if you are involved in putting on an event you can post them to our website for free. Our whole mission is to connect events with people and we do it for FREE!
April is a busy month for us at Local Happenings. We celebrate our father’s birthday (we: Deanna & Robert, our brother and sister as well as business partners and creators of this “Happening” publication) as well as Deanna’s, and Robert’s eldest son, Ramon, all in April. To our friends and family Happy Birthday! Which 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 we do not have room to fit in here. We hope each of you have a fabulous birthday and great year!!
Until next issue, Cheers!
Robert Briseño
& Deanna Baillie
