In this week's Raucous Caucus educator and recruiter Tom Cushing discusses the ongoing debate surrounding an Affordable Care Act provision stating that employers, including religious-affiliated hospitals, must provide the option of contraception coverage to employees in their healthcare plans. "It's been widely reported that fully 99 percent of sexually active Catholic women have employed birth control," Cushing writes. "Who really represents The Church on this issue?"
All it took for Steve Chriest was a walk with his wife, Nancy, along a trail near their Danville home. Little did Chriest realize at that time that the routine stroll would have the potential to change his life.
At its Tuesday meeting, San Ramon Valley Unified's Board of Education decided that it would not push for a June facilities bond measure. Citing time concerns, boardmembers said they must take more time to educate residents about the need for such a bond.
The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra presents a full dose of the "Mozart Effect" at the Lesher Center for the Arts (1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek) on Sunday, Feb. 26. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the four-piece performance. Tickets $10-$30. Call 943-7469 or visit www.lesherartscenter.org.
Celebrate Recovery is a forward-looking and balanced Christ-centered recovery program. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. for dinner and the program starts at 7 p.m., every Friday, at East Bay Fellowship (2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville). Childcare available for ages 5-11. Call 736-5100, e-mail celebraterecovery@eastbayfellowship.org or visit www.eastbayfellowship.org.
Spring-like weather has sprung in Danville as temperatures are expected to reach the low 70s Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Clear skies and lows in the mid-40s overnight.
Norman Wielsch, 50, of Antioch, the former commander of the Central Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team, or CNET, appeared on
"Dr. Phil" on Friday and on the CBS "48 Hours Mystery" Saturday in excerpts of an interview legally recorded in Northern California by CBS correspondent Maureen Maher.
Two separate armed robberies took place in Pleasanton over Presidents Day weekend, and police say they have "excellent leads" in both. One took place in broad daylight in the parking lot at Stoneridge Shopping Center on Sunday, and involved a man, his sister and her husband and their two children.
San Ramon Police arrested Aaron Ricks, 27, in the attempted murder of his mother on Feb. 20. Ricks allegedly beat his mother in the head and body with a baseball bat causing serious injury and breaking her arm.
The Danville Police Department provides Danville Express with a record of its calls each week. This is a sampling, omitting the more mundane, such as routine traffic stops, service requests, noise complaints and domestic disturbances.
In this week's Doing College, expert admissions adviser Elizabeth LaScala answers a reader's question on the best way to keep focused on transferring to a 4-year university while attending community college and working part-time. Among LaScala's suggestions are: don't make community college an afterthought, go above your high school's graduation requirements and keep up your GPA.
Girls can explore science and math careers at the 33rd annual "Expanding your Horizons" conference on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8:30 a.m. The daylong event at Diablo Valley College (1690 Watermill Road, San Ramon) is held for girls, grades 6-9, from Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Sunol school districts to increase interest and foster awareness of careers in math and science. Registration information is available on at http://www.tveyh.org.
Blue Star Moms depend on community support to continue their mailings to troops overseas. The group is also available to speak to community groups and school events about its programs to support the military here at home as well as the deployed troops. For more information, visit www.bluestarmoms.org.
We see a lot of cats that eliminate outside their box. It's a very stinky, frustrating problem. I'll walk you through the questions I consider in order to figure out why a cat urinates inappropriately and some of the steps we take to correct it.
The Lenten Days of Renewal begin on Feb. 22, with Ash Wednesday, and it will be presented by Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM, from 9:30 a.m (registration begins at 9 a.m.)-3 p.m. at San Damiano (710 Highland Dr., Danville). Ash Wednesday includes the distribution of ashes. Cost is $30, including lunch. Call 837-9141, ext. 315 or visit www.sandamiano.org.
All au pairs in the Tri-Valley area are invited to rollerskating at Golden Skate rink on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. All-you-can-eat pizza and soda will be served. Golden Skate is located at 2701 Hooper Dr., San Ramon, cost is $12. Call 650-465-1000 or visit wwwhbrewer.aupairnews.com.
Naim Katiby, a San Ramon resident, was placed on probation Wednesday after admitting to a single count of fraud for billing a fake doctor's visit, Alameda County prosecutors said. Katiby also prescribed Vicodin to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent without an exam.
More than four months after California transferred responsibility for low-level offenders to counties, law enforcement officials in Contra Costa County are seeing far more inmates than projected. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bills 109 and 117, which shifted the responsibility for monitoring, tracking and imprisoning low-level offenders previously bound for state prison to county jails.
Residents of a five-unit building in Alamo were displaced from their homes early Friday morning after a kitchen fire sparked in one unit and started to spread, according to the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.
Walnut Creek has never been so sweet. As Elle Woods storms up the steps of Harvard Law and into your heart with her unique brand of fizzy wisdom, she'll give you a toothache.
If you are a homebound individual living in the area and are unable to visit the Danville Library for materials, volunteers are able to deliver books to you. For more information, call 837-4889.
As President Obama visits the Bay Area for campaign fundraisers, Danville residents take time to reflect on previous commanders-in-chief. This week, Roving Reporter Stan Wharton visited San Ramon Valley High School to ask students Who is your all-time favorite president?
The San Ramon City Council spent nearly two hours Tuesday evening discussing the pros and cons of putting on the aerial fireworks display this summer as part of the city's Independence Day celebration at Central Park. Its huge popularity through the years has caused concern at City Hall regarding public safety and cost.
A memorial statue dedicated to San Ramon Valley High grad Lance Cpl. Joshua "Chachi" Corral will officially be allowed on Hartz Avenue in front of the new Veterans Memorial Building. A "battlefield cross," the memorial would feature boots, a rifle and a helmet with two plaques -- one which describes the genesis of the battlefield cross and one dedicating the memorial to Chachi.
Flutist Kris Palmer and Pianist Dmitry Cogan will be in concert on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. at St. Timothy's (1550 Diablo Rd., Danville). Performing on wood and alto flutes, Palmer is a second prize winner in the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition, and Cogan is a Laureate recipient of the Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition in Spain. Cost $10-$20. Call 837-4993 or visit www.sainttimothysdanville.org.
A Danville woman who faces felony child endangerment in connection with leaving her two infant twins in a car last week at Stoneridge Shopping Center may have done the same thing previously. "There is some indication this has happened before," said Pleasanton police Sgt. Kurt Schlehuber.
The Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley through its affiliate has issued a call for community non-profit organizations throughout the area to apply for more than $41,000 in grants to be awarded during 2012. Ranging from $500 to $3,000, the Kiwanis grants are designed to support programs and projects that help both specific organizations and the broader community.
New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart will be in town from 6:45-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16 at Read Booksellers (3630 Blackhawk Plaza Cir., Danville). Lescroart will discuss and sign his new book, "The Hunter," a dark, intimate thriller about the price we put on family and the terrible costs of seeking the truth. Refreshments provided. Call 736-9090 or visit www.readbooksellers.com.
Join an ongoing reading, meditation and yoga group every Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The group is dedicated to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and meets at a private residence in Danville. The event is free. E-mail Samesh at shinasa@hotmail.com or call (650) 218-4223 for more information.Join an ongoing reading, meditation and yoga group every Wednesday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The group is dedicated to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and meets at a private residence in Danville. The event is free. E-mail Samesh at shinasa@hotmail.com or call (650) 218-4223.
Enjoy dinner and relax with the enchanting sounds of a 'Musical Potpourri' on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Diablo Country Club, (1700 Clubhouse Road). Cost is $38, call the country club for reservations at 837-4221. For menu or additional information visit the Danville Community Band website at www.danvilleband.org.
The Sheriff's Valley Station Office in Alamo is seeking people interested in assisting law enforcement in the community. Citizens should have a clean criminal history and would be responsible for one shift a week for four-and-a-half hours. Interested applicants should call Deputy Michael Carson or Volunteer Fred Perfetto at 837-2902.
San Ramon Valley High's Parker Deuel won the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic Cross Country National Championship race in Hoover, Alabama last Saturday.
