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Page 8 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com October 22, 2010 Learn to Ride Children, Teens, Adults English, Western & Trail Established 1971 1350 Castle Rock Rd. Walnut Creek (925) 937-7661 TThaannksggiviing WWeeek Campp November 22 23, 24, 26 Scout Sessions/Rider’s Badge Approved by Girl Scouts of N. California with required insurance Birthday Parties See website for details www.castlerockarabians.com Meet the Rep Day Oct. 28: 11:30 am to 2 pm at Cruise Adventures Unlimited Serving all cruise lines since 1987 Enter to win a $500 gift certificate Celebrity Cruises Special Offers, 10/28 - 11/04 • $100 OBC for Veranda bookings made 10/28 • $50 per person value booklet • $80 Spa Robe for any Europe booking • $50 OBC for Europe Sailings • $200 OBC for Alaska Cruisetour bookings Royal Caribean Special Offers, 10/28 - 11/04 • Reduced Deposit on all sailings • Passport to Savings Booklets (valued up to $150) • Bath Robes for any Junior Suite or higher RSVP to (925) 935-7447 Owners Valerie O’Connell (Clayton resident, 30 years) 1610 Locust St., Walnut Creek & daughter Colleen O’Connell www.cruiseadventuresunlimited.com Law Offices of Richard A. Littorno Since 1979 Legal Services: �� Probate and Trust Administration and Litigation �� Living Trusts and Wills �� Medi-Cal & VA Planning �� Elder Abuse Litigation �� Conservatorships �� Tax Planning & Preparation �� General Business Transactions �� Asset Protection Strategies Clayton Office: 6160 Center St., Suite D Clayton, CA 94517 Phone: (925) 672-6463 Richard@LittornoLaw.com CST 2074362-40 My family is thinking about Q installing a pool in our back yard. We have plenty of room in our yard and we all love water activities. We have never had a pool before. Would this be a good investment? A pool is not a financial A LYNNE FRENCH REAL ANSWERS investment, but it is an investment in your quality of life. Since you have never had a pool before, you should investigate what it might entail both in expense and upkeep. In an area like ours, where you will get many months’ use, a pool can be an attractive feature when selling a home. Some buyers only want a home with a pool. On the other hand, some buyers won’t consider a home with a pool. These are often people who have had a pool in the past and don’t want the upkeep any longer. Pool is a fun option, if you consider all costs If you simply want one for your family’s enjoyment, then go for it after checking out the actual expense. The first thing, of course, is installation fees. On the very low end, that could be $25,000- $50,000 and up, depending on the options you want. Experts estimate that pools can cost $3,000-$5,000 in maintenance a year. If something goes wrong, say the filters or pump need to be replaced, costs can quickly add up. When it needs to be resurfaced, it could cost more than $10,000. If you wanted to upgrade the tile, decking or plaster, that could cost up to $20,000. If at some point you wanted to remove the pool, it can cost more than $15,000. Knowing all this, pools are still always in demand. They may be costly, but quality of life is priceless. What is all this I am hearing Q about banks suspending foreclosures? Is this a strategy to improve the housing market? I am trying to time the sale of my house. This moratorium on fore- Aclosures isn’t a strategy to control the market, but it will definitely affect the market. In California, most foreclosures are conducted as non-judicial foreclosures or trustee sales. This means that they don’t involve a court process to foreclose. Twenty-three states that have judicial foreclosures are suspending them due to problems with the signing of declarations in connection with these. Bank of America, however, has suspended theirs in 50 states to see if lenders have complied with other legally required procedures. They want to insure that homes weren’t improperly foreclosed on and are following state law. Other banks may follow suit. Some legislators are pushing for a nationwide moratorium on foreclosure sales. In the short run, this could improve the market because there won’t be as many foreclosed properties on the market for competition. The problem is the “shadow inventory” will still be increasing. These moratoriums will postpone the recovery because we need the inventory to be absorbed to begin normal appreciation. Are there any new “health Q and safety” items I need to know before I sell my home? One new law is coming up A soon. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently signed into law Senate Bill 183, which will require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in single family homes by Jan. 1, 2011. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-8787 or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton. What doesn’t kill them makes them stronger The kids are back to school and I am not sure if I am happy about it or not. On one hand they are out of the house for 7 hours a day, but on the other there is homework, school projects, soccer, piano, etc. I can’t keep up. Then I think on Pittsburg Office: 2211 Railroad Ave. Pittsburg, CA 94565 Phone: (925) 432-4211 www.LittornoLaw.com the other facet of fall. Those little Petri dishes we call children are repeatedly passing germs amongst themselves and bringing them home. It makes me want to put up a decontamination room in our entryway for the kids to go through when they get home each day. Fall is also the time of year where we see a rise in the number of patients who travel to their doctor’s office and to the emergency room requesting antibiotics for a cough, runny nose etc. Remember back in the day when you would go to your doctor and they would give you antibiotics at a drop of the hat? “You have a cough and runny nose for one day? Here, have a 10 day course of antibiotics.” “You feel like you may be getting sick? Let me write you a prescription.” Well, the times have changed. Now in order to get antibiotics, you practically have to beg, plead, and cry. However, your doctor should hold firm to the American Medical Association criteria, the CDC and the World Health Organization’s recommendations by withholding such antimicrobials unless they are absolutely indicated. DR. DAVID BIRDSALL YOUR HEALTH OVERUSE CREATES SUPER BUGS The reason for this is that we have created, and we are continuing to create, a legion of super bugs; bacteria that are resistant to many and sometimes all of our antibiotics – bacteria like MRSA (methicillin resistant staphlococcus), VRE, gonorrhea, penicillin resistant streptococcal pneumonia, and some strains of tuberculosis. These bacteria are mutating at alarming rates far exceeding our ability to create new antibiotics. The medical community’s overuse of antibiotics has set about Darwinism on a cellular level. What doesn’t kill them makes them stronger. As in animals, bacteria select out and propagate those traits that improve the chance of survival for all like bacteria. For example, if an antibiotic doesn’t kill a bug because of the bacteria’s cell wall make up, that bacteria will create more of its kind. This leads to super bugs. The more super bugs there are the more likely they will share their special resistance genes among bacteria and the more likely they will spread among humans. Likewise, the overuse of broad-spectrum “strong” antibiotics (those antibiotics that kill a number of different bugs) can lead to cross-resistance. This means that if certain bacterium is resistant to a certain antibiotic, it will also be resistant to other antibiotics in the same class. That is why if your doctor does choose to use antibiotics it is important for her to use antibiotics that have a narrow spectrum of activity so that if resistance does develop it will be to fewer antibiotics. It is important to note that antibiotics are only effective against bacteria and not viruses such as the common cold and your typical stomach flu. As well, not all bacterial infections See Health, page 17
October 22, 2010 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com Page 9 New shop in Concord offers the right clothes for the right job PAMELA WIESENDANGER Clayton Pioneer East Bay Work Wear is a family affair, with owner Glenn Moffatt and his wife Robin managing the store and son Nick ordering and updating the website from college. This is the Moffatts’ “first Summer balcony upgrades from just $99. $99. * It’s a great time to book a 2011 Europe cruise and land & sea vacation! Don’t miss this chance to experience captivating Europe from your own balcony stateroom, with upgrades from just $99 per person! Enjoy an amazing Venice sunset or the stunning scenery of the Norwegian fjords — all from the tranquility of your balcony stateroom. While in port, explore the ancient wonders and the calming cliff-side views of the Mediterranean or the majestic castles, cathedrals and picturesque landscapes of Northern Europe and Russia. retail thing,” although they have been in the business of good customer service for 15 years with Glenn’s Auto Body in Antioch. After selling that GLENN AND ROBIN MOFFATT, OWNERS OF EAST BAY WORK WEAR, with sales manager Gary White bring a legacy of good customer service to new venture. business, Glenn recognized a niche for one-stop shopping for work clothes – heavy duty, safety or uniform-specific attire, accessories or footwear. Customers of work-specific clothing are brand loyal to insure quality, safety and comfort. “If a tow truck driver has to lie down in the pouring rain, he doesn’t want to get wet,” says Robin. “A welder doesn’t want to catch on fire. They need clothing to protect them.” Ordering parts for the auto body business prepared the Moffatts for purchasing different brands, sizes and styles of clothing and footwear for their new business. Networking resulted in the right vendor contacts. East Bay Work Wear opened three months ago behind the Park ’N’ Shop center in Concord. “A lot of people know what they want, they just have to find the store,” says Robin. East Bay Work Wear is at 1950 Market St., Concord. For more information, call 687-9900. Seniors a high risk group in flu season KELLY FERRO SENIOR MOMENTS The flu is a contagious infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by the influenza virus. In temperate climates, influenza A usually arrives between early winter and early spring. Influenza B can appear at any time of the year. The most common way to catch the flu is by breathing in droplets from coughs or sneezes. The flu can also be spread by touching a surface such as a door knob or phone that has the virus on it and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms can appear one to seven days later, but most commonly within a few days. The flu spreads through the air and is very contagious. It often strikes a community all at once, causing an epidemic illness. This results in many school absences and missed employment. Seniors who live in a senior living community need to be diligent about hand washing and wiping down surfaces as this is a community in itself. Tens of millions of people in the United States get the flu each year. Most get better within a week or two, but many become ill enough to need a stay in the hospital. About 36,000 people die each year from complications from the flu. The flu usually begins abruptly with a fever of 102- 106 degrees. Often an adult will have a fever lower than that of a child. This fever can last for a day or two but can last as many as five days. Other common symptoms include body aches, chills, dizziness, headache, lack of energy, nausea and vomiting. Between two and four days, the “whole body” symptoms begin to subside and respiratory symptoms increase. The most common respiratory symptom is usually a dry hacking cough. Runny nose and sneezing are also among “The flu spreads through the air and is very contagious. It often strikes a community all at once, causing an epidemic illness. This results in many school absences and missed employment.” these symptoms, which usually disappear within four to seven days. Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, muscle aches, stiffness and sweating. Treatment for a mild case of the flu and for those not at high risk includes plenty of rest, taking medications that relieve symptoms and help you rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and avoiding aspirin (especially teens and children), alcohol, tobacco and antibiotics (unless necessary for another illness). Most individuals who get seasonal flu will likely recover without needing medical care. Those at high risk, such as seniors, should talk to a doctor about getting a flu vaccine. The shot is normally given at the beginning of the flu season, late October or early November in the United States. The flu shot is approved for those individuals 6 months and older. During this season, take every precaution to stay healthy. Talk to your doctor and take steps to be the best you can be this winter. Kelly Ferro is a marketing director for Aegis Living. Send comments or questions to kelly.ferro@aegisliving.com Onboard you’ll discover freshly-prepared cuisine, warm welcoming service and a relaxed, rejuvenating retreat for which Princess Cruises ® is renowned. Hurry! This offer won’t last — contact your travel agent to book your 2011 Europe cruise and land & sea vacation today! * “From $99 upgrades” refer to an upgrade from lead-in unobstructed oceanview staterooms to balcony staterooms for select sailings. Upgrades for other sailings may be higher. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount, including shipboard credits. See the applicable Princess Cruises’ brochure or princess.com for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Please reference promotion code: RGA/RGB. ©2010 Princess Cruises. Ships of Bermudan Registry. Work Clothes Medical Scrubs Back to School 1950 Market Street, Suite I, Concord Located behind Park & Shop, next to Fry’s, 687-9900 across from BMW. Mon. - Fri. 10am - 8pm Sat. 10am - 7pm Mention this ad & Sun.11am - 5pm Receive a FREE gift with purchase while supplies last Ken Mitolo CONSTRUCTION BATHROOMS KITCHENS DOORS WINDOWS Certified Weed & Fire Abatement CA Lic. #531028, Est. 1987 (925) 672-2460 Serving the Clayton community for 20 years Clayton Resident For reservations or information call (925) 672-9840 Clayton Station Shopping Ctr. 5439 Clayton Rd., Ste. F Experience the difference! Luxury Tour Experts CST #2033054-40 FIREPLACES MOLDINGS DECKS LIGHTING Monthly/Weekly Lawn & Landscape Maintenance Programs Main 672-4975 Lisa Tonti 933-8606 Grace Pruett 864-7944 � Lawn, Shrub & Garden Care � Irrigation Repair � Tree Service – ISA Certified Arborist on Staff Save 15% off All Yard Clean-Up Not valid with any other coupon. $50 Off Any Landscaping Service of $300 or more. Not valid with any other coupon. FREE ESTIMATES Main Street Nail Studio FALL SPECIALS $10 off * acrylic new set $5 off * acrylic fill Refer 2 friends to Lisa, get 1 acrylic fill free *New clients only 6064 Main Street in Clayton
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