Walking Club
The walking group meets every Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. on the side parking lot of Target in San Ramon.
Thank you,
Sharon M
San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club
Hiking, Arts & Crafts, Wine Club, Book Club, Cooking, Golf, Poker, Bridge, Bunco, LuncheonsBrione Reservoir Hike
Last Friday, May 23rd we hiked along Brione Reservoir in Orinda. We hiked an hour out–well almost–until our hike was abruptly cut a little short by the sound of a rattlesnake. There was no mistaking the sound–like a can with dry beans being shaken. I didn’t see the snake but Chris T, who was leading the group at the time, did. She didn’t stick around long as the trail was narrow at that point. After that any rustle of leaves made by lizards made us raise our alert. Other hikers were April R., Suzy R., Barbara C., new member Ginny W.,and Sharon K. Welcome to the club Ginny.
The day was perfect for hiking. The skies were blue and the weather cool, a welcome relief from the 90 degree weather we experienced last week. We hiked along the blue green reservoir among the ferns. We saw a lot of sticky monkey flower, a bright orange wind poppy, a new white flower, columbine, blue witch, Wally basket, onion, yellow yarrow, coral root, and star flowers.
There were quite a few checkerspot butterflies.
Afterwards we enjoyed lunch at the Bagel Street Cafe.
Happy Trails, Sharon
Spring Welcome Coffee
San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club requests the pleasure of your company at the Spring Welcome Coffee
Thursday,June 5, 2008 - 10:00 - 1200 noon
At the home of Pat Shockley, 419 Summer Creek Lane, San Ramon, CA
RSVP: Pat Shockley 925-867-1533It is the perfect time of year to start the day with some friendly conversation over coffee and some homemade treats. Learn all about what this fun social club has to offer, while making some new friendships. There are many upcoming social events planned for us, including Arts &Crafts, Books, Bridge, Bunco, Cooking, Gad-Abouts, Golf, Beginning Golf, Lunch Bunch, Mah-Jongg, Needlework, Winetasting,Couples Restaurant Review and Hiking .
Whether you are new to the area, or a long time resident, we welcome you and look forward to meeting you.
Please join us!
(Interested friends and neighbors are also most welcome!)
Directions to Pat’s :
Exit 680, at Bollinger Canyon Rd. and go EAST on Bollinger Canyon Rd.; RIGHT on Alcosta Blvd., RIGHT at second traffic light called North Summerwood Loop ; RIGHT on the “fifth street” called Summer Creek Lane
June Luncheon with Speaker H. Abram Wilson, Mayor of San Ramon
Mayor Wilson has served on the Arts Council (10 years) Parks & Community Service Comm. (16 years) and City Council for 9 years and Mayor for 5. He is a member of the Board for the Sentinels of Freedom, Board of Directors for DVC, and Board of Directors for CC County Mayors Association. He was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the East Bay Leadership foundation.
Mayor Wilson and his family have been residents of the City of San Ramon for twenty-nine years.
Where: Crow Canyon Country Club, Jack London Lounge, Danville
When: Thursday, June 19
Time: 11:30 am Social Time 12 Noon Luncheon
See the June newsletter for more details
Mayor H. Abram Wilson and his family have been residents of the City of San Ramon for twenty-nine years.
Mayor Wilson has served in the capacity of Wells Fargo Bank’s Vice-President, Federal Funds Trader. He later joined Bank of America, LLC as Principle and Senior Account Executive.
Mayor Wilson continued his public service for the City of San Ramon by joining the San Ramon Arts Council as a member for 10 years as President for 3 years. Mayor Wilson was appointed to the City of San Ramon Parks and Community Services Commission in 1989 serving for 16 years, Chairman three terms.
Mayor Wilson was elected to the San Ramon City Council in November 1999, appointed Mayor in 2002, and became the City of San Ramon’s first elected Mayor in 2003. He was re-elected in 2005.
He is a Member of the Board for the Sentinels of Freedom Organization adopting service men and women who have been disabled in Iraq with housing, employment, transportation, and help in coming back into the general society. Mayor Wilson is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Mayor Wilson is currently on the Foundation Board of Directors for Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA. (2007-2008) He is a past chair (2007) and now serving on the Board of Directors for Contra Costa County Mayors Conference.
Mayor Wilson has been recognized as the 2008 “Citizen of the Year” by the East Bay Leadership Foundation for his individual efforts to improve the economic vitality and quality of life in San Ramon as well as outside the San Ramon borders.
H. Abram Wilson is currently campaigning for the Assembly in the 15th Assembly District.
Book Club Update
When: Jun. 24 - Tuesday
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: Karen C., 15 Chardonnay Ct., Danville, CA
RSVP” Karen @ 330-1236 by Monday, Jun. 23
Directions to Karen’s: North on 680, exit Sycamore Valley and go East 4 miles. Turn left on Woodranch; left on Tuscany and left on Chardonnay Ct.
Our book will be The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. This is a shocking autobiography by a woman whose parents end up homeless in New York City. Their path to homelessness is often interesting and unpredictable due to their unique philosophy of life or mental illness or both.
We welcome new members so think about attending one of our meetings. If you have any questions (except to RSVP), please call the Chairperson, Suzanne Ziarnik.
Coming up in July - Lost and Found by Jacqueline Sheehan
A poignant and unforgettable tale of love, loss, and moving on . . . with the help of one not-so-little dog.
Rocky’s husband Bob was just forty-two when she discovered him lying cold and lifeless on the bathroom floor . . . and Rocky’s world changed forever. Quitting her job, chopping off all her hair, she leaves Massachusetts—reinventing her past and taking a job as Animal Control Warden on Peak’s Island, a tiny speck off the coast of Maine and a million miles away from everything she’s lost. She leaves her career as a psychologist behind, only to find friendship with a woman whose brain misfires in the most wonderful way and a young girl who is trying to disappear. Rocky, a quirky and fallible character, discovers the healing process to be agonizingly slow.
But then she meets Lloyd, a large black Labrador retriever, Lloyd enters Rocky’s world with a primitive arrow sticking out of his shoulder. And so begins a remarkable friendship between a wounded woman and a wounded, lovable beast. As the unraveling mystery of Lloyd’s accident and missing owner leads Rocky to an archery instructor who draws her in even as she finds every reason to mistrust him, she discovers the life-altering revelation that grief can be transformed . . . and joy does exist in unexpected places.
August - No meeting
Ring Mountain Hike
This Friday, May 9th, we enjoyed a leisurely day of hiking at Ring Mountain Nature Preserve in Corte Madera.
The weather was warm and the sky blue but slightly hazy. We had several guests and newer members with us today enjoying the 360 degree view on top of the 600 ft. hill called Ring Mountain. We searched for the elusive Tiburon Mariposa Lily that only grows at this preserve but alas it remained elusive. There were many other flowers to enjoy including flax, checkbloom mallow, Wally baskets, several kinds of lupines, CA poppies, madia, rattlesnake grass, tidy tips, blue eyed grass, sunflowers, coyote mint, and more. The hillsides were not as heavily covered with wildflowers as in past years. The grasses were tall and golden. It appears that we were too late for many of them. It has been a very dry spring all over the bay area.
We hiked to the top where we could see the city in the distance along with Belvedere, San Quentin, Richmond San Raphael Bridge, a tiny island near the bridge (it’s for sale). We hiked to petroglyph rock where Emmie I. (soon to be new member) climbed to the top.
Today’s hikers were Barbara C., Gretta T., Jacky H., Rose T., Suzy R., Sharon K. and Thang I. Guests were Emmie L., Sheri S., and Tina H. Welcome to the club Thang. Emmie is joining us soon.
After lunch we enjoyed lunch by the water at Sam’s in Tiburon, What a wonderful way to end the day. Thank you Jacky for driving!
Happy Trails, Sharon
Lunch at Bosco’s Bones and Brew after Friday Hike
It has been decided that we will go to Bosco’s after our Friday hike.
To make it easy we will divide the bill evenly. If this isn’t okay with you let me know ahead of time. So far we only have one person needing to get back to the park and ride right after the hike but that may change. Please let me know if you are one of these people. The restaurant is really close to Sunol Regional Park. I am thinking we will probably be at the restaurant for about an hour or a little longer. Barbara J. has sent us this restaurant review.
Happy Trails, Sharon
President’s Farewell
This is the third time I’ve written my “last” President’s letter. Each time I get sentimental and philosophical. This is no exception.
Every time I write about how easy this job is and how rewarding. Well it still is. However most of it has not been my doing. My spinal surgery last March was supposed to be just a couple of months to recuperate. Well, it wasn’t. But you, my wonderful SRVNC friends, made it work. I never saw anyone who didn’t offer their help and support. And still does. I love this group and I am so grateful I found it. I will still be on the board because I want to give back and volunteer wherever I am needed. The best news is, however, that Jan McArdle will be President. I can’t wait to work with her-altho I have been for years as she always was there in any capacity. Good luck Jan!!
Just to clear up some business. There has been some confusion about the dues and when you owe it. The board has come up with a fair way to handle dues from women who join after the year (June) starts. We will collect 2$ per month for every month til the end of the year-whether you join in August or March. Our budget year starts in June and so do our dues. I hope that clears that up.
We are still looking for a Gad-A-Bouts chair. It isn’t that hard and we have notebooks of places to go-many of which was arrived at my a member survey. Most of the time it requires just choosing the place, write up a notice, and take reservations. It doesn’t have to be every month, but this group has always been a club favorite and attracts many new members. Think about it.
Thank you all for helping make me “look good” as your president. I could never do it without you all. Jan, you will be a great leader and I can’t wait to work at your side.
Hugs,
Myrna
Oyster Point Trail Hike
This Friday, April 18, we hiked out from Finley Rd in Morgan Territory. It was another clear day for hiking. The road where we parked was lined with California poppies, a promise of more wildflowers to be seen on the trail. We hiked along a wooded trail until we reached the old abandoned house on the left side of the trail where our single track trail, Oyster Point Trail, headed left.
We almost immediately crossed a small stream with a huge tree that was showing its eroded roots. From there, it was up, up, and more up–much of it fairly steep. The hills were still very green in this area. We were treated with some lovely dark purple larkspur along the trail as well as bright yellow buttercups. The group began to spread out as we went at our own pace. One group made a good spot of the Diablo Fairy Lantern, native only to this area. We also saw some owls clover, a few Wally baskets, and fiddle necks. We didn’t get far enough to see Blackhawk as I thought we might but we could look down on Finley Rd and see the small speck of the house where we had turned onto our Oyster Point Trail. For many of us the turn around after an hour came too early. The trail was finally leveling off a bit and we were getting our second wind. We hiked for a total of two hours.slideshow
We had 13 hikers today including three new members Debby Allen, Barbara Christensen and Suzy Renteln. Welcome to you all. The other hikers were Lois T., Shirley A., Gretta, Barbara J., Jacky H., Rose T., Cathy K., Cindy, April, and Sharon
Our deepest sympathy goes out to April at the passing of her father.
Happy Trails, Sharon
Wine Night @ the Jardines
The video below says it all, but here is the list of wines that Gil & Bobbi Jardine shared with the group on Friday night.
Wines From Gil’s Cellar- Wine Appreciation Group, 4/19/2008
Argentina: 2005 Altos Las Hormigas Mendoza Reserva Vina Hormigas: The Wine Spectator: Very ripe, but also racy, with an exotic array of graphite, tar, sweet dark chocolate, plum, fig and violet. Has great structure and drive through the grip-filled finish. Drink through 2009– 3000 cases made
France (Bordeaux) : 2000 Chateau Siran Grand Cru Exceptionnel Margaux: The Wine Spectator: A lovely wine from this château. Aromas of crushed blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long refreshing finish. Very racy. Best after 2009. 6,665 cases made.– Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.
Simi Landslide Cabernet Sauvignon 2001: Alexander Valley: The Wine Spectator A delicious Cabernet at a terrific price—smooth, rich and juicy, with tiers of lively black cherry, wild berry and blackberry fruit that are deeply concentrated with a supple, elegant mouth feel. The tannins show some grip on the finish and a nice dusty, cedary oak quality adds a note of complexity. Best from 2005 through 2011. The Wine Enthusiast: This fabulously complex wine shows how you can merge power and nuance with the most complex and satisfying results… Shows an exciting finesse throughout– hard to exaggerate the quality. A perfect companion at the table.
Michel Magnien: 2002 Gevrey-Chambertin—Les Seuvrees Vielles Vignes: The Wine Advocate (89 - 90 Points): This is a fabulous single-vineyard wine that showcases Gevrey-Chambertin’s special terroir. The 2002 has unquestionable concentration and strength, yet it maintains Pinot Noir’s regal character. The aromas kick off our magical mystery tour with blackberries and toasty oak, while the flavors of medium-bodied dark fruit, herbs and a bit of tar lead to a hefty dose of smooth, ripe tannins. The smooth, round flavors make this a nice match with roast chicken and even grilled fish.
2002 Acacia Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros: Deep ruby red color. The nose exhibits a delicate balance between primary fruit and rich, meaty, savory notes. A deep, black cherry aroma intermingles with subtle blackberry, cassis, roasted meat, wet earth and Provençal herb notes. The wine is creamy and mouth-filling on entry with a strong cola impression at mid-palate that leads to vanilla and tar on the long, broad, red cherry finish.
Yalumba Museum Reserve Antique Tawny Dessert Wine (Australia): The Wine Advocate: The medium amber-hued non-vintage Museum Reserve Antique Tawny, which has had more than 15 years of oak aging, is a sensational fortified that could easily be confused with a high quality, 20- to 25-year-old Tawny Port. Delicious notes of prunes, sweet raisins, over-ripe strawberries, and caramel soar from the glass of this incredibly intense wine.
