$50 includes crab, 50/50 raffle, prizes, and DJ Wategate. Proceeds support sports programs at MDHS. Support and recognize the efforts of student athletes from past and present. Provide additional opportunities for local athletes and assist in building school spirit and pride. Call to reserve tickets 671-0703 or RSVP by e-mail. Send Checks made to MDHSSHOF to 1532 Maynard, Concord 94519; Tickets held at door.

The Food Bank needs the help of many volunteers to complete the required number of surveys during the specified time period. We will be conducting interviews everywhere. You do not need to be an experienced social scientist! You just need to be able to read out loud, listen sympathetically and record the answers people give to the questions. We provide two and a half hours of training for all volunteers which includes practice using the survey instrument. We will make every attempt to schedule times and places for you to interview that are convenient for you.

We last did a Hunger Survey in 2005. There have been lots of changes in our communities since then. But hunger is still here. Please help us discover the details about why people need to come to our programs. If you are interested in helping with the Hunger Survey, please let Lindsay know at 707-421-9777 or 925-676-7543 x204.

Hofwegen, a resident of Concord has extensive experience in Central America and North America as a senior pastor and community leader. Clark said in her e-mail to the community, “Mike brings the kind of experience in visionary leadership and program development that will serve the Monument Community very well. Mike can be contacted through Monument Futures’ main phone number at 925-682-8248 or his email address mike@monumentfutures.org.”

Clark thanked the “to hundreds of immigrants who have been members or students of Monument Futures, and thanks to many others in our community, we have proven we are all better than we think we are. People who are part of Monument Futures have changed a piece of the world by giving each other the benefit of the doubt, by acting on the conviction that no problem is unsolvable, and by holding each other accountable to our best values.” She said would continue with her consulting business.

On December 10, CBO Center will sponsor a Board Governance Workshop from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center in Walnut Creek. $85 includes lite dinner and seminar materials. REGISTER.

A $10 entry fee entitles you to play against other contestants in either a Beginner or Advanced Bracket. $50 Best Buy gist certificate for winner of Beginner Bracket, and $100 Best Buy certificate for winner of Advanced Bracket. All proceeds from entry fee go directly to STAND.

The Monument Crisis Center is a non-profit community based organization that provides assistance to at- risk families, children , seniors and individuals in Central Contra Costa County. The mission of the center is to provide food, offer help and referrals in crisis situations and promote community awareness of needs and available resources.

Food and monetary donations are welcome. Please park offisite to leave room for guests with special needs. RSVP at: mcc1280@sbcglobal.net or phone 925-825-7751 x 106

It is so important for caregivers to find ways to sustain themselves while they take on the tasks of being there for their loved one with cancer. Dottie is an example of how to do just that The Balancing Act is an extension of The Star Campaign, an initiative launched last summer that enables patients and survivors to recognize and share the stories of their Stars–their caregivers. The inspiring stories of caregiving featured in the book have been chosen from more than 300 Star Walk of Fame entries on www.starcampaign.org.

Dottie’s story exemplifies Tip #1–Find a Caregiver Support System. Soon after her husband Andy’s diagnosis, Dottie began attending TWC’s caregiver support groups. It didn’t take long for her to realize the value in talking to other caregivers who shared similar experiences. Andy loved to see how these weekly support groups rejuvenated Dottie. “We were in this journey together and it was comforting to see that she was getting the support she needed also.” Dottie joins others to shed light on caregiving experiences that often go unnoticed.

“It is so important for caregivers to find ways to sustain themselves while they take on the tasks of being there for their loved one with cancer. Dottie is an example of how to do just that,” says Margaret Stauffer, MFT, Program Director.

The Wellness Community San Francisco East Bay, located in Walnut Creek, provides a comprehensive program of education and support for both people with cancer and their loved ones. Services include support groups led by therapist facilitators, educational programs on a variety of topics related to managing treatment and recovery from cancer, and creative expression, stress reduction and specialized exercise programs such as yoga and guided imagery. These services are provided free of charge in order to be as accessible as possible to families in their time of need.

In conjunction with the book’s launch, TWC today released the results of a new national cancer caregiver and patient/survivor survey. These findings provide insight into the needs of caregivers and affirm the need for a strong cancer caregiver network. Some key survey findings are as follows:

While patients and caregivers seek assistance from and ask questions of doctors, fewer than one in four caregivers are aware of the potential resources available to them after their loved one’s initial diagnosis. While doctors or other medical professionals walked six in ten (62%) cancer patients/survivors through resources available to them during the initial diagnosis, fewer than one in four caregivers (24%) were walked through caregiver resources.

Many cancer patients and caregivers still have questions after the initial doctor visit. More than three-quarters of cancer patients (77%) and caregivers (79%) said they had questions about the disease or treatment after the initial doctor visit.

Cancer patients rely on many other resources for support and information during their cancer experience. Patients are most apt to rely on different types of people during their cancer experience, particularly family members. Nearly nine in ten report they turned to family members during their cancer experience, while eight in ten turned to doctors and friends. Approximately three in four cancer patients/survivors (78%) and caregivers (72%) went to a Web site specifically to learn more about the illness.

These results reflect the growing need for resources to educate both patients and caregivers about the cancer experience. To order your free copy of The Balancing Act, visit www.starcampaign.org. The Star Campaign and The Balancing Act: Tips for the Caregiver are made possible thanks to a charitable donation from GlaxoSmithKline Oncology.

The Wellness Community San Francisco East Bay, based in Walnut Creek, CA, helps people with cancer and their loved ones enhance health and well-being by providing a professional program of emotional support, education, and hope. The Wellness Community offers free comprehensive programs include cancer support groups, educational workshops and stress reduction classes.

For more information, contact: Margaret Stauffer, The Wellness Community (SF/East Bay), 925-933-0107

Many schools and organizations in Contra Costa County are offering free, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the summer including sites in Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, Bay Point, Richmond, and San Pablo. Summer food programs work by providing free meals and snacks to children and teens ages 18 and younger when school is not in session.

Of the students eligible to receive free or reduce priced meals during the school year, 66.7% in Contra Costa are NOT participating in the Summer Food Program. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that more than 17 million children received free or reduced-price school meals during the 2007 school year, but only 3.3 million children received summer meals.

Visit www.foodbankccs.org and click on the link for more information about summer lunch to find a location near you.