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And the grapes were blessed
Winegrowers, a rabbi and a minister gathered this morning in vineyards on the outskirts of Livermore for the annual Blessing of the Grapes. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association used the opportunity to unveil new wine region signage and to launch an iPhone app to help guests find their way around the Livermore Valley Wine Region. (Thursday, 5:31 PM)

Alamo Music & Wine Festival
The popular Alamo Music and Wine Festival is back Saturday, Sept. 11, at Alamo Plaza, sponsored by the Alamo Rotary Club. Families can enjoy entertainment from local bands, as well as a play zone plus food, wine and beer booths. (Thursday, 5:30 PM)

UPDATE: Gas leak briefly disrupts classes at Golden View Elementary School
A gas leak briefly caused students to be moved from two classrooms at a San Ramon elementary school this morning. (Thursday, 1:25 PM)

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Senior Awards ceremony will be magic
This year's Senior Volunteer Awards will offer something new: Renowned magician Dr. J.D. Zhang will be there to entertain. Make reservations now for a fun afternoon of awards, entertainment and refreshments. (Wednesday, 2:32 PM)

Choose Chulo
Meet Chulo, an 8-year-old neutered male American Staffordshire Terrier who is proof that appearances can be deceiving. Chulo's badly cropped ears and large frame make him look somewhat intimidating, but he is a favorite of staff and volunteers at the East County Animal Shelter. "Chulo" is a Spanish nickname for "beautiful" and Chulo's temperament is a reflection of his name. (Wednesday, 2:31 PM)

Food, wine and equine fun to help SonRise foundation
The fourth annual Wine and Equine Festival will bring together Esin Restaurant and Wente Vineyards, Murietta's Well and Drake's Brewing Company to raise money for SonRise Equestrian Foundation. It takes place from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Charles Wilhelm Training Center in Castro Valley, will also include demonstrations and a horse show. (Wednesday, 12:44 PM)

Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Simpkins gets started as Danville's new police chief
To say that Danville's newest police chief is getting "settled" into his new role might not be the correct term. Just days on the job and Steve Simpkins has dealt with a few notable incidents that have kept him busy, but he appears to be handling it well. (Tuesday, 5:11 PM)

Sample Livermore Valley's best wine this Labor Day Weekend
The Livermore Valley Wine Country's annual Labor Day weekend Harvest Celebration is back for its 29th year. From noon to 5 p.m., Sunday and Monday, Sept. 5 and 6, sample the wine, food, art and music that the more than 30 wineries are offering. (Tuesday, 4:54 PM)

Brace yourself for the heat
The high temperatures that the Valley is known for during this time of year are finally starting to pop up this summer. Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be hot ones, with temperatures expected to reach the mid 90s with variable winds of 5 to 10 mph. (Tuesday, 4:53 PM)

Today is the last day to help a local Pepsi Refresh hopeful
The Nues family of Danville is asking for the community's help in funding an important cause. No need to empty a wallet, however, just go online to vote today, Aug. 31, for the Rett Syndrome research on the Pepsi Refresh Everything website. The family, along with many others from across the United States, worked to get the votes needed earlier in the summer, and now they're trying again. (Tuesday, 11:48 AM)

Did you feel the Stampede?
After some nice playing by the girls, it was the boys turn to take part in the annual Mustang Stampede soccer tournament. The event brings in hundreds of athletes from all over the area to compete. Photos by Chris Scott/www.calsportsphoto.com. (Tuesday, 11:40 AM)

Nominate Danville projects for the 2010 Design Awards
The Town of Danville's Design Awards are back and they are looking for nominees in the two categories: Outstanding Commercial Design and Outstanding Public/Semi-Public Design. (Tuesday, 11:09 AM)

Monday, August 30, 2010
San Ramon Valley schools gear up for the future
It would be understandable if the mind went immediately to technology when considering the future of schools in the 21st century, especially given the technology that's come about in the last 25 years or so: Cell phones, personal computers and even fax machines are all relatively recent developments. (Monday, 5:03 PM)

Former Danville resident's work shown in Village gallery exhibit through Saturday
The works of Jane Burton are on display at the Village Theatre Art Gallery. Burton, who also has her work featured in galleries in San Francisco, Sonoma and Laguna Beach, said the gallery in downtown Danville is the place where she first exhibited her ceramics work several years ago. (Monday, 4:59 PM)

Danville Baseball group sues Athenian School over field use contract dispute
The Danville Baseball Association, which coordinates the Diablos' PONY Baseball for 12- to 15-year-old boys in Danville and Alamo, filed a lawsuit against Athenian School last week for early termination of a contract regarding field use at the school. (Monday, 3:50 PM)

This week's police log
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. (Monday, 3:32 PM)

Sunday, August 29, 2010
Art infused weekend
Always keeping up with the goings on in the local art scene, ArtSpace writer John Barry gives a run-down of the recent events, including the Art and Wine Stroll, the Village Theatre's gallery and the Art Lab, to name a few. Check out his report in his most recent post. (Sunday, 5:54 PM)

Two arrests made after string of area burglaries
Two men were arrested Thursday after a car chase that originated in San Ramon and ended in San Leandro. San Ramon police reportedly attempted to pull a vehicle over because its description was linked to several residential burglaries in San Ramon and surrounding communities. (Sunday, 5:44 PM)

UPDATE: Missing Diablo man returns home after being found in Monterey
Missing Alzheimer's patient Albert Marcotte, 84, returned to his Diablo home after being found on Highway 101 in Monterey, according to family. He was reportedly treated for exhaustion and dehydration upon his return home. (Sunday, 5:25 PM)

Friday, August 27, 2010
Tickets still available for Victorian Tea
There are still tickets available for the San Ramon Historic Foundation's Victorian Tea. The event honors Ruth Quayle Boone, who donated her home and 16 acres of her family farm to the City of San Ramon to be used as a historic park. (Friday, 5:40 PM)

Thousands jam Goodguys' 24th annual car show at Fairgrounds
Colorful classic cars of all makes and models filled the Alameda County Fairgrounds for the Goodguys' 24th West Coast Custom car show, which took place Aug. 27-29. In addition to cars, there were vendors of all types, plus the popular swap meet. (Friday, 5:28 PM)

School pick-ups plus car show equals downtown traffic jam
It is estimated that about 7,500 people attending this year's last Hot August Nights car show of the summer. While many enjoyed the popular event Thursday, parents of students at nearby schools were not too happy with the road closures and traffic jams. (Friday, 12:11 PM)

Thursday, August 26, 2010
Some on San Ramon City Council back manager's high pay
Some San Ramon City Council members are lining up to support Mayor Abram Wilson and City Manager Herb Moniz. Both Wilson and Moniz have come under fire recently for the city manager's salary, which, counting benefits is $356,000. That makes him the richest city manager in the Bay Area. (Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:47 PM)

Streetwise: What would you do if you came into a lot of money?
This week's question is likely one that's thought of while daydreaming, or writing a big check for car repairs. Streetwise reporter Stan Wharton headed to the Blackhawk Plaza to ask patrons: What would you do if you came into a lot of money? Click on the photos to read the responses. If you know how you would spend a big chunk 'o change, chime in with a comment below. (Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:25 PM)

SRVFPD receives international accreditation
It is official: the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is the first agency is accredited by a unanimous vote from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. The district is now the first agency in Contra Costa County and the sixth fire department in California to achieve international accreditation. (Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:25 PM)

Increased enrollment helps soften economic blow to school district
While other schools in California are facing what San Ramon school Superintendent Steve Enoch calls a "double whammy" -- drops in both enrollment and state funding -- the student population here is still going up. (Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:18 PM)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Fly to the moon with Frank
Why did we name this dog "Frank"? Because his airplane ears remind us of the Sinatra tune "Fly Me to the Moon"! Frank is a Shepherd mix with red and black fur, warm brown eyes, and some graying in his muzzle. He's a handsome boy with a beautiful smile! (Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 3:48 PM)

Danville Hotel project moving forward after some revisions
Plans for a revitalized Danville Hotel shopping area were dusted off, updated and presented at a joint meeting of the Danville Town Council, Planning Commission, Heritage resource Commission and Design Review Board. Unanimously enthusiastic, members were pleased with the design that would update the eye-sore of a property into a historically-minded retail, restaurant, office and residential hub. (Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 3:06 PM)

Smokey skies
A grassfire near Mount Diablo State Park started Tuesday and burned through into the evening as community photographer Perry Lentine captured. He shared them in the photo gallery. Have some pictures you'd like to share with Express readers? Upload them to the Danville Express photo gallery. (Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 11:59 AM)

Crews expect to contain wildfire by this afternoon
Firefighters expect to have full containment later today of a 375-acre wildfire burning near Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jim Crawford said this morning. (Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 9:45 AM)

Tree branch cleared from I-680 in Alamo
A large tree branch fell on two vehicles this morning on Interstate Highway 680 in Alamo, prompting the California Highway Patrol to issue a Sig-alert for the area, a CHP officer said. (Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 9:42 AM)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010
150-acre fire expected to burn into Tuesday evening
Firefighters, including those from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, continued to battle a 150-acre wildfire Tuesday night that ignited earlier that afternoon near Mount Diablo State Park in a rural, unincorporated area of Contra Costa County. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:13 PM)

New BART seats mean cleaner ride
Notice anything different on BART? Fifty-one railcars out of BART's 669-car fleet are being outfitted with new cobalt blue seats, replacing the sagging, dingy cushions from the metal frames. The money is coming from $750,000 in projected surplus funds for train cleaning and seat replacement. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:45 PM)

Home & Garden: Mirror, mirror on the wall
If there's one item Elegant Clutter always has in stock, it's mirrors. The latest trend is huge mirrors, called "leaners" because they are leaned against a wall, too heavy to hang. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:32 PM)

24th West Coast Nationals cruises back to Pleasanton this weekend
If the phrase "four-speed dual quad posi-traction 409" means more to you than a line from a Beach Boys' song, you might want to cruise over to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton this weekend. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:31 PM)

Remembering Virgie Jones: Alamo's historian, author, ambassador and friend
Virginia V. Jones, known as "Virgie," died Aug. 16 at the age of 92. Mrs. Jones was born in Raymond, Wash. on Nov. 26, 1917. She grew up in Berkeley, and was introduced to Alamo in the spring of 1937 by her fiancé and future husband, Al Jones. It was love at first sight - for both ... Al and Alamo. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:31 PM)

Danville Rotary helps underprivileged students start off the school year
The Danville Rotary Club recently delivered 50 backpacks to Shelter Inc. as a part of its annual backpack project to help underprivileged students in Contra Costa County. Each backpack, which was donated by Bob Garcia of Creative Imaging, was stuffed with binders, folders, lined paper, pencils, pens and other school supplies. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:30 PM)

UPDATE: Water features reopend at Hap Magee Ranch Park
After unclogging a drain line, crews turned on the water features at Hap Magee Ranch Park. This is a good sign for anyone wanting to cool off today, one one of the hottest days of the summer. (Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 11:39 AM)

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