http://danvilleexpress.com If it is local and useful, it is on DanvilleExpress.com. en-us 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. ]]> Take the family to visit the USS Hornet, a restored aircraft carrier in Alameda. The USS Hornet served in WWII and recovered the Apollo 11 astronauts. Tour the bridge, hangar deck, engine room, navigation bridge, captain's bridge, primary flight control, and flight deck, or ride the flight simulator. The Hornet is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults; $12 for seniors; $12 for military and students with ID; $6 for youth ages 5-17; and children 5 years and younger are free. Parking is free. The USS Hornet is located at Pier 3, 707 W. Hornet Ave., Alameda. Call (510) 521-8448 or visit www.uss-hornet.org.]]> 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. ]]> A gourmet food truck festival will be held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds (4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton) on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 4-8 p.m. The festival will feature food trucks, beer, wine, margaritas and live music along with warm, lit indoor seating. Among the mobile gourmets: Chairman Bao, We Sushi, Brass Knuckle, Nom Nom (from the Great Food Truck Race), Little Green Cyclo, Kara's Cupcakes, That's Sweet and Golden Waffle. $5 admission and children are free. Visit www.gourmetfoodtruckfestival.com.]]> Call him neither black nor African American. Renowned poet Ishmael Reed, who is appearing Sunday afternoon at the Firehouse Arts Center in honor of Black History Month, thinks all Americans should be referred to as "Pan-Americans."]]> 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.]]> Through April 28, the Museum of San Ramon Valley will display a distinctive and eclectic variety of over fifty collections from hunters and gatherers both young and old. Located at 205 Railroad Avenue in Danville, exhibit hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1-4 p.m. and from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays.]]> 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.]]> In this week's Raucous Caucus educator and recruiter Tom Cushing discusses the heated GOP race. "It gets way too much coverage, methinks, as stern-looking pundits dissect every odd moment and outrageous charge, and re-handicap the sweeps, moment-by-moment," Cushing writes. "I will suggest that these Republican candidates and this process bode very well for the Democratic opposition."]]> A Caltrans spokesman confirmed this morning that the upper deck of the Bay Bridge's eastern span will be closed over the coming three-day weekend. During the closure, motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes or public transit, which will be beefed up with additional ferries and overnight BART service at some stations. However, BART train service will run hourly and only serve 14 of BART's 44 stations.]]> 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.]]> In conjunction with Valentine's Day, San Jose community leaders launched the PulsePoint citizen first responder mobile phone application designed to alert CPR-trained users to a victim in cardiac arrest. After a year working to get the app in the San Jose Fire service area, the district and El Camino Hospital unveiled the application at a news conference. ]]> After several heated forums about a possible school facilities bond, San Ramon Valley Unified's Board of Education met Tuesday morning to discuss the realities of implementing a measure to improve school infrastructure. While most residents surveyed believe that the district can be trusted to properly manage tax dollars, 85 percent said the quality of school facilities are excellent or good an 61 percent believe there is great or some need for additional funding. ]]> San Damiano (710 Highland Dr., Danville) welcomes gay, lesbian, bi-sexua, and transgendered people to a day of prayer and dialogue in this peaceful and beautiful setting from on Sunday, Feb. 19 from 1-5 p.m. This is an afternoon for shared stories of faith and community. Family members and friends are welcome as well at this free event. Call 837-9141, ext. 315 or visit www.sandamiano.org.]]> The Amgen Tour of California will be back in the Tri-Valley on May 15, passing through Walnut Creek, Danville and Clayton before completing the Stage 3 finish in Livermore.]]> Several students at San Ramon Valley High School donned "Some gave all, all gave some" t-shirts on Friday during a lunchtime fundraiser to benefit fallen soldiers. Along with parent representatives of the class of 2010, the students sold shirts and sweatshirts to raise money for the Semper Fi Foundation and Danville fallen soldier memorial.]]> The American Red Cross will hold a public blood drive from noon-6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, in the American Red Cross Bus at Dundracon, San Ramon Marriott (2600 Bishop Dr., San Ramon). Use sponsor code "Dundracon" when scheduling an appointment. Call 800-733-2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.]]> Improv troupe Trapped in a Rumor will perform at the Village Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. These unrehearsed, unprepared shows are fast-paced, funny, energetic and rated PG-13. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Call 314-3400 or visit www.villagetheatreshows.com.]]> 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. ]]> Walnut Creek police arrested a caretaker for the elderly on Saturday who they suspect has been defrauding her clients, police said. Employees at the Target at 1871 N. Main St. contacted police at around 1 p.m. when two women tried to make a purchase that seemed suspicious.
]]> 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.]]> 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.]]> The San Ramon Valley Fire District's chief quietly retired on Jan. 11 after six years with the department. At a district board meeting on Jan. 25, Richard Price announced that he would continue his duties as chief but with virtually no pay and no benefits.]]> College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods does not take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Featuring Broadway star Bailey Hanks as Elle, "Legally Blonde" has performances Friday, Feb. 10 - Saturday, March 3 at Lesher Center for the Arts (Hofmann Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek). Call 943-SHOW 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 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.]]> They don't call him King Kong for nothing! This domestic short hair male is a big love bug at 21 pounds. This 4- 1/2-year-old seeks affection and is looking for "someone who enjoys quiet times and togetherness." ]]> 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. ]]> This week's data represents homes sold during April 2011]]> The pendulum on mortgage credit has swung too far in the other direction ]]> 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. ]]> Zach Kline, quarterback for the SRVHS Wolves, earned Honorable Mention to All-EBAL Team.]]>