Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Judge ruled out LA trip to Dr. Phil McGraw's television show for police corruption defendant.
Contra Costa's most famous criminal defendant wanted to go on the Dr. Phil show in Los Angeles and get some therapy. One federal judge granted the permission for Norm Wielsch. A second one Monday said not so fast. Wielsch is the former czar of a Contra Costa drug enforcement squad, who is free on $100,000 bail. The judges can't decide. Maybe it's up to the Patch readers to deliver a verdict. Hence this poll. Snafu update: The original poll posted with this story was misleading in implying that Wielsch was to receive an appearance fee for appearing on the Dr. Phil Show; he was not, according to Wielsch's lawyer. The poll answers have been revised to reflect that. Patch apologizes to those who wasted their votes on the original poll!
Friday, February 3, 2012
This week in Parent Chat our columnist is asking some uncomfortable questions, and hoping for some honest answers.
It was a disturbing morning, and I mean that in the best possible way. To “disturb,” as defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is to “destroy the tranquility or composure of.” Sitting among other moms of young children one morning this week, I listened to a longtime local educator lay it out plainly, just how far out of whack things have become for the kids she sees everyday in her school. I doubt there was a drop of tranquility in the room to be had, nor should there have been. As she shared a long list of the “bad news,” I know my stomach churned. It was uncomfortable to hear that the norm for many local kids has become win and achieve at all costs, and to listen to her first-hand experiences of how the consequences of that mentality …
Friday, January 27, 2012
Cheri learns that sometimes the most "teachable moments" occur when you least expect them. Thanks to the loss for the 49ers, our "quote of the week" hit home!
“You can learn little from victory. You can learn everything from defeat.” - Christy Mathewson Last week, the above quote just happened to be the one written on the white board of my fifth grade classroom — chosen by a student. On every first day the quote is written, students interpret what that quote means, how it applies to them with examples and to research who the author of the quote is. In this case, the author is Christy Mathewson (who is one of the best pitchers in major leagues history, pitching in the early 20th century). Interestingly enough, the same week of the quote, one of my students was devastated when he did not make the baseball team he was expecting so he digested that quote first-hand. There were also a few …
This week we want you to weigh in on one of the most critical of parenting debates: Is a minivan really so bad?
We parents like to argue about a lot of stuff. Perhaps you’ve noticed? From the moment of conception, there are any number of parenting debates you can unsuspectingly find yourself in the middle of —drugs versus no drugs in labor, breastfeeding versus formula, crib versus co-sleeping. The list is long, and can be as difficult to navigate as a minefield. Many people I know try to steer clear of the contentious issues that a lot of parents seem to have strong opinions about, and are all too willing to share. But, there is one critical parenting debate that I’ve found that seems to draw out even the controversy-adverse parents—minivans. Last week I saw a photo posted on Facebook by George Takei (of Star Trek fame) that read, “Condoms Prevent …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Amid increasing academic standards and peer pressure, local parents are debating whether they should hold their children back a year.
Kindergarten registration began this week in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and parents of eligible Kindergarten-aged children are making the sometimes difficult decision: “To send, or not to send?” I am among them, with a child who will turn 5 this spring, and making the decision whether or not enroll for the coming academic year has not been an easy one. While state law bases eligibility on a child’s birth date, the decision whether or not to start our children in Kindergarten is not cut-and-dried for myself and many other local parents. According to changes made to state law as a result of the implementation of AB 1381, the Kindergarten Readiness Act, enacted in 2010, children who will be 5 years old or older on or before …
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Friday, January 13, 2012
This week, local parents share how they make time as busy parents to workout and make their resolutions to get, and stay, fit stick.
It’s two weeks into the New Year and at the point at which many resolutions have fallen by the wayside. For example, are you still working out? Be honest. The top reason people give for not exercising is lack of time, and parents tend to really lean on this excuse—myself included. There is no doubt about it that kids can take up a lot of your time, especially if you have small children. But is there really no time for exercise? This week, I asked our local Patch Parent Council and other parents to share how they make time for fitness while raising kids: When it comes to making time for exercise, women tend to work out less than men. According to a study by researchers at Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health, “Family priorities …
Friday, January 6, 2012
Cheri tells us to focus on what we do best going into 2012.
So we’ve made it through December, the onslaught of what some deem the most stressful time of the year, and into the high expectations of what the New Year holds for us in promises and resolutions. Usually, I am a big fan of creating a list of things I’ll hold myself accountable for but they seem to be the same few items…lose the weight finally, get more organized, save money for a rainy day…you know the drill. I still plan to make a “Visionary Board” as I do love to dream and create intentions for my life but today I want to count my blessings, as they are. As I rewind the awful memories of my mom’s decline two years ago, this week, (she died Jan. 8) trust me when I say if Martha Stewart is the expert in planning a dinner party, you …
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Another political season is underway, and this week we're talking about involving your kids in your politics.
How much do you involve your kids in your politics? As a new presidential election cycle gets underway, let’s talk about how politics factors into your parenting. In the family I grew up in, which included some who served in elected office, I couldn’t avoid becoming politically aware at a young age. My parents involved me in their political lives actively, including me in their discussions of news and issues of the day. My father voraciously read the newspapers, and encouraged me to do the same. The hum of political talk shows was the soundtrack of my weekend mornings. But as passionate as my parents were about their politics, they never suggested I jump on their campaign wagons. They were equally passionate that I learn to think for …
Friday, December 30, 2011
Our parenting columnist usually doesn't make New Year's resolutions, but this past year of parenting has her wondering if maybe she should?
Are you resolute, or do you make resolutions? By definition, being “resolute,” means one is “firm or determined,” or “unwavering.’ “Resolution” is defined as the “state or quality of being resolute.” Definitions aside, however, I think there is an anecdotal difference between the two—at least when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. These types of resolutions often aren’t very resolute statistically—25 percent don’t make it past the first week of the new year. Mindful of this fact, I usually I don’t make resolutions at the beginning of each new year—at least those I tell people about—but this year, I confess I have been tempted. Like most gearing up for Jan. 1, I would like to lose a few pounds, manage my finances better, take my career to…
Thursday, December 29, 2011
My phone is ringing with buyers that think the time is right. Unlike the buyers at the top of the market, these shoppers are carefully seeking value.
In the past few weeks, I’ve heard from more potential buyers for 2012 than I had during 2011. New families relocating from San Francisco to raise kids in the ‘burbs; first-time buyers who have been watching the market for two years; and one couple who went through a short sale a few years ago. That got me to thinking. The first offer I wrote for a short sale was in 2007. It seems like “just the other day” so I had to go to the MLS to look it up — that house sold in Dec. 2007. My first short sale listing was the same year: It went on the market in Oct. 2007. Four years ago — how time flies. That was the year we started hearing about short sales, and pretty soon they were common-place. Nearly 15 percent of the homes currently on the market …
Julie Mendelsohn
7:45 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I'm glad he didn't go. Just ridiculous!!! more ›