January 8, 2010 | www.DanvilleExpress.com | PAGE 1

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Orinda man arrested for indecent exposure in DanvillePolice arrested a 40-year-old man at his Orinda home Thursday after a string of incidents dating back to August in which he allegedly exposed him-self to people in three East Bay cities, including Danville, a police detective said. (Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 at 2:48 PM)

Monte Vista LAX player signs with universityJenna Alberts of Monte Vista High School was among 10 current and former members of local lacrosse club team, Triple Threat LAX, to sign National Letters of Intent last month to play NCAA Division 1 Lacrosse at Universities across the country. Lear has signed with University of Detroit Mercy. (Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 at 7:01 PM)

Saying goodbyeThis morning St. Isidore’s Catholic Church in Danville was filled with mourners for Tony Carnemolla, who died suddenly Dec. 23 at the age of 74. Afterward everyone filed out to stand around the coffin in front of the church while a Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion squad fired a 21-gun salute. (Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 at 7:02 PM)

New year looks good for Embarcadero MediaA new year, a new decade, and Embarcadero Media Co. is continuing its mission to deliver local news to residents. The Danville Express has increased page views to 100,000 per month and nearly 35,000 unique visi-tors per month. (Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009 at 5:59 PM)

Dozens of ‘no-burn’ violations on ChristmasDespite a Spare the Air alert issued for Christmas day, some residents still lit logs in their fi replaces, an air district spokesman said today.Last comment from cardfark, a resident of the Diablo neighborhood, on Jan. 2, 2010 at 5:03 pm (Comments: 45)

Sully broadcast heading up Rose Bowl paradeCapt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger of Danville, the hero of the Hud-son shown here with his wife Lorrie, was grand marshal of this morn-ing’s Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, which draws a crowd of 1 million people.Last comment from Kathryn, a resident of another community, on Jan. 1, 2010 at 3:26 pm (Comments: 2)

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By Dolores Fox Ciardelli People know Dave Romano as an integral part

of the Kiwanis Fourth of July Parade. Others think of him as a Mustang soccer referee or a Boy Scout leader. Many don’t notice that he has a disability and walks with a limp.

“Sometimes people say, ‘Did you do something to your leg over the weekend?’” said Romano.

If they see him put a handicap placard on his car they’re liable to say: “Romano, throw that thing away!”

“People ask if I had polio,” said Romano, 50, a Danville resident. “I don’t mind.”

Romano gave a presentation to a Boy Scout troop recently for its Disability Awareness Merit Badge, and realized that he should speak out more so others will be comfortable with those who struggle daily with physical challenges. Also he wants to encourage everyone to reach out to those with disabilities — to offer to open a door, or help them out of a car.

“Don’t assume they don’t need — or want —

help,” he said. Romano was a vigorous young man of 21 living

in Santa Clara, an active tennis player, when he no-ticed a nagging ache in his lower back. Finally, two days before Halloween, he went to the doctor, who spotted a tumor next to his vertebrae and sent him to a neurologist.

“He said it was very serious, and the next day I was scheduled for spinal tap,” recalled Romano. “The tumor was blocking my spinal fluid.”

Since the spinal fluid couldn’t circulate, the nerves below the tumor could die. “I could be para-lyzed from the waist down.”

He underwent surgery on Halloween day. The good news was that the tumor was benign. The bad news was that it was the size of a hard-boiled egg, and nerves growing inside the tumor had to be cut out.

“When I woke up, my left leg wouldn’t move at

Defeating his disabilityDamaged leg nerves don’t stop Dave Romano from running

See DISABILITY on Page 4

This story ran on DanvilleExpress.com. See more stories like this online.

CHRIS SCOTT/WWW.CALSPORTSPHOTO.COMDave Romano referees six Mustang soccer games per weekend, after extensive physical conditioning to compensate for the disability in his left leg. He sustained nerve damage in his leg when a tumor was removed from his spine 29 years ago.

PAGE 2 | www.DanvilleExpress.com | January 8, 2010

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Monte Vista High quarterback Brett Not-tingham was given this year’s prestigious Pete Villa Award, the San Ramon Valley’s version of the Heisman Trophy, at the Danville Rotary luncheon last month.

First runner-up was Dave Wilkerson from Monte Vista; second runner-up was Giovanni Javier from California High School.

For the past 13 years, the Danville Ro-tary Club has honored the work of Pete Villa, founder of the Thunderbird youth football program, by selecting the top football player from the Valley’s high schools and honoring them and their parents at the annual Pete Villa Awards luncheon.

The winner of the Pete Villa Award has his name inscribed on a perpetual trophy that re-sides at the winner’s high school for the entire year. In addition, each high school’s athletic department receives a donation from Danville Rotary for its athletic programs.

This year’s awards luncheon, held Dec. 14, featured nominees from Monte Vista High School, San Ramon Valley High School, Cali-fornia High School and, for the first time, Dougherty Valley High School.

Guest speaker Gordon Gravelle, a former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and LA Rams, welcomed the players, their coaches and parents. Gravelle noted that he was on one of the first Thunderbird teams, in 1961, and he thanked Pete Villa for getting him started on a rewarding career in the NFL, which included two trips to the Super Bowl.

Gravelle noted that the boys being honored were the future of tomorrow and he commend-

ed them on striking a healthy balance between being good athletes and good students.

Nominees for the 2009 Pete Villa award were: California High School: Giovanni Javier,

Trevor Morrison, Zach Preuss Dougherty Valley High School: Robert

Camozzi, Rico Dixon, Jeremy Sites Monte Vista High School: Bryce McGov-

ern, Brett Nottingham, Dave Wilkerson San Ramon Valley High School: Brandon

Grinstead, Kyle Kragen, James Garrett Rob-inson

At the end of the luncheon, Bob Beaton, Danville Rotarian and a Pete Villa Award com-mittee member, announced the winners.

Danville Rotary member and Pete Villa Award organizer Gary Cappelletti also thanked the athletes and their coaches for a great year of football. And he commended Pete Villa on starting the Thunderbirds program, which in-troduces young players to the discipline and the camaraderie of team sports and provides them with the lessons of good sportsmanship at a very early age. Former State Assembly-man Guy Houston, who played football for San Ramon Valley High, presented Pete Villa with a special proclamation recognizing his 50 years of service.

For membership or more information about Danville Rotary and the work the club is doing in our community, contact club president Barbara Jewell at bjewell@gagen-mccoy.com.

This story ran on DanvilleExpress.com. See more stories like this online.

Danville’s ‘Heisman’ goes to Nottingham

Rotary recognizes stellar football players at luncheon

BOB CHACEPete Villa presents the 2009 Pete Villa Award to Monte Vista’s UCLA-bound Brett Nottingham.

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The Danville Area Chamber of Com-merce is accepting nominations for one more week for Citizen of the Year, Business Person of the Year, Educator of the Year and Charitable Organization of the Year.

Visit www.danvilleareachamber.com to download the nomination criteria and ap-plications. All applications are due into the Chamber offices by Jan. 15.

Danville Express sponsors the award for Charitable Organization of the Year to honor a nonprofit group that has made significant, consistent contributions to the San Ramon Valley with a notable contribution in 2009.

“We want to acknowledge the contribu-tions that charitable organizations have made to our community,” said publisher Gina Channell-Allen.

Last year’s winners were as follows:n Citizen of the Year: Brad Blake, co-

founder and CEO of Blake Hunt Venturesn Business Person: Marty and Cameryn

Breen, owners of Forward Motion Sportsn Educator: John Geltmeyer, who has

been teaching at Del Amigo Continuation High School for 18 yearsn Charitable Organization: Friends of Dis-

covery/Thrift Station This year’s awards will be presented at

the 2010 Installation Dinner for incoming Chairman of the Board Joe Combs with The Combs Team, and the 2010 Board of Direc-tors.

This event will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, at The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Road in San Ramon. The evening begins with no-host cocktails at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner and program at 7:30 p.m.

The price per person is $90. After Feb. 5 the price will be $99 per person. Call the Chamber offices at 837-4400 to order tickets or go to www.danvilleareachamber.com.

The event also will celebrate outgoing Chairman of the Board Chris Edlund of Christe James Fine Jewelry Works.

This story ran on DanvilleExpress.com. See more stories like this online.

Nominate now for Chamber awards

Worthy persons, groups to be recognized at installation dinner

all,” he remembered grimly. “They said my left ankle probably was not going to work.”

He was told he would probably be able to walk again but no one could say for sure be-cause there was nerve damage.

“It happened so fast I never had time to think about it,” he said. “I started therapy, and a thousand times a day tried to move it. I started to get some movement back, but in a matter of weeks determined that from the knee down there was nothing.”

The doctor said Romano couldn’t leave the hospital until his gait was correct but the young man was anxious to get back out in the world. The nurses helped him to appear better than he was in front of the doctor.

“They got me up, looking ready to walk, then when he left, I’d crash,” Romano recalled. He was released Thanksgiving Day and moved back in with his parents.

“I had therapy for nine months. I had to learn how to walk again — bars, walkers, crutches. It wasn’t painful but it was a mental trip to deal with it,” he said, noting that he wore a brace for awhile. “The doctor said I would be able to walk to some extent, but would never be able to run again. There was no way to get that back.”

Romano accepted this diagnosis and was grateful for the mobility he had for many years. Then, in about 2005, he decided to see if he could do more. He wanted to go backpacking with his son’s Boy Scout troop, plus he wanted to referee Mustang soccer now that his son had moved up to the next level and every team needed two parents to referee.

“That was one way I could defeat my dis-ability,” he said. “Just because we have some-thing doesn’t mean we have to accept it — I decided to take a stance and see how much I could overcome.”

He hired a personal trainer, and, working with him, was able to take his physical activity to the next level.

“Running was a big thing,” Romano said. “Now I’m able to referee soccer.” Indeed he referees six games each weekend during the season.

“My nerve wires got cut and will never come back,” he said. “My other muscles are trying to compensate. They are probably close to maxing out.”

Now he has 20 percent strength in his left hamstring, with nothing from the knee down. His left hip area has 50 percent strength, and his quad has 60-70 percent.

During the last two years, Romano has gone on 20 backpacking trips with the Scouts, carrying a 25-pound backpack, which he points out, is really balanced on the hips.

“I can hike with that but put 5 pounds in front of me and I’m dead, I can’t carry it,” he said.

“The hardest thing to do is to go uphill,” he added. “My left leg will not lift body weight, I

have to use my right leg. I use two trekking poles. I can’t adjust my toes.”

Balance is a huge issue for him, he said. Going through doors is a concern and going up and down steps is a nightmare.

“I used to have to always lead with my right leg for every step,” he said. “I can pull my-self up. I use the handrail. My left heel gets caught on the end of a step — I’ve taken a few nasty falls.”

Although he feels pressure on his left leg, he doesn’t feel pain.

“I’ve burnt my leg many times with a hot plate,” he said. “I wouldn’t know if I was stabbed.” Once when he was carrying out the garbage his skin was pierced by a piece of glass but he only noticed it when his wife saw the blood.

Romano also contends with what he refers to as his “hidden disability,” the fact that his diges-tive system has been dramatically affected.

“My digestive system and bladder do not function normally,” he states simply.

For many years he was embarrassed by his disabilities, he said. He never wore shorts since his left calf has no musculature.

But now he referees in shorts and says his disability is barely noticeable in the black uniform socks. He also speaks about his dis-abilities to help people understand.

He recommends holding doors open for people with disabilities — don’t assume they don’t need or want help.

“On crutches, doors are a nightmare,” he said. “Door and steps.”

If someone is in a wheelchair, get down to their level and look them in the eye, he sug-gests.

“Never be afraid to ask if someone needs assistance,” he said. He needs help lifting — he can’t pick up something and walk carrying it, even a 5-gallon plant.

Be aware that those with handicap placards may have a hidden disability. When conditions are slippery, he will always park in spaces for the handicapped although people may look at him askance.

While Romano may not emphasize when people complain about aches and pains, he has tremendous empathy for those with disabilities.

“If I see someone in a walker, I’m the first person to help that person,” he said.

His family often visits their home in Northstar at Tahoe. When his son finished ski school and went on to join a race school, Romano was left with time on his hands.

“One of instructors had asked me why I limp, and he said, ‘I think you can snow-board,’” Romano recalled. One of his biggest fears is injuring his left knee, which would leave him in big trouble. But up for a chal-lenge, he followed the instructor’s directions and ventured out onto the slopes.

“I’m able to snowboard. I had to make ad-justments but I’m having fun with it,” he said. “I’m pretty proud of that — I don’t give up.” n

PAGE 4 | www.DanvilleExpress.com | January 8, 2010

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‘Kimberly Akimbo’Role Player’s Ensemble Theatre presents “Kimberly Akimbo,” David Lindsay-Abaire’s shrewd and very funny satire, at 8 p.m., Thursdays-Sundays, until Feb. 6, at the Village Theatre, 420 Front St., Danville. Tickets are $15-$25. Call 314-3400 or visit www.danvil-letheatre.com.

Danville Library Book ClubThis club will meet to discuss “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout at 9 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, at the Danville Library, 400 Front St. The club usually meets at 9 a.m., on the third Thursday of every month. Call 837-4455.

Cynthia KadohataRakestraw Books will host Cynthia Kadohata, author of “A Million Shades of Gray,” Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the bookstore, 522 Hartz Ave., Danville. More details can be found on the bookstore’s Web site at www.rakestrawbooks.com/events.

Alamo Women’s Club LuncheonStart 2010 with the “Financial Market Outlook for 2010” at this club’s meeting with guest speaker Adam Ezrilov from noon-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the clubhouse, 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. Mr. Ezrilov will be giving some insight on what we may be seeing in the market this coming year. Cost is $20, including lunch. To make your reser-vation, call Norma at 838-9436.

Learn How to Grow Your Own HerbsSloat Garden Centers will host Brad Sheehan who will show how easy it is to grow your own herbs, vegetables and fl owers from seed at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Dan-ville center, 828 Diablo Rd., Danville. Call 743-0288.

‘Peace’ with Jorge SantanaListen to this new and explosive tribute band performing “Latin Rock” with a touch of Woodstock at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, at San Ramon Valley High School, 501 Danville Blvd., Danville. Infl uences include Santana, War and Tower of Power. Tickets are $10, $25 and $40. Call 229-2710 or visit www.communityconcerts.com.

Rotary Crab FeedRotary Club of Danville will host its annual Crab Feed at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Isidore’s Small Gym, 440 La Gonda Way, Danville. Tickets are $45. Proceeds benefi t Youth and Community Service Programs in the San Ramon Valley. For tickets, call Dante Tosetti at 314-2837.

2010 Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Installation Awards DinnerJoin the Chamber at its 2010 Installation Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 18, at The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd., San Ramon. Tickets are $90 before Feb. 5; $99 thereafter. To purchase tickets, visit www.danvillechambercart.com.

Rotary Club of Danville will host its annual Crab Feed at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, at St. Isidore’s Small

Join the Chamber at its 2010 Installation Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m., Feb. 18, at The Bridges Golf Club, 9000 S. Gale Ridge Rd., San Ramon. Tickets are $90 before Feb. 5; $99 thereafter. To purchase

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Michelle French is on a mission for dogs. She gathered food, blankets and contributions for the Tri-Valley SPCA and delivered it all Dec. 30 to the incarcerated canines, who may not live to see another Christmas.

“I wanted to donate some time yesterday, so I thought, ‘Let me just buy a bunch of things and do a drop-off,’” the Danville resident re-called on New Year’s Eve.

First she called Trader Joe’s to ask for donations. The manager was very nice, she said, but explained the store doesn’t make donations that way. However the employees contributed enough to fill two bags with goodies.

“Then I went to Big Lots! out in Dublin,” French said. “They had dog stockings, like 25 of those.” She purchased all of the stockings plus rawhide, bones, additional wet food, and put it all into a big Santa bag, which she deliv-ered to the Tri-Valley SPCA.

“They’re very nice there and very apprecia-tive,” she reported. “And the dogs were very cute.”

French, who works as a decorator and stager, said she may be in the wrong profes-sion although her job gives her flexible hours for her avocation — helping dogs.

“My dad used to call me Elly May Clam-pett,” she recalled with a laugh. “My girlfriends say I missed my calling. Dogs come first. They can’t fend for themselves so I think people should look out for them.”

“It would be nice if more people could give a little more,” she added. “I returned gifts from my husband to give a little more.”

She said her husband Todd and her two sons, Cole, 9, and Austin, 12, are supportive of her efforts, and the boys were sorry to be off snowboarding yesterday so they missed this drop-off. The family has two Rotwiellers, Diva and her son Tank, who weighs 160 pounds.

French wants to make it as easy as possible for others to help out so she is working with the SPCA to get a bin in front of her house at 1323 Greenbrook Drive in Danville. Meanwhile people can drop off donations there.

“What they really need is leashes, soft dog treats, any balls, certain toys, blankets, towels. They will take any food — any food is good,” said French.

The East Bay SPCA has a wish list and more information on its Web site, www.east-bayspca.org.

This story ran on DanvilleExpress.com. See more stories like this online.

Happy Holidays for the dogsDogs can’t help themselves, so Danville woman provides for them

By Dolores Fox Ciardelli

COURTESY MICHELLE FRENCHMichelle French with Sonny, a yellow Lab at the SPCA who was grateful for her donation but is looking for a home.

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Find a physician 24 hours a day. Selecting a doctor is a very important decision. You need a doctor you can trust and who can talk to you and your family. The physicians on staff at San Ramon Regional Medical Center want you to feel confident that you’ve made the right choice when selecting us to provide your healthcare services. Our physician referral service gives you access to information about our doctors – specialties, insurances, office locations, education, and languages spoken. Visit Find-A-Physician on our Web site, www.OurSanRamonHospital.com or call 800.284.2878.

It’s not just selecting a doctor, it’s choosing someone you can trust with your life.

FAMILY MEDICINERenu Deshpande, M.D. Sean Feezell, D.O. Bradford Flagg, M.D. Dennis Fong, M.D. Erik Gracer, M.D. Richard Gracer, M.D. Jonathan Humphrey, M.D. Veena Jayaram, D.O. Béla Kenessey, M.D. Richard Kilker, Jr., M.D. Frank Lin, M.D. Robert Litman, M.D. Lindsay McCarrick, M.D. Mark Musco, M.D. Dolores Musco, M.D. Viktor Novikov, M.D. Jeffrey Riopelle, M.D. John Roberts, M.D. Paul Robinson, D.O. Michael Schierman, M.D. Douglas Severance, M.D. Jeffrey Wherry, M.D. Juliana Wong, M.D. Tsung Wong, M.D.

INTERNAL MEDICINE Michael Abdel-Malek, M.D. Michael Alper, M.D. James Blackwell, M.D. Christine Chang, M.D. David Chee, M.D. Kushal Chhabra, M.D. Lee Eisan, M.D. Sarah Ferguson, M.D. Umesh Gheewala, M.D. Kevin Hart, M.D. Denise Hilliard, M.D. Victorina Hoffmann, M.D. Frank Hsueh, M.D. Andal Kadambi, M.D. Nader Kaldas, M.D. Damayanthi Kalisetti, M.D. Sue Knight, M.D. Donna Kwong, M.D. Carol Lamb, M.D. Calvin Lemon, M.D. Fernandina Lo, M.D. Manisha Malhotra, M.D. Jatinder Marwaha, M.D. Zainab Mezban, M.D.

Smrutirekha Misra, M.D. Sunita Mistry, M.D. Badeia Morsy, M.D. Safa Nsouli, M.D. Neil Okamura, D.O. Donald Parsons, M.D. Gary Peer, M.D. Stephen Pratt, M.D. Sujatha Rajagopalan, M.D. Jon Rasak, M.D. Bakul Roy, M.D. Rahel Ruiz, M.D. Varsha Saha, M.D. Jyothi Sarma, M.D. Michael Temkin, D.O. Pamela Wang, M.D. Paul Wheeler, M.D. Jerry Yen, M.D.

CRITICAL CARE/ PULMONARY MEDICINE Anitha Angan, M.D. Michael Kazemi, M.D. Narendra Malani, M.D. Bobbak Vahid, M.D.

John Yee, M.D. Raafat Zamary, M.D.

GYNECOLOGY/ OBSTETRICS Patrick Dawkins, M.D. Rosemary Delgado, M.D. Karin DeNevi, M.D. Tanees Edraki, M.D. Emil Eyvazzadeh, M.D. Yaron Friedman, M.D. Renée Hilliard, M.D. Louis Klein, M.D. Mark Lollar, M.D. Scott Mack, M.D. Michael McGlynn, Jr., M.D. John Polito, M.D. Michele Riopelle, M.D. Forrest Smith, M.D. Joanne Vogel, M.D. Stephen Wells, M.D. Benjamin Wolsztejn, M.D.

PEDIATRICS Richard Ash, M.D. Michael Cheng, M.D.

Lisa Erburu, M.D. Carol Gill, M.D. Gregory Hahn, M.D. Cynthia Hann, M.D. Lionel Herrera, M.D. Colleen Hogan, M.D. Anna Kerr, M.D. Thomas Long, M.D. Jeffrey Maynard, M.D. Brita Moilanen, M.D. Allen Obrinsky, M.D. Sam Pejham, M.D. Sharlene Pereira, M.D. Cynthia Quan, M.D. Asha Ramchandran, M.D. Misha Roitshteyn, M.D. Michael Ruiz, M.D. Suresh Sachdeva, M.D. Neena Shah, M.D. Budd Shenkin, M.D. Marianne Tosick, M.D. Tracy Trotter, M.D. Tracy Trujillo, M.D. Ting Wang, M.D. Debra Weiss-Ishai, M.D.Updated 11.09