Lamorinda Weekly Issue 6 Volume 1
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Wednesday, May 16, 2007 visit us online: www.lamorindaweekly.com Page: 7 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Life in LAMORINDA In Moraga, Change Makes Change Submitted by Lisa Radcliffe ocal patrons of Cathy Kaveh reported. “People who LCorsi’s Si Si Café in Mor- leave the Batay tend to work aga have been making big outside to improve the Batay. changes in the Dominican Re- They always come back –one public by donating their spare way or another. We have no san- change to a Peace Corp project itation, we have only one source to pour concrete floors in an im- of drinking water, we have elec- poverished community. Inspired tricity outages that last weeks, by a recent visit to the Domini- and no indoor plumbing. What can Republic to visit his Peace we DO have,” exclaims Kaveh, Corp volunteer brother Kaveh “is a great feeling of community Azimi, Si Si “barista” Kassra involvement. A little money Azimi and staff have been en- goes a long way here.” Saint Mary’s students Whitney Powell and Kaley Smalley Students work indiviually with pre-schoolers to build literacy. thusiastically raising money to “When the rains come,” Photo courtesy of CILSA Cafe Connections help fund his brother’s most cur- Kaveh reported,” living with dirt By Sarah Henningsen College Jobs Bring Smiles to rent project. floors in addition to our dirt “He’s involved in a project streets, is a nightmare.” “Kaveh alking around in circles to spend an hour working on a Children’s Faces to finally bring sanitation and estimated that it costs approxi- Wtrying to find service for business project while still get- By Jennifer Wake water to the Batay he’s living mately $130 USD per house to your cell phone is not only frus- ting a nice dosage of warmth and ot many working college the annual Carnival 4 Kids, in,” said Kassra. “But, his first pour the concrete floors,” reports trating, but also embarrassing. sunshine. The café serves break- Nstudents are greeted at where 200 children from area project is to give these people Kassra. “The labor is donated The same goes for laptop com- fast, lunch, and dinner through- their part-time jobs with cheers schools and organizations that floors. At least 35 houses in his by the community.” puters, which aren’t quite as easy out the week and also boasts a of adoration, but it is a regular partner with CILSA joined ap- Batay have only dirt.” A Batay, To date Kassra has col- to carry around. Thanks to a few to-go line for Italian sodas, cafes in Lamorinda offering Wi- morning coffee and snacks. occurrence for Saint Mary’s proximately 200 Saint Mary’s reports Kassra, is a community lected enough money to pour Fi internet access, this should not Chow Restaurant, located sophomore Sophie Damarel, a student “buddies” to enjoy 28 made up primarily of Domini- floors for 7 of the 35 homes in can’s of Haitian decent. “They need, all through generous do- be a problem anymore. Al- in the Lafayette Circle near team leader in the Jumpstart different game and craft booths. used to be worker camps for nations from our caring coffee though there are no real “cyber- Coldstone Creamery and A.G. program. Twice a week 40 More than 600 SMC students Haitian sugar cane workers”, drinkers. Most notably, Corsi cafes” in the area that have Ferrari, has high quality food, Saint Mary’s students spend at volunteered for the day’s event. Kassra explained. “Now they are herself generously donated $100 public computers anyone can ambiance and wireless service. least two hours a day at Oak- Carnival co-chair Katie just poor communities in the to this cause. connect to, there are several cof- Although the restaurant has only land schools, where they invest Ferguson says the day offered middle of miles and miles of While 7 homes is great, 35 fee shops providing this great been in existence for a few years, 300 hours each during the year its own enlightenment. “One sugar cane.” would be better. Kassra hopes service to the sleep-deprived, it is always crowded with people as a mentor and teacher to a child didn’t realize that every- Kaveh, a 2002 Cam- the donations continue to come multi-tasking workaholics of seeking meals with the freshest pre-school child. thing was free, because his polindo High School graduate is in. “I want to let the people of Lamorinda. of ingredients. Breakfast, lunch, “[The kids] look up from mom told him nothing in life is serving as an economic develop- Batay 8 know that the people of The Starbucks boom has and dinner are served daily and their lunches and scream, ‘It’s free. He was pretty stressed,” ment volunteer. He plans on OUR community care”, said definitely been beneficial for the the menu often changes Jumpstart!’” Damarel said. said Ferguson. Much like the being in the Dominican Repub- Kassra. millions of internet junkies in the throughout the week. A small “We become their friends; it Jumpstart student workers, Fer- lic until the summer of 2009. Donations for the Peace world. The commercial chain grocery store also adjoins the gives them another friend in the guson explained that her very Kassra and his family Corp floor project may be sent to store offers T-Mobile HotSpot main restaurant. For those that spent ten days touring the Do- the Law Office of Radcliffe & classroom. So much more can presence told these children that across the United States and in cannot handle the noise and minican Republic with Kaveh, Radcliffe, 455 Moraga Road, be done for the kids when it’s they are valuable. “When they other parts of North America. At energy within the restaurant, and meeting his various “host Suite A, Moraga, CA 94556. the various Starbucks stores in there are several tables out on the individualized.” come here they realize that families.” They spent two after- Make checks payable to “Rad- Two years ago, the Saint we’re taking care of them. It’s Lamorinda— in Rheem, in patio where you can work in noons touring Kaveh’s Batay cliffe Attorney Trust Account” Orinda Theater Square, and two relative solitude. Mary’s Catholic Institute for the things that people do for and meeting the people there. with a memo for “Peace Corp in Lafayette—broadband con- Though rare, coffee shops Lasallian Social Action you that are important.” “These people have an extraor- Projects” or contact the Peace nections are fast, convenient, offering wireless internet con- (CILSA) began partnering with Last night, CILSA hon- dinary sense of community,” Corp directly. and most importantly, free. The nections are a great service to Jumpstart, a national organiza- ored pre-school teachers, staff hardest part is simply finding a Lamorinda residents. Toting a tion that brings at-risk pre- and the Jumpstart student table big enough to fit your shiny laptop around may be a hassle school children and caring workers at a Celebration of computer, venti caramel frap- for some, but for others these in- adults together to build literacy Service, which included a puccino, and jumbo-sized scone. ternet cafes present the perfect as well as social and emotional showcase of the portfolios that Café Terzetto in the Mor- opportunity to take a break from readiness. Working with the SMC students made of each aga Shopping Center is yet an- the boring home office. And children inspired Damarel to pre-schooler. “We take anec- other coffeehouse that balances isn’t it nice, as you sit typing and change her major from science dotal notes and are very objec- 21st century technology with sipping, to receive a nod and a to education; she now hopes to tive about what’s going on with traditional, to-die-for coffee and smile from a similarly-inclined become a middle school sci- child to child interactions, meals. Small tables lining the neighbor? ence teacher. For team leader adult/child interactions – we perimeter of the restaurant are Sarah Henningsen is a feature Alicia Torres, the program has have a whole list of what we’re perfect for individuals seeking a writer and a student at quick minute to check emails or Campolindo High School. taught her about leadership. observing,” said Damarel. The Kaveh Azimi and friends “I learned to take myself students turn in their notes and out of problems, and work samples of work to the site things out,” Torres said. She manager and the entire portfo- sees Jumpstart as a way to offer lio is given to families at the THE SUREST WAY TO consistency in some public end of the year. STOP WORRYING ABOUT YOUR schools. “When there are a lot “We’re able to engage of substitutes, Jumpstart be- students and build relationships comes the consistent element.” with their families,” said Torres, 1031 EXCHANGE Last month, nearly 40 of who has enjoyed being part of IS TO START LOOKING FOR ONE the Jumpstart 3-year-olds came these children’s lives. “It’s to campus with their SMC part- going to be hard when this is • Diversification We help 1031 Exchange ners for an afternoon of fun at over.” • Tax Deferral Investors and Private Clients Skin Enhancements • Tax Depreciation acquire Net Leased and Professional Skin Care By Myrna Taiariol • Single Tenant Triple Net Tenant-in-common properties. 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