Dr. Fernando Otero, a vascular surgeon with BASS Medical Group , recently partnered with Operation Access to return health and quality of life to a woman who had been suffering for 26 years with severe abdominal pain that left her with difficulty eating, breathing, and sleeping and unable to work.

Operation Access is a Bay Area organization that connects uninsured, low-income individuals with medical professionals who donate their time and services to underserved individuals by providing vital surgical and specialty care.

Diagnosed with gallstones in the early 90s, Jeannette was unable to afford health care and dealt with debilitating pain until Dr. Otero performed a life-changing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Jeannette praises Dr. Otero saying, "I am now healthy and happy with the drive to live, work, and support my family."

Featuring a 55,000-SF state-of-the-art Safeway with rooftop parking and additional anchor tenants Stein Mart , Petco , and Crunch Fitness , The Orchards is a vibrant 25-acre community retail and lifestyle center with 180,000 SF of shops, services, and dining, as well as:

• open park space,

• plenty of cozy seating areas,

• a children's playground, and

• a mile-long trail that meanders through the center.

Joining the existing lineup of great eating establishments like Jack's Urban Eats , Burger Lounge , Patra Indian Grill , MOD Pizza , and Starbucks , will be



• Mike Hess Brewing ,

• Thai Thani Cuisine , and

• California Fish Grill .

Recent new tenants include Sutter Health Walk-In Care and Park Avenue Cleaners .

The outdoor amphitheater and open community space in the northeast corner of the center nestled in a stand of heritage oak trees is a great place to meet friends and family or enjoy a quiet moment alone.

For nine performances in May, the talented students of Contra Costa School of Performing Arts will bring Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic English novel The Secret Garden to life in the revered 1991 musical with a Tony-winning score.

The Secret Garden features more than 20 student artists from the Theater, Dance, and Vocal departments and more than 40 student designers, technicians, and musicians from the Instrumental and Production & Design departments.

Enchantment— and mystery— await the whole family!

Contra Costa School

of Performing Arts

2730 Mitchell Drive

Walnut Creek

925.235.1130

The Joint Genome Institute (JGI) is hosting its 11th annual safety and wellness SWELL Fair , Wednesday, May 30, Noon-2pm, featuring vendor booths and demonstrations covering health & wellness , safety , and sustainability , both at work and at home. A perennially popular event held on the grounds of JGI at 2800 Mitchell Drive , organizers are expecting 500 visitors and are now accepting vendor applications.

Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation , ARF, is mentioned in the popular 2018 "365 CATS" Page-a-Day Calendar . Check out Thursday, April 26, featuring these two "cuddle-buddies" Max & Oliver, who were adopted from ARF, one of at least 16,000 animal shelters in North America, according to the calendar page. Visit ARF at 2890 Mitchell Drive— there might be a cuddle-buddy waiting for you!

Tony La Russa's ARF

Animals on Broadway

Pet Walk & Community Festival

Saturday, May 19, 9:30am

Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek

Paws hit the pavement

to save animals in need.

Recruit or support a walk team

to make a difference!

New Shadelands tenant Rogers Behavioral Health (RBH) hosted an

informal Meet the Neighbors on Friday morning, March 23. The clouds parted and the sun shone as RBH staff and Shadelands neighbors met over coffee and pastries. For more than 110 years, RBH has been providing mental health and addition treatment that's proven effective in protecting against relapse. With locations nationwide, Shadelands is RBH's first West Coast office.

420 N. Wiget Lane, Building 2

925.266.8800

Visit Rogers Behavioral Health