The Shadelands Scene
Community news, updates, and insights
RESPONDING TO FIRST RESPONDERS FOR 90 YEARS
L.N. Curtis & sons was founded in 1929 as L.N. Curtis Specialty Merchandise when Lloyd Norton “Pop” Curtis began selling a mechanical resuscitator invented by his brothers-in-law to hospitals and fire departments.

The Depression interrupted many American lives and hindered the sale of a resuscitator that was a very expensive piece of equipment for its day. Firefighters liked Lloyd very much and were intent on keeping him afloat. It became their practice when Lloyd came around for a sales call to ask him to “pick up some fire boots and gloves and bring them on the next visit.” Soon after the economy improved, his sons, Jay and Bill, were named partners and L.N. Curtis Specialty Merchandise evolved into L.N. Curtis & sons.
 
Today, L.N. Curtis & sons is a premier provider of emergency responder equipment, educational material, and service led by President and CEO Paul Curtis (3 rd generation) and Vice Presidents Jeff and Roger Curtis (4 th generation).
 
After being in Oakland the last 90 years, the company recently moved its headquarters to new, thoughtfully designed offices at 185 Lennon Lane, Center Pointe, in Shadelands. Planning to make Shadelands home for decades to come, L.N. Curtis & sons purchased the building and is now operating in 16,000 square feet, having remodeled and refreshed the remaining spaces for lease.
 
The offices are warm and welcoming, with plenty of natural light and room to grow. Visitors are greeted by an original oil painting of the American flag by artist Koby Feldmos and art depicting first responders helping children and families.
 
Historical images and memorabilia are sprinkled throughout, reminders of L.N. Curtis & son’s rich and storied history of supporting emergency responders through nine decades.
 
With 250 team members primarily located in the Western United States, including 55 in Shadelands, L.N. Curtis & sons supplies emergency responder equipment from the top brands and provides after-the-sale service to thousands of fire and police departments throughout the Western U.S., as well as to many branches of the U.S. Government, both domestically and overseas.

Sister companies include ECMS (care and maintenance of firefighter clothing) and Firefighters Bookstore (educational and training resources for emergency responders).
 
“Our Pacific Division, which serves California, Nevada, and Hawaii, handles the everyday requirements of local and regional fire and law enforcement departments, and also steps in to provide support to these agencies during major events such as the challenging California wildfires,” says Jeff Curtis. “Our team members do whatever it takes to assist during these emergencies, whether it’s opening our warehouse on the weekend, making deliveries out to the frontlines, or working with manufacturers to rush production and shipment of needed equipment.”
L.N. "Pop" Curtis (c) with sons Jay (l) and Bill (r), 1950.
3rd and 4th generations: Paul Curtis (c) with sons Jeff (l) and Roger (r), 2019
185 Lennon Lane, Suite 110
Center Pointe, Shadelands
Walnut Creek
877.488.0469
L.N. Curtis and horse-drawn firetruck
Hose nozzles and 1945 advertisement
“We were drawn to the quality of the surroundings and amenities in Shadelands—the openness, the stores and lunch spots, the medical care options, the SportsMall and other indoor and outdoor recreational activities,” says Roger Curtis. “We're excited to join the Shadelands community and all that it offers our team members, who are dedicated to supporting America’s heroes.”
ANOTHER RIBBON CUTTING AT
THE ORCHARDS!
Profile by Sanford , a weight loss and nutritional counseling business located in The Orchards at Walnut Creek , enjoyed a festive Saturday morning ribbon cutting held last month on January 25, attended by family, friends, customers, and Walnut Creek Chamber Ambassadors.

Located between Lunchbox Wax and Mattress Firm, Profile is operated by local resident Jordan Richards, who co-owns the business with his brother Nelson.

Read the feature article on Profile in the December 2019 issue of the The Shadelands Scene . And visit the Profile store in The Orchards.
The Orchards at Walnut Creek
2846 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek
925.218.1314
Holding the "big scissors" is Profile co-
owner Jordan Richards. Joining him left to right: Ambassador Ron Hermanson; Health Coach Carolyn Rogers; Co-owner Nelson Richards; Jordan; Health Coach Wes Fanhani; and Ambassador Paul Crossen.
COPA FIT IS OFFICIALLY OPEN!
COPA Fit is part of the innovative 215,000-SF Shadelands SportsMall located at 2650 Shadelands Drive. Under the umbrella of COPA Soccer Training Center, COPA Fit is, in fact, its own enterprise: an elite fitness training facility for athletes of all sports and abilities that combines the features of a full-service fitness gym and a high-performance athletic training center.

“COPA Fit is a top of the line, state of the art gym space for people who take their health and fitness seriously,” says Shawn Leonard, COPA Fit’s director, who has more than 11 years in the fitness industry.
She sees the entire COPA Fit facility as attractive to the general population as it is to elite athletes.
 
“We’re convenient for parents who are dropping their kids off at the SportsMall at all hours of the day. They can come in here for a workout during their kids’ practices, rather than sit in the car or hallways, killing time.

“And the gym is enticing for elite athletes—professional athletes of all sports, not just soccer—serious athletes who are focused on performance training in a premier gym with a variety of machines and equipment not found in most facilities—in fact, the same equipment and set ups found in collegiate and professional weight rooms.”

Between the weight room, the group exercise studio, and the cardio loft, COPA Fit has more than 350 pieces of equipment and all COPA Fit members have unlimited access to the entire gym during business hours.

“Versatility is huge in our weight room, which was designed and built to accommodate any athlete of any sport looking to train for endurance, strength, and core stability.”

Among other weight room highlights:

• Five Sorinex squat racks, the most versatile, customizable racks on the market.

• Keiser functional trainers that use air pressure to create weight, rather than weight stacks, for smoother, easier adjustments and less impact on joints.

Group classes in the exercise studio include spin, boot camp style, HIT (high-intensity interval training), cardio, kickboxing, core classes, and strength and conditioning, among others.

Upstairs in the cardio loft, you’ll find Life Fitness ellipticals, treadmills, stairmills, stationary bikes, and two rowers. Between the exercise room and cardio loft, COPA Fit has 26 top of the line Keiser stationary bikes.

Additionally, COPA Fit offers a la carte personal training for all fitness levels and abilities focused on any goals the member is trying to achieve, and nutritional counseling and support through COPA Fuel for athletes at all levels of ability and performance.

COPA Fit is open seven days a week. Visit COPA Fit for hours, events, packages, and membership details.

Shadelands SportsMall
2650 Shadelands Drive
Suite A
Walnut Creek
925.357.8991
YAPPY HOUR AT ARF!
Join Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) for a pre-Valentine’s Day Yappy Hour , a festive evening for animal-lovers ages 21 and older. Enjoy local beer provided by Calicraft , games, and photo ops with ARF puppies & kittens.

Thursday, February 13, 6pm
2890 Mitchell Drive
Walnut Creek
925.256.1ARF

Proceeds benefit ARF's
lifesaving programs.
Friday, February 14, Valentine's Day All adoption fees sponsored by
Assemblymember Tim Grayson
MOVE-IN DAY IN SIGHT AT
VIAMONTE AT WALNUT CREEK
Viamonte at Walnut Creek , the life plan community under construction at the corner of Shadelands Drive and N. Via Monte, broke ground in May 2018. Now, nearly two years later, Viamonte is preparing to open and welcome residents in early fall 2020.

Melody Mitchell, Viamonte's new executive director, is looking forward to opening the first life plan community in Contra Costa County.

Viamonte is a development of Sequoia Living , a nonprofit based in San Francisco dedicated to providing homes and services for healthy aging. Managed by Cahill Construction, the project sits on 3.8 acres in the northwest corner of The Orchards and is “on time and on budget” says Melody, who has worked in senior living for close to twenty years.

As a continuing care community, Viamonte contracts with residents to provide care and services to meet their needs for life—not just medical needs, but the needs for their overall health and wellness. 24/7 nursing staff, high-service dining options, on-site and off-site activities, and quality of life amenities—such as a pool, art room, fitness room, bocce court, terraces, and expansive courtyard—characterize this dynamic senior living community.

"The diversity of our floor plans, the exceptional building materials we’re using, the technologies we’re installing for the safety of our residents—all this adds to the charm and distinction of Viamonte," says Melody.

Viamonte has 174 independent living, seven assisted living, and ten memory care units. Residents can move from independent living into assisted living and into memory care, if necessary. Or, they can stay in their independent living unit and care can be brought in for them when they need help. Viamonte will partner with nearby skilled nursing facilities for services outside Viamonte’s menu of services.

“Our care doesn’t stop just because our resident may not be in our building,” says Melody. “If a resident is in a hospital or a skilled nursing facility recovering from surgery, we’ll be visiting and watching their care and well-being closely because we are responsible for their overall health—that’s our promise.”

Currently the sole employee of Viamonte, Melody is working from her temporary office in the Viamonte Preview Center at 165 Lennon Lane, which sports a scale model of Viamonte and its grounds, detailed floor plans (each named after a famous Californian), and two full-size residential units for showing.

Melody’s first hire was the director of human resources. She plans to hire and phase in about 80 employees, with almost half for the dining staff to work the large dining room, bistro, and bar.
Preview Center
165 Lennon Lane, Suite 105
Walnut Creek
925.621.6600
Viamonte plans to have 24/7 nursing staff on board Day One that residents move in. That includes the director of clinical services and licensed vocational nurses, who will provide help and care in the independent living, assisted living, and memory care units. Certified nursing assistants will be phased in as the residential population grows.

“We are the first senior living community in Shadelands and we want to be a good example of how a community of seniors can enrich a larger community and be enriched by a community like Shadelands," says Melody. "We want to show that there’s value at every stage of life.”

To inquire about employment at Viamonte, contact Melvin Freeman at MFreeman@SequoiaLiving.org.
KAIPERM SEMINARS TO
EDUCATE, EXPLORE OPTIONS
Kaiperm Credit Union is offering its members, Kaiser Permanente employees, and employees' families four complimentary one-hour seminars, which will be held at Kaiperm offices in Shadelands.

325 N. Wiget, Suite 130
Walnut Creek
925.939.5626

Lunch 'n' Learns, 12:30-1:30pm
• 2/18: Estate Planning
• 2/26: Homebuyers
• 3/17: Social Side of Retirement

Dinner Seminar, 5:30-6:30pm
• 3/19: Homebuyers
Meals & refreshments
will be provided.
Registration is required.

RSVP at
Write to us at Shadelands@walnut-creek.com.
Subscribe here , if you haven't already done so.
Please forward The Shadelands Scene to community friends and colleagues.
If this copy was forwarded to you, click here to subscribe.
Click Archives to enjoy past issues of The Shadelands Scene .