About Us
Our Mission
Parenting on the Peninsula (POP) is a monthly journal serving the San Francisco Peninsula and the Silicon Valley whose
sole purpose is to provide valuable parenting information for parents of children of all ages.
Where You Can Find Us
You can find us throughout your city at locations close to home! Look for us in local libraries, coffee shops, doctors offices,
and recreational centers.
Who We Are
The Parenting on the Peninsula team is as diverse and cultured as you are. We are a group of enthusiastic and positive
voices with a desire to enhance your outlook and your lives. Read on to learn more about us!
The POP Team
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Joanne Bracco, Publisher & Editor |
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- Owner of Parenting on the Peninsula with a keen interest in her paper having a real 'voice' of the people, Joanne is a San Francisco native living in San Mateo since 1975. She raised her two daughters here on the Peninsula, both graduates of Hillsdale High School. She has been writing a film and entertainment review column since 1984 syndicated in cities all over the U.S. and also hosts and organizes several parenting events up and down the Peninsula. Joanne has three grandchildren who occupy her spare time when she is not publishing Parenting on the Peninsula. |
| Tory Hartmann, Managing Editor & Columnist | ![]() |
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- Tory Hartmann is a freelance writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her non-fiction has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County Times, and Parenting on the Peninsula. Her fiction has been published in The Sand Hill Review, Descant, The Hurricane Review, The Homestead Review, Ship’s Log: Writings at Sea, Tattoo Highway, San Francisco Peninsula Review as well as many others. Her screenplays include "The Ghost of Harvey Milk" and three episodes of "The Powerhouse Kids".
A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Tory Hartmann has been a political consultant, a graphic artist, real estate broker, and business executive. Since the sale of her business, American Precision Gear, in 2007, she has been writing full time. You can view her website at www.toryhartmann.com. |
| Amy Shulman, Copy Editor / Calendar Representative | |
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- Amy is a single mom with two incredible daughters attending UC Davis. Originally from New York, she resides in Foster City. Amy is an Independent Associate with Usana Health Sciences and has a background in marketing, Web site maintenance and publication coordination. She also founded Reach for the Stars, an event planning company. |
| Lyne-Marie Thomas, General Manager of Operations | |
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- Lyne-Marie was trained as a registered nurse and blessed to have been able to stay home and raise 3 beautiful children (now ages 21, 22 and 23) Excited to be returning to the real world, she feels incredibly lucky to be working with such a passionate, caring and hard-working group of people. In her spare time, she can be found at the gym, either teaching Zumba or taking a Zumba class, at the dog park with her Shi-poodle Gaby, or relaxing at home with a glass of Pinot Noir. |
| Stefani DiMauro, Production/Graphic Design | |
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- Born and raised on the Peninsula, she lives in her old neighborhood with her family and dog. Her favorite things to do are hanging out with her family, crafting, photography, and working in her kids' classrooms teaching art. |
| Len Ramirez Jr., Web Master, Blog Editor, & Social Media Manager | |
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- Is a father of three awesome kids with a lifetime passion for film. With a twenty year technological background, he fills his free time with screenwriting, camping, and travelling to anyplace there's water. In addition to being POP's WebMaster, Blog Editor, and Social Media Manager, he is working on two screenplays, one of which is currently being shopped in Bollywood. |
| Megan Ramirez, Web Content Intern | |
- Is a technologist with a passion for landscape architecture and photo-journalism. She loves the beach, camping, and has an interest in surfing and travelling abroad. |
Advertising Executives
| Joanne Bracco | ![]() |
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- Owner of Parenting on the Peninsula with a keen interest in her paper having a real 'voice' of the people, Joanne is a San Francisco native living in San Mateo since 1975. She raised her two daughters here on the Peninsula, both graduates of Hillsdale High School. She has been writing a film and entertainment review column since 1984 syndicated in cities all over the U.S. and also hosts and organizes several parenting events up and down the Peninsula. Joanne has three grandchildren who occupy her spare time when she is not publishing Parenting on the Peninsula. |
| Adrianne | |
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Adrianne has a diverse background in marketing, finance and real estate. She raised her son and daughter in Cupertino as a single working mom. She enjoys family time with her adult children, playing make-believe with her two grand daughters and raising canaries. |
| Lisa Janny | ![]() |
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- Lives with her husband in Redwood City and is a mother of two boys, a 1 year old and 3 1/2 year old. For fun, loves travelling, photography, and yoga. |
| Carol Raisner, Sales Manager | |
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- Lives with her husband and six year old daughter in San Carlos. Treasures time spent with family and then scrapbooking those memories. |
| Sonia Vittori | |
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- Lives in San Mateo with her husband and her 3 year old son. Enjoys scrapbooking, crafting and spending time with her family. |
Columnists
| Dr. Jason Clark - "The Doctor Is In" | |
- Has been a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City since 2000. When not working, he enjoys fishing, skiing, and spending time with his wife and two children. |
| Katie Comfort - "Ask the Doula" | |
- Katie Comfort is a mother of an 18 month old boy and a 4 year old girl and resides with her husband and menagerie of cats & dogs in Redwood City. |
| Donne Davis - "Go-to Grandma" | |
| - Lives with her husband live in Menlo Park. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Six years ago, after witnessing the birth of her first grandchild, Donne founded the GaGa Sisterhood, a social network for enthusiastic grandmas. Read her blog at http://gagasisterhood.com/ or email her at donnedavis@gagasisterhood.com. |
| Monica Ho Ehlers - "Family Fun Fitness" | ![]() |
- Has taught fitness for 22 years and is the creator of Moms' Gym and Gym Daddy P.E.-style family fitness classes. For more information about classes or teaching opportunities, visit moms-gym.com or call Monica at (650)430-9995. Monica is also the San Francisco Family Fitness Examiner on examiner.com. |
| Sandi McCreadie | |
- Sandi McCreadie is an M.A.T., ECE and Child Development Specialist with more than 28 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. |
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Bob Livingstone, LCSW - "Analyze This" |
| - Is a psychotherapist who has been working with adults, children and teenagers for over twenty years in San Mateo. For more information call 650-347-5167 or click www.boblivingstone.com. |
| Kirsten Patel - "Mommy Brain" | |
- lives in Hillsborough with her husband, seven-year-old twin girls and five-year-old son. She is still trying to convince her husband to let her drive. |
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Len Ramirez Jr. - "Pushing the Limits in High School" |
- Is a father of three awesome kids with a lifetime passion for film. With a twenty year technological background, he fills his free time with screenwriting, camping, and travelling to anyplace there's water. In addition to being POP's WebMaster and Blog Editor, he is working on two screenplays, one of which is currently being shopped in Bollywood. |
| Megan Ramirez - "Life As A Teen" | ![]() |
- Megan Ramirez is a 17-year-old high school senior and an AP honors student who plays field hockey. She wants to pursue a career in landscape architecture and a minor in photo-journalism. |
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Jessica Rosenberg - "Mompreneur" |
- Jessica is an aspiring novelist living in Santa Clara with her two young daughters and her husband. You can read about her struggles to balance work, life, and kids at http://www.itsjessicaslife.com. |
| Steve Shapiro - "Father Knows Best" | |
- Steve Shapiro lives and works in the Silicon Valley, is completely wrapped around the fingers of his two young daughters, and has permanently entrusted his heart into his lovely wife's safekeeping. Prior to fatherhood he was known to appear in the occasional local theatrical production. He now satisfies his theatrical ambitions by entertaining his kids with silly songs at the piano. |
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Carmelo Sigona - "Cooking Fresh With Sigonas" |
- Carmelo Sigona is one of three brothers who co-own Sigona’s Farmers Market, which started as a roadside fruit stand in Morgan Hill, California in 1975. Aan experimental chef and nutrition aficionado, Carmelo feels blessed to live in this area and is devoted to sharing its goodness with others. |
| Caryn Huberman Yacowitz -"Children's Book and Music Reviews" | ![]() |
- Is a local children’s book author and grandmother. Her picture book “Pumpkin Fiesta” is also a musical play. “The Jade Stone, A Chinese Folktale” is another award-winning picture book that has been adapted for the stage. Caryn’s website lists her fiction and nonfiction titles: www.carynyacowitz.com. |
The Mommies Diaries - Our Bloggers
SUNDAYS Annie Kayser, Working Mommie |
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- Annie is a Peninsula Mommy to sweet natured 2-year-old Allie. After many years of working as an Owner’s Rep on the coordination of the new Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame, she is doing something she never thought she’d have the guts to do… leave the security of the stable paycheck and find faith in herself to turn her part-time photography business into a full-time venture ~ it is her true passion and calling. Some of Annie’s other loves include attending Burning Man, belly dancing, visiting her families home in New Zealand and of course who doesn’t love loads of QT with family and friends! |
MONDAYS TBD, "The New Mommie" |
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If you're interested in blogging for The Mommies Diaries, tell us why and send an email to Len Ramirez, Blog Editor at len@ponthep.com. |
TUESDAYS Gina Perkins, The Preschool Mommie |
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- In a previous life, Lia was a 3rd grade teacher who traded it all in to be a mom. Now living in Sunnyvale, she can often be found spending time with her family while moonlighting as a freelance writer. Born in Michigan she is an avid hockey fan, but LOVES living in the Bay Area! |
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WEDNESDAYS Rebecca Bingham, Special Needs Mommie |
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- Mom, activist, fundraiser, and bleeding heart. Self taught expert in adoption, transracial families, Down Syndrome, and avoiding doing the laundry. San Francisco transplant via New Jersey and Utah. Cheese addict. |
THURSDAYS Kirsten Patel,, Elementary Mommie-on-the-Run |
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- Is a stay at home mom to twin girls (born 2002) and a son (born 2005). She and her husband traded in their life in San Francisco for a house in the suburbs and a mini-van. They are learning to love suburban life. The huge backyard and walk to a fantastic public school are helping the adjustment. Kirsten was born in San Francisco and raised on the peninsula. When not trying to decide what to make for dinner or attempting to get all three kids into the car, she enjoys reading, organizing her closets (really!), running and shopping online. You can read her blog at www.thenorwindians.blogspot.com |
FRIDAYS Len Ramirez Jr., Total Teen Dad |
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- Is a father of three young adults. When he's not doing the daddy thing, Len loves to go camping, hiking, explore new places, and live a life of adventure. And still squeeze work in on writing screenplays. |
SATURDAYS TBD, Mommie-to-be |
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If you're interested in blogging for The Mommies Diaries, tell us why and send an email to Len Ramirez, Blog Editor at len@ponthep.com. |
Contributing Writers
Benjamin Buress
- has been a staff astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center since July 1999. He graduated from Sonoma State University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in physics (and minor in astronomy), after which he signed on for a two-year stint in the Peace Corps, where he taught physics and mathematics in the African nation of Cameroon. From 1989-96 he served on the crew of NASA’s Kuiper Airborne Observatory at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA. From 1996-99, he was Head Observer at the Naval Prototype Optical Interferometer program at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ.
Monica Ho Ehlers
- Has taught fitness for 22 years and is the creator of Moms Gym and Gym Daddy P.E. - style family fitness classes.
Tory Hartmann
- is a freelance writer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her non-fiction and fiction is widely published along with
screenplays for film and television. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley, she has been a political consultant, a graphic artist,
real estate broker, and business executive. You can view her website at www.toryhartmann.com.
Sheila Janakos, MPH, IBCLC
- who is a mother of three breastfed children living in Burlingame, California where she is owner of a thriving private
practice, Healthy Horizons Breastfeeding Centers, offering in-home and in-office consultations and classes. Her
website, babiesandmoms.com offers specialized lines of breastfeeding and baby products as well as advice.
Karen Vanuska
- A freelance writer and substitute teacher, she lives in Half Moon Bay with her husband and three children.
Wendy Wright, LE, IBCLC
- Is a workplace lactation consultant and the owner of Lactation Navigation. She is a proud mother of two children.
Linda Broatch, MA, GreatSchools.net
Masha Rosen, CHom
- is a certified homeopath with a family practice in Burlingame and Palo Alto. She has two children, Jonathan (7)
and Dana (5). Visit Masha’s website www.masharosen.com and download her free report "What Homeopathy Can
Do for You and Your Family".
Benjamin Burress, Chabot Space & Science Center
- is the Program Content Developer at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. He's been immersed in all
things Maya for a while now in preparation for the new planetarium show, Maya Skies, which is opening this month.
Visit www.chabotspace.org for more details.
Cover Photography
Andrew Scheiner
Advisory Council
Joanne Adan
Lisa Rosenthal













