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EARTHTALK
Can we build wind farms that don’t harm wildlife?
By Alexander Birk
Dear EarthTalk: Has anyone figured out how to build wind farms that don’t negatively impact birds, bats and other wildlife? Does building them off-shore help?
– Mary B, Hyannis, Massachusetts
As the U.S. tackles the issues of climate change, the Biden administration is investing in wind power as a key strategy for sustainably meeting the country’s energy needs. Federal officials estimate that the U.S. coastline could host 30,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2030, which would be enough energy to power as many as 10 million American homes.
Wind power is a necessary tool for fighting climate change, but it can be a threat to birds. A 2013 study by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute found wind turbines to be responsible for killing up to 328,000 birds annually in the U.S. alone. Bats, another species playing a vital role in ecosystems, are also seeing negative impacts by wind farms. Research has shown that larger, migratory bats are at the greatest risk. In response to these problems, the federal government has allocated $13.5 million specifically earmarked to addressing the impact of windfarms on birds, bats and marine species.
Scientists are focusing their efforts on site analysis, species monitoring and wildlife deterrents. Large birds of prey are the bird species most at risk. In response, some wind farm developments are incorporating new technology that can recognize eagles, hawks and other raptors as they approach in enough time to pause any turbines in the flight path. This tool, called IdentiFlight, can detect 5.62 times more bird flights than human observers alone, and with an accuracy rate of 94%.
Developing the best strategies for protecting bats is a bit more of a challenge, but the U.S. Geological Survey is investigating migratory bat behavior with an interdisciplinary approach that will analyze migratory movements, mating and feeding behaviors to determine if they can find patterns that play a role in turbine collisions.
Locating wind farms offshore has been identified as a potential solution to species loss caused by on-land wind turbines. But as with any man-made structure, it is important to subject this potential solution to environmental impact assessments to have a clear understanding of the risks and possible benefits. One study in the United Kingdom found evidence that offshore wind farms could actually increase biodiversity if siting and timing of construction are chosen carefully. The study describes the structures acting as artificial reefs, mimicking natural habitat that can then be colonized by a diverse set of species.
Indeed, as we move toward utilizing more renewable energy, efforts to mitigate impacts on wildlife and surrounding ecosystems will take on increased importance to optimize the overall benefit to humanity and the environment we depend up on to sustain us.
CONTACTS:
• Bat Conservation International
www.batcon.org
• Is it possible to build wildlife-friendly windfarms?
bbc.com/future/article/20200302-how-do-wind-farms-affect-bats-birds-and-other-wildlife
• White House announces plans for massive expansion of offshore wind farms
huffpost.com/entry/white-house-offshore-wind-farms_n_6167846fe4b0f26084f0178b
• The habit-creation potential of offshore wind farms
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/we.324
• Bat fatalities at wind turbines — investigating the causes and consequences
usgs.gov/centers/fort-collins-science-center/science/bat-fatalities-wind-turbines-investigating-causes-and
EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to:
qu******@ea*******.org
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Park It
By Ned MacKay
The new year brings resumption of in-person programs at East Bay Regional Park District visitor centers, in addition to online programs that will still be offered via the park district website, www.ebparks.org.
For example, the visitor center at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont is open and wheelchair accessible from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks are required and social distancing must be maintained.
The center offers Discovery on Demand, a naturalist-hosted program, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Discovery includes a variety of hands-on activities, craft projects, and watching live animal feedings. All ages are welcome, though parental participation is required.
The naturalists also offer programs at the center’s nectar garden every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. There’s a vivarium where butterflies and other insects go through their life cycles. You can learn about pollinators, and how to set up your own native plant garden.
And there may still be space to register for an ethnobotany hike from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, January 8 with naturalist Dino Labiste. Dino will point out plants that are used as food, medicine and tools by the Ohlone Peoples, and discuss California Native techniques used to manage the land and restore natural resources.
The program is for ages eight and older, and free of charge. Registration and parent participation are required. To register, call (888) 327-2757. Refer to course 42934. For information, call (510) 544-3220.
Coyote Hills is located at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle.
Nearby at Ardenwood Historic Farm, Victorian fun and games are on the agenda from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 9. Visitors can try out stilt walking, and play a variety of old-time games. The program repeats at the same time on Sunday, January 23.
Ardenwood re-creates life on a prosperous 19th century estate. The centerpiece is the beautifully restored Patterson House, once home to the family that established the farm in the mid-19th century. Attractions include farm animals, harvesting in season, a narrow-gauge railroad, and a variety of special events.
Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84 in Fremont. For fees and hours of operation, call (510) 544 2797.
The Environmental Education Center (EEC) at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley offers all kinds of programs showcasing the natural history of the park.
The Naturalist’s Trail is a series of easy, guided walks around the Nature Area from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, January 9, 16 and 23. Meet at the EEC, which is at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive.
Another program, led by Tilden naturalist Gail Broesder, is the Over-The-Hills Gang. The informal gang consists of hikers ages 55 and older who enjoy exercise and nature exploration in various regional parks. Gail plans another hike from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 11 at Leona Canyon in Oakland. Meet her at the trailhead at 770 Canyon Oaks Drive off Keller Avenue. There are no facilities at the trailhead.
For more information on EEC programs and Gail’s next hike, call (510) 544-2233.
There’s always something going on at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. The visitor center there has exhibits on the remarkable natural and cultural history of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. There’s an outdoor amphitheater, a scale model of the entire Delta waterway, a place to launch kayaks, and a pier from which abundant wildlife can be observed.
The visitor center offers free public programs every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The January program is “Flyway Highway: Birding Road Trip.”
And kids will enjoy Big Break Littles programs on the first and second Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. January’s theme is “Bird Bingo.”
Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. Call (510) 544-2753.
For complete information on all the regional park district parks, trails, visitor centers and programs, check out the newly designed website, www.ebparks.org.
Hunting the Hunter: Observing Orion
By David Prosper for NASA Night Sky Network
If you are outside on a clear January night, it’s hard not to notice one distinctive star pattern above all: Orion! While we’ve covered Orion in earlier articles, we’ve never discussed observing the constellation as a whole. Perhaps you’ve received a new telescope, camera, or binoculars, and are eager to test it out. Orion, being large, prominent, and full of interesting, bright objects, is a perfect constellation to test out your new equipment and practice your observing skills – for beginners and seasoned stargazers alike.
In Greek mythology, Orion is a strong hunter, with numerous legends about his adventures. Being such a striking group of stars, cultures from all around the world have many myths about this star pattern. There are so many that we can’t list them all here, but you can find a wonderful interactive chart detailing many cultures’ legends on the Figures in the Sky website at figuresinthesky.visualcinnamon.com.
What sights can you see in Orion? Look above the variable orange-red supergiant “shoulder star” Betelgeuse to find the stars making up Orion’s “club,” then move across from Betelgeuse towards the bright star Bellatrix (Orion’s other “shoulder”) and the stars of his bow and arrow – both essential tools for the Hunter.
Many interesting sights lie near Orion’s “belt” and “sword.” Orion’s belt is made up of three bright giant stars forming an evenly spaced line: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. Move from the belt stars towards the stars Rigel and Saiph (Orion’s “feet” or “knees”) to arrive at Orion’s distinctive Sword, parts of which may appear fuzzy to your unaided eyes. Binoculars reveal that fuzz to be the famed Orion Nebula (M42), perched right next to the star Hatysa! Diving in deeper with a telescope will show star clusters and more cloud detail around the Nebula, and additional magnification brings out further detail inside the nebula itself, including the “baby stars” of the Trapezium and the next-door neighbor nebula M43.
Want to dive deeper? Dark skies and a telescope will help to bring out the reflection nebula M78, the Flame Nebula (NGC 2024), along with many star clusters and traces of dark nebula throughout the constellation. Very careful observers under dark clear skies may be able to spot the dark nebula known as the Horsehead, tracing an equine outline below both the Belt and the Flame Nebula. Warning: The Horsehead can be a difficult challenge for many stargazers, but very rewarding.
Northern Hemisphere observers can find Orion during January evenings in the east/southeast skies. Can you spot the Orion nebula with your naked eye, in Orion’s sword? How does it look via binoculars or a telescope? What other details can you discern? Please note that some deep sky objects aren’t listed here for clarity’s sake. For example, M43, a nebula located directly above M42 and separated by a dark dust lane, is not shown. Orion’s Belt and Sword are crowded, since they star-forming regions! You can read more in our November 2019 article Orion: Window Into a Stellar Nursery, at bit.ly/orionlight.
This is just a taste of the riches found within Orion’s star fields and dust clouds; you can study Orion for a lifetime and never feel done with your observations. To be fair, that applies for the sky as a whole, but Orion has a special place for many. New telescopes often focus on one of Orion’s treasures for their first test images. You can discover more of NASA’s research into Orion’s stars – as well as the rest of the cosmos – online at nasa.gov.
This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
‘Watch and Taste’ TV
Do you crave a taste of the dishes Chef Gordon Ramsay cooks up on his TV shows? If so, you may someday be able not only to watch how Ramsay, or any other of your favorite television cooks, put together their savory entrees, you’ll be able to actually taste them as you watch, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). Homei Miyashita, a professor at Japan’s School of Science, claims to have invented a TV with a screen that lets you actually taste the yummy concoctions TV chefs cook up on their shows. “It works by mixing a combination of 10 flavors to create the taste of whatever food item is on the screen. Then it dispenses the flavor onto a film that slides onto the screen, where users can lick it off,” explains ABC-TV News. See video of the “lickable” TV screen on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPhQoz5uCxM.
Let’s make a deal, she says
Demi Skipper of San Francisco has remarkable trading skills — remarkable enough to trade a bobby pin for a house, reports AMAC. How did she do it? She used social media, including Facebook and Craigslist. It took a while, but someone finally offered to trade her for a pair of earrings. She then traded the earrings for a set of glasses, which she traded for a vacuum cleaner. A year and a half and 28 trades later she was the owner of a solar powered trailer worth about $40,000, which she traded for a home in Clarksville, Tennessee. But that’s not the end of the story. Demi and her husband are going to fix the place up, give it to a needy recipient and then break out another bobby pin and start all over again. See how she did it on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S1YnTKnWGQ.
A bridge too heavy
You’ve got to wonder what the thief was going to do with a 58-foot-long pedestrian bridge he stole from a park in Akron, Ohio. According to AMAC, 63-year-old David Bradley hired a presumably unwitting trucking company to haul the overpass from a park in town to a location 30 miles away in Medina County on or around November 11. He was charged with felony theft. One can only guess what Bradley was planning to do with his ill-gotten viaduct. See the bridge Bradley took on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyISKRLBV-8.
The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.
THE ROBOT REPORT
Elbit Systems to study human-robot interaction
By Brianna Wessling
Oftentimes, autonomous robots operate in human-free environments, like logistics centers or automated production lines. It can be hard for humans to adjust to working around robots, and vice versa. Recently, Israel Innovation Authority approved a new innovation consortium for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI).
The consortium will be led by Elbit Systems C4I and Cyber. It will bring together academic researchers studying AI, computer science and behavioral science and robotics companies. The goal is to develop an innovative HRI infrastructure.
“Our selection by the Israel Innovation Authority, to lead a Human-Robot Interaction consortium reflects our expertise in the fields of autonomous systems and manned-unmanned teaming,” Yossi Cohen, Elbit and Cyber chief technology officer, said. “We are looking forward to collaborating with additional industry partners that specialize in these fields, that will join us in the consortium.”
The goal for many in the industry is to see humans working alongside robots, where robots are performing dull, dirty and dangerous jobs, while humans focus on tasks that require creativity and critical thinking.
Communication between humans and robots is key for a productive working environment, but that doesn’t come naturally. Robotic systems need to be familiar with the ways that humans communicate, verbally and non-verbally. Robots also need to be aware of any relevant social codes that could change the way humans interact.
“Israel Innovation Authority is working to close technology gaps in the field of robotics using various tools as well as by promoting knowledge transfer from the defense sector and academia to the wider industry,” Dr. Aviv Zeevi, VP of technological infrastructure at the Israel Innovation Authority, said.
Elbit Systems is an Israeli-based international defense and electronics company. It has been working with automation systems and robotics for decades.
Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She can be reached at
bw*******@wt*******.com
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Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor for the Association of Mature American Citizens
Ask Rusty – Should I Quit Work to Preserve My Social Security Benefit?
Dear Rusty: I recently took a big pay cut in my job. Several older friends have advised that I not continue to work much longer in this reduced paying job because it will affect my Social Security when I get ready to start drawing it. I’m currently 62 and thought about working until around 65. Friends are advising that my SS check will be smaller due to the decrease in pay. I have tried calling my local and National Social Security office and can’t get anyone to answer the phones to see if this is true. I don’t want to take this pay cut only to work (maybe) 3 more years and take a lower SS benefit when I can retire now and draw a bigger SS check. Advice, please! Signed: Anxious About Social Security
Dear Anxious: I think your well-meaning friends are causing you unnecessary anxiety, because your Social Security benefit isn’t computed from your last several years of earnings. Rather, it is your lifetime earnings which determine your base Social Security benefit, known as your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Your PIA is what you get if you claim exactly at your full retirement age (FRA) which, for you, is 66 years and 10 months. If you claim SS before your FRA, your benefit will be permanently cut (by about 29% if you claim at 62 and about 12% if you claim at 65).
Your PIA is computed using the highest earning 35 years of earnings (adjusted for inflation) over your lifetime, and your most recent earnings would affect your SS benefit only to the extent they are among the lifetime 35 years used. If you don’t yet have a full 35 years of earnings, then to quit working now would actually hurt your SS benefit, because SS always uses 35 years to compute your benefit, even if you don’t have a full 35 years of earnings. In that case, they would use “zero” earnings for enough years to make it 35, and those zero-earning years would mean a smaller benefit. So even if your recent earnings are lower than before, they are still more than the $0 that SS will use if you don’t have at least 35 years, so those lower earnings will help your SS benefit not hurt it.
The bottom line is this: your SS benefit won’t be cut just because you now have lower earnings; rather your benefit will be based on your highest earning 35 years over your lifetime. But any benefit estimate you received in the past would have been calculated on the assumption that you would continue to earn at your most recently reported level until you reach your FRA. You’ve taken a cut in pay since then. So, whether you stop working now or just take a lower salary, your actual benefit when you claim will be less than your recent estimate from Social Security. Note too that it is a common misconception that SS benefits are based on the last ten years of earnings; that is incorrect. Your benefit amount will be computed using your average monthly earnings over your lifetime (the 35 years in which you earned the most, adjusted for inflation).
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at
ss*******@am************.org
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Trash Talk
By The Pickup Artist
This is the twelfth edition of Trash Talk, a column devoted to cleaning up our neighborhoods – and beyond!
Other Types of Trash
Trash doesn’t just clutter up the neighborhood, it taints surroundings wherever you find it. Check your email for “sounds too good to be true” offers. Some use very realistic logos, imitate websites, and appear to come from banks or other “trusted” organizations. Here are some tips to help spot the fakes:
Look at the sender’s REAL address; what’s displayed can be spoofed. In your list of emails, Example 1 would appear to come from ‘Shark Tank’. Inside the chevrons, you’ll see this one is so bogus they even tell you it comes from ‘SabotageEm’. Bold indeed!
In Example 2 not only does the sender’s address almost look legitimate, but they also use the FedEx logo. However, if you hover over the “Update my address” button, you’ll see it does not take you to a FedEx site. Do not click on it.
Example 3 “order confirmation” appears to come from Amazon. But I didn’t order any MacBook! For $800, wouldn’t you want to follow up? It’s captivating – and bogus! It could confirm your email address and they can then sell it to others, or use it to download malware.
Would you click on a link for a sale from the site in Example 4? Look again, that is NOT Walmart!
If you repeatedly receive much spam from the same contacts, check your email system for methods to block them. They might have filters you can enable to automatically delete this trash without ever bothering you. This criteria can be the sender’s real email address, keywords like “mortgage” or “cannabis,” or even the domain name (the words following the @ sign). Remember, you can always search the internet with “how to stop (or block) spam (or emails)” and your email system (Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, etc.)
Water conservation tip of the month:
Did you know it takes 3 ½ gallons of water for every flush of a low-flow toilet? Five gallons if your toilet is older. You can save about 67% of the water used for flushing by installing a dual-flush kit (you don’t need to replace the toilet). For about $20-30, you might reduce your water bill by 20%, and conserve water!
The quote for today:
“You don’t find luck. You go out and make it.” –The Pointy-haired boss in ‘Dilbert.’
Answer to the last Trash Talk Question: No question last month. I hope you enjoyed time together with family and friends. Enjoy them while you can – you don’t regret time spent with them.
Trash Talk Question for today: It’s a new year; clean slate. What areas are you looking at to make this a better year than last year, both for yourself and for others? Health? Finances? Career? Relationships? I hope you have something you want to improve. Make this New Year the best one ever! If everything is great, then maybe you can help others achieve their goals.
Send comments or questions to
Th******************@ou*****.com
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Amanda Gorman writes end-of year poem, ‘New Day’s Lyric’
By Hillel Italie
Associated Press National Writer
NEW YORK (AP), Dec. 29 — Amanda Gorman is ending her extraordinary year on a hopeful note.
The 23-year-old poet, whose reading of her own “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden’s inauguration made her an international sensation, released a new work Dec. 29 to mark the end of 2021. “New Day’s Lyric” is a five-stanza, 48-line resolution with themes of struggle and healing known to admirers of “The Hill We Climb” and of her bestselling collection “Call Us What We Carry,” which came out in early December:
“What was cursed, we will cure.
What was plagued, we will prove pure.
Where we tend to argue, we will try to agree,
Those fortunes we forswore, now the future we foresee,
Where we weren’t aware, we’re now awake;
Those moments we missed
Are now these moments we make,
The moments we meet,
And our hearts, once all together beaten,
Now all together beat.”
Poets rarely enjoy the kind of attention Gorman received in 2021, but in an email to The Associated Press she reflected less on her own success than on the state of the country. Gorman wrote that the “chaos and instability” of the past year had made her reject the idea of going “back to normal” and instead fight to “move beyond it.” She mentioned Maya Angelou’s poem “Human Family” and added, “To be a family, a country, doesn’t necessitate that we be the same or agree on everything, only that we continue to try to see the best in each other and move forward into a shared future. Whether we like it or not, we are in this together.”
Gorman offered an alliterative response when asked what inspired “New Day’s Lyric,” telling the AP that she “wanted to write a lyric to honor the hardships, hurt, hope and healing of 2021 while also harkening the potential of 2022.”
“This is such a unique New Year’s Day, because even as we toast our glasses to the future, we still have our heads bowed for what has been lost,” she wrote. “I think one of the most important things the new year reminds us is of that old adage: This too shall pass. You can’t relive the same day twice — meaning every dawn is a new one, and every year an opportunity to step into the light.”
‘Da Vinci Code’ author settles lawsuit alleging secret life
By Michael Casey
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP), Dec. 28 – “The Da Vinci Code” author Dan Brown and his ex-wife have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he led a secret life during their marriage that included several affairs. The couple agreed to voluntary dismiss the lawsuit and “any and all claims and counterclaims in this matter,” according to court papers filed Dec. 27 in a New Hampshire court.
“Blythe Brown and Dan Brown have reached an amicable resolution of their disagreements, and will have no further comment,” Blythe Brown’s attorney Harvey Wolkoff said in a statement. “They request that their desire for privacy and closure be respected.” No further details on the settlement were provided.
In her lawsuit filed last year, Blythe Brown called her ex-husband’s behavior “unlawful and egregious” and accused the bestselling author of secretly diverting funds to pay for gifts to an unnamed horse trainer.
Blythe Brown also claimed credit for inspiring much of his work and coming up with the premise for “The Da Vinci Code.” She also alleged that Brown hid scores of future projects worth “millions” from her, including a television series as well as a children’s book.
At the time of the lawsuit, Dan Brown said he was “stunned” by the allegations and called the complaint “written without regard for the truth.” He said he never misled his ex-wife on their finances during their divorce and that she ended up with half their holdings after they split up. The couple divorced in 2019 after 21 years of marriage.
Brown, a New Hampshire native, has had a string of bestsellers but is best known for “The Da Vinci Code,” a puzzle-filled thriller that introduced readers to the notion that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were married with children. The plot outraged church officials and scholars.
During a 2006 trial against the publisher of the “The Da Vinci Code,” the court heard how Blythe Brown was an essential contributor to the thriller. Two authors unsuccessfully sued, claiming that Brown “appropriated the architecture” of their book in a high-profile London court case.
Woman keeps plant alive through 50 years and several moves
By Crystal Pugsley
Huron Daily Plainsman
HURON, S.D. (AP), Dec. 27 — For the past 50 years, Shirley Apley has been the keeper of what she calls the Carr family’s heritage plant — an amaryllis she received in 1971 from Jessie Carr Whittington, an aunt of Dr. E.W. Carr who founded the Carr Chiropractic Clinics in eastern South Dakota.
“I grew up in Miller and Jessie just fascinated me,” Apley said. “She was about 80 then, and she kept journals all her life. She would tell stories of when she first got married and she and her husband homesteaded in Canada. She taught for two years in a school where all the children spoke French and she only spoke English. When they came back, they ended up in Miller because of the Carr family being around there.
“She had amaryllis all over the place and she gave me one,” Apley said. “I kept that bugger alive and carried it all over the U.S. with me wherever I moved.”
Apley returned to South Dakota in 2012, when she became director of the Huron Public Library. She plans to retire after a lifelong career as a librarian at the end of this year, the Huron Daily Plainsman reported. “I have the original plant here at the library,” Apley said. “It’s been propagating, creating all these babies.”
When Bridget Carr, whose husband is Dr. Josh Carr at Carr Chiropractic Clinic in Huron, joined the library board, Apley offered to give her some of the offspring from that original plant. “I said I bet you don’t know I have been caretaker for your family’s heritage plant for over 50 years,” she said. “We were at a point where we needed to repot the plants, they were so overcrowded. I ended up with five new pots of plants.”
Apley gave Bridget Carr two potted plants and many bulbs to pass out to family members. “We’re hoping to keep them alive,” Bridget Carr said. “I thought it was amazing that she had kept them for so long and handed them back over. I’m hoping we will keep the life going in them.”
Virus postpones Westminster Kennel Club’s dog show
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP), Dec. 29 — The Westminster Kennel Club’s annual dog show has become the latest event to be postponed or canceled in New York as the number of coronavirus cases surges. The club’s board of governors announced Dec. 29 it was postponing its 2022 event, scheduled for late January, to later in the year. A new date wasn’t given.
“The health and safety of all participants in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are paramount,” the group said in a statement. “We appreciate the community’s continued interest and support as we delay the show to a time when we can safely convene.”
The 144-year-old dog show attracts thousands of competitors from around the U.S. and is normally held in February, with semifinal and final rounds at Madison Square Garden. Last year, it was moved to June and held outdoors at the Lyndhurst estate in suburban Tarrytown, north of New York City. Spectators weren’t allowed, and human participants had to be vaccinated or newly tested.
A Pekingese named Wasabi won best in show, beating out a whippet, a French bulldog, an old English sheepdog, a German shorthaired pointer, a Samoyed and a West Highland white terrier.
With COVID-19 cases now exploding around the U.S., the postponement comes less than two weeks after more than 8,500 canines, owners and handlers converged for another top U.S. dog show, the American Kennel Club National Championship in Orlando, Florida.
A Merry LEGO® Christmas
By William Marshak
A staff Christmas party eighteen years ago was the impetus for a display that has blossomed into a neighborhood phenomenon that has not only continued to delight neighbors during the holiday season, but has expanded in scope as well. Kenny Paul began the tradition in his garage with a couple of card tables of LEGO® displays that attracted the attention of his neighbors who asked to take a look. Following the party, Paul decided to leave his creation up and available for viewing. A small sign in his yard invited the public to enjoy the LEGO® display and the result was an enthusiastic “mob scene.” As a result, Paul’s holiday treat has not only been repeated, but grown substantially from the original two card tables to approximately 100 square feet, invoking a different theme each year.
Paul says themes for the display each year are the result of suggestions from visitors or “whatever is at the top of my mind.” For instance, in a year following a layoff from his job, the theme was “Wheels of Industry” addressing the California labor scene. This year’s theme is “Alienated.” Paul describes this as a positive commentary of “integration rather than separation; lots of space ships and alien houses with aliens walking through the neighborhood.” He notes that the attraction of LEGO® building blocks is their versatility and universal appeal. Each year, display structures are either saved for future use or disassembled for use in future display feature.
A true labor of love, Paul begins to construct the display Thanksgiving night and spends about four hours every following night until opening to the public on the day following Christmas. At that point, his work is not finished as he laughingly says that from that point on, “it’s constant repair work!” Not only has the display increased in size and complexity, but for the past 10 years, Paul developed a reward system in which sharp-eyed visitors can compete in a “scavenger hunt” within three difficulty levels to spot items in the display. The most difficult level of items is “extremely difficult.” He says, “It takes the average family at least three hours to get through all three lists… at a minimum!”
Over the years, Paul’s LEGO® displays have become a holiday tradition for many who use a visit as an opportunity to share the joy of the holiday season with the entire family. Expanding display hours from the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to include weekends throughout January, Kenny Paul invites everyone to extend their holiday activities by visiting the Paul Family LEGO® Train.
Paul Family LEGO® Train
Saturdays & Sundays through January
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
5007 Winsford Court, Newark
https://www.facebook.com/NewarkLEGOTrain/
MASKS REQUIRED
Old Mission San Jose celebrates 225th Anniversary
Submitted by Gary Dorighi
The June 11, 1797 founding of Mission San Jose is arguably the most significant event in the history of the East Bay. In 2022, we celebrate the church’s 225th anniversary. During this landmark year, the community will come together to pay tribute to the people whose lives have shaped our rich heritage: the indigenous inhabitants of the land, the Ohlone; Spanish missionaries who brought the Catholic faith; Mexican settlers who transformed Mission lands into ranchos; immigrants from all over the world; and Americans leading the way to California statehood. Mission San Jose is a testimony to both the diverse people who came before us and to those of us who to live here today.
Most people associate mission history with the early Spanish colonizers. The Ohlone Indians who lived in the communities surrounding the missions are left out of the story or portrayed only as victims of forced labor.
There is much that has been neglected in the telling of the history of Mission Indians. Because of the Spanish invasion, the native world was overwhelmed. The environment was damaged with the introduction of foreign plants and animals. Flu and measles epidemics were destructive. It was a time of survival, and many Native Peoples came into the missions to survive. The physical buildings of Mission San Jose represent a place of survival for today’s Ohlone Indians. Simultaneously, the buildings represent a colonial institution that was responsible for the suppression of traditional ways of life.
With due recognition of the evils inherent in the colonial system that produced Alta California Missions, and of the lofty motivation of early missionaries, we can be proud that Mission San Jose is the place where the Gospel was first preached in the San Francisco East Bay. Here the seeds of Christian faith were planted that have borne fruit continuously for nearly 225 years.
Many special events are planned to recognize this momentous anniversary of a California Historic Landmark. A lecture series will cover interesting aspects of Mission history. The series begins on January 8th with Andrew A. Galvan, a descendant of the Ohlone, Bay Miwok, Plains Miwok and Patwin Indians whose ancestral lands comprise the greater San Francisco Bay Region.
Additional activities include concerts in the Mission Church, Mission tours or walking tours which trace some of the history still evident in our area, exhibits at one of the many Fremont museums and historical sites, and our Founder’s Day Weekend Festival in June. While you enjoy all these activities, know that the proceeds go back into our Mission San Jose community businesses or the preservation and restoration of Mission San Jose.
The Mission of today embraces all people including Native Americans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Filipinos, and many others. As Pastor, Father Anthony Huong Le, would say, “Even though we don’t speak the same language, we celebrate the same baptism, faith, and God. The Mission has become the common home for all people.”
Visit mission225.org for a complete calendar of activities.
Old Mission San Jose 225th anniversary
Speaker Series:
Our Sacred Ground: The Ohlone Story
Saturday, Jan 8
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Mission San Jose: Now And Then
Saturday, Feb 12
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Lenten Retreat
March; date TBD
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Mission San Jose’s Musical Memories
Saturday, Apr 12
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Mission San Jose’s Momentous Restoration
Saturday, May 14
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Concerts:
San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir
Sunday, Jan 30
4 p.m.
Music at the Mission
Friday, Mar 11
8 p.m.
San Francisco Bay Area Chamber Choir
Sunday, May 1
4 p.m.
Old Mission San Jose
43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(510) 657-1797
mission225.org
Plethos Annual Soiree
Submitted by Rosie Josue
Saturday, January 15 at Castro Valley Marketplace, Plethos Productions will be hosting their 5th Annual Season Announcement Soiree – an unforgettable night of live performances featuring standup comics, actors, singers, dancers and more. Plus, raffles, games, drinks from Night Owl, and food from Akemi Sushi, Seven Hills Baking Co. and more!
Everyone who has participated onstage, backstage, mainstage, small stage and everything in between is part of the Plethos Family. For this reason, the Fammy Award for excellence was born. Awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, and CommUnity Spirit will be given that night.
This exclusive evening will also be the annual unveiling of the 2022 Season shows. Buy-One-Get-One-Free 2022 Season Membership discounts will be given exclusively to attendees. The event will be held at the new Castro Valley Marketplace, and admission will include 1 drink ticket from Night Owl and an assortment of sushi from Akemi, plus snacks from additional CV Marketplace vendors.
General Admission tickets are $60. For COVID safety, proof of vaccination will be required of all guests, and masks must be worn when not eating or drinking during this indoor event. All performers and volunteers will show proof of vaccination to attend this event.
Plethos Annual Season Announcement Soiree
Saturday, Jan 15
8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Castro Valley Marketplace
3295 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
Tickets: $60
Transforming abandoned balloons into art
By Charlene Dizon
Photos Courtesy of Bob Jensen
Balloon releases are no stranger at ceremonial events and birthday parties. However, what many may not realize is that the existence of a balloon does not end upon its unleashing. Local blacksmith Bob Jensen discovered deflated balloon litter and has since dedicated himself to not only collecting the balloons, but transforming them into a unique art display.
For many years, Jensen has remained active in bike riding. Before retirement, he specialized in a wide range of professions, from biotech to coastal fish study. Having been surrounded by various aspects of science and environment throughout his career, it’s no surprise that Jensen took note of the copious amount of trash by the shore on his bike route. “In 2020, I was riding my bike down by the Bay near Alameda Creek Trail,” he states. “I noticed that there were quite a few discarded balloons out there so I started collecting them.”
Eventually, Jensen decided to keep count of how many balloons he had collected in a single year. In 2021, he began saving each balloon and stapling it to his fence. He wrapped each balloon ribbon around a spare fence post. After three months, the fence was full– a testament to the severity of balloon waste.
Clusters of birds typically feed near the muddy marshes of Alameda Creek Trail, along with other neighboring wildlife. As of early December 2021, Jensen has gathered a total of 369 escaped and discarded balloons from the levees and marshes. “Since balloons are filled with helium, they can float for miles on end until they wind up in the Bay. I want to prevent the birds from getting caught in the ribbon,” Jensen states. With little dexterity to free themselves, birds that get ensnared in balloon ribbons are at risk of injury or suffocation. Balloons are often made of mylar, a polyester film that does not easily break down. In addition, certain balloons that play melodies are often filled with battery packs and speakers. This can be detrimental if caught in a power line.
Jensen hopes to promote awareness of the impact of discarded balloons on the environment as well as how vital it is to preserve helium, a finite resource. The gas is heavily utilized in the medical field for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and locating tumors. “Helium is not man-made, yet we continue to collect and capitalize on it more than we should,” Jensen states.
In addition to raising awareness of waste, Jensen’s fence of stapled balloons has become a time capsule of events that occurred throughout the year, including birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. Neighbors and passersby have witnessed the expansion of this distinctive art display. With the new year, Jensen’s fence acts as a statement about a fundamental, yet fleeting marker of celebrations. It is likely that Jensen will have another balloon display on his fence in 2022, highlighting his hope that this can be the first step to decreasing balloon waste.
“Come down to the marshes near Alameda Creek Trail to see the situation in person,” says Jensen. “There is trash and junk that are far too close to the fish and birds in the area.” Seeing the severity of the situation is often all it takes for others to pitch in. With this awareness and action in mind, the susceptibility of animals ingesting or becoming entangled in refuse can be lowered, and the area can return to its original state.
California governor highlights $1B statewide cleanup plan
By Christopher Weber
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP), December 16 – Gov. Gavin Newsom picked up litter and painted over graffiti in Los Angeles on Wednesday to highlight California’s $1.1 billion initiative to clean areas near highways, roads and other public spaces, an effort he promised to expand next year to address homeless encampments.
Before collecting syringes and broken electronics along a downtown freeway, Newsom returned to the nearby lot where he announced the Clean California plan last May. Previously piled with trash, it’s now a manicured park with benches, palm trees and a vegetable garden.
The California Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, is spearheading cleanups at similar sites statewide where Newsom said 4,200 tons (3,810 metric tons) of trash has been collected since the program was launched.
At-risk youth and people who were formerly homeless or incarcerated have been given priority for the jobs created by the three-year initiative. Some 11,000 people have already been hired and many of them are working in neighborhoods where they live, which restores a “sense of community,” the governor said.
“Because once people feel connected to something, once they feel ownership to something, they are more apt to protect it, to preserve it,” he said.
The cleanup comes amid growing frustration with homeless encampments that have sprouted under highway overpasses and near freeway exit and entry ramps throughout California in the past few years. The encampments have grown during the coronavirus pandemic, and many are crammed with discarded sofas, mattresses and other trash.
The Clean California program funds are not allowed to be used to displace unhoused people. The state has separately allocated about $50 million in grant funds to help communities humanely clear encampments and get unhoused residents into permanent supportive housing. On Wednesday Newsom said his budget proposal expected in January will expand those grants significantly, though he didn’t offer a number.
“That $50 million is a down payment on what the state’s going to be doing in the upcoming year to significantly increase our efforts on resolution grants to address the issues of the encampments,” Newsom said.
The Democratic governor, who survived a recall election this year, pointed out that he has proposed $12 billion to get more people experiencing homelessness off the streets and into homes of their own. An estimated 161,000 people are experiencing homelessness in the nation’s most populous state, more than in any other. Advocates say they can’t house people quickly enough with a shortage of housing units and high rents.
The Clean California plan is a partnership with cities and counties, which are receiving one-third of the money, about $300 million, in grants. Newsom said Wednesday that his January budget proposal would include at least $100 million in additional grants for community-based projects to remove garbage and beautify public spaces.
The governor said a few years ago the entire annual Caltrans budget for removing litter along roadways was $110 million. Newsom first announced a $1.5 billion Clean California initiative in May, but the Legislature decreased the funding to $1.1 billion in the final budget the governor signed a month later.
Water content of California snowpack far above normal levels
By Kathleen Ronayne
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Dec. 30 — California’s mountain snow holds 160% of the water it normally does this time of year, state water officials announced Dec. 30, marking a strong start to the drought-stricken state’s traditionally wet winter season.
Still, it’s too early to determine whether California will see enough rain and snow in the months to come to put a dent in the drought. The state is “definitely not out of the woods quite yet,” said Sean de Guzman, manager of the snow surveys and water supply forecasting for the California Department of Water Resources.
De Guzman spoke at Phillips Station, one of hundreds of locations where state officials make manual or electronic snowpack measurements multiple times per year. About a third of California’s water supply comes from snow as it melts and flows down from the Sierra Nevada and the Shasta-Trinity mountain range in northern California.
California just finished its second-driest year on record and many of the state’s reservoirs that supply water for tens of millions of people are at historic lows. But several powerful storms swept through the state this month, dumping snow and causing some road closures and major disruptions.
The storms made for a far more positive snow reading than last December, when water levels in the snowpack were at just 52% of the historical average.
Feet of snow don’t translate directly into feet of water, so state officials report both the height of the snow and the amount of water runoff it would generate. At Phillips Station, where the Dec. 30 measurement was taken, de Guzman reported 78.5 inches of snow. That contains 20 inches of water, he said.
That’s 202% of the historical average for that location and 82% of what’s typically there on April 1, when the snowpack hits its peak. De Guzman said the state needs strong precipitation in the next three months to get to or above the typical April average, leaving plenty of water to run down the mountains and into California’s streams and reservoirs.
Meanwhile, state Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth said the strong December numbers don’t change the state’s plea for Californians to conserve water. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a voluntarily 15% reduction in water use back in July, but the state is far from meeting that goal. State officials have warned mandatory water restrictions could be coming if conditions don’t improve.
“We need more storms and average temperatures this winter and spring, and we can’t be sure it’s coming,” Nemeth said in a statement. “So, it’s important that we continue to do our part to keep conserving — we will need that water this summer.”
In 2013, California saw a wet December followed by an extremely dry January and February during the last drought, state officials noted in a news release. California is in its second acute drought in the last decade. Scientists say much of the U.S. West is enveloped in a megadrought made worse by climate change.
Most of California is in a severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Only a small part of northern California along the Oregon border is in what’s considered an “exceptional drought,” the worst condition. That’s down significantly from September, when 45% of the state was gripped by exceptional drought.
CDC warns against cruises, regardless of vaccination status
By Adriana Gomez Licon
Associated Press
MIAMI (AP), Dec. 30 — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned people on Dec. 30 not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of onboard outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant. The CDC said it has more than 90 cruise ships under investigation or observation as a result of COVID-19 cases. The agency did not disclose the number of infections.
“The virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between people in close quarters on board ships, and the chance of getting COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high,” even if people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, the CDC said.
The Cruise Lines International Association said it was disappointed with the new recommendations, saying the industry was singled out despite the fact they follow strict health protocols compared to other travel sectors.
The decision “is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard,” a statement said. “The majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore.”
In March 2020, as the coronavirus took hold in the U.S., the CDC put a halt to all cruises for what turned out to be 15 months. Last June, it allowed ships to resume sailing under new strict new conditions. In August, as the delta variant surged, the agency warned people who are at risk of severe illness despite being vaccinated not to go on cruises.
The CDC on Dec. 30 also recommended that passengers get tested and quarantine for five days after docking, regardless of their vaccination status and even if they have no symptoms.
Omicron has sent cases skyrocketing to unprecedented levels across the U.S., including Florida, the hub of the nation’s cruise industry. The state set another record last week for new daily cases, with more than 58,000 recorded Dec. 29.
U.S. cruise lines have not announced any plans to halt trips, though vessels have been denied entry at some foreign ports. Carnival Corp.’s spokesman Roger Frizzell said in an email after the CDC recommendation that the company had no planned changes. “Our enhanced health and safety protocols have proven to be effective time and time again over the past year,” he said.
Before the CDC announcement, Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement that omicron is leading to passenger cancelations and changes to itineraries, but it is causing “significantly less severe symptoms than earlier variants.”
The company said that since cruising restarted in U.S. waters last spring, 1.1 million guests had traveled with its cruise lines and 1,745 people had tested positive for COVID-19, or about 0.16%. It said that 41 people required hospitalization, and that no passengers hit with omicron had been taken to the hospital.
“We don’t like to see even one case, but our experience is a fraction of the comparable statistics of virtually any other comparable location or industry. Few businesses are subject to such intense scrutiny, regulation and disclosure requirements by so many authorities,” said Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean.
Most cruise lines require adult passengers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Ships are allowed to relax measures such as mask use if at least 95% of passengers and 95% of crew are fully vaccinated.
Janine Calfo, 55, of Salt Lake City, put off a four-day Carnival cruise from Long Beach, California, to Ensenada, Mexico, earlier this month when she got a breakthrough case of COVID-19 three days before departure. She rebooked the cruise for February and is still set on going.
“This is my own personal opinion, but it looks like the omicron is going to be a quick burn,” said Calfo, who is asthmatic and plans to get the booster in a couple of weeks. “My cruise is over 40 days away.” She added, though: “I think I will plan on getting travel insurance this time.”
Associated Press writer Terry Tang in San Jose, California, contributed to this report.
US has reunited 100 children taken from parents under Trump
By Ben Fox
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP), Dec 23 – A Biden administration effort to reunite children and parents who were separated under President Donald Trump’s zero–tolerance border policy has made increasing progress as it nears the end of its first year.
The Department of Homeland Security planned Thursday to announce that 100 children, mostly from Central America, are back with their families and about 350 more reunifications are in process after it adopted measures to enhance the program.
“I would have loved to have this happen much more quickly. But we are making progress and I feel like we’re gaining momentum,“ said Michelle Brane, executive director of the administration’s Family Reunification Task Force.
President Joe Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office to reunite families that were separated under the Trump administration’s widely condemned practice of forcibly separating families and children at the U.S.–Mexico border to discourage illegal immigration.
The work of the task force has been complicated by a number of factors, including inadequate or missing records on the separated families, the sheer number of cases and the fact that many parents are in remote Central American communities and were unable to track down their children or get to the United States to retrieve them.
In September, the task force had reunited 50 families when the administration announced a partnership to speed up the effort with the International Organization for Migration and the creation of a web portal – Juntos.gov or Together.gov – for parents to contact the U.S. government and work through the reunification process.
About 5,500 children were forcibly removed from their parents under Trump, mostly in 2018, as his administration sought to stop an increase in people crossing the U.S.–Mexico border with criminal prosecutions, even if the migrants were presenting themselves to authorities to seek asylum as permitted under the law.
Amid widespread condemnation, including from Republicans, Trump stopped the practice in June 2018 just days before a judge ordered an end to the program in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Brane said in an interview ahead of Thursday’s announcement that officials believe there are still about 1,150 children whose whereabouts have not been confirmed. The total fluctuates as some cases are resolved with new information and new ones emerge, including some who have reached out through the new web portal.
“Obviously, this is nowhere near the end,” Brane said. “This is just the beginning of this ramp up and hopefully families will see that reunifications are happening and they will feel confident coming forward.”
Parents and children, including some who arrived at U.S. airports this week, are being granted humanitarian parole to reside in the country for a minimum of three years and may pursue permanent status through asylum or another program. They are also receiving counseling services.
Hundreds of families have also filed lawsuits against the federal government.
The Justice Department last week told lawyers representing several groups families that it was withdrawing from settlement negotiations, after eight months of talks, and would defend each case in court.
That came after media reports of a proposed settlement that would include payments of several hundred thousand dollars to each affected person sparked outrage among Biden administration critics in Congress and elsewhere.
City’s recognition in climate protection
Submitted by City of Hayward
Hayward has been recognized as one of 95 cities worldwide and among five in the San Francisco Bay Area on the 2021 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Cities A List for its ambition, leadership, and transparency on climate action. CDP A-List designation was announced last month. It’s the third time in four years that Hayward has earned the recognition.
CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, is a not-for-profit charity based in the United Kingdom that runs a global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.
Every year, more than 600 cities report their climate data through CDP’s environmental disclosure platform and in doing so demonstrate transparency and ambition in climate protection.
The designation recognizes the city for moving Hayward electricity customers to entirely carbon-free sources of power including all municipal accounts; municipal investment in on-site renewable energy generation and recycled water infrastructure; commitment to developing zero-net-energy facilities; new building standards to phase out reliance on natural gas; and adoption of Hayward Regional Shoreline Adaptation Master Plan in 2021.
California State University to require COVID-19 boosters
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Dec. 22 — California State University, the nation’s largest four-year-public university, said Dec. 22 that it will require students, faculty and staff at its 23 campuses to get COVID-19 booster shots for the spring semester amid concerns about the highly contagious omicron variant.
The mandate, which allows for medical and religious exemptions, requires the boosters by Feb. 28, or six months after the final dose of vaccination. Individual campuses can impose earlier deadlines, the university said in a statement, adding it was still negotiating the requirement with labor unions.
“Vaccination, including a booster when eligible, remains our most effective strategy against infection and severe disease,” CSU Chancellor Joseph I. Castro said in the statement. “This is particularly important in light of the rapid rise of cases of COVID-19 throughout the state and nation as the omicron variant spreads.” California State University has about 485,000 students and 55,000 faculty and staff.
The announcement comes a day after the University of California announced a similar mandate for its 10 campuses, saying that a COVID-19 booster shot is required under the existing UC policy that says students and staff must keep their vaccination status up to date.
UC Chancellor Michael Drake outlined the policy in a letter to chancellors Dec. 21. Several UC campuses have announced that classes will begin remotely at the start of the new term, including UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego. The delays of in-person classes range from one to two weeks, which campuses say will allow them to conduct extensive testing and reduce the risk of spreading illness after the winter recess.
Colleges across the country are bracing for the worst when students return from winter break and many see boosters as their best hope. More than 30 colleges have issued booster shot requirements in recent weeks, and others say they’re thinking about it. The list includes large universities like Boston University, NYU, the University of Chicago, Michigan State University, the University of Oregon and dozens of smaller liberal arts and Ivy League campuses.
Much about the omicron coronavirus variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads even easier than other coronavirus strains, including delta. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing an omicron infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death.
California has so far fared far better than many other states. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Dec. 22 that California has the lowest test positivity rate in the country, with 3.3% of COVID-19 tests coming back positive. But cases are surging as the more-transmissible omicron variant spreads through the state. New cases have nearly doubled from 5,400 last week to nearly 11,000 this week, he said during a news conference.
Bringing home the bacon tops new California laws in 2022
By Don Thompson
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Dec. 29 — It’s not often that bacon leads a roundup of new laws taking effect with the New Year in California. But even in progressive California, that’s the headline-grabber.
It’s among a host of other legislation designed to safeguard employees, shield those seeking abortions, protect protesters from police, spare children from gender influence in store displays, and further ease criminal penalties to reduce mass incarceration.
Several of the laws mark national “firsts” — first minimum wage to reach $15 an hour, first to protect warehouse workers from quotas, first to mandate hourly wages for garment workers, first to require the gender-neutral displays. They are among hundreds of new laws also addressing everything from stealthily removing condoms to handing out disposable packages of condiments.
But first…
WHAT ABOUT THE BACON?
The sausage-making stems from a 2018 ballot measure where California voters set the nation’s toughest living space standards for breeding pigs starting Jan. 1. Industry lawsuits opposing the initiative failed, but grocers and restauranteurs are now suing to force a 28-month delay. Critics including some lawmakers of both parties have called for putting off enforcement until 2024 for fear prices will rise and jobs will be lost.
California is allowing the continued sale of pork processed under the old rules, which proponents say should blunt any shortage and price surge.
$15 MINIMUM WAGE
California becomes the first state to require a $15-an-hour minimum wage for businesses with more than 25 employees, though Washington, D.C., and many California cities in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas already reached that milestone. The minimum for businesses with 25 or fewer employees bumps to $14 with the new year and will increase to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2023. From then on, the wage will rise annually based on inflation.
The increases were set in motion by a 2016 law. Similarly, Illinois and New Jersey are boosting their minimum wage by $1 each year until they hit $15 an hour in 2025.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
Gov. Gavin Newsom promised to double down on addressing California’s affordable housing and related homelessness problem after he handily defeated a recall election in September. Days later, he approved two measures designed to sidestep local zoning ordinances. One allows local governments to rezone neighborhoods near mass transit for up to 10 housing units.
The second requires cities to approve up to four housing units on what was a single-family lot, over the objections of municipal leaders. Some cities were rushing to pass ordinances undercutting the law before it takes effect, while other opponents are gathering signatures for a ballot measure that would restore local control.
PROTECTING EMPLOYEES
California becomes the first U.S. state to bar warehouse retailers like Amazon from firing workers for missing quotas that interfere with bathroom and rest breaks. It also becomes the first state to require the garment industry to pay workers by the hour.
It also now bars secret employment settlements involving discrimination based on race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, expanding on a 2018 law.
EDUCATION
Among two-dozen new higher education laws are two that try to make it easier for students in community colleges to transfer into public universities. One streamlines an application process that students have described as a maze, while another requires community college classes to have the same course numbers as the comparable courses in four-year colleges to reduce confusion.
RECYCLING AND WASTE
California is expanding on its existing law that allows restaurants to distribute single-use straws only upon request. Now take-out places can give consumers single-use condiment packages like ketchup and mustard and utensils like knives, forks and spoons only if asked. It’s among numerous new laws designed to cut waste. One sets what advocates call the nation’s strictest standards for the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol. Another toughens regulations for what can be used in compost.
Yet what California regulators say is the “biggest change to trash in 30 years” comes from a law passed in 2016 that takes effect Jan. 1. It requires local governments to provide organics recycling collection to all residents and businesses, and phases in a requirement for businesses and large food generators to donate unsold food to distribute to Californians in need.
GENDER-NEUTRAL STORE DISPLAYS
California becomes the first state to require large department stores — those with at least 500 employees — to display products like toys and toothbrushes in gender-neutral ways.
The requirement does not include clothes and does not ban traditional boys’ and girls’ sections. But it says large stores must also have a gender-neutral section displaying a “reasonable selection” of items “regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or for boys.” Enforcement of the new requirement won’t start until Jan. 1, 2024.
RESTRICTING POLICE
Several laws that fizzled in 2020 despite national unrest over the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer were signed into law in 2021. They include measures limiting police use of rubber bullets against protesters and providing a way to decertify troubled officers, though some of the certification process doesn’t take effect until January 2023.
Other new laws bar a type of restraint hold that has led to deaths and specify when officers have a duty to intervene to prevent or report excessive force. Another expands the list of police misconduct records that must be made public.
The state also is increasing the minimum age to become a police officer from 18 to 21 and requiring the state attorney general to investigate all fatal shootings by police of unarmed civilians, including those where there is a reasonable dispute over whether that civilian was armed.
EASING CRIMINAL PENALTIES
California is taking additional steps to ease criminal penalties, building on a decade of efforts to reduce mass incarceration. Among them, it is ending mandatory minimum prison or jail sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, thus giving judges more discretion to impose probation or other alternative sentences.
It is expanding on a 2019 law that limited the use of the felony murder rule, which previously allowed accomplices in felonies to be convicted of murder if someone died but now is restricted to people who intended to kill or directly participated. And it is creating the presumption that those arrested on allegations of violating their probation be freed on their own recognizance unless a judge deems them to be a public safety or flight risk.
It is also limiting prison terms for those associated with street gangs, considering mitigating circumstances in applying sentencing enhancements, and retroactively removing other enhancements for repeat offenders and certain prior drug crimes.
Alameda County schools at-home COVID tests
Submitted by Alameda County Office of Education
In response to California Governor Newsom’s recent announcement that six million at-home COVID tests would be earmarked and distributed to K-12 public and charter school students returning to school from winter break in January, Alameda County Office of Education is coordinating the distribution of nearly 150,000 test kits to districts and schools across Alameda County.
The tests are being provided by the state as an important mitigation against the surging Omicron variant as students and staff return to school from winter break. This effort is part of the state’s commitment to keep students in schools. Deliveries of test kits are underway across the state.
Castro Valley Unified School District is one of the Alameda County districts that has received a direct allotment from the state. To kick off the program locally, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was to join Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L.K. Monroe on Friday, December 31 at Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley to assist in the distribution of free, at-home COVID-19 antigen tests to local families whose children are preparing to return to school in January. Other districts are quickly following.
Meanwhile, districts and individual schools throughout Alameda County are strongly encouraging families to report at-home test results to the Primary Health platform to provide local and state health officials with key data on the state of the pandemic in California schools. Their website is https://primary.health.
For more information about COVID-19 and schools, visit the School Reopening Information and Resources page on the Alameda County Office of Education website at www.acoe.org/reopening.
US probes potential of drivers playing video games in Teslas
By Tom Krisher
AP Auto Writer
ATHENS, Ohio (AP), Dec 22 – The U.S. has opened a formal investigation into a report that Tesla vehicles allow people to play video games on a center touch screen while they are driving.
The probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers about 580,000 electric cars and SUVs from model years 2017 through 2022.
The action follows a complaint to the agency that Teslas equipped with “gameplay functionality” allow games to be played by the driver while the vehicles are moving.
In a document posted Wednesday on its website, the agency says the feature, called “Passenger Play,” may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.
The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation said in the document that the game capability has been available since December of 2020. Before that date, the games could only be played while the Teslas were in park.
The probe, which covers all four Tesla models, the S, X, Y and 3, was opened “to evaluate the driver distraction potential of Tesla `Passenger Play’ while the vehicle is being driven.” Investigators “will evaluate aspects of the feature, including the frequency and use scenarios of Tesla “Passenger Play.”’
The NHTSA documents do not list any crashes or injuries caused by the problem.
An investigation can lead to a recall. A message was left early Wednesday seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.
Tesla owner Vince Patton, who lives near Portland, Oregon, filed the complaint with the agency last month. In August, he was watching a YouTube video of a Tesla owner who discovered that he could now play a video game on his touch-screen while the vehicle is moving.
Curious to see for himself, Patton drove his own 2021 Tesla Model 3 to an empty community college parking lot, activated a game called “Sky Force Reloaded” from a menu and did a few loops.
“I was just dumbfounded that, yes, sure enough, this sophisticated video game came up,” said Patton, a 59-year-old retired broadcast journalist who lives near Portland, Oregon.
He tried Solitaire, too, and was able to activate that game while driving. Later, he found he could browse the internet while his car was moving.
Patton, who loves his car and says he has nothing against Tesla, worries that drivers will play games and become dangerously distracted.
“Somebody’s going to get killed,” he said. “It’s absolutely insane.”
So he filed the complaint early last month.
“NHTSA needs to prohibit all live video in the front seat and all live interactive web browsing while the car is in motion,” Patton wrote in his complaint. “Creating a dangerous distraction for the driver is recklessly negligent.”
Earlier in December, Mercedes-Benz issued a recall for a similar issue caused by a computer configuration error, raising questions about whether Tesla was being allowed to do something that other automakers are not. Most automakers disable front touch screens while vehicles are moving.
In the Mercedes case, drivers could browse the internet or watch television while the cars were moving. The automaker said it intended to disable the features while the cars are in motion. The issue was corrected by updating a Mercedes server.
NHTSA already is investigating why Tesla’s “Autopilot” partially automated driving system keeps crashing into stopped emergency vehicles, and it has inquired about why Tesla didn’t file recall documents when it did an over-the-air internet update in an effort to address the safety problem. It’s also looking into the performance of Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” software after getting a complaint that it nearly caused a crash.
Tesla says neither system can drive vehicles and that drivers must be ready to intervene at all times.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?
By Lauran Neergaard
AP Medical Writer
Dec. 23
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?
Yes, U.S. regulators authorized Pfizer’s vaccine for younger children after millions of 12- to 17-year-olds already safely got the shot, the only one available for children in the country.
More than 5 million children ages 5 to 11 have gotten a first dose since early November, and government safety monitoring has not uncovered any surprise problems.
This age group gets kid-size doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a third of the amount used to vaccinate everyone 12 or older. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the shots based on a study showing the kid-size doses were 91% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The 5- to 11-year-olds developed virus-fighting antibodies as strong as those of teens and young adults who got regular doses, with similar or fewer annoying reactions such as sore arms, fever or achiness.
The FDA assessed the safety of the kid-size doses in 3,100 vaccinated youngsters. Regulators deemed that enough data, considering the trove of safety information from hundreds of millions of larger doses given to adults and teens worldwide.
Very rarely, teens and young adults given the Pfizer vaccine or a similar one made by Moderna experience a serious side effect, heart inflammation, or what doctors call myocarditis. It’s mostly in young men or teen boys, and usually after the second dose. They tend to recover quickly, and after intense scrutiny U.S. health authorities concluded the vaccine’s benefits outweigh that small risk.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into a handful of reports of heart inflammation, mostly mild and brief, among 5- to 11-year-olds since vaccinations of that age group began.
To put the risk in context, COVID-19 also causes heart inflammation, often a more severe kind, said Dr. Matthew Oster, a pediatric cardiologist at Emory University. It also sometimes occurs in children who get a multisystem inflammatory syndrome after a coronavirus infection.
Before the pandemic, doctors regularly diagnosed heart inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infections or medications, again mostly in teen boys and young men. Oster said one theory is that testosterone and puberty play a role, which is partly why many experts expect any vaccine-related risk would be lower for younger kids getting a smaller dose.
Fire pits heat up the garden
By Daniel O’Donnell
It is not known exactly when fire was first domesticated by early humans or their hominoid ancestors. The earliest unequivocal evidence of fire management by Homosapiens and Neanderthals dates back about 350,000 years ago. There is strong circumstantial evidence that Homoerectus tamed fire over a million years ago. Humans and their ancestors have been igniting these small controlled burns ever since. The first “campfires” were used to warm, protect, cook meat and illuminate the night. Today, fire is restrained in appliances which control its benefits. There are a number of different styles of outdoor firepits that allow people to enjoy the warmth of a fire much like our ancient ancestors did.
Wood is one fuel option that can be used in fire pits. Many woods have a pleasant smell and crackling sound when burning. Firewood can be purchased, but it can also be collected from tree trimmings or from used untreated pallets for free. Some of the drawbacks to burning wood in a fire pit is that the smoke can blow into peoples’ faces, it can be harder to ignite than other fuels, and it is not the cleanest fuel to burn. This is why wood fires are prohibited on “Spare the Air” days.
Propane or natural gas are also popular fuel choices. Fire pits fueled by these are easily lit and most have adjustable flame heights. These gases burn hotter, cleaner, more efficiently, and more evenly than wood. The disadvantages are that the fire pits using them are more complex, making them more expensive. Propane tanks need to be refilled or a dedicated natural gas line needs to be laid from the house, adding to the cost.
The best choice from an environmental standpoint is environmentally friendly fire logs. These are easy to light, burn 80% cleaner than wood, and come in different weights that allow for varied burn times. A three-pound log burns for about two hours, a five-pound log burns for about three, and a six-pound log burns for about four. Enviro-log, which is made from 100% wax and cardboard, is a great choice. Duraflame’s 100% Renewable Firelog made from 100% renewable waxes and oils, combined with wood and agricultural fibers, is another excellent option.
There are two styles of fire pits. Portable fire pits, as the name suggests, are designed to be moved around a patio, deck or safe spot in the garden as needed. They can be wood/fire log burning or propane fueled. They are usually not much larger than a few feet wide and accommodate four people comfortably; and can be incorporated into an existing garden without having to design a specific location.
Built-in or permanent fire pits are usually larger and meant for larger groups. Natural gas is an option in addition to wood, fire logs or propane. Some are above ground and others are below or slightly below to allow flames to be at ground level. More thought and design considerations need to go into installing a permanent fire pit. Comfortable spacing for people to find the right temperature, the maximum number of people, a flat space free of flammable vegetation, and protection from wind and rain are some of the variables to consider to ensure an enjoyable fire pit.
There are prefabricated fire pits with a wide variety of shapes, sizes and designs available. They are constructed from many different materials such as natural stone, cement, cast iron, copper, ceramic tile and steel. Prices have a huge range with steel on the lower end and copper at the higher end. Some can be picked up or delivered as a full unit, while others may need assembly.
Breeo (breeo.com) has a lot of sleek styles to choose, but what makes them interesting is that their wood fire pits have smokeless design technology.
Handcrafting a fire pit is not that hard. A wood burner is easiest, but there are build-it-yourself propane kits. The walls of the pit can be made from stone, cement, cinderblocks, bricks, tile or different metals. Fire proof objects such as large shallow ceramic pots, concrete planters, and galvanized water troughs make attractive fire pits. The materials inside the fire pit should start with a layer of sand and then be topped off with a layer of gravel or lava rocks. Fire pit glass, flagstone, slate or small attractive rocks can elevate the surface look of the fire pit.
People have gathered around fires for hundreds of thousands of years. It was more for survival and to ward off predators in the past. Today we are lucky to have fire pits simply for our enjoyment and to attract our family and friends.
Daniel O’Donnell is the co-owner and operator of an organic landscape design/build company in Fremont. www.Chrysalis-Gardens.com.
IAD010422
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Mondays January 3 – February 7
Introduction to Drawing$
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Increase your ability to draw
Age Well Center Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
First Tuesdays, December-January
Exploring the World of Wine$
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Learn more about wine and its origination
Age Well Center South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Tuesday – Sunday, October 9 – February 13
Color into Line: Pastels from the Renaissance to the Present
9:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
More than 80 works spanning five centuries
Legion of Honor
100 34th Ave., San Francisco
Legionofhonor.org
Wednesday, November 10 – Thursday, January 6
50 Faces
Thursday – Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Mosaics of famous people
Bankhead Theatre Gallery
2400 First Street, Livermore
www.LivermoreArts.org
First Wednesdays, November – April
Talkin’ Dirt
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Free webinar on gardening, hosted by LEAF
Via Zoom
RSVP at Fremontleaf.org/talkindirt
https://bit.ly/3hsOGKG
Wednesdays, January 12 – February 16
‘Train Your Brain’ Virtual Book Club
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Discuss books on Parkinson’s Disease
Via Zoom
(510) 675-5600
www.unioncity.org/parksinsons
Thursdays
Beginner Guitar Class
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Learn the basics of guitar
Age Well Center South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Second Thursdays, September 9 – June 9
Cafe Dad
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Program for fathers to support each other
Virtual meetings via Zoom
https://husd-us.zoom.us/j/91644497730
For more information:
ep***@hu**.us
Thursday, March 18 – Sunday March 6
Immersive Van Gogh$
9 a.m. – 11 p.m. (times vary)
Walk-in exhibit with digital projections and music
SVN West San Francisco
10 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: $24.99 – $39.99
www.vangoghsf.com
Fridays and Saturdays
Dance the Night Away
Live music and dancing
Bistro 880
Doubletree Hilton Newark/Fremont
39900 Balentine Dr., Newark
(510) 413-2300
Saturdays and Sundays in January
LEGO® Model Train Exhibit
Local resident’s running Lego trains
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
5007 Winsford Ct., Newark
UPCOMING
Wednesday, January 5
Fremont Art Association meeting/demo artist
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Guest artist demonstrates process of encaustic painting
Via Zoom: link provided upon registration
https://bit.ly/3eHEiNY
Saturday, January 8
Pollinator Power!
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Explore the creatures who help plants grow
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
www.ebparks.org
Sunday, January 9
Victorian Fun and Games
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Play games from days gone by
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
www.ebparks.org
Sunday, January 9
Sister Swing
1 p.m.
Music from the 30’s and 40’s
Newark Jr. High School
6210 Lafayette, Newark
www.lov.org
Tuesday, January 11
Know the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Recognize common signs, early detection and more
Age Well Center South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Thursday, January 13
How to Manage Weeds R
5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ensure fewer weeds without herbicides
Cleanwaterprogram.org
Thursday-Saturday, January 13-15
Roller Derby Training $
Thursday and Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Skate on a professional roller derby track
Bring skates, proof of vaccination and mask
Alameda County Fairgrounds
4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton
Skatingderby.com
Friday-Sunday, January 14 – 16
Fremont Friends of the Library Book Sale$
Friday 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.,
Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ($1 per inch)
Sunday 12 noon – 3 p.m. ($5 per bag)
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont
Friday-Sunday, January 14 – January 23
Frozen Jr.
Friday 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m.
Performance by Starstruck Theatre
Smith Center at Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
StarStruckTheatre,org
Saturday, January 15
Always Something There to Remind Me
7:30 p.m.
Cabaret artist performs Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Castro Valley Center for the Arts
19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
www.cvartsfoundation.org
Letter to the Editor
A Christmas Manger Question
Thousands of Nativity scenes now grace the nation’s churches, civic centers and homes in the spirit of peace and goodwill.
Surely that sentiment should include the animals, too, yes? Yet, sadly, the adoring animals gathered around the Holy Family in the manger — horses, cattle, sheep, goats — are the very same animals exploited and abused in the nation’s rodeo arenas throughout the rest of the year.
I cannot believe that either Jesus or God would approve. Nor should anyone else. The United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales) outlawed rodeos back in 1934. Can the U.S. be far behind?
As Gandhi famously wrote, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Words to live by.
Season’s Greetings,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
Honor Roll
University of Maryland Global Campus
Fall 2021 Dean’s List
• Grace Dolor of Hayward
Weber State University, Utah
Fall 2021 graduate
• Kyralyn Kawasaki-Yee of Fremont
Painted butterflies fly again!
Submitted by Andrew Kong Knight
Andrew Kong Knight’s 100-foot-long Hayward Mural “Freedom from Borders” celebrates immigration with 13 soaring monarch butterflies. Monarchs are known to migrate from Mexico through the United States and even to Canada. In the same way, humans should have the freedom to move and seek shelter. Kong Knight’s Hayward High School art students, and students from Mt. Eden and East Avenue school also helped in the original creation of this mural. However, some of the butterflies were stolen, leaving gaps in the West Tennyson display.
Because of many complaints about the missing butterflies by surrounding neighborhood residents, City of Hayward hired Kong Knight this November to repaint and replace three of the missing butterfly paintings. Unfortunately, in December yet another large five-foot painting also was pried off his mural and taken. On Friday, December 31, 2021, he replaced missing panels, reinforced all the butterfly paintings to the wall, and made final touch-ups and repairs to his mural. Kong Knight was not hired by anyone to recreate and replace this most recently robbed large butterfly public artworks, but he replaced all four on the day.
Kong Knight wanted to restore his mural in the spirit of the holidays, the new year and to honor his mother who died earlier this month. She had just turned 90, and lived for the last seven years in a care home only a few blocks from the mural. Since his mother was not physically able to see the mural in person, Kong Knight brought the last of the large recreated butterflies for his mother to see at her care home just a few days before she passed away. Kong Knight is dedicating his butterfly mural to his mom, and will leave flowers, a message and her photo at the mural in her honor of her life and spirit.
The restored mural can be viewed at the corner intersection of West Tennyson Road and Patrick Avenue, at 1299 West Tennyson Road, Hayward, CA 94544.
See more of Kong Knight’s work at andrewkongknight.com.
Magical family keeps dazzling audiences
By Alfred Hu
As many of us the Bay Area know, the Chan family has been entertaining audiences with their many magical tricks for years. Dan Chan has performed shows for technology giants like Google, Twitter, PayPal, Yahoo and Apple. He stumped top engineers with his iPhone tricks, performed juggling and pick-pocketing acts and displayed impressive card magic that left audiences bewildered. “I could be the magician hired most by Google,” he said after Google hired him to do his magic 22 times since March 2020.
During the Covid-19 pandemic Dan was one of the first magicians to pivot to Zoom which presented quite a challenge at first. But as he did more virtual shows, online audiences grew and Dan was able to reach people from around the globe. “The first few Zoom shows were rough. I felt uncomfortable and awkward, and everything about my art seemed new again,” he says. “But I’ve realized that it’s the most scalable thing ever.” He added, “I believe there will be a viable market for online performance as individuals and companies have experienced firsthand how effective zoom meetings can be.” Even after the pandemic, Dan plans to utilize Zoom for visual online demos showcasing his many magical tricks.
Dan’s wife Kat is a talented balloon twisting artist and skillfully sculpted many creations ranging from cartoon characters, motorcycles, jungle scenes, a lunar New Year dragon and caricatures of celebrities, engaging the audience as she works. She even made a balloon sculpture for Jay Leno in a recent show.
Son James is also loaded with magical talent and has performed juggling with fire, pick-pocketing, and memorizing the order of a shuffled deck of playing cards. He can even make a person magically appear from an empty box. Finally, daughter Grace is skilled in math, memory tricks and juggling.
Throughout 2021 the family held many shows including Zoom shows for birthday parties. One client praised James’ versatility, while another noted that the Chan magicians performed shows that were interactive, which kept the audience engaged.
2022 will also feature major projects. Dan performed in the game show “You Bet Your Life,” Kat was filmed in a Nike commercial and James did a gig in the upcoming Netflix comedy show “Me Time” featuring Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg. Air dates for these events have not yet been determined. A flight delay led to three impromptu shows performed in the airport, during which James magically manipulated several metal rings while reciting poetry. This act did not go unnoticed and one viewer commented “Wow, James is a pro! I love his linking rings.”
For 2022, Dan indicated that he would love to do magic around the world and perform shows on overnight cruise ships. But most importantly he would like to continue educating, entertaining and inspiring audiences and those who aspire to be magicians in the future.
More information about the Chan family is available on their website: https://www.danchanmagic.com/.
You can also read about them in past Tri-City Voice issues online:
http://tricityvoice.com/07-13-21/.
Watch one of Dan’s shows on YouTube by searching “Virtual Magician and Mind Reader Dan Chan.”
Exotic Bird Mart
Submitted by Alameda County Fairgrounds
Bird Mart & Expo is back on Sunday, January 9 at Alameda County Fairgrounds! Shop hundreds of accessories, birds, cages, toys and more. Socialize with fellow bird enthusiasts; buy, sell, advertise and market; create contacts and make friends; grow and strengthen your business; and get educated on bird care.
Pay admission by cash at the gate; pre-purchase parking online. Per current Alameda County Health order face masks will be required indoors for all vaccinated and unvaccinated persons.
We rescue birds. If you have a bird you can no longer care for, feel free to contact us. We can help.
Exotic Bird Mart
Sunday, January 9
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Enter Gate 8 or 12 off Valley Avenue
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
www.exoticbirdmart.com.
Tickets: $10 adults; children 5 and under free
Parking: $15
1902 film headed to National Film Registry
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS (AP), Dec. 26 — A film shot in Indianapolis in 1902 that captures a menagerie of Ringling Bros. circus animals parading through the city’s downtown has landed a spot on the National Film Registry.
The three-minute-long silent film, titled “Ringling Bros. Parade Film,” is part of a class of 25 films recently added to the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. Released by the Selig Polyscope Company in July 1902, it is the 11th oldest movie in the registry, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.
It features elephants, camels and caged lions traveling on Capitol Avenue past the Indiana Statehouse before the parade passes along Washington Street past the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s future home.
When announcing this year’s class of films on Dec. 14, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said Black residents seen along the parade route factored in the movie’s selection for the National Film Registry. “African Americans were rarely shown in films of that era, and then only in caricature or mocking depictions,” Hayden said.
An Oakland, California, couple who said they found the film in their basement in the 1970s donated it to the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California, in 2011.
David Kiehn, the museum’s historian, identified the film’s date and place, and the museum’s restored version of the film was posted to YouTube in October 2020, with the tale of Kiehn’s detective work.
Kiehn said the film is the oldest nitrate print in the museum’s collection of hundreds of movies. “It was in pretty good shape when we got it,” he said. “It’s held up pretty well.”
Dangerous wild mushrooms
Submitted by Jen Vanya, East Bay Regional Park District
With early season atmospheric rivers bringing much needed rain to the East Bay regional parks, wild mushrooms — including the toxic death cap mushroom — are beginning to fruit throughout the region.
It will be a prolific year for all fungi, which are an ecologically important part of parklands. Some of them contain dangerous toxins, with two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms, the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and Western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata), both found in the Bay Area during the rainy season.
The death cap and Western destroying angel mushrooms contain amatoxins, molecules that are deadly to many animals if consumed. Symptoms may not appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and kidney failure if treatment is not sought immediately.
East Bay Regional Park District Naturalist Trent Pearce documents and teaches about fungi in the Bay Area. “Both of these mushrooms are mainly associated with oak trees and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present,” Pearce warned. “They can also be lethal to humans and pets if consumed.”
Usually fruiting in fall, death cap is a medium to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a large white sac at the base of the stem. Although the death cap is mainly associated with oak trees, it has been found growing with other hardwoods. It was accidentally introduced to North America on the roots of European cork oaks and is now slowly colonizing the West Coast. The death cap is not native to California.
The Western destroying angel is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that can disappear with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring. It is associated exclusively with oaks. Unlike the death cap, the Western destroying angel is a native California mushroom.
“The best way to stay safe is to learn to recognize our poisonous mushroom species,” Pearce explained. “Collecting mushrooms in East Bay Regional Parks is prohibited, but we encourage people to take photos of them and enjoy them like you would wildflowers or birds.”
The death cap and Western destroying angel can also be dangerous for pets. Dog owners should keep a close watch on their dogs during the winter months and contact a veterinarian immediately if they suspect their pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom.
While the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly toxins can also be found in Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species, which also occur in the Bay Area.
E-gift card benefits local businesses
Submitted by Chuck Finnie, City of Hayward
Every January is California Restaurant Month when restaurants and retailers across the state showcase local cuisine to boost local businesses. This year, the City of Hayward is adding an extra helping of funds in the form of bigger bonus dollars for purchases made in its Together for Hayward e-Gift Card Program.
Throughout January, while supplies last, when diners purchase a Together for Hayward e-gift card between $20 and $100 to use at any of the participating restaurants in Hayward, the city will add a 50% bonus card to use or share with a friend.
Bonus cards are limited to three per customer and must be used within 90 days of purchase. Recipients can spend them at one of the at least 39 participating restaurants in the area or mix it up and spend them at one or more of the more than 35 participating retail locations as well.
Together for Hayward promotions are part of the city’s economic recovery plan to help local brick-and-mortar retailers and restaurants recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Purchases of the all-digital e-gift cards creates a pool of cash that local businesses in Hayward can rely on.
To purchase an e-gift card online, go to https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/hayward–ca.
For information on how to participate as a merchant in Together for Hayward e-Gift Card Program, send an email to City of Hayward Economic Development Division at
ec*********@ha********.gov
.
Have a ball with the Science of Spheres
Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center
Have a ball as we celebrate the new year and all things spherical. The night will include the return of “The Sky Tonight” Zeiss show in the planetarium led by East Bay Astronomical Society, virtual reality experiences, juggling, music by DJ Brad and hands-on activities led by Chabot’s Galaxy Explorers. The night will end with a special showing of the classic laser show Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, and a telescope viewing.
At 6:30 p.m., try VR program “Extopia” by Scott Kildall. Exotopia is a virtual reality installation where visitors can explore all the known exoplanets. They range from surreal to mundane with colorful atmospheres and clouds. Visitors to this installation can “fly” to these worlds and explore how the planets might look – from algae-filled oceans, rocky formations, toxic clouds, icy crusts, and more. The VR experience acts as a map to future exploration of the galaxy.
Chabot Space and Science Center is now open on weekends. For hours, weekly telescope viewings and more, check out chabotspace.org.
First Fridays: Science of Spheres
Friday, Jan 7
6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Extopia
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Studio 3
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
$15 adults; $10 kids/seniors; $5 members
(510) 336-7300
Start the New Year off Write
Submitted by Tish Davidson
Join Fremont Area Writers in a “Zoom Social Write-in” on January 8 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. The social write-in is an opportunity to celebrate the new year by giving your creativity a boost, while meeting other area writers. This event is for everyone from complete beginners to already published writers. Past participants have ranged in age from 18 to 92. The write-in is not a critique group. Your writing will not be evaluated or judged, just enjoyed by your fellow writers.
At the write-in, four writers will be randomly assigned to each Zoom room so everyone has a chance to share their writing and be heard.
For the Magic Write exercise, each contributes a random noun, adjective, and verb. Writers will then have a 10-minute writing period where they try to use as many of these words in a story or poem that they share with others in the room in a socializing period following the writing.
Participants will then be reassigned to a different room with different writers and be given three writing prompts. The prompts can be something like “if I could meet one of my ancestors,” or “a trip I would like to take.” After an eight-minute writing period, everyone in the room reads their response to the prompt and socializes in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
Fremont Area Writers is a branch of California Writers Club. It sponsors monthly speakers and write-ins and is open to writers of all abilities. To participate in the Write-In, please request the Zoom meeting link from Scott Davidson at
sc**************@ya***.com
.
Zoom Social Write-In
Saturday, Jan 8
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
Request link from Scott Davidson:
sc**************@ya***.com
An afternoon of 30’s & 40’s music
Submitted by Shirley Sisk
On Sunday, January 9 you will have the chance to hear an exciting trio of singers, Valerie Marston, Leigh Hannah and Paula Chafey- Merrill. The afternoon with Sister Swing will take you back to the years of glamour, romance and innocence. Their full band includes guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, reeds and au-trombon.
Sister Swing began in1996 when they performed for Nelson Riddle, Bob Hope and his wife. They soon were invited to perform at Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, the largest of its kind in the world, featuring over 125 bands. Backed up by their band, the gals have gathered their own custom charts to show off their own style. If you enjoy music from the 30s and 40s, don’t miss them at LOV’s concert.
LOV’s concerts are now held at the Newark Junior High Multi-Purpose auditorium.
Swing Sisters Concert
Sunday, Jan 9
1 p.m. Doors open
2 p.m. Concert begins
Newark Junior High Multi-Purpose Auditorium
6201 Lafayette Avenue, Newark
(510) 793-5683
www.lov.org
Free admission, donations suggested
Afghan Resettlement Efforts meeting update
Submitted by Tina Fernandez
Tri-City Nonprofit Coalition’s December meeting was a huge success! Co-hosted by Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Richard Valle, the Zoom meeting focused on Northern California Afghan refugee/evacuee resettlement efforts with updates provided by local resettlement agencies, county agencies and community-based organizations.
The meeting included a presentation by Zuhal Bahaduri, Afghan community leader and one of the co-founders of The 5ive Pillars Organization. The moderator was Tamana Ansari, Afghan-American community leader, radio/TV host and producer. During the meeting, Supervisor Haubert pledged to sponsor a family and support a gala fundraiser in Spring 2022 which will benefit regional Afghan resettlement. Supervisor Valle committed to sponsor $5,000 to five Afghan families (a total of $25,000), and as the owner of Tri-CED Community Recycling, he is also encouraging community members to connect him with Afghan individuals for employment and support.
Tri-City Nonprofit Coalition’s next Zoom meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 12, and will feature Marketing Strategist Kristi Mitchell presenting “A Simple Framework for Strategic Marketing Planning.” Kristi will share how a Marketing Funnel Framework can help small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits develop a simple framework to organize current marketing efforts and identify gaps.
Kristi holds an MBA and has over ten years of marketing experience. Her consultancy focuses on creating focused digital marketing strategies for her clientele of small business owners and entrepreneurs. To learn more about Kristi, visit https://www.kristimitchell.com/.
The January Zoom meeting is free but advance registration is required. Visit https://tcnpc.org/tcnpc-events/ for more information. Registrants will receive a confirmation email.
Tri-City Nonprofit Coalition January meeting
Wednesday, Jan 12
6 p.m.
Via Zoom
Register at: https://tcnpc.org/tcnpc-events/
https://tcnpc.org/
BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD
Friday, December 24
• At 5:03 a.m. a man identified by police as John Allmon, 56, of Oakland was arrested at Fremont station on suspicion of being out of compliance with sex offender registration rules. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Monday, December 27
• At 8:53 a.m. a man identified by police as Eli Alvarez, 29, of Fremont was arrested at Fremont station on suspicion of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, December 28
• At 12:45 p.m. officers responded to a report about a man walking in the trackway between the Hayward and South Hayward stations. The man, later identified by police as Juan Beltran, 55, of San Francisco, was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Californian pleads guilty to punching attendant on flight
AP Wire Service
Dec 22
A California woman who punched a flight attendant in the face during a flight, breaking her teeth, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge, authorities said.
Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, of Sacramento, entered a plea to interfering with a flight attendant, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Quinonez was on a May 23 Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego when a flight attendant asked her to buckle her seatbelt, stow her tray table and wear her mask properly during the descent.
Instead, Quinonez began recording the attendant on her cellphone, pushed her, then stood up and punched the woman in the face and grabbed her hair before other passengers intervened, authorities said.
The assault was recorded on another passenger’s cellphone.
The plea agreement says that the flight attendant suffered three chipped teeth, two of which needed crowns, along with bruises and a cut under her left eye that needed stitches.
“The flight attendant who was assaulted was simply doing her job to ensure the safety of all passengers aboard the plane,” acting United States Attorney Randy Grossman said in the statement. “It’s inexcusable for anyone to use violence on an airplane for any reason.”
The incident marked an escalation in unruly behavior by airline passengers and led the president of the flight attendants’ union to ask for more federal air marshals on planes.
Quinonez will be sentenced in March in San Diego federal court. She could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, prosecutors said they probably will recommend a sentence of four months in custody and six months of home confinement, KGTV-TV reported.
Airlines reported more than 5,000 incidents of unruly passengers to the Federal Aviation Administration this year.
Most of the incidents have involved passengers refusing to follow the federal requirement for passengers to wear face masks while on planes, but nearly 300 have involved intoxicated passengers, according to the FAA.
Longtime fire captain retires
Submitted by Fremont Fire Department
After 27 years with Fremont Fire Department (FFD), Captain Mark Thomson recently retired with a round of applause and kudos from colleagues on his long tenure. In a December 27 announcement, fire department officials offered their congratulations to Hogan, citing his exemplary service to the department and the greater Fremont community.
Prior to joining FFD in November 1994, Thomson worked as a paramedic for Bay Star Medical Services/Ambulance in Burlingame. He also worked at Hillsborough Fire Department for five years as a Firefighter/Paramedic and Fire Engineer.
After arriving in Fremont, Thomson became involved in many fire department programs related to training and rescue operations. He was promoted to Fire Engineer in July 2001 and then to Fire Captain in 2002. Throughout the course of his career, Thomson gravitated to challenging assignments where he could train, coach and mentor newer personnel.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Yanneth Contrada, Fremont PD
Tuesday, December 21
• Police reported that seven catalytic converter thefts occurred between December 21 and December 27 at various locations throughout the city. The thefts were from older model Honda Accords and Honda Odyssey minivans.
• At about 7:35 p.m. an unknown male took a purse from a shopping cart while a female was unloading groceries into her vehicle outside Costco, 43621 Pacific Commons Blvd. The female unsuccessfully tried to grab the purse back from the suspect as he entered a getaway vehicle waiting for him.
Wednesday, December 22
• At about 10:00 a.m. a person whose vehicle was stolen used a GPS tracking system and located it in the area of Mission Boulevard and Las Palmas Avenue. The vehicle owner went to the scene and confronted the suspect, who immediately fled the scene. The suspect, later identified by police as Emmanuel Lopez, 48, of Whittier, was located nearby and arrested by officers who called to the scene.
Thursday, December 23
• At about 2:50 a.m. a commercial burglary occurred at Nation’s Giant Hamburgers, 5213 Mowry Ave. Someone pried open the front door to the eatery and removed the cash register till which was found nearby in the parking lot.
• At about 2:58 a.m. a person near the 76 gas station at 34867 Ardenwood Blvd. was hit with a glass bottle and metal pole by a female suspect, who is known by police. Officers located and arrested the suspect, identified by police as Nicole Rogers, 31, at a nearby homeless encampment. The case is being investigated as an assault with a deadly weapon.
• Between 6:45 p.m. and 9:25 p.m. several auto burglaries occurred in the area of Pacific Commons Boulevard and Christy Street in south Fremont. Someone shattered vehicle windows and removed items.
Sunday, December 26
• At about 3:11 p.m. officers responded to a call about a possible shooting near a restaurant in the 5000 block of Mowry Ave. An employee reported that a person walked into the eatery claiming to have been the victim of a gunshot. Officers talked with the victim and confirmed a shooting had occurred. The victim was taken to a trauma center with non-life threating injuries. Based on preliminary investigation, police believed the shooting was not a random incident. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information about it is asked to call the police department non-emergency line at (510) 790-6800, extension 3.
More Marines discharged over vaccine refusal, total at 169
By Lolita C. Baldor
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP), Dec 23 – The Marine Corps discharged 66 Marines in the past week for refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine as mandated by the military, outpacing the other services at discipline related to the shots.
The latest Corps actions, which came as COVID-19 cases surged across the country as a result of the omicron variant, brought the total number of Marines booted out of the service for vaccine refusal to 169.
“The speed with which the disease transmits among individuals has increased risk to our Marines and the Marine Corps’ mission, “ the Marine Corps said in a statement, even as the percentage of those at least partially vaccinated remained at 95%, the same as last week.
The infection rise also hit close to the Defense Department’s No. 2 leader. The Pentagon announced Thursday that seven staff members who traveled with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks last week to Hawaii, California and Nebraska have tested positive for the virus. Hicks and members of her personal staff have so far tested negative.
Hicks’ trip included stops at U.S. Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego and U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha. She also visited the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii and met with families who have been affected by fuel contamination in drinking water at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
The department said the tests showing the positive results were taken at the conclusion of the trip and that contact tracing is now going on at all the bases, hotels and other facilities Hicks visited.
The United States is seeing an average of 149,000 infections a day, as omicron appears to spread up to three times faster than the delta variant.
Officials say the vaccines, particularly with the boosters, beef up protections against more severe illnesses. And the Pentagon has ordered all service members – active duty, National Guard and Reserves – to get the vaccine, saying it is critical to maintaining the health and readiness of the force.
Already this week, the Pentagon said 1,000 active duty troops will be deployed to states to help shore up beleaguered health care workers.
The Marine Corps has been the most aggressive in discharging troops who refuse the vaccine. And it also has denied all religious requests for vaccine exemptions that have been processed. As of Thursday, 3,080 of the 3,192 requests received – or more than 96% – have been processed and rejected.
The Marine vaccination rate is the lowest among the military services. The Army, Navy and Air Force all have nearly or more than 98% who have gotten at least one shot.
Milpitas Police Log
Submitted by Milpitas PD
Monday, December 27
• A patrol officer spotted a vehicle matching one driven by a suspect in three armed robberies that occurred December 25 and 26 at area convenience and liquor stores. The officer got the license plate number before he lost sight of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another officer developed information about the suspect at a nearby hotel, while a third officer reviewed surveillance video from a business near one of the robbery locations. This combined information helped detectives identify a 33-year-old San Jose man as the robbery suspect. A record check showed he was on Santa Clara County probation for assault and had two felony arrest warrants. The man was found in the hotel room and arrested on suspicion of robbery, auto theft and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Police bid adieu to longtime colleague
Submitted by Newark Police Department
After nearly two decades with Newark Police Department (NPD), Captain Chomnan Loth participated in his final department lineup on Thursday, December 16 before heading into retirement. In a December 18 public statement, NPD officials offered their thanks and congratulations to Loth who joined the department as an officer in 2002.
Early in his career, Loth worked the Patrol unit and as a detective assigned to the Gang Violence Suppression Task Force and Major Crimes Task Force. Later, he worked as a Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Chemical Agent Instructor, Active-Shooter Response Instructor, and as a member of Special Weapons and Tactics and Sniper teams.
Loth was promoted to Sergeant in 2011, where he worked in Patrol, Support Services and as the Special Enforcement Team Sergeant. In 2014, he was promoted to Lieutenant and served as Operations Lieutenant overseeing Patrol, K9 Program, Special Enforcement Team, Major Crimes Task Force, and SWAT. In 2015 Loth was given NPD’s Life Saving Award for resuscitating a 3-year-old who nearly drowned.
In 2017 Loth, who is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, was promoted to Captain and most recently served as Operations Division Captain. Loth is the founding member and one of NPD’s recognized experts in crime prevention Though Environmental Design. He is credited for implementing NPD’s Taser program which helped improved safety measures. He also played a significant role in enhancing neighborhoods by using “receivership” as a method to remedy blighted properties.
In addition to working full-time, Loth earned an associate of arts degree in Liberal Arts and an associate of science degree in Criminal Justice from Ohlone College. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Studies and Master of Science degree in Emergency Services Administration (Summa Cum Laude) from California State University Long Beach. In 2014, Loth earned a Doctor of Business Administration (Magna Cum Laude) degree from California Southern University.
In their statement, NPD officials said Loth will be remembered as a dedicated leader and for his commitment to supporting and mentoring newly promoted staff members.
Free lacrosse clinics
Submitted by Greg Mengis
Spartans Lacrosse, serving Tri-City, will host free clinics for beginners and experienced players. Clinics will include drills focused on stick and foot work for all skill levels.
Boys and girls from ages six through high school are welcome. This is a great opportunity for returners to shake the rust off and start getting ready for spring season and for new players to check out this fast-paced sport in a great learning environment!
Sticks for beginners and some loaner gear will be available.
Spartans Lacrosse clinics
Saturday, Jan 8
Saturday, Jan 15
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Irvington Community turf field
41885 Blacow Rd, Fremont
www.fre-lax.com
gm*****@fr*****.com
Lady cougars’ fight hard
Submitted by Darryl Reina
Lady Cougars Varsity Team opened the tournament on Tuesday night, December 28 with a strong 66-42 win over Napa High School. Tali Fa’i scored 19-points to lead the way, with teammate Jaydin Armas adding 16-points in the victory. In Wednesday’s semifinal the Lady Cougars battled a tough Sequoia High School squad and got a 39-37 final score. The team hit eleven 3-point field goals and came away with a quality win.
The Lady Cougars faced, defending tournament champion, Lick-Wilmerding High School of San Francisco in the tournament final. The Tigers led 37-22 at the half, but the Lady Cougars rallied in the early portion of the 3rd quarter to cut the margin to six points, before losing by the score of 66-46. Fa’i scored 19-points, with Armas adding 15-points in the loss.
Fa’i and Armas were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Newark Memorial Junior Varsity squad advanced to the final with a 50-42 overtime win over Castro Valley on the second day of the three-day tournament. The lady cougars fought hard in the final game pushing it into overtime, but ultimately getting second place with a close score of 48-43 against Menlo-Atherton High School of Atherton, California.
The Lady Cougars thank Newark Optimist Club for their support and thank all the players, coaches, officials, parents and fans for supporting our 33rd Annual Tournament.
Pioneers’ new year’s game
Submitted by Eric Harding; Cal State East Bay Athletics
Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) men’s basketball team dropped a road contest at Cal State Dominguez Hills, 73-56, on Saturday, January 1 at the Torodome.
Senior forward, Justin Vigil, scored 13 points with nine rebounds, while junior forward, Tone Patton, scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting to go with five rebounds for the Pioneers.
CSUEB (3-9, 1-5 CCAA) trailed by just one point at halftime, but was outscored by 16 in the second half.
East Bay returns to action at home on Thursday, January 6, as the Pioneers play host to Chico State.
Senior softball players at bat
Submitted by Joe Farias
Get those softball gloves oiled and ready, it’s almost time to hit the field and fill up the bases. Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD) Senior Softball league is gearing up for its 2022 season.
The league, open to men and women, is divided into three age divisions: 48-plus, 58-plus and 68-plus, and comprised of four to eight teams. Players are allowed to participate in more than one league. Games are played at Alden E. Oliver Sports Park, 2580 Eden Park Place, Hayward. Games usually start around 9:30 a.m. and finish before 12 noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A general informational meeting for all divisions will be held Tuesday, January 11, 10 a.m. at San Felipe Park on D Street in Hayward.
To comply with COVID-19 health guidelines, players must wear facemasks except when batting, running bases, in the field or on defense during games. No more than three people will be allowed in the dugout at a time and players must stay six feet apart. Spectators are not allowed. The starting date for the 2022 season is Tuesday, March 15 and it will continue into September.
Season participation fee is $85 for HARD residents who reside in Hayward, Castro Valley or San Lorenzo. An additional $10 for players who live outside HARD district. Player applications can be downloaded from the league website at www.hardseniorsoftball.com.
Hayward Area Senior Softball
Informational meeting
Tuesday, Jan 11
10:00 a.m.
San Felipe Park
2058 D St., Hayward
(510) 881-6700
www.hardseniorsoftball.com
Editorial
A sad anniversary
New Year celebrations usually signify hope for a happy, prosperous and better year than the one preceding it. A different type of commemoration awaits us this year as the calendar marks a date – January 6th – that is riddled with shame and possible demise of civil discourse in our country. Unlike many other historical moments recognizing disasters that encouraged unanimity, resolve and shared commitment, the events of January 6, 2021 were a national disgrace that heightened divisions within our own population, encouraging violence, deceit, rejection of facts and faith in fellow human beings.
Although there are many historical examples of loutish behavior and inhumanity resulting in suffering, violence and death, the shocking sight of fellow Americans storming the nation’s capital, intent on overthrowing our constitutional government is among the most heinous. A deeply disturbing theme of dictatorial governance showing ignorance and disrespect for the very flag carried by rioters, propels this incident to the top of a list of infamous events in American recorded history. A country that prides itself on the rule of law, its constitution and legislative power conditionally granted to those who govern by the governed descended into a prime example of a population gone mad without reason or control.
It may be that a silver lining of this catastrophe will energize our leadership and their electorate that the behavior by a cohort of zealots is a wake-up call to actively reject such behavior and recognize the important role and context of dissent within a civilized society. Dissent and debate of issues is a vital part of a democratic system and should not be stifled or removed from our societal responsibilities. However, this tool, just like any other, needs to be used wisely and with an understanding that the ultimate goal is persuasion rather than subjugation.
We have entered an election year that will provide a signal for a broad swath of the nation and beyond. A clear statement by politicians should indicate if the behavior of January 6, 2021 insurrectionists is condoned, whether by misled participants or true believers. A fundamental question facing voters this year is how they will respond to those unwilling or unable to represent our national conscience and its constitution. An unambiguous denunciation of personality cults and authoritarian rule is critical to continue this nation’s struggle for a free, fair and moral society.
January 6th is an indelible stain that cannot be removed by wishful thinking or selective amnesia. It can and should be remembered for its stark reminder that this republic stands or falls on the basis of shared goals and belief in the value of all inhabitants. Tyrannies and dictatorships depend on hatred, distrust and artificial value systems that elevate the chosen while depressing “others” to serf status. Although this country’s history is peppered with examples of hypocrisy, it has, so far, clung to the belief that there is a better future with hope to achieve the ideals of our political system while understanding and acknowledging previous faults and failures.
Chapter 2022 is just beginning. With the new year, let’s resolve to choose a path of reconciliation and harmony.
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