02-28-23 Articles

Holi – A Festival of Colors

Submitted by Ritu Maheshwari

 

Festival of Globe (FOG), in association with Fremont Hindu Temple and Federation of Indo-Americans, is organizing the 2023 Holi festival celebration on a grand scale. Building on previous successes and a huge community response, this year the “Festival of Colors” is being celebrated on Saturday, March 4th, at Irvington High School in Fremont.

 

Holi is a festive occasion to celebrate and get inundated with a rainbow of colors. Everyone applies colors to each other and makes friends. Many dignitaries and community leaders will be in attendance. The event will have delicious food and a dazzling cultural extravaganza.

 

The colors used at the FOG Holi event are biodegradable, skin-friendly, and organic. If this is your first Holi, here are a few tips to a better Holi experience. Wear a white or light-colored shirt. Your clothes will get covered in Holi colors and it will look better in light-colored clothes. Apply light cream to your face to help remove colors easily. Cover your car seat to avoid smudges from Holi colors. It's ok to apply color to anyone out there while wishing “Happy Holi.” It's good way to make friends.

 

Dr. Romesh Japra, Founder and Convener (FOG) said “FOG Holi has over the years played an important role in keeping our culture alive and inculcating pious values in our youngsters. With a new and convenient location, Holi will be a much more enjoyable experience for the families and friends. I invite everyone to participate in this festival with their friends and family.”

 

 

FOG Holi

Saturday, Mar 4

11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Irvington High School

41800 Blacow Rd., Fremont

Buy tickets at Sulekha.com/FOG, Eventmozo.com

FOGSV.org

Tickets: $5

 

 

Many local organizations are holding events to celebrate Holi. Here are a few:

 

Milpitas Holi Festival

Saturday, Mar 4

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Live music, dance performances, Indian food for purchase, kids’ crafts community art project. You will be covered in colors!

Cardoza Park

Kennedy Dr. & N Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

www.milpitas.gov

 

Holi Mela

Saturday, March 4

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Indian music, arts and crafts, photobooths; expect to be sprayed with Holi colors

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

https://aclibrary.org/

 

 

 

Bay Philharmonic presents The Kings of Soul & Swing

Submitted by Denise Lamott

 

Bay Philharmonic (formerly Fremont Symphony) is thrilled to present The Kings of Soul & Swing on March 4 and 5 inUnion City. The evening will feature Hamilton: The Musical star Julius Thomas III and Glenn Miller Band lead vocalist Mark Kopitzke as they join forces to showcase popular hits from Broadway’s Hamilton, Michael Bublé, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, Tom Jones, and more. Thomas III and Kopitzke will also share inspiring stories, from growing up with hopeful dreams, to reaching the top of the musical world. These two iconic, one-of-a-kind voices will be accompanied by the world-class Bay Philharmonic and conducted by Jung-Ho Pak.

 

Julius Thomas III is an NAACP Theatre award-nominated actor from Gary, Indiana. He starred as Alexander Hamilton in the smash hit musical, Hamilton, and as Berry Gordy in the mega box office hit, Motown: The Musical. His resume boasts four Broadway shows, six Broadway national tours, a host of regional theatre roles, and TV appearances on Modern Family, Sesame Street, and more. For the past nine years, Mark Kopitzke reverently evoked 1940s nostalgia with his honey-toned vocals and charismatic stage charm as a soloist and occasional frontman with the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s international contingent. Kopitzke experienced the worldwide love of this timeless music performing in over 200 shows throughout Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, the Philippines, and more.

 

Under the leadership of newly appointed Executive Director Barett Hoover and Artistic Director Jung-Ho Pak, Bay Philharmonic begins a new era of arts and entertainment experiences for all audiences. Executive Director Hoover joined the organization in July of 2022. Before his work with the Bay Philharmonic, Hoover held a leadership position as General Manager with Chamber Music Hawaii, and with Leeward Theatre and Hawaii Opera Theatre.

 

Hoover’s appointment coincided with the announcement that Jung-Ho Pak would take a larger leadership role as Artistic Director and Conductor to elevate the organization’s mission and impact in the community. Pak joined the organization in 2018 and helped navigate its artistic direction through the COVID-19 pandemic. Pak has also held the same title with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts since 2007.

 

“Our name reflects that we belong to the entire Bay Area and beyond,” said Barett Hoover. “Our community gives us the energy to captivate millions to its shores to live, work and dream. Its beauty inspires us to create high-quality music and theatrical experiences. The word Philharmonic means the love of harmony, meaning we are a source of beautiful sounds and diverse co-existence. We invite you to see for yourself just how the Bay Philharmonic creates an experience built for you.”

 

“With much beauty and joy, our goal is to present the most imaginative and extraordinary shows. We believe that our audience is the primary reason we exist, and we want to exceed their expectations at every performance,” continued Jung-Ho Pak.

 

 

Bay Philharmonic presents The Kings of Soul & Swing

Saturday, Mar 4; 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Mar 5; 3 p.m.

James Logan High School Performing Arts Center

1800 H St., Union City

(510) 371-4860

BayPhil.org

Tickets: $35-$67

 

 

 

Superhero 5k Fun Run & Walk

Submitted by Robert Magbanua

 

The “Superhero 5k Fun Run” celebrates the anniversary of the Mark Green Sports Center in Union City. Throughout the years, this race has also evolved to bring attention to the fight against Parkinson's Disease. Join the 2023 race on Sunday, March 5.

 

Mark Green Sports Center began its Parkinson’s Exercise Program in 2016, and since then, this event was rededicated to kicking off the fundraising for the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day Event. Five dollars from every registration will be donated to our Moving Day team. We will also have awesome prize raffles for participants after finishing the race, a costume contest, and an award ceremony for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of each race category.

 

This race takes place rain or shine! Check-in begins at 8 a.m., and the race begins at 9 a.m. sharp. Register by visiting www.runsignup.com (search: Union City Superhero). For more information, call (510) 675-5600.

 

 

Superhero 5k Fun Run & Walk

Sunday, Mar 5

8 a.m. – 12 noon

34009 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 675-5600

www.unioncity.org/192/Community-Recreation-Services

 

 

 

Black History Month Art Showcase

Photos by Victor Carvellas

 

On February 10, 2023, Studio 11 in Union City held their annual Art Showcase for Black History Month. The show honors, recognizes, and celebrates African American history, culture, stories, and artists. Tri-City Voice photographer attended the event and captured artists and attendees enjoying the vibe. Art on display included clothing, food by Mad Creationz, and dance!

 

See more upcoming events from Studio 11 on the Union City website at https://www.unioncity.org/589/Arts-Culture-Studio-11.

 

 

Studio 11

34626 11th Street., Union City

Instagram: @studio11gallery

 

 

 

San Leandro Players present: ‘Blithe Spirit’

Submitted by Terry Guillory

 

San Leandro Players’ upcoming comic play presents an “improbable farce in three acts.”

 

Charles Condomine is a successful author but is having a bit of writer’s block. In order to get realistic evidence and dialogue for the current book he’s writing, he invites Madame Arcati, an eccentric medium, to his home to perform a seance. Charles, his second wife and two neighbors think the seance is a bit of a joke. But the joke’s on Charles when Madame Arcati brings Elvira, his first wife, back from the spirit world! Elvira makes continued attempts to disrupt Charles’ marriage to second wife, Ruth, who cannot see or hear the ghost. Great fun for the entire family!

 

The play features Dawn Cates, Mark DeWeese, Terry Guillory, Laura Martin-Chapin, Kenneth Matis, Gia Mirra, Nina Sundsten. Performances run Saturday, March 4 through Sunday, April 2 at San Leandro Museum Auditorium next to the historic Casa Peralta and two blocks east of the San Leandro BART Station. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

 

Please note: Proof of vaccination and masking required.

 

“Blithe Spirit” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

 

 

Blithe Spirit

Saturday, Mar 4 – Sunday, Apr 2

Saturdays: 8 p.m.

Sundays: 2 p.m.

Plus two Fridays: Mar 24 & 31, 8 p.m.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

320 West Estudillo Ave., San Leandro

(510) 895-2573

www.slplayers.org

Tickets: $20 general; $15 seniors & under 12

 

 

 

Talented Conductor joins East Bay People’s Choir

By Monika Lee

 

Emelynn Montoya, elementary music teacher in San Jose, has joined the artistic team of the East Bay People’s Choir, a sister choir of the Mission Peak Chamber Singers. Montoya earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a double emphasis in Music Education and Vocal Performance from San José State University and is currently working on her master’s degree. She teaches choir, ukelele, and music appreciation at Sierramont Middle School.

 

Montoya has sung with the San José State University Choraliers, Concert Choir, and West Valley College Masterworks Chorale in tours throughout California, Europe, and Carnegie Hall. “Music making should be accessible to all people,” said Montoya, “and you should sing because it's good for you. As someone who has played in orchestra, band, and choir, I can confidently say that choir is the best because it provides the opportunity to express more with the combination of words and music.”

 

The People’s Choir is a non-auditioned, free choir where people of all ages and backgrounds can learn to sing together in a safe and welcoming environment. The choir sings a wide range of styles from traditional to contemporary tunes from all over the world. “If you can speak, you can sing. REALLY!” said Montoya. “When singing with East Bay People's Choir, you join a community of people who like to sing in a group! You get to learn songs and new techniques in an environment free from judgement. Also, you may even make new friends.”

 

Both choirs are performing Let Them Eat Cake! a light-hearted concert on March 11 at 7:30 p.m. The theme is sweet and saucy songs – and there is even cake included! Rehearsals for both choirs are Tuesday evenings at Irvington Presbyterian Church in Fremont. More information can be found on their website www.chambersingers.org.

 

 

Let Them Eat Cake!

Saturday, Mar 11

7:30pm

Niles Discovery Church

36600 Niles Blvd, Fremont

Tickets: $15- $45

 

 

 

Cohousing Group Meets the Neighbors

Submitted by Evelyn LaTorre and Jane Mueller

 

Members of Mission Peak Village, the group that will build Fremont’s first cohousing community, gathered around a restaurant table Saturday afternoon in the Irvington District, eager to share what they’d just experienced. They were there to talk about the morning’s venture—meeting people in the neighborhood. All of them plan to be living in their High Street residences in the coming two or three years. The consensus? Future neighbors are welcoming and helpful.

 

“We knew they would appreciate knowing what our plans and timing are,” says Mission Peak Village member Doug Ford. “And this also gave us the opportunity to learn about our future neighborhood.”

 

Early in February, the group mailed letters to property owners and residents in the nearby area surrounding its future site. In the letters, they introduced themselves as the people who will eventually live in the condominiums they will be building and described the plans being submitted to the City of Fremont. Neighbors who live close by along High Street, Sardis Terrace, and Lincoln Street also received the offer to have Mission Peak Village members stop by in person on a Saturday to get acquainted and answer whatever questions their future neighbors might have.

 

“Some of the people we met remembered the ‘lemon diplomats’ in our group,” reported Sandi Pantages and Esther Hynes, two more Mission Peak Village members. Twice last year, members had harvested from a lemon tree on the property and distributed the fruit to whomever was home nearby.

 

“No one has made any effort like this to get acquainted in our neighborhood before,” remarked Doli Henriquez, who lives right next door to the Mission Peak site. When told that cohousers enjoy frequent get-togethers with their neighbors, she immediately offered catering services. Doli is the owner of Doli’s Pupuseria & Taqueria, whose catering truck can be found during the week across from Fremont Fire Station #1 on Argonaut Way.

 

Things cohousers learned from their future neighbors:

• Families there like to get summer passes to the nearby Aqua Adventure.
• Bicycle trails leading to park land are easy to access from the end of the street.
• Ten of the neighbors have started a chat group.
• On the authority of at least one 8-year-old, Durham Elementary School is the best!
• There is a vendor at Irvington Farmers Market who grows difficult-to-find fruit, such as Sumo tangerines.

 

“I don’t usually knock on the doors of people I don’t already know,” said Walter LaTorre, whose command of the Spanish language turned out to be useful during some visits. “But I had a surprisingly good time.”

 

Members hope that Mission Peak Village can break ground in 2024 and that they can move in about 18 months later.

 

 

This article is part of an ongoing series on cohousing. To learn more about the topic, visit www.cohousing.org.

 

Mission Peak Village is composed of friends forming Fremont’s first cohousing community. Memberships are still available. Call Kelli at (510) 413-8446 or visit Mission Peak Village on Facebook, Instagram, or www.missionpeakcohousing, where you can register for a monthly walk to explore the neighborhood around the future site.

 

 

 

David Gerard, magician and mind reader

Submitted by Terry Liebowitz

 

How does he do it? See David Gerard, magician and mind reader, on Saturday, March 4 at the Castro Valley Center for the Arts to see if you can figure it out! David delivers magic and mind reading with charm, comedy, and sharp repartee. His baffling illusions and interactive style dazzle the most discerning audiences.

 

David has been performing magic since he was six years old. Today, David performs for Fortune 500 companies, private parties for Silicon Valley’s elite, and international events in Qatar and beyond. He moved to California in 2010 to work in marketing for Google. His polish, poise and lightning-fast improv are definitely his calling card.

 

Purchase tickets at www.cvartsfoundation.org. Parking for this event is free.

 

 

David Gerard, magician and mind reader

Saturday, Mar 4

7:30 p.m.

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

www.cvartsfoundation.org

Tickets: $35-39

Free parking

 

 

 

Hayward Police and Fire Department reflect on legacy of veteran and local hero

By Hugo Vera

 

Well over 100 members of the Hayward Police Department (HPD), Hayward Fire Department (HFD) and local leaders gathered at the Hayward Veterans Memorial Hall on Friday, February 17, 2023 to reflect on the life and legacy of recently deceased veteran Everett Veal, who passed away on October 22, 2022. Veal had spent over 60 years serving the HPD and HFD as well as helping organize large-scale events such as the annual HPD Crab Feed and the “Bay to Breakers” 12K footrace.

 

“Everett wasn’t just an exceptional officer but he was a true gentleman,” said current HPD Captain Dan Olsen during Friday's service. “In the 1960’s during the peak of the civil rights movement, Officer Veal was commended for how he responded to a purse theft. When he got the perpetrator, he resolved the issue with remarkable kindness and grace which contradicted much of the public’s image of law enforcement at that time.”

 

Born in Tyler, Texas in 1933, Veal served as a technical sergeant at the Amarillo Air Force Base before relocating to El Cerrito, CA and eventually settling in the East Bay when he moved to Fremont. An avid athlete and bodybuilder, Veal was working out at a local gym when several HPD officers who were impressed by his physicality recruited him into the department in 1958. For the next 41 years, Veal served primarily as a night-patrol officer but accomplished everything from recovering dozens of stolen vehicles, to climbing up a pipe on the side of an apartment wall to take down an assailant, and successfully completing a standoff with no deaths.

 

In 1972, Veal was named HPD Officer of the Year, and in 1989 he “retired for the first time” as his longtime partner and fellow HPD veteran Yolanda Galvan phrases it. Veal rejoined the HPD as a per-diem officer from 1998 to 2018 and in that time he served as an administrative utility officer, HPD armorer and HPD range master. In addition to welcoming new recruits, Veal constructed the HPD's first shooting range and went on to train scores of cadets, helping all of them pass their final shooting tests. Veal also served the Hayward Fire Department as a route driver and courier.

 

“Everett joined the HPD at a time where officers had to buy their own equipment and figure out how to get shooting practice on their own time. Everett changed that process into what it is today,” stated Olsen.

 

“Everett changed that culture completely and was always there when you needed him. Whether you needed his truck or his muscles, Everett was there,” Galvan added.

 

In addition to his police accolades, Veal was a local celebrity in his own right. Friends and colleagues described Veal as “always the best dressed” at HPD functions. Veal and Galvan were regulars at the now-defunct Good Eats restaurant, which used to be across the street from the HPD station on Winton Avenue, so much so that they turned Veal’s custom breakfast order into a dish known as the “Everett Sandwich.”

 

“Everett was especially loved by everyone, except maybe his three ex-wives,” quipped Galvan. “I didn’t want to be the fourth anything, but he was a loving partner for 40 years and a great father. Whenever you needed something, Everett was there and I know his legacy will live on.”

 

 

 

February: Minimalist, or just unlucky?

By Stephanie Gertsch

 

Toward the end of the month (especially if your rent is due on the first), you may find yourself muttering the old poem,

 

Thirty days has September

April, June, and November,

All the rest have thirty-one,

Save February at twenty-eight,

But leap year, coming once in four,

February then has one day more.

 

You might well be excused for getting disoriented around line four, wondering “Wait, why is February so different from all the rest?” The answer has to with the level of finessing that went into the creation of the internationally-used Gregorian calendar.

 

According to University of Reading, “The Earth takes 365 days and just under six hours to go around the Sun. The division of those days into twelve months is a human invention to measure time.” Essentially, there is no reason we are required to have 12 months, or “months” at all. The earth orbits at its own pace; and keeping count is a purely human pastime.

 

In spite of the physical facts of our orbit, the first Roman calendar had only 304 days. How? It was an agricultural calendar, running from March to December and used to schedule planting and harvest. So, there wasn’t any point in counting the days for two months of winter. Imagine if we had two entire months on break from our usual work, when time was that ambiguous. What would you do?

 

The Roman King Numa Pompilious added two more months, January and February, in 731 BCE. This brought the total to 12 and more closely matched the lunar cycle. At the same time, he did some shuffling of days due to a Roman superstition that even numbers were unlucky. In his calendar of 355 days, 11 of 12 months alternated between 29 and 31 days – so far so good. But there’s a problem. Mathematically, you can’t add up an even number of months and get an odd number of total days. You need at least one even month to prevent the whole year from being unlucky. But which would take the fall?

 

The last month of the year, February ended up being chosen, possibly because of its association with purification and honoring the dead. According to University of Reading, “In Rome, February was linked with rituals of purification, or februum – giving it its name. During the festival of Lupercalia purification ceremonies took place to prepare buildings and people for the feasts and sacrifices of the festival. During the festival of Feralia food and gifts were brought to cemeteries, to honour the dead and keep them happy so they would not rise and haunt the living.”

 

You may have noticed that 355 days still does not equal 365 days. So, whenever the seasons got too out of whack, Romans would squeeze another month called “Mercedonius” between February and March. Its use was sporadic, and people in the sticks might not know it had been used at all. Imagine asking your friend “How was your Mercedonius?” and hearing “We had a Mercedonius this year??? Don’t tell my landlord…” Losing and gaining an hour with Daylight Saving is disorienting enough!

 

Romans didn’t start using a 365-day solar calendar until Julius Caesar learned about the one used by the Egyptians in 48 BCE. He added 10 days to make up the difference—but for some reason left poor February short again. (However, it did gain a leap day every four years.) This Julian calendar lasted until 1582 when Pope Gregory XIII fixed some issues with calculating leap years, creating the Gregorian calendar we still use today.

 

The solar-based Gregorian calendar isn’t the only one used in modern life. Jewish religious holidays are calculated using a combination Lunar and Solar calendar. The Islamic calendar has 12 lunar months, each beginning when the new crescent moon rises. This purely lunar calendar regresses through the seasons over a 33-year period, so holidays like Ramadan are celebrated at a different time each year.

 

Maybe this year we should privately observe a few more days in February and let March be shortest for a change. If Roman kings can do it, why not the rest of us? In The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle writes, “You can strike your own time, and start the count anywhere. When you understand that — then any time at all will be the right time for you.”

 

 

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/story/why-are-there-only-28-days-in-february

https://research.reading.ac.uk/research-blog/curious-kids-why-is-february-shorter-than-every-other-month/

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/why-is-february-so-short

 

 

 

High school robotics team encourages environmental advocacy

By Annika Singh

Photos courtesy of Manasa Maddi

 

Founded in 2011, American High School’s robotics team Ink and Metal has been working to combat waste contamination through the development of a waste sorter machine. A few years ago, members on the team were challenged by their Spanish teacher, Julio Naverrete, to create a solution to an environmental problem in their community. Starting with a rough sketch on paper, the team worked together to create a robot that could solve the issue of waste mismanagement in their school. “During lunch, we would notice students throwing their water bottles and wrappers in the wrong garbage bins due to a lack of knowledge, which led to our environment at school becoming pretty unhealthy,” Senior Manasa Maddi said. The team hoped to apply their skills from robotics competitions to share the impact STEM has in solving real-world problems.

 

Composed of 15 students, the team has both nontechnical, or outreach and documentation, branches, and technical, or mechanical and coding, branches. Students have the option of being a part of both technical and nontechnical branches while applying. The team primarily competes in NorCal FIRST Tech Challenge at a city and regional level. They have placed in the top three for the past two years for their community outreach and waste-sorting machine. Throughout the year, the team first goes through the designing process, where they 3-D model their robot using computer-aided design software, before building and then coding it for specific challenges or tasks. To stay organized and on-track with deadlines, Sophomore Neha Shafi said, “We implemented a system called strategic planning, where we have a bunch of meeting times for each branch that members are required to attend. We also delegate our tasks using a platform called Trello.”

 

The team consistently used these methods while developing their robot, which helped them design a variety of features. Some of these include the robot’s ability to collect images of trash in the school. These images are then sent to a google tensorflow machine learning model, which helps create an algorithm that sorts the trash into the correct waste bin. The team used a variety of materials in their design, like a Raspberry Pi, or a small, credit-card sized single-board computer, and a camera. However, despite their detailed building process, the team still faced challenges with making their robot more accessible for a younger audience.

 

Some of the team members found that the waste sorter machine was difficult for kids to use as they weren’t able to distinguish which bin, such as recycling, compost, and trash, the robot was disposing garbage in. In order to solve this issue, they created a touch-based display using an LCD screen to track data and allow users to see the robot’s functions first-hand. They were also constantly working to improve their tensorflow machine learning model in order to make the robot more accurate in sorting the waste. Additionally, the team found it hard to show younger audiences the benefits of using STEM, specifically engineering, to solve problems in society. In order to spread more environmental awareness and encourage people to pursue robotics, the team presented their machine at the City of Fremont’s 2022 Earth Day Event.

 

Recently, in October 2022, they also hosted an environmental engineering conference in partnership with the city. The event featured activity booths, information tables, and demonstrations from various environmental organizations across the Bay Area. They had non-profits like Beyond Terra display a drone designed to combat decreasing biodiversity, and also presented their own machine. “We wanted to show students how they could use engineering and technical skills to solve environmental problems,” Maddi said.

 

The team hopes to continue improving their robot and making it more efficient at waste-sorting. They are also looking forward to increasing their community outreach by taking the waste-sorter to various Fremont Unified School District schools in order to show the behind-the-scenes of robotics, spread environmental awareness, and inspire more students to use STEM to solve real-world problems.

 

 

 

Ink & Metal

Website: https://inkandmetal5773.wixsite.com/homepage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkandmetal/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/588211564714705

 

 

 

Essay Contest award winners announced

Submitted by Darryl Reina

 

Newark Optimist Club recently announced the winners of their annual Essay Contest. This year’s topic was “Who is an Everyday Hero That Brings Out The Optimism in You?”

 

Newark Memorial High School junior student-athlete Kirsten Sehrt received the first-place medallion and $200 cash prize. She shared the ways her third-grade teacher influenced her writing talent, and confidence in herself. Kirsten is a member of the Mission Valley Athletics League Champion Girls Varsity Soccer team.

 

Newark Memorial High School sophomore student-athlete Zayna Ansari, captured second-place honors, receiving a medallion and $100 cash. She chose her father as her positive influence and shining example of what it means to truly put others before oneself. Zayna is an active member of the school’s Badminton team.

 

Newark Memorial High School freshman student-athlete Kenji Kawabata was recognized for his third-place essay, and received a medallion and $50 in cash. He selected his Math teacher, Mrs. Gaur, who is a very optimistic person, and influences her students in positive ways. Kenji is a member of both the Cross Country and Track & Field teams.

 

Each of the students read their award-winning essays to Optimist Club members and guests at a breakfast meeting on February 15.

 

Congratulations to each of the students on their outstanding essays!

 

 

 

A look at Plethos’ Season 6

Submitted by Karin Richey

 

This January, 2023, nonprofit community theatre Plethos Productions announced its 6th performance season! This year performing arts lovers can expect more opportunities than ever for entertainment all in our hyperlocal Castro Valley area.

 

The season will kick off with the first Mainstage Comedy show of the year – the annual That’s What She Said comedy show on Saturday, March 18 at JP’s Restaurant in Castro Valley. The standup comedy lineup will feature five fabulously female comedians including headliner Jeanette Marin – who has performed on major stages all around the Bay Area along with past Plethos favorites – Priya Guyadeen, Clara Bijl, Rubi Nicholas and host Sue Alfieri.

 

The 2023 Season also has opportunities for kids in grades 3-8. This summer Stagecraft Play Production Camp will return to Heirloom East Bay in Castro Valley as Plethos kids will be putting on Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach for friends, family and the community! Camp runs Monday-Friday June 5-16. Spots are filling now; scholarships and sibling discounts are available.

 

The Mainstage plays for the year will be the raunchy puppet musical comedy Avenue Q at TwiningVine Winery July 7-16. This hysterical show is all about vital lessons on adulting – Sesame Street style! You won’t want to miss it.

 

Next will be Pride & Prejudice September 8-17 at Heirloom East Bay. Kate Hamil’s fresh take on this Jane Austen Classic is a romcom a la Bridgerton full of charm, wit and silly antics.

 

And back by popular demand is the annual Murder Mystery show! The fun, interactive dinner theatre where the audience turns detectives and tries to figure out whodunnit will be back at TwiningVine Winery on August 19 & 20.

 

It’ll also be a year full of laughs! Standup Comedy shows this year will be Uncorked Comedy at TwiningVine Winery on Saturday, June 3 and the annual Joketoberfest comedy show will take place on Saturday, October 7 (exciting venue TBD). Plus, Plethos Comedy Lab shows will be held the first Thursday of every month upstairs at the Castro Valley Marketplace in Lab 200 at 8 p.m.

 

This year Plethos is offering more opportunities than ever to enjoy the fresh, innovative and diverse talent of performers right in your neighborhood, all with a commitment to affordable prices with tickets averaging $10-$20.

 

Tickets or 2023 Season Subscriptions are available at plethos.org.

 

 

 

Hayward to update Sidewalk-Vending Ordinance

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

The City of Hayward is updating local rules related to sidewalk vending of food and merchandise in the city and invites community members to provide input on the topic and let us know if they would like to be kept aware of any proposed changes.

 

The update is needed to bring the City’s Municipal Code into alignment with 2018 state legislation, SB 946, which protects the right of sidewalk vendors to sell from unmotorized carts, wagons and displays on public sidewalks and pathways, and gives local governments limited authority to regulate the activity.

 

The update also provides an opportunity for the city to hold discussions and better understand how to support sidewalk vending while also responding to concerns expressed recently by some community members about the impact of sidewalk vending on local restaurants.

 

To learn more about the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance Update Project, visit hayward-ca.gov and search for Sidewalk Vending Ordinance. If you would like to submit comments or be added to the project’s interest list, you may do so by sending an email to sidewalkvending@hayward-ca.gov.

 

 

 

Traversing Tech for Nonprofits: Incorporating automation into your social media strategy

Submitted by Tina Fernandez Steckler

 

Tri-City Nonprofit Coalition (TCNPC) will host a free Zoom meeting on Wednesday, March 8 featuring speaker Nizar Ahmed, a strategic event and automation media producer. If you're a nonprofit leader, staff member, volunteer, or overall nonprofit champion, and one or more of the following questions applies to you, sign up for this meeting ASAP!

 

• Are you overwhelmed with the many tool options, and unsure which ones are free?
• Are you frustrated with finding ways to efficiently create your social media content?
• Are you anxious to find ways to streamline the work that goes into scheduling and posting your social media activity?
• Are you wondering whether you can use ChatGPT (the AI chatbot that can answer almost any question you ask) to create content about your nonprofit?

 

Presenter Nizar Ahmed will be speaking about free tools that nonprofits can use to incorporate automation into their social media strategy. This presentation will focus on ways to use Canva, Google Sheets, and ChatGPT in concert to automate and streamline your efforts in social media content creation. The presentation will include a live demo so we can see the tools in action.

 

Nizar Ahmed is a strategic event and automation media producer with a strong background in video production and collaboration. He has over 15 years of working in the commercial, private, and public sectors where he has managed all aspects of events, video production services, digital experiences, and integrated marketing teams.

 

Nizar has worked with Universal Music, Cartoon Network, VMWare, Dropbox, and corporate commercial productions for the NFL, to name a few. His experience with community and non-profit volunteer work includes North-American Shelter for the Abused, National Society of Black Engineers, HOMS League Abroad, Islamic Relief, Al-Medina Education Center, Maristan, CAIR-SFBA and MCC East Bay.

 

To register for the event, visit https://tinyurl.com/TCNPCMarch2023, or use the QR code. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

 

Questions? Use our contact form at https://tcnpc.org/contact/.

 

 

Traversing Tech for Nonprofits

Wednesday, Mar 8

6 p.m.

Online Via Zoom

Register in advance at: https://tinyurl.com/TCNPCMarch2023

tcnpc.org

 

 

 

Entries sought for student art contest

Submitted by City of Fremont

 

To celebrate the art and creativity of Fremont students, the City of Fremont Human Services Department, Youth and Family Services Division in partnership with Fremont Unified School District, is hosting the 6th annual Children's Mental Health Awareness Art Competition and Virtual Exhibition.

 

This year’s theme, “My Happy Place,” will help promote Mental Health Awareness. Students living in Fremont and attending Fremont Unified School District schools are encouraged to submit art, photographs and poetry. The first 100 entries are guaranteed to be judged. The deadline to submit entries is 12 noon Friday, March 24.

 

For complete contest rules and submission details, visit the City of Fremont website at fremontcityofca.prod.govaccess.org, then enter “Virtual Student Art Contest 2023” into the search field and follow the links that appear. For details, call (510) 574-2100.

 

 

Mental Health Awareness Art Competition Submissions

Submission Deadline:

Friday, Mar 24

12 noon

fremontcityofca.prod.govaccess.org

 

 

 

Shoot a video, maybe win a scholarship

Submitted by Alameda County Water District

 

Alameda County Water District (ACWD) is accepting submissions for its fourth annual WaterClips Student Video Contest through March 31. The theme for this year’s contest is “The Benefits of a Water-Efficient Garden.”

 

Six students in grades six through 12 at middle schools and high schools in Fremont, Newark and Union City will be chosen to win scholarships up to $500. Students can compete as individuals or as teams. The 30-second videos can be live action, animation, personal testimonial or other formats, but must focus on the 2023 WaterClips theme.

 

For complete contest rules and submission details, visit the WaterClips website at www.acwd.org/waterclips.

 

 

 

Cub Scout Yo-Yo Day was a huge success!

Submitted by Eve Marie Little

 

On February 18, over 80 young Cub Scouts and around 10 professional yo-yo performers gathered at the Fremont Central Park for one reason: Enjoying the art of yo-yoing!

 

Thanks to the San Francisco Spindox Yo-Yo Club, Duncan Yo-Yos, and the Palms Pavilion venue, the Mission Peak BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America) District was able to put together this amazing event for all scouts of all ages to come out and have a great time learning this nostalgic game. Everyone was invited to come out for the free event, and yo-yo beginner kits were offered to make sure scouts had everything they needed to start learning the tricks.

 

There were tons of smiles and laughs as scouts walked around the site to the different booths in hopes of completing their requirements and achieving their Cub Scout Yo-Yo elective. Many parents were also pleased with this unique opportunity. “Giving the scouts the chance to earn advancements in the Scouting program while having fun learning a new hobby and seeing the experts demonstrate their skills was a great opportunity for my daughter,” stated Jonathan Leder, Committee Chair to Newark Cub Scout Pack 441.

 

The icing on the cake was a performance the yo-yo club put together for the scouts. All of the little kids sat down on the grass in awe as the professionals, (many holding ranks in regional and national competitions) performed amazing tricks and stunts.

 

Although the Cub Scouts’ yo-yoing may have had its ups and downs on that day, the Mission Peak District is hoping to make this activity a yearly event so that there is an opportunity for anyone who wants to learn how to get into this hobby.

 

 

To learn more about the Spindox Yo-Yo Club, check out their Facebook page for upcoming events and meetings.

 

For more information about the BSA Scouting program in the area, check out www.missionpeakscouts.com.

 

 

 

Doughnut economics: A new economic model to replace the current take

By Vandana Balakrishnan

 

The linear economy, also known as the “take, use and dispose” model has been fueled by the underlying belief in our culture that money and economics (read: job creation and spend culture) should dictate how resources are utilized. While this model has encouraged spending and stimulated the economy, making certain parties very rich, it has come at a massive cost– that of the environment and social justice.

 

The current economic model operates under the assumption that resources are infinite, which they–obviously–are not. The current economic model is also not concerned with social justice; in other words, the current model does not concern itself about how resources are obtained, only that they are obtained somehow. How the resources are extracted, whether or not conditions under which resources are obtained are fair, whether the resource extraction causes any non-economic stresses, these concerns are simply not accounted for by the current economic model.

 

Needless to say, these practices have not only caused massive damage to the environment and the Earth’s limited resources, but also have contributed greatly to the exploitation of vulnerable sections of our population and greatly increased the economic disparity between the rich and poor. When resources are considered infinite and no heed is paid to social justice indicators like fair wages or working conditions, companies are incentivized to deploy questionable strategies in furtherance of increasing profit margins.

 

In recognition of the problems with the current economic model, an alternative was put forth by economist Kate Raworh in 2012. She introduced an alternative business model called “doughnut economics” that attempts to create a balance between the need for traditional economic success and the needs of the environment and the people who inhabit it.

 

The “doughnut” refers to two concentric rings: The outer ring represents an ecological ceiling as a boundary to limit resource exploitation beyond the ecological limit of what the Earth can handle, and the inner ring is a foundational ring that preserves a basic standard of living for all people. She argues that the economy needs to function between these two rings–the inner ring of a basic social foundation, and an outer ring that acts as a boundary that protects against exploitation of Earth’s resources.

 

The inner social foundation ensures that the economic model does not impinge on core social values like access to clean water, adequate food and healthcare; gender and social equality; and fair housing, among others. The outer ecological ceiling protects against exploitation that may risk environmental hazards like climate change; loss of biodiversity; ozone layer depletion; pollution of land, water or air; and other environmental pitfalls.

 

Kate Raworth asks us to imagine a different type of economy, one that is not solely focused on continuous growth of the GDP, but is focused on preserving the doughnut, and achieving healthy growth within the doughnut. This model is an inclusive approach that gives more visibility to the cooperative and collaborative side of human systems, rather than the fiercely individualistic and competitive one that forms the basis of the current economy.

 

On a practical level, this requires reprioritization to provide economic support to programs that are people-centered and have a bigger societal purpose. Also, it makes us question if growth for the sake of growth is practical, or even desirable, and forces us to think about more sustainable growth that doesn’t compromise on basic foundational social justice values while also protecting the resources of our home–the Earth.

 

 

 

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

 

This old hog sold for a record-breaking price

A used Harley-Davidson motorcycle sold for nearly a million dollars recently. No, inflation is not what caused the extravagant price tag, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). This bike of dreams sold at auction for a record-breaking $935,000 because it was in excellent condition considering that it was 115 years old. Greg Arnold, who heads up the motorcycle division of the Mecum Auction house in Las Vegas, said this “hog” had “many of its original parts, which makes it that much rarer.” Strap Tank Harleys like this one got the moniker due to the nickel-plated steel bands that suspend the fuel and oil tanks and are rare, indeed. See video of the vintage motorcycle on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4J52iup0z8.

 

Love conquers all, as the saying goes!

Most of us can hold our breath underwater for a max of two minutes or so, says AMAC. However, Beth Neale and her fiancé, Miles Cloutier, managed to stay under for four-minutes and six-seconds, the time it took them to steal a prolonged kiss while immersed in a hotel pool in the romantic Maldives Islands. They did it because they are in love, obviously, and because they were intent on breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest underwater kiss. See video of the record-breaking underwater kiss on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iePFYrXnlpo.

 

What’s in the time capsule?

They were taking down a building on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently when they found a 116-year-old time capsule in the building’s cornerstone, reports AMAC. It caused quite a stir as there was no record of the capsule. There’s plenty of time to think about what might be in the capsule; it won’t be opened until next fall when the university celebrates its 150th anniversary. See video about the time capsule on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu9XhjrLk6c.

 

 

The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.

 

 

 

Park It: Take a map when you visit a park

By Ned MacKay

 

Whenever you visit an East Bay Regional Park or any other public open space, it’s really essential to bring a map with you.

 

With map in hand or on smart phone, you can keep track of where you are, determine trail distances, and locate toilets, drinking water fountains, and other park features. Within the Regional Parks, there are trail markers at each trail junction. In many of the parks, numbers on the signposts correspond to numbers on the park brochure map for easy reference.

 

Apart from general convenience, a map can be really important for directing assistance to your location in an emergency.

 

Free Regional Park brochures, which include maps and other useful information, are generally available at trailhead information panels. Or you can find maps of 42 of the Regional Parks at the Park District website, www.ebparks.org/maps. The site includes information on how to download free Park District maps for use with the Avenza Maps app. Your GPS will show your real-time location on the map, even while offline. Get the app on your mobile browser.

 

As it happens, there’s a “Marvelous Maps” map-reading program scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, March 4, at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. If you can’t make it on March 4, Marvelous Maps repeats from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 8.

 

Also at Black Diamond Mines, naturalist Katie Garchar will lead a two-hour guided hike from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 4 in celebration of Women’s History Month. Along the way, the group will learn about the role of women during the park’s historic coal mining era. The activity is for ages seven and older; parental participation is necessary. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water.

 

Both programs are free and registration is not required. For either program, meet the naturalist in the upper parking lot on Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 and a mile past the park’s entrance kiosk. Heavy rain may cancel. For information, call (510) 544-2750. Check the Park District website for closure notifications.

 

 

Wildlife games are on the agenda from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, March 5, and again at the same time on Sunday, May 7 at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. The program is for kids aged five to twelve; adult participation is required. Join in naturalist-led games to test your wildlife skills and learn how Big Break animals survive.

The program is free and registration is not necessary.

 

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. Meet at the park’s sand pit. For information, call (510) 544-3050.

 

 

The history of the Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railway, including the role of Chinese workers, is the theme of a program from 12 noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at the visitor center in Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve with naturalist Erica Stephens. Stephens will tell stories of how the Chinese workers built a legacy that shaped East Bay lands up to the present day.

 

The program is free and registration is not required. Sunol Wilderness is located at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call (510) 544-3249.

 

 

The recurring Saturday Stroll program will be a bit longer on Saturday, March 4 — a “moderately tiring” 4½-mile hike at Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Meet the naturalist at the Clyde Woolridge Staging Area at 9:30 a.m. to explore a stream-carved canyon, a vernal pool that may be full of tadpoles, and a view to the East Bay’s last old-growth redwood tree.

 

The staging area is at the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Grass Valley Road in Oakland. For information, call (510) 544-3187.

 

 

Discover the creatures that inhabit the streams and ponds at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley during a program from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, with naturalist Trent Pearce. No registration is necessary. Wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Meet Trent at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Central Park Drive. For information, call (510) 544-2233.

 

 

There are many programs scheduled in the East Bay Regional Parks in coming days. For the full story, visit www.ebparks.org/things-to-do.

 

 

 

THE ROBOT REPORT

 

How fish sensory organs could improve underwater robots’ navigation skills

By Brianna Wessling

 

A research team led by the University of Bristol is studying fish sensory organs to better understand the cues they give to determine collective behavior. These researchers think these same cues could be used in swarms of underwater robots.

 

The team’s research is focused on the lateral line sensing organ found in African cichlid fish, but it can also be found in most fish species. This lateral line-sensing organ helps the fish sense and interpret water pressures around them. These organs are sensitive enough to detect external influences, like neighboring fish, changes in water flow, nearby predators and obstacles.

 

On fish, the lateral line system is distributed across the head, trunk and tail of the fish. It is made up of mechanoreceptors, or lateral line sensory units called neuromasts that are either within channels under the skin or on the surface of the skin.

 

“We were attempting to find out if the different areas of the lateral line — the lateral line on the head versus the lateral line on the body, or the different types of lateral line sensory units such as those on the skin, versus those under it, play different roles in how the fish is able to sense its environment through environmental pressure readings,” Elliott Scott, lead author on the paper and a member of the University of Bristol’s Department of Engineering Mathematics, said in a release. “We did this in a novel way, by using hybrid fish, that allowed for the natural generation of variation.”

 

The researchers found that the lateral line system around a fish’s head has the most influence on how well fish are able to swim in a group or a shoal. Additionally, when many neuromasts are found under the skin, fish tend to swim closer together. Many neuromasts found on the skin mean the fish will likely swim farther apart.

 

The researchers then took to simulation to demonstrate how the mechanisms behind the work the later line does are applicable both in smaller cases, like for groups of fish, and at larger scales. These mechanisms could be mimicked using a type of easily-manufactured pressure sensor for underwater robots. The sensor would help these robots navigate dark or murky environments that traditional sensing systems struggle with.

 

“These findings provide a better understanding of how the lateral line informs shoaling behavior in fish, while also contributing a novel design of inexpensive pressure sensor that could be useful on underwater robots that have to navigate in dark or murky environments,” Elliott said.

 

The University of Bristol team plans to further develop this sensor and eventually integrate it into a robotic platform to demonstrate its effectiveness.

 

The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Human Frontier Science Program.

 

 

Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She can be reached at bwessling@wtwhmedia.com

 

 

 

Tri-City History – Street Names #2: Mayhews Landing Road

By Kelsey Camello, for the Washington Township Museum of Local History

 

Mayhews Landing Road: A street that runs from Newark Boulevard west to Willow Street and parallels Newark Slough to the San Francisco Bay.

 

Mayhews Landing Road is named for the early settler, Captain Joseph Addison Mayhew, as well as his uncle Jonathan Mayhew. In 1852-1853, Captain Mayhew purchased the former Beard’s Landing in what is now Newark. This landing rested on one of the biggest and deepest sloughs of the entire San Francisco Bay shoreline. It was located one mile from the center of today’s City of Newark and abutted Coyote Hills and Dumbarton Point. Today, the area is part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge.

 

When Jonathan Mayhew arrived in 1854, he purchased from his nephew the complete interest in the land. Jonathan turned the old landing into a profitable, thriving business. He established a fleet of sloops, as well as wheat, hay and coal warehouses. He also added a lumberyard and a shipyard. Until about 1863, most of the over-water shipping to San Francisco (just 24 miles away over water) was handled by the Mayhew fleet.

 

In 1864, Mayhew sold his interest in the port-land. A handful of years prior, he had purchased 1,500 acres of flat range land in what is today Newark’s city center. He became a livestock farmer, married, and settled down in a two-story home on the property. The family home was located at 6151 Thornton Avenue (in today’s address). It was also known as the Fair House, for Senator James Fair who later owned the property. The home is now gone, replaced by a mass of new condominium homes.

 

 

Let’s explore local history together! Have a topic or idea you’d like us to look into? Email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org.

 

 

 

Chickens make ‘Egg’cellent pets

By Daniel O'Donnell

 

Inflation has remained stubbornly high even with the Federal Reserve’s attempts to bring it down. However, used cars, gasoline, and dairy products are among the few consumer items where the prices are falling. Although egg prices are retreating, the charge down may be short-lived. Egg producers have another issue that can cause prices to rise: outbreaks of the highly contagious avian influenza or bird flu at egg farms. Millions of birds could die, creating an egg shortage, thus driving up the prices again. One way people are insulating themselves from higher egg prices is to rear their own backyard chickens.

 

McDonald’s purchases over two billion eggs annually for its US stores. A single cruise ship uses over 5,000 eggs per day. Americans eat 278 on average per year. These numbers do not include all the other items that have eggs in them such as breads, desserts, and pastas. It is easy to see why a major shortage can quickly raise prices. Since a single backyard hen can lay 300 eggs per year for four years, people raising two chickens should not experience egg scarcity. Although egg production will decrease, many hens continue to lay eggs until they are six or seven years old.

 

Roosters are male chickens and hens are female. It is not necessary to have a rooster for a hen to lay eggs. Most cities ban roosters because of the crowing. Hens are generally quiet unless threatened by a predator or sometimes when laying an egg. A rooster occupies the top spot in the hierarchy of a flock. Without a male, a female will assume the dominant role. A pecking order will be established from her down. The order is literally determined by the hens pecking weaker rivals to establish dominance. It is important to let chickens go through this, sometimes rough, sparring process unless a chicken is getting injured. Chickens always need at least one companion.

 

Hens can be purchased as chicks as young as a week old, as pullets older than 12 weeks, or as mature hens over a year old. Chicks begin to be available in early spring and pullets in early summer. Chicks can be purchased through the mail, but the shipping process can be stressful for them. Local feed stores or the Alameda County Fair are good options that cause less anxiety for the chicks when transporting them home. There are also local hatchery farms that sell chicks, pullets, and adult hens. The farms tend to be on the outskirts of the urban Bay Area in places like San Rosa, Sebastopol, Livermore, and the Central Valley. Many of these farms pride themselves on raising their chickens ethically and organically, and it can be a nice day trip to pick up the chickens.

 

Choosing the particular breed of chickens to raise can range from simple to more in-depth. Many feedstores in the Bay Area sell four to six common breeds that do well in the area. Feather colors are typically white, black, brown, and tan. Eggshell colors can be white, brown, or green. The mature size of these hens can also vary from about three to seven pounds. Chickens do not have to be the same breed. They will assimilate into one close-knit flock. There are many exotic, winter laying, and heirloom chicken breeds available for people who want unique breeds.

 

Chicks will need to be placed under a heat lamp in a brooder until they are six to ten weeks old and fully feathered. When ready, pullets and hens will live in a space that includes a run and a coop. A run is a confined area where chickens roam, forage, and lie in the sun. It should include a feeder, water source, loose soil for dirt baths, and shady places. The minimum space for a free roaming run is about 15 square feet per chicken. A coop is an enclosed house where chickens safely sleep at night and lay eggs during the day. It should have at least two nesting boxes and roosts for them to sleep on at night. Chickens are creatures of habit. They are happy with an adequate run space and will return to the coop every evening on their own.

 

Hens should always have access to a clean water source. Laying pellets are their primary source of food. Their diet should also be supplemented by chicken scratch and crushed oyster shell. All three food sources are available in inexpensive 50-pound bags at local feed stores. Some European countries are giving free chickens to residents to reduce food waste in the landfill. Chickens will happily eat most leftovers and scraps. However, some food items, such as avocados, apple seeds, and raw potatoes can be toxic to them. There are plenty of lists online to advise which foods are safe.

 

Egg prices are likely to remain elevated for the foreseeable future. Raising chickens at home can alleviate the impact of higher egg prices and even commercial egg shortages. A backyard hen might not lay a golden egg, but she will save you money and make your home life richer by being a fun pet.

 

 

Daniel O’Donnell is the co-owner and operator of an organic landscape design/build company in Fremont. www.Chrysalis-Gardens.com

 

 

 

California Transforms Education through Community Schools

Submitted by the Governor’s Press Office

 

• California is investing $4.1 billion to make one out of every three schools a community school
• Community schools get families the resources and support they need to thrive, like health care and mental health and social services – everything from counseling to nutrition programs to tutoring
• Supporting students outside of the classroom helps them succeed inside the classroom

 

Governor Gavin Newsom, wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) visited Encina High School and Greer Elementary School in Sacramento last week. The two community schools are co-located on the same campus to provide whole family services across the age spans. The Governor met with students participating in programs made available through funding to support tutoring, peer mentoring, mental health, mobile health care for families, and English classes for adults in the surrounding community.

 

“California is creating schools where every student and their families can thrive. If a kid goes to school hungry, it makes it difficult to learn. That’s why we’ve implemented free school meals for all of California’s kids. As education remains under assault in states across the U.S. – from book bans and speech suppression, to the othering of our students, parents, and teachers – we are improving student learning, health, and wellbeing by providing full-service schools for our students and their families,” said Newson.

 

Through California’s $4.1 billion community schools’ investment, parents and students throughout California will have more access to schools that provide high-quality instruction and culturally competent wraparound services, including mental health support, tutoring, nutrition programs, free school meals, health care, counseling and other social assistance.

 

 

 

City of Fremont Community Development Department

By Jack Alcorn

 

Fremont’s Community Development Department provides professional assistance to developers, contractors, businesses, and homeowners. Staff assist with the planning and building of high-quality urban residential and commercial developments. Efforts include housing, environment and safety elements. The Department oversees five divisions, each with distinct functions that together guide prudent, and measured growth for Fremont.

 

The Planning Division assists City Council in reviewing proposed development projects and ensures conformance with the City's adopted policies and ordinances. This division coordinates the citizen driven Planning Commission; Art Review Board; and Historic Architectural Review Board. The agency also provides information to the public about planning, zoning, and landscape requirements.

 

The Building and Safety Division processes planning and building permits. Residents may apply and receive construction permits through the City’s online permitting portal, Citizen Access. Staff schedule and conduct a wide range of inspections to ensure project plans are followed and to approve permits.

 

Code Enforcement works with residents to gain voluntary compliance with Fremont Municipal Codes related to building, zoning, housing, and property maintenance. Efforts also ensure all State and local building codes are followed for commercial construction projects to make sure all structures are safe. The Code Enforcement Division preserves property values, quality of life, and civic pride in Fremont.

 

The Housing Division strives to increase, improve, and preserve affordable housing in the city. This office provideshousing opportunities for families at different income levels, from extremely low income to moderate income. Two new affordable housing developments are nearing completion, Doug Ford Senior Apartments and Granite Ridge Apartments, and more affordable housing is planned, with nearly 800 new affordable rentals for low-income households in the development pipeline.

 

The Sustainability Division inspires future minded development practices. The agency works to protect Fremont’s people, air, water, and land from harmful pollutants. Their efforts advance wildlife and resource conservation measures to preserves open space. The agency offers Fremont residents discounts on solar & battery storage systems for their homes and provides low-income homeowners with electric upgrades and repairs.

 

The role of the Community Development Department is to help Fremont become the sustainable, strategically urban community envisioned in the City's General Plan. The Department also assists large advanced manufacturing companies to set up and/or expand in Fremont. (Tesla, Applied Materials, Bloom Energy, Scannell property, etc.)

 

A lifelong Bay Area resident, Dan Schoenholz currently serves as the Community Development Director, leading a talented team of 80 in the Planning, Building, Housing, Sustainability, and Code Enforcement divisions. A former environmental scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mr. Schoenholz has aided the city with substantial energy and water facility upgrades and many progressive achievements in his 25 years of service with the City of Fremont.

 

 

 

Fremont City Council

February 21, 2023

 

Consent Calendar

• Authorize participation in grant application and enter into an agreement with Resources For Community Development to receive funding for Centerville Complete Streets Project under the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Grant
• Authorize an amended agreement with BLT Enterprises for curbside recycling processing services to upgrade the processing equipment and extend the contract term.
• Introduce ordinance Amend the Animals Ordinance Regarding Urban Beekeeping: Amending section 6.05.010, adding section 6.10.140 and repealing section 6.40.040
• Award a service agreement to Foster Morrison Consulting, Ltd to update Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Authorize a Letter of Intent with Alameda County Fire Department to negotiate the terms of a proposal for ambulance services and/or emergency medical service in Alameda County

 

 

Mayor Lily Mei          Aye

Raj Salwan                  Aye

Teresa Cox                  Aye

Yang Shao                  Aye

Teresa Keng                Aye

Jenny Kassan              Aye

Desrie Campbell         Aye

 

 

 

Fremont Unified School District

February 8, 2023

 

Consent Calendar

• Allow the legislative bodies of Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) to continue holding. meetings via video conference
• Approve study trips
• Approve additional funding for non-public schools/non-public agencies for 2022-2023 school year
• Approve the revised board policy 5113, Student Attendance and Excused Absence, and review administration regulations
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alameda County Office of Education for Early Education Teacher Development
• Receive the Circle of Independent Learning Annual Report
• Adopt Resolution 020-2223, Governing Board Signatures
• Approval of contracts and purchases over $25,360
• Approve Personnel Actions
• Approve Athletic Coaches – Winter 2022
• MOU between Fremont Unified School District and Service Employees International Union 1021 (SEIU) – reopening school
• Restructure of Business Services and Human Resources – reclassify Director of Classified Personnel to Executive Director of Human Resources

 

 

President Vivek Prasad           Aye

Yajing Zhang                          Aye

Larry Sweeney                        Aye

Dianne Jones                           Aye

Sharon Coco                           Aye

 

 

 

Ohlone College Board of Trustees

February 8, 2023

 

Consent Agenda

• Approval of January 2023 Payroll Warrants
• Approval of Personnel Actions
• Establish non-resident tuition fee for fiscal year 2023-24
• Review of purchase orders
• Measure G Project 6108, Flagpole and Lighting Project – Escon Builders; Notice of Completion
• Measure G Project 6114B, building 5 Cafeteria FRP Installation – Escon Builders; Notice of Completion
• Ratification of contracts
• Authorization for the disposal of surplus personal property
• Probationary and tenure faculty contracts
• Probationary tenure-track counseling faculty contracts

 

 

President Suzanne Chan         Aye

Elisa Martinez                         Aye

Lance Kwan                            Aye

Rakesh Sharma                       Aye

Greg Bonaccorsi                     Aye

Richard Watters                      Aye

Betty Ho                                 Aye

 

 

 

Sunol Glen Unified School District

February 7, 2023

 

Action Items

• Authorize the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds in the amount of $3,000,000. Failed 1-2 (Nay; Romo, Hurley)
• Approve the appointment of members to the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee. Passed 2-0-1 (Abstain; Hurley)

 

Consent Items

• Approval of warrants.
• Approval of personnel documents: including certificated and classified seniority lists.
• Approval of donations.
• Approval of the Sunol Glen Unified School District Emergency Safety Plan.
• Approval of the agreement between Sunol Glen Unified School District and Sound and Signal Inc. for annual fire alarm inspection-testing services.
• Approval of the Memo of Understanding between Alameda County Office of Education and Sunol Glen Unified School District for access services.

 

 

President Ryan Jergensen       Aye

Peter Romo                             Aye

Linda Hurley                           Aye

 

 

 

San Leandro approves Ordinance to extend Residential Eviction Moratorium

By Jack Alcorn

 

In March of 2020 San Leandro City Council adopted an urgency ordinance establishing a residential and commercial eviction moratorium for nonpayment of rent related to income loss from COVID-19. This ordinance is intended to promote stability and fairness within the residential rental market.

 

The temporary restriction preserves public safety and welfare by enabling tenants whose incomes are affected by COVID-19 to remain in their homes. As of February 9, 2023, according to Alameda County Public Health, an average of 161 cases of COVID-19 per day were reported.

 

To qualify for eviction protection under this ordinance a tenant must document an inability to pay rent due to a substantial decrease in household or business income or substantial out-of-pocket medical expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“Substantial decrease in household income” includes but is not limited to income loss caused by COVID-19 illness or caring for a household or family member with COVID19 illness; work closures, layoffs, job loss, a reduction in the number of compensable hours or other economic or employer impacts of COVID-19; missing work due to a minor child’s school or day care closure; compliance with government health authority orders; or other similarly-caused reasons resulting in loss of household income due to COVID-19.

 

The ordinance does not relieve a tenant or mobile home owner of liability for the unpaid accumulated rent, and nothing in the ordinance prevents a tenant from being evicted for breach of contract, endangerment of life or property, or reasons other than accumulated unpaid rent due to the effects of COVID-19.

 

A landlord who knows that a tenant or mobile homeowner cannot pay some or all of the rent for an allowable reason may not serve a notice to evict for nonpayment of rent. A landlord may not charge or collect a late fee for rent that is delayed for reasons covered by the ordinance.

 

The moratorium was slated to expire on February 28, 2023 with the termination of the Governor’s proclaimed COVID-19 state of emergency. On February 21, 2023 San Leandro City Council approved an extension of the ordinance through February 28, 2024. The extension includes a requirement for landlords to report to the city all tenants who provide them documentation for an inability to pay rent due to COVID-19. The council will continue to review the filings and assess the situation every 90 days.

 

San Leandro and Oakland are the only Alameda County cities with remaining eviction moratoriums. San Leandro has a population of 90,000 people and 13,872 renter-occupied housing units. The City of San Leandro provides tenant-landlord counseling with legal aid services. $40,000 from federal American Rescue Plan Act funding was added recently to increase renter assistance and fair housing services.

 

During the pandemic San Leandro’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program awarded $1.1 million to 148 renters. Alameda County Housing Secure awarded $9.5 million to 656 residents needing rental assistance. Upon expiration of the moratorium, tenants and mobile home owners have a maximum of 180 days to repay unpaid rent that accumulated due to income loss related to the COVID-19 emergency.

 

 

 

San Leandro City Council

February 21, 2023

 

Recognitions

• Appoint Joseph Trujillo as District 3 Representative to the Community Police Review Board for term ending December 31, 2023. Passed unanimously.

 

Action Items

• Adopt an Ordinance to Extend the City’s Residential Eviction Moratorium to February 28, 2024. Passed 5-2 (Nay; Ballew, Gonzalez)

 

Consent Calendar

• Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Consulting Services Agreement for Third Party Plan Check Services between the City of San Leandro and TRB+Associates.
• Authorize a Consulting Services Agreement between the City of San Leandro and Municipal Resources Group, LLC for Executive Evaluations, Staff Development and Coaching, Technical Assistance, and Group Facilitation Services.
• Accept a California Resilience Challenge Grant in the amount of $161,000 to develop a Shoreline Master Plan for Sea Level Rise.
• Accept grant funds in the amount of $18,790 from the California State Library’s California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) English as a Second Language (ESL) grant to fund an enhanced ESL program of the Project Literacy adult and family literacy service.
• Authorize purchase agreement(s) for the procurement and outfitting of ten police vehicles.
• Appoint City Councilmembers to serve on the AC Transit/ City of San Leandro Interagency Liaison Committee.

 

 

Mayor Juan Gonzalez             Aye

Bryan Azevedo                       Aye

Celina Reynes                         Aye

Victor Aguilar                         Aye

Fred Simon                             Aye

Xouhoa Bowen                       Aye

Pete Ballew                             Aye

 

 

 

San Leandro Unified School District

February 14, 2023

 

Action Items

• Adopt California School Boards Association (CSBA) board policy updates.
• CSBA 2023 Delegate Assembly Ballot.
• Agreement between San Leandro Unified School District Adult School and the Boys and Girls Club of San Leandro.
• San Leandro Unified School District Achievement Nights.
• True North Research, Inc. bond feasibility proposal.
• Academic Calendars 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
• Basic medical assistance stipend.
• Resolution 23-15 to reduce or eliminate Classified Services.
• Contracted services agreement between Camp Arroyo and Washington Elementary School.
• Approval of San Leandro USD 2021-2022 School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs).
• Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between San Leandro Unified School District and Alongside Pilot Program.
• Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the Alameda County Office of Education and San Leandro Unified School District for Tobacco Use Prevention Education Program.
• Approval of High School Courses of Study: Unified Physical Education 1, AP Human Geography, Introduction to Yearbook & Journalism, Journalism 2 Honors and Yearbook 2 Honors.
• Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between National Center for Youth Law and San Leandro Unified School District.
• McKinley ES Kindergarten Playground Project budget.
• San Leandro High School (SLHS) Shade Structure Project budget.
• SLHS Graphics Lab Upgrade.
• Backup servers.

 

 

President Peter Oshinski         Aye

Monique Tate                         Aye

Leo Sheridan                           Aye

James Aguilar                         Aye

Evelyn Gonzalez                     Aye

Jackie Perl                               Aye

Diana Prola                             Aye

 

 

 

Sunol Citizens Advisory Council

February 15, 2023

 

Monthly Reports and Updates

• Alameda County Sheriff’s Office reported 15 calls for service and 100 traffic stops.
• Alameda County Fire Department reported 27 calls for service (Station 14); 15% were for fires.

 

Action Items

• Review and approve request for community improvement funds to purchase and install equipment for hybrid meetings.

 

Chair Connie DeGrange         Aye

Gerry Beemiller                      Aye

Paul Dentinger                        Excused

Mary Conant                           Aye

Benjamin Harrison                 Aye

 

 

 

Alameda County Fire Department Log

Submitted by ACFD

 

Monday, February 20

• At 9:00 a.m. firefighters responded to a report about a fire in a one-story commercial structure at 139th and Washington avenues in San Leandro. The fire went to two alarms, but was extinguished with no injuries.

 

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by BART PD and Les Mensinger

 

Sunday, February 19

• At 6:38 p.m. a man identified by police as Benjamin Lewis, 45, of Lucerne was arrested at Warm Springs/South Fremont station on an outstanding warrant. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Tuesday, February 21

• At 9:37 a.m. a man identified by police as Charles Corrigan, 69, of Napa was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on a warrant and suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• At 7:44 p.m. a man identified by police as John Sewall, 52, was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on a warrant and providing false identification to an officer. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

 

Meet a cop, or two, over coffee

Submitted by Fremont Police Department

 

Even if they’re not coffee drinkers, Fremont residents are welcome to attend a Coffee with a Cop meeting on Wednesday, March 1 to ask questions, voice concerns, share neighborhood complaints or even offer compliments to local police officers.

 

The free event is set for 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Starbucks, on Mowry Avenue, near Interstate 880 in Fremont. No formal presentation is planned so visitors can stop by to meet and greet officers anytime during the meeting.

 

 

Coffee with a Cop

Wednesday, Mar 1

11 a.m. – 12 noon

Starbucks

3950 Mowry Ave., Fremont

(510) 794-2927

 

 

 

DUI checkpoint planned in Hayward

Submitted by Hayward Police Department

 

Officers from Hayward Police Department (HPD) will conduct a Driving Under the Influence checkpoint starting at 8 p.m. Friday, March 3 and continuing until 2 a.m. the next day at an undisclosed location in the city.

 

DUI checkpoints are done in locations with a history of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking at drivers for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. The primary purpose of the checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.

 

HPD officials are reminding the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription or over-the-counter medications may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

 

A DUI charge is not cheap. Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license. Funding for the checkpoint program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Amy Gee, Fremont PD

 

Friday, February 17

• Officers responded to reports about a person pointing a rifle at buildings and trains near Brown Road in the Warm Springs area of south Fremont. When officers arrived, employees at a nearby business reported a man was inside with a rifle and pistol and pointing the pistol at employees. With officers outside the building, the suspect emerged, holding a firearm in the air. The man, an adult from Hayward, was arrested. No injuries were reported.

 

Sunday, February 19

• Officers responded to a report about a person assaulting an employee at a retail store. As officers arrived, the person was being escorted back into the store by a loss prevention worker. However, the person resisted and punched the employee. The adult suspect, from Newark, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault.

 

• A license plate reader device alerted officers about a felony vehicle in the area of I-880 and Stevenson Boulevard. The vehicle was wanted for evading police in a neighboring agency. Officers located the vehicle at a gas station near Stevenson Boulevard and Blacow Road and made a vehicle stop. The occupant was detained; a record check showed an active warrant charging burglary. A vehicle search turned up burglary tools inside. The suspect, an adult Union City resident, was arrested and the vehicle was towed.

 

Monday, February 20

• Officers responded to a report about a theft near a gas station on Farwell Drive in central Fremont. The suspect grabbed money from the victim and fled on food. The suspect was located nearby by an officer and positively identified by the victim. The suspect, an adult Fremont resident, was arrested.

 

 

 

Hayward Police Log

Submitted by Hayward PD

 

Sunday, February 19

• At about 7:28 p.m. officers responded to a report about a collision involving two vehicles near the intersection of W. Winton Avenue and Clawiter Road. Upon arrival, officers found a 50-year-old male in one vehicle unconscious and suffering from injuries from the collision. Emergency personnel arrived, but the man died at the scene. The solo driver from the other vehicle, a 22-year-old man, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police believe alcohol/impairment was a factor in the collision. An investigation is continuing.

 

 

 

Murder charge filed in Fremont homicide case

Submitted by Fremont Police Department

 

A suspect arrested in connection with an altercation between two men in Fremont — which left one of them dead — is facing a murder charge from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

 

Eddie Moses, 40, of Fremont is also facing a weapons enhancement charge in the stabbing death of a 48-year-old man on Thursday, February 16 near the intersection of Stevenson Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway in central Fremont. The charges were filed February 21.

 

The incident started at about 4:10 p.m. when a witness contacted Fremont Police Department about the altercation near a Chevron gas station at the busy intersection. When they arrived, officers found a man lying on the ground suffering from severe injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts by officers and members of the Fremont Fire Department, the man died at the scene. Police have not released the victim’s identity.

 

Investigators quickly went to work and cordoned off the scene, interviewed witnesses and searched for surveillance video. Police stopped southbound traffic on Paseo Padre Parkway south of Stevenson Boulevard during the initial investigation. Eventually, officers arrested Moses nearby and an edged weapon allegedly used in the homicide was found.

 

Moses is in custody at Santa Rita Jail with a court date set for March 28 where he is expected to enter a plea. Meanwhile, an investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information to call Detective Brent Butcher at (510) 790-6900 or send an email to bbutcher@fremont.gov.

 

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Milpitas PD

 

Thursday, February 16

• At about 11:45 p.m. an officer made a vehicle traffic stop on S. Abel Street and W. Curtis Avenue on suspicion of DUI. A search inside the vehicle uncovered a quarter pound of fentanyl, two pounds of methamphetamine, $1,300 cash, narcotic packaging and paraphernalia. The driver, a 56-year-old San Jose resident, was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.

 

 

 

New academy graduates join police in Milpitas

Submitted by Milpitas Police Department

 

On February 21 Milpitas Police Department Chief Jared Hernandez administered a swearing-in ceremony to welcome two new officers to the force in a ceremony that included pinning of their badges.

 

Joining the force are Officers Anthony Lum, badge 357, and Max Fontes, badge 358. Both are recent graduates of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center’s 175th Basic Academy. Their next step is completing a Field Training Program that will prepare them to serve the Milpitas community.

 

 

 

Cougar Wrestling NCS win

Submitted by Rachel Kahoalii

 

A big weekend for Cougar Wrestling! We have two wrestlers who have qualified for the CIF State Championship Wrestling Meet! Join me in congratulating Freshman, Mahlyah Sao for her 2nd place finish at NCS and Junior Amya Ortiz for her 4th place finish. Both of these young ladies will be competing at the State Meet in Bakersfield. Go Cougars!

 

 

 

Ohlone begins 2023 season ranked among nation’s best

Submitted by Ohlone College Athletics

 

After another banner season in which Ohlone College finished 45-6 and won a nation’s best 36 games in a row, (all while winning a conference championship, regional championship, super-regional championship). Ohlone College is primed and ready for another great season in 2023. Although a repeat 2022 could be difficult with the loss of several key players, Ohlone has again started the season ranked among the nation’s best.

 

Each season, Perfect Game publishes their annual national rankings. For the seventh straight season, Ohlone makes an appearance in the top 25 national polls ranked 24th in the nation. Ohlone’s first national ranking occurred in 2017, when they re-emerged on the landscape as a true power as they put together a 42-7 season and made their way to the CCCAA State final four. Ohlone may have been even better in 2018 as they rolled to an 18-0 conference mark and a 39-8 season, all while earning a place in Perfect Game’s prestigious top 25 poll. This scenario has repeated itself for seven straight seasons now, as Ohlone opens up 2023 ranked 24th in the Country.

 

Ohlone will be young this season as they saw 18 players sign off the 2022 squad. All-Americans Jeter Ybarra (Washington) and Damien Stone (UC Davis) both moved on to NCAA Division I baseball, as did Jaden Sheppard (Fresno State), Outfielder Will Jewell (Houston Baptist) and All-NorCal pitcher Sean Fekete (Oakland University). Former University of Miami Kickback Mykanthony Valdez, who punished opposing pitching with 14 homeruns last year, found his way back to Florida as he signed as well. Thus, the 18 signees mean Ohlone’s new recruits will be tasked with keeping Ohlone Baseball at the top of the standings and national polls.

 

Leading the way for Ohlone will be their impressive list of arms. Returners Ethan Shaver, Nate Rosser and Ryan Juric all make a formidable threesome as each has touched 91 mph on the radar gun. Manato Tateno, who finished 6-0 on the hill last year, also returns and will anchor the bullpen. Several newcomers also find themselves in the 86-90 range, including former Division I right-hander Griffin Allen, Luke Giotta, Joey Stover and Ray Hernandez, and lefty Jayden Harper. Serving as closers will be Cam Calvillo, who saw significant time of the mound last season and has also been up 91 mph, and Will Linberg who sits 84-87.

 

Head Coach Mike Curran returns for is 10th season at Ohlone. He has led the “OC” to conference championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Ohlone has the most wins in all of California since 2017 (202-41) and the best winning percentage as well. Hitting Coach Billy Clontz also returns for his 10th year while TC Fairfield and Cole Mauter round the staff. Fairfield will coach Ohlone’s pitchers and Mauter will be Ohlone’s recruiting coordinator.

 

 

 

Moreau Catholic advances to first ever NCS Championship

By Andrew Joseph

 

The Moreau Catholic Mariners won 71-69 at home against the California Grizzlies in the North Coast Section (NCS) Division 1 playoff semifinals on Tuesday, February 21.

 

LeBrie Goudy-Lee led the Mariners with 26 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Kellen Hampton added 15 points and 10 rebounds for Moreau. The Mariners’ record improved to an undefeated 14-0 in Mission Valley conference play and 23-5 overall. Their victory over the Grizzlies gives them their first NCS Division 1 conference championship game birth in school history. “This win means a lot to me because we were supposed to be here last year and I made a promise to my teammates that we were going to be here this year,” said Goudy Lee.

 

California went on a 10-0 run to begin the game and led 21-13 at the end of the first quarter. The Mariners started to slowly close the gap by halftime going into intermission down just 40-33.

 

Moreau came out in the third quarter aggressively on offense and making baskets. They outscored the Grizzlies 23-10 in the third quarter alone. The turning point in the game was when the Mariners blocked the ball on an inbounds pass by California which led to an open layup in transition by Goudy-Lee to tie the game at 47-47. “We gave it everything we had tonight because we didn’t want this to be our last game of the season,” added Goudy-Lee.

 

Jesse Ybarra gave Moreau their first lead at 49-48 with a layup and they went on a 9-3 run to end the 3rd quarter with a 56-50 lead. With just 4:45 left in the Mariners got their biggest lead at 66-54 off a layup by Goudy-Lee.

 

Marking their 14th consecutive win, the Mariners’ focus shifted to the NCS Division 1 championship game on Saturday, February 25 against the Clayton Valley Charter. The title game brings back old memories for both team coaches of when Coach Knight and Clayton Valley’s head coach Frank Allocco were college roommates at St. Mary’s in 1995 and played in the NCAA tournament together.

 

Goudy-Lee had a game high 23 points, Robert Morgan II had 22 points, and Hampton added 17 points in Moreau’s loss to Clayton Valley in a jam-packed arena.

 

After starting the title game with a strong presence, the Mariners went into halftime up 36-33. Moreau found themselves up by seven points in the fourth quarter, but a late run by Clayton Valley tied the game in the closing seconds to send the contest into overtime. Clayton Valley dominated the Mariners in the extra period with their one-on-one matchups, creating steals and making crucial shots to win the NCS title 82-79. Although they end the long run to the Division 1 championship on a somber note, Moreau continues to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division 2 playoffs against Bellarmine College Prep on Tuesday, February 28 at 7 p.m.

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

Rochester Institute of Technology, New York

Fall 2022 Dean’s List

• Karthikha Sri Indran of Fremont
• Rose Crisman of Fremont
• Nelson Palacios Arrechea of Hayward
• Nicholas Mullin of Hayward
• Michelle Yim of Newark

 

The Honor Society of Omicron Delta Kappa

New circle member, Union College, New York

• Anuja Konda of Fremont

 

 

 

Judicial vacancy filled in Alameda County

Submitted by Governor’s Press Office

 

Maria Morga, an experienced attorney from Alameda County, has been appointed as a judge in Alameda County Superior Court. Morga fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Trina L. Thompson.

 

Morga’s appointment was one of 11 statewide judicial appointments made by Governor Gavin Newsom announced on February 17. The annual compensation for this position is $231,174.

 

Since 2020 Morga, 50, has served as Supervising Deputy State Public Defender at the Office of the State Public Defender. After joining that office in 2004 she worked as was Senior Deputy State Public Defender and Deputy State Public Defender. Prior to that she worked as an associate at the Whatley Law Firm and a Deputy Public Defender at the San Francisco County Public Defender’s Office.

 

Morga earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Bad experience with a big bank

 

We all know Bank of America is a great financial institution in the nation and abroad. But during the past three years of the pandemic the bank has made too many blunders and headlined with sloppy service in the media to its long-time customers.

 

The other day I was making a credit card payment with $10 cash due on my BOA card. The teller asked me to show my ID. Although I have had two accounts with the bank for a long time, I told the teller it is my card. Of course, making a payment in cash instead of writing a paper check which costs money, because the bank does not provide checks for free. I had $10 cash to pay instantly. But the teller kept insisting “I need your ID.” Ridiculously, there were six people in the line, and one teller to handle the transaction. Anyway, I showed the ID.

 

Logically, the teller has to comply with the bank's policy if the customer is paying in cash in the amount of $10,000 or less or making a withdrawal of a huge amount then ID is justified. In my case, I was making a credit card payment due of only $10, not $10,000, and of course I am a customer. I got upset with the lousy performance of the branch in the name of the bank's policy. They are not helping customers, but harassing them for the sake of policy.

 

Well, all I say is that Bank of America has to maintain a standard of efficiency and try to retain customers. It is true the bank has already lost many customers during the pandemic because of its unwanted and uncooperative relationships with the customers.

 

Zafar Yousufzai

Fremont

 

 

Bank of America response from spokeswoman Diane Wagner:

“Following up, if a client is making a credit card payment with cash (in any amount), our policy requires proper identification for the transaction. Also, you cannot make a cash deposit into someone else’s account; it would have to come from the client’s account/a check/money order.”

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor

 

Alameda County is failing mom-and-pop rental housing providers

 

In early 2020, Alameda County adopted an eviction moratorium to support renters who were struggling to pay rent due to income lost from the pandemic. Instead, a substantial number of well-compensated renters who have full ability to pay are abusing the moratorium by stiffing mom-and-pop housing providers like myself of months, or even years, of rent. The pandemic is over; it is time to end the moratorium.

 

I own a 4-bedroom single family home in Fremont which I have rented to a family since July 2019. Without my knowledge or permission, the renter’s brother and his family also moved in. The family’s combined salary that was reflected on their lease application, not including that of the second unauthorized family, exceeded $200,000 annually at the time, nearly two times the average household income in Alameda County. Despite their affluence, they have refused to pay rent or move out since the start of the pandemic. These tenants owe me over $100,000 in unpaid rent.

 

In summer of 2022, the family purchased a $1 million home in Union City. Despite their new purchase, the tenants still refuse to move out of our house, knowing we are unable to evict them under current policy. They are continuing to abuse the County’s Eviction Moratorium at our expense, and the county is doing nothing to stop them.

 

We are not a large real estate company that can easily absorb these costs. We have our own financial obligations to meet. We have to pay property taxes, purchase property insurances, cover repairs, make mortgage payments, and now pay legal fees to help recover what we were promised by our tenants in the lease agreement.

 

This is not simply a matter of economics. This home is part of my family’s legacy, and not simply a line on a corporate balance sheet. It feels invasive and abusive to have a wealthy family taking the rent they owe us to buy a home of their own.

 

Meanwhile, my daughter had to give up her opportunity to go to her dream college that she was accepted to in 2021, because we had no rent income and did not know when we would ever be able to collect it to support her tuition. In addition, dealing with non-paying tenants for years has been mentally draining to me and my family, as it has required repeated efforts to persuade them to either pay rent, apply for rental assistance, or vacate the property. Despite all efforts, nothing seems to work.

 

On top of that, I have had to bear the financial burden of paying substantial amount of legal fees to attorneys to deal with the attorney hired by the tenants, as well as the costs associated with court filing and other matters. Moreover, attending County Supervisors’ meetings and waiting in lines for hours in the hope of telling my story has also been extremely time-consuming. Alameda County simply cannot allow for this to continue.

 

To be clear, vulnerable renters who lost significant income due to the pandemic should get the help they need. The county has received $131M in federal funds to provide rental assistance to renters who lost income due to the pandemic. The moratorium was simply too broad, allowing some bad actors taking advantage of these good intentions.

 

Alameda County Supervisors should immediately repeal the eviction moratorium, or at the very least apply some sort of means testing to prevent the widespread abuse we see today. It should also explore ways to provide relief to rental housing providers who have lost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars from bad actors.

 

Dorothy Wang

Fremont

 

 

 

Abandoned alligator rescued from Brooklyn lake

Associated Press

 

It's no urban legend: An alligator was found in a chilly New York City lake on Feb. 18, far from the subtropical and tropical climates where such creatures thrive.

 

The 4-foot reptile was pulled from Prospect Park Lake in Brooklyn around 8:30 a.m. and taken to an animal care center and then the Bronx Zoo for medical treatment and rehabilitation. City officials said the gator appeared lethargic and possibly cold shocked. It was likely dumped as an unwanted pet, they said. Releasing animals in city parks is illegal. Police are investigating.

 

For years, New Yorkers have pondered the myth that alligators roam the city's sewer system, even celebrating Alligators in the Sewers Day as an unofficial February holiday. Sightings like this help keep the urban legend alive, but experts throw cold water on the sewer theory. Alligators aren't suited to the sewer system's frigid, toxic environment, they say.

 

 

 

Continuing Events:

 

Tuesdays

Tot Time

8:30 am -9:30 am

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Kinder readiness program for 0-2

Barnard White Middle School, Room B8

725 Whipple Rd, Union City

(510) 471-5363

 

Tuesdays

Practice Your English – Online Chat! R

4:00 pm -5:00 pm

Improve your English by talking with native speakers

bit.ly/3jqnz86

jliu@aclibrary.org

 

Tuesdays

Bilingual (English/Spanish) Tiny Tot Story Time

9:30 am -11:00 am

Kinder readiness class for 0-5 years old

Union City Family Center

725 Whipple Rd, Union City

(510) 476-2770

bit.ly/3vcTYRA bit.ly/3GaTamI

 

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Spectrum Fall Prevention Presents “Enhance Fitness” R

9:30 am, 11:00 am

Program to energize and empower 60+ adult

San Leandro Senior Community Center

13909 E 14th Street, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

SpectrumCS.org

Register in person or call (510) 881-0300 x 270

 

Wednesdays

Zumba Gold $

11:30 am -12:30 pm

Workout while dancing

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

 

Wednesdays

Tropics Bingo

7:00 pm

Flash games

Tropics Mobile Home Park

33000 Almaden Blvd, Union City

(510) 471-8550

the-tropics.net

 

First Wednesdays

Talkin' Dirt R

7:00 pm -8:00 pm

Online gathering of gardeners

Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF)

6501 Niles Blvd, Fremont

bit.ly/3UPp51i

 

Thursdays

Chronic Pain Support Group

12:30 pm -2:30 pm

Group guidance from Stanford Pain Management Clinic

Zoom link: agewellcenters@fremont.gov

(510) 790- 6600

 

First Thursdays

Plethos Comedy Lab $

8:00 pm -10:00 pm

Ever-changing lineup of Bay Area comics (18+)

Castro Valley Market Place

3295 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley

(510) 901-1001

castrovalleymarketplace.com

 

Thursdays & Saturdays

Story Time

10:30 am -11:00 am

Picture book story time

Banter Bookshop

3768 Capitol Ave Ste.F, Fremont

(510) 565-1004

banterbookshop.com

 

Thursdays -Sundays

Animal Feeding

3:00 pm -3:30 pm

Feed livestock & learn about their favorite food

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

First & Third Saturdays

Pacific Bus Museum $

10:00 am -2:00 pm

Open house

Pacific Bus Museum

37974 Shinn St, Fremont

pacbus.org

info@pacbus.org

 

Fridays & Saturdays

Telescope Viewings

7:30 pm -10:30 pm

Experience the awe & wonder of the universe

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City $

8:00 pm

Series of improvised games and scenes

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

 

Mondays

Advanced Math + Science Tutoring

5:30 pm -7:00 pm

Free high school and college-level tutoring

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays

Showers for Adults 55+ R

1:00 pm -2:30 pm

One shower per day

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

 

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

Spectrum Fall Prevention presents “Enhance Fitness” R

9:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm

Program to energize and empower 60+ adult

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

bit.ly/3KzxIu8

Register in person or call (510) 881-0300 x 270

 

First Thursdays, December 1 – April 6

Bill Savings Assistance with Spectrum

3:00 pm -5:00 pm

In-person assistance on completing the 2022 LIHEAP and/or LIHWAP application forms

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

bit.ly/3gWSjfq

 

Wednesdays, December 7 – November 22

Qi Gong Meditation & Exercise Classes

2:00 pm -4:00 pm

Relieve stress and anxiety by joining Falun Dafa classes

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org

 

Thursdays, December 8 – June 8

Cover to Cover Book Discussion

1:00 pm -2:30 pm

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd, Newark

(510) 284-0675

bit.ly/3DyAJaM

 

First & Third Friday, December 16 – Jun 16

Mobile Food Distribution

10:30 am -11:30 am

Available for first 80 families

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

bit.ly/3m8a0eb

Please bring your own reusable bag. Line starts at 9:30

 

Saturdays, February 4 – April 15

Free Tax Assistance from VITA

1:00 pm -4:00 pm

Trained volunteers will prepare & file taxes for households earning less than $66,000 in 2022

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

earnitkeepitsaveit.org

 

Sundays, February 12 – April 9

Dove Gallery Competition Exhibit

12:00 pm -3:00 pm

Eclectic showcase of local artist

Dove Gallery, Park Victoria Baptist Church

875 S Park Victoria Dr, Milpitas

(408) 464-5011

Dove@ParkVictoria.org

 

Wednesdays, February 15 – June 7

Youth basketball clinic R

4:30 pm -5:30 pm

Free basketball clinic for Hayward students ages 12 – 17

Matt Jimenez Community Center

28200 Russ Rd, Hayward

(510) 887-0400

hayward-ca.gov/pal

 

Tuesdays, February 21 – June 27

Erase Una Vez / Once Upon a Time

4:00 pm -5:00 pm

Do an art project in Spanish

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

(510) 626-8522

haywardrec.org

Mask required for 2+

 

Tuesdays, January 3 – May 30

Baby Bouncers Lapsit

11:30 am -11:45 am

Nursery rhymes, lap bounce, songs & picture books for 12 months & younger

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org

 

First Wednesdays, January 4 – May 31

Pen Pal Club

4:00 pm -5:00 pm

Write to your new pen pal friend from the Portola Branch Library

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

 

Tuesdays, January 17 – May 16

Read to a Dog

4:00 pm -5:00 pm

Read to therapy dogs

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

Mask required for 2+

 

Thursdays – Saturdays, January 19 – March 18

Tree Talk

12:00 pm -5:00 pm

Art works & poems by Dotti Cichon & Nelly Capra

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd, Fremont

(510) 791-4357

olivehydeartguild.org

 

Mondays – Thursdays, January 23 – March 16

Embracing the World

9:00 am -5:00 pm

Multicultural & multimedia works from various artists

John O’Lague Galleria

Hayward City Hall

777 B street, Hayward

(510) 538-2787

haywardartscouncil.org

 

Saturdays, January 28 – March 25

Saturday English Conversation

10:00 am -12:00 pm

English conversation for all skill level

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd, Newark

(510) 284-0675

bit.ly/3DyAJaM

 

Tuesdays, January 31 – February 28

Tag/Teen Tuesdays R

4:00 pm -6:00 pm

Join the teen advisory group; play, make art & poetry

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

bit.ly/3kO3Krm

 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

Tuesday, February 28

Game Time!

4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Have fun, play games & make new friends

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ

 

Thursday, March 2

Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

1:30 pm -3:00 pm

Checkups, medications, appointments & food assistance

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

 

Wednesday, March 1

Fremont Art Association General Meeting & Art Demo

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Demonstration of watercolor painting technique on YUPO paper

Register for zoom link: bit.ly/3Evz1qa

 

Wednesday, March 1

Coffee with a cop

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Friendly setting to meet & greet cops

Starbucks

3950 Mowry Ave, Fremont

 

Wednesday, March 1

Fun with Arts

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Program for children ages 2 -5 & their caregivers

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org

 

Wednesday, March 1

Binary Bracelets R

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Art & craft focusing on female heroes

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

bit.ly/3IyAgGu

 

Wednesday, March 1

Toddler Time

10:30 am – 11:45 am

Hear stories, do chores, & meet farm friends with your tots

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

Thursday, March 2

Brand strategy workshop R

8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Insightful & productive workshop

Masonic Homes

3400 Mission Blvd, Union City

(510) 471-3434

masonichome.org, bit.ly/41iAkTa

 

Thursday, March 2

Crafts around the world R

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

This month attraction: Groggers (rattle)

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

bit.ly/3Zid7Pi

 

Friday, March 3

Niles Shamrock Shindig $R

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

A green evening of fun, food & drinks

Veterans Memorial Hall

37154 2nd St., Fremont

(510) 790-2853

niles.org

 

Friday, March 3

First Friday: The Science of color $R

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

An evening of playful & colorful curiosity

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org, bit.ly/3SoAELU

 

Saturday, March 4

Book Sale

10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Grab some great deals on bookstore at 1st floor

Hayward Public Library

888 C St, Hayward

(510) 293-8685

hayward-ca.gov/public-library

 

Saturday, March 4

Building America

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Stories of Niles Canyon Railway

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd, Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/Sunol

 

Saturday, March 4

Camp Fair R

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Summer camp fair & camp job opportunities

Thornton Junior High School

4357 Thornton Avenue, Fremont

bit.ly/3KyGngw

 

Saturday, March 4

FOG Holi

11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Festival of colors

Irvington High School

41800 Blacow Road, Fremont

bit.ly/3IQVbWx

 

Saturday, March 4

Milpitas Holi Festival

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Live music, performances, food for purchase, kids’ crafts community art project.

Cardoza Park

Kennedy Dr. & N Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

www.milpitas.gov

 

Saturday, March 4

David Gerard: Magician & Mind Reader $R

7:30 pm

Magic & mind reading with charm & comedy

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

cvcfa.com

 

Saturday, March 4

Holi Celebration R

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Color party

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

bit.ly/3IPmWPm

 

Saturday, March 4

Music hour at the library

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Music performed by local artist

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd, Newark

(510) 284-0675

bit.ly/3DyAJaM

 

Saturday, March 4

Holi

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Celebrate the festival of colors

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

 

Saturday, March 4

Save International Women's Day Celebration R

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Cultural performances, live music & dances, poetry, raffles and more!

Niles Discovery Church

36600 Niles Blvd, Fremont

(510) 797-0895

save-dv.org/2023iwd/

 

Saturday, March 4

Hike to Garin Park

8:00 am – 10:00 am

2.5 miles round-trip exploring the transformative lives of newts

Garin Regional Park

1320 Garin Ave, Hayward

(510) 544-3220

bit.ly/3XXIX2o

Meet at the Ziele creek entrance

 

Saturday, March 4

Animal Adaptations

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Learn about things animal’s body can do to help them thrive in the environment

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd, Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/sunol

 

Saturday, March 4

What's in the water?

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Discover microscopic life hidden in waters

Coyote Hills Visitors Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

bit.ly/3UGfdGr

 

Saturday, March 4 – Sunday, March 5

Kings of Soul & Swing $R

Sat: 7:30 pm

Sun: 3:00 pm

Enjoy the remarkable tour of music

James Logan High School

1800 H St, Union City

(510) 471-2520

bit.ly/3Y2FShW

 

Sunday, March 5

Water Chemistry

10:00 am – 11:30 am

Learn about the incredible elements in water

Coyote Hills Visitors Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

bit.ly/3UGfdGr

 

Sunday, March 5

Superhero 5k fun run $R

Check in- 8 am

Race begins: 9 am

Fundraising for Parkinson's Foundation's moving day team

City hall of Union City

34009 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City

(510) 471-3232

bit.ly/3XVNfaK

 

Sunday, March 5

Get your groove on

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Create music using utensils & bells

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

Monday, March 6

Senior Driver Traffic Safety R

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Senior driving program

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

bit.ly/3XZA60i

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Monday, March 6

Start Smart Teen Driving R

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Driver safety education class

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

bit.ly/3SrKk8v

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Tuesday, March 7

Online Spanish Conversation Circle R

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Practice your Spanish-Speaking skills

Register: bit.ly/3ZeHVAq