East Bay Ballet Folklorico dance company returns for next chapter!
Submitted by Benny Valles
It’s been six years since the doors of the Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro closed in 2018. Founded in July 2009, the company opened their dance studio in San Lorenzo with five students. With each new month, students young and old joined the ranks of the newest Ballet Folklorico dance troupe in the San Francisco Bay Area.
With the popularity of the Mexican dance form in local schools, Ballet Costa de Oro began to offer classes six days a week. Soon the number of students reached 80+ dancers who came from many East Bay communities, and some from as far as San Jose. Community colleges and high schools (including Gavilan Community College and Newark Memorial High School) sought after Costa de Oro to teach Mexican Folk dance in their curriculum. The California Folklorico Festival debuted at Gavilan College, attracting dance companies from Fresno State University.
Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro became a rising star in the Northern California Folklorico community. With an expansion needed for the dance studio, the company moved to Hayward after their lease was not renewed. However, the Hayward studio was short lived, due to rising costs in operating a studio in the Bay Area. The doors closed after the last performance on May 5, 2018, in downtown Hayward.
The Return
Fast forward to February 2023. Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro returned in partnership with the City of San Leandro Parks/Recreation, offering community dance classes for all ages. Former dancers, alumni and new students signed up to continue where they left off. For students, dancing is life, as most dedicate over six hours every week to correcting their form.
Since its beginnings in July 2009, Ballet Costa de Oro has educated children, teenagers, and adults in the arts of folkloric and ballet, meshing ancient Mexican style with the classical dance. Their ongoing mission is to preserve traditional Mexican culture and dance, and share their work with the community, believing that their group is the ideal representation of diversity in the East Bay.
“One of the greatest things about Ballet Folklorico and this display of Mexican culture is that it is not exclusive to Latinos or even to just Mexicans, it’s inclusive to all,” said founding director Steven J. KoneffKlatt (who has since passed away). “You see people from all races, ages, walks of life perform in this group.” Benny M. Valles, current artistic director, continues in this tradition.
Valles continues that KoneffKlatt viewed this group as his “great passion.” The addition of ballet to the folkloric dance allows viewers to see how elegant and refined ballet folklorico can be. “We will continue in Steven [KoneffKlatt]’s words, ‘to share with everyone through our work how great Mexico is, how beautiful the country is, the past is, and maybe even try to erode some of the stereotypes that are out there about the Corona-drinking festivals…Costa de Oro highlights a piece of culture and group of people who have influenced a place in the American landscape.”
Currently, the biggest challenge facing Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro is not having a dance studio for planned classes, workshops, and costume storage. Through the City of San Leandro, the group has space available for classes Monday through Friday, but they are limited in class time. Valles is grateful for the space and hopes to have a dedicated studio soon. He explains, “Costumes can range between $250 – $500 each, as dancers don’t purchase their costumes and these are the property of the dance group. So, we now have an additional challenge of affording costumes for over 75 dancers.” Another challenge will be replacing old costumes, and buying new ones so each dancer will have one. Any future funds will be reinvested into the group for more costumes as Costa de Oro continues to grow.
Expanding
Going into 2024, Costa de Oro has collaborated with the San Leandro Unified School District, providing folklorico classes at Washington, Jefferson and Garfield elementary schools, partnering with the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club. Their newest collaboration with Hayward Unified School District offers Saturday classes for Mt. Eden, Tennyson, and soon Hayward High Schools. More costumes and dance shoes for these after school programs are now a priority.
For Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro, home is now the San Leandro Senior Community Center. Classes are available for all ages. The future of Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro looks promising with new collaborations and performances. Valles added, “One project that our founder, Steven J. KoneffKlatt had was to have the first Summer Folklorico Extravaganza here in the East Bay, offering workshops, performances, and a Mercado—recreation of a typical Mexican placita—showcasing the true spirt of a Mexican Fiesta. Hopefully for the Summer of 2025/26, his dream can become a reality.”
Upcoming shows:
‘Fiesta Primavera’
Saturday, Mar 16
6 p.m.
San Leandro Performing Arts Center
San Leandro High School
2250 Bancroft Ave., San Leandro
Tickets $20
City of San Leandro Cinco de Mayo Festival
Friday, May 3
6 p.m.
Marina Community Center
15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro
Free Event
Ballet Folklorico Costa de Oro
Mon – Fri Classes
City of San Leandro Senior Community Center
13909 E. 14th St., San Leandro
(510) 686-0335
Be Irish for a Day at Bay Philharmonic’s Celtic Celebration Concert
By Hugo Vera
Centuries-old tradition will meet modern music-making this March when Bay Philharmonic holds its Celtic Celebration concert on Saint Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, 2024. The brainchild of Bay Philharmonic Artistic Director and composer Jung-Ho Pak, the show serves to not only celebrate the ancestral music of the Irish-Scottish highlands but to celebrate the diversity of the Bay Area musical community.
“With music heading into a state that is increasingly digitized and artificial, one of the things we are losing is our touch with cultural music and culture in general,” says Pak. “When we lose touch with our cultural ties, we lose touch with who we are, where we come from and we become susceptible to self-loathing. Cultural expression is a form of self-love and although I don’t have a drop of Scots-Irish blood in me, I want our audiences of all backgrounds and creeds to enjoy themselves and to have a shared life experience at this concert.”
The concert will feature a plethora of musical acts including (but not limited to) Pak’s orchestra, vocals from Annie Wolaver Dupre of the Annie Moses Band, a performance from Caroline McCaskey of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, a medley from the contemporary Irish-American band Culann’s Hounds and sets from the Kennelly School of Irish Dancing.
“A Broadway show typically has five to ten years to prepare; we have had less than six months and most of us won’t even get to meet and rehearse with each other until 24 hours before the show,” adds Pak. “When I source talent, I like to leave a small carbon footprint and what you’ll see in this concert is home-grown Bay Area talent telling the story of the Celtic diaspora in our own backyard.”
For musicians such as Caroline McCaskey of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers, the scale of such a production is a challenge that she is eager to meet head-on.
“I’ve been playing musical instruments since I was nine, and one of my biggest inspirations was listening to [World-renowned Scottish fiddler] Alasdair Fraser on cassette as a kid,” says McCaskey. “The fiddle has a long and deep history in Celtic music and my hope is for anyone who attends to get caught up in the excitement and to know that Celtic song and dance is for everyone.”
The Celtic Celebration concert will also be the first in the Bay Philharmonic’s 60th anniversary series. For all involved, it is the culmination of decades of musical excellence that celebrates the past, present and future of the Bay Area.
“This 60th birthday is not just celebrating 60 years of a new kind of orchestra but the perpetuation of joy and happiness,” concludes Pak. “When we tell the story of the Scots-Irish diaspora at this concert, we’ll be telling the story of America, of the world, and how no matter where we come from, we can make things better for the next generation. If I can put a smile on everyone’s face while doing so I will have done my job.”
Each ticket purchase will automatically enter the buyer into a raffle for two round-trip tickets from San Francisco (SFO) to Dublin, Ireland (DUB) via Aer Lingus with additional raffle tickets available for purchase at the concert.
Bay Philharmonic’s Celtic Celebration
Sunday, Mar 17
3 p.m. – 5 p.m. (with 20-minute intermission)
Chabot College Performing Arts Center
25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
(510) 224-4141
Tickets: $25 – $67
Kyla Zhao on secrecy, surprises, and landing a major book deal at 23 years old
By Connie Cheung
Photos courtesy of Kyla Zhao
On Saturday March 9, author Kyla Zhao will give a talk at Hayward Library on Valley Verified, her second published novel since she graduated from Stanford University in 2021. The book, about a young fashion writer who joins a Silicon Valley technology company, is described by Kirkus Reviews as “a lively juxtaposition of two distinct and self-serious worlds.”
In fact, this juxtaposition aptly describes Zhao’s own life. Before attending college, Zhao wrote articles for fashion magazines like Vogue and Tatler in her home country of Singapore. Now, she too juggles two worlds as a Silicon Valley tech worker by day and a novelist by night and on weekends. At first, Zhao felt self-conscious in fielding her coworkers’ questions about her books. “I’d [tell them] ‘it’s women’s fiction,’ and I would hear my voice go small. I hate that, so I’m trying to do a better job of owning it,” she said.
But embracing literary interests doesn’t mean devoting her entire career to writing. For now, Zhao has no desire to be a fulltime author. “If writing were to become my only rice bowl, I’d be a lot more tempted to consider the commercial aspects instead of writing what I’m passionate about,” she explained.
Zhao is careful about approaching the extrinsic facets of book publishing and promotion. She never asks her agent about sales numbers. She avoids comparisons with other authors. She doesn’t read book reviews. (Although she did request a copy of this issue of Tri-City Voice for her parents, who’ve started a scrapbook.) Perhaps these methods are an instinctive defense mechanism to combat the stresses of a hypercompetitive world.
At Stanford, Zhao recalled a culture that heavily emphasized science and technological pursuits, and a campus where students were “always surrounded by lots of other people asking what you’re up to, what are you doing.” When the COVID-19 pandemic left Zhao stranded in California and homesick for Singapore, she secretly began working on a novel as a form of creative escape.
“Being alone gave me permission to try something new,” she said, recalling her thought process at the time. “No one has to know about it, I don’t have to explain myself, and if I give up halfway, that’s ok.”
This secrecy and isolation gave Zhao the space to dream of new fictional worlds. Keeping her efforts under wraps, she did not even tell her family until after having written fifty thousand words of what would become her debut novel, The Fraud Squad, which she describes as a “love letter to [her] home country.” Many classmates didn’t know that Zhao had been working on a novel until the deal was announced.
“I never imagined I would write a book,” Zhao said, reflecting on her strong childhood admiration for authors and sense of her own comparative lack of ability. “I could never measure up to them in creativity, I didn’t have what it takes to come up with an original idea. I didn’t have the stamina,” Zhao remembered thinking.
To observers now, such fears might seem misplaced. The past few years have been a whirlwind of victories for the young author: press coverage about her six-figure book deal, an audience of over 130,000 followers on her social media page, and a third book (for children) coming this fall – all while working a full time job. But pressures can also mount with early results. Famously, Harper Lee didn’t publish another book for decades after the wild success of To Kill a Mockingbird. In Zhao’s case, there’s also a nagging sense of expectation. “I worry that I’m going to fall short. It’s such a real and persistent fear,” she says earnestly, “but one thing I can control is the quality of the work.”
Looking back on her journey, Zhao has two pieces of advice to budding writers. First: “Write about what you love. It’s really tempting to write what’s trendy, or what you think will sell well,” she said, but the work of creating, rewriting and editing a story usually takes years of work.
Zhao’s second piece of advice: “Do not play the comparison game.” Placing too much weight on others’ progress, media coverage and external metrics can be a vicious cycle. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” she said, wise advice even for those of us outside the literary world.
Thoughtful and poised, Zhao has a firm perspective on what actually matters to her. “Sometimes I get down on myself – these accolades are nice, but they are never what motivated me to write in the first place,” she said.
Kyla Zhao will be speaking at Hayward Library on Saturday, March 9 at 3pm, followed by a book sale and signing.
Website: Kylazhao.com
Newsletter: kylazhao.substack.com
Tiktok: @kylazingaround
Valley Verified reading, book sale, and signing
Saturday, Mar 9
3 p.m.
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
www.hayward-ca.gov/public-library
Abode shares stories of progress, goals in breakfast fundraiser
Submitted by Chris De Benedetti
Abode proudly welcomed hundreds of people to its 19th annual “Journey Home Breakfast” fundraiser on the morning of Friday, March 1, as leaders of the nonprofit organization discussed its successes and future plans with hundreds of community supporters. The yearly event allows Abode to further its mission of ending homelessness in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Napa, and Solano counties.
During breakfast at the DoubleTree by Hilton Newark-Fremont, supporters made generous donations and pledges that will help Abode continue to serve more than 15,000 individuals each year. The 60-minute event—Abode’s only fundraiser of the year—was held in person for the first time since 2020.
Darrian White, Chair of the Abode Housing Development, served as the event’s emcee. He was joined by elected officials, local leaders, and other community members who shared a meal and learned about the impact of Abode’s work on those in need. Featured speakers included new Abode Services CEO Vivian Wan; Tarrah Henrie, Chair of the Abode Services Board of Directors; and Louis Chicoine, CEO of Abode Housing Development and Abode Property Management.
An Abode client, Leticia Tate-Azevedo, was the featured live speaker. She delivered a poignant speech about experiencing homelessness and how the stability of finding a home has helped her transform her life and provide for her young son. The fundraiser also presented a video featuring seven Abode clients: Mark, Louis, Kimberly, Geno, Bernice, Harold, and Julie. Each client shared their personal story about overcoming challenges that led to them experiencing homelessness before they gained and kept permanent housing with Abode’s help. You can read more about these stories and the Journey Home Breakfast on our website at abode.org.
Donations to the annual fundraiser can still be made online at abode.org/donate. Also, thanks to the McMurtry Family Foundation, all gifts for the program will be matched up to $50,000 through March 8.
Lastly, Abode would like to thank the event’s generous sponsors:
Presenting Sponsors: McMurtry Family Foundation, Destination: Home, Fremont Bank, Star One Credit Union, and Sutter Health. Premier Sponsors are Ann and Alden Danner, Kaiser Permanente, BBI Construction, and Cahill Contractors.
Major Sponsors: Alameda Alliance for Health, BKF Engineers, Cargill, Heritage Bank of Commerce, Santa Clara County Housing Authority, Herman Coliver Locus Architecture, Lowney Architecture, and Washington Hospital Healthcare System.
Supporting Sponsors: Bernard, Balgley & Bonaccorsi LLP; Borregas Apartments LLC/Aresa Properties, Element Structural Engineers, Inc., Gonsalves & Kozachenko Attorneys at Law, Gunkel Architecture, Hayward-Tri-City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., HKIT Architects, Indo ABC, PYATOK Architecture & Urban Design, and Republic Services.
Established in 1989, Abode’s mission is to end homelessness. Abode’s family of agencies now include Abode Services, Abode Property Management, and Abode Housing Development. To learn more, visit www.abode.org.
Award-Winning Barbershop Chorus Show
Submitted by Laura Schultz
Bay Area Showcase Chorus (BASC) is thrilled to host their spring show, “Barbershop Ballads and Ballots” on Saturday, March 9, at Ohlone College. A women’s a cappella chorus from the South Bay, BASC sings classic barbershop favorites and new arrangements of modern songs spanning from pop to musicals.
Their show will feature performances by local quartets Verve and AllSorts, as well as the internationally recognized and award-winning quartet, The Newfangled Four. From Southern California, The Newfangled Four is one of the top barbershop quartets in the world. Combining old fashion slapstick humor with their quirky offbeat comedy, The Newfangled Four merges their talents as top notch harmony singers and world class entertainers.
BASC is a vibrant, award-winning chorus and chapter of Sweet Adelines International, educating and empowering women to sing four-part harmony in the barbershop style. We invite women of all ages, backgrounds, and musical experience to come sing in a friendly and inclusive community. We rehearse in person on Thursdays from 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. in Milpitas. Contact info@singharmony.org to learn more.
Barbershop Ballads and Ballots
Saturday, Mar 9
3:30 p.m.
Smith Center at Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont
www.singharmony.org
Tickets: $20 – $35
Good Neighbors Bring the Community Together
Submitted by Rabbi Zoe McCoon
Bringing people together in a positive way is the objective of the upcoming and first-time “Being Good Neighbors Symposium,” according to one of its coordinators, Rabbi Zoe McCoon of Temple Beth Torah in Fremont.
The Interfaith Symposium, sponsored by the Tri-City Interfaith Council, will take place Saturday March 16, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Washington Hospital West. It is free of charge, and everyone is welcome.
What prompted the birth of the Symposium idea, says Rabbi McCoon, was a concern in our community of rising prejudice and acts of violence against Jews and Muslims. “There have been many incidences of Islamophobia and Antisemitism in our area in the last four months, and it’s been very worrying,” she relates. Both Muslim and Jewish students have been targeted.
She also talks about religious institutions experiencing several hurtful pranks and “swatting” incidences. She further explains that “swatting” involves calls to emergency services in Fremont calling for SWAT teams to respond to bogus emergencies.
Rabbi McCoon came up with the idea of holding a Symposium to highlight the issue and bring some fresh ideas and understanding of how we can bring people together in a meaningful way. Helping each other promote neighborly relationships, she says, will go a long way to countering prejudices.
During the Symposium, participants will be encouraged to meet their neighbors and share conversations with them. There will also be a panel entitled “How to be Good Neighbors to Muslims and Jews In Our Community” led by Rabbi McCoon and Maha Elgenaidi, Founder of Islamic Networks Group and its Executive Director.
The Symposium will celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan with the traditional water and dates, followed by a vegetarian community dinner served courtesy of Tri-City Faith Council, Niles Rotary, Washington Hospital, and several community partners. Additionally, there will be a celebration of the end of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, with a brief musical ceremony.
The programming of Being Good Neighbors is suitable for adults as well as young people ages 10 and above. Advanced registration is required by Tuesday, March 12th, and can be completed at: https://bit.ly/BeingGoodNeighbors.
Being Good Neighbors Symposium
Saturday, Mar 16
4:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Washington Hospital West
2500 Mowry Ave., Fremont
Advanced registration required by Tuesday, March 12
Register at: https://bit.ly/BeingGoodNeighbors
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum March Schedule
Submitted by Michael Bonham
March is coming in like a lion and will be roaring all the way through with this great lineup!
Our Laurel & Hardy / Our Gang Matinee celebrates Oscars Night with one nomination and two winners on our screen. For you Buster Keaton fans, he makes two appearances this month. Once in our Comedy Night and then in his own feature, The Cameraman. We’ll finish the month with our Easter gift to you, two showings in one day of C.B. DeMille’s The King of Kings.
Go to our website for all the details on our March shows and to buy advance tickets. www.nilesfilmmuseum.org Once you’re there click on the icon on the left or on the “Upcoming Schedule” tab on the top of the page and you’re in!
MARCH HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, March 9
7:30 p.m.
Dancing Mothers (1926) – A young girl (Clara Bow) becomes a “flapper”, defying her parents and the community. Directed by Herbert Brenon. Piano Accompaniment by Bruce Loeb.
- Sunday, March 10
1:00 p.m.
Way Out West (1937) – Stanley and Ollie are enlisted to deliver the deed to a goldmine in a small village, only for it to be stolen. 1937 nominee for Best Music.
- Saturday, March 16
7:30 p.m.
Comedy Shorts Night. Piano accompaniment by Greg Pane.
- Saturday, March 23
7:30 p.m.
The Cameraman (1928, MGM) – Buster Keaton attempts to make a motion picture. With Marceline Day, Harold Goodwin, and Sidney Bracey. Directed by Edward Sedgwick. Keyboardist Jon Mirsalis.
- Saturday, March 30
4:00 p.m. Original synchronized musical score.
7:30 p.m. Live piano accompaniment by Bruce Loeb.
The King of Kings (1927, DeMille Pictures) Jesus Christ faces religious and political oppression during his ministry and in the days before his death and resurrection. Cecil B. DeMille directs.
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont
(510) 494-1411
Write Your Dream at the Fremont Area Write-In
Submitted by Tish Davidson
April 8 is the deadline to enter the Fremont Cultural Arts Council’s single-page flash fiction contest with the theme of DREAMS. Fremont Area Writers (FAW) invites everyone from students to octogenarians to get inspiration for entering the contest by joining their March 9 Zoom Social Write-In where writing prompts will encourage an interpretation of the contest theme. Both the Write-In and entering the contest are free. You do not need to live in Fremont to participate in either event.
How the Write-In works:
At the Write-In, the computer randomly assigns four writers to each Zoom room. Word or photo prompts are provided to inspire writers to interpret the word “dreams” in ways ranging from aspirations to romance to nightmares. Writers choose one prompt and write whatever comes to mind for 10 minutes. At the end of 10 minutes, each person in the room reads their response to the prompt. This is not a critique session. The format is completely non-judgmental. Because the writing time is short, there is no expectation that the results will be polished or even complete. Time to socialize and get to know each other follows the readings. Writers are then reassigned to a different Zoom room with different people and a new writing challenge. After the second writing period, stories are shared with others in the room, followed by socializing.
The Write-In is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club. In addition to the Write-In, FAW meets on Zoom from 2 p.m.– 4 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month where guest speakers discuss various aspects of writing and publishing. The speaker for the March 23 meeting is Julie Artz, an author, editor, and book coach who helps writers slay their writing demons so that they can send their work out into the world with confidence. She will speak on what kind of editors a writer might need and how to know when a manuscript is finished and ready for the public.
You do not need to live in Fremont to join the write-in or meetings. More information is available at https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org.
Write-In
Saturday, Mar 9
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
General Meeting
Saturday, Mar 23
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Via Zoom
Request link from Scott Davidson: scottfrombayside@yahoo.com
Fremont Creates
Submitted by Phyllis Wood for Fremont Creates
Time is flying by! April is Arts, Culture & Creativity Month and it’s only three weeks away! Check out what we are doing:
We are continually posting updates for April on our Facebook (Fremont-Creates) and Instagram pages (see QR code); check them out.
Stop by the Fremont Main Library and view the Fremont Creates glass case exhibit in the lobby promoting April is Arts, Culture & Creativity Month.
Are you a student, photographer, or graphic designer? The City's boxART! Program is looking for new artists to design and paint Fremont’s traffic signal control boxes. The theme is “Sustainability,” and the deadline for submissions is Monday, March 11, 2024, at 12 noon. Contribute your talents to add beauty to our city. (www.fremont.gov/government/departments/community-development/boxart-call-for-artists)
Fremont Creates, along with Fremont Cultural Arts Council (FCAC), is hosting the 29th Annual Juried Photo Exhibitfrom March 23 – May 4, 2024, at Fremont Main Library. You are invited to the Opening Reception on March 23, 2024 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Library.
Fremont Open Studios will take place the 2nd and 4th weekends in April.
Visit our website, FremontCreates.com, to see the full calendar of events scheduled in April.
Fremont Creates participated in a statewide seminar, For the Love of Art, on February 14, sharing our methodology in initiating Fremont Creates with art organizations and individuals throughout the State. CA for the Arts hosted the webinar, and we are proud that Fremont’s program was featured.
April 27, 2024, is the Grand Finale for Arts, Culture & Creativity Month. Join us at the Fremont Downtown Event Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will be showcasing the art—performance, music, visual, and literary—that is flourishing in our diverse, inclusive community. We need YOU! We are looking for volunteers to help at the event (this is a great opportunity for high school students in need of community service hours), we are looking for sponsors who can help with funds or in-kind donations, and we need you to spread the word about the events scheduled in April as well as the Finale on April 27!
A special thank you to our sponsors:
City of Fremont
Supervisor David Haubert, Alameda County Supervisor, District 1
Niles Rotary Foundation
Brandon T. Sass, Primerica Investment Advisor
Scott Capen Photography
Olive Hyde Art Guild
Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Tri-City Voice
Fremont Cultural Arts Council
Arts in River Park
Susan Longini
Collective Discovery
Marketing Maven – AI
Fremont Bank
Green with Envy Drag Lunch to Benefit HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
Submitted by Tina Fernandez
If you’re looking to shake up your usual St. Patrick Day celebration, look no further: HERS Breast Cancer Foundation invites you to join their staff and friends at the “Green with Envy Drag Lunch” at Tommy T’s in Pleasanton on Sunday, March 17!
A fundraiser to benefit HERS breast cancer patient support programs, this event is hosted by The Barony, a nonprofit organization that promotes harmonious relations between the LGBTQ Community and Society at Large and provides aid to those in need within Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties.
The show will be hosted by Mr. Sincere and feature performers Viva Commotion, Princess Monet Sparkles, Summer Lynn Spears, Anna Mae Coxxx, and K’Aliyah A’Rose Tisci. Guests will be dazzled by the performers’ amazing style and entertained by energetic dancing and singing. In short, attendees are in for a truly original St. Patrick’s Day treat!
Buy your tickets today so you won’t be green with envy that you missed out on a great time and the opportunity to support HERS patients! Instead, you’ll know that you’re not only celebrating St. Patrick’s Day while being entertained by some of the best drag performers in the Bay: You’re also supporting breast cancer patients by helping HERS provide post-surgical products and services.
Doors open at 12 noon and the show starts at 1 p.m. Tommy T’s has a full bar, and their food menu choices include appetizers such as nachos, a delicious “Tommy Burger,” salads, and desserts. Ticket prices are $25 for regular admission and $35 for VIP tickets which include priority seating. HERS will provide giveaways and a raffle, too!
Parking is free and venue details, including seating and location, are available at https://tommyts.com/faq/.
To find out more about The Barony, visit https://thebarony.weebly.com/. Learn more about HERS at https://hersbreastcancerfoundation.org/charitable-programs/.
Green With Envy Drag Lunch
Sunday, Mar 17
12 noon: Door Open
1 p.m.: Show Starts
Tommy T’s Pleasanton
5104 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton
(925) 227-1800
https://tommyts-com.seatengine.com/events
Tickets: $25 – $35
Lisa Performing Arts new year parade
Submitted by Christina Wang
Lisa Performing Arts (LPA) of Fremont has elevated Lunar New Year celebrations, becoming a global sensation at one of the largest events outside of Asia. After performing at an NBA halftime game last year and catching the eye of Chinese New Year parade committee members, LPA was chosen as the opening act for the 2024 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, featuring Grand Marshal Awkwafina. This year’s festivities broke new ground, transforming a local dance group into an international emblem of Asian American heritage and unity.
The event garnered worldwide attention, with LPA not only performing but also serving as a cultural ambassador. Their dance showcased the depth of Asian American traditions and the dynamism of their heritage, leaving a significant imprint on Lunar New Year celebrations across the globe. The spotlight on our troupe at such a pivotal event was both an honor and a reflection of the Asian American community’s enduring spirit and rich cultural legacy.
“Our performance was more than just a dance; it was a narrative expressed with every movement,” stated a Lisa Performing Arts representative.
The group’s involvement turned into a vibrant showcase of color, music, and dance. KTVU offered extensive live coverage, focusing on the dancers’ intense rehearsals and personal stories. This behind-the-scenes access provided viewers with a rare look into the dedication and passion driving the performers at Lisa Performing Arts.
LPA will be celebrating their 20th year anniversary celebration on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the Ohlone College Jackson Theater.
To watch LPA’s live performance, check out their social pages:
www.instagram.com/lisadance510
http://www.youtube.com/lisaperformingarts
Ohlone College Lytton Center Hosts Women’s History Month Panel
Submitted by Roelle Balan
History is a gateway not only into the past, but to the present and the future. That’s part of the mission of Ohlone College Lytton Center for History and the Public Good, which is to look into the past, “As a way to face the challenges of the present and prepare for the future.”
Hence, March is Women’s History Month, and the Lytton Center will host a panel called “Women’s History Month Roundtable Discussion With Women in Politics.” It will take place Wednesday, March 13 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jackson Theater inside the Smith Center at the Ohlone College Fremont campus.
The event will have a welcoming speech by Ohlone College President Charles Sasaki, a discussion, and a question and answer segment. Just like all Lytton Center events, it’s free and open to the public.
The event will be moderated by Ohlone College Board of Trustee Chair Suzanne Lee Chan. The panelists are former California State Assemblymember Autumn Burke, California Lieutenant Governor candidate Fiona Ma, former California State Assemblymember Mary Chung Hayashi, and United Farm Workers of America National Vice President Connie Perez-Andreesen.
Chan is a former clinical bacteriologist who became a community activist and eventually Fremont Vice Mayor and councilmember. Former State Assemblymember Burke tackled issues on climate change, poverty, and domestic violence. Former State Assemblymember Hayashi is an award-winning author of the book “Women in Politics,” which explored the successes of women in government. Perez-Andreesen is a certified public accountant and became the United Farm Workers Chief Administrative Officer in 2018. She worked as a farmer and has experience managing accounts for major governmental, agricultural, and petroleum entities.
“It’s going to have a much broader appeal than only to students – it’s going to be about women in politics in general, asking questions about representation in an election year,” said Dr. Katherine Michel, Co-Director of the Lytton Center.
The Lytton Center first opened in Spring 2020 through a $900,000 donation to Ohlone College from East Coast real-estate developer and retired contractor Frank DiMino. The center’s mission includes programming and events that include pillars of access, equity, inclusion, justice, and service.
The Center has three Co-Directors – Dr. Heather McCarty, a History and Gender and Women’s Studies Professor who is also the Chair of the Center, Dr. Kyle Livie, a History Professor, and Dr. Michel, a Political Science Associate Professor.
The three directors say the purpose of the Lytton Center is to bring “Inspiring, thought provoking, and transformational programming to the Ohlone community that will equip our exceptional students with unprecedented educational opportunities.”
The Lytton Center grants program provides another avenue of funding for student events organized by Ohlone College faculty. One event included a trip to five Southern California colleges for student organizations such as Puente and UMOJA, a learning community for students of African ancestry.
The Lytton Center has an upcoming event on April 15 called “Overstanding Streetdance Identities: Centering the Local in Global Hip Hop.” The event will be held online through Zoom from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Speakers include Serouj “Midus” Aprahamian, a Hip Hop dancer known for his unique and abstract style. The event will be moderated by UC Riverside Associate Professor Imani Kai Johnson, who specializes in the African diaspora, global popular culture, and Hip Hop.
Women’s History Month Roundtable Discussion with Women in Politics
Wednesday, Mar 13
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Jackson Theater, Smith Center
Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
Free
Hidden Gems pop up in Newark
By Stephanie Gertsch
The Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley held their 75th “Gem, Mineral, and Jewelry Show and Sale” the first weekend in March, 2024. Two exhibit halls, plus a geode cracking room, were filled with beautiful and educational displays. Seniors 62+, and kids under 13 entered for free, so the event was attended by a wide age range.
While lapidary arts aren’t a well-known hobby, the annual exhibit is well-worth attending. Yes, some guests were looking to score jewelry and loose gemstones at a bargain, but many were just there to admire the variety of unusual carvings and types of stone, to see the artifacts on display, or just learn interesting rock facts.
The Newark show is one of the best in Northern California, but the Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley holds classes throughout the year. (Their next lapidary beginners night is on March 27.)
If you missed this year’s show, but you’re interested in exploring (and shopping) gems, minerals and fossils, the Santa Clara Valley Gem and Mineral Society is having their show on March 16 and 17 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (details at www.scvgms.org).
Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley
https://mineralgemshop.com/
Spotlight on High School Journalism:
The Monarch Times: Mt. Eden High School
By David R. Newman
The newspaper industry is in trouble. According to the Pew Research Center, U.S. daily circulation is at an all-time low. Readers and advertisers have been migrating to digital news sources en masse, which has everyone wondering about the future of traditional print media.
We here at the Tri-City Voice see another picture. Seldom included in these reports is the high school newspaper scene, where journalism students are working hard on important stories that shape the way they view the world. Climate change, artificial intelligence, gender fluidity, systemic racism…these are issues that affect us all.
In this series, we take a peek at this new generation of journalists. Each month we will focus on an East Bay high school to see what goes on in their newsroom. How do they operate? What stories are they working on? What skills are they learning?
It’s a story of hope and resilience. And an eternal truth…that good journalism matters, now more than ever.
Mt. Eden High School in southwest Hayward exploded onto the national news scene last year when English Teacher Henry Bens was accused of antisemitic teachings. An independent investigation later verified that Bens had indeed taught with antisemitic materials and had verbally attacked teachers who had spoken up against him. Another investigation concluded that both the Mt. Eden administration and the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) did not do enough to address student concerns in a timely manner.
In the middle of it all was a newly formed, student-run newspaper led by adviser Annalee Mladinich. “We covered that story, and the administration wasn’t happy about it,” she sighs. The story was front page news in the 3rd issue of The Monarch Times.
“It was very challenging,” admits Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Kaylyn Nguyen, who co-authored the piece. “Especially because it was my first time writing a real news article.”
Mladinich’s group of seven aspiring journalists first met as a club in 2022. Mt. Eden High School had been without a journalism class or student newspaper for 20 years, so when Nguyen and some classmates approached Mladinich expressing interest in starting one, Mladinich agreed to help.
With no formal journalism training, Mladinich, who teaches Social Studies, called on friends for support, including former colleague Matt Johanson, Journalism Adviser at Castro Valley High School. He supplied training, style guides, and curriculum advice. For funding, Mladinich applied for grants. Their first issue was published using a copy machine.
“This has been a joyful process for me,” says Mladinich. “I’m learning so much. I like the idea of creating something, of giving the students a chance to show off their work.” That first year, Mt. Eden High School Journalism Club, by then 25 students, published four editions of The Monarch Times.
For the 2nd edition, Myldret Vasquez, a junior, interviewed Mayor Barbara Halliday. “It was so cool!” she exclaims. “I learned that she was also into journalism in high school and that she pursued it as a career for a while.”
Emboldened by their success and encouraged by student interest, Mladinich began recruiting for a real class. The club only met once a week during lunch—not enough time to learn everything they needed to produce a monthly newspaper. Little did they know that the fallout from the Bens investigation was about to rear its ugly head.
Mladinich recounts that when she presented her idea of a full-time Journalism class to school administration, they agreed, but required her to interview for the position. The role was then given to one of her colleagues, English teacher Matthew Amaral, who absorbed most of Mladinich’s recruits. Mladinich complained to the district, arguing that the interview process was unfair. The district agreed to fund two Journalism classes, each with their own publication.
“Well, the more journalism the better,” laughs Mladinich. In fact, the two publications complement each other. Amaral’s product, The Lion’s Tale, mostly includes event coverage, student/teacher bios, and music/film reviews. The Monarch Times focuses more on investigative journalism. Says freshman Itzel Esquivel, “We’re here to spread the truth. To uncover the lies.”
Mladinich and her small tight-knit staff feel strongly about this theme. It’s why Nguyen wanted to start a newspaper in the first place. To bring people together, to share information, and to give people real news that they can depend on.
The Monarch Times just published its 4th edition of the 2023-2024 school year—bringing its total publications to eight. They are growing, learning, and adapting. With only seven full-time staff members, they each do a little of everything. They also draw on the Journalism Club for additional content, a process with its own challenges. “It can be difficult,” says Co-Editor Catherine Escoto. “We often pair up with a club member to work on a story, and it’s up to us to take the lead and make sure we finish on time.”
While Mladinich admits it’s been rough going, she is optimistic for their future. Her goal is to print eight papers per year. She is excited to see what ideas her students come up with. Recently they started publishing some articles in Spanish to reflect the diverse student population. “That was their idea,” she says. “I was really impressed.” They also have a website she hopes to occasionally populate with bonus material.
After a lengthy investigation by the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD), Bens was finally let go in October 2023. For many at Mt. Eden High, the wounds are still fresh. “As a campus, we’ve never had any closure on what happened,” says Mladinich. “There has been no moment of healing, no apologies, no accountability.”
For a small school like Mt. Eden High, with a student population of about 2,000, community is everything. And so is truth. That’s why good journalism matters.
Website
Instagram: the_monarch_times
Park Happenings for March
Submitted by Dave Mason
Before logging in the mid-1800s, the East Bay had expansive redwood forests with huge trees. Ship captains sailing near the Golden Gate wrote about two redwoods at the top of a ridge in the Oakland hills that towered over others. At the time, they used the tall redwoods as landmarks to navigate their ships around the treacherous Blossom Rock, hidden just beneath the surface of the bay between Alcatraz and Yerba Buena Islands. Today, redwoods in the East Bay are mostly second and third-growth—still tall and magnificent.
Where you can see redwoods in the East Bay:
- Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley – Walk the meandering paths through redwoods in the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
- Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Oakland – Walk Roberts Ridge Trail to find the Old Growth Redwood Heritage Viewing Deck and Interpretive Exhibit. Have a picnic in Redwood Bowl.
- Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland – Stroll past ferns and along Redwood Creek on the paved Stream Trail. You will see the descendants of the original Blossom Rock forest.
March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the contributions of trailblazers who have advocated for parks, nature, and the environment. There are two naturalist-guided programs scheduled that celebrate women in parks, including “Wonderful World of Women Naturalists” on Saturday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. at Big Break in Oakley; and “Bay Area Women in Botany” on Sunday, March 17, at 9 a.m. at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in Oakland. Both programs are drop-in; no registration required. For more information or to learn more about the contributions of women to the Park District, visit the District’s Women’s History Month page at www.ebparks.org/we-celebrate/womens-history-month.
Special 90th Anniversary “Explore Your Parks” Adventure Programs
Explore nature at your own pace and in your own way at Big Break’s “All Abilities Day” on Tuesday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A special 90th Anniversary presentation will kick off the fun! This free drop-in program is inclusive and for all abilities, offering something for everyone. American Sign Language and Spanish interpreters will be on site.
Other March “Explore Your Parks” Adventure Programs include “Day by the Water” at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and “90th Anniversary Sunday Stroll and Picnic” at Temescal Regional Recreation Area in Oakland on Sunday, March 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For more information, visit the Park District’s 90th Anniversary webpage at www.ebparks.org/celebrating-90-years.
Spring Means Wildflower Season in Regional Parks
Each year, from the end of March to the beginning of May, a rich diversity of wildflowers bloom throughout the Regional Parks. Visit Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, Ohlone Wilderness Regional Preserve, or Black Diamond Regional Preserve, where the hillsides and meadows come alive with a kaleidoscope of colors, from the cheerful orange of California poppies to the delicate purple of lupines. These floral displays delight the eye and provide essential nectar for native pollinators like bees and butterflies. To see these impressive displays of flowers and celebrate the season, visit a park or join a variety of naturalist programs, including wildflower walks and hikes, videos, and art activities. For more information, visit www.ebparks.org/calendar and search “wildflowers.”
The East Bay Regional Park District is a major employer of youth in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, with seasonal employment opportunities ranging from lifeguards to park gate attendants. The Park District is a great place to work for those who care about parks, nature learning, and enjoy outdoor recreation. The District is currently hiring lifeguards, recreation leaders, interpretive student aides, public safety student aides, and student laborers/gate attendants. For more information, visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ebparks and search for “seasonal.”
Sunol Repertory Theatre’s Superhero Melodrama
Submitted by Diana Rohini LaVigne
The 41st season of the Sunol Repertory Theatre brings you a two-act superhero melodrama that runs through March 23rd.
Written by Marty Matthews, The Rise of the Superheroes is filled with 1980s references, drama, and plenty of laughs. In this play directed by Klay Kunkel and Robin Spindler, master criminal Elementis escapes from prison and a new, mysterious villain emerges. The main characters, Possum Girl, Blackfly, and Tremendous Man open a detective agency in an attempt to become relevant again, and need to face off with the city’s villains. The Rise of the Superheroes encourages theater goers to cheer and jeer during this interactive play, produced by special arrangement with Heuer Publishing LLC.
“The Rise of the Superheros is a different style for the Sunol Repertory Theatre. This production really has something for everyone. It is the classic good vs. evil with plenty of twists and turns. I’ve enjoyed the script development and audiences are going to love it,” says Klay Kunkel, Director.
Sunol Repertory Theatre was founded in 1982 by Tom and Vicki Harland to provide quality entertainment, establish a community tradition, and create an opportunity to raise funds to benefit the educational experience of the students at Sunol Glen School, which receives the profit from the show. Sunol Repertory Theatre has donated over $200,000 to the school.
This production is great for all ages. All tickets are reserved seating and only $20 each. Performances are held every Friday and Saturday evening from March 1-23, starting at 8 p.m. The show has an intermission, and the full run time with intermission is approximately two hours. Get tickets today and don’t miss this production!
To order tickets or make a donation, go to www.sunol.net/SRT, call (925) 319-4776, or email SRTtickets@gmail.com.
The Rise of the Superheroes
Friday, Mar 8 – Saturday, Mar 23
Fri & Sat: 8 p.m.
Sunol Glen School Theater
11601 Main St., Sunol
Tickets: $20 (Reserved Seating)
(925) 319-4776
Reception for textile art exhibit
Submitted by Winda Shimizu
An artists reception for “The Joy of Textile Art,” by the members of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland, will be held on Saturday, March 9 starting at 1 p.m. This exhibit presents the culture, heritage and traditions of African American quilting, showcasing a collection of thirty-four quilts by nineteen East Bay area artists. This event is sponsored by Hayward Arts Council. The public is welcome to attend.
“The Joy of Textile Art” artists reception
Saturday, Mar 9
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Hayward Area Historical Society Gallery
22380 Foothill Blvd., 2nd Floor
www.haywardartscouncil.org
Tri-City Photo History Correction
Submitted by Kelsey Camello
On page 6 of our February 27 issue, we inadvertently printed a photo twice. We apologize for the error. Here is the correct photo with its caption.
Yellow Face
Submitted by Chanticleers Theatre
Chanticleers is kicking off our 2024 season with Yellow Face, a semi-autobiographical play by David Henry Hwang, featuring the author himself as the protagonist. In this probing political satire, the author asks the question: What does it mean to be classified by ethnicity?
The play begins with the 1990s controversy over color-blind casting for “Miss Saigon,” before it spins into a comic fantasy, in which the character DHH pens a play in protest and then unwittingly casts a white actor as the Asian lead.
Due to ongoing construction at Chanticleers Theatre, this show will be presented at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre in Hayward. We would like to thank the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District and a local community theatre lover for their generosity.
Yellow Face
Friday, Mar 8 – Sunday, Mar 24
Fri & Sat: 8 p.m.
Sun: 2 p.m.
Douglas Morrisson Theatre
2231 N. 3rd St., Hayward
(510) 733-5483
www.chanticleers.org
Tickets: $10 – $30
HISTORY MATTERS
By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith
Photo Credits: thegratefulamericanbookprize.com
March 1 through 15
Witchcraft in Salem
In February 1692, two girls from Salem, Massachusetts took ill, and a local doctor surmised they were suffering from the effects of witchcraft. The following month, Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne and – Tituba, a slave from Barbados – professed to be the cause of the nascent epidemic.
According to History.com, “with encouragement from a number of adults in the community, the girls, who were soon joined by other ‘afflicted’ Salem residents, accused a widening circle of local residents of witchcraft, mostly middle-aged women but also several men and even one four-year-old child. During the next few months, afflicted area residents incriminated more than 150 women and men from Salem Village and the surrounding areas of Satanic practices.”
For more about the witches of Salem, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi.
The First Phone Call
In March of 1876 — three days after receiving his patent — Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first telephone call to his assistant, Thomas Watson.
According to History.com, Bell emigrated to the United States in 1871. Then, he “went to Boston to demonstrate his father’s method of teaching speech to the deaf. The next year, he opened a school in Boston for training teachers of the deaf … In his free time, Bell experimented with sound waves and became convinced that it would be possible to transmit speech over a telegraph-like system. He enlisted the aid of a gifted mechanic, Thomas Watson … the two spent countless nights trying to convert Bell’s ideas into practical form to transmit speech vibrations electrically between two receivers. In June 1875 [he] tested [the] invention.”
Now, America processes approximately 2.4 billion cellphone-based calls each day; 27% come from landlines.
For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends Reluctant Genius: The Passionate Life and Inventive Mind of Alexander Graham Bell by Charlotte Gray.
The First Pro Team
America’s first baseball pro–Harry Wright–started as a cricket player. On March 15, 1869, he organized–and played for the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team.
According to History.com, “the Red Stockings finished the season with a 57-0 record — 64-0 with exhibitions included. Baseball was still in the underhand-pitch iteration … so the team routinely scored dozens of runs in games. The Red Stockings defeated the Buckeyes of Cincinnati … Wright, given roughly $10,000 to assemble the best team money could buy, signed his younger brother, George, to a team-high $1,400 salary.” [$31,748 in 2024 dollars].
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends Stephen D. Guschov’s The Red Stockings of Cincinnati: Base Ball’s First All-Professional Team and Its Historic 1869 and 1870 Seasons.
This feature is courtesy of The Grateful American Book Prize, which is an annual award given to authors who have created outstanding works of historical fiction or nonfiction for seventh to ninth graders. Visit them at gratefulamericanbookprize.com.
Constant Companions: Circumpolar Constellations, Part II
By Kat Troche
As the seasons shift from Winter to Spring, heralding in the promise of warmer weather here in the northern hemisphere, our circumpolar constellations remain the same. Depending on your latitude, you will be able to see up to nine circumpolar constellations. This month, we’ll focus on: Lynx, Camelopardalis, and Perseus. The objects within these constellations can all be spotted with a pair of binoculars or a small to medium-sized telescope, depending on your Bortle scale – the darkness of your night skies.
Double Stars: The area that comprises the constellation Lynx is famous for its multiple star systems, all of which can be separated with a telescope under dark skies. Some notable stars in Lynx are:
12 Lyncis – a triple star that can be resolved with a medium-sized telescope.
10 Ursae Majoris – a double star that was once a part of Ursa Major.
38 Lyncis – a double star that is described as blue-white and lilac.
Kemble’s Cascade: This asterism located in Camelopardalis, has over 20 stars, ranging in visible magnitude (brightness) and temperature. The stars give the appearance of flowing in a straight line leading to the Jolly Roger Cluster (NGC 1502). On the opposite side of this constellation, you find the asterism Kemble’s Kite. All three objects can be spotted with a pair of binoculars or a telescope and require moderate dark skies.
Double Cluster: The constellation Perseus contains the beautiful Double Cluster, two open star clusters (NGC 869 and 884) approximately 7,500 light-years from Earth. This object can be spotted with a small telescope or binoculars and is photographed by amateur and professional photographers alike. It can even be seen with the naked eye in very dark skies. Also in Perseus lies Algol, the Demon Star. Algol is a triple-star system that contains an eclipsing binary, meaning two of its three stars constantly orbit each other. Because of this orbit, you can watch the brightness dim every two days, 20 hours, 49 minutes – for 10-hour periods at a time. For a visual representation of this, revisit NASA’s What’s Up: November 2019 on YouTube.
From constellations you can see all year to a once in a lifetime event! Up next, find out how you can partner with NASA volunteers for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse with our upcoming mid-month article on the Night Sky Network page through NASA’s website!
This article is distributed by NASA’s Night Sky Network (NSN). The NSN program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!
THE ROBOT REPORT
FDA clears ROSA Shoulder robotic surgery system from Zimmer Biomet
By Sean Whooley
Zimmer Biomet announced last week that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its ROSA Shoulder System, which it claimed is the first surgical robot for shoulder replacement. It is also the fourth application for the Robotic Surgical Assistant, which includes the ROSA Knee System for total knee arthroplasty and the ROSA Hip System for total hip replacement.
“We are proud and excited to be the first company in the world to deliver a robotic surgical assistant for anatomic and reverse shoulder-replacement surgery,” said Ivan Tornos, president and CEO of Zimmer Biomet, in a release. “ROSA Shoulder represents a novel advancement intended to help surgeons leverage the power of robotics and data analytics to perform highly complex shoulder procedures with accuracy and efficiency.”
With more than 90 years of experience, Zimmer Biomet said it offers an integrated suite of digital and robotic technologies that use data, data analytics, and artificial intelligence. The Warsaw, Ind.-based company has operations in over 25 countries and sales in over 100 countries.
Zimmer Biomet adds to portfolio
Zimmer Biomet said ROSA Shoulder joins its shoulder-implant portfolio, which includes the Identity Shoulder System. The robot also joins the ZBEdge Dynamic Intelligence platform, which is intended to enhance the Zimmer Inc. unit’s digital technologies, robotics, and implants.
The company said it designed ROSA Shoulder to give surgeons flexibility and to enable precise placement for improved outcomes. It is one of the only systems that can reproduce humeral head resectioning, asserted Zimmer Biomet.
ROSA can also ease the insertion of instruments into incisions by requiring no pin in the center of the glenoid during procedures, it explained.
As with other ROSA applications, the shoulder system supports data for physician decision-making based on unique anatomies, said Zimmer Biomet. Pre-operatively, it integrates with the newly released Signature ONE surgical planning system. Signature ONE uses a 3D image-based approach to visualization, surgical planning, and patient-specific guide creation.
During the surgery, the platform provides surgeons with real-time, intra-operative data to help them control, execute, and validate personalized plans for glenoid and humeral placement. Zimmer Biomet said this is in pursuit of the goal of reducing complications for patients.
ROSA Shoulder will work with the mymobility Digital Care Management Platform, adding to the ZBEdge Dynamic Intelligence portfolio for patients undergoing shoulder-replacement surgery.
ROSA gives Mayo Clinic data before and during surgeries
“One of the challenging aspects of performing a shoulder replacement is accurate glenoid and humeral placement, which is a critical factor for post-operative function and long-term implant survival,” stated John W. Sperling, M.D., MBA, and a professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic.
“This innovative approach is designed to allow surgeons to virtually walk through a procedure before making any resections, and then receive live feedback and the ability to control glenoid ream depth and intra-operatively validate cut resections during the procedure,” he said.
Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in Zimmer Biomet’s technology and said it will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education, and research.
Zimmer Biomet said ROSA Shoulder will be commercially available in the U.S. in the second half of 2024.
Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Ask Rusty – Why must I pay into Social Security when I’m collecting benefits?
Dear Rusty: I am collecting full Social Security benefits at age 72 and also working full time. Why is the Federal Government still taking money from my paycheck? I have written to Social Security experts on this issue, and they tell me “It’s the law.” That is not a good answer for me. Approximately $4,400 was taken from my pay in 2023 for Social Security and, yes, I get a pittance of a COLA increase, but not equal to what I pay. No one has been able to fully explain the Federal Government's thought process on taxing me for Social Security when I am getting full Social Security benefits. Can you? Signed: Working Senior
Dear Working Senior: Far be it from me to try to explain the federal government’s thought process on anything, but I can explain why those already collecting Social Security benefits must continue to pay Social Security payroll taxes while working.
It actually goes back to 1935 and the panel commissioned by President Roosevelt to create America’s Social Security program. Said panel determined how the program would be financed, Congress approved it, and FDR signed it. That methodology was essentially this:
Workers who earn (and their employers) must contribute to Social Security via payroll taxes to fund the program (we now know this as “FICA” for employees and “SECA” for the self-employed). When the program first started, certain employees and their employers were required to each contribute 1% of the employee’s first $3,000 of earnings. Obviously, those amounts have risen over the decades. For clarity, only certain workers originally participated in Social Security, a fact which has also changed over the decades so that now nearly everyone who works must pay SS payroll taxes.
Starting in 1937 and still today, SS payroll taxes paid by those now working are used by the federal government to pay benefits to those who are currently receiving. Said another way, Social Security is a “pay as you go” program where income from those working (and their employer) is used to pay benefits to those receiving. Payroll taxes collected aren’t put into a personal account for the worker; rather they are used to meet current SS payment obligations. Any excess money collected is invested in special issue government bonds as reserves for future use (although current annual SS income is less than annual program costs – an entirely different topic).
So, the financing method enacted in 1935 and started in 1937 still applies – those who work and earn (and their employers) must pay into the system to fund benefit payments to those who are now receiving – and that includes those workers who are already collecting their Social Security. FYI, there was a time when, if someone worked after starting their SS benefits, they lost all of their benefits. Fortunately, that rule no longer exists, so those who are collecting SS benefits can now continue to get benefits if they work, but they must also still pay into the program from their work earnings to help pay benefits to SS recipients.
I hope this provides some insight for why you must continue to contribute to Social Security even after you have started collecting your benefits. It is a result of how the program is financed – predominantly by workers through payroll taxes on their earnings (and to a lesser extent from interest on Trust Fund reserves and income tax on Social Security benefits). With very few exceptions, everyone who works helps pay benefits to those now receiving.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Trash Talk
By The Pickup Artist
All good things must come to an end. Due to upcoming changes, this column will be my last monthly edition at the Tri-City Voice. It’s been a great ride, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow, then share my knowledge with you all. Thanks to my readers and the helpful staff at Tri-City Voice for making this possible. I will continue my “trashy” education and continue to have editions, but on an irregular basis. If you have comments or questions, write to me at ThePickupArtist.TrashTalk@Gmail.com.
Save the Date
Earth Day is April 22, and Hayward is celebrating it with a neighborhood clean-up day on Saturday April 20 at Weekes Park in Hayward from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This time, we will introduce the Grabber Games for fun, and to emphasize the importance of clean neighborhoods and environment. Challenge your ability! There will be prizes!
Follow-up on Styrofoam
Fremont accepts Styrofoam in your curbside garbage container. I’ll let you know when I find out about other locations or options.
Heat Pumps
What are Heat Pumps? You can think of heat pumps as air conditioners that work in both directions.
“Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. Because they transfer heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can efficiently provide comfortable temperatures for your home.” https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems
According to Isabella O’Malley of the APnews.com, “Heat pumps use little electricity, yet are able to heat and cool buildings. Since they often replace oil or gas furnaces that add greenhouse gases to the air, they can meaningfully address climate change.” Buildings account for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The U.S. Climate Alliance, composed of 25 state governors, and the Biden administration, announced a pledge recently to quadruple the number of heat pumps in U.S. homes by 2030 from 4.7 million to 20 million. Washington Governor Jay Inslee said, “At this point, putting a gas furnace in a new dwelling is the equivalent of building a stable to house your horse instead of a garage to house your car.”
Trash Talk reader, Ted, says, “as far as I’m concerned Heat Pumps are the way to go if you have to replace an existing unit. I know that they are way more efficient than a standard HVAC unit. If I had to replace my unit, I would make sure that I replaced it with another Heat Pump. My energy bills are noticeably smaller even though it constantly ran during the summer and is getting a pretty good workout this fall. The only downside is they are quite a bit more expensive than a standard unit, but to me it is worth it.”
Eric Niller of the Wall Street Journal reports, “Standard heat pumps operate efficiently at outdoor temperatures down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, but newer cold-weather systems can operate down to seven degrees—and engineers are pushing heat pumps to go further. Twenty-three different extreme cold-weather models from eight participating manufacturers are getting trial runs by volunteer households in 10 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The list includes Bosch, Daikin, Midea, Johnson Controls, Lennox International, Carrier, Trane Technologies, and Rheem.”
Can you believe?
“Global oil production amounted to 93.9 million barrels per day in 2022,” according to Statista. To put that in perspective, a barrel is 42 gallons. An Olympic-sized swimming pool holds 660,000 gallons. So every day, we extract almost 6,000 Olympic swimming pools of oil from Mother Earth! How can we possibly do that, burn it for energy, and NOT impact the environment? (www.statista.com)
Quotes for today:
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“If you aren’t in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty or back to pain and regret.” Jim Carrey
Contact Information
You can contact me at ThePickupArtist-KHCG@Outlook.com, or scan the QR code to generate an email.
Brighten any space with containers of summer-flowering bulbs
By Melinda Myers
Photos courtesy of Longfield-Gardens.com
Add unexpected beauty to your patio, deck, or balcony with summer-blooming bulbs. You may have grown elephant ears, lilies, dahlias, gladiolus, and caladiums in your garden, but did you know they also thrive in containers? Some summer bulbs grow even better in pots than they do in the garden. These include the exotic-looking flowers of Abyssinian gladiolus, calla lilies, pineapple lilies, and spider lilies.
One of the reasons these bulbs perform so well in containers is that you can be sure they get warm soil, consistent water, and plenty of nutrients. Taller plants like gladiolus, lilies, dahlias, cannas, and elephant ears are perfect for large containers. Their bold foliage and extravagant blooms are sure to steal the show. Just plant the bulbs in spring along with your other annuals. As temperatures rise, these heat-loving bulbs will begin to fill in and soon burst into bloom providing added texture and color from late summer through fall.
You may find that summer-blooming bulbs like the pineapple lily (Eucomis), calla lily, and fragrant Hymenocallisperform better in their own containers because there is no competition with other plants for space, nutrients, and moisture. Before the bulbs begin flowering, their foliage provides an attractive backdrop for other container plants that bloom earlier in the season. Once flowering begins, you can move the pots front and center to fully enjoy the show. In cold climates, growing in containers also makes it easier to overwinter the bulbs. Just move the pots indoors to a cool, dark location until it’s time to replant the next spring.
Combine plants of different sizes and shapes to create visual excitement. Containers filled with tall plants such as gladiolus, cannas, tall varieties of dahlias, and large elephant ears provide striking vertical accents. Shorter plants like caladiums, pineapple lily, and triplet lily (Brodiaea) can be positioned in front of the larger pots. Add a few planters filled with your favorite annuals to keep the color going all season long.
Many summer-blooming bulbs are wonderfully fragrant. Growing these plants on a patio, deck, or balcony, ensures you won’t miss out on their delightful perfume. Late summer evenings are even sweeter when you are surrounded by containers filled with Oriental lilies, spider lilies, and acidanthera.
Small bulbs can grow into enormous plants, so choosing the right size container is important if you want your summer bulbs to reach their full potential. Longfield Gardens provides helpful tips in its Best Summer Bulbs for Containers article (www.longfield-gardens.com).
Most mid-sized dahlias will grow well in a five-gallon container. Dahlias that get to be more than three feet tall need a larger pot as well as sturdy stakes for extra support. Cannas and elephant ears are thirsty plants and can develop a very large root system in just a few short months. For these tropical beauties, the bigger the pot, the better!
Extend the bloom time for gladiolus and its cousin, Abyssinian gladiolus, by planting the bulbs in batches about two weeks apart. Both of these summer bulbs have sword-like foliage that provides vertical interest while you wait for the beautiful blooms. If you like cut flowers, grow a few extra pots of gladiolus so you can include them in summer arrangements.
Calla lilies are easy to grow in pots, even for gardeners in cool climates. Choose from a rainbow of beautiful flower colors, from white and yellow, to peach, red, and nearly black. The blossoms last for a month or more, and the lush foliage stays attractive all season long.
Extend the season into early fall with the exotic-looking flowers of Nerine bowdenii. Plant three or more bulbs per container and look forward to fragrant, candy-pink blossoms in September.
Let the unique flowers of pineapple lily (Eucomis) shine by growing them in their own container. The long-lasting flowers feature a green topknot that makes them resemble a pineapple. As with nerines, callas, and other non-hardy summer bulbs, Eucomis can be overwintered indoors and replanted in spring.
The possibilities are many. No matter which summer bulbs you choose, growing them in containers is a sure way to add pizzazz to your patio, deck, balcony, or entryway.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Milpitas City Council
February 20, 2024
Consent Calendar
- Consider recommendations from Mayor Montano for appointments to City Commissions.
- Amend the agreement with Cornerstone Structural Engineering Group for additional design and construction services for S. Milpitas Boulevard Bridge at Penitencia Creek.
- Review FY 2023-24 2nd quarter financial status report for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
- Approve a new Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Milpitas and Milpitas Professional and Technical Group (ProTech) covering the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025.
- Consider the exemption in accordance with CEQA and adopt a resolution correcting the conditions of approval for a previously approved Site Development Permit and Planned Unit Development Amendment to allow the development of a new single-family residence at 1321 Terra Vista Court.
- Receive an update on storm drain system emergency repairs and improvements at Evans Road and Piedmont Creek and determine that the condition continues to constitute an emergency.
- Adopt ordinance No. 239.8 to amend chapter 16 of Title XI of the Milpitas Municipal Code relating to storm drainage service impact fees.
- Approve Milpitas Arts and Culture Grant Request for Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association Juneteenth Event.
Mayor Carmen Montano Aye
Evelyn Chua Aye
Gary Barbadillo Aye
Hon Lien Aye
Anthony Phan Aye
Union City City Council
February 27, 2024
Public Hearing
- Adopt a resolution approving administrative site development review (ASD-23-023) and use permit (UP-23-008) for a new enclosed wireless facility on top of the Avalon Union City Apartments, located at 24 Union Square (APN 87-19-1-25), and to increase the height of the building from 79 to 86 feet. Unanimously approved.
City Manager Reports
- Waive further reading and adopt an ordinance amending Union City Municipal Code Chapter 5.42 “Tobacco Retailers”. Not passed 2-2-1 (Patino, Nay; Wang, Nay; Singh Abstain).
- Council unanimously approved a motion directing staff to return to Council a revised Ordinance replacing “Prohibition on the sale of vape products” with “Prohibition on the sale of single-use disposable vape products.”
Consent Calendar
- Adopt two resolutions regarding the city’s Homekey Application and implementation of “Project Reclamation – Alameda County Scattered Sites Project”
- Accept the completion of the 2023-2024 Citywide Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project
- Authorize the award of a construction contract to Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc., in the amount of $17,049,000, and approve a total construction budget in the amount of $21,222,750; approving two budget transfers, $25,742 from the Measure B Bike & Ped Fund and $1,373,974 from the Measure BB Road Fund to the Union City Boulevard Bike Lanes Project, and rejecting the bid protest from the Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc.
- Approve payment of $291,676 to the Alameda County Water District for cost sharing for pavement work for the Alvarado-Niles Pipeline Seismic Improvement Project and approving an appropriation of $291,676 from the Allied Waste Vehicle Fee Fund to the Smith Street Restoration Project
- Authorize a Legal Services Agreement with Redwood Public Law, LLP For Kristopher Kokotaylo to continue serving as City Attorney
- Approve agreement between Union City and the Management Employee Group (MEG) to allow pilot program on Alternative Work Schedules (AWS)
Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci Aye
Gary Singh Aye
Jamie Patino Aye
Jeff Wang Aye
Scott Sakakihara Aye
Union Sanitary District
February 26, 2024
General Manager’s Report
- USD staff will provide a presentation at the Niles Rotary Club meeting March 28.
Motions
- Review and consider approval of policy No. 2075, Surplus Property Disposal
- Review and consider approval of policy No. 2025, Fraud in the Workplace
- Review and consider approval of policy No. 2010, Internal Controls
- Reject the Sole Bid Received for the Fiscal Year 2023 Cast Iron/Pipe Lining Project and authorize staff to re-bid the project
- Consider a resolution to accept a Sanitary Sewer Easement for Tract 8512 – Roberts Avenue Townhomes, located at Cliffwood Common and Roberts Avenue in the City of Fremont
- Consider confirming and declaring the need to continue the emergency action to repair a sinkhole on Cushing Parkway in the City of Fremont
President Manny Fernandez Aye
Tom Handley Aye
Pat Kite Absent
Anjali Lathi Absent
Jennifer Toy Aye
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Fremont PD
Tuesday, February 13
- Officers responded to a residence on Lake Arrowhead Ave. regarding a victim who said his adult son had strangled him and thrown him against the wall. The victim was unresponsive when officers arrived. He was transported for medical care. The subject was on the roof of the home and was uncompliant with officers. He eventually surrendered and was arrested.
- Officers responded to a department store on Osgood Rd. regarding a subject lying on the sidewalk near the driveway to the parking lot. The subject had several active arrest warrants and had several grams of fentanyl. Officers arrested the subject.
- Officers responded to a bakery on Mission Blvd. regarding a subject who was destroying the dining area, throwing food at people, making threats, and had stolen the tip jar. The subject was upset about receiving dirty change and was demanding a refund. Officers arrested her and returned the tip jar to the business.
Thursday, February 15
- Officers responded to a report of a robbery at a department store on Osgood Rd. The subject was stealing merchandise and threatening to shoot the reporting party. Officers found the subject outside the store and arrested him. Officers found illicit drugs on the subject, but did not find a firearm.
- A caller reported that her daughter (subject) was causing a disturbance at a residence on Camden St. The subject was vandalizing items inside the residence and had kicked in the door to assault the reporting party’s child. Officers discovered several outstanding warrants for the subject and arrested her.
- Officers responded to the Family Resource Center regarding a customer (subject) who was screaming at staff members, threatening them, and refusing to leave. The subject was upset that she did not receive her unemployment check and was dissatisfied at the staff members who were working at the center. When officers arrived, they discovered that the subject had also assaulted a staff member with a pen.
- Officers responded to a vehicle collision at Fremont Blvd. and Mowry Ave. An ambulance was traveling through the intersection with lights and sirens when it collided with another vehicle. Some of the involved parties suffered mild injuries from the collision. This case remains under investigation.
- Officers responded to a major injury collision in the 3100 block of Mowry Ave. One victim had been pinned against the wall by a vehicle and was suffering from severe injuries. Another victim sustained minor injuries from the collision. Fremont Fire Department responded for medical care, and the victim was transported to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the vehicle consented to a blood draw and was taken to a hospital. This case remains under investigation.
Monday, February 19
- Officers responded to a residence on Doane St. regarding a subject who reported that he had just killed his mother and younger brother with a kitchen knife. As units surrounded the residence and instructed the subject to come out, the subject told officers he would kill himself and shoot officers if they approached the door. Dispatch found the reporting phone number was registered to a third-party phone company. Eventually, an elderly woman and other residents exited the building, and the residence was cleared. The woman’s grandson had been playing video games online with a subject who had most likely used the grandson’s address to create a false emergency report.
- Officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon at a convenience store on Central Ave. A subject had attacked two victims while they were sitting in a truck. The subject broke the windshield with a baseball bat. When one victim exited the vehicle, the subject struck him several times with the bat. Both victims were transported to a hospital, and the subject was not located. The subject was a former roommate of one of the victims. This case remains under investigation.
Newark Police Log
Submitted by Newark PD
Monday, February 19
- 8:02 a.m.: Officer Medina responded to the intersection of Ruschin Drive and McLaughlin Avenue regarding a suspicious vehicle. A 29-year-old-male was arrested for narcotics and driving under the influence and transported to Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, February 20
- 4:45 p.m.: Officer Frentescu observed a vehicle travel over the speed limit in the area of Cedar Boulevard and Lake Boulevard. A 42-year-old male was arrested for driving with a suspended license and speeding. He was released on scene with a citation.
Wednesday, February 21
- 6:42 a.m.: Detective Hunter conducted a traffic stop in the area of Mayhews Landing Road and Sugar Pine Court. A 48-year-old male from Newark was arrested for possession of child pornography and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- 2:33 p.m.: Officer Townsend responded to the 39100 block of Cedar Boulevard regarding a disturbance. A 48-year-old male from San Jose was arrested for vandalism and public intoxication and transported to Santa Rita Jail.
Thursday, February 22
- 7:10 a.m.: Officer Kim was dispatched to the 37100 block of Sycamore Street regarding a disturbance. A 32-year-old female from Newark was arrested for assault and transported to Santa Rita Jail.
- 3:43 p.m.: Officers responded to a disturbance at the intersection of Burning Tree Drive and Arrowhead Court. A 29-year-old male from Newark was arrested for threats and disobeying a court order. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Friday, February 23
- 4:33 p.m.: Officer Kim was alerted to a stolen vehicle in the area of Jarvis Avenue and Newark Boulevard. After initiating a traffic stop and recovering the vehicle, both a 44-year-old male from Pittsburg and a 32-year-old female from Newark were arrested for the possession of a stolen vehicle and narcotics. Both individuals were booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Saturday, February 24
- 4:07 a.m.: Officer C. Torres conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plates on Moores Avenue and Wintergreen Drive. A 22-year-old-male from Martinez was arrested for narcotics and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Sunday, February 25
- 2:52 p.m.: Officer Williams was in the area of Cherry Street and Thornton Avenue and conducted a traffic stop. A 53-year-old male from Newark was cited and released on scene for driving with a suspended license and not utilizing a vehicle interlocking device.
Union City Police Log
Submitted by Union City PD
Thursday, February 1
- At approximately 6:30 a.m. officers responded to a robbery in the 31900 block of Alvarado Boulevard. Two suspects entered the business, pushed the clerk, stole the cash register, and fled in a black vehicle. The victim described the suspects as a light-complected Black male, 16-21 years old, 5'2″, 100 pounds and a Black male, 18-30 years old, 5'7″, 150 pounds.
Friday, February 2
- At approximately 9:30 p.m. three suspects entered a store in the 33300 block of Mission Boulevard and stole the cash register and cigarettes. Two additional suspects waited in the getaway car. One suspect was described as a Black male juvenile, and the other was an unknown race male.
- At approximately 9:30 p.m. Officer Perry noticed a suspicious vehicle in the 1900 block of Whipple Road. The driver parked the car and walked inside the store, so officers contacted the female passenger. Officers later found the driver hiding in a storage refrigerator. A records check revealed the vehicle they were in was stolen. Officers searched the car and found stolen property and 22 grams of methamphetamine inside. Officers arrested the driver for possession of stolen property and drugs, and the passenger was cited for outstanding warrants.
Wednesday, February 7
- At approximately 8:30 a.m. Officer Gonzalez stumbled upon a solo-vehicle collision on Alvarado Niles Road and Medallion Drive. After a record check of the license plate, she discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Fremont. The driver was taken into custody without incident.
- At approximately 3:11 p.m. officers responded to a theft report at a Union Landing business. Loss prevention officers saw a man concealing items in a bag before exiting the business. Officers found him outside, determined he had four warrants out for his arrest, and during a search, found almost eight grams of fentanyl and methamphetamine on the person. Officers placed him under arrest for drug possession.
Friday, February 9
- At approximately 7:00 p.m. officers responded to an assault in the 30000 block of Industrial Parkway. The suspect threw an unopened beer can at the victim, hitting him in the face. He then attacked the victim with a machete, striking the victim on his right bicep. The machete was dull and did not cause any injuries to the victim. Officers found the suspect nearby and placed him under arrest for the assault.
James Logan Wrestling at CIF State
Submitted by James Logan Wrestling
The 2023-2024 wrestling season concludes after the CIF Championship meet in Bakersfield on February 22 – 24. Congratulations to the state qualifiers Dominic Debo, Kylia Mease, Evelyn Bernardo and Daniela Gomez. Five of our girls competed at the CIF State Championships, the toughest state tournament in the nation. Congratulations Kameelah Hameed, first year at State and placing eighth and Mikayla Garcia for battling back and taking third! Also, congrats to Kylia Mease for receiving the Pursuing Victory with Honor Award. We are extremely proud of our team and all the hard work they’ve put into the season.
Newark Cup Tournament Returns
By April Ramos
Photo source Newark FC Instagram
After four years, the Newark Cup Tournament made its return on February 23 – 25. The Tournament is a collaboration between Newark Football Club and Newark Unified School District’s five elementary schools. Each school is invited to form a boys and girls soccer team made up of third to fifth graders to compete in the soccer tournament. “Speaking for a lot of fifth grade parents, it couldn’t have come back at a better time since this was our kids last, and only, year to take part in the tournament before moving to middle school,” shared Kristie Bihl, parent of Birch Grove team member.
The boys and girls teams from each elementary school, Birch Grove, Coyote Hills, Kennedy, Lincoln, and Schilling, went through back-to-back games in a span of three days to reach the championship slots on the final day of competition. During the first day of the tournament, club secretary Jamie Miller-Torres described the scene as having “Lots of great energy on the field! Kids and staff are all super excited to be out there.”
The top four teams to make it to the championship game were, Birch Grove and Coyote Hills for the boys; and Birch Grove and Lincoln for the girls.
The sidelines were packed while both games occurred on side-by-side fields. The Birch Grove girls scored their first goal within the first minute of kickoff, but Lincoln’s spirit did not waver and they managed to keep up with Birch Grove for the majority of the game. By half-time Lincoln scored a goal of their own. Both teams grazed the chance to score including a close call from Birch Grove when an open shot hit the right post sending both sighs of relief and disappointment from the audience.
After much battling and a Lincoln goalie switch after an injury, only a few minutes were left in the tied game. On a Birch Grove possession the ball was taken up the field and shot through defenders making it into the right lower corner of the goal, sending both the team and audience into celebration. The final whistle blew only minutes after, and the Birch Grove Bulldogs claimed their first-place victory with a final score of 2-1.
Even after their own victory, the girls team ran over to support the Birch Grove boys whose game continued on the neighboring field.
Birch Grove and Coyote Hills played with aggression and speed. Coyote Hills’ defense stayed strong as they were challenged by the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs took advantage of their set pieces which included a free kick after a foul. The free kick with a wall of defenders was taken by the Bulldogs’ captain, setting it in the top right corner of the goal. The game’s final score was 5-2, solidifying the Birch Grove takeover as champions of the Newark Cup Tournament.
“The three-day tournament was a great showcase of sportsmanship, school pride and a community really showing up for Newark kids. It showed the heart of the girls and boys, of all skill levels, as they battled and grinded out five games. That alone makes them all winners!” said Bihl. After handing out medals to a line of excited kids, Newark FC President Oscar Lopez shared, “I’m happy for the tournament to be back again and keep on with the tradition.”
For more information on the Newark Cup Tournament and final results visit newarksoccer.org.
Newark Memorial Cougars Win CIF NorCal Soccer Championship!
By Eric Donato
On Saturday, the Newark Memorial Cougars beat the Cardinal Newman Cardinals (Santa Rosa) 2-1 to win the 2024 California Intercollegiate Federation (CIF) Northern California Division III Boys Soccer championship game. The Cougars pounced through their division playoff bracket, hosting the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games on their home pitch. The top-seeded Cougars boys’ soccer varsity team had a stellar soccer season, ranking first in the Mission Valley League with a remarkable 14-0 and an overall 24-1-3 with a ninety-one percent win.
The Cardinals edged the Cougars in ball possession in the first half of the exciting championship match and attempted two good shots on goal in the opening minutes. Newark soon got their rhythm as the game progressed and pressed on defensively, resulting in a scoreless first half.
In the early minutes of the second half, a penalty kick from Cougar striker Noel Cabrales broke the stalemate in the tight match, resulting from a Newman handball in their box. Cabrales is ranked eleventh in the state for goals and has been relentless with the forward attacks and consistent pressure on the Cardinal defense. The Cardinal’s leading scorer, Nate Lubega, tied the game in the 55th minute off an assist from their midfielder.
Midway through the second half, Newark Memorial capitalized on an own goal from the Cardinals to take a 2-1 lead. Despite the Cardinal’s earnest attempt to produce an equalizer in the remaining closing minutes, the Cougars held their ground to lock in the victory and secure the championship title. Stalwart goalkeeper Eriberto Bermudez rebuffed the repeated Cardinal attacks with remarkable eleven-goal saves, contributing to the first NorCal title in the Cougars program history.
Newark coach Rick Villa beamed when asked about the championship win, “Unbelievable. You know, the boys, this is one of their goals at the beginning of the year. We just stuck with it. We just won one game at a time, and man, they did it. They did it. They did awesome.” His halftime pep talk reminded the team of their championship pedigree and destiny, “Just told the boys, ‘Keep going, it was coming.’ And you know, they got it. They did great.”
The quarterfinals and semifinals home games played just days before the championship were equally exciting despite the overcast weather and intermittent rain. The Cougars team displayed athletic stamina, discipline, and relentless fortitude through the aggressive back-to-back playoff game schedule days apart. The brilliant coaching and training rewarded the talented team with a consistently high performance of skills and high IQ soccer. This was evident in the brilliant threading down the pitch, passing defenders, and aggressive set plays. Cougar striker Sean Rante scored twice on Tuesday’s quarterfinal 2-1 win over the Everett Alvarez Eagles (Salinas), punctuated with a dazzling winning goal after deftly dribbling past three defenders.
The faithful team supporters braved through Thursday’s early evening torrential downpour during the semifinal match with Pleasant Valley Vikings (Chico). The Cougars asserted their authority over the visiting Vikings, winning a 4-1 match, accounting for two goals from Ibrahim Ahmed and two more from Noel Cabrales and Jose Gomez.
Congratulations to the Newark Memorial Cougars, the 2024 CIF Northern California Division III Boys Soccer champions!
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Almond Blossoms in Modesto, CA
It’s time for the almond orchards to blossom. Driving through fruit farms in these months is a wheelchair-friendly activity that keeps our minds fresh and rejuvenated.
Modesto is famous for its almond blossoms. From late February through mid-March, the almond orchards in and around Modesto put on a spectacular show with brilliant pink and white blooms. The best way to see the display is a self-guided driving tour to the heart of the local almond country. Near downtown Modesto, miles of orchards create a horizon of white and pink blossoms.
During the road trip to Modesto, you will get to see a breathtaking plethora of blossoms that line the freeways 132 and 99. Check out the flatlands along the west side of Highway 99; you will see almond trees blooming on all sides. When the wind blows against these trees, it appears like snowfall that covers the trees and the ground. You can pull over on the side and enjoy the scenery. The color also changes with the angle of the sun’s rays.
To get the best view of the almond blossoms, you can take North Hart Road from 132 and make a square through Beckwith Road, North Dakota Avenue, and Maze Boulevard. You can go up to an elevation in the foothills. The view is spectacular as you go up.
After the trip, you can spend time in downtown Modesto for a quick bite.
Wheelchair Accessibility
All the farms with almond blooms are wheelchair accessible. My favorites are the ones in North Hart Road. Don’t miss the chance to take a picture of the beautiful arch created by the trees. Look for the inner roads where you can enjoy the fields by driving around. There isn’t any accessible parking but you can park on the roadside for a quick picture. Be careful with the wheelchair as the grounds might be a little uneven.
Annanya Ghosh
Fremont
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The city of Fremont needs to change its name, but it cannot, so here’s how it should.
John C. Fremont was a military officer hired by the U.S. government to slaughter indigenous tribes. He led the Sacramento River massacre, Klamath Lake massacre, and Sutter Buttes massacre. He was such a murderous psychopath that even the government who hired him to commit genocide…thought he was a bit much. They put their opinion of Fremont on record.
Our lovely City of Fremont cannot change its name because it would cost too much. The postal address change would be too expensive and too chaotic. Likewise, many small businesses are named after the city. They are not named after: “John C.” they are simply named after their map location.
Renaming a business is a substantially cost-prohibitive move and small businesses should not be asked to take that hit. They should not be asked to change, nor feel ostracized for not changing. They should not need to choose. They have better things to do.
So we must change the city name, but we cannot change the city name without impacting small businesses and normal residents alike.
I suggest we re-name Fremont to Fremont and re-name our city after this guy: Fremont Older.
Fremont Older, born in 1856, was a reporter based in San Francisco. He was a pacifist. He campaigned against civic corruption, capital punishment, and for prison reform and for the rights of sex workers. Older spent 20 years working for the release of Tom Mooney and Warren Billings who were wrongly convicted for the 1916 Preparedness Day bombing. He spent 20 years trying to get these men released, even though he disliked Mooney.
Dear Fremont council members and officials: We could make a big hoopla over changing our name without changing our name. We should lean into that unique element and highlight why we are bothering to do so.
It would be ceremony, it would be reconciliation (about John C.), and it would be reaffirmation around something positive.
…And then we could get back to our regular lives.
Andrew Cavette
Fremont
McMansions of the Fremont Foothills
By Stephanie Gertsch
Have you ever seen a striking landmark—in a photo or in person—and immediately thought “That’s so amazing! I just wanna build my little castle there and have that be the view from my backyard!” I definitely have, many times. I think the peak was when I was 13 or 14, and had a shaky grasp on what adult life would be like. Now I’m fine with living in the community, in a home mostly similar to everyone else’s—as long as there’s a nearby park.
The nearest park to me is Lake Elizabeth. Whenever I walk there, I’m reminded that some people are actually living out my preteen dream. More every year, in fact. I’ve always wondered about the McMansions dotting the Fremont foothills. They’re such a feature of the landscape, but I’ve never seen them up close. What would it be like to live in one? Lately, I’ve been especially curious about an impressive gray edifice with rows of tooth-like windows. I can see it both on my lake walks and looming over me as I drive up Mission Boulevard.
Therefore, this past weekend, I embarked on a drive through streets that took me up to the foothills and among Fremont’s mini castles.
First, I located the gray edifice at the end of a court. At that point the homes transitioned away from the ordinary kind of luxury that would be portrayed as middle class in a 90s film, and another bend took me sharply further up into the hills to something more exclusive that looked like the ideal location for a social satire horror movie. Now the road was narrow, and signs warned me that I was being watched and definitely shouldn’t park my car.
I felt a little guilty. Not only because I had become that person who wanders around random neighborhoods, but because I felt like I had trespassed many times before. In the city park, or driving up the street, I had been intensely aware of this house, almost like I was peering in one of its many windows. I was reminded that it’s a very human impulse to want to be admired, but also heavily curate one’s interactions.
I continued my drive up Mission Boulevard, winding up into the hills after the Mission District. I wondered what it would feel like to be up in those neighborhoods, rather than looking at the upwards creep from the ground level. The higher I went, the more lumbering the houses became, sprouting terraces, window walls, and Greek temple-style pillars. Unfortunately for this spectator, all the highest neighborhoods are gated, so I had to make do with admiring the most impressive mansions from behind a chain-link fence.
One thing I learned from my excursion: The affordable housing is currently going up around the Fremont Hub. That’s where it makes sense to build. Meanwhile, it’s a tough task to add houses on steep ground in the hills at the very edge of power and sewer infrastructure. No wonder each new development has to attract buyers willing to spend a fortune.
Fittingly, my tour ended up on Vineyard Avenue, AKA Mission Peak Trailhead overflow parking. As I hiked up Stanford Avenue, I found the hitherto-deserted neighborhood suddenly lively with locals out to enjoy the park before the rain set in. At the start of the trail, I saw my last gate of the day, with a prominent sign reading “Stop!” But it was only reminding people to make sure they took enough water before tackling the steep route.
Of course, we were still right next to a gated neighborhood of people living out my preteen dream of putting Mission Peak in my backyard. After that, we were in the East Bay Regional Park District. I’ll have to go back and climb higher, beyond the fanciest of houses–when it’s not raining.
Fremont Unified School District’s Irvington High School Named a 2024 California Distinguished School
Submitted by Laura Forrest
Photo courtesy of Fremont Unified School District
Irvington High School, one of five comprehensive high schools in the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD), is among the 293 secondary schools named 2024 California Distinguished Schools by the California Department of Education (CDE).
“I congratulate Irvington High School’s staff and students on earning their school the distinction of being named a 2024 California Distinguished School,” said FUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack. “Across Fremont Unified, our educators are providing outstanding academic opportunities and responsive support for each student, and this award is a credit to the phenomenal work our team does to educate, challenge and inspire each student.”
The CDE identifies eligible schools based on their performance and progress on the 2023 California School Dashboard, with a specific focus on growth and excellence in academic achievement, and positive school climates.
Elementary schools and secondary (middle and high) schools are recognized in alternate years; six FUSD elementary schools were named 2023 California Distinguished Schools in the most recent selection by the CDE.
“This year’s California Distinguished Schools celebration provides us with an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our secondary educators and school staff who help our young adults discover passions and access college- and career-ready experiences that will propel them through life,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
The 2024 California Distinguished Schools will be honored in an awards ceremony on May 3, 2024. More information on this program is available on the CDE’s California Distinguished Schools Program web page. www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cs/index.asp.
Fremont Appoints New Fire Marshal Eric Mendoza-Govan
Submitted by City of Fremont
The City of Fremont is proud to announce the appointment of Eric Mendoza-Govan to Fire Marshal. With 16 years of service at the Richmond Fire Department, Fire Marshal Govan has been instrumental in leading efforts related to fire investigation, hazardous material facilities, fire protection, wildland-urban interface, public education programs, plan review, and code enforcement.
As a collaborative leader, Fire Marshal Govan places a high value on relationship-building, with a particular focus on community risk reduction. Notably, he successfully implemented a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, introduced and taught the first Spanish-speaking CERT classes in Richmond, and cultivated strong ties with the local business community. Fire Marshal Govan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team with experience in both fire suppression and prevention. In his own words, Fire Marshal Govan shares: “I embrace the opportunity to serve as the Fire Marshal of Fremont, where every challenge is met with resilience and every community safeguard is placed with unwavering dedication to ensure those who live, work, and play in Fremont remain safe.”
Fremont Fire Chief Zoraida Diaz echoed similar sentiments: “As Fire Chief, I believe that the strength of our department lies in the talent and dedication of our team. Fire Marshal Govan’s expertise and passion for fire safety will undoubtedly enhance our department’s capabilities and further our mission of protecting our community. I have full confidence in his ability to lead, inspire, and ensure the highest standards of fire prevention and investigation. Together, we will continue to serve our community with excellence and make a positive impact on the lives of those we are sworn to protect.” With more details on his formal badge pinning to come, please join us in extending a warm welcome to Fire Marshal Govan!
Honor Roll
Tufts University
Fall 2023 Dean’s List
- Brian Fu of Fremont
- Riddhi Joshi of Fremont
- Ellyn Xu of Fremont
San Jose State University
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
New Members
- Stephen Richardson of Fremont
- Jennifer Daby of Hayward
Charlotte, a stingray with no male companion, is pregnant in her mountain aquarium
By Ben Finley, Associated Press
Charlotte, a rust-colored stingray the size of a serving platter, has spent much of her life gliding around the confines of a storefront aquarium in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains.
She’s 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) from her natural habitat under the waves off southern California. And she hasn’t shared a tank of water with a male of her species in at least eight years.
And yet nature has found a way, the aquarium’s owner said: The stingray is pregnant with as many as four pups and could give birth in the next two weeks.
Continuing Events:
Mondays – Fridays, January 16 – March 7
“Something Minimal” Art Exhibition
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
HAC member exhibition.
John O' Lague Galleria
777 B Street, Hayward
Located within Hayward City Hall.
Mondays and Thursdays
Food Garden Volunteer
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learning from experienced gardeners.
LEAF CR Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
volunteer@fremontleaf.org
Volunteer agreement form is required.
Tuesdays
East Bay Games Meet
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
German/Euro style board games and card games.
Swiss Park
5911 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 936-2523
meetup.com/east-bay-games
Tuesdays
LEGO® Time
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Drop-in. For everyone.
Tuesdays
Music and Storytime
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join us for stories, music, and movement.
Cherryland Community Center
278 Hampton Road, Hayward
(510) 626-8522
For babies, toddlers, kids, and preschoolers.
Tuesdays
Comfort & Joy Ukulele R
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
A group of ukulele players with volunteer leaders to practice familiar songs as well as learning new.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Tuesdays
East Indian Seniors R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Anyone who is retired and of Indian origin or interested in Indian culture is welcome to join us.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month
Wednesdays
Folk Dancing Social R
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Join together in the wonderful spirit of dancing and savor the beautiful music from all over the world.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Wednesdays
Book Club AWC R
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
The book club meets for stimulating discussions.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month
Thursdays
International Folk Dancing R$
11:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Celebrate the cultural roots and traditional life of various countries.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
In English and Chinese.
Thursdays
Bocce Ball Class R
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how to play Bocce Ball.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Rain will cancel class.
Thursdays
Chinese Calligraphy Social R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bring your own supplies and socialize and have fun while doing calligraphy.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
There is no teaching on site.
Thursdays
Chinese Music Ensemble R
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Open to all who are interested in performing traditional Chinese music.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Thursdays
Family Board Game Night
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Play together with family and friends, or make some new friends at the library.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Board games will be provided.
Thursdays
The Peaceful Poets
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join a Milpitas-based group of writers and appreciators of poetry.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
For teens, adults, and seniors.
Last Thursdays of the month
Thursdays and Saturdays
Story Time
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Picture book story time
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont
(510) 565-1004
bit.ly/3VFpbcz
Thursday, January 25 – Saturday, March 16
Children’s Book Illustrator show & API Exhibition
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sun Gallery
1015 E. St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Fridays, December 29 – May 10
Go: The Game R
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Go is an ancient game of strategy. To learn the game or to play it.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 745-1464
All ages and levels
Friday – Saturday, through April 27
‘Birds! Birds! Birds!’ exhibition
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Exhibit celebrates beauty and diversity of birdlife
Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward
(510) 670-7270
Fridays, January 12 – March 29
African Dance and Culture R$
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Experience the joy and vitality of African Dance!
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Fridays, January 12 – March 29
Aloha Vibes R
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
A group of musicians (all instruments welcome) who wish to share multi-cultural and familiar music with others.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Second and fourth Fridays of the month
Fridays and Saturdays
Free Telescope Viewings
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing!
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org/calendar
Weather permitting.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, March 15 – 23
Superhero Melodrama
8:00 pm
The 41st season of the Sunol Repertory Theatre brings you a two-act superhero melodrama.
Written by Marty Matthews, The Rise of the Superheroes is filled with 1980s references, drama, and plenty of laughs. In this play directed by Klay Kunkel and Robin Spindler, a master criminal Elementis escapes from prison and a new, mysterious villain emerges. The main characters, Possum Girl, Blackfly, and Tremendous Man open a detective agency, in an attempt to become relevant again and need to face off with the city’s villains.
Sunol Glen School Theater
11601 Main Street, Sunol
Saturday, March 2 – March 10
The Magic Flute
7:30 pm and 2:00 pm performances
Follow a Prince and Princess through a magical land of fantasy in their quest for truth, love, and enlightenment in Mozart’s crowning operatic achievement.
The theater entrance is on First Street. A parking garage is located directly behind the theater on Railroad Avenue.
Livermore Valley Opera
2400 First Street, Livermore
(925) 321-6964
Saturdays
Laugh Track City R$
8:00 pm
Series of improvised games and scenes
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Saturdays
Free Beginner Pickleball Lesson
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Free pickleball lesson taught by a USPA professional.
Hall Memorial Park
304 La Honda Dr, Milpitas
(408) 586-3210
Drop-in. Weather permitting.
Saturdays, January 13 – March 30
History Museum Visit $
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Visit the various halls that highlight the fossils of the San Francisco Bay area.
Children's Natural History Museum
4074 Eggers Dr., Fremont
(510) 790-6284
Self-guided tour
Saturdays
Teen Cohort for Outdoor Education R$
10 am – 4 pm
Park District (H.A.R.D.) for our new Outdoor Education and Excursion program
Together, we can explore local parks and learn about nature, environmental stewardship, and careers in Recreation. Meet new friends, build outdoor skills, and get to know your community as we participate in activities, such as Hayward Shoreline Hike and Clean-Up, Quarry Lakes Excursion; Coyote Hills Excursion; Fishing; rock climbing on our 28-foot rock wall, hiking; and a Sulphur Creek Guided Tour.
Ashland Community Center
1530 167th Avenue, San Leandro
Noel Munivez
(510) 317-2303
Sundays
Weekly meditation Session R
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
samarpanmeditationusa.org
info@indiacc.org, info@samarpanmeditationusa.org
Sundays – Saturdays
Recreational Swim $
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Attractions may vary.
Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 578-4620
bit.ly/3nxo0is
Sundays
Larry “O” Teen Workshop
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Used bikes, bike parts for sale and bike repair.
Larry Orozco Teen Workshop
33623 Mission Blvd., Union City
(510) 675-5487
www.unioncity.org/723/Larry-O-Teen-Workshop
RobertS@unioncity.org
Second and fourth Sundays of the month. Donations accepted.
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, March 6
Coffee with a Cop
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Have an informal conversation with local law inforcement
Starbucks Coffee
3950 Mowry Ave, Fremont
Wednesday, March 6
Spin a Yarn – Knitting Circle
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Come spin a yarn with us!
Do you knit, crochet, cross stitch, macramé, latch hook, quilt? Are you experienced in fiber arts? Are you new to fiber arts and have a project you're ready to start?
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510)745-1400
Thursday, March 7
Homeschool Pre-Teen Social Hour
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Are you a homeschooler interested in making new friends and sharing your interests? Please come and join us. We will have a few board games and craft supplies to share.
Newark Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
Thursday, March 7
Family Board Game Night
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Drop in for a family board game night at the Centerville Library!
Board games will be available for this in-person program. Play together with family and friends, or make some new friends at the library.
Centerville Library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Thursday, March 7
VA Medical Outreach
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Medical staff will be onsite proving exams, consultations, etc. No appointment needed
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado Niles Road, Union City
Free
Saturday, March 9
Supa Awesome Dog Man Party
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Calling All Dog Man Fans! Drop in for Dog Man related fun, games, and crafts as we celebrate the upcoming release of the next Dog Man!
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Av., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
Saturday, March 9
Janine Pitta Art
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Come see what’s new at the studio, make some art, and it's my birthday too, so there will be cake! New Pottery will be for sale!
Janine Pitta Art Studio 37161
Niles Blvd. Unit A (Behind Mr. Mikey’s)
www.janinepittaart.com
Free Event
Saturday, March 9
Meet Women Making History in Newark
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
In honor of Women’s History month, Newark Library is pleased to introduce you to women making history locally at Newark.
Newark Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
Saturday, March 9
Clothespin Dolls
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Create and dress up your own darling doll. We’ll make them out of clothespins just the way they did more than 100 years ago. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797.
Free
Saturday, March 9
Victorian Table Top Cames
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Ready for some old-fashioned fun? Challenge your family and friends to a game of ball and cup, tops, or Jacob's Ladder as you delve into our box of games from days-gone-by. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Saturday, March 9
Shamrock Shindig
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join us for an evening of fun, food, drinks, music, entertainment and all things green and Irish.
Veterans Memorial Hall
37154 2nd St., Fremont
https://www.niles.org/annual-events/shamrock-shindig
Tickets: $50 individual; $400 table of 10
Sunday, March 10
Fremont Adult Tabletop Gamers
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Fremont Adult Tabletop Gamers is a new event where adults come to play various card games and board games! You can bring your own game or try one of ours.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1444
Sunday, March 10
Old Fashioned Butter Makin’
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Before modern grocery stores, people needed to make their own staples at home. Discover an easy way to make butter from cream then sample your tasty concoction on crackers! This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Wednesday, March 13
St. Patrick’s Day Craft
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Celebrate with a St. Patrick's Day craft at the Centerville Library! This program is intended for kids ages 5 and up. Children under 9 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Centerville Library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
510-795-2629
Wednesday, March 13
Chinese Calligraphy and Beyond
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Recommended for kids ages 7 and up.
Get ready to embark on an enchanting journey as we explore the rich tradition of Chinese calligraphy and beyond.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Wednesday, March 13
Art X Mental Wellness Workshops
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Children in grades 1-6 are invited to join this series of enjoyable special workshops to learn about various mental health topics such as mindfulness, stress/anxiety, emotions, and more.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1444
Friday and Saturday, March 15 – 23
The Rise of the Superheros
8:00 pm
It is the classic good vs. evil with plenty of twists and turns.
Sunol Glen School Theater
11601 Main Street, Sunol
(925) 319-4776
Thursday, March 14 – Friday, March 15
Alice by Heart $
8 p.m.
Musical about friendship and loss set during the London Blitz
Nummi Theatre, Smith Center at Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(510) 659-1319
www.ohlone.edu/theatredance/performances
Tickets: $15 (at the door)
Thursday, March 14
Acrylic Space Paint & Sip: Orion Nebula
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for a transitional instructor-led space-themed acrylic Paint & Sip party for adults. No skill required. Great experience for friends, couples or corporate groups. Includes 2 drink tickets for beer, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages, and a charcuterie board.
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland
(510) 336-7300
Thursday, March 14
Cover To Cover Book Discussion Group
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Do you… Enjoy reading across genres? Like sharing your thoughts on the book? Enjoy hearing others' perspectives? Then, drop by the Cover To Cover Book Discussion
Newark Library
37055 Newark Blvd. Newark
(510) 284-0675
Saturday, March 16
Irish & Celtic Concert with Chris Waltz
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Join us and Chris Waltz on St. Paddy's Day eve as he shares Celtic music from Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. This program combines Celtic music (both traditional Irish and Scottish) on vocals, guitar, bouzouki/octave
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
Saturday, March 16
Digitize and Document Your Family History
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Are you overwhelmed with binders and bins full of genealogy notes and family photographs?
In this workshop you’ll learn how to create your own digital family history. Scan photos with free or cost-effective resources.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 750-1444
Saturday, March 16
Marsh Madness
10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Take a stroll through our marsh and learn more about the plants & animals that call it home. Get to know their unique traits and environments while you play a game of storytelling and science. Who will win? All ages. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
(510) 544-3220
Saturday, March 16
Space for Her: Celebrating Women in Space Science
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
This Women’s History Month, come hear from some phenomenal women and gender minorities working in space science today!
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd. Oakland
(510) 336-7300
Saturday, March 16
Being Good Neighbors
4:00 pm – 8:30 pm
The Interfaith symposium seeks to foster understanding and neighborly relationships in the Tri-City community amidst rising anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Questions Facilitated by Rev. Jeff Dodge-Hogarth, of St. Anne's Episcopal church.
Washington Hospital West
2500 Mowry Ave. Fremont
https://bit.ly/BeingGoodNeighbors
Advanced registration by Tuesday, March 12
Free
Saturday, March 16
Women’s History Month – Henna, Art, and Open Mic
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join us for a celebration of Women’s History Month at the Fremont Main Library!
Narika and SAVE are partnering with the Fremont Main Library to create a gathering space for those wishing to celebrate Women's History Month!
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 750-1444
Saturday, March 16
Food Painting Fun
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how you can make paint from some of our farm foods and try using them to create your own masterpiece. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Saturday, March 16
Stilt Walking
2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Want to be taller? Improve your balance? Give stilts a try. It's fun. Guess why farmers used these fun tools in the past. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Saturday, March 16
Bubble Extravaganza Show
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Get ready for a magical bubble adventure with the enchanting Bubble Lady! Join us for a whimsical and interactive bubble event designed especially for kids. The Bubble Lady, a master of bubble artistry, will captivate young minds with her dazzling display of giant bubbles, rainbow swirls, and mesmerizing bubble sculptures.
Hayward Senior Center
22325 North 3rd St., Hayward
Sunday, March 17
Farmyard Games
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Life on a farm wasn’t all work and no play. Join us for some old-fashioned fun! Try your hand at classic American pastimes including stilts, sack races, and the potato-spoon race. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Sunday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Snakes
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
St Patrick is famous for chasing the snakes away from Ireland. Learn the lore of this amazing feat and how the truth may be more important than you realize for the future climate in the Bay Area. All ages welcome. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
(510) 544-3220
Tuesday, March 19
The First Amendment: Our Most Fundamental and Contested Right
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Join the Castro Valley Library and the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area as a panel of experts from fields such as education, journalism and the law help us understand the enduring legacy of our First Amendment rights and our contemporary debates.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Av., Castro Valley
Register at www.aclibrary.org
(510) 667-7900
Tuesday, March 19
Read to a Dog
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Volunteers from the Ohlone Humane Society and Alliance of Therapy Dogs will be at the library with Sophie, Hana and other trained therapy dogs. They are very friendly and are so excited to hear all kinds of stories!
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 750-1444
Wednesday, March 20
Job Fair – Fremont Unified School District
11:30 am – 3:30 pm
We are looking for: Teachers all grade levels, Special Education Teachers all grade levels, also speech language pathologist and school psychologists, van drivers, bus drivers and special education para educators.
Child Nutrition Assistant.
Fremont Unified School District Office
4210 Technology Drive, Fremont
Professional Development Center