Painting through the pandemic
By Stephanie Gertsch
“I got to come in this morning and it was like Christmas,” said Dorsi Diaz, looking at the walls of Sun Gallery filled with colorful paintings in readiness for the March 4 exhibit opening. The former curator saw her hours cut back during the pandemic, but has still worked tirelessly for this staple of Hayward culture.
The community has been through a lot over the past two years—and so has Sun Gallery. From a fire, to slashed budget, to a cinderblock thrown through a window just last week. Fittingly, their latest exhibit “Painting Through the Pandemic” celebrates the creativity and expression of community members who turned their pandemic angst into art.
Gallery members and new artists contributed their work. One family, made up of an adult daughter, son and dad, contributed a series of mesmerizing acrylic pours. “They’re a really close-knit family and they kind of hunkered down together,” remarked Diaz. “And this is what they did.”
Likewise, artist Sarah Sammis made it her habit to paint every day during the pandemic—an impressive feat to keep up since 2020. She submitted three paintings of personable chickens.
Photographer Claudia Schwalm has traveled to seven continents. In addition to submitting colorful nature photos, she’s lending her talents to the gallery in another way—by teaching the first week of the gallery’s 2022 art summer camp. Diaz explains, “She’s going to do a world explorers passport [theme]. Kids will get a passport and she’s going to take them on a journey to all the different countries and their art.”
While the majority of the work celebrates positivity, there are more somber themes. “I don’t want to say it’s all dark because it’s not,” says Diaz, “but I did notice a huge difference between the beginning of the pandemic, and now. The art has really changed. You can see the distress coming out.”
Maria Luisa Peraranda addresses current events in her black and white abstract ink paintings—a medium she uses to express her feelings. Her pieces in the exhibit are titled “Refugee” and “Disaster Area.” “I have never seen her work that dark,” states Diaz.
A reception planned for the afternoon of Saturday, March 12 will give guests a chance to meet the artists and hear some of the insights behind the paintings on the wall. Artist Krista Shanda, whose symbol-heavy abstract work is on display, likes to first ask people to express what they see and then give her own thought process on what she painted. Snacks and drinks will be provided at the reception.
Sun Gallery hopes the community will enjoy this latest offering. Above that, they hope people will reach out to the city via public comment and make it known that many care about the gallery and want to see it funded. The gallery is also looking for volunteers and interns who would be interested in curating for upcoming shows.
In upcoming weeks and months, the gallery is looking to go from one to 100, with restarting free Family Saturdays (art classes for kids: 2nd and 4th Saturdays), acrylic pouring workshops, as well as planning for Summer Art Camps, Climate Change show and more!
Let’s keep painting through the pandemic and beyond.
Painting Through the Pandemic
Friday, Mar 4 – Saturday, Apr 16
Gallery hours: Fri – Sat; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Artists Reception
Saturday, Mar 12
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sun Gallery
1015 E St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Celebrate Festival of Colors
Submitted by Ritu Maheshwari
Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA) of Northern California, Fremont Hindu Temple and Festival of Globe (FOG), are happy to announce their 41st Holi festival celebration. Holi festival celebrates the arrival of spring with a rainbow of colored powder. The entire gathering morphs into a huge family with people applying color to each other.
Building on previous successes, this year’s “Festival of Colors” will be celebrated on Saturday, March 19, at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont. Dignitaries, community leaders, and people from all over California are expected to participate in the festivities.
Dr. Romesh Japra, FOG Founder said, “FOG Holi has played an important role in keeping our culture alive and inculcating pious values in our youngsters over the years. Holi this year promises to be a much more enjoyable experience for families and friends alike. I invite everyone to participate.”
This year, a large number families, devotees and community members are expected to participate. In order to reduce pollution and skin irritants, and make the festival environmentally friendly, Holi will feature biodegradable and skin-friendly colors.
If this is your first Holi, here are a few tips to a better experience: Wear white or light-colored clothes. Holi colors look better that way and your clothes WILL get covered in Holi colors. Apply light cream to your face to help remove colors easily. Cover your car seat to avoid stains. It’s OK to apply color to any of your fellow festivalgoers while wishing “Happy Holi.” It’s a good way to make friends!
Holi Festival of Colors
Saturday, Mar 19
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Mission San Jose School
41717 Palm Ave., Fremont
FOGSV.org
(510) 304-5619
Tickets: $5 online (until 3/18), $6 at the gate
Villainy in the Vineyard
Submitted by Michael Guillory
San Leandro Players present: “Villainy in the Vineyard” by Gary McCarver, directed by Karen Barbera and Terry Guillory.
Kaye Syrah is trying to keep the family vineyard alive after her family goes missing. It is the story of a ruthless land speculator willing to do just about anything to build his empire; along the journey he discovers the stagecoach line and vineyards of Old San Leandro. Learn the fate of the once great East Bay Vineyards in this long-forgotten, seldom-told and mostly-true tale about a courageous heroine and the one man that kept wine alive not just for California, but for the whole planet. It is the story of dreamers and schemers, heroes and villains, but mostly about family and ties that bind.
Featuring: Heidi Amstrup, Karen Barbera, Ann Barnett, Mark DeWeese, Dana Fry, Terry Guillory, Golden Hindley, Devon La Bar, Carole McKenzie, Mark O’Neill, Paul Pedersen, Carlos Rubinstein, David Weiner.
Please note: Until further notice, proof of vaccination and masking required. Venue is wheelchair accessible.
“Villainy in the Vineyard” is presented by Special Arrangement with Hero and Villain. We look forward to an exciting season dedicated to bringing quality, affordable community theater to the community.
Villainy in the Vineyard
Saturday, Mar 12 – Sunday, Apr 10
Saturdays: 8 p.m.
Sundays: 2 p.m.
Fridays 4/1 & 4/8: 8 p.m.
San Leandro Museum/Auditorium
320 West Estudillo Ave., San Leandro
(510) 895-2573
Tickets: $20 general; $15 seniors & under 12
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Flying Under the Radar
By Michael Coates
No one seems to have time anymore to delve into in-depth analysis. There is an all-too-human focus on boiling things down to the Top Three or Top Two as consumers complain they don’t have time to sort through reams of data just to figure out which car they should buy.
The result—default to the brand you’ve always bought from and the one your neighbor just bought. Maybe take a look at the top-ranked model in a publication’s recent test. In the automotive arena
, what is lost in this capitulation to our attention deficit are some truly memorable vehicles, such as this month’s 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
The Eclipse Cross falls into the relatively new category of stylish or sporty crossovers feeding into growth of the most-popular style of vehicle. It’s not boxy like a traditional SUV, but offers more utility than a similar-size sedan. Because it’s based on the same chassis as a sedan, its fuel economy is pretty good. It’s a shame most consumers probably don’t even know this vehicle exists.
A Stylish SUV
Let’s be honest, unless you’ve got a large family or are running a car pool, a compact model like the Eclipse Cross is all the car you may need. It can alternately handle a family of five or swallow up an afternoon’s shopping at the big box store. While the “coupe-style” fastback crossover is a common model among style-conscious luxury brands, it’s less common in the affordable section of the automotive marketplace. Mitsubishi meets that deficit head on.
The Eclipse Cross I tested was a top-of-the-line model—an SEL 1.5T S-AWC—that included a full contingent of options including all-wheel drive (AWD). Even with all that, it’s MSRP was under $35,000, right around the average price of a new car these days and less than many similar-sized crossovers. The good news is, if you don’t need AWD and want to forgo some cosmetic and comfort add-ons, the Eclipse Cross starts at under $24,000 with a decent amount of safety equipment and technology. Some costs are hard to rationalize, but we think $595 for our tester’s Red Diamond Pearl would be money well spent on a stylish car like this.
Checking Safety & Reliability Boxes
Mitsubishi is not one of the best-known or best-selling brands and Eclipse Cross is the least popular of Mitsubishi’s three crossovers (the other two are the similar size Outlander Sport and the larger Outlander), so consumers are well within their rights to seek out some third-party validation that this purchase is worth checking out. The federal government crash-tested a 2022 Eclipse Cross and gave it top marks—an overall 5-Star safety rating. The car earned the rating by carrying seven standard airbags and also offering active stability control, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, hill start assist and lane departure warning on all models.
The other assurance that comes with the Eclipse Cross is Mitsubishi’s impressive warranty. The powertrain is covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles, while the overall car has a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage that includes roadside assistance for the entire period.
The equipment that took the cost of our tester from its base of $28,995 up to the sticker of $36,670—not counting the $595 for the red pearl paint we loved—was a Touring Package ($3,095) that included roof rails, body-colored bumpers, heated rear seats, an upgraded sound system, head-up display (a real plus), a power panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control (another big plus) and forward collision mitigation.
Fuel economy on the Eclipse Cross was surprisingly similar to what might be expected on a hybrid, a testament to how engine and transmission work together efficiently. The result is an EPA-measured 35 mpg city/26 highway and 25 overall. I was able to meet and slightly beat those numbers in my test loop.
With a rain storm hitting during my time with the crossover, I had a chance to try out the AWD system on the Eclipse Cross and found it be quite competent and supplying power where needed in muddy terrain. Its off-road capability mirrored what I found on-road—a quiet competence.
The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a good example of what you can find when you move beyond the usual suspects—a hidden gem in the compact crossovers.
HISTORY MATTERS
By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith
March 5 through 15
World understanding
The ambassadors of goodwill who join the Peace Corps are an important American “export.” It all began on a day in 1960 with impromptu remarks by Senator John F. Kennedy. After arriving in Ann Arbor, Michigan for a presidential campaign swing, 10,000 University of Michigan students received him, anxious to glimpse the handsome candidate. He addressed the crowd, had a thought, and said, “how many of [you] … would be willing to serve [your] country and the cause of peace by living and working in the developing world?”
The throng roared its approval.
Kennedy won the election, and on March 1, 1961, he issued an executive order which created the Peace Corps as an agency of the Department of State. In subsequent years, approximately 250,000 volunteers served. Their mission, according to History.com, is threefold: “(1) to help the peoples of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; (2) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and (3) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.”
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends “When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and Its First Fifty Years” by Stanley Meisler.
Ironclad warships
The Civil War was fought mostly on the ground, but it also generated a ramp up in sophistication of naval combat; on March 9, 1862, two ironclad warships, the U.S.S. Monitor, and the C.S.S. Virginia — the first of their kind — pounded each other to a draw in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
The rebels captured the Union’s Navy’s ship — the USS Merrimack, and renamed it the CSS Virginia, and the Union constructed the USS Monitor from scratch:
“Designed by Swedish engineer John Ericsson, the vessel had an unusually low profile, rising from the water only 18 inches. The flat iron deck had a 20-foot cylindrical turret rising from the middle of the ship; the turret housed two 11-inch Dahlgren guns,” according to History.com.
Neither side claimed a victory in the four-hour battle of ricocheting cannonballs. But eventually, the rebels scuttled the CSS Virginia, the Monitor sunk in Cape Hatteras, and the new iron façade technology recasted maritime warfare.
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends “Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor & the Merrimac” by Avi.
Humane ladies
On March 12, 1776, the sacrifices of the Founding Mothers were finally recognized; a notice appeared in the newspapers, which said: “The necessity of taking all imaginable care of those who may happen to be wounded in the country’s cause, urges us to address our humane ladies, to lend us their kind assistance in furnishing us with linen rags and old sheeting, for bandages.”
According to History.com, “On and off the battlefield, women were known to support the revolutionary cause by providing nursing assistance. But donating bandages and sometimes applying them was only one form of aid provided by the women of the new United States. From the earliest protests against British taxation, women’s assent and labor was critical to the success of the cause. The boycotts that united the colonies against British taxation required female participation far more than male — in fact, the men designing the non-importation agreements generally chose to boycott products used mostly by women.”
That year, John Adams was reminded by his wife, Abigail, about the contributions of the humane ladies. While he toiled with the semantics of the Declaration of Independence with Thomas Jefferson, she wrote to him in Philadelphia: “And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put
such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.”
For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends “The Role of Women in the American Revolution” by Hallie Murray.
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.
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
A toothsome tale
A guy walks into Mount Sinai hospital in New York City and tells the doctors that he’s having trouble breathing through his nose. His problem started several years ago but it took him some time to address it, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. Surgeons, Doctors Sagar Khanna and Michael Turner, checked it out and found that a tooth, measuring more than half an inch, had been growing in his nose for quite some time. It is indeed a rare occurrence, but an Intranasal tooth is not unheard of; there have been others who have suffered from the condition and it, most likely, will happen again. See video of the tooth removal on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbTssvW6XZU
A special delivery
There were a number of “Twosday” babies born on February 22, 2022 — 2/22/22 — including Judah Grace Spear who made her debut on that Tuesday morning at precisely 2:22 a.m. in Burlington, North Carolina. And, reports AMAC, there’s more than one reason she’s being called a miracle baby. Judah’s mom suffers from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the treatments for which make conception improbable. Nonetheless, the family posted the announcement of the birth — precisely at 2:22 2-22-22 — on Facebook, noting that they never stopped praying “for a little one — and today their prayer was answered. Judah Grace’s name fits her story perfectly. Judah means ‘praise’ — and she is a blessing for her family!” See the special “Twosday” report on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFW2D2_TOjE
Good neighbor, bad neighbor
Jill Maloney of Portsmouth, New Hampshire is a considerate neighbor who asked the folks living next door for their permission to build a treehouse for her 8-year-old son. Not a problem, they said. So, AMAC reported, Maloney told John Raczek to go ahead with construction, handing him a grand plan that resulted in a massive 25-foot by eight-foot-high playhouse up a property line tree that caused quite a stir among neighbors. “My family and I never set out to anger our neighbors or make enemies,” Maloney said. As builder Raczek put it, “She bent over backwards trying to make everybody happy.” But it was to no avail. The neighbors complained to city officials that the treehouse was too big and the town ordered that it be taken down or rebuilt on a significantly less intrusive scale. See video of the treehouse online: wgme.com/news/local/portsmouth-family-told-to-take-down-treehouse-built-for-8-year-old
The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.
Park It
By Ned MacKay
There’s fascinating history hidden within the hollow hills of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. From the 1850s to the early 1900s, the area that now includes the park was California’s most extensive coal-mining region. And from the 1920s through mid-1940s, silica taken from the hills was used in glassware production and at iron foundries.
You can learn more about both mining eras during underground tours, available by reservation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, March through November. The tours lead through the sand tunnels of the former Hazel Atlas Mine. The next stop is a section of simulated coal mine with mannequins and a sound track, recreating the dark and dangerous underground environment (but without the danger).
For safety reasons, all tour participants must be at least seven years old and parent participation is required. Due to COVID-19 protocols, masks are required and social distancing is encouraged. People should bring jackets, since mine temperatures are in the mid 50s year-round. Hard hats are required and will be provided by the park.
Fee for the full tour is $8 per person. Black Diamond Mines also has a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. For more information and reservations on the various mine tours, visit the park district website at www.ebparks.org, or call (888) 327-2757, option 2.
Also, the underground Greathouse Visitor Center is open on weekends to all ages, free of charge. The center contains displays and artifacts from the park’s mining eras.
Black Diamond Mines has lots to see and do aboveground as well. For example, it’s a premier springtime wildflower venue. You can seek out wildflowers on your own by walking the park’s Chaparral Loop, Manhattan Canyon or Ridge Trails.
Or there may still be space on one of two guided wildflower hikes for ages 10 and older (parent participation required). The first is a 5.5-mile hike from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 at Black Diamond Mines. The second is a four-mile hike from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 27, this time at Diablo Foothills in Walnut Creek, another good wildflower park.
Participants should be prepared to cover steep and uneven terrain, dress for the weather, and bring food and water. Both hikes are free of charge, but require registration. Visit www.ebparks.org.
And there’s more: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and discover Black Diamond Mines’ Irish connection during a hike from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. The hike is free, but again, registration is required.
While we’re talking about walking, next in the Wednesday Walks series is a hike for ages 18 and older from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 16 at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline near Martinez. Meet the leader, naturalist Trail Gail Broesder, at the Nejedly Staging Area, which is on Carquinez Scenic Drive just west of town. This is a hilly climb with great views of the strait and the Diablo Valley.
Wednesday Walks are a series of free, naturalist-led hikes exploring various regional parks. For information on the Carquinez Strait hike, call (510) 544-2233.
And Trail Gail is leading a safari in search of newts, salamanders and frogs from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 at the Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley. The group will search the nature area ponds for signs of the amphibians. The program is free of charge and registration is not required. Meet at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Central Park Drive. Call (510) 544-2233.
Or you can search for saltwater wildlife with the help of a naturalist during a low tide exploration from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda. The program is free and registration is not required. Meet at the Crab Cove Visitor Center at the end of McKay Avenue off Alameda’s Central Avenue. For information, call (510) 544-3187.
At Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, there’s a program at the visitor center nectar garden from 11 a.m. to 12 noon every Saturday and Sunday. It’s a chance to learn about pollinators, plants, the butterfly life cycle, and how to create your own home native plant garden. The program is free and registration is not required. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. For information, call (510)544 3220.
T
here’s always something interesting going on in the regional parks. For full information, visit the website, www.ebpark.org.
Squirrels!
By Pat Kite
A squirrel is eliminating my chair cushions. I don’t know if the culprit is Mr. or Mrs. Squirrel, and my daughter says I shouldn’t assume gender as this is not modern. Life gets increasingly complex. Anyhow, Squirrel is preparing for its springtime family.
Squirrels’ large nests are high up in trees, usually hidden. Nests are created from leaves, moss and twigs, also apparently miscellaneous stuffing. Squirrel may have two or even three nests. These can be used for resting, food storage or as an extra hiding place. Newborn squirrels are just one inch long. Mom squirrel gives squirrely lessons at six weeks, and the young usually depart at 12 weeks.
Our Wildlife Rehab Center in Newark, Ohlone Humane Society (OHS) off Hickory, gets oodles of misplaced youngsters. They fall or wander off the high nests, and people try to rescue them. If a baby is safe from predators, i.e., dogs and cats, you can try leaving it alone near the original site. Mother squirrels are quite protective, and during daylight hours will try to retrieve it.
Otherwise, it is very highly recommended that you take youngster to a rescue center. For transport, use thick gloves and place a tee-shirt around the youngster. No bare hands. Place the youngster in a shoe box with an old, untorn, tee-shirt. I know it is tempting, but do not feed the squirrel. Liquids can get into its lungs, and cause pneumonia. Foods cause digestive trauma. Keep noise low. If it is cold outside, you can try putting a heating pad on low under the box, not in it. Make sure it doesn’t get hot.
I like squirrels, and admit to putting out a few peanuts and sunflower seeds on a small table outside. Regardless of how many squirrel-eliminating bird feeders I have purchased, squirrels eventually destroy them.
Story lovers should go to Native American Algonquian Indian lore. Manabozho, a powerful spirit figure, invited all the forest animals to a feast of black bear meat. But when guests began chomping, they also began loudly coughing and couldn’t stop. Manabozho found this very annoying. He magically changed all his guests into squirrels. They are still coughing today. You hear “kuk kuk kuk” whenever a squirrel feels like communicating.
Another tale: Glooskap was a powerful hero of the Native American Micmac tribe. Part of his job was creating people. Glooskap asked his friend Squirrel what it would do if confronted by a human. Squirrel replied, “I should climb a tree!” And so, squirrel does.
OHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and closed on Sundays and Mondays. Look up our guides on baby birds and mammals, or leave a message at (510) 797-9449.
THE ROBOT REPORT
Cruise, Waymo can now charge for SF robotaxi rides
By Steve Crowe
Robotaxi operations in San Francisco continue to inch forward. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued Drivered Deployment permits to Cruise and Waymo that allow both companies to charge customers fares for their services. However, the permits require both companies to have a safety driver present in the vehicles at all times.
Cruise’s permit allows its robotaxis to operate on select public roads in San Francisco from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. at speeds of up to 30 mph. Waymo’s Drivered Deployment service can operate in designated parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties at any time of day or night at speeds of up to 65 mph. The CPUC said neither company is authorized to operate during heavy fog or heavy rain.
“Autonomous vehicles are a breakthrough technology that hold the potential to improve safety for all road users, and issuing these permits allowing for fare collection and shared rides is an important and measured step toward the commercialization and expansion of the service,” said CPUC commissioner Genevieve Shiroma. “As the technology is deployed, we will keep a close eye on the impacts of autonomous vehicles on safety, the environment, and on disadvantaged communities.”
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in October 2021 approved Cruise and Waymo to operate robotaxi rides in California. The DMV required Waymo to have human safety drivers in all of its vehicles, but it allowed Cruise to operate fully driverless robotaxis. Cruise has since opened its fully driverless robotaxi service to a small portion of the public.
Cruise has applied for a driverless deployment permit, which would allow it to charge a fare to passengers using its fully driverless robotaxi service. At press time, however, Cruise has not received a response from the CPUC about its request for a driverless deployment permit.
“[This is] another positive, incremental step forward,” said Prashanthi Raman, Cruise’s vice president for global government affairs. “Our mission has always been to launch a driverless commercial ride hail service here in San Francisco, and that’s what we’ll continue working with our regulators to deliver.”
On February 28, 2022, Kyle Vogt, who co-founded Cruise in 2013, was named CEO of the GM-owned company. He had served as interim CEO since December 2021 when Dan Ammann, who had been CEO since 2018, abruptly left Cruise. Vogt, 36, also will serve as chief technology officer and president of Cruise, which GM bought in 2016 for $1 billion.
Motional and Via announced on February 24, 2022 the launch of a robotaxi service in downtown Las Vegas. The service operates from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and will provide pick-ups and drop-offs in certain locations, including the RTC Bonneville Transit Center, Las Vegas City Hall, Container Park, Las Vegas Arts District and Clark County Government Center. The autonomous vehicles will have human safety operators behind the wheel.
Steve Crowe is Editorial Director, Robotics, WTWH Media, and co-chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo. He can be reached at
sc****@wt*******.com
Vertical gardening maximizes beauty and harvest
By Melinda Myers
Photos courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company/gardeners.com
Go vertical to expand your outdoor gardening space, create privacy and add beauty to bare walls and fences. This centuries-old technique has been used to grow food and flowers, adding beauty and productivity from the ground up. Even those gardening on small city lots, balconies and decks can go vertical to expand their gardening opportunities.
Grow pole beans, peas, squash, melons, tomatoes, and other vining edible plants onto supports. This saves space, reduces the risk of disease, and makes harvesting much easier.
Enjoy many benefits of vertical gardening even when growing in containers. Create your own or purchase a support that securely fits and supports the vines growing in the planter. Or purchase a container with an integrated trellis. Further reduce maintenance by utilizing a self-watering pot like the City Jungle Self-Watering Tomato Planter large enough to grow and support two indeterminate tomatoes.
Mount containers on a wall or fence or stack and secure them vertically to increase growing space. Systems like the Vigoroot 4-Tiered Balcony Garden provide lots of planting space in just a few square feet.
Include trellises and arbors in raised beds and elevated gardens to further maximize growing space. Trellises train vines upward, while arches allow you to grow two layers of plants, one over the trellis and one below.
Dress up a bare wall or fence, screen a bad view or create privacy with a plant-covered trellis. Leave space between the wall and trellis when
gardening next to a building. This space allows airflow between the building and plants, reducing the risk of mildew on the wall and diseases infecting the plants.
Grow annual vines for quick cover and perennial vines for years of beauty. Mix the two to quickly cover the trellis with the annual vine while waiting for the perennial to establish and reach its mature size. Plant two vines with different bloom times on one trellis to extend the colorful flower display. Or look for ones that bloom at the same time to double the floral impact.
Use decorative supports to add beauty or a focal point year-round. Select the style – rustic, formal or colorful – that complements your garden design, furnishings and personality. Make sure whatever you choose is strong enough to support the plants you grow.
Mask rain barrels, compost bins and other functional areas in the landscape with a wall of plants. Leave space for easy access as you fill your compost bin or harvest finished compost and rainwater.
Dress up a lamp or mailbox post with a vine covered support. Create your own from chicken wire or purchase a curved trellis like the Bosmere Trellis (gardeners.com) suitable for this application.
Use trellises and arbors to brighten often overlooked spaces. A vine-covered arbor makes a nice floral welcome at the entrance to a walkway or colorful transition between garden areas. Make sure the opening is large enough to accommodate visitors and any equipment needed.
No matter your style and location, vertical gardens can help you maximize your growing space and garden’s beauty.
Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Gardener’s Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
IAD030822
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Monday, March 14 – Thursday, March 17
Purim Events
Monday, March 14
Purim Class
6 p.m.
Learn the truth behind the Purim story
In person & on Zoom
Wednesday, March 16
Whiskey Tasting Purim Party
7:30 p.m.
Megillah reading, whiskey & grilled dinner
Thursday, March 17
Purim in Maui
4:45 p.m.
Outdoor Megillah reading, tropical dinner, activities
Address provided upon RSVP
(510) 300-4090
RSVP at www.chabadfremont.com
Tuesday, February 8 – Monday, April 4
Climate Change Art
M – T: 12 noon – 8 p.m.
W – Th: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sa: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Su: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Learning Center Windows (thru 3/31)
Gallery Wall (thru 4/4)
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley
www.aclibrary.org
(510) 667-7900
Thursday, January 20 – Saturday, April 2
Journey of Color
Virtual Exhibit: 1/20 – 4/2
In-Person Exhibit: 1/27 – 4/2
Gallery Hours: Thurs – Sun, 12 noon – 5 p.m.
Traditional Asian techniques with contemporary processes
Olive Hyde Gallery
123 Washington Blvd, Fremont
(510) 791-4357
https://fremont.gov/3065/Current-Exhibition
Thursday, January 20 – Sunday, March 27
Double Take: Art and Literature Side by Side
Thurs -Sun, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Art Reception: 3/19, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Blending together of word and art
Bankhead Theater
2400 First St, Livermore
www.LivermoreArts.org
Saturdays and Sundays, February 12 – April 17
Niles Canyon Railway Train Rides $
Departures from Sunol Depot at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
$25 for adults
$15 for seniors (62+) and children (3-12)
6 Kilkare Road, Sunol
(510) 996-8420
https://www.ncry.org/
Sunday, February 13 – Sunday, April 17
Dove Gallery Annual Juried Art Exhibit
Gallery Open Sundays from 12 noon – 3 p.m.
Artworks of various media and style by 80 artists
Park Victoria Church back parking lot
875 S. Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas
Do**@Pa**********.org
Friday, March 4 – Saturday, April 16
Painting Through the Pandemic: Artwork as a Relief
Fri – Sat: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Pandemic era art from Sun Gallery members and new artists
Sun Gallery
1015 E St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Saturdays and Sundays, March 5 – March 13
Verdi’s Otello $
Sat: 7:30 p.m., Sun: 2:00 p.m.
Adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic story
Bankhead Theater
2400 First St., Livermore
(925) 373-6800
Saturday, March 12 – Sunday, April 10
Villainy in the Vineyard
Saturdays: 8 p.m.
Sundays: 2 p.m.
Fridays 4/1 & 4/8: 8 p.m.
Kaye Syrah tries to keep her family vineyard alive
San Leandro Museum/Auditorium
320 West Estudillo Ave., San Leandro
(510) 895-2573
Tickets: $20 general; $15 seniors & under 12
UPCOMING
Wednesday, March 9
Cocktails & Conservation: Fighting to Save Frogs
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Learn how Oakland Zoo is combatting a fungus endangering frogs.
Via YouTube and Facebook Live
Thursday, March 10
UC Master Gardener Program
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Variety of seasonal topics related to vegetable gardening
Age Well-Center South Fremont (at the outdoor garden)
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
Thursday, March 10
Organic Gardening Webinar Series – Soil Basics R
5 p.m.
Learn about healthy soil, reduction of pests, water efficiency
Via Zoom – us02web.zoom.us/webinar
Thursday March 10
How to Get Help with Health Care Costs
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Discussion of Medi-Cal and Medicare programs, low-income subsidy
Age Well-Center South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
‘Painting Through the Pandemic’ Artist Reception
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Pandemic era art from Sun Gallery members and new artists
Sun Gallery
1015 E St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Saturday, March 12
LEAF Work Party
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Bring your shovel and help prepare grounds for a new Urban Farm
LEAF C.R. Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave. (behind Mission Valley Veterinary Clinic)
Fremontleaf.org
Saturday, March 12
Animal Feeding
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Check for eggs and feed livestock
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
Farmyard Story Time
10:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m.
Story circle with classic barnyard tales
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
Making Felt
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Discover why/how sheep’s wool can be turned into felt
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
Storefront Storytime
11 a.m.
Mayor Halliday reads “Think Big Little One”
Books on B
1014 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-3943
Saturday, March 12
Nectar Garden Exploration
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Discover native pollinators and plants
Coyote Hills Visitor Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
Ssnakes, Sstories and Sspirals R
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Learn about snake adaptations; create a snake spiral craft
Coyote Hills Visitor Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
Saturday, March 12
Valley Concert Chorale $
7:30 p.m.
Enjoy musical selections about dreams, moon, and stars
Our Savior Lutheran Church
1385 S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore
(925) 866-4003
Saturday, March 12
Zoom Social Write-In
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Practice your writing in a relaxed, supportive environment
Request Zoom link from Scott Davidson:
sc**************@ya***.com
https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org
Sunday, March 13
International Women’s Day
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Rotary San Jose Summit Center
88 South Fourth St., Seventh Floor, San Jose
www.rotarydistricts5170.org
Sunday, March 13
Animal Feeding
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Check for eggs and feed livestock
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Sunday, March 13
Meet the Chickens
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Why do chickens like to roam, scratch, peck at the ground?
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Sunday, March 13
Nectar Garden Exploration
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Discover native pollinators and plants
Coyote Hills Visitor Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
Sunday, March 13
Learn the Ropes
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Learn how an antique machine makes rope
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Sunday, March 13
Virtual Tour of Israel $R
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Licensed tour guide leads you through the city
Register: tinyurl.com/wtbtvirtualtour
Pay: tinyurl.com/virtualtourpayment
$18
Sunday, March 13
Valley Concert Chorale $
3 p.m.
Enjoy musical selections about dreams, moon, and the stars
Trinity Lutheran Church
1225 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton
(925) 866-4003
Monday, March 14
Senior Driver Traffic Safety Seminar R
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Safe driving tips, tune up driving skills, rules of the road.
Certificate on completion of course
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
Call (510) 667-7900 to register
Logan’s final game
By April Ramos
After receiving second place in the Division 1 North Coast Section (NCS) Girls Basketball Championships, James Logan High School’s girls’ basketball team faced off against Antelope High School. The Antelope Titans, from Nor
thern California, traveled to Logan’s basketball court in Union City to compete in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division II Playoffs on Tuesday, March 1.
Both, Logan Colts and Antelope Titans, began the first quarter with collected and confident energy. It wasn’t until the quarter’s last four minutes when Logan slowly brought out their offense, reaching a score of 11-3. This sudden change of pace forced Antelope to call a time out. The Titan’s moment of strategizing paid off. By the end of the first quarter the Titans began to close the gap, ending the quarter only five points behind Logan at 17-12.
Antelope managed to catch up to Logan in the middle of the second quarter, tying 21-21. By halftime, Logan was down in a one possession game, 30-33.
At the third quarter, the Titans played with all of their skill, making three three-point shots in a row and dominating the court. The tension began to show, as more and more fouls were called on both teams. The stress did not affect Antelope’s performance, as they finished the third quarter in the lead, 36-49.
Logan returned to the court desperate for a dominance, but their hectic nature only served as a disadvantage, reflected by the score: 37-51. Midway through the fourth quarter, Logan began to rein in their nerves and play with a stronger defensive approach. With only two minutes left in the game, the Colts were only eight points behind, 51-59.
Antelope got a chance for a free throw, gaining two more points. With less than two minutes left, the Titans continued to widen the score, leading by 10 points, 53-63. As the tenth seeded team, Antelope managed to beat seventh seeded, James Logan by 10 points. Final score: 55-66.
Tom Crocker Township Relays
By Angela Xiong
On Saturday February 26, eight Bay Area high schools competed in the Tom Crocker Township Relays at Newark Memorial High School, kicking off swim season. The bleachers were filled with family, friends and swimmers, tightly surrounding the pool’s perimeter. The relays began with the 4×50 meter freestyle event. Mission San Jose’s (Fremont) girls’ JV and varsity teams placed first with times of 2:06.05 and 1:53.39 respectively.
The competitive nature of the event was overturned midway through the 8×25 meter kickboard relay, when the Washington High School Huskies (Fremont) boys’ team brazenly drifted across the pool while sitting on a unicorn pool float. The meet continued to maintain its lively atmosphere, bolstered by stray cannon balls and unexpected attire.
In the latter half of the meet, James Logan’s (Union City) boys’ JV and varsity teams both occupied first place with times of 4:21.19 and 3:52.38 respectively in the 400-meter freestyle relay. At the meet’s conclusion, Mission San Jose High School’s girls’ JV and varsity teams placed first out of the eight teams and James Logan boys’ JV team placed first while their varsity team tied for first with the Newark Memorial Cougars.
Warriors’ Preseason Volleyball Victory
By Angela Xiong
On March 4, Mission San Jose High School Warriors (Fremont) faced off against Hayward High School Farmers in their last preseason boys’ volleyball game. From the start, the game was fast-paced and lively. With loud cheers from teammates and a home-field advantage, the Warriors scored multiple points through their strong service game, and quickly established a lead over the Farmers. Mission secured the win in set one with a score of 25-21.
The Warriors continued to maintain their momentum into the second set with a score of 25-13. In the third set, the Farmers persevered, making steady gains and building a slight lead over the Warriors. From multiple successful jostles at the net, to strong blocks, Hayward High School won the third set with a score of 25-23.
The Warriors persisted in the fourth set, hoping to maintain their overall victory and prevent a tie. The Mission team delivered multiple strong serves resulting in aces which further strengthened their lead in the final round. With an intense jostle at the net, MSJ Warriors won the set and game with a final score of 25-18.
“I think we have a really good team this year, we [may] even have a chance to make [the] North Coast Section Championships (NCS) this year, we just have to practice hard and prove that we can do that” Varsity Captain Troy Holcomb said. The MSJ Warriors will be playing their first game of the season on March 8 against Kennedy High School (Fremont).
Nina Chuang Running for Associated Students President in SJSU
Hello! My name is Nina Chuang, I am a 4th-year student at San Jose State and I am running for Associated Students President. As someone who was born and raised in Fremont, I hope to encourage folks who are connected with SJSU, student government, and social justice to support my campaign. Thank you!
Nina Chuang
Abode Services Achievements
Submitted by Abode Services
On Friday, March 4, Abode Services broadcasted its 17th annual Journey Home Breakfast with a virtual program, presenting a half-hour video event that shared the organization’s achievements and goals for its mission to end homelessness. For the second straight year, Abode invited the community to watch its yearly fundraiser online, where supporters made donations and pledges that will help Abode continue to serve nearly 15,000 individuals each year in six Bay Area counties.
The event’s 28-minute program once again was titled the Journey Home Breakfast “At Home.” It can be watched online at abodeservices.org or at journeyhome.abodeservices.org – the event’s special website where the livestreamed program premiered Friday morning.
The program presented several stories about the organization’s work, including a video featuring JoJo, a former participant who now works at Abode where she helps rehouse families and individuals facing many of the same challenges that she once battled. Another Abode client, Corrina, shared her heart-wrenching story about overcoming a difficult childhood that led to homelessness before she turned her life around and gained housing and full-time employment with Abode’s help.
Louis Chicoine, Abode Services’ longtime chief executive officer, shared his vision for the organization’s future. He also highlighted the various strategies that Abode has used to successfully place more than 16,300 individuals in housing since 2010.
“We do our work with a set of values that can be boiled down to one word – dignity,” Chicoine said. “The people we partner with to end homelessness really deserve to be respected in their process to put their lives back together. And the word we choose to represent that process is dignity.”
Abode Services Board President, Ken Smith, shared why he is so committed to Abode’s mission and provided viewers with more details on how they can give to Abode to help the community’s most vulnerable residents. Another video focused on Home Builders Society – Abode’s multi-year giving program – and featured comments from Society members E.J. Hilliard, Dick and Sandi Pantages.
Former Fremont Councilmember David Bonaccorsi, a former Abode Services board member, served as the emcee of this year’s Journey Home Breakfast.
Donations to the breakfast fundraiser can still be made online at journeyhome.abodeservices.org. Also, thanks to an anonymous donor, all donations for the program will be matched up to $100,000.
For more information, please contact Development Officer Carol Arata at
ca****@ab***********.org
.
Ambassadors of Compassion Story Writing Contest
Submitted
by Karin Conn
Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS) invites 7th and 8th grade students to become Ambassadors of Compassion by writing a fiction or nonfiction story on the theme of animals and people helping each other. There are many ways that animals help people such as through companionship, therapy and healing, safety and rescue, support for soldiers, and helping on the farm, and people help animals in return.
The winning author will receive a prize of $500, and two runner-up winners will receive $200 each. Winning stories will be published by PAHS. They will join PAHS’ library of stories about animals and kindness and will be a highlight of their 2022 Creating Compassionate Communities campaign.
The contest is open to students in schools located in the counties of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz. Stories must be original and between 800 and 1,000 words, and be submitted by midnight on May 31, 2022. Competition guidelines and a submission form: https://www.paloaltohumane.org/humane-news/2022/palo-alto-humane-society-announces-2022-story-writing-competition/.
Ambassadors of Compassion Story Writing Contest
Deadline: May 31, 2022
Taking action for wildlife one drink at a time
Submitted by Oakland Zoo
The virtual, and in-person happy hour series “Cocktails & Conservation” features some of the world’s most incredible conservationists. These heroes are working on the ground every day to save endangered species and their habitats. Guests will join us in-person at a local Oakland bar or on Facebook or YouTube Live to learn, ask questions, and be a part of the solution to preserve our planet’s rich and diverse wildlife.
Each episode will feature a custom cocktail, so we can toast to a safe world for wildlife. Look out for the recipe, mix your cocktail, and join us live!
The theme for the virtual meetup on Wednesday, March 9, is “Fighting to Save Frogs.” Frogs and other amphibians are dying worldwide due to a fungus called chytrid. Oakland Zoo has been working since 2010 to protect the native frog species in California’s Sierra Mountains. We’ve developed a method to safely inoculate these frogs and return them to the wild. Join us as Amy Gotliffe, Vice President of Conservation, chats with Sam Sammons, Conservation Biologist and head of this program. We will be talking about the impact of this program and the impact it has had on the future of our native frog species.
We are also pleased to feature a signature cocktail to imbibe while inspired. Make a delicious “Unfrogettable” created by Alley & Vine and raise a glass during this wildlife happy hour offering.
Cocktails & Conservation
Wednesday, March 9
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Via YouTube and Facebook Live
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/
Local school shines at Future City Competition
By Priyanka Shah
Photos courtesy of Konnect Agency
In the 2021-22 NorCal Future City Competition, a team of 15 middle schoolers from Stratford School in Fremont won first place for their city design, New Coruscant. The team did not cease to amaze their community with their recent achievement, and advanced to nationals. These students have put in hours of work developing their vision of their future city into a tangible work of art. However, what exactly does their “perfect” city entail?
Stratford’s middle schoolers were determined to take action after observing how much there was to be done for the environment. “The topic was related to a lot of problems we face today, and it was a great way for the team to find solutions and ideas to help improve the environment,” seventh grader Tara said. In their meticulously designed model, all of the methods put in place reinforce principles of a zero-waste community. These principles included a wastewater management facility that collects wastewater from various zones and separates the nutrients from dirty water. Another limited waste method the team used was a renewable energy system to conserve electricity. With intricate concepts and detailed functions, their city left the audience in awe.
Comfort and care for the residents of New Coruscant was prioritized by the team. To enforce these precedents, the city had a healthcare system that aided in diagnosing health issues with the help of tiny nanorobots that could be put into patients’ blood. Additionally, an efficient system of public and private transportation made it easy for residents to move in and around the city. Trains surrounded the city, and self-driving cars using solar energy to power themselves allowed for convenience and ease of commute.
Despite what seemed like a perfect project, the team did encounter a few obstacles along the way. At one point, the team realized that they were behind schedule in completing the deliverables and main task. To address this, they worked quickly to meet the upcoming deadline. “A lot of us put in extra hours and some of us worked very diligently in order to finish the project on time,” Tara said. Another challenge the group faced was incorporating the ideas of every single team member. The team of 15 middle schoolers, make it difficult to address everyone’s ideas. To overcome this obstacle the team worked on weekends to collaborate and allow for everyone involved to contribute.
Hours of work paid off when the team won first place in the NorCal region tournament. New Coruscant was a deserving success. The team’s main takeaway from the competition is that “there are many different problems related to the environment and world, but there are also many solutions.” With these encouraging words, these middle schoolers hope to spread their message about saving the environment to the public — to “be the solution.”
Ways to help Ukraine
After Russian invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, many are feeling shocked, scared and overwhelmed. However, organizations are springing into action to provide aid to those in Ukraine and refugees fleeing the country. Many organizations are global, but some are local to the Bay Area.
Nonprofit Nova Ukraine is located in Palo Alto and has been active since 2013. In addition to holding fundraisers, they facilitate roundtable discussions and events dedicated to Ukrainian culture. Now, they are focused on helping families and children affected by the war in Ukraine. You can donate to Nova Ukraine via PayPal or by credit card at https://novaukraine.org/.
Hromada is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that distributes donations among six Ukraine-based humanitarian aid organizations. Their website has Ukrainian and English language options. Donations can be made by PayPal or by check. Go to: https://hromada.us/.
Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) has a branch in San Jose. On their Facebook page, you can find posts about Zoom lectures, upcoming rallies, and fundraisers, as well as a link to their PayPal. Find their page by searching “UNWLA San Jose Branch 107.”
Global organizations are also taking action to help Ukraine. If you go to the website’s main page for UNICEF USA, CARE, and UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), there are links to follow for Ukraine-specific funds.
Local organizations
Nova Ukraine
https://novaukraine.org/
Hromada
UNWLA San Jose Branch 107
(Facebook)
Global organizations
Unicef USA
https://www.unicefusa.org/
UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/
CARE (search for Ukraine Crisis Fund)
School language immersion programs unify in Fremont
Submitted by Fremont Unified School District
Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, language immersion programs offered through the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) will unify at separate sites. The decision was made by a unanimous vote by members of the FUSD Board of Education during their February 23 meeting.
The Mandarin Immersion Program (MIP) will unify at the new Lila Bringhurst Elementary in the Warm Springs area, and the Spanish Dual Immersion (SDI) program will unify at Blacow Elementary in the Irvington area. School district officials said this plan allows both programs to continue to grow, without displacing neighborhood students at the unification sites.
“If we do not unify, we’re going to have enrollment caps, we’re going to have wait lists, we’re going to have all kinds of challenges and we’re going to be doing this again year over year,” Board of Education Trustee Larry Sweeney said during the meeting. “It’s time to move to the next step.”
The decision comes after many months of effort by SDI/MIP Immersion Task Force members to consider wide-ranging factors and provide recommendations to the board to resolve capacity issues and reach unification goals for the programs.
“We have incredible schools and programs across FUSD, including our two immersion programs,” said FUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack. “We have been given the wonderful opportunity to design a future for these programs to expand, align resources and build a more collaborative learning and teaching environment.”
Anticipated benefits of the unification programs include centralization of resources and strengthening of the programs through increased collaboration amongst students, staff and families.
“I appreciate the community’s involvement and input throughout this process,” Board President Dianne Jones said. “The families, teachers and staff involved in the SDI program in particular have long sought unification, and I am confident this decision and having a long-term solution in place will benefit both programs.”
A task force convened in 2016 to support the transition of the SDI program to one site. After years of planning, a site renamed Carmen R. Meléndez Elementary School was chosen to house the unified SDI program. However, in May 2019 it was determined that the Meléndez site was inoperable, and no longer available for use as a school site.
The current task force — composed of teachers, principals, staff, Trustees and parents/community members — has met since 2020. Members reviewed site capacity reports, enrollment projections, program needs and input from stakeholders to draft recommendations for consideration by the Board of Trustees to again address unification of the SDI program, and also identify a site to unify and allow expansion of the growing MIP.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to our community for collaborating and providing input throughout this process,” Cammack said. “While I recognize that adjustments in the program location may have negative consequences for some members of our community, I am excited about future development, growth and continued success of these programs, and I look forward to collaborating with existing and new partners over the coming months to ensure a smooth and successful transition for the programs and impacted sites in 2022-23.”
FUSD has a long history of providing bilingual instruction, offering Spanish programs since 1974 and Mandarin since 2010. All students enrolled in FUSD are eligible to join the programs through an application process. Students can enter either program in kindergarten and first grade without taking an assessment; students in grade 2 or above go through a process to verify language skills.
More information is available on the district’s website at www.fremont.k12.ca.us/dual.
A history 225 years in the making
By Hugo Vera
This June will mark the 225th anniversary of one of the oldest standing structures in the entire East Bay. Built and incorporated into the California mission system in 1797, Old Mission San Jose in Fremont has remained a staple of the city’s identity.
On Saturday, February 12, 2022, Old Mission San Jose 225th Anniversary Committee hosted a lecture inside the mission’s main chapel given by Patricia Wipfli-Schaffarczyk of Washington Township Museum of Local History. Born and raised in Fremont’s Irvington district and descended from one of the city’s first families of Swiss immigrants, Wipli-Schaffarczyk covered the history of the mission as seen through the eyes of Fremont’s ever-growing, ever-diversifying population.
The lecture covered the construction of the original mission as it traded hands. It was first owned by the Spanish crown, then the Mexican empire before being annexed by the United States following the Mexican-American War in 1848. This acquisition came just a year after John and Elizabeth Horner (the family Horner Middle School is named after) became the first of many immigrant families who gradually turned Fremont from a small agrarian community into the industrial and technological hub it is today.
The Hayward Fault earthquake of 1868, just twenty years later, destroyed most of the mission, so the iconic white adobe church seen today is a replica. As Wipfli-Schaffarczyk stressed in her lecture, efforts of individuals such as Jennie Dennie, Lila Bringhurst , Bernie Leal, and countless other Fremonters, helped raise the funds and awareness that preserved this structure for decades.
Mission San Jose as a landmark is not without controversy, however. In late 2021, Pope Francis canonized Father Junipero Serra. Throughout the 18th century, Serra led the Franciscan Order and oversaw the construction of nine of the 21 California missions, including Old Mission San Jose. Serra’s canonization was quickly met with protests from Native American activists. Most missions were constructed by slave labor and often served as barracks for colonial soldiers who committed atrocities against the indigenous peoples of California and the southwest. In solidarity and commemoration of the indigenous struggle, Wipfli-Schaffarczyk concluded her presentation by highlighting the activism and achievements of Ohlone leader Dr. Felipe “Phil” Galvan.
Dr. Galvan played a crucial role in getting Fremont city officials to return the land that now makes up the Ohlone Cemetery to its original stewards as well as to convince the Board of Trustees to name Fremont’s only community college after the Ohlone.
“History is told by those who tell the story but oftentimes the stories of others are omitted for not being in the right place at the right time,” says Wipfli-Schaffarczyk. “The Galvans were proud, strong and fought hard to tell the story of the Ohlone and other native peoples and it was not easy. I look at this 225th anniversary as the beginning of a project to find those people who weren’t given a voice and to empower them to tell their stories.”
This statement was met with applause. In continuation of the mission’s anniversary, Old Mission San Jose 225th Anniversary Committee will be holding two concert-fundraisers in March and a commemorative walking tour series in April.
For more information about these events and the mission’s history, visit www.mission225.org.
It’s scholarship time for high school students
Submitted by Elizabeth Stump
A new scholarship program aimed at high school students residing in Alameda County has been launched by the Libertarian Party of Alameda County (LPAC).
Students who are in their junior and senio
r year in public and private schools or home schooled, and younger than age 20 are eligible to apply. The scholarship program was created to encourage high school students to explore Libertarian principles and political concepts that are quickly glossed over or skipped entirely in most high school Civics/U.S. Government classes.
“Most people are first exposed to the concept that a political party, like the Libertarian Party, exists that supports both personal and economic freedom many years after having become disillusioned and disappointed with the traditional two-party system,” said John Ferrero, Chair of LPAC. “By reaching out to young future voters in Alameda County, we present a third choice that many are not currently aware exists.”
The scholarship will have four winners with a first and second place winner for best essay and best video. The Spring 2022 topic is: “How should a Libertarian government respond to a local or state political controversy of your choosing?”
- First Prize Essay: $1,500
- Second Prize Essay: $500
- First Prize Video: $1,000
- Second Prize Video: $300
The deadline for submitting essays and videos is 11:59 p.m. May 31, 2022. Students may enter regardless of GPA, citizenship, financial status, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Essays must be between 1,500 and 3,000 words long, not including any footnotes or references, and videos must be between five and 10 minutes in length. Complete rules and submission information are listed on LPAC’s scholarship page: https://www.lpac.us/scholarship.
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 and is the third-largest political party in the United States. The Libertarian, Democratic, and Republican parties were the only political parties on the ballot in all fifty states in the 2020 Presidential Election. Details are available on their website at www.lpac.us.
Ohlone College wins accreditation
Submitted by Jen Marquez
Following nearly two years of evaluating academic accreditation standards at Ohlone College in Fremont, officials from Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) have reaffirmed the colleges accreditation through 2027.
At its mid-January meeting, the Commission found that Ohlone appropriately responded to compliance requirements related to the areas of distance education and that the college meets the standards for accreditation.
“This is truly excellent news for the entire Ohlone College community as this decision is a testament that the college meets the high standards established by the Commission,” said Anthony DiSalvo, Deputy Superintendent/Vice President, Academic Affairs.
Ohlone completed a regular evaluation by ACCJC in March 2020 when a team of evaluators visited the campus to complete its evaluation of the college’s performance on a set of accreditation standards.
The college was required to review and revise its existing processes and policies to ensure that faculty teaching online consistently provide regular and substantive interaction between students and faculty. The visit determined that Ohlone College had resolved deficiencies that were noted in the previous compliance requirements around the areas of distance education.
The college’s next comprehensive accreditation report and site visit will begin in fall 2026 and conclude with a site visit in spring 2027.
March is for kids at Old Mission San Jose
Submitted by Gary Dorighi
Youth Art Contest—Be Part of the 225th Anniversary
All students in grades 4-6 in the City of Fremont are invited to participate in “Mission 225: Then and Now” Art Contest as part of Mission San Jose’s 225th Anniversary Commemoration. Young artists are invited to express their talents in drawing and painting through illustrations of Mission San Jose’s history, faith and community. Deadline to enter is March 31. Semi-finalists will enjoy a reception with an adult guardian at Olive Hyde Gallery while their art is on display. Details at www.mission225.org/art-contest.
Mission Model Month at the Museum
Every year, 4th graders throughout California work with their parents to create amazing models of Old Mission San Jose. These treasures are donated to us after fulfilling their school assignment. This year, we’re keeping the best of the best and placing them on display for the month of March. Bring your kids to be dazzled by these works of art surrounded by true historical artifacts and items from the 19th century. While here, view a short video that describes Spanish exploration, the 1797 founding of Mission San Jose, and day-to-day living within the mission. See the Church, historic cemetery and beautiful garden.
Educational Materials—We have what you need
We know 4th grade students need accurate and easy-to-understand information to complete their Mission Project. For these students, the gift shop has many items available online or in-person. Ask for the “4th Grade Packet.” Unpack those contents and use the information while touring the Church and museum to make your self-guided tour even more educational.
Old Mission San Jose
Wednesday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont
https://missionsanjose.org/
Art Contest
For Fremont students grades 4-6
Deadline: March 31
www.mission225.org/art-contest
Rrooar Academy hosts speech competition
Submitted by Mitchell Svantner
In February 2022, Rrooar Coding and Robotics Academy hosted their third annual Original Oratory Competition. The event, emceed by New Jersey educator Chris Wiseman, saw more than 100 students from across the country participate. Competition centered on the topic “Divided We Fall.” Speakers were split into Group 1 (grades 1 – 4) and Group 2 (grades 5 – 8). They competed in qualifying rounds before proceeding to the national event the next weekend.
Participants were tasked with writing and performing an original speech on Zoom. The judges panel included Stephanie Olson, EEO discrimination attorney and Trustee of Lammersville School District; Shaki Pothini, engineering leader at Bio-Rad Labs; Sharan Kaur, former Trustee of New Haven School District and entrepreneur; Paul Romero, licensed school psychologist; Amanda Chagoya, lifetime public speaker and marketing professional; Megan Wingo, Frenso County Public Defender; and Christa Cannon, professional actress and singer.
Judge Romero stated that in accordance with the idea of “Divided We Fall,” each participant “is united in bringing forth information and experiences to the public…This is why we create poems, writings and speeches: to share this information with the world.”
Medha Koudinya, a third grader from Forest Park Elementary in Fremont, was declared the winner of Group 1; and Shriyadita Poduval, a fifth grader from Kolb Elementary in Dublin, won first place for Group 2.
Medha’s speech began by relating sports like tug-of-war and cricket to the importance of teamwork and cooperation when tackling pollution. She stated, “If all we think about is our own needs and comforts, then it’s only a matter of time until life on Earth falls apart.” Later, she impressively subverted her own opening by explaining that “reality is not as simple as tug-of-war…we must act now and act together to save our only home.”
Shiryadita offered a nuanced discussion on having different opinions versus being “divided.” She observed that in our country’s struggle to confront issues such as gun violence, COVID-19, and homelessness, we may often “stick to our egos and blind beliefs,”
which halts discussion and prevents progress. She added that having different opinions on these problems is “an opportunity to learn from each other,” but this is not what she sees happening in our political landscape.
In addition to the overall winners, selected students received special awards. Diya Dileep was recognized as the event’s “Motivational Speaker,” Vihaan Ailiani as “Thought Leader,” Group 1 winner Medha Koudinya as “Budding Orator,” and Arnav Shah won the company’s “Rrooaring Ahead Into the Future” award.
Participants spent months preparing for the competition through Rrooar’s coaching sessions, hosted by entrepreneur and theater activist Ish Amitoj Kaur. In these classes, students learned how to incorporate the open-ended theme “Divided We Fall” into topics they were passionate about.
As a result of creative freedom and encouragement throughout the speech-writing process, the children were confident with what they’d written. Attendees heard speeches on issues ranging from cyberbullying, environmentalism, and foreign policy, to gymnastics, dance, and family dynamics.
The third Original Oratory Competition saw an increase in scale from last year’s contest. In addition to nearly doubling the number of students, this year’s event was opened up to a national level, as kids from Texas to Chicago and the East Coast had the chance to enroll in coaching sessions and compete in the qualifying rounds. National Original Oratory Champion, JJ Kapur, and U.S. Representative, Josh Harder, were special guests for the final round.
Rrooar Academy hopes to continue the pattern of growth they have seen over the last few years, expanding both their student base and curriculums.
A time to celebrate women’s history near and far
By Rob Klindt
Each year Women’s History Month celebrates accomplishments by women in history, the arts, politics, science and more across the nation. While celebrations started in the 1960s, the movement gained steam in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter declared Women’s History Week on March 8. Since then, the celebration has expanded to a month.
Here are just a few female trailblazers in United States history:
- American novelist Edith Wharton was the first woman to receive a Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1921.
- Amelia Earhart was the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane in n1928.
- Janet Guthrie was the first woman to drive in the Indy 500 in 1977.
- Aretha Franklin became the first woman elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
- Madeleine Albright became the first female Secretary of State in 1997.
- Kamala Harris became the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president in United States history.
Locally, the Washington Township Museum of Local History in Fremont offers its own look at women in history in the “Tri-Cities Women of Influence Historical Coloring Book.” It includes a treasure trove of fun and informative details about women pioneers in the Fremont area. The book was created in partnership with the American Association of University Women and the League of Women Voters. Copies can be purchased for $5 at the museum, 190 Anza St., Fremont. It also can be downloaded for free from their website at: museumoflocalhistory.org.
In addition, the Alameda County Library has compiled a list of books to commemorate Women’s History Month. See their suggestions at aclibrary.org/books/.
Just a bit farther from home, numerous online and in person events are planned in the East Bay to celebrate Women’s History Month. Here are a few:
Thursday, March 10
- Cal State East Bay. A lecture by Ericka Huggins, educator, former Black Panther Party member, human rights activist and poet. The free 12:15 p.m. hybrid program will meet in person on campus and online. Register online by visiting the CSEB website at csueastbay.edu, then type “Cultural Awareness Speakers Series” into the search box and follow the links.
Saturday, March 12
- Women of the Oakland Fire Department. Female firefighters will lead an online tour of one of the department’s firehouses via Zoom. The one-hour event, sponsored by the Oakland Public Library, starts at 10:30 a.m. and is suitable for children and adults. Free. Registration is required. To sign up, visit:
https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/62101b2870553b36007efc02, or send an email to Anne Lennon at
al*****@oa************.org
.
Thursday, March 24
- San Leandro Community Library. An in-person panel discussion about women who lead non-profit agencies in San Leandro. The free event will meet 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at 300 Estudillo Ave. For details, call (510) 577-3971.
- Chabot College. An in-person Frida Kahlo Paint Night. A celebration of the famed Mexican artist led by professor Zarir Marawala and her students in the Chabot Event Center, 2555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. Free; painting materials will be provided. Donations will be accepted to benefit Ruby’s Place, a women’s and children’s shelter. Register in advance online at https://bit.ly/35rJiVu.
Thursday, March 31
- Alameda County Family Justice Center. An in-person “Women Celebrating Women” program featuring speakers, poets and artists celebrating their lives. The free two-hour program starts at 11:00 a.m. at 470 27th St., Oakland. For details, visit the ACFJC website at acfjc.org, then type “Celebrating Women’s History Month” into the search box.
Are you a secret writer?
Submitted by Tish Davidson
Do you write stories but are nervous about sharing them? Afraid of how your writing might be judged? Put those worries away. This is your chance to meet fellow, and aspiring writers from Tri-City area in a fun, free, nonjudgmental environment at the Zoom Write-In on Saturday, March 12. This event is for everyone from complete beginners to established writers, high schoolers to senior citizens. It’s not a writing critique session. Your writing will not be judged, just enjoyed by your fellow writers.
How the Write-In works:
After you sign in, the computer will assign you to a virtual room with several other writers. You will be given three general prompts — for example, “If I could meet one of my ancestors” or “Broken bones.” Choose one prompt and free write for 8 minutes. After you finish, all the writers in the room share their response to the prompt, and exchange ideas and experiences in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. The computer then rearranges the participants into different rooms. Each person in the room will offer a noun, verb, and adjective. The challenge is to use as many of the suggested words in a story within a 10-minute writing period and then share.
The Write-In is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers (FAW), a branch of California Writers Club. In addition to the Write-In, FAW meets on Zoom from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month. At meetings, guest speakers discuss various aspects of writing and the publishing industry. The guest speaker for the March 26th meeting is Alameda County Arts Commissioner Margaret Thornberry. She will explain some of the fine arts grants available from private and government sources in our area.
To participate in the Write-In or attend the free general meeting, please request the Zoom meeting link from Scott Davidson at
sc**************@ya***.com
.
Zoom Write-In
Saturday, Mar 12
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
General Meeting
Saturday, Mar 26
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Vacant AC Transit board seat
Submitted by
AC Transit
A vacant seat on the AC Transit Board of directors is up for grabs. The person appointed will represent residents living in a large swath of the East Bay.
To be eligible, the person must reside and be registered to vote in the district’s Ward 4. Ward 4 includes a portion of the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, and the unincorporated areas of San Lorenzo, Cherryland, Castro Valley, Ashland and Fairview.
The person selected will be an interim director and will serve out the remainder of the unexpired term of former AC Transit Director Mark Williams until Friday, December 2. The Board of Directors is a seven-member elected policy making body, responsible for regulating the operation of East Bay public transit bus service for more than 53 million riders each year.
As part of the job, the appointed must participate in regular AC Transit Board meetings, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, and serve on one or more committees. Attendance at other meetings may be required.
To apply for the vacancy, candidates must submit these documents:
- A letter of interest, no more than two pages expressing their interest and qualifications for the selection, including pertinent experience and time availability.
- A resume.
- Letters of recommendation from three individuals or organizations.
Interviews and a selection of a candidate is expected to occur in April.
AC Transit Applications
Submission deadline: Wednesday, March 30.
12 p.m. noon
Applications mailed:
Linda Nemeroff, District Secretary, AC Transit
1600 Franklin St., Oakland
94612
Or Emailed:
di***************@ac*******.org
.
Fremont City Council
March 1, 2022
Announcements:
- Moment of silence in honor of the death of Fremont Police Captain Frederick Bobbitt. Memorial services planned March 4 in Tracy and March 5 in Fremont. Details at www.fremontpolice.gov./captainbobbitt
- Community survey regarding street design of Paseo Padre Parkway – Driscoll to Washington Boulevard. Looking for input on other street designs. Visit Fremont.gov for more information.
- Community Services Department partnering with Bay Area Community Health to provide Covid testing, vaccinations and community outreach at Central Park.
- Introduce new City Attorney Rafael Alvarado, Jr.
Consent Calendar:
- Second reading of ordinance amending Fremont Municipal Code regarding streets, sidewalks and public property.
- Approve purchase of one street sweeper from Tymco, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $345,280.95 and one dump truck from Peterson Trucks, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $140,993.69 and seven police vehicles from The Ford Store San Leandro in an amount not-to-exceed $354,163.89.
- Amend Professional Services Agreement with MNS Engineers, Inc. in an amount not-to-exceed $300,000 for Warm Springs BART West Access Bridge and Plaza Project. Total contract not-to-exceed $2,851,020. (Salwan – Recuse)
- Approve 3-year agreement with California Association of Food Banks for participation in CalFresh Outreach program.
- Approve closeouts of completed and partial defunding of selected Capital Projects.
- Adopt Development Impact Fee annual inflationary increase by 6.62% effective July 1, 2022.
Ceremonial Items:
- Recognize 125th Anniversary of Country Club of Washington Township Women’s Club.
- Proclaim Women’s History Month.
Public Communications:
- Support for Project Homekey.
- Safety concerns of Project Homekey.
- Safe Parking location concerns.
Items Removed from Consent Calendar:
- Approval of minutes from February 8 and February 22, 2022. (Removed from consent by Councilmember Cox) Corrections to be approved March 8.
Scheduled Items:
- Redistricting Public Hearing #4; preference for Map #91064 with possible minor changes.
- Introduce an ordinance amendment authorizing district boundaries via map and update language.
Mayor Lili Mei Aye
Vice Mayor Raj Salwan, District 5 Aye, 1 Recusal
Teresa Keng, District 1 Aye
Rick Jones, District 2 Aye
Jenny Kassan, District 3 Aye
Yang Shao, District 4 Aye
Teresa Cox, District 6 Aye
City relaxes mask mandate
Submitted by City of Hayward
Members of the public who visit Hayward City Hall aren’t required to wear face-coverings any longer – if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
City officials said the relaxed mask guideline, which became effective March 7, also applies to other city facilities including Hayward Public Library. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated must still wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose while inside city facilities, in accordance with an Alameda County public health order that was adopted February 14.
Meanwhile, Hayward is continuing to hold public meetings of City Council, Planning Commission and other municipal bodies online. The public can view or participate in those meeting using a Zoom app on their computer, tablet or smartphone.
For details, send an email to Public Information Officer Chuck Finnie at
ch**********@ha*****.gov
.
Governor Newsom Launches New Mental Health Plan
Submitted by the California State Governor’s Office
SAN JOSE, March 3 – At a mental health treatment center in San Jose, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled CARE Court, a new framework to provide individuals with mental health and substance use disorders the care and services they need to get healthy. The proposal, which must be approved by the Legislature, would require counties to provide comprehensive treatment to the most severely impaired and untreated Californians and hold patients accountable to their treatment plan.
“CARE Court is about meeting people where they are and acting with compassion to support the thousands of Californians living on our streets with severe mental health and substance use disorders,” said Governor Newsom. CARE Court does not wait until someone is hospitalized or arrested before providing treatment.
“It’s time we face the painful, but obvious truth: our behavioral health system in California is broken. All of us see it every day on our streets – and it’s long past time we fix it,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.
CARE Court offers court-ordered individualized interventions and services, stabilization medication, advanced mental health directives, and housing assistance – all while remaining community-based. Plans can be up to 12-24 months. In addition to their full clinical team, the client-centered approach also includes a public defender and a supporter to help individuals make self-directed care decisions.
“We need to stop trying to fix a failed system,” said Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Stephen V. Manley. “We are rapidly moving back to where we were 100 years ago in using incarceration as the only alternative for those persons who are severely mentally ill. We need new ideas and a fresh approach and Governor Newsom is offering us one.”
In the event that a participant cannot successfully complete a Care Plan, the individual may be refer
red for a conservatorship, consistent with current law, with a presumption that no suitable alternatives to conservatorship are available.
All counties across the state will participate in CARE Court under the proposal. If local governments do not meet their specified duties under court-ordered Care Plans, the court will have the ability to order sanctions and, in extreme cases, appoint an agent to ensure services are provided.
Milpitas City Council
March 1, 2022
Proclamations:
- March was proclaimed as American Red Cross Month
- March was proclaimed as National Women’s Heritage Month
- March was proclaimed as Youth Art Month
Consent Calendar:
- Approved the execution of Amendment with PSOMAS for Mapping and Field Investigation of the Traffic Signal Intersection and Fiber Optic System in the City GIS.
- Approved the execution of a Design Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn for design services for the Street Resurfacing Project 2023.
- Adopted a Resolution Initiating the Proceedings for the Annual Levy and Collection of Assessments and Ordering the Preparation of the Annual Engineer’s Report for Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 95-1 (McCarthy Ranch).
- Adopted a Resolution Initiating Proceedings for the Annual Levy and Collection of Assessments and Ordering the Preparation of the Annual Engineer’s Report for Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 98-1 (Sinclair Horizon).
- Adopted a resolution to amend and restate the City’s Wage Theft Procurement Policy.
- Approved amendments to the Professional Services Agreement with Ascent Environmental for consultant services and Master Funding Agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Priority Development Area Planning Grant Program related to preparation of the Gateway/Main Street Specific Plan Update.
- Approved a budget appropriation to the Equipment Fund Non-departmental FY 2021-22 operating budget and approved the replacement purchase of two Police vehicles through a Sourcewell cooperative contract with National Auto Fleet.
- Awarded RFP to JAM Services and authorized the City Manager to purchase illuminated overhead street signs.
- Authorized the City Manager to donate obsolete Fire Safety Personal Protective Equipment (Jackets, Pants and Boots) to the City of Dagupan.
Support Services:
- Following an extensive discussion, agreed to convert the Turing Apartments located at 1355 McCandless Drive to low, median, and moderate-income housing; and authorized the City to become a member of the Authority, and approved the City Manager to execute the Recommended Public Benefit Agreement. Vote: Aye 3 (Tran, Phan, Dominguez), Nay 1 (Chua), Abstain 1 (Montano).
Community Development:
- Received Homelessness Task Force recommendations. There was lot of praise from the Council for the excellent work done by the Task Force.
Rich Tran (Mayor) Aye
Carmen Montano (Vice Mayor) Aye; Abstain 1
Anthony Phan Aye
Karina Dominguez Aye
Evelyn Chua Aye; Nay 1
Newark City Council
February 24, 2022
Presentations:
- Introduction of Chief Jeff Luepke, promoted to division chief with Alameda County Fire Department in January.
Consent Calendar:
- Approval of Audited Demands
- Approval of February 10, 2022, minutes.
- Adopt a resolution finding that there is a proclaimed state of emergency; finding that meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees; and authorizing continued remote teleconferenced meetings of the legislative bodies for the 30-day period beginning February 24.
- Adopt a resolution approving a personnel allocation change to the 2020-2022 Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan, removing one 0.75 full-time equivalent (FTE) Administrative Assistant and adding 1.0 FTE Administrative Analyst to the City Manager’s Office.
- Adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of an application for the Local Assistance Grant Program administered by California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute funding agreements, and amend the 2020-2022 Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan.
Mayor Alan Nagy Aye
Vice Mayor Hannon Aye
Sucy Collazo Aye
Luis Freitas Aye
Mike Bucci Absent
U.S. Representative Ro Khanna on affordable housing
Submitted by Ro Khanna
Since we couldn’t take live questions at the February 28 town hall meeting, I wanted to answer those regarding affordable housing. For additional housing resources, please visit my website: https://khanna.house.gov/issues/housing.
Q: “Do you see the federal government playing any role in assisting home buyers with down payments or PMI regulation?”
A: The Build Back Better Act (BBB) establishes a new federal program through which states and nonprofits would provide first-generation home buyers with grants for down payment assistance and other expenses associated with purchasing a home. The initiative, the First Generation Down Payment Fund, would receive $10 billion through FY 2026, with $6.9 billion going to states and $2.3 billion awarded competitively to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and other entities. I am fighting to bring BBB to the President’s desk to our district.
Q: “My wife and I are on a fixed income. In fact, my only income is social security. Our neighbors across the street have a house similar to ours. Yet, we pay 5-10 times the property tax that they do. Is there any political will to make things more fair?”
A: Property taxes are imposed on the local level – outside of the direct control from the federal government. We, however, do understand rising costs of housing and taxes are parallel to the affordability crisis and that high property taxes limit how far your social security check can go. I am working to bring attention to the need for increased social security benefits in Congress to help my constituents meet their daily needs.
Q: “Could you explain how Quantitative Easing negatively affected affordability in the housing market (or why it didn’t)? What can we do about that now?”
A: Our government stepped up during the COVID-19 pandemic to help avert a long-term recession and help families get by in one of the biggest black swan events in our history. That government support among other economic events led to low interest rates which coupled with our supply chain bottlenecks has prompted housing prices to rise, the supply of homes to deplete and the making the cost of building a new home higher. I am committed to fighting to ensure that Congress is working diligently to relieve the supply chain crunch across our economy and continue to ask that you voice these concerns with me.
Q:”Why is it that the state keeps mandating counties and cities to build a certain amount of homes every year?
A: Our country has been underbuilding since the 2008 recession. With 10 to 12 jobs created in the
Bay per every housing unit the affordability crisis is exacerbated. Mandating that homes be built in our local communities helps meet the demand and continue developing our regional economic success and prosperity.
Q: “What is the status of Congressman Khanna and Axne’s federal bill on mobile home parks?
I am working with Rep. Axne and Chairwoman Waters at the House Committee on Financial Services to bring attention to the importance of supporting mobile home tenants and to voice their expressed interest in ownership. Alternative housing options outside the traditional housing market require real investment too and are one of the most versatile solutions we have right now to combatting the housing affordability crisis in our district and across California. My constituents win at Plaza Del Rey Mobile Home Park in Sunnyvale is only the beginning. I am committed to bringing increased national attention to the importance of providing fair and equitable park rental protections to mobile homeowners.
BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD
Sunday, February 27
- At 2:32 p.m. officers responded to a report about a fight at Union City station and detained a man they later identified as Cepheus Harper, 32, of Newark. A record check showed a parole violation issued by the department of corrections. Harper was taken into custody and booked at Santa Rita Jail.
- At 6:55 p.m. a woman identified by police as Mary Wells, 31, of Fremont was detained at San Leandro station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed an outstanding warrant. She was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Monday, February 28
- At 6:07 a.m. a man identified by police as John Jackson, 37, of San Francisco was arrested at Warm Springs/South Fremont station on suspicion of trespassing on rail property. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, March 1
- At 10:52 a.m. a man identified by police as John Jackson, 37, of San Francisco was arrested at Warm Springs/South Fremont station on suspicion of trespassing on rail property. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
- At 11:56 a.m. a man identified by police as Demallo Jackson, 29, of Berkeley was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property and a $50,000 warrant issued by Contra Costa County. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
Wednesday, March 2
At 11:56 a.m. a man identified by police as Davinder Kumar, 40, was arrested at Fremont station on suspicion of violating a court restraining order. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Yanneth Contrada, Fremont PD
Thursday, February 10
- At about 4:45 p.m. officers made a vehicle stop in the area of Interstate 880 and Thornton Avenue. A record check showed the driver had a felony warrant, and a search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded firearm. The driver, identified by police as Ronald Walker, 39, of Castro Valley was arrested.
Friday, February 11
- At about 2:00 p.m. a grand theft occurred at Walgreens, 2600 Mowry Ave. when two men left the store with more than $1,000 worth of unpaid items. Officers located the suspects nearby and arrested them and recovered the stolen merchandise. Police identified the suspects as Theodore Melicia, 35, of Seaside and Bradley Stavas, 34, of San Francisco.
- At about 10:20 p.m. a robbery occurred in the parking lot at Jack in the Box, 5533 Stevenson Blvd. A victim was accosted by two male suspects, causing him to fall to the ground. The suspects took the victim’s personal belongings and fled in a vehicle.
Monday, February 14
- At about 3:09 a.m. officers responded to a report of a commercial alarm at 36472 Fremont Blvd. It was determined a commercial burglary had occurred and that someone made entry by breaking glass. Officers discovered at least two other businesses had also been burglarized. A witness provided a suspect description and officers quickly located and arrested the suspect nearby. Police identified him as Cristian Villegas, 26, of Fremont.
- At about 4:21 p.m. a robbery occurred at Lucky supermarket, 34101 Fremont Blvd. when a male entered the store with a gun in his waistband and placed a note on the counter. The note demanded money and stated male would shoot everyone in the store. The male quickly left the store with the note after the robbery.
Hayward Police Log
Submitted by Hayward PD
Sunday, February 27
- At about 8:27 a.m. officers responded to residence on the 22000 block of S. Garden Ave to conduct a welfare check after receiving reports of a possible shooting. Upon arrival, officers found a 42-year-old male inside suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel arrived and pronounced the man dead. The case is being investigated as a homicide and the victim’s identity has not been released. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Humpert at (510) 293-7176.
Letter To Editor
COVID-19 and animal abuse
Recent studies tend to confirm that this godawful pandemic was HUMAN-caused, a direct result of our gross mistreatment and abuse of animals, both wild and domestic, in China’s live animal food markets.
We have nearly identical markets throughout much of California and New York City, where animals — both wild and domestic — are crammed cheek-to-jowl with the human population, a disaster waiting to happen.
Have we learned nothing?
Here in California, some three dozen necropsies on the market frogs and turtles (non-natives all) document that all are diseased and/or parasitized. It is ILLEGAL to sell such products, yet it’s “business as usual,” and our State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife continues to issue the import permits, putting the environment, the public health and animal welfare at great risk.
Worse, the majority of the market bullfrogs (commercially-raised in China, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico) test positive for a dreaded chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), responsible for the extinctions of some 200 amphibian species worldwide in recent years.
Some serious legislation and lawsuits are long overdue.
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS, Oakland
Letter to the Editor
Used face masks
Being a resident of the City of Fremont, I have witnessed many people being very irresponsible with their used face masks. I wanted to bring to this to the attention of the readers.
Although the city is considered the hub of Silicon Valley, where many educated professionals live, when I park in front of a grocery store, pharmacy, gas station or restaurant,
I come across all brands of used face masks on the ground. It’s disgusting and a public nuisance.
Come on, guys! If you don’t want to re-use your face masks, just dump them in the trash can. There is no fee for dumping right there. Why are you leaving them behind in the parking area where nobody will clean up your trash?
I expect all good and responsible residents of the city to heed my concern.
Zafar Yousufzai
Fremont
A 100th birthday to remember
By Anushka Vasudev
Photos courtesy of Anushka Vasudev
On Saturday, February 26th, a 100th birthday celebration was held for Mary Rivera. Mary worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II (a woman who stepped up to the workforce while men were at war). She carried that
Riveter spirit throughout her life.
Mary grew up in Arizona as one of thirteen children, and was required to attend a segregated school as a Latina. Often, Mary’s last name or color of her skin kept her from advancing and getting jobs, but she never let that drag her down. She moved to the Bay Area in the 40s and is a long-time resident of Newark. Randy Rivera, daughter of Mary, said “[Mary] was an underdog. And this made her who she is. She always supports the underdog.” Mary has been through plenty during her lifetime and this event was a celebration of all that she has done.
Mary’s birthday car parade was certainly one for its sights and sounds. Starting from Newark Old Town Shopping Center, dozens of cars decorated with banners and balloons rode by Mary’s house. Those in the car shared their wishes, sang songs and gave gifts as they drove by Mary’s home. Vibrant decorations set up in the front yard gave that special celebratory charm, and festive music ringing throughout the neighborhood spoke for the enthusiasm and spirit of Mary’s family and friends. Everything from balloons and decorations down to clothes people wore were all purple—Mary’s favorite color. The neighborhood was brought to life to celebrate Mary’s 100 years and counting.
Randy commented that “what has been keeping [Mary] vibrant these years is her spunk, tenacity and love of family.” One of Mary’s nieces, Rosa Rodriguez, chimed in, emphasizing, “And her family. Family is so large, there is so much love that is given by everybody; nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews. I mean the list can go on and on. All of this positive energy is what keeps somebody going for so long.” Many of Mary’s relatives noted that she is a person full of life and energy, which allowed her the long life that she has lived.
Although Mary herself couldn’t share much about her experiences, Randy shared that over the years her mother has seen a lot of changes around her. When Mary first came to Newark, there were a lot of pastures, fields, orchards, and not as much traffic. But Randy says that one thing Mary hopes to continue seeing in the future is “everyone being happy and being able to be together again because seeing family has been a challenge these past few years.”
Living to 100 years certainly warrants a celebration, and Mary’s loved ones put together one to remember. Rosa said that Mary’s sister is 93, and they are the only two of their thirteen siblings who are still here, and “that’s why we celebrate because every day is a gift.” Randy echoes this by sharing a belief that Mary has held close to her heart all these years: “It’s cliche, but you need to live each day as the day comes and hope that tomorrow arrives.”
Governor Newsom appoints Joe Tyler as Cal Fire Director
Submitted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Joe Tyler has been appointed to lead Cal Fire, California’s statewide fire agency overseeing an appropriated budget of $3.7 billion and more than 9,600 civilian and uniformed staff who responded to more than 535,000 emergencies in 2021.
“I am honored to have been selected to lead Cal Fire and I look forward to serving the people of California whilepromoting the health and welfare of our employees,” Tyler said in remarks to Cal Fire’s leadership upon hisappointment. Today, Tyler will spend his first full day as the Director of Cal Fire addressing employees who aregraduating as new Company Officers to operate fire engines and others attending Leadership Training at the California Fire Training Center.
Tyler is a 31-year veteran of Cal Fire and most recently served as the Deputy Director of Fire Protection, overseeing statewide fire protection operations and cooperative fire protection. He began his career with Cal Fire in 1991 working in several counties and programs throughout California and has an extensive background in executive level operations and programs.
Prior to his appointment as Deputy Director, Tyler served as the Assistant Deputy Director of Fire Protection withoversight of law enforcement/civil cost recovery, fire protection operations, aviation management, tactical airoperations, and mobile equipment. He has also held managerial responsibility for training, safety, emergency medical services (EMS), local/state/federal programs, and hand crew programs.
Tyler serves as the Department representative on the California Wildland Coordinating Group, National Association of State Forester’s Wildland Fire Committee and Western States Fire Managers, He also served on several statewidecommittees and cadres and was instrumental in the acquisition of a new fleet of helicopters and C-130 air tankers. He is a qualified Agency Administrator and Incident Commander – Type 1. He was a member of Cal Fire Incident Management Teams from 2005 through 2014, last holding the position of Deputy Incident Commander on Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3.
Follow Director Tyler on Twitter @CALFIRE_CHIEF
To learn more about CAL FIRE please visit www.fire.ca.gov
Honor Roll
Saint Francis University, Pennsylvania
Fall 2021 Dean’s List
- Aarati Sarikonda of Fremont
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Fall 2021 Dean’s List
- Audrey McIntosh of Newark
- Amanda Bui of Fremont
- Nicholas Mullin of Hayward
- Rose Crisman of Fremont
New promotions move Milpitas police forward
Submitted by Milpitas Police Department
So far, 2022 is shaping up to be a good year for the Milpitas Police Department. Chief Jared Hernandez recently announced that Captain John Torrez, a 32-year veteran with the department, has been promoted to Assistant Chief of Police. He started his new job on February 27.
Torrez joined the department as a paid Records Intern in 1991 and over the years climbed the ranks holding numerous positions including Police Explorer, Communications Dispatcher, Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. As a captain, Torrez commanded the Special Operations Division.
Hernandez also announced three upcoming promotions:
- Lieutenant Matthew Miller will be promoted to Captain, effective March 13. Miller was hired as an officer in 2003 and later held the ranks of Sergeant and Lieutenant. Over the past two years, Miller has been heavily involved in implementing COVID-19 protocols to protect officers and the community against dangerous exposures. As a Lieutenant, Miller supervised a patrol shift in the Field Services Division. In his new position, he will serve as Captain of the Field Services Division.
- Sergeant Craig Solis will be promoted to Lieutenant effective March 27. Solis joined the department as an officer in 2002 and was promoted to Sergeant in 2019. Solis has served on the Milpitas Police Officers’ Association Board in a variety of roles including Vice President. Most recently he was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau as a Detective Sergeant.
- Detective Kevin Jackson will be promoted to Sergeant effective March 27. Jackson was hired as an officer in 2005 and is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau as a Detective. Over the years, Jackson has served as a D.A.R.E. Instructor, Field Training Officer, Field Evidence Technician, Terrorism Liaison Officer, Mobile Field Force Team member, Peer Support Team member, Life Support Instructor, Honor Guard Team member, Firearms Instructor, and Bicycle Team member. In 2020, Jackson was selected as the Milpitas Police Department’s Officer of the Year.
New assistant police chief named in San Leandro
Submitted by San Leandro Police Department
Officials from the San Leandro Police Department (SLPD) recently announced that Captain Luis Torres has been appointed to Assistant Police Chief.
Torres began his law enforcement career as a Police Explorer in his hometown of Salinas before joining SLPD in 1998. Over the years Torres has worked a variety of assignments, including patrol, hostage negotiations, crime scene technician, school resource officer, sexual assault/juvenile crime detective, background investigator, and personnel and training.
He also served as the commander overseeing the K-9 Program, Hostage Negotiations Team, Color Guard, Professional Standards and Training Unit, and Patrol Division. In 2021, Torres served as Acting Police Chief while a search was underway for a permanent chief.
Torres holds an Associate’s Degree from Evergreen Valley College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University, and a Master’s of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.
