03-15-22 Articles

Juried Photography Exhibit 2022

Submitted by Arathi Satish

Photography is a powerful medium. It can make people more aware of their surroundings and help them express their thoughts and feelings. The 27th annual “Juried Photography Exhibit” is sponsored by Fremont Cultural Arts Council (FCAC) and City of Fremont. Rajeev Shankar, FCAC Juried Exhibit Chair said, “People are very happy to see the event back after a Covid-induced break. It is another step to help people return to normalcy. We have managed to get many more entries than we can show. It is especially heartening to see a lot of entries from students.”

Julie Gilson, President, FCAC, said, “I’m looking forward to the return of the ‘in-person’ event at the library as the 2020/2021 event was canceled immediately after installation due to the pandemic. This year, library patrons will be able to enjoy the photographs on display for a month. The FCAC has also added a new award this year for the image that best depicts life in Fremont. We hope there will be an image that is good enough to be reproduced in large format to be displayed in the windows of the FCAC office.”

A juried show is challenging, as artists have to present their work to a panel who will judge if a photograph is worthy of being selected to be displayed. Rajeev Shankar pointed out, “There are many entries that reflect the varied creativity of the photographers, and I am excited to share these with the wider community.”

The exhibit showcases the original photographs by Fremont residents, students, employees, and members of FCAC or Fremont Photographic Society. Submitted images were allowed to be manipulated with the stipulation that the image must be the creation of the photographer, and must be primarily photographic in nature and acceptable for general viewing.

In addition to awards selected by the jury, a few other awards will also be given out. As usual, visitors at the opening night reception will be able to vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Award. Other awards are this year’s special category “Scenes of Fremont”, The Alvin Dockter Nature Photography Award selected by the jury, and The President’s Award selected by Julie Gilson.

During the opening night reception, guests can mingle and talk to the photographers. Visitors can also buy prints that are available for sale. A master list of items available for purchase (and their prices) will be kept at the reference desk. Sales are between the photographer and the buyer. FCAC and the library are not parties to any sales. Any print sold will remain in the exhibit until the final day. Alameda County Library requires all patrons to wear masks indoors.

Juried Photography Exhibit

Saturday, Mar 19 – Saturday, Apr 23

Opening Night Reception

Saturday, Mar 19

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

https://aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

For more exhibit info contact

Exhibit Chairman Rajeev Shankar

(510) 399-3049 or fc***************@gm***.com

www.fremontculturalartscouncil.org

Shearing of the Sheep

By Stephanie Gertsch

Do you ever wonder who made your clothes? If you wear wool, the original textile worker who produced your sweaters might be a fuzzy sheep like the ones at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont.

Every year on “Sheep Shearing Day” Ardenwood’s small herd of sheep are divested of their winter coats in preparation for warmer weather. This year’s shearing will take place on Saturday, March 19. “This is our first event that we’re jumping back into after the shutdown in March of 2020,” says event organizer Mindy Castle. “We canceled it a week before we were supposed to do it in 2020. It’s nice to finally get to do it again.”

Activities are reformatted this year to cut down on crowding, but attendees will still be able to see professional sheep shearing (historical and modern) and sheep herding, as well as spinning and carding demonstrations. Russ Duguid will do the shearing, and Patsy Galati will bring in her own sheep and dogs for herding. Both rotate among local farms, including Forest Home Farms in San Ramon.

Ardenwood has a small herd of about six sheep. Romney sheep are known for their long fleece, and are mostly kept for shearing, while Suffolk sheep bred at the farm have shorter wool and are primarily a meat breed. Since Ardenwood is a working farm, Suffolks will go to market when it’s time.

Both varieties provide wool used in hands-on activities. The morning of Sheep Shearing Day there will be a felting craft, and in the afternoon, guests can make their own wooly lamb out of wool from Ardenwood sheep and pipe cleaners.

For the event, Patterson House will also open for tours for the first time in 2022. (Normal Historic Season tours will start the first week in April.) Food for purchase will be available at the park café.

“For current generations, [shearing’s] just not part of our experience because people don’t have those connections to farming that we used to,” Castle says of the event. “That’s what we’re hoping to spark in people. To think, ‘OK, so this is the first step. And then what happens?’ With the other activities like the felting activity and seeing the spinning and carding demonstrations, we’re hoping to fill in those steps for people to see how the wool goes from sheep to shawl, or sheep to sweater.”

If you miss out on the day—that’s not your only chance to interact with wool from Ardenwood sheep. After Sheep Shearing Day, wool will be sent to a professional mill to be washed and processed. Then it will supply spinning, dyeing and felting activities throughout the year.

Look for event updates on Ardenwood’s Facebook and Instagram as the day approaches. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.

Sheep Shearing Day

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

https://www.ebparks.org/

Tickets: Adults $7, seniors $6, kids $5

Ages 3 and under, free

That’s What She Said

Submitted by Karin Richey

Photos courtesy of Plethos Productions

Plethos Productions’ 4th annual “That’s What She Said” stand-up comedy show is back with a whole new lineup of fabulously female comics who will have you laughing all night long! Every year, Castro Valley nonprofit theatre Plethos Productions has celebrated Women’s Month with a lineup of ladies. This show tends to get the biggest laughs of the year. Plethos favorite comedy host, Priya Guyadeen, will be bringing up these known, loved and hilarious Bay Area comedians at Castro Valley Marketplace.

Headliner Emily Van Dyke is a regular at San Francisco Punch Line Comedy Club. She performs in venues all over California, including SF Sketchfest and has even opened for SNL’s Colin Quinn. That’s What She Said will also feature established Bay Area comics seen all over the local comedy scene: Rachael Berman-Huck, Kathy Klotz-Guest, PX Floro and Gina Stahl-Haven. You can get a feel for each of their comedic stylings via Plethos Productions Facebook or Instagram page @PlethosProductions.

The show offers delicious gourmet food and signature mixed drinks from Oculto delivered to your table throughout the performances. That’s What She Said has sold out every year, so be sure to get tickets in advance.

Plethos’ That’s What She Said

Saturday, Mar 19

8 p.m.

Castro Valley Marketplace

3295 Castro Valley Blvd.

Ple
thos.org

Tickets: $20

Supporting special needs children

Submitted by Fremont Unified Student Store

Fremont Unified Student Store (FUSS) is excited to see a team of five Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) high school students – Pranav, Thoya, Hansa, Saahil, and Aabhaas – working together to integrate and test various smart devices that will be assembled on an Intelligent Tray (IT) for power and manual wheelchairs.

Under the supervision of Mr. Zia Oboodiyat (Special Need Children Center Foundation – SNCCF) and guidance of Ms. Letha Saldanha (FUSS Team), these five students have been brainstorming and optimizing both features and physical layout of the IT during the past two months. Now, they are moving into the realization and testing of the prototype.

As FUSS’s limited engagement with this project comes to an end, we can’t wait to see the working prototype. We truly hope the struggles and challenges that some special needs children face every day will be eased.

For any questions, please contact Mr. Zia Oboodiyat at: cu*************@SN***.org or (415) 706-5164.

City Chamber Gala

Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce

The 78th Annual “Hayward Chamber of Commerce Awards Celebration Gala” will be held on Saturday, March 26. It will be a hybrid event at which honorees, their families and event sponsors will be in the conference center at Life Chiropractic College West. In addition, the event will be live-streamed and there will be an in-person option allowing attendance, including dinner. To enforce social distancing, the chamber will keep in-person attendance at half the capacity of the venue.

Guests of honor at the gala will be Business Person of the Year Aaron Ortiz, CEO of La Familia; Educator of the Year Luis Garcia, principal of Longwood Elementary School; Police Officer of the Year, detective Nate Scinto; and Firefighter of the Year, apparatus operator Anthony Conte.

The auction will still be offered, with proceeds going to support the event and other chamber outreach efforts such as Leadership Hayward.

“This will be a live-streamed event, but is no less prestigious than the previous 77 galas,” said Huggett. “Our honorees will be safely present for the presentations and remarks and the community will be impressed with some fascinating elements of the production.”

Kaiser Permanente sponsors Business Person of the Year Award. Educator of the Year is sponsored by Tri-CED Community Recycling, Police Officer of the Year by St. Rose Hospital, and Firefighter of the Year Award by Falck Ambulance, Northern California. Event sponsors are Calpine’s Russell City Energy Center, and Life Chiropractic College West. The dessert sponsor is Sugar Bowl Bakery.

Tickets will be $25 to watch the event by live stream. To attend in-person, the cost is $75 per person or $145 for a couple. For more information contact Susan Ojeda Cobos at Hayward Chamber of Commerce at (510) 537-2424 or su*****@ha*****.org.

Hayward Chamber Gala

Saturday, Mar 26

4 p.m.

Life Chiropractic College West

25001 Industrial Blvd., Hayward

http://www.hayward.org/

“High Fidelity: The Musical”

Submitted by Las Positas College (LPC) Theater Arts Department

Las Positas College (LPC) Theater Arts Department presents “High Fidelity: The Musical.” The musical is based on the popular 1995 Nick Hornby novel of the same name. It was written by David Lindsay-Abaire with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Amanda Greene. “High Fidelity” follows the adventures of Rob, a Brooklyn record store owner who finds himself unexpectedly dumped, and his life takes a music-filled turn toward the introspective.

With memorable characters and a rock-and-roll score, this homage to music geek culture explores love, heartbreak and the power of the perfect soundtrack. “High Fidelity: The Musical” is recommended for ages 13 and older.

LPC theater arts production is directed by Dyan McBride with music direction by Brian Allan Hobbs and choreography by Staci Arriaga. McBride said “High Fidelity” is a musical she has wanted to direct since it opened on Broadway in 2006 and that this production at LPC is sure to be a hit with the audience.

“I was a fan of the book and movie, and I appropriately discovered the CD for this show in a discounted stack. I took it home, listened to the first song, ‘The Last Real Record Store on Earth,’ and thought I had found one of the best opening numbers I’d heard in a long time. I wasn’t wrong. This score and script continue to delight me as a director,” said McBride.

“As for our production, we’ve got a great set of professionals on board to guide both our performance and tech students toward a killer show. I also love the fact that we are looking at this production with fresh eyes: adding a little gender bending, celebrating diversity and championing body positivity. Our record store looks like the world of 2022.”

“High Fidelity: The Musical”

Friday, Mar 18 – Saturday, Mar 26

3/18, 3/19, 3/24, 3/25: 8 p.m.

3/20, 3/26: 2 p.m.

Las Positas College

Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts

3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore

http://laspositascollege.edu/theater/

Tickets: https://bit.ly/3sYPjCE

Investigating Space: Women in Stem

Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center

 

Scientific Adventures for Girls is teaming up with Chabot Space and Science Center for an out-of-this-world day that brings together hands-on activities and interactive conversations to highlight female scientists and experiences. Engage with big questions in science while meeting women in space exploration, building rockets, dreaming up planets and more!

Join us every third Saturday of the month for Investigating Space as we explore and discuss the big topics in space exploration with some of the leading scientists and researchers in the Bay Area. In this new series, Chabot Space & Science Center highlights the latest discoveries, science research and space missions.

Investigating Space is hosted by long-term Chabot Galaxy Explorer Maxwell Edmonds-Drati.

Investigating Space: Women in Stem

Saturday, Mar 19

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

Home Page

General Admission: $19-24

Free summer program for young musicians

Submitted by Queenie Chong

For the 28th summer, Jenny Lin Foundation is offering a music program free of charge to all young people in the Bay Area. Instrumental musicians currently in 8th grade or higher are welcomed to join String Orchestra (directed by Greg Conway) or Band (directed by Travis Nasatir); students currently in 7th grade and up may register for Choir (directed by Kaia Richards).

Participants meet Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings for four weeks starting June 20. Rehearsals take place at Creekside Middle School in Castro Valley, and culminate with a large-scale community concert at Chabot College Performing Arts Center in Hayward, on Saturday, July 16.

Based in Castro Valley, Jenny Lin Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1994 after the brutal murder of 14-year-old Jenny Lin. Operated through volunteers and donations, the Foundation promotes child safety and youth music education, and has sponsored music and safety events over the years for East Bay communities. This includes a project in partnership with Alameda County Library to expand its collection of books related to child safet
y issues. Fremont Main Library and library branches in Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and Union City benefit from the project. Anyone wishing to access these items may use the keyword Jenny Lin Foundation in their catalog search.

Through the annual Summer Music Program, Jenny Lin Foundation hopes to carry on Jenny’s passion—music and friendship—and extend her life in a unique fashion. Student musicians are encouraged to take advantage of this program to maintain their skills and to continue performing in a group during the summer. This is also an opportunity for students to meet and interact with peers from throughout the Bay Area, and cultivate their leadership skills. In 2019, more than 300 young people from 35 schools of 12 cities participated in the program, co-sponsored by Chabot College.

Registration is now open for 2022 at https://jennylinfoundation.org.

Jenny Lin Foundation Summer Program

Jun 20 – Jul 14; Mon, Wed, & Thurs

6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Creekside Middle School

19722 Center St., Castro Valley

Final Concert

Saturday, Jul 16

Chabot College Performing Arts Center

25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward

Women’s History Month Celebration

Submitted by Livermore Arts

Bankhead Theater will continue to celebrate Women’s History Month with a special and stirring musical journey. Right in line with celebrating women’s contributions to history, culture and society, Bankhead will present Bessie, Billie, and Nina: Pioneering Women of Jazz, showcasing the accomplishments of the legendary Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone. This show is a look at the influence of these great female musicians and others who changed the way jazz was sung, played and heard, and their continuing influence on music today.

From the Jim Crow era through the turbulent 1960s, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone were among the most influential and popular singers of their times. Within their music and outside of the clubs and concert halls, they wielded their exceptional talents to combat racial prejudice, sexism and poverty. Whether powerfully and playfully claiming her autonomy and sexuality (Bessie Smith), forcing America to acknowledge the racism pervasive in the American South and beyond (Billie Holiday), or giving voice to the Civil Rights movement with stirring protest anthems (Nina Simone), these trailblazing singers spoke to and for the disenfranchised as women, African-Americans and artists.

Bessie, Billie, and Nina: Pioneering Women of Jazz will entertain, inspire and empower audiences during this pivotal time in our own history. Join us for this soulful and moving afternoon.

Bankhead Theater continues to keep COVID safety protocols in place with enhanced air circulation and no touch ticketing. Until further notice, proof of vaccination will be required for entry.

Bessie, Billie, and Nina: Pioneering Women of Jazz

Sunday, March 20

3 p.m.

$20-$80 ($20 student/military personnel)

Bankhead Theater

2400 First Street, Livermore

(925) 373-6800

www.LivermoreArts.org

Get ready to sing and swing

Submitted by Shirley Sisk

A nostalgic afternoon of popular standards, classic jazz music and vocals from the 1920s through 1960s is on tap Sunday, March 20 when the band Memory Lane Combo hits the stage in Newark.

Sponsored by League of Volunteers and Newark Arts Council, the program will be in the Newark Junior High School Multi-Purpose Auditorium.

Memory Lane Combo is comprised of four experienced Bay Area musicians: Mike Ferrell, piano and vocals; Richie Cafaro, drums, percussion and vocals; Carol Ferrell, vocals and percussion, and Jane Sorenson, vocals and percussion.

Complimentary refreshments will be served during the intermission.

Memory Lane Combo concert

Sunday, Mar 20

2:00 p.m.; doors open 1 p.m.

Newark Junior High School multi-purpose auditorium

6201 Lafayette Ave., Newark

(510) 793-5683

www.lov.org

Free; donations accepted

Pedals to Petals: Family Fun Bike Ride

By Hugo Vera

With gas prices in the United States reaching a historic high, more Americans are becoming increasingly creative about how and when they travel. One group of local bicyclists is taking it one step (or one pedal) farther as the Fremont Freewheelers Bicycle Club (FFBC) hosts its 50th annual “Primavera Century Family Fun Bike Ride” on April 10. The word ‘Primavera’ translates to “springtime” in Spanish and is synonymous with renewal and rejuvenation.

In 1972, a collective of East Bay cyclists and bicycle trail enthusiasts decided to form a non-profit organization to facilitate the continuation of their pastime—and thus founded FFBC.

“The FFBC was created to nurture all facets of bicycle safety and to allow the cycling community to grow and support one another,” says Family Fun Bike Ride organizer Julie Gilson.

In its half-century of operation, FFBC has organized everything from food drives to “Pizza Rides,” in which members bike along Mission Peak trail and converge at Mission Pizza for what Gilson calls a dinner of ‘subsidized pizza.’”

Events such as these, however, are only made possible through the contributions of the club’s members and fundraisers such as Primavera Century Family Fun Bike Ride. Proceeds from the Family Fun Ride will go directly toward insurance for future events, alleviate the club’s administrative costs and help facilitate future social events.

During this event, participants will embark on a 25-mile scenic bike ride through Fremont’s Coyote Hills Park. While more experienced members will be biking their choice of 68-, 85- or 100-mile distance rides (for which registrations are now closed), the club wants to ensure that even those who have little or no experience biking will enjoy the Family Fun Ride. “We want to make sure everyone feels welcome to come out and have fun, even if you’re a novice-level cyclist,” adds Gilson.

With issues such as increased traffic, air pollution and soaring gas prices directly impacting Bay Area commuters, the case for why the public should turn to biking could not be stronger. “The benefits of cycling go beyond health and sustainability. It’s an enjoyable pastime and during the start of the pandemic, bicycle shops were classified as essential services which highlights their usefulness.”

Primavera Century Family Fun Bike Ride follows a mostly flat trail so most bicycles should suffice. The FFBC also encourages participants looking to purchase a bicycle for the first time to support local, independent bike shops that have partnered with the club such as The Bicycle Garage located on Mowry Avenue. Electronic bikes (“E-Bikes”) and all other machine-powered bicycles are strictly prohibited from Family Bike Ride. Those interested should register online before April 7; day-of registration will not be available.

FFBC is also looking for volunteers to help out the day of the event at four locations: Mission San Jose High School and Alameda Creek Trail in Fremont, Ed Levin Park in Milpitas, and Rios Lovell winery in Livermore. Volunteers will receive a free performance t-shirt and snacks. Those who work two shifts at certain locations may be qualify for a free lunch from one of the four food trucks serving the post-ride lunch.

Primavera Century Family Fun Bike Ride

Sunday, Apr 10

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Start at Mission San Jose High School

41717 Palm Ave., Fremont

Link to Volunteer: https://ffbc.org/primavera/141-2/

Link to Register: https://ffbc.org/primavera/primavera-registration/

$40 for ages 16+; $20 for children 15 and under

City’s sesquicentennial celebration

Submitted by City of San Leandro

City of San Leandro invites residents and community stakeholders to attend the Sesquicentennial Birthday Party. The formal event program will include brief speeches from City officials, unveiling of the 1972-time capsule, the public announcement of Simplicity App non-profit service project contest winner and delicious birthday cake.

“2022 is a special year to live in San Leandro as we celebrate the 150-year incorporation milestone,” stated Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter. “As we continue to pull out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is my hope San Leandro residents will enjoy attending the many Sesquicentennial community events planned for this year.”

Public events to honor the Sesquicentennial milestone will occur from March 2022 through December 2022. Each event will be subject to the current COVID-19 public health directives. The community is requested to adhere to public health directives when attending public events. Also, situations may arise where public events will be rescheduled, modified or canceled. The community’s patience is greatly appreciated during these challenging times.

San Leandro Sesquicentennial Birthday Event

Monday, March 21

5 p.m.

San Leandro City Hall (Outdoor Plaza)

835 E. 14th Street, San Leandro

www.SanLeandro.org/150

15*@sa********.org

Live music to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Submitted by Jack’s Brewing Company

Bay Area folk rock group The Treacherous French will bring their energetic blend of music and vocals to Fremont for a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration performance on Thursday, March 17.

The foursome will perform a three-hour set starting at Jack’s Brewing Company. Dinners will be available for purchase to enjoy in the dining room while the band performs.

The Treacherous French band members are:

• Charlie Kaupp: vocals, guitars, harmonica, mandolin.
• Cara Madden: vocals, drums, washboard, guitar.
• Phil Bergeron: bass, vocals, guitar, ukulele, melodica.
• Olivier René: accordion, piano, organ, glockenspiel, spoons, Jew harp, steel drum, kalimba, egg shaker, whistling.

As part of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Jack’s will offer corned beef and cabbage along with its regular dinner menu items. They also will have a selection of their own craft beers and guest beers. Because space is limited, it’s a good idea to arrive early to get a good seat.

St. Patrick’s Day music celebration

Thursday, Mar 17

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Jack’s Brewing Company

39176 Argonaut Way, Fremont

(510) 796-2036

Oakland Zoo welcomes new tortoises

Submitted by Oakland Zoo

On Friday, March 4, Oakland Zoo welcomed two teenage male Aldabra tortoises needing medical care and a forever home. Both neglected and malnourished, these males were confiscated from a roadside zoo in Oklahoma and rescued by Wildcare Foundation in April 2021. After initial treatment at Wildcare, staff worked with Chelonian Taxonomic Advisory Group, part of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), to find suitable permanent homes for the tortoises.

“We take a lot of pride in giving rescues a home here at Oakland Zoo. While there are more animals in need out there than we have the space and caregiving capacity for, we’re thankful to be able to give at least some of those rescues the best quality of life possible,” says Nik Dehejia, CEO at Oakland Zoo.

During their initial intake, the Aldabra teens have shown their Oakland Zoo caregivers a glimpse into their personalities. One of the boys is shy, while the other is very interactive with Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital staff.

“We’re excited to welcome these boys to the family. We’ve administered many tests such as bloodwork, x-rays, viral testing, checking for parasites and administering any necessary treatment,” says Dr. Alex Herman, VP of Veterinary Services at Oakland Zoo.

Oakland Zoo is no stranger to taking in rescues from the illegal wildlife trade. The vast majority of the Zoo’s animal residents are rescues and many of those rescues were victims of the multi-billion-dollar industry. Many animals who are victims of the illegal wildlife trade are poached and sold into the exotic pet industry. Animals confiscated by officials at SFO and Port of Oakland have been brought to Oakland Zoo for treatment, care and permanent sanctuary over the years.

Tortoises can reach over 120 years old, most often outliving their owners. They can get quite large, reaching up to 550 pounds, and need space as ample as the Zoo’s Aldabra habitat to accommodate them. Buyers often cannot adequately or correctly care for these animals, resulting in neglect and suffering.

Before accepting these two new Aldabra tortoises, Oakland Zoo has been home to six Aldabra tortoises. The two new males will join their Aldabra family in a half-acre habitat once they’ve fully quarantined and are deemed healthy at Oakland Zoo’s Veterinary Hospital.

New local kids’ program opens

Submitted by Dorothy Dominique

Dorothy Dominique, Creative and Youth Program Director, hosted an open house Wednesday, March 9 to showcase a new after-school program, “Treasures Unleashed Clubhouse kid’s edition.” The program utilizes creative expression through arts to enhance self-esteem and confidence, providing elementary-aged children the opportunity to explore theater, dance, fashion, fitness, sports and more.

At their space on 971 B street next to US Bank in downtown Hayward, Treasures Unleashed Clubhouse offers a meditative room and arcade-style fun room with a stage. Children will have snacks, homework assistance and field trips.

For more information contact Dorothy Dominique at (415) 571-3371, hey@treasuresunleashed, or www.treasuresunleashed.com.

Health screenings available to military veterans

Submitted by Hayward Public Library

Military veterans in the East Bay will have a chance to meet with members of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Mobile Medical Outreach Team when they visit Hayward on Thursday, March 24.

During the visit, team members will provide examinations, consultations and referrals to veterans enrolled in the VA health system. They also will work with veteran’s spouses, caregivers, family members and survivors by providing information about veteran enrollment for VA healthcare.

The three-hour program starts at 10 a.m. in front of Hayward Veterans M
emorial Hall on Main Street. Veterans who want to participate should bring military discharge papers (Form DD-214) with them and a list of current medications they are taking.

Veterans must also have proof of service documents to participate in the event. Those who need to obtain the documents can find instructions posted on Hayward Public Library’s Veteran Resource webpage at www.hayward-ca.gov/public-library/resources/veterans.

The free program is a collaboration between the VA Mobile Medical Outreach Team, Veteran Connect @The Library Program, Hayward Public Library and Hayward Veterans Memorial Hall.

Health screenings for veterans

Thursday, Mar 24

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Hayward Veterans Memorial Hall

22737 Main St., Hayward

(510) 881-7974

he***************@ha********.gov

Free

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

Submitted by Lieutenant Ray Kelly

Saturday, March 5

• At about 10:40 p.m. deputies responded to a report about a shooting in the 200 block of A Street in unincorporated Hayward. Arriving at a liquor store, deputies found a young adult male suffering from several gunshot wounds. Emergency medical responders at the scene later pronounced the male dead. Sheriff’s Office investigators determined the victim was shot near the liquor store by two unknown suspects who fled the scene before deputies arrived. Anyone who was in the area or witnessed the event is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at (510) 667-7721.

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

Friday, March 4

• At 7:21 a.m. a man identified by police as Ricardo Resendez, 31, of San Leandro was detained at Warm Springs/South Fremont station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed an active no-bail warrant and a prohibition order. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Saturday, March 5

• At 8:47 a.m. a man identified by police as Robert Joseph Villegas Jr. 33, of Oakland was arrested at Hayward station on a warrant charging failure to follow a court order. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

• At 3:47 p.m. a man identified by police as Kennedy Stith, 25, of Hayward was arrested at Hayward station on suspicion of domestic battery. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail and issued a prohibition order.

• At 9:43 p.m. a man identified by police as Nathaniel Warner, 26, of Berkeley was detained at Fremont station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed three outstanding warrants. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Tuesday, March 8

• At 7:09 p.m. a man identified by police as Dontae Hayes, 28, was arrested at Milpitas station on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, along with three outstanding misdemeanor warrants. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.

Wednesday, March 9

• At 8:41 p.m. a man identified by police as Carvel Roque, 34, of South San Francisco was arrested at Fremont station on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Thursday, March 10

• At 7:21 a.m. a man identified by police as Miguel Estrada-Nunez, 47, of Hayward was arrested at South Hayward station on suspicion of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and possessing drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

• At 9:51 p.m. a man identified by police as Angel Ramirez, 25, of Oakland was detained on a train at San Leandro station for causing a disturbance. A record check showed a warrant. He was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Get etched for free

Submitted by Milpitas Police Department

In response to an uptick in catalytic converters thefts from vehicles, Milpitas Police Department is partnering with Envision Dealership in hosting a Catalytic Converter Etching event on Wednesday, March 23 where vehicle owners can have vehicle identification permanently etched onto the valuable car part.

Catalytic converters, which are located between the engine and muffler of most cars manufactured after 1974, filter harmful emissions that would otherwise pollute the air. They contain precious metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium which thieves sell for scrap. Hybrid cars, SUVs, and trucks are often the vehicles most preferred by thieves, but almost any vehicle can be a target.

The free event is open to Milpitas residents only and is set for 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Envision Toyota, 950 Thompson St., Milpitas. Advance registrations must be made online and because space is limited the service is available only for the first 24 vehicles registered.

When registering, participants must provide their vehicle’s license plate number and VIN number. The VIN can most easily be found on the driver’s side dashboard or on a sticker in the driver’s side front door jam. All information collected will be forwarded to Envision Toyota for garage registration. At the time of the appointment, participants must provide proof of residency in Milpitas and a copy of their vehicle’s registration, and must complete an event waiver.

To register, visit the eventbrite website at www.eventbrite.com, then type “Get Etched with Milpitas PD” into the search field and follow the prompt. For details, send an email to Detective Nichols at jn******@ci.gov or call (408) 586-2400.

Catalytic converter etching

Wednesday, March 23

8 a.m. – 12 noon

Hosted by Milpitas Police Department and Envision Dealership

Envision Toyota, 950 Thompson St., Milpitas

Free; advance registration required and limited to first 24 registrations

Register: www.eventbrite.com

Details: (408) 586-2400

CHP Log

Submitted by CHP Hayward

Wednesday, March 9

• At about 9:45 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report about a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on the northbound lane of I-880, just north of Warren Avenue in Fremont. Upon arrival, they found a male pedestrian dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian stopped and cooperated with officers. The identity of the driver or deceased male were not immediately released. An investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call the Hayward CHP office at (510) 489-1500.

DUI checkpoint nets five arrests

Submitted by Sgt. Tasha Decosta, Hayward PD

During a recent DUI checkpoint conducted at Foothill Boulevard and City Center Drive in Hayward, officers from the Hayward Police Department contacted 459 motorists. Of those drivers stopped, two were arrested on suspicion of DUI, and three were arrested and released from the scene with a citation for driving with a suspended or revoked license because of a previous DUI. Additionally, 24 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license.

The checkpoint took place on Friday, March 4 from 7:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. the next day. Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. Hayward police officials said the primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

Funding for checkpoints is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Yanneth Contrada, Fremont PD

Wednesday, March 2

• At about 10:45 a.m. a robbery occurred inside the Marshall’s store at
  the Fremont Hub shopping center in central Fremont when an unknown male took a purse from a victim’s shopping cart. The victim fought back and retrieved the purse from the suspect who left the store on foot. The suspect, later identified by police as Joshua Wise, 35, was located nearby and arrested by responding officers.

Friday, March 4

• At about 4:00 p.m. someone stole a catalytic converter from a Toyota truck in the Walmart parking lot, 40583 Albrae St. The case is being investigated as a grand theft.

Sunday, March 6

• At about 7:30 p.m. an unknown female approached a woman sitting in her vehicle in the Costco Parking lot, 43621 Pacific Commons Blvd. and asked the victim to open the passenger side door. Instead, the victim rolled the window down and the suspect reached in and grabbed the woman’s purse, then fled the area in a vehicle.

Monday, March 7

• At about 8:20 p.m. about seven auto burglaries were reported in the area of Pacific Commons shopping center. Someone shattered the windows of several vehicles and removed personal belongings.

Police chief outlines department’s vision for the future

Submitted by Fremont Police Department

On March 10, Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington released a detailed letter to the community that offers updates on police department’s programs, its ongoing initiatives and goals:

Dear Fremont Community, in summer 2020, we came together to develop key initiatives to enhance trust, legitimacy, officer development, staffing, community relationships, and ultimately, deepen Fremont Police Department’s commitment as a forward-thinking police agency.

These initiatives became the framework for the Police Chief Transition Plan we developed in September 2021 to establish our clear vision for the department’s future. Today, I’m proud to say we have taken tremendous strides in implementing strategies to achieve the goals outlined in the plan.

While we were prepared to send out this update in late February, we paused our efforts due to the unexpected passing of our beloved Police Captain Frederick “Freddie” Bobbitt Jr. Capt. Bobbitt had a significant role in helping to strengthen FPD’s relationship with Fremont residents including our youth. We are grateful for his service, commitment, and dedication to the City of Fremont. I’d also like to thank our community for their support over the last few weeks; it has meant a lot to the department and Capt. Bobbitt’s family.

While I will formally share a holistic progress update on our department in the near future, I wanted to provide you with a preview of what we’ve been working on in the last few months since I was sworn in as Police Chief.

To further educate our officers on the diverse perspectives of residents, we have hosted dozens of community-centered events. Our Community Engagement Unit scheduled meetings with each of Fremont’s six districts to better understand our city’s unique communities. We have also strengthened our relationship with the Southern Alameda County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) through regular engagement. Looking forward, our management team plans to visit the Oakland LGBTQ Community Center and participate in the P.O.S.T. Tools for Tolerance Program to gain a deeper understanding and to further enhance our connections with our diverse community.

Another area I am excited about is improving our officers’ professional development. We formalized a training matrix document to provide developmental consistency across the department and outlined key trainings focused on ethical policing, leadership, diversity and inclusion, community perspective trainings, and more to give our officers a well-rounded perspective and prepare FPD’s next generation of leaders.

Building on the idea of investing in our staff, we are recruiting for new positions created with the intention of better serving our community and Department. FPD is currently seeking a Police Deputy Chief to oversee and formalize our Office of Professional Standards and Accountability. This role will significantly enhance our operations, productivity, and most importantly, accountability. We are also hiring a Public Affairs Manager and have developed a Media Relations Sergeant role to increase transparency and help us better communicate and interact with our community. To further diversify our staff, I signed onto the 30 x 30 Initiative to increase the representation of women in our police recruitment classes to 30% by 2030.

Additional staffing adjustments include repurposing a detective position to more closely focus on retail crimes and supporting our Mobile Evaluation Team (MET) with internal resources to enhance our response to service calls involving our unhoused community. These investments further our department’s commitment to supporting programs such as the Fremont Housing Navigation Center and funding opportunities for permanent supportive housing that improve the lives of our unsheltered community members.

To further address the growing need for transparency, we partnered with the Geographic Information System (GIS) Team to develop a mobile app compliant with Racial Identify and Profiling Act (RIPA). By collecting this data, our department will gain a deeper understanding of how we police — enhancing overall accountability in the profession. We’ve also asked our Chief’s Community Advisory Group to increase its participation in our policy review and discuss matters of public interest. In addition, we have proposed a Chief’s Youth Advisory Council to hear from our youth about the emerging issues that are of concern to them.

Focusing on Departmental efficiency, we completed a review of our patrol resource deployment model and utilized data to identify peak service demands. In the coming months, adjustments will be made to ensure effective and efficient use of patrol resources that are responsive to service needs.

Regarding increases in gun violence and illegal street racing, we have begun conversations with the City Attorney’s Office to research ordinances that other cities have enacted which helped reduce these crimes. Additionally, our gun violence reduction team has continued to work diligently to de-escalate potential acts of violent crime that could threaten public safety and has apprehended multiple suspects who possessed firearms and posed a risk to our community.

In response to other surging regional and local crimes, we developed the Real Time Information Center (RTIC), which utilizes information and technology to significantly enhance our ability to swiftly respond to crime. Recently, our internal experts also developed a preliminary plan to enhance our community camera program, which is highly effective at apprehending offenders and responding to criminal behavior citywide. Utilizing grant funds, the department is also in the process of outfitting police vehicles with technology to improve our ability to apprehend car thieves, recover stolen vehicles, and reduce risk to the community.

Working in close partnership with the Fremont Unified School District, we finalized an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for our School Resource Officer (SRO) Program, establishing an internal policy, clearly defined roles, a “softer uniform,” additional trainings, and program data collection. Although more work is still to come, our efforts resulted in the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) commending our program for modeling best practices and making conscientious efforts to further transparency and procedural justice.

I am fortunate to have skilled and dedicated staff committed to achieving the department’s objectives and providing the highest level of service to our commu
nity. My team has made extraordinary progress despite the ongoing impacts of COVID and our staffing challenges, and I am proud of our department’s investments in employee wellness and support services to ensure we do all we can to care for those serving our community.

Looking forward, I am excited to showcase the results of these actions more formally this spring in our enhanced FPD Yearly Summary Report, which will include new data on the number of SWAT deployments, armored vehicle deployments, drone deployments, and more, as well as the 180-day Transition Plan Report.

In the meantime, I thank you for your continued support, trust, and guidance as our department works to build upon its existing framework to meet community needs and continue its long-standing tradition of excellence.

Sincerely,

Chief Sean Washington.

Fremont City Council

March 8, 2022

Announcements:

• Union Pacific Railroad planning night rail maintenance work in Niles and Centerville areas.
• SparkPoint tax service now available.
• Labor negotiations: no reportable action

Consent Calendar:

• Continue council meetings via videoconference. Reconsider April 5, 2022

Ceremonial Items:

• Honor Fremont Fire Rehabilitation Unit Volunteer Coordinator Susan Rath for 20 years of service.

Public Communications:

• Validity of opinion surveys by City.
• Support for Project Homekey and safe parking.
• Lack of comprehensive policies and safety for residents.
• Support for homeless population.
• Role of Mobility Commission.

Other Business:

• Mid-Year Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2021/22. Overall sustained economic growth but uncertainty from inflation and Russian aggression. Estimated revenue increase of $31 million plus savings for a total of approximately $37.9 million. Approve transfer of $21.8 million to Capital Improvements Fund. FY 2022/23 Operating Budget Schedule: May 17, 2022 Budget Presentation; June 7, 2022 Public Hearing; June 14, 2022 Public Hearing and Budget Adoption.

Mayor Lili Mei                                                Aye

Vice Mayor Raj Salwan, District 5                 Aye

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

In-person meetings return

Submitted by City of Hayward

Following the relaxing of COVID-19 masking requirements for Hayward city employees and the public in early March, Hayward City Council and Planning Commissions meetings have resumed in-person meetings.

In a March 8 announcement, city officials said the change, effective Tuesday, March 15 is part of the city’s ongoing restoration of regular services and operations as coronavirus infections recede and health and workplace-safety authorities adjust COVID-19 rules.

The relaxed masking requirements inside city facilities for employees and public visitors are aimed at people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, city officials said that unvaccinated employees and visitors will continue to be required to wear a mask or other face-covering until further notice.

Meanwhile, for citizens who prefer to watch Hayward government meetings online, they will continue to be live streamed with video later posted on the city website at www.hayward-ca.gov.

Newark City Council

March 10, 2022

Consent Calendar:

• Approval of audited demands.
• Approval of February 24, 2022.
• Adopt a resolution to execute an amendment to the consulting services with Robert Half International Inc. to increase the not-to-exceed compensation for temporary staffing to the Information Systems Division.
• Adopt a resolution amending the 2020-2022 Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year 2021-2022 for capital improvement plan budget rollovers.
• Adopt a resolution approving amendments to the Contractual Services Agreements with 4Leaf, Inc. and Bureau Veritas North America, Inc. for additional building inspection division plan review, field inspection and miscellaneous support services.

Other Business:

• Introduction of an ordinance adding chapter 7.24, Fireworks Social Host Ordinance to the Newark Municipal Code to increase penalties of the use of illegal fireworks. Presented by Police Chief Anderson. Motion passed unanimously.

City Council Matters:

• Prayers to Ukraine.
• Thanks to staff and Newark residents for a smooth community meeting on Homekey Project.

Mayor Alan Nagy                   Absent

Vice Mayor Hannon               Aye

Luis Freitas                             Absent

Sucy Collazo                           Aye

Mike Bucci                              Aye

San Leandro City Council

March 7, 2022

Recognitions:

• Mayor’s Award for Kindness to Trinh Phan for impactful positive volunteer work at James Madison Elementary School.
• Proclamation declaring March 12, 2022, as National Girl Scout Day.
• Proclamation declaring March 18, 2022, as San Leandro High School Drama Day.
• Proclamation declaring March as American Red Cross Month.
• Proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month.

Public Comments:

• To increase the vision on organizational capacity, to add positions to the city staff, and many services need to coordinate.

Council Members Announcements:

• Councilmember Azevedo has reached out to the Ukrainian community; nearly 100 Ukrainians live in San Leandro. He appreciated everyone who came out for a rally to show support towards the Ukrainian people. He reminds people that for March 20th there will be Community Cleanup teaming up with Grand Avenue Foundation at Marina.
• Councilmember Aguilar attended a vigil to stand in solidarity with fellow sisters and brothers from Ukraine.
• Councilmember Lopez appreciates female colleague members for their impactful work towards the community on International Women’s Day. She offered condolences for the late Terry Sandoval, a leader of Alameda County Democratic Central Committee.
• Councilmember Cox announced that March 21st will be the 150th celebration of City of San Leandro at City Hall.
• Councilmember Simon announced that on Saturday, March 19, at 10 am, at city hall, there will be a community forum on tiny homes.
• Vice Mayor Ballew announced that on March 23rd at 2 pm there will be a dedication and renaming of the police building in honor of former Chief Bob McGinnis.

Presentation:

• Chief Executive Officer Kimberly Pace shared a presentation outlining the positive impact of the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Leandro. The organization has served over 2550 kids annually through after-school, youth, summer camp and youth leadership programs.
• Debbie Pollart shared a presentation on American Rescue Plan Act Street Cleanliness with an update on staffing changes and ARFA funds. Debbie highlighted proposals on hiring new temporary street staff, a downtown self-cleaning restroom and contract
  abatement.

Consent Calendar:

• Approve $50,000 for a consulting services agreement with San Leandro Chamber of Commerce to support new and ongoing economic development services.

Pulled From Consent Calendar:

• Extend the State of Emergency proclamation to continue conducting all San Leandro City Council and all appointed Board and Commission meetings remotely due to COVID-19 pandemic health and safety concerns, effective another 30 days beginning March 7, 2022. Motion unanimously adopted.

Public Hearing:

• Ordinance amending Title I, Chapter 1 of San Leandro Municipal Code relating to council member districts for 11A scenario. Motion unanimously adopted.

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter   Aye

Vice Mayor Pete Ballew         Aye

Victor Aguilar                         Aye

Bryan Azevedo                       Aye

Fred Simon                             Aye

Deborah Cox                           Aye

Corina Lopez                           Aye

Union City City Council

March 8, 2022

Proclamations and Presentations:

• Proclaim March as Women’s History Month and March 8 as International Women’s Day.

Consent Calendar:

• Approve minutes from February 15, February 22 and February 23 City Council meetings.
• Adopt a resolution appointing individuals to serve on the Arts and Culture Commission, Human Relations Commission, Senior Commission and Sales Tax and Utility Users’ Tax Oversight Committee.
• Adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Utility Cost Management LLC for utility bill auditing services.
• Adopt a resolution declaring Fire Engine 529 as surplus and authorizing its sale to Alameda County Fire Department at market value for training purposes.
• Adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the City’s Compensation Plan and Salary Schedule for multiple unrepresented seasonal and temporary positions in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5.
• Conduct a second reading and adopt an ordinance amending Section 2.26.020 of Chapter 2.26 “Arts & Culture Commission,” of the Union City Municipal Code.
• Adopt a resolution finding that there is a proclaimed state of emergency; finding that meeting in person would present likely risks to the health or safety of attendees as a result of the state of emergency; and authorizing remote teleconferenced meetings of the legislative bodies of the City of Union City for the 30-day period beginning March 8 pursuant to AB 361.
• Adopt a resolution of the City Council confirming continued existence of a local emergency due to COVID-19.

Public Hearings:

• Introduce an ordinance approving development agreement (DA-22-001) for the Windflower- Block 2 Project, for the purpose of extending project approvals that were previously approved by the City Council on November 14, 2017. Motion unanimously adopted.
• Public hearing to receive community input regarding boundaries for district-based elections pursuant to Elections Code Section 21607.1 (4th hearing) and a adopt an ordinance adopting the final map of district boundaries for district-based elections of council members in accordance with the redistricting process for the 2020 Federal Decennial Census, and Amending Union City Municipal Code Section 2.04.510. Motion unanimously adopted.

Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci                Aye

Vice Mayor Pat Gacoscos                   Aye

Emily Duncan                                     Aye

Jaime Patiño                                        Aye

Gary Singh                                          Aye

Letter to the Editor

Upset about bus stops

Too many AC Transit stops have no place to sit. Individual buses are so infrequent that 20- to 30-minutes can pass between rides. Riders are forced to stand or buy their own, portable seating. If the bus rides are this far apart, it is unjust and inequitable to provide a stop, but not a place to sit.

I wrote to AC Transit. To their credit, they replied quickly and repeatedly, with multiple people addressing my concern. I think they care.

Their replies revealed a larger problem. We have given almost total authority over a public service to a private company: Clear Channel.

AC Transit has a large coverage area: 5,500 active stops according to Owen Goetze, Transportation Planner at AC Transit. He said they receive many requests from the public about additional shelters and seating.

Goetze wrote in an email: “To support these requests, we try and work with the various cities and Clear Channel Outdoor, a private company, to provide or relocate benches to our stops.”

Goetze also wrote: “AC Transit only owns the bus stop pole and all other elements are maintained or installed by other entities. AC Transit does not have a crew that can maintain benches and cities are often hesitant to add additional maintenance obligations. That makes companies like Clear Channel attractive as there is no cost to the City or AC Transit to maintain or pick up trash since this is paid for by ad revenue and they also assume liability should an incident happen.”

A public entity, providing a public service, owns the pole. A private company gets to decide who gets to sit down.

Goetze noted: “The significant downside to this (relationship with a private company) is that it severely limits the number of stops that can have benches — as it is based on how much ad revenue it can provide for a private company and their willingness to provide a bench.”

AC Transit has board meetings every two weeks; the city council in your city has monthly meetings too. The public has no control over how much Clear Channel is willing to spend on infrastructure.

Goetze wanted me to know, “[AC Transit] staff recognizes this is an issue for our riders and we are working with our Board of Directors on trying to identify a new model for seating and amenities at our stops going forward.” He included a few models from other cities in his email.

One Fremont bus stop on Auto Mall Parkway was nominated for America’s Sorriest Bus Stops and it remains unchanged after over a year. I am sure that the readership of this newspaper knows of similar bus stops in: Union City, Newark, Hayward, Cherryland, Ashland, San Lorenzo, San Leandro… I am sure readers use these sorry stops all the time.

According to a December 2021 article in the Mercury News, the Fremont stop does not have enough ridership to be considered for additional seating and shelter. It was nominated by the people who use it.

Andrew

Fremont

Letter to the Editor

Rodeo Cruelty

Back in 2019, Alameda County Board of Supervisors outlawed the children’s “mutton busting” event, in which young children – often in tears – are coerced into riding terrified sheep by their thoughtless parents, cruel and dangerous for all concerned. Kudos for that.

Now it’s time to ban the brutal, sometimes fatal and blatantly sexist “wild cow milking contest,” in which still-lactating beef cows are manhandled into submission, then milked for a few drops. Cows have suffered and died at both Rowell Ranch (2008, broken neck) and Livermore Rodeos (2004, broken leg).

In a remarkable abdication of duty, in 2021 Ha
yward Area Recreation & Park District (HARD) board voted 4:1 to allow rodeo policy changes “only if changes are made to the Federal, State or County laws.” Not acceptable!

There is major support for the ban: Alameda County Veterinary Medical Association, East Bay SPCA, Hayward Friends of Animals, Ohlone Humane Society, Humane Farming Association, Animal Legal Defense Fund and many others. An online petition has garnered more than 180,000 signatures.

Please contact the Board of Supervisors, urging them to outlaw this cruelty before the May Rowell Ranch Rodeo.

EMAILS:

ke**********@ac***.org

na********@ac***.org

da********@ac***.org

ri***********@ac***.org

da***********@ac***.org

As Tennessee William wrote, “Cruelty is the only unforgivable sin.” (“Night of the Iguana”)

Sincerely,

Eric Mills, coordinator

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

Oakland

East Bay defeats San Marcos in tournament final

Submitted by Eric Harding; Cal State East Bay Sports

Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) women’s basketball team won the third California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament championship in program history, defeating number 1-seed Cal State San Marcos 80-66 on Saturday, March 5 at CSUEB.

It’s the second CCAA Tournament championship for head coach Shanele Stires, who also led the East Bay Pioneers to the title in 2017. CSUEB (22-2) is ranked number one in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) West Region.

Zhane Duckett finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists en route to being named CCAA Tournament MVP. Delia Moore scored a team-high 15 points with four rebounds and three assists. Moore joined CCAA All-Tournament Team.

Senior guard, Madison Schiller, had a spectacular all-around game with 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Taylor Linzie recorded nine points with eight rebounds. Grace Campbell had seven points with eight rebounds. Freshman Christiana Bacci made four 3-pointers off the bench and finished with 11 points.

East Bay led the entire game and built an 18-point advantage in the third quarter after a short jumper by Duckett with 6:20 left in the period.

2022 CCAA All-Tournament Team:

Zhane Duckett, Cal State East Bay (MVP)

Delia Moore, Cal State East Bay

Akayla Hackson, Cal State San Marcos

Lily Buggs, Cal State LA

Charity Gallegos, Chico State

Mission Valley Track and Field Club

Submitted by Lee Webb

Track and field season is upon us, and Mission Valley Track and Field Club is preparing for it. During the week of March 14, Mission Valley Track and Field Club is commencing their 2022 season practice at Irvington High School (Fremont). Ages five and up are welcome.

Training is available for all track and field events with coaches for distance, sprints, throws and jumps. Also offered are individual training plans for better sports performance, nutrition and college planning.

Mission Valley Track and Field Club was formed in 1982 by Lee Webb. The club is a non-profit organization, which serves a variety of ages and groups in Union City and surrounding areas. Mission Valley Track and Field serves seniors, veterans, youth, special needs students, special Olympians, Para Olympians and Olympians in need. The club actively supports these groups year-round, and puts on a variety of events to help in the community.

Mission Valley Track and Field

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Irvington High School

41800 Blacow Rd, Fremont

(510) 304-7172

missionvalleytrackandfield.com

Robert J Turbin Charity Reunion Game

Submitted by Sarah James

Join us for Robert J Turbin’s Fourth Annual Spring Ball Charity Reunion Game. Super bowl champion, Robert J. Turbin, will return to his alma mater, Irvington High School, for the annual alumni basketball game.

Enjoy the pre-game festivities with food, musical performance by Preston Pohl, and family-friendly activities, including raffles, face painting, give aways and more. Get the chance to ‘meet and greet’ with Robert Turbin and special guest (to be announced) for autographs and photos.

Robert J. Turbin Charity Reunion Game

Saturday, March 26

Pre-game festival

12 p.m. noon – 3 p.m.

Game tip-off

4 p.m.

Irvington High School

41800 Blacow Rd., Fremont

Tickets: www.robertjturbin.com

Fremont lacrosse begins

Submitted by Greg Mengis

Spartans’ lacrosse club, serving Fremont, Newark and Union City, kicked off their 2022 season Saturday, March 5 in Palo Alto. Even with a team of girls relatively new to the sport (playing in their first or second season), the 10U and 12U girls both won their games.

The boys had two close, hard-fought games, with the 10U team narrowly losing 9-7, and the 12U boys pulling off a 10-8 victory. These first games of the season were lots of fun for new and experienced players alike. We’re excited for our first full season since 2019!

There’s still time to join this season. If you want to try lacrosse for free, players are invited to attend practice Tuesday nights in Fremont. For more details, contact Greg Mengis at gm*****@fr*****.com or visit www.Fre-Lax.com.

Coping during these uncertain times

By Anne Chan, PhD, MFT

 

In the weeks leading up to February 24, 2022, many of us were concerned about a possible invasion of Ukraine. Our worst fears were confirmed when Russia launched a large-scale attack. As news about the crisis unfolded, we became bombarded with social media posts that prompted a cascade of worrying questions like “What will happen to Ukraine?” and “Will this lead to a world war?”

On top of this disturbing news, all of us are still on the roller-coaster ride of the pandemic. Just when we thought things were calming down after the Omicron surge, Covid cases spiked, making some question if the pandemic will be a hellish ride that lasts forever.

It has been a difficult two years for the world. These are uncertain times and it is natural for us to feel stress, anxiety and fear. Please know that you are not alone; even though anxiety is not a pleasant sensation, it is also a normal reaction. Yet even in the face of threat, we can increase our well-being. The following are key practices that can help you develop resiliency:

Self-care

What are ways you can recharge your energy and spirit? Self-care doesn’t have to be extravagant or cost a lot of money. Just taking three minutes to do a breathing exercise can restore your mind. I also count self-care as healthy food, exercise, getting enough sleep, and having down time. Sometimes, people confuse self-care with being selfish. Nothing is further from the truth! This is especially true for caregivers. It is as important to take care of ourselves as it is to devote time and energy to others.

Focus on what you can control

It is natural to worry about what one cannot control, such as a raging pandemic
or an invasion across the globe. However, our imaginations can lead us to the worst-case scenarios, causing us to feel scared and helpless. To maintain your mental well-being, develop the habit of focusing on what you can control. Every day, ask yourself: “What can I do today that might be helpful for me, my family or my community?” It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture like organizing a protest. Even simple tasks like cleaning your kitchen counter or spending quality time with your child or aging parent can help you gain a sense of control.

Take a stress inventory and take action

What are the biggest sources of stress in your life right now? Is it the nightly news, your Facebook feed, toxic family members, Twitter? Consider limiting your exposure to these sources of stress. Replace them with healthy, nourishing, and mood-lifting activities like exercise, meditation, and support groups.

Keep a gratitude journal

I have written in the past about the value of gratitude. Practicing gratitude is always important, especially in a time of uncertainty. Keep a gratitude journal, listing five things or people each day that you are grateful for. You will notice a profound shift in how you see the world when you actively practice being grateful.

 

Know your values and act on them

What are the most important values in your life? Perhaps you deeply value your family, your friends, and your community. Ask yourself how you can act on these values during this time. Perhaps you can reach out to a friend you have lost touch with.

Seek support from trusted people

Sometimes people turn inward when they are under stress. However, a community of support can be a lifeline. Connect with those who can provide true understanding, sympathy, and support—be they your church group, AA, close friends, or community network. If you don’t have such a person to turn to, seek professional help from counselors and psychotherapists.

 

Identify your flow activity

A flow activity is something that is so absorbing that it makes you forget the passage of time. Healthy flow activities might be gardening, running, playing games, or making art. Being absorbed in a flow activity can actually protect your well-being by boosting your mood and staving off negative thoughts.

Breathe

Last but not least, do not forget the simple, yet profound art of breathing. When we are stressed or anxious, we tend to take short, shallow breaths. Being conscious of the quality of your breathing can increase your sense of calm and reduce anxiety. Breath awareness does not require any special equipment; nor does it have to take much time. All you have to do is to sit quietly and focus all your attention on your breath as it goes in and out of your body. Distracting thoughts will pop into your head – this is totally normal and expected. Gently re-focus back on your breath. Doing this every day will help calm your mind and spirits.

Anne Chan is a career counselor and licensed psychotherapist in Union City. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@gm***.com © Anne Chan, 2022.

EARTHTALK

Climate change has impact on coral reefs

From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: How are the world’s coral reefs doing these days? I haven’t heard much about them lately despite all the recent talk about climate change’s ill effects.

– Jo. S., Bowie, Maryland

Coral reefs are being hit by climate change in just about every way possible. Wildfire, drought and other land-based climate disasters have captured global headlines, but coral reefs have been bleaching at record levels, and as such their future is uncertain.

The science of climate change’s impact on coral reefs is simple. As humans pump greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, the ocean acts as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and dissolving it into acid. As a result, ocean acidity has increased by about 25% since the early 19th century, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That acidity is incredibly harmful to coral reefs. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), ocean acidification “decreases growth rates and structural integrity” of coral skeletons, damaging their ability to support the diversity of life that makes up a reef ecosystem.

One of the most immediate threats to coral is ocean temperature increases. Coral reefs exist only in narrow bands of water that stay within a moderate temperature range, not too hot or cold. Even moderate temperature increases can cause thermal stress that contributes to coral bleaching and infectious disease. The ocean has warmed 1.3 degrees (F) since the Industrial Revolution, meaning many reefs are stuck in dangerously hot water. The stress on reef creatures has been immense. When coral polyps — small, anemone-like animals that form the living base of reefs — get stressed, they expel the symbiotic algae that grows on them and provides them with nutrients. This is what’s called coral bleaching. With no algae to feed coral and give it its color, the abandoned coral turns white. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s dead, but with no nutrient supply its ability to grow and fight off diseases is significantly hampered.

Warming water also causes stronger and bigger storms, which can destroy entire reef systems as they pass. Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas in 2019 and destroyed 30% of the islands’ coral reefs. In 2005, Hurricane Rita caused extensive damage to coral reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Texas. Research suggests some storms may at times be beneficial for coral reefs by lowering water temperature. The influx of cool water can reduce heat stress on polyps, according to the Reef Resilience Network. But that temporary relief isn’t enough to make up for long-term warming.

As surface temperatures increase, scientists hope that coral reefs might be able to slowly move themselves into cooler water — or that deep-water reefs already exist undiscovered. Researchers in Tahiti announced in February 2022 that they had found a nearly two-mile-long healthy coral reef in uncharacteristically deep water, leading to speculation that more deep-water reefs might exist in unexplored areas.

Still, the rate of human-caused warming far outpaces the speed at which coral reefs can move. Several start-ups and labs around the world are developing small, human-made coral systems, which could eventually be deposited in the ocean and grow into full reefs. But that technology is still a long way away. Until then, cutting emissions by driving less, using energy-efficient appliances and divesting from fossil fuel companies is the best way individuals can look out for the future of coral reefs.

ONLINE CONTACTS:

• EPA on ocean acidification:

epa.gov/ocean-acidification/understanding-science-ocean-and-coastal-acidification#ocean

• NOAA:

oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html

• Tahiti deep-water reef:

washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/20/tahiti-coral-reef-discovery/

EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: qu******@ea*******.org.

Is the ISS program under threat?

Kailash Kalidoss, Aerospace Enthusiast

War deters progress, not just on earth but also in space. The International Space Station (ISS) has been a beacon of international collaboration beyond borders and politics for the past two de
cades.

ISS was launched back in 1998, and astronauts have been living onboard continuously since 2006. Two hundred and forty-three astronauts from 19 countries have visited and contributed to ISS. Now, just when the Cold War days seemed over, we are in a new brewing worldwide crisis that has intensified in a matter of weeks.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, several new sanctions from different nationalities, including the US, were passed. These sanctions significantly affect Russia’s space program, led by their agency Roscosmos. Roscosmos recently threatened to pull out of the ISS program and simply let it crash, although NASA strives hard to maintain amicable relations with them. NASA expects Russian participation in ISS will continue in the interim.

ISS currently got a new lease of life with funding and operations set to run it successfully until year 2030. That’s another eight years of operational life. We hope that the Ukraine situation will be resolved long before that. For all the research that is carried out on ISS, Russia and the other ISS partners need each other’s continued collaboration. The Russian Soyuz is currently responsible for keeping ISS afloat, providing reboost and altitude control, which are vital to keep ISS from an uncontrolled reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. However, if things take a nosedive and head south, we need to look for alternatives and risk mitigations.

One viable route that can be explored is to take help from commercial space partners. SpaceX recently responded to Roscomos that it would be happy to fill in if Russia decides to pull the plug on ISS. How SpaceX plans to achieve this is not fully clear, however. SpaceX could use its Cargo Dragons and Cygnus resupply spacecraft to cover most of what the Soyuz does. This way, NASA and other partners can potentially maintain ISS without Russian support.

The bigger question, though, is, “Is it worth doing all this?” This question is from the standpoint of knowledge, time and expenses. It is a process that might take months or even years and billions of dollars. Whether NASA will terminate ISS early and use the funding to accelerate its successor – NASA’s commercial space station program – or continue keeping their faith in ISS, remains to be seen.

Kailash Kalidoss is an aerospace enthusiast and educator serving the Bay Area. Kailash first fell in love with aerospace as a teenager when he learned about aviation from his father’s role as a Ground Operations Manager. Kailash has since spent his efforts sharing knowledge about aerospace, astronautics, aviation, science and technology, and of course, the night sky. Kailash also represents the Civil Air Patrol and NASA as a volunteer. This article is based on his opinion and does not represent the views of any external public or private entity.

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

Just for the fun of it

Was it whimsy or a brash gesture when Karly Sindy in Asheville, North Carolina ordered her personalized license plate from the Department of Motor Vehicles? She received the plate, which read F-A-R-T, put it on the back of her pickup truck and off she went for a drive, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. Apparently, it caused quite a stir among fellow drivers and that, in turn, caused the DMV to send her a letter asking her for an explanation. Friends and strangers heard of her plight and, with their help, Karly started a new club, which is called Friends of Asheville Recreational Trails. She informed the DMV that the club’s acronym is the reason she requested her customized plate and is now waiting to see if she can keep it. See video on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh96lpgbtp0

New York’s finest

New York City gets a bum rap for being a cold-hearted, what’s-in-it-for-me kind of a place. But sometimes you hear about how some of its 8.5 million inhabitants can expose a tendency for kindness and honesty, AMAC reports. Take the case of Eduardo Martinez. He was rushing to get to work and dropped his wallet in Times Square. When he realized his loss, he retraced his steps and frantically began searching for the wallet; after all, it contained no less than $4,000 in cash. Two police officers saw how agitated he was and approached him and gave him back his wallet. It seems that an unidentified fellow commuter found the wallet on his way to work, saw the cops and turned it over to them.

A colorful tail

Freya, a bulldog belonging to the Mosher family of Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia, gave birth to seven pups, but she wasn’t finished. Along came an eighth puppy encased in a black sac and it appeared to be stillborn, reports AMAC. Suddenly it began to move. But the story doesn’t end there. As the Moshers proceeded to clean the newborn pup they noticed that it was bright green in color. Trevor Mosher told Global News “We started to dry her off and noticed she was green and immediately again thought there was something wrong. So, we googled it, ‘my puppy is green, what’s wrong,’ and apparently it is very rare and it has happened a few times all over the world.” Mother nature can be funny that way. See video of the green puppy: globalnews.ca/news/8625291/green-puppy-middle-sackville/

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

Want a good summer job? East Bay Regional Park District is looking to hire 50 new lifeguards for the 2022 swim season. The district operates 10 swim areas, including lakes, lagoons and pools. The lifeguard job is full-time seasonal from May through September. Anyone who is 16 or older before April 23 can apply. Starting pay is $20.17 per hour.

Application includes a swim test. Remaining testing dates are on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20 at Mills College in Oakland, and Saturday and Sunday, March 26 and 27 at Granada High School in Livermore. Applicants will be asked to swim 550 yards in under 10 minutes, carry a rescue board 50 feet, retrieve three dive rings under four to seven feet of water, tread water for two minutes using only their legs and retrieve a 10-pound brick from under water. There’s also a short informal interview.

Participants who past the tests will be invited to the park district’s lifeguard academy beginning Saturday, April 23, where they receive paid training. The academy runs for five consecutive weekends in April and May. For more information and application information, go to bit.ly/2022EBRPDLifeguard.

Although it’s early, spring has arrived at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. The center is hosting spring-themed Family Nature Fun from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20. This is a free, drop-in program; no registration is required. It’s an opportunity for all ages to find out what’s new at Crown Beach, and enjoy some nature-themed activities. Then at 3 p.m. both days, watch the staff feed the fish at the center’s aquarium.

The visitor center is at the end of McKay Avenue off Central Avenue. For information, call (510) 544-3187.

Elsewhere in the regional parks, there may still be time to register for the Gold Rush Adventure at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch, organized by naturalist Ashley Adams. The backstory is that a Wild West bandit has hidden “gold” throughout the park. Adams will provide clues to the locations.

Show up for the rush with your team any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. You’ll discover hidden stories about Black Diamond’s past during the search, and
win prizes, too.

Black Diamond Mines is at the end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. The program is free of charge, but registration is required. For registration and information, call (888) 327-2757, option 2.

Down at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, the sheep are due for their annual shearing. You can watch the process, then try wool carding and watch the spinning wheel in action, any time between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. You can also make your own wooly lamb to take home.

There are lots of other activities at Ardenwood, too; the park is a restoration of a 19th century estate once home to the Patterson family. Early risers will enjoy a bird-watching walk at Ardenwood with naturalist Christina Garcia, scheduled for 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 20.

Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. For information on programs and admission fees, call (510) 544-2797. There is no admission fee for the bird walk.

An ascent of Wildcat Peak is on the agenda for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 20 at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley, led by naturalist Trail Gail Broesder. The group will watch for wildlife and experience panoramic views of the Bay and San Francisco from the summit. Wear hiking shoes; bring water and snacks.

This is a free program and registration is not required. Meet Trail Gail at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Central Park Drive. For information, call (510) 544-2233.

Bees and other pollinators are the focus of a short walk for ages five and older, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 20 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. Naturalist Maeron Yeshiwas will talk about how we can help animals that pollinate, after which the group can taste the fruits of the labor. The walk is free of charge, and registration is not necessary. Parental participation is required, and masks are needed as well, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For information, call (510) 544-3220.

This is just a partial list. For full information on park district programs, visit the website, www.ebparks.org.

Plants that spice up the garden

By Daniel O’Donnell

Otto von Bismarck, 19th century Prussian politician, is popularly believed to have coined the phrase “Laws are like sausages. It is best to not seeing them being made.” However, linguistic researchers have traced the quote to American poet John Godfrey Saxe. The quote is used in many situations where the route to the final outcome might be unpleasant. This is not the case for the various seeds that end up in jars on spice cabinet shelves. Sprouting one of these spices, watching it grow, caring for it, and harvesting the seeds is a process that many people find pleasant.

The terms “spices” and “herbs” are often used interchangeably. Both are used to season food and drink, but there is a difference between the two. Spices are processed by crushing or drying the flowers, fruits, bark, rhizomes, roots, or seeds of a plant. They tend to have more intense flavors than herbs. Herbs are made from the leaves and sometimes stems of plants and are often used fresh. Herbs like oregano and basil are also used dried. There are over 100 different spices grown throughout the world. Growing a plant for its seeds is rewarding because of the enjoyment from watching its full life cycle from seed, to seedling, to mature plant, to flowering, and back to seed.

Starting with seeds collected from a plant or purchased in a packet are two viable methods. Seeds from a spice rack can also be grown. However, since seeds have a shelf life, it is important to research the length of time a particular type is viable. Using an online viability chart is an easy way to see how long a seed is good for.

There are two other easy ways to check viability. One is to place seeds in a glass of warm water overnight. Viable seeds will sink. The other is to place about ten seeds on a damp paper towel and place it in a sealed plastic bag. Place the bag in a warm location, out of direct sunlight. Check it daily and mist the paper towel to keep it moist. Research the germination time of the type; if seeds have not sprouted in the allotted time, they are not viable.

It is best to use a seed-starting potting mix, or recipe to make your own, in order to germinate viable seeds. The majority of the popular spice seeds can be planted at ¼” depth, but researching the exact recommended depth for a particular plant is best. Many seeds can be sown outside after the last frost and when the weather is getting warmer. Some can be started six weeks earlier indoors, but many have irregular germination rates that make them poor indoor candidates. Some may need to have been exposed to colder temperatures before germinating. Researching the specifics of the particular seed offers the best chance of success.

Once seedlings are ready to be transplanted, an indoor or outdoor location should be chosen based on the specific plant’s light, humidity and growth space requirements. Watering and fertilizing will be dependent on the specific spice plant being grown. However, for pollination, indoor plants may not be self-fertile and may need to be moved outside when flowering.

After the plant flowers and has been pollinated, seeds will form on the flower head in pods, or in a fruit. Harvesting can usually be done six to 12 weeks after the flower, pod, or fruit has dried. Some seed pods pop open to spread seeds. These will need to be covered by a breathable clear bag that will catch the seeds as they are expelled. Some plants might also need to be protected from birds.

Some of the more interesting plants that can be grown locally to produce aromatic and flavorful spices include:

Achiote tree, which produces annatto seeds that have a nutty peppery taste and impart a bright yellow color to food.

Cardamom can be grown indoors and produces seed pods that are ground and used in food recipes as well as to flavor coffee and tea.

Caraway seeds are not seeds but the fruit of the plant. They have an anise or liquorish flavor.

Coriander, also called cilantro, has edible leaves and seeds that have a citrus taste.

Cumin produces seeds that are ground into a powder and used to add flavor and color to chili and curry powders.

Fenugreek has seeds that are versatile in many recipes because of their nutty, sweet, and slightly bitter taste.

Sesame is the oldest oilseed crop, dating back thousands of years. The nutty tasting seeds are used whole or ground as well as making sesame seed oil.

Amaranth, anise, celery, dill, fennel, mustard, nigella, and poppy plants are some of the more commonly seen spice plants grown in the Bay Area. Alternatively, some are grown as vegetables, for their flowers, or for their foliage color. Starting these spice plants from seeds and watching them grow refutes the phrase “It is best to not seeing them being made.” It is instead, enjoyable and rewarding to see where spices come from.

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

Free samples are back, but with safety in mind

By Anne D’Innocenzio

Associated Press Retail Writer

NEW YORK (AP), March 1 — When Pat Curry spotted bite-sized wood-fire rotisserie chicken with portabella mushroom at her local Costco in early June, she felt “giddy.” After a 14-month hiatus, free samples we
re back.

“It was one of the markers that told me that we turned a corner,” said the 60-year-old who lives in Augusta, Georgia. “It’s the little things that you do that were taken away, and now they’re back.”

When the pandemic was declared in March 2020, retailers worried about the potential spread of the coronavirus so they cut off free sampling of everything from food to makeup to toys. But now with vaccinations rolling out and the threat of COVID-19 easing in the U.S., stores like Costco are feeling confident enough to revive the longstanding tradition.

For customers, sampling makes it fun to shop and discover new items — not to mention getting all the freebies. For retailers, they’re critical tools to keep shoppers coming back and battle against online retailers like Amazon.

Food sampling converts browsers into buyers at a 20% higher rate than if customers weren’t allowed to test, says NPD Group Inc., a market research firm. The conversion rate is 30% higher when beauty products are sampled. “Sampling is critical,” said Marshal Cohen, NPD’s chief industry analyst. “Impulse alone drives 25% of the retail business.”

Jake Tavello, a senior vice president at Stew Leonard’s, said promoting new items had been challenging without sampling, a tradition started by his grandfather who founded the regional grocery chain in 1969. Sales of a new item pink glow pineapple were OK this past spring, for example, but have tripled since demonstrations were reintroduced. “When people taste it, that’s what can makes people want to buy it and decide what they want to eat for dinner,” Tavello said.

But while sampling is back, it’s not clear if everyone is ready to bite. With that in mind, some retailers are putting various safety protocols in place to ease any safety concerns.

At Costco, masked workers prepare the hot and cold samples behind plexiglass counters and distribute to its members one at a time. Stew Leonard’s also brought back hot samples with similar safety measures.

Meanwhile, Walmart and its wholesale club division Sam’s Club are only serving pre-sealed food samples. And Sam’s Club is limiting to sampling on the weekend. Target said that staffed food and beverage sampling has remained on pause since March 2020 but it has been allowing self-service sampling of individually wrapped items.

With beauty testing, retailers appear to be even more cautious. Beauty chain Ulta Beauty said it’s still figuring out how to bring back makeup testers. Target said in May it will resume beauty product sampling in stores this year where customers can take home individually wrapped items. Kohl’s would only say that it hadn’t brought back makeup or fragrance sampling.

Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University, said handling and eating food has not been a major route for the spread of COVID-19. But food sampling can lead to people congregating together, and that increases the risk of transmission. He also pointed to concerns about food sampling that go beyond the coronavirus: “Multiple hands grabbing samples can lead to the spread of germs, while contaminated gloves can also disperse unwanted bacteria.”

As for makeup testing, Gostin said it’s “much safer and wiser” to use samples that are fully packaged. And with letting kids play with toys, frequent sanitizing of objects is recommended to contain viruses like influenza, which unlike COVID-19 can be easily spread through touching contaminated surfaces.

Toy retailer Camp, which centered its shopping experience around children playing with toys, now has individually wrapped craft kits in the store instead of letting kids dig around for art supplies, says Tiffany Markofsky, the company’s marketing director. For testing out toys, it’s sticking to items that can be easily cleaned, like remote control toy cars instead of dolls with faux hair.

Marianne Szymanski, president of Toy Tips Inc., a toy guide, believes toy testing overall will be “limited” because of the lingering fears about germs due to the pandemic.

Some retailers are doing away with sampling altogether. For instance, West Hollywood, California-based beauty company Blushington isn’t reopening its six stores and is instead moving more toward virtual makeup sessions and offering services at shoppers’ home, says CEO Natasha Cornstein. She thinks shoppers believe they have better control of their environment and hygiene in their own home. “The consumer is coming out of COVID with very different habits,” she said. “It’s not only about COVID now.”

Senior use of smart phones, computers and iPads is on the rise

By John Grimaldi

It turns out that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Just look at how America’s seniors have adopted cellphones, computers and laptops. Middle age children of today’s seniors may soon start complaining that their moms and dads are spending too much time online and, on their iPhones, says Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

She notes that the 50-plus set has been adopting technology at a steady rate for years now, but the covid pandemic has speeded things up. A Pew Research study, she points out, shows that 73% of the 50 to 64 set and 45% of Americans 65 and older are familiar with and use social media sites.

Meanwhile, the Infocomm Media Development Authority tells us that a 2016 survey of seniors 75 years of age and older showed that just 11% of them were using smart phones and the same survey conducted in 2020 showed that senior smart phone usage had skyrocketed to 60%. The same survey showed that only eight percent of 75-plus seniors were familiar with and used the Internet in 2016 and by 2020 46% of super seniors were regularly online.

A lot of research has been conducted regarding the “hows” and “whys” of technology adoption among the elderly, according the Journal of Geriatric Mental Health. They show that, “once their initial resistance of learning new technology was overcome- ‘enjoying the experience’ of using the mobile phone motivated them to use the device. Other contributory factors were ‘heightened self-esteem’ when they could perform certain chores by themselves such as paying bills or buying groceries or navigating around, and ‘feeling secure’ (because of various safety measures available on the cellphone), as well as more realistic, goal-directed outcomes such as information retrieval and communication. In addition, social influence or subjective norm in the theory of reasoned action research also influenced the use of mobile phones. Other studies, too, have identified different possible motivators for senior mobile phone use, including social influence, safety, security, autonomy, relatedness, and usefulness.”

Tiffany Esshaki, who writes for C&G Newspapers, reports that older folks have been slowly but surely embracing the fruits of technology and the pandemic helped speed things up for savvy seniors. Esshaki cites Molly McElroy, a 70-year-old resident of Auburn Hills, Michigan. According to McElroy, “If you, like me, are a senior, which makes you a high risk for COVID-19, (social media) is how you carry on. You’re already limited at some level by age, driving less at night, and now you’re isolated. Or are you? Thanks to my hobbies — indolence and the Internet — I hardly feel impacted at all.”

Ageists will tell you that the elderly are not capable of navigating the intricate pathways of computer and smart phone communication. It’s not true. A scholarly paper written by Morgan Van Vleck, a Masters Research Fellow in Aging at Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, argues that the use of social media and technology by seniors is a welcoming development.

“The growing intergenerational nature
of social media has been beneficial in allowing a place for people to build relationships based on common interests rather than age. The future of social media is an intergenerational one, with the aging population only set to increase. Instead of viewing a growing social media use among older adults as the “death” of these sites, it should be viewed as an avenue for possibility that arises when everyone is given a platform,” Van Vleck writes.

— 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.

Tony Awards to return to Radio City Music Hall

By Mark Kennedy

Associated Press Entertainment Writer

NEW YORK (AP), March 9 — In another sign that show business is snapping back to its pre-pandemic rhythm, the Tony Awards will once again take place in June and at a familiar location, Radio City Music Hall.

The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing announced March 10 that the awards will be handed out June 12 and aired on CBS, but instead of a three-hour presentation, producers are adding an extra hour ahead of the telecast that will stream only on Paramount+. The broadcast will be live across the country, starting at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT), and the main event will be live at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). There was no word on a host.

The ceremony will be held nine months after “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” took the best new musical crown at the last Tony Awards, one postponed because of the pandemic. That show was also expanded from its typical three hours to four, with host Audra McDonald handing out Tonys for the first two hours and Leslie Odom Jr. hosting a “Broadway’s Back!” celebration for the second half with performances from the three top musicals.

The Tony Awards eligibility cut-off date for the 2021-2022 season is April 28 for all Broadway productions which meet all other eligibility requirements. Nominations for the 2022 Tony Awards will be announced May 3.

Honor Roll

Biola University

Fall 2021 Dean’s List

• Vince Argonza of Fremont
• Abijah Crawford of Fremont
• Keren Godwin of Fremont
• Lauren Graham of Fremont
• Josephine Huang of Fremont
• Sena Kim of Fremont
• Meonah Kwan of Union City
• Caleb Loftis of Castro Valley
• Vivian Mac of Hayward
• Anya Mortensen of Castro Valley
• Kimberly Najarian of Hayward
• Rachel Anne Sevilla of Hayward
• Adara Smith of Fremont
• Rebekah Stockinger of Hayward
• Brittany Ung of Fremont
• Brooke Ung of Fremont

IAD031522

CONTINUING EVENTS:

Wednesday, March 16 – Thursday, March 17

Purim Events

 

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 and 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

(510) 667-7900

www.aclibrary.org

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

www.olivehydeartguild.org

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

(925) 373-6800

www.LivermoreArts.org

Friday, March 18 – Saturday, March 26

“High Fidelity: The Musical” $

3/18, 3/19, 3/24, 3/25: 8 p.m.

3/20, 3/26: 2 p.m.

Las Positas College

Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts

3000 Campus Hill Dr., Livermore

http://laspositascollege.edu/theater/

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/60386

Saturdays & 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 Rd., Sunol

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 Drive, 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

http://www.sungallery.org/

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

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

(510) 895-2573

www.slplayers.org

Saturday, March 19 – Saturday, April 23

Fremont Cultural Art Council Juried Photo Exhibit

During library hours

Opening Reception: Saturday, Mar 19; 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Photos from community members on the theme “Scenes of Fremont”

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

Exhibit Chairperson Rajeev Shankar: (510) 399-3049

fc***************@gm***.com

https://fremontculturalartscouncil.org/

UPCOMING

Thursday, March 17 – Saturday, 19

Animal Feeding

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Check for eggs and feed livestock

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Thursday, March 17

AWC Dance $

11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Enjoy the music of The Canyon Band

Age Well Center Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo
Padre Pkwy., Fremont

http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses

Thursday, March 17

Laugh Your Face Off with Tom Papa $

7:30 p.m.

Hilarious hijinks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Bankhead Theater

2400 First St., Livermore

(925) 373-6800

www.LivermoreArts.org

Tickets: $20-$58 ($20 student/military personnel)

Saturday, March 19

FUN Preschool and Enrichment Fair

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Research what’s available for preschoolers in the area

Centerville Presbyterian Church

4360 Central Ave., Fremont

Saturday, March 19

Sheep Shearing Day $

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Watch sheep get a “haircut” and make a wooly lamb

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Saturday, March 19

Spring Has Sprung Tea $

12 noon

Afternoon of tea sandwiches, scones, fruits, desserts and tea

Historic Shinn House Archive Room

1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont

Call (510) 795-0891 for reservations

www.missionpeakreporter.org

Saturday, March 19

Storefront Storytime

11 a.m.

Reading of “The Tale of the Mandarin Duck” written by Bette Midler

Books on B

1014 B St., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

Saturday, March 19

Nectar Garden Exploration

11 a.m. – 12 noon

Discover native pollinators and plants

Coyote Hills Visitor Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Saturday, March 19

Wonders of the Wetlands

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Learn about marsh life from insects to mammals. Ages 8+

Coyote Hills Visitor Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Saturday, March 19

Animal Adaptions

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Learn about how animals’ bodies change to help them thrive. Ages 5+

Sunol Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

www.ebparks.org

Saturday, March 19

Holi Festival of Colors $

11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Celebrate the arrival of spring

Mission San Jose High School

41717 Palm Ave., Fremont

FOGSV.org

Saturday, March 19

American High School Marching Band Fundraiser $

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Mention AHS BPO when ordering

The Halal Guys

5335 Curie Street, Fremont

(510) 493-7330

Saturday, March 19

Street Eats and Makers Market

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Local vendors, fantastic eats, live music

24 Grove Way, Castro Valley

https://www.thefoodtruckmafia.com/

Sunday, March 20

Nectar Garden Exploration

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Discover native pollinators and plants

Coyote Hills Visitor Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Sunday, March 20

Un-bee-lievable Pollinators

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Learn about native pollinators and plants

Coyote Hills Visitor Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

Sunday, March 20

Memory Lane Combo

2 p.m.

Jazzy classics from the ‘20’s – ‘60’s

Multi-Purpose Auditorium

Newark Junior High

6210 Lafayette Ave, Newark

(510) 793-5683

www.lov.org

Sunday, March 20

Bessie, Billie, and Nina: Pioneering Women of Jazz $

3 p.m.

Three dynamic vocalists backed by an all-female band

$20-$80 ($20 student/military personnel)

Bankhead Theater

2400 First St., Livermore

(925) 373-6800

www.LivermoreArts.org

Monday, March 21

Teen Driver Program R

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

CHP officers discuss teen driver/parent responsibilities

Drivers between ages 15-19

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

www.aclibrary.org

Monday, March 21

President’s Advisory Committee Meeting R

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Ohlone College meeting open to all

RSVP by 3/17: www.ohlone.edu/pacrsvp

Downtown Event Center

3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

(510) 659-6200

Monday, March 21

San Leandro Sesquicentennial

5 p.m.

Speeches and cake to celebrate city’s 150 years

City Hall (Outdoor Plaza)

835 E. 14th St., San Leandro

www.SanLeandro.org/150