People with Purpose Pink Tie Gala returns

By Charlene Dizon

Photos Courtesy of Ramil Sumalpong/Iconic Lab

 

After two years, Hope Empowerment Renewal and Support (HERS) Breast Cancer Foundation is proud to present the in-person return of their People with Purpose Gala. The non-profit organization, known for its dedication in assisting breast cancer patients with post-surgical products and fitting services, is eager to greet attendees with a memorable evening.

 

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation has been serving the breast cancer community since 1998, with a mission to accommodate patients regardless of income or insurance status. Executive Director Tina Fernandez Steckler states, “We are unique in the Bay Area because we do not turn away underserved patients.” The foundation offers services of charitable programs such as WE Support, YOU Survive, the Lymphedema Project, and Hair With Care. Certified Breast Care Specialists are also valuable members of the organization. These employees receive hours of hands-on training and testing. Steckler states, “Beyond the skills, this position is like a calling. It takes a special person and it is not easy to see patients that are distressed about their appearance. Surgery can be disfiguring, but our all-female specialists are very passionate and supportive.” Such resources are vital in ensuring that patients feel encouraged both physically and emotionally. This close-knit community will once again be reunited at the upcoming gala.

 

People with Purpose Pink Tie event began in 2009 as a luncheon and has since transformed into an evening gala. Due to the pandemic, the event was canceled in 2020 and held virtually in 2021, making this year’s in-person return especially anticipated. The venue has also moved from Pleasanton to Sunol. Festivities will begin with a cocktail reception followed by a sit-down dinner. Activities will include live and silent auctions and fundraising games. Prizes range from gift cards, to Apple products, to a New Orleans trip. The gala’s success is made possible, year after year, by donors and sponsors, including Legacy Sponsor Fremont Bank. Proceeds made from the event will fund the foundation’s assistance programs.

 

The evening will also feature HERS awards. These will be presented to honorees who have lived by the foundation’s values when encouraging patients. “The HERS awards are what we stand for,” Steckler explains. “These principles drive our everyday work and motivate us, and these are what we strive to restore and provide for our patients.” This year, Hope Award honoree is Dr. Vera Barreto Packard, who served the foundation as Executive Director between 2008 to 2017 and made significant shifts in expanding the organization’s goals and services. Dr. Bogdan Eftimie, Co-Director of University of California San Francisco (UCSF)/Washington Hospital Healthcare System (WHHS) Joint Medical Oncology Service, will receive The Empowerment Award for his passion and commitment to giving comprehensive cancer care. The Buentello Family is receiving the Renewal Award for their volunteer work during HERS Annual Walk and their creation of the interactive Footprints Booth. Lastly, the Harriet Despeaux Award (formerly the Support Award) has been given to Iconic Lab Founder and Volunteer HERS Photographer Ramil Sumalpong, who has photographed HERS Foundation’s events for many years.

 

Safety measures during the event will be followed per local and state health requirements for the wellbeing of all attendees, whether immunocompromised or not. “We are taking all potential steps as a community and will keep reevaluation in mind if the current health circumstances change,” Steckler states. Proof of vaccination or medical exemption must be provided upon entry. Venue capacity has been limited and tables will be spread out accordingly. Pink disposable masks will be available, along with the implementation of medical-grade air purifiers and multiple hand sanitizing stations. The foundation understands its attendees’ concerns and is determined to prioritize them.

 

The in-person return of People with Purpose has been made possible through the efforts of the HERS Foundation staff, whose patient-centered approach has remained resilient. “We’re all looking forward to reconnecting with guests and community members,” Steckler states. “The last two years have been difficult, yet our team showed up every day.” With strong support from staff and the community, the gala will certainly be a noteworthy reunion.

 

 

13th Annual People with Purpose: A Pink Tie Gala

Saturday, Apr 23

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Casa Bella Event Center

11984 Main St., Sunol

(510) 790-1911

https://hersbcf.ejoinme.org/2022PWP

Tickets: $125 (single ticket); $900 (table of 8)

RSVP by April 12

 

 

 

Mission San Jose: The Indigenous Perspective

By Hugo Vera

 

Less than a mile from Old Mission San Jose, on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, self-described Ohlone Indian Andrew Galvan gazes pensively at a triangular plot of land bordering a creek, a Jehovah’s Witnesses church, and Washington Boulevard. Fenced off from the rest of the city, this property contains a field with a buckeye tree, a lone headstone, one grave marked with bricks arranged into a cross and a sign reading “OHLONES.” First dedicated in 1811, this plot of land contains the Ohlones Indian Cemetery. Less than an acre, it remains to this day the only piece of Fremont returned to its indigenous stewards.

 

Galvan’s story traces back to 1794 when his earliest recorded ancestor was taken from his village “Saklan” (present-day Rossmoor community between Walnut Creek and Moraga) by Spanish soldiers and delivered to Mission Dolores in San Francisco. He was forcibly baptized into the Catholic faith and became a servant of the Franciscan Order that ruled “Alta California” in the age of colonial Spain. In 1818, he was relocated to a then 21-year-old Mission San Jose. Thus began the Galvan family’s struggle against centuries of erasure and prosecution.

 

“The interesting thing about anniversaries such as these is that several representatives of one family of colonizers might say, ‘Oh, we were here first’ and then perhaps another might say ‘No, we were the first ones here.’ We’re the Ohlones. There’s no wrangling with us that we were the first ones here,” says Galvan. “I'm not an ‘Ohlone descendant,’ I AM an Ohlone Indian in the present tense. I was born an Ohlone Indian and I shall die one too.”

 

Galvan’s reckoning with his heritage and call to advocacy came from his father, Felipe “Phil” Galvan. During the 1950s and 60s, Felipe Galvan (alongside siblings Michael “Ben” Galvan and Dolores Galvan-Lamiera) spearheaded the movement for greater self-determination among indigenous Fremonters. In the 1960’s, the city had plans to construct I-680 directly in the path of the burial grounds that now make up Ohlones Indian Cemetery. Felipe, a devout Catholic, immediately protested the move and sought help from the Catholic Church, who then owned the property. After listening to Felipe’s plea, then then-Bishop of Oakland, Floyd Lawrence Begin, saved the grounds from destruction. But he took it one step further.

 

“I was eavesdropping on my father while he was on the phone and I could hear him go, ‘Well Bishop, of course I would want to but I can’t afford to buy it.’ It turns out they were talking about the Ohlones Indian Cemetery, and I could hear Bishop Begin tell my father over the phone, ‘No Phil, you don't have to buy it. We’re giving it to you!’”

 

The Bishop kept his word. After convincing Felipe Galvan to form a 501 (c) (3) non-profit that still exists today, the Catholic Church returned the Ohlones Indian Cemetery to its original people. However, Felipe’s work was far from over. When a Board of Trustees acting on behalf of the Fremont-Newark Junior College District met to discuss name options for Fremont’s first and only college, many members were in favor of naming it after recently-slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Felipe, who had been working for years to get an academic institution named after the Ohlone peoples, was furious. At a District meeting, Felipe took to the podium, simply saying “Shame on you” to the board and left.

 

“My father came home from that meeting 15 minutes later. As he walked into our house, I rushed to him and I told him, ‘Dad! All these people from the college keep calling and calling! They want you to come back. They're going to name the college after the Ohlones!’ My dad then smiled and said, ‘It worked.’”

 

Felipe Galvan continued his activism until his death in 2013. He was interred in the same Ohlones Indian Cemetery that he had fought so hard to return to its rightful stewards. His grave, like every other, is unmarked. Andrew Galvan has stated that this is deliberate as it has deterred any would-be vandalizers from desecrating graves. Next to the Galvan family plot is a granite headstone erected in 1915 which reads, “Here sleep 4,000 of the Ohlone tribe.” Nearby is another granite slab with an odd stump. This too is part of the Galvan legacy.

 

“When local philanthropist Mrs. Stevens first erected monuments to signify the Ohlone cemetery in 1915, her people also erected a giant marble cross next to the main headstone. My father was a devout Catholic but he was unsettled looking at that thing,” Galvan recalls. “My father told me, ‘The Indians that are buried here didn’t choose to be Catholic. It was forced upon them.’ So he got on a tractor that he borrowed from the Sisters of the Holy Family, secured a chain around the cross, and tore it down. He didn’t call the press, he just did it.”

 

The debate around tearing down monuments has been intensified by anniversaries such as Old Mission San Jose’s. When Pope Francis canonized Father Junipero Serra (founder of the 21 California Missions) in 2015, protestors vandalized and tore down statues of Serra across California. However, Galvan is one of Serra's strongest advocates. He encourages protestors to conduct their own research about Serra’s advocacy for indigenous Californians and take facts into context before acting.

 

As the sun sets this beautiful spring day in the Ohlones Indian Cemetery that has remained ever-remote by design, Galvan fondly caresses the tribal necklace that belonged to his late father that was given to him by his mother after Felipe Galvan’s passing.

 

“This place is ours. It doesn’t need to be anything else, just like this necklace. Stick around for my funeral and you can see me buried with it,” Galvan adds with a chuckle.

Photos in 1 new Sharon

 

 

 

Flower and garden show returns to fairgrounds

Submitted by Sherry Larsen

Photos courtesy of San Francisco Bay Flower and Garden Show

 

The 2022 San Francisco Bay Flower & Garden Show returns to the Bay Area Thursday, April 7 through Sunday, April 10. For four special days, the Alameda County Fairgrounds will be in full bloom with variety of hands-on workshops, seminars, and thousands of flowers and plants for sale. From horticulture newbies to permaculture gurus, this is the place for everyone to immerse themselves in a magical world of all things flowers and gardening.

 

“We are thrilled with the lineup seminars and hands-on fun for this year’s San Francisco Bay Flower & Garden Show,” said Show Producer Sherry Larsen. “California is coming off of two very hard years, making this the ideal time for people to get out and celebrate being together and sharing their joy of gardening. With nearly 80 seminars, this is the place to be inspired and learn about the latest techniques and trends from the industry’s leading flower and garden experts.”

 

Show features:

• Homestead Kitchen Stage – New this year, the Homestead Kitchen Stage will cover hot trends including cheese making, fermented veggies, and Kombucha making. The Cheese School of San Francisco and Preserved in Oakland will be leading a number of these workshops. Everyone can enjoy this presentation but there is also a hands-on component where for the cost of materials attendees can actually make and take home their creation.

 

• Discovery Stage – More than 25 seminars will focus on all types of gardens including permaculture, medicinal gardens, environmental and bee friendly gardens, medicinal gardens and more. Author Jennifer Jewell, author of “Under the Western Skies,” will discuss visionary gardens covered in her book. She is just one of five authors that will be on stage. In addition, the documentary on Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf, “5 Seasons: The Garden of Piet Oudolf,” will be shown on Thursday and Sunday.

 

• Kellogg’s Veggie Boot Camp – For the first time ever, Kellogg’s Product and their gardening expert, Steve List, will conduct a 90-minute in-depth discussion twice per day, on successful vegetable gardening. Steve will cover soil preparation, plant and seed selection, safe pest control and care. Everyone is welcome to attend; those that want to get a jump start can sign up for the workshop and go home with tomato, pepper, and strawberry plants, at least eight varieties of seed plus Kellogg’s organic planting mix, and organic fertilizer. The materials cost is only $15 and is limited to 50 attendees per session.

 

• Floral Design Stage – The country’s leading designers will take the stage for floral design demonstrations and seminars. More than a dozen experts will share techniques and tips as part of this non-stop seminar series including Beautiful Orchid Gift Baskets, Ikebana arranging, creating a Posey Bouquet with author of “The Posy Book,” Teresa Sabankaya, and more.

 

• Sproutopia – Garden Fun for the Little Ones – A variety of hands-on activities will be available for children including decorating egg gourds, making seed bombs, strawberry planting, and making a minicomposting bin complete with worms.

 

• Plant Market – Shop a variety of hundreds of plants – everything from rare exotics, bulbs to blooms and annuals to perennials, succulents, and orchids.

 

• The Marketplace – Exhibitors will offer the hottest new tools, gardening gear, art for the garden and more.

 

San Francisco Bay Flower & Garden Show

Thursday, Apr 7 – Sunday, Apr 10

Thursday, and Sunday from 10 a. m. to 6 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Alameda County Fairgrounds

4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton

One-day Admission: $22 adults, $20, seniors. children 16 and under free.

www.sfgardenshow.com

 

 

 

Stone Age technology returns to Coyote Hills

By Victor Carvellas

 

Patience was the primitive toolmakers greatest resource. It took time to knap a blade or grind the edge of a stone adze. Once it was fashioned and put to use, however, the tool freed up time and energy that could be put to other purposes. Mechanical leverage was another important aspect of tool making. A hand axe, a blade fashioned from stone, in the hand of an experienced worker could chop through wood well enough, but mounting the tool to a handle gave leverage, and therefore increased force. Fields could be cleared of trees and plants more easily, substantially advancing the spread of agriculture.

 

Stone tools first appear in the archaeological record more than 100,000 years ago, but most of the tools we now associate with the “Stone Age” were perfected in the Neolithic period (New Stone Age), which began around 10,000 BCE, before the use of copper, and later bronze, made stone tools if not obsolete, less widely employed. The dates at which societies adopted metal technology varies, but in general the Neolithic Revolution (a term coined by Australian archaeologist Vere Gordon Chile) saw the transformation of hunter-gatherer societies into settled agrarian ones. Some of mankind’s first tools were used for hunting, but with the advent of settled life, animal husbandry, and agrarian societies, the techniques learned from weapon making were turned to the practical projects of adzes for hewing wood, digging tools for turning the soil, and fine tools that aided in making pottery, fashioning clothes, and preparing food.

 

Weapon making never ceased to be important, as settled societies tended to be easy targets for neighboring resource-hungry tribes. The advantages of settled society, however, in terms of resource sharing, stable social structures, and increased life span outweighed the risk of attack. Increased productivity that came with tool use meant more mouths to feed, but also meant the establishment of villages, towns, and ultimately city-states. The pattern of settlement and society building finds parallels in the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Eurasian contexts.

 

In some parts of the world where game and wild foods were abundant, such as the Bay Area, hunter-gatherer societies such as the Ohlone faced less pressure to cultivate than others, whereas other Native Americans tribes, notably of the American South and Southwest, raised corn, beans, squash, wild rice, potatoes, and much more. Metalworking was known where native gold and copper were available for fashioning into tools, though these metals were not good at holding an edge. Metal smelting for the production of bronze and iron tools remained in the Old World until the arrival of Europeans.

 

Park Naturalist Dino Labiste hopes Stone Age activities’ return will be “an event that will bring out families.” So-called “primitive” technologies are often misunderstood, as it is easy to misjudge their effectiveness because “we simply do not live with them every day as our ancestors would have,” he says.

 

 

Stone Age technology

Saturday, April 9

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Coyote Hills Regional Park

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

Free admission

Parking: $5

 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

(888) 327-2757, option 2

 

 

 

QR code in 1 new Sharon

 

 

 

AAPI art showcase

Submitted by Erin Ewing

 

Union City Community & Recreation services is showcasing artwork by local artists and community members of all ages celebrating Asian American / Pacific Islander Heritage month. Submission examples can include photography, mixed media, paintings/drawings, ceramics/sculptures, installation art, and fashion/fabrics. The application deadline is Friday, April 22, 2022.

 

Works will be displayed at Studio 11, and a free-to-attend opening night reception will be held on May 13. Displays will stay up until June 3.

 

Contact Erin Ewing at erine@unionity.org, or scan the QR code for the application form.

 

 

AAPI Art Showcase opening reception

Friday, May 13

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Deadline to submit: April 22

Studio 11

34626 11th St., Union City

(510) 675-5445

erine@unionity.org

2022 Arts Leadership Awards

Submitted by The Alameda County Arts Commission

 

(Oakland, CA) – The Alameda County Arts Commission invites County residents to submit nominations for the 2022 Alameda County Arts Leadership Awards. Nominations are due on Friday, May 20 and must be submitted online at www.acgov.org/arts/awards.

 

This annual program enables the Alameda County Arts Commission to recognize five individuals, one from each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, for their outstanding achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and the residents of Alameda County.

 

Nominees must be residents of Alameda County and involved in an arts discipline including, but not limited to, music, dance, visual art, literature, theater, film and video, traditional craft and folk art, and new media. Nominees must be affiliated with an Alameda County arts organization through their role as an artist, staff person, board member, teacher, volunteer, donor, supporter, advocate, etc. For complete details, please review the online nomination instructions.

 

Alameda County community members may each submit one nomination. Nomination statements must include a description of the nominee’s major achievements in the arts that have benefited the community and residents of Alameda County; the impact and results of the achievements; and other background information about the nominee’s contributions to the Alameda County arts community such as what distinguishes the nominee from their peers and colleagues.

 

It is anticipated that the Members of the Alameda County Arts Commission will review the nominations in June and the award recipients will be recognized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors in early October as part of the County’s celebration of National Arts and Humanities Month.

 

For more information, please contact the Office of the Alameda County Arts Commission at (510) 208-9646, artscommission@acgov.org or www.acgov.org/arts/awards.

 

 

 

BART rents portion of Castro Valley parking lot

Submitted by BART

 

If you're taking BART to the Castro Valley Station off Redwood Road, you may notice a peculiar sight in the parking lot. Two tiny homes, created by the Bay Area-based company Spacial, have landed at the spacious lot, which is currently underutilized by passengers as BART continues to welcome riders back to the system.

 

BART is renting the parcel of the lot to Spacial for nine months, with the possibility of extension. The rental agreement provides much-needed income for a public transit system that has been financially challenged by the pandemic.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BART experienced a dramatic loss in passengers as people stayed in their homes and avoided public spaces. In recent months, ridership has been increasing; on March 17, BART recorded a single-day record for ridership since March 2020, at 133,246 riders. BART customers, this data signifies, are returning to the system.

 

As BART continues to await a return to normalcy – and regular ridership figures – the staff in BART's Office of Real Estate and Property Development decided to rent a portion of the Castro Valley Station parking lot to Spacial to display two model accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, which interested parties can tour ahead of purchasing a home. During the pandemic, amidst lower ridership, BART has reimagined its parking lots as COVID testing sites, farmers markets, vaccination sites, and is considering a Meals-On-Wheels hub

 

Currently, the two Spacial units take up 16 parking spaces (the parking lot has 1,102 spaces in total). BART will reevaluate the rental agreement at the end of November to determine whether to renew the lease, which will be dependent upon BART passengers' use of the parking lot.

In the meantime, the lease agreement is a pro-housing opportunity for BART that is helping to generate non-fare box revenue. Historically, about 65% of BART's revenue in recent years has come from passenger fares – the highest recorded fair box recovery ratio in the country. That percentage dropped precipitously during the pandemic.

 

“In the real estate department, we strive to generate non-fare box revenue to help support the District,” said Paul Voix, BART Principal Property Development Officer. “Here was the opportunity of underutilized patron parking that could result in a win for all, as we collect rent for the space. And it allows Spacial a central Bay Area space to showcase their ADUs, which will, in some ways, serve to alleviate the affordable housing crisis in the Bay Area.”

 

BART is doing its part to combat the housing crisis that plagues the San Francisco Bay Area. In recent years, the transit system – which currently owns about 250 acres of land at 27 stations that could accommodate future development – has created a program for transit-oriented development, or TOD. TOD is “well-designed, mixed-use, higher density development adjacent to frequent transit.” BART has completed 13 TOD projects, with four under construction and an additional 10 projects approved.

 

Spacial specializes in designing, installing, and permitting ADUs, which are sometimes called in-law units, granny flats, casitas, or backyard cottages. According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADUs “are an innovative, affordable, effective option for adding much-needed housing in California.”

 

In 2020, California passed a series of laws that made it much easier to get ADUs into most backyards in the state of California. Since that time, ADU installations “have gone up very, very fast,” said Spacial CEO Cory Halbardier.

 

“If ADUs weren't a thing, then people would be moving further and further outside of the urban area, further, further out towards Tracy,” Halbardier explained. “Then you end up with a lot more cars on the road coming back and forth.”

 

“What ADUs allow for is something called urban infill, where you're creating more homes inside the same geography that's close to the jobs that already exist,” Halbardier continued. “ADUs basically allow you to put more people in the same amount of space.”

 

Spacial's units start at $209,000 for a studio. The price includes the foundation, utilities, structure, labor, and city building plans. If you're interested in touring the units, you can schedule an appointment by emailing info@spacialhomes.com

Photos in 1 new Sharon

 

 

 

Bay Area Heroes Golf Tournament

Submitted by Paul Ellis

 

Whether you golf like a pro or are a high handicapper, consider joining you fellow golfers on Saturday, May 7, 2022 for a fun day of golf while making your own contribution to both the local and global community.

 

For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to contribute to a better world. Bay Area Heroes events recognize a local individual or group that has gone above and beyond to serve the community.

 

The “Bay Area Heroes golf tournament” hosted by Rotary Club of Milpitas will honor Denny Weisgerber, a decorated Korean War veteran, successful businessman, active community member, and three-term mayor of Milpitas. He also served two times as president of the Milpitas Rotary club and was District 5170 Governor. A buffet and awards will follow the tournament.

 

Programs supported by Rotary Club of Milpitas include Family Giving Tree, Hope for the Unhoused, The Wheelchair Foundation, Milpitas Unified School District, and The Vietnam Project.

 

Early Bird registration is $200 until Friday, April 15. Sponsor levels are also available. Register online at www.milpitasrotary.org.

 

 

Bay Area Heroes Golf Tournament

Saturday, May 7

Bay View Golf Club

1500 Country Club Dr., Milpitas

(408) 945-8988

www.milpitasrotary.org

 

 

 

Call for muralists

Submitted by Erin Ewing

 

Union City is pleased to release a call to artists for its Utility Box Mural Program for utility boxes in Union City. Artists must either live or have an art studio in Alameda County to apply. For more information, including submittal requirements, you can view the City’s “Request for Proposals” (RFP) online at www.unioncity.org/rfps.

 

If you have any questions regarding the process or issues accessing the RFP online, contact Erin Ewing Program Coordinator (510) 675-5445, or erine@unioncity.org.

Photos in 1 new Sharon

 

 

 

126 Construction professionals complete apprenticeship

Submitted by Alma Maldonado

 

On Friday, March 25, one hundred twenty-six graduates from Fresno, Oakland, Stockton, Auburn, Windsor and Hayward celebrated successfully completing the Associated Builders and Contractors Northern California Chapter (ABC NorCal) Apprenticeship Program at its Livermore facilities. 

 

ABC NorCal President/CEO Deborah Maus said, “Based on the hard work and dedication they gave to mastering their craft, I have no doubt all 126 graduates we celebrated today will achieve exemplary construction careers.”

 

During the ceremony, Elk Grove resident Adam Barney (plumbing), Oakland resident Carlos Chan Chan (craft laborer), and Foresthill resident Allen Perkins (plumbing) were specially recognized with Outstanding Performance Awards, which are given to graduates that exhibited perfect performance during their entire apprenticeship. Additionally, an apprentice from each respective trade was awarded the title of Apprentice of Year for 2021. Winners were Juan Gutierrez (carpentry), Susano Archuleta (craft laborer), Eduardo Torres (painting), Lindsay Fitzgerald (plumbing), and Daniel Eusebio (electrician).

 

Daniel Eusebio, a resident of Hayward, became an apprentice to refine his talent and electrical trainee background to earn the necessary certifications to become a state-appointed electrician. A dad of two and husband, Eusebio wanted to do better for his family and improve his knowledge of the trade. He was raised by immigrant parents from the Philippines, and wanted to show his kids that with perseverance, you can achieve anything that you want.

 

“The ABC NorCal apprenticeship program helps me provide for my family and live a more comfortable life; we don’t have to worry where our next meal is coming from because now, I have many different options for economic stability,” said Eusebio. “As I continue to rise in my company, I plan to mentor young electricians to help them realize what else they could do to improve their manual and mental abilities and see their potential as educated professionals in the same field.”

 

ABC NorCal Apprentices earn a living wage and health benefits at no cost to them while training towards a career in the construction industry within the trades of carpentry, construction craft laborer, electrical, painting and plumbing. Apprentices graduate with required qualifications and credentials, such as Certificates of Completion from the State of California and the Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.

 

For more information about the program, contact ABC NorCal at apprenticeship@abcnorcal.org.

Correction

 

The article “A History 225 Years in the Making” in the March 8, 2022 had a typo in the 4th paragraph. Jennie Dennie should be “Regina Dennie.” We apologize for the error.

Governor Newsom Moves to Bolster Regional Water Conservation Efforts

Submitted by The Governor’s Press Office

 

Sacramento, March 28 – Following the driest first three months of a year in the state's recorded history, Governor Gavin Newsom took steps to drive water conservation at the local level, calling on local water suppliers to move to Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans, which require locally-appropriate actions that will conserve water across all sectors, and directing the State Water Resources Control Board to consider a ban on the watering of decorative grass at businesses and institutions.

 

In an executive order, the Governor ordered the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to evaluate the adoption of regulations banning irrigation of “non-functional” turf (or grass), such as decorative grass adjacent to large industrial and commercial buildings. The ban would not include residential lawns or grass used for recreation, such as school fields, sports fields and parks. The Department of Water Resources estimates this ban alone will result in potential water savings of several hundred thousand acre-feet. An acre-foot of water serves the needs of approximately three households for a year.

 

“While we have made historic investments to protect our communities, economy and ecosystems from the worsening drought across the West, it is clear we need to do more,” said Governor Newsom. “Today, I am calling on local water agencies to implement more aggressive water conservation measures, including having the Water Board evaluate a ban on watering ornamental grass on commercial properties, which will drive water use savings at this critical time. Amid climate-driven extremes in weather, we must all continue to do our part and make water conservation a way of life.”

 

As the drought persists into a third year and conditions worsen amidst dry, hot weather, the order called on the SWRCB to consider requiring urban water suppliers to activate, at a minimum, Level 2 of their customized Water Shortage Contingency Plans. These plans, required by state law, are developed by local water agencies to navigate drought and each plan is customized based on an agency's unique infrastructure and management. Triggering Level 2 of these plans involves implementing water conservation actions to prepare for a water shortage level of up to 20 percent. For example, in many communities, this would mean reducing the number of days that residents can water outdoors, among other measures.

 

To further conserve water and strengthen drought resiliency in this critically dry year, the Governor is encouraging suppliers, where appropriate, to consider going above and beyond the Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans, activating more ambitious measures. The Governor has also ordered state agencies to submit funding proposals to support the state's short- and long-term drought response, including emergency assistance to communities and households facing drought-related water shortages, facilitating groundwater recharge and wastewater recycling, improvements in water use efficiency, protecting fish and wildlife, and minimizing drought-related economic disruption.

The Governor's California Comeback Plan invests $5.2 billion over three years to support the immediate drought response and build water resilience, including funding to secure and expand water supplies; bolster drought contingency planning and multi-benefit land repurposing projects; support drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, with a focus on small and disadvantaged communities; advance Sustainable Groundwater Management Act implementation to improve water supply security and quality; and support wildlife and habitat restoration efforts, among other nature-based solutions.

 

Earlier this month, Governor Newsom advanced an additional $22.5 million to bolster the state's drought response. Of this funding, $8.25 million will be used to increase educational and outreach efforts, including through the Save Our Water campaign, which is providing Californians with water-saving tips via social media and other digital advertising. The Governor's California Blueprint proposal includes $750 million in additional drought funding, $250 million of which was set aside as a drought reserve to be allocated in the spring, based on conditions and need.

 

More information on the state's response to the drought and informational resources available to the public are available at https://drought.ca.gov/.

 

 

 

HISTORY MATTERS

 

By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith

 

Space pioneers

On April 9, 1959 — a year after NASA was established — seven American test pilots became the inaugural members of the U.S. Space Force. They were Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper Jr., John H. Glenn Jr., Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Walter Schirra Jr., Alan Shepard Jr., and Donald Slayton.

 

The crew manned Project Mercury — the country’s inaugural space program, but the Force was not activated until 2019.

 

The selection process was a grueling procedure that started with 31 candidates. As History.com describes it: “For six days and three nights, the men were subjected to various tortures that tested their tolerance of physical and psychological stress. Among other tests, the candidates were forced to spend an hour in a pressure chamber that simulated an altitude of 65,000 feet, and two hours in a chamber that was heated to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. At the end of one week, 18 candidates remained. From among these men, the selection committee was to choose six based on interviews, but seven candidates were so strong they ended up settling on that number.”

 

For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends “Project Mercury: America in Space Series” by Eugen Reichl.

 

 

Westward expansion

France was an invaluable deterrent against Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. However, soon after America achieved independence, Napoleon began to casually eye the vast lands west of the Mississippi, calculate his future claim on the Louisiana territories, and devise ways to annex them to his astronomical empire.

 

“President Thomas Jefferson learned of Napoleon’s plans in 1802; understandably alarmed, Jefferson had long hoped [the] U.S. would expand westward beyond the young American republic [which] was in no position militarily to challenge France for the territory,” according to History.com.

 

The determined Jefferson dispatched Robert Livingston, his representative in France, to negotiate an agreement, but he failed. Then, he tasked his old friend, James Monroe — the future fifth president, with the assignment. Eventually, Livingston and Monroe arbitrated an agreement with the emperor — who recognized that his country would soon be at war with Britain.

 

On April 11, 1803, the U.S. paid $15,000,000 for 530,000,000 acres — at four cents apiece. The gain in landmass equated to approximately fourteen states.

 

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends “A Wilderness So Immense: The Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America” by Jon Kukla.

 

 

A sports legend

Jackie Robinson was an American icon. He embodied all the qualities of an ideal citizen: exceptionalism, idealism, respect for his country, compassion, and tolerance. On April 15, 1947, at the age of 28, he became the first African American player in Major League Baseball. Exactly 50 years later, he achieved another “first”: his #42 uniform was retired.

 

History.com notes that when he was “growing up, he excelled at sports and attended the University of California at Los Angeles, where he was the first athlete to letter in four varsity sports: baseball, basketball, football, and track. After financial difficulties forced Robinson to drop out of UCLA, he joined the army in 1942 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. After protesting instances of racial discrimination during his military service, Robinson was court-martialed in 1944. Ultimately, though, he was honorably discharged.”

 

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends Sharon Robinson’s “Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963” — winner of the 2020 Grateful American Book Prize.

 

 

 –This feature is courtesy of The Grateful American Book Prize, which is an annual award given to authors who have created outstanding works of historical fiction or nonfiction for seventh to ninth graders.

A Lifetime of Animal Advocacy Leads to Huge Impact

Submitted by Humane Society Silicon Valley

 

Animal advocate and business leader Cecilia Claudio has committed a $3 million legacy gift to Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) to establish the Cecilia Claudio Spay and Neuter Programs. It's the first major gift in HSSV's new fundraising campaign, “Making and Keeping Families Whole”. HSSV's goal is to raise $60 million over the next three years to launch new programs to make and keep families whole, and to expand its powerful existing programs.

 

The Cecilia Claudio Spay and Neuter Programs at HSSV will reduce animal homelessness by preventing unintended births, and provide funds to make spay and neuter services affordable, enabling more people to care for and keep the animals they love healthy.

 

“This generous legacy gift will allow our incredible medical team, led by Chief of Shelter Medicine Dr. Cristie Kamiya, to save lives and impact the health of dogs and cats for years to come,” HSSV President Kurt Krukenberg says. “With Cecilia Claudio's vision and commitment, we can secure the future of our spay and neuter programs and ensure their ongoing impact.”

 

 

About Cecilia Claudio

 

Cecilia (known as Cece) was born in Portugal and entered the technology sector in the mid-70s. She became one of very few women in the sector, and one of even fewer to lead. She served as CIO for a number of Silicon Valley companies, including Anthem Blue Cross, HP, Farmers Insurance, and Gap.

 

Her love of cats started from a very young age. “Wherever in the world I've lived, I've always found a way to have cats in my life,” she says.

 

Cece's connection to HSSV deepened when she was CIO at Align Technology, which happened to be located across the street from HSSV's old campus. There was a large cat colony at Align, and Cece helped HSSV launch their Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program for feral cats. Her experiences with HSSV inspired her to make the legacy gift.

 

“I want to work at the root cause of homeless animals,” she says. “Unwanted births are the beginning of the problem. Spay-neuter is the first step in taking care of animals – and in addressing the overpopulation we see everywhere.”

 

Cece hopes her legacy gift will inspire others to join by making a gift or legacy fund to support spay and neuter programs at HSSV. Learn more at hssv.org/give/.

City Government and You! – A Series Exclusive

 

 

Gathering and engaging in civic discourse dates back to the founding of this country. It speaks to the democratic core of our society, and is the method by which laws are made to this day.

 

In this special series, we take a deeper look at city government and, in particular, we explore the many advisory boards, committees and commissions that exist at a local level. Who resides on these boards? How long are their terms? Where and when do they meet? What do they do? How do they feel about what they’re doing?

 

If you’ve ever wondered how cities operate, then this is the series for you. Our goal is to help demystify the process and encourage active participation.

 

Join us as we pull back the curtain on democracy.

 

 

 

Milpitas Science, Technology, and Innovation Commission

By Asok Chatterjee

 

It will be nothing short of stating the obvious that we live in an age when our lives are shaped to a large extent by technology, in its various forms and manifestations. Technology is so pervasive in our everyday lives we often fail to consciously realize this fact. Perhaps collectively we may sometimes forget that many of today’s mundane activities, such as streaming a movie, keeping in touch with friends via social media, sending a quick text message to confirm a restaurant reservation, or watching live coverage of a Super Bowl touchdown pass, are the fruits of fairly recent scientific and technological innovations.

 

The management of the City of Milpitas, Council and Staff, realized that technology will shape the lives of residents, businesses, and City Hall itself, in profound ways for the years to come, perhaps forever. So, they decided in 1994 that they needed to stay ahead of the curve. A new era of information technology, with the explosion of communication services offered through the internet, cable television and wireless communications, offered a diversity of challenges. In order to address the ongoing and rapid changes in telecommunications technology, the City formed the Telecommunications Commission. The Commission was tasked to advise the City Council on matters of telecommunications policy, legislation, and implementation at local, state, and federal levels. It was also tasked to consider and recommend information technology services that could benefit the Milpitas community.

 

In order to truly reflect the breadth of its activities, in August 2018 the City Council renamed the Telecommunications Commission as the Science, Technology and Innovation Commission. The Commission has seven Commissioners and two Alternate Members, appointed for three-year terms. It meets on the third Monday of every month, except in July, at City Hall. City Council liaison to the Commission is Mayor Rich Tran and Staff liaison is Daniel Lam, the City’s IT Director (dnam@ci.milpitas.ca.gov).

 

Currently, appointed leadership of the Commission is comprised of:

 

Ratan Chaudhury        Chair               Term expires 1/1/2025

Guy Haas                    Vice Chair       Term expires 1/1/2023

 

As the path of technology takes its twists and turns, older technologies become irrelevant, new capabilities present themselves and innovations become available for deployment, so the issues addressed by the Commission are quite naturally ever changing. Commissioners and the City Council are always engaged in discussions as to how to achieve the best bang for the buck, by planning for new technologies in advance and matching those with available funds in an appropriate manner. Some of the most recent issues that have been addressed by the Commission include:

 

• Digital Inclusion
• Smart City
• 5G Implementation
• Odor Sensors
• Traffic Congestion

 

 

 

Roundabout construction may impact drivers

Submitted by City of Newark

 

Construction is underway on a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Willow Street and Enterprise Drive in western Newark. City officials are advising motorists that the roadways leading to the roundabout may be intermittently closed during the construction period. Detour signs will be in place when closing is required and will direct drivers to alternate routes. The construction project is expected to end April 29.

 

 

 

Empowering girls through zooming rollercoasters and fizzy lava lamps

By Fatema Bhaiji

 

The Discovery Day Event held at Cesar Chavez Middle School in Union City on Saturday, March 26 allowed young girls to pursue an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) alongside their mothers through a half day full of activities and celebrations. This event was hosted by the Fremont branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). A national nonprofit established in 1881, AAUW promotes its mission to advance “advocacy, education, and research” through scholarships, contests, and events, explained Kathy Garfinkle, president of the Fremont branch of AUWW.

 

The idea of a “Discovery Day” started off as a way to promote new ideas for how AUWW could be involved in their community. Committee member Miriam Keller explained how “they learned that Hopkins [a Fremont Unified District junior high school] arranged for a planetarium [activity]” which sprouted the first idea of having a STEM Discovery Day for a younger audience.

 

After a welcome orientation, attendees and their mothers were split into their first of three activities. The rollercoaster event was stationed in the cafeteria, led by the organization Level Up Learning. At the “The Kinetic Energy Rollercoaster challenge,” young girls and their mothers were challenged to create a rollercoaster under various conditions and with only five materials: foam rods, five marbles, tape, a cube of PVC pipe that enclosed their space, and most importantly, their minds. This activity is designed to be an engaging way to introduce young girls to STEM. After successfully finishing the challenge, Zoey Bustos, a fourth grader, exclaimed that “women need [this] chance!” to be able to put their imprint on the mainly male-dominated STEM field.

 

Led by the organization Code4fun, the next activity mainly focused on coding using the program Scratch. Attendees learned how to do different commands, some that changed the name of the character, changed the background, and even created ‘forever loops.’ The class of coders created a ‘catch the cat’ game together that brought out the competitive spirits of not only the young girls but also their moms. Once the game was created, the members of Code4Fun invited a mom versus daughter challenge that surprisingly ended with a lot of moms losing to their younger counterparts.

 

Once they became computer whizzes for the day, the attendees headed next door to a classroom that held a lava lamp creating workshop. This event was led by Irvington High School (IHS) science teacher, Allyson McCauley, and several IHS student volunteers consisting of members from their Girls In Stem Club and QUEST senior project members. The event introduced several chemistry topics, such as density and polarity, with some IHS volunteers presenting portions of the exercise. The bright colors and the intriguing chemical reactions in this project amazed the group of mothers and daughters, and it was a perfect way to end the activities of the day.

 

After the last activity, attendees came back to the main location in the cafeteria to take part in a raffle of several prizes in addition to being given a goodie bag sponsored by the Alameda County Water District. Although the event was over, young girls were able to explore the massive world of STEM through these three creations.

 

Fremont AUWW: fremont-ca.aauw.net

 

 

 

Mission San Jose’s anniversary year provides choices on Saturday, April 9

Submitted by Gari Dorighi

 

A Walking Tour for history buffs or a Melodious Presentation for the musically inclined… This Saturday, April 9, the Mission San Jose 225^th Anniversary Team provides two delightfully different events, but we are sure you will enjoy whichever one you choose.

 

Join Washington Township Museum of Local History for a “Walk into the Past.” This is a 5-mile hike of the greater Mission San Jose Area led by Patricia Schaffarczyk, lifetime resident of Fremont and Collections Manager for the Washington Township Museum of Local History. Highlights will include St. Joseph Cemetery, Sabercat Trail, Old St. Mary of the Palms School, Palm Avenue, Olive Avenue, Mill Creek, among others…

 

The hike will start at 9:30 a.m. and end about 12:30 p.m. at the Washington Township Museum of Local History at 190 Anza Street, Fremont. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, a snack and layered clothing. Please pack a lunch to enjoy after the hike in the museum courtyard and garden.

 

Go to: https://museumoflocalhistory.org/contact/calendar-special-events/ for more information, email info@museumoflocalhistory.org or call (510) 677-8461. No need to sign up in advance.

 

 

For the musically inclined, did you know Mission San Jose was renowned among the California Missions for its Native Californian choir and orchestra? Learn from Dr. Harmony Murphy about the music that Padre Narciso Durán and the talented musicians at Mission San Jose created in the 1820s. A professional vocalist, Dr. Murphy will demonstrate this music as part of her presentation in the beautiful and acoustically superb Mission Church. She will perform excerpts from the Misa Solemne, also known as the Misa de San Antonio. This comes from the ancient Mission San José choir manual and was likely performed on Easter Sunday as part of the Holy Week celebration.

 

Join us April 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Mission Church at 43300 Mission Boulevard, Fremont. Go to https://mission225.org/speaker-series for details and tickets for this sure-to-be-popular presentation.

 

Visit our website mission225.org to see what else is planned for the anniversary year and sign up for the monthly “Mensajero” newsletter.

 

 

Walk into the Past

Saturday, April 9

 

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Start at: Washington Township Museum of Local History

190 Anza St., Fremont

(510) 677-8461

https://museumoflocalhistory.org/

 

Mission San Joe’s Musical Memories

Saturday, April 9

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Mission Church

43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont

https://mission225.org/speaker-series

 

 

 

Join a non-judgmental writing session

Submitted by Tish Davidson

 

Do you love to write but are afraid to share your writing? Perhaps English is not your native language, and you are nervous that your writing will be criticized. Or maybe you are don’t feel “educated” enough to call yourself a writer. Put those worries away right now. This is your chance to meet fellow writers and aspiring writers from the Fremont-Newark-Union City area in a fun, free, nonjudgmental environment at the Zoom Write-In on Saturday, April 9. This event is for everyone from complete beginners to established writers ages high school to senior citizen. It is not a writing critique session. Your writing will not be judged, just enjoyed and appreciated by your fellow writers.

 

How the Write-In works:

After you sign in, the computer will assign you to a virtual room with three other writers. You will be given several word and visual prompts—for example, “A person I would like to meet” or a picture of a mother and baby animal. Choose one prompt and free write for 10 minutes. After you finish, all the writers in the room share their response to the prompt and exchange ideas and experiences in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. The computer then rearranges the participants into different rooms. Each person in the room will provide a noun, a verb, and an adjective. The challenge is to use as many of the suggested words in a story within a 10-minute writing period and then share the story.

 

The Write-In is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club. In addition to the Write-In, FAW meets on Zoomthe fourth Saturday of each month. In honor of National Poetry Month, the guest speaker for the April 23 meeting is Nautica Angilly whose Poetic Dance Theater Company presents poetry and dance as a unified art form. More information is available at https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org.

 

To participate in the free Write-In or attend the free general meeting, please request the Zoom meeting link from Scott Davidson at scottfrombayside@yahoo.com.

 

 

Zoom Write-In Saturday, April 9

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

Zoom General Meeting Saturday April 23

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 

Request Zoom link from Scott Davidson at scottfrombayside@yahoo.com

 

 

 

EARTHTALK

 

Reusable PPE materials gaining traction to help environment

From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

 

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that PPE waste is a growing environmental burden these days. Is anyone working on ways to solve this problem?

— B. Jackson, Jewett City, Maryland

 

From healthcare workers and teachers, grocery clerks and students, no one has escaped the increased need for personal protective equipment (PPE) the past two years. Though inarguably a critical agent in preventing the spread of disease, PPE has inadvertently created a new “shadow pandemic” — billions of these single-use items now line streets and parking lots and pollute oceans. Globally, it is estimated that 129 billion facemasks and 65 million pairs of gloves are disposed of each month. “Other than burning [PPE], there is really nothing we can do,” says Sander Defruyt, head of the plastics team at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a charity aimed at eliminating waste and pollution. “It’s designed to be waste.”

 

The issue isn’t PPE itself; it’s single-use PPE made from non-reusable materials. Designed to be leak-proof and tear-resistant, disposable PPE can’t be washed and reused, since the cleaning process would compromise the protective integrity. Deepening an already astounding waste mismanagement problem, these throwaway items end up as potentially contaminated pollution simply because they have to.

 

Luckily, the problem has not gone unnoticed. In the medical community, the case for reusable PPE has gained traction as institutions have developed methods and materials to lengthen the lifecycle of protective gear. Burlington Medical, a maker of durable, reusable medical garments, increased production of their healthcare clothing supplies by 500% during the pandemic. They use sustainable materials in their process and operate an on-site medical laundry facility to sterilize PPE. Studies on mask filtration by the Nonwovens Institute (NWI) at North Carolina State led to a partnership with NatureWorks to develop new technology that allows for mask reuse even after chemical cleaning. Globally, companies are testing science-backed efforts to improve mask viability without compromising safety.

 

Those outside the medical community have access to a variety of sustainable PPE options. French company Geochanvre makes 100% biodegradable face masks from hemp, including a recyclable band. Change Plastic for Good developed an additive to make plastic biodegradable, now used to create masks, and MEDU Protection offers washable medical PPE that can be returned for disinfecting and conversion into scrubs and bags. EcoGreen Communities offers compostable face masks, reusable gloves and reduced carbon medical aprons.

 

The most sustainable option is undoubtedly reusable PPE, but the use of plastic and other disposable protective gear isn’t going away anytime soon. Rather than tossing in the garbage, there is a way to recycle some of these items. TerraCycle offers paid recycling services that collect, inspect and repurpose PPE through a detailed process available through their website, and Thermal Compaction Group (TCG) out of Wales has developed a process that re-engineers specific PPE to resell to the plastics industry.

 

“Plastics are not the problem; the way the human race discards plastic remains the issue,” says Tim Hourahine, compliance manager at TCG. With PPE becoming part of our daily routine, we have alternative solutions to sustain both our health and the environment.

 

ONLINE CONTACTS

• Specialty Fabrics Review:

specialtyfabricsreview.com/2020/11/01/the-pandemic-is-driving-more-sustainable-ppe/

• Startup Makes Biodegradable Face Mask – Planet Home:

planethome.eco/planet-friendly-ppe/

• TerraCycle:

terracycle.com/en-US/pages/ppe-recycling

 

 

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: question@earthtalk.org.

 

 

 

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

 

Come on, get happy

With the world in chaos, the kids at the Milford School in Wawasee, Indiana want us to accentuate the positive, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). So, they’ve created a telephone hotline called When “Life Gives You Lemons, Call a 5th Grader” to help you do just that. Here’s the number; check it out: (574) 832-4965. Actually, it was their teacher, Cheryl Van Laeken, who came up with the idea. As Van Laeken explains it, “The world is really chaotic, it's kind of dark. On the news it's kind of hard to find a good news story to share with kids right now. I teach my kids to be positive and do good things for other people and this just seems like a really easy way to get my kids thinking about others.” See video of Van Laeken delivering her message at wsbt.com/news/local/milford-5th-graders-create-happiness-hotline.

 

 

A tasty misspelling

The world celebrated International Waffle Day in March but that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge yourself when the urge strikes, according to the AMAC. But the credit for the celebration of waffles, whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, belongs to Sweden where it all started way back in the 14th century when Swedes began mispronouncing the religious celebration known as vårfrudagen, the English translation of which is Our Lady Day, and began calling it våffeldagen, waffle day.

 

 

To tip or not to tip, as the Bard might say

She’s at it again, reports AMAC., citing Nikole Hannah-Jones’ latest social media announcement that “tipping is a legacy of slavery.” It’s yet another absurd notion from the author of the book, “The 1619 Project.” Hannah-Jones is a self-described historian whose historically inaccurate tome is the basis for the Critical Race Theory, which is used to brainwash young learners into identifying themselves as racists. This time, in social media remarks she claimed tipping is a bad thing that got started at the end of the Civil War. Her reference caused a stir and had people scratching their heads as to why tipping is so evil. A real historian, Dr. Phil Magness, called her out in a response to her Twitter post, noting that references to tipping appear in Shakespeare's 1602 play “Twelfth Night.”

 

 

— 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.

 

 

 

Springtime Catspotting: Lynx and Leo Minor

By David Prosper

 

Many constellations are bright, big, and fairly easy to spot. Others can be surprisingly small and faint, but with practice even these challenging star patterns become easier to discern. A couple of fun fainter constellations can be found in between the brighter stars of Ursa Major, Leo, and Gemini: Lynx and Leo Minor, two wild cats hunting among the menagerie of animal-themed northern star patterns!

 

Lynx, named for the species of wild cat, is seen as a faint zigzag pattern found between Ursa Major, Gemini, and Auriga. Grab a telescope and try to spot the remote starry orb of globular cluster NGC 2419. As it is so distant compared to other globular clusters – 300,000 light years from both our solar system and the center of the Milky Way – it was thought that this cluster might be the remnants of a dwarf galaxy consumed by our own. Additional studies have muddied the waters concerning its possible origins, revealing two distinct populations of stars residing in NGC 2419, which is unusual for normally-homogenous globular clusters and marks it as a fascinating object for further research.

 

Leo Minor is a faint and diminutive set of stars. Its “triangle” is most noticeable, tucked in between Leo and Ursa Major. Leo Minor is the cub of Leo the Lion, similar to Ursa Minor being the cub to the Great Bear of Ursa Major. While home to some interesting galaxies that can be observed from large amateur scopes under dark skies, perhaps the most intriguing object found within Leo Minor’s borders is Hanny’s Voorwerp. This unusual deep-space object is thought to be a possible “light echo” of a quasar in neighboring galaxy IC 2497 that has recently “switched off.” It was found by Hanny van Arkel, a Dutch schoolteacher, via her participation in the Galaxy Zoo citizen science project. Since then, a few more intriguing objects similar to Hanny’s discovery have been found, called “Voorwerpjes.”

 

Lynx and Leo Minor are relatively “new” constellations, as they were both created by the legendarily sharp-eyed European astronomer Johannes Hevelius in the late 1600s. A few other constellations originated by Hevelius are still in official use: Canes Venatici, Lacerta, Scutum, Sextans, and Vulpecula. What if your eyes aren’t quite as sharp as Johannes Hevelius – or if your weather and light pollution make searching for fainter stars more difficult than enjoyable? See if you can spot the next Voorwerp by participating in one of the many citizen science programs offered by NASA at science.nasa.gov/citizenscience. And of course, you can find the latest updates and observations of even more dim and distant objects at nasa.gov.

 

 

This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!

 

 

 

Park It

By Ned MacKay

 

Back before we discovered metallurgy, people shaped stones into the tools they needed for survival.

 

This Stone Age technology is the theme of a program from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 9 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, with naturalist Dino Labiste. Topics will include the rock cycle, flintknapping and grinding techniques to shape rocks, with replicas of prehistoric tools to examine.

 

The program is for ages eight and older; parents must participate. It’s free of charge, but registration is required, as are masks and social distancing. For information, call (510) 544-3220. To register, call (888) 327-2757, option 2. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle.

 

 

Saturday Strolls are a series of easy to moderate, family-friendly naturalist-led walks in various regional parks. There’s a stroll from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 9 at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. This one’s a hilly, 3 and ¾ -mile hike through a native grass meadow, redwoods, and mixed forest.

 

The hike is free of charge and registration is not necessary. Meet the naturalist at the Trudeau Training Center, 11500 Skyline Boulevard in Oakland. For information, call (510) 544-3187.

 

 

Creative recycling is the theme of a program from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. The park’s interpretive staff will help the group to make useful and artistic items out of recycled materials. All ages are welcome, the program is free, and no registration is necessary.

 

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

 

 

Kids will enjoy a bug and slug safari planned for 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, April 10 in the yard of the Environmental Education Center at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley.

 

Your guide for the hunt is naturalist Trent Pearce. The group will explore the EEC’s yard in search of all kinds of creepy crawlers. All ages of bug-catchers are welcome, and the program will take place rain or shine. It’s free, and no registration is required.

 

The center is located at the north end of Tilden’s Central Park Drive, accessible via Canon Drive from Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley. For information, call (510) 544-2233.

 

 

There may still be time to sign up for a “grand tour” of the east side of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve near Mt. Diablo, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, led by naturalist Ashley Adams.

 

This is an eight-mile loop hike for ages seven and older, and parents must participate. Attractions include panoramic views of the mountain and Delta, and abundant wildflowers. Along the way, Ashley will discuss fire, conservation, and the longtime Native American presence in the area. Bring water and a lunch for the halfway point.

 

The hike is free, but registration is required. For registration, call (888) 327-2757, option 2.

 

 

There are always lots of activities and programs available in the regional parks. For more information, visit the website, www.ebparks.org, and click on “Things To Do.”

 

 

 

THE ROBOT REPORT

 

 

iRobot software update adds child lock, Siri integration

By Brianna Wessling

 

iRobot has released its Genius 4.0 Home Intelligence software update for its Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops.

 

The update gives Imprint Smart Mapping capabilities to Roomba i3 and i3+ customers. This allows users to create customized smart maps of their home, enabling them to send their Roomba to clean specific rooms. The robot will also provide them with estimated cleaning times, and can clean on routines based on users preferred schedules.

 

Robots with Imprint Smart Mapping capabilities are also able to follow room-specific cleaning preferences. This means you can tell your Roomba or Braava jet to make extra passes in areas that get dirty quickly, like the kitchen or entryway.

 

“The beauty of iRobot Genius is that our robots get smarter over time and continuously provide customers with new ways to clean where, when and how they want,” said Keith Hartsfield, chief product officer at iRobot. “As iRobot develops new features and experiences, the updates are pushed out to customers’ robots at no cost. From the day a customer welcomes a Roomba robot vacuum or Braava jet robot mop into their home, they know that they’ll always benefit from new features and functionality. They are also getting a robot that works harder for them, so they don’t have to. With more than 60 million personalized recommendations provided to customers to date, our robots are proven to learn, respect and work around individual schedules and needs.”

 

iRobot’s update also includes a Siri shortcut integration. While Roomba’s were already able to connect to Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, the company is adding Apple into the fold with the latest update. iOS users can enable the feature by connecting their device in the iRobot Home App.

 

Roomba’s now have additional features to prevent accidental and inconvenient starts. With its Child & Pet Lock users can disable physical start buttons on the device to prevent children or pets from accidentally turning the robot on. Users can also enable a Do Not Disturb feature to set windows of time when the robot shouldn’t run.

 

Finally, the Genius 4.0 update makes the Roomba j7 and j7+ better at detecting and avoiding objects on the ground. With the update, the robots are able to detect clothing and towels left on the floor.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Shape Our Fremont

 

HARB Review of New Development

In Historic Mission San Jose

 

On April 7, the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) will review a proposal for a mixed-use project at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Ellsworth Street in the heart of the Mission San Jose Historic District. The project, known as Mission Paradise, would include eleven three-story townhouses and a large commercial building on the corner with two residential flats above it. The existing buildings on the site would be demolished.

 

The purpose of the HARB review is to determine if the proposal complies with the Mission San Jose Historic Overlay District Design Guidelines and Regulations, which include standards for architectural styles, heights, massing, and other details to ensure that new construction does not have a negative impact on the historically sensitive area. This document also defines the terms used in the regulations and guidelines, as well as the conditions under which exceptions may be granted.

 

Layout and Surroundings

 

Seven of the proposed townhouses would be arranged in rows facing the streets — four on Washington and three on Ellsworth. Four other townhouses would be clustered in the back corner of the lot with their front doors facing the walls of a two-story building on an adjacent lot. The commercial building would face both streets with entrances at the corner. The flats above it would have separate entrances at the rear of the building. The intended use of the commercial space is retail, which would allow small shops or specialty stores, but would not allow some other uses such as medical offices, schools, or restaurants.

 

All of the proposed buildings would have three-story white stucco walls and flat roofs with simulated roof eaves added around the upper edges of the buildings. An elevated courtyard between the commercial building and the townhouses on Ellsworth would serve as the required common open space for the project.

 

The lot on which the project would be built is one block from the historic crossroads of Mission and Washington Boulevards, and the project would be visible from one of the remaining original buildings of the old Mission San Jose. The site is also surrounded by several historic or potentially historic buildings in the old downtown area. All of these older buildings are two-stories tall with sloped gable or hip roofs. HARB will have to consider these details when making its recommendation to the Planning Commission.

 

Looking Ahead

 

Another thing HARB will have to consider is that any decision on this proposal may serve as a precedent for future projects in the area. For example, the same developer is also proposing a separate project diagonally across Ellsworth on the site of the former McIvors hardware store. This proposal would have the same architectural style, same heights, same flat roofs, and even more townhouses. A third mixed-use development proposal on Ellsworth by another developer is currently under review and may also be affected by this HARB decision.

 

The HARB meeting is scheduled for April 7 and will be held via teleconferencing. Residents may express their comments and concerns about the Mission Paradise proposal before the meeting by contacting Fremont Staff Team Lead Mark Hungerford at mhungerford@fremont.gov

 

For more information and links to the Mission San Jose Design Guidelines and the H.A.R.B. agenda when posted, visit www.ShapeOurFremont.com.

 

 

 

Social Security Matters

By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation

 

Ask Rusty – Should I Claim Early Due to Social Security’s Financial Condition?

 

Dear Rusty: I plan on retiring at 62, one year from now. I have been coached to (if financially possible) leave my Social Security earnings for my wife to collect in the future if I die, considering that she was a homemaker for the majority of her income earning years. My instinct is to get Social Security coming (I understand I'm settling for a lesser amount at age 62) as soon as possible considering the forecast of our government’s inability to fund Social Security for the rest of my life. No one has a crystal ball, and no one knows what our government will or will not be able to fund even into next week, so we weigh what we know and see, and then decide. Is my question clear? Signed: Skeptical

 

 

Dear Skeptical: Well, your question is clear but contains two opposing factors – you say you wish to provide well for your wife if you die, but also say you wish to claim at age 62 because you’re not confident that Social Security (SS) will be there in the future. Yet claiming at age 62 will mean the lowest possible survivor benefit for your wife because her benefit as your widow will be the amount you are receiving at your death. I’ll try to put all this into perspective for you.

 

Although Social Security is facing some future financial issues, it will never go bankrupt and be unable to pay benefits. The worst that could happen, if Congress takes no action beforehand, would be that benefits will be cut by about 22% if the SS Trust Fund is fully depleted in 2033 (right now, reserves in the Trust Fund are used to supplement SS expenses because SS revenue is currently less than program costs). If that happens, Social Security can only pay out as much as it brings in. But that almost certainly won’t happen, because Congress won’t permit it to. Congress already knows how to fix Social Security’s financial issues – they just currently lack the political will and bipartisan spirit to implement the changes needed. But there’s little doubt that they will fix the issue before allowing an across-the-board benefit cut to over 65 million beneficiaries (because seniors vote). FYI, there was $2.9 trillion in reserves in the Social Security Trust Fund at the end of 2020.

 

I don’t recommend you make your Social Security claiming decision based on fear of the program going bankrupt – it won’t. Even if Congress doesn’t act and a benefit cut is imposed in 2033 (which is highly unlikely), a 22% cut to your age 62 benefit amount would be more painful than a 22% cut to your benefit at your full retirement age (FRA) which would be about 30% higher than your age 62 benefit amount. The longer you wait to claim, the higher your benefit, and your wife’s survivor benefit, will be – even in the unlikely event of a later cut in benefits.

 

Instead, I suggest you make your claiming decision based only upon your personal circumstances. If you wish to increase your wife’s survivor benefit, then waiting longer to claim is the way to do that. If you retire from working at age 62, Social Security’s earnings test won’t apply to you (the earnings test limits how much you can earn while collecting early SS benefits), thus you can certainly claim at 62 if you so wish. But it’s important to consider the consequences of claiming early (including a lower survivor benefit for your widow) and make a decision based on facts, not fear of Social Security going bankrupt – because it won’t.

 

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Photos in 1 new Sharon

 

 

 

Trash Talk

By The Pickup Artist

 

This is the fifteenth edition of Trash Talk, a column devoted to cleaning up our neighborhoods.

 

Butt Out – Part 1, Cigarette Butts

First, a bit of history. In my teens, I joined a group called GASP, the Group Against Smoking Pollution. Their goal was to discourage smoking in public places. They were fundamental in passing California’s Proposition 99, the anti-tobacco initiative. Now there is no smoking in theaters, on planes, in restaurants, and many other social-gathering places. This group later became Americans for Non-Smoker’s Rights.

 

I joined because I didn’t like the smell of cigarette smoke. As we have learned over the years, smoking can lead to serious health issues. But I was also repelled by the litter left behind. I’m talking about empty packs and LOTS of cigarette butts strewn around the ground. Also matches and lighters. I’ve picked up many of those, too.

 

For a humorous look at the “history” of tobacco, watch the video of Bob Newhart in a “phone conversation” with Sir Walter Raleigh – about 3 minutes long. Search “Bob Newhart – Tobacco video” on YouTube.

 

Recent statistics show that cigarette smoking has dropped in popularity. In the golden days of Hollywood, movies depicted everyone as a smoker. It showed men as more masculine and virile; Women were slinkier and sexy. Most of those actors have now passed, many from lung cancer. In 1964, Luther L. Terry, M.D, the Surgeon General of the United States, released his report on smoking, and since then, smoking has dropped in popularity from 42% of adults to about 12% now.

 

There are fewer smokers; so what is the problem? Cigarettes produce a lot of pollution, and there are after-effects. In this 3-part series, I will explain the problem and offer some helpful suggestions to deal with it.

 

Scope of the problem: How many butts get tossed every year?

It may come as no surprise that cigarettes are the most littered item on earth. Worldwide, about 4.5 trillion cigarettes are littered each year. In the U.S., this comes to 376 billion, or 141 million pounds. What does all that cigarette waste mean for the environment? Here are the basics about the environmental impact of cigarette butts.

 

All these butts cost big bucks to clean up. Cities spend between $3 million and $16 million on cigarette clean-up.

 

• Cigarette butts are the most prominently littered item on U.S. roadways, retail areas, storm drains, loading docks, construction sites and recreational areas.
• In 2019, cigarette butts were the most littered item in U.S. beaches and waterways, with close to a million (900,178) pieces collected.
• 4,211,962 cigarette butts were collected on beaches and waterways globally in 2019, making them the world’s second most common type of litter after food wrappers.
• 12,089 cigarette lighters, 58,672 cigar tips and 33,865 tobacco packages or wrappers were removed from U.S. waterways in 2015.
• 86% of smokers consider cigarette butts to be litter, but 75% of smokers throw them on the ground or out of a car window.

These statistics are courtesy of: https://truthinitiative.org/sites/default/files/media/files/2021/03/Truth_Environment%20FactSheet%20Update%202021_final_030821.pdf

 

Next month, I’ll discuss potential hazards to this environmental problem and why it must be addressed. Following that, I’ll outline possible solutions.

 

The quote for today:

“Embrace each day that this life grants you.” – Peter Gallagher as Mitch Clarke on “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist”

 

 

Answer to the last Trash Talk Question:

Garbologists haven’t yet reported back with their surprise findings when collecting. Were they that embarrassing? Or that disgusting? I just found a discarded Weber barbecue; the handle on the lid was broken off. THAT could have been fixed and made it usable again.

 

The Trash Talk question for today:

I am writing this column because the topic was suggested to me. Are there any areas of trash pick-up, recycling, repurposing, or other topics you are interested in seeing in this column? Let me know at the email address below.

 

Send comments or questions to ThePickupArtist-KHCG@outlook.com.

 

 

 

Raised bed gardening

By Melinda Myers

Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com

 

Raise your garden to new heights for easier access and greater productivity. Raised beds allow you to overcome poor soil by creating the ideal growing mix. They also make gardening more comfortable thanks to less bending and kneeling.

 

Whether you purchase a kit or build your own, there are a few things to consider when creating a raised bed garden.

 

Locate the garden in a sunny area if possible. Most plants require at least six hours of sun, and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and melons produce best with a full day of sunlight.

 

Select a long-lasting material such as interlocking block, fieldstone, plastic lumber or naturally long-lasting wood like cedar. The material selected will influence the shape and size of your garden. Some materials allow for curved beds while others are limited to squares, rectangles, and other angular shapes.

 

Design your raised bed to fit your space and your needs. A three- or four-feet width makes it easy to reach all parts of the garden for planting, weeding and harvesting. Raising your planting bed at least eight to twelve inches improves drainage and provides an adequate space for most plants to root and grow. If you want to minimize bending, go higher. Add benches to increase your gardening comfort and ease.

 

Roughen or loosen the existing soil surface if your bed is built on compact, slow-draining soil. This will allow water to readily move from the raised bed into the soil below. Cover the bottom of the bed with newspaper or cardboard, if needed, to suffocate existing weeds and grass.

 

Line the bottom of your raised bed with hardware cloth to reduce the risk of animals burrowing into your garden. Lay the hardware cloth over the ground and bend it up along the inside of the raised bed walls.

 

Fill the bed with a quality growing mix that is well drained but also able to retain moisture and nutrients. This may be a mixture of quality topsoil and compost, a high-quality potting mix, or a planting mix designed specifically for raised bed gardens.

 

Grow any plants that you normally would grow in ground. Just make sure the plants are suited to the growing conditions – sunlight, heat, and wind – in your area. Since the soil mix and drainage is ideal in a raised garden, you will be able to grow more plants per square foot. Just be sure to leave sufficient room for plants to reach their mature size.

 

Keep your plants healthy and productive with proper watering. This is critical for growing any garden, but even more crucial in a fast-draining raised bed. The simple act of raising the garden height increases drainage, and a raised bed filled with planting mix means more frequent watering. Consider using drip irrigation or soaker hoses for watering ease. Always water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry.

 

Add some mulch to help reduce watering and the need for other garden maintenance. Spread a layer of evergreen needles, pine straw, shredded leaves, or other organic matter over the soil surface. This helps conserve moisture, suppresses weeds and adds nutrients and organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. You’ll spend less time watering and weeding throughout the season.

 

Add an organic fertilizer at planting if your planting mix does not already contain one. Apply again mid-season if the plants need a nutrient boost. Always follow the label directions on the fertilizer container.

 

The time and effort invested in creating raised beds will be returned many times over with years of healthy and productive gardens.

 

 

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Course How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com.

 

 

 

Governor Newsom Proposes $11 Billion Relief Package

Submitted by The Governor’s Press Office

 

On Wednesday, March 23, as oil and gas companies continue to rake in record profits, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the details of his proposal to deliver $11 billion in relief to Californians facing record-high gas prices.

 

“We’re taking immediate action to get money directly into the pockets of Californians who are facing higher gas prices as a direct result of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Governor Newsom. “But this package is also focused on protecting people from volatile gas prices, and advancing clean transportation – providing three months of free public transportation, fast-tracking electric vehicle incentives and charging stations, and new funding for local biking and walking projects.”

 

The Governor’s proposal calls for $9 billion in tax refunds to Californians in the form of $400 direct payments per vehicle, capped at two vehicles. This package also provides $2 billion in broader relief including:

 

• $750 million in incentive grants to transit and rail agencies to provide free transit for Californians for 3 months. As a result, roughly 3 million Californians per day who take the bus, subway, or light rail won’t have to pay a fare every time they ride.
• Up to $600 million to pause a part of the sales tax rate on diesel for one year.
• $523 million to pause the inflationary adjustment to gas and diesel excise tax rates.

 

The package also calls for $500 million in active transportation for projects that promote biking and walking throughout the state. Additionally, this proposal fast-tracks a $1.75 billion portion of the Governor’s historic $10 billion ZEV package to further reduce the state’s dependence on oil and save Californians money, including the investments in more ZEV passenger vehicles and building more charging infrastructure throughout the state – especially in low-income communities.

 

The tax refund will take the form of $400 debit cards for registered vehicle owners, and individuals will be eligible to receive up to two payments. An average California driver spends approximately $300 in gasoline excise tax over a year.

 

The proposal provides up to two $400 rebates per vehicle, for owners to support families with more than one vehicle in use. Eligibility will be based on vehicle registration, not tax records, in order to include seniors who receive Social Security Disability income and low-income non-tax filers. The Governor’s proposal does not have an income cap in order to include all Californians who are facing higher prices due to the cost of oil.

 

The Newsom administration will meet with the Legislature to negotiate the details of the proposal in the coming days. Once approved through the Legislature, the first payments could begin as soon as July.

 

Governor Newsom has allocated billions of dollars in direct relief to Californians over the past two years, including $12 billion in direct checks through the Golden State Stimulus, $5.2 billion in rent relief, and $2 billion in utility relief. Since 2019, the Administration and Legislature have added significant expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, including expanding the credit to taxpayers with ITINs, expanding the credit to every Californian working full time at minimum wage, and adding the Young Child Tax Credit. Additionally, the Governor’s historic $37.6 billion climate package provides the resources needed to forge an oil-free future and bolster the state’s clean energy economy.

 

 

 

Union City City Council

March 22, 2022

 

• Proclamations and Presentations:
• Proclaim March 2022 as the 20th Annual March for Meals Month
• Proclaim March 2022 as American Red Cross Month
• Bay Adapt: Regional Strategy for a Rising Bay by Jessica Fain, San Fransisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission

 

Consent Calendar:

• Approve minutes from March 8, 2022 City Council meeting.
• Second reading and adoption of a City Council ordinance approving the development agreement for the Windflower Block 2 Project for the purpose of extending the project approvals.
• Adopt a resolution to submit the required funding application and to execute the certifications and assurances for the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program project, Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for Union City Transit Fleet, in the amount of $215,572 and to place the award in the city’s transit fund.
• Adopt a resolution accepting work for the 2020-21 Sidewalk and Curb and Gutter Repair Project.
• Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the Authorized Position List of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 and 2022-23 Operating Budget to add a Finance Specialist III position, a Human Resource Director position, and an Information Technology Director position. Remove from the Authorized Position List the Human Resources Officer position and the Chief Information Officer position.
• Adopt a resolution approving the City Manager to authorize the advance purchase of park improvement equipment prior to awarding of a construction contract for the Old Alvarado/Cesar Chavez Parks Improvement Project.
• Adopt a resolution making appointments to serve on the Arts and Culture Commission.

 

Public Hearings:

• Adopt a resolution approving Site Development Review, Use Permit and Variance for a proposed addition to an existing veterinary clinic at 33663 Mission Blvd. in the Community Commercial Zoning District. Unanimously approved.

 

City Manager Reports:

• Receive an informational report on 2021 Fireworks Season and Education Plans for 2022 fireworks season.

Adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Compensation and Benefit Plan for Unrepresented Employees and approving an amendment to the city’s salary schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5. Unanimously approved.

 

 

Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci    Aye

Vice Mayor Pat Gacoscos       Aye

Emily Duncan                         Aye

Jaime Patiño                            Aye

Gary Singh                              Aye

 

 

 

New Orleans lifts proof-of-vaccine rule for bars, eateries

Kevin McGill

Associated Press

 

NEW ORLEANS (AP), March 21 — Bars, restaurants and other businesses in New Orleans are no longer required to make patrons show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test for the disease, the city said in a March 21 news release.

 

The mandate, which dates back to August, was officially lifted at 6 a.m. New COVID-19 cases remain low in the city and hospital capacity is “robust,” according to the city's statement. The move comes nearly three weeks after locals and tourists crowded onto city streets — and into restaurants and bars — for the annual Mardi Gras celebration. An end to a citywide indoor mask mandate was announced on March 2, the day after Mardi Gras.

 

“With the return of Mardi Gras this year, we were able to celebrate safely. And now we are ready for this next step. We will continue to closely monitor the data, and remain guided by science,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

 

The city's COVID-19 website shows a seven-day rolling average of new cases was 28 as of March 20. Just over 77% of the city's population has at least begun the COVID-19 vaccination sequence; just over 68% of the population is fully vaccinated. The percentage of adults in the city who are fully vaccinated is 77%.

 

The mask and vaccine mandates continued despite criticism and litigation from some city businesses and residents. While officials did not rule out bringing the mitigation measures back if conditions warrant, the statement stressed individual responsibility for combating the spread of the disease.

 

“Residents should prepare for the likelihood of future surges by continuing to assess risk levels for themselves and loved ones and relying on proven mitigation strategies: testing, masks, and staying up to date with COVID vaccinations,” the city statement said.

 

 

 

Alameda County Fire Department Log

Submitted by ACFD

 

Saturday, March 26

• At 8:56 p.m. firefighters responded to a report about a vehicle in the water at the San Leandro Marina. Crews assisted the driver to shore and secured the vehicle with a line to haul it out of the water. No injuries were reported.

Photo in 1 new SHARON

No caption necessary

 

 

 

Police searching for armed robbery suspect

Submitted by Fremont Police Department

 

A suspect identified by authorities as Joshua Moss-Sanders is being sought in connection with multiple armed robberies in the East Bay.

 

The robberies occurred in August and October of 2021 in Fremont and San Leandro and are being jointly investigated by the Fremont Police Department, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office and the California Department of Corrections. During the robberies, Moss-Sanders is believed to have used a firearm.

 

A statement released by Fremont police described Moss-Sanders as 19-years-old, about 5-feet-11-inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He has multiple distinctive tattoos, including several on his face including one that reads “JACKBOY” vertically down his left jaw-line (the “O” appears to be someone wearing a ski-mask), “Ashley” over his right eye, “Edina Mae” over his left eye and words in red tattoo ink down his right jaw-line. He also has a tattoo on his right forearm of someone wearing a ski-mask and the words “THE JACK.”

 

Police said Moss-Sanders is believed to have access to fake identifications and knows he is wanted in connection with the East Bay robberies. Evidence suggests that since the robberies, he has been involved in police pursuits where he threw a firearm out of the window and was able to avoid arrest.

 

Anyone with information about Moss-Sanders’ whereabouts is asked to contact Sgt. Fenton Culley at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, (510) 942-9820 or Detective Michael Gebhardt the Fremont Police Department, (510) 673-3664.

 

Additionally, information can be shared with the Fremont Police Department’s Investigative Unit at (510) 790-6954 or by send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by a message to 888-777, or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.

 

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

 

Friday, March 25

• At 5:31 p.m. a man identified by police as Brian Sassman, 40, of San Francisco was detained at Milpitas station on suspicion of smoking on a train. A record check showed a warrant. He was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.

 

 

Saturday, March 26

• At 3:23 p.m. a man identified by police as Wayne Burnell, 49, of Berkeley was detained at Milpitas station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed warrants. He was arrested and booked at Santa Clara County Main Jail.

 

• At 7:33 p.m. a man identified by police as Raul Alcala, 24, of Livermore was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and on an outstanding warrant. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

Tuesday, March 29

• At 2:05 p.m. a woman identified by police Monica Sanchez, 42, of Hayward was arrested at Hayward station on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, and on two misdemeanor warrants totaling $55,000. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• At 8:44 p.m. a man identified by police as Joe Jones, 40, of San Francisco was reportedly on the trackway at Union City station causing trains to slow down. He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

Wednesday, March 30

• At 5:50 p.m. officers responded to a report about a disturbance aboard a train at Hayward station. They detained a man, they later identified as William Knapik, 24, of San Jose. A record check showed a $5,000 warrant issued by Santa Clara County charging probation violation. He was taken into custody and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

 

Drivers urged to put down cell phones

Submitted by Hayward Police Department

 

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Hayward Police Department (HPD) is actively looking for drivers who are in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

 

“Holding your phone and using it while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal,” HPD Sgt. Tasha DeCosta said, “For the safety of your family and others on the road, put the phone away and focus on driving.”

 

According to the 2021 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, nearly three out of every four drivers surveyed said that distracted driving because of texting was their biggest safety concern. In 2019, the California Highway Patrol issued nearly 20,000 citations during the month of April to drivers for hands-free cell phone law violations.

 

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

 

If you have an important phone call, text, email, or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before starting the car, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

 

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

 

 

 

Firefighter graduates ready for next step

Submitted Aisha Knowles

 

The new Downtown Event Center in Fremont was the place to be when the Fremont Fire Department recently honored 10 firefighters that graduated from the department’s 2022-1 Lateral Recruit Academy.

 

City and fire department officials, family members and others were on hand at a March 24 graduation ceremony to honor the crew for completing an accelerated six-week training academy. The physically and academically challenging academy included training in hose, ladders, self-contained breathing apparatus, ventilation, electrical vehicle awareness and auto extrication.

 

Participants also studied wildland, emergency medical services, rope rescue, firefighter survival, forcible entry techniques, and an active shooter review. A class hike to the top of Mission Peak helped commemorate the end of the second Lateral Academy in the past three years.

 

The newest academy graduate firefighters are:

• Joshua Atkinson
• Kyle Caserza
• Rose Gray
• Brett Loughlin
• Danielle McNely
• Jonah Peters
• Jerry Short
• Brian Smith
• Vincent Ta
• John Viss

 

In his remarks at the ceremony Chief Curtis Jacobson encouraged the new lateral probationary firefighters to “take ownership in the department and know that you can be a leader from any rank.” He also challenged members to “be lifelong learners, remain engaged and invested in yourselves, your crews, the department, union and community.”

 

The first group of graduates began their inaugural Fremont Fire Department tour of duty on Sunday, March 27.

 

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Yanneth Contrada, Fremont PD

 

Saturday, March 12

• At about 2:32 a.m. a male in the area of Bianca Drive in the Cabrillo neighborhood heard a sawing noise outside and spotted two people attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle. He confronted the suspects who said they had a gun. As the man retreated toward his residence, he heard a single gunshot. The suspects fled in a vehicle and a shell casing was located at the scene. Members from the Gun Violence Task Force are investigating.

 

 

Tuesday, March 15

• Officers responded to a report about a male armed with a knife following a person around a housing complex in the 38000 block of Cherry Lane. When officers arrived, the male returned to his residence. Officers surrounded the area and the male was detained. The case is being investigated as brandishing a weapon and has been sent to the District Attorney’s office for charging.

 

 

Thursday, March 17

• Between 8:36 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. someone shattered windows and removed items from about three vehicles in the parking lot near Starbuck’s 5034 Mowry Ave.

 

 

Monday, March 21

• At about 12:13 a.m. officers responded to a report about an in-progress commercial burglary at 43353-B Mission Blvd. A suspect was seen on video surveillance entering the business. Arriving officers found the suspect, later identified by police as Justin Carruth, 38, and arrested him.

 

 

 

Library worker arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse

Submitted by Hayward Police Department

 

A 58-year-old public library employee in Hayward has been arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse against a juvenile.

 

Hayward Police Department officials identified the suspect as Robert Spitzel, who has worked as a half-time librarian at the Weekes Branch Public Library since 2002. Following his arrest, Spitzel was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

 

Spitzel, of Castro Valley, was taken into custody March 25 after authorities learned the victim was sexually assaulted more than once while visiting the library during the approximate years of 2010 to 2015. Police said Spitzel does not have any known prior criminal history.

 

An investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information to call Detective Kawada at (510) 293-7176.

 

 

 

Police investigating fatal shooting in San Leandro

Submitted by San Leandro Police Department

 

A late-night shooting near Cunha’s Cocktails on Pelton Center Way is being investigated by police as the first homicide of the year in San Leandro.

 

Officers responded to a report about a shooting at 11:38 p.m. March 25 and found a male victim outside the bar suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. Despite emergency life-saving measures given at the scene, the victim died after being taken to a hospital.

 

Preliminary information developed by San Leandro police detectives showed the shooting was preceded by an altercation inside the bar. The involved parties then exited the bar onto Parrott Street where the conflict continued and culminated in the shooting.

 

An investigation is continuing and police are asking that anyone with information contact them on their non-emergency line at (510) 577-2740 or on their anonymous tip line at (510) 577-3278, or by text-tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).

 

“Any crime involving gun violence and loss of life are investigated with the utmost urgency,” said Lieutenant Abe Teng. “Our department is making it our top priority to bring the shooter to justice.”

 

 

 

Suspect faces sex charges

Submitted by Fremont Police Department

 

A man identified by police as Ruben Ramos, 49, of San Jose is facing numerous felony sex crime charges stemming from an incident involving a 16-year-old girl in Fremont.

 

The incident started February 18 when Fremont Police Department (FPD) patrol officers

were dispatched to the Centerville area and leaned that adult male had attempted to contact a female teenager as she walked home from school. After being ignored, the male left a note for the girl saying that he wanted to meet with her.

 

Patrol officers were quickly able to identify the man and sexual assault detectives were notified and began to investigate. They learned that Ramos was a “High-Risk” registered sex-offender with an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 1990s.

 

Detectives posed as a 16-year-old female and began chatting with Ramos on various communications platforms throughout the week. During the Stitzel investigation, detectives from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) learned of Ramos’ whereabouts and began a surveillance operation.

 

Over the course of nearly 400 messages between Ramos and detectives posing as the teenager, Ramos sent sexually explicit photos of himself, asked for sexual pictures of the teenager, and arranged meetings with the teenager with sexual intent.

 

During one of the arranged meetings on February 24, detectives followed Ramos from his home in San Jose to the area of the meeting in Fremont. Ramos was arrested by detectives when he exited his vehicle for the meeting.

 

The case was presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Ramos was charged with numerous felonies. On March 1 Ramos was arraigned in court and held in custody. On March 14, a plea hearing was held and the court ordered Ramos to remain in custody with a $325,000 bail. Ramos’ next court date is scheduled for April 4 for a pre-trial hearing.

 

If anyone has information regarding Ramos’s activity, or has been a victim of any crimes committed by him, they are asked to contact Det. David Rodriguez at (510) 790-6900 or drodriguez@fremont.gov.

 

 

 

Cougar Report

Submitted by Rachel Kahoalii

 

Champions of Character

 

The following Newark Memorial High School athletes were recognized as Champions of Character by their teammates this week:

 

Baseball:

Malosi Gaoteote

Everyone on this team is a good teammate, but Malosi has been an outstanding one. He is always thinking about others and picking up his teammates when needed. He is the perfect example of hard work, dedication and taking the opportunities he comes across. Malosi is so dedicated to getting better that he continues to practice and take ground balls with his throwing hand in a cast.

 

Kohen Johnson

Kohen has been giving 100% at practice and in the game when he gets his opportunities. He continuously shows up every day, ready to get to work at practice and games.

 

 

 

Pioneer men’s golf at Hanny Stanislaus Invitational

Submitted by Eric Harding; Cal State East Bay Athletics

 

Cal State East Bay men's golf team placed 14th among 15 teams in the 2022 Hanny Stanislaus Invitational at Turlock Golf & Country Club, with the final round being played on Tuesday, March 29.

 

The top Pioneers finisher was Ananjan Kaushik, completing the tournament at 12-over-par 228 (76-77-75). Kaushik had a total of five birdies throughout the tournament and a team high 33 holes at even par.

 

The best individual round among the Pioneers was from Woon Jun Lee, though competing as an individual, carded a 73 in Tuesday's round.

 

Lee, along with Xavier Cereno and Ryan Hong, had eight birdies each.

 

Western Washington was the team champion of the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational. Aidan Thain from WWU, and Tyler Fitchett from Saint Martin's, were both co-individual champions as their four-hole playoff remained even to its finish.

 

Cal State East Bay returns to action on April 4-5 for the Palm Valley Classic, which takes place at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona.

 

 

 

Join the California Grizzlies Fremont Running Club

Submitted by Mike Exton

 

A new running club has arrived in Fremont! The California Grizzlies running club is now holding practices in Fremont 3 days a week. This running club is primarily for boys and girls ages 7­­–14 who love to run, and who would like to compete in races ranging from 800 meters (1/2 mile) to 5 kilometers (3 miles). In order to join the club, each athlete must be able to jog at least one mile without stopping or walking.

 

Mike Exton, the coach of the team, is a retired public school teacher (who taught in Fremont for several years) and who has been involved with middle-distance and long-distance running since he was 8 years old. Many of his runners have qualified and run in the National Championships in both cross-country and track & field. And some of his athletes have achieved All-American honors, even winning national championships and setting national records (as the fastest American runners ever!), as well as winning California High School State Championships (in both X-C and Track & Field), and competing at the World Championships.

 

For more information about California Grizzlies Running Club, contact Coach Mike Exton: extonmike@gmail.com

 

 

 

Alameda County Superintendent L.K. Monroe Receives Statewide Honor

Submitted by the Alameda County Office of Education

 

HAYWARD, CA – L.K. Monroe, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools has been selected to receive the 2022 Charlie Mae Knight & Rex Fortune Superintendent of the Year Award by the California Association of African-American Superintendents & Administrators (CAAASA).

 

Monroe received the recognition during the Awards Program at CAAASA's Annual Professional Development Summit on Wednesday night (March 30) in Sacramento. She serves on the organization's Executive Board, and also is one of 40 African-American Superintendents across the state. Monroe also currently is a Co-Chair on the State Superintendent's Taskforce on Black Student Achievement.

 

Said Monroe in her acceptance speech, “I am so grateful. I have been part of CAAASA for many years, and it's an incredible privilege to get to be in the room with all of these incredible leaders. Thank you so very much for this award. It's absolutely stunning and the image on it is everything. It's why we do what we do and I am honored to be among the ranks of all of you who show up each and every day for each and every child and especially for African-American students who need us each and every day to be at our best.”

 

Congratulations also go out to Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, who was honored with the Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

 

Simmons University, Massachusetts

Fall 2021 Dean’s List

• Sapna Bakshi of Fremont

 

Milwaukee School of Engineering, Wisconsin

Winter 2022 Dean’s List

• Garin Jankowski of Fremont

Winter 2022 Honors List

• Sara Kalassina of Fremont

 

 

 

New city executive brings financial expertise

Submitted by City of San Leandro

 

Officials from the City of San Leandro recently announced that Scott Koll is the city’s new Deputy City Manager. He replaces Eric Engelbart, who left to accept a position of Assistant City Manager for the City of Belmont.

 

Koll joined the City of San Leandro in 2015 as its first Police Business Manager where he oversaw its $40 million budget and its federal and state grants. In 2017, Koll transferred to the Finance Department to also assist with budget and other special projects.

 

In February 2021, upon the retirement of the city’s former budget manager, Koll took over the role of Financial Services Manager. In that position, he was responsible for developing its biennial budget and managing the city’s approximately $200 million operating budget and its risk management program. As Deputy City Manager, Koll is now responsible for the city’s legislative platform, sustainability program, emergency preparedness programs, and special projects.

 

“It is a pleasure to appoint Scott to the deputy role,” said City Manager Fran Robustelli. “Scott’s intellect, attention to detail, kindness, and teacher qualities make him perfect for this role in the City Manager’s Office. His spirit of servant leadership is contagious. San Leandro is in great hands with Scott’s administrative and advocacy qualities.”

 

Koll got his start in local government by working as a Community Services Officer in Roseville, near Sacramento. He later was promoted to supervisor, where he first gained exposure to municipal legislative advocacy and financial management.

 

A native of Minnesota, Koll holds bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Philosophy from Southwest State University in Minnesota and a Master of Public Affairs degree from UC-Berkeley.

 

 

 

Veteran Hayward educator honored — again

Submitted by Hayward Unified School District

 

Mia Buljan, second-grade teacher at Fairview Elementary School in Hayward, has been selected as a 2022 Finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science (PAEMST).

 

This isn’t the first time the 25-year educator has been named as a PAEMST finalist. She was first selected in 2016 and again in 2020. Last month, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond named Buljan as one of five mathematics and science teachers from California as award finalists for 2022.

 

“I am honored to be recognized as a finalist among so many other incredible educators,” Buljan said. “When any teacher is recognized, all teachers are lifted for their hard work and dedication. The past two years have been challenging, and it's so important to celebrate the good things that are happening in our classrooms and schools! In Hayward, we are working hard to make school fun, accessible and to unlock the potential of each individual student. Math is important, powerful and useful, and we value all students as mathematicians and problem solvers.”

 

The PAEMST are the highest honors given by the United States government, specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science teaching. The awards were established by Congress in 1983. Up to 108 exemplary teachers may be recognized by the President of the United States each year.

 

Historically, award winners receive a certificate signed by the president and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities. They also receive a $10,000 award from NSF. In 2022, awardees will be recognized virtually to conform with COVID-19 pandemic guidelines.

 

 

 

Fremont teacher receives top district honor

Submitted by Fremont Unified School District

 

Christy Taylor, a teacher at Cabrillo Elementary in Fremont has been named 2022 Teacher of the Year. Taylor was selected for the honor from six finalists representing several schools in the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD).

 

An educator for 25 years, Taylor joined FUSD in 2009. During her career she has taught in elementary general and special education classrooms and worked as a reading specialist. During a speech after learning she won the honor, Taylor drew a connection between her work and the quilts her husband’s grandma made:

 

“I want to thank all the people who have been part of investing in me, and I thank every student who has allowed me to invest in you,” Taylor said. “This is not a single piece of fabric; this is a weaving together of every life who has impacted mine. It’s also the quilt of every single student that I’ve ever had, every story, every child, each with significance and value that contributes to the whole.

 

“In Fremont Unified School District, the quilts that are being made are colorful, diverse and full of beauty. They are quilts of cultures and languages and ages coming together. It’s the stitching together of student, parent, family, teacher, faculty, administrators and the greater Fremont community. There are thousands of squares on this quilt, each a work of art now graciously stitched together. And all of this beautiful tapestry is being made for the children. It is for their flourishing, for their futures.”

 

The in-person announcement was made during the March 23 FUSD Board of Education meeting. In addition to Taylor, the 2022 finalists included Mohamed Algarmi from Centerville Junior High School; Audrey Suratos from Robertson High School; Jovana Manjabosco from Blacow Elementary; Erin Castillo from Kennedy High School, and Erica Maciel from Patterson Elementary.

 

Taylor will represent FUSD at the Alameda County Teacher of the Year Awards later this year and be considered for county-level honors, and then possibly state recognition.

 

 

 

Woman of the Year named for District 10

Submitted by Jeff Barbosa

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic spread across California creating myriad health and safety problems, including worsening rates of food insecurity, Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen, guided by Chief Executive Officer Gisela B. Bushey, continually increased its services to meet the challenge.

 

For her leadership before and during the pandemic, and over 20 years as a nonprofit and philanthropic executive, state Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) has selected Bushey as the Woman of the Year for California Senate District 10.

 

“Gisela has brought all of her wisdom and talents to bear on food insecurity and other issues to help enable Loaves and Fishes to provide even more assistance to families in need throughout the Bay Area,” Wieckowski said. “By preparing over 1.5 million meals a year to families, veterans, seniors, children and unhoused Californians, Loaves and Fishes has become the largest provider in the Bay Area. Gisela continues to do an amazing job to help people in difficult times and there is no wonder why she has received several awards for her hard work. I’m honored to recognize her as the 10th District’s Woman of the Year.”

 

On Thursday, March 31, Wieckowski honored Bushey with a Senate resolution at the Loaves and Fishes facility in San Jose.

 

“I am personally humbled and honored to receive this award from Sen. Wieckowski because what it truly reflects is recognition of the services Loaves and Fishes provides to our hungry and homeless neighbors in need throughout the community, not just during the pandemic, but each and every day for the past 42 years,” Bushey said. “Sen. Wieckowski has always been a true champion for ensuring that everyone is heard, honored and cared for, and we are blessed and honored to have such a great partner here in the community and a tremendous advocate in the Senate.”

 

Bushey has been the CEO at Loaves and Fishes for almost five years. During her career with philanthropic and nonprofit organizations she’s received several awards. In 2021, Santa Clara County awarded her a Certificate of Commendation for outstanding services to the unhoused and in 2020 the Board of Supervisors honored her with the President’s Medal. The Woman of the Year has been a state Capitol tradition since 1987 as a way to highlight the achievements of outstanding women throughout California during Women’s History Month.

 

Wieckowski represents the 10th District in the State Senate, which includes southern Alameda County and parts of Santa Clara County. Constituents who need information or assistance on state issues can call the senator’s district office at (510) 794-3900 or send an email to https://sd10.senate.ca.gov/contact/email.

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

 

Ramadan

 

Your front-page story (March 29) about the holy month of the Islamic calendar known as Ramadan was just in time. And I see it as informative and wonderful for the benefit of all readers.

 

Frankly speaking, I appreciate a good job done in unbiased journalism in a country where secular media dominate. Ramadan Mubarak to all Tri-City Muslim communities.

 

 

Zafar Yousufzai

Fremont

 

 

 

IAD040522

 

 

CONTINUING EVENTS:

 

 

Wednesdays

San Lorenzo Street Eats

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

1062 Grant Ave., San Lorenzo

www.thefoodtruckmafia.com

 

Thursdays

Newark Street Eats

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

6430 Thornton Ave., Newark

www.thefoodtruckmafia.com

 

Thursday – Sundays, March 31 – May 29

Visions of Spring

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Open Reception: Saturday, April 2, 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Exhibition of the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW)

2400 First St, Livermore

Bankhead Theater Gallery

www.livermorearts.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/

 

Friday, April 1 – Saturday, April 16

Spring Forward

Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Reception: 4/1, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Exhibit showcasing floral artwork

Adobe Art Center

20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley

https://www.artinc.org/

 

Saturdays and Sundays, February 12 – April 17

Niles Canyon Railway Train Rides $

Departures from Sunol Depot at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

$25.00 for Adults

$15.00 for Seniors (62+) and Children (3-12)

6 Kilkare Road, Sunol

https://www.ncry.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.

In this musical play, 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

fcacphotoshow2022@gmail.com

https://fremontculturalartscouncil.org/

 

Saturdays and Sundays, March 26 – May 1

Wildflower Walk

10 a.m.

Enjoy the beauty of spring on this guided stroll

Sunol Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

www.ebparks.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

Dove@ParkVictoria.org

 

 

UPCOMING

 

Tuesday, April 5

Fremont Redistricting Public Hearing

7:15 p.m.

Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3qyFytn

Webinar ID: 990 1131 0541

https://redistrictfremont.org/

 

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Fremont Art Association general meeting/demo artist

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Guest artist Neera Dave will demo the meditative art of Zentangle.

Via Zoom, link will be provided upon registration.

https://www.fremontartassociation.org/monthlymeetinganddemo

 

Thursday, April 7

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, April 7

Patterson House Tours

11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,2:30 p.m.

Tour the beautiful Patterson House Museum

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Thursday, April 7

Community Meeting

6:30 p.m.

Paseo Padre Parkway improvements

Via Zoom

Us06web.zoom.us.paseo-padre

Fremont.gov/33471

 

Thursday, April 7

Ride the Rails

10:20 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Travel back in time on the train through the eucalyptus groves

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Friday, April 8

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

 

Friday, April 8

LOV’s Spring Fling $R

6 p.m.

Fundraising event including dinner, music, live and silent auctions

Double Tree by Hilton

39900 Balentine Dr., Newark

(510) 793-5683

 

Friday, April 8

Ride the Rails

10:20 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Travel back in time on the train through the eucalyptus groves

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Friday, April 8

Patterson House Tours

11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,2:30 p.m.

Tour the beautiful Patterson House Museum

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

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

 

Saturday, April 9

Clothespin Dolls

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Create and dress up your own doll

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

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, April 9

Stories of the Past: Stone Tools

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Follow the production of toolmaking. Ages 8+

Coyote Hills Visitor Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

Rabbit Rendezvous

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Learn how rabbits communicate and their favorite food

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

Patterson House Tours

11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,2:30 p.m.

Tour the beautiful Patterson House Museum

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

Hiking with Poles: Skills & Practice Hike $

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Enhance your confidence and skills on the trail

Sunol Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, April 9

Storefront Storytime

Ms. Karen reads “My Grandma is a Ninja”

Books on B

1014B. St., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

 

Saturday, April 9

Zoom Write-In 

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Practice your writing in a non-judgmental environment

Via Zoom

Request link: scottfrombayside@yahoo.com

 

Saturday, April 9

South Hayward Easter Fair

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Games and activities for kids, covid-19 vaccines

Weekes Community Center Park

27182 Patrick Ave., Hayward

 

Sunday, April 10

Victorian Tabletop Games

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Play old fashion games of ball and cup, tops, or Jacob’s Ladder

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, April 10

Wake Up the Farm

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Help prepare the morning snack for the farm animals

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, April 10

Ride the Rails

10:20 a.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Travel back in time on the train through the eucalyptus groves

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, April 10

Wonderful Wool

11 a.m. – 12 noon

Learn how to transform sheep fur into wooly wonders

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, April 10

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, April 10

Patterson House Tours

11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,2:30 p.m.

Tour the beautiful Patterson House Museum

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, April 10

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

 

Sunday, April 10

Old World Bake Sale

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Traditional Easter foods from Greece, Ukraine, Middle East

St. Christina Orthodox Church

3721 Parish Ave., Fremont

stchristinaorthodox.org

 

Sunday, April 10

Castro Valley Reads Finale Event R

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Authors of Fire in Paradise discuss writing the book and an update on the town

Via Zoom

www.aclibrary.org

 

Sunday, April 10

Compost Give-Away Event

8 a.m. – 12 noon

Fremont residents (bring most recent garbage bill) can pick up two bags of free compost

Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station

41149 Boyce Rd., Fremont

(510) 657-3500

 

Monday, April 11

Senior Scam Stopper Seminar R

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Learn about the latest scams and frauds

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

A25.asmdc.org/events

 

Saturday, April 23

People with Purpose $R

6 p.m.

HERS Breast Cancer Foundation Gala

Dinner, silent auction, fundraising games, music

Casa Bella Event Center

11984 Main St., Sunol

RSVP by April 12

Hersbcf.ejoinme.org/2022PWP