05-07-24 Articles

Charlie Chaplin Days

Submitted by Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

 

A century ago, everyone knew who Charlie Chaplin was. He was a global comedy sensation, a movie star who had been on the flickering screen for a decade at that point. He had been on the vaudeville and music hall stage since childhood, had experienced personal tragedy and triumph, and would continue to do that for the next fifty years. He translated that mix of emotions in his films. Francois Truffaut might as well have been talking about Chaplin when he said, “When humor can be made to alternate with melancholy, one has a success, but when the same things are funny and melancholic at the same time, it’s just wonderful.”

 

Charlie came to Niles while under contract with the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company which had its western division housed here from 1912 – 1916. Its main headquarters were in Chicago. During “Chaplin Days weekend,” we explore his cinematic legacy with Chaplin experts, film historians and fans alike. There are movies to be viewed, walking tours of the historic neighborhood, people to talk with, trains to ride through a picturesque canyon, and even a chance to dress up like the Little Tramp!

 

More information is available at our museum (Open hours: 12 noon – 4 p.m. Sat / Suns) or online at www.nilesfilmmuseum.org.

 

 

Friday, May 17

 

Opening program: Before there were Movies there was Vaudeville

7:30 p.m. at the Niles Edison Theater

Doors open: 7 p.m.

Rick Adam will present a talk on The Photo Scrapbooks of Chester Brown along with excerpts from his one-man vaudeville show “The Great Spoofarto!” (Suggested member donation $8, not-yet member $10.)

 

Feature – Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1914, Keystone) – 110th Anniversary!

A con man from the city dupes a wealthy country girl into marriage. The picture is considered one of the first feature-length comedies and was the only feature-length comedy made by the Keystone Film Company. The film will be introduced by Nigel Dreiner & Jason Allin. Greg Pane provides piano accompaniment (Suggested member donation $8, not-yet member $10.)

 

 

Saturday, May 18

 

Diesel Train Ride through the Canyon

10:30 a.m.

Meet at the station on Mission Boulevard (not the depot) 30 minutes in advance of departure to pick up your ticket. The ride is 90 minutes. Purchase tickets in advance on the Charlie Chaplin Days website.

Tickets: $20 ($15 for seniors 62+ and Children under 13)

 

Walking Tour of Niles

11 a.m.

Wear walking shoes and find out what happened here one hundred years ago. Meet at the museum and bring your camera. Includes your own copy of our museum’s Walking Tour of Niles booklet. ($5 donation.)

 

FREE Screenings (Edison Theater)

11:00 a.m.

Los Angeles Essanay shorts – hosted by Chaplin expert Sarah Biegelsen: “By the Sea,” “A Woman,” “A Night at the Show.”

 

Evening Program (Edison Theater)

7:30 p.m.

 

• Chaplin Studio Tour

Rollie Totheroh gives a tour of the LaBrea studio in 1953. (We thank the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Lobster Films and the Chaplin estate for this 35mm one-reel print)

 

• The Circus locations talk

Film historian John Bengtson, hailed “the great detective of silent film locations” by the New York Times, will share the locations and visual history hidden in the background of Charlie Chaplin’s early masterpiece, The Circus.

 

• Feature: The Circus (1928, Chaplin Studios) The ringmaster of an impoverished circus hires Chaplin’s Little Tramp as a clown, but discovers that he can only be unintentionally funny. (Bruce Loeb, piano accompaniment.) Suggested member donation $8, not-yet member $10.

 

 

Sunday, May 19

 

Steam Train Ride through the Canyon

10:30 a.m., 1 p.m.

Meet at the station on Mission Boulevard (not the depot) 30 minutes in advance of departure to pick up your ticket. The ride is 90 minutes. Purchase tickets in advance on the Charlie Chaplin Days website.

Tickets: $20 ($15 for seniors 62+ and Children under 13)

 

Free Presentation: No Tramps Allowed!

10:30 a.m.

Enjoy this selection of early shorts films (“Cruel, Cruel Love,” “A Busy Day,” “A Thief Catcher,” “Tango Tangles”) showcasing times where Charlie ventured away from The Little Tramp character. Hosted by Chaplin expert Nigel Dreiner.

 

Free Presentation: Ephemera

12:30 p.m.

Dan Kamin will talk about posters, postcards and other ephemera inspired by Charlie’s film and persona!

 

Matinee Movie Screenings

In our old-fashioned nickelodeon theater from 1913, we ask a suggested donation per film 50¢

 

• The Birth of the Tramp (2013, Lobster Films) (60 min)

1:15 p.m.

A look back at Charlie Chaplin’s early life and career, from his rough childhood and music hall success in England to his early Hollywood days and the development of his enormously popular “Little Tramp” character.

 

• The Tramp (1915, Essanay)

2:30 p.m.

Filmed in Niles on Second Street and the Canyon. (two reeler)

 

• The Professor (1919, First National)

3:15 p.m.

Chaplin appears not as his usual Tramp character but as Professor Bosco, a curmudgeonly showman who brings his flea circus with him when staying at a flophouse. (two reeler)

 

International Lookalike Contest videos

4 p.m. (approx. 10 min)

 

Charlie Look-Alike Contest

We have some costumes if you want to “suit up,” or wear your own. You may win a prize!

 

 

All Weekend Pass

Purchase in advance – we have a limited supply! $35 includes all programs, Walking Tour booklet, weekend theater seat reservation and a special Chaplin goodie!

 

This event is co-sponsored with the Niles Main Street Association.

 

 

2024 Charlie Chaplin Days

Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19

Special Museum Hours Saturday and Sunday

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

 

 

 

East Bay Regional Park District’s 90th Anniversary Celebration

By Monika Lee

 

What is one of the best things about living in the bay area (besides the weather)? All the beautiful parks and nature trails are on the top of my list – and the weather allows us to enjoy them more often. Nature nurtures. It is well known that being in nature lowers stress and improves our physical and mental health. How fortunate we are to have the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) which celebrates its 90th anniversary with a park fest on Saturday, May 11 at Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. The EBRPD manages 73 beautiful parks in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Spanning across 126,809 acres; 1,330 miles of trails; 55 miles of shoreline – the EBRPD is the largest urban regional park district in the country!

 

EBRPD’s story began in the late 1920s when thousands of acres of surplus drainage basin land in the East Bay Hills became available for development. Civic leaders came together with a vision: preserve the land forever, and balance environmental conservation with public enjoyment. Renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and National Park Service’s Chief Naturalist Ansel Hall surveyed the drainage basin land for potential park use. The resulting 1930 Olmsted-Hall report is largely considered the founding document of the EBRPD.

 

In 1934, civic leaders placed a measure on the ballot to establish the EBRPD with a 5% property tax transfer from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). The ballot measure passed with a whopping 71% voter approval. In a timely coincidence, to help lift the country out of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt’s administration established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933 and Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935 which employed people to improve the country’s public lands. Local CCC and WPA workers built the park infrastructure, including trails, roadways, picnic areas, restrooms, and drinking fountains, for EBRPD’s first three parks – Upper Wildcat Canyon (Tilden), Temescal, and Roundtop (Sibley). In 1936 the EBRPD celebrated its grand opening at the Redwood Bowl in Oakland – which is now part of Roberts Regional Recreation Area.

 

Since then, the EBRPD has grown substantially so that now, wherever you live in the East Bay, you can find a Regional Park within 30 minutes of your home. The EBRPD includes a former farm, a former coal mine, an extinct volcano, two islands, and one of the biggest off-leash dog parks in the country.

 

Some EBRPD Fun Facts:

 

• The popular carousel in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley was built in 1911 by the Hershell-Spillman Company and is one of only a handful of menagerie carousels left in the country. It is also registered on the National Registry of Historic Places.

 

• Once considered the Coney Island of the West, Crown Memorial State Beach was previously known as Neptune Beach from the 1880s until 1940 and was the place to come in the East Bay for exciting roller coaster rides, a dip in the giant size pool and the largest beach in the San Francisco Bay.

 

• Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch was the largest coalfield operation in California from 1850s to 1900.

 

• The Iron Horse Regional Trail is one of the most popular trails in the EBRPD spanning 32 miles from Livermore to Concord. Formerly it was the site of the Southern Pacific rail corridor and was converted to a trail in the early 1980s. It is the longest rail trail in California. When completed it will run 55 miles from Livermore to Suisun Bay.

 

• Point Isabel Regional Shoreline is one of the largest off-leash dog parks in the country with over 23 acres for Fido to roam and beautiful views of the Golden Gate bridge to boot.

 

• There are two islands in the EBPRD – Brooks Island in the San Francisco Bay and Browns Island in the Sacramento Delta.

 

• Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland has a 10-million-year-old volcano. Its “Round Top” peak is made up of lava and volcanic debris.

 

• Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont was a prosperous 19th century fertile farm field and country estate of George Washington Patterson in the mid-1800s.

 

• Quarry Lakes in Fremont is one of the newest regional parklands opened in 2002, formerly a working quarry in the mid-19th century. Its gravel from the banks of Alameda Creek was used in the construction of the transcontinental railroad.

 

In addition to the park fest there will be monthly naturalist-led “Explore Your Parks” adventure programs to celebrate the district’s 90th anniversary and more events will be announced throughout the year. “We invite the public to enjoy their regional parks and shorelines and celebrate with us throughout the year at events and programs commemorating our 90 years of service to the community,” wrote Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth on the park district website.

 

 

EBRPD 90th Anniversary Park Fest

Saturday, May 11

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Lake Chabot Regional Park

17600 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley

(888) 327-2757

www.ebparks.org/parkfest

Free admission and parking

 

 

 

Celebrate Hawaiian May Day

Submitted by Kumu Hula Association of Northern California

 

On May 11, Kumu Hula Association of Northern California will host the 2024 “Hawaiian May Day Festival.” Whether you’re interested in live music, Hula performances, Hawaiian themed arts and crafts, or drinks, sweets, and savory bites—it’s worth heading over to downtown Hayward to soak up the island atmosphere.

 

The event will start at 12 noon, with performances running on two stages until 6 p.m. Featured artists are: Hawaiian Royalty, Mr. Mego & Alvin, Native Elements, Servants, Reno Anoa’i, and The Vitals 808. Hula schools (Hālau) performing are: Hula Halau O Piilani, Kaulana Na Pua, Ka Nalu, Siva Polynessia, Ata Mai Cultural Arts by PICP (Samoan Group), Rahiti, MKC Project – Marikar, and Tehani.

 

Food vendors include a range from Ehulani’s Catering, Kat’s Poke Shack, Fiji BBQ, to Kirstie’s Hawaiian Style Kookies, Ube Area Corp, and Tumblelands Shave Ice. Arts and crafts shopping comprises clothing, jewelry, accessories, from vendors such as Aunty La’s Leis, Kalikiano Clothing & Gifts, Hali’a Aloha Candle Company, and Ohana Hawaiian Jewelry. (And many more!)

 

Local community organizations will also have booths at the festival for community outreach, including Hayward Police Department, Eden Youth Center, Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, and Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD).

 

Streets will be closed for vehicle traffic between Watkins Street and Foothill Boulevard along B Street, and along Main Street from A to C Streets. The event is a five-minute walk from Hayward BART Station. The festival is free to attend.

 

 

Hawaiian May Day

Saturday, May 11

12 noon – 6 p.m.

Downtown Hayward

Watkins to B St., A to C St

www.kumuhulaassociation.com

 

 

 

Final Round Announced: AC Boost Down Payment Assistance Program

Submitted by Alameda County District 2 Supervisor Elisa Marquez

 

Exciting News! AC Boost is once again accepting new pre-applications!

 

We are thrilled to announce a new round of AC Boost, Alameda County’s Down Payment Assistance Program funded by Measure A1. This program offers shared appreciation loans of up to $210,000 to first-time homebuyers who live in, work in, or have been displaced from Alameda County. Limited preference is given to first responders and educators.

 

AC Boost has already originated over $39 million in loans. This has empowered more than 233 households to fulfill their dreams of owning their first home in Alameda County while benefiting from an affordable mortgage.

 

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to secure the assistance you need to make your homeownership dreams come true. Take advantage of AC Boost and join the growing number of individuals and families who have successfully purchased their first homes in Alameda County with the help of AC Boost.

 

The application window closes on May 15, 2024, so learn more TODAY or submit your pre-application at www.acboost.org or call (510) 500-8840. Don’t worry, the AC Boost pre-application is free, super quick, and easy!

 

 

 

Philippine Human Rights Defender Brandon Lee Speaks in Fremont

Written by Malaya Tri-City

Photos by Jamison Boyer

 

“Justice means continuing to fight for oppressed peoples and a better world for all. Payt Latta! (Dare to fight!)” – Brandon Lee

 

In 2010, Chinese-American journalist Brandon Lee left everything behind to move to the Philippines. He sacrificed being with his family, friends, community, and a life of relative comfort and safety, to be alongside the indigenous people of the mountainous Cordillera region in northern Philippines. Lee shared, “My colleagues and I were in the crosshairs of the Philippine military, specifically the 54th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. I lost two of my friends and colleagues—William Bugatti in 2014 and Ricardo Mayumi in 2018, both human rights peasant activists—to assassinations by State Security Forces.”

 

On August 6, 2019, while with his daughter, Brandon was shot multiple times by an assailant who is still at large. “It took my family, friends, and the wider mass movement to secure and raise the funds needed to airlift me back to the U.S. and debunk the military’s lies that it was my colleagues that tried to kill me,” Lee shared during his speech. Though he was able to be transported safely back to the United States, he remains quadriplegic as a result of the assassination attempt.

 

Brandon continues to advocate for human rights in the Philippines, and it is from his determination and continued organizing efforts since his return that the Fight Like Brandon Lee Tour started. The tour not only aims to tell Brandon’s story to a wider audience, but to inspire people to advocate for human rights in the Philippines and beyond. Lee’s story is not an isolated incident, but one that has happened to thousands of people in the Philippines and indigenous activists all over the world.

 

The first stop of the “Fight Like Brandon Lee” speaking tour was in Fremont on April 22, 2024 (Earth Day). The event was hosted by Malaya Movement Tri-City, a grassroots organization fighting for human rights, sovereignty and democracy in the Philippines. Guests from the local community learned about the current campaigns of the organization, such as combating disinformation from social media, and legislative efforts to pass the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) to cut U.S. military spending to the Philippines.

 

After speakers shared about campaigns, the floor was given to Brandon Lee, who proceeded to tell his story, including what inspired him to go to the Philippines, the violence that he witnessed as a journalist, the threats and intimidation that he received from paramilitary groups, and the assassination attempt that prematurely hastened his return to the United States. Isaiah, a member of Malaya Tri-City, shared that they were “inspired by Brandon’s message for all of us to get involved from where we are. From our workplaces to our schools and faith communities, we can listen to each other’s concerns and take each other’s struggle as our own.”

 

The event was hosted at Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Fremont and was attended by senior Pastor, Johann Osias. “St. Paul will continue to be open to these kinds of activities. Hopefully we can engage some members of the church who also are committed to justice, equality, and peace in this faith community,” Pastor Johann shared in reflecting about the importance of hosting the tour at the church.

 

Malaya Tri-City is continuing to raise funds for the Fight Like Brandon Lee Tour expenses, as well as his day-to-day accommodations and easing his livelihood. If you are interested in donating directly to Lee, or if you want to join the fight for human rights, sovereignty, and democracy in the Philippines, please contact Malaya Tri-City via email at malaya.tricity@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Flash Fiction Winners

By Staff

 

The theme for the April 2024 Flash Fiction contest in Fremont was “Dreams.” Over 55 writers submitted, and we are running five winners in the Tri-City Voice. Learn more at www.fremontculturalartscouncil.org.

 

 

Call of Duty

By Wayne Reznick

 

Despite the blaring artillery and gunfire heard this morning by the medical staff, we felt sufficiently safe with our distance from the front line. The battle resulted in several casualties and many wounded. The injured were now being carried in stretchers or escorted into the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. We were scrambling to triage, operate and treat them. It was critical for us to respond quickly, sensibly and correctly to save lives and limbs. Tension was evident in the way we moved, the expression on our faces and the tone of our voices.

 

This WWII scenario was a recurring dream that showed up in my adolescence, years before the popular TV series, MASH. It evoked my imagining being a healer instead of an infantryman, should Uncle Sam call me to duty. Killing people, even for a just cause, was abhorrent to me. As a kid, I steadfastly avoided playing war, even video game versions. So, yes, I strongly preferred to fight against the predatory tendencies of humans by mending and not by violence.

 

Ten years after the dream, I would become an MD for soldiers at a VA hospital. Unlike the dream, I remained a civilian, without ever going near a combat zone.

 

Curiously, the dream’s last installment threw in a complication when the medical commander asked, “Will you treat this wounded Nazi?” I consented.

 

After I transferred to a position at a civilian hospital, the police brought in and stayed near an injured young man. His shirt displayed a swastika and the insignia of the American Nazi Party. A hospital staff member turned to me: Could I help him? I replied, “If he could accept treatment by a Jewish doctor, then sure.” The patient consented.

 

His body healed, but I don’t know if his soul ever did.

 

 

 

Creating from the Inside Out

Submitted by Wendy Spellman

 

When the imagination is allowed to play without boundaries, it reflects itself in wonderful and numerous ways without being told how.

 

Karen Haughey has been an art teacher, artist, illustrator, and author for the past forty years. She has been teaching this method of artful creativity effectively for the reluctant few, who claimed they couldn’t draw stick figures, but ended up surprising themselves during the process. It’s simply a creative class for the part of us that wants to explore outside the box.

 

On Tuesday, May 21, Haughey will teach a mini workshop where participants can explore their creativity. She will begin by getting to know participants by name, and anything else they would like to share about their personal and or professional journey.

 

She will then guide participants through a relaxing meditation, or have them listen to a dramatic piece of classical music, such as “Ride of the Valkyries” by Wagner. The purpose is to activate the imagination through music before translating into color and form.

 

Participants will each share their experience of the meditation and how it felt, or possibly what they saw, while listening to the music.

 

Then, participants will try the “signature exercise.” For this exercise they will write their names—either in cursive or block print—on drawing paper. Then, they will turn their signature upside down and make a new design out of it, without logic.

 

Drawing paper will be supplied. Please bring colored pencils (recommended) or water colors if you prefer. Advance registration is required for this program. Register at: https://olivehydeartguild.org/news-events/upcoming-programs/

 

 

Creating from the Inside Out

Tuesday, May 21

10 a.m. – 12 noon

Olive Hyde Art Gallery Mission Room

123 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 791- 4357

https://olivehydeartguild.org

 

 

 

Alameda County DA Office announces $23 million dollar settlement agreement with Funeral Provider

Submitted by DA Media

 

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, together with the California Attorney General’s Office and the District Attorneys of Marin and San Francisco, has entered a settlement with Service Corporation International, the nation’s largest funeral service provider, doing business in California as the “Neptune Society” and the “Trident Society,” for violations of California’s Unfair Competition and False Advertising Laws related to marketing and selling pre-need cremation packages. The settlement provides full restitution to consumers, comprehensive injunctive relief that requires compliance with the law going forward, and $23 million total in civil penalties, over $5.7 million of which will be paid directly to Alameda County.

 

“This settlement holds Neptune Society and Trident Society accountable for a practice of using deceptive price manipulation to defraud consumers and skirt legal obligations requiring them to place all funds paid for pre-need cremation services and collateral agreements in trust,” said District Attorney Pamela Price.

 

The scheme involved Neptune and Trident locations selling consumers a pre-need package called the “Standard Plan,” which includes cremation services and merchandise but was marketed and sold to customers as a single plan at a single price. The Standard Plan was strategically priced below stand-alone cremation services to induce consumers into purchasing the Standard Plan. But when it came time to sign, Neptune and Trident presented consumers with two contracts, one for heavily marked-up merchandise and one for deeply discounted cremation services. When a consumer requested a refund, Neptune and Trident only refunded the portion allocated to cremation services, not any money earmarked for merchandise. Typically, consumers would be refunded less than half of their money. These practices violate California law, which requires funeral service providers to provide a full refund of the amount paid for the entire pre-need cremation package at any time before services are rendered.

 

Of the $23 million in civil penalties, the Neptune Society and Trident Society will pay $5,750,000 to Alameda County, pay full consumer restitution to the consumers who canceled their plans but did not get a full refund, and be subject to strong injunctive terms that provide meaningful protections for consumers. The cremation services providers must also:

 

• Cease selling the Standard Plan or any similar package unless all money paid for the plan or package and money paid for any collateral agreements is placed into trust.
• Provide clear written disclosures informing consumers of their rights under California law, including that consumers are not required to purchase additional products or services in order to purchase pre-need cremation services.
• Provide a full refund upon request to any consumer who cancels a pre-need funeral agreement.
• Comply with California law when advertising veterans’ benefits.

There are three Neptune Society locations in Alameda County: Castro Valley, Livermore, and Oakland. There is a Trident Society location in Fremont, and the crematorium is in Oakland.

 

 

 

Day at the Rancho for 4th Grade students

Submitted by Kelsey Camello

 

Attention, 4th Grade students & families: Rancho del Agua Caliente will be open to all 4th Grade families for $5 per family on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The rancho once belonged to Fulgencio Higuera during the rancho period of California’s history. It is now owned by the City of Fremont.

 

Dip candles, design a brand, form an adobe brick, and brand a cow using paint, felt and authentic brands. You can even try your hand at roping the steer! There will be docents onsite, as well as a video about park restoration, and the museum will be open. See an adobe building (built in 1840) and learn about the hide and tallow trade.

 

This experience is great for students both exiting AND entering 4th Grade, plus their families! Come one, come all. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch. The cost to participate is $5 per family.

 

The event is hosted by the Washington Township Museum of Local History. For more information, call Dianne at (510) 673-4813 or email mdholmes@comcast.net.

 

 

4th Grade Day at the Rancho

Saturday, May 11

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

47300 Rancho Higuera Rd., Fremont

(510) 673-4813

mdholmes@comcast.net

$5 per family

 

 

 

Free Notary Service

Submitted by Hector M. Villaseñor

 

On the second Saturday in May, Hayward Public Library will hold a Free Notary Service from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Certified notary Ms. Wanda Black is offering free, basic notary services such as Acknowledgement or Jurat.

 

Advance registration is required for this program. Library staff will respond by email, assigning you a specific time. Please bring documents and government-issued ID to your appointment. The notary may contact registrants by email in advance of the service. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on the Thursday before service to allow time for this communication. Patrons who use the notary must sign a Waiver of Liability.

 

For more information, contact Lori Patel at lori.patel@hayward-ca.gov or (510) 583-2119.

 

 

Free Notary Service

Saturday, May 11

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Hayward Public Library

888 C Street

(510) 881-7974

lori.patel@hayward-ca.gov

https://hayward.librarycalendar.com/event/free-notary-service-17076

 

 

 

Fremont Cares: The Start of a Promising New Chapter

Submitted by City of Fremont

 

When a case manager within the City’s Human Services Department first met “Kari,” she was an unemployed single mother living in her car with a two-year-old child and pregnant with her second child. She was not connected to any supportive services or resources.

 

After the birth of her child, Kari’s case manager assisted her with enrolling in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program to obtain access to baby essentials like diapers and formula. As soon as she was able, Kari secured a full-time job and gathered the appropriate documents for a housing subsidy application. Kari’s case manager helped her apply for that subsidy.

 

While waiting for an apartment to become available, Kari and her little ones lived in the City’s Winter Relief Program, a seasonal shelter program.

 

In February, Kari and her family finally found a place to call home through the Linkages Program, managed by Abode Services. This program provides 12 months of rental subsidy which gradually decreases over the year, allowing participants to save money and work toward graduating from the program and fully covering their lease. From the deposit payment to furnishings, the program has provided Kari much needed support, even covering 100% of her rent for the first three months.

 

Kari’s move into her new apartment marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope and promise.

 

If your family or a family you know is in need of these same type of services, please visit the City’s Homeless Services webpage, specifically the Housing Resource Center/Access Point Services webpage.

 

About Fremont Cares

The City’s Fremont Cares storytelling series aims to shed light on the real-life experiences of Fremont’s unhoused residents, highlight the homeless response services provided by dedicated City staff and partner agencies, and inspire others to get involved and help.

 

To receive future stories by email or text message, sign up for the City’s Homelessness Interest List. To learn how you can help, visit the City’s How to Help webpage.

 

 

 

Fremont Creates Grand Finale Delivers

Submitted by Phyllis Wood

 

Shining sun, clear blue skies, and puffs of clouds created a great setting for the Inaugural Fremont Creates Grand Finale at the Fremont Downtown Event Center. Approximately 500 people attended the festivities.

 

Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, Mayor Lily Mei, and Councilmembers Desrie Campbell, Teresa Cox, Jenny Kassan, and Raj Salwan were on site to celebrate the arts in Fremont. Brandon Sass, emceed the Outdoor Stage, introducing performers and announcing the upcoming events throughout the day.

 

Janine Pitta of Janine Pitta Art captained the Makerspace, which was a hit with attendees of all ages. There were six stations, including Collage Art Postcards with the Washington Township Museum of Local History, Coloring Tables, Music for Minors II Instrument Making, Piecemakers’ Make-a-Quilt, Playing at Learning Art with Robotics, and Recycled Imaginative Art. Scott Capen of Scott Capen Photography, official event photographer, captured images of the day.

 

Performances were entertaining, and many were interactive. A BollyX Flash Mob surprised the crowd, showing off their talents, and on the other side of the spectrum, the Teen Poetry Performance provided an oasis of calm. Here is a list of all the participating groups for the day:

 

• Barry & Friends Band
• Bay Philharmonic and Bay Phil Youth Orchestra
• City of Fremont BollyX Students
• Comfort and Joy Ukulele Group
• FCAC Art Banner
• FCSN Dream Achievers Band
• Fremont PTA Reflections video presentation
• Greywater Art Exhibit
• Lisa Performing Arts
• Made Up Theatre Improv Class
• RPC Smile Dance
• Shruthi Swara Laya
• Sing with Bella
• Starstruck Theater
• Teen Poetry Performance
• Wadaiko Newark Taiko Drums
• Winners of the FCAC Flash Fiction Contest

 

Throughout the event, booths featured information about Alameda County resources for the arts, Fremont Recreation Services, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, Leadership Fremont, Lisa Performing Arts, Olive Hyde Art Guild, and Friends of Children with Special Needs.

 

A special thank you to our volunteers; we could not have had such a successful event without you. And we appreciated the generous contributions of the Irvington Safeway, Panera on Mowry, and Trader Joe’s of Fremont. Food Truck Mafia kept us nourished throughout the event with food trucks Kona Ice, Twister Truck, and Taqueria Extra.

 

Thank you to all of our sponsors. Without your support, the planning team’s vision of a celebration highlighting Fremont’s arts and culture would not have been possible.

 

• City of Fremont
• Supervisor David Haubert, Alameda County Supervisor, District 1
• Niles Rotary Foundation
• Brandon T. Sass, Primerica Investment Advisor
• Scott Capen Photography
• Tri-City Voice
• Olive Hyde Art Guild
• Washington Hospital Healthcare System

 

 

 

Superintendent CJ Cammack Departing Fremont Unified School District

Submitted by Fremont Unified School District

 

Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Superintendent CJ Cammack has notified the Board of Trustees that he will depart his position with FUSD at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Mr. Cammack will become superintendent of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) as of July 1, 2024, pending final approval by the SRVUSD Board of Education later this month.

 

“As a Board Trustee and a parent, I am grateful to Superintendent Cammack for the work he has done to sustain the excellence in our district and to improve it as well,” said FUSD Board President Yajing Zhang. “Our students, staff and community will continue to benefit from the actions taken through the collaborative leadership of the Board and Superintendent Cammack, and we will continue to grow from the foundation we have strengthened during his tenure. We wish him well in his new endeavors.”

 

Since August 2020, when the Board of Trustees selected Mr. Cammack as Superintendent, the FUSD leadership team has overseen many achievements and efforts, including: the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including distance learning and the return to in-person instruction; successful negotiation of a three-year collective bargaining agreement between the District and each of its labor partners; addition of counselors to each elementary school; the expansion of Wellness Centers to all secondary schools; the opening of Lila Bringhurst Elementary School and Rix-Glankler Early Learning Center; unification of the District’s Mandarin and Spanish immersion programs; the expansion of environmental education and waste reduction efforts; and the completion of the district-wide conversion to a middle

school model.

 

“I am confident that my passion and commitment to providing the best education for students have made meaningful improvements in Fremont Unified, and I am grateful to the incredible team of FUSD educators, community groups and families for their partnership to serve FUSD students,” said Cammack. “I only know one way to do this work: with an unbridled passion for student success and a focus on building meaningful relationships. If that work is done successfully, it makes a world of difference and makes leaving very difficult.”

 

 

 

Hayward pandemic recovery programs win statewide excellence recognitions

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

The City of Hayward earned two prestigious awards from the California Association of Local Economic Development (CALED) for outstanding economic development initiatives.

 

CALED, the premier statewide professional economic development organization with more than 800 members from cities, counties, state and federal entities, economic development corporations and the private sector, cited the City’s forging of partnerships, particularly with California State University East Bay (CUSEB) and Chabot College, as an outstanding feature of its work. At CALED’s annual conference on April 11, the City’s Economic Development Division accepted an Award of Merit for the City’s Together for Hayward: Gift Card and Shop Local Campaigns and its Hayward Tuition Assistance – Learn and Earn Program.

 

In addition to achieving its initial goal of helping businesses lure back former customers, the Together for Hayward Gift Card program has drawn new customers to Hayward from around the Bay Area, resulting in revenue growth for participating businesses and injecting more than $1 million into the local Hayward economy to date.

 

The Learn to Earn tuition assistance program, meanwhile, offers micro-grants for tuition assistance to Hayward residents, empowering them to pursue degree programs or obtain new technical/professional training that enhances job-market competitiveness. It’s a partnership with CSUEB, Chabot College, and Eden Area Regional Occupational Program (Eden ROP) Center.

 

 

To learn more about economic development in Hayward, go to the Economic Development Division page on the City of Hayward website.

 

 

 

The Birth of Niles

By Esha Bansiya

Images from Washington Township Museum

 

On Sunday, April 28, The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum transported attendees back in time to relive the Birth of Niles, a historic quarter of Fremont. As residents settled into their seats, David Kiehn, the museum historian, introduced the event with an old film produced by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1969. The film tape crackled and narrated the creation of the transcontinental railroad. The increasing migration West demanded a railroad connecting both coasts, and the film described the intensive labor employed to build the tracks. The film proclaimed the railroad was finished on May 10, 1869, when Leland Stanford secured the last gold spike into the track, and a telegraph message was sent across the country.

 

When the film ended, though, Kiehn pointed out that there was another perspective — one that is the real story of Niles. Victor Wong, a researcher from the Washington Township Museum of Local History, presented the local effects of railroad development. Wong contradicted the claim that the railroad was finished in May and highlighted the Chinese immigrant workers who continued to expand the tracks. These Chinese laborers were called the “Pearl River Delta grandfathers” because most of them immigrated from the Pearl River Delta area in China. The Central Pacific Railroad employed twelve thousand Chinese immigrants who helped build tracks from San José to Alameda Cañon (now Niles Canyon) and Sacramento. The extended process to make the railroad connected from sea to sea was completed on September 6, 1869.

 

Niles was born from these extended tracks. Along the San José line, a cutoff track was made hugging the hills. However, this track would not allow enough space for trains to turn around, and a new cutoff track was made in the valley. These two cutoffs created a triangle, which would soon become the famous Niles quarter. On April 28, 1870, the new junction, renamed from Vallejo Mills to Niles, finally came into operation.

 

At the end of the presentation, audience members asked questions varying from more information on the Chinese Camp on the other side of Alameda Creek and the various goods trains would bring into Niles. Wong answered each question in detail, highlighting his research and passion for this subject.

 

Before the event closed, Kathy Kimberlin of Supervisor David Haubert’s office presented certificates of appreciation to Wong, Kiehn, and Krysten Laine (of Niles Main Street Association). Additionally, Councilmember Raj Salwan, representing the City of Fremont, awarded the museum with a certificate.

 

The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum and Washington Township Museum continue to preserve and educate residents about the rich history Fremont holds.

 

 

Niles Film Museum

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

 

Washington Township Museum of Local History

www.museumoflocalhistory.org

 

Niles Main Street Association

www.niles.org

 

 

 

Local middle schoolers win the national Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition

Submitted by Hayzell van der Lowe

 

Three teams of middle school students have won the national Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition by offering relevant solutions to real-world transportation problems. The Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program was first launched by the United States Department of Transportation to inspire students to choose careers in transportation. The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) has sponsored a competition annually since 2001. The competition facilitates a partnership between the middle school participants and a transportation industry professional to empower students to address an issue pertaining to a new theme each year. This year, students presented solutions to prompts about Vision Zero, an international goal to eliminate traffic fatalities.

 

“Transportation is a critical infrastructure that keeps our nation running, and it is important for the future of this infrastructure and our communities to inspire interest in the transportation industry in young people, to show them they can be a part of something that is vital to everyone’s health and well-being,” says MTI Executive Director Dr. Karen Philbrick.

 

This year’s winning teams are:

• 1st Place – Kennedy Middle School, Cupertino

Project: Hexa-Grooves for a Safer Future

• 2nd Place – William Hopkins Middle School – Team D, Fremont

Project: Protecting Pedestrians at Night

• 3rd Place – Peter Hansen & Julius Cordes Elementary Schools, Mountain House

Project: DriveLink – The Technology Connecting Thousands of Cars Daily

 

U.S. Department of Transportation Director of the Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Dr. Firas Ibrahim, keynote speaker for the winner announcement, said of the program, “I was impressed by the innovations of, and by the 6-8th grade stars. Not only did they come up with ideas that are transformative and relevant today but they also demonstrated strong communication and leadership skills. [This program] will help build a strong supply chain of transportation talents to help us achieve our DOT goals.”

 

Students worked together to research and present an argument, ultimately winning cash prizes and plaques of recognition. Students learn valuable skills, have fun, and build confidence.

 

Students from William Hopkins Middle School – Team D from Fremont, who won 2nd place this year, described their participation, “It pushed us to think creatively about modeling our solution and effectively communicating our ideas. Our work didn’t just teach us about traffic safety patterns; it managed to instill fundamental and valuable life lessons.”

 

About the Mineta Transportation Institute

At the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University (SJSU) our mission is to increase mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nations’ transportation system. Through research, education, workforce development and technology transfer, we help create a connected world. Founded in 1991, MTI is a university transportation center funded by the US Department of Transportation, the California Department of Transportation, and public and private grants, including those made available by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB1). MTI is affiliated with SJSU’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.

 

About the Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition

The Garrett Morgan Sustainable Transportation Competition was instituted by former Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater to encourage young people to consider careers in transportation. The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) has sponsored a competition every year since 2001. This competition is open to middle school classes, clubs, after-school programs, and any other youth-serving organizations.

 

 

 

Searching for a new horizon

By Stephanie Gertsch

 

In May, many are looking back on the school year, feeling thankful for dedicated teachers. This is especially true at New Horizons K-8 School in Newark–but with a sad twist, as financial woes and lack of communication left teachers, students, and parents struggling to survive a grueling semester.

 

One concerned parent has a graduating 8th grader, who has attended the school since Pre-K. The parent remembers being struck by the dedication of the teachers, the skill of then-principal Victor Dawson, and the quality of the “workshop way” used at the school. “Because the school is small [about 100 students], if there is a child that is struggling in a subject, the teachers are there to assist. I feel like every kid matters.”

 

“I interviewed at a few places,” a longtime teacher shared. “And they will tell you, ‘These are the resources you will use. This is how you are going to teach.’ There’s no creativity. As a teacher, I want to see how my class is doing. How do they connect with me? And we were allowed to do that. I could teach the way a teacher would want to teach.”

 

In Concerned Parent’s decade with New Horizons, Dawson was always engaged, first as principal and then as owner for the past four years. “When my son started in Pre-K, he was there all the time…He was present during Covid…But this year it was like nothing.” (Dawson himself did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this article.)

 

The school has faced challenges: going online for a year during Covid, and moving from their original Fremont location, first to a church hall temporarily, and then to their current Cherry Street campus in early 2022. Around then was also when payroll got spotty.

 

An unnamed teacher who joined in Fall 2023 says paychecks were always slightly late, and the owner hard to reach. “It [was] a little weird but not too alarming. He told me he was going to meetings with the city, the fire department, [etc.]. I thought he was just really busy.”

 

But Longtime Teacher had another perspective: “New teachers would get paid, and the old teachers like myself and others would not get paid. It was to retain those new employees.” (This bears out when comparing the two teachers’ accounts of paychecks received from November 2023 until April 2024.) “For [the owner] it was like, Oh, they’re not going anywhere. Plus, the age factor…He might have a thought process that the old people are not going anywhere, who would give us a job.”

 

In December, the drama teacher–a 1099 contract employee–announced she would have to cancel the upcoming production of The Lion King due to lack of payment, something she had never done in her career. Parents were caught off guard, but donated money to get The Lion King through production in February. Concerned Parent recalls, “Everyone was super happy. Then two weeks later, we find out five teachers haven’t shown up for work. We had this really big high, and then a really big low. At first it was just a couple moms talking, and then we realized it was big.”

 

By March, teachers were missing around two months’ pay. Also, there were issues with the 2023 W2s. One form recorded paychecks the teacher had never received (easily verifiable with bank statements). Another stated that money had been withheld for a retirement fund, but the withholding was never deposited there.

 

The owner was AWOL. Out of options, one teacher quit, while others didn’t come to work for the last two weeks of March. Unnamed Teacher explains, “We just wanted to send a message to him that we’re not going to work until you give us the money that we’re owed.” The remaining teachers combined classes and tried to care for the kids. But it wasn’t what parents had prepaid $1,400 monthly tuition to receive. According to Unnamed Teacher, “It was basically daycare…[Kids] didn’t learn anything; they were just on their devices playing games, watching videos.”

 

Concerned Parent shares, “My son…asked me the other day, ‘Am I gonna have to repeat 8th grade?’ Because even he realizes this year has been a mess.”

 

“I felt bad for leaving,” says Unnamed Teacher. “Because I do enjoy teaching them; they’re very well-behaved kids. They deserve better than what they’re having right now.”

 

On March 25, parents, teachers, and owner convened for a meeting. Parents wanted to know where their tuition had gone–was the school not able to make rent? Were there other expenses? By this point, teachers were struggling to pay bills. In spite of promises that he was securing a loan, Dawson wasn’t able to clarify the situation.

 

“It was a lot of non-answers,” Unnamed Teacher scoffs. “What really got me upset was he lied about how the teachers didn’t reach out to him at any point; they just left. It was like, No. We’ve been trying to reach you for like the past two months. You don’t respond to us. You just ignore us. And you never come in.”

 

Then Dawson stopped the meeting. Unnamed Teacher remembers, “He got everyone quiet first, and then–I’ll never forget this–he said, ‘When you start attacking my character, that’s when we can’t talk anymore.’ I was like WOW, dude. I’ve never seen someone deflect so hard before.”

 

The change in character was shocking. Concerned Parent shares, “[Dawson] is part of what drew me to New Horizon. His presence…the way he talked about the workshop way. We often tell him, You are the face of New Horizons. Maybe not right now. And maybe never again.”

 

Newcomers like Unnamed Teacher never saw this face. “They say he was a very good leader [and] educator. He has a very good eye for picking out teachers. He [was] just a really good guy. In the whole time that I’ve known him, I never saw that.”

 

After spring break, Dawson sent out an email urging teachers to return, promising payment. Although Unnamed Teacher did receive February’s pay, April’s never arrived. Since then, Dawson mostly hasn’t been seen, although he did drop off graduation gowns.

 

Unnamed Teacher says kids were happy to snap photos with friends and teachers. “I really didn’t want to take a picture, but I did it for them. As a teacher, you don’t do this for the money. Because the money is not great, honestly. You do it because you really like everything else that comes with it. The connections, with your students, teaching, and putting a smile on a kids’ face.”

 

The teachers have filed a complaint with the labor board with documentation, but the process is slow. Everyone is just trying to make it through the school year–possibly the last weeks New Horizons will exist. It’s not the ending anyone wanted. But Longtime Teacher thinks with transparency and reliable leadership the school could recover. “Due to the teachers…[parents] still want to come back. Even though they’re pulling out their kids. The day this thing turns around, they’ll come back. I know that for a fact.”

 

 

 

Rattlesnake Advisory

Submitted by Flora Csontos

 

In early spring, snakes emerge from winter hibernation and become more active. Rattlesnakes are native to California and occur in a variety of wildland habitats, as well as in rural and urban areas. Rattlesnakes are more active in warm weather, which can lead to more encounters with humans and dogs, especially along trails and roads. Visitors are encouraged to keep snake safety precautions in mind when visiting East Bay Regional Parks throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

 

Snakes are an important resource in the natural environment. They are prime controlling agents of rodents and other reptile populations. Enjoy them from afar and leave them where they are found. Collecting, killing, or removing any plants or animals from the Park District is illegal. Please help protect all wildlife and their environment.

 

Rattlesnake Safety Tips

• Avoid hiking alone so you have help in case of emergency.
• Scan the ground ahead of you as you walk, jog, or ride.
• Stay on trails and avoid walking in tall grass.
• Look carefully around and under logs and rocks before sitting down.
• Listen for the buzz of a rattlesnake’s rattle warning you it is there.
• Avoid placing your hands or feet where you cannot see clearly.
• For maximum safety, consider keeping your dog on a leash.

 

What to Do If You See a Rattlesnake

Leave it alone – do not try to capture or harm it. All native wildlife is protected by law, and it is safest to leave it alone. If you see a snake, do not approach. Move carefully and slowly away or around it while giving it plenty of space.

 

What to Do If Bitten by a Snake

 

• If bitten by a rattlesnake, stay calm and have someone call 911. Remain calm by lying down with the affected limb lower than the heart. Getting medical attention quickly is critical – do not use tourniquets, “sucking,” or snake bite kits. If you are by yourself, walk calmly to the nearest source of help to dial 911. Do not run.

 

• If bitten by any other type of snake, wash the wound with soap and water or an antiseptic and seek medical attention.

 

• If you are unsure what kind of snake bit you, check the bite for two puncture marks (in rare cases one puncture mark) associated with intense, burning pain. This is typical of a rattlesnake bite. Other snakebites may leave multiple teeth marks without associated burning pain.

 

• You do not need to identify the specific type of rattlesnake to receive the correct antivenom. The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is the species found in East Bay Regional Parks.

 

Additional information is available at ebparks.org/safety/wildlife-encounters, including a guide of common snakes and a video about how to tell the difference between a Gopher Snake and Rattlesnake.

 

 

 

San Lorenzo Community Center and Park embarks on Phase 3 Construction and Renovation

Submitted by Nicole Espinoza Roa

 

Exciting developments are underway at the San Lorenzo Community Center and Park as construction advances into Phase 3, for the renovation of the existing community center. This multi-phase project, initiated at the behest of the vibrant San Lorenzo community, represents a significant milestone in enhancing recreational facilities and community spaces within the area.

 

The project’s inception dates back to the diligent efforts of the HARD Board of Directors, who responded to the community's call to update the San Lorenzo Community Park Master Plan. Phase 1 construction commenced on August 2015, heralding the beginning of a transformative journey for the park. This initial phase focused on establishing a new pond area, an active play zone, and a state-of-the-art softball complex, all while ensuring continued public access to the park and community center.

 

Phase 2, which commenced in September 2021 and completed in 2023, includes a diverse array of amenities such as a multi-purpose field, two soccer fields, a dog park, community green space, a neighborhood play area, additional picnic facilities, exercise stations, restrooms, and updated parking facilities. The soccer fields were named after Omar Rodriguez, a beloved figure in the Hayward Area, Omar dedicated nearly 50 years to promoting youth soccer.

 

We are excited to begin Phase 3, the renovation of the San Lorenzo Community Center and its immediate surroundings. A robust community input process facilitated by the Dahlin Group, the preferred concept plan was approved by the Board of Directors in February 2020. The scope of work includes reorganizing the existing floor plan to better accommodate programs, expanding the community meeting room, and providing access to a new outdoor plaza with scenic views of the pond. Site improvements surrounding the building will enhance the entryway, establish a multipurpose area, incorporate a tot lot for preschoolers, introduce new landscaping, and renovate parking facilities. Calstate Construction, Inc., recently started the renovation process in April 2024, ushering in a new era for the community center as a dynamic hub of activity and connection.

 

The San Lorenzo Community Center and Park project embodies the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District’s steadfast commitment to enhancing recreational facilities and community spaces to better serve residents and visitors alike.

 

For more information on the San Lorenzo Community Center and Park project, please visit haywardrec.org/hardatwork.

 

 

 

 

Spring School Jazz Festival

Submitted by John Soulis

Photo by Jinghua Hu

 

On Friday, May 17, we at East Bay Traditional Jazz Society will hold our 21st “Spring School Jazz Festival.” We are happy to produce this festival again as this event provides a venue for our student/musicians to show their musical skills in the “Jazz Idiom.”

 

Jazz is an American form of music which originated in New Orleans, Louisiana. Two of the bands, Cats in Da Club and the Jazzinators, will play Traditional Jazz of New Orleans. Cats in Da Club is led by American High School Junior Stuti Jajoo, and this band is comprised of students from Mission High School, American High School, and Irvington High School.

 

Bands from John F. Kennedy High School (directed by David Bickel), American High School (Directed by Richard Wong), and Irvington High School (directed by Charlie Rodda) will play jazz from the “swing era” or “Big Band Jazz.” You may hear tunes from the Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Glenn Miller era, as well as other straight-ahead composers.

 

This year we our again teaming up with the Fremont Street Eats event sponsored by Fremont’s Chamber of Commerce. Please join us on Friday, May 17, to listen to our student musicians and have a dinner from the “Food Truck Mafia!”

 

 

Spring School Jazz Music Festival

Friday, May 17

5 p.m.

Event Center Outdoor Plaza

3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

(510) 657-0243

eastbaytradjazz.org

 

 

 

WHHS reaches tentative agreement with California Nurses Association

Submitted by Shannon Antepenko

 

Washington Hospital Healthcare System (WHHS) reached a tentative agreement with the California Nurses Association (CNA) during the mediation session on Saturday, April 27. The agreement must be ratified by a majority of the members followed by approval by the Washington Township Health Care District Board of Directors. Voting is scheduled for Friday, May 3.

 

The tentative agreement provides CNA members with wage increases of 22.5 percent over the course of four years to align with the market. CNA also agreed to withdraw the strike notice.

 

Strike planning has been brought to a close. We have already begun rescheduling surgeries and procedures that were postponed to reduce demand on the Healthcare System in anticipation of a strike, and rescinded the staffing agency support required to continue serving our community. I want to acknowledge the amazing team that pulled together to ensure our patients would continue receiving the care they need.

 

I am pleased that we were able to reach an agreement on a fair and sustainable contract and avoid the serious disruption that a strike has on patients, families, physicians and staff. We look forward to the results of the vote and continuing our work together in service to our community. Thank you for your ongoing focus on our Patient First Ethic and the important role you play in delivering high quality, evidence-based health care.

 

 

Kimberly Hartz

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Overcome Writing Anxiety with Fremont Area Writers

Submitted by Tish Davidson

 

Are you a secret writer who is nervous about sharing your work? Would you like to write poems, short stories or reflections on your life but are held back by writing anxiety? If so, Fremont Area Writers encourages you to join the free Zoom Social Write-In on May 11. This is not a critique session but a chance to explore your creativity and socialize with other people interested in writing. The format is completely non-judgmental. Your writing will simply be enjoyed by your fellow writers. Our motto is “Writers Helping Writers,” and we welcome everyone from students to octogenarians.

 

How the Zoom Write-In Works:

At the Write-In, the computer will randomly assign four writers to each Zoom room. Writers are given several word or photo prompts. Choose one prompt and write whatever comes to mind for 10 minutes. At the end of 10 minutes, each person in the room reads their response to the prompt. Because the writing time is short, there is no expectation that the results will be polished or even complete. Time to socialize and get to know each other follows the readings. Writers are then reassigned to a different Zoom room with different people and a new writing challenge. After the second writing period, stories are shared with others in the room followed by socializing.

 

The Write-In is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club. In addition to the Write-In, FAW meets on Zoom from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month where guest speakers discuss various aspects of writing and publishing. The speaker for the May 25 meeting is English poet Emmanuel Williams who will discuss playing with words. His riddles and word puzzles have been featured on National Public Radio and in children’s and teacher’s magazines such as Kidz Own, and Scholastic Magazine UK. He has also published several books of poetry and short stories in British and American magazines.

 

You do not need to live in Fremont to join the Write-In or general meetings. To participate in either event, please request the Zoom link from Scott Davidson at scottfrombayside@yahoo.com. More information is available at https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org.

 

 

Free Zoom Write-In

Saturday, May 11

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

 

Free General Meeting

Saturday, May 25

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

 

For either event, request Zoom link from Scott Davidson:

scottfrombayside@yahoo.com

 

 

 

EarthTalk

 

From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

 

Wind Repowering: Putting Old Wind Turbines Back into Service

By Jeremy Okmin

 

Dear EarthTalk: What is wind repowering, and why are environmentalists so bullish on it?

 

One of the most common forms of clean energy is wind power. People from around the world could recognize a wind farm from just one look. While wind power has been a staple in renewable energy since the idea’s inception, many of the original and old wind turbines have begun to show signs of aging. Wind repowering aims to fix this, by revamping old turbines with more efficient components, or putting in new, state-of-the-art turbines as a whole. These new components and units can reduce noise, more efficiently power a turbine, and a deliver a higher overall energy output.

 

One of the most common forms of clean energy is wind power. People from around the world could recognize a wind farm from just one look. While wind power has been a staple in renewable energy since the idea’s inception, many of the original and old wind turbines have begun to show signs of aging. Wind repowering aims to fix this, by revamping old turbines with more efficient components, or putting in new, state-of-the-art turbines as a whole. These new components and units can reduce noise, more efficiently power a turbine, and a deliver a higher overall energy output.

 

Denmark, an early adopter of wind repowering, saw a 1.3 GW gain in capacity and a reduction of 109 wind turbines, enabling substantially increased wind energy production with fewer turbines. This promising data prompted a surge in wind repowering projects, and in 2019, 86 percent of wind energy projects there were classified as “repowered.”

 

These signs of success and scalability showed other countries the benefits of wind repowering. The U.S, with help from large energy corporations like General Electric, has more than 40 active wind repowering sites, with over 2,500 turbines having some type of renovation. This hefty wind repowering advancement is responsible for four gigawatts of energy, or the power for more than 30 million homes.

 

It’s no secret how fast wind repowering is growing, but upgrades can be made to many different types of renewable energy. Why do eco-advocates support wind repowering so strongly? Wind repowering has energy, financial, aesthetic and technological benefits. Not only does it make units more efficient, it also removes units that might be aesthetically unpleasing, or in less efficient spots than they could be. Wind repowering also increases the lifespan of turbines by as much as 20 years, and reduces the need for maintenance. Repowered turbines are also quieter, sleeker, and produce considerably more energy.

 

So, while there are many types of repowering efforts for other renewable energy sources, none are as comprehensive or successful as wind repowering. Not only is it a comprehensive option for revamping clean energy, but it does not require the entry costs that just building new wind farms requires.

 

The only barrier to wind repowering at the moment is legislation. Bills and policies cannot keep up with the demand for it. Readers should call local officials, or urge any nearby wind farms to look at wind repowering. Spreading awareness is the first and most important step.

 

 

Contacts:

Wind Repowering Helps Set the Stage for Energy Transition

www.energy.gov/eere/wind/articles/wind-repowering-helps-set-stage-energy-transition

Upgrades and refurbishment for your onshore wind assets

www.gevernova.com/wind-power/onshore-wind/services/upgrades-refurbishment

Time to repower your wind energy site?

www.barr.com/Insights/Insights-Article/ArtMID/1344/ArticleID/536/Time-to-repower-your-wind-energy-site

 

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

 

 

 

 

May’s Night Sky Notes: Stargazing for Beginners

By Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

 

Millions were able to experience the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, inspiring folks to become amateur astronomers – hooray! Now that you’ve been “bitten by the bug,” and you’ve decided to join your local astronomy club, here are some stargazing tips!

 

The Bortle Scale

Before you can stargaze, you’ll want to find a site with dark skies. It’s helpful to learn what your Bortle scale is. But what is the Bortle scale? The Bortle scale is a numeric scale from 1-9 that rates your night sky’s darkness, with 1 being darkest and 9 being extremely light polluted. For example, New York City would be a Bortle 9, whereas Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania is a Bortle 2.

 

Determining the Bortle scale of your night sky will help narrow down what you can expect to see after sunset. Of course, other factors such as weather (clouds, namely) will impact seeing conditions, so plan ahead. Find Bortle ratings near you here: www.lightpollutionmap.info.

 

No Equipment? No Problem!

There’s plenty to see with your eyes alone. Get familiar with the night sky by studying star maps in books, or with a planisphere. These are great to begin identifying the overall shapes of constellations, and what is visible during various months.

 

Interactive sky maps, such as Stellarium Web, work well with mobile and desktop browsers, and are also great for learning the constellations in your hemisphere. There are also several astronomy apps on the market today that work with the GPS of your smartphone to give an accurate map of the night sky.

 

Keep track of Moon phases. Both the interactive sky maps and apps will also let you know when planets and our Moon are out! This is especially important because if you are trying to look for bright deep sky objects, like the Andromeda Galaxy or the Perseus Double Cluster, you want to avoid the Moon as much as possible. Moonlight in a dark sky area will be as bright as a streetlight, so plan accordingly. And if the Moon is out, check out this Skywatcher’s Guide to the Moon at: bit.ly/MoonHandout.

 

Put on That Red Light

If you’re looking at your phone, you won’t be able to see as much. Our eyes take approximately 30 minutes to get dark sky adapted, and a bright light can ruin our night vision temporarily. The easiest way to stay dark sky adapted is to avoid any bright lights from car headlights or your smartphone. To avoid this, simply use red lights, such as a red flashlight or headlamp.

 

The reason: White light constricts the pupils of your eyes, making it hard to see in the dark, whereas red light allows your pupils to stay dilated for longer. Most smartphones come with adaptability shortcuts that allow you to make your screen red, but if you don’t have that feature, use red cellophane on your screen and flashlight.

 

 

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 https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm to find local clubs, events, and more.

 

 

 

Heat-tolerant beauties for gardens and containers

By Melinda Myers

Photo courtesy of Suntory Flowers

 

Boost the summer-long beauty and heat tolerance in your gardens and containers with new varieties of annual vinca (Catharanthus). The unique Soiree® vinca varieties provide added appeal with their cute, double, and ruffled flowers.

 

Annual vincas, also known as Madagascar and Rose periwinkle, thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established they are drought tolerant. They are similar in growth habit to impatiens but these flowers thrive in hot sunny locations where impatiens struggle. Hardy in zones 10 and 11, vincas are grown as an annual in most parts of the country.

 

Include annual vincas in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds. Mix them with other plants or allow them to shine on their own.

 

Soiree® Kawaii vincas light up any garden with their vibrant mini flowers. You’ll enjoy an abundance of flowers that cover the 9 to 18” tall by 12 to 18” wide mound of glossy deep green foliage. There’s no need to prune away long leggy branches, as this plant maintains its compact habit all season long. Kawaii means cute in Japanese and these flowers certainly are just that.

 

Select from eight Soiree® Kawaii (suntoryflowers.com) flower colors, ranging from white to coral, purple, and red. Add some sizzle with Paprika Red, a patriot flare with the Lady Liberty Mix, or a harmonious mix of pinks and purple in the Berry Blast mix. Grow White Peppermint, Coral, or Coral Reef Soiree® Kawaii if the disease phytophthora has been a problem in the past. These three are as resistant to this disease as Cora XDR, the gold standard of phytophthora resistance.

 

Visitors to your garden will take a second look when you add Soiree® Double and Flamenco vincas to the landscape. Their unique flowers don’t look like a typical vinca, adding a bit more pizzazz to any planting and combination.

 

Soiree® Doubles have two distinct layers of frilly petals and produce an abundance of blooms. They are more vigorous, with a larger growth habit than Soiree® Kawaii. These plants have a larger leaf and body. You can select from white-, pink-, or orchid-colored flowers that bloom all season long. Don’t be fooled by their delicate appearance, Soiree Doubles are as heat tolerant as other annual vincas.

 

Unlike any other vinca, the Soiree® Flamenco puts on a display as fancy as that of a flamenco dancer. The ruffled petals may be solid or bicolor. This plant grows 8 to 12” tall and 15 to 20” wide. It has the same heat tolerance, glossy green foliage, and compact growth habit as the other Soiree® vincas.

 

Senorita Pink Flamenco flowers have a dark pink eye surrounded by a lighter pink blending into the white outer edges of the frilly petals. Contrast that with the deep maroon ruffled petals with a bright terracotta edge of Salsa Red. Salmon Glow’s white eye contrasts nicely with salmon peach. Pink Twist has curled flowers in a lovely pink, adding to its appeal.

 

Look for opportunities to add some unique flare to this year’s garden and containers. You’ll enjoy their season-long beauty and the oohs and aahs they inspire.

 

 

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD and instant video series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Suntory Flowers for her expertise in writing this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

 

 

 

Fremont’s Fire Chief Zoraida Diaz

By Jack Alcorn

Photo source City of Fremont

 

The Fire Department is responsible for providing the rapid delivery of fire, medical, rescue, and life safety emergency services within Fremont. Fire Chief Zoraida Diaz joined the Fremont Fire Department (FFD) in 2021 and was appointed as the city’s first female Fire Chief in 2023.

 

Chief Diaz has more than 30 years’ experience in fire and public service. She previously served as FFD’s Deputy Chief of Operations. The new Chief is steering the fire department into the future with hi-tech tools such as:

 

• Light AI to prioritize the flow of emergency vehicles through congested intersections
• GIS maps for operational intelligence
• Lucas Devices for EMTs to spontaneously return circulation during cardiac arrest

 

These advances reduce response times for FFD to get to citizens that need emergency services, and improve patient outcomes.

 

In a recent interview, Chief Diaz spoke highly of FFD’s men and women. “The greatest assets of the Fremont Fire Department are the members of the organization. Their motivation, commitment and belief in the mission.”

 

I asked the Chief about being a leader in a profession that’s underrepresented by women. “I would say it’s truly an honor and privilege to serve as the Fremont Fire Chief. Also, one of the most rewarding aspects of leading this organization is to be able to serve as a role model for young girls and women who may not have ever considered a career in the fire service. I just hope to show that anything is possible regardless of your gender, and that you can reach your full potential and make a positive impact to your community.”

 

Regarding her pursuit of a career in fire service, Chief Diaz said, “The best decision that I could have ever made. It’s a career that really touches, moves and inspires me to come to work every day and be able to make a positive impact in people’s lives.”

 

FFD is focused on enhancing service by hiring personnel. “We just hired a class of 16 people to join our organization in an effort to put a council approved 14th company in service. We’ve identified that Station 6 is the best location for [the new company] and that’s going to help reduce the number of calls at our busiest stations,” said Chief Diaz.

 

The Chief explained FFD’s broad recruitment efforts. “We’re partnering with Royal Ambulance to provide mentorship to individuals who are getting into the emergency services world. We’re also partnering with EMS University to allow [students] to do ride-alongs on our engines and respond to calls. We have an explorer program in which we work with young folks and teach them what it’s like to be a firefighter.”

 

Chief Diaz stated that fire season is year-round. She shared many helpful fire prevention tips for Fremont residents:

 

• Create 100 foot defensible spaces for homes surrounded by vegetation.
• Use smoke detectors. Use daylight savings day as a reminder to change the batteries.
• Put working fire extinguishers in your kitchen and garage.
• Remove grease from stoves and ovens to avoid fires. Suppress cooking oil fires with baking soda – don’t throw water on it.
• Disconnect appliances when they’re not in use and do not use excessive numbers of extension cords. Replace those that are not working properly.

 

Fire Chief Diaz said, “Identify two ways that you can get out of your home in the event of a fire, and then put that into practice with your family. Identify a place outside of your home that will be your meeting point. Should there be a fire, call 911.”

 

Chief Diaz also noted the rise in hiking popularity among Fremont’s populace and a reflective rise in emergency calls for the parks. “I would just encourage people to know your limits and make sure that if you are going to take a hike that you eat a meal and that you have plenty of fluid with you.”

 

Fremont Fire Chief Zoraida Diaz is proud of her Afro-Latina heritage and is bilingual in Spanish and English. Chief Diaz continues to be involved in mentoring and teaching at the local and national levels and is instrumental in the progression of recruitment initiatives. Diaz said, “We’re focusing on those [recruitment] efforts to be out there and try to diversify the workforce, so that it’s reflective of the community that we serve.”

 

“[FFD] is dedicated to continually evaluating our operations and services to ensure that they exceed the community’s expectations,” said Chief Diaz.

 

 

 

Reading with Cops

Submitted by Union City Police Department

 

Our team at Union City Police Department would like to express our gratitude to Mrs. Romo and the staff at the Apostolic Church preschool for inviting us to read to the children and discuss safety tips.

 

Our team was comprised of Lt. Quintero, Sgt. Fong, Sgt. Hayward, Ofc. Silva, POA Romo, and CC Raine. We had an amazing opportunity to engage with preschoolers. During the session, they saw a demonstration on how to ride a police motorcycle safely and talked about the importance of wearing seatbelts.

 

Traffic Officer Silva shared a playful reminder with the children, encouraging them to remind their parents about seatbelt safety. He jokingly mentioned that if their parents forget, they might just end up having a chat with him on his motorcycle! This lighthearted approach helped to reinforce the importance of safety in a memorable way.

 

We appreciate the invitation and look forward to future opportunities to engage with the community.

 

 

 

Local Dispatcher Recognized

Submitted by Newark Police Department

 

Mayor Michael Hannon presented Public Safety Dispatcher Patricia Lopez with her 25 Years Service Award for her remarkable 25 years of service to the Newark Police Department. She worked as a Police Cadet and a Police Officer before finding her true calling as a public safety dispatcher where she is known for remaining calm under pressure and providing outstanding customer service. Please join us in congratulating Lopez on her 25 years of dedicated service to our community!

 

 

 

MVAL Volleyball Champions

Submitted by Moreau Catholic Athletics

 

Congratulations to our Mariner Varsity Volleyball team for being the 2024 MVAL Champions with an undefeated record in the MVAL (12-0).

 

 

 

Temporary farmworkers get more protections against retaliation and other abuses under new rule

By Olga R. Rodriguez, Associated Press

 

Temporary farmworkers will have more legal protections against employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions, illegal recruitment practices and other abuses under a Labor Department rule announced Friday.

 

Each year about 300,000 immigrants, mostly from Mexico, take seasonal jobs on U.S. farms. The new rule, which takes effect June 28, will target abuses experienced by workers under the H-2A program that undermine fair labor standards for all farmworkers.

 

Labor Secretary Julie Su said the rule aims to “breathe life” into existing worker protections.

 

“Our rule is meant to give H2-A workers more ability to advocate for themselves, to speak up when they experience labor law abuses,” Su said at a vineyard in Santa Rosa, north of San Francisco.

 

California has a vast agricultural industry, growing over a third of the country’s vegetables and nearly three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts and attracting a large number of farmworkers.

 

The Biden administration announced a proposal for the new rule in September, saying it would boost safety requirements on farms and raise transparency around how such workers are recruited, in order to combat human trafficking.

 

The Labor Department is already required to ensure that the H-2A program doesn’t undercut the wages or working conditions of Americans who take similar jobs. Employers are required to pay minimum U.S. wages or higher, depending on the region. They are also required to provide their temporary workers with housing and transportation.

 

Reports of overcrowded farm vehicles and fatalities have increased as the number of guest farmworkers has risen, officials say. Transportation accidents are a leading cause of death for farmworkers.

 

The new rule will require farmers who employ H-2A workers to make sure the vans and buses they use to transport workers long distances — and that are often driven by tired workers — have seatbelts for all passengers.

 

The new rule also protects temporary agricultural workers from employer retaliation if they meet with legal service providers or union representatives at the housing provided by the employer. It also protects them from retaliation when they decline to attend “captive audience” meetings organized by their employer.

 

And in a step intended to counter human trafficking, employers would be required to identify anyone recruiting workers on their behalf in the U.S. or foreign countries and to provide copies of any agreements they have with those recruiters.

 

Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, said the rule will help prevent employers’ abuse because those found in violation of the new rule will not be allowed to use the program again. She said a requirement for employers to disclose contracts with their agents will make it easier to identify wrongdoers.

 

“In many cases, employers take their documents and they have to pay a debt that they incurred from recruiters that unfortunately are not ethical and charge tremendous amounts of money for the workers,” Romero said.

 

The proposal drew nearly 13,000 public comments, including some from industry groups that said new regulatory requirements were excessive. Ted Sester, who owns a wholesale nursery in Gresham, Oregon, said it was “full of heavy-handed enforcement and regulatory overreach.”

 

The Northwest Horticultural Council said the rule “makes the already complex H-2A program far more difficult for growers to navigate, while increasing the risk that growers may lose access to the program without the ability to exercise proper due process — a death knell for Pacific Northwest tree fruit growers utilizing the program.”

 

Labor advocates strongly applauded the rule.

 

“Agricultural guest workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in America, but this rule will empower H-2A workers to stand up to some of the biggest challenges they face,” the Congressional Labor Caucus, made up of about 100 pro-union members of Congress, said Friday.

 

 

 

Pioneer Softball Receives NCAA Regional Berth

Submitted by CSUEB Athletic Communications

 

On Monda, May 6, the NCAA announced the 64-team field among the eight regional brackets for the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball Championship. For the first time as a member of the CCAA, Cal State East Bay Softball was awarded an at-large bid to play in the NCAA Division II West Regional. The Regionals begin this coming Thursday, May 9 as the Pioneers take on CCAA Tournament Champion Cal State San Marcos in Bellingham, Washington. The Regionals wrap up on Saturday, May 11.

 

The Pioneers take on CSUSM at Viking Field on the campus of Western Washington University with a first pitch set for 2:30 p.m. PDT.

 

The West Region is broken into two separate sites with four teams set to play at each site. In West Region 1 with the Pioneers are the top seed Western Washington, Cal State San Marcos and Azusa Pacific. The format for each Regional is double elimination. The team to win the Regional advances to a Super Regional best-of-three series next week against the winner of West Region 2.

 

West Region 2, played in Nampa, Idaho, includes Northwest Nazarene, Concordia University Irvine, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Saint Martin’s.

 

The entire 64-team field broken down by Regionals can be found at ncaa.com/brackets/print/softball/d2/2024.

 

Cal State East Bay is coming off a run in the CCAA Softball Tournament to Championship Saturday. Facing elimination last Saturday, the Pioneers defeated CSUSM to force a winner-take-all game. However, CSUSM won the second game for the CCAA Tournament Championship. The two teams will meet for an eighth time this season on Thursday as they played a four-game regular season series in April and met three times in the CCAA Tournament last week.

 

The last appearance in an NCAA Division II postseason for the Pioneers was in 1992 when they reached the National Championship game. The Pioneers lost 1-0 to Missouri Southern State in the championship game.

 

 

 

Castro Valley Hosts WACC Track & Field Championships

By Andrew Joseph

 

The Western Alameda County Conference (WACC) track and field championships were held at Castro Valley High from May 1-3 including 12 schools from the region.

 

The top six performances in each men’s and women’s events automatically qualify to advance to the Bayshore Area Championships meet. Some of the participating schools at the WACC meet include Castro Valley, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, Tennyson, Mt. Eden, and Arroyo. “It feels great to have our school host this WACC meet with all these great athletes,” said Castro Valley sprinters coach Sean Steele.

 

In the men’s 4×100 meter relay, that includes Jamal Perry, the San Leandro Pirates finished in second place with a time of 44.09 seconds. Hayward finished fourth place with a personal record (PR) of 44.69, and the Castro Valley Trojans finished sixth with 44.91. Ahmari Robinson earned fifth place for the Pirates in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 17.28 and Wyatt Franklin of Castro Valley finished in sixth with 17.66. In the men’s 100m dash Perry won first place with a time of 11.14, which earns him the WACC 100m league title. Perry finished fourth in the 200m dash with a time of 23.05. A two-sport athlete as the Pirates starting senior quarterback, Perry has received three college offers to play both sports but has not yet committed. “It feels good to be league champion in the 100m after I didn’t get to finish my football season because of an injury,” said Perry. “Coach Bowers told me that you gotta go out there and get yours, don’t let anybody take anything from you.”

 

In the men’s shot put Kamani Fifita of Arroyo High earned first place with 51’6.50”, the Trojans’ Nathaniel Belli finished second with 48-04.50, and Tevita Paongo of Hayward High finished third with 44’4.50”. In the men’s discus Hayward’s Mateaki Paongo earned first place with 146’10”, Tevita finished second with 130’1”, and the Trojans’ Andrew Arias finished third with 127’05”.

 

“We know our league is very competitive so getting our athletes rested and ready for today was a big part of our preparation,” said Pirates’ throws coach Brad Bowers, who is also the head football coach. “There is an advantage for many of our athletes who also play other sports, especially football players who are sprinters because they build that power needed to explode on the track.”

 

In the men’s high jump Zachary Watson won first place for Castro Valley with 6’00” and Miles Jackson earned second place for San Leandro with 5’10”. Watson also finished second in the pole vault with 10’6”. Johann De Boda of Arroyo finished fifth in the men’s triple jump with 40’9”. Eusebio Goncalves of Hayward, also a leg on the 4x100m relay team, earned third place in the men’s long jump with 21’3” which was also a PR for his career. “I had a 20’9” last week for second place which was also the first time that I ever jumped,” said Goncalves. “I am trying to aim for the stars.”

 

In the women’s 4x100m relay Castro Valley’s team, which includes Idara Essien, won first place with a time of 49.49 seconds. San Leandro finished fourth with 51.84 and Arroyo finished fifth with a PR of 52.83. “The importance of today’s meet is to do your best and try to qualify for NCS,” said Essien. “I would say my goal was accomplished today.”

 

Kiana Ayllon won first place for Castro Valley in the women’s 100m hurdles with 17.25. The Trojans 4x400m relay team won first place with a PR time of 4:11.31. Essien won first place in the women’s 100m dash with 12.73 and also won first in the 200m dash with a PR of 26.14. Hailey Smith earned third place in the 100m for the Trojans with a time of 12.99 and placed second in the 200m with 26.72. Castro Valley’s 4x400m relay team earned first place with a PR of 4:11.31. “All of our athletes are peaking at the right time and I’m especially proud of our women’s 200m runners who performed really well today,” added Coach Steele.

 

Tianna Oliver earned third place in the women’s shot put with 29’9.5” for Tennyson High. Mia Torres finished third for San Lorenzo with a PR of 98’. Alana Daly placed second in the women’s long jump for San Leandro with 17’3” and Essien placed third with 17’2.5”. Angelina Pratz finished fourth in the women’s triple jump with 32’7”.

 

There will be plenty of local representation in many events at the Bayshore Area Championships which will be held Saturday, May 11 at James Logan High School.

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

Biola University Graduates 2024

• Evan Dickerson of Fremont, majoring in Music
• Brooke Ung of Fremont, majoring in Business Administration
• Anya Mortensen of Castro Valley, majoring in Philosophy
• Sheraleen Ram-Johnson of Fremont, majoring in Applied Psychology
• Quennie Liu of Fremont, majoring in Nursing
• Turner Yuen of Union City, majoring in Biochemistry

 

 

 

Eight U.S. newspapers sue ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement

Associated Press

 

A group of eight U.S. newspapers is suing ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the technology companies have been “purloining millions” of copyrighted news articles without permission or payment to train their artificial intelligence chatbots.

 

The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post and other papers filed the lawsuit Tuesday in a New York federal court.

 

“We’ve spent billions of dollars gathering information and reporting news at our publications, and we can’t allow OpenAI and Microsoft to expand the Big Tech playbook of stealing our work to build their own businesses at our expense,” said a written statement from Frank Pine, executive editor for the MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing.

 

The other newspapers that are part of the lawsuit are MediaNews Group's Mercury News, Orange County Register and St. Paul Pioneer-Press, and Tribune Publishing’s Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel. All of the newspapers are owned by Alden Global Capital.

 

Microsoft declined to comment Tuesday. OpenAI said in a statement that it takes care to support news organizations.

 

“While we were not previously aware of Alden Global Capital’s concerns, we are actively engaged in constructive partnerships and conversations with many news organizations around the world to explore opportunities, discuss any concerns, and provide solutions,” it said.

 

The lawsuit is the latest against OpenAI and Microsoft to land at Manhattan's federal court, where the companies are already battling a series of other copyright lawsuits from the New York Times, other media outlets and bestselling authors such as John Grisham, Jodi Picoult and George R.R. Martin. The companies also face another set of lawsuits in San Francisco's federal court.

 

Tech companies have argued that taking troves of publicly accessible internet content to train their AI systems is protected by the “fair use” doctrine of American copyright law. In some cases, they have averted potential legal challenges by paying organizations for that content.

 

The Associated Press last year agreed to a partnership with OpenAI in which the technology company would pay an undisclosed fee to license AP’s archive of news stories. OpenAI has also made licensing deals with other media companies including news publishing giants Axel Springer in Germany and Prisa Media in Spain, France’s Le Monde newspaper and, most recently, the London-based Financial Times.

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Women and Violence

 

Women must know that healthy relationship traits are evident in her male friend if she wants to be treated well. Kindness, respect, patience, and empathy must be evident in all situations with her male friend. Intimacy or the state of marriage does not excuse the absence of these traits.

 

Women must also know about manipulation by those who care only about their own needs. Anger and manipulation often pair together, both under the guise of false concern and a beguiling personality.

 

Anger can erupt in situations where the male needs to exert control. Anger can simmer for years, and one day erupt into rage. Rage is a sickness, and it can destroy a life. The warning signs of anger are silence, evasion, neglect, and a constant low-grade irritation.

 

If a woman needs to confront her male friend’s deceit, she must never do this alone. She must have witnesses who by their very presence protect her, and learn the facts of the situation. To plan a confrontation, a woman may invite a group for a gathering, but only to have the scene set for the desired action, which must be factual, swift, and to the point.

 

Catherine Hanoum

Fremont

 

 

 

Continuing Events:

 

Mondays and Thursdays

Food Garden Volunteer

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learning from experienced gardeners.

LEAF CR Stone Garden

55 Mowry Ave., Fremont

volunteer@fremontleaf.org

Volunteer agreement form is required.

 

Tuesdays

East Bay Games Meet

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

German/Euro style board games and card games.

Swiss Park

5911 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 936-2523

meetup.com/east-bay-games

sfdavidkaye@yahoo.com

 

Tuesdays

East Indian Seniors R

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Anyone who is retired and of Indian origin or interested in Indian culture is welcome to join us.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month

 

Tuesdays

LEGO® Time

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

Drop-in. For everyone.

 

Tuesdays

Music and Storytime

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for stories, music, and movement.

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

(510) 626-8522

For babies, toddlers, kids, and preschoolers.

 

Tuesdays

Comfort & Joy Ukulele R

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

A group of ukulele players with volunteer leaders to practice familiar songs as well as learning new.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Wednesdays

Book Club AWC R

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The book club meets for stimulating discussions.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month

 

Wednesdays

Folk Dancing Social R

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Join together in the wonderful spirit of dancing and savor the beautiful music from all over the world.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Wednesday, May 1 – Friday, May 31

Portola Art Gallery Presents Larry Calof's “Hidden Treasures of the Bisti Badlands”

Monday – Saturday

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Photographic images by Larry Calof

Portola Art Gallery at Allied Arts Guild

75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park

(650) 321-0220

http://www.portolaartgallery.com/

www.classvimages.com

lcalof@earthlink.net

 

Thursdays

International Folk Dancing R$

11:15 am – 1:00 pm

Celebrate the cultural roots and traditional life of various countries.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

In English and Chinese.

 

Thursdays

Bocce Ball Class R

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn how to play Bocce Ball.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

Rain will cancel class.

 

Thursdays

Chinese Calligraphy Social R

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Bring your own supplies and socialize and have fun while doing calligraphy.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

There is no teaching on site.

 

Thursdays

Historic Days

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ride a narrow-gauge train, tour the beautifully restored Patterson House Museum. Every historic day ends with an animal feeding at 3 pm. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies.

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

 

Thursdays

Chinese Music Ensemble R

1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Open to all who are interested in performing traditional Chinese music.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Thursday, April 18 – June 8

Image Central Spring Exhibition

Lower Gallery: Mon 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Tues & Thur 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Upper Gallery: Mon – Fri 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Annual Spring Exhibition at the ImageCentral Gallery (formerly PhotoCentral) has bloomed once again. This exhibition showcases work from over 20+ artist from many walks of life! An eclectic group show with amazing images to match. Vote for your favorite image at the reception and help crown the People’s Choice Awards! Celebrate this fun extravaganza with us, take in the imagery, meet the artist’s, make memories, and acquire some incredible art! The event is free and the public is invited.

Image Central Gallery

1099 E St., Hayward

(510) 881-6721

 

Thursdays

Family Board Game Night

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Play together with family and friends, or make some new friends at the library.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

Board games will be provided.

 

Thursdays

The Peaceful Poets

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join a Milpitas-based group of writers and appreciators of poetry.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

For teens, adults, and seniors.

Last Thursdays of the month

 

Thursdays and Saturdays

Story Time

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Picture book story time

Banter Bookshop

3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont

(510) 565-1004

bit.ly/3VFpbc

 

Thursday, April 4 – Saturday, May 25

Human Essence

12 noon – 5 pm

The Olive Hyde Art Gallery proudly presents HumanEssence ‐ a photography exhibition featuring portraits by Suszi Lurie McFadden paired with abstracts by Brandon Stauffer. Join us for an artist talk April 19 at 12 Noon.

Olive Hyde Gallery

123 Washington Blvd. Fremont

(510) 791-4357

 

Fridays, December 29 – May 10

Go: The Game R

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Go is an ancient game of strategy. To learn the game or to play it.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

All ages and levels

 

Fridays and Saturdays

Free Telescope Viewings

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing!

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/calendar

Weather permitting.

 

Saturday, April 4 – Saturday, June 4

Sun Gallery Climate Justice Exhibit

Thurs, Fri, Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Local artist submissions with the theme “Climate Justice: World Peace & Security.”

Sun Gallery

1015 E. St., Hayward

(510) 581-4050

http://sungallery.org/

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City R$

8:00 pm

Series of improvised games and scenes

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

 

Saturdays

Free Beginner Pickleball Lesson

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Free pickleball lesson taught by a USPA professional.

Hall Memorial Park

304 La Honda Dr, Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

Drop-in. Weather permitting.

 

Saturdays

Teen Cohort for Outdoor Education R$

10 am – 4 pm

Meet new friends, build outdoor skills, and get to know your community as we participate in activities, such as Hayward Shoreline Hike and Clean-Up, Quarry Lakes Excursion; Coyote Hills Excursion; Fishing; rock climbing on our 28-foot rock wall, hiking; and a Sulphur Creek Guided Tour.

Ashland Community Center

1530 167th Avenue, San Leandro

Noel Munivez: (510) 317-2303

munn@HaywardRec.org

 

Saturday, May 4 – Saturday, May 25

Chanticleers Theatre Presents: Just My Type

Saturdays: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Sundays: 2 p.m.

The original musical tells the story of two psychologists under a deadline to write a book who take inspiration from four couples in their practice.

Castro Valley Community Center

18988 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 733-5483

www.chanticleers.org

Tickets: $30 General; $25 Senior/Military; $10 Student

 

Sundays

Farmyard Games

1:00 pm

Join us for some old-fashioned fun! Try your hand at classic American pastimes including stilts, sack races, and the potato-spoon race. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

 

Sundays

Weekly meditation Session R

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.

India Community Center

525 Los Coches St., Milpitas

(408) 934-1130

samarpanmeditationusa.org

info@indiacc.org, info@samarpanmeditationusa.org

 

Sundays – Saturdays

Recreational Swim $

12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Attractions may vary.

Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center

6800 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 578-4620

bit.ly/3nxo0is

 

Sundays

Larry “O” Teen Workshop

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Used bikes, bike parts for sale and bike repair.

Larry Orozco Teen Workshop

33623 Mission Blvd., Union City

(510) 675-5487

www.unioncity.org/723/Larry-O-Teen-Workshop

RobertS@unioncity.org

Donation accepted.

Second and fourth Sundays of the month

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Wednesday, May 8

Air Quality and Asthma Awareness

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Meet representatives from the U.S. EPA’s Indoor Environments Team in the Library’s lobby to learn more about the environment and human health.

They'll be demonstrating a do-it-yourself air cleaner for your home, in addition to sharing free educational materials for all ages.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 608-7737

 

Wednesday, May 8

Second Alameda County District 1 Budget Workshop

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Valuable opportunity to learn about the budgets of key County departments, including Health, Social Services, Sheriff’s office, and County Administrators Office.

Niles Veterans’ Memorial Building

37154 2nd St., Fremont

RSVP to Kathy Kimberlin: Kathy.Kimberlin@acgov.org

 

Thursday, May 9

Job Fair

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Come learn about and meet with many different employers and find the job of your dreams. The following employers and more will be present:

Castro Valley Adult & Career Education Center

Employment Development Dept (EDD)

Alameda County Social Services

Pacific Home Care Services

Pacific State Petroleum

ComForCare Home Care

Chabot College

Childcare Careers

Castro Valley School District

East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC)

Employbridge

Vietnamese American Community Center

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-5900

 

Saturday, May 11

90th Birthday Celebration East Bay Regional Park

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Free event featuring musical and other performances, a kids’ zone with hands-on fun, nature exhibits and activities, food trucks, eco-friendly games, and more! Please check the ParkFest webpage for updated information on alternative transportation methods (biking, busing), and trip planning as parking is limited. ParkFest is BARTable and a free shuttle will be available to and from Bay Fair Station.

Lake Chabot Regional Park

17600 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley

 

Saturday, May 11

Picnic for animation / video game aficionados R

12 noon – 3 p.m.

Join us for a day of playing games, food, and fun! Meet others who are interested in the animation and video game industry. (Bring some food or snacks to share!)

Kennedy Park

19501 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward

Questions? email alejandrosandovalart@gmail.com

RSVP via Google form: https://tinyurl.com/yfcenffx

 

Saturday, May 11

Free Notary Service

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Certified notary is offering free, basic notary services such as Acknowledgement or Jurat.

Hayward Public Library

888 C Street

(510) 881-7974

lori.patel@hayward-ca.gov

https://hayward.librarycalendar.com/event/free-notary-service-17076

 

Saturday, May 11

Hawaiian May Day

12 noon – 6 p.m.

Whether you’re interested in live music, Hula performances, Hawaiian themed arts and crafts, or drinks, sweets, and savory bites—it’s worth heading over to downtown Hayward to soak up the island atmosphere.

Downtown Hayward

Watkins to B St., A to C St

www.kumuhulaassociation.com

 

Saturday, May 11

4th Grade Day at the Rancho

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dip candles, design a brand, form an adobe brick, and brand a cow using paint, felt and authentic brands.

47300 Rancho Higuera Rd., Fremont

(510) 673-4813

mdholmes@comcast.net

$5 per family

 

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day on the Farm

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Palmdale Estates Events will host our 5th annual Mother's Day Brunch in the Pool Site Garden at Ardenwood. A delicious brunch buffet + dessert will be served along with other fun activities. Advanced registration required. The Farmyard Cafe will also be open for special sweet treats and Mother's Day Gifts.

www.ardenwoodevents.com/mothersday

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

 

Wednesday, May 15

Free Kid Art project at Centerville Library

3:30 – 4:30 pm

We’re creating Impressionist Flower Art

Ages 7-12 (under 7 must have parent present)

Centerville Library

3801 Nicolet Ave, Fremont

janinepittaart.com

FREE – register with Centerville Library

 

Thursday, May 16

Gardening Series: Sustainable Practices for Waterwise Gardening

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

This class will focus on sustainable techniques for your home garden. Topics covered will include: sheet-mulching, the benefits of compost and mulch, bio-intensive edible gardening, hydrozoning, using recycled water, drip irrigation and native plants.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

 

Thursday, May 16

Celebration of Life

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Cancer survivors, friends and loved ones are invited to join our annual Celebration of Life, a gathering intended to inspire and educate everyone touched by cancer. This even is complimentary.

Washington Hospital

Washington West Building

Conrad E. Anderson, MD Auditorium

2500 Mowry Ave., Fremont

(800) 963-7070

 

Friday, May 17

Spring School Jazz Music Festival

5 p.m.

This event provides a venue for our student/musicians to show their musical skills in the “Jazz Idiom.”

Event Center Outdoor Plaza

3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

(510) 657-0243

eastbaytradjazz.org

 

Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19

Charlie Chaplin Days

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

We explore his cinematic legacy with Chaplin experts, film historians and fans alike

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

 

Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19

Fremont Friends of the Library Book Sale

Friday: 2 pm – 6 pm

Saturday:10 am – 3 pm

Sunday: 12 pm – 3 pm

The Fremont Friends of the Library will hold their Big Book Sale. Most books priced at $1.25/inch, some specially priced. Children’s material individually priced. CDs: 2 for $0.25, DVDs from $1, $6 per paper grocery bag! We will provide the bags. Clearance Sunday

Fremont Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

 

Friday, May 17

Spring School Jazz Festival and Street Eats

5:00 pm

Two of the bands, Cats in Da Club and the Jazzinators will play Traditional Jazz of New Orleans. Cats in Da Club is led by American High school Junior Stuti Jajoo is comprised of students from Mission HS, American HS and Irvington HS. The High Schools from John F. Kennedy (David Bickel – Director), American (Richard Wong – Director) and Irvington- (Charlie Rodda- Director) will play jazz from the “swing era” or “Big Band Jazz.”

Event Center Outdoor Plaza

3500 Capitol Ave, Fremont

 

Saturday, May 18

Shri Ram Lalla Concert $R

3 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Receive Akshat offerings, dance to popular devotional songs, watch Indian classical dance performances

Mission San Jose High School Amphitheater

41717 Palm Ave., Fremont

https://tinyurl.com/RamLallaConcert

Tickets: $11

Parking is free

 

Saturday, May 18

40 Years of Art Free Artist Reception

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Adobe Art Gallery

20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley

 

Sunday, May 19

Tule Boats Float

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Tule is a wonderful plant that Ohlone Peoples traditionally used (and still use today) for housing material, sleeping, cordage, and much more. Come and build a miniature tule boat and see how well this unassuming plant can float and transport valuable cargo. Ages 7+ parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.

(510) 544-3220.

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

 

Sunday, June 2

Corpus Christi Parish Festival

11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Entertainment karaoke and talent show line dancing lesson. Garden store beverage garden, fire truck, tacos/tortas/chicken adobo/ linguica /aguas frescas. Raffle, cash prizes $500, $250, $100

Corpus Christi Procession to Niles Plaza.

Historic Niles District

27891 2nd Street, Fremont