Charlie Chaplin Days
Submitted by Niles Essanay
At the beginning of 1915, Charlie Chaplin came to Niles to work on his contract at the Chicago-based Essanay Film Manufacturing Company’s western division headquarters. It was a township of 1,400 people—not exactly the mystique held by metropolitan places like San Francisco or New York. Chaplin had seen Niles a few weeks earlier, had been a bit underwhelmed and traveled on the Chicago headquarters. But he quickly realized George Spoor (the S of Essanay / S&A) wasn’t going to give him the creative freedom he desired—nor pay any overtime if the production ran past regular working hours. So back Chaplin came to Niles after making one film, aptly titled His New Job.
And here he made five short films that are still seen today, some with locations still present in the East Bay, South Bay and San Francisco. Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum will be focusing on Mr. Chaplin all weekend from May 18 to 21. We will have walking tours, film screenings, a lookalike contest, and all things Charlie!
This weekend-long event is co-sponsored with Niles Main Street Association.
Special Museum Hours Saturday and Sunday
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Our Special Guest Charlie: Jason Allin of Ontario
Benny & Joon at 30!
Thursday, May 18
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m. Doors open
Following a screening of the quirky 1993 comedy starring Johnny Depp, there will be a Q&A about the making of the film with Dan Kamin, who created the film’s physical comedy sequences and trained Depp for his Golden Globe-nominated performance.
Get your tickets in advance – The event is free due to an anonymous sponsor, but seating is limited and donations are appreciated. Email
**@ni*************.org
to get added to the list.
Red Letter Days & Shoulder Arms
Friday, May 19
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m. Doors open
Suggested member donation $8, not yet member $10
In Charlie Chaplin’s Red Letter Days, Dan Kamin tells the story of how Chaplin risked fame, fortune and reputation by making a comedy about World War I while the bloody conflict was still raging. Instead of ending Chaplin’s career, Shoulder Arms became a worldwide blockbuster.
Saturday, May 20
Walking Tour of Niles
11 a.m.
Wear walking shoes and find out what happened here one hundred years ago. Important landmarks will be discussed and stories will be shared! Meet at the museum and bring your camera. Includes your own copy of our museum Walking Tour of Niles booklet. ($5 donation)
Broncho Billy and the Bandit’s Secret (30 min)
11 a.m.
A two-reel silent western filmed in Niles in 2013 by the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum (available for purchase on DVD.) Window to the Past (2017, 40 min) details the making of the film.
Chaplin’s Film Mysteries
1:15 p.m.
Learn how the restoration of Chaplin’s earliest Keystone films led to a remarkable discovery that connected Charlie’s vaudeville roots to his silver screen debut! Host Nigel Dreiner also speaks on the history of Charlie’s only “lost” film Her Friend the Bandit. Followed by: Mabel’s Strange Predicament, Making A Living, and Kid Auto Races at Venice. (FREE Screening.)
Afternoon Matinees
Hosted by various Chaplin Fans – find out the back story on films made right here in 1915. Nickelodeon Special 50c donation per film much appreciated.
A Night Out
12:30 p.m.
Charlie and Ben Turpin enjoy too much drink and mayhem ensues.
The Champion
2:15 p.m.
Charlie is an unlikely boxer, picture filmed in downtown Niles.
In The Park
3:15 p.m.
This one-reeler was filmed at North Lake in Golden Gate Park.
A Jitney Elopement
3:45 p.m.
Interiors were filmed at the glass stage in Niles, and the other half of the film at the edge of Golden Gate Park.
The Tramp
4:30 p.m.
Filmed in Niles on Second Street and the Canyon.
The Kid at 100
7:30 p.m.
7 p.m. Doors open
Suggested member donation $8, not yet member $10
In 1921, Charlie Chaplin’s THE KID took the world by storm. The story of a penniless tramp who adopts an abandoned infant struck a powerful chord in the aftermath of a devastating war and pandemic which left millions dead and thousands of children orphaned. Renowned mime artist and comedy choreographer Dan Kamin reveals what keeps this film fresh, funny and moving to this day.
Sunday, May 21
Young Charlie
11 a.m.
You’ve seen many photos of Charlie over the years—but Historian / Archivist Extraordinaire Marc Wanamaker will be sharing some very special images of our Little Tramp! (FREE Program.)
Lookalike Contest
2 p.m.
Come dressed as Charlie, a vintage movie star, any character in his films, or someone appropriate for our event.
Sneak Preview – You Are My Audience
4 p.m.
This feature film shares stories from around the world that relate to one another in unexpected and meaningful ways. Free screening with limited seating – donations gratefully accepted! Filmmaker Roc Morin will host.
Charlie Chaplin Days
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
37417 Niles Blvd.,
Fremont
(510) 494-1411
Local Author Writes Lotta Pedal, An Adventurous Children’s Book
By Charlene Dizon
Photos Courtesy of Vanessa Cudmore
Fifteen years ago, Vanessa Cudmore dreamed of a story about a girl who treks on various adventures. Today, that story has officially come to life through Lotta Pedal, a young girl whose curiosity and determined nature lead her to learn about not only her coastal hometown, but herself.
From a young age, Cudmore was no stranger to nature. Her childhood was filled with outdoor escapades. This has carried into her present-day lifestyle, as she states, “I love mountain biking, cruising down Highway 1, photographing wildlife, and helping rescue neighborhood cats. I’m a total advocate that adventure can be found in the most unexpected places.” Cudmore graduated from Queen’s University with a degree in Film Studies and has since had a successful career in marketing and advertising. However, her interest in writing never dwindled, which ignited the creation of Lotta Pedal.
Lotta Pedal was conceived at a time when Cudmore was in between jobs. She explains, “I was thinking about a new career path. I thought I might try photography or painting, but ultimately I decided to pursue writing.” Once the first draft of Lotta Pedal was complete, Cudmore purchased the web domain, lottapedal.com. “I resumed a marketing role a few weeks later, so I placed Lotta on hold,” she explains. “However, I kept renewing that web domain address every year with the vision to finalize the book.” The name is a unique and literal take on the character itself: a spunky girl pedaling on her bike through her West Coast town. Lotta has a strong spirit and juggles several passions—biking, surfing, baking, fashion and even promoting environmental awareness. After virtually reconnecting with an old friend who was working on his own writing projects during COVID, Cudmore was inspired to revisit her story and commit to getting it published.
What followed was a lengthy process that began with thoroughly reviewing her original draft. Cudmore states, “I still loved the adventurous nature of Lotta Pedal, but I revisited the themes to ensure it was relevant and meaningful for today’s audience.” The storyline evolved into an empowering tale about a feisty, independent girl who tackles a day of adventure and learns about ways to protect the planet. This time around, Cudmore established a detailed development process. She studied the children’s book market and attended writing workshops, learning everything she could about the publishing industry. With this in mind, she decided to change Lotta Pedal from a stand-alone story to a series that young readers could follow.
After evaluating the pros and cons of working with larger publishers, Cudmore opted for self-publishing in order to retain creative control over the characters and stories. She states, “I had a clear vision about the look and feel of the book. I knew I needed to build my own dream team.” Cudmore hired a former colleague and layout artist, who was well-versed in publishing, as a graphic designer. A group of proofreaders and content editors were also onboarded. Working with a well-respected book printer enabled Cudmore to be hands-on in selecting the paper type, assessing the binding, and reviewing color proofs. Award-winning illustrator Antonio Caparo was captivated by the stories and signed onto the project immediately. Caparo brought Lotta Pedal to life by referencing Cudmore’s mood boards, color swatches, fabric patterns, location scenes, and so forth. Furthermore, local bookstores such as Banter Bookshop in Fremont have been supportive in stocking Lotta Pedal on shelves as well as hosting an upcoming event for the author’s debut.
Chapter one of Lotta Pedal Catches Her Wave, the first book in the series, throws Lotta into her first challenge – getting to the beach on Surf Day with her self-decorated board after her brothers leave without her in their unreliable but awesome surf van. She shows creativity and positive attitude, which carries through the rest of the book as she and her friends navigate how to save their local beach and sea mammals, in addition to handling a nasty school bully. Cudmore says, “I think it’s essential for kids to have a determined role model and hope about the outdoors, especially since so many of them were stuck inside during COVID.” Additionally, since Lotta enjoys baking, the book includes an easy-to-follow beach sugar cookie recipe. “I wanted the book to be extra special, so I hired a recipe developer to create a recipe just for Lotta,” Vanessa states. With an educational twist, Lotta encourages adventure while rallying and finding effective ways to protect the planet.
In many ways, Lotta Pedal mirrors Cudmore’s own courage in pursuing this creative project. Fifteen years in the making for any body of work is a complex yet fulfilling task to take on. “I hope Lotta Pedal can be my legacy project in inspiring kids to find things they love to do and enjoy life,” she says. As for advice for fellow writers, she adds, “Find a mentor or support system. It’s great to find someone who understands what you’re going through. Everyone has a story to tell so if you’re up for the challenge, go for it!”
To purchase Lotta Pedal, please visit lottapedal.com/shop. Copies are also available at Banter Bookshop in Fremont. (www.banterbookshop.com)
Lotta Pedal Book Event
Saturday, June 10
10:30 a.m.
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont
www.banterbookshop.com
Rowell Ranch Rodeo and Parade
By Jack Alcorn
More than 43 million Americans identify themselves as fans of professional rodeo, and rodeo is seventh in overall attendance for major sporting events, ahead of golf and tennis. Each Spring for the past 100 years, locals have enjoyed the rodeo at Castro Valley’s Rowell Ranch, first started by Harry Rowell. The rodeo partners with many local non-profit organizations to help raise funds for a wide range of local charitable causes.
The entire rodeo is a series of diverse activities spanning two weeks. Bring the whole family out to see the annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade in downtown Castro Valley! The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, and includes over 100 local participants celebrating Rowell Ranch Rodeo.
Cowgirl Picnic is a ladies only luncheon at Rowell Ranch’s Earl Dawes Picnic Area on Thursday, May 18, that honors the cowgirls in our community. Enjoy being served by professional local cowboys, ranchers and firefighters.
The classic sport rodeo begins Friday, May 19 with Rowell Ranch Rodeo’s Rockin’ Bull Bash! Watch expert cowboys ride some of the toughest bulls on the circuit. Join the fun all day Saturday, May 20 for barrel racing, bronco busting and more. Another Saturday activity includes the Special Partners Rodeo event for local children with mental or physical challenges. It provides a day of western style family fun and inspires greatness in special children.
Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo Queen pageant will take place Sunday, May 21. Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo symbolizes the youth of our community and promotes the sport of rodeo and the great western way of life. Other events include local team roping, an axe throwing competition, chili cookoff, and rodeo barbeque and dance.
For event details and tickets visit rowellranchrodeo.com.
Rowell Ranch Rodeo
Saturday, May 18 – Sunday, May 21
Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park
9725 Dublin Canyon Rd., Castro Valley
Rowell Ranch Parade
Saturday, May 13
10 a.m.
Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
(510) 581- 2577
Ro**************@ao*.com
rowellranchrodeo.com
4th Grade Tours at Rancho
Submitted by Kelsey Camello
Attention all 4th grade students & families! Rancho del Agua Caliente will be open to all 4th grade families for $5 per family on Saturday, May 13.
The rancho once belonged to Fulgencio Higuera during the rancho period of California’s history. It is now owned by the City of Fremont. Come see an adobe building built in 1840 and learn about the hide and tallow trade. Dip candles, design a brand, form an adobe brick, make a corn husk doll, and brand a cow using paint, felt and authentic brands. You can even try your hand at roping the steer!
This event is great for students either exiting and entering 4th grade, plus their families! Come one, come all. Bring a picnic lunch.
The tour is hosted by Washington Township Museum of Local History. Need more information? Call Dianne at (510) 673-4813 or email
in**@mu******************.org
.
4th Grade Tours at Rancho
Saturday, May 13
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rancho del Agua Caliente
47300 Rancho Higuera Rd., Fremont
(510) 673-4813
museumoflocalhistory.org
$5 per family
BART unveils state-of-the-art tool that will improve rider experience
Submitted By BART Communications
On May 3, BART unveiled its newly acquired geometry car, known as the Rail Inspection Vehicle or RIV for short, which will enhance the rider experience by enabling a smoother ride, improving the system’s reliability, and cutting costs. The vehicle has highly advanced track inspection capabilities that will transform BART’s rail operations, helping to facilitate more efficient maintenance as well as fewer system interruptions for repairs during normal service hours.
The state-of-the-art vehicle, which was created for BART, identifies potential problems along the track with very high accuracy and without obstructing regular railroad operations.
One of only two such vehicles in the U.S., the RIV utilizes hi-tech lasers, sensors, cameras, measuring systems, and data management systems to create a comprehensive profile of the track, all while traveling at speeds of up to 70 mph. The RIV can measure the track’s position, curvature, smoothness, and alignment, as well as wear and corrugation, which contribute to train noise.
Among its many capabilities, the RIV can also create 3D surface scans of the area around the track and capture hi-definition images that detect abnormalities in components such as concrete ties and fasteners, which hold the rail in place. The RIV can also identify potential issues by capturing video in both normal and low-light conditions, including in tunnels, as well as infrared thermal imagery. GPS, axle counters, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags pinpoint the locations of problem areas.
The RIV measures 63 feet by 9.5 feet and weighs 110,000 pounds. It will serve as an important asset to BART for the next forty to fifty years.
Protecting homes in wildfire-prone areas
Submitted by Castro Valley Library
Our properties can be exposed to wind-blown embers and radiant heat and flames during wildfires. In order to survive a wildfire, homes must be “hardened” by using fire-resistant building materials and removing combustible vegetation. In neighborhoods with closer home-to-home spacing, a community-wide effort will be necessary to keep homes safe.
Join us to learn specific actions residents can take to protect their families and properties from wildfire on Sunday, May 21.
Presenter Stephen Quarles has had a decades-long career researching and instructing on wildfire and safety. He is an emeritus of the University of California Cooperative Extension and worked for the California State Fire Marshal. He also served as the Chief Scientist for Wildfire and Durability for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.
Please register at www.aclibrary.org or by calling (510) 667-7900.
The Castro Valley Library is a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library will provide an ASL interpreter for any event with at least seven working days’ notice. Please call (510) 667-7900 or TTY 888-663-0660.
Castro Valley Library Wildfire Safety Program
Sunday, May 21
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
‘Cohousing University’ to Provide Crash Course
Submitted by Jane Mueller and Evelyn LaTorre
Members of Mission Peak Village, the cohousing community planned for Fremont, have been getting so many inquiries recently that the group has put together an event they are calling Cohousing University. This “crash course” in how cohousing will work in Fremont has been planned for May 12-15. Most sessions will be held online, but the Sunday afternoon tour of Mountain View Cohousing will be in person.
“Many have remarked about the information they would like before deciding whether to pursue membership,” says Kelli Soika, who organized the event. “We assembled that information into four sessions and recruited people with a depth of experience to present them.”
Cohousing University begins with a get-acquainted hour on Friday evening, during which attendees can meet the current members of Mission Peak Village. It continues Saturday morning with three classes, a panel discussion among current residents of three existing communities about what it’s like to live in cohousing, a look at how buying a home in cohousing solves some issues with real estate transactions, and a demonstration of how decisions are made in cohousing groups.
Sunday afternoon will be a rarely-available in-person tour of Mountain View Cohousing, the most recently completed Bay Area cohousing community. On Monday morning, attendees will get an online look at the Fremont plans and a discussion by Mission Peak Village’s development partner about how the project is financed.
“We think this is exactly what people need to know in order to decide whether to take the next step with us,” says Doug Ford, a current member of the group. The next step is to become an “Explorer” and spend 30-90 days getting better acquainted with the project and its operations and plans.
This article is part of an ongoing series on cohousing. To register for Cohousing University, visit www.missionpeakcohousing.org/events.
Mission Peak Village is a group of friends forming Fremont’s first cohousing community. Explorers are welcome and memberships are still available. Call Kelli at (510) 413-8446 or visit Mission Peak Village on Facebook, Instagram, or the www.missionpeakcohousing.org website, where you can register for a monthly walk to explore the neighborhood around the future site in the Irvington district of Fremont.
Decoto history bicycle tour
Submitted by Kelsey Camello
On Saturday, May 20 join local historian Tim Swenson on a bicycle tour of Decoto. Organized by Washington Township Museum of Local History, the tour will weave through the Decoto neighborhood in Union City, with stops to discuss a number of older buildings.
The tour duration will be about 1.5 hours and will cover four miles. Meet at 10 a.m. in the parking lot of Dry Creek/Pioneer Regional Park, located at the end of May Road (near Whipple and Mission Blvd).
There is a downloadable/printable tour booklet available on the museum website at www.museumoflocalhistory.org under “Plan Your Visit” then “General & Walking Tours.”
Tours are free, but suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family. Questions? Call (510) 623-7907 or email
in**@mu******************.org
Decoto history bicycle tour
Saturday, May 20
10 a.m.
Dry Creek/Pioneer Regional Park parking lot
550 May Rd., Union City
(510) 623-7907
Delta Electronics’ first LEED Zero Energy-Certified Green Building in Fremont
Submitted by Anna Hardaloupas
Delta, a global provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, recently announced its Americas regional headquarters has become the first green building in Fremont, and second in the Silicon Valley, to achieve the LEED Zero Energy certification from U.S. Green Building Council. The accolade, granted to green buildings that generate as much electricity as they consume, has been attained thanks to the further implementation of Delta’s own solutions on this originally LEED Platinum facility. A new solar PV carport, supported by a 330kWh Delta energy storage system, now helps to increase the building’s annual green electricity generation to over 1.4 million kWh.
Kelvin Huang, President of Delta Electronics (Americas), said, “With its net-zero energy capabilities, our Americas HQs green building will contribute even further to Delta’s RE100 initiative, which is a promise to power our worldwide operations with renewable electricity by 2030.”
Below are some recent upgrades:
The facility generates over 1.4 million kWh of renewable electricity through a 616kW rooftop solar PV system and a recently constructed 504kW bi-facial PV carport system, both supported by Delta’s high-efficiency PV inverters. That green energy output covers 100% of its consumption needs over a full calendar year.
A recent enhancement of Delta’s data center cooling solution, featuring a dedicated economizer supported by our own DC brushless electronically commutated (EC) fans, has contributed to lowering the annual power usage effectiveness (PUE) of the building’s data center from 1.5 originally to as low as 1.25.
Optimized energy management is also attained by the implementation of Delta’s next-generation SCADA system and building control platform. These platforms integrate with the existing building sub-systems to create set points, collect data and track trends, create reports, and manage alarms remotely.
For more information, please visit: www.delta-americas.com.
Flash Fiction Results: A Day in the life of a Creative Artist
Submitted by Arathi Satish
The 2023 Flash Fiction Contest, co-sponsored by Fremont
Cultural Arts Council (FCAC) and Half-Price Books, was held on Saturday, April 29 at Half-Price Books, Fremont Hub. This year’s theme, A Day in the Life of a Creative Artist, either real or imaginary, was in conjunction with Fremont Creates, a month-long celebration in April as Arts, Culture and Creativity month.
Visitors who came to Half-Price Books that day were able to read the one-page entries posted on the pillars and vote for their five favorite entries, which included poetry as well as prose. Al Minard, who has organized this event for over ten years, said, “We had very interesting entries submitted and nearly 200 ballots cast. It was a busy day at Half-Price Books. Several FCAC board members were interviewed about the various events of FCAC by Ohlone College Students which will air on Ohlone Television soon…It could not have happened with this amount of success without the support of FCAC, Half-Price Books and especially the writers who submit stories year after year.”
The event was ably conducted by FCAC board members and interns, and supported by Infinity Care LLC, an organization that provides caring heart and quality service. Three of their members – Adelaide Mapa, Pauline de Leon, and Marie Tobias – helped conduct the event and provided refreshments. Half-Price Books provided the space, made frequent announcements of the event, and gave gift cards of $25 to each of the winners. FCAC handed out cash awards to each of the winners too.
First prize went to “A Day in the Life of a Jar of Peanut Butter During COVID -19 Lockdown” by Jill M. Buono, second prize to “The Riddle Of A Writer” by Nitika Sathiya, third place to “Michelangelo #1” by Elaine Rodgers, fourth place to “Dear President Lincoln” by Pat Doyne and fifth place to “Fan Mail” by Tish Davidson.
Nitika Sathiya, a junior at Washington High School who won second prize, said, “I took part in this contest because I truly loved the theme this year. There is this endless cycle of creativity that flows between all artists and we constantly fuel one another to create bigger and more daring pieces. Our art allows us to grow past the boundaries of reality and the more we create, the more we are able to explore past the ordinary. My piece that won second place was a poem about how as a writer, I can travel through the lines of paper to different worlds where I can fight villains and reform corrupt governments through words. My craft gives me the chance to contribute to something greater than just me; art is full of inexplicable magic that we can share every day.”
For more details and to read the winning entries, visit Fremont Cultural Arts Council website at www.fremontculturalartscouncil.org.
Hawaiian May Day highlights culture and diversity in Hayward
Submitted by Deanie Lum-Villiados
Kumu Hula Association of Northern California, are pleased to announce that we will present the Hawaiian May Day Festival Saturday, May 13. The purpose of the event is to enrich the Hayward community economically and culturally, with a variety of arts and crafts vendors, live music, and entertainment.
Our Hawaiian May Day Festival was originally held as a two-day event with admission charge at the Alameda County Fairgrounds every May since the 1980s. However, in the wake of the pandemic, we wanted to be more community oriented as a nonprofit and decided to make this event a free admission street festival starting in 2022. Hayward is a diversified city with many cultures and ethnicities. We are committed to bringing various benefits of economic, health, education, not only to Hawaiians, but to the entire Hayward community.
With our rich experiences and know-how of hosting ethnic events, we are committed to provide opportunities to not only Hawaiians/Polynesians but also all community members so that they can find any opportunities to their dreams through our event. However, this new Hawaiian May Day Festival on the streets of Downtown Hayward is also encouraging local businesses, artists and shops to be part of it so that we can all bring benefits together to the area socially, economically and culturally.
Visit our website www.kumuhulaassociation.com to know more about the event including venue map, Q&A and sponsors.
Kumu Hula Association of Northern California is a California 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose missions are: to revive, preserve and advance the culture of Hawai’i such as hula, ʻoli, music and language through programs and activities that educate and enable the public to experience the various culture of Hawai’i, and to create a “Home away from Home” for Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart in Northern California.
Hawaiian May Day
Saturday, May 13
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Downtown Hayward
B St. & Main St., Hayward
Help Newark Memorial Rocketry Club go to DC!
Submitted by Janice Bishop
Looking for a great way to support the local Newark community and help a talented young group of rocket enthusiasts achieve their goals? Look no further for you can help Newark Memorial High School Rocketry Club go to Washington, D.C. to compete in the American Rocketry Challenge!
This amazing group of high school students has qualified for the American Rocketry Challenge, and they need your help to get to Washington, D.C. With your support on GoFundMe, we can raise the $10,000 necessary to cover travel, rocketry supplies, hotel and food. By supporting the NMHS Rocketry Club, you’ll be helping to inspire these young rocket scientists to take a step further and achieve their dreams and giving these talented students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shine on the national stage. So, please donate today and help us blast off toward victory!
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-nmhs-rocketry-club-go-to-dc
Newark Symphonic Winds Free Summer Concert
Submitted by Jim Carter
On May 20, Newark Symphonic Winds will have their free summer concert, held at Newark Memorial High School theatre.
The evening’s performance will begin with “Enchanted Spaces” composed by Samuel R. Hazo –a balanced piece that represents all the instruments in the symphony. Next will be a three-part composition by Gustave Holst, arranged by
Colin Matthews – “First Suite in E-flat.” Following Holst’s piece will be “Harlem Nocturne” by Earle Hagen – one of the most well-known standards in the jazz repertoire. The first half will end with the audience encouraged to stand up and dance to the music from “The Lord of the Dance.”
The second half will begin with the music of extremely talented Montecito Brass Ensemble, comprised of Mike Peterson – Trumpet & Cornet, Alan Osofsky – Trumpet & Flugelhorn, Blossom Santiago – Horn, Doug Brown – Trombone, and Raul Dingle – Tuba. They will be performing “Autumn Leaves” by Jacques Prévert and Joseph Kosma, “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” by Claude Debussy, arranged by Drew R. Fennell, and “Salute to the Armed Forces” arranged by Drew R. Fennell.
Once Montecito Brass completes their performance, the symphony will return to the stage with music from “Cirque du Soleil” arranged by Victor Lopez, followed by “Legends of Jazz” arranged by Stephen Bulla. Next will be a challenging Celtic piece by Jeremy Bell – “Celtic Wedding.” The performance will conclude with an arrangement by James Christensen, “The Good Old USA.”
The symphony is fortunate to have this performance sponsored by the Fremont Bank Foundation. As always, the concert is free of charge; no tickets are necessary. Simply enjoy the evening with all of your local musicians, and bring your family and friends.
There is often a full house; plan on arriving early to get the seating you prefer.
You can find more information at https://newarksymphonic.org. There you will find a map of Newark Memorial High School, the theatre, and convenient parking. On the home page, click on “Performances” and scroll down and click on the annotated map.
Hope to see all of you Saturday evening, May 20 at the Free Summer Concert!
Newark Symphonic Winds Free Summer Concert
Saturday, May 20
7 p.m.
Newark Memorial High School Theatre
39375 Cedar Blvd., Newark
(510) 552-7186
Got Wildlife? We Can Help!
Submitted by Angela Hartman – Director, OHSWRC
The Ohlone Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (OHSWRC) in Newark is now open for caring people like you to bring us injured, orphaned and ill wildlife from the Tri-Cities. Thanks to the Boy Scouts, community members, OHS members, volunteers, and a generous grant from Fremont Bank, we are happy to report we are now open for business Tuesday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
As some of you may know, we had to close temporarily in the winter of 2022 due to the HPAI bird flu outbreak in the U.S. In 2022 over 55 million birds, many poultry, died or had to be euthanized due to the bird flu outbreak. This situation is heartbreaking and there is no vaccine or cure for this virus. Mammals like opossums and raccoons who consume dead birds as part of their diet can also be infected.
The bird flu virus is so contagious it forced us to rethink how we intake new animals. The USDA recommended that all wildlife rehabilitation facilities have a separate area away from the animals in house to avoid cross contamination. We collaborated with local wildlife centers on how they are managing this situation and what modifications they made to keep incoming animals safe from the virus. Since the winter of 2022, we have been modifying our facility to make way for a new animal intake and quarantine area. We are happy to report we are open for business.
If you need advice on wildlife in destress, please call us at (510) 797-9449 so we can offer advice on how to move forward. If you have an injured or orphaned wild animal that needs care outside of our operating hours, please contact our partners at The Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley or Lindsay Wildlife.
Thank you to the OHSWRC volunteers and staff for all their hard work so we can once again serve our community and urban wildlife in need.
Ohlone Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Tuesday – Saturday
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
37175 Hickory St., Newark
(510) 797-9449
PG&E Incentive Program provides customers bill credits while supporting the grid
Submitted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The 2023 season for the Power Saver Rewards Program has launched, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) residential electric customers are encouraged to register now. The program rewards participants for temporarily reducing energy use when demand for electricity is high. Last year, PG&E customers received over $55 million in bill credits.
Power Saver Rewards Program event days are triggered by the state’s grid operator, the California Independent System Operator, calling a Flex Alert and/or an Energy Emergency Alert Watch between May 1 and October 31. Notifications to customers to reduce energy use as part of the program are sent out the day before an event. Over the ten event days in 2022, the average customer bill credit for program participants was $35.
Currently, more than 1.7 million customers are enrolled in the program. Customers who reduce energy use between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on event days will receive an automatic credit on their energy statement after the program season ends. Customers receive $2 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for decreasing electricity use during events. There is no penalty for not reducing energy.
A kWh is a measure of how much electricity is used. One kWh equals the amount of energy consumed if a 1,000-watt appliance is used for an hour.
The program, initiated by California Public Utilities Commission, encourages energy conservation during extreme heat waves to lessen the overall strain on the grid and prevent the need for rotating outages. Customers successfully shifted energy usage away from peak demand times on event days. During peak hours, customers temporarily reduced usage by taking actions such as turning their thermostat to 78 degrees or higher (health permitting), turning off lights not in use, unplugging electric vehicles, and waiting until after peak hours to use large appliances such as washers, dryers and electric ovens.
PG&E electric customers with a SmartMeter not enrolled in a conflicting peak hour program are eligible to participate. Most customers enrolled in a Community Choice Aggregator can also join. Customers can disenroll from the program at any time through the program website.
Visit powersaver.pge.com to learn more and sign up.
Lamentations, Meditations, and Celebrations
Submitted by SF Bay Area Chamber Choir
An exploration of the human spirit in choral song.
We lament the pain in our lives.
We reflect on the meaning of life.
We celebrate our joys and accomplishments.
This concert from SF Bay Area Chamber Choir explores these three conditions of the human spirit through diverse musical lenses in their upcoming concert on May 19.
The concert opens with Adolphus Hailstork’s Crucifixion, a modern and dramatic setting of the pained spiritual He never said a mumblin’ word. The remainder of the first half is Thomas Tallis’ Renaissance masterpiece The Lamentations of Jeremiah. Tallis sets verses one through five of the prophet Jeremiah’s eyewitness account of the siege of the city of Jerusalem that began in 589 BC and concluded with its destruction around 586 BC. Each of the two parts of the lamentations concludes with the words, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return to the Lord your God.”
The second half of the concert begins with two introspective and meditative works. Williametta Spencer’s At the round earth’s imagined corners is a dramatic setting of one of John Donne’s Holy Sonnets, followed by Caroline Shaw’s And the swallow, a stunning setting of Psalm 84 from 2017.
The concert concludes with three selections of celebration. Eric Whitacre’s epic Leonardo Dreams of his Flying Machine, which tells of DaVinci’s dream of taking flight, is followed by Leo Brouwer’s Cántico De Celebración. The program concludes with Alice Parker’s immortal Hark, I hear the harps eternal.
Tickets for the Friday, May 19 performance are available online, at the door, and from choir members.
SF Bay Area Chamber Choir May Concert
Friday, May 19
8 p.m.
Mission San Jose
43300 Mission Blvd. Fremont
http://www.sfbaychoir.org/may-2023/
Tickets: $20 general admission; $10 for 30 and under; $35 to include a donation to the choir
Urban Libraries Council honors Alameda County Library
Submitted by Alicia Reyes, Communications Manager
The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) announced Alameda County Library as one of eight Honorable Mentions during the 2023 Innovations Celebration held virtually on April 27. ULC’s annual Innovation Awards recognize transformative programs from ULC’s member library systems across the U.S. and Canada that enhance the library field to further advocacy, anti-racism and digital equity, democracy, education, health and wellness and workforce development.
Alameda County Library’s Every Month is Pride Month program was selected by expert judges from over 150 submissions in 8 categories that showcase creative thinking and out-of-the-box application of library resources. Alameda County Library was honored in the category of Advocacy & Awareness, with honorees being recognized for their level of inventiveness, the outcomes achieved and the ability for other libraries to adapt and implement their work.
“It is clear from this year’s selected 2023 Innovations that ULC member libraries are at the forefront of industry creativity, leading far-reaching efforts, and developing original programming,” said ULC President and CEO Brooks Rainwater. “These winners illustrate the exceptional leadership, dedication and perseverance demonstrated by our libraries amidst ongoing change and pressure. We applaud Alameda County Library for their visionary program, which will revolutionize their library and community and serve as a template for public libraries across North America.”
Alameda County Library launched Every Month is Pride Month in response to an incident at a Drag Storytime held at the San Lorenzo Library last summer. Members of a local chapter of the Proud Boys stormed the Library, disrupted the event, and shouted hateful slurs at the event’s performer while families and children were in attendance. With the support of former Alameda County Supervisor Dave Brown, library staff created a year of LGBTQIA+ programming to reaffirm the County’s support for and inclusiveness of LGBTQIA+ communities.
“We are so proud to be awarded with an Honorable Mention for ULC’s 2023 Innovation Awards in the Advocacy & Awareness category. My team took a hateful act and transformed it into kindness, connection, and community pride. Supported by our community, we transformed the way Alameda County responds to hate,” said County Librarian Cindy Chadwick.
All 2023 ULC Innovations entries can be viewed at urbanlibraries.org.
VA Palo Alto visits Hayward
Submitted by Hector M. Villaseñor
On Thursday, May 18, the VA Palo Alto Mobile Medical Outreach Team will come to Hayward Veterans Memorial Hall.
The Outreach Team will facilitate examinations, consultations, and referrals for veterans who are enrolled in VA healthcare system onsite. VA resource information will be available. Veterans uncertain of their benefit eligibility are encouraged to visit as requirements have changed, and VA health care may complement current medical coverage.
VA representatives will also provide information or assistance with questions and enrollment for VA healthcare. Veterans should bring military discharge papers (Form DD-214) and a list of current medications. If veterans, family members, and/or caregivers have any questions, or need more information about the event, reach out to Hector Villaseñor at
he***************@ha********.gov
or (510) 881-7974.
VA Mobile Medical Outreach Team
Thursday, May 18
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Hayward Veterans Memorial
Hall
22737 Main St., Hayward
(510) 881-7974
he***************@ha********.gov
Calling All Creative Writers
Submitted by Tish Davidson
Do you write stories in secret but are afraid to share them? Worried about how your writing might be judged? Put those worries away. This is a chance to let your creative writer run free by joining the fun, free, nonjudgmental “Zoom Write-In” on Saturday, May 13. This event is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers, and it is for everyone from complete beginners to established writers. It is not a writing critique session. Your writing will not be judged, just enjoyed by your fellow writers.
How the Write-In works:
At the Write-In, the computer will randomly assign four writers to each Zoom room. Writers will be given several word or photo prompts. The prompts are designed to help you get to know other writers in the room. They may be something like “fire” or “a thing I found.” Choose one prompt and write for 10 minutes. When the writing time ends, each person in the room will read their response to the prompt and socialize in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. Writers will then be reassigned a different Zoom room with different challenge. After a writing period, the stories will be shared with others in the room.
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 the fourth Saturday of each month. At meetings, guest speakers discuss various aspects of writing and the publishing industry. The guest speaker for the May 27 meeting is Robert Bonwell Parker, an attorney who will speak on copyright and other laws that impact creative artists. More information is available at https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org.
To participate in the Write-In or attend the free general meeting, please request the Zoom meeting link from Scott Davidson at
sc**************@ya***.com
.
Zoom Write-In
Saturday, May 13
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 pm.
General Meeting
Saturday, May 27
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Request Zoom link from Scott Davidson
sc**************@ya***.com
EARTHTALK
Show Me The Proof: Is Climate Change Definitively Causing Extreme Weather?
By Annie Gray
Dear EarthTalk: Have scientists been able to definitively prove links between global warming and more extreme weather phenomena in recent years, or is this still just a theory?
– T.C., Chicago, Illinois
The question of whether science has been able to prove, let alone prove definitively, the connection between climate change and extreme weather is a very tricky one. This is because science is always reluctant to deal in certainty. “You can never have 100 percent proof of anything. There will always be doubt,” reports Jack Fraser, an Oxford-trained astrophysics Ph.D. at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. “Proof can only exist when there is no doubt, and there is always doubt. You could be a brain in a vat, living in a crazy simulation. You could be hallucinating everything. You cannot prove anything.”
Despite this embedded doubt in all things scientific, researchers have opened up a new branch of science called ‘Extreme Event Attribution’ in an attempt to work out the extent of man-made climate change’s culpability. To discern this, scientists begin by setting criteria for what made the event extreme. They then turn to historical climate records and make comparisons with other similar events, checking them against the same criteria. They are looking for a change in the intensity or frequency of a certain extreme event.
If they find a change, they then work out what caused it. To do this, they use models. There are many different types of models; one example is creating two virtual worlds with exactly the same conditions, except one is pumped full of greenhouse gasses. These simulations then create thousands of weather scenarios allowing a direct comparison between the polluted world and the non-polluted world. The difference between the two suggests man-made climate change’s culpability in certain weather events.
Although new, this form of science has already gone as far as science permits into proving the role of climate change in certain extreme weather events. “The vast majority of extreme weather events reviewed by researchers since 2011 – 70 percent – were shown to be more likely to occur, or were made more severe, because of global warming,” Eric Roston and Brian Sullivan report in The Washington Post.
Take the floods in Pakistan in 2020, for instance. The World Weather Attribution scientists say that their “evidence suggests that climate change played an important role in the event, although our analysis doesn’t allow us to quantify how big the role was.” And Frederike Otto, a climatologist from Imperial College London, said that “the fingerprints of global warming [were] evident” in the disaster.
Extreme Event Attribution is a particular science that works on a case-by-case basis, but the trend is clear. Seventy percent of extreme weather events were made more likely or more damaging by man-made issues. Definitive proof will never be offered by science, but most studies point in the same direction: towards global warming.
ONLINE CONTACTS
- NASA Vital Signs: Sea Level:
climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/sea-level/
- How Science Links Global Warming To Extreme Weather:
washingtonpost.com/business/energy/how-science-links-global-warming-to-extreme-weather/2022/07/18/80b19e1a-06ca-11ed-80b6-43f2bfcc6662_story.html
EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to:
qu******@ea*******.org
.
HISTORY MATTERS
By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith
May 1 th
rough 15
Independent Rhode Island
One year after the start of the American Revolution, Rhode Island ramped up its status and became the first colony to declare its independence from England. According to History.com, Rhode Island’s seaside access allowed it to develop a “lucrative” maritime shipping business with the West Indies and Africa, trading rum and slaves. Thus “because it had independent wealth and trade coming through the two vibrant ports of Providence and Newport, Rhode Island was the only small state that could theoretically survive independent of the proposed federal union in 1787. The state had no desire to lose income in the form of import duties to the new federal government. As a result, Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution in 1790, when it was finally confronted with the prospect of the greater financial impositions it would suffer from being treated as a foreign country from the United States.”
For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends William McLoughlin’s Rhode Island: A History.
North America’s First Transcontinental Railroad
For decades after the Revolution, horses were the only method of bicoastal mobility; then in the 19th century that relationship was eclipsed by the Civil War, and progress was stymied until the conflict ended in 1865. By 1869 the Central Pacific Railroad traveling out of Sacramento, California on May 10, 1869, joined with the Union Pacific coming from Omaha, Nebraska at Promontory, Utah. “For all the adversity they suffered,” says History.com, “the Union Pacific and Central Pacific workers were able to finish the railroad–laying nearly 2,000 miles of track by 1869, ahead of schedule and under budget. Journeys that had taken months by wagon train or weeks by boat now took only days. Their work had an immediate impact: The years following the construction of the railway were years of rapid growth and expansion for the United States, due in large part to the speed and ease of travel that the railroad provided.”
The Grateful American Book Prize suggests David Haward Bain’s Empire Express: Building the First Transcontinental Railroad.
First Residents of the White House
America’s second President John Adams, and his First Lady, Abigail, were the first inhabitants of the White House. Although President Adams demanded that federal employees relocate from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. by May 15, 1800, he and Abigail didn’t occupy the presidential mansion until November; they stayed four months—through the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson in March of 1801. In a November 21, 1800, letter to her daughter, “Nabby,” Abigail wrote: “You must keep all this to yourself, and, when asked how I like it, say that I write you the situation is beautiful, which is true. The house is made habitable, but there is not a single apartment finished, and all withinside, except the plastering, has been done since [White House steward John] Briesler came. We have not the least fence, yard, or other convenience, without, and the great unfinished audience room I made a drying room of, to hang up the clothes in … Upstairs there is the oval room, which is designed for the drawing room, and has the crimson furniture in it. It is a very handsome room now; but when completed, it will be beautiful. If the twelve years, in which this place has been considered as the future seat of government, had been improved, as they would have been if in New England, very many of the present inconveniences would have been removed.”
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends John & Abigail Adams: America’s First Political Couple by Charles River Editors.
This feature is courtesy of The Grateful American Book Prize, which is an annual award given to authors who have created outstanding works of historical fiction or nonfiction for seventh to ninth graders. Visit them at gratefulamericanbookprize.com.
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
Eat or be eaten
The Vollmer family was on the lookout for elephants when they visited the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa recently. But, instead, they wound up watching a venomous cape cobra swallowing another snake. They returned from their vacation with quite a story. However, it’s not as uncommon as one might think. The Smithsonian Institution reports that the King Cobra, which can grow to a length of 12 feet, is also known for devouring weaker snakes when they get hungry, swallowing them whole after dosing them with neurotoxic venom via its fangs. View the voracious viper on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewBjPfZ6ls
A ‘fog of bees’
Golf is a sport that comes with a variety of “hazards” such as lakes, trees and thick vegetation. But golfers at the PGA Tour’s Mexico Open in Vallarta, Mexico recently encountered an unexpected hazard that one observer tagged as a “fog of bees.” Players wasted no time ducking and hugging the ground as the buzzing got closer and louder. Watch the bees buzz the pro golfers on Twitter: twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1651701264172953601
The worth of knowledge
As the end of the school year approaches, high school seniors look forward to the challenges of college life. Many of them may be concerned with the high cost of the next phase of their academic lives. But not Dennis Barnes, a senior at International High School of New Orleans with a cumulative grade point average of 4.98. He applied to 200 colleges and has been accepted by 125 of them, thus far. In addition, much to the delight of his parents, he has been offered more than $9 million in scholarships. See the story on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1MEkr5it4
The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.
Park It: Mother’s Day on the Farm
By Ned MacKay
There are several programs from which to choose if you’d like to celebrate Mother’s Day in the East Bay Regional Parks. For instance, Mother’s Day will be observed with a variety of activities on Sunday, May 14, at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.
Festivities will be continuous from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can create a flower crown, enjoy live music, and play a game of croquet or bocce ball. There’s a buffet brunch available with advance reservations (www.ardenwoodeven
ts.com/mothersday) or you can purchase food from a special a-la-carte menu at the farm’s café.
Ardenwood is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. Farm programs recreate life on a prosperous 19th century estate, whose centerpiece is the beautifully restored Patterson House. Admission fees apply; parking is free. For information, call (510) 544-2797.
Or you can celebrate Mother’s Day and learn about nature’s moms, during a two-mile hike at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore. The hike is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, with naturalist Alex Collins. The whole family is welcome. Some of the walk is on paved paths and there is a short hill. Registration is not required. Meet at the School House Flats picnic area.
Del Valle Regional Park is at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of Livermore. There is a parking fee of $6 per vehicle. For information, call (510) 544-3146.
And there’s more. “Mothers of Big Break” is the theme of a community campfire from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley, with supervising naturalist Wyatt Moore.
Gather the family for an evening in the park. Meet at the park amphitheater. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy before the program. The group will explore the wonder of Big Break through nature-themed activities. The campfire will include s’mores, those gooey but delicious campfire treats.
Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call (510) 544-3050.
The Ohlone Peoples have called the area that includes Sunol Regional Wilderness their homeland for millennia. Their rich cultural history will be on display at the park during a program from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, with naturalist Kristina Parkison. This is a drop-in program; registration is not required. Parents must participate. Meet at the visitor center.
Sunol Regional Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road, about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. Before you go, check “Alerts and Closures” on the Park District website, www.ebparks.org, to be sure there is access. Geary Road has been blocked by rockslides several times as the result of winter storms. For general information about the park, call (510) 544-3249.
A naturalist-led stroll on the marsh boardwalk, with stories, songs and movement keyed to a nature-themed book is on the agenda from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. Registration is not necessary. All ages are welcome; parent participation is required. The program is wheelchair-accessible. Meet at the visitor center.
Coyote Hills is at 8000 Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle; the program is free. For information, call (510) 544-3220. Note also that Coyote Hills can be very crowded on weekends, leading to temporary park closure until vehicle parking is available. There is additional parking at nearby Dumbarton Quarry Campground.
Low tide exploration is the plan during Family Nature Fun Hour, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, at the Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove in Alameda. Find out what low tide reveals about bay creatures. This is a drop-in program; registration is not needed. The center is at 1252 McKay Ave. off Alameda’s Central Avenue. For information, call (510) 544-3187.
This is just a partial list of activities and programs available in your Regional Parks in coming days. For a full list, visit www.ebparks.org/things-to-do. And as mentioned above, it’s wise to check “Alerts and Closures” at the website to be sure the park you wish to visit has not been affected by weather or other factors.
Scotch broom
By Pat Kite
A friend asked about Scotch broom (also known as English broom, Irish broom and common broom), which appeared in her pristine garden courtesy of a traveling bird. Reflexively, I told her to get rid of it. But in case I was wrong, I did some research.
The last time I saw Scotch broom was in my garden, trying to dig it up and out, again and again and again. A mature plant will spew out over 20,000 seeds. Seeds pop out of the golden yellow-flowers, and each seed can survive for at least thirty years in soil. Seeds also distribute via rain, passersby, tractors, etc. If you cut the plant, but leave the root, it comes back. If your dog or cat nibbles on it, animal will vomit and possibly have tummy and heart problems. Munching horses can die. And those of us with allergies will wheeze.
So where did Scotch broom originate? Scotch broom is native to North Africa and Europe. Over there, it has natural insect predators. But not here. In the 1850s, it was imported for its pretty yellow flowers. By the early 1900’s Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) was being used extensively to prevent soil erosion along our highways. It thrived.
This broom contains a chemical alkaloid and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. When it lands on poor soil, these bacteria help it survive and outcompete other plants. (Remember those 20,000 seeds.) Growth is rapid. Within two years, each plant can be eight feet tall. At this point it is shading out other greenery.
By now, Scotch broom is referred to as a “noxious weed.” With this cheery description, how do you eliminate it? Hand yanking the seedlings for starters, trying to get the roots out. Check the site for two years and every two years thereafter. Should you have larger broom, check the internet or your local garden center for removal methods.
My big garden book mentions several types of broom beside Cytisus scoparius, or Scotch broom. These don’t seem to have the noxious weed problem, but because plants and seeds are often mislabeled, caution is advised.
Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Ask Rusty – About “Survivor” Benefits vs. “Spousal” Benefits
Dear Rusty: I will be 70 in August and will file my application for benefits in May. I know I’ll get my maximum possible amount at age 70, but I need you to c
larify things I have read. Per an award-winning TV host, author, and host of a money podcast, “If the higher-earning spouse delays until age 70 to claim Social Security, that guarantees the survivor the biggest possible benefit.” But then I read in a different article that if a person delays beyond their full retirement age to obtain a higher personal benefit (like I have), my spouse’s benefit would still be based on my FRA benefit amount. I am confused about which statement is the correct version.
Signed: Confused About My Spouse’s Benefit
Dear Confused: I’m not surprised that you are confused about these seemingly contradictory statements. It is, indeed, quite logical (and common) for a widow or widower to think they must apply for a “spousal benefit” from their deceased spouse. And while that’s technically true, those of us who live in this often-confusing world of Social Security jargon would say the widow or widower is applying for a survivor benefit, not a spousal benefit. What’s the difference? Well, when you’re speaking with a Social Security representative or an advisor, the term “spousal benefit” means something entirely different than the term “survivor benefit.”
The two articles you mention are, I believe, referring to two different types of Social Security benefit. The term “survivorbenefit” is typically used to describe benefits available to a surviving spouse when the higher earner dies, but the term “spousal benefit” is typically used to denote benefits available to a lower earning spouse when both partners are still living. I agree this is confusing, and that distinction was apparently not clear in the articles you read. Therefore, to clear your confusion:
- If the higher earning spouse dies and has delayed claiming until age 70, that does, indeed, “guarantee the surviving spouse the biggest possible benefit.” The survivor’s benefit is based on the full amount the deceased was receiving at death.
- If both spouses are living and the higher-earning spouse delayed until age 70 to claim, their living spouse’s benefit, when the higher-earning spouse claims, will be a maximum of 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s full retirement age (FRA) amount. A living spouse’s benefit is based on their partner’s FRA amount, regardless of when their partner actually claimed.
So, in your case, your wife’s spousal benefit from you while you are both living will be based on your FRA entitlement, even though you waited longer to claim. But if you die first, your wife’s survivor benefit as your widow will be based on 100% of the amount you were receiving at your death. In effect, both statements you referred to in your question are true considering that they refer to two different benefit types. It is a terminology distinction which frequently causes misunderstanding.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at
ss*******@am************.org
.
All About Asparagus
By John Schinkel
As you drive past certain farms in the East Bay this time of year, you might see pointy green spears of asparagus shooting out of the ground waiting to be picked. This tasty and versatile vegetable, though widely available, is a particularly difficult crop given the lengthy grow time and intensive labor required to harvest. Rich in fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K, Asparagus is a healthy addition to any diet. With its fibrous but tender texture, it’s a satiating snack, side dish, or even meal.
From my experience, it seems that buying asparagus off-season can be a hit-or-miss task when visiting my local grocery store and farmers’ markets. The supply is usually limited, with the quality lacking at times. This is not to say you should only consume asparagus in-season, but rather that it is important to know what you are looking for before you shop.
Grocers have an arduous task ahead of them if they wish to properly merchandise bunches of asparagus. The plants need similar treatment to cut flowers: placed in water standing upright with the root end submerged, ensuring a crisp spear with well-preserved color. If your grocer does not use this method, ensure the spears you choose are firm and stand out straight when placed on their side and held from the bottom. Try to find spears that are green (or purple/white if shopping for those varieties) throughout. To ensure even cooking, choose bunches with uniform sizes. Thicker spears tend to have a fibrous and unpalatable root end. That being said, nearly all spears have a fibrous root end that will require some trimming—about 1-2 inches.
So how should you cook asparagus? The answer varies mostly by size. Thin, long asparagus spears should be steamed or blanched as when these are roasted, they become floppy and shriveled. Thicker spears, however, can easily withstand roasting or even grilling, while taking on a beautiful new flavor.
One way I love to prepare asparagus is a simple, refreshing, recipe-free, citrus & parmesan blanched method. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and have an ice bath ready. Zest a lemon or two and set aside, then boil asparagus until it is bright, crisp, and tender (about 3 minutes), Then, immediately plunge the spears in the ice bath. Once spears are cold, place them in a large bowl and add fresh lemon juice, and toss in salt and pepper. Remove your spears from the bowl with the lemon juice and arrange on a nice plate and top with good parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon slices. Shaved parmesan is my favorite for this dish, but shredded and grated are also fine. For something extra, add sliced prosciutto.
Asparagus plays nice with other in-season vegetables, including my all-time favorite: Mexican gray squash. Some time back, I put together a recipe for a rich spring vegetable risotto. The two together are a match made in culinary heaven. Enjoy!
Vegetable Risotto
Serves 3-4 | 25 minutes | Intermediate
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups Arborio rice
- ¾ cups white wine
- 1 cup freshly shredded parmesan
- 1 Mexican gray squash, chopped
- 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1” sections
- 1 lb. mushrooms
- 1 cup leek, white part, washed and chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp. olive oil-divided
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
- Red chili flakes (optional)
Heat vegetable broth in a saucepan until almost boiling. Hold at hot temperature. Heat a heavy-bottomed stainless steel pan with 1 tbsp. of olive oil and sauté asparagus and gray squash until asparagus is tender, but not fully cooked (al dente). Meanwhile, in a second pan, sauté mushrooms until most liquid is evaporated, and mushrooms have greatly reduced in size. Once done, place vegetables together in a bowl and set aside. In the pan that the asparagus and squash were sautéed, add 1 tbsp. of butter and a touch of olive oil. Once melted, sauté leek until translucent and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add Arborio rice, stir until each grain appears to be coated. Add white wine, and stir until almost entirely absorbed.
Add one ladle (or ¾-1 cup) of broth to the rice. Stir repeatedly until almost fully absorbed. Repeat one ladle at a time until all broth is used. Once creamy and plump, add parmesan cheese, stir, and return vegetables (with any liquids in bowl) to the risotto. Stir well, let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Top with extra parmesan cheese and red chili flakes.
John Schinkel is a lifelong Fremont resident who completed his culinary education at Laney College in Oakland. He specializes in, and has a passion for, French, Italian, and modern American cuisines. Professionally, he works in nonprofit development. His spare time is spent as President of the Rotary Club of Mission San Jose, Fremont Elks Lodge 2121, and the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation. John resides in Niles with his fiancé, Marty.
BART Public Information Office and VTA Customer Service Center opening soon
Submitted by VTA BART
VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project (BSV) will be opening a new Public Information Office later this year at 2 North Market Street, next to where the future Downtown San José BART Station will be. Members of the BSV Outreach Team will use this office for education and updates to the local community and stakeholders about the progress of the BSV Project and be available to respond to questions and concerns during project construction.
VTA’s Downtown Service center team will move into the same building first in mid-June ultimately relocating with the BSV Information Office at 2 North Market Street. Customer Service representatives will continue to assist transit riders and the community with transit pass sales, including the Regional Transit Connection Discount Card, provide maps and schedules and trip planning and schedule information, return of lost & found items, as well as provide other assistance as needed. VTA selected and leased this location in a regular commercial leasing transaction after the landlord made the space available. Additional BSV offices in Santa Clara and San José near the future 28th St/Little Portugal BART Station are expected to open in the coming years as construction ramps up.
BSV will also implement a local small Business Resource Program (BRP) to help prepare for and respond to major construction. The BRP includes working with the cities and businesses to ensure visibility and access during construction. The program includes signage and wayfinding, a campaign to shop locally, business resource connections and support, and additional assistance for small businesses that meet specific criteria.
Project Background
VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension (Phase II Project) is a six-mile, four-station extension of BART from Berryessa / North San José Station through downtown San José to the City of Santa Clara. The Phase II Project is planned to include an approximately five-mile subway, three stations with underground platforms one ground-level station, a train maintenance and storage facility, and additional facilities.
Castro Valley Unified School District
April 26, 2023
Consent Agenda
- Approve Purchase Order Report for March 23, 2023 through April 14, 2023.
- Approve Budget Adjustments for March 2023.
- Adopt Resolution 56 – 22/23, Disposal of Obsolete and/or Surplus Property.
- Accept donations to the district.
- Approve the appointment of the 2023-2024 representative and alternates to California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) Athletic Leagues.
- Approve 2023/2024 Special Education, Nonpublic, Nonsectarian School/Agency Services Master Contract.
- Approve new Job Description: Maintenance & Operations Supervisor.
President Lavender Whitaker Aye
Michael Kusiak Aye
Dolly Adams Aye
Gary Howard Aye
Sara Raymond Aye
Fremont City Council
May 2, 2023
Consent Calendar
- Amend the Fremont Municipal Planning and Zoning Code to allow market rate residential development projects to defer payment of fees for up to 18 months.
- Authorize a purchase order with Solutions Simplified, for the annual software licenses of the Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) Web Monitoring and Security.
- Authorize an amendment with Alameda County for Homeless Housing and Prevention funds to support the Housing Navigation Center and other services.
- Approve purchase order with Deere & Company for the purchase of two wide area lawn mowers through a cooperative agreement with Sourewell.
- Authorize an agreement with EdeColigny Consulting, LLC, for the planning and development of a city
-wide Strategic Plan to respond to homelessness. - Authorize amendments extending the term of agreement with Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc., to provide Senior Service Coordination Services at Senior Housing Facilities in Fremont through December 2024.
- Authorize a purchase order with ePlus Technology, Inc., for the annual software licenses of the Crowdstrike Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solution.
- Annual review and approval of military equipment possessed and utilized by Fremont Police Department (FPD) for the reporting period of April 2022 to March 2023.
- Authorize an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for the provision of In-Car Video, Body-Worn and Interview Room Camera Systems, Digital Evidence Management System, and Conductive Energy Devices.
- Appropriate additional Railroad/Highway At-Grade Crossing Program federal grant funds from the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Dusterberry Way Safety Improvement Project.
- Authorize the fiscal year 2023/2024 application for Transportation Development Act (TDA) grant funds and accept $322,407 in TDA funds for the 2024 Citywide Class IV Bikeway Enhancement Project.
- Authorize FY 2022/23 Standard Service Amendment with Mission Peak Lodge for temporary use of hotel rooms as winter relief shelter.
- Authorize a federal Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Memorandum of Understanding for the Human Services Department’s Family Resource Center to provide housing stability services in fiscal year 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Mayor Lily Mei Aye
Teresa Cox Aye
Raj Salwan Aye
Yang Shao Aye
Teresa Keng Aye
Jenny Kassan Aye
Desrie Campbell Aye
Hayward inviting commission and task force applications
Submitted by City of Hayward
The City of Hayward has opened its annual recruitment period for applicants to serve on City commissions and Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force (KHCGTF) — with service on these City Council-appointed bodies now open to all residents.
In November 2020, Hayward voters expanded the opportunity to serve through passage of ballot Measure OO. Measure OO amended the City Charter to eliminate wording that had restricted commission and task force appointments to people registered or eligible to be registered to vote — a requirement that had the effect of making non-citizens ineligible.
The application period for appointment in 2023 to city commissions and KHCGTF is now open until Aug. 4 — with vacancies on the Community Services, Library, Personnel and Planning commissions, and on the Keep Hayward Clean and Green Task Force. Meetings of these bodies are currently held in person at Hayward City Hall, 777 B Street, Hayward.
For more information—including a list of all Council-appointed bodies, terms of current members, updated eligibility and service requirements, and an application—go to the appointed bodies webpage on the City of Hayward website, or contact the City Clerk’s Office at
ci*******@ha********.gov
or (510) 583-4400.
Hayward City Council
April 25, 2023
Consent Calendar
- Reject all bids, approve revised plans and specifications, and call for bids for Cesar Chavez Safe Routes to Schools Improvements Project.
- Authorize an agreement with Foster + Freeman to purchase the DCS®5 Fingerprint Imaging Workstation.
- Award a contract to Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc., for the FY23 Pavement Improvement Project.
- Authorize amendment no. 5 increasing the professional services agreement with Pavement Engineering, Inc., to provide engineering services for the FY24 Pavement Improvement Project.
- Authorize a purchase agreement with San Leandro Ford to purchase two vehicles for the Hayward Evaluation and Response Team (HEART) Program.
- Authorize an application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for Transportation Development Act funds in Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
- Adopt resolutions: (1) Awarding a contract to DeSilva Gates Construction for Mission Boulevard Corridor Improvements, and (2) Authorize amendment no. 4 to the professional services agreement with Mark Thomas & Company.
- Accept $30,000 from the Moirao Family Trust – Surviving Spouse’s Trust to be used by the Hayward Animal Shelter for the continued operation of Community Cats Trap, Neuter, and Return Program and to purchase replacement kennels for small animals.
Mayor Mark Salinas Aye
Angela Andrews Aye
Daniel Goldstein Aye
Julie Roche Aye
George Syrop Aye
Francisco Zermeno Aye
Ray Bonilla Aye
Newark Unified School District
May 4, 2023
Consent Agenda
- Personnel Report
- Memorandum of Understanding between CSEA and NUSD: Job Descriptions and Employee Placement
- 2022-23 and 2023-24 NTA Salary Schedules
- Contract renewal: Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
- Contract amendment: Ratcliff Architects for Phase 2 HVAC Project at Newark Jr High School
- Contract amendment: Gelfand Partners Architects for Coyote Hills Elementary School Fence Project
- Contract amendment: RGM Kramer General Planning Services Agreement
- Field trip requests
President Nancy Thomas Aye
Phuong Nguyen Aye
Katherine Jones Aye
Aiden Hill Aye
San Leandro City Council
May 1, 2023
Consent Calendar
- Accept Alameda County Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Program (HHAP) funds and corresponding appropriations in the amount of $500,091 to operate subsidies in new or existing affordable or supportive housing units, emergency shelters, non-congregate shelters, interim or bridge housing, and navigation centers.
- Approve recommendations from City of San Leandro Human Services Commission for Community Assistance Program (CAP) grants for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025.
- Authorize a consulting services agreement with HF&H Consultants, LLC for implementation of a Proposition 218 voting process for proposed stormwater rates.
- Authorize a sewer agency charge billing and collection agreement with East Bay Municipal Utility District to conduct sewer utility commercial account billing services for 10 Years, effective July 1, 2023.
Mayor Juan Gonzalez Aye
Bryan Azevedo Aye
Celina Reynes Aye
Victor Aguilar Aye
Fred Simon Aye
Xouhoa Bowen Aye
Pete Ballew Aye
County of Santa Clara to use drones to Reduce Mosquito Population
Submitted by Santa Clara County Public Affairs Office
The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District this week will begin using unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, to control mosquito larvae along San Francisco Bay and help prevent West Nile virus and other vector-borne diseases.
The district received approval from Santa Clara Board of Supervisors Tuesday, April 18, to use the drones for applying larvicide in non-residential areas. Controlling larval mosquitoes is vital for reducing the mosquito population in the surrounding region.
The primary goal of developing a drone program is to protect public health. It is critical for the district to access and treat marshland and other remote, non-residential areas in Santa Clara County that serve as breeding habitat for mosquitoes, which can transmit West Nile virus and other diseases once they mature. Some mosquitoes found in the Bay Area can fly up to 25 miles once they become adults.
The county’s move to drones for eliminating larval mosquitoes is part of a trend among California vector control agencies.
“The Vector Control District’s new drone program will protect not only public health but also our staff and the surrounding environment,” said Edgar Nolasco, Director of the County’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency. “Applying larvicide with drones is precise and effective and minimizes disruption to the ecosystem along the Bay.”
The use of drones for mosquito control provides many benefits, including:
- Reducing the need for District staff to access difficult terrain and improving employee safety.
- Minimizing impacts on the local ecosystem.
- Precise application of larvicides.
Winter rains create mosquito-breeding habitat. After an exceptionally rainy winter, Santa Clara County has a surplus of stagnant water, creating ample breeding sources for mosquitoes. As a result, the district strongly encourages county residents to eliminate any sources of stagnant water on their properties.
Here are some things you can do to eliminate mosquito-breeding sources on your property:
- Inspect for standing water on a weekly basis.
- Drain or turn over anything that can hold water, such as flowerpots, planter bases, pet dishes, buckets and old tires.
- Clean items like bird baths and pet bowls once a week to remove mosquito eggs.
- Clear debris from rain gutters on a regular basis to allow water to flow.
- Properly screen rain barrels, cisterns and irrigation drains to prevent mosquito access.
- Fix leaky water faucets and broken sprinkler heads and avoid overwatering lawns and plants.
- Ensure swimming pool water levels are adequate for proper circulation and filtration.
- Contact the district if you are being bothered by mosquitoes or know of a potential mosquito-breeding source.
Residents can also request free mosquitofish, which eat mosquito larvae, to place in neglected pools or spas, ornamental ponds, water troughs and other artificial bodies of water. For more information on the County’s mosquitofish program, visit www.sccvector.org/mosquitofish.
Alameda County Fire Department Log
Submitted By ACFD
Thursday, April 27
- At 6:00 a.m. fire engines were dispatched to a single call of smoke showing from a residence on College Street in San Lorenzo. The fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported.
- At 8:40 p.m. Battalions 7 & 2, Rescue 24 & 224, E26, UTV 26, and E333 responded to a large animal rescue in Union City. There was a report of a horse who fell approximately 40 yards down an embankment and ended up in a creek.
Alameda County Fire Department Chipper Program
Submitted by City of Union City
The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) is offering a free community chipping service to assist residents in reducing vegetation by helping with the chipping of material produced in amounts too large for green bins and too small for commercial chipping providers.
WHAT CAN I CHIP?
Only vegetation can be chipped. Tree limbs, brush, shrubs, and small trees up to 8” diameter. No grass, hay, leaves, or individual pieces weighing more than 80 pounds. No staples, nails, barbed wire, vines, or fencing of any kind.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?
Neighborhoods are encouraged to organize to schedule a day for chipping. This will dramatically incr
ease the effectiveness of the program by reducing travel time from site to site.
WILL ACFD CUT THE VEGETATION I WANT REMOVED?
No. The ACFD will chip material that has already been cut and stacked by the roadside
Send an email to
On**********@ac***.org
or call (510) 632-3473 extension 1190 or (925) 833-3473 extension 1190.
Check your eligibility and schedule a pick up at www.fire.acgov.org/chipper-program/
Learn more about the Chipper Program at acgov.org.
ACFD Chipper Program
Saturday, May 20
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
www.fire.acgov.org/chipper-program/
BART Log
Submitted by BART PD and Les Mensinger
Saturday, April 29
- At 9:00 p.m. a man identified by police as Jonathan Mejiamartinez, 30, of San Leandro was contacted for fare evasion at Bay Fair station and arrested for resisting arrest.
Sunday, April 30
- At 9:22 p.m. a man identified by police as Davis Morganfoglia, 26, of Grass Valley was arrested at Bay Fair station and booked into the Santa Rita Jail for an outstanding warrant.
Monday, May 1
- At 2:25 p.m. a man identified by police as Anthony Butler, 24, of Stockton was contacted for fare evasion at Milpitas station. Butler was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose for an outstanding warrant.
Tuesday, May 2
- At 6:47 a.m. a man identified by police as Joseph Pulido, 35, of Richmond was contacted on the train. Pulido was arrested at Fremont station and booked into Alameda County Jail in Dublin for battery.
- At 8:50 a.m. a woman identified by police as Lizabeth Sanders, 39, of Oakland was contacted as she was exiting San Leandro station. Sanders was arrested and booked into Alameda County Jail in Dublin for battery.
Wednesday, May 3
- At 8:02 p.m. a man identified by police as Robert Chavarria, 53, was taken into custody at Bay Fair station and booked into Alameda County Jail in Dublin for violation of the Sex Offender Registration Act.
- At 9:08 a.m. a man identified by police as Anthonio Riley, 28, of San Francisco was contacted for fare evasion at Bay Fair station. Riley was arrested and booked into Alameda County Jail in Dublin for narcotic and drug paraphernalia possession.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Fremont Police Department
Friday, April 28
- At approximately 8:19 p.m., Fremont police dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls regarding a collision involving a vehicle and a motorcycle at the intersection of Blacow Rd and Hilo St. Witnesses advised the involved vehicle left the scene after the collision. When officers arrived, they located two people lying on the roadway, the motorcyclist and motorcycle passenger. The motorcycle’s passenger succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Witnesses provided a description of the suspect vehicle and the direction of travel. Officers located the suspect vehicle and the driver near Grimmer and Blacow Rd. The driver was detained and taken into custody.
Monday, May 1
- At approximately 1:16 p.m., Fremont police responded to a collision involving three vehicles at the intersection of Paseo Padre Pkwy and Mowry Ave. Officers arrived on the scene and found one driver unresponsive inside their vehicle. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away. The other two drivers remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation. Fremont Police Traffic investigators are investigating the cause of the collision.
Anyone witnessing the collision or with information regarding this collision, please contact Fremont Police Traffic Unit at (510) 790-6760. We also accept anonymous tips. Text ‘Tip FremontPD followed by your short message to 888-777 or via the web at https://www.fremontpolice.gov/i-want-to/submit-a-non-urgent-tip
Milpitas Fire Department Log
Submitted by Milpitas Fire Department
Sunday, April 30
- At 1:55 p.m. Milpitas Fire responded to a report of a structure fire located at the 300 Block of Boulder Street. Upon arrival at 1:59 p.m., Engine 88 quickly extinguished the fire located adjacent the structure with a loss stop order received within 3 minutes. Damage to the structure is minor and cause is under investigation by the Fire Prevention Division. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400.
Milpitas Police Log
Submitted by Milpitas Police Department
Friday, April 28
- At 2:42 p.m. an unidentified male suspect placed an incendiary device near the front doors of a bank at the 740 Block of East Calaveras Boulevard. After placing the device on the ground and lighting it on fire, the suspect fled in a newer maroon Honda Accord. Fortunately, the device was extinguished before anyone was injured or property was damaged.
Monday, May 1
- At about 10:15 a.m. detectives from Milpitas Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit located and arrested Luis Atangan, 41, of San Jose resident and arson registrant. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for attempted arson and possession of an incendiary device. The motive behind the incident remains under investigation.
Thursday, May 4
- An officer found a stolen U-Haul truck from San Jose in the parking lot of Great Mall. With the assistance of detectives from the Criminal Investigations Bureau, a 52, male and 45, female from San Jose were arrested. Both had stolen property they had taken from a nearby business. The male was booked into jail for poss
ession of a stolen vehicle with prior theft convictions, possession of stolen property, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, and a no-bail felony warrant for a probation violation. The female was booked into jail for theft-related charges and an unrelated theft warrant out of Palo Alto.
California ninth grader stabbed by classmate, school says
Associated Press
A San Francisco Bay Area ninth-grader is in police custody after stabbing a fellow ninth-grader Tuesday, April 23 a school superintendent said.
The two students attended Northgate High School and are acquaintances, said Adam Clark, superintendent of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, in a statement.
The injured student is recovering at a hospital. The student’s medical condition was not disclosed.
Clark said no other students were involved, and they are back in class. The incident happened around 1 p.m.
The Walnut Creek Police Department said in a statement this was an isolated incident and that other students and staff are not in danger. Officers are conducting an investigation.
Cal State East Bay Water Polo takes 3rd at WWPA Championships
Submitted by Cal State East Bay Athletics Communications
Cal State East Bay (CSUEB) women’s water polo played in the third-place match at the WWPA Championship as they took on Fresno Pacific. In the second overtime, the Pioneers broke a 10-10 tie with two goals en route to a 12-10 victory to cap off the season.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Daniela Passoni and Hope Grantham received WWPA 1st Team All-Tournament honors while Rachel Heredia received WWPA All-Tournament 2nd Team recognition.
The Pioneers had two goals in the opening quarter with one each Rachel Heredia and Luna Sarmiento as CSUEB and the Sunbirds were tied at 2-2.
FPU scored the first two goals of the second quarter, but the Pioneers responded with three consecutive goals. Two were from Jordan Jarandson and one was from Grantham. The Sunbirds scored a goal before the end of the quarter and sent the teams into halftime even at 5-5.
While FPU took a lead early in the third quarter, the Pioneers scored four of the next five goals to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth quarter. Sarmiento scored two of the goals, Grantham had one and Hannah Peercy scored a goal in the third quarter.
FPU came back to tie the match at 9-9 in the fourth quarter. While Grantham scored to put the Pioneers ahead 10-9 with 2:30 remaining in regulation, the Sunbirds tied the game with 1:58 left on a goal from Rosemary Chapman.
The first overtime session was scoreless. In the second overtime frame, Elise Whitworth broke the tie with a strike with 2:13 left. Sarmiento added the insurance goal with 1:19 left for the final tally of the season toward a 12-10 victory for third place.
Notable Stats
- Sarmiento finished the match with four goals and two assists.
- Grantham had three goals and one assist.
- Heredia had four assists.
- In net, Passoni made a season-high 20 saves. For her career, she has 1,169 saves as a member of the Pioneers and one of only two goalkeepers in program history with over 1,000 saves.
- In 2023, Cal State East Bay head coach Lisa Cooper completed her 21st season directing the program has 327 wins.
- Fresno Pacific outshot Cal State East Bay 37-22 and won all six opening sprints.
Castro Valley Volleyball defeated in NCS Playoffs
By Andrew Joseph
The Castro Valley Trojans boys’ volleyball team ends their momentous season falling to the Granada Matadors 3-2 at home on Thursday, May 4 in the quarterfinals of the Division 1 North Coast Section (NCS) playoffs.
This heartbreaking loss ends a five-game winning streak by the Trojans, who beat Granada twice earlier during the regular season. Castro Valley finishes the season at second place in the Western Alameda County Conference (WACC) league and first place, at 14-1, in the NCS Division 1 league standings. Their 31-4 final overall record this season is a huge improvement from last year’s 19-8 finish.
“I told our team to play with joy today and be thankful to be playing in this position,” said Castro Valley head coach Eric Unti. “It’s hard in these moments to feel successful because our goal is to go all the way to the finals and win NCS, but we’ve come farther than we did last season.”
In the first set, the Trojans had a 12-7 lead but Granada fought back and tied at 17-17 later in the set. The Matadors went on an 8-4 run to end the first set and won 25-21 to lead the game 1-0. Castro Valley fought hard in the second set going through multiple lead changes towards the end of the set. The score was tied at 25, but the Trojans went on a 4-2 run capped off by a strong hit from Michael Ly to win the set 29-27 to tie the game at 1-1.
“Our serve receive was good all game, but the reason there were so many lead changes was that we were off and on with finishing,” said Trojans senior Nathan Yee.
Castro Valley jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third set, but Granada tied it up at 6-6. There were a total of five tie scores during the set including a 5-0 run by the Trojans to make it a 25-25 score. Granada capitalized off of mistakes made by Castro Valley in the clutch as the Trojans hit a serve out of bounds with a 29-28 lead and the opportunity to win the set. Castro Valley did not score again after that lead
change and Granada won the third set 31-29 to take a 2-1 lead in the game.
On the brink of elimination, the Trojans got their first lead in the fourth set by going up 6-5. There were a total of six lead changes during that set, and after a great power hit by Trojans’ Lukas Winn to tie the set at 10-10, they never looked back going on a 15-10 run win the fourth set by a score of 25-20 to tie the game at 2-2.
“We thought we were going to win this game for sure, but it didn’t turn out that way,” said Winn. “During the fifth set Granada had an early lead and we continued to fight back. As a team I think we left it all on the floor tonight and everyone gave it all they had.”
Granada opened the final set with a 4-1 lead, but Castro Valley came back and tied the set at 15-15 when Alexander Cmelak struck a great hit. The Trojans never took a lead and the Matadors won the set 18-16 with a clutch performance to win the game 3-2.
Castro Valley’s loss to Granada marks just their second defeat at home this year and this one came at the wrong time, ending their aspirations of winning the NCS title and heading to the state playoffs. They have won and placed in multiple tournaments this season making this a memorable year. Granada advances to play Foothill in the NCS semifinals in Pleasanton on Tuesday, May 9. The Trojans hope to build off their momentum from this season to come back next year bigger and better.
“We have a lot of young talent coming up and some players coming in through the transfer portal,” said Winn. “I think we’re going to have a lot of potential next year and we are going to do really good and surpass what we did this year.”
Mission Valley Athletic League Track and Field Final
By Eric Donato
James Logan High School hosted the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) Track and Field Championship in Union City Saturday, May 6. The MVAL is one of the three subdivisions that roll up to the North Coast-Bayshore Division, the other two leagues include Tri-County Athletic and West Alameda County Conference.
Despite the overcast and intermittent rain, the MVAL track meet was an exciting all-day final covering 17 men’s and women’s track and field events, with the competitions at both the varsity and freshman-sophomore levels. The MVAL participating schools at the weekend final were American, Irvington, John F. Kennedy, Mission San Jose, and Washington, all of Fremont, James Logan (Union City), Moreau Catholic (Hayward), Newark Memorial.
James Logan ranked first in the MVAL finals at the varsity level with an aggregate score of 37 points. Moreau Catholic earned second place with 21 points. Irvington and Washington shared the third position, both winning 18 points. The freshman-sophomore men’s top scores went to Moreau Catholic, 35 pts, followed by Newark Memorial, 22 pts and Mission San Jose, 18 pts.
Mission San Jose did exceptionally well, placing first in both the women’s varsity and freshman-sophomore events, winning 36 and 28 points, respectively. Rounding out the second and third places for women’s varsity were James Logan, 33 pts and Washington, 25 pts. The freshman-sophomore second place was shared by Newark Memorial and James Logan, 20 pts, while Moreau Catholic took third, 16 pts.
Notable first-place individual performances were:
100 Meters Finals:
Men’s Varsity: Bryce Thomas, Moreau Catholic (11.11)
Women’s Varsity: Nyarah Anderson-Brown, James Logan (12.53)
Men’s Frosh/Soph: Darren Chu, Moreau Catholic (11.89)
Women’s Frosh/Soph: Ava Wiggins, Newark Memorial (13.38)
3200 Meters Finals:
Men’s Varsity: Jacob Hupke, Moreau Catholic (9:54.42)
Women’s Varsity: Ava Irwin, Newark Memorial (12:00.94)
Men’s Frosh/Soph: Kenji Kawabata, Newark Memorial (10:46.88)
Women’s Frosh/Soph: Rahwa Fekadu, Newark Memorial (13:08.15)
The MVAL finals event winners advance to the North Coast Section Bayshore Championships Saturday, May 13 at Hayward High School.
For a full list of results, visit https://bit.ly/42mBc9C. To search for individual results, visit Diablotiming.com, click on Results and search for the meet by date, then individual event.
Visual Odyssey
Submitted by Winifred Thompson
Hayward Area Recreation and park District (H.A.R.D.) will be holding a reception at their district office for artist Gerald Thompson on Tuesday, May 16. Twenty-seven works will be on display, and proceeds from sales will go to the H.A.R.D. Foundation.
After the reception, the exhibit will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is free to attend.
Visual Odyssey Artist Reception
Tuesday, May 16
4:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
H.A.R.D. District Office
1099 E St., Hayward
(510) 514-5722
thehardfoundation.org
Cantabella Children’s Chorus
Submitted by Denise Leddon
Cantabella Children’s Chorus performs Inversions in concert Saturday, May 13 at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. In celebration of Mother’s Day, Cantabella Artistic Director Clement Cano selected the Inversions theme to honor women, presenting many pieces representing female artistry.
Cano shared the meaning of the Inversions theme, “The root musical chord represents the status quo of majority male composers highlighted throughout the centuries and when you invert the chord you get a different color or feel – basically turning the status quo upside down by presenting majority female composers, poets, lyricists, and arrangers.”
The range of music selected provides appeal to a broad audience. Cano, expressed great enthusiasm when he spoke about the music of female composers for the upcoming Inversions performance. “Measure Me, Sky! by Elaine Hagenberg has a great sense of flying and living aspirations represented in the music. Wan
ting Memories (Ysaye M. Barnwell) relatively simplistic nature with luscious melodies has tremendous impact for longing for family and memories. Past Life Melodies (Sarah Hopkins) has no lyrics concentrating on pure raw singing producing visceral sounds and emotions. Ķekatu dziesma (Carnival Song), despite its whimsical text, the choir was up to this difficult piece that pushed and challenged our singers”. Our choirs also perform outright fun pieces. Little Fish, Big Name (Phyllis White) will delight the audience with its rhymes and catchy tune for the little fish with the big, long Hawaiian name.
Cantabella Children’s Chorus is an international award-winning choir having won the top Grand Prix award at the July 2019 World Youth Choral Festival and Competition, South Korea, before the pandemic.
Be sure to invite your mom and friends to this family event in honor of Mother’s Day. Introduce your child to a life-long joy to use their own voice. The 1 p.m. concert features Cantabella’s young talented elementary school-age choristers. The 4 p.m. concert features middle and high school-age award-winning choristers.
Youth tickets $2. Adult tickets $28/$38. Tickets are online www.livermorearts.org or at the door at the Bankhead Theater, or directly from www.cantabella.org.
Cantabella Children’s Chorus
Saturday, May 13
1 p.m.
4 p.m.
Bankhead Theatre
2400 First Street, Livermore
(925) 373-6800
Tickets: Adults $28-$38; Youth $2
4 dangers that most worry AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton
By David Hamilton, Associated Press
Geoffrey Hinton, an award-winning computer scientist known as the “godfather of artificial intelligence,” is having some serious second thoughts about the fruits of his labors. Hinton helped pioneer AI technologies critical to a new generation of highly capable chatbots such as ChatGPT. But in recent interviews, he says that he recently resigned a high-profile job at Google specifically to share his concerns that unchecked AI development could pose danger to humanity. “I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us,” he said in an interview with MIT Technology Review. ”I think they’re very close to it now and they will be much more intelligent than us in the future…. How do we survive that?” Hinton is not alone in his concerns. Shortly after the Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI released its latest AI model called GPT-4 in March, more than 1,000 researchers and technologists signed a letter calling for a six-month pause on AI development because, they said, it poses “profound risks to society and humanity.” Here’s a look at Hinton’s biggest concerns about the future of AI … and humanity.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE NEURAL NETWORKS
Our human brains can solve calculus equations, drive cars and keep track of the characters in “Succession” thanks to their native talent for organizing and storing information and reasoning out solutions to thorny problems. The roughly 86 billion neurons packed into our skulls – and, more important, the 100 trillion connections those neurons forge among themselves – make that possible. By contrast, the technology underlying ChatGPT features between 500 billion and a trillion connections, Hinton said in the interview. While that would seem to put it at a major disadvantage relative to us, Hinton notes that GPT-4, the latest AI model from OpenAI, knows “hundreds of times more” than any single human. Maybe, he suggests, it has a ”much better learning algorithm” than we do, making it more efficient at cognitive tasks.
AI MAY ALREADY BE SMARTER THAN US
Researchers have long noted that artificial neural networks take much more time to absorb and apply new knowledge than people do, since training them requires tremendous amounts of both energy and data. That’s no longer the case, Hinton argues, noting that systems like GPT-4 can learn new things very quickly once properly trained by researchers. That’s not unlike the way a trained professional physicist can wrap her brain around new experimental findings much more quickly than a typical high school science student could. That leads Hinton to the conclusion that AI systems might already be outsmarting us. Not only can AI systems learn things faster, he notes, they can also share copies of their knowledge with each other almost instantly. “It’s a completely different form of intelligence,” he told the publication. “A new and better form of intelligence.”
WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS
What would smarter-than-human AI systems do? One unnerving possibility is that malicious individuals, groups or nation-states might simply co-opt them to further their own ends. Hinton is particularly concerned that these tools could be trained to sway elections and even to wage wars. Election misinformation spread via AI chatbots, for instance, could be the future version of election misinformation spread via Facebook and other social media platforms. And that might just be the beginning. “Don’t think for a moment that Putin wouldn’t make hyper-intelligent robots with the goal of killing Ukrainians,” Hinton said in the article. “He wouldn’t hesitate.”
A SHORTAGE OF SOLUTIONS
What’s not clear is how anyone would stop a power like Russia from using AI technology to dominate its neighbors or its own citizens. Hinton suggests that a global agreement similar to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention might be a good first step toward establishing international rules against weaponized AI. Though it’s also worth noting that the chemical weapons compact did not stop what investigators found were likely Syrian attacks using chlorine gas and the nerve agent sarin against civilians in 2017 and 2018 during the nation’s bloody civil war.
Hate passwords? You’re in luck – Google is sidelining them
By David Hamilton, Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP), May 3 — Good news for all the password-haters out there: Google has taken a big step toward making them an afterthought by adding “passkeys” as a more straightforward and secure way to log into its services. Here’s what you need to know:
WHAT ARE PASSKEYS?
Passkeys offer a safer alternative to passwords and texted confirmation codes. Users won’t ever see them directly; instead, an online service like Gmail will use them to communicate directly with a trusted device such as your phone or computer to log you in. All you’ll have to do is verify your identity on the device using a PIN unlock code, biometrics such as your fingerprint or a face scan or a more sophisticated physical security dongle. Google designed its passkeys to work with a variety of
devices, so you can use them on iPhones, Macs and Windows computers as well as Google’s own Android phones.
WHY ARE PASSKEYS NECESSARY?
Thanks to clever hackers and human fallibility, passwords are just too easy to steal or defeat. And making them more complex just opens the door to users defeating themselves. For starters, many people choose passwords they can remember – and easy-to- recall passwords are also easy to hack. For years, analysis of hacked password caches found that the most common password in use was “password123.” A more recent study by the password manager NordPass found that it’s now just “password. ” This isn’t fooling anyone. Passwords are also frequently compromised in security breaches. Stronger passwords are more secure, but only if you choose ones that are unique, complex and non-obvious. And once you’ve settled on “erVex411$%” as your password, good luck remembering it. In short, passwords put security and ease of use directly at odds. Software- based password managers, which can create and store complex passwords for you, are valuable tools that can improve security. But even password managers have a master password you need to protect, and that plunges you back into the swamp. In addition to sidestepping all those problems, passkeys have one additional advantage over passwords. They’re specific to particular websites, so scammer sites can’t steal a passkey from a dating site and use it to raid your bank account.
HOW DO I START USING PASSKEYS?
First step is to enable them for your Google account. On any trusted phone or computer, open the browser and sign into your Google account. Then visit the page g.co/passkeys and click the option to “start using passkeys.” Voila! The passkey feature is now activated for that account. If you’re on an Apple device, you’ll first be prompted to set up the Keychain app if you’re not already using it; it securely stores passwords and now passkeys as well. Next step is to create the actual passkeys that will connect your trusted device. If you’re using an Android phone that’s already logged into your Google account, you’re most of the way there; Android phones are automatically ready to use passkeys, though you still have to enable the function first. On the same Google account page noted above, look for the “Create a passkey” button. Pressing it will open a window and let you create a passkey either on your current device or on another device. There’s no wrong choice; the system will simply notify you if that passkey already exists. If you’re on a PC that can’t create a passkey, it will open a QR code that you can scan with the ordinary cameras on iPhones and Android devices. You may have to move the phone closer until the message “Set up passkey” appears on the image. Tap that and you’re on your way.
AND THEN WHAT?
From that point on, signing into Google will only require you to enter your email address. If you’ve gotten passkeys set up properly, you’ll simply get a message on your phone or other device asking you for your fingerprint, your face or a PIN. Of course, your password is still there. But if passkeys take off, odds are good you won’t be needing it very much. You may even choose to delete it from your account someday.
YouTube prankster testifies about video that got him shot
By Matthew Barakat, Associated Press
LEESBURG, Va., (AP), May 3 — Tanner Cook’s prank videos were known to security guards at Dulles Town Center, a mall in northern Virginia where Cook sometimes found his unsuspecting targets. And the content creator was known to law enforcement. The sheriff’s deputy who found Cook shot and bleeding outside the mall last month said he recognized Cook immediately. But Cook’s pranks were unfamiliar, confusing and frustrating to Alan Colie, the man charged with shooting Cook while he and his team surrounded Colie last month for their latest joke.
Cook, who has more than 50,000 subscribers to his “Classified Goons” prank channel on YouTube, testified for the first time Wednesday about the shooting inside the mall, which prompted a massive police response and panic from callers reporting an active shooter. Cook, 21, acknowledged that he and a cohort approached Colie at the mall’s food court while two others filmed the prank from a short distance away. Cook described the prank as playing “funny words” on a Google translate app and watching Colie’s confused reaction. On cross-examination, he acknowledged that he stuck his phone about six inches (15 centimeters) from Colie’s face while the translate app repeated the phrase “Hey dips—, stop thinking about my sparkle” in English and Spanish.
Colie backed away from the 6-foot-5 Cook (196 cm), who kept advancing toward Colie even as Colie said “no” and “stop” and pushed Cook’s arm away. Then, Cook said, when the two were separated by a small distance, Colie pulled out a handgun and shot him in the abdomen. “I was kind of in shock,” Cook testified Wednesday at Colie’s preliminary hearing in Loudoun County General District Court. ”I had to double check I was shot because I didn’t feel anything at first.” Cook fled the food court, and eventually collapsed outside a Cheesecake Factory when he thought he’d reached safety. That’s where sheriff’s deputies found him and took him to the hospital. Cook said the shooting ruptured his liver and left him scarred.
Deputies found Colie in the food court, where he surrendered peacefully. The charges against him include aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is in jail as he awaits trial. His lawyer, Adam Pouilliard, argued Wednesday that Colie’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances. Cook “is making money by causing fear” in those he targets, Pouilliard said. “We know these pranks are designed to generate confusion and frustration. And they do just that.”
Prosecutor Eden Holmes said there was nothing reasonable about Colie’s response to the prank. “They were holding cellphones, not weapons,” she said of Cook and his associates. Cook said he’s been posting pranks online for about a year. He said he was trying to avoid mall security while he filmed the prank on Colie because they had confronted him in the past. A survey of his YouTube channel finds a series of off-putting stunts, like pretending to vomit on Uber drivers and following unsuspecting customers through department stores.
He said his goal in posting the videos is “to bring people who are watching some kind of relief” and that many of his viewers “like when people get frustrated on camera.” The judge at Wednesday’s hearing found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for an indictment. He acknowledged that the evidence shows Cook was “perhaps acting in an obnoxious manner” but said that fact alone “does not justify the use of deadly force.”
Continuing Events:
Tuesdays
Poker Tournaments
6:00 pm
Weekly tournaments for beginner or a seasoned
player
The Clubhouse Bistro & Bar
4020 Technology Pl., Fremont
(510) 651-2500
bit.ly/3GllRwI
First and Third Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Trivia Night
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Gather your team, grab some beers, & compete to win prizes.
Drake’s Brewing Company
1933 Davis St. #177, San Leandro
(510) 568-2739
bit.ly/3U31xWD
Wednesdays
Tropics Bingo
7:00 pm
Flash games
Tropics Mobile Home Park
33000 Almaden Blvd., Union City
(510) 471-8550
Wednesdays
Zumba Gold $
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workout while dancing
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Wednesdays
Ping Pong
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Activities for people with Parkinson
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
mt*****@fr*****.gov
Wednesdays
Trivia Night R$
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Play & win prizes.
The Clubhouse Bistro & Bar
4020 Technology Pl., Fremont
(510) 651-2500
fremontclubhouse.com
Thursdays
International Folk Dancing in Mandarin R$
11:30 am – 12:50 pm
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Thursdays
Chair Yoga R
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Breathing and stretching techniques
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Thursdays
Chronic Pain Support Group
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Group guidance from Stanford Pain Management
For zoom link:
ag************@fr*****.gov
Clinic (510) 790 – 6600
Thursdays
Mahjong
1:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Chinese game of strategy, skill, & good fortune. Multipurpose Room
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Second Thursdays
Diaper Distribution Program
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Diaper and wipes for low-income household
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/3VAVtFz
Thursdays & Saturdays
Story Time
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Picture book story time
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste.F., Fremont
(510) 565-1004
bit.ly/3VFpbcz
Thursday -Sunday
Animal Feeding
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Feed livestock and learn about their favorite food
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
Second Thursdays, December 8 – June 8
Cover to Cover Book Discussion
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
bit.ly/3p3Iq3i
Fridays and Saturdays
Telescope Viewings
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Experience the awe and wonder of the universe
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
bit.ly/3pehdLx
Saturdays
Laugh Track City $
8:00 pm
Series of improvised games and scenes
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
bit.ly/3HKIhsa
First and Third Saturdays
Pacific Bus Museum $
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Open house
Pacific Bus Museum
37974 Shinn St., Fremont
bit.ly/41oKS25
Saturdays & Sundays
Recreational Swim $
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Activity pool, waterslides, lazy river, and more
Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 578-4620
bit.ly/3nxo0is
Second Saturday
Volunteer Work Party R
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Tackle the projects that benefit from group effort.
LEAF CR Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
bit.ly/3LDQa3H, bit.ly/42sbWy7
Volunteer Agreement need to be completed
Second Saturdays
Alviso Adobe Tours $
1:00 pm
Docent-led tours and video presentation
Alviso Adobe Park
2087 Alviso Adobe Ct., Milpitas
(408) 586-3210
bit.ly/3Wcmgau
Second & Fourth Sundays
Larry “O” Teen Workshop
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Bike repair
Larry Orozco Teen Workshop
33623 Mission Blvd., Union City
(510) 675-5487
Donation accepted
Mondays & Thursdays
Fruit Tree Gleaning
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Donate fresh fruits from your garden.
LEAF CR Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
bit.ly/42e4FlR
Wednesdays, December 7 – November 22
Qi Gong Meditation & Exercise Classes
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Relieve Stress and anxiety by joining Falun Dafa classes
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
Wednesdays, February 15 – June 7
Youth basketball clinic R
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Free Basketball clinic for Hayward students ages 12 – 17
Matt Jimenez Community Center
28200 Russ Rd., Hayward
(510) 887-0400
hayward-ca.gov/pal
Second and Third weekends, March 11 – October 29
Public weekend train ride $
9:30 am – 5:00 pm
1.5 hour round trip on steam and/or diesel operated trains
Departures: 10:30 am & 1:00 pm
Niles Canyon Railway
6 Kikare Rd., Sunol
(510) 996-8420
Online booking: ncry.org
Tuesdays, April 4 – September 5
Lego & Duplo Time
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Create your own design using your imagination & engineering skills.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Wednesdays, April 5 – September 6
Board Game Night
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Play board games with family, friends, or make new friends
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Thursday – Sunday, April 6 – May 27
Member Juried Show
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Olive Hyde Art Gallery
123 Washington Blvd., Fremont
(510) 791-4357
bit.ly/42vhqYP
Fridays, April 7 – May 12
Tech Literacy for Seniors
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Email/website navigation/internet searching/smart phone basics/safety online
Cherryland Community Center
278 Hampton Road, Hayward
(510) 626-8522
bit.ly/3TWpFKE
Second Saturdays, April 8 – December 9
Ohlone College Flea Market
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
(510) 659-6285
Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
bit.ly/3lSRWFg
Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays, April 13 – June 30
Historic Days
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Involve in activities like ride a train, tour the museum & more
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
Monday, April 17 – December 8
Job Lab
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
One-on-one help for jobseekers
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
bit.ly/3mbW8Qz
Mondays, April 17 – May 22
STEM Building with LEGO for Grade K – 8th
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Build anything using your creativity & engineering skills
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main
St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
bit.ly/3KgiM2j
Mondays, April 24 – May 22
Modern Brush Pen Calligraphy $
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
The basics of using, holding, & writing with brush pens & more
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
nj*****@fr*****.gov
Monday – Thursday, April 24 – May 11
2023 Annual Ohlone College Juried Student Art Exhibition
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Free & open to public
Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
ohlone.edu/artgallery
Fridays & Saturdays, April 25 – August 31
Your Wildest Dreams exhibit
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Wildlife paintings by Rita Sklar
Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center
4901 Breakwater Ave., Hayward
(510) 670-7270
haywardrec.org
Wednesdays, April 26 – September 6
Manitas en Acción
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Reading out loud, learning about the culture, & other hands-on crafts in Spanish
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, April 28 – May 21
Six Degrees of Separations by John Guare R$
Shows: Fri & Sat: 8:00 pm
Sun: 2:00 pm
Student night: Thu, May 18: 7:30 pm
Chanticleers Theatre
3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 733-5483
bit.ly/3LjFsk7
Tuesday – Saturday, May 2 – June 24
“Hawaiians in Hayward”
During library hours
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage art exhibit
Hayward Public Library, 2nd floor
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/4142uQr
Thursdays, May 4 – August 24
French Conversation Circle R
2:00 pm – 3:45 pm
Practice your French Meeting Room C (Medium Room)
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/HPLFrench23
**@ha********.gov
Fridays, May 5 – October 20
Fremont Street Eats $
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Food trucks and community fun!
Fremont Downtown Event Center
3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont
(510) 742-7510
bit.ly/2VfuSgv
Saturdays, May 6 – May 13
Volunteer Docent Training R
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Training includes leading activities & events, crafts, games, and cooking, demonstrations, and more. Ages 16+
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Register:(510) 544-3284
Wednesday – Tuesday, May 10 – July 18
A Thread Through Time
During Senior Center hours
Textile Art by Anita Carse
Hayward Area Senior Center
22325 North 3rd Street, Hayward
(510) 881-6700
bit.ly/423u8hH
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, May 9
After-School Movie Time
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
The Boss Baby
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/42aWB5l
Tuesday, May 9
Covid & Flu Vaccine Clinic R
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Call (510) 268-2101
Text VAX to (855) 315-1373
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
bit.ly/3p4z0EF
Appointments suggested but not required
Tuesday, May 9
Media Literacy Workshop R
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Workshop on the tools & techniques for consuming information
Fremont Main Library, Fukaya Room A
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
bit.ly/411iim
Tuesday, May 9
AWC Cinemas R
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Enjoy the screening of “King Richard”
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
nj*****@fr*****.gov
Wednesday, May 10
Auditions for Fall Show 2023 R
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Auditions for “The Government Inspector” adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, originally by Nikolai Gogol
Smith Center, Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
bit.ly/42bnPIN
Wednesday, May 10
Storytime & Craft
8:45 am – 10:00 am
Storytime, crafts, & a play area for kids. Free to attend. Food for purchase
Chick-fil-A Mowry Avenue
5245 Mowry Ave., Fremont
(510) 608-5771
bit.ly/3p8NQtW
Wednesday, May 10
Stem Crafts: Coffee Filter Flowers
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Celebrate Mother’s Day by making a bouquet of coffee filter flower. Ages 5+
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
bit.ly/3p8BKkG
fr**************@ac*******.org
Thursday, May 11
Fremont accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance update meeting
7:00 pm
Public hearing regarding the proposed updates to the ordinance
Fremont City Hall
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
(510) 494 -4449
bit.ly/42oh7zg
jw*****@fr*****.gov
Thursday, May 11
Spring Pest Management R
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Organic Gardening Webinar
bit.ly/3VyXjXM
Thursday, May 11
Age well/Drive smart R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Senior Driver Traffic Safety Seminar
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
Register: (510) 667-7900.
Friday, May 12
Tissue Paper Flower Craft
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Make beautiful tissue paper flowers
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/3VwLgKg
Friday, May 12
Live Music R
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
An evening of free live music with Guam native, Rafael Unplugged
The Clubhouse Bistro & Bar
4020 Technology Pl., Fremont
(510) 651-2500
bit.ly/3LxtkLe
Friday, May 12
Sing for Spring
7:00 pm
A free concert featuring The MFMII Kids Choir
Niles elementary School
37141 Second St., Fremont
(510) 793-1145
musicforminors2.org
Friday, May 12
Tissue Paper Flower Craft
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Make beautiful tissue paper flowers
Hayward Public Library, John Pappas Legacy Room
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/3VwLgKg
Friday, May 12
Nocturnal: Climate Conversations $R
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Presentation on ocean acidification, nature hike, and how climate change is affecting native ocean animals
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
bit.ly/44wSt0W
Friday, May 12
AAPI Heritage month art showcase
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Showcasing artwork by local artists & community members of all ages
Studio 11
34626 11th St., Union City
(510) 675-5825
bit.ly/3VAigkN
Friday, May 12
Mother’s Day celebration & fundraising event $R
6:00 pm
Hosted by Afghan Elderly Association
Century House and Gardens
37447 Fremont Blvd., Fremont
(510) 574-2059
Saturday, May 13
Watercolor Workshop R
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
All supplies provided
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
bit.ly/3HI4hDT
Register by May 12
Saturday, May 13
Music and Dance of West Java
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pusaka Sunda,a gamelan degung ensemble led by master musician Burhan Sukarma
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
bit.ly/3VBfZWU
Saturday, May 13
Batastic Bats R
8:15 am – 9:30 am
Discover how bats help the ecosystem & how we can protect them. Ages 3+
Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3245
bit.ly/3p8ohcs
Parking fee applies
Saturday, May 13
Yappy Hour $
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Dog vendors and info. from doggy clothes to daycare facilities
Drake’s Brewing Company
1933 Davis St. #177, San Leandro
(510) 568-2739
bit.ly/41bXpW9
Saturday, May 13
Visit McConaghy House
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Self-guided tours of the first & second floors
McConaghy House
18701 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
(510) 581-0223
bit.ly/3LY94Uu
Saturday, May 13
Garden Tea Party R
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Nectar Garden Tea party. Ages 6+
Coyote Hills Visitors Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
RSVP: (510) 544-3220
bit.ly/3LVsgls
Parking fee applies
Saturday, May 13
Clothespin Dolls
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Create your own doll using clothespins in a traditional way
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
bit.ly/3ASwq7s
Ardenwood admission fee applies
Saturday, May 13
City of Newark – Public Art Master Plan
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
A multi-phase, citywide project that will guide future expenditures & strengthen the city’s overall public art program.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
bit.ly/3VB6Q08
Saturday, May 13
Ohlone Cultures Info Table
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Learn about the rich cultural history of the first people in the area
Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3245
bit.ly/3HHOQvE
Parking Fee applies
Saturday, May 13
Gardening Series: Eat What You Grow R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Covers crop rotation, seeds vs. starts, soil fertility & plant succession, best crops for your garden
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
bit.ly/3HIiBfH
Saturday, May 13
Music hour at the library
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Enjoy the light music while reading your favorite book
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
bit.ly/3LZ48ic
fr**************@ac*******.org
Saturday, May 13
Youthsava $R
9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Youth dance teams perform on themes of seasons, festivals, climate change, and diversity
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
bit.ly/3p6rE3I, bit.ly/3ARKw9b
Same day registration
Saturday, May 13
Hawaiian May Day Festival
11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Live music, Polynesian entertainment, ethnic food vendors, & keiki fun
B Street and Main Street, Hayward
(510) 773-9308
bit.ly/3NwnQTw
de****@ku*****************.com
Saturday, May 13 – Sunday, May 14
Family Nature Adventures: Mother’s Day tea making workshop $R
9:30 am – 11:00 am
Mother & Daughters tea making workshop & more
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
bit.ly/44sfYIH
Saturday, May 13
Craft Day
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Make DIY cards for Mother’s Day!
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
bit.ly/3AUci4P
Sunday, May 14
Mother’s Day on the Farm $R
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Celebrate the special day at the farm with live music, games
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
bit.ly/3LTKoLF
Admission fee applies
Sunday, May 14
Reptile Meet and Greet
2:00
pm – 2:30 pm
Learn about our reptiles and how you can help protect their habitat.
Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3245
bit.ly/42480E8
Parking fee applies
Sunday, May 14
Housing – A Photo Exhibit & Reception
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Photographs that capture the humanity and struggle existing alongside the prosperity of California
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
bit.ly/3LWcsz1
Sunday, May 14
First Glance: Members telescope viewing $R
8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Special, private telescope viewing for members only
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
bit.ly/3nyBT0k
RSVP:
me********@ch*********.org
Sunday, May 14
Screening of Oscar winning Movie
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once (2022)
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
bit.ly/3NXria7
Monday, May 15
The Joys of Chinese Painting R
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
An interactive brush painting workshop
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
bit.ly/3AW8HDj
Tuesday, May 16
Author Event – “How to Make Paper When the World is Ending” R
7:00 pm
Celebrate short story month with the award-winning author Dallas Woodburn
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste.F., Fremont
(510) 565-1004
bit.ly/3HEDoke
