Summer and sweet community: Downtown Cherry Festival
Submitted by Paul Sanftner
The City of San Leandro is thrilled to announce the annual Cherry Festival, set to take place on Saturday, June 1 in Historic Downtown San Leandro. This year’s festivities promise to be bigger and better than ever, celebrating our community with a day full of fun, food, and entertainment.
Festivities will begin with a grand parade featuring over 45 entries. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. starting from San Leandro Boulevard, proceeding east on Parrot Street, north on E. 14th Street, and east on Estudillo Avenue, culminating at the San Leandro Main Library.
Following the parade, the Cherry Festival will officially start at 11 a.m. on W. Estudillo Avenue. Attendees can look forward to nearly 200 booths, including artisan vendors, cherry producers, food vendors, and community resources. Festival-goers will have a chance to learn to ride a bike at the Bike East Bay Rodeo; and enjoy the thrill of the Fun Zone, featuring a 100’ long Giant Slide.
The entertainment lineup is packed with exciting performances on both the Community and Main Stages. Main Stage performances include:
- Erik Rangél and Orquesta America with special guest percussionist Karl Perrazo from Santana (12:30 p.m.)
- Big Blu Soul Revue (2:30 p.m.)
- Eddie 9V from Atlanta, Georgia, described by Guitar Player as “a thrilling evocation of blues and Memphis soul that manages to sound both lovingly vintage and positively modern.” (4 p.m.)
Discover unique local creations, such as:
- Unpossible Cuts: Unique laser-cut wood jewelry designs, from fun Star Wars pins to elegant geometric earrings, all designed and manufactured in San Leandro.
- Little Feltworks: Whimsical felt ornaments and plushies, hand-stitched with love in San Leandro.
- Kooli Creamery: Offering limited edition cherry ice-cream, made right here in San Leandro.
- Delicias Falafels: Featuring festival favorites, including a special Greek Salad with cherries!
This event would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: San Leandro Optimist Club, Waste Management, Ava Energy, Kaiser Permanente Foundation, and Alameda County Industries.
Competitions and special features for this year include a Cherry Pie Baking Competition, featuring a kids’ category; and the 2nd Annual Cherry Pie Eating Contest starting at 2 p.m.
The event is BARTable! Plan your trip at https://www.bart.gov/planner. Parking is available at the City Garage on 122 Estudillo Ave.
Join us for a day of celebration, community, and cherry-filled fun at the San Leandro Cherry Festival.
San Leandro Cherry Festival
Saturday, Jun 1
10 a.m. Parade
11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Festival
Parade: San Leandro Blvd., E Estudillo Ave.
Festival: W. Estudillo Ave.
https://downtownsanleandro.com/
‘Chicago’ Musical Opens May 30! One Weekend Only at Chabot College
Submitted by Karin Richey
Photos by Cathy Breslow
Plethos Productions, in collaboration with Chabot College, is proud to present the electrifying Broadway musical, Chicago, for a limited engagement from May 30 to June 2, 2024. This co-production promises to captivate audiences with its sultry jazz, classic Fosse choreography, gripping storyline, big laughs and even bigger voices.
Inspired by the roaring twenties, Chicago tells the tale of Roxie Hart, a fame-hungry chorus girl who finds herself in the Cook County Jail after murdering her lover. Set against the backdrop of corruption and sensationalism, Roxie teams up with fellow inmate Velma Kelly to vie for the spotlight, all under the manipulative guidance of the silver-tongued lawyer, Billy Flynn and the showstopping diva, Matron Mama Morton.
Featuring show-stopping numbers such as “All That Jazz” and “Cell Block Tango,” Chicago has garnered numerous accolades, including six Tony Awards and the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. Audiences can expect a night of glamour, intrigue, and a few surprises along the way.
“After six seasons of trying to make it happen, we are thrilled to finally bring the crowd favorite – Chicago – to our community!” said Karin Richey, Executive Director at Plethos Productions. “No show is as fierce, funny and fabulous as this classic piece full of femme fatales. I hope this classic Broadway musical brings lots of joy, empowerment, and entertainment to all.”
Don’t miss your chance to experience the razzle dazzle of Chicago live on stage. Chicago will run for six performances only, making it a must-see event for local theater enthusiasts. Tickets are on sale now at plethos.org.
Please note that this production contains mature themes and is recommended for audiences 18 and older.
Chicago: The Musical
Thursday, May 30 – Sunday, Jun 2
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 7 p.m.
Sat & Sun: 2 p.m.
Stage One at Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
Big Trains! Medium Trains! Small Trains!
Come see them all at Rail Fair on Memorial Day Weekend
By Jacque Burgess
Bring the family to Ardenwood Historic Farm on Memorial Day Weekend for “Rail Fair!” Everyone will enjoy the fun at our yearly celebration. Activities and train rides are FREE with the price of admission!
For the first time in five years, we have a full-size steam locomotive at Rail Fair! Our museum is also doing something special this year. We are allowing the public to visit our collection of rare, historic railroad cars up close and observe our volunteers restoring a historic railroad car which will e
ventually become part of our passenger train. This is the only time our rare, historic railroad car collection is displayed for the public. We will also have our museum’s first steam locomotive, the 1910 Argent Lumber Co. No. 5 on display (it will start restoration soon).
The farmyard will be full of model trains of all sizes! The Bay Area Garden Railway Society (BAGRS) will bring a variety of real scale steam locomotives to operate. These small but mighty engines work exactly like a full-size steam engine (Saturday and Sunday only). Diablo Pacific Shortline’s large modular G-scale railroad has both freight and passenger trains, as well as a Thomas the Tank Engine train. This railroad is built low to the ground so the littlest railroad fans can follow the trains around this huge layout (all days). The California Central Coast On30 Railroad will also be back with their wonderful On30 scale layout (all days). And the Golden State Toy Train Operators will be bringing an even larger version of their Lionel toy trains layout (all days).
Besides the train layouts, there will be other activities for the children such as stilts and tabletop games (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.). For toddlers, there is a special spot set aside with multiple wooden trains that they can play with. And The Train Book Library will be there so you can read stories (10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).
There will be great music too! We welcome back two of our favorite music groups: The California State Old-Time Fiddlers will play traditional American string band music, including many rare old fiddle tunes and lots of Appalachian-style music (Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.). The Apple Butter Brothers will play American folk music with an emphasis on train songs (Sunday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.). And new this year is a very special women fiddlers group made up of players from The California State Old-Time Fiddlers and the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association (Monday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.).
The magnificent Patterson House will be open for tours (all three days). Sign up for house tours on the Patterson House porch.
Don’t forget your hats and sunscreen! Activities are spread out throughout the farm and you will be in the sun at times.
Food will be available for purchase at the Farmyard Café (or bring a picnic). The Café also has ice cream, treats and cold drinks.
Get your tickets online and avoid the line! Tickets are on sale in advance now through Friday, May 24 (no online ticket sales on event days). Tickets will be sold at the gate on event days (credit cards preferred, cash accepted). Parking is free. Buy advance tickets by scanning the QR code, or searching the event on the East Bay Regional Park District website at https://www.ebparks.org/calendar.
You can also purchase advance tickets by phone (the last day to purchase in advance is Friday, May 24) at 1-888-327-2757, option 2 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday-Friday, closed holidays).
NOTE: Activities vary daily. All activities and times will be included in the event handout which you will receive when you enter the park.
Rail Fair is presented by the all-volunteer Railroad Museum at Ardenwood, operated by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources (SPCRR), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. (www.spcrr.org). The event is presented in conjunction with the East Bay Regional Park District which operates Ardenwood Historic Farm.
Rail Fair
Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (children activities close at 3:30 p.m.)
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Admission: $16/Adults (18+); $14/Seniors (62+); $13/Children (4–17); 3 and under Free
Ardenwood Historic Farm (510) 544-2797 email in**@sp***.org
https://www.facebook.com/spcrrMuseum
Flash Fiction Winners
For April 2024 Flash Fiction Contest, people wrote on the theme “Dreams.” We are running the winning entries in the paper. To read all the winners, and for information on the Fall 2024 contest, go to www.fremontculturalartscouncil.org.
A touch of death
By Elena Climent
This narration is not the inspiration made up by a dream, it is the dream itself, and believe me I am no “hyperbole” in the story.
I waked up and the first thing I remember was myself running. I was running as fast as my short legs were able to. All kind of different people were running side by side with panic on their faces forming a big crowd all together through a narrow and dusty street in some unknown place.
I turned my head back looking around trying to identify some of the terrorized faces around me. I was very scared. I wanted someone, at least one familiar person among the crowd to hold hands with in that stampede!
Once more, my anxious eyes went around hoping for comfort, but the entire pale and rigid faces were strange to me. My heart was pounding fast and my resistance was about to overcome, I closed my eyes and I took a big breath to regain my “composure.”
I wanted to scream but, but my voice got strangled in my throat, my mouth was so dry!
I was wearing white sandals and the right one came off on the running, I tried to tell people; stop please, stop for a moment to pick it up and could run better, but nobody paid any attention to me.
Everything was moving fast. Suddenly I found myself involved in awful vivid colors of red and blue explosion dropping me to the ground. My face was down against the dirt by the left side, I could not move. Was I hit by a. bomb? I didn’t feel any pain, I couldn’t feel my body either. Was I dead? No, it can not be me I was telling in terror.
Someone in a brown sport jacket was lying close to me; He was quiet, motionless. He looked like a young man although I never saw his face. His blond hair was resting close to my shoulder. Was he also dead, I wondered?
How about the other people, are they hurt? Somebody should be crying and screaming for help! but no, only a dreadful silence was surrounded me.
I wanted to look around, but as I lifted my head from the dirt
, horror! my entire scalp came off, Oh God, what was that? Then, came to my memory old American movies; Indians were doing it.
Finally a peaceful feeling of acceptant of my very end came to me.
The terrify dream gave me a sense of tranquility and peace after open my eyes in the morning.
Board Members Needed
Submitted by MSJ Chamber of Commerce
The Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce is organized for the purpose of creating, enhancing and promoting business activity, fostering civic advancement, and preserving and perpetuating Fremont’s historic district of Mission San Jose.
We host two annual events which are traditions in the Mission Area, the Olive Festival in October and our Tree Lighting Event in December. These events gather people to local businesses in this historic District. Now the existence of even these Mission traditions is threatened by lack of personnel.
We need more members on our Board of Directors. We need help in the areas of secretarial, financial, and general support, as well as leadership roles.
If you would like to be a part of this, we encourage you to contact us at bo***@ms********.org.
Catalina Farias – Her 100 years!
Submitted by Franz Bruckner
Surrounded by family and friends, Ms. Catalina Farias celebrated her 100th birthday this past March 7. The party commemorating this momentous event was held on March 9 at El Patio restaurant in Fremont.
Farias was born in Los Angeles and relocated with her family to Newark in the Bay Area in the 1930s. Farias has been a resident of Newark for over 80 years. She and her husband, Manuel Bernal Farias, raised their seven children in Newark.
An avid gardener and a natural botanist, Farias had many jobs during this time in her life. The Newark/Fremont/Union City area was a huge agricultural center during this time, and Farias took jobs harvesting the fruits, vegetables, and flowers grown in the area. Farias worked for many local Farms and Nurseries including Perry Farms (currently Ardenwood Farm) as well as Naka Nursery in Niles. She loved working amongst nature, helping to grow cultivate food, plants, and flowers, and still enjoys those very same activities in her home garden today.
Catalina Farias also loves to spend time with her seven children (Luis, Manuel, Irene, Carmen, Edward, Carlos, Estela), 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
The party was a beautiful day where family and friends reconnected, and celebrated a beautiful lady and a beautiful legacy of 100 years and growing!
Family center rebrands and recommits to serving youth
By Charlene Dizon
Photos Courtesy of Eden Youth
Non-profit organization Eden Youth and Family Center has prided itself in providing comprehensive care to under-resourced communities within South Hayward. With its rebranding to solely Eden Youth, the team plans to continue its mission as well as boost its presence through more community events focused on helping the youth.
Eden Youth and Family Center was initially founded in 1977 by local advocates hoping to bring vital resources to underserved youth and their families. Since then, the organization has flourished, forming partnerships with mental and wellness care platforms, such as Kaiser Permanente and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); creating programs geared towards substance use prevention; creating free Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) learning opportunities; and even sharpening professional work experience. Executive Director Karen Halfon says, “We have always been a youth-powered organization whose goal is to nurture the community.” With this in mind, the organization’s rebranding is a step that the team is eager to bring to life.
Eden Youth’s rebranding does not stray far from its original vision and, in fact, hones in on its core strength. Halfon explains, “After COVID, we wanted to focus on healing the youth community. There was a lot of trauma, as well as milestones, that they experienced during the pandemic. Because of this, we decided that we really needed to do a rebranding to ensure that our identity as an organization matches the internal culture we are trying to foster.” This rebranding is still centered around creating a safe space for children to collaborate, explore their creativity, and learn about positive leadership development.
The May 26 Reach for a Better Community Event promotes health and wellness in youth, specifically in substance use prevention. The Youth Advisory Council (YAC), consisting of Hayward high school students, has played a tremendous part in this. As Halfon says, “Our youth coalition has helped the City of Hayward ban the selling of flavored tobacco and vaping products targeting students, so that was a big milestone. They also identified the need for coping skills in lieu of substance use.” The event will include activities that encourage such coping mechanisms, from guided healing paintings, to native plant care and taking that plant home. “We want to make sure that we not only help heal our youth but provide them tools for their toolbox to not turn back to substances to manage stress,” Halfon explains. Games, raffles, obstacle courses, and meal vouchers will also be available. This inclusive, engaging event allows attendees to walk away with not only knowledge regarding health and wellness, but optimistic experiences to reflect on.
Motivating the youth with opportunities to grow as individuals is what makes Eden Youth shine. Halfon says, “We want people to know that they can freely ask us for resources, and we will make sure they’re accessible. We follow up, we don’t just give hand-outs and send them on their way.” The team is adamant about making one-on-one connections with the youth, as they understand that this is a pivotal period when encouragement and support are most needed. Their rebranding is certain to steer the community’s youth in a positive direction of self-care, self-love, and most importantly, self-awareness.
Reach for a Better Community Event
Sunday, May 26
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Weekes Community Center Park
27182 Patrick Ave., Hayward
(510) 887-1147
www.edenyouth.org
No ticket or parking
fee
Learn Modern Social Square Dance
Submitted by Al Minard
The Farmers and Farmerettes Square Dance Club will provide Modern Social Square Dance lessons at the Newark Pavilion on the corner of Cherry and Thornton from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. beginning on June 5. Modern Social Square Dance lessons will continue on Wednesday evenings. Our caller James Thompson will be teaching this class.
If you can walk you can square dance. There are no complicated dance steps. Square dancing is moving within your group of eight dancers on one area of the square dance floor. This is a fun activity that gives you some exercise, some mental challenges to remember what to do when the caller calls a dance step routine, and an interaction with other people physically and socially. These are smoke-free and alcohol-free activities and a lot of fun. Men are encouraged to wear long sleeve shirts, because the women touch arms with the men and don’t like sweaty arms.
Square Dancing is one of the few dances that started in America. Square dancing was adapted from the Virginia reel and expanded during the wagon trains to the west to an earlier form of square dancing. Square dancing is done around the world the same way with four couples in one square and a caller who calls the dance steps. The square dance calls have some common names like “swing your partner” and “circle left,” but there are also some unusual calls that take a while to understand like “Do-Si-Do” and “Allemande.” These calls will all be learned by the dancers so they can move to the proper location.
When you have learned Modern Social Square dance calls you can attend square dance festivals in other areas of the city, county, state, nation or world. The Farmers and Farmerettes Square Dance Club is a member of the Northern California Square Dance Association and our club has been square dancing for over 60 years.
The dancers in our Club are both experienced dancers and newer dancers. They will encourage you to learn the steps and calls in Modern Social Square Dancing.
Please come down and give Square Dancing a try. The first three lessons are FREE. The following 13 weeks will cost $50 per person to cover the cost of the hall and the caller.
For more information check out our website: www.farmersandfarmerettes.org
Square Dancing
Wednesday, June 5
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Newark Pavilion
6430 Thornton Ave., Newark
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an intrinsic part of Americans’ yearly cycle of events. The last Monday in May kicks off the start of summer with a three-day weekend of travel, family picnics and barbecues, and parades.
Each year, Memorial Day remembers American men and women who have died in service to their country as members of the armed forces. Previously known as “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day was a time to commemorate soldiers who died in the Civil War. Over the years, the remembrance was extended to encompass everyone who died in service to their country, with a universal day established for all states to honor their dead.
Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868. While May 30 was the traditional day of celebration for numerous years it was changed to the last Monday in May due to an act passed by Congress in 1968 to create a three-day holiday weekend. Memorial Day also marks the beginning of the summer season.
As the holiday grew increasingly commercial, many believed that the true spirit of Memorial Day had been diminished by the larger focus on vacation time and fun activities. In response to this concern, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed in December 2000 and calls for all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence to honor and respect those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
This year, Memorial Day will take place on May 27.
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday, May 27
9 a.m.
Program followed by light refreshments
Veterans Plaza
457 E Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
(408) 586-3225
Mission Peak Choirs is Hiring!
Submitted by Sharon Candelario
We are opening up two positions for our 2024-2025 season.
Our current Managing Director and choral member Adam Lee is stepping down after two years of incredible support. Likewise, our collaborative pianist Briana Ung will be unable to continue due to her upcoming course schedule next fall. As such, we are seeking to hire a new Managing Director, and a Collaborative Pianist to join us by September this year.
We are encouraging anyone interested to find out more at our website: https://www.chambersingers.org/jobs.
Never Too Old to be Bold – Lillé McGhee Queen is an Artist with Flair
By Victor Carvellas
Lillé McGhee Queen is an author of several books, an entrepreneur, an advocate for women, and an artist. Those would be more than enough accomplishments for many, but she has assumed all these roles on the heels of distinguished 20-year career in law enforcement, as well.
In February, Queen gave the keynote speech at the Afro-American Cultural & Historical Society of Hayward’s Black History Month Celebration in Newark. There she told her story of growing up a farmer’s daughter in North Carolina, of her career in court reporting (she apprenticed at no less an institution than the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.) and her 20-year tenure as a Special Investigator for the Federal Government.
She told also of her discovery of painting. In an otherwise mundane moment, cleaning out a rental property with her husband on a hot afternoon in August of 1994,
she came across a set of oil paints. She’d never held a brush, never thought of painting as a hobby, but making a few tentative marks on a scrap of paper pointed her in a new direction.
“My parents wanted me to be a lawyer, but I decided to be an investigator.” Field work in law enforcement provided a career where her discernment and decision making could thrive. “But,” says Queen, “I never had any notion that my life would branch off into art.”
At first, painting was simply something that helped her unwind after a hard day on the job. After retiring in 2001, however, she began to take it more seriously and immersed herself in the Northern California art scene by becoming a docent and volunteering at galleries and museums around the state.
“Once I felt that I could be competitive,” she says, “I just took a chance and said, well I’m as good as this person. It was all for fun when I got started, but I’m more conservative now. I turn 80 this year and I think my time has arrived. I probably have 10 or 15 more years to go, and I want art to be my legacy.”
The 2020 pandemic was a big turning point. “There wasn’t a lot you could do outside, so I sold my BMW and used the proceeds to create my studio.” The space is light and airy and abounds with the bold and vibrant works she loves to create. “I love color, my mom loved color. Colors provide a level of comfort. Whether I’m making art or designing my own jewelry, it has to be colorful; that represents me.”
When people view an artwork, they form an opinion of the artist. When asked what she wants the public to know, Queen replied, “That I am a risk taker, that I am a person of honesty. I have a spiritual fiber that allows me to know when things are right and when things are wrong. I can make decisions quickly and accurately. I’m a thinker.”
“I enjoy the freedom that my art career gives me,” she says. “I don’t have to worry about people looking over my shoulder.” Whatever consideration Queen has ever given to such people, there’s no doubt her choices have always been her own.
Below, Lillé McGhee Queen shares about some of her pieces:
Urban Head Wrap. 2020. “These colors take me back to the 60s and 70s. It is a piece influenced by my mom. She always believed a head wrap completed a lady’s attire.”
The Artist in Brown Skin. 2023. “It’s rare I begin with a drawing, but I took a chance. As I sketched, I saw the image of a young female, and by the time I had finished, saw those eyes, that short afro under her hoodie, the backpack (full of art supplies), it was me!”
Light Inside the Wall. 2020. “During the pandemic I had to do a lot of soul-searching. Going out was highly restricted, but I realized I could either become depressed or become creative. In that process, I saw there was a light inside of my soul that needed to switch on. I found that switch and I turned the light on.”
Unchopped Noodles. 2019. “This is an exercise in going outside my comfort zone. I had never used this green before, but I liked it; it had a healthy look. I made this long blade to chop the noodles. I thought of [Jackson] Pollack. These thin lines and circles are made by dripping— I was in the moment. It was a dance with the medium.”
Ohlone College Celebrates Fifty-Seventh Annual Commencement Ceremony
Submitted by Dr. Celina Barrios, Public Information Officer
Ohlone College is proud to announce its Fifty-Seventh Annual Commencement Ceremony took place on Friday, May 17, 2024, on the Soccer Field at the Fremont Campus.
This year’s ceremony marks a remarkable achievement for 1,135 degree earners and 136 certificate recipients. The diversity in our graduating class is particularly noteworthy, with our youngest certificate earner at 16 years old and our youngest degree earner at 17 years old. We also celebrate the lifelong commitment to education of our oldest certificate recipient at 68 and our oldest degree recipient at 70.
“We are incredibly proud of our students and their accomplishments,” said President/Superintendent Charles Sasaki. “Their achievements reflect the support and dedication of Ohlone College’s exceptional faculty and staff, as well as the encouragement from their families and friends.”
Among the graduates, 131 students have achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, underscoring the academic excellence cultivated at Ohlone College. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Ohlone College students have been admitted to various UC campuses, with 49 students enrolling at UC Berkeley, 49 at UC Davis, 34 at UCLA, and 33 at UC San Diego. Additionally, 515 students have transferred to the CSU system, with notable enrollments at San Jose State University (210), CSU East Bay (169), and San Francisco State (54).
This commencement is not just a ceremony but a celebration of the journey our students have undertaken and the promising paths they will now follow.
For more information visit, ohlone.edu/graduation.
Ohlone College students selected for UC Davis Manufacturing Program
Submitted by Dr. Celina Barrios, Public Information Officer
Ohlone College proudly announces that two of its exceptional students, Noor Al Abayechi and Yishu Yang, have been accepted into the prestigious UC Davis Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Program which is supported by the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). The UC Davis CPE Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Scholarship Program seeks to empower students from diverse backgrounds who exhibit promise in the field of biomanufacturing. Noor Al Abayechi and Yishu Yang, exemplify the program’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and excellence in the sciences.
“We are thrilled to have Noor Al Abayechi and Yishu Yang join the UC Davis Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Program,” said Dr. Laurie Issel-Tarver, biotechnology professor at Ohlone College. “Their dedication to academic excellence and passion for advancing biotechnology make them ideal candidates for this transformative opportunity. We are confident that they will thrive in this program and emerge as leaders in the field of biopharmaceuticals.”
The scholarship program comprises a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in biomanufacturing. From an online course series covering cell and gene therapy fundamentals to an intensive in-person bootcamp at Solano Community College, p
articipants will receive immersive training from industry experts. By participating in this program, Noor Al Abayechi and Yishu Yang will gain invaluable hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment and learn to navigate the complexities of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
For information about The UC Davis Cell Gene Therapy Manufacturing Program, visit https://cpe.ucdavis.edu/certificate-program/cell-gene-therapy-manufacturing-specialization. For information about Ohlone’s Biotechnology Program, visit https://www.ohlone.edu/biotech.
Ohlone Celebrates Junior Leadership Academy Graduation
Submitted by Dr. Celina Barrios, Public Information Officer
Ohlone’s Junior Leadership Academy (JLA) held its graduation ceremony and showcase on Friday, May 10. This event marked a triumph for the students who have dedicated themselves to this transformative 15-week Spring semester series, emerging as equipped leaders ready to conquer challenges in the classroom, workplace, and community.
Junior Leadership Academy fosters career readiness among students, nurturing qualities required for effective leadership. Throughout the program, students have learned professionalism, work ethic, equity, and inclusion.
As part of JLA, students have immersed themselves in The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) eight career competencies, honing skills in critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and global fluency. Additionally, the program offered students the opportunity to engage in paid micro-internships with industry employers, providing hands-on experience and real-world application of newfound skills.
Junior Leadership Academy stands as a beacon of Ohlone College’s mission to provide accessible, equitable, and innovative educational experiences.
Bohème Out of the Box: SF Opera in Union City
Submitted by Erin Ewing
On June 29, Charles F. Kennedy Park will be the setting for two performances: a 1 p.m. performance of Bohème Out of the Box and at 4:30 p.m., Out of the Box: Encore Concert, two free one-hour concerts of popular opera arias and duets performed by Adler Fellows, San Francisco Opera’s resident artists.
Seating will be on the gently sloping hill of the outdoor amphitheater, with an ADA accessible area. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at Union City’s adjoining Pride Pop Up Vendor Market. The venue is walking distance from Union City BART. Free parking will also be available.
Go to the SF Opera site to reserve a free ticket: www.sfopera.com/box.
Questions? Contact Erin Ewing at Er***@Un*******.org or (510) 675-5445.
Bohème Out of the Box
Saturday, June 29
1 p.m. – Bohème Out of the Box
4:30 p.m. – Out of the Box: Encore Concert
Kennedy Park Amphitheater
1333 Decoto Rd., Union City
(510) 675-5445
www.sfopera.com/box
www.unioncity.org/589/Arts-Culture-Studio-11
Pathways to Success Awards Over $240,000 in Scholarships to 2024 Students
Submitted by Jeri Johnstone
“Pathways to Success,” an annual event dedicated to celebrating academic excellence and supporting students in their journey towards higher education, is proud to announce that over 200 students from James Logan High School will be awarded financial aid for college. The Class of 2024 will be honored with scholarships totaling more than $240,000, thanks to the generous contributions of our sponsors. A ceremony to recognize the students for their hard work took place on May 21 at James Logan High School in Union City.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our students and express our gratitude to our sponsors for theirinvaluable support,” said Helen Kennedy, executive director of New Haven Schools Foundation. “This event not onlyhighlights academic excellence but also reinforces the importance of investing in education for a brighter future.”
The keynote speaker for the event was Brooke Jenkins, a distinguished alumna of James Logan High School, and SanFrancisco’s District Attorney. Jenkins, known for her dedication to justice and advocacy, will inspire students with herjourney from high school to a successful legal career.
Additionally, the prestigious Art and Cheryl Kuhlmann Award was presented to Kay Emanuele, honoring her outstandingcontributions as a scholarship sponsor through the Guy Emanuele Memorial Scholarship. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exemplary support for students’ educational pursuits.
The New Haven Schools Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing financial support for the students and teachers of the New Haven Unified School District, and to assist in the continuation of student activities and support of educational programs. The District serves students living in Union City and parts of South Hayward.
School District.
Hayward Area Recreation and Park District Commemorates Special District Week
Submitted by Nicole Espinoza Roa
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) is celebrating Special Districts Week to inspire the residents of Hayward and surrounding areas to actively participate in their community and engage with local governance. Established as an independent special-use district, H.A.R.D. serves over 309,000 residents across a 100-square-mile region, including Hayward and nearby communities like Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview.
Over the years, H.A.R.D. h
as enriched the community with numerous parks and facilities, many of which have earned national and state accolades for their exceptional design, innovation, and scenic beauty. Moreover, the District has offered a wide array of educational and recreational classes and programs to cater to diverse interests.
Special Districts Week, taking place from May 19 to 25, 2024, will be formally recognized by the State Legislature through the approval of Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 163. “I commend the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District for its unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents. Through our dedication to providing exceptional parks, facilities, and programs, H.A.R.D. is a cornerstone of our community. Special Districts Week serves as a fitting reminder of the invaluable role these entities play in fostering civic engagement and community pride. Let us continue to support and celebrate the vital contributions of H.A.R.D. and other special districts in shaping the fabric of our neighborhoods,” remarked Peter Rosen, President of the Board of Directors for H.A.R.D.
ACR 163 is sponsored by The California Special Districts Association (CSDA), a statewide association representing over 1,000 special districts and affiliate organizations throughout the state. Special districts are local government entities created by a community’s residents, funded by those residents, and overseen by those residents, to provide specialized services and infrastructure.
“Special districts are formed by residents to provide essential services that they want and need at the local level. They provide an opportunity to have local control while enhancing services that make communities survive and thrive,” said CSDA’s CEO Neil McCormick. “We appreciate the Legislature’s support in raising awareness and increasing understanding about the special districts that serve our State’s communities.”
Summer Food Trucks
Special events
Dale Hardware Stars & Stripes BBQ
Saturday, May 25
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dale Hardware
3700 Thornton Ave., Fremont
Pride Fair
Saturday, Jun 15
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
Dale Hardware 110th Anniversary Block Party
Saturday, Jun 29
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dale Hardware
3700 Thornton Ave., Fremont
San Leandro Artisan Market
Saturday, Jul 13
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
222 Davis St., San Leandro
Ongoing
Fremont Street Eats
Fridays
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Downtown Event Center
3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont
Ohlone College Flea Market
Second Saturdays
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
Breaking into the Field of Artificial Intelligence
By Anne Chan, PhD, MFT
If you’re interested in having an Artificial Intelligence (AI) career, you are entering the field at a peak time. Almost $50 billion was invested in AI in 2023. But how do you break into this field?
Artificial Intelligence can broadly be defined as the ability of computers or robots to perform tasks typically requiring human reasoning, intelligence, and problem-solving. Undoubtedly, the use of AI will mean widespread job losses. At the same time, there will be demand for humans to work in AI jobs.
But first, you have to get clarity on the specific AI niche you would like to work in. Do you want to be a data scientist, an Information Security Analyst, a Deep Learning Engineer, or a Machine Learning Software Engineer? If you do not know the differences between these job titles, start your research with O*Net Online, (https://www.onetonline.org/), a job database from the United States Department of Labor, that describes skills and tasks, working conditions, education and training required, wages, and projected demand for each job. Look for the bright yellow sun icons next to selected job titles – these indicate the jobs with the highest demand in the near future.
Next, get clarity on the industry you would like to work in. CEOs and bosses are deploying AI across industries, including banking, retail, healthcare, and education. Which industry appeals most to you? Pinpoint specific companies that appeal to you. Next, take a close look at their mission statements. Do you want to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy (Tesla) or work in “a place where all people – regardless of race, gender, status, or religion – can pursue excellence in scholarship, leadership, and innovation” (University of California, Berkeley)?
The intersection of your preferred job title and the specific company you want to work in is a great place to start looking for and networking with people whose careers appeal to you. Mentors are crucial in industry success. They can give you hard-earned insider knowledge, save you time and energy, and position you for success.
These are the people who can tell you if an AI bootcamp or certification is worthwhile, or if you are better off going back to school for a degree. They will let you know if you should study Python or some other programming language. They might even let you know if a job opening is about to be posted.
Consider joining professional organizations and attending their conferences. Here are some leading AI professional organizations: Project Voice (https://www.projectvoice.ai/), Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (https://aaai.org/), Artificial Intelligence Board of America (https://www.artiba.org/), Partnership on AI (https://partnershiponai.org/), and Machine Intelligence Research Institute (https://intelligence.org/research/)
To break into AI, you are likely to need a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, mathematics, data science, or a related field. Those with an associate’s degree may be able to obtain an entry-level job if they demonstrate proficiency through work, internship, or volunteer experience. Getting experience is always po
ssible. I took a quick look at volunteerMatch.org (a website that helps you locate volunteer opportunities in your geographic region) and there were several interesting positions available.
To get an AI job, it is critical that you build your portfolio of AI projects. You can post projects on GitHub, which allows you to collaborate and network with other creators.
If you are switching into Artificial Intelligence from another discipline, consider doing a Data Science Bootcamp, certificate, or a Data Science Fellowship. There are a plethora of free learning opportunities online that you can take at your own pace. For instance, Google offers a seven-course series where you can earn a Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate. The courses in this series include “Foundations of Data Science” and “Introduction to Data Science Concepts.” Other resources to further your learning are Nvidia’s Deep Learning Institute (https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/training/) and Coursera. These are just starting points – there are many other quality, free courses available for free on the internet.
Lastly, you don’t have to be an engineer or computer scientist. AI companies will also need human resource, administrative, marketing, sales, and other non-technical roles. New job titles, such as AI Ethics Consultants, are on the rise.
Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed psychotherapist in California. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at an*********@gm***.com © Anne Chan, 2024
EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine
Photo Credit: Dawn Danby, FlickrCC.
Dear EarthTalk: Have wildlife crossings become more common in North America, and are they effective at reducing wildlife kills and improving conservation efforts overall?
In recent years, North America has seen a notable increase in the implementation of wildlife crossings, reflecting a growing recognition of their importance in reducing wildlife fatalities from vehicle collisions and enhancing conservation efforts. These structures, ranging from underpasses to overbridges, are becoming more prevalent as part of a concerted effort to address the environmental impacts of roads.
The significance of these crossings is underscored by projects like one in Southern California designed largely to protect mountain lions. This project, among others, demonstrates a shift towards integrating wildlife conservation into public infrastructure planning. Similarly, the Federal Highway Administration has incorporated wildlife crossings into its programs, emphasizing safety for both animals and motorists.
Research consistently shows the effectiveness of these structures. Jennifer S. Holland of the Pew Trusts highlights the sheer number of reports of roadkill incidents, with “drivers hit[ting] 1 to 2 million animals each year,” and reports of significant decreases in road kills in areas with wildlife crossings, which also support animal migration patterns. The economic rationale is also strong: In regions like Banff, Alberta, the initial costs of wildlife crossings are often offset lowered expenses related to wildlife collisions.
Beyond the immediate benefits of reducing kills, wildlife crossings play a key role in maintaining ecological connectivity, essential for the survival and health of many species. In Banff National Park, a series of crossings allows wildlife such as grizzly bears and elk to safely navigate across busy highways.
Community engagement and educational programs have helped raise awareness about the benefits of wildlife crossings, promoting broader public support and involvement, vital for securing funding and political support for new projects. Moreover, international examples of successful wildlife crossings provide valuable lessons and inspiration. In Costa Rica, crossing designs that cater specifically to the needs of jaguars demonstrate the global applicability and adaptability of crossing technologies.
The U.S. has recognized the importance of these initiatives and is supporting them through federal funding programs, with Lauren Sforza of The Hill writing, “$110 million in grants will be awarded to 19 wildlife crossing projects across 17 states.” This national support is instrumental in expanding wildlife crossings across the country, highlighting a commitment to biodiversity and road safety.
The proliferation of wildlife crossings in North America is a positive development that not only mitigates wildlife-vehicle collisions but also significantly contributes to biodiversity conservation. The continued expansion and improvement of these crossings are vital. As such, these structures represent a critical intersection of road safety, animal welfare and environmental stewardship.
CONTACTS:
Wildlife Crossings Can Protect Migrating Animals
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trust/archive/spring-2020/wildlife-crossings-can-protect-migrating-animals
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more athttps://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: qu******@ea*******.org.
Robot Report
iRobot’s new CEO on cleanup duty after Amazon deal fails
By Steve Crowe
iRobot has found its new leader who will try to rejuvenate the consumer robotics pioneer following Amazon’s failed $1.7 billion acquisition deal. Gary Cohen, who has 25-plus years of executive leadership and turnaround experience, yesterday was named CEO. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of iRobot, including innovation, product and commercial strategies, operational excellence, talent, and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage.
In the announcement, iRobot points out that Cohen has a history of leading successful turnarounds. He most recently did so as CEO and board director at Qualitor Automotive, where he helped increase sales and profits by approximately 100%. Prior to Qualitor Automotive, Cohen was as CEO at Timex, where he led an $800 million multi-brand business and global team of 5,000 employees.
Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Energizer, Playtex and Gillette. Cohen was part of a turnaround team that led the sale of Playtex to Energizer for $1.16 billion in 2007. At Gillette, he played an inte
gral role in new product innovation and advertising, growing Oral-B global sales from $1 billion to $1.8 billion and launching the Mach3, one of the company’s largest global razor introductions.
“I am truly honored to be joining iRobot, a company with an iconic brand, a legacy of innovation, and a commitment to delighting customers around the world,” said Cohen. “I look forward to working with the board, the leadership team, and our employees across the company to reinvigorate the category, create value, bring new products to market, and continue building the future of consumer robotics.”
Andrew Miller, chairman of iRobot’s board of directors, said iRobot has already made “significant progress” in the restructuring of its business.
“Gary’s leadership qualities and areas of expertise, including commercial growth, product innovation, brand-building, global distribution, and operational efficiencies, are a strong match to address the opportunities that lay ahead for iRobot. His proven track record of successfully leading global consumer businesses through challenging times gives us even greater confidence that he is the right person to lead the company on its path toward returning to profitable growth.”
Of course, Cohen takes over for longtime CEO Colin Angle, who held the position since 2007. He founded iRobot with fellow MIT roboticists Rodney Brooks and Helen Greiner in 1990. Notably, Cohen is a businessman and not a trained roboticist.
iRobot worked on a variety of robots before launching its Roomba robot vacuum in 2002. It has gone on to sell more than 50 million robots worldwide. But it struggled to diversify its consumer robotics portfolio, shelving a robot lawn mower it had been working on for nearly two decades, and saw its stronghold on the robotic vacuum market shrink in recent years due to increased competition, geopolitical challenges, and other issues.
It announced in August 2022 that it entered a deal to be acquired by Amazon for $1.7 billion in cash. However, in early 2024 the deal was terminated by both Amazon and iRobot as it was going to be blocked by the European Union, which has recently clamped down on M&As it deems to be anti-competitive.
In November 2023, the European Union said its preliminary view was that the acquisition could restrict competition. It said there were concerns around Amazon’s ability to throttle iRobots’ competition in its online marketplace.
As a result of the terminated deal, iRobot laid off 350-plus people (one-third of its staff) and Angle stepped down. At the time, iRobot announced a number of moves to “more closely align its cost structure with near-term revenue expectations and drive profitability.” This included restructuring its supply chain, research and development, and sales and marketing, as well as laying off more staffers and abandoning work on robotic lawn mowing, among other things.
iRobot also announced its first quarter financial results this week. It reported revenue of $150 million, compared to $160.3 million in the first quarter of 2023 and GAAP net income per share of $0.30 compared with GAAP net loss per share of ($2.95) in Q1 of 2023. iRobot said the non-GAAP net loss per share was ($1.53) compared with non-GAAP net loss per share of ($1.67) in Q1 of 2023.
iRobot also reported positive cash flow from operations of $1.4 million, but this was helped by one-time net proceeds of the $75 million Amazon had to pay iRobot to terminate the acquisition.
iRobot also recently introduced lower-cost cleaning robots. It said the new Roomba Combo Essential robot and Roomba Vac Essential robot are its “first products to benefit from iRobot’s new product development paradigm with its contract manufacturers.” The robots start at $250.
“We exceeded our financial expectations for the first quarter as our team executed on our restructuring plan to significantly improve iRobot’s near-term operations,” said Glen Weinstein, who served as iRobot’s interim CEO until Cohen’s appointment. “Our plan is designed to stabilize the business in the current market environment without sacrificing longer-term growth initiatives. In the first quarter, we took aggressive actions to simplify our cost structure, implement a more sustainable business model and focus on our core value drivers.”
Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Ask Rusty – Shocked because Medicare increase results in loss of Social Security Benefits
Dear Rusty: My wife and I have taken a Social Security “Cut”—no 3.2% raise for us, due to something called “IRMAA,” based on our income. We actually took, together, a $400 a month cut. As far as I can tell from what they told me, we are means tested, and were too successful, so our Medicare premiums were much higher, which resulted in our reduced Social Security for 2024. Have you sorted this out? And, if so, can I appeal this disgusting situation? Signed: Baffled Senior
Dear Baffled: We’re very familiar with the “Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount”—not so affectionately called “IRMAA.” IRMAA catches many Social Security beneficiaries by surprise, not only higher earners such as you, but also those who make large withdrawals from a tax-deferred account, who sell property, or who have any other kind of sudden large bump in their taxable income. Essentially, if your income is over certain thresholds for your IRS filing status, you pay a higher “IRMAA” premium for your Medicare Part B (coverage for outpatient services) and your Part D (prescription drug coverage). And since your Medicare premium is automatically deducted from your Social Security payment, your net monthly Social Security payment goes down.
Any COLA added to your Social Security benefit is often consumed by an IRMAA increase to your Medicare premiums. And, to further complicate matters, your Medicare premium for the current year is determined by your income from two years prior, which means your 2024 Medicare premiums were determined by your 2022 income.
The IRMAA thresholds are different depending on your income tax filing status, but assuming you file your taxes as “married/jointly,” your combined 2022 income had to be more than $206,000 to cause IRMAA to apply in 2024. With income between $206,000 and $258,000, each of your Part B premiums would be $244.60 (instead of the standard $174.70), and your Part D premium (if you have Part D) would incur another $12.90 on top of your regular Part D premium amount. IRMAA premiums further increase on a sliding scale, and those with income of $750,000 or more would pay a maximum Medicare Part B premium of $584/month and would incur ano
ther $81 per month added to their normal Part D premium. Thus, as you have noted, Medicare premiums are, indeed, “means-tested.”
Can you appeal “this disgusting situation?” Well, you can always appeal any Social Security determination, but appealing IRMAA will only be successful if you can prove that the income they used to determine your 2024 Medicare premium was incorrect, or if you can convince them to use a more recent year with a lower income to calculate your Medicare premium. If you believe you can be successful, you should call Social Security (1(800)772-1213) to formally appeal the IRMAA premium, or you can submit form SSA-44 to appeal based on a “life-changing event.”
I know that understanding how IRMAA works won’t soften your dismay, but I can only explain the rules and how they work. Your 3.2% COLA increase for 2024 was used to offset some of the IRMAA Medicare premium increase caused by your higher income, and it is IRMAA which caused your net Social Security payment to go down. FYI, your Medicare premiums are recalculated each year, so if your income goes down to below the IRMAA threshold for your tax filing status, then your Medicare premium will revert to the standard amount for each year.
I hope this clarifies why your Social Security payments went down and why you didn’t see your COLA increase, but the AMAC Foundation is always available to answer any questions you may have about Social Security.
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.
Don’t let an irrigation leak dampen your day
By Daniel O’Donnell
Spring is the time when you might hear someone mention that they have a leak in the garden. Unfortunately, they probably do not mean a leek. A leek in the garden would be a good thing and easier to identify than a leak in the irrigation system. Spring is a time when many leaks are discovered as irrigation systems are turned back on after being off for the winter. Some leaks are easy to identify and fix, while others might take some gardening detective work.
Leaks in an irrigation system can be caused by a number of situations. Pressurizing the system too rapidly when turning it back on, the ground shifting, and the growth of tree roots which can pinch an underground irrigation line are all common causes for leaks this time of the year. Other causes now and throughout the year include animals gnawing on drip lines, people accidentally kicking, driving over, or hitting with a lawnmower irrigation risers and sprinkler pop-up heads. Drip and PVC lines being sliced or shattered by a shovel also contribute to irrigation leaks, as can earthquakes, construction work, and simply the old age of the system.
It is important to know the components of an irrigation system not only when investigating it to find a leak but for fixing the leak as well. Generally, an irrigation system consists of a controller which is an electrical timer that turns a valve on and off at programmed intervals. When a valve is turned on, it allows water to enter the lateral lines which supply water to sprinkler heads, drip emitters, tree bubblers, or soaker hoses. Most irrigation systems these days have an overriding shut off valve that can be used to turn the irrigation system off separately to the house water if there is a problem. Any of these components have the potential to fail and cause a leak.
The easiest leaks to identify are those that are visible while the irrigation is running. Potential leaks can also be discovered without turning on the irrigation by observing oversaturated soil, excessive growth of grass or weeds in small areas that are greener than the rest of the yard, and water stains on driveways, patios, and paths. Leaks that are visible can be fixed by replacing the faulty sprinkler head or section of dripline, repairing the cracked pipe, or making sure that the controller is not excessively watering the garden. Taking apart the valve and cleaning the inside of any debris can also stop persistent leaks from sprinkler heads and emitters. Underground leaks can be a bit more difficult to find.
There are two types of water lines in an irrigation system. First is the main line leading to the valve, usually buried around 18 inches deep. It is under constant pressure. Second are the lateral lines downstream of the valve, which are usually buried about 12 inches below the ground if PVC pipes, or which sit on top of the surface if drip lines. They are only pressurized when the valve is opened. To find out if a leak is in a main line, turn off all the water to the house and monitor the water meter. If the meter continues to display water movement it is most likely a break in the main line. However, if a valve is stuck open, the meter will also continue to show water movement. In either scenario, the only way to temporarily stop the leak will be to turn off the water at the shut-off valve to the irrigation system or the entire house if there is no irrigation shut-off valve.
If there is a lateral line break, the controller can be programmed to keep only the leaky valve closed. When only the zone with the leak is off, the rest of the system can be running and watering normally for an indefinite period of time. However, if the leak cannot be found or fixed expeditiously, then the plants in that particular zone will have to be watered by hand.
Fixing a buried main or lateral line will require digging to expose the leak. If there is an obvious place where the leak might be, start digging there; if not, dig a trench following the pipes until you find the leak. Once a leak is found it can be repaired by cutting out the damaged section and repairing the pipe by building a bridge or using an expandable slip fix. Sometimes the leak may be under a tree and the broken pipe may be inaccessible due to massive roots. In that case, you will need to find where the pipe enters and exits from under the tree, cut the pipe on both sides, and build a bypass around the tree to reconnect the pipe to itself.
Fixing an irrigation leak can often take some time and effort. If it does, try not to focus on the amount of time taken to fix the leak, but rather how much time an irrigation system has saved you from having to hand-water day after day, week after week, and year after year.
Daniel O’Donnell is the co-owner and operator of an organic landscape design/build company in Fremont. www.Chrysalis-Gardens.com
San Leandro Police Investigate Homicide
Submitted by San Leandro Police Department
On May 5 at 6:24 p.m., San Leandro Police officers responded to a report of a solo vehicle collision in the 1800 block of Benedict Drive.
Officers located the vehicle and found the driver was suffering from a gunshot wound. That victim was later pronounced deceased by paramedics. The shooting is believed to have occurred in the same general area just before the vehicle collision.
Police will not be releasing any more information regarding this shooting at this time. This is an ongoing investigation, and our Criminal Investigations Division detectives have assumed responsibility. We will release more information when appropriate as the investigation unfolds.
SLPD is urging anyone with information to contact us via the following methods: Sergeant J. Vincent at (510) 577-0656, anonymous tip line at (510) 577-3278, or text-a-tip at 888777 (keyword: TipSLPolice).
Cal State East Bay announces discontinuation of Women’s Water Polo Sponsorship
Submitted by CSUEB Athletic Communications
Cal State East Bay announced Wednesday, May 8 that it will discontinue the sponsorship of women’s water polo at the conclusion of this academic year.
“CSUEB’s women’s water polo team has represented the university well over many decades. Our campus community and alumni body are proud of the current team and their hard work, commitment and achievements,” said President Cathy Sandeen.
Sandeen says she and Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Allison Kern made the difficult decision to discontinue the team after careful consideration. “Cal State East Bay continues to take steps to become more efficient and implement cost savings across campus due to a number of factors, including enrollment shortfalls.”
Kern said that the water polo players may opt to stay at East Bay or pursue opportunities at other universities. Any scholarship commitments will be honored if they choose to remain at East Bay.
Pioneer Athletics does not anticipate discontinuing sponsorship of any other sports at this time.
“Personally, I understand that our athletes and coaches received difficult news today,” Kern said. “We are doing everything we can to support our student-athletes and coaches through this transition as they plan their next steps.”
Newark Game ChangeHER Initiative
Submitted by Jessennia Taimani
The City of Newark is excited to announced for the first time the Game ChangeHER Initiative. The Game ChangeHER Initiative is the Softball Division of the Junior Giants program. According to the Junior Giants website, “The goal of the division is to recruit more girls to play and retain them over the years. The intention of the Girls Softball Division is not to pull girls away from the co-ed Junior Giants baseball program, but instead to offer an alternative opportunity to play ball.”
Newark Recreation Coordinator, Jessennia Taimani shares, “Newark Recreation is celebrating 25 years of brining the Junior Giants Program to our community. Celebrating this milestone, I decided it was time to get our community involved in the Giant’s Community Fund ‘Game ChangeHER Initiative.’”
The Softball league is a free 8-week long program that runs from June 10 to July 30 for girls from 7-10 years old. Registration will be open until the league hits capacity at 60 participants. Currently 29 players are registered for the program, so don’t wait to sign up!
To register visit www.mlb.com/giants/community/junior-giants-leagues. For any questions, contact Jessennia Taimani at je***************@ne****.org.
Renegades close impressive season in Super Regionals
Submitted by Ohlone College Athletics
The 2024 Ohlone College softball season came to a crushing close with the Renegades’ two losses at College of the San Mateo in the Northern California Playoffs Super Regionals.
Ohlone, seeded No. 10 for the playoffs, upset No. 7 College of the Sequoias 2-0 in an opening-round regional series before taking on Coast Conference foe and No. 2 seeded San Mateo.
Both games of the San Mateo series remained close until the Bulldogs put together a pair of big innings on their way to handing Ohlone an 8-1 loss in Game 1 on Friday and an 8-0 defeat in Saturday’s series finale. The Renegades trailed 3-1 late in the opener before CSM rallied for five runs in the sixth. And on Saturday, down 2-0, San Mateo scored six times in the sixth to secure its win.
Ohlone wrapped up the 2024 season with a 21-20 overall record under head coach Julie Marshall. The Renegades returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
ALL-COAST CONFERENCE POSTSEASON HONORS
Following the close of the 2024 regular season, the Renegades earned eight All-Coast Conference postseason awards.
Named second-team All-Coast Conference were sophomore pitcher/first base Emma Ham and freshman outfielder Ashley Reyes. Ham compiled a 10-6 overall record with 3 saves while compiling a 3.67 earned run average. Reyes batted .360 on the season (32 for 89) while scoring 30 runs with 10 walks, and 13 stolen bases.
Brittney Taylor, Elise Rojas, Ari Herrera, Jordan Greer, Kaiya Simmons, and Sierra Pasco were received All-Coast Conference honorable mention accolades.
Fremont Football and Cheer Camp Finale
By April Ramos
On Saturday, May 18, Fremont Football and Cheer League held their final preseason training camp of the 2024 season. This free preseason event also marks the beginning of the League’s 60th anniversary.
At the event athletes and parents had the chance to meet the coaches, register for the 2024 tackle football and cheer season and check out team uniforms, while the club took the opportunity to do some fundraising by offering food, beverages and Fremont Football merchandise.
After registrations were taken care of, athletes and parents gathered on the bleachers where team officials were introduced. The four head coaches, one for each U8 to U14 age group, and League President Kelly Rose spoke on their excitement for the future of the upcoming season and expressed the importance of the League’s motto, “proper preparation prevents poor performance.”
Along with the coaches, NFL champ and Fremont native, Robert Turbin, was introduced as the special guest at the football camp. “This camp is a little special because we have Mr. Robert Turbin who is a Super Bowl champ with the Seattle Seahawks. He started at FFL when he was 10. He’s really about the community and helping out, so it’s really nice to have him out here” shared Fatima Rocha, Vice President of FFL. Turbin addressed the young players in the crowd when he said, “I was in your shoes before, so it’s important for me to come back so you can see that someone can accomplish their dreams.”
After introductions roughly 100 players, a few girls included, rushed the field and began training. “They all warm up together and do a lot of drills together. I like that because we really try to instill in them that this is a team and they all represent Fremont,” explained Rocha. Following group warm ups, the team was organized in five stations with different drills being led by the four head coaches and Turbin, giving the players a special opportunity to get focused attention from a Super Bowl Champion.
The football players weren’t the only ones preparing for the season. The sideline cheer team was also practicing right alongside the field. Cheer welcomes 7–14-year-olds and teaches the fundamentals of the sport in a safe and fun environment while also getting the chance to represent Fremont along with the football team. “The cheer team is always out there cheering at all of the games. They come out and do all the traveling the football players do,” shared Rocha.
Although it was the final day of the four-session camp, the event marked only the beginning of the 2024 season for the FFL. Some of the upcoming club events include the League’s first annual Golf Tournament on Friday, June 14 and the League’s first day of practice on Monday, July 15. Registrations are still open for football and cheer with the chance of an early bird discount. Visit the Fremont Football and Cheer League website to register and for more information at, www.fremontfootball.org.
Search for Missing Hiker Ongoing
Submitted by Jen Vanya
On Saturday 5/18/24 at approximately 8:23 p.m., East Bay Regional Park District Dispatch was notified of an adult overdue hiker in the Ohlone Wilderness. The hiker (identified as Alex Stecher) started the hike on the morning of Friday 5/17/24 from Sunol Regional Wilderness Preserve, and did not arrive at Del Valle Regional Park for his designated pickup time on the afternoon of Saturday 5/18/24.
A large-scale search was conducted utilizing personnel from the East Bay Regional Park District Police and Fire Departments, the Alameda County Fire Department, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit, the East Bay Regional Park District Search and Rescue Unit, CalFire, and the California Highway Patrol. We thank our allied agencies for their support during the search. Stecher has not been located, and we are still actively searching for him.
Please see the attached photo of Alex. Alex is pictured wearing the same clothes he was wearing when he started the hike, except he was wearing a khaki colored bucket hat. The pictured dog “Apollo” was also with Alex on the hike, and is missing.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
BE FAST: Miracle on April 23, 2024
I was having lunch with a friend when my husband called on my cell phone – I knew it was him because his name popped up on the screen. He was making sounds, but all I could understand was “help.” Something was terribly wrong with my husband, but that couldn’t be: We had gone on a 50-mile bike ride the day before, he had skied three days in Tahoe the week before. He was in great shape. I called 911, and then my friend drove me home. On the way, the 911 dispatcher called me back to say that the paramedics were in my house and attending to my husband, and that I needed to drive safely. (This was an “over the top” gesture on the part of the 911 dispatcher. I was so grateful.)
When I got home, I saw classic stroke symptoms – the sagging right side of my husband’s face, no feeling in the right side of his body, and his inability to speak. The ambulance took him to Kaiser Fremont where they administered Clot Busters, but they determined that the main clot would need to be removed from his brain. Fremont called Redwood City and set everything in motion, and my husband was transported again by ambulance to Redwood City where Kaiser has a specialized stroke clinic.
By that time, our two adult children had made it to Fremont, and the three of us went to Redwood City Kaiser – we arrived and were walking into the hospital when I got a call. The neurosurgeon (called a neuro interventionalist – google it –these specialized doctors are the top of modern medicine) was calling to say that he had just completed the procedure, and my husband would be fine. Using a CT scan for guidance, he had gone in through a blood vessel in his leg up into his brain and “sucked out” the clot!
When my kids and I walked into my husband’s room in the Neuro ICU, he looked at us and said “I’m so glad to see you guys.” We looked at each other – we couldn’t believe it. Within hours, the feeling came back on his right side, and three days later my husband was discharged from the hospital.
He was fine. It was a miracle.
T
hanks to the 911 dispatcher, thanks to Kaiser Fremont, and thanks to Kaiser Redwood City. Timing is everything when it comes to a stroke, and the fast response by these caring professionals made the difference. They taught us this stroke mnemonic:
B – balance, E – eyesight, F – face, A – arms/legs, S – speech, T – timing
If you or someone you love experiences trouble with balance or eyesight, if the face is drooping, if arms or legs aren’t working right, or the speech is slurred or unintelligible, then call 911. BE FAST – timing is everything!
Becky Denevan
Fremont
Honor Roll
PennWest Spring 2024 Dean’s List
- Lahari Sajja of Fremont
University of Cumberlands 2024 Graduates
- Sambidhan Kattel of Hayward
- Ariana Pereira of Newark
- Vishakha Bharat Waghela of Fremont
- Aishwarya Laturkar of Fremont
- Sahana Ajit Murthy of Milpitas
- Vamsi krishna Musunuru of Fremont
- Aditya Sanjay Patil of Milpitas
- Shyam Mukund Thakkar of Fremont
- Khawaja Obaid Ullah Faheem of Fremont
- Rajshekar Raju Dandu of Fremont
- Mrinmayi Sudhir Gavali of Milpitas
- Pushpa Mudunuri of Fremont
- Mohammad Athar Basha Shaik Jagirdar of Fremont
- Tanmay Raoji Shinde of Milpitas
- Parveen Sultana of Fremont
- Gulnaaz Afzal of Fremont
- Tusharika Mishra of Milpitas
- Harshil Ashokbhai Gohil of Fremont
- Abhilash Maroju of Fremont
- Sumit Rajendra Atale of Newark
- Mayur Ratnakar Birari of Newark
- Ibaad Habib of Fremont
- Jerome Thomas Henry Rajan of Milpitas
- Priyadarshini Mugdha Nishant of Union City
- Prateek Rajesh Patil of Milpitas
- Shubham Shashikant Songire of Milpitas
- Durga Sundaram of Hayward
- Akanksha Khare of Milpitas
- Ashim Neupane of Milpitas
- Sameer Ahmed of Fremont
- Jabbar Khan of Fremont
- Deepika Singh of Milpitas
- Shivani Abhyankar of Fremont
- Shetty Aashik Ashok Kumar of Milpitas
- Aishwarya Dinesh Gandhi of Fremont
- Aditya Singh Dixit of Hayward
- Yadush Kellakoppa Nandish of Fremont
- Bharath Kumar Maganti of Fremont
- Tajreen Mahvish of Union City
- Ateeq Mohammed of Fremont
- Jaser Ali Talha Mohammed of Fremont
- Sravani Paleti of Fremont
- Dushyant Raju Patel of Milpitas
- Miteshkumar Jayantibhai Patel of Fremont
- Vigneswara Reddy Ponnapati of Milpitas
- Sumanth Puligilla of Fremont
- Bhavinkumar Prafullkumar Nayak of Fremont
- Purva Sawant of Newark
- Neelima Vangipuram of Milpitas
- Dhwani Amin of Fremont
- Vamsi Krishna Pinnamaneni of Fremont
- Mithila Velamala of Fremont
University of Cumberlands Spring 2024 Dean’s List
- Sambidhan Kattel of Hayward
- Ariana Pereira of Newark
Oldest U.S. National Park Ranger Receives Honorary Doctorate
Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins
Cal State East Bay has conferred an honorary Doctor Humane Letters to Betty Reid Soskin during the May 11 commencement ceremony for the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences.
A resident of the East Bay for 90 years, Soskin retired at the age of 101, holding the distinction of serving as the oldest active U.S. National Park Ranger.
A graduate of Oakland High School, Soskin was a file clerk during World War II at the Richmond shipyards in a segregated union hall. Soskin became actively engaged in the civil rights movement and served as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.
In 1995, Ms. Soskin was named a “Woman of the Year” by the California State Legislature and awarded the Silver Service Medallion by the National WWII Museum in recognition of her work and connection to World War II. Invited to attend President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009, she carried a photo of her great-grandmother, who had been born into slavery.
She joined the U.S. National Park Service, stationed at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front Park in Richmond. From its inception, Soskin was deeply involved in the direction and creation of this distinctive urban national park, including bringing to light stories about working in a time of segregation and racism.
Another politically progressive prosecutor in the San Francisco Bay Area faces recall election
Associated Press
San Francisco Bay Area voters will weigh in on the recall of another progressive district attorney who ran on a platform of offender rehabilitation and police accountability, and whose critics say is undermining public safety.
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price faces a recall just two years after she was elected in November 2022, several months after San Francisco voters ousted Chesa Boudin from the top prosecutor’s job.
Like Price, Boudin was also a political newcomer in his first term as district attorney whose critics collected enough signatures to put the issue to voters.
The Alameda County Board of
Supervisors on Tuesday set the recall election for Nov. 5, to coincide with the general election.
Prior to taking office, Price was a civil rights attorney who championed women, victims of domestic violence and youth caught up in the criminal justice system.
Her opponents say she has emboldened criminals at a time when Oakland, the county’s most populous city, reported a rise in crime, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to send in highway patrol officers and state prosecutors to help.
Her supporters say Price has been targeted by wealthy conservatives who do not want to reform a flawed and racist criminal justice system. They say she should have more time to make good on her campaign promises.
Continuing Events:
Mondays and Thursdays
Food Garden Volunteer
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learning from experienced gardeners.
LEAF CR Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
vo*******@fr*********.org
Volunteer agreement form is required.
Tuesdays
East Bay Games Meet
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
German/Euro style board games and card games.
Swiss Park
5911 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 936-2523
meetup.com/east-bay-games
Tuesdays
East Indian Seniors R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Anyone who is retired and of Indian origin or interested in Indian culture is welcome to join us.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month
Tuesdays
LEGO® Time
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Drop-in. For everyone.
Tuesdays
Music and Storytime
11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join us for stories, music, and movement.
Cherryland Community Center
278 Hampton Road, Hayward
(510) 626-8522
For babies, toddlers, kids, and preschoolers.
Tuesdays
Comfort & Joy Ukulele R
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
A group of ukulele players with volunteer leaders to practice familiar songs as well as learning new.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Wednesdays
Folk Dancing Social R
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Join together in the wonderful spirit of dancing and savor the beautiful music from all over the world.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Wednesdays
Book Club AWC R
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
The book club meets for stimulating discussions.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month
Wednesday, May 1 – Friday, May 31
Portola Art Gallery Presents Larry Calof’s “Hidden Treasures of the Bisti Badlands”
Monday – Saturday
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Photographic images by Larry Calof
Portola Art Gallery at Allied Arts Guild
75 Arbor Road, Menlo Park
(650) 321-0220
http://www.portolaartgallery.com/
Thursdays
International Folk Dancing R$
11:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Celebrate the cultural roots and traditional life of various countries.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
In English and Chinese.
Thursdays
Bocce Ball Class R
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how to play Bocce Ball.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
Rain will cancel class.
Thursdays
Chinese Calligraphy Social R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bring your own supplies and socialize and have fun while doing calligraphy.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
There is no teaching on site.
Thursdays
Historic Days
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ride a narrow-gauge train, tour the beautifully restored Patterson House Museum. Every historic day ends with an animal feeding at 3 pm. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
Thursdays
Chinese Music Ensemble R
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Open to all who are interested in performing traditional Chinese music.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
Thursday, April 18 – June 8
Image Central Spring Exhibition
Lower Gallery: Mon 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Tues & Thur 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Upper Gallery: Mon – Fri 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The Annual Spring Exhibition at the ImageCentral Gallery (formerly PhotoCentral) has bloomed once again. This exhibition showcases work from over 20+ artist from many walks of life! An eclectic group show with amazing images to match. Vote for your favorite image at the reception and help crown the People’s Choice Awards! Celebrate this fun extravaganza with us, take in the imagery, meet the artist’s, make memories, and acquire some incredible art! The event is free and the public is invited.
Image Central Gallery
1099 E St., Hayward
(510) 881-6721
Thursday, April 4 – Saturday, May 25
Human Essence
12 noon – 5 pm
The Olive Hyde Art Gallery proudly presents HumanEssence ‐ a photography exhibition featuring portraits by Suszi Lurie McFadden paired with abstracts by Brandon Stauffer. Join us for an artist talk April 19 at 12 Noon.
Olive Hyde Gallery
123 Washington Blvd. Fremont
(510) 791-4357
Thursdays
Family Board Game Night
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Play together with family and friends, or make some new friends at the library.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Board games will be provided.
Thursdays
The Peaceful Poets
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join a Milpitas-based group of writers and appreciators of poetry.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
For teens, adults, and seniors.
Last Thursdays of the month
Thursdays and Saturdays
Story Time
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Picture book story time
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont
(510) 565-1004
bit.ly/3VFpbc
Fridays and Saturdays
Free Telescope Viewings
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing!
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org/calendar
Weather permitting.
Saturday, April 4 – Saturday, June 4
Sun Gallery Climate Justice Exhibit
Thurs, Fri, Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Local artist submissions with the theme “Climate Justice: World Peace & Security.”
Sun Gallery
1015 E. St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Saturdays
Laugh Track City R$
8:00 pm
Series of improvised games and scenes
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Saturdays
Free Beginner Pickleball Lesson
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Free pickleball lesson taught by a USPA professional.
Hall Memorial Park
304 La Honda Dr, Milpitas
(408) 586-3210
Drop-in. Weather permitting.
Saturday, May 4 – Saturday, May 25
Chanticleers Theatre Presents: Just My Type
Saturdays: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Sundays: 2 p.m.
The original musical tells the story of two psychologists under a deadline to write a book who take inspiration from four couples in their practice.
Castro Valley Community Center
18988 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley
(510) 733-5483
www.chanticleers.org
Tickets: $30 General; $25 Senior/Military; $10 Student
Saturdays
Teen Cohort for Outdoor Education R$
10 am – 4 pm
Meet new friends, build outdoor skills, and get to know your community as we participate in activities, such as Hayward Shoreline Hike and Clean-Up, Quarry Lakes Excursion; Coyote Hills Excursion; Fishing; rock climbing on our 28-foot rock wall, hiking; and a Sulphur Creek Guided Tour.
Ashland Community Center
1530 167th Avenue, San Leandro
Noel Munivez: (510) 317-2303
Sundays
Farmyard Games
1:00 pm
Join us for some old-fashioned fun! Try your hand at classic American pastimes including stilts, sack races, and the potato-spoon race. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.
Ardenwood Farms
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Sundays
Weekly meditation Session R
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
samarpanmeditationusa.org
in**@in*****.org, in**@sa*******************.org
Sundays – Saturdays
Recreational Swim $
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Attractions may vary.
Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 578-4620
bit.ly/3nxo0is
Sundays
Larry “O” Teen Workshop
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Used bikes, bike parts for sale and bike repair.
Larry Orozco Teen Workshop
33623 Mission Blvd., Union City
(510) 675-5487
www.unioncity.org/723/Larry-O-Teen-Workshop
Ro*****@un*******.org
Donation accepted.
Second and fourth Sundays of the month
Upcoming Events
Saturday, May 25
Halau Makana Polynesian Dance Performance
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Special performances by Alameda’s only Polynesian cultural arts center, Halau Makana. Let the rhythms sway you as you immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Maori music and dance.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
510-667-7900
Saturday, May 25
Coyote Hills Puppet Show
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Step right up for the most fantastic show at Coyote Hills! Join our favorite pollinators for The Great Pollination Celebration and learn which animals are responsible for your favorite foods. All ages. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
(510) 544-3220.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
8000 Paterson Rd., Fremont
Saturday, May 25
Campy Campfire
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Kick off the summer with our first campfire program of the season! We will play some campfire games and sing some classic campfire songs. Bring yourself, instruments, family, and friends. In case you were wondering, there will be smores! Meet at the amphitheater. All Ages. Parent participation is required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
(510) 544-3220.
Dumbarton Quarry Campgrounds
9400 Quarry Road, Fremont
Located in Campground 61
Sunday, May 26
Reach for a Better Community Event
10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Activities that encourage coping mechanisms, from guided healing paintings, to native plant care. Games, raffles, obstacle courses, and meal vouchers will also be available.
Weekes Community Center Park
27182 Patrick Ave., Hayward
(510) 887-1147
No ticket or parking fee
Tuesday, May 28
Fratello Marionettes: Carnival of Animals
Join us for a special performance featuring Fratello Marionettes! They will perform Carnival of Animals, three classic storybook fairy tales (“Three Little Pigs,” “The Ugly Duckling” and “Tortoise and the Hare”) interwoven with a classical score. Join us after the show to ask the performers questions and take a close look at the puppets. This event is family-friendly fun for all ages! Recommended for ages 4+.
This event will take place outside in front of the library, weather permitting. No registration is required.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
(510) 745-1464
Thursday, May 30 – June 2
“Chicago” Musical
7 p.m.
Sat/Sun: 2 p.m.
Plethos Productions, in collaboration with Chabot College, is proud to present the electrifying Broadway musical, Chicago, for a limited engagement. This co-production promises to captivate audiences with its sultry jazz, classic Fosse choreography, gripping storyline, big laughs and even bigger voices.
Stage One at Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward
Tickets available at plethos.org
Saturday, June 1
Hayward Latin Jazz Festival
12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Music lovers are invited to enjoy vibrant music, delicious food, and diverse Latin culture at the Hayward Latin Jazz Festival. There will be three stages hosting a variety of acts, including Sentimiento y Manan,
Mio Flores’ Salsazz Allstars, Momotombo SF, Latin Rhythm Boyz, Louis Carranza’s “All Star” Descarga, and Louie Romero y Grupo Mazacote, with Ricky Aguilar.
B St. and Main St., Hayward
Saturday, June 1
Newark Symphonic Winds
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Newark Memorial High School Theatre
39375 Cedar Blvd., Newark
(510) 552-7186
newarksymphonic.org
Free
Saturday, June 1
San Leandro’s Cherry Festival
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Featuring local vendors, craft beer, great food and Bay Areas party bands
Historic Downtown San Leandro
- Estudillo Ave
Saturday, June 1
Zany Zoe Magic Show
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Enjoy a family-friendly, comedic magic show with magician Zany Zoe. If weather permits, this program will be held outside. No registration is required to attend.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
(510) 745-1464
Saturday, June 1
San Francisco Bay University Community Event
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Join us for an Exciting Day! Live DJ, Family-Friendly activities, opportunities using arts-based dialogue for the Innovation Center at SFBU
161 Mission Falls Lane, Fremont
Sunday, June 2
Butterfly and Bird Festival
10:00 am – 3:00pm
Join us at our annual celebration to connect with parks, people, and pollinators and mark the Park District’s 90th anniversary. Enjoy garden tours, family-friendly activities, special presentations, music, and more! This community event aims to support pollinators’ health and increase the number of species of butterflies, birds, and local pollinators across our Bay area landscapes. All ages. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
(510) 544-3220
Coyote Hills Regional Park
8000 Paterson Rd., Fremont
Sunday, June 2
Corpus Christi Parish Festival
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Entertainment karaoke and talent show line dancing lesson. Garden store beverage garden, fire truck, tacos/tortas/chicken adobo/ linguica /aguas frescas. Raffle, cash prizes $500, $250, $100
Corpus Christi Procession to Niles Plaza.
Historic Niles District
27891 2nd Street, Fremont
Monday, June 3
Let’s Learn Mandarin
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
An interactive event to learn basic Mandarin conversational skills through fun Chinese cultural activities. In this 8-week program, participants will enjoy learning Mandarin through food, name seal carving, singing, Chinese calligraphy, Mahjong, Chinese craft and much more!
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Tuesday, June 4
Nature to you with East Bay Regional Parks
10:45 am – 11:45 am
Join East Bay Regional Park District Naturalists as we bring Nature to YOU at the library. We’ll learn about the animals that can be found in the parks and in your neighborhood, and even get to meet a few! All ages! Drop in, no registration is required.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City
(510) 745-1464
Friday, June 7
Family caregiver retreat
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
City of Fremont, Family Caregiver Support program is inviting you to join us for a free, one-day retreat designed especially for you, the Family Caregiver. Enjoy a visit to Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast and lunch, educational presentations, a therapeutic group activity, and a chance to share your experiences with fellow caregivers.
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Register by June 4, 2023. We cannot accommodate walk-in & same-day registrations. Register online, email or phone. For special accommodations, please register three weeks in advance.
Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose
43326 Mission Circle, Fremont
(510) 574-2035
Friday, June 7
Resource Fair
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
23 social service agencies will celebrate its 25th anniversary. There will be prizes and giveaways, free health screenings, kids’ activities, a bounce house, and more.
39915 Liberty St., Fremont
Saturday, June 8
Sterling Bubbles
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
A sensory experience with Sterling Johnson, the Bubblesmith, and his wonderful world of bubbles at the library. This special program will be enjoyable for all ages. Space is limited. Free tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets will be distributed outside in the breezeway to the right of the main entrance, starting at 12:45pm.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Saturday, June 8
Kalimba King!
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Musician and teacher Carl Winters, aka The Kalimba King, will perform songs
on the kalimba (also known as an African thumb piano). He will showcase the instrument’s diverse range with jazz, pop, gospel, & rhythm and blues. You’ll get to learn about the history of the kalimba and its significance to African culture. Participants will also get a chance to be hands-on and play one too! Coloring pages will be provided and instructions on how to make your own kalimba at home! This program is designed for kids ages 6 and up. Register to receive an email event reminder.
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9
Mission Days Festival
227 Anniversary
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Holly Mass, concert, international food booths, fabulous dance troupes, monkey show. We’re celebrating 227 years of continuously living in mission of the Church by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through the generations.
(510) 657-1797
Sunday, June 9
Music at Garin
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Bring your musical instruments to the Red Barn at Garin for some whimsical old-time feel and pleasant tunes to learn and play along to. Please bring your string instruments. 10+yrs. Parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.
(510) 544-3220
Garin Regional Park
1320 Garin Ave., Hayward
Sunday, June 9
Chokhi Dhani (Rajasthan Indian Cultural Fair) 2024
10:00 am 6:00 pm
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
Thursday, June 13 – August 3
54th Annual Textile Exhibition
Olive Hyde
123 Washington Blvd., Fremont
510-791-4357
Thursday, June 13
Traditional Korean Games
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Join us with artist and educator Danna Kim. We will be learning to make and play with ddakji, jegichagi, and gonggi – games analogous to POGs, hackey sack, and jacks. Supplies are limited. First come first served. Registration is not required for this event.
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
Saturday, June 15
Annual Father’s Day Slumber with the Stars
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Spend this Father’s Day with dad on this unique, out-of-this-world camping experience at Chabot. Your sleepover includes hands-on activities, exclusive after-hours time in the exhibits, Planetarium shows and telescope viewing amidst the backdrop of the redwood forest. Enjoy hot chocolate while gazing at the stars, then camp outside or in one of our exclusive indoor exhibitions. Dinner and breakfast are included with dairy free and vegetarian options. All minors must be accompanied by a ticketed adult at a ratio of 5-1.
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
$110 Adults/Youth
Saturday, June 15
Fremont Pride Fair
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Celebrating and supporting our LGBT/QIA + community. Family-friendly event. Featuring live performances, food, and resource tables from organizations across the Bay Area. Resource booths, informative panels, music, games and food trucks
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
Saturday, June 15
Fremont Bank Community Block Party
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Special Promos, Giveaways, Raffle, DJ, Food Trucks, Beer Garden, Carnival Games, and more…
39150 Fremont Blvd., Fremont
Wednesday, June 26
Pygmy Goats with 4-H
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Fun presentation all about animals. Learn how to care for them, good hygiene, and all the opportunities Alameda County 4-H provides. After the presentation there will be an opportunity to meet and pet a real pygmy goat! This presentation is appropriate for children ages five and up.
Space is limited. Free tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets will be distributed outside in the breezeway to the right of the main entrance, starting at 12:45pm.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Wednesday, June 26
Bri Crabtree & Silly Circus Show
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Family-friendly circus show from award-winning performer, Bri Crabtree! Laugh along to this comedic show, marvel at the magic tricks, and enjoy some circus performances.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Vally
(510) 667-7900
