10-31-23 Articles

New Health Center opens at Castro Valley High

By David R. Newman

On Monday, October 23, a ribbon cutting took place to officially open a new community health center on the Castro Valley High School (CVHS) campus. The Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center (TVHC) will offer a wide range of healthcare services to students, their families, and the community in general. Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi acted as emcee at the event, declaring “a focus on wellness and supporting children in whatever way we can has always been a part of what this community and this board is all about.”

A large crowd was on hand to celebrate the opening, including TVHC workers, CVUSD board members, local families, and many more, including representatives from the Fremont Bank Foundation, whose $100,000 donation helped fund all of the medical equipment.

The center will specialize in preventive care, including physicals and immunizations, as well as acting as a primary care facility, referring patients to other specialists such as optometrists, pediatricians, dentists, and women’s health experts, all within the TVHC network. TVHC operates nine primary care facilities throughout Hayward, Union City, and Fremont, as well as multiple Youth Health Service locations at other high school campuses, including Hayward High, Tennyson High, and James Logan High. Castro Valley will be the first campus center open to the community in addition to students.

Andrea Schwab-Galindo, CEO of TVHC, spoke about the importance of the center in making health care accessible to all. “Something that we’re passionate about at TVHC is health equity. We know that in our communities, not everyone has access to health care. Many times, it is our youth that are the gateway to accessing care, for themselves, their parents, their grandparents, etc.”

The new center has been a dream of CVUSD for several years, and is the perfect complement to the CVHS Wellness Center, which offers counseling services focused on social and emotional health. Said Marian Meadows of CVUSD’s Behavioral Health Services, “The idea for this project came around seven years ago when we started to envision a partnership between health and behavioral health. Thanks to Measure G in 2017 we were able to build the Wellness Center, and we’ve just been waiting all this time for the right partner to help build out the health center.”

The two portables previously occupied by the behavioral health staff stood vacant until a few years ago, when local commercial real estate developer Cliff Sherwood connected the dots. “I was talking with one of the CVUSD board members and I suggested that they should offer clinical services on campus as well. And they said, ‘Yeah we’ve been trying to do that for a long time but we haven’t found the right partner.’” Sherwood, who had worked with TVHC for over 25 years, thought it would be a perfect match. And he was right.

Says Sherwood, “It’s a marvelous, cooperative partnership between two really excellent organizations. This new health center will be an incredible resource for Castro Valley. There’s nothing like this in town, and that was another big piece of the puzzle that made it all work. The need was there.”

CVUSD has remodeled the interior of the portables and connected them, creating one cohesive space, filled with multiple exam rooms, offices, labs, a small waiting area, and restrooms. Plans are to open the center to students first, then their siblings in the district, then family members, and then to the larger community. Says Meadows, “We’re going to be very busy over here…”

It’s a scene that will be playing out more and more in cities across the state. CVUSD Board President Lavender Whitaker exclaimed, “California is pushing for community schools…well, what’s amazing about this community is that we’re already doing it!” Whitaker is referencing a state initiative to invest $4 billion over the next seven years to transform thousands of public schools into “community schools”, which, in addition to education, will provide food, housing, and mental and physical health services to students and their families.

Castro Valley Health Center

Monday – Friday

8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Castro Valley High School

19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley

Located near the corner of Lex Ave & Santa Maria Ave.

(510) 293-2319

Iā ʻOe E Ka Lā Hula Competition Festival returns to Alameda County Fairgrounds

Submitted by Deanie Lum-Villiados

Photos by Victor Carvellas

The “Iā ʻOe E Ka Lā Hula Competition & Festival” is a venerable competition dedicated to King David Kalākaua, the 7th King of Hawaiian Kingdom in the 19th century. The competition is held in his birth month of November to honor his great achievements for his people and their culture.

Every year we invite well-known Kumu Hula (hula masters) and cultural experts from Hawaiʻi as judges. We proudly announce that this year we will welcome four judges and one master of ceremony from Hawaiʻi, and 10 hula hālau (hula schools) from Hawaiʻi and the mainland U.S.A. to fill the weekend with performances. In addition to the hula competition, we will host a separate entertainment stage, arts and crafts vendors, and plenty of authentic food and drinks to enjoy. This historic event attracts generations of people from all over the region each and every year.

Aspiring to King David Kalākaua’s vision, the Iā ʻOe E Ka Lā Hula Competition & Festival became the first hula competition in the world to place an emphasis on the importance of the Hawaiian language by including it as part of the competition evaluation. Also unique to the competition are the kumu hula/judges’ meetings before the competition. These meetings allow the kumu hula to share their interpretation and vision of their performance with judges and answer any questions the judges may have. This enables the judges to provide fairer and more detailed feedback on each performance. In this way, each hula hālau is not only competing, but also receiving teachings from judges, who are masters of Hawaiian culture, for their growth.

Visit our website (www.kumuhulaassociation.com) for more event information and to purchase tickets. We hope to see you at the event!

Hula Festival & Competition

Friday, Nov 3 – Sunday, Nov 5

Fri: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sat/Sun: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Alameda County Fairgrounds

2005 Valley Ave., Gate 8 or 12

alamedacountyfair.com

kumuhulaassociation.com

Tickets: $26 adults, $16 child/senior/military

Parking: $15

Small but mighty, marching band returns after 30 years

By Connie Cheung

After a thirty year hiatus, the marching band at John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School in Fremont has returned in Fall 2023. Its comeback serves as an uplifting reminder that local students can lobby for their own learning interests and accomplish impressive results in doing so.

Although most students started with little to no prior experience in marching band, the JFK team has already won first place in their division at the Newark Days parade in September. “We had to learn everything about marching really fast,” said Lucas Guerra, a senior and the band’s drum major, explaining that the group only started rehearsing at the beginning of the school year.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person music classes, but students at JFK High School returned with more motivation than ever. They lobbied to form their own marching band, working with the school to secure investment in instruments and uniforms. In acknowledgment of the important role that music and art play in a well-rounded education, the District shared that they “allocated federal funding…to purchase instruments and meet other programmatic needs” to support Kennedy’s new marching band.

Students also adapted existing skillsets to suit new circumstances. “We have a French horn player who learned the trumpet, and a baritone who plays the tuba,” said David Joel Bickel, the high school music teacher who helped the kids turn their dreams of having a marching band into reality.

Both Bickel and his students credit their school’s special “block scheduling” approach in accelerating deep learning and progress. Compared to a traditional schedule where students flit between many classes per day, the block system prioritizes fewer classes with longer durations on each subject. This gives budding musicians a chance to practice roughly one and a half hours a day.

Even so, it takes courage and dedication to commit to a new activity, especially when facing larger, more established teams. Adding to the band’s determination to improve is their status as underdogs. For example, the team loses showmanship points in competitions because they don’t have a “color guard” – a group of flag-twirling performers that accompany the musicians. As a result, players must be extra vigilant to avoid penalties for making mistakes.

In addition, John F. Kennedy High School is a Title I school, a federal designation offering financial assistance to educate children from low-income families. According to the 2023-2024 Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) budget plan, over 40% of students at Kennedy are eligible for free or reduced meals, and over one in six students are English language learners, a higher rate compared to other Fremont high schools.

Given this environment, music can play an especially important role as a universal language to foster connections between diverse sets of people. “It’s very easy to see yourself in the music, even for someone who is learning English or coming from a different country,” Bickel explained, describing a strong sense of community and support in the school’s music groups.

The JFK students were drawn to this music, and their perseverance to breathe new life into the marching band is inspiring. Rather than feeling discouraged by their resourcing gaps, relative inexperience, and smaller size, the group is marching onwards and upwards. They’re now preparing for an upcoming performance at the Lincoln Band Review in Stockton on November 18, which will also showcase other Fremont bands from Washington and Irvington High Schools.

“These kids are such great students. They work very diligently and should be proud. You would be astonished at how much growth they’ve made,” said marching band instructor Benjamin Benavides.

Of course, competitions are only a small part of the story. “There’s no greater feeling in the world than playing your part right with everyone else,” Lucas Guerra said. “It truly makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger.”

Bell Street transitions from HomeKey to affordable housing

By Stephanie Gertsch

On Wednesday, October 25, contractors and city officials gathered at the construction site of Bell Street Gardens, a new affordable housing complex located directly across from the Fremont Hub, and walking distance from Fremont’s new downtown area. Previously, this location housed the Fremont Islander Motel, which was part of the HomeKey project to shelter unhoused people during the pandemic. The new complex includes a renovation of the old building, and a new building for a total of 126 apartments. Of these, 25% will be set aside for developmentally disabled residents, and 17 for formerly unhoused households.

Funding for this project came from City of Fremont, HCD Accelerator Program, HCD MHP Program, Alameda County, and JPMorgan Chase. The planned opening is for January 2025. At the event, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei presented a certificate to the contractors.

Units are geared toward residents earing 20% – 50% of Area Median Income. Rents for a studio apartment start at $518 per month, which means someone could conceivably work at Target or Safeway for California’s minimum wage of $15.50, earn enough to make rent, and walk to work—a concept that’s well-nigh unheard of in the Bay Area. You wouldn’t have a ton of spending money (and God help you if you don’t have your health insurance sorted), but you wouldn’t be in the red either.

Mowry is a busy six-lane street, and there’s no crosswalk directly next to the Bell Street. So, residents will need to walk over to either Argonaut Way or Fremont Boulevard to access the Hub, and other nearby shopping. Hopefully people will cross safely at those points and not try dashing straight over to the island while dodging speeding traffic.

Bell Street Gardens

38889 Bell St., Fremont

https://rcdhousing.org/bell-st-gardens/

Arunay Foundation Walkathon

Submitted by Arunay Foundation

October 15, 2023, marked the 1,000th day since Arunay was swept away by a sneaker wave at the beach at Half Moon Bay. Since his death, his family and friends have advocated for increased beach safety. Their goals include educating people on how to spot hazards and equipping beaches with safety ring floatation devices.

On Sunday, November 5, the organization will hold a 5K / 10K walkathon at Quarry Lakes Park where participants can learn about water hazards while having a fun family day.

Arunay Foundation Walkathon

Sunday, Nov 5

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Quarry Lakes Park

2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont

www.arunayfoundation.org

Tickets: $20 – $45 (under 5 free)

Two evenings with Poet Lucien Zell

Submitted by Renee Rettig

Books on B is thrilled to announce a two-day event celebrating our official REOPENING with back-to-back events with acclaimed poet, singer-songwriter, and teacher Lucien Zell. Lucien, born in California and raised in Seattle, has lived in Europe for 25 years and recently founded the Prague literary festival, Moving Center.

Please join us on Thursday, November 2 from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for a poetry reading from his latest work, Tiny Kites, along with questions and conversation with Lucien before and after. Our event is free but seats are limited; RSVP to save your space.

Belly up to Books on B’s bar for Lucien Zell’s Sad Hour on Friday, November 3 from 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. and meet your booktender! A social gathering that will leave you not shaken but hopefully stirred, as Lucien’s carefully curated tasting menu of literary libations will lift your spirits! Have a one-on-one session with Lucien for his recommendations of your reading remedies—at 10% off for this elixir of an event! Nothing is more healing and restorative than the right book at the right time! (Being with other book lovers is good medicine for the soul, too.)

An Evening with Poet Lucien Zell!

Thursday, Nov 2

5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Free

RSVP recommended

Lucien Zell’s Sad Hour

Friday, November 3

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Free

Books on B

1014 B St., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

Flash Fiction Love Stories – The Results!

Submitted by Arathi Satish

 

Over the next few weeks, we’re running the winners of the October 2023 Flash Fiction Contest, on the theme “The Day I Fell in Love.” Below is the second-place winner. Read all the winners at fremontculturalartscouncil.org.

Dosa

By Edward Soo Hoo

 

It was love at first bite. The spicy richness of the curried potato, combined with the crispy skin and coolness of the yogurt sauce was heavenly. Here was a new food that, after thirty plus years on Earth, was like nothing I had tried before.

Lunch options around work were pretty limited. We had the obligatory taco truck across the street from the plant. Down the road about a quarter mile was family run sandwich shop which, I am pretty sure, opened at the same time the plant did 50 years ago. I liked eating there but it was kind of expensive, the sandwich prices often rising fifty cents here, a dollar there, month to month. Some of the guys would drive a little further to get fast food but they ran the risk of being late coming back to their shifts. So either it was tacos, sandwiches, or candy and chips from the hallway vending machines every day.

We didn’t know what to make of the new truck that appeared just before third shift one afternoon. At first we thought maybe it was a different taco vendor coming in to replace “Alejandra’s.” Looking at the signs we were presented with things we had never heard of before: Palak Paneer, Naan, Idli, Paratha, Dosa. Thankfully there were pictures to help out our selection.

“Hello Sir, what can I do for you,” a cheerful Indian (I think) man at the catering window asked.

I asked for a Dosa, as this looked to be the closest thing to my lunchtime standby of a Super Burrito. I did not have to wait long until about a foot and half tube of crispy batter appeared at the window. That day began my love affair with Indian food.

Closure of Eastbound Dumbarton Bridge

Submitted by City of Fremont

Caltrans has scheduled to close Dumbarton Bridge in the eastbound direction between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. for four nights, October 31, November 1, 2 and 3. The bridge will remain open in the westbound direction. During the closure, crews will work to repave the bridge, creating a smoother ride for motorists. The nighttime closures will affect motorists traveling from San Francisco, San Mateo area, and South Bay to East Bay.

Closure of Eastbound Dumbarton Bridge

Tuesday, Oct 31 – Friday, Nov 3

10 p.m. – 7 a.m.

Fly Wines: An Oakland resident’s passion turned purpose

By Nanki Kaur

Two years ago, the world as we knew it had been halted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us struggled to maintain the relationships we held dear, with social distancing keeping us further away from the ones we loved. What kept Stephanie Franklin, an Oakland resident, connected with her friends was the drink that, with its astringent and sweet flavors, harbors stories, laughter, and love: wine. While social distancing, her friend expressed dissatisfaction with her recent wine-tasting experience. A natural oenophile, or wine enthusiast, Franklin came up with the idea to leave her job in tech and start her own wine-tasting business, Fly Wines, where she would work to provide customers with a luxury wine-tasting experience with flavors from local and international wineries. “You realize after living here, there’s so many different wine regions within California. So our goal was to make sure we provide high-quality wines and give those features of those local gems,” says Franklin.

On an e-commerce platform, Fly Wines is available for online orders, currently offering a kit to give customers a luxurious wine-tasting experience from the comfort of their homes. The Fly Wines experience, however, begins with the very packaging of the kits. “Packaging is geared towards giving you a full experience and a high luxurious mindset. Inclusivity is important to us, and that is reflected in our packaging as well,” Franklin notes. The sleek minimalist boxes contain varieties from fruity Vin Rosé to smoky Cabernet Sauvignon, communicating that there’s no such thing as a “girly wine” or “manly wine”—just that it’s fun to try new flavors. Once an order is placed, the kit, comprised of selections from Fortino Winery in Gilroy, is shipped within three to four days for Bay Area residents.

Despite the success Fly Wines has seen in the past four months that the website has been live, it hasn’t always been this easy, Franklin notes. “I’m happy we took our time because we’re in a very convoluted market, especially with alcohol and the restrictions behind it. It took us long to get the license in general,” she expresses. But in the lengthy process, Franklin and her team found a silver lining, especially because she was transitioning in careers from one industry to another. “That allowed us time to really research the market to understand who we’re selling to, understand our competitors, and understand the price point, among other details.”

With goals to continue expanding the business, Fly Wines will begin a subscription service, where customers will be able to order from wineries in Italy and Turkey, where Franklin herself will source the wines. “Finding these wineries is my passion. I love traveling and interacting with people,” she notes. “Going and chatting with them and researching and understanding how they develop their wines was my type of forte.” Her advice to those with creative endeavors of their own is, “Don’t rush. Especially starting your own business, take your time, do your research into the market. The most pivotal thing is to stay diligent on whatever goals you have for yourself.”

Fly Wines

https://flywines.club/

Hayward City Council adopts new sidewalk vending ordinance

Submitted by City of Hayward

The Hayward City Council gave final approval last week to new regulations and guidelines for sidewalk vending in the city including the establishment of a new permitting program for sidewalk vendors. The new ordinance, which takes effect on November 17, brings Hayward into alignment with 2019 state legislation that decriminalized sidewalk vending in California and is intended to provide a pathway for sidewalk vendors to operate lawfully in the city and in a manner that is both compatible with local businesses and protects public health.

Under the changes, sidewalk vendors will be required to apply for and obtain a Hayward Sidewalk Vending Permit prior to any vending on sidewalks. Vendors who propose to sell food will also be required to first obtain a Mobile Food Facility Permit from the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health. As part of the process, sidewalk vendors will be required to provide basic contact information such as their name, mailing address and phone number, describe the food or merchandise to be sold, and indicate if they intend to be stationary or roaming and if they will be operating as an agent of another individual, company, partnership or corporation. The fine for illegally operating without a sidewalk vending permit ranges from $250 for a first offense to up to $1,000 for each additional violation. Repeat violations of other regulations are punishable by fines ranging from $100 to $500 per incident.

To learn more, visit www.hayward-ca.gov, where educational information and a schedule of educational workshops will soon be available. Until then, questions and requests for additional information can be directed to Hayward Senior Planner Rozalynne Thompson at Ro****************@ha********.gov and (510) 583-5552.

Las Positas College Theater Arts presents “The Government Inspector”

Submitted by Las Positas College

Las Positas College (LPC) Theater Arts is proud to present its upcoming fall production, “The Government Inspector,” a comedy adapted by Jeffery Hatcher from the original by Nikolai Gogol on the LPC campus at the Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts Black Box Theater.

The audience is in for a treat with this witty, smart and wildly satirical performance. When the locals in a small Russian hamlet learn that an undercover government inspector is coming for a surprise visit, an unfortunate case of mistaken identity sends the whole village spiraling into a world of panic and greed. This timely and spirited adaptation of Gogol’s classic play exposes the corruption of a provincial town with biting hilarity, lampooning people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind. The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.) raved about the show, calling it “a comedy of galumphing, harrumphing hilarity. One part farce, one part slapstick, with a dash of musical theater, this naughty, frothy play is wholly entertaining…[A] clever, fearless script…[The] characters feel contemporary in a show where official ignorance and incompetence are compounded by corruption and hubris.”

LPC Theater and Performing Arts Coordinator Titian Lish shared that she first encountered the play in 2019 at a theater festival with a colleague. “We laughed so hard that we cackled,” Lish said. “We put it on our shortlist, and I am so excited to be working on it. It was a hilarious night of theater while also being bitingly spot-on in the political criticism.”

Tickets can be purchased online at showtix4u.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. For more information, visit the LPC theater events page or contact Titian Lish at tl***@la***************.edu

The Government Inspector

Friday, Nov 3 – Sunday, Nov 5

Las Positas College

Barbara F. Mertes Center for the Arts Black Box Theater

3000 Campus Hill Dr., Livermore

tl***@la***************.edu

Tickets $10-$20 per person

Why isn’t the Equal Rights Amendment now the 28th Amendment to the Constitution?

Submitted by the League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters has supported and pushed for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ever since it was passed by Congress in 1972. More than three years ago, Virginia became the 38th and final state needed to ratify the ERA. Why hasn’t the amendment yet been added to the U.S. Constitution? That question is the subject of the November 4 meeting of the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, and Union City (LWVFNUC).

It may surprise people to know that the Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1923. It had slightly different wording. In 1943, Alice Paul, a former leader of the women’s suffrage movement, rewrote the amendment to its current wording:

Section 1: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2: The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Section 3: This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

In March 1972, the amendment passed both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support far exceeding the two-thirds majorities required by the Constitution. Congress promptly sent the proposed amendment to the states for ratification with a seven-year deadline. The seven-year deadline was later extended by Congress to June 30, 1982. When this deadline expired, only 35 of the necessary 38 states (the constitution requires three-fourths of states) had ratified the ERA, so it did not become a part of the U.S. Constitution. However, the ERA has continued to be reintroduced in every session of Congress since 1982.

The National Archives and Records Administration says that the archivist of the United States, Daniel Ferriero, will not certify Virginia’s ratification or add the ERA to the Constitution until a federal court issues an order determining whether the deadline set by Congress is binding.

“Despite the significant legal and legislative advances that have been made in recent decades,” says the League of Women Voters, “women continue to face discrimination on the basis of sex. The symptoms of this systemic discrimination are apparent in the ongoing fights against unequal pay, workplace harassment, pregnancy discrimination, domestic violence, and limited access to comprehensive health care. We have already seen nationwide the devastating consequences, which underscores the vital need for constitutional protections against the denial of equal rights.”

When the members of LWVFNUC gather this week, they will discuss actions that people can take to support ERA certification. The group will meet on November 4 at 10 a.m. in the meeting room at Artist Walk, near Thornton Avenue and Fremont Boulevard. Guests are welcome.

The LWVEA and LWVFNUC welcome your membership, ideas, and participation. Our websites are www.lwvea.clubexpress.com and www.lwvfnuc.org. Contact us at lw*****@gm***.com for the Eden Area or in**@lw*****.org for Fremont, Newark and Union City.

 

 

League of Women Voters November meeting

Saturday, Nov 4

10 a.m.

Artist Walk

3888 Artist Walk Cmn, Fremont

(Near Thornton Ave. & Fremont Blvd.)

www.lwvfnuc.org

Oakland Zoo Giraffe Herd Welcomes New Baby

Submitted by Isabella Linares

Oakland Zoo is celebrating the newest addition to the giraffe herd, starting a new generation and family. After a very long pregnancy (giraffes have a gestation period of 14-16 months), Kijiji gave birth to her first calf, Kendi (female), on October 19 in habitat. Kendi is approximately 150 lbs. and is 6.5 feet tall. Kendi means ‘loved one’ in Swahili, paying homage to the language spoken in Kenya, where you can find reticulated giraffes in the wild.

Kijiji has already exhibited her loving and protective nature by guiding Kendi into the giraffe barn. A separate area has been set up by Keepers in the barn for the calf and mother to bond peacefully. Kendi is already standing and walking around the barn and has successfully nursed from its mother. Kendi is expected to remain behind the scenes with the mom for approximately two weeks for the mother and baby to develop their relationship.

Kijiji was brought to the Oakland Zoo in 2020 from Lee Richardson Zoo. The move was prompted by a recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSPs are developed to help ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA species population throughout AZA-accredited zoos in the U.S. In line with their accreditation, the Zoo’s animal management program values the positive impacts of a healthy herd that supports future individual animal wellbeing.

“We’re so excited to have a new baby join the herd. With the expertise of our staff, we’re prepared to assist Kijiji as she enters this stage in life as a new mother,” says Amy Phelps, Assistant Zoological Manager at Oakland Zoo.

Kijiji’s Keepers describe her as curious, intelligent, and sassy. She has excellent training skills, which have been helpful in the months leading to her delivery. She has participated in weekly training sessions to get voluntary weights and tactile training for voluntary ultrasounds of the lower abdomen to track calf development.

As Kijiji carries on her role as a mother, she and her calf will serve as ambassadors, educating guests about their wild giraffe counterparts. By having giraffes at the Zoo, the hope is to bring appreciation and awareness to the giraffe species, including the challenges they face in the wild. Oakland Zoo partners with the Reticulated Giraffe Project in Kenya, a conservation organization dedicated to working with local communities in Africa to help reduce human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss to preserve endangered wild giraffe populations.

Once Kendi makes her public debut on habitat with its mother, the Zoo will have a live stream for guests and followers to tune in to everything going on with the herd. To follow the calf’s journey on live cam, save this link: www.oaklandzoo.org/webcams/giraffe-cam

Parkinson’s Care Partner Summit

Submitted by Parkinson’s Foundation

On Saturday, November 4, the Parkinson’s Foundation will hold a “Care Partner Summit” to bring care partners together and provide resources to make life better for both carers and their loved one with Parkinson’s disease. This year’s summit will focus on how to communicate through difficult topics and find supportive connections.

Presentations include a lecture on Communication and Caregiving, panel of care partners and providers, exercise breaks, discussion and workshop, and Q&A. Speakers for the event are Dr. Salima Brillman, Aaron Daley, Bryan Hull, Deka Dike, Bernard Coley, and Grace Fang. Lunch, parking and respite care will be provided at no cost. Registration is required.

Parkinson’s Care Partner Summit

Saturday, Nov 4

9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Holly Community Center

31600 Alvarado Blvd., Union City

(702) 847-6603

Parkinson.org/summitbayarea

Cowboy Comedy Quartet at the Bankhead Theater

Submitted by Matt Fox

Two-time Grammy award winning comedy cowboy quartet, Riders in the Sky, makes a memorable return to The Bankhead on November 5. This legendary Western music and comedy quartet has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years with their unique blend of cowboy songs, hilarious jokes, and impressive musicianship. With their infectious energy and talent, Riders in the Sky will have you singing and laughing along from start to finish. Don’t miss your chance to see them live!

For tickets call the Box Office (925) 373-6800 or visit https://livermorearts.org/events/riders-in-the-sky-3/

Riders in the Sky

Sunday, Nov 5

3 p.m.

Bankhead Theater

2400 First Street, Livermore

(925) 373-6800

$45 – $75

https://livermorearts.org/events/riders-in-the-sky-3/

Silent Era Cartoons: Bray Studios, Ub Iwerks, & Beyond

Submitted by Niles Essanay

On Sunday, November 5, Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum will present a special program showcasing the truly imaginative and surreal world of early animated cartoon shorts. This screening features work from a variety of silent era animation producers, and serves as a fun cross-section of cartoon characters and series from a hundred years ago.

Highlights will include a topical Bobby Bumps subject from the first successful animation production company, the Bray Studios; an early animated adaptation of Charlie Chaplin; examples of Otto Messmer’s Felix the Cat and Max Fleischer’s Koko the Clown—two cartoon superstars of the 1920s; and three of Walt Disney’s earliest films featuring animation by the exceedingly talented Ub Iwerks.

These newly-restored versions, utilizing rare archival 16mm and 35mm prints, come from New York City-based history and archivist Tommy Jose Stathes and his Cartoons on Film label. Animation historian and writer, Jerry Beck, will be on hand at the event to introduce the digital program and conduct a post-screening Q&A.

Silent Era Cartoons

Sunday, Nov 5

3 p.m.

Edison Theater

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

Suggested donation: $6 members / $8 not-yet members

San Leandro High School robotics team takes first place in Robotics Competition

Submitted by SLUSD Communications

In a display of technical prowess and dedication, the San Leandro High School (SLHS) team took first place at the 2023 Pioneers in Engineering (PiE) robotics competition, held at the Hearst Mining Memorial Building on the UC Berkeley campus on October 14. This competition brought together 14 local Bay Area schools to showcase their engineering and programming skills.

The competition featured a “Carnival Celebration” theme, where student-created robots had to complete pre-programmed tasks during a three-minute match, including placing objects in a bucket and navigating autonomously. Student-operated robots then played carnival games to earn tickets, with the winner determined by total tickets at the end of each match.

This victory was the culmination of hard work for the winning team, including the following students:

• Jocelyn Avalos and Rafael Zapien, Mechanical Team Leads
• Angel Khehra, Logistics Lead
• Selmir Dizdarevic, Mechanical Team
• Mateo Torres-Cohen, Programming Lead and Club President

Together, they formed a highly organized leadership structure to accomplish extensive work in a relatively short time frame. The following adults also supported the team:

• Martín Martinez, programming mentor and SLHS alumni
• Daniel Gomez, mechanical mentor and SLHS alumni
• Quanina Quan, SLHS Chemistry teacher and STREAM academy director

The team’s motivation to participate in PiE competitions stemmed from their desire to honor the memory of their mentor, Eduardo Nava. Mr. Nava was a dedicated teacher and advocate for STEM education at San Leandro High School. Unfortunately, he passed away shortly before last year’s final competition. Despite this, the students united and worked tirelessly to complete the robot in his honor. Mr. Nava’s legacy continues to inspire their educational, professional, and leadership pursuits.

PiE played a significant role in making this competition possible. A UC Berkeley-run non-profit, PiE provides an accessible platform for Bay Area schools to engage in robotics competitions that foster technical skills in STEM pathways. Over the course of two PiE competitions, the team expanded their knowledge in programming, engineering, and leadership skills.

The team believes promoting opportunities like their club throughout San Leandro and the East Bay is vital for creating an inclusive educational environment. By demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can participate and excel in STEM activities, they aim to inspire others to pursue their passions in STEM and contribute to a more diverse and equitable future.

For more information about San Leandro Unified, please visit www.slusd.us.

Stratford School Star Students

Submitted by Jodie Fredericks

Students from the Milpitas campus of Stratford School have had some major wins including becoming a world record holder, taking home first place in an essay writing contest and winning a robotics competition.

• Caroline Fang and Charles Fang — Stratford Milpitas middle schoolers took home first place in The Vex IQ 2023-2024 Full Volume robotic competition. The students were both awarded the Teamwork Champions Award after attaining the top two rankings following the qualification matches, eventually teaming up for the final match and emerging as champions together. Additionally, Caroline’s team earned the highest honor, the “Excellence Award,” securing her spot in next year’s North California regional middle school competition while Charles’s team achieved excellence by winning the “Skills Champions Award” with an impressive score of 172 points. Charles’ team skill ranking soared to first place in the United States and second place worldwide!

• Dhruv Pothireddy — Our World Record Holder! Dhruv is in Kindergarten at Stratford Milpitas and is also the youngest person to solve Wooden Snake 2 x 2, 3 x 3, and Pyraminx Cubes in less than 3 minutes!

• Arav Siruvole – Stratford’s fourth grade student took home seventh place at the National Geography final competitions held by North South Foundation in Fremont. He was also awarded National Honorable Mention at Spring 2023 Noetic Competitions.

• Hisha Shah – Seventh grade student Hisha Shah won her first-place award in the Milpitas In-person Youth Essay Writing Contest! Sponsored by the Milpitas Library and Education Advisory Commission. Hisha received the award from the Mayor of Milpitas at City Hall.

Team Code Warriors: Sharing their love for reading with the community!

Submitted by Hena Patel

When the Code Warriors, a team of 5th through 7th graders from Fremont started their research on why kids were not reading, they never knew their project would gain so much momentum in such a short time. From researching the topic to coming up with a solution to successfully running a pilot and soliciting feedback, they did everything in less than three months. And their work continues.

Their first step was exploring the issue. They researched if social media was keeping kids from reading, or was it their socio-economic status? While these were important factors, they found kids were losing interest in reading due to lack of parental time and involvement.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to read to their kids at least 15 minutes a day. However, surveys and studies show that less than half of the parents are reading to their kids. The Code Warriors team conducted a survey of 60 parents and found only half of them read to their kids daily. This was stunning despite studies showing that early parental involvement in their kids’ reading journey leads to language development and later academic success.

The team met with local and international experts as well. They spoke with two professors at the UC Berkeley Department of Education, a GenAI and Technology team at UNESCO, a Program Lead at Oakland Literacy Coalition, a Director of Communication at Storyline Online, a local teacher, a librarian, and an author of children’s books. All the experts concurred that it was a problem – kids were losing interest in reading due to lack of parental time and involvement.

 

The team was disheartened, and determined to solve this problem. They researched existing solutions, and across the board found lack of human interaction to be the biggest hurdle. Where human interaction was available, for example story times at bookstores or libraries, it was not consistent. Story times were available only on certain days or times. Moreover, it was inconvenient for busy parents to drive kids and stay with them while they were being read to.

The team brainstormed and put together a list of ideas that would address these issues. They decided to launch a solution that was interactive, online (via zoom), and daily. It would be led by a team of volunteers from local middle and high schools. These volunteers would come with a recommendation from their school counselor or teachers. They would try to make sessions engaging using background art, so kids do not have to stare at blank walls. Volunteers would go through training on how to read to young kids and they would use props like soft toys, pictures, and puppets to make the session fun and engaging.

Before they went full scale, the team decided to run a pilot with five high school and middle school volunteers reading to kids ranging four to eight years old. The pilot was very successful. All five parents said they would like to continue the program. Reshma, a parent of a four-year-old, mentioned, “Loved the fact that an older-sibling-like kid is reading to my child in a safe environment.” Another parent, Nandini, mentioned, “The volunteer used very good techniques to engage my kinder kid. My kid was not at all distracted.” The volunteers equally enjoyed the experience. One high school volunteer, Spurthi, mentioned, “I loved reading to my student! She was so engaged and really made the experience fun for the both of us! I’d love to continue volunteering for this program.”

The Code Warriors got feedback from the same experts they met before, plus some more. Professor Mahiri from UC Berkeley mentioned, “Amazing work by the team on identifying the problem, design process, building the prototype, and the pilot. You have effectively identified the needs of society. I applaud your efforts!”

The team is now ready to scale their project. They have launched their own website – mystorypals.com. Based on feedback from Professor Mahiri, they are learning animation so that they can incorporate it into their storytelling process. They are also looking to spread their program by working with Oakland Literacy Coalition, local libraries, and English Language specialists at their school district.

They have read to kids not only in the Bay Area and Sacramento, but also in India and Germany. As they spread the love for reading, they are truly living their team’s motto – “We are the warriors, paying back as we move forward!”

Code Warriors’ My Story Pals program

https://sites.google.com/view/my-story-pal

250 Frozen Turkeys Needed!

Submitted by Donna Sisk

As the holiday season approaches, we find ourselves in a special place of gratitude, but also in need of your generous assistance. It’s that time of the year again when LOV – The League of Volunteers – and its partners, seeks your support to make our 35th Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner a heartwarming success.

We are on a quest to find 250 Turkeys, each with an average weight of 15lbs, and we’re hoping to secure them at a cost of $1.50 a pound or less. These turkeys will be the centerpiece of a festive Thanksgiving meal that we will serve to those in our community who would otherwise spend the day alone or lack the resources, be it money or shelter.

What you can do:

 

Donate Turkeys: If you’re out and about and can pick up a turkey with the required specifications, we would be overjoyed to receive your donation. You can bring the Frozen Turkeys from Tuesday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to our New Home For The Holidays at 39155 Cedar Blvd., Newark. Thanks to Fallon Tran at The Lion Newark Shopping Center for the donation of space during this holiday season.

Shop: If you can’t afford to buy the Turkey but can go shop for it, we will gladly reimburse you.

Spread the Word: Share this message with your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can make sure that everyone in our community can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

Volunteer: If you’d like to get involved beyond donating a turkey, we’re also seeking volunteers to help with food preparation, serving, and creating an enjoyable atmosphere for all our guests. Sign up to volunteer at https://www.lov.org/thanksgiving.

Let’s come together as a community to ensure that no one goes without a warm and hearty Thanksgiving meal. Your generosity and support can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Reach out to us at (510) 793-5683 or visit us at 39155 Cedar Blvd., Newark to coordinate your turkey donation or inquire about volunteering opportunities.

Thank you for being a part of this wonderful community, and for helping to make the 35th Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner a day of joy, gratitude, and togetherness for all.

Thank you to our current partners: Newark Pavilion, Sysco, Nefab, Swiss Park, Salvation Army, Rotary, Lion Food Center, Fremont Bank Foundation, Artic Glacier, Tri-City Voice.

LOV Turkey Donations

Tuesday – Friday

9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

39155 Cedar Blvd., Newark

LOV Thanksgiving

Thursday, Nov 23

12:00 noon – 2:30 p.m.

Newark Pavilion

6430 Thornton Ave., Newark

(510) 793-5683

www.lov.org

Leading the way on wildfire protection

Submitted by Dave Mason

The East Bay Regional Park District held a special briefing and tour at Anthony Chabot Regional Park today highlighting a first-of-its-kind fuels reduction project (365 acres) in the East Bay hills. The Park District’s wildfire fuels reduction project uses an innovative and climate-friendly carbonator to dispose of vegetation with extremely low emissions, rather than conventional open-pile burning or transporting it long distances in diesel trucks.

In the fall of 2020, while conducting ongoing vegetation management work, Park District staff noticed significant tree die-off in the parks. Further investigation identified over 1,500 acres of tree mortality within Regional Parks, mostly eucalyptus, but also bay and pine. While there are many contributing factors, the overarching cause is believed to be drought-stress due to climate change.

“We were facing a crisis,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina B. Landreth. “I directed staff to assess the situation quickly and come together with a plan of action, including obtaining the necessary funding to begin addressing the die-off.”

The Park District spans Alameda and Contra Costa counties and manages 73 parks, 1,330 miles of trails, and over 125,000 acres. The District has its own fire department and fuels management crew.

Much of the identified tree die-off was within the Park District’s approved Wildfire Hazard Mitigation and Resource Management Plan, which meant environmental approvals for fuels reduction work were already in place. However, significant funding was needed.

In 2021, shortly after discovery of tree die-off, the District approached State officials for help addressing the situation, and the State responded with a critical $10 million direct appropriation from the legislature through Senator Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and then-Senator Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont. The total cost estimate to address the tree die-off issue is over $30 million.

As efforts to secure funding proceeded, estimates also soared for removal costs and the amount of organic material (biomass) that would need to be disposed of. Adding to the complexity of the situation was the fact that removing so much dead and dying vegetation by traditional means required hauling it in trucks to plants that would burn it for fuel. Transporting the dead trees was cost-prohibitive, disruptive to the residential areas, and potentially dangerous. It would also create greenhouse gasses and pollution, causing some of the same environmental factors leading to increasing wildfire risks and perhaps even the tree die-off itself.

The solution the Park District found for processing large amounts of biomass was a carbonator. The machine, a Tigercat 6050, resembles a trucking container with a box-like metal chamber. The device burns organic matter with very little oxygen and at very high temperatures (about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit), which breaks down the molecules of organic matter into a smaller material called biochar. The process creates extremely low emissions.

The resulting biochar – essentially elemental carbon – provides benefits, such as enriching soil by improving its water retention or pH, accelerating composting of green waste, and filtering toxins from water. The carbonator, having never been used in a metropolitan area for biomass disposal at this scale, was tested as part of an 80-acre pilot project at Anthony Chabot Regional Park in 2022, with the lessons learned shared with the State and other partner agencies facing similar challenges. When completed in March 2023, the pilot project proved to be a net positive, with only a tiny fraction of emissions compared to open-pile burning or hauling off-site.

“As a large regional park district with a full-time fire department and biologists and ecologists on staff, we can do work that other agencies can’t,” said Park District Fire Chief Aileen Theile.

“The carbonator is another tool for our toolbox to reduce wildfire risks and combat climate change. Going forward, up to half of the biomass removed from parks could be converted into biochar,” said Park District Assistant Fire Chief Khari Helae.

Based on the success of the pilot project, a major fuels reduction project is underway at Anthony Chabot Regional Park on 365 acres and including the use of a carbonator for biomass disposal. The project is using $7.5 million of the $10 million direct appropriation from the state legislature, plus federal funds of $1.5 million secured by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

The project involves heavy equipment, including a felling team removing trees from the top down and a mastication team thinning vegetation and trees from the ground up. The resulting biochar is being used at Ardenwood Farms in Fremont to enhance soil health, improve water retention, and ultimately increase productivity.

“By doing this work now, we will gain a more sustainable eco-system in the long-term to benefit generations to come. We are working and planning for both now and the future, and we’re committed to playing the long game,” said Landreth

The Park District’s leadership team, firefighters, scientists, park rangers, and dedicated staff across departments continue to focus on wildfire mitigation strategies and the innovative, large-scale fuels management program, all while seeking new partnerships and ways to protect the community.

EARTHTALK Q&A

Winter Is Coming: Get The House Ready

By Roddy Scheer

Dear EarthTalk: With colder weather on the way, what are some cheap and easy ways to winterize my house that will save energy? —Millie D., Sarasota, FL

If your home is cold and drafty in the winter, you owe it to yourself and your family to do something about it. And by making a few small upgrades—some of which you can do yourself — you’ll also save energy and money.

The first line of defense against the cold coming in is to check for drafts around windows, doors and any other openings. When you find drafts, seal them with weatherstripping or caulk. Place door sweeps or draft stoppers at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent cold air from seeping in. If you have single-pane windows, consider using window film or adding insulating window panels. Even heavy curtains can help.

Another important element of keeping your home warm and cozy in winter is insulation. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) estimates that some 90 percent of U.S. homes are under-insulated, wasting energy and money and decreasing our comfort.

“If all U.S. homes were fitted with insulation based on the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC),” says Boston University environmental health researcher Jonathan Levy, “residential electricity use nationwide would drop by about five percent and natural gas use by more than 10 percent,”

It’s hard to know how much insulation coats your house—and where it is in your walls and roof—if you didn’t build it. But certain telltale signs may mean you need more. If you feel drafts even through windows and doors that are well sealed, the cold air may be coming through the walls in spots where there is little or no insulation. Another sign of too little or inadequate insulation is when different rooms in the house are colder than others. Getting an inspection from a local reputable insulation installer is a great way to get started taking care of this common and easily fixed problem. While you’re at it, get a look at your roof to make sure you aren’t missing any roof tiles, which can also let cold air in and heated air out. If you can’t climb up there yourself easily, get a roofing contractor to give you a free inspection, and make sure they take pictures to back up their reporting to you.

Another way to boost the heat and efficiency of your heating system, whether you have an oil or gas burning furnace, electric baseboard or anything in between, is to get it serviced by a HVAC professional who can fine tune it and alert you to any problems in the system.

There are lots of other ways to warm things up in your home this winter without breaking the bank. If you have ceiling fans, switch them to the reverse (clockwise) direction to help circulate warm air that rises to the ceiling. If you don’t already have one, get a programmable thermostat and use it to lower the temperature when you’re not at home or overnight when you’re asleep.

ONLINE CONTACTS

• Fall and Winter Energy-Saving Tips

www.energy.gov/energysaver/fall-and-winter-energy-saving-tips

• 11 Ways To Winterize Your Home On A Budget

www.bobvila.com/slideshow/11-ways-to-winterize-your-home-on-a-budget-10169

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

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

A heady delight

It’s a fact: you can get quite a headache if you drink too much wine. But balancing a bunch of wine glasses on your head can land you a page in the Guinness Book of World Records. In fact, Aristotelis Valaoritis, a native Cypriot, earned the coveted title recently when he managed to balance 319 wine glasses on his head while walking and dancing. It’s a talent that, over the years, has earned him the title of “glass dancer.” As he puts it, “I enjoy doing it. I see the spectators’ faces full of tension and agony like they’re watching a movie.” Watch the stunt on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFzwsBmagcw

Oooh!

It’s a baffling Halloween mystery that goes back some four decades: how do a pair of pumpkins suddenly and mysteriously appear on the clocktower spires of New Hampshire’s Plymouth State University. According to the school’s website, “Just how they get up there is a well-guarded secret, and conjuring the best, if far-fetched, tale on how it happens is a favorite campus past time.” See the perched pumpkins on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYiXjj8IVis

Hotter than hot

Hot pepper fans have long declared that the Carolina Reaper is the world’s hottest pepper. But the creator of the Reaper, Ed Currie, has officially outdone himself. He recently introduced a hotter than hot pepper — Pepper X — that both he, and the judges at the Guinness World Records, call the world’s hottest Chili pepper. Currie, the founder of Puckerbutt Pepper Company and who calls himself a “pepperaholic,” says his creation is registered at a whopping 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units [SHU] – about a million SHUs hotter than the Reaper. View the powerful pepper on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYtDA7j19c

The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.

THE ROBOT REPORT

Cruise, GM, Honda to bring AVs to Japan

By Brianna Wessling

Cruise is working with GM and Honda to bring its autonomous robotaxi service to Japan. The companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding to establish a new joint venture to provide a driverless ride-hail service in Japan starting in early 2026.

In particular, Cruise plans to deploy its Cruise Origin vehicle. Co-developed with GM and Honda, the Cruise Origin is a purpose-built autonomous vehicle that can carry up to six passengers. It includes comfortable camp-fire seating and doesn’t have a steering wheel or pedals. GM will manufacture around 500 Origins for the launch of this new joint venture at Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan.

“GM has always been invested in defining the future of transportation and that’s more true today than ever,” GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra said. “The benefits of AVs — from safety to accessibility — are too profound to ignore and through this important partnership with Cruise and Honda, we’re bringing forward innovation that leverages our expertise in cutting-edge software and hardware to help more people around the world get where they need to go.”

Pending government approvals, initial testing will begin next year, and commercialization will start in central Tokyo in early 2026. Afterward, the companies plan to subsequently expand and scale the service to areas outside of central Tokyo.

Cruise will coordinate and collaborate with various stakeholders in Japan, including national and local governments, and transportation service providers. The service aims to address a driver shortage in the country and offer a safer, more accessible form of transportation.

“There is an important and growing societal need for safe and accessible transportation in Japan that autonomous vehicles can provide a solution for,” Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said. “In addition to societal impact, the business opportunity is also exciting, as Japan represents one of the largest potential autonomous vehicle ride-hail markets in the world, with many dense, highly populated cities that have high transportation needs.”

“Honda is striving to create the ‘joy and freedom of mobility.’ Through our driverless ride service with Cruise and GM, we will enable customers in Japan to experience a new value of mobility, improve the quality of their mobility experiences, and offer the joy of mobility,” Global CEO of Honda Toshihiro Mibe said.“ This will be a major step toward the realization of an advanced mobility society. Providing this service in central Tokyo where the traffic environment is complex will be a great challenge, however, by working jointly with Cruise and GM, Honda will exert further efforts to make it a reality.”

Earlier this month, Cruise announced that its robotaxis are now available to the public in Houston. The company will operate seven days a week from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in an 11 square mile area that covers the Downtown, Midtown, East Downtown, Montrose, Hyde Park, and River Oaks neighborhoods.

Houston marks the fourth city that Cruise has started public operations in, following San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. The company tests in four other cities, Charlotte, NC, Dallas, Miami, and Nashville. Cruise has been rapidly expanding its robotaxi operations in the last year.

Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She joined WTWH Media in November 2021. She can be reached at bw*******@wt*******.com

Social Security Matters

By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation

Ask Rusty – Can my wife claim her benefit now, and switch to a spouse benefit from me later?

Dear Rusty: Can my wife claim her benefits now (at 63, and we know about the reduction for claiming early) and then, when I retire at 66 years and 10 months of age, almost three years from now, can she switch over to spousal benefits based on my benefit amount? She worked at a higher paying job for much of her career but is now at a much lower income and would be under the amount that would reduce her benefits further. I currently earn about nine times her annual salary so the spousal benefit for her would be an increase when I retire. Signed: Seeking Information

Dear Seeking: Yes, your wife can claim her own (reduced) Social Security retirement benefit now, and she will be automatically awarded a spousal boost when you later claim your SS retirement benefit. However, your wife’s benefit when you claim will not be 50% of your full retirement age (FRA) amount because she claimed her own SS benefit early and also because her spousal boost will be awarded prior to her FRA. Any benefit taken before FRA is reduced, including the spousal benefit.

Here’s what will happen if your wife claims her own Social Security (SS) at age 63:

• Your wife’s personal SS retirement benefit, when she claims, will be reduced by about 25%
• When you claim at your full retirement age, your wife will get a “spousal boost” to her own reduced benefit.
• The amount of your wife’s spousal boost will be the difference between her FRA entitlement and 50% of your FRA entitlement, reduced because the spousal boost will be awarded (automatically) before she has reached her own full retirement age. FRA amounts are used to compute the spousal boost, regardless of the age at which benefits are claimed.
• The reduced spousal boost will be added to your wife’s reduced SS retirement benefit, resulting in her total benefit payment being less than half of yours.

The only way your wife can get the full 50% of your FRA entitlement is to wait until her own FRA (67) to claim Social Security, but by doing so she also forfeits the money she would otherwise receive if she claimed her own benefit now. As long as she won’t significantly exceed the earnings limit while working before her FRA, claiming now is an acceptable strategy because it will take many years to recover the money forfeited by waiting until her FRA to claim. It’s also reasonable because women statistically outlive men and your wife’s benefit as your surviving spouse will be 100% of the amount you are receiving at your death, instead of the smaller spousal amount she was receiving while you were both living.

When to claim is always a personal choice, and life expectancy should always be thoughtfully considered, but the answer to your specific question is: Yes, if your wife claims her own benefit at 63, she will automatically receive her spousal boost when you claim, but her payment as your spouse will be less than 50% of your FRA benefit amount.

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.

 

 

 

Tri-City History – Street Names #10: Sunderer

by Kelsey Camello, for the Washington Township Museum of Local History

Sunderer: A street that could have been…

 

Up to now, each month’s local history column in 2023 has focused on a street name located within Fremont, Newark or Union City, along with the history behind that name. This month, it seems prudent to focus on a name that some might consider “missing” from the local directional signage: Sunderer. Be this imaginary roadway a Street, Road, Drive, or Way, Sunderer would most certainly be located in Mission San Jose.

Joseph Sunderer (born 1834), who was widely considered a pioneer of Alameda County both during his lifetime and after, emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1867. Landing in New York, he traveled by ship to San Francisco, where he spent six months plying his skill of shoemaking and repair. In 1868, Sunderer settled in Mission San Jose, continuing his trade, and in the process becoming the first shoe maker in the town’s history.

Sunderer and his family lived through the great earthquake of 1868, which occurred in the Hayward Fault Zone. The quake was the largest on the fault in recorded history – estimated at a magnitude of 7. In 1873, Joseph became a U.S. Citizen. In 1877, the Sunderer Family purchased the home they’d been renting on Vallejo Street (now Mission Boulevard). Seven years later, in 1884, a fire ravaged Mission San Jose, taking the family home with it. However, thanks to Joseph’s quick thinking, the remaining portions of the old Mission Church were saved, as he had deftly suggested, upon seeing that the town’s water supply had run dry, that product from the winery next door be utilized to extinguish the fire. That same year, an all-volunteer fire department was formed, with Joseph at the helm.

After the fire, the family rebuilt their home and boot shop in the same footprint as the first. In 1894, a second fire destroyed most of the town. Again, the Sunderer home and shop was destroyed. One year later, in 1895, the final home was built. The home remains to this day at 43341 Mission Boulevard in Fremont.

As a resident of Mission San Jose, Joseph worked tirelessly for his community. He organized the local AOUW lodge and served as treasurer for 20 years; He operated an insurance agency locally for 50 years, advocated that additional rooms be added to the one-room schoolhouse, and served on the school board for 20 years. He served as pound master, deputy constable, Wells Fargo agent, and road overseer. He was a key figurehead during the 1897 centennial celebration of the founding of Mission San Jose, and he was responsible for suggesting Mission San Jose as a home for the Dominican Sisters’ convent in 1892.

Joseph’s son August organized Mission San Jose’s first band, and went on to become a noted architect throughout the Bay Area. Joseph, his wife Rosa and their children remained in their family home until 1933, when Joseph passed away (Rosa had died in 1917). His daughter Abbie remained until 1949, and his daughter and son in law, Rose and Roscoe Whiteside, until 1966. In 1969, the home was transferred to Joseph Sunderer’s granddaughters, and that same year it was sold to Robert and Pauline McIvor, who cared for Mission San Jose like the town was their own child. In 2017, the home was sold from the McIvor Trust.

In more recent history, on December 20, 2022, a fire ran through the old Sunderer home and boot shop. Thankfully, no lives were lost. However, the damage was extensive. As a result, as of September 2023 the owner of the building is requesting an emergency demolition of the building. Many valid questions have come from this emergency request. As a building on the Fremont Historic Resources Inventory (2006), and with a completed DPR (2019) showing that the building (pre-fire) was eligible for listing on the California Register of Historical Places, why did the owner not prepare for this unfortunate possibility by retaining proper insurance coverage? Additionally, what constitutes an emergency? The fire took place 10 months ago, and the building has already sat through three seasons. Finally, what guarantees is the owner making that the building will be replaced? Take caution – don’t forget what happened to the Centerville Fire Station, when promises were abundant, but capital was not. The building was torn down then, and an empty lot remains there year after year.

Anyone with an interest in retaining local history and holding people accountable for their ownership of it, should contact the Historic Architecture Review Board and send comments to staff planner Mark Hungerford at mh*********@fr*****.gov. Remind the City of Fremont that its citizens do care about history. Remember Joseph Sunderer; Don’t demolish the Sunderer Home!

Let’s explore local history together! Have a topic or idea you’d like us to look into? Email us at in**@mu******************.org.

 

 

 

‘Egg’citing Halloween deviled eggs

By Daniel O’Donnell

Eggs have long been associated with Easter. It might be hard to believe but for some people eggs are also associated with Halloween, a holiday that celebrates death and the underworld. Below are some devilish ideas to decorate deviled eggs and get everyone into the spirit of celebrating Halloween.

Deviled eggs were prepared and eaten in Roman times, and possibly even before that, although they were not called deviled eggs. To “devil” something in the Middle Ages meant to mix it with various hot, peppery, or spicy seasonings. People associated a red/orange color, peppery taste, or heat of deviled dishes with the fiery underworld. It was not until the late 1800s that deviled egg recipes using mayonnaise to bind the egg yolk with the seasonings began to show up in cookbooks.

The name “deviled” egg is identified so much with the underworld that in some more religious parts of the U.S., this style is renamed stuffed eggs, salad eggs, or angel eggs. Names in Europe include Russian eggs, dressed eggs, curried eggs, casino eggs, and eggs mimosa. Although the recipes may differ a little, all are what most Americans would recognize as deviled eggs. So too are the ones people decorate for Halloween when the plain version is not enough to conjure up the Halloween spirit.

Halloween deviled egg recipes begin with hard boiled eggs. To hard boil eggs, place them in a saucepan and fill the pan with cold water to at least two inches above the top of the eggs. Bring the saucepan to a rolling boil and then turn off the heat. Some chefs prefer to call them hard cooked eggs because the eggs are cooked in hot non-boiling water. After the heat is turned off, cover the pan and let the eggs sit for 10 minutes. Remove them and place in a bowl filled with ice water. Cooling the eggs this way reduces the chance of a green ring forming around the yolk. It can also help make it easier to peel the eggs. Using the oldest eggs in the refrigerator will also make peeling easier. The hard cooked eggs can be peeled and cut lengthwise with the exception of spiderweb deviled eggs.

The Irish used to carve demonic faces into turnips on October 31, the night before “All Saints Day” to frighten off the soul of a man named Jack that wanders the earth during this time. When the Irish immigrated to the US, they carved pumpkins instead, and so pumpkins became part of Halloween culture. A deviled egg in the style of a pumpkin continues the tradition. Simply make regular deviled eggs, but mix in an orange spice such as chili powder, Sriracha, or even orange food coloring into the yolk mixture. Spoon the mixture into the egg whites and lightly press a fork into the mixture, which will recreate the ribbing found on pumpkins. Place a piece of chive or thinly sliced piece of green pepper above the egg mixture to look like a stem.

Bats, hunting insects over ancient peoples’ fires, were said to be the spirits of the dead. Along with vampire bats drinking blood, this has secured them a place in Halloween tradition. Making devil- and bat-themed deviled eggs creates a nice Halloween treat. Prepare the eggs. Slice a red bell pepper into small rectangular pieces to make the wings for the bats. Cut little triangles out of the bottom side to give the wings shape and press the ends of two of them into the yolk mixture. Use the cut triangle pieces as horns. Cut off the pointy bottoms of small red peppers and place them straight up in the yolk mixture so they resemble horns for devil-themed eggs.

There might not be a historical link to bloody eyeballs being a Halloween tradition, but they are used in costumes, as decorations, and, in the case of bloody eyeball deviled eggs as appetizers at Halloween parties. Any deviled egg can be made into a bloody eye spectacle by placing a green or black olive in the center of the yolk mixture and then drizzling BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or any other red sauce over the entire egg.

Spiders and their webs have long been associated with Halloween because they are often found in dark scary places like caves, basements and abandoned homes. Spiderweb-styled deviled eggs give the same spooky impression. Making them differs from other recipes as the shells are cracked after they have cooled but the eggs are not peeled. Instead, they are placed in a small bowl of water colored with purple or blue food coloring. After eggs have soaked for a few hours, they can be peeled to display the web-like pattern in the cracks. Make them into deviled eggs using a favorite recipe. Add green food coloring to the yolk mixture for a more dramatic impact.

Eggs symbolized fertility and rebirth in ancient cultures and modern-day Christianity. It might then seem odd to decorate them for Halloween, a holiday that is centered around death and the underworld. Create an “eggs”eption to this symbolism by giving birth to some fun Halloween-themed appetizers.

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

Castro Valley School Board

October 10, 2023

6:00 p.m.

• Accept Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures Quarterly Report Ending September 30, 2023
• Approve purchase order report for September 18, 2023 through October 2, 2023
• Approve new and closed positions on the request for Personnel Action Board Report as of September 29, 2023
• Adopt Resolution 13 – 23/24, authorization to approve The Piggyback purchasing contract between Sierra School Equipment, Co., And Castro Valley Unified School District
• Accept quarterly investment report as of June 30, 2023
• Adopt resolution 14 – 23/24, Disposal of Obsolete and/or Surplus Property

President Lavender Whitaker             Aye

Dolly Adams                                       Aye

Gary Howard                                      Aye

Michael Kusiak                                   Aye

Sara Raymond                                    Aye

Indiana Chilton (Student)                   Aye

Fremont City Council

October 10, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Authorize the Master Services Agreement with Silicon Valley Paving, Inc. for on-call maintenance and safety repair work to damaged asphalt, concrete and paving pathways at various parks and trail locations throughout the city.
• Authorize a multi-year agreement with Ani & Cat, LLC in an amount not to exceed $228,000.
• Authorize the City Manager to issue a purchase order for Fire Protective Equipment to Municipal Emergency Services in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
• Approval of annual purchase orders with U.S. Foods Inc. for food supplies in an amount not to exceed $250,000 per fiscal year.
• Authorization to execute task orders to the Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Newark for FY 2023/24 Paratransit Services and Case Management Services to Newark residents and appropriate additional funds.
• Authorization to execute task orders to the Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Union City for FY 2023/24 Paratransit services.
• Acceptance of FY 2023/24 Paratransit Discretionary Grant Program Funding and Authorization to execute the associated contract for the Ride-On Tri-City Services.

Mayor Lily Mei                      Aye

Vice Mayor Teresa Cox         Aye

Raj Salwan                              Aye

Yang Shao                              Absent

Teresa Keng                            Aye

Jenny Kassan                          Aye

Desrie Campbell                     Aye

Fremont Planning Commission

October 26, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Public Hearing Items

• AT&T OHLONE COLLEGE – 43600 Mission Boulevard – To consider a Conditional Use Permit to remove an existing eucalyptus tree and install an 80-foot tall stealth wireless telecommunication facility designed to resemble a eucalyptus tree (Monoeucalyptus) with an associated 900 square-foot equipment enclosure on the Ohlone College campus in the Mission San Jose Community Plan Area; and to consider a categorical exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Vote: 4 Aye; 2 Nay (Liu, Ramamurthi); 1 Absent (Basari)

• AM/PM CONVENIENCE STORE AND GASOLINE SERVICE STATION CUP – 43500 Grimmer Boulevard – To consider a Conditional Use Permit to allow the sale of distilled spirits in addition to the previously permitted sale of beer and wine at an existing convenience store located in the Irvington Community Plan Area, and to consider a finding that no further environmental review is required pursuant to an exemption from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Vote: 6 Aye; 1 Absent (Basari)

• 2023 CODE UPDATES – HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION – Citywide – To consider text amendments to various chapters of Fremont Municipal Code Title 17 (Subdivisions) and Title 18 (Planning and Zoning), as well as a resolution amending the City’s various design guidelines to include, confirm, and/or clarify objective standards for design review permit approvals pertaining to housing developments, to comply with State law and implement various programs of the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element; and to consider exemptions for the proposed amendments from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Vote: 6 Aye; 1 Absent (Basari)

Chair Charles Liu                   Aye, Nay

Yonggang Zhang                    Aye

Jasmine Basrai                        Absent

Reena Rao                               Aye

Shobana Ramamurthi             Aye, Nay

Craig Steckler                         Aye

Benjamin Yee                          Aye

Newark City Council

October 12, 2023

7:00 p.m.

Presentations

• Assemblymember Alex Lee presented a check for the Newark Resource Center and Old Town PDA Road Diet
• Manufacturing Week Proclamation

Public Comment

• Newark volunteer requested monetary assistance for the Ohlone Humane Society

Consent Calendar

• Adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance of the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Prevention Grant Program through the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) and amending the 2022-2024 Biennial Budget
• Adopt a resolution approving a Letter of Understanding to the Memorandum with the Newark Police Association

Mayor Micheal Hannon                      Aye

Vice Mayor Sucy Collazo                   Aye

Luis Freitas                                         Aye

Mike Bucci                                         Aye

Matthew Jorgens                                 Aye

Union Sanitary District

October 23, 2023

4:00 p.m.

Motions

• General District Election (a) Consider a resolution ordering, calling, providing for, and giving notice of general election to be held in Union Sanitary District, Alameda County, California, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, for the purpose of electing three directors; and (b) Consider a resolution ordering the consolidation of the Union Sanitary District General Election on March 5, 2024, with the Statewide Direct Primary Election to be held on March 5, 2024, and requesting the Board of Supervisors of the County of Alameda to consolidate the General District Election with the Statewide Direct Primary Election to be Held on March 5, 2024
• Consider a resolution to accept the construction of the primary digester No. 7 Project from C. Overaa & Co.
• Review and consider approval of unclassified publicly available pay schedule effective September 1, 2023.

President Manny Fernandez               Aye

Tom Handley                                      Absent

Pat Kite                                               Aye

Anjali Lathi                                         Aye

Jennifer Toy                                        Aye

Alameda County Fire Log

Submitted by ACFD

Wednesday, October 25

• Alameda County Fire Department’s Crew 8 assisted Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department with a controlled burn at Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore.

BART Police Log

Submitted by BART PD

Thursday, October 19

• At 12:03 p.m. a woman identified by officers as Michela Jefferson, 21, from Oakland was contacted for fare evasion at San Leandro station. Jefferson was taken into custody and booked into Alameda County Jail for an arrest warrant.

Saturday, October 21

• At 6:55 p.m. officers identified and detained Joel Lemus, 28, from Richmond for fare evasion into Milpitas station. He was arrested for an active warrant. Lemus was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.

Sunday, October 22

• At 5:25 p.m. a man identified by officers as Gregory Smith, 35, from San Francisco was contacted on a train at Hayward station. Smith was arrested and booked into Alameda County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

• At 7:02 p.m. officers identified and contacted Christopher Mark Martinez, 23, from San Jose for fare evasion at Milpitas station. Martinez was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for possession of brass knuckles.

Monday, October 23

• At 9:10 a.m. a man identified by officers as Jason Hewitt, 30, from San Lorenzo was contacted for fare evasion at Bay Fair station. Hewitt was taken into custody for misappropriation of lost property; false impersonation; and violating the terms of probation. He was booked into Alameda County Jail.

• At 6:55 p.m. a man identified by officers as Benny Wiggins, Jr., 41, from Martinez was contacted on the platform of Milpitas station. Wiggins was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for criminal threats.

Tuesday, October 24

• At 11:05 a.m. a man identified by officers as Artavius Cooper, 47, from Fremont was contacted for fare evasion at Fremont station. Cooper was taken into custody for an outstanding warrant and booked into Alameda County Jail.

• At 6:39 p.m. officers responded to Bay Fair station regarding a report of a subject who was sleeping between the train car doors on a Dublin/Pleasanton bound train. Officers detained a man they identified as Casey Smith, 30, from Santa Clara. Smith was arrested for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and possession of methamphetamine and sedatives. Smith was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Wednesday, October 25

• At 8:17 a.m. officers identified transient Castro Mynor, 31, at Hayward station. Mynor was taken into custody for vandalism; possession of burglary tools; false impersonation; and possession of a controlled substance. Mynor was booked into Alameda County Jail in Dublin.

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Fremont PD

Wednesday, October 11

• At approximately 9:48 p.m. officers responded to a shooting in a parking lot on the 41000 block of Albrae St. The victim had been sitting in his car when a subject on a bicycle rode by and shot him in the chest, firing four rounds and hitting the victim once. The subject rode away on the bike before officers arrived. Officers provided immediate medical aid for the victim, who was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. This case remains under investigation.

• Officers responded to a victim who reported that he was being held against his will in the back of a warehouse on the 4200 block of Business Center Dr. He also advised that there was prostitution being conducted. Officers conducted a welfare check inside the business and contacted three individuals, but none admitted to being held against their will. Officers were also unable to locate the victim who had called in. This case remains under investigation.

Thursday, October 12

• Officers assisted Fremont Fire Department with a fire that burned an encampment and an electrical utility box on State St. near Mowry Ave. FFD extinguished the fire, and officers evacuated nearby residents to ensure their safety. A witness confirmed that a subject had been feeding the fire before walking away. Officers arrested the subject nearby, an adult out of Fremont.

Saturday, October 14

• Officers responded to multiple reports of a woman screaming for help and being dragged down a hallway at an apartment complex on Main St. A subject had stabbed his girlfriend during an argument. Officers arrested the subject and immediately provided medical aid for the victim, who was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

• Officers received intelligence regarding a pending sideshow event near Trimboli Way. Approximately 50 vehicles were parked in the area, with several subjects wearing Halloween masks. Within minutes, at least 100 more vehicles arrived, but officers prevented them from landing. Officers cleared the group out of the area and conducted traffic enforcement stops. The group headed to another shopping center to regroup, but officers coordinated with Newark PD to prevent the group from landing.

Monday, October 16

• At approximately 9:30 a.m. officers responded to a shooting at a condominium complex on the 900 block of Walnut Ave. Officers found both involved parties still on scene. Officers learned the suspect and victim were familiar with each other. The suspect showed up unannounced and demanded entry into the victim’s condo, then chased the victim through the complex while shooting at the victim with a handgun. The shots did not strike the victim. After the shots were fired, the suspect and victim got into a physical altercation. Officers arrived and took the suspect into custody without incident, and recovered the involved firearm at the scene.

Wednesday, October 25

• At approximately 5:10 p.m. dispatch received a report of a person down in the 3100 block of Walnut Ave. Fremont Police and Fire immediately responded. Upon arrival, officers located paramedics on-scene attending to a man who was suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

During a canvass of the area, detectives located an expended shell casing within the immediate area and are actively investigating this incident as a homicide. At this time in the investigation, a suspect has not been identified. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please contact Detective Jacob Blass via email at Jb****@fr*****.gov or by phone at 510-790-6963. Business owners/operators and residents living in proximity to the location are asked to please review video surveillance and notify the police department of any information that could help in this investigation. This is Fremont’s fourth homicide victim in 2023.

Hayward Police Log

Submitted by Hayward PD

Tuesday, October 24

• A door dasher was looking for an address on a receipt when he drove onto a parked vehicle. While this accident was relatively minor and no one was hurt, this easily could have ended with someone injured.

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Milpitas PD

Friday, October 20

• Around 11:07 a.m. a suspect carjacked a victim near the 1200 Block of S. Abel St. The incident was captured on nearby video surveillance and an MPD officer recognized the suspect from prior contacts. Detectives assisting with the investigation used Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras to find the vehicle and arrested the suspect in San Jose within a few hours. The suspect, who was also on county probation for fraud, was booked into jail for carjacking and possession of narcotics.

Saturday, October 21

• Around 7:23 a.m. officers responded to a subject causing a disturbance near the 600 Block of Capitol Ave. After telling officers he had a felony no bail warrant from CDC-R for narcotics violations, the suspect attempted to run away. Officers took him into custody. The suspect, an Oakland resident, was booked into jail for his felony warrant, resisting arrest, and narcotics violations.

• Around 5:16 p.m. an officer was proactively patrolling the parking lot of a hotel near the 1400 Block of Falcon Dr. The officer came across a 47-year-old male from San Francisco who had a felony warrant for burglary. The suspect was booked into jail for his warrant.

• Around 5:38 p.m. officers responded to a theft in progress at a store in the Great Mall. MPD officers assigned to the mall arrived within seconds and contacted a 25-year-old female from Oakland who had stolen more than $950 worth of merchandise. The suspect initially provided a false name to officers because she had several felony warrants for identity theft and burglary. Once she was identified, she was booked into jail for grand theft and providing false identification to a police officer.

• Around 11:46 p.m. an officer contacted a 39-year-old Milpitas resident near the 900- lock of E. Calaveras Blvd., who was on county probation for illegal possession of a firearm and felony vandalism. The suspect also had a felony warrant for domestic violence. The suspect was arrested and booked into jail for resisting arrest and his warrant.

Sunday, October 22

• Around 3:05 a.m. officers responded to a hit-and-run near the 600-Block of N. Abel St. Officers located the suspect and his vehicle nearby. The suspect, a 60-year-old Milpitas resident, had a blood alcohol level of nearly three times the legal limit and was booked into jail for DUI and hit-and-run.

• Around 5:06 p.m. an officer was proactively patrolling the Great Mall when he saw a 41-year-old from Novato exit a store without paying for his merchandise. The suspect had multiple felony warrants for assault, sales of narcotics, resisting arrest, and theft-related charges. He was booked into jail for all of his warrants and possession of narcotics.

Newark Police Log

Submitted by Newark PD

Tuesday, October 17

• At 4:06 p.m. Officer Pacheco located an unoccupied stolen vehicle on Flanders Drive.

• At 10:16 p.m. Officer Torres arrested a 39-year-old out of Newark for violating a restraining order and vandalizing vehicles on Elm Street.

Wednesday, October 18

• At 10:05 a.m. Officer Piquette investigated a late reported assault with a deadly weapon on Mowry Avenue where the victim was severely burnt by his co-worker. Ongoing investigation.

Thursday, October 19

• At 1:07 p.m. Officer Quinonez investigated an attempted package theft from a residence on Primula Terrace. The suspect damaged the Victim’s Ring doorbell camera prior to fleeing the area.

Friday, October 20

• At 8:02 a.m. Detective Hunter arrested a 41-year-old male out of Newark for a felony warrant.

• At 10:55 p.m. Officer Swadener initiated a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for various vehicle code violations and arrested the driver, a 41-year-old male out of Pleasanton, for his warrants, possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

Saturday, October 21

• At 6:30 a.m. Officer Frentescu investigated a stolen vehicle from a parking lot on Newpark Mall Road.
• At 8:44 p.m. Officer Kapu attempted to stop a motorcyclist driving recklessly in the area of Thronton Avenue and Mayhews Landing Road. The driver failed to yield and was not pursued.

• At 9:36 p.m. Officer Riddles conducted a parole search on Cedar Court and arrested a 32-year-old male out of Modesto and a 44-year-old male out of Fremont for drug related charges. Both were issued a citation and released on scene.

• 11:35 p.m. Officer Hererra conducted a traffic enforcement stop of a vehicle on Mowry Avenue and arrested a 37-year-old male out of Newark for drug related charges. He was issued a citation and released on scene.

Sunday, October 22

• At 8:42 a.m. Officer Taylor received a Lo-Jack alert from a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was located in the area of Walnut Avenue. As officers approached, the unknown suspect returned to the parked vehicle and fled the area. Officers did not pursue the vehicle and surrounding agencies were notified.

• At 10:29 a.m. Officer McCuin arrested a 40-year-old male out of Newark for domestic violence. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Union City Police Log

Submitted by Union City PD

Tuesday, October 3

• At approximately 6:10 p.m. officers responded to an assault at a Union Landing business. Two individuals were in the parking lot arguing over money, when one intentionally struck the other with his vehicle, throwing the victim onto a parked car. The suspect continued to try to strike the victim with the car, but the victim was able to avoid getting hit again. When officers arrived and attempted to contact the suspect, he violently resisted. Officers were ultimately able to overcome his resistance and placed him under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. A record check of the suspect revealed the suspect also had a warrant for his arrest for murder.

Thursday, October 5

• At approximately 1:46 p.m. a crew of three Black males 17-30 years old, stole from two businesses back-to-back in the 31800 block of Alvarado Boulevard. They stole cigarettes and cash from the register, and in one case, pushed an employee during the theft. The suspect vehicle was a blue Hyundai SUV.

• At approximately 9:00 p.m. officers responded to a home invasion robbery in the 34600 block of Arroyo Drive. Two masked and gloved suspects entered the victim’s house through the open back door while the male victim slept. One of the suspects held the male victim in a chokehold while the female victim handed over cash. The suspects fled out the back door and were not located. One suspect was described as a Black male, 13-14 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds. The second was a Black male, 30-40 years old, 6’ tall, 170 pounds.

Friday, October 6

• At approximately 2:00 p.m. officers responded to a robbery in the 32100 block of Alvarado Niles Road. The victim was unloading a large number of cigarettes he had just purchased when the suspects approached, armed with a handgun. Fearing for his life, the victim backed away while the suspects took the cigarettes and fled in a black BMW. The suspects were two Black males, 30-35 years old, 5’10”-6’0″ tall.

• At approximately 7:30 p.m. officers responded to a robbery at Union Landing. The victim was sitting in her car when she was suddenly punched in the face by an unknown assailant. The suspect took the victim’s purse, cash, and wedding ring and fled on foot.

Newark Cross Country at Campolindo

Submitted by Newark Memorial Athletics

Photos by Todd Tokubo

Our cross-country team traveled to Campolindo High School in Moraga to tune up for the upcoming postseason against some of the best teams in the Bay Area.

Both the varsity boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams head into next weeks Mission Valley Athletic League Championship in first place league standings.

Mission San Jose Warriors topple Kennedy Titans in Senior Night matchup

By Vidyuth Sridhar

On October 26, the Mission San Jose Warriors’ (Fremont) Varsity Girls Tennis faced off against the John F. Kennedy (Fremont) Titans in their regular season finale, prevailing 7-0.

Despite winning the North Coast Section (NCS) championship in 2021, and advancing to the NCS playoff quarterfinals in 2022, the Warriors faced key challenges during the start of the season, losing several graduating seniors as well as their head coach. “We weren’t really sure what to expect when we got to tryouts, and what our level as a team would be … we had to adapt to figure out our strengths and how the team would [compete] this year because again, our team is different,” Co-Captain Megha Hegde said. However, key contributions from new varsity players, coupled with guidance from new head coach Paul Nissler, propelled the team to a 12-1 league record heading into the match.

Held for the first time this season at nearby Mission San Jose Community Park, a sizable crowd of Mission San Jose students flocked to the tennis courts to celebrate the Warriors’ Senior Night, a commemoration of the team’s outgoing high school seniors in their final regular season game. Shouts of encouragement from the crowd and posters of the seniors energized the Warriors throughout the match, fueling them to dispatch the Titans in all four singles and three doubles matches.

With the seniors receiving flowers from both Warriors and Titans players, and exchanging heartfelt addresses towards teammates, the event also felt bittersweet. “Senior night was an extremely emotional day … The ceremony at the end had me feeling a lot of joy and love for my team, mixed with sadness that I was graduating,” Warriors senior Adwithi Yarida said.

For the Warriors, the event encapsulated their strong bond and positive team chemistry forged this season. “Seeing the non-seniors talk about the support that [the seniors] have given them, and then the seniors talking about their experiences with one another and the team, was a climax as far as how the season went,” Head Coach Nissler said.

However, the Warriors’ season is not yet over. The Warriors compete next in the Mission Valley Athletic League Finals tournament, from October 31 to November 1, and have clinched a spot in the NCS championships, which begin on November 7. Entering the postseason, the Warriors, and particularly their graduating seniors, are looking to conclude the season on a high note. Hegde shared, “[For the seniors], this could very easily be our last match we ever play for this team, so let’s make every match a great match and just have a lot of fun.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Wildlife & Public Health Alert!

Despite major opposition, the CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) continues to issue annual import permits for two million American bullfrogs (commercially-raised) and 300,000 freshwater turtles (taken from the wild) for human consumption. None are native to California, and all are diseased and/or parasitized, though it is illegal to import/sell such products (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 236).

The market animals are routinely purchased en masse and released into local waters, where they prey upon and displace our native species, while spreading multiple diseases and parasites. Inexplicably, local health departments and environmental organizations remain remarkably silent.

Most of the bullfrogs carry a lethal chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), responsible for the extinctions of 100+ amphibian species worldwide in recent years. The problems are many: environmental protection, species extinction, risks to public health, major animal cruelty, lack of law enforcement, “political correctness,” ad nauseam.

The State Fish & Game Commission will make its recommendations at the December meeting in San Diego. EASY FIX: Stop the live permits, allowing only frozen frog/turtle parts. Oregon and Washington outlawed live bullfrog imports decades ago; Oregon also banned non-native turtles. California should follow suit. Express your concerns to CDFW Director Chuck Bonham (di******@wi******.gov), and the Fish & Game Commission (fg*@fg*.gov).

Sincerely,

Eric Mills, coordinator

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

Oakland

Fremont Unified School District maintains high proficiency levels on statewide assessments

Submitted by Laura Forrest, FUSD Public Information Officer

Statewide data with results of 2022-23 academic assessments and rates of chronic absenteeism were released by the California Department of Education (CDE) on October 18. The data shows emerging trends in student attendance and academic performance two years out from the return to in-person instruction following pandemic-related distance learning. “The instruction each of our students receives from educators in the classroom and through needs-responsive intervention support at each of our schools is supporting tremendous growth.

The data shows that Fremont Unified students have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels of academic performance and attendance rates, and our work to meet students’ academic, social and emotional needs will continue to be of importance in the coming years. I remain very pleased with our high level of student achievement throughout all the challenges of the last four years,” said FUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack.

2022-23 Rates of Chronic Absenteeism

The 2022-23 rate of chronic absenteeism for FUSD of 13.4 percent was substantially lower than those reported across Alameda County, 26.7 percent, and the state, 24.9 percent. This was nearly level compared to the 2021-22 chronic absentee rate of 13.6 percent within the district, but remains more than double the 2019 rate of 5.5 percent. The chronic absenteeism measure shows how many students were absent for 10 percent or more of the instructional days they were enrolled to attend.

2022-23 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

The 2022-23 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) summative assessments were completed in the spring of 2023, and included summative tests in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. Students in FUSD had a relatively strong performance and maintained high levels of overall proficiency. Continuing a multiyear trend, proficiency levels within FUSD surpassed Alameda County and statewide averages. FUSD did realize a small decrease in proficiency as measured by the 2023 Smarter Balanced (SBAC) summative assessments in ELA and mathematics. However, district proficiency rates in science increased by 1.7 percent as measured by the 2023 California Science Test (CAST).

Scores on SBAC and CAST assessments tests fall into one of four achievement levels: standard exceeded, standard met, standard nearly met, and standard not met. Statewide results across all tested grades showed the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards declined by 0.4 percentage points for ELA, increased by 1.2 percentage points for mathematics, and increased by 0.7 percentage points for science when compared to students who took the tests in 2021-22.

Overall, 75.8 percent of FUSD students met or exceeded the standard in ELA, compared to 55.8 percent for Alameda County and 46.7 percent for all of California. In mathematics, 69.7 percent of FUSD students met or exceeded the standard, compared to 46.7 percent for Alameda County and 34.6 percent for all of California. In science, 61.6 percent of FUSD students met or exceeded the standard, compared to 41.3 percent for Alameda County and 30.2 percent for all of California. Nearly 98 percent of eligible students in FUSD successfully completed their SBAC exams in both ELA and mathematics, and the CAST exam in science.

Fremont’s power provider has a new name

Submitted by City of Fremont

Since 2018, Fremont has been a member of East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), our not-for-profit public power provider. With EBCE, community members have access to low-cost green energy and a variety of community benefits. On October 24, East Bay Community Energy became Ava Community Energy. This name change is part of a larger brand refresh for the agency. The name Ava Community Energy is shorter, more memorable, and subtly nods to the agency’s growing service territory, which spans Alameda County and the San Joaquin Valley.

As a Fremont customer, there are no actions for you to take. Your service and rates will not change. You will begin to see Ava Community Energy in all the places you encountered East Bay Community Energy in the past. Beginning with your next billing cycle, the generation page of your PG&E bill will show the Ava name. Similarly, all emails, newsletters, and other communications will now come from Ava.

For more information, please visit the Ava website at www.avaenergy.org

Hyundai is rapidly building its first US electric vehicle plant, with production on track for 2025

By Russ Bynum, Associated Press

The steel skeletons of buildings where Hyundai will stamp, weld, paint and assemble electric vehicles in Georgia span more than a half mile on a sprawling site dotted with so many cranes, bulldozers and construction workers that it almost looks like they’re building a small city.

A year has passed since Hyundai Motor Group broke ground on the $7.6 billion vehicle and battery plant, the South Korean automaker’s first U.S. factory dedicated to producing EVs. Hyundai officials said more than 2,000 people are working each week on the rapidly progressing project west of Savannah, which the company calls its American “metaplant.”

“The site is advancing every day as we work diligently to complete this amazing project,” Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America CEO Oscar Kwon told reporters visiting the site Wednesday. “We are on track to start production in early 2025 — or, as my boss Jose Munoz likes to say, if not sooner.”

Munoz, Hyundai’s president and global chief operating officer, said last month that the company has accelerated construction to take advantage of federal incentives that reward domestic production of EVs. He said it’s possible the plant could open before the end of next year.

Officials at the construction site said Wednesday October 25 that the foundation work for the factory’s main production buildings is almost finished and the framework of more than 27,000 tons (24,490 metric tons) of steel is more than 80% complete. Some have roofs and floors, and exterior wall panels have begun to go up.

“It’s hard to believe what has occurred in just one year,” said Trip Tollison, president and CEO of the Savannah Area Economic Development Authority, one of the key local agencies that worked with state officials to lure Hyundai to Georgia.

The plant is being built parallel to Interstate 16 on a site that covers more than 2,900 acres (1,170 hectares). Hyundai says it will build 300,000 EVs each year at the plant. The site will also manufacture batteries to power those vehicles in a partnership between Hyundai and LG Energy Solution.

Hyundai offered a first look Wednesday at some features of the finished plant. Artist renderings showed buildings with plentiful windows and skylights to maximize natural lighting indoors, a large covered parking lot for employees topped with solar panels, and an elevated bridge with glass sides that will let people outside see unfinished cars moving by conveyor from the paint shop to the assembly plant.

The plant will employ 8,500 workers. Tollison said suppliers opening shop in nine Georgia counties near the Hyundai plant will create another 6,000 jobs.

It’s the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. And it came with a whopping incentive package, with state officials and local governments offering $2.1 billion in tax breaks.

Pat Wilson, Georgia’s economic development commissioner, has said Hyundai is projected to have a direct payroll of $4.7 billion over the next 10 years. The company has promised to pay workers a yearly average of $58,105, plus benefits.

Pumpkin Patches

Pick of the Patch Pumpkins

Fremont

4020 Fremont Hub, Fremont

San Lorenzo

Hesperian Blvd at Paseo Grande

Mon – Thurs: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Fri: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sat: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Inflatable amusement zone, paint ball, pumpkin patch

Wristbands: $5-30

Pumpkin Patches

Boo Calendar

Unhinged: Housewarming

Friday, Sept 22 – Tuesday, Oct 31

Friday – Sunday; select Thursdays

Start times: 7:15 p.m., 10:15 p.m.

Garden party, haunted house, and Halloween museum

Winchester Mystery House

525 S Winchester Blvd., San Jose

(408) 247-2000

Unhinged: Housewarming

Tickets: $64.99

Fear Overload Scream Park

Saturday, Sept 23 – Sunday, Nov 5

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

(times vary; check by night)

Two terrifying attractions: House of Phobia, Happy Days Asylum

2086 NewPark Mall, Newark

https://fearoverload.com/

Tickets: $19.99 – $32.99

Pirates of Emerson Haunted House

Friday, Sept 29 – Tuesday, Oct 31

Fridays – Sundays; Thursdays, Oct 19 & 26; and Tuesday, Oct 31

7:05 p.m. – 10 p.m. (11 p.m. or midnight on select nights)

Choose your attraction: Demented Dolls, Pirates of Emerson, Halloween Hell, Seesawz Circus

Alameda County Fairgrounds

Corner of Bernal & Valley Avenues

www.piratesofemerson.com

Tickets: $40 – $80; $13 landlubber pass

Paranormal Investigation at Meek Mansion

Saturday, Nov 4

7 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Search for paranormal activity with an experienced investigator

Meek Mansion

17365 Boston Rd., Hayward

(510) 581-0223

www.haywardareahistory.org/explore-the-paranormal

Tickets: $75

Boutique Calendar

Holiday Boutique by The Builders Fund

Friday, Nov 3

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Handmade gifts and holiday decor, homemade baked items

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

Dominican Sisters Holiday Boutique

Saturday, Nov 18

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse

43326 Mission Circle, Fremont

Mistletoe Madness

Saturday, Nov 25

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

70+ local art vendors

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro

http://www.mistletoemadness.net/

Newark Artists Open Studios & Holiday Boutique

Friday, Dec 1 – Sunday, Dec 3

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Paintings, ceramics, jewelry, glass, scarves

Studio Sites

6222 Thornton Ave., Ste. B1: Nancy Benton, Scoop Benton, Farshid Namei

39675 Cedar Blvd. #135: Tetiana Taganska, Olga Tymoshchuk, Susan Helmer

36541 Cherry St.: Simone Archer, Shelley Stratton Stewart

35911 Ruschin Dr.: Adriane Dedic, Emelie Rogers

www.myartiststudio.com

Sun Gallery Holiday Boutique

Friday – Sunday, Dec 1 – Dec 9

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sun Gallery

1015 E. St., Hayward

(510) 581-4050

Holiday Boutique and Craft Fair

Saturday, Dec 2

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Over 80 artisan vendors

American High School

36300 Fremont Blvd., Fremont

https://ahsboutique.weebly.com/

Dia De Los Muertos Calendar

Day of the Dead: Celebration of Life

Tuesday, Oct 3 – Friday, Nov 3

During library hours

Works by Hayward Arts Council Members

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

Day of the Dead Sun Gallery

Friday, Oct 20 – Saturday, Nov 18

Gallery Hours: Thurs – Sun, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Altars and works across a variety of media

Sun Gallery

1015 E. St., Hayward

(510) 581-4050

https://sungallery.org/

Ballet Folklorico & Dia de los Muertos

Thursday, Nov 2

5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Learn about the holiday and experience Ballet Folklorico

Newark Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

bit.ly/3ZYrMRc

Dia de los Muertos

Saturday, Nov 4

9 a.m. – 12 noon

Youth Mariachi band, Aztec dancers, face painting, crafts, food for purchase

Cardoza Park

1356 Kennedy Dr., Milpitas

www.milpitas.gov

Sugar Skull 5K Walk, Run, Roll

Saturday, Nov 4

9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

8 a.m. check in starts

Cardoza Park

1356 Kennedy Dr., Milpitas

https://cityofmilpitas.simpletix.com/

Last day to register: October 27

Continuing Events:

 

First Tuesdays

Open Mic on the Labyrinth

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Share your music, poetry, comedy, and spoken words in one of Fremont’s most beautiful settings!

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church

2791 Driscoll Rd., Fremont

(510) 490-0553

 

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

sf*********@ya***.com

 

Tuesdays

A Matter of Balance R

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels of older adults

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Call or email to register.

First and Third Tuesdays

Mobile Food Distribution with Tri-City Volunteers

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Bring your own bag.

Fremont Adult and Continuing Education

4700 Calaveras Ave., Fremont

(510) 793-6465

tri-cityvolunteers.org/food

First Wednesdays

Talkin’ Dirt R

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Online gathering of gardeners.

Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF) Center

36501 Niles Blvd., Fremont

bit.ly/3UPp51i

 

Wednesdays

Tropics Bingo

7:00 pm

Flash games.

Tropics Mobile Home Park

33000 Almaden Blvd., Union City

(510) 471-8550

the-tropics.net/activites

Wednesdays

Zumba Gold $

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Workout while dancing

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Wednesdays

Ping Pong

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Activities for people with Parkinson.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Thursdays & Saturdays

Story Time

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Picture book story time.

Banter Bookshop

3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F., Fremont

(510) 565-1004

bit.ly/3VFpbcz

Thursdays – Sundays

Historic Days

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ride a train, tour the Patterson House Museum, and join park staff in historic costume for programs and activities.

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies.

 

Thursday -Sunday

Animal Feeding

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Feed livestock and learn about their favorite food

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies.

Fridays and Saturdays

Telescope Viewings

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Experience the awe and wonder of the universe

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/events

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City $

8:00 pm

Series of improvised games and scenes.

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

First and Third Saturdays

Pacific Bus Museum $

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Open house

Pacific Bus Museum

37974 Shinn St., Fremont

pacbus.org

in**@pa****.org

 

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

Mondays & Thursdays

Fruit Tree Gleaning

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Donate fresh fruits from your garden.

LEAF CR Stone Garden

55 Mowry Ave., Fremont

fremontleaf.org/glean

in**@fr*********.org

Mondays

Advanced Math + Science Tutoring

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Free high school and college-level tutoring

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org/locations/csv/

Wednesdays, December 7 – November 22

Qi Gong Meditation & Exercise Classes

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Relieve stress and anxiety by joining Falun Dafa classes

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas

Fridays, January 20 – January 5

Knit & Crochet Circle

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn knitting and crocheting.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas

Tuesdays, March 21 – December 19

Chess Mix

12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Drop in for some casual chess games

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ

 

First Tuesdays, April 4 – December 5

BACH- Healthcare & Enrollment

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Learn about the services & programs available at Bay Area Community Health.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

First Wednesday& Third Sunday, April 16 – November 19

Shinn House tour

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Visit Shinn House on a docent led tour.

Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum

1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont

(510) 790-5541

missionpeakreporter.org

Saturdays, May 27 – December 30

Divine Satsang Sabha

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Know techniques of living a virtuous, harmonious, & meaningful life

SMVS (Shri Swaminarayan Mandir)

36665 Cedar Blvd, Newark

(650) 585-5325

smvs.org/centers/centerdetail/106

 

First Monday, June 5 – December 4

Teen Junk Journaling Workshop

5:45 pm – 6:45 pm

Learn the basics of junk journaling and start your own journal!

Hayward Public Library (Downtown)

888 C St., Hayward

(510) 293-8685

rb.gy/igtdy emrys.

ho****@ha********.gov

Tuesdays, July 18 – November 28

Baby Bouncers Lapsit

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

A baby and caregivers program including nursery rhymes, lap bounce, body rhymes, songs, & picture books.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/Milpitas

Wednesdays, July 19 – November 29

ESL Conversation Club

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Improve your English skills and learn about other cultures.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/Milpitas

dp*******@sc**.org

First & Third Friday, July 21 – December 15

Mobile Food Distribution

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Food distribution for the first 80 families.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1444, (510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fr*****@ac*******.org

Please bring your own bag.

First and Third Wednesdays, August 2 – December 20

Golden Gatherings

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Gathering of the elders in golden years for casual conversations and calm, self-guided activities.

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ/

sa********@ac*******.org

First Saturdays, August 5 – December 2

Music Hour at the Library

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

An hour of music by local musicians.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

js*****@ac*******.org

First and Third Saturdays, September 2 – February 17

Book Sale

10:30 am – 3:30 pm

Pop into the bookstore on the first floor for some great deals!

Hayward Public Library (Downtown)

888 C St., Hayward

(510) 293-8685

hayward.librarycalendar.com

Tuesdays, September 5 – December 19

Music and Storytime

11:00 am – 11:45 am

Story, music, and movement with children

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

(510) 626-8522

aclibrary.org/locations/slz/

sa********@ac*******.org

First and Third Wednesdays, September 6 – November 29

Stories & Crafts with Ms. Jennifer

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Join for stories, songs, and craft. Ages 2-5.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

ne***********@ac*******.org

First Thursday, September 7 – December 7

Connections Through Music (Special Needs Friendly) R

Session 1: 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm for Ages 1-5

Session 2: 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm for Ages 5-14

Inclusive musical experience to children of all abilities!

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

Tickets will be handed out 15 min prior the event

Saturdays, September 9 – December 30

Computer Crew: Teen Tech Help

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

One-on-one tutor on basic tech issues

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org/locations/csv/

ca**********@ac*******.org

Saturday, September 16 – November 30

Latinx American Heritage Month Art Showcase

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Studio 11

34626 11th St., Union City

(510) 675-5825

rb.gy/gu46v

er***@un*******.org

Sundays, September 17 – November 12

Epic Art Exhibit at Dove Gallery

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Featuring spectacular landscapes, historical landmarks, and symbols of great devotion.

Dove Gallery

875 S Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas

(408) 464-5011

dovegallery.com

do**@pa**********.org

Mondays, September 18 – November 6

Music for Minors 2 Volunteer Training R

7:00 pm – 9:15 pm

United Church of Christ Hall

38255 Blacow Rd, Fremont

(510) 733-1189

musicforminors2.org

Mondays and Wednesdays, September 18 – November 6

Music for Minors 2 Volunteer Training R

In – person Training on Mondays: 9:15 am – 11:45 am or 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm

Online training on Wednesdays: 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm

Corpus Christi Parish

37968 Third St., Fremont

(510) 790-3207

musicforminors2.org

Tuesdays, September 19 – May 28

It’s Storytime

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Stories, finger plays, nursery rhymes, songs, and musical instruments for kids ages 18 month- 6 yrs.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fr**************@ac*******.org

 

Tuesdays, October 3 – November 28

Teen Tuesdays Tag R

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Join the Teen advisory group, meet other teens, play games, make art and poetry, and more

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

eb*******@ac*******.org

Tuesdays, October 3 – December 5

Tuesday Chat

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Improve your English by talking with native speakers about everyday topics.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fr*****@ac*******.org

First and Third Wednesdays, October 4 – December 20

Castro Valley Library Genealogy Study Group R

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Want to research your family history or be companion to others on their search.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

t.ly/rLARe

Wednesdays, October 11 – December 27

Manitas en Acción

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Combination of reading books out loud, hands-on crafts and learning about culture in Spanish.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/

Tuesdays, October 16 – November 6

Modern Brush Pen Calligraphy New! R$

10:30 am – 11:45 am

Learn to write beautifully and cover the basis of using, holding, and writing with brush pens.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

issuu.com/hsdept

nj*****@fr*****.gov

Mondays, October 16 – November 27

Lego Club for Grades K – 8

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

An hour of fun building with Legos

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas/

uv*@sc**.org

Fridays – Sunday, October 20 – November 19

The Fantasticks R$

Fri and Sat: 8:00 pm

Sun: 2:00 pm

Chanticleers Theatre

3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 733-5483

chanticleers.org

 

Wednesdays, November 1 – December 6

Digital Literacy for Adults

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/

Thursday – Sunday, November 2 – December 16

Ingrid Wells Emotional Support Paintings

Virtual Exhibit: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 791-4357

olivehydeartguild.org

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, October 31

Halloween Storytime and Parade

1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Come in your costumes for Halloween Storytime (ages 3-5) followed by a parade to trick-or-treat

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fr**************@ac*******.org

Tickets will be handed in after 1:15 pm.

Tuesday, October 31

Scary Story/Poem Competition

12:45 pm

Celebrate Halloween with winning stories/poems from the competition

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Tuesday, October 31

Halloween Flash Mob Performance

11:45 am

Haunting performance by the AWCSF International Folk Dance Dancers.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Tuesday, October 31

Let’s Art – Acrylic Paints and a Gelli Plate R

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Join for a relaxing night of creating artwork

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

Registration opens: October 24

Tuesday, October 31

Boo-tastic Storytime & Costume Parade

3:00 pm – 4:15 pm

Not-so-spooky Halloween Storytime followed by a parade to trick-or-treat.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

ne***********@ac*******.org

Tuesday, October 31

Halloween Giant Bubble Party!

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Giant bubble making, chalk drawing, Halloween candy hand out. and hula hoops

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ/

sa********@ac*******.org

 

Wednesday, November 1

American Red Cross Blood Drive

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

sanleandro.org

Wednesday, November 1

The Literary Corner

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

November’s book for discussion is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.

Hayward Public Library (Downtown)

888 C St., Hayward

(510) 293-8685

hayward.librarycalendar.com

ri************@ha********.gov

Wednesday, November 1

Indigenous voices book title guessing game

9:00 am – 5:00 pm

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, join us in a book title guessing game!

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas/

sc*********@sc**.org

Wednesday, November 1

Food Hacks Club

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Bring your best food hacks including fast food ordering tips, couponing, and fast/easy recipes to share.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas/

rp****@sc**.org

Wednesday – Sunday, November 1 – November 5

Stage Kiss $R

Nov 1 and 5: 4:00 pm

Nov 2, 3 and 4: 8:00 pm

A comedy written by Sarah Ruhl.

Chabot College

25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward

(510) 723-6600

chabotcollege.edu/theaterarts

ae**@ch***********.edu

Thursday, November 2

Legal Assistance for Seniors Medicare Open Enrollment Presentation

10:00 am – 11:00 am

An overview of eligibility, costs, benefits, and changes to Medicare Parts A and B, information about Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, and more.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

mt*****@fr*****.gov

Thursday, November 2

Homeschool Pre-Teen Social Hour R

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Play board games, involve in craft and activities

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

li********@ac*******.org

Registration starts from October 26

Thursday, November 2

“Show Me the Funny” a stand-up comedy competition $R

8:00 pm

Enjoy the funny performances

JP’s Family Restaurant

3600 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley

plethos.org

Thursday, November 2

An Evening with Poet Lucien Zell

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Poetry reading from “Tiny Kites”

Books on B

101 B street., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

booksonb.com

ha*************@gm***.com

Friday, November 3

Hayward Is Home: A shoreline for All R

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Conversation about how citizens and government worked together to restore the hayward shoreline in the 1970s and 1980s.

Hayward Public Library (Downtown)

888 C St., Hayward

(510) 293-8685

hayward.librarycalendar.com

lo********@ha********.gov

Friday, November 3

First Friday: Science Obscura $R

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Spend the evening learning about the lesser-known fields of science

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org

Friday, November 3

‘Sad Hour’ with Lucien Zell

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Have a one-on-one session with Lucien for his recommendations of your reading remedies

Books on B

101 B street., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

booksonb.com

ha*************@gm***.com

Friday, November 3

Vigil for Human Right R

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

A community vigil to call for human rights around the world for a just and lasting peace.

Corner of Dyer St. and Alvarado Blvd., Union City

tinyurl.com/MTC11323

ma************@gm***.com

Friday, November 3

One Child Annual Fundraiser $R

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Fundraiser for the organization that works for underserved children with clothing and school supplies.

Spin A Yarn Steakhouse

45915 Warm Spring Blvd., Fremont

(510) 656-9141

onechildca.org

Du*******@co*****.com

Saturday, November 4

Neat Stuff with a Naturalist

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Come explore the park with a Naturalist and enjoy the unique hands-on activities, tours, or crafts. Ages 5+

Coyote Hills Visitors Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

(510) 544-3220

ebparks.org/parks/coyote-hills#events

Parking fee applies

Saturday, November 4

Farm Chores for Kids

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Lend a hand cracking corn and feeding the animals, checking the chickens and help with other morning chores

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies

Saturday, November 4

Stilts

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Want to be taller? Improve your balance? Give stilts a try

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797, (888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies.

Saturday, November 4

My 2.5 Years Behind Barbed Wire in the United States During World War II R

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Stories of World War II from Survivors.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fr*****@ac*******.org

Saturday, November 4

Diwali Variety Show

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

2nd annual variety show celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights!

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

Saturday, November 4

Herbal Medicine in your Backyard

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Workshop on medicinal herbs that can be grown in our gardens

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/nwk/

ne***********@ac*******.org

Saturday, November 4

Hindi-English Storytime

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Bilingual book reading, nursery rhymes, and other fun activities.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

aclibrary.org/locations/ucy/

pr*******@ac*******.org

Saturday, November 4

Washington Manor Park tree planting R

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Training and equipment provided. Families and children welcome.

Washington Manor Park

14900 Zelma St, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

sanleandro.org

Saturday, November 4

Let’s Talk Turkey

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Learn more about Turkeys

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/sunol#events

Parking fee applies.

Saturday, November 4

Butterfly Garden Monthly Workday

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Volunteer to help maintain the San Leandro Butterfly Garden!

San Leandro Blvd. at W. Estudillo Ave, San Leandro

downtownsanleandro.com/calendar/

Saturday, November 4

Screen of “Raffles, the Amateur Crackman (USA, 1935) $R

7:30 pm

Preceded by The Musketeers of Pig Allen (1912) and The Sleuth (1925)

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

nilesfilmmuseum.org

Saturday, November 4

Coffee Tasting R

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Talk about coffee culture from around the world and get to know how does brewing affects taste?

Hayward Public Library (Downtown)

888 C St., Hayward

(510) 293-8685

hayward.librarycalendar.com

sa************@ha********.gov

Saturday, November 4

Storytime with Marie!

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Reading of Big Pumpkin and The Witch who wants to make pumpkin pie

Books on B

101 B street., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

booksonb.com

Saturday, November 4

Oak Wonderland

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join this exploration to discover the special ways animals and plants interact with oak trees.

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/sunol#events

Parking fee applies.

Sunday, November 5

Bate, Bate Chocolate

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Join at the wood burning stove to prepare champurroda, an ancient corn and chocolate drink.

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies.

Sunday, November 5

Silent Era Cartoons $R

3:00 pm

Showcasing the truly imaginative and surreal world of early animated cartoon shorts

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

nilesfilmmuseum.org

**@ni*************.org