11-08-22 Articles

 

Light Parade

Submitted by Eden Area Chamber

Photos courtesy of Eden Area Chamber and Brian Centoni Visions

 

For the last few years, the residents of Castro Valley have kept up the tradition of the holiday light parade while social distancing by decking out their homes for a drive by version of the celebration. In 2022, the parade is back with two stages, brilliantly lit floats, community and food booths, and live Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. When last held in 2019, the parade attracted over 10,000 attendees, with 700 floats and 2,000 participants.

 

This year, 12 schools are entering floats, so there will be much local spirit from students, teachers and families. Castro Valley Boulevard will close to street traffic at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. (Come early if you want to stake out your spot.) The parade itself kicks off at 5:30 p.m., to proceed from Lake Chabot Road to Redwood Road. Floats will be announced from the two stages, on Santa Maria and San Miguel Avenues.

 

 

Castro Valley Light Parade

Saturday, Nov 12

3 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Lake Chabot Rd. to Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 537-5300

www.edenareachamber.com/castro-valley-light-parade-2022/

 

 

 

 

Glowfari

Submitted by Oakland Zoo

 

Glowfari is returning to Oakland Zoo for the third year, with an all-new display of glowing lanterns. This year’s experience features new displays including a walkabout through the land down under with kangaroos and koalas, icons of the California coastline including whales, otters, and jellies, exotic animals of the tropical rainforest, and a trip to the past with a towering t-rex and a megalodon shark tunnel!

 

The gondola will be running and festively lit to take you up to see creatures of the coastline at California Trail. The last ride up is 8:00 p.m. and the last ride down is at 8:30 p.m. Snacks and beverages (including hot chocolate) are available at The Landing Café and Tuskers Grill. (Check restaurant and gift shop hours online.)

 

Finish your experience with a ride on the train through a fantasy wonderland full of fabled creatures like fairies, unicorns, and more mythical beasts! Visit Santa in the rides area Fridays to Sundays in November, and every night December 1 – 23.

 

This event can be considered photosensitive. Guests who are prone to seizures or have light sensitivity should be aware.Masks are strongly recommended in all indoor spaces (including indoor exhibits, gift shop, restaurants, and restrooms) by all individuals ages 2 and up, regardless of vaccination status. We also recommend wearing a mask outdoors when adequate distancing may not be possible.

 

Glowfari runs 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Last entry is between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. with a timed ticket reservation. Tickets go on sale 28 days (four weeks) in advance on a rolling basis.

 

Proceeds from Glowfari support Oakland Zoo’s operating expenses, animal care, education and conservation programs.

 

 

Glowfari

November 11-13, 16-23, 25-27, 30, 2022

December 1-23, 26-31, 2022

January 1-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, 2023

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Oakland Zoo

9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland

(510) 632-9525

www.oaklandzoo.org

Adults: $24; Children (2-14)/Seniors; (65-75): $20

Under 2 and over 76: Free

Members: 10% discount

Parking: Free

 

 

 

 

Local teacher runs Chicago Marathon

By Charlene Dizon

 

Newark resident and Milpitas teacher Estelle Ríos showed great resilience and perseverance on her journey in preparing for the 2022 Chicago Marathon. Despite the unexpected wave of the pandemic along with juggling her final semester of college, Ríos not only fulfilled her marathon goal but inspired her students.

 

Staying physically active is a lifestyle that Ríos has embraced for years. Currently, she is avidly engaged in crossfit. In high school, she participated in softball, water polo, cross country, and track and field. At Wheaton College in Illinois, where she majored in elementary education, she was a member of the varsity softball team. It was through her softball coach that Ríos formed an unexpected connection to marathons in 2020.

 

“My coach knew that I enjoyed running and asked if I was interested in registering for a marathon, which I’ve always wanted to do,” she explains. Ríos joined a team with World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water for countries with widespread poverty. Team World Vision would participate in the Chicago Marathon, a 26.2-mile distance run. What followed for Ríos was months of vigorous preparation.

 

Training began in April 2020, with the marathon set for October 2020. Ríos followed an 18-week marathon training plan provided by her organization, which included daily mile runs to practice pacing. Unfortunately, the rising pandemic caused the marathon to be canceled. Regardless of this setback, Ríos deferred for the 2021 Chicago marathon in the hopes that she would be able to put her training to use. When April 2021 arrived, Ríos resumed her training. “I was student-teaching at the time while finishing up my most important semester of college, so it was very hectic,” she recalls. Despite returning home late in the evenings, Ríos would still implement running into her routine and simply stay up to finish grading schoolwork.

 

However, another setback arose in 2021: Ríos got COVID-19 a mere three weeks before the marathon. To her family and friends’ surprise, she remained consistent in her training, though it required decreasing her daily mileage runs. She thankfully recovered in time but the marathon was difficult in her post-recovery state, causing Ríos to not reach her personal record (PR). This outcome led her to register for the 2022 Chicago marathon.

 

In 2022, Ríos received an official full-time teaching position in Milpitas Christian School. As a fifth-grade teacher, Ríos’ passion for teaching shines in the classroom. Her first year thus far has been a fulfilling experience as she states, “This age range is such a critical time as my students start figuring out who they are. I love that I can make an impact on their lives academically and connect with them personally.”

 

With the 2022 Chicago Marathon in mind, Ríos not only trained diligently but discussed her experience with her students. The children were supportive and intrigued by the marathon process. Ríos says, “I taught them how to download the Chicago Marathon app that would show me on the course in real-time if they wanted to track my progress.”

 

On October 7th, Ríos flew out to Chicago, where she celebrated her birthday the day before the marathon. In comparison to her prior year’s run, Ríos 2022 marathon experience was much more fulfilling. With her sharpened training techniques and goals in mind, Ríos overcame her PR of five hours, finishing at an astounding four hours and thirty-three minutes.

 

Upon returning to school, her fifth-grade students congratulated her and spoke in specific detail about her race. Ríos learned from their parents that the children were completely invested, waking up extra early in order to follow along with their teacher’s real-time progress. “They congratulated me on beating my PR and even told me that they wanted to try running a marathon,” Ríos says. “I encouraged them to add it to their bucket list once they meet the age requirement!”

 

Participating in a marathon has only strengthened Ríos’ appreciation for running. With the unconditional support of her fifth-grade students, family, and friends, the experience has been an unforgettable one. Ríos’ enjoyment for marathons stems not only from the thrill of fulfilling a PR but being able to enjoy the atmospheric Chicago scenery and community cheering on the sidelines, as well as meeting people from various walks of life. As for advice for those who hope to someday run a marathon, Ríos says, “Anyone can do it. You don’t have to be an elite athlete or Olympian. Start small, pace yourself, and remember that your running style is specifically for you.”

 

 

 

Veterans Day remembrance

Submitted by Michi Yee

 

Veterans Day honors the diverse group of men and women who answered the call of freedom to repel authoritarian forces of extremism and rule by force rather than law. The following poem was written by Barbi Ino to recognize the heroic efforts of the 442nd Regiment of Japanese American soldiers who faced danger on World War II battlefields of eight major campaigns in Italy, France and Germany while enduring prejudice and shameful practices of their home country.

 

They were the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of the United States military. The 442nd represents the best of our citizens of all nationalities and race who have pledged and shown loyalty to the country of their birth or through naturalization. It is a reminder of the value and strength of Americans no matter what race, ancestry or country of origin. Even those treated poorly and unfairly by an imperfect society, have remained true to the cause of liberty and freedom during trying times. This is one shining example.

 

 

Ode to Warriors of the 442nd

 

Dear Warriors of the 442

I salute you on this day

Of memories and memorials

That pass along the way

 

True sacrifice and battles won

Some lost with life undone

You served the country of your birth

For loved ones yet to come

 

And yet you fought with heads held high

With silent bravery

And pressed beyond the line of hope

To grasp the victory

 

What victories you did achieve

What cost in lives and blood

Your love and loyalty to prove

To those who sought no good

 

Did they see the awesome price

These soldiers paid in full

With no complaint of sacrifice

They truly gave their all

 

I will remember you this Day and all days in between

With grateful heart that overflows

And sorrow left unseen

 

I thank you for the legacy

Of great and noble heart

A birthright born of love and strength

Forbearance to impart

 

No one shall take my birthright now

Nor peace shall steal away

I stand secure in honor’s grip

No matter what they say

 

Dear Bravehearts of the 442

Rest well in God’s own grace

You’ve earned a place of honor bright

With every shame erased.

 

 

 

Get your recyclables ready

Submitted by Paul Sanftner

 

In recognition of America Recycles Day, the City of San Leandro is hosting a community recycling event for residents on Tuesday, November 15. The goal of event is to encourage and educate people on how to be more mindful of what they consume, and where and how to properly recycle.

 

Participants will be able to properly dispose of pharmaceuticals, household batteries and electronic media, such as floppy disks, DVDs and CD cases. They also may drop-off items that contain mercury including thermometers, thermostats and fluorescent lights.

 

The event is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marina Community Center on Wicks Boulevard and is open only to San Leandro residents. Participants must pre-register online at https://tinyurl.com/2022-ARD. All active state and local health and safety COVID-19 protocols will be enforced at the event; masks are suggested.

 

America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. More than 2,000 events are held coast-to-coast, engaging more than 2 million participants nationwide.

 

For more information about recycling in San Leandro, call the city’s Recycling Hotline at (510) 577-6026 or visit their webpage at www.RecycleSanLeandro.org.

 

 

America Recycles Day

Tuesday, Nov 15

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro

Pre-registration required: https://tinyurl.com/2022-ARD

Free

 

 

 

 

A new job or career could be just around the corner

Submitted by Chabot-Las Positas Community College District

 

Opportunity may be knocking for job-seekers at an Apprenticeship Career Fair set for Wednesday, November 16 in Pleasanton.

 

Co-sponsored by Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) and Tri-Valley Career Center, the event is set at the college district’s offices at 5860 Owens Drive.

 

Participants will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from various traditional and non-traditional apprenticeship programs, including healthcare, cybersecurity, childcare and construction trades. There will be programs from Las Positas College (LPC) and Chabot College (Chabot), as well as non-CLPCCD affiliated programs. All are welcome to attend and there is no experience needed.

 

Registered programs include:

• YMCA of the East Bay Early Childhood Impact Branch
• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Iron Workers Local 378
• Northern California Laborers
• California State Society for Opticians
• Alameda Co. Electrical JATC
• Foothill College -Dental Assisting
• Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
• IRCC – Roofers
• Robert Half International Cybersecurity Program
• Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, Local 3 JATEC
• Sprinkler Fitters U.A., Local 483

 

The event is open to the public, but advance registration is recommended to receive notifications leading up to the day of the event. Walk-ins will also be accepted. To register, visit www.eventbrite.com, then enter “Apprenticeship Career Fair” into the search field, then follow the link for the November 16 event.

 

More information about CLPCCD’s apprenticeship programs is posted online at https://www.apprenticeship4you.com/.

 

 

Apprenticeship Career Fair

Wednesday, Nov 16

3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

College district’s offices

5860 Owens Drive, Pleasanton

www.eventbrite.com

 

 

 

Autumn at your doorstep: wheelchair accessibility and more

Submitted by Twesha Ghosh

 

Fall colors bring a breath of fresh air. Driving around to see fall colors is a feel-good activity that everyone can do, including wheelchair users. Fremont and other parts of the East Bay show a lovely kaleidoscope of colors every year starting in early November.

 

On the Cal State, East Bay Campus you can enjoy the colorful fall foliage by driving around. Visit on a weekend so that you have the parking lot to yourself to click beautiful pictures. Taylor Avenue in Hayward also has a beautiful cluster of yellow foliage.

 

A swift trip to Pleasanton at the intersection of Hopyard and Gibraltar is well worth the effort. There is a cluster of colorful Sugar maples turning orange.

 

Koll Center Parkway, Sunol Water Temple, Sunol Boulevard, and Sunol Wilderness Regional Park have a good mix of colors. The drive on Main Street in Sunol and Foothill Road looks very nice with the colorful vineyard.

 

The intersection of Fremont Boulevard and Michael Avenue in Fremont has a row of brilliant yellow foliage. Curie Street at Pacific Commons is bordered by beautiful orange foliage.

 

The intersection of Omar Street and Stevenson Boulevard in Fremont intersection has a row of Sugar maples turning into a multicolor background. You can find the best colors between Hilo and Stevenson.

 

In the Mission area, the Intersection of Gomes and Grimmer on Mission Boulevard, Stevenson to Driscoll, and Bedford Drive have a brilliant range of color displays.

 

Lake Elizabeth Park and Quarry Lake recreational area also provides a range of colors during this time.

 

Wheelchair Accessibility

The Niles Canyon Staging area is completely wheelchair accessible. It has a couple of accessible parking and a portable accessible restroom. Alameda creek trail is also wheelchair accessible. Some parts of this trail may be unpaved.

 

Sunol downtown is completely wheelchair accessible. There are a couple of accessible parking spaces in front of the post office on Main Street.

 

 

 

Famous Southern BBQ Restaurant reopens after COVID setback

Submitted by Eve Marie Little

 

The flavors found at Just Potato Salad Southern BBQ might make this restaurant the closest place to heaven. Located in Hayward off Mission Boulevard, this hole-in-the-wall Mom and Pop restaurant is one of the hidden wonders of the East Bay. Don’t be dissuaded by the rustic exterior; there is an amazing selection of slowly-cooked meats, incredible sides and desserts, and their most famous side dish, mustard-based potato salad. Some of the most popular dishes—including St. Louis Ribs, tri-tip, soul food style green beans, and smothered oxtails—have people driving in from all over the Bay area.

 

Pastor C.D. Bennett, the owner and executive chef of this restaurant, always had a passion for food. Whenever his church would put together a social event or fundraiser, his congregation would insist that he cater. “I would make a huge variety of meats and side dishes, but when they would come back for seconds, my guests would request just the potato salad—thus the name,” says Pastor Bennett, “I enjoy testing out new recipes and perfecting my culinary skills, but this one dish is always the favorite.”

 

However, Pastor Bennett has recently been tested in real life. When COVID happened, his restaurant took a big hit. “I used to have tons of guests coming to enjoy homemade meals, and now it feels like a ghost town. I was scared I would lose my small BBQ business.” To add further stress, Pastor Bennett recently faced a life-threatening medical circumstance that left him bedridden for three months. His family even feared that he would not make it. He temporarily closed his restaurant and focused on his health.

 

But with time and prayers, things started to turn around. Now Pastor Bennett is back in the swing of things with his restaurant. He added more items in the menu and has decided to expand his business with delivery options through Doordash and UberEats. “I want to make it more convenient for my guests to have their homemade meals delivered straight to them versus driving to the restaurant.” But don’t disregard coming out every once in a while. Pastor Bennett is so welcoming at his small place and pretty much invites guests to become part of his family.

 

“I am just glad to have gotten this second chance at life and glad to still be here for my family and friends,” states Pastor Bennett. “I am so grateful that I get an opportunity to share my happiness with everyone through the delightful flavor and smell of BBQ food.” After having some of his dishes, anyone can agree that this food is out of this world.

 

For a chance to try just potato salad, or more, swing by this famous restaurant in Hayward or order your next meal through delivery services.

 

 

Just Potato Salad

29587 Mission Blvd., Hayward

(510) 753-9667

justpotatosalad@gmail.com

 

 

 

Call for Singers

Submitted by Ed Choa

 

Calling all soprano, alto, tenor, and bass singers! You are invited to participate in the 2022 Messiah Sing-along hosted by Irvington Presbyterian Church (IPC). Participation in this seasonal community choir involves five Saturday evening rehearsals from on October 29, November 5, 12, 19, and December 3 at IPC. The Messiah Sing-along live-music performance is open to the public and will take place on Saturday, December 10 at 7 p.m. at IPC.

 

For more information or to sign up, please call or text Virgie Reyes (408) 718-7240.

 

 

2022 Messiah Sing-along

 

Rehearsals

Saturdays: Oct 29, Nov 5, 12, 19, Dec 3

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

 

Concert

Saturday, Dec 10

7 p.m.

Irvington Presbyterian Church

4181 Irvington Ave., Fremont

(408) 718-7240

 

 

 

How shared meals work out in cohousing

Submitted by Evelyn LaTorre and Jane Mueller

 

In a time when so many are concerned about polarization, it is reassuring to know effective ways to bring people together. A key element in the culture of cohousing communities all over the world is sharing meals in the Common House (community center) an average of three times per week. TV travel host and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, who proclaimed himself a “Lefty Democrat,” observed that he could reliably find commonalities with Americans who held conservative beliefs because of the common ground they could find in food and drink.

 

There’s an unwritten rule (but not a requirement) in cohousing communities that every adult cooks and/or cleans, and the task rotates. With few exceptions, though, people who move into cohousing have little experience preparing meals for large groups. How does that work out? And what do they cook?

 

In an article on cohousing.org, Joani Blank wrote, “Every community starts out with a person or two who insists that he or she cannot possibly learn to cook, especially for a crowd. But in communities where everyone is expected to cook, I’ve found that there is always willingness to bring ‘non-cooks’ up to speed by pairing them up with more experienced, or at least more fearless, cooks.” One timid cook who had overcome her fear of cooking said that she felt stressed about it at first, but over time she learned the technique of planning around basic dishes that most people like and are easy to prepare.

 

To the surprise of no one, favorite recipes have emerged, and cohousing residents have been glad to share them. Moosewood Restaurant Cooks for a Crowd has become a popular cookbook among cohousers. Cohousing.org also lists favorite dishes, including Carin’s New Mexican Dream Cookies, Moroccan Chicken, Roasted Corn and Black Bean Salad, and Sandy’s Scramble. It seems only fair to share one here:

 

Sandy’s Scramble

 

Serves 25 adults

3 lbs of Roma or large cherry tomatoes

8-12 oz of soft goat cheese

1 large bunch of fresh basil, chopped

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

Olive oil

Salt – kosher or regular

6 dozen eggs

1 cup of milk

Black pepper

 

A couple of hours before the brunch, roast the tomatoes by cutting them in half and putting them on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 325 degrees for about an hour, depending on the size of the tomatoes. Baking enhances the flavor and cuts down on the juices that would make eggs runny. When the tomatoes are done roasting, chop them and put them in a bowl with the chopped fresh basil and Italian seasoning. Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes and set aside.

 

Cut the goat cheese into half-inch cubes; set aside.

 

Put the eggs in a bowl and add milk and black pepper. Whisk until eggs are broken and beaten.

 

Heat a large skillet or wok. Put in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add the eggs. Scramble until they are about three-quarters done. Add the tomato mixture and finish cooking. Turn off the heat, add goat cheese, and serve hot.

 

Children get into the act too: “My parents were cooking together last night, and at my request they made homemade macaroni and cheese for everyone. Some of the adults thought it was really weird that I like ketchup on mac and cheese, but a few of the braver ones tried it and thought it was pretty good.”

 

 

This article is part of an ongoing series on cohousing. To learn more, visit Mission Peak Village on Facebook or the www.missionpeakcohousing.org website. Join us on our monthly walk to explore the neighborhood around our future site in the Irvington district of Fremont.

 

Mission Peak Village is a group of friends forming Fremont’s first cohousing community. Memberships are still available. For information, see www.missionpeakcohousing.org or call Kelli at (510) 413-8446. For more information on the topic of cohousing, visit www.cohousing.org.

 

 

 

Correction:

 

In the November 1, 2022 issue, the article “International Contact Inc.: Improving Industries with Inclusivity” by Marc Vicente, there was a misspelling. “Carla Itzkowitz” should be written “Carla Itzkowich.”

 

The article stated that Carla Itzkowich would be presenting at Zoomtopia 2022. She will be attending, not presenting.

 

The correct photo caption for the group picture is “IC staff in 2012, including Jon Golding, Carla Itzkowich, Tracy Lu.”

 

 

 

Anyone can help their neighbor this Thanksgiving

Submitted by Sharon Slayton

 

LOV – The League of Volunteers – has created Thanksgiving opportunities for everyone to make a difference this year. Food donations are now being accepted to help feed hundreds of families.

 

Items needed include: canned cranberry sauce, boxed or bagged stuffing mix, chicken broth, black olives, pickles, applesauce, canned and shelf-stable soups, shelf stable milk boxes, canned corn, green beans and peas, ground coffee & variety tea bags, white and dark sugar, small bags of flour, and small spice packages with traditional flavors like parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon pumpkin pie spice, salt & pepper.

 

Bring your food donations to the LOV office in Newark, or call to make arrangements for a LOV Food Barrel at your business, office or workplace.

 

Contact LOV for more information, or visit their website to find more ways you can participate this year.

 

 

Donate to LOV Thanksgiving

Until November 18

LOV Office

8440 Central Ave., Suite A/B, Newark

(510) 793-5683

www.lov.org/thanksgiving

 

 

 

Ohlone College food pantry serves students in need

By Andrew Cavette

 

Food insecurity impacts nearly a third of college students nation-wide, according to a survey by Hope Center for College, and Community Justice. That fall 2020 survey states 38 percent of students in two-year colleges and 29 percent of students at four-year colleges reported experiencing food insecurity in the prior 30 days.

 

The Bay Area is not exempt from these numbers. Food banks across the region, like the Alameda County Community Food Bank, struggle to meet the needs of people with food insecurity, including students. According to a November 23, 2021 article from The Daily Californian at UC Berkeley: “The Berkeley Food Bank [has] people continually visiting the program; [there are] no signs of stopping.”

 

In Fremont, Ohlone College’s Basic Needs Center hopes to help students who may be dealing with food insecurity. The department is in the fledgling stages of their development. Many services they provide are pop up events; brief, but regular. These services include The Pantry, a place where free groceries are available to all students, staff, faculty, and community members. The Pantry pop up event will soon become a stationary, reliable presence on Fremont and Newark campuses.

 

According to Ohlone College’s website:

“The Pantry (a pop-up event) is offered on the Fremont campus on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month, and the Newark campus on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month. The Pantry is intended to address immediate hunger and raise awareness of resources like CalFresh, which can lead to greater food security for those with limited access to nutritious foods.”

 

The pantry service will assist Ohlone College students, but non-student members of the community are welcome. The same website states: “The Pantry is also intended as a community service that seeks to normalize access to nutritious foods: we are all human, and humans need food.”

 

As a new department on campus, one of the other things the Basic Needs Center lacks is data. They have conducted their own, brief (and optional) survey, asking students who visited the pantry about their own food security. According to a department report, among students who visited the pantry and choose to answer the survey, 70% had experienced food insecurity in the prior month.

 

Paul Simpson, Basic Needs Coordinator at Ohlone College wants a great deal more data and a more comprehensive analysis of that data. To get that data quickly, Ohlone College will be included in the next Hope Center for College, and Community Justice Survey, according to Simpson. The survey which will be conducted in February 2023.

 

“There are studies across the state: UC studies, CSU studies, Community College studies…” Simpson said, “and what they all agree on is that basic needs insecurities [negatively] impact the way a student is able to engage with their education.”

 

“They have lower GPAs, lower pathways to graduation, lower satisfaction rates with their education, more negative views of what life would be like after graduation…, Simpson said, “They have higher stop-out rates (dropping out and then returning), and higher disenrollment (dropping out and not returning).”

 

“And that makes sense,” Simpson said, “Students who show up in the classroom, but don’t have access to nutrition… that is incredibly challenging. Education is a powerful thing that should be open to all. People who are struggling with poverty have been shut out of education, in a generational way. They deserve to be here. I think our campus is better now because they’re on it.”

 

Upcoming room renovations on the Ohlone Fremont campus mean the food pantry and case management office will soon have a permanent home inside Building 6.

 

Ohlone College’s Basic Needs Center will host a Winter Wellness Festival on December 7, 2022 on their Fremont campus. The event will run from 12 noon to 3 p.m. The department hopes to help students enroll in CalFresh, CalWorks and Covered California. A food pantry booth, with free groceries, will also be part of the Fremont campus event. Non-students are welcome.

 

 

Ohlone Winter Wellness Festival

Wednesday, Dec 7

12 noon – 3 p.m.

Ohlone Way in front of bookstore

Ohlone Fremont Campus

43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont

https://www.ohlone.edu/

 

 

 

Santa Clara County expands waste disposal program for small businesses

Submitted by County of Santa Clara

 

The County of Santa Clara Household Hazardous Waste Program is expanding access to provide a simple and cost-effective way for small businesses to dispose of hazardous waste. The Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) program provides businesses that generate small amounts of hazardous waste a convenient way to properly dispose of hazardous materials.

 

The VSQG program is cheaper for small businesses than contracting a private company to pick up and transport their hazardous waste, and it’s easy to use. Roughly 300 businesses use the program every year, but the county has capacity for more businesses to participate. Nonprofits and property managers are also eligible to participate.

 

“The VSQG program is an effective way to reduce threats to our health and environment and make our community more sustainable,” said Billy Puk, Program Manager of the VSQG program. To participate in the program, businesses need to submit an inventory and set up an appointment. Program staff will provide a quote based upon the inventory. Common items include paint, motor oil, batteries and propane tanks.

 

Businesses must not exceed 220 pounds, or 27 gallons, of hazardous waste per month or 2,640 pounds/324 gallons in a calendar year. The program collected 64,560 pounds of hazardous waste during the 2021-22 fiscal year, and holds two drop-off events per month in San José and one per month in San Martin.

 

To learn more about the program, visit the County’s Very Small Quantity Generator program webpagehttps://bit.ly/3fvbPPu. For questions, call (800) 207-8222.

 

 

 

Totem Pole brings sacred space to San Leandro Marina

By Victor Carvellas

 

The evening was cool on October 28th as the setting sun danced on the golden waters of the Bay. The earthy smell of burning sage billowed in the breeze. A small gathering had come to honor the memory of the Lummi Nation’s departed chief, Bill James (Tsi’li’xw, d. 6/1/2020). Strapped to a flatbed trailer was a carved memorial totem pole, resplendent in bright colors and adorned with symbols and scenes from James’ life.

 

The totem pole was the work of Master Carver Jewell Se-Sealth James (Praying Wolf) of the House of Tears Carvers. Since 2001, House of Tears has taken a totem pole on an annual journey across the country, visiting sacred sites, villages, and tribes. Jewell couldn’t attend as he has done in the past, but his brother Doug (Sit-ki-kadem) was there, totem pole in tow. This was the next to last leg of a journey that began in Washington State, swept across the country to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., then threaded its way back to the West Coast and San Leandro Marina before stopping in Sacramento for the annual convention of the National Council of American Indians. As with other stops, Doug recounted the events of Chief James’ life and explained the pole’s carvings (The surname James belongs to both men as the Chief was a second cousin to Doug and Jewell). The evening was also an opportunity for those present to engage in a spirit walk, a time of contemplation, in recognition of the 2022 Sovereignty Run, also taking place in the Bay Area.

 

In 2002, Tribal Nations, leaders, and Indian Country advocates ran across the country from Washington State to Washington, DC to protest Supreme Court decisions restricting tribal jurisdictions and affecting tribal sovereignty. Commemorating the twentieth anniversary of that milestone, this year’s 1,785-mile relay race from Oklahoma to Sacramento draws public attention to more recent cases (in particular, Castro-Huerta v. Oklahoma.). The Run is conducted in partnership with Bright Path Strong, whose mission is to inspire Native Americans through the example of the superlative athlete, Jim Thorpe. Thorpe, whose Sac and Fox tribal name Wa-Tho-Huk translates to “Bright Path” (1887 – 1953), was stripped of his gold medals from the 1912 Olympics on the dubious application of rules regarding amateur status. He nonetheless went on to successfully play major league baseball, served as first president of the American Professional Football Association (which became the National Football League), and even acted in Hollywood movies.

 

Chief James himself was a Master Weaver, but he was also a strong advocate for environmental issues. Not the least of his efforts included bringing an orca known to the Lummi as Tokitae back to her home, the Salish Sea. Her story, which is ongoing, is carved onto the side of the pole. The Lummi tribe consider themselves, as Doug James says, “people of the sea,” and they extend that familial bond to the creatures that live below it. Tokitae was four years old when she was captured in 1970 and taken to the Miami Seaquarium. “We’ve been fighting to get her back ever since,” said James. For those Native Americans whose families experienced forced relocation, this orca’s situation is especially poignant.

 

Notable people in attendance at the October 28 event included Miwok Tribal Elder Wounded Knee DeCampo, an activist with the American Indian Movement (AIM) since its founding; Tribal Chair for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan; Ohlone Tribal Elder Corinna Gould; Tribal Elder Ione Mad Plume; Cheyenne artist and poet Kris Longoria; and San Leandro City Councilwoman Corina Lopez. DeCampo spoke to the gathering about the need to preserve the land, forests, and waters for future generations. He reminded everyone that such efforts to change the laws in favor of protecting these things “take time,” and that indigenous peoples need to come together to successfully carry out “what our ancestors want us to do, to protect that which is sacred.”

 

As a symbol of welcome, Gould presented James and his family with sacred pouches of sage and tobacco, as well as necklaces representing the earth and sea. Longoria reflected in an interview on the importance of the gift of acceptance. Her family was “shipped to the Bay area” in the late 1800’s but when her Cheyenne family arrived, there was no visible Native population to greet and support them. When the pole came to the area last year, Longoria and her friend Gould uses the sacred space embodied in the pole to “do a prayer together in which she essentially welcomed my family into her territory…it was the first time that I felt I was really home.”

 

 

The Great Old Broads for Wilderness (https://www.greatoldbroads.org/) sponsored the event, bringing refreshments. Councilwoman Lopez is on their Board of directors, and members Carol Kuelper and Sheila Jacobs hosted.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Thanksgiving, Taiwanese style

Submitted by John Hseih

 

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving and sharing during the holiday season, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of the San Francisco Bay Area and Love of Taiwan Association will hold their 22nd Taiwanese Free Thanksgiving Dinner on Tuesday, November 22 in Fremont.

 

The boxed dinners will be distributed from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Centerville Presbyterian Church on Central Avenue across the Department of Motor Vehicles. Along with the church, co-sponsors include the Centerville Free Dining Room and Formosan United Methodist Church.

 

Admission is free and open to community members in need. For details, call (510) 432-7353.

 

 

Taiwanese Thanksgiving

Tuesday, Nov 22

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Centerville Presbyterian Church

4360 Central Ave., Fremont

(510) 432-7353

Free

 

 

 

Flash Fiction Fairy Tale Winner #4

Submitted by Arathi Satish

 

Continuing our series on the winners of this year’s Flash Fiction contest, next a poem! Read more about the contest at https://fremontculturalartscouncil.org/

 

The Witch Who Flew Upside-Down

By Sarah Jensen

 

Before the stars took flight from land,

Before the waves crashed over sand,

There was a witch of great renown,

Who rode her broomstick upside-down.

 

Her potions raised the freshly dead,

Her spells could stitch a chopped-off head,

Her work was loved by all the town,

But not when she flew upside-down.

 

This witch, she could not wear a hat,

But flew with glee below her cat,

Her hair hung free and dangled down,

But this upset some folks in town.

 

Said they, “She shouldn’t fly this way!

She should fly upright, like a jay!

Graceful, like a manta ray!

Not dangling over the bay!”

 

The witch, she shook her head and said,

“Why do you view me with such dread?

You know that I can raise the dead,

But for my flying, tears are shed?

 

“I do not think this is your fear,

Nor how you keep your conscience clear.

You love me when you use my craft,

But see my joys and call me daft.”

 

Yet all over this little town,

The cry arose: “The witch should drown!”

The witch heard this and rolled her eyes,

Packed up her bags, took to the skies.

 

The corpses risen from the dead

Collapsed to bones as the witch fled,

The townsfolks’ cries to her fell flat

As she transformed into a bat.

 

So if you venture out at night,

And spot a creature in strange flight,

Judge not this creature’s odd delight

Or risk reversal of her rite.

 

 

 

Veterans Day Exhibit Program

Submitted by San Leandro Library

 

On Saturday, November 12, San Leandro Library will host a Veterans Day Program centered on an exhibit curated by Bertram C. Clark, Jr. from his collection “African Americans in the Military from the Revolutionary War to World War II.” The exhibit will feature displays highlighting the Bay Area’s historical participation and contribution during WWII.

 

The exhibit will include articles and photographs of:

Bay Area women shipyard workers and dockworkers

Oakland native, Olympian and Tuskegee Airman Lt. Archie Williams

Oakland’s DeFremery Park’s Black USO

West Oakland’s 7th Street

The Port Chicago Mutiny

San Francisco Hunters Point Shipyard’s African American workers

San Francisco’s Fillmore nightclub scene and more

 

This visual history of photographs, posters and memorabilia honors the millions of forgotten African American men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. The story is about those who fought and died in this country’s wars while being denied respect, human dignity and freedom here at home. These patriots served heroically with courage, honor, determination and with the persistent hope of receiving their basic rights as American citizens.

 

Join us for this community celebration, discussion and acknowledgement. Refreshments will be served.

 

 

Veterans Day Exhibit Program

Saturday, Nov 12

2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

San Leandro Main Library

Estuadillo Room

300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro

(510) 577-3971

https://www.sanleandro.org/

 

 

 

World Kindness Day

Submitted by Mari-Lyn Harris

 

Did you know it’s World Kindness Day Sunday November 13th? Let’s have some fun to reward people doing kind deeds. Headquarters in Fremont is at Mission Coffee starting at 9 a.m. You’ll receive your “Pay it Forward” cards with instructions in how to proceed.

 

More information is available at kindnessatwork.us.

 

 

World Kindness Day

Mission Coffee Roasting Company

151 Mission Blvd., Fremont

9 a.m. – 12 noon

https://kindnessatwork.us/

 

 

 

Nervous about sharing your writing? Join a social writing group

Submitted by Tish Davidson

 

Do you long to be an author but are anxious about sharing your writing? Perhaps English is not your native language, and you are concerned that your writing will be criticized. Or maybe you are don’t feel “educated” enough to call yourself a writer. No need to be nervous. The Zoom Social Write-In is a welcoming, nonjudgmental community of writers.

 

At the free Zoom Social Write-In on Saturday, November 12, you can meet aspiring writers from the Fremont-Newark-Union City area in an open-minded environment. This event is for everyone from complete beginners to established writers. It is not a writing critique session. Your writing will not be judged, just enjoyed and appreciated by your fellow writers.

 

How the Write-In works:

After you sign in, the computer will assign you to a virtual room with three other writers. You will be given a choice of four word and visual prompts—for example, “an ancestor I would like to meet” or a photograph of a mother and baby animal. Choose one prompt and free write fiction, memoir, or poetry for 10 minutes. After you finish, all the writers in the room share their response to the prompt in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.

 

The computer will then assign writers to a different room. This time, you will get a choice of four sentences to start a story. Write for 10 minutes and then share what you have written. Many writers finish and edit their stories at home after the Write-In. Fremont Area Writers members can submit their writing for publication in the monthly newsletter.

 

The Write-In is sponsored by Fremont Area Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club. In addition to the Write-In, FAW meets on Zoom from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month with speakers who address some aspect of writing and publishing. The next meeting is November 26. For more information, check the Fremont Area Writers website. To participate in the free Write-In or attend the free general meeting, please request the Zoom meeting link from Scott Davidson at scottfrombayside@yahoo.com.

 

 

Zoom Write-In

Saturday, Nov 12

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

General Meeting

Saturday, Nov 26

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Via Zoom

Request link from Scott Davidson: scottfrombayside@yahoo.com

 

 

 

2022 Chevrolet Bolt: An Overnight Sensation?

By Michael Coates

 

Many in the electric car world had almost written off the Chevrolet Bolt last year. It used older EV technology, not General Motors’ new Ultium batteries. It was suffering from recalls based on battery issues that caused the company to caution owners to park their vehicles to avoid potential fires.

 

But Chevy stuck with the five-door small car that features a high seating position that mimics what you get in a crossover or SUV, and has been rewarded with a best-seller. In the most recent quarter (July-Sept. 2022), the company sold almost as many Bolts as they did in a whole year in 2018 and 2019. The Bolt has been on sale since 2016 with only minor changes, but has a distinct market advantage this year.

 

EVs became a hot commodity when gas prices spiked this year, but the thin inventory left many empty-handed, particularly at the lower end of the market. With a $25,600 starting price (plus a $995 delivery charge) and a 259-mile range, the Bolt offered a value proposition that 14,000 folks found irresistible. Chevrolet has bumped up production for this year and next to meeting the growing demand.

 

The Value Proposition

The Bolt’s “sudden” success after struggling to hit 100,000 in sales during its first five years on the market can be attributed to a variety of factors. First, it was an early adopter, coming onto the EV market when the competition and interest was thin. Second, it didn’t fit neatly into any popular vehicle category. It was tall for a sedan and too-carlike to be an SUV. The federal government puts it in with station wagons. It’s a hatchback, a functional style that has never been that popular in the U.S.

 

What the Bolt had was a reasonable starting price, a variety of available advanced technologies (augmented this year by GM’s excellent hands-free driving program, SuperCruise) and a very impressive 259-mile range. It almost has a one-box design—like a minivan—that optimizes usable interior space. As a family car, the Bolt can haul three kids and has room for gear in back. If it seems too tight, Chevrolet also offers a slightly more expensive EUV model that adds a few more cubic feet to the storage area. Without the family, the back seats fold down and creates an SUV-like storage area.

 

Its pedestrian looks may make it appear appliance-like, but I’d argue that it’s not unusual for humans to become attached to useful appliances that improve our lives. The Bolt can make your life better since the per-mile cost running on electricity is tiny compared to what would be spent on a comparable size crossover, especially if you charge at home (although the Bolt can also fast-charge, adding 150 miles of range in an hour). On top of the personal savings, driving an EV puts you on the road as a solider in the war on climate change.

 

Bolt Features

Bolt’s exterior got a refresh this (2022) year, sharpening the styling. Inside, it moved to a push button gear selector, which makes sense for the simple on/off nature of an EV’s transmission. The operation of the Bolt is what you’d expect from a good appliance. It can run in one-pedal mode, EV enthusiasts’ favorite, where lifting your foot from the accelerator will bring the car to a complete stop. If you prefer a more traditional (gas) type operation, you can switch to that to add “creep” back into the mix.

 

Steering feel in the Bolt is acceptable, although its skinny low rolling resistance tires don’t enhance road handling. The Bolt’s 200-horsepower permanent magnet electric motor drives the front wheels. The whole package is a model of efficiency, steadily delivering more than four miles per kilowatt-hour of electricity.

 

This appliance is one you can fall in love with because it makes your life better.

 

 

 

HISTORY MATTERS

 

By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith

November 1 through 15

 

Presidential tribute

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency began on November 8, 1932. Afterwards, he was re-elected in 1936, 1940 and 1944. During the administrations, he guided the country through the Great Depression and World War II — but he died April 12, 1945 — three and a half weeks before the combat ended.

 

In a tribute written for University of Virginia’s Miller Center, historian William E. Leuchtenburg wrote:

 

“Under Roosevelt’s leadership, the United States emerged from World War II as the world’s foremost economic, political, and military power. FDR’s contributions to domestic life during his presidency were just as vital. While his “New Deal” did not end the Great Depression, Roosevelt’s leadership gave Americans hope and confidence in their darkest hours and fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the federal government and the American people. FDR so dominated American politics that he almost single-handedly launched the Democratic Party into a position of prolonged political dominance. During his tenure, FDR also lifted both the standing and power of the American presidency to unprecedented heights.”

 

For more information, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends “Young Mr. Roosevelt: FDR’s Introduction to War, Politics, and Life” by Stanley Weintraub.

 

 

Ultimate sacrifices remembered

There are approximately 400,000 veterans in Arlington National Cemetery with engraved ranks, branches of service; dates of birth and death; on their headstones. Except one:

 

History.com reports that “Exactly three years after the end of World War I [on November 11, 1921], the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier [was] dedicated at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia during an Armistice Day ceremony presided over by President Warren G. Harding.”

 

According to the Arlington National Cemetery, a “Vietnam War Unknown lay in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from May 25 to 28, 1984. On Memorial Day, May 28, a military procession transported the casket to Arlington National Cemetery for burial. President Ronald Reagan presided over the interment ceremony.” When DNA became available in 1998, it was used to discover the identity of the unknown soldier, who was then reinterred in accordance with the wishes of his family.

 

“On September 17, 1999 — National POW/MIA Recognition Day — [his tomb] was rededicated to honor all missing U.S. service members from the Vietnam War.”

 

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends “Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” written by Jeff Gottesfeld and illustrated by Matt Tavares.

 

 

A nation of immigrants

In 1892, Annie Moore — a 15-year-old Irish immigrant — was the first of more than 12 million who were welcomed to Ellis Island — until it was decommissioned — in November of 1954. Even now, appreciable numbers of visitors, tourists and genealogy buffs still pass through every year.

 

“Not all immigrants who sailed into New York had to go through Ellis Island. First- and second-class passengers submitted to a brief shipboard inspection and then disembarked at the piers in New York or New Jersey, where they passed through customs. People in third class, though, were transported to Ellis Island, where they underwent medical and legal inspections to ensure they didn’t have a contagious disease or some condition that would make them a burden to the government. Only two percent of all immigrants were denied entrance into the U.S.,” according to History.com.

 

The Grateful American Book Prize suggests books such as “American Passage: The History of Ellis Island” by Vincent J. Cannato for more information.

 

 

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

 

 

 

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

 

Happy birthday

It was Kason Johnson’s eighth birthday. There he was in Mountain Grove, Missouri hanging on to a lot of birthday balloons. But the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) says he lost his grip and up they went, sky high and seemingly lost forever. Alas, they floated away. Five hundred miles later they made landfall in the yard of Todd Huyler in Cleveland, Tennessee. He found an envelope attached to the bouquet of balloons. It provided the address of Kason’s school. Huyler wasted no time putting together a batch of goodies, as well as $100, sending them to Kason along with his Happy Birthday wishes. See video about Kason Johnson’s story on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVnQwcE7lo0.

 

It’s a scary coaster

It takes a die-hard daredevil to seek out and take a ride on the fastest, steepest, most complex rollercoaster. If you are fearless and adventurous enough, you may want to book a trip to Dubai, suggests AMAC. It’s there you’ll find what the judges at the Guinness World Records say is the fastest vertical-launch rollercoaster on the planet. It is called The Storm Coaster. Beware, it has a vertical launch speed of 25 mph and accelerates to a top speed of some 48 miles per hour. See video of The Storm Coaster on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ2Fllt97VU.

 

Pea whee!

Its seems that the folks at the Guinness Book of World Records search far and wide to find what some might call off-beat categories, says AMAC. Take, for example, the award it gives out to a contender who can blow a pea farther than anyone else. David Rush keeps breaking that record over and over again. He outdid his competitors and himself recently by putting his lips together and blowing his pea a distance of 84 feet, 11.28 inches. It was Rush’s 250th win not just for pea blowing but for a variety of Guinness records. See video of David Rush in action on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaVcbsGXSgo.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Cepheus: a house fit for a king

By David Prosper

 

Sometimes constellations look like their namesake, and sometimes these starry patterns look like something else entirely. That’s the case for many stargazers upon identifying the constellation of Cepheus for the first time. These stars represent Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia, sitting on his throne. However, many present-day observers see the outline of a simple house, complete with peaked roof, instead – quite a difference! Astronomers have another association with this northern constellation; inside its borders lies the namesake of one of the most important types of stars in modern astronomy—Delta Cephei, the original Cepheid Variable.

 

Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation for most observers located in mid-northern latitudes and above, meaning it does not set, or dip below the horizon. This means Cepheus is visible all night long and can be observed to swing around the northern celestial pole, anchored by Polaris, the current North Star. Other circumpolar constellations include Cassiopeia, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, and Camelopardalis. Its all-night position for many stargazers brings with it some interesting objects to observe. Among them: the “Garnet Star” Mu Cephei, a supergiant star with an especially deep red hue; several binary stars; several nebulae, including the notable reflection nebula NGC 7023; and the “Fireworks Galaxy” NGC 6946, known for a surprising amount of supernovae.

 

Perhaps the most famous, and certainly the most notable object in Cepheus, is the star Delta Cephei. Its variable nature was first discovered by John Goodricke, whose observations of the star began in October 1784. Slightly more than a century later, Henrietta Leavitt studied the variable stars found in the Magellanic Clouds in 1908 and discovered that the type of variable stars represented by Delta Cephei possessed very consistent relationships between their luminosity (total amount of light emitted), and their pulsation period (generally, the length of time in which the star goes through a cycle of where it dims and then brightens).

 

Once the period for a Cepheid Variable (or Cepheid) is known, its luminosity can be calculated by using the scale originally developed by Henrietta Leavitt, now called “Leavitt’s Law.” So, if a star is found to be a Cepheid, its actual brightness can be calculated versus its observed brightness. From that difference, the Cepheid’s distance can then be estimated with a great deal of precision. This revolutionary discovery unlocked a key to measuring vast distances across the cosmos, and in 1924 observations of Cepheids by Edwin Hubble in what was then called the Andromeda Nebula proved that this “nebula” was actually another galaxy outside of our own Milky Way! You may now know this object as the “Andromeda Galaxy” or M31. Further observations of Cepheids in other galaxies gave rise to another astounding discovery: that our universe is not static, but expanding!

 

Because of their importance as a “standard candle” in measuring cosmic distances, astronomers continue to study the nature of Cepheids. Their studies revealed that there are two distinct types of Cepheids: Classical and Type II. Delta Cephei is the second closest Cepheid to Earth after Polaris, and was even studied in detail by Edwin Hubble’s namesake telescope, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, in 2008. These studies, along with others performed by the ESA’s Hipparcos mission and other observatories, help to further refine the accuracy of distance measurements derived from observations of Cepheids. What will further observations of Delta Cephei and other Cepheids reveal about our universe? Follow NASA’s latest observations of stars and galaxies across our universe at nasa.gov.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Park It: Great fall activities from plants to animals

By Ned MacKay

 

The Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley harbors a diversity of plants and habitats that are attractive to migratory birds. Naturalists Paula Urtecho and Melissa Fowlks will lead an easy walk at the garden from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 12 in search of some of the seasonal arrivals. Binoculars will be available to loan.

 

The walk is free of charge, and will be led in English and Spanish. It’s part of a recurring bilingual program: People of Color: Walks & Talks. The walks are from one to five miles in length, great for families. All are welcome.

 

No registration is required, just show up. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Heavy rain cancels. Meet at the botanic garden entrance. It’s located at the intersection of Wildcat Canyon Road and South Park Drive in Tilden Regional Park. For information, call (510) 544-2527.

 

 

Melissa also plans an easy walk from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 in search of wild turkeys in the Tilden Nature Area. After the search the program will end with a turkey-themed craft. Or you can join naturalist Anthony Fisher on the back deck of the visitor center between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. afterwards for an hour of fun. The group may make cordage, start a (small) fire with a hand drill, play games or throw an atlatl.

 

Both programs are free and registration is not required. Meet for either at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Central Park Drive. For information, call (510) 544-2233.

 

 

Down at Sunol Regional Wilderness, oak trees are the subject of a “Talk ‘N’ Draw” session from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, led by naturalist Erica Stephens. The group will draw oak trees step-by-step while learning about the ecosystems that they create. It’s drop-in; no registration is required. Drawing supplies will be provided, or you can bring your own journal or art supplies. All ages are welcome; parents must participate.

 

Meet at the Sunol Visitor Center, which by the way has been completely renovated. Formerly in a dilapidated state, it now features interactive exhibits showcasing the area’s Native American and ranching history, wildlife research, and a kids’ discovery zone with live animals. Exhibits are bilingual in English and Spanish. In general, the center is open on weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

Sunol Regional Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road off Calaveras Road about five miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. The program is free; there’s a parking fee of $6 per vehicle. For information, call (510) 544-3249.

 

 

Folk-art is the theme of a program from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. Participants can fashion dolls out of colorful corn husks gleaned from the farm fields, adding corn silk hair, a twig broom, or an acorn cap to complete the effect. Naturalist Chris Garcia will preside. The program is drop-in, all ages welcome. Ardenwood admission fees apply.

 

Ardenwood recreates life on a prosperous 19th century estate, with all sorts of historic attractions and activities. The park is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. For information call (510) 544-2797.

 

 

The plants and animals of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch will be on display during a series of two- to three-mile naturalist-led hikes on some Saturdays in November and December. There’s one from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. It’s drop-in and free of charge, though there’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is attended. Minimum age is four years, and parent participation is required.

 

Black Diamond Mines is at the end of Somersville Road 3½ miles south of Highway 4. Meet at the uppermost parking lot, a mile past the kiosk. For information, call (510) 544-2750.

 

 

“Bio Blitz” is the name of the game from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Sunday, November 13 at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. It’s a community science activity. The idea is to see how many different plants and animals you can find throughout the park. This helps the staff to collect meaningful data on species richness and diversity, and it’s open to all levels of expertise.

 

Meet supervising naturalist Wyatt Moore at the visitor center. Parent participation is required. Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call (510) 544-3050.

 

 

There’s always something interesting going on in the regional parks. For the full story, visit www.ebparks.org/things-to-do.

 

 

 

Herbs and Spices

By Pat kite

 

Today we watch cooking shows and conjure up entrees with amazing herbs and spices from around the world. But once upon a time, herbs and spices held quite different rites of honor. Come along the Santa Fe Trail in about 1830. Hordes went looking for a better life, a way to get rich, and a healing climate. They came on wagon trains, on horseback, sometimes on foot. Along with their pots, pans, blankets, buckets, and other worldly and trading goods, they carried disease.

 

Please remember that while today you visit doctors for this or that, reasonably expecting a remedy of some sort, back then… good luck. Disease was caused by “miasma,” invisible vapors. Cholera, malaria (ague), typhus, smallpox, tuberculosis, and measles traveled the trail. Standard treatment, when nothing else worked, was bloodletting, purging via enema, and vomiting up everything. Hospital medicine cabinets contained cloves, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, among the least nasty materials.

 

BITS AND PIECES

• Fennel: a sprig hung in a home kept the “evil eye” away. Sprigs of Fennel were stuffed in keyholes to keep away annoying spirits, therefore ensuring a good night’s sleep.
• Garlic had many uses, including as an antiseptic for battle wounds.
• Rosemary: Insect repellent, fumigant, food preservative.
• Cloves: for toothaches when softened in honey
• Pepper: one of American’s first Millionaires, Elihu Yale, earned riches from pepper.
• Allspice: Allspice was placed within military boots to keep feet warm during Napoleons’ troops winter retreat from Moscow
• Turmeric dye was used to color Buddhist monks’ robes.
• White Sage leaves, crushed and mixed with water, served as a shampoo, hair color and hair straightener. Mashed with water: a deodorant
• Blackberries: for indigestion
• Chives: Dutch settlers in America planted chives in their fields so their cows would produce chive-flavored milk.
• Anise: Long-ago Romans baked anise meal plus herbs for fancy entertainment and weddings. From this custom, came our wedding cake specialties.
• Olive Oil: at one time, surgeons would dip their instruments in hot olive oil before making an incision. Goal: help healing.
• Peppermint oil: rheumatism treatment
• Costmary: Pilgrims kept this herb in their Bibles to get them through three-hour sermons.
• Lavender: headache
• Vinegar of the Four Thieves: During the European plague years, four robbers did not want to catch the contagious plague when they robbed a plague victim’s home. So, they soaked lavender, rosemary sage, wormwood, rue and mint in vinegar. After straining the concoction, they added garlic. The robbers then bathed in this mixture. Did it work? Who knows? But some of the herbs discouraged insects, especially fleas, which were plague carriers.

 

This was fun… Happy fall.

 

 

 

Plant alliums this fall to add variety and beauty to your garden

By Melinda Myers

Photo courtesy of Longfield-Gardens.com

 

Take your garden to new heights with alliums. This ornamental member of the onion family provides welcome color as spring bulbs fade and before summer perennials fill our gardens with colorful blooms.

 

Most people have seen pictures of the giant allium, but there are many other size and height options suitable for any size and style garden. Most allium flowers are globe shaped, and all are made of tiny florets. They make great cut flowers, pollinators love them, and deer tend to leave them be.

 

Plan for months of color by including a variety of alliums that bloom from late spring through early summer. Longfield Gardens’ Planning Guide for Alliums (Longfield-gardens.com) showcases the various alliums, their size, and bloom times, to help you plan. Add alliums to zone four to eight gardens in fall when planting your other spring flowering bulbs like tulips and daffodils.

 

Dress up the front of a flowerbed or rock garden with Allium karataviense. It may be small in stature at only eight to ten inches tall, but the broad grey-green leaves and five-inch round, silvery-pink flowers provide a big impact in the late spring garden.

 

Add years of spring beauty with Purple Sensation. Its shimmering four-inch diameter, violet-purple flowers are held above the leaves on 24 to 30” tall stems. It provides nice height and vibrant color to the early season garden. You will enjoy these alliums and their offspring for years to come.

 

For something different, add Allium bulgaricum, also known as Nectaroscordum bulgaricum, to perennial and informal gardens. The cluster of drooping cream and burgundy bell-shaped flowers is followed by seedpods that lift themselves skyward. This provides an interesting vertical accent in the garden.

 

Gladiator and Globemaster are sure to have passersby and visitors stopping to take a second look at your garden. Mix them in amongst perennials and add to mixed borders. Gladiator has blue-violet, six-inch diameter flowers that are smaller than Globemaster, but Gladiator blooms earlier and stands a foot taller and the leaves are longer lasting. Both are sure to grab your attention and that of pollinators.

 

Stretch your enjoyment into early summer with Ambassador. Its dense five- to six-inch, violet-blue flowers are a deeper color than most alliums. What’s even more impressive is these large flowers are atop four- to five-foot stems. Like the other alliums, bees and butterflies love it.

 

It’s no surprise that Allium christophii is a favorite among gardeners. The eight- to ten-inch diameter, violet-pink flowers have spikey florets and a silvery sheen that makes them look like globes in the garden. Though this allium is only 12-18” tall, it has a big presence in the garden and is very long-lasting.

 

Allium schubertii produces even larger, 12” diameter flowers on stems of a similar height. Some of the star-like florets are closer to the center of the flower than others, and this makes the blossom appear to be expanding, like fireworks in the garden. Save some of the seedheads and use them in dried flower arrangements.

 

The flowers of heirloom Allium atropurpureum are dome-shaped rather than round. Their dramatic, dark burgundy color and upright stature add structure to the garden. They are also long-lasting cut flowers.

 

End the season with Drumstick allium. The egg-shaped flowers are raspberry on top and green on the bottom with long slender stems. They are perfect grow-through plants and good companions for ornamental grasses.

 

Add a variety of alliums to your garden this fall and enjoy the added color, texture, and height this group of plants provide. You and the pollinators will be glad you did.

 

 

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

 

 

 

East Bay Municipal Utilities District

October 25, 2022

 

Determination

Appoint Amit Mutsuddy as Director of Wastewater. Approved.

 

Consent Agenda:

• Award a contract to William E. Munson Company for supplying one Munson 21-foot PackCat survey-utility boat and one EZ Loader trailer for the District’s Lodi Office.
• Award a contract to Diamond Fiberglass for supplying three fiberglass reinforced plastic tanks for the Oakport Wet Weather Facility.
• Award a contract to Trace3, LLC for supplying three Dell PowerEdge servers and mission-critical technical support services for the Administration Building.
• Authorize agreement with Logik Systems, Inc. for supplying Logikcull Discovery Solutions software.
• Authorize agreement with Nautilus Data Technologies, Inc. for data center colocation services.
• Authorize agreement with Woodard & Curran, Inc. for the preparation of a Wastewater Electrical Resiliency Master Plan.
• Authorize agreements for concrete repair services.
• Authorize agreements for hydro/air-vacuum excavation services.
• Authorize Consor PMCM, Inc. for as-needed construction management and inspection services.

 

 

President Doug Linney           Aye

Lesa McIntosh                        Aye

John Coleman                         Aye

Marguerite Young                  Aye

Andy Katz                               Aye

William Patterson                   Aye

Frank Mellon                          Aye

 

 

 

Fremont Unified School District

October 26, 2022

 

Consent Calendar:

• Approve study trips
• Approve funding for non-public schools / non-public agencies for 2022-2023 school year.
• Approve the LCAP Federal Addendum.
• Amend agreement with LPA, Inc. for the new construction project at Centerville Middle School.
• Amend agreement with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects for the new construction project at Thornton Middle School.
• Amend agreement with Construction Testing Services, Inc. for the new construction project at Thornton Junior High School.
• Approve personnel actions.
• Resolution in support of contracting with individuals with speech and language pathology licenses and master’s degrees in communications to provide speech and language services.

 

 

President Dianne Jones                       Aye

Vice President Vivek Prasad              Aye

Yajing Zhang                                      Aye

Desrie Campbell                                 Aye

Larry Sweeny                                     Aye

Sissi Zhang (student)                          Aye

 

 

 

 

Hayward City Council

November 1, 2022

 

Public Hearing:

• Building and fire code updates. Passed unanimously.
• Introduction of Reach Code Ordinance addressing new building electrification; electric vehicle charging; and repealing current reach code. Passed unanimously.

 

Item Removed from Consent Calendar:

• Amend agreement with Eden Housing, Pacific West Communities, Strategic Growth Partners and other affiliated entities for transfer of specified city owned properties. Passed 6-0-1 recusal (Andrews).

 

Consent Items:

• Approve plans, specifications, and calls for bids for the municipal parking lot improvement projects.
• Negotiate site license agreement with East Bay Community Energy for electric vehicle charging.
• Resolution supporting Public Bank East Bay and Letter of Support to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

 

 

Mayor Barbara Halliday         Aye

Aisha Wahab                          Aye

Angela Andrews                     Aye, Recused

Sara Lamnin                           Aye

Elisa Marquez                         Aye

Mark Salinas                           Aye

Francisco Zermino                  Aye

 

 

 

 

Milpitas Unified School District

October 25, 2022

 

Action Items:

• Adopt revisions to Independent Study Policy. Passed 4-0-1 abstention (Tsai).
• Certify disclosure of Milpitas Teachers Association Collective bargaining agreement. Passed.
• Recognize October as Filipino American and LBGTQ+ History Month. Passed.
• Recognize and Honor MUSD School Administrators. Passed.

 

Consent Items:

• Approve agreement between Milpitas Unified School District and The Stepping Stones Group.
• Approve Air Tutors 2022-2023 contract agreement.
• Approve field trip requests.
• Approve notice of completion for Robert Bothman for Rancho Track.
• Approve IBI Architect’s additional aervices for Mattos Phase II.
• Approve fencing projects at Curtner, Rose, Weller, Sinnott, Rancho and Russell.
• Approve Nutritional Concepts, LLC agreement for student nutrition consultant.

 

 

President Kelly Yip-Chuan    Aye

Chris Norwood                       Aye

Minh Ngo                               Aye

Hon Lien                                 Aye

Michael Tsai                           Abstain

 

 

 

 

Santa Clara Valley Water District

October 25, 2022

 

Orders of the Day

• Resolution to obtain loans for up to $165 Million for certain Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program Projects. Passed.

 

Watersheds:

• Execute a right of way agreement between Dominic G. Kovacevic and Carolyn W. Kovacevic and Santa Clara Valley Water District, for acquisition of 166 Arroyo Way, San Jose for the Coyote Creek Flood Management Measures Project. Passed.

 

External Affairs:

• Resolution requesting the Association of California Water Agencies to sponsor state legislation to streamline permitting for Water Supply and Flood Risk Reduction Projects. Passed.

 

Consent Calendar:

• Declare November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month.
• Declare October 2022 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
• Accept the CEO Bulletin for the weeks of October 7-20, 2022.

 

 

John L. Varela, District 1                   Aye

Barbara Keegan, District 2                 Aye

Richard Santos, District 3                   Aye

Linda J. LeZotte, District 4                Aye

Nai Hsueh, District 5                          Aye

Tony Estremera, District 6                 Aye

Gary Kremen, District 7                     Aye

 

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

 

Friday, October 28

• At 9:34 a.m. a woman identified by police as Emani Johnson, 21, of Hayward was taken into custody at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. She was taken to Santa Rita Jail where she faced additional charges of bringing contraband into jail and possessing a weapon. She also was issued a prohibition order from BART.

 

Sunday, October 30

• At 9:45 p.m. a man identified by police as Robert Sodervick, 66, of San Francisco was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property and two outstanding warrants. He was taken to Santa Rita Jail.

 

Monday, October 31

• At 1:34 p.m. a man identified by police as Robert Sumner, 27, of San Leandro was arrested outside Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of indecent exposure. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail and issued a prohibition order.

 

• At 8:04 p.m. an adult identified by police as Honesty Gray, 19, of Oakland was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of robbery and battery on public transit and a possible hate crime, then booked into Santa Rita Jail. A 17-year-old male and 16-year-old female also were taken into custody on similar charges and booked into Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center. The 14-year-old also had an outstanding felony warrant. All four suspects were issued prohibition orders from BART.

 

Tuesday, November 1

• At 6:38 p.m. a person identified by police as Angel Knox, 38, of San Leandro was stopped at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed two arrest warrants. Knox was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• At 11:21 p.m. a man identified by police as Tommie Patterson Jr., 41, of Brentwood was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of robbery. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail and issued a prohibition order.

 

Thursday, November 3

• At 7:56 a.m. a woman identified by police as Britany Russ, 35, of Hayward was arrested at South Hayward station on suspicion of battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, violating a court order and probation violation. She was issued a prohibition order and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

 

 

CHP Log

Submitted by CHP Hayward

 

Monday, October 31

• At about 11:00 a.m. a fatal crash involving a motorcyclist and a big-rig truck closed four southbound lanes of I-880 starting just north of the A Street exit in Hayward. A preliminary CHP investigation indicated the motorcyclist went down on the highway, then was fatally struck by the truck which continued on. CHP said it is not clear if the truck driver knew they stuck the motorcyclist. The traffic lanes reopened about 2:45 p.m. An investigation is continuing and CHP is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about it to call them at (510) 489-1500.

 

 

 

 

Grab a cup of joe with cops

Submitted by Union City PD

 

Community members, students and local business owners in Union City are invited to a meet-and-greet “Coffee With Cops!” event on Friday, November 11 in Union City.

 

Sponsored by the Union City Police Department, the three-hour event starts at 4 p.m. at the Starbuck’s coffee shop in the Union Landing Shopping Center. The goal of this informal gathering is to let people ask questions or voice neighborhood concerns with members of the Union City Police Department in a relaxed setting.

 

Open to the public. For details, call (510) 471-1365.

 

 

Coffee With Cops!

Friday, Nov 11

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Union Landing Starbucks

32240 Dyer St., Union City

(510) 471-1365

 

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Monica Leon

 

Sunday, October 30

• During a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation, officers discovered the driver had multiple firearms inside the vehicle. One of the firearms was loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Officers also found contraband packaged for sale. The driver was arrested and faces firearm and drug-possession charges.

 

 

 

Hayward Police Department Log

Submitted by Fremont Fire Department

 

Friday, November 4

• Day shift officers responded to a 911 call about a person being robbed at gunpoint by a man leaving the scene in a BMW. Officers spotted the vehicle and tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver sped away. Police used a pursuit intervention technique to disable the car near the 1400 block of Industrial Parkway West. The driver then complied and was arrested. Inside the car, officers found a handgun and items belonging to the person who was robbed. One officer sustained minor injuries and was treated at a hospital.

 

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Milpitas PD

 

Wednesday, October 12

• At 2:10 p.m. officers responded to a theft report at the Great Mall. When they arrived, officers saw three suspects exiting the mall with stolen merchandise. The suspects ran from the officers but were detained after a short foot pursuit. Officers arrested one suspect, a 19-year-old Hayward resident. Officers recovered several hundred dollars’ worth of stolen merchandise from multiple stores. Officers were later able to identify the second suspect, a 16-year-old Hayward resident. Complaints against the two suspects were filed with the District Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Probation Department for theft-related charges.

 

Sunday, October 16

• At 8:41 p.m. a witness reported to police that two suspects were trying to break into a vehicle parked near the 200 block of N. Hillview Drive. Officers arrived and contacted two suspects, both Milpitas residents, ages 43 and 23. Officers determined the vehicle was reported stolen out of SJPD and the same two suspects had parked the stolen vehicle earlier in the day. A record check showed the suspects were also associated with a second vehicle that was reported stolen out of San Jose. Both suspects were arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of the stolen property, possession of an illegal dirk, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

Sunday, October 22

• At 3:04 p.m. a witness reported to police a catalytic converter theft in progress near the 1600-block of Sunnyhills Drive. Officers arrived and saw three suspects as they were attempting to cut the catalytic converter from a vehicle. Officers arrested a 24-year-old Pittsburg resident and a 22-year-old Antioch resident. The third suspect fled on foot and was not located. Fortunately, the suspects were caught before they cut the catalytic converter and there was no damage to the victim’s vehicle. The suspects were booked into jail on suspicion of attempted grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime. An investigation is continuing to try and identify the third suspect.

 

 

 

Newark Police Log

Submitted by Captain Jonathan Arguello

 

Sunday, October 2

• At 7:58 p.m. Officer Swadener responded to a report about a person brandishing a knife in the 100 block of NewPark Mall Road. Swadener located the suspect, later identified by police as a 40-year-old man. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of battery and booked into Santa Rita Jail. The brandishing report was unfounded.

 

Tuesday, October 4

• At 6:29 p.m. officers responded to a report about a battery in the 37000 block of Eureka Dr. Upon arrival, officers arrested a 56-year-old Stockton man on suspicion of battery causing serious bodily injuries. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail

 

Wednesday, October 12

• At 4:41 a.m. Officers Sanchez and Herrara arrested a 24-year-old woman in the area of Sycamore Street and Thornton Avenue on suspicion of brandishing a weapon at officers. She was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

Friday, October 14

• At 6:32 p.m. Officer Soto responded to a report about a person brandishing a knife in the 36000 block of Cherry St. Upon arrival, Soto arrested a 24-year-old Newark man on suspicion of exhibiting a weapon (not a firearm). He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

Thursday, October 20

• At 9:42 a.m. officers responded to a report of an in-progress commercial burglary in the 39000 block of Balentine Dr. Officers arrived, cleared the building and located the suspect hiding on the roof. Officers successfully de-escalated the situation and the suspect climbed down. While being taken into custody, the suspect kicked and spat on an officer. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of burglary, resisting arrest and battery on a peace officer, then booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Friday, October 21

• At 11:31 p.m. officers responded to a report about a single vehicle collision in the area of Balentine Drive and Mowry School Road. Upon arrival officers found a solo occupant trapped inside the vehicle. Members of the Alameda County Fire Department also responded and extricated the person, later identified by police as a 27-year-old Newark man, from the vehicle. He was treated at a hospital and later reported in stable condition. Police said alcohol is believed to be a factor; the incident is under investigation.

 

Sunday, October 23

• At 8:55 a.m. officers responded to a theft report in the 6100 block of Mayhews Landing Road. The suspect fled before officers arrived, but was later found hiding on the roof of the building. After brief negotiations, the suspect, identified by police as a 41-year-old man, come down and was taken into custody. The man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer, theft of personal property, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

• At 9:53 p.m. Officer Swadener responded to a report about an assault with a deadly weapon in the 200 block of NewPark Mall Road. Upon arrival, Swadener arrested a 58-year-old Hayward man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

 

Vehicle catalytic converter thefts:

• October 2: 5000 block of Scarborough Drive; October 15: 37000 block of Magnolia St., 6000 block of Clark Ave.; October 17: 6000 block of Tourraine Drive; October 24: 6000 block of Bellhaven Ave.; October 30: 5000 block of Central Ave.

 

 

 

Union City Police Log

Submitted by Union City PD

 

Monday, October 31

• During the night shift, as Field Training Officer Noyd was patrolling the area near Medallion Drive and Whipple Road, he spotted a parked vehicle with several people inside drinking. One of the people told Noyd that there was a gun inside the vehicle. Noyd then recovered a loaded semiautomatic pistol which was later determined to have been reported stolen in Sacramento County. The person was arrested on firearms charges and booked into jail.

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

Biola University, California

Spring 2022 Dean’s List

• Vince Argonza of Fremont
• Josephine Huang of Fremont
• Meonah Kwan of Union City
• Quennie Liu of Fremont
• Vivian Mac of Hayward
• Anya Mortensen of Castro Valley
• Kimberly Najarian of Hayward
• Rachel Anne Sevilla of Hayward
• Rebekah Stockinger of Hayward
• Brittany Ung of Fremont
• Brooke Ung of Fremont
• Turner Yuen of Union City

 

 

 

Newark brokerage expands team

Submitted by Weichert Real Estate Affiliates

 

Officials from Weichert, Realtors — Rainbow Properties in Newark recently announced that Yousuf Wadhwanwala has joined their team.

 

Located at 6658 Thornton Ave., the brokerage is an independently owned and operated affiliate of Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. and has operated locally for about 40 years. For more information, contact Adam Modzeleski at (510) 944-1454 or send an email to moe4loans@gmail.com.

 

 

 

Xin Li dominates with backhand at the Classic Hardbat World Championships

By Larry Hodges

 

Many players struggle in making the transition from sponge to hardbat in Table Tennis. Less so for Xin Li, who won Women’s Singles at the Classic Hardbat World Championships.

 

While she’s a standard shakehand player, (a grip closely resembling a hand shake) with inverted on both sides, she used to play with medium-long pips on the backhand. Li switched to inverted on the backhand five years ago, when she was 17 years old, but quickly recovered her old pips-out stroke. She dominated with her backhand, which is her stronger side, especially in hardbat. Li was top seed and won convincingly, in the final round robin of six players, where she went 5-0 and defeated second-place finisher Ning Cheng, 7,3,3.

 

Li is originally from Shaanxi, China, where she started playing table tennis at age seven. She immediately dropped all other extracurricular activities to focus on table tennis – to her mom’s initial dismay. But it paid off as she made the Shaanxi Provincial Team of China at age 15 and won the Shaanxi Provincial Women’s Championships. She moved to the Bay Area in 2018 when she was 18 years old. For her first few years here, Li focused on studying English and getting a degree in Business Administration at Ohlone College.

 

Since graduating, Li has focused more on table tennis and has been training regularly at the ICC Table Tennis Center in Milpitas since October of 2021. The training paid off in February 2022 when she won Open Singles at the Fremont Butterfly Open. In May, she won Women’s Teams at the U.S. Team Championships in Rockford, Illinois. Her current USATT rating is 2265, but she does not yet have a hardbat rating.

 

When asked what the biggest challenge was in switching to hardbat, Li said, “You have to supply all the power, and there’s a lot of movement.” She’s moved from being a sponge star to hardbat superstar.

 

 

The tournament livestream is available at: https://www.facebook.com/ClassicHardbat/

 

 

 

Records made at Cross Country league Championship

By April Ramos

Photos courtesy of Todd Tokubo

 

Through the inconsistent rain, one thing was certain at the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) Cross Country Championships, the athletes came out breaking records and defending titles. On Wednesday, November 2, all cross-country runners of the eight schools in the MVAL gathered at Quarry Lakes in Fremont for the Championship they have been working toward. Five races made up the MVAL championship meet; Frosh/Soph boys two-mile, Junior Varsity girls’ and boys’ two mile, and Varsity girls’ and boys’ three-mile run.

 

The Frosh/Soph boys’ two mile was dominated by Mission San Jose High School Warriors (MSJHS) who swept the top four spots claimed by Aris MacKenzie, Aadi Yadav, Andrew Li and Jay Gokani, all under 11:15. In the girls’ Junior Varsity two mile, the Newark Memorial Cougars’ talents shone through as they defended their title as team winners and junior Rene Exley defends her title once again as race champion with a time of 13:14, nearly 30 seconds ahead of the pack.

 

MSJHS claimed the team lead in the Junior Varsity boys’ two mile followed by Moreau Catholic and Newark Memorial, both with a total average of three minutes behind MSJHS’ team time. With many repeat winners, Newark Memorial High School broke the mold as its Varsity Girls’ team earned their first ever league title. The lady Cougars took control of the varsity category with seven of their runners in the top ten, including juniors Kara Tokubo and Ava Irwin in the first and third slot, respectively.

 

The final and fastest race of the meet was the Varsity Boys’ three mile. The NMHS team’s score earned them first place with MSJHS and James Logan following behind. But the three mile stand out was Moreau Catholic’s Jacob Hupke, who set a new course record with a time of 14:43.

 

Top seven individuals from each Varsity race will be proceeding in the North Coast Section state qualifying meet, Meet of Champions on November, 19 at Hayward High School.

 

 

For MVAL Championship results visit www.diablotiming.com/results/2022-11-02/. For more information or to purchase tickets for the Meet of Champions visit www.cifncs.org/sports/cross_country/index.

 

 

 

Amador Valley defeats Washington in Water Polo Thriller
by Eric Donato

The Amador Valley Dons (Pleasanton) secured a trip to the 2022 North Coast Section(NCS) Girls Water Polo semi-finals by defeating the Washington Huskies (Fremont) Saturday in the quarter-finals with a score of 10-9.

The Dons dominated the first quarter with an initial shutout lead-in score of 3-0. Despite the intense effort of Washington to score three goals in the second period, Amador Valley maintained the gap with three additional goals of their own. Seconds before the second quarter ended, the Dons threw the ball for a highlight reel-worthy goal from the opposite side end of the pool, keeping the lead at 6-3. Amador Valley continued the three-point gap with Washington into the third period ending at 8-5.

Despite trailing behind, the Huskies' tenacity was fully displayed during the fourth period, with their defensive play shutting out the Amador Valley's offense. Washington's offense was in complete rally overdrive, scoring their sixth goal in the second half of the fourth period and two additional goals in the closing two minutes. The tying goal at 8-8 was a riveting buzzer-beater moment, with the ball thrown three seconds before the end of regulation time.  

The water polo game between the Amador Valley and Washington continued to be a gripping match that ended with a “sudden death” showdown in the third and final extra period after both teams took a goal each in the two three-minute extra periods. In the end, the Dons bested the Huskies with yet another exciting goal half a minute before the end of the final third extra period. The thrill of the equalizing goal from the Huskies during the closing seconds was short-lived with an exclusion call from the game officials.

The 10-9 win over Washington punches Amador Valley's ticket to advance in the playoff and host Redwood High School for the NCS semi-finals on November 9th. 

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor

 

 

 

City attempts to limit access to a public park

 

The parking shortage at the main gate to Mission Peak Regional Preserve has been a hot-button issue in city politics for the last 10 years. Entitled local residents complained vociferously when they saw pedestrians walking on the sidewalks or cars parked on the public streets. To alleviate the complaints from this small but vocal band, the board of EBRPD approved 300 additional parking spaces in September of 2016. This had the full support of the city council.

 

EBRPD helped eliminate over 1,000 public parking spaces in late 2016, through restrictive temporary permits for residents only. The park district also paid for the cost of administration and enforcement, but the temporary permits expired in July 2022 and were then extended by the city at its own cost. Since 1978, the district has operated the main entrance to Mission Peak under a long-term lease with the city that ran out in summer 2020 and has been month-to-month ever since.

 

Upon announcing the 340 additional parking spaces In September 2016, board director Ayn Wieskamp said, “We’re looking at many ways to improve things at Mission Peak for the visitors, park staff and neighbors…and we’re excited to get the process started.” She envisioned better landscaping, picnic tables, and flush restrooms. (Link: bit.ly/3WviJFc). In spite of these lofty promises, the “temporary” porta potties installed in 2015 remain in place, still odious and unsanitary.

 

In September 2016, EBRPD certified the environmental impact report (EIR) for the new staging area and appropriated $1.6 million for plans and permits. EBRPD expected to appropriate funding from Measure WW, grants, and other sources. The improvements were at no cost to the city, and completion was scheduled for 2020. After approving the EIR, the park district was sued by Stanford Avenue neighbors. They claimed the ground beneath their homes is too geologically unstable to support a parking lot. Ironically, the parking project with 340 spaces would offload most of the congestion from nearby residential streets.

 

The park district has recently floated a concept that calls for only 82 spaces and would do little to alleviate congestion. Parking enforcement is costly, and Mission Peak is the only neighborhood in the city that has restricted street parking. Police services to enforce parking restrictions cost $360,000 a year for three enforcement officers hired in 2021. Their total compensation exceeds the ticket revenue, so the parking restrictions cost the city $260,000 a year which is nowhere near attaining “revenue neutrality” as promised to the city council in 2020.

 

Mission Peak has long been the city’s and the park district’s most contentious political issue. The city council has put politics over the needs of the community, or “Politics Over People.” The city council sacrificed public health for political gain when they closed the park’s entrance and several trails for nearly two months during the lock-downs in the spring of 2020. Now the council wants to slash the parking spaces, and continue to hand out parking tickets with no end in sight.

 

On November 15, 2022, the city council will once again discuss the fate of Mission Peak. The agenda will be posted here: bit.ly/3FRdeuJ  ; You can tell the city council that you want to protect public access to popular parks like Mission Peak, not slash the parking project and not build more fences or barricades. We need clean, flush toilets.

 

An investment in our parks is an investment in our future.

 

 

william yragui

Mission Peak Conservancy

 

 

 

Washington Boys Water Polo MVAL Victory

By Angela Xiong

 

On Friday, October 28, the Washington Huskies (Fremont) took on the American Eagles (Fremont) at the Boys Water Polo Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL) Championships. The bleachers at American High School were filled with parents and friends from both schools cheering loudly for their teams.

 

The game kicked off evenly matched with Washington taking a slight lead. The Huskies strengthened their lead over the Eagles through strategically angled shots and strong defensive plays. By halftime, the Huskies had a 4-point lead over the Eagles with a score of 8-4 respectively. Going into the third quarter, the American Eagles fought back by securing a powerful goal. The Washington Huskies quickly countered the Eagles’ advances by scoring another point bringing the score to 9-5. The Huskies continued to excel in defense, with consecutive successful blocks sending the audience into a fit of roaring cheers. The quarter ended with the Huskies scoring a penalty shot, bringing the score to 10-5, Huskies with a 5-point lead.

 

The energy shifted going into the final quarter as both the Huskies and Eagles fought to secure the final victory. In an upset, the Eagles blocked an impressive 5-meter shot from the Huskies and then proceeded to make a goal themselves, bringing the score to 10-6. As the quarter came to an end, the Huskies scored one last point, sealing their victory with a final score of 11-6. “[This victory] was definitely a whole team effort. We had a rough start [this season], but we started improving halfway through the season, and our all-around team bonding was what made us so successful this season,” Washington Boys Water Polo Varsity Co-captains Nathan Javier and Nathan Young said.

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

How much more hate do we have to tolerate?

 

As a long-term Fremont resident, I am very concerned about our children’s future. Will they be living in a society where there is no difference between right and wrong? Are they going to live in a society that is going to live through a cultural revolution similar to the 1960s in China? Are they going to be safe? These are all the questions that I long to find answers.

 

According to Assembly Bill 367, where it says, “Existing law requires a public school maintaining any combination of classes from grade 6 to grade 12, inclusive, that meets a 40% pupil poverty threshold specified in federal law, to stock 50% of the school’s restrooms with feminine hygiene products, and prohibits a public school from charging for any menstrual products provided to pupils.”

 

We, as parents, found this bill has been violated by the school board. First, it says that if 40% of pupil are below the poverty threshold, that menstrual products shall be provided without cost. According to US Census Bureau, Fremont has a 4.9% overall poverty level. Therefore, we are challenging that menstrual products shall not and need not to be provided in the Fremont school district.

 

Second, the tampon rack was installed in the lower grade boy’s bathroom, that violates the assembly bill that says, “any combination of classes from grades 6 to 12.” Parkmont elementary currently holds K to 6th grade and in process to transition the 6th grade to middle school next year.

 

Third and most importantly, a tampon dispenser in the boys’ bathroom creates confusion in children’s minds. My neighbor’s son, after seeing the tampon rack in his bathroom has asked his mom if he is going to start a period.

 

Therefore, out of all those concerns, on October 26, a handful of concerned parents went to Fremont Unified School Board meeting in order to challenge the board decision during the open forum discussion. Somehow our communication prior to the meeting got leaked and alerted a group of trans activists to the same board meeting to counter our protest.

 

Several days later, my neighbor received a text from her niece with information that one activist, Jenna Daugherty, posted my neighbor’s speech said that her story was made up and called her son stupid on the activist’s Instagram page.

 

Tolerance is a two-way street, and we as parents are only asking for reading, writing and math skills for the next generations. The study of sexuality can wait until they have a solid foundation of academics. Is that too much to ask? What was the purpose of all these activists coming out to counter what we had to say? Is it wrong for us to voice our concerns? According to Higher Education Fellow Nicholas Giordano, America is emerging an education crisis where 12th grade reading material is written in 7th grade level. What is the rush of pushing sex ed on young children when normal school children cannot even get the facts right? And who is that activist to judge the accuracy of my neighbor and her son’s story? And she outright called a 4th grader “stupid.” How much hate do we have to tolerate?

 

The school board members are not paying attention to this behavior and their silence reinforces activists’ behavior toward parents and their precious children. Growing up in Hong Kong, I always heard the stories of how the communists torture citizens, how the red guards turn against their own neighbors and parents, how many suicides that happened during the cultural revolution because they could not deal with public shaming. Is this what is happening in America, in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion? How much hate do we need to tolerate before it gets better, or will it ever?

 

Stephanie Szto

Fremont

 

 

 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Giving back to the community

 

I recently saw the article in your newspaper titled “Making a difference” [Nov. 1, 2022] and was touched by it.

 

I started my scouting journey as a cub scout and have continued to be a star rank in Troop 120. My troop has taken part in “Make a Difference Day” yearly and it feels great to give back to the community that has given so much to me.

 

One person who has truly inspired me, was an elderly man living in the Parkmont area. His name was Dominic Verdile and he was an amazing person all around. Every morning he would go to Parkmont Elementary School and pick up trash. He was also a voluntary gardener for the school. He wasn't getting any money or benefits, but it was done through the kindness of his heart. He had a strong sense of community and believed that everybody needed to do their part. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago, but me and my fellow scouts live with his memory that keeps us going. We continue to maintain gardens, clean trash, paint benches, and more, every year.

 

These are the kind of people that make the world a better place. When I found out about the Hayward task force created, I was happy that Dominic's wish was being fulfilled by the masses. Thank you for writing this story that has touched my heart.

 

Siddharth Kulkarni

Fremont

 

 

 

Amazon Music expands catalog to 100M songs for members

By Jonathan Landrum Jr.

Associated Press Entertainment Writer

 

LOS ANGELES (AP), Nov. 1 — Amazon Music is gearing up for a massive content expansion: The streaming giant will offer a full catalog of music with more than 100 million songs for members.

 

The streaming service told The Associated Press that members will gain hundreds of millions of songs — a huge increase from 2 million — in shuffle mode without any advertisement at no additional costs. It will also include most top podcasts ad-free including Wondery's catalog of premium shows along with series like “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories” and Keke Palmer's new original podcast “Baby, this is Keke Palmer.”

 

“We can't wait for members to experience not only a massively expanded catalog of songs, but also the largest selection of ad-free top podcasts anywhere, at no additional cost to their membership,” said Steve Boom, vice president at Amazon Music.

 

Amazon Music says the decision behind the huge increase came after customers pressed for access to a full catalog of music. Now, members will be able to shuffle play any music artist, album or playlist with the option to upgrade to the Amazon Music Unlimited tier to get on-demand access — which has spatial audio along with songs in HD and Ultra HD.

 

Members will be able to listen to shows ad-free from major media outlets such as CNN, ESPN, NPR and The New York Times. Other top podcasts on the platform include “Dr. Death,” “SmartLess” and “Even the Rich.”

 

 

 

Boutique Calendar

 

Beau’s Bridge Club Holiday Boutique

Saturday, Nov 12

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Jewelry by Springtime Creations, baked goods by Ashley Wong, and more!

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

38801 Blacow Rd., Fremont

 

Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Holiday Boutique

Saturday, Nov 19

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Fruitcake, honey, olive oil, and handmade items

DSMSJ Motherhouse

43326 Mission Cir, Fremont

www.msjdominicans.org

 

Georgian Manor Holiday Boutique

Saturday, November 19

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Handcrafted items for holiday gift, raffle prizes

Georgian Manor Mobile Home Park

1419 Buckingham Way, Hayward

Harlen Strauss: (510) 887-4366

(510) 785-2212

harleneatvip@comcast.net

 

Mistletoe Madness

Saturday, Nov 26

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

70+ booths from local crafters and artisans

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd., San Leandro

www.mistletoemadness.net

 

 

 

IAD 110822

Continuing Events:

 

Second Tuesdays

The Page Turners

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Book discussion for adults lead by librarian Chris Selig

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Tuesdays

International Folk Dancing in English R$

01:30 pm – 02:50 pm

Member: $38.50

Non-Member: $58.50

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

 

Wednesdays

Teen Weekly Wednesdays

4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Video games, board games, puzzles, ukuleles, anime, button making, crafts, 3D printing, and more

37055 Newark Blvd, Newark

(510) 284-0675

bit.ly/3DyAJaM

 

First Wednesdays

Talkin' Dirt

7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Online Gathering of Gardeners

6501 Niles Blvd, Fremont

fremontleaf.org/talkindirt

 

Thursdays

Chair Yoga R

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Consists of breathing and stretching techniques

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

 

First Thursdays

Plethos Comedy Lab $

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Ever-changing lineup of Bay Area comics (18+)

3295 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley

(510) 901-1001

castrovalleymarketplace.com, plethos.org

Ticket: $10

 

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays

Ride the Rails $

10:20 am – 1:55 pm

Travel through the eucalyptus groves

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays

Patterson House Tour $

11:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm

Tour the Patterson House Museum

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Rockin’ Tots $

10 am – 12 pm

Saturday: 8 am – 10 am

Sunday: 9 am – 11 am

39177 Farwell Drive, Fremont

(510) 246-3098

rockinjump.com/Fremont

$10 for a parent and child under 6 for an hour

 

Fridays

Knitting Class in Mandarin

09:45 am – 10:45 am

Learn about knitting.,

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

 

First Fridays

Chabot Space $

06:00 pm – 10:00 pm

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org

Ticket: $15 adults, $10 seniors/kids, $5 members

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City $

8:00 pm

Improvised games and scenes

(Please show proof of vaccination)

4000 Bay St suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

 

Second Saturdays

Lazy Saturdays?

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join members of LEAF and tackle various projects

6501 Niles Blvd, Fremont

fremontleaf.org/volunteer

volunteer@fremontleaf.org

 

Third Saturdays

Investigating Space $

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Discuss topics in exploring space with researchers and scientists

10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org

 

Saturdays and Sundays

Open Recreation Swim “Water Park” In Silliman $

12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Activity pool, Water slides, Lazy River

6800 Mowry Ave, Newark

(510) 578-4620

bit.ly/3rYybve

 

Mondays

Advanced Math + Tutoring

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Free High School and College-Level tutoring,

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Second Thursdays, September 8 – June 9

Café Dad

6:00 pm

Father and father figures to obtain resources,

24823 Soto Rd, Hayward

(510) 723-3857

husd.us/hub

 

Thursdays – Sundays, October 6 – December 4

Shape, Form, and Color: Modern Expressionism

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Reception: Saturday, Nov 12, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Art exhibit at the UNCLE Union Art Gallery

2400 First St, Livermore

(510) 373-6800

livermorearts.org

 

Friday – Thursday, October 21 – November 17

Celebrate Women! Art Exhibit

9:00 am – 5:00 pm

John O'Lague Galleria

777 Hayward, Hayward

(510) 583-4000

 

Sunday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, October 30 – December 02

ACT math review bootcamp R$

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Exam Prep for December ACT Test Date (6-week camp)

je411.com/act

 

Tuesdays, November 1

Practice Your English R

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Improve your English by talking with native speakers

bit.ly/3TH2keU

jliu@aclibrary.org

 

Thursdays, November 3 – December 8

Calling all Carolers! R

7:15 pm

Sing with Bay Area Showcase Chorus

1989 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas

(408) 973-1555

mt-olive.org, singharmony.org

info@singharmony.org

 

Thursdays, November 3 – November 17

Exploring the World of Wine R$

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join Wine Educator to learn more about wine

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

Member: $17.50

Non-Member: $37.50

 

Monday – Monday, November 7 – November 21

More Threads: Beginner Sewing Series R

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Basic sewing class

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

tisaacson@aclibrary.org

 

Thursdays, November 10

International Folk Dancing in Chinese R$

11:30 am – 12:50 pm

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

Member: $35

Non-Member: $55

 

Friday – Sunday, November 11 – November 19

November 12, 17, 18

Frankenstein R$

8:00 pm

A new adaptation refocusing the classic story

Smith Center

43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont

www.ohlone.edu

 

Saturdays, November 12 – February 5

13 Weekly (Grief Share) sessions R

9:00 am – 10:30 am

38451 Fremont Blvd, Fremont

(510) 793-3366

popfremont.org

 

Tuesdays, October 11 – December 27

Needle Time

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Bring your latest sewing, or knitting project to craft

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ

 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

Tuesday, November 8

Annual Animation Show of Shows

4:00 pm

10 Short animated films at NUMMI theater

Ohlone College

43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont

www.ohlone.edu

 

Wednesday, November 9

Breathe Easy: Managing Asthma

6:30 pm

Identify asthma triggers, control symptoms

youtube.com/whhslnHealth

facebook.com/WashingtonHosp

 

Wednesday, November 9

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Medicare counseling

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont

(510) 790-6606

ashicap.org

 

Thursday, November 10

Bouncing Babies Story time

11:15 am – 11:45 am

Stories, songs, and fun; pick your tickets at Children Desk 15 minutes prior

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM

Masks required

 

Thursday, November 10

Outdoor Family Movie Night R

6:00 pm

Food and drinks on sale

Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro

2200 San Leandro Blvd, San Leandro

(510) 483-5581

bgcsl.org

 

Thursday, November 10

Organic Gardening Webinar R

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Fall Pest Prevention

bit.ly/3DZJE4H

 

Thursday, November 10

Darshana: A Glimpse into Hindu Civilization

Nationwide Traveling Exhibit

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St, Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org

 

Saturday, November 12

Lego Building R

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Get creative with Lego bricks. Sign up as a team of 2-5

Calvary Lutheran Church

17200 Vía Magdalena, San Lorenzo

calvaryslz.org

info@calvaryslz.org

 

Saturday, November 12

Veterans Say Exhibit Program

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Displays, photographs, articles, and posters highlighting the Bay Area’s contributions during WWII

San Leandro Library

300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro

(510) 577-3970

bit.ly/3R2QIkc

 

Saturday, November 12

Meet Author Paul Justison

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Reading of “Lost and Found in The 60s” and book signing

Books on B

101 B street, Hayward

(510) 538-3943

booksonb.com

 

Saturday, November 12

Neat Stuff with a Naturalist

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Unique hands-on activities, tours, or crafts with Naturalist

Coyote Hills Visitors Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

bit.ly/3UGfdGr

 

Saturday, November 12

Oak Tree Talk and Draw

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Draw tree step-by step, learn about learn about the ecosystem

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd, Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/Sunol

 

Saturday, November 12

Science Experiments for kids

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Learn about clouds and leaves changing their colors

Sunol Regional Wilderness Visitor Center

1895 Geary Rd, Sunol

(510) 544-3245

ebparks.org/parks/Sunol

 

Saturday, November 12

Olive Harvest

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Help Dominican Sisters at annual olive harvest

Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose

43326 Mission Blvd, Fremont

(510) 657-2468

msjdominicans.org

 

Saturday – Sunday, November 12 – November 13

Goodguys America's Favorite Car Show R$

8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Explore over 2,500 American made or powered hot rods,

4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton

(925) 426-7600

alamedacountyfair.com, good-guys.com/agt

 

Sunday, November 13

Tribute to Count Basie & Duke Ellington R$

3:00 pm

Bringing back different era of music

Bankhead Theatre

2400 2400 First St, Livermore

(510) 373-6800

livermorearts.org

Tickets: $20-$85 ($20 student/military personnel)

 

Sunday, November 13

The Neil Diamond Story

2:00 pm

Starring William Florian. songs – stories – humor

Newark Junior High School

6201 Lafayette Ave, Newark

(510) 818-3000

njhs.newarkunified.org

 

Sunday, November 13

Felted Pumpkins at Mindy Castle

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Create some felted fall fun and decorate your home

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd, Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood

 

Sunday, November 13

Water Chemistry

10:00 am – 11:30 pm

Learn about the elements in water with experiments

Coyote Hills Visitors Center

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

bit.ly/3UGfdGr

 

Sunday, November 13

Rcoz’s First Fundraising Gala R

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Explore art, create music, and hear inspiring stories

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd, Fremont

(510) 791-4357

rcoz.us

 

Monday – Tuesday, November 14 – November 15

Ride -On Tri City Travel R

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn to plan trips, read transit schedules, pay fares, transfer between buses and Bart

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 574-2053

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

rideontricity@fremont.gov

 

Tuesday, November 15

America Recycle day Event R

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Disposal of pharmaceuticals, household batteries, floppy disks, DVDs (San Leandro residents)

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

tinyurl.com/2022-ARD, sanleandro.org

Register by November 9

 

Tuesday, November 15

Technology Class R

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Learn how to surf net, find information, and look-up videos

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct, Fremont

(510) 742-7529

bit.ly/3rAEdSC

 

 

 

Tree Lighting Calendar

 

Niles Festival of Lights Parade

Friday, Nov 25

6 p.m. Tree Lighting

6:30 p.m. Parade starts

Downtown Niles

Niles Blvd., from G St. to J St., Fremont

(510) 857-6512

www.nilesfestivaloflightsparade.org

 

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday, Dec 1

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Milpitas Civic Center Plaza

455 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

www.milpitas.gov

 

Bright up the Night

Friday, Dec 2

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Laser light shows set to holiday music, selfies with Santa and other characters

Courtyard near Old Navy, Fremont Hub

Argonaut Way & Mowry Ave.

fremonthub.shopkimco.com

 

It’s a Wonderful Night

Friday, Dec 2

5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Estudillo Plaza

Estudillo Ave., between E 14th St. and Washington Ave., San Leandro

Kids’ crafts, holiday drone show, holiday market, movies, Santa and Mrs. Claus

(510) 281-0703

downtownsanleandro.com/events/its-a-wonderful-night/

 

Hayward Light up the Season

Saturday, Dec 3

5 p.m.

Tree lighting, toy drive, bookmobile, and more

City Hall Plaza

777 B St., Hayward

https://www.hayward-ca.gov/residents/arts-leisure/light-up-the-season