Ballet Petit Nutcracker returns to celebrate old traditions and new interpretations
Submitted by Peggy Peabody
On Saturday, December 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Ballet Petit will present its 45th Anniversary Nutcracker at Chabot College, in the Performing Arts Center.
Ballet Petit loves keeping the unique spirit of its Nutcracker alive and growing year after year, and 2023 is no different. Each year, Ballet Petit’s Nutcracker evolves, grows, responds to the needs of its dancers, as well as those of the greater community. Every five years, Ballet Petit puts on a milestone anniversary performance with special additions to the familiar presentation, and alumni and past staff returning to the stage and audience to celebrate the legacy that is Ballet Petit’s Nutcracker.
The audience may notice special newer adaptations in Act 2, specifically in the dances traditionally known as Spanish Chocolate, Chinese Tea, Arabian Coffee, and Russian Trepak. Change in classical ballet is hard to come by. For about 25 years, classical ballet, in general, has been grappling with the harmful stereotypical depictions in various ballets. In Nutcracker, those are in the Chinese Tea and Arabian Coffee dances, in particular.
About 20 years ago, Ballet Petit (BP) dancers asked to remove the familiar and typical pointed finger gestures and head bobbing in the Chinese Tea dance. Then a few years ago, another BP advanced dancer pointed out the issue with putting little girls in harem pants in Arabian Coffee. Productions were, and some still are, kind of used to this interpretation, but BP dancers had noted it needed to be addressed. But how?
During lockdown, graduating BP Seniors in the Class of 2021, created alternate concepts for Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, and Trepak. Over Zoom, they presented to their Artistic Director a well-thought-out proposal for change, and the work began. Since 2020, BP has further developed the concepts into what you will see on December 2, in addition to the other evolutions in other sections of BP’s Nutcracker. Ballet Petit is proud its dancers took initiative and helped BP progress forward to a more inclusive and less stereotyped concept.
In addition to the further development of these concepts, the production is continually evolving and improving. This year’s cast boasts 154 dancers in over 300 beautiful costumes, many updated for the 45th Anniversary.
Ballet Petit is a classical ballet school located in Hayward. Artistic Director, Peggy Peabody, invites you to join us in the theatre to start off your holidays. Ballet Petit’s Nutcracker is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Plus, refreshments are free!
Ballet Petit Nutcracker
Saturday, Dec 2
2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Ballet Petit
2501 Industrial Parkway West., Hayward
(510) 363-0192
Tickets: $25 adults; $20 Children and Seniors
Purchase on www.purplepass.com
Local artists offer demos, studio tours, original art, and unique gifts
Submitted by Adriane Dedic
Eleven award-winning local artists are inviting you to visit their studios to celebrate the 22nd “Newark Open Studios” starting Friday, December 1 and continuing through the weekend. You will be amazed at the many unique artworks and gift items, just in time for the holidays. Enjoy an array of different styles and techniques including painting on silk, wearable art such as silky scarves and tops, stunning glass jewelry, tile murals, landscape paintings, oil portraits, mixed media, and plushies. Open Studios lets you go behind the scenes at four artist studio sites to chat with artists as you watch how they create their art.
A visit to Simone Archer’s studio is a peek into the mind of an artist. Her studio looks out at her tranquil garden and koi fish pond. You might recognize many of the locations in her original oil paintings of popular Tri-City landmarks, seascapes, and quaint buildings in Niles. You will see her kiln which she uses to fire fused glass jewelry and figurative ceramic wall tiles. She will also share secrets of plein air painting, which has been a source of solace for her during the isolation of the Covid pandemic.
Shelley Stratton Stewart is also at Simone’s studio. Shelley makes unique handmade collage note cards as well as mixed media art that grabs your imagination and often embraces the beauty of the California Central Coast.
At Adriane Dedic’s studio you will see an etching press like the ones used by Rembrandt and Picasso, as well as original metal plates and carved Japanese wood blocks used in her Geisha series. Adriane loves to print her favorite designs on wearable art such as silky scarves as well as on small marble coasters. One of her recent art pieces was selected to hang in the de Young Museum’s current exhibit featuring Bay Area Artists. She is also known for her fabric collage art inspired by Gustav Klimt.
Glass artist Emelie Rogers will exhibit decorative and functional glass at Adriane’s studio. She utilizes many different techniques to create stunning and unique pieces. Copper inclusions make her pieces shimmer. Her paintings on glass, whether powdered glass, enamels, or cast glass components, represent her ongoing creativity and passion. From large bowls, platters and tabletop pieces, to vases, ornaments, glass jewelry, and holiday gift sets, her creative style is inspiring.
Tetiana Tagaska and Olga Tymoshchuk are co-owners of Imaginook Art Studio in Newark. Tetiana is an impressionist painter who tells a story using light and color. Olga’s ceramics and watercolor paintings are inspired by nature and her travels. Susan Helmer and Hetal Anjara are also displaying their art at Imaginook. Susan is a fiber artist who paints on silk and also creates jewelry. She is best known for her paintings of cactus on silk. Hetal, who is from India, is inspired by the folk-art paintings from her heritage. She is a mixed media artist working in graphite, colored pencil, acrylic, oil, watercolor paintings and traditional Indian styles of art.
Nancy Benton’s studio will also feature Farshid Namei and Anderson (Scoop) Benton. Scoop’s art is inspired by alternative comics and the furry community. He works in an array of mediums from pen and paints to plushies. Farshid’s oil portraits have won numerous international awards. She would love to do a portrait for you of someone special in your life. Nancy paints landscapes as well as figurative art in gouache and acrylic. If you are curious about the inside of an artist’s studio, be sure to visit her site.
The studios of Simone Archer, Adriane Dedic, and Nancy Benton are open to the community on Friday, December 1; Saturday, December 2; and Sunday, December 3. Imaginook studio will be open to the community on Saturday, December 2; and Sunday, December 3.
This is your chance to see the inside of a studio, talk with local artists who have exhibited around the Bay and beyond, and buy unique gifts for the holidays!
Studio locations:
36541 Cherry St.: Simone Archer, Shelley Stratton Stewart
35911 Ruschin Dr.: Adriane Dedic, Emelie Rogers
6222 Thornton Ave., Ste B1, upstairs: Nancy Benton, Scoop Benton, Farshid Namei
39675 Cedar Blvd., Ste 135: Tetiana Taganska, Olga Tymoshchuk, Susan Helmer, Hetal Anjara (Imaginook Studio open Sat & Sun)
Newark Open Studios
Friday, Dec 1 – Sunday, Dec 3
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Various Locations
www.myartiststudio.com
The Man Who Saved Christmas: A Very Merry Musical
Submitted by David Newman
Photos by EBCT
The holidays will be a little brighter this year when Chanticleers Theatre (Castro Valley’s little theatre in the park) and East Bay Children’s Theatre (the Bay Area’s longest continuously operating theatre company) (EBCT) team up to present the award-winning musical The Man Who Saved Christmas!
This very merry hit, which enjoyed its world premiere right here in the Bay Area, returns for the first time in more than a decade after enjoying success throughout the United States, Canada, and England. There is even a successful cast album! This production will be directed by the show’s creator, Ron Lytle (Christmas in OZ, Oh My Godmother!, etc.)
The Man Who Saved Christmas is loosely based on the true story of toy maker A.C. Gilbert (the inventor of The Erector Set.) Set in 1917, as America is embroiled in the first World War, this old-fashioned crowd-pleaser focuses on Gilbert’s battle with the U.S. government as it attempts to ban toy sales during the holiday season.
Added to the mix: A secretary who keeps her heart on ice and a visiting reporter determined to thaw it out; the nefarious Iago of the toy factory, Mister Dixon; Gilbert’s loving wife Mary; and the Gilberts’ precocious niece Ellen, who untangles the myriad complications in which the young lovers–and the Toy Tycoon–find themselves.
Suitable for the entire family, this is the perfect antidote for those saying “Bah humbug!” to one more production of A Christmas Carol or for those driven nuts by yet another Nutcracker!
The talented cast hails from all across the Bay Area and beyond and includes: Michael Sally, Christopher Crosby Cruz, Jordyn Foley, Torey Bookstein, Michael Vetrovec, Cara Impallomeni, CJ Strickland, Antonio Cervantes, Lissette Chao, Kelly Crocker, Lyida Crocker, Ashleigh Johnson, Benjamin Hoang Nguyen, Emme Maher, Kenny Silberberg, Cadence Santyipsum, Mathilda Babcock, Vivian Crocker, Serena Sweat, Connor Taylor, Angel Veliz Vasquez and Kayly Veliz Vasquez.
The Man Who Saved Christmas plays three weeks only: December 1-17! For tickets ($25-30) or more info, visit www.Chanticleers.org or call (510) 733-5483.
The Man Who Saved Christmas
Friday, Dec 1 – Sunday, Dec 17
Fri/Sat: 8 p.m.
Sun: 2 p.m.
Chanticleers Theater
3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 733-5483
Tickets: $25-$30
Christmas Splendor at the Patterson House
Submitted by Ardenwood Historic Farm
Celebrate the holidays as people did at the turn of the 20th century at a beautifully restored Queen Anne mansion. Join costumed docents for a tour of 14 rooms decorated with vintage-style holiday ornaments.
Daytime house tours will be held Fridays through Sundays, the first three weeks in December. “Tot Tours” for kids ages six and under, downstairs only. These tours are wheelchair accessible. Full-Length history tours for ages six and up include the upstairs of the house. Email reservation requests to pattersonhouse@fremont.gov. Bring a picnic lunch, visit the animals, and enjoy a leisurely walk-in nature. House entrance fees are $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and children. (Children five and under are free.)
On Sunday, December 10 enjoy a special evening with the house aglow with holiday fun after the farm has closed for the day. Tickets are $8 in advance; $9 at the door. Register at www.regerec.com. (Children 12 and under enter free.)
Note that house admission fees are separate from farm entrance fees. Farm entrance is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. Ages four and under enter free.
Patterson House Christmas Tours
Friday, Dec 1 – Sunday, Dec 17
Fri/Sat/Sun
Tot Tours: 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Full Length History Tours: 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Twilight Holiday Open House
Sunday, Dec 10
4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
Cooking for a Cause
Submitted by Beena Shah
Let’s come together this holiday season to Cook for a Cause! Heartfulness Institute will be hosting the “Fireless cooking challenge” as one of the culminating activities for our month of Gratitude this December.
This challenge gives students the chance to showcase their talents in cooking dishes and making desserts without using a stove. Children from Grades 1 to 12 are invited to register in teams of three representing their school. Proceeds from this event will be donated to local schools and charities.
Register teams on Eventbrite before December 7. A full list of competition rules is available on the Eventbrite page.
Cooking for a Cause
Saturday, Dec 9
1 p.m.
Heartfulness Institute
585 Mowry Ave., Fremont
Register on Eventbrite; Deadline is December 7
Registration; $10
Douglas Morrison Theater Chorus Holiday Concert
Submitted by Erma Smith
The Douglas Morrison Theater Chorus will be presenting a joyful holiday concert on Friday, December 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 at 2 p.m. at the Douglas Morrisson Theater at 22311 Third St., Hayward. Spirits will be lifted by both sacred and secular music, performances by talented soloists, and a chance to hum or sing along with familiar songs, directed by Cesar Cancino. His usual comments and interaction with the audience promise to add to the fun of the festive concert.
Purchase tickets online at douglasmorrisson.thundertix.com or visit the HARD District Office at 1099 E St., Hayward. Call (510) 881-6700 for assistance if needed. Tickets will not be available at the door.
Douglas Morrison Theater Chorus Holiday Concert
Friday, Dec 8; 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec 10; 2 p.m.
Douglas Morrisson Theatre
22311 N. Third St., Hayward
(510) 881-6700
https://douglasmorrissontheatre.thundertix.com/
Tickets: $18.75 – $25
Fremont Art Association Holiday Open House
Submitted by Susan Helmer
The Fremont Art Association (FAA) members, their families and friends and the public are all invited. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet the artists who show their work in the gallery. Start your holiday shopping with unique handmade pieces for sale at the gallery. Gallery gift items include jewelry, ceramics, wood turned items, hand dyed clothing, knitted and crochet accessories, plus fabric dolls, and even Christmas ornaments. For generous gift givers, the gallery has a wonderful selection of oil, acrylic and water color paintings at very affordable prices. Starting at 1:30 p.m., member artist Vaishaly Jaiprakash will give a one hour live watercolor demonstration. Members are asked to please bring an appetizer to share with our guests.
FAA Holiday Open House
Sunday, Dec 10
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Watercolor Demonstration by Vaishaly Jaiprakash
37697 Niles Blvd., Fremont
Free
Flash Fictions – The Winners
To conclude our coverage of the winners for October 2023’s Flash Fiction Contest, on the theme “The Day I Fell In Love,” this week we are running the President Emeritus winner. Read all the winners atwww.fremontculturalartscouncil.org.
The Car
By Al Minard
Once upon a time on a cool rainy overcast day, as I was sliding down the sidewalk looking for a new place to eat, I saw this beautiful low slung bright red Ferrari with a throaty exhaust that you just knew had lots of power and could go really fast. Speed really makes a difference to me because I am a snail, and I am the slowest of the slowest snails in Fremont. The last block long race I entered I came in two days behind the next to last snail. When I saw this beautiful Ferrari, I knew that this would be the one thing that I could love and cherish forever. A week or so later I slid across a lottery ticket. If I could just win the lottery, I would buy a Ferrari. The redemption center was five blocks away and it took me six months to get there. I did tell you that I am slow, didn’t I? When I turned in the ticket, I found that I had won 200 million dollars. I nearly fainted, but I knew that I was going to get that Ferrari. Two months later I made it the two blocks to the Ferrari dealer and asked for a Ferrari SF 90 Stradale. They told me the cars were built on order. I special ordered this Ferrari painted lime green, my favorite color, with a large bright red “S” on each front door. The car was finally delivered six months later. I was so in love with this car. As I screamed past a group of people waiting at the bus stop, in my lime green Ferrari with a bright red “S’ on each door, I heard them say, “Look at that S-car go.”
Pop-Up Holiday Boutique and Tinseltone’s Concert
Submitted by H.A.R.D.
Save the date for Friday, December 1 from 1 to 4 p.m., and head to the Hayward Area Senior Center at for a splendid Indoor Boutique hosted by H.A.R.D. This event will occur come rain or shine. With a diverse array of more than 20 vendors, you're sure to discover unique and captivating treasures that pique your interest. It's a perfect opportunity for your holiday shopping, featuring handmade items such as jewelry, woodcrafts, crochet and knitted goods, and distinctive crafts.
But that's not all! The “Tinseltone’s,” Castro Valley's beloved singing group, will grace the Hayward Area Senior Center from 5 to 7 p.m., serenading you with your favorite tunes. If you'd like to enjoy some holiday cheer and dancing for free, simply register online at www.HaywardRec.org/register using Course #25684. MorningStar Senior Living of Hayward will provide light refreshments. We eagerly await your presence at this thrilling event!
Pop-Up Holiday Boutique
Friday, Dec 1
1 – 4 p.m.
5 – 7 p.m.: Tinseltone’s Concert
Hayward Area Senior Center
22325 N. 3rd St., Hayward
(510) 881-6766
Free
Funding of community-serving programs deadline
Submitted by City of Hayward
The City of Hayward is accepting applications from community-based organizations for grant funding in the upcoming fiscal year to support programs serving low-income members of the Hayward community. Eligible programs are those that help improve the lives of Hayward residents including:
- Improvement of housing and neighborhood facilities like parks, community centers, and emergency shelters.
- Services for low-income households, seniors, and residents with disabilities, such as education, health, food security, legal, and homelessness services.
- Arts and music programs for the Hayward community.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, December 1, for funding awards for the upcoming 2024-2025 fiscal year starting July 1, 2024. For more information, please visit www.hayward-ca.gov/services/city-services/apply-for-community-agency-funding
Deadline: Friday, Dec 1
5 p.m.
Hayward Light Up the Season
Submitted by City of Hayward
“Light Up the Season,” the annual downtown Hayward wintertime celebration and lighting ceremony, is returning to the City Hall rotunda and plaza the afternoon and evening of Saturday, December 2. Local organizations, businesses, associations and school groups are welcome to participate.
After two years of virtual and scaled-back Light Up the Season programs due to COVID-19, the City of Hayward reintroduced the event in 2022 with the goal of creating a time and place for Hayward residents to come together and celebrate winter traditions of our diverse communities. How do you celebrate Twin Luminaries, Mawlid al-Nabi, Chalica, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Lohri, Pongal, or other occasions that have the common theme of remembering that there is light even during the season of long nights?
With the 2023 edition of Light Up the Season, the city will partner with community organizations, local businesses and associations, and school groups to honor the sense of pride, togetherness and belonging shared by Hayward residents.
During the event, the city will continue its tradition of holding a lighting of a tree and other decorations just after sundown at approximately 5 p.m., as well as displays of fire engines, police officer- and firefighter-led seasonal toy and donation drives; an appearance by Curbie, the Hayward Public Library bookmobile; and other offerings.
Light Up the Season
Saturday, Dec 2
5 p.m.
Hayward City Hall Rotunda
777 B St., Hayward
Local Teacher Returns to Chicago Marathon
By Charlene Dizon
Photos courtesy of Estelle Ríos
More than 47,000 participants signed up for the 2023 Chicago Marathon, a 26.2-mile distance run. Amongst those participants was local Newark resident and Milpitas school teacher Estelle Ríos. While last year Ríos’ journey consisted of pandemic delays, getting COVID during training, and juggling her first semester of teaching, this year proved to be a smoother and more intentional preparation process.
Ríos’ fitness maintenance is a lifestyle. The Chicago Marathon is merely one portion of it. She played a variety of sports in high school and college, with softball being the primary. More recently, she was asked to join her local co-ed adult softball league. “It was a full-circle moment because I grew up watching my dad play slow-pitch softball at the exact fields I’m now playing at,” she recalls. Furthermore, Ríos’ grandfather acts as a main source of inspiration in her passion for marathon running. “My Papa ran three San Francisco marathons in the 1980s–1982, 1983, and 1984–and has always motivated his grandchildren to run, be active, and build habits when you’re young!” she shares. With this in mind, Ríos knew just how to navigate being more intentional with training time.
What greatly differed in this year’s training compared to 2022 was that Ríos began in August rather than in May, leaving only two months until the marathon in October. This was due to a summer Colombia mission trip with her family and boyfriend, Silas. Despite the time crunch, this did not stop Ríos from holding herself accountable. She followed a regimen of daily mile runs that increased over time. This plan was provided by her marathon team World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water for countries living in poverty. She says, “If I had an eight-mile run on a Tuesday but had a work meeting or other outside commitment, I would wake up at 4:30 a.m. the next morning to do my run before heading in to teach my students.”
Ríos’ role as a fifth-grade teacher underwent a surprisingly sweet change. “A few weeks before the school year started, I was asked to be a first-grade teacher because of short-handed staff,” she explains. After some thought, Ríos decided to take on the role. Although nervous, she quickly adapted her curriculum and teaching style to be more suitable for an affectionate class of six- to seven-year-olds. Just like with her fifth-graders, she shared a presentation about the Chicago Marathon with her first-graders and revealed to them that she would be running in it. Their reactions were filled with awe and encouragement, which only further motivated Ríos during her training as the marathon neared.
October 8 not only marked the date for the marathon but also Ríos’ own birthday. This in itself made the event even more special for the 24-year-old. In addition to running on her birthday, Ríos experienced an unexpected surprise. Just three weeks before the marathon, Silas, who had been waitlisted for the marathon, called her from his home in Florida. “I was driving to work when he told me that he wouldn’t be there when I crossed the finish line,” she says. “I was speechless at first until he added that he would be right behind me instead.” Silas had luckily been accepted into the Ronald McDonald House Charity marathon team. He decided to honor a loved one in the marathon by wearing his late grandfather’s running shoes. His participation alongside her only further uplifted Ríos’ spirits on the day of the race.
Ríos’ personal record (PR) goal was to beat her 2022 PR of 4 hours and 33 minutes. Once the marathon began, she found herself flying through each lap. However, it was in the 23rd mile where Ríos felt her body growing tired. Thankfully, there were snack tables spread throughout the race. “They were handing out gummy bears at one table, and I downed two whole cups!” she laughs. This gave her the boost to not only complete the marathon but also achieve an improved PR of 4 hours and 22 minutes. She was overjoyed by this success and, more importantly, eager to share the news back home with her first-graders. Their reactions were warm and amusing, as she shares, “They asked me if I won gold or silver. I had to clarify that I’m not a professional runner and that this race is filled with other participants who are Olympians.” Despite this reminder, her first-graders remained just as excited when she revealed that she beat her PR goal.
The Chicago Marathon has quickly become a return-worthy event for Ríos, who finds the race not only an invigorating experience but also an overall atmosphere. “The running community is so wonderful and welcoming,” she says. “Whether you’re running for leisure, a cause, or remembrance of a loved one, running it once will get you hooked.”
Local Author writes book about being The Other in America
By Andrew Cavette
Oakland writer, Patricia Marino, has written a memoir that hopes to address our long-standing tendency to label other people as “The Others.”
Her new book, We Have All Been The Others (Rose Press), is about the struggle of all immigrants to be accepted in America and how the label of Other is a bit absurd when contextualized in American history. Ultimately, her book is a reflection on what she learned from her parents.
“It started out more for my own family,” Marino said. “A lot of the people I had grown up with were long gone before my kids came along.”
Marino was born in Chicago. After college, she taught high school history there and later in San Francisco. She is a philanthropic consultant who has worked with the Boys and Girls Club in San Leandro, among other organizations.
As she got deeper into her family research and continued writing her book, she found experiences that had not been included in those history lessons she herself had taught.
“There were real prejudices against Italians. I was looking at what (my father) had to face and what he had to fight against,” Marino said.
Her book is mainly about her father, Alexander Francis Marino. Born in America to immigrant parents, her father was one of 10 children. He became a Chicago police detective and was active for 30 years through to the early 1960s. He was “an incredible character, larger than life,” according to Marino.
“He was a man of his time… and I’m not saying he wasn’t prejudiced,” Marino said. “But he had a real empathetic core. He saw the human in the stereotype. He knew a lot of people and helped a lot of people. His funeral was hugely attended.”
One lesson Marino learned from her father was “speaking truth to power.” Marino said that how her father got things done was not ideal. The causes he fought for, however, were important, and those were the lessons she learned.
She recalled a story where her father grabbed the monsignor of their Catholic church “by the throat,” arguing on behalf of another family. He objected to the monsignor’s adherence to strict church rules regarding divorce and remarriage, even when the children of this other family were being negatively impacted. Marino’s father then threatened to cut off funding to the parish:
“You need money for this parish to keep going, and I know everybody here,” her father told the monsignor, according to Marino.
“He saw the greater good… I saw him stand up,” Marino said. “Just because there’s a law, doesn’t mean it’s always right. That’s something I took from him: questioning what the structure is and who’s behind it.”
Marino said her father would have hated what is happening to families at the U.S. border with Mexico: children being separated from their parents, just because of a rule. While she was investigating her father’s story, Marino’s research and memoir morphed into reflections on immigration.
“I began looking at the issue of immigration and why some groups have assimilated much more readily,” Marino said. “How we are connected to what we think of as ‘The American Dream’ and the Constitution, where we are now, and the polarization that has occurred.”
Marino’s book argues that many groups—now counted as “real Americans”—had once been ostracized in our short, collective history. Viewing certain groups as The Other is happening today in the same patterns as in the past.
Citing former President Trump’s rhetoric, Marino said Latinos and Muslims are being vilified in the same ways that Italians, Irish, Polish, Germans, and Scandinavians had been in the past. In her research, she came across an article from 1875 in the Chicago Tribune that deeply lamented all sorts of immigrant groups populating a certain neighborhood—immigrants from everywhere, including the aforementioned European countries. The neighborhood description ended with: …and some real Americans.
“I don’t know who constituted the real Americans,” Marino said. “Each new immigrant group has had to sort of fight against the previous immigrant group.”
Marino thinks that amid small, cultural differences, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are what really bind all Americans. “I know that sounds really esoteric,” Marino said. “The Constitution and what it supports…that makes us American. The ideal is the integration of everyone.”
She recalled seeing a story during a recent election news cycle about a Muslim man, a soldier in the U.S. military who had died. The solider had been vilified by some presidential candidates, but the father of the solider carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket.
“…And that said everything to me,” Marino said.
Her book, We Have All Been The Others, can be purchased as a paperback or Kindle eBook through Amazon.com, but bonus material is available if you buy directly from the publisher, Rose Press (Print: $23.95, eBook $6.99).
The book can be purchased at patriciamarino.com.
Ruggieri Senior Center Celebrates 25 years of Elder Empowerment
By Kay Vargas
Since 1998, the Ruggieri Senior Center in Union City, California, has been more than just a building—it’s been a haven to many locals. At the center, one can find companionship, receive wellness support, and engage in activities ranging from ballroom dancing to ukulele lessons! This November will mark the center’s silver anniversary, and in honor of this occasion, the center is hosting a celebration to acknowledge the efforts of their invaluable volunteers.
Ralph and Mary Ruggieri, the center’s namesakes, were pioneers for the wellbeing of seniors in their community. The couple advocated tirelessly for seniors through the creation of senior social clubs and work on the Alameda County Commission on Aging. This advocacy is mirrored in the Senior Center, which is ever evolving to meet the changing needs of its active adults.
“Interests and options change,” says Chris Valuckas, Union City’s Senior Recreation Supervisor. For instance, bus trips to the casinos were what the majority wanted, but now most casinos offer their own buses. They key, Valuckas says, is [to] “keep an ear out for the members [and to] honor their wants and needs.” The seniors, or more appropriately, active adults, decide what they are interested in and what they need to thrive, and the Ruggieri Senior Center just helps these active adults make that happen.
The center itself has seen change in its decades of history. Valuckas remarks on space was repurposed to serve changing interests. “We had to move the pool table from the second floor to the first floor because of how lively the games were.” Members took such an interest in the game that the space allotted had to be expanded; there simply was not enough room for all the members. To remedy the situation, spaces for the gymnasium on the first floor and billiards room on the second floor were switched.
Activities also expanded, and the center now offers 22 activities for active adults of all different abilities and interests, with the most popular being line dancing, billiards, and yoga. These options are vital to the center and its active adult members and would not be possible without the center’s loyal volunteers, who lend their time, knowledge, and compassion each week for the Ruggieri Senior Center members.
To commemorate these volunteers, the center is organizing a celebration—a fitting tribute to the extraordinary efforts of these unsung heroes.
The evening will start with a dance performance by the Center members themselves. From graceful waltzes to vibrant choreography, the dance showcase promises to reflect the spirit of joy, vitality, and unity that defines the Ruggieri Senior Center.
Following the dance performance will be an award ceremony to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of volunteers, whose commitment and selflessness have truly made a difference in the lives of the seniors and the community at large.
Hopefully, the Center will continue to serve the community for many years to come.
Ruggieri Senior Center 25th Anniversary Celebration
Tuesday, Nov 28
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ruggieri Senior Center
33997 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 675-5495
www.unioncity.org
ruggieriseniorcenter@unioncity.org
Sabercat Historical Park
By Jack Alcorn
Throughout the last ice age mammoths, saber toothed cats and other large land mammals roamed the hills and canyons of what is now Sabercat Historical Park. Most of these animals are now extinct but they left behind an amazing record of their existence.
After a large earthquake along the Hayward fault in 1868, Dr. Lorenzo Yates, a dentist, discovered fossils in Sabercat Canyon. Many were identified as extinct Pleistocene horses, camelids and mammoths. In 1871 Dr. Lorenzo excavated a tusk and jaw of a mastodon that was the most complete jaw discovered in California at the time.
In 1936 a young paleontologist (studies fossils) from U.C. Berkeley, Dr. Ruben Stirton, began excavations in the gravel pits near Sabercat Canyon after a fossilized horse jaw was found there. He and his colleagues realized that the site probably contained early Pleistocene fossils, and found an antelope that was previously unknown to scientists.
A group of students from Hayward known as “Boy Paleontologists,” excavated fossils from the Bell Quarry section of the park from 1943 to 1959. Led by Wesley Gordon, the boys unearthed about 150,000 fossils from 58 species. The contributions of the young paleontologists marked the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the local community and researchers that continues to this day and helps preserve Sabercat Canyon as the core of the park.
The park is home to California ground squirrels, Botta Pocket gophers, racoons, coyotes, Pacific Tree Frogs, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Grey Foxes, endangered California Red-Legged Frogs, and dozens on local bird and butterfly species. Purple needle grass and California poppy accent the lush terrain of the scenic park.
Sabercat Creek flows through the park year-round from the foothills of the Diablo Range to San Francisco Bay. Educational signage depicting the fossil digs and discoveries line the two miles of pathways throughout the park. Native Oak, Eucalyptus and Pine provide ample shade along the trails and creekside paths.
The Sabercat Trail that runs the length of the park is popular for birding, hiking, and mountain biking. It’s an easy route, and takes about 40 minutes to complete. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash.
Eagle Scout Ishan Gohel of Fremont created an informative audio tour for the historical park. The recording can be accessed with the QR code posted near the beginning of the trail at the Via Orinda entrance.
The Sabercat Trail Extension project in development at Fremont’s Public Works Department will improve the existing main trail through the park. The trail will be widened and extended easterly along Pine Street to connect with Mission Boulevard and Ohlone College.
The ambitious project will also lengthen the trail to the west with a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Interstate 680, connecting the park with the Irvington community at Osgood Road. The bridge will have the distinctive look of a fossil skeleton to reflect the special history of the surrounding area, a preference expressed during the recent community outreach process.
Fremont’s Community Services Department hosts a habitat restoration event at Sabercat Historical Park each month. Volunteers remove invasive plants, and plant trees and shrubs.
Park hours are from dawn to 30 minutes past sunset. Parking and restrooms are available at the Via Orinda entrance.
The park is located east of Washington Avenue, stretching from I-680 to the southern end of the Mission District. Five entrances to the park provide ADA compliant neighborhood access from Paseo Padre, Gallegos Ave, Becado Place, Pine Street, and Via Orinda.
SantaCon 2023
Submitted by Hayward Animal Shelter
Sponsors and Santa Stops are confirmed for Hayward’s “SantaCon” on Saturday, December 2. Pet lovers can dress up as Santa and participate in this pub crawl to benefit Hayward Animal Shelter and its rescue and pet adoption efforts. Owners can also take pet pictures with Santa at Workindoggz starting at 11 a.m.
4 p.m. – Workindoggz 597 C Street
5 p.m. – Dark Horse Lounge 24018 Hesperian Boulevard
5 p.m. – Wet Lounge 18250 Hesperian Boulevard
6 p.m. – The Stein Room Lounge 926 B Street
7 p.m. – The Dirty Bird 393 B Street
8 p.m. – The Bistro 1001 B Street
9 p.m. – World Famous Turf Club 22519 Main Street
SantaCon Hayward
Saturday, Dec 2
4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Downtown Hayward
www.facebook.com/SantaConHaywardCA
Tree decorating at Lake Elizabeth
Photos by Mary Lang
Since 2014, a group, who call themselves the “Fremont Funsters,” has been walking around Lake Elizabeth on Friday mornings. Around Christmas time, they trim one of the trees (switching to a smaller tree in 2022 when the park trimmed back their usual pine). Keep a lookout at the lake and you may spot their 2023 decorated tree!
Holiday Cheer Ornament Party
Submitted By Union City Police Department
This year marks the ninth anniversary of decorating the UCPD tree, listening to stories, and munching on yummy holiday treats.
This free activity is specifically designed for children between the ages of 2-12 and requires adult supervision, so parents should make sure to accompany their kids. Additionally, older siblings are welcome to participate and lend a helping hand to their younger siblings.
For any inquiries or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our Community Coordinator via email at UCPDCommunity@unioncity.org.
Holiday Cheer Ornament Party
Saturday Dec 2
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ruggieri Senior Center
33997 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
Free
Union City Station District Open House
Submitted by Union City
Join Us for the Station District Open House to learn more about the future of Union City! The Open House will be held at Studio 11 on Saturday, December 2 from 11.a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more about:
- Quarry Lakes Parkway
- East Entrance to BART
- Future Intercity Passenger Rail Station
- New Market-Rate and Affordable Housing and More!
For decades, Union City has envisioned the creation of a vibrant, walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood centered around its BART station. The city will host a Community Open House to share our progress toward that vision, including information about the ongoing infrastructure projects and proposed affordable and mixed-use housing developments within the Station District area.
Along with the proposed development projects, information will also be provided about the planned Quarry Lakes Parkway, a critical multimodal transportation corridor needed for circulation and public safety access to and from the BART Station; the proposed BART Pedestrian At-Grade Crossing; and the future Union City Intermodal Station, Phase 3/Intercity Rail Station as identified in MTC’s Southern Alameda County Integrated Regional Rail Study, Phase 2. In addition to an exhibit walk with informative project boards, Union City staff and project engineers will be present to answer any questions you may have. Translation services will be available. There will be a designated play zone for children, complimentary snacks and refreshments, AND a drawing where you can enter to win a prize! There will be free parking during event hours.
Below are additional links to the plans and projects:
- www.unioncity.org/499/Quarry-Lakes-Parkway-Project
- www.unioncity.org/423/Resources
- mtc.ca.gov/planning/transportation/regional-transportation-studies/southern-alameda-county-integrated-rail-analysis-soco-rail-study
- www.unioncity.org/362/ACTC-Projects-Programs
Union City Station District Open House
Saturday, Dec 2
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Studio 11
34626 11th St., Union City
RSVP at www.eventbrite.com/d/ca–union-city/union/
Free
Sparking Change: Addressing the Crisis with Today’s Teens’ Tomorrows
Submitted by Bhavya Mehta and Abeer Saboo
“Find the greater purpose in life” is the vague advice given by many adults to today’s teenagers, leaving the question of “how?” unanswered. With the vast array of career pathways in today’s world, teenagers coming into high school are confused about what they should do with their future. Some may have an idea of what they want to pursue but have no guidance to obtain the skills that will set them up for success, whereas others may be utterly clueless.
According to a study released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED), approximately 56% of young people know what they want to do for work in the future; however, they do not feel supported by their education system.
Spark is an organization begun to help teenagers answer this very question at the most pivotal moments of their lives. Bhavya Mehta and Abeer Saboo, students at Washington High School, as well as the VP of Hospitality and the Roleplay Director respectively in Washington’s DECA chapter, aim to assist teenagers, specifically in grades eight to ten. The Spark organization utilizes the four main business clusters of business management, hospitality & tourism, marketing, and finance to foster curiosity and explore real-world business applications.
Through educational workshops and simulated real-life scenarios, the two high schoolers’ objective is to assist students in making crucial decisions for their prospective careers. Over the course of the summer and the fall of 2023, Bhavya Mehta, Abeer Saboo, and Ameya Ravi, co-leads of Spark, have held over 20 workshops for over 150 students. These workshops targeted major concepts within the four clusters of business, as well as the development of soft skills, including creative thinking, communication and presentation. In order to maximize student enrichment, the leads utilized a mixture of lectures and interactive activities.
Key lecture concepts included basic concepts that could be applied to a variety of businesses, such as marketing functions, supply and demand, emotional intelligence components, customer relations, and credit. Activities supplementing these lectures were designed to allow students to communicate not only in a public speaking setting, but also among their peers. Examples are roleplaying in different professional scenarios, marketing pitches, impromptu customer relations, and application projects. One of the most successful projects was the “Shark Tank” project, where students were able to exhibit their creativity and pitch innovative products.
From the beginning of the summer to the end of the workshops in November, Spark leads saw a 95% increase in understanding of business, and a 70% improvement in public speaking ability.
Mehta and Saboo hope to continue their workshop series to encompass a wider range of business knowledge and aid high schoolers in finding their true calling. The future belongs to the next generation. It is our job to take action and give them the resources and opportunities they need to change the world for the better.
EARTHTALK
30 Years Later, How Is The Northern Spotted Owl Faring?
By Grace Wu
Dear EarthTalk: How is the Northern Spotted Owl—the once endangered poster bird for old growth forest conservation in the Pacific Northwest—doing these days?– P. J., Seattle, WA
Distinguished by dark-brown white-speckled feathers, the Northern Spotted Owl was the symbol of conservation in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s. This period saw scientists and conservationists rallying against the rapid destruction of old-growth forests that the owl relied upon for survival.
In 1990, the U.S. government listed the species as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, leading to the establishment of “critical habitat” areas. Despite these measures, deforestation and resulting habitat loss have been shrinking the bird’s population by about 2.9 percent annually. In British Columbia, where these owls also once thrived, over 97 percent of the old-growth forests are now gone. And the increase in forest fires, worsened by rising global temperatures, has further reduced the shrinking habitat.
Furthermore, the emergence of an invasive species, the Barred Owl, has pushed the Northern Spotted Owls to the brink of extinction. Historically inhabiting East Coast forests, Barred Owls have expanded their range westward in the last 50 years, enabled by habitat changes, human activity and climate change.
Barred owls are generalists, consuming a variety of food ranging from small mammals to reptiles and even other birds. In contrast, Northern Spotted Owls are specialized, predominantly relying on small mammals, particularly flying squirrels and woodrats. Northern Spotted Owl pairs typically do not breed annually. When they do reproduce, they only lay one to two eggs and use large amounts of resources to invest in their roles as parents. The presence of barred owls has prompted Northern Spotted Owls to disperse from their preferred breeding territories, impacting their already limited reproductive habits.
Beyond protections against logging, Northern Spotted Owls would benefit from the prohibition of pesticides in areas surrounding their habitat. Recent studies in Washington, Oregon, California forests showed a presence of anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs). This raises concerns about the Northern Spotted Owls due to their rodent-heavy diets. Though some raise concerns over the ethics of lethally removing barred owls, studies show that the resulting reduction of competition for resources would help Northern Spotted Owls’ adult survival rates, breeding attempts, and reproductive viability.
Efforts to increase the wild Northern Spotted Owl population have been attempted with limited success. A Canadian program spent over 15 years diligently incubating eggs and hand-rearing chicks. In August 2022, the program released three captive-born male owls into a forest. However, by May 2023, two had died and another had been hit by a train and put into rehabilitation. Despite these disappointing results, scientists continue to improve their practices by studying other species of owls.
The Northern Spotted Owl faces a web of challenges from habitat loss to invasive species, but ongoing conservation efforts underscore a collective commitment to securing their survival.
ONLINE CONTACTS
- ‘It’s never too late’: Canada taken to court for near-extinction of spotted owls https://thenarwhal.ca/spotted-owl-federal-court-case-guilbeault/
- One left: British Columbia’s last chance on northern spotted owls
www.news.mongabay.com/2023/05/one-left-british-columbias-last-chance-on-northern-spotted-owls/
- It’s the Moment of Truth for Saving the Northern Spotted Owl
www.audubon.org/magazine/fall-2022/its-moment-truth-saving-northern-spotted-owl
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.
League of Women Voters Eden Area
Submitted by Dennis Godden
The League of Women Voters Eden Area (LWVEA) has joined with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to hold information sessions on cybercrime for the average technology user. We plan for these presentations to inform and engage each of us in the skills we need to use technology safely. Any level user is welcome to participate.
The first event was in conjunction with the Castro Valley Library during cyber security month in October and was sponsored by the National Asian American Union. Sixty attendees learned how to be safer using technology with presenter FBI Agent Elvis Chan’s informative talk.
Cybercrime Trends 2023 and Prevention will be presented again on December 5, 2023. The event will be held in Cherryland in conjunction with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. We hope to offer Spanish interpretation if possible. Email lwvea57@gmail for more information.
The first 2024 Cybercrime workshop will be held on February 7, 2024. This event will be held in Hayward in conjunction with the Hayward Unified School District’s Asian American, Pacific Islander Association. Email lwvea57@gmail for more information.
The League is also building the groundwork for the March 2024 Primary election. All six Leagues in Alameda County are working together to offer candidate forums, pros & cons, and a study of ballot issues. It is not too early to start educating yourself for voting in March.
The California Leagues are joining the National online information source Vote 411. This is your one-stop online location to gather information on the candidates and issues on the ballot. This is replacing Voter’s Edge and looks to be a valuable resource for every voter.
On Saturday, October 28 LWVEA volunteers dressed in costume and gave out treats to kids participating in the annual San Lorenzo Village Halloween Costume Contest and Fair. Our spin-a-wheel Civics Jeopardy for Kids was a hit with candy prizes for providing the correct answer, or just learning something new! While having fun and answering questions about the League, we asked parents and grandparents in attendance if they are registered to vote, have they moved recently and would they like more information on LWVEA voter education events coming up. Community outreach in the areas we serve is an integral part of what the LWVEA does to interact with Registered Voters and encourage citizens to register and vote!
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
Get a haircut?
If you know a woman who is looking for a particularly distinct wig, you might want to get in touch with Nigerian wigmaker Helen Williams. Ms. Williams is a professional when it comes to toupees. In fact, she made headlines recently for what the Guinness World Record judges declared is the world’s longest handmade wig. It measures 1,152 feet and 5 inches in length. The question is where she got the 1,000 bundles of human hair that went into her rug. See the long locks on X: twitter.com/GWR/status/1724455232153768161
The cat’s meow
Here we go again. They’ve found another mysterious creature that has animal experts scratching their heads. This time it’s a mysterious big cat-like creature that was found roaming the hills in Arizona’s Phoenix Mountain Preserve. Tom Cadden at the Arizona Game and Fish Department told the Arizona Republic, “It's not one of our native big cat species, mountain lion, bobcat, ocelot or jaguar. It's pretty big for a house cat. My guess is that it's probably something that was bought at a wildlife auction. Could be from Africa or South America. It's nothing I'm familiar with, but it's not a house cat.” See the curious cat on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbwvCWlltE
He jumps for joy
Henry Cabelus is a pogo stick expert who already holds the record for making a 10.1 foot backflip jump. But he is not content and says his aim is to make a 10.6-foot backflip, at least. He’s been at it for 10 years now and has broken nine bones, four of which were in his face and admits that it’s pretty scary. See the stunt on X: twitter.com/GWR/status/1725151987606700409
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.
Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Ask Rusty – About fairness of “WEP” and “GPO”
Dear Rusty: I was married to my ex-husband for 30 years. For 14 of those years, I was an unemployed mom and community volunteer. After my sons were grown, I began teaching in California and earned a teacher pension. That teacher pension eliminates ALL the spousal benefits my husband paid for. How can that be justified? I, like a number of my retired friends, rent out rooms in my house to be able to live on a small teacher’s pension and get none of my earned spousal benefits. Signed: Frustrated Teacher
Dear Frustrated Teacher: I can only say that your frustration is shared by many retirees from public service in States which do not participate in the federal Social Security program – that is, neither the employee nor the State contribute to the federal Social Security program. There are about 26 states (including California) which exempt at least some of their employees (and themselves) from paying Social Security payroll taxes, but those states are obligated to provide retirement benefits robust enough to offset the loss of Social Security benefits which will occur later in life after the employee retires. As controversial as these laws—the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO)—are, they have withstood legal challenges since they were enacted four decades ago.
Because you have a “non-covered” pension from your state employment, WEP reduces any personal Social Security retirement benefit you may have earned elsewhere and, to your specific point, the GPO has eliminated the spousal benefit you might otherwise have been entitled to from your ex-husband. Like you, many who are affected believe this to be unfair, but Congress has steadfastly failed to enact legislation to repeal these provisions, or even to soften their impact. The likely reason is that Congress has evaluated the fundamental premise of the provisions and concluded they appropriately equalize the way benefits are paid to all Social Security beneficiaries.
It might help to think of it this way: in normal circumstances, if one spouse has a personally earned Social Security retirement benefit which is more than 50% of their partner’s full retirement age (FRA) amount, no spousal benefit is paid (the spouse benefit is offset by the recipient’s own SS retirement benefit). The GPO (the provision which affects SS spousal and survivor benefits) applies that same logic for a spouse who has a “non-covered” pension earned outside of the Social Security program; their spousal benefit is offset by the amount of the person’s own “non-covered” retirement pension. The one difference is that the GPO offset is actually a bit smaller (2/3rds of the non-covered pension vs. 100% offset for a spouse with their own SS retirement benefit).
Both WEP (which reduces SS retirement benefits) and the GPO (which reduces spousal or survivor benefits) are consequences of working for a State which has chosen to not participate in the federal Social Security program, and those states are obligated to inform their employees of those consequences. I know that doesn’t make your situation any less frustrating, but Congress “justifies” these provisions as being necessary to equalize how benefits are paid to all Social Security beneficiaries. There are about two million beneficiaries affected by WEP and over 700,000 affected by the GPO, most of whom share your displeasure. Nevertheless, Congress has so far maintained both these provisions as originally enacted. If you wish to add your voice to those who believe WEP and GPO are unfair, you may wish to contact your federal Congressional Representatives to express that point.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Outdoor Winter Container Gardens
By Melinda Myers
Photos courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
Add a bit of greenery to your front steps, window box or patio with a winter container garden. You’ll find all the ingredients you need at your local garden center, craft store, and maybe even a few in your backyard.
Start with a walk through your yard and look for evergreens and other potential ingredients for your winter containers. Fruits like rose hips, winterberries, holly berries, crabapples and others add color to the container. Fluffy seedheads of grasses make a nice vertical accent and add a bit of motion to the arrangement.
Next, convert one or two of your summer or fall containers into a winter display. The container should be able to tolerate the winter conditions in your area. Concrete, iron, metal, wood and fiberglass containers are best suited for year-round use. Even plastic pots will last for a few years when left outside.
Or start a new container for winter. Repurpose or purchase a container. Nursery pots that once housed trees and shrubs make excellent options. These black containers provide the perfect backdrop for greenery and are available for free from most garden centers and fellow gardeners.
Make sure the pot has drainage holes to prevent water-logged soil and water from overflowing the pot. Fill the container about 7/8 full with a well-drained potting mix. The soil helps hold the greenery, twigs and other materials in place and adds weight to keep the pot upright throughout the winter.
Consider using a mix of greens for a variety of textures and various shades of green. Pine, spruce, arborvitae, boxwood and junipers may be growing in your landscape and most are available at garden centers. Spruce tips are popular, allowing you to add “mini” trees or create vertical accents in your containers.
Use greens to cover the pot and create an attractive base for your winter display. Place some branches upright and others at a 45-degree angle so the greens drape over the edge. Secure the stems by placing them at least four inches deep in the soil.
Now add some color and vertical interest with stems of red twig dogwoods, paper birch branches, berry-laden stems from holly and winterberry and curly willow branches. Artificial material and outdoor ornaments can also be used. It’s your opportunity to get creative.
Do consider adding other elements such as evergreen cones, seed pods, allium seedheads, and balloon plant pods. Leave them natural or add some paint and glitter.
Water thoroughly to remove air pockets and lock your ingredients in place. Keeping the soil moist until the potting mix freezes can help extend the beauty of the greenery. The winter containers will also last much longer in cooler temperatures. And those displayed in more sheltered locations out of direct sunlight and wind will suffer less drying.
Once your container is complete it is time to relax and enjoy your holiday celebrations.
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” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Abode Services Awarded $5 Million Grant for Safe Shelter, Housing, and Stability
Submitted by Bronwyn Hogan
Abode Services, whose mission is to end homelessness by assisting low-income, unhoused people, recently received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This is the sixth round of annual Day 1 Families Fund grants, which recognize leading organizations doing compassionate, needle-moving work to help families experiencing homelessness secure housing and achieve stability. This grant will build on the $5 million Day 1 Families Fund grant Abode received in 2018.
“This award will provide Abode Services with the resources to expand its efforts to address family homelessness in Northern California over the next several years,” said Louis Chicoine, chief executive officer of Abode Services. “Homelessness is clearly our region’s number one social challenge, and this very generous award is the sort of investment necessary to turn the tide.”
This one-time, flexible grant will support Abode Services in serving as a critical lifeline to children and adults in families experiencing homelessness, who represent more than a quarter of the homeless population nationally. Abode currently serves more than 15,000 people each year in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Napa, and Solano counties. Abode was selected as a Day 1 Families Fund grant recipient by a group of national advisors who are leading advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision.
Over the past six years, the Day 1 Families Fund has provided 208 grants totaling more than $630 million to organizations around the country working on the frontlines to identify unsheltered families, help them regain housing, and connect them to vital services. A selection of more than half of Day 1 Families Fund grantees who received funding between 2018 through 2021 report that, to date, they have used their grants to divert more than 28,000 families from experiencing homelessness, connect more than 30,000 unsheltered families with safe shelter, and help more than 75,000 families access the services they need.
This year, the Fund issued a total of $117.55 million in grants to 38 organizations. Other organizations receiving grants in California are Community Action Partnership of Kern, Interfaith Community Services, and Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority. The full list of awardees is available at www.BezosDayOneFund.org/Day1FamiliesFund.
Abode Services
https://abode.org/alameda-county
Senator Aisha Wahab – Mobile Office Hours
Submitted by Nissa Nack
State Senator Aisha Wahab's staff will be holding mobile office hours at the Union City Library on Thursday, December 7. Services include: DMV/Auto insurance problems, Consumer complaints, MediCal Payments & Eligibility, Unemployment Insurance questions.
Mobile office hours allow you to receive personalized assistance on various issues that impact our community. Whether you need help navigating government services, have concerns that require attention and advocacy, or simply want to express your opinions, this event is for you.
No registration required. All library programs are free! To learn more about this and other library programs, visit https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events
Senator Aisha Wahab – Mobile Office Hours
Thursday, Dec 7
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado Niles Rd, Union City
https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events
Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council
November 20, 2023
Informational Items
- California Highway Patrol Officer Pabst reported recent activity in the Castro Valley area. 14 DUI arrest; 79 traffic citations; 4 parking tickets; 15 injury crashes; 32 non-injury crashes; 62 verbal warnings; 2 stolen vehicles; 9 new officers.
- Update on “Realign” AC Transit’s Post-Pandemic Bus Network Plan presented by Steve Jones, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) External Affairs.
Action Items
- Approval of Art Designs for the Utility Box Art Program and the Art Banners for Castro Valley. Presented by Rachel Osajima, Director, Alameda County Arts Commission. Passed 5-0-2 (Padro, Prokopoff; excused)
- Discussion and consideration of an Economic and Civic Development MAC Subcommittee. Passed 5-0-2 (Padro, Prokopoff; excused)
- Designate Economic and Civic Development MAC Subcommittee members – Killebrew; Carbone; Thomas. Passed 5-0-2 (Padro, Prokopoff; excused)
Chair Bill Mulgrew
Vice Chair Al Padro
Ken Carbone
Shannon Killebrew
Chuck Moore
Ilya Prokopoff
Tojo Thomas
Hayward Unified School District
November 1, 2023
Consent Items
- Appointments, Changes of Status, Waivers, Retirements, Leaves of Absence, and Terminations
- Overnight Study Trips
- Notification to County Superintendent of Schools of Annual Organizational Meeting
- Single Plan for Student Achievement
- Approve Memorandums of Understanding with Eden United Church of Christ (Ramos, Nay; Rowden, Recuse); Eden Youth and Family Center; and Eden Area ROP
- Approve Contracts: Osorio Training Center; Panorama Education, Inc.; Ramona Bishop ICA; Elite Translingo; El Puente Comunitario; N2Y, LLC; Freedom Soul Media Education Initiatives
- Adopt Board of Education Resolutions: Continued Funding Application; Carolee Perrich Revocable Trust
President Peter Bufete Aye
Dr. April Oquenda Aye
Joe Ramos Aye; 1 Nay
Ken Rawdon Aye; 1 Recusal
Sara Prada Aye
Milpitas City Council
November 7, 2023
Leadership and Support Services
- Introduce ordinance 298.1, an ordinance of the city council of the City of Milpitas Amending the Milpitas Municipal Code Title Xi (“Zoning, Planning and Annexation”), Chapter 10 (“Zoning”), Section 13 (“Special Uses”), Subsection 13.15 (“Cannabis Uses”) to prohibit and regulate cannabis uses, establishments, and operations to the fullest extent allowed by state law. Aye 3 (Barbadillo, Chua, Phan), Nay 1 (Lien), Abstain 1 (Montano).
Consent Calendar
- Accept public improvements and approve a reduction of the Faithful Performance Bond for the District 1 Lot 4 (Gideon) Project located at 150 Market Street and Grant Authorization to the City Engineer to release the remaining portion of the Lot 4 Performance Bond after the One-Year Warranty Period
- Accept public improvements and approve a reduction of the Faithful Performance Bond for the Thind Residence Residential Project and grant authorization to release the Performance Bond after the One-Year Warranty Period
- Approve a lease agreement with Pacific West Builders, Inc. to lease city owned land at 1700 Sango Court in the amount of $34,800
- Accept the 2023 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the amount of $7,629
- Accept the Fiscal Year 2024 Office of Traffic Safety Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant and approve a related budget appropriation in the amount of $110,000
- Reject a Bid Protest from Iteris; Award IFB 24-025 and authorize the purchase order with Econolite Control Products, Inc. in the amount of $127,872 for the Purchase of 25 Citywide Traffic Detection Cameras
- Authorize a funding agreement between the City of Milpitas and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority for grant funds from the 2010 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee Countywide Program in an amount not to exceed $120,000
- Amend the agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for Water Conservation Program Cost Sharing and amend the professional services agreement with Our City Forest to administer the lawn bust Milpitas pilot program
- Waive second reading of ordinance No. 196.12: an Ordinance of the City Council amending section 4.05 of Chapter 9 (“Parks”) of Title V (“Public Health, Safety, and Welfare”) of the Milpitas Municipal Code.
Carmen Montano (Mayor) Aye
Evelyn Chua (Vice Mayor) Aye
Gary Barbadillo Aye
Hon Lien Aye
Anthony Phan Aye
Milpitas Unified School District
November 14, 2023
Consent Items
- Authorize the listed Parent/Booster Organization request to operate at specific school site
- Approve the agreement with KNN Public Finance, LLC, for municipal advisory services
- Approve Field Trip Requests of November 14, 2023
- Approve the Notice of Completions for Tri Valley Excavating, Rancho and Radius Earthwork, MHS Paving Projects
- Approve Purchase Order Report of November 14, 2023
- Approve the Purchase of a Kubota Tractor from Mission Valley Tractor and Equipment
- Approve Daybreak Lesson Plans for the 2023-2024 School Year
- Approve agreement between Milpitas Unified School District and Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) Non-Public School for the 2023-2024 School Year
- Approve agreement between Milpitas Unified School District and Pacific Clinics for the 2023-2024 School Year and continuing until June 30, 2026
- Approve agreement with Ed Theory LLC
- Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Advanced Education Research & Development Fund (AERDF) for the 2023-2024 School Year
- Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Girlstart for 2023-24 School Year and Summer 2024
- Approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The New Teacher Project (TNTP)
- Approve Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with Swing Education Services Agreement
- Approval of Chief Business Officer (CBO) Job Description – Classified Management
- Approve Personnel Report of November 14, 2023
President Chris Norwood Aye
Hai Ngo Aye
Kelly Yipchuan Aye
Anu Nakka Aye
Robert Jung Aye
Newark Unified School District
November 7, 2023
Consent Agenda
- Personnel report
- Interim Director C&I/Special Projects – School Employers Association of California (SEAC) Joint Powers Agreement and Consultant Contract for Educational Services
- Interim Director of Fiscal Services – Professional Services Agreement with Mary McElhinney Stark, LLC
- Monthly purchase order report
- Policy Updates: Nondiscrimination in district programs and activities; nondiscrimination/harassment; search and seizure; courses of study; gangs; conduct; positive school climate; steroids; head lice; and immunizations
- Field Trip: Curricular, overnight trip for Coyote Hills Elementary fifth grade class to travel to Pigeon Point
- Field Trip: Curricular, overnight trip for Kennedy Elementary fifth grade class to travel to Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science School
- Field Trip: Curricular, overnight trip for Schilling Elementary fifth grade class to travel to Semper Virens Science Camp.
President Nancy Thomas Aye
Aiden Hill Aye
Katherine Jones Absent
Phuong Nguyen Aye
Carina Plancarte Aye
Student Member Joy Lee was present
Grant goes toward Sulphur Creek Nature Center Revitalization
Submitted by Nicole Espinoza Roa
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) and the H.A.R.D. Foundation are excited to announce the award of a $100,000 grant from the Fremont Bank Foundation. This grant is designed to further the District’s mission to enrich the quality of life for all residents, specifically through the revitalization of the Sulphur Creek Nature Center.
H.A.R.D.’s upcoming project is the redesign and reimagining of the Sulphur Creek Nature Center. Construction is set to commence in late Fall 2023, and the $100,000 Fremont Bank Foundation grant will assist with funding for the following key components:
Outdoor Classroom: A paved pavilion providing shade and shelter for interactive learning opportunities, camps, field trips, and community events.
Amphitheater: An open-air stadium with log seating for lectures and performances.
Wayfinding Signage: Messaging to orient visitors and provide educational materials about the center’s animal residents and native flora and fauna.
Grant funds will also support general construction costs, including earthwork, removal, grading, and landscaping to create a safe, inviting atmosphere for visitors. The Groundbreaking for this project will take place on Thursday, December at the Sulphur Creek Nature Center.
H.A.R.D. currently serves more than 309,000 residents across 110 sites, covering 1,369 acres, and offering a myriad of programs tailored to youth, teens, adults, seniors, and those with developmental disabilities.
Within our service area, there are several key demographic factors that highlight the critical importance of our mission:
68% of students in the Hayward Unified School District qualify for free or reduced-price meals, exceeding the state average of 60%.
9% of households within H.A.R.D.’s jurisdiction fall below the federal poverty level.
21% of households claim a member with a disability.
14% of the population is over the age of 65, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In light of these socioeconomic challenges, H.A.R.D. and the H.A.R.D. Foundation have played a vital role in ensuring that everyone in our community, regardless of financial status or ability, has access to outdoor recreational facilities and programs. Of particular note, during the Fall of 2021 through the Summer of 2022, approximately 1,800 individuals paid no fees, and 4,729 paid less than $10 for H.A.R.D. classes. Our goal is to expand these opportunities even further.
“The Nature Center enhancements will make the facility more welcoming, accessible, and popular among Hayward community members, particularly students from diverse neighborhoods who will benefit from unique educational opportunities.” H.A.R.D. Board of Directors President Rick Hatcher.
“Easy access to parks and recreation are at the core of our Bay Area cities and neighborhoods,” said Brian Hughes, Executive Vice President at Fremont Bank and President/Executive Director at Fremont Bank Foundation. “Fremont Bank Foundation looks for ways to enrich and protect our natural resources, which opens up opportunities for everyone to share in the beauty. The rejuvenated Sulphur Creek Nature Center will be the ideal outdoor gathering place for future generations to come.”
This grant will be combined with the OEEF grant that provided $500,000 fund for the project.
Sulphur Creek Nature Center Construction Groundbreaking
Thursday, Dec 7
12 noon
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
1801 D. St., Hayward
Alameda County Fire Log
Submitted By ACFD
Saturday, November 18
- At 6:12 p.m. the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) responded to a single-car crash on eastbound 580 and Grove Way exit. The vehicle landed inside the creek bed down a 60-foot embankment. ACFD crew members assisted seven passengers to safety up a steep hill. The passengers were transported to a local hospital to be evaluated.
BART Police Log
Submitted By BART PD
Thursday, November 16
- At 5:53 p.m. a person identified by police as Meshaq Harris, 24, from Fairfield was contacted in the paid area of Union City station. Harris was arrested for carrying a loaded firearm. Harris was booked into Alameda County Jail.
- At 5:53 p.m. a man identified by police as Larry Brooks, 21, from Newark was contacted on the platform of Union City station. Brooks was arrested for an outstanding warrant and booked into Alameda County Jail.
Friday, November 17
- At 7:40 a.m. a man identified by police as Leroy Hammed, 56, from Hayward was located in the parking structure of Hayward station and arrested for an active warrant. Hammed was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- At 6:02 p.m. a woman identified by police as Keneisha Jones, 38, from San Francisco was contacted by officers on a train at Castro Valley station. Jones was arrested for possession of drug paraphenalia.
Sunday, November 19
- At 3:57 p.m. a person identified by police as Jesse Jackson, 38, from Richmond was contacted by officers in the free area of San Leandro station. Jackson was arrested and booked into the Alameda County Jail for receiving stolen property and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.
- At 7:32 p.m. a man identified by police as Benjamin Johns, 35, from El Cajon was contacted by officers for fare evasion at Milpitas station. Johns was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail for possession of drug paraphenalia and failure to appear in court.
Monday, November 20
- At 8:43 a.m. a man identified by police as Raymond Edberg, 45, from Brisbane was contacted as he entered Milpitas Station. Edberg was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail for shoplifting and receiving stolen property.
- At 7:25 p.m. a man identified by police as Tyjohn Hardiman, 20, from San Leandro was contacted for fare evading to exit the Bay Fair station. Hardiman fled from officers and was detained. Hardiman was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm and booked into Santa Rita Jail without incident.
CHP Log
Submitted by California Highway Patrol Hayward Area Office
Thursday, November 16
- At approximately 9:50 p.m. CHP Hayward units were dispatched to a crash that occurred on I-880 Northbound, south of A Street involving multiple vehicles. Upon their arrival, it was determined that a total of four vehicles were involved, a Ford F350, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry and a Toyota Tacoma.
Unfortunately, a passenger in the Toyota Corolla was pronounced deceased on scene and the driver of the Toyota Camry fled on foot and has yet to be identified. All other parties are cooperating with investigating officers. The circumstances of this crash are still being investigated and the identity of the deceased is not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin. Any inquiries regarding the identity of the deceased should be directed to the Alameda County Coroner. If you have any further information regarding this crash, please contact the Hayward CHP Office at (510) 489-1500.
Sunday, November 19
- At approximately 8:52 a.m. Hayward Area officers were dispatched to a hit and run traffic crash which involved a vehicle versus pedestrian on Hesperian Boulevard Northbound, south of Bockman Road. Upon our arrival, officers located the body of a deceased 56 year old male pedestrian within the #2 lane.
The vehicle that struck the pedestrian was a black 2007 Ford Mustang, which fled northbound on Hesperian Boulevard after the crash. A short time later, Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies located the Mustang a half mile from the scene, unoccupied. It was determined the driver left the Mustang in the residential area, walked backed to the scene, and later returned to his vehicle where Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputies located him. The driver was taken into custody by CHP officers and booked into Santa Rita County Jail on charges of Felony Hit and Run and Vehicular Manslaughter. Alcohol and drug impairment are not suspected as a factor in this crash. If you have any further information regarding this crash or video footage, please contact the Hayward CHP office at (510) 901-0373. The identity of the deceased is not being released at this time, pending notification of next of kin. Any inquiries regarding the identity of the deceased should be directed to the Alameda County Coroner.
- At approximately 9:06 p.m. units were dispatched to the area of Industrial Boulevard to State Route 92 Westbound. Officers located bullet casings at the scene, however, there were no suspects or victims located.
- At approximately 9:30 p.m. Golden Gate Communications Center received a call of a possible freeway shooting that occurred within the area of I-880 Northbound, between State Route 92 and Winton Avenue. The victim was driving her vehicle in the express lane and observed two vehicles racing within the lanes of I-880 Northbound. As the victim changed lanes from the express lane into the #1 lane, there was a loud noise and the window of the victim’s vehicle partially shattered. The victim drove to her residence and contacted CHP. The victim did not sustain any injuries.
The CHP Hayward Area is investigating these incidents with assistance from the Golden Gate Investigative Services Unit. Any assistance from the public in gathering additional details surrounding these shootings is appreciated. If you have any information regarding these incidents, please call the CHP Hayward Area office at (510)489-1500.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Fremont PD
Friday, November 3
- Officers responded to a report of a subject harassing a victim at a business on Argonaut Way. The subject was grabbing the victim and attempting to take things from her vehicle. Officers attempted to detain the subject, who wielded a glass bottle to resist officers. Officers eventually neutralized the subject and called for an ambulance. He was medically cleared before being booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Saturday, November 4
- Officers responded to a victim who advised that she was being held against her will by her boyfriend. The subject had threatened to kill her on numerous occasions while pointing a firearm at her. Officers detained the subject and searched his vehicle, finding a firearm and various narcotics packaged for sale. Officers arrested the subject.
- Officers responded to a reported robbery at a hotel on Fremont Blvd. The victim said two subjects entered his room, pistol-whipped him, and robbed him. Another victim from a different room said they were also robbed at gunpoint by two armed subjects. Officers set up a perimeter around the hotel and searched the area, but did not find the subjects. This case remains under investigation.
- Officers responded to a report of a dead body hanging from a maintenance hole cover in the sewers near Farwell Dr. Before officers arrived, Fremont Fire Department had already located the body, which was in an advanced stage of decomposition, down to skeletal remains. There were no signs of malicious or foul play. Alameda County Coroner’s Office arrived to take custody of the remains.
Friday, November 10
- A bank on the 46000 block of Mission Blvd. was robbed. The subject passed a bank robbery note to the teller, indicating that he had a gun. The subject fled on foot with several hundreds of dollars in cash. The teller recognized the subject as a frequent bank customer, and officers secured a warrant for the subject’s arrest.
Sunday November 12
- Officers at a temple on Gurdwara St. encountered a victim bleeding after being battered in a large fight. Upon arrival, officers detained the group involved in the fight. Multiple members of the large group had jumped the victim as he walked home. One subject from the group was arrested.
- Officers responded to a reported shooting at a hotel on the 34000 block of Fremont Blvd. They located two victims, who were both transported for medical care. One victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. While officers were responding to the scene, residents of a nearby neighborhood reported a subject who matched the shooting suspect’s description running through backyards. Officers responded and arrested the subject.
- At approximately 4 p.m. Fremont Police Officers were dispatched to the 34000 block of Fremont Blvd. to the report of a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they located two adult male victims on the ground who had sustained gunshot wounds. Officers on scene immediately began providing medical aid to both victims before they were transported to area hospitals. One victim remained in stable condition, while the other victim was pronounced deceased. As the suspect was shooting at the victims, additional rounds hit an inhabited dwelling, which nearly struck another victim inside.
While officers were providing medical aid to both gunshot victims, other officers flooded the area looking for the shooting suspect. The suspect, Lorinzo Haley, 34, out of Fremont, was located and arrested a short distance away. Detectives from the Fremont PD Crimes Against Person(s) Unit responded to investigate. Video surveillance from community cameras was later discovered that captured Haley running from the scene while holding a firearm.
The case was presented to alameda county district attorney's office. Haley was subsequently charged with four felony counts, including murder, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon- firearm, and willful discharge of a firearm at an inhabited dwelling.
Hayward Police Log
Submitted By HPD
Friday, November 17
- Two have been arrested and charged with murder for the stabbing death that occurred on October 8, 2023, at about 10:21 p.m. near Lance Way and Tucker Street. On the night of the homicide, officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon and located an unresponsive male outside suffering from stab wounds. Medical personnel responded and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.
The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Hayward resident, Parwiz Assar. Detectives conducted an extensive investigation and developed probable cause to arrest two subjects for the homicide. The two have been identified as the following: 21-year-old Washington resident, Samim Azizi. Azizi was taken into custody on Oct. 31, 2023, in Seattle, Washington. Azizi is being held without bail at the King County Jail and is awaiting extradition to California. 35-year-old Hayward resident, Razma Mohammad-Ibrahim. Mohammad-Ibrahim was taken into custody on Nov. 15, 2023, in Hayward, Mohammad-Ibrahim is being held without bail at the Santa Rita County Jail.
Mohammad-Ibrahim and the victim, Assar, were married for approximately 12 years and had been experiencing marital problems. Mohammad-Ibrahim and Azizi met around December of 2022 and became involved in an intimate relationship. It is believed the two planned to kill Assar so Mohammad-Ibrahim could end her marriage to be with Azizi, have full custody of her children, and have all the family assets. Assar and Mohammad-Ibrahim have minor children in common who are in currently in the custody of family.
This is still an active investigation, and anyone with information related to the homicide is asked to call Detective Niedenthal at (510) 293-7176. The Hayward Police Department case number is 2023-57578. This was Hayward’s eighth homicide of 2023.
Milpitas Police Log
Submitted By MPD
Friday, November 17
- At 12:28 p.m. Milpitas Police Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a juvenile near Augustine Park with a gun. Due to the close proximity to Pomeroy Elementary School, Thomas Russell Middle School, Milpitas High School, and Weller Elementary School, MUSD initiated a lockdown of all campuses while MPD searched for the juvenile. Within a few minutes, officers found the juvenile and determined them to be in possession of a novelty pocketknife designed to resemble a handgun.
The lockdown of all campuses lasted approximately 10 minutes.
San Leandro Police Log
Submitted By San Leandro PD
Saturday, November 11
- San Leandro PD arrested Samuel Langworthy for shooting and killing a woman in the parking lot of Chili’s Grill & Bar at Bay Fair Center. 48-year-old Samuel Langworthy, of Oakland, was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol officers after his vehicle was spotted on Interstate 5 near Coalinga.
The homicide was preceded by a verbal altercation between Langworthy and an adult daughter of his current domestic partner. During the confrontation, Langworthy retrieved a handgun from his vehicle and shot the victim once in the head at close range.
The firearm used in the shooting has not been recovered. Langworthy informed investigators that he discarded it somewhere along the freeway, but would not provide more specific details on the location.
“The San Leandro Police Department would like to express our gratitude to the officers of the California Highway Patrol, Central Division,” said Lieutenant Abe Teng. “Their assistance in locating Langworthy allowed us to provide the victim’s family the swift justice they deserve.”
Union City Police Log
Submitted By UCPD
Tuesday, November 21
- At approximately 3:07 a.m. Union City Police Department officers responded to Lemonnade Dispensary for a commercial alarm, where 5-8 subjects were seen attempting to force their way into the business. When officers arrived, they did not locate any suspects on the property.
- At approximately 3:17 a.m. the Union City Police Department received calls from on-site security at Flor Dispensary regarding suspects who forced their way into the business. Officers quickly arrived on-scene and noticed several suspects were still inside of the building. The suspects attempted to flee but were located in the area. Three juveniles from Oakland were arrested for commercial burglary.
The incidents are actively being investigated by the Union City Police Department’s Investigations Unit. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Fordham at 510-513-3826 or ZacharyF@UnionCity.org. Information may be left anonymously at 510-675-5207 or at tips@unioncity.org.
NCS Cross Country Championships
By April Ramos
On November 18, high school athletes from all over the North Coast Section (NCS) got together for the NCS Cross Country Championships. The Championship meet was once again held at Hayward High School, seeing over 1,000 runners registered to compete. The meet was organized in ten races divided into boys and girls, and division. Five division were included in the meet.
The first event of the day, the Division 5 Boys three mile, saw many high schools from the northern Bay Area, including Sonoma Academy and Healdsburg High Schools. But, within these Fremont Christian was also included. The school’s final team standing was 25th place.
Castro Valley and James Logan took fifth and sixth place out of eight teams, respectively, in the Division 1 Boys three mile. Lucas Chang from Castro Valley came in seventh place with a time of 16:28.8. In the Girls three mile, Castro Valley took second place in the overall team standing with a total of 64 points. Although Castro Valley as a whole took second in the race, the local stand out was Hope Ott from James Logan High School. Ott was the sixth to cross the finish line with a time of 19:24.7.
The Boys Division 2 race had a whopping 21 teams racing, making it stiff competition. Out of those 21 teams, San Leandro took 12th, Mission San Jose 15th, American 17th, Irvington 18 and Mt. Eden 20th.
Division 3 Girls three mile included Newark Memorial who claimed sixth with their top four athletes in the first half of the 136 runners. Individually, Kara Tokubo claimed 17th place with 19:30.9. and her teammates not far behind taking 20, 26, 35, 36th place. Arroyo and Hayward High Schools trailed in the back of the pack in 17th and 19th place in the team standing.
Another Newark Memorial standout came in the Division 3 Boys three mile. Senior, Sid Patel, claimed the second place slot with a time of 16:08.9. Another Newark Cougar, Michael Tellez, timed in at 16:36.5 getting him eight place. Newark Memorial as a team place sixth in this race. One lone Kennedy High School athlete of Fremont, Aarav Mehta, got a time of 17:24.7, putting his name at 37th place of the 156 total running pack.
Overall, the team winners of the combined Boys races saw Castro Valley at 31st and Newark Memorial at 32nd, with 864 and 881 total points, respectively. Individually, Sid Patel held 30th place out of 699 boys. This got him the highest spot of any local high school runner. San Leandro and James Logan stuck together as well getting 43rd and 44th place, respectively, at 1343 and 1360.
In the Girls overall combined team result, the Newark Memorial team earned 10th place, with Castro Valley not far behind in 16th. The fastest individual athlete was Hope Ott at 42nd out of 588.
Fore more information, visit diablotiming.com.
Kenneth C. Aitken Senior and Community Center Grand Re-Opening
Submitted by Nicole Espinoza Roa
The grand reopening of the Kenneth C. Aitken Senior and Community Center is scheduled for Friday, December 1, at 10 a.m. This momentous event promises a ribbon cutting, Ukulele Performance, Local Poetry Reading, Hula Dance, Guitar Jam Demo, Band Dance, and guided tours.
A cherished hub for senior programming, preschool activities, and arts, the Kenneth C. Aitken Senior and Community Center has undergone renovations. A comprehensive exterior overhaul encompassed roofing systems and improved site access and parking. Internally, there’s new commercial flooring, fresh paint, upgraded lighting, revamped restroom facilities, and enhanced transaction counter accessibility. A collaboration between contractor Calstate Construction, Inc., TBP/Architecture, Inc, project consultants, County agencies, and HARD Staff has been pivotal to the project's success.
The revitalization of the Kenneth C. Aitken Senior and Community Center owes gratitude to the visionary Measure F1, a $250,000,000 bond measure passed on November 8, 2016, with an overwhelming 78% voter approval. This funding initiative empowered Hayward Area Recreation and Park District to undertake vital repairs, upgrades, and new construction projects across its parks and facilities.
Other Measure F1 projects include the Mission Hills Driving Range Renovations, Kennedy Park Renovations, Mia’s Dream Come True Playground, Hayward Community Gardens, Tennis Court and Basketball Court Updates.
For more information about these projects, visit www.HaywardRec.org/HardatWork.
Grand Re-Opening
Friday, Dec 1
10 a.m.
Kenneth C. Aitken Senior and Community Center
17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
Run 4 Education
Submitted by Kathy Kimberlin
Fremont Education Foundation’s Run 4 Education is back in 2023! This year the event will take place on Sunday, December 3 at Quarry Lakes recreation area in Fremont. We offer a 5K & 10K Run/Walk, along with a 1/4 & 1/2 mile kid’s race. If you’ve never witnessed the kid’s race it is a special treat.
New this year is “Mama Eileen’s Short Walk,” a short walk for all abilities along the same route as the kid’s 1/4 or 1/2 mile. This walk is inspired by Alameda County Office of Ed Trustee Eileen McDonald. There are no t-shirts for this course, but you will receive a bib number and a certificate of participation after crossing the finish line! (Use special access code: MAMAEILEEN.)
Runners participating in the FUSD Elementary Schools Challenge, including Glankler Preschool, will receive a donation for registration! The best part is that anyone can register on behalf of your school so get your uncles, aunts, grandparents, neighbors, etc. to register today!
-Schools with 1-50 participants will receive $100.00
-Schools with 51-100 participants will receive $200.00
-Schools with over 100 participants will receive $300.00
Exhibitors will greet you with give always and fun activities!
We Thank our Sponsors: Fremont Bank, Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert D1, Alameda County Supervisor Elisa Marquez D2, Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation, Fremont Firefighters Local 1689, Citizens for Better Community, Learning Bee, Ohlone for Kids and the Rotary Club of Fremont. In Kind Sponsors are Suju's Coffee & Tea, Brandon Sass.
Questions? Email president@fremont-education.org or Buzz@buzzwordproductions.com
Run 4 Education
Sunday, Dec 3
8 a.m. booths open
9 a.m. race starts
Quarry Lakes
2100 Isherwood Way, Fremont
Registration: https://bit.ly/FremontRun4Education
www.fremont-education.org/guy-emanuele-sports-fund
Registration: $15-$40
A 2023 gift guide that will strike a chord: 10 ideas for the music lover in your life
By Maria Sherman, Associated Press Music Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) Nov. 20 — For the obsessive record collector or the casual listener, the shower singer or the rock star of tomorrow, a music-inspired gift is never a faux pas over the holidays. Here`s a variety gift guide for the audio lover in your life – from photo card binders for the K-pop superfan to a pair of some of the best headphones on the market and a cheese board that looks surprisingly hi-def. It`ll be music to their ears.
HIT “PLAY”: The cassette tape revolutionized the music industry and the music listening experience: You could make mixtapes for loved ones, record that hit song from the radio, or best of all, carry your favorite album around with you. In “High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape,“ music journalist Marc Masters provides the definitive text on the tiny-but-mighty piece of plastic. Perfect for the pop-culture obsessed. Cost: $20
FOR YOUR PLEASURE: In 2021, Harry Styles entered the beauty game with his company, “Pleasing,” beginning with colorful, gender-neutral nail polish. It continued to grow, eventually including skincare and makeup. This holiday season, Styles has entered the fragrance game. Styles’ perfume line includes “Closeness,” described as a “woody musk scent,” “Rivulets,” which is a “floral, fresh amber scent,” and “Bright, Hot,” a “heady woody amber scent with top notes of plum and tobacco.” Something for everyone, or, at least, the pop music fan in your life. Cost: $135
SAY CHEESE: ‘Tis the season to break out the charcuterie board and host a great holiday party – but why not do it in musical style? The “Turntable Cheese Board“ from Uncommon Goods is exactly what it sounds like – a cheese board designed to look like the most expensive, slick turntable, featuring a slate platter and hidden slicer in the one arm. Delicious. Cost: $78
HEAR IT LOUD: There`s never a wrong time to upgrade headphones – in fact, it makes for a great gift. Sony`s MDR-7506 headphones are a particularly wise selection. This pair is perfect for aspiring producers or anyone who wants to look cool walking down the street with studio-grade headphones and beyond. They`re an industry standard for a reason. Cost: $80-$130
THE WAY SHE WAS: On Nov. 7, Barbra Streisand released her very long and very long-awaited memoir, “My Name is Barbra.” She`d talked about it for years. In 2021, she told Jimmy Fallon that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had asked her to write a memoir in the early 1980s, when the former first lady was an editor at Doubleday. “My Name is Barbra” is well worth it, a larger-than-life autobiography coming in at a whopping 1,040 pages – are the revelations that await the reader. From her childhood to her marriage to the making of “Yentl” and beyond. Cost: $47
K-POP COOL: Far too often, holiday gift guides – even those specifically catering to music enthusiasts – fail to account for dedicated, artist-specific fandoms. The most thoughtful presents are often the most specific ones. They communicate to the gift-receiver that the gift-giver really gets them. For the K-pop lover, why not get a photocard binder where they can store their limited-edition collection? Cost: $13 – $20
IT`S NOT A PHASE: In his second book, “Goth: A History“, Lol Tolhurst, co- founder of the influential “goth” band The Cure, explores the often-misunderstood movement, what he calls “the last true alternative outsider subculture.” It`s about the music subgenre born out of late-'70s punk and dread, of course (Joy Division, Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees) but also touches on Tim Burton films, Edgar Allan Poe's poem “The Raven,” and Mary Shelley's novel “Frankenstein”. It`s a well-rounded, interdisciplinary and definitive history and part-memoir, perfect for that friend who swears he liked that band before they were big. Cost: $20 – $25
THERE`S SOMETHING GOING ON: In 1995, The Roots dropped their influential sophomore album, “Do You Want More?!!!??!,” a critically acclaimed album in hip- hop canon. Now, nearly three decades later, a four-LP box set has been released – a remastered version of the original two LP albums and now with bonus tracks curated by Questlove himself. He and Tariq Trotter wrote the liner notes. (And if you`re feeling really generous, you could also throw in Trotter`s new book, “The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are” and become the greatest gift giver in your circle.) Cost: $89.98
TE AMO: What do music fans really want for the holidays? The live music experience, of course. In 2024, the Latin music festival Besame Mucho is headed to Austin, Texas. The lineup features Los Tigres Del Norte, Banda MS, Grupo Frontera and many more – a can`t miss event. Cost: $275 – 950
5-year-old boy fatally stabs twin brother in California
Associated Press
SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (AP) Nov. 18 — A 5-year-old California boy fatally stabbed his twin brother, authorities said.
The twins were fighting Wednesday November 15 when one brother grabbed a small kitchen knife and stabbed his sibling in unincorporated Scotts Valley, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office. The boy died at the hospital.
“We are heartbroken for the family of these two young children and share in their grief,” the sheriff`s office wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Authorities said they do not plan to file criminal charges in the death.
“California law dictates that age, criminal intent, and knowledge of wrongfulness are factors needed to charge a child with a crime,” the Facebook post stated. “Based on the current investigation, there is no indication of negligence or criminal activity by any other party.”
Scotts Valley is roughly 55 miles (89 kilometers) south of San Francisco.
Boutique Calendar
Newark Artists Open Studios & Holiday Boutique
Friday, Dec 1 – Sunday, Dec 3
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Paintings, ceramics, jewelry, glass, scarves
Studio Sites
6222 Thornton Ave., Ste. B1: Nancy Benton, Scoop Benton, Farshid Namei
39675 Cedar Blvd. #135: Tetiana Taganska, Olga Tymoshchuk, Susan Helmer
36541 Cherry St.: Simone Archer, Shelley Stratton Stewart
35911 Ruschin Dr.: Adriane Dedic, Emelie Rogers
www.myartiststudio.com
Sun Gallery Holiday Boutique
Friday – Sunday, Dec 1 – Dec 9
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sun Gallery
1015 E. St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
Holiday Boutique and Craft Fair
Saturday, Dec 2
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Over 80 artisan vendors
American High School
36300 Fremont Blvd., Fremont
https://ahsboutique.weebly.com/
Winter Art Show & Sale
Thursday, Dec 7
2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Art show and sale by Mt. Eden students
Mt. Eden High School, Room L4
2300 Panama St., Hayward
Continuing Events
Tuesdays
A Matter of Balance R
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels of older adults.
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7540
issuu.com/hsdept
Call or email to register.
Space is limited.
Tuesdays
East Bay Games Meet
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
German/Euro style board games and card games.
Swiss Park
5911 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 936-2523
meetup.com/east-bay-games
Tuesdays, October 3 – December 5
Tuesday Chat
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Improve your English by talking with native speakers about everyday topics.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
Excluding 3rd Tuesdays
Tuesdays, September 19 – May 28
It's Storytime
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Stories, finger plays, nursery rhymes, songs, and musical instruments.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/ fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org
For kids ages 18 month to 6 yrs.
Tuesdays, October 3 – November 28
Teen Tuesdays Tag R
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join the Teen advisory group, meet other teens, play games, make art, poetry, and more.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
ebuchanan@aclibrary.org
Tuesdays, November 7 – December 26
Lego Time
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
aclibrary.org/locations/CTV/
For kids 7 and under. Supervision required
fremontneighborhood@aclibrary.org
Tuesdays, March 21 – December 19
Chess Mix
12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Drop in for some casual chess games.
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ
Tuesdays, September 5 – December 19
Music and Storytime
11:00 am – 11:45 am
Story, music, and movement with children.
Cherryland Community Center
278 Hampton Road, Hayward
(510) 626-8522
aclibrary.org/locations/slz/
sanlorenzo@aclibrary.org
Tuesdays, November 7 – December 19
Music and Storytime
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Join for stories, music, and movement.
Cherryland Community Center
278 Hampton Road, Hayward
(510) 626-8522
aclibrary.org/locations/CHY/
Wednesdays
Zumba Gold $
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Workout while dancing
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
issuu.com/hsdept
Wednesdays
Ping Pong
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Activities for people with Parkinson
Age Well Center at South Fremont
47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont
(510) 742-7529
issuu.com/hsdept
mtorrez@fremont.gov
Wednesdays, July 19 – November 29
ESL Conversation Club
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Improve your English skills and learn about other cultures.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
sccld.org/locations/Milpitas
Wednesdays, November 1 – December 6
Digital Literacy for Adults
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how to use a computer and mouse typing where to find help making a resume and more.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/
Wednesdays, October 11 – December 27
Manitas en Acción
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Combination of reading books out loud, hands-on crafts and learning about culture in Spanish.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/
Wednesdays
Tropics Bingo
7:00 pm
Flash games
Tropics Mobile Home Park
33000 Almaden Blvd., Union City
(510) 471-8550
the-tropics.net/activites
Thursdays and Tuesdays, November 9 – May 23
Literacy Enrichment Program R
4:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Supporting struggling readers through personalized lesson plans and dedicated one-on-one tutoring
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1421
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
Email to register fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org
Thursdays & Saturdays
Story Time
10:30 am – 11:00 am
Picture book story time
Banter Bookshop
3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont
(510) 565-1004
bit.ly/3VFpbcz
Thursdays – Sundays
Historic Days
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Ride a train, tour the Patterson House Museum, and join park staff in historic costume for programs and activities.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events
Admission fee applies.
Thursday -Sunday
Animal Feeding
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Feed livestock and learn about their favorite food.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events
Admission fee applies.
Thursday – Sunday, November 9 – December 16
Ingrid Wells Emotional Support Paintings
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Virtual and in person exhibit.
Olive Hyde Art Gallery
123 Washington Blvd., Fremont
(510) 791-4357
olivehydeartguild.org
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, December 1 – December 17
Play “The Man Who Saved Christmas” R$
8:00 pm
Sundays: 2 pm
Chanticleers Theatre
3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 733-5483
chanticleers.org
December 17 is already booked
Fridays and Saturdays
Telescope Viewings
7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Experience the awe and wonder of the universe.
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org/events
Fridays – Sundays, December 1 – December 17
Christmas at the Patterson House R$
11:00 am – 2:30 pm
Celebrate the turn of the 20th century holiday at a beautifully restored Queen Anne mansion.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
www.ebparks.org/calendar
Admission fee applies.
Fridays, January 20 – January 5
Knit & Crochet Circle
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Learn knitting and crocheting.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
sccld.org/locations/milpitas
Fridays, December 1 – December 29
Woodland Wonderland
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Join us after school to learn about a new plant or animal of the oak woodland.
Adult Participation Required.
Del Valle Visitor Center
7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore
(510) 544-3146
Age: 3 yrs +
First & Third Friday, July 21 – December 15
Mobile Food Distribution
10:30 am – 11:30 am
Food distribution for the first 80 families Please bring your own bag.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1444
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
fremont@aclibrary.org
Saturdays, September 9 – December 30
Computer Crew: Teen Tech Help
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
One-on-one tutor on basic tech issues.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.org/locations/CSV/
Saturdays, December 2 – December 9
Neat Stuff with a Naturalist
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Explore the park with a Naturalist! Hands-on activities, tours, or crafts.
Coyote Hills Visitors Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
(510) 544-3220
Age 5+, and parent participation.
Parking fee applies.
Saturdays
Laugh Track City R$
8:00 pm
Series of improvised games and scenes
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Saturdays, May 27 – December 30
Divine Satsang Sabha
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Know techniques of living a virtuous, harmonious, & meaningful life
SMVS (Shri Swaminarayan Mandir)
36665 Cedar Blvd, Newark
(650) 585-5325
smvs.org/centers/centerdetail/106
Saturdays, September 16 – November 30
Latinx American Heritage Month Art Showcase
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Studio 11
34626 11th St., Union City
(510) 675-5825
rb.gy/gu46v
First and Third Saturdays, September 2 – February 17
Book Sale
10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Pop in the bookstore on the first floor for some great deals!
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
hayward.librarycalendar.com
First Saturdays, August 5 – December 2
Music Hour at the Library
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
An hour of music by local musicians.
(510) 284-0685
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
First and Third Saturdays
Pacific Bus Museum $
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Open house
Pacific Bus Museum
37974 Shinn St., Fremont
pacbus.org
Sundays
Weekly meditation Session R
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
samarpanmeditationusa.org
Other contacts: info@indiacc.org, info@samarpanmeditationusa.org
Sunday – Saturday
Recreational Swim $
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Attractions may vary.
Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 578-4620
bit.ly/3nxo0is
Mondays & Thursdays
Fruit Tree Gleaning
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Donate fresh fruits from your garden.
LEAF CR Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
fremontleaf.org/glean info@fremontleaf.org.
Mondays
Advanced Math + Science Tutoring
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Free high school and college-level tutoring
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.org/locations/csv/
First Monday, June 5 – December 4
Teen Junk Journaling Workshop
5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
Learn the basics of junk journaling and start your own journal!
Hayward Public Library
888 C St., Hayward
(510) 293-8685
rb.gy/igtdy
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday, November 28
Art for Children ages 5-7 R
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
For children, ages 5-7, on a journey of creating art.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/
Tuesday, November 28
Chinese Poetry & Songs for Families
10:30 am – 11:00 am
The Chinese poetry class is designed for children in the ages between 0-12 to learn Chinese poems from the Tang dynasty.
Community Meeting Room
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 745-1464
aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/64e921d6c0db8d2800cd4130 unioncitylibrary@aclibrary.org
Tuesday, November 28
Giving Tuesday
Washington Hospital
2000 Mowry Ave., Fremont
(510) 797-1111
Foundation@whhs.com
Tuesday, November 28
Arts and Crafts for ages 5 – 7
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
A journey of creating art for kids ages 5 – 7.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
aclibrary.org/locations/nwk
Tuesday, November 28
Karaoke for a Cause (Plethos Fundraising) $
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Support local theater while getting mic time for you or someone you love
JP's Family Restaurant
3600 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
t.ly/DtsRd amanda.daly
liberointl.com
Wednesday, November 29
Drone First Responders (DFR) Community Meeting (In-person and Zoom)
5:30 pm -6:30 pm
Discussion on Drone First Responders (DFR) Program.
Fremont City Hall
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
(510) 248-4000
fremontpolice.gov, zoom.us/join
ID: 894 2920 8561; Passcode: 806679
Thursday, November 30
How to Avoid Scams: Holiday Edition
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
A fun presentation that includes a “Scam Jam Trivia Challenge – Holiday Edition” with prizes.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events
Thursday, November 30
Acrylic space paint and sip: Holiday Edition $R
6:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Instructor-led space-themed acrylic Paint & Sip party for adults
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org
Thursday, November 30
Live Music and Dance R
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Grab your dancing shoe and join for the afternoon of live music and dance.
Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth
40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont
(510) 790-6606
issuu.com/hsdept njordan@fremont.gov
Friday, December 1
The Tinseltone's Holiday Concert
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Tinseltone's singing group is coming to sing your favorite tunes.
Hayward Area Senior Center
22325 North 3rd Street, Hayward
(510) 881-6700
haywardrec.org
Friday, December 1
Worlds Collide – an improvised musical $R
8:00 pm
An unscripted musical created on the spot!
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Friday, December 1
It's a Wonderful Night 2023
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Annual tree lighting, photos with Santa, holiday train rides, holiday market, and more!
E.14th St & W. Juana Ave., San Leandro
downtownsanleandro.com/holiday
Friday, December 1
First Friday: Light up the Night $R
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
An evening filled with exciting hands-on activities, shows, guest speakers and more.
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org
Friday, December 1
Holiday Swingin! A Kat Edmonson Christmas $R
8:00 pm
Kick off the Holidays with the incomparable Kat Edmonson!
Bankhead Theatre
2400 First St., Livermore
(510) 373-6800
https://livermorearts.org/event-list/
Friday – Sunday, December 1 – December 3
Friends of the Library Book Sale
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Fiction and nonfiction books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs, all at bargain price
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/v2/events?
Saturday and Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm
December 1: member preview sale
Saturday, December 2
Screening of “Bed and Sofa” (1927) $R
7:30 pm
Preceded by Hard Knocks (1924) and His Marriage Wow (1925)
Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont
(510) 494-1411
nilesfilmmuseum.org
Saturday and Sunday, December 2 – December 3
Newark Artists Open Studio and Holiday Boutique
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Look for unique and authentic art pieces and discover the vibrant local arts community.
Imaginook
39675 Cedar Blvd., Newark
(214) 864-5133
imaginook.us/events
Saturday, December 2
5 Play Takes Over Laugh Track City $R
7:30 pm
Series of improvised games and scenes based on audience suggestions.
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Saturday, December 2
Guided Christmas Tour at Meek Mansion $R
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Bask in the glow of holiday lights at Meek Mansion on this Christmas themed tour.
Meek Mansion
17365 Boston Road, Hayward
t.ly/YzZvJ
Donation suggested.
Saturday, December2
Christmas at McConaghy
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Christmas decorated house for self-guided tour.
McConaghy House
18701 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward
(510) 581-0223
t.ly/YzZvJ
Donation suggested.
Saturday, December 2
Stuffie Sleepaway Camp
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sleepaway camp and bring your stuffie to the library.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/
fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org
Saturday, December 2
Livermore Amador Symphony Winter Tales $R
8:00 pm
Celebrate the season with magical music and fairy tales.
Bankhead Theatre
2400 First St., Livermore
(510) 373-6800
livermorearts.org/event-list/
Tickets $0 to $42
Saturday, December 2
Livermore Amador Symphony Free Family Concert
3:00 pm
To kick off the holiday season with your family!
Bankhead Theatre
2400 First St., Livermore
(510) 373-6800
livermorearts.org/event-list/
Ticket: Waitlist
Saturday, December 2
Many Voices: An Afternoon with Kurdish-Iranian Author Ava Homa
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Ava Homa, Kurdish-Iranian author of the book “Daughters of Smoke and Fire”, will discuss, and read from her award-winning book.
Hayward Public Library
27300 Patrick Avenue, Hayward
(510) 782-2155
bit.ly/HPLHoma
Registration is encouraged.
Saturday, December 2
11th SantaCon Hayward 2023
4:00 pm
Help support the Hayward Animal Shelter while having fun at visiting local businesses!
Workingdoggz
597 C Street, Hayward
(510) 733-6428
www.hayward-ca.gov/discover/calendar
Must be 21+ to participate.
Saturday, December 2
Union City Station District Community Open House R
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Learn more about the future of Union City
Studio 11
34626 11th St., Union City
(510) 675-5825
bit.ly/ucopenhouse
Mobile eTicket
Sunday, December 3
Spin Me a Shadow, Tell Me a Tale
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Discover the magical world of shadow puppetry.
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
aclibrary.org/locations/slz/
Sunday, December 3
Family Friendly Matinee $R
3:00 pm
Fun, interactive, and hilarious plays.
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Tree Lighting Calendar
Pacific Commons Tree Lighting
Thursday, Nov 30
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Photos with Santa, train rides, face painting, balloon twisting
Next to Market Broiler
43440 Boscell Rd., Fremont
www.pacificcommons.com/events
Castro Village Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec 1
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
6 p.m. Tree Lighting
Live music & entertainment, free photos with Santa
Castro Village Shopping Center
Castro Valley Blvd. @ Santa Maria Ave.
castrovillage.com
It’s a Wonderful Night
Friday, Dec 1
5:30 p.m.
Estudillo Plaza, San Leandro
City of Newark Tree Lighting
Friday, Dec 1
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. Activities
7 p.m. – Tree Lighting
Performances, hot coco & cookies, crafts, games, photo booth, toy drive & raffle
Newark Civic Center
37101 Newark Blvd., Newark
www.newark.org
Holiday Light up the Night
Friday, Dec 1
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
6:30 p.m. & 7:15 p.m. Laser Light Shows
Holiday music, characters, Santa
Milpitas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Friday, Dec 1
7 p.m.
Photos with Santa, performance from Milpitas Community Concert Band
Milpitas Civic Center Plaza
457 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
www.milpitas.gov
Hayward Light up the Season
Saturday, Dec 2
3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
5 p.m. Tree Lighting
Toy drive, fire engines, performances from local schools
Mission San Jose Tree Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, Dec 2
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Refreshments, live music, carols, Santa Claus
Mission Courtyard
43571 Mission Blvd., Fremont
www.msjchamber.org/christmas-tree-lighting
Washington Hospital Holiday Tree Lighting
Wednesday, Dec 6
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Photos at Santa
Featuring the “Signing Santa”, carolers, treats, crafts, & more
Washington West Anderson Auditorium
2500 Mowry Ave., Fremont
www. whhs.com/upcomingevents