New AC Transit mobile app integrates tech with travel service
Submitted by Robert Lyles, AC Transit
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has launched a beta version of its new Mobile App which brings the benefits of the customer service center directly to the rider’s cell phone and augments AC Transit’s reNEW Plan an all-encompassing coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery plan and commitment to riders.
The beta AC Transit Mobile App, announced October 19, features real-time arrival predictions, allowing riders to locate bus stops, bookmark favorite bus lines, submit lost and found claims, and more. To better plan and connect to any destination AC Transit serves, riders can quickly download the free Mobile App from the Apple Store for iOS, Google Play Store for Android, or search “AC Transit Official”, using the quotation marks.
The Mobile App is launching in beta mode for the first 90 days of service, which permits the software engineering team to fine-tune the app’s performance, predictive accuracy, and scalability, as riders adjust and explore its features, in real-time. In its current iteration, the Mobile App features innovations and improvements that were the direct result of early testing.
Additionally, under the reNEW Plan, AC Transit is committed to developing technologies that improve the health and safety of its transit service. Considerable research was employed into the service, which includes COVID-19 studies on the importance of hand hygiene. Although many experts say the risk of COVID19 transmission is low from touching objects, AC Transit’s new Mobile App eliminates any need to physically touch fareboxes, coins or dollars.
The Mobile App directs all contactless payments to Token Transit. The card handling app has collaborated with more than 100 transit agencies across the US and Canada and is a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCIDSS) Level 1 service provider — the most stringent level of certification available in the payment industry.
Purchase Mobile Passes Riders can now purchase one or multiple Local Single $2.25 rides, $6.00 Transbay Single Rides, or Local 1 and 7-Day rides at $5.00 or $22.50, respectively. Once payment is complete, ride passes are valid for a minimum of 30 minutes for Local Single Ride Passes. Local 1-Day Passes are valid through 3:00 a.m. the following day. Local 7-Day Passes expire at midnight on the seventh day following activation.
Transit riders currently using the popular Transit App may now purchase a contactless payment or “ticket” — directly through app. Riders seeking monthly passes may use Clipper Card. The Adult Local 31-Day pass is $84.60 and does not follow calendar days. Instead, this flexible pass is valid for 31 consecutive days, offers unlimited rides throughout the East Bay, and for an additional $3.50 (per ride) may be used for Transbay bus lines. Riders may also use Clipper Card to upgrade to the Transbay 31-Day Pass. Also valid for 31 consecutive days, this $216 value pass offers unlimited rides on all AC Transit bus lines.
Riders may offer feedback on the beta Mobile App by tapping the Feedback link within the Mobile App, log onto www.actransit.org, emailing rideact@actransit.org, or calling Customer Relations at (510) 891-4777, and selecting option 2. For more information on AC Transit’s beta Mobile App and the reNEW Plan, visit www.actransit.org.
American Pickers to film in California
Submitted by Kourtny Myers
Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to California! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers in December.
We understand that with the proliferation of COVID-19, we are all facing very uncertain times. We at American Pickers are taking the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming as outlined by the state and CDC. While we plan to be in California this December, we will continue to re-schedule if conditions change for the worse. Regardless, we are excited to continue to reach the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking!
American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on History. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.
Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them. American Pickers is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure.
If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to:
americanpickers@cineflix.com
or call 855-OLD-RUST
Or find us on Facebook: @GotAPick
Anna Marie Baranowski was born in Pittsburgh, PA to Joseph James and Anna Mary Lasky. She moved to California in the seventies with her husband and two daughters where she resided in Newark until her passing. She devoted her life to her family.
Anna Marie leaves behind her husband of nearly 58 years, Eugene Baranowski, her daughter Jeanne Baranowski of Newark, her daughter Mary Anne Williamson of Salinas, and her Granddaughter Amanda Williamson of Hayward. She is survived by her brother Joseph Lasky of San Diego. She was preceded in death by her brother Lawerence Lasky of Florida.
Cocktails and Conservation Arcas Rescue
Submitted by Oakland Zoo
This new, virtual happy hour series features some of the world’s most incredible conservationists. These heroes are working on the ground every day to save endangered species and their habitats. Guests will join us on Facebook Live to learn, ask questions, and be a part of the solution to preserve our planet’s rich and diverse wildlife.
November’s unique edition of Cocktails & Conservation will have a special address from Oakland Zoo President & CEO, Dr. Joel Parrott. He will recognize our Friends of the Wild and other major donors and provide a few updates on the Zoo. Dr. Parrott will also speak to the incredible veterinary work being done at ARCAS, and the potential for Oakland Zoo to support even more of this type of field work in the future.
Our guest is Dr. Alejandro Morales of ARCAS Wildlife Rescue in Guatemala. Alejandro has dedicated his life to being a vet for central American wildlife! His work with ARCAS ensures that beautiful animals caught in the illegal wildlife trade are skillfully rehabilitated – then released once again into the Mayan Biosphere.
As always, our episode will feature a custom cocktail. This episode will feature a special beer cocktail from Oakland’s own, Ale Industries, so we can toast to a safe world for wildlife. Look out for the recipe, mix your cocktail, and join us live!
Cocktails & Conservation: Arcas Rescue
Wednesday, Nov 11
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Join Via Facebook Live
https://www.facebook.com/OakZoo/
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/cocktails-conservation
NASA spacecraft sent asteroid rubble flying in sample grab
By Marcia Dunn
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP), Oct 21 – NASA's Osiris-Rex spacecraft crushed rocks and sent rubble flying as it briefly touched an asteroid, a strong indication that samples were collected for return to Earth, officials said Wednesday.
Scientists won't know until next week how much was gathered at asteroid Bennu – they want at least a handful of the cosmic rubble. But close-up pictures and video of Tuesday's touch-and-go operation raised hopes that goal was achieved.
“We really did kind of make a mess on the surface of this asteroid, but it's a good mess, the kind of mess we were hoping for,” said lead scientist Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona at Tucson.
It was the first asteroid-sampling effort by the U.S., coming four years after the spacecraft rocketed from Cape Canaveral and two years after it reached Bennu. Japan has taken asteroid samples twice.
The carbon-rich Bennu is a time capsule believed to contain the original building blocks of the solar system 4.5 billion years ago and, as such, can help scientists better understand the origins of Earth and life as we know it.
Osiris-Rex scored a near bull's-eye, reaching down with its robot arm to within a yard (meter) of its intended target zone in the center of boulder-rimmed Nightingale Crater. The sampling container on the arm made contact with the black, crumbly terrain for about six seconds and pushed at least three-quarters of an inch (2 centimeters) into the ground, crushing a large rock in the process, officials said.
As planned, pressurized nitrogen gas fired onto the surface a second later, to kick up a shower of debris so the spacecraft could suck up as much dust and as many pebbles as possible.
The spacecraft quickly backed away and, by Wednesday, was a safe 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Bennu.
Several hours passed before the pictures started pouring in. Lauretta said he was up until the wee hours Wednesday, overjoyed at what he saw. He watched the touch-and-go video about 100 times – “it's just so cool” – then went to sleep.
“I dreamed of a wonder world of Bennu regolith particles floating all around me,” he said.
Over the next few days, a camera on the spacecraft will aim at the sampler on the end of the robot arm, looking for signs of asteroid residue. If the lighting is right, the camera might even be able to peek into the sample chamber. The spacecraft will also be put into a slow spin, with its arm extended, to provide a more accurate measure of the precious payload.
Based on the images, “the sampling event went really well, as good as we could have imagined it would, and I think the chances that there's material inside … have gone way up,” Lauretta said.
If fewer than 2 ounces (60 grams) were collected, the team must decide by Oct. 30 whether to try again. A second attempt would not occur until January – at another location.
The plan calls for Osiris-Rex to depart Bennu in March, which would put the samples on track for a touchdown in the Utah desert in 2023.
“We're nowhere near the end,” cautioned Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's science missions.
–––
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Asteroid samples escaping from jammed NASA spacecraft
By Marcia Dunn
AP Aerospace Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP), Oct 23 – A NASA spacecraft is stuffed with so much asteroid rubble from this week's grab that it's jammed open and precious particles are drifting away in space, scientists said Friday.
Scientists announced the news three days after the spacecraft named Osiris-Rex briefly touched asteroid Bennu, NASA's first attempt at such a mission.
The mission's lead scientist, Dante Lauretta, said Tuesday's operation 200 million miles away collected far more material than expected for return to Earth – in the hundreds of grams. The sample container on the end of the robot arm penetrated so deeply into the asteroid and with such force, however, that rocks got sucked in and became wedged around the rim of the lid.
Scientists estimate the sampler pressed as much as 19 inches (48 centimeters) into the rough, crumbly, black terrain.
“We're almost a victim of our own success here,” Lauretta said at a hastily arranged news conference.
Lauretta said there is nothing flight controllers can do to clear the obstructions and prevent more bits of Bennu from escaping, other than to get the samples into their return capsule as soon as possible.
So, the flight team was scrambling to put the sample container into the capsule as early as Tuesday – much sooner than originally planned – for the long trip home.
“Time is of the essence,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, chief of NASA's science missions.
This is NASA's first asteroid sample-return mission. Bennu was chosen because its carbon-rich material is believed to hold the preserved building blocks of our solar system. Getting pieces from this cosmic time capsule could help scientists better understand how the planets formed billions of years ago and how life originated on Earth.
Scientists were stunned – and then dismayed – on Thursday when they saw the pictures coming from Osiris-Rex following its wildly successful touch-and-go at Bennu two days earlier.
A cloud of asteroid particles could be seen swirling around the spacecraft as it backed away from Bennu. The situation appeared to stabilize, according to Lauretta, once the robot arm was locked into place. But it was impossible to know exactly how much had already been lost.
The requirement for the $800 million-plus mission was to bring back a minimum 2 ounces (60 grams).
Regardless of what's on board, Osiris-Rex will still leave the vicinity of the asteroid in March – that's the earliest possible departure given the relative locations of Earth and Bennu. The samples won't make it back until 2023, seven years after the spacecraft rocketed away from Cape Canaveral.
Osiris-Rex will keep drifting away from Bennu and will not orbit it again, as it waits for its scheduled departure.
Because of the sudden turn of events, scientists won't know how much the sample capsule holds until it's back on Earth. They initially planned to spin the spacecraft to measure the contents, but that maneuver was canceled since it could spill even more debris.
“I think we're going to have to wait until we get home to know precisely how much we have,” Lauretta told reporters. “As you can imagine, that's hard. … But the good news is we see a lot of material.”
Japan, meanwhile, is awaiting its second batch of samples taken from a different asteroid, due back in December.
–––
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD
Friday, October 23
• At 8:08 p.m. a man identified by police as Michael Washington, 45, of Berkeley was arrested at the San Leandro station on suspicion of trespassing on railroad property and possession of methamphetamine. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, October 27
• At 3:12 p.m. a man identified by police as Luis Payne, 31, of Berkeley was arrested at the South Hayward station on suspicion of making a criminal threat and brandishing a weapon. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Wednesday, October 28
• At 6:00 p.m. a man identified by police as Timothy Knockum, 54, of Oakland was arrested at the Union City station on two outstanding warrants and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Different Shades of Basil
Article and photos by Daniel O'Donnell
Divide some chopped tomatoes and diced onions into two bowls, add a little garlic, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add fresh cilantro to one bowl and it becomes salsa. Add sweet basil to the other bowl and it becomes bruschetta. There are a few other ingredients that could be added to the salsa or Bruschetta, but the real difference comes down to the two different herbs that were used. Different herbs and spices used in cooking are part of what makes a culture’s food authentic. Basil is one of those herbs. Sweet basil might be central to Italian cuisine, whereas many of the other varieties, hybrids, and cultivars of basil are fundamental to other cuisines.
There are between 50 and 160 species of basil. The actual number is not known because basil of crossbreeds, which makes determining some species difficult. However, the diverse group of true basils can be identified as species of the genus Ocimum. Basils are native to tropical and sub-tropical regions and can be grown throughout the world in the warm spring and summer months.
Basils are predominantly grown for their flavorsome leaves, although some are used as ornamental landscape plants. There is a wide range of spicy to sweet flavors throughout the species. Flavors are determined by the amounts of essential oils present. These oils with their delicious flavors will disappear under high temperatures, which is why most recipes call for basil leaves to be mixed into a dish just before serving. Most basil plants are annuals and will die when the weather gets cooler. Basil leaves can be dried for use in winter, but the flavor will be much weaker than that of fresh leaves. Freezing the leaves can retain more flavor.
Basil can be grown outdoors and indoors in the Bay Area if the temperature consistently stays above 70°F. It does well in pots and in the ground if it gets plenty of sunlight. Leaves can be harvested as needed from anywhere on the stem. Picking the leaves will stimulate new growth at that location. A basil plant will stop growing leaves on a stem that begins to flower. The flowers are attractive, loved by bees, and will provide seeds for planting more basil the next year. However, if more leaves are preferred, flower heads can be pinched off when they start to emerge, which will encourage that stem to continue producing leaves.
Here are some different basils to spice up not only your food, but also your garden:
• Basil ‘Pesto Perpetuo’ was discovered in 2004 as a sport of another variety. It has become a favorite for pesto lovers in this short time because of its aromatic leaves that also have a hint of citrus. It is non-flowering, so all its energy goes into producing an abundance of attractive green and white variegated leaves.
• Basil herbalea ‘Wild Magic’ is often used as an ornamental plant because of its dark purple leaves and attractive violet blooms. This bee-attracting plant, which can get up to two feet tall, produces a lot of edible leaves even when in bloom because the flowers are sterile. Developed in Germany, it also tolerates cooler temperatures than other types of basil.
• Basil ‘African Blue’ is a hybrid basil that is available in the U.S. One of its parent plants originated in East Africa. The leaves have a strong scent of clove, pepper, mint, and camphor making them desirable not only for East African dishes, but an intriguing addition to local recipes. It is one of the few basils that is a perennial if growing conditions remain favorable throughout the year.
• Basil ‘Siam Queen’ is one of several Asian basils that are commonly used in Thai cooking. The slender green leaves have a strong aromatic spicy anise-licorice aroma. It is one of only a handful of basils that can be simmered, cooked, or stir-fried because the leaves remain stable during extended cooking times and high temperatures, releasing their flavors slowly.
• Holy basil, also known as tulsi in India, is a sacred plant in Hinduism and not an herb usually used in traditional Indian cooking. It is starting to show up more commonly in modern Indian recipes. It can be bitter when eaten raw; however, when cooked it has a fragrant aroma and spicy-sweet musky taste.
• Basil ‘Cinnamon,’ also known as Mexican spice basil, has a distinctive hint of cinnamon flavor as the name suggests. Although it is sometimes used like other sweet basils in Mexican recipes for guacamole, rice, and bean dishes, this basil is more commonly used in Asian recipes.
• Basil ‘Lemon’ is a key ingredient in Indonesian cuisine and commonly used in Persian, Middle Eastern, and North African recipes. It is becoming a popular choice for growing in the U.S. as well for its strong fragrant lemon taste and aroma.
These are only a few of the different basils used around the globe. Experimenting with growing some of them here will open a world of flavorful cooking possibilities.
Daniel O'Donnell is the co-owner and operator of an organic landscape design/build company in Fremont. www.Chrysalis-Gardens.com
Letter to the editor
Mitigating the Native Bee Population Decline
I’m Serena, a high school senior from Fremont and Ambassador Girl Scout from troop 30596. I recently finished a Gold Award project on mitigating the native bee population decline. Although many people are familiar with the population decline of honey bees, few realize the plight that native bees are facing, and some might not even know of the existence of native bees. Native bees come in many different colors (including yellow, black, green, and blue) and sizes (one-fourth of an inch to an inch long). In California, we’re lucky to be the home of about 1600 native bee species! Additionally, “[h]abitat gardening for bees, using targeted ornamental plants, can predictably, increase bee diversity and abundance, and provide clear pollination benefits.” (California Agriculture) The American native bee population contributes an estimated $3 billion to the U.S. economy. However, despite these clear benefits, native bee populations are on the decline.
According to a 2017 analysis done by the Center for Biological Diversity, almost one in four of the native bee species with sufficient data (of the total 4,337 native bee species) in North America are at risk of extinction. The main causes are habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use. To fight this pressing issue, I did my Gold Award project on mitigating the native bee population decline.
I worked with the student-led environmental conservation organization Honey, Natives, and Beeyond (www.hnbeeyond.org) to complete my project. I held multiple webinars with elementary school students (about 70 kids total) about the importance of pollinators, the scope of native bee population decline, and what they could do to help mitigate it. The goals of these webinars were to encourage kids to do what they could to mitigate the decline from their own homes: for example, planting native plants, reducing carbon emissions, etc, which would help combat all three root causes. This was also the focus of a brochure that I made to inform people about how they could help bees during quarantine: (bit.ly/quarantinebeebrochure)
I addressed habitat loss by building and installing eight bee homes for two local gardens, Local Ecology & Agricultural Fremont (LEAF)’s Stone Garden, and the Master Gardeners’ Demonstration Garden at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. My team and I convinced four stores and nurseries to display a poster encouraging people to buy native plants, which would help provide native bees with food and shelter, especially in cities that have been impacted by urbanization (find out more about it here: bit.ly/hnb-nppp).
Although native bee population decline is a huge issue, there are many things people can do to help bees, and native bees in particular. First, ban pesticides from your garden. They are extremely toxic to bees and there are plenty of natural alternatives for getting rid of pests. Second, planting native species in your garden will attract native bees and will act as a food source. Third, advocating for bee friendly legislation could have the biggest impact. These are only a couple of suggestions, but there are plenty more online. I hope that you all will take my advice and change something in your day to help the bees!
Sources:
https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/beyond-honey-bee-learn-more-about-california-native-bees
http://calag.ucanr.edu/Archive/?article=ca.v063n03p113
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/native_pollinators/pdfs/Pollinators_in_Peril.pdf
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/05/150524-bees-pollinators-animals-science-gardens-plants/
Serena Yeh
Fremont
Take Action for Wildlife with virtual 5K Bison Romp
Submitted by Oakland Zoo
Photos courtesy of Oakland Zoo website
Move with us from November 4-7 to celebrate the American Bison. “Bison Romp” is a virtual “5K Your Way” where you can walk, run, or bike! Walk through the woods, run in your neighborhood, bike around a local park, or romp around your yard! There is no wrong way to complete these three miles! Gather together your social pod, friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues to join our herd for this fun way of Taking Action for Wildlife.
Proceeds raised from the Bison Romp support Oakland Zoo’s work with the Iinnii Initiative, an inspired effort to restore bison back to Blackfeet Tribal Lands. The return of the bison is healing the land back to its natural ecosystem and bringing back an important cornerstone of the Blackfeet Nation’s culture. Oakland Zoo remains committed to doing everything we can to support wildlife, and our conservation partners need all of us now more than ever. By participating in this event or donating to support a participant, you are taking action for wildlife.
“The elders have long believed that until the buffalo returned, the Blackfeet Tribal Nation would drift.” – Harry Barnes, Blackfeet Tribal Business Council Chairman
Photo Competition
Share your photos on social media for a chance to win prizes! Use #OZBisonRomp for the chance to be highlighted on our social media platform during the event and to be put in the running to win prizes. On November 8, we will announce the winners for the following categories:
• Best “(Socially Distanced) Herd” Photo
• Best “View from My 5K” Photo
• Best “Bison Costume” Action Photo
T-Shirts
Show your participation in the event or support for it with a custom T-shirt. $20/shirt + shipping. Can’t run but want to help? Donate to this event or support a runner who is fundraising for the race. Participating but want to do more? Fundraise by getting friends and family to pledge money in support of you.
Thank you for joining Oakland Zoo’s Bison Romp and Taking Action for Wildlife!
Bison Romp virtual 5K
Wednesday, Nov 4 – Saturday, Nov 7
Register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Oakland/OaklandZooBisonRomp
Registration ends midnight Nov 7
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/5k
1st Black CHP chief retires, first woman named replacement
AP Wire Service
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Oct 20 – The first Black commissioner in the 91-year history of the California Highway Patrol is retiring, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, and he will be replaced with the first woman to hold the post – a veteran officer who also is Black.
Commissioner Warren Stanley will retire Nov. 17 after more than 38 years with the CHP, the last 2 1/2 years leading the 11,000 employees in the nation's fifth-largest law enforcement agency and largest state-run law enforcement agency.
His successor, Deputy Commissioner Amanda Ray, will be the first woman and second Black person to head the patrol.
Newsom said in a statement that Ray will help the state “advance reforms to our criminal justice system that will help foster a more just and inclusive future for all Californians.”
Ray, 54, of Sacramento, started with the CHP in 1990 as a cadet, moving steadily up through the ranks in the interim. The appointment requires Senate confirmation and pays $282,528.
Stanley joined the CHP in 1982 and since has held every uniformed rank within the department.
He was appointed commissioner by former Gov. Jerry Brown in February 2018 and reappointed to the post by Newsom when he took office in January 2019.
Casino reopening restores 50 jobs in downtown Hayward
Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce
After eight months of forced closure because of the coronavirus pandemic, Palace Poker Casino staged a grand-reopening October 19 under unusual, but safe circumstances at its historic downtown Hayward building.
The card club at 22821 Mission Boulevard set up a tent in the breezeway adjacent to its building and patrons are returning, according to co-owner Tami Box. The family-owned and operated business has been in Hayward for decades and its extraordinary efforts for safety and security helped it pass all inspections and to gain clearance to reopen.
Last year, before the pandemic hit, the business had 150 employees. Now it is operating with 50 workers during its reopening phase, but owners hope to grow as business returns and capacity restrictions are lifted by state and county authorities. The owners also hope to be able to move some of the operation indoors, under capacity restrictions, when new health department regulations are issued.
CHP Hayward Log
Submitted by CHP Hayward
Wednesday, October 28
• At about 5:19 a.m., after arresting a suspect in a DUI traffic stop on I-880 just north of Thornton Avenue in Fremont, an officer was exposed to an unknown white powdered substance while searching the suspect’s vehicle. An ambulance was called to the scene when the officer experienced numbness of the face and throat. After an evaluation, medical professionals believed the officer was exposed to cocaine, and not fentanyl. The officer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and was reported in a stable condition.
Kids show off Halloween flair
By TCV Staff
Photos available on Candle Lighters Facebook page
The winners are out! Fremont Candle Lighters have posted the winners of their 2020 socially distanced costume contest. It’s amazing to see the creativity and style of these local kids – and their families! View some of the category winners here, or head over to Facebook to watch the whole video.
EARTHTALK
What happens to PPE waste?
By Louise Willis
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the environmental impact of all the single-use PPE we are throwing away now in huge numbers as a result of responding to the COVID-19 crisis?
— Jay M., Cary, North Carolina
There’s no question about it: all the disposable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in our waste stream is taking a toll on the environment. A recent study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology found that we are using some 129 billion disposable masks and 65 billion disposable gloves every month around the world nowadays as we try to stay safe in the midst of the worst pandemic to hit the human race in a century.
Most of the masks in the U.S. are made out of polypropylene-based plastic but some are made from related forms of plastic such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or polyester. These synthetic fibers are designed to resist liquids and do not biodegrade in the environment once discarded, instead breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic that end up in landfills or, even worse, as litter that finds its way into waterways and the ocean.
Some of the discarded PPE ends up in medical waste bins and is shipped off to an incinerator for disposal, which unfortunately may not be any better for our health or the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), incinerators send particulate matter, heavy metals, acid gases, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and other noxious pollutants airborne. As such, environmental advocates aren’t happy about a plan by the United Nations to help communities around the world set up their own small local incinerators to deal with PPE and other COVID-related waste.
Meanwhile, reusable masks may have a longer life as a useful product, but that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily biodegrade in the environment when their time comes. Most are made from cheap synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester and are prone to breakage and short lifespans, and can last even longer and wreak more havoc when littered into the environment.
The upshot of all this is that we’ll have discarded PPE from the pandemic around for a lot longer than we would like. It joins the rotting plastic that sits in landfills, washes up on beaches and floats in oceans, amounting to more than five trillion plastic particles contaminating the world’s surface waters. The particles are toxic to ecosystems and wildlife. Marine creatures can mistake mask remnants and fibers for food, and/or can get entangled in them so they can’t hunt, feed or eat.
So, what can we do to offset, or even halt the impact? The pandemic continues, but by choosing reusable, biodegradable masks, we can reduce the demand and consumption of PPE. Eco-friendly alternatives are available — or you can make your own using salvaged fabric and online craft guides. The Hemp Foundation and Tentree sell masks made from biodegradable and repurposed materials. Meanwhile, Bambooo’s bamboo masks are made out of sustainably sourced, pesticide-free bamboo, and Planet Organics’ cotton/rubber varieties are also attractive and easy on the environment.
EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.
Park It
By Ned MacKay
Until the arrival of winter rains, we are still amid a dangerous fire season. The SCU Lighting Complex Fire, which burned almost 400,000 acres, impacted five regional parks: Round Valley, Morgan Territory, Del Valle, Sunol Wilderness, and Ohlone Wilderness. All told, some 6,000 acres of regional parkland burned. Fortunately, no major park district structures were affected, and there were no injuries.
As of late October, four of the five parks remain closed, though of course the situation is changeable. Del Valle has reopened on a limited basis. Its west side is closed, camping is limited to 50 percent capacity, and swimming is closed.
Other regional parks that remain closed are Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, Bay Point Regional Shoreline (for construction) and Little Hills Picnic Ranch in San Ramon. Although all facilities are closed at Castle Rock in Walnut Creek, you can walk through the park to access trails at Diablo Foothills Regional Park.
Park district rangers and firefighters are on high alert. The public can help with the fire prevention effort by being alert as well, and following some common-sense rules:
• Smoking is prohibited in the regional parks, including vaping.
• Be aware of Red Flag Warning, fire danger levels, and park fire safety rules. Cooperate with any posted or announced safety rules.
• If you see a fire in a park, call 911 immediately. If possible, report the fire’s location, size, direction of burn, and whether any buildings are in the path. But do not delay; leave immediately. Your personal safety is of paramount importance.
• Be aware of your surroundings and your location. This is always a good idea, whether it is fire season or not.
• During a fire or any other emergency, cooperate with all instructions from firefighters, police, and park staff.
For its part, the park district maintains a professionally trained fire department with 16 full-time firefighters and more than 34 on-call firefighters, who have other district jobs but are trained and available when needed.
In the event of fire, the district’s two helicopters provide aerial observation to guide ground crews. The copters are equipped with Bambi buckets to drop fire on waters.
The district helps to reduce fire fuels by grazing about 65 percent of the parklands throughout the year with cattle, goats, and sheep. Among other places, animals are grazed selectively on a fuel break that extends for about 30 miles through the Oakland-Berkeley hills. It’s a zone between the parklands and adjacent residential neighborhoods designed to slow the advance of fire and create a space where firefighters can make a stand.
An eight-member fuel reduction crew works year-round to improve fire safety by clearing brush, trimming trees, and carrying out prescribed, controlled burning when weather conditions permit.
Circumstances can change rapidly. For up-to-date information about fire conditions, red flag warnings, and any park closures, visit the park district website at www.ebparks.org. The information is right at the top of every website page.
Park It
By Ned MacKay
In a previous column, I described the newly opened Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline, located in Oakland at the eastern touchdown of the Bay Bridge. Its 600-foot observation pier offers beautiful views of the bridge, bay, and San Francisco. Getting there can be a bit tricky, though, since the park is on a frontage road alongside the bridge approach. Here are some directions:
• One way is to drive toward the Bay Bridge on I-80, staying in the right lanes. Just before the toll plaza, take the Grand Avenue off-ramp on the right. Watch for it; if you miss it, you are on your way through the toll plaza and off to Yerba Buena Island. The Grand Avenue ramp heads up over the freeway and descends to street level. At street level, take the first right turn onto Maritime Street. From Maritime Street, take the first right turn onto Burma Road. The park entrance is about a mile down Burma Road from Maritime Street.
• If you are driving toward the bay on Highway 24 in Oakland, take the Grand Avenue exit and turn right. As it nears the bay, Grand Avenue goes under the freeway to an intersection with Maritime Street. Turn left onto Maritime Street, then right onto Burma Road and proceed as above.
As you are driving down Burma Road, you will see the Bridge Yard building on the right, with a distinctive louvered roof. At present it is open only for special events, but you can park just past it at the signed park entrance on the right. There is no public parking right at the pier.
Once you’ve parked in the official lot, look for the San Francisco Bay Trail, which runs alongside the vehicle bridge out to Yerba Buena Island. The Bay Trail is open to pedestrians and bicyclists; hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. By the way, signs on the trail say that due to construction, there is no pedestrian access from Yerba Buena Island to Treasure Island, and bicycle access between the two islands is on weekends and holidays only.
To reach the observation pier, walk or ride about a third of a mile toward the bay on the Bay Trail. Watch for some yellow pylons, a crosswalk, and an information panel across the road on the left. Cross the road, turn right on the bicycle/pedestrian path, and head for the pier.
For public transportation, the nearest BART station is West Oakland. I did not try it, but it looks like you could walk or ride from BART on surface streets to Grand Avenue, turn left on Grand Avenue, and proceed to the park. However, Grand Avenue seems largely commercial with a lot of fast-moving traffic, which could be hazardous.
Whichever way you get there, Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline is worth the trip. The scenery is spectacular, and the pier itself is attractive with some nice information panels about the history of the area.
When the new Bay Bridge was constructed to replace its earthquake-damaged predecessor, some of the original bridge footings were kept in place to form a foundation for the park’s new pier. From 1903 to 1960, the site of the new park was the base of operations for the Key System railway. The site also was part of the Oakland Army Base, now closed. The 1930s-era Bridge Yard building was the maintenance center for the Key System trains.
Judge Sutter, now retired, was a Superior Court judge, Oakland’s vice mayor, and later a member of the park district Board of Directors. The park named in his honor was dedicated in a ceremony on Wednesday, October 21. A video of the event can be viewed at www.ebparks.org/parks/judge_john_sutter.
For a brochure with a map of the park, visit the East Bay Regional Park District website, www.ebparks.org. Click on “Parks & Trails” at the top of the home page, then click on Judge John Sutter” when the park list appears.
Some good news:
• The park district plans to reopen Ardenwood Historic Farm on November 18.
• Camping reservations have resumed at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore and Anthony Chabot Campground near Castro Valley.
For up-to-date information on these and other developments, visit the park district website.
Editorial
Balancing Act
Maintaining balance is a task that relies on concentration, agility and avoiding extremes. Just as a high-wire act demands a calm, determined and confident participant, so too does an approach to politics and day-to-day life. The finale of a tumultuous and divisive political season is coming to an end and hopefully, results will confirm a competent balancing act between the electorate and candidates. Emotions and appeals can exacerbate tensions in campaigns, but following the final tally, true balance between “wants” and “needs” must deal with the reality of everyday challenges.
There have been many unsubstantiated claims and counterclaims at all levels of government, but in answer, humorist, actor and author Will Rogers offers the lesson of a greedy lion: “After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him… The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.
This issue of Tri-City Voice coincides with a pivotal election day, highlighting the precarious balance our country, states and cities face as a democratic system of government. It is not a perfect system by any stretch of the imagination, but it does allow people to have a voice in its policies and representatives. Again, Will Rogers has a humorous, yet revealing comment when asked about finding material for his acts, admitting “There’s no trick to being a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”
However, it is important to keep in mind that civic leaders and staff are people just like the rest of us and, just like the rest of us, they can make mistakes. Rogers again has something to say about this: “There is nothing as easy as denouncing. It don't take much to see that something is wrong, but it does take some eyesight to see what will put it right again” and “The man who never makes a mistake must get tired of doing nothing.” Whether mistakes are made or not is an important consideration for voters, but equally important is if and when they occur, how they are managed and rectified.
In these unusual times, balance is especially difficult amid the high stress of a pandemic, social unrest and global challenges. Questions of competency while searching for solutions are rampant, but freedom and liberty come at a price that we, the people, pay not only at the polls, but through a critical and supportive role as observers and participants in the daily process of citizenship. Another quote from Rogers comments about the process that is often wild, chaotic and unruly: “Congress is so strange; a man gets up to speak and says nothing, nobody listens, and then everybody disagrees.”
Another well-known humorist, Art Buchwald, sums it up best… “Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.”
Virtual gift cards for locals and small businesses
Submitted by Laurie Gebhard
City of Newark and Newark Chamber of Commerce are launching the Newark eGift Card Marketplace, a one-stop-shop of eGift Card choices for shops, restaurants, services, and entertainment venues. Residents and companies are invited to purchase the eGift Cards at www.GiftNewark.com to support local businesses during COVID-19.
Anyone can buy and send the virtual gift card instantly to friends, family, employees, and even yourself. It works electronically as a contactless solution with no hard copy or touch requirements and with no expiration date. As further incentive, Newark is offering bonus gifts: Purchase a $20 eGift and get a $5 bonus; a $40 eGift gets a $15 bonus (while supplies last, some limitations apply).
“Newark chose this program because it helps businesses who are suffering in the pandemic and because everyone in our community can safely buy gifts to support our merchants who have been hurting for several months, “said Steven Turner, community development director.
To purchase or to learn more about eGift Card program, visit www.GiftNewark.com or reach out to anne.stedler@newark.org.
Letter to the editor
Fall colors during the time of pandemic bring a breath of fresh air to our restricted life. Driving around to see fall colors is a feel-good activity that everyone can do, including wheelchair users. Fremont, California, and the Tri-city area show a lovely kaleidoscope of colors every year, starting early November.
• On Cal State, East Bay Campus you can enjoy colorful fall foliage by driving around. Visit on a weekend so that you have the parking lot to yourself to click beautiful pictures. Taylor Ave in Hayward also has a beautiful cluster of yellow foliage.
• A swift trip to Pleasanton at the intersection of Hopyard and Gibraltar is well worth the effort. There is a cluster of colorful Sugar maples turning orange. Koll Center Parkway, Sunol water Temple, Sunol Blvd and Sunol wilderness regional park have a good mix of colors.
• The intersection of Fremont Blvd and Michael Ave in Fremont has a row of brilliant yellow foliage.
• At Fremont BART station, the Bart way drive has a magnificent display of yellow foliage. There is ample parking space around to stop and take pictures.
• Curie Street at Pacific Commons is bordered by beautiful orange foliage
• Ardenwood area in Fremont
• The intersection of Omar Street and Stevenson Blvd, Fremont has a row of Sugar maples turning into a multicolor background. You can find these best colors between Hilo and Stevenson.
• In the Mission area, the Intersection of Gomes and Grimmer on Mission Blvd, Stevenson to Driscoll and Bedford Drive have a brilliant range of color display.
• Elizabeth Park and Quarry lake recreational area also provide a range of colors during this season.
Twesha Ghosh
Fremont
https://www.tweshastraveldiary.com/
California will allow fans at pro sports but not Disneyland
By Don Thompson and Amy Taxin
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Oct 20 – California will let fans back in outdoor stadiums for pro sporting events in counties with low coronavirus infection rates but isn't ready to allow Disneyland and other major theme parks to reopen, the state's top health official said Tuesday.
San Francisco and neighboring Alameda and Santa Clara are the only counties that meet the threshold for pro sports. However, immediately after the announcement officials in Santa Clara, home to the San Francisco 49ers, issued a statement saying they weren't prepared to allow even a limited number of fans into Levi's Stadium.
Major theme parks, on the other hand, strongly objected to the state's restrictions, saying they could safely operate even with thousands of people in attendance.
As many as 14,000 people could attend Levi's Stadium events under the state's guidance, setting up the chance of devastating “superspreader” events, said Dr. Jeff Smith, Santa Clara County's executive officer.
“It's a matter of reasonable scientific decision-making instead of political decision-making,” Smith told reporters. “Putting an audience in a stadium in large groups is just asking for trouble. It's like a petri dish.”
Being outdoors isn't enough to guarantee the virus won't spread, he said, because fans would be using the same restrooms and same doors to enter and leave the stadium, while screaming and yelling during the game.
The 49ers said the team welcomed the news from the state but “will continue to collaborate with local public health officials to implement a plan that ensures a plan that protects the health and wellness“ of the team, its employees and the public. Many NFL teams in other states have been playing games with fans in the stands.
Under the state rules, pro sports teams could have limited capacity at outdoor stadiums if they are in a county in the lowest two levels of the state's four-tiered model for reopening. Only fans who live within a 120-mile radius may buy tickets.
Major theme parks weren't happy that the state is limiting re-openings. Places like Disneyland and Universal Studios won't be allowed to reopen until their home counties reach the lowest tier, which has high hurdles including a sustained infection positivity rate under 2%.
Smaller venues will be allowed to open when their home counties are in the “moderate“ category, but only with 500 patrons or at 25% of capacity, whichever is smaller, and only the outdoor attractions. Tickets must be sold in advance and restricted to residents of that county.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD
Friday, October 23
• Officers responded to a report about a robbery at the Target store in the Fremont Hub shopping center. When a man was confronted by security while he was attempting to steal a jacket, he pulled out a box cutter and attempted to stab a victim. The man fled the scene but was located nearby by police who identified him as Ravon Taylor, 25, a transient from Fremont. Target security reported they had nine separate incidents with Taylor during October. Police said Taylor has been arrested, cited or detained for crimes 12 times this year.
Monday, October 26
• At 12:01 a.m. patrol officers responded to a report about someone entering a residence through a window. When the homeowner yelled, the suspect fled the area. Multiple patrol officers responded, and the suspect, later identified by police as Julian Dupes, 19, of Fremont, was found near Union and Lee streets in the Irvington district. Meanwhile, another resident reported that Dupes had broken into a shed in their backyard. Officers searched Dupes and found him in possession of a large bowie knife, hammer and stolen property from the shed. A record check showed he had an outstanding warrant from Hayward Police for possession of a concealed, loaded and unregistered firearm. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.
• At about 5:10 a.m. a victim noticed three people by his neighbor’s Toyota Prius on the 48000 block of Arcadian St. One of the three noticed the victim watching them and pulled a handgun from his waistband. The victim put up his hands in fear; ultimately the three suspects removed the catalytic converter from the Prius and fled in a black SUV. An investigation ongoing.
• Officers responded to a 911 call about a man threatening another man with a gun in a residence on Lindsay McDermott Lane. Officers safely contacted all occupants of the home; a search resulted in recovery of a 31-round capacity pistol magazine and a 10-round capacity rifle magazine. A suspect, identified by police as Lawrence Washington, 20, of Fremont, was arrested.
Boxes needed to provide holiday meals to students
Submitted by FUSS
As the holiday season is approaching, Fremont Unified School District plans on providing 7-day breakfast/lunch to about 2,600 students. CLEAN paper boxes (12″ x 12″ x 12″ or larger) are needed to contain these meals. Please kindly consider helping by donating your spare clean boxes!
Where to drop off:
• American High School (36300 Fremont Blvd.)
• Irvington High School (41800 Blacow Rd.)
• Kennedy High School (39999 Blacow Rd.)
• Mission San Jose High School (41717 Palm Ave.)
• Washington High School (38442 Fremont Blvd.)
• Walters Middle School (39600 Logan Dr.)
When to drop off: during regular meal distribution hours
• Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Letter to the Editor
Goodbye Bud Field
Just a couple of weeks ago, I walked past “Bud Field,” a little-appreciated treasure that graced Hesperian Boulevard in Hayward… until recently. It was a beautiful vacant lot, so rare to see anymore within our city limits along the frontage of Hayward Executive Airport, just begging for urban development.
Tall, amber-leafed sycamore trees framed the quarter-acre of poppies, wild horseradish and coastal range grasses. Bud Field was a sanctuary for migrating birds; lanky, long-legged white herons were common to see, resting or hunting for crickets. Another eco-habitat gone.
The signature of each turning season was written in changing colors across the expanse of Bud Field, but that was yesterday. It will be greatly missed by all who cherished such a treasure. Goodbye and thank you “Bud Field.”
Mary Gomez
Hayward
California's greenhouse gas emissions rose slightly in 2018
AP Wire Service
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Oct 19 – Greenhouse gas emissions in California increased slightly in 2018 due largely to lower hydroelectric power use, according to a newspaper report Monday.
The state Air Resources Board said California emitted the equivalent of 425 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2018 – about a million more than in the previous year, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Pollution overall remained well below the state's 2020 climate target of 431 million metric tons, a mark the state hit four years early, in 2016. But the unsteady progress underscores the challenge California faces as it pursues the more ambitious goal of cutting planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions another 40% by 2030, the Times said.
The increase in 2018 was mostly due to a decrease in the use of hydroelectric power resulting from lower precipitation in the winter of 2017-18, board spokesman Dave Clegern told the newspaper.
“That was partially compensated by increases in solar generation and other lower greenhouse gas intensity resources,“ Glegern said.
Last year's report found emissions reductions slowed in 2017, declining by 1.2%, versus a decline of 2.8% in 2016. To meet its 2030 goal, California must reverse that trend and significantly pick up the pace of emissions reductions across many sectors, the Times said.
Halloween Drive-Thru Parade
Photos by Stephanie Gertsch
The day before Halloween, Fremont Senior Center (Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth) held a drive-thru where staff handed out gift bags to all ages. Staff dressed up in costumes (and masks!); some cars were decorated for the holiday.
Strong AA+ credit rating affirmed amid COVID-19
Submitted by City of Hayward
Fitch Ratings has affirmed City of Hayward’s credit rating of AA+, among the highest available worldwide for government issuers of debt to finance capital improvement projects.
The AA+ rating “reflects the city’s strong revenue growth prospects, moderate long-term liability, moderately-elevated fixed costs, and consistently strong reserves relative to expected revenue volatility and budget flexibility,” Fitch stated in its Oct 6 announcement.
In its statement, Fitch noted that the coronavirus pandemic is creating budgetary uncertainty for U.S. state and local governments, and predicted the nation’s economy, as measured by its Gross Domestic Production (GDP)—or total output—will not recover fully until late 2021 at the earliest.
However, commenting specifically on Hayward, the rating agency said, it “expects the city to maintain a high level of financial resilience,” noting the city’s track record, by City Council policy, of maintaining General Fund operating reserves of at least 20 percent over budgeted expenditures.
Strong credit ratings are important for local governments and their taxpayers because they reduce the cost of borrowing to finance capital projects and create opportunities for saving on future debt-service payments.
Hayward Police Log
Submitted by Hayward PD
Wednesday, October 21
• At about 7:39 p.m. gunfire was reported in the 22000 block of Main Street. There was no report of damage or injury.
• At 9:00 p.m. officers responded to a report about a suspect that pointed a gun at his roommate in the 31000 block of Medinah Street. Officers surrounded the residence and were able to safely take the suspect into custody. There were no injuries.
Friday, October 23
• At 8:16 p.m. officers investigated a sexual assault between an adult male and juvenile female ultimately leading to the man’s arrest.
• At 9:49 p.m. officers responded to a report about a shooting that occurred in the 26000 block of Underwood Avenue. A man was shot at, but not hit or injured. The suspect fled prior to police arrival.
Hayward reaches traffic agreement with Cal State East Bay
Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins
Officials from the City of Hayward and Cal State East Bay announced October 30 an agreement over how the city and university will work together to evaluate and mitigate potential traffic effects of university growth and expansion for decades to come.
The agreement settles city legal challenges to the adequacy of environmental impact reports accompanying the university’s Hayward Campus Master Plan under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A Master Plan at the university sets forth the strategic vision for future academic and residential facilities on the 364-acre campus in the East Bay foothills through the year 2040. The settlement agreement reaffirms the university’s commitment to pay for its fair share of the cost of mitigating traffic impacts of university development on adjacent and nearby streets, roadways and intersections on a project-by-project basis.
“The city and university understand that our interests and aspirations are intertwined and are best met and pursued in partnership,” said Hayward City Manager Kelly McAdoo and Cal State University President Leroy Morishita in a joint statement.
“Our partnership was on display this spring when the university agreed to host for several weeks a COVID-19 Testing Site established by the Hayward Fire Department, and it has been affirmed in this important agreement,” McAdoo and Morishita added.
Self-Help Center Reopens
Submitted by City of Fremont – Community Development
The permitting Self-Help Center within City of Fremont’s Development Services Center Fremont has reopened. This area offers computers for the public to research properties in the city. The public can look up permit records using the city’s public permitting portal, Citizen Access (www.fremont.gov/citizenaccess), and review microfilm of plans and documents.
To use the Self-Help Center, visitors must schedule an appointment. Appointments can be scheduled Monday through Thursday. Each appointment can last up to 45 minutes.
The city has also implemented the following safety measures within the Development Services Center to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep staff and visitors safe. To enter the building, all visitors are required to wear a face covering, fill out a COVID-19 Screening Form (www.fremont.gov/covidform), check their temperature at the temperature check station located inside, and check-in at the information desk. In addition, while using the center, visitors will be required to wipe down any surfaces they touch. Disinfecting wipes will be made available.
To schedule an appointment, contact Building and Safety staff at (510) 494-4401 or email self-helpcenter@fremont.gov. For information, visit www.fremont.gov/372/Development-Services-Center.
Self-Help Center
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Monday – Thursday
39550 Liberty St., Fremont
(510) 494-4401
www.fremont.gov/372/Development-Services-Center
By Appointment Only
Hilda Passage, 100 years old, died October 25, 2020, with family by her side within her home in Fremont, Ca.
Hilda was born September 2, 1920 in Beetgum, Holland, to Charles Dykstra and Bertha van Dijk. Her family emigrated to the United States when she was two years old.
She loved life and learning. She was very active in school, getting top grades. She was involved in sports, music, drama, the school newspaper and other organizations. She instilled a love of learning and curiosity to all of her children and grandchildren. Even in her 50’s, she and her second husband, Clinton Passage, would take classes at the community college.
After high school, Hilda became a court and convention reporter for 11 years. She traveled throughout the United States for her work. In 1960, she and her first husband, Raymond Hann, moved to Fremont, Ca. She became involved in the Irvington United Presbyterian Church and became a teacher’s aide at Horner Junior High School.
In the 1970’s, Clint and she started traveling around the world. They visited most of the United States, traveled throughout Europe, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tokyo, China Hong Kong, Macau, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Tunisia
Her family was of great importance to her. She was a lover of traveling, gardening, and reading (not sure in what order).
Hilda is survived by her daughters Kathy Hann, Karen Hann, and Debbie Lundgren; grandchildren Robert Ewing, Tony Ewing, Mary Rubin, Crystal Howard, Sarah Lamb, Katie Baumgardner, Trevor Hann, Zach Lundgren, and Matthew Lundgren; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and niece Judy Bennett.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Passage, and son, Stephen Hann.
A memorial service was held Thursday, October 29, 2020 at the Chapel of the Angels, Fremont, Ca.
History: A New City
By Phillip Holmes
Originally published April 16, 2013
Writers of the History of Washington Township, published in 1950, noted that it represented “the passing of an era, the passing of a township.” The nine small villages in the township were Alvarado, Centerville, Decoto, Irvington, Mission San Jose, Newark, Niles, Union City and Warm Springs. The City of Newark, incorporated in 1955, and the citizens of Alvarado and Union City decided not to join the five villages that formed the City of Fremont.
When the City of Fremont was incorporated in January 1956, each village had its own fire department, post office and chamber of commerce or other business organization.
The News Register for January 26 reported that the new city council had “voted to petition the Post Office Department to change the name of Centerville’s post office to Fremont.” Centerville postmaster Manuel Lewis was directed to send the request to Washington D. C. Post Office addresses in the other towns would not change for a while and patrons would not have to add the name “Fremont.”
The choice of Centerville for the “Fremont label” was dictated when the Council selected it as the seat of government. In the process, Mission San Jose lost its historic postmark, the oldest in Alameda County; Mission residents were outraged. The local chamber formed a committee and managed to get the office restored; the victory was celebrated with a first day cover designed by Norman Hale.
Integration of local fire departments into the City of Fremont was more complicated because of their individual ownerships and arrangements. They had operated with volunteers and no paid employees for years but they had changed in recent years. The local paper reported in May 1955 that the Centerville Fire District had hired three full-time firemen to begin their paid duties. Centerville was the fourth district in Washington Township to put paid men on 24-hour duty and had also dedicated with pride, a new $53,000 fire station.
The transition from a local fire department to Fremont Fire Department was, at times, a difficult process. This proved to be especially true when several Irvington volunteers did not survive the hiring process. Some volunteers resigned, but others formed the core of City of Fremont's volunteer program until it was disbanded in 1969. Bickering among district fire stations was a problem that gradually decreased. Fire chiefs had to explain why a particular station was receiving equipment also needed at other stations.
Niles residents had established Niles Fire District which then had to be properly dissolved to be part of Fremont Fire District. Attorney Gene Rhodes explained to the Niles board that the district could be dissolved by a vote of Fremont City Council or by a vote of residents. While other districts could just dissolve by themselves, it took a vote of the people and another four months before the Niles district could join the others. Residents voted for dissolution and Fremont City Council requested that the Niles board consult with the Fremont Fire Chief who was trying to standardize City fire equipment.
Citizens of the Warm Springs area had formed Warm Springs County Fire Protection District and erected a fire station building in 1950.
Arthur Brewer, city manager of Buena Park, was hired to act as temporary city manager for Fremont to assist in consolidating fire districts. The council appointed a five-man advisory fire commission that included A. B. Leask, Niles; Carl Christensen Irvington; George Mathiesen, Centerville; Henry Cato, Warm Springs and Cyrus Solon of Mission San Jose. Town chiefs were responsible to Fremont Fire Chief Frank Madruga.
Established sanitary districts presented another challenge. Irvington Sanitary District had already awarded a long-term contract. Union Sanitary District was about to award a 10-year contract and Fremont City Council was struggling for some control.
Representatives of the five Chambers of Commerce met in Irvington in February to discuss how to set up a Fremont chamber. A Fremont chamber to represent business enterprises appeared to be a necessity. To do this, they would need to dissolve the present Washington Township Chamber and change town chambers to business associations. An office, a manager and money for promotion and advertising would be needed.
The story of Fremont Police Department was a little different because laws in Fremont were enforced by the Alameda County Sheriff's department until July 1, 1958. For a while, there was not much camaraderie because many officers were jockeying to get ahead in the new department. They had not previously worked together and were anxious to rise through the ranks. Communication between and within departments, and other agencies, was also a problem in these early days.
Honor Roll
University of Dallas, Texas
Spring 2020 Dean’s List
• Favier Hu of Hayward
• Minh Ly of Hayward
Spring 2020 Honor Roll
• Raissa Ly of Hayward
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Mondays and Wednesdays
Parenting During COVID R
Tue: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wed: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual support group to help families cope with challenges encountered during COVID
To register: www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support
(510) 574-2100
Tuesdays
Free Virtual Sing-Along
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Zoom choir meeting hosted by Mission Peak Chamber Singers
https://www.chambersingers.org/
Contact: info@chambersingers.org
Wednesdays thru November 18
Live Science
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Join Chabot Science Educators for a fun and interactive science experiment!
Join via Facebook Live
https://chabotspace.org/
Wednesdays and Sundays
McNevin at The Mudpuddle
6 p.m.
Dinner time tunes, oddservations, and bad jokes
Via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/mudpuddlemusic
Thursdays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Virtual Youth Group
6:30 p.m.
Youth and young adults, students welcome
Contact: brian@newarkpress.org for Zoom Meeting ID#
www.newarkpres.org
Sundays
Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church Family Service
10 a.m.
Via ZOOM
For link, call (510) 471-2581
https://sacbc.org/
Sundays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Virtual Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Sunday School, Ages K – 6th grade
Contact: office@newarkpres.org for Zoom Meeting ID#
www.newarkpres.org
Saturdays
Virtual Town Hall
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
With Supervisor Dave Cortese
Via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/davecortesegov
Saturdays
Virtual Telescope Viewing R
9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Free on Facebook Live
Join resident astronomers live from Chabot’s observation deck
https://chabotspace.org/calendar/
Saturdays
Online Comedy Shows R$
8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Made Up Theatre’s interactive comedy has gone to YouTube!
Monday, September 14 – Saturday, November 14
Dominican Sisters Online Holiday Boutique
Shop artwork, cookies, honey, afghans, and of course olive oil!
Curbside pickup available November 21-22
https://dsmsj-boutique.myshopify.com/
Mondays and Wednesdays, September 21 – November 9
Music For Minors II Training
Times TBD
Learn how to become a MFMII docent volunteer
Via Zoom
To apply: https://bit.ly/3iAutRW
Info at: www.musicforminors2.org
Mondays and Wednesdays, October 19 – November 18
Food Entreprenurial Training Academy
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Free online seminar on succeeding in the food business
To register: www.acsbdc.org
Thursdays, October 29 and November 12
Common Skin Conditions R
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Presentation and discussion with experts in the field
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/35r6Y99
Fridays, November 6 – December 4
OSHA Compliance Training $
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Learn everything you need to know to receive your OSHA certificate
DeVoe Construction
2278 American Ave., Unit 5, Hayward
(800) 433-9819
Saturdays and Sundays, November 7 – 15
Niles Canyon Railway Train Rides $
10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Ride a steam train or historic diesel and enjoy the fall weather
www.ncry.org
Thursdays, November 12 – December 10
Virtual 4-Part Book Series $
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Spiritual Guides for Today – Winter Grace: Spirituality and Aging, by Kathleen Fischer
Register by 11/10: http://bit.ly/2020_WinterGrace
(510) 933-6360
Saturday, November 14 – Saturday, November 28
Girls’ Tech Day
Explore web coding, virtual reality, robotics, and more! For girls ages 8-24
To Register: https://bit.ly/37aK9Zy
More info at https://bit.ly/341JgAQ
UPCOMING
Wednesday, November 4
Emotional Wellness During the Holidays
3:30 p.m.
Learn to recognize signs of depression, loneliness or anxiety
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonHosp/live
YouTube: www.youtube.com/whhsinhealth/
Wednesday, November 4
The Naturalization Process
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free info session from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Webex Link: https://bit.ly/35KsZBq
Meeting number (access code): 199 974 8724
Meeting password: KGiRpN9WG@65
Wednesday, Nov 4 – Saturday, Nov 7
Bison Romp virtual 5K $R
Register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Oakland/OaklandZooBisonRomp
Registration ends midnight Nov 7
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/5k
Friday, November 6
PG&E Public Forum
2 p.m. (passcode: 1673482)
6 p.m. (passcode: 5020731)
Learn about PG&E’s General Rate Case and voice your opinion
http://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/
1-800-857-1917
Saturday, November 7
FCSN Relay Gala $R
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Music, honoree recognition, fundraiser for Friends of Children with Special Needs
(510) 739-6900 ext. 3305
Tickets: $20
Saturday, November 7
Open-Air Holiday Boutique $
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
3 vendors from Tea & Treasures Boutique display their wares
4702 Alhambra Drive, Fremont
Saturday, November 7
Heart Enigma R
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Watch video highlights of coronary artery disease discussion with medical experts
Via Zoom
https://bit.ly/2TG3DgY
Tuesday, November 10
AMC 8 Online Math Contest $
8 a.m.
Multiple-choice math test for Fremont students (6-8 grades)
Register by 10/30
https://bit.ly/31udOcv
Wednesday, Nov 11
Cocktails & Conservation: Arcas Rescue
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Join Via Facebook Live
https://www.facebook.com/OakZoo/
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/cocktails-conservation
Thursday, November 12
The Choir of Man $
7:30 p.m.
High-energy, foot-stomping musical goes virtual
www.livermorearts.org
(925) 373-6800
Thursday, November 12
Oh My Aching Feet!
6:30 p.m.
Learn how to recognize common foot and ankle problems
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonHosp/live
YouTube: www.youtube.com/whhsinhealth/
Friday, November 13
Live Long & Love LIFE $
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Virtual panel discussion on ageism and racism
http://tiny.cc/lifeeldercare
info@LifeElderCare.org
(408) 859-3218
Monday, November 16
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Justin Le, Event Support Specialist, SF/Bay Area
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/33mfczA
Meeting ID: 896 1186 2310
Passcode: 760442
Tuesday, November 17
Hernia: Causes, Symptoms and the Latest Treatment Options
3:30 p.m.
Hernias are common – they cause a localized bulge in the abdomen or groin
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonHosp/live
YouTube: www.youtube.com/whhsinhealth/
Tuesday, November 17
Improving Strength and Balance
7 p.m.
Lecture and discussion regarding how these issues affect women
Via Zoom
https://www.whhs.com/Events/Event-Details.aspx?Event=11441
Wednesday, November 18
Immigration Overview
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free info session from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Webex Link: https://bit.ly/3enceyJ
Meeting number (access code): 199 461 5592
Meeting password: VCpwsYaM*232
Friday, November 20
India Community Center 17th Annual Fundraising Banquet (Virtual) R
7 p.m.
Live auction, silent auction, entertainment
https://bit.ly/3dThHwO
www.indiacc.org/banquet2020
A new $300 federal jobless benefit? Not likely for some
By Christopher Rugaber and Leah Willingham
Associated Press
JACKSON, Mississippi (AP), Sep 03 – Down to a weekly unemployment check of $96, Fakisha Fenderson brushed aside her doctor's advice last month and began looking for a job.
In mid-May, Fenderson's employer, a door manufacturer, sent her home after a co-worker tested positive for the coronavirus. But the 22-year-old, who is six months pregnant and has asthma, felt desperate for work after a $600-a-week federal jobless benefit expired at the end of July.
Even worse, she doesn't qualify for a smaller $300-a-week check the Trump administration is now offering. That program, announced Aug. 8, requires the jobless get at least $100 in state benefits to qualify.
“It would have been such a huge help,” said Fenderson, who has a 1-year old son and lives in Laurel, Mississippi. “It's kind of crazy, and it doesn't make sense.“
The administration rolled out the new $300-a-week benefit, using money from a $44 billion disaster relief fund, after Congress and the White House failed to agree to extend the $600 payment.
Yet because of a raft of restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles, more than 1 million of the unemployed won't receive that $300 check, and their financial struggles will deepen. Many, like Fenderson, were low-paid workers whose state unemployment aid falls below the $100 weekly threshold. That stands to widen the inequalities that disproportionately hurt Black and Latino workers, who are more likely to work in low-wage jobs.
Some gig and contract workers won't qualify, either. What's more, the Trump administration's program requires the unemployed to certify that their job loss stemmed from the coronavirus – a provision that could trip up many. And the disaster relief money that is funding the new benefit could run dry in coming weeks.
On Thursday, the government said the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to a still-elevated 881,000. It shows that the pandemic keeps forcing many businesses to slash jobs. Counting all the government's aid programs, roughly 29 million people are receiving some form of unemployment aid.
The rules to qualify for the new $300 federal check could undercut the administration's efforts to aid the jobless at a time of high unemployment. Eliza Forsythe, an economist at the University of Illinois, calculates that about 6% of people receiving state unemployment aid – 840,000 Americans – won't qualify for the $300 federal benefit because they earned too little before the pandemic. And that figure is likely an underestimate, Forsythe said, because it doesn't include gig and contract workers.
In California, nearly 200,000 recipients of jobless aid receive less than $100, according to the California Policy Lab. Officials in North Dakota have estimated that only 41% of their jobless aid recipients will qualify for the $300 benefit. In Texas, up to 347,000 recipients, about one-fifth of the state's total, may not qualify.
Responding to the problem, five states – New Hampshire, Kentucky, West Virginia, Montana, and Vermont – have said they will raise their minimum weekly unemployment payouts to $100 so that the unemployed in their states can receive the $300 check, said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation.
Forty-four states have gained approval from the federal government to provide the $300 federal check, though these authorizations are typically for just three weeks of payments. States must then apply for additional weeks. Just seven states, with 15% of the nation's unemployed, have begun paying out the benefit, the Century Foundation calculates.
The $300 benefit can be retroactive, so many states will pay it to people who were unemployed in early August. That could drain the available money by mid-September.
Each state sets its weekly unemployment benefit using formulas based on the income the recipients received in their most recent jobs. For people earning the minimum wage or not much above it, that can mean minuscule aid. Mississippi's minimum payment is $30. Nevada's is just $16, Connecticut's $15.
The new requirement that the unemployed certify that their job loss was due to the coronavirus will disqualify many, said Michele Evermore, a policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project. Most recipients of state jobless aid haven't had to answer that question before, Evermore said, and it might not be clear that their eligibility for the $300 depends on the answer. Some may think they're being asked whether they have had COVID-19, Stettner said. And some layoffs, of course, are unrelated to the virus.
Then there are those Americans who earned most of their money before the viral outbreak as contract or gig workers but also worked part time in traditional jobs. The government's $2 trillion relief package made gig workers and contractors eligible for unemployment aid for the first time – but only if all their income was from such work.
If these workers spent even one or two days a week in traditional jobs, they must apply for aid through regular state unemployment programs, based on their modest income from that work. This could limit their benefit checks to less than $100 and bar them from receiving the $300 supplement.
Among them is Rachel Goff, a musician in South Bend, Indiana, who plays the viola in five different orchestras. About 60% of her pre-pandemic income, she said, came from gig work – performing at weddings and providing private music lessons. The orchestras would typically pay her regular wages with W-2 forms. So Goff, who hasn't played a regular concert since spring, is receiving unemployment aid of just $97 a week.
“When I found out that I wouldn't be eligible for the $300, that kind of broke me, to be honest,” she said. “That seems so arbitrary.”
Goff, 41, has performed for orchestras in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and in Las Vegas, all of which have suspended performances. Weddings have dried up. Some teaching work has returned, but Goff estimates that all told, including her unemployment aid, she's receiving just 25% of her pre-pandemic income.
She's had to delay roof repairs, and she finds herself calculating what groceries she can afford – something she hadn't pondered “since I was a poor graduate student.“
Fenderson, meanwhile, was offered a job at a Sonic Drive-In but didn't take it because she feared she'd lose health benefits that her current employer, Masonite International, is paying for. She hopes to return to Masonite in January after giving birth.
For now, it's a struggle. She moved out of a mobile home and into her parents' house, where her sister also lives. It's been hard for the family to get by on her mother's pay as a manager at McDonald's.
While she was receiving the $600-a-week federal check through July, Fenderson was able to sock away some money. It's all gone now.
“You get to feel so desperate,” she said. “It's scary and it's stressful.”
–––
Rugaber reported from Washington. AP Writers Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Adrian Sanz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed to this report.
Judge Judy to move gavel to streaming TV
By Lynn Elber
AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Everyone's going to streaming, including Judge Judy. The broadcast TV staple's next act will be with IMDb TV, Amazon's free digital service.
Judith Sheindlin, whose long-running syndicated courtroom show “Judge Judy” will end production in 2021, will be dispensing justice on an exclusive show in the U.S. for IMDb TV, it was announced on Oct. 29.
“I'm over the moon to be in business with Amazon Studios and continuing this incredible journey with them on a new platform is so exciting,” Sheindlin said in a statement. The title and debut date for the new courtroom show weren't announced.
“The Untitled Judge Judy Sheindlin Project will feature no-nonsense, expeditious Judge Sheindlin's signature adjudication style with a new array of cases, litigants and judgments,” according to the announcement.
Last March, Sheindlin said “Judge Judy,” which debuted in 1996, would end production in 2021. But the show will continue to be shown, through a two-year deal that CBS made with stations that currently carry “Judge Judy” to air reruns of the program.
The tough-talking former New York family court judge's popularity made her the highest-paid personality in TV. When Sheindlin announced her eventual departure from “Judge Judy” on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show, she also said another show was ahead. “If you're not tired, you're not supposed to stop,” Sheindlin, 78, told DeGeneres.
Lorraine Cortez
Resident of Fremont
September 28, 1921 – October 26, 2020
Lorraine entered into rest on October 26, 2020, at her home in Fremont. She was 99 years old. She was born on September 28, 1921 in Newark to Manuel and Rose B. Furtado, but spent most of her life in the Centerville District of Fremont.
Lorraine attended Centerville Elementary and graduated from Washington High School, class of 1939. She always enjoyed reunions with her classmates and was one of the last remaining.
Lorraine met her husband, Sammy and they became engaged before the start of World War II because of his call to duty, they did not marry until 1946. They were happily married for fifty years.
Mrs. Cortez was a bookkeeper most of her life. She worked for many years at L & V Farm Sales, which was across the street from Washington High and near her family home, and at Mission Maid Foods in Union City. Later in her life she worked at Vincent Machinery in Hayward. She was a member of the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary and a longtime member of Holy Spirit Church.
Lorraine is survived by her daughter Judith Cortez of Fremont; niece, Janice Aragon and nephew, Vernon Vargas of Redding, and nephew Joseph Gonzales of Fremont; and many great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Sam Cortez; her parents Manuel and Rose B. Furtado; and siblings Gloria Vargas and Jean Gonzales of Redding and Kenny Furtado of Fremont.
A special thanks to her healthcare providers over the last three years; Carolina, Lolly, Ismael and Latifa.
She was much loved.
A graveside Service will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:15 A.M. at Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park in Hayward.
Fremont Chapel of the Roses
510-797-1900
Milpitas Police Log
Submitted by Captain John Torrez, Milpitas PD
Monday, October 26
• While officers from the Crime Reduction Team were patrolling a hotel parking lot on the 30 block of Ranch Drive, they contacted a 41-year-old Fremont man. A record check showed he was on Alameda County probation for a narcotics offence and had a $10,000 warrant for probation violation. Inside the man’s backpack officers found a loaded firearm and a quantity of marijuana and tar heroin. A record check on a nearby motorcycle associated with the man showed that it had been reported to the Fremont Police Department as stolen. The firearm was also determined to be stolen. The man was arrested and booked into jail on firearm and auto theft, probation violation, and possession of controlled substance charges.
International Space Station: 20 Continuously Crewed Years of Operation
By David Prosper
Did you know that humans have been living in the International Space Station, uninterrupted, for 20 years? Ever since the first crew members docked with the International Space Station (ISS) in November 2000, more than 240 people have visited this outpost, representing 19 countries working together. They have been busy building, upgrading, and maintaining the space station – while simultaneously engaging in cutting-edge scientific research.
The first modules that would later make up the ISS were launched into orbit in 1998: Russian Zarya launched via a Proton-K rocket, and the US-built Unity module launched about a week and a half later by the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Subsequent missions added vital elements and modules to the Space Station before it was ready to be inhabited. And at last, on November 2, 2000, Expedition-1 brought the first three permanent crew members to the station in a Russian Soyuz capsule: NASA astronaut William M. Shepherd and Russian cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenk.
Since then, an entire generation has been born into a world where humans continually live and work in space! The pressurized space inside this modern engineering marvel is roughly equal to the volume of a Boeing 747, and is sometimes briefly shared by up to 13 individuals, though the average number of crew members is 6. The unique microgravity environment of the ISS means that long-term studies can be performed on the space station that cannot be performed anywhere on Earth – in many fields including space medicine, fluid dynamics, biology, meteorology and environmental monitoring, particle physics, and astrophysics. Of course, one of the biggest and longest experiments on board is research into the effects of microgravity on the human body itself, vital knowledge for future crewed exploration into deep space.
Stargazers have also enjoyed the presence of the ISS as it graces our skies with bright passes overhead. This space station is the largest object humans have yet put into orbit at 357 feet long, almost the length of an American football field (if end zones are included). The large solar arrays – 240 feet wide – reflect quite a bit of sunlight, at times making the ISS brighter than Venus to observers on the ground. Its morning and evening passes can be a treat for stargazers and can even be observed from brightly lit cities. People all over the world can spot the ISS, and with an orbit only 90 minutes long, sometimes you can spot the station multiple times a night. You can find the next ISS pass near you and receive alerts at sites like NASA’s Spot the Station website (www.spotthestation.nasa.gov) and stargazing and satellite tracking apps.
Hundreds of astronauts from all over the world have crewed the International Space Station over the last two decades, and their work has inspired countless people to look up and ponder humanity's presence and future in space. You can find out more about the International Space Station and how living and working on board this amazing outpost has helped prepare us to return to the Moon – and beyond – at www.nasa.gov.
This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm to find local clubs, events, and more.
Natalia Cortes Bonilla
November 12, 1948 – October 27, 2020
Resident of Fremont
Natalia Cortes Bonilla was born on November 12, 1948, in Brawley, CA, she passed away on October 27, 2020 in Fremont, CA at the age of 71.
Natalia is survived by her beloved children Erica Canto (Andy) and Norma Bonilla (Jerome Puno). Loving grandmother to Aidan and Ava. Caring sister to 7 siblings. A loving daughter to Ma Guadalupe Villarreal.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2020, from 5 to 8 PM, with a Vigil Service at 6:30 PM at Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Blvd, Fremont. Funeral Mass will be held Friday, November 6, 2020, at 12 PM, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 703 C Street, Union City, burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hayward.
Fremont Chapel of the Roses
510-797-1900
New BART filters show promise
By Melissa Jordan, BART Senior Web Producer
BART is about midway through a pilot that is testing new, denser air filters and UV light to create even safer ventilation on trains, as the region rebounds from the pandemic and ridership ticks up. “Based on everything we’ve seen so far, it’s looking very promising,” said Ben Holland, BART Manager of Vehicle Systems Engineering.
Crews removed some of the new filters and spot-checked them for clogging. Denser filters trap more particles, up to a point; if they’re too dense, they can become clogged and overload the train’s operating systems. Now, Holland said, the filters are being sent out for a more scientific analysis of the amount of air pressure drop they allow.
Because coronavirus spreads through the air, such as when a person coughs or sneezes, air filtration has an important role in preventing transmission, along with vigilant mask-wearing. BART cars already have air that is very well filtered; an entire train car’s air is replaced about every 70 seconds.
Filters are rated by their ability to block different-sized particles, a rating known as their minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV, on a scale from 1 to 20. BART cars currently use MERV-8 filters, which can trap particles between 3 and 10 microns in size.
“The pilot uses MERV-14s, which can capture particles between .3 and 1 microns, which is obviously a huge improvement,” Holland said. The filters weren’t notably more clogged, however, and on-board tests showed good airflow. (For comparison, a human hair is about 75 microns across.)
More good news came from testing of ultraviolet (UV-C) light rods that can zap particles. The concern was that the train’s motion could jostle the rods, which are housed in the HVAC unit under the cars. So far, there’s no sign of that.
“We put it over a pit, looked at the inside, and it was working just perfectly,” Holland said. “The UV light comes on when it’s supposed to. The safety features that are in place are working well.”
If the good progress continues, both of these features could become standard on BART train cars in the future. Thus far, the pilot has been on legacy train cars because Fleet of the Future trains are under warranty. In consultation with the manufacturer, the goal will be to outfit all cars already at BART and to include the upgrades on the assembly line going forward.
Cal State East Bay welcomes new president
Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins
Photo courtesy of Cal State East Bay
Bay Area native Cathy A. Sandeen will soon take the helm at California State University East Bay in Hayward as its new president. Helm’s appointment was announced Thursday, October 29 by the California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees.
The Oakland native will come aboard on January 4, replacing President Leroy M. Morishita who will retire December 31. Currently, Sandeen is Chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage where she has served since 2018.
“I am thrilled to return to the Bay Area to work alongside Cal State East Bay’s gifted faculty and staff to further the academic achievement of this wonderfully diverse group of students attending the Hayward and Concord campuses,” Sandeen said. “My own previous experiences and future aspirations closely match Cal State East Bay’s values, and the university-wide commitments to communities of color and sustainability are particularly relevant in this time. I embrace those commitments and will work to further the university’s leadership in these critically important areas.”
Sandeen’s ties to the CSU system run deep. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology from Humboldt State University. She earned a master’s in broadcast communication from San Francisco State University, an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Utah. Her other experience in higher education includes service in various leadership positions at UC Santa Cruz and UCSF. She has also been a member of the faculty at Santa Clara University, San José State University, Stanford University and San Francisco State University.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr. Cathy Sandeen as the next president of Cal State East Bay,” said outgoing President Morishita. “Dr. Sandeen has an impressive record of accomplishment in major public universities, including the University of Wisconsin system and most recently as chancellor at the University of Alaska Anchorage. As a proud graduate of the CSU, she brings a depth of experience and the knowledge needed to lead this special place. On behalf of the Cal State East Bay community, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Sandeen and wish her the very best and much success.”
Newark Police Log
Submitted by Newark PD
Friday, October 23
• At 9:31 p.m. Officer Swadener arrested a 38-year-old male transient in the 6100 block of Jarvis Avenue on an outstanding felony arrest warrant. He was booked at Fremont Jail.
Sunday, October 25
• At 3:20 a.m. Officers Riddles and Herrera arrested a 42-year-old male transient in the 5700 block of Thornton Avenue on an outstanding warrant. The man was cited and released.
• At 7:18 a.m. several mailboxes were reported knocked over and vandalized overnight in the area of Peachtree Avenue, Mahogany Place and Mayhews Landing Road.
• At 12:46 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 8200 block of Mayhews Landing Road after witnesses reported two people scaling a fence into a rear residential yard. A perimeter was set, and subsequently one of the subjects came out of the residence and explained he had snuck a friend into his house. His parents were contacted to confirm that he actually lived at the residence.
Detectives Investigate Shooting
Submitted by Newark PD
On Friday October 30th 2020 at approximately 7:11 p.m., Newark Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 5800 block of Fair Avenue. Upon arrival, no victims were on scene, however officers located possible evidence of a shooting.
Shortly after the shooting was reported, three victims arrived at an area hospital. The victims are, a 23-year-old male resident of Richmond, a 22-year-old male resident of Richmond, and a 22-year-old male resident of San Francisco. All three are being treated with non-life-threatening injuries. One victim has since been treated and released.
Newark Police Department Detectives responded and are investigating the incident, which is not believed to be a random act. This incident is of a critical priority and crime scene investigators are on scene processing evidence.
Although investigations of this nature can take a substantial amount of time to complete, the detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Newark Police Investigations Unit Detective Joyce Wang at 510.578.4214 or via email at joyce.wang@newark.org
Information can also be left anonymously on the “Anonymous Tip” hotline at 510.578.4965.
Ride the rails in November and December
Submitted by Niles Canyon Railway
Photos courtesy of Niles Canyon Railway
After a successful first set of sold out rides in September and October which were the first since the COVID-19 pandemic and its shelter-in-place orders went into effect last March, the Niles Canyon Railway is pleased to be able to offer another set of planned special train rides in the month of November. We are thrilled to be able to welcome you back for these two weekends of special rides behind the museum’s historic diesel locomotives.
Only a limited number of tickets are available for each trip due to COVID-19 restrictions. Tickets must be purchased in advance online; no walkups. Please review the COVID-19 health and safety police on the website before booking tickets and arriving at the station.
In December there will be another event for dedicated railfans. The Pacific Locomotive Association and the Niles Canyon Railway are offering two chances to take part in a railfan photographer’s special on December 5 and 6 to benefit the restoration of recently acquired Southern Pacific M-6 Steam Locomotive #1744. Tickets are $150 per person, per day, and additional donations are welcome. All proceeds will go directly to the restoration of the 1744.
Both days will feature a historically accurate period freight train, pulled by 2-4-4-2 Columbia River Belt Line #7, known as the “Skookum,” while ticketholders ride in a separate chase train pulled by SP 1195, a vintage SW900. Starting in Sunol at 9 a.m., there will be multiple photo-run-by’s throughout the canyon in exclusive locations. Time permitting, there will also be opportunities to work with the conductor to stage other shots. Halfway through the day, a box lunch will be served while the locomotive is turned for westbound run-by’s for the remainder of the day. Return to Sunol and tie up will be around 4:30 p.m.
The trip will also include a stop at the Brightside Steam Shop for a tour of the SP 1744, and an overview of the restoration effort by the project managers. They will detail the restoration and how funds will be used to return this artifact to operating service.
Safety is every railroad’s first priority! The NCRy is no exception, and tickets will be limited to ensure the chase train capacity is well below 50% capacity with an added open-air car, hand sanitizer, and restrooms onboard. Photo lines will be spread out to ensure social distancing, and masks will be required. To ensure authenticity, however, the train and engine crews on the photo freight train will not be masked during run-by’s and will maintain separation from ticketholders and the chase train crew.
Please bring camera equipment, close toed shoes, a mask, water bottle, dress for inclement weather, a positive attitude, and anything else needed to help you enjoy a full day of exciting period railroad action. Note: This is a serious railfan photographer’s trip with the train being out the entire day, passengers debarking and reboarding multiple times in remote areas with uncertain footing, exposed to weather and natural hazards in Niles Canyon. This trip is not recommended for young children.
November Diesel Trains
Saturdays & Sundays, Nov 7 – 15
10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15 – 25
Ride the #7 for the #1744!
Saturday, Dec 5 – Sunday, Dec 6
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Donation: $150
Sunol Station
6 Kilkare Rd., Sunol
https://www.ncry.org/
OBITUARY
Loretta (“Lorri”) Jankowski
On October 24, 2020, Lorri Jankowski passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at her Newark, California home.
Lorri was born December 9, 1934, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania to Walter and Ann (Leggin) Kizielewski. On May 10, 1958, she married Richard P. Jankowski in Cleveland, Ohio. They raised three children in the San Francisco Bay Area, Richard, Shirley, and David.
After her children reached adulthood, Lorri worked as an administrative assistant at the Landsberg packaging solutions company. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister, who was at her happiest when surrounded by her family. She enjoyed reading, puzzles, and games of all kinds, and she took a special pleasure in attending Newark’s annual St. Edward Catholic Church crab feed. She was a wonderful cook, and her loved ones sing the praises of her stuffed cabbage and holiday nut roll.
Lorri is survived by her children: Richard D. Jankowski and his wife Lorie, Shirley Jankowski, and David Jankowski; her grandchildren: Edward, Richard, Adam, Aaron, Matthew, Andrew and Nathan; and her sisters: Constance Nagy and her husband Alan, Francis Hildenbrand, and Leona Murphy and her husband Paul. Lorri was preceded in death by her parents: Walter and Ann; her brothers: Walter Kent, Joseph Kizielewski, and Edward Kizielewski; and her sisters Dorothy Berthold and Patricia Stansak.
A celebration of life will be planned at a time when social gatherings are permitted.
Parenting during COVID-19
Submitted by City of Fremont Human Services Department
Fremont Youth and Family Services has developed a free weekly Support Group to address and explore the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted families. These groups provide a safe and confidential space to share, stress relief for parents and caregivers, exploration of strategies for limit-setting and addressing challenging behaviors, and identifying ways to improve communication between family members. Groups are offered twice a week; parents and caregivers can choose from Tuesdays or Wednesdays. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support.
Virtual Support Group
Tuesdays: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. or Wednesdays: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support
Space is limited
PG&E General Rate Public Forum
Submitted by PG&E Customer Service
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are inviting the public to participate in a remote public forum on Friday, Nov 6.
PG&E is proposing to adopt rates that more accurately reflect what it costs to serve each customer class. This results in rate increases for some customer classes and decreases for other customer classes. The Public Participation Hearing (PPH) is about PG&E's General Rate Case Phase II application. At the hearing, community members can make comments and raise concerns to the CPUC’s Administrative Law Judge overseeing this application.
The public forums can be viewed online or heard through the phone. Written public comments may also be provided during the proceeding in the “Public Comment” tab of the Docket Card for A.19-11-019, available at www.cpuc.ca.gov/A1911019Comment.
PG&E Public Forum
Friday, Nov 6
Webcast: http://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/
Written Comment: www.cpuc.ca.gov/A1911019Comment
1-800-857-1917
2 p.m.
Phone Number passcode: 1673482
(To make a comment, press *1)
6 p.m.
Phone Number passcode: 5020731
(To make a comment, press *1)
Alameda County schools may reopen in phases
Submitted by Alameda County Office of Education
On October 28 the Alameda County Public Health Department announced that Monday, November 9 is the earliest allowable reopening date for secondary schools in Alameda County. A statement released the same day by Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe outlined how schools in the county’s 18 public school districts may be reopened in phases, instead of on a specific date.
Her statement is posted on the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) website at https://mailchi.mp/acoe/statement-on-timeline-for-reopening-secondary-schools.
Meanwhile, ACOE officials explained that while there are schools that may seek to open as soon as allowable, many others will be engaging in a gradual, incremental return; still others may choose to remain in distance learning as they weigh numerous variables to determine the best course.
Each school and district are responsible for developing and implementing its own reopening plan before returning to in-class instruction. These comprehensive reopening plans must adhere to state and local guidance for schools and school-based programs, and must be publicly available.
ACOE developed answers to frequently asked questions about what reopening schools may look like. For details, visit the School Reopening Information & Resources page at https://www.acoe.org/reopening.
Police chief shares community update
Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD
In a letter to the community on Thursday, October 29, Fremont Police Department Chief Kimberley Petersen shared updates and details about the department, officer training, goals and policies:
Dear Fremont Community Members,
Our ability to do our jobs and keep Fremont safe directly relates to the trust our community puts in us. That’s why over the last several months, members of the Fremont Police Department have been listening to our community, monitoring local and national events and actively engaging in reformative dialogue.
In early June, I co-hosted a Town Hall meeting that was attended by more than 800 community members. The meeting informed us that more conversations on the topic of race relations and policing were needed. Over the summer, City Manager Mark Danaj hired the Public Dialogue Consortium and led one of the City’s most extensive civic engagement initiatives to date. The effort included a community survey, six community focus group meetings and a second Town Hall meeting. The results of the survey, and community feedback from the meetings ware shared on October 13, 2020 with the Fremont City Council, and documented in a report that can be viewed on our website.
While the Fremont Police Department has a historically low frequency of use of force, we still asked the question: How do we do even better in minimizing use of force? As a department we are working to further strengthen our policies and procedures in several areas, with an emphasis on our response to mental health and low-level property crimes. We’ve implemented several changes.
Goals:
• Provide public safety utilizing data-driven policing strategies focused on reducing crime and protecting the community.
• Continue to build trust through open and transparent dialogue with our community.
• Continue to recruit and hire exceptional people who reflect our community’s values, provide progressive training that exceeds industry standards, support our employees’ long-term health and wellness.
Policy:
• The department implemented a more restrictive pursuit policy.
• On June 6, 2020, the Fremont Police Department suspended the use of the carotid control hold.
• The Department’s Use of Force policy is currently being updated to reflect all new laws that take effect January 1, 2021.
Training:
• All sworn officers recently completed four hours of Implicit Bias training.
• Bias-by-Proxy – When a community member calls the Fremont Police Department and makes false or ill-informed claims of misconduct about persons based on explicit racial and identity profiling, police supervisors contact those citizens and educate them on bias by proxy.
• As of today, 75 officers have taken Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). Training all officers is a priority for our Training Unit.
• A de-escalation training component has been added to every department training module that includes the use of force.
• All sworn officers have completed training on new use of force laws.
Patrol operations:
When there is a possibility of a detention or arrest, at minimum three Fremont officers will now respond. Our goal is to bring as many resources as possible to these incidents to include members of our Mobile Evaluation Team and officers specially trained in crisis intervention tactics. We believe this is the best option to allow personnel to effectively de-escalate situations while not compromising officer safety and the people we serve. Prior to this change, implemented in September, our minimum was a two-officer response. This new policy will be reviewed every 30 days for the next several months to evaluate effectiveness, and to determine the proper staffing level for Patrol.
Officers will now wait until all units assigned to the incident have arrived before making contact. Of course, if there is an imminent threat to a person involved in the incident, officers will immediately advance to the scene to aid the person in danger.
• Officers will have the most useful resources to de-escalate and bring a situation to a successful conclusion.
• Meeting as a group prior to arriving on scene allow the officers to more effectively form a de-escalation plan
• Added resources give officers immediate access to more less-lethal tools
• An additional benefit also includes having more body-worn and in-car cameras activated to capture the event from various perspectives.
• With these new procedures, the department understands some non-emergency calls for service will hold for a more extended period before department personnel will be able to respond. We understand how this may inconvenience the community. Dispatch will triage all calls; in situations where it’s determined to be a non-criminal matter, callers may be referred to another agency, City Department, and/or provided other resources. This will be monitored and tracked over the next several months.
Mental health evaluation team (MET)
• A third police officer was added to the team. Officers do not generally become involved in a call where an individual is cooperative and voluntarily agrees to seek medical care. Very few professionals can legally place an individual on a mental health hold.
• The team recently shifted hours of operation to Monday – Friday from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. and will soon expand to evening hours. The hours and availability will continue to adjust in relation to our highest volume of mental health related calls.
• We continue to discuss with our Human Services Department with the mutual goal to add a third clinician to the team.
• We will begin working with the Alameda County CATT team and other mental health service providers.
Public information
• The Police Transparency Portal has expanded to include a new 2019 Year-End Summary, a 2019 Use of Force Summary, an FAQ from town hall meetings and a new “submit a question” option. Learn more at fremontpolice.gov/transparency
• The Department will no longer proactively release booking photos of suspects unless the suspect poses a danger to the community. All photos proactively released require the approval of a police Captain.
• A newly redesigned “Week In Review,” formally known as the Police Blotter contains crime statistics and other information such as total police reports and arrests. Visit fremontpolice.gov/weekinreview for more information.
Community engagement
Several new informational videos have been produced or are in production. A new video highlighting the School Resource Office program was released in early October, and a video highlighting our MET team will soon follow.
We will open registration to a newly revised virtual community academy in November, expanding participation by 100%. The Department will look for additional opportunities to expand outreach to youth.
Hiring/recruitment
Local policing starts with the individual, and unlike many police departments, Fremont is in a position of strength with more demand for our jobs than we have openings. Fremont has a rigorous testing process, which ensures that even in today’s climate we can maintain our high standards and bring in new officers with not only with the right abilities but also values that align with our community.
• The Department recently reached full staffing at 199 sworn peace officers.
• The Department will focus recruitment locally with an emphasis on building a more diverse workforce.
I am honored to work alongside the men and women of the Fremont Police Department, and I am proud of the dedication and professionalism our staff has demonstrated over the last several months. Providing exceptional service during a pandemic and a summer of social change has been challenging. It has also brought before us an opportunity to set an example and provide the highest level of public safety our community expects of us.
The members of the Fremont Police Department remain steadfast in our commitment to building strong relationships and trust with our community. Accountability to our community is our top priority — working with you, we will seek opportunities to listen, share information and adjust operational policing strategies according to your priorities. We strive to be forward-thinking and innovative in our pursuit of public safety. We will continue to hire the best people, train them to the highest standards and provide the highest level of professionalism to meet your needs.
Sincerely,
Chief Kimberly Petersen
The complete letter and related document links are posted on the Fremont Police Department website at https://www.fremontpolice.gov/home.
San Leandro Police sergeant charged with embezzlement
Submitted by San Leandro PD
A 19-year veteran with the San Leandro Police Department (SLPD) is facing charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of funds.
The charges against Sergeant Robert Sanchez were made October 27 by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office after an internal investigation and audit conducted by SLPD was turned over to the district attorney’s office.
A statement released by SLPD said that Sanchez was entrusted to carry out payroll functions within the department when discrepancies with funds and overtime requests in his timesheets were discovered. After an internal investigation and audit conducted by the police department, it was determined Sanchez was manipulating the systems for personal gain. Sanchez was placed on administrative leave when the case was turned over to the district attorney’s office.
“As public servants, we have an obligation to hold ourselves to a higher standard,” said SLPD Chief Jeff Tudor. “Unfortunate and disappointing incidents like this will never be tolerated in this department and we will continue to review our internal processes to ensure something like this does not happen again. Although I am highly troubled by these allegations, I am pleased that our oversight systems caught this alleged wrongdoing and that our leadership team took immediate action to investigate it and report it.”
San Leandro Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter also expressed her disappointment. “I was disappointed to hear of these allegations. However, I was pleased to see immediate action was taken by the San Leandro Police Department as soon as the discrepancies were discovered through an internal audit,” Cutter said.
The mayor added that the city has hired a forensic accountant to conduct a thorough review of the internal processes to make certain a crime like this does not happen again. “There is no room for dishonesty among our own employees and while the news is disappointing, I am grateful for the honest and diligent officers and staff that reported this activity. Their actions are representative of the integrity and professionalism we all expect from our public servants,” Cutter said.
SLPD officials said the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office will be conducting the criminal investigation but that a third-party Internal Affairs investigation will also be conducted to better understand the incident and determine the appropriate follow-up actions.
Western states join California to ensure safety of COVID-19 vaccine
Submitted by Governor’s Press Office
Washington, Oregon, and Nevada have joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, which will independently review the safety and efficacy of any vaccine approved by the FDA for distribution. Recently, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the panel made up of nationally acclaimed scientists with expertise in immunization and public health.
“California has led with science and data through the COVID pandemic and when a vaccine becomes available, we will leverage our scientific expertise to verify its safety to give everyone the confidence they need to make important decisions regarding the health of their families,” said Newsom. “This virus transcends our borders, and we are grateful to partner with our neighboring states though our Scientific Safety Review Workgroup for a healthy and safe path forward for all our communities.”
The governors of Washington, Oregon and Nevada will identify public health experts to join California’s workgroup to guide the review of any vaccine approved by the FDA. While there is no proven vaccine for COVID-19 yet, these top health experts will review any vaccine that receives federal approval and verify its safety before California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada will make the vaccine available to the public.
Social Security Matters
Ask Rusty – Will My Social Security Benefits Ever Stop?
By Certified Social Security Advisor Russell Gloor
Association of Mature American Citizens
Dear Rusty: Has someone who paid into Social Security (SS) for most of their life ever lost their benefits later in life? For example, if they start collecting benefits at age 62 and live to be 85 or longer, could they suddenly lose their benefits? Can Social Security ever come along later and say “Sorry, you've used up all your benefits?” I know there are many people, including me, who have no other income or savings, so if their SS suddenly stopped, they would need assistance to survive. I started my benefits at age 62 because I had to. I have always been in reasonably good health, so I wonder – what if I live to be 85, 90, or 95 – will I still have enough in the system to get my Social Security check? Signed: Living on SS
Dear Living: Please put your fears about losing your Social Security aside – you will never stop receiving your benefits even if you live to be 110 years old. The system isn’t designed to compare what you’ve collected to how much you’ve contributed. If you meet the basic eligibility requirements, there is no danger of your payments ever stopping because you’ve “used up all your benefits.”
Here’s how the Social Security system works: Everyone who works pays a Social Security payroll tax (currently 6.2 percent; matched by their employer) up to the annual payroll tax cap. All those payroll taxes collected are used to pay benefits to all those who are already collecting Social Security – the payroll taxes you paid weren’t put into a separate account for you. Essentially, the system is “pay as you go,” where everyone who works and earns pays for those already receiving benefits. So, the benefits you are now receiving are not being deducted from a personal account in your name. Everyone currently working and contributing to Social Security helps pay for your benefits, as well as benefits for everyone else already collecting. Any money left over after all benefits are paid are invested in special issue government bonds, which are held in the Social Security Trust Funds, earning interest which accrues into the Trust Funds. Money from income taxes on Social Security also contributes to SS revenue to pay for benefits. As of the end of 2019, the Social Security Trust Funds held about $2.9 trillion in assets, reserved to cover any shortage of SS income received vs. benefits paid out.
You may have read about Social Security facing future financial difficulties. That is primarily a result of the declining ratio of workers to beneficiaries and increasing life expectancy (average longevity for SS recipients today is mid-80s). Starting this year, the reserves in the Trust Funds will be used to cover any income shortfall. The last official report from the Trustees of Social Security predicted that the SS Trust Funds assets are sufficient to pay full benefits until about 2035 (the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will surely worsen that prediction). But even if Congress fails to act to resolve the issue and the Trust Funds run dry in the future, your benefits will still continue. If the Trust Funds run dry, however, your benefit would be reduced (not eliminated).
If the Trust Funds are fully depleted, Social Security can only pay out as much as the income received, which would mean a benefit reduction of about 21 percent, according to current predictions. Sadly, Congress already knows how to fix Social Security’s financial issues – what’s lacking is the bipartisan cooperation needed to accomplish it. Personally, I do not believe that Congress will ever allow the Trust Funds to run dry, requiring a cut in benefits (it would be political suicide to do so). Given the vitriol permeating Congress today we’ll probably need to wait a while for a solution, but one will eventually come. In any case, please rest assured that your Social Security benefits will never stop, no matter how old you get. You can’t “use up all your benefits.”
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.
Stacey Elizabeth Newray
March 27, 1986-October 24, 2020
Resident of Fremont, California
Stacey Elizabeth Newray, resident of Fremont, passed away on October 24, 2020 at home at the age of 34 years.
Stacey was born March 27, 1986 in Fremont, California. She graduated from Washington High School in 2004. In 2013, Stacey graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management. Stacey was an active scrapbook and card maker, an activity she enjoyed doing with her mom. She also enjoyed sports, including playing golf with her dad. Stacey loved to work in her garden and have “girl-time” with her dog, Lola. Stacey also enjoyed travel. She enjoyed family vacations to Maui and two pilgrimages to Europe with the Holy Spirit Community.
At Holy Spirit, Stacey found a second family. She was deeply involved in the community, finding peace and strength in her faith. She attended Bible Study and served as a Eucharist Minister on many Sundays. She was also a Catechist, part of the Arts and Environment Committee, as well as many other various ministries. When Holy Spirit needed help, Stacey was one of the first to volunteer her aid. Her favorite mass was the Easter Vigil because it reminded her of her Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Her Baptism was one of the happiest days of her life.
Stacey was selfless and compassionate when it came to others, wanting to make full use of the talents God gave her.
With every job that Stacey had, everyone loved and respected her because she always went above and beyond.
She will be sadly missed by her parents, Robert and Julie Newray; sister, Katherine Newray; grandmother, Bobbe Newray; grandmother Constance Stockton; uncle, David Newray; uncle and aunt, Jerry and Barbara Newray; and cousins, Bailey and Cartie Newray.
Stacey was predeceased by her grandfathers James Stockton and James Newray.
Memorial donations can be made to her gofundme account.
A Vigil Service will be held Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 9:00 AM with a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 37588 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont. Burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Boulevard, Hayward.
Fremont Chapel of the Roses
510-797-1900
Students Against Period Poverty
By Fatema Bhaiji
Photos Courtesy of SAPP
Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, students at Irvington High School in Fremont have found a resourceful and beneficial way to support a community that deals with a topic thought of by many as taboo. To do this, they created the organization, Students Against Period Poverty (SAPP) in May of 2020. The menstrual cycle is a normal process a woman goes through once a month, yet it is deathly avoided in conversation because of the negative air that surrounds the word “period.” These teenagers have been using their time since the beginning of quarantine to work on ending stigma around a woman’s period and helping solve period poverty, a widespread problem that occurs when women don’t have access to and money for period products, resorting to makeshift methods.
Although period poverty is a prevalent issue, not many programs are available to help those who experience period poverty because of the stigma that surrounds it. Co-CEO of Students Against Period Poverty (SAPP), Janice Park, believes that “there isn’t a wide range of representation and there isn’t a lot of awareness about the issue…even though it’s really common in developed countries, people don’t really talk about it.” Inspiration for this organization came from Co-CEO Ethan Ye, whose mother experienced period poverty while growing up in Vietnam. Ye says, she “was living in very detrimental conditions…she couldn’t afford to buy any menstrual products at an affordable price.”
This group of high schoolers have noticed the need for an organization like this, even in the Bay Area, and have worked very hard to raise awareness. They created a program called Coronavirus Affected Period Poverty Initiative Team to donate care packages and letters to local shelters. Hema Madichetty, growth and partnership director of SAPP, explains,“the pandemic didn’t really hinder or limit any of [SAPP’s] early progress so [they] were able to operate pretty easily while following social distancing rules.” SAPP has devised methods to assemble packages individually due to coronavirus guidelines. Individuals are able to sign up with SAPP and make their own care packages following rules and regulations created by SAPP; these packages are later distributed to various shelters by SAPP’s officers.
Once the pandemic is over, SAPP plans to hold in-person seminars and workshops on activities such as making care packages following the CDC’s guidelines. Although SAPP’s original mission was to make menstrual products more available to women who needed them, they are expanding their mission to include student advocacy and education. SAPP plans to partner with various schools to continue their mission while advancing student literacy about period poverty.
SAPP continues to hold independent events and regularly posts on social media to keep their followers updated. Their Instagram handle is @officialsapp, their Facebook @sapp4u, and website sappusa.org.
Tesla ‘full self-driving' vehicles can't drive themselves
By Tom Krisher
AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP), Oct 22 – Earlier this week, Tesla sent out its “full self-driving” software to a small group of owners who will test it on public roads. But buried on its website is a disclaimer that the $8,000 system doesn't make the vehicles autonomous and drivers still have to supervise it.
The conflicting messages have experts in the field accusing Tesla of deceptive, irresponsible marketing that could make the roads more dangerous as the system is rolled out to as many as 1 million electric vehicle drivers by the end of the year.
“This is actively misleading people about the capabilities of the system, based on the information I've seen about it,” said Steven Shladover, a research engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied autonomous driving for 40 years. “It is a very limited functionality that still requires constant driver supervision.”
On a conference call Wednesday, Musk told industry analysts that the company is starting full self-driving slowly and cautiously “because the world is a complex and messy place.” It plans to add drivers this weekend and hopes to have a wider release by the end of the year. He referred to having a million vehicles “providing feedback” on situations that can't be anticipated.
The company hasn't identified the drivers or said where they are located. Messages were left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automakers, says it will monitor the Teslas closely “and will not hesitate to take action to protect the public against unreasonable risks to safety.”
The agency says in a statement that it has been briefed on Tesla's system, which it considers to be an expansion of driver assistance software, which requires human supervision.
“No vehicle available for purchase today is capable of driving itself,” the statement said.
On its website, Tesla touts in large font its full self-driving capability. In smaller font, it warns: “The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience, as well as regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions.”
Even before using the term “full self-driving,” Tesla named its driver-assist system “Autopilot.“ Many drivers relied on it too much and checked out, resulting in at least three U.S. deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board faulted Tesla in those fatal crashes for letting drivers avoid paying attention and failing to limit where Autopilot can be used.
Board members, who have no regulatory powers, have said they are frustrated that safety recommendations have been ignored by Tesla and NHTSA.
Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who studies autonomous vehicles, said it was bad enough that Tesla was using the term “Autopilot” to describe its system but elevating it to “full self-driving” is even worse.
“That leaves the domain of the misleading and irresponsible to something that could be called fraudulent,” Walker Smith said.
The Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, has developed five levels to describe the functions of autonomous vehicles. In levels zero through two, humans are driving the cars and supervising partially automated functions. In levels three through five, the vehicles are driving, with level five describing a vehicle being driven under all traffic and weather conditions.
The term “full self-driving” means there is no driver other than the vehicle itself, indicating that it would be appropriate to put no one in the vehicle, Walker Smith said.
Musk also said on Wednesday that Tesla would focus on setting up a robotaxi system where one person could manage a fleet of 10 self-driving cars in a ride hailing system.
“It wouldn't be very difficult, but we're going to just be focused on just having an autonomous network that has sort of elements of Uber, Lyft, Airbnb,” he said.
Tesla is among 60 companies with permits to operate autonomous vehicles with human backup drivers in California, the No. 1 state for Tesla sales. The companies are required to file reports with regulators documenting when the robotic system experiences a problem that requires the driver to take control – a mandate that could entangle the owners of Tesla vehicles in red tape.
Before Tesla is able to put fully self-driving vehicles on California roads, it will have to get another permit from state regulators. Only five companies, including Google spin-off Waymo and General Motors' Cruise subsidiary, have obtained those permits.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles didn't immediately respond to questions about Tesla's latest plans for robotic cars.
NHTSA, which has shied away from imposing regulations for fear of stifling safety innovation, says that every state holds drivers accountable for the safe operation of their vehicles.
Walker Smith argues that the agency is placing too much of the responsibility on Tesla drivers when it should be asking what automakers are going to do to make sure the vehicles are safe. At the same time, he says that testing the system with vehicle drivers could be beneficial and speed adoption of autonomous vehicles.
Thursday afternoon, Musk was clearly trying to sell the full self-driving software. He wrote on Twitter that the price of “FSD beta” will rise by $2,000 on Monday.
––––
AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke contributed from San Ramon, California.