12-19-23 Articles

Davis Street Brings Holiday Joy to 1,200 Families, Seniors, and Singles!

Submitted by Grace LemMon

 

As the festive season approaches, Davis Street is gearing up to spread joy and warmth by organizing its Holiday Basket Program. The initiative aims to deliver 1,200 holiday baskets overflowing with age-appropriate toys, gift cards, and all the fixings for a delightful holiday meal.

 

Scheduled for distribution on December 22 and 23, these baskets will be provided to individuals and families in need, ensuring they experience the magic of the season.

 

This year, Davis Street is reaching out to the community, asking for support to make this program a success. The organization is seeking donations of new, unwrapped toys and gift cards for older children. Additionally, monetary contributions can be made online at davisstreet.org. The Holiday Basket Program has also set up an Amazon Wish list that can be accessed here: http://tinyurl.com/ycyb7e2m.

 

The community comes together to make this event possible. Thank you to Alameda County Fire Department, San Leandro Police Officers Association, local schools, clubs, faith-based communities, and businesses, Davis Street’s Holiday Basket Program has been a beacon of hope for the community. Annually, over 1,200 families in San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Ashland, and Castro Valley benefit from this program. Each family, including 200 seniors and almost 2,000 children, receives a holiday feast, a turkey, fresh produce, seasonal goods, new toys, and gift cards.

 

Your contribution can make a significant difference in brightening the holiday season for those less fortunate. Join Davis Street in spreading joy and creating memorable moments for families in need.

 

 

Davis Street Holiday Basket Program

3081 Teagarden St., San Leandro

(510) 347-4620

Donate online: davisstreet.org

Donate to Amazon Wishlist: http://tinyurl.com/ycyb7e2m

 

 

 

Longest Night Service: A service of Light in the Midst of Darkness

Submitted by Niles Discovery Church

 

For many, Christmas time is a bittersweet time of year. For people who are dealing with grief, significant life changes, sobriety, family dysfunction, and other challenges, this time of year can be especially difficult. Add to this reality the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, though we’re in a new phase.

 

“This is also the time of year with the longest nights,” Pastor Jeff Spencer of Niles Discovery Church noted. “So on the longest night of the year our congregation offers a special meditative worship service that makes time for remembering, sharing our hurting places with God, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ.”

 

The service is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 21. You can join us on site at 36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont, or on Zoom (preregister for Zoom at https://bit.ly/longnite2023). You can learn more about the service at https://bit.ly/longnightinfo2023.

 

“Attendees will be invited to light candles during the service as a quiet response and act of prayer,” Pastor Jeff explained. He said that he hopes that the service will provide a space for people “to release their anger, face their emptiness, have a good cry (if that’s what they need), and know that God cares.”

 

He added that people worshipping at home, watching the live stream, can also create a worship space near their computers. “Ideally, people will have a central candle (wax or electric) to light as part of the beginning of the service,” he said. “In addition, I hope they have seven additional candles or seven stones (they don’t have to be big) nearby to gather around that central candle as the service progresses.”

 

“This is our ‘pre-Christmas’ gift to the community,” he said, “so I hope people will spread the word about this service to their neighbors and friends.”

 

 

Longest Night Service

Thursday, Dec 21

7:30 p.m.

Niles Discovery Church

36600 Niles Blvd, Fremont

Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/longnite2023

(510) 797-0895

www.nilesdiscoverychurch.org

 

 

 

Enliven Christmas night with family-friendly improv show

Submitted by Sean Taylor

 

On December 25, Made Up Theatre’s “Holiday Spectacular” show will be returning for the first time since 2019. Sean Taylor, owner of Made Up Theatre (MUT), says, “I know a lot of families, including my own, do a lot of celebration on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, and once the presents are open, people struggle with the question ‘What now?’ It’s also challenging since a lot of places to go might be closed.”

 

As always, the show will involve unscripted games and scenes based on audience suggestions. Some will be MUT classics with Christmas twists, and some new games will be brought out just for the holidays. Taylor explains, “We have a game called Christmas Tale where an actor tells a Holiday story inspired by an audience’s suggested title (similar to a Twas the Night Before Christmas), and the other actors perform scenes from it. We also have a game called Santa’s Lap where one person will don Kris Kringle’s red hat and beard and try to guess various unusual characters (real or fictional) that the audience suggests.” In other games, audience members will have the chance to join actors on stage to fulfill specific roles.

 

The show is approximately 90 minutes with an intermission, and the content is appropriate for all ages. Taylor says, “This is a great chance to enjoy live entertainment and comedy that is also very interactive and appropriate for the whole family.”

 

 

Made Up Theatre Holiday Spectacular Show

Monday, Dec 25

7:30 p.m. Doors open

8:00 p.m. Show starts

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St., Ste B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

Tickets: $18

 

 

 

A look at our local lighted houses

By Staff

 

A few weeks ago, we sent out a call for pictures of local homes decked out for Christmas. And readers responded! Why not pay some a visit?

 

4320 Porter Street, Fremont

Submitted by Jody Snyder

 

4653 Porter Street, Fremont

Submitted by Jody Snyder

 

4861 Essex Way, Fremont

Submitted by Jessica Schaa

 

22396 Ralston Ct., Hayward

Submitted by Deborah Johnson

 

More photos on our Instagram @tricityvoice

 

 

 

Acacia Creek holiday cheer

By Staff

 

The decorations are up at Acacia Creek retirement community in Union City—in the lobby, in the dining hall and common areas, and up and down the halls. Of course, many residents are posting their own decorations outside their apartments.

 

Acacia Creek

https://acaciacreek.org/

 

 

 

BART Fares to Increase

Submitted By Bay Area Rapid Transit

 

A modest fare increase and a deeper discount on fares for qualifying lower-income riders will both go into effect on Monday, January 1, 2024.

 

The Clipper START means-based fare discount for BART will increase from 20% to 50%, meaning low-income riders will pay half the regular fare. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission pilot program offers discounts for Bay Area residents aged 19-64 earning under 200% of the federal poverty level. Clipper START is accepted by more than 20 regional transit operators in addition to BART.

 

Fares will increase by 5.5% beginning January 1, raising the average fare by 23 cents to $4.43. A 12-mile trip from Downtown Berkeley to Embarcadero, for example, will increase by 25 cents to $4.75. For a 45-mile trip from Antioch to Montgomery Street, the fare will increase by 40 cents to $8.60.

 

The fare increase was approved by BART’s Board of Directors during the June 8, 2023, budget vote. The Board decided to deviate from its policy of approving a fare increase every two years. BART’s Inflation-Based Fare Increase Program, which has been in place since 2003, would have required an 11% fare increase in January 2024. To cushion the economic impact on riders, the Board directed staff to instead raise fares 5.5% in January 2024 and again at the same rate in January 2025.

 

BART’s Trip Planner (www.bart.gov/planner) and online Fare Calculator (www.bart.gov/tickets/calculator) have been updated with the new fares. Riders can look up their new fare by selecting a date of January 1, 2024, or beyond. New fare chart decals will be posted at vending machines.

 

Fares Fund Operations

The fare increases are expected to bring in an additional $26 million in operating funds through FY25. Historically, BART relies on rider fares to fund safe, reliable, and clean service – more so than most other transit systems. This requires small but frequent fare increases to keep up with the cost of inflation.

 

New Fare Gates Being Deployed

Because our riders are directly responsible for funding our operations, BART is rolling out new fare gates in 2024 to protect against fare evasion and self-enforce fare payments.

 

Low-Income Riders Will Pay Less in 2024

Even with the fare increase, low-income riders will pay less for BART because the Clipper START discount is being increased to 50%.

 

BART Discounts

• Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card.
• Seniors 65 and over get 62.5% off with a Senior Clipper card.
• Low-income riders get 50% off starting Jan. 1, 2024, through the regional Clipper START program, available to adult riders earning 200% or less of the federal poverty level.
• The RTC Clipper card is a version of Clipper created for passengers under 65 with qualifying disabilities for 62.5% off fares.
• BART offers a “High-Value Discount.” Adult Clipper cards get a 6.25% discount on cash value rides by buying $48 worth of value for $45 or $64 worth of value for $60 when autoload is set up.

 

 

 

A Local Student Raises Awareness with CeliacAware

By Jessica Kim

 

Affecting about two million people in the United States, celiac disease is a “chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine” that is “triggered by eating foods containing gluten” (www.niddk.nih.gov). Undiagnosed celiac disease can lead to numerous related long-term health conditions, including early-onset osteoporosis, heart disease, liver failure, and other autoimmune diseases (celiac.org). After being diagnosed with celiac disease himself, Yuvraj Walia, a senior from Mission San José High School, passionate about public health and advocacy, decided to start the website CeliacAware as an initiative to raise awareness about this serious condition.

 

When first diagnosed with celiac disease three years ago, Walia described how he had to “learn everything there is about gluten, such as which restaurants offer celiac-safe food, how to ask servers to change their gloves, and tips on recognizing when a facility is not celiac safe.” But even after this learning curve, he “frequently [found himself] in the hospital after a night out with friends.” Fortunately, he found a support network through a Facebook group dedicated to celiac patients and realizing he was not alone, Walia wanted to make this transition easier for other celiac patients and partnered with Stanford Medicine’s IBD and Celiac Disease Center, where he was initially a patient, to develop CeliacAware.

 

While balancing medical accuracy and user-friendly language was challenging, Walia succeeded and created CeliacAware, a website of information on the medical definition of celiac disease, the diagnosis process, tips for parents to support their children with celiac disease, gluten-free recipes, and a customizable filter for nearby celiac-safe restaurants. Notably, there is a section dedicated to providing a space where individuals can share their stories, ranging from learning to navigate the school cafeteria to cooking gluten-free food for a spouse with celiac disease.

 

Walia highlighted the need for CeliacAware. “People are heavily misinformed about celiac disease…because there are over 200 symptoms associated with celiac disease, it is difficult to be diagnosed.” Statistics corroborate that “up to 83% of Americans who have celiac disease are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions” (www.beyondceliac.org). Whether it is restaurants having differing definitions of gluten-free food or servers being unaware of how to prepare food for customers with celiac, Walia emphasized that increased education about the disease is necessary to create a safer community. He recounted hearing a story of how a patient communicated his celiac to a server, who proceeded to remove the tortilla from the burrito, unaware cross-contamination had already occurred.

 

As of 2023, the CeliacAware team is working with over 150 restaurants to help develop gluten-free options. Using monthly surveys to identify what support restaurants need to serve their customers with dietary restrictions, Walia hopes CeliacAware will help restaurants avoid cross-contamination. In addition, Walia revealed he is integrating a mentoring program that would pair a newly diagnosed celiac patient with a more experienced one.

 

Ultimately, restaurants can take steps to make it easier for those with celiac disease, including labeling ingredients clearly and training servers to better cater to celiacs. For the community, Walia concluded, “In general, educating oneself and being aware other people may not have the same dietary needs would go a long way in creating a safe dining experience for everyone.”

 

CeliacAware

celiacaware.org

 

 

 

The Republic of His Imagination: Charles Dickens in America

By Michael F. Bishop

 

Legend has it that in New York in 1841, as the ship delivering copies of the final installment of Charles Dickens’ The Old Curiosity Shop approached the pier, a vast crowd of impatient readers called to those aboard, “Is Little Nell dead?”

 

Dickens was the most famous novelist in the world and had seized the imagination of the American public.

 

“The Inimitable,” as Dickens had humorously christened himself, paid his first visit to the United States early the following year. He arrived in Boston eager to see for himself the young republic that had long fired his imagination. Only twenty-nine, he was rapturously welcomed by adoring fans and celebrated at “balls, dinners,” and “assemblies without end.” Overwhelmed, he told one audience that, “If I should live to grow old, the scenes of this and other evenings will shine as brightly to my dull eyes 50 years hence as now.”

 

But before long the adulation began to pall, and he tired of being mobbed everywhere he went. He complained to a friend, “I can do nothing that I want to do, go nowhere where I want to go, and see nothing that I want to see. If I turn into the street, I am followed by a multitude.”

 

He was also frustrated at America’s lack of copyright laws, which allowed unscrupulous publishers to print cheap editions of his novels from which he received no profit and declared himself “the greatest loser alive.” Beyond his understandable frustration at being commercially exploited, the pirating of his work added to his perception that America fostered a culture of greed.

 

Dickens’ visit to the nation’s capital did nothing to enhance his opinion. He dismissed Washington as “The City of Magnificent Distances,” with “Spacious avenues, that begin in nothing, and lead nowhere; streets, mile-long, that only want houses, roads and inhabitants; public buildings that need but a public to be complete; and ornaments of great thoroughfares, which only lack great thoroughfares to ornament.”

 

He was particularly horrified by the ubiquitous habit of chewing tobacco, and the constant expectoration into spittoons or on the floor. He primly observed, “Washington may be called the head-quarters of tobacco-tinctured saliva. The thing itself is an exaggeration of nastiness, which cannot be outdone.” He was shocked to see that even in the White House, “tobacco-tinctured saliva” flew around with abandon. Waiting in an antechamber (today’s Treaty Room) for his appointment with President John Tyler, he observed that those around him “bestowed their favours so abundantly upon the carpet, that I take it for granted the Presidential housemaids have high wages.”

 

He witnessed a far worse practice in Baltimore, where at dinner he and his companions “were waited on, for the first time, by slaves. He felt “a sense of shame and self-reproach” for “exacting any service from human creatures who are bought and sold.” He would later condemn what he called the “atrocities” of slavery and the “the miserable aristocracy spawned of a false republic” that held men in chains.

 

All of this left him in low spirits. “I never knew what it was to feel disgust and contempt ‘till I travelled in America,” he wrote. “This is not the republic of my imagination.”

 

Upon his return to England, he poured his scorn for America into two literary works, the nonfiction American Notes for General Circulation and the novel Martin Chuzzlewit. Neither were particularly successful, and even his fondest American admirers expressed dismay at the harshness of the portrait he painted of their country.

 

A quarter century would pass before his second and final American visit in 1867. By then, the passions inflamed by his first visit had waned, and his dramatic readings “A Christmas Carol” and other works were hailed by an adoring public.

 

A New York newspaper observed, “Dickens’ second coming was needed to disperse every cloud and every doubt and to place his name undimmed in the silver sunshine of American admiration.” And there it remains.

 

Michael F. Bishop, a writer and historian, is the former executive director of the International Churchill Society and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

 

 

 

Family Astronomy: Edible Astronomy

Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center

 

Explore the wonders of astronomy through delicious and edible creations! This interactive workshop is designed to introduce children to the vastness of space, the planets, and other celestial objects, all while having a scrumptious educational experience. Samples of activities include Oreo moon phases, constellation cookies, marshmallow constellations, and more.

 

Let’s embark on this cosmic culinary adventure together, concluding with free public telescope viewing. Guests will receive complimentary hot cider and hot chocolate. (The program does not include after-hours general admission or the planetarium.) Public telescope viewing will begin at 7:30 p.m.

 

This event is intended for families with children ages five and up.

 

 

Family Astronomy: Edible Astronomy

Friday, Dec 22

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

Adults $25, $15 Youth

 

 

 

Malaya Tri-City’s Filipinos for Palestine

By Esha Bansiya

 

On Wednesday, December 13, Bay Area residents tuned in to Malaya Tri-City’s “Filipinos for Palestine” Zoom meeting.

 

Malaya Tri-City is a branch of the Malaya (“free” in Tagalog) Movement that fights for human rights in the Philippines and similar causes around the world.

 

The forum commenced with an introduction to the indirect and direct colonization from the United States in the Philippines. Notably, speakers highlighted the financial support of U.S. tax dollars to the Filipino military leadership, the third largest Israeli weapon buyer. This trade supplies the Filipino government with weapons to perpetuate harm against Filipino citizens and contributes to the Israeli economy and ability to maintain military occupation over Palestine. Malaya invited listeners to join their efforts to encourage Representative Eric Swalwell to introduce legislation to cut Filipino military funding.

 

Next, the speakers began the crux of their campaign: anti-disinformation. The shutdown of many major news sources in the Philippines forces citizens to receive news on social media, which is vulnerable to disinformation and government control. Speakers emphasized the dangers of “red tagging,” the practice of naming individuals, often journalists and human rights defenders, as communists and placing a target on their backs. Red Tagging has led to the murders of numerous activists in the Philippines, and Malaya protests against the government’s human rights violations.

 

The speakers called upon the Tri-City to fight disinformation. Malaya has been demanding that technology companies in the area, such as Meta, take responsibility for disinformation on their platforms. Additionally, Malaya hopes to educate and empower the large Filipino migrant population.

 

The forum featured Professor Farid Senzai, the President of the organization Afghan Relief and a Professor in the Political Science Department at Santa Clara University. Senzai introduced the history of the conflict: Gaza, a small 140 square-mile strip along the Mediterranean Sea, is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, a majority being refugees forced out of their homes after Israel’s establishment in 1948.

 

He conceded that Jews have always had a connection to this land, but noted that the number of Jews has been historically less than Arab Palestinians.

 

He explained that Zionism, the belief that Jews need their own state to be safe, rose because of anti-Semitic views growing in the 1900s. Although he acknowledged the sentiment, he criticized the flawed colonial settler mindset Zionists had when occupying Palestine. While Zionist Jews assumed the land was unoccupied, there was a large indigenous Palestinian population. The United States and Europe sympathized with Zionists, but Senzai noted that anti-Semitic views led the United States to support a Jewish state to decrease Jewish immigration.

 

Senzai emphasized that dehumanization of Palestinians is not new, and Israel, while claiming to remove Hamas (a Palestinian militant movement and one of their two major political parties), has attacked Palestine six times in the past twenty years. Gaza has been under siege for decades, with the Israeli state controlling water, electricity, and access.

 

Senzai was not surprised by the October 7th attack and Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation. The only surprising advancement was the Palestinians’ ability to mount such a devastating attack.

 

Riyad Sood, the second panelist, introduced his background as a Palestinian paralegal in immigration matters. Sood emphasized the damage of the media portraying pro-Palestinians as anti-Semitic. He noted the recent rise of individuals losing jobs for posting “Pray for Palestine” on social media and the government for reprimanding representatives for speaking out. Sood shed light on media outlets for omitting news about mass arrests and interrogations in the West Bank of Palestine. Finally, Sood recognized the resilience and commitment of Palestinians to stay and protect their history and land.

 

Malaya speakers encouraged listeners to get involved in change by calling representatives, participating in upcoming mobilization, and joining Malaya Tri-City.

 

Sood made a final, reassuring comment when asked by an audience member how to influence policy.

 

“You have to fight the good fight. When we go out and speak with Eric Swalwell, we don’t expect to change his mind. He is giving me his ear, and that is the best I can do. Speak your truth to another human being. Nothing lasts forever: The occupation won’t last forever, and what is happening in the Philippines won’t last forever. You have to do what you can to fight.”

 

 

Malaya – Tri-City Branch

Instagram: @malaya.tricity

 

 

 

Gurdwara New Year's Eve Event

Submitted By Fremont Police Department

 

The following partial road closures will take place on Sunday, December 31, 2023, from approximately 3 p.m. to Monday, January 1, 2024, at 1 a.m. near Gurdwara Sahib (300 Gurdwara Road, Fremont) for the Gurdwara New Year’s Eve event:

 

• Gurdwara Road (between Grau and Mission Blvd.) will be partially closed for the event
• No left turn will be allowed from Gurdwara Road onto Mission Blvd
• No left turn will be allowed from Mission Blvd on to Gurdwara Road

 

A shuttle will be operating between Gurdwara Sahib and a parking area at 7th Street in Union City during hours of the event. Please note the consumption or possession of alcohol, meat, or tobacco is not permitted at the site, and head scarves are required on Gurdwara premises. All fireworks are illegal in the City of Fremont and no fireworks are allowed at the event.

 

Visit www.fremontgurdwara.org for additional event information.

 

 

 

City of Hayward holiday business closures

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

The City of Hayward will hold a series of cost-saving seasonal closures of business offices and temporary cessations of non-essential municipal services during the winter holidays.

 

Hayward City Hall will be closed, and non-essential municipal services will be paused from Friday, December 22 through Monday, January 1, 2024.

 

The Hayward Public Library branches will be closed from Saturday, December 23, through Monday, January 1, 2024. Online Library services and e-resources will continue to be available 24/7 at www.hayward-ca.gov/public-library

 

No street-sweeping will take place from Monday, December 25, through Monday, January 1, 2024, with service resuming on each street’s next scheduled service day starting on Tuesday, January 2. Learn more about street sweeping schedules:www.hayward-ca.gov/services/city-services/street-sweeping

 

For the operating hours and schedules of other City services during the closures, visit our website: www.hayward-ca.gov/discover/news. Other non-emergency issues and reports can be submitted through Hayward’s online tool, Access Hayward, which can be found here: https://user.govoutreach.com/hayward/faq.php?cmd=shell

 

 

 

Calling all Latino College Students majoring in STEM!

Submitted By Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley

 

Applications for the 2024 Latinos in Technology Scholarship are now open from December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.

 

To date, we have supported 545 students, like Julissa Tinajero, to succeed in STEM through our support of Financial Aid – scholarships for up to three years, Professional Development opportunities – mentorship, and other opportunities to develop as young professionals, and by actively working to pipeline our scholars into summer internship programs with our funders and partners.

 

Our Scholarship increases representation and empowers the next generation of Latinos to transform STEM fields. To learn more about the Latinos in Technology Scholarship Initiative, check out our 2023 Annual Report: https://www.hfsv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LITSI-Annual-Report-2023-24.pdf

 

Register for our virtual information session on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 6 p.m. to learn how to apply, the requirements and eligibility, and more about the program: https://shorturl.at/duILW

 

For any questions, please contact Karla Mondragon at karla@hfsv.org

 

Apply Now: https://www.siliconvalleycf.org/scholarships/latinos-in-technology-scholarship

 

 

Application Deadline:

February 29, 2023

12 noon

 

 

 

A Beacon of Solidarity: Workers at Nonprofit for the Blind Vote to Unionize

By Connie Cheung

Photo courtesy of the union's organizing committee

 

Imagine embarking on a typical workday commute, except without using your eyes. Routine acts like getting ready, leaving the house, and arriving at the BART station would feel confusing and difficult. For those living without sight, community assistance and advocacy is paramount. Few are more familiar with the work behind helping blind people flourish than employees at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, who banded together last month to support joining a union, OPEIU Local 27.

 

“We’re passionate about the mission of our organization and want to be in a position to have a meaningful say in the direction it takes,” said Frank Welte, a senior accessible media and braille specialist who has worked at the Lighthouse for over 12 years.

 

Welte is legally blind himself. His projects include producing content in accessible formats, like maps of transit stations that blind people can feel with their hands. Such initiatives at the LightHouse promote independence, community, and equity for those with vision impairments. Headquartered in San Francisco, the organization has been serving communities in Northern California for more than 120 years.

 

Having a job at such a meaningful organization can pose challenges. “There’s a common belief that if you’re working in the nonprofit space, you’re willing to accept less in terms of compensation,” Welte explained, “because you’re doing it for the love of the cause.”

 

Confronting this assumption is critical to promoting fairness across a wide variety of sectors. Collective bargaining should not be limited to automobile laborers in Detroit or writers in Hollywood, a belief that OPEIU embraces in the Bay Area. Prior to partnering with workers at the LightHouse, OPEIU also helped local nonprofits like Marin Food Bank, Glide Foundation, and Alameda Community Food Bank to successfully form unions.

 

Recent years have seen a spark in the resurgence of labor organizing efforts across the country. The National Labor Relations Board estimated that last year, the number of union representation elections increased by nearly 60% (www.bls.gov/spotlight).

 

“There’s a lot of belief in society that unions are a thing of the past,” Welte said. After all, union membership peaked in the 1950s, when nearly three in 10 employed Americans belonged to one. Basic workplace norms that are taken for granted today, like the five-day week or the minimum wage, were established in the heyday of organized labor negotiations decades ago.

 

Nowadays, however, only roughly 10% of American workers are part of a union. Some are hesitant to join because they believe their wages could be negatively impacted, a consideration that surfaced in last year’s failed union drive at Tesla’s Fremont facility, when Elon Musk tweeted that employees could lose their stock options by joining a union. (A judge has since ruled that Musk violated labor laws in doing so.)

 

Other workers withhold support because they’re uncomfortable with paying union dues. In 2020, United Automobile Workers (U.A.W.) suffered a national corruption scandal when federal prosecutors accused their former president of numerous embezzlement charges.

 

Some pro-business experts have also argued that organized labor hinders the fiscal viability and competitiveness of American companies.

 

Questions of financial health may be particularly fraught for charitable organizations like the LightHouse, whose CEO Sharon Giovinazzo shared an operational priority of striving for “financial self-sufficiency.”

 

According to its 2021 tax return, contributions and grants accounted for nearly 60% of operating revenue at the LightHouse for the Blind. At the same time, however, the nonprofit’s highest paid employees and officers were paid an estimated two to 10 times higher than other employees and compared to related organizations.

 

For example, the LightHouse’s COO was paid over $225,000 in 2021, while comparable compensation from within and beyond the organization was estimated to be a paltry $29,514 – hardly enough to cover the high living costs of living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Institutions with high wage disparities may be fertile ground for organized labor to make an impact. In 2018, the U.C. Berkeley Labor Center estimated that California workers covered by a union contract earned on average 12.9 percent more than non-union workers with similar backgrounds and in similar industries. For rank-and-file workers at the LightHouse, fair wages were cited as a key issue in their support of unionization.

 

The following months will likely contain many conversations between the unionized workers and the management team at the LightHouse. Although specific contract negotiations have yet to begin, broad themes such as competitive pay, better benefits, and increased transparency have already been called out in the union drive.

 

“Right now, the focus is on…approaching the negotiations with a spirit of cooperativeness,” CEO Sharon Giovinazzo explained in an emailed response to questions, mentioning the importance of ensuring the concerns of all employees, even those who had not voted to support the union, were reflected in future talks.

 

Welte articulated a similar need. “We have to earn the respect of our peers,” he said, adding, “we want this to be a respectful, constructive, friendly workplace where people get along well.”

 

 

 

San Leandro’s Free BART Shuttle

Submitted by City of San Leandro

 

For over 20 years, the San Leandro LINKS Shuttle has provided free, public, first/last mile transportation between the San Leandro BART station and West San Leandro.

 

Hours Of Operation

Shuttles run every 30 minutes, Monday through Friday, during peak commute hours.

• 5:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• 3:00 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.

 

Learn more:

• SanLeandroLinks.com
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsW_eSmbLnk

 

 

 

Fremont Online Permit Services not available during Holiday Closure

Submitted By City of Fremont

 

The City of Fremont is implementing a Holiday Closure for many non-public safety City services from Monday, December 25, 2023, through Tuesday, January 2, 2024. This closure will not affect police and fire services.

 

Please be advised that during the Holiday Closure, all construction and development services will be unavailable.

 

• The City’s online permitting portal, Citizen Access (https://aca-prod.accela.com/COF/Default.aspx), will be unavailable starting Friday, December 22, 2023, at 5 p.m. through Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 8 a.m. Online requests for permits and building inspections will not be available during this time. This includes planning, building, and engineering permits.
• To schedule a building inspection for Wednesday, January 3, 2024, the City’s Inspection Scheduling phone line will be available starting Friday, December 29, 2023. The phone number is (510) 494-4885. Online inspection scheduling through Citizen Access will not be available until Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 8 a.m.
• General email accounts and phone lines will not be monitored during the Holiday Closure. Staff will not be responding to emails received during the closure. Community members should avoid sending any emails during this time.
• The Development Services Center/Permit Center, located at 39550 Liberty St., will be closed. It will reopen on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at 8 a.m.

 

For more information about the Holiday Closure, visit www.fremont.gov/government/holiday-closure-2023

 

The City appreciates your patience and cooperation and wishes everyone a happy holiday season.

 

 

 

More than a thousand people celebrate BART and the holiday season at SweaterFest '23

Submitted By Bay Area Rapid Transit

 

On Sunday, December 10, BART rang in the holiday season with our riders during our inaugural SweaterFest ‘23. More than a thousand of you showed up to Rockridge Station to celebrate with us — a reminder of just how much the Bay Area loves BART.

 

We encouraged attendees to wear their BART holiday sweaters – from 2023, 2022, or 2021 (the first year we launched the sweaters) – and pose for a group photo on the steps to the station.

 

Some BART fans showed up as early as 11 a.m. – three hours before the start of the event – to be the first in line to buy a 2023 holiday sweater. By 2 p.m., the line to purchase BART merch snaked around the Rockridge sign and the plaza.

 

“I didn’t know BART had a fashion line,” said one rider passing through the station.

 

In addition to selling tons of BART-themed gifts, including the last-remaining 2023 holiday sweaters and beanies, we also launched our BART Stamp Rally with official BART passports, and handed out lots of free BART merch, including number plates and the new BART train plushie.

 

This year, BART sold 3,500 holiday sweaters in total. To help meet the strong demand, we pre-sold 2,370 sweaters earlier in the year. We ordered more than 1,000 additional sweaters to sell during the holiday season and were thrilled when they sold out quickly.

 

If you weren’t able to get a sweater before they sold out this year, we encourage you to stay up to date on all things BART by following us on social media, signing up at www.bart.gov for our BART News email subscription, and downloading the official BART app.

 

 

 

Tri-City Band Corps: London International Trip

Submitted by Charleen Pan, TBC Chief Publicity Officer

 

Tri-City Band Corps (TBC) will head to London this winter to perform in London’s New Year’s Day Parade! It is one of the largest New Year’s Day parades in the world, with over 10,000 participants, 500,000 spectators, and 500 million global viewers.

 

This is TBC’s third international performance, following Rome 2018 and London 2016, and their first since the pandemic.

 

The performers are from various high schools across the Bay Area, such as Mission High School, American High School, Irvington High School, Newark Memorial High School, Cupertino High School, and even some college students from San Jose State University and Cornell. This trip is a wonderful opportunity for them to demonstrate their abilities as musicians and their dedication to music. They have been working hard on rehearsing the pieces they will be performing in London and are eagerly anticipating this unique experience.

 

Beyond performing in the New Year’s Day parade, students will also be visiting many historical landmarks, including the Tower of London, Westminster Palace, Windsor Castle, and many more!

 

If you want to learn more about this trip or additional programs by Tri-City Band Corps, check out www.tricitybandcorps.org, or email tbc@tricitybandcorps.org.

 

 

 

Local Winery Closing

Submitted By William Smyth

 

For thirty-seven years Westover Winery has been a popular spot for fine wine, weddings and many memorable events for local residents. By the end of this year, William Smyth, Kelly Smyth and Ken Tatum will be closing their winery for good. Westover is located off Niles Canyon Road.

 

William Westover Smyth started the vineyards in 1986 and followed soon with a bonded winery. His family had operated farms in Alameda County since the mid 1800’s. His great-great grandfather, Henry Smyth, built covered wagons in San Lorenzo. His great-great aunt was Florence McConaghy of the McConaghy House, which is a historical home of the Hayward Area Recreation Department. William’s grandmother, Ione Westover Smyth, was born on Palomares Canyon Road in 1906 in a historical house which still stands today. While noting this rich history and the fact that one of his relatives, Josephine Tychson, is documented as the first woman winemaker in California in 1881, it is sad to see this family farming legacy end.

 

Over the years, the Westover Winery has hosted hundreds of weddings for all themes and cultures. In fact, William presided, as minister, over a good many of them. During one period in the glorious history of the Winery, Westover hosted the famous Band “Big Brother and the Holding Company,” famous for launching the career of Janis Joplin. Also appearing was “It’s a Beautiful Day,” known for the song “White Bird” as well as many other famous groups. The popular television shows “Bay Area Backroads,” “Eye on the Bay” and “Fox Business News” featured the winery.

 

“I will not miss the over regulation of businesses and high crime in Alameda County, but I will miss the thousands of customers and friends we have made over the years” states William. This is a second retirement for both William and Kelly. William comes from the medical field while Kelly was a teacher in public schools.

 

Moving forward, William and Kelly plan to stay at the property making home wine and raising their chickens as well as continue their volunteer work with Rotary International. They have already done humanitarian work in Kenya, Mexico, Central America, Europe and Asia. These projects have mostly centered around medical work but they also handed out 400 turkeys to the needy, worked with guide dogs for the blind, rang the bell for the Salvation Army and even visited Ukraine in the war zone after raising thousands of dollars and medical supplies for this war-torn country.

 

They wish everyone sincere thanks for all the great years and wish happy holidays to all.

 

 

 

Winter Solstice: The Longest Night

Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center

 

In December’s edition of Family Astronomy, explore the fascinating history, diverse cultural customs, and ancient rituals associated with the Winter Solstice. You’ll learn about the shortest day of the year, the various types and stages of night and twilight, and how different cultures around the world celebrate this celestial event, from lighting candles and bonfires to creating handmade decorations and sharing stories. Guests will receive complimentary hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies.

 

This event is geared toward families with kids age five and up.

 

 

Winter Solstice: The Longest Night

Thursday, Dec 21

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

Tickets: $25 Adults; $15 Youth 3+

 

 

 

How to be Less Controlling

By Anne Chan, PhD, MFT

 

In my last two columns, I wrote about a common problem in the American workplace—micromanagers. But work is not the only place where one can encounter a micromanager. Typically, micromanagers will go home and try to control their partners, friends, and children! Perhaps you or your loved one might not identify with the term “micromanager,” but do any of the following hit home?

 

• Do you like to take control of plans, decisions, and processes?
• Are you concerned about every single detail, even non-essential ones?
• Do you need to know every minutia of when and how things are going to happen?
• Do you tend to want to do things your way?
• Do you get annoyed when people do things differently than you would?
• Have you been told that your standards are too high to be met?
• Are uncertainty, unpredictability, and ambiguity very stressful for you?
• Are you a perfectionist?
• Do you believe that most people are not up to the task of doing the job right?
• Do you tend to do things yourself rather than let others do it because they might mess up?

 

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, your behaviors are likely to cause stress for the people around you, be they your loved ones, children, friends, or colleagues. You are likely stressed as well because you use up a lot of your time and energy corralling people. The good news is that you don’t have to stay stuck in your micromanaging or overcontrolling ways. Taking the following steps will help you be less controlling:

 

1. Understand the roots of why you overcontrol. You cannot change your ingrained behaviors effectively if you do not know why you have these behaviors in the first place. A therapist can help you get to the bottom of your behaviors. There are also great books on overcontrolling that will help you figure out the causes behind your behaviors.

 

2. Be compassionate with yourself as you uncover the roots of your behaviors. Being overcontrolling has been a coping mechanism that has worked in certain situations. Control has given you a sense of security and assurance, even if it has not been a perfect strategy. There is no need to berate yourself while you are in the process of changing.

 

3. Be clear on your motivation to change. Ask yourself: “What would I gain from changing my way of being?” It might be having a better, more loving relationship with your child or partner. Or it might be improving your relationship with your reports at work. Changing a lifelong pattern is not easy. However, understanding the benefits of changing will be essential in helping you change course.

 

4. The roots of overcontrolling are often fear and anxiety. Take stock of how your fear connects with your need to overcontrol. Examine your fears—are they legitimate or are you catastrophizing? What are truly the worst things that could happen if you let go of control?

 

5. Overcontrollers tend to believe that their way is the best and only way to do things. Ask yourself: Is it always best to have my way, without input from others? What might be some positive benefits if others get to do things their way?

 

6. Practice acceptance of imperfection and imperfect humans. No one is perfect—not even you! So, learn to accept the imperfect humans that we all are. Accept imperfection as a necessary condition of living.

 

7. Discern what is important and what is non-essential. Make a list of non-essentials and practice letting go of the first non-essential at the top of your list.

 

8. Practice delegating in small steps. Choose one small thing that you can entrust to someone else. Note your reactions before, during, and after. Be intentional as you talk yourself through this.

 

9. Learn relaxation techniques that can help you deal with the anxiety that comes up when you let go of needing to be in control.

 

The root of overcontrolling is often a desire for things to go right and for bad things not to happen. This is certainly an understandable desire, but it is not a realistic one. Life is usually messy, imperfect, unpredictable, but glorious all the same. If you can accept that life, humans, and YOU are gloriously imperfect, you can start letting go of control and begin enjoying life instead!

 

 

Anne Chan is a career consultant and licensed psychotherapist in California. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at annechantcv@gmail.com. © Anne Chan, 2023

 

 

 

EARTHTALK

War And The Environment

By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

 

Dear EarthTalk: What sort of environmental toll are the major military conflicts going on around the world now taking? —J.D., Salem, NH

 

No one questions the fact that war is horrible, and it is no less so for the environment. And recent major conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East couldn’t come at a worse time politically as international negotiators try to broker a deal to rein in carbon emissions against the backdrop of two active wars.

 

In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, environmental damage has been widespread. An August 2023 study by Chinese and German researchers found an “abrupt exacerbation in air quality over Europe after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.” Levels of both particulate matter and nitrogen oxide have spiked about 10 percent each—and ground-level ozone surged by almost eight percent—in regions where fighting has occurred. The researchers blame ongoing explosions and fires as the main drivers of this predicament. Due to the war, Ukraine has experienced a 45-fold increase in the total area of forest fires across the country. The result has been the release of hundreds of millions of tons of noxious pollution in various forms that not only foul the air but also contaminate soils and groundwater across the region.

 

Meanwhile, the more recent Hamas/Israel conflict is wreaking havoc on the environment in the Middle East. Israel’s campaign to eradicate Hamas following the initial October 7 attack has turned much of Gaza into an apocalyptic destruction zone where polluted air and water now joins mass casualties and lack of food and supplies in making life extremely difficult for millions of Palestinians.

 

“These environmental impacts exacerbate the toll of death and injury directly caused by acts of war, but the environmental death toll will continue for decades due to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer caused by exposure to elevated levels of pollution,” United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment David R. Boyd tells TRT World.

 

Besides damaging the environment and increasing our global carbon footprint, these recent conflicts are also taking a toll on longer term prospects for hammering out a binding agreement for the nations of the world to work together in reining in carbon emissions. CNN reports that world leaders attending the long-awaited November 2023 Abu Dhabi follow-up to 2015’s Paris Climate Agreement were spending more time meeting behind closed doors trying to broker diplomatic solutions to military conflicts than hammering out carbon emissions reduction plans. Jordan’s King Abdullah II told gathered delegates that “we cannot talk about climate change in isolation from the humanitarian tragedies unfolding around us,” adding that “the massive destruction of war” makes environmental threats like water scarcity and food insecurity even more severe. Meanwhile, Iranian negotiators left the climate talks because its sworn enemy Israel had delegates present.

 

Environmentalist advocates around the world are keeping their fingers crossed that the wars in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine don’t derail international cooperation on environmental issues altogether.

 

 

ONLINE CONTACTS

Israel devastates Gaza’s environment for years to come, warn experts

• https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/israel-devastates-gazas-environment-for-years-to-come-warn-experts-15904788

Abrupt exacerbation in air quality over Europe after the outbreak of Russia-Ukraine war

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412023003938

 

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

 

 

 

News and notes from around the world

Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

 

Love conquers

It was love at first sight when a deer made a romantic Christmas pass at an ornamental doe in the front yard of a Camp Nelson, CA home recently. The statuesque female of the species didn’t have a chance when the would-be boyfriend sought to get passionate. His embrace resulted in considerable damage to the figurine and it was all caught on tape thanks to a security camera. Watch the encounter on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaEkojHx54I

 

Christmas, Texas style

Tis the season to get jolly, big time — especially in Texas where everything is bigger. Take the gigantic inflatable Santa that mysteriously showed up in a vacant lot in Tyler, TX in time for the holiday season. Resident Marsha Daugherty told KETK-TV, “Nobody lives on this lot, so we don't know who installed Santa. But isn't that fun?” Locals will tell you that whoever is responsible for the gigantic Christmas present made the holiday all the better. It’s estimated that he or she who came up with the idea spent a thousand dollars or more to arrange the special holiday event. See the supersize Santa on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZA9oVm4HdA

 

Gary’s back in town

The folks who live in Kentwood, MI who were saddened when Gary the Turkey passed away last year are gleeful once again—a new wild turkey has shown up in town just in time for this year’s holiday season. They’re calling him Gary Jr. As local Cathy Kutschinski put it, “It's something that brings some positive light to dark times.” She noted that Gary Jr is following in his predecessor’s footsteps. “Same antics of stopping traffic, chasing cars, blocking people from getting out of their driveways.” See the town turkey on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q1mASn83kc

 

 

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

 

 

 

THE ROBOT REPORT

 

GXO Logistics putting Digit humanoid to test

By Steve Crowe

 

You can add the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider to the growing list of companies testing Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid. GXO Logistics is conducting a proof-of-concept pilot with Digit at Spanx’s facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Adrian Stoch, GXO‘s chief automation officer, told The Robot Report that Spanx is one of its customers willing to test the limits of innovation with robotics. And the global womenswear brand is doing just that with Digit.

 

In the pilot, Digit is moving totes off of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and onto a conveyor. The AMRs, which appear to be Chucks from 6 River Systems, bring the packed totes to a transfer station. Digit then uses its perception system to detect the AMR has arrived. Next, Digit picks up a tote off the top or bottom shelf, carries it over, and places it onto the conveyor. In the future, Agility said Digit will also communicate directly with the AMR fleet manager. Now, this tote-moving task seems similar to how Amazon is testing Digit. Amazon’s initial use for Digit is to recycle empty totes. It takes totes off a stationary storage rack and carries them to a conveyor.

 

However, there are at least a couple of important differences to point out with Spanx. First, the totes are filled with products. When asked how much an average tote filled with Spanx products weighs, Agility Robotics co-founder and CEO Damion Shelton ballparked it to be between 5 to 10 lb. Digit, which is 5’9″ tall and weighs 140 lb., can lift up to 35 lb. Second, Digit interacts with an AMR. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a humanoid collaborate with an AMR before. “Digit can work with the AMR similar to how a human does,” said Shelton. “Anyone getting a Spanx shipment within the last couple weeks may have had Digit help pack their product.”

 

If this initial phase is successful, GXO said it will pilot Digit in a variety of other roles in 2024. Greenwich, Connecticut-based GXO manages more than 970 supply chain facilities around the world totaling approximately 200 million sq. ft. So how can Digit prove its worth? “There are two criteria,” Stoch said GXO is evaluating. “The first is the maturity of the technology. It needs to learn from our teachings and move product as our business needs it to. Once we prove that, the second part is economics. It doesn’t need to be a significant financial business case because of the safety benefits [Digit brings to the facility].” During her recent appearance on The Robot Report Podcast, Agility Robotics CTO Melonee Wise, who spent years developing wheeled, mobile robots, said humanoids can help connect “islands of automation.”

 

Stoch echoed that sentiment, adding that Digit’s potential flexibility gives it a nod over an AMR with a top module. “The real application here is end-to-end product flow throughout the warehouse,” he said. “Until now, solutions have been mostly discrete applications: goods-to-person, sorters, wearable tech. Solving discrete problems in one part of the puzzle. We have 12-15 sites with highly integrated, end-to-end flows that require heavy human interaction between the different areas. What we’ve got here with Digit is a great first application – cobot to robot to conveyor. It’s lifting totes that have been packed, organized, put onto mobile robots. A lot of customers have dynamic environments, and it’s hard to predict what volumes will be during peak season, let alone Q2 next year. How much volume will we receive in the different parts of the warehouse? That’s where having flexibility is critical. Even if that is predictable, we can potentially have Digit support the e-commerce side of the business on Black Friday and then have it walk to another part of the warehouse on any given day.”

 

Robots are in high demand within logistics, thanks to labor shortages, increasing demand, and other challenges. Until now, however, humanoids have never been considered an option for warehouse operators. And there are still many naysayers. It seems a new humanoid is revealed every month now. Apptronik, Figure, Fourier Intelligence, Sanctuary, Tesla, and Unitree are just are few of the companies working on commercializing humanoids. Now China wants in on the action, saying it’ll mass-produce humanoids by 2025.

 

For the time being, Agility Robotics has two legs up on the competition. Regardless of whether you think humanoids are viable, those working in robotics shouldn’t underestimate what the company has already accomplished; having Amazon and GXO test a humanoid is no small feat. “We don’t have control over the floor finish or the lighting [at the Spanx warehouse],” Shelton said. “The rubber on Digit’s feet or its vision system are things you can truly only learn about when on-site with customers. This is the continued evolution of our system.” Agility recently unveiled RoboFab, a robot manufacturing facility in Salem, Oregon, with the capability to produce more than 10,000 robots per year. “The last couple of months have been the first time we’ve been able to talk publicly about our pilots,” Shelton said. “We’re excited as it’s the culmination of what we’ve been working on. Shipping something in high volume makes you relevant, not a footnote in history.”

 

“It’s hard for us to get excited until we realize [Digit] is a surprise to everyone else,” said Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer of Agility Robotics. “We’ve been working on this for so long, we knew this was coming. But to share it with customers is very exciting. And this is just the beginning.”

 

 

Steve Crowe is Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media, and chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness. He is also co-host of The Robot Report Podcast, the top-rated podcast for the robotics industry. He can be reached at scrowe@wtwhmedia.com

 

 

 

Tesla demonstrates Optimus Gen 2 dexterity, recalls 2M vehicles

By Eugene Demaitre

 

December 13 Tesla showed that its Optimus humanoid robot has new levels of humanlike dexterity and mobility. In a post to X (formerly Twitter), the Austin, Texas-based company briefly showed Optimus handling eggs from a carton.

 

The latest version of the robot has hands with 11 degrees of freedom (DoF) and tactile sensors in each finger.

 

The video outlines its progress from Bumblebee in September 2022 to Optimus Gen 1 in March 2023 and Gen 2 this month.

 

Tesla touted features including actuators and sensors designed in-house, a 2-DoF neck, and integrated electronics and harnessing for its actuators.

 

The company also briefly listed improvements including a 30% boost in walking speed, force/torque sensing and articulated toe sections in its feet, as well as “human foot geometry.” This is in contrast to the digitigrade legs and feet of some robots.

 

In addition, Tesla said it has reduced the total weight of its humanoid by 10 kg (22 lb.), which is important for energy consumption, cost, and safety. The company claimed that the robot has improved balance, showing squat thrusts.

 

Tesla has said it will initially use Optimus in its automotive and battery factories, with plans to replace scarce human labor in other applications further in the future.

 

At RoboBusiness in October, experts from . Jeff Cardenas, co-founder and CEO of Apptronik; Jonathan Hurst, co-founder and chief robot officer of Agility Robotics; and Geordie Rose, co-founder and CEO of Sanctuary, discussed the state of humanoid robotics.

 

About The Author

Eugene Demaitre is editorial director of the robotics group at WTWH Media. He was senior editor of The Robot Report from 2019 to 2020 and editorial director of Robotics 24/7 from 2020 to 2023. Demaitre has participated in robotics webcasts, podcasts, and conferences worldwide. He has a master's from the George Washington University and lives in the Boston area.

 

 

 

Social Security Matters

By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation

 

Ask Rusty – I’m 65 and working; can I collect ex-spouse benefits?

Dear Rusty: I turned 65 earlier this year, and I still work full time. I was divorced four years ago after 38 years of marriage, but my ex-husband has been collecting Social Security for at least 10 years now. Can I start collecting Social Security and still work full time? And can I collect my ex-husband's amount if it is more than mine (and what is the best way to achieve this)? When I went to my local SSA office, they said they had no way of knowing that. Signed: Working Divorcee

 

Dear Working Divorcee: Although you are eligible to claim Social Security at age 65, because you are working full time you may wish to wait a bit longer to do so. That’s because Social Security has an “earnings test” which applies to anyone who collects benefits before full retirement age, and you have not yet reached yours.

 

The earnings test imposes a limit on how much you can earn before SS takes away some of your benefits. If you exceed the annual earnings limit ($22,320 for 2024), Social Security will want back $1 in benefits for every $2 you are over the limit and you will need to repay that, usually by having future benefits withheld. If you significantly exceed the limit, you may even be temporarily ineligible to receive SS benefits until you either earn less or reach your full retirement age (FRA) of 66 years and 8 months. So, if your earnings from working will significantly exceed the annual earnings limit (which changes yearly), it’s likely that your wisest move would be to wait longer to claim your Social Security. As a bonus for doing so, your monthly payment will have grown and will be higher when you claim later. The earnings test no longer applies after you reach FRA.

 

Regarding benefits from your ex-husband, you cannot collect his instead of yours. What you may be able to do, when you claim your own benefit, is to get an additional amount which brings your monthly payment up to 50% of his. In order for that to happen, you would need to satisfy the following criteria:

 

• You are not currently married.
• The personal benefit you are entitled to at your FRA must be less than 50% of your ex-husband’s FRA entitlement.

 

If the above are true, when you claim your own SS retirement benefit you will also get a “spousal boost” to bring your payment up to what you’re entitled to as an ex-spouse. The amount of the spousal boost, if you claim Social Security at your FRA, will be the difference between half of his FRA entitlement and your FRA entitlement. If you claim your benefit before your FRA, not only will your own benefit be reduced for claiming early, but the amount of your spousal boost will also be reduced (benefits claimed before FRA are always reduced).

 

Whenever you decide to claim Social Security, you will be automatically deemed to be filing for benefits from your ex-husband as well (you shouldn’t need to apply separately). You’ve already satisfied the basic criteria of at least 10 years married to get benefits from an ex-spouse and, if you satisfy the above criteria as well, you will be entitled to a spousal boost when you claim. But your current earnings from working full time will likely affect your eligibility to collect Social Security benefits at this time, so waiting until your full retirement age to claim may be your best choice.

 

If you will only slightly exceed the annual earnings limit you can consider claiming earlier, as long as you are comfortable with receiving a permanently reduced amount, and the prospect of not getting benefits for a number of months if you exceed the earnings limit (the number of months you will go without benefits depends on how much you exceed the limit by).

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Gingerbread homes for the holidays

By Daniel O’Donnell

 

Holiday traditions have evolved from different cultures all over the world and throughout several centuries. The tradition of creating gingerbread houses is no exception. The earliest gingerbread houses made as holiday decorations resembled small cabins. Gingerbread villages, castles, replicas of famous buildings, and life-sized gingerbread houses are now being created as the gingerbread house holiday tradition continues to grow in popularity.

 

“Gingerbread” variations can include cakes, cookies, breads, and other baked goods that include spices people associate with the holidays and winter. Ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon are the most common spices used in baking gingerbread. Most gingerbread baked goods are sweetened with honey, brown or cane sugar, syrup, or molasses making them show up on the holiday dessert table rather than the dinner table. Gingerbread spice combinations also flavor gingerbread lattes, cheesecakes, and frostings.

 

Ginger root was first cultivated in ancient China. The first known recipe for gingerbread dates back to 2400 B.C. in ancient Greece. The spice was used to flavor preserved meats and for medicinal purposes as the ginger spice trade spread throughout Europe. Gingerbread recipes developed regionally in the Middle Ages. Queen Elizabeth I had some gingerbread cookies baked and frosted to resemble dignitaries visiting her court, so history gives her the credit for the idea of decorating gingerbread cookies. In Germany, gingerbread houses may have become popular due to the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel.” In the tale, Hansel and Gretel stumble upon an evil witch’s house made of gingerbread with sugary decorations.

 

There are three primary types of firm baked gingerbreads used to construct gingerbread houses. Brown Gingerbread includes all gingerbreads that have at least one part molasses, brown sugar or syrup to two parts flour. They are soft dark brown cookies made from dough. Wafer Gingerbreads have a wafer base which contains about 15% ground almonds and/or walnuts. They are thin and crisp like a cracker. Honey Gingerbread is one of the oldest types of gingerbread with the sweetness coming from honey. This gives the gingerbread a lighter color. Cane sugar will also give gingerbread doughs a lighter color.

 

Making a holiday gingerbread house starts with designing the structure. Purchasing a gingerbread house kit with everything included and pre-baked can be ideal if you do not like to bake or are short on time. You can design your own house, or find a template online. It is recommended to bake the gingerbread a day before construction, which allows the gingerbread to cool completely.

 

Then the house is decorated with candy and icing. You can follow a template or photo reference, or improvise. Although constructing a gingerbread house is a fun holiday event and makes a festive decoration, there is also enjoyment in eating it. So, the best choices for decorative candies are the ones that anyone who will be eventually eating the house likes. It is easier to decorate the walls and roof when they are sitting flat on the table before constructing the house. Use a pastry bag or a modified freezer bag filled with royal icing to put the house together.

 

There are a number of gingerbread houses on display during the holidays for people in the Bay Area to enjoy. Sausalito is hosting their 17th annual Gingerbread House Tour and Competition from December 8th through the 31st. There is a map online at sausalito.org/gingerbread-house-tour of a free walking tour of the downtown merchants who are displaying their gingerbread houses. The site also has a place where you can cast your vote for the best confectionary creation.

 

Filoli Historic House and Gardens at the Holidays at Filoli event has a large gingerbread house or a handful of smaller gingerbread houses on display each year in the mansion’s kitchen. San Francisco hotels have also embraced the festive world of holiday gingerbread “houses.” The Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square displays a 12-foot-high Sugar Castle surrounded by a gingerbread village. The Fairmont has a two-story 22-foot-high and 23-foot-wide gingerbread house that you can walk into. The Palace Hotel presents a 400-pound gingerbread chateau, and the Mark Hopkins Hotel lays out a gingerbread display of some of the City’s most iconic buildings.

 

Whether you build your own enchanting gingerbread house or visit an elaborate holiday gingerbread edifice in San Francisco, you will be sharing in a holiday tradition that dates back centuries. A holiday tradition that people long ago shared with family and friends and the same holiday tradition you can enjoy with your loved ones today.

 

 

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

 

 

 

Alameda County Water District

December 14, 2023

6:00 p.m.

 

Action Calendar

• Reorganization of Board of Directors (Director James Gunther nominated for President; Director Judy Huang nominated for Vice President: 2024 Term) Passed 4-0-1 (Akbari, Absent)

 

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of November 9, 2023
• Ratification of Payment of Audited Demands dated November 3, November 13, November 17, and December 1, 2023
• Resolution approving and authorizing execution of Public Water System Extension Agreement with Zafir Shaiq, Tract 8530 – Decoto Lux Homes, ACWD No. 2020-0061
• Resolution appointing Marian Hsu as District Secretary of the Board of Directors and Rescinding Resolution Nos. 06-012 and 21-051
• Authorization of agreement for Filter Press Maintenance Services
• Authorization of agreement for Electrical Testing Services
• Authorization of amendment to agreement for Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic Maintenance Services
• Authorization to execute two agreements regarding the 2024 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Prevention Programs at the Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area and Lake Del Valle
• Authorization to enter into a new agreement with JGC Government Relations, Inc. for Legislative Consulting Services
• Authorization of amendment to Professional Services Agreement for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project
• Resolution Honoring Guy Phillips upon his retirement from District Service
• Resolution Honoring Michael Casey upon his retirement from District Service
• Resolution Honoring Georgia H. Markou upon her retirement from District Service

 

President Paul Sethy               Aye

Aziz Akbari                             Absent

James Gunther                        Aye

Judy Huang                             Aye

John Weed                              Aye

 

 

 

San Leandro Council Member to Resign from City Council

Submitted By City of San Leandro

 

The City of San Leandro announced December 7 that it has received a formal letter of resignation from City Council Member Celina Reynes, effective December 31, 2023.

 

Council Member Reynes was first elected to the City Council in November 2022 and commenced her service this past January. Reflecting back on her time in office, she stated, “Each individual deserves care, and our well-being necessitates it. To better serve my community, I must now take time to prioritize my own well-being and that of my newborn daughter. I hold nothing but the highest regard for the San Leandro community, which has been my family's home since my grandparents immigrated here nearly eighty years ago. I express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has served this community with kindness and courage, regardless of the scale of their contributions.”

 

“I deeply respect Council Member Reynes’ passion and dedication to our community,” noted Mayor Juan González III. “I look forward to hearing from her, as she advocates for positive change in the lives of all San Leandro residents.” The mayor encourages residents of District 1 with an interest in serving on the City Council to apply to serve as Council Member Reynes’ successor.

 

In accordance with the City Charter, the City Council will begin the process of appointing a new City Council Member for District 1. Further details regarding the appointment selection process will be made available soon.

 

 

 

Hayward City Council

December 5, 2023

7:00 p.m.

 

Public Hearing

• Spectator Ordinance Modifications: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 4, Article 12 of the Hayward Municipal Code Relating to Spectators at Illegal Speed Contests and Exhibitions of Speed to Include Sideshows. Unanimously approved.

 

Consent Items

• Authorize an agreement with All Star Talent, Inc. for Recruitment Consulting and Services in an amount not-to-exceed $158,300
• Amend the Professional Services Agreements with The Friends of Chabot College and California State University East Bay Foundation Inc. for Program Management Services for the Tuition Assistance Program each for a total additional not-to-exceed amount of $200,000
• Authorize an agreement with Newton Construction & Management for the Watkins Parking Garage in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $484,781
• Amend the Professional Services Agreement with Brown and Caldwell to Increase the Contract Amount by $8,023,117 to a not-to-exceed amount of $16,672,828 for Final Design Services for the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Improvements Phase II Project No. 07760
• Approve the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Montecito Development Company LLC for the Proposed Development of the California Air National Guard and Skywest Sites at the Hayward Executive Airport
• Approve a One-Year Extension of the Citywide Community Workforce Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County
• Approve an Updated Freeway Agreement with Caltrans accommodating changes relating to the I-880/Whipple Road Industrial Parkway Interchange Improvement Project
• Approve Plans and Specifications and Call for Bids after receiving Caltrans authorization to proceed with construction for the Main Street Complete Street Project
• Authorize renaming the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) to “Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF),” and new laboratory dedication
• Adopt a resolution establishing the City Contribution for Active and Retiree Medical Premiums Set by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) for Calendar Year 2024
• Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Hayward and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 1909, Hayward Fire Officers Association
• Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Hayward and the Hayward Police Management Unit (HPMU)

 

 

Mayor Mark Salinas               Aye

Angela Andrews                     Aye

Ray Bonilla                             Aye

Dan Goldstein                         Aye

Julie Roche                             Aye

George Syrop                          Aye

Francisco Zermeno                 Aye

 

 

 

Union City City Council

December 12, 2023

7:00 p.m.

 

Consent Agenda

• Execute agreement with William R. Gray And Company, Inc., DBA Gray-Bowen-Scott, in the amount of $360,000, a total not-to-exceed $904,000, for progress reporting and reimbursement processing for Alameda County Transportation Commission-Funded Projects
• Execute agreement with Park Engineering, in the amount of $100,000, for encroachment permit inspection services, for a total not-to-exceed $274,000
• Execute agreement with Urban Planning Partners, to increase the agreement amount by $300,000, for a total not to exceed $800,000, for planning division support, and to extend the agreement to January 8, 2026
• Execute agreement with 4Leaf, Inc., to increase the agreement amount by $600,000, not to exceed $2,500,000, for building division support
• Approve an amendment to update the class specification for Recreation Supervisor
• Receive and accept the audited financial statements of the Measure B Fund, the Measure BB Fund, the Measure F Fund, and the TDA Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022
• Appoint Subru Bhat to the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District board of trustees for a two-year term expiring January 1, 2026

 

 

Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci               Aye

Gary Singh                                          Aye

Jamie Patino                                       Aye

Jeff Wang                                           Aye

Scott Sakakihara                                 Aye

 

 

 

Union Sanitary District

December 11, 2023

 

Motions

• Operations Report:

1. October 2023 Monthly Operations Report
2. Fiscal Year 2024 1st Quarter Managed Investment Portfolio Report from PFM
3. Fiscal Year 2024 1st Quarter District-Wide Balanced Scorecard Measures

• Authorize an Information Technology (IT) Support Contract with Halcyon Networks
• Approve Three Resolutions for the Application for Clean Water State Revolving Fund Financial Assistance for the WAS Thickener Replacement Project
• Authorize an Agreement and Task Order No. 1 with Siegel and Strain Architects for the Field Operations Building Improvements Project
• Authorize an Agreement and Task Order No. 1 with LookingPoint Inc for Network services for the Enhanced Treatment and Site Upgrade Phase 1A Campus Project

 

 

President Manny Fernandez               Aye

Tom Handley                                      Aye

Pat Kite                                               Aye

Anjali Lathi                                         Aye

Jennifer Toy                                        Aye

 

 

 

Alameda County Fire Log

Submitted By ACFD

 

Wednesday, December 13

• The Alameda County Fire Department responded to a structure fire in an apartment building on E.14th Street in San Leandro. The fire was confined to one unit. There were no injuries to firefighters or the community, but unfortunately, there were several residents who were displaced.

 

 

 

Alameda County Sheriff’s Office

Submitted By ACSO

 

Monday, December 11

• Eden Township Substation is investigating a road rage related shooting that occurred around 12:40 p.m. December 11. A 70-year-old male and his 14-year-old dog were in the pick-up truck when the suspect vehicle attempted to pass the victim near Foothill Blvd. and Castro Valley Blvd. and continued eastbound on Castro Valley Blvd. to Redwood Rd.

 

After the suspect shot the bed of the victim’s truck twice, the victim drove to the California Highway Patrol station on Redwood Rd. to safety. The victim was startled, but fortunately, unharmed. The suspect vehicle was possibly a white or light colored sedan. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (510) 667-7721.

 

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted By BART PD

 

Friday, December 8

• At 7:45 a.m. two people identified by police as Antonio Aguilar, 39, from Hayward and Elizarraga Aguilar, 20, from Hayward were found in a restricted area at Hayward Station. Antonio Aguilar was found to have a $2,500 vandalism warrant out of BART PD. Both subjects were arrested for being in a restricted transit area. Antonio Aguilar was also arrested for an active warrant. They were both booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Saturday, December 9

• At 6:01 p.m. a man police identified as Danny Jackson, 48, from Hayward was contacted by officers at Bay Fair Station for fare evasion. Jackson was arrested and booked into Alameda County Jail for an active warrant.

 

Sunday, December 10

• At 7:41 p.m. a woman police identified as Jasmine Mixon, 33, from San Francisco was arrested at Bay Fair Station for false personation and an active warrant. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Tuesday, December 12

• At 10:31 a.m. a man police identified as Ricardo Badilla, 19, from Hayward was taken into custody in the parking garage of Hayward Station and booked into Alameda County Jail for vandalism and theft.

 

• At 9:58 p.m. a man police identified as Tony Neru, 35, from San Leandro was detained for fare evasion at Bay Fair Station and arrested for two active warrants. Neru was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• A woman police identified as Kyra Jones, 27, from San Francisco was detained at Bay Fair Station for fare evasion. Jones was arrested and booked into Santa Rita County Jail for an active warrant.

 

 

 

Calling Private Schools and Education Centers to join Notifications List

Submitted By Fremont Police Department

 

Calling all Private Schools, Education Centers and After School Programs! Fremont Police Department is working to establish a better communications network with our private education institutions. The primary goals are to disseminate information, including:

1. Timely information to our private schools for incidents that may affect their campuses
2. Up to date contact information for each of the institutions
3. Non-urgent communications related to private school safety and operations (example: safety tips, crime trends in schools, trainings, etc.)

 

If you are the director, administrator, principal or point of contact of a private school, please take a second to fill out our Contact Information form here: fremontpolice.gov/i-want-to/register/private-school-network-communications

 

For questions, email FremontPolice@fremont.gov or call our Public Affairs Unit at (510) 790-6740.

 

 

 

CHP Log

Submitted By California Highway Patrol Hayward Area Office

 

Tuesday, December 12

• Officer Ocampo and Officer Hackbarth located an abandoned, crashed vehicle, blocking the #1 lane of I-880 Southbound, north of A Street in Hayward. Witnesses observed three, young males flee from the vehicle towards city streets. Officer Bonasea and Officer Cuellar responded to the area and located three males matching the reported descriptions. The three subjects were detained and one subject was arrested for being in possession of a stolen firearm. Another subject was transported to the hospital for a broken arm.

 

While searching the white Lexus, a stolen, loaded firearm was located and recovered. Upon further investigation, the Lexus was determined to be stolen out of Hayward and was tied to an earlier burglary call in San Leandro. The incident is still under investigation by CHP Hayward.

 

 

 

East Bay Regional Parks Police Log

Submitted By Dave Mason

 

Tuesday, December 5

• East Bay Regional Park District Police Department arrested a suspect for multiple auto burglaries. The suspect is believed to be responsible for at least five auto burglaries in Tilden Regional Park, in Berkeley, and one auto burglary in Dry Creek Regional Park, in Union City. The victims had their credit cards stolen from their vehicles, which were later fraudulently used to buy merchandise at large name brand stores.

 

Our Detectives and Patrol Officers obtained warrants to collect evidence of the crimes, which ultimately led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

 

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted By Fremont PD

 

Wednesday, November 29

• Officers responded to a commercial alarm at a jewelry store on the 40000 block of Grimmer Blvd. A vehicle had reversed into and smashed the rear entry doors to the jewelry store, then fled. No suspects were located inside the store. Officers located the suspect vehicle abandoned a few blocks away. This case remains under investigation.

 

• Officers responded to several reports of shots fired in the Wolfe Ct. area. Officers located four spent shell casings in the area of Paseo Padre Pkwy and Darwin Dr. No victims, witnesses, or surveillance footage of the incident were located.

 

Thursday, November 30

• Officers responded to an apartment complex on Stevenson Common. The victim reported that his neighbor had brandished a firearm and pistol-whipped him. The victim and subject had been in an ongoing dispute over noise from the victim’s apartment. Upon arrival, officers contacted the subject and arrested him. The victim sustained minor injuries and was transported for medical care. The recovered weapon was a BB-style pistol.

 

• Officers responded to a report from a victim of an attempted carjacking on Albrae St. A subject brandished a firearm while demanding the victim’s vehicle keys. A second subject hit the victim over the head with a baseball bat, and then both subjects fled the area. Officers were able to identify the first subject and later arrested him. The subject’s associates turned the firearm over to police without incident.

 

Sunday, December 3

• A victim was sitting in her vehicle in front of a store at the Fremont Hub when a juvenile subject holding a knife opened her door and demanded her vehicle. The victim closed the door, and the subject walked away.

 

• Officers responded to the Decoto Rd. and Fremont Blvd. area to assist the California Highway Patrol with a vehicle pursuit. CHP officers pursued a vehicle until it stopped, and the occupants fled on foot. Officers located one subject in the area that may have been related. Officers determined that the vehicle was stolen and recovered a firearm inside. Officers arrested the subject.

 

Monday, December 4

• Officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon in the parking lot of the Fremont DMV. A tow truck driver was attempting to repossess a vehicle when a subject with a wooden board attacked him. Officers arrested the subject.

 

• A victim returned to his residence on Marion Ave. and was jumped by four subjects. One subject struck him with a baseball bat, and another was seen with a handgun. This case remains under investigation.

 

• Officers responded to a hotel on Mission Blvd. regarding domestic violence. The subject had mentioned he would charge officers with a knife if confronted, hoping police would shoot and kill him. Dispatch coordinated officers to make contact with the subject, and officers arrested him without incident. The subject was placed on a hold for mental health evaluation.

 

• Officers investigated a retail theft at a sporting goods store on Pacific Commons Blvd. Four subjects stole approximately $13,000 in merchandise and ran out of the store. The subjects fled in a vehicle. This case remains under investigation.

 

Thursday, December 14

• Fremont Police Officers responded to a medical emergency at the American High School campus. One student suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The school was temporarily placed in a lockdown from 1:30 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. No threats existed to the students on campus or the general community. This incident remains under active investigation.

 

 

 

Hayward Police Log

Submitted By Hayward PD

 

Tuesday, December 5

• Hayward Police Officers responded to an emergency where a man had threatened people with a pistol. After a brief foot chase with Officers, the suspect ran back inside of his apartment and hid the weapon. The unrelenting Officers worked hard and were able to take the suspect into custody, but did not know where he had hidden the firearm. Detectives responded to the apartment with a search warrant and asked K9 Arwin for some help. Police K9’s are primarily used as locating tools, and K9 Arwin specializes in firearms and ammunition detection. K9 Arwin led the detectives to a stack of shoe boxes in the suspect’s closet, where he alerted. Detectives opened the boxes and located the outstanding pistol and several loaded and extended magazines.

 

Wednesday, December 13

• Officers pulled a car over to cite the driver for an equipment violation and, as they spoke with the two occupants, learned the passenger was on formal probation with a search clause.

 

A search of the car revealed two loaded handguns, one inside the driver’s purse and the other within arm's reach of the passenger. A record check revealed both guns to be stolen. The driver and passenger were both taken into custody for various gun related charges, including both being in possession of a gun with prior felony convictions.

 

 

 

Hayward City Council votes to make it unlawful to attend sideshows

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

The Hayward City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, December 12 to give final approval to an ordinance making it unlawful to be a spectator at motor vehicle sideshows in the city.

 

The legislation, which takes effect January 11, 2024, extends to spectators of sideshows a 2009 prohibition that already covered spectators attending unsanctioned drag races and other motor vehicle contests or displays of speed.

 

The goal of the expanded Spectator Ordinance, requested by Hayward Police Department, is to provide the city with a variety of options to address safety concerns associated with sideshows and to deter would-be participants and spectators.

 

The ordinance provides for administrative or criminal enforcement, with violators subject to citation or arrest, and potential penalties ranging from fines of $500, $750 or $1,000 per violation and a maximum of six months in jail.

 

Under the amendment as well as state law, sideshows are defined as events at which two or more persons block or impede traffic for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, motor vehicle exhibitions of speed or reckless driving, for spectators.

 

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted By Milpitas PD

 

Friday, December 8

• At 11:55 a.m. officers responded to a disturbance call near the 350 Block of W. Calaveras Blvd. and contacted a 53-year-old male from San Jose. The subject had 7 outstanding warrants for felony vandalism, theft, court order violations, and assault. He was arrested and booked into jail for his warrants.

 

Saturday, December 9

• At 1:01 a.m. a neighboring agency was involved in a vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle, where the suspect ditched the vehicle and ran away from officers near the 250 Block of W. Calaveras Blvd. Midnight shift officers assisted and immediately established a perimeter to contain the suspect who was hiding. The suspect, a 22-year-old male from San Jose, was quickly found, arrested and booked into jail.

 

Sunday, December 10

• At 5:13 p.m. officers responded to the 1300-Block of Great Mall Pkwy on a report of a suspicious vehicle that was seen driving on the roadway with major front-end damage and a flat tire. Officers located the vehicle in a business parking lot and observed the driver, a 34-year-old male from Santa Clara, passed out behind the wheel. The driver was under the influence of alcohol and booked into jail for DUI.

 

 

 

Newark Police Log

Submitted By Newark PD

 

Monday, November 27

• 3:17 a.m.: Officer Herrera and Officer Swadener investigated an auto burglary in progress on Inverness Drive. A suspect vehicle was located in the area but fled from officers who did not pursue it. Officers recovered a stolen vehicle and located other vehicles that were burglarized and tampered with.

 

• 2:58 p.m.: Officer Medina investigated a battery between husband and wife that occurred the night prior. The suspect, a 48-year-old female out of Newark, was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• 8:11 p.m.: Officer Swadener investigated a theft from a business on Newpark Mall Road where the suspects fled on foot. Officers located two female adult suspects nearby and were positively identified by the witness. They were both arrested and issued citations.

 

Tuesday, November 28

• 12:06 p.m.: Officers investigated a report of a catalytic converter theft from Olive Street.

 

Wednesday, November 29

• 10:05 a.m.: Officers responded to Cedar Boulevard for a report of a female slumped over the steering wheel in her vehicle. Officers contacted the 60-year-old female out of Fremont and determined she was in possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal narcotics and was too intoxicated to care for herself. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Thursday, November 30

• 8:47 a.m.: A resident surrendered firearms and ammunition pursuant to a court order. Documented by Officer Losier.

 

• 8:58 a.m.: Officer Piquette investigated a report of battery on Cedar Boulevard. The victim reported that a female threw a coffee at her. The suspect fled the scene prior to police arrival.

 

• 10:01 a.m.: Officer Pacheco investigated the theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle.

 

Friday, December 1

• 9:47 a.m.: An alert citizen called in a green Kia with a broken window that had been parked in the area for two days. Officers located the vehicle and confirmed it was stolen from a neighboring city. The vehicle was towed.

 

Sunday, December 3

• 12:03 a.m.: Officer Swadener contacted a 37-year-old male out of Fremont and arrested him for being in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• 2:25 a.m.: Officer Herrera stopped a 26-year-old male Newark resident on Graham Avenue and arrested him for possession of a meth pipe.

 

• 6:18 a.m.: Officer Medina was dispatched to a male subject laying near the railroad tracks on Jarvis Avenue. A 38-year-old male out of Newark was located hiding behind a tree. It was determined that he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• 12:34 p.m.: Officers contacted a 42-year-old male out of Newark on Wells Avenue after he was recognized to match the description of a subject caught on security cameras starting fires in an industrial area. Officer Medina located a large, fixed bladed knife concealed in his sock under his pants. The male was placed under arrest for possessing the concealed dirk/dagger and ultimately confessed to starting the fires. He was issued a citation and released from the scene.

 

 

 

36th Annual Newark Optimist Club Girls Holiday Basketball Classic

Submitted by Darryl Reina

 

The 36th Annual Newark Optimist Club Girls Holiday Basketball Classic will be held on December 28, 29, and 30 at the Newark Memorial High School Event Center.

 

Sixteen team’s from throughout the Bay Area and beyond will be participating in both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Divisions.

 

The opening round of action is set to begin on Thursday, December 28.

 

Junior Varsity Schedule:

9:00 a.m.: American vs. Valley Christian

10:30 a.m.: Irvington vs. Lowell

12 Noon: Clayton Valley Charter vs. San Leandro

1:30 p.m.: Foothill vs. Newark Memorial

 

Varsity Division Schedule:

3:15 p.m.: Arroyo Grande vs. Santa Clara

4:45 p.m.: San Leandro vs. Aragon

6:15 p.m.: Lynbrook vs. Lowell

7:45 p.m.: Foothill vs. Newark Memorial

 

Consolation and Semi-Finals will continue all-day on Friday, December 29, with the consolation and championship finals all-day on Saturday, December 30. The JV Championship Game will tip-off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the Varsity title game set to start at 7:45 p.m.

 

The daily admission for adults is $7, students and seniors (60+) $5, and youth under 10-years of age free.

 

Please mark your calendar and join us for the exciting high school basketball action!

 

 

Newark Optimist Girls Basketball Tournament

Thursday, Dec 28 – Saturday, Dec 30

Newark Memorial High School

Event Center

39375 Cedar Blvd., Newark

Admission: $5 – $7

 

 

 

Newark Memorial Wrestling

Submitted by Newark Memorial High School Athletics

 

The Varsity Boys wrestling team traveled to San Marin on December 10 for the Green and Gold Tournament. Among 30 teams participating Mark Ieremia took 4th place and Sabastian Calvo took 5th place.

 

On the same weekend, the Girls wrestling team traveled to San Leandro for the Roger Briones Tournament. Varsity wrestler Mahlyah Sao earned 6th place. On the Junior Varsity side Sophia McLoy and Isabelle Pispisa both received third place.

 

 

 

15th Annual Guru Nanak Marathon

By Eric Donato

 

The 15th Annual Guru Nanak Marathon was held at Quarry Lakes on Saturday, December 16. Sikh Sports Association of USA sponsored the festive running event. The event was moved up from November 12 to December 16 due to the unavailability of some trails required for this event. The event delay was rewarded with clear blue skies and near-perfect running weather.

 

Board of Director Singh Mann said, “It’s a beautiful day. First of all, the beautiful venue, can't get anything like that around here. This is perfect and the crowd is more than we were expecting. And all those, they're coming from far away, and they want to compete.” The half-day event included three primary races at the 2-mile, 5 km run/walk, and half marathon distances, where age division winners were recognized. There were 204 runners across the three races, with participants that range in age from small children to runners in their eighties. All races started with joyous cheers from the crowd as the runners passed through the large inflatable start and finish bright red gate. It was a scenic racing event for the runners with beautiful trails that wrap around the park lakes.

 

The top race results were:

 

2-mile:

Male: Mathew, Yohaan; 14:18

Female: Ramkumar, Paavai; 17:06

 

5 km run/walk:

Male: Oania, Mason; 16:30

Female: Casas, Viviana; 24:32,

 

Half marathon

Male: Pina, Jose San Jose; 1:08:02

Female: Mann, Jaspreet Kaur; 2:03:38

 

Director Harry Singh was happy with the event turnout and extended his community welcome to the Sikh Sports Association of USA, “We would like the other communities to join us to see how wonderful this event and our community are. It’s also helped to integrate our community with many others, because we are a very fun-loving community.” The mission of the Sikh Sports Association of USA is to “develop, nurture, and promote sports amongst different communities” with fervent beliefs in a ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind.’ Their goal is to improve the health and welfare of communities by providing positive avenues to enable participation in various kinds of sports.

 

 

Check out the Sikh Sports Association of USA, membership, and their future schedule of sports events at www.sikhsports.com.

 

 

 

California regulators vote to extend Diablo Canyon nuclear plant operations through 2030

Associated Press

Dec 14 2023

 

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) __ California energy regulators voted Thursday to allow the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to operate for an additional five years, despite calls from environmental groups to shut it down.

 

The California Public Utilities Commission agreed to extend the shutdown date for the state`s last functioning nuclear power facility through 2030 instead of closing it in 2025 as previously agreed.

 

Separately, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission will consider whether to extend the plant's operating licenses.

 

The twin reactors, located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, began operating in the mid-1980s. They supply up to 9% of the state's electricity on any given day.

 

The Public Utilities Commission’s decision marks the latest development in a long fight over the operation and safety of the plant, which sits on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean.

 

In August, a state judge rejected a lawsuit filed by Friends of the Earth that sought to block Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates the plant, from seeking to extend its operating life.

 

And in October, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected a request from environmental groups to immediately shut down one of two reactors.

 

PG&E agreed in 2016 to shutter the plant by 2025, but at the direction of the state changed course and now intends to seek a longer operating run for the plant, which doesn’t produce greenhouse gases that can contribute to climate change.

 

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who once was a leading voice to close the plant, said last year that Diablo Canyon's power is needed beyond 2025 to ward off possible blackouts as California transitions to solar and other renewable energy sources.

 

Activists condemned the extension and noted that the projected costs of continuing to run the aging plant are expected to top $6 billion.

 

“This ill-conceived decision will further escalate financial strain on California ratepayers and extend the threat of a catastrophe at Diablo Canyon,” said Ken Cook, president of the nonprofit Environmental Working Group.

 

“With California's annual renewable energy additions exceeding Diablo Canyon's output, there is zero reason to keep it running,” he added in a statement.

 

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

 

 

 

Fremont Lacrosse Registration is Open

Submitted by Fremont Spartans Lacrosse

 

Spartans Lacrosse in Fremont is preparing for their 2024 Spring season. Registration is now open at fre-lax.com. New players get a free lacrosse stick with registration!

 

Spartans Lacrosse is excited to offer the following teams/divisions:

 

14U boys and girls/12U boys and girls/10U boys and girls

 

*Freshman in High School who are 14, and do not attend a high school with a CIF team may be eligible to play in the 14U division.

 

Players may be granted an exception to play ‘up’ based on size, experience, and athletic ability. They may not play down an age group unless there are special circumstances.

 

What to Expect: Teams should expect 2x/week practices, they will participate in the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association, (NCJLA) and will compete in an end of season playoff or Jamboree, depending on the age group.

 

Games: Games and game formats are still up in the air, but we are prepared to do smaller sided games as needed (7v7 or 8v8), up to full field if allowed (10v10).

 

Uniforms: All players to receive a custom sublimated uniform that will be theirs to keep.

 

 

We look forward to seeing everyone out on the field this year!

 

 

 

Raja the elephant, a big draw at the St. Louis Zoo, is moving to Columbus to breed

By Jim Salter

Associated Press

Dec 14, 2023

 

1. LOUIS (AP) __ Raja the elephant has been one of the biggest attractions __ literally and figuratively __ at the St. Louis Zoo for decades. Now, he’s moving away.

 

The zoo announced Thursday that the male Asian elephant born at the zoo nearly 31 years ago will be relocated to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, probably in about a year. The hope is that he’ll bond with four females in Columbus, breed, and mentor a young male there.

 

Raja was the first elephant ever born at the St. Louis Zoo, and the 10,000-pound animals’ birthday on Dec. 27 is a big deal each year, complete with treats, songs and lots of visitors signing an oversized birthday card.

 

“This news is bittersweet for all of us,” Michael Macek, director of the St. Louis Zoo, said in a statement. “We know Raja is dear to his fans and to the Zoo family and he’ll be missed here, but we know this is for the best for Raja and the survival of this species.”

 

Asian elephants are endangered, with fewer than 50,000 in the wild, according to The World Wildlife Fund. Habitat loss and poaching are blamed for their plight. They are the largest land mammal on the Asian continent.

 

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan recommended the move of Raja, the St. Louis Zoo said. The program seeks to manage the Asian elephant population in North America and maximize the health, wellbeing and genetic diversity of the elephants, the zoo said.

 

Raja is the father of the only three female Asian elephants of breeding age in St. Louis. The other three females there are too old to reproduce, and one of them is Raja’s mother. In October, Rani, a 27-year-old female Asian elephant, died after becoming agitated when a small loose dog managed to get into the zoo and upset the herd.

 

Macek said the move of Raja mirrors the natural behavior of wild elephants. While females raise the calves and live in multi-generational family groups, males live alone or in small bachelor herds. They breed, then move on, Macek said.

 

“Raja moving to Columbus provides an environment where he and others can naturally grow their families, which is an important component to their wellbeing,” Macek said.

 

The move is expected to occur in late 2024 or early 2025. When Raja leaves, the St. Louis Zoo will have room for a new male. The zoo said that male is tentatively expected to be a 15-year-old named Samudra from the Oregon Zoo in Portland.

 

Meanwhile, Raja`s 16-year-old daughter Jade is pregnant with her first calf and due to give birth at around the time that Raja leaves __ Asian elephants are typically pregnant for up to 22 months. It will be the first elephant calf born at the zoo through artificial insemination. The father is housed at the Denver Zoo.

 

 

 

Holiday Lighting around the Bay Area: wheelchair accessibility and more

Submitted by Annanya Ghosh

 

The holiday season is here! The colorful lights across the streets and the Jingle Bells playing on the radio create the warm atmosphere we feel every year. We try to explore new places every year to see holiday lighting. As we have a wheelchair user in the family, we try to do it as a drive-through experience.

 

Below are some of the beautiful neighborhood holiday lightings around the East Bay that we visited. All of them are wheelchair friendly.

 

Espada and Zacate Court, Fremont

This is a quiet walkable neighborhood with Victorian houses beautifully decorated. Make sure to take pictures with the beautiful Christmas tree, and don’t miss the Carol singers at the window. You can park your car and walk the neighborhood. This place is completely wheelchair accessible.

 

3342 Redwing Place, Fremont

This court is beautifully decorated with a two-story nutcracker and a giant Christmas duck.

 

43344 Arkwood Street, Fremont

This is a wonderful display of a beautiful Christmas village with international nativities, Christmas dolls, and musical lights. There are lots of picture opportunities with different props. They have a hot cocoa booth. Sip some cocoa and have fun.

 

6716 Fountaine Avenue, Newark

This is a family that has built a festive Holiday Scene. You can walk around and enjoy the Christmas lights and sounds as the place is not very crowded and completely accessible.

 

4th Street, Berkeley

This place has a refreshing flavor with three blocks of sparkling colorful lights, and some photo opportunities. You can drive by or park your car and stroll around maintaining Covid-19 precautions. You can also drive by Monterey Avenue at North Berkeley for a very unique display.

 

Alameda’s Christmas Tree Lane – 3200 Block of Thompson Avenue

This is one of the best places to see holiday lights in the East Bay. Each house has a different theme, and the surroundings look like a festive carnival. You can enjoy this driving by. Try to go on a weeknight, as it gets very crowded on weekends.

 

Oakland California Temple: 4770 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland

The Temple has beautiful holiday decorations and a fantastic view of the Bay. Each tree is decorated. You can drive by or stroll depending on the crowd. There are a few ADA parking spaces in the lot.

 

Candy Cane Lane: 4150 Walnut Drive, Pleasanton

This has been a special tradition of this neighborhood since 1955. The homes of Walnut Street are all decorated with different themes of Disney Characters and Christmas cheer. Families can enjoy the festive music and lights. This place is completely wheelchair accessible and you can do a drive-through viewing.

 

Widmer-World: 3671 Chelsea Court, Pleasanton

Located on a cul de sac lot, this is a very colorful place. There are various Christmas decorations on display. The lights are synced to holiday music. You can go around through the side and backyards of this home. Quietly park your car on the streets and enjoy the show. As this is located in a residential neighborhood make sure you don’t make a lot of noise.

 

4641 Queen Anne Court, Union City

This is a court where houses are decorated with lights and holiday figures of Santa accompanied by music. There are many inflatables, with beautiful lighting to create the spirit of Christmas. You can simply drive by or park your car on the streets to stroll around.

 

Picardy Drive, Oakland

Drive through Picardy Drive between Seminary and 55th Avenue for fairytale-style lighting.

 

Crippsmas Place, Fremont

Crippsmas Place is on Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, Perkins Street, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue between Gibraltar Drive and Perkins Street. This is a drive-by place. It does get crowded and the traffic is prolonged.

 

Train of Lights, Niles Canyon Railway

The Train of Light is a unique experience. This is a 1.5-hour-long round trip through Niles Canyon at night and a very doable trip for wheelchair users if planned beforehand. The antique coaches and open cars are all decorated inside and out. Santa is on board too! While at Niles Station, don’t miss the opportunity to take pictures with the beautifully decorated old train.

 

Niles Canyon Railroad Depot is wheelchair accessible. Train cars have some steps, but a wheelchair lift is used to board the train. It is a little hard to move around inside as the alley is very narrow. There are a couple of accessible parking spaces at the train depot both in Fremont and Sunol. If you have a wheelchair or need other special assistance, please contact them beforehand.

 

Annanya Ghosh

Fremont

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor

 

More context provided on incident at local temple

 

Editor’s note

On October 24, 2023 (page 29) Tri-City Voice ran a press release from California Sikh Youth Alliance (CSYA) on an incident that happened on October 15 at the Sikh Gurdwara in Fremont where a person entered the temple and began yelling obscenities and tearing down posters. Police were called, and the perpetrator was escorted away. In their press release, CSYA expressed concern that this incident could be connected to Hindu nationalist and extremist groups that target the Sikh community.

 

In the weeks since the incident, Fremont police has been able to confirm the name of the individual and that he has been charged with vandalism and disturbing the peace by offensive language. Based on community comments posted on social media by those at the scene, it seems this person was part of the Sikh community and acted alone for his own reasons.

 

Hindu members of the Bay Area community also reached out to the paper to express that the vast majority of the Hindu community do not belong to extremist or nationalist groups, don’t condone those actions, and in fact are often the victims of hate incidents themselves.

 

A CSYA representative did also respond to inquiries from the paper, expressing that the speculation about anti-Sikh sentiment was included in the original press release to give a larger context of what the Sikh community is facing worldwide. They also confirmed the details provided by Fremont Police, and that in this case fortunately the individual turned out to be acting alone and without a political agenda.

 

Below is a condensed version of a letter to the editor sent to Tri-City Voice by Coalition of Hindus of North America:

 

A report from Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) members in Fremont:

 

California Sikh Youth Alliance had reported to TCV, about a “possible hate incident in Fremont Gurdwara,” incorrectly pointing to the rise of Hindu Nationalism and Modi’s Government without even mentioning who got arrested for the vandalism. Several Fremont residents reported to Tri-City Voice that the accused in this incident is Sikh Jaat, not Hindu.

 

India is a secular country. Every faith should be respected and not hated or portrayed as bad. However, some minorities of India are openly supporting Khalistan separatists, Kashmir Terrorists and anti-Hindu Dalits. This conflict between different political and religious groups has led to violence worldwide. Hinduphobia is on the rise in the U.S.A., Canada, London, Australia, and India, ever since the Congress party lost power in India in 2014.

 

Below are examples of incidents:

 

1. In August 2022, at Fremont Taco Bell, a Sikh American spit on a Hindu American, cursing him and saying that he hates Hindus and late former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (who was killed by her two Sikh Body guards in 1984).

 

2. In March 2023, Khalistani separatists vandalized the Indian Consulate Building in in San Francisco.

 

3. In July 2023, separatists set the same Indian Consulate on fire, threatening to kill the Indian Diplomats both in San Francisco and Canada.

 

The Indian Community is condemning the incorrect report by Sikh Youth Alliance, demanding an apology, and asking them to respect Hindus as much as they want to be respected by Hindus.

 

A Rutgers study on Hinduphobia can be found here:

https://cohna.org/5-takeaways-rutgers-hinduphobia-study/

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

Georgia Institute of Technology

Summer 2023 Graduates

 

• Yiting Bao of Newark
• Kevin Cho of Fremont
• Vaibhav Chugh of Milpitas
• Ajit Gauli of Fremont
• Jeremiah Lam of Milpitas
• Yuanyuan Liu of Fremont
• Melirose Liwag of Fremont
• Yifan Lu of Hayward
• Yidan Ma of Milpitas
• Vaibhav Mittal of Union City
• Swaraj Patankar of Fremont
• Anushree Saran of Union City
• Vineeth Sekharan of Fremont
• Hamza Shaikh of Fremont
• Dennis Shen of Fremont
• Anita Yen of Fremont
• Lei Zhang of Union City

 

 

 

Park District Names Mark DeSaulnier 2023 Radke Championing Advocacy Award Recipient

Submitted by Dave Mason

 

The East Bay Regional Park District and the Regional Parks Foundation recognized U.S. Representative Mark DeSaulnier this month with the 2023 Radke Championing Advocacy Award at a ceremony along the Iron Horse Trail in Walnut Creek. DeSaulnier has been a long-time supporter and avid user of District parks and trails. In 2022, he was instrumental in securing $3 million in federal funding for the District’s planned visitor center at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park.

 

Park District Board President Dennis Waespi said, “The 2023 Radke Championing Advocacy Award recognizes the Representative for his many years of advocacy for the Park District, including as a Concord City Council Member, Contra Costa County Supervisor, State Legislator, and now as a U.S. Representative.”

 

Representative DeSaulnier is the first award recipient serving in Washington, D.C.

 

Representative Mark DeSaulnier is known for championing policies that promote sustainability, environmental protection, and mitigate the consequential effects of climate change. The new Visitor Center at Thurgood Marshall Regional Park is envisioned as a joint facility with the National Park Service (NPS) to provide outdoor recreational opportunities, connect the public with the natural and human history of the park, and serve as a welcoming center for NPS to share the history commemorated by the park’s Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial.

 

“The East Bay Regional Park District provides invaluable service to our community by creating opportunities for outdoor activity that benefit our physical and mental health, protecting the environment, and hosting wildlife educational programs,” said Congressman DeSaulnier. “I am proud to have called the Park District a partner over many years…and am honored to be recognized with the 2023 Radke Championing Advocacy Award.”

 

The Radke Championing Advocacy award is named for late Park District Board Member Ted Radke, who advanced state and federal support for park funding. Former Director Radke strengthened the Park District’s ties in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Radke served 36 years on the Park District Board of Directors and was the longest-serving Board member in its 89-year history.

 

 

www.ebparks.org

 

 

 

Union City Police Captain Travis Souza Retires

Submitted By UCPD

 

Thursday, December 14 Captain Travis Souza retired after more than 26 years of law enforcement service to our community.

 

Travis was born and raised in Union City and joined UCPD on January 1, 1998. During his distinguished career as an officer he worked assignments such as patrol, Investigations, SWAT, Field Training Officer, and the Community Oriented Policing unit.

 

Travis began to steadily climb the ranks by promoting to Corporal in June 2006. He would soon promote to the rank of Sergeant in November 2009, where he worked as a patrol supervisor and was assigned to Personnel & Training. In October 2014, Travis promoted to Lieutenant, before finally being promoted to Captain in October 2018. As a Captain, Travis commanded both the Operations and Support Services Divisions. For those who aren’t familiar, we only have two divisions in our department, so he’s done it all!

 

During his career, Travis spent 15 years in SWAT working in the capacity of either an operator, sniper, team leader or tactical commander. Travis has also earned multiple gold medals in the Police Olympics. His calling card was bench pressing over 500 pounds!

 

Throughout his distinguished career, Travis has been the epitome of professionalism. His tireless work ethic and leadership has left an indelible mark on our organization. We would like to wish Travis and his family well as he enters the next exciting phase of his life!

 

Congratulations on your retirement! You will be missed!

 

 

 

Californian passes state bar exam at age 17 and is sworn in as an attorney

Associated Press

 

VISALIA, Calif. (AP), December 8 — A county prosecutor`s office says one of its law clerks passed the State Bar of California exam at age 17. The Tulare County District Attorney`s Office said this week that, according to research, Peter Park is the youngest person to pass the exam. The State Bar said on December 8 in an email to The Associated Press that it could not confirm that Park is the youngest, but it hailed his achievement. “Passing the California Bar exam is a major accomplishment at any age, and for someone as young as Mr. Park, it is quite an extraordinary feat and one worth celebrating,” Executive Director Leah Wilson said.

 

Park took the exam in July and received the test results on November 9, according to a news release issued by the District Attorney`s office this week. “It was not easy, but it was worth it,” Park said in a statement. Park began high school at Oxford Academy in Cypress, California, in 2019 at age 13 and simultaneously began a four-year juris doctor program at the Northwestern California University School of Law after completing college-level proficiency exams, the office said. Park graduated high school in 2021 by taking the state’s high school proficiency exam and focused on law school, graduating this year. He became a law clerk for the District Attorney’s office in August, turned 18 in late November and was sworn in as an attorney on December 5.

 

 

 

For a holiday craft that creates light, try hand-carved Kinaras

By Jennifer Forker, Associated Press

 

Candles, already an integral part of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year`s Eve, can be made even more special when they carry a personal touch. Try marbleizing them by hand, or simply using candlelight in creative ways.

 

Paula Lavender Tucker of Bellows Falls, Vermont, started marbleizing simple white candles about five years ago. Before that, she marbleized quilt fabrics. Both are for sale at her Etsy site, HippyDippyDyed.

 

Her marbleizing process is simple and inexpensive, and the results are mighty (directions below).

 

“You want to think about using contrasting colors,” says Lavender Tucker. “Black and white are a stunning combination.”

 

She recommends learning how to marbleize candles with only two or three colors, and the holidays carry traditional color combinations: red, green and white for Christmas; blue and white for Hanukkah; red, green and black for Kwanzaa; and black, white and gold, or dark blue, light blue and white for New Year`s Eve.

 

Scene Setters

One easy way to display holiday candles is to wrap a small Mason or jelly jar with ribbon and insert a small pillar candle inside, says Oma Blaise Ford, executive editor of Better Homes & Gardens magazine. Accent them with seasonal items such as a small pine cone and a sprig of evergreen.

 

“You can customize the display for whatever holidays you're celebrating,” she says.

 

While marbleized candles – tapers, pillars or spheres – can decorate the home for Kwanzaa, traditional black, red and green candles are used in the holiday's seven-candle Kinara, or candle holder. The Kinara is lit daily during the holiday's seven days, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

 

Erica Jones of Duluth, Georgia, sells 300 to 400 hand-carved Kinaras each year at her Etsy site, BlackandFIT, and at Walmart online. “There aren't too many things the Black community can say, ‘This celebrates our greatness.' This holiday does that,” Jones says.

 

Beyond candles

For a New Year's Eve party, Blaise Ford suggests filling jars with strings of tiny (called fairy) lights and tie the jars with velvet ribbon in shades of icy blue, winter white and pale pink. Wrap that in metallic star garland for extra sparkle.

 

“The added benefit here is that no one has to remember to blow out the candles after the midnight toast,” Blaise Ford says.

 

How to marbleize a candle

Supplies:

• Unscented, paraffin wax candles (Lavender Tucker recommends shopping at a discount store), in a votive, taper or pillar shape
• Disposable cup or small container that is taller than your candle
• Tight gloves, such as surgical
• Paper towels
• Newsprint or drop cloth
• An oil-based, marbleizing paint, such as Easy Marble by Marabu, available in craft stores and online

 

Directions:

• Put on the protective gloves. Cover your workspace with newsprint or a drop cloth.
• Fill a plastic cup with water and add just three drops of paint from each of two or three contrasting colors. Slightly swirl the color in the water.
• Lower a candle into the cup, twisting it while doing so (the twist creates the swirly design).
• Skim the surface of the water with a small piece of paper towel to clear the water of ink, so the candle won`t pick up more ink, creating a muddled design, when you withdraw it. Remove the candle.
• Place the candle on a drying rack or clip it to a hanger by its wick.
• Before dipping your second candle, skim the water surface with another piece of paper towel to clean it.
• Proceed with second and subsequent candles in this same way.
• Throw away your gloves, cup, and other soiled supplies to avoid staining your skin and other surfaces.

 

 

 

Continuing Events:

 

Tuesdays

A Matter of Balance R

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels of older adults. Space is limited.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mtorrez@fremont.gov

Call or email to register. (510) 742-7540

 

Tuesdays

East Bay Games Meet

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

German/Euro style board games and card games.

Swiss Park

5911 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 936-2523

meetup.com/east-bay-games

sfdavidkaye@yahoo.com

 

First and Third Tuesdays

Mobile Food Distribution with Tri-City Volunteers

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Fremont Adult and Continuing Education

4700 Calaveras Ave., Fremont

(510) 793-6465

tri-cityvolunteers.org/food

Bring your own bag.

 

Tuesdays, September 19 – May 28

It's Storytime

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Stories, finger plays, nursery rhymes, songs, and musical instruments.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org

For ages 18 month- 6 yrs.

 

Tuesdays, November 7 – December 26

Lego Time

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

aclibrary.org/locations/CTV/

fremontneighborhood@aclibrary.org

Supervision required.

For kids 7 and under.

 

Tuesdays, March 21 – December 19

Chess Mix

12:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Drop in for some casual chess games.

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.org/locations/SLZ

 

Tuesdays, November 7 – December 19

Music and Storytime

11:30 am – 12:15 pm

Join for stories, music, and movement.

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

(510) 626-8522

aclibrary.org/locations/CHY/

 

Wednesdays

Zumba Gold $

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Workout while dancing

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mtorrez@fremont.gov

 

Wednesdays

Ping Pong

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Activities for people with Parkinson

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

issuu.com/hsdept

mtorrez@fremont.gov

 

Wednesdays

Tropics Bingo

7:00 pm

Flash Games

Tropics Mobile Home Park

33000 Almaden Blvd., Union City

(510) 471-8550

the-tropics.net/activites

 

Wednesdays, October 11 – December 27

Manitas en Acción

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

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

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/

 

Wednesdays, December 13 – December 20

Drop-in Holiday Crafts

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Children and their families are invited to create a holiday craft at their own pace.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

Offered on December 13 & 20.

 

First and Third Wednesdays

Genealogy Study Group

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Family history research or just the companionship of others with the genealogy bug.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

t.ly/rLARe

 

Thursdays and Tuesdays, November 9 – May 23

Literacy Enrichment Program R

4:00 pm – 5:45 pm

Supporting struggling readers through personalized lesson plans and dedicated one-on-one tutoring

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/

fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org

Email to register. (510) 745-1421.

 

Thursdays & Saturdays

Story Time

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Picture book story time

Banter Bookshop

3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F., Fremont

(510) 565-1004

bit.ly/3VFpbcz

 

Thursdays, December 21 – December 28

Family Board Game Night

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Drop in for a family game night!

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

 

Thursdays, December 21 – May 16

Book Club for Grades 3 & 4 R

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

This program will be facilitated by an adult volunteer from Read to Thrive.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

Meet on the third Thursday of each month.

 

Thursdays -Sundays

Animal Feeding

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Feed livestock and learn about their favorite food.

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(888) 327-2757

ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood#events

Admission fee applies.

 

Third Thursdays

Chronic Pain Support Group

12:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Receive guidance from Stanford Pain Management Clinic.

(510) 790 – 6600

Online Events

issuu.com/hsdept

Zoom: bayareacpainmigraine@icloud.com

 

Fridays and Saturdays

Telescope Viewings

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Experience the awe and wonder of the universe.

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/events

 

Fridays – Mondays, December 15 – December 23

‘Las Posadas' Christmas Traditions & Caroling

6:00 pm

Carol over to one of the wonderful hosts for a live performance and refreshments.

Old Mission San Jose

43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont

(510) 657-1797

missionsanjose.org/las-posadas

LasPosadasFCAC@earthlink.net

 

Fridays, January 20 – January 5

Knit & Crochet Circle

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn knitting and crocheting.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

sccld.org/locations/milpitas

 

Fridays, December 1 – December 29

Woodland Wonderland

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us after school to learn about a new plant or animal of the oak woodland.

Del Valle Visitor Center

7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore

(510) 544-3146

3 yrs +

Adult Participation Required.

 

Fridays – Sundays, November 24 – January 7

3 Crosses Church Christmas Village & Ice-Skating Rink $

3:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Family activities, ice skating, food trucks and more!

3Cross Church

20600 John Drive, Castro Valley

Skating tickets:

Online: www.3crosseschristmasvillage.com, or in-person.

 

Saturdays – Wednesdays, December 9 – December 27

Crppsmas Place

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Enjoy the holiday displays, sparkling lights, festive decorations, and candy canes

Crippsmas Place

Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, Perkins Street, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue, Fremont

www.crippsmasplace.org

 

Saturdays, September 9 – December 30

Computer Crew:Teen Tech Help

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

One-on-one tutor on basic tech issues.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.org/locations/csv/

castrovalley@aclibrary.org

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City R$

8:00 pm

Series of improvised games and scenes

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

 

Saturdays, May 27 – December 30

Divine Satsang Sabha

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

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

SMVS (Shri Swaminarayan Mandir)

36665 Cedar Blvd, Newark

(650) 585-5325

smvs.org/centers/centerdetail/106

 

Saturdays – Tuesdays, December 2 – January 9

Winter Reading Game

10:00 am

Help decorate a gingerbread house by collecting candies; complete your game board to collect prize.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/6567ec2f1abde5420061cfe4

Check for library's open hours.

Open for all ages.

 

Saturdays

Free Beginner Pickleball Lesson

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Free pickleball lesson for beginners, taught by a USPA professional.

Hall Memorial Park

304 La Honda Dr, Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

Drop-in. All ages. Weather permitting.

 

Sundays

Weekly meditation Session R

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.

India Community Center

525 Los Coches St., Milpitas

(408) 934-1130

samarpanmeditationusa.org

info@indiacc.org

info@samarpanmeditationusa.org

 

Sundays – Saturdays

Recreational Swim $

12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Attractions may vary.

Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center

6800 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 578-4620

bit.ly/3nxo0is

 

Second & Fourth Sundays

Larry “O” Teen Workshop

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Used bikes, bike parts sale and bike repair.

Larry Orozco Teen Workshop

33623 Mission Blvd., Union City

(510) 675-5487

RobertS@unioncity.org

Donation accepted: Instagram @ibikeunioncity.

 

Mondays and Thursdays

Fruit Tree Gleaning

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Donate fresh fruits from your garden.

LEAF CR Stone Garden

55 Mowry Ave., Fremont

fremontleaf.org/glean

info@fremontleaf.org.

 

Mondays – Thursdays, December 5 – January 24

Homework Help Center

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Offer primary and secondary students the opportunity to receive FREE homework assistance.

Room: Learning Center.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/

nsilva@aclibrary.org

For kids, teens.

 

Mondays – Thursdays, December 5 – January 24

Homework Help Center

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Get your homework questions answered for grades K-8 every Monday through Thursday.

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/

sanlorenzo@aclibrary.org

Drop in during open hours.  For kids, teens.

 

Mondays – Fridays, December 11 – December 22

The Afghan Coalition Holiday Jewelry Sale

10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Browse a selection of beautiful jewelry sold by Afghan women small business owners.

Afghan Coalition Offices

39155 Liberty Street, Suite D460, Fremont

 

Mondays, December 18 – May 20

Advanced Math + Science Tutoring

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Offering free high school and college-level tutoring in math, physics, and chemistry.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

nsilva@aclibrary.org

Contact phone (510) 667-7900

 

Mondays -Thursdays, December 12 – December 21

Free After School Meal

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

For ages 1-18 only. Children and youth must be present.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

Food will be distributed in the library lobby while supplies last

 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

Tuesday, December 19

Art for Children R

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Calling children on a journey of creating art.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

For ages 5-7.

Child accompanied by an adult is required.

 

Tuesday, December 19

Learn Through Play – Special Needs Friendly

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Open to children of all abilities.

Newark Public Library

37055 Newark Blvd., Newark

(510) 284-0675

For age 5-14.

Limited seats available.

 

Tuesday, December 19

Adult Yoga R

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

This class will be conducted by a trained instructor.

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

sanlorenzo@aclibrary.org

For adult 18+ only.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Golden Gatherings

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

A social hour just for elders!

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

 

Wednesday, December 20

Palo Alto VA Medical Mobile Outreach Service

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Provide on-site medical services to veterans currently enrolled in the VA Healthcare system.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 284-0625

https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events

No appointment needed.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Starlight Storytime

6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Pajama story time at the Centerville Library! Free ticket is given out 15 minutes prior.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

For toddlers, preschoolers, and families.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park Walk

9:30 am – 12:00 pm

A 3.8-mile loop past open grassland and rolling hills. It is one of the moderate trails. Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park – Staging Area

100 May Rd., Union City

(888) 327-2757

For age 8 yrs +

Drop-in.

 

Wednesday, December 20

VA Medical Outreach

10:15 am – 2:00 pm

Provide on-site medical examinations, consultations, resources and referrals to veterans currently enrolled in the VA Healthcare system.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

No appointment needed.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Santa Visits the Library

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Bring the whole family to meet Santa and share your holiday wishes.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

 

Wednesday, December 20

Holiday Craft Event

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Join us for a festive Holiday Craft Event!

Pacific Commons Shopping Center

43440 Boscell Rd., Fremont

(925) 332-0346

eastbayecho.com/event/

Next to Jamba Juice and near Five Below at Pacific Commons.

 

Wednesday, December 20

Hot Cocoa and Winter Reading Kickoff @ Teen Lounge

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Email for more information.

San Leandro Main Library

300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro

(510) 577-3970

pcarryer@sanleandro.org

Open to teens in grades 6-12.

 

Wednesdays, December 20 – December 27

Tech Tutor: 3D Printing R

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Meet with a tutor who can answer your questions, help get your print started and troubleshoot.

Irvington Library

41825 Greenpark Drive, Fremont

(510) 795-2631

For age 13+

Sign up at the service desk or call (510) 795-2631

 

Thursday, December 21

Mobile Food Distribution

10:30 am – 11:30 am

From the Tri City Volunteers mobile food pantry. For the first 80 families in attendance.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

Please bring your own reusable bag.

 

Thursday, December 21

Family Astronomy Winter Solstice – The Longest Night $R

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Explore the history, diverse cultural customs, and ancient rituals associated with the Winter Solstice.

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/

Families with children 5+.

Adults $25, $15 youth.

 

Thursday, December 21

Social Work Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Highly skilled social worker staff will address a variety of services.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

Appointments are not necessary

 

Thursday, December 21

Longest Night Service R

7:30 pm

A service of light in the midst of darkness.

Niles Discovery Church

36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 797-0895

nilesdiscoverynews.wordpress.com/2023/11/21/

Pre-register at bit.ly/longnite2023 for Zoom meeting.

 

Thursdays, December 21 – December 28

CleanStart Mobile Hygiene Unit Visit

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Provide hygiene services to the unhoused at Fremont Main Library parking lot.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

 

Friday, December 22

Community Blood Drive

11:00 am – 2:15 pm

Appointments are recommended: donors.vitalant.org/dwp/portal/dwa. Use the blood drive code: 10055524.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

 

Friday and Saturday, December 22 – December 23

Davis Street’s Holiday Basket Giveaway

8:00 am – 1:00 pm

12/22: 9 am-11 am: distributions to singles and seniors.

12/23: 8 am-1 pm: distribution to families

Davis Street Community Center

3081 Teagarden St., San Leandro

(510) 347-4620

glemmon@davisstreet.org

Contact phone: (510)347-4620 x108

 

Saturday, December 23

Christmas Weekend Show $R

7:30 pm

Film – “The Thief Of Bagdad”. Full of fantasy, invention, colorful situations and an epic story.

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 494-1411

 

Saturday, December 23

Family Astronomy – Edible Astronomy $R

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Explore the wonders of astronomy through delicious and edible creations!

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/

Family with children 5+

Adults $25, $15 Youth

 

Monday, December 25

Holiday Spectacular!

8:00 pm

Family friendly improv on Christmas night!

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com/upcoming-shows/holiday-shows/

$18 per ticket.

 

Tuesday, December 26

Game Time!

4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Join us for a family-friendly game night at the library!

San Lorenzo Library

395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo

(510) 284-0640

 

Tuesdays, December 26 – January 2

Build It Day

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Children and their families are invited for an afternoon of Legos, puzzles, and more!

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900