Annual Balloon Drop Celebration
Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center
Ring in the New Year without staying up all night!
On New Year’s Eve, head over to Chabot Space and Science Center and celebrate strokes of midnight around the world at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.! Kids will count down and celebrate with hundreds of colorful balloons dropping from above.
This popular annual event regularly sells out, so be sure to get tickets early!
Annual Balloon Drop Celebration
Sunday, Dec 31
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
Members: $10 per Child
Guests: $29 per Child
New Year’s Event Lineup
If you are looking for a New Year’s activity look no further. We have gathered fun and local events below. For those looking for family friendly activities, a late-night show, or want to end the year on a healthy note, it’s all in our New Year’s Event Lineup.
New Year’s Craft
Saturday, Dec 30
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Drop by the library and complete a New Year’s craft.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.org/locations/CSV/
Noon Year’s Eve Party
Saturday, Dec 30
11 a.m. – 12 noon
Celebrate early with refreshments, crafts, and activities.
Centerville Library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
https://aclibrary.org/locations/ctv/
Free: tickets given out 15 minutes before event begins
New Year, New You Hike
Sunday, Dec 31
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Three-mile hike with 500 ft elevation gain—wear closed-toed shoes, bring water
Sunol Visitor Center
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(888) 327-2757
www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol
Parking fee $5
End of Year Hike
Sunday, Dec 31
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Coyote Hills
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
(510) 544-3220
www.ebparks.org/parks/coyotehills
Parking fee $5
Annual Balloon Drop Celebration
Sunday, Dec 31
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Four balloon drops to celebrate with kids!
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
Members: $10 per Child
Guests: $29 per Child
New Year Traditions
Sunday, Dec 31
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Enjoy a mug of hot cider and learn about New Year traditions worldwide.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
Park entry: $2-4
Bollywood Glitz
Sunday, December 31
7 p.m. Dinner
9:45 Dance party
Dinner buffet and open bar, DJ, dance performances, giveaways
Royal Palace Banquet
6058 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(408) 579-9426
events.sulekha.com
Tickets: $89-$159
New Year’s Eve Spectacular
Sunday, Dec 31
7:30 p.m. Doors open
8 p.m. Show starts
Improv comedy show (for adult audiences) with party favors, champagne, and cider
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St., Ste B, Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Tickets: $25
Longtime Ohlone prof transitions to Dean
By Stephanie Gertsch
Photos courtesy of Rakesh Swamy
In January 2024, Ohlone College will welcome a new Dean of English, Communication, and Deaf Studies, who is also a familiar face around campus: Professor Rakesh Swamy. He brings a wealth of experience as a teacher, including 22 years as English Learning Center Coordinator at Ohlone, as well as a wealth of life experience–he is of Fijian-Indian descent and went to college in Hawaii before moving to the Bay Area with his family. Swamy’s wife Shirley works in Computer Science, while Swamy teaches in the Humanities (a type of relationship diversity that feels iconically Bay Arean). Meanwhile, his daughter is a biomedical engineer, and his son an 11th grader at American High.
Swamy appreciates the mix of cultures in the Bay Area. “The Bay Area is so diverse that you fit right in. You don’t miss too many of the things that you’re used to growing up.” He adds, “I know where my ethnic stores are! I go to Costco, and there’s a section on Indian food.”
One of Swamy’s favorite classes to teach is World Mythology, because it lends itself so well to diversity in the classroom. He says, “Right now my students are doing presentations on areas I cannot cover because World Mythology is so vast. They’re doing presentations of Japanese mythology, celtic mythology, European mythology.”
He encourages his students to explore mythological concepts in the world beyond the classroom. He explains, “One of the first things I do in the classroom is I take brand names, I take names of places.” For example, The Pegasus Center in north Fremont is named after the mythological winged horse.
Swamy continues, “I tell my students, ‘Look around you. You’ll see these words, you’ll see these places, statues, and so on. They’re all connected to mythology and what you’re studying. It’s not some fantasy thing you are reading. It’s all around you.’”
As Swamy has been teaching at Ohlone for 25 years, he is already well integrated into the college and community. So taking on the role of Dean is a change, but he already has established relationships with the departments he’ll be working with. “I’m providing the leadership, the budget, overseeing paperwork, evaluations, and all of that. But a lot has to do with working in collaboration with the director and the faculty and staff in the department.”
Providing support is a major part of that. “As a faculty, I’ve felt sometimes that there’s no one I can go to, so I think we need that person and I’ll be that person in that role.”
Swamy has worked as the English Department Coordinator, and is currently transitioning to Dean from English Learning Center Coordinator–but where does Deaf Studies fit in? As Swamy explains, “If you look at the commonalities between all the different languages–we have communications, we have Deaf Studies, we have English–the real goal is reading and writing and communicating well. So it makes sense.”
Swamy has taught Deaf students in his classes during his time at Ohlone, and he will also be working with the new Director of Deaf Studies, Ardavan Guity, who is fluent in sign language and knowledgeable of Deaf culture.
Fremont is unique in having the California School for the Deaf, which provides early childhood through 12th grade education. Swamy notes, “I think that’s an advantage for Ohlone, having a good Deaf Studies program here on campus, and having a feeder school like the Fremont school of the Deaf. So that really helps bring those students in and work with them.”
Another issue to continue addressing is balancing in-person and remote classes in an evolving pandemic. “There’s been a big challenge in bringing the students back into the classroom. We’ve seen the numbers increase in in-person classes, but there’s this balance of in-person and online. I think that would be one of my challenges: trying to hit that balance. We still have students that like staying online. And then there are difficult classes that we encourage students to take in person.” He admits, “I wouldn’t survive taking math in an online class!”
When he’s not supporting Ohlone students and teachers, Swamy makes time for hobbies, recently picking up the guitar again. “When I was back in the islands, I used to play the Ukulele and the classical guitar, but I stopped. I just didn’t have time, working on my career and going to graduate school and all that. As I get older, I think my desire to go back to that music is there.”
One constant as Swamy changes roles is his appreciation for the scenic Fremont Ohlone campus, especially in late winter and early spring when the hills turn green. Even the many steps provide an opportunity: “Now that I’m getting older, I need to get exercise. Sometimes I get lazy. So I park way down.”
Ohlone College
Age Well Center Building Closure
Submitted By Fremont Human Services Department
Fremont’s Lake Elizabeth Age Well Center will be undergoing some extensive remodeling during its holiday closure. The Age Well Center’s closure is being extended and will not be able to reopen until Wednesday, January 10.
All classes, activities, and lunch scheduled on these dates are cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Our Holiday Closure will begin Monday, December 25 and we will reopen on Wednesday, January 10 at 8 a.m.
Meals for Wednesday, January 10, Thursday, January 11, and Friday, January 12 can be ordered starting on Friday, December 22 at 9 a.m.
As a reminder, these holiday closure dates are only for the Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth.
The Age Well Center at South Fremont Holiday Closure will begin Monday, December 25 and will reopen on Wednesday, January 3 at 8 a.m. If you would like to visit the South Fremont location, they can be reached at (510) 742-7540 and are located at 47111 Mission Falls Court.
Again, we apologize for the inconvenience, appreciate your cooperation, and look forward to seeing you on January 10. Happy Holidays!
A new Bay Area resident’s first glimpse of the U.S. was through the windows of a BART train
Submitted By BART Communications
Katelyn Breaty and her family immigrated from the Philippines ten years ago. She got her first glimpse of the place she’d call home from the windows of a Richmond-bound BART train.
Breaty was seven at that time and hadn’t yet learned to speak English. Through her young eyes, the terminal at San Francisco International Airport was a mess of chaos and kinetic energy. “I had no idea what was going on. I just hopped on BART,” she said. “I’d never experienced anything like it.”
Though Breaty had ridden trains before, she’d never been on a system like BART before. She said, “Everything about the system mesmerized me since day one.” The speed of the trains – and the ease with which they stopped at each station – was especially memorable. From there on out, she took BART to learn the lay of the land.
Since their arrival in the U.S., Breaty’s family has lived in Martinez, Vallejo, Daly City, San Francisco, Hayward…the list goes on. Every time they moved, BART was a lifeline for Breaty, keeping her connected to the friends she left behind.
“BART was the driving force that helped me escape the suburbs, that made me feel free,” she said. “Having grown up poor, BART has been a getaway from my life that enables me to go somewhere fun, exciting, fulfilling.”
Before immigrating to the U.S., Breaty lived in urban centers, including Manila in the Philippines and Bremen, Germany. She said moving to the suburbs was “crushing and dehumanizing,” and learned quickly that in America, “cars are prioritized over people.” Taking BART to San Francisco or Berkeley or Oakland was an escape from all that.
Once, when she was ten years old, she snuck out of the house and took BART to meet friends in San Francisco. She’d never taken the train by herself before, but she figured it out. Her parents were understandably upset when she returned home, but also “glad and amused I was able to navigate the system myself.” From then on, they started giving her more freedom to go out on her own because “they knew I’d find my way home,” she said.
Today, Breaty relies on BART to get to class at the City College of San Francisco, where she’s working toward a degree in computer science. On her BART ride to CCSF, she works on assignments for class and projects for her web development consulting business. She even makes time on the train to work on a complete model of the BART system she’s building in Roblox, a virtual game platform and creation system.
Now that she’s sixteen, Breaty has her driver's license. But, she said, “I take BART over everything.”
“I would rather sit and look out the window of a train than be behind the wheel looking at standstill traffic,” she said.
Recently, she and her parents were going shopping in Walnut Creek. Her mom didn’t want to take the train, so Breaty made a bet that she and her dad would beat her to Walnut Creek on BART. “She was still looking for parking when we started eating,” she said. “Even with a bus bridge that weekend, we got home before her, too.” Breaty said the friendly bet persuaded her mom to start riding BART for non-work-related trips.
She said, “BART has made me an advocate for public transportation and urbanism.” When the new service schedule came out this past September, which increased weeknight and weekend service, she told everyone she knows: If you’re not already taking BART for leisure, you should start now.
Bay Philharmonic Holiday Spectacular—A Sold Out Show!
Submitted by Karin Conn
Bay Philharmonic broke sales records with their “Holiday Spectacular,” which took place on December 17 at Chabot College’s Performing Arts Center in Hayward. The East Bay orchestra filled the hall with over 1,400 guests for the first time, exceeding their October show “Broadway’s Best” sales goals by 150%.
“A Holiday Spectacular” featured Erica Gabriel (Vocalist), Deanna Loveland (Vocalist and Harpist), Steve Pietkiewicz (Pianist), San Francisco Girls Chorus, Yoko’s Academy of Dance and Performing Arts, and Ballet Folklórico MéxicoDanza all backed by the 50-piece Bay Philharmonic.
“This growth is unbelievable,” says Jung-Ho Pak, Conductor and Artistic Director of Bay Philharmonic. “No other orchestra has this kind of increase in sales. We’ve doubled our numbers since last year and are on track to sell out all our remaining concerts. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.”
The BayPhil’s next show is their “Celtic Celebration” with Irish and Scottish music and dancers on March 17, which also happens to be St. Patrick’s Day. There will be a spirited pre-show gathering with beer and festivities.
Then, on June 23, BayPhil will present its dramatic and highly entertaining show of famous symphonic music with “Tchaikovsky’s Gold,” featuring award-winning pianist Jon Nakamatsu.
Pak added, “This holiday season, we invite people to give a world-class live music experience by gifting tickets to our “Celtic Celebration” and “Tchaikovsky’s Gold” shows for all the music-appreciators on their list. Like our other audiences who experience our shows for the first time, we guarantee they’ll be blown away,”
The Bay Philharmonic moved their season to Chabot College earlier this year, including affordable ticket prices starting at $25, video projections during the show, excellent acoustics from all seats, and free parking.
Bay Philharmonic
Bollywood Glitz
Submitted by Instant Karma Events
Instant Karma invites the Bay Area to their New Year’s Eve party – featuring a dinner buffet, open bar, midnight countdown and balloon drop, DJ, and singing and dance performances. There will be a separate party for the kids. Dress in your best bling bling style!
Bollywood Glitz
Sunday, Dec 31
7 p.m. Dinner
9:45 Dance party
Dinner buffet and open bar, DJ, dance performances, giveaways
Royal Palace Banquet
6058 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(408) 579-9426
events.sulekha.com
Tickets: $89-$159
Engage in a discussion on civic engagement
Submitted by Shirley Gilbert
January 6 is a date that is etched in our consciousness, and will be, for all time, connected with the siege by a violent mob on the U.S. capital. To prevent this ever happening again, an urgent call has gone out for greater civic education and engagement and a better understanding of what it means to be an American.
The League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark, and Union City (LWVFNUC) invites you to a panel discussion on the topic of civic engagement and its importance for the future of our democracy. It will take place on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Niles Discovery Church in Fremont.
The panel will help define what civic engagement means in the 2020s. Some of the questions to be discussed: Why is civic engagement so important today? What should civic engagement for the 2020s entail? How can young people best develop civic readiness? And what are the challenges and how can we overcome them?
The League brings together a panel whose experience offers fresh possibilities for making civic engagement relevant and impactful. The Principal speaker is Cheryl Cook-Kallio, a 39-year veteran teacher specializing in high school civics. She has a long history of public service and volunteerism and has an M.A. in history with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution.
Ben Sanders, Civics Education Director for the Alameda County Office of Education will moderate the panel, which will also include Julie Dunkle, founder and director of the LWVFNUC Youth Voter Movement and Fatima Khawaja, student leader at James Logan High School.
Also joining the discussion will be Newark City Council Member Matthew Jorgens and Assembly Member Alex Lee of District 24, which covers part of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.
You won’t want to miss this stimulating conversation on a topic that is so important to every citizen.
Discussion on Civic Engagement
Saturday, Jan 6
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Niles Discovery Church
36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont
Open to the Public and Free of Charge
https://my.lwv.org/california/fremont-newark-union-city
Fremont’s Active Transportation Plan Enters Phase 3
Submitted By City of Fremont
The city’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) development has now entered Phase 3. The Phase 1 Survey and Phase 2 Interactive Map have officially closed. The ATP is the next five-year strategic plan to encourage and promote active transportation use for all ages and abilities. Over 500 survey entries were received, and more than 900 comments posted on the interactive map. The city appreciates all the information the Fremont community shared about their experiences walking and rolling in the city, as well as their help to identify areas where issues and opportunities exist.
The city’s ATP team plans to presented an update on the plan process and an overview of the feedback received so far at the Mobility Commission meeting December 20 Phase 3 of the project involves developing a draft ATP that will be circulated for public comment in spring 2024.
To learn more about the ATP, sign up for email updates, and view the interactive map, visit the ATP MyFremont webpage: www.my.fremont.gov/active-transportation-plan
Junichi Kakutani completes Honolulu Marathon
By Stephanie Gertsch
In our November 21 issue, we ran the story “Challenging marathons, mountains, and disability,” on Junichi Kakutani’s journey battling SpinoCerebellar Ataxia. In spite of having a progressive disease that affects the nervous system and causes difficulties with coordination and balance, Kakutani is determined to make the most of his mobility while he still has it—continuing with his Kendo training, and planning to climb Mt. Fuji and walk the Honolulu Marathon.
On December 17, Kakutani posted an update to his GoFundMe: He completed the Honolulu Marathon! His goal was to finish the race in 18 hours, and his actual finishing time was 9:46:20.
Congratulations, Mr. Jun! We are wishing you the best for all your future endeavors.
Junichi Kakutani’s current GoFundMe can be searched on the website (www.gofundme.com) under “Mr. Jun’s Mr. Fuji & Marathon Challenge.” Read the previous article here: https://tricityvoice.com/11-21-23/.
LWV Fremont, Newark & Union City
Submitted by Angelina Reyes, Co-President
Alameda County Sheriff’s Oversight – AB 1185
On October 9, 2023, KTVU reported that an Oakland man, who back in 2021 was left for dead for several days at Santa Rita Jail. New allegations are emerging that deputies of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department falsified daily prison check records to make it seem like they were checking in on him, when in fact, they did not provide meaningful care. KTVU obtained body camera footage showing that Maurice Monk was found half naked on his bunk, lying dead for at least three days. When deputies finally opened his door, medications and trays of uneaten food lay scattered on the floor. Monk had been motionless on his bunk for so long that the red print reading “Alameda County” on the front of his jail-issued T-shirt had stained his chest, according to an internal sheriff’s report.
Elvira Monk of Oakland, a home health care aid and one of Monk’s sisters, was quoted as saying, “It feels like they treated my brother like a dog, like an animal. For them to treat him that way and for him to die that way by himself and lie there for that many days, it’s disgusting.”
Monk was jailed two years ago after missing a court appearance during the pandemic and not being able to raise bail. He was arrested for arguing with an AC Transit bus driver for requiring him to wear a mask. Monk suffered from schizoaffective disorder, and whether appropriate medications were available is unclear. Monk was officially declared dead of hypertensive cardiovascular disease on November 15, 2021. He also suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure. Monk and another incarcerated individual died on the same day at Santa Rita Jail. Their families state that both men suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
In April 2023, KTVU reported that in their analysis of autopsies, 66 people have died while incarcerated at Santa Rita since 2014. Maurice Monk is only one example. A report from the U.S. Department of Justice on the number of deaths, and lawsuits arising from the sheriff’s operations in Alameda County, underscores how critical it is to balance the powers of Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) with effective independent oversight. A community oversight board can be a vital component in ensuring that ACSO, jails, and public protection overall, function with appropriate checks and balances, transparency and accountability.
Effective January 2021, Assembly Bill 1185 (AB 1185) authorizes each county to create a sheriff oversight board. In turn, the board is authorized to issue a subpoena when deemed necessary to investigate a matter within the board’s jurisdiction.
The League of Women Voters of California supports the establishment of a community oversight body for the Sheriff’s Office in Alameda County (ACSO). The Alameda County Council of the League of Voters (ACC) is comprised of the six local Leagues, and in July 2021, those six Leagues began contacting each member of the County Board of Supervisors urging them to implement AB 1185 and establish a community oversight board. The first to meet with the group was former Supervisor Richard Valle. Under his leadership, the process began.
Newly-appointed Supervisor Elisa Marquez has stepped in to continue this work. Along with Supervisor Miley, she conducts the Public Protection Committee where implementation slowly progresses.
ACC continues to urge appropriate oversight of ACSO, which includes the Board of Supervisors adopting the following four components:
- Independent legal counsel
This is recommended so that the oversight board is separate from the interests of the county. Current county counsel would represent the county in lawsuits whose interests may be at odds with the oversight board.
- Oversight board membership
The oversight board should be independent of the specific interests of law enforcement and the county. ACC recommends the board consist of residents from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Selection panel
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors (BOS) appoint a selection panel that can ensure a transparent process by which residents selected for the board are evaluated for their qualifications, diverse experiences and knowledge, and preparedness to assume responsibilities. The BOS would appoint candidates recommended by the panel.
- An Inspector General with subpoena power
The Inspector General will provide professional, full-time investigation assistance to the oversight board.
For the past several years, ACC has joined with a number of groups advocating a sheriff oversight board. The six League of Women Voters in Alameda County are a part of the California Coalition for Sheriff Oversight, which includes the ACLU, Coalition for Police Accountability, Faith in Action East Bay, Livermore Indivisible, and Tri Valley Democrats.
Allyssa Victory of the ACLU, Northern California states, “State law mandates that county boards of supervisors oversee sheriffs’ offices. AB 1185, which took effect in 2021, gave counties the authority to establish civilian oversight boards to assist supervisors in that role. It is a proactive step towards enhancing sheriff accountability and transparency. The boards can also help sheriffs by conducting community outreach, handling civilian complaints, and providing policy recommendations.” For more information, visit www.aclu.org.
If you agree that AB 1185 needs to be implemented in Alameda County, contact the Board of Supervisors at www.acgov.org/clerk.
The oversight advocacy coalition will hold an educational Town Hall Meeting on January 10, 2024.
Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, Jan 10
6:30 p.m.
In-Person & via Zoom
Glad Tidings International COGIC
970 Glad Tidings Way, Hayward
Registration: https://bit.ly/AlamedaSheriffOversight
Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
Submitted by Allison Rodacker
Volunteers are wanted for a wildlife habitat cleanup effort scheduled for MLK Day on January 15, 2024. Meet at Don Castro Regional Recreation Area in Hayward and spend the morning picking up litter to beautify the area. Wear work clothes and sturdy shoes, and bring gloves if you have them. Bring water and a snack. Trash pick up gear, tools, and loaner gloves will be provided.
This is a way to earn community service hours—community groups are welcome! This event is for volunteers age 10 and up; those under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Volunteers 18 and under will need to have a parent or guardian sign a waiver at check in on the day of the event. For more information, contact Jennifer Trevis of Alameda County Clean Water Program at Jennifer.trevis@acrcd.org.
There are 30 volunteer spots for this project available. Register at: https://alameda-county-unincorporated-area-cwp-volunteers.ticketleap.com/.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
Monday, Jan 15
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Don Castro Regional Recreation Area
Meet at check-in table in parking lot
22400 Woodroe Ave., Hayward
https://alameda-county-unincorporated-area-cwp-volunteers.ticketleap.com/
Annual Wild Mushroom Warning
Submitted by Dave Mason
With the return of winter rains, visitors may have noticed mushrooms popping up in the Regional Parks. Mushrooms are an ecologically important part of our parklands and can look beautiful – but some of them contain dangerous toxins.
The death cap (Amanita phalloides) and western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata) are two of the world’s most toxic mushrooms, and both can be found in East Bay Regional Parks during the rainy season.
The death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms contain amatoxins, molecules that are deadly to many animals. Symptoms may not appear until up to 12 hours after consumption, beginning as severe gastrointestinal distress and progressing to liver and kidney failure if treatment is not sought immediately. Both mushrooms can be lethal to humans and pets if consumed. They are mainly associated with oak trees and can be found growing anywhere oak roots are present.
The death cap is a medium to large mushroom that typically has a greenish-gray cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem, and a large white sac at the base of the stem. Although the death cap is mainly associated with oak trees, it has been found growing with other hardwoods. It was accidentally introduced to North America on the roots of European cork oaks and is now slowly colonizing the west coast. The death cap is not native to California.
The western destroying angel is a medium to large mushroom that usually has a creamy white cap, white gills, a white ring around the stem that can disappear with age, and a thin white sac at the base. It fruits from late winter into spring. It is associated exclusively with oaks. Unlike the death cap, it is a native California mushroom.
The Park District urges the public to be safe and knowledgeable about toxic mushrooms when encountering them in the parks. Collecting any mushrooms in East Bay Regional Parks is not allowed.
Pet owners should contact a veterinarian immediately if they suspect their pet may have eaten a toxic mushroom.
While the death cap and western destroying angel mushrooms are responsible for most cases of mushroom poisonings in California, deadly toxins can also be found in Galerina and Lepiota mushroom species, which also occur in the Bay Area. For more information about toxic mushrooms, visit www.ebparks.org/safety/trails/toxic-mushrooms.
Learn More About Fungi at the Tilden Fungus Fair:
Celebrate the fruits of winter! View hundreds of local mushroom specimens, mingle with the mycological community, and enjoy presentations by guest speakers at this two-day special event.
Tilden Fungus Fair
Saturday, Jan 20 – Sunday, Jan 21
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 a.m.
Tilden Nature Area
600 Canon Dr., Berkeley
(510) 544-2233
www.ebparks.org/events/tilden-fungus-fair
New Year’s Eve Spectacular
Submitted by Made Up Theatre
Made Up Theatre is hosting its 13th annual “New Year’s Eve Spectacular!” At 8 p.m. on December 31, enjoy a hilarious improv comedy show to ring in the new year!
It’s time to bid adieu to 2023 with BIG laughs! Join us for an improv comedy show with two unique acts! The first act will feature Laugh Track City, where your suggestions will inspire fast-paced improv games and scenes similar to TV’s “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?”. The second act will feature a fully improvised movie based on an audience suggested title. We’ll even do a simulated countdown, so you can have time to get to your final destination to countdown to midnight.
We’ll provide party favors and celebrate with a special champagne and sparkling cider toast to celebrate the new year!
Note: This show may contain adult language and situations that may not be suitable for a young or sensitive audience.
New Year’s Eve Spectacular
Sunday, Dec 31
7:30 p.m. Doors open
8 p.m. Show starts
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St., Ste B, Fremont
(510) 573-3633
madeuptheatre.com
Tickets: $25
Enter 2023-2024 Newark Optimist Club Essay Contest!
Submitted by Darryl Reina
Calling all Tri-City students!
The annual Newark Optimist Club (Club #20261) Essay Contest is now underway. The Club is encouraging Tri-City area students to contemplate the phrase: “Optimism: How It Connects Us.”
The contest is now open to Newark, Fremont, and Union City students who are under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2023, and have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent. There is no minimum age.
The top three Club essays will receive cash prizes ($200, $100, $50) and medallions, with the first-place essay advancing to the District Level competition for an opportunity to win a $2,500 college scholarship.
“The Essay Contest is designed to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live,” Essay Contest Chairman Darryl Reina said. “As Optimists, it is our goal to bring out the very best in each of them.”
For more information and application, that includes the official rules, students may go to
Optimist.org/documents/2023/programs/23-24_essay_application.pdf
Completed Essays and contest applications must be received by midnight on January 19, 2024. Essays and applications are to be sent via email to Darryl Reina, Chairman, at darryl14r@aol.com. For more info call (510) 917-4060.
Winners will be notified and recognized at an Optimist Club meeting on February 14.
Optimist Club Essay Contest
Deadline: January 19, 2024
Email applications to: darryl14r@aol.com
How PBMs are hurting your local pharmacy
By Karen Kerrigan
Across the country, local pharmacies are boarding up.
A major new study from McKinsey found that the number of independent U.S. pharmacies has declined by half since 1980—leaving just 20,000 in business nationwide. Those that remain are reporting their slimmest profit margins in a decade.
These closures are bad for local communities and patients’ health. When small, independent shops close, patients lose access to the pharmacist who personally knows many local residents. They have personal knowledge of their health conditions, prescribed medications, and the potential interactions those medicines might have with new ones. Local communities may also lose a convenient place to get a flu shot, other immunizations, or blood pressure screening.
Fortunately, lawmakers across both parties are aware of the plight of local pharmacies and the consequences of their diminishing numbers. That is why bipartisanship has rallied behind nearly three dozen bills during this session of Congress. These bills aim to curb the power of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the giant, secretive middlemen that have played a role in driving drug prices higher and independent pharmacies out of business.
PBMs negotiate discounts from drug makers on behalf of insurers. In exchange, pharmaceutical companies receive favorable inclusion of their products on a plan’s formulary. PBMs also administer reimbursements from the system’s payers—insurers, federal and state governments, and corporations—to providers, including pharmacies and clinics.
Their ostensible role in the health system is to lower drug costs and save consumers money. Instead, PBMs have made the system increasingly complex, enabling them to extract outsized revenue from it while crowding out the small mom-and-pop drugstores that have long supplied a variety of community needs.
There are three big PBMs—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx—that control around 80% of the market for prescription drugs.
Today’s biggest PBMs are vertically integrated with drugstore chains and their mail-delivery services, as well as the biggest insurance companies. That creates additional opportunities for advantageous self-dealing.
Drugstores buy medicines wholesale, but PBMs decide how much pharmacies get reimbursed for dispensing medications to patients with insurance. There’s no legal requirement for PBMs to provide equal reimbursement, so they can favor affiliated pharmacies while leaving independents out. PBMs also coordinate with their affiliated insurance companies to steer plan enrollees to their own pharmacy groups.
They do so by restricting where patients can access specific medicines or requiring patients to refill their prescriptions at an affiliated pharmacy, no matter which drugstore supplied the original dose. PBMs can also encourage insurers to push unaffiliated pharmacies out-of-network so patients face higher prices if they stick with their neighborhood drugstore.
As one would expect, the operations of these middlemen lack transparency. Rules for the disclosure of contractual and other arrangements are practically nonexistent.
PBMs have also taken on the role of quality-control enforcer in prescription dispensing. Purportedly, this is to incentivize high-quality service. In reality, PBMs use their audits to justify “clawing back” fees, including from small, independent pharmacies.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, some PBMs even revoked reimbursements for failing to obtain patient signatures. These clawbacks, called “direct or indirect remuneration fees” (DIR fees), wreak havoc on the small-business finances of independent drugstores.
It’s time PBMs were required to make their negotiations public and allow patients fair access to the local pharmacy of their choosing.
Karen Kerrigan is the president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. This article originally appeared on dcjournal.com.
Historic levee breach opens 300 San Francisco Bay acres to tidal marsh restoration
Submitted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
On December 13, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project partners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 300-acre former industrial salt pond to the Bay with a celebration marking the 20th anniversary of their joint restoration venture. This major milestone event is part of an ambitious 50-year effort to restore 15,000 acres of historic wetlands to tidal marsh and other habitats.
Tidal marsh once ringed the South Bay and cushioned the shore from storms and tides. But over the course of the 20th century, approximately 85% of San Francisco Bay wetlands, over 150,000 acres, were lost to development. Restored tidal marshes help to absorb floodwaters and buffer against sea level rise, support wildlife and improve water quality by filtering pollutants.
“The restoration of the South Bay Salt Ponds is the most ambitious wetland restoration project on the West Coast,” said California State Coastal Conservancy Executive Officer Amy Hutzel. “It is thanks to the many people who have supported this project over two decades that we are able to breach the Ravenswood R4 pond [in Menlo Park] today, opening hundreds of acres to the tides and currents of San Francisco Bay. The benefits of today’s breach will be felt by the wildlife that make their homes in tidal salt marshes, the adjacent communities that are now better protected from coastal flooding, and all of us who will get to watch this habitat come to life over the coming months and years.”
“Partnerships like the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project allow us to develop collaborative solutions and bring innovative initiatives into the future,” said Matt Brown, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides critical habitat to several endangered species, including the California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse and western snowy plover. The restoration work here is protecting and restoring habitat for each of these species, which is significant not just for us today, but for future generations too.”
With this breach, the Restoration Project, the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast, has opened over 3,300 acres across the South Bay to allow nature to regrow tidal marshes, transforming former industrial salt ponds into a thriving mosaic of wetlands and creating habitat for endangered species and other wildlife. Restoration is working: since the project began, endangered salt marsh harvest mice and Ridgway’s rails have returned to early restoration sites to live and reproduce. Through the Restoration Project, partners have also enhanced 700 pond acres, built nearly seven miles of recreational trails, a kayak launch and several viewing and interpretive areas, and opened the shore to public access. A new public trail is expected to open at Ravenswood in 2024.
The South Bay Salt Ponds were acquired in 2003 from Cargill Inc. in a deal brokered by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, a long-time champion of the restoration effort. The 15,100-acre property transfer represents the largest single acquisition in a larger campaign led by multiple partners to restore 40,000 acres of lost tidal wetlands to San Francisco Bay.
The $13 million restoration effort at Ravenswood included accommodating a key component of the Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel Flood Protection project, ensuring that the work is beneficial to wildlife and the surrounding communities. Funding was provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the California State Coastal Conservancy, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Meta. Services were donated by California Wildlife Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Save the Bay, San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory and the City of Menlo Park.
The Restoration Project is a collaborative effort with federal, state and local agencies – for more information, visit www.southbayrestoration.org.
The Carbonator
Submitted By Dave Mason
Groundbreaking Technology Being Used to Reduce Wildfire Risks
Wildfires are a significant hazard in the Bay Area. But in the East Bay, a new machine called a carbonator is being used by the East Bay Regional Park District to fight fire with fire, literally. The carbonator was recently started up for the winter season.
The carbonator is currently being used at Anthony Chabot Regional Park to dispose of vegetation from a large 365-acre fuels reduction project. In 2020, the Park District found over 1,500 acres of dead and dying trees within its parks caused by drought stress and climate change.
The carbonator burns organic matter at extremely high temperatures (about 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit) using very little oxygen to dispose of vegetation, which results in very low greenhouse gas emissions. The carbonator is a climate-friendly disposal method, especially compared to the conventional open pile burning or transporting loads long distances off-site in diesel trucks.
“The project at Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a first-of-its-kind project in the Bay Area,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “As the largest regional park district in the nation and a local leader in wildfire prevention, we knew we needed to find an innovative solution for disposing of the vegetation from our fuels reduction projects.”
The resulting material, called biochar, is being used within the Park District as a soil enhancer. Biochar from the carbonator is being used at the Park District’s Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont to enhance soil health and crop productivity, amongst other District locations.
“The carbonator is an innovative fuels reduction tool to address wildfire risks and combat climate change,” said Chief Aileen Theile. “We are always looking for innovative ways to address wildfire dangers and reduce wildfire risks for the community.”
City seeks winter item donations
Submitted by City of Fremont
As the winter rains begin, individuals experiencing homelessness are in great need of warm, dry clothing and other necessities.
The City of Fremont is partnering with Bay Area Community Services (BACS) to ask the community to lend a helping hand this winter and donate items for our unhoused neighbors. The items will be distributed through city programs and services, such as CleanStart and the Safe Parking Program, and shared with BACS to ensure items get in the hands of those who need them most as quickly as possible.
A Homeless Services Needs List is available online for those who would like to donate items. The items most needed are the following: Undergarments, T-shirts, Sweatpants, Sweaters, Sleeping bags, Tarps, Tents. All clothing items should be in adult sizes from small to XXXL.
If you have questions, please contact Paula Manczuk-Hannay in the City’s Human Services Department at (510) 574-2088 or by email at pmanczuk-hannay@fremont.gov.
Every donation, no matter how small, can help ensure that our neighbors have the essential items they need to stay warm and safe this winter. If you have already donated items or plan to do so, thank you for your support and for giving back!
For other ways you can help, including making a monetary donation online, please visit the City’s How to Help webpage at www.fremont.gov/residents/homeless-response/how-to-help.
Drop Off Times & Locations
BACS Wellness Center
Wednesday, Dec 27 – Sunday, Dec 31
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
40963 Grimmer Blvd., Fremont
City of Fremont Human Services
Friday, Dec 29
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
City Hall Building B
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
EARTHTALK Q&A
Solar Shingles Come Of Age
By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
Dear EarthTalk: My roof needs replacing and I’m also thinking about getting solar panels. Do solar shingles make sense or are they still too newfangled to trust? –Peter. H., Boston, MA
Going solar is becoming an increasingly appealing choice for homeowners looking for sustainable energy solutions. Solar shingles are an innovative and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional solar panels, thanks to advancements in solar technology. However, whether they’re a good fit for you depends upon a number of factors.
Solar shingles, or solar roof tiles, are a great way to add renewable energy to your home without sacrificing curb appeal. They blend in seamlessly with your existing roof, so you won’t have to worry about them looking out of place. Solar shingles are also a great way to increase the value of your home.
Solar shingles are becoming increasingly common in new construction homes, and they’re also a great choice if your old roof needs repair or replacement. Combining the installation of solar shingles with your roof renovation accomplishes two things at once. However, solar shingles tend to be more expensive up front compared to traditional solar panels; you’ll have to crunch the numbers with the help of one or more local installers to see what makes the most financial sense for you. Definitely get a few bids to make sure you’re getting a fair deal.
Since solar shingles haven’t been around as long as conventional photovoltaic panels, they don’t have much of a track record of reliability. That said, solar shingles tend to last longer and are more resistant to the elements than photovoltaic panels, as they are designed to be part of the actual structure of the roof itself. If you can’t find any with a warranty of less than 25 years, keep looking. If you’re contemplating the move to solar shingles, proceed with caution and do your homework regarding different manufacturers’ products and warranties—and find/read real customer reviews.
The suitability of solar shingles also depends on your geographical location and the direction your roof faces. It’s important to figure out how much sunlight your roof gets throughout the year to determine how much energy solar shingles can generate. If your roof doesn’t get enough sunlight because of shade or its position, the effectiveness of solar shingles may be reduced, making them less cost-effective. Google’s free Project Sunroof website lets you see if your roof would be a good host for solar panels or shingles.
While solar shingles definitely cost more than photovoltaic panels—typically at least twice as much—it might pencil out if you need roofing tiles replaced anyway. The best way to find out is to interview and get bids from roofers, solar installers and others well-versed in the technology.
Some of the leading manufacturers of solar shingles include CertainTeed Solar, Luma Solar, SunTegra, GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar and, yes, even Tesla. The latter’s solar shingle solution is the priciest of the bunch—$70,000 isn’t unheard of for one of for Tesla’s Solar Roofs—but may be the most reliable given the company’s head start in the business and huge cash reserves.
ONLINE CONTACTS
- Project Sunroof
https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/
- Tesla Solar Roof
https://www.tesla.com/solarroof
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.
HISTORY MATTERS
By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith
December 16 through 31
American Renaissance Man
A phenomenal polymath, Benjamin Franklin was – perhaps – the most peripatetic of all the Founding Fathers: a statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, he published periodicals, Poor Richard’s Almanack — which sold 10,000 annually between 1732-1758 — pamphlets, and a two-volume autobiography. In the scientific sphere, he invented the still-available Franklin Stove (1741); 1750’s Lightning Rod; the flexible catheter (1752) and bifocals (1784). According to History.com, Franklin was just 12 years old in 1729 when he “became the official printer of currency for the colony of Pennsylvania.” He published Poor Richard’s just three years later “along with the Pennsylvania Gazette, one of the colonies’ first and best newspapers. In 1757 he went to London representing Pennsylvania in its dispute with England and later spent time in France. He returned to America in March 1775, with war on the horizon. He served on the Second Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He was also instrumental in persuading the French to lend military assistance to the colonies. He died in Philadelphia in 1790.”
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends Walter Isaacson’s Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.
Royal Refusal
On December 23, 1783, George Washington resigned as Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army, and retired to Mount Vernon. In a pithy announcement to Congress, he declared: “Happy in the confirmation of our independence and sovereignty and pleased with the opportunity afforded the United States of becoming a respectable nation, I resign with satisfaction the appointment I accepted with diffidence, a diffidence in my abilities to accomplish so arduous a task; which however was superseded by a confidence in the rectitude of our cause, the support of the supreme power of the Union, and the patronage of Heaven.” History.com writes there were “political factions” in Congress that “wanted Washington to become the new nation’s king” but by declining the offer and resigning his military post at the end of the war fortified the republican foundations of the new nation.” Six years later, he ascended to the presidency.
The Grateful American Book Prize suggests The Return of George Washington: 1783-1789 by Edward J. Larson.
Labor Day Inception
On December 28, 1869, the Knights of Labor had — what may have been — the first Labor Day ceremonies, but it wasn’t until 1884 that the American Federation of Labor declared First Monday-In-September Observance. Over time, acknowledgement of the holiday has had a deep impact. According to History.com, “in the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories, and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.”
This feature is courtesy of The Grateful American Book Prize, which is an annual award given to authors who have created outstanding works of historical fiction or nonfiction for seventh to ninth graders. Visit them at gratefulamericanbookprize.com.
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
Tis the season to be grumpy?
For the most part “champions” are acclaimed, cheered and envied. Not so for the Gay family of Union Vale, New York. In 2012 they adorned their home with a record 346,283 Christmas lights. In 2014 they lit up the neighborhood with 601,736 lights. And, this year, they set a new Guinness Record when they covered their home with 720,426 lights. It’s not just the bright lights that are making some of their neighbors grumpy, it’s also the tens of thousands of drive-by visitors they attract. See the luminous display on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ERDAJT/videos/860307385734463/?ref=embed_video&t=32
All’s well that ends well
The Richardson family chihuahua, Bean, escaped from his Staten Island, New York home recently and wound up dodging traffic on the busy Staten Island Expressway. It was a close call but drivers slowed down when they saw the pooch. Kaitlyn McGinley got out of her car and chased Bean on foot. She said “The dog ran under my car and hid under my tire. Someone gave me a bag, and I scooped him up and put him in the car.” See the runaway Chihuahua on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTio_3txwwE
One cat’s leap for life
They say that Coco the cat was spooked by a dog and chased up a utility pole on a roadway in Newfoundland, Canada. He was up there for some two hours as utility workers tried to rescue the frightened feline. Just as they got close enough to grab him, Coco took advantage of his nine lives, jumped for his life, made a soft landing and headed straight for home. His owner, Alice Reid, told reporters, “He’s going to have to get used to being in the house more.” See the daring leap on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4gB3q4Rus
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
Boston Dynamics turns Spot into a tour guide with ChatGPT
By Brianna Wessling
Boston Dynamics has turned its Spot quadruped, typically used for inspections, into a robot tour guide. The company integrated the robot with ChatGPT and other AI models as a proof of concept for the potential robotics applications of foundational models.
In the last year, we’ve seen huge advances in the abilities of Generative AI, and much of those advances have been fueled by the rise of large Foundation Models (FMs). FMs are large AI systems that are trained on a massive dataset.
These FMs typically have millions of billions of parameters and were trained by scraping raw data from the public interested. All of this data gives them the ability to develop Emergent Behaviors, or the ability to perform tasks outside of what they were directly trained on, allowing them to be adapted for a variety of applications and act as a foundation for other algorithms.
The Boston Dynamics team spent the summer putting together some proof-of-concept demos using FMs for robotic applications. The team then expanded on these demos during an internal hackathon. The company was particularly interested in a demo of Spot making decisions in real-time based on the output of FMs.
Large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, are basically very capable autocomplete algorithms, with the ability to take in a stream of text and predict the next bit of text. The Boston Dynamics team was interested in LLMs’ ability to roleplay, replicate culture and nuance, form plans, and maintain coherence over time. The team was also inspired by recently released Visual Question Answering (VQA) models that can caption images and answer simple questions about them.
A robotic tour guide seemed like the perfect demo to test these concepts. The robot would walk around, look at objects in the environment, and then use a VQA or captioning model to describe them. The robot would also use an LLM to elaborate on these descriptions, answer questions from the tour audience, and plan what actions to take next.
The demo that the team planned required Spot to be able to speak to a group and hear questions and prompts from them. Boston Dynamics 3D printed a vibration-resistant mount for a Respeaker V2 speaker. They attached this to Spot’s EAP 2 payload using a USB.
Spot is controlled using an offboard computer, either a desktop PC or a laptop, which uses Spot’s SDK to communicate. The team added a simple Spot SDK service to communicate audio with the EAP 2 payload.
Now that Spot had the ability to handle audio, the team needed to give it conversation skills. They started with OpenAI’s ChaptGPT API on gpt-3.5, and then upgraded to gpt-4 when it became available. Additionally, the team did tests on smaller open-source LLMs.
They fed the robot’s gripper camera and front body camera into BLIP-2, and ran it in either visual question answering mode or image captioning mode. This runs about once a second, and the results are fed directly into the prompt.
To give Spot the ability to hear, the team fed microphone data in chunks to OpenAI’s whisper to convert it into English text. Spot waits for a wake-up word, like “Hey, Spot” before putting that text into the prompt, and it suppresses audio when it its speaking itself.
Because ChatGPT generates text-based responses, the team needed to run these through a text-to-speech tool so the robot could respond to the audience. The team tried a number of off-the-shelf text-to-speech methods, but they settled on using the cloud service ElevenLabs. To help reduce latency, they also streamed the text to the platform as “phrases” in parallel and then played back the generated audio.
The team also wanted Spot to have more natural-looking body language. So they used a feature in the Spot 3.3 update that allows the robot to detect and track moving objects to guess where the nearest person was, and then had the robot turn its arm toward that person.
Using a lowpass filter on the generated speech, the team was able to have the gripper mimic speech, sort of like the mouth of a puppet. This illusion was enhanced when the team added costumes or googly eyes to the gripper.
How did Spot perform?
The team noticed new behavior emerging quickly from the robot’s very simple action space. They asked the robot, “Who is Marc Raibert?” The robot didn’t know the answer and told the team that it would go to the IT help desk and ask, which it wasn’t programmed to do. The team also asked Spot who its parents were, and it went to where the older versions of Spot, the Spot V1 and Big Dog, were displayed in the office.
These behaviors show the power of statistical association between the concepts of “help desk” and “asking a question,” and “parents” with “old.” They don’t suggest the LLM is conscious or intelligent in a human sense, according to the team.
The LLM also proved to be good at staying in character, even as the team gave it more absurd personalities to try out.
While the LLM performed well, it did frequently make things up during the tour. For example, it kept telling the team that Stretch, Boston Dynamics’ logistics robot, is for yoga.
Moving forward, the team plans to continue exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics. Meanwhile, these models also help provide cultural context, general commonsense knowledge, and flexibility that could be useful for many robotic tasks.
Brianna Wessling is an Associate Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media. She joined WTWH Media in November 2021, and is a recent graduate from the University of Kansas. She can be reached at bwessling@wtwhmedia.com
THE ROBOT REPORT
May Mobility places autonomous vehicle bet on retirees
By Steve Crowe
Considering the recent challenges faced by the industry, any incremental progress in autonomous vehicles seems extra important these days. Ann Arbor, Michigan-based May Mobility said it’s deploying fully driverless vehicles at a retirement community in the Phoenix metro area. This will be the first time passengers can ride in the vehicles without a human safety driver inside. Starting on December 19, two autonomous minivans will be available to a select group of early riders who live in Sun City, a retirement community home to 39,931 people, according to the 2020 census, which is about 14.4 square miles in size. To start, May Mobility said its minivans will cover about 4.5 miles of Sun City, bringing the early riders to a variety of spots such as resident buildings, medical centers, and “other key locations.” Sun City offers a much simpler driving environment than, say, San Francisco. May Mobility is betting this laid-back environment gives it a better opportunity to avoid some of the edge cases causing issues for robotaxis lately.
The service will be free to early riders. May Mobility has been testing this service with human safety drivers at Sun City since April 2023. Now it’ll be removing that human backup safety driver. There will be remote human teleoperators in the loop. Here is how they’ll be involved, according to May Mobility: “At present, each vehicle will be monitored by an individual tele-assist operator to ensure vehicle safety. If remote operators need to take over during remote assistance, the vehicle will come to a stop if it is not already stopped. Then the tele-assist operator will select the best maneuver for the situation so that the vehicle can continue autonomous operations but will not be able to directly steer the vehicle.”
“Today, we take the key step of beginning rider-only operations, a cornerstone for our commercial growth and expansion moving forward,” said Edwin Olson, CEO and co-founder of May Mobility. “We believe it is critical to work closely with our key strategic partners, regulators, insurers, and riders, as we roll out our technology step-by-step.” Like all companies developing autonomous vehicles, May Mobility has had its challenges. But those pale in comparison to what we’ve seen from Aurora, Cruise, TuSimple, and others in 2023 alone. The question going forward is whether partnerships with retirement communities, college campuses, and other public transportation systems are enough to pay the bills. In these cases, May Mobility gets paid by the cities it’s operating in or by transit agencies. This is the opposite of being paid with individual fares, which is the model for Cruise, Waymo, and other developers building out robotaxi services for the public. Optimus Ride and Voyage were two autonomous vehicle companies that also focused on retirement communities. But neither had commercial success. Voyage was acquired by Cruise in 2021, but its operations were quickly shut down. And Boston-based Optimus Ride had its IP and engineers acquired by Magna International in early 2022.
If the early results in Sun City are positive, it will be the first of “many communities globally” that May Mobility wants to roll out a similar service. It believes its approach is more scalable than others, and that it can be the first profitable company developing autonomous vehicles. Looks like we’re about to find out.
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
Social Security Matters
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Ask Rusty – Are Spousal Benefits Always a Factor?
Dear Rusty: Both my wife and I have worked our entire lives. When we retire, will we both be entitled to full benefit amount each, or will there always be a spousal factor in there? Also, how are those benefits calculated—based on your highest salaries throughout your career, or your ending salaries when you retire? Signed: Looking Ahead
Dear Looking: Prior to retiring from work is a smart time to investigate how Social Security will fit into your golden years. To answer your second question first, each person’s personal SS retirement benefit is based on the highest earning 35 years over their entire lifetime, with earlier years adjusted for inflation. The person’s Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) – essentially the person’s lifetime average inflation-adjusted monthly earnings amount – is first determined. Using AIME, the person’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is calculated using a special benefit formula which will yield a PIA of about 40% or less of the person’s AIME. The PIA is the amount received if benefits start in the month full retirement age or “FRA” is attained (as you can see, Social Security likes acronyms).
Since you and your wife were both born after 1959, FRA for both of you is 67. The age when you claim benefits, relative to your FRA, determines how much you’ll get. Claim before FRA and your benefit is reduced; claim after your FRA and your SS retirement benefit will be more (up to age 70 when maximum is reached); claim at your FRA and your benefit will equal your PIA – the full (100%) amount you’ve earned from a lifetime of working.
Spouse benefits only come into play if the PIA for one of you is less than 50% of the other’s PIA. In that case, the spouse with the lower PIA gets a “spousal boost” to their own SS retirement benefit when claimed. The amount of the “spousal boost” will be the difference between the lower PIA and half of the higher PIA, but the amount of the “spousal boost” (as well as the person’s own SS retirement amount) will be reduced if benefits are claimed before full retirement age. Any time SS benefits are claimed before full retirement age, those benefits are permanently reduced.
If one spouse is entitled to a “spousal boost” from the other, the spousal amount will reach maximum at the recipient’s full retirement age. Thus, if the lower earning partner’s highest benefit will be as a spouse, then that spouse should not wait beyond their FRA to claim. If, instead, the lower earning partner’s own SS benefit at age 70 is more than their spousal amount, waiting longer than FRA to claim could be prudent, depending on life expectancy.
So, as you can see, deciding when to claim Social Security benefits should consider many things, including financial need, work status if claiming before FRA, marital status, and life expectancy. But it is your lifetime earnings which determines your SS retirement benefit amount, and it is how your FRA entitlements compare to each other that determines whether spousal benefits will be paid.
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.
Ask Rusty – I’m returning to work; what should I do about Social Security?
Dear Rusty: I started collecting Social Security at age 62 earlier this year. I had an opportunity to partner in a new business this year that will allow me to earn about $200,000 in 2024. Because this is significantly above the allowed earnings when collecting early benefits, I need advice on how I handle this with the Social Security Administration. Am I supposed to call them and advise them of my change in income for 2024? If so, am I going to be penalized in any way? I expect they will stop all payments in 2024 once I alert them to the change. Will I be eligible for Social Security payments when I retire again? This is planned to take place before I reach full retirement age of 67. For information, my 2023 income will not exceed the 2023 allowable income limit. Signed: Un-retiring Temporarily.
Dear Un-retiring: You have a couple of options, considering that you recently claimed early Social Security benefits but are returning to work with income significantly more than the 2024 earnings limit of $22,320.
The first is to simply contact Social Security and tell them you are returning to the work force and tell them your anticipated 2024 income. They will suspend your SS benefits for all of 2024 (to avoid overpaying you and making you return those 2024 payments later). If you plan to continue in your new business beyond 2024, you can advise them of that as well and they will continue the suspension of your benefits, until such time as you either discontinue working or reach your full retirement age (the earnings test no longer applies after you reach your FRA). At that time, SS will resume your monthly Social Security payments and, at your FRA, will give you time credit for all months your benefits were suspended, providing you with a higher monthly payment after your full retirement age is attained (with an adjustment for benefits already paid).
Your other option is to contact Social Security soon and request that your recent application for Social Security benefits submitted earlier this year be withdrawn. You have 12 months from the date of your application to do this, but you will need to repay Social Security all money which they paid to you or on your behalf (including your monthly payments, any income tax you had withheld from those payments, and any dependent benefits which might have been paid based on your record). That will effectively “wipe the slate clean” with Social Security and will be as though you had never claimed, allowing you to simply wait until you stop working, or until your FRA, or even beyond your FRA, to re-apply for Social Security at a higher monthly amount. The advantage of this option is that when your benefit restarts there will be no adjustment (reduction) for past benefits paid.
What I suggest you not do is simply wait to see what happens. That would result in Social Security catching up after the IRS informs them of your 2024 earnings, resulting in you receiving an Overpayment Notice from the SSA demanding repayment of 2024 benefits paid. In that case, you would need to quickly repay Social Security in a large lump-sum or have your SS benefits withheld until the debt for exceeding the earnings limit was repaid. In a nutshell, I suggest you call Social Security and tell them you are returning to work, what your earnings are expected to be, and for how long.
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.
Tri-City History – Street Names #11: Haley Street
By Kelsey Camello, for the Washington Township Museum of Local History
Haley Street: A street in Newark that runs south from Jarvis Avenue to Mayhews Landing Road.
In the interest of being festive this December, a search ensued for a local street name with history that ties into the season. While many streets named after trees (that’s one way to go, right?) were found dotting the maps in Fremont, Newark and Union City, a certain moniker immediately jumped off the page—Haley…Ebenezer Haley of Newark, to be exact. “Bah, humbug!”
The history of Ebenezer Haley and his family bears no real relation to the holiday season, aside from the coincidence of the man’s first name, but the history is still worth telling. Unlike the fictional Ebenezer from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, upon Haley’s death in December 1897, it was reported that he’d lived an “honest and upright life, had won universal respect, [and that his death had] cast a gloom over the community.”
In 1849, Haley (born 1801) traveled from Nova Scotia, Canada aboard the ship Mary Jane to California in search of gold. Among the passengers was Benjamin B. Redding, famed settler of Redding, California. Haley came from a line of pioneers; his great-great-grandfather had immigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636, and his grandfather immigrated from New England to Nova Scotia in 1762. Tackling new territory was in Ebenezer’s DNA. Haley spent a few years in gold country before settling in Washington Township in 1852. After three years, he returned to Nova Scotia to settle his affairs and bring his family back with him to California. In 1855 he settled permanently on his farm in Newark, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was one of the earliest permanent pioneer settlers of Newark.
Addressed simply as “Eben” by his friends and family, Ebenezer Haley was known and respected throughout the township. Never one to be tied up in politics, he spent his days farming his pear and apple orchards, tending to the wheat and barley, and stock and dairy cattle that filled the family’s extensive acreage. His wife, Mary Lee Scott Haley was active in local church and social affairs, and she too was well-liked by her community.
Ebenezer and his sons Caleb and William owned nearly all of the land north of Mayhews Landing Road right up to the Patterson Ranch line. In 1896, William subdivided his land to sell off, and through it he laid a road, which became Haley Street. Today you can drive on Haley Street, walk along it, or maybe you even live there, and if you do, may you have a happy and festive season, and a Happy New Year!
Let’s explore local history together! Have a topic or idea you’d like us to look into? Email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org.
Include Gardening in Your New Year’s Resolution
By Melinda Myers
Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com
The New Year is filled with resolutions that usually involve dieting and exercise. Gardening is a great way to help accomplish those two resolutions, while also improving your mood, reducing blood pressure, managing anger, maintaining flexibility, and more.
Start the new year with a plan to incorporate healthy vegetables into your containers, gardens, and meals. Growing vegetables encourages you to eat more fresh produce and maximizes the benefits. You’ll be able to harvest the vegetables at their peak of ripeness for the best flavor and maximum nutritional value. Plus, you control what, if any, chemicals are used in your gardens and containers.
Involve family and friends during the planning process and continue supporting each other in this healthful endeavor throughout the year. Research has found that making gardening a more social experience can intensify the physical and mental health benefits. Even sharing your surplus produce with others can reap greater health benefits.
Begin by growing a few microgreens this winter. These fast-growing nutritious greens are easy to grow and do not require much space or special equipment. Just repurpose some fast-food containers, fill them with a seed starting mix or quality potting mix, and plant the microgreen seeds. Many garden centers, catalogs, and organic food coops sell microgreen seeds and sprouting seeds.
Grow a few pots of herbs in a sunny window or under artificial lights. Herbs are a healthy way to add flavor to winter meals. Start them with seeds or purchase transplants to shorten the time to harvest.
Plant these in a container with drainage holes filled with a quality potting mix. Follow the directions on the seed packet or plant tag for planting and care information. Once they are at least four to six inches tall, you can begin harvesting. Just make sure there will be enough leaves left on the plant to support new growth.
Look for new ways to prepare and incorporate vegetables into your diet. You’ll find lots of recipes online and in cookbooks available from your library.
Start a list of vegetables you want to include and those that are suitable to grow in your location. Your state’s extension service has information on what vegetables will thrive in your area and tips on when and how to plant and care for them.
Take stock of your current seed inventory. Make a list of any seeds and transplants you’ll need to buy to boost the nutrition of your garden harvest. Greens like spinach, collards, Swiss chard and kale, carrots, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and red cabbage are among the most nutritionally dense vegetables.
Consider growing those plants that are most productive and cost-effective for the available space. Look for vegetables like tomatoes and sweet peppers that produce an abundance of fruit from just one plant. Adjust your harvest techniques to keep plants like broccoli and greens producing beyond the first harvest.
Once your list matches your gardening space, it is time to draw up a garden plan. If you are new to gardening, consider starting small and expanding over time. You will need sufficient time for planting and throughout the growing and harvest season to maintain, harvest, and utilize all the vegetables you grow.
Starting your nutritional gardening practices inside this winter will help generate momentum and keep you focused on your nutrition goals throughout the growing season.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Castro Valley Unified School District
December 14, 2023
Board Organization
- Michael Kusiak was elected as Board President
- Dolly Adams was elected as Vice President
Program Updates
- Installation of new drinking fountains for Independent Elementary School have been finished.
- Castro Valley High School has had new classroom furniture installed.
- Canyon Middle School received new cafeteria tables.
- The tennis courts will be relocated with the charging stations taking their place.
- Two buses have been received.
Consent Agenda
- Excuse the absence of Trustee Michael Kusiak on October 25, 2023
- Adopt Board Policies 0410, 1312.2, 1312.3, 5145.3, 6143, 6161.1, 6161.11, and 6163.1
- Approve new and closed positions on the request for Personnel Action Board Report as of December 1, 2023
- Approve purchase order report for November 3, 2023 through Dec. 1, 2023
- Adopt resolution 22 – 23/24, Disposal of Obsolete and/or Surplus Property
- Accept donations to the district
- Approve salary schedules for the members of the Castro Valley Teachers Association (CVTA), the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter 52 and Confidential and Management Employees
- Adopt resolution 23 – 23/24, Authorization to Solicit Request for Proposals (RFPs) for Technology Solutions
- Adopt Resolution 24 -23/24, Authorization to Solicit Request for Proposals (RFPs) for auditing services for fiscal year 2023-24 through 2025-26
- Approve Upcoming District-Sponsored Out-of-State Field Trip
- Approve Out-of-State Conference Request
President Lavander Whitaker Aye
Michael Kusiak Aye
Dolly Adams Aye
Sara Raymond Aye
Gary Howard Aye
Bay Area Affordable Housing Bond Community Meeting
Submitted By Alameda County
Join Supervisors David Haubert and Elisa Márquez on Monday, January 8 from 6:30 p.m. – 8p.m. at the Fremont Library to learn and share your thoughts about a possible $10 to $20 billion Bay Area-wide affordable housing bond sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) for the November 2024 ballot.
If approved by the voters, the regional bond will provide billions of dollars for the construction of an estimated 45,000 affordable homes, serving over 500,000 residents over the coming decades. This measure will also raise billions for preservation of existing affordable housing and ensure protection for at-risk tenants. General obligation bonds are funded through property taxes, so a $10 billion bond would place a tax of $10.26 on $100,000 in assessed value—or about $100 per year for a million-dollar home.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors District offices are partnering with the County Housing and Community Development Department on public information and input sessions.
Please reserve your space at tinyurl.com/register-for-in-person (in person) or tinyurl.com/register-for-online (online)
Translation service options are available in the registration. For ADA accommodations, please contact our offices: District 1 at district1@acgov.org or 510-272-6691 and District 2 at district2@acgov.org or 510-272-6692.
Affordable Housing Bond Community Meeting
Monday, Jan 8
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fremont Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
tinyurl.com/register-for-in-person
tinyurl.com/register-for-online
Fremont City Council
December 5, 2023
7:00 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- Adoption of an ordinance of the City of Fremont amending various chapters of Fremont municipal code Title 17 (Subdivisions) and Title 18 (Planning and Zoning) to comply with State law and implement programs 16, 17, 18, 32, 34, 36, 37, 44, 45, 46, 69, 74, 76, and 91 of the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element.
Mayor Lily Mei Aye
Desrie Campbell Aye
Teresa Cox Absent
Jenny Kassan Aye
Teresa Keng Aye
Raj Salwan Aye
Yang Shao Absent
Hayward City Council
December 12, 2023
5:30 p.m.
Consent
- Accept Transmittal of the Annual Mitigation Fee Act Report (AB1600)
- Authorize the purchase of two plunger valves from Core & Main LP in an amount not-to-exceed $155,850 as part of the 250-foot zone for pressure reducing strategy at Decoto Pump Station Project No. 07074
- Authorize to apply for a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loan for the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Improvements – Phase II Project No. 07760
- Accept and appropriate $515,000 in Awarded Transportation Fund for Clean Air Funding from the Alameda County Transportation Commission for the Winton Avenue/D Street and Tennyson Road Corridors Signal Timing Project for construction of traffic signal infrastructure and implementation of adaptive signal timing
- Approve the plans and specifications and call for bids for the Hayward Police Department Locker Room Building Project No. 06926
- Appropriate additional funds in the amount of $120,000 from Transportation System Improvement – Fund 460 for the Traffic Signal Upgrade at Huntwood Avenue, Project No. 05737
- Approve Addendum Nos. 1,2,3 and 4, rejecting the bid from CWS Construction Group, Inc. and awarding a construction contract to Rodan Builders, Inc., for The Stack Center – Phase I Project, Project No. 06960, in the amount of $8,699,000 and authorizing an administrative change order budget of $871,000
- Authorize an agreement with LookingPoint for Implementation of Network Refresh in an amount not-to-exceed $2,340,126
- Authorize a professional services agreement with Clifford Moss in an amount not-to-exceed $90,000 Plus Direct Communications Expenses Estimated at $155,000 and with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) in an amount not-to-exceed $45,750 for education and outreach services relating to a potential early extension of the ½ cent Local District Sales Tax and Appropriating Funds for these Agreements
- Adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 4, Article 12 of the Hayward Municipal Code regarding spectators at illegal speed contests and exhibitions of speed
Mayor Mark Salinas Aye
Angela Andrews Aye
Ray Bonilla Aye
Dan Goldstein Aye
Julie Roche Aye
George Syrop Aye
Francisco Zermeno Aye
Introduction to Primary Election Ballot Measure
Submitted by Angelina Reyes, Co-President
Presidential Primary Election – March 5, 2024
Ballot Measure B
At the recent meeting of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors (BOS), a call for election to coincide with the Presidential Primary on March 5, 2024, was approved. Thus, the voters residing in Alameda County will vote on Ballot Measure B which will update the AC Charter relating to recalls. Section 62 of the Charter has not been updated since 1926 making those procedures in this section substantially different than what the California State Election Code for recalls directs. Aligning these procedures will add transparency and clarity that include procedures to address current irregularities for initiating the process. The update includes the signature gathering procedure as Section 62 on this procedure has been declared unconstitutional. Adopting state law would also establish reasonable and workable procedures and timelines that reflect current population numbers and other requirements. Any outstanding recalls in process will not be impacted if all required signatures are submitted before to March 5, 2024. All six LWV Leagues in Alameda County are in support of this effort to update recall procedures in Alameda County.
Visit our website for more information: https://lwvcs.clubexpress.com/
Newark City Council
December 14, 2023
Consent Calendar
- Approve the 2024 Local Appointments List and distribution
- Execute a Contractual Services Agreement with MNS Engineers, Inc. for Construction Management Servies for Central Avenue Overpass project
- Approve an agreement with Forensic Logic LLC, a SoundThinking Company for Crime Tracer software
- Approve the Second Amendment to the Contractual Services Agreement with Client First Consulting Group, LLC for technology consulting services
- Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Contractual Services Agreement with West Coast Arborists, Inc. for tree maintenance services
- Approve a side letter agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Newark and the Newark Police Management Association to provide for compensation to the Police Lieutenants for the certain overtime work associated with the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program grant
- Accept the Annual and Five-Year Mitigation Fee report for fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 and approve findings for each development impact fee that the City of Newark imposes on development projects
- Approve a side letter with the Newark Police Association to provide temporary benefits relating to the temporary critical staffing schedule
- Authorize the deletion of one full-time equivalent Lead Public Safety Dispatcher and the addition of on full-time equivalent Public Safety Supervisor
- Approve a Contractual Services Agreement with ICS Integrated Communication Systems for audio/video equipment and services
- Authorize the purchase of two dump trucks for the Public Works Department Maintenance Division directly from an auto dealership
- Authorize the second amendment to the Contractual Services Agreements with Community Planning Collaborative and authorization amendment of the 2022-2024 Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2024 to provide funding for consultant services related to the 2023-2032 Housing Element
- Approve reappointment of Eric Hentschke to the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District
Mayor Michael Hannon Aye
Vice Mayor Sucy Collazo Aye
Mike Bucci Aye
Luis Freitas Aye
Matthew Jorgens Aye
State Water Board approves criteria for recycled water
Submitted by Restore Hetch Hetchy
On Wednesday, December 20, California’s State Water Resources Control Board formally adopted criteria for recycling wastewater (calmatters.org).
The Water Board’s rules are a big deal, a very big deal, and they provide California’s cities a clear and definite alternative for assuring a reliable water supply. But the action has been expected for some time—after all, communities in southern California have already committed billions of dollars and have begun constructing recycling projects.
Recycling wastewater is not entirely new. Singapore has been recycling wastewater for more than 20 years, a technology its Prime Minister promoted by drinking “NEWater” on television (latimes.com). And Orange County has been recycling wastewater for decades as well, although those supplies have been injected in aquifers before being extracted and treated for use.
The Water Board’s new rules allow wastewater to be treated and stored in local surface reservoirs or delivered directly to customers. Any skeptics might want to visit a recycling plant to see the extensive process, which includes that same nanofilters used for desalination. (Pushing recycled water through the nanofilters requires a fraction of the energy that desalinating seawater requires.)
Recycling is expensive indeed. In some cases (e.g. San Diego), however, the cost of recycling is a large part of the cost of reducing pollution of its beaches from wastewater plants. Obviously recycling wastewater would reduce pollution in San Francisco Bay as well as enable restoration of Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park—something we argued in an editorial opinion in the San Francisco Chronicle last year after a toxic algae bloom killed tens of thousands of fish.
Restore Hetch Hetchy believes San Francisco needs to modernize its water system so that Yosemite National Park can again be made whole. We’ve emphasized groundwater banking as a lower cost alternative to recycling (or expanding Calaveras Reservoir)—but recycling wastewater would indeed provide a huge water quality benefit to the Bay.
As we explain in Yosemite’s Opportunity: Options For Replacing Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (2022): “The recent investments that California’s cities have made in groundwater, recycling and local surface storage would replace Hetch Hetchy Reservoir more than 15 times over. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has the opportunity to pursue any or all of these technologies.” Not a drop of supply need be lost!
Restore Hetch Hetchy
https://hetchhetchy.org/state-water-board-approves-criteria-for-recycled-water/
San Leandro City Council
December 18, 2023
7:00 p.m.
Action Items
- Adoption of an Ordinance to Establish Compensation of Councilmembers; and Mayor. Passed 5-1-1 (Ballew, Nay; Reynes, Absent)
Consent Calendar
- Amend San Leandro Municipal Code Chapter 1-2 Departments to Reflect the Current Structure of City Departments
- Amend San Leandro Municipal Code Section 1-3-110 to Modify the Community Police Review Board’s Membership Structure
- Accept the 2022-2023 Section 115 Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust and Pension Trust Investment Report for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2023
- Approve the Annual Update of the City OPEB and Pension Funding Policy
- Accept the Annual Report on Receipt and Use of Development Impact Fees for the Year Ended June 30, 2023
- Approve the California State Library’s Fiscal Year 2024 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) English as a Second Language (ESL) Grant in the amount of $23,488 for the Enhancement of ESL Programming as Part of Project Literacy
- Approve the California State Library’s Fiscal Year 2024 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Grant in the amount of $86,818 for the Continuation of the Project Literacy Adult and Family Literacy Services
- Award a Construction Contract to Tricon Construction, Inc. in the Amount of $1,655,573 for the Washington Manor Park Pool Renovation, Project No. 2023.3400
- Authorize an Agreement between the City of San Leandro and the San Leandro Improvement Association in an amount not to exceed $304,000 for the management and operation of the San Leandro Cherry Festival for Two Years with the Option for Three (3) One-Year Extensions
- Approve an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Budget Adjustment for the Community Safety Ambassador Project and the Beautify San Leandro Project
- Approve the Posting of the Local Appointments List of Board and Commission Vacancies in 2024
- Accept the FY 2022-2023 Annual Review of the Rent Review Ordinance and Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance
- Accept the 2022 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Mayor Juan Gonzalez Aye
Victor Aguilar Aye
Bryan Azevedo Aye
Pete Ballew Aye
Xouhoa Bowen Aye
Celina Reynes Absent
Fred Simon Aye
Fremont Cares: Helping Our Unhoused Community Members Navigate a Path Home
Submitted by City of Fremont
In September 2020, City of Fremont opened the Housing Navigation Center (HNC) in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACS) as part of our strategic approach to address the growing homelessness crisis. Located adjacent to City Hall, the HNC provides a clean, safe, and calm environment for those experiencing homelessness while they receive help finding stable, permanent housing.
The HNC continues to significantly impact lives, and we are pleased to share the inspiring stories of three participants who were able to find a path to their new homes with the help of this innovative program.
Paul
“Paul” had been experiencing homelessness since the summer of 2021 and had the opportunity to enroll in the HNC in March 2022. Through the program, staff connected Paul to non-cash benefits and helped him apply for senior affordable housing opportunities. After only eight months, Paul was selected for an apartment and moved into his new home.
Gus
“Gus” spent nearly two decades incarcerated before being released without a home to go to. For most of his adult life, he battled substance abuse, and his criminal history became a barrier to employment and housing. While at the HNC, Gus faithfully attended substance abuse meetings to maintain his sobriety. Working alongside staff, he connected with Bay Area Legal Aid and had his misdemeanor charge expunged from his record. He eventually secured a full-time job as a security officer for a major retailer, and in March 2023, Gus signed a lease for an apartment in Newark.
Ruby
“Ruby” became homeless in 2013 due to an abusive relationship mixed with alcoholism which, according to Ruby, created a wedge between her and her family. When she arrived at the HNC in August 2021, she didn’t think family reunification was possible. After nearly a year in the program, staff worked with Ruby to contact her mother and unfortunately learned her mother was ill. Staff supported Ruby while she traveled to Oregon several times to visit her mother and further supported her family reunification by helping her find a home in Oregon. In March 2023, Ruby signed a lease agreement and now happily lives in Oregon.
The city is proud of the continued work being done at the HNC—ultimately, it’s all about helping community members like Paul, Gus, and Ruby find their way home.
About Fremont Cares
The City’s Fremont Cares storytelling series aims to shed light on the real-life experiences of Fremont’s unhoused residents, highlight the homeless response services provided by dedicated City staff and partner agencies, and inspire others to get involved and help.
Alameda County Sheriff’s Log
Submitted By ACSO
On October 8, 2023, around 10:45 p.m., deputies and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel responded to an apartment complex on Miramar Avenue in Unincorporated San Leandro (Ashland) for a report of a carjacking and possible shooting. Deputies arrived and found the victim, 18-year-old Leandro Iquite, suffering from a gunshot wound to his head. EMS transported Iquite to a local hospital, where, sadly, he succumbed to his injuries.
Over the past several months, investigators developed leads and evidence that identified 18-year-old Yefry Aguilar Rubio as one of the suspects responsible for Iquite’s death. Aguilar Rubio was 17 when the incident occurred and turned 18 that same month. Investigators found Aguilar Rubio’s 17-year-old girlfriend and his girlfriend’s 16-year-old brother were also involved in the homicide. Evidence revealed that Aguilar Rubio and his girlfriend began discussing harming Iquite in June of 2023. Evidence also indicated that the suspects lured the victim from Redwood City, where the victim and all the suspects resided, to San Leandro, where they killed him.
On December 13, 2023, with the assistance of the Redwood City Police Department, investigators served search and arrest warrants at the suspects’ residences in Redwood City. We located and arrested Aguilar Rubio’s girlfriend and her brother at their home, where we recovered evidence related to the homicide.
The Fremont Police Department assisted us in serving a search warrant at a residence in Fremont, which the suspects visited before and after Iquite’s murder. In the residence, investigators found evidence of a substantial identity theft and fraud operation. We arrested the occupants and recovered additional evidence, including a stolen firearm.
Aguilar Rubio was in custody in San Mateo County for an unrelated offense at the time. Investigators subsequently met with Rubio and arrested him for Iquite’s murder.
We submitted the case to the District Attorney’s Office for charges of conspiracy, carjacking, and homicide. Pursuant to Proposition 57 and Welfare and Institutions Code 707, we asked the District Attorney’s Office to file a motion with the juvenile court to consider adult prosecution for all three suspects.
BART Police Log
Submitted By BART PD
Wednesday, December 13
- At 4:57 a.m. a man identified by police as Exal Barrajas, 40, from Hayward was taken into custody at Hayward station. Barrajas was booked into the Alameda County Jail for failure to register as a sex offender.
Saturday, December 16
- At 3:35 p.m. officers at Bay Fair station identified Mayci Morgan, 24, from Missouri. Morgan was found to have an active felony warrant out of Greene County Sheriff's Office, Missouri for forgery with willful extradition. Greene County SO confirmed the warrant. Morgan was placed under arrest and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- At 9:41 a.m. officers at Warm Springs station identified Derrick Bedford, 33, from Stockton. Bedford was found to have an active domestic restraining order prohibiting him from being with his partner. Bedford also had two active felony warrants out of Santa Clara County. Bedford was booked at Santa Rita Jail for violating a protective order.
Sunday, December 17
- At 11:36 a.m. officers identified Jeromy Smith, 48, from San Francisco. He was contacted for fare evasion at Milpitas station and taken into custody. Smith was booked into Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose for an outstanding arrest warrant.
Monday, December 18
- At 8:00 a.m. officers at Castro Valley station identified Randall Stovall, 29, and took him into custody. Stovall was booked into Alameda County Jail for failure to register as a sex offender and possession of drug paraphernalia.
- At 12:24 p.m. officers at San Leandro station identified Louis King, 44, from Hayward. King was taken into custody and booked into the Alameda County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
- At 8:57 a.m. officers at Fremont station identified Edward Martinez, 27, from South San Francisco. Martinez was taken into custody and booked into Alameda County Jail for indecent exposure. Martinez was issued a prohibition order in relation to this event.
Tuesday, December 19
- At 9:47 a.m. police identified Arthur Pakman, 33, from San Francisco at Fremont station. Pakman was taken into custody and booked into the Alameda County Jail for an outstanding arrest warrant.
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.
Thursday, December 14
- Officer T. Rodriguez and his Field Training Officer, Officer Brown, conducted an enforcement stop on I-880 Northbound, north of Washington Avenue in San Leandro. While contacting the driver, Officer T. Rodriguez established probable cause to search the vehicle. During the vehicle search, a loaded Glock 17 with an extended magazine and Glock auto switch (making the pistol automatic) was located. The driver was arrested on felony gun charges and booked into Santa Rita County Jail.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted By Fremont PD
Tuesday, December 5
- A victim went to the Red Hawk Ter area to meet a woman he met online and was robbed by four subjects with firearms. The subjects took the victim’s belongings and cash. The victim ran and hid from the subjects, hearing them looking for him. Upon returning to his vehicle, the victim discovered that it had been ransacked and vandalized, with the window smashed.
- Officers responded to multiple calls regarding a vehicle collision on Omar St. Officers determined that the driver was under the influence and had crashed into multiple parked vehicles. After being treated at a nearby hospital, the subject refused to leave. When officers arrived, the subject threatened to burn the building down, then lit a napkin on fire and threw it on the ground. Assisting security guards stomped out the fire quickly, and officers arrested the subject.
Thursday, December 7
- Officers responded to a report of a possible dead body at an apartment complex on Fremont Blvd. The decedent was inside the apartment on the floor, indicating obvious signs of death. Fremont Fire Department arrived later and pronounced the subject deceased. Drug paraphernalia was located on the scene.
- Security from a car dealership on Christy St. reported seeing two vehicles attempting to ram out of the property gates. The vehicles successfully rammed through the gates and fled as officers arrived. Officers eventually located both vehicles fleeing elsewhere in the city, each reaching speeds of 120 mph. The car dealership provided tracking information, and officers located both vehicles in separate cities and arrested two subjects.
Friday, December 8
- A motorist reported that another driver had brandished a firearm at him after driving recklessly during a road rage encounter near Mission Blvd. and I-680 North. Officers eventually caught up to the subject vehicle, and the driver advised that he did have a gun in the vehicle. Officers recovered a non-serialized firearm and arrested the driver.
- Dispatch received a report that a subject was waving a handgun in the Peralta Blvd. and Dusterberry Way area. The subject was heard saying he was going to shoot someone and was accompanied by another subject, both traveling on foot. Officers flooded the area, but could not locate either subject.
- A subject vehicle confronted a victim vehicle in the bike lane near Fremont Blvd. and Innovation Way regarding a road rage incident. The subject exited his vehicle and opened the victim’s door, yelling and punching him in the face. The subject then stole the victim’s backpack. This case remains under investigation.
Saturday, December 9
- Officers responded to the 35000 block of Morley Pl. regarding a disturbance. The reporting party’s brother was under the influence and breaking items in the backyard, refusing to leave. The reporting party had an active restraining order against the subject. Officers arrived and arrested the subject.
Monday, December 11
- Officers assisted Hayward Police Department and Union City Police Department with a perimeter and search. A subject had fired shots during an armed robbery and also at an officer during a vehicle pursuit. The subject was later located in the area by Hayward Police Department.
Milpitas Police Log
Submitted By Milpitas PD
Tuesday, December 12
- A suspect attempted to steal groceries from a local grocery store. When confronted by a clerk, the thief swung his fist at the clerk and, fortunately, missed. The suspect fled the scene before our arrival. Our officers identified the suspect, a 55-year-old male from Oakland.
Friday, December 15
- A midnight shift officer was patrolling a residential area came across a female from Stockton. The female had an outstanding felony warrant for her arrest for assault with a deadly weapon. She was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.
- A dayshift officer was patrolling a shopping center when he contacted a 31-year-old male from San Jose. The male had outstanding felony warrants for his arrest for criminal threats, brandishing a weapon, and possession of a weapon. The male was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.
- Swing shift officers responded to a hit-and-run of a bicyclist. Fortunately, the bicyclist did not sustain life-threatening injuries. Our officers were able to locate surveillance footage of the collision, which allowed us to identify and locate the suspect, a 55-year-old female from Milpitas. The driver of the vehicle was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for felony hit and run.
Sunday, December 17
- An officer stopped a car for a vehicle code violation. The driver, a 44-year-old male from San Jose, had outstanding warrants for brandishing a weapon and theft. He was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The driver was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for the warrants and drug charges.
Newark Police Log
Submitted By Newark Police Department
Monday, December 4
- 12:56 a.m.: Officers contacted a 27-year-old female out of San Lorenzo sleeping near trash cans. Officer Herrera determined that she was too intoxicated to take care of herself and placed her under arrest. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- 9:05 a.m.: Officer C. Torres investigated a burglary in progress at a warehouse in the 38000 block of Cedar Boulevard. Officers conducted a high risk stop of the suspect vehicle and recovered stolen property from the warehouse. A 52-year-old male out of Fremont was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- 11:18 p.m.: Officer Norvell arrested a 35-year-old male out of Newark for a warrant and brandishing a knife at a security guard. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, December 5
- 11:59 p.m.: Officer Smith located a 26-year-old female out of Sunnyvale slumped over the steering wheel of her vehicle while stopped in the roadway of Cedar Boulevard. She was determined to be driving under the influence and assaulted the officers as they attempted to take her into custody. She was arrested and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Wednesday, December 6
- 6:18 a.m.: Officer Williams responded to a report of a male subject tampering with locked bicycles at an apartment complex. During his investigation, he located and arrested a 29-year-old male out of Newark for possession of drug paraphernalia. No bicycles were stolen, and the suspect was issued a citation.
Thursday, December 7
- 11:35 AM: Officer Williams located a stolen vehicle driving on Cherry Street and attempted an enforcement stop. The vehicle fled from officers out of the city and a pursuit was not initiated.
- 7:07 p.m.: Officer Kapu located a stolen vehicle on Cedar Court. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old male out of San Jose and a 50-year-old female out of San Jose for possession of the stolen vehicle. Both were transported and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Friday, December 8
- 7:10 p.m.: Officer Riddles arrested a 45-year-old male out of Newark for a felony warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- 11:04 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of a subject causing a disturbance in the 36100 block of Cherry Street. Officers located a 64-year-old male out of Newark in the roadway and arrested him for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Sunday, December 10
- 12:03 a.m.: Officer Riddles arrested a 51-year-old male out of Newark for violating a served restraining order. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
- 1:53 p.m.: Officer C. Torres investigated a domestic disturbance on Beutke Drive and ultimately arrested a 44-year-old male out of Newark and booked him into Santa Rita Jail.
- 8:24 p.m.: Officer Swadener investigated a report of a restraining order violation on Inverness Drive. He located and arrested a 53-year-old female out of Newark and booked her into Santa Rita Jail.
National “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Enforcement Campaign
Submitted By Union City Police Department
On December 16, five citations were issued for driving with a suspended/revoked license or without a license.
A total of 341 drivers and vehicles were contacted.
The DUI checkpoint was held on Union City Blvd. from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off roads.
Additional DUI checkpoints will be conducted in 2024.
Funding for this checkpoint was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Union City Police Log
Submitted By UCPD
Tuesday, November 21
- At approximately 3:07 a.m. officers responded to Lemonade Dispensary for a commercial alarm, where 5-8 subjects were seen attempting to force their way into the business. When officers arrived, they did not locate any suspects on the property. About 10 minutes later, on-site security at the Flor Dispensary called the police to report a group of suspects had forced their way into the business. Officers quickly arrived and determined several suspects were still inside the building. The suspects, all juveniles, attempted to flee but were found in the area and arrested for burglary, conspiracy, organized retail theft, and resisting arrest.
Thursday, November 23
- At approximately 4:30 p.m. officers responded to a residential burglary in the 31300 block of Santa Fe Way. The caller told police they saw a female enter the home through a side gate and exit with property in her hands. Officers arrived and detained the female a short distance away. The female suspect had stolen property from the home and was arrested for burglary.
Tuesday, November 28
- At approximately 4:18 p.m. officers responded to a robbery on Clover Street and Mann Avenue. The victim was walking home when two suspects approached him, battered him, and took his jewelry and cash. The victim went unconscious during the attack and suffered injuries to his face, neck, and hands. The suspects were two Hispanic males in their twenties.
- At approximately 7:45 p.m. officers responded to a shooting in the 33400 block of 4th Street. The unknown suspects drove by the residence and fired two rounds at the residence, hitting a car in the driveway. No injuries were reported.
Castro Valley High School girls wrestling
Submitted by Lady Trojans Wrestling
Castro Valley girls wrestling did amazing at our home tournament. We won our tournament with 137 points. Six placers with three champions, and two OW. Congratulations Maya and Mikayla on winning Outstanding Wrestler. Congratulations to Junior Varsity wrestlers in doing extremely well. Junior Varsity 2-1st place (Rhian and Idara), second place (Misheel and a third place finish (Kaylin). Emily and Madilyn went 2-2. For Varsity: three champions form Trujillo, Pak and Marquez. Third place finish for Bazen, fourth place Rhoe and Thomas. Way to go team!
Holiday Skate at Sharks Ice
Submitted by Sharks Ice Fremont
Get into the holiday spirit this season by ice skating with your friends and family. Sharks Ice facility in Fremont is open for public skate with special hours, including adult only hours, in December. Sharks Ice is also offering 10% off all Sharks merchandise through the end of the Holiday Ice for the perfect gift for that Sharks fan.
For more information visit www.sharksiceatfremont.com.
Honor Roll
Central Methodist University
Winter 2023 Graduate
- Damarae Andrews of Castro Valley
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science
Older Americans to pay less for some drug treatments
By Amanda Seitz, Associated Press
Hundreds of thousands of older Americans could pay less for some of their outpatient drug treatments beginning early next year, the Biden administration announced Thursday December 14.
The White House unveiled a list of 48 drugs – some of them injectables used to treat cancer – whose prices increased faster than the rate of inflation this year. Under a new law, drugmakers will have to pay rebates to the federal government because of those price increases. The money will be used to lower the price Medicare enrollees pay on the drugs early next year.
This is the first time drugmakers will have to pay the penalties for outpatient drug treatments under the Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress last year. The rebates will translate into a wide range of savings – from as little as $1 to as much as $2,700 – on the drugs that the White House estimates are used every year by 750,000 older Americans.
The rebates are “an important tool to discourage excessive price increases and protect people with Medicare,” Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, said Thursday in a statement.
As it readies for a 2024 reelection campaign, the Biden administration has rolled out a number of efforts to push pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices. Last week, the White House announced it was considering an aggressive, unprecedented new tactic: pulling the patents of some drugs priced out of reach for most Americans.
“On no. We`ve upset Big Pharma again,” the White House posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, last week, just hours after the announcement.
The U.S. Health and Human Services agency also released a report on Thursday that will help guide its first-ever negotiation process with drugmakers over the price of 10 of Medicare`s costliest drugs. The new prices for those drugs will be negotiated by HHS next year.
With the negotiations playing out during the middle of next year`s presidential campaign, drug companies are expected to be a frequent punching bag for Biden`s campaign. The president plans to make his efforts to lower drug prices a central theme of his reelection pitch to Americans. He is expected to speak more on the issue later today at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Washington, D.C.
Pacific storm dumps heavy rains, unleashes flooding in California coastal cities
By Eugene Garcia and John Antczak, Associated Press
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A Pacific storm pounded parts of Southern California on Thursday December 21 with heavy rain and street flooding, adding to hassles as holiday travel got underway.
The downpours targeted coastal Ventura and Santa Barbara counties northwest of Los Angeles County, swamping areas in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Santa Barbara.
Rainfall rates exceeding 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) an hour unleashed flash flooding in Ventura County, the National Weather Service said. Later in the morning, streets began filling with water in parts of Santa Barbara as the storm delivered another deluge.
The city of Port Hueneme issued evacuation orders for residences on four streets and warned of potential evacuations on four other streets. About 60 houses were affected by the orders, all in a senior citizen community, said Firefighter Andy VanSciver, a Ventura County fire spokesperson. An evacuation center was set up at a college gymnasium.
Three people from the senior community were taken to hospitals out of an abundance of caution, and there were multiple rescues of drivers from flooded vehicles, he said.
The city of Oxnard said in a social media post that many streets and intersections were heavily impacted. “Please stay off the city streets for the next several hours until the water recedes,” the post said.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Oxnard and the city of Ventura at 1:28 a.m. due to a high-intensity thunderstorm, but no tornado activity was immediately observed, the Ventura County Sheriff`s Office said in a social media post.
The storm swept through Northern California earlier in the week as the center of the low-pressure system slowly moved south off the coast. Forecasters described it as a “cutoff low,” a storm that is cut off from the general west-to-east flow and can linger for days, increasing the amount of rainfall.
The system was producing hit-and-miss bands of precipitation rather than generalized widespread rainfall. Forecasters said the low would wobble slightly away from the coast on Thursday, drawing moisture away and allowing some sunshine, but will return.
The San Diego-area weather office warned that rather than fizzling, the storm was gathering energy and its main core would move through that region overnight through Friday morning.
Meanwhile, Californians were gearing up for holiday travel and finishing preparations for Christmas. The Automobile Club of Southern California predicted 9.5 million people in the region would travel during the year-end holiday period.
The Northeast was hit with an unexpectedly strong storm earlier this week, and some parts of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont were still digging out from rain and wind damage. Parts of Maine along the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers were hit especially hard.
Floodwaters were receding throughout northern New England, though some localized areas were still in the flood stage, said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Flood warnings were also still in effect in parts of Maine and New Hampshire, he said.
At least four people died in Maine as a result of the storm. The storm cut power to 400,000 customers in Maine, and restoration was still underway Thursday morning.
Continuing Events:
Tuesdays
East Bay Games Meet
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
German/Euro style board games and card games.
Swiss Park
5911 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 936-2523
meetup.com/east-bay-games
Tuesdays, 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, January 2 – April 30
Bilingual Family Storytime / 中英雙語故事時間
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Features movement, sing, and action! 雙中英語故事書, 兒歌, 手指謠, 玩遊戲.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
For babies, preschoolers, and toddlers.
Tuesdays, September 19 – May 28
It's Storytime
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Stories, finger plays, nursery rhymes, songs, and musical instruments.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org
For kids ages 18 mons – 6 yrs.
Tuesdays
Mobile Food Distribution with Tri-City Volunteers
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Bring your own bag.
Fremont Adult and Continuing Education
4700 Calaveras Ave., Fremont
(510) 793-6465
tri-cityvolunteers.org/food
First and Third Tuesdays of the month
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
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, hands-on crafts and learning about culture in Spanish.
Newark Public Library
37055 Newark Blvd., Newark
(510) 284-0675
aclibrary.org/locations/NWK/
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 28 – January 25
Stay N' Play!
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Make friends, play with toys, and explore arts and sensory stations
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Ages 12 – 36 months along with caregivers.
Free tickets.
Thursdays, December 21 – May 23
Homework Help Center
3:45 pm – 5:45 pm
For students in grades K – 8.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Drop-in.
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.
Thursdays and 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 and Tuesdays, November 9 – May 23
Literacy Enrichment Program R
4:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Supporting struggling readers through personalized lesson plans and one-on-one tutoring.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
aclibrary.org/locations/FRM/
fremontchildrens@aclibrary.org
Email to register.
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
Age: 3 yrs +, Mixed.
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 29 – February 16
Qi Gong Meditation & Exercise Class
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Falun Dafa classes provided by the Classical Arts Foundation.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
Language: English, Tiếng Việt, 國語 / 普通话
Fridays, December 29 – May 10
Go: The Game R
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Go is an ancient game of strategy. To learn the game or play.
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 745-1464
All ages and levels are welcome!
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 are available online and in-person.
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
Saturday – Tuesday, December 2 – January 9
Winter Reading Game
10:00 am
Complete your game board to collect your prize and enter the prize drawing.
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
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
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
All ages. Drop-in. Weather permitting.
Saturdays, September 9 – December 30
Computer Crew: Teen Tech Help
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
One-on-one tutor on basic tech issues.
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
aclibrary.org/locations/csv/
Saturdays, 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 – Wednesdays, December 9 – December 27
Crippsmas Place
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Enjoy the holiday displays, sparkling lights, festive decorations, and more.
Crippsmas Place
Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, Perkins Street, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue, Fremont
The event is located on Wellington Place and surrounding streets.
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
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
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
Mondays – Thursdays, December 5 – May 15
Homework Help Center
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Free homework assistance in math, reading and more.
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 – May 30
Homework Help Center
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Get your homework questions answered for grades K-8 during open hours.
San Lorenzo Library
395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo
(510) 284-0640
aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/
sanlorenzo@aclibrary.org
For kids, teens. Drop in.
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
Mondays and Thursdays
Free Hot Meals – Eden Greenway
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Food Truck to bring FREE hot meals to South Hayward.
Eden Greenway Park
25625 Cypress Ave., Hayward
(510) )881-7535
lindsey.vien@hayward-ca.gov
On the corner of Harder and Cypress Avenue.
Upcoming Events:
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
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
Wednesday – Sunday, December 27 – December 31
City of Fremont – Winter Item Donations
10:00 am
Individuals experiencing homelessness are in great need of warm clothing and other necessities.
Fremont City Hall
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
(510) 574-2088
www.fremont.gov/Home/Components/News/News/759/
pmanczuk-hannay@fremont.gov
Locations-date-time: www.fremont.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/14346/
Wednesdays, December 27 – January 3
Game Day!
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Children and the families are invited – video games, board games, and more!
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
Drop-in.
Wednesday, December 27
Book2Movie Matinee for Kids: Jumanji
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Come watch movies that are based on children’s books!
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
For school-age children.
Wednesday, December 27
Kwanzaa Craft
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Celebrate Kwanzaa with festive crafts!
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Age 7+
Wednesday, December 27
Tech Tutor: 3D Printing R
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Meet with a 3D printing tutor who can answer your questions and help.
Irvington Library
41825 Greenpark Drive, Fremont
(510) 795-2631
Service desk sign up or (510) 795-2631.
Wednesday, December 27
Spin a Yarn – Knitting Circle
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Knit, crochet, cross stitch, macramé, latch hook, quilt, and fiber arts.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
Age 16+ only.
Wednesday, December 27
The Journaling Hour
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Creating calendars, trackers, and other journaling basics.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
For teens (14+) and adults.
Thursday, December 28
Movie Day: The Super Mario Bros
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
A family friendly movie on the library's big screen!
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
Rated PG.
Thursday, December 28
CleanStart Mobile Hygiene Unit Visit
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Provide hygiene services to the unhoused.
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
At the parking lot.
Thursday, December 28
Winter Warble Fest: A Holiday Sing-Off R
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
A holiday sing-off and compete for fabulous prizes.
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
rpayne@sccl.org
Thursday, December 28
Book2Movie Matinee for Kids: How to Train Your Dragon
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Come watch movies that are based on children’s books!
Milpitas Public Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
(408) 262-1171
For school-age children.
Friday, December 29
Youth Ambassador Project R
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Exploring substance misuse and the impact of opioids on our community.
Project Period: January 15 – April 22, 2024
City of Fremont
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
www.fremont.gov/government/departments/human-services
yfs@fremont.gov
Application deadline is 12/29/2023 @ 5 p.m.
Friday, December 29
Mariners and Mavens of the Written Word
3:00 pm
Meet Author Katherine Cava!
Books on B
1014 B street., Hayward
(510) 538-3943
Saturday, December 30
New Year Traditions
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Enjoy a mug of hot cider and share your own ways of welcoming the new year.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
All ages. Drop-in. Admission fee applies.
Saturday, December 30
Whooo's Out at Dusk?
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Let's try to find these crepuscular critters!
Coyote Hills Visitors Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
(510) 544-3220
For all ages. Drop-in.
Saturday, December 30
Birds Of the Farm
8:00 am – 9:30 am
Explore the gardens, forests, and fields looking for these delightful wild creatures.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757; (510) 544-2797
Age 16 yrs +
Drop-in.
Saturday, December 30
Winter Movies
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Join us for a winter movie showing at the library!
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
Saturday, December 30
Noon Year's Eve Party
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Come celebrate with fun, refreshments, crafts, and a New Year’s Eve countdown!
Centerville library
3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont
(510) 795-2629
All are welcome. Limited space.
Free tickets.
Saturday, December 30
New Year's Craft
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Celebrate the New Year with a craft!
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
Sunday, December 31
End of Year Hike
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Catch up with nature and send off 2023 with a moderate hike!
Coyote Hills Visitors Center
8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont
(510) 544-3220
Age 7+. Drop-in.
Sunday, December 31
New Year, New You Hike
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Join us on this 3-mile moderate hike through the breathtaking hills of Sunol.
Sunol Visitor Center
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3245
For 8+ years. Mixed.
$5 parking fee.
Sunday, December 31
Bollywood Sway Party – NYE Party $R
7:00 pm
Experience an extravagant evening!
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
www.indiacc.org/nye/
By ticket at sulekha.com
Sunday, December 31
Bollywood Glitz 2024- New Years Eve Party $R
7:00 pm
Performances, unlimited food and drinks, Bollywood celebrity DJs and more.
Royal Palace Banquet Hall
6058 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 690-8900; (408) 579-9426.
Sulekha.com/Glitz
All ages event.
Sunday, December 31
Fremont Adult Tabletop Gamers R
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Play various card games and board games!
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1400
For adults only.
Sunday, December 31
Annual Balloon Drop Celebration $R
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Celebrate strokes of midnight around the world at 11am, 12pm, 3pm and 4pm!
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-7300
chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
All ages.
Sunday, December 31
Barnyard Bats
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
See where local bats have made their home at Ardenwood.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757; (510) 544-2797
All ages. Drop-in.
Monday, January 1
Wonderful Wool
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Learn how we can transform sheep’s special fur into wooly wonders.
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(888) 327-2757
Drop-in. Admission fee applies.
Tuesday, January 2
Hikes for Tykes
10:30 am – 11:45 am
Great views of the lake and wildlife as we walk and observe.
Lake Chabot Marina & Café
17936 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley
(510) 247-2526; (510) 544-3187
Drop-in.
Tuesday – Friday, January 2 – January 5
Vex IQ Robotics Camp $R
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
This camp will give you an overview of the world of VEX Robotics!
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
www.indiacc.org/wintercamps/
Age 8 – 13 yrs.
Saturday, January 6
Panel Discussion on Civic Engagement and Its importance for our democracy
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Discussion on civic engagement, open to the public and free of charge.
Niles Discovery Church
36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont
(510) 797-0895
No registration needed.