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Union City Police Department Data Sharing Policy and Practice

Submitted by Lauren Sugayan

 

The City of Union City received several media inquiries on March 12, 2019 regarding records obtained from the Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) Agency by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The documents obtained by the ACLU refer to the exchange of license plate information between ICE and Vigilant Solutions, a national license-plate database and analytical tool used by municipal law enforcement agencies across the region, state and nation. The inquiries we have received are questioning the City of Union City’s compliance with SB 54 as it relates to our use of Vigilant Solutions.

 

First, we want to clear up misinformation that was reported via an online article:  https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/13/icelicenseplatesimmigrants/.

 

The article contained false information stating: “When reached, Union City Police Department Chief Victor Derting did not comment “This is not the case as Captain Victor Derting made an attempt to accommodate the author’s request for information in a reasonable manner, which is shown through a string of emails and an offer by Captain Derting to take a phone call.

 

The Police Department takes pride in and values its relationship with the news media. This is most represented in our continuous efforts to respond to every media request that is received in a timely and accurate manner. The Police Department welcomes and encourages the media to send requests for information, especially information that is of value to the community’s safety and interest.

 

Vigilant Solutions stores and shares license plate information with law enforcement subscribers. The license plate information is obtained from law enforcement agencies and commercial users that deploy Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) and gather license plate information. The Police Department does not own or operate ALPRs; therefore, there is no license plate information provided to Vigilant Solutions from the Police Department. The Police Department is a subscriber to Vigilant Solutions, which allows for investigators to access license plate information that can be of value and assist the Police Department with criminal investigations.

 

To be clear, the Union City Police Department complies with SB 54 and the City’s Compassionate City values by not sharing information with ICE. In fact, our commitment to this policy began before SB 54 was law. In Spring 2017, the Police Department worked in partnership with the Union City Human Relations Commission to develop and sponsor our own Compassionate City Resolution, which was unanimously adopted by the City Council in May 2017. The Union City Police Department stands firm in our compliance, support and representation of the City’s Compassionate City Resolution and SB 54.

 

The city of Union City has reviewed all material associated with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) report about the Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement (ICE) Agency’s use of Vigilant Solutions. In addition, the ACLU sent us a public record request for information we collect through our non-existent Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). We sincerely believe that the ACLU misinterpreted information from the documents that it obtained from ICE. We will be in communication with the ACLU soon to clear up the matter and move past it.

 

The Union City Police Department stands firm in our compliance, support and representation of the City’s Compassionate City Resolution and SB 54.

 

Reference:

SB54: “This bill would, among other things and subject to exceptions, prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using money or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes, as specified, and would, subject to exceptions, proscribe other activities or conduct in connection with immigration enforcement by law enforcement agencies.” https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB54

Board approves affordable housing for people with disabilities

Submitted by Janice Rombeck

 

Recognizing the need for affordable housing for people with disabilities, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 12, to invest $40 million over the next five to 10 years in projects that set aside units for those with special needs.

 

The board approved an initial investment of $10 million for housing developments for residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities who also have extremely low incomes, typically $1,000 a month.

 

“This population of residents in Santa Clara County have the most difficult time finding housing,” said Supervisor Dave Cortese. “This is the beginning of an investment that will help those who not only have special needs but have very limited incomes.”

 

The tenants would be referred for housing by the San Andreas Regional Center, which also would provide services. Funding sources for rest of the $30 million commitment would need to be identified. Possible sources include federal Community Development Block Grant funds or funds from the Home Investment Partnership Program, uncommitted or unspent amounts from the Stanford Affordable Housing Fund or commercial impact and in-lieu fees resulting from development in unincorporated areas.

 

For more information, contact the Office of Supervisor Dave Cortese at (408) 299-5030 or the Office of Supportive Housing at (408) 793-0550.

 

 

Feeling bored? Check out these activities for seniors

Submitted by Jen Tibbetts

 

From music and games to classes and lectures, there’s always something interesting going on at the Kenneth Aitken Senior Center in Castro Valley.

 

Upcoming events include a Lap Harp Demonstration program on Thursday, March 21. The 45-minute demonstration starts at 1:15 p.m. and is a beginning music class where participants will learn to play a lap zither that provides beautiful and soothing music (zithers will be provided). Seniors with arthritis or limited mobility are encouraged to attend. If there’s enough interest in the demonstration, the center will offer a formal class in the future.

 

On Tuesday, March 26, the center’s Fourth Annual Spring Pool Tournament will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. All skill levels are welcome and the cost to enter is $5 per person. Because space is limited, players must register by Friday, March 22. Tournament winners will have their names added to the center’s perpetual plaque.

 

The center is at 17800 Redwood Road. For details on these activities, or to register for the pool tournament, call (510) 881-6738.

 

 

Amazon aims to cut its carbon footprint

By Joseph Pisani

AP Retail Writer

 

NEW YORK (AP), Feb 18 – Amazon, which ships millions of packages a year to shopper's doorsteps, says it wants to be greener.

 

The online retail giant announced plans Monday to make half of all its shipments carbon neutral by 2030.

 

To reach that goal, the online retail giant says it will use more renewable energy like solar power; have more packages delivered in electric vans; and push suppliers to remake their packaging.

 

McDonald's, Coca-Cola and other big companies that generate lots of waste have announced similar initiatives, hoping to appeal to customers concerned about the environment.

 

Amazon is calling its program “Shipment Zero,” and plans to publicly publish its carbon footprint for the first time later this year.

 

Seattle-based Amazon said it spent the past two years mapping its carbon footprint and figuring out ways to reduce carbon use across the company.

 

“It won't be easy to achieve this goal, but it's worth being focused and stubborn on this vision and we're committed to seeing it through,” said Dave Clark, Amazon's senior vice president of worldwide operations.

 

 

Amazon removes books that promoted an autism ‘cure'

AP Wire Service

 

NEW YORK (AP), March 13 – Amazon has removed books from its website that promoted “cures” for autism, the latest major company to try to limit the amount of misinformation related to autism and the bogus notion that it's caused by vaccines.

 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, only medications that can help some function better. It also says there is no link between vaccines and autism.

 

An Amazon.com Inc. spokeswoman confirmed the books were no longer available but did not answer any additional questions.

 

Last week, Facebook announced it would hide groups that spread misinformation about vaccines causing autism from search results. It also plans to reject similar ads.

 

The removal of the books from Amazon was first reported by NBC News.

 

 

Grow for broke with an artichoke

Article and photos by Daniel O'Donnell

 

People from all over the globe come to the greater Bay Area for the various world-class attractions. One stop that may be overlooked by most travelers is the town of Castroville and its surrounding artichoke fields just north of Monterey. This is not the case during the first weekend in June when the town, also known the Artichoke Capital of the World, hosts its famous annual Artichoke Festival. However, people in the Tri-City area and vicinity do not have to rely on the festival to get wonderful artichokes. The Artichoke Capital has an environment similar enough to our own, making it possible for anyone living here to grow a productive artichoke crop as well.

 

There are not many foods that have been farmed longer than artichokes. They are believed to have been cultivated as far back as 800 B.C. by North African Moors and exported to ancient Greece and Rome by Arab traders. Centuries later they would be introduced to California by early Spanish settlers and to the eastern United States by Italian immigrants. Artichokes are still grown throughout the Mediterranean for European and North African consumption. Almost 100 percent of the artichokes grown for the United States market come from California. More than 80 percent come from Castroville.

 

Artichoke plants are scientifically known as Cynara scolymus and are members of the thistle family. They have elegant serrated silvery green leaves that extend three to five feet above their bases in some cases. Most artichokes, as attractive as they are, are grown for their edible globe also referred to as an artichoke. Artichokes are commonly thought of as vegetables, primarily because of the way they are prepared and served. However, the globe is technically the immature flower bud harvested before it blooms. An artichoke will produce a spectacular purple cluster of multiple flower heads if allowed to bloom.

 

A blooming artichoke can produce hundreds of viable seeds. The seeds can be planted but might not stay true to the artichoke variety they came from. Seed packets for specific types of artichokes can be purchased. All artichoke seeds should be sown indoors because the seedlings need approximately 60 days in a protected stable environment before they can survive outside. The other way to incorporate an artichoke into the garden is by purchasing a division at a nursery or taking one from an existing plant. An artichoke plant grown from a division will mature and produce 20 to 30 or more artichokes in about 150 to 180 days. Artichokes grown from seed might not produce any buds or very insignificant ones during their first year; it will be the next year that the plant will have the same production rate as a mature plant.

 

Artichoke plants can be grown in home gardens throughout the United States. Ones grown in the Bay Area behave as perennials if the temperature stays moderate. Artichoke plants in colder climates function as annuals. Perennial artichokes can be cut back to ground level every year if desired. Plants will continue to produce for more than five years whether they die back or not, but the perennials will have a higher yield.

 

Artichoke divisions or seedlings should be planted in a sunny location with well-draining soil. Mature healthy plants can spread six feet in diameter, so space new plantings accordingly. Artichoke plants will grow in a wide range of soils. A top dressing of up to four inches of compost will improve the yield. An organic vegetable fertilizer can be applied twice a month if a smaller amount of compost is used. An artichoke plant will require consistent deep watering about two times per week. An under-watered plant will struggle to produce tender mature size artichokes. Overwatering a plant will damage the crown and roots. The soil should remain as moist as a wrung-out sponge.

 

The peak production time for artichokes is in the spring and summer. Each flower stalk will produce a center bud along with a few side shoots that will each have smaller buds. The center bud matures faster and grows larger. When the globe gets to three inches in diameter and is tight and firm, it is ready for harvesting. Artichokes beginning to open are less tender and globes with fully opened flowers are inedible. Snip the stem a few inches down from the base of the bud. The small piece of stalk will act as a handle when trimming the artichoke to get to the tender inside called the “heart.” The side buds will not get as large and should be harvested in the same manner before they begin to open.

 

Anyone living in the Bay Area knows it is not only packed with exceptional attractions but also provides the environment for culinary treasures such as Dungeness crab, grapes from the Napa Valley, and garlic from Gilroy. Although this area might seem overcrowded in many ways, there is always room for another artichoke plant that will produce yet another Bay Area gem.

 

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

 

 

Community-based food hall takes root in the East Bay

Submitted by Nina Berman

 

Mandela Partners’ 2,100 square foot food hall space in Ashland is set to open to the community with a Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, March 23. The Ashland Market & Cafe will serve as a food business incubator, providing opportunity for community-owned businesses to grow into full-service retail for the very first time. Created in partnership with Resources for Community Development (RCD) and Alameda County Economic Development Agency, the Market & Cafe will house four local food businesses and serve as a community gathering space. The 2019 inaugural vendors are Thank Que Grill, Jacquelynn’s Heart & Soul, I Am Cafe, and AndreaMarie Cakes & Treats.

 

The Ashland Market & Cafe was conceived through a community engagement process that sought to increase access to food and economic opportunity through resident-led decision making. Mandela Partners’ model pivots away from development that promotes expansion of chain stores, and instead uplifts local assets, and creates tangible economic opportunities for community residents and local businesses.

 

“To have my own restaurant on the corner of where I grew up; it’s a dream,” says Jacquelynn Chancellor, co-owner of Jacquelynn’s Heart & Soul, who grew up across the street from the Ashland Market & Cafe.

 

By partnering with affordable housing developer, Resources for Community Development, and the Alameda County Economic Development Agency, Mandela Partners was able to activate an affordable retail opportunity that will support local entrepreneurship and build wealth in unincorporated Alameda County.

 

In phase one, Mandela Partners worked with local leadership and various community groups to lead listening sessions, conduct surveys, and collect personal accounts centered around food access and economic opportunity in unincorporated Alameda County. Once the “food hall” concept took shape, additional feedback was gathered to ensure that the businesses selected would be responsive to the identified needs to ensure that residents would benefit from the prepared food offerings.

 

“There’s nothing to eat in the neighborhood but fast food; to have real food, choices, variety, that’s the Ashland Market & Cafe,” comments Latoya Bryant, co-owner of Jacquelynn’s Heart & Soul and resident of Ashland Village.

 

Next, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) was assembled, consisting of 12 community members that had been an integral part of the first phase of the engagement and feedback collection. The CAC reviewed community feedback results and was tasked with interviewing, assessing, and selecting candidates. Mandela Partners supported outreach to ensure that local entrepreneurs were aware of the opportunity and applicants were screened by the CAC, guided by information gathered through community surveys and a personal understanding of neighborhood needs. Ultimately, the inaugural class of the Ashland Market & Cafe was selected based on community fit, interview performance, and food taste and presentation.

 

“I first saw the opportunity on the community board of the building I live in,” says Andrea Scott, owner of AndreaMarie Cakes & Treats and Ashland Place resident. “At first it was scary, but I thought this is an opportunity to show people who I am.”

 

Once the Ashland Market & Cafe entrepreneur selection process was completed, selected entrepreneurs along with other community businesses, were invited to attend a Basic Business Development training series led in partnership with Centro Community Partners. The workshop series gave entrepreneurs the time and resources to build a basic business plan and develop their food business concept. After graduating from Centro’s training, selected businesses moved into one-on-one advising and culinary development programming made available through Mandela Partners.

 

Rene Lontoc, owner of Thank Que Grill, states that “the incubation process is made easier because Mandela is there to guide us and bounce off ideas, to brainstorm together.”

 

Mandela has hosted a series of culinary development workshops, experiential learning modules including trainings, as well as free open kitchen hours – with kitchen space made available by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District – which allowed entrepreneurs to develop recipes with expert help from Bay Area restaurant consultant Marcella Lew.

 

“This process allowed for us to put ‘pen to paper’ and actually go from just hustling, to having the confidence to say, ‘I own a business,’” says LaShawn Raybon, owner of I Am Cafe. “[We] think on a broader scale and are given the measure of growth from kitchen to a retail space. We have more at stake now.”

 

The four food businesses have hosted pop-up food events, market-tested their products through community surveying, and perfected their products and full menus before the grand opening. “Pushing everything out and getting responses made it real,” says Bryant. “People really like our food, want our food, and there’s a demand for it. [We know] how to talk to customers, what to expect with a rush, timing, and when things mess up, how to troubleshoot and fix them.”

 

There will be food for sale from the 2019 inaugural vendors at the Grand Opening with special guest speaker Supervisor Nate Miley and project partners Alameda County Community Development Agency, RCD Housing, Mandela Partners, and Ashland Market & Cafe.

 

Ashland Market & Cafe Grand Opening

Saturday, Mar 23

12 noon – 4 p.m.

Ashland Market & Café

16395 E 14th St, San Leandro

info@ashlandmarket.org

https://mandelapartners.wixsite.com/ashlandmarket

www.facebook.com/ashlandmarket/

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger

 

Sunday, March 10

  • At 7:21 p.m. a man identified by police as Samuel Lauderdale, 49, of Berkeley was arrested at the Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of public intoxication.

Governor orders halt to the death penalty in California

Submitted by Governor's Press Office

 

Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on March 13 placing a moratorium on the death penalty in California. The executive order also calls for withdrawing California’s lethal injection protocols and immediately closing the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison. The order does not provide for the release of any individual from prison or otherwise alter any current conviction or sentence.

 

“The intentional killing of another person is wrong and as Governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual,” said Governor Newsom. “Our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure. It has discriminated against defendants who are mentally ill, black and brown, or can’t afford expensive legal representation. It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent. It has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. Most of all, the death penalty is absolute. It's irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error.”

 

There are 737 people currently on death row in California. California has the largest death row population in the Western Hemisphere – one in four people on death row in the U.S. are in California. The death penalty is unevenly and unfairly applied to people of color, people with mental disabilities, and people who cannot afford costly legal representation. At least 18 of the 25 people executed in the U.S. in 2018 had one or more of the following impairments: significant evidence of mental illness; evidence of brain injury, developmental brain damage, or an IQ in the intellectually disabled range; chronic serious childhood trauma, neglect, and/or abuse.

 

Innocent people have been sentenced to death in California. Since 1973, 164 condemned prisoners nationwide, including five in California, have been freed from death row after they were found to have been wrongfully convicted. No person has been executed since 2006 because California’s execution protocols have not been lawful. Yet today, 25 California death row inmates have exhausted all their state and federal appeals and could be eligible for an execution date.

 

 

California lawmakers try again to tamp down rising rents

By Kathleen Ronayne

Associated Press

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), March 14 – California lawmakers are trying again to tamp down rising housing costs by expanding rent control and stopping rental price gouging, warning a failure to act this year could result in another costly ballot measure in 2020.

 

“Our Legislature has failed to act to address the plight of struggling tenants,” Democratic Assemblyman David Chiu said. “That has to change in 2019.”

 

California lacks enough homes to shelter its nearly 40 million people, a situation that drives up the costs of homes and rental units. The federal government considers someone “rent burdened” if they spend more than a third of their income on rent. More than half of California renters meet that threshold.

 

At the center of the debate is a 1995 law that bans rent control on apartments constructed after that year and on single-family homes and condominiums.

 

Democratic Assemblyman Richard Bloom wants to change the law to allow rent control on apartments built more than 10 years ago as well as single family homes, with an exception for small landlords. He said those ideas are a starting point.

 

His proposal comes after he tried unsuccessfully to repeal the law last year, prompting tenants to take the question to the ballot. Advocates on both sides spent a combined $100 million, with the bulk coming from real estate agents in opposition.

 

Opponents argued rent control would stifle the building of more homes. Voters ultimately rejected the ballot measure and upheld the law.

 

“It failed, but it did not end the crisis,” Bloom said.

 

Assembly Democrats argue that renters need protections now, because it will take years for the state's housing supply to increase significantly.

 

“We have got to build homes and protect tenants,” Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks said.

 

Bloom said he hopes to begin conversations with groups representing real estate agents and apartment owners to avoid another ballot fight. The California Apartment Association and California Realtors Association did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Thursday.

 

A Chiu bill would ban rent gouging, relying on consumer protection laws targeting price gouging following natural disasters or other emergencies.

 

It would set a threshold, likely somewhere between 6 and 10 percent, above the consumer price index and say rent increases can't top that percentage. Chiu argued the cap would be high enough that landlords could still take in profits.

 

Oregon recently passed a similar law.

 

Two other bills would create a rental registry to help the state gather data on rent increases and prevent landlords from evicting people if they can't prove a cause.

 

Several renters joined the lawmakers to talk about their own experiences with rent spikes.

 

Stasha Powell of Redwood City brought a letter from her landlord saying her rent would be increased from $1,040 a month to $2,500 a month in several increments.

 

Newsom said he wants lawmakers to bring him a package of bills to address skyrocketing rents.

 

“We need new rules to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent evictions, without putting small landlords out of business,” he said during his February State of the State. “Get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it.”

 

 

California unemployment rate slightly increases

AP Wire Service

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), March 08 – California's unemployment rate rose to 4.2 percent in January, an increase from a revised rate of 4.1 percent the previous month.

 

The state Employment Development Department said Friday the state's employers added 3,000 non-farm payroll jobs during January.

 

The December rate was originally put at 4.2 percent, but was revised back down to 4.1 percent, where it had been since September.

California tops record with more than 20M registered voters

AP Wire Service

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), March 11 – More than 79 percent of California's eligible voters – or over 20 million people – are registered to vote, the highest percentage since 1996, Secretary of State Alex Padilla said Monday.

 

The new numbers come a year before California hosts its presidential primaries in March 2020 as part of Super Tuesday, when a handful of other states also vote. California, which typically hosts its primary in June, hasn't had a March primary since 2008.

 

State lawmakers argued that moving up the primaries would give California residents more say in who wins each party's presidential nomination. The high voter registration numbers suggest voters are gearing up for the election, Padilla said.

 

“With an earlier primary in 2020, California voters will have more influence in the presidential nominating contests for all parties,” he said.

 

This is the first time California's voter registration has topped 20 million people.

 

Republicans still rank last in total voter registration behind Democrats and independents. The state has 8.6 million Democrats, 5.6 million independents and 4.7 million Republicans.

 

The GOP lost seven U.S. House seats in the November 2018 elections and holds less than a quarter of all state legislative seats.

 

 

Become a Castro Valley Booklegger

Submitted by Christianne Selig

 

Do you want to share your love of reading with kids? Consider becoming a Castro Valley Booklegger. Trained volunteers visit K-5 classrooms in the Castro Valley Unified School District to share books, from exciting adventures to suspenseful mysteries to eye-popping nonfiction. The orientation meeting for interested participants will take place on Monday, April 8, where you will hear from current Bookleggers why they love to volunteer, learn about the training program, and understand the commitment necessary to be an outstanding Booklegger.

 

At the six training sessions, conducted every Monday starting April 15, volunteers will learn book-talking and storytelling skills. To RSVP for the orientation meeting, visit https://events.aclibrary.org/event/4835497 or email croos@aclibrary.org. The Castro Valley Booklegger Project is a partnership of the Castro Valley Unified School District and the Alameda County Library.

 

Volunteer Orientation Session

Monday, April 8

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

 

Booklegger Training

Every Monday, April 15 – May 20

9:30 a.m. – 12 noon

 

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

https://events.aclibrary.org/event/4835497

croos@aclibrary.org

 

 

Grants for Home Repair

Submitted by Lyn Leone

 

Don’t let your property fall into disrepair. Attend a free workshop on Tuesday, March 19 to learn about grants available in your area. The Alameda County Healthy Homes Department Housing Rehabilitation Program has grants available for qualifying homeowners in Newark, Union City; unincorporated areas of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Sunol; among others. You may be eligible for grants for minor home repairs; accessibility improvements; mobile home repair; Union City: major rehabilitation grants may be available; and lead hazard repair (owner-occupied and rental). For more information, call Castro Valley Library at (510) 667-7903, or visit Events at www.aclibrary.org/branches/csv.

 

Workshop on Grants for Home Repair

Tuesday, March 19

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley

(510) 667-7903

Events at www.aclibrary.org/branches/csv

 

 

Champions of Character

Alia Buenrostro has been selected as Softball Champion of Character at Newark Memorial High School. Coach Rachel Kahoalii says, “Every day, Alia shows up with positive energy and enthusiasm and gives her best effort.”

 

Robert Ellwanger has been selected as the Newark Memorial Baseball Champion of Character.

Local chess wizards continue to reign at championships

Submitted by Joe Lonsdale

 

The 2019 Northern California Scholastic Chess Championships were held March 9th & 10th at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Over 1200 students and more the 50 schools competed in these championships. Mission San Jose Elementary school (MSJE) of Fremont was the big winner in the Elementary School Division. The MSJE team won two major elementary school sections (K-3 & K-6) and Allyson Wong won the overall individual elementary school championship.

 

The top elementary school section at these championships is the K-6 Championship Division. Allyson scored five wins in six rounds and took the first-place trophy. Other members of the MSJE team were Lucas Jiang (4.5/6) (Lucas and Aditya Arutla (3.5/6) are second graders that “played up” in K-6 to help the K-6 team as we correctly felt we could win K-3 without him) Aghilan Nachiappan (4/6), Jolene Liu (3.5/6) Aditya Sujay. This was the ninth straight year that MSJE has taken home the first-place trophy in K-6.

 

The K-3 Championship section is often called the primary school championship. MSJE finished in first place in this section every year since 2008. In 2019 MSJE once again finished in first place in K-3 Championship. Our K-3 team was led by Jason Liu and Swagatha Selvan, who each scored 4.5/6. Artham Pawar (3.5/6) and Allen Yang (2.5/6) were also top 4 scorers. Arnam Pawar, Thomas Zhang, and Dev Bhatt also competed for our K-3 championship team.

 

MSJE also did very well in the other sections. Ashwin Jegan, Chet Jayakrishnan, Zahaan Kassamali, Isha Vanungare, Sarvesh Maniv, and Helen Hong competed in K-3 Junior varsity (under 800 rating) and took home the first-place team trophy. Prisha Agarwal, Shreeya Hule, Jai Panicker, Ranga Ramanujam, Pranav Rajit, Atharv Jha, Shashwa Manjunath, Edward Zeng, Aashi Gupta, Keerthana Gudi, Shriya Thirumalai, Sunay Rao, Aditya Vanungare, Samuel Montesinos, Nathan Jacob, and Cedric Liu competed for MSJE in the K-3 beginner (under 500 rating) section and took home the first-place trophy.

 

Pranavi Pramod, Saambhavi Karthik, and Nick Jiang competed for MSJE in the kindergarten section. Sanskriti Pandey, Edmund Saroufim, and Kevin Pham competed for MSJE in the K-6 rookie section. Adarsh Swamy, Ashwin Marimuthu, Pratyush Hule, Arnav Gupta, and Dhritee Desai, competed in the K-6 Junior varsity section.

 

Chess Coaches:

Joe Lonsdale, Terry & Cathy Liu, Nachi Aghilan, Chris Torres

 

Congratulations to the Chess team for a great showing at the State championships.

 

 

Concert features International Children’s Choir

Submitted by Connie Bush

 

Meet 14 children from around the world with a message of love, hope and strength to

remind us that we have the power to make a difference. On Sunday, March 31 through the mediums of song, dance, spoken word and creative media, Children of the World will present the reality of millions of children who cannot speak for themselves. The Children of the World International Children’s Choir has included children from Nepal, Uganda, Brazil, Guatemala, India, Honduras, and the Philippines. This year’s tour shares the challenges facing refugee children and families around the world and inspires us all to do something about it. The concert is free but donations for the children are welcome. To register, visit https://sbccchildrenschoir.eventbrite.com. For more information, call (510) 490-9500.

 

Children of the World Choir

Sunday, Mar 31

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

South Bay Community Church

47385 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont

(510) 490-9500

https://sbccchildrenschoir.eventbrite.com

 

 

Fremont Symphony’s Free Children’s Concert

Submitted by Anne Marumahoko

 

Fremont Symphony’s free, annual Children’s Concert is coming Tuesday, March 26 to Ohlone College’s Epler Gymnasium. Families, school groups, and music lovers of all ages are invited to enjoy the beauty of live music as the Fremont Symphony takes the stage with a few friends. This free community concert is designed to be the gateway for any member of our community to enter the world of appreciating and experiencing live orchestral music.

 

Each year, the Fremont Symphony presents some of its best loved music to classes of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders from around the Tri-City area. This year, Conductor Jung Ho Pak has added the beauty of dance to the featured music of “Romeo and Juliet” by Tchaikovsky. Yoko’s Dance students will be performing a piece choreographed just for this performance. Young audience members can delight in both the beautiful music and movement as they learn to interpret and imagine Shakespeare’s tragic love story.

 

The Children’s Concert also features the winners of Fremont’s annual Young Composers Competition, in which school age children submit original music compositions for critique. The best of these original works have been orchestrated by Mark Volkert, retired conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, and will be performed by the Fremont Symphony. Eight children from Fremont, representing six different elementary schools, will be recognized as their compositions are played on stage. This year’s competition winners come from Chadbourne Elementary, Mission San Jose Elementary, Niles Elementary (2), Patterson Elementary, (2), Harvey Green Elementary, and Ardenwood Elementary.

 

The Young Composers Competition and the annual Children’s Concert are an integral part of Fremont Symphony’s mission. These events are designed to create and encourage future generations of composers and performers, as well as providing the gift of beautiful music to our community in an accessible way.

 

Tuesday’s concert is a continuation of an over four-decade tradition of producing free concerts for area children and families. Since 1975, the Fremont Symphony has given school-age children the chance to hear live symphonic music at no cost to them. The concerts are produced in partnership with the Fremont Unified School District and Ohlone College.

 

Tickets are not required for the Children’s Concert, but groups larger than six people should make reservations for seating. Reservation forms can be found at fremontsymphony.org, by clicking on the Children’s Concert banner.

 

Fremont Symphony’s Free Children’s Concert

Tuesday, Mar 26

10:15 a.m.

Ohlone College

Epler Gymnasium

43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont

(510) 371-4860

fremontsymphony.org

 

 

Civil grand juries provide important oversight to local government

Submitted by Scott Law

 

How would you like to be part of any of the following real examples?

  • In 2017, the civil grand jury after finding that the sitting Contra Costa district attorney had routinely used campaign funds for personal expenditures, forced the process that removed him from office.
  • In 2018, the civil grand jury determined that the City of Oakland faced $860 million liability for funding retired employee health benefits. The civil grand jury outlined five findings and six recommendations for addressing this huge issue – all were accepted by the city for future action. In December, both police and fire unions negotiated drastic reductions in the future liabilities, potentially saving the taxpayers over $300 million.
  • In 2015, the civil grand jury determined that the City of Fremont email retention policy enable the deletion of emails concerning city business after 30 days. This was determined to be in violation of the spirit of state record retention laws and rendered effective tracking of the city’s emails by the public practically impossible. In response, the city restated its retention policy and updated its email storage architecture.

 

These are all recent and real examples of reports issued by county civil grand juries. You have probably heard of criminal grand juries, which decide whether there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. However, there is another form of grand jury – the California Penal Code, which requires that every county appoint annually a civil grand jury (comprised of 19 residents) to serve for a one-year period beginning July 1.

 

Why would you want to consider serving on a civil grand jury? You might be influenced by the desire to help ensure that local government is run more efficiently and ethically, and/or you might have a unique expertise or interest in governmental services dealing with prisons and law enforcement, fire protection, health care, child abuse, elder abuse, municipal transportation, pensions, water and sewage, and many others. There is clearly a need for a jury group with diversified interests and skills.

 

If you would like to serve on your county’s grand jury, you need to fulfill the below criteria:

  • You must be a county resident, and over age 18.
  • You must have been a resident of the county for at least one year on July 1.
  • You should be able to commit up to 20 hours per week during your year of grand jury service.
  • You will only receive modest compensation for your efforts.
  • You must be comfortable working in a ‘team’ environment as the jury identifies topics/issues to investigate, investigates, decides whether to continue and, with majority approval, then writes a report as its ‘product.’
  • You only have the power of public persuasion.
  • You must be willing to keep your deliberations secret.

 

What are some of the characteristics of effective potential jurors?

  • They have a desire to commit both their time and energy toward making their home county a better place to live.
  • They have a view of the role of good government and would like to identify in their local government areas that could be improved.
  • They like working as a part of a team and are willing to consider the views of other jurors.

 

The process to become a civil grand juror for the next jury year beginning July 1 starts in the spring. Those who have an interest in pursuing an appointment, in Alameda County should visit the website http://grandjury.acgov.org/join-us and review the necessary procedure. The deadline to submit your application for consideration is March 23. For many who have served as civil grand jurors, the experience is fun, fulfilling, challenging and satisfying and, in some cases, opened doors of opportunity they never considered when they first applied.

 

 

Grab a cup of coffee with a cop

Submitted by Hayward PD

 

Community members, students and local business owners in Hayward are invited to a meet-and-greet “Coffee with a Cop” event on Friday, March 22 in Hayward. Sponsored by the Hayward Police Department, the two-hour event starts at 10 a.m. at the Starbuck’s coffee shop on West Jackson Street in Hayward. The goal of this informal gathering is to let people ask questions or voice neighborhood concerns with members of the Hayward Police Department in a relaxed setting. Admission is free and open to the public. For details, call (510) 293-7151.

 

Coffee with a Cop

Friday, March. 22

10 a.m. – 12 Noon

Starbucks

245 W. Jackson St., Hayward

(510) 293-7151

Free

CORRECTION:

The article on the Liam Payne concert printed March 12, 2019 mistakenly referred to the event at Mission San Jose High School as the 4th in the Chegg Music 101 series; it was the 8th. The Payne concert was the 4th produced in partnership with truth, but there were four previous concerts produced with different partners. We apologize for this error.

 

 

California could become the second state to accept virtual currency for tax payments

Submitted by Nannette Miranda

 

It’s hard to believe that paying taxes can be dangerous, but it is for California’s cannabis businesses, which cannot open bank accounts because the federal government still categorizes marijuana as an illegal substance. As a result, the $1 billion industry is run almost entirely on cash and businesses often have to hire armored trucks to deliver hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax payments to state and local governments. Under AB 953, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) proposes to allow cryptocurrency as an accepted form of payment for cannabis-generated taxes.

 

“It’s very risky for cannabis businesses to transport large amounts of cash in order to pay their tax bills. Too many things can go wrong. Cryptocurrency offers a solution that’s safer and cheaper for the industry,” said Ting. “Lowering the cost to pay taxes will also help combat black market activity and encourage more businesses to get licensed.”

 

AB 953 also addresses volatility concerns by using stable coins – virtual currencies collateralized by assets, such as the US Dollar. These currencies are pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar and will give both businesses and government agencies needed certainty to collect the exact amount of tax due. Sean Kali-Rae, resident of the Silicon Valley Cannabis Association notes virtual currency provides a viable technological solution to eliminating cash and the associated risks from the industry.

 

 

Davis Street hosts gala to give back

By Toshali Goel

Photos courtesy of Kali Sherman

 

For the 15th consecutive year, the Davis Street Family Resource Center will be hosting their annual fundraiser gala to raise money for their various operations, including health, childcare, and family services. This year’s gala is themed “A Night in Havana,” and will serve Cuban-inspired dishes such as tri-tip with plantain and grilled onions, as well as a jerk salmon dish and a vegetarian option. The gala, first hosted in 2004, has been based on various other themes in the past. Recent years have seen a masquerade ball themed event and one inspired by James Bond, raising $125,000 and $128,000 respectively. Their goal for this year’s gala is $150,000.

 

Originally a ministry of the First Christian Church in 1970, the Davis Street Community Center was officially founded in 1991. “The church was located on Davis Street in San Leandro. Reverend Homer Richardson started First Christian Church, and during the ‘70s and ‘80s he always had community programs – he had a food bank, he did childcare services,” said Davis Street Operations Director Daniel Johnson. “In the early ‘90s, the Davis Street Community Center was officially formed as a kind of spin-off from the church.” Rose Padilla Johnson became the first Executive Director of the organization in 1991, and she serves as the CEO today. “When Rose initially took over, the operating budget was about $275,000. This year, it’s near $17 million.”

 

Today, Davis Street serves as a one-stop shop for services to benefit the community. They run a primary care clinic for low-income individuals that focuses on medical, dental, and behavioral health service. They also operate a food pantry and warehouse that provides for approximately 3,000 to 6,000 individuals per month, as well as a seasonally-appropriate clothing program that allows individuals to choose clothes from donated items. Children’s services, serving around 1,300 children per year, are located at five childcare center sites, three at local schools in San Leandro. Davis Street also run programs for adults, such as the Stepping Stones service for adults with disabilities.

 

Johnson spoke about his personal involvement with Davis Street, commenting, “I grew up in San Leandro, and it’s near and dear to me. The access to healthcare is extremely important – when Davis Street opened its primary care clinic in 2015 it really made me want to be part of the organization and be able to help people break down barriers, to help them lead healthy lives.

 

“We hope to get people together in the community. The people who support Davis Street, we want to get them all together in the same room, celebrate them and highlight the different things that we do. We’re working on a video that we’ll be unveiling at the event that shows two individuals who come to Davis Street for support services. We want donors to see who they’re helping, and why it makes a difference.”

 

Davis Street Gala: A Night in Havana

Wednesday, Mar 27

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Sequoyah Country Club

4550 Heafery Rd, Oakland

(510) 347-4620

http://davisstreet.org/

Tickets: $250

 

 

Wet winter ends California drought after 376 straight weeks

By John Antczak

Associated Press

 

LOS ANGELES (AP), March 14 – California is free of drought for the first time in more than seven years and only a small amount of its territory remains abnormally dry as a very wet winter winds down, experts said Thursday.

 

More than 93 percent of the state is free of drought or dryness, and areas of abnormal dryness along the Oregon border and in parts of four southern counties amount to less than 7 percent of the state, the U.S. Drought Monitor said in its weekly update.

 

The conditions in the far south are because of very dry prior years, the monitor said, noting reservoirs in San Diego County are at only 65 percent of capacity. Abnormal dryness describes an area either entering drought or emerging from it, but below the four tiers of drought.

 

California is drought-free for the first time since Dec. 20, 2011, said the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which jointly produces the monitor with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

“The state had experienced some form of drought for 376 consecutive weeks,” the center tweeted.

 

The state came close to being drought-free in soggy 2017 when it was whittled down to less than 9 percent of the state, but since then paltry precipitation has raised concern about the water supply and a rethinking of how it is used, especially for landscaping.

 

The change this year has been dramatic. On Jan. 1, more than 75 percent of California was in some level of drought and less than 8 percent was entirely free.

 

Storms since have been a boon to water supplies as well as skiers and snowboarders as the snowpack deepened in the Sierra Nevada and in other ranges, but they have also brought problems.

 

Heavy downpours caused millions in damage to highways in the San Jacinto Mountains east of Los Angeles, and state transportation officials said this week they expect the routes to remain closed for four more months.

 

Yosemite National Park announced there will be late seasonal openings of facilities because of extensive damage from the exceptionally heavy snowpack.

 

 

Dear EarthTalk: I saw a news item about overhauling classic old cars with electric engines, and wondering if this can be done with any old car, such as my 1999 Subaru Outback? If this is feasible, maybe I should reconsider my plan of trading up for a new Prius.

— Tim St. Germain, Boise, Idaho

 

It’s true that there’s never been a better time to convert an old gas guzzling car into an emissions-free electric vehicle (EV), but some makes and models are better suited for a so-called “EV swap” than others.

 

Michael Bream of San Marcos, California’s EV West, which made news recently with its conversions of old VWs and Porsches into EVs, says you could convert a ‘99 Subaru — but EV Swaps are typically reserved for classic cars. “A newer Subaru has a ULEV certified (low emission) engine, so it’s not as bad a polluter as a classic car and doesn’t suffer from reliability and power issues that classic cars typically suffer from,” he says. “A typical conversion of a Subaru would cost about the same with parts and labor as a brand-new all-wheel drive Tesla Model 3, so unless your vehicle is extremely well loved, or you can’t stand the thought of selling it, then it might be a better solution to buy or lease a new EV.”

 

EV West is one of a handful of garages across North America now specializing in EV conversions. Some others include: Zelectric Motors (San Diego, CA), ElectricGT (Chatsworth, CA), Make Mine Electric (Sebastopol, CA), Electric Vehicles of Washington (Bellingham, WA), Shockwave Motors (Russellville, TN), Epic Car Conversions (Toronto, ON) and Green Shed Conversions (Crystal River, FL).

 

If you don’t want to wait to get your car converted by one of these shops, you’ll just have to do it yourself (or find a local mechanic looking for an interesting project). Luckily lots of companies now sell EV conversion kits (Canadian Electric Vehicles, Electro Automotive, Wilderness Electric Vehicles, DIY EV, EV Source, Metric Mind Corporation, EV Drive) that include new engines, batteries and components. Expect to spend about $8,000 on all the parts needed for the job (and tack on an additional 50 percent more if you opt for longer-range lithium ion batteries).

 

The labor will be up to you. DIYers should check out EVRater.com’s “How to Build Your own Electric Vehicle in 5 Easy Steps” or Mechanic Doctor’s “How to Convert Your Car to an Electric Vehicle” for step-by-step instructions. Meanwhile, California-based EV4U runs “3-Day Hands-On Conversion Workshops” near Sacramento for $495.

 

With a new base model Prius starting at $23k, you may well be better off doing the EV Swap on your old car. According to EVW, the operating costs of driving a Prius hybrid ($0.14/mile) are about four times what it costs to get around in an EV (whether native or a conversion). “In addition to the fuel savings, electric cars do not need oil changes, spark plugs, distributors, timing belts, etc.,” EVW adds.

 

What you won’t get is that new car smell or the nervous feeling of driving a brand-new car off the dealer’s lot. But you will get the satisfaction of knowing that you saved two tons of metal from the junk heap — and saved the world the trouble of sourcing materials for and building another brand-new Prius.

 

EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

 

 

Park It

By Ned MacKay

 

Just back from a trip to San Diego and Baja California, I can report that the 2019 wildflower season looks like it will be one of the greatest ones. The desert is in bloom, and the displays at Anza-Borrego State Park are said to be spectacular. Farther north and closer to home, flower displays don’t appear to have peaked yet. But if the situation in the south is any indication, spring will be beautiful in Northern California too. Best places to see wildflowers in the East Bay Regional Parks include Morgan Territory Regional Preserve east of Mt. Diablo; Black Diamond Mines in Antioch; Briones Regional Park in central Contra Costa; and Sunol Regional Wilderness south of I-680, where the wildflower festival will take place on April 14. Poppies often grow in profusion at Vargas Plateau near Fremont.

———————————————————–

One beautiful wildflower venue is Rocky Ridge at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore, but you have to work for it. It’s a 2-mile climb up the Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Del Valle’s Lichen Bark picnic area. Because the trail leads through San Francisco Water Department lands, a permit is required; permits can be bought at Del Valle’s entrance kiosk.

———————————————————–

For the first in a series of guided wildflower walks, join naturalist Eddie Willis for a free hike from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday, March 24 at Black Diamond Mines. Willis will lead a hilly 2-mile walk through the chaparral in search of early-season blooms. Meet Willis in the parking lot at the upper end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch. Black Diamond charges a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is staffed. For information call (888) 327-2757, ext. 2750.

 

While we’re at Black Diamond Mines, the mine tour season opened officially on the first weekend in March. The park offers one-hour guided tours of the historic Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine at various times on weekends through November. For safety reasons, tours are for ages 7 and older, and there’s a fee of $5 per person. For information, call the park district at (888) 327-2757 and select option 2 for the reservation office.

———————————————————–

Elsewhere in East County, Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley plans a “S’mores Spring Break” event from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23. Spend the afternoon discovering the region’s wildlife, learning fire safety and tent-building techniques, along with sampling the tasty campfire treats. Tents and s’mores will be provided.

 

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call (888) 327-2757, ext. 3050.

———————————————————–

“Duck, Duck, Goose!” is the theme of Family Nature Fun Hour from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. It’s a program about our feathered friends. Family Nature Fun is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. every weekend, with a different topic each time. Then from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. you can watch the staff feed the fish in the center’s large aquarium.

 

Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Avenue off Alameda’s Central Avenue. For details, call (510) 544-3187.

———————————————————–

Saturday Strolls are a series of family-friendly walks led by park district naturalists, designed to encourage health and outdoor recreation. There’s one from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, March 23 at Leona Canyon in the Oakland hills. It’s a moderate 4-miler up the canyon to a view of five Bay Area bridges.

 

Meet at the Canyon Oaks parking area, off Keller Drive east of I-580. For information and directions, call (510)544-3187.

———————————————————–

The Ohlone people have spent centuries learning the secrets of their homeland. In a program from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, naturalist Kristina Parkison will share Ohlone knowledge of plants and animals and lead some Ohlone games. The program is for ages 7 and older. Meet Kristina at the park’s visitor center at the end of Patterson Ranch Road, off Paseo Padre Parkway.

 

The program is free; there’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle at Coyote Hills. For information, call (510) 544-3220.

———————————————————–

East Bay Regional Parks are never dormant, but springtime brings lots of great activities. For a full listing, visit the website www.ebparks.org.

 

 

Editorial

You’ve got to be carefully taught

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical hit of 1949, South Pacific, relationships between races and those who differ in physical, cultural and opinion are examined in the song “You’ve got to be carefully taught.” Based on James A. Michener‘s Tales of the South Pacific (1947), the story follows a World War II navy nurse who falls in love with a French plantation owner with mixed-race children. An associated plot line involves a U.S. lieutenant’s romance with a Tonkinese woman. Exploration of the societal conflicts within these characters and others around them raises questions and validity of predetermined behavior. As Lieutenant Joseph Cable realizes the dilemma of his situation, he begins to understand how prejudicial behavior is not innate, rather taught, even if surreptitiously, during childhood. As he sings of this anguish, his refrain is, “You’ve got to be carefully taught.”

 

Even mild prejudice can easily transform to hate with toxic action close behind. A human tradition with extended historical perspective, the intransigence of such feelings becomes overtly evident frequently and can only be subdued with effective communication and an emphasis on similarity of purpose rather than divisive rhetoric. The real test of commitment to an ideal of harmony is through actions rather than superficial posturing. It becomes obvious that through peaceful coexistence, familiarity can breed acceptance and understanding rather than contempt. It is much easier to pin labels and perceived negative attributes to faceless and anonymous entities rather than a cordial neighbor who does no harm. It is through objectification that the misery of hate germinates.

 

Our area is a microcosm of humanity with both shining attributes and blemishes. Along with examples of peace and goodwill, the occasional outburst of unacceptable behavior is also present. Without constant guardianship of the basic and bedrock philosophy of our society, erosion of personal freedom, societal liberty and constitutional guarantees is in jeopardy. When misinformation and emotional diatribes are permitted, we all suffer the consequences. On the international stage, examples are rampant; thankfully sporadic locally. The politics of fear and anger can be found everywhere and, if cultivated through separatist behavior, invasive and rotten to the core of our being.

 

All of us are guardians of the future through lessons of the present with relevance to the past. If there is one overriding dictum of the past, it is that conflicts, both regional and worldwide, are preceded by fear, hatred and misinformation carefully presented through political manipulation. In our society, an informed, lawful and reasonable electorate is the primary defense against repetition of past follies and avoidable disasters. What are you teaching your children and neighbors?

 

You've got to be taught to hate and fear

You've got to be taught from year to year

It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear

You've got to be carefully taught

 

You've got to be taught to be afraid

Of people whose eyes are oddly made

And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade

You've got to be carefully taught

 

You've got to be taught before it's too late

Before you are six or seven or eight

To hate all the people your relatives hate

You've got to be carefully taught

 

Rodgers and Hammerstein

South Pacific

 

 

Prepare to Become a U.S. Citizen

Submitted by Sharon Rummery

 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the community to a free naturalization workshop on Saturday, March 23. Participants will learn about the naturalization (application) process, eligibility requirements, English and civics tests, and the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship. Officers will perform a demonstration citizenship interview and will hand out free materials. These sessions are part of a larger USCIS initiative to help immigrants better understand their own eligibility and next steps to citizenship. For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov. For details about the event, call Fremont Main Library at (510) 745-1400 or visit https://guides.aclibrary.org/fremont under Events.

 

USCIS Naturalization Workshop

Saturday, Mar 23

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont

(510) 745-1400

https://guides.aclibrary.org/fremont under Events

www.uscis.gov

 

 

Discover Culture of India

Submitted by Susan Helmer

 

Join Fremont Art Association (FAA) for ‘Celebrate India,’ a spring series of events from Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, May 12 that will inform and enrich participants’ knowledge of Indian culture. Tickets can be bought at FAA’s website: www.fremontartassociation.org/celebrating-india or at the door on the day of the events. For more information, call (510) 651-2461.

 

Event Schedule

March 23 – Demystifying the Sari Drape by Radha Hayagreev ($17/person)

E-panel discussion with celebrity drapist Dolly Jain and sari researcher Nikaytaa of The Indian Draping Company, followed by a sari draping workshop. Bring your own saris.

 

April 6 – Aprons On: Samosas and Lassis with Akshata Kulkarni ($10/person)

Hands-on workshop of making easy lassis and samosas

 

April 20 – Henna Hands with Naheed Adenwala of Mehendi Palace ($18/person)

Participants will learn basic designs and techniques used with henna.

 

May 4 – Indian Spices with Parul Parekh ($10/person)

Introduction to a traditional box of Indian spices, its history and uses in cooking.

 

May 12 – High Tea with Vij Senthilnathan, author of Spices and Aroma; Prerna Singh, author of Indian Simmer; and Kankana Saxena, author of Playful Cooking ($21/person)

Tapas-style food with chai. Learn how these food bloggers turned their work into serious businesses. Cookbooks available for purchase.

————————————————————————————————————-

Celebrate India Events

Saturdays: Mar 23 – Sunday, May 12

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Fremont Art Association

37697 Niles Blvd, Fremont

(510) 651-2461

www.fremontartassociation.org/celebrating-india

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD

 

Friday, March 8

  • Field Training Officer Manrique and Officer Spencer made a vehicle stop on Robin and Ladner streets in the Irvington area. A check of a 32-year-old man in the vehicle showed he had several warrants. He was arrested on the warrants and on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and booked into the Fremont jail.

 

  • Officers Davis and Lobue responded to a report of a roll-over crash at Thornton Avenue and Coronado Drive. The vehicle sheared off a light pole that landed in the middle of Thornton Avenue. Bear electric was called out to fix the light pole and patrol units were tied up on the scene for 90 minutes to clear the debris.

 

Homeless calls for service:

  • Wells Fargo Bank, Paseo Padre Parkway
  • Irvington Community Center, Blacow Road
  • Mr. Mikes Supermarket, Niles Boulevard
  • 45000 block of Industrial Drive
  • Fremont Hub Courtyard, Mowry Avenue
  • 200 block of Old Canyon Road
  • 7-Eleven store, Sundale Drive

 

Saturday, March 9

  • Officers responded to a report of an auto burglary on the 500 block of Old Canyon Road in the Niles area. An unknown person smashed the window out on a parked vehicle and stole electronic items. The burglary occurred during early morning hours.

 

  • A female victim reported that several people stole her personal belongings sometime during the night while they were at a local hotel on the 5900 block of Steward Avenue. Office San Luis is investigating.

 

Homeless calls for service:

  • 39500 block of Paseo Padre Parkway
  • Presbyterian Church
  • Starbucks, Automall Parkway
  • Washington Hospital, Mowry Avenue

 

  • Officers are dispatched to the parking lot of Food Maxx store on Fremont Boulevard on a report of a man with a gun. Witnesses reported seeing the man openly displaying the handgun in a nearby restaurant and manipulating the slide. One caller saw the male load the gun and walk out of the restaurant toward the grocery store. Officers located the man and held him at gunpoint until additional officers arrived to assist. The man was taken into custody and a small BB gun was found in his possession. The 46-year-old man was positively identified by witnesses and arrested on suspicion of brandishing a weapon.

 

  • Officer Trzewieczynski was patrolling in the area of Stevenson Boulevard and Blacow Road when he saw a vehicle traveling eastbound on Stevenson and swerving across several lanes of traffic. Trzewieczynski made a traffic stop and contacted the driver and his passenger. Both the driver, a 38 year old man and the passenger, a 42 year old woman, were found to be severely intoxicated. The driver was arrested for DUI and the passenger was arrested for public intoxication.

 

  • Officers were dispatched to the area of Mowry Avenue and Guardino Drive on a report of a suspicious circumstance. Officers contacted a 32-year-old man and found that he was on probation for a controlled substance; he also was in possession of several grams of heroin. He was arrested.

 

  • Officers Davis and Soper were dispatched to the Whole Foods store on Mowry Avenue on a report of a transient who refused to leave the store. The 56-year-old man also refused the officers’ order to leave. He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing, resisting arrest and probation violation. He was booked into Santa Rita jail.

 

Sunday, March 10

  • Police responded to a report of a male transient banging on the door of a community resident. The man had a stay away order from the resident. Officers Ramirez and Paiva arrested the suspect on suspicion of violating the court order.

 

Homeless calls for service:

  • 7-11 store on Delaware Drive
  • Motel 6, Warm Spring area
  • Safeway, Fremont Hub
  • Central Fire

 

 

Fremont School District Board Meeting Highlights

Submitted by Brian Killgore

 

The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board of Education approved the following at its March 13 meeting:

 

  • Approved Second Interim Budget Report for 2018-19 – The district’s general fund revenues are projected to increase by $2.6 million from the First Interim Budget to $384.9 million. Expenditures are projected to increase by $3.5 million to $396.8 million. Additionally, a proposed salary increase of 2% is included, which is equivalent to $6.4 million. As a result of the changes in the revenues and expenditures, the ending fund balance is projected to decrease by approximately $7.4 million from the First Interim Budget. This leaves a reserve of approximately $9 million, a decrease of $2.8 million from the First Interim Budget. The district reserve is projected to be 2.28%.

 

  • Received Presentation on Design for Modernization Project at Thornton Middle School (Middle School Conversion) – The board received a presentation on the schematic design for the new construction and modernization project at Thornton Middle School and directed staff to proceed with field layout Option 1. The site currently has a track and baseball field. The existing track and baseball field will be replaced with a new parking lot. Option 1 will replace the existing 333-meter track with a new track of the same length and baseball field. This will achieve parity with the track facilities at the new construction project at Horner Middle School, and sets a standard for future middle school conversions. The estimate for Option 1 is within the project’s $76 million budget. Board approves staff to proceed with Option #1 by 4-1 vote.

 

  • Authorized Staff to Enter into an Agreement with Blach Construction – The Board authorized staff to enter into an agreement with Blach Construction Company in the amount of $451,836 to provide Lease Lease Back (LLB) preconstruction services for the new construction and modernization project at Thornton Middle School. On September 26, 2018, the board received a presentation on the new construction and modernization project at Thornton and provided direction to proceed with Option 2b at a cost of $76 million. The new conversion project at Thornton is currently in the schematic design phase and is on track to open for the 2021-22 school year.

 

  • Received Summer School Presentation for Board Discussion and Provide Direction to Staff – The variety of 2018 summer programs in the district served over 2,500 regular education and special education students. The presentation includes attendance, achievement, and demographic data as well as highlights of programs and recommendations for the future. FUSD currently spends over $1.1 million on summer school each year. Board votes 5-0 to approve staff recommendation with exception of Summer Geometry being brought back as a consent item.

 

  • Received Mandarin Immersion High School Assignment Options – The Mandarin Immersion Program (MIP) is an alternative educational model designed to provide students with fluency and literacy in two languages. The MIP program in Fremont is a K8 model, where students in grades kindergarten to sixth grades attend Azevada Elementary School and students in seventh to eighth grades attend Hopkins Junior High School. The first cohort of students in eighth grade will be transitioning to high school in the 2019-20 school year. Board votes 3-2 (Trustees Berke & Jones vote Nay) to create a pilot program for one year for current students to move forward as a cohort to Mission SJ High School and revisit the item in February 2020.

 

  • Discussed Business Services Division Organization – The current associate superintendent oversees nine departments in the district, all of which have a director and requisite staff: accounting, budget audit and attendance, child nutrition services, facilities & construction, maintenance operations grounds, purchasing, risk management, information technology, and transportation. With the impending vacancy in the associate superintendent position, the board has requested to hold a discussion about the organization of the Business Services Division and consider other configurations. Staff has compared organizational charts from several like-sized districts and have developed two potential alternatives (1 & 2) to the current FUSD management organizational chart for Board consideration. The board votes 4-1 (Trustee Campbell votes Nay) to approve Alternative 1.

 

  • Authorized Staff to Enter into Agreement for Network Electronics Telephone, and Clock/Speaker Hardware – Staff recommended Board authorization to enter into an agreement with NetXperts, Inc. in the amount of $913,320.28 for the network electronics, telephones, and clock/speakers, including installation costs for Lila Bringhurst Elementary School, the former Timothy Rix Elementary School, and Carmen R. Melendez Elementary School. Pending board approval of this recommendation, the district will apply for federal E-rate reimbursement on all eligible costs, which, if approved by USAC, will provide a possible credit of approximately $121,348.

 

 

Fremont School District names new school after longtime educator

Submitted by Brian Killgore

 

Scheduled to open its doors in August 2019, the Fremont Unified School District’s (FUSD) new Spanish Dual-Immersion elementary school has found the perfect name to place on its marquee. After re-acquiring the former site of Marshall Elementary School in 2016, the FUSD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve staff’s recommendation to repurpose the facility to host the District’s Spanish Dual-Immersion program currently split among Blacow, Grimmer and Vallejo Mill Elementary Schools. After a presentation from the Spanish Immersion New School Task Force, the board elected to name the school after longtime FUSD teacher and administrator, Carmen Melendez, at its February 13 meeting.

 

Carmen R. Melendez was born and raised in Puerto Rico where she received her B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico and taught junior high in her hometown before serving in the U.S. Navy. After moving to California, Melendez obtained teaching credentials and taught college classes for several years. Her career at FUSD began in 1964 when she joined the faculty at Mission San Jose High School where she taught Spanish for nine years and developed the first Spanish AP curriculum in the District. She then moved on to American High School teaching Spanish and Social Studies while completing her master’s in School Administration and Supervision at Cal State Hayward.

 

After 32 years of service to FUSD, Melendez retired in 1996, but her work was far from done. She served for 18 years as a volunteer for the District’s Personnel Commission, the governing body of FUSD’s merit system. She remains a strong advocate for immigrant students and families who have come to Fremont from around the world.

 

 

Gap to split into 2, with Old Navy gaining independence

By Anne D'innocenzio

AP Retail Writer

 

NEW YORK (AP), Feb 28 – Gap Inc. is splitting into two. The retailer said Thursday that it's creating two independent publicly traded companies – low-priced juggernaut Old Navy and a yet-to-be named company, which will consist of the iconic Gap brand, Athleta, Banana Republic as well as the lesser known names Athleta, Intermix and Hill City.

 

The San Francisco-based company said the spin-off will enable each company to focus on flexibility and pare down costs.

 

The company also said that it will be shuttering 230 Gap brand stores over the next two years. A year ago, the Gap brand had 725 stores worldwide. After the closures, which also include the 68 stores it shuttered this year, the chain will be down to roughly 427 stores. It expects to have more than 40 percent of Gap's business coming from online after the restructuring.

 

Gap's stock surged 25 percent in after-market trading.

 

The split up, which followed a comprehensive board review, comes as Old Navy has been thriving, while Gap still hasn't been able to regain its footing despite numerous attempts to fix the business. Once the go-to place for casual clothing, Gap has been mired in a sales funk for years, hurt by increasing competition from the likes of Target and Amazon.

 

Analysts applauded the move.

 

“This is great news for Old Navy, no longer having its success consistently outweighed by sluggish performance by Gap,” said Tiffany Hogan, senior analyst at Kantar Consulting. “But for the Gap, this seems like potentially a last significant effort to help the brand find its place in a market where it has lost relevance.”

 

She noted that in order for Gap to succeed, it needs to find the right mix of style and basics for its stores, while getting a better grasp of who its customer is.

 

Separately, Gap Inc. reported that Gap's overall sales at stores opened at least year were down 1 percent during the fiscal fourth quarter. By division, the Gap brand posted a 5 percent drop, while that figure at Banana Republic was down 1 percent. Old Navy posted sales that were unchanged from a year ago. But that was on top of a 9 percent gain in the year-ago period.

 

“It's clear that Old Navy's business model and customers have increasingly diverged from our specialty brands over time, and each company now requires a different strategy to thrive moving forward,” said Robert Fisher, Gap Inc.'s chairman.

 

Gap's current CEO, Art Peck, will hold the same position at the new company after the separation. Sonia Syngal, current CEO of Old Navy, will continue to lead the brand as a stand-alone company, which has about $8 billion in annual revenue. The new company that Peck will run has about $9 billion in annual revenue.

 

During a conference call with investors on Thursday, Peck called the separation a “unique and catalyzing moment to simplify what we are doing and how we're doing it.”

 

Upon separation, Gap Inc. shareholders are expected to receive a pro-rata stock distribution and as a result will own shares in both the new company and Old Navy in equal proportion. The deal is expected to close in 2020.

 

The new company will be based in Gap Inc.'s current headquarters and Old Navy will remain at its current headquarters, both located in San Francisco.

 

Gap's shares rose $6.50 to $31.90 in extended trading after the split-up was announced.

Photo caption: Guests celebration International Women’s Day at a High Tea gathering. Photo by David Cox.

 

 

Community leaders celebrate women’s achievements

Submitted by Global Women Power

 

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Fremont-based Global Women Power held a high tea program on Sunday, March 10. Among those attending were film producers, clinical professionals, politicians, teachers, housewives and administrators who shared their thoughts about contemporary life, politics and passed along their own legacies of empowerment against challenges they’ve faces in their personal and professional lives.

 

Notable guests include Dr. Alka Chopra Madan, Global Women Power President and MC; Nancy Tobesman, Vice President and Manju Mishra, who recited a poem from Maya Angelou. Other community leaders included Diane Shaw of AC Transit; Fahria Khan, Alameda County PTSA Council; Professor Nilu Gupta of DeAnza College; Alka Bhatnagar, Bollywood singer; Shilpa Rivera, Rabinder Birdee, Poonam Bajaj of Sitaarre TV; Teresa Cox, Ohlone College BOT Administrator; Charisse Smoller of Jewish E-Cards & More and Lakshmi Moorty.

 

Global Women Power is a non-profit organization focused on celebrating the brilliance of women entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate professionals. For details, call (510) 456-6538.

 

 

Google paid former exec $35 million after harassment claim

By Rachel Lerman

AP Technology Writer

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), March 11 – Court documents show Google paid former search executive Amit Singhal $35 million in an exit package when the exec was reportedly forced to resign after a sexual assault investigation.

 

Details of the exit package were revealed as part of a shareholder lawsuit against the company, one that followed a published report of payouts Google made to executives accused of sexual misconduct.

 

Previously redacted portions of the lawsuit complaint were made available Monday, including quotes from board committee meetings.

 

One portion of the minutes showed that Singhal received two $15 million payments and a payment of at least $5 million as part of a separation agreement. He left the company in 2016.

 

Google says that it has made changes recently to take a hard line against sexual misconduct.

Hayward expresses grief over attacks on mosques in New Zealand

Submitted by Chuck Finnie

 

The City of Hayward stands with Muslim people here in our community and the world over in our grief and revulsion over the deaths, injury and trauma resulting from hateful attacks and shootings on March 14 at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

“We are saddened and sickened, and our hearts go out to our Muslim brothers and sisters and the Islamic faith community,” Mayor Barbara Halliday said on behalf of the entire Hayward City Council and City of Hayward government. “The racism, xenophobia, homophobia and hate espoused by the perpetrators of this and other similar incidents of violence and terror have no place in our community,” added Halliday.

 

In response, Hayward Police Chief Mark Koller directed that police officers be dispatched to Hayward mosques to provide assurances and as a demonstration of support for Islamic faith leaders and worshipers.

 

“We are one of the most diverse cities in the country and our diversity is a source of pride and cultural enrichment,” Koller said. “The Hayward Police Department is committed to serving and protecting our Muslim community, and we are making that known.”

 

Hayward City Manager Kelly McAdoo said non-law enforcement city personnel also would be reaching out to Islamic and other faith communities to share resources and discuss strategies for strengthening cross-cultural communication and understanding.

 

 

Late-night construction to impact portions of I-880

Submitted by the City of Hayward

 

Motorists traveling along Interstate 880 through Hayward will likely experience delays and possible detours during late-night and early morning hours through March 27 because of highway construction by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

 

The MTC is conducting nightly full closures of I-880 in the southbound direction at West A Street and between Winton Avenue and State Route 92 through Thursday, March 21, and Sunday, March 24, through Wednesday, March 27.

 

Northbound 1-880 lanes 1 and 2 (the two lanes closest to the median) also will be closed for night-time construction from just south of State Route 92 to just north of West A Street.

 

Southbound closures:

  • 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, until 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 20
  • 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, until 4 a.m. Thursday, March 21
  • 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 24, until 4 a.m. Monday, March 25
  • 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 25, until 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 26
  • 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, until 4 a.m. Wednesday, March 27

 

Partial northbound closures:

  • 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 18, until 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 19
  • 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, until 5 a.m. Wednesday, March 20
  • 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, until 5 a.m. Thursday, March 21
  • 9 p.m. Sunday, March 24, until 5 a.m. Monday, March 25
  • 9 p.m. Monday, March 25, until 5 a.m. Tuesday, March 26
  • 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, until 5 a.m. Wednesday, March 27

 

The closures are needed because MTC is converting existing I-880 HOV lanes that run southbound from Hegenberger Road to Dixon Landing Road and northbound from Dixon Landing Road to Lewelling Boulevard to Express Lanes.

 

The conversion involves lane striping and the installation of signs and sign gantries, FastTrak toll tag readers, traffic monitoring video cameras and CHP observation areas. The project will result in 51 Express Lane miles from Oakland to Milpitas. It is slated for completion by early 2020.

 

 

Honor Roll

St. Lawrence University, New York

Fall 2018 Dean’s List

Wanjiru Kimani, of Hayward

 

 

CONTINUING EVENTS:

 

Tuesday, Sep 4 – Thursday, May 23

Homework Help Center

Mon. – Thurs.: 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Primary and secondary students receive homework assistance

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

(510) 745-1401

 

Mondays, Sep 10 – May 28

Advanced Math & Science Tutoring

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

For high school and college students

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 745 1401

 

Tuesdays, Jan 22 – Mar 26

Practice Your Spoken English R

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

No class Dec 18 – Jan 1

Chat session for English learners

Fremont Main Library Fukaya Room A

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 574-2063

 

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, Dec 19 – Apr 28

Tech Help and Computer Tutor R

Wed. 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Thurs. 3 p.m.-4 p.m.

Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Half hour appts. for one-on-one computer and e-device help

Union City Branch Library

34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

 

Tuesdays, Jan 15 – Mar 26

Shakespeare and Cultural Literacy Class $

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Watch videos and discuss. $2 drop-in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Wednesdays, Jan 16 – Mar 27

Crochet and Knitting $

12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Learn the basics. $2 drop-in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Fridays, Jan 18 – Mar 29

Needle Arts $

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Have fun with yarn. $2 drop-in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Tuesdays, Jan 22 – Mar 26

All Levels Line Dance Class $

10 a.m. – 12 noon

Exercise to music. $4 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Thursdays, Jan 24 – Mar 28

Laughter Yoga $

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Reduce stress and boost your immune system. $2 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Friday, Jan 25 – Mar 29

Beginning Line Dance Class $

12 noon – 1:30 p.m.

Exercise to music. $4 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Wednesday – Sunday, Jan 26 – Apr 21

Hayward Arts Council 2019 Members Show

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sculpture, quilting, pottery, watercolors, mixed media and poetry

Hayward Area Historical Society Museum

22380 Foothill Blvd., Hayward

(510) 581-0223

haywardartscouncil.org

 

Thursdays, Jan 31 – Mar 28

Hawaiian Dance Class

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Sway your hips to tropical music. $4 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Sunday, Feb 3 – Sunday, Mar 24

Dove Gallery Art from the Heart Exhibit

Contact for time

Artworks of various media that reflect deep, heartfelt emotions

Park Victoria Baptist Church

875 S. Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas

(408) 464-5011

dove@parkvictoria.org

 

1st and 3rd Mondays, Feb 4 – May 20

Guitar Jam For Seniors $

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Play guitar with others. No instruction. $2.50 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Wednesdays, Feb 6 – Mar 20

Diabetes Self-Management Classes R

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Learn 7 self-care behaviors. 18+ and diagnosed with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Wednesdays, Feb 6 – May 1

Ukulele Jam Program $

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Weekly program for active adults 50+. Bring ukulele and music stand

San Leandro Senior Community Center

13909 East 14th Street, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

 

Saturdays, Feb 9 – Apr 13

Free Tax Preparation

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Assistance for households earning $54,000 or less

Photo ID and tax documents required

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

 

Mondays and Thursdays, Feb 12 – May 30

Table Tennis $

Mon: 1:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Thurs: 12:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Improve your hand-eye coordination. $3 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Mondays, Feb 18 – May 27

Caning & Furniture Refinishing/Restoration Class $

9 a.m.  – 12 noon

Beginners thru advanced – bring your project for evaluation. $2 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Monday – Friday, Feb 18 – May 30

Billiards/Pool Tables $

8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Beginning thru advanced players. $1.50 drop in fee

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

www.haywardrec.org

 

Thursday – Sunday, Feb 22 – Mar 23

American Portraiture by James Mills

12 noon – 5 p.m.

A tribute to Americans with watercolors and drawings

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 791-4357

www.fremont.gov/OliveHyde

 

Tuesdays, Feb 26 – Apr 16

Civics/Citizenship Class

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship exam

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

www.aclibrary.org/fremont

 

Wednesdays, Feb 27 – Apr 17

Civics/Citizenship Class

12 noon – 2:30 p.m.

Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship exam

Newark Branch Library

6300 Civic Terrace Ave., Newark

(510) 284-0684

(510) 745-1480

 

Monday – Friday, Mar 1 – May 3

Art is Education Show

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

HUSD student art work display

John O'Lague Galleria

777 B Street, Hayward

(510) 538-2787

www.haywardarts.org

 

Sunday-Saturday, Mar 1 – Mar 31

Roving Artists – Where We Live

During business hours

Women who create & record beauty, pattern and light

Mission Coffee Roasting House

151 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 474-1004

 

Saturdays and Sundays, Mar 2 – Apr 26

Wild Wonders

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Games, activities, crafts for all ages

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturdays and Sundays, Mar 2 – Apr 26

Nature Crafts

10 a.m. – 12 noon

Get crafty and learn about the natural world

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturdays, Mar 2 – Mar 23

Homebrewing On the Farm $R

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

3-part, hands on workshop. Discover the ancient art of homebrewing

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org/register

 

Sundays, Mar 3 – Apr 26

Animal Feeding Time

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Discuss reptiles, observe feeding time

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Thursdays, Mar 7 – Mar 28

Spiritual Guides for Today $R

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

“The Return of the Prodigal Son”, 4-part book series

Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose

43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont

(510) 933-6335

 

Saturdays, Mar 9 – Mar 30

Caught in the Act $

8 p.m.

Hijinks unfold as the actors spread rumors and keep secrets

Sunol Glen School

11601 Main St., Sunol

(925) 862-2026

www.sunol.net

 

Wednesdays, Mar 13 – May 29

Watercolor Class $

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

For all experience levels

San Lorenzo Adult School

820 Bockman Road, San Lorenzo

(510) 317-4200

https://adu.slzusd.org

 

Sunday, Mar 17 – Saturday, Apr 13

Juried Photography Exhibit

Library open hours

25 local photographers share 100 diverse photos

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

www.Fremontculturalartscouncil.org

 

Friday – Sunday, Mar 29 – Apr 7

Oliver! The Musical

7 p.m., 2 p.m. matinees on 3/31, 4/4, 4/6, 4/7

Join young Oliver Twist as he navigates London's underworld

Irvington High School Valhalla Theatre

41800 Blacow Rd., Fremont

(510) 590-7510

www.ihsdrama.com

 

Friday nights

Laugh Track City $

8 p.m.

Fast-paced improv comedy show

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St, Suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

https://madeuptheatre.com/

 

Saturday nights

8 p.m.

Audience-inspired improv play

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St, Suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

https://madeuptheatre.com/

 

 

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, Mar 20

Toddler Time

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Read a story, do some chores, meet farm animals. Ages 1-4

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

 

Wednesday, Mar 20

Princess Day R

10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Bring the kids dressed in their favorite princess wear, storytime

Jolly Roger Land Indoor Play Center

31300 Courthouse Drive, Union City

(510) 362-7996

www.jollyrogerland.com

 

Thursday, Mar 21

East Bay Stompers Band

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Swing standards and happy music. No cover

Bronco Billy’s Pizza – Irvington

41200 Blacow Road, Fremont

(510) 438-0121

(510) 914-7304

 

Thursday, Mar 21

What is an Earthworm?

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Learn about earthworms while examining them in a worm bin

Centerville Library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

 

Thursday, Mar 21

Hayward Nonprofit Alliance

10 a.m.

Renee Rubin Ross Ph.D. – how to get board or staff members more engaged

St. Rose Hospital

27200 Calaroga Ave., Hayward

(510) 264-4044

 

Thursday, Mar 21

Choral Concert

7:30 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of music

Chabot College, Stage One/Recital Hall

25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward

(510) 723-6600

www.chabotcollege.edu

 

Thursday, Mar 21

Lap Harp Demonstration

1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Check out this possible new beginning music class

Kenneth Aitken Senior Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

 

Friday, Mar 22 -Sunday, Mar 24

Family Fun Weekend $R

Fri. 7 p.m. thru Sun. 12 noon

Workshops, kids camp, meals and fun for families of deaf children

California School for the Deaf

39350 Gallaudet Dr., Fremont

(510) 794-3666

www.csdeagles.com/apps/pages

 

Friday, Mar 22

Dose of Action: Healing Our Community

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Conversation about drug overdose epidemic in our community

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

www.aclibrary.org

 

Friday, Mar 22

Coffee with a Cop

10 a.m. – 12 Noon

Join your neighbors and Hayward PD for conversation

Starbucks

245 W. Jackson St., Hayward

(510) 293.5051

haywardPDCPU@hayward-ca.gov

 

Friday, Mar 22

Latino Business Roundtable

8:30 a.m.

Job creation, business retention, and

quality of lie improvement efforts

St. Rose Hospital

27200 Calaroga Ave., Hayward

(510) 264-4044

www.hayward.org

 

Friday, Mar 22

Conversation with Ro Khanna

10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Impact of Alzheimer's and what congress is doing about it

Alzheimer's Association

2290 N. First Street, San Jose

(408) 372-9936

www.alz.org

 

Friday, Mar 22

Fairy Tale Misfits

6:30 p.m.

Come enjoy student performance in school play

Warwick School

3375 Warwick Rd., Fremont

(510) 793-8660

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Cart of Curiosities

9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Find the cart filled with wonders of cultural and natural history

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

The Golden Years

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

1950’s open house with live music, entertainment, diner treats, classic cars

Fremont Retirement Community

2860 Country Dr., Fremont

(510) 790-1645

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Native Knowledge Nature Walk

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Learn about plant use and animals shared by generations of Ohlones. 7+ yrs

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Farmyard Animals Mask Making

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Hear a story, make a mask

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Wild Food

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Explore the farm for edible plants and weeds

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Stilt Walkers

2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Improve your balance

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23 and Sunday, Mar 24

Hens Lay Eggs

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Listen to a story, search the coop for eggs, feel a hen's feather

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Naturalization Information Session

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Information presented on how to prepare to become a U.S. Citizen

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

(415) 248-8873

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Spaghetti Feed $

4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Dinner, silent auction, raffle, kid's zone

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

38801 Blacow Rd., Fremont

(510) 793-6285

Home

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Community Resource Fair

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Learn about services, music, activities, food

Barnard-White Middle School

725 Whipple Rd, Union City

(510) 471-5363

www.unioncityfamilycenter.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Sustainable Landscaping Class R

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Learn about using compost in your garden to save water

Hayward City Hall

777 B St., Hayward

(510) 208-0410

https://www.hayward-ca.gov

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Music at the Mission $

8 p.m.

Banned: music works that have been banned in the twentieth century

Old Mission San Jose

43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont

(510) 659-6158

www.musicatmsj.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Fremont Area Writers

2 p.m.

LeeAnne Krusemark will discuss book-marketing options

42 Silicon Valley

6600 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont

cwc-fremontareawriters.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Neighborhood Clean-Up Event R

8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Beautify the Glen Eden neighborhood.  Bring gloves

Mt. Eden High School

2300 Panama St., Hayward

(510) 723-3180

www.hayward-ca.gov/haywardbeautiful

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Movie Night $

7:30 p.m.

“Pandora's Box”

Niles Essanay Theater

37417 Niles Blvd, Fremont

(510) 494-1411

www.nilesfilmmuseum.org

 

Saturday, Mar 23

Demystifying the Sari Drape

6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

E-panel discussion and sari draping workshop. Bring your own sari

Fremont Art Association

37697 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 792-0905

www.FremontArtAssociaion.org

 

Sunday, Mar 24

Garden Chores For Kids

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Learn how to grow vegetables

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Mar 24

Ohlone Village Site Open House

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Tour a 2,000-year-old Ohlone village site. Meet at the village site

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Mar 24

Meet the Farmer: Farming for Climate Change

1p.m. – 2 p.m.

Learn about climate change while growing vegetables

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Mar 24

ABC's of Vegetable Gardening – R

9:30 a.m.

Getting started, selecting varieties, and best practices

Dale Hardware

3700 Thornton Ave, Fremont

(510) 797-3700

www.dale-hardware.com

 

Sunday, Mar 24

FLEX Paratransit Community Outreach Meeting R

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

San Leandro's low-cost transportation option

San Leandro Senior Community Ctr

13909 East 14th Street, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

 

Sunday, Mar 24

Meet Author Jerry Knaak

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Presents his latest novel “The Dark Terror”

Books on B

1014 B Street, Hayward

(510) 538-3943

www.booksonb.com

 

Sunday, Mar 24

Wildflowers in Wilderness

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Discover the changing blooms of the season

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Monday, Mar 25

Outdoor Discoveries: Puddle Jumpers R

10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Playful science for home school kids. Ages 4 – 8

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org/register

 

Monday, Mar 25

Coyote Cubs: Mammalian Madness

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Play games, explore the park, do a theme related craft. 3-5 yrs.

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Monday, Mar 25

Eden Garden Club Meeting

9:30 a.m.

Presentation on perennial herbs

Hayward-Castro Valley Moose Lodge

20835 Rutledge Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 723-6936

(510) 397-1268

 

Monday, Mar 25

Milpitas Rotary Club Meeting

12 noon – 1:30 p.m.

District 5170 membership chair – membership strategies

Dave and Busters

940 Great Mall Dr., Milpitas

(408) 957-9215

http://www.clubrunner.ca/milpitas

 

Monday, Mar 25

State of the City 2019

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Mayor Cutter's focus is on “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow, Together”

San Leandro Senior Community Ctr.

13909 East 14th Street, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

(510) 577-3372

 

Tuesday, Mar 26

Fremont Symphony's Children's Concert

10:15 a.m.

For children in 4 – 6 grades

Epler Gymnasium at Ohlone College

43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont

(510) 659-6207

 

Tuesday, Mar 26

Smart Teen: Teen Driver Program

6 p.m.

Driver education overview for teenagers 15-19 years

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

 

Tuesday, Mar 26

Spring Pool Tournament $R

9:30 a.m.

All skill levels welcome. Register by March 22

Kenneth C. Aitken Center

17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 881-6738

 

Sunday, Mar 24

FLEX Paratransit Community Outreach Meeting R

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

San Leandro's low-cost transportation option

San Leandro Senior Community Ctr

13909 East 14th Street, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

 

Tuesday, Mar 26

FLEX Paratransit Community Outreach Meeting R

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

San Leandro's low-cost transportation option

San Leandro Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro

(510) 577-3462

 

Wednesday, Mar 27

Wednesday Walk

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Traverse to Lake Chabot on 4-mile trek. Bort Meadow Staging Area

Anthony Chabot Campground and Park

9999 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 690-6677

www.ebparks.org

 

Wednesday, Mar 27

Badges and Boba

5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Chat with members of the Fremont PD

Queen Boba

34420 Fremont Blvd, Fremont

(510) 790-6740

 

Wednesday, Mar 27

A Night in Havana $

5:30 p.m.

Fundraiser to support Davis Street programs

Sequoyah Country Club

45500 Heafey Rd., Oakland

(510) 347-4620

 

Friday, Mar 29

Spring Into Magic $R

5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Fundraiser to help Hayward educators. Buffet, entertainment, auction

Hayward City Hall Rotunda

777 B St., Hayward

(510) 881-7976

www.haywarded.org

 

Saturday, Mar 30

UC Police Dept. Annual Crab Feed $R

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Dinner, silent and live auctions, support local organizations

Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

32975 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 471-2581

 

Saturday, Mar 30

Pasquale Esposito Celebrates Enrico Caruso $

7:30 p.m.

Italian tenor brings his PBS special to the stage

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

 

 

Lawmakers revive journalist protection act

Submitted by Caitlyn McNamee

 

California Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) recently joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) in reintroducing the Journalist Protection Act to make a federal crime of certain attacks on people who report the news.

 

The lawmakers resurrected the measure on Tuesday, March 12 during the Sunshine Week when government officials and others recognize the importance of access to information.

 

The Journalist Protection Act makes it a federal crime to intentionally cause bodily injury to a journalist affecting interstate or foreign commerce in the course of reporting or in a manner designed to intimidate him or her from newsgathering for a media organization. It represents a clear statement that assaults against people engaged in reporting is unacceptable and helps ensure law enforcement is able to punish those who interfere with newsgathering.

 

Both before and since taking office, President Trump has stoked a climate of extreme hostility toward the press. He has called the press “the enemy of the American people,” and described mainstream media outlets as “a stain on America.” He once tweeted a GIF video of himself body-slamming a person with the CNN logo superimposed on that person’s face and retweeted a cartoon of a “Trump Train” running over a person with a CNN logo on its head.

 

Such antagonistic rhetoric encourages others to think, regardless of their views, that violence against journalists is more acceptable. Last April, the international organization Reporters Without Borders dropped the United States’ ranking in its annual World Press Freedom Index by two points, to number 45 overall, citing President Trump’s bashing of the media.

 

“From tweeting #FakeNews to proclaiming his contempt for the media during campaign rallies, the president has created a hostile environment for members of the press,” Swalwell said. “A healthy democracy depends on a free press unencumbered by threats of violence. We must protect journalists in every corner of our country if they are attacked physically while doing their job, and send a strong, clear message that such violence will not be tolerated. That is what my bill, the Journalist Protection Act, would do.”

 

In March 2017, OC Weekly journalists said they were assaulted by demonstrators at a Make America Great Again rally in Huntington Beach, California. The following August, a reporter was punched in the face for filming anti-racism counter-protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia. At a rally hosted by President Trump in El Paso, Texas just last month, a man in a Make America Great Again hat attacked a BBC reporter and yelled expletives directed at “the media.”

 

“The values celebrated during Sunshine Week — accountability through transparency, access to public information, and freedom of the press — are under attack like never before,” Blumenthal said. “Under this administration, reporters face a near-constant barrage of verbal threats, casting the media as enemies of the American people and possible targets of violence. This bill makes clear that engaging in any kind of violence against members of the media will simply not be tolerated.”

 

“Over 200 years ago, our Founding Fathers had the foresight to recognize the importance of a free press to a fledgling democracy,” Menendez said. “Now, more than ever, their importance can’t be overstated. Despite the dangerous rhetoric coming from the Trump Administration, and yet another disturbing attack on a journalist covering a MAGA rally, the press is not the enemy of the people. A free, and independent press — a strong Fourth Estate — is essential to the American people and our democracy, ensuring an informed public and holding those in power accountable. We cannot condone any physical attacks on journalists or members of the media.”

 

The bill is supported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and by News Media for Open Government, a broad coalition of news media and journalism organizations working to ensure that laws, policies and practices preserve and protect freedom of the press, open government and the free flow of information in our democratic society.

 

“American journalists are facing assaults, threats, intimidation and even murder simply for fulfilling their First Amendment duties by reporting the news,” said Bernie Lunzer, president of The NewsGuild, a division of the CWA. “The Journalist Protection Act strengthens the free press that’s essential to our democracy.”

 

“Now more than ever, our industry needs the Journalist Protection Act to ensure both our members and their equipment have an extra layer of defense from attacks,” said Charlie Braico, president of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, also a CWA division. “It’s also another way of saying in these turbulent times that yes, the First Amendment matters — and it’s worth protecting.”

 

“A journalist should not have to worry about threats of harassment or physical attacks solely for doing their jobs and informing the public,” said Melissa Wasser, Coalition Director for News Media for Open Government. “Forty-eight journalists faced physical attacks while gathering and reporting the news in 2018, as documented by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. More than two dozen newsrooms have received hoax bomb threats, disrupting their operations. Not only is the role of the news media in our democracy under attack, but the safety of individual journalists is threatened. The Journalist Protection Act would not elevate journalists to a special status, but rather would ensure they receive the same protections if attacked while gathering and reporting the news.”

 

Original co-sponsors of the Journalist Protection Act in the House include David Cicilline (RI-1), Steve Cohen (TN-9), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Hank Johnson (GA-4), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Andy Levin (MI-9), Gwen Moore (WI-4), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Bobby Rush (IL-1), Darren Soto (FL-9), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23).

 

 

Kaiser Permanente to lay off 60 gardeners in Northern California

Submitted by Sean Wherley, SEIU-UHW

 

Kaiser Permanente announced on March 8 that it will eliminate 60 full-time gardening jobs at 16 facilities across Northern California, including Fremont and San Leandro. Under the plan, the gardeners would lose their jobs as soon as May 11; an outside company would oversee an entirely new workforce. The layoffs come despite Kaiser Permanente reporting reserves of $31.5 billion, and profits of $6.3 billion over the last two years. Nearly 100 federal, state and local elected officials in California have sent letters to Kaiser opposing the corporation’s outsourcing plans.

 

 

Meet and greet with your assemblyman

Submitted by Kansen Chu

 

California State Assemblyman Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) will hold his next Community Office Hours meeting for constituents on Thursday, March 28 at the Berryessa Branch Library in San Jose. During the meeting community members will be able to meet directly with Chu and ask questions about various local or state issues. Chu will also provide an update on his priorities for the community. Chu represents the 25th Assembly District which includes Newark, Fremont and northern Santa Clara County.

 

Kansen Chu community meeting

Thursday, Mar 28

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Berryessa Branch Library

3355 Noble Ave., San Jose

(408) 262-2501

https://a25.asmdc.org/

Free; RSVP requested

 

 

Save Kittens

Submitted by Lyanne Mendez

 

Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) has introduced a bill that will allow kittens to be made immediately available for adoption to members of the public, waiving the three-day hold period so that kittens who are 8 weeks or younger have a higher chance of a positive outcome. AB 1565 will be eligible to be heard in March.

 

Despite recent reductions in intake and euthanasia, cats that are admitted into public shelters continue to experience poor outcomes. Kittens are at a high risk of euthanasia in many public animal shelters. Current law allows for the immediate euthanasia of unweaned kittens that enter a shelter without their mother. One reason for this is that kittens are highly vulnerable to contagious diseases due to their immature immune systems. During the mandated three day hold period, kittens can easily contract an upper respiratory tract infection, pan leukopenia, ringworm, or calicivirus. The longer a kitten is in a shelter the higher the risk that they will become ill.

 

“I am proud to author AB 1565, which will allow members of the public to immediately adopt and remove a kitten from a shelter so that they have less likelihood of becoming ill and being euthanized. Kittens need extra attention and care, finding them forever homes as quickly as possible should not be hindered by law. A three-day hold period is unnecessary,” said Assemblymember Quirk, “And more importantly, adopters will be required to ensure that the kitten is spayed/neutered at an appropriate time.”

Legislation compels lead safety protections for workers

Submitted by Lyanne Mendez

 

A bill recently introduced by Assemblyman Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) would force the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to put critical protections in place to keep workers safe from lead exposure.

 

Cal/OSHA maintains a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for occupation lead poisoning prevention. According to the California Department of Public Health, current science from the Environmental Health Perspectives, the National Toxicology Program, and the US Environmental Protection Agency strongly indicates that allowable worker blood lead levels under the current PEL are far too high, leaving workers in dangerous working conditions. Certified workers doing lead-paint abatement, for example, are covered by the PEL for lead to ensure they are not exposed to toxic levels of lead over an eight-hour period.

 

“The current PEL standard is based on medical and scientific information that is more than 35 years old. In the past 35 years, much has been learned about the effects of lead among adults at lower exposure levels — we know that no level is safe — yet this new science is not reflected in our protections for workers,” said Quirk.

 

The PEL is proposed to be updated to reflect current medical science and establish a more protective standard for lead construction professionals. However, Cal/OSHA initiated the process to update the PEL for lead in 2011, and the regulations have yet to be updated.

 

Without a deadline for completing the PEL rulemaking, lead workers doing these cleanup projects risk not having science-based lead exposure thresholds under which to work safely.

 

Assembly Bill 457 will establish a statutory deadline for Cal/OSHA to complete its long overdue rulemaking for a revised PEL for lead by February 1, 2020. The measure will be eligible to be heard in committee in March.

 

 

Lifeguard training offers many benefits

Submitted by Samantha Fallon

 

Parents or guardians who register their high school or college student in a lifeguard certification program will give them an opportunity to learn how to be responsible, communicate as a team member and make a difference in their community.

 

The duties of a lifeguard should not be taken lightly. The media tends to give lifeguards the notorious image as being laid-back and tanned young adults. A lifeguard, however, is expected to respond to a life-or-death situation at any moment. In a majority of cases, a vigilant lifeguard is able to prevent an emergency from happening because of their watchful and attentive eye.

 

In the course, participants are given the tools on how to prevent and react to emergency situations as a team and to remain calm in stressful situations. Additionally, they will learn the social skills necessary to assist and communicate with members of the community. Through on-the-job training, teenagers learn to master handling these types of interactions with a positive and courteous attitude. Off duty, these skills can be applied to every aspect of a teenager’s life and can help them feel more confident in themselves and their actions.

 

For teenagers ready to take this step or start their first job, training is available. The Silliman Family Aquatic Center is conducting $35 certification courses for anyone interested in joining the City of Newark team for the Spring or Summer season. Candidates must be at least 15 years old. The next course will meet March 29 through 31.

 

For program details or registration assistance, contact Aquatic Coordinator Samantha Fallon at (510) 578-4632 or send an email to Samantha.fallon@newark.org.

 

 

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ comedy hits the stage in Hayward

Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins

 

For more than 30 years, the deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, “Little Shop of Horrors” has devoured the hearts of theatergoers across the nation. And now the lively romp has hit the stage at California State University East Bay (CSUEB) in Hayward.

 

The story focuses on meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn as he stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” — after his co-worker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it blood. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II's out of this world origins and intent toward global domination!

 

Howard Ashman and Alan Menkin (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) are the creative geniuses behind what has become one of the most popular shows in the world. This production is directed and choreographed by AeJay Mitchell from the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts. Mitchell was nominated for a Best Choreography Award by the Bay Area Critics Circle Award for his work on “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” at Theatre Rhinoceros in 2017.

 

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 22-23 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24 at the University Theater. General ticket prices are $25; $15 for CSUEB students and can be purchased online at www.csueastbaytickets.com or at the box office one hour before each performance. For details, call (510) 885-3118.

 

Little Shop of Horrors

March 22-23: 7:30 p.m.

March 24: 2:30 p.m.

University Theater, Cal State University East Bay

25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward

(510) 885-3118

www.csueastbaytickets.com

General tickets: $25

 

 

Scholarships available to graduating high school seniors

Submitted by Shirley Sisk

 

League of Volunteers (LOV) is offering four scholarships to graduating high school students who are residents of Fremont, Newark or Union City. These include two $250 Dan and Marie Archer Scholarships for painting or drawing and for photography, a $500 Fred Jueneman/Newark Arts Council Scholarship for music and a $250 Michael Gendreau Scholarship for Community Service.

 

The deadline to file applications for the music, fine art and photography scholarships is Tuesday, April 23. Music applicants must file by Friday, April 19 and will be required to audition on Saturday morning, May 4. The Dan and Marie Archer Scholarship applicants must submit three finished products with the application. The deadline to file for the Community Service Scholarship is Tuesday, April 2.

 

All Tri-City area schools have applications; they also are available at the LOV Community Service Center, 8440 Central Ave., Suite A/B, Newark, or by visiting the LOV website at www.lov.org.For more information on criteria for these scholarships, or to receive an application by mail, call (510) 793-5683.

 

 

Taking a seat at the table

Submitted by Shirley Gilbert

 

Democracy works best, according to the League of Women Voters, when it is diverse, inclusive and empowering. Yet how do you tear down the barriers that keep all segments of society, especially women, from occupying important seats at the table? And how do you build inclusive communities so all can contribute?

 

The League of Fremont-Newark-Union City is inviting the community to pull up a chair and learn how three dynamic community women activists have found seats at the table and welcomed others to join them in a “Taking a Seat at the Table” gathering on Friday, March 29 at Niles Discovery Church in Fremont.

 

Panelists at the event will include:

 

  • Aisha Wahab. She waged a hard-fought battle to win a place at the table. She was elected a member of the Hayward City Council in 2018 and is the first Afghan American to serve in public office in the United States. She and her sister were adopted and raised by a young couple in the San Francisco Bay Area. They taught her the importance of hard work and perseverance. And they also taught her to treasure both her American and Afghan heritage. Wahab is a change agent who fights for lower rents, the plight of immigrants, low-income individuals, the homeless and now the citizens of Hayward. “The excuse that it is hard to build consensus with different points of view,” Wahab said, “is just that, an excuse. I believe we need to ensure that these different identities, experiences and beliefs are included in all conversations, and that may simply mean to get a bigger table.”

 

  • Sandra Edwards. She has put her heart and soul into changing the educational environment in the Bay Area to assure equal treatment for all students and teachers. Edwards started her career as a teacher in the Milpitas Unified School District where she served as both a principal and assistant superintendent of human resources. She’s worked tirelessly for kids in the foster care system and has taught classes on diversity and educational equality. Edwards was also a leader in the Olympic Project for Human Rights which started as a protest against unfairness to blacks particularly at the Olympic Games of 1968. “In America, we live in one of the most diverse societies on earth,” Edwards said. “Understanding that our diversity is our greatest asset is not only urgent but imperative. The challenges associated with this understanding extend beyond “tolerance” or “bridging our differences.” Meeting those challenges will require everyone to have a seat at the table.”

 

  • Sue Chan. A longtime East Bay educator, Chan has dedicated her life to the idea of inclusion for all students. She’s taught at Ohlone College, Chabot College, San Jose State University and California State University East Bay. She is also a small business owner and former member of the Fremont City Council. Currently she is serving on the Board of Trustees for the Ohlone Community College District. Her mantra is “putting students first.” And she believes in “ensuring students of all backgrounds — low income, underrepresented minorities and veterans, have opportunity and access.”

 

The moderator will be Anu Natarajan, who was a member of the Fremont City Council from 2004 to 2014 and the first Indo-American elected to public office in California. In honor of Women’s History Month, there will also be a reception with refreshments from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in celebration of the women who made it possible for all women in America to vote.

 

Taking a Seat at the Table

Friday, Mar 29

Reception: 6:00 p.m.

Program: 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Panel discussion with community women activists

Niles Discovery Church, Fellowship Hall

36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 794-5783

https://my.lwv.org/california/fremont-newark-union-city

Email: marthakreeger@gmail.com

Free

 

 

Music at the Mission presents Banned

Submitted by Vickilyn Hussey

Photos by Bob Hsiang

 

“As long as there has been art, there has been censorship of art. It’s a huge testament to the fact that art can move culture and politics,” Music at the Mission’s Artistic Director Bill Everett said, describing the impetus behind “Banned,” the Saturday, March 23 concert at Old Mission San Jose. “Throughout history, many attempts were made to censor music, art and literature. Savor your artistic freedom by enjoying works by artists banned during the twentieth century!”

 

Among popular artists banned for a variety of reasons throughout those decades, are the composers featured on Saturday evening’s program: Wagner, Shostakovich, Prince, Lauper, and Mendelssohn. They may not seem radical or shocking to us now, but their music, creativity and livelihoods were seriously threatened by censorship.

 

“I have always been fascinated by the life of Shostakovich. After his work was officially denounced and banned, he managed to work within the system while hiding his message within his music. His Quartet no. 8 is his personal struggle and reflection on the compromises that he had to make to keep just enough in the good graces of the authorities to continue to have his music performed,” said Everett, who went on to describe a more recent example.

 

“In 1985, a group of politicians’ wives led by Tipper Gore convinced the Senate to hold hearings and demand censorship of musicians they labeled the ‘Filthy Fifteen.’ Artists from John Denver to Frank Zappa testified against censoring the voices of musicians. In the end, no action was taken.

 

“We will be presenting arrangements of two works composed and made famous by two of the Filthy Fifteen: ‘When Doves Cry’ by Prince, and ‘True Colors’ Cindy Lauper.’ The arrangements are by Music at the Mission violinist Steve Huber, who you might recognize from The Pirates Charles, his work with Salim Merchant, and his arrangements for L.A. Philharmonic violinist Vijay Gupta.

 

Prince and Lauper, among other artists of that era, were almost banned for their sensational lyrics. “Wagner and Mendelssohn come from opposite ends of the spectrum as far as why their music was censored. But on a lighter note, what makes this memorable, and pretty funny, is that in the U.S. we traditionally start a wedding with Wagner’s music and finish it with Mendelssohn’s!”

 

“Siegfried Idyll” – imagine delicate flowers, not breast-plated warriors – was Richard Wagner's birthday gift to his wife, composed in secret and performed on the staircase to her bedroom. “I could no longer imagine myself in a dream, music was sounding, and what music! … I was in tears but so, too, was the whole household,” wrote Cosima Wagner in her diary.

 

Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio no. 2 in c minor, “turning impressions of travel, literature and history into works of unparalleled charm and vitality” described NPR’s Ted Libby, is a wonderful showcase for Aileen Chanco, piano; Michael Graham, cello; and Matt Szemela, violin.

 

“This is going to be an insightful, interesting, and fun program with some of the most talented musicians I’ve ever worked with! Come enjoy!” encouraged flutist Rhonda Bradetich. The Music at the Mission Chamber Players performing this week, in addition to the aforementioned Aileen Chanco, Steve Huber, Michael Graham, Matt Szemela and Rhonda Bradetich, are Chad Kaltinger, viola; and Bill Everett, double bass.

 

All concert details and tickets are available online or at the door. This concert is sponsored by J.R. Griffin Construction Inc. and the evening’s use of a beautiful Steinway B concert grand piano is sponsored by Walnut Creek Steinway and Sons.

 

Banned

Saturday, Mar 23

7:15 p.m.: Pre-Concert Events

8 p.m.: Concert

Old Mission San Jose

43300 Mission Blvd, Fremont

(510) 402-1724

www.musicatmsj.org

Tickets: $15 – $55

 

 

Mayor Cutter’s State of the City Address

Submitted by Alice Kim

 

The City of San Leandro and San Leandro Chamber of Commerce invite the public to the annual State of the City Address with Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter on Monday, March 25. The event will begin with a small reception followed by the formal program. Mayor Cutter will focus her address around this year’s theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow, Together.”

 

“I am excited to once again have the opportunity to host this year’s address, which will allow me to share how we are incorporating sustainable practices into so many aspects of our city,” stated Mayor Cutter. “We have accomplished many things together with our residents, and I am excited to talk about all the new developments taking place in San Leandro.” For more information, call Alice Kim, communications manager at (510) 577-3372.

 

State of the City Address 2019

Monday, Mar 25

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

San Leandro Senior Community Center

13909 E 14th St, San Leandro

(510) 577-3372

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Sgt. Tyler Jamison and Sgt. Huy Tran

 

Sunday, March 10

  • At about 11:44 a.m. officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance inside a vehicle near the Great Mall of the Bay Area. The driver, later identified by police as Ray Arthur Flores, 33, of Santa Clara reportedly was arguing with a female passenger and then began hitting her while driving on Montague Expressway. Flores eventually collided with another vehicle with police right behind. After stopping, Flores attempted to flee on foot but was quickly taken into custody by police. A check showed the woman had a restraining order protecting her from Flores. He was arrested and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of domestic violence, a restraining order violation and other charges.

 

Thursday, March 14

  • At about 12:06 a.m. officers responded to an alarm call at Victoria Liquors, 22 S. Park Victoria Drive. The front glass door of the business was smashed, but still intact. While checking the area for a suspect, officers found a second smashed glass door at the nearby Metro by T-Mobile store. A third smashed window was found nearby at the Nutricion y Salud store where officers saw a suspect, later identified by police as Richard Salas, 18, of Milpitas inside. Salas had a cloth wrapped around his head and a metal steering wheel lock in his hands and was bleeding from his hands and back. Officers arrested Salas as he attempted to leave the business. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of burglary and vandalism.

 

 

NASA facility renamed to honor Katherine Johnson

AP Wire Service

 

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP), Dec 24 – A NASA facility is West Virginia has been renamed to honor mathematician Katherine Johnson, whose calculations helped astronauts return to Earth.

 

The structure in Fairmont is now known as the Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility. News outlets report Congress passed a bill allowing the name change and President Donald Trump signed it into law on Dec. 11.

 

The move follows efforts by West Virginia leaders to have Johnson's contributions celebrated.

 

Long before the digital era, Johnson worked as a human “computer” at the agency that became NASA, working in relative obscurity as an African-American woman. Her contributions were later recognized in the “Hidden Figures” movie, with actress Taraji P. Henson playing her role.

 

 

Newark City Council

March 14, 2019

 

Presentations and Proclamations:

  • Proclaim March as American Red Cross Month. American Red Cross Newark liaison Kane Wong and Jay Pimentel of the American Red Cross Leadership Council accepted the proclamation.
  • Presentation on traffic safety grant operations by Traffic Sergeant Brian Simon.

 

Consent Calendar:

  • Second reading of an ordinance to establish a Planned Development Overlay District at 6179 Robertson Avenue for 21 single-family homes.
  • Initiate annexation to Bridgeway of Landscaping and Lighting District No. 19.
  • Authorize additional design services by Quincy Engineering, Inc. for the Central Avenue Overpass Project.
  • Approve Inter-Governmental Collaboration Agreement for fair housing assessment document.

 

Non-Consent:

  • Authorize acceptance of U.S. Department of Homeland Security, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services grant and amend 2081-2020 Biennial Budget for a mobile command vehicle.

 

City Council Matters:

  • Urged support of American Red Cross

 

Oral Communications:

  • None

 

Mayor Alan Nagy                   Aye

Vice Mayor Sucy Collazo       Aye

Luis Freitas                             Aye

Michael Hannon                     Aye

Mike Bucci                             Aye

 

 

Cougars Report

Submitted by Timothy Hess

 

Baseball:

The Newark Memorial Cougars exploded for seven runs in the second inning after trailing 0-1 to the Redwood Christian Eagles, to bring home a 12-4 win on March 14. With a record of 5-1, the Cougars are on the prowl for an outstanding season.

 

After leading by a 4-0 shutout for the first four innings, the Cougars succumbed to a 7-run scoring barrage by the St. Mary’s Panthers (Albany) in the fifth and sixth innings on March 16. Final Score: St. Mary’s 7, Newark Memorial 4

 

Softball:

The Lady Cougars varsity softball team defeated their namesake counterparts, the Rancho Cotate Cougars of Rohnert Park by the score of 4-3 on March 16.

 

 

Tri-City Street Fair wants celebrates businesses

Submitted by Sergio Suarez

 

Local vendors have an opportunity to showcase their products and services at Ohlone College’s Tri-City Street Fair on Saturday, April 12. The deadline for vendor registration is Friday, March 29. The open-air market, featuring local artists, musicians, craft-makers, clothing, food, among others, attracts residents from Fremont, Union City, Newark and across Bay Area. Revenue generated through the sales of vendor spaces will support Ohlone College programs that directly impact students. For more information about the event or vendor registration call (510) 659-6238 or visit https://www.ohlone.edu/tricitystreetfair.

 

Tri-City Street Fair

Saturday, Apr 12

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Ohlone College Fremont Campus

43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont

(510) 659-6238

https://www.ohlone.edu/tricitystreetfair

Vendor registration until Friday, March 29; spaces start at $25