AC Transit warns of online tech gap
Submitted by Robert Lyles
Officials from the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) are alerting back-to-school bus riders about possible technology disruptions on some bus lines to schools in the Newark Unified, Oakland Unified and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts. The disruptions are expected the week of April 19-23 and will affect reactivated 600-series supplementary bus lines.
AC Transit provides service to six school districts and several independent schools in the East Bay. Unfortunately, many of these schools did not provide timely communication about their updated in-school schedules or return-to-school dates. As a result, AC Transit’s massive digital fleet management system is delayed. The system digitally integrates data to ensure real-time bus predictions; populate online bus schedules; and track boarding for the Rider Capacity Feature, trip planning, third-party apps, and onboard announcements.
Despite months of outreach, AC Transit has only received confirmed responses from Newark Unified, Oakland Unified, and West Contra Costa Unified School Districts, and those responses were past the deadline to update information technologies. AC Transit is making every effort to accelerate the data input process for each reactivated supplementary bus line.
While AC transit staff work behind the scenes, riders are reminded onboard automated announcements, including electronic displays of approaching stops, will be silent. Trip planning, third-party apps, 511, rider capacity, and online schedules may not function, or display inaccurate information. Real-time details will also be limited at the AC Transit Call Center and Customer Service Center. Nevertheless, bus operators will help bridge this short-lived technology gap with audible onboard announcements and boarding assistance.
This technology disruption only affects reactivated supplementary bus lines. All data supporting other AC Transit bus lines are accurate and will operate as scheduled. A listing of the technology-impacted supplementary bus lines, and static schedules (schools, stops, and times), can be found at actransit.org.
Alameda County Water District Board
April 13, 2021
Resolutions:
• Honoring Brenda B. Mercado and Glenn Rodeghier upon their retirement from district service.
Consent calendar:
• Approval of minutes of special board meetings of March 8 and March 10, regular board meeting of March 11, and special board meetings of March 12 and March 25, 2021.
• Ratification of payment of audited demands dated March 5, March 12, March 19 and March 26, 2021.
Action items:
• Authorization of purchase order for SCADA Infrastructure Equipment and Software.
• Authorization of amendment to Professional Services Agreement for Environmental Services for the Alvarado-Niles Pipeline Seismic Improvement Project, Phases 1 and 2.
• Resolution Finding the B16 WTP2 Zone 3 Booster Discharge Pipeline Replacement Project exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approving implementation of the project.
• Resolution Rescinding Resolution 02-057, approving new records retention schedule, and authorizing the General Manager to dispose of district records.
• Authorization of Change Order for the Rubber Dam No. 1/Alameda County Drop Structure Fishway, RD1 Control Building Modifications and Shinn Pond Fish Screens Construction Project.
• Authorization of agreement for purchase of Multi-Species Mitigation Credits for the Vallecitos Channel Maintenance Project.
• Public hearing and resolutions on Replenishment Assessment for FY 2021/22.
• Resolution approving the Alameda County Water District Water Efficiency Master Plan.
• Resolution adopting proposed billing adjustments provision, approving revisions to unexplained consumption meter testing charges, and updating the district’s Rate and Fee Schedule accordingly.
• Authorization to implement certain COVID-19 related temporary employee benefits provided by Senate Bill 95 with certain district provided enhancements.
Aziz Akbari, President Aye
James Gunther Aye
Judy Huang Aye
Paul Sethy Aye
John Weed, Vice-President Aye
Vikings hold on for 21—14 win over Eagles
Submitted by Mike Heightchew
In a defensive struggle that could easily have ended in favor of either team, the Irvington Vikings outlasted the American Eagles’ mixed squad (varsity and junior varsity) for a 21-14 victory on April 16th. An opening drive by the Vikings gave them an early lead that they extended, but the Eagles fought back. The second half featured a close defensive battle in which the Eagles offense began to close the gap, but couldn’t overcome the Vikings lead.
From design to donation: a high spirited highschooler’s mission
By Nanki Kaur
Photos courtesy of Amulya Manoj
The world has faced countless hardships over the past year, but one teen is using these challenging times as motivation to support communities in need. Amulya Manoj, a freshman at American High School in Fremont, began sewing as a pastime when quarantine first began. However, the optimistic teen decided to take her passion one step further and create a business, Amulya’s Fabrics, where she could donate the proceeds to worthy causes. An influential factor in her decision was that she “wanted to encourage people to educate themselves on what was going on around them.”
Manoj’s product line consists of trendy, handmade clothing, accessories, and more. “I wanted to choose something that was accessible to everyone, and I feel like [bucket hats and tote bags] are [products] that a lot of people would want in their closets,” she explains. The business is run on Instagram, where customers are able to view available products, and directly message (DM) Manoj to place their orders. Once an item is purchased, customers are able to select a charity, organization, or social change project, where 60% of the profits from their order will be donated. Orders are then delivered right to customers’ doorsteps, in a simple, safe, and organized fashion.
While social media has made all the difference in remaining contactless and accessible during the pandemic, running a business solely online without in-person interactions is easier said than done. “One of the biggest difficulties that I’ve [experienced] is not being able to talk to my customers face to face, because I love talking to new people, and it’s very difficult to do so right now. [So] I’ve just tried to make the best of it!” Manoj says. However, working online has allowed her to create a deeper connection with her customers, as the social projects they choose often relate to them on a personal level. One customer had loved ones who suffered in the 2020 California fires and decided to donate to California Fire Relief Fund to help others in similar situations.
With aspirations to eventually reach international audiences, Manoj hopes “that the same concept goes forward from here and that [she] still [gets] the opportunities to make impacts on communities.” She advises other young people looking to start businesses to “just keep going,” and reminds them that, “there’s obviously [going to be] lows in your business, and you don’t feel motivated at specific times. But then, it’s important to remember that that’s only a time period that you’re going through and that you’ll overcome [it], and you’ll do a lot better.”
Follow Amulya Manoj on Instagram at @amulyas_fabrics or contact via email at amulyasfabrics@gmail.com.
Ask the DMV
Learn more about accessing Department of Motor Vehicle services online in 2021
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, California DMV is increasing the number of transactions that can be completed without a visit to a field office. The DMV has several methods to serve customers, including online self-service options, through DMV Now kiosks, or via a DMV business partner, so that customers can “visit” the DMV by other means. The following questions cover some of the most convenient ways to access DMV services and complete essential transactions without stepping foot in a field office.
Q: I have to complete some DMV business in the near future, but I want to avoid an in-person DMV visit. What are my options?
A: The health and safety of all customers is a top priority for the DMV. While a few select services need to be completed in a field office, most DMV transactions can be completed online. The DMV is urging customers to use their expanded online services or DMV Now kiosks to complete most transactions including eligible driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals, change of address, replacement sticker or registration card, notice of transfer and release of liability, duplicate driver’s license, and vehicle license fee refund requests, among many others.
Nearly all California drivers are now eligible to renew their license online or by mail – even if their renewal notice states that an office visit is required. Use the DMV’s Service Advisor tool at dmv.ca.gov/online to learn what options are available for you depending on your needed service.
Customers who must come into a DMV office for services in person during COVID-19 will find increased health screening and safety protocols. To best serve customers and maintain appropriate physical distance, the number of people allowed in DMV offices is limited, chairs are appropriately spaced, and plexiglass shields have been installed. Additionally, all employees and customers are required to wear a face covering while inside a DMV office and during a behind-the-wheel driving test and must maintain 6 feet of physical distancing. Customers should anticipate longer than usual wait times while these preventive measures are in place.
Q: I saw a DMV Now kiosk at my local grocery store. What is that, and can I use it to renew my vehicle registration?
A: There are hundreds of DMV Now kiosks located throughout the state to help customers complete their vehicle registration renewal, submit proof of insurance, receive a driver or vehicle record, and more. DMV Now kiosks are convenient and allow customers to conduct transactions quickly and efficiently. Customers simply scan their document, pay fees using a card or cash (where available) and then print their registration card and sticker, planned non-operation acknowledgment, and more, right on the spot.
To locate the DMV Now kiosk nearest you, please visit: www.cadmvnowkiosk.com/kiosks. Customers can also find DMV business partners to complete selected transactions by visiting www.dmv.ca.gov and clicking on “Locations” to find nearby partners.
Q: I am over 70 and received a letter in the mail that states I need to renew my license, but I cannot get to the DMV before my renewal date. What can I do?
A: The California DMV is working to help all Californians stay safe during COVID-19, especially our state’s senior drivers. Nearly all California drivers are now eligible to renew their license online or by mail – even if their renewal notice indicates an office visit is required.
Californians age 70 and older with a noncommercial driver’s license are now eligible to renew online or by mail, eliminating the need to visit a California Department of Motor Vehicles office. Licenses with an expiration date starting March 1, 2020 are eligible.
This new option waives the requirement for many seniors to visit a DMV office during the COVID-19 pandemic. Californians with a suspended license are not eligible. Drivers over the age of 70 can find information on DMV services, safety guidelines, and other resources by visiting www.dmv.ca.gov/seniors.
Q: I still need to get my REAL ID. Can I do this online?
A: As of March 23, 2020, the federal government has extended the REAL ID enforcement date to October 1, 2021. However, an in-person field office visit is still required to complete your application for a REAL ID.
To limit the amount of time spent in a DMV office and to best prepare for your DMV visit, customers should start their REAL ID application online and use the REAL ID checklist to make sure they have the correct identification documents. The applicant can then upload their documents before coming to the office.
After completing the online application and uploading identification documents, the applicant will receive a confirmation code that will be stored for up to one year which DMV employees can quickly access when they visit the DMV office – no appointment is needed. Learn more so you can be ready when the time is right for you to get a REAL ID at www.dmv.ca.gov. You may also renew an expiring license online and get a REAL ID later.
The article is distributed by the California DMV. For more information or answers to questions not listed here, visit www.dmv.ca.gov.
Do you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines?
Submitted by Bay Area Community Health
If you are like most people, you probably have many questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Are the vaccines safe? How do they work? How are they different from each other? How do I make an appointment to get vaccinated?
To answer these and other questions you may have about COVID-19 vaccines, Bay Area Community Health (BACH) invites you to attend BACH TALKS. Doctors at BACH will host the free session. The discussion will address critical issues vital to you and your family's health, as well as that of your community.
The sessions will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, April 21; Friday, April 30; Wednesday, May 5; and Friday, May 14. To register, visit https://bach.support/ and fill out the form and select one of the dates that works best for you.
Once you register, you will receive an email confirmation and a Zoom link to attend your BACH TALKS session. To provide more dialogue with the doctors, each session is limited to 25 people.
BACH TALKS
Wednesday, Apr 21
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday, Apr 30
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday, May 14
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Registration required; each session limited to 25 people
BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD
Saturday, April 10
• At 10:04 a.m. a man identified by police as Demallo Jackson, 28, of Oakland was arrested at Fremont station on suspicion of fare evasion and violating a stay away order from BART. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Monday, April 12
• At 4:29 p.m. a man identified by police as Daryl Butler, 62, of Oakland was arrested at San Leandro station on suspicion of violating a stay away order from BART. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Wednesday, April 14
• At 10:00 a.m. a woman identified by police as Georgianna Washington, 58, of San Francisco was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on a $1,000 warrant for battery issued in Fremont. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
• At 6:06 p.m. a person identified by police as Latresa Easley, 51, of Hayward was arrested at Hayward station on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, probation violation and two outside agency warrants. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Thursday, April 15
• At 9:20 a.m. a woman identified by police as Leadara Thompson, 46, was arrested at South Hayward station on a $10,000 warrant issued in San Francisco for battery on a peace officer, assault with a weapon and resisting arrest. She was booked into San Francisco County Jail.
Boys & Girls Club renovation nears completion
Submitted by Pat Marino
The Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro is nearing the completion of its $10.5 million renovation of its 2200 San Leandro Boulevard facility. When completed, this facility will become a dedicated Teen Center for the San Leandro community, providing a new state-of-the-art Tech Center, Maker Space, Music Studio, and Art Room. A new garden, outdoor green space, patio, new kitchen, renovated gym and community room will be available to the public when Club programs are not in operation for workshops, events, presentations and other activities post-COVID.
Marco Cochrane, a world-renowned sculptor whose “Truth Is Beauty” statue energized San Leandro, has designed a unique, iconic structure known as “Embrace” that is both art and function. The sculpture will provide shade on the corner of Marina and San Leandro Boulevards over a semicircle concrete platform to be used for presentations, theatrical productions, musical performances, and group projects by teens and the community. As a Boys & Girls Club alumnus and former low-income youth himself, Cochrane understands personally the impact of having a safe, nurturing environment that allows youth to discover their potential through creativity and imagination. The design of the sculpture reflects the Boys & Girls Club’s safe, nurturing space.
“Marco is bringing to life the natural landscape that surrounds our building and giving our teens inspiration to create their own works of art, to translate their ideas into real world applications,” said Kim Pace, the Club’s CEO.
Currently, the Club is seeking funding to complete the art sculpture. When COVID protocols allow, Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro will be hosting a Grand Re-Opening of the facility and an unofficial unveiling of “Embrace.” For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Leandro, visit our website, www.bgcsl.org.
California Climate Credit
Submitted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company
In April, your utility bill will include a credit identified as the “California Climate Credit.” Your household and millions of others throughout the state will receive this credit on utility bills.
California Climate Credit is part of the state’s efforts to fight climate change. This credit is from a state program that requires power plants, natural gas providers, and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits. The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the state’s program.
California Climate Credit is one of many programs resulting from landmark legislation called the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Together, these programs are cutting pollution, creating jobs, and investing in cleaner energy and transportation.
Visit www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org/the-movement to learn about energy-saving actions you can take. For more information about the climate credit, visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/climatecredit. For more information about climate change science and programs to reduce carbon pollution, visit www.climatechange.ca.gov.
Disclosure: Billing periods vary by utility and may not always coincide with a calendar month. If you do not see a climate credit in the bill that arrives this month, it will appear in the bill you receive next month.
California aims to fully reopen on June 15
Submitted by Governor's Press Office
Governor Gavin Newsom has outlined the state’s next step in the COVID-19 pandemic recovery, moving beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy. On June 15, California will fully open its economy if two criteria are met:
• If vaccine supply is sufficient for Californians 16 years and older who wish to be inoculated
• If hospitalization rates are stable and low
“With more than 20 million vaccines administered across the state, it is time to turn the page on our tier system and begin looking to fully reopen California’s economy,” said Newsom. “We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic. We will need to remain vigilant and continue the practices that got us here – wearing masks and getting vaccinated – but the light at the end of this tunnel has never been brighter.”
When California fully reopens the economy, the Blueprint for a Safer Economy will end. Everyday activities will be allowed, and businesses can open with common-sense risk reduction measures, including encouraging all Californians to get vaccinated and mandating masking, to prevent illness and promote health. All sectors listed in the current Blueprint for a Safer Economy grid may return to usual operations in compliance with Cal/OSHA requirements. Large-scale indoor events, such as conventions, will be allowed to occur with testing or vaccination verification requirements.
The state will continue contact tracing and testing to detect cases early and contain the spread of the virus. The entire state will move into this new phase. Vaccination verification requirements will remain in relevant settings. The state will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access, and vaccine efficacy against variants, with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed.
“California has made incredible progress controlling the spread of COVID-19 by staying home, masking, and getting vaccines out quickly to Californians in every corner of the state, including in those communities hardest hit by this pandemic,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “To take the next step, we must continue to do our part to keep this momentum moving in the right direction, and that means continuing to wear a mask and ensuring everyone who is eligible gets the vaccine.”
The state continues to plan for the vaccination of Californians under 16 years of age, protection against new variants, and continued tracking and containment of spread. The state stands ready to mobilize additional resources if there is an increase in cases. For more information on the state’s move beyond the blueprint, visit www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/beyond_memo.aspx.
New state law may affect business owners
Submitted by Sen. Bob Wieckowski’s Office
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma will be the guest speaker at an online workshop explaining the new CalSavers Retirement Savings Program on Tuesday, April 20.
Co-sponsored by State Senator Bob Wieckowski’s office, the 12:00 p.m. webinar will explain the new California state law that requires all businesses with five or more employees to participate in CalSavers if they do not offer a retirement savings plan. This workshop will cover how the program works, registration deadlines, and how to facilitate the program.
The State of California created CalSavers to ensure all Californians can save for their future with the ease of automatic payroll contributions, and portability that allows them to keep saving as they move from job to job. With many people struggling to overcome financial setbacks caused by the pandemic, many employers are looking at retirement programs to help employees improve their financial wellness and save for the future.
The workshop is free and open to the public and will be held via Zoom. To register, visit Senator Wieckowski’s website at https://sd10.senate.ca.gov, select the CalSavers link, and follow the prompts. More information about the program is available on the CalSavers website at https://www.calsavers.com.
CalSavers webinar
Tuesday, Apr 20
12 noon
Free; register at https://sd10.senate.ca.gov
https://www.calsavers.com
Chabot Space & Science Center and NASA team up
Submitted by Chabot Space and Science Center
A new partnership between NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland is now underway. Anchoring the partnership, a new visitor center for Ames will provide an immersive, dynamic STEAM environment called “The NASA Experience,” opening at Chabot in November 2021.
Under the terms of a 5-year Space Act Agreement, the organizations are beginning a long-term collaboration to create accessible STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) community engagement and education opportunities in Oakland and beyond.
“We’ve long collaborated with Chabot for community engagement activities and are delighted to take this next and more formal step to bring a deeper NASA experience into our surrounding communities,” said Eugene Tu, director of Ames. “It’s one of NASA’s founding functions to share our work as widely as possible, and partnering with Chabot will allow us to reach more broadly than we’d ever be able to do with our existing resources and location in the South Bay.”
Under the formal agreement, NASA and Chabot have identified three main areas for immediate collaboration that leverage the strengths of NASA’s research and Chabot’s long-standing programs.
First, The NASA Experience creates a learning environment that puts the visitor into the role of a NASA researcher. Hands-on STEAM studios highlight current science at NASA through interactive challenges, models, artifacts, and more. The visitor center brings to life the process of scientific discovery by showcasing real people at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Second, the two groups will create an interconnected network of STEAM education experiences throughout the city that deepens Chabot’s existing “Learning Everywhere” initiative. Building on existing connections with Oakland’s schools, libraries, and local organizations, this partnership will create programs that engage learners in current NASA research.
Third, the partnership will create STEAM career pathways by developing connections between NASA’s career opportunities and Chabot’s youth development programs. In collaboration with Chabot’s Galaxy Explorers program, NASA will provide speakers, fieldtrips, and independent study on missions and technology associated with NASA Ames.
“We are so excited to share the fascinating science, extraordinary people and groundbreaking research of NASA’s Ames Research Center right here in Oakland,” said Adam Tobin, Executive Director at Chabot Space & Science Center. “Bringing together NASA Ames’ long legacy of innovation and Chabot’s 137-year history in STEM education creates a powerful opportunity to inspire the next generation of future scientists, engineers and astronomers.”
Leading up to the November opening, Chabot and Ames will provide virtual programs hosted on Chabot Space & Science Center’s Facebook and YouTube platforms to offer participants a closer look at NASA’s mission.
Learn more at: https://chabotspace.org/visit/the-nasa-experience/.
Get ready to shred
Submitted by Union City Police Department
To help stop identity theft, the Union City Police Department is sponsoring a free Community Shred Day where people can drop off sensitive documents like bank statements or tax returns for secure and convenient shredding.
The event is set for 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, April 24 at James Logan High School. Participants can bring up to four banker boxes worth of paper material to discard and shred. A banker box is approximately 12.5 by 10.5 by 16 inches.
Items that cannot be accepted for shredding include batteries, 3-ring binders, x-rays, CDs, DVDs, plastic sleeves/paper protectors, transparent materials, and books. Paper clips, staples and binder clips are OK.
The event is open to Union City residents and businesses, Union City employees, and families of children in the New Haven Unified School District. Following COVID-19 health guidelines, social distancing will be practiced and the drive-through event will be operated in a contact-free process. For details, call (510) 675-5284.
Community Shred Day
Saturday, Apr 24
9 a.m. – 12 noon
James Logan High School
1800 H. St., Union City
(510).675.5284
Is Your Job Safe for the Future?
By Anne Chan, PhD, MFT
In the stone age of pre-COVID, I happened upon a robot barista in San Francisco. The barista took requests from customers via a touch pad that allowed customers to input and pay for their orders. You could customize your order with requests such as oat milk, less sugar, or extra foam.
The robot immediately got to work once an order was received, getting a paper cup, and filling it with coffee and milk. When the coffee was ready, the robot delivered the cup to the pickup counter. Not a drop was spilled. To top it off, the robot waved a cheery goodbye to the human who grabbed their fresh cup of coffee.
Unlike a human, the robot was unfailingly efficient and productive, never taking a break, never showing up late for work, never gossiping, never messing up an order, and never needing to go to the bathroom. The icing on the cake (or rather the crema on the coffee) is that the robot barista can brew two espresso drinks in a under a minute.
If you need something to nosh with your robot-made coffee, how about robot-made sushi? Sushi lovers may or may not rejoice, but the future of robot-made sushi was recently rolled out (pun intended). Unveiled last year at the Japanese Food Expo, robot sushi machines can make 4,800 nigiri per hour and 400 maki per hour.
I am utterly fascinated when I see these new inventions in action. At the same time, the career counselor in me worries about jobs being eliminated because of machines that can do tasks faster, more accurately, and more productively than the best human worker. Like it or not, technology has heralded a new revolution in work, which experts call the fourth Industrial Revolution or Industrial 4.0.
First, the bad news about Industrial 4.0: This revolution will undoubtedly result in a loss of jobs. Previous industrial revolutions had the same impact when machines took over certain jobs, such as manufacturing. This is not surprising, but a sobering consideration for Industrial 4.0 is that jobs that involve higher level thinking skills can now be outsourced to computers, thanks to computing advances like Deep Learning.
Even entry level jobs in law, accounting, medicine, and finance might be taken over by computers. You might think that the medical field requires a human touch, but even surgeons are not safe from technology. A friend recently went for surgery and got to choose the robot that would operate on her.
In response to industrial revolutions, some have advocated that humans win the race against machines by beating them in the same game. However, this might be a losing strategy, noted Kevin Roose, author of Futureproof: 9 Rules for Humans in the Age of Automation, in a recent interview on National Public Radio: “We've been telling them [to] develop these technical skills in fields like computer science and engineering. We've been telling people to become as productive as possible to optimize their lives, to squeeze out all the inefficiency and spend their time as effectively as possible, in essence, to become more like machines.”
Humans cannot beat machines in certain areas, no matter how hard we try. So, what is a poor human worker to do? The silver lining is that we can still do many things that robots cannot do. Roose advises: “And really, what we should be teaching people is to be more like humans, to do the things that machines can't do.”
Roose believes there are three categories of jobs that are at the least risk of being taken away by robots:
1. Jobs that involve unpredictability and attending to changing rules. Roose calls these “surprising jobs” that cannot be easily done by artificial intelligence, which depends on predictable rules and repetition.
2. Jobs that Roose calls “social jobs” – jobs that involve human feeling and interaction, such as therapists and clergy.
3. Jobs that Roose calls “scare work” – jobs where human interaction is expected (such as emergency operators) or work that requires uncommon expertise.
I would add a fourth category of jobs that will not be in danger: jobs that support and maintain robots. For instance, both the robot sushi chef and robot barista require humans to load materials, respond to customers, and check on robot functioning. The robots may be automatons, but they are not 100 percent autonomous and cannot function on their own.
Back to the robot barista I saw in San Francisco: In 2020, the company closed all its downtown San Francisco locations, which suggests that the robot baristas were not bringing in the revenue anticipated. But the company has since opened locations in San Francisco Airport and San Jose Airport and are focusing their efforts on airport business instead.
So, you see, even robots and those who run robot businesses must be creative and flexible. Technological change is inevitable. If you accept this, stay flexible, and plan accordingly, you will thrive.
Stay tuned for my next article where I will have tips and insights for how to tackle and to prepare for the future of work.
Anne Chan is a career counselor and licensed psychotherapist in Union City. She specializes in helping people find happiness in their careers and lives. You can reach her at annechantcv@gmail.com.
© Anne Chan, 2021
Parenting During COVID-19
Submitted by City of Fremont Human Services Department
City of Fremont’s Youth and Family Services has developed a support group to address and explore the ways in which COVID-19 has impacted families. These groups can provide:
• Safe and confidential space to share
• Stress relief for parents and caregivers
• Exploration of strategies for limit setting and addressing challenging behaviors
• Identifying ways to improve communication between family members
Two groups are available: English on Tuesdays and Spanish on Wednesdays. To register for either group, visit www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support. For more information call (510) 574-2100 or email YFS@fremont.gov.
Caregiver Support
English Group
Tuesdays
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Spanish Group
Wednesdays
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
(510) 574-2100
www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support
YFS@fremont.gov
Two bank parking lot crimes suspects nabbed
Submitted by San Leandro Police Department
Two suspects were recently taken into custody by police in San Leandro in connection to robbery and burglary crimes in two local bank parking lots.
The first incident occurred on March 18 when officers responded to a 2:40 p.m. report of a robbery in the Bank of America parking lot at 1925 Marina Boulevard. An adult female reported that an unknown adult male smashed her vehicle window and stole her purse while she was sitting inside. She provided officers with a description of the getaway vehicle and a license plate number.
Then, at 12:40 p.m. April 5, SLPD Detectives in a covert operation spotted the same suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Chase Bank, at 1320 Fairmont Drive. Detectives saw a suspect burglarize a parked car in the bank lot. Patrol officers attempted to stop the two male suspects, which lead them in a vehicle pursuit, concluding a mile away after the suspect vehicle became disabled.
Officers arrested the driver, identified by police as Kevon Mitchel, 19, of Oakley, and the passenger, Devonyae McClay, 19, of Antioch. Evidence related to the Chase Bank burglary and a handgun, along with a 32-round magazine, was recovered from the vehicle.
Both suspects were booked on suspicion of robbery, burglary, eluding officers, and weapons charges, related to Bank of America and Chase Bank crimes. “We deployed our officers in uniform and covert operations where there was a need and where their presence would help in capturing these suspects. This case is an example of the hard work put in by the officers in capturing the suspects,” said Lieutenant Ali Khan.
Cyclist to climb the height of Mount Everest
Submitted by Kimberly Hawkins, Cal State East Bay
Paul Carpenter plans to take on what is described as “the most difficult climbing challenge in the world.” On Sunday, April 25, the chair of Cal State East Bay’s Kinesiology Department will start Everesting. Simply put, he will ride his bike on a 1.6 mile stretch of Del Valle Road in Livermore, and repeat the climb until he has accumulated the height of Mount Everest — 29,032 feet.
Carpenter estimates the challenge will take him 15 hours to complete. “There are rules around what counts as a hill, and the attempt has to be a single effort,” Carpenter explained. “You cannot do a few repeats, go home and sleep and then come back the next day to finish.”
Everesting started in the cycling world as a challenge and now extends to running and walking. “It now has worldwide recognition,” Carpenter said. “The pandemic ignited interest from professional racers who have lowered the speed record for completing the challenge and it has evolved into allowing a virtual option.”
Carpenter has been doing ultra-cycling events for more than 20 years and said he wants to set a good example of being physically active and promote the connection of an active lifestyle to lifelong health and wellness.
Kinesiology students and faculty will be helping Carpenter by serving as much-needed crew members — helping with nutrition, motivation and safety and also tracking and recording progress.
He says planning and training for these events have also proven to be a great way to promote his department while offering faculty and students the opportunity to apply theory to practice and undertake research into endurance sports.
“I estimate I will consume over 10,000 calories and need to stay hydrated especially as the location can get very warm this time of year,” Carpenter said. “While the physical challenge is immense, the psychological challenge is seen as the greatest challenge. Staying motivated given the number of repeats and how long the challenge will take cannot be underestimated. As you fatigue, maintaining focus becomes a problem and self-doubt can be overwhelming.”
More information about Everesting cycling challenges is posted online at https://everesting.cc.
Library District Names New Deputy County Librarian
Submitted by Mariana Walker
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) is pleased to announce Stephen Fitzgerald has been named Deputy County Librarian of Community Library Development for SCCLD. In this role, Fitzgerald will lead the work in resuming full public services at all SCCLD libraries and continuing to develop excellent library services.
“Steve brings a calm leadership style and strong dedication to improving public library experiences,” said County Librarian Jennifer Weeks. “He knows the ins and outs of the library system, having worked at several of our Community Libraries and the Services and Support Center for over 14 years. We are fortunate to have his expertise as we move ahead in these new times.”
Fitzgerald started with SCCLD in 2007 as a Librarian at the Los Altos Library, before becoming the Supervising Librarian for Adults and Teens at the Cupertino Library. In 2014, he became the Community Librarian at Milpitas Library, and was most recently the Library Services Manager for Literacy and Learning. Fitzgerald received the Employee Excellence Award in 2016 and was instrumental in launching passport services and bringing the grant-funded Smithsonian exhibit Exploring Human Origins to Santa Clara County.
“SCCLD already offers a number of valuable and engaging programs, from family concerts to teen events to author visits, as well as crucial resources for student learning, ESL/ELL learning, and learning to read,” Fitzgerald said. “My goal is to build upon these programs and offer even more educational and entertaining opportunities to our patrons.”
Fitzgerald officially assumed his new role on Monday, April 5.
Police dispatcher honored
Submitted by Fremont Police Department
In recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 11-17, Maryann Gonczol was named Fremont Police Dispatcher of the Year for 2021.
Gonczol joined the Fremont Police Department in 1992, and over the years has served in numerous capacities including Communications Training Officer, Tactical Dispatcher. She currently is part of the Peer Support Team.
Gonczol was nominated for the award by her peers in recognition of her long experience and her commitment to her fellow dispatchers during critical incidents.
Drivers urged to put away their phones
Submitted by Fremont Police Department
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Fremont Police Department (FPD) is encouraging drivers to give their mobile phones a break and focus on the road.
Throughout the month of April, FPD will have additional officers on patrol specifically looking for drivers who violate the state's hands-free cell phone law. “When you are driving, give the phone a rest,” said Lieutenant Ariel Quimson. “A driver’s number one focus should be on the road. Anything that distracts you from the task of driving, especially a phone, puts yourself and others at risk.”
According to the 2020 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 75% of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving because of TEXTING” as their biggest safety concern. “Not driving distracted is a simple, but significant behavior change,” Quimson explained. “The goal is to increase compliance with the hands-free cell phone law and keep people safe.”
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel. Drivers younger than 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free. Drivers that need to make a call or send a text should pull over and park at a safe location. Drivers should silence their phones or put the phone out of reach, such as the glove box or trunk.
Funding for distracted driving enforcement operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Earth Day 2021
By staff
Images via Pixabay
With the Bay Area already preparing for wildfire season after a dry winter, and with Newark joining East Bay Community Energy to provide eco-friendly options to residents, caring for our planet is on everyone’s minds. Earth Day is on Thursday, April 22 this year, but many local cities and organizations are hosting events and challenges for the entire month. Why not join in—or better yet, start good habits to continue for the rest of the year?
Hayward is hosting an Earth Month Challenge for all of April, during which residents compete by logging waste reduction, energy and water conservation, or beautification activities. Those who earn at least six points receive a food voucher and will be entered into a raffle for three grand prizes.
https://hayward-ca.gov/content/earth-month-challenge
Fremont has a list of webinars and activities for Earth Month on their city website. A few events coming up near the end of April are “Eat What you Grow: Creating a Sustainable Year-Round Edible Garden” on April 22 (by Alameda County Library), “Family Cycling Workshop” on April 24 (Bike East Bay), and “Resilient Home” on April 26 (East Bay Community Energy). Residents are also encouraged to explore city resources such as the Climate Action Plan and Fremont Green Challenge.
https://www.fremont.gov/2234/Earth-Day-2021
Milpitas is posting new challenges (such as supporting local farmer’s markets) every Monday during Earth Month. Complete the challenges by posting a picture to social media with the tag #MilpitasEarthDay2021 by April 30. Prizes including a pen, pencil, mug, and reusable water bottle are available in limited quantities. Also, check out the Sustainable Milpitas YouTube channel!
Through May 31st, the East Bay Regional Park district is encouraging people to clean up trash in their neighborhoods. Register on the Park District website, pick a day, and post pics of your cleanup efforts on social media with the hashtags #ebrpd and #earthmonth2021.
https://www.ebparks.org/about/getinvolved/volunteer/events.htm
Meanwhile, Oakland Zoo will celebrate Earth Day from Thursday, April 22 – Sunday, April 25 with a zoo-wide scavenger hunt included with admission. Grab a map as you enter the zoo and follow the clues on a self-guided adventure. At the final location, become an Eco-Hero. If you can’t make it to the zoo, check out the website for more ways to help the planet from home.
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/earth-day
Happy Earth Day!
Park It
By Ned MacKay
With the advent of warmer weather as spring gives way to summer, it is time for the annual advisory about rattlesnakes. Rattlesnakes are common in the regional parks and other Bay Area open spaces. I have not seen any so far this season, though other people have reported sightings.
Snakes regulate their body temperature by moving back and forth between sun and shade. In general, the best way to avoid rattlers is to stay on official trails; do not take shortcuts through tall grass and brush. If you stop to rest, avoid the rock piles, logs, and tall grass that are snake habitats.
If you do see a snake on a trail or fire road, take a wide detour. Please do not tease it or try to pick it up. That is how most bites result. Rattlesnakes are not aggressive. They will avoid us if possible; we are much larger than the small rodents and lizards that are their preferred diet. I once unintentionally walked within several feet of one. It rattled a warning but did not strike.
Dogs can be a problem; curious by nature, they may run right up to a snake and get bitten. If it is a rattlesnake, the result can be an expensive vet bill. So, always keep your pet under control. Keep an eye on your small children, too. If you see a rattlesnake in a parking lot or picnic area, contact a park ranger and the ranger will relocate it.
Gopher snakes look a lot like rattlesnakes and will even mimic rattlers by thrashing their tails to create a rattle-like sound. Their bite is painful, but they do not inject venom. There are posters at park district trailheads that illustrate the difference between the two kinds of snake.
In the unlikely event of a rattlesnake bite, given below are some first aid recommendations:
• Remain calm and move beyond the snake's striking distance.
• Remove jewelry and tight clothing before the affected area starts to swell.
• Position the victim, if possible, so that the bite is at or below the level of the heart.
• Clean the wound, but do not flush it with water. Cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
• Minimize the victim’s movement. If possible, carry the victim who must be transported, or have him or her walk slowly.
Get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible for anti-venom treatment. The emergency phone number within the regional parks is (510) 881-1121. Using 911 works too, but it is routed through the California Highway Patrol, so there can be a delay.
For more snake safety information, visit www.ebparks.org/parks/safety/#Snakes. The district’s brochure, “Common Snakes of the East Bay Regional Parks,” has a nice visual comparison of gopher snakes and rattlesnakes. Go to bit.ly/3da4vol. If you want to see a live rattlesnake under safe conditions, there are specimens in several park district visitor centers.
Snakebites are extremely rare, and treatment is effective. So, with a bit of caution, common sense, and awareness of your surroundings, you can enjoy your outdoor experience free from worry.
Although in-person, large group naturalist programs are still on hold because of the pandemic, there are lots of opportunities for nature education online at the park district website, www.ebparks.org.
For instance, on Saturday, April 24, “Nature Journaling Workshop: Reflections on Water” with naturalist Erica is from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. From 11:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. learn about “Least Terns in the San Francisco Bay Area.” Finally, from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m., local snakes are the stars of the show; or, during the same time frame, you can learn about wildflowers local to Black Diamond Mines in Antioch.
All these programs equip viewers to venture out into the parks on their own for knowledgeable, real-world experience of what they saw online. To access these programs, move the cursor to “Activities” at the top of the home page, then click on “Digital Learning” when the drop-down menu appears.
Editorial
Imprinting
The influence of early development imprinting is well known and demonstrated throughout the animal kingdom. Unusual and unlikely friendships and alliances have been noted when young animals are exposed to the influence, behavior and acceptance of other species, even if traditional competitors or adversaries. Prime examples of filial (affection by son or daughter) imprinting are the strong influence and bond by baby ducks and geese to the first moving object they see. The internet is filled with extraordinary examples of this type of trust and attachment (watch the 1996 PG rated film, “Fly Away Home” to see imprinting in action).
To an extent, all of us are subject to some degree of imprinting. Psychologists may have varied opinions of how our psyche develops, but childhood experiences are typically recognized as a substantial influence on subsequent behavior. Parental and family attitudes and values may not be the only determining factor, but can shape attraction or rejection of actions and ideas. As we grow older, additional input from other social units such as school, friends, neighbors, news, politics and social interactions modify, refine and alter perceptions.
Our current dilemma over the extent of societal rights in contrast to individual “freedom” is intertwined with the struggle between personal and group security. Where does one end and the other begin? Or, can they coexist with appropriate compromise and, in some cases, overcome initial and subsequent imprinting? Reactions to the role and behavior of residents, leading to interaction with police, is often influenced by preconditioned attitudes. Those reared in calm political and social times may have completely different responses to individual, institutional and professional actions and advice from those who have experienced significant uncertainty, anger and emotional distress in their formative years.
Unfortunately, much of the population has known little tranquility on the social or political scene. Measures of trust and patience have been shredded by conflict, egotistical actions and doubt of institutional or professional guidance. Instead of broad-based consideration, attitudes are formed in isolation from the influence of a diversity of sources. News and opinions are effectively separated into distinct and separate dimensions. When a crisis erupts into public view, responses are guided by which set of reporting or social media is consulted.
In many cases, slogans and intent are simplified to yes/no decisions that only have two outcomes. Each outcome can lead to another set of choices until an ultimate result is reached. While a computer can take seconds to travel through a myriad of such actions, the process can be much slower and more intensive for individuals. The shortcut of a single, unrefined and non-ambiguous answer may be easier to address a problem, but minimize its complexity and evade essential factors in the process. In other words, jump to a conclusion without proper consideration. Both sides of the political spectrum use this shortcut process to persuade and proselytize followers. The answer for many respondents is to regurgitate the mantra of their tribe to all that will listen. This imprint on personal maturation is a key component to which group can gain attention and loyalty.
Controversies over predominant issues including gun rights, police activity, immigration, climate change and political affiliation have descended into a valley of solidified imprints. Bolstered by external influences, without room for questions, doubt or informed consultation, battle lines are drawn without room for compromise or distinction between individual, institutional or professional actions. For example, “Protect and Serve” is viewed by some as a disguise for brutality and oppression rather than an ideal that can be betrayed by a code of silence protecting aberrant and malevolent individuals. The institution of law enforcement is subjected to a simple yes/no decision rather than a rigorously enforced, unified code of conduct and analysis. A similar thought process applies to other major problems of immigration, gun rights and climate change.
Although it is difficult to listen to differing views that strain imprints, the severe penalty of ignorance is at stake. It is time to listen to other facts and opinions and reflect on the influence of imprints on our own behavior.
Alameda County Fairgrounds reschedules annual fair to October
Submitted by Angel Moore
Alameda County Fairgrounds, known for hosting the annual Fair every June, will reschedule its traditional celebration to October. The Fairgrounds continues to support the community by serving as the host site for COVID-19 vaccines and county food distribution in eastern Alameda County. Both operations are expected to run through the end of June.
The rescheduled 2021 Alameda County Fair will take place from October 22 through October 31. The event will comply with all state and local health requirements. It is anticipated that guests will be required to pre-purchase tickets online for specific dates, and attendance will be limited.
The Fair will utilize touchless, cashless systems for ticketing, parking, carnival, and food and beverage purchases whenever feasible per state reopening guidelines. In addition to enhanced cleaning and sanitization, it is believed that guests will be required to wear face masks while on the fairgrounds and have their temperature checked prior to entering the Fair.
“We are excited to welcome Fair guests back in October and our team is working diligently to ensure we continue to put on a “safety first” event for the community. The Fair may look a little different in 2021, but we assure you it’s the same good time where you can build memories that last a lifetime,” said Jerome Hoban, CEO.
Although the Fair has been rescheduled to October, Alameda County Fair will continue working to host live Horse Racing and the Junior Livestock Competition and Auction, and to make contests available this summer, while following guidance set by the state and county.
• Live Horse Racing will run its traditional schedule in Pleasanton on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week, June 18 through July 11, including Fourth of July. Advance purchase is required; for more information, visit www.alamedacountyfair.com.
• Competitive Exhibits and Contests will continue virtually; for categories and more information, visit https://alamedacountyfair.com/competitive-exhibits to enter. Best of Show winners may be displayed at the Fall Fair in October.
• Livestock and Small Animal Shows will be held from July 7 through July 11, with limited spectators. The Junior Livestock Auction will be held in-person and virtually on July 11.
If you have a valid ticket to the 2020 Alameda County Fair or received a ticket from attending a Drive-In Movie in 2020 or 2021, stay tuned for details on how to reserve your ticket for the 2021 Alameda County Fall Fair. For all other details, visit www.alamedacountyfair.com.
Financial Navigation Services Available
Submitted by City of Fremont
Struggling to pay bills and manage finances? City of Fremont’s Financial Navigation Program provides free financial consultations to connect Alameda County residents to resources that will assist with managing financial issues, identifying immediate action steps, and making referrals to other programs and services.
To learn more and register for a free, 30-minute session, visit www.fremont.gov/228/Family-Resource-Center or call the Fremont Family Resource Center at (510) 574-2000. Services are available in multiple languages.
Financial Navigation Program
(510) 574-2000
www.fremont.gov/228/Family-Resource-Center
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD
Wednesday, April 7
• At 1:22 a.m. a commercial burglary occurred at Mountain Mikes, 3952 Washington Boulevard. Entry was made via a broken glass door.
• At 6:18 p.m. officers located a stolen vehicle in the area of Wienerschnitzel, 34480 Fremont Boulevard. A high-risk traffic stop was made at Alvarado Niles Road and Interstate 880, and a man, identified by police as Tommy Power, 42, of Union City was arrested on suspicion of auto theft.
Saturday, April 10
• At 5:36 p.m. Fremont police and fire personnel responded to an injury traffic collision involving a motorcyclist and a Toyota Prius at the intersection of Dalgo Road and Mission Boulevard. Medical aid was provided on the scene, but the 50-year-old motorcyclist died. Investigators determined that the motorcyclist was traveling south on Mission and approaching Dalgo when the Prius, traveling east on Dalgo entered the intersection to make a left turn onto northbound Mission. The motorcyclist collided with the Prius on driver’s side. The 29-year-old Prius driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators who said DUI is not suspected. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Traffic Investigator Kelly Snow with the Fremont Police Department Traffic Unit at (510) 790-6769 or by email at ksnow@fremont.gov.
Sunday, April 11
• At 8:46 a.m. a robbery occurred at the Holiday Inn Hotel, 42200 Albrae Street. with the suspect threatening to kill an employee before fleeing the scene. Arriving officers quickly located and arrested the suspect, identified by police as Lorinzo Haley, 31.
Monday, April 12
• At 2:14 a.m. a commercial burglary occurred at Quik Stop, 38995 Farwell Drive when a man became upset with the store clerk after he refused to let him take items from the store and pay for them later. The man left the store and started vandalizing a nearby vehicle by jumping up and down on the hood and shattering its window. The store clerk locked the front entry doors to prevent the man from reentering. When the man could not get back inside, he shattered the front door and removed items from inside. The suspect, identified by police as Jordan Scruggs, 30, was arrested.
Spring 2021 Kickarounds
Submitted by Fremont Rush Soccer
If you are not currently part of any competitive program and are looking to train with one of Fremont Rush Soccer Club’s competitive teams, the Fremont Rush Kickarounds are for you.
What Are Kickarounds? Fremont Rush Soccer is hosting practice sessions designated as “kickarounds so players and families can get a feel for which of our teams and coaches they might be interested in joining.These sessions, while not official tryouts, provide a glimpse into a team, coach, and club prior to tryouts to help with newcomers’ decision-making process.
To register, visit www.fremontrush.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2292747.
Fremont City Council
April 13, 2021
Consent Calendar:
• Award contract to Pavement Coatings Co. in the Amount of $3,967,998 (plus 5% Contingency) for the 2021 Cape and Slurry Seal Project.
• Award of Contract to Teichert Construction in the Amount of $2,101,104.00 (plus 5% Contingency) for the 2021 Pavement Rehabilitation Project
• Issue Purchase Orders with Azteca Systems LLC. for the Software Licenses and maintenance and support of the Cityworks Software System and Woolpert, Inc. for implementation.
• Approve amendment to extend time for employees to use unspent funds in City’s cafeteria plan.
• Approve construction of public and private improvements for 37343 and 37359 Blacow Road.
Ceremonial Items:
• Proclamation wishing the Muslim community Happy Ramadan.
Public Communications:
• Rancho Arroyo Parkway complaint.
• Police Chief appointment without community input.
• HOPR eBike liability issues.
Items Removed from Consent:
• Approve Professional Services Agreement amendment with Alameda County Transportation Commission for Fremont Boulevard Safe and Smart Corridor Project. PASSED 6-0-1 (Salwan, recuse)
• Adopt a resolution in support of guiding principles for a Seamless Bay Area Transit System.
Other Business:
• Accept status report of Fremont Vision Zero.
Mayor Lily Mei Aye
Vice Mayor Yang Shao Aye
Teresa Keng, District 1 Aye
Rick Jones, District 2 Aye
Jenny Kassan, District 3 Aye
Raj Salwan, District 5 Aye, 1 Recusal
Teresa Cox, District 6 Aye
New taco truck brings Mexican cuisine to Bay Area Muslims… and halal to everyone
By Andrew Cavette
Photos provided by Hisham Abdelfattah and El Halal Amigos
Hisham Abdelfattah loves Mexican food and wants Bay Area’s Muslims to have access to his favorite cuisine. He also wants non-Muslims to experience halal ingredients… maybe for the first time.
Hisham owns El Halal Amigos, a taco truck operating in Fremont. He grew up in the Bay Area, attended the Culinary Academy of San Francisco and frequently traveled to Mexico for inspiration, often staying there months at a time.
With a Filipina mother and Palestinian father, Hisham also had many friends who were Mexican immigrants. He recalls being out late with his friends, standing in long lines at popular taco trucks, but only being able to eat a quesadilla. Like many Muslims, Hisham follows the Islamic dietary guidelines called halal. For anyone who does, the usual meat served in Mexican dishes would be unapproachable.
Halal simply means food that is “permissible” according to Islamic law. Similar dietary guidelines can be found in the Jewish community, often labeled kosher. When talking about meat, halal guidelines say that certain cuts and animals—such as pigs and boars—cannot be consumed. Specific guidelines surrounding the slaughter of the animal are also a part of halal meat preparation.
There are not many taco trucks working with ingredients that follow halal guidelines. El Halal Amigos is the first halal taco truck in the Bay Area. Hisham serves halal brisket, carne asada, chicken, shrimp and cactus. He makes burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and on Wednesdays, birria tacos filled with stewed meat meant to be dipped in consommé broth.
A small group, dining together, took time to compliment Hisham and his crew after their meal.
“Thank you! Thank you so much,” Hisham called out from his truck “We absolutely love the support you’re giving us.”
Hisham considers himself fortunate to have been helped by his community while opening a new business in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. Even while money was tight, and he was wrapped up in starting a new business, Hisham gave back to his community. He has partnered with and donated to Islamic Relief USA (founded in California in 1993), helping their disaster relief programs and assistance of unhoused people. In October of 2020, Hisham donated a portion of his proceeds to Hidaya Foundation and its California wildfire disaster relief fund.
Hisham partnered with Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) during the 2020 election, promoting a discount for anyone with an “I Voted” sticker.
Pairing Mexican cuisine with halal ingredients to serve a larger purpose has its roots in California. In 2017, a Southern California organization, Latino And Muslim Unity, served up halal tacos during their voter registration events. Organizers attempted to unite Latino and Muslim voters before the 2018 elections.
That organization started promoting rallies when President Trump was popularizing anti-Muslim and anti-Latino rhetoric; their “Taco Trucks At Every Mosque” events were popular. At these events, Latino And Muslim Unity served halal tacos from a small truck plastered with colorful signs, urging people to vote.
Similar events are still being organized in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as other parts of California. Muslim and Latino communities in Wisconsin have likewise held their own halal-taco-based political events.
Outside of politics and disaster relief contributions, Hisham just wants to serve amazing Mexican street food. His crew participated in the Bay Area’s first Halal Restaurant Week in December of 2020. El Halal Amigos was named “Best Halal Food of 2020” by the Center for Global Muslim Life.
El Halal Amigos is currently located in a parking lot at Fremont Boulevard and Alder Avenue in Fremont. During Ramadan, their truck will be open later than usual and well into the night: 7:00 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Saturday.
El Halal Amigos has open air seating and is often paired with another food truck in the same lot. Currently, a spicy chicken food truck called Firechikz is their lot-partner. Firechikz is also halal and (in this writer’s opinion) equally delicious.
El Halal Amigos
4050 Alder Ave., Fremont
Ramadan hours: 7 p.m. – midnight
(408) 580-1190
Hayward Police Log
Submitted by Hayward PD
Sunday, April 4
• At 3:33 a.m. a shooting occurred in the 2000 block of American Avenue. There was a report of property damage and three victims with non-life-threatening injuries.
Tuesday, April 6
• At 3:13 p.m. two people were arguing in the 500 Block of Smalley Avenue when one of them brandished a weapon and threatened to harm the other. Responding officers took the suspect into custody.
Saturday, April 10
• At 7:32 a.m. an unknown suspect approached a victim in the 22000 block of Main Street, delivered a punch to the victim, and took their property. The suspect was located by responding officers and was taken into custody. The victim’s property was returned.
Register for HERS Pink Pajama Party
Submitted by Tina Fernandez
Get out your PJs! There is still time to sign up for HERS Breast Cancer Foundation’s virtual “Pink Pajama Party” before registration closes on April 26. Funds raised through this event help HERS continue offering rehabilitation products and services to breast cancer survivors.
Every registered guest will receive a PJ Party-themed box full of amazing treats, including beauty and spa items, and a cocktail/mocktail kit featuring Fentiman’s Rose Lemonade. The total value of the party box is approximately $60, and boxes can either be mailed to guests or picked up from the Fremont location at 2500 Mowry Avenue by Monday, May 3. Registration also includes automatic entry to win a 65″ LG Smart TV. (Prize must be picked up from the Fremont location.)
The event will be broadcast via the HERS YouTube channel; guests will receive the link to join once they’re registered. The hour-long program will keep things fast paced with a live auction, patient and advocate testimonials, staff tuning in from a local studio, and music by Grammy-award winning musician Laura Sullivan.
Live auction items include
o Gorgeous handmade afghan donated by HERS volunteer, Fremont resident and artisan Lisa Stambaugh
o 2017 (Magnum) Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ($400 value)
o Luxe Spa Basket featuring massage gift certificate, Barefoot Dreams throw, bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne, Diffuser and Essential Oils and more ($600 value)
o Virtual Meetup with Broadway Stars
o Stay at resort Hacienda Del Mar Los Cabos (7 nights) in Presidential Suite
o Disneyland Star Wars Adventure with Lodging
o Glamping Getaway (Airstream Accommodations) to either Guerneville or Yosemite.
Stay in and engage in a little self-care, while also caring for underserved members of our community.
HERS Pink Pajama Party
Saturday, May 8
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Via YouTube
REGISTER BY MONDAY, APRIL 26
Tickets: $100
History Matters
By John Grimaldi and David Bruce Smith
Less than two months after the siege of the Alamo, the Texas War for Independence took a turn towards triumph; on April 21, 1836, Sam Houston overwhelmed the unvigilant army of Mexican General Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto. Houston and his volunteers flogged the Mexican army and imprisoned their leader.
Houston agreed to release Santa Anna—a former Mexican president eleven times—only if he endorsed a treaty that acknowledged their independence and ended Mexico’s aggressive machinations.
In the meantime, the Republic of Texas was formed in 1836, and Houston was elected president—twice. On December 29, 1845, Texas became America’s 28th state, but maneuvers with Mexico persisted another two years; according to History.com, it “helped to fulfill America's ‘manifest destiny’ to expand its territory across the entire North American continent.”
For more information about Sam Houston, the Grateful American Book Prize recommends The Mexican American War by John DiConsiglio.
In 1847, Vermont Congressman, George Perkins Marsh, gave a speech that positioned the nation into thinking about the necessity “to conserve America’s natural resources,” according to the Library of Congress.
Seventeen years later, President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act; it declared that California’s Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove “shall be held for public use, resort and recreation.” Eight years later, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act into law and set up the first national park in the world.
Throughout the industrial revolution—in the end days of the 19th century and most of the 20th—the environmentalists’ lobby to restore water and air pollution to reasonable ratios, lagged—in most cases.
Then, in 1969, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson inaugurated a crusade to enlighten America about why the earth’s resources needed to be saved.
The first “Earth Day” was celebrated April 22, 1970. According to the website, the event “inspired 20 million Americans—at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States—to take to the streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development which had left a growing legacy of serious human impacts.”
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky.
On April 30, 1789, George Washington was “humbled” when he was elected America’s first president, according to the Library of Congress. Washington “delivered the speech in a deep, low voice that betrayed what one observer called ‘manifest embarrassment.’”
He conveyed his Federal Hall remarks in the nation’s New York City capital. They were somewhat brief and fixated on the passage of the Bill of Rights. He had no obligation to deliver a message, other than to take his oath of office, but with that gesture, he set a precedent to address the nation—a tradition observed by every president since. Washington was the chief executive for two consecutive, four-year terms.
The Grateful American Book Prize recommends George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin.
The feature is courtesy of The Grateful American Book Prize, which is an annual award given to authors who have created outstanding works of historical fiction or nonfiction for seventh to ninth graders.
Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance service
By Fatema Bhaiji
At the 39th annual Holocaust Remembrance service, sponsored by the Tri-City Interfaith Council, Rabbi Avi Shulman of Temple Beth Torah introduced the catastrophic events that occurred in Europe during the Nazi Regime. Over 80 people gathered at this interfaith service to mourn the deaths of six million Jews as well as the numerous deaths of those from other religions. The hosts started the service with several poems and songs about the horror Jewish people had suffered.
After a variety of hymns, speaker Ralph Samuel explained his journey, leaving his home country of Germany by himself as a small child. His talk “Remembering the Kindertransports” outlines how he was able to flee to England from Nazi Germany. Kindertransport is the name of the rescue for children brought from Nazi Germany to live in the United Kingdom. He explained how his permit to leave Germany was stamped “J” for Jew, and “guarantors” that he could live with for the time being.
Although Samuel was living with a new family, he did not lose contact with his mother; she was able to come to England on a visa once Mr. and Mrs. Epstein (Samuel’s guarantors) agreed to employ her as a maid. Samuel detailed the difficulties of being Jewish in a new environment, worsened by a language barrier. Even his newfound “siblings” taunted him with phrases such as “dirty rotten Jew” and made him feel like an outcast. Although Samuel had to leave Germany as a young child, he has returned multiple times since to lecture (in German) in Dresden and Heidleberg. He feels strongly that “in [his] estimation, Germany is the only country in Europe that has come to terms with the Holocaust.”
After speaking, Samuel encouraged questions about any aspect of his presentation. Some attendees asked how hard it was to leave everything in Germany as a young child—to which he responded that it was a difficult change but a necessary one. Before hosts concluded the event, they urged participants to donate to the organization “Facing History and Ourselves” that emphasizes standing up to bigotry and hate. After a Q&A, members of the Interfaith Council led prayers and hymns that concluded with words in Hebrew in remembrance of the horror that the Jewish people suffered in the Holocaust.
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Parenting During COVID R
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual support group to help families cope with challenges encountered during COVID
To register: www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support
(510) 574-2100
Tuesdays
Free Virtual Sing-Along
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Zoom choir meeting hosted by Mission Peak Chamber Singers
https://www.chambersingers.org/
Contact: info@chambersingers.org
Wednesdays and Sundays
McNevin at The Mudpuddle
6 p.m.
Dinner time tunes, oddservations, and bad jokes
Via Facebook Live: www.facebook.com/mudpuddlemusic
Thursdays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Virtual Youth Group
6:30 p.m.
Youth and young adults, students welcome
Contact: brian@newarkpress.org for Zoom Meeting ID#
www.newarkpres.org
Saturdays
Virtual Telescope Viewing R
9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Free on Facebook Live
Join resident astronomers live from Chabot’s observation deck
https://chabotspace.org/calendar/
Saturdays
Online Comedy Shows R$
8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Made Up Theatre’s interactive comedy has gone to YouTube!
Saturdays & Sundays
India Community Center Youth Programs R$
Art Class (K-5): Saturdays, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m., 1/23 – 5/15
Hindi Class (1-6): Sundays, 10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m., 1/24 – 5/16
Public Speaking (2-6): Sundays, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m., 1/24 – 5/16
Bollywood Class (all ages): Every Day, 1/11 – 5/16
EnActe Voice Acting for Animation (3-8): Sundays, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., 1/24 – 5/16
EnActe Art of Performance (3-8): Sundays, 11 a.m. – 12 noon, 1/24 – 5/16
https://www.indiacc.org/programs/enrichment-program-registration/
youthprograms@indiacc.org
Sundays
Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church Family Service
10 a.m.
Via ZOOM
For link, call (510) 471-2581
https://sacbc.org/
Sundays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Worship Services
8:30 a.m.; Worship Service
12 noon: Sunday School, Ages K – 6th grade
Contact: office@newarkpres.org for Zoom Meeting ID#
www.newarkpres.org
Tuesdays in April
7 o’clock rocks!
7 p.m.
Tune in and rock with Groovy Judy
http://facebook.com/groovyjudyrocks
Every 3rd Thursday and Friday, March – May
Property Transfer Clinic
Free 30-minute legal consultation
Third Thursday each month
Chronic Pain Support Group
12:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m.
Request link: njordan@fremont.gov
Last Thursday of the Month, March – June
Mini MBA in Entrepreneurship
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Self-paced virtual program for early-stage entrepreneurs
Mondays, March 8 – April 26
How To Open A Food Business R
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
8-week seminar for those interested in opening a food business – in Spanish
https://sbdc.events/Abrirunnegociodealimentos
2nd Saturdays, April 10, May 8
Rancho Higuera Historical Park tours
10 a.m. – 12 noon
47300 Rancho Higuera Rd., Fremont
(510) 623-7907
info@museumoflocalhistory.org
Suggested donation $2-5
Thursday, March 18 – Monday September 6
Immersive Van Gogh
9 a.m. – 11 p.m. (times vary)
Walk-in exhibit with digital projections and music
SVN West San Francisco
10 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: $24.99 – $39.99
www.vangoghsf.com
Mondays and Wednesdays, March 29 – April 28
Food Entrepreneurial Training Academy R
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Free 10-part series on how to succeed in the food business
https://www.acsbdc.org/calendar
Monday, April 5 – Sunday, June 27
Shifting Tides: Convergence in Cloth
Virtual exhibit to shine light on issues faced by the Pacific Ocean
www.olivehydeartguild.org
Wednesdays, April 7 – April 28
Hayward Police Department Community Academy R
6:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Virtual 4-week course all about the HPD. Ages 18+. Must pass background check
Via Zoom
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/community-academy
(510) 293-5051
Wednesdays, April 14 – May 12
Tools For Change R
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Virtual workshop for parents and caregivers of adolescents (ages 12-18)
www.fremont.gov/3060/Caregiver-Support
(510) 574-2100
Friday, April 16 – Sunday, May 9
Almost, Maine $
Love is lost, found, and confounded in this comedy from Chanticleers Theatre.
Online Streaming event
(Video available 48 hours starting from time of purchase)
https://chanticleers.org/almost-main/
Monday, April 19 – Monday, April 26
OLG Swing into Spring! Online Auction
http://bidpal.net/olgswing (live on April 4th)
Thursday, April 22 – Monday, May 31
LEAF Spring Plant Sale
Online plant sale with curbside pickup
https://www.fremontleaf.org/
UPCOMING
Tuesday, April 20
California Phones Online R
10 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Learn about specialized phone equipment free to eligible Californians
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Tuesday, April 20
RACISM – Until Black Women Are Free, None of Us Will Be Free $
7 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Explore the intersection of sexism, gender bias, class, and economic disparity
Via Zoom
RSVP by April 19 at https://ces-event.myshopity,com’products/racism-until-black-women
Tuesday, April 20
Indiaspora Climate Summit
Session I: The India Perspective – 7:30 a.m.
Session II: The U.S. Perspective – 5 p.m.
How do you prosper in a net-zero economy?
https://www.indiaspora.org/event/indiaspora-climate-summit/
Wednesday, April 21
RACISM – Until Black Women Are Free, None of Us Will Be Free $
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Explore the intersection of sexism, gender bias, class, and economic disparity
Via Zoom
RSVP by April 19 at https://ces-event.myshopify,com’products/racism-until-black-women
Wednesday, April 21
USCIS Online Resources and Customer Service Tools
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free info session from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Webex Link: https://bit.ly/3cmlJ1t
Meeting number (access code): 199 291 4083
Meeting password: epP9TyZPK34?
Wednesday, April 21
Communication Strategies
10 a.m.
Learn effective communication skills as a family caregiver
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Wednesday, April 21
BACH Talks!
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
COVID-19 questions answered by professionals
Via Zoom
Thursday, April 22
Covid-19: Personal Care Business Guidance
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
How to safely operate and welcome your clients back – a free ACSBDC webinar
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/47891
Friday, April 23
Latino Business Roundtable
9 a.m.
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2Q5G6I2
Meeting ID: 827 9395 8686
Passcode: 121713
Saturday, April 24
Free Community Shred Day
9 a.m. – 12 noon
Paper only. 4-6 banker box limit. Sponsored by Union City Police Dept.
https://www.facebook.com/unioncitypd/posts/4498893956794596
James Logan High School
1800 H St., Union City
(510) 675-5284
Saturday, April 24
Newark Community Clean Up! R
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
One standard truck load per household
By Appointment Only
Email mainreq@newark.org if interested
(510) 578-4806
Saturday, April 24
Jen Glantz
2 p.m.
Renowned freelancer shares her secrets for success
Via Zoom
For link, email scottfrombayside@yahoo.com
Monday, April 26
OLG Swing into Spring! Golf Tournament $R
1 p.m.
Lunch, prizes, putting contest
Las Positas Golf Course
917 Clubhouse Dr., Livermore
Go to olgweb.org or call 510-364-9430 to register
Monday, April 26
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Project Sentinel – Landlord and Tenant Assistance Program
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Tuesday, April 27
The New Strategic Leader R
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Free webinar. Discover a new approach to long-term, organizational success
www.ohlone.edu/leadership
(510) 979-7598
Tuesday, April 27
Interventional Radiology (IR) for Vascular Disease R
6:30 p.m.
Virtual Seminar – Learn about interventional radiology treatment options
www.whhs.com
(800) 963-7070
Wednesday, April 28
Petitioning for Relatives, Family Based Visas
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Free info session from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Webex Link: https://bit.ly/3tYXAnR
Meeting number (access code): 199 353 4475
Meeting password: jqJmYu53Q4Z*
Wednesday, April 28
2nd Annual Homeowners Expo R
12 noon – 1:30 p.m.
Learn about programs to lower property taxes and more! Hosted by Alameda County Assessor Phong La
Via Zoom. https://tinyurl.com/homeowners-expo
Wednesday, April 28
Covid-19: Crowdfunding
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Learn how to use crowdfunding to help support your business – a free ACSBDC webinar
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48029
Wednesday, April 28
Photos of friends and family: Give them your best!
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Photography class taught by Len Cook
Via Zoom
Register in advance by emailing: ohag-photo-zoom@lens.photos
https://olivehydeartguild.org/news-events-upcoming-programs
Thursday, April 29
Covid-19: Buying/Selling a Small Business
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Information and guidance on how to buy/sell a small business – a free ACSBDC webinar
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48015
Thursday, April 29
Conversation with Police Chief Petersen R
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
League of Women Voters President interviews Fremont Police Chief
To register click on: https://zoom.us/meeting/register
Questions for Chief Petersen? Email: lwvfnuc@lwvfnuc.org
Friday, April 30
BACH Talks!
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
COVID-19 questions answered by professionals
Via Zoom
Friday, April 30
Shifting Tides: Convergence in Cloth Virtual Reception
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Virtual reception for new exhibit that shines light on issues faced by the Pacific Ocean
www.olivehydeartguild.org
Monday, May 3
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Tina Broyles of Milpitas Family Help Network (MFHN)
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Wednesday, May 5
BACH Talks!
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
COVID-19 questions answered by professionals
Via Zoom
Friday, May 7
Sing for Spring R
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Free virtual concert featuring the MFMII kids choir
Register for Zoom code: https://tinyurl.com/4z88hfp4
www.musicforminors2.org
Friday, May 7
Show Your Love Spring 2021
6 p.m.
Virtual cooking and wine event
Spectrumcs.org
Saturday, May 8
A Pink Pajama Party R
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Celebration of our People with Purpose Honorees – HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
https://hersbcf.ejoinme.org/PWP2021
(510) 790-1911
Saturday, May 8
Celebrating Mother’s Day
6 p.m.
Celebrating all the mothers! Surprise wine pairing from Occasio Winery
Via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LivermoreValleyOpera
www.livermorevalleyopera.com
Monday, May 10
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Larry Stone, Santa Clara County Assessor
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Friday, May 14
BACH Talks!
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
COVID-19 questions answered by professionals
Via Zoom
Monday, May 17
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
JP Sahi, CEO of Rotocare Bay Area
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Monday, May 24
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Special Event with John Agg
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Tuesday, May 25 – Wednesday, May 26
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
2-Day Symposium
Register at bach.health/ACEs
Jefferson Awards
Submitted by Hayward Unified School District
Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) is thrilled announce that Nancy Wright and Stuart Loebl, two HUSD educators, have been named Jefferson Award recipients. Loebl is a science specialist at Lorin Eden Elementary. Wright serves as an elementary science teacher on special assignment with HUSD and as a science educator with the Alameda County Office of Education.
Founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard, Multiplying Good (formerly the Jefferson Awards Foundation) is the largest multiplier of public service in America.
During distance learning, Loebl and Wright set a goal of making 5,000 science kits for elementary students across the district. They found that students have limited access to materials at home, but believe there is an unprecedented opportunity in distance learning for inquiry-based, differentiated instruction.
They are building a community of elementary teachers invested in providing science opportunities to students, and the science kit program is a chance for districtwide collaboration on implementing next generation science standards. Their initiative has included hosting professional development sessions for educators and creating spaces for teachers to brainstorm how to provide optimal science opportunities for their students.
Throughout this process, they have inspired an army of dedicated volunteers and donors to bring the project to life. The science kit project has received financial support from the district through its energy saving partnership with electricity provider Engie. For months, the duo has overseen the assembly of thousands of kits at one of the district’s new STEAM buildings.
For Wright and Loebl’s passion, creativity, and dedication to Hayward students, HUSD is proud to share news of this recognition. Learn more about their project at: https://sites.google.com/husd.k12.ca.us/husdsciencekits/home.
Jen Glantz to speak at writers’ event
Submitted by Fremont Area Writers
Jen Glantz’s website promotes her as a “Headline making CEO, Speaker, Educator, Determinista and the sidekick who always brings a slice of pizza.” Ms. Glantz has appeared on CNBC, Good Morning America. She’s also a prolific and sometimes quirky freelance writer with over a thousand articles to her credit that have appeared in publications ranging from the New York Times to Glamour Magazine.
Starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, Glantz will explain tactics she’s used to achieve that success to the Fremont Area Writers. “Every rejection letter contains important information that gives you what you need to know to succeed next time. I’ll be talking about how to recognize that information and use it to turn rejection letters into acceptances.”
The meeting will be conducted by Zoom. It’s free and open to anyone who wants to improve their writing skills or help others to achieve that goal. Email scottfrombayside@yahoo.com for your Zoom invitation.
For more information go to the Fremont Area Writers website https://cwc-fremontareawriters.org/ or contact Jen Glantz at jenglantz.com.
Jen Glantz
Saturday, Apr 24
2 p.m.
Via Zoom
For link, email scottfrombayside@yahoo.com
I got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Now what?
AP Wire Service
Apr 13
Do not panic. U.S. health officials on Tuesday recommended pausing vaccinations with J&J's shot as they look into reports of six clots out of nearly 7 million doses given in the country.
Health officials say to be vigilant, but to remember that reports of blood clots that may be associated with J&J's single-dose vaccine are exceedingly rare.
“It's less than one in a million,“ said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease specialist.
Common side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can include arm pain and normal flu-like symptoms for a couple days afterward. Those are not pleasant, but they aren't what officials are concerned about.
Instead, be on the lookout for different, more severe symptoms associated with the clots, particularly between one and three weeks after the shot. Those include severe headache, backache, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, tiny red spots on the skin or bruising.
If those symptoms show up, seek medical treatment right away. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued advice to help doctors spot these rare clots and safely treat them.
LEAF Spring Plant Sale
Submitted by LEAF Team
Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF) propagation team has worked hard this year propagating, transplanting, and nurturing thousands of seedlings. This year LEAF grew over 130 different seedlings, and they will be ready for you to take home and plant in your garden.
From Earth Day, April 22 to the end of May, LEAF will be selling plants online with curbside pickup at LEAF Stone Garden. For a preview of all the items available, go to LEAF Wiki Seedling Catalog – http://wiki.fremontleaf.org/sustainable-living/seedling-catalog.
Online Plant Sale
Thursday, Apr 22 – end of May
LEAF Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
http://wiki.fremontleaf.org/sustainable-living/seedling-catalog
Curbside pickup
Little League action
By Mike Heightchew
On April 18th, the Livermore Juniors kept chipping away at a Niles Centerville Junior Giants lead that began with a tremendous display of offensive power – six runs in the first inning and another surge in the fourth inning. Livermore countered and by the seventh inning, the Giants lead had dwindled to two runs. By the top of the seventh inning, the 10-8 lead looked good, but Livermore loaded the bases, ending the inning with a one-run lead. In response, the Giants put two runners on base and appeared to be poised for a dramatic win, but were unable to bring them home as Livermore’s defense shut down the attack. In a game that could have gone either way, final score: Livermore 11, Giants 10.
How NASA opened the door to Pluto and beyond
Kailash Kalidoss, Aerospace Enthusiast
Photo source: NASA JPL
Pluto was discovered in January-February 1930, by Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory, Arizona. Pluto is a Small, Distant World that is comparable to <1% of Mars’ Max Apparent Diameter (0.1 arcsec). Due to its distance from the Sun, it is 50,000 times fainter than Mars. Astronomers discovered many facts about Pluto. A day on Pluto is roughly 6.4 Earth days long, and Pluto orbits the Sun every 248 years. There is Methane on Pluto – a possible biosignature for life. Pluto also has a large moon, which astronomers dubbed “Charon.” But one could not proceed in research much beyond that. Even the best Pluto images from Hubble were pixelated and crude. The only way one could progress was to get closer. Up to the 1990s, missions hadn’t gotten as far as Pluto. The Pioneer Missions in the 1970s went only as far as Jupiter and Saturn. While the 1970-80s Voyager Missions got as far as Neptune, subsequent missions such as the Mariner Mission in the 1980s were more interested in Mercury and Venus than traveling outwards. Of course, we had several Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn explorations since, with a range of rovers and orbiters in the 1990-2000 era, but none dared to explore beyond. So, what makes Pluto missions complex? Here is a set of numbers that you can crunch. The Sun is a 1,390,000 km sphere. The Earth is a 12,756 km sphere 150 million km (93 million miles) from the Sun. Jupiter is a 143,000 km sphere 778 million km from the Sun, but unlike Pluto, it is the largest object in the solar system. However, Pluto is a 2,274 km sphere 4 billion, 787 million km from the Sun. As one can see, size and distance constraints stack the odds against such a mission. Multiple Pluto missions were proposed through the 1990s, but none materialized until the New Horizons Mission in 2003. The mission was launched in 2006 using the Atlas V 551 Launch Vehicle. The “New Horizons” small probe — weighing barely 1,000 pounds – sped from Earth faster than any spacecraft before it, embarking on a 9.5-year voyage across more than 3 billion miles that culminated in the historic first reconnaissance of Pluto and its family of small moons. But along the journey, a few significant things happened. The Hubble Space Telescope found four more Pluto moons apart from Charon—Hydra, Nix, Kerberos, and Styx. More significantly, though, Pluto got demoted as a planet; it was now classified as a “dwarf planet.” Pluto didn’t change, but our understanding of the Solar System did. It was proposed that Pluto isn’t the end of the solar system but rather the start of a new region beyond called the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is thought to be a relic from our Solar System’s origin and is similar to the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. However, there are thousands of objects in this region, which is much bigger than the Asteroid belt. On Jun 15, 2015, the New Horizon’s probe finally made it closer to Pluto, using a gravity assist from Jupiter along the way. The probe gave us fresh perspectives of Pluto and its moons. The first pictures revealed the presence of both nitrogen ice and water ice. A region named Sputnik Planum was of particular interest. Nitrogen ice was flowing like glaciers around the hill-like water ice. Two possible cryovolcanoes, provisionally named Wright Mons and Piccard Mons, were identified. Both are over 150 km across and at least 4 km high, the tallest peaks known on Pluto at present. It was also found that Charon, the largest of the five moons, is mutually tidally locked with Pluto, and is massive enough that Pluto-Charon is sometimes considered a double dwarf planet. The New Horizons probe is still active and is now traveling beyond Pluto in the Kuiper belt region. One can track its position using the site http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons.php#page-top. Kailash Kalidoss is a local aerospace enthusiast and educator serving the Bay Area. Kailash first fell in love with aerospace as a teenager when he learned about aviation from his father’s role as a Ground Operations Manager. Kailash has since spent his efforts spreading knowledge about aerospace, astronautics, aviation, science and technology, and of course, the night sky. Kailash also represents the Civil Air Patrol and NASA as a volunteer. Watch the Lion: Celestial Wonders in Leo By David Prosper Leo is a prominent sight for stargazers in April. Its famous sickle, punctuated by the bright star Regulus, draws many a beginning stargazers’ eyes, inviting deeper looks into some of Leo’s celestial delights, including a great double star and a famous galactic trio. Leo’s distinctive forward sickle, or “reverse question mark,” is easy to spot as it climbs the skies in the southeast after sunset. If you are having a difficult time spotting the sickle, look for bright Sirius and Procyon - featured in last month’s article – and complete a triangle by drawing two lines to the east, joining at the bright star Regulus, the “period” in the reverse question mark. Trailing them is a trio of bright stars forming an isosceles triangle; the brightest star in that formation is named Denebola. Connecting these two patterns together forms the constellation of Leo the Lion, with the forward-facing sickle being the lion’s head and mane, and the rear triangle its hindquarters. Can you see this mighty feline? It might help to imagine Leo proudly sitting up and staring straight ahead, like a celestial Sphinx. If you peer deeper into Leo with a small telescope or binoculars, you will find a notable double star. Look in the sickle of Leo for its second-brightest star, Algieba - also called Gamma Leonis. This star splits into two bright yellow stars with even a small magnification - you can make this “split” with binoculars, but it is more apparent with a telescope. Compare the color and intensity of these two stars - do you notice any differences? There are other multiple star systems in Leo – spend a few minutes scanning with your instrument of choice and see what you discover. One of the most famous sights in Leo is the “Leo Triplet”: three galaxies that appear to be close together. They are indeed gravitationally bound to one another, around 30 million light years away. You will need a telescope to spot them and use an eyepiece with a wide field of view to see all three galaxies at once. Look below the star Chertan to find these galaxies. Compare and contrast the appearance of each galaxy – while they are all spiral galaxies, each one is tilted at different angles to our point of view! Do they all look like spiral galaxies to you? April is Citizen Science Month, and there are some fun Leo-related activities you can participate in. If you enjoy comparing the Triplets, the “Galaxy Zoo” project (www.zooniverse.org/projects/zookeeper/galaxy-zoo/) could use your eyes to help classify different galaxies from sky survey data. Looking at Leo itself can even help measure light pollution: The Globe at Night project (www.globeatnight.org) uses Leo as their target constellation for sky quality observations from the Northern Hemisphere for their April campaign, running through April 12. Find and participate in many more NASA community science programs at https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience. Happy observing. This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm to find local clubs, events, and more. Newark City Council April 8, 2021 Presentations: • Proclaiming April 18 to 24, 2021, as National Crime Victims' Rights Week. South County Victim Advocate Supervisor Jennifer Mello accepted the proclamation. Consent Calendar: • Approve addition of classifications of Chief Building Official and City Architect and eliminate the Chief Building Official/City Architect classification. • Approve Side Letters between the City of Newark and the Newark Association of Miscellaneous Employees (NAME), Newark Police Association (NPA), and Newark Police Management Association (NPMA) and to execute a modification to the Compensation and Benefit Plan for the Confidential Group to temporarily modify benefits as a result of continued changed conditions due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Removed from Consent: • Approval of Contractual Services Agreement with BKF Engineers for Professional Design Services for Lindsay Tract Roadway and Green Infrastructure Improvements. (Removed by Councilmember Collazo). Cost will be shared with property owners. Other Business: • Approving and Authorizing the City Manager to execute a modification to the Compensation and Benefit Plan for the City Officials and the Management, Supervisory, and Professional Employee Group to temporarily modify benefits as a result of continued changed conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic Click to View City Council Matters: • Resolution approving the reappointment of Transaction and Use Tax Oversight Committee Members Lola and Pereira. Mayor Alan Nagy Aye Vice Mayor Mike Bucci Aye Luis Freitas Aye Sucy Collazo Aye Michael Hannon Aye Oakland Coliseum vaccine site remains open to May 9 Submitted by City of Hayward Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services announced an agreement yesterday to continue operation of the Oakland Coliseum COVID-19 vaccination site to at least May 9 after it had been scheduled for closure. Under the agreement to take over responsibility from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coliseum site is expected to be able to offer up to 6,000 vaccines per day plus continue to operate mobile vaccine clinics serving priority communities that have been at higher risk of coronavirus infection. Accordingly, the Coliseum site is now open only to people who live or work in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and will operate seven days a week 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 17 drive-through lanes as well as walk-up appointments accessible by fare-free shuttle and train rides provided by AC Transit and BART. Public health authorities say getting vaccinated is one of the most powerful steps individuals can take to fight COVID-19. Thus far, approximately 52 percent of Alameda County residents age 16 and older have received a first COVID-19 vaccine with about 32 percent fully inoculated. In Hayward, 50 percent of residents age 16 and up have received a first shot—with 31 percent fully inoculated. Vaccine appointments at the Coliseum can be made through www.MyTurn.ca.gov or by calling (833) 422-4255. City releases findings of officer-involved shooting investigation Submitted by Paul Sanftner, City of San Leandro Officials from the City of San Leandro have released an investigation report focusing on an officer-involved shooting a year ago that left a man dead in a Walmart store on Hesperian Boulevard. The Administrative Investigation Report conducted by OIR Group looked into an April 18, 2020 shooting where two San Leandro Police officers responded to reports of a man, later identified as Steven Taylor, who was wielding a bat and threatening store employees. The incident ended with the officer-involved fatal shooting of Taylor. The report, which was posted April 15 on the City of San Leandro website at www.sanleandro.org, focuses on the actions of former San Leandro Police Officer Jason Fletcher, who fired his taser and service weapon, and Officer Stefan Overton who discharged a taser. In the interest of transparency and in accordance with Senate Bill 1421 that went into effect January 1, 2019, the report is being released prior to the conclusion of the criminal case against Fletcher and prior to any determination of disciplinary action against Overton. Attachments to the report will be released by the city when legally required redactions are completed. The independent administrative investigation concluded that Overton’s use of a taser was not in compliance with department policies regarding taser deployment and use of force. The San Leandro Police Department will make a determination concerning disciplinary actions regarding Overton by June 18. Additionally, the report states the following: “Had a different approach been taken, the use of deadly force might have been avoided altogether.” During a February 22 City Council work session, councilmembers directed city staff to study each model and provide recommendations at a future council meeting. “As Mayor, I feel I can speak for the City Council and many in San Leandro who often reflect on the events of April 18, 2020, and the painful loss of Mr. Steven Taylor,” stated Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter. “The city was determined to find answers, and we value the independent investigation of the OIR Group and thank them for their work. This is not the end of the process. There are still criminal, civil, and administrative actions to take in this matter which limits how much we can elaborate on the content of this report,” Cutter continued. “But I want to make it clear to the residents of San Leandro, that we will learn from this tragic event and make any needed changes to our training, outreach, and culture to ensure something like this never happens again.” Final Round of Small Business Relief Grant Program opens April 28 Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce The final round of applications for California Relief Grants will be open April 28 - May 4, according to the California Office of Small Business Administration. Selection notifications will begin Friday, May 7. Eligible applicants include current waitlisted small businesses and/or nonprofits not selected in Rounds 1, 2, 3, or 5 and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria. The eligible grant award is $5,000 to $25,000. Applicants who were not selected to receive a grant and were waitlisted in Rounds 1, 2, 3 and 5 do not need to re-apply. The application will be moved into Round 6. Learn more at www.CAReliefGrant.com Care for spring flowering bulbs By Melinda Myers Photos Courtesy MelindaMyers.com Bright yellow daffodils, colorful tulips, and fragrant hyacinths brighten our spring gardens. Give them the care they need to extend their spring display and keep them coming back for years. Hybrid tulips and hyacinths are short-lived stars of the spring garden. They bloom profusely the first spring, but the number of flowers decline each year. You may want to treat these like annuals, carefully removing them from the garden to avoid damaging any remaining plants. Toss these in the compost pile and start planning for their replacements. It is a great opportunity to try something new and freshen the look of your spring garden. If you are looking for a permanent replacement, consider using species tulips that are less floriferous but return each year. Add a few years to the life of hybrid tulips and daffodils and get the most from all your long-lived spring flowering bulbs with proper care. Water spring gardens thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and just slightly moist. Spring rains often take care of this task, but when they do not it is easy to forget to provide spring gardens with the water they need. Providing the right amount of water when needed will keep your bulbs looking their best. Bulbs often receive sufficient nutrients at the time of planting or when other plants in the garden are fertilized. Apply fertilizer to established bulb plantings, if needed, as the leaves begin to emerge from the soil. Use a low nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer to encourage slow steady growth. Follow the label directions so you apply the recommended amount for the area you are fertilizing. Remove spent flowers on tulips and hyacinths you plan to keep so the energy is directed back into the bulbs instead of setting seeds. Do the same if you want to improve the appearance of daffodils. Leave allium seed heads in place to extend their beautiful contribution to the garden. Remove these before they drop their seeds if you want to limit the number of seedlings sprouting in next year’s garden. The same is true for grape hyacinths and squills. The only reason to remove their faded flowers is to slow down the spread. Leave the leaves on your bulbs until they naturally yellow and dry. The leaves produce energy needed for beautiful blooms next spring. The longer you leave the leaves intact, the more energy and better bloom for next season. Hide the declining bulb leaves by planting annuals between the bulbs. Or add perennial flowers that return each year for a more permanent solution. As bulbs decline, perennials will grow and mask the declining foliage. Try mixing spring flowering perennials for double the impact or combine with summer and fall bloomers to extend the floral show. Take some pictures of your spring bulb display and make notes of the areas where you want to add some color. Then order early for the best selection and to make sure you are ready for bulb planting season next fall. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com. First 100 days: Alameda County Supervisor Haubert Submitted by Kathy Kimberlin David Haubert, Alameda County Supervisor District 1, hit the ground running. His appointment to 15 regional boards/commissions and assignment to three Alameda County Board of Supervisors Committees range from transportation, air quality, and waste management, to procurement and contracting. Haubert is committed to fairly and equally representing and supporting all of District 1, which includes Livermore, Dublin, Fremont, and unincorporated areas. Having served in the Tri Valley area for many years, he wants to ensure his strong connection to the people of Fremont by meeting with officials, city staff, community leaders, nonprofits, faith-based groups, social resource groups, small businesses, and residents. Within his first 100 days, Haubert has presented certificates of commendation to Moina Shaiq for her work in the Muslim community, Hallers Pharmacy for their COVID-19 vaccine implementation, Citizens for Better Community for their work donating PPE and support of essential workers, and City of Fremont for their status as “The Happiest City in America” by Wallethub 2021. He delivered funds to E.D. Louis Chicoine for Abode Services, and met with City of Fremont elected officials and staff with plans to continue meeting on a consistent basis. If you would like to know more about Haubert, visit www.acgov.org/board/district1/contactus.htm. Supervisor Valle’s message Submitted by the office of Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle Greetings District 2 Constituents, It has been just over one year since initial shelter in place orders were issued in response to COVID-19. It is encouraging to see that we are making good progress on vaccinations, and infection rates continue to decline. Upwards of 683,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Alameda County, and nearly 19% of Alameda County residents age 16+ are fully vaccinated. As of March 30, Alameda County has met the requirements to move to the Orange Tier. While these statistics are encouraging, we are not out of the woods yet and it’s important to continue the precautionary measures we’ve been practicing over the past year to prevent the spread of variants and defeat the virus for good. Keep wearing masks, maintain physical distancing, and sign up for a vaccine appointment as soon as you’re eligible. While COVID-19 response has been the top priority across the county, District 2 has also made an effort to focus on many other items that are important to our communities. With the coming of spring and warmer days, it’s important to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and natural beauty of our environment, especially on April 22—Earth Day. District 2 is hoping to celebrate this Earth Day with the groundbreaking for the Dig Deep Farms south county expansion. The long-awaited partnership with Masonic Homes of California Union City is preparing to submit an application to Alameda County Water District to install a new water well, which would irrigate 10 acres of prime agricultural land in the core of the Bay Area. In addition, Dig Deep Farms has applied to operate the historic Ardenwood Farms in Fremont. We are hopeful for Dig Deep to win the bid. If all is successful, this would add over 70 acres of agricultural land to enhance the circular food economy Dig Deep and its partners in Alameda County are building. We have much to look forward to in coming months, and I wish you and your loved ones continued health and safety. Sincerely, Richard Valle Union City City Council April 13, 2021 Consent Calendar • Execution of Certifications and Assurances and Authorized Agent Forms for the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure for Union City Transit Fleet in the amount of $92,050. • Start proceedings for levy and collection of assessments for the Citywide Landscape & Lighting District No. 3 for Fiscal Year 2021-22. • Transfer $285,000 to Vehicle Replacement Project No. 21-11, award a contract to National Auto Fleet Group (Watsonville) in the amount of $237,493.02, and declare certain vehicles as surplus, authorizing them to be sold at auction. • Amend Consulting Services Agreement with 4Leaf, Inc. to increase the Not-to-Exceed Agreement amount from $750,000 to $1,050,000 for building division support. • Establish the Cyber Security Manager position and a side letter with the Management Employees’ Group. • Establish the Supervising Construction Inspector position and a side letter with the Management Employees’ Group. • Appropriate $109,500 of gas tax and Measure B Bicycle & Pedestrian funds, and approve amendment No. 1 for a consultant service agreement with Toole Design Group, LLC for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update Project, for a total contract amount of $409,500. • Establish the Personnel and Training Supervisor position and a side letter with the Police Officers’ Association. • Approve a side letter with the Management Employees Group to remove four classifications as represented classifications and add them to the Compensation and Benefit Plan for Non-Represented Confidential and Management Employees. Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci Aye Vice Mayor Pat D. Gacoscos Aye Emily Duncan Aye Jaime Patino Aye Gary Singh Aye Vaccination Stations According to California State guidelines, all residents ages 16+ are now eligible to receive a vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is being administered by many organizations in our readership area. Guidelines are being updated as more vaccine becomes available; some sites may have different restrictions. Please check the relevant websites for details when you schedule your appointment. State https://covid19.ca.gov/ Alameda County https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines Santa Clara County https://www.sccgov.org/sites/covid19/Pages/COVID19-vaccine-information-for-public.aspx sccfreevax.org Check your eligibility and schedule a vaccine at: https://myturn.ca.gov/ Alameda County Fairgrounds Stanford Health Care – Valley Care, and Sutter Health https://alamedacountyfair.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/ Stanford Health Care – Valley Care patients Health care workers, those 65+, essential workers in education/childcare, emergency services, food/agriculture. Web: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/ Phone: (650) 498-9000 Sutter Health patients For Sutter patients 50+, healthcare and essential workers, those with high risk health conditions, and those who live in congregate settings. Web: https://www.sutterhealth.org/for-patients Phone: (844) 987-6115 Alameda County Health Department Link provided on Alameda County Fair vaccines main page. Bay Area Community Health Providing to both Alameda and Santa Clara; you must live in the county where you sign up to receive the vaccine. Those ages 16-18 must go to the Liberty Clinic and be accompanied by a parent or guardian; call (510) 770-8040 for an appointment. https://bach.health/vaccine Alameda County MVCOP Parking Lot 5019 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont (510) 770-8040 Santa Clara County Monterey Clinic 5504 Monterey Hwy., San Jose (408) 729-9700 CVS Make an appointment online. No cost with most insurance. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine El Camino Health For Santa Clara County residents 16+, and El Camino Health patients; location provided with appointment. https://www.elcaminohealth.org/covid-19-resource-center/vaccine-information Fremont Fire Department & Haller’s Pharmacy Offering the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine https://www.primarybio.com/l/fremontfd1 Fremont Fire Tactical Training Center 7200 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont Kaiser Permanente Vaccinating Kaiser members according to State guidelines. https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/ Oakland Coliseum Vaccine supplied directly from the federal government. Register via the California government site: https://myturn.ca.gov/ Rite Aid Request an appointment online. https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19 Safeway Request an appointment online. https://www.safeway.com/vaccinations/home Santa Clara Valley Medical Center For Santa Clara County residents 16+, and patients of County of Santa Clara Health System. https://vax.sccgov.org/home Stanford Health Care Make an appointment: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/ East and South Bay locations: (Peninsula locations listed on the website) Alameda County Fairgrounds 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton Mon-Sat: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cisco Garage (SJC Parking Structure 2) 350 E. Tasman Dr., San Jose Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. 2585 Samaritan Drive, Suite 303, San Jose Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastridge Mall (For Santa Clara County residents/workers) 2190 Eastridge Loop #1402, San Jose Mon-Fri: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat-Sun: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center With Hayward and Alameda County Fire Departments For TVHC patients and community members 18+. Currently offering Moderna; those who had an appointment for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may keep their current time slot and receive the Moderna vaccine. https://tvhc.org/ VA Palo Alto Health Care System Vaccinations available for veterans in the Palo Alto Health Care System, their caregivers and spouses, and recipients of CHAMPVA benefits. Check your eligibility on the website. Sign up via the website and you will be contacted by your local VA facility. https://www.paloalto.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp Walgreens Request an appointment online. https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp Walmart Request an appointment online. https://www.goodrx.com/covid-19/walmart Washington Hospital Vaccinating those who live or work in Fremont, Newark, Union City, South Hayward, or Sunol. https://www.whhs.com/COVID-19-Coronavirus-.aspx Walmart invests in GM's Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary AP Wire Service DETROIT (AP), Apr 15 – Walmart and some institutional investors have joined the latest investment in Cruise, bumping the capital influx into the General Motors autonomous vehicle subsidiary from over $2 billion to $2.75 billion. Walmart and Cruise announced a partnership last fall to launch a self-driving delivery test in Phoenix. ``The investment will aid our work towards developing a last mile delivery ecosystem that's fast, low-cost and scalable,'' Walmart CEO John Furner said in a statement. Honda and Microsoft are among other investors with a stake in Cruise. Furner said Cruise's fleet of all-electric vehicles will help Walmart reach a goal of zero emissions by 2040. San Francisco-based Cruise said the investment brings its valuation to over $30 billion. Some investment analysts have encouraged GM to spin off the majority-owned subsidiary as a separate public company. Cruise is testing autonomous vehicles in San Francisco without human backup drivers. The company plans to run a fully self-driving ride-hailing service but hasn't said when it will begin. Wandering in the Wilderness Submitted by CSUEB Photos by Max Sovine Join Cal State University East Bay (CSUEB) in our explorations from Year 1 of 40 years of “Wandering in the Wilderness.” Wandering explores the spaces in between, when we have moved away from the things that no longer work in our lives, but we don’t yet know what is next. The work emerges from stories in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), focusing on the time after the Jews were freed from slavery, but had to spend 40 years in the wilderness to prepare for the Promised Land. The complete work will take 40 years but, in the meantime, present regular work-in-progress showings, including performances in April 2021. Wandering is directed/choreographed by Eric Kupers with assistance by Raven Malouf-Renning and additional collaborators. It is being created and performed by the Wandering Ensemble (a collaboration between the CSU East Bay Inclusive Interdisciplinary Ensemble and Dandelion Dancetheater). Music is performed by UltraSonic Current, Bandelion, and members of the ensemble. Wandering in the Wilderness - Cycle 1 is a site-specific, outdoor, physically distanced dance/music/theater ceremony. The show will start in front of the University Theatre Lobby, and then travel to sites on campus. Cycle 1 performances in April 2021 will begin at 8 p.m., with a pre-show labyrinth ceremony at 7:30 p.m. In-person seating is very limited. All attendees must wear face coverings and practice physical distancing. RSVP to catherine.cyr@csueastbay.edu. The event will also be available to view online via Zoom – with no audience limit! Join at: https://csueb.zoom.us/j/87935471760. Wandering in the Wilderness Friday, Apr 23 & Saturday, Apr 24 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Pre-Show Labyrinth Walk: 7:30 pm Show begins outside University Theatre lobby 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward Join online Via Zoom Show is free; RSVP to catherine.cyr@csueastbay.edu https://www.csueastbay.edu/theatre/ Watercolor workshop Submitted by Winda Shimizu April is Art, Culture and Creativity Month. Hayward Arts Council invites you to a free watercolor clothed figure workshop by Castro Valley artist Claudine Krause over zoom on Saturday, April 24 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Krause received a BFA and MFA in Fine Arts from the San Francisco Academy of Art University. She paints in a variety of mediums and has a passion for portraits of people and pets. For eleven years, she has taught art classes to all age groups, from beginners to advanced students. Her paintings have been commissioned and exhibited in many venues in the Bay Area and beyond. Registration for this free workshop is required at https://www.haywardartscouncil.org/. A confirmation zoom link to join the workshop will be emailed the day before. Watercolor Workshop Saturday, Apr 24 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Via Zoom Registration Required: https://www.haywardartscouncil.org/ Student launches ‘Youth Tech Leaders’ to teach kids biotech By Gelsey Plaza Photos courtesy of Anya Sikri Anya Sikri, a junior at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, launched Youth Tech Leaders (YTL) in the summer of 2019. Her goal is to empower youth grades 6-10, especially those who don’t have the resources or opportunities, to explore the evolving field of biotechnology. Now, virtual, YTL classes are available to students around the Bay Area. Sikri’s inspiration for this program stemmed from her time at the Spring 2019 East Bay Maker Faire, a family-friendly arts and science festival hosted by Park Day School in Oakland. She was invited to present a workshop at the Maker Faire and noticed how excited the children were by novel topics in biology and technology. “This little boy came up to me and we started working on his project together, and I started to see his excitement while pipetting, separating solutions, and finally viewing his DNA in a little clump,” Sikri said. “To me, this was an ordinary procedure, something I had done over and over, but to him, this was so special.” Sikri’s experiences and observations at the Maker Faire encouraged her to attend a summer program at UC Berkeley to further her understanding of biotech. “[I] loved learning about how to use features of biological organisms in combination with technology to make a better life,” Sikri said. “I was impacted by the thought that so few kids get the opportunity to explore interests outside of school, and realized I had the ability to make a difference in the community.” Sikri created her first biotechnology course in July of 2019. She hosted a free workshop over the summer and taught over 40 students biotechnology skills. After gaining positive feedback from students and parents, she decided to create a unique approach by simplifying advanced topics into practical and hands-on learning; from there, YTL was born. Sikri’s mission for YTL is to train and mentor underprivileged youth to gain core knowledge for technology and business. There are currently three courses offered virtually: Introduction to Biotechnology, Basics of Business, and Computer Science. When courses started out in person, lessons would include labs such as cheese culturing, DNA extraction, and cell sampling via microscopes. Now that courses have been virtual since the start of the pandemic, lessons include online simulations, video explanations, Kahoot! learning games, and webinars for answering student questions. “I love working with students right now, because they show such a passion for learning new topics, and are always engaging…[It’s] inspiring for me to see the younger generation excited about topics in STEM,” Sikri said. “It is also amazing to see them getting to choose what project to work on, and have an opportunity to apply their learnings in real life.” YTL has taught over 100 students since its inception. Students are able to work on individual projects with mentors from prominent industries. Currently, one of their mentors is a product manager at Amazon and another is a biomedical engineering student at UC Berkeley. Other team members are: Lavi Sundar and Hiranya Sundar, Directors of Curriculum; Saurish Srivastava, Director of Logistics and Finance; Tanish Mendeki, Director of Marketing; and Riya Hariyaplar, Chief Operating Officer. Sundar helps formulate lesson plans and lead weekly sessions. “It is an incredibly rewarding experience—I am constantly learning and growing from my peers and students,” Sundar said. “In a field as vast and rapidly expanding as biotech, it’s sometimes easy to get unmoored and not know where to start. But the never-ending enthusiasm and passion of these future biotech scientists is such a gift!” Srivastava enjoys working with Youth Tech Leaders, as it allows him to share his enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) with his community. “I’m grateful I have the opportunity to make a difference in my neighborhood by promoting STEAM courses and getting a large number of people involved, since I believe that giving back is one of the most rewarding things an individual can do,” Srivastava said. “Seeing children intrigued by our discoveries and engrossed in the ways in which they can make a difference is one of the many aspects that truly motivates me.” As of February 2021, YTL is working on a summer course with the Silicon Valley Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Sikri hopes to expand YTL into other chapters across California and to partner with various organizations in order to reach more students. “In the near future, I would hope to have more students enrolled and even host in-person workshops once everyone is vaccinated,” Sikri said. “I am also planning a career webinar, to give students opportunities to ask professionals about their careers and gain guidance.” YTL is open to anyone in the Bay Area. To sign up for their courses or partner with them, visit their website at youthtechleaders.com.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]