Acacia Creek’s patriotic flair
Article and photos by Stephanie Gertsch
Senior living facility Acacia Creek in Union City creates a supportive and comfortable community for its residents, including little touches that contribute so much to a complete lifestyle. One custom is decorating the lobby and common areas with festive flourishes reflecting major holidays. Currently, the theme is 4th of July, with plenty of American flags and red, white & blue ribbon.
These displays are courtesy of decorator Jose Herrera, known in the Acacia Creek community as a midnight fairy who comes in after hours and vanishes before morning, leaving the space transformed.
If you are interested in learning more about Acacia Creek, visit their website at http://www.acaciacreek.org/ or give them a call at (877) 902-7555.
Alameda County approves final budget
Submitted by Guy Ashley
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors on Friday, June 28 approved a $3.5 billion Alameda County Budget for fiscal year 2019-20 that is balanced and closes a $60.4 million funding gap without reductions to services or staff.
The final budget includes funding increases to community service providers, allows the county to continue building its financial reserves, and supports a workforce of 9,900 employees. The budget reflects the priorities outlined in the county’s long-term Strategic Vision, known as Vision 2026, by supporting efforts to address countywide challenges such as homelessness, an affordable housing shortfall, and the need to maintain and improve aging infrastructure.
The budget was adopted as Alameda County continues to benefit from a strong local economy, with unemployment hovering at an historic low of 2.7 percent as of April. But county officials warn that tougher times could soon be ahead.
“After years of economic strength, signs of an economic downturn in the near future are stronger than they have been in years,” said Susan S. Muranishi, Alameda County Administrator. “This possibility means we could soon be facing significant additional challenges in funding core services for county residents.
The continued strength of the local real estate market has fueled a 7.1 percent in the county’s assessment, resulting in additional funding to support increases to many of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs)-that receive county support. The final budget calls for annual spending to grow to $625 million to nearly 300 CBOs that provide health and human services, housing, community development and public safety services.
In addition, Alameda County continues to devote substantial resources to address the region’s worsening homelessness problem. The final budget contains $130.2 million in increased spending on homelessness as called for in the Homelessness Action Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors last year. Under the plan, the county is committed to spend nearly $340 million over the next three years to address homelessness on multiple fronts. Since passage of the Homelessness Action Plan the county has secured additional funding bringing total spending on homelessness across the three years to $357 million.
The county’s $60.4 million funding gap represents the difference between the cost of maintaining existing programs and projected revenues. The final budget closes nearly half of the fiscal year2019-20 funding gap by using Fiscal Management Reward savings accrued by county agencies/departments that have operated well within budget to avoid future funding cuts and maintain the continuity of services.
For Alameda County, concerns about a coming recession are heightened by the county’s growing reliance on support from state and federal sources, which account for more than 60% of the county’s general fund. A recession would likely bring deep state budget deficits, which inevitably lead to cuts to local funding. In addition, historic levels of federal debt would limit the federal government’s ability to stimulate a slow economy and could prompt more local funding cuts.
“We know that when there is budget pain in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, it is always going to be passed on to local communities like Alameda County,” said Supervisor Keith Carson, Chairman of Alameda County’s Budget Workgroup.
Alameda County Fire Department
Submitted by ACFD
Wednesday, July 3
- At about 8:33 p.m. Alameda County and Fremont fighters responded to a vegetation fire in the area of 1 Marshlands Road at the Don Edwards Wildlife Visitor Center in Fremont. The fire was contained to one acre. There were no injuries. The cause is under investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
MAD magazine leaving newsstands after 67-year run (Really!)
By Rachel Lerman
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jul 04 – MAD, the long-running satirical magazine that influenced everyone from “Weird Al” Yankovic to the writers of “The Simpsons,” will be leaving newsstands after its August issue. Really.
The illustrated humor magazine – instantly recognizable by the gap-toothed smiling face of mascot Alfred E. Neuman – will still be available in comic shops and through mail to subscribers. But after its fall issue it will just reprint previously published material.
The only new material will come in special editions at the end of the year.
DC, the division of Warner Brothers that publishes the magazine, said MAD will pull from nostalgic cartoons and parodies published over the magazine's 67-year run.
As Neuman would say, “What, me worry?” Worry not, for MAD has more than 550 issues packed full of political parodies and edgy humor to pull from.
The magazine set itself apart as a cultural beacon for decades with its unabashed tendency to make fun of anything and push conventional boundaries. One of MAD's best known comic series, Spy vs. Spy, featured two spies with beak-like faces and big eyes – costumes that are still regularly worn on Halloween.
It even seemingly parodied fellow popular magazine Playboy, with its Fold-In feature that appeared in nearly every issue. But instead of featuring scantily-clad models, the Fold-In printed – what else? – another joke.
DC will keep publishing MAD special collections and books.
Illustrators and comedians, including one-time guest editor Yankovic, mourned the magazine's effective closure.
“It's pretty much the reason I turned out weird,” he wrote on Twitter.
Josh Weinstein, a writer and producer of “The Simpsons” – which has referenced MAD many times – thanked the magazine on Twitter for its inspiring effect on eras of comedy.
“There was a moment in so many of our childhoods where you were the greatest thing ever,” he wrote.
Comedian Harry Shearer, the voice of several characters on “The Simpsons,” cracked on Twitter: “An American institution has closed. And who wants to live in an institution?”
When President Donald Trump referred to Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as Neuman, while insisting he wouldn't be fit to serve as president, the 37-year-old candidate said he had to Google the reference.
“I guess it's just a generational thing,” Buttigieg told Politico. “I didn't get the reference.”
Cartoonist Evan Dorkin, who worked for MAD, wrote on Twitter that the magazine was long a source of happiness and inspiration for him.
“I hope we provided some smiles to some readers of the past 12 yrs,” he wrote.
The magazine changed as its circumstances did, he wrote, including when the magazine began printing advertisements in 2001 and when it moved from New York City to Burbank, California, at the end of 2017. That move warped MAD's identity, Dorkin said.
MAD was long a venue for comic artists and cartoonists to grow artistically and shape national conversation. Well-known names such as Al Jaffee, Harvey Kurtzman and Mort Drucker were associated with the magazine for decades.
Baseball
Oakland A's PLAY BALL with Fremont Newark Little Leagues
Submitted by California District 14 Little League
Little League's California District 14 welcomes the Oakland A's “PLAY BALL” presented by Bank of America to Fremont, Saturday, July 13 at Marshall Park, home of Fremont American Little League.
The A's “PLAY BALL” is a free and family-oriented two-hour event that brings fun baseball and softball-related activities to East Bay parks every weekend throughout the MLB season. There are multiple stations that are adaptable to kids of all ages. This fun-filled event starts at 12 noon and runs until 2 p.m. There will be pick-up style baseball games, baseball and softball skill stations, and more. No equipment or experience is required.
Along with the PLAY BALL festivities, California District 14 will also be hosting Little League's California Section 3 9-10-11 Year Old International Baseball Tournament at the baseball fields of Fremont American Little League. This All-Star baseball tournament will feature teams from the Union City-Hayward-Castro Valley, Pleasanton-Livermore to Danville and San Mateo County Little Leagues, along with a representative from Fremont-Newark, competing to reach the Little League Northern California State Championship for 9-10-11 year-olds.
The Northern California Section 3 Tournament opens on Saturday, July 13 with Game 1 at 11 a.m., as California District 52 (San Mateo County) plays California District 57 (Pleasanton-Livermore to Danville). Game 2 follows at 2 p.m. with Fremont-Newark's California District 14 playing California District 45 (Union City-Hayward-Castro Valley).
It is a great opportunity for you and your children to experience a full day of baseball-related activities and games and watch Little League International Tournament Baseball.
“We are very happy to bring the A's PLAY BALL program to Fremont and Newark”, declared California District 14 Administrator, Bruce Marcellus. “The A's are very supportive, donating uniforms to many of the Fremont and Newark leagues. We were very excited when they reached out to Fremont American Little League to host this event”, continued Mr. Marcellus, “Little League is all about community. Children play with their friends from their neighborhood or school in leagues near them, building special bonds with other children, while playing softball or baseball. And in Little League, every child plays in every game”.
California District 14 has seven baseball leagues – six in Fremont, one in Newark – one softball league that covers all of Fremont and Newark and our Challenger Division, serving girls and boys ages 5 through 16. Families interested in joining their local Little League program can get more information at Fremont American Little League fields during the PLAY BALL event.
Whether you've played baseball for years, or never picked up a bat, kids and adults of all ages are invited to come PLAY BALL with the A's at Marshall Park. For more information and register early, go to: www.athletics.com/playball. Parking for Marshall Park is located at 5301 Curtis Street Fremont, CA 94538.
Rumor has it that the A's lovable mascot Stomper and the A's Green Machine may make an appearance.
For more information on Fremont Newark Little League Baseball and Softball, go to:
https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/cadistrict14llb
To find out where your local Little League is, go to: littleleague.org/play-little-league/league-finder
PLAY BALL
Saturday, Jul 13
12 noon – 2 p.m.
Marshall Park
5301 Curtis St, Fremont
www.athletics.com/playball
email : fnb@bontempodesign.com
2020 Corolla Hybrid: a blend of two classic Toyotas
By Steve Schaefer
It was inevitable, really. The Corolla, Toyota’s oldest nameplate, with 46+ million units sold over 53 years, is now available with the company’s famous hybrid powertrain. Adding two electric motors and a nickel-metal hydride battery to the Corolla’s 1.8-liter gas engine creates the Hybrid Synergy Drive system. It brings up the fuel economy numbers while generating 121 horsepower.
The last gas-only Corolla I tested, almost exactly a year ago, had official EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) numbers of 28 City, 35 Highway, and 31 Combined, and I got 26 mpg during my test. My Blueprint (blue) Hybrid test car, on the other hand, earned EPA figures of 53 City, 52 Highway, and 52 Combined. It got 44.8 mpg during its weeklong stay, again a bit below EPA numbers but much improved over the gas model. EPA green scores for the hybrid are 7 for Smog and a perfect 10 for Greenhouse Gas vs. 3 and 7 for the gas model.
Besides all this efficiency, the 12th-generation 2020 Corolla is completely restyled. Taking its cue from the wildly energized Camry and other recently updated offerings, the new Corolla is more aggressive, with slices for eyes up front and a chiseled taillamp that stretches across the tail.
Inside, the dash and everything else are brought up to modern standards, with an 8-inch touch screen prominently floating above the dash center. Apple CarPlay is finally available, and it provides an up-to-date interface. The six-speaker audio system was decent. The fabric-wrapped seats were comfortable, and as you would expect, everything felt and worked just fine.
As with the Prius and Toyota’s other hybrids, the drivetrain balances use of the gasoline engine with the electric motor, while using regenerative braking to charge up the small battery. The car often used battery only while cruising through town, providing an EV experience. If your battery is full, you can press a button to make the car an EV only, but only under certain conditions.
Choose from three drive modes – Power, Eco, and Normal. I sampled Power briefly, but it’s not really in the spirit of a hybrid to race around. Normal was fine, but Eco, when commuting or in town, gets the most efficiency out of the powertrain.
With no plug, the Corolla requires absolutely no special attention – you just get in and go. The instrument panel and screen provide you with information and incentives to drive intelligently, avoiding stomping on the pedals for quick acceleration or sudden braking. That’s the way to drive any car more efficiently, but with a hybrid, it just makes sense. For each trip I received a score on my driving, based on acceleration, cruising, and braking. When I got a 93 (presumably out of 100) I received an “Excellent Steady Driving” message, but there were other suggestions as well.
The Corolla Hybrid comes only as an LE model, while the standard Corollas offer multiple trim levels. The LE is not the base car, but doesn’t have the upgrades of the XLE level, either. My tester had plastic wheel covers and cloth seats – not premium features. It did boast several options, including a HomeLink frameless rearview mirror ($175), which looked great but a little fancy for the Corolla’s straightforward interior. The Body Protection Package ($467) included body side moldings, a rear bumper protector, door sill enhancements, and a Paint Protection Film ($395) would surely keep your Corolla looking good over its likely very long life, if history is an indicator.
Corollas are made all over the world, but my test car came from Japan. I think it’s the first Japanese-built Toyota I’ve tested in years.
The car is safe, with standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This package includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. That’s a mouthful, but it could save your life.
Corollas have never been expensive cars. The Hybrid starts at $22,950 – $3,000 over the base price of the non-hybrid LE model. The base gas-only Corolla L starts at just $19,500. My tester came to $25,233, with options.
Driving the Corolla Hybrid is pleasant, but not exciting or particularly quiet. My wife commented on the drone of the continuously-variable automatic transmission when we were climbing a grade or entering the freeway, and some road noise permeates the cabin. That’s part of what makes it feel less than premium. I did grow to like the car over a week, as it is honest, and the interior is nicely upgraded. However, the real rewards of ownership are the age-old Corolla virtues – reliability, efficiency, and longevity. You just get more style now, thanks to the 2020 significant update.
California becomes first state to ban hairstyle discrimination
By Kathleen Ronayne
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Jul 4 – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Wednesday a bill making California the first state to ban workplace and school discrimination against black people for wearing hairstyles such as braids, twists and locks.
The law by Democratic Sen. Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles, a black woman who wears her hair in locks, makes California the first state to explicitly say that those hairstyles are associated with race and therefore protected against discrimination in the workplace and in schools.
“We are changing the course of history, hopefully, across this country by acknowledging that what has been defined as professional hair styles and attire in the workplace has historically been based on a Euro-centric model – based on straight hair,” Mitchell said.
Stephanie Hunter-Ray, who works at a makeup counter, says she typically wears her hair braided or in an afro, but one day she showed up to work with it straightened and styled in a bob. Her manager told Hunter-Ray her hair had never looked so normal.
“It bothered me,” Hunter-Ray said in an interview at the hair salon she owns in Sacramento that specializes in natural hair styles. “What do you mean by `normal?' Your normal is not my normal. My normal is my ‘fro or my braids.”
Alikah Hatchett-Fall, who runs Sacred Crowns Salon in Sacramento, said she's had black men come into her salon asking to have their hair cut off because they can't find jobs.
The law, she said, “means that psychologically and mentally people can be at ease and be able to get the jobs they want, keep the jobs they want, and get promoted at the jobs they want.”
California's new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, is significant because federal courts have historically held that hair is a characteristic that can be changed, meaning there's no basis for discrimination complaints based on hairstyle. The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear the case of an Alabama woman who said she didn't get a job because she refused to change her hair.
The issue burst into public view last December, when a black high school wrestler in New Jersey was told by a referee that he had to cut off his dreadlocks if he wanted to compete. California's Democratic governor said the video was a clear example of the discrimination black Americans face.
“His decision whether or not to lose an athletic competition or lose his identity came into, I think, stark terms for millions of Americans,” Newsom said before signing the bill alongside Mitchell and half a dozen advocates. “That is played out in workplaces, it's played out in schools – not just athletic competitions and settings – every single day all across America in ways subtle and overt.”
Though California is the first state with such a law, New York City earlier this year issued legal guidance banning discrimination against someone based on their hairstyle. The beauty company Dove is part of a coalition pushing for more hairstyle protections, and Mitchell said she hopes other states follow California.
Mitchell's bill adds language to the state's discrimination laws to say that “race” also includes “traits historically associated with race,” including hair texture and protective hairstyles. It further defines protective hairstyles as braids, twists and locks.
The term locks, or “locs,” is the preferred term to dreadlocks, which has a derogatory connotation.
At Hunter-Ray's studio, Exquisite U, on Wednesday, her stylists and customers reflected on the new law.
Shereen Africa, who was having her hair re-braided by Elicia Drayton, said she used to work at a television station in Mississippi where a black anchor quit after facing resistance to wearing her hair in locks. Africa said she did not wear her hair in braids at the job, even though she wasn't on air, because the environment wasn't supportive of it.
“If I'm in a professional setting, I won't wear my hair in certain ways,” she said.
An anchor at a different Mississippi TV station made national news when she said she was fired after she stopped straightening her hair.
“You want to go to work and feel free,” Drayton said. “You don't want to have to feel like you have to put on a wig, or you have to have your hair straight to please someone else.”
BART Police Log
Submitted by BART PD
Friday, June 28
- At 7:58 p.m. a woman identified by police as Thalia Marina, 23, of Richmond was arrested at the Hayward station on suspicion of domestic violence. She was issued a prohibition order and booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Monday, July 1
- At 8 a.m. a man identified by police as Cole Wright, 25, of Oakland was arrested at the Bay Fair station in San Leandro on an outstanding $20,000 grand theft warrant issued by the El Cerrito Police Department. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Tuesday, July 2
- At 8:49 a.m. a man identified by police as John Savu, 64, of Oakland was arrested at the Bay Fair station in San Leandro on two outstanding warrants out of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Thursday, July 4
- At 1:01 p.m. a man identified by police as James Ramsey, 23, of Oakland was arrested at the Fremont station on suspicion of probation violation. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Applicants sought for police chief advisory board
Submitted by Lt. Robert McManus
The San Leandro Police Department is looking for people who are interested in helping to make a difference in their community by joining the Police Chief’s Advisory Board.
The board is comprised of community members who represent many segments of the city. Created in 2013, the focus of the board is to be a community resource for the police department and police chief in the formation of public safety strategies, development of community policing concepts and increasing public awareness. The board is intended to provide a forum for discussions surrounding community concerns, with a goal to have a broad spectrum of viewpoints represented.
Tasks appointed members are asked to do include:
- Act as a sounding board for the chief of police regarding community needs and concerns, as well as provide community feedback for proposed police programs and priorities.
- Apprise the chief of police directly of the community’s need for police services and feedback on the delivery of services.
- Assist in educating the community at large about the function and role of the San Leandro Police Department.
- Attend monthly meetings at the San Leandro Police Station.
“The San Leandro Police Department is committed to working in partnership with the people of San Leandro to build a safe and secure community. I recognize the importance of involving the community to help combat crime and deliver the highest quality of service to the City of San Leandro. We are stronger together preserving safety in our city and the quality of life we all deserve,” said Chief Jeff Tudor.
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Applications will be accepted through August 30. To participate, board members must be a San Leandro resident or own a business in the city. For more information about the Police Chief’s Advisory Board, including a link to apply for a position, visit the Board’s website at www.sanleandro.org/depts/pd/programs/cab/default.asp.
Subhead: Prevent debt collectors from emptying back accounts
Assembly Committee passes Bill 616
Submitted by Jeff Barbosa
Senator Bob Wieckowski’s (D-Fremont) Senate Bill 616, ensuring that at least $2,000 must be left in a bank account when it is levied by a debt collector, passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on June 25. The bill now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
“SB 616 will help a low-income person keep funds for rent, food and other basic living expenses if a debt collector levies her account,” said Wieckowski. “Millions of Californians are living in poverty, surviving paycheck-to-paycheck. By preventing debt collectors from zeroing out a person’s account, as they can today, we will prevent more Californians from falling deeper into poverty and being evicted from their home or apartment. This bill does not eliminate the responsibility to pay the debt, but it does ensure more financial stability for people struggling to make ends meet.”
SB 616 allows for the $2,000 protection per individual, not per bank account. With the average Californian owing $15,000 in non-mortgage debt, including student loans, medical, auto and credit-card debt, having a minimal amount protected from a bank levy, improves a person’s ability to care for herself. The bill will also reduce the likelihood that more Californians will become unbanked and turn to high-priced check-cashing services.
The claim of exemption process that individuals can use is cumbersome, time-consuming, and only protects funds after the money has been levied, when people might already be evicted or have taken on payday loans to avoid an eviction.
Foreign Service Officers to get driver’s license extension
Submitted by Jeff Barbosa
Foreign Service Officers from California representing the United States abroad, and their spouses, would be able to get an extension for their driver’s license that would keep it in full effect for the duration of the time they are serving abroad, under Senate Bill 267 authored by Sen. Bob Wieckowski. The bill was approved on July 1 by the Assembly Transportation Committee. SB 267 would give Foreign Service Officers the same type of driver’s license extension given to our Armed Forces. The bill now goes to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.
“Our Foreign Service Officers represent our country in more than 270 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions all over the world,” said Wieckowski. Some are assigned to “hardship” posts where living conditions are difficult due to a range of factors such as crime, health care, or pollution. Given the lengthy tours and the need for a state license to obtain local and international driver’s licenses, SB 267 would keep their state license valid for 30 days upon their return to California.”
Park It
By Ned MacKay
As the summer season reaches its peak, there’s lots to see and to do in the East Bay Regional Park District.
For instance, original work by local artists will be showcased in an exhibit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, July 13, 14, 20, and 21 at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. The paintings reflect the variety and beauty of the area’s landscapes.
From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, a hunt for beetles during a nature walk at Big Break will reveal how insects benefit the environment. Big Break also plans “Second Sunday Campfires,” from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. July 14 and August 11. Attend these family-friendly evenings to explore the park through activities and a campfire with s’mores. Bring a picnic to enjoy before the program starts. The campfire theme on July 14 is “What’s in the Water,” and the theme on August 11 is “Stories of the Night Sky” – with optional stargazing from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road, off Oakley’s Main Street. Call (888) 327-2757, ext. 3050.
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For a more strenuous adventure, join naturalist Kevin Dixon on a “Night Challenge” hike from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. The 8½-mile hike, for ages 12 and up, is over steep, uneven terrain with at least 1,500 feet of elevation gain. Registration is required; for more information, call (888) 327-2757, select option 2 and refer to program number 25763.
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Meet reptiles from 11 a.m. to 12 noon Saturdays, July 13 and July 27 at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley. Naturalist Trent Pearce will help visitors get up close and personal with live snakes and turtles.
Naturalist Jenna Collins will lead a felting program from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 14. Visitors can learn how to turn sheep’s wool into cloth and make their own felted creation. Collins will also host an ice cream making session from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sundays, July 14 and July 28. Turn a crank to make ice cream the old-fashioned way.
To participate in all three programs, meet at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, north end of Central Park Drive. For information, call (510) 544-2233.
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Wednesday Walks are naturalist-led explorations of various regional parks, and everyone is welcome. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, and dress for the weather. Led by Christina Garcia, a Wednesday Walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. July 17 at Garin Regional Park in Hayward. The walk is a moderately strenuous 4-miler up a secluded canyon and along shady Dry Creek.
Garin Regional Park is at the end of Garin Avenue, off Mission Boulevard. Meet Christina at the park’s Garin Barn Interpretive Center. Call (510) 544-3282.
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“Canine Capers” walks are a monthly series of naturalist-led strolls with a friend, furry, or otherwise. Attend the walk from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, led by naturalist Kristina Parkison.
The walk is for ages 8 and up (human). Registration is required; for details, call (888) 327-2757, select option 2 and refer to program 25713.
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Del Valle Regional Park, south of Livermore, offers campfire programs from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every Friday through August 30; 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every Saturday through August 17; and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, August 24 and August 31. The Friday campfires’ theme is “Days of the Pioneers,” and Saturdays’ theme is “Night with a Naturalist. Drop by anytime for hands-on activities and stories.
The park is at the end of Del Valle Road, off Mines Road about 10 miles south of Livermore. For information on the campfires, call Sunol Regional Wilderness at (510) 544-3249.
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These aren’t even half of the programs available in the regional parks. For full information, visit www.ebparks.org.
NOTE: Mine tours are not continuing as usual at Black Diamond Mines in Antioch. The tours have been suspended until fall, while construction work is underway at the Greenhouse Visitor Center.
Editorial
Come a little bit closer
In a little café just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there givin' me looks that made my mouth water
So I started walking her way
She belonged to that man, José
And I knew, yes I knew I should leave
When I heard her say, yeah
Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone
And the night is so long
Written by: Wes Farrell, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart
In nature, many species attract prey or beneficial companions through color, odor and location. In some situations, prey may have some experience with harmful tactics but, nonetheless, fall victim to the allure of the predator. Nature has a way of providing sustenance for life at all levels of the food chain; sometimes it involves some creative, yet barbaric survival tactics.
Mankind has evolved to the top of the food chain and has, among other sentient beings, organized into social behaviors. Powerful attractive forces are at work within our own environment, just as the spider spins its web to catch an unwary fly. Mythical Sirens lured sailors to doom with sweet sounds; the human equivalent is a song of money, power and prestige – hard to resist, especially for those granted the opportunity to govern.
An example of this lure is the current obsession at all levels of government to solve a housing crisis that plagues the Bay Area. Navigation Centers are the current rage for homelessness and conversion of suburban and rural settings to mega “campuses” and massive buildings of urbanization are on the menu for the Irvington District of Fremont and along the Dumbarton Bridge corridor. As three- and four- story buildings give way to five and six story monoliths, the lure of development and its perceived riches can be intoxicating.
Jay & the Americans 1964 hit song “Come a Little Bit Closer” might be considered an allegory to this flirtation with possibly disastrous consequences of a seemingly enjoyable and positive experience. Just like the protagonist of the song, everything looks okay with, maybe, a tinge of misgiving. We build and build with a wink and nod toward disappearing neighborhoods, districts and quality of life. Termed a strategically urban community, Fremont’s General Plan calls for “intense development around transit stations and along transit corridors.” In contrast, a Community Character Element emphasizes the notion that “new development should be compatible and respectful of existing development without compromising the capacity for innovation, urbanism, and cutting-edge design.”
The enchantress of urbanization is waiting…
What could possibly go wrong?
Environmental Quality Committee OKs resolution on plastic waste
Submitted by Jeff Barbosa
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee on July 3 approved with bipartisan support Senate Resolution 47 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to urge the United States to ratify the Basel Convention, an international treaty to reduce the movement of hazardous waste and mixed plastic waste.
“The growing patch of plastic pollution in the ocean and the amount of illegal dumping and burning of waste is a global problem that must be confronted,” said Wieckowski. “With China and other nations banning the import of some plastics, plastic-coated papers, and other recyclables, California and the rest of the United States must do better in reducing waste and implementing more producer responsibility recycling policies. By joining this international treaty, we will have a seat at the table and more input in strengthening accountability and transparency over the transport of international waste.”
The Basel Convention includes 187 nations. It consists of protocols for prior informed consent between nations who are sending and receiving waste and recyclable materials. The U.S. Senate gave consent to ratification in the early 1990s, but the House of Representatives failed to restrict the import and export of hazardous waste and the state department was therefore unable to finalize the ratification.
“It’s clear that mixed plastic waste exported from the United States is resulting in plastic pollution in the developing world and contributing to ocean pollution,” said Mark Murray of the environmental group Californians Against Waste. “While most of the world has signed the Basel Treaty banning this practice, the United States has failed to do so. Wieckowski’s SR 47 would add California’s voice in support of urging ratification of the Basel Convention.”
Express to De-Stress
Submitted by Pallas Wang
Being a teen means dealing with a variety of stress—whether from school, family, or just the constant stream of dour news that bombards us through social media. One way to deal with stress is to channel inner anxiety into a creative outlet: processing emotions and reaching out to others at the same time. SoundPost offers Bay Area youth ages 12 – 18 (or rising 7-12 graders) the chance to turn negative emotions into positive outreach through their “Express to De-Stress” contest, accepting submissions through Wednesday, July 31.
The SoundPost Youth Foundation was founded in the Silicon Valley in 2014 with the primary goal of creating a platform for youth to utilize their talents – musical or otherwise – and interact with the community. SoundPost assists these students’ developments by providing various activities for them to participate in, and in encouraging them to be independent and recognize their strengths. Through this community engagement and outreach program, SoundPost hopes that its members will gain self-confidence, face challenges bravely, be resourceful, give generously and establish a foundation for a well-rounded life.
Express to Destress has two tiers. For Step 1, all you need to do is fill out a survey about yourself and your current stress level. Step 2, the creative project, teens have the chance to create a 15-second to two-minute inspirational video on how they alleviate stress and stay positive. Humor is a plus! If you’re looking for inspiration, past finalists can be viewed at http://soundpostcontest.weebly.com/finalist-video-entries.html.
Why should you join? Well, teens have inevitably experienced high levels of stress in their lives at one point or another, and this contest allows them to utilize their creativity and gives them a break from the harsh realities of school, extracurriculars, and the like to talk exactly about what makes them feel happy and relaxed. What better of a way to spend your time? If that’s not enough, contestants will be eligible for a variety of awards, ranging from raffle prizes (including an AirPod set) to gift cards and $100-300 scholarships.
SoundPost Youth is also looking for Express to Destress (E2D) teen captains to help with outreach for this contest. Responsibilities include inviting 10+ people to participate, doing two to eight hours of outreach, and filling out the survey. In return, you earn some valuable community service hours—and you get to vote on the winners. An awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 11 at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose.
Visit http://soundpostyouth.org/express-to-de-stress.html for more details and to enter! Or email questions to soundpostyouth@gmail.com.
Schedule:
July 31: Survey/video submission deadline
August 15: Finalists announced
August 16 – 31: Voting period
September 8: Awards Ceremony
Express to Destress Awards Ceremony
Sunday, Sept 8
Milpitas Library
160 N Main St., Milpitas
12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
http://soundpostyouth.org/index.html
Facebook to make jobs, credit ads searchable
By Frank Bajak
AP Technology Writer
BOSTON (AP), Jun 30 – Facebook says it plans to make advertisements for U.S. jobs and loans and credit card offers searchable for all users.
That's in addition to how the social media giant currently delivers ads – customized for individuals based on data harvested from their digital activity.
Creation of the jobs and credit databases is a voluntary expansion by Facebook of a legal settlement it reached in March following lawsuits complaining of age, race, gender and other discrimination blamed on Facebook's highly customized ad-targeting.
As part of that settlement, Facebook agreed to make its U.S. housing ads searchable by location and advertiser.
An internal audit Facebook published Sunday says that database will be ready by year's end. Audit leader Laura Murphy says she expects the jobs and credit products databases to be available within the next year.
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AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay contributed to this story from San Francisco.
Zuckerberg says company ‘evaluating' deepfake video policy
By Barbara Ortutay
AP Technology Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jun 26 – Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the company is evaluating how it should handle “deepfake” videos created with artificial intelligence and high-tech tools to yield false but realistic clips.
In an interview at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado on Wednesday, Zuckerberg said it might make sense to treat such videos differently from other misinformation such as false news. Facebook has long held that it should not decide what is and isn't true, leaving such calls instead to outside fact-checkers.
But Zuckerberg says it's worth asking whether deepfakes are a “completely different category” from regular false statements. He says developing a policy on these videos is “really important” as AI technology grows more sophisticated.
Facebook, like other social media companies, does not have a specific policy against deepfakes, whose potential threat has emerged only in the last couple of years. Company executives have said in the past that it makes sense to look at them under the broader umbrella of false or misleading information. But Zuckerberg is signaling that this view might be changing, leaving open the possibility that Facebook might ban deepfakes altogether.
Doing so, of course, could get complicated. Satire, art and political dissent could be swept up in any overly broad ban, creating more headaches from Facebook.
Other false videos could still get a pass. For instance, the recent altered video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that made her sound like she was slurring her words does not meet the definition of a deepfake.
Fallen Heroes Does Not Forget
By Johnna M. Laird
Photos courtesy of Fallen Heroes
Split seconds change lives forever. Moments on March 21, 2009 left four Oakland police officers dead, forever altering life for families and loved ones. A convicted felon gunned down two officers during a traffic stop and later slayed two more, wounding a fifth as he holed up in an apartment building. This marked the largest loss of police officers in a single day since 911.
Oakland Fire Battalion Chief Tom Gallinatti received a phone call the next day that changed the course of his next 10 years. Diablo Country Club was calling, asking Gallinatti to fundraise for families of the slain officers. Gallinatti knew one of the officers personally, how could he say no?
With 35 years career fire service, Gallinatti jumped in and organized a celebrity golf tournament, raising $40,000. The experience opened his eyes to a bigger need. A state-wide nonprofit, Police and Fire Fallen Heroes, was launched with a mission to pay tribute to police and fire service personnel who died performing duties in California and provide support for families and agencies left grieving the loss.
Since the nonprofit began, Gallinatti has served as Chief Executive Officer of a cadre of 10 – 20 law enforcement and fire personnel volunteers. Police and Fire Fallen Heroes has raised more than $400,000, earning charity database GuideStar’s top rating, and honoring 96 police and fire personnel killed in action. Fundraising for Fallen Heroes gave Gallinatti’s life new direction and meaning as he headed into retirement. “I knew I wasn’t ready to stop giving and serving,” he says.
Police and Fire Fallen Heroes will mark its 10th anniversary this year with a “Tribute Dinner and Concert” on Sunday, July 21, at the San Ramon Marriott, a first-of-its-kind event for the nonprofit. More than 300 are expected to attend. The event includes both silent and live auctions, scholarship award presentations, dinner, and a live concert with dancing to Mersey Beach, described as a Northern California’s premier party band, with a playlist ranging from the 60s to 2019. San Jose Sharks broadcaster Randy Hahn will serve as master of ceremonies. “America’s Singing Policeman,” Daniel Rodriguez, a Ground Zero Survivor and retired New York Police Office, will also entertain.
Dinner and concert will be followed by golf and bocce tournaments the next day on July 22 at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Tournament day starts at 8:30 a.m. with cook-to-order breakfast followed by a Call-to-Carts at 10:30 a.m. and Bocce at noon. A 19th Hole Reception at 4:30 p.m. includes a silent auction and ends the fundraiser. Celebrity tournament host is Tower of Power veteran guitarist Jeff Tamelier. Major League Baseball pitcher Vida Blue, who played for the Oakland As, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals, will be among those on the golf course.
Lou Cuneo of Fremont, a Fallen Heroes volunteer, is responsible for the 40-page event that includes biographies of those killed in action in the last year and information on scholarship recipients. Before high school graduation, Fallen Heroes contacts children of those who died in action to notify them to apply. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 – $6,000 and are renewable.
Cuneo began volunteering with Fallen Heroes a year ago after Andrew Camilleri, a young Highway Patrol Officer he knew, was killed on December 24, 2017 by a drunk driver, leaving behind a wife and three small children. To honor and remember Camilleri, Cuneo attended a Fallen Heroes fundraiser. Cuneo’s 50 years in public service, including 20 years with Atlanta Fire, naturally drew him to Fallen Heroes. Cuneo has served in a range of capacities, including designing posters and banners. Officially known as an ambassador, Cuneo is also gathering auction donations. Wherever he goes, he strikes up conversations about Fallen Heroes. “Fallen Heroes allows me to give back to the people who have lost someone in their family,” he says.
In the last year, Fallen Heroes, operating out of donated space in Walnut Creek, has hired its first full-time employee to expand fundraising and corporate partnerships. “We realized we can’t grow without paid staff.,” says Gallinatti. “We need corporate sponsors that believe in the cause.” Partnerships with organizations like California Pizza Kitchen helped Fallen Heroes provide immediate food support after 26-year old Tara O’Sullivan of Sacramento, was killed as she responded to a domestic violence call.
The organization has recruited more than 20 entertainment volunteers and nearly the same number of supporters in national sports, including former San Francisco 49’er Gary Plummer from Fremont whose dad was among Fremont Police Department’s first officers. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger who piloted the US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency landing on the Hudson River, saving 155 lives, is also among celebrities supporting the nonprofit.
Fallen Heroes expects to increase its presence in the next two years in Southern California when one of Gallinatti’s friends in fire service retires. Word of the organization has spread beyond California. As of June 2019, volunteers in Nevada have established Police and Fire Fallen Heroes to serve their state.
Fallen Heroes Tribute Dinner and Concert
Sunday, July 21
4 p.m.
San Ramon Marriott
2600 Bishop Dr., San Ramon
Tribute dinner: $175
Golf & Bocce Tournament
Monday, July 22
8:30 a.m.
Round Hill Country Club
3169 Roundhill Rd., Alamo
Bocce only $100
Golf only $250
Bocce and tribute dinner $185
Golf and tribute dinner $400
(925) 831-2011
info@thosewhoserved.org
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD
Tuesday, July 2
- At about 8:50 p.m. Sgt. McCormick was patrolling the area of the Fremont Hub shopping center when he spotted three males holding what appeared to be computers and phones get into a vehicle being driven by a woman and exiting the parking lot. McCormick called for backup; additional officers and detectives responded to the area. Meanwhile, a 911 caller reported the AT&T store at the shopping center had just been robbed. McCormick made a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle which stopped in the eastbound Mowry Avenue turn pocket for northbound Fremont Boulevard.
Immediately three men got out and ran north on Fremont Boulevard. The driver, identified by police as Tiana Cook, 22, of Richmond was taken into custody. A perimeter was set up to find the men. At 10:47 p.m. a search team found Demareia Duncan, 21, hiding in the backyard of a residence on the 4100 block of Bell Common. The two other suspects were not found. All of the stolen property was recovered from the vehicle. Duncan and Cook were booked into jail and face robbery charges. An investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police investigators at 1 (510) 790-6900. Anonymous tips can be sent via text at FremontPD followed by a short message to 888-777 or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.
Get ready to party in the street
Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce
Photos by Roelle Balan
Third Thursdays are going to be a hit with the 2019 “Downtown Hayward Street Parties.” If you missed the first in the series on June 20, don’t worry about being a little late to the party. The fun continues on July 18 and August 15. Bring your friends and family to enjoy live bands, food, classic car show, street entertainers, kids’ rides, Alan the Amazing, and face painters. Brews will be served in the beer garden adjacent the Bank of the West Stage.
At the July party, the B Street Main Stage will feature Third Sol while Mitch Polzak and the Royal Deuces perform at the Bistro Patio and attendees will find Mission Dilirium at the Newman Park Stage. Additional stage performances include DJ Robert Hoffman’s Club Nowhere at the Moler Cosmetology School Stage and DJ Robert Louis at Car Show Central. Performers at the Buffalo Bill’s Stage have not yet been confirmed.
“It says a lot about Hayward that our participants look at the street parties as a family reunion,” said Kim Huggett, president of Hayward Chamber of Commerce. “These are events that not only are family-friendly, but the coolness factor is there, too.”
The street party series is made possible through a partnership of the Downtown Hayward Improvement Association, City of Hayward and Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call (510) 537-2424 or visit https://www.hayward-ca.gov/discover/events/june-2019-downtown-hayward-third-thursday-street-party.
Hayward Street Parties
Third Thursdays: Jul 18 & Aug 15
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Downtown Hayward
B St, Foothill Blvd to Watkins St, Hayward
(510) 537-2424
https://www.hayward-ca.gov/discover/events/
Hayward City Council
July 2, 2019
Presentations:
- League of California Cities Diversity Award Presentation
Public Comments:
- Residents of the Bunker Hill neighborhood voiced concerns over development plans
- Downtown business owner who witnessed a street mugging asked that the City do more to protect people
Consent Calendar:
- Ordinance requiring seismic screening of certain residential buildings
- Resolution confirming the report of non-abatable code violations and penalty liens associated with community preservation and rental housing programs
- Resolution confirming the report and special assessment for past-due residential rental inspection program fees for the period from January 1, 2018 – May 4, 2019 and authorize a special assessment against the properties if not paid on or before August 1, 2019
- Resolution confirming report and assessment for community preservation fees past due
- Agreements with Consolidated Engineering Laboratories, Signet, and Applied Materials & Engineering for on-call material testing and special inspection services for three years and a not-to-exceed amount of $200,000 per firm
- Agreement with Dutchover & Associates for landscape architect services
Consent Calendar passed 6-0
Public Hearings:
- Introduction of an ordinance amending the downtown specific plan and development code (five minor changes). Item passed 6-0
- Amendment of the fiscal year 2020 Master Fee Schedule to increase fees associated with administration of the new residential rent stabilization and tenant protection ordinance and the mobile home space rent stabilization ordinance. Item passed 6-0
- Proposed recycled water rate increase and connection fees. Item passed 6-0
- Proposed water and sewer service rate increase and connection fees. Item passed 6-0
Legislative Business:
- Resolution to appropriate $30,000 towards public art and interpretive signage for the new Heritage Plaza and receive an update on construction. The challenge will be to fairly represent historical events and cultures, including Japanese-American Internment Camps and Native American interests. Item passed 6-0
Council Reports:
- Councilmember Wahab asked staff to request public send emails rather than handing out paper
- Councilmember Marquez reminded public of the July 5 (midnight) deadline to apply to be on a taskforce
- Councilmember Marquez thanked HARD for a wonderful All America Festival
- Councilmember Zermeno thanked staff for a wonderful All America Festival
- Mayor Halliday wished everyone a happy and safe 4th of July
Mayor Barbara Halliday Aye
Sara Lamnin Absent
Francisco Zermeno Aye
Aisha Wahab Aye
Al Mendall Aye
Elisa Marquez Aye
Mark Salinas Aye
California Senate approves homelessness, housing bill
By Andrew Oxford
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Jul 01 – The California Senate approved on Monday what some lawmakers have called a carrot-and-stick approach to the state's housing crunch by setting aside $2.4 billion to address housing and homelessness while setting up a process to punish cities that consistently flout the state's housing policies.
The plan comes amid tensions between housing rights advocates and local governments they accuse of taking a “not in my back yard” attitude to housing even as rents increase, home prices rise beyond reach for many and a growing number of people take to sleeping on the streets across the state.
Assembly Bill 101 incentivizes the construction of housing in some areas and sets aside $650 million in the state budget to address homelessness. It also attempts to allow for faster construction of homeless shelters by scrapping some environmental reviews and making it harder for local officials to delay projects.
While the state is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into addressing homelessness, plans for some new homeless shelters are getting bogged down in court.
“The timelines need to be shorter,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg, a Democrat from Van Nuys, who bemoaned the length of time it can take to build affordable housing or open homeless shelters.
The plan could also land some communities in court if local governments don't allow more housing to be built.
Cities and counties that take steps to promote new housing would be deemed “pro-housing” and rewarded with more grant funding for housing and transportation.
Local governments that don't comply with state housing requirements could face court-imposed fines. In some cases, the court could take over a local government's authority to issue housing permits.
“There is a law, and you've got to abide by the law,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters. “And if you don't, it's nice to have a tool to encourage you along. And that's all this is.”
The state Senate passed the bill by a vote of 39-0, and it is expected to win approval in the Assembly later this week.
Still, the plan amounted to something of a compromise after Newsom's administration sued one city earlier this year over its compliance with the state's housing policies, and local governments raised concerns about state government overreach. Some counties worried they would not get a fair share of money to address homelessness.
Housing has emerged as one of the most contentious issues of California's legislative session. Surveys released over the last several months have shown increases in homelessness across California, and neighboring states are seeing an influx of Californians leaving, in part, a high cost of living.
Some lawmakers argued the bill would not address the cost of building in California and does not do enough to prevent homelessness by helping renters, raising bigger issues of housing that have proven politically fraught.
The biggest housing bill still standing would cap rent increases at 7% plus the rate of inflation for homes older than 10 years.
That bill's author, Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, said Monday he would amend it to include tighter rules on evicting tenants, giving another shot to a separate piece of legislation that sputtered in the Assembly amid heavy opposition.
But the most sweeping proposals have sputtered, such as legislation that would have overridden local zoning laws to allow the construction of more multi-family housing in some areas.
Backers blamed the failure of that bill on pushback from local governments and a “not in my backyard” attitude. But some cities argued it would represent an overreach by the state government and potentially change the character of existing neighborhoods.
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Associated Press writer Adam Beam contributed reporting.
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Monday – Friday, May 3 – Aug 2
Conversation, 7+1 Collective
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Paintings, sculptures, collages from eight female artists
John O'Lague Galleria
777 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-2787
Mondays, May 14 – Dec 30
English Conversation Group
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Practice spoken English
Union City Branch Library
34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 745-1464
Fridays, May 17 – Oct 25
Fremont Street Eats
5:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
Food trucks, beer, wine, music
Town Fair Plaza
39100 State St., Fremont
fremontstreeteats.com
1st & 3rd Tuesdays, May 21 – Aug 20
Castro Valley Street Eats
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Food trucks, activities
Adobe Art Center
20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 881-6735
Saturdays, May 25 – Aug 31
Campfire Program
8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Games, songs and stories around the campfire
Anthony Chabot Campground and Park
9999 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
(510) 690-6677
(510) 544-3187
Tuesdays, May 28 – Aug 27
Practice Your Spoken English R
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Chat session for intermediate and up English learners
Fremont Main Library Fukaya Room A
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 574-2063
Mondays & Wednesdays, Jun 17 – Jul 24
Jenny Lin Program
6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
For orchestra, band and chorus students
Proctor Elementary
17520 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
jennylinfoundation.org
Monday – Thursday, Jun 17 – Aug 8
Mr. Hirsch's Tie Collection
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Eclectic tie collection
Ohlone College Newark Campus
39399 Cherry St., Newark
(510) 742-2300
Mondays & Wednesdays, Jun 17 – Aug 8
Beginning Technology Skills R
1:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
Free noncredit course on Microsoft Office
Ohlone College Newark Campus
39399 Cherry St., Newark
(510) 742-2300
Thursdays, Jun 20 – Sep 19
Fatherhood Class
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Relationship & parenting, management, job search skills
Fremont Family Resource Center, Pacific Room #H800
39155 Liberty St. (at Capitol), Fremont
(888) 308-1767
Friday – Sunday, Jun 21 – Jul 27
As We See It
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mixed media and sculpture from Sun Gallery members
Sun Gallery
1015 E St., Hayward
(510) 581-4050
www.sungallery.org
Wednesday, Jun 26 – Aug 14
Chess Club
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Chess for kids going into grades 2-6
Irvington Library
41825 Greenpark Dr., Fremont
(510) 795-2626
Thursday – Sunday, Jun 28 – Jul 27
Guild Members Juried Show
12 noon – 5 p.m.
Exhibition of two and three-dimensional art
Olive Hyde Art Gallery
123 Washington Blvd., Fremont
(510) 791-4357
www.olivehydeartguild.org
Fridays, Jun 28 Aug 30
Teach Seniors Technology
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Computer or cell phone questions answered
Milpitas Senior Center
40 North Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas
(408) 586-3400
Fridays, Jun 28 – Aug 30
GO the Game Club
3:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Learn to play this ancient game of strategy
Union City Branch Library
34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 745-1464
Saturdays, Jun 29 – Aug 31
Zumba Kids
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Dances, games. Wear comfy shoes and clothes
New Hope Community Church
2190 Peralta Blvd., Fremont
(510) 739-0430
Monday – Saturday, Jul 1 – Jul 31
Local Color
10:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Pastel and oil landscape paintings by Mary K. Stahl
Portola Art Gallery-Allied Arts Guild
75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park
(650) 321-0220
Fridays, Jul 5 – Jul 19
Summer Family Storytime and Craft
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Fun with stories and crafts. Ages 3-5
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1421
www.aclibrary.org
Mondays, Jul 1 – Aug 12
Teen Summer DIY
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Join teen librarians for creative fun
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1421
www.aclibrary.org
Saturdays-Sundays, Jul 6 – Aug 31
Nature Crafts
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Discover the natural world through your artistic side
Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3249
www.ebparks.org
Saturdays & Sundays, Jul 6 – Aug 31
Wild Wonders
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Games, activities, crafts for all ages
Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3249
Sundays, Jul 7 – Jul 14
Hayward Municipal Band Concerts in the Park
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Variety of music including big band, classical, and pop
Tony Morelli Bandstand in Memorial Park
24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward
(510) 881-6766
Sundays, Jul 7 – Aug 25
Animal Feeding Time
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Discuss reptiles, observe feeding time
Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3249
www.ebparks.org
Fridays & Saturdays, Jul 12 – Jul 27
Phantom of the Opera
Fri – Sat: 8 p.m. Sun 7/21: 2:30 p.m. Thurs 7/25: 8 p.m.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic masterpiece
Jackson Theater, Smith Center at Ohlone College
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(510) 659-6031
https://tix6.centerstageticketing.com/sites/ohlone6/
Monday – Friday, Jul 15 – Aug 23
A Visual Journey
Mon – Thurs: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fri: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Artwork by Vinay Kumar Verma and Neel Kamal Verma
Phantom Art Gallery at Milpitas Community Center
457 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
(408) 586-3409
Friday & Saturdays, Jul 19 – Jul 27
Newsies, The Broadway Musical $
Fri. & Sat. 7 p.m., Sat. 2:30 p.m.
Award winning Disney musical
Center Stage Performing Arts
457 E Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
(408) 707-7158
www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov
Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays, Jul 20 – Aug 4
Newsies, The Broadway Musical $
Fri – Sat: 7:30 p.m. Sun: 2:30 p.m.
Tony-award winning Disney musical. Produced by Star Struck Theatre
Dublin Center for Performing Arts
8151 Village Parkway, Dublin
(510) 659-1319
Friday nights
Laugh Track City $
8 p.m.
Fast-paced improv comedy show
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St., Suite B, Fremont
(510) 573-3633
Saturday nights
8 p.m.
Audience-inspired improv play
Made Up Theatre
4000 Bay St., Suite B, Fremont
(510) 573-3633
THIS WEEK
Wednesday, Jul 10
Badges and Boba
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Join Fremont PD for neighborhood discussion
Share Tea
3948 Washington Blvd., Irvington
(510) 573-2082
(510) 790-6740
Wednesday, Jul 10
History Volunteering
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Archiving, cleaning trophies, sorting photos
California Nursery Historic Park
36501 Niles Blvd., Fremont
http://msnucleus.org/calnursery/events2.html
Thursday, Jul 11
Toddler Time $
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
“At the Farm” stories, songs, activities
Hayward Area Historical Society Museum
22380 Foothill Blvd., Hayward
(510) 581-0223
www.haywardareahistory.org
Thursday, Jul 11
Ice Cream Social Luau $
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dress in Hawaiian attire and enjoy live music
Kenneth C. Aitken Center
17800 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley
(510) 881-6738
www.haywardrec.org
Thursday, Jul 11
Summer Concert Series
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Caeavanserai – Santana Tribute
Lake Elizabeth Central Park
1100 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 793-5683
www.fremont.gov/concerts
Thursday, Jul 11
Business Startup Workshop R
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Overview of starting a business, including taxes, licenses, insurance
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1421
www.acsbdc.org
Friday, Jul 12
Family Tule Tour R
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Importance of tules for the environment
Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon
1999 Walnut Ave., Fremont
(510) 790-6284
http://msnucleus.org
Friday, Jul 12
Community Cardboard Boat Regatta R
10:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Build your boat using cardboard & duct tape. Provide your own materials
Silliman Aquatic Center
6800 Mowry Ave., Newark
(510) 578-4620
www.newark.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Drawbridge Van Excursion R
9:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Docent-narrated van tour of marshlands. Ages 13+
Alviso Environmental Education Center
1751 Grand Blvd., Alviso
(408) 262-5513
https://drawbridgetoursummer.eventbrite.com
Saturday, Jul 13
Stilt Walkers
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Improve your balance
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Crafts in the Outdoors: Beginning Leatherwork R
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Create a small patch from leather. Family program
Alviso Environmental Education Center
1751 Grand Blvd., Alviso
(408) 262-5513
http://leatherworkeec.eventbrite.com
Saturday, Jul 13
Geology Rocks on the Hill R
10:30 a.m. – 12 noon
Docent-led walk to discover rocks and soil
SF Bay Wildlife Refuge – Don Edwards
1 Marshlands Rd., Fremont
(510) 792-0222
https://donedwardsgeology.eventbrite.com
Saturday, Jul 13
Rope Making & Hay Hoisting
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Make a rope with an antique machine, lift bales of hay
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Canine Capers Walk R
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Explore and learn about the natural world around us
Coyote Hills
8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
(510) 544-3220
1-888-327-2757
Saturday, Jul 13
Tai Chi & Refuge Nature Walk
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Enjoy morning exercise outdoors
Alviso Environmental Education Center
1751 Grand Blvd., Alviso
(408) 262-5513
Saturday, Jul 13
Farming for Climate Change
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Learn about climate change while growing vegetables
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Second Saturday Author Series
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Carol Lee Hall – reading of “The Angry Angels of Chinatown”
Half Price Books
39152 Fremont Blvd., Fremont
(510) 744-0333
www.hpb.com/055
Saturday, Jul 13
Wake Up the Farm
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Help prepare a snack for sheep and goats
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Local Color Reception
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Meet artist Mary Stahl – pastel and oil landscape
Portola Art Gallery-Allied Arts Guild
75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park
(650) 321-0220
www.portolaartgallerycom
Saturday, Jul 13
Nectar Garden Fun Day
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Come face-to-face with a caterpillar, chrysalis or butterfly
Coyote Hills
8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont
(510) 544-3220
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Eagle Tactics $R
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Visit raptors, learn difference between eagle, hawk or falcon. Adults only
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
1801 D. St., Hayward
(510) 881-6747
www.haywardrec.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Fitness at Fremont Main
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn new belly dance with Azra
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
(510) 745-1421
www.aclibrary.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Music from Around the World
2 p.m.
James Henry Quartet performs Afro funk, World Beat, R&B, Reggae
Castro Valley Library
3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 667-7900
www.aclibrary.org
Saturday, Jul 13 & Sunday, Jul 14
Fremont Symphony “Symphonic Sinatra” $R
Sat: 8 p.m., Sun: 3 p.m.
Brian Duprey performs Frank Sinatra hits
James Logan High School Center for the Performing Arts
1800 H St., Union City
www.fremontsymphony.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Earthquake Tour R
10 a.m. – 12 noon
See the effects of the Hayward Fault. Build and test structures
Tule Ponds at Tyson Lagoon
1999 Walnut Ave., Fremont
(510) 790-6284
http://msnucleus.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Good Guys at The Cannery Café $
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Rock out with Gary and Ron and enjoy brunch
Hayward Area Historical Society
22380 Foothill Blvd., Hayward
(510) 581-0223
https://allevents.in/org/cannery-cafe
Saturday, Jul 13
Moonlight Train Ride $
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing
Niles Canyon Railway Niles Depot Station
37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(408) 249-2953
www.ncry.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall $
7:30 p.m.
“Snow White”, “Modeling”, “The Voice of the Nightingale”
Niles Essanay Theater
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont
(510) 494-1411
www.nilesfilmmuseum.org
Saturday, Jul 13
Artists Relaxing Together
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Join artist Jeannie Vodden
Adobe Art Center
20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley
(510) 881-6735
www.adobegallery.org
Saturday, Jul 13
BINGO Night $
7 p.m.
Support the South Hayward Parish
Carpenters Union Hall
1050 Mattox Rd., Hayward
(510) 415-0717
Saturday, Jul 13 – Sunday, Jul 14
Japanese Bazaar
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Japanese and American games, food, Ikebana, Taiko
Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church
32975 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City
(510) 471-2581
www.japanese-city.com/calendar/events
Saturday, Jul 13
Stone Garden Apiary Tour
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Honey tasting, beehive observation, gear up in a bee suit
LEAF C.R. Stone Garden
55 Mowry Ave., Fremont
FremontLEAF@gmail.com
Saturday, Jul 13 – Sunday, Jul 14
Hayward/Russell City Blues Festival $
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Live music, food, arts and crafts
Hayward City Hall
777 B St., Hayward
(510) 208-0410
www.eventbrite.co,/e/hayward-russell-city-blues-festival-2019-tickets
Saturday, Jul 13
Storytime with Grandma Alva
11 a.m.
Find out what book she picks at this fun event
Books on B
1014 B Street, Hayward
(510) 538-3943
www.booksonb.com
Saturday, Jul 13
Skip the scissors $R
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Non-invasive methods to beat heart disease
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St., Milpitas
(408) 934-1130
www.indiacc.org
Sunday, Jul 14
Gorgeous Goats
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Help with exercising and grooming goats
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Saturday, Jul 14
Beginning Embroidery
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Learn to decorate all sorts of cloth projects
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Sunday, Jul 14
Hens Lay Eggs
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Listen to a story, touch a hen's feather, search coop for eggs
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Sunday, Jul 14
We All Scream for Ice Cream
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Learn how to make ice cream the old-fashioned way
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
www.ebparks.org
Sunday, July 14
Laurel & Hardy Talkie Matinee $
4 p.m.
“Hook & Ladder”, “Them Thar Hills”, “Midsummer Mush”, “Tit for Tat”
Niles Essanay Theater
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont
(510) 494-1411
Sunday, Jul 14
The Lullaby of Stage 1 $
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
An evening of music from past musicals. Beverages and appetizers included
3888 Artist Walk Cmn., Fremont
www.brownpapertickets.com
Sunday, Jul 14
Opera in the Vineyard $
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Performance by the Livermore Valley Opera
Retzlaff Vineyards
1356 South Livermore Ave., Livermore
www.livermorevalleyopera.com
Sunday, Jul 14
Golden Gate Blues Society
7 p.m.
Earnestine Barze performs
World Famous Turf Club
22519 Main St., Hayward
(510) 881-9877
www.WorldFamousTurfClub.com
Monday, Jul 15
Summer $1 Movie $
10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
The LEGO Movie
Century 20 Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas
(408) 942-7441
Monday, Jul 15
Summer $1 Movie $
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The LEGO Movie
Century 25 Movie Theatre
32100 Union Landing, Union City
(510) 487-9347
Monday, Jul 15 – Friday, Jul 19
Hayward Police Youth Academy
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For students in 8th – 12th grades
Hayward Police Department
300 West Winton Ave., Hayward
(510) 293-7023
(510) 293-7179
Monday, Jul 15
Milpitas Rotary Club Meeting
12 noon – 1:15 p.m.
Bob Livengood discusses new Milpitas Charity Bingo
Dave and Busters
940 Great Mall Dr., Milpitas
(408) 957-9215
http://www.clubrunner.ca/milpitas
Tuesday, Jul 16
Personal Emergency Preparedness R
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Learn to take care of yourself and family in a disaster
Fremont Fire Training Center
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
(510) 494-4244
http://fremontfiredepartment.eventbrite.com
Tuesday, Jul 16
Bird Walk
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Meet at Visitor Center Barn. Ages 12+
Garin Regional Park
1320 Garin Ave., Hayward
(510) 582-2206
www.ebparks.org
Tuesday, Jul 16
Community Office Hours
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Assemblymember Kansen Chu gives update
Newark Branch Library
6300 Civic Terrace Ave., Newark
(510) 284-0684
(408) 262-2501
Wednesday, Jul 17
Wednesday Night Bat Watch
7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Learn how EBRPD is studying these mammals
Sunol Regional Wilderness
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
(510) 544-3249
Thursday, Jul 17
Summer $1 Movie $
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
The LEGO Movie
Century Theatre Hayward
1069 B Street, Hayward
(510) 582-1190
Thursday, Jul 17
Summer $1 Movie $
10:00 a.m. – 12 noon
The LEGO Movie
Century 20 Great Mall
1010 Great Mall Drive, Milpitas
(408) 942-7441
Thursday, Jul 18
Summer $1 Movie $
10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The LEGO Movie
Century 25 Movie Theatre
32100 Union Landing, Union City
(510) 487-9347
Thursday, Jul 18
Jewelry Making R
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Free adult art class
Mulford Marina Branch Library
13699 Aurora Ave., San Leandro
(510) 670-7270
Friday, Jul 19
Paint Your Pet Night Fundraiser $R
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Submit photo of animal you want to paint, paint the sketched canvas. Must register by 7/12
Hayward Animal Shelter
16 Barnes Ct., Hayward
Tuesday/Thursday, Jul 1-Aug 1
Summer Track Meets
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesdays: Age 11 and under (FREE)
Thursdays: Age 12 and up ($5)
Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward
(510) 723-6600
July Concert Alert!
If you’re a music fan in the Bay Area, you’re probably well aware that summer is the time to get your fix for outdoor live music, from varied community bands scattered over the Tri-City Area. Maybe you started packing in summer concerts in June, but if you’ve yet to make it out to your local parks in the evening, not to worry. Several concerts are still winding down their summer programs, and others are just ready to get started in mid-July. Hayward Municipal Band will hold their finale Sunday concert on July 14, while Milpitas and Fremont Central Park are gearing up to start on July 16 and July 11, respectively.
There’s still a summer of music to enjoy, so grab a blanket, grab a friend, and head over to the park on one of these warm evenings.
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Milpitas Summer Concert Series
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Murphy Park
1645 Yellowstone Ave, Milpitas
(408) 586-3210
http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/
Jul 16: Lyin I’s
Jul 23: Fog City Swampers
Jul 30: Patron Latin Rhythms
Aug 6: Country Cougars
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Central Park Summer Concert series
Thursdays, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Central Park Performance Pavilion
40204 Paseo Padre Pkwy
(510) 494-4300
RegeRec@fremont.gov
https://fremont.gov/290/Summer-Concert-Series
Jul 11: Caravanserai (Santana tribute)
Jul 18: Jukebox Heroes (decades of billboards)
Jul 25: Joel the Band (Billy Joel tribute)
Aug 1: Rachel Steele (country music)
Aug 8: Long Train Runnin’ (Doobie Brothers tribute)
Aug 15: East Bay Mudd (R&B hits)
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Music at the Grove
Fridays, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Gates open 5 p.m.
Shirley Sisk Grove Cedar Blvd at NewPark Mall, Newark
(510) 578-4405
Jul 19: Patron Latin Rhythms
Aug 2: Lyin I’s (Eagles tribute)
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Hayward Municipal Band
Sunday, Jul 14
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hayward Memorial Park (Tony Morelli Bandstand)
24176 Mission Blvd. Hayward
(510)-569-8497
Pumpkin seeds
By Pat Kite
It is time to plant pumpkin seeds. I have planted many over the years, and I achieved one small pumpkin a while back. I was so proud of that little orange pumpkin that I kept it on display on my porch until it melted away.
Those of you who grow ginormous pumpkins without any effort might think I am slacking as a pumpkin parent. Not in the least. I give my seeds big pots full of organic soil, plant a few seeds per pot, and the pots go in full sun. When seedlings come up, I thin to two per pot. I fertilize the pot and water it. Sometimes, along with lots of leaves, I get a few starter pumpkins. A board goes underneath those trailing on the ground. I talk to them. Sometimes I sing. Eventually they drop dead.
I am not a pumpkin snob. Along with jumbo Atlantic Giant, I have tried Baby Boo, Big Max, Jack Be Little, Jarrahdale [green], and Lady Godiva [orange and green]. Just so you know, pumpkins, squash, and gourds are often lumped together in catalogues.
Some history. Around 1540, Hernando de Alvarado, a scout for Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado, reported that the new American southwestern territory grew melons. Melons? Melons didn’t exist in America until Europeans brought them. So, what were these “melons”? They were pumpkins and squash. In ancient days, the word for a melon was “Pepo.” The Greeks called large melons “pepon;” the French “pompons;” the British “Pompion;” and the Americans “pumpkin.” If that gets confusing, another name is “winter squash.”
Like other squash, the original territory was northeastern Mexico. Remnants of pumpkin/squash date back to 7000 B.C. The original pumpkins were small, hard, and bitter; however, they stored well and were eaten when times were tough. People eventually tinkered with the produce. Our early colonists cut off the pumpkin tops, removed the seeds, and filled the innards with milk, spices and honey. Baking was done in hot ashes.
If you like a story, here’s one from the East Indies. A nobleman had a much-loved son. In the man’s garden was a huge pumpkin. Sadly, the boy died. The nobleman didn’t want to put the child’s body in an ordinary casket. So, he made a resting place within the cleaned pumpkin with seeds remaining in case the child’s spirit needed refreshment. The pumpkin casket was placed on a mountaintop. All was serene until the Nobleman decided to revisit his son’s remains. He removed the pumpkin top. It was filled with water and black fishes. A whale leaped out. Frightened, the nobleman ran away, telling everybody. Some local thieves decided to steal the pumpkin and make it into a fishpond in their yard. But when they lifted the pumpkin, the child leaped out. The thieves dropped the pumpkin. It smashed. All the water came out, and so did the black fishes, which once had been the pumpkin seeds. But the whale, which was the child’s spirit, was never seen again.
Letter to the Editor
Thank a lineworker
July 10 is National Lineworker Appreciation Day, a day when we ask East Bay residents to take a moment to recognize the men and women who work around-the-clock to keep the lights on for our community.
PG&E has thousands of lineworkers serving five million customers across our service territory, and the lineworkers are often unsung heroes. Day and night, no matter the weather, these heroes are up in bucket trucks, operating heavy machinery and often arriving first on emergency scenes, all to serve our customers.
The dedication and sacrifice of a lineworker is something to be celebrated, and that’s why the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) has established July 10 as Lineworker Appreciation Day.
If you see a lineworker today, please stop and say thank you and let them know you appreciate the work they do.
Vitaly Tyurin
Who wants to be a backyard beekeeper?
Article and photos by Lalitha Visveswaran
So, you want to be a beekeeper? Welcome to the world’s coolest and sweetest club. Beekeeping, also known as Apiculture, is part science, part art and mostly stewardship of nature and her favorite, most generous pollinator, Apis Mellifera, aka the honeybee.
Remember that keeping bees is not just an adventure; it is also a vocation and involves a fair amount of investment. You might want to ask yourself if you want to be a beekeeper or if you just want honey from your own garden. If the former is your goal, this is a lifelong vocation. If the latter, it’s easy to give access to experienced beekeepers, who will use your yard to maintain their hives at no cost to you and in return, you can enjoy honey from the hives. In a way, you are renting your garden for the most local honey.
This is key because maintaining beehives is an education, which will continue for a very long time. You must be patient, observant, and possess a special set of skills that would determine the success of your colony. You must know how to care for the garden, the buffet table and foraging area for your bees. This means taking good care of your plants so they’ll bloom at the right season, knowing how to be a good gardener, and maintaining integrity of the environment by keeping it free of chemicals, toxins and pesticides.
You must also check with your neighbors before installing hives. People might have allergies to beestings or have fearful children or energetic pets that like to jump fences to rip through your garden. It is always better to keep the neighbors in the loop. You will also need to check with the City to see if a permit or paperwork is needed to keep beehives at home. For cities in Alameda County, Alameda Beekeepers Association is a good resource to ask for help and network with other beekeepers; in Santa Clara County, Santa Clara Valley Beekeepers Guild has a section of local beekeeping ordinances.
Location, location, location. Knowing where you will place your beehive is important. Consider sun, shade, and water drainage that your yard will get at different times of the day and throughout the season. You must also provide nectar plants for the bees, and they must also carry pollen. It is essential to plan your garden so that the bees always have some source of food, especially in early spring when they are likely running out of their stored winter supply. Make sure you have a clean water source for your bees. Avoid placing the hives near swimming pools, especially if the pools are uncovered and have chlorinated water.
The beehives should be screened visually from your neighbors, street, and home. There should be some shade, lots of room around the beehives to work, and no debris, weeds etc. Hives are generally made of wood and painted white, light pink or pastel green to make them visible in the dark.
You might also consider a rooftop beehive. Although a little more complicated, rooftop beehives are not uncommon at all. In fact, many urban centers encourage office and apartment buildings to keep a rooftop hive. Often, urban bees can forage more and produce more honey than bees in rural areas where there are more beehives and higher bee density. Do remember that bees consume most of the nectar they collect and need a lot of energy to fly. For enough honey production, bees need to have ample food sources and a comfortable environment; thus, location is the key component of beekeeping.
Order as many beekeeping catalogs as you can find; they are free and can also be found online. The catalogs contain a wealth of information and some even offer pre-assembled hives. There are different kinds of hive designs. Your choice will depend on your level of expertise, the kind of honey you would like (with or without comb) and space/facilities to live, sanitize and observe the hives.
Checklist for keeping beehives
- Location: Check if your backyard is for keeping beehives. Do you have space to store materials and equipment? Do you have a garden area for the bees to forage?
- Regulations: What is your city’s stance on beehives in homes? Are your neighbors fine with beehives next to their fences? Will you be able to keep the bees’ foraging radius free of toxins, chemicals and spraying?
- Expertise: How much time can you devote to learning about beekeeping? Would you rather give the job to a professional beekeeper in return for honey?
- Network: What is your local beekeeping network? There are online beekeeping forums and internet groups. Sometimes, it helps to network with other beekeepers to share equipment and sell honey as a co-op.
- Money: There is a significant initial investment for hives, bee suits and other equipment. Sometimes swarms can occupy hives, but a lot of times, one must purchase a queen bee and nucs. While harvesting honey, there is also the cost of extraction equipment, containers, honey buckets, etc.
Now that you know the questions, do you have the answer? Are you ready to be a backyard beekeeper?
Lalitha Visveswaran is a full-time farmer at Jellicles Farm in the Sunol AgPark. www.jelliclesfarm.com
Moonlight Train Rides
During the month of July, Niles Canyon Railroad is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. The actual 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing occurred July 20th, 1969. One Giant Leap for Mankind resonates with so many, so join us for “Moonlight Train Rides,” this year’s special version of our popular summer twilight rides, on Saturday, July 13 and Saturday, July 20. These will be evening train rides through Niles Canyon, departing from the Niles/Fremont Station on Mission Boulevard
The early evening train rides, powered by one our historic diesel locomotives, will return after dark; bring your binoculars and telescopes! There will be a snack bar on the train for your convenience. Children 3-12, traveling with an adult, receive a complimentary Niles Canyon Railway Apollo 11 logo backpack while supplies last. Don’t miss this extraordinary event; sign up for tickets early!
Moonlight Train Rides
Saturdays, Jul 13&20
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Niles Station
37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont
510-996-8420
Tickets: $20 – $30
Tips to prevent mosquito bites
- DUMP/DRAIN standing water on your property because that is where mosquitoes develop
- DAWN/DUSK is when mosquito activity peaks; limit outdoor activities during this time
- DEFEND yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and apply insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- DOOR/window screens should be in good repair with no tears or holes
Mosquito problems? Call the mosquito police!
By Jui Sadekar
Photos courtesy Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District
Summer has arrived. A perfect time for outdoor activities, barbecue, swimming. While people relish the warm weather, they must also contend with pests of the season—such as mosquitos. Bay Area residents have it even worse: while mosquito season is usually associated with the hotter summer months, our temperate region has mosquitoes active all year round. Most people probably don’t give much thought to mosquitoes – until they get a red, itchy welt on their skin… a sure sign of a mosquito bite. Mosquitoes can be much more than a nuisance; they can transmit diseases and be a threat to the health and safety of humans and animals.
To combat this threat, a dedicated public mosquito control program is essential. Alameda County residents have Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) on their side to help with mosquito-related issues. ACMAD is an independent special district governed by a board of trustees, comprised of one representative from each city in the service area and additional member representing the county at large. The district has provided mosquito control for the citizens of Alameda County (except Albany) since 1930.
“The district is committed to improving the health and comfort of Alameda County residents by controlling mosquitoes and limiting the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases. We are funded through property taxes, which cost less than $5 per property per year. This revenue funds all our mosquito control operations.” says Ryan Clausnitzer, general manager, ACMAD.
There are 22 different mosquito species in the county, each of which has unique biology and behavior. Some species, such as winter marsh mosquitoes, prefer the cooler winter months or rely on flooding from the winter rain to hatch their eggs, while other species such as house mosquitoes, encephalitis mosquitoes, and salt marsh mosquitoes are most active during the summer months. Floodwater mosquitoes are aggressive day biters. They can stay close to the water they grow in or travel many miles, flying from the marshes surrounding the Bay to the hills, biting people along the way. One of the common mosquitoes in residential areas, Culiseta incidens, prefers to bite people who are outdoors around dusk and dawn, while the Northern House mosquito (Culex pipens) is known for biting people at night.
Mosquitoes can thrive in very small amounts of standing water. Any site that holds water for more than a few days can be a suitable place for mosquitoes to grow. The district suggests dumping, draining, or covering areas with standing water to eliminate mosquito breeding. Erika Castillo, regulatory & public affairs director at ACMAD, states that mosquitofish, which eat mosquito larvae, can be used in contained manmade sites such as ornamental ponds, horse troughs, and abandoned swimming pools. The fish require minimal feeding or care other than protection from garden sprays, chlorine, chloramines or other chemicals, and predators such as raccoons, cats, opossums, herons or egrets.
“To obtain free mosquitofish call the district office. Mosquitofish are normally available from March through October. The district is always glad to provide mosquitofish to county residents, even on repeat calls, to encourage the biological control of mosquitoes in ponds and other permanent water sources.” Mosquitofish are intended for mosquito control only and should not be introduced into natural water bodies.
Providing mosquitofish is just one of the methods used to control mosquito population. The district determines the species and abundance of mosquitoes in an area through larval and adult surveillance and then selects the most efficient, effective, and environmentally sensitive means of control, according to Castillo. “Our methods for controlling mosquitoes may rely on any combination of physical, biological, or chemical control along with public education.”
As part of operations, the district uses technology and innovation to enhance mosquito detection and public health pesticide applications. “As several species of mosquitoes can fly over 20 miles into more populated areas,” Clausnitzer says, “it is essential to have access to these far-off and wild areas of Alameda County. We access these areas of the county either by truck on paved or unpaved roads, all-terrain vehicles, or by foot in sensitive habitats. We have also begun using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or “drones”) to collect imagery of standing water in these difficult to access and sensitive habitat areas.”
Clausnitzer believes that community awareness and public education are very important in minimizing and controlling mosquitoes. “The district’s public outreach component includes community events, social media, print and electronic advertising, and educational curricula. We have a staffed booth at over 20 community event fairs throughout Alameda County. At these events, staff promotes our district’s services directly with residents and provide educational information on what they can do to reduce the risk from mosquitoes.”
For more information, a backyard checklist, ACMAD services, and activities, visit www.mosquitoes.org. For information on mosquito control programs in Santa Clara County, visit Santa Clara County Vector Control District at https://www.sccgov.org/sites/vector/Pages/default.aspx.
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District
23187 Connecticut St, Hayward
(510) 783-7744
Residents of Santa Clara County should contact:
Santa Clara County Vector Control District
1580 Berger Dr, San Jose
(408) 918-4770
https://www.sccgov.org/sites/vector/Pages/default.aspx
Neighborhood crime awareness starts with a night out
Submitted by Sgt. Bryan Hinkley, Milpitas PD
Members of the Milpitas Police Department, along with a host of community groups, are busily preparing for “National Night Out” neighborhood parties and events throughout the city. Held each year in August, the National Night Out campaign is an effort designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and community partnerships with police.
The nationwide National Night Out program was founded in 1972, and now in its 37th year it involves more than 16,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In Milpitas, this year’s event is planned for Tuesday, August 6.
Often dubbed “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” National Night Out provides the opportunity for neighbors to gather in block parties to get to know each other better, sending a strong message to criminals that community members will look out for each other by reporting suspicious activity in their neighborhood. Residents show their support by leaving their front porch light on from dusk until 10 p.m.
During this year’s event, Milpitas police officers will visit local gatherings between 6 and 9 p.m. to meet with the residents, distribute crime prevention material and answer question about local crime and safety. They also will give police stickers to children and will encourage families to take photos with officers and patrol cars.
Milpitas residents who would like to host a National Night Out neighborhood party or learn details about the program, should contact Officer Kita Inthasack at (408) 586-2526 or send him an email at kinthasack@ci.milpitas.ca/gov.
National Night Out
Tuesday, Aug 6
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Various Milpitas neighborhoods
Contact: Officer Kita Inthasack
(408) 586-2526
kinthasack@ci.milpitas.ca/gov
New Chabot trustee named
Submitted by Guisselle Nunez
Members of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District (CLPCCD) Board of Trustees have appointed Maria L. Heredia to the Board, replacing longtime Trustee Donald L. “Dobie” Gelles, who died in May.
Heredia is a retired community college counselor and department chair and will fill the Trustee Area 4 seat (Castro Valley and parts of Oakland), at least until the next scheduled election for governing board members in November 2020. The announcement was made July 3.
Heredia has four decades of public school experience, including 10 years at the high school level and 30 years at community colleges. She has previously been employed at Merritt, Laney, Chabot and City College of San Francisco, where she served as a counselor/coordinator and department chair and managed a comprehensive and diverse counseling office. Throughout her career, Heredia has been elected to three terms as department chair and three terms as part of the academic senate. She also received appointments to multiple key committees including curriculum, articulation, budget and planning. She has been a member of The Centro Legal, the la Raza Board in Oakland, a number of Southwest voter registration drives and many community and parent education associations.
“We are pleased to announce Ms. Heredia to the Board of Trustees,” said Edralin “Ed” Maduli, president of the Board of Trustees. “Her 30 years of community college experience, commitment to student success and knowledge of the areas in which she will serve will make her a valuable addition to our diverse and dedicated board.”
The CLPCCD Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance of Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore, and, as part of their duties, they are required to attend all board meetings, some college events, study agendas and issues, and to participate fully in the governance of the District.
Heredia was appointed after an extensive search that included an application review of 10 candidates, and interviews with current Board members. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and Spanish from Holy Names University in Oakland and a master's degree in school and career counseling from San Francisco State University. She has three children who are products and beneficiaries of community colleges.
She will take the oath of office at the board's regularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, July 16 at the District Office, 7600 Dublin Blvd., 3rd Floor in Dublin.
Baseball
Centerville defeats Newark in close contest
Submitted and photos by Mike Heightchew
In a game that was undecided right down to the last out, Centerville National Little League 10-11-12 team edged Newark National,Little League 7-5 on July 5th. With a late inning surge, Centerville put together just enough deep hits to score crucial runs and continue to compete in the District 14 International Tournament. Both teams were competitive and in a game like this, it is unfortunate that only one of them can advance.
Newark Police Log
Submitted by Captain Chomnan Loth, Newark PD
Tuesday, July 2
- At about 12:50 p.m. there was a drive-by shooting at the Andoil gas station at 5835 Thornton Avenue at Mayhews Landing Road. Video surveillance in the area showed that there were multiple witnesses to the incident, but they left the scene before officers arrived. The incident is under investigation and police are asking that anyone who witnessed the incident call Detective Andrew Musantry at 1 (510) 578-4956 or send an email to andrew.musantry@newark.org. Information also can be shared anonymously by calling the NPD anonymous tip line at 1 (510) 578-4965.
Fremont News Briefs
Submitted by Cheryl Golden
City Council Work Session
The City will host a special meeting – City Council work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9 at Fremont City Hall, 3300 Capitol Avenue, for City staff to review the evaluation results of potential sites to locate a housing navigation center in Fremont. The work session agenda has been published and can be accessed at http://fremontcityca.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1709.
All council meetings are available to watch live or rebroadcast via Channel 27, The Fremont Government Channel, or the City’s website. Learn more at www.Fremont.gov/Channel27. To learn more about the City’s multi-pronged approach to homelessness, visit https://fremont.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1550.
Animal Shelter Adoption Fees
Are you ready to become a pet parent? July is the busiest month of the year in animal shelters and Tri-City Animal Shelter is full. To encourage adoptions, the shelter will be waiving adoption fees for qualified adopters on all animals through Saturday, July 20. For information about the adoption process and a list of available animals, visit http://www.tricityanimalshelter.org/.
Safe and Smart Corridor Project
The City of Fremont is working to employ cutting-edge technology along Fremont Boulevard between Paseo Padre Parkway and Cushing Parkway that will alleviate congestion and improve safety for all modes of travelers. The Fremont Boulevard Smart and Safe Corridor project includes improvements such as traffic signal modernization, smart sensors to ensure adequate crossing times at intersections, and signal priority for transit and emergency vehicles.
The public works department will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18 at the Centerville Community Center Centerville Room, 3355 Country Drive. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting. For more information, visit www.FremontSmartCorridor.org.
Baseball
Niles-Centerville moves on with impressive offensee
Submitted and photos by Mike Heightchew
The 10-11-12 team from Niles-Centerville Little League beat the team from Centerville National Little League 9-4 with an 8-run rally in the top of the sixth inning on July 2nd. Although Centerville National put the first runs on the scoreboard early in the game and appeared on the road to victory, the top of the sixth inning proved their undoing. Niles-Centerville put together an impressive offensive show with deep drives that brought in eight runs and sealed the deal, moving on to the next round of the District 14 International Tournament to meet the winner of a July 5th Centerville National/Newark National matchup.
A woofing good time at Niles Dog Show
By Marisol Cabrera
Photos courtesy of Niles Dog Show
It’s that time of the year again! Summer is in full swing, and that means that the Niles Main Street Association will again host hold their annual Pooch Pow-Wow. Families and pet lovers are welcome to enter their canines in fun competitions at the 21st “Niles Dog Show” scheduled for Saturday, July 20 in Niles Community Park (Fremont).
Family pets are welcome to the event, and any breed of dog may enter the competitions, regardless of pedigree. The event will feature a doggie water park, Police K-9 demonstrations, rescue adoption along with food vendors for families and their beloved pets as well as exciting prize drawings and goodie bags. Competitions include best costume, best dog/person look-a-like, prettiest female, handsomest male, and most unusual mix. Best in show will be chosen by a panel of judges. A $5 pancake breakfast at the Ambrose Butchery booth is an added bonus for early attendees.
The Niles Main Street Association has dedicated every summer in July since 1998 to this event led by longtime Fremont resident, Turquoise Shop owner and Niles Main Street Committee member, Don Dewey. Dewey and fellow committee members spend months each year making sure that this event runs smoothly and its longevity has created a tradition in the Niles District and City of Fremont. Niles Dog Show committee member, George Spindler has created a binder of information to assure information and considerations from years of experience at previous shows point the way toward a successful show this year. He explains that the dog show is an important asset to the community.
“It’s for dog owners and dog lovers. It’s got three [reasons]. First, it’s to teach your own animals. Second, it’s to raise money for Ohlone [Humane Society]. The third [reason] would be to support Niles Main Street Association.”
Some of the most memorable costumes that committee members shared as they remembered past competitors ranged from a dachshund in a hot dog bun, a dog dressed like a plumber, two pugs dressed as Mexican wrestlers, and a dog dressed in graduation attire. “[Dog owners are] really creative… it’s not just always buying a costume, its thinking stuff up,” said Niles Main Street Committee member Rosanne Dudley.
The Fremont Police Department will bring in their K-9 team for a live session to “capture the criminal” and demonstrate how dogs work within SWAT, Narcotics and Tracking teams. Niles Main Street Committee member, Karen Lupo, along with other volunteers, will be teaching some sign language commands to use with your dog and sign language interpretation. Rescue groups will introduce purebred and mixed breed dogs available for adoption and exhibit them throughout the event. Information booths on pet grooming and rescue dogs will be available to the public to show better ways of taking care of your pet.
“We have the adoption parade so they [rescue organization] put little vests on [the dogs] that say, ‘available for adoption’ and run them through the park so some people will adopt them. I think we adopted like three dogs last year,” said Dudley. “It gives people a chance to see the dogs.”
There will be around 40 vendors ranging from information booths from local businesses to local food vendors. The committee joked about how organizing this show makes it feel as if they had double the number of vendors and shared some of their longtime sponsors such as Beacon Veterinary Specialists, Mission Valley Vets and Hawgs for Dogs, a motorcycle club that always sets up a big blow up dog to raise money for training guide dogs.
Proceeds from the event go to Ohlone Humane Society and Niles Main Street Association. There is no admission fee. The fee for competition registrations will be $20/dog in advance and $25 at the day of the event. You can register your dog online at www.niles.org/dog-show/.
Niles Dog Show
Saturday, Jul 20
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
(registration starts at 9 a.m.)
Niles Community Park
3rd St. & H St., Fremont
(510)742-9868
Email: info@niles.org
Optimists honor Tri-City Police Officers of the Year
Article and photos submitted by Marla Blowers
Newark’s IHOP restaurant was the safest place in town recently when the Newark Optimist Club held its 48th annual “Police Officer of the Year breakfast celebration.”
During the June 12 event numerous police officers, Tri-City area dignitaries, family members, Optimist Club members and other guests filled two rooms at the restaurant to honor officers from Newark, Fremont and Union City for their exemplary work during the past year.
This year’s honorees were Officer Ryan Lobue, Fremont Police Department (FPD); Sgt. Brian Baumgartner, Union City Police Department (UCPD) and Agent Jeff Revay, Newark Police Department (NPD). These officers exhibited the highest standards of work ethics and leadership. This peer-generated award is voted on each year by the respective Police Officer Associations and is held in high regard in law enforcement circles.
During the program FPD Chief Kim Petersen joined UCPD Chief Jared Rinetti and NPD Captain Chomnan Loth in speaking about the honorees and the qualities that made them so deserving of this honor.
Other city dignitaries also commented with great pride in their respective officers. Marla Blowers served as the event chairwoman and Larry Jett served as Master of Ceremonies.
The Newark Optimists hold this event in conjunction with Optimist International's Respect for Law week which is held in mid-May. Honoree Jeff Revay from NPD was not available for a photo at the event.
Phantom of the Opera: Stage 1/Ohlone
Submitted by Smith Center at Ohlone College
“The Phantom of the Opera” has taken over the Jackson Theatre (indoors) and his story begins Friday, July 12. Get your tickets to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece before a mysterious accident snatches them all.
One of the longest-running musicals on Broadway, and winner of seven Tony awards including Best Musical. The Phantom of the Opera is based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, which tells the story of a hideously deformed phantom who lurks beneath the state of the Paris Opera, exercising a reign of terror over its occupants. The phantom falls in love with the young soprano Christine, devoting himself to creating a new star for the opera by nurturing her extraordinary talents and employing all the skills at his disposal. Though appropriate for all ages, this musical has some dark and possibly scary moments.
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Directed by Michael Navarra. The July 25 performance will be ASL interpreted. Event parking is available behind and above the Smith Center in lots A, U, D, and E. You can purchase a parking permit for $4 online with your tickets. A shuttle will run from Lot D up to the theatre before and after the performance.
Phantom of the Opera
Friday, Jul 12 – Saturday, Jul 27
Jul 12-13, 19-20, 25-27: 8 p.m.
Jul 21: 2:30 p.m.
Ohlone College Smith Center
43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont
(510) 659-6031
Smithcenter.com
Tickets $20-30
Letter to the Editor
Care about animals? Put an end to rodeo
The Rowell Ranch Rodeo has come and gone. Kind people hope this will be the last. Countless animals have paid with their lives to satisfy people’s desire to play cowboy. Cattle may be zapped with electric hot shots, so they'll charge out of the chute; calves have their necks twisted as they are violently slammed into the ground; and horses are viciously spurred into bucking. Animals have suffered broken backs and necks, heart attacks, and aneurysms.
Those who manage to make it through unscathed are given little time to rest or recuperate. They are loaded into trucks, hauled to the next event, and forced to participate again and again. When too old or worn out to continue, “retirement” is a one-way trip to the slaughterhouse. People who care about animals want rodeo to be put out to pasture once and for all.
Jennifer O'Connor
PETA Foundation
Russell City Blues Festival
Submitted by Ronnie Stewart
Each summer, a variety of artists bring the lively sound of Blues to downtown Hayward. The “Hayward/Russell City Blues festival” is a celebration honoring the rich Blues tradition of our area.
Although the unincorporated area known as Russell City started out as a primarily Danish farming community in the mid-1800s, an influx of Latino and African Americans made the area part of the Blues scene during the late 1930s and onward. Russell City always had a rich musical culture, with seven churches of various denominations, each with at least one choir, some with up to four. Saturday nights, clubs were filled with the sounds of the Blues and Sunday mornings, churches were filled with the sounds of Gospel. Many influential musicians passed through Russell City. Ray Charles, Big Mama Thornton, and Lowell Fulson are just some of the names known to play the clubs.
West Coast Blues music eventually influenced traditional sounds when horns replaced the harmonica. Russell City is a landmark on the map of American’s contributions to world culture giving Hayward a unique musical leg reflecting the African-American experience. In 1999, the West Coast Blues Society initiated the Hayward-Russell City Blues Festival, a celebration honoring the rich Blues tradition of the area.
2019 marks the festival’s 20th anniversary. This year’s lineup will include, among a host of Blues stars and legends: Lonnie Shields, Queen Iretta Sanders, Blues Harmonica Explosion, and Russell City Memorial Blues Band (featuring Lee Ashford). The roster will change from Saturday to Sunday, so please check online which day your favorite artists will be performing.
The festival is a joint venture between the City of Hayward and the West Coast Blues Society. Taking place in July annually, the festival is an excellent opportunity to spend time with family and friends in Downtown Hayward while experiencing an important piece of Hayward's history. Advance two-day tickets (including a BBQ meal) are $50, while admission for one day is $35 or $30 for students and seniors (with a $5 discount for those purchasing in advance).
Russell City Blues Festival
Saturday, Jul 13 – Sunday, Jul 14
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Hayward City Hall Plaza
777 B St., Hayward
(510) 472-8800
www.westcoastbluessociety.org
www.hayward-ca.gov/discover/events/20th-annual-hayward-russell-city-blues-festival
Tickets $25 – 50
Message from Ronnie K. Stewart, Executive Director of the West Coast Blues Society and Director and Creator of the 20th Annual Hayward/Russell City Blues Festival:
With great sadness I must tell you that after 20 years, the Hayward Russell City Blues Festival will be discontinued due to lack of adequate funding. Our plans are to create a 3- to 4-week Hayward Russell City Blues Concert Series at the new Library Plaza on C Street in Hayward. We will continue to perpetuate the great musical Legacy of Russell City which featured such artists as Etta James, Jimmy McCracklin, Big Mama Thornton, Ray Charles T- Bone Walker and more… the list is too long to mention everyone. BLUES ALWAYS!
Ronnie K. Stewart
hipwayblues@ hotmail.com
Police seize more than 2,000 pounds of fireworks
Submitted by San Leandro PD
In the late evening of Tuesday, July 2, officers responded to a report about two suspicious men inside the locked gates of a public storage facility on Davis Street which was closed for the day.
Arriving officers found the men about 10 p.m. unloading boxes from a storage locker at Storquest Storage and loading them into a cargo van. Officers discovered that the boxes and storage unit contained more than 2,000 pounds of illegal fireworks including explosive, aerial fireworks that were capable of shooting 125 feet into the sky before exploding.
The men, identified by police only as a 41-year-old Oakland resident and a 51-year-old Fremont resident, were cooperative while talking to officers and were eventually released from the scene. Investigators are trying to determine where the explosives came from and where they were going to be used or sold. When the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Alameda County District Attorney for charging.
Among the explosives recovered:
- 5-inch XL “Barrel Bombs”
- 5-shot XL “Roman Candles”
- 1” Mini-Artillery Plastic Balls
- 192-shot, rapid fire “Barrage Candles”
Due to the excessive quantity of explosives recovered by police on Tuesday night, members of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad responded and took custody of the illegal fireworks, which will be disposed of in a safe manner.
“Although the display of fireworks on July 4th may be a tradition for many, they can be extremely dangerous,” said Lt. Robert McManus. “In years past, the use of fireworks has been the cause of several fires throughout the Bay Area, as well as the cause of serious injury to those who light them off. The loud explosions are harmful to pets and animals. Please refrain from using any fireworks, and notify police if you see anyone using them, where they are prohibited.” he added.
San Leandro City Council
July 1, 2019
Public Comments:
- Residents expressed concerns about high rents and the police shooting of Anthony Gomez
Presentations:
- Presentation from Davis Street Family Resource Center
- Presentation on the 2018 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Consent Calendar:
- Resolution to award a $1,720,867 construction contract to American Pavement Systems, Inc. for the annual street sealing project
- Resolution to approve annual renewals for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 with SirsiDynix for the library information system for the combined amount of $164,985.15
- Resolution to execute a standard public improvement agreement for private development at
2756 Alvarado Street
- Motion accepting Housing Element annual progress report for the 2018 calendar year
- Resolution to approve Parcel Map 10938, vacate a remnant of public right-of-way on Marina Boulevard, and reserve public utility easement for Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Property owner and applicant: East Bay F4, LLC
- Resolution ratifying an agreement with Granicus and authorizing an amendment for additional services in the amount of $7,938.54 and to extend the term of the agreement to June 30, 2020 and for the total amount of $46,708.50
- Ordinance to enact regulations applicable to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Calendar passed 6-0
Items removed from Consent Calendar:
- Minutes of the Rules Committee Meeting of June 13, 2019
- Resolution to accept the engineer's report for fiscal year 2019-20 for Heron Bay Maintenance Assessment District and ordering the levy and collection of assessments within Heron Bay Maintenance Assessment District
Items passed 6-0
City Council Reports:
- Councilmember Cox attended a Stop Waste meeting on June 26. The Hazardous Waste charge on property taxes has been lowered to $6.64
- Councilmember Ballew was at the Making Cities Liveable Conference on June 17-21. Public health, placemaking, public art, and inclusionary housing were topics
- Councilmember Hernandez attended an East Bay Community Energy meeting on June 19
- Vice Mayor Lopez attended a community meeting on the new library
- Vice Mayor Lopez was in Indianapolis from June 25-26 at a League of Cities committee meeting
City Council Calendar and Announcements:
- Councilmember Ballew attended Comedy on the Plaza at the San Leandro Library
- Councilmember Lee announced a Town Hall Meeting for Districts 3, 4, & 6 on Monday July 8
- Councilmember Lee will be attending the NIST Global Cities Team Challenge on July 10-12
- Councilmember Aguilar attended the SF Gay Pride Parade
Council Requests to Schedule Agenda Items:
- Councilmember Ballew requested a staff update on LYFT/UBER revenue channels. Staff will provide a written analysis
- Councilmember Aguilar asked that the meeting be convened in honor of Greta Sue Valasquez
- Vice Mayor Lopez requested that a discussion take place on the order of items on the agenda. Specifically, moving the Consent Calendar up. Item passed 6-0
Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter Absent
Vice Mayor Corina N. Lopez Aye
Victor Aguilar, Jr. Aye
Ed Hernandez Aye
Benny Lee Aye
Deborah Cox Aye
Pete Ballew Aye
Note: The Leal Theatre is spelled with “RE” not “ER”.
See the sign on the Leal Theatre:
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4476/photos/5905
Shape our Fremont
Irvington Area Plan Update
On June 27, the Fremont Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed Irvington BART Station Area Plan, which includes the commercial area in the Irvington Town Center along Washington and Fremont Boulevards and the residential area along Osgood Road. The plan will now go to the Fremont City Council on July 16 for a final review and decision.
The planning commission's consideration of the plan had been carried forward from a previous meeting in order to give time to review one of the commissioner's request for several changes. City staff reviewed the changes and presented its findings, which the planning commission accepted as part of its recommendation. The vote was 5 ayes, 1 nay, with 1 seat vacant.
What's the plan?
The plan incorporates the same general plan land use designations, zoning requirements, and basic layout that have been in effect since 2011. The question is whether the plan is the best way to develop the area, and whether the plan would be able to deal with the problems that could arise?
The BART station would be at the southwest corner of Washington and Osgood with access for cars, busses, and pedestrians. Instead of parking capacity for about 900 private vehicles, BART has decided they would provide parking for only about 300 vehicles. According to city staff, this reduction was intended to discourage I-680 commuters from using the station. To prevent commuters from parking on the nearby streets, the city would require local residents to obtain permits to park in front of their houses.
West of the station, the plan would allow development of buildings up to five- or six-stories tall on both sides of Washington and along Fremont north to Chapel. Under the current standards, some of the buildings could have commercial spaces on the ground floors and residential units on the upper floors. Other buildings could have office spaces on all floors or residential units on all floors. New townhouse developments would not be allowed. City staff emphasized that developers have not submitted any formal plans for this area yet.
South of the station along a half-mile stretch of Osgood, the plan would require high-rise, urban-density housing on both sides of the street. New townhouses or lower-density housing would not be allowed. The plan for this area also defines details of architecture and site planning to make the individual developments blend with each other and to minimize the number of driveways. The plan is a Transit Oriented Development housing area, and it is expected that many people who live in the area would walk or take a bus to use BART.
Residents speak out
During the planning commission meeting, several residents voiced their feelings about the Irvington BART Station Area Plan – some were for it, and others against.
Traffic was one of the biggest concerns. Despite the plan's conclusion that the estimated 3,700 daily BART riders using the station would not cause a significant increase in traffic, many residents disagreed. Others expressed concerns that the proposed resident parking permit program would place an unfair burden on the local residents and would not be effective in preventing commuter parking on the streets surrounding the station.
The impact on the Irvington Town Center was another concern. The plan would encourage construction of 65-foot-high buildings out to the edge of the sidewalks, but residents said that was too tall and the new buildings would dwarf the Leal Theatre, Odd Fellows Hall, and other historic landmarks in the Five Corners area.
Some residents went so far as to say the Irvington BART station wasn't needed and shouldn't be built. They pointed out that funding for the station is still $50-$60 million short, and the Warm Springs station is just a five-minute bus ride away.
All residents are encouraged to email their comments about the Irvington BART Station Area Plan to City Staff Planner Wayland Li at wli@fremont.gov or to attend the city council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 at 3300 Capitol Avenue.
Summer track meets at Chabot College
Submitted by Mike Exton
Chabot College is hosting FREE youth (age 11 and under) track & field meets every Tuesday evening – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – during the month of July.
Also, every Thursday evening – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – during the month of July and August 1st, Chabot College is hosting track & field meets for older youths (12 years old and older) and adults of all ages. There is an entry fee of $5 for Thursday track & field meets.
Chabot College
25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward
(510) 723-6600
Photo in 1 new Sharon
New Haven Unified School District Superintendent retires
By Roelle Balan
People can say they care about kids. But not everyone can show it like Dr. Arlando Smith has his whole career. He was the superintendent of New Haven Unified School District for two years and co-superintendent for four. But his life, his legacy, can be seen through the admiration of students.
Smith grew up in South Los Angeles. Most of the teachers in his life left a good impression on him. He was set on teaching middle school because he had a wonderful experience with those teachers. “But when I got to high school, I didn’t really enjoy high school. The teachers weren’t very accommodating, they were not very warm,” he said. “I decided to teach high school because I wanted to do for high school students what the teachers in junior high did for me. I wanted to give that life,” he said.
Smith’s career was straightforward. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a bachelor's degree in political science, then received a master’s in the same subject. After earning a master’s degree, he taught political science at Cal State Fullerton for four years, part time, while also teaching high school. He then received a doctorate degree from the University of La Verne.
Smith has a passion for students and it showed. When he was a high school teacher, he took on many roles. “I was a coach, I was a club advisor, I was the activities director, I was the leadership teacher,” he said. “I would always have kids at my home. During breaks I used to take kids to Dodger’s games, I was the Chess Club advisor.” Smith was a support system for students. “They used to do a survey at the end of every year, and they would say, where is your favorite place to eat lunch? My room was always number one and McDonald’s was number two.”
As principal at Gunderson High School in San Jose, Smith also made an impact. “We had close to 1,700 students, and my reputation was I knew every student’s name in the school,” he said. Smith said he loved the kids there. “They were warm, funny, compassionate, kind. Very supportive, they helped turn the campus around. It was not a very friendly place when I got there. I used to say ‘Every day, tell someone you love them.’ They would buy into that and you’d see kids being kind and hugging each other; it was a very good place.”
When asked how he became superintendent, Smith burst into laughter. “Being superintendent was not in my plans.” However, he did such a great job as principal, Smith ended up becoming a principal coach and mentor for new principals and superintendents.
Smith’s wife, Wendy Gudalewicz, suggested he move from teaching at San Jose State to New Haven Unified School District to facilitate meetings and start a network of non-profit organizations, known as Union City Family Center. Gudalewicz was working as Chief Academic Officer of New Haven at the time. She became superintendent in Cupertino and Smith took her position at New Haven. After a year in that position, he was selected as a co-superintendent in 2013, later becoming superintendent in 2017.
He is an advocate of collaborative leadership and letting teachers do the work. “The people closest to the work should be the people who have a lot of input into the work, and so, as we built the collaborative efforts, teacher leadership rose to the top.”
Asked about the impact of the recent teacher strike at New Haven Unified School District, Smith said, “I don’t necessarily feel good about the last six months, but I would say in the totality of 44 years, I’m not going let that last six months jaundice what the first 43 and a half years were like.”
Smith’s core belief is, “School revolves around students, and we have a constitutional responsibility to give them the best we have to offer.” Referring to his career experience, he said, “I have loved what I was able to do and what I was able to learn.”
His retirement plans include taking piano lessons again after a long break, tackling a list of 70 books he wants to read, spending time with his grandchildren, taking trips with his wife, going to silent retreats, meditating, and playing golf.
Photos in 1 new Sharon
Fremont Symphony presents Symphonic Sinatra starring Brian Duprey
Submitted by Paul Iannaccone
Photos courtesy of Brian Duprey
Jung-Ho Pak Artistic Advisor and conductor of Fremont Symphony presents Brian Duprey in Symphonic Sinatra, Sunday, July 14 at 3 p.m. at James Logan Center for the Performing Arts, Union City. When Brian Duprey sings Frank Sinatra classics, those listening might swear they were hearing Ol' Blue Eyes himself. At least that's what happened to Frank's own daughter, Nancy Sinatra, when she first heard Brian's voice on the Howard Stern Radio.
The show will be conducted by Jung-Ho Pak, who became Artistic Advisor and Conductor of the Fremont Symphony in 2018. His goal is to create a “passionate synergy” between himself and the orchestra that's “palpable to the audience.” To accomplish his mission, Jung-Ho crafted a season ranging from Broadway’s best to Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Romeo and Juliet. Symphonic Sinatra is the season’s culmination, featuring the finest Sinatra entertainer of our times in an evening of Frank’s greatest hits including “My Way,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “Strangers In The Night,” “Fly me to the Moon,” and “Come Fly With Me.”
As the lead actor in the hit musical, “The Rat Pack is Back,” Brian spent 15 years perfecting his craft in Las Vegas and in over 200 Performing Arts Centers and Casinos across the country. His lead role and creative development of the show built a 48-state tour and secured of tile of Best Tribute Show of Las Vegas in 2014.
Showered with awards and recognition for his live and recorded performances, Brian Duprey had his big break on FOX TV’s “Performing As,” where he won top prize by portraying his idol, Frank Sinatra. Brian has been featured on CSI Las Vegas, The History Channel, NBA Allstar Jam, and the hit movie Get Him to The Greek. He also opened for the likes of Paul Anka and the cast of HBO’s “The Sopranos” and wowed specials guests like Steve Wynn at The Smith Center in Las Vegas.
With breathtaking stage charisma, sparkling blue eyes, and a velvet baritone voice, Brian Duprey truly embodies “Frankie Boy.” To reserve seats for the Fremont Symphony’s Symphonic Sinatra, call the symphony box office at (510) 371-4859 of online at www.fremontsymphony.org.
Symphonic Sinatra
Sunday, Jul 14
3 p.m.
James Logan Center for the Performing Arts
1800 H St., Union City
(510) 371-4859
tickets@fremontsymphony.org
Seeking kitten fosters
Submitted by City of Fremont
Want to serve your community during the busy summer season? Foster a litter of kittens. The amount of time that kittens are in your care varies from two to seven weeks, depending on how young they are when you start fostering. Kittens must be kept separate from your resident pets – using a spare bedroom or bathroom for your fosters is ideal. Tri-City Animal Shelter provides initial food and litter and will loan you a kitchen scale for weigh-ins. The shelter will also provide medical support to your litter. To apply and for more information, call the shelter at (510) 790-6630 or visit http://www.tricityanimalshelter.org/188/Fostering.
Tri-City Animal Shelter
(510) 790-6630