8-6-19 Articles

American Idol finalist to perform in Newark

Submitted by Dave Smith

 

Ashley Smith, a former Fremont resident and 2019 “American Idol” singing finalist is heading back to the Tri-City area to perform a homecoming concert in Newark. Hess, who now lives in Nashville while pursuing her musical career, will perform Saturday, August 10 at Aloft Silicon Valley Hotel on Gateway Boulevard. The three-hour concert starts at 11 a.m. Advance tickets are $20 on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Nick at (925) 321-5463.

 

Ashley Hess concert

Saturday, Aug 10

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Aloft Silicon Valley Hotel

8200 Gateway Blvd., Hayward

Advance tickets: $20

Reservations required, call Nick at (925) 321-5463

 

 

Apple buys Intel's smartphone modem division for $1 billion

By Michael Liedtke

AP Technology Writer

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jul 25 – Apple is paying Intel $1 billion for the chip maker's smartphone modem division in a deal driven by the upcoming transition to the next generation of wireless technology.

 

The agreement announced Thursday comes three months after Apple ended a long-running dispute with one of Intel's rivals, Qualcomm. That ensured Apple would have a pipeline of chips it needs for future iPhones to work on ultrafast wireless networks known as 5G.

 

The Apple-Qualcomm truce prompted Intel to abandon its attempts to make chips for 5G modems, effectively putting that part of its business up for grabs.

 

Once the sale is completed later this year Apple will be picking up about 2,200 Intel employees and 17,000 wireless technology patents. Barring any complications, the deal is expected to close sometime between October and December.

 

Apple's purchase of Intel's smartphone modem patents and other technology could bolster its attempt to build its own line of 5G chips and lessen its dependence on Qualcomm. The Cupertino, California business has hammered out a licensing agreement with Qualcomm that carries through April 2025, with an option to extend for an additional two years after that.

 

Qualcomm is a pivotal supplier in the rollout of 5G, particularly in the U.S. That's because President Donald Trump's administration has blacklisted another key 5G supplier, Huawei, as part of its trade war with China.

 

So far, 5G connections are only available in a few cities in the U.S., but they are expected to become more prevalent by next year. The faster networks will enable consumers with 5G devices to download movies in a matter of seconds and access other streaming services more quickly.

 

Apple isn't expected to release an iPhone that works on 5G networks until September 2020, putting it behind rivals such as Huawei and Samsung, which already make handsets that work with the faster wireless technology.

 

The sale is a residue of Intel's inability to catch up with Qualcomm in the business of making chips for smartphone modems. Intel spent the past decade trying to make inroads in that market, with its big move coming in 2011 when it bought Infineon Technologies' smartphone modem division for $1.4 billion.

 

Apple rarely spends a lot on acquisitions, preferring to snap up startups for relatively small sums. The price it's paying Intel ranks this deal among its largest besides its $3 billion takeover of Beats' headphones and music streaming service in 2014.

 

Even if the Intel acquisition turns out to be flop, it won't leave a major dent in Apple's finances. The company ended March with $225 billion in cash.

 

 

Trump refuses to shield Apple's Mac Pros from China tariffs

AP Wire Service

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jul 26 – President Donald Trump has vowed to slap tariffs on Apple's Mac Pros if the company shifts production of the computer from Texas to China.

 

The pledge made in a Friday tweet rebuffs Apple's attempt to shield its products from taxes being imposed on goods made in China as part of Trump administration's trade war with the world's most populous country.

 

Apple recently sent a letter to the Trump administration warning that the U.S. economy and its ability to compete will hurt if its products are hit with the tariffs.

 

The Cupertino, California, company has been assembling its Mac Pros in Austin, Texas since 2013, but a report surfaced last month that Apple plans to shift production to a factory near Shanghai.

 

Apple is reportedly moving Mac Pro production because it is having trouble finding enough skilled labor to assemble the computer in Texas.

 

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Friday but has previously said the Mac Pro will continue to be designed and engineered in California. The company hasn't said where the computer will be assembled in the future though. Trump demanded in his tweet that they continue to be made in the U.S if Apple doesn't want to be exposed to a 25 percent tariff on electronics made in China.

 

Just hours later, Trump once again asserted the U.S. should have first dibs over the companies headquartered here. In a tweet, he vowed to retaliate against France for the new digital tax the country is imposing on big tech companies that sell online advertising.

 

If anyone taxes the companies, Trump wrote in a tweet, it should be the U.S. He stuck in a dig about French wine, writing “I've always said American wine is better than French wine!”

 

Investors appeared unfazed by Trump's sparring with one of the world's biggest and most powerful companies. Apple's stock edged up $1.22 to $208.24 in Friday's midday trading.

 

The reaction probably would have been different had Trump made it clear that the tariffs will be applied to Apple's top-selling product, the iPhone, which has long been assembled in China. Mac computers, on the other hand, now represent a relatively small part of Apple's business, unlike the company's early years when the computers were its marquee products.

 

Mac computers held a 6 percent share of the worldwide personal computer market during the second quarter of this year, ranking well behind China's Lenovo as well as HP and Dell in the U.S., according to the research firm Gartner Inc.

 

 

30 years of straight shooting

By Stephanie Gertsch

Photos by Stephanie Gertsch and Courtesy of Archery Only

 

“I have people shooting who are six years old, and I have people shooting that are in their 90s,” says Wayne Piersol, owner of Archery Only. When driving by a small shopping center on Cedar Boulevard in Newark, you wouldn’t guess that one of the shops opens into a 20-yard indoor archery range and pro shop with an impressive array of equipment. But this has been a unique resource of the greater Tri-City community for decades, whether seasoned bow hunters, young people looking for a unique night out, parents and children, or even those with disabilities.

 

Archery was part of Piersol’s life long before he decided to open his own shop. “I started shooting when I was probably 10 or 11 years old, and I came into a store like this when I was probably 13 years old with a church group.” The experience opened his eyes. “Like most people, I had no clue that you could actually go to a store and find an indoor range or a place that exclusively sold archery equipment.” As a teenager, Piersol shot tournament style archery, and although he never quite made Olympic level, he did win the Pacific Coast Championship several times. He also began working in archery shops—until eventually he knew the business well enough to start his own business.

 

Archery Only opened in 1989 on the heels of another local archery shop closing. Seeing an opportunity, Piersol got in touch with the retiring owner and purchased the shop’s yellow pages number. Although the address was wrong (by about a quarter mile), customers were happy to find there was still somewhere to go for archery equipment. Now in its 30th year, Archery Only, originally located on Mowry Avenue, has been featured on the cover of Archery Business Magazine. Piersol says the time has flown by unbelievably fast. But, he notes, current success comes from years of experience and hard work. “People say ‘Wow, you guys do good!’ And I say, ‘Yeah, it just took us 30 years to be an overnight success.’”

 

The shop showcases more than archery paraphernalia. “People will come in the store and they’ll see the mounted animals from all over the world,” Piersol says, referring to the results of his bow hunting expeditions.  “And they’ll say, ‘Did you get those with a bow?’ and I say ‘Yes,’ and they go, ‘Wow. Did you eat ‘em?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Oh, that’s so cool, I’d really like to do that.’” (Bow hunters only shoot surplus wildlife during a designated season and only six percent of the hunters ever get a deer.)

 

Even if you’re only slaying paper targets, archery has a unique appeal. Piersol lists a few key reasons: “You don’t need to get six or eight or ten people. You can shoot by yourself. It’s quiet. You have to totally focus on what you’re doing. It’s very meditative.” In contrast to gun sports, archery doesn’t require ear protection, which facilitates socialization on the range.

 

In addition, archery is accessible regardless of age or gender, especially with the growing popularity of compound bows. Unlike recurve bows, compounds use a pulley system to generate more power without overstraining the archer’s arm. As Piersol says, “Compound bows have put everyone on a level playing field.” He often sees more women than men at the range, including moms shooting with their daughters.

 

Even visual impairment is not a barrier. Several times a year, Archery Only hosts classes for students from California School for the Blind. The kids work on their form, and an audio assistive device gives them a tone when their shot is lined up. In the past, sighted instructors would pull arrows between rounds, but that left out an important part of the experience. Piersol explains, “It’s more rewarding when they can actually feel what’s going on and feel the target, the hay bale and the arrows.” When kids felt for themselves where the arrows had landed, they saw their efforts pay off in a tactile way. Still, Piersol admits old teaching habits can trip him up. “They’ll shoot one into the bullseye, and I’ll go ‘Man look at that, that’s awesome!’ and one of the kids will go ‘I can’t look at that; I’m blind.’ And he starts laughing and all the other kids start laughing.”

 

People often try archery based on movies (for example in 2012 when The Hunger Games, The Avengers, and Brave were released) and find that, similar to any sport, to excel requires extensive practice. “Shooting a bow is a lot like doing karate or ballet or dancing,” says Piersol. “You have to do it a lot; you have to build up muscle memory; it’s not something you’re going to master in a week, six months or even a year.”

 

Casual shooters are a big part of Archery Only clientele. Millennial-generation customers seek out unique experiences with their friends where they can be active, try something new, removed from technology. Customers can sign up for a full complement of instruction, from novice to upper intermediate, with all equipment provided by the shop. Or they can come in for “archery tag,” a high-energy but safe version of the sport.

 

Archery Only, says Piersol, is “…an experience they can’t get online and they can’t get anywhere else.”

 

Archery Only

Monday – Friday, 12 noon – 9 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 pm.

Sunday CLOSED

37300 Cedar Blvd. Ste D, Newark
Pro Shop: (510) 795-0460

For lessons: (510) 795-0762

www.archeryonly.com

 

Intro to Archery ages 8+

Tuesdays, 5:00 p.m.

(one session)

 

Intro to Archery ages 18+

Fridays, 8 p.m.

(one session)

 

Archery 101 ages 8+

Tuesdays, Aug 13 – Sept 17

7 p.m.

Wednesdays, Aug 14 – Sept 18

7 p.m.

 

Compound 101

Wednesdays, Aug 7 – Sept 11

8 p.m.

 

 

Call for Artists: Arts in the Park

Submitted by Arathi Satish

 

There is still time to submit your work to the annual “Art in the Park” at Shinn Park taking place this year on Sunday, August 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Fremont Cultural Arts Council (FCAC), Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, The Fremont Art Association, Boy Scout Troop 447 and Jack in the Box are sponsoring this event. It is designed for local artists and historic crafters to display and sell their creations.

 

Mission Peak Heritage Foundation charges only $10 for a 10×10 ft. area for artists to display their work. Canopy structure is highly recommended. Participants must also indicate if they need electricity as there is only limited access and amperage available. There is no charge to attend this event and the artists receive all proceeds from their sales. FCAC is also working with high school and college students to operate several STEAM booths.

 

Fine arts and crafts from local artists and craftspeople will be accepted. Artists are invited to apply in the categories of painting, photography, sculptures, ceramics, textile among other historic crafts. Work must be original and created by the exhibiting artist. Artists are also encouraged to demonstrate “Art in Action” at their booths. Artists will be able to set up their booths from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and all booths should remain in operation till the end of the event at 4 p.m. Breakdown will begin after 4 p.m.

 

Applicants must mail a completed entry form, photos as requested, and one business size self-addressed stamped envelope to Al Minard, 1201 Valdez Way, Fremont, CA 94539. They must include three clear photos (print or via CD) of their work, plus a detailed description of their booth. If they have previously been accepted for Arts & Crafts in the Park, photos will not be needed.

 

To be considered for the selection, applications must be postmarked no later than August 12, 2019 and received no later than August 15, 2019. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis. Acceptance notifications will be made about 10 days after receipt. All photographs will be returned if requested and self-addressed stamped envelope provided.

 

For further details contact Al Minard at (510) 552-4839 or alminard@comcast.net. Or visit the FCAC office or website for more information.

 

Arts & Crafts in Shinn Park

Submission Deadlines

Postmarked by: Friday, August 12

Received by: Monday, August 15

 

Send submissions to:

Al Minard

1201 Valdez Way

Fremont, CA 94539

 

Arts & Crafts in Shinn Park

Sunday, Aug 18

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shinn Park

1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont

(510) 794-7166

fremontculturalartscouncil.org

 

 

Auto burglary suspect in custody

Submitted by Lt. John Torrez, Milpitas PD

 

After several weeks of investigation, Milpitas police have arrested a suspect in conjunction with several auto burglaries in a local shopping center.

 

The case started on June 7 when officers were called to investigate multiple auto break-ins in a parking lot on the 400 block of Barber Lane. During the investigation, an officer reviewed security camera footage and obtained a limited description of two suspects and their vehicle, identified as a 2016 green Honda HR-V. The officer was also able to obtain latent fingerprint evidence from a victim’s vehicle.

 

Two weeks later, an officer spotted the suspect vehicle near the shopping center again and tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver sped away. On July 18, investigators identified Joseph Ronzelle Lane, 23, of Oakland as the driver of the vehicle and an arrest warrant was issued.

 

Lane was arrested by police detectives on July 30 in San Francisco and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. He faces charges of burglary and evading a police officer. Meanwhile, police are reminding the public to never leave valuables in unattended vehicles and to report suspicious activity immediately.

 

 

BART Police Log

Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

 

Friday, July 26

• At 5:54 p.m. a man identified by police as Robert Lewis, 55, of San Francisco was arrested at Union City station on suspicion of battery and violation of a court order. He was booked into local jail.

 

Tuesday, July 30

• At 11:22 p.m. a woman identified by police as Laquita Davis, 36, of Oakland was arrested at San Leandro station on suspicion of battery, public intoxication and probation violation. She was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

Wednesday, July 31

• At 9:16 a.m. a man identified by police as Abraham Davis, 46, of Hayward was arrested at the Hayward station on two misdemeanor, no-bail warrants. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

• At 10:40 a.m. a man identified by police as Jonard Maya, 38, of San Lorenzo was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on suspicion of burglary and receiving stolen property. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.

 

 

Garden BnB for our feathered and flighty friends

Article and photos by Lalitha Visveswaran

 

Imagine this: A garden AirBnB allowing insects and birds and maybe some warty customers to stay in return for their pest management and cleanup services.

 

When our garden bursts with flowers leaving a blaze of color, that is only the first part of the flowers’ life cycle. Everything that blooms must die, you see. Flowers produce seeds so their DNA may spread when those seeds are carried away by wind or birds and deposited someplace else. Plants have wanderlust too even if they are rooted and earthbound. Sadly, we chop down flowers after they seem dried up. We cut the natural cycle short and deny plants the very reason for their existence.

 

Ideally, I would like all of us to leave our garden messy with dried-out flowers, so the plants can live out their purpose; doing so could attract birds, who are the chauffeurs for the seeds. But sometimes, we must maintain appearances. So, we weed, sow, and prune our garden. However, there are still ways to make your garden inviting for flighty, buzzy and feathery pollinators.

 

Bird feeders

If you want birds around, you must feed them. While most birds prefer fresh seeds from dying flowers, it is easy to find a readymade bird mix at a store. Beautiful and cheery bird feeders can also be found at garden stores. Bird feeders are usually hung high to detract predators such as snakes, critters, and cats from making an easy meal out of a distracted greedy bird.

 

To make your own bird feeder, take a container with a cavity to hold seeds. The container can be hung on a branch with hemp or jute rope. A branch or a stick perch for the birds is a bonus. Do not make the feeder too big as birds might mistake it for a bird house if they get comfortable enough. I love using old cat food tin cans as bird feeders. The metal tins cans are easy to decorate and have large openings that discourage birds from using the feeders as houses.

 

Hide bird feeders amidst foliage. You can also collect seed heads of spent flowers and stick them into bird feeders. One of my favorite bird feeders: When sunflowers have shed their petals, nail them to the fence. Bird love the feeder as it’s an easy pecking buffet for them.

 

Toad House

Having toads around is every gardener’s dream. Toads eat thousands of garden pests such as insects, snails, and slugs. But how to attract toads to the garden? Build a toad house.

 

Toads don’t live in water like frogs do, but as amphibians they do need lots of moisture, shade and access to water. Toads also need cover as they are meals to predators such as snakes and raptors.

 

To build a toad house, location is key. It must be a moist and shady spot, preferably with understory of leafy plants. Access to water is also crucial; a pond or a water feature is not needed, but toads can’t be in an arid or hot part of the garden. Toads like to live under porches, near large tree roots and rocks that absorb heat. Access to an upturned clay pot is enough to create a toad palace. Do not use metal as it tends to become hot and can be oppressive for our toad friends. (Also true for bird houses)

 

To build an easy-peasy toad house, dig a small hole or a ditch around the toad shelter, so there is always some water around its abode.

 

Bug Motels

Insect houses or “bug motels” are manmade structures created to provide shelter for insects. The houses come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different kinds of insects and bugs. Most houses provide nesting facilities, particularly during winter, offering shelter or refuge for many types of insects. Solitary bees and wasps do not create colonies or hives, and need a place to stay. Butterflies and ladybirds can also hibernate or overwinter in the folds and nooks of the bug motel.

 

In nature, logs and tree trunks act as homes for insects. Many insects are ground nesters, but as we trod the earth and create walking paths, these refuges are lacking in our manicured gardens. We can rectify the problem – even staking stones or drilling holes into tiles can help insects snuggle during winter. Larvae can safely gestate in such spaces. Stones, wood, hollow reeds, and bamboo are suitable for creating tunnel-like abodes. A stack of old corrugated cardboard is perfect, even better with a sprinkling of garden soil. For our zone, insect hotels must be southern facing.

 

Fruit trees are perfect to house earwigs; plant lice are earwigs’ meal of choice. Hang a terracotta pot upside down or sideways and fill it with straw. Ladybugs hibernate as a group and like old twigs for their glam shack. They are great for aphid control and will polish off aphids near your vegetable garden or roses in a matter of hours.

 

Crevices

Butterflies like crevices and even a bundle of leaves will give them space to deposit their eggs. Butterflies also need foraging plants before the larval stage and nectar plants after they emerge from the chrysalis. Do keep that in mind while setting up butterfly habitats. Anise Swallowtail butterflies like fennel tops and flowers, monarchs specifically love milkweed, Gulf Fritillary like Passiflora, and all butterflies appreciate the showy butterfly bush for nectar. Do some research into the kind of plants butterflies like to create a butterfly garden.

 

 

Lalitha Visveswaran is a full-time farmer at Jellicles Farm in the Sunol AgPark. www.jelliclesfarm.com

 

 

Fremont Startup Grind Digest

By Tina Kapoor, economic development manager

 

The last Startup Grind meeting brought yet another accomplished speaker to share her words of wisdom. Irene Koehler, social media marketing and personal branding expert, focused her talk on the importance of entrepreneurs’ personal brand and how it affects their business. Through her Ready Set Expert program, Koehler prepares entrepreneurs and successful professionals to attract their ideal prospects. Koehler is a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, and strategist, as well as an adjunct professor in social media marketing program at both San Francisco State University and California State University.

 

Koehler has helped thousands improve business results by developing their marketing strategies and personal brands. She urges entrepreneurs to focus on three questions as they start developing or reshaping their personal brand:

• How do you want others to see you?
• How do you want to show up?
• How do you currently show up?

 

Focusing on these three questions can help the thought process around your brand and what you stand for, according to Koehler. For example, thinking about why you do what you do might help you make the connection between what fuels you and your team, and why it is rewarding. Koehler also advises on keeping your audience in mind while thinking about highlighting the brand.

 

Perhaps the most effective analogy Koehler shared during the meet-up was that of a mirror. As entrepreneurs looking to reinvent their personal brand, they must think of themselves as a mirror because they see the things as they seem. At the same time, others looking at the entrepreneurs are windows, seeing things as they perceive. Keeping this in mind can help anyone improve their personal brand and understand customer engagement. After all, investors don’t invest their time or resources in companies; they invest in the people behind the companies.

 

On August 7, Startup Grind Fremont has invited Andre Abrahamians to hear Considerations of Owning and Running a Startup. He has been with the leading law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Roasti supporting clients in IP, Trademark, Commercial Securities and Employment litigation. Join us to learn how to not have these issues decide the fate of your startup, take charge and avoid costly mistakes upfront that otherwise could cost your company a fortune.

Register now at www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-fremont-presents-considerations-of-owning-and-running-a-startup-with-andre-wsrg-law-firm/#/.

 

Startup Grind Fremont is the Silicon Valley East chapter of the international business startup community that has hosted more than 2,000 fireside chats across 200 cities and 85 countries. At monthly events, the local entrepreneurial community gathers to learn, find mentorship, pursue funding, and gain new customers. For more information and buy tickets, visit www.startupgrind.com/fremont.

 

 

California Symphony’s residence program accepting applicants

Submitted by Theresa Madeira

 

California Symphony is accepting composer applications for the orchestra’s competitive Young American Composer-in-Residence program, taking place from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2023. The application deadline is October 31; a selection will be made on or before February 1, 2020.

 

The residence program is designed to give outstanding, emerging, young American composers an opportunity to write orchestral music while working with a professional orchestra and conductor over a three-year period. “We hope that we can provide a platform of dreaming, without restriction, for the composer, in terms of what to write next,” said California Symphony Music Director Donato Cabrera.

 

The program features key differences compared with others of its type. The selection process includes two initial blind review rounds (where works submitted by applicants are considered anonymously), designed to reduce or eliminate unconscious bias. Composers from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates participate in reading rehearsals and receive study recordings of their work during the composition process. Over a three-year residency, the composer, conductor, and orchestra become partners in the creation of the works and share their experience and insights as compositions develop.

 

The Composer-in-Residence receives a commission fee of $10,000 for each work; three world premiere performances (one for each new work) in Walnut Creek in the spring of 2021, 2022 and 2023; and a recorded rehearsal reading of each piece before it premieres. The orchestra also provides accommodations and airfare for two residency weeks each year for on-site reading rehearsal and premiere weeks.

 

Working with Cabrera and California Symphony musicians, and symphony’s board of directors and staff gives the composer an opportunity to develop their music in a collaborative and creative atmosphere that offers professional growth opportunities. The selected composer will also visit local schools to inspire young people about the art of composing; participate in pre-concert talks, receptions and events; and be involved in the search for the residency’s next young composer.

 

To apply for the residency, visit californiasymphony.org/composerapplication. Applicants will need to submit a resume, composition list, and award recognition list; three professional references; at least three scores from within the last three years that represent a cross section of work, plus audio recordings of up to three original compositions; proof of U.S. citizenship, and a $75 non-refundable application fee.

 

 

Chabot Space and Science Center August events

 

We call August the “dog days” of summer because the dog star Sirius rises about the same time as the sun. What better way to enjoy dog days than with star-centric activities at Chabot Space and Science Center? The center will be open after hours this month for night hikes, sleep overs, photography and a special viewing of the Perseid Meteor Shower. There’s daytime fun to be had too at the Bubblefest—a day of learning everything about these soapy planets.

 

Beginners astrophotography class

Friday, Aug 9

8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

 

If you have ever wanted to try your hand at astrophotography or hone your existing skills, now is your chance!

 

This beginners’ class will be led by the President of the East Bay Astronomical Society, Richard Ozer, and will guide you through basic steps of astrophotography. The class ends with a guided session out on our Observation Deck. This $20 class requires advanced registration.

It is recommended that you bring your own camera and USB drive, but not required. Tripods will be provided. All are welcome!

 

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Adult night hike and sip

Saturday, Aug10

6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

 

The journey begins at sunset from the Center into the beautiful surrounding redwood forest. During the 4-5 mile hike, learn about local history and ecology of the forest and hear astronomical stories and fun facts. The evening will be capped off by stargazing and planet-hunting on our observation deck. Each hiker will receive two complimentary glasses of wine or beer along with small bites. A perfect evening for a date night or fun with friends!

 

Capacity is limited. $30 Non-Members, $27 members

 

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Perseid meteor shower

Monday, Aug 12 at 11 p.m. – Tuesday, Aug 13 at 3 a.m.

 

Hang out on the new observation deck and be dazzled by the spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower! Astronomers will be on site to answer any questions. In addition, guests can enjoy hot chocolate and other goodies.

 

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First ever Bubblefest

Saturday, August 17

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Learn all about the science behind bubbles and see how bubbles can change form as professional bubble artists expose the wonders of these remarkable spheres. Blow, pop, dunk and experience the wonder of bubbles with an entire lineup of activities that will have you feeling bubbly! Enjoy bubble shows, live music, DIY bubble wand making, a bubble dance party and so much more.

 

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Family hikes

Saturday, Aug 17

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 

Bring the whole family along as we take a gentle 2-3-mile round trip walk among the majestic redwoods. We’ll stop and tell stories about Oakland history, identify native plants and trees, and discuss wildlife and indicators of climate change. Due to heavy roots, routes are not accessible by strollers and/or wheelchairs. Hikes may be canceled or rescheduled due to extreme weather conditions or under enrollment. Advance tickets are recommended.

 

$14, $11 Members, per person

 

Additional Family Hike Dates/Times:

August 31, 4 p.m.

 

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Highly mixological 21+

Saturday, Aug 24

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

 

At this year’s Highly Mixological we’re bringing together our favorite space-based series, Star Trek and Star Wars, for a night of science fiction celebration! Catch a Light Saber show, learn some conversational Klingon, and test your knowledge at sci-fi trivia. The best costumes will win a prize at our costume contest, so make sure to dress to impress. Grab a specialty cocktail and bond with a friend over your shared love for space—there’s room for everyone in this universe! This event is 21+.

 

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Slumber with the stars: an adults-only overnight

Saturday, Aug 24 at 6 p.m. – Sunday, Aug 25 at 9 a.m.

 

Come for the party and stay for the night!

 

In addition to an all access pass to the popular Highly Mixological party that evening, you’ll have exclusive time to our tinkering/making lounge for hands-on DIY fun, dining and entertainment.

 

After the party ends, enjoy a private showing of the laser light show, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Camp out under the starry skies near the redwood forest or one of our indoor astronomical exhibitions. Rise early for a hot breakfast and optional morning hike. Limited first-come-first-serve sleeping cots are available.

 

Advance ticket required. $85, $75 Members

 

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Bring on the drums: drum making workshop with microphone mechanics

Saturday, Aug 31

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Come make your very own table drum. Design it, build it, learn rhythms, build community, and most importantly take your drum home as a legacy instrument. Recommended for ages 7-107.

 

$20 per person

 

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Slumber with the stars–the dog days of summer

Saturday, Aug 31 at 6 p.m. – Sunday Sept 1 at 9 a.m.

 

Celebrate the dog days of summer with a slumber party for the whole family! Cool off the heat with outdoor fun games and activities, DJ, s’mores, stargazing and carnival food. As the sun goes down, enjoy an outdoor blockbuster movie (weather permitting) or one of our feature shows in the planetarium. Bring your tents to camp out in the courtyard, observatory or our fabulous limited summer Luminous moon exhibition.

 

Outdoor activities and telescope viewing are subject to change and/or move due to weather conditions.

 

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

www.chabotspace.org

 

 

Davis Street Health Fair

Their heart is in the right place!

By Madhvika Singh

Photos courtesy of Davis Street Family Resource Center

 

With 49 years of inspiring history, legacy of community service from its founding members, and altruism in the hearts of its staff, Davis Street Family Resource Center (DSFRC) in San Leandro serves the needs of the most vulnerable families in the area. By providing services that allow families to survive and flourish, the resource center, also known simply as “Davis Street,” has become a leader in guiding its client families out of poverty and into productive lives.

 

The center’s approach includes services to address not only the immediate needs of their clients, but also tackle the larger issues of poverty and disenfranchisement that often prevent people from breaking out of the cycle. Founded as a ministry of the First Christian Church in 1970, Davis Street became a 501(c) (3) organization in 1990. While it started small, offering only childcare services, thrift shop, food pantry and recycling center, services have expanded to include medical, dental, behavioral, pediatric, and women’s health services, nutrition, domestic abuse counseling, housing, and utility assistance.

 

Davis Street became a federally qualified health center in 2015 and now provides a full continuum of healthcare services to families in southern Alameda county area, including supportive and educational services to developmentally disabled children and adults. The center also focuses on improving community involvement and empowering its clients to become change agents and advocates to broaden its impact.

 

To further extend its reach into the community and build on the foundation of service, Davis Street will be hosting its fifth annual Health Fair on Saturday, August 10th in San Leandro. This one-of-a-kind event will offer complimentary medical and dental screenings and free backpacks and shoes for eligible children. The fair will include a farmer’s market as well as nutrition education, making it a one-stop shop to generate awareness about healthy eating habits. There will also be free games and prizes, and fun activities for the whole family.

 

The fair is an expression of center employees’ heartfelt commitment to the cause. Kristal Gonzales, Basic Needs Assistant Manager at the center shared what it means to be a part of the center – “I feel really fulfilled. I think about my kids where I can provide. Yet there are many parents that are not able to provide at this place and time. I am so glad to work for a place like Davis Street that can help provide for families.” She adds, “Kids are judged in school by what they wear and bring, and for kids in need to get a new backpack full of supplies or new shoes to wear when going back to school, their spirits are uplifted and it often restores their dignity.”

 

Over the years, the popularity of the fair has grown steadily, and this year over 2,000 people are expected to take part, an increase of over 30% from last year. The opportunity to get free health screenings in an informal, non-traditional setting makes it easier for people to stay updated on their basic health, and follow up with the primary care physicians if needed. Screenings allow the center to offer tailored services based on client’s needs and cultivates a stronger relationship with the population they serve. While the participation numbers speak for themselves for the success of the fair, for the employees of Davis Center there is a deeper meaning of success as well. As Vida Benavides, Director of Marketing and Communications put it – “When clients come back and tell us how their quality of life has improved with the help from Davis Street, that is truly a meaningful success for all of us”.

 

The secret sauce to operating a center with services of this magnitude is a dedicated team of staff and volunteers and support from community. Rose Padilla Johnson, who has been the CEO since 1991, in conjunction with the Board of Directors provides leadership to the nearly 100 full-time and part-time employees in serving over 9,000 patients every year. Funding from local businesses and help from volunteers makes it possible for the center to deliver on its vision.

 

There are many ways to contribute. Please check out http://davisstreet.org/for more information. A little help goes a long way and makes us part of an effort bigger than ourselves – ensuring everyone has a home, food and necessities of life, and a safety net if they fall through the cracks. We wish DSFRC the very best as it nears the 50th anniversary of relentless community service.

 

Annual Health Fair

Saturday, Aug 10

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Davis Street Family Resource Center

3081 Teagarden St, San Leandro

510-347-4620

DSFRCInfo@davisstreet.org

http://davisstreet.org/

Free parking – Street & Lot

 

Center hours:

Mon – Thu: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Fri: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 

 

Easy Bay Park District bans glyphosate

By Dennis Waespi

East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors

 

Responding to public concerns about health effects of the herbicide glyphosate, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors has approved a resolution calling for an immediate ban of its use in picnic areas. The resolution also calls for full elimination of glyphosate in all developed park areas by the end of 2020.

 

Glyphosate is currently used as part of the park district’s pest management program for fire prevention and vegetation maintenance around park structures, fences, walkways, parking areas and in public right-of-way areas such as roads, bike paths, and trails.

 

However, the district has taken steps during the past two years to reduce glyphosate use and find alternatives. In 2016 the district updated its integrated pest management practices to focus on early intervention and the use of organic products when possible as an alternative to glyphosate. Over the past two years, the district has reduced its use by 66 percent for park maintenance.

 

By the end of 2020, the district plans to phase out glyphosate use in developed park areas, including parking lots, campgrounds, lawns, and paved trails. Currently, glyphosate is not used near play areas or water fountains. The phase-out will take substantial financial resources and significantly impact the district’s general fund and staffing levels. The board has asked staff to report back with an assessment of staff and fiscal needs.

 

Celebration of East Bay Regional Park District’s 85th anniversary continues with lots of great activities still on the calendar.

 

For one, there’s free parking, swimming, fishing, and boating (though state fees and permits still apply) at all the regional parks, every Friday through the end of the year. There’s free entrance on non-event Fridays at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont.

 

Free concerts are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fridays, August 9 and September 13 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. Parking will be available on Webster Street or the Crown Beach lot on Otis and Shoreline Drive. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, eat a picnic dinner or purchase food on-site.

 

A major anniversary celebration will be the Fall Arts and Music Festival on Saturday, September 28 in the park district’s Bridge Yard Building at the eastern touchdown of the Bay Bridge in Oakland.

 

The Regional Parks Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary with a gala from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Thursday, October 10 at the Casa Real – Ruby Hill Winery in Pleasanton.

Check the park district website at www.ebparks.org and stay tuned for more information on special events marking the two anniversaries.

 

Kids and adults will enjoy free family outdoor movie night from 8:20 p.m. to 10:05 p.m. Saturday, August 10 at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. The feature is “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,” which will start shortly after sunset. Arrive early to get a good seat. Bring a flashlight, warm clothes, and a blanket or chair. No pets are allowed. The event will be cancelled if it rains (unlikely).

 

Ardenwood is at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard, just north of Highway 84. For information call (510) 544-2567.

 

For a trip back in time, check out the Knap-In at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. A hands-on demonstration of the ancient art of stone tool making will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. Experienced stone tool makers will show how ancient peoples made spear points and arrowheads out of chert, obsidian, and other stones. Young children may watch. Anyone ages 16 or older can give stone tool making a try, but if you wish to do so, bring leather gloves, long pants, close-toed shoes, and protective eye wear.

 

Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road, off Paseo Padre Parkway. Call (510) 544-3220.

 

 

Park It

By Ned MacKay

 

Among the many pleasures that are offered during summertime in the East Bay Regional Park District are free concerts, and there’s one from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 9 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. The concert will feature the band “Jazz Mafia.” The center stays open until 8 p.m. with activities on the deck starting at 4:30 p.m. Bring your blanket or lawn chair, and a picnic dinner or buy local food and beverages on-site.

 

Parking is available on Webster Street or the Crown Beach lot at Otis Drive. The event is sponsored by the Alameda Rotary Club, park district, and Regional Parks Foundation.

 

If you can’t make it to the August 9 concert, another one will take place at Crab Cove on Friday, September 13 with SambaDa traditional Afro-Brazilian heritage music. Other free concerts are planned on Friday, August 23 at Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch, and on Saturday, September 28 at Judge John Sutter Regional Shoreline in Oakland.

 

Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Avenue. For information, call (510) 544-3187.

 

While we’re talking about free opportunities, remember that the regional park entry and other fees are waived every Friday through the end of 2019, in celebration of the park district’s 85th anniversary. The waiver includes park entrance and fees for day use parking, swimming, dogs, horse trailers, boat launching and fishing permits. Special event permits, state fishing licenses, camping and some other fees are still charged.

 

Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont is offering three free programs.

 

“Fantastic Flowers” is the theme of a session with naturalist Kristina Parkison, for ages 7 and older, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 10. Learn how flowers enhance our lives and the lives of animals around us, then make paper flowers to take home.

 

Early risers will enjoy nature yoga with the interpretive staff at Coyote Hills from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Sunday, August 11. Wear comfortable clothing; bring water and a mat (a few mats are available for loan). The session is for ages 14 and older. Both programs will meet at the visitor center.

 

Naturalist James Frank plans a hike from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, August 11 to explore Coyote Hills’ marsh, Ohlone village site and Willows Trail. It’s a flat, 2.5-mile walk for ages 14 and older. Meet at the Quarry parking lot.

 

Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road, off Paseo Padre Parkway. There’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle. For details, call (510) 544-3220.

 

It’s all about bats in a program from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, August 14 and August 28 at Sunol Regional Wilderness. Naturalist Ashley Adams will dispel the mysteries surrounding the flying mammals while the group watches the bats fly from their roost to begin their nightly insect hunt. Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy in the park before the bat watch begins.

 

Sunol Regional Wilderness is at the end of Geary Road off, Calaveras Road about 5 miles south of I-680 and the town of Sunol. For information, call (510) 544-3249.

 

Ashley also will lead a program about mountain lions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 11 at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore. The group will stroll the hills while learning about the secretive life of the big cats.

 

Del Valle is at the end of Del Valle Road, off Mines Road about 9 miles south of Livermore. Meet at the visitor center. For information, call (510) 544-3249.

 

“Frolicking frogs” are the topic of a program from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 10 at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. Discover how the amphibians hop around the park in search of food and family.

 

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road, off Main Street. Call (888) 327-2757, ext. 3050.

 

Because of concerns about health effects, the East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors has approved a resolution calling for an immediate ban of the herbicide glyphosate in picnic areas. The resolution also calls for full elimination of glyphosate in all developed park areas by the end of 2020.

 

Glyphosate is currently used as part of the park district’s pest management program for fire prevention and vegetation maintenance around park structures, fences, walkways, parking areas and in public right-of-way areas such as roads, bike paths and trails. Glyphosate not used in play areas or around drinking fountains.

 

For a complete list of programs and policies in the park district, visit www.ebparks.org.

 

 

Dockless in Fremont

 

After an abortive attempt in 2018 at solving the “last mile” dilemma of transporting people to and from mass transit terminals to work sites, the city is back with another whack at it. Shunning automobiles, with or without drivers, bicycles seem to be the preferred mode of transportation.

 

The first attempt of introducing a shared system of pedal power to commuters was through a system called Lime. Competitors such as Bird asked for the opportunity to introduce their systems to Fremont, but a decision to use Lime as a sole contractor was approved by the city council. Announced as a 1-year pilot program beginning in February 2019, a mobile app was to be used to call upon a fleet of 500 bicycles, electric assist bicycles and electric scooters of shared “micromobility.” Parking zones were anticipated to contain vehicles between use. February 2019 came and went without a single shared bicycle, scooter or micro vehicle in sight.

 

Fast forward to the next attempt of a bicycle-oriented system for Fremont. An announcement, without any fanfare or council consideration, has now appeared in city communications that another “dockless mobility” system is in the works. According to a press release and city communications, HOPR has been issued a permit to “roll out 250 dockless bicycles in Fremont on August 5, to provide a safe and sustainable mobility option.” Utilizing a one-year grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, shared bicycles are touted by Josh Squire, CEO of HOPR as a “convenient, fun and offer the added benefit of storage to carry groceries while also keeping you fit.” Open to anyone 18 years old or older, the program is helmet optional, opening questions of safety and user competence.

 

In a previous editorial [The scooters are coming, the scooters are coming: November 20, 2018], I raised the issue of road safety. Although my observations are anecdotal and may not be a true representation of all traffic conditions, they are nonetheless, still worth consideration. I have reprinted the editorial as written since my impressions have not changed dramatically from that time.

 

November 19, 2018

The scooters are coming, the scooters are coming!

 

I don’t know about the rest of you, but not only does the heavy automobile traffic in our area challenge my driving skills, but reckless disregard of signals and ignorance of basic rules of the road by aggressive, inattentive and ignorant drivers is daunting. I value my life and do not believe my commute – as short as it is – should be a daily demolition derby challenge. As I watch from what I used to think of as the safety of my car, it is apparent that others have a much different idea how to use streets and highways.

 

Self-driving cars may help avoid the typical daily mayhem on our streets, but the ubiquitous presence of such vehicles is probably many years away. In the meantime, anyone who ventures into vehicle spaces is in dangerous territory. Now, Fremont has decided to initiate an experiment of shared bicycles and scooters for the next year. An interesting concept; the idea is to allow adults to rent these modes of transportation and share space with the existing chaos. Responsible bicyclists who actually pay attention to the rules of the road understand the danger and potential lethal results of match between a 20-lb. to 40-lb. scooter or bicycle with a 3,500 lb. car. For those unaccustomed to traveling beside SUV behemoths, even in good weather and visibility, this presents significant challenges.

 

Popular use of this type of transportation in other cities such as Seattle and San Francisco may give some indication of its viability in our area, but concentration of work, residential and mass transportation is not a strong suit for Fremont and its environs. Envisioned by the exclusive contractor, Lime, a presentation to the Fremont City Council on November 13th focused on a limited area around the BART/downtown segment of the city. However, salivating councilmembers asked to extend the focus to the Warm Springs BART as a solution to the “last mile” conundrum for workers of that area. Will this become a modern version of the Wild West where harried automobile commuters tangle with scooters and bicycles? Motorcycles that weave in and out of traffic can be problematic, but untrained riders of scooters and bicycles, even in bike lanes, could be catastrophic.

 

The trial period of one year will give an indication of whether this may be a transportation alternative, but much remains to be ironed out. Will people actually use this? Bicycles are not new and yet there are relatively few people actually using them to commute. Scooters may also be treated more as a toy or recreational device, rather than serious transportation. Those required to dress conservatively for work may be loath to saddle up on a bike or scooter. If the weather is uncooperative – hot, cold, rain – will those depending on such devices abandon them? How convenient will it be to pick up and/or leave these vehicles at an intended destination? Should helmets be required for safety? If so, how are these supplied?

 

There are many questions to be answered about the practical nature of Lime and its counterparts such as Bird in the dispersed environments of our cities, but it will be interesting to see what happens. I hope it doesn’t result in an enthusiastic group of environmental advocates trying to match their prowess with the many witless wonders currently on the roadways. Not only do those using such transportation need to understand the difference between these vehicles, but it is time to address the plethora of automobile drivers who either do not know or refuse to observe even basic rules of the road such as who has right of way at stoplights… or even what a red stoplight means.

 

Until we can all confidently use transportation services – either manned or unmanned – without the need or desire for individually-owned automobiles, personal responsibility and safety issues will be paramount. The scooters/bicycles are coming, but are we ready for them?

 

 

Fremont Police Log

Submitted by Fremont PD and Alameda County Fire Department

 

Friday, July 26

• At about 11:15 a.m. detectives found and monitored an unoccupied stolen vehicle parked in an apartment complex in the area of Central Avenue and Blacow Road. Eventually, a woman, later identified as Melissa Diamond, 39, of Fremont got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. When confronted, Diamond started the car and reportedly rammed two unmarked police vehicles and attempted to run over a detective while driving away. No officers were injured, but the vehicles were totaled.

 

Diamond drove through a gate and sped westbound on Central Avenue, crossing into Newark before colliding with two vehicles at the intersection of Central Avenue and Cedar Boulevard. Diamond sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. The driver of one of the other vehicles involved was taken to the hospital with major injuries.

 

The Newark Police Department is investigating the collision. Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision is asked contact Traffic Officer Ryan Johnson at (510) 578-4934 or via email at ryan.johnson@newark.org. Anonymous information can be shared on the Newark Police Department tip line at (510) 578-4965. Meanwhile, Fremont police are investigating the incident at the apartment complex as an assault with a deadly weapon.

 

 

Fremont Unified School Board Meeting Highlights

Submitted by Kenneth Blackstone

 

At the July 31 Board of Education Meeting – Measure E Bond Program, the Fremont Unified School District

 

• Amend agreement with Terraphase Engineering in the amount of $40,408 to include a biological study and a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Patterson Ranch property. This is to identify any potential activities that may trigger regulatory requirements for biological constraints at the school site, and to involve the Department of Toxic Substance Control earlier in the PEA process. (This is a non-Measure E item, funded by Fund 25 Developer Fee Funds.)

 

• Required public hearing to consider grants and adopt Resolution No. 002-1920 Authorizing and Approving a Use of Grants Request as needed for new construction projects. The district will file construction funding applications to the state, including construction at Horner, Hopkins, Centerville and Thornton middle schools; Washington High School and Washington High School drama classroom. Recent policy changes now require districts to submit eligibility updates for the enrollment year in which the application is processed. Districts may request pupil grants at a different grade level than the pupils housed by the project, if there are none available at the project’s grade level. This is known as a Use of Grants application, and may be necessary to fully fund a project. The adoption of the resolution will allow this flexibility in pupil grant requests.

 

• Discussion on the new construction project at Horner Middle School related to Hirsch Elementary School buildings annex concept and provide direction to staff. Construction at Horner Middle School is in progress; demolition of the existing junior high school is scheduled for winter 2019 after the new buildings are occupied. Discussion centered on whether to demolish or upgrade existing Horner buildings #4 and #5. An industrial hygienist will be required either way.

 

• Amend the agreement with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for an amount not to exceed $4,093,991 for the new construction and modernization project at Thornton Middle School. QKA is finalizing the design in alignment with option 2B as directed by the Board at its September 26, 2018 meeting. Option 2B increased the project scope and budget to $76 million.

 

 

Hayward Citywide Garage Sale

Submitted by City of Hayward

 

The biggest garage sale in Hayward is coming on Saturday, August 10. Homes, blocks, and whole neighborhoods will sell off their gently-used but quality items at a fraction of retail prices. If you are planning to attend, download a map of all the registered sales at www.hayward-ca.gov, or pick up a physical copy at City Hall, 21st Century Library, and Weekes Branch Library. Maps will be available starting Tuesday, August 6.

 

Hayward citywide garage sale

Saturday, Aug 10

Starts at 8 a.m.

(510) 881-7745

www.hayward-ca.gov

 

 

Major building project moves forward

Submitted by the City of Hayward

 

The next step in a major residential and retail development project at the former Mervyn’s headquarters site in downtown Hayward is now in place.

 

On July 2, the City of Hayward issued a building permit to Dollinger Properties for development of its Lincoln Landing residential and retail project which will include 476 apartments and more than 80,500 square feet of retail space on the prominent 11.5-acre site at 22301 Foothill Blvd.

 

“Lincoln Landing is poised to become a cornerstone in the revitalization of the Foothill-Mission Boulevard corridor and the transformation of downtown Hayward,” said City Manager Kelly McAdoo.

 

The project would be the sixth residential or mixed-use residential development to break ground on Foothill and Mission boulevards in the last two years — each bringing new life and investment to vacant and underutilized properties. The projects include:

 

• Mission Crossings, a reimaging of the former Hayward Ford automotive dealership into 142 townhouse-style condominiums, an extended-stay hotel and retail around an urban agricultural garden.
• SoHay, a new transit-oriented neighborhood of 472 condominiums in different formats with 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, connected by trails, paseos, sidewalks and bike paths, near South Hayward BART station.
• Mission Village, Campways and Haymont, three mixed-use developments bringing a combined 202 apartments, condominiums and townhomes, and retail and commercial space to Mission Boulevard at Industrial Boulevard, Hancock Street and Sorenson Road, respectively.

 

Lincoln Landing also would be the first major downtown project to begin construction since adoption of the Hayward’s new Downtown Specific Plan in May 2019.

 

The plan updates zoning across 320 acres to allow for development of up to 3,427 new housing units and 1.9 million square feet of nonresidential space. It accomplishes this in part by increasing allowable building heights to up to 11 stories in central downtown, along Foothill Boulevard and next to the downtown Hayward BART station.

 

Other new housing in the pipeline for downtown includes Maple and Main, approved for development of 240 apartments — 192 market rate and 48 affordable to very low-income households — as well as rehabilitation of 48,800 square feet of medical offices and 5,500 square feet of new retail space.

 

Matsya Family Villas, by nonprofit housing developer EAH Housing, calls for construction of 57 apartments on the site of a recently demolished office building at Second and A streets. The housing will be leased at rates affordable to low-income and extremely low-income households.

 

Citywide, Hayward has 3,695 housing units under construction or approved for development — and an additional 628 housing units that have been proposed and under City planning review.

 

Of the 3,695 units already in the development pipeline, 238 are designated to be affordable and rented or sold at below-market rates. And, of the 628 units proposed for development and under review, 171 are designated affordable and would be rented or sold at below-market rates.

 

 

Get ready to party in the street

Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce

Photos by Roelle Balan

 

Third Thursdays have been a hit in Hayward this summer with the 2019 “Downtown Hayward Street Parties.” If you missed the first two in June and July, you still have a chance to join our final event on 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.

 

“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 Party

Thursday, 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/

Palmer College, Chiropractic, Iowa

Spring 2019 Dean’s List

• Antonya Forsyth, Milpitas
• Korina Gov, Milpitas
• Austin Perrine, Milpitas
• Jennifer Shiley, Milpitas
• Kyle Siskar, Milpitas
• Janelle Slugoski, Milpitas
• Bryar Starr, Milpitas
• Shantai Watson, Milpitas

 

 

Alleged phony pharmacist filled 745,000 prescriptions

AP Wire Service

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Jul 30 – Authorities have charged a woman with impersonating a pharmacist and illegally filling more than 745,000 prescriptions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 

Charges against Kim Thien Le were announced Tuesday.

 

Prosecutors say that from late 2006 through 2017, Le – who didn't have a pharmacist license – used the license numbers of registered pharmacists in order to impersonate them and dispense prescriptions at Walgreens pharmacies in Santa Clara and Alameda counties.

 

They included more than 100,000 for opioids such as fentanyl, morphine and codeine.

 

Le was arrested last Friday. It's unclear whether she has an attorney.

 

 

GOP pushes immigration bill, skirting rules as Dems protest

By Lisa Mascaro

AP Congressional Correspondent

 

WASHINGTON (AP), Aug 01 – Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee upended the rules Thursday for immigration legislation that would extend family detentions as chairman Lindsey Graham muscled the measure forward over the objections of Democrats.

 

It's one last battle, led by a top ally of President Donald Trump, before senators break for a long August recess and the start of 2020 campaigning with immigration at the forefront of the debate.

 

Graham gaveled open the hearing saying he wasn't going to wait any longer to address the crisis at the southern border. He acknowledged that his outreach to Democrats has failed to reach a compromise on detention policies for children and families.

 

In pushing the bill forward, the chairman skirted committee rules allowing for amendments and requiring minority participation in certain actions, including to end debate.

 

“What am I supposed to do?” asked the South Carolina Republican. “We have a right to vote.”

 

Democrats have protested the bill and refused to attend a panel session last week, setting off the battle Thursday. They voted against the measure, decrying what Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse called an “illegitimate process.”

 

Ripping up a copy of the committee's rules, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a former chairman of the panel, questioned why normal rules were being discarded.

 

“Apparently, it's for legislation to give the president what he wants in his political war on immigration,” Leahy said.

 

“It's supposed to be the Senate Judiciary Committee, not the Donald Trump committee.”

 

The bill would change existing law, which limits family detentions to 20 days for migrants traveling with children and requires them to be released pending asylum hearings. Instead, Graham's bill would allow longer detentions by doing away with the limits, which have been part of the so-called Flores legal settlement.

 

Among other changes, the legislation would restructure asylum law to have applicants apply in Mexico and other countries, rather than when they arrive at the U.S. border, and bring on 500 new immigration judges to help process the backlog of cases.

 

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said the bill is unworkable. “In a word, it's nuts and probably unconstitutional,” she said.

 

The morning hearing set off a particularly heated dispute over not just immigration policy, which often divides the political parties, but the traditions of the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority and have chipped away at longstanding rules.

 

Ground zero for much of the uproar has been the work of the Judiciary Committee, which handled Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court last year.

 

Senate rules were changed to allow faster confirmation of Trump's judicial nominees and confirming Kavanaugh and filling court vacancies with Trump's picks has been a top accomplishment of the Republican-led Senate.

 

Graham, who faces his own re-election alongside Trump in 2020, acknowledged his immigration bill may not be approved by the Senate – and faces even less chance in the House, where Democrats have the majority.

 

He indicated a willingness to continue negotiating with Democrats and the president on a compromise, but said he wasn't going to leave for the August break without acting.

 

Graham also acknowledged that negotiating a bipartisan solution can be a problem when Trump changes his mind, as he did last year on immigration policy.

 

In earlier immigration talks Trumps has suggested he liked one bipartisan approach only to drop it days later. “The Tuesday-Thursday Trump is a real dilemma,” Graham said.

 

“Bipartisanship is going to be required,” he said. “Maybe we can get there.”

 

Lawmakers are eager to return home saying they have taken action to stem the crisis at the border.

 

 

Local Author reads for Indo American heritage month

Submitted by San Leandro Public Library

 

In honor of “Indo-American Heritage Month,” local author Jaya Padmanabhan will discuss her journalistic works, essays, and literature at the San Leandro Main Library on Saturday, August 10. Jaya Padmanabhan is a journalist, essayist, fiction writer, and author of “Transactions of Belonging,” a collection of short stories published in 2014. Her reporting and essays have appeared in an impressive variety of publications. She writes an immigration column for the San Francisco Examiner and was the previous editor of India Currents. Her bylines can be found in The Bold Italic, Elemental, The Hindu, KQED and India Currents. In addition, she has won 13 awards for her editorials and essays, 5 awards for fiction, and grants and fellowships for feature reporting.

 

Fittingly for such a dedicated reporter, Jaya is the director of programs at Ethnic Media Services, an organization dedicating to vitalizing the ethnic media sector. Jaya is also a member of The Writers Grotto, a program where seasoned professionals host classes to help aspiring writers of all genres around the Bay Area (sfgrotto.org).

 

Admission is free and no registration is required.

 

Jaya Padmanabhan reading

Saturday, Aug 10

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

San Leandro Main Library

300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro

(510) 577-3971

www.sanleandro.org/depts/library/calendar.asp

http://jayapadmanabhan.com/

 

 

CONTINUING EVENTS:

 

Mondays, May 14 – Dec 30

English Conversation Group

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Practice spoken English in a friendly environment

Union City Branch Library

34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

 

Fridays, May 17 – Oct 25

Fremont Street Eats

5 p.m. – 10 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

www.ebparks.org

 

Tuesdays, May 28 – Aug 27

Practice Your Spoken English R

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Chat session for intermediate level+ English learners

Fremont Main Library Fukaya Room A

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 574-2063

www.aclibrary.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

www.ohlone.edu/library

 

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

www.ohlone.edu/noncredit

 

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

www.r3academy.org/fremont

 

Wednesdays, Jun 26 – Aug 14

Chess Club

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Chess lessons for kids going into grades 2-6

Irvington Library

41825 Greenpark Dr., Fremont

(510) 795-2626

www.aclibrary.org

Fridays, Jun 28 – Aug 30

Teach Seniors Technology

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Computer/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

www.aclibrary.org

 

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

 

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

www.ebparks.org

 

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

 

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. Calveras Blvd., Milpitas

(408) 586-3409

http://www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/

 

Friday – Sunday, Jul 19 – Aug 11

Born Yesterday $

Fri – Sat: 8 p.m. Sun: 6 p.m.

Classic Broadway comedy.

Chanticleers Theatre

3683 Quail Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 733-5483

www.chanticleers.org

 

Monday – Friday, Jul 30 – Sep 13

Celebrating Wildlife: The Animals of Sulphur Creek

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Photos of local wildlife

PhotoCentral

1099 E St., Hayward

(510) 881-6721

info@photocentral.org

 

Fridays, Aug 2 – Aug 23

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

 

Tuesdays & Fridays, Aug 6 – Aug 30

Treasure Chest Thrift Shop August Sale

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

50% off sale supporting special needs program

Sorensdale Recreation Center

275 Goodwin St., Hayward

(510) 881-6778

 

Thursday – Sunday, Aug 9 – Sep 21

Annual Textile Exhibit

12 noon – 5 p.m.

Traditional and contemporary artists

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 791-4357

www.olivehydeartguild.org

 

Friday – Sunday, Aug 16 – Aug 25

The Little Mermaid Jr. $

Fri & Sat: 8 p.m. Sun: 2 p.m.

Disney classic about a mermaid who dreams of becoming human

Newark Memorial High School Theatre

39375 Cedar Blvd., Newark

(510) 791-0287

www.stage1theatre.org

 

Friday nights

Laugh Track City $

8 p.m.

Fast-paced improv comedy show

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St, Suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

https://madeuptheatre.com/

 

Saturday nights

8 p.m.

Audience-inspired improv play

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St., Suite B, Fremont

(510) 573-3633

https://madeuptheatre.com/

 

 

THIS WEEK:

 

Tuesday, Aug 6

Export Mechanics for the Small Business Exporter

10 a.m. – 12 noon

Free workshop on international sales

Ohlone College Newark Campus

39399 Cherry St., Newark

(510) 742-2300

www.acsbdc.org

 

Wednesday, Aug 7

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

 

Wednesday, Aug 7

Incredible Magic Hat Show

1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Comedy, magic, mime, music

Weekes Branch Library

27300 Patrick Ave., Hayward

(510) 782-2155

 

Wednesday, Aug 7

Macrame- The Art of Knotting

1 p.m.

Demonstration by Parul Parekh

Fremont Art Association

37697 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 792-0905

www.FremontArtAssociaion.org

 

Thursday, Aug 8

Summer Concert Series

6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Doobie Brothers tribute

Lake Elizabeth Central Park

1100 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 793-5683

www.fremont.gov/concerts

 

Thursday, Aug 8

Small Business Marketing Workshop R

10 a.m. – 12 noon

Research, reach and retain your market

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

www.acsbdc.org

Hayward City Hall, Rm 2A

777 B St., Hayward

(510) 208-0410

kimh@hayward.org

 

Thursday, Aug 8

Toddler Time $

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Learn about musical instruments

Hayward Area Historical Society Museum

22380 Foothill Blvd., Hayward

(510) 581-0223

www.haywardareahistory.org

 

Thursday, Aug 8

Rita’s National Frozen Custard Day $

12 noon – 10 p.m.

Promotional size soft serve or hand scooped frozen custard

Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard

26775 Hayward Blvd, Hayward

(510) 342-5139

 

Friday, Aug 9 – Saturday, Aug 10

The Little Mermaid Jr. $

Fri: 5:30 p.m. Sat: 1:00 p.m.

Performing Academy presents Disney's underwater adventure

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

www.cvartsfoundation.org

 

Friday, Aug 9 – Saturday, Aug 10

Mary Poppins Jr. $

Fri: 7:00 p.m. Sat: 2:30 p.m.

Performing Academy presents Disney's magical nanny

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

www.cvartsfoundation.org

 

Friday, Aug 9 – Sunday, Aug 11

Nostalgic Niles Weekend $

Fri. 7:30 p.m.,

Sat. 10:30 a.m.- 5:20 p.m.

Sun. 10:30 a.m., – 3:20 p.m.

Steam train rides, train-themed movies and museums

Niles Canyon Railway Niles Depot Station

37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont

(408) 249-2953

www.ncry.org/ride/nostalgic-niles

 

Saturday, Aug 10

MSJ Chamber Lobster Fest $R

6 p.m.

Complete lobster dinner. No host wine and beer. Live music

Mission Coffee Roasting House

151 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 474-1004

(510) 427-3007

http://msjchamber.org/

 

Saturday, Aug 10

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, Aug 10

Insect Exploration – R

10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Dig in the dirt in search of bugs. All ages

Alviso Environmental Education Center

1751 Grand Blvd., Alviso

(408) 262-5513 x102

https://eecinsect.eventbrite.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

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, Aug 10

Storytime/Signing with Author Joy Steuerwald

11 a.m.

“The Peculiar Pig”

Books on B

1014 B St., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

www.booksonb.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Community Festival

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Food, games, raffles, live music

Community Church

26555 Gading Rd., Hayward

(510) 305-9963

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Shaggy Dog Math

12 noon – 2 p.m.

Meet the brother and sister team of authors

Books on B

1014 B Street, Hayward

(510) 538-3943

www.booksonb.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Meet Author Jay Bruce

3 p.m.

“The Romance Window”

Books on B

1014 B St., Hayward

(510) 538-3943

www.booksonb.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

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 Rd., Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Garden Bug Safari

12 noon – 1 p.m.

Discover the world of bugs while you explore the vegetable garden

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Learn how to make ice cream the old fashion way

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Family Bird Walk R

1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Explore marsh trails for birds. Ages 5 – 10

SF Bay Wildlife Refuge – Don Edwards

1 Marshlands Rd., Fremont

(510) 792-0222 x363

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Farmyard Storytime

10;30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Come listen to some classic barnyard tales

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Global Warming Workshop

9:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Focus on global warming. Snacks provided

Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation

2950 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 490-0200

jgoby@hotmail.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Summer Reading Festival R

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Literacy workshop, activities, food, book giveaway. Ages 0-8

Hayward Weekes Branch Library

27300 Patrick Ave., Hayward

(510) 782-2155

eventbrite.com/e/childrens-summer-reading-festival-registration

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Health Fair

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Medical, dental screenings, games, prizes, farmers market

Davis Street

3081 Teagarden St., San Leandro

www.davisstreet.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Larry-O Car Show

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Classic cars, BBQ, raffle, face painting, music

Ruggieri Senior Center

33997 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 675-5495

www.unioncity.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Historic Walking Tour

11 a.m.

Al Nagy will lead tour of Newark

Watkins Hall

Thornton & Ash, Newark

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Obon Festival

5 p.m.

Live music, Taiko drums, dance performance & food

Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

32975 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 471-2581

www.sacbc.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Ashley Hess Concert $R

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

American idol contestant performs

Aloft Silicon Valley

8200 Gateway Blvd., Newark

(925) 321-5463

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Documentary Film “Risking Light”

1:30 p.m.

Film looks at how people cope with past tragedy

Niles Discovery Church of Fremont

36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 797-0895

www.nilesdiscoverychurch.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Outdoor Movie Night

8:20 p.m. – 10:05 p.m.

The Lego Movie 2. Bring blanket, chair, flashlight

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Fantastic Flowers

1:30 p.m. -3:00 p.m.

Learn about flowers, make some out of paper

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Jaya Padmanabhan

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Author/essayist shares her work

San Leandro Main Library

300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro

(510) 577-3971

www.sanleandro.org/depts/library/calendar

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Second Saturday Author Series

2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Marjorie Bicknell Johnson reads from “Jaguar Princess,” “Lost Jade of the Maya”

Half Price Books

39152 Fremont Blvd., Fremont

(510) 744-0333

www.cwc-fremontareawriters.org

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Pain Relief Workshop R

5:00 p.m. – 6 :30 p.m.

Learn anatomy, how to relieve pain in shoulders and arms

Friends of Children with Special Needs

2300 Peralta Blvd., Fremont

(510) 739-6900

jim_chiao@yahoo.com

 

Saturday, Aug 10

Golf Tournament $R

7:30 a.m.

Proceeds benefit Alyssa Lenart

SkyWest Golf Course

1401 Golf Course Road, Hayward

(510) 317-2300

kkoonze@att.net

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Learn the Ropes

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Create rope with antique machines

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Berry Picking

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Blackberries are ready! Bring your own basket to fill and take home

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

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, Aug 11

Summer Splashdown!

10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Keep cool in the stream while looking for wildlife using dipnets

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Odd Fellows Summer Concert

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

What's Up Big Band and Three O'Clock Jump

Memorial Park

24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward

http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Golden Gate Blues Society

3 p.m.

Alabama Mike

World Famous Turf Club

22519 Main St., Hayward

(510) 881-9877

www.WorldFamousTurfClub.com

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Obon Service

10 a.m.

Remembrance of departed loved ones

Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

32975 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 471-2581

www.sacbc.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Tasting the Past

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Historic recipes explored

Ardenwood Historic Farm

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Nature Yoga

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Wear comfy clothes, bring water, mat. Ages 14+

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Willows Hike

1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Easy 2.5-mile hike along Willows Trail. Ages 14+. Meet at Quarry parking lot

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Meet Author Nina G

12 noon – 4 p.m.

“Stutterer Interrupted”

Books on B

1014 B Street, Hayward

(510) 538-3943

www.booksonb.com

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Gandhi – 150 Years and Beyond $

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Panel discussion, music, dance, lunch

India Community Center

525 Los Coches St., Milpitas

(408) 934-1130

www.indiacc.org

 

Sunday, Aug 11

Surmala Hindustani Classical Music Series $

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Afternoon of pure music

India Community Center

525 Los Coches St., Milpitas

(408) 934-1130

www.indiacc.org

 

Monday, Aug 12

Outdoor Discoveries: Meteor Power R

10:30 a.m. – 12 noon

Preschool and home school nature series. Ages 4-8

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Tuesday, Aug 13

Weekday Bird Walk

7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Enjoy bird life on a tranquil trail. Bring water, sunscreen and binoculars

Coyote Hills

8000 Patterson Ranch Rd., Fremont

(510) 544-3220

www.ebparks.org

 

Tuesday, Aug 13

Civics for Citizenship Class Orientation

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Want to become a U.S. citizen?

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1421

(510) 745-1480

 

Tuesday, Aug 13

Homeschooling

6:30 p.m.

Presentation on options, resources and criteria

Union City Branch Library

34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

www.aclibrary.org

 

Wednesday, Aug 14

Wednesday Night Bat Watch

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Learn how EBRPD is studying these mammals

Sunol Regional Wilderness

1895 Geary Rd., Sunol

(510) 544-3249

www.ebparks.org

 

Wednesday, Aug 14

Knights of Columbus Bingo Night $

6 p.m.

Sponsored by St. Maximilian Kolbe Council 16770

Our Lady of Grace

3433 Somerset Ave., Castro Valley

 

Wednesday, Aug 14

Community Workshop

4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Discussion on proposed housing navigation center

Fremont City Hall

3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont

(510) 284-4000

 

Wednesday, Aug 14

Civics for Citizenship Class Orientation

12 noon – 1 p.m.

Need help learning U.S. history and government?

Newark Branch Library

6300 Civic Terrace Ave., Newark

(510) 284-0684

(510) 745-1480

 

Thursday, Aug 15

Hot August Thursday

6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sacred Fire Band – Santana party

Marina Park

14001 Monarch Bay Dr., San Leandro

 

Saturday, Aug 17 -Sunday, Aug 18

Festival of India and Parade

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Health fair, kid’s corner, dance competition, FOG idol, FOG film festival

Downtown Fremont

Paseo Padre Pkwy. & Walnut Ave.

www.fogsv.org

 

Saturday, Aug 17

The Great American Sh*t Show $

7 p.m.

Performance by Brian Copeland & Charlie Varon

Castro Valley Center for the Arts

19501 Redwood Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 889-8961

www.cvartsfoundation.org

 

Saturday, Aug 17

Hot August Niles Car Show

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cars, food, live music, raffle

Downtown Niles

 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510)792-8023

www.nilesmerchants.org

 

Saturday, Aug 17

Latin Jazz festival $

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Afro-Caribbean and Latin musical heritage

Rowell Ranch

9275 Dublin Canyon, Rd., Castro Valley

bayarealatinjazzfestival.com

 

 

Chamber mixer to celebrate anniversary

Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce

 

Hayward Area Recreation District is celebrating its 75th anniversary by sponsoring a joint mixer between Castro Valley Eden Area Chamber of Commerce and Hayward Chamber of Commerce at the historic Japanese Gardens in downtown Hayward.

 

The two-hour event is open to the public and is set for Thursday, August 8 at the Japanese Gardens and Senior Center on North Third Street. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; admission is free. For details, visit the Hayward Chamber of Commerce website at http://haywardrec.org or call (510) 881-6700.

 

Anniversary Mixer

Thursday, Aug 8

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Japanese Gardens and Senior Center

22373 N. Third St., Hayward

(510) 881-6700

http://haywardrec.org/

 

 

Larry O Car Show

Submitted by Chris Valuckas

 

Join us for the 7th annual Larry “O” car show on Saturday, August 10 in honor of Union City’s own Larry Orozco. Local senior citizens will proudly display classic and custom cars, trucks and hotrods from the 1920’s – 1970’s. Hosted by Union City Mayor Carol Dutra Vernaci, this special show will include also feature a BBQ, music, raffle prizes, classic bike show as well as face painting and a bounce house for kids. Admission is free and open to the public. If you would like to enter your car in the show, the cost is $25 per vehicle pre-registration and $30 day of event.

 

Larry O Car Show

Saturday, Aug 10

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ruggieri Senior Center

33997 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 675-5495

www.unioncity.org

 

 

Latin Jazz Festival celebrates Afro-Caribbean and Latin musical heritage

Submitted by Luis R. Mendoza

 

Montuno Productions, Inc., is happy to announce The First Annual Bay Area Latin Jazz Festival, on Saturday, August 17 at Rowell Ranch, a picturesque, park-like venue operated and maintained by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD).

 

The celebration will showcase the cultural/musical contributions of Latin Jazz, with an emphasis on Afro-Caribbean and Latin American influences. Festival attendees will be able to enjoy a diverse array of food, music, dance, and artistry. Booth space is available for Bay Area merchants, food vendors, artisans, and community organizations.

 

Confirmed artists include Willie Panamá, direct from Miami; El Montuno, direct from New York City; Grammy Award recipients Julius Meléndez, Christian Pepin, and Carlos Rosario; member of the legendary Escovedo family, René Escovedo; jazz vocalist, singer-song-writer, Lisa Andrea Torres; Edgardo Cambón & Candela; Dave Bass Afro-Cuban Jazz Quintet; pianist, producer, composer, and arranger, Israel “Izzy” Tanenbaum; and Latin Rhythm Boys, showcasing their new CD “CELEBRANDO – 60 Years Est.”

 

As part of its community outreach efforts, Montuno Productions will seek to bring small, independently owned, local businesses, community organizations, and music fans together with the goal of making a positive contribution to the arts and the economic and cultural vibrancy, resiliency, and strength of East Bay communities. Some of the confirmed vendors/exhibitors include StateFarm, Farm Fresh To You, Patelco Credit Union, Discover Chiropractic, Chabot College, Renewal by Andersen, Castro Valley School of Music, Rachel Grace Hair & Beauty, Ventana de Flores, and Jenn’s Cupcakes.

 

Festival sponsors include The World Famous Turf Club, Body Mechanix, Lotus Cleaning Services, Northern California Arthritis Center, and Brews & Brats.

 

First Latin Jazz festival

Saturday, Aug 17

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Rowell Ranch

9275 Dublin Canyon, Rd., Castro Valley

bayarealatinjazzfestival.com

Tickets: $25

 

 

Networks sue Locast, a service that streams TV for free

By Tali Arbel

AP Business Writer

 

NEW YORK (AP), Jul 31 – The country's biggest TV networks – ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox – have sued Locast, a streaming service that transmits their broadcasts for free, in federal court in New York.

 

The companies said in the suit, filed Wednesday, that Locast is violating their copyrights and asked for its service to be shut down. Locast has held that under the law, it is allowed to stream the networks without paying them because it is a non-profit.

 

The networks are suing because Locast threatens their business model, and they say that Locast is acting on behalf of Dish and AT&T, which owns DirecTV. Cable and satellite TV companies pay TV stations; the TV stations then pay the networks, which are owned by Walt Disney Co., CBS Corp., Comcast Corp and Fox Corp.

 

These fees paid by cable and satellite companies have climbed from under a billion a decade ago to more than $11 billion expected this year. Because of this escalation in costs, TV providers often get into fights with the broadcasters over how much to pay them, resulting in blacked-out channels for consumers. Such fights have increased.

 

In their suit, the networks claim that Locast “is serving” its “patrons” Dish and AT&T. Locast last month got a $500,000 donation from AT&T. AT&T has integrated Locast into its DirecTV and U-verse cable services, as has Dish. Having Locast as a backstop could help them in their fights with the broadcasters. AT&T, for example, is in a payment dispute with CBS that has taken CBS off its platforms.

 

Locast's founder, David Goodfriend, is a former Dish executive and a longtime Dish lobbyist. The suit claims that Locast was started with a big loan from a former Dish executive. Goodfriend has refused to identify to the AP who gave him the funding to start Locast.

 

Locast said Wednesday in a prepared statement that it is an independent non-profit that provides a public service, and that what it does is allowed under copyright law. The networks it streams are also available free to consumers if they have an antenna.

 

Dish and AT&T did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

Locast currently works in 13 cities. Most of them are major markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

 

 

The art and passion of macramé

Article and photo submitted by Susan Helmer

 

Fremont Art Association’s guest artist for August will be Parul Parekh, who will give a demonstration on “Macramé – The Art of Knotting.”

 

Parekh is a self-taught macramé artist who has been mastering the art of knotting and its numerous variations for many years. Although she worked as a clinical psychologist, a special educator and a psychology instructor for more than a decade in India, after immigrating to the U.S. she decided to explore her creative site.

 

As a teacher, Parekh is passionate about macramé as both a therapeutic and meditative process, which she wants her students to experience in her classes. She thoroughly enjoys the art form, relying on instinct and spontaneity, which results in a personalized work of art. Adding beautiful beads accentuates her distinctive style, and each mistake along the journey is a happy accident.

 

During her Wednesday, August 7 macramé demonstration Parekh will show how to create a plant holder with cotton cords mounted on a piece of driftwood, using different knots and their variations such as the lark’s head knot, square knot, and double hitch knot. She also will talk about the history of macramé and the types of materials that are used in this art form. Her intentions are to bring this ancient art alive and promote it for its simplicity and elegance.

 

The demonstration starts at 1 p.m. at the Fremont Art Association gallery at 37697 Niles Blvd. Admission is free.

 

“Macramé – The Art of Knotting”

Wednesday, Aug 7

1 p.m.

Fremont Art Association

37697 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 792-0905

www.fremontartassociation.org

 

 

Fremont students win top academic scholarship award

Submitted by Brian Kilgore

 

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recently announced two students from the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) were among the 540 additional winners of National Merit Scholarships. Irvington High School’s Jaime Wang and Mission San Jose High School’s Shreya Srinivasan join more than 3,500 other college-sponsored award recipients who were announced in June (including 12 from FUSD).

 

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among National Merit Scholarship Program finalists who plan to attend their institution. College-sponsored awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship.

 

This year, 173 colleges and universities are sponsoring about 4,100 Merit Scholarship awards. Sponsor colleges include 95 private and 78 public institutions located in 43 states and the District of Columbia. This final group of winners brings the number of 2019 National Merit Scholars to more than 7,600. These distinguished high school graduates will receive a total of over $31 million in scholarships.

 

 

Milpitas Police Log

Submitted by Officer Kevin Jackson, Sgt. Joseph A. Heylen

 

Saturday, July 13

• Officers responded to a report about a dead young bald eagle under power lines on the 700 block of North Abbott Avenue near Redwood Avenue. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife warden was called and took the bald eagle to a Wildlife Investigation Lab for further tests. A necropsy showed the bald eagle had been electrocuted when it came into contact with high voltage power lines. Prior to the incident, the bald eagle was in good nutritional health and did not have any other injuries.

 

Friday, July 26

• At about 6:35 a.m. officers responded to a report about a minor traffic injury accident on the transition road from southbound Interstate 680 to Jacklin Road. On arrival, officers found a Mercedes with major front end damage and air bags deployed. The driver, later identified by police as Jasmin Jehn, 26, of Roseville, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. She was treated at a hospital for minor leg injuries before being booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. Another vehicle at the scene, a Ford Explorer, sustained moderate damage, but the driver was not injured. An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Milpitas Police at (508) 586-2400. Information can also be given anonymously by calling the Crime Tip Hotline at (408) 586-2500 or via the police department website at www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/crimetip.

 

 

Chill Out: Spot an Ice Giant in August

By David Prosper

 

Is the summer heat getting to you? Cool off overnight while spotting one of the solar system’s ice giants: Neptune. It’s the perfect way to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Voyager 2’s flyby.

 

Neptune is too dim to see with your unaided eye, so you’ll need a telescope to find it. Although Neptune is at opposition in September, it’s so distant its brightness and apparent size won’t change dramatically; the planet is usually just under 8th magnitude and 4.5 billion kilometers away. You can see Neptune with binoculars, but a telescope is recommended if you want to discern its disc; the distant world reveals a very small but discernible disc at high magnification. Neptune currently appears in Aquarius, a constellation lacking bright stars, which adds difficulty to pinpointing its exact location. Fortunately, the Moon and Neptune travel past each other the night of August 16, passing less than six degrees apart (or about 12 Moon widths) at their closest. If the Moon’s glare overwhelms Neptune’s dim light, you can still use its location that evening to mark the general area to search on a darker night.

 

Another Neptune-spotting tip: Draw an imaginary line from bright southern star Fomalhaut up to the Great Square of Pegasus, then mark a point roughly in the middle and search there, in the eastern edge of Aquarius. If you spot a blueish star, swap your telescope’s eyepiece to zoom in as much as possible. Is the suspect blue “star” now a tiny disc, while the surrounding stars remain points of white light? You’ve found Neptune.

 

Neptune and Uranus are ice giant planets. These worlds are larger than terrestrial worlds like Earth but smaller than gas giants like Jupiter. Neptune’s atmosphere contains hydrogen and helium like a gas giant, but also methane, which gives it a striking blue color. The “ice” in “ice giant” refers to the mix of ammonia, methane, and water that makes up most of Neptune’s mass, located in the planet’s large, dense, hot mantle. This mantle surrounds an Earth-size rocky core. Neptune possesses a faint ring system and 13 confirmed moons.

 

NASA’s Voyager 2 mission made a very close flyby on August 25, 1989. It revealed a dynamic, stormy world streaked by the fastest winds in the solar system, their ferocity fueled by the planet’s surprisingly strong internal heating. Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, was discovered to be geologically active, with cryovolcanoes erupting nitrogen gas and dust dotting its surface, and a mottled “cantaloupe” terrain made up of hard water ice. Triton is similar to Pluto in size and composition, and orbits Neptune in the opposite direction of the planet’s rotation, unlike every other large moon in the solar system. These clues lead scientists to conclude that this unusual moon is likely a captured Kuiper Belt object. Discover more about Voyager 2 and NASA’s current and future missions at www.nasa.gov.

 

This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm to find local clubs, events, and more.

 

 

Longtime traffic officer honored

Submitted by Newark PD

 

In a recent in-house ceremony, officials from the Newark Police Department presented Officer Michael Allum with a plaque recognizing his work as a Motors Officer in the traffic unit. Allum worked in the traffic division from November 2012 to February 2019.

Photos in 1 new Sharon

 

 

Fremont News Briefs

Submitted by Cheryl Golden

 

Temporary Housing Navigation Center

The City of Fremont has opened a new topic on its online forum, Fremont Open City Hall, regarding the proposed temporary housing navigation center. The navigation center will provide a clean, safe, calm, and flexible environment that allows homeless persons to rebuild their lives and focus on finding stable permanent housing. The center is modeled after the City of Berkeley's successful Housing Navigation (STAIR) Center.

 

The City Council is considering two potential locations for the center – Parking Lot at Fremont City Hall (rear area) and Decoto Surplus Property (unleased property next to Regan Nursery). In addition to meeting minimum site requirements in size, these locations are within one-half mile of food and bus services, utility connection points are available, and the locations are outside of a fault trace zone and not subject to surface fault rupture hazards.

 

The forum will accept feedback until Monday, September 2. Feedback will be shared with the council as part of the community outreach efforts at a council meeting in September (date to be determined). For more information and to take the survey, visit www.Fremont.gov/OpenCityHallNavCenter.

 

Dockless Mobility

The city is partnering with HOPR, a leading micro-mobility company operating in cities across North America, to introduce a dockless bike share system. Fremont’s new bike share system will offer a convenient option for short trips and for first-and last-mile portions of transit trips. HOPR will roll out 250 dockless bicycles in Fremont on Monday, August 5, to provide a safe and sustainable mobility option. The GPS-enabled bikes are available 24/7 and easy to find and rent. Users simply download the HOPR Transit app (available on iOS and Android) to sign up and unlock a bike. The first 30 minutes are free to all new users.

 

Bikes can be used across the city, with HOPR deploying and rebalancing bikes near transit stations, in major commercial districts, and near activity centers. The city has issued HOPR a one-year pilot program permit as part of its Shared Active Transportation program. This program, which supports the city’s vision to be smart and environmentally sustainable, is made possible in part by a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

 

HOPR smart-bikes are one of the most affordable shared mobility systems in the area. Pay Per Ride trips cost $1 to start and only 15¢/min. For more frequent riders, a 30-Day Pass is $20 per month and provides unlimited free unlocks and a reduced per-minute rate of 10¢/min; while a 365 Day Pass costs $60 per year and provides 30 minutes of riding time a day, unlimited free unlocks, and the reduced per minute rate of 10¢/min.

 

To keep streets and sidewalks safe for all, riders are encouraged to park in designated parking areas (visible in the app) or by public bicycle racks. The program is open to anyone ages 18 or older, and users are encouraged to bring their own helmets.

 

Climate Action Plan Update

Since the adoption of first Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2012, the city has implemented several municipal and public-facing projects, programs, and policies that have resulted in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The city is now working to update its CAP to align with the new 2045 carbon neutrality goal established by the City Council in February.

 

As part of the CAP update process, the city is seeking the community’s help in identifying actions that will make Fremont a cleaner and healthier place for everyone. Strategies for achieving these goals can include transitioning to renewable and fossil-free energy in buildings and vehicles, enhancing sustainable transit and travel options, reducing waste and pollution, incorporating green building design, restoring natural habitats, drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through plants and trees, and increasing our resilience to climate change.

 

To gain feedback, the city invites the community to complete the Climate Action Plan Update Survey at www.Fremont.gov/OpenCityHallClimate.

 

Solar Installations and Electric Vehicles

Fremont is excited to announce that SunShares is back this year and now open for registration. The city is one of nearly 40 local government agencies and major employers participating in the 2019 Bay Area SunShares program, a community program helping residents access discounts and resources to help them go solar and buy zero-emission vehicles. This is the city’s fifth year as a SunShares outreach partner.

 

Three local and recognized solar installation companies – PetersenDean, SkyTech Solar, and Solar Technologies – have been selected for the program and are offering a 15 percent discount, making now the most affordable time to go solar. In addition, those who choose to go solar can still take advantage of the federal solar tax credit. SunShares is also offering zero-emission vehicle discounts on the 2019 all electric Nissan Leaf and the 2019 hydrogen fuel-cell Toyota Mirai. To sign up, visit www.BayAreaSunShares.org. This offer is available until November 15.

 

 

No-Cost Green House Calls

Submitted by City of Fremont

 

City of Fremont is partnering with Rising Sun Center for Opportunity to offer residents no-cost energy and water conservation services to help them lower their utility bills. Through Thursday, August 8, residents can sign up for a Green House Call. During their appointment, they may receive the following, all at no cost:

 

• Home energy and water efficiency assessment
• Installation of efficient LED light bulbs, showerheads, and faucet aerators
• Installation of Advanced Power Strip (approximately $50 value)
• Toilet leak detection test
• Information about Home Energy Analytics, a no-cost online service that analyzes energy use to identify energy waste in the home and help save money

 

The city is encouraging residents to use this opportunity to save money and positively impact the environment. Space is limited, and appointments are only available until August 8. To schedule an appointment, call (510) 665-1501 ext. 300 or visit https://risingsunopp.org/Programs/GHC/.

 

Rising Sun is a local nonprofit organization that operates job training and employment programs for underserved youth and adults to address climate change and economic inequity. Green House Calls are supported by California utility customers and administered under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

 

Green House Call Appointment

Until Thursday, Aug 8

(510) 665-1501 ext. 300

 

 

Nostalgic train ride through Niles

Submitted by Gail Hedberg

Photos courtesy of Niles Canyon Railway

 

Niles Canyon Railway, Niles Depot Museum, Pacific Bus Museum and the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum present “Nostalgic Niles,” on Friday, August 9 – Sunday August 11. This weekend of rides on an old-fashioned steam train celebrates the historic role of the Niles District of Fremont, CA in railroading.

 

Together, each museum will take you back in time to explore the colorful past with a weekend full of fun, nostalgic, and historic adventures using great storytelling. This time travel adventure begins with special presentations and films starting Friday evening at the Essanay Silent Film Museum and continue with steam powered train rides Saturday and Sunday on the Niles Canyon Railway (NCRy). Special bus transportation is available (extra cost) between the NCRy’s Niles Station and downtown main street Niles.

 

Once in downtown, train passengers can take advantage of special matinee movie showings all weekend at the Essanay Silent Film Museum with their bus & movie wristband. Additionally, visitors can visit the Niles Depot and Model Railroad Museum and shop or dine in downtown Niles. The Essanay Film Museum will have additional evening movie showings Saturday and Sunday, but these will be after the bus transportation has ended and the steam train has left for the day. Visitors will need to provide their own transportation to and from the film museum.

 

Choose your boarding location to start your experience aboard our vintage steam train. Boarding times in Sunol are limited, so please check the schedule on the NCRy website. Should you decide to step back in time and stroll historic Niles; a bus awaits you in Niles/Fremont station to take you to and from Main Street to explore. We have steam train departures from each station throughout the day, with the last one-way departure from our Niles/Fremont station to Sunol at 5:20 p.m. on Saturday and 3:20 p.m. on Sunday.

 

Roadways between the Fremont/Niles station and Downtown Niles are not pedestrian-safe, so please use the bus or your own vehicle when not traveling by train. Combination bus transportation and matinee movie pass wristbands can be purchased from our Niles Canyon Railway ticket agents and the Essanay Film Museum for $10 per person.

 

The following museums will participate in Nostalgic Niles:

 

The Essanay Silent Film Museum: In 1912 the silent film industry was active in Niles before eventually moving to Hollywood. Rediscover America’s movie pioneers and see their work in a theater where Charlie Chaplin and Broncho Billy Anderson saw themselves and their contemporaries on the screen. The curator has prepared a full weekend schedule of railroad-themed movies beginning Friday evening August 9 at 7:30 p.m.

 

Niles Depot Museum: Discover Fremont’s railroad heritage in the former Southern Pacific Railroad colonnade-style passenger depot built in 1901 and freight depot, operated by the Niles Depot Historical Foundation. Special weekend event hours are Saturday and Sunday,10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 

Pacific Bus Museum: Dedicated to the preservation, restoration and buses will be on display as part of the history of transportation.

 

Passport to Adventure Program: Did you know the City of Fremont is the most historic region in all of Alameda County? Museum representatives will be available at the Niles Depot Museum to answer questions about the program.

 

Nostalgic Niles

Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11

Fri: 7:30 p.m. (Essanay Silent Film Museum)

Sat: 10:30 a.m. – 5:20 p.m.

Sun: 10:30 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.

Niles Railroad Station

37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont

https://www.ncry.org/ride/nostalgic-niles/

Bus/movie wristbands: $10

 

 

Oakland Zoo summer events

 

As summer moves into fall, your favorite East Bay zoo is adding to their rich and varied animal encounters with special events for kids and adults alike. Learn more about endangered lions and primates, help clean up Arroyo Viejo Creek or celebrate the Moon Festival. In addition, two events are dedicated to senior citizens in the Oakland area.

 

Read below for times, dates and fees.

 

——————————————

 

Lion Appreciation Day

 

Saturday, August 10

All Ages

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

 

• Come watch our African lion enjoy special enrichment
• Hear a talk by our lion keeper
• Get your face painted like a lion
• Learn about the world’s lions from our conservation partners
• Purchase crafts and music made by communities that live near lions

‍

Why do we celebrate World Lion Day?

Lions are one of the most iconic animals in the world – but the king of beasts is in trouble in the wild. It is estimated there are fewer than 20,000 lions left in all of Africa due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, and our own California mountain lions face similar challenges. Lions in captivity also face difficulties, from canned hunting to the abuses of the cub-petting and circus industries. But you can be a part of the solution by learning about lions and ways to help them!

 

——————————————

 

Arroyo Viejo Creek Clean up

 

Saturdays: August 17, September 21, October 5

All Ages

Meet at parking ticket booth

9 a.m. – 12 noon

 

Volunteers work on a variety of outdoor tasks including picking up garbage, pulling invasive species, spreading mulch, moving materials, cleaning signage or planting native plants. Meet at 9 a.m. at the parking ticket booth upon entry (at 9777 Golf Links Rd), next to the Arroyo Viejo Creek Habitat Restoration sign. After your volunteer assignment is completed, you will receive free admission to explore the Zoo for the remainder of the day!

 

Registration is highly recommended. Please email creek@oaklandzoo.org to sign up. Minors under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Minors 16 – 18 may volunteer as an individual but must have a parent or guardian’s signature to participate.

 

——————————————

 

Senior Summer Free Day

August 19, September 16

For senior citizens

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Registration not required

 

Oakland residents 65+ receive free admission to Oakland Zoo. Seniors must present valid identification and be residents of Oakland. All other guests must pay regular zoo admission.

 

Parking Fee: $10.00 for non-members. FREE for members and seniors (65+).

Oakland Zoo's Senior Summer Free Days are in partnership with City of Oakland.

 

——————————————

 

Moon Festival

Saturday, September 7

All Ages

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Included with Regular Zoo Admission

 

 

Your family will be sure to enjoy this special day’s Asian-inspired festivities, live music, special animal encounters, and activities for kids including face painting, arts, crafts and enrichment-making stations for the Asian Sun Bears. The Adventure Landing rides area will feature Lion Dances and martial arts demonstrations too!

 

This event is sponsored by China Airlines and Taiwan Tourism Bureau.

 

——————————————

Primate Discovery Day

Saturday, September 14

All Ages

10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Throughout the Zoo

Free with Zoo admission

 

Leap like lemurs for a day of hands-on, tails-on adventures for all ages! Games, learning, and amazing animals await you on this special day of primate discovery. Primate Discovery Day is filled with exciting activities all themed around primates.

 

Visit the research station and learn about chimpanzee behavior. Purchase beautiful Kibale Beads and Jewelry. All proceeds benefit the Budongo Snare Removal Project. Bring in your old cellphones, tablets, or any handheld electronic device for recycling and receive a free rides ticket.

 

——————————————

 

Healthy Living Festival

 

Thursday, September 19

Adults and Families

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Main Entrance. Please park in the Upper Parking Lot and look for event signs.

 

This event is presented by United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USOAC). USOAC is a grassroots inter-generational organization dedicated to empowering older adults to address issues that affect their quality of life. As a community-based organization, USOAC has an established track record of fighting for the rights of older adults throughout Alameda County for more than 24 years. They have over 7,000 members, including individuals, chapter, and affiliates throughout the entire county.

 

Pre-Registration is required. Please visit the USOAC website for more information and to register. Event included with regular Zoo Admission. Parking Fee: $10.00 for non-members. FREE for members.

 

 

Obon Festival

Submitted by Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

Photos by Julie Grabowski and Thomas Hsu

 

The Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church’s festival of Obon, will be held this year on Saturday August 10, beginning at 5 p.m. We will have Buddhist dancing, Japanese music with the San Jose Chidori Band, and Japanese foods. Colorful yukata-clad participants gather for the Obon Odori (dance) on this memorial day for our departed loved ones – a day to give thanks for them. With joy and gratitude, we honor and remember our deceased loved ones, whose very existence has made our own lives possible. Dancing starts at 7 p.m.

 

Those who are interested in learning the different types of Odori that will be performed are invited to attend practices held in the church’s Sangha Hall on Wednesday, August 7 and Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. Dance practices are OPTIONAL – you need not rehearse to join in on the day of the festival. Everyone is invited to dance!

 

On Sunday, August 11 at 10 a.m., SACBC will conduct its annual Buddhist Obon Spiritual Service for all our departed loved ones. Those who lost their loved ones this past year are especially welcome. We will conduct a special service for them called Hatsubon (First Obon Service).

 

Obon Festival

Saturday, Aug 10

5 p.m.

(Obon Odori at 7 p.m.)

 

Hatsubon Service

Sunday, Aug 11

10 a.m.

 

Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church

32975 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) – 471-2581

www.SACBC.org

 

 

Dining reservation app OpenTable moves into delivery

Jul 24

By Dee-Ann Durbin

AP Business Writer

 

OpenTable is getting into the food delivery business.

 

The world's biggest online restaurant reservation service – which was founded 21 years ago – has been watching warily as more and more diners opt for delivery. Between May 2018 and May 2019, U.S. restaurant visits were flat at 23.8 billion, but deliveries rose 3 percent to 2 billion, according to NPD Group, a market research company.

 

So OpenTable decided to partner with three delivery companies – Caviar, GrubHub and Uber Eats – to offer that service through its app.

 

“We want OpenTable to be the go-to dining app for every meal occasion,” said Steve Hafner, who leads OpenTable and Kayak, an airline fare search engine. Both companies are owned by travel conglomerate Booking Holdings.

 

When OpenTable's updated site launches this week, it will give diners a delivery option for 8,000 restaurants in 90 U.S. cities. If they select delivery, users will be directed to the restaurant's preferred service to complete the transaction. If a restaurant works with more than one delivery company, each option will be shown. Eventually, OpenTable wants to post estimated delivery times and costs for each service as well.

 

Hafner said OpenTable decided to add a delivery option about nine months ago but didn't want to operate its own fleet in what's already become a booming sector. According to Technomic, the top five food delivery companies in the U.S. had $13.5 billion in sales between May 2018 and May 2019.

 

But the delivery market is crowded, and companies have been aggressively discounting and offering bonuses for drivers. GrubHub's first quarter profit tumbled 78 percent.

 

Partnering was the easiest and fastest way to get into the business, Hafner said. OpenTable – which says it seats 123 million diners each month – offered delivery companies access to a huge customer base.

 

“All these companies are in a chase for growth and they want to be where the consumers are,” Hafner said.

 

Hafner said the delivery function will make it easier for diners, who may use multiple delivery apps but don't always know which companies work with which restaurants.

 

OpenTable chose its three partners because they have the biggest reach, Hafner said. Eventually, the service will expand to more of the 51,000 restaurants OpenTable works with. OpenTable is active in 20 countries, including Australia and Japan.

 

GrubHub says the partnership is another way for diners to discover delivery. It also gives them an option to try a restaurant's food even if a reservation isn't available, the company said.

 

GrubHub said it's not concerned about OpenTable potentially posting its fees alongside competitors.

 

“We support any efforts to help consumers save money on delivery,” the company said in a statement.

 

Dan Simons, who runs seven restaurants as the co-owner and founder of Maryland-based Farmers Restaurant Group, said delivery was irrelevant six years ago. Now, it's the fastest growing part of his business, accounting for between 4 percent and 10 percent of his sales.

 

Simons said more than half his reservations already come through OpenTable. The new system will help him advertise his delivery option. Simons already works with Caviar and GrubHub as well as DoorDash.

 

Simons says he hears a lot of full-service restaurants complain that delivery is taking away customers who would otherwise eat in the restaurant. He thinks it's actually bringing in more business, because customers who want to stay home and watch TV while they eat weren't going to dine out anyway.

 

“I want them dining on my food whenever they want it,” Simons said.

 

OpenTable currently charges restaurants $249 per month for its service, plus $1 per seated diner who booked through OpenTable or 25 cents per diner who booked on the restaurant's website using OpenTable software. Restaurants won't pay any additional fee for the delivery option, Hafner said. Instead, OpenTable will charge a “modest fee” to delivery companies.

 

 

PBS adds George W. Bush documentary to its president series

AP Wire Service

 

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP), Jul 29 – A documentary about the life and political career of former President George W. Bush is coming to PBS stations next year.

 

The two-part documentary, titled “W,” will include interviews with historians, journalists and inner-circle members. Among them: Bush's chiefs of staff, press secretary Ari Fleischer and speechwriter David Frum.

 

The program will air in spring 2020 as part of PBS' “American Experience” series, PBS said Monday.

 

“American Experience” senior producer Susan Bellows said the documentary will look at the “evolution” of Bush's character and how it shaped his presidency.

 

The series has aired biographies of other U.S. presidents, including Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bill Clinton.

 

Public TV station WGBH Boston produces “American Experience.”

 

 

Explore Napa Valley

Submitted by Alice Kim

 

City of San Leandro invites adults ages 50 and up to enjoy a summer afternoon in the Napa Valley region on Wednesday, August 14. The group will travel to St. Helena to tour the renowned Greystone Culinary Institute of America, followed by a delectable lunch. In the afternoon, the group will continue to Calistoga to visit Castello di Amorosa, a medieval-inspired Tuscan castle and winery for a tour and tasting.

 

The cost per person includes lunch, wine tasting, tours, and transportation. To participate, register online at https://apm.activecommunities.com/sanleandrorec/Activity_Search, or in-person at either the San Leandro Senior Community Center or Marina Community Center during operating hours. For more information, call the Recreation and Human Services Customer Service at (510) 577-3462 and refer to course #14993.

 

In-person registration:

Marina Community Center

15301 Wicks Blvd, San Leandro

 

Senior Community Center

13909 E 14th St, San Leandro

 

Napa Valley One-Day Excursion

Wednesday, Aug 14

9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Departure: Marina Community Center

(510) 577-3462, course #14993

https://apm.activecommunities.com/sanleandrorec/Activity_Search

Cost: $172/person for San Leandro residents; $197 nonresidents

Space is limited

 

 

Fireside Chat: Considerations of Owning and Running a Startup

Submitted by Gaytri Khandelwal

 

Join Startup Grind Fremont and Andre Abrahamians on Wednesday, August 7 to hear the Considerations of Owning and Running a Startup. He is with the leading law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Roasti supporting clients in IP, Trademark, Commercial Securities and Employment litigation.

 

Don’t let these issues decide the fate of your startup; take charge and avoid costly mistakes upfront that otherwise could cost you and your company a fortune. Andre brings unique combination of experience in corporate rules & regulations and startup sales & digital advertising. He will share his perspective on practical implications of the law in operations of a company.

 

Owning and Running a Startup

Wednesday, Aug 7

6:30 p.m.

4580 Auto Mall Pkwy, Fremont

Registration: http://bit.ly/FreeStartupMeetup 

https://startupgrind.com/fremont

 

 

Tesla posts $408M loss in 2Q, causing stock to plummet

By Michael Liedtke

AP Business Writer

 

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Jul 24 – Tesla suffered a loss of $408 million during its latest quarter as the company continues to struggle to prove it can make money while producing electric cars at prices that a mass market can afford.

 

The setback announced Wednesday had already been telegraphed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, but it still underscored an ongoing challenge that helps explain why the company's shares have plunged by more than 20 percent so far this year while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has surged by 20 percent.

 

On the upside, Tesla's second-quarter revenue climbed 47 percent from the same time last year to $5.2 billion. The company also generated $614 million in cash during the quarter, helping to fatten its bank account to $5 billion through June. That's money Tesla is going to need to repay its massive debt and other bills, unless it can't stop hemorrhaging red ink.

 

In a sign that investors are still worried about Tesla's future prospects, the company's stock dropped by nearly 10 percent to $239 in extended trading after the results came out.

 

Tesla has sustained losses of more than $6 billion since its inception, but Musk promised a year ago that the road ahead would be paved with nothing but profits. The Palo Alto, California, company made good on that pledge with a profit of $451 million during the final half of last year, but now has posted successive quarterly losses totaling $1.1 billion during the first half of this year.

 

The loss of $2.31 per share for the April-June quarter was worse than the $1.27 per share loss on a GAAP basis that analysts had expected, according to FactSet. It also came despite Tesla selling more electric cars – 95,356 – than in any other quarter in its history. The company remains behind the sales pace needed to realize Musk's goal to deliver 360,000 to 400,000 cars this year.

 

In a shareholder letter released with its second-quarter result, Tesla said it will focus more on increasing its manufacturing capacity and its car-delivery cars instead of hitting a specific financial target. The company said it will “aim” for a profit in the current quarter, without making an iron-clad commitment to do so.

 

Just reaching the lower-end of Musk's car-delivery goal for this year may prove difficult because the U.S. has reduced its tax incentive for electric car purchases before phasing it out entirely at the end of the year.

 

Tesla is pinning its hopes largely on its lowest-priced vehicle so far, the Model 3 sedan, which starts at $35,000. That's comparable to other mass-market cars, but many analysts doubt the company can make money on the Model 3 at its starting price. Tesla other's cars, the Model S and Model X, both sell for more than $70,000 – far beyond the reach of most consumers.

 

Musk also believes Tesla can reel in profits by launching a ride-hailing service composed entirely of driverless cars by the end of the next year. His plan will offer Tesla owners with cars equipped with a special self-driving chip to allow their vehicles to operate in a fully robotic mode so they can pick up fare-paying passengers.

 

Musk envisions up to 1 million Teslas moonlighting as robotaxis, although most self-driving car experts don't believe it will be remotely possible to pull off by the end of 2020. In a sign that autonomous cars aren't coming along as quickly as once envisioned, General Motors has scrapped its plans to offer a fully driverless ride-hailing service in San Francisco this year.

 

 

 

Textile Exhibit: traditional to experimental

Submitted by Sana Chiang

Photos courtesy of Olive Hyde Art Gallery

 

The Olive Hyde Art Gallery proudly presents its “51st annual Textile Exhibit,” featuring creations of fabric and thread, from traditional quilts to experimental fiber works from artists all around the Bay Area. The exhibit will also include a special showing of historical textile art from the Patterson House in Fremont. Mingle with the artists at our opening reception on Friday August 9, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m., and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and wine in our lovely patio.

 

Participating Artists: Hetal Anjaria, Katherine Bacher, Ann Baldwin May, Adriane Dedic, Giny Dixon, Mona Duggan, Susan Helmer, Maureen Lardie, Miran Lee, Barbara Meyers, Denise Oyama Miller, Dolores Miller, Mia Mora, Geri Patterson-Kutras, Nancy Riffle, Ileana Soto, and Julie Stiller.

 

51st annual Textile Exhibit

Friday, Aug 9 – Saturday, Sept 21

Thursdays – Sundays, 12 noon – 5 p.m.

 

Opening Reception

Friday, August 9

7pm to 9pm

 

Olive Hyde Art Gallery

123 Washington Blvd., Fremont

(510) 791-4357

olivehydeartguild.org

 

 

The Robot Report

 

Connecting robots to artificial intelligence in the cloud can reduce onboard processing and power demands. On July 12, CloudMinds Technology Inc., which offers cloud-based systems for robotics, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering of stock worth $500 million. The company has headquarters in Beijing and Santa Clara, California.

 

In its SEC filing, CloudMinds claimed to be the world’s first company “to commercialize products and services related to the end-to-end cloud robot system.” It cited a Frost & Sullivan report estimating that the global market for cloud robotics will grow from $75.5 billion last year to $103 billion in 2023.

 

Company connects brains for service robots

CloudMinds said it “makes robots smarter, providing the secure virtual backbone network coupled with a real-time, multi-modal, human-in-the-loop cloud brain platform to connect different types of service robots.”

 

The “cloud brain,” or Human Augmented Robotics Intelligence with Extreme Reality (HARIX) platform, is capable of operating millions of connected robots conducting different tasks simultaneously, said CloudMinds. The AI system includes capabilities such as computer vision, natural language processing, and vision-controlled manipulation, aided by human supervision and input.

 

HARIX is connected to smart devices and robots via CloudMinds’ Virtual Backbone Networks (VBNs). The “nerve network” is built on 4G and emerging 5G network infrastructure, primarily in China, the U.S., Japan, and Europe.

 

Onboard the robot, the Data A1 smartphone, which serves as a robot control unit (RCU), processes data locally before transmission to the cloud and receipt of commands. Smart Compliant Actuators (SCAs) from INNFOS Technologies Co. include embedded AI processors and multimodal sensors for human-like motion, said CloudMinds.

 

Honing humanoid service robots

Sales of service robots last year rose by 39% to $6.6 billion, said the International Federation of Robotics.

 

The need for service robots is growing because of aging populations, rising labor costs, and ongoing demands for greater productivity, said Frost & Sullivan. It predicted that there will be 42 million service robots by the end of 2020 and that personal robots will be a $19 billion market opportunity by 2020.

 

CloudMinds’ portfolio includes CloudPepper, a humanoid robot from SoftBank Robotics using its cloud-based AI. Other robots include cloud-based vending machines, security robots, and the Cloudia virtual AI robot.

 

In February, CloudMinds combined its technologies in the XR-1 humanoid service robot. At Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona, co-founder and CEO Bill Huang described the general-purpose robot as a step toward general-purpose “family nanny robots by the year 2025.”

 

“Based on a set of advanced technologies, CloudMinds will develop a number of intelligent compliant service robots, from wheeled to two-legged,” Huang said. “Leveraging the 5G network’s high bandwidth and low latency, our cloud AI platform will rapidly grow its intelligence as well as its deployment size. We will usher in a new era of service-oriented robotics.”

 

In April, CloudMinds released the XR Robotics Development Kit to enable programmers, developers, and end users to create skills for the XR-1 and subsequent robots in the series. The Robotics Development Environment includes a HARIX digital twin and uses deep learning to acquire and test skills that can later be transferred back to physical XR-1 robots.

 

Banking on robot brains

CloudMinds was founded in 2015 and has close to 700 full-time employees. Citigroup, JP Morgan, and IBS Investment Bank are bookrunners in the IPO, said Xinhua News.

 

This past spring, CloudMinds closed its $186 million Series B fund-raising round, according to Crunchbase, and it raised a total of $300 million with investment from the SoftBank Vision Fund. Other investors include Foxconn, Keytone Ventures, and Walden International.

 

 

Heads-up! Stepped-up traffic enforcement is underway

Submitted by Sgt. Joseph A. Heylen, Milpitas PD

 

During August, the Milpitas Police Department is partnering with the California Office of Traffic Safety in conducting a Primary Collision Factor Enforcement Operation at various intersections throughout the city.

 

The operation is focusing on violations that commonly cause traffic collisions. Officer are specifically looking for moving violations involving speed, stop signs, red lights, illegal turns, failure to yield, distracted driving and other dangerous vehicle code violations.

 

The Milpitas Police Department has analyzed two years of accident data to identify locations and violations that causes those types of accidents. Extra officers are on duty patrolling areas where traffic congestion and collisions typically occur. The goal of this enforcement operation is to decrease traffic-related injuries and deaths, while encouraging safe driving.

 

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Meanwhile, with summer vacation soon coming to an end and a new school year starting, police are reminding the public to expect more vehicle and pedestrian traffic around schools and to drive safely.

 

 

Uber lays off 400 employees from global marketing team

By Cathy Bussewitz

AP Business Writer

 

NEW YORK (AP), Jul 29 – Uber is laying off 400 employees in marketing, about a quarter of the marketing team's global workforce of 1,200 people.

 

The move, announced Monday, follows a leadership shake-up in June when CEO Dara Khosrowshahi combined the company's marketing, communications and policy teams.

 

The ride-hailing company has struggled to prove it can become profitable and its stock has traded mostly below its IPO price since its debut in May. Uber has blamed its losses partly on its costly promotions to attract riders and drivers. Those promotions are crafted by its marketing department.

 

Khosrowshahi installed Jill Hazelbaker to lead up marketing and public affairs in June. On Monday they announced a more centralized structure for marketing and said they want to build a consistent brand narrative across audiences, products and regions.

 

 

Police officer Injured during collision

Submitted by Union City PD

 

Late Friday, August 2, a Union City Police Officer was driving a police vehicle in the area of G Street and 5th Street, when a Toyota Prius traveling at a high rate of speed hit the driver side rear door. The impact sent the marked police vehicle into a neighboring front yard, injuring our officer and totally destroying both vehicles. The Toyota was occupied with multiple people at the time of the collision. Officers were able to detain one of the occupants, the other passengers and driver fled the crash on foot. Arriving officers blocked a number of streets and conducted a large area search for the other occupants. The driver and other passengers were not located during the search. Our officer sustained some head and neck injuries and was taken to a local emergency room. Thankfully our officer was treated and released from the hospital. We were lucky that the initial impact was behind our officer’s door and did not cause significant injuries. A close call for our PD family and our community. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call or contact Union City Police Department at (510) 471-1365; Tip Line (may be anonymous): 510-675-5207 or tips@unioncity.org

 

 

Unicef Fundraiser

Submitted by Megha Joshi

 

A UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) fundraiser took place on Sunday, July 28 at Castro Valley's Center for the Arts. The fundraiser itself was the solo dance debut of Megha Joshi, a rising senior at Newark Memorial High School. This type of debut is known as Ranga Puja, and Joshi performed in the Indian Classical dance form known as Odissi.

 

Joshi started learning Odissi at the tender age of five. Twelve years later, as she was about to undergo the customary solo debut, she decided that turning her debut into a fundraiser for UNICEF would be the perfect way to give back to the world that gave her the opportunity dance. UNICEF is active in 190 countries worldwide, including the United States, providing children with basic needs such as health care, immunizations, clean water, nutrition, and education.

 

Despite being a solo debut, the fundraiser was by no means a solo effort, as 100 volunteers and Joshi's dance guru, Gayatri Joshi, were involved in ensuring its success. The 450+ attendees enjoyed an evening of six dance performances that were accompanied by a mini orchestra of musicians who had come all the way from India.

 

Guests were encouraged to donate to the UNICEF global education program via either the donation box provided at the door, or an online link to UNICEF USA included in the evite. Through these means, over $3,700 was raised.

 

 

US home prices climbed just 2.4 percent from a year ago

By Josh Boak

AP Economics Writer

 

WASHINGTON (AP), Jul 30– U.S home prices rose at a slower pace in May, a sign that many would-be buyers are finding properties unaffordable.

 

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index increased 2.4 percent in May from a year earlier, according to a Tuesday report. Price growth decelerated slightly from the 2.5 percent year-over-year gain in April.

 

“Thwarted by climbing prices for years, buyers are no longer willing to pay any price,” said Matthew Speakman, an economist at real estate company Zillow. “There were too few homes on the market and buyers were unable to find houses that fit both their needs and their budgets, so they took a breather.”

 

The sluggish price growth stems largely from the most expensive markets, where years of price growth have undermined affordability. Home prices rose less than 2 percent in Los Angeles, New York, San Diego and San Francisco. Prices in the typically hot market of Seattle fell 1.2 percent from a year ago, a sharp reversal from an annualized gain of 13.6 percent in May 2018.

 

The strongest price gains were in Las Vegas at 6.4 percent, Phoenix at 5.7 percent and Tampa at 5.1 percent.

 

There were signs in a National Association of Realtors report on existing homes that prices may get some support from lower mortgage rates.