2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: Upping its game
By Michael Coates
Photos courtesy of Hyundai
Compact crossovers or SUVs are beyond ubiquitous. It’s more surprising if you don’t see one at any given intersection in the Bay Area. This segment is defined by three of its sales leaders—the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. One mark of distinction from their competitors—all three offer high-mileage hybrid models, and two of them have plug-in hybrid versions.
This is a highly competitive group. Someone wanting to break into it needs to bring its best game. That’s what the brand-new 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid carries into the fight. This year’s model has all-new styling that beefs up the car’s size compared to previous years and adds a hybrid model (with a plug-in version due soon). I had a chance to spend a week in the Tucson Hybrid and came away feeling this model will be able to hold its own against its formidable competition.
Basics
The calling card of Hyundai in the 2020s is three-fold—adventurous styling, aggressive pricing and a segment-leading warranty.
The 2022 Tucson models have laid claim to “sensuous sportiness” as a design theme. That translates in the real world to an aerodynamic approach that leads with a waffle-like grille and slick LED lighting. The basic shape of a compact SUV is well-defined so the Tucson won’t stand out in the typical parking full of similar vehicles, but it doesn’t have any obvious styling deficiencies.
Pricing for the Tucson’s hybrid model starts at $29,050, lower than any of its competition when comparing standard equipment. Of course, as with the others in the field, it’s tempting to bump up to more expensive trim levels (the Tucson Hybrid base model is Blue with SEL at $31,650 and Limited at $37,350 as the steps up). At each trim level, Hyundai piles on additional technology and comfort features. The Limited model I drove had a final sticker of $38,704 with no options—everything was standard.
The feature list included heated and ventilated leather front seats, heated rear seats, a Bose audio system, rain-sending wipers and adaptive cruise control, among the long list. Enough of that list including advanced safety equipment it that makes an upgrade a wise choice.
Finally, Hyundai continues to offer the best warranty in the car business. The Tucson Hybrid comes with a five-year/60,000-mile overall warranty that includes roadside assistance for the entire period and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the powertrain and hybrid battery.
Outside/Inside
It’s a tough call when it comes to styling. The 2022 Hyundai Tucson is stylish and fresh when viewed by itself, but tends to be lost in a sea of similar sized and styled vehicles in a parking lot. Chalk that up to functionality. The aerodynamics of the design aid its almost 40 mpg fuel economy and deliver a spacious interior. The Shimmering Silver paint was attractive, but broke no new ground.
Inside, the Tucson shines with better rear seat legroom than some of its competition and a competitive amount of space in the rear. The dash layout of a driver display augmented (in the SEL and Limited) by a 10.25-inch touchscreen was easy to use after a brief orientation.
Hyundai has opted to go with a powertrain that delivers competitive efficiency (compared to the major competition), but may even have more room for improvement. The 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder was up for most tasks in my drive around the Pacific Northwest, but strained when pressed to pass on anything less than level ground. The gas engine and 44.2-kilowatt electric motor combine for 226 horsepower, more than enough to motivate the 3,752-pound model I drove.
A 2022 Tucson tested by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety earned a Top Safety Pick. As an added safety feature, all-wheel drive is standard on the Tucson Hybrid, something not found on all of the competition. It’s rated to tow 2,000 pounds if properly equipped with trailer brakes.
Bottom Line
Hyundai is ready to play with the big boys in the compact crossover space. The Tucson has upped its game with the 2022 redo and can compete head-to-head with the best from Toyota, Honda and Ford with a high-mileage model that doesn’t scrimp on tech equipment or comfort features. Hyundai has promised a plug-in hybrid model using the same powertrain will arrive by the end of summer. That should add even more spice to this segment and make your choices even more difficult, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
Park It
By Ned MacKay
East Bay Regional Park District will mark the 2021 United Nations International Day of Peace with a program from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 18 at the Cove picnic site in Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley.
Activities will include peace messages, singing, drumming, arts and crafts, and a 30-minute walk along the lake. A 12-foot peace pole will be unveiled, symbolizing the hopes and dreams of the global family for peace on earth.
Sponsors are the Regional Parks Foundation and the park district. Community partners include Eden Area Interfaith Council, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center, UNA East Bay Chapter, and Samuel Merritt University – Ethnic Health Institute.
The event is free of charge, but pre-registration is required. Event check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. and everyone should arrive by 9:45 a.m. Inform the kiosk attendant you are attending the World Peace Day event and you will receive a free parking pass to place on your car’s dashboard.
To pre-register for the event, visit the park district website, ebparks.org/WorldPeaceDay.
A reminder: it may not be too late to register for Coastal Cleanup Day 2021, taking place in various regional parks (and other locations worldwide) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 18.
There are two options. You can pre-register for an in-person cleanup event during a specific time slot at one of six regional parks: Hayward Shoreline, Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline in Oakland, Robert W. Crown Shoreline in Alameda, Pt. Isabel in Richmond, Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline, or Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore.
Or you can register to organize your own neighborhood coastal or park cleanup any time through September 30.
To register for either option, visit www.ebparks.org/CoastalCleanup.
Speaking of the coast, the California Coastal and Ocean Amateur Photography Exhibit is on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through December in the Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Beach.
The visitor center also has exhibits on Crown Beach’s colorful history, and an aquarium containing fish from San Francisco Bay.
The center is at 1252 McKay Avenue. The exhibit is free, and no registration is required. Wear a mask inside the building, however.
You can make multi-colored corn kernels into your own mosaic. Learn how in a free program from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 19 at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. This is a drop-in activity; no registration is required.
Located on Ardenwood Boulevard just north of Highway 84, Ardenwood recreates life on a 19th-century farming estate. Admission fees apply; parking is free. For information, call (510) 544-2797.
Also in Fremont, Coyote Hills Regional Park is hosting a “Discovery on Demand” program from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 18.
All ages are welcome at the visitor center to watch a live animal feeding, learn a craft, or engage in other hands-on nature education activities.
Masks are required and social distancing must be observed. Parent participation is required and parking fees apply. This is a free, drop-in program; reservations are not necessary.
Coyote Hills is located at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway, just north of Highway 84. For information, call (510) 544-3220.
News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens
What price, bloomers
Trading cards of certain sport stars can fetch millions of dollars at auction. For example, an extremely rare 1952 Mickey Mantle baseball card sold for $5.2 million earlier this year, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. So, one can only wonder how much a pair of underwear worn by the legendary Chicago Bulls basketball player, Michael Jordan, will sell for when his bloomers come up for auction. The Lelands auction house has set the opening bid at $500.
Catch of a lifetime
It took former NHL goalie Pete Peeters an hour and a half to reel in his potentially record-breaking catch when he went fishing recently in the Fraser River in British Columbia. Officials from AMAC report that a fishing guide verified that the sturgeon he caught weighed in at 890 pounds and measured eleven-and-a-half feet in size. The fish is said to have been approximately 100 years old and its stats are being submitted to the folks at the Guinness World Records.
Arrested for bad handwriting
The police in Sussex, England posted pictures of a bank robber who botched a heist due to bad penmanship, reports AMAC. They also posted the illegible note he handed to the bank tellers, none of whom could make out what he had written. The hapless robber was scared off but eventually the tellers made out the threatening words and called police. After cleaning up his act and preparing a new note, he succeeded in getting a frightened teller to hand over the money and off he went. But when he tried a third time to hold up another bank, the teller defied him and he left empty-handed and the police were able to track him down and arrest him. He is now serving a six-year prison term.
— The Association of Mature American Citizens is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing membership in Washington, D.C. and in local congressional districts nationwide. More information is available on its website at www.amac.us.
Morning glory
By Pat Kite
Thank you, Eileen for the morning glory birthday seeds. Before now, I’ve never succeeded in getting morning glories to grow; I don’t know why. But today mine are the most fantastic shade of sky blue, scrambling up hither and thither. In this world of Covid crabbiness, they cheer me up immediately. There are over 1,000 types of morning glories, including my Ipomoea purpurea (common morning glory).
The Japanese have been cultivating morning glories since the 9th century, working continually on developing new hybrids. The Chinese used varied species of morning glories as a medical assist. Native tribes in what is now Mexico used morning glories as part of their religious ceremonies. Monks in Spanish monasteries used morning glory designs on manuscript borders.
Morning glories come in all sorts of colors: blue, red, white, purple, etc. In the Victorian language of flowers, blue equals affection, red demonstrates passion, white is purity.
For readers who like stories: Once upon a time, a beautiful and. kind princess would spend her mornings sitting in the palace garden admiring the flowers. But as the day warmed up, the delicate princess had to go inside. She missed seeing all blossoms fully open during the day. One day she began crying. But as her tears fell, each one transformed into a tiny seed. A few weeks later, as the princess took a morning stroll, she noticed a new vine. It had sky blue flowers. These flowers only fully opened in the morning, when the princess had the chance to see them. She called them “the beauty of the morning.” So debuted the Morning glory.
While morning glories are September’s flower, according to the English floral calendar, the best time for planting is May. Many texts say to soak the small hard round seeds overnight, or at least for several hours in tepid water. I’ve also tried just sticking seeds in the ground and keeping the area watered. As I said earlier, I’ve never had much luck, until now. Maybe success came when I planted my birthday seeds in early spring. They aren’t soil fussy; you just need a climbing rack or a medium size hanging pot. A morning glory vine can get to ten feet. They do require sun and will not bloom in shade. Mine stay open until dusk, with new flowers each day. While some texts say morning glories are drought tolerate, I find you have to water—but not drown, or the leaves sag and sigh. Fertilizing is up to you.
I am now rescuing my heavenly blue vine seeds and planting them. Keep in mind when you buy seed packets, or purloin seeds, that there are multiple types of morning glory, including many which can make you sick if you eat the plant. My blues are show stoppers. I have them half-covering a wall, and in the mornings just go out and stare, reminding myself in this Covid world why I love gardening.
Ask Rusty – About Including “COLA” in Benefit Projections
By Russell Gloor, National Social Security Advisor, AMAC Foundation
Dear Rusty: In your reply to “Confused Senior” about when to claim Social Security benefits, I noticed that you did not take into account any compounded annual increases in benefit payments. While these are not guaranteed and are dependent upon the economy, they do affect the difference in total amount that can be drawn between eligibility age, full retirement age, or age 70. Would you please address this? Signed: Stickler for Details
Dear Stickler: Thanks for your feedback on that article. You are correct, of course, that I did not include Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) in my response to the question asked, and that was intentional. I seldom include future COLA in these calculations because doing so would mean introducing a speculative factor, and I don’t like uncertainties when it comes to claiming Social Security. It’s not that I can’t include COLA, but it’s usually easier for people to grasp the straight (guaranteed) mathematical computation without adding a variable factor which could result in an inaccurate future benefit projection.
Historically, COLA increases have ranged from 0% to 14% because COLA is tied to inflation — a variable determined by annual changes to the national Consumer Price Index (CPI). If you remember the very high inflation years of the late 70s and very early 80s, those are the years when the highest COLA increases were granted. More recently (but before 2021) inflation has been held to its lowest level in recent history and, accordingly, COLA increases have been quite small. No COLA increases at all were granted in 2009, 2010 and 2015, and the increase in 2016 was a paltry 0.3%. The average COLA increase over the last 10 years (2011 – 2020) was 1.7%, and the average over the last 20 years has been 2.2%. I’ve done these computations both ways – including a 2% average COLA increase and not including any COLA increase – and the resulting breakeven point for claiming at age 70 vs. full retirement age doesn’t significantly change.
For clarity, most early projections now suggest that high inflation in 2021 will cause the 2022 COLA increase to exceed 6%, far above the average over the past 20 years, further emphasizing the speculative nature of predicting COLA. Although the actual future benefit predictions would be somewhat different with a COLA projection added, those amounts would be conjecture (and “not guaranteed,” as you have said). Excluding COLA from such analyses, however, does provide guaranteed amounts and I prefer to use solid numbers rather than speculative ones. If it turns out that COLA improves their benefit amount and break-even age that will be icing on the cake, but they’ve made their claiming decision based on solid information and guaranteed future benefit increases.
Other feedback from that same article suggested I should have also evaluated an option to claim benefits early and invest them, rather than waiting longer to get a guaranteed higher Social Security benefit. Just like trying to predict COLA, predicting investment growth introduces a variable that I’m not comfortable using when advising about Social Security benefits. For that type of speculative advice, it would be prudent to seek counsel from a certified financial planner.
This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.
Letter to the Editor
Access to open space
In 2020, Fremont residents were surveyed about parks and recreation. Consultants then ranked the survey results using a population-weighted statistical algorithm, and found that multi-use paved trails topped the list followed by restrooms, multi-use unpaved trails, open space, community gardens, small neighborhood parks, and large community parks. In September 2021, the Fremont city council was presented with a Trail Strategy Plan and the status of a forthcoming Park Master Plan. The city council approved the Trail Strategy Plan, while the Park Master Plan is still in development.
In 2020, all 62 Fremont parks were inventoried through geolocation, and 7,000 individual park assets were mapped. Other city-owned land assets were left in limbo. The status of some open space parcels was unclear as tract maps designate them as “dedicated park”. The Community Services Department and other city agencies manage these parcels in various ways, leaving vast swaths of city-owned land (thousands of acres) inaccessible to the public. These assets are categorized as open space, parklands, “dedicated park,” grazing lands and/or surplus properties. Some are fenced off and leased for cattle grazing. The lease contracts expressly allow for recreational access, so it would be heartening if the Community Services Department were to focus on the top priority of city residents in the statistically-valid survey: the creation of new multi-use trails for walking and biking.
Another finding of the statistically-valid survey is that the biggest barrier to using parks is lack of parking. The Trail Strategy Plan gives little consideration to parking, though it does note the desirability of bike parking. Heavy-handed parking restrictions at Mission Peak, Vargas Plateau and Coyote Hills have limited access to these parks and thereby reduced time spent in nature, restricting exercise impacts both physical and mental health. We ask the city staff and elected members of the council to respond to the survey results, and shift their focus towards serving the larger community by expanding parking inside and outside our local parks.
Open space parcels should be evaluated, managed and leveraged to benefit our community by providing access to nature. Ownership of thousands of acres of open space lands should include low cost, multi-use trails with a set-aside for public parking, thereby reducing conflict with neighbors. Parking should not be an afterthought. It should be prioritized in the planning stages as a component of an integrated, interconnected green city.
william yragui
Mission Peak Conservancy
WE REMEMBER
Hayward’s 9/11 Memorial Candle Light Vigil
By Fatema Bhaiji
On Saturday, September 11, 2021, the city of Hayward held a memorial for the attacks on the same date in 2001. Hayward city staff and the event company, Splurge, decorated Heritage Plaza with the words “we remember” and “we honor” and provided sharpies and candles to attendees. The public was encouraged to use sharpies to write a heartfelt message on the two large displays or decorate them with ribbons and vibrant flowers to remember the lives impacted by the 9/11 attack.
As the sun set, several Hayward Police Department officers stood in front of the sign with Hayward Community Programs Specialist Zach Ebadi, who following a brief speech, asked for a moment of silence and invited inviting attendees to place their candles under one of the two large signs. With soft music playing, candles slowly filled the space beneath the two signs.
Remembering 9/11
By Dhoha Bareche
“We mourned. We cried. We prayed. But we also learned something about who we were as a nation, we truly were the United States of America,” said Union City police chaplain Albert Valencia at the 9/11 memorial at Sugar Mill Landing Park—home to the first permanent memorial to Flight 93 in the country. The twentieth anniversary of this momentous day unified local community members in their shared tribute toward the victims. Among the attendees were Union City council members, memorial’s founder Michael Emerson, Union City police chaplain Albert Valencia, Senator Bob Wieckowski, former Union City mayor Mark Green, former council member Jim Navarro, Union City Police Department (UCPD), Alameda County Fire Department, flight attendants from United Airlines, and Tiffany Jackson who lost her aunt, Wanda Green, on Flight 93.
Marine Corps veteran Michael Emerson founded Union City’s memorial on December 8th, 2007 when he realized the lack of recognition to the victims on Flight 93. Emerson says, “Everyone was talking about the Pentagon and Ground Zero but no one was talking about Flight 93.” He adds, “Knowing that the flight’s original destination was San Francisco, and being from the San Francisco area, made me feel more connected to the victims. Hence I wanted to build the memorial in their honor.”
The ceremony commenced with a moment of silence in honor of the victims at 10:03 a.m.—the exact time the plane was brought down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was followed by a story of Flight 93 by Vice Mayor Pat Gacoscos, the story of the Memorial's creation by Michael Emerson, a reading of the names of the victims of Flight 93 by Tiffany Jackson and Michael Emerson, and an invocation by Albert Valencia. Lastly, Tiffany Jackson was joined by flight attendants from United Airlines and presented with a folded United States of America flag by Michael Emerson.
After the ceremony, attendees walked around the memorial of 40 granite stones bearing the names of the passengers and crew members along a path that begins at a “Circle of Remembrance.” On the front side of the 40 stones is a polished stainless-steel mirror to reflect the viewer’s own image to signify that it could have been any one of us aboard Flight 93 that day. The back of the 40 remembrance stones was left unfinished to signify that the heroes had unfinished lives. Stones end at a “Circle of Hope,” which contains an American flag that symbolizes the bravery and courage of the passengers and crew, as well as hand-painted tiles from local children that represent a more hopeful future.
“We must continue to tell the story about the 40 heroes on Flight 93 and to honor their sacrifices,” says Vice Mayor Pat Gacoscos.
The City of Union City hosts memorial ceremonies every five years at the memorial site. The next memorial service will take place on September 11, 2026 for the 25-year anniversary.
Website: https://www.unioncity.org/420/Flight-93-Memorial
Renegades back in action
Photos by Don Jedlovec
It’s full speed ahead for the Ohlone College Renegades as they resume sports contests with conference rivals for the new season. Recently, the Lady Renegades were in action on the volleyball court (September 11) and soccer field (August 31). In volleyball, the Renegades lost to Cuesta College in a non-conference game: 27-25, 25-18, 25-23. On the soccer field, against Merritt College, the Renegades fell 3-1.
Check out these robot pets
Submitted by LIFE ElderCare
Last month, LIFE got a big shipment of – robot dogs and cats. Yup, you read that right, and no, they will never take the place of our friendly visitors. These cuties are just another fun tool in the very large and personalized list of ways to help our program participants build contentment and reduce stress.
They've brought a few smiles already to some LIFE clients who no longer have quite the stamina needed to keep up with things like changing a litter box or walking a pup twice a day. With a simple on/off button, these guys don't need dinner and they have several sensors that respond with small movements, purring, and heartbeat sounds to petting & snuggling.
Interesting read: Robotic Pet Use Among Community Dwelling Older Adults
https://academic.oup.com/psychsocgerontology/article/75/9/2018/5891953
We still have some left, so if your agency serves older adults and you are interested in picking a few up, just let us know and we'll be happy to share.
South Fremont Age Well Center opens
Submitted by City of Fremont
Photos by Stephanie Gertsch
On Wednesday, September 8 the City of Fremont held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Age Well Center at South Fremont (opening to the public on September 15). The second building dedicated to services for adults 55+, the Center continues the City’s commitment to creating an inclusive community for residents of all ages.
The Center will host activities such as art, yoga, and technology classes; organize informational events on finances, legal assistance, and caregiving. Additionally, it will provide health screenings, counseling, and support to access services; and provide access to social and cultural opportunities, including community dances and networking events. Meals will be prepared onsite by a culinary-trained chef and served four days a week starting October 4.
The building and surrounding lot feature an airy modern lobby, large dining/multipurpose room with a full-service kitchen. Outside, a covered dining/patio and lounge area, bocce ball court, and raised gardening beds can be found. The City’s Human Services Department will oversee the programming and day-to-day operations of the new Center.
“As a city, we have worked diligently to ensure that our policies, priorities, and resources are working together to establish an age-friendly environment in Fremont where residents can retire comfortably and stay connected to their community,” Mayor Lily Mei said. “The Age Well Center at South Fremont is a wonderful example of an environment that fosters a sense of inclusion, lifelong learning, and overall wellness for residents aged 55 and older. That’s why Fremont and I are proud to be nationally recognized as one of the top award-winning AARP Age-Friendly Cities.”
As a part of Fremont’s efforts to be a World Health Organization (WHO)/AARP-recognized Age-Friendly City, Fremont City Council approved a development agreement in 2016 to create the Age Well Center and an age-restricted community of up to 497 units for seniors on a 23.5-acre site. In June 2019, construction began at a ground-breaking ceremony hosted by the City and the developer, The Mission Peak Company. The total construction cost is approximately $15.2 million.
Fremont completed a 2020-2025 action plan including health and wellness, outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, social participation and inclusion, volunteering and civic engagement, employment and learning opportunities, housing, and more. For reference, from 2019 to 2020, the Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth (formerly Fremont Senior Center) welcomed 1,351 members who received more than 19,000 meals and attended more than 17,000 hours of classes and activities.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the center will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Fridays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Some classes will be offered remotely. Residents interested in leading a class or activity as well as prospective volunteers are encouraged to call the Center at (510) 742-7540 or email agewellcenters@fremont.gov.
https://fremont.gov/agewellcenters
Coastal Cleanup 2021
September is Coastal Cleanup Month, and California Coastal Cleanup Day 2021 is Saturday, September 18. In 2019, more than 74,000 volunteers picked up over 900,000 pounds of trash from beaches and waterways throughout California.
Can’t make it to the beach? Participate throughout the month by cleaning your neighborhood, park, or other local areas. Trash flows downstream to the coast, so cleaning up neighborhood trash prevents marine debris.
To protect your health and slow the spread of the Delta variant, please follow the Covid-19 guidance from your county.
Alameda County: https://covid-19.acgov.org/index.page
Santa Clara County: https://covid19.sccgov.org/home
Use the map on the California Coastal Cleanup website to find ways to participate in your area. A few spots to join-in around the East Bay Area are:
Peter Gill Memorial Park
Paseo Refugio & Santa Rita Rd., Milpitas
Register at: https://cleanacreek.org/
Corner of eastbound Lick Mill Blvd. & Tasman Dr., Santa Clara
Register at: https://cleanacreek.org/
Castro Valley Creek Trail
3625 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
Register at: https://coastalcleanupcvcreek.eventbrite.com
Hayward Regional Shoreline
3050 W. Winton Ave., Hayward
Pre-register at: https://apply.ebparks.org/custom/501/volunteer_home
MLK Jr. Regional Shoreline
Arrowhead Marsh Parking Area
9130 Doolittle Dr., Oakland
Pre-register at: https://apply.ebparks.org/custom/501/volunteer_home
(Start times are staggered.)
California Coastal Cleanup
Month of September
Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, Sept 18
Various times and locations
https://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html
Photos by Ramil Sumalpong and Nacha Subramanian
Community supports cancer survivors—distanced and together
By Stephanie Gertsch
“They really should be able to concentrate on their healing. That’s what matters most,” says Tina Fernandez Steckler, Executive Director of HERS Breast Cancer Foundation. Her words about patients recovering from surgery and chemo resonate for everyone this year—as we try to heal from ongoing sickness, isolation, and trauma.
HERS provides bras, wigs, prosthetics, and lymphedema compression garments at little or no cost to breast cancer survivors. The organization’s ability to offer products and services depends on two annual fundraisers. In 2020, both went virtual. Even with the vaccine, many in the HERS community are immunocompromised or otherwise vulnerable. On September 25, the “Walk/Run/Yoga Fundraiser” will kick off with a limited in-person ceremony, combined with a virtual event, continued through October.
“I’m really proud of our team,” says Fernandez Steckler. “They’ve continued to work hard to support patients. We never closed during the pandemic. Our Fremont location at Washington Hospital stayed open this entire time.” In addition to Fremont, HERS has locations in San Leandro and Pleasanton.
This year’s walk/run/yoga kickoff will be held at Accusplit in Pleasanton, with a 50-person limit. (Masks are required for all participants.) A boxed breakfast will be served, sponsored by Dutra Enterprises and provided by Mission Coffee. Participants can join in a Bollywood dance warmup and receive swag bags with pink baseball caps and goodies donated by Fremont Botanicals.
After a year’s hiatus, volunteer Jim Dempsey will be back to perform the traditional dove release, in which dozens of white doves are released into the sky (and return safely) to the song “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Fernandez Steckler says, “I always see this event as a time to remember loved ones and to honor survivors. When we do our dove release, we always have a moment of silence to remember individuals who have passed from the disease. But I see the dove release as being a moment of hope as well for patients who are fighting for their lives.”
In 2020, when the event went virtual, HERS patient Melody Pitruzello created 500 paper doves to be mailed. “We did it that way to try to bring the experience and the meaning of the white dove release that we do to our virtual participants,” Fernandez Steckler explains. Additionally, participants registered for the Walk/Run options will receive a commemorative bib. For those who prefer yoga, instructor Sherri Plaza will lead a session on September 25, with additional sessions on October 16 and 23.
Although staff and supporters are disappointed to not hold a full in-person event for 2021, organizers were able to apply lessons learned in 2020 to this year’s event. “Something new that we decided to do was to extend the participation period,” notes Fernandez Steckler. “Last year it was a weekend virtual walk/run, a 48-hour window where folks could walk or run a course of their own choosing. This year we decided to extend it through October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
“That’s the beauty of a virtual event. As much as we would love to be together as a group, and to have that wonderful community feeling, anyone can participate no matter where they are. Last year, we had some folks who joined us from Washington, Texas, Florida, Colorado and a lovely couple walked their neighborhood in Brooklyn.”
Register yourself (or your pet) online at https://hersbreastcancerfoundation.org/. Registration will stay open through October, but slots for the in-person kickoff will fill up fast!
HERS Walk/Run/Yoga fundraiser
In-person kickoff
Saturday, Sept 25
10 a.m.
Complete your activity
Saturday, Sept 25 – Sunday, Oct 31
https://hersbreastcancerfoundation.org/
Registration: $25-45; $10 for pets
Fremont City Council
September 7, 2021
Consent Calendar
• Amend Alameda County Social Services Agency FY 2021/22 agreement for Family Caregiver Support Program.
• Authorize funds to Fremont Family Resource Center and Abode Services and amendment to CURA, Inc.’s Driveway and Patio Replacement Agreement.
• Authorize agreement with Alameda County for Homeless Housing and Prevention funds for services including Housing Navigation Center services; not to exceed $817,819.
• Appropriate Permanent Local Housing Allocation Program funds.
Ceremonial Items
• Recognize 20th anniversary of 9/11
Public Communications:
• 30% increase of parking tickets issued at Mission Peak.
Items removed from Consent Calendar:
• Authorize agreement with Chabot-Las Positas Community College for PEG Access Production and Programming through August 31, 2023 in an amount of $150,000 per year.
• Approve lease extension of storage facility with Newark 88 LLC in an amount not-to-exceed $62,500.
• Reallocate appropriation from Measure B to Measure BB funds for Paratransit Fund Balance requirements for FY 2020/21.
• Adopt City of Fremont’s Salary Schedule.
Scheduled Items:
• Public Hearing to vacate a portion of Niles Boulevard near Alameda Creek as sale to developer for $10,000. PASSED: 6-1 (Nay, Kassan)
Other Business:
• Update on Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
• Approve Fremont Trails Strategy Plan – 30-year vision and 10-year project prioritization.
• Approve revised City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures with minor amendment regarding deletion of time limit on written communications.
• Receive analysis of creation of a Juneteenth City of Fremont employee holiday.
Council Communications:
• Mayor Mei referral to appoint Mayor Mei as voting delegate at League of California Cities Annual Conference and Councilmember Salwan as voting alternate.
• Mayor Mei referral to appoint Jain Shikha to Mobility Commission and Mywand Zazay to Recreation Commission.
Mayor Lily Mei Aye
Vice Mayor Yang Shao, District 4 Aye
Teresa Keng, District 1 Aye
Rick Jones, District 2 Aye
Jenny Kassan, District 3 Aye, 1 Nay
Raj Salwan, District 5 Aye
Teresa Cox, District 6 Aye
Most in-person services restored to full-time operation
Submitted by City of Hayward
Effective Monday, Sept. 13, Hayward City Hall restored regular operating hours and most in-person resident and customer service operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays Monday through Friday.
The resumption of regular City Hall operations—which had been suspended, curtailed, or moved on-line and to telephone-only due to COVID-19—is taking place in compliance with Alameda County public health orders and California workplace safety guidelines.
For instance, all members of the public are required to wear a mask or other face-covering at all times while in City Hall—and City employees must do the same except when alone in an entirely enclosed office or other room with the door shut.
Some City Hall-based functions that also are offered on a 24/7-basis via drop-boxes, self-service kiosks and online—such as those provided at the first-floor Revenue Division cashier window and Development Services Department Permit Center—will be offered in-person on a more limited basis. The cashier window will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and the Permit Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
For more information on City Hall-based services and availability of in-person assistance, please visit the City of Hayward website at www.hayward-ca.gov
Milpitas City Council
September 7, 2021
Proclamations:
• September was proclaimed as Pain Awareness Month
• Week of September 5th was proclaimed as National Suicide Prevention Week
• September was proclaimed as National Preparedness Month
• September 18th was proclaimed as National Cleanup Day
• September 18th was proclaimed as National Gymnastics Day
Consent Calendar:
• Directed staff to fly City Event Celebration and/or Commemorative Flags at various standard annual events and flag position for multiple commemorative periods.
• Approved the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Disability Access Consultants, LLC in the amount of $269,150 for ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for the ADA Compliance Review.
• Approved the execution of a Stormwater Management Facilities Operation and Maintenance Agreement for Milpitas – District 2 Owner, LLC for the District 1 Lot 2 Project at 1415 McCandless Drive.
• Accepted the Legislative Action Report.
• Approved the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Clara County Specialized Enforcement Team for a ten-year period in an amount not to exceed $100,000, subject to the annual appropriation of funds.
• Authorized an extension of an Employment List for the position of Fire Captain to July 13, 2022.
• Received a report on the Milpitas HOPE Suicide Prevention Task Force Activities.
• Approved payments during Fiscal 2021-22 for Worker’s Compensation, General Liability and Property Insurance Premiums and 10% Additional Payment Authority Designated to the City Manager.
Community Development:
• Received report on proposed Rent and Mortgage Relief Program included in the Preliminary American Rescue Plan Act Investment Plan. 75% of the funds will go to rent relief, and 25% to mortgage relief. Under mortgage category, investor relief was eliminated.
• Received a report on the pilot mobile shower and laundry program. The pilot was successful.
Support Services:
• Ordinance related to Purchases Made by Departments was approved 4-1 (Nay: Montano)
• Received a report from staff regarding transition to an in-house City Attorney, and established the position of City Attorney, adopted a Resolution to Amend the Classification Plan to add the Salary Range for the City Attorney, and provided input into the desired qualifications to assist in the selection process for the City Attorney. Approved 3-2 (Nay: Phan, Dominguez)
Other Business:
• Established the Main Street Revitalization Ad-Hoc Council Sub-Committee comprised of Vice Mayor Montano and Councilmember Chua.
Rich Tran (Mayor) Aye
Carmen Montano (Vice Mayor) Aye Nay 1
Anthony Phan Aye Nay 1
Karina Dominguez Aye Nay 1
Evelyn Chua Aye
Newark City Council
September 9, 2021
Presentations:
• Officer Salvador Sandoval and Officer Brian Simon of Newark Police Department were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on August 8, 2021.
Public Comment:
• Resident brought to the attention the poor condition of plum trees on Willow Street and Cedar Boulevard.
• Resident asked for board to consider creating a program to reduce feral cat colonies in Newark.
Consent Calendar:
• Approval of audited demands
• Approval of July 22, 2021 minutes
• Report on administrative actions during August recess
• Adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase of a one-year subscription to Microsoft O365 Cloud Solution Provider services and computer equipment from Dell Marketing, L.P., and approving a budget appropriation of $125,000 to Capital Improvement Program Project 001292 – Newark Civic Center Technology Enhancements.
• Resolution confirming the continued existence of a local emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Authorization for Chief of Police to accept 2021-2022 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant through the State of California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and amend 2020-2022 Biennial Budget.
• Adopt a resolution approving a lease agreement between City of Newark and Newark Medical Center for the installation of a common fence between Newark Civic Center and Danielson Clinic.
• Contract amendment with Rhodes Planning Group for additional professional services for Old Town Newark Place Specific Plan and amend 2020-2022 Biennial Budget and Capital Improvement Plan.
• Adoption of an ordinance establishing a Planned Development Overlay District within NewPark Place (introduced 7/22/2021).
City Council Matters:
• Congratulations to Lieutenant Officer Sandoval and Lieutenant Officer Simon for their promotions to Lieutenants.
• Remembering and paying respect to those who have been affected by the 9/11 attack twenty years ago.
• Introduction of soft opening of the new Newark Library, open Wednesday through Sunday from 1p.m. to 5p.m. The complete opening of the new Newark Library is said to be about a month away.
• Reminder of election Tuesday, September 14. Secure drop-off ballot box can be found in front of old Newark Library until Tuesday, September 14.
• Reminder to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated.
Mayor Alan Nagy Aye
Vice Mayor Mike Bucci Aye
Luis Freitas Aye
Sucy Collazo Aye
Michael Hannon Aye
Ohlone College Board of Trustees
September 8, 2021
Ceremonial items:
• Proclamation of Deaf Awareness Month
• Proclamation of Suicide Awareness Prevention Month
• Proclamation of Latinx Heritage Month
Consent Agenda:
• Approval August 2021 payroll warrants.
• Approval various personnel actions.
• Approval of COVID-19 vaccination mandate.
• California Community College Trustees Board Report.
• Measure G Bond List revision 27
• Measure G Project 6114, renovate Building 5 — D.L. Falk Construction, Inc.; change order #3 and #4.
• Measure G Project 6114, renovate Building 5 – LPAS Architecture + Design; amendment 8 for architectural services.
• Ratification of College Connection Program agreement — Averroes High School.
• Ratification of contracts.
• Naming buildings and capital assets — Bayview Lounge.
Discussion/Action:
• Review and accept the Fourth Quarter 2020-21 financial report and related budget changes.
• Approval of the 2021-2022 Final Budget.
• Approval of Suzanne Lee Chan as voting delegate at the Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Congress conference.
• Richard Watters, Chair (absent) Aye
• Suzanne Lee Chan, Vice Chair Aye
• Greg Bonaccorsi Aye
• Lance Kwan Aye
• Jan Giovannini-Hill Aye
• Elisa Martinez Aye
• Dr. Rakesh Sharma Aye
• Kevin Hamilton, Student Aye
San Leandro City Council
September 7, 2021
Mayor’s Announcement:
• Starting with the next City Council meeting Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter asked that council members join her in highlighting acts of kindness in the community.
• Discussion is under way to allow for hybrid online City Council meetings after in-person meetings resume.
Recognitions:
• Resolution nominating and appointing Francesca Carney as Youth Member to the Library Historical Commission for term ending August 31, 2022.
• Proclamation honoring Interim Police Chief Susan Manheimer.
Public Comments:
• Establish a process to provide COVID-19 vaccinations for as many people as possible.
• Use some police staff funding to reimagine public safety using ambassadors on bikes, after school programs and mental health services.
• Allow the incoming police chief to evaluate proper staffing for the department.
• Make sure Bay Fair transit-oriented development plan moves forward.
• Thrasher Park Skatepark is in poor condition and should be rebuilt and expanded.
Public Hearings:
• Mobile home park anti-displacement policy amendments. First reading motion adopted.
• Ordinance approving the first amendment to the development agreement for 2436 Washington Avenue — 2450 residential development project. Motion adopted.
Consent Calendar:
• Approve minutes of July 15 Disaster Council meeting.
• Approve minutes of April 7 Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting.
• Motion nominating Kelly Ritter as District 5 Representative to the Library-Historical Commission.
• Motion nominating Brian Crowell as District 5 Representative to the Senior Commission.
• Resolution approving a commercial revitalization agreement with Wannawin San Leandro, LLC and allowing a grant of easement to Pacific Gas and Electric for connecting gas and electric facilities to the property at 1495 East 14th Street through City Owned Property at 1490 Washington Avenue.
• Resolution approving the final map tract and a subdivision improvement agreement on Manor Boulevard. Owner, subdivider and applicant is D.R. Horton Bay, Inc.
• Resolution approving a master funding agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
• Resolution to accept work performed by DeSilva Gates Construction on the annual street overlay/rehabilitation project.
• Resolution to approve annual renewals for Fiscal Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 with Sirsidynix for the Library Information System for the combined amount of $196,659.77 (approves one annual renewal of $93,647.51 in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and one annual renewal of $93,647.51 plus up to a 10% increase in Fiscal Year 2022-2023).
• Resolution to approve annual renewal with Dude Solutions, Inc. for facilities management, Mobile 311, parks, and water plan management software systems for the amount of $93,705.12 and appropriate $37,399.56 from the IT Fund to cover the costs.
• Resolution amending the San Leandro Management Organization salary schedule to add the classification of Assistant City Manager.
• Resolution extending the local Emergency and State of Emergency proclamation relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Resolution authorizing an amendment and restatement of the city’s Deferred Compensation Plan to include the Roth Contribution Option.
Action Items:
• Resolution selecting Renewable 100 as the default product for San Leandro customers served by East Bay Community Energy.
• An urgency ordinance to change the termination date to September 30 the moratorium on evictions due to nonpayment of rent for commercial tenants who have had income loss from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Resolution to approve an employment agreement with Abdul Pridgen as new police chief.
Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter Aye
Pete Ballew Aye
Vice Mayor Victor Aguilar Aye
Bryan Azevedo Aye
Fred Simon Aye
Deborah Cox Aye
Corina Lopez Aye
Supervisors Support Incoming Afghan Refugees
Submitted by Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee
Santa Clara County has been made aware that up to 300 refugees will need support during the resettlement process through the two local refugee resettlement agencies, Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley (JFSSV) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
At the Sept. 14 Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors meeting, Board of Supervisors Vice President Susan Ellenberg, along with Supervisor Otto Lee, will introduce a referral directing County Administration to act with urgency to increase current funding designated for refugee resettlement services to both of these agencies.
“There is no more humanitarian act than to save a life and this is exactly what successful resettlement achieves,” said Supervisor Ellenberg. “The services provided by JFSSV and the IRC are vital to those coming to Santa Clara County. The services provided with this increased funding will help refugees adjust to the greatest extent possible without further trauma.”
In 2019, Supervisor Ellenberg championed the allocation of additional funding to the aforementioned agencies when federal funding for refugee resettlement was cut under the Trump administration.
“As an immigrant, this issue is personal to me. Santa Clara County will be a welcoming and safe home to those who risked and sacrificed so much,” said Supervisor Lee. “I know how important it is, especially refugees from war-torn regions. We must fulfill the ideals of America when many of them have risked their safety to protect American servicemembers for the past two decades. We must sustain the trust we have built with them. They supported us, now it is time we care and protect them.”
All of the refugees, scheduled to arrive through the next 12 months, will require immediate assistance. The services provided to refugees are a critical lifeline for many families arriving to Santa Clara County. Upon resettling refugees, the funds will enable JFSSV to provide emergency food, housing assistance, job training, counseling for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, and more.
“The impact of the funding proposal that will come before the Board of Supervisors is such that we will be able to more fully rescue, resettle and assist nearly 300 refugees in the next year,” said Mindy Berkowitz, Executive Director of Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley.
Approximately 25 people were received and resettled by JFSSV in August, and another 17 are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. With an increase in funding, refugees will be provided the necessary supports to ensure their ability to become self-supporting.
“We continue to respond and have already served over 40 Afghan arrivals since June 2021,” said Sead Eminovic, International Rescue Committee Director of the San Jose location. “Santa Clara County is a preferred destination as one of the most welcoming communities with a history of providing funding to support IRC's county employment program and other stabilizing services critical for the integration of our newest neighbors.”
“Santa Clara County is one of the most diverse counties in the country as it celebrates and welcomes people from all backgrounds,” said Zelica Rodriguez, Director of the County Office of Immigrant Relations. “The County is committed to providing a safety net, protection, and access to resources and services to our most vulnerable populations including immigrants and refugees. The supports to our Afghan community are in line with our mission and values as a county.”
An estimated 50,000 residents in the County are refugees. The County has historically served as a resettlement community for refugees from Bosnia, Ethiopia and Myanmar (formerly Burma).
School district bond deal saves taxpayers a bundle
Submitted by Patty Sandoval
Taking advantage of historically low rates, Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) recently locked in savings of $13,711,252.94 for local taxpayers by refinancing existing general obligation bonds.
After getting approval from the district board on August 25, FUSD staff moved quickly to position the bonds to enter the market and replaced prior bonds with an interest rate of 4.00% with new bonds at an all-inclusive interest rate of 2.66%. This interest rate reduction of 1.34% was achieved without any extension of the original repayment term. Savings will be realized by taxpayers in the form of lower property tax bills over the life of the bonds.
“Thanks to the generosity of our local community, our general obligation bonds have allowed us to construct, rebuild and modernize school facilities to meet the educational demands of the 21st century,” said CJ Cammack, Superintendent of Fremont Unified School District. “This refinance opportunity allows us to pass along these savings to property owners, who, in the end, all benefit from these facilities improvements.”
Prior to the bond sale, FUSD received an affirmation of its strong “Aa2” credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service. This credit rating coupled with favorable market conditions helped the bond sale attract strong interest in the district’s competitive sale. On the morning of September 2, the district received bids from six major investment banks with the interest rate differential being 0.44% between the highest and lowest bids. In accepting the lowest cost bid, the district maximized its savings to taxpayers. On a present value basis, the savings was 9.6%, over three times the industry benchmark of 3.0%.
Earlier in 2021, FUSD locked in savings of $8,581,702.33 (8.0% on a present value basis) through a refinancing of its bond series. Combined with the recent savings of $13,711,252.94, taxpayer savings from the refinancings in October 2020 and August 2021 now total $22,292,955.27.
Tips for drying flowers
By Melinda Myers
Photos courtesy of Melinda Myers LLC and melindamyers.com
Enjoy and share the beauty of your flower garden all year long. Pick and dry a few flowers to use in flower arrangements, craft projects or as gifts for friends and family. Pick the flowers when they are at peak bloom and blossoms are dry. Cut flowers for drying mid-day when they contain less moisture to reduce the dry time.
Use a bypass pruner or garden scissors to cut the stems above a set of healthy leaves. Remove the foliage and gather them into small bundles. Secure the stems with rubber bands that contract as the stems shrink and continue holding them tight. Use a spring-loaded clothespin to hang the bundles from a hanger, clothes line or nail. Allow the flowers to dry in a warm, dark, dust-free location.
Flat-faced flowers like daisies tend to close a bit when dried upside down. Try laying them face down on a flat surface. Simply cut off the stem and place the flowers face down on newspaper in a warm, dry location. Once dried, you can glue them in place or use florist wire to create stems for arranging.
And don’t forget to pick a few seedpods from perennials and ornamental grasses. These have dried, for the most part, on the plants and make great additions to your dried flower arrangements and projects.
Consider taking a trip to your local florist or craft store for more ideas and materials for drying delicate flowers. Silica sand works well for delicate blossoms like iris as well as roses, mums and more. Simply fill the bottom inch of a container with silica sand. Remove all but an inch of the flower stem. Place the flower, stem side up or on its side, on the surface of the silica sand. Gently pour silica sand over the flowers until completely covered. Follow label directions. Most flowers dried this way maintain their beauty when dried in silica sand. Just use a small paint brush to gently remove any remaining sand.
Test flowers for dryness before putting them in an arrangement or storing for future use. Carefully rub a piece of the flower between your fingers. If it feels dry, it is ready to use. If it still feels moist, continue letting them dry.
Store extra dried flowers in a location with low humidity and away from direct sunlight. Consider loosely wrapping with newspaper or kraft paper to prevent crushing and place in a box until needed.
Whichever drying method you choose, the result is the same – year-round enjoyment of your garden’s beauty.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener’s Handbook and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Boo Calendar 2021
PUMPKIN PATCHES
Arata’s Pumpkin Farm
Sun – Thurs: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
185 Verde Rd., Half Moon Bay
(650) 726-7548
Alameda Point Pumpkin Patch
Friday, Sept 17 – Monday, Nov 1
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Pumpkin patch, slide, petting zoo, and more
2453 Hancock St., Alameda
(510) 705-2352
Ticketed entry or order online
Pick of the Patch Pumpkins
Friday, Sept 24 – Sunday, Oct 31
Pumpkin patch, inflatables and paint ball
September 24 – October 9
Mon – Thurs: 3 p.m.– 9 p.m.
Fri: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
October 10 – 21
Mon – Thurs: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri: 1 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
October 22- 31
Sun – Thurs: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Bayfair Center
Parking lot opposite Kohl’s
15555 East 14th St., San Leandro
www.shopbayfair.com
Paint ball: $5 (opens 10/1)
Inflatable access: $15 for 30 minutes
Classic Pumpkin Patch
Opens late September
Mon – Thurs: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Rowell Ranch
9711 Dublin Canyon Rd., Castro Valley
(650) 544-4728
Free entry and parking
Joan’s Farm & Pumpkin Patch
Sunday, Oct 3 – Sunday, Oct 31
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
(Closed Mondays)
4351 Mines Road, Livermore
(925) 980-7772
http://joansfarm.com/
Pumpkins in the Park Milpitas
Saturday, Oct 23
12 noon – 4 p.m.
Trick or treat stations, performances and more
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Choose a pumpkin from the floating pumpkin patch, watch Monsters University
Cardoza Park
Kennedy Park/Victoria Dr., Milpitas
HALLOWEEN EVENTS
Winchester Mystery House Halloween tours
Friday, Sept 10 – Sunday, Oct 31
Spooky tours of the historic house and grounds
525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose
(408) 247-2000
Tickets: $19.99 – 41.99
The Menagerie Halloween Market
Saturday, Sept 18
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Outdoor market of handmade wares, pumpkin painting for kids, pet costume contest
Alfresco Dining Park
1435 Webster St., Alameda
www.eventbrite.com
The Immortal Reckoning SF
Friday, Sept 24 – Sunday, Oct 31
Wed – Sun starting Oct 6
Theater, haunted mazes, and special events
San Francisco Mint
88 5th St., San Francisco
https://www.intothedarksf.com/
Masking and proof of vaccine required
Tickets: $50 – 70
Fear Overload
Saturday, Sept 25 – Saturday, Nov 6
Open Fridays starting Oct 1
Open Wed/Thurs starting Oct 13
Open daily week of Oct 24
See website for hours of operation
Explore two terrifying attractions: Descend the Basement and The Demon
Fear Overload Scream Park
15555 E 14th St., San Leandro
General admission: $19.99
Pirates of Emerson
Thursday, Sept 30 – Sunday, Oct 31
7:05 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
(11 p.m. on weekends, 12 midnight on special days)
Walk-thru haunted house returns for 2021
Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton
Tickets available online only: $36:50 – 56:50
Landlubber pass: $10
Mockingbird Lane Halloween Market
Sunday, Oct 3
12 noon – 6 p.m.
Market of the macabre, strange and unusual
Alameda Elks Lodge #1015
2255 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda
instagram.com/mockingbirdlanemarket
Boo at the Zoo
Weekends: Friday, Oct 8 – Sunday, Oct 31
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wear your costume, get a goodie bag, and join a scavenger hunt.
Special event days:
Fridays: Twinning for parents and kids
Saturdays: Monster Squad – dress up as a monster
Sundays: Favorite Animal Friends – dress up as your favorite animal
Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland
(510) 632-9525
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/boo-at-the-zoo
Tickets: $20-24
Tickets go on sale 28 days prior to entry day.
Howl-o-Ween
Saturday, Oct 23
10 a.m. – 12 noon
Canine costume contest, resource fair, and more.
NewBark Dog Park
35501 Cedar Blvd., Newark
https://linktr.ee/newarkrecreation
The Running Dead 5k Fun Run
Sunday, Oct 24
8 a.m.: Check in
8:30 a.m.: Costume Contest
9 a.m.: Race begins
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Trunk or Treat
Run in costume and dodge the zombies!
Civic Center/City Hall
34009 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City
https://www.unioncity.org/192/Community-Recreation-Services
Registration: $22
Halloween Night Exploration
Friday, Oct 29
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Explore Sunol with a naturalist after dark; costumes encouraged.
1895 Geary Rd., Sunol
https://www.ebparks.org/default.htm
Parking $5
The Haunted Garden at Camron-Stanford House
Saturday, Oct 30
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Arts & crafts, lawn games, music, museum exhibit Morbid Desire. Victorian/Halloween costumes encouraged.
1418 Lakeside Drive, Oakland
(510) 874-7802
Admission: $5
Halloween events @ Ardenwood
Sunday, Oct 31
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Three Little Witches Puppet Show
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Costume Clothespin Dolls
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Halloween Farm Games
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
(510) 544-2797
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood/
Park entry fee: $2-6
It’s A Date
CONTINUING EVENTS:
Mondays, August 2 – Sept. 27
Let’s Keep It Moving!
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Zoom -Exercise while seated or standing
To register: http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
(510) 790-6602
Tuesdays
Practice Your Spoken English
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Talk with native English speakers about everyday topics in a friendly, welcoming setting
Via Zoom
https://aclibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/search/index
Wednesdays, October 6 – October 27 R
HPD Virtual Community Academy
6:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Learn about Hayward police department
18+ years
(510) 293-5051
www.hayward-ca.gov/police-deparment/programs/community-academy
Thursdays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Youth Group
7 p.m.
Youth and young adults, students welcome
Contact: brian@newarkpress.org
www.newarkpres.org
Thursdays
San Lorenzo Street Eats
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Food trucks
500 Via Mercado, San Lorenzo
https://www.thefoodtruckmafia.com
Fridays
Fremont Street Eats
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Food trucks and live music
2400 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont
https://www.thefoodtruckmafia.com
Saturdays
Virtual Telescope Viewing R
9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Free on Facebook Live
Join resident astronomers live from Chabot’s observation deck
https://chabotspace.org/calendar/
Saturdays in September
Puppet Shows at Ardenwood
10:30 a.m.
Naturalists put on shows with a colorful cast of characters
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
Saturdays
Comedy Shows R$
8 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Improv by Made Up Theatre’s comedy troupe – Live and Online!
Proof of vaccination or negative Covid test required for entry
4000 Bay St., Suite B, Fremont
(510) 573-3633
Mondays and Wednesdays, September 20 – November 8
Become a Trained Music Volunteer
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Support the Music for Minors II by helping students
https://tinyurl.com/y3bptw5r
Mondays – Saturdays
Grab & Go Craft Kits
Fremont Main Library, Centerville Library, Union City Library
Check library for hours
Crafts are a fun way to let kids be creative
Monday – Saturday, Sept. 1 – 30
Vistas and Vignettes
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Exhibition of oil paintings by Alice Weil
75 Arbor Rd., Menlo Park
www.portoalartgallery.com
Second Saturdays, July – December
Talkin’ Dirt
9/11, 10/9, 11/13, 12/11
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Free webinar on gardening, hosted by LEAF
Via Zoom
https://bit.ly/3hsOGKG
Sundays
Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church Family Service
10 a.m.
Via ZOOM
For link, call (510) 471-2581
https://sacbc.org/
Sundays
First Presbyterian Church of Newark Worship Services
9:30 a.m.; Worship Service In-Person or Online
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9NxtyzVaehQJHwLlpwPWlw
35450 Newark Blvd., Newark
www.newarkpres.org
Sundays
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Service
10 a.m.
In person or via Zoom
2791 Driscoll Rd., Fremont
www.stanneschurch.org
Third Thursday each month
Chronic Pain Support Group
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Request link: njordan@fremont.gov
Thursday, March 18 – Sunday November 7
Immersive Van Gogh
9 a.m. – 11 p.m. (times vary)
Walk-in exhibit with digital projections and music
SVN West San Francisco
10 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco
Tickets: $24.99 – $39.99
www.vangoghsf.com
Thursday, July 8 – Sunday, October 3
Olive Hyde Art Guild Members Juried Show
Virtual juried show of local artists
Virtual exhibit: https://www.fremont.gov/3871/2021-Exhibition-Calendar
In-person Gallery Dates: July 29 – October 3
Thursday – Sunday, 12 noon – 5 p.m.
https://olivehydeartguild.org/
Friday, July 23 – Saturday, September 18
The Art of Change virtual exhibit
Mixed media art on drought, species extinction and other issues
www.haywardartscouncil.org
Wednesdays, September 15 – November 17
2021 Citizen Police Academy
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
A free look at how the Newark Police Department operates
Deadline to apply is 8/25
www.newark.org/departments/citizen-police-academy
Questions: Beverly Ryans, (510) 578-4352 or beverly.ryans@newark.org
37101 Newark Blvd., Newark
Sunday, September 19
11th Annual Summer Concert Series
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
East Bay Youth Orchestra’s Pop Concert
Hayward Memorial Park
24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward
www.HaywardLodge.org
Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 3
Niles Canyon Mobile Estates White Elephant Sale
Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Masks required. Household goods, jewelry, books, homemade baked goods
711 Old Canyon Rd., Fremont
Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 3
Olive Festival
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Music, food, beer, wine, arts and crafts, kids’ activities
43226 Mission Blvd., Fremont
UPCOMING
Tuesday, September 14
Caring for Elders: Ask the Experts
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Info and resources for caregiving
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3m7WZ2o
For info, call 510-433-1115×8860
Tuesday, September 14
Intro to Women’s Council of Realtors
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Info session about the benefits of this organization
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3t8o8np
wcralamedacounty@gmail.com
Wednesday, September 15
Become a Trained Music Volunteer Orientation
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Be a mentor for Music for Minors II
(510) 733-1189
https://tinyurl.com/y3bptw5r
Wednesday, September 15
Intro to the Restaurant Business for Spanish Speakers
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Key steps to minimize errors. Free webinar by the SBDC.
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48461
Thursday, September 16
Hayward Nonprofit Alliance
10 a.m.
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3mYoGLm
Meeting ID: 823 8148 0428
Passcode: 147350
Thursday, September 16
iPhone Training
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Free online training to learn more about your phone
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Thursday, September 16 R
MFMII Free Music & Movement for Kids
Singing, dancing/movement, instruments
Via Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/j32bwz3j
Friday, September 17
Hispanic Heritage Month Flag Raising
5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Celebrate the culture and contributions of our Hispanic community!
Cesar Chavez Plaza
Milpitas Community Center
457 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
Friday, September 17
Andrew Molina $
8 p.m.
Ukulele virtuoso does his take on rock classics
Bankhead Theater
2400 First St, Livermore
www.livermorearts.org
Saturday, September 18
Milpitas Cleanup Day
Clean up your neighborhood park, street, or yard
Pick up a free litter kit:
9/16: Milpitas Sports Center, 1325 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
9/17: Milpitas Community Center, 457 E. Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas
9/17: Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd., Milpitas
#MilpitasCleanUpDay21
Saturday, September 18
Storefront Storytime
11 a.m.
Uncle Gino reads “Officer Buckle and Gloria”
Books on B
1014 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-3943
Saturday, September 18
An Evening of Empowerment
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Virtual fundraising event for Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments Inc (SAVE)
(510) 574-2250
Saturday, September 18
Pop-Up on the Promenade
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Handmade goods, sustainable fashion, plants, music, and kids’ activities
Studio 11 Promenade
34626 11th St., Union City
https://www.unioncity.org/419/Community-Events
Saturday, September 18 – Sunday, September 19
Niles Canyon Railway $
10:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
Diesel Trains. 1 hour 20 minutes roundtrip
Sunol Depot
6 Kilkare Rd., Sunol
www.ncry.org
Sunday, September 19
Fables & Feet
2:30 p.m.
Explore fables of India in this introductory workshop to kathak
DC Dance Center
1555 Washington Ave., San Leandro
Sunday, September 19
Before Bollywood
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Introductory workshop to kathak, a classical dance from North India
DC Dance Center
1555 Washington Ave., San Leandro
Monday, September 20
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Milpitas Police Chief, Jared Hernandez
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524
Tuesday, September 21
Fremont Public Hearing Meeting
7:15 p.m.
Learn about redistricting and share your input
Via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92566745156
1-833-430-0037
Wednesday, September 22
Guys and Dolls $
7 p.m.
Classic film musical starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando
Bankhead Theater
2400 First St., Livermore
www.livermorearts.org
Wednesday, September 22
Demonstration by Watercolorist Meghana Mitragotri R
10 a.m. – 12 noon.
Watercolor tips and techniques
Via Zoom (link sent upon registration)
Register at https://olivehydeartguild.org/
Wednesday, September 22
A Better Way to Grow Revenue with a CRM
12:00 noon – 1:30 p.m.
Learn about Client Relationship Management (CRM) software. Free webinar by the SBDC
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48641
Wednesday, September 22 R
Intergenerational Mask Decorating
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Zoom link, mask and craft supplies provided
Register by 9/15
http://bit.ly/AgeWellClasses
Saturday, September 25
Storefront Storytime with Sara
11 a.m.
Hayward City Councilmember reads “The Monster at the End of this Book!”
Books on B
1014 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-3943
Saturday, September 25 R
HERS Walk/Run/Yoga Fundraiser Kickoff
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Bollywood warmup, breakfast, giveaways
1262 Quarry Ln., Suite B, Pleasanton
https://hersbreastcancer. itsyourrace.com
Tuesday. September 28
7 o’clock Rocks!
7 p.m.
The Groovy Judy & Pete duet plays tunes online
Facebook.com/groovyjudyrocks
http://youtube.com/groovyjudy
Tuesday, September 28 – Wednesday, September 29
Fall 2021 Virtual Career Fair
12 noon – 2 p.m.
Hundreds of qualified prospective employees from across the Bay Area
Day 1: https://bit.ly/3E31SR0
Day 2: https://bit.ly/3BWsSPV
For more info: ctamayo2@ohlone.edu
Thursday, September 30
Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Free vaccination and a one-day Oakland Zoo Family Pass with free parking
9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/pop-up-covid-19-vaccination-clinic
Santiago appointed to Governor’s Military Council
Submitted by Governor’s Press Office
Sept 9 – Roberta Santiago, 65, of Castro Valley, has been appointed to the Governor’s Military Council. Santiago held several positions at the U.S. Coast Guard from 1998 to 2019, including Supervisory Management Analyst and Reserve Forces Branch Chief for the Pacific Area AOR. She held several positions in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1975 to 1999, including First Sergeant and Command Sergeant Major.
Santiago is a member of the Association of the U.S. Army, Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc., U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association and the National Museum of the U.S. Army – Army Historical Foundation. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Santiago is registered without party preference.
Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate
By Maddie Newman
On May 18, unassuming 16-year-old Zoe Dorado was walking through the produce aisle of a grocery store with her father. She had begun to reach a state of acceptance after the absence of an email the day before. But suddenly she received the email notification she had been waiting for – her application had been accepted… she was moving onto the next stage! Zoe describes herself as being flabbergasted. Three months later she would become Alameda County’s first Youth Poet Laureate.
Currently a junior at Castro Valley High School, Zoe was informed of the opportunity by her Sophomore English teacher, Mrs. Frozena, who encouraged her to apply. Dorado submitted her application at the end of April and on May 18, got the news that she would be moving on to the interview stage. On June 30, it was announced that she was one of the top five finalists. Finally, on August 13, she was declared Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate!
The title of Poet Laureate was formally known as “Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress,” from 1937 to 1986. In 1986, the United States officially changed the title to “Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry,” and there has been a national annual Poet Laureate ever since. In 2008, the nation’s first Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program began in New York City, and subsequently, launched in thirty-five additional cities. In 2016, Urban Word created the National Youth Poet Laureate Program. The first to receive this national title was Amanda Gorman, who grabbed the nation’s attention when reciting her poetry at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
The City of Oakland has a YPL program, but youth living outside of Oakland cannot compete. This restriction prompted the founding of a countywide YPL program. All youth, ages 13-19, living in Alameda County (besides Oakland) were able to apply. Due to the pandemic, much of the process was accomplished through video calls. Even with these restrictions, things went smoothly; judges were surprised by the high caliber of submissions (35 in total).
Alicia Reyes, of the Alameda County Library, says, “Even though we had to follow pandemic protocols, the poetry transcended all the online platforms. The beauty of the youth’s words and their various outlooks and influences, told in poetic form, took center stage and surpassed any COVID barriers we faced.”
Zoe cites one of the biggest contributions to developing her skills in poetry as weekly, after-school writing workshops hosted by Youth Speaks that she’s been attending since the summer of 2020. She enjoys writing in groups, and says that a lot of inspiration comes from prompts people have given her, conversations they’ve had and watching others perform.
“It’s a community of poets. You’re listening and growing, sort of taking ideas and excavating more thoroughly… until you are collectively making your own interpretations of a question, which is kind of cool. Then you share them and use that to make the next poem.”
Other inspirations for her poetry include her dad, English teachers, poets Olivia Gatwood and Sarah Kay, and many more.
Zoe admits her writing tends to have run-on sentences, which she is working to combat. She also wants to work more with clever uses of assonance [repetition] and consonance [harmony]. Another thing she’s noted is that a lot of her recent poetry ends up being about her grandfather, who passed away a few years ago.
“When you go into writing something, you might have some idea about what you want to do, but the last line of the poem? You don’t know what that’s going to be,” Zoe explains. “The whole process is sort of like trying to figure out what you want to write about, and then it just happens, and you end up writing about your grandfather. My Lolo.”
For Zoe, poetry has been a source of comfort and a way to deal with feelings and experiences. It has helped her get through everything going on in the world right now. “It could be poetry, it could be rap, it could be some sort of art or music or way of expressing themselves… but I think that finding an outlet, and knowing you have these outlets available, is a really good tool to get you through life.”
She hopes that as Youth Poet Laureate, she can help others find their own outlet.
For more on the Alameda County Youth Poel Laureate program, visit: https://aclibrary.org/youth-poet/
Two Popular Tri-City Choirs Sing Again in Person
Submitted by Shirley Gilbert
After over a year and one-half of zooming, Cathryn Griggs, member of Mission Peak Chamber Singers (MPCS), has decided to return to singing in person with her beloved choir community. “I’m forever grateful,” according to Griggs, “that we had the opportunity to rehearse with zoom. But something magical happens when we feel the music and sing as one. You don’t get that feeling singing alone at home.”
Kathy Garfinkle, member of MPCS’s sister choral group the East Bay People’s Choir (EBPC), returned to singing together with the Tri-City ensemble. “We simply don’t have the same connection on zoom,” said Garfinkle. “When we sing together in person, we become more than a choir. We become a close-knit family that cares for each other. We lost that sense of camaraderie and I know I’ll rediscover it now that we’re in person.”
Singing together in a choir was considered a super spreader event when Covid hit. The question now: Is it possible to meet in person and sing together safely?
Ofer dal Lal, Artistic Director of the choirs, believes it’s both possible and timely to meet face-to-face now. He points out that we live in a place with high levels of vaccinated people. “Of course,” he said, “we can only do so by adhering strictly to CDC guideline.”
That means showing proof of vaccination, singing with masks on and inaugurating physical distancing. In addition, Irvington Presbyterian Church in Fremont, where choir members rehearse every Tuesday evening, will have windows and doors open.
The two choirs started in-person rehearsals on September 7. You could see the two groups were delighted to be together after so long away. The singers caught up with each other’s lives, exulted in singing as one, even with masks, and felt like a community once more.
Conductor of the EBPC, Sid Quinsaat, literally jumped for joy as they danced from stage to aisle in their excitement to be back leading in person. “And it wasn’t just the music that made everyone happy,” Quinsaat said. “After singing alone in our homes for so long there was an amazing energy being together. You could tell everyone felt it.”
The choirs’ directors realize that this might not be the best time to go in-person for everyone. Some members may want to skip rehearsals for a variety of reasons. To keep singers up to date, all rehearsals will be recorded.
In March 2020, the choirs had to move everything online. There were singalongs, led by Quinsaat, and virtual videos to keep members interested and involved (these creative videos are available on the choirs’ You Tube channel). “There was so much to learn about zoom,” said dal Lal. “We had to experiment to find out what worked and didn’t work.” His style as a director is to react to his singers. He found it hard to give guidance when he couldn’t hear anyone. “It was like teaching swimming from a manual,” he said. “It was tough. But also very creative, very challenging at the same time.”
There were also a lot of positives. The audience could come from anywhere and everywhere – from different states and even different countries. The choirs took on some wonderful projects and choir members even created their own song and remotely turned it into a beautiful virtual performance.
But now dal Lal encourages former members and new members to give the rehearsals a try. “The feeling of singing in person is irreplaceable,” he said. “There’s nothing as uplifting, as satisfying and as beautiful.”
Conductor Quinsaat agrees. “Our EBPC is really a wonderful community to join. Anyone can come and sing. You don’t need to audition or read music or have any experience to come sing your heart out as a community. It’s the best.”
MPCS is an auditioned choir. Sheet music is provided, and tuition is collected. The choir meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more information: www.chambersingers.org/join
EBPC is a non-auditioned choir open to all and open to all ages (over 12-years-old during Covid). The choir is free and meets every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information: www.chambersingers.org/peopleschoir
Both choirs meet at Irvington Presbyterian Church, 4181 Irvington Avenue in Fremont.
Shuttle program upgrades service in San Leandro
Submitted by Susan Criswell
Two new vehicles have joined FLEX RIDES Shuttle paratransit program fleet that serves disabled people in San Leandro. The new vehicles are part of a suite of service upgrades initiated from an evaluation study made by City of San Leandro that used information gathered from public meetings, multi-lingual surveys of both riders and non-riders, and recommendations from City Council and Senior Commission.
Upgrades include the introduction of bi-directional (clockwise and counterclockwise) shuttle service to decrease ride times. The addition of stops at frequently requested destinations, has longer service days, and equipment upgrades. FLEX RIDES Shuttle now operates Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Older adults and East Bay Paratransit qualified disabled people 18 and older residing in San Leandro are served by two transportation options: FLEX RIDES Shuttle service and FLEX RIDES On Demand subsidized concierge ride-hailing service. FLEX RIDES On Demand also provide free transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccination appointments. FLEX RIDES On Demand program is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. Funding for this program is received from Alameda County voter-approved sales tax Measures B and BB.
To learn more about the qualifications for FLEX RIDES programs, or to obtain an application, contact FLEX RIDES staff at (510) 577-7985 or visit their website at www.sanleandro.org/depts/rec/paratransit.asp.
Additionally, a free online informational session discussing the programs is set for 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 15 via Zoom. Those planning to attend should visit www.sanleandrorec.org or call (510) 577-3462 to register for course code #18585. An email address and pre-registration are required to attend.
Guys and Dolls marks the return of classic film musicals
Submitted by Livermore Arts
The opening of the Bankhead Theater’s 2021-2022 season has brought back live music performances, as well as comedy, theater and film. Kicking off the return of the Classic Film Musical series for the fourth year will be “Guys and Dolls,” starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando at their swaggering best. The 1955 film will be screened on Wednesday, September 22, at 7:00pm. All tickets are just $5 each.
Classic Musicals scheduled for this season are some of Hollywood’s most beloved films featuring the suave men of the 40s and 50s, including Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, as well as the powerhouse women of the 60s such as Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews and Vanessa Redgrave. Following “Guys and Dolls” will be “Anchors Aweigh” (1945) on November 17, a classic WWII-era tale of Navy sailors looking for fun on shore leave and starring the fleet feet of Gene Kelly.
The two fall films are followed by “The Bandwagon” (1953) with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in February, “Hello Dolly!” (1969) with Streisand in one of her most famous musical roles in March, “The Sound of Music” (1965) which is considered by many to be the masterpiece of film musicals in April, and finally, Richard Harris as King Arthur opposite Redgrave in “Camelot” (1967) in May. All classic film musicals are screened on Wednesday evenings and, in keeping with the traditions of the era, each is presented with a cartoon preceding the main feature.
In addition to the Classic Film Musicals, the Family Film series has been extended in 2021 with two holiday events. Mel Brook’s corny spoof of the horror film genre, “Young Frankenstein” starring Gene Wilder and Cloris Leachman will be shown on Sunday afternoon, October 31 for a laugh-filled start to Halloween, and the animated film “The Polar Express,” starring Tom Hanks as the mysterious train conductor headed to the North Pole, will be screened on Sunday afternoon, December 26, 2021.
Tickets for Classic Film Musicals and Family Films are just $5 for all ages and can be purchased online or through the box office. Popcorn, movie treats and beverages are available for sale in concessions at all film screenings.
Guys and Dolls $
Wednesday, September 22
7 p.m.
Bankhead Theater
2400 First Street, Livermore
(925) 373-6800
www.livermorearts.org
Library receives innovation grant award
Submitted by San Leandro Public Library
California Humanities recently announced the 2021 round of Library Innovation Lab (LIL) awards and San Leandro Public Library is one of the winners. The library was awarded $5,000 for its project entitled “(be)Longing: Woven Into The Fabric of the Community.”
Now entering its fifth year, the LIL program supports the design and delivery of responsive and relevant public humanities programming in California’s public libraries. It provides a nine-month practice-based professional development experience and cash grants of up to $5,000 to participating library programmers. The goal of the creative and innovative programs that library staff develop is to respond to the needs and circumstances of immigrants and immigrant communities and foster more inclusive communities within California.
Spanning from September-December 2021, (be)Longing is a series of free intergeneration community events that will promote the learning and embracing of the diverse cultures that make up San Leandro.
The (be)Longing events include:
• COVID protocol-friendly passive woven art displays and poetry walks
• A Chef Talk with local Chef Anthony Salguero, who will discuss the tradition and history behind Salvadoran cuisine, and offer to-go Salvadoran Tamale Tastings and listening circles.
• Mabuhay! A series of traditional Filipino dances by Kariktan Dance Company, followed by to-go pancit with lumpia tastings.
• A Teen Mini-Zine Workshop featuring Indigenous ways to honor our land with Costanoan Ohlone-Mutsun, and Chumash activist, artist, and educator Kanyon Sayers-Roods (a.k.a. Coyote Woman)
• A Family Fun Night traditional pow-wow dance performance with the youths of Intertribal Friendship House
• A Health Talk with public health specialist Leafa Tuita Taumoepeau about everyday healthy living tips during the holiday season, followed by to-go Mango Otai tastings.
These events evolved after an extended period of professional development trainings that began in April 2021.
“After months of seeking out and interviewing immigrants in San Leandro, engaging in various trainings about innovative design theory practices, and working with a cohort of supportive and creative library professionals across California, I feel honored and privileged to design library events that celebrate the diversity of San Leandro, promote thoughtful and connective community engagement, and extend the welcoming/ inclusive spirit at the library to all,” said Project Director and adult reference librarian Patty Mallari.
To date, 52 California libraries from across the state have participated in the program. California Humanities is a nonprofit partner of National Endowment for the Humanities. For details, including a list of all Library Innovation Lab grants in California, visit their website at https://calhum.org.
Watercolor painting demonstration
Submitted by Olive Hyde Art Guild
Join award-winning local artist Meghana (Meg) Mitragotri for a free virtual watercolor painting demonstration on Wednesday, September 22 through the Olive Hyde Art Guild. Mitragotri’s style, which ranges from realistic to impressionistic, is inspired by countryside landscapes, birds and flowers. She will demonstrate techniques she has developed and share tips she has learned from other experienced watercolorists.
Mitragotri has shown her work at the Fremont Art Association as well as other galleries around the Bay Area; she has also participated in the Olive Hyde Art Guild’s Holiday Show. It is important to Mitragotri to give back to the community, especially during the pandemic. She is currently a director on the Pleasanton Art League’s Board, serving as the scholarship chairperson and is a member of Tri-Valley’s Online Tech Team working on virtual projects to bring communities together.
In addition to being a prolific artist, Mitragotri does a variety of crafts. Check out her website for beautiful examples of all her work and learn more about her at www.daintlymade.com.
Although this event is not a workshop, everyone is invited to try Meg’s techniques as she demonstrates her process.
Demonstration by Watercolorist Meghana Mitragotri
Wednesday, Sept 22
10 a.m. – 12 Noon
Via Zoom (link sent upon registration)
Register at https://olivehydeartguild.org/
Ohlone College District Board approves vaccination mandate
Submitted by Ohlone College
Fremont, Calif., September 9, 2021 – The Ohlone Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the passing of Board Policy 3507 – COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate requiring all individuals who access on-site campus/district programs in person or who participate in district-operated or controlled off-site district/college services in person (including intercollegiate athletic competition and travel) comply with this policy.
Per BP 3507 students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless approved as exempt due to verified medical or religious reasons. Those who do not receive a COVID-19 vaccination may be subject to other safety measures. The vaccine requirement is effective on each campus on September 30, 2021.
“As we move through the COVID-19 virus and its variants, this policy and procedure continues working to ensure that Ohlone College facilities are as safe as we can actively make them,” says Ohlone College Superintendent/President Dr. Eric Bishop. “The accompanying Administrative Procedure (AP) is currently in review in the college's governance process and is expected to be endorsed within the next week.”
Employees will continue to receive information from Human Resources and students will receive communications from the Vice President of Student Services on the process for providing proof of vaccination and requesting exemptions.
Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival comes to Alameda County Fairgrounds
Submitted by Alameda County Fairgrounds
Photos courtesy of Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festivals website
The Quilt, Craft and Sewing Festival will be at Alameda County Fairgrounds from September 16 – 18, 2021. This creative extravaganza features the best suppliers for quilting, sewing, needle-arts and crafting. See, try and buy the very best quality products from top vendors in the USA and abroad. Shows are the best way to get excited about projects and the best place to get deals that you will not find any other time of the year. Admission and classes are free of charge.
Quilt, craft and sewing festival
Thursday, Sept 16 – Saturday, Sept 18
Thu/Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sat: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Alameda County Fairgrounds
Enter Gate 8 or 12 off Valley Avenue, Pleasanton
Parking: $10
https://quiltcraftsew.com/
Sukkot Under the Stars
Submitted by Chabad of Fremont
In 2021, the Jewish High Holidays are being observed through the month of September. After Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the holidays continue with Sukkot, which celebrates the harvest season and commemorates the Jews’ exodus from Egypt.
On September 20, enjoy a 4-course gourmet dinner in the tranquility of the community Sukkah. RSVP will be available on the Chabad of Fremont website. All CDC and County guidelines will be observed.
Kids can join a mini-Sukkah decorating event on Sunday, September 26. Chabad of Fremont will also host a women’s concert on September 25, with singer/songwriter Ilana Herst.
Sukkot Under the Stars
Monday, Sept 20
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25 individual, $45 per family
Women’s Concert
Saturday, Sept 25
Tickets: $18, $30 for two
Family Team Up Sukkot
Sunday, Sept 26
10 a.m.
Chabad of Fremont Jewish Center
4251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont
(510) 300-4090
https://www.chabadfremont.com/
Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Submitted by Sergeant Ray Kelly
Monday, September 6
• At about 2:30 p.m. a motorist called 911 to report a possible dead body on Redwood Road at mile marker 2.95 in Castro Valley. Sheriff’s deputies located the body on the shoulder of the road; the case is being investigated as a homicide. Anyone who might have seen suspicious behavior or vehicles in the area between 12:00 noon and 2:30 p.m. September 6 is asked to contact Detective Erin Wilhelm at (510) 875-5883 or (510) 667-3628.
BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD
Friday, September 3
• At 5:22 a.m. a man identified by police as Jeffrey Brewer, 33, was arrested at Hayward station on suspicion of lodging in the parking structure and possession of drug paraphernalia. A record check also showed a warrant charging burglary and trespassing. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
• At 11:05 a.m. a man identified by police as Antonio McCormick, 57, of Oakland was arrested at Bay Fair station on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia, a probation violation and resisting arrest. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
Saturday, September 4
• At 12:35 a.m. a man identified by police as John Owens, 40, of Oakland was arrested at Fremont station on a no-bail felony parole violation warrant charging sex-related offenses. He was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Sunday, September 5
• At 8:24 a.m. a man identified by police as Timothy Knockum, 54, of Oakland was arrested at Union City station on suspicion of fare evasion, violating a court order and violating parole. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
• At 8:22 p.m. a man identified by police as Steve Arroyo, 28, of San Leandro was arrested at Milpitas station on a misdemeanor $5,000 warrant with a charge of resisting arrest. He was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail.
Thursday, September 9
• At 6:48 a.m. a man identified by police as Hossain Harris, 20, of Castro Valley was arrested at Castro Valley station on suspicion of grand theft. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
DUI patrols, checkpoint planned in Hayward
Submitted by Sgt. Tasha DeCosta, Hayward PD
Hayward Police Department (HPD) will have additional officers on patrol throughout the city starting at 6:00 p.m. Friday, September 17 who will be specifically looking for drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Additionally, starting at 7:00 p.m. they will operate a DUI/driver license checkpoint at an undisclosed location in the city. Both operations will continue until 2:00 a.m. the next day.
DUI checkpoints and patrols are done in locations with a history of DUI-related collisions and arrests. During the checkpoint, officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.
According to 2018 statistics from the California Office of Public Safety, 1,069 people were killed on California roads in crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol content over the legal limit (.08 or above). Last year the Hayward Police Department investigated 21 DUI crashes that killed one person and injured 22 others.
HPD officials are reminding the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription or over-the-counter medications with an operating heavy machinery warning on the label can also impair. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.
Anyone that is planning on drinking or taking medications that can affect their ability to drive, should follow these precautions to avoid a DUI charge:
• Always use a designated sober driver — a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation — to get home.
• Walking while impaired is also dangerous. Have someone sober walk you home or stay with you until a sober driver is available to pick you up.
• Report drunk drivers by calling 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home.
A DUI charge is not cheap. Drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license and possible jail time. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Fremont Fire Department Log
Submitted by Fremont FD
Saturday, September 4
• At 5:09 p.m. firefighters were dispatched to Doane Street in the Irvington area where downed power lines ignited a shed fire. Crews evacuated eight to ten homes because of live power lines energizing metal in rooftops. After PG&E secured the power lines, crews extinguished the fire and checked all residences for possible damage. The incident was caused by a Canadian goose hitting the high voltage line, which caused the downed power lines. An initial power outage affected about 3,000 area residents. There were no injuries.
Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Geneva Bosques, Fremont PD
Tuesday, August 31
• At about 6:45 p.m. victims heard their truck, which had a dirt bike in the bed, start up and drive away. The victims drove around the neighborhood looking for their vehicle and found it at a Union 76 Gas Station, at 39925 Mission Blvd. The victims called police, then blocked the vehicle and saw a male immediately flee on foot. The victims caught up to him and held him until officers arrived. The suspect, identified by police as Oswbaldo Sandoval Aquino, 31, of Livingston was arrested.
Monday, September 6
• A victim of an auto burglary called police to say he was tracking his stolen property and had followed a suspect vehicle to the parking lot at Fremont Hub shopping center on Mowry Avenue and Fremont Boulevard. Arriving officers detained two suspects and recovered one piece of stolen property. A suspect, identified by police as Christopher Warren, 41, of San Jose was arrested.
Wednesday, September 1
• At about 1:41 p.m. officers located a stolen vehicle in the area of Fremont Boulevard and Sundale Drive. A suspect associated with the vehicle and identified by police as Kalial Abbushi, 40, of San Leandro was arrested.
Thursday, September 2
• At about 2:04 p.m. a residential burglary occurred in the area of Linda Drive in the Niles area. A male was inside the home when he heard voices in the backyard and then inside the residence. Soon, a bedroom door opened and the resident saw a man holding a wooden stick. The man then fled the residence, but was located nearby by police a short time later. The man, identified by police as Daniel Villalobos, 27, was arrested.
Friday, September 3
• At about 12:52 a.m. officers located a vehicle stopped on the street in the area of Logan Drive and Calaveras Avenue in central Fremont. A male was seen on the ground underneath a nearby vehicle. Three people were detained and arrested on suspicion of catalytic converter theft. The suspects were identified by police as Phillip Molina, 23, of Milpitas, Luis Vargas, 31, of Fremont and Nicholle Chinn, 32, of Sacramento.
• At about 12:56 p.m. an armed robbery occurred in the area of Fremont Boulevard and Chapel Way in the Irvington area. A male victim was approached by three suspects and had a handgun pointed at him. They took his watch and wallet before fleeing the scene.
Hayward Police Log
Submitted by Hayward PD
Monday, August 30
• At 8:27 a.m. officers responded to a report of a man exposing himself near the 22000 block of Main St. The suspect was taken into custody on suspicion of indecent exposure.
Thursday, September 2
• At 12:15 a.m. a male was walking near the 700 block of W. A Street when he was approached by unknown people in a vehicle. They used force and robbed him then then fled the scene.
Friday, September 3
• At about 9:00 a.m. officers responded to a report about a shooting in the 27000 block of Coronado St. A witness reported seeing what appeared to be a high school aged person fire a gun at a moving vehicle before fleeing the scene, possibly in the direction of Mt. Eden High School. A second witness said they saw the suspected shooter walk onto the high school campus. Officers on the scene located the suspect who was taken into custody without incident. A firearm was also recovered. The suspect was identified by police as at 16-year-old Mt. Eden High School student. There were no injuries reported. An investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call their Criminal Investigative Bureau at (510) 293-7176.
• At 6:36 p.m. a person near the 2500 block of Huntwood Avenue in south Hayward was approached by suspects who were armed with handguns. One of the suspects forcibly stole items from the victim before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
• At 10:42 p.m. officers responded to a report about a shooting near the 26000 block of Stanwood Ave. Upon arrival officers found evidence of a shooting; no victims were found at the scene. An investigation is continuing.
Newark Police Log
Submitted by Newark PD
Wednesday, September 1
• At 7:48 p.m. officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 5800 block of Abbington Court. Upon arrival they encountered and later arrested a 22-year-old woman on suspicion of violating parole. She was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
• During a 10:31 p.m. traffic enforcement stop in the area of Thornton Avenue and Ruschin Drive, officers met a 30-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman, both from El Sobrante. The man was arrested on charges of driving without a license, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. The woman was arrested on an active warrant and charges of possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Both were booked at Santa Rita Jail.
Thursday, September 2
• At 5:52 p.m. Officer Horst responded to a report of a carjacking in the 5000 block of NewPark Plaza. No weapons were involved. The incident is under investigation.
• At 9:44 p.m. Officer Pacheco made a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven recklessly near the area of Overlake Place and Gateway Boulevard. The driver, a 39-year-old Fremont man, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving. He was cited and released and the vehicle was impounded on a 30-day hold.
Friday, September 3
• At 6:13 p.m. Officer Johnson investigated a vehicle collision in the area of Filbert Street and the railroad tracks. Officer Herrera responded to assist and arrested a 56-year-old Modesto man on suspicion of DUI and had the vehicle towed away. While investigating the incident, a 55-year-old Milpitas man arrived on the scene and was arrested on suspicion of obstructing an officer and public intoxication. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
• At 9:23 p.m. officers responded to a report about a vehicle collision in the area of Cedar Boulevard and Dupont Avenue. Officer Quinonez arrested a 57-year-old Fremont man on suspicion of DUI and driving without a license. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.
Saturday, September 4
• At 12:42 a.m. officers responded to a report of someone breaking business windows in the 7000 block of Central Ave. Upon arrival they found multiple shattered windows and fresh graffiti. Nearby they found and detained a 37-year-old Newark man who had spray paint with him. After getting a statement from the man, officers released him. The incident is under investigation.
Police in Newark boost safety patrols
Submitted by Brian Simon, Newark Police Department
As part of Pedestrian Safety Month, Newark Police Department (NPD) is supporting efforts throughout September to improve pedestrian safety and help reduce crashes and injuries.
In a recent statement NPD officials noted that pedestrians are more at risk on the road. Based on data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 2020 had the largest ever annual increase, at 21%, in the rate at which drivers struck and killed pedestrians. In California, pedestrian deaths accounted for 27% of all traffic-related deaths in 2019.
“It’s simple: slow down and stop for pedestrians. They have the same rights to the road as everyone else,” Newark Police, Lieutenant, Jolie Macias said. “If you’re walking, be mindful of vehicle traffic and be predictable. We should all be looking out for one another.”
For the safety of everyone walking or driving, NPD has additional officers on patrol during September specifically looking for California Vehicle Code violations pertaining to drivers and pedestrians. These violations include right-of-way at crosswalks, illegal turns and not stopping for signs or signals, and speeding.
There are numerous steps that drivers and pedestrians can take to greatly reduce the risk of getting injured or in a crash, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking. Here is a list provided by NPD:
Pedestrians:
• Be predictable and use crosswalks.
• Take notice of approaching vehicles and practice due care.
• Do not walk or run into the path of a vehicle. No vehicle can stop instantly; at 30 mph a diver needs at least 90 feet to stop.
• Be visible. Make it easy for drivers to see you — wear light colors, reflective material and carry a flashlight, particularly at dawn, dusk or at night.
• Be extra careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night when it is harder to see, or when crossing busy streets with more lanes and higher speed limits.
Drivers:
• Follow the speed limit and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• Never drive impaired.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
California pushes rules on breath-restricting police holds
By Don Thompson
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP), Sept. 9 — California would bar police from using certain face-down holds that have led to multiple unintended deaths under a measure headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill expands on the state's ban on chokeholds in the wake of George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis policeman. The Assembly gave final approval on a 50-15 vote.
The measure by Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gipson, a former police officer himself, would prohibit police from using techniques that create a substantial risk of what's known as “positional asphyxia.”
They include putting suspects face down, then pressing down on their backs with hands, elbows or knees to gain control. It defines the hold as placing a person in a way that compresses their airway and reduces their ability to breathe. That includes putting body weight on a restrained person's neck, torso, or back.
The California State Sheriffs' Association said the bill is too broad “and neglects situations in which a subject creates a threat of death or serious bodily injury to an officer or another person.” Barring the holds by trained officers makes it more likely they will have to use alternatives like batons or Tasers, the association said. Nevada enacted a similar ban last year as part of broader legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Many law enforcement agencies already restrict the practice. Police manuals warn that restraining someone face down for an extended period can lead to injuries or death.
Gipson's legislation gained attention after 26-year-old Mario Gonzalez died in April. He was pinned down by four Alameda Police Department employees for more than five minutes before he died. About the same time, a jury in Southern California awarded more than $2 million to the family of a homeless man who died in 2018 after officers in Anaheim used a similar technique to restrain him.
Union City Police Log
Submitted by Union City PD
Friday, July 23
• At about 4:00 p.m. officers responded to a report about a robbery near a bank in the 34300 block of Alvarado Niles Road. A female told officers that as she left the bank and got into her vehicle, an unknown man approached her from behind, pinned her down by her hair and took her purse. He then fled in a white car.
Friday, July 30
• At about 12:00 noon officers responded to report about a robbery outside of a Wells Fargo Bank at Union Landing shopping center. A female told officers that she withdrew cash from the bank, entered her car, and placed her purse on the front passenger seat. An unknown male approached and broke the car’s passenger window, reached in and took her bag, then ran away. Officers searched the area for the suspect but did not find him.
• At about 6:40 p.m. officers responded to a report about a robbery in the 4900 block of Caspar Street. A female told police that the suspect pushed her and then punched her twice in the face while trying to take her purse and wallet. The suspect fled on foot but was found by officers nearby and placed under arrest on suspicion of robbery.
Saturday, July 31
• At about 8:30 p.m. officers responded to a theft report in the 32000 block of Union Landing Boulevard. A male told officers that he attempted to stop the suspect from leaving the store with a cart full of unpaid items. To escape, the suspect pepper-sprayed employees and fled in a silver vehicle. Employees described the suspect as a Black male between 25 and 30 years-old.
Sunday, August 1
• At about 5:30 a.m. officers responded to a report about an armed robbery at a business in the 31300 block of Alvarado Niles Road. The clerk told officers that the suspect, described as a white female adult, entered the store armed with a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The clerk handed over the cash, and the suspect fled in a white vehicle.
Monday, August 2
• At about 1:00 a.m. officers responded to a report about a disturbance at a business in the 900 block of Whipple Road. The clerk told officers that a male was outside the business, refusing to leave. When officers arrived, they located the male out front with a bleeding wound to his arm. Officers determined that the clerk was arguing with the male and that the clerk eventually chased him outside while wielding a claw hammer. The clerk then hit the man several times with the hammer's claw, causing the injuries. Officers arrested the clerk on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Editorial
How local government works
Tri-City Voice was founded on the belief that meaningful stewardship and, when necessary, change in our society begins at the local level. Citizen engagement depends not only on willingness and readiness to spend time and resources to protect and advocate, but also a fundamental understanding of our system of government… how and why resident participation is not only desirable, but critical to a goal of an effective, fair and just society.
In light of this elemental building block of democracy, this newspaper will soon be launching a series of articles to describe, explain and guide our residents toward participation on boards, committees or commissions.
Active and extensive citizen involvement will broaden sources of information and the scope of discussions available to these bodies. Often, serious and far-reaching decisions are initially discussed and debated by advisory bodies prior to recommendations leading to final decisions. If concerned residents enter the process at that level, rather than deferring comments until an ultimate vote, they will have greater impact on proposals submitted for final approval.
It is our hope that advisory groups and local government will benefit from extensive and thorough dialogue with a broad spectrum of residents. Through input and informed dialogue at meetings of an advisory body, either as appointed members or interested residents and visitors, anxiety, consternation and antagonistic behavior can be avoided as well as the time necessary to air grievances – often justified – to include necessary modifications.
We have endured an unsettling period of distrust, suspicion and even violence to resolve political differences. This is a destructive and malignant approach toward democratic institutions that rely on mutual respect and concurrence with basic ideals. How to achieve them can be a point of discussion, but agreement on basic tenets is essential for a successful societal pact between governors and the governed.
It is unrealistic to assume that all facets of government will attract the interest all impacted. Time and effort, by necessity, is consumed by procedural details. While essential, this minutia can even strain the patience of a biblical Job. However, details are necessary to build a solid foundation for action and may offer clues – signals – to others of substantial and impending decisions. It is at this point that advice and counsel without rancor can change the course of conversation and presentation. Here is where the “rubber meets the road.”
Many unfamiliar with governmental process may believe there is a strict formula that dictates who may or may not serve in advisory bodies. This may be the case in some instances, but in many others, the basic requirement is an interest and willingness to share personal and professional time, energy and wisdom with others who have similar interests. A first step for those who have an interest in a particular advisory group is to simply visit a meeting (in person or virtual) and assess whether you would be an asset to it. There is little mystery to this. As a visitor becoming familiar with the procedures and personalities involved, you will have an opportunity to interact with members and discover whether further participation fits with your passions, temperament and availability. It can also provide a true glimpse into the structure of a democratic system that relies on citizen contributions to operate successfully.
If you have complaints about how government works for you, friends and family, spending time with a committee, board or commission can be a doorway to a solution.
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sail.”
– William Arthur Ward