9-28-21 Articles

Electric boats making waves without the noise
Sep 02
By John Marshall
Associated Press

The auto industry has raced ahead on an electric wave with more manufacturers joining the race seemingly every day.

The boating industry has sputtered far behind, bogged down by low-horsepower engines and batteries that take up nearly half the boat.

That's in the process of changing.

Bolstered by new technology, the electric boats are now faster, have smaller batteries with longer ranges and are still zero emission.

“Electric boats used to be good for just cruising around,” said Alex Mongeon, CEO of Montreal-based Vision Marine Technologies. “Now they have more power and last a long longer.”

Vision Marine has helped lead the charge in more powerful electric boats. Other companies riding the electric motor wave include Swedish luxury boat builder X Shore and Arc, started by former SpaceX employees.

An avid boat racer and electrician by trade, Mongeon and Vision Marine began working in 2015 on developing a more powerful yet still efficient electric outboard motor.

They created the E-Motion 180, the first electric boat engine to use lithium batteries.

The electric outboard boasts 180 horsepower and can reach speeds of 60 mph, a first in electric boating. The E-motion 180, which costs about $5,000 more than a standard internal combustion engine, can be used with any boats that use a 180 HP outboard gas engine, typically between 18 to 26 feet.

The engines can fully charge overnight and all that's needed is a 220-volt outlet _ a boating version of plug and play. Maintenance is far less than ICE engines because there are fewer moving parts.

The electric engines are noiseless, odorless and smokeless, so there's no more yelling at each other while onboard or leaving a layer of smoke in your wake.

Sales of the E-Motion 180 started in May with delivery expected later this year.

“It is so cool because nobody has gone to this comparable horsepower,” said Randy Trusedale, chief operating officer of SBX Marine, a Florida-based custom boat builder and brokerage company. “You see some of the electric motors, you might get one that says it's, you know, 50 to 70 horsepower equivalent, but nobody's done what we're doing with the new 180.”

Electric boating has been embraced by celebrities like Drake, Robert De Niro and Greta Thunberg, according to Vision Marine. Many tour operators have turned to electric boats, and so have cities for rental and water taxis.

Many waters have been designated marine protected areas _ 26% in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration _ which ban motorized boats. Many allow electric boats because they are cleaner and emit no sound.

“The only sound you'll hear is the water hitting the hull and people enjoying themselves,” Mongeon said.

And a lot more people have been enjoying themselves on the water during the pandemic.

According to National Marine Manufacturers Association, sales of powerboats were up 12% in 2020 with more than 310,000 new sales, the highest numbers since before the recession of 2008.

Boat rental companies have seen their numbers soar as well, including a 700% growth year-over-year growth for GetMyBoat, the world's largest boat rental company.

“In the rental cycle, it has become hugely popular because of the great activity for people who don't necessarily want to buy a boat, “ Trusedale said. ”You can kind of relate to what's going on with COVID and allowing people to get outside. Boats are kind of like the perfect tool for social distancing. “

The new era of electric boats, with the added power and limited environmental impact, are making it even more enjoyable.

A pandemic clothing purge is on as normal life resumes in US
By Leanne Italie
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP), Sept. 9 — Alina Clark is about as tired of her pandemic wardrobe as her comfort clothes are stretched and torn.

“I have four sets of jeans, seven shirts and five sweaters that I wear every week,” said Clark, co-founder of a software development company in Los Angeles. “They're everything I've worn in the last two years. Me and my wardrobe are suffering from COVID fatigue.”

A wardrobe purge is on for some as vaccinations have taken hold, restrictions have lifted, and offices reopen or finalize plans to do so. The primary beneficiaries: resale sites online and brick-and-mortar donation spots, continuing a trend that's been building for the last several years. At the resale site Poshmark, orders are up for handbags and work-worthy dresses when compared to last year. The same goes for blazers, suit jackets and heels.

Projections show the trend growing stronger. The secondhand clothing business is expected to more than double, from $36 billion to $77 billion in 2025, according to a recent report commissioned by the secondhand marketplace ThredUP and the research firm GlobalData.

The growth is driven by an influx of new sellers putting high-quality clothing into the market, said James Reinhart, co-founder and CEO of ThredUP. He estimates that nine billion clothing items that are hardly worn are sitting in shoppers' closets.

Even before COVID, buying and selling secondhand clothing was popular, but the pandemic made the appetite for thrift even more appealing. The post-pandemic shopper is more environmentally conscious and is showing a greater appetite for clothes that have good resale value, rather than disposable fast fashion, Reinhart said. People who haven't been able to wear most of the items in their closets for a year are more aware of waste and want to put their clothes back in circulation.

“There's a new mindset around clothing consumption,” Reinhart said. “It's not this buy, wear, throw out. There is this consciousness that happened during the pandemic where people were much more sensitive to this notion of waste.”

Maia DiDomenico's mother introduced her to ThredUp during the pandemic. A recent college graduate who began a new job working with kids on the autism spectrum, the 23-year-old in Cranford, New Jersey, purged some Athleta sportswear on the site and received $557.60 in Athleta gift cards in exchange. “It cleans your closet out quickly, and you have the chance to donate unwanted clothes,” she said.

For months, the 29-year-old Clark has had the urge to declutter her overflowing wardrobe, and she began piling up clothes for donation several weeks ago. But she'll be purchasing new clothes. She's looking for some “glitz and glamour” as her Zoom life soon ends and physical get-togethers have begun.

Consumers are purging more than their worn-out pandemic wear. At the luxury resale site TheRealReal, with more than 22 million members, the total value of pre-owned goods sold this year through May was about $239 million, up by 53 percent from the same period in 2019, according to a company report.

Some are taking the opportunity to reinvent their personal style, said Jessica Richards, a trend forecaster and fashion director for the Accessories Council, a nonprofit trade group.

“We saw a lot of consumers abandon their mindless shopping habits and instead focus on investment dressing. Less of being `sick' of their pandemic wardrobes but more wondering why they might own as much or what is the breadth of their closet,” she said. “It's now about streamlining and zeroing in on what their desired personal style image should be.”

Not everybody is looking to abandon their COVID style, however. In Lynchburg, Virginia, 33-year-old Cameron Howe is ready to burn just about everything she has worn during the pandemic — except her impressive legging collection — as she transitions from a school career.

“I bought 15 to 20 plus pairs of leggings,” she said. “In a few weeks, I'll start a new career as a project manager for a local nonprofit. I plan on wearing leggings to work. Thankfully, both my past and new employer are legging-friendly. I don't really want to wear real pants again. I developed an absolute love of leggings during the pandemic.”

Among those benefiting from the pandemic reawakening in clothes are dry cleaners. Tom Ryan, vice president of franchising for CD One Price Cleaners, with 34 locations in the Chicago area, said they've been seeing an upward turn in dry-cleaning customers after a plunge of 80% during the pandemic.

“In March, we started making progress again given the vaccine distribution,” he said. “As more people go back to work, we're finally starting to see more people bringing their in-office clothes back for professional cleaning. Still, we expect post-pandemic attire and fashion trends to be different going forward with more people in the office less often.” Ryan expects business casual to be more the new normal, swapping out button-up shirts for more polo-style wear.

While piles of pandemic clothes are going to churches, donation boxes, and online thrift and resale sites, some people are keeping them in the family. Samantina Zeon, like many, has gained weight during the pandemic. She has plenty of great clothes she can no longer fit into, so she plans to send the stylish ones to a cousin in Haiti in a 77-gallon blue barrel.

“It's something many people that have families in different countries do. I have done it before to send food,” said the 31-year-old Zeon, in Queens, New York. “She plans on reselling them in her neighborhood for extra cash.”
_
Associated Press retail writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.

EARTHTALK

Is Off-Earth manufacturing an environmental panacea or scourge?
By Renee Jiang

Dear EarthTalk: Is so-called “Off-Earth Manufacturing” really the environmental panacea that Jeff Bezos and other proponents say it is?
— M. Traney, Smithfield, Rhode Island

In July 2021, Richard Branson rocketed into suborbital space aboard a craft he helped fund, launching a new era of commercial space travel. About a week later, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos flew into space on his own Blue Origin rocket. Both rockets emitted plumes of white smoke and tons of kerosene, releasing more greenhouse gases in a few minutes than a typical car would over two centuries. These rockets also emitted black carbon — or soot — into upper layers of the atmosphere, contaminating the air for years to come.

Space companies counter environmental concerns about space flight with promises to construct greener spacecrafts and to transform space into the newest global economic powerhouse. “We need to take all heavy industry, all polluting industry, and move it into space and keep Earth as this beautiful gem of a planet that it is,” Bezos said after returning from his trip. Bezos’s vision, otherwise known as “Off-Earth manufacturing,” centers around the transition of planet-exploitative industries into space.

Many materials extracted on Earth are also available in space. Celestial bodies like asteroids and the Moon contain water and water-derived propellants that can be used for in-space infrastructure. With the global mining industry tumbling from a market value of over $1.6 trillion in 2010 to $656 billion in 2020, space resources appear as realistic alternatives for mining. A report by Goldman Sachs says, asteroid mining has costs “comparable to traditional mines.”

“Off-Earth manufacturing” does drive energy and mining industries away from exploiting the finite resources on Earth, but the construction of such complex systems in space poses many challenges. Apart from the huge expense of launching materials into space, architects familiar with normal conventions of physics will be forced into a foreign field of designing for zero-gravity spaces. Additionally, large amounts of materials need to be produced and transported that are incredibly durable, able to withstand extreme temperatures, and that transmit information without loss.

The road to space commercialization is long and arduous, but the launching of SpaceX and Blue Origin rockets is a key stepping stone. As expenses of space travel continue to decrease, interest and investments in the global space industry will only increase. Bezos has already announced he is spending $1 billion every year on Blue Origin. Venture capital firms are pouring money into space startups. According to recent data from Space Capital, almost $38 billion has gone to space infrastructure companies over the past decade. On a wider scale, the global space industry is expected to generate over $1.1 trillion by 2040 in a report by Morgan Stanley, up from the $447 billion in a 2020 report by the Space Foundation.

Will time tell if Off-Earth manufacturing can help ease environmental pressures down here on our own planet? One has to wonder why we are so concerned with moving our polluting industries off-planet when we could concentrate instead on cleaning them up down here or eliminating them entirely.

EarthTalk is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit EarthTalk. See more at https://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https//earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

Park It
By Ned MacKay

At least astronomically, autumn began September 22. So, the days are shorter, the air is cooler, the leaves are turning – and the tarantulas are out looking for love. Every year at about this time, male tarantulas venture forth in search of females for purposes of procreation. The females await in their silk-lined burrows.

When an acceptable male shows up, the two will mate. Afterwards, the female will sometimes kill him, though this is infrequent. Even if he survives, he will die soon after. In contrast, female tarantulas can live for years and produce many offspring.

Tarantulas are not aggressive creatures. They can inflict a bite, which is similar to a bee sting. It’s venomous, but not enough to harm humans. And they generally won’t bite unless threatened. They also have hairs tipped with an irritant, which they can project onto attackers using their front legs.

The spiders’ archenemy is the tarantula hawk, a variety of wasp. The wasp delivers a paralyzing sting, drags the still-living tarantula into a burrow, and lays eggs on its body. When the wasp larvae hatch, they feed on the helpless spider. It isn’t easy being furry with eight legs.

Another common spider looks a lot like a tarantula, and has a similar life cycle, but lives in damper habitats. It’s the Calisoga, sometimes called the false tarantula or velveteen tarantula.

If you want to see a male tarantula in the wild, Fairy Lantern Trail at Diablo Foothills Regional Park is said to be a good bet. But the real hotbed of tarantula activity seems to be the Mitchell Canyon area of Mt. Diablo State Park.

If you do see a tarantula in the wild, please leave it alone. Just observe from a distance and wish it success in its quest for love.

A sure way to see a tarantula is to stop by the visitor center at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore. The center is currently open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Harry is the spider-in-residence there.

Del Valle is located at the end of Del Valle Road off Mines Road about nine miles south of town.

If looking for spiders isn’t your thing, consider a quest for the oldest redwood in the East Bay.

Naturalist Michael Charnofsky will lead a five-mile hike from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 starting at Canyon Oaks Drive Staging Area of Leona Canyon Regional Open Space in Oakland.

The hike traverses wooded stream-carved canyons, culminating with a view of the last old-growth redwood in the area. Michael will talk about the importance of redwoods and explain why this one was never cut down for lumber.

The hike is free and registration is not required. Canyon Oaks Drive Staging Area is off Keller Avenue up the hill from I-580. For information, call (510) 544-3187.

Migratory birds of the fall season are the theme of a program from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 2 at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. Naturalist Christina Garcia will lead an exploration of the historic farm’s gardens, forests and fields in search of the many variety of birds that stop by on their way south.

Then from 11 a.m. to noon the same day, it’s open house time at Ardenwood’s “Chick Inn.” Learn all about the birds that are our major food source.

After that, you can give stilts a try during a program from noon to 1 p.m. Stilts weren’t just toys; farmers used them for workaday purposes in the past.

All three of these programs are free of charge and registration is not required. There’s no admission fee for the migratory bird program; admission fees apply for the other two. Parking is free.

Ardenwood is at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard just north of Highway 84. For information call (510) 544-2797.

News and notes from around the world
Submitted by The Association of Mature American Citizens

A little spite
A quirky little — really little — house in Boston with a history that goes back to the Civil War was sold to the highest bidder for $1.25 million recently, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. How little is it? At its widest point, the house measures 10 feet, four inches. The four-story structure is the epitome of perpendicular living, featuring two bedrooms, one bathroom, a very cozy kitchen, a great backyard and a nifty roof deck with a view of Boston Harbor. The house is kind of a landmark in Boston; it’s known as the “Spite House.” It is said that two brothers inherited a sizeable parcel of land during the Civil War. One of them served in the war and when he returned home, he found that his brother had used up the lion’s share of the property to build his house. Legend has it that he took his revenge by spitefully building his own “Skinny House” on the land that was left in such a fashion as to block his greedy brother’s sunlight and view.

Sweet dreams
Next time you and the family visit England, you may want to book a stay at the Winnie-the-Pooh Cottage — designed by Disney “imaginer” Kim Raymond, suggests AMAC. Who better to bring Pooh’s cartoon cottage to life than the guy who’s been drawing the Winnie sketches for three decades? The $130 overnight visit comes with a guided outing in the Hundred Acre Wood and a chance for you and your kids to play “Poohsticks.” It’s an easy enough game; just drop sticks into the stream while crossing the Poohstick Bridge. The getaway has all the fantastical Disney elements you could ask for. You can book your visit with Disney’s Airbnb partner. Video of the house is posted on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoGXdLqrezA.

Frankenstein book sells big
The auctioneers at Christie’s were expecting an 1818 first edition of Mary Shelley’s classically scary three-book novel, Frankenstein, would fetch about $300,000 but frantic bidding boosted the winning bid to $1.17 million, reports AMAC. Fine Books Magazine says it’s a new world record for a book authored by a woman. When the book was first published, just 500 copies were printed.

— 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.
Real Estate Notebook – Homebuyers take a breath, adjust to hot market
By David Stark, Bay East Association of REALTORS

Record-setting sales prices and homes on the market for days, rather than weeks, aren’t scaring off homebuyers.

“Buyers aren’t sensing the urgency that they previously did,” said Frank Quismorio, a Fremont resident, REALTOR®, and President of Tri-Cities Marketing Group. This group of real estate professionals have met on a regular basis for years. In the Spring of 2020, they switched to a virtual format which allowed them to maintain their professional contacts and support each other as the real estate profession evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quismorio continued, “Buyers are waiting and feeling like they have a bit more time to make a choice compared with the beginning of this year or even just a few months ago.”

Historically, real estate activity slows during the late summer and early fall before significantly tapering during the holidays in November and December. Quismorio said buyers’ more relaxed perspective isn’t a result of the traditional real estate seasons. “I don’t think it has to do with what month we’re in, I do think the market is just changing.”

Referring to Tri-Cities real estate markets specifically, he said, “Inventory is becoming a bit more plentiful, not to the degree it used to be, but there is a bit more inventory.”

He said that both homebuyers and sellers are entering the market when it makes sense for them and not based on school being in session or the holiday seasons. “I would have said real estate is seasonal pre-pandemic, but I don’t think that applies anymore.”

While buyers in the Tri-Cities area may feel there are a few more choices, they are still confronted with median sales prices well into the million-dollar range.

Quismorio said homebuyer understanding of the high price tag for homeownership has evolved. “Buyers in the Tri-Cities realize that prices have gone up. They used to have to offer at least $10,000 over asking price. Now they think they can make an offer that’s closer to the listed price and still have a chance to get a home.”

When asked if sellers have absolute control, he said, “I think we’re coming to a more balanced market. Sellers are realizing they need to set prices closer to what the comparable sales are at.”

World’s longest cave system adds eight miles
Associated Press

CAVE CITY, Ky. (AP), Sept. 15 — The world's longest cave system has added 8 miles to its length, officials said.

The additional mileage was mapped and documented by the Cave Research Foundation, Mammoth Cave National Park said in a statement on Sept. 11. It brings the total length of the cave system in south-central Kentucky to 420 miles, officials said.

The announcement highlighted the park's recognition of National Day of Service and its longtime partnership with the nonprofit foundation. Volunteers with the foundation have worked with the park for decades to map and document Mammoth Cave. “The Cave Research Foundation is fundamentally the reason that Mammoth Cave is recognized as the world's longest cave,” said Rick Toomey, the park's cave resource management specialist.

NASA confirms Mars rover’s first rock sample
By Marcia Dunn
Associated Press Aerospace Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP), Sept. 7 — NASA's newest Mars rover has completed its first sample grab, tucking away the tube of rock for return to Earth.

The Perseverance rover team confirmed last week's successful drilling and collection, after reviewing photos of the core sample. NASA wanted to be certain the sample was safe inside the titanium tube, before sharing the news Monday.

During Perseverance's first sampling attempt in early August, the unexpectedly soft rock crumbled. Flight controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, sought out harder rock for the second try.

Perseverance arrived in February at Mars' Jezero Crater — a former lakebed and river delta — in search of rocks that could contain evidence of past Martian life. Future spacecraft will collect the specimens and deliver them to Earth a decade from now. The rover has more than 40 sample tubes.

Susan B. Anthony photo, found in attic, now going to auction
Associated Press

GENEVA, N.Y. (AP), August 17 – A rare framed photograph of Susan B. Anthony is being auctioned with a starting price of $5,000.

The 20-by-16-inch (51-by-41-centimeter) photo was found in a concealed attic space in a building in Geneva, New York, after the property was sold in December.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that David Whitcomb, an attorney and now owner of the building, has worked with an antiques dealer to bring some 350 items that he discovered in the attic, including the historic photograph of Anthony, to auction.

The photo was taken by Geneva photographer James Ellery Hale in 1905, just months before Anthony's death. It was selected by the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Association as her official photograph. This framed copy is thought to be one of four that exist, according to the auction listing.

A second version of the photograph that is not framed is also being auctioned, as well as several photos of the suffragist Elizabeth Smith Miller and other people.

After purchasing the property, Whitcomb noticed water damage in the ceiling on the third floor and soon realized that above it was a trove of objects that had been sealed by a drop ceiling and abandoned for decades, the newspaper reported in February.

“At that moment in time, the decision was made to simply leave what almost amounts to a full photographic studio up there and just seal it shut,” Whitcomb said. “It's mind boggling.”

One Source Auctions of Canandaigua will hold the auction Sept. 18, along with an open house the night before. Aaron Kirvan, of the auction house, estimated the found collection could bring in around $100,000 but said it was difficult to know because some of the items are one of a kind.

Anthony was a leader of the campaign for women's suffrage, writing the text of what became the 19th Amendment when it was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote.

New fossils at Children’s Natural History Museum
Submitted by Joyce Blueford

Evolution of the horse has always been subject of debate. It was once thought to be a gradual evolution changing from toes to hooves. Horses are found in the early Cenozoic Era; they were small with toes. They evolved into the horse that we see today. However, in the West, they were thought to have gone extinct 5,000 years ago. Where did they go?

A new display at the Children’s Natural History Museum emphasizes the horses that once roamed San Francisco Bay area during the late Pleistocene Epoch. 150 specimens were collected from the Facebook Menlo Park Campus at 300 Constitution Drive. Fossils were found .75-1.2 meters below grade in San Francisco Bay mud.

Bone fragment specimens were noted by the construction crew in the bucket of an excavator. The crew stopped work immediately when the bones were found; nevertheless, the area had been disturbed, and the exact location and extent of the site cannot be determined.

Horse was the dominant specie found, along with bison, musk ox, deer and elk. Likely, all the fossils were from the late Pleistocene. Many of the specimens belonged to juvenile individuals. These bones often separate along growth surfaces, and others were damaged by excavation equipment. When possible, these pieces were restored by cementing separate parts back together.

The Children’s Natural History Museum will be open on Saturdays from October 2 – 23 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This will be the center’s first opening since the pandemic. Children will get a special discovery kit to help observe the exhibit, and can participate in a scavenger hunt to earn a prize.

There is a $10 entrance donation to see the exhibit with a guided tour. (Children under two enter for free.) All funds support the future of the museum. Maximum number of registrations is 50; masks are required inside the museum.

Pre-registration is required. https://msnucleus.org/classes/CNHM_2021_exhibit.html.

New Ice Age Fossils Fundraiser
Saturdays, Oct 2 – 23
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Children’s Natural History Museum
4074 Eggers Dr., Fremont
(510) 790-6284
msn@msnucleus.org
http://msnucleus.org

Joketoberfest kicks off comedy lineup
Submitted by Karin Richey

Plethos Productions presents their 4th annual Joketoberfest stand-up comedy show on Saturday, October 2 at Castro Valley Marketplace. Host Priya Guyadeen will kick off the night featuring comics seen on stages throughout the Bay Area – and beyond.

Featured comics are Lalita Dee, Melissa McGillicuddy and Arturo Raygoza. The night will be headlined by World Series of Comedy winner Ira Summer. The event will also feature food and drinks provided by Night Owl bar with a selection of craft beer on tap as well as Bavarian pretzels to ring in October. Tickets are $15 and going fast at plethos.org.

Note: For COVID safety, all performers are vaccinated, audience members will be required to wear masks when not eating or drinking; all tables will be social-distanced.

COMING SOON: Starting November 4, 2021 Plethos Productions will host a lineup of up-and-coming comics every first Thursday at Castro Valley Marketplace. Early bird tickets tor the monthly show, called Plethos Comedy Lab will be just $5 in advance, General admission: $10 Information and ticket purchase at: plethos.org.

Joketoberfest
Saturday, October 2
8 p.m.
Castro Valley Marketplace
3295 Castro Valley Blvd., Castro Valley
plethos.org

Pirates return with walk-thru theme park
Submitted by Pirates of Emerson

Pirates are sailing back into the Bay! After switching to a drive-thru attraction for 2020, brave guests can again walk the elaborate sets of the Pirates of Emerson haunted theme park and celebrate 30 years of Halloween scares.

For those brave enough, Dorm of Doom, Hillbilly Holler, Maze Haze and the Mystery Mansion await. This is a major scare attraction so be forewarned that once inside the lair of the Pirates of Emerson, reality of the outside world fades from view and a truly frightening experience surrounds visitors of all ages. If too scared to continue your journey, there are no refunds… remember that you asked for it and the Pirates will deliver!

To follow safety guidelines, capacity is limited (purchase your tickets early), lines are wider to accommodate social distancing, and individual rooms are larger. All employees are vaccinated. For those planning to attend during the last week of October, be aware that the Alameda County Fair will be going on at the same time, and traffic into the parking lot will be higher.

ALL TICKET SALES ARE ON-LINE
(On-site tickets are NOT available)

• General admission: $36.50
• Speed pass: $56.50 (shorter lines)
• VIP: $76.50 (shorter lines, multiple haunt entries)
• Landlubber: $10 (compound only)

Pirates of Emerson
Thursday, Sept 30 – Sunday, Oct 31
Thurs; 7:05 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun; 7:05 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Hours extended to 12 a.m. 10/23, 10/29, 10/30
Alameda County Fairgrounds
(Corner of Bernal & Valley Ave)

Fremont City Council
September 21, 2021

Consent Calendar:
• Second amendment for administrative services for Lighting and Landscaping District 88. PASSED 5-0-2 (Recuse: Mei, Salwan)
• Approve partial release of Faithful Performance Bond in the amount of $8,666,000 posted by Toll CA XX, L.P.
• Accept and appropriate $185,995 Firefighters Grant Funds for Wellness and Fitness Program.

Public Communications:
• Disappointment with Paseo Padre Parkway design decision from previous council meeting.

Items Removed from Consent Calendar:
• Authorize annual operating expenses for use of the Public Safety Radio Communications System.

Scheduled Items:
• Public Hearing of 2021 Redistricting Process (first of four hearings).

Mayor Lily Mei Aye, 1 recusal
Vice Mayor Yang Shao, District 4 Aye
Teresa Keng, District 1 Aye
Rick Jones, District 2 Aye
Jenny Kassan, District 3 Aye
Raj Salwan, District 5 Aye, 1 recusal
Teresa Cox, District 6 Aye

Milpitas City Council
September 21, 2021

Proclamation:
• September was proclaimed as Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.

Consent Calendar:
• Authorized the procurement of Vectra Cybersecurity Threat Detection Hardware and Service.
• Amended the Milpitas Municipal Code Relating to Purchases Made by Departments.
• Authorized the execution of the Improvement Agreement between the City of Milpitas and Stratford Schools, Inc.
• Authorized the execution of an amendment with CivicPlus LLC for SeeClickFix subscription, training, and Apple/Android Apps.
• Authorized the execution of the five-year Professional Services Agreement with Echologics LLC for Pipeline Condition Assessment.
• Authorized the execution of amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with WeHOPE for 52 additional mobile shower and laundry sessions of services.
• Received the June 2021 report for unhoused services.
• Authorized the execution of the master funding agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the Priority Development Area Planning Grant Program and the professional services agreement with Ascent Environmental for consultant services related to preparation of the Main Street/Gateway Specific Plan Update.

Public Hearing:
• Following a Public Hearing approved the draft FY 2020-2021 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)’s Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER); and authorized making any necessary changes and to submit the approved draft FY 2020-2021 CAPER to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to comply with CDBG requirements.

Community Development:
• Received presentations from staff and the applicant, and received public comments about Goals and Policies in Milpitas General Plan that call for preparation of a specific plan in the California Circle area. Decided to continue with the planning activities. Vote: Aye 4 (Tran, Montano, Dominguez, Chua), Nay 1 (Phan)

Leadership and Support Services:
• Reviewed the FY 2020-21 Quarterly Financial Status Report for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2021. Provided direction on fund balance allocation. Approved budget amendment recommendations.
• Received a report on the proposed project proposal for moderate income housing at Turing Apartments through a California Statewide Communities Development Authority program. Decision on the approval was postponed until October 19th meeting of the Council, pending the availability of further information about the proposal during the interim period. Vote: Aye 4 (Tran, Montano, Phan, Chua), Nay 1 (Dominguez)

Rich Tran (Mayor) Aye
Carmen Montano (Vice Mayor) Aye
Anthony Phan Aye Nay 1
Karina Dominguez Aye Nay 1
Evelyn Chua Aye
San Leandro City Council
September 20, 2021

Recognitions:
• Commendation from Mayor Cutter to the Gordon Family for their service to the community.
• Resolution appointing Brian Crowell as District 5 representative to the Senior Commission for term ending December 31, 2022.

Public Comments:
• Concern about a decision in the July 19 City Council meeting about limiting public comments to save time in future meetings.
• In the interest of public safety, instead of chasing vehicles suspected in crimes through city streets, police should use alternatives such as spike strips or blockades.
• A plan to station police officers near San Leandro High School is making some students uncomfortable.
• An inquiry about possible plans to allow cannabis growth in the city.

Public Hearing:
• Staff report and City Council resolution to approve the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Motion adopted.

Consent Calendar:
• Approve minutes from the September 7 and July 19 City Council meetings, and the July 12 adjourned City Council meeting.
• Approve minutes from the June 1, May 4 and April 6 Finance Committee meetings.
• Resolution to approve a second amendment to an Installation agreement with Climatec, LLC for design and construction of energy-efficiency and resiliency projects at the Water Pollution Control Plant to increase the compensation by $715,445 for a total cost of $8,761,226; and to approve moving the funds from the Water Pollution Control Plant Fund Balance.
• Resolution accepting the City Council Investment Report for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• Resolution approving Amendment No. 5 to a non-professional services agreement with Rubicon Landscape Corporation for citywide turf maintenance for $165,062.18 for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.
• Ordinance approving the first amendment to the development agreement for a residential development project located at 2436 Washington Avenue — 2450 Washington Avenue Development Project.
• Resolution to approve a non-professional services agreement with Watson Consoles to obtain and install 911 dispatch consoles in the amount of $92,208 for the Police Building and South Office modifications project.
• Ordinance adding a chapter to the MHP Mobile Home Park Overlay District, and amending another chapter on Mobile Home Park Conversions, in the San Leandro Zoning Code, and amending the San Leandro Zoning Map.

Action Item:
• Staff report and resolution to remove from the table the second reading of an ordinance amending the zoning code, zoning map, and municipal code to implement the 2018 Bay Fair transit-oriented development specific plan (Introduced December 7, 2020). Motion adopted.

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

Union City City Council
September 14, 2021

Proclamations and presentations:
•Youth Commission Tobacco Control Recommendation

Consent Calendar:
• Approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting held on Aug. 10, 2021.
• Adopt a resolution to direct voting delegates in support of Online Sales Tax Equity Resolution at the 2021 Cal Cities Annual Conference.
• Authorize a fifth amendment to the consulting services agreement with 4Leaf, Inc., to increase the not to exceed amount from $1,050,000 to $1,500,000 for building division support.
• Adopt a resolution accepting the comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.
• Adopt a resolution declaring a certain vehicle as surplus.
• Adopt a resolution accepting improvements for the Ruggieri Senior Center shower repairs project.
• Adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Classification Plan and adopting a side letter between the City of Union City and Service Employees International Union to reclassify the position of Administrative Assistant III to the newly titled Transit Coordinator and approving an amendment to the city’s Compensation Plan and Salary Schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations.

City Manager Reports:
• Informational report on implementation of programs and policy required to comply with the short-lived Climate Pollutants Act.
• Receive the 2020 Rent Ordinances Annual Report, and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Council to update the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 master fee schedule to reduce the annual rent review ordinance fee.

Mayor Carol Dutra-Vernaci Aye
Vice Mayor Pat Gacoscos Aye
Emily Duncan Aye
Jaime Patiño Aye
Gary Singh Aye

Ways to maximize bathroom storage
By Anna Jacoby

It’s a rare day when a client tells me they have plenty of storage in their bathroom and that more is not needed. On the contrary, I’d say the number one request is to “maximize storage.” Fortunately, there are many ways to do just that, even in a small bathroom. Here are some ideas:

Custom cabinetry

Custom cabinetry, which I use in 99% of my design projects, allows me to create very specialized solutions to storage problems. With custom cabinets, I can:

1. Create “tower” cabinets in between two sinks, or on each side of the sink area. I design mine to be 8” deep so that there is still room on the countertop. I sometimes mount my towers to the wall, and sometimes let them sit on the countertop, depending on the needs of the clients. When cabinets sit on the counter, I often have electrical outlets installed in the base of the tower, a very convenient location.
2. Create tall linen cabinets on one side of the vanity, or in an alcove where a small shower is removed.
3. Create cabinets to fit into tight spaces. In one bath, I designed a shallow cabinet between the shower and free-standing tub, providing lots of new space for toiletries bought in bulk.
4. Create wall-to-wall cabinets for toilet alcoves, making the most of that space.
5. Create recessed cabinets in between the wall studs—I do this often, behind the bathroom door. While these cabinets are not deep (about 3” on the interior, like a medicine cabinet), I can make them almost as tall as I want, providing lots of storage for small items like medicines, vitamins, shaving cream, extra shampoos— anything you would put into a regular medicine cabinet.
6. Install specialty inserts into cabinets, such as pull-out hampers, or holders for hair dryers, or tilt trays just under the sink for toothpaste and other small items. The pull-out hamper is a popular feature, as it eliminates the need for a hamper taking up floor space, yet keeps it in a very handy location. In large bathrooms, I can specify the same types of cabinet inserts found in kitchens—“Lazy Susans,” blind corner organizers, and more.

Ready-made solutions

In the world of ready-made items, there are many options available also. One of my favorite items is a replacement medicine cabinet that looks like a framed piece of art. “Concealed Cabinets”, as they are called, can go on the wall next to the sink, like a regular medicine cabinet, of course, but I also often install them above towel bars, for a little extra storage. Instead of hanging a framed print, you can eke out a little extra space. This is particularly helpful when you have two or more people sharing a bathroom—each person can have their own wall cabinet. You can see these at www.concealedcabinets.com.

Ready-made wall cabinets in many design styles and colors can be installed above a toilet as well. I use these if I don’t need the cabinet to be a specific size, or if I don’t need it to match the vanity, or if the price of custom is out of reach.

Re-think the bathroom layout

In many older homes, there might be a separate tub and very small stand-up shower. If you have a situation like this, I suggest removing the narrow shower altogether, creating either a large walk-in shower in the tub space, or a tub/shower combination. If you do this, then you’ll have a great spot to install a linen closet, extra cabinets, or a make-up area.

Sometimes a bathroom has two sinks, where one sink is sufficient; the benefit of one sink over two is that you can get more counter space and also more storage in the cabinet. I always ask my clients if they really need two sinks, and often the answer is that they would rather have the extra storage.

In one recent project, there was a small clothes closet just outside the bathroom. We took over that closet space, using it instead for a large vanity. We then turned the former small vanity into a makeup area.

With resourcefulness and creativity, you can maximize the storage in any bath.

IAD092821

CONTINUING EVENTS:

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

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

Third Thursday each month
Chronic Pain Support Group
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Request link: njordan@fremont.gov

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.
Join resident astronomers live from Chabot’s observation deck
Free on Facebook Live
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

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

Monday – Saturday, September 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

Mondays and Wednesdays, September 20 – November 8
Become a Trained Music Volunteer
9:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Support the Music for Minors II by helping students
https://tinyurl.com/y3bptw5r

Tuesday – Sunday, October 9 – February 13
Color into Line: Pastels from the Renaissance to the Present
9:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
More than 80 works spanning five centuries
Legion of Honor
100 34th Ave., San Francisco
Legionofhonor.org

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

Second Thursdays, September 9 – June 9
Cafe Dad
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Hayward Unified School District program for fathers to support each other and obtain resources
Virtual meetings via Zoom
https://husd-us.zoom.us/j/91644497730
For more information contact: ep101@husd.k12.ca.us

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/

Thursday – Saturday, September 25 – October 9
Art On The Rebound
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
In person art exhibit by A.R.T. Inc.
Adobe Gallery
20395 San Miguel Ave, Castro Valley
www.artinc.org

Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 31
Bay Day Challenge R
Explore 25 miles of SF Bay Trails, or choose 5 activities
Sign up online, complete remotely

Second Saturdays, July – December
Talkin’ Dirt
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

Saturdays, October 2 – 23
New Ice Age Fossils Fundraiser $R
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Fossils found only a few feet under San Francisco Bay mud help us understand horse evolution.
Children’s Natural History Museum
4074 Eggers Dr., Fremont
(510) 790-6284
msn@msnucleus.org
http://msnucleus.org

Saturday & Sunday, October 2 – October 10
Ballet Folklorico Dia De Los Muertos $R
Saturday, Oct 2: 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct 3: 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct 9: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Oct 10: 2 p.m.
Performances from Ballet Folklorico Mexico Danza and Ballet Folklorico Mexicano De Carlos Moreno
San Leandro Performing Arts Center
2250 Bancroft Ave., San Leandro
https://www.sanleandroperformingartscenter.com/events

Sunday, September 20 – Thursday, November 18
Affection for Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Calligraphy work from the Oriental Art Association
John O’Lague Galleria, Hayward City Hall
777 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-2787
www.haywardartscouncil.org

Sundays, September 26 – December 5
Reflections of Light
12 Noon – 3 p.m.
Grand Opening for Public
Sunday, September 26
Artists use various media to portray reflected and refracted light
Dove Gallery, Park Victoria Church back lot
875 S. Park Victoria Dr., Milpitas
Dove@ParkVictoria.org

UPCOMING

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
The Drought and Your Water Supply R
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Conversation with the Alameda County Water District
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3nElEw5
www.lwvfnuc.org

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
Healthy Living Festival
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Free drive-through vaccinations for seniors 55+. Includes zoo pass/parking
Oakland Zoo
9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland
https://www.oaklandzoo.org/programs-and-events/pop-up-covid-19-vaccination-clinic

Friday, October 1
Public Safety Night at Fremont Street Eats
5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fremont Police officers and staff answer public safety questions and discuss neighborhood concerns
Fremont Main Library
2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont
FremontStreetEats.com

Friday, October 1
India Community Center 18th Annual Virtual Fundraising Banquet
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Music, auctions
RSVP: tinyurl.com/5a2fuw45

Friday, October 1
SAVE Virtual Open House
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Meet staff and hear about our programs
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/2XThSog

Friday, October 1
2030 or Bust
1 p.m.
Join Laughlin Artz on his skateboard to help raise awareness of the climate crisis
Joe’s Corner
37713 Niles Blvd, Niles
2030orbust.org/tour/

Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 3
Indigenous Peoples Days
Fri. 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dances by various tribes, vendors, painting
Garden at the Flea
1590 Berryessa Rd., San Jose
www.tochtliwear.com
www.gardenattheflea.com

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

Sunday, October 3
Book Signing Maddy and Mia: TriPaw Tales
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Flashlight Books
1537 N. Main St., Walnut Creek
(925) 278-1797

Sunday, October 3
2030 or Bust
1 p.m.
Join Laughlin Artz on his skateboard to help raise awareness of the climate crisis
Joe’s Corner
37713 Niles Blvd, Niles
2030orbust.org/tour/

Monday, October 4
Milpitas Rotary
12 noon
Kurt Krukenberg, Director Humane Society Silicon Valley
Via Zoom: https://bit.ly/364zWgd
Meeting ID: 830 1305 6992
Passcode: 113524

Wednesday, October 6
Fremont Art Association General Meeting and Demo Artist
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Guest artist demonstrates fusion of traditional and digital art
Via Zoom, link provided upon registration
https://www.fremontartassociation.org/monthlymeetinganddemo

Thursday, October 7
Online Marketing
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Learn how to market your products/services on the web. Free webinar by the SBDC
https://nc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48659

Friday, October 8 – Saturday, October 9
Flash Fiction Poetry Contest 2021
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Read community submissions and vote for your favorites!
Half Price Books
39152 Fremont Hub, Fremont
For submission & event details:
www.fremontculturalsrtscouncil.org

Saturday, October 9
Impressionist Women and Pastels: A Conversation with Laura D. Corey
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Limited seating, first-come, first-served
John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Theater
Legion of Honor Museum
100 34th Ave, San Francisco
https://bit.ly/3zCw7dU

Saturday, October 9
Mission San Jose Rotary Foundation Fundraiser $R
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Taste an exquisite selection of specialty wines, cheese, and charcuterie from around the globe
Held outside at a private residence in Mission San Jose
RSVP to msjrotaryfundraiser@gmail.com
For more info contact John A. Schinkel: (510) 468-7382

Saturday, October 9 – Sunday, October 10
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

Saturday, October 9 – Sunday, October 10
Celebrate! An Evening of Favorite Operatic Ensembles $
Sat.: 8 p.m.
Sun.: 2 p.m.
Fan-favorite operatic ensembles with a big cast of well-known singers
Bankhead Theater
2400 First St., Livermore
(925) 373-6800
www.LVOpera.com

Tuesday, October 12
Candle Light Vigil
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hosted by SAVE to honor National Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month
Fremont City Hall
3300 Capitol Ave., Fremont
https://bit.ly/39v3W64

Tuesday, October 12
Mexican Sugar Skull Art Class $
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Local artist Diego Marcial Rios hosts
Imaginook
39675 Cedar Blvd, Suite 135, Newark
(510) 358-5877
https://www.imaginook.us/sugar-skull-decoration

Tuesday, October 12
A Symphony of Flavors Fundraiser $
Support the Fremont Symphony when you order dine-in or take-out
Strizzis
2740 Mowry Ave., Fremont
(510) 797-9000
www.strizzis.com

Wednesday, October 13
Passport to Paradise $R
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Davis Street annual gala
Sequoyah Country Club
4550 Heafey Rd., Oakland
https://davisstreet.org/event/passport-to-paradise-2021-annual-gala/

Letter to the editor

Historical Japanese garden in California: wheelchair accessibility and more

With fall approaching, schools in the Tri-City area are back in full swing. Covid-19 cases are also going down for vaccinated people. Even though more and more are getting vaccinated, we still have to take all the necessary precautions so that we protect others as well as ourselves. Parks, recreation areas, and picnic spots have reopened. As we have a wheelchair user in the family, we can now visit wheelchair-friendly places more freely and take a quick stroll. As we are always looking for new places to visit, we were surprised to discover this hidden gem in Hayward…the Japanese garden.

This is a beautiful, quaint, and wheelchair-accessible garden located next to the Hayward senior center. The garden design is based on Japanese principles. The entrance is a little Shinto gate, and once you are inside it’s absolutely gorgeous. This is one of the oldest Japanese gardens in California. The garden has different types of ornamental plants which are well sculpted and arranged densely along the pathways. Those cozy pathways make the place very private, and they are completely wheelchair accessible.

There are several covered gazebos with ample seating and nice views overlooking the pond. Beautiful rock arrangements make a perfect seat for couples. There is a little waterfall in the center of the garden where you can see koi and turtles. The garden is clean and well maintained. The wooden bridge makes a nice backdrop for the pictures. This is a beautiful place for a quick stroll away from the hustle-bustle of the city. There are no entry fees that cover maintenance, so it is our duty to do our part and keep it clean.

Wheelchair accessibility:
• The paved pathway is completely wheelchair accessible.
• The gazebos and wooden bridge are not wheelchair accessible.
• Parking for the gardens is shared with the senior center, with a large accessible parking lot.
• There is additional ADA parking at De Anza Park on North 3rd street, a short walk from the garden.
• There is a senior center as you enter the gardens which has ADA restrooms. The garden itself has no restrooms.

Covid-19 precautions:
• Covid-19 restrictions are eased now with the reopening of many recreational activities. However, it is essential to keep social distancing and safety procedures in mind.
• Always wear your face mask in public places.
• Avoid crowded areas.
• While walking or running, keep a distance of 6 feet.
• Wipe your crutch or mobility scooter handle, or wheelchair wheels when you return home.

Twesha Ghosh
Fremont

Honor Roll

Seton Hall University, New Jersey
Spring 2021 Dean’s List
• Xupeng Yang of Castro Valley

Climate Activist Skateboards the USA to Bust the Climate Trance
Submitted by 2030 or Bust

Brooklyn, NY: Pumped from his pre-pandemic 400-mile skate from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, Brooklyn-based climate activist, performance artist and author Laughlin Artz is skateboarding the USA. The “Skate of the Union” tour is presented by 2030 or Bust, the world’s biggest and baddest citizen engagement campaign in history – empowering humanity to END the climate crisis.

We’re on the fast track for a catastrophic future. If not only our actions, but our consciousness doesn’t dramatically alter in the very near future, it will be too late to alter our course. Laughlin is skating to spread that awareness, to wake people from the trance that the power to end the crisis lies with the government or scientists or the UN or some other institution, and to rally humanity around this decade as our make-it-or-break-it window to bridge the critical 2030 emissions gap. This is our last window and when it closes it won’t reopen.

The 2030 or Bust team, in partnership with scientists, civil society activists, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF and NGO partners, has developed the science, models and action scenarios that make ending the climate crisis possible through the actions of individuals. A breakthrough for humanity. The climate crisis is not one of carbon or temperature or politics. It is a crisis of consciousness.

More National Lampoon than National Geographic, the pop culture tour and its on-the-road antics, including offerings from the worlds of music, fashion and art, and highlighting local climate crises and heroes, will be broadcast as an on-the-road docuserial, the greatest reality show ever. “Will humanity wake up in time or be booted off the planet?”

Also included in the tour will be the newly-released 2030 or Bust app, putting the power to end the climate crisis in the hands of people everywhere.

The tour launches in New York City during Labor Day Week and finishes on Halloween.
Contact: press@2030orbust.org +1 443-676-8500 2030
Follow the tour: 2030orBust.org/tour and on Instagram @2030orbust
Download the 2030 or Bust app at https://www.2030orBust.org/qr/

2030 or Bust
Sunday, October 3
1 p.m.
Bikers, skaters, and scooters welcome
Joe’s Corner
37713 Niles Blvd, Niles

Arts Leadership Award recipients to be honored
Submitted by Alameda County Arts Commission

Six recipients of the 2021 Arts Leadership Award in Alameda County will be honored October 12 by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors with commendations presented in conjunction with the county’s celebration of October as National Arts and Humanities Month.

Each year, the award is given to six county residents recognized by Alameda County Arts Commission for their achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and residents of Alameda County.

This year’s recipients are:

• Kala Ghaty. The Fremont resident is founder and director of Kalamandir Art School in Fremont and a special education teacher for Fremont Unified School District. Ghaty founded the Kalamandir school more than 20 years ago and has taught visual art classes to hundreds of students of all ages.

• Carl Larson. The longtime artist and arts educator teaches tole and decorative painting at the Newark Adult School in Newark. In his 40 years of teaching, he has taught thousands of students folk art painting traditions from Western Europe, primarily Norway and Germany. He is widely recognized as one of the foremost artists in the field.

• Gregory Conway. The Castro Valley resident received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from California State University East Bay and currently plays in the Chabot College Wind Symphony. He is an Executive Board Member of the Jenny Lin Foundation in Castro Valley and Symphonic Band Director of the Foundation’s summer program.

• Vanessa Thomas. She is co-founder of the Dublin Arts Collective and an active supporter of many local organizations including the Pleasanton Art League, Livermore Art Association, Tri-Valley Artist Studio Tour, Tri-Valley Cultural Tourism Working Group, and Lapis Lazuli Art Club.

• Angela M. Wellman. She is an award-winning musician, scholar, arts educator, photographer and activist. She is also the founder of Oakland Public Conservatory of Music which centers Blackness in the development of American musical culture and identity by providing quality, affordable music education for underserved and under-resourced populations.

• Lisa Bullwinkel. She is the founder and director of Berkeley Arts and Culture Hotline, former chair of Berkeley Civic Arts Commission, steering committee member of Berkeley Cultural Trust, coordinating committee member of Community for a Cultural Civic Center in Berkeley, and a board member of the UC Chancellor's Community Partnership Fund.

The event is set for 10:45 a.m. during the Board of Supervisor’s meeting and will be streamed to the public via online teleconference. Because of COVID-19 regulations, the meeting is closed to in-person attendance by members of the public. For more information about the Arts Leadership Award program or the award recipients, contact Alameda County Arts Commission at
(510) 208-9646 or email artscommission@acgov.org.

‘Art on the Rebound!’
Submitted by Bruce Roberts

Since 1984, a group of local artists has come together under the name Art Inc. to promote and encourage art in the community. Centered at Castro Valley Adobe, Art Inc. has promoted exhibits of local artists, demonstrations, and workshops.

For the past almost two years, art work has been restricted to online exhibits and Zoom workshops. Gone have been the chances to meet and interact with artists and view their work up close. Now the Adobe is reopening—rebounding, if you will.

Oils, watercolors, photographs, and even poetry will be on display between Saturday, September 25 and Saturday, October 9. The Adobe will be open to the public for two weeks—Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That’s September 30 to October 2, and October 7-9.

If art fans can’t make the live show, it will continue online from October 15 to December 31. Visit https://www.artinc.org/.

Art on the Rebound
In-Person
Saturday, Sept 25 – Saturday, Oct 9
Thurs – Sat: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Adobe Art Gallery
20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley

Online
Friday, Oct 15 – Friday, Dec 31
https://www.artinc.org/.

Traditional and Digital Art Fusion
By Lina Melkonian

The Fremont Art Association (FAA) is thrilled to have Caroline Mustard as our guest demo artist at the virtual general meeting on Wednesday, October 6.

Born in England, Mustard graduated Brighton University with a BA in Fine Arts. She is an accomplished artist with experience in art direction; oil, acrylic and gouache painting, and digital art. Mustard is the co-founder of Mobile Art Academy, and she directs the academy’s education initiative and teaches throughout Silicon Valley.

Mustard has exhibited widely in the Bay Area. She has been featured in Fast Company, California State of Creativity Summit, and Apple Inc. She is the co-author of a book, The Magic of Perspective, the second in her Joy of Drawing Series.

In her demo, Traditional and Digital Art Fusion, Mustard will explore her process of merging her traditional drawings with digital artwork, including photos, to create a unique fusion. Whether Mustard creates on traditional surfaces or her iPad’s portable canvas and sketchbook, her artmaking is informed by her belief that fundamental to making any form of art is the cultivation of a keen sense of observation and seeing the world around us.

The meeting (free to attend) will be held online via Zoom. Participants must register in advance and will receive the Zoom link via email. All details may be found on the Fremont Art Association webpage: www.fremontartassociation.org/monthlymeetinganddemo.

You may view Mustard’s work at: www.carolinemustard.com and learn about Mobile Art Academy at: www.mobileartacademy.com.

Fremont Art Association general meeting/demo artist
Wednesday, Oct 6
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Via Zoom, link provided upon registration.
https://www.fremontartassociation.org/monthlymeetinganddemo

Explore the world of Chinese Calligraphy
Submitted by Bruce Roberts
Hayward Arts Council

The Hayward Arts Council, known for supporting local artists for over 35 years, continues promoting art as diverse as the community.

Showing from September 20 to November 18, “Affection for Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings,” features the works of sixteen members of the Oriental Art Association at John O’Lague Galleria in Hayward City Hall.

The Oriental Art Association (OAA) was founded in San Francisco in 1978, by art professor Lui-Sang Wong, calligraphy professor Henry Kong, and artist Peter Mo Woo. Since then, the association has pursued its goal of celebrating Chinese art throughout the Bay Area and sponsoring numerous charitable and educational activities. They have put on exhibitions at Bay Area galleries, and offered free demonstrations and workshops—all to promote Chinese Art.

If you’d like to learn more about Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, as well as admire the delicate beauty of the scenery depicted, go to John O’Lague Galleria in the entrance floor of Hayward City Hall. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The “Affection for Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings” exhibition, curated by HAC board member Ruey Syrop, is sponsored by Hayward Arts Council. Visit haywardartscouncil.org to view this exhibition online if you are unable to attend in person.

Affection for Chinese Calligraphy and Paintings
Modday, Sept 20 – Thursday, Nov 18
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
John O’Lague Galleria, Hayward City Hall
777 B St., Hayward
(510) 538-2787
www.haywardartscouncil.org

Got junk? Dispose of it properly
Submitted by Newark Police Department

A Community Cleanup event, co-sponsored by City of Newark Public Works Department and Republic Services, is set for Saturday, October 9 for Newark residents who want to discard unwanted household items.

The 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. event will be at Newark Service Center; 37440 Filbert St. Appointments are required; no walk-up service will be available. Only Newark residents are eligible to participate, and must provide proof of residency by bringing a California driver license or ID card and a utility bill with a current address with them. Appointments can be made online by sending an email to mainreq@newark.org.

Participants are limited to one standard-sized pickup truck load per household. No trailers or commercial vehicles will be permitted.

Accepted items:
• Appliances
• Reusable household goods
• Furniture
• Mattresses
• Metals
• Wood
• Carpeting
•Tires
• Electronic waste

Items not accepted:
• Household trash
• Dirt, rocks, concrete, construction material or demolition rubble
• Household hazardous wastes (paint, batteries, motor oil, chemicals, light bulbs, etc.)
• Motorized equipment
• Propane tanks, gas cylinders, lawn mowers or anything else that previously stored hazardous materials

The event may close early if the trash bins become full. For more information, call the Public Works Department at (510) 578-4806.

Community Cleanup event
Saturday, Oct 9
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Dispose of unwanted household items
Newark Service Center
37440 Filbert St., Newark
Free; open to Newark residents only
Appointments required by email:
mainreq@newark.org
(510) 578-4806

Music and fine dining
Submitted by Massimo’s Restaurant

Music aficionados who also appreciate fine dining may want to mark Friday, October 1 in their calendars. That’s the day Fremont Opera and Massimo’s Restaurant are teaming up to offer two free concerts performed by Fremont String Quartet.

The 45-minute performances are set for 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. at the restaurant on Mowry Avenue, near I-880 in Fremont. Members of Fremont String Quartet are principal players in the Fremont Opera Orchestra and include: Philip Santos, violin; Katy Juneaau, viola; Jessica Poll, violin and Dan Reiter, cello.

Concert admission is free, but reservations are required. Wine and cocktails will be available for purchase and reservations for dinner are available after each performance. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for admission to the concert and guests will be required to wear masks except when eating or drinking. Reservations can be made online at www.massimos.com or by calling (510) 792-2000.

Fremont String Quartet
Friday, Oct 1
4:30 p.m., 6:15 p.m.
Live concert
Massimo’s Restaurant,
5200 Mowry Ave., Suite M, Fremont
Free; reservations required
www.massimos.com
(510) 792-2000

Free children’s Tdap shots available
Submitted by Santa Clara County

In an effort to ensure that 7th and 8th grade students are able to receive state required Tdap vaccinations, the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department is temporarily expanding services this fall.

Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, also known as pertussis. Although Tdap is available from most healthcare providers, free vaccinations provided by the public health department enhance access to this important service in communities where many families may experience barriers in obtaining routine immunizations.

Vaccinations are available at the Public Health Department Travel and Immunization Clinic at 976 Lenzen Ave., San Jose. The vaccination schedule is:

• Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Starting October 7, temporary evening hours will be available from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Appointments are preferred and can be made by calling (408) 792-5200. Walk-ins may be accommodated if space is available.

The vaccine is available at no cost and health insurance is not needed. Parents or guardians should bring their child’s yellow immunization card if it is available, but it is not required. The vaccine is available regardless of immigration status.

“Vaccination is the best protection against serious illnesses such as tetanus or whooping cough, and unfortunately, some families have experienced challenges in accessing routine medical care during the pandemic.” said Dr. Monika Roy, Assistant Health Officer for the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department. “We invite parents to visit these convenient locations for free Tdap shots for 7th and 8th graders.”

Tdap is one of the vaccinations required for children to attend public schools in the state of California; a Tdap booster shot is required for entry into 7th grade. All children who are beginning kindergarten, advancing to 7th grade, or newly enrolling as a student in Santa Clara County, need their parent or guardian to show their Immunization Record as proof of immunization. California schools are required to check immunization records.

For more information about immunizations, visit sccizedu.org.

A Message from the Fremont Symphony Guild

We are closing out year 2021 with one additional fundraiser event. Strizzi's Restaurant has once again agreed to hold a fundraiser with Fremont Symphony Guild on Tuesday, October 12th. Strizzi's Restaurant is located at 2740 Mowry Avenue in Fremont. They will donate 20% of the total sales from our supporters on this day to Fremont Symphony Guild.

You can call (510) 797-9000 for reservations for in-house dining or, if you prefer “Take-Out”, you can place your order from the Take-Out menu and make arrangements for pickup. Don't forget to tell them you are from the symphony. We hope to make this event a success for Strizzi's as a symphony supporter as well as the Guild.

Barbara Gorsuch
President
Fremont Symphony Guild

A Symphony of Flavors Fundraiser $
Tuesday, October 12
Support the Fremont Symphony when you order dine-in or take-out
Strizzis
2740 Mowry Ave, Fremont
(510) 797-9000
www.strizzis.com

Student vaccine mandate set for Hayward public schools
Submitted by Hayward Unified School District

At its September 22 meeting members of the Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) Board of Trustees voted to require vaccines for students 12 and older. School district officials said the goal behind the mandate is to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in schools and in the community.

Under the new rule, students will need to show proof of vaccination by December 17, 2021. When the vaccine for other age groups is authorized, the student vaccine mandate will apply to all eligible children within those age groups. The resolution passed by the board includes a provision that exempts students from receiving the vaccine as allowed by California law. Students unable to provide proof of vaccination by the deadline date will submit to weekly COVID-19 testing, which the district offers on its school campuses.

The school board voted unanimously on the health mandate after a presentation delivered by school nurses on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The school board members emphasized in their discussion the importance of focusing on the collective well-being of the district’s nearly 20,000 students and considering the moral obligation of getting vaccinated to protect the health of those in the community who are vulnerable.

“Unvaccinated students face higher risk of infection and can be subject to quarantine protocols that force them out of the classroom,” said Board President Dr. April Oquenda. “Vaccines are a critical preventative measure to ensure that our students learn and thrive in a safe environment.” A key component of the health mandate will include educational resources from trusted sources of information to encourage all eligible household members to get vaccinated.

HUSD has worked with community partners since the spring to facilitate vaccine clinics for students and staff. The district is approaching the vaccine mandate as an opportunity to expand the presence of vaccine clinics on school campuses where they are easily accessible to students and families.

Recent data from Alameda County Department of Public Health indicates that the vaccination rate for youth ages 12 to 17 in the Hayward area ranges from 54-62%. Schools can play an important role in improving this rate. The latest studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that vaccinated people were nearly five times less likely to get infected and 10 times less likely to get so sick they ended up in the hospital.
Local high school and Ohlone College share first, in-person semester
By Andrew Cavette

This fall, Averroes High School students began attending classes on their new, Fremont campus: Ohlone College. Averroes is a decade-old, private, college-preparatory high school in Fremont. In August of 2021, all 41 students at Averroes began their first semester of in-person classes since the Covid lockdown. Likewise, Ohlone College students began their Fall semester in August. This is Ohlone’s first semester of in-person classes since the Covid lockdown closed both of the district’s campuses.

This partnership between Averroes and Ohlone came about through Ohlone’s College Connections Program, which lets high school students experience college as a part of their school day. Ohlone is continuing to partner with local districts and schools such as Fremont Unified, New Haven Unified and Newark Memorial High School. Unlike other school districts served by the program, Averroes was allowed to move their small school onto Ohlone’s newly renovated Fremont campus.

Reem Bilbeisi, Executive Director and Principal of Averroes, said that the level of realness her students get to experience from being on a college campus has helped them grow academically. “Because we’re a small school, we [also] wanted to offer our students as many high-level classes and electives [as possible],” Bilbeisi said. “By partnering with a college, we were able to do that.”

Averroes is an accredited high school through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WASC is one of the six regional accrediting agencies in the United States and is responsible for schools in Hawaii and California.

Averroes follows the same Covid safety guidelines as Ohlone. Students and staff arrive on campus, go through a check-in screening in the student services building and go to class.

“Being back in person has been a trip,” Bilbeisi said. “Things are changing for us and changing for [Ohlone] regarding vaccine requirements and facility usage…because Covid got worse between when we signed and when we moved in. Ohlone has been absolutely amazing at providing us with support and making sure our students are comfortable.”

Dr. Melissa Cervantes is the Executive Dean of Equity, Inclusivity, and Campus Diversity at Ohlone College. “It’s been a six-month process,” Cervantes said. “We needed to figure out what it would look like. We have three partnerships already. Did we have the capacity to bring in a fourth? So far it’s been a great partnership [with Averroes].” Cervantes shared how great it has been to see student life back on campus, even under the limitations imposed by Covid.

When it was founded in 2010, Averroes High School was the only Islamic-based high school operating in the Bay Area and the second to have ever formed in the region. Bilbeisi said that schools like Averroes allow students to feel comfortable being Muslim and to then focus on everything else.

“We are faith-based, but a lot of our students are not from just one practice of Islam. They mainly want to focus on their academics,” Bilbeisi said. “Some students feel like they are not able to fully flourish [in non-Islamic schools] because they’re focused on constantly explain themselves or be the token Muslim in the class.”

Students from Averroes and other high schools get to benefit from being on a college campus, but Cervantes said Ohlone also benefits from their high school partnerships. “This community of high school students that we have on campus is bringing a fresher perspective to our staff,” Cervantes said. “They are bringing their voices to our college classrooms. That’s a huge benefit.”

Cervantes wants to make accommodation a part of the Ohlone campus culture, rather than seeing the specific needs of students as exceptions to the norm. “Everyone benefits (if we) increase a sense of belonging on campus, so students can just be who they are,” Cervantes said. “We are here to serve the community. We want to make sure that, as an institution, we are serving all of the populations that want to be part of what we have to offer.”
India Community Center Fundraising Banquet
Submitted by India Community Center

We cordially invite you to participate in the 18th Annual Virtual Fundraising Banquet on Friday, October 1 at 6:30 pm. We will showcase the stellar achievements of Table Tennis. Invite your family and friends from all over the world to attend and enjoy an excellent program that we have planned.

Join us as we honor Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph. D. with our 2021 ICC Inspire Award as the only South Asian to have played a crucial role in vaccine development. Get swept away by the melodious voice of Neel, and his band in a live performance. Neel is an amazing New York based R&B/Pop, Bollywood-influenced singer-songwriter and producer. His songs are sure to delight every age group.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful support that you provide to ICC. Looking forward to seeing you at the ICC 2021 Banquet!

Friday, October 1
ICC 18th Annual Virtual Fundraising Banquet
6:30 p.m.
Auctions and entertainment
RSVP: tinyurl.com/5a2fuw45
https://www.indiacc.org/banquet2021

Mission San Jose Rotary Foundation Fundraiser
Submitted by Music at the Mission

Taste an exquisite selection of specialty wines, cheese, and charcuterie from around the globe curated by renowned wine expert Jim Denham of The Wine Steward. The gourmet gathering will be held outside on the grounds of a gorgeous private residence in Mission San Jose. Come prepared for a delightful evening and a chance to win a magnum of Château de Montmirail!

Tickets are $75 per person, with limited availability. The address will be disclosed with each $75 ticket purchase. Vaccinations are required. RSVP to msjrotaryfundraiser@gmail.com. For more information, please contact John A. Schinkel at (510) 468-7382. Both Mission San Jose Rotary Foundation and Music at the Mission are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Mission San Jose Rotary Foundation Fundraiser $R
Saturday, October 9
3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Held outside a private residence in Mission San Jose
RSVP to msjrotaryfundraiser@gmail.com
For more info contact John A. Schinkel: (510) 468-7382

National Silent Movie Day
Submitted by Niles Essanay Film Museum

At Niles Film Museum, every day is silent movie day. But we want to stick out our hand with a “put-er-there” to give a virtual handshake and Howdy to a new holiday happening September 29, National Silent Movie Day!

We hope you enjoy this holiday for silent film fans and will visit us in person soon. Our museum and store are open Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon – 4 p.m. We’re hoping to re-open our theater for films sometime in Fall, 2021.

In honor of the 1st Silent Movie Day, we present you a couple of rarities from the Michael Aus Collection. (Piano Accompaniment by David Drazin.)

Film shorts:

The Judge’s Ward (1909) is a formerly lost Lubin film. It has been copied from a 35mm nitrate print. Although Lubin Co., like many of its contemporaries, was not identifying its actors on the big screen in 1909, Professor Joseph P Eckardt (author of The King of the Movies: Film Pioneer Siegmund Lubin) identified two of the actors as George E. Reehm (Robert), and Guy Oliver (Butler). This film involves a young man, an actress, a ward of the court, disinheritment, love, heartbreak – all in 10 minutes.

Her Final Choice (1916) aka Father of Her Child is a rare Centaur Films 2-reeler starring Ethel Calvert, Gibson Gowland, Alva D. Blake, and Harry Davenport. Copied from a nitrate print. The scenario involves a love triangle, the merchant marines, marriage, someone presumed dead, and weighty life decisions.

Links to both films will become available at 12:01am PT on Wednesday, September 29.

Niles Essanay Film Museum
Saturday – Sunday
12 noon – 4 p.m.
37417 Niles Blvd., Fremont

National Silent Movie Day
Wednesday, Sep 29
Link to films:
https://nilesfilmmuseum.org/

Redistricting and You!
Submitted by The League of Women Voters

Every ten years, after the U.S. Census has been completed, political district maps are re-drawn at the congressional, state and local levels to account for changes in population. This process is called “redistricting.” Though not a topic that typically draws widespread attention, redistricting is one of the basic building blocks of our democratic system of government. As such, it deserves our deeper understanding.

The League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City (LWVFNUC) and the Oakland League of Women Voters invite you to a Zoom presentation to explain the topic of Redistricting. During this meeting, we’ll learn what it is, why it is so important and how ordinary community members like you can get involved so that your interests can be represented.

During this Zoom presentation, the Oakland League will explain the Alameda County Supervisor redistricting process, as well as the city of Oakland’s process. Please join us for this learning experience.

Please note: Redistricting is an ongoing process that offers opportunities for participation. The League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City will provide links on our website (www.lwvfnuc.org) to additional community presentations on this topic. We encourage you to visit our website often during the process for updated information which will include additional Zoom meetings that you can attend, as well as pertinent recordings of past events.

Redistricting and You!
Monday, October 4
6 p.m. -7 p.m.
Via Zoom
Register online at: www.lwvfnuc.org
https://bit.ly/3lPQFuq

Tesla Y to appear at Fremont Street Eats
Submitted by Fremont Police Department

In 2019, Fremont Police Department (FPD) deployed its first fully electric-powered vehicle (EV) as part of its patrol fleet. After a year of data collection, results found that the pilot vehicle, a used 2014 Tesla Model S 85, exceeded performance and operational objectives, withstood the rigors of police use required minimal maintenance, and was cost-effective when factoring in the overall cost of the vehicle with maintenance and fuel savings.

In September 2021, the Model Y became the Department’s latest addition in its hybrid and electric fleet of over forty vehicles. To prepare for its deployment, FPD also purchased an additional charger – bringing the Department to four charging stations.

“The highly favorable results of our patrol electric vehicle pilot program set the foundation for our City and Police Department to continue investing in clean technology,” Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington said. “I am excited we can take another step with deploying the Model Y and other administrative electric vehicles we hope to deploy in the future.”

The Tesla Model Y will make one of its first public appearances at the Fremont Street Eats event on Friday, October 1 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Fremont Main Library.

Businesses Can Host Vaccination Clinics
Submitted by Hayward Chamber of Commerce

Alameda County Workforce Development Board is working with Alameda County Public Health Department to offer on-site mobile vaccination clinics at places of employment. Interested businesses can host a clinic to get employees vaccinated and have the option to offer appointments for surrounding businesses, employees' families, and their communities.

Businesses are required to provide adequate space for the event with social distancing guidelines and conduct research to assure a good turnout. The vaccination team will provide vaccines, supplies and staff supplies.

These clinics are intended as one-time events and typically range from 20 to 300 doses per event. Depending on the vaccine type, the business may need to host a second dose clinic later. Interested businesses can take a qualifying survey: https://bit.ly/3CDVpKC

Upcoming auditions for Valley Concert Chorale
Submitted by Heidi Massie

Valley Concert Chorale, Tri-Valley’s premier chorus for over 50 years, is returning to in-person rehearsals and seeking new singers.

The Chorale is seeking experienced singers with sight-reading skills who enjoy challenging music. The Chorale performs three concert sets a season with a wide variety of music ranging from classical to contemporary, and folk to jazz. The Chorale’s 2021-2022 season opens with holiday concerts on December 11 and 12, entitled “Of Comfort and Joy: Carols, Glorias, and Lullabies.”

Auditions are available by appointment on October 11. The 10-minute appointment will include vocalizing (to determine range), reading from one page of a motet, and a clapping exercise. Singers must commit to the season with Monday evening rehearsals held at First Presbyterian Church of Livermore. Full vaccination and mask required.

More information about Valley Concert Chorale is available at http://www.valleyconcertchorale.org or by calling (925) 866-4003 or text (925) 216-7084.

Valley Concert Chorale auditions
By appointment
Monday, Oct 11
First Presbyterian Church
2020 Fifth Street, Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 866-4003
http://www.valleyconcertchorale.org

Alameda County Fire Department Log
Submitted by ACFD

Tuesday, September 14
• At 9:24 a.m. crews responded to a broken fire hydrant report in San Leandro after a semi-truck accidentally collided with it and caused a water geyser. Firefighters and East Bay Municipal Utility District workers quickly shut down the hydrant. There were no injuries.

Thursday, September 16
• At 8:17 p.m. crews responded to a traffic collision at Dyer Street and Arya Court in Union City involving two vehicles sheering off a fire hydrant. There were no injuries.
Two students arrested after attack near high school
Submitted by Fremont Police Department

A 16-year-old male student from Kennedy High School in Fremont was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after an attack on another student near the school on Tuesday, September 21. A second suspect, identified by Fremont Police Department (FPD) as a 17-year-old male from a high school in another city, was also arrested as an accessory and on suspicion of brandishing a weapon. Both teenagers were booked into juvenile hall.

According to FPD, the incident started at about 12:50 p.m. when they received a call from a male victim saying someone had cut him in the neck. The victim identified himself as a Kennedy High School student and said the suspect was still in the area. School Resource Officers (SRO) quickly located the victim across the street from the school, located at 39999 Blacow Road, and also attempted to find the suspect.

At 12:54 p.m. SRO sergeant directed the school to initiate a shelter in place lockdown after the suspect was spotted approaching the school. The entire SRO team soon arrived on campus to provide security. FPD officers obtained initial surveillance photos and shared them with the SRO team. Working together, the SRO team and school officials quickly identified two suspects who were taken into custody.

An investigation is continuing and FPD is asking that anyone with information about the incident to call their Investigative Unit at (510) 790-6900 or send an anonymous tip by texting TIP FREMONTPD followed by a short message to 888-777, or via the web at https://local.nixle.com/tip/alert/6216337.

BART Police Log
Submitted by Les Mensinger and BART PD

Friday, September 10
• At 6:59 p.m. a man identified by police as David Williams, 42, of Oakland was stopped at Hayward station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed a felony $90,000 warrant charging evasion and disobeying a police officer. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

• At 11:55 p.m. a person identified by police as Kenya Frazier, 38, of Oakland was stopped at Union City station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed a felony no bail warrant hold violation. Frazier was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Saturday, September 11
• At 6:04 p.m. a man identified by police as Alejandro Ortega, 22, of Oakland was stopped at Hayward station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed two $10,000 misdemeanor warrants charging grand theft, driving under the influence of drugs and driving without a license; additional charges included possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and burglary tools. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

• At 7:56 p.m. a person identified by police as Jesse Jennings, 37, of San Francisco was stopped at Fremont station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed two misdemeanor warrants totaling $30,000 charging petty theft, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a narcotic. Jennings was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

• At 10:22 p.m. a man identified by police as Daniel Cherb, 36, of Danville was arrested at Bay Fair station in San Leandro on a $10,000 felony warrant charging vandalism. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Sunday, September 12
• At 7:30 p.m. a man identified by police as Christopher Walters, 34, of San Francisco was stopped at San Leandro station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed a $20,000 misdemeanor warrant charging battery on a police officer and domestic battery; an additional charge included violating a restraining order. He was arrested at booked at Santa Rita Jail.

• At 8:58 p.m. a man identified by police as Frank Avina, 21, of Stockton was stopped at Fremont station on suspicion of fare evasion. A record check showed a warrant charging parole violation. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Monday, September 13
• At 11:44 a.m. a man identified by police as Justino Bond, 34, of Santa Rosa was stopped at Hayward station on suspicion of intentionally blocking another person or vehicle. A record check showed a $10,000 warrant from Petaluma charging vandalism. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Monday, September 20
• At 6:15 p.m. a man identified by police as Vincent Pilotti, 34, of Castro Valley was arrested at Castro Valley station on suspicion of public intoxication and resisting arrest. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Thursday, September 23
• At 7:19 p.m. a man identified by police as Scott Peterson, 54, of Oakland was arrested at Hayward station on suspicion of arson on property. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail and a prohibition order was also issued.

Beware of surprising pandemic text offers
Submitted by Alma Galvan

Everyone loves a deal — including scammers. Recently, Better Business Bureau’s online BBB Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of scammers impersonating well-known companies and offering COVID-19 themed discounts.

How the Scam Works
You receive a text message from a large, reputable company. The message claims that, due to the pandemic, the company would like to help people out by offering them an amazing deal. These range from free or discounted services to gift cards and cash. For example, consumers reported receiving the following text messages:

“COVID-19 REFUND. VERIZON COMPANY is giving out $950 to all users of our Verizon service, If yes kindly text your Verizon”
“Due to the pandemic, Hulu is giving everyone a free 1-year subscription to help you stay at home. Get yours here [link].”

Of course, these messages don’t really originate with that company. They come from impersonators who hope to steal your personal information. If you click the link, you may be prompted to log into a lookalike website that scammers use to get hold of your login ID and password. With that information, scammers can access your accounts and even make purchases using your saved payment methods.

How to avoid Text Message Scams
• Treat messages from unknown senders with caution.
• Don’t click on links from strangers.
• Confirm deals directly with the company before you accept.
• Install antivirus software on your computer and mobile devices.

For More Information
If you’ve been the victim of a similar scam, report it on the BBB Scam Tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker. Your first-hand experience can help other consumers recognize scammers’ tactics before it’s too late. For more information about scams and how to avoid them, visit the BBB webpage at www.bbb.org.

DUI checkpoint nets four arrests
Submitted by Sgt. Tasha Decosta, Hayward PD

During a recent DUI checkpoint conducted at Foothill Boulevard and City Center Drive in Hayward, Hayward Police Department screened 754 vehicles. Of those motorists stopped, two were arrested on suspicion of DUI, two others were arrested on felony warrants and 38 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle unlicensed or with a suspended/revoked license.

The checkpoint took place on Friday, September 17 from 8:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. the next day. Checkpoint locations are based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests. Hayward police officials said the primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. Another DUI/driver license checkpoint is planned in Hayward during December.

Motorists caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be approximately $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses and possible jail time.

Funding for checkpoints is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fremont Police Log
Submitted by Yanneth Contrada, Fremont PD

Tuesday, September 14
• At about 7:38 a.m. a person at 43779 Boscell Common confronted a male about parking on private property and asked him to leave. The man relocated the vehicle, but did not immediately leave the area. After a second confrontation, the man drove the vehicle at the victim as he left the parking lot. The man, identified by police as David Deneveu, 35, of Livermore was located nearby by police and arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Wednesday, September 15
• At about 7:10 p.m. two people entered the Sephora store at 43550 Christy St. and took more than $2,000 worth of merchandise and then fled the scene. Police are investigating the incident as a grand theft.

Friday, September 17
• At about 9:04 a.m. an auto burglary occurred at Country Way restaurant, 5325 Mowry Ave. when someone shattered the rear passenger window and removed items.

• At about 9:07 a.m. an auto burglary occurred at Denny's restaurant, 46655 Mission Blvd. when someone shattered the front driver's side window and removed items.
Hayward Police Log
Submitted by Hayward PD

Monday, September 13
• At 4:24 a.m. officers responded to a report about a shooting near the 22000 block of Kings Court. They found evidence of a shooting, but there were no reports of injuries. An investigation is continuing.

• At 8:02 p.m. officers made a traffic enforcement stop near the 300 block of Jackson St. During the stop, a search uncovered suspected narcotics and a loaded handgun. The driver was taken into custody without incident.

Tuesday, September 14
• At 8:10 p.m. suspects entered a business near the 1000 block of A St. and grabbed items and brandished a firearm before fleeing the scene. Police are investigating the incident as a robbery.

Wednesday, September 15
• At 6:00 p.m. suspects entered a business near the 400 block of W. Harder Road and grabbed items, then fired several rounds from a handgun outside the business before fleeing the scene. Police are investigating the incident as a robbery.

Friday, September 17
• At 3:33 p.m. officers responded to report about a robbery near the 200 block of W. Jackson St. The suspect was no longer on the scene when officers arrived, but was located nearby and taken into custody.

Police to show off newest Tesla patrol car
Submitted by Fremont PD

Officials from the Fremont Police Department (FPD) will show off the newest addition to their patrol fleet – a Tesla Model Y – at the Fremont Street Eats program on Friday, October 1.

The new Tesla joins more than 40 hybrid and electric vehicles already owned by the department. The deployment stems from the highly favorable results of the first year of FPD’s Electric Patrol Vehicle Program, which aims to improve sustainability and cost efficiency by transitioning from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.

Fremont Street Eats program will be 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the parking lot of the Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd. Visitors should look for the FPD booth. Admission is free and open to the public.

For more information about the new Tesla and the department’s other hybrid and electric vehicles, visit the FPD webpage at www.fremontpolice.gov, then enter “hybrid vehicles” into the search field and follow the link.
Newark Police Log
Submitted by Newark PD

Wednesday, September 8
• At 2:54 p.m. Officer Warren made a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Ardenwood Boulevard and Kaiser Drive. The driver, a 39-year-old Stockton man, was arrested on suspicion of possessing metal knuckles, nunchakus, drug paraphernalia, and on an outstanding warrant. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Friday, September 10
• At 6:03 p.m. officers responded to a report of a disturbance in the 39000 block of Cedar Blvd. During their investigation, officers found drug paraphernalia. Officer Smith’s K-9 partner Tio arrived and located a firearm, controlled substances and a taser. A 41-year-old Union City man was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, possession of a stun gun by a felon, possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Sunday, September 12
• At 4:13 a.m. officers responded to an alarm in the 200 block of NewPark Mall Road. Upon arrival, officers met a 25-year-old Pleasant Hill man and arrested him on suspicion of possessing drug paraphernalia. He was cited and released.

Thursday, September 16
• At 6:57 p.m. officers made a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Bluebell Rockrose drives. The driver, a 22-year-old Salinas man, did not have a valid driver license, registration or insurance for the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found two firearms, an extended magazine, and multiple controlled substances. The man was arrested on numerous charges and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Friday, September 17
• At 5:30 p.m. Officers Soto and Garcia responded to a report of someone attempting to open vehicle doors, setting off car alarms, and throwing objects in the area of Shady Hollow Drive and Braidburn Avenue. Upon arrival, contacted a 62-year-old man walking up to a vehicle that was parked in a residential driveway. The man took a fighting stance and reached for his waistband and indicated he had a firearm and threatened officers. Officers were able to peacefully deescalate the incident and the man was taken into custody. Officers searched the man but did not find a firearm He was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police officers and challenging to fight in a public place. He was booked at Santa Rita Jail.

Wednesday, September 22
• At 5:51 a.m. officers responded to a report of a possible in-progress auto burglary in the 39000 block of Cedar Blvd. When they arrived, they contacted a 32-year-old man. A record check showed outstanding warrants. He was arrested and booked at Santa Rita Jail.

San Francisco pledges to crack down on retail shoplifting
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP), Sept. 22 — The mayor and police chief of San Francisco have announced they'll dedicate more police, beef up coordination and make it easier to report shoplifters in an attempt to crack down on brazen commercial thieving that has added to the city's reputation as soft on crime.

Mayor London Breed said at a news conference that organized shoplifting results in closed pharmacies and markets, hurting people who rely on those establishments for work, medication and food. She said that while San Francisco is known for its compassion, stealing will not be tolerated.

“We care about criminal justice reform. We care about second chances. We care about making sure that people are not wrongly accused,” she said. “But don't take our kindness for weakness, our compassion for weakness.”

The frustration and fear have been fueled by widely circulating images of shoplifting caught on video. This summer, shoplifters in masks carrying armfuls of designer handbags sprinted from a downtown Neiman Marcus department store and into getaway cars. In June, a masked man was caught on video at a Walgreens, stuffing items into a trash bag before cruising out of the store on a bicycle.

The Walgreens shoplifting suspect has been arrested and officers continue investigating and arresting other suspects, said San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott. But they need to do more to alleviate the fear and make San Francisco a welcoming place as it emerges from the pandemic, he said.

SFPD's organized retail crime unit will increase from two to six investigators and an ambassador program of retired officers will increase from eight to 25 people tasked with patrolling high-profile commercial areas. The department is working to make it easier for retailers to report theft and created a post for a dedicated retail theft coordinator.

“We're not going to arrest everybody, although we'd like to,” said Scott. “But just know that you don't get a free pass when you come to this city and commit those types of crimes.”

Crime overall is up 2% this year compared with the same time period last year. The police department recorded just over 19,000 reports of larceny theft this year, compared with more than 25,500 last year and 42,000 in 2019. Scott said he expects shoplifting numbers to go up as it becomes easier to report cases.

Union City Police Log
Submitted by Union City PD

Saturday, August 7
• At about 9:03 p.m. officers stopped two people in a vehicle in the 32000 block of Alvarado Niles Road. During a search inside the vehicle, officers found more than 19 grams of suspected powdered heroin. An adult male was arrested on suspicion of possessing narcotics for sale.

Wednesday, August 11
• At about 8:32 p.m. officers responded to a report about a shooting on Gemini and Meteor drives. The male victim told officers that as he sat in his car a Black female approached the passenger side and a Black male armed with a handgun came to the driver’s side. He pointed the handgun at the victim and demanded his property. During a struggle, the victim was shot in the hand. Detectives from the Special Services Unit are investigating the case.

Monday, August 16
• At about 3:22 a.m. officers responded to an armed robbery report at a business in the 2600 block of Decoto Road. The clerk told officers that two males walked into the store and one of them pulled out a handgun and demanded cash and cigarettes. The clerk handed over money from the register and the pair fled the scene. The clerk described the suspects as a Hispanic male and a Black male, both in their 20s.

Thursday, August 19
• At about 3:42 p.m. officers responded to a report about an assault at James Logan High School. The victim told officers that the male suspect approached him in the parking lot and began an argument. The suspect then used a heavy bracelet to batter the victim, which resulted in significant lacerations to his face. A witness provided the license plate number of the vehicle the suspect fled in. Detectives soon found the car with the suspect still inside and arrested an adult male on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Saturday August 21
• At about 8:40 p.m., officers responded to an armed robbery report in the 1700 block of Decoto Road. The victim told officers that a Hispanic male with a handgun robbed him of his money as he walked to his car. A short time later, in quick succession, Fremont had three armed robberies with a similar description. One of the robberies yielded a suspect vehicle and getaway driver. While on patrol around Mission Boulevard and Appian Way, Officer Olson spotted the suspects and detained them. Officers took two adult males into custody in connection to all four-armed robberies.

Wednesday, August 25
• At about 5:20 a.m. officers responded to an armed robbery report in the 31300 block of Alvarado Niles Rd. The victim told officers that a white female entered the store, produced a small black handgun, and demanded money from the safe. The victim did not have access to the safe, so the suspect took cash from the till and fled on foot. Officers searched the area, but did not find the suspect.

Saturday, August 28
• At about 3:00 p.m. officers responded to a robbery report at a Union Landing business. The store's loss prevention officer told officers he saw two suspects steal several jackets from the store. As the suspects fled, an employee tried to stop them, but the suspects threatened to harm him if he did not allow them to leave. The victim described the suspects as a white male in his 30s and a Black female in her 30s. They fled the area in a gray vehicle.

Cougars Champions of Character
Submitted by Newark Memorial High School

The following Newark Memorial High School athletes were recognized as Champions of Character by their teammates this week:

Football: Niko Russell (by teammate Jovany Moreno)
Niko is someone who gives 100 percent at every game and puts in a lot of effort in everything he does. He’s a great person to be around and is a great reflection of our principles here in character class. Niko is my champion of character.

Volleyball: Sam Ongsiaco & Madallie Silva
Sam showed leadership, commitment and maturity throughout the summer and into pre-season. She is always looking for ways to put her team before her and improve her skills on the court. She always has high energy and leads the team by consistently having a positive attitude and strong work ethic.

Madallie has a positive attitude and a lot of energy throughout each game and displays what it looks like to be coachable on and off of the court. She takes the initiative during practices and on the sidelines to help her teammates learn rotations so they can all get better together.

Editorial

If it looks like a….

There are times when it is difficult to arrive at a definitive conclusion. Established facts may lead to a reasonable assumption, but there is still room for error. In those cases, a practical answer is often couched in terms that fit the idiom, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck… it probably is a duck.”

These days, the saying is appropriate for a variety of subjects but especially in the political arena. Redistricting is upon us and the results of the 2020 Census have now been finalized. These “facts” will be used to not only determine national and regional representation, but for district boundaries of many cities as well.

In an ideal world, democratic representation fairly and evenly apportions the voting public so a majority can determine the direction and tenor of their elected representatives. However, even a superficial examination of politics reveals an undercurrent of systematic corruption of the process. Called “gerrymandering”, districts or political divisions are often determined by a set of procedures and manipulations that can skew voting strength and representation.

There is nothing new about manipulation of voters; it has reportedly existed in the United States since its founding. However, the name “Gerrymander” was popularized when a cartoon, in the March 26, 1812 edition of the Boston Gazette, satirized the political redistricting contortions designed to retain control of a Massachusetts state senate seat. Governor Elbridge Gerry signed the bill that allowed an odd-shaped district resembling a grotesque salamander… therefore the label, “Gerry-mander”.

As a deliberate and obvious tactic used by political parties to gain control, even local politicians have resorted to gerrymandering although a bit more difficult to accomplish with a small voter base. An example of this was evident in the first attempt at creating district boundaries for Fremont when it moved from at-large representation to districts in 2018. A contentious discussion revolved around residences of existing councilmembers and how that would affect future elections. Since two existing councilmembers lived in close proximity, an obvious conclusion, if both resided in the same district, would be a guaranteed election loss for one of them. It is hard to escape the conclusion that this factor was instrumental in creating district lines (looks like, walks like, quacks like…).

Fremont, among other districted cities as well as counties and states, is again confronted by the challenge of redistricting. In the September 21st Fremont City Council meeting, an outline of the redistricting process was revealed including legal requirements and other goals, statistics and timeline for adoption of new district boundaries. The next two months have been reserved for public input of boundary maps to be considered. The next public hearing – the second of four – is scheduled for December 7, 2021. Coincident with the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor heralding entry of the United States into World War II, this may also be the opening salvo of an interesting struggle for political control in Fremont. With a growing population, shifting demographics, it will be an interesting challenge to balance competing narratives to define “communities of interest.”

The redistricting process is an important political tool for all residents since it defines representation in the business of government. At its core, is the ability for each individual to take part in a process that has far-reaching consequences when critical decisions for the many reside in the votes of the few.

This particular opportunity takes place only once every 10 years. Let’s make the most of it. When considering proposals, remember that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck… it may be a duck, but it can also be an ugly gerrymander peeking out from under a rock.

[For more information about Fremont’s redistricting plans, visit: www.redistrictfremont.org]