04-30-24 Articles

Twentieth Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase

Submitted by Kathy Kramer

 

Registration for the free, Twentieth Annual “Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour and Green Home Features Showcase” is now open. This year brought four days of inspiration: two days online early in April, and two days in person coming up the first weekend in May. For the third time, the Tour will also showcase homes with green home features.

 

The award-winning in-person Garden Tour and Green Home Showcase will allow registrants to visit more than sixty beautiful, water-conserving native plant gardens on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. All of the homes have native plant gardens; twenty will be sharing their green home features, including solar panels and batteries, induction ranges, heat pumps, and more.

 

Ten of this year’s gardens will be located in the East Bay Area, spread through Castro Valley, Hayward, and San Leandro. Many are wheelchair accessible and have green home features as well. New this year is Toku Hankins and Keegan Pham’s garden in Hayward. In addition to native plants and exotic fruit trees, their location is home to two Nigerian dwarf goats and an African guineafowl!

 

Registrants will learn how design a native plant garden for color and interest throughout the year, garden for wildlife, lower their water bills, protect their family’s health and the environment by gardening without using pesticides, and electrify their homes.

 

What’s special about California native plants? They are adapted to our soil and climate, naturally water conserving, and easy to care for. California native plants are better than non-native plants when it comes to attracting native birds, butterflies, and other forms of wildlife. And, as the gardens on the Tour show, these lovely gardens display a sense of place that is uniquely Californian.

 

Registration is free, and a full list of gardens is available online at www.bringingbackthenatives.net. Locations will be provided by email upon registration.

 

 

In-Person Garden Tour

Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 5

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Various locations

Registration: https://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/

Free; registration required

 

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Events

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Paint Party

 

Get ready to paint the town red, green, and all the colors of the Mexican flag! Let your creativity run wild as we sip on margaritas and unleash our inner artists. Whether you’re a seasoned Frida or just looking for a fun night out, this fiesta is for you! Register for this event on Eventbrite. (Search for “Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at our festive Paint Party” by It’s A Vibe Paint Party.) Early bird pricing available until May 1.

 

Cinco de Mayo Paint Party

Thursday, May 2

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Swiss Park Bar & Grill

5911 Mowry Ave., Newark

Tickets: $35 Early Bird; $45 after May 1

www.eventbrite.com

 

 

MexiPino Fiesta

 

Join Downtown San Leandro’s First Annual MexiPino Fiesta and enjoy a fusion of Mexican and Filipino cultures and cuisines! The event showcases Mexican and Filipino food, vendors, art, music, cars, and more! Located at 222 Davis Street in San Leandro, this community event invites visitors of all ages.

 

MexiPino Fiesta

Friday, May 3

4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

222 Davis St., San Leandro

www.downtownsanleandro.com

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Festival and Car Show

 

La Alianza is your host for the 39th annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Downtown Hayward. At this free family event, enjoy live music, mariachis, DJ’s, Aztec dancers, Ballet Folklorico, car show, bicycles & pedal cars, arts & crafts, and food & vendors. This event is walking distance from Hayward BART Station!

 

La Alianza de Hayward is a non-profit community-based group committed to cultural events via civic duty. Visit La Alianza Water booth to make a donation to name a reading room in the new Hayward Library after the activist & labor organizer César Estrada Chávez. Every little bit helps!

 

Cinco de Mayo Festival and Car Show

Saturday, May 4

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

B St. & Main St.

www.laalianzadehayward.com

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Salsa Fest

 

Enjoy a day of live music, dancing, vendors, kids’ zone, nonprofit row, great food, and more! This event is put on by Opening Doors 2020, a nonprofit helping those in poverty in Santa Clara County.

 

Cinco de Mayo Salsa Fest

Saturday, May 4

1 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Plaza de Caesar Chavez Park

194 S Market., San Jose

Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children 5-17, $5 college students (show ID)

https://od2020.com/salsafest/

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Community Event at Ohlone College

 

Come out to a free Cinco de Mayo community event in Newark presented by Checos Rescue Ranch & Westcoast Makers. The event includes car site and see, beer garden, foodie influencers, kids play zone, and over 90 vendors. Featured artists are: Chika Di (Colombia), Los Rakas (Panama), Big Klef (Nigeria), Suenatron (Mexico).

 

Cinco de Mayo Community Event

Sunday, May 5

12 noon – 7 p.m.

11:30 a.m. Doors Open

Ohlone College

39399 Cherry St., Newark

 

 

 

“It’s cheap theater, and it’s really good”: Ohlone Playwrights Festival returns for its 10th year of 10-minute plays

By Connie Cheung

Photos by Rudy Barrios

 

Every year, students at Ohlone College in Fremont put on a series of 10-minute plays that have each been specifically commissioned and written for them by playwrights from across the country. This marks the tenth year of the college’s Playwrights Festival, which is open to the public for $12 a ticket and features a rich variety of stories.

 

One year, for a play centered on a talking park bench, students devised a costume using ingenious tape and paint work so the actor appeared to be part of the structure. This year, the lineup again promises a colorful collection: from deep cemetery conversations to action-packed political dramas, and even a play titled “Godzilla + Kong: A Mon-Rom-Com.”

 

Acting, directing and designing such plays are an invaluable educational experience and also a great deal of fun, says Michael Navarra, Director of Ohlone College’s theater program. Community colleges like Ohlone have a particularly diverse population: high-schoolers studying alongside adults continuing education, those transferring to four-year universities with others focused on shorter vocational certifications. The chance to perform specially-written pieces by living playwrights spotlights the unique voices in a cast.

 

In academic settings, actors don’t always have a chance to perform fresh, relevant works, explained Jeffrey Lo, a local playwright and director who has written regularly for Ohlone in prior years (including the play about the park bench). “It’s really unique, writing for the actors,” Lo explained, “I watched the video and took notes on everyone’s vibes.”

 

The process looks like this: Months before the festival, small groups of actors and directors share video recordings of themselves with the writers, inspiring plays based on their own voices and personalities. After handing over the text, playwrights have little idea of how their works will appear on stage. Presenting his first play this year, student Chava Suarez described being delighted by his classmate’s approach in directing the piece: “I love that he felt the liberty to take what I had given him and make it very creative, very fun, very free,” Suarez said.

 

This sense of freedom is by design. “We try to give students as much autonomy as possible,” said Michael Navarra, the Director of Ohlone’s Theater program. Everyone is encouraged to expand their understanding and attempt new skills. For example, Suarez began as an acting student before learning to direct, eventually becoming the director for two full productions. Later, after expressing interest in writing, he and Navarra worked for over a year with back-and-forth critiques and countless revisions.

 

“I wasn’t discouraged, so much as I felt challenged to do something that was worth doing,” Suarez said, reflecting on the learning experience. Suarez’s appreciation for learning through the Ohlone Playwrights Festival is echoed among many other collaborators. Eugenie Chan, a veteran playwright who teaches at San Jose State University and University of San Francisco, also reflected more broadly on the importance of theater for students: “You can see how the cultivation, the love of arts, and the ability to take classes that you love fosters great joy and happiness.”

 

Everyone seems to agree that the Festival is a great deal of fun. “If there’s one thing that is consistent about Playwrights festival it’s always a lot of fun,” Suarez said, “Be ready to laugh, be ready to cheer. It’s cheap theater, and it’s really good.”

 

 

Ohlone Playwrights Festival

Thursday, May 2 & Friday, May 3

7 p.m.

Gary Soren Smith Center

43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont

https://www.ohlone.edu/theatredance/playwrightsfestival

Tickets: $12 (purchase at the door)

Parking: $4

 

 

 

Awareness can bring change

Submitted by Andrea Schacter and Angelina Reyes

 

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -James Baldwin

 

This simple yet powerful quotation from one of America’s most famous writers reminds us that becoming aware of a situation is the first step to bringing about change.

 

The League of Women Voters, Fremont-Newark-Union City (LWVFNUC) invites the entire community to become aware of the issues and problems at the Alameda County Jail (also known as Santa Rita Jail) in Dublin.

 

Nearly 70 people have died while incarcerated at the Santa Rita Jail in the past 10 years. In November of 2021, Maurice Monk, a 45-year-old Oakland man, was left for dead on his bunk with stacks of uneaten food and medications scattered on his cell floor, along with a puddle of urine. No one checked on him for at least three days.

 

Alameda County has paid out millions of dollars in lawsuits for deaths of inmates in similar incidents. Whether or not one has a personal connection to the jail, we should all be concerned about what is going on at this government agency that acts in our name. There has been an erosion of community trust, as more incidents like this continue. At the upcoming event, meet KTVU investigative journalist who has been covering these stories for 10 years, learn about California Assembly Bill 1185, and hear from the dedicated advocates who are lobbying for change and accountability.

 

This panel discussion will include the following individuals:

• Lisa Fernandez, KTVU Journalist
• Anne Janks, Coalition for Police Accountability
• Norma Nelson, California LWV Criminal Justice Interest Group
• Judy Zlatnik, Interfaith Coalition for Justice In Our Jails
• Syeda Inamdar (Moderator) Alameda County Sheriff Oversight Coalition

 

One might ask, “Why is the League (LWV) interested and involved about Criminal Justice?” At its 55th LWVUS Convention, held in 2022, our National League delegates adopted public policy positions. As a resource, and to better inform its membership, “Impact on Issues, A Guide To Public Policy Positions” was published.

 

Within the policy positions, the first position under the category of Social Policy stands “Criminal Justice.” Briefly, the policy supports “A criminal justice system that is: just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedure, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry.”

 

Effective January 2021, new legislation was approved in Sacramento. Assembly Bill 1185 (AB 1185) authorizes each California county to create a sheriff oversight board and an office of inspector general to assist boards of supervisors in overseeing sheriff offices. The bill authorizes a sheriff oversight board and inspector generals to issue a subpoena when deemed necessary to investigate a matter within the jurisdiction of the board.

 

The League of Women Voters of California, that includes the Alameda County Council of the League of Women Voters (ACC), supports the establishment of a strong, effective, and independent community oversight body for the Sheriff’s Office in Alameda County (ACSO). Our League is part of the California Coalition of Sherriff Oversight that includes such organizations as the ACLU-Northern California, Faith in Action East Bay, Livermore Indivisible, Coalition for Police Accountability, and Interfaith for Justice in our Jails working together towards this effort.

 

This community awareness event will address this policing practice that ensures government transparency, and police accountability via independent citizen oversight of law enforcement. Your attentiveness can impact the future oversight of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office that currently oversees the Santa Rita Jail. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors is considering approval of an oversight board soon.

 

Come to this free community event and help make a change, and better yet, a difference!

 

 

Criminal Justice: Taking A Hard Look at Alameda County Jail (Santa Rita)

Saturday, May 4

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Niles Discovery Church

36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont

 

 

 

Settlement Agreement with BART Improves Accessibility for Riders with Mobility Disabilities

Submitted by Chris Maccarone

 

On April 18, 2024, a federal judge approved a class settlement that provides significant changes that will improve the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)’s accessibility for riders with mobility disabilities. The settlement resolves claims that BART has systemically failed to ensure full and equal access to its stations and services, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and California law.

 

Under the settlement agreement, among other things, BART agreed to:

 

• Implement a strategic maintenance plan to renovate the 87 station elevators, make prompt repairs of out of service station elevators and escalators, and implement preventative maintenance plans to provide continuous, uninterrupted service.
• A timely response to elevator and station cleanliness.
• Communication of elevator and escalator outages.
• An emergency preparedness plan including a protocol for passengers separated from their mobility devices during an emergency.
• Training of BART personnel.
• A complaint procedure to report on accessibility issues.

 

“This settlement brings lasting change for our staff members and clients,” said Lana Nieves, Executive Director of the Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco.

 

“This settlement ensures that people with mobility disabilities are not excluded from the Bay Area’s mass transit system and do not receive a level of service vastly inferior to non-disabled people,” said Jinny Kim, Supervising Attorney at Disability Rights Advocates.

 

“This settlement secures long-overdue improvements to the BART system and ensures accessible public access that will benefit all riders. Perhaps more importantly, it reaffirms the equal dignity of people with mobility disabilities,” said Laura Alvarenga Scalia Staff Attorney at Legal Aid at Work.

 

The case is Senior and Disability Action, et al. v. Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Civ. No. 3:17-cv-01876-LB (N.D. Cal.) and was filed on April 5, 2017 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by Senior and Disability Action and Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco and two individuals with mobility disabilities who sought equal access to the mass transit system. Plaintiffs are represented by Disability Rights Advocates and Legal Aid at Work.

 

 

Disability Rights Advocates is the leading national nonprofit disability rights legal center. Thanks to DRA’s precedent-setting work, people with disabilities across the country have dramatically improved access to transportation, health care, voting, education and employment. Visit www.dralegal.org.

 

Legal Aid at Work partners with people to help them understand and assert their workplace rights. It also advocates for employment laws and systems that empower low-paid workers and marginalized communities. Visit https://legalaidatwork.org/

 

Senior and Disability Action mobilizes and educates seniors and people with disabilities to fight for individual rights and social justice. Through individual support and collective action, SDA works together to create a city and world in which seniors and people with disabilities can live well and safely. Visit www.sdaction.org.

 

Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco is a disability rights advocacy and support organization whose mission is to ensure that people with disabilities are full social and economic partners, within their families and within a fully accessible community. Visit www.ilrcsf.org.

 

 

 

Boy Scouts get to see Newark City Council in action

Submitted by Eve Marie Little

 

Thanks to Mayor Michael Hannon, the Boy Scouts from Newark Troop 186 have gotten the opportunity of a lifetime to really learn how the local government works in our community. On April 15, 2024, over 18 scouts were invited to Newark City Hall by some of the city’s top leaders including the City Manager, David Benoun, and Police Chief, Jonathan Arguello, to learn more about the leadership roles in the city council, what their goals are for the city, host a mock city council meeting, and answer any municipal questions.

 

Xander Wynn, the Senior patrol leader for the troop, was blown away by the mayor’s kindness. “He took the time out of his day to teach us about our local government, which he really didn’t have to do but we were very happy. It was really cool to see how a city hall meeting works in real life, not just read it in the school textbook,” stated Wynn. Other scouts really liked debating whether schools should be year-round or not, the special topic chosen for the night. Once both sides of this topic got a chance to speak, the temporary “scout-lead” mock city council discussed the topic in front of the attendees, and made a decision on how to move forward with this topic, similar to what is done in real meetings.

 

This event was even educational for the parents. Minchi Hu Chang said she now has a clearer understanding on how the local government works, what they do and didn’t realize how little they actually get paid for all the work that they do. Now knowing everything she learned, she feels they truly provide a service for the community and listen to the public.

 

Mayor Hannon has been serving as mayor for the city since 2022 but worked in the municipal setting for close to 27 years with the City of San Jose, managing the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement department. He also represents nine council assignments and is active in the community. City Council Meetings are held the second and fourth Thursday of each month starting at 7 p.m. For more information on everything that is available with the City of Newark, check out www.newark.org.

 

 

 

What is Cinco de Mayo?

Staff Report

 

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “Fifth of May,” is a regional holiday in Mexico, observed primarily in the state of Puebla with limited recognition in the rest of the country. It commemorates Mexico’s defeat of France on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin’s leadership. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States and elsewhere around the world as a mark of Mexican heritage and pride. It is not Mexico’s Independence Day which falls on September 16.

In July 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended Mexico’s interest payments to its creditors. This sparked the Maximilian Affair, or Franco-Mexican War. Britain, France and Spain, Mexico’s main creditors, signed the Treaty of London in October 1861 to force resumption of payments using gunboat diplomacy.

British, French and Spanish fleets arrived in Veracruz in January 1862. The British and Spanish withdrew their forces in April 1862 when they realized France’s true ambition was to conquer Mexico.

Despite the initial success of the French invasion, Mexican forces defeated the French army on May 5, 1862 (now the Cinco de Mayo commemoration). This was a temporary setback for the French who took the capital, Mexico City, in June 1863. The French installed His Imperial and Royal Highness Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph, Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, as Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico in April 1864.

Many historians believe the French created the monarchy while the United States was preoccupied with the Civil War (1861-65) and unable to otherwise intervene according to the Monroe Doctrine. Enacted in Dec 1823, the doctrine regarded European governments’ attempts to colonize or interfere with states in the Americas as acts of aggression warranting US intervention. US Congress formally expressed its opposition to the establishment of the Mexican monarchy six days before Maximilian accepted the crown.

In February 1866, the US demanded the withdrawal of French forces which began at the end of May 1866. Forces loyal to President Benito Juarez executed Maximilian I on June 19, 1867. The deployment of US troops along the Rio Grande and the threat of invasion strengthened Juarez’s position. Mexico City surrendered the day after Maximilian I was executed and the republic was restored under Juarez, thus, ending France’s occupation of Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is significant for two reasons. First, the French army, better equipped and outnumbering the Mexican forces by two-to-one, suffered its first defeat in 50 years. Second, the Battle of Puebla is the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas.

 

 

 

Discovering women’s empowerment and success at discovery day

Submitted by Harshini Sanjay

 

In March of 2024, the Fremont branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), hosted their 33rd Discovery Day event at Caesar Chavez Middle School in Union City. A nonprofit founded in 1881, AAUW strives to advance “advocacy, education, and research” through different events, scholarships, speeches, camps, groups, and empowerment of women across the nation. Founded by dedicated AAUW member Miriam Keller fifty years ago, Discovery Day’s purpose is to inspire young girls from third to fifth grade and expose them to the variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects. Led and organized by Randy Fewel, other women from AAUW, and STEM organizations, and supported by high school volunteers, Discovery Day helped over thirty teams of mothers and daughters and their female relatives experience four interactive workshops, with a general theme of climate change.

 

After check-in, snacks and AAUW pamphlets were offered before the introductory ceremony. Four workshops were stationed in different science rooms across campus and mother-daughter pairs were assigned to a high school volunteer and directed to their respective classes. Bee Habitats led by Dr. Richard Godfrey, Textile Waste by Dr. Joanne Brasch, City Temperatures from Mathnasium, Coding for Recycling by Code for Fun together made five hours of education and fun to light a spark for young and curious minds.

 

Bee Habitats, by Dr. Godfrey, offered an interactive lesson on the importance of bees in a world where they are dwindling out of existence. Despite most children’s fears of such creatures, these girls were immensely fascinated by how bee societies, or hives, operated around a queen and what the species did for human survival. Even the adults were involved with the discussion of honey and its medicinal properties, and the role of bees in today’s civilization. At the very end, Dr. Godfrey brought in his own bees and graciously allowed the girls to view them up close. This exhibit was incredibly popular and many girls were able to leave with a changed perspective on these extremely significant creatures of our ecosystem.

 

Textile Wastes was another informative workshop. Especially with the deadly rise in climate change effects across the world, the excess trash that is a result of human consumption begs the question of where it all goes. As Dr. Brasch explained, newer clothes are being made with repurposed materials that often are discarded without thought–stressing the importance of learning the difference between recycling and trash. And with the greater interest in STEM, apps and devices have now been developed to detect the specific material and amount used in any given piece of clothing. The girls were able to test their own clothing and discover what materials they had purchased. Many, ironically more among the chaperones, were surprised to discover that not all materials were completely authentic and were repurposed with recycled materials.

 

Mathnasium’s workshop combined science with math by getting the girls to solve a worksheet with their mothers or guardians and understand why city temperatures operate the way they do. Girls analyzed cloud types and determined whether they were real, winning prizes such as candy, stuffed animals, and even an iPad for correct answers. Enjoying more bonding time with their guardians, the girls were also able to learn about the areas in which they themselves lived in and how the weather functions, all through the lens of mathematics.

 

Lastly, in Code for Fun’s workshop each mother / daughter pair was given a computer with a specific coding software revolving around art, specifically drawing. All the girls were able to participate in a hands-on activity at the beginning, using a guessing software to describe what they were drawing on a computer. Later, they were given their own opportunity to recreate drawings and pictures on an individual screen to better understand elementary coding and software.

 

After all four workshop sessions were completed, the thirty mother-daughter teams reconvened in the general meeting area. Door prizes courtesy of AAUW and Mathnasium, were handed out to the winners, and a photobooth was opened for pictures. More opportunities for young girls, such as Tech Trek, Speech Trek, Government Trek, and other scholarships, were discussed and offered to the mother-daughter teams attending Discovery Day. With an entire day devoted to bringing joy in education for young girls and inspiring them to believe that anything is possible, Discovery Day was a monumental success and a testament to the effort and brilliance of women.

 

 

 

Flash Fiction Contest – Results of Dreams/ How the Dreams ended

Submitted by Arathi Satish

 

Fremont Cultural Arts Council (FCAC) is pleased to announce the results of the Flash Fiction contest – Dreams, co-sponsored with Half Price Books. This was one of the Fremont Creates events in April 2024, highlighting the creative writing of local people.

 

The event was highly successful with eighty-six stories written by fifty-five different authors who had a vote total of 516 votes cast with each of nearly 200 voters choosing up to five winners. The event was supported by Half-Price Books, Infinity Care LLC, an organization that provides caring heart, quality service, and local student volunteers.

 

Al Minard, who has been organizing this event the last few years, said, “I am encouraged to continue this contest because so many of the writers thank me for giving them an opportunity to write short stories and have them reviewed by their peers. I have also found that some of the stories are being published in books and other venues. I am constantly amazed at the creative writers in the area and feel so honored to give them a place to display their creative abilities.”

 

Margaret Thornberry, President Emeritus, FCAC, pointed out, “I was impressed by each and every entry, each year’s event being better than the last, thanks to so many fine authors, and enthusiastic support by Half Price Books at the Hub.”

 

The first-place winner was Sarah Jensen for her story, “A Strange Dream!” Two people tied for second place: Wayne Reznick for “Call of Duty” and Nancy Guarnera for “Cloud Dreaming.” There were two winners tied for third place: Elena Climent for “A Touch of Death,” and Vincent Nghiem for “Overdue.”

 

Regarding the writers, Al said, “One of the winner’s this year was 96 years old and other writers have said that they were seven or eight years old. All of them compete equally, which, I think encourages young people to feel that they can compete with adults on an equal footing.”

 

Margaret Thornberry concluded by saying, “All you aspiring authors, don’t be discouraged! Sharpen your pencils, put ink in your pens, warm up your keyboards! FCAC is holding two Flash Fiction Contests this year! The second one will be about ‘frogs,’ such a good subject after my own after my own heart…kissing frogs, croaking frogs in ponds, reduced environment for frogs…so many ways to go with frogs!”

 

The winning stories about Dreams can be read on the Fremont Cultural Arts Council website www.fremontculturalartscouncil.org.

 

Below is the first-place winner. In following weeks we will run the other winning submissions.

 

A Strange Dream!

By Sarah Jensen

 

A dinosaur is chasing me –

I know this is a dream –

He catches up – and suddenly –

Turns into mint ice cream

 

I take a lick – to my surprise –

It tastes like carrot cake

And then – before my very eyes –

It gobbles up a snake

 

It opens up its mouth and I –

I spread my arms out wide

I flap so hard I start to fly –

But then comes in the tide

 

We plunge into the shifting sea –

The cake dissolves to mush –

I hide behind some shrubbery –

And meet a spot-winged thrush

 

Says she, “Please help! I haven’t seen

My keys in quite some time!”

We trace back where they could have been

And find them in a lime

 

Then suddenly – the sky is pink –

And purple whales take flight

I swim before I start to sink

Into the starry night

 

I climb into the sky and find –

The stars are really bees –

Around and round my head they wind –

And bring me to my knees

 

A rabbit crawls into my lap –

He says, “You’re very late!”

I jolt out of my nightly nap –

And have a weirder day!

 

 

 

An East Bay Area ‘type’ of play

By Stephanie Gertsch

 

The upcoming musical at Chanticleers Theatre “Just My Type” may feature stories across the spectrum of Myers-Briggs, but its roots are firmly in Castro Valley. Opening on May 4, the history of the show reaches back over 15 years to another Chanticleers musical.

 

While performing in the two-person “I Do! I Do!” in 2008, Charlotte Jacobs and Michael Sally got to talking about their “day jobs”—oncologist and psychologist, respectively. Sally brought up the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) (a way of describing different personalities). Jacobs was intrigued. The two wanted to work on a cabaret-style show together, and MBTI became the basis for the storyline of what was initially dubbed, “Talk Typing.”

 

After then-Artistic Director Gary Wright gave them a slot to debut the play at Chanticleers, the duo realized they would need original music if they wanted to take the show further. Sally reached out to Emmy Award-winner Rita Abrams, who responded enthusiastically. Sally recalls, “I had worked with her on one of her shows in the past, and found her original music to be just perfect, they were full of different styles and her lyrics are always brilliant and witty.” The duo became a trio.

 

Abrams describes creative collaboration as “tantamount to getting married.” When multiple artists care deeply about a work, egos can clash. But in this case the three came from different fields and respected each other’s expertise. She says, “Creatively, the project was a good match for me, because I write in numerous styles, and the characters Michael and Charlotte created gave me the chance to use many of them, alternating from serious, heartfelt songs to funny ones. The result of the whole mix of our talents and personalities created a show I believe the Chanticleers audience will find both entertaining and illuminating—as in both HaHa and Ah Hah!”

 

In its mature form, “Just My Type” tells the story of two psychologists, under deadline to write a book, take inspiration from four couples in their practice. In the process they learn something about themselves. In the two-person play, all the characters will be played by Martie Muldoon and Geoffrey Colton. Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez will provide musical direction, and Jan Brown will direct.

 

For the creators, it’s a homecoming—especially as Sally himself grew up across the street from Chanticleers Theatre. He shares, “We three are so excited to have it be presented at the theatre that agreed to first take a chance with ‘Talk Typing,’ now called ‘Just My Type.’ It is still our hope to get this show out there widely and have many be moved by the script and music.”

 

Due to construction at Chanticleers theatre, “Just My Type” will be performed at the Castro Valley Community Center. The show runs Saturdays and Sundays from May 4 until May 25. (And if you’re curious about MGTI, you can take the test yourself at www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test.)

 

 

Just My Type

Saturday, May 4 – Saturday, May 25

Saturdays: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Sundays: 2 p.m.

Castro Valley Community Center

18988 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley

(510) 733-5483

www.chanticleers.org

Tickets: $30 General; $25 Senior/Military; $10 Student

 

 

 

600 Volunteers, 39 Schools, 71,000 meals packed

By Allyson Wong

 

In April 2022, BASIS Independent Fremont School held a school meal-packing event, packing over 28,000 meals to support refugees in Ukraine. (https://tricityvoice.com/04-12-22/) On April 20, 2024, BASIS opened up its campus and partnered with Kids Against Hunger Fremont to host its annual community meal packing event. Nearly 600 students and volunteers from 39 schools came together to participate, packing over 71,000 meals in under three hours. The meals packed support local families experiencing food insecurity, Afghan refugees, and children suffering from the Ukraine and Middle East crises.

 

Fremont Mayor Lily Mei; Vice Mayor Dr. Yang Shao; Councilmember Raj Salwan; and Kathy Kimberlin, representing Alameda County Supervisor District 1 Office, also volunteered their time to support the event. Mayor Mei kicked off the event with a welcome message, “The message we are sharing today is the message of hope and all of you are bringing…We need to do what we can in our area to help across the world but also here in our communities. Your opportunity and time today means a lot, and it shows you care and have compassion…Compassion and kindness starts at home, and it starts in our communities.”

 

Fracine Davis, Head of BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School, also shared, “As we gather to assemble meals for those in need, we are not just individuals but a united force with a shared mission to combat hunger, nourish hearts, and change lives. Your commitment to this cause is truly inspiring.”

 

Each prepared Kids Against Hunger dry meal consists of six servings of nutritious, gluten free formulation developed by food scientists at Texas A&M University. Ingredients consist of a special blend of 21 vitamins and minerals, mixed dried vegetables, protein-rich crushed soy, and rice. Twenty assembly lines were formed in which volunteers worked together to assemble the meal ingredients. During the meal packing event, many volunteers expressed how excited they were to be able to participate together with their families and help kids in need locally and around the world. Several students shared that they couldn’t wait to return to participate in the event again next year.

 

The schools represented at the event were: American High, Azevada Elementary, BASIS Independent Fremont, Bringhurst Elementary, Brookvale Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School (Union City), Chadbourne Elementary, Centerville Middle School, Durham Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Glenmore Elementary, Gomes Elementary, Grimmer Elementary, Holy Spirit School, Homeschooled, Hopkins Middle School, Horner Middle School, Irvington High, Kennedy High, Live Oak Academy, Mission San Jose Elementary, Mission San Jose High, Mission Valley Elementary, Mottos Elementary, Niles Elementary, Oliveira Elementary, Parkmont Elementary, Patterson Elementary, Shirakawa Elementary, Thornton Middle School, Warm Spring Elementary, Warwick Elementary, Washington High, Yerba Buena High School (San Jose), Yu Ming Charter School (Oakland), Sunol Glen Elementary, Vallejo Mill Elementary, amongst several others schools.

 

Established in 2019, Kids Against Hunger Fremont is a non-profit humanitarian organization run entirely by volunteers. Since its inception, KAH Fremont has enabled over 15,000 Fremont students and volunteers to pack over 950,000 meals to support those most in need in our community and around the world. To learn more about Kids Against Hunger Fremont, go to www.kahfremont.org.

 

 

 

LEAF Earth Day 2024

Submitted by LEAF

Photos by Nate Bernardo

 

On Saturday, April 20, we celebrated Earth Day at the Fremont Downtown Event Center. LEAF had 19 booths and over 75 volunteers. It was an absolutely perfect spring day with temps in the low 70s with some wispy clouds, little breeze, and no rain.

 

LEAF’s mission on Earth Day was to educate the community about how ALL of us can contribute to regenerating the land, and we accomplished that mission and more. Our booths were humming with conversations about sustainability and gardening. We were in environmental nerd heaven. Thanks to all the volunteers who shared their passion about sustaining our Earth by sharing their knowledge and also to those behind the scenes who prepared the collateral, the giveaways and prepped the booths. You all make a difference!

 

We announced our Weekend Workshops for this year at Earth Day. Lori Coleman, the Compost Gal, will be holding the class “Why Compost?” on Sunday, May 5 at LEAF Stone Garden from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. As part of our Earth Day Celebration this class is free. Register at our LEAF Shop.

 

We had a very positive response to this event with over 160 requests to register for our monthly newsletter and 15 students interested in our Students for LEAF Summer Program. We had lots of donations for our local wildflower raw honey which covered all the Earth Day expenses, so it was a sustainable event. Special thanks to Syndee, Carol and Greg for their time and energy to nurture the bees and process all the honey.

 

 

www.fremontleaf.org

 

 

 

New Affordable Housing Property Now Accepting Applications

Submitted by City of Fremont

 

Applications are now being accepted for the lottery waitlist for Fremont Family Apartments, a new affordable housing property located at 34320 Fremont Boulevard in Fremont. This new property is for income-eligible individuals and families and will be managed by Abode and The John Stewart Company.

 

At this time, applications are being accepted for 27 rental units at Fremont Family Apartments. Applications can be submitted online via the Alameda County Housing Portal. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Applications can be submitted any time before the deadline; it is not first come, first served.

 

Fremont Family Apartments includes a total of 54 brand new affordable rental units to be leased to low-income individuals and families. Features include 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom floor plans and an on-site manager and resident services.

 

Eligibility Information

The 27 units currently available at Fremont Family Apartments are to be leased to low-income households. To view income requirements and rent amounts, visit the Alameda County Housing Portal or the Fremont Family Apartments Flyer. Preference will be given to those currently residing or working in Fremont, Newark, or Union City and then those residing or working in Alameda County. All eligible households are encouraged to apply.

 

Deadline and Submissions

The deadline to apply for the 27 available units at Fremont Family Apartments is Friday, May 3, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. No exceptions will be made for late submissions. Applications can be submitted any time before the deadline; it is not first come, first served. Applications can be submitted online via the Alameda County Housing Portal by the May, 3 deadline.

 

Selection Process

Submitted applications will be placed into a lottery. A waiting list will be established based on the results of the lottery and the ranking order of the applications. Applicants will be invited for an interview in the order of the waiting list. Interviews will continue until the maximum number of applicants to fill the units has been reached.

 

For more information, please view the resources below or contact the leasing agent, The John Stewart Company, by emailor by calling (510) 648-2476.

• Alameda County Housing Portal – https://shorturl.at/zRY08
• Fremont Family Apartments Flyer – https://shorturl.at/xADI4

 

 

 

Olive Hyde Art Guild presents annual donation

Submitted by Gail Blalock

 

At the April 17, 2024, Fremont Recreation Committee meeting, Olive Hyde Art Guild President Manveen Kalyanpur presented the City of Fremont with an $8,000 check representing the Guild’s donation in support of the Olive Hyde Art Center.

 

Each year the Guild donates a percentage of the profits from its Annual Holiday Show and Sale. This year the Holiday Show is scheduled for October 19 and 20. President Kalyanpur also reported that the Guild is donating half the cost ($1,600) for new wood blinds in the Mission Room at the Art Center.

 

The Guild, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, has worked collaboratively with the City for more than 50 years in support of the Gallery and the visual arts in the community. Fremont Recreation Superintendent Irene Jordahl joined Guild President Kalyanpur in providing the Commission with an overview of the City and Guild’s relationship and the many activities to support the visual arts.

 

Sometimes referred to as the “hidden gem” of Fremont, the Olive Hyde Art Gallery and Center is nestled in at the corner of Washington and Mission Boulevards, across from Mission San Jose. President Kalyanpur invited Commission Members and the audience to visit the Gallery’s current show entitled “Human Essence”, a photographic exhibition featuring portraits paired with abstract photography, running through May 25.

 

 

For more information, visit the Guild’s website at www.olivehydeartguild.org.

 

 

 

Unlock Your Child’s Brighter Future with Ohlone for Kids & Teens Summer Enrichment Program

Submitted by Angela Marla Ramos

 

Are you looking for an exciting and enriching experience for your child this summer? Look no further than the Ohlone for Kids & Teens (OFK) Summer Enrichment Program at Ohlone College! Our program is uniquely designed to offer a diverse range of courses for students entering grades 1-12, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun during their summer break. With our program, you can be confident that your child’s potential will be unlocked in a supportive and engaging environment.

 

At OFK, we believe that learning should be both enjoyable and educational. That’s why we offer a wide variety of classes tailored to meet the interests and needs of every child. From core subjects like English, math, and science to exciting electives such as robotics, video game design, and culinary arts, there’s something for everyone at OFK.

 

What sets OFK apart from other summer programs? For starters, our instructors are experienced educators who are passionate about teaching and inspiring young minds. They create engaging and interactive lessons encouraging students to think critically, problem-solve, and explore new ideas. Plus, our small class sizes ensure that each child receives personalized attention and support.

 

“Unlock your child’s Brighter Future with Ohlone for Kids & Teens this summer. From robotics to creative writing, our diverse courses foster academic growth and ignite passions. Join us for a summer of exploration and enrichment!” Christopher D. Jenson, Ph.D., Director of Community & Corporate Education, Ohlone College.

 

One of the most exciting aspects of our program is the partnership between Ohlone College and the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD). Through the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P), eligible FUSD students can attend the OFK Summer Enrichment Program at no cost to their families. This means that all students, regardless of their background or financial situation, are not only welcome but also valued participants in our program. We believe that every child has the potential to succeed, and we are committed to providing equal opportunities for all.

 

Eligibility for the ELO-P program is determined based on qualifications outlined in the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), including English learners, foster youth, students experiencing homelessness, and those eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Families interested in applying can do so through the FUSD application process, with assistance from dedicated FUSD representatives. For more information, please contact Steven Musto (smusto@fusdk12.net) or Dorothy Ho (kho@fusdk12.net) or visit https://fremontunified.org/news/2024-ohlone-for-kids-teens-opportunity/

 

To learn more about the OFK Summer Enrichment Program, we invite you to visit our table at the OFK Youth-Entrepreneur Flea Market on Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Representatives from Ohlone College will be on hand to answer any questions and provide assistance with registration. For more information, please visit www.OhloneForKids.com.

 

 

 

Pop Artist Aditi Sri to release new singles

Submitted by Srini Veeraraghavan

 

“Dance to my heart beat” and “Simply in Love” are Aditi Sri’s new songs she wrote and recorded. Both these songs showcase true passion and the purest form of love. “Dance to my heart beat” will give old Hollywood retro vibes and will undoubtedly get people dancing. This song is fun, playful and the lyrics are so cheerful. “Simply in Love” gives subtle and sweet energy creating a beautiful romance shining through. This song is pleasant and refreshing with lyrics that are deeply soulful.

 

Aditi’s writing process for both these songs has always been to make the audience feel surreal and sense what true love is like. She wanted to create something with a connecting storyline for her music videos “Dance to my heart beat” and “Simply in Love.” She came up with an epic plot for both her music videos that audience will surely enjoy.

 

“Dance to my Heart” and “Simply in Love” is produced by USHMS Inc / East West Musical JAM with the support of Dr. Romesh Japra Cardiologist (FOG Chairman) and honored by Roger Burnell (Stanford Chair) and Joelle Burnell who were both actors in the “Simply in Love” music video.

 

Aditi Sri actor/singer started singing at the age of four and performing at age five. Aditi Sri is the first Indian American to tour Nationwide. She has performed over 175 concerts and has released five singles “On My Own,” “Shine,” “Like You Do,” “Unbreakable” and “Seasonal Love.” Aditi Sri’s single “Like You Do” was featured on MTV Series “Help I’m in a Secret Relationship” episode 222. She has also won many national and international awards.

 

Aditi Sri recently recorded and shot a music video BULBUL with Bollywood Playback singer Indeep Bakshi. Now she recorded a song with Bollywood Legend SHAAN for a Bollywood movie “Sweatpants” that was directed by Monty Sharma a National Award winner for many Bollywood Blockbusters.

 

 

 

Cars, food, and music!

Submitted by Niles Main Street Association

 

The 2024 Niles Spring Fever Car show will take place on Sunday, May 5! This is an entertaining day for the entire family. Car lovers have an opportunity to show off their shiny new toys. A live band will be playing, and local shops and restaurants will be open along Niles Boulevard.

 

Vehicle pre-registration for $35 is open until May 1; after that registration is $40. Participants must register by 9 a.m. on the day of the event. (No early departures, please!)

 

 

Niles Spring Fever Car Show

Sunday, May 5

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Niles Town Plaza

37482 Niles Blvd., Fremont

(510) 857-6512

https://www.niles.org/

 

 

 

Summer Food Trucks

 

Special events:

 

Asian Heritage Festival

Saturday, May 4

11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Downtown Event Center

3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

 

Dale Hardware Stars & Stripes BBQ

Saturday, May 25

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dale Hardware

3700 Thornton Ave., Fremont

 

Pride Fair

Saturday, Jun 15

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fremont Main Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

 

Dale Hardware 110th Anniversary Block Party

Saturday, Jun 29

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Dale Hardware

3700 Thornton Ave., Fremont

 

San Leandro Artisan Market

Saturday, Jul 13

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

222 Davis St., San Leandro

 

 

Ongoing:

 

Fremont Street Eats

Fridays

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Downtown Event Center

3500 Capitol Ave., Fremont

 

Ohlone College Flea Market

Second Saturdays

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont

 

 

 

EarthTalk®

From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine

Photo credit: Pexels.com.

 

Dear EarthTalk: What is “pre-bunking” when it comes to climate change?

 

The act of pre-bunking has grown in popularity, especially since the 2020 election. It is a way to combat misinformation by warning people about it before they encounter it online or in real life. It attempts to anticipate false claims and provide accurate information to counter them. The strategy comes from a branch of social psychology research called inoculation theory. The theory is similar to that of countering vaccination conspiracies. If you can learn more about a certain topic, you will be more prepared in the future to think critically about any information regarding said topic.

 

Despite increasing physical and scientific evidence proving climate change, misinformation still spreads like wildfire. Politicians and conspiracy theorists consistently spread false information online and offline. While debunking misinformation is a commonly used tool it often doesn’t work well enough to fully combat the issue. You also run the risk of giving misinformation credibility when you have to debunk it.

 

Pre-bunking focuses on targeting broader concepts rather than specific claims. When specific claims are targeted, it is hard to avoid triggering partisan or emotional reactions. In order to successfully utilize pre-bunking, you must first choose which lie to pre-bunk. Some misinformation is more dangerous than others, so it is important to choose the lie that will be most impactful to dispel. One of the most effective techniques is to then create a “truth sandwich.” Lead with the facts of the matter, then introduce the lie and why someone would lie about it. Lastly, end the sandwich with another fact.

 

Here’s an example of a common claim and how to pre-bunk it: One claim is that the government was using wildfires as an excuse to increase climate regulations. To pre-bunk this claim first it must be explained that this theory is likely to circulate. Second, point out how conspiracy theorists used the same idea to claim that COVID-19 lockdowns were a government scheme to prepare people for climate lockdowns, an event that never happened. Last, show how government agencies often communicate openly about the reasoning behind climate regulations and how they are utilized to avoid the maximum damage.

 

How effective is pre-bunking really? Enough evidence supports the use of pre-bunking that Twitter and Google are both embracing the strategy on their platforms. At Google a team of academic psychologists have conducted experiments using 90-second videos explaining common misinformation tactics. The study found that showing people the videos made them better at spotting misinformation tactics, and less likely to circulate posts containing these tactics. Giving people the tools to spot and critique content online is crucial to fighting misinformation. Like anything else, pre-bunking isn’t a guaranteed solution.

 

Misinformation isn’t going to just disappear, but unless attempts are made to combat it, misinformation will only grow stronger.

 

 

CONTACTS:

What is ‘prebunking’—and how to do it to help advance EVs, https://www.edf.org/what-prebunking-and-how-do-it-help-advance-evs

False information is everywhere. ‘Pre-bunking' tries to head it off early

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1132021770/false-information-is-everywhere-pre-bunking-tries-to-head-it-off-early

Can we be inoculated against climate misinformation? Yes – if we prebunk rather than debunk, https://theconversation.com/can-we-be-inoculated-against-climate-misinformation-yes-if-we-prebunk-rather-than-debunk-215815

 

EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk. See more athttps://emagazine.com. To donate, visit https://earthtalk.org. Send questions to: question@earthtalk.org.

 

 

 

 

Tri-City History A-Z in Photographs #4: Drag Strip

By Kelsey Camello, for the Washington Township Museum of Local History

 

Drag Strip (noun): A straight, paved area or course where drag races are held, as a section of road or airplane runway.

 

The Fremont Dragstrip, later renamed Fremont Raceway, was a racing venue that operated from 1958 through 1988. In its final years, it was part of Baylands Raceway Park.

 

Photo: drag racing guide from 1960.jpeg

Caption: 1960, Backside of “Guide to Drag Racing at Fremont”

 

Photo: Tom Grove San Leandro Racer.jpeg

Caption: 1964-65, Tom Grove, San Leandro racer sponsored by Melrose Motors

 

Photo: 1974 advertisement

Caption: 1974, Advertisement

 

Photo: Fremont Raceway in 1980s.jpeg

Caption: 1980s, Fremont Raceway

 

For more information about the now defunct Fremont Drag Strip, visit the regularly updated page: https://www.facebook.com/FremontDragstrip.

 

Let’s explore local history through themes and photographs. Have a topic or idea you’d like us to explore? Email us at info@museumoflocalhistory.org.

 

 

 

Eating healthy: Balance in a bowl

By John Schinkel-Kludjian

 

Preparing a nutritious, balanced, and delicious meal can seem like a tricky task, as we often must sacrifice one aspect or the other. However, with the use of herbs, spices, and a satiating mix of protein and starch, any appetite can be satisfied.

 

A great go-to for lean protein is sautéed or baked chicken breasts. My favorite way of cooking chicken is by sautéing. I take thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts, and marinate them in a bowl of olive oil mixed with various dry herbs. Usually, the blend is oregano, basil, ground sage, garlic salt, black pepper, and onion powder. I let this mix marinate for a few hours, then sauté them in olive oil until golden brown on each side.

 

Another great protein is fish. An incredibly nutritious lean protein, fish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. My favorite fish by far is salmon, as it is so versatile and easily takes on a variety of flavors.

 

When cooking fish, beware of lemon. Yes, citrus goes fantastic with fish, but it is important to note that a fresh squeeze of a lemon should only be applied after cooking is completed. The citric acid in lemon juice is capable of enzymatically cooking fish. If we were making ceviche, this is exactly what you want, but in a heat cooking application this would create a tough, dry finished product.

 

Lighter chicken and fish recipes pair beautifully with whole grain and leafy green vegetables. In particular, I recommend quinoa or brown rice, as both are packed with insoluble fiber–something largely missing from the average American diet. For a vegetable, steamed curly kale is a tender and delicious addition. Many are not a fan of kale, as in its raw form the taste can be quite unpleasant, but cooking kale with a little bit of chicken broth creates a tender, earthy side dish similar to that of sautéed spinach, but with even more nutrients.

 

Baked salmon

Serves 4

 

Ingredients:

4 6oz salmon filets, skin-on

Half of a lemon

½ tsp garlic salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp paprika

1 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Rub the salmon filets with olive oil and sprinkle seasonings on top. Place filets on a baking sheet lined with parchment, and bake for 12-16 minutes. Squeeze lemon on filets immediately after removing from oven.

 

Steamed kale

Serves 4

 

Ingredients

1 large bag of cut and washed kale

1 can of low-sodium chicken broth

 

Bring chicken broth to a boil in a large braising pan. Add kale and give a quick stir, and cover. Note: the kale might not fit all at once, and can be added in batches as it cooks down. Simmer for 20 minutes until tender and bright green.

 

 

John Schinkel-Kludjian is a lifelong Fremont resident who completed his culinary education at Laney College in Oakland. He specializes in, and has a passion for French, Italian, and modern American cuisines. Professionally, he works in nonprofit development. His spare time is spent as President of the Rotary Club of Mission San Jose, Fremont Elks Lodge 2121, and the Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation. John resides in Niles with his husband, Marty. Questions, comments? Johnarthurculinary@gmail.com

 

 

 

David Haubert hosts 2nd Alameda County District 1 Budget Workshop

Submitted by Kathy Kimberlin

 

The first District 1 Budget Workshop held in Pleasanton was a resounding success, drawing participation from many Tri-Valley nonprofit and community organizations. Attendees had the valuable opportunity to learn about the budgets of key County departments, including Health, Social Services, Sheriff’s office, and the County Administrators Office.

 

Department heads and representatives provided insightful presentations and addressed a plethora of important questions from the audience. Some goals of the budget event were to enhance transparency about how Alameda County allocates resources, and gain feedback from the community.

 

The next workshop hosted by Supervisor Haubert will be held in Fremont on May 8, 2024 for South County D1 constituents, nonprofits, CBO’s and the community. RSVP to attend this event.

 

 

2nd Alameda County District 1 Budget Workshop

Wednesday, May 8

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Niles Veterans’ Memorial Building

37154 2nd St., Fremont

RSVP to Kathy Kimberlin: Kathy.Kimberlin@acgov.org

 

 

 

Sundale Fire

Submitted By Fremont Fire Department

 

Just after 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 21, Fremont firefighters responded to a report of a house fire on Truman Place.

 

Four fire engines, one fire truck, one Staff Captain and two Battalion Chiefs responded to the scene. The first due company reported heavy smoke visible from the front of the residence.

 

The two occupants of the home were able to exit safely prior to the arrival of firefighters. The fire was contained to the residence and there was no damage to nearby properties. Firefighters were able to fully extinguish the one-alarm fire within 20 minutes of arriving at the scene. The fire caused extensive damage to the one-story home, displacing two adults.

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. One of the residents sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Falck Ambulance. There were no reports of injuries to firefighters or other community members.

 

Fremont PD, PG&E, the FFD Rehab Unit (Rehab 53), and Air & Light 56 also responded to support the incident.

 

 

 

Brooklyn Dressel Named to Academic All-America® Second Team

Submitted by CSUEB Athletic Communications

 

For the second consecutive year, Brooklyn Dressel, from Cal State East Bay women’s swimming, received recognition from the Academic All-America® program. For her outstanding performances in the pool and the classroom, Dressel was named Academic All-America® Second Team.

 

Throughout the 2023-24 season, Dressel qualified for multiple events in the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. Her relay performances in the 400 yard and 200-yard freestyle relay at the NCAA Championships earned her CSCAA Second Team All-American honors. She also competed in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships.

 

Dressel’s first place medal at the PCSC Championships helped the Pioneers rally on the final day of the postseason meet to win the team championship. She also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle.

 

Also to start the season, Dressel was named PCSC Swimmer of the Week for her performances in the Pioneers’ dual meet win on September 30 against Pacific.

 

Additional academic awards this season for Dressel included Academic All-District® and PCSC All-Academic Team – 1st Team.

 

In 2023, Dressel was named Third Team Academic All-America for women’s swimming.

 

 

 

Chabot College Baseball Beats Skyline for League Title

By Andrew Joseph

 

The Chabot College Gladiators beat the Skyline College Trojans in the most highly anticipated conference matchup of the season by a final score of 5-1 on Thursday, April 25 at home in Hayward.

 

Chabot wins its fifth straight game and ties for the Coast North Conference (CNC) first place league title with Skyline in the last game of the regular season. The Gladiators finish the regular season at an impressive 29-10 overall and 16-4 in conference play. They have won 16 out of their last 18 games. The Trojans close the season 27-12 overall and 16-4 in the conference. Chabot finish the season 2-1 against Skyline.

 

“I feel like we have talent on this team to beat anybody,” said Gladiators Head Coach Paul Wiebens. “We have one of the best offenses in the conference.”

 

A visible advantage was shown for all 9 innings by the talented Chabot left-handed starting pitcher Isaac Lucas. The first two innings went scoreless after great pitching from both teams. “We came into this game knowing it was a must win game,” said Lucas. “This team we have is some of the most talent I have ever been around on a baseball team.”

 

In the third inning the Gladiators scored a total of 4 runs to give them a commanding 4-0 lead. Liam Forsyth, Jalen Owens, Raoul Fabian, Jr., and Daniel Behrmann all scored consecutive runs in the third, giving all of the early momentum to the home team. Kolin Fukuki flied out to left field later in the third and had a sacrifice fly for an RBI to bring Tyson Brown home to score, as Chabot then went up 5-0.

 

“For us as hitters our focus and goal today was to stay focused and aggressive,” said Owens. “On my hit in the third inning to get on base and score, I saw the ball on my hit that was a change-up and I tried to stay through it and make contact.”

 

Owens gained the nickname ‘juice’ because nobody expected him to have pop in his swing, but he has a total of three homeruns this season. The dugout yells ‘Juice Owens’ every time he walks up to the plate to bat and the crowd gets hyped up. The overall chemistry on the Gladiators team is apparent and that bond always helps them perform well in competition.

 

Skyline scored their only run in the top of the seventh inning to avoid the goose egg when a ground ball turned into a double play and one Trojan runner scored to make it a 5-1 game. “We set goals at the beginning of the season and I believe our team has accomplished them all,” said Coach Wiebens.

 

The largest margin of victory this season for Chabot came in an overwhelming 27-3 win at home on February 23 over Contra Costa. The Gladiators are having a successful season and have the focus to go deep into this year’s postseason. “Our ‘killer whale’ mentality is what will drive up into the playoffs and we’re ready,” added Lucas. “We’re excited and we’re ready for the postseason.”

 

Heading into the game Skyline was ranked first in the CNC and Chabot was at second place, giving great importance to this last regular season conference game of the season. Implications for this matchup is if Skyline won, they would have finished alone at first. Because the Gladiators pulled off the upset, they both tie for the CNC regular season title and both teams maintain home field advantage throughout the upcoming playoffs.

 

Chabot looks to continue their win streak and successful season when the playoffs begin in May as the Gladiators await their first-round opponent.

 

 

 

New Haven Fun Run Raises Funds and Spirits

By Eric Donato

 

The sights and sounds of pounding feet amidst the cheering crowd carried through the Logan High School (Union City) athletic track as runners of all ages and abilities gathered for the annual New Haven Fun Run. On Saturday, April 27, the local community came together not just for a morning of fitness and camaraderie, but to support a noble cause championed by New Haven Foundation.

 

Michael Ritchie, New Haven Foundation Vice President and event co-chair, proudly said, “We had absolute record numbers. We had over 250 people register as of last night when we shut off our online registration system. And we had a record number actually run the race as well—over 180 actually ran. So, yeah, it was an amazing day.”

 

Foundation board member and event co-chair Shruti Kumar summarized the mission of the New Haven Foundation, “Basically, they have one goal, and that is to support students in the New Haven Unified School District. They do it in two ways. They raise money to give in terms of scholarships for our students and they award grants to teachers, and teachers come up with special projects that help our students. This past year, we had a record number of scholarships that we handed out, close to $250,000 for student scholarships and $108,000 in terms of teacher grants.”

 

This weekend’s event raised more than $7,000. But it was more than raising money. John Shockley, the Foundation board president, explained, “We had a massive fundraising goal, and we achieved our goal, not through fundraising, but through getting the support of the community. By having people come out, demonstrate support for co-curriculars.”

 

The New Haven Fun Run is in its 14th year supporting the school district. Ritchie said, “John and I started this event back in 2010 to save co-curricular programs for New Haven Unified School District at that time. So we’ve been running the race almost every year since. We’ve been running this race for a long, long time, raising a lot of money for both New Haven Schools and New Haven Schools Foundation, which is for teachers and students of New Haven.”

 

Shockley added, “A couple years ago, we commemorated the fact that our foundation had awarded a million dollars in scholarships, and it’s been growing so much. We’re closing in now to be able to do that again. That’s two million. The total amount of money raised has been really amazing.”

 

The success of the fun run wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of local businesses and sponsors such as Fremont Bank, New Haven Unified School District, Washington Hospital Healthcare System, New Haven Teachers Association and many more

 

A sense of accomplishment filled the air as participants crossed the finish line. Medals were awarded to the first-place finishers.

Under 18 Male – Shaun Matthew

Under 18 Female – Olivia Sauto

18-35 Male – Navjeet Ghuman

18-35 Female- Shanna Selsor

36-50 Male – Haule [no further name given]

36-50 Female – Laura Sison

51+ Male – Wayne Bisaillon

51+ Female – Sharlet Gilbert

 

Children Events

100 m Boy – Samarth Madhan

100 m Girl – Saharsra Pantakota, Anya Sisoa

400 m Boy – Samarth Madhan

400 m Girl – Anyra Bhalla

800 m Boy – Agit Beepak

800 m Girl – Myo Abe

Junior Champ – Harshika Prakash

Grand Master – Sharlet Gilbert

 

An important part of the New Haven fun run is it kicked off the New Haven Day festivities soon after the running event. “New Haven Day is a celebration of all students and teachers, of course, of the district,” Shruti explains. “New Haven Day highlights all our student groups across all our campuses. We have students in band, dance and choir. They’re all going to showcase their talent today. We also have our community partners having booths out there sharing what they do. So it's everything New Haven.”

 

In the end, the New Haven Fun Run wasn’t just about crossing the finish line; it was about crossing boundaries and breaking barriers. It was a testament to the power of collective action.

 

 

To learn more about the New Haven Foundation, please visit https://nhsfoundation.org/.

 

 

 

Newark Mayor Michael Hannon looks to city’s past and future

By Hugo Vera

 

The bustling intersection between Newark’s Magnolia and Sycamore Streets along Thornton Avenue was shut off on Saturday, allowing for a full pedestrian takeover. A sizable crowd assembled as Mayor Michael K. Hannon delivered the annual State of the City Address for the city of Newark.

 

The event kicked off with a performance from the Newark Memorial High School Marching Band followed by Newark native and San Francisco State University student Maya Diaz’s singing of the national anthem. Following the Pledge of Allegiance led by Shane Tavares of the Newark Memorial High School Student Council, Mayor Hannon began his address by highlighting the milestone contributions of his colleagues.

 

Among those commended publicly was Newark City Councilmember Sucy Collazo. The daughter of the founders of the city’s iconic Mexican Tortilla Factory & Delicatessen (which she now operates), Collazo has also served several terms on the Newark City Council but reiterated on Saturday that she would not be running for re-election.

 

“For 52 years, the business that was my father’s dream had motivated me to get involved with my community,” said Collazo. “One of the first promises I made when elected was a promise I made to my mother to always make time for her. Now it’s time I made time for my children and grandchildren,” concluded Collazo before receiving a standing ovation from the audience for her service.

 

Mayor Hannon then outlined the City of Newark’s short-term and long-term plans for projects including creating affordable housing, providing jobs in clean energy, using technology to aid law enforcement, providing free, reliable internet to underserved youth and partnering with local agencies to mitigate natural disasters.

 

“Currently, we are working in partnership with the other cities of Fremont, Union City and [the] Alameda County Water District and the Union Sanitary District to address hazard mitigation in the Tri-City Area,” explained Hannon. “That’s where communities work best; when we work together to identify the benefits to all of our communities.”

 

During the address, Mayor Hannon asked citizens to think back to Newark’s agricultural roots at the turn of the twentieth century and how the advancement of technology has shaped the city’s trajectory since then. Mayor Hannon commended the recent breakthrough that investigators in the Newark Police Department made when a DNA match helped detectives solve the murders of East Bay natives Nellie Hicks and Theresa Pica which occurred during the 1970s.

 

“I hate to say his name, but due to breakthroughs in forensic science we can now confirm that Fred Farnham [a convicted East Bay felon who died in 2007] was responsible for these murders.”

 

Before concluding his State of the City Address (which was then followed by a street fair highlighting food, dance, song, and activities from local organizations), Mayor Hannon celebrated the rich past of his constituents’ city while also preparing them for the future.

 

“As we look to the future, we can only see progress. We have achieved so much but there’s still more ahead,” declared Hannon. “But that’s what we do here in Newark; we work hard together. Let’s continue to work hard not just for ourselves but for our future generations.”

 

 

 

Newark’s Fishing in the City

By April Ramos

 

On the Saturday morning of April 27, Newark Recreation in partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife held Fishing in the City at Lakeshore Park in Newark.

 

Jessennia Taimani of Newark Recreation was head organizer of Fishing in the City with the help of Ryan Spencer of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. With the collaboration of Taimani and Spencer the event was scheduled to align with the delivery of 750 pounds of rainbow trout from a hatchery in Oregon. At 8:30 a.m. parents, children and even a few pets lined up at the lake storage shed to register. One parent had been anticipating the event for some time, saying, “I always pay attention to the Newark Facebook page, I don’t want to miss it.”

 

The event consists of three stations where kids learn different components of fishing. “The kids are put in groups of eight with a volunteer leader who takes them to stations where they learn how to cast, tie knots, work at the baiting station; then they grab their poles and fish,” explains Taimani.

 

Each station has volunteers from high school students, Fish and Wildlife volunteers to people who are just willing to help. Carlos Mangrobang, who has been volunteering for the event since 2018, expresses, “I’ve been sharing my fishing knowledge, as well as personal experience with other Fishing in the City events. Alongside my son and other volunteers, I continue to teach casting during the event.” Mangrobang adds, “I absolutely enjoy helping kids catch fish. They enjoy it more and find the program rewarding when they actually catch fish.”

 

After several groups rotated through stations, the fishing began. Families gathered around the edge of the lake and hoped to catch a trout with their newfound skills. A pair of young siblings were lucky enough to have the first catch of the day. “He saw the fish and I caught it!” exclaimed 11-year-old Jasmyn as she and brother Kingston held the fish for a photo.

 

At the end of the event, kids had the opportunity to get custom certificates to show the completion of their fishing training. Spencer explained, “The goal of the Fishing the City program is to create repeatable fishing experiences for communities in cities to improve outdoor recreation in urban areas.” That goal was met as a parent walked by asking when the next one would be taking place. (November 2024)

 

Newark Recreation is looking for volunteers for the next Fishing in the City. Anyone who has fishing knowledge or equipment they are willing to donate, please contact Jessennia Taimani at jessennia.taimani@newark.org.

 

 

 

Castro Valley Unified School District Appoints Soraya Villaseñor for Vannoy Elementary Principal

Submitted by Superintendents Office

 

At the April 24th board meeting, the Castro Valley Unified School District Board of Education took action to select Soraya Villaseñor for the position of Vannoy Elementary Principal.

 

Ms. Villaseñor was the principal of Valley View Elementary in Pleasanton, where she grew the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program at each grade level. She also served as the DLI Coordinator for Junction Avenue School in Livermore. During her tenure at Valley View Elementary, she received the Administrator Leading for Change award. Due to her commitment to ensuring equity, she was promoted to Coordinator of Equity and Access in Pleasanton. Ms. Villaseñor is currently the Director of Student Services at Dublin Unified. She is excited to join the Vannoy community as she believes her passion lies in serving students at the school site.

 

Ms. Villaseñor earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from UCLA and her Master’s in Early Childhood Development from UC Berkeley.

 

“Please join me in welcoming Ms. Villaseñor to Castro Valley. We are fortunate to have such an outstanding educator, with vast experience and passion for dual immersion programs at Vannoy Elementary School,” said Superintendent Ahmadi.

 

 

 

Fire Dispatcher of the Year

Submitted by ACFD

 

The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) would like to congratulate our 2024 Dispatcher of the Year, Natalie Stallworth. Natalie has been with the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC) since 2012 and is known for always being available to help during busy times in the Center. She is a certified Communications Training Officer who helps to train and mentor new dispatchers.

 

Her peers have recognized Natalie for her strong work ethic and for putting the needs of the Center in front of her own. In the past twelve years, Natalie has demonstrated her dedication to ACFD/ACRECC by going above and beyond to help, not only her teammates, but also our community members in their time of need. On top of all that Natalie has done for our Center, she has recently been awarded a Gold Line Scholarship and will be attending the National NENA Conference in June.

 

Great job, Natalie! We are proud to have you on our team!

 

 

 

Honor Roll

 

Simmons University, Massachusetts

Fall 2024 Dean’s List

• Yiru Chen, Newark

 

Oregon Institute of Technology

Winter 2023-2024 Dean’s List

• Giselle Zendejas, Hayward

 

Palmer College of Chiropractic

Winter 2024 Dean’s List

• Christina Landreth, Milpitas

 

Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

New members:

• Raymond Yee of Castro Valley; San Jose State University
• Michelle Chan of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Calista Ho of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Neeraja Patel of Fremont University of California-Davis
• Vibha Raju of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Rishitha Sivaprabhu of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Falak Vakharia of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Emily Weber of Fremont; University of California-Davis
• Silvia Huynh of Hayward; University of California-Davis
• Kevin Cheung of Union City; University of California-Davis

 

 

 

Union City Mourns Passing of Former Councilmember and Trailblazer Delaine Eastin

Submitted by City of Union City

 

It is with great sadness that the City of Union City mourns the passing of former City of Union City Councilmember, State Assemblymember, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin.

 

A true public servant, the Honorable Delaine Eastin served on the City Council from 1980 to 1986 before she served four terms in the State Assembly, representing portions of Alameda and Santa Clara counties. Eastin then served as State Superintendent of Public Instruction for two terms. She is the fifth woman in California history to be elected to a statewide constitutional office and remains the only woman to serve as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

 

With an unwavering commitment to advancing equity in access to education for our youth, Eastin has left an indelible mark on our community. In 2002, the New Haven Unified School District named a local elementary school in her honor, Delaine Eastin Elementary School. Her contributions to Union City and devotion to public education have impacted and empowered millions of students across the state.

 

A heartfelt message was shared from representatives for Delaine Eastin. “Delaine will be remembered for her boundless intellect, infinitely compassionate spirit, sharp sense of humor, and courageous leadership in local, state, national, and international realms. Her love of education, children, animals, gardens, and the arts shined through everything that she did. A public celebration of life will be held this summer; details and location will be shared in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, please consider holding gifts until arrangements can be made.”

 

The City of Union City shares in this loss and extends its deepest condolences to Eastin’s family and loved ones. The city flag will be lowered to half-mast in honor of Eastin and the significant contributions she has made to the city, county and state.

 

 

 

Continuing Events:

 

Mondays and Thursdays

Food Garden Volunteer

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learning from experienced gardeners.

LEAF CR Stone Garden

55 Mowry Ave., Fremont

volunteer@fremontleaf.org

Volunteer agreement form is required.

 

Tuesdays

East Bay Games Meet

6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

German/Euro style board games and card games.

Swiss Park

5911 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 936-2523

meetup.com/east-bay-games

sfdavidkaye@yahoo.com

 

Tuesdays

East Indian Seniors R

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Anyone who is retired and of Indian origin or interested in Indian culture is welcome to join us.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

Second and Fourth Tuesdays of the month

 

Tuesdays

LEGO® Time

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Use your imagination and engineering skills to create your own LEGO® designs.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

Drop-in. For everyone.

 

Tuesdays

Music and Storytime

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for stories, music, and movement.

Cherryland Community Center

278 Hampton Road, Hayward

(510) 626-8522

For babies, toddlers, kids, and preschoolers.

 

Tuesdays

Comfort & Joy Ukulele R

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

A group of ukulele players with volunteer leaders to practice familiar songs as well as learning new.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Wednesdays

Book Club AWC R

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

The book club meets for stimulating discussions.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month

 

Wednesdays

Folk Dancing Social R

9:00 am – 10:30 am

Join together in the wonderful spirit of dancing and savor the beautiful music from all over the world.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Thursdays

International Folk Dancing R$

11:15 pm – 1:00 pm

Celebrate the cultural roots and traditional life of various countries.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

In English and Chinese.

 

Thursdays

Bocce Ball Class R

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Learn how to play Bocce Ball.

Age Well Center at South Fremont

47111 Mission Falls Ct., Fremont

(510) 742-7529

Rain will cancel class.

 

Thursdays

Chinese Calligraphy Social R

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Bring your own supplies and socialize and have fun while doing calligraphy.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

There is no teaching on site.

 

Thursdays

Historic Days

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ride a narrow-gauge train, tour the beautifully restored Patterson House Museum. Every historic day ends with an animal feeding at 3 pm. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies.

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

(510) 544-2797

 

Thursdays

Chinese Music Ensemble R

1:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Open to all who are interested in performing traditional Chinese music.

Age Well Center at Lake Elizabeth

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy., Fremont

(510) 790-6606

 

Thursday, April 18 – June 8

Image Central Spring Exhibition

Lower Gallery: Mon 5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Tues & Thur 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Upper Gallery: Mon – Fri 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Annual Spring Exhibition at the ImageCentral Gallery (formerly PhotoCentral) has bloomed once again. This exhibition showcases work from over 20+ artist from many walks of life! An eclectic group show with amazing images to match. Vote for your favorite image at the reception and help crown the People’s Choice Awards! Celebrate this fun extravaganza with us, take in the imagery, meet the artist’s, make memories, and acquire some incredible art! The event is free and the public is invited.

Image Central Gallery

1099 E St., Hayward

(510) 881-6721

 

Thursdays

Family Board Game Night

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Play together with family and friends, or make some new friends at the library.

Centerville library

3801 Nicolet Ave., Fremont

(510) 795-2629

Board games will be provided.

 

Thursdays

The Peaceful Poets

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join a Milpitas-based group of writers and appreciators of poetry.

Milpitas Public Library

160 N Main St., Milpitas

(408) 262-1171

For teens, adults, and seniors.

Last Thursdays of the month

 

Thursday, April 4 – Saturday, May 25

Human Essence

12 noon – 5 pm

The Olive Hyde Art Gallery proudly presents HumanEssence ‐ a photography exhibition featuring portraits by Suszi Lurie McFadden paired with abstracts by Brandon Stauffer. Join us for an artist talk April 19 at 12 Noon.

Olive Hyde Gallery

123 Washington Blvd. Fremont

(510) 791-4357

 

Thursdays and Saturdays

Story Time

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Picture book story time

Banter Bookshop

3768 Capitol Ave. Ste. F, Fremont

(510) 565-1004

bit.ly/3VFpbc

 

Fridays, December 29 – May 10

Go: The Game R

3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Go is an ancient game of strategy. To learn the game or to play it.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado-Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

All ages and levels

 

Fridays and Saturdays

Free Telescope Viewings

7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing!

Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland

(510) 336-7300

chabotspace.org/calendar

Weather permitting.

 

Saturday, April 4 – Saturday, June 4

Sun Gallery Climate Justice Exhibit

Thurs, Fri, Sun: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Local artist submissions with the theme “Climate Justice: World Peace & Security.”

Sun Gallery

1015 E. St., Hayward

(510) 581-4050

http://sungallery.org/

 

Saturdays

Laugh Track City R$

8:00 pm

Series of improvised games and scenes

Made Up Theatre

4000 Bay St. suite B., Fremont

(510) 573-3633

madeuptheatre.com

 

Saturdays

Free Beginner Pickleball Lesson

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Free pickleball lesson taught by a USPA professional.

Hall Memorial Park

304 La Honda Dr, Milpitas

(408) 586-3210

Drop-in. Weather permitting.

 

Saturdays

Teen Cohort for Outdoor Education R$

10 am – 4 pm

Meet new friends, build outdoor skills, and get to know your community as we participate in activities, such as Hayward Shoreline Hike and Clean-Up, Quarry Lakes Excursion; Coyote Hills Excursion; Fishing; rock climbing on our 28-foot rock wall, hiking; and a Sulphur Creek Guided Tour.

Ashland Community Center

1530 167th Avenue, San Leandro

Noel Munivez: (510) 317-2303

munn@HaywardRec.org

 

Sundays

Farmyard Games

1:00 pm

Join us for some old-fashioned fun! Try your hand at classic American pastimes including stilts, sack races, and the potato-spoon race. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Ardenwood admission fee applies.

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

 

Sundays

Weekly meditation Session R

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Explore the effortless way to ultimate bliss.

India Community Center

525 Los Coches St., Milpitas

(408) 934-1130

samarpanmeditationusa.org

info@indiacc.org, info@samarpanmeditationusa.org

 

Sundays – Saturdays

Recreational Swim $

12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Attractions may vary.

Silliman Activity and Family Aquatic Center

6800 Mowry Ave., Newark

(510) 578-4620

bit.ly/3nxo0is

 

Sundays

Larry “O” Teen Workshop

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Used bikes, bike parts for sale and bike repair.

Larry Orozco Teen Workshop

33623 Mission Blvd., Union City

(510) 675-5487

www.unioncity.org/723/Larry-O-Teen-Workshop

RobertS@unioncity.org

Donation accepted.

Second and fourth Sundays of the month

 

 

Upcoming Events

 

Friday, May 3

Garden Club Plant Sale

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Many varieties of flowers, herbs, vegetables, succulents and other plants. There will be house plants for indoor gardeners. Tips on maintaining your plants, ask the gardeners staffing the tables. Proceeds benefit garden club activities and Age Well Center

Age Well Center, Fremont

40086 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont

 

Saturday, May 4

Plant & Cutting Swap

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Bring house plant cuttings, extra plants or seed starts, succulents, bulbs, or tubers to share and swap with other gardeners in our community. All types of plants are welcome. Please label each plant and be ready to share basic care information.

Fremont Main Library

Solarium 2nd floor

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745.1400

www.aclibrary.org/garden/

 

Saturday, May 4

How to Tell Your Own Story with Naomi Shibata

11:30 am

Writer Naomi Shibata will share how documenting family stories began as a gift to her mother and evolved into a means of connecting five generations of her family. She will discuss lessons learned along the way, as well as how she worked with novice writers to help them turn oral histories into the written word. For interested attendees, we will offer a four-part writing workshop that begins in June and concludes in September with a reading of the participants stories. Registration Required

(510) 581-0223

Hayward History Museum

22380 Foothill Blvd., Hayward

caroline@haywardareahistory.org

 

Saturday, May 4

May the 4th Celebration

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Join us as we celebrate Star Wars Day, May the 4th! Ready to travel to a galaxy, far, far away? Enjoy crafts and activities for padawans ages 5-12.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 667-7900

 

Saturday, May 4

Dahlia Tuber and Small Plant Sale

10:00 am – 1:00 pm

For spectacular summer color, it’s time to plant those dahlias. Tubers will sell for $7 and cuttings, small plants will sell for $9, including tax. Dahlia aficionados will be on hand to advise on planting and caring for the dahlias. With so many varieties, there is something for everyone!

Mulford Garden Improvement Clubhouse

13055 Aurora Drive, San Leandro

(across from Garfield Elementary School)

 

Sunday, May 5

Filipino Teatime Treats

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Explore the enduring legacy of the Manong, Filipino farmworkers who worked these fields in the early part of the 20th century, while sampling sweet treats from their island homeland. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required. Disabled accessible. Ardenwood admission fee applies.

(510) 544-2797

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

 

Sunday, May 5

Spring Fever Car Show

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

No car is too old or new! Car lovers have an opportunity to show off their shiny new toys. If you wish to participate in the event, please register here. Food and refreshments will be available, 50/50 Raffle (must be present to win), Live Band will perform, shops will be open for your shopping pleasure

www.niles.org

Niles Town Plaza

37482 Niles Blvd., Fremont

Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 1

Registration fee: $35

 

Wednesday, May 8

2nd Alameda County District 1 Budget Workshop

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Enhance transparency about how Alameda County allocates resources, and gain feedback from the community.

Niles Veterans’ Memorial Building

37154 2nd St., Fremont

RSVP to Kathy Kimberlin: Kathy.Kimberlin@acgov.org

 

Wednesday, May 8

Air Quality and Asthma Awareness

3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Meet representatives from the U.S. EPA’s Indoor Environments Team in the Library’s lobby to learn more about the environment and human health. They’ll be demonstrating a do-it-yourself air cleaner for your home, in addition to sharing free educational materials for all ages.

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

(510) 608-7737

 

Thursday, May 9

Job Fair

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Come learn about and meet with many different employers and find the job of your dreams. The following employers and more will be present:

Castro Valley Adult & Career Education Center

Employment Development Dept (EDD)

Alameda County Social Services

Pacific Home Care Services

Pacific State Petroleum

ComForCare Home Care

Chabot College

Childcare Careers

Castro Valley School District

East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC)

Employbridge

Vietnamese American Community Center

Castro Valley Library

3600 Norbridge Ave., Castro Valley

510-667-5900

 

Sunday, May 10

Why Compost?

10 am – 12 noon

Local compost expert Lori will teach you about indoor and outdoor composting, what will work best for your space and how compost reduces your need for pesticides and fertilizers.

LEAF Stone Garden

55 Mowry Ave., Fremont

Behind Mission Valley Vet Clinic

www.fremontleaf.org

Registration required

Free

 

Saturday, May 11

90th Birthday Celebration East Bay Regional Park

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Free event featuring musical and other performances, a kids’ zone with hands-on fun, nature exhibits and activities, food trucks, eco-friendly games, and more! Please check the ParkFest webpage for updated information on alternative transportation methods (biking, busing), and trip planning as parking is limited. ParkFest is BARTable and a free shuttle will be available to and from Bay Fair Station.

Lake Chabot Regional Park

17600 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley

 

Sunday, May 12

Mother’s Day on the Farm

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Palmdale Estates Events will host our 5th annual Mother's Day Brunch in the Pool Site Garden at Ardenwood. A delicious brunch buffet + dessert will be served along with other fun activities. Advanced registration required. The Farmyard Cafe will also be open for special sweet treats and Mother's Day Gifts.

www.ardenwoodevents.com/mothersday

Ardenwood Farms

34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

 

Thursday, May 16

Gardening Series: Sustainable Practices for Waterwise Gardening

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

This class will focus on sustainable techniques for your home garden. Topics covered will include: sheet-mulching, the benefits of compost and mulch, bio-intensive edible gardening, hydrozoning, using recycled water, drip irrigation and native plants.

Union City Library

34007 Alvarado Niles Rd., Union City

(510) 745-1464

 

Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19

Fremont Friends of the Library Book Sale

Friday: 2 pm – 6 pm

Saturday:10 am – 3 pm

Sunday: 12 pm – 3 pm

The Fremont Friends of the Library will hold their Big Book Sale. Most books priced at $1.25/inch, some specially priced. Children’s material individually priced. CDs: 2 for $0.25, DVDs from $1, $6 per paper grocery bag! We will provide the bags. Clearance Sunday

Fremont Library

2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont

(510) 745-1400

 

Friday, May 17

Spring School Jazz Festival and Street Eats

5:00 pm

Two of the bands, Cats in Da Club and the Jazzinators will play Traditional Jazz of New Orleans. Cats in Da Club is led by American High school Junior Stuti Jajoo is comprised of students from Mission HS, American HS and Irvington HS. The High Schools from John F. Kennedy (David Bickel – Director), American (Richard Wong – Director) and Irvington- (Charlie Rodda- Director) will play jazz from the “swing era” or “Big Band Jazz.”

Event Center Outdoor Plaza

3500 Capitol Ave, Fremont

 

Saturday, May 18

40 Years of Art Free Artist Reception

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Adobe Art Gallery

20395 San Miguel Ave., Castro Valley

 

Sunday, May 19

Tule Boats Float

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Tule is a wonderful plant that Ohlone Peoples traditionally used (and still use today) for housing material, sleeping, cordage, and much more. Come and build a miniature tule boat and see how well this unassuming plant can float and transport valuable cargo. Ages 7+ parent participation required. Parking fees apply where charged. Wheelchair accessible. This is a drop-in program; no registration is required.

(510) 544-3220.

8000 Patterson Ranch Road, Fremont

 

Sunday, June 2

Corpus Christi Parish Festival

11:00 am – 4:00 pm

Entertainment karaoke and talent show line dancing lesson. Garden store beverage garden, fire truck, tacos/tortas/chicken adobo/ linguica /aguas frescas

Corpus Christi Procession to Niles Plaza. Raffle, cash prizes $500, $250, $100

Historic Niles District

27891 2nd Street, Fremont