Trees Cut Down for Gas Pipeline

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     A crew cut down a row of 14 trees in front of the KP Corporation on Washington Avenue last week, part of a PG&E project to keep access open to the main gas lines.

     Earlier this year, PG&E announced that it would be removing trees on Washington Avenue and along San Leandro Boulevard. The work is part of a state-wide project to make the pipes accessible in an emergency.

     “It’s part of our community pipeline safety initiative, so first-responders have access to the lines,” said PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith.

     The trees that were cut down last week were on the property of KP Corp. a printing business at 13951 Washington Ave., just south of where Washington goes through the railroad underpass.

     An employee at KP said he remembers the trees being planted in about 2001, so they’re around 15 years old.

     The project to remove the trees in San Leandro is on the main lines that run along Washington Avenue between Grant Avenue and San Leandro Boulevard, and then down San Leandro Boulevard to Williams Street.

     PG&E estimates that about 35 trees on private property, and seven trees on public property, will be removed.

     It’s similar to a “no parking” zone next to a fire hydrant,” Smith said. During an emergency, crews need to get access quickly to prevent things from getting worse.

CAPTION: A row of trees in front of the KP Corp. building on Washington Avenue was cut down last week, part of a project to keep access open for first-responders to gas pipelines in case of an emergency.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

Tudor Named SLPD’s Top Cop

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-20-16

     Jeff Tudor has been named chief of the San Leandro police department after serving for the past six months as interim chief.

     “I’m truly honored and appreciative to be appointed as the Chief of Police of the San Leandro Police Department,” said Tudor in a written statement. “I’m thankful to have the opportunity to serve in the community that guided and mentored me throughout my life and to serve with dedicated people who truly want to make a difference.”

     Tudor has been with the department for 20 years, working in patrol, traffic, criminal investigation, and SWAT.

     Tudor is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy and Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and holds a Mass Communications degree from Sonoma State University.

     The city also announced  on Tuesday that Jeff Kay has been appointed assistant city manager. Kay previously worked as the city’s business development director.

Newcomers Vie for Seat on SLz School Board

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     After a lengthy contract dispute between the teachers and the administration of the San Lorenzo School District, it’s time for some new blood on the school board – at least that was the argument put forth by two of the candidates who are running for the board this November.

     Candidates Marilyn Stewart and  Kyla Sinegal both have worked in education. Stewart recently retired after 31 years teaching in San Lorenzo.

     Sinegal currently works in human resource management for the county office of education and is a chapter president of the California School Employees Association

     They both say they’ll stir things up on a school board that has some members who have been on the board for over 20 years.

     There are four candidates for three open spots on the board:  Sinegal, Stewart, and incumbents Penny Peck and Helen Foster.

     The League of Women Voters of the Eden Area held a forum for the candidates last Thursday at the San Lorenzo Library. Foster did not attend, as she works as the superintendent of schools for the Central California town of Coalinga and spends part of her week down there.

     The questions at the forum were submitted by the audience of about 30 people, which consisted of quite a few San Lorenzo teachers.

     The contract dispute came up repeatedly, with many asking how the board could improve trust between teachers and the administration, despite the fact that contract disputes are common occurrences in every school district.

     “I’d be a champion for change in the school district,” said Sinegal. “I’d bring collaboration, transparency, and the lens of a parent.”

Stewart said that in her three decades as a teacher, she’s seen the district change a lot and not always for the better.

     “There has been a large shift in the atmosphere of being a teacher,” said Stewart. “Over the years, we’ve started to feel left out, the district stopped listening. I can bring to the school board the voice of the teacher.”

     Peck was the children’s librarian at the San Leandro Library for 25 years and continues to work part time as a children’s literature instructor at San Jose State. She’s been on the board for the past four years, including during the contract dispute, but says she’s ready to evolve and has been the biggest  proponent of letting everyone have a chance to speak at meetings.

     “That opportunity for feedback has been on recent agendas,” said Peck, who added that the district’s website has improved during her tenure and that means more accessibility for the public. She also said that she wants to create a task force with teachers to figure out how to best cooperate and more forward.

     Sinegal said she’d like to see agendas out as early as possible and that the board should table major items if the public doesn’t show up to meetings because that means not enough has been done to notify the public. She also said she’d work to get the meetings broadcast on television and online.

     Asked how to improve morale in the district, Peck said that when parents hear about potential labor strikes that creates a lot of negativity that colors their opinion of their child’s education. So she would improve overall morale by getting parents more involved. She would also add a student member to the board so they could be better represented.

     Sinegal also said that the labor negotiations changed the “culture” of the school and that kids pick up on where there is conflict and her negotiation experience would prevent that.

     Stewart said she’d have the entire board tour the schools and have lunch with teachers – that she would say to teachers, “I’m going to listen to you and I am going to look for answers.” Stewart added that some teachers only meet board members at graduation ceremonies. Stewart said she’s have office hours open to parents and teachers if she is elected to the board.

     The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 24.

CAPTION: San Lorenzo school board candidates Marilyn Stewart, Kyla Sinegal and Penny Peck spoke at the forum.

PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI

School Trustee Rosato Dies of Heart Attack

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     San Leandro school board president Vince Rosato passed away from a heart attack suddenly last Saturday.

     Rosato served on the board for the past four years, but had chosen not to run for reelection in the upcoming Nov. 8 race when his first term expires. He was building a home in India.

     School board member Evelyn Gonzalez said Rosato’s passing was a blow to his colleagues.

     “It was just such a shock to all of us,” said Gonzalez. “Tuesdays night’s school board meeting was a hard one (without him). We left his seat open in tribute.”

     In addition to serving on the school board, Rosato was also serving as the treasurer of the Alameda County School Boards Association at the time of his death.

     Rosato, 62, was a native Californian who moved to San Leandro from Fremont 15 years ago with his wife, Usha.

     Rosato retired in 2014 after 15 years teaching elementary school  in the New Haven school district. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1982 and spent two years at the Vatican.

     Rosato was a graduate of Loyola Marymount, the Jesuit School of Theology, and Saint Mary’s College, where he got his teaching degree after changing careers.

     Gonzalez described Rosato as a man with a passion for education, who was always trying to better himself.

“For him, education was a life-long process,” said Gonzalez. “He was a learner. He became a master gardener just this year. He signed up board members for seminars. He was extremely passionate about public education and really cared for the students.”

     San Leandro school district superintendent Mike McLaughlin also singled out Rosato’s devotion to education.

     “Vince cared about making a difference in public schools and that showed through his work both here in San Leandro, in Alameda County, and across the state,” said McLaughlin in a written statement. “This is a huge loss for our district and we send our heartfelt condolences to his widow.”

     Rosato is survived by his wife, Usha, and his daughter, Alexandria. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in his name to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society.

Times First Issue Hit the Street 25 Years Ago

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     The first issue of the San Leandro Times was delivered this week in October 1991 – 25 years ago.

     The top story in that first issue was the widening of Davis Street with new sidewalks and sound walls. The Davis Street project was hailed as “The Gateway to San Leandro,” connecting downtown to the Oakland Airport, and once the project was finished, things were going to take off.

     In other news that week, a woman set fire to her neighbor’s shed on Harlan Street, a state panel called for cities in southern Alameda County to work with organizations on hate crimes, and the San Leandro Main Library and its branches closed for 10 days to put bar codes on 150,000 books.

     In the early years of this newspaper, former City Councilman Mario Polvorosa wrote a column about his memories of San Leandro. Polvorosa started out with a shoe shine stand on East 14th Street and he knew the town from the bottom to the top.

     Daniel Pryfogle, the managing editor at the time, used to swing by Mario’s to pick up his column in his old Studebaker. Pryfogle liked that old jalopy but the floorboard was full of holes and the exhaust vented into the passenger compartment. Daniel liked to say that every time he drove that Studebaker he lost a few thousand brain cells.

     An ongoing story in the 1990s was a development at a place called Robert’s Landing (the name later changed to Heron Bay) on the site of the former Trojan Powder Works, a company that made explosives for the army up until the 1960s. A lot of work was done to remove toxic soil before they could build houses on the site.

     The newspaper had a political cartoonist at the time who drew a picture of a mushroom cloud over the new development. The developer came to the newspaper and he was about ready to go off like a bomb too.

     The newspaper started in a small office on W. Juana Avenue that was later torn down to expand the parking lot for Pelton Plaza. In the evenings, publisher Fred Zehnder used to swing by and pick up the garbage after he got off his job as news director at Channel 2.

     Fred would walk through the office with a big plastic bag that he dumped the waste paper baskets into. So the new people at the paper just thought Fred was the janitor.

     That was fine with Fred. He said he liked doing the routine work that needed to be done.

     Before digital photography, reporters here turned their film in to Howard Morrison who developed the film and printed the pictures in his darkroom. To get it done in a reasonable amount of time, Howard had to cut it down to two rolls of film a week. So reporters could take no more than three or four pictures on each story.

     Howard said that’s good practice, it makes you take better pictures. It seems like there’s something to that. Today the trend is to take thousands of pictures, and then you just bore everybody to death.

     One year, a little controversy broke out about a play at the high school. Some people got riled up about a few swear word in the script. Somebody formed a “profanity committee” to decide what language can be allowed in a school play.

     Maggie Sharpe was editor then, and they asked Maggie to be on the committee. This gave Maggie a source of endless amusement. To break it to them gently, maybe the committee had never been around Maggie when the paper’s on deadline. Really, Maggie was very easygoing, though not averse to an occasional swear word.

     San Leandro has a wide variety of people doing all sorts of things. That’s what makes the paper. The people have the stories, and a reporter just puts it down on paper.

     There’s no doubt that a lot of interesting stories will come up in the next 25 years. Who knows, there might even be a chance to use that mushroom cloud cartoon again.

CAPTION: The first issue of the San Leandro Times was published on Thursday, October 9, 1991.

SL Times 25th Anniversary… and Mine

BY STEVE SCHAEFER  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     The first issue of the San Leandro Times dropped on my doorstep on October 9, 1991. That began a relationship that remains to this day. My first auto review column appeared on February 8, 1992.

     I started reading auto journalism when I picked up my dad’s August 1963 issue of Motor Trend, with drawings of the upcoming 1964 models.

     I’ve read the local newspaper columnists over the years, too. When I opened up the brand new San Leandro Times, I thought, “This paper is new and small—maybe I could write for them!”

     I went in and talked with editor Daniel Pryfogle, who turned out to be a very nice young man. He liked the idea of running a local car column, and asked me for a sample.

     I was just starting out, so I wrote about my own car—one of the first Saturns, which I’d owned for a year. That story passed muster, and the Times printed me “Auto Writer” business cards and I was on my way.

     I visited local dealers, who generously let me take out cars on my own. I created a special route that provides a variety of road conditions, and dutifully put my testers through their paces.

     My first review was on the all-new 1992 Honda Prelude, which I borrowed from the San Leandro Honda dealer, who was located on East 14th Street. The Marina Auto Plaza didn’t exist yet.

     As the weeks went by, I made a connection with someone at the NUMMI plant (where Tesla is today) and got a chance to test a Geo Prizm compact sedan for a few days.

     Through my job at the Golden State Warriors, I scored a weekend with a BMW 325i (wow!). But starting with my ninth test car, I found the local press fleet, and I’ve driven cars for a week at a time from that fleet, and others, ever since. (ninth test car pictured above—a 1992 Chevrolet Lumina, March 1992)

     In April 2013, I tested my 1,000th car, a BMW 6 Series convertible.

     Next spring, I should hit my 1,200th. It’s been a great ride.

CAPTION: Auto writer Steve Schaefer poses with the ninth car he reviewed 25 years ago.

PHOTO BY DAVID STERNBERG

Council Race: 'Blue Collar vs. White Collar

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     In the coming weeks before the Nov. 8 election, we’ll speak with the candidates running for San Leandro City Council and School Board.

     Bryan Azevedo is running against Ed Hernandez for the District 2 seat,  the only contested City Council race in San Leandro.

     Azevedo says that, as a fourth generation San Leandran, he has a big stake in helping the city and its citizens.

     “I want to make sure everyone in San Leandro has a voice,” says Azevedo, a sheet metal foreman and father of five who also serves on the city parks and recreation commission.

     Azevedo and Hernandez come down on the same side of many issues. Both support Measure J1, the school district’s proposed $104 million bond, as well as the city’s three proposed tax measures.

     But Azevedo sees himself as more of a man of the people than his opponent.

     “I’m a people person, I like getting out there and talking to people,” said Azevedo. “He’s more white collar, I’m more blue collar, it’s as simple as that. I’ve been laid off before, I’ve had to go to Davis Street (food pantry).”

     To that end, he says making sure San Leandro attracts well-paying jobs for all will be a priority for him.

     “Jobs are the key to everything,” said Azevedo. “The key to stopping homelessness, the key to attracting business.”

     In his district specifically, he wants to see Bayfair revitalized, with more housing and better shopping options.

     The city is currently in the very early stages of planning a “transit village” around the mall, with apartments and new shops. Azevedo says that, as is, the mall isn’t doing a lot for the city.

     “There are some spots where people don’t feel safe – parts of the mall and near the Oakland border,” said Azevedo. “We need to feel safe here in San Leandro.”

     So Azevedo says that the police department will have his support if elected – though he also promises he’s not a rubber stamper who will pass any issue that comes before the City Council, despite having the police union’s endorsement.

     “We are lucky here in San Leandro, we’re not like Oakland or San Jose or Los Angeles, we love our police department,” said Azevedo. “The council goes along with what city staff say all the time, but you’ve got to read the background information, do your homework.”

     Azevedo says he supports the police department’s push to have more surveillance cameras around- but not red-light cameras.

     “I have seen them go off on false tickets before,” said Azevedo.

     So would he ask the council to end their contract with the red-light camera company?

     “Maybe, maybe not,” said Azevedo. “We need to see how we can make the system better. I’m a problem solver.”

     In addition to the police union, Azevedo’s endorsements include the fire unions and several other local labor unions, as well as current council members Jim Prola, Corina Lopez, and Benny Lee.

     Azevedo says that if elected, you’ll see his “three principals” in action in all that he does.

     “I believe in fairness, a balanced approach, and listening to everyone,” said Azevedo. “There is a lot of progress to be made, but I believe the American dream is still possible in San Leandro.”

CAPTION: Bryan Azevedo says he's more of a man of the people than opponent Ed Hernandez.

Pirates Roll to Win at Castro Valley, 41-0

BY ANDREW JOSEPH  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

    The stage was set on Friday night as the Castro Valley Trojans football team played in their homecoming game against visiting conference rival San Leandro.  

     The green and gold of Castro Valley came into the night 1-4 looking for a much needed win. The Pirates, on the other hand, went in at 2-3 trying to reach the .500 mark, with hopes of a 2016 WACC-12 playoff berth.

     San Leandro came out on top in dramatic fashion with a 41-0 shutout victory over the Trojans.

Pirates’ senior Jahari Kay set the tempo early in the game, picking up a blocked Trojan field goal attempt and running it back all the way for a touchdown.

     “That’s what we’re all about, making big plays to create momentum for our team,” said Pirates running back Omari Land.

     Land scored three touchdowns and rushed for 151 yards for the Pirates, a game high.

     The halftime festivities were illuminated by homecoming fireworks over the stadium after the Castro Valley cheer team danced for the home crowd.

     Pirates’ cornerback Dejon Goodall made two interceptions to spark the defense.

     “This win gives us hope and confidence for these last four games of the season and into the playoffs,” said Pirates’ junior wide receiver Anthony Norman.

Mehki Land and Dejon Goodall also scored a touchdown for San Leandro.

     “This win boosts our team’s confidence,” said Pirates running back Omari Land, as the Pirates now reach the .500 mark heading into week 7.  

     Although Castro Valley lost their homecoming game, junior Thomas Tran who watched the game explains that having fun and cheering on the school is what is most important.  

     “We are here for the spirit and unity of our school,” said Tran, who happens to be Castro Valley’s student body treasurer.

     This week, San Leandro plays its homecoming game against Tennyson at Burrell Field on Friday at 7 p.m.

CAPTION: San Leandro High spoiled Castro Valley’s homecoming on Friday night with a 41-0 win as Omari Land scored three touchdowns for the Pirates.

PHOTO BY ANDREW JOSEPH

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Raiders Win Wild West Showdown

BY GREG BENSON  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

    The Raiders leaped into a tie for the top spot in the wild AFC west division with a gutsy fourth-and-three play late in the third quarter of a 34-31 win over their western rivals, the San Diego Chargers.

    “It was a little Wild West out there today,” said Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio after Sunday’s game. “A couple of AFC west teams going at it, back and forth. Our guys hung in there and made enough plays to go home happy today. That’s what the idea is, come out of here with a smile on your face and celebrate being tied for first after five weeks.”

    With the Denver Broncos losing to the Atlanta Falcons 23-16 and the Raiders win, both teams are now tied at 4-1 atop the AFC west.

    Whether it’s a strategic two-point conversion or a fourth-down gamble, the Raiders have consistently come through this season to pull out the win in these closely combatted contests.

    On Sunday, Del Rio once again swiped the dice off the felt and rolled a seven with the confidence he has in his young quarterback, Derek Carr, and the team’s ability to make plays in critical situations.

Carr connected with wide receiver Michael Crabtree with 1:15 left in the third quarter for a 21-yard touchdown on the fourth-and-three down. The Raiders then capped the 38-yard drive with a two-point conversion pass from Carr to Amari Cooper to go ahead of the Chargers 27-24.

    “It’s like all these situations, you make the call, what you think is best for the team, and then you count on your guys going out and executing,” said Del Rio. “Crab [Michael Crabtree] got open and made a nice play.”

    And that’s how the Raiders roll these days. The average margin of victory in their four wins is just three points. The team has finally found the confidence to overcome gameday setbacks, fight back against the odds and win.

    “I think this year, we wanted to take a step forward in terms of understanding how you flourish in those situations and make the winning plays,” said Del Rio. “Most of our games are one-score games and you have to play well in those critical moments in order to win.”

    Next up on the Raiders schedule is another AFC west rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. Oakland has yet to put together a jackpot performance, getting a solid effort from all three phases — offense, defense and special teams. Now’s the time to give the one-armed bandit a try.

CAPTION: Oakland Raiders right guard Gabe Jackson clears a path for fullback Jamize Olawale for a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the Raiders ahead 34-24. Oakland beat the Chargers 34-31 for their first home win of the season and a 4-1 record.

PHOTO BY GREG BENSON

Kids Invited to City’s Annual Halloween Carnival

     The City of San Leandro’s annual Halloween Carnival is set for Sunday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Marina Community Center, 15301 Wicks Blvd. Admission is free and tickets for food and games can be purchased.

    Kids can put on their costumes for an afternoon of games and spooky cheer. Mad Science will present a spooktacular science experiment. Games and entertainment are geared toward children from 4 to 8 years of age.

     This event is made possible by a donation from the San Leandro Optimist Club.

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Spooky Halloween at the Library

     The San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., will have a spooky Halloween in its Haunted History Room on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors will  encounter the ghosts of some of San Leandro’s more famous residents and learn their fascinating histories.

     After visitors have encountered all the ghosts and learn why they are so famous, they’ll be given an easy questionnaire to complete. Parents can help their children discover the answers – to exchange for treats.

     History researchers will be on hand to encourage and assist visitors during their walk to the Other Side.

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A Visit to a Mummy’s Tomb

     Students from St. Felicitas teacher Jean-Thierry Mendiola’s sixth grade class took a trip to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose  earlier this month.  They got a chance to see the artifacts and mummies dating back to ancient Egypt.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN DIONISIO

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A “Mixer with a Purpose” at Horatio’s

     A few local companies: Divine Home Care, Carlton Senior Living, Royal Ambulance, Wellsprings Pharmacy and Horizon Home Health; co-hosted a “Mixer with a Purpose” last month at Horatio’s to benefit SOS/Meals On Wheels, a non-profit agency.

     SOS/Meals on Wheels produces and delivers 1,100 nutritious meals daily to frail seniors living in San Leandro, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Hayward and Oakland. Their mission is to promote nutritional health, decrease the possibility of premature institutionalization, and fosters support to maintain independence and dignity to homebound seniors by enhancing their quality of life through the Meals on Wheels System of Care. SOS/Meals on Wheels serve all eligible seniors, regardless of their ability to contribute to the cost of their meals. SOS/Meals on Wheels is now serving more low-income seniors than ever before. They must raise a significant portion of their budget from individuals, donations and corporations.

     With the help of sponsors and over 150 attendees, contributions totaled $5,500 which were directly donated to SOS/Meals on Wheels.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 10-27-19

Our Lady of Good Counsel Concert 

A star studded concert will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Hall, 2500 Bermuda Ave. in San Leandro, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. The Through the Years concert will lead the audience on a musical journey over the last 50 years, featuring well known singer-comedian Fe De Los Reyes and the popular Philippines singer Jam Morales, supported by Ellona Santiago, an X-Factor finalist. Other artists are Ronnie Ramos, Monica Mendoza, an American idol top 48 finalist and Charlz Mendoza. Tickets are $25. For more information about the tickets, call Beth Garcia at 861-1753 or Mon Cargo at 1-800-432-4300.

Children’s Baking & Craft Classes

Children are invited to join the  baking and craft classes at the Praises of Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1395 Bancroft Avenue in  Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. These classes are free of charge.

Haunted Night at the Library

Treat yourself to a night of tricks and treats at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. Teens in grades 6 through 12 are invited to a free haunted tour of the library after hours, crafts, and a costume contest. Registration is required at the Children’s Desk. For more information, call 577-3960.

Haunted Halloween History 

The San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., will have a spooky Halloween in its Haunted History room on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. Encounter the ghosts of San Leandro’s more famous residents and learn their fascinating histories. After visitors have encountered all the ghosts and learn why they are so famous, they’ll be given an easy questionnaire to complete. Parents can help their children discover the answers. After answering just three ghostly questions correctly, participants will receive a coupon for a small bag of treats, while supplies last. History researchers will be on hand to encourage and assist visitors during their walk to the Other Side.

Classic Broadway Music at SL Library 

A tribute to classic Broadway music will be presented at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of classic Broadway melodies with concert pianist Frederick Hodges. Admission is free. Hailed as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, and conductors. His extensive repertoire includes the great European classical masters as well as the best American composers.

Paranormal Investigation at Meek Mansion

Experienced investigators lead attendees through Meek Mansion, with access to all non-restricted areas on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Data collected on previous investigations include electronic voice phenomena (EVP), cold spots, touches, apparitions and much more. General Admission $75. Proceeds support the maintenance and preservation of this historic site. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Ages 18 or older. Purchase tickets online at www.haywardareahistory.org or call 581-0223.

Vespers at All Saints Episcopal Church 

A Byzantine-style Vespers Service for the Vigil Feast of All Saints will be on Monday, Oct. 31, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 911 Dowling Blvd. in San Leandro. The Vespers service starting at 7:30 p.m. will include icons, Eastern Christian chants, and a time for contemplative prayer. No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome at All Saints. For more information, visit www.saintsalive.net.

Parkinson’s Support Group 

The San Leandro Parkinson’s Support Group will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at the San Lorenzo Community Church, 945 Paseo Grande. Karen Marshall from Community Resources for Independent living will be the speaker. For more information, call Lona White at 276-3119.

Songstress Ramana Viera at SL Library

Ramana Viera, “songstress of fado,” will perform at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Friday, Nov. 4, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free but, please, no children under 10 years of age. Fado is a blend of African rhythms and traditional Portuguese seafaring songs that are infused with Brazilian and Arabic influences. Vieira sings songs both traditional and original songs, joined by bass John Clark on bass, Ela Polak on violin and Brad Bivens on classical guitar. Vieira beautifully modernizes these old-world ballads while maintaining the integrity of this time-honored tradition, harmonizing unconventional instrumentals with fado’s haunting melodies and melancholy stories of heartache and disappointment.

I.D.E.S. of Saint John Lunch & Bingo

I.D.E.S. of Saint John, 1670 Orchard Ave. in San Leandro, will have a bingo and lunch on Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon. Lunch is $15 and includes three bingo cards, extra cards are 25 cents apiece. For more information, call Mr. Helder at 357-5846.

Eagles Eden Auxiliary Autumn Tea  

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Eden Auxiliary #1139 will have its Autumn Tea on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eagles Hall, 21406 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. To make a reservation by Oct. 29 or for more information, call Glenda at 584-1568. The proceeds from will benefit five local charities at Christmastime.

San Leandro Readers Roundtable 

The San Leandro Readers Roundtable will meet Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The group will discuss How To Be Both by Ali Smith, a genre-bending conversation about the nature of art. All are welcome. Books discussed may be purchased in the library’s Booktique bookstore.

Diabetes Support Group 

The Diabetes Support Group will meet on Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. at the San Leandro Surgery Center, 15035 East 14 St. in San Leandro. Fresh Approach will provide a guest speaker to discuss “Healthy Food Choices and Meal Planning.” One need not have diabetes to benefit from this presentation. As usual the public is invited.

Veterans Day Concert 

Del Rey School, 1510 Via Sonya in San Lorenzo, will have a Veterans Day Concert on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. Students will perform songs to honor our military.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

The San Leandro Players present Trouble Bubbles at the Hot Springs, by Gary McCarver and directed by Catherine Heck, on Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 20 at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. One block east of the San Leandro BART Station. Professor Thaddeus Snavely Mack returns to do dastardly deeds with a colorful cast of characters in a rollicking musical melodrama. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors, TBA members, and students. Information and tickets available online at www.slplayers.org.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

The San Leandro History Museum, 320 West Estudillo Ave., will be screening On the Waterfront (1954) on Saturday Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. This is a classic, award-winning, controversial film directed by Elia Kazan, part drama and part gangster film. Admission is free and no prior registration is required. Bring your own popcorn. For more information, call

577-3991.

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Hearing Loss Group’s Kayak Adventure

BY SUE GETREUER  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-20-16

     The hearing loss group’s kayak adventure started from the Encinal boat ramp in Alameda on Oct. 2

     Our instructor, Joseph Stack, owner of Stacked Adventures, was sensitive to the hearing loss of the participants, because he has a mild hearing loss similar to mine.   

     Off came our hearing aids, watches — whatever should not get wet — and communication on the water was primarily by hand signals.

     Our 2-hour excursion took us out on the bay, along a rock wall with lots of birds, including brown pelicans, seagulls and cormorants, and up close to the navy ships that seemed huge compared to us.

     Our instructor told us that in the spring, brown pelicans come to the rock wall in large numbers as part of their migration route. I think I’d like to go kayaking again then, to see this. A big thanks to the organizers. This was fun, safe, and good exercise.

CAPTION: Sue Getreuer, right, member of the East Bay Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association, and fellow members had quite an adventure out on the Bay.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 10-20-16

Shrouded Tales at McConaghy House 

Explore true tales of tragic ends, Victorian death traditions, superstitions and a touch of the paranormal on Friday and Saturday Oct. 21 and 22 at the McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Blvd., in Hayward. Tours are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Proceeds go toward the maintenance and preservation of the site. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. General Admission is $15, $10 for HAHS Members, Seniors and Students. To book a spot, call 581-0223 or visit www.haywardareahistory.org.

Adult School Transitions Services 

The San Leandro Adult School, 1448 Williams St. in San Leandro, invites the community to learn about its transition services, which include assistance with education, employment and personal support services. The public is invited to come to an open house on Friday, Oct. 21, or Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 106. Refreshments will be served.

San Leandro Manor Library

Enjoy a free movie extravaganza screening of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 2 p.m. at the San Leandro Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. This movie is for Teens ages 12 to 18.

Dia De Los Muertos Program 

Enjoy a performance of Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno on Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 3 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. After the performance make your own mini-Altar to honor your loved ones, plus other crafts for the whole family. For more information or to register in advance for this free program, call the Children’s Desk at 577-3960.

The Arc’s Warehouse Sale 

Uncover hidden treasures at The Arc’s Warehouse sale on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 14700 Doolittle Drive in San Leandro. All proceeds benefit The Arc of Alameda County’s programs to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

4th Sunday Breakfast for Veterans

American Legion Post 117 will host breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon every 4th Sunday of the month at the San Leandro Veterans Memorial Bldg., 1105 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro. The menu will be eggs-to-order, bacon/sausage, hash browns, toast and coffee. Cost is $6 for adults, $5 for senior and veterans, and $4 for children under 12. Everyone is welcome.

Eden Garden Club’s Fall Bazaar

Eden Garden Club’s annual Fall Bazaar will be on Monday, Oct. 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Moose Lodge 20635 Rutledge Road in Castro Valley (off CastroValley Blvd., behind Burger King). The bazaar will feature plants, garden items, books, crafts, household items, baked goods, Silent Auction items, and more.  All proceeds to support school gardens.  Meetings are free and guests are welcome.  For more information, call 397-1268.

Friends of San Leandro Creek Meeting

The next meeting of the Friends of San Leandro Creek will be on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Peter Mangarella, Chapter President of the 1st East Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will speak about his group and the exciting projects they do to preserve and enhance streams. Free coffee and snacks. For more information, call Susan at 577-6069 or email slevenson@sanleandro.org.

Halloween Storytime 

Don’t miss Halloween Storytime at the San Leandro  Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 1:30 (pre-school story) and 7 p.m. (family story time). Join the fun as stories are read about Halloween, and then go trick or treating through the library. Don’t forget to wear your costume. For more information, call 577-3960.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Concert 

A star studded concert will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Hall, 2500 Bermuda Ave. in San Leandro, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. The Through the Years concert will lead the audience on a musical journey over the last 50 years, featuring well known singer-comedian Fe De Los Reyes and the popular Philippines singer Jam Morales, supported by Ellona Santiago, an X-Factor finalist. Other artists are Ronnie Ramos, Monica Mendoza, an American idol top 48 finalist and Charlz Mendoza. Tickets are $25. For more information about the tickets, call Beth Garcia at 861-1753 or Mon Cargo at 1-800-432-4300.

Haunted Halloween History 

The San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., will have a spooky Halloween in its Haunted History room on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. Encounter the ghosts of San Leandro’s more famous residents and learn their fascinating histories. After visitors have encountered all the ghosts and learn why they are so famous, they’ll be given an easy questionnaire to complete. Parents can help their children discover the answers. After answering just three ghostly questions correctly, participants will receive a coupon for a small bag of treats, while supplies last. History researchers will be on hand to encourage and assist visitors during their walk to the Other Side.

Classic Broadway Music at SL Library 

A tribute to classic Broadway music will be presented at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of classic Broadway melodies with concert pianist Frederick Hodges. Admission is free. Hailed as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, and conductors. His extensive repertoire includes the great European classical masters as well as the best American composers.

Paranormal Investigation at Meek Mansion

Experienced investigators lead attendees through Meek Mansion, with access to all non-restricted areas on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Data collected on previous investigations include electronic voice phenomena (EVP), cold spots, touches, apparitions and much more. General Admission $75. Proceeds support the maintenance and preservation of this historic site. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Ages 18 or older. Purchase tickets online at www.haywardareahistory.org or call 581-0223.

I.D.E.S. of Saint John Lunch & Bingo

I.D.E.S. of Saint John, 1670 Orchard Ave. in San Leandro, will have a bingo and lunch on Saturday, Nov. 5, at noon. Lunch is $15 and includes three bingo cards, extra cards are 25 cents apiece. For more information, call Mr. Helder at 357-5846.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

The San Leandro Players present Trouble Bubbles at the Hot Springs, by Gary McCarver and directed by Catherine Heck, on Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 through Nov. 20 at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. One block east of the San Leandro BART Station. Professor Thaddeus Snavely Mack returns to do dastardly deeds with a colorful cast of characters in a rollicking musical melodrama. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors, TBA members, and students. Information and tickets available online at www.slplayers.org.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

The San Leandro History Museum, 320 West Estudillo Ave., will be screening On the Waterfront (1954) on Saturday Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. This is a classic, award-winning, controversial film directed by Elia Kazan, part drama and part gangster film. Admission is free and no prior registration is required. Bring your own popcorn. For more information, call

577-3991.

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Unity in the Community Takes a Walk

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     More than 70 people took part in the Unity Walk sponsored by Unity in the Community on Sept. 24. Civic leaders and elected officials, parents, children, residents, police officers and others walked along East 14th Street to Root Park in support of civil rights, justice and personal safety.

PHOTO BY MONIQUE TATE

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Raiders Join Mexico Danza at Roosevelt Elementary to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  10-13-16

     The Oakland Raiders celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month on Monday by partnering with a local Ballet Folklorico performance group to educate local underserved youth from Roosevelt Elementary School in San Leandro.

     Students learned about the history of Ballet Folklorico and its significance to the heritage of Mexico and Latin American culture.

     Raiders defensive end/linebacker Shilique Calhoun, guard Gabe Jackson, running back/kick returner Taiwan Jones and wide receiver Jaydon Mickens joined the Mexico Danza dancers and students in an energetic Ballet Folklorico session of learning traditional dance moves.

     The event tied in with Play 60 messaging of dance being an easy and fun way to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.  Additionally, the group put on a traditional Ballet Folklorico performance.

CAPTION: Raiders rookies Shilique Calhoun (91) and Jaydon Mickens (19) performed Ballet Folklorico dance routines on Monday with students from Roosevelt Elementary School.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY GONZALES/RAIDERS.COM

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 10-13-16

St. James Lutheran Yard Sale

St. James Lutheran Church, 993 Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro, is holding a church-wide yard sale on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Earthly Treasures for sale include art, books, collectibles, household items, games, toys, clothing, sports and exercise equipment, jewelry and more. Also offered will be breakfast burritos and other treats. This fun family-friendly community event supports the ministries of St. James Lutheran Church and is open to everyone.

Alta Mira Club Pancake Breakfast

The Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro, will have a pancake breakfast on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. All you can eat. Adults $6, children $3, no charge for kids under 5. For tickets, call Isabel Polvorsa at 483-2073, Linda Klass 919-5684, or buy tickets at the door.

Saturday Explorers: Pumpkin Pickers

Join in the fun on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd., to learn about different types of seeds through games, crafts and other activities. Best for children ages 5 and older. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To register or for more information, call 577-7971.

Soroptimist Fashion Show & Luncheon 

Soroptimist International of the East Bay presents the 4th Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 15,  from noon to 3 p.m. at the Crow Canyon Country Club,

711 Silver Lake Dr. in Danville.  Fashions will be provided by Chico’s of Danville. Cost  of the show and lunch is $45 per person. For more information or tickets, call Lynn Levin at 593-7377.

San Leandro Garden Club 

The monthly meeting of the San Leandro Garden Club will be on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Alta Mira House, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro. The business meeting is at 10 a.m. and at 11 a.m. speaker Steve Wiley will introduce student members from the Environmental Leadership Club at San Lorenzo High School and discuss the club’s activities. Come early to check out the plant table. All are welcome.

St. Felicitas  Oktoberfest Luncheon 

St. Felicitas Parish, 1662 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro, hosts its monthly Young at Heart Luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 19, with sausage on soft roll, sauerkraut, German potato salad, coleslaw, dessert, plus coffee or apple cider. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at noon. Tickets are now on sale for $6 and must be purchased no later than the Monday before the luncheon. Entertainment and door prizes at each luncheon. Tickets available at the parish office Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Shrouded Tales at McConaghy House 

Explore true tales of tragic ends, Victorian death traditions, superstitions and a touch of the paranormal on Friday and Saturday Oct. 21 and 22 at the McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Blvd, in Hayward. Tours are at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Proceeds go toward the maintenance and preservation of the site. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. General Admission is $15, $10 for HAHS Members, Seniors and Students. To book, call 581-0223 or visit www.haywardareahistory.org.

Adult School Transitions Services 

The San Leandro Adult School, 1448 Williams St. in San Leandro, invites the community to learn about its transition services, which include assistance with education, employment and personal support services. The public is invited to come to an open house on Friday, Oct. 21, or Thursday, Dec. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 106. Refreshments will be served.

Our Lady of Good Counsel Concert 

A star studded concert will be held at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Hall, 2500 Bermuda Ave. in San Leandro, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m. The Through the Years concert will lead the audience on a musical journey over the last 50 years, featuring well known singer-comedian Fe De Los Reyes and the popular Philippines singer Jam Morales, supported by Ellona Santiago, an X-Factor finalist. Other artists are Ronnie Ramos, Monica Mendoza, an American idol top 48 finalist and Charlz Mendoza. Tickets are $25. For more information about the tickets, call Beth Garcia at 861-1753 or Mon Cargo at 1-800-432-4300.

Haunted Halloween History 

The San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., will have a spooky Halloween in its Haunted History Room on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors will  encounter the ghosts of some of San Leandro’s more famous residents and learn their fascinating histories. After visitors have encountered all the ghosts and learn why they are so famous, they’ll be given an easy questionnaire to complete. Parents can help their children discover the answers. After answering just three ghostly questions correctly, participants will receive a coupon for a small bag of treats, while supplies last. History researchers will be on hand to encourage and assist visitors during their walk to the Other Side.

Classic Broadway Music at SL Library 

A tribute to classic Broadway music will be presented at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of classic Broadway melodies with concert pianist Frederick Hodges. Admission is free. Hailed as one of the best concert pianists in the world, Frederick Hodges is sought after by today’s foremost orchestras, festivals, and conductors. His extensive repertoire includes the great European classical masters as well as the best American composers.

Paranormal Investigation at Meek Mansion

Experienced investigators lead attendees through Meek Mansion, with access to all non-restricted areas on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Data collected on previous investigations include electronic voice phenomena (EVP), cold spots, touches, apparitions and much more. General Admission $75. Proceeds support the maintenance and preservation of this historic site. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Ages 18 or older. Purchase tickets online at www.haywardareahistory.org or call 581-0223.

Japanese Moon Viewing Festival 

Join the Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association for an evening of Japanese food, entertainment and moon viewing Sunday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. in Oakland. There is a $5 parking fee. Japanese Bento box dinners available only on a pre-paid basis by sending your check for $15 to OFSCA, P.O. Box 13022, Oakland CA 94661-3022. Check must be received by Oct. 10. For more information, go to www.oakland-fukuoka.org or email: ofsca1962@gmail.com.

San Leandro Museum Auditorium

The San Leandro Players present Trouble Bubbles at the Hot Springs, by Gary McCarver and directed by Catherine Heck, on Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Oct. 22 through Nov. 20 at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. One block east of the San Leandro BART Station. Professor Thaddeus Snavely Mack returns to do dastardly deeds with a colorful cast of characters in a rollicking musical melodrama. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors, TBA members, and students. Information and tickets available online at www.slplayers.org.

Son Arrested in Washington State For Mother’s Murder in Cherryland

     The son of a woman who was found murdered in her home in unincorporated Hayward earlier this month has been arrested for the crime.

     The decomposed body of Patricia Carpenter, 50, was found in her living room on the 22000 block of Princeton Street after neighbors reported not seeing her for over a week and smelling a foul odor coming from the home, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

     It took investigators days to determine the cause of death was homicide due to the state of Carpenter’s corpse. An autopsy revealed she had been stabbed numerous times.

     Carpenter’s son, LeMario Thomas, 28, was a resident of the home but could not be  located. Inside his room, officers found a bloody knife, Kelly said.

     During the investigation, it was discovered that on Sept. 28, a 911 call came into the CHP dispatch center in Sacramento.

     The caller requested that the Hayward police be sent to the Princeton Avenue home to  see what was inside. The male caller disconnected when asked for more information. Officers arrived, did not see anything out of the ordinary, and left when no one answered the door, according to Kelly.

     After the discovery of the body, an arrest warrant for Thomas was put out.

     On. Oct. 17, police in Centralia, Washington picked up Thomas for allegedly trying to steal valuables from a car. During his arrest, he told the cops that he had killed his mother.

     Thomas also confessed to Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies, Kelly said. Thomas remains in a Washington jail awaiting extradition to Alameda County.

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Federal Charges in SL Bank Robberies

     A woman has been federally charged for string of bank robberies that hit cities all over the Bay Area, including two in San Leandro.

     Federal attorneys say Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Brown robbed banks in San Francisco, Antioch, and San Leandro between January and June of this year. She faces 20 years in prison for each robbery and also has been charged with felony gun possession

     Among her alleged robberies, Brown is accused of holding up the Patelco Credit Union branch on the 1300 block of Fairmont Drive on Jan. 13 and Feb. 29.

     Brown was also allegedly found to be in possession of a semi-automatic pistol with the serial number  destroyed.

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Police Say Burglars Went on Overnight Sprees

     Two men have been arrested for a series of burglaries and the theft of cars from a dealership.

     On Oct. 17, an alarm went of at the Valero gas station at 1495 Hays Street at around 10 p.m. and police discovered that about $2,000 worth of tobacco products had been stolen.

     Four hours later, another alarm call went off at McKevitt Volvo on Marina Boulevard, according to Lt. Robert McManus of the San Leandro police.

     At the car dealership, police discovered that someone had cut hole in the rear roll-up door and stolen Audi and three Volvo.

     On Oct. 19 at around 2:40 a.m., officers responded to another alarm call, this one at Bara’s Deli near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Monterey Boulevard. Someone had drilled into the front windows and front door lock.

     About 15 minutes later, an alarm went off at the Premier Gas station at 15018 Hesperian Boulevard. When officers arrived, they found the front doors smashed and cash, lottery tickets, and tobacco products stolen.

     Officers spotted an Audi and a Volvo matching the description of two of the stolen cards speeding away from the area.

     A few hours later on last Wednesday morning, undercover detectives  found one of the stolen Volvos parked at the corner of 92nd Avenue and E Street in Oakland where detectives arrested 35-year-old Jason Lee of Oakland on suspicion of auto theft and violating his probation.

     On Thursday morning at 5:20 a.m. officers responded to another alarm call at the Grafco convenience store at 525 Williams Street. While searching inside, cops found 26-year-old Eli Mahoney of Oakland hiding inside.  He was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

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Convictions in Human Trafficking Case

     A jury recently convicted Paul Booker, Jason Antoine Beasley, and Ruben Manzell Mitchell of numerous offences and enhancements, including kidnapping, torture, assault with a firearm, attempted pandering, and human trafficking for commercial sex in a case that began in San Leandro.

    In 2013, a 17-year-old girl ran away from home and was living on a friend’s couch, making money in the commercial sex trade to survive.

    The young woman knew Booker and Beasley, and previously Booker had propositioned her, offering to work as her pimp, according to the Alameda County district attorney’s office.

    The girl declined to work for Booker and spent the night with Beasley at an apartment in San Leandro.

    The next day Beasley took the girl to Oakland, where Booker forced her into the trunk of his car at gunpoint.

    The district attorney’s office says that Beasley set her up.

    Booker took the girl to his apartment and bound her hand and feet with duct tape. Over the course of several hours, he and Mitchell hit her and tortured her with a knife to get her to agree to “work” for them.

    The girl was eventually left alone and was able to escape.

     All three men were convicted and will be sentenced on Oct. 24.

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Sheriff Says Decomposed Body Found In Hayward Home is a Murder Victim

     The death of a woman in her unincorporated Hayward home has been ruled a homicide, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

     Officers found the decomposed body Patricia Carpenter, 50, inside her home on the 22300 block of Princeton Street on Oct. 5 after responding to a report of a foul odor.

     It took the investigators a week to determine her death was a homicide because Carpenter was decomposed. Neighbors hadn’t seen her in a week or more.

     Because the investigation is active, the sheriff’s department is not yet disclosing the cause of death.

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Police Say Home Was Brothel

     San Leandro police arrested three women for “suspicion of resisting arrest” after locating what they believe to be a brothel operating in a home at 338 Aloha Drive.

     The police acted on tips complaining of illegal activity at the home and  detectives found advertising for prostitution on a website known to be used by “Johns,” according to Lt. Robert McManus of the San Leandro police.

     The officers texted with a woman who agreed to perform sex acts for $160 and gave them the Aloha Drive address. Police served a search warrant there on the afternoon of Oct. 6.

     When officers knocked on the door, three Chinese women between the ages of 31 and 54 tried to run away through the back of the house, but police caught up with them and arrested them.

     In the house, police found another woman and a man. The man told officers he was there for a massage. Police are investigating the man and woman.

     “These investigations are very challenging, especially when trying to seek criminal charges,” said McManus in a written statement. “We have difficulty convincing ‘Johns’ to cooperate with us, which negatively impacts the investigation. More importantly, we strongly consider the human trafficking aspect involved in these operations and know that some women are forced into performing illegal sex acts. In these cases, our goal is to provide the true victims (women) with social services that will assist them in escaping from this illegal industry.”

     When police searched the house, they found no indication that anyone was living there. Each room just had a mattress on the floor and a small table with condoms, with a sheet covering the windows and a suitcase filled with women’s lingerie.

     Police seized about $1,500 in cash. After interviewing the women, they discovered that one had arrived from China less than a week previously and came to San Leandro to engage in prostitution.

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Police Find Large Pot Operation in Homes

     Last week a three-month undercover investigation culminated in the bust of a marijuana growing operation at multiple houses throughout the city.

     Police arrested five suspects and seized $40,000 cash and more than 2,000 pot plants, according to Lt. Robert McManus of the San Leandro police.

     Search warrants were obtained for the six houses in the Broadmoor, Bay-O-Vista, and Washington Manor neighborhoods.

     At around 7 a.m. on Oct. 5, more than 30 officers served the warrants and searched the homes, finding illegal indoor marijuana grows at four of the homes.

     McManus said that when police knocked on one door, a man inside peered though the window and then immediately ran. Police found him hiding in the home in a tight crawl-space underneath a hatch in the floor. Police tired to talk him out, but he remained in the hole for 45 minutes until a police dog ousted him.

     Police are not releasing the names of those arrested or the addresses of homes because the investigation is ongoing.

     Based on the amount of electricity to successfully power the indoor-growing lights, police report that monthly PG&E bills for each residence could cost up to $480,000 annually.

     Although it is typical in these types of set-ups for suspects to bypass the PG&E electrical meters, an electrical bypass was not discovered in any of the residences involved in this investigation, McManus said.

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Fire in San Leandro Displaces Residents and Kills Cat

     Two neighbors had to be rescued from a nearby residence when a fire broke out at a home near Bella Vista Avenue and Lorraine Boulevard in San Leandro on Sunday morning.

     The two-alarm fire started at around 7:15 a.m. with heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the house. The fire was extinguished in about 20 minutes, according to the Alameda County fire Department, who helped evacuate the neighbors.

     Investigators say the fire started in the backyard and spread to the home. The cause of the fire is still being determined.

     A cat died in the fire but two others were able to be rescued by the home’s residents. Two other cats are still missing. No other injuries were reported.

     The two residents have been displaced as a result of the fire and have found a place to stay.

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San Leandro Man Leads CHP on Car Chase That Ends in Flames in East Oakland

     A San Leandro man was arrested after a car chase that went through multiple cities ended in a fiery wreck in Oakland early Monday morning.

     Terry Nguyen, 29, faces charges including felony evasion, drug possession, driving under the influence, and driving on a suspended license, according to the California Highway Patrol.

     Nguyen allegedly refused to stop for a CHP patrol officer who attempted to pull his GMC Yukon over on westbound I-580 near Highway 13 in Oakland for not having a license plate at around 1:30 a.m.

     The suspect then led CHP officers on a chase that began when he exited the westbound lanes and turned onto the eastbound lanes of I-580. He drove from Oakland into San Leandro, then Castro Valley, and got on I-880 and continued into Hayward, driving at or below the speed limit the entire time.

     Nguyen then turned around again and drove northbound on I-880 back toward Oakland. CHP officers put a spike strip down on I-880 near the Davis Street exit, which the suspect ran over before exiting at 98th Avenue into East Oakland.

     The chase continued on Oakland city streets with the GMC on fire as Nguyen’s wheels wore through and he began driving on his metal rims.

     Finally, Nguyen stopped near the intersection of 106th  and Longfellow avenues and surrendered to CHP officers.

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Man Sentenced in Killing of San Lorenzo Teen

     Late last month, an  Alameda County Superior Court judge a sentenced Sonny Anderson to 37 years-to-life in the hit-and-run death of a San Lorenzo teen.

     Anderson, 36, was sentenced for the November 2014 death of San Lorenzo High School freshman Ivan Cruz.

     Cruz had been returning home from riding his scooter at a park and was crossing an intersection near Ashland Avenue when Anderson struck and killed him during a police car chase while Anderson was high on methamphetamine.

     Anderson evaded arrest at the time of the killing, but police later found the car abandoned in Fremont and traced it to a relative of Anderson’s, authorities said.

     Anderson was also found guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit and run, and felony animal abuse for punching a police dog at the time of his arrest for Cruz’s death.

Bathroom Styles Enjoy a Renaissance

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-27-16

     As a kid, we frequently went camping and could always rely on outdoor toilets. We also had a few country friends on farms with outhouses. Trips to the backyard biffy were never fun: The smell and insects kept visits short; and, if it was cold outside, outings were measured in seconds.

     I actually lived near the largest two-story outhouse in the world located behind the Windsor Hotel in Heritage Park in Calgary, Canada. Boasting four main-level stalls and two second-story units, it was constructed in such a way as to prevent the mayhem seen on The Simpsons.

     We’ve come a long way since bathrooms moved indoors and, if you’ve done much travelling outside the U.S.A., you’ll have developed a strong admiration for modern American plumbing. Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are the most renovated rooms, and we are currently seeing a renaissance of sorts in the privy.

     The National Kitchen & Bath Association has released its “Top Bathroom Trends for 2016.”* And, if you’ve visited many open houses lately, you will likely have seen some of these highlighted items:

     1. Greater acceptance of aging-in-place amenities: no-threshold showers, grab bars, higher vanity heights and chair-height toilets. With aging boomers comprising a growing segment of society, bathrooms are adapting to boomer desires to remain in their homes as they grow older.

     2. Neutral colors rule the bath. Coupled with whites and off-whites, grays are gaining in popularity, along with beige and bone shades.

     3. More open shelving and floating vanities. Taking cues from upscale European hotels, vanities are starting to hang from the walls. Once only seen in commercial buildings, Euro-styled wall-mounted toilets are now appearing in homes.

     4. Greater use of shower amenities such as lights, built-in seats and benches, and hand shower in addition to the mounted showerhead.

     5. Undermount sinks are far and away the most popular sink style. Quartz products are also gaining popularity as the material of choice for counters.

     6. When tubs are installed in master bathrooms, they are most likely to be freestanding.

     7. Polished chrome is the most popular faucet finish. Satin or brushed nickel are next, and brass is out.

     Factor in electric radiant floor heating, master bathrooms with coffee bars, wet bars and microwaves, TVs built into mirrors, soft-close toilet seats and steam showers… and those super-short visits of old may have gone the way of the outhouse.

     *Taken from www.nkba.org, Inside Look at the Top Ten Bathroom Trends of 2016.

     Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association at www.ccmgtoday.com.

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You Can Hang Art on Cement Walls

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-27-16

Q: I have a dry basement that I turned into an extra workspace and play area. The outer concrete walls are covered by a layer of wallboard with little or no space between. I’d like to hang pictures and a whiteboard in this area, but I am afraid of drilling through the concrete. How can I accomplish this?

A: Drilling into concrete isn’t impossible — special masonry drill bits are available — but you’re right to be cautious about drilling holes in the walls of a dry basement. However, you do have options outside of drilling into the mortar.

     Light objects that won’t bear extra weight can be attached to the wall using an adhesive product like the Command series of picture hangers. These have the added benefit of not marring the wallboard even when the adhesive is removed later. They’re available at home-improvement and office-supply stores.

     For a more secure attachment, place small picture-hanger hooks into the wallboard using the smallest nails available. The items being hung should be less than 5 pounds and not hold any extra weight — so a shelf or a cork board laden with notes might not hold up.

     For heavier objects, or if you want shelving near your workspace, you’ll have to get more creative. If there is a little space between the wallboard and the concrete, you can drill a hole and place expansion bolts, which pop open behind the wallboard to keep the bolts in place. Toggle (or Molly) bolts will work if there is about an inch of space between the concrete and the drywall.

     Because the bolts are not anchored in studs, you should brace the shelf or picture with extra expansion bolts on the bottom, and limit the load to less than 50 pounds. In fact, if you’re planning to add shelving to hold books, consider using a freestanding bookshelf instead of a weight-bearing wall shelf.

     Another option for heavier items is suspending them from the ceiling. Try locating the ceiling’s framing material or the floor joists using a stud finder, and drill sturdy bolts or hooks into the joists.

     Home Tip: Even “dry” basements can have high humidity or be vulnerable to seepage through the masonry foundation, so consider using a dehumidifier to improve air quality.

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Drill Drainage Holes; Prevent Mildew on Dahlias

BY BUZZ BERTOLERO  •  THE DIRT GARDENER  •  10-27-16

Q: Is it absolutely necessary to drill holes in the bottom of containers for drainage? I’ve purchased several inexpensive plastic pots that have no drainage holes. If I don’t overwater them, won’t the plants just suck up the water, leaving none to stagnate at the bottom? Also, what is good to plant for color for the winter months?

A: Having no drainage holes may work but it’s going to be tricky in gauging when to add more water. The amount will vary significantly between the seasons.

     Another issue of not having drainage holes will be the depth of the container. Your new plants may not use all the excess water. You then have an issue with uneven soil moisture. The lower half could stay very wet while the top half is dry. It’s very difficult to water just the top.

      A shallow container would be easier to water than a deep one.

     This is not going to work with outdoor containers during the rainy season. To me, this whole idea is a lot of hassle.

     A better option would be to purchase another pot with drainage holes that will fit inside the current ones. It’s a pot within a pot. Now, the excess water can be easily dumped out; or, just drill holes in the current pots.

     For seasonal color, cyclamen, primroses, primulas, pansies, violas, calendulas or Iceland poppies are available for planting.

     Planted now, these plants will bloom right into next spring.

     Also available are mums, snapdragons, flowering kale and cabbage, but I’d look to replace them on or before the first of the year.

     Cyclamen mixed with violas or primulas are a very attractive combination. They can be grown in any location that gets lots of light. Sun or shade isn’t important during the winter months.

     The growth should be minimal, so plant them close to one another; otherwise, the containers will look sparse.

     And, finally, you need to add a starter or all-purpose fertilizer at the time of planting so they don’t turn yellow from being hungry.

Q: The leaves of my dahlias are full of mildew; however, the flowers are not affected. What can be done now to prevent this?

A: There are many products available for mildew control on dahlias as well as many other plants. But, I would not be inclined to apply anything this late in the season.

     Dahlias will be going dormant soon and the beginning of the rainy season is not that far off.

     Mildew is an airborne disease that’s a problem when moisture remains on the foliage after the sun goes down. Once the rainy season concludes, the marine influence is a major contributor to mildew as well as watering in the early evening.

     To combat this problem, I’d apply Bayer Advanced All In One Rose and Flower Care. It’s a granular or liquid solution that’s applied to the roots, so no spraying is necessary, and it gives you six weeks of protection. Besides controlling mildew, along with other diseases, it fertilizes and controls many sucking insects such as aphids. I’d make my first application in late May or early June.

     Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional and Senior Gardening Professional at Sloat Garden Centers. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com. Email questions to dirtgarden@aol.com or go to Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero.

CAPTION: Apply flower care to dahlias in late May or early June.

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Student Loan Debt Delays Millennial Move Outs

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-20-16

     While it’s no surprise that record high price tags for Bay Area homes are keeping many buyer wannabes from purchasing, this is especially true of Millennials.*

     It’s not just the staggering cost of homes putting on the brakes, however. It’s that PLUS the extremely high outlay required for something else:

     Education and the resulting student loans.

     In a recent national survey of Millennials by LendingTree, 46.31 percent of respondents revealed that their high monthly student loan payments are actually delaying the home-buying process.

     Further, the results revealed that 53.27 percent were putting travel plans on hold, 38.07 percent were postponing retirement savings and 44.74 percent were even delaying the purchase of new wheels.

     With a degree deemed necessary for Millennials seeking good-paying jobs, there is no good news on the horizon for this problem. It’s no secret that the cost of higher education is soaring.

     To corroborate, LendingTree’s report points out that while many survey participants had been accepted to highly ranked colleges and universities, they deemed that the associated costs were too high and, consequently, ended up settling for lower-ranked, more affordable schools. Further, the report declares that this trend “suggests student debt may not only obstruct Millennial spending, but may be negatively influencing college and career choices and restricting economic growth.”

     And, it appears, hampering the housing market as well.

     Millennials, in an attempt to get ahead, are not only not buying homes, they are also avoiding the rental market in record numbers. Evading conventional logic that assumes they have a choice between paying rent or making mortgage payments, they have chosen a third option: living with mom and dad.

     A Pew Research Center paper, released in May, points out that, for the first time since 1880, more than 50 percent of Millennials are still living at home.

     Historically, those staying at home have typically been college grads that have yet to secure a job. While that is still true to a point, the trend is changing with higher numbers of those fully employed still camping on their parents’ good will.

     One last trend is also keeping Millennials from diving into the housing market: the increasing delay in getting married. No marriage, no pressure to set up a household; no pressure to set up a household, no need to get off the parents’ couch.

     It’s a fine pickle, and one that does not appear to moving out any time soon.

     *Those born between 1982 and 2004.

     Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association at www.ccmgtoday.com.

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Can Outdoor Furniture Outlast Winter?

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-20-16

     Cedar outdoor furniture is desirable to many people. It’s a durable wood, doesn’t easily warp or rot, and resists insects.

     Unfinished cedar furniture starts out as a natural reddish color, which over time fades to gray as wind and weather season the wood. Owners who prefer the warmer reddish color can apply a wood sealer, or enhance the color using a wood stain.

     Paint or finishing oils aren’t typically used with cedar furniture, since they can trap moisture, encouraging rot.

     You can clean cedar furniture a few times a year with soap and water, but avoid using a pressure washer or harsh solvents. If you’re concerned about temperature extremes or ice on the furniture, you can cover it or store it during the winter.

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Reseed Turf Now Before Rainy Season Hits

BY BUZZ BERTOLERO  •  THE DIRT GARDENER  •  10-20-16

Q: Is it too late to reseed my lawn, and should it be dethatched and aerated first?

A: It’s not too late to reseed your lawn but you need to act fast. The growing season concludes with the end of Daylight Saving Time, on November 6. However, if the temperatures cool too fast and the rainy season begins, the grass seed will never germinate. It takes 10 days to two weeks for germination. It has been successful in some years while it has failed in others.

     I wouldn’t be inclined to aerate the turf now as the winter rains will wash away any of the drainage benefits, so I’d wait until next spring.

     Dethatching may be necessary but, then again, it may not. You might want to determine just how thick the thatch layer is first.

     With a shovel, make two cuts at a 45-degree angle to each other. At the apex of the angle, lift the grass up with the shovel exposing the soil profile. The soil profile shows the grass blades, the thatch layer and how far the roots have penetrated into the soil. The thatch layer is that layer of organic matter between the blades of grass and the soil.

      It is normal to have some thatch, so if the layer is less than three-quarter of an inch, dethatching isn’t required. Instead, I’d just rake the area vigorously to remove any loose matter and scratch the soil in the bare spots.

     If you’re planning on reseeding the entire lawn area, then you could use a detaching machine. Otherwise, skip it and just rake the bare spots.

     The metal tines of a dethatching machine removes the thatch layer and it also damages the existing turf; hence, the need to reseed the entire area. It’s a particular issue with clumping Fescue type grasses.

     If the original lawn was sodded or seeded this century, it’s more than likely a Fescue lawn. Fescue turfs are notoriously slow in filling in because of there clumping growth habit. So, it’s only recommended if you’re reseeding the entire lawn area.

     The reseeding process is very straight forward. Scatter the seed, apply a starter fertilizer and then cover it with a thin layer of compost, mulch, or soil amendment.

     The last step is to water, but be careful not to let the water puddle. The seed can float around and you can then create bare spots in the bare spots. Sprinkle the seed in the morning and afternoon until it germinates.

Q: I planted a bare-root peach tree this spring. All of the growth developed below the graft. Is it worth keeping or is it best to replant a new tree?

A: Unfortunately, your peach tree has expired, so, I’d start over with a new tree. The growth below the graft is just the rootstock. The root stock it not going to produce edible peaches. Your favorite garden center has bare-root peach trees in January.

     Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional and Senior Gardening Professional at Sloat Garden Centers. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com. Email questions to dirtgarden@aol.com or go to Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero.

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Market Shift May Be Waiting in the Wings

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-13-16

     It’s official. With September’s data just released, average sales prices in Alameda County have declined steadily since their peak in April, 2016.

     Cresting at $914,000, average county sale prices have eroded month-by-month to a September average of $842,000, a decline of 8.5 percent over a four month period. Median* prices, while not as high, have eased from $815,000 in April to a current low of $765,000, representing a 6.5-percent drop.

     Regardless of which way you slice it, we’ve seen a steady decrease in market values since June. If the numbers from the past four years are any indicator, we can expect continued reductions through December.

     So far, the market is performing as it has every year since the market turned positive starting in February, 2012. Each year, market prices dipped through to the end of December, then rebounded with a roar each January, soaring to new heights each spring.

     While current numbers should be no surprise, given same-period market performance over the past four years, many pundits believe that, come 2017, the market will perform differently than we have come to expect in recent years.

     One such example is Gary Keller, cofounder of Keller Williams, the largest real estate company in the world by agent count.

     In a recent speech to KW leaders, Keller cited six key indicators in the national housing market that he believes will lead to a market shift in the near future:

     1. Median prices across the country are at an all-time high.

     2. The average DOM (days on the market) is rising.

     3. Prices are declining in many markets.

     4. The supply of move-up and luxury homes is increasing.

     5. The number of unit sales (number of homes sold) are declining.

     6. New home construction is flat across the country.

     While true nationally, all six indicators are also present in the Bay Area. Prices have reached all-time peaks, DOM is increasing, the top end of the market is softening more rapidly than the bottom end and move-up sales, almost completely missing over the past few years, are once again becoming a staple.

     Inventory is increasing while closings are diminishing, pushing prices downward. While we have pockets of new homes in the Bay Area, sales are not as brisk as hoped.

     Our advice? Watch January’s numbers. If sales ease out of the gate instead of exploding, then, in our opinion, the shift in the market has finally arrived.

     *Median price takes the lowest and highest price of properties sold in a specific period of time and calculates the mid-point.

     Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty and a licensed general contractor. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association at www.ccmgtoday.com.

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Chill Tulips, Not Daffodils; Hydrangea Hints

BY BUZZ BERTOLERO  •  THE DIRT GARDENER  •  10-13-16

Q: My tulips and daffodil bulbs were removed from the ground after the foliage turned brown and stored. When should I replant them, and should they be chilled first?

A: Spring- or summer-flowering bulbs stored from the previous year are replanted during their typical planting season. So, you’d replant daffodils, narcissus, tulips, etc. in the fall, while dahlias, gladiolus and others would go back into the ground in late winter, early spring.

     Yes, tulips should be chilled, but not the daffodils. Chill tulips before planting for six weeks as the ground doesn’t get cold enough.

     When chilling tulips in a refrigerator be sure to remove all the apples, bananas, tomatoes and other fruits. The ethylene gas from the maturing fruit can damage the immature flowers.

     That being said, the real question is whether it’s worth the effort or not. Tulip flowers vary, so don’t expect last year’s tulips to be as showy this year. They will require another growing season before they reach their peak again.

     You can improve the color show by mixing in new bulbs with the older ones. Personally, I’d  plant new bulbs each year.

     This is not the case with daffodils and narcissus as they’re planted anytime before the rainy season begins. Also, it’s quite common to leave them in the ground year after year. The clumps are dug up and divided when the groupings become so crowded that the flower size is reduced.

     Also, the overcrowding is the major reason why daffodils and narcissus stop blooming altogether. Typically, they’re divided every three to four years.

     As with new planting, you should add bulb food or bone meal. Depending on the size of the bulb, add a teaspoon or tablespoon under each bulb so nutrients are immediately available to the new roots.

Q: I read that to keep hydrangeas a pink color you should feed them an acid fertilizer; and, to turn them blue, use something alkaline. Each spring, I fertilize my pink hydrangea with an acid fertilizer but the blooms turn out to be a dirty white color. What am I doing wrong?

A: The flower color on hydrangeas is determined by the acidity or alkalinity of the soil and it’s measured by the soil pH. A pH scale runs from 1 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Any reading below 7 is acidic while any reading above 8 is alkaline.

     A simple pH kit is available at your favorite garden center to measure your soil.

     Unfortunately, your blue/pink formula is backward. Hydrangeas turn pink in alkaline soils while we get blue tones in acidic conditions.

     You can keep hydrangeas pink or red by fertilizing with Superphosphate or 0-10-10. For blue and/or lavender hydrangeas, feed them Aluminum Sulphate, EB Stone True Blue or Gro More Blue.

     Begin feeding in the fall and continue monthly, February through May. These additives are a supplement to your usual plant fertilizers, not a replacement.

     Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional and Senior Gardening Professional at Sloat Garden Centers. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com. Email questions to dirtgarden@aol.com or go to Facebook.com/Buzz.Bertolero.

CAPTION: Mix in new bulbs to improve the color show of your tulips.

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Replace Leaking Dishwasher Hose, Pronto

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  10-13-16

     A leaking dishwasher hose can go unnoticed for a long time. That means it can also cause major water damage.

     You should be able to find a similar-size replacement hose at your home-improvement store, or check with the manufacturer to see if the part is still available.

     You definitely don’t want the flooding to continue, so unplug the dishwasher (or turn off power at the circuit panel if there is no standard outlet) and gently slide it out of its cabinet to access the hose.

     Disconnect the hose from the appliance and from the sink trap or garbage disposal, depending on how it was installed. Take it to the home-improvement store to find a comparable size and length. (Don’t purchase a shorter length. The hose needs to be set up so that its middle part is higher than the inlet/outlet connections.)

     Connect the new hose, first to the sink trap or garbage disposal, then to the dishwasher outlet. Plug the dishwasher back in (or turn on the circuit). Place a piece of plastic along the floor under the outlet and under the sink trap connection, then run the dishwasher empty for a full cycle and monitor for leaks. If you detect any, adjust the connections until the leak stops.

     Once the leak is fixed, take a close look at the floor and wall behind the dishwasher and note the location and extent of water damage. Damp drywall and flooring may dry without issues, but materials that get repeatedly soaked can develop a mold problem. If you detect mold, the affected drywall should be cut out and replaced. Flooring may be okay, but it should be treated to prevent mold.

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Kerr Calls for Re-election of Oro Loma Directors

Editor:

     Regarding Oro Loma Board re-election, the General Manager and the current Board of Directors at Oro Loma Sanitary District in recent years have transformed an ordinary sewer, garbage and recycling system into an outstanding service agency.

     They have won numerous statewide and regional honors and awards for its efficiencies, safety, and services to its many customers. For many years they have established and maintained the lowest known sewer service rates in the entire State of California.

     I served on the Oro Loma Board nearly 30 years and have voted to elect, or re-elect, the 3 existing Board members, Dan Walters, Rita Duncan, and Ron Dias.

     I have confidence their leadership will maintain continuity to the Board and its management and that they will lead the agency toward controlled customer costs and ever better services to the community.

     Vote!

— Howard Kerr, San Leandro

‘Time for New Leadership at San Leandro City Hall’

Editor:

     As vile and disgusting as I personally think Donald Trump is as a candidate, some of what he has to say about the ineptness of government rings true. And, sadly you don’t have to look any further than our own city hall to see what he means.

     The first official act Mayor Cutter did once in office was to enrich city manager Chris Zapata with a $21,000 bonus and a big undeserved raise. He now makes $14,300 per month.

     I’ve questioned that transaction from the very beginning because it coincided with the city manager’s decision to keep the mayor’s daughter on as the manager of one of the senior centers. When challenged, the city manager said nothing was wrong and this was all just “bad optics.” I call it quid pro quo corruption. This stain on City Hall isn’t so easily explained away in my book.

     We’re the city looking for the latest tax scheme at the ballot to pay the bills at city hall. Our unimaginative city leaders, led by former Mayor Cassidy, promised us all an innovative and exciting tech center at the BART station and what we got was a horribly ugly cheap looking brown box. It’s not cool or innovative architecture. It’s ugly.

     But the hardest pill to swallow is that the Marina is being sold off to developers. This round of city leaders can’t figure out how to pay for their raises without giving away our last bit of open space on the bay. It’s shameful.

     It’s time for new leadership at City Hall.  

— Gary Langbehn, San Leandro

LETTERS • 10-20-16

More Tax or Less Tax? Both Sides are Right

Editor:

     I have read recent articles and letters concerning proposed taxes and rate increases with a combination of both great sadness and great amusement.

     Both sadness and amusement because both sides of the issues are right. Both sides have facts and opinions to support their contentions. And neither side is all wrong, or all right.

     Horace Walpole summed it up best: “The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.”

     It is true that systems and organizations need constant upkeep. Hardware needs to be replaced eventually, and periodic ongoing maintenance is a requirement of all things. People expect raises even if their productivity does not change.

     On the other hand, the desire for revenue by governments, utilities, and agencies is never ending. Where or when in the world have we ever encountered a company or utility or government that said “we have enough, we don’t need more money”? They always all want more, and all predict doomsday if they would be thwarted in their efforts.

     Every tax increase and every rate increase that is more than the rate of inflation means that you have less and less money for yourself and your family as time goes by. As the famous saying goes, “the power to tax is the power to destroy.”

     The current state-wide sales tax rate is 7.5%. Alameda County has the highest sales tax rate in the state at 9.5%. Several cities rank even higher, and are at the highest current sales tax rate of 10%, including San Leandro. I can’t conceive of allowing a further increase.

     It seems to me that at a basic level, money does yield fair government or good service. Beyond that, the major affect of additional money seems to generate the need for more money.

— Joseph Springer, San Leandro

‘Absurd to Consider Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use’

Editor:

     In the morning of September 11, 2001, I witnessed the horrific terrorist attacks on television before going to my afternoon work shift.

     I was into my 18th year as a Substance Abuse Counselor in an alcohol and drug recovery center. The facility was comprised of a short term Detox and a 90-day Men’s Recovery Home.

     At the time there were about twenty-five individuals in the recovery program, all of whom were unemployed and destitute because of their chronic substance abuse. In my afternoon recovery group, I can remember giving the clients a stern lecture about how the world had changed and the necessity of being aware of your surroundings and not solely relying on the government to take care of you.  

     The tenor of my messages had always been taking responsibility for yourself and not expecting others to do for you what you can do for yourself. The surprise attacks on 9/11 reemphasized the necessity of being proactive about taking personal responsibility.

     So now we come to the year 2016 and we have a dialogue about legalizing marijuana. Marijuana is not some kind of innocuous drug that so many purport it to be. The empirical evidence suggests that this is not true.

     Most people under the influence of alcohol or drugs overestimate their cognitive and physical abilities. We already have an under-performing work force. Why introduce another way to validate our inadequacies?

     I think that it is absurd in this day and age of international terrorism to even consider legalizing marijuana for recreational use.  

     It is very dangerous to think that the United States is invincible and to solely rely on the government to keep you safe.

     A relevant question to ponder is “Why can’t I make it through the day without mood altering substances”?

     Hedonism plays right into the hands of our enemies.

— Alan Garrett, San Leandro

Re: ‘Black Lives Matter’ – Suggests ‘Burton Should Look in His Own Back Yard’

Editor:

     Last week Vernon Burton wrote a letter referring to law enforcement using the now closed Chabot Gun Club for training. In that letter he referred to ‘Black Lives Matter’ being killed by rogue cops or neighborhood vigilantes.

     I suggest Mr. Burton look in his own backyard. According to the FBI’s Part One Crime Index, 90% of the African American homicide victims in this country are killed by other African Americans.

     The adult male African American population of this country represents 6.5% of the total population yet are responsible for 60% of the homicides! Sleep on those numbers tonight, Mr. Burton.

     I rest my case.

— Bob Oliver, Roseville

Class Warfare Has No Place in San Leandro City Council

Editor:

     I see important differences between the candidates for District 2, but the colors of their collar isn’t one of them.  

     First the article at the bottom of the front page (“Council Race: ‘Blue Collar vs. White Collar,” The Times, October 13) illustrated how much the blue collar candidate admits to having in common with his opponent.  

     Paragraph 4 said, both “…come down on the same side of many issues.”  Among his closing statements, ‘Blue’ said “I believe in fairness, a balanced approach, and listening to everyone.”

     But then he makes a statement that impressed the author so much she used it as the title of her article.  “He’s more white collar, I’m more blue collar, it’s as simple as that.”  

     What exactly does “…I’m more blue collar, it’s as simple as that” mean to him?  That statement implies bias, not balance or fairness.

     Who doesn’t cherish the unions and what they have done not only for America but for the world? Yet who would deny the place of start-ups and inventive capitalism in the Bay Area? And who decided that it is it as simple as ‘blue vs. white’?  

     I listen for the candidates’ positions on the issues. So when a person’s underlined statement is the special interests (s)he is beholden to, as far as I’m concerned, openness and fairness has been taken off of the table.

     Things in this town are changing in a positive way. The two candidates could easily be in the same family, they live in houses of comparable vintage in approximately the same part of town. Both work hard, help support their families and have committed to a tough race.

     With all the hard work ahead of San Leandro, statements that smack of class warfare are out of touch, and certainly have no place in my City’s Council.

— Jeff Falero, San Leandro

N. Dakota Pipeline Violates Indians’ Human Rights

Editor:

     So a lot of non-Indian residents, particularly farmers and ranchers in North Dakota, are feeling frustrated that the Lakota People, other Indigenous Peoples, and their allies are setting an encampment there to protest Dallas-based oil companies’ Energy Transfer Partners who wanted to build a pipeline that will destroy the sacred sites of the Lakota People and the oil from it, will go into both the Missouri and Cannonball rivers.

     Well that is too bad because neither the farmers and ranchers don’t care about the well-being of the Lakota People if it be built because they support the pipeline in the name of greed.

     I urge Energy Transfer Partners to end their attempt to build this pipeline.

     It is a human rights violation toward the Lakota People who resides in North Dakota.

— Billy Trice Jr., Oakland

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LETTERS • 10-13-16

Teachers’ Association Urges YES Vote on Measure J1

Editor:

     The San Leandro Teacher’s Association strongly urges a YES vote for SLUSD  Measure J1 on this November’s ballot.

     Recently, there has been more heat than light regarding this ballot measure on the front pages of this newspaper. Let me break this down:

     In the past, the voters of San Leandro have indicated their support for schools by passing bond measures and a parcel tax. Teachers, as well as students, wish to thank our community for its support.

     As a result of Prop. 13 and the “Great  Recession,” the state no longer provides dedicated funds for capital improvement.

     This community, like so many others across California, has stepped up and filled the enormous gap in funds necessary to provide adequate facilities for our schools. These funds have invigorated our schools, but the work is not done.

     Most of our schools are 60 years old or even older. Basic infrastructure systems such as heating, ventilation and roofing are worn out. Portable classrooms with a projected life span of 20 years are still in use after 40 years.

     We are on the right track in this community. The new leadership at the district office has dramatically transformed our schools – and for the better.

     This improvement was recently recognized by state superintendent of schools, Tom Torlakson, who visited our community to recognize our improvements – only two districts in the entire state were recognized.  

     Test scores are up, teacher salaries have improved, we are attracting bright, energetic teachers, and property prices in this community have risen dramatically. There is a direct correlation between local support of our schools and these indicators of success.

     We must continue. To stop now would threaten the progress we have made. I urge you to choose facts on this issue, not misinformation. Support your schools, support your community, our students, and our teachers, and vote yes on J1.

— Jon Sherr, President, San Leandro Teachers’ Association

Hayward Neglecting Growing Homeless Population

Editor:

     Hayward, California has a dirty little secret and it can be summed up in two words: neglect and homelessness.

     We all know that the November 8th election is crucial to our country; however, public safety is more important to me because of the increase of crime committed by our local politicians.  

     The crime that I am speaking about is gross negligence to the growing homeless population in Hayward, where people own a home, pay taxes and do their best to be good citizens. Although, I am sure that other cities across America are experiencing the same dilemma.

     Supporting businesses in Hayward seems to be the agenda regarding our local politicians; however, the citizens of Hayward deserve equal support from the people we trust to do the right thing for us. Homeless encampments are popping up in the parks, on the streets, under the freeways, and in any available space where a lost soul can rest his head and sleep for one more night.  

     If I were Bill Gates, I probably would  give someone a place to live with dignity and not worry about the cost of just living a decent life. I am, however, not Bill Gates. I am just a concerned citizen who is fed up with the gross indifference of our politicians, who own a home, a car, have a bank account, can travel, can eat, can buy clothes and have a decent life.

     So, to all the local politicians: What would happen if a homeless family was found on your front yard, breaking into your cars, going through your garbage looking for food or thrown away clothing? Would you smile and say “go  for it,” put them in jail (at least they would survive another night and get a shower and a meal – yeah good for you for providing temporary shelter), or would you wake up and smell the coffee and realize that there is a problem?

     And yet, the local politicians still want to be re-elected, sit in their fine homes and remain indifferent, shut and lock their doors, and turn a blind eye.

     Being homeless is an epidemic of epic proportions and yet the federal government wants to invite people from other countries to live here in America without any forethought about the consequences of that decision.

— Anita Imazumi, Hayward

Says Times Does a 'Double Take’

Editor:

     Apparently even the San Leandro Times had to do a double-take when the Truth is Beauty statue arrived!

     I guess we’re on the map now…

— Richard Brock, San Leandro

Trump's Comments 'Creating Cesspool of Hate’

Editor:

     I am a Democrat and supported Clinton in the primaries and now general election. I am optimistic she will be a strong president and move our nation forward.

     Throughout the campaign, I have been dismayed by many of Donald Trump’s comments and positions. I have thought Trump was an uninformed, prejudiced, developmentally stunted, and pompous fraud from day one.

     Trump’s bragging – as a 59-year-old man – about kissing without consent and groping women and getting away with it because he is a “star” sets a new low.

     My wife and I had to have a conversation about Trump’s comments with our daughters before the second debate as we knew the topic would be raised. It’s incredible that we could have such a person running for President – so disgusting that parents across America would have to explain to their early teen daughters what misogyny is and how some men and male teens treat women as objects and act as sexual predators.

     While Trump sought to excuse his comments as simply “locker room talk,” he doesn’t understand how dangerous to women such speech is. It’s like saying the “N” word is just a word.

     Speaking in such an offensive, degrading manner about women creates a cesspool of hate that inevitably leads to sexual violence.

     All persons – including women and girls – deserve to be treated with respect. I want my daughters and all girls to grow up as strong, confident women. I want them to live in a society where they are safe, judged solely on their individual qualities and have the same opportunities as men to be successful.

     Trump’s comments are a vivid reminder that we must actively work to confront and address misogyny.

— Stephen Cassidy, San Leandro

Trump's Tax Policies Serve Himself, Other Millionaires

Editor:

     What’s wrong with Trump’s tax policy?

     His personal tax policy is to pay as little as possible, presumably in accord with the law.

     His governmental tax policy is for people like him to pay even less than they do now.

     That means less money for necessary government programs like homeland security, public health, environmental protection, education and infrastructure repair. We who do not have tremendous real estate business deductions will pay more than our fair share to keep our government services from declining.

     The governmental service most important to the Bullying Billionaire is the civil court system, in which he frequently sues those who don’t suck up to him. Taxpayers support the courts that enable his kind of lawsuit intimidation, and he doesn’t even want to contribute to their support through federal taxes!

     People in the Donald’s circle hire accountants, lobbyists and politicians to write tax laws in their favor, so they don’t have to pay as much as ordinary-income Americans. Then they claim they are doing nothing wrong, just following the law. How convenient!

     But the Self-Absorbed Money-Grubber pushes it far further than most self-entitled billionaires. While some greedy billionaires may set up a few foreign shell companies to shelter their gains in off-shore banks, the Shifty Grifter has established over 500 shell companies to hide his gains and the identity of the people and countries to whom he owes money.

     He even brags about the size of the pile of paper that constitutes his tax returns.  “I’m just being a good businessman” is his justification.

     That kind of business, and that kind of businessman is not good for our country, and certainly not good for our government. If he were President, he would make the government work for his personal financial interests and “to hell” with the people who he calls “losers,” who want effective government programs to do what unregulated markets can not do.

      He is afraid to release his actual tax returns, in contrast to every other candidate for the last 48 years, but recent unofficial revelations show that the self-described “successful businessman” lost $916 million dollars in 1995, driving his casinos into the ground.

     Should taxpayers subsidize his incompetence by allowing tax laws that enable him to write off those losses as deductions on future income? That just ain’t right.

— Bruce Joffe, Piedmont

Surprised to Hear Police Relied on Chabot Gun Club

Editor:

     Being a person who is always willing to learn, I must admit that I was surprised to hear that Bay Area police departments rely on a single gun club’s largess on the weekends in order to stay proficient  in the use of their weapons.

     If this is true, it may account for some of the misuse of deadly force we are experiencing.

     Somehow I doubt that the Chabot Gun Club was the only resource available to all these Bay Area police departments.

     However, now that the gun club is history, those of us who have endured this nonsense of crowds, noise and pollution, get a chance to truly enjoy this beautiful and unique place.

     As to my being part of the solution to America’s race problem, I’m sorry but it takes all of my energy and vigilance just to stay alive living in a country and time where “Living while Black” is a capital offense, punishable by death at the hands of rogue cops or neighborhood vigilantes.

— Vernon S. Burton, San Leandro

OBITUARIES • 10-27-16

BUTERA, Debra Ann

CAPORUSSO, Alberta (Bertie) G.

GOLFO, Hermie Del Mundo

IVEY, Thomas Eugene

WITT, Joseph

BUTERA, Debra Ann, passed away suddenly at home in San Leandro Oct. 19, 2016. Private service to be announced at a later date. Survived by her husband Michael G. Franetic, sisters Linda, Karen and brother Frank. She will be missed dearly.

CAPORUSSO, Alberta (Bertie) G. (November 10, 1917 – September 1, 2016), a life-long resident of San Leandro, is preceded in death by Louie, her husband of 68 years. Reunited again, they are playing Bingo and Bocce with family and friends. Alberta is survived by her son, Wayne, and his wife, Dawna; 5 grandchildren, Nicole Caporusso, Michael Caporusso, Derek Dutra, Roni Robinson and Shane Frede; and 7 great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Eric, Kelsey, Jordan, Drake, Devyn and Dustin. Bertie was a Life Member of YLI #166, Women of the Moose, past President of Buon Tempo Womens Auxiliary and Former Queen of Ashland Holy Ghost. Memorial gifts may be given to Buon Tempo Club Scholarship Fund, 831 Joaquin Ave., San Leandro, CA 94577. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Arora, Patricia Elam and Hope Hospice, Dublin. Private services were held at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery on Oct. 21, 2016.

GOLFO, Hermie Del Mundo, 83, passed on October 24, 2016 at his residence in San Leandro. Public viewing Tuesday, November 1 from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Grissom’s Chapel and Mortuary, 267 E. Lewelling Blvd., San Lorenzo. Internment Wed. Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. also at Grissoms. Funeral service Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 11:30 a.m. at Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591 Fairview Avenue, Hayward. Memorial service Sat. Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at Westside Baptist Church, 1515 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda.

IVEY, Thomas Eugene, resident of San Lorenzo for 59 years, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2016 at the age of 92 years. Thomas was born in Oakland on February 18, 1924. He graduated from Oakland Technical High. He was a member of Alcalanes Fellowship Lodge #480. Thomas served in the United States Army and retired from Teamsters Local 70. His hobbies were bike riding and recycling. He loved to travel and spend time with family. He enjoyed yearly camping trips to Yosemite and made his last trek to Half Dome at age 71 with his daughter, brother and many of his grand-kids. He got a new mountain bike on his 80th birthday. He rode that bike all over San Lorenzo collecting cans. His grandson said it best: “God must have needed a new director of recycling in eternity.” He will be missed. Thomas is survived by his loving children; Orrin Ralph Ivey, Bonnie Jean Ivey and Patricia Kay Henderson; his daughter-in-law, Leslie Ivey; and his nieces; Barbara Triplett-Collins and Carolyn Doberenz. He was a proud grandfather of Jeff, Danny, Scott, David, Josh and Sarah, and great-grandfather to 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 32992 Mission Blvd., in Hayward.

WITT, Joseph, was born in Black River, Missouri on November 21, 1923. He recently passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the age of 92. A resident of San Leandro for the past 58 years, Joe came to the Bay Area from Colorado Springs at the age of 16. He hoboed his way to California by riding freight trains, eventually making his way to Oakland. He worked in the shipyards during WWII and eventually started his own successful business in the steel industry. He is survived by 2 sons, Robert and Stephen; 2 grandchildren, Barry and Mark; and 3 great-grandchildren. Joe was married to Louise Witt for 69 years until she passed away in 2013. Grandpa Joe will be missed by all.

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OBITUARIES • 10-20-16

MARTINEZ, Teodoro, of Oakland passed away on Monday, October 17, 2016 in San Leandro. Visitation will be on Monday, Oct. 24 at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro from noon to 8 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. The Funeral Liturgy celebrating his life will be on Tue. Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at Church of the Assumption, 1100 Fulton Ave., San Leandro. Interment at Chapel of Chimes, Hayward. Santos-Robinson Mortuary, San Leandro (510-483-0123, santos-robinson.com).

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OBITUARIES • 10-13-16

BLAIR, Curtis Christopher

BRANCA, Mary Beth
HAGERTY, Dorothy Coletta
MARPLES, Alan
ROSATO, Vince Jerome

BLAIR, Curtis Christopher, of San Leandro, born February 2, 1969, passed away on October 5, 2016. Curtis Blair’s family will be holding a memorial service to celebrate his life on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m. at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., in San Leandro. Santos-Robinson Mortuary, San Leandro (510-483-0123, santos-robinson.com).

BRANCA, Mary Beth, born December 27, 1940, passed on October 2, 2016. Mary was a school nurse for San Leandro schools for over 20 years. Service will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 1550 Diablo Road, in Danville on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m.

HAGERTY, Dorothy Coletta, of San Leandro passed away on October 8, 2016. Visitation on Monday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at San Leandro Funeral Home, 407 Estudillo Avenue, in San Leandro. Funeral Service Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m. at San Leandro Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Holy Sepulchre. Arrangements under the direction of San Leandro Funeral Home, 407 Estudillo Ave., 510-483-5300.

MARPLES, Alan, 77, a resident of San Leandro, passed away on October 1, 2016. He was born in Manchester, England and came to America in 1967 as a tool and die maker. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Ann; 4 children, Paul, Mark, Carol and Peter, and their spouses; and 7 grandchildren. He was a Queen Scout and spent 70 years as a dedicated scout and leader. Private family services will be held.

ROSATO, Vince Jerome, age 62, passed away suddenly on October 8, 2016, at home in San Leandro. Vince was passionate about teaching, social justice and helping the poor. He was tireless in making a difference in people’s lives. He liked to have fun and socialize, and he kept up with a huge group of friends. He was a man of many interests with boundless energy and an enthusiasm for life that was unsurpassed. He was loved and respected by many people, all of whom will miss him greatly. Vince was born in Huntington Park, California, on March 6, 1954. He moved to Vacaville in 1955 with his parents, Santo and Virginia Rosato, and his brother, Victor. He attended grade schools in Vacaville until he decided to study for the priesthood and entered the St. Pius X Seminary in Galt, California. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles in 1977 and a Master of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, California. He was ordained as a Claretian priest on March 20, 1982 at St. Mary’s Church in Vacaville. After he was ordained, he served in various parishes and capacities, including two years in the Vatican. He spent two years as a financial consultant and Director of Administration at Energy Services Corp. in Bellevue, Washington. Vince next decided to change careers and go into full-time teaching. From 1991–1997 he taught at the Reignierd School and special education subjects at Milestones for Development in Vallejo. He moved on to St. Joseph School in Fremont and Searles Elementary School in Union City. He married the love of his life, Usha, in 2001. He retired from teaching in the New Haven School District in 2014; was elected to the San Leandro School Board later the same year, and was currently serving as the President of the Board. Following his retirement, Vince enrolled and graduated from the Alameda County Master Gardeners program in 2016; he has been actively involved in numerous activities within the local community and was leading the efforts for Community Emergency Response Training teams. He is survived by his wife, Usha; his daughter, Alexandria Brown; his brother, Victor; sister-in-law, Deborah; nephew, Nicholas; niece, Deanna; aunt, Ann Migliazzo; uncle, Vince Migliazzo; aunt, Beverly Migliazzo; aunt, Bena Reinig; uncle, Bernard Reinig; aunt, Josephine Salce; uncle, Anthony Salce; brothers-in-law, E.T. Sanakaran Kutty, E.T HariDass and E.T. MohanDass; sister-in-law, Jaya Sukumaran; and numerous cousins. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 3700 Dorissa Ave., in Oakland, officiated by Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, with a celebration of Vince’s life in the parish hall to follow. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Vince’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 (stjude.org) or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (donate.cancer.org).