CVF HOMEMenu
SLT ARCHIVES • JULY 2017
Pot Shops Delay Opening Until Later This Year
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANRO TIMES • 07-27-17
Three medial marijuana dispensaries have received potentially lucrative permits to operate in San Leandro from the city but none have opened their doors yet, though two say they will open by the end of the year.
Pot stands to be a cash crop both for the dispensary operators and the city, as San Leandro expects to make up to $500,000 annually in tax from the three clinics once they open.
The opening of one clinic was delayed again as the Davis Street Wellness Center was recently granted an extension to get its conditional use permit. Operators need both the dispensary permit and a conditional use permit to open.
Harborside, the first clinic to be granted a marijuana business permit by the city nearly two years ago, is the only dispensary so far to also have its conditional use permit in place. Harborside officials now say they will open before Christmas.
Harborside will open up shop at 1965 Marina Boulevard and the site is currently in the middle of renovations, according to Harborside executive director Steve DeAngelo. He said they were delayed by requirements from the fire department which became more strict after the Ghost Ship Fire.
Blum dispensary received its marijuana permit from the city in November of 2016. Blum executive director Salwa Ibrahim says they will be completing the conditional use permit process shortly and plan to open before the end of the year at 1911 Fairway Drive, which is about a half-mile away from the Harborside dispensary.
The other dispensary with a permit to operate in San Leandro is the Davis Street Wellness Center, which was recently granted a special extension on their conditional use permit process by the City Council.
When the Davis Street Wellness Center received their permit to operate a medical marijuana dispensary from the City Council in summer of 2016, Mayor Pauline Cutter added a rule that they must have their conditional use permit within one-year.
The Wellness Center applied for that permit in May and was scheduled to go to the Board of Zoning Adjustments for approval in early July. Instead, they asked to postpone the BZA meeting until September, which meant they would not have their conditional use permit within the one-year timeframe that the City Council had imposed upon them.
Last week, the City Council granted the Wellness Center an extension until Oct. 20 to get the conditional use permit.
Cutter said that the Davis Street Wellness Center was the only one of the approved clinics that was required to get their conditional use permit within a year because, unlike the other dispensaries, Davis Street Wellness does not have any other clinic locations to demonstrate experience in the business.
At last Monday night’s City Council meeting, Councilman Pete Ballew said he had his doubts about medical marijuana clinics in San Leandro at all, and said the council didn’t listen to many San Leandro residents who opposed it.
“The constituency in San Leandro was vocal that they didn’t want medical marijuana,” said Ballew. “I think the council got that wrong.”
Ballew said that since the medical marijuana issue has come to the forefront “more than a few constituents questioned Davis Street’s (Resource Center) motivations” which he says has saddened him, as the Family Resource Center has long been one of the most respected organizations in San Leandro.
“I feel horrible that Davis Street Family Resource Center is on the defensive,” said Ballew.
Ballew went on to say that he regrets that the Davis Street Wellness Center has become somewhat synonymous with the Davis Street Family Resource Center.
The two entities are separate, legally, but are partner organizations. Davis Street Family Resource Center board president Gordon Galvan is Davis Street Wellness Center’s Director of Governmental Relations, and Davis Street Family Resource Center CEO Rose Johnson is Davis Street Wellness Center’s Director of Community Benefits.
Resource Center and the Wellness Center will be next door to each other if the city approves the conditional use permit. The Wellness Center will take over a portion of the building at 3089 Teagarden Street and the Family Resource Center would continue to occupy the connected building at 3081 Teagarden Street.
The next step for the Wellness Center is to present their application for a conditional use permit to the Board of Zoning Adjustments in September for potential approval by the City Council in October.
CAPTION: The Davis Street Wellness Center pot dispensary at 3089 Teagarden Steet will be right next to its partner organization Davis Street Family Resource Center.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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Man Shot Pushing Son In Stroller
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANRO TIMES • 07-27-17
Police are investigating a possible gang connection in the shooting death of a man who was pushing his infant son in a stroller in Cherryland last week.
Daniel Deltoro, 29, was shot and killed on the 200 block of Willow Avenue in unincorporated Hayward on July 19 at around 3 p.m. near his home with his 3-month-old son, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s office.
Deputies who responded to the shooting found Deltoro suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The baby was not harmed and was temporarily taken into protective custody last week before being reunited with his mother, Kelly said.
Deltoro had affiliations with a gang in the past, but was trying to break out of that lifestyle, police said.
“Our victim was in the process of turning his life around,” said Kelly. ”He’d left that lifestyle behind him. But a gang connection is something we are looking at.”
Kelly went on to say that Deltoro was targeted for the killing, it was not a random crime. The Cherryland neighborhood where Deltoro was killed is considered by deputies to be generally safe.
“In the past, there have been some known gang issues (in the area), but by and large that’s safe, working-to-middle class people who are engaged in their community,” Kelly said. “Families and decent people live there.”
One neighbor who lives off nearby Meekland Avenue, agreed.
“You don’t hear about people getting shot in broad daylight here,” he said. “I’ve lived here for 12 years and there’s some crime, but you don’t think about shots flying.”
Kelly said that authorities currently believe that at least two suspects were involved in the shooting and they left the scene in a getaway vehicle.
Kelly said that no description of the suspects or the car is being released at this time.
Anyone with information about Deltoro’s shooting is asked to call the Alameda County Sheriff’s office at 667-7721 and may remain anonymous.
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BRT Stations Underway
BY JIM KNOWLES • SAN LEANRO TIMES • 07-27-17
AC Transit’s rapid bus line has been in the news for years, but the construction is finally underway along East 14th and Davis streets in San Leandro.
Five stops are being built in San Leandro for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that will run from the San Leandro BART Station to downtown Oakland. The $174 million project will start operating in 2019, two years later than originally planned.
BRT lines are seen as a cheaper alternative to streetcar lines. They don’t run on rails, but they have dedicated bus lanes and limited stops for faster service. BRT lines have been installed in European cities and in Cleveland, Ohio where city leaders say it’s helped revitalize the neighborhoods along the route.
The stops will have raised platforms, so you step aboard like a BART car, not up a step as on a regular bus. The stations will have ticket machines so passengers can board more quickly, not having to pay as you board.
The stops will have murals and art on the windscreens and handrails, said Jorge Velasco, a BRT’s community construction relations manager.
The BRT stations in San Leandro will be on Durant Avenue, Georgia Way, Civic Center, Downtown/Davis Street, and the San Leandro BART Station. The Durant Avenue station will be in the center of East 14th Street, but the other stations in San Leandro will have curbside platforms.
The 9.5-mile BRT line was originally planned to be longer, but was shortened by provincial interests. In the original plans, the BRT was to go from Bayfair BART in San Leandro to UC Berkeley.
But the Berkeley City Council nixed the BRT in that city. And the San Leandro City Council cut back the route that was to run all the way down East 14th Street to Bayfair BART, saying it would be disruptive to East 14th Street. So the route now just extends into San Leandro a short distance, ending at the San Leandro BART Station.
The BRT platforms in San Leandro will be completed in around four months, said Velasco. After that, the platforms will be mothballed until the entire route is finished and the rapid buses start running in 2019.
“We’ll protect the stations while they’re working in other areas,” Velasco said.
During peak hours, BRT buses will run about every 7 minutes. The buses will be brand new, five-door, diesel hybrid, low-emission vehicles, Velasco said.
CAPTION: Peter Nuessmann, a surveyor with REY Engineers, works on Davis Street in downtown San Leandro where construction is starting on a new AC Transit BRT bus station.
PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES
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Volunteers to Build Park Play Structure
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANRO TIMES • 07-27-17
Volunteers from Kaiser, the San Leandro police, Alameda County Fire Department, and the public will come together on Aug. 5 to build a brand new playground at Washington Manor Park.
Kaboom, a national non-profit organization, awards grant money and partners with local sponsors to build play areas in parks.
The job is usually finished in one day, thanks to the work of volunteers in the community. Since it was founded in 1996, Kaboom has created nearly 17,000 play spaces nationwide.
To build the new playground at Washington Manor, about 200 volunteers will be needed to work on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to Debbie Pollart, San Leandro’s Public Works director.
Half of the volunteers will come from Kaiser and other sponsors, but the public is invited to help out as well.
There is no construction experience needed to volunteer, just a willingness to work.
“The heavy preparation is done on the Thursday and Friday before build day,” said Pollart. “There are a number of different tasks for volunteers – shoveling tanbark and things like that.”
Pollart said that Washington Manor was selected after applying to Kaboom. The organization takes into consideration factors including the age of the park and the demographics of the neighborhood when deciding where their help is needed.
This will be San Leandro’s third volunteer Kaboom built park. In November of last year, a 25-year-old play structure was replaced with brand new equipment in Grover Cleveland Park, and Toyon Park was remodeled back in 2010.
“We are lucky we were chosen,” said Pollart. “It’s going to be a long day, but it’s really fulfilling and a great opportunity for San Leandro.”
There’s going to be a DJ playing music to keep the volunteers energized and a lunch will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering, you must sign up by contacting Officer Deborah Trujillo at 577-3244 or email DTrujillo@sanleandro.org.
CAPTION: The Kaboom play area at Grover Cleveland Park.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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7-Story Apartment Building Okay-ed
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
Westlake Development plans to build one of the tallest buildings in San Leandro at its tech campus property near the San Leandro BART station.
The City Council approved plans Monday for a 7-story, 85-foot-tall building with office space on the ground floor and apartments on the upper six floors.
When the City Council first approved Westlake’s tech campus in 2014, there was a provision that residential units could be added at a later date and now the council has given that approval by an unanimous vote at its meeting on Monday night.
The plan includes up to 13,000-square-feet of office space on the ground floor and 197 units of housing on the upper six floors, a roof garden, gym, fire pit, and other amenities at 601 Parrott Street, south of the existing parking structure.
The plans submitted by Westlake show a modern looking apartment building with lots of steel, glass, and cement. One notable feature is a “puzzle lift” in the parking garage which can fit 22 cars in the footprint of six parking spaces by stacking them on top of each other in a metal grid similar to what’s seen in big cities like San Francisco.
“It’s pioneering,” said Westlake Urban managing director Sunny Tong.
Additional parking for residents will be available in a new parking garage to be built next to the current parking garage for an additional of 229 spaces.
The first phase of the tech campus opened in late 2016 along with the installation of the “Truth is Beauty” statue with plans for multiple phases. These new apartments are another phase and construction will begin in the spring of 2018, according to Westlake Urban.
The units will be market priced in the $2,000 to $3,000 range for studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units ranging from 472 to 1,337-square-feet, and will likely open in 2020. There is no affordable housing in the project, since that is required by city law only on for-sale housing, not rental.
Tong said that, if things go well, he’ll be back in front of the City Council this time next year asking for approval to build a hotel on the tech campus.
“This is not the end of the line, this is the beginning of a bigger project.” said Tong.
At 85-feet, these new apartments will be taller than the nearby Marea Alta apartments or even the Kaiser Hospital. Similar multi-story apartment buildings are in the early stages of development near the Bayfair BART station as well.
Areas around BART stations are about the only place left where apartments aren’t blocked by homeowners. When a developer tried to build a five-story apartment complex on Estudillo Avenue last year, nearby residents got up-in-arms.
Former mayor Stephen Cassidy opposed the building on Estudillo at that time, and in the public speaking portion of Monday’s meeting, he thanked the council for placing a large apartment building downtown and away from single-family homes to “preserve our residential neighborhoods.”
“It’s wonderful to see this (project) advance and to see a private company (Westlake Urban) have so much confidence in our community,” said Cassidy.
CAPTION: A developer plans to build a 7-story apartment building and parking garage just south (to the left) of the OSIsoft office building seen here near the San Leandro BART Station.
PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES
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Police Looking At Pot Work as Murder Motive
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
Police are currently investigating a teen’s legal work with a medical marijuana dispensary as a possible motive for his murder in the unincorporated area earlier this month.
Manuel Romero, 19, was killed in unincorporated Hayward on the 2100 block of Hill Avenue – which is about one mile south of Grove Way – at around 10:20 p.m. on July 8, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived, they found Romero suffering multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kelly said that Romero had recently moved into an apartment near the area where he was shot dead. Romero worked delivering legal medical marijuana for a dispensary in San Francisco but it is unknown whether he was working at the time of his death or whether his killer was aware of his occupation.
“It’s absolutely an angle we are looking at,” said Kelly.
Romero’s family has set up a fundraising page in order to pay for his funeral expenses (www.gofundme.com/ManuelRomero). They describe him as a loving son, grandson, brother, and friend who was building a life with his long-time girlfriend.
Romero played Little League in Hayward and frequented the Tennyson skate park where he was known to friends by the nickname “Gerbs.”
Kelly said that authorities are looking at Romero’s business and other possible motives but could not release any further details to the public at this time.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll solve this one,” said Kelly. “That being said, there is a lot of work to do.”
Kelly said that the sheriff’s department is following a number of leads and also working on getting a reward together for information leading to the arrest of Romero’s killer.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 667-7721. The caller can remain anonymous.
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Dead Bird Found with West Nile Virus
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
First indication of West Nile virus in Alameda County for 2017
A dead bird tested positive for West Nile virus, Alameda County’s first indication of active virus transmission this year, said the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District .
The bird was collected from the City of Oakland and tested at the District laboratory on July 17.
The District is greatly increasing surveillance and larval control efforts throughout the area with the positive West Nile virus detection. Every effort is being made to locate areas of standing water where mosquitoes may breed, including catch basins, storm drain systems, and swimming pools.
Neglected swimming pools continue to be a mosquito breeding issue in Alameda County. If you or anyone you know has an unmaintained swimming pool please inform the District so the proper treatment can be made.
“ West Nile virus is endemic to Alameda County,” says Laboratory Director Eric Haas-Stapleton, PhD. “We will continue to eliminate mosquitoes that spread the virus, but we need the public to help by reducing mosquito breeding sites. Dump and drain or tightly cover containers that have standing water to reduce mosquitoes around your house and workplace.”
As of July 14, California has had 71 dead birds, 17 sentinel chickens, 681 mosquito samples, and 4 humans test positive for West Nile virus. The positive number of humans is higher than this time last year.
Reduce the risk of contracting mosquito-borne diseases by following these guidelines:
• Dump or drain standing water on your property because that is where mosquitoes develop.
• Dawn and dusk is when mosquito activity peaks, limit outdoor activities during this time.
• Defend yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and apply insect repellent containing EPA-registered active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Door and window screens should be in good repair with no tears or holes.
West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no cure for West Nile virus.
Approximately one in five people who are infected with West Nile virus will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, or rash. Less than one percent will develop a serious neurological illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.
Adults over 50 years old and people with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of serious complications. Anyone who develops symptoms should seek medical care immediately.
Horses are very susceptible to West Nile virus and vaccines are available. Horse owners are advised to contact their veterinarians regarding timely vaccinations.
For information about mosquitoes, West Nile virus, or to request any of the District services visit www.mosquitoes.org or call 783-7744.
Residents can also request mosquitofish for their fish ponds, horse troughs, or neglected swimming pools at the the District office, 23187 Connecticut St. in Hayward.
For information concerning West Nile virus symptoms, prevention or testing, call the Alameda County Public Health Department at 267-8001.
CAPTION: West Nile virus is transmitted to people and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Less than one percent will develop a serious neurological illness.
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Council Making Slight Changes to Tenant Relocation Assistance Program
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
The city’s ordinance to provide one-time assistance to people who are priced out of their homes has been sent back to committee despite being passed by the majority of the City Council last month.
The ordinance was passed by a 6-1 vote in June. New ordinances are read out at the City Council meeting after they are originally passed. It’s usually a routine matter, but at the July 3 meeting, the council sent the ordinance back to the Rules Committee for further consideration.
“The majority of the council still felt there was room for refinement of the ordinance,” said Tom Liao, the city’s deputy community development director.
The Rules Committee will once again discuss the proposed “tenant relocation assistance program” at its meeting this Monday morning, July 24 at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street.
The relocation program allows tenants who are forced out of their homes due to rent increases of 12 percent or more in a year to receive “relocation assistance” in the form of being paid three months rent by their landlords.
Also under the ordinance, households with seniors over the age of 62, children under the age of 18, or someone with a disability would qualify for an extra $1,000. The relocation assistance would be a maximum amount of $10,000.
The creation of the ordinance has been going on for more than a year. Tenants say that the ordinance gives landlords a way of paying to get rid of them in order to replace them with tenants paying higher rents, which will enable landlords to easily recoup the costs of the relocation assistance.
It’s unlikely that the ordinance will change dramatically at the Rules Committee meeting but the meeting will include discussion of what to do about landlords who own small 2-to-4 unit complexes, according to Liao.
Originally, small property owners were going to be exempt, but the Rules Committee may word the ordinance so that people who own multiple 2-to-4 unit properties are included in the program.
After the Rules Committee is satisfied with the ordinance, it will return to the full City Council for consideration. Because the City Council is in recess for the month of August, the new ordinance won’t be approved until at least September.
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Club Leaders Were Members Themselves as Kids
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
The San Leandro Boys & Girls Club recently honored three members of its board of directors, Ivan Cornelius, Bob Duey and Mike Miraglia, who have reached milestone years of service to the Club.
Ivan Cornelius was asked to join the Boys & Girls Club board in 1997 by Bob Duey but Cornelius agreed to join the board only if Duey agreed to join San Leandro Rotary Club. So, the deal was struck and both Rotary and the Boys & Girls Club have benefited from their service ever since.
Cornelius served as Boys & Girls Club board president from 2006 to 2008 and has served on many committees including chairing the Property Committee which is currently spearheading the club’s capital campaign to completely renovate the Boys & Girls Club facility on Marina Boulevard.
In addition to serving on the board for 20 years, Cornelius was a member of the San Leandro Boys Club when he was growing up.
Duey has been on the board for 25 years and was also a member of the San Leandro Boys Club growing up. Duey, Cornelius and Duey’s twin brother, Dick, spent a lot of time at the club back when it was just a little shack on Davis Street. Duey credits the club for teaching him how to compete, be successful and motivating him to go to UC Berkeley, where he and Dick Duey played football on the Bears’ Rose Bowl team of 1958.
Dick Duey also had 25 years on the Boys & Girls Club board, and got Bob involved on the board in 1992. Bob Duey became board president in 1997 and remained president until June 2000. He is currently the club’s treasurer.
Mike Miraglia became a board member 35 years ago in July 1982. The Club was lot different back then. It was still a Boys Club serving boys only. The Marina facility was the only program site.
The Boys & Girls Club’s first school site program at Hillside School was still 15 years away from opening and the total club budget was about $250,000. Currently, in addition to the Marina Boulevard site, the club runs after-school programs on eleven other school sites in San Leandro and San Lorenzo with a budget of nearly $3 million.
Miraglila became board president in July 1995 and became a board member of the San Leandro Boys & Girls Club Foundation that same year. In July 2005, Miraglia became president of the Foundation and continues to serve in that position to this day.
These three dynamic men have not only served the Boys & Girls Club, but the entire San Leandro community for decades and the club is proud to honor them for their service.
CAPTION: San Leandro Boys & Girls Club directors Ivan Cornelius and Bob Duey (along with Mike Miraglia who wasn’t able to attend the ceremony) were honored for their contributions toward the success of the club.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SAN LEANDRO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
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Worker Crushed at Metal Plant
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
An employee was crushed to death by equipment that fell off a forklift at Alco Metals on Doolittle Drive on June 30, according to authorities.
Albert Anaya of San Lorenzo died from his injuries at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley shortly after 1:30 p.m., according to Alameda County Coroner’s Office.
Anaya, 62, received multiple blunt force injuries from a piece of metal processing equipment that fell off a forklift at the Alco Metal & Iron Company, according to Frank Polizzi, a spokesman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Heath Administration (OSHA).
Polizzi says that OSHA is in the process of investigating the incident. OSHA usually takes six months to make a ruling in an investigation and issue any citations, Polizzi said.
A call to Alco was referred to the company’s in-house counsel and Chief Operating Officer Michael Bercovich, who did not respond by the time the paper went to press on Wednesday. The San Leandro police also did not immediately respond to requests for information about the incident.
Alco was also the scene of an unrelated two-alarm fire on July 11 that prompted a “shelter in place” order by the Alameda County Fire Department for San Leandro residents west of I-880 due to acrid fumes from burning metal on the site. Firefighters remained on the scene of the fire for over 12 hours putting out hotspots.
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Developer Purchases Kraft Plant;
Public Speaks at Town Hall
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
The old Kraft plant at 100 Halcyon Drive has been purchased by a developer and will be demolished this August to make way for three smaller industrial buildings.
The Trammell Crow Company purchased the site back in February and they plan three buildings for high-tech manufacturing, assembly and distribution.
When Kraft and Heinz merged in 2015, seven of their plants – including the 328,000-square-foot San Leandro location – were closed. At the San Leandro plant, 130 jobs were lost.
The news about the old Kraft building came at a town hall meeting Monday night at the Marina Community Center, where residents of Districts 3, 4, and 6 got a chance to talk to their council members as well as other city staff. It was a platform designed for people to ask questions and get their concerns heard by City Hall.
The issues that were brought up were both large and small. One woman living near Stenzel Park complained of balls batted into her backyard. Another speaker said he moved to San Leandro from Oakland to give his kids a safer place to grow up, but now he sees crime increasing in San Leandro and thinks the police are understaffed.
“That’s an issue I see growing in this city,” he said. “A lot of people are calling San Leandro ‘South Oakland.’”
Mike Katz-Lacabe addressed city staff, asking when any of the three medical marijuana dispensaries that the council approved beginning back in 2015 would finally open for business.
Cynthia Battenberg, the city’s community development director said that the first dispensary, Harborside, is expected to start construction on their facility on the corner of Marina Boulevard and Verna Court soon.
The Davis Street Wellness Center was scheduled to present their plans for a dispensary site at a Board of Zoning Adjustments meeting last week, but asked to postpone the meeting until September.
A planing application from the third dispensary, Blum, was submitted to the city but it was incomplete, Battenberg said.
About 20 people shared their questions and concerns and most didn’t get answers because of time constraints, but city staff say they are always listening.
If you couldn’t make the town hall meeting, but would like to give the City Council a piece of your mind, you can always call them at 577-3357 or call the mayor at 577-3355.
CAPTION: Councilmembers Benny Lee, Lee Thomas and Pete Ballew attended Monday night’s meeting at the Marina Community Center.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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It’s a Cowboy Life
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
Earl “Bud” Batteate got the rodeo bug when he was just 7 years old and rode his first calf, which means he has just about 92 years of experience in being a cowboy.
Batteate turns 99 years old in August and he’s still living the cowboy way of life at his home in Cherryland. Pictures of his younger days line the walls – there’s a good photo of him in his 30s with his wife Patricia sitting on his lap and a bottle of booze and a pistol in either hand. His family calls him a living legend.
Batteate was born in San Leandro and grew up in the East Bay. Asked if his neighborhood has changed much over the years, Bud is no-nonsense.
“I suppose it has, but I never paid much attention to that sort of thing,” he said.
The Batteate family made their living in the cattle business and had two cattle ranches. After settling down with his wife at the age of 18, Batteate went to work hauling cattle, with time for bull riding, bareback riding and bronc riding on the weekends.
And, Batteate still gets on a horse when he gets a chance. In May, he was a celebrity rider at the Rowell Ranch Rodeo cattle sorting competition. Two years ago, he took second place in the event, and this year his son, Mike, was on the team that took first place.
Business and rodeo events took him all over the west – Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada. A lot of the family is still in the “cowboy” line of work. His son, Nick, is a cattle rancher in San Ramon and a slew of other Batteates are in the business in Livermore, Turlock and beyond. More than one Batteate is on the Rowell Ranch Rodeo advisory board.
The Batteate family will also be helping with a special event later this month at Rowell Ranch Park – the National Day of the Cowboy will be celebrated on the weekend of July 22 and 23.
The Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park will be open for the free event and the public is invited to come watch local cowboys shoe horses, build saddles, rope cattle and more. Visit www.rowellranchrodeo.com for more information.
CAPTION: Earl “Bud” Batteate has a collection of photos and other memorabilia in his Cherryland home from more than 90 years of the cowboy life.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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EBMUD Board Approves Rate Hike
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
The board of directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) voted 6-to-1 Tuesday to raise water rates by over 18 percent.
The rates will be increased by 9.25 percent as of July 12 and another 9 percent rate hike will occur in July of 2018.
“As a public not-for-profit agency, we work hard to make smart decisions with the dollars entrusted to us by our customers,” said board president Lesa McIntosh in a written statement. “We don’t take the decision to raise rates lightly, but these are challenging times and we have to make difficult decisions in order to support the public health of our East Bay customers.”
The average household using 200 gallons of water per day will be billed about $4.30 more per month for the rest of this year – bills will go from about $47 to $51 – and an additional $4.60 this time next year.
That’s on top of rate increases totaling over 35 percent since 2013.
EBMUD says the higher rates will fund the first two years of a five-year $608 million project that will improve pipelines and other infrastructure.
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City Plans Special Concert at Marina
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
The city of San Leandro is planning a special concert in Marina Park this September and if it is a hit, there will be a series of performances next summer.
The City Council heard a plan for a test concert at its meeting last week after Councilwoman Deborah Cox said she got the idea for a public concert from a constituent. Similar free concerts are held weekly during the summer in San Francisco, Concord, Pleasanton, and several cities all over the Bay Area.
The pilot concert will be on a yet-to-be determined week night sometime in the month of September at an estimated cost of $6,000.
The performer hasn’t been selected yet, but the City Council told the parks department to look up a variety of different musicians including classical and jazz, in addition to rock and Latin musicians.
Marina Park was chosen because the infrastructure is in place for a crowd including restrooms and parking. The parks department expects a few hundred people at the pilot concert. If it’s a success, the city could have a concert series with food trucks and kids’ entertainment, and more in 2018.
“I’d love to see a regular schedule of events come from this,” said Cox. “I hope this becomes our Stern Grove.”
CAPTION: There’s a small stage area already in place at Marina Park, but the city may have to expand the area to accommodate a larger crowd during the pilot concert in the park this September.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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Alco Fire Prompts ‘Shelter in Place’ Order
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
A two-alarm fire broke out at Alco Iron & Metal Tuesday afternoon, creating heavy smoke that prompted a “shelter in place” order for residents west of I-880.
The fire broke out at around 4:30 p.m. at the metal recycling facility at the corner of Doolittle Drive and Davis Street, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.
The fire department sent out an advisory telling people to close their windows and remain indoors due to the heavy smoke. That advisory was lifted just before 9 p.m.
The fire was under control by 8 p.m. and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office’s drone was used to check on hot spots. Crews remained on the scene for an overnight watch and were released at about 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAUL ALVAREZ
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Full House on Immigration Gives Sheriff an Earful
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern defended his department’s stance on dealing with illegal immigrants in front of a standing-room-only crowd last week.
Over 200 people attended the town hall meeting at the Hayward Adult School with several members of the audience shouting over Ahern’s explanations about how his department works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in dealing with undocumented people who have been arrested in Alameda County.
Last year, 215 people held in Alameda County jails were taken into custody by ICE.
Ahern said it wasn’t his department’s purview to “hand over” people to ICE. But they do work with the the federal government in dealing with serious offenders and inform ICE when inmates are released from jail. He added that ICE is often waiting for offenders as they leave jails.
But Ahern also said the sheriff’s department lets ICE know when somebody will be released from county jail.
“We are obligated to follow the law,” said Ahern. “We don’t give the exact time of the release of individuals; we wouldn’t even know that because over 40,000 people are in our jails annually, but we do provide information to ICE about release dates.”
Ahern says he doesn’t give ICE the addresses of illegal residents because that could create a raid scenario and he feels it is safer if people are taken into custody on jail property.
“A peaceful transfer from a jail setting is preferable to ICE going into homes,” said Ahern, in a statement that triggered a huge round of “boos” from the crowd as well as chants of “No raids! No deportation! No fascist USA!”
Ahern said that those picked up by ICE have been arrested for serious crimes. He said that those accused of less serious crimes such as misdemeanors are usually bailed out and “long gone” before ICE is even aware of their presence.
The forum was organized by People Power, a group created by the ACLU earlier this year. ACLU attorney Julia Mass asked Ahern why he felt compelled to cooperate with ICE at all, as several law enforcement agencies in “sanctuary cities” have declined to do so.
Ahern responded that, if his department doesn’t cooperate with federal authorities, they are at risk of losing federal funding and that would be a major detriment to county law enforcement. Ahern added that such a policy of withholding federal money was created under the Obama administration, which drew more outraged shouts from the crowd.
A moderator asked the crowd not to shout and to be respectful, to which one man responded “Why the hell should we be respectful? He (Ahern) is ripping families apart.”
There were over 20 public speakers and during the comment period, one woman engaged in a bit of political theater. She took the podium to present Ahern with the “Adolf Eichmann Award for leadership in the field of deportation of undesirables.”
She then announced that President Trump was on hand to give Ahern the award and a man in a Trump Halloween mask stepped out from behind her and walked toward the sheriff but two deputies quickly took him outside.
Another woman said that Ahern’s duty as a law enforcement officer is to protect everyone in his jurisdiction, even illegal immigrants.
“You have a role to play to protect us by fighting this (deportation policy),” she said “Consider being a voice at the state level for resisting.”
One of the speakers was Leo West of San Leandro, who had the crowd on his side when he began speaking. West has a foreign accent, so maybe the crowd assumed that he would speak in favor of undocumented immigrants, but instead he spoke his mind in his typically blunt fashion.
“People are here supporting criminals,” said West. “That can’t be tolerated. Jobs for U.S. workers, not illegal scabs.”
The crowd then booed West nearly as vigorously as they did Ahern.
CAPTION: People in the crowd urged the passage of a bill to make California a sanctuary state.
PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI
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Another Rate Hike Planned by EBMUD
BY AMY SYLVESTRI • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) board of directors will vote next week on a proposed increase on water rates totaling over 18 percent.
Tonight (Thursday) at 6:30 p.m., EBMUD is holding a special town hall meeting on its budget and finances at its headquarters, 375 11th St. in Oakland. The board will vote on the hike on July 11.
If approved, EBMUD rates will rise by 9.25 percent beginning this month and another 9 percent on July 1, 2018. That’s on top of rate increases totaling over 35 since 2013.
Under the new proposed increases, the average household using about 200 gallons of water per day would see its EBMUD bill go up by a bit over $4 per month, from about $47 to over $51. So the average household paid about $30 five years ago and will be paying more than $50 by 2018.
Water use in the EBMUD coverage area dropped from 195 million gallons in 2007 to 125 million gallons last year. But EBMUD says its costs don’t change because the amount of water used goes down. EBMUD says the rate hike is necessary to maintain the infrastructure.
EBMUD also levied a 25 percent “emergency surcharge” on water bills for a year during the drought, but that surcharge ended last summer.
Overall, EBMUD rates have gone up more than 35 percent in the past five years. Water rates were raised by around 10 percent in 2013 and another 9.5 percent in 2014. Then in 2015 there was an 8 percent hike and the same in 2016.
Infrastructure upkeep was also cited as the reason for those hikes, with EBMUD saying it need to perform repairs and basic maintenance on its 4,200 miles of pipes, some of which are over 100 years old.
The rate hike isn’t a forgone conclusion. At least one EBMUD board member, John Coleman, has gone on record saying he plans to vote no on the increase. He said that people have conserved water when the district asked them to and they shouldn’t have to pay more now.
The EBMUD board will vote on the rate hike at a public meeting scheduled for July 11 at 1:15 p.m. at EBMUD’s headquarters, 375 11th Street, Oakland.
If you cannot attend either meeting, but would like to submit a comment, you can submit one by mail to EBMUD, MS218, P.O.Box 24055, Oakland, CA 94623.
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Science Teacher Goes to Space Camp
BY JIM KNOWLES • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Science teacher Elizabeth Cooke learned something about space this summer that she can’t wait to pass along to her students.
Cooke and 200 other teachers took the training that the astronauts do at the United States Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. They experienced G-forces, did a simulated water landing off a zip line, built and programmed a small rocket, and recreated a mission in the space lab.
“I’m so grateful that I was able to be a part of this,” Cooke said. “The best part was meeting people from all over the world.”
Teachers from 45 states and 33 countries were in the class, hosted by the Honeywell Educators in Space Academy (HESA), and Cooke was chosen as one of the five teachers from California. HESA is a scholarship program designed to inspire math and science teachers be effective educators in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.
Cooke lives in San Leandro and teaches science to kindergarten to fifth graders at Markham Elementary School in Oakland and has worked as a substitute teacher in San Leandro. She’s bringing a model rocket kit back to school for her students, too.
Cooke gave an example of one exercise at the space academy – they had to take a bucket of tennis balls and move the balls to another bucket using only a rope and they couldn’t use their arms. The solution requires not only figuring out the problem but working as a team – another fun assignment Cooke can bring to her classroom.
The teachers also built a model rocket that contained a computer chip they programed to collect data on velocity, direction, and distance traveled.
“The rockets I’ll use with my third grade students because they’re studying energy and matter,” Cooke said.
It just happens that the first day of school, Aug. 21, will be the day of the solar eclipse – fitting right in with Cooke’s lesson plans.
The “path of totality,” where the sun in completely blocked, will extend across the country from Oregon to South Carolina. That path misses the Bay Area, but we will still see 80 percent of the sun covered by the moon.
At the space academy, the teachers studied the Apollo mission to the moon, sky lab, and did a simulated mission to Mars.
“NASA is planning a mission in the future to Mars,” she said. “That’s the long-term goal.”
Cooke is keeping in touch with some of the other teachers she met. She and another teacher from the Philippines are setting up a blog so their students can show each other their work and share ideas.
Cooke is a member of the Eden Rose Chapter of Links Incorporated, a service organization with STEM activities for Girl Scouts; a member of the UC Berkeley Black Alumni Club; and board member of the California Science Teachers Association. She would like to encourage any science teacher to come to their conference in Sacramento in October – information at cascience.org.
Cooke should be easy to spot on campus the day school starts.
“Of course I’ll be wearing my flight suit with the Honeywell and NASA space camp logos,” she said.
CAPTION: Elizabeth Cooke attended the space program for teachers at the center where the astronauts train.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH COOKE
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Longtime Letter Carrier Makes Her Last Run
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Letter carrier Marisela Castro retired from the Post Office on June 30 after delivering the mail in San Leandro for over 32 years.
Marisela worked the route in Bay-O-Vista in the past few years where she loved the job as much as the residents loved her. One of her proudest accomplishments was starting the annual letter carrier food drive, “Stamp Out Hunger,” in San Leandro, along with her husband Norbert who also works for the post office.
Marisela and Norbert met at work at the post office and today have four children – one’s a software engineer, one works at Kohl’s, one is a San Leandro police officer, and the youngest is at Chabot College.
It came time for Marisela to take her retirement. She’s going to miss her customers but she looks forward to a new chapter in her life.
CAPTION: Marisela Castro makes her last clock-out at the post office on June 30.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORBERT CASTRO
Dodgers Enter Final Week Of Season on Win Streak
BY JIM KNOWLES • SAN LEANRO TIMES • 07-27-17
The San Leandro Dodgers youth baseball team beat Bay Area Baseball, 11-1, last Tuesday, and later in the week finished second in the San Leandro Ports Tournament.
The Dodgers got nine hits in the rout of Bay Area Baseball, including a double and homer by Joshua Romero, a single and double by Cameron Weatherford, and two hits apiece by Jakob Bouhuys, Zion Michael, and Gabe Fernandez. Mike Pulido and Jimmy Silva brought home runs with sacrifices.
Jacob Gurule pitched four innings and Zion Michael worked the final two innings.
In the San Leandro Ports Tournament, the Dodgers beat the Bay Area Bombers (Blue), 4-3, on Friday as Cameron Weatheford allowed just four hits and stuck out nine batters.
On Saturday, the Dodgers beat the Bay Area Bombers, 2-1, on a complete game, 2-hitter pitched by Zion Michael, with Jakob Bouhuys working behind the plate.
Joshua Romero homered and singled and Bouhuys doubled home the winning run in the seventh.
The Dodgers also got hits from Daniel Pasillas, who scored the winning run, Gabe Fernandez, Noah Amaral, Coco Sanchez, and a pair of hits by Weatherford.
The Dodgers winning streak ended on Sunday in the championship game, as All Pro beat the Dodgers, 7-4, in a nine-inning contest. Daniel Pasillas had two hits for the Dodgers, but All Pro pitcher Dozier was able to hold back the Dodgers and give the championship trophy to All Pro.
Final Tournament Standings:
1) All Pro (unlimited age)
2) San Leandro Dodgers
3) Bay Area Bombers Grey 19u
4) San Leandro Ports (unlimited age)
5) Bay Area Bombers 17u
The Dodgers play their final games of the season this week at San Leandro Ballpark, starting tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. against the Bay Area Bombers. On Saturday, the Dodgers play a double-header against APS Blue starting at 10 a.m.; and on Sunday the Dodgers host the Blankenship Bulls in a double-header starting at 11 a.m. – with the last game of the season being a 9-inning contest.
CAPTION: Noah Amaral pitches for the San Leandro Dodgers in a game earlier this season.
PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES
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Manor Babe Ruth Wins State Tourney
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
The Washington Manor Senior Babe Ruth 18u team won the NorCal state championships last week and are heading to the regional tournament in Utah that starts today. Washington Manor is scheduled to play tonight at 7 p.m. at the Babe Ruth League Pacific Southwest Regional Tournament in Taylorsville, Utah. Washington Manor won the state tourney last week by beating teams from Hayward, Oakland, Sacramento and Mountain View.
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NITRO Girls Softball Wins Tourney
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
San Leandro Girls Softball’s Nitro summer travel team took first place in the 10-and-Under Silver Bracket at the Foster City Youth Softball Tournament over the 4th of July weekend.
The girls played six games and on Championship Sunday battled through a single elimination bracket winning two games to reach the championship game.
“Every single girl contributed on both offense and defense and played their hearts out,” said Leo Sheridan who coaches the team along with his wife Michelle.
Nitro got clutch hitting and a home run by Yumiuz Cobbs, and two homers by Jazmyn Martin including a grand slam that gave the defense the cushion they needed.
Nitro shut out Sunnyvale Shockwave, 12-0, for the championship, as Katie Longoria pitched a no-hitter to win the tournament M.V.P. award.
This is the second championship in as many tournaments for San Leandro Girls Softball. San Leandro’s 8-and-Under Nitro team brought home first place in Burlingame on Father’s day.
CAPTION: The San Leandro Girls Softball League’s summer traveling team won first place in the Foster City Youth Softball Tournament over the weekend.
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LifeLinks Golfers Get Better Traction with a New Pair of Shoes
BY RICHARD FITZMAURICE • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
The Arc of Alameda County provided 22 of its clients with golf shoes at a ceremony at Monarch Bay Golf Course on June 21.
The clients are part of The Arc’s “LifeLinks” golf program. The Arc provides life skills and vocational training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Alameda County.
Ron Luter, president and CEO of The Arc of Alameda County, is proud of the LifeLinks program he created, which teaches balance, focus, and etiquette in addition to golf, but something always bugged him.
“Our golfers are getting exercise and learning the values of the game,” Luter said. “That’s good. Turns out what was bothering me was they didn’t look like golfers.”
In addition, this spring the Arc’s annual client golf outing had to be postponed four times because of rain.
“We postponed two of the rounds, not because it was raining at that moment, but because the overnight rain made it too slippery for clients to walk around the golf course in sneakers,” said Arc spokesman Richard Fitzmaurice.
Luter realized the importance of a good pair of golf shoes to help golfers keep their footing. So he raised money to purchase new golf shoes for 22 Arc golfers.
Golfers were fitted with new shoes on the patio at the Marina Golf Course at Monarch Bay Golf Complex in San Leandro, as volunteer coaches from the LifeLinks program assisted. Then the golfers walked to the nearby putting green to show off their new shoes, line up for photos and the 22 golfers attempted a 44-foot putt.
About The Arc of Alameda County
The Arc is a nonprofit agency serving some 400 clients at three campuses in San Leandro, Hayward, and Dublin. Clients are people with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome.
The Arc was founded in the early 1950s when parents rebelled at the advice to send their children to state hospitals and began lobbying for services close to home. The Arc serves mostly adults but has a preschool program for children with developmental delays.
Richard Fitzmaurice is the spokesman for The Arc of Alameda County.
CAPTION: LifeLinks golfers take turns in a putting contest in their new golf shoes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARC OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 07-27-17
Mulford Gardens Art & Music Festival
Enjoy Celtic to Bluegrass to Rock’n Roll to Latin with six musical groups on Saturday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the 4th Semi-Annual Mulford Gardens Art & Music Festival in Mulford Gardens Park, 13055 Aurora Drive in San Leandro. Shop for fine art and handmade crafts at 50 booths. Good festival food and craft beer, plus a children’s art and game area.
Painting Workshop at Manor Library
Paint a masterpiece using fruits and vegetables at the Garden Buddies: fruit and veggie art workshop on Saturday, July 29, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. Best for ages 3 and older. Register on or after July 15. Dress for mess or wear an apron from home. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
All Saints National Night Out
All Saints Episcopal Church and San Leandro Church on Dowling Boulevard in San Leandro invites everyone to its National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the grounds in front of Roosevelt School, 951 Dowling Blvd. in San Leandro. Festivity will include games, arts and crafts, visits from the police and fire departments, Artful Steps, as well as hot dogs, hamburgers, and cold drinks. Bring a dish (optional) and come join the fun.
Hayward Area Historical Society
The Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS) presents Unmentionable: The Indiscreet Stories of Artifacts through October at the HAHS Museum of History and Culture at 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. This original exhibition explores all the unusual, icky, scandalous, disturbing, awful, discriminatory artifacts in the HAHS collection. The artifacts in this exhibition tell some not-so-great, but very important stories. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. John’s 34th Annual National Night Out
St. John’s Catholic Church, 264 East Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo will host a party for the 34th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at. Help strengthen a stronger relationship with the community and the Sheriff’s Office. Get to know your crime prevention unit. For more information, call Deputy J. Delgado at 260-9916 or by email JDelgado@acgov.org.
Diabetes Support Group
The Diabetes Support Group will meet the first Wednesday of every month, starting Aug. 2, at Carlton Senior Living 1000 East 14th St. in San Leandro. All are welcome and admission is free. For more information, call Amber at 636-0660 or email abennett@carltonseniorliving.com.
San Leandro Readers Roundtable
The San Leandro Readers Roundtable meets Saturday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. to discuss The Turner House by Angela Flournoy, the story of a large and complicated Detroit family. Everyone is welcome, and all books discussed are available for purchase at the library’s Booktique bookstore.
San Lorenzo Community Church
August is music month at the San Lorenzo Community Church, 945 Paseo Grande in San Lorenzo. Performances start at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 6, with the music from South Pacific, on Sunday, Aug. 13, Oliver, on Sunday, Aug. 20, My Fair Lady, and Aug. 27 Sound of Music. Please join us. All are welcome.
New Shoes for School Drive
City Councilman Lee Thomas and the San Leandro Education Foundation are having the 3rd Annual New Shoes for School Drive through Aug. 6 to collect new shoes and gift cards for the upcoming school year. Donations can be dropped off in San Leandro during business hours at the Converse Store, 1247 Marina Blvd.; the Bal Theatre, 14808 East 14th St.; Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave.; or Gregori Group Real Estate 555 Dutton Ave. For more information, contact Lee Thomas at 577-0603 or LThomas@sanleandro.org.
Davis Street Annual Health Fair
The Davis Street Resource Center, 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro will have its 3rd Annual Health Fair on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join in this event featuring a farmers market, complimentary medical and dental sreenings, lunch, community resources, games, prizes and fun for the whole family.
Arsenic and Old Lace
The San Leandro Players present Arsenic and Old Lace, through Aug. 13, at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. Performances are on Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; and Fridays at 8 p.m. on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Mark O’Neill is one of America’s funniest murder comedies, as a household of zany relatives and sidekicks bring insanity and mystery to the stage. Tickets are $20 general, and $15 seniors, TBA members, under 12, and students. For more information and tickets, call 895-2573. Order tickets online at www.slplayers.org.
Davis Street Backpack & Shoe Drive
The Davis Street Resource Center, 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro needs your help collecting new shoes, backpacks and supplies for 300 plus low income and homeless children. New shoes needed include girls sizes 10 to 12, womens sizes 4 to 14, boys sizes 10 to 12 and mens sizes 5 to 13. Drop off all items at Davis Street Resource Center, open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Kristal at 347-4620 ext. 163 or email kgonzalez@davisstreet.org.
Persons with Disabilities Ministry Summit
Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd. in Oakland, will host a Persons with Disabilities Ministry Summit on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide awareness of resources available to the disabled community. This event will provide a wealth of information for people with disabilities. Speakers from over a dozen social service agencies and organizations will be on hand.
Alta Mira Club Tea & Fashion Show
The Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro, presents “Have Bag Will Travel, 100 Years of Fashion,” tea and dessert, followed by a fashion show to support Alta Mira scholarships on Monday, Aug. 21, at 11:30 a.m. The program features a museum collection of antique gowns and accessories modeled by volunteers from Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay. Tickets are $25. For reservations, email Nancyfong@aol.com or call 483-1018.
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Batman and Me: Copeland Visits Stately Wayne Manor
BY BRIAN COPELAND • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-20-17
Brian Copeland of San Leandro, an actor, comedian, author, playwright and TV and radio talk show host, wrote this piece just after Adam West died on June 9.
Back in 1980 when I was a 15 year old high school kid, I wrote for a little weekly paper in San Leandro called, The Observer. I didn’t get paid, but I got to see my stuff in print and they’d run pretty much anything I wanted to write.
I was a fan of old television so I used the column as a vehicle to get interviews with the stars of my all-time favorite shows. I’d call SAG, get the name of an agent or publicist and request an interview.
Usually, they thought it was cute that a teenager remembered them (I focused on the stars of shows from the ’50s and ’60s, figuring my odds were better) that they almost always said yes. It was in that way that I met and became friendly with Jack Kelly (Maverick), Ray Walston (My Favorite Martian), Dwayne Hickman (Dobie Gillis) and Adam West.
I had grown up with the mod, campy take on Batman from the 1966 TV show. It premiered on ABC when I was 2 and was constantly on the air in reruns throughout my childhood.
Like all boys of my generation, I jumped around the living room with a towel around my neck as a cape, throwing punches at an invisible Joker as imaginary POWS, BIFFS and BAMs materialized around me in glorious technicolor.
Adam West was on my dream list to interview. I was a comic book fanatic (still am) and he was one of my heroes.
One morning in early 1980, I got hold of his publicist’s info, called and explained that I was a high school kid who wanted to interview Mr. West. I was told someone would check with him and get back to me.
Usually, this meant that an assistant or secretary would reach out and, if my request was granted, either arrange a phone call or, on rare occasions, an in-person chat provided I could get to Los Angeles.
That night when I got home, there was a note on my bed in my 14-year-old sister Tracie’s handwriting. “Adam West called.”
“Quit messing with me. It’s not funny,” I said.
“I’m not,” she protested. “He called. He was really nice. He sounded just like Batman on the phone.”
I checked the number and, sure enough it was an LA area code.
The next morning before school, I dialed the number and held my breath. It rang a few times and a voice that sounded like it should have intoned, “Yes, Commissioner?” answered.
I explained what I wanted. He was, like my sister had said, very nice.
“Why don’t you come to my home?” He said. “We can talk here?”
Oh my God!! I’ve been invited to Wayne Manor!
We picked a date and I made a plane reservation.
That day at school, I told my friend Mike, my best friend in my class and a fellow Batman fanatic, what had transpired. Adam was his hero too.
“You have to come with me!” I said.
It took some doing but his folks let him go. A few weeks later, we were off. Two 15 year olds (me on only my second plane ride ever) flying across California, unsupervised to go to Batman’s house.
I had a distant cousin in LA who’s home we had planned to stay at for a few days, but changed our minds when we heard it was in a bad area of town. So instead of going there and dropping off our luggage (yes, we brought suitcases) we took a taxi to Mr. West’s home in Pacific Palisades.
We rang the bell and his wife, a lovely French lady, answered the door with Adam on her heels. I laugh like hell every time I think of the looks on their faces opening the door of their multimillion dollar house to see two teenagers on their porch with suitcases.
We were led into his beautiful garden, complete with koi pond, where Adam signed autographs for us and his wife served lemonade.
I never got to the interview because Mr. West had something else in mind. He told us that in about a month, Warner Brothers was going to hold a big press conference in New York to announce a Batman feature film. His management had approached the producers (Jon Peters, if I remember correctly) and inquired about Adam reprising the role. They weren’t interested.
At that time, there had been a major PR nightmare over the film, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, when the owner of that property got a cease-and-desist order against Clayton Moore, the TV Lone Ranger from the ’50s, prohibiting him from wearing the Ranger mask in public.
Even though the show had been off the air for decades, Clayton (who I got to know later, but that’s a different story) continued to wear the costume visiting hospitals and children’s homes. Ripping off his mask did not sit well with the public and they retaliated by not buying tickets to the new movie. Adam thought he might be able to use that experience to his benefit.
“At this press conference,” he said, “Warner Brothers is going to declare 1981 as ‘The Year of the Batman’ and announce the new movie. If you guys can go to New York and when they make this announcement, start yelling ‘What about Adam West? If Adam West isn’t Batman, I’m not going!’ That would be a big deal.”
Now, I knew doggone well my Grandma (who was my guardian) was not gonna allow me to fly to Manhattan. Mike’s folks had to be convinced to let him come with me to LA. No way were they going to let him go across the country. Plus, he wanted us to go on our own dime so his fingerprints wouldn’t be on it.
“Now, I know you’re thinking,” he said. “‘What’s in this for me?’ Maybe a part in the movie. For every successful campaign there are rewards.”
We chatted for an hour or so and then we piled into his Jeep, (he had two cars, a Ferrari and a Jeep. At school we told our friends he drove us in the sports car.) and he drove us to Greyhound where, star struck, we took the bus back to the Bay Area.
I talked to Adam a couple of times a week over the next month, trying to figure out how to break it to him that I wasn’t going cross country for him, especially paid for with money that I didn’t even have. The situation resolved itself when the whole press event ended up being changed and the movie wound up in development hell.
It would be nine years before the film finally hit the big screen with Michael Keaton as star. I stayed in touch with Adam over the next couple of years until he packed up his family and moved to Idaho and we lost touch.
About six or seven years ago, I was checking into the Sheraton Universal when I look at the guest checking in next to me and it’s Adam West. He was in town to record some voice over stuff for Family Guy. He remembered me. We had a good laugh over his attempt to get two kids to shill for him at Warner Brothers and we went our separate ways.
He was a good guy. A little egotistical. Notoriously cheap.
Years later when I told Yvonne Craig (Batgirl) the story. Before I finished, she said, “Let me guess, he wanted you kids to pay for it.”
That said, he gave me one of the thrills of my life and I’ll treasure the memory forever.
CAPTION 1: Adam West invited the young journalist Copeland from San Leandro to come to Hollywood for an interview.
CAPTION 2: Brian Copeland was a high school kid when he crossed his fingers and called for an interview with Adam West.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 07-20-17
Art and Music at Zocalo Coffeehouse
There will be a reception at Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro tonight, Thursday at 7 p.m. for singer and songwriter Rebecca Parks. While she performs folks can also view the San Leandro Art Association exhibit. This will be a good opportunity to come and meet the artists. Admission is free.
I.D.E.S. of Saint John Barbecue & Bingo
I.D.E.S. of Saint John, 1670 Orchard Ave. in San Leandro, will host a barbecue ribs and bingo luncheon on Saturday, July 22. Lunch is $15 and will be served at noon and will also include linguica sandwiches, chips, salad and 4 bingo cards. A raffle will be at 2 p.m. Bring canned for for the canned food drive. For more information, call Helder Quadros at 357-5846 or Willie Calvo at 635-6326.
Family Movie Night
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks, and enjoy the free movie Finding Dory on Wednesday, July 26, at 8 p.m. at Halcyon Park, 1245 147th Ave. in San Leandro. The movie reunites the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish Dory with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the true meaning of family along the way.
Kiwanis Club of San Leandro
Join the Kiwanis Club of San Leandro for weekly lunch meetings on Tuesday, from 12:10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Englander Sports Pub and Restaurant, 101 Parrot Street, San Leandro.
San Leandro Democratic Club
The San Leandro Democratic Club will meet on Thursday, July 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Guest speaker District Attorney Nancy O’Malley will speak about human trafficking.
San Leandro Toastmasters
The San Leandro Toastmasters meet on Thursday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The group fosters improved communication and public speaking. All levels of speakers from novice to seasoned are welcome.
Painting Workshop at Manor Library
Paint a masterpiece using fruits and vegetables at the Garden Buddies: fruit and veggie art workshop on Saturday, July 29, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. Best for ages 3 and older. Register on or after July 15. Dress for mess or wear an apron from home. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
San Leandro Art Association Exhibit
Paintings by members of the San Leandro Art Association will be on display through July 31, at Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.
Hayward Area Historical Society
The Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS) presents Unmentionable: The Indiscreet Stories of Artifacts through October at the HAHS Museum of History and Culture at 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. This original exhibition explores all the unusual, icky, scandalous, disturbing, awful, discriminatory artifacts in the HAHS collection. The artifacts in this exhibition tell some not-so-great, but very important stories. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Davis Street Backpack & Shoe Drive
The Davis Street Resource Center, 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro needs your help collecting new shoes, backpacks and supplies for 300 plus low income and homeless children. New shoes needed include girls sizes 10 to 12, womens sizes 4 to 14, boys sizes 10 to 12 and mens sizes 5 to 13. Drop off all items at Davis Street Resource Center, open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Kristal at 347-4620 ext. 163 or email kgonzalez@davisstreet.org.
34th Annual National Night Out
St. John’s Catholic Church, 264 East Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo will host a party for the 34th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at. Help strengthen a stronger relationship with the community and the Sheriff’s Office. Get to know your crime prevention unit. For more information, call Deputy J. Delgado at 260-9916 or by email JDelgado@acgov.org.
Truth Thursdays
The San Leandro Improvement Association hosts Truth Thursdays on the fourth Thursday of the month July 27, under the “Truth Is Beauty” statue at the OSIsoft building on the San Leandro Tech Campus, 1600 Alvarado St. Food trucks, beer, wine, and live entertainment will be on hand from 5 to 9 p.m. Bocce ball and other recreational games will be played out on the grass.
4th Sunday Breakfast for Veterans
American Legion Post 117 hosts breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. every 4th Sunday of the month, except on holiday weekends, 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 $7 for adults, $5 for veterans, and all others. All donations benefit American Legion veteran programs.
Diabetes Support Group
The Diabetes Support Group will meet the first Wednesday of every month, starting Aug. 2, at Carlton Senior Living 1000 East 14th St. in San Leandro. All are welcome and admission is free. For more information, call Amber at 636-0660 or email abennett@carltonseniorliving.com.
San Lorenzo High Class of 1967 Reunion
San Lorenzo High School Class of 1967 will celebrate its 50th class reunion on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Wedgewood Wedding and Banquet Center (formally Willow Park) in Castro Valley. Invitations are being sent to all the classmates on the mailing list. For more information, or if you’re not on the mailing list, call Glenda Smith Fore at 703-0933. No tickets accepted at the door.
San Leandro High Class of 1987 Reunion
San Leandro High School Class of 1987 is having its 30th reunion on Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Dublin, 6680 Regional St. in Dublin. See old friends and raise a glass to our class. Early-bird ticket pricing is available until March 1. For more information and tickets, go to www.nationalreunions.com or call 888-4-ALUMNI.
Chanticleers Theatre
Elvis Has Left The Building runs till July 23 at the Chanticleers Theatre, 3683 Quail Ave. in Castro Valley. Jacob Russell-Snyder directs this comedy taking you back to December 20, 1970 and to the disappearance of Elvis Presley. No one, not even his wily manager, “The Colonel,” knows of his whereabouts. Hi-jinks abound as the Colonel takes desperate measures to replace a man who is irreplaceable. General admission is $25; admission for seniors (60+), students and military is $20. For more information or tickets, call SEE-LIVE 733-5483 or go to chanticleers.org.
San Leandro Players
The San Leandro Players present Arsenic and Old Lace, till Aug. 13, at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. Performances are on Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; and Fridays at 8 p.m. on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Mark O’Neill is one of America’s funniest murder comedies, as a household of zany relatives and sidekicks bring insanity and mystery to the stage. Tickets are $20 general, and $15 seniors, TBA members, under 12, and students. For more information and tickets, call 895-2573. Order tickets online at www.slplayers.org.
Morrisson Theatre
The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward, presents Summer Concert: Flavors of Latin America on Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. The summer concert, directed by Cesar Cancino, will feature the lively, tropical, and romantic rhythms of Latin America. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for H.A.R.D. area residents, under 30, over 60; and $12 for youth and students. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m and can be reached at 881-6777. For more information and tickets, visit www.dmtonline.org.
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FARMER’S MARKET • THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017
AT PARKSIDE COMMONS APARTMENTS IN SAN LEANDRO
A COMMUNITY PRODUCE , BAKE, & CRAFT SALE. PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT.
TELL A FRIEND, FAMILY, OR ANYBODY THAT YOU KNOW!
There will be Fresh Organic Produce, Hot Food for sale, Candy Apples, Decorative Jewelry,
Stone Pots, Homemade Cakes, Music, fun and much, much more!
Parkside Commons Apartments • 900 143rd Ave, San Leandro • (510) 895-1505
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Cava Gets Tryout with San Francisco Seals
BY EARL CAVA • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-13-17
I played semi-pro baseball for Idora Realty. The uniforms we wore at one time were the original uniforms of the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League.
After school, I would go down to Oaks Park and work out with the team. So, I thought one day, I might get a tryout with the Oaks.
To my surprise, my coach, Ed Tickalot, told me that he got me a tryout with the San Francisco Seals. I was told to check in at Seals Stadium at 16th and Bryant streets on Saturday, Feb. 17, 1951.
I played second base and weighed 110 pounds. Ed said, “Put down 140 pounds.”
It was a windy day. The first batter up hit a high fly ball and fortunately I caught it.
A sportswriter from the San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Stevens, happened to be there and gave me a write-up. For some reason, he put down my middle name (Jimmy) instead of my first name.
He wrote: “Manager (Lefty) O’Doul had his eyes open from the start when a little 140-pound second baseman from Oakland named Jimmy Cava went deep into right field, turned at precisely the right moment, and gracefully hauled in a twisting fly.
‘Didn’t see any better catch in the Coast League last year than that one,’ observed the keeper of the Seals.”
I went to the last cut and Joe Sprinz told me I didn’t weigh 140 pounds. He was right. He told me, “Put some weight on and come back next season and we’ll talk contract.”
Unfortunately, the Korean War was on and Uncle Sam wanted me instead. So much for my baseball career.
CAPTION: Earl Cava played for Idora Realty and wore the original uniforms from the Oakland Oaks.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EARL CAVA
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Quintell Lit Up Local Drag Strips
BY JOHN QUINTELL • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-13-17
In the 1950s, there were round drive-ins with parking slots all around.
You stayed in your car and the waitress (called car-hops) came up and handed you the menu. When you were ready to order, you turned on your headlights and she came back to take your order.
The car hop came back later with your food on a tray that attached to your driver’s side window. When you were done, you turned on your headlights again and she returned with the check.
Some of the drive-ins I remember were Gordon’s on 150th Avenue and East 14th Street in San Leandro where a dental office is today. There was Andy’s and Mel’s in Oakland, and there were others that I can’t remember now.
At that time, there were many car clubs around the Bay Area and members went to the drive-ins after meetings and dances. Some of the clubs I remember were The Shamrocks, The Riffs and The Rod Benders of Alameda. And, there was Satans Angels, Sons of Satan, The Cam Shafters, The Pacers and The Knights, all of Hayward.
There were others like The Custom Kings, The King Pins, The Chevies, The Tire Burners and, of course, The Swanx of Oakland, San Francisco, San Rafael and Vallejo.
I was a member of the Oakland Swanx and, at that time, I had a custom 1935 white Ford Roadster. It had black leather interior, a rumble seat. What’s that? the youngsters ask. Well, instead of a trunk it was an area that opened behind the front seat where you could sit two people.
I took the Ford to several car shows in 1956 — the National Roadster Show in Oakland, the first car show in San Mateo, and the Monterey Car Show. When I was not showing my car, I was racing it on local drag strips like Kingdom Raceways in Lodi, at Winters Raceway, and my first race was at a strip in San Jose. Ah, yes, I remember when.
CAPTION: John Quintell was a member of the Oakland Swanx car club and frequently raced this 1935 Ford Roadster at many of the local drag strips back in the day.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN QUINTELL
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Dambley Family Forms Lasting Friendships
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
One sunny morning in about 1935, my grandmother Remedios Castro was getting her children ready for school. Her older daughter Mary decided that it was a nice day to take a picture of some of the neighborhood kids who passed their house at 2201 Cherry Street on their way to school.
They were a close group of Spanish, Portuguese and Italian friends growing up in a neighborhood where all their parents knew each other, and were there for each other if someone needed a helping hand.
The Tedeschi family was especially helpful. They owned a small grocery store in the middle of the neighborhood. During the Great Depression when some of our parents were out of a job, the Tedeschi’s let them charge all their groceries, until they found work again and were able to pay off their bill.
Assembled on grandma’s porch were (front row, left to right) George Castro, Albert Andrade, Vincent Barber, and Michael Luciano. The two youngest children behind them are my brother Tony Castro (not in school yet) and me, Margaret Castro (Dambley). Next row are Tony Alga, Bill Castro, and Raymond Luciano. In the top row are Mary Luciano, Margaret Castro (Trujillo), John Cruz, and Annie Tedeschi.
The younger students attended McKinley Grammar School, and the older ones attended San Leandro High School. They didn’t all graduate from the same high school, because after they reached a certain age, they quit school to get a job and help support their families, as many students did during the Depression.
As young adults, George Castro became a barber and later worked for the San Leandro school district. Michael Luciano became a real estate agent, and I (Margaret Dambley) worked as a secretary. Bill Castro owned a gas station on the corner of First Avenue (now Marina Boulevard) and Washington Avenue.
Raymond Luciano became a barber, John Cruz owned a paint store, and Annie Tedeschi became a teacher. In 1945, she was one of my teachers at San Leandro High.
This was a great neighborhood to grow up in and now, even though there are just a few of us left, whenever we see each other it’s as if the years fade away and the bond of friendship is still there.
CAPTION: Local children gather on the Dambley family porch before heading off to school.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DAMBLEY FAMILY
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Cookoff Raises Funds for Stepping Stones
BY BARRY ZEPEL • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-13-17
The organizing committee for the Fifth Annual Chetland Road Chili Cook-Off announced that its latest competition raised nearly $7,000 for San Leandro-based Stepping Stones Growth Center.
More than 500 people attended the chili cook-off in April from throughout the Estudillo Estates neighborhood of San Leandro and surrounding communities.
In the spirit of supporting the local community, there were 20 entries in the chili competition, with many more people deciding to participate in the day’s activities by spending $10 or more to taste some or all of the various chili recipes. The tasters voted for what they considered the best recipes, with ribbons awarded to the three most popular entries.
Winning chefs were Mayela Cuevas (first place for the second consecutive year), James Reid (second place), Sonia Acosta (third place and best decorated booth), and Alfredo Mathew (best vegetarian recipe). All are residents of San Leandro.
“We were again supported by generous sponsors and plenty of neighborhood participation,” said Sara Tenorio, a leader of the event-organizing committee.”
Among the guests in attendance was San Leandro Police Chief Jeff Tudor, “who was a surprise visitor and who took the mike to express his amazement and pride in our event,” according to Tenorio. Also taking part, as has been the case in past years, were staff members of the Alameda County Fire Department.
Entertainment was provided by musician Jerry Gee and the musical group, Bayfire. The featured beers were provided by San Leandro-based Drake’s and Cleophous Quealy’s breweries.
Youngsters were entertained by a clown in the Kids Zone portion of the event.
Members of the St. James Lutheran Church congregation of San Leandro ran a bake sale of cookies, cakes and brownies as part of the Chetland Road event, proceeds of which were part of the funds going to Stepping Stones Growth Center.
Stepping Stones Growth Center is a private, non-profit social services agency which has provided programs and services for children and adults with a developmental disability since 1975. What first began as an after school program to provide reinforcement and enhancement of social, vocational and living skills has evolved into an agency that provides a continuum of programs and services to more than 400 adults and children with a developmental disability. It is located at 311 MacArthur Blvd.
More information about Stepping Stones Growth Center is available at http://www.steppingstonesgrowth.org/.
In previous years the Chetland Street Chili Cook-off has raised funds to support the George Mark Children’s House of San Leandro, the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation and the Building Futures with Women and Children organization.
CAPTION: Celebrating both the successes of the event and their tasty chili recipes were, left to right, cook-off winners Mayela Cuevas (first place), Sonia Acosta (third), James Reid (second) and Alfredo Mathew (best vegetarian recipe). Photo provided by Sara Tenorio
PHOTO COURTESY OF SARA TENOIO
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 07-13-17
Free Meditation Sound Bath at SL Library
A free meditation sound bath will be offered today, July 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Square One yoga instructor Missy will offer a free healing and relaxing meditation sound bath with sound bowls. Limited yoga mats will be available to borrow but feel free to bring your own mat. Light refreshments will be served.
Free Family Zumba Class at SL Library
Start a healthier life with a free Family Zumba Class on Saturday, July 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Bring the family and enjoy a free Family Zumba Class. Instructor Vanessa will teach the Zumba basics and help you and your family move your bodies to fun, lively beats. Please wear comfortable shoes. Light refreshments served.
The Hot Rods Band at SL Main Library
The Hot Rods Band will bring the energy and excitement of old-time rock ’n’ roll to the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Saturday, July 15, from 2 to 3 p.m. Five talented musicians, performing on the saxophone, electric guitar, piano, bass, vocals and drums, will pay tribute to the Rockin’ Fifties with the songs of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ricky Nelson, and Jerry Lee Lewis – and to the Swinging Sixties, with the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Motown. No charge for admission.
Wonderful Worms at Manor Library
Discover the wonderful world of worms on Saturday, July 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. Squirm and dig in the garden, learn about worms and why they love dirt. We’ll be making dirt pudding so dress for mess. Best for ages 3 and older. Register on or after July 1. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
Group Bike Ride from SL to Alameda
Join Bike Walk San Leandro for a leisurely-paced community bike ride from San Leandro BART to Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal via Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline on Sunday, July 16. Meet at SL BART at 9:30 a.m., roll out at 10 a.m. Round trip will be 17 miles with an option for a shorter 9 mile ride. For more information, see Facebook for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1602168416460502.
Free Eco Resource Faire
The City of San Leandro Public Works Recycling Program will present Recycling Education on Wednesday, July 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The City of San Leandro Department of Engineering and Transportation will present Green Transportation Options, its Biking and Pedestrian plans. StopWaste will offer Green tips on food waste production. Rising Sun Energy Center will be offering free home energy and water conservation Services. Light refreshments served.
Chanticleers Theatre
Elvis Has Left The Building runs to July 23 at the Chanticleers Theatre, 3683 Quail Ave. in Castro Valley. Jacob Russell-Snyder directs this comedy taking you back to December 20, 1970 and to the disappearance of Elvis Presley. No one, not even his wily manager, “The Colonel,” knows of his whereabouts. Hi-jinks abound as the Colonel takes desperate measures to replace a man who is irreplaceable. This hilariously funny story will keep you guessing until the end. General admission is $25; admission for seniors (60+), students and military is $20. For more information or tickets, call SEE-LIVE 733-5483 or go to chanticleers.org.
Painting Workshop at Manor Library
Paint a masterpiece using fruits and vegetables at the Garden Buddies: fruit and veggie art workshop on Saturday, July 29, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. Best for ages 3 and older. Register on or after July 15. Dress for mess or wear an apron from home. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
San Leandro Art Association Exhibit
Paintings by members of the San Leandro Art Association will be on display through July 31, at Zocalo Coffeehouse, 645 Bancroft Ave. in San Leandro.
Hayward Area Historical Society
The Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS) presents Unmentionable: The Indiscreet Stories of Artifacts through October at the HAHS Museum of History and Culture at 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. This original exhibition explores all the unusual, icky, scandalous, disturbing, awful, discriminatory artifacts in the HAHS collection. The artifacts in this exhibition tell some not-so-great, but very important stories. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Davis Street Backpack & Shoe Drive
The Davis Street Resource Center, 3081 Teagarden Street in San Leandro needs your help collecting new shoes, backpacks and supplies for 300 plus low income and homeless children. New shoes needed include girls sizes 10 to 12, womens sizes 4 to 14, boys sizes 10 to 12 and mens sizes 5 to 13. Drop off all items at Davis Street Resource Center, open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call Kristal at 347-4620 ext. 163 or email kgonzalez@davisstreet.org.
34th Annual National Night Out
The 34th Annual National Night Out will be on Tuesday, August 1, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church, 264 East Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo. Help strengthen a stronger relationship with the community and the Sheriff’s Office. Get to know your crime prevention unit. For more information, call Deputy J. Delgado at 260-9916 or by email JDelgado@acgov.org.
Occasional Help Needed at Building Futures
Building Futures, which helps Alameda County residents build a future free of homelessness and family violence, is seeking volunteers for administrative tasks on an occasional basis. Your help is needed during business hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Service opportunities are intermittent and scheduled as-needed. Administrative tasks include assistance with mailings – folding letters, stuffing envelopes, applying postage and address labels, sorting donations, miscellaneous clerical tasks, making phone calls, and data entry. To volunteer or for more information, email Lorie at lcurtis@bfwc.org or call 924-3092.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mamma Mia at Woodminster Amphitheater
Woodminster Summer Musicals opens its 51st season on Friday, July 7, with the smash hit musical Mamma Mia at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, on Joaquin Miller Road in the Oakland hills. Show times are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (July 13 to 16). Mamma Miafollows the adventures of Sophie, a young woman who wants to discover the identity of her father before her own wedding. The lighthearted show is packed with upbeat and infectious ABBA songs that have people who aren’t even ABBA fans tapping their feet. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 531-9597 or the website at www.woodminster.com or at the box office before any performance. Discounts are available for kids, groups, seniors and millennials.
San Leandro Players
The San Leandro Players present Arsenic and Old Lace, July 15 through Aug. 13, at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. Performances are on Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; and Fridays at 8 p.m. on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Mark O’Neill is one of America’s funniest murder comedies, as a household of zany relatives and sidekicks bring insanity and mystery to the stage. Tickets are $20 general, and $15 seniors, TBA members, under 12, and students. For more information and tickets, call 895-2573. Order tickets online at www.slplayers.org.
Morrisson Theatre
The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward, presents Summer Concert: Flavors of Latin America on Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. The summer concert, directed by Cesar Cancino, will feature the lively, tropical, and romantic rhythms of Latin America. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for H.A.R.D. area residents, under 30, over 60; and $12 for youth and students. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m and can be reached at 881-6777. For more information and tickets, visit www.dmtonline.org.
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Mama Mia Opens Friday at Woodminster
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Woodminster Summer Musicals opens its 51st season on Friday, July 7, with the smash hit musical Mamma Mia at at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, on Joaquin Miller Road in the Oakland hills.
Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday thought Sunday (July 7 to 9), and Thursday through Sunday (July 13 to 16).
Mamma Mia follows the adventures of Sophie, a young woman who wants to discover the identity of her father before her own wedding. The lighthearted show is packed with upbeat and infectious ABBA songs that have people who aren’t even ABBA fans tapping their feet.
Tickets are available by calling the box office at 531-9597 or the website at www.woodminster.com or at the box office before any performance. Discounts are available for kids, groups, seniors and millennials.
Tickets for summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater range from $31 to $64, with a $2 discount for seniors 62 and older.
Discounts are available for season passes, groups, and half price for millennials 17-30 at the door.
Kids up to 16 can come for free with a paying adult, and up to five kids get 75 percent off with paying adult.
“Mamma Mia is a really lighthearted show, and it’s going to be a very fun way to start the season,” says director Joel Schlader.
CAPTION: Kelty Morash of San Leandro as Lisa, Amanda Farbstein as Sophie, and Giana Gambardella as Ali perform in Mama Mia. Lisa and Ali are Sophie’s BFFs, and they have come to Greece to be bridesmaids in her wedding.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 07-06-17
Boys & Girls Club Benefit
A fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of San Leandro will be held on Friday, July 7, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Drakes Brewing Company, 1933 Davis St., Building 177 (by WalMart) in San Leandro. Taste from an array of mico brews and food and hear The Kopi Katz play music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. A $5 donation to the Boys & Girls Club is requested but not required. Brew tasting is $16 and includes a mug and three tokens. For more information, call 483-5581.
Ashland Holy Ghost Association Fiesta
The Ashland Holy Ghost Association will have a fiesta on Saturday and Sunday, July 8 and 9, at 16490 Kent Ave. in San Lorenzo. A chicken dinner and dance, along with the presentation of the queens, will be held on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. A parade will line up on Sunday at 10 a.m. and proceed to St. John’s Church for Mass at 11:30 a.m., and then the procession will go back to the hall for a meal and an auction. For tickets or for more information, call Rubin Leandro at 387-4656.
San Leandro Readers Roundtable
The San Leandro Readers Roundtable will meet on Saturday, July 8, at 2 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The book to be discussed is Daughters of the Samurai, a Journey from East to West and Back, by Janice Nimura, a true story of cross-cultural exchange in the late 19th century. All are welcome, and all books discussed are available for purchase in the library’s booktique bookstore.
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
Explore and identify California’s raptors on Saturday, July 8, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Sulphur Creek Nature Center, 1801 D Street in Hayward. At this exclusive adult nature presentation, Catching the Currents, you will meet Sulphur Creek’s hawks, falcons and eagle. Advance registration is required. To register online visit www.haywardre.org or for more information, call Wendy Winsted at 881-6747. Cost for this program #43159 is $18 per person.
Cupcake Decorating Class at the Library
There will be a cupcake decorating class on Saturday, July 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. This class is for teens 16+ and adults. Learn the basics, how to frost, and decorate cupcakes, and take your cupcakes home. Registration is free, space is limited. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
St. John’s Church Country Hoedown
Polish those boots and shake out them jeans for the upcoming Country Hoedown on Saturday, July 8, at St. John’s Church, 264 E. Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo. No host bar opens at 5:30, dinner at 7:30 and dancing and prizes from 7:30 to 9:30. Dress country casual. The grub will be prepared by Texas Roadhouse. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets, call Pat Forsythe “Marshall” at 278-4161.
Luncheon at the Alta Mira Club
The Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro, will host a salad bar luncheon on Monday, July 10, at noon. Tickets are $15. For reservations, call Carol Lebbrecht at 305-5393.
Sally Lampi Art Demonstration
Sally Lampi will demonstrate her method of mixed media art work at the next meeting of the San Leandro Art Association on Tuesday, July, 11, at 7 p.m. at the San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Admission is free.
Legos at the Museum
Come to the summer Lego celebration on Wednesday, July 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the San Leandro History Museum, 320 W. Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. See the Lego movie Scooby Doo! Haunted Hollywood at 1:30 p.m. The Scooby-Doo gang try to rescue an old movie studio, which is not only threatened by developers, but a series of movie monsters too. The movie is 1:15 long. Legos are available to build your own adventure. The event is free. For more information, call 577-3992 on Wednesday or Thursday.
Free Meditation Sound Bath at SL Library
A free meditation sound bath will be offered on Thursday, July 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Square One yoga instructor Missy will offer a free healing and relaxing meditation sound bath with sound bowls. Limited yoga mats will be available to borrow but feel free to bring your own mat. Light refreshments will be served.
The Hot Rods Band at SL Main Library
The Hot Rods Band will bring the energy and excitement of old-time rock ’n’ roll to the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., on Saturday, July 15, from 2 to 3 p.m. Five talented musicians, performing on the saxophone, electric guitar, piano, bass, vocals and drums, will pay tribute to the Rockin’ Fifties with the songs of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ricky Nelson, and Jerry Lee Lewis – and to the Swinging Sixties, with the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Motown. No charge for admission.
Wonderful Worms at Manor Library
Discover the wonderful world of worms on Saturday, July 15, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Manor Branch Library, 1241 Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. Squirm and dig in the garden, learn about worms and why they love dirt. We’ll be making dirt pudding so dress for mess. Best for ages 3 and older. Register on or after July 1. For more information or to register, call 577-7971.
Group Bike Ride from SL to Alameda
Join Bike Walk San Leandro for a leisurely-paced community bike ride from San Leandro BART to Alameda Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal via Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline on Sunday, July 16. Meet at SL BART at 9:30 a.m., roll out at 10 a.m. Round trip will be 17 miles with an option for a shorter 9 mile ride. For more information, see Facebook for details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1602168416460502.
Chanticleers Theatre
Elvis Has Left The Building runs to July 23 at the Chanticleers Theatre, 3683 Quail Ave. in Castro Valley. Jacob Russell-Snyder directs this comedy taking you back to December 20, 1970 and to the disappearance of Elvis Presley. No one, not even his wily manager, “The Colonel,” knows of his whereabouts. Hi-jinks abound as the Colonel takes desperate measures to replace a man who is irreplaceable. This hilariously funny story will keep you guessing until the end. General admission is $25; admission for seniors (60+), students and military is $20. For more information or tickets, call SEE-LIVE 733-5483 or go to chanticleers.org.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mamma Mia at Woodminster Amphitheater
Woodminster Summer Musicals opens its 51st season on Friday, July 7, with the smash hit musical Mamma Mia at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, on Joaquin Miller Road in the Oakland hills. Show times are at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday (July 7 to 9), and Thursday through Sunday (July 13 to 16). Mamma Mia follows the adventures of Sophie, a young woman who wants to discover the identity of her father before her own wedding. The lighthearted show is packed with upbeat and infectious ABBA songs that have people who aren’t even ABBA fans tapping their feet. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 531-9597 or the website at www.woodminster.com or at the box office before any performance. Discounts are available for kids, groups, seniors and millennials.
San Leandro Players
The San Leandro Players present Arsenic and Old Lace, July 15 through Aug. 13 at the San Leandro Museum/Auditorium, 320 West Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro. Performances are on Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m.; and Fridays at 8 p.m. on Aug. 4 and Aug. 11. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring, directed by Mark O’Neill is one of America’s funniest murder comedies, as a household of zany relatives and sidekicks bring insanity and mystery to the stage. Tickets are $20 general, and $15 seniors, TBA members, under 12, and students. For more information and tickets, call 895-2573. Order tickets online at www.slplayers.org.
Morrisson Theatre
The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward, presents Summer Concert: Flavors of Latin America on Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, July 23, at 2 p.m. The summer concert, directed by Cesar Cancino, will feature the lively, tropical, and romantic rhythms of Latin America. Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for H.A.R.D. area residents, under 30, over 60; and $12 for youth and students. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m and can be reached at 881-6777. For more information and tickets, visit www.dmtonline.org.
Carjacking Suspect Leads Police on Three-City Chase
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-27-17
A carjacking suspect was pursued through three cities before abandoning the vehicle in Alameda, according to the San Leandro police.
The chase began at around 10:30 p.m . on Monday, July 24, when the San Leandro Police department received a 911 call from a person who had just been carjacked near Bank of the West at 1601 Washington Avenue.
Dispatchers provided field units with the victim’s vehicle description and a San Leandro officer located it in the area of Callan Avenue and Bancroft Avenue, police said.
The officer attempted to stop the vehicle and the pursuit began.
The chase started in the north end of San Leandro, continued through East Oakland, and onto west-bound I-580.
From there, the suspect led officers on several freeways, subsequently going west through the Webster Street tube into Alameda.
The suspect eventually abandoned the vehicle in a parking lot in the area of Webster Street and Buena Vista Avenue, police said.
The Alameda police department’s K-9 police dog was used to help officers search a nearby apartment complex where the suspect had last been seen, but the suspect was not located and remains at large.
The victim of the carjacking was not injured during the incident, police said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the San Leandro police at 577-3230 or the anonymous tip line at 577-3278.
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Man Found Dead at Anthony Chabot Regional Park, No Foul Play Suspected
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-27-17
A man was found dead this weekend in the Anthony Chabot Regional Park, 9999 Redwood Road in Castro Valley.
East Bay Regional Park District police are investigating the death, but don’t believe foul play was involved.
The body of a man whose name has not yet been released by authorities was spotted by a hiker in a remote and densely-wooded area of the park around 6:30 p.m. Sunday evening, according to park police.
Emergency crews got to the body around 10 p.m. and the body was removed by the coroner’s office at around 3 a.m. Monday.
The park remained open to the public during normal hours.
The man was described only as a white male in his 20s. No additional information is available at this time.
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Man Used Internet to Lure Robbery Victims, Cops Say
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
An Oakland man faces charges including robbery, grand theft, and illegal use of a firearm after allegedly committing a series of street robberies in San Leandro in May and June.
Devon Craft, 31, was arrested on July 11 for the crimes, according to the San Leandro police.
Craft is accused of luring male victims to the 1100 block of Jefferson Street by making arrangements for prostitution via the “Backpage” app.
Once the victim arrived, police say that Craft would brandish a firearm and rob them of their valuables.
At least three victims reported the crimes to authorities but more people may have fallen victim to the scheme, police said.
Craft is currently being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at Santa Rita jail in Dublin and is scheduled to appear at the Schenone Hall of Justice in Oakland on July 25 to enter a plea.
Cell phone records were obtained that directly associated Craft’s cell phone with the Backpage.com application used by the victims, police said.
Craft was arrested in Oakland and had been living with his girlfriend at an address in San Leandro near the location of these robberies.
Alameda County District Attorney charged Craft with three counts of armed robbery and an addition gun enhancement charge as a parolee.
“Our detectives and patrol officers did an excellent job investigating these cases that lead to the identity of the suspect”, said Lt. Isaac Benabou. “Sophisticated suspects use third-party smart phone applications to conceal their identity. Regardless of the reason why the victims came to the area, it was important that this suspect was caught.”
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Teen Shot and Killed in Unincorporated Hayward
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
A teen was killed in unincorporated Hayward Saturday night and the suspect is still at large, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s office.
Officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 2100 block of Hill Avenue – which is about one mile south of Grove Way– at around 10:20 p.m. on July 8.
There, they found a 19-year-old man suffering multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly.
Kelly said that detectives and crime lab workers are currently processing evidence.
The Alameda County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Manuel Romero.
Further details including a motive for the shooting have not yet been released by authorities.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 667-7721. You may remain anonymous.
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No Injuries in Pair of House Fires
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-13-17
A pair of unrelated house fires in the unincorporated area kept Alameda County firefighters busy this week.
On Monday, a fire broke out at a two-story townhouse in Cherryland on the 100 block of Sunset Boulevard at around noon.
After arriving at the scene, firefighters were told two children were trapped on the second floor and immediately made entry into the residence. The reports were unfounded and all of the occupants of the home were able to exit prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.
The fire was contained to the two-story unit of origin and did not extend to an adjacent townhouse. There were no reports of injuries residents, pets or firefighters.
A family of six (two adults and four children) is temporarily displaced as a result of fire and heavy smoke damage to the first floor of the residence and smoke damage on the second floor and they are staying with family members.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
On Tuesday, firefighters extinguished a 1-alarm fire at a two-story descending hillside home on the 16500 block of Hannah Drive in the unincorporated area near Foothill Boulevard.
The fire was initially reported by multiple callers passing by on I-580 and was put out within 15 minutes of firefighters arriving at the scene just after 5:30 a.m.
The blaze was contained to the backside of the residence, rear deck and area under the deck and firefighters prevented the fire from extending into the house. Although occupants of the home were evacuated during the fire, they were able to return to their residence afterwards.
There are no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
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Police Seize Illegal Fireworks
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Authorities seized over 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks on the 900 block of Estabrook Street last Friday, some of which were large fireworks worth upwards of $10,000 each.
Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies and the San Leandro police’s SWAT team served a search warrant around 7 a.m. on June 30 and discovered the fireworks after acting on a tip that said fireworks were sold at that location, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly.
Kelly said the fireworks were professional grade and included aerial rockets. They were removed by the bomb squard and turned over to the state fire marshal for destruction.
The building was a clubhouse for a motorcycle club and contained a bar, stage , and stripper pole, Kelly said.
An assault rifle was also found at the clubhouse and one person was arrested.
In a separate incident, a teenager in Hayward was arrested Friday for selling illegal fireworks to an undercover officer.
The teenager was offering the fireworks for sale on Craigslist. Authorities found material to make the fireworks at his home on Holyoke Avenue in Hayward.
CAPTION: Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies and San Leandro police raided a motorcycle clubhouse and found over 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks last week.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ACSO
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Man Steals Occupied SUV
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
A man was arrested last week for allegedly stealing a vehicle in Castro Valley with the owner’s 14-year-old daughter still inside.
The 2016 Chevy Tahoe was stolen from the 22000 block of Redwood Road just after 11 p.m. on June 28, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
The daughter told the suspect – identified as 22-year-old Frank Williams– to get out of the SUV, but he refused and drove off, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly of the sheriff’s office.
The girl then jumped out of the moving SUV, Kelly said.
Deputies used the SUV’s GPS tracker to locate the vehicle in Fremont and police arrested Williams at a gas station in that city a few hours later at around 1 a.m. Thursday morning.
Williams was arrested for car theft, kidnapping, and carjacking. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Hayward Hall of Justice this week.
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Decade-Old Murder Still Unsolved
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance with a decade-old cold case murder.
On June 28, 2007, Gary Jones was shot and killed at the ABE gas station at the intersection of Mission and Lewelling boulevards after picking up his medical marijuana prescription at a dispensary in Ashland.
The assailant, who was never caught, was believed to have followed Jones from the dispensary and broke into his car to steal the pot when he stopped for gas. Jones was shot when he tried to stop him.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, in his late teens or early 20s at the time of the shooting, who drove off in an early 1990s silver minivan with tinted rear windows and a luggage rack on top.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff’s office’s cold case unit at 667-3661 or the department’s anonymous tip line at 667-3622.
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Three Foreign Buyer Myths
BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-27-17
U.S. property purchases by foreign buyers jumped 49 percent from 2015 to 2016 and accounted for 5 percent of total homes sold and 10 percent of total dollar volume.*
Buyers from China, Canada, Great Britain and Mexico are the major players, targeting states such as California, Texas and Florida.
It’s no wonder local sellers are angling for some action.
A recent call from a homeowner who’d concluded his property represented a unique opportunity for foreign investors highlights potential misconceptions. He decided he wanted a price substantially over market value.
“Surely investors will want this badly enough to pay my price,” he reasoned.
I pointed to comparable properties located nearby that had recently sold for less. “If that logic was correct,” I explained, “these properties would’ve sold for more.”
Undaunted, he continued, “My property is unique!” I returned, “It IS rare, but as you can see, these very similar properties closed at lower prices.” He ended with, “But what about foreign investors?”
He is not alone. Here are three fundamental myths concerning non-resident purchasers I frequently hear:
They’re eager to buy and will therefore buy anything.
Most investors made their money by being astute. They’re typically not subject to emotional decisions like normal homebuyers; their purchases must make financial sense. If this myth were true, there would be no expired listings or homes on the market more than a week.
Since they’re usually paying cash, they’re willing to pay more.
The logic behind this is simple: because they don’t have to worry about an appraisal they can offer more. While true in some cases, many investors offer less hoping that their cash, which makes transactions easier, will sway sellers to accept their offer over other higher offers.
Since they’re non-residents, they’ll pay more to get US property.
Not so. Foreign buyers have American agents working on their behalf guarding their best interests. Any agent working with a client who may provide repeat business or referrals understands that every buyer must be happy with each-and-every purchase. The fundamentals must make sense.
As an example, one of our team recently dissuaded an off-shore purchaser from buying an apartment building with below-market existing rents in a 3 percent rent-control zone. It made no financial sense.
Want to sell to foreign buyers? Make sure your property sizzles and is a good value. Come to think of it, that’s the same for local buyers as well.
*National Association of Realtors
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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Sellers: Listen to the Pros
BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-20-17
Mark Twain is said to have quipped, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
I look back on my teenage years and wish I could redo some decisions I’ve made. While 16, I bought my mom a jewelry box. I had limited funds, so I examined the options in the store and narrowed it down to two: a simple wood box or a larger, ornate cardboard version. I liked the larger one because, in my mind, it held more.
The woman behind the counter, however, told me that if she was MY mom, she’d prefer real wood.
Needless to say, I bought the gaudy cardboard box. Upon presenting it to my mom, the look on her face said it all and, to this day, I’ve wished I’d listened to the woman behind the counter.
I’ve discovered “thinking you know better” is not just limited to teens. Seems it’s a fundamental human trait. Even when surrounded by professionals who exist to help pave the way to the best possible results, we frequently ignore their advice because “we know best.”
The “I know better” mindset is rampant in real estate. I’m continuously baffled by sellers preparing to sell their homes who are convinced they know more than real estate professionals who sell homes every day for a living.
Frequently I hear sellers say “we will get our home ready and then we will call you.” Although some sellers have a good idea of what should be done, many spend money on things that do not matter and often do not address items that are critical.
I frequently hear, especially regarding items such as carpet, “We don’t want to spend money upgrading because buyers may have different tastes.”
While I understand the logic, it’s no longer valid. Buyers today want move-in-ready homes and will pay a premium for them. Spending upgrade dollars wisely can make you significantly more than the amount you spend. As to what the buyers may do after they move in? Quite frankly, that is none of your business.
Our advice? Hire a reputable, experienced professional with positive reviews, get them involved from the very beginning… and do what they recommend.
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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Pre-sale Inspections Provide Preemptive Info
BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-13-17
It’s standard procedure for buyers to order inspections once they get an accepted offer. While I understand a buyer’s responsibility to thoroughly investigate their prospective purchase and pay for applicable inspections, this practice, in my opinion, is backwards and sets the stage for transaction failures.
I’m a firm believer in effective information management.
When prepping homes for sale, I encourage sellers to order inspections as early as possible. The more they know about their home, the better they can prepare and deal with potential issues.
Since surprises in escrow frequently derail transactions, a small upfront investment in inspection reports can save a seller thousands and even increase the price they get for their home.
A couple recently ordered property, roof and termite inspections to help them assess the condition of their home prior to sale. They lived in a normal tract home built in the 1970s. We did not anticipate any issues as their home appeared to be in excellent condition.
We were startled when the property inspection report revealed numerous foundation cracks.
Concerned, we ordered a foundation inspection and discovered that the home’s perimeter foundation had 105 feet of horizontal cracks. Cost to repair? $40,000.
We ordered a second opinion from another foundation company and they concurred – it was the worst case of horizontal cracking they had ever seen, most likely resulting from a bad batch of concrete when the home was built.
The sellers began panicking. They’d purchased a home out-of-state and needed the proceeds from their existing house as quickly as possible.
We quickly discovered that, due to the recent massive rains, foundation issues had become a significant issue Bay Area-wide and foundation repair companies were booked for months. We managed to find a company with a small scheduling window and had the work done immediately.
The home hit the market, sold in a week with multiple offers $150,000 over asking and the sellers headed off to their new home.
Imagine if this had been detected while the home was in escrow. It could have resulted in a failed transaction or seriously delayed the close of escrow. Either option would have resulted in the consequent failure of the out-of-state purchase.
Our opinion? The more you know up front the better. For this reason, many sellers are now ordering pre-sale inspections. While it requires an up-front investment, it’s a wise practice that I believe should become standard operating procedure.
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.
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Take Pain Out of Cleaning Panes
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
Getting windows clean and sparkly doesn’t have to be that hard.
Store-bought window cleaning solutions can work well but are not necessary for great results. Old-fashioned household cleaners are plentiful in most homes and inexpensive.
Experts at Andersen Windows have some suggestions on how to clean your windows to the envy of your neighbors.
First, begin with the right stuff: rubber gloves, two buckets or one bucket with two wells; sudsy ammonia cleaner; white vinegar; rubbing alcohol; several clean, dry rags; a squeegee; coffee filters; and a ladder, if necessary.
Now follow these steps to a great view:
1. Read and follow manufacturer’s instructions on each cleaning agent and tool before beginning.
Use extreme caution when using ladders and working around open windows to maintain safe operation and avoid injury. Don’t stand on furniture; use only equipment intended for that purpose, including ladders, scaffolding and step stools.
2. Fill both buckets with one to two gallons of the hottest water your gloved hands can stand, but use caution to avoid scalding.
3. In one bucket, add one cup each of ammonia and vinegar. In the other bucket, add two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, which helps water evaporate quickly and gives windows that twinkle factor.
4. To avoid dripping on your work, start at the top — on the top floor of the building and at the top of the window.
5. Wipe the entire surface with the sudsy solution. Bugs, stickers and other stubborn marks may be removed using a synthetic scraping tool. Avoid straight-edge metal blades, as they can damage the window.
6. Rinse the window using clean water and immediately squeegee any remaining. Start at the top, pressing firmly in a vertical motion and drying the squeegee with each stroke. This reduces streaks from wet lines forming at the squeegee’s edge and limits drips.
7. Use a clean cloth to wipe only the corners and sill. If lint is a problem, use a coffee filter — they’re lint free — to touch up these areas.
Some extra tips:
• Never leave a window unattended, especially when children are present. Falls may result in serious injury or death.
• Swipe in only one direction, horizontal or vertical, on the inside of the house and the other direction on the outside. If you find streaks, you’ll know which side needs touching up. Coffee filters are good for this, too.
• Change water often to limit or eliminate streaks.
• Tie a rope to your squeegee and secure it to the ladder or your belt in case you drop it.
• Clean windows on cloudy, dry days. Sunlight may dry the solution too quickly, making streaks more likely.
For more information on the care of windows, visit www.andersenwindows.com.
© 2017 Andersen Corp. All rights reserved
CAPTION: Use a lint-free cloth or coffee filter to clean the corners.
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Celebrating Our Freedom to Own Land
BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-06-17
We’ve just celebrated the 4th of July – our reminder that we fought to separate from tyrannical governmental oversight. Our founding principles are embedded in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
We sought freedom from England, a country with no written constitution ruled by a monarch where most land was aristocratically owned. Consequentially, one of our Constitution’s core tenets was the belief that not only could any person own property, but that the government could not take that property nor dictate or limit any person’s control over that property. Our Founding Fathers believed that liberty and property rights were enmeshed.
I believe our country’s view on property rights has taken a few detours along the path to the 21st century. Governments now have the right to eminent domain, can impose CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) and more.
One of the most disputed exercises of governmental authority over individual landowner’s rights is the propagation of Rent Control. I can see both sides of the issue. I own residential income properties, both single-family homes and multi-family units, so I totally understand a landlord’s position of owning property as an investment. I understand that most investors want a good return on their investment and desire market-level rents. Owners are the ones who are taking all the risks by putting their resources on the line to provide housing for others.
On the other side, I understand that we have a local housing crisis. I’ve encountered many struggling to locate affordable rentals. I agree that we need appropriate rents for those at every level of the economic scale. I’m aware of the problems that arise when lower income individuals are forced out of communities in which they can no longer afford to live.
There must be more effective solutions. Governmental control of private owner’s rights is not the answer and, in some ways, could be considered unconstitutional. Landlords, faced with escalating controls, see no incentive to continue or acquire additional properties. Some are bailing out of the business by converting their properties to condos.
It’s a real problem and needs real solutions. Having just celebrated our freedom, it’s critical to remember that ALL have rights which must be protected at ALL levels.
Carl Medford is a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. This article is sponsored by the Central County Marketing Association at www.ccmgtoday.com.
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Tiguan Fares Well in a Full Field
BY STEVE SCHAEFER • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-27-17
The numbers show that the fastest-growing segment of cars today is compact SUVs (crossovers). The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s hardy entry in that segment. The challenge is, it’s got 10 direct competitors.
As a new 2018 Tiguan waits in the wings, the 2017 offers a slightly different flavor of ride compared to its most popular adversaries in the showroom. If you like the taut handling, straightforward design and distinctive charms of VW’s popular Golf hatchback and wagon and the Jetta sedan, you should like this way of joining the world of compact SUVs.
Compared to the leading model, the Honda CR-V, the Tiguan is about six inches shorter nose to tail, on a 2.2-inch shorter wheelbase. It also provides less cargo room — a max of 56.1 cubic feet versus the CR-V’s 75.8. But that’s not the point here.
The Tiguan is a different animal, despite its similar shape and segment. Four trim levels comprise the base S, Wolfsburg, Sport and SEL trim levels. Every level flaunts a 200-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 207 lb.-ft. of torque. That beats the Honda’s 184/190 ratings.
The driving feel is sporty, too, with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic with a Sport mode and dynamic shift program. The Sport mode shifts gears at higher revs, for more fun. No manual these days, though, if you were hoping for one.
If you crave even more entertainment, the Tiguan Sport comes with a firmer sport-tuned suspension with 18-inch “Mallory” wheels and lower-profile tires. Move up to the SEL model and you can have 19-inch “Savannah” wheels, leather upholstery, automatic climate control, and lots of other stuff.
The Tiguan acquits itself well on light off-roading with the optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. It’s one of those automatic systems that distributes torque where it’s needed without you having to push a button or pull a lever. My Pacific Blue Metallic S model test vehicle didn’t have AWD, but for sunny climates it’s probably not necessary — and skipping it saves you money at purchase time.
Fuel economy numbers are decent for a 3,448-pound crossover, at 20 City, 24 Highway, and 22 Combined. Green ratings are midrange 6 for Smog and 5 for Greenhouse Gas. I averaged 24.1 mpg.
With new car styling going edgy and complicated, the interior of the Tiguan is refreshingly simple. My tester had supportive and attractive black leatherette seats. The mostly dark cabin is relieved by silvery accents spread around. Eight little circle vents are distributed in stacked pairs across the dash. It’s all plastic, of course, but it’s sturdy and well finished plastic. The door panels angle down, incorporating grip handles and window controls.
In my S model, the temperature settings were manual, but they aren’t when you move up a level or two. You do get leather on the wheel that tones in with the leatherette seats. The shifter, although it’s an automatic, looks like a manual lever.
Although the Tiguan is late in its design cycle, it still has an appealing VW quality to it and has the latest technology, including VW Car-Net Security and Service. The basic package lets you access your car through a webpage or your smart phone. There are additional optional features you can add for things like Automatic Crash Notification, which notifies an operator who can contact first responders in case you’re in an accident. Car-Net can unlock your car remotely and supply vehicle information as well. If you’ve heard of GM’s OnStar, this is the VW version.
It’s an international market these days, and the Tiguan, despite being assembled in Osnabruck, Germany, gets its transmission from Japan and its engine from Hungary. That is probably not meaningful, but now you know.
Pricing is typical, ranging from $25,860 for the S to $35,365 for the full-boat SEL. Both prices include destination charge.
If you want your Tiguan right now, you can probably pick up a smokin’ deal on remaining ’17s. The all-new second-generation 2018 model is arriving soon, and is specifically aimed at the American market. It picks up VW’s sharper-edged styling, as seen on the latest Golf. More importantly, it adds 10.6 inches in length and has up to 58 percent more cargo space. And, you can get third-row seating on some models, which certainly helps it match up with the CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Rogue, among others.
There’s more. The updated 2.0-liter engine gains an 8-speed automatic for more efficient driving. The VW Car-Net system receives more options, and the optional 4Motion all-wheel drive system adds some useful preconfigured settings for specific off-road conditions.
Volkswagen builds and sells a wide range of cars around the world, and would like you to remember that. The Tiguan offers an alternative to the popular Japanese, Korean, and American small crossovers.
CAPTION: The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan combines the style and sophistication of a sporty, urban compact SUV that caters to an active lifestyle.
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Kia Cadenza Hits a Higher Note
BY STEVE SCHAEFER • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-20-17
Kia, like a brand chasing success, has diversified over the years. In 2013, the Korean brand introduced the Cadenza in the United States — a large sedan with big intentions.
Kia and Hyundai are siblings, so you’d expect the Cadenza would be part of the other brand, with a musical name that syncs up with the Sonata, but the new full-size Cadenza is actually a generous step up from the Optima, its popular midsize entry.
There are many good reasons to step up to the Cadenza. Significantly refreshed styling starts with a handsome face, featuring the tiger nose grille. The second-generation Cadenza benefits from being based on Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer’s signature philosophy of “the simplicity of the straight line,” a view that positively influenced Audi design for years. This new car was styled at Kia’s California design studio, with American tastes in mind.
Lower and upper trim models receive different grille textures, so you can keep up with the Joneses more precisely. The face on my test car, a Limited top-level model, wore the “Intaglio” grille, which looked, in its concave glory, a little like the latest Volvos. The lower-level grille is called “Diamond Butterfly, which sounds like a 1960’s rock band. My Limited flaunted 19-inch Dark Satin Alloy wheels for a trendy look, especially against Snow White Pearl paint.
This large sedan offers 107.8 cubic feet of comfort and convenience versus 104.8 cubic feet for the large-midsize Optima. It also stretches 4.6 inches longer. It’s slightly wider and lower than its predecessor. Other dimensions are similar to the Optima, so the real difference, beyond plushness, lives under the sculpted hood.
While Optimas offer three levels of four-cylinder power, ranging from the 2.4-liter, 185-horsepower standard engine to the 2.0-liter, 245-horsepower turbo, all Cadenzas boast a 3.3-liter V6 with 290 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. Power flows through an eight-speed automatic, with sixth a perfect 1:1 ratio and gears 7 and 8 overdrives, for higher economy and enhanced quiet on the highway.
The EPA has bestowed ratings of 20 City, 28 Highway, and 23 Combined on the Cadenza. I achieved an average of 21.3 mpg. Green scores are 6 for Smog and 5 for Greenhouse Gas, typical for a 3,770-pound vehicle with a big V6.
Part of presenting yourself as a near-luxury car is in the trimmings, and the 2017 Cadenza offers plenty, especially in Limited trim. My tester featured a stunning White Interior Package, including Nappa leather in an appealing quilted design on the bolsters. Accented in black, it pops to the eye, and my chair was supremely comfortable. The suede headliner felt premium, too. The center-mounted analog clock featured white numerals on black to fit right into the design.
Much of what separates upper-level cars from regular ones is electronic safety and entertainment equipment. While many cars have blind spot warning systems, the Cadenza’s new Smart Blind Spot Detection System can tell if you’re inadvertently drifting towards a vehicle next to you and brakes the opposite side front wheel to help you maintain a safe distance.
Additional safety features include Advanced Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go functionality, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning. How’s that for safety? There are now nine airbags, too, up from eight.
One of my favorite new Kia/Hyundai features is Smart Trunk. Just walk up with the key in your pocket and in about three seconds, the trunk pops up automatically. I also like the power rear sunshade, which gives the car a luxurious feel.
As you’d hope for in a significantly updated model, the Cadenza is simply better built. The company uses more than 50 percent Advanced High Strength Steel for a stiffer but lighter body structure. There’s more aluminum in there, too, for a lighter chassis. For a quieter ride experience, there’s much more insulation, including a full floorpan undercover, which not only mutes road noise but improves the car’s aerodynamics, too.
The Cadenza rides with the smooth but firm feel of a Mercedes-Benz more than a bargain transport device. Extras like the head-up display with not only mph but turn-by-turn directions are a plus. And, with the Limited, you get the Harman Kardon 12-speaker, 630-watt audio system. Sometimes it was an effort to force myself to leave this mobile concert hall when I arrived at work in the morning.
Choose from three levels — Premium, Technology and Limited. Prices start at $32,890 for the Premium and work up to $45,290 for the Limited like mine. My car came with no additional options, and didn’t seem to need them.
While Kia isn’t widely known or considered as a builder of large, luxurious sedans, that could change once the word gets out on the new Cadenza.
CAPTION: The second-generation Cadenza boasts a stronger body structure and powertrain enhancements along with a more engaging driving experience than before.
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VW Makes Golf Alltrack Affordable
BY STEVE SCHAEFER • SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-06-17
For decades, the Volkswagen Golf came as a hatchback, with either two or four side doors. Its sibling, the Jetta sedan, was also offered in wagon form. Now, however, if you want a compact station wagon from the German giant, it wears the Golf nameplate, while Jettas are sedans only.
The Alltrack is a new variant, standing slightly taller, with an additional .06 inch of ground clearance. Featuring Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive, it slots in just above a wagon and just below a crossover, making it ideal for nearly everything a driver could want. With 94.3 cubic feet of passenger volume and 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space, the new Alltrack exudes practicality.
Does this all sound familiar? The Alltrack is a direct shot at a very successful competitor, the company that invented the tall wagon — Subaru. “Alltrack” sounds a lot like “Outback,” doesn’t it?
Anything that distracts prospective customers’ attention away from the Diesel emissions cheating scandal is a win for consumers and for VW’s management, and the Golf story, including the Alltrack, is a happy tale. Since 1975, the Golf has meant affordable, practical performance worldwide.
The new design is conservative and somewhat subdued, but there is no overdoing it either, a relief in this era of exuberant overstyling. Inside and out, the Alltrack looks well thought out and confident.
Inside, this is not a luxury vehicle, especially in the S level trim of my Blue Silk Metallic test vehicle. Step up to the SE and SEL for a host of welcome upgrades, but even at the entry point, you’ll touch leather when you steer and shift gears. My tester wore pretty blue paint, but inside, was mostly somber gray with silver accents. The Marrakesh Brown trim on the seats and doors provided some warmth, and the metal pedals added some sparkle down low up front.
Minor complaints: the power window buttons had hard edges, and the surprisingly sturdy rear cargo cover balked when I tried to remove it.
The Alltrack is a member of a shrinking pool of rides that let you select your own gears while stepping on a clutch with your left foot. However, early production is automatic-only, so my tester came with the DSG double-clutch unit instead of the six-speed stick.
Automatics are all pretty sophisticated these days. The DSG uses two clutches — one for gears 1, 3 and 5, and the other for 2, 4 and 6. This means the next gear is already set up when it’s time for the change, so shifts are nearly instant. I experienced a little lurching forward on occasion, but otherwise the DSG was well mannered. However, if you must have the manual, you’ll just have to wait a while.
Off-Road Mode, standard on all trim levels, lets you take mild offroad jaunts on a variety of terrains, including driving down steep grades.
The sole powerplant for the Alltrack is the 1.8L turbo, shared with the regular Golf and Sportwagen. It churns out 170 horsepower and 199 lb.-ft. of torque to move 3,422 pounds, which is decent if not rocket fast. Four-wheel independent suspension keeps things sorted out.
The EPA gives the Alltrack with 4Motion ratings of 22 mpg City, 30 Highway, and 25 Combined. You get the same numbers if you select the more restrained and closer-to-the-earth Sportwagen. I averaged a respectable 25.2 mpg during my test week, which is an OK number but nothing to get excited about. Green scores are a fine 8 for Smog but a midpack 5 for Greenhouse Gas.
The S model makes the Alltrack quite affordable, but I missed certain things. The key is just a regular plastic-wrapped metal item that you stick into an ignition switch and turn, which feels kind of retro in 2017. That explains why there’s no button on the outside door handle to let you into the car — you need to take the key out and press a button on it. The climate controls are manual, too, which isn’t really that big a deal but feels cut-rate.
But don’t despair. The SE and SEL are glad to provide the extra goodies. My tester, with no options, came to just $27,770 including shipping. The SEL top level will set you back $33,770. You’ll enjoy a panoramic sunroof, Fender Premium Audio, and keyless entry in the SE. Step up to the SEL for 18-inch wheels (replacing 17s), V-Tex leatherette seats, and Discover Media touchscreen navigation.
The Jetta wagon has many fans, and its successor is the new, much improved Golf Sportwagen and Alltrack. If you want the safety of all-wheel drive, the practicality of a small wagon and some extra driving enjoyment, the Alltrack could be a fine and affordable choice. Subaru would probably prefer that you didn’t know that.
CAPTION: Specially alloyed high-strength steel is used in certain exterior body panels to help enhance the sturdiness of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack.
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There’s New Hope for People with Brain Cancer
BY GLEN JETT • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-27-17
On July 20, America learned that one of its elder statesmen, Sen. John McCain, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Regardless of party affiliation, politicians and other citizens from around the country were saddened and wished McCain and his family well.
The news is unfortunate because the 80-year-old senator’s tumor is a glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, the most aggressive of all primary brain tumors.
“The average length of survival for people with GBM is 12 to 14 months, and life expectancy is often shorter for patients over 60 or 65,” said Dr. Lawrence Dickinson, M.D., Neurosurgeon at Sutter Health Eden Medical Center.
Treatment usually involves surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
“If it’s possible to remove the tumor safely, then surgery is prioritized” said Dr. Dickinson. Radiation and chemotherapy can also be used to help control growth (or regrowth) of the tumor.
Goals of Surgery
Highly trained neurosurgeons are now using new technology called BrightMatter to see a complete 3-D map of a patient’s brain fibers — the connections that control body functions like speech, movement and learning.
Being able to see this map during surgery helps surgeons navigate their instruments around healthy tissue, veins and nerve fibers in order to access and remove a GBM tumor without disturbing or damaging other critical structures in the brain.
“This technology gives me the ability to access deep seated tumors once deemed inoperable because the software finds a safe passage for my tools,” said Dr. Dickinson. “The improved optics and preciseness of BrightMatter affords a higher probability of total tumor resection and this correlates to longer survival.”
Safe surgical removal of a tumor can not only improve survival, but also relieve certain deficits the patient may be experiencing and give the patient more time with their loved ones.
“BrightMatter allows the safest — and least invasive — tumor removal, and the patient spends minimal amount of time in the hospital, thus has more time at home with family.”
Advances in Precision Medicine
“Glioblastoma multiforme is an aggressive tumor, which often regrows, removal and adjunct therapy can extend longevity and improve quality of life by remediating symptoms and neurologic deficits” said Dr. Dickinson. “But we have to develop a better strategy for eradicating these tumors.”
Eden Medical Center, Pacific Brain and Spine and EpicCare, in association with Dr. Liliana Sorciano at California Pacific Medical Center, have developed a personalized, genome-based oncologic treatment program for patients that incorporates a mouse Avatar program. Using this new program, doctors can directly test various intravenous and oral drugs on the actual tumor from a patient to determine if there is potential efficacy.
In addition, Cancer Program providers at Eden Medical Center offer inter-professional clinics where neurosurgery, radiation oncology and medical oncology providers meet simultaneously with the patient to provide comprehensive, coordinated care.
Brain cancer is one of the most challenging diagnoses a patient can receive, we offer our thoughts and well wishes to Senator John McCain, his entire family, and patients across the country battling brain cancer.
Glen Jett, MSN, RN, BC, NE-BC is the administrative director of the Neuroscience Center and Oncology Services at Sutter Health Eden Medical Center.
CAPTION: American war hero and U.S. Senator John McCain was diagnosed with brain cancer last week.
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Bad Bite May Lead to More Than Just a Crooked Smile
SAN LEANDRO TIMES • 07-27-17
People with significant bite issues aren’t always that enthused about showing off their smiles.
Maybe it’s crooked teeth that have thrown your bite out of whack.
Maybe you suffered an injury, or perhaps the cause is dental work that wasn’t quite right.
Whatever the reason behind a bad bite, pain is usually the result.
A bad bite leads to more than a reluctance to smile, says Dr. Jamie Reynolds, an orthodontist and author of World Class Smiles Made in Detroit. “Overall dental health is affected.”
Here are a few of the long-term consequences when teeth don’t line up quite right:
• Tooth pain. A bite that is off by a fraction of a millimeter can cause tooth pain. Improperly adjusted dental work can irritate a nerve. Tooth pain from these factors usually happens quickly and is usually the result of trauma or dental work. It’s important to have the eventual position of the tooth corrected to prevent long-term issues.
• Jaw-joint (TMJ) pain. The jaw joint is made up of two bony parts: the temporal bone in the skull and the lower jaw (the mandible). Put the temporal bone and the mandible together, and you get the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Occasionally trauma to the joint can create a crackling or popping sound when you open or close your jaw. For most people, that’s no big deal, Reynolds says. But, if you have a hard time opening your jaw, can’t open it at all, or have significant pain during jaw movement, you should be evaluated for TMJ problems.
• Muscular pain. Muscular pain is the most common finding in people with jaw-joint problems and is largely responsible for the pain associated with many headaches.
• Tooth wear. Your teeth function as a chewing machine. And, just as with any other machine, the parts need to fit together properly to prevent premature wear. Over time, teeth can wear so that the inside part of the tooth becomes exposed. Once tooth wear progresses to a certain point, significant dental work and orthodontics are necessary to correct the problem. Preventing significant tooth wear before it happens is the best approach.
• Gum wear. Not only will teeth that aren’t aligned correctly begin to wear prematurely, the gums and supporting bone will, too. Notching of the teeth near the gum line and wearing away of the gum tissue are common in people over 30 whose bite is off. Gum recession and tooth notching can be painful as well as difficult and expensive to fix. Again, prevention by correcting your bite early is the best option.
Some people’s bad bites catch up with them when they are in their 20s. For others those bad bites won’t create significant problems until they are in their 60s.
“But eventually your bite will catch up with you,” Reynolds says. “Dealing with bite issues proactively is much less painful, less labor intensive, and less expensive than dealing with bite problems later.”
CAPTION: When teeth don’t line up properly, people can suffer with tooth pain, gum and tooth wear, and jaw joint pain.
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Claim Your Family’s Unclaimed Money
BY JIM MILLER • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-20-17
Forgotten or lost money is actually quite common in the United States.
According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, there is around $42 billion in unclaimed funds sitting in state treasuries and other agencies just wait ing to be found.
These unclaimed funds are from accounts that are inactive or whose owners, or their heirs, cannot be located.
Unclaimed funds can include things lost or forgotten saving or checking accounts, stocks, utility security deposits, tax refunds, life insurance proceeds, un-cashed dividend checks, contents of safe-deposit boxes and more.
This typically happens because of a change of address (the owner moved), a name change (the owner got married or divorced), or the owner dies and the estate was unaware of the money or the heirs could not be located.
By law, companies and financial institutions that can’t find the owner or their next of kin within two to five years must turn the property over to the state where it’s held indefinitely.
It’s very possible that your parents, or you, have some unclaimed money out there and you don’t even know it.
To start your quest go to Unclaimed.org, which has links to all state programs that will let you to do a state benefits search online for free. Or, you can do a multi-state search in 40 states at MissingMoney.com.
Check every state in which your parents or you have lived, worked or conducted business.
Also, if you’re married, make sure to check under your maiden name as well.
Every state can tell you immediately if you or your parents have some unclaimed money, as well as how to go about collecting it.
In addition to state treasuries, here are some other agencies that can help you find unclaimed money.
• IRS: Each year thousands of refund checks totaling millions of dollars are returned to the IRS by the post office. To look for lost Federal tax refund checks go to IRS.gov/refunds, or call 800-829-1954.
• U.S. Treasury: To find out if there are any savings bonds your dad didn’t claim dating back to 1974, go to TreasuryHunt.gov. For older bonds or those still drawing interest use form 1048, which you can download at TreasuryHunt.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf, or call 844-284-2676.
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation: If your dad worked for a company that went out of business or ended its defined benefit pension plan, you may be entitled to some of his benefits.
To look for lost pensions, use the pension-search tool at PBGC.gov/search/unclaimed-pensions, or you can call 800-400-7242 and get help over the phone.
• National Association of Insurance Commissioners: To track down a lost or forgotten life insurance policy, the NAIC, an insurance regulatory support organization, offers a national policy locator service at Locator.NAIC.org.
• PenChecks Inc. and Millennium Trust Co.: To search for lost or forgotten retirement benefits or 401(k) funds left behind with an old employer, go to UnclaimedRetirementBenefits.com and MTrustCompany.com/unclaimed-retirement-funds.
• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: To search for unclaimed bank accounts at firms that were shut down between January 1, 1989 and June 28, 1993 go to ClosedBanks.FDIC.gov/funds. State treasuries hold assets from shutdowns after 1993.
• Social Security: To find lost Social Security benefits, including the $255 death benefit, call 800-772-1213.
CAPTION: There is around $42 billion in unclaimed funds sitting in state treasuries and other agencies just waiting to be found.
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Trusts Are Still Useful If Estate Tax Repealed
BY GENE L. OSOFSKY, ESQ. • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-20-17
Q: I hear that the federal estate tax may be repealed during this administration. If that happens, will trusts still be a useful estate planning device?
A: In a word, yes. But remember, the federal estate tax now only kicks in if your estate is valued at more than $5.49-million at death (2017).
At this high threshold, 99% of Americans will never need to worry about the estate tax and so, as for them, the estate tax has already been “repealed.” Yet trusts continue to be used as a common estate planning device and their utility has not diminished.
Here are some of the nontax benefits of creating a trust:
• Avoiding Probate: One of the great benefits of using a revocable trust, in preference to a will, is that a trust is designed to avoid probate.
In California, probate is a court proceeding whereby a judge oversees the settling of your estate. The process tends to be time-consuming, expensive and public.
By contrast, the postmortem settling of a trust is usually more expeditious, less expensive and private.
• Management upon Disability: If you were to become disabled, and unable to manage your assets, your designated successor trustee could step forward and manage them for you, and thereby avoid the need for a court created conservatorship, which is a more involved, expensive and public proceeding.
By contrast, a simple will would only kick in upon death, and therefore would not provide you any benefits for asset management during life.
Note: a comprehensive Durable Power Of Attorney would be another alternative to management of your financial assets in the event of disability; but the DPOA expires on death, making a trust the better option for uninterrupted asset management.
• Protection from Creditors: Certain types of trusts can protect your beneficiaries from creditors.
By way of example, if you had a child who was a spendthrift, you could appoint a trustee to manage that child’s share of your estate in a “Discretionary Support Trust”, which could remain in existence well after your demise. The trustee might be authorized to retain that child’s share in trust and pay out only as much as necessary for his needs. Under that arrangement, your child’s unpaid creditors would not be able to seize any part of his share which remained in trust.
• Provide for a Child with Special Needs: If you have a child, or grandchild, with a disability who relies upon public benefits, such as Medi-Cal or SSI, you could leave his share in a “Special Needs Trust” (“SNT”).
A SNT is a special trust designed to hold assets for the benefit of a person on public benefits in a manner that does not undermine his ongoing eligibility for those benefits. The trustee would then use the SNT funds to supplement your child’s public benefits and thereby enhance his quality-of-life.
• Avoid Medi-Cal Recovery: Because of recent changes in the law, the estates of persons dying after Jan. 1, 2017, who have received Medi-Cal benefits during life, will no longer be subject to recovery (or “payback”), if their estates do not go through probate.
Since a trust is typically designed to avoid probate, holding assets inside a trust can thus avoid Medi-Cal recovery and potentially save their estates many thousands of dollars.
A trust can be as useful today as in years past, and you should still give serious consideration to using it as part of your estate plan.
Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney in Hayward. Visit his website at www.LawyerForSeniors.com.
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Know of Any Auto Safety Products That Help Seniors with Older Cars?
BY JIM MILLER • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-06-17
Q: Do you know of any auto safety products that can help seniors with older cars? My 80-year-old father, who drives his beloved 2004 Toyota Avalon, is still a pretty good driver but he has limited range-of-motion, which makes looking over his shoulder to back-up or merge into traffic very difficult.
A: To help keep your dad safe and extend his driving years, there are a number of auto aids and new safety technology products that can be added to his car to help with various needs. Here are several to consider.
• Backup Aids
To help your dad increase his visibility when backing up, a simple product that can be added to his car is an AllView Mirror ($60, AllviewMirror.com).
This is an oversized rear-view mirror that attaches to his existing mirror to widen his rear visibility and eliminate blind spots so he can see traffic without significant neck or body rotation. It also helps during parking.
Another option is a backup camera. These come with a weatherproof, night vision camera, which attaches to the license plate on the rear of the car.
When the car is in reverse, it sends live images wirelessly to a small monitor that mounts to the dash or windshield. The Yada Digital Wireless Backup Camera ($140, Amazon) with 4.3-inch Dash Monitor is a good option.
Or, if your dad doesn’t want a monitor in his car, the Auto Vox Wireless Backup Camera ($140, Amazon.com) is one that displays the images in a rearview mirror.
• Blind Spot Helpers
To help your dad see better when switching lanes or merging into traffic, purchase your dad some “blind spot mirrors.”
These are small convex mirrors that would stick to the corner of his side view mirrors to improve side and rear vision. They can be purchased in any store that sells auto supplies for a few dollars.
Or, for a high-tech more comprehensive solution, there’s the Goshen Blind Spot Detection System ($239, Goshers.com). This system uses small sensors installed on each side of the rear bumper that monitor the sides of the vehicle, and will alert your dad with a light indicator, installed inside the car, if any object detected within 10 feet.
• Safety Products
For extra safety, you may also want to consider a collision warning/lane departure device for your dad’s vehicle like the Mobileye 630. This is a smart camera that attaches to the windshield and will alert your dad if he speeds, drifts out of his lane, gets too close to the car in front of him, or gets too close to a pedestrian or cyclist.
Sold only through retailers (see Mobileye.com/en-us/find-a-retailer), this device can be purchased and installed by a Mobileye-certified technician for around $1,100.
If you’re interested in something a little less expensive, there are also dashboard cameras that can double as collision warning systems. Garmin’s Dash Cam 35 ($129, Amazon.com), for example, monitors up to 130 feet in front of the vehicle, so if your dad is going 30 mph or faster, it will issue audio and visual alerts of impending collisions.
Another product that can help keep your dad safe in emergency situations is the Hum (Hum.com).
This nifty device will automatically call emergency services if your dad has been in an accident. It also sends alerts to drivers’ phones if there’s a mechanical problem and lets driver’s press a button if they need roadside assistance.
Hum works in cars built in 1996 or later, and costs $10 per month with two-year required subscription, and one-time set-up and activation fees totaling $50.
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior.”
CAPTION: There are a wide range of devices that can be self-installed to keep older drivers safer in their older-make models.
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Powers of Attorney Are Not All Same; A List of Variations
BY GENE L. OSOFSKY, ESQ. • SPECIAL TO THE TIMES • 07-06-17
Q: My friends and I were recently discussing powers of attorney. It seems that we have different understandings as to what they look like and how they can be used. Can you provide me with a short lesson which I can share with them?
A: Sure. Powers of attorney are very important legal documents. In their basic structure, you (the principal) delegate to someone whom you trust (your agent or “attorney-in-fact”) the power to engage in financial transactions in your name, using your assets, with the same legal effect as if you had signed the transaction documents yourself.
But all powers of attorney (POA) are not the same. Here is a short list of some variations:
Is It Durable?
Unless the document expressly so provides, a POA expires when the principal loses mental capacity. However, this feature may be overcome if the document provides that it is “durable,” meaning that it survives the principal’s incapacity.
In almost every case, you will want a power of attorney to recite that it is durable, as that is usually when it is needed most.
Is It a “Springing” Power?
A POA can either be immediately effective or it can be effective only upon the occurrence of a future event, such as incapacity.
If triggered by a future event, we refer to this as a “springing power,” because it only springs into life upon the occurrence of that future event. Example: Many POAs are designed to spring into life only when a physician certifies that the principal has lost mental capacity.
Is It Limited or General?
A POA can either be limited in scope (e.g. authorizing an agent to sign a deed and other documents to close a specific sale escrow) or be limited in time with a fixed expiration date, or it can be very general and comprehensive in nature.
Does It Permit Modification of Trust?
If you have complete confidence in your agent, you may wish to authorize your agent to make future modifications to your “Living Trust” in order to address changes in family circumstances, changes in tax law and/or to engage in public benefits planning on your behalf.
But in order for these powers to be effective, there must also be reciprocal provisions in your trust, a legal requirement too often overlooked. However, your agent may not make a Will for you.
Does it Permit Gifting and/or Long Term Care Benefits Planning?
By California law, an agent cannot use the principal’s assets to make gifts, unless that power is expressly granted in the POA. Further, even if this power is expressly granted, the agent cannot make gifts to himself unless the right to “Self Deal” is also expressly stated.
Sometimes the power to make gifts can be very important, such as for tax planning or planning for eligibility under the Medi-Cal or Veterans Pension programs to help with long-term care expenses.
Unfortunately, we find that very few POAs contain these important powers, or impose limits upon exercise, which reduce the planning opportunities available to the agent.
In every case, the POA can only be created when the principal has mental capacity to understand what he or she is signing and all expire upon the death of the principal.
Lastly, a POA for financial matters cannot authorize health care decisions; for that, another document is necessary, called an Advance Healthcare Directive.
Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney in Hayward. Visit his website at www.LawyerForSeniors.com.
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LETTERS • 07-27-17
Mayor Thanks Staff for Making San Leandro ‘A Great Place to Live’
Editor:
I am proud to be Mayor of San Leandro.
Our city is planning for the future and creating nationally recognized programs that combine smart city technologies and sustainability, all while remaining a city where kindness matters. While that seems a lofty statement, I know that making it happen is not an easy feat. I would like to take a moment to thank our staff who help make San Leandro a great place to live.
The work our staff completes day in and day out is impressive. Every day, 175 people visit our One-Stop Permit Center to submit and revise plans, request inspections and meet with staff.
Over the past three months, our Public Works crews filled 327 potholes, repaired 183 streetlights, cleared 3,784 square feet of graffiti and removed enough junk to fill 29 dump trucks.
Hundreds visit our community centers every day and our youth spend their summers in our camps, at the library and at our parks. In 2016, over half a million patrons used library services or attended a multicultural event at one of our branches. Police and Fire work hard maintaining the close relationships they enjoy with the community. We also work cooperatively with regional agencies, making sure San Leandro receives our share of amenities and is a good neighbor.
Our staff is committed to the safety and livability of San Leandro. I know there is always room for improvement so we strive to enhance our services every day. Nonetheless, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to City staff who go above and beyond to keep our community vibrant and safe. Your work does not go unnoticed and we thank you for the important role you play in our City every day.
— Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter, San Leandro
Asks Why an Oakland Student Is Attending a San Leandro School
Editor:
Interesting article in the San Leandro Times (“Students Arrested for School Burglaries,” Page 3, The Times, July 20) stating two Bancroft Middle School students were arrested for school burglaries at various San Leandro elementary schools. But the most interesting part of the article was that one of the suspects was located at his home in Oakland.
What on earth is an Oakland student doing attending a San Leandro school? I thought we long ago settled this issue of out-of-district students attending San Leandro schools.
We are asked to pay for school bonds (some with outrageous interest rates) and now another school bond to support some students that are out of district? These are the kind of issues that make many voters mad.
Truthfully, many San Leandro parents send their students to private schools because our schools are not doing their jobs. Let’s educate San Leandrans before we take on other districts’ problems.
— Norma Rugg, San Leandro
Red-Light Cameras Called ‘Efficient Law Enforcement Tool’
Editor:
Re: “Red Light Cameras Just Send Ticket Revenue Out of Town” (Letters, July 20).
Notice to red-light runners: We know you are annoyed that we, the people of San Leandro, used technology to catch you. Our police officers are busy catching car thieves and muggers.
We know you are going to complain about the cost of the ticket. It’s clear the cost is the right amount, because it got your attention, finally. But we all know you are – in the first place – actually complaining about getting caught. We know this because you don’t give us a price you are willing to pay to say sorry to the rest of us for breaking the law and putting us in jeopardy when you drive.
The fine needs to hurt to work. We can hire more police if you really prefer the more personal touch of a live officer. We could do that and we could vote to increase the fine so you can pay the cost for personalized service. Note: It will be more that the red light camera ticket.
Then you say we should get rid of the cameras because somebody is making money off this activity. You clearly just moved here from a commune.
San Leandro police don’t enforce our laws to make money. Their cost is covered by property and sales taxes.
Collecting your money is just a less harsh punishment than locking you up. If you would just obey the laws that you agreed to in return for your driver’s license then you won’t pay extra when you drive.
To our elected officials, please continue to stand your ground. This is a simply an efficient law enforcement tool. If you negotiated to keep the fine the same but increased the amount that stays in San Leandro, that would be okay with us. The fringe, red light scofflaws have no place to stand against the objective of smart law and safety enforcement.
As requested in 2014, City please install more and start with the corners in the area of 580/Grand/Sybil/Benedict. People cruising through the stop signs in the area are a menace.
— John Clouston, San Leandro
‘Funding Our School Should Fall Evenly on All Taxpayers’
Editor:
According to the U.S. Census, 20% of San Leandro’s voting population is over 65.
By continuing to exempt seniors from parcel taxes, Measure B allows that 20% to vote on a tax they will never have to pay.
When higher rates of voter turnout and home ownership among seniors are considered, the picture grows even more skewed.
I am more than happy to pay the tax. Well-funded schools are the bedrock of our community. Yet the duty and privilege of funding our schools should fall evenly on all taxpayers.
— Ben Ball, San Leandro
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LETTERS • 07-20-17
Thanks from Police Chief Tudor for a Memorable United-4-Safety
Dear residents, business owners, and visitors of the San Leandro Community:
On behalf of the men and women of the San Leandro Police Department, I would like to say thank you to the San Leandro community for making United 4 Safety such a great and memorable event. This letter gives me great pride to express how grateful and appreciative we are to serve this diverse and supportive community.
Every single day members of the San Leandro Police Department respond to numerous emergencies and requests for help. We too often see the worst of our community’s problems and Saturday, July 8, 2017 was an opportunity for all of us to engage in a positive environment, get to know one another, and see San Leandro thrive.
We were honored to spend five great hours interacting with you, laughing with you, and listening to you. As I walked around the event, I saw smiling faces, happiness, and observed the start of new relationships and enhanced friendships. At every corner I turned I was impressed by the energy, determination, and understanding which only strengthens our community.
Relationship building is the fundamental principal and is something that we can all participate in to eliminate the negativity and deficiencies that impacts all of us. This past Saturday, I observed the community uniting. Once again, thank you for allowing us to serve and to be a part of your lives.
— Chief Jeff Tudor, San Leandro Police Department
Upset with Opponents of Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council
Editor:
Not long ago I submitted a Letter to the Editor urging the people in unincorporated San Leandro (Ashland), Hayward (Cherryland and Hayward Acres), and San Lorenzo to vote “Yes” on the survey being mailed out by the County Planning Department.
Since that time some of our residents have posted “Vote Yes on EMAC” signs on their front lawns. I am sorry to report that someone has made it their business to trespass onto private property and steal some of these lawn signs.
My list of suspects is a very short one. It’s very sad that someone has to resort to this kind of unfair tactic because they fear losing something that they really don’t even have: control of the direction and the future of our community.
I believe that if they had been involved in the decade-long process that brought about the proposal of an Eden Area Municipal Advisory Council, they would have joined us in this effort.
This same process enabled the Fairview district to officially get their MAC last week without having to take a survey. And since Castro Valley has already had a MAC for 36 years, we are now the only unincorporated urban area that does not have one.
Some “big fish in a little pond” are content to maintain the status quo, as ineffective as it has been. The vast majority is not satisfied with the state of our community. Don’t let the fear-mongers derail our chance to have local representation like a city council.
Over 7,000 more surveys are being sent out now because none were sent to apartments, and the Chinese language version had the wrong due date.
If you need a duplicate survey to vote for this, please call 510-670-5400 to get a duplicate. Let’s do this!
— Keith Barros, San Lorenzo
City Officials Should Take a Stroll Down East 14th to Davis Street
Editor:
Does O.C. Jones get paid a daily rate per foot of sidewalk and street that is torn up, with a bonus paid for corners that are blocked off?
Why don’t the city planners and someone from the Public Works Department take a stroll down East 14th Street to Davis Street to see what a mess pedestrians have to deal with?
I have nothing against development and improvement. However, I am hoping that those responsible can come up with a procedure to complete one project before bringing out the jackhammers to start another.
— Jeff Sturm, San Leandro
Accuses City of Stalling on Tenant Issues
Editor:
A couple of weeks ago the San Leandro Times published an article stating that the City Council had passed the Tenant Relocation Assistance Program (TRAP), which is completely incorrect, but no retraction has been issued. The ordinance is not in effect. The TRAP was brought back to the City Council meeting of July 3, in order to further water down its content.
This ordinance is being taken to the same path of the Rent Review Board ordinance that, when the City Council stopped tinkering with it, it became an useless piece of paper; more than a year was spent in that process. So useless is the Rent Review Board ordinance that the Rent Review Board hasn’t held a hearing in quite some time. The tenants know that they can’t expect any help from it.
Then, the City Council formed the Rules Committee to discuss the TRAP; the committee held meetings for another year, while the landlords kept on evicting tenants and jacking up the rents. The majority of the Council members are introducing amendments suggested by the landlords; the most servile to these interests are Benny Lee, Lee Thomas and Corina López; there’s not even the pretense of impartiality.
The stalling is by design: Almost three years of meetings have discouraged most tenants, who no longer believe that they are going to get any relief from this City Council and, therefore, no longer attend the meetings.
Meanwhile, the landlords come out in force with their lawyers, Rental Housing Association officials and the smaller vultures for dramatics. They are so emboldened that the real estate mogul, Silva, even threatened the City with a lawsuit if the landlords don’t get their way.
The bigger picture here is that we live in a state ruled by the Democratic Party that’s not interested in building housing or putting obstacles to the landlords’ greed and, least of all, in passing a statewide Rent Control law: Capital rules.
—Leo T. West, San Leandro
Red-Light Cameras Just Send Ticket Revenue Out of Town
Editor:
Does anyone else object to the red-light cameras in San Leandro?
My husband and I were so happy to finally buy a townhouse here and were welcomed about a month later buy a $500 red-light ticket. Yes, I ran the red light. I was not endangering anyone in any way. I saw the video. I paid the fee.
I emailed the San Leandro City Council and Lee Thomas was the only one who responded and wanted to talk to me and my husband. He agrees that it does not protect anyone or help driving safety. In fact, San Leandro doesn’t even get any of the huge amount of generated. Just the other day, my husband and I saw 2 different cars do the same thing I did!
— Kim Loisel, San Leandro
Wants to See Healthier Farm-to-Table Restaurants in San Leandro
Editor:
an Leandro has many great qualities, one of them being the sense of community for students of all ages.
With the amount families present in our community, I feel it is to the benefit of our society that we take measures to encourage living a healthier lifestyle.
One of these ways is through more healthy restaurants in the area. If we had more vegan, gluten-free, and farm to table restaurants along our streets, it would encourage others to get out to eat more at places with food that is nutritious as well as flavorful. If there is not potential of opening new local businesses in the near future, we could start by opening a whole foods or Sprouts or even another health food store that has options for people of all lifestyles.
I have many food allergies that have caused me to life a much healthier lifestyle, starting with my diet. Over the years I have found myself along the journey to good health and I love encouraging others to take the lead to their own health, but it’s not as easy as it seems. Taking the lead to our health in San Leandro would be much easier with direct access to healthier foods in our community.
— Christian Paulisich, San Leandro
Calls EBMUD’s Water Rate Hike ‘Outrageous’
Editor:
It is outrageous that the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) board of directors raised the water rate up to 19% when the majority of residents in both Alameda and Contra Costa County are consuming more. For the board to say that they need those rates for other projects is shameful.
They could to find so other ways to get funding instead of punishing the customers for more money. Water is life and it should not have to be for profit.
— Billy Trice Jr., Oakland
Heart-Broken to Read About Terminally Ill Child in Brit Hospital
Editor:
I was extremely heart-broken to read the article from the Bay Area News Group “Terminally Ill Child at British Hospital.”
Baby Charlie, an 11-month-old, son of Chris Gard and Connie Yates, suffers from a genetic disease which damaged his brain and his ability to breathe. He is reported to be in a very critical condition.
This piece of news aroused the attention of the world, including our president and Pope Francis. Both of them offered to help.
I absolutely agree with Pope Francis’ statement that we should respect baby Charlie’s parents’ rights to treat their son. These rights are protected to varying degrees by the Constitution. On the other hand, the ruling of Britain’s Supreme Court to allow baby Charlie to die in his best interest really puzzles me.
Let us pray that our president and Pope Francis would give “hope” to the parents of baby Charlie so that he may receive the most appropriate medicinal care.
— Alfred Kwok, San Leandro
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LETTERS • 07-13-17
Says Cassidy Has Solution for ‘Ongoing Corruptness’ in the City
Editor:
While I have just as many strong opinions as the next San Leandro resident, I have given up trying to argue with people who lack common sense and basic intelligence. Therefore, it was a breath of fresh air to see a letter from former Mayor Stephen Cassidy giving a common sense solution to what is the ongoing corruptness of politicians and staff in this city (“City Should Have a Better System For Handling Property Disputes,” Letters, July 6).
When it starts with the current mayor, why wouldn’t it be trickled down to the council members to think that they are above common courtesy to their neighbors when it comes to a property dispute?
While I was chair of the Board of Zoning Adjustments, I was part of the “City Family.” Make no mistake, citizens who serve on boards, commissions, and the council are made to feel that they are much more special than the average citizen – part of some elite group.
If that is true, that should mean that they should be held to a higher standard as Mayor Cassidy notes, not that they are able to get freebies, jobs for a family member, or easy outs for their disputes with a neighbor.
While Council member Lee may do some good things for the people of San Leandro, that does not absolve him of wrongdoing in this case, just like Mayor Cutter doesn’t get a pass with her daughter’s job. When I read about how this situation went down, I was truly disappointed, but not surprised, as once again city administrators are taking advantage of citizens through their positions. It all comes down to perception.
It was clear from the last election, that there is so much apathy in this city that someone completely unqualified can run unopposed for City Council and skate right into the position. Based on my personal experiences with trying to get things done, I am pretty disgusted with politics here.
The city administration continues to ignore the citizens in areas like Davis West and allow the proliferation of illegal garage units. When confronted with the issue, both the police chief and city manager admitted that the problem is too complicated to deal with.
Just what do you all think your jobs are and when are you actually going to do something effective besides beg for more money for schools and roads? As far as Ms. Souza’s letter, I would expect nothing better from her. Get some common sense and intelligence or get a new job.
— Janet Palma, San Leandro
Supports Sheriff Ahern’s Stance on Immigration Enforcement
Editor:
Concerning the front page article on the San Leandro Times (“Full House on Immigration Gives Sheriff an Earful,” July 6), I fully support Sheriff Ahern and give a high five to his staff for doing their job to keep us safe and sound.
How could anyone who possesses any kind of basic common sense have an issue with his department notifying ICE that people who are already here illegally (strike 1) and are now been charged with a serious crime or crimes (strike 2) are going to be released back into the general public?
We all ready have enough felons roaming our streets due to our lax laws and we don’t need any more of these less than desirable people living in the U.S.A.
— Brent Heath, San Leandro
On ‘San Leandro’s Burgeoning Medical Cannabis Industry’
Editor:
I am writing in response to the recent coverage of San Leandro’s burgeoning medical cannabis industry.
At a recent meeting, the San Leandro City Council voted unanimously to approve a pilot program to permit up to 5 cannabis manufacturing and testing laboratories, emphasizing that this is in line with San Leandro’s City’s goal of embracing innovation and seeking new fiscal opportunities for the city.
This is in addition to the three approved medical cannabis dispensaries, one of which is held by the Davis Street Wellness Center, a supporter of the Davis Street Resource Center that I direct.
We are proud to have the support of the Wellness Center who will provide a high quality medicinal cannabis clinic adjacent to our facility on Teagarden Street (which is within the city’s Green Zone).
Like the city of San Leandro, we are embracing the emerging medical cannabis industry as it aligns with Davis Streets’ values: we seek to provide excellent, judgment-free services and resources to those in need. Having a medical cannabis clinic adjacent to Davis Street medical clinic will provide greater access to our card- carrying clients with mobility and transportation issues.
Davis Street and the Davis Street Wellness Center both incorporate social justice as a core value in our operations, and the Wellness Center will provide safe, professional and accessible medication to those who need it. This facility will operate in a professional, clinical setting to serve patients, many who are elderly and/or gravely ill that rely on cannabis to improve their quality of life.
The Wellness Center is the only San Leandro dispensary that will offer sliding scale fees for low-income cannabis patients, which is significant, as cannabis is not covered by most medical insurance plans.
The Wellness Center’s comprehensive Community Benefits plan will generate tens of thousands of dollars for community programs for Davis Street and other worthy local causes, and generate significant tax revenues for the city of San Leandro.
San Leandro voters and elected leaders have consistently supported measures to legitimize medical cannabis in San Leandro; Measure NN, the 2016 Marijuana Business Tax Measure, passed with more than 75% voter approval last November and City Council has amended the city Planning and Zoning regulations to accommodate this innovative industry within city borders.
Inspired by this high level of civic support, Davis Street Wellness Center is eager to work alongside city leaders and stakeholders to ensure its medicinal cannabis services will be an asset to the city and communities we serve.
— Rose Johnson, CEO, Davis Street Family Resource Center
‘Criticism of Davis Street Is as Hurtful as It Is Inaccurate’
Editor:
A previous letter stating “concern” for Davis Street’s families would be better informed learning a little something about our 25-year history in San Leandro. Our staff provides 15,000 families with medical and dental health and social services.
Volunteers help stock year round food and clothing “lockers.”
Throughout the year we organize prevention, safety and awareness activities open to everyone.
Our professional administration secures millions of dollars annually from federal, state and private grants. San Leandro residents’ philanthropic support is historic.
The stated criticism of Davis Street is as hurtful as it is inaccurate. We appreciate the opportunity to correct those perceptions.
— Kathe Frates, San Leandro
Lack of Regulations on Housing Called ‘a State of Emergency’
Editor:
It is unfortunate that City Council members did not pass the proposed Tenant Relocation Assistance Program into an ordinance.
We are in a state of emergency in our city. The market rate plan and lack of regulations allowed landlords to increase the rents causing homelessness and evictions. Everyday, there are many long-time renters who voluntarily or involuntarily leave their homes to seek other places to live. All because of economic hardships. Most often these are the vulnerable, seniors, disabled and hardworking people who can’t own their own property. Being poor is not a crime. What is a crime is to allow for these displacements to happen to our fellow human beings.
The Rules Committee will once again either delete some items or add more adjustments on the already favorable proposal. It can even make it worse if the hardhearted dominates the ongoing process. The proposed draft was not entirely perfect for both landlords and tenants but a meaningful solution to dealing with a crisis.
The direction and goal of an ordinance is to be cognizant of problems and solving it. The proposed ordinance can address unjust behaviors on both sides, give relief to the needy, exercise and preserve the most basic human rights. Housing rights for tenants.
— Maria Luisa Penaranda, San Leandro
Impressed by Compassion and Caring of One San Leandro Family
Editor:
Last week my wheelchair-bound husband and I were outside a dental office waiting for his wheelchair ride service. His appointment was shorter than planned so the wait was longer than we expected.
My husband wanted to wait in the sun, so we did. I guess we looked stranded as we waited.
Two lovely children came across the parking lot from a nearby apartment. They said their mother had seen us waiting there and wondered if we needed a ride somewhere. I explained the situation to them and thanked them.
I was so impressed to think of how very compassionate and caring this family must be. It stands out only because the tone of the nation seems to be lacking a great deal of compassion and caring.
If we, as a nation, take it upon ourselves to strive to be more compassionate, caring and understanding, the country will be a much nicer place to live.
Thanks to all the parents or caregivers who are indeed striving to make this country...great again!
— M. Marshall, San Leandro
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LETTERS • 07-06-17
Rose Johnson Says Davis St. Not for Her ‘Personal Financial Gain’
Editor:
I’m at a loss to understand Diana Souza’s (Letters, June 29) continual vitriol directed at Davis Street and at the Wellness Center (medicinal cannabis dispensary).
Ms. Souza asserts my relationship with the Wellness Center is for my personal financial gain. This is untrue. My role is to ensure the WC funds benefit local community needs.
And, yes, Davis Street is the major beneficiary of their community benefits fund and the reason I’ve been involved with the WC. To secure a reliable stream of income for our non-federally funded programs would mean those most basic needs (food and clothing) will never be subject to cuts.
Ms. Souza is connected to Blum. I can only believe that her anger directed at me, our programs and the new Wellness Center has something to do with her position with a direct competitor.
I support medicinal cannabis because of the experience of my daughter when she was diagnosed with lymphoma. I want anyone in my daughter’s position to have access to treatment alternatives and I wholeheartedly welcome the Wellness Center, Harbors Side and Blum to San Leandro because my priority is and will always be to meet the needs of those with the most need and least access.
— Rose Johnson, CEO, Davis St. Family Resource Center
Wellness Center Provides ‘Safety Net’ for Davis St. to Meet Needs
Editor:
In regard to Diana Souza’s letter questioning the integrity of our decision to apply for a Conditional Use Permit for the Davis Street Wellness Center, there is apparently a need for education about who we are and what we are setting out to achieve.
For more than a quarter century, The Davis Street Family Resource Center has been providing myriad social services for our neighbors in need. Our mission is to build on our clients’ own natural strengths to help them improve their futures and those of their families.
The formation of the Davis Street Wellness Center represents the same mission, applied to a larger, organization-wide scale. Just as we “help others help themselves” – we have opened our clinic, merged with other nonprofits, and are opening the Wellness Center so we can stop depending on government funding to support Davis Street Family Resource Center and it’s programs.
Ironically, Davis Street is the region’s safety net, yet Davis Street is in need of a financial safety net of it’s own. It is up to us to find creative ways to pay for the programs and services to meet the ever-growing demand in our region.
The Davis Street Wellness Center will both provide safe access to medical cannabis to the sick and provide a reliable, long-term income stream to the Davis Street Family Resource Center through it’s community benefit program.
We are committed to providing vibrant and successful programming for our clients — and that requires funding. If we are accused of doing everything in our power to see that Davis Street has a sustainable source of funding to continue and grow services that we provide for the region’s poor, we are blamable.
The reality is that someone in Ms. Souza’s immediate family works for a large dispensary, Blum, and her motivation for calling us out is a simple case of wanting to squelch a possible competitor. What she fails to realize is that the needs of our clients are great and that we are myopic in our focus to sustain Davis Street.
We will not be deterred from our goal to fund our much-needed programs and services today and long into the future. We invite Ms. Souza and you to take a long look at who we are, go ahead and dig deep, our record speaks for itself.
— Gordon Galvan, President , Board of Directors, Davis St. Family Resource Center
Shoplifting Complaints ‘Interesting But Not Accurate’
Editor:
I find the letters concerning San Leandro business being “Shoplifted to Death” interesting, but not accurate.
Mr. Bryant (Letters, June 22) gives the example of Staples and Walgreens closing. Staples announced months earlier they would be closing stores across and country, and Walgreens — in purchasing about half of Rite Aid’s stores — no doubt found it needed to close a few existing ones to save money.
Mr. Whitehead’s letter (June 29) suggests that the answer is to have store employees get more involved in calling the police department to report the theft in order to get more arrests and help in prevention.
But do people realize that if a proper arrest is made for say a $20 item that person has a right to his day in court, which means the employee who reported it is now a witness and in order to convict must be there to identify him? That means, under state law (and most retail union bargaining agreements), that employees must be paid his/her wage to appear. Since nobody just pops in and out of court, it can be all day and turn into overtime. It never made economic sense to the stores and that’s why the employees are not to get involved.
It was a problem back when I was doing retail loss prevention back in the ’70s.
— Erik Bailey, San Leandro
City Should Have a Better System for Handling Property Disputes
Editor:
In regard to the property dispute between Council-member Thomas and his neighbor (“Floresta Gardens Couple Fights Fence,” Page 1, The Times, June 29), I will not venture to render an opinion on the merits of the issue. There likely is more to the story than what was summarized in the article.
Further, I know that Council-member Thomas is a diligent and committed public servant who has undertaken many laudable initiatives on behalf of the children and youth of our city.
However, two points are clear. First, once the neighbor filed an objection to the permit request, this should have triggered city staff recusing themselves from hearing and resolving the matter. An inherent conflict of interest exists in such circumstances. The Mayor and City Council are ultimately the employers of all city staff and no one wants to displease their employer.
Second, the city needs to re-examine and reduce its fees for filing appeals in certain property disputes. San Leandrans pay taxes throughout the year to support City Hall. If we need the resources of City Hall, we should not be required to pay unreasonable fees. Here, a $700 charge to lodge an appeal in a straightforward property dispute between two neighbors has the practical effect, for most persons, of making the initial decision by city staff unreviewable and final.
To avoid the conflict of interest, bring in an experienced, knowledgeable individual at city expense from another agency to adjudicate the matter. Such a procedure, while exceptionally rare, occurs in other contexts involving local government and ensures the public’s trust and confidence in City Hall is maintained.
This can still occur. The City Manager should void staff’s approval of the permit. The parties should start over and present the facts and their arguments to a neutral and impartial decision maker.
— Stephen Cassidy, San Leandro
Never-Ending Taxes Not the Answer to Good School Financing
Editor:
I have received two letters from the San Leandro School Board in the period of one week. The object is to produce a “yes” vote on a proposal to extend a $39 parcel tax that expires next year. The tax will be extended and doubled to $78.
This proposal will keep the education system in the dismal state it is already in and they will be back for more. The proposal is divisive and will weaken our ability to improve education in the future. The proposal exempts seniors in the hope that we can be encouraged to pass the tax on to younger homeowners who have scraped enough funds together to buy a home, get some tax relief and escape the clutches of the landlords. Many in this group are already strapped for cash.
While higher earners who send their children to public school as a matter of principle or moral obligation can pay, most people who send there children to public schools have no alternative, they have to. This group is more likely to be lower income and renters, and the landlords will simply pass this tax on to them.
Then there are older people and other low-income folks who will be forced to pay a tax that will not solve the education crisis and hurt them financially.
The alternative to taxing ourselves, is to build a wider direct-action movement to force changes in society and allocate more resources to education. We have to be united to do this. School board members could play a different role and help build a united resistance; instead, their proposal divides us, harming the battle for decent education for all.
If you are interested in discussing these ideas I can be reached at: we_know_whats_up@yahoo.com
— Richard Mellor, San Leandro
Thanks for Removing ‘Rebels’ from San Lorenzo High School
Editor:
As a teacher in the San Lorenzo School District, I thank the San Lorenzo School Board for unanimously voting to remove “Rebels” from San Lorenzo High.
The arguments in favor of keeping the name ignore what to me is the central issue. Some people have tried to tell those who are offended that they shouldn’t be offended. Others have argued that since the district has already removed the racist imagery, the word by itself carries no offensive connotation.
Some have said that the cost should preclude the word’s removal, even though the state would absorb the cost. Others have claimed that since changing a word will not end racism, changing it is pointless.
Nothing I write will change the minds of those who hold those positions. My purpose is to address the many in the Black community who absorb this term as deeply racist.
To you I say: I am white, and know that I can never really know what it is like to walk in this world from your perspective. Therefore, I need to listen, to hear what things look like from where you stand. What I hear is that “Rebels” conjures up deep pain. I believe you. And I believe we need to hear your words and try to learn from your perspective, in order to become a more compassionate, inclusive society.
I am inspired by the young people who courageously spoke at the board meeting about the pain of racism. It is my job to advocate for a safe learning environment for all students. People are more important than a sentimental attachment to a word.
— Sue Granzella, San Leandro
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OBITUARIES • 07-27-17
HILL, Mildred M. (Talan)
SOTELO, Jimmy
Mildred M. Hill (Talan), a resident of San Leandro, was born on September 19, 1939 in Peepeekeo, Hawaii to parents Teresa A. Talan and Ariston R. Talan from the Philippines. In 1957, Millie married the late Reuben Hill, a U.S. Marine. They had four children and the Marine Corps transferred the family between Oakland, Twentynine Palms, Oceanside and San Diego until he retired in 1974. Millie loved all the holidays, music, dancing, learning computer skills and crafting activities. Always the sociable one, she enjoyed being with her many friends and family, always staying in touch by phone, cards or Facebook. Millie passed away peacefully on July 12, 2017. She is survived by her four children and their families: Theresa of San Diego, Elizabeth of Atlanta, Reuben (Tony) of San Leandro and Michael of San Leandro; 9 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; her brother, Perto, of Newark and his family; and sister-in-law, Regina, of Newark and her family. A “Celebration of Life” will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, at United Methodist Church of Castro Valley, 19806 Wisteria St. Island/Hawaiian attire suggested. Arrive early to visit and share memories. Arrangements made by San Leandro Funeral Home (510-483-5300).
Jimmy Sotelo (Dec. 11, 1962 – Jul. 19, 2017), a resident of San Lorenzo, was born in Oakland. A beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, nephew, brother-in-law and dear friend, Jimmy adored his family, his loving wife, Carol, of 30 years, and his three children, Jimmy Jr., Alyssa and Enrique. Services were held yesterday at Chapel of the Chimes. Mass is today, July 27, at St. Leander Church at 10 a.m. and will be escorted afterwards to Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward for burial. A Celebration of Life to follow.
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OBITUARIES • 07-20-17
AMO, Gene D.
HEASLEY, Mable “Mae” A.
TRUJILLO, Angelo Jr.
Gene D. Amo, a resident of San Leandro, passed away July 12, 2017. Gene’s Funeral Liturgy was held on July 19 at St. Leander Church. Burial will take place tomorrow, July 21, at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California.
Mable “Mae” A. Heasley (March 13, 1926 – July 14, 2017), born and raised, and a resident of San Leandro, and the beloved wife of John A. Heasley, Jr. (deceased), is survived by her daughters, Susan Berget (John) of San Leandro, Sheryl Goulart (Anselmo) of Blackhawk and Sandra Nicholson of Tekoa, Washington. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Patrick E. Berget, Ph.D (Ada), Stephanie Goulart and Troy Nicholson; and 2 great-grandchildren, Natalia and Evan Berget. Mae married her high school sweetheart and they were inseparable. She was a homemaker that loved cooking, gardening, entertaining and weekly boating trips to Lake Berryessa. Mae was a very spiritual and positive role model. She was a nurturing person who loved to be surrounded by her family. She especially loved singing with her husband while he played the accordion. The family will miss her deeply but will hold her memory close in our hearts and minds. Knowing she is at peace and once again with her beloved husband, John, gives us solace. For information on dates and times of services, call Santos Robinson Mortuary at 510-483-0124.
Angelo Trujillo, Jr. (November 23, 1944 – July 8, 2017), born and raised in San Leandro, and a graduate of San Leandro High School, passed away July 8, 2017. Internment will be on Tuesday, July 25, at 11 a.m. at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.
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OBITUARIES • 07-13-17
DA COSTA, Augusto J.
PEACOCK-WEHAGE, Geraldine
VIZCAINO, Alice M.
WILLIAMS, James F.
Augusto J. Da Costa passed away July 3, 2017 at the age of 77. The Rosary and Funeral Litergy was held on July 10 at St. Leander Church. Burial took place on July 11 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary in San Leandro (510-483-0123, santos-robinson.com).
Geraldine Peacock-Wehage (Born December 18, 1932, Died May 11, 2017) was a long-time resident of San Leandro. She is survived by 4 sons, 1 stepdaughter, 2 stepsons, 3 grandsons and one great-grandchild. Geraldine had a full and happy life. She will be deeply missed. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 29, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1600 Bancroft Ave., in San Leandro.
Alice M. Vizcaino (October 9, 1940 – June 30, 2017), beloved wife of 53 years to Joe and lifelong resident of San Leandro, is preceded in death by her parents, Antone and Mary Baptista; and brothers, Frank, Robert and Ernest. The loving mother of Katrina (Jim), Eric and Lisa (Matt), and grandmother of 7, Alice retired from the Diocese of Oakland, Canon Law Department after 25 years. The family wishes to send a special thanks to Willow Creek and Oak Creek Alzheimer’s Care Centers, and Suncrest Hospice. Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, July 12, at Church of the Assumption in San Leandro. Entombment was private. Family suggests memorial contributions in her memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
James F. Williams (September 3, 1929 – June 2, 2017) graduated from San Leandro High School in 1947, he played football for the school team. He married Joyce McMillin (SLHS class of 1948) and they raised their three children, Donna (SLHS 1973), Jim (SLHS 1975) and Michael (SLHS 1980) in beautiful San Leandro. Jim was a hard-working man and passionate about what he believed in. He worked for Industrial Steam for over 50 years. In 1970, he joined the Berkeley Wheelman, serving as Vice President, and began a life-long adventure of bicycling and making countless friends. His biking accomplishments include riding the Davis Double Century 22 times in a row (1974-1995), riding UP Haleakala, Maui (10,023 feet) and a multitude of other bike rides. He loved to travel throughout the world, sometimes incorporating his love for biking into his travels. His journeys took him many times to France to ride along the Tour de France race route and standing at the finishing line. Joyce, his loving wife of 65 years, traveled along with him, driving the sag wagon when needed and cheered him on. In 1995, they “retired” to Santa Rosa where Jim immediately joined the Santa Rosa Cycling Club, enjoying the country biking, volunteering for the Tour of California and making even more friends along the way. He will be truly missed by his family and the many friends he made throughout his lifetime.
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OBITUARIES • 07-06-17
De SILVA, Manuel “Cigano”
SEIBERT, David James
WILLIS, Betty Jean
Manuel “Cigano” De Silva passed away peacefully July 1, 2017 at home surrounded by family. He was born and raised in the Azores. Visitation will be held at Santos-Robinson Mortuary today, July 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. with a vigil service beginning at 7p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 7, at St. Leander Church beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary (510-483-0123, www.santos-robinson.com).
David James Seibert, 56, of Grover Beach, passed away on June 23, 2017. Services are in the care of Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel of Grover Beach.
Betty Jean Willis, a long time resident of San Leandro, died peacefully on June 28, 2017 at age 80 after a brief illness. Betty graduated from Bishop O’Dowd High School. Services are today, July 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, and internment will be at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette.
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