SLT ARCHIVES • MAY 2017

Sam’s Burger Employee Shot by Masked Man

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     An armed robber shot an employee at Sam’s Super Burgers on East 14th Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

     An unidentified suspect approached the employees of the restaurant at 501 East 14th Street near Cherrywood Avenue armed with a handgun just before 3 a.m. on May 23, according to San Leandro police.

     The suspect demanded cash and the employees complied. When the suspect began to leave the restaurant, he fired two rounds that both struck the worker in his leg. The victim’s injuries are not life-threatening, according to police.

     The suspect then fled the scene on foot, last seen going west on Cherrywood Avenue.

     An officer in the area heard the shots and responded to the scene. The San Leandro police, along with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, set up a perimeter in the area and used a police dog to search for the suspect, but could not find him.

     Police ordered a “shelter-in-place” for residents in the area of East 14th Street, Stoakes Avenue, Pershing Drive, and Leo Avenue while the search was conducted, but it was lifted just after 4 a.m. when the suspect was not located.

     Sam’s Super Burgers has been around for decades and is known for being open late – 2:30 a.m. during the week and 4 a.m. on weekends.

     The restaurant was open Tuesday following the shooting.

     “It’s a shame because it’s a good place to go when it’s late,” said customer Mike Ramirez. “It’s good that (the employee) wasn’t hurt worse.”

     The suspect was described as an African American male with a thin build, who was wearing a ski mask, according to San Leandro police. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the San Leandro police at 577-2740 or the department’s anonymous tip line at 577-3278.

CAPTION: The popular Sam’s Burgers was hit by an armed robber wearing a ski mask at 3 a.m. Tuesday.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Opinions Mixed on Relocation Ordinance

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     After months of tweaking, a new “Tenant Relocation Assistance Program” has passed through the City Council’s Rules Committee on Monday and will be up for a vote by the entire council in the next few weeks.

     The program would have landlords pay three month’s rent and moving expenses for tenants who lose their home for a “landlord-caused” reason, which usually means rent hike.

     But many renters say that the ordinance won’t do anything to help keep them in their homes, it will just give landlords a city-sanctioned way to raise rents and they will still be left with no affordable place to stay.

     Under the proposed ordinance, a provision from a previous draft that tenants be in residence for five years has been removed. Many people argued that this would just cause landlords to evict people at the four-year mark.

     In the latest version of the ordinance, the threshold for the rent hike has been lowered from 20 to 15 percent and the total amount of relocation assistance is capped at $10,000.

     Landlords would also be allowed to subtract any rent due to them from the previous 12 months from the relocation assistance that they are paying.

     In special circumstances such as homes with a child under 18, a senior citizen, or someone with certain disabilities, the landlords must pay an additional $1,000. That’s a one-time per household payment, so if there are multiple children, it’s still only $1,000.

     Many renters have said that they are grateful that the city is trying to put some protections for renters in place, but that the relocation assistance program does little more than give a landlord an easy way of paying off a tenant and replacing them with someone who will pay higher rents.

     “I’m just concerned that this is permission for landlords to price residents out,” said Sam Cooper, who addressed the Rules Committee at the meeting. “I want to see residents be able to stay in their homes and this seems like kind of a token (gesture).”

Renter Says Ordinance Would Encourage Landlords to Evict Sooner

     Virginia Madsen, who has spoken to the city many times on renters’ rights said that she is afraid that if the ordinance is passed, landlords will act to evict tenants before it gets enforced.

     “Everybody’s afraid that, if this gets passed, there will be thousands of 60 day notices on doors before this goes into effect,” said Madsen. “It’s punitive. I can tell you that housing insecurity kills. There’s lots of people out there who this will affect.”

     The relocation ordinance had been in the Rules Committee for months until it passed this week. Rules Committee members Mayor Pauline Cutter and councilmen Pete Ballew and Lee Thomas said they wanted it to be put to a vote of the entire council as soon as possible.

     “It’s not a perfect ordinance, but if anything else needs to be hashed out, let it be hashed out in front of the entire council,” said Thomas. “Let’s get this thing running and then see what data comes in.”

     The ordinance is tentatively scheduled to go before the City Council at their June 19 meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 835 East 14th Street.

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Mahoney Takes Reins at Eden Health

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     After almost a decade with the Eden Health District (EHD), Dev Mahadevan is stepping down as the district’s chief executive officer and retiring.

     Mahadevan’s replacement will be Michael Mahoney, the former CEO of St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, who left that position five years ago.

     During Mahadevan’s tenure, the district faced rough spots including a $20 million lawsuit from Sutter Health over the struggle to keep San Leandro Hospital open and an attempt by local politicians, including Supervisor Wilma Chan and Assemblyman Rob Bonta, to have the district declared unnecessary and be dissolved with its assets given to the county.

     But the district survived the dissolution attempt and the lawsuit is slowly being paid off, and Mahadevan says he has left the district in strong shape for his successor.

     “We feel stability now, all the medical buildings (which EHD owns) are in the black, which is extremely gratifying,” said Mahadevan. “The district is in sound financial shape and I feel good about that.”

     Mahadevan came to the East Bay over 40 years ago with a degree in chemistry from Loyola College in Madras, India. He had a short stint working in Hawaii and then San Francisco in the early 1970s and has worked for various health districts since, including jobs with Kaiser and the West Contra Costa Healthcare District.

     From 1975 to 1992, Mahadevan also was a CEO and CFO of the Eden Health District when it owned Eden Hospital.

     Mahadevan said one thing that stood out for him during his most recent stint with Eden was “trying to keep some sanity” during the struggle to keep San Leandro Hospital open.

     “There was a tremendous amount of pressure – from San Leandro primarily, people and various officials – to keep the hospital open,” said Mahadevan. “We did it, but it cost a tremendous amount of money.”

     Mahadevan has lived in Castro Valley for 30 years and his children live nearby. In retirement, he plans to work on his golf game and try his hand at writing both fiction and non-fiction.

     Mahadevan helped get the “Run to the Lake”  at Lake Chabot off the ground over 30 years ago and he says he hopes to work with EBMUD and the parks district to plan a similar fun run this fall at Chabot Park in San Leandro.

     “I feel very fortunate having arrived here as an immigrant with negative equity in 1970,” said Mahadevan. “I feel very fortunate to have had the life I’ve had.

     Mahadevan’s last day on the job is June 30. Last week, the EHD board voted unanimously to hire Michael Mahoney as EHD’s new CEO.

    Mahoney previously worked as CEO of St. Rose Hospital and in 2012, Mahoney stepped down from that position with a $1.2 million severance package. He was criticized at the time by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors for not being forthcoming about the Hayward hospital’s money troubles.

     After his time at St. Rose, Mahoney worked for a non-profit recycling company in Union City which was founded by Alameda County Supervisor Richard Valle.

     Under his new one-year contract with EHD, Mahoney will be paid $145,0000 for 30 hours of work per week and get 20 vacation days, with 60 days pay as a potential severance package.

CAPTION: Dev Mahadevan (left) is retiring on June 30. Michael Mahoney (right) will become the Eden CEO.

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Library Plays Role in Alameda County First 5 Program

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     The San Leandro Library and they city’s human service department were among those honored by First 5 of Alameda County last week for their role in helping educate young children.

     First 5 of Alameda County focuses on getting kids ready for kindergarten – learning their numbers and letters, following rules and getting along with other kids. A recent county assessment said that only about 44 percent of kids are fully ready to learn when they reach kindergarten.

     Many children don’t attend preschool to get a jump on learning those skills, and that’s where programs like story time at the library or various kids playgroups at the community center come in.

     The library and the recreation and human services department both received “Kindergarten Readiness Champion” awards from Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan for their various children’s programs they officer including free drop-in story times and parent-child playgroups.

     Also honored at the ceremony were the county library system, Hayward Area Recreation District (HARD), and the Oakland and Livermore parks districts.

     Chan said that everyone who contributes to a child’s learning – from coaches to teachers, to a babysitter who plays games with toddlers – is helping them become who they will be in the future.

     “About 25 years ago, a very wise First Lady popularized the African saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and I think that’s true,” said Chan. “Everyone has to be involved because children aren’t just one thing, they are many things.”

     Income level is important to note because free programs at libraries and community centers are often the only early childhood education available for people who can’t afford preschool, First 5 says.

     Currently, one-third of those living below the poverty line in Alameda County are under the age of five.

     Jeanette Dong, San Leandro’s recreation and  human services director, said that a recent study revealed that in San Leandro 13 percent of San Leandrans under age 18 live in poverty, so First 5 is a focus for her department.

     “We want to know how we can work with the schools, the city, and First 5 to benefit the most vulnerable,” said Dong.

     Last year, about 88 percent of the kids in First 5 programs weren’t in any daycare or preschool program, according to Malia Ramler of First 5.

     The honorees were all lauded for their hard work, but Ramler pointed out that everyone, even those not directly involved in education, have something to contribute to the young children in their lives.

     The few hours spent playing and learning in First 5 classes is great, but there is an even larger benefit if adults and kids take what they’ve learned and continue to learn at home by talking, reading, and singing.

     “That’s the big win,” said Ramler.

CAPTION: Toddlers and their parents had some fun in San Leandro as part of a First 5 playgroup, which helps young kids get ready for kindergarten. Last week, the San Leandro library and the city’s recreation and human services department were honored by First 5 for their children’s programs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST 5

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School Board OKs Mail Ballot For Parcel Tax

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     The San Leandro School District will hold a special mail-in election this August, asking voters to approve a new parcel tax.

     The new parcel tax would replace the school district’s current $39 parcel tax, which is due to end in 2018.

     The new parcel tax would be assessed at $78 per parcel annually for a period of 14 years, which would bring in a total of about $1.5 million annually to the district beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

     In order to pass, the parcel tax must have two-thirds of ballots returned voting in favor of the tax by Aug. 29.

     The senior vote is vital in passing the tax, as 46 percent of San Leandro’s registered voters are over the age of 65.  And like the current parcel tax, the proposed tax would have an exemption for seniors so they could vote for it and never have to pay it.

     Larry Tramutola, the consultant the district hired to help pass the tax, said that seniors are more likely to vote in mail-in elections and estimated that around 9,000 people will vote in an August mail-in election.

     At a school board meeting last week discussing the tax, public speaker Richard Mellor argued that the district was hurting the average San Leandran by being one of many entities demanding money from people who are struggling financially.

     “This is a tax on the workers and the poor,” said Mellor. “I’m a senior citizen, I won’t have to pay it. You are trying to get me to tax young people who have somehow scraped enough together to get a home. One way or another you are acting as agents of the one percent, you turn around to the working class and say ‘you’ve got to pay.’ Whether you have good intentions or not doesn’t matter. It’s not going to get better, so what’s going to happen next time? You’ll ask for more.”

     If the tax passes, the $78 annual fee will be added to several other revenue measures the district has assessed in the past several years.

     Last November voters passed Measure J1, a $104 million general obligation bond that has property owners pay $36 per $100,000 of their assessed property value.

     And San Leandro residents are currently paying for school bonds in the form of the $109 million Measure B bond, which has been assessed at $39 per $100,000 of property value and Measure M, a $50 million bond assessed at $25 per $100,000 of property value.

     Some of the bond debt comes from  high-interest Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs). Those CABs have interest rates of up to five times the principal of the loan, though the district has since refinanced a small portion of its CABs.

     The district’s total outstanding bond debt is $325 million and $181 million of that is principal.

     Of that, the current debt from CABs is $91 million, and $27.5 million of that is principal.

     Tramutola’s voter poll results showed that, among people who said they would not support a tax, the most common reason was feeling that money was being misspent or mismanaged (31 percent of negative responses) and 25 percent said taxes are already too high.

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Marea Alta Housing Project Opens with Ribbon Cutting; Senior Housing Next Step

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

    After nearly a decade of planning, the ribbon was finally cut to open the Marea Alta affordable housing project across from the downtown BART station on Wednesday morning.

    Over 18,000 people applied for 115 apartments at the complex at 1400 San Leandro Boulevard, showing the need for affordable housing in San Leandro and the entire state.

    The tenants were picked by a lottery. One of the lucky ones, Jessykah Pierce-Johnson, moved in recently with her husband and three kids.

    “We are so excited to be a part of this community,” said Pierce-Johnson. “Being able to have our own place and just being able to tell my son to go to his room when we used to all be in the same room, that’s a blessing.”

    The monthly rent on the Marea Alta apartments ranges from one bedroom units for $505  to three bedroom units for $1,245. Annual household incomes are about 30 to 50 percent of the area median income.

    There are more units available at the higher end of those monthly rents than at the lower end. The rent includes trash and water, but other utilities including electricity are to be paid by the tenants.

    In addition to the ribbon cutting, there was a ground-breaking on another building behind the Marea Alta site on Wednesday for 85 senior apartments. Senior residents there will pay no more than 30 percent of their monthly income toward their rent.

    When the project was in its early stages back in 2009, up to 700 units of both affordable and market rate housing were planned. The recession, coupled with years of meetings and public outcry whittled the project down.

    At the time, a group called “Save San Leandro” was formed to oppose the construction, with many saying they approved of the idea of affordable housing, but not this specific project.

    In a recent survey of contractors by the National Housing Institute, 70 percent reported experiencing opposition when building affordable housing, the vast majority from neighboring residents who cited safety, tax burdens, traffic, and crowded schools as the reason they didn’t want the apartments.

    The city estimates that 1,500 new housing units will be built in the next few years, but that is not much considering the city also estimates that 15,000 people will be moving to San Leandro in the next 20 years.

    Everyone agrees that there needs to be more housing in the Bay Area, but when developments are planning the “not in my backyard” brigade often shows up.

    Last year, residents in the Estudillo Estates neighborhood were outraged when they heard plans for an apartment building on the corner of Bancroft and Estudillo avenues. They convinced the city to not allow a 5-story apartment building that was planned.

    Because of zoning restrictions and outcry from neighbors there aren’t many places to build apartment buildings anymore.

    The trend for now is to build apartments away from the outer suburbs and near transit hubs, according to BART director Rebecca Saltzman.  The Marea Alta is built on BART-owned land and BART parking is located under the building.

    “We want to see this replicated throughout the system,” Saltzman said.  She added that BART will require all future projects on their property to have at least 20 percent affordable housing.

    Ben Metcalf of the California Department of Housing and Community Development, said the Marea Alta is a project that will be looked at by the entire state.

     “Let’s get more of these to happen,” said Metcalf. “We are going though a time of the hollowing out of the middle class. This project is an example of how every community can retain their vibrancy and diversity.”

CAPTION: Residents have moved into the new Marea Alta apartments on San Leandro Boulevard across the street from the San Leandro BART Station.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Lee Knocks Sessions’ Drug War Guidelines

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     Congresswoman Barbara Lee said last week that Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ new drug sentencing guidelines for federal prosecutors are misguided.

     “Today’s announcement marks another distressing chapter in the Trump Administration’s misguided ‘law and order’ agenda,” Lee said in a statement sent out by her office. “The guidance issued by the Department of Justice will do nothing to make communities safer and will only deepen the distrust between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve.”

     The congresswoman from California’s 13th Congressional District, which includes San Leandro, said forcing judges to impose mandatory minimum sentences does more harm than good.

     “Mandatory minimums promulgated by the failed War on Drugs have caused irreparable damage to communities of color across the country,” Lee said. “In the California legislature, I strongly opposed the ‘Three Strikes Law’ which has contributed to the mass incarceration of people of color for low-level crimes. By returning to these failed policies, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is effectively endorsing institutional racism.

     “As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and a senior appropriator, I will do everything within my power to resist the Trump Administration’s push to revive the failed War on Drugs.”

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Bridge Closing Sends Students Over Train Trestle

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Last week, a high school junior was struck and killed by a train while taking a shortcut across a railroad trestle in San Lorenzo to cross the San Lorenzo Creek – a move students make each day.

     Students who live in the Washington Manor Area and attend KIPP King Academy or Arroyo High must cross San Lorenzo Creek to reach their school. No side streets cross the bridge from the residential area – you have to go all the way to Washington Avenue to cross the channel.

     There used to be a footbridge, but it was closed by KIPP. That leaves the dangerous railroad trestle as one alternative.

     “It’s just faster,” said one Arroyo student who walked across the narrow trestle near Grant Avenue Tuesday afternoon, coming home from school.

     There is a margin of just about two feet on either side of the railroad tracks and the edge of the trestle.

     At the beginning of the 2009 school year, the KIPP King Academy closed down the footbridge that connected Washington Manor and neighboring residential areas with San Lorenzo.

     Barrett Bridge provided a shortcut over the creek and was a thoroughfare used by many, including students from KIPP King and Arroyo High.

     The only other route is to go over a mile down Lewelling Boulevard to Washington Avenue to cross the channel.

     But an easy alternative is to cross the creek on the railroad trestle at Grant and Railroad avenues. Last week, Terrence Liu, 16, did just that and was struck and killed by a Union Pacific freight train. The trestle is private property and Union Pacific signage prohibits pedestrians in that area.

     At the time of the closure of the footbridge, KIPP, a charter school, citied concerns about the bridge attracting graffiti and being a place where kids would loiter.

     After KIPP closed off their side of the bridge, effectively rendering it a dead end, the Alameda County Flood Control erected a fence on the north side of the bridge as well.

     But back when the footbridge as closed, C.J. Yohter, who lived on the Manor side of the bridge, opposed the closure and gave a warning in 2009 that the railroad trestle would be too big of a temptation to ignore.

     “It is only a matter of time before a kid gets hit,” said Yother.

     KIPP King didn’t return calls for comment regarding the footbridge in time for publication.

     Liu’s death is under investigation by the Union Pacific police, who said they have no further details at this time but called the collision “an unfortunate incident.”

     In a statement shortly after Liu’s death, KIPP Principal Kelly Lara said that Liu was an 11th grade honors student, active in leadership and debate.

     “He had a big heart and was able to build close friendships and earned the support and loyalty of those around him,” Lara said.

CAPTION: The train trestle that kids cross to go to school.

PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI

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Kids Hear About Escape from Nazis

BY AMY SYLVESTRI •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     The photo projected on the screen was a black and white snapshot of a group of eight kids all under the age of ten, sitting and smiling  in front of building in Dresden, Germany in November of 1935.

     “Me, my cousin Hanns –now he’s called Hank and lives in Florida – and one girl were the only ones from the photo who survived the war,” said Ralph Samuel, now 86, as he spoke to a group of teens at the REACH Ashland Youth Center last week.

     Samuel hit a button on a remote and the photo changed – to the city of Dresden, bombed and leveled to the ground. The allies bombed Dresden in 1945 when it was Nazi control, years after Samuel escaped to England. But Samuel was shaken by what happened to his birthplace.

     “It was a beautiful, baroque city. It looked like one big fairytale,” said Samuel.

     Samuel was invited to speak to the teens by REACH librarian Giovanna Capone, who recently had her students read The Diary of Anne Frank. Capone encouraged Samuel to draw parallels between his experience and today’s politics, but Samuel was a bit more philosophical.

     “I think it is just human nature for one group to try to dominate another, politically, economically, whatever,” said Samuel. “I’m not saying it’s right, it’s just a fact of life.”

     The young people seemed most interested in Samuel’s life, and he obliged them. He grew up in a large home with his mom and dad, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousin.  In 1938, Samuel’s parents decided that he would migrate to England.

     “As things got worse for the Jews in Germany, the world began closing its doors,” said Samuel. “America wouldn’t increase the number of Jews they allowed in and England was the only country that allowed unaccompanied children.”

     His parents and others put ads in the British newspapers, hoping to attract sponsors for their children.

     Samuel lucked out in a quirk of fate: an Englishman named Epstein sponsored Samuel because he had a young son whose middle name was Ralph.

     “So Mr. Epstein said ‘I’ll take that one,’” said Samuel. “I remember very clearly that I came to England and I had a cardboard sign around my neck and it said ‘Ralph Samuel for Mr. Epstein.’ It cost him 50 pounds – about $2,500 today.”

     Samuel enjoyed his life in London – he even showed the kids some snapshots of a beach vacation with the Epsteins.

     “Our parents said going to England would be an adventure, we’d have fun,” said Samuel. “What they didn’t tell you was that in England, they’d only speak English and I didn’t speak a word of English. But their son was 6-years-old and I was 7 or 8 and kids don’t really need a language to communicate.”

     But back in Germany, the situation was worsening.

     “Jews could only go shopping after 3 p.m., when most of the stores were empty, Jewish teachers lost their jobs, Jewish doctors could only treat Jewish patients,” said Samuel.

     Samuel’s mother convinced the Epsteins to employ her as a maid so she could immigrate and be reunited with her son. But just months after that, the children of London were evacuated to the countryside as the war escalated.

     Samuel was sent to a large country manor with about a dozen other kids. He showed the students a photo of a group of kids smiling in front of house with ornate columns and pointed to a boy sitting near him.

     “He called me a dirty Jew and made me cry,” said Samuel, who eventually met up with his fellow evacuees some 50 years later in London.

     “I was about 60 years old when the reunion happened. I thought, he called me a dirty Jew and made me cry so when I see him again, I’m gonna punch him in the nose. Well it turned out, he grew up to be a parole officer and those are tough guys, so I decided not to punch him,” joked Samuel.

     Samuel and his mother survived World War II, but his father and grandmother both died in concentrations camps, which has made some retellings of the Holocaust too difficult for Samuel to deal with.

     “You guys are reading the Diary of Anne Frank and I spoke at another school where they read Night by Eli Wiesel, but I can’t read that book,” said Samuel. “I haven’t been to Auschwitz. I haven’t seen Schindler’s List. I don’t need to put myself through that.”

     Samuel moved to America in the late 1950s. He joked that his mother questioned why he’d want to live in the “land of the savages,” as she called it.

     Samuel worked in Washington D.C. before driving cross county to California on Route 66 and working in real estate and for BART for many years before retiring to a second career speaking to young people.

     Recently, Samuel began taking German language classes so he could speak fluently to German teens about World War II. Today, Samuel says that he believes Germany is the only county in Europe to really come to terms with the war.

     In the final years of her life, Samuel’s mother lived with him in Oakland, where she spoke to him in German and he’d answer her in English.

     “That’s probably what a lot of you guys who have immigrant parents are like at home, right?” said Samuel. “Ask in one language, respond in another.”

     Samuel repeated the truism that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. But he told the kids that if they have worries about the current political climate, they should feel fortunate that are free to stand up and speak out.

     “American is still the land of opportunity,” Samuel said.

CAPTION: Ralph Samuel spoke to the kids at the Ashland Youth Center.

PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI

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Citizens Talk Housing, Potholes

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     She just bought a new set of tires and was tired of driving through potholes all over town, so one woman decided to do something about it.

     “I went to Home Depot and bought some yellow paint,” she said. And she went around San Leandro and the unincorporated areas painted big yellow circles around the pot holes to warn drivers.

     That vigilant citizen was one of about a dozen who addressed their City Council members and other officials at a special town hall meeting for Districts 1, 2, and 5 Monday night at the Senior Center.

     City officials told the pothole painter that they appreciate her efforts, but soon they will be unnecessary, as the city has slated $6 million over the next few years to repave San Leandro roads – sealing 8.7 miles of streets and new pavement on 6 additional miles.

     “We do have our problems with our roads, but help is on the way,” said City Manager Chris Zapata, who added that the rainy season has ended and road work should begin soon.

     District 2 councilman Ed Hernandez encouraged the painter to be safe and use the MySL app to report potholes, graffiti, and other minor issues.

     She replied that the potholes needed to be filled as soon as possible, not necessarily when entire streets are redone.

     “Maybe then we won’t have grandmothers in the street circling holes,” she said.

     Potholes were just one topic on San Leandrans’ minds. The public questioned the city on everything from dog parks to the lack of a good place to have breakfast in town.

     One big topic of discussion was the lack of housing and the skyrocketing costs of the housing that does exist.

     Hernandez called housing a “huge crisis” and said that “grandmother units” behind single family homes may be one answer. He suggested that some people interested in downsizing move into their own auxiliary unit and have a renter move into their main home and use the rental money as additional income.

     One speaker said he has his slice of the American Dream, his own home, but what about those who are less fortunate?

     “Is there a champion among you who is going to fight for the renters?” he asked.

     Hernandez said he was sympathetic but the council must take a balanced approach to represent both renters and landlords.

     Cynthia Battenberg, the city’s community development director pointed out several new housing developments that will be popping up in the next few years for a total of about 1,500 new units. That seems good, but a projected 15,000 people will be moving to San Leandro in the next 20 years.

     Mayor Pauline Cutter chimed in to say the issue of evictions and tenant relocation assistance is set to go before the City Council at an upcoming meeting.

     Another woman said she’d like to see closed-circuit TV cameras around town to discourage crime.

     Zapata said that cameras around town are a “very complicated issue.” The police utilize license plate readers mounted on cop cars which record activities, there are cameras on some city property, and the police also encourage anyone with a private security camera to register it with them so they have an idea of what areas in town are being recorded.

     “It’s not a panacea for crime and requires a lot of oversight,” said Zapata.

     A town hall meeting for districts 3, 4 and 6 is scheduled for some time this summer.

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City Council Green Lights Sidewalk ‘Parklets’

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     The City of San Leandro is accepting applications to create two “parklets” – a reclaimed parking space that will act as a place to sit and enjoy the community.

     A parklet is a platform built in the space of one or two parking spots along a city street with benches or tables. San Francisco and Oakland have a few and now the City of San Leandro wants to get in on the trend.

     At a meeting in April, the City Council unanimously voted to give $30,000 for city staff to issue permits and help set up the administration of the parklets. It’s expected that community groups or businesses will apply for parklet permits and pay the construction costs, though they can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 from the city for design costs.

     San Francisco is credited as the fist city with parklets and the average cost of installing one there is about $17,500, mostly done on busy streets in commercial areas.

     The city is now taking applications for two parklets and the pilot program will last two years after which the success of the program will be evaluated and more parklets may be approved.

     The parklets are designed to encourage people to walk and sit and linger around town and turn away from “motorized transportation,” according to the city.

     The parklets will use one or two parking spaces along the curb and cannot be along a California state route which eliminates many of San Leandro’s main thoroughfares, including East 14th Street, Doolittle Dive, and Davis Street.

     The city’s recommendation is that parklets be built on a street with a 25 m.p.h. speed limit.

     San Leandro is talking applications for two parklets and they must be professional, with a licensed architect or civil engineer designing them to be “attractive” in order to be approved.

     All parklets must also meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities with Act (ADA) and be fully wheelchair accessible.

     If you want to build a parklet, it will cost you a bit – you must carry $4 million in commercial liability insurance, the application fee is $150, and if approved you’ll need to pay the city a $2,500 deposit to review your design, $2,500 as a restoration deposit, and $100 for the annual review of the site.

     If you are interested in applying to construct a parklet, visit the city’s website at www.sanleandro.org under the “engineering and transportation” tab.

CAPTION: The City of San Leandro has approved issuing two permits for street parklets. Pictured is a parklet in San Francisco, the city where parklets first started.

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Manufacturers Make Some Noise

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     The panel discussion on local manufacturing put on by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce at the 21st Amendment Brewery last Tuesday was a little difficult to hear – thanks to some actual local manufacturing taking place as the brewery bottled beer during the business roundtable.

     The commotion made some speakers difficult to understand, but it underscored the Chamber’s hope for the future of San Leandro industry. They gathered together local business owners to discuss how to make San Leandro a player in a variety of industries, from manufacturing to tech.

     The goal is to expand commerce through a stronger supply chain. Imagine a company who makes a widget being able to design, make, ship and market it all though one or more company sites in San Leandro.

     San Leandro is unique in that it has warehouses and large factory sites, said Chamber CEO Emily Griego. The city likes to tout 21st Amendment because the brewery remodeled the former Kellogg’s cereal plant on Williams Street.

     The chamber would like to see more innovative uses for buildings around San Leandro.

     “A lot of ideas come up,” said Griego. “But we haven’t reached our full potential just yet.”

     Jeremy Goodwin moderated a panel on how to build networks of companies that work together. Goodwin is the founder of SyncFab, a startup that aims to do just that.

     “In order for manufacturing to thrive, there must be a local supply chain,” said Goodwin.

     Panelists included San Leandro business owners Hale Foote of Scandic Springs; Louis Rigaud of Halus, a wind turbine manufacturer; and JoeVaughn Farsight of McIntyle Industries, a heating and air conditioning manufacturer.

     They talked about the future of manufacturing and how it might stay alive in a high-tech marketplace.

     Foote’s company makes custom springs in an astonishing amount of sizes, which go into everything from computers to pacemakers.

     “We’ve been in San Leandro for 45 years and we’ve definitely seen the manufacturing landscape go up and down,” said Foote. “Easier work left years ago to Mexico and Asia. What’s left here and what we are good at is specialized work.”

     Last week’s talk was part of a series of forums for the business community hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to promote San Leandro and discuss challenges about doing business in the city.

CAPTION: The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce brought manufactures together last week at the 21st Amendment Brewery to talk about creating supply chains, and have a beer.

PHOTO BY AMY SYLVESTRI

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Boy Killed By Train in San Lorenzo

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     An 11th grader riding his bike to school was struck and killed by a freight train in the area of Grant and Railroad avenues in San Lorenzo on Wednesday morning.

     Emergency responders arrived shortly after 8 a.m. and declared the victim dead at the scene, according to the Alameda County Fire Department. Officials didn’t immediately release the name of the student at KIPP King Colleigate High School.

     The boy was riding along the tracks over a narrow trestle north of Grant and Railroad avenues, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

     The train was a southbound Union Pacific locomotive pulling several cars. The train sounded its horn and took preventative measures.

     The incident is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and the Union Pacific Railroad police.

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School District: ‘Perfect Storm’ Justifies Tax

BY AMY SYLVESTRI  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     The San Leandro School District says a “perfect storm” of funding issues is potentially on the horizon and a parcel tax is necessary to combat an uncertain economic future.

     The current parcel tax (Measure L) will end in 2018. State funding is slowing down, and cuts to federal funding are possible, so the district needs to look at other ways of getting money, said Dr. Kevin Collins, the district’s assistant superintendent.

     Collins said, at the bare minimum, the current parcel tax needs to be extended just to keep the district running as it is.

     Measure L was passed by voters by a margin of less than 1 percent in November of 2012. It is assessed at $39 per parcel and currently brings in about $725,000 annually to the district.

     At a special meeting Tuesday night, the school board discussed a new parcel tax. All board members said they were in favor of a tax, and instructed Collins to give them options about different amounts and lengths of the tax to be voted on at their next meeting.

     San Leandro voters must pass any parcel tax by a super majority of 66 percent. The election would either be via a mail-in ballot in August or be placed on a special ballot in November. Either election would cost about $300,000.

     The district could have placed the parcel tax on the November 2016 ballot, but it would have competed with the district Measure J1 bond. And if the district waits for the 2018 general election, the current parcel tax will have expired.

     That $300,000 is more than the current parcel tax brings in annually, so many members of the school board indicated that they’d like either a longer 12- or 15-year life on the tax or a much higher tax amount in order to make the election worth it.

     The school district hired Tramutola Advisors as consultants on the new tax and in February they commissioned a poll of about 500 San Leandrans to see if there is support for a parcel tax.

     Larry Tramutola told the school board that support is there from the public. The poll indicated that if the tax was doubled, about 68 percent of voters would approve of the tax. Those polled showed less support as the amount increased.

     “All parcel tax campaigns are difficult,” said Tramutola. “There needs to be a lot of thinking about putting forward the best proposal we can.”

     So now the district must strategize and find a number voters will go for.

     Collins said doubling the current tax to $78 per parcel annually was one option They are also considering  $87, $97 and $120 per parcel. The district may also opt to not include any end date at all, though the Measure L tax was promoted with a relatively short five-year life.

     “The strategy in the first parcel tax is to go for a short duration,” Tramutola said.

     The parcel tax will likely offer a senior exemption, as Measure L does.

     It is to the district’s advantage to sell the tax to seniors, as 46 percent of San Leandro’s electorate are over the age of 65. Seniors are more likely to vote in mail-in elections, which generally have a low voter turnout (Tramutola estimated around 9,000 people would vote in an August mail-in election).

     Essentially, those seniors are valuable to make sure the tax passes and then they don’t have to pay it, according to Tramutola.

     “We need to communicate with them,” said Tramutola. “The communication has to be more than ‘Hey, you don’t have to pay for it.’ That’s part of it, but we’ve got to do more than that.”

     Teacher’s union president Jon Sherr and former mayor Stephen Cassidy both addressed the school board, indicating their support for the tax, though Cassidy warned against picking too high a figure that would scare off voters.

     Only one person spoke out against a potential parcel tax, San Leandro resident Steve Parker. Parker said that with three school bonds and the current parcel tax, residents are already paying enough to the school district (those bonds are assessed at a combined total of $100 per $100,000 of assessed property value).

     “I think a lot has been asked of the taxpayers in this city,” said Parker. “I feel the debt we now owe is considerably high.”

     Parker went on to ask if the district’s polling informed voters about the high-interest Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs) that the district has to pay back. Those CABs have interest rates of up to five times the principal of the loan, though the district has since refinanced a small portion of its CABs.

     The voter poll results showed that, among people who said they would not support a tax, the most common reason was feeling that money was being misspent or mismanaged (31 percent of negative responses) and 25 percent said taxes are already too high.

     The district is currently paying back $181 million in bonds, plus interest, including $27.5 million of CAB principal, plus interest.

     “That’s real money,” said Parker. “I understand what this (parcel tax) is for, and I approve of what it is for, I just ask that you consider what you are asking.”

     The board will discuss the specifics of the parcel tax at their May 9 meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall and likely make a resolution to put the tax on an upcoming ballot.

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Katz-Lacabe Survives Harrowing Crash

BY JIM KNOWLES •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     Former school board member Mike Katz-Lacabe suffered broken bones and was air-lifted to the hospital after a car accident on April 21.

     He went through surgery at a hospital in Chico and was transferred to a rehabilitation clinic in Hayward.

     Katz-Lacabe’s youngest daughter, Camila, was also in the car at the time and fortunately came out of it with just bruises from the seatbelt and airbag.

     Katz-Lacabe was driving with his daughter to his aunt’s ranch in Susanville to go horseback riding. Near the town of Chester, an SUV coming in the opposite direction made a left turn right in front of Katz Lacabe’s Toyota Prius.

     Katz-Lacabe had a shattered knee, a broken collarbone, a broken sternum, and four broken ribs.

     “The doctors were amazed that with the broken bones he didn’t have any organ damage,” said his wife, Marga Lacabe. “So he was very lucky.”

     “The people who saw the car said they were amazed anybody lived, because the car looked so destroyed,” she said. “You feel horrible, but so grateful that he’s still alive.”

     Katz-Lacabe was airlifted to a small hospital in Chester and then to a bigger hospital in Chico where he had surgery the next day. Then he was transferred to Kaiser Hospital in San Leandro and then to a rehabilitation facility in Hayward.

     One thing Katz-Lacabe always believes in is driving with your headlights on, said his wife, even in the middle of the day when the crash happened.

     “He always said it increases the visibility,” she said. “He may want to reconsider that theory.”

     Katz-Lacabe, speaking by phone from the rehabilitation facility, said he saw the SUV for a while before the crash as it slowed down to turn. At the last second, it turned right in front of him.

     “When I first saw him, I didn’t think anything of it,” Katz-Lacabe said. “I was in a red car and that should stand out with everything green right now.”

     A lot of collisions happen on Highway 36, Lacabe said he was told.

     “I heard there have been seven head-ons this year on that highway, and six have been fatal,” he said.

     Katz-Lacabe said he feels lucky that it wasn’t worse.

     “Just broken bones and my daughter walked away without a scratch,” he said. “As a parent, that’s all you can ask for.”

     Katz-Lacabe said he’s also glad for the way cars are engineered today – to absorb the crash so there’s less impact on the people inside the car.

     “Air bags and well-engineered crumple zones that collapse and absorb the crash, I would be happy to buy another Prius,” he said.

     The main part of the surgery was wiring together the parts of his kneecap, Katz-Lacabe said. In rehabilitation, he’s learned how to do everyday things like getting dressed with a broken shoulder. They have techniques to help with all those things.

     Katz-Lacabe was first elected to the San Leandro school board in 2006 and served two terms until 2014. That year he ran unsuccessfully for the District 1 City Council seat.

     He said he was proud to be among the board members that voted to replace former superintendent Christine Lim.

     Katz-Lacabe has been an advocate for individual rights and has often questioned government surveillance and militarization of the police. He was featured in a Wall Street Journal story in 2012 when he uncovered that “license plate readers” used by the San Leandro police were collecting millions of photos of citizens in and around their cars.

     The story brought national attention to the devices, used by police departments around the country, that police had said just scanned license plate numbers.

CAPTION: Mike Katz Lacabe has been an advocate for citizen’s rights.

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Man Killed in I-880 Crash

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     A man was killed in a multi-vehicle crash early Monday morning on I-880 north of Floresta Boulevard.

     The collision occurred in the northbound lanes of the freeway at around 12:40 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

     The man’s name has not been released pending notification of his family. The CHP says he was driving a car that was apparently hit from behind causing it to spin into the center divider. It was then hit by another vehicle.

     The CHP says the collision is under investigation but drugs or alcohol don’t appear to be a factor.

     Anyone with any information is asked to call the CHP at 489-1500.

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Redwood Breaks Ground on Gym

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     Redwood Christian School broke ground on April 19 to launch the construction of the Bruce D. Johnson Gymnasium at its middle school and high school campus in San Lorenzo.

     The gym is named after the school’s superintendent emeritus, who served RCS for 42 years. Bruce Johnson joined Redwood Christian Schools in 1974 as a PE teacher and director of athletics. In 1986, he became the school’s second superintendent, retiring last June.

     Over 500 students and guests gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony. RCS Superintendent Al Hearne served as master of ceremonies. Bruce Johnson and Director of Athletics Jim Cleveland spoke on the history of the campus and the benefits of an on-site gymnasium.

CAPTION: Redwood Christian School breaks ground for a new middle school and high school gymnasium at its San Lorenzo campus. Pictured from left, director of advancement Mike Kady, business manager Ed Hubbard, board member Philip Carlton, architect Anthony Tabacco, general contractor Dan McNely, elementary principal Dale Huemoeller, superintendent Al Hearne, superintendent emeritus Bruce Johnson, founding superintendent Gus Enderlin, board member Harry Bruno, board member April Nunez, board member Steve Swanson, middle school and high school principal Ben Warner, and athletic director Jim Cleveland.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRESLOW IMAGING

Last Inning Rebel Rally Comes Up Short

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     A San Lorenzo rally in the final inning fell short by a run as Petaluma beat the Rebels, 5-4, in the first round of the North Coast Section Division 2 playoffs on Tuesday at San Lorenzo.

     San Lorenzo trailed, 5-2, going into the seventh inning. With their backs to the wall, Aaron Johnson led off with a sharp grounder fielded deep in the hole by the shortstop that Johnson beat out for a single.

     Angel Sanchez stepped up next and sent a shot to center that made San Lorenzo hopes come alive. The ball sailed over the center fielder’s head, and on one bounce went over the fence.

     Now the Rebels had Sanchez on second, Johnson on third, and the potential tying run at the plate.

     Petaluma brought in Connor Richardson to pitch in relief, as Jerrick Romer stepped up to the plate for the Rebels. After a couple of pitches, Richardson was called for a balk, advancing the runners one base and cutting the lead to 5-3.

     Then Romer sent a fly ball to center, enabling Sanchez at third to tag and score and cutting the lead to 5-4.

     The Rebels hopes were dashed, though, as the next two batters hit the ball sharply, but were both fielded by the shortstop for outs.

     “I thought we were going to come back,” Johnson said after the game. “We’ve been a comeback team all season. I wanted to win in my last high school game.”

     Sanchez, another senior, was also playing his last high school game, and he had that in mind when he stepped up to the plate and delivered the big hit.

     “We struggled the whole game and I was thinking this would be my last at-bat,” Sanchez said. “I thought the ball was going to go out. I was thinking – we’re in this!”

     In the third inning, Petaluma loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. That could have resulted in an insurmountable lead, but the Rebels managed to end the inning without a single runner crossing the plate.

     Johnson caught a fly ball in left field, and threw home to prevent the runner at third from scoring. The ball was overthrown at the plate, but pitcher Jonathan Sira was backing up the catcher. Sira fielded the ball off the backstop and tossed it to the catcher to tag the runner out.

     Sanchez plans to go to Laney College next year and to continue playing baseball. Johnson has a baseball scholarship to Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas. He intends to play the outfield as well as second base, as he looks to further his baseball career.

     “With my height, second base is good for the draft. I’m a utility player,” Johnson said.

Arroyo 14, Newark Memorial 1

     Arroyo beat Newark Memorial, 14-1, in a North Coast Section Division 2 playoff game at Arroyo.

     The Dons are scheduled to play on Friday but their opponent is yet to be decided.

CAPTION: San Lorenzo starting pitcher Jonathan Sira got out of a bases-loaded jam to hold Petaluma in the third inning.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Alameda Upsets Arroyo in League Playoffs, 4-1

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     Alameda High made the most of a couple of Arroyo mistakes on Tuesday for a 4-1 win in a game that was a pitcher’s duel for the first six innings.

     The loss knocks Arroyo out of the West Alameda County Conference (WACC) Foothill division playoffs, but the Dons will be in the North Coast Section playoffs starting next week.

     Jordan Kim led off the seventh inning for Alameda, beating out a ground ball, and a few batters later wound up on third. Then a throw to third by Arroyo reliever Jordan Perkins got away from third baseman Josh Romero and two runs scored.

     The Hornets added another run on Kyle Quilici’s line drive RBI single to left to make it 4-1 Alameda.

     “Every pitch matters in playoff baseball, especially when you’re playing a great team like Alameda,” said Arroyo coach Eric Anderson after the game. “A couple of miscues led to their runs.”

     The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth with Dons’ starting pitcher Brian Tan holding Alameda in check, and Alameda starter Brian Woo doing the same.

     But in the fifth, Bryan Rosario gave the Dons a 1-0 lead with a home run on a drive to the right-centerfield gap. Rosario tore around second base with the crowd yelling “Three!” But third base wasn’t Rosario’s final destination.

     One voice from the stands optimistically called out “Four!” And that’s where Rosario was headed, getting the wave to go for home from Anderson in the third base coaching box.

     “It was a fastball and I wanted to hit it hard,” said Rosario, who was just this week named WACC player of the year. “I just started running and coach Anderson waved me home.”

     The Dons had tried to break the deadlock with a squeeze play in the fourth inning, but it didn’t work. Adrian Padilla had led off the inning with a double to left, Tan followed with a base hit, and Josh Tanguma walked to load the bases.

     With Logan Britto at the plate, Padilla broke for home. But the pitch was outside and Britto couldn’t get the bat on it for a bunt. So Alameda catcher Austin Stenstedt tagged out Padilla to end the inning.

     Though they didn’t score until late in the game, Alameda threatened in the first inning. Max Nyrop led off with a walk, and advanced on a bad throw to first base.

     Austin Stenstedt hit a grounder that got through to left field and Nyrop headed home but the throw from the outfield to Rosario at the plate got him out.

     Alameda again threatened in the fifth with runners on second and third. But Tan got a strikeout to end the inning, and a cheer from the crowd in the Arroyo stands.

     The Dons next opponent isn’t yet known. The schedule for the NCS playoffs will be drawn up over the weekend.

CAPTION: Arroyo base runner Adrian Padilla heads for a slide into second base, but he was tagged out by Alameda shortstop Tristen Wiley.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Tan Tames Pirates, 3-1

BY JIM KNOWLES •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Brian Tan did what he likes to do on the mound, as Arroyo hosted San Leandro last Thursday.

     “I just like to have command of the game,” Tan said.

     And if his pitches are working right…

     “I feel it’s my game.”

     Tan held San Leandro to two hits and Arroyo won, 3-1.

     But as well as he pitched, you would think Tan would throw a complete game. Instead, with two outs in the last inning and nobody on base, Tan was pulled for a relief pitcher.

     But it wasn’t that Tan wasn’t effective. The reliever was Matt Gonzalez, who plays a variety of positions in the field as well as pitching.

     Gonzalez started out at San Leandro High as a freshman before moving to Arroyo.

     “He’s a senior and he really wanted to pitch against his old team,” said Arroyo head coach Eric Anderson.

     So Anderson, and Tan – in a nod to baseball tradition and sportsmanship – gladly let Gonzalez have the honor – and Gonzalez fanned the final batter to end the game.

     The Dons got all the runs they would need in the first inning. Josh Romero lined a single to centerfield, driving in Gonzalez to put Arroyo ahead, 2-0.

     In the second inning, Logan Britto led off with a single up the middle and moved to second on a ground ball out. Brian Rosario singled, and sent a liner over the head of Pirates third baseman Trevor Krug and the Dons took a 3-0 lead.

     Earlier, in the Pirates half of the second, Ethan Rich hit a solid line drive that would have gone a long ways, but Arroyo shortstop Adrian Padilla soared into the air to his right and snagged the ball in the web of his mitt before landing with a belly-flop in the dirt, as the Arroyo crowd cheered.

     Tan held San Leandro scoreless until the sixth when Alex Perreira led off for the Pirates with a base hit to right field. Perreira took second later on a bad throw and then stole third.

     Gerald Nervis grounded out to shortstop, but it was good for an RBI as Perreira came home on the play to cut Arroyo’s lead to 3-1.

     The lead held up as Tan and Gonzales closed out the seventh.

     “The chemistry on the team is great,” said Tam, who grew up playing in the Floresta, Washington Manor and San Lorenzo youth leagues. “We all have one goal, to win league.”

     Arroyo’s last game of the regular season is today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at home against Castro Valley. San Leandro plays today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at Berkeley.

CAPTION: Arroyo High pitcher Brian Tan practically went the distance against San Leandro last Thursday, but stepped aside to let teammate, and former Pirate, Matt Gonzalez chalk up the final out.   

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Pirates Battle in Stretch Drive for Playoff Spot

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  04-20-17

     The San Leandro High baseball team scored 3 runs in the sixth inning but it wasn’t enough to bounce back in a 9-3 loss at Alameda on Friday afternoon.

     Alameda starting pitcher Tristen Wiley held the Pirates in check through most of the game. San Leandro is now 5-5 this season in the East Bay Athletic League.

     San Leandro won both its games the previous week, beating San Lorenzo, 12-6, and Mt. Eden 1-0.

CAPTION: Hector Abarca entered the game in relief in the fourth inning for San Leandro High on Friday.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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San Leandro High Tennis Team Shuts Out Encinal, 7-0

BY JIM KNOWLES  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  03-30-17

     The San Leandro High boys tennis team beat Encinal, 7-0, last Thursday in the middle of the team’s best season in years.

     San Leandro is on a winning streak, beating Alameda and Arroyo the previous week.

     All the Pirates singles players and doubles teams won on Thursday, but the No. 1 doubles duo just about didn’t keep the shutout going.

     John Cristobal and Ghyle Negril took the first set, 6-0, against Rich Owens and Sam Brodnitz of Encinal. But in the second set, Encinal gave them a run for their money, before the Pirates team came back to eke out a 7-6 set score to win the match.

     “We need to step up,” Cristobal said after the match. “We got too comfortable and lost our focus.”

     Cristobal said teamwork was another factor.

     “I was going after every ball,” Cristobal said. “I had to let him take the shots he could.”

     Negril said they started playing better as a team by trusting each other to get the shot if one of them couldn’t reach the ball.

     “He comes though,” Negril said. “If a shot goes by me (at the net), he saves it.”

     In the No. 2 doubles match, Diego Mejia and Miguel Reyes of San Leandro beat Christian Collins and Ethan Filkins 6-2, 6-0.

     In No. 3 doubles, Wauson Liang and Sonny Lew of San Leandro beat Tristan Hilarip and Jacob Levine 6-2, 6-1.

     San Leandro also swept the singles matches. In the No. 1 singles match, Jefferson Lei of San Leandro beat Lam Tran 6-1, 6-0. In No. 2 singles, Ben Duong of San Leandro beat Yael Munoz 6-1, 6-2.

     In No. 3 singles, Yuyi Cai of San Leandro beat Theo Wismar 6-3, 6-2. And in No. 4 singles, Wesley Tat of San Leandro beat Dayne McDaniel 6-1, 6-0.

     The win gave San Leandro a 5-2 league record, first place in the Shoreline Division of the West Alameda County Conference (WACC).

     A lot of seniors are on the team this year who have played for the Pirates for four years.

     “The players are looking forward to going to the playoffs,” said San Leandro tennis coach Lisa Maral.

CAPTION: San Leandro No. 1 doubles player Ghyle Nebril returns a shot against Encinal on Thursday. Nebril and teammate John Cristobal went to a tie-breaker in the second set but held on to win their match.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

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Romero Throws 1-Hitter in Arroyo Win Over Encinal

BY JIM KNOWLES •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  03-23-17

     Arroyo starting pitcher Josh Romero threw a 1-hitter – with Alex Vallejo in relief – at home against Encinal last Friday to pave the way for an 8-0 win.

     Romero worked six innings with Bryan Rosario behind the plate to hold the Jets in check.

     Rosario also contributed at the plate. He went 4-for-4 – three singles and a double – with three RBIs and three runs scored.

     So both pitcher and catcher had their best game of the season so far.

     “I just tried to not be too aggressive at the plate today,” Rosario said after the game. “Just wait for a pitch in the strike zone, be more selective.”

     The Dons biggest inning came in the third with 3 runs after Rosario led off with a double, followed by Romero who got on base on an error. Then Josh Tanguma – who went 2-for-3 – stepped up and lined a single to left to load the bases.

     Adrian Padilla walked to bring in a run, and Jordan Perkins hit a fly to center to score Tanguma. Padilla rounded third and tried to score on the play, too, but was tagged out at home by Encinal catcher George Chabre.

     In the top of the fourth, the Jets got two runners on base – one on an error and then Osiris Johnson hit a single, the Jets only hit of the day. With a runner at third, Johnson stole second to put runners at second and third. But Romero got out of the jam, ending the inning with a ground ball out.

     Alex Vallejo pitched the seventh in relief of Romero and set down the Jets in order.

     Arroyo improved to 2-0 in league play, and 4-2-1 overall this season.

     “We had a tough non-league schedule and that prepared us for league play,” said Arroyo head coach Eric Anderson. “We’ve been clicking the last few games.”

     Arroyo will host Hayward this Friday at 4 p.m.

CAPTION: Josh Romero threw six innings and gave up only one hit and a walk, while striking out six Encinal batters.

PHOTO BY JIM KNOWLES

Original Work Up for Bids

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     Multi-media work created by the Artful Steps artists is on display at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., through June 30.

     Special features in this exhibit include digital art, popular mosaics, original prints and a special “My Little Pony” project.

     A reception with refreshments and a fashion show will be held on Thursday, June 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Karp Room. The event is free and the public is welcome. Artful Step’s enhances both the artistic abilities and the self-esteem of individuals with developmental disabilities.

     Craft booths featuring adult coloring books, bags, jewelry, Artful Steps note cards, and work created by the Artful Steps teachers will be available to purchase.

CAPTION: The Artful Steps exhibit at the library features a number of works, including “Planet of the Tiki Guys,” a mixed media and collage by Lolita Triplette.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 05-25-17

San Leandro Democratic Club

The San Leandro Democratic Club will meet tonight, May 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The guest speaker will be state Assemblyman Rob Bonta.

Muslim Panel Discussion

The Hayward Area Historical Society Museum presents Speaking for Ourselves: A Panel of Your Muslim Neighbors on Saturday, May 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. Five practicing Muslims discuss being Muslim in America, Islamophobia, the challenges of ISIS, and how we can be better neighbors and friends in our community.

4th Sunday Breakfast for Veterans

American Legion Post 117 will host 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.

Memorial Day Service

Lone Tree Cemetery at 24591 Fairview Ave. in Hayward will hold its 114th Annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 29, beginning at 11 a.m. with live band music, color guards and more.

San Leandro Cherry Festival

The 108th annual San Leandro Cherry Festival will be on Saturday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. near west Estudillo Ave. in the downtown area. The parade will start at 10 a.m. on San Leandro Blvd. Come for the family fun, entertainment, artisans, music, and a farmers’ market. Free bike valet service will be available.

Workshop for Democrats 

The Alameda County Democratic Party will present a free workshop for Democrats thinking of running for office on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, 1720 Marina Blvd. in San Leandro. Panels will explore personal and family impacts, campaign structure and components, fundraising, legal issues, and first steps.  ADA accessible. RSVP required. For more information, call 629-1336 or email info@acdems.org.

Japanese Community Bazaar 

The Eden Japanese Community Center, 710 Elgin St. in San Lorenzo, will have its annual bazaar on Saturday, June 10, from 3 to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with barbecued teriyaki chicken and rib dinner, sushi udon, chicken curry and shaved ice, plus raffle, bingo and games. Swing by, have some food and learn more about the programs the community center offers.

St. Gerard Women’s Club Luncheon 

St. Gerard Women’s Club invites everyone to its salad bar luncheon and fashion show, “Hats Off to Fashions,” showcasing vintage attire by the models from Goodwill Bags on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at at St. John’s Church Hall, 264 E. Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo. A salad bar luncheon starts at noon with a runway show to follow. There will be door prizes and a raffle. Admission is $15. To order tickets in advance call Eva Lowe at 586-0376. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

v A Presentation on Who are Sikhs?

Eden Area Interfaith Council and the Guru Granth Sahib Foundation (Sikh Gurdwara /Temple), Hayward invite you to a presentation on the Sikh faith on Sunday, June 11,  from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave. in Castro Valley. A Q&A session  will follow the presentation. Tea and Snacks will be provided.

Fall-Prevention for Seniors 

A free workshop in fall-prevention for seniors 60 and older will be held at the San Leandro Senior Center, 13909 East 14th St., from June 12 to July 31 on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. Register at the Senior Center by May 31. Openings for 15 people. The workshop by Spectrum Community Services is for anyone concerned about falls, or has fallen in the past, and is interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength.

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 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.

Pacific High School Class of 1967 Reunion

Pacific High School Class of 1967 will have its 50th reunion in June at the Marriott Hotel, 11950 Dublin Canyon Road in Pleasanton. A meet-and-greet will be on Friday, June 16, followed by a dinner-dance on Saturday, June 17 (the date the class graduated), and a Sunday breakfast on June 18. No payments accepted at the door. To register, or for more information, call Sue Ferreira Nunes at 209-830-7415. Information can also be found at PacificHighVikings.com.

SL 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.

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.

Caregiver Support Group

Join Geriatric Care Managers from Sutter Care at Home and peers to exchange ideas, share resources, have a laugh and vent to those who understand what you are going through. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month from 9 to 10 a.m. at the San Leandro Community Senior  Center, 13909 East 14th St. A one-on-one consultation can be arranged after the meeting. For more information, call 577-3462.

Artful Steps Artists Exhibit at SL Main Library 

Beautiful, multi-media work created by the Artful Steps artists with disabilities fills both the downstairs and upstairs galleries of the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., through June 30. Special features in this exhibit include digital art, popular mosaics, original prints and a special My Little Pony project. A reception with refreshments and a fashion show will be held on Thursday, June 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Karp Room. The event is free and the public is welcome. Artful Step’s mission is to enhance both the artistic abilities and the self-esteem of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Chanticleers Theatre

Elvis Has Left The Building runs from June 30 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.

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Hayward Museum Not So Proudly Presents Our Embarrassing History

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     The Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS) presents “Unmentionable: The Indiscreet Stories of Artifacts” now 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, uncomfortable and surprising artifacts in the HAHS collection.

     Museums, like the Hayward Area Historical Society, collect a wide assortment of artifacts that tell a story about a moment in time, a place, person or idea. While the physical artifact stays the same, the meaning and significance of that artifact can change depending on what’s happening in the world.

     With that thought in mind, the artifacts in this exhibition tell some not-so-great, but very important stories. Some of the items themselves are difficult to look at while others represent an idea or moment in time that is hard to comprehend in relation to our modern society and modern thinking. Other items may not seem so scandalous now but were at one time.

     “This exhibition is really about looking at artifacts in a different way,” said Curator Diane Curry. “Acknowledging that all these artifacts help tell the history of a community in some way but also recognizing that the story is not always a pleasant, happy one. Conversely, some artifacts are just downright gross, uncomfortable or controversial and rarely, if ever, displayed because of that. All together in one place, these artifacts make an intriguing statement about our history and how and what museums collect.”

     For more information, call 581-0223 or visit www.haywardareahistory.org.

CAPTION: Curator Diane Curry and Associate Archivist John Christian during install items for the exhibit at the Hayward Area Historical Society, Unmentionable: The Indiscreet Stories of Artifacts.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 05-18-17

Eagles Auxiliary Spring Breakfast

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary 1139 is having  a spring breakfast on Saturday, May 20, from 9 to11 a.m. at the Eagles Hall, 21406 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. The breakfast consists of scrambled eggs, ham, hash brown casserole, toast, juice, fruit, coffee and tea all for $10. Proceeds will go to benefit several local charities.

I.D.E.S. of Alvarado Street

I.D.E.S. of  Alvarado St. will have its annual Holy Ghost Festival on Saturday, and Sunday, May 20, and May 21, at the hall on 790 Antonio St. in San Leandro. Saturday’s program begins at 5 p.m. with a bazaar, traditional Portuguese folklore and concert by a marching band. Sunday’s  festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a parade. At 1:30 p.m. a traditional Portuguese meal of sopas de carne will be served. A dinner and dance starts at 7 p.m. and includes beef stew, wine, and sweet bread. Tickets are $15 per person. For tickets call 385-8247 or 635-3580.

Eden Garden Club Plant Sale 

The Eden Garden Club  Annual Plant Sale will be on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.in the Moose Lodge parking lot, 20835 Rutledge Road in Castro Valley. Lots of plants, annuals, perennials, bulbs, succulents and vegetables grown by club members, garden art, and baked goods. For more information, call 537-1268.

Shrimp Fest at the Alta Mira Club

The Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro, is having a shrimp fest on Saturday, May 20, with a social hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 and includes all-you-can-eat shrimp, pasta, salad, bread and ice cream. Plus a drawing for a 7-night stay at the Maui Lea Resort. Proceeds benefit the Alta Mira Club’s charitable purposes. For tickets, send a check to the Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave., San Leandro CA 94577. For more information, call 614-9680.

Davis Street Gala 

The 2017 Davis Street Family Resource Center Gala will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at the Sequoyah Country Club, 4550 Heafey Road in Oakland. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Black tie optional, mask included with each ticket. To purchase tickets, go to https://davisstreet.givezooks.com/events/copy-of-2017-davis-street-gala.

San Leandro Democratic Club

The San Leandro Democratic Club will meet on Thursday, May 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The guest speaker will be state Assemblyman Rob Bonta.

Muslim Panel Discussion

The Hayward Area Historical Society Museum presents Speaking for Ourselves: A Panel of Your Muslim Neighbors on Saturday, May 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at 22380 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. Five practicing Muslims discuss being Muslim in America, Islamophobia, the challenges of ISIS, and how we can be better neighbors and friends in our community.

St. Gerard Women’s Club Luncheon 

St. Gerard Women’s Club invites everyone to its salad bar luncheon and fashion show, “Hats Off to Fashions,” showcasing vintage attire by the models from Goodwill Bags on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at at St. John’s Church Hall, 264 E. Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo. A salad bar luncheon starts at noon with a runway show to follow. There will be door prizes and a raffle. Admission is $15. To order tickets in advance call Eva Lowe at 586-0376. Tickets will also be sold at the door.

Fall-Prevention for Seniors 

A free workshop in fall-prevention for seniors 60 and older will be held at the San Leandro Senior Center, 13909 East 14th St., from June 12 to July 31 on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. Register at the Senior Center by May 31. Openings for 15 people. The workshop by Spectrum Community Services is for anyone concerned about falls, or has fallen in the past, and is interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength.

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 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.

Pacific High School Class of 1967 Reunion

Pacific High School Class of 1967 will have its 50th reunion in June at the Marriott Hotel, 11950 Dublin Canyon Road in Pleasanton. A meet-and-greet will be on Friday, June 16, followed by a dinner-dance on Saturday, June 17 (the date the class graduated), and a Sunday breakfast on June 18. No payments accepted at the door. To register, or for more information, call Sue Ferreira Nunes at 209-830-7415. Information can also be found at PacificHighVikings.com.

SL 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.

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.

Caregiver Support Group

Join Geriatric Care Managers from Sutter Care at Home and peers to exchange ideas, share resources, have a laugh and vent to those who understand what you are going through. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the San Leandro Community Senior  Center, 13909 East 14th St., from 9 to 10 a.m. A one-on-one consultation can be arranged after the meeting. For more information, call 577-3462.

The Musical Mary Poppins at Principled Academy 

The Principled Academy Performing Arts Club will present the musical Mary Poppins on Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. at the Principled Academy, 2305 Washington Ave. in San Leandro. Tickets are $5 each (children under 3 are free).  For more information, call 351-6400.

Chanticleers Theatre

Elvis Has Left The Building runs from June 30 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.

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Classical Cambodian Dancer to Perform At San Leandro Library

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., presents a performance of Cambodian dance by Charya Burt on Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.

     Burt is an acclaimed master dancer, choreographer, vocalist and teacher of Classical Cambodian Dance who has injected new life into the dance form by creating classically inspired, inventive new works.

     Her training began shortly after the fall of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge Regime with the foremost surviving dance masters of Cambodia at the Royal University of Fine Arts. She eventually served on the dance faculty from 1989-1992. As a member of Cambodia’s Royal Dance Troupe, Charya toured nationally and internationally.

     After emigrating in 1993, Charya has been performing throughout the United States, including the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and as a featured dancer at the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Her original works have been presented by the Jacob’s Pillow Festival, World Arts West, CounterPULSE, UC Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

CAPTION: Charya Burt, a master dancer, choreographer, vocalist and teacher will perform next week at the San Leandro Main Library.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 05-11-17

Bike to Happy Hour

Bike East Bay will have a Bike to Work Day happy hour at The Englander Pub, 101 Parrott St. in San Leandro, on Thursday, May 11, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Hearing Loss Association Meeting

A meeting of the Hearing Loss Association will meet on Saturday, May 13, at the Oakland Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fabiola Bldg., 3801 Howe St., lower level, room G26. Refreshments offered at 9:30 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. Steve Sells hearing-impaired engineer will be the speaker. Park free on Saturday in the garage across from Howe St. For more information, email athos.artist@att.net or call Kay at 886-4717.

Join the Marines for Coffee

Don’t be just a former Marine, join other Marines, past and present, once a month on the second Saturday,  May 13, at 0900 hours at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1105 Bancroft Avenue, San Leandro, following the tradition of “Once a Marine, Always a Marine,” for coffee, doughnuts and friendship. All are welcome. For more information, call Bobby Ferreira at 460-0636.

Friends of  San Leandro Creek

The next meeting of the Friends of San Leandro Creek will be on Tuesday, May 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Creek Clean-Up day will be on Saturday, May 20, from 9:30 a.m.  to 12:30 p.m. at Root Park, 1033 East 14th St. Refreshments will be provided. A waiver is required for those under 14 years old and must be accompanied by an adult.

Eden Garden Club Plant Sale 

The Eden Garden Club  Annual Plant Sale will be on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.in the Moose Lodge parking lot, 20835 Rutledge Road in Castro Valley. Lots of Plants, annuals, perennials, bulbs, succulents and vegetables grown by club members, garden art, and baked goods. For more information, call 537-1268.

Shrimp Fest at the Alta Mira Club

The Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave. in San Leandro, is having a shrimp fest on Saturday, May 20, with a social hour at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 and includes all-you-can-eat shrimp, pasta, salad, bread and ice cream. Plus a drawing for a 7-night stay at the Maui Lea Resort. Proceeds benefit the Alta Mira Club’s charitable purposes. For tickets, send a check to the Alta Mira Club, 561 Lafayette Ave., San Leandro CA 94577. For more information, call 614-9680.

I.D.E.S. of Alvarado St.

I.D.E.S. of  Alvarado St. will have its annual Holy Ghost Festival on Saturday, and Sunday, May 20, and May 21, at the hall on 790 Antonio St. in San Leandro. Saturday’s Program begins at 5 p.m. with Baza, traditional Portuguese Folklore and concert by marching band. Sunday’s dinner and dance starts at 7 p.m. and includes beef stew, wine, and sweet bread. Tickets are $15 per person. For tickets call 385-8247 or 635-3580.

Davis Street Gala 

The 2017 Davis Street Family Resource Center Gala will be held on Wednesday, May 24, at the Sequoyah Country Club, 4550 Heafey Road in Oakland. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Black tie optional, mask included with each ticket. To purchase tickets, go to https://davisstreet.givezooks.com/events/copy-of-2017-davis-street-gala.

San Leandro Democratic Club

The San Leandro Democratic Club will meet on Thursday, May 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. The guest speaker will be state Assemblyman Rob Bonta.

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 703-0933. No tickets accepted at the door.

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.

Pacific High School Class of 1967 Reunion

Pacific High School Class of 1967 will have its 50th reunion in June at the Marriott Hotel, 11950 Dublin Canyon Road in Pleasanton. A meet-and-greet will be on Friday, June 16, followed by a dinner-dance on Saturday, June 17 (the date the class graduated), and a Sunday breakfast on June 18. No payments accepted at the door. To register, or for more information, call Sue Ferreira Nunes at 209-830-7415. Information can also be found at PacificHighVikings.com.

SL 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.

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.

Caregiver Support Group

Join Geriatric Care Managers from Sutter Care at Home and peers to exchange ideas, share resources, have a laugh and vent to those who understand what you are going through. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the San Leandro Community Senior  Center, 13909 East 14th St., from 9 to 10 a.m. A one-on-one consultation can be arranged after the meeting. For more information, call 577-3462.

Fall-Prevention for Seniors 

A free workshop in fall-prevention for seniors 60 and older will be held at the San Leandro Senior Center, 13909 East 14th St., from June 12 to July 31 on Mondays from 9 to 11 a.m. Register at the Senior Center by May 31. Openings for 15 people. The workshop by Spectrum Community Services is for anyone concerned about falls, or has fallen in the past, and is interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength.

The Musical Life is Good! 

This year’s free annual spring musical, Life is Good! will be presented by “Vertical” on Friday, May 12, at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. at the 3-Crosses Main Auditorium, 20600 John Drive in Castro Valley, and am opening mini concert titled Once Upon a Parable presented by Project Praise. This is the 10th anniversary of the Community Christian Kids’ Choirs that features kids from all over Castro Valley and the surrounding area.

Cambodian Dance Performance 

In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., presents a performance of Cambodian dance by Charya Burt on Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Burt is an acclaimed master dancer, choreographer, vocalist and teacher of Classical Cambodian Dance who has injected new life into the dance form by creating classically inspired, inventive new works.

The Musical Mary Poppins at Principled Academy 

The Principled Academy Performing Arts Club will present the musical Mary Poppins on Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. at the Principled Academy, 2305 Washington Ave. in San Leandro. Tickets are $5 each (children under 3 are free).  For more information, call 351-6400.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR • 05-04-17

Beach Boys Tribute Band at the Library

In celebration of Older Americans Month, surf on down to the San Leandro Public Library on Saturday, May 6, from 2 to 3 p.m. for some good vibrations from the Rip-TiDes, a vintage, ’60s-style, rock ‘n’ roll band. The retro rockin’ band performs a variety of ’60s garage band standards, early Beatles, classic Beach Boys and related vocals, surf and lounge instrumentals, and some unique cool tunes.

Keep Music Rockin’ Benefit

Three San Leandro bands will perform to benefit the Keep Music Rockin’ Foundation (KMR), on Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at the Bal Theatre, 14808 East 14th St. in San Leandro. The lineup will be In Your Head (SL High/Rock), Pugsley and the Dugger Brothers (Rock/Country Blues), and The San Leandroids (80’s Cover and Rock). Refreshments and drinks will be sold. Tickets ($25 for adults and $5 for students) are available at the door or on-line through The Bal Theatre website: www.baltheatre.com. KMR is a non-profit organization that supports public school and music programs.

Chihuahua Palooza 

Small dogs will be up for adoption on Saturday, May 6, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Chihuahua Palooza at the Hayward Animal Shelter, 16 Barnes Court in Hayward. Chihuahuas, chihuahua mixes, and other small dogs are available. See the doggie fashion shows at 1:30 and 3 p.m. Half-priced spay/neuter vouchers available. Adoption fee of $20 includes spay/neuter, 5-in-1 canine vaccination, Bordatella and rabies vaccination, and a microchip.

Cinco de Mayo Film at SL History Museum

The San Leandro History Museum, 320 W. Estudillo Ave., will screen Cinco de Mayo: La Batalla, a film telling the true story of why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated, on Saturday, May 6, at 11:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Admission is free. The film is rated R for the violence of the battle scenes. In Spanish with English subtitles.

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

I.D.E.S. of Saint John, 1670 Orchard Ave. in San Leandro, will have a Spaghetti Lunch & Bingo on Saturday, May 6, at noon. Lunch is $10 per person and includes three bingo cards, extra cards are 25 cents apiece. Please bring canned food for the food drive. For more information, call Willie Calvo at 635-6326 or Helder Quadros at 357-5846.

70th Annual Spring Rose Show 

Visit the East Bay Rose Society’s 70th Annual Spring Rose Show on Sunday, May 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. in Oakland. Admission is free. The East Bay Rose Society also welcomes the public to its meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Park Garden Center. For more information visit www.eastbayroses.org or call Barbara at 525-4057.

San Leandro Rotary Club Grant

The Rotary Club of San Leandro’s community grant application is now open through May 5. Grant guidelines and an application can be found at www.sanleandrorotary.org under Community Grant Documents.

Garden Show and Luncheon

A Garden Show and luncheon will be presented on Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Lorenzo High School, 50 E. Lewelling Blvd. in San Lorenzo. The school will have its one-acre native plant garden open for the Bringing Back the Natives free self-guided tour of its native plant gardens in the East Bay. Plant sale, and informative talks will be taking place. For more information, visit www.bringingbackthenatives.net or call Steve Wiley 305-0153.

Film on Single-Payer Health Care Plan

A film and discussion on single-payer health care will be presented on Sunday, May 7, from 2 o 4 p.m. at the San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande in San Lorenzo. See the film, Now Is the Time, followed by a discussion on health care for all. Light snacks. Wheelchair accessible. For more information, email aruchlis@gmail.com.

BIKE San Leandro 

The San Leandro Downtown Association will host a free, family-friendly bicycle ride, BIKE SL, on Sunday, May 7, to celebrate biking in San Leandro. Bicyclists will meet at The Englander Pub, 101 Parrott St., beginning at 9 a.m. for check-in. The ride to the San Leandro Marina and back will begin at 10 a.m., led by a police escort. Everyone in the ride must fill out the waiver which can be downloaded at www.sanleandrodowntownassociation.org. Event organizers remind everyone to wear a helmet.

Eagles Lunch & Bingo 

The Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) Auxiliary 1139 will host a charity bingo luncheon on Monday, May 8, at noon at the Eagles Hall, 21406 Foothill Blvd. in Hayward. Chicken and rice, veggies, salad, rolls, dessert, coffee and tea will be served.  For a donation of $8 you will also receive one bingo card. Bring a friend and join the group for a fun afternoon. For more information, call 584-1568.

Art Demonstration by Susan Ashley

Experimental artist, Susan Ashley will demonstrate her style of painting at the next meeting of the San Leandro Art Association on Tuesday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. Admission is free.

Sons In Retirement Meetings

SIRs, an  organization of retired men, meets on the second Wednesday of each month at the Wedgewood Center at the Metropolitan Golf Links, 10051 Doolittle Dr. in  Oakland. Happy Hour starts at 11 a.m., followed by lunch at noon. Great guest speakers. Guests are welcome. Come and meet new friends. For more information, call Mel at 357-0601.

Bingo de Mayo

All Saints Episcopal Church, 911 Dowling Blvd. in San Leandro will have a Bingo de Mayo celebration on Saturday, May 13, beginning at 5 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the church and its house-building mission in Tijuana, Mexico. For $25 you can get 6 cards for 7 Bingo rounds with prize gift cards ranging in value from $50 to $250. Total value of prizes over $900. In addition to the bingo fun a Mexican Food Buffet with taquitos, empanadas, and churros will be offered. Purchase your tickets today at http://tinyurl.com/BingoDeMayo.

Hearing Loss Association Meeting

A meeting of the Hearing Loss Association will meet on Saturday, May 13, at the Oakland Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Fabiola Bldg., 3801 Howe St., lower level, room G26. Refreshments offered at 9:30 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. Steve Sells hearing-impaired engineer will be the speaker. Park free on Saturday in the garage across from Howe St. For more information, email athos.artist@att.net or call Kay at 886-4717.

Mads Tolling Quartet at CV Center for the Arts 

The Mads Tolling Quartet will present an eclectic concert of jazz, classical and Hollywood selections on Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Castro Valley Center for the arts, 19501 Redwood Road. Tolling is a two-time Grammy winner whose five CDs have received rave reviews in major publications. Tickets cost from $20 to $25 and available online at www.cvartsfoundation.org; or at the Center Box Office, 19501 Redwood Road, Thursdays and Fridays 3 to 5 p.m. or phone 889-8961; or at the CV Adult School, 4430 Alma Ave.

Lighten Up for Spring at CV Center for the Arts

Brian Copeland and 10 other comics will perform in another evening of uproarious laughter on Saturday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at the Castro Valley Center for the arts, 19501 Redwood Road. Suitable for ages 14 and up. Tickets cost from $40 to $60 and are available at the door.

Singin’ In The Rain Bancroft Musical Theatre 

Bancroft Musical Theatre presents Singin’ In The Rain, opening on Saturday, May 13, at 8 p.m. at the San Leandro High School Performing Arts Center, 2250 Bancroft Ave. with an opening night fundraising gala from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the lobby. The gala will boast live entertainment, “mocktails,” heavy hors d’oeuvres, a raffle, interviews from the cast and creative team and more. Tickets for the opening night gala can be purchased at the door and are $25 per person and include preferred seating. Sinigin In The Rain has a seven-show run: May at 13, 18, 19 and 20 at 8p.m., and May 14, 20 and 21 at 2:30 p.m. In an effort to make live theatre more accessible to San Leandro Families tickets are only $5.

Cambodian Dance Performance 

In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the San Leandro Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., presents a performance of Cambodian dance by Charya Burt on Thursday, May 18, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Burt is an acclaimed master dancer, choreographer, vocalist and teacher of Classical Cambodian Dance who has injected new life into the dance form by creating classically inspired, inventive new works.

Public Opinion Sought on Sheriff’s Office Practices

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     The Alameda County Sheriff’s office will be evaluated by an independent accreditor next month as part of a process law enforcement voluntarily go through.

     The public has a chance to share their thoughts about the sheriff’s department with the evaluators.

     On Monday, June 19,  two assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive to examine all aspects of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center and Emergency Services Dispatch policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

     The accreditation process recognizes professional excellence achieved by adhering to law enforcement best practices. Accredited agencies undergo periodic assessment to verify their adherence to specific standards.

     Accreditation lasts for three years.

     As part of the on-site assessment, interested agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by phone at (925) 551-6914 on Tuesday, June 20,  between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The telephone line provides the caller with direct access to the CALEA assessors.

     Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes in length and must address the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center or Emergency Services Dispatch’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. Those interested in reviewing the standards prior to the meeting are encouraged to call (925) 551-6970 for Regional Training Center and (510) 667-7721 for Emergency Services Dispatch.

     Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to comply with the standards of accreditation may mail them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

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DA Settles Suit Against Discount Store Chain for Illegal Dumping

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, together with 34 other California district attorneys recently announced a settlement with Big Lots Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries for violations of environmental policies.

     The civil settlement is the culmination of the prosecutors’ investigation into Big Lots’ unlawful disposal of hazardous waste at its stores across the state and at its distribution center. There is a Big Lots Store at 20800 Mission Boulevard in Cherryland.

     The parties agreed to a court judgment that orders Big Lots to pay $3,507,500 in civil penalties, costs, and supplemental environmental projects.

     Big Lots generates hazardous waste through chemical product spills, damaged containers of chemical products, customer returns, and similar events. The hazardous waste includes corrosive and ignitable liquids, toxic materials, batteries, and electronic devices and other e-waste.

     Prosecutors pursued this enforcement action after discovering Big Lots had failed to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste at its 206 California retail stores and at its distribution center in Rancho Cucamonga.

     According to the lawsuit, Big Lots employees disposed of hazardous waste in ordinary dumpsters bound for local landfills unpermitted to accept the waste, rather than having the waste lawfully transported to authorized hazardous waste facilities as they should have.

     “Retailers must ensure the hazardous wastes they generate are not simply disposed of at local landfills not authorized or designed to accept hazardous waste,” said O’Malley in a written statement.

     “Failure to provide for proper management and disposal of hazardous waste violates fundamental environmental laws and constitutes unfair business practices. Today’s statewide settlement is another important step in the direction toward environment protection and a level playing field for businesses that comply with environmental protection laws.”

     After prosecutors alerted Big Lots to the violations, the company cooperated throughout the continued investigation.

     Big Lots’ stores are now managing and disposing of hazardous waste through licensed transporters who dispose of the waste at authorized hazardous waste facilities.

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Photo of Fruit Seller Cuffed by Deputy in SLz Sparks Anger

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     On May 9, a passerby took a photo of a man who had been selling fruit on the street at the corner of Delano Street and Ashland Avenue in San Lorenzo and had been handcuffed by a deputy who was rifling though his belongings.

     The photo sparked immediate outrage, with over 3,000 comments on the Alameda County Sheriff’s Facebook berating the law enforcement agency and accusing them of everything from having nothing better to do than hassle a man trying to make a living to outright racism.

     The sheriff’s office responded with the explanation that the man was selling the fruit illegally and that the fruit hasn’t been inspected and could be potentially dangerous.

     The sheriff’s office added that, when the deputy stopped and questioned the man, he began to run and he was later found to be on probation for a crime they did not disclose and was in violation of that probation.

     The sheriff’s office statement from Sgt. Ray Kelly reads in part:

     “Some people have used this photo as an opportunity to criticize law enforcement and drive a wedge between us and our immigrant, minority and low income communities.

     “Selling food on street corners violates county ordinances and public health codes. Persistent street vending harms local businesses, especially small, start-up food vendors and poses certain health risks.

     “The Sheriff’s Office supports every individual’s right to make a living. We often use our discretion to not arrest or cite people because it can put a tremendous financial burden on them and their family.

     “We would much rather have a positive interaction than a negative one. However, it is also our responsibility to uphold laws and protect the public safety including the safety of the illegal vendor.”

     Responders on social media weren’t happy with the sheriff’s office’s explanation.

     “Arresting a fruit vendor for trying to sell fruit to make ends meet is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen,” wrote one poster on the sheriff’s Facebook page. “The ‘explanation’ was wholly unconvincing. Do some real police work, stop targeting people for petty “offenses.’”

     Another man wrote “You cops ask the public to respect you and this is how you treat the public. This is the exact reason why people don’t talk to cops, or have any respect for your officers. It is you who drive the wedge... Low IQs, inflated egos, the sheer craving for power, have taken over any sort of common sense cops have. I have not seen a cop deescalate a situation in years, but I have seen cops purposely escalate.”

     The man in the handcuffs was arrested for resisting the officer because he tried to run, Kelly said.

CAPTION: Someone posted this photo of a man selling fruit on the street in San Lorenzo on social media and thousands responded with outrage to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, who later reposted it on their Facebook and offered an explanation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ACSO

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Sheriff’s Deputy Killed In Car Crash on I-580

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     An Alameda County Sheriff’s deputy was killed last week in a collision with a commuter bus carrying Tesla employees on eastbound I-580 at the Altamont pass, east of Livermore.

     Deputy Sroeuy Khin, was rear-ended by the bus carrying about 50 employees on their way to Stockton at around 7 a.m. on Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

     Khin was driving to his home in the Central Valley following an overnight shift at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

     The father-of-four was a 10-year veteran of the sheriff’s office who would have turned 51 the day after the fatal crash.

     The CHP said Khin was driving slowly or possibly stopped in the number two lane when his Volkswagen Beetle was hit by the bus, which was estimated to be traveling at around 65 m.p.h.

     The bus driver is cooperating with the ongoing investigation of the collision and at this time drugs or alcohol are not believed to have been a factor.

     Anyone with additional information about the crash is asked to call the CHP’s Dublin office at (925) 828-0466.

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Man Arrested for Lewd Public Act and Indecent Exposure at Bayfair BART

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     A man was arrested for allegedly committing an indecent public act at the Bayfair BART station last Saturday morning.

     A station agent saw the suspect, 23, masturbating at the station at around 11:30 a.m. on May 13 and called for police, according to BART police.

     Officers arrived and detained the man and found he was on probation for a previous undisclosed sex offence.

     Police are also investigating him in relation to a petty theft allegation.

     He was arrested for suspicion of lewd conduct and indecent exposure and is currently being held at Santa Rita jail in Dublin in lieu of $10,000 bail.

     The suspect is next scheduled to appear at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland this week to enter a plea and attend a revocation of probation hearing.

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Arrest in Castro Valley Homicide, Arson

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     A Stockton man who was already in police custody confessed to the Dec. 13 murder of 59-year-old optician Andrea St. John at her home on Grove Way in Castro Valley.

     At a press conference Monday morning, Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern said that Luckie Dacanay, 36, has confessed to stabbing St. John to death and lighting her Castro Valley home on fire to destroy evidence.

     Dacanay has been charged with homicide and special circumstances including burglary, robbery, and murder with torture.

     Ahern called the confession a “break in the case” as the sheriff’s department was still looking for a suspect when Dacanay admitted to the killing.

     “He made statements to staff at San Joaquin County jail…an admission to being a suspect,” said Ahern. “He provided us with information only a suspect would know.”

     Dacanay has been in the San Joaquin County Jail for an alleged sexual assault on a family member since February.

     At this time, it appears threat St. John’s death was a random act resulting from a burglary gone wrong.

     “We believe the suspect went to the residence in the late evening to commit a burglary, to steal some items from the garage,” said Ahern. “At some point he was confronted by the victim. He was walking around and just randomly picked this residence. It’s just a terrible  circumstance.”

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Big Rig Fire a Big Mess

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     A big rig truck carrying freeway median segments that was traveling westbound on I-580 caught fire Monday afternoon at around 1 p.m., just east of the Eden Canyon exit in Castro Valley. All lanes of the freeway were shut down as the crew fought the fire, and by 6 p.m. three lanes were still closed, snarling traffic for miles. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No one was injured.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ACFD

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SL Teen Among BART Mob

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     Two out of the potentially dozens of suspects in last week’s BART train mob robbery have been arrested, and one is a San Leandro High student.

     The San Leandro suspect, a minor whose name is not being released, was taken into custody last Friday.

     A second teen suspect, a 15-year-old Oakland boy, was arrested in the aftermath of a separate robbery.

     Oakland police say that he and two other teens mugged a woman and stole her purse on the 6200 block of Camden Street on Friday afternoon, which was witnessed by a plainclothes police officer.

     The teens suspects then led police on a car chase to the area of I-880 and Hegenberger Road where they abandoned the car and were briefly chased on foot before cops caught up and arrested all three.

     The San Leandro and Oakland suspects were identified from train camera footage as having participated in the BART robbery with dozens of other suspects.

     On April 22, up to 60 teens jumped the fare gate at the Coliseum BART station, boarded a Dublin/Pleasanton bound train, and robbed approximately 10 passengers of their bags and phones. Some of the passengers were hit, but no weapons were apparently used.

     The teens then exited the train and fled the area.

     “The fact this juvenile was out committing a robbery in another jurisdiction with other minors just days following the BART incident is testament of the need for agencies to work together collaboratively to solve regional issues and share resources and intelligence data,” said BART police chief Jeff Jennings in a written statement. “I’ve called for a regional taskforce to meet this week to develop a plan. I want to thank Oakland Police for their role in bringing this juvenile and others into custody.”

     BART police will continue to work towards identifying the suspects involved in the Coliseum incident, Jennings said.

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Two Shot in Cherryland Drive-By

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     Two men where shot and seriously injured last week in Cherryland.

     Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of shots fired near the intersection of Meekland and Medford avenues in unincorporated Hayward at around 7:30 p.m. on April 25.

     When they arrived at the scene, the deputies discovered two victims in a parked car suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the sheriff’s office.

     Both men were taken to the hospital. Their identities have not been released.

     The preliminary investigation indicates a drive-by shooting, authorities said. At this time, there is no motive or suspect information.

     Several shell casings were found in the street, the sheriff’s office said.

     Authorities are asking any residents with security cameras in the area to check their footage and if they see anything unusual, to call 667-7721.

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Residential Burglary Suspect Nabbed

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-04-17

     A man was arrested last week, suspected of burglarizing a home on Cape Cod Drive.

     Officers arrived at the home around 1 p.m.  on April 26 and the suspect had recently fled the area, according to Lt. Isaac Benabou of the San Leandro police.

     Detectives found that there were security cameras in the area and viewed surveillance footage to get a description of the suspect and his car.

     About 90 minutes later, police found the suspect near 106th Avenue in Oakland  and arrested a 20-year-old Oakland man.

     Benabou said the suspect was in possession of a loaded gun at the time of his arrest.

     The man is currently being held at Santa Rita jail in Dublin in lieu of $130,000 bail.

     He faces potential charges of first degree residential burglary, carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, and additional gun enhancements.

     He is scheduled to have a pretrial hearing at the Hayward Hall of Justice today, May 4.

Top 10 Reasons Lenders Fail To Close on Time

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-25-17

     With lenders boasting 15-to-21-day closings, sellers are shocked when escrows fail to close on time. Since delays are usually loan-related, here’s our Top 10 Reasons lenders fail to deliver:

     10. Quitting jobs: Strange but true, buyers must be employed up until the day escrow closes, and your employer should not know you are quitting.

     9. Switching jobs: Any change in your occupation during escrow will result in a minimum two-week delay.

     8. Acquiring new debt: Buying furniture, a new car or even another property will change your debt ratios and could scuttle your existing deal.

     7. Losses taken as write-offs: Self-employed individuals writing off losses frequently fail to understand that this lowers their gross income by the same amount. Write off too much loss and your income might no longer qualify.

     6. Overestimating income: All income from all sources needs to be correctly documented and seasoned. If not, it will not qualify and your anticipated loan amount could drop substantially.

     5. New construction: If your purchase is new construction, any number of things can cause delays: city inspections, certificates of occupancy, PG&E, water and HOA issues are some of the potential disrupters.

     4. Pregnancy leave: Couples frequently count the wife’s income while on maternity leave, but fail to understand that a lender will not allow for that income until the wife has been back to work and collected at least one full-time pay stub. The reason is obvious: some mothers see life differently after junior arrives and elect to take more time off or even quit.

     3. Disability leave: The same as above. If it’s a long-term disability, then lenders question whether the person will return to work at all. Lenders will require both a clearance to return and a full pay stub to count the income.

     2. Failing to sign disclosures on time: Many buyers think the disclosures are contract docs and want to examine them in detail. Any delays in returning the disclosures guarantees a delay in the loan process.

     1. Delays in submitting required documentation: Tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements — when a lender asks for docs, they must be submitted immediately. Any delays will slow down the loan, making this the No. 1 reason loans fail to fund on time.

     Want your loan to close on time? While it’s sometimes the lender’s fault, usually the responsibility for delays… falls a bit closer to home.

     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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How do I clean grilling grease stains from my patio bricks?

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-25-17

Q: The patio bricks underneath my grill tend to catch a lot of grease and oil drippings. I clean up after every barbecue, but there are still stains on the brick from the grease. How can I get these up without bleaching out the spots?

A: With porous surfaces like brick and concrete, oil stains can set in and be tough to get out. Your instinct to avoid using bleach or another type of acid to clean up the stains (like lemon juice) is right on. These can just make things worse and can discolor some types of paving.

     Clearing the grease stain may take a few attempts with a number of cleaning agents. Start with the least harmful materials, most of which can be found in your kitchen or garage.

     First, fill an old coffee mug with warm water, a couple of tablespoons of dish soap and a teaspoon of salt. Grab a clean synthetic scrubber brush (like a dishwashing brush). Scrub the stain with the soapy water and rinse with warm water, repeating a few times and letting the bricks dry out to see the results in between each try.

     If that doesn’t clear the stain, you can try an oil-stain cleaner purchased at your local home-improvement store. Some DIYers recommend applying an engine degreaser and letting it sit for about an hour, but test any cleaning agent or degreaser on an inconspicuous spot first.

     The sad truth is that it’s unlikely any cleaner, commercial or homemade, will completely clear away the grease stain. More powerful or acidic cleaning agents could damage the brick, so they should be avoided. If the stain is really bad, consider replacing the brick. If it’s not too bad, clean the area as best you can and cover it with a grill mat to prevent further staining.

     Home Tip: To prevent your grill’s grease and oil drips from staining your patio or deck surface, place a grill mat underneath, and clean up spills promptly.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

CAPTION: Use a grilling mat to help prevent grease from staining your patio surface.

Staging Serves Sellers Well

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-18-17

     With data confirming the positive effects staging has on home sales, the question is not, “Should we stage?” but “How should we stage?”

     With various levels of staging possible, sellers can choose the type they feel best suits their needs.

     Level 1: Re-organizational Staging

     Rather than bring in furniture, pictures and accents, re-organizational staging focuses on moving existing belongings around to maximize spaces. Starting with de-cluttering, the goal is to boost the appearance of the home for the lowest cost. This type of staging is often done by realtors themselves.

     Level 2: Partial Staging

     A stager goes through a home and determines what furniture can remain and what should be removed.

     Since buyers, especially Millennials, are looking for homes with contemporary looks, the stager will bring in furniture and accents as needed to elevate the overall appearance.

     Partial stages are difficult for two reasons: (1) the stager must find items that match the existing décor and (2) while a partial stage is usually as much work as a full stage, sellers expect to pay less. Many professional staging companies will not do partial stages.

     Level 3: Full Staging

     This is the level preferred by all if cost is no issue. Once a home has been emptied of its belongings, the staging company has a blank slate on which to perform their art. They bring in a full range of furniture and decorations designed to maximize the home.

     Level 4: Virtual Staging

     For those who want a full stage but do not have the budget, virtual staging will “fill” the home with graphically generated items.

     Realtors send the Virtual Stagers pictures of empty rooms and receive back fully furnished images. Some agents believe this type of staging to be dishonest. “Full staging,” they insist, “helps buyers experience the space as it might be. With virtual staging, buyers come because of the pictures and are disappointed or frustrated the rooms are actually empty.” See: www.virtualstagingsolutions.com.

     Level 5: Faux Staging

     Instead of real furniture, stagers insert plastic representations that show how a space might be utilized. Rather than showing up with trucks, stagers arrive with bags of items they assemble on site. While the cost is certainly less, the effect can be less effective as well. See: www.vimeo.com/110905750#t=0s

     Real or faux, full or partial; now you have choices. Just make sure the level you choose works the best for your target audience.

     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.

Do Your Electrical Outlets Sit Straight?

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-18-17

     When cover plates on electric outlets don’t sit flush with the wall, it is likely that the receptacles themselves, or their housing, are misaligned. This can be caused by the screws holding the receptacle in place being loose, or the housing (the junction box) not being properly secured.

     Because the receptacle or junction box doesn’t sit straight, the cover plate doesn’t sit straight, hence, the gap between the cover plates and the wall.

     Turn off power to the crooked outlets, at the circuit panel. To make sure power is no longer reaching an outlet, plug a radio or a lamp into each of the two outlets of the receptacle. If they stay off, power is most likely off. However, always treat electrical hardware and wiring as if it is live.

     Remove the cover plate and take a look at the small screws on either side of the receptacle. If they’re loose, tighten them so that the receptacle sits straight within the metal junction box.

     Straightening the receptacle should fix the cover-plate alignment problem. However, if it doesn’t, check to see if the junction box itself is straight. It may have been installed at a bad angle.

     If this is the case, adjusting the box is more complicated. You’ll have to remove the receptacle, disconnecting its wires and labeling them so that you are able to reconnect them correctly. Then you’ll have to unscrew the junction box from the stud, use a level to find the correct angle, drill a new hole or holes in the stud, then attach the junction box via the new holes, rewire the receptacle and put it back in place.

     This can be time consuming and frustrating, because you are working in a tiny space. If you’ve never wired up a receptacle or light switch before, there are several risks involved, from damaging the receptacle to injuring yourself.

     In many cases, the first fix — tightening the receptacle screws — generally does the trick. However, if the second issue arises, consider the amount of work involved and whether you’re confident in doing it. If you’re not sure you can do it, consider having a licensed electrician come in to straighten the junction boxes and give the house’s entire electrical system a look over for any other issues.

     Home Tip: Use a small appliance, like a radio, lamp or a fan, to test whether power is reaching an outlet, by plugging the appliance into it.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

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What Rubs Buyers the Wrong Way?

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Although hard to believe in this hot market, there are properties not performing in sync with the rest. Instead of multiple offers, some receive only one, often under asking price. Others languish with no contracts in sight.

     What keeps a listing from selling like other surrounding homes?

     First, the obvious adage, “Anything sells for the right price,” is absolutely true. Homes priced higher than the market is the No. 1 reason homes don’t sell, even if they are spectacular. Assuming the seller got the price right, what other factors might keep buyers at bay? Here are our Top 6:

     1. Odors

     Nothing gets a buyer back out the door faster than a nasty smell. Odors from pets top the list, followed by food (think curry or fried fish), mildew and mustiness.

     2. Small Rooms

     In this era of openness, small rooms are a huge turnoff, especially bedrooms. Cramped living spaces are next, with buyers stating preferences for open spaces such a great room instead of individual kitchens, living and dining rooms.

     3. Popcorn Ceilings

     While many “acoustic” ceilings do not have asbestos, the thought that they might dissuades many buyers. Introduced in the 1950s to help lower construction costs, “popcorn” is messy to remove and retexture. If it does contain asbestos, then removal must be done by licensed professionals.

     4. Wall-to-Wall Carpet

     While wall-to-wall carpets were a staple for decades, today’s buyers want hardwood or laminate flooring. A standard practice for selling older homes is to remove all the carpets and polish or refinish the hardwood floors hidden underneath. If there is no existing hardwood, remove old carpets and install laminate in its place.

     5. Wallpaper

     Walk through any builder’s model home or upscale hotel and you’ll see contemporary wallpaper in abundance. While it looks good in those venues, visit older homes and you are likely to see 1980’s country-styled wallpaper complete with bunnies and ducks. Buyers … hate it.

     6. Original Kitchens

     Complete with laminate counters and Harvest Gold appliances, these kitchens were all the rage a few decades ago and a sure turnoff for contemporary buyers. Most buyers have no idea how to upgrade a kitchen, so they keep going until they find a kitchen they like. The same applies to bathrooms.

     It’s all about first impressions, and sellers that spend the necessary time and money to remove buyer obstacles will usually be rewarded with a quick sale.

     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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Learn the Art of Lawn Mowing

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Wondering how to get those neat cross-hatch patterns in your lawn like the pros do?

     Mowing in a specific pattern isn’t the only way, nor the best way, to get those neat checkerboard stripes. A healthy lawn and proper mowing technique also are important.

     Neat patterns, or stripes, are made noticeable by bending the grass blades in one direction on one stripe, and another direction on an opposing stripe.

     Here are a few tips:

     • Raise your mower blades: Cutting the grass too low to the ground damages the plant, makes it grow unevenly, and leaves it vulnerable to weeds, diseases and pests. It also makes patterns difficult or impossible to create, because the shorter blades don’t bend very far.

     • Never cut more than one-third of the grass height: Depending on the type of lawn, the ideal height may vary – Bermuda, for example, has an ideal height of about 1 inch, fescue or blue grass should be 2 to 3 inches tall, while St. Augustine should be mowed to a height of 3.5 to 4 inches. Let your grass grow at least one-third higher than its ideal height before mowing.

     • Never cut wet grass: Cutting when dew or rain is still heavy on the grass will prevent a clean cut, damage the grass, cause clumping and keep you from seeing that ideal pattern.

     • Maintain your mower: Sharp blades are essential for a good cut, as well as an efficient engine.

     • Change direction: Once you get that nice pattern on the lawn, the best way to keep it is to change up the way you mow. Every other time, mow in a different pattern.

     • Ideal pattern: There are a number of striping techniques. Scag, which sells professional mower equipment, has a tutorial with instructions on how to create several patterns (www.scag.com/lawnstriping.html). You’ll need a roller attachment to bend the grass to achieve that professional look.

     • Overlap properly: Each pass should be overlapped by the next by about 3 inches to make sure you don’t miss a strip.

     • Don’t worry about the corners…  yet: If the lawn has sharp or difficult corners, skip them until you’ve mowed the pattern you want on the rest of the lawn. Then go back and finish off each corner. Also skip uneven ground until the end, then raise the mower blades so you don’t scalp the grass, and carefully mow the raised areas.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Get Your Home Ready for Summer

BY CARL MEDFORD, CRS  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-04-17

     Having weathered the first “hot” weekend of the year, our pool suddenly went from dormant to Party Central. With winter officially behind us, it’s time to start getting your home ready for the summer months. Here is what we recommend:

     1. Get your air conditioning serviced NOW.

     Once the first official heat wave kicks in and people realize their A/C units are not working correctly, everyone will be calling the service techs. Whereas techs are looking for business right now, once the heat begins in earnest they get booked quickly. It could mean many long, hot days before they show up.

     2. Get the pool running now.

     If you have a pool, consider getting the filters changed now. Pools function better with clean filters, and a visit from a pool tech can head off any other potential issues as well. A quick tune up of the entire system, including any sweeps, can make sure summer fun goes uninterrupted by pool equipment failures. To save energy and keep the water warmer, consider getting a removeable cover.

     3. Consider upgrading your barbecue to natural gas.

     For many, summer kicks off with visits to the propane supplier to make sure the BBQ has enough gas for its first official use. If this is the year you are looking to upgrade to a new system, consider getting a unit that runs on natural gas. We did this at our house a few years ago and we love the fact that trips to get tanks refilled are a thing of the past. Running a gas connection out to the barbecue area is usually quite easy for any qualified plumber, and the cost to operate on natural gas is much lower than propane. Most important, you will never run out of gas halfway through cooking!

     4. Consider changing your landscaping.

     The drought may be over, but California’s incessant demand for water is never ending. Make this the year that you upgrade your landscaping to items that do not have high water requirements. Drought-resistant plants should top your list, and artificial turf is showing up in ever-increasing numbers of yards.

     5. Add new outdoor features.

     Consider hiring an outdoor consultant to upgrade your yard to add exciting features such as fire pits, conversation centers, gazebos, lighting systems and more!

     It won’t be long before home centers have long lines, beat the rush and start today!

     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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Put Closet Doors Back on Track

BY SAMANTHA MAZZOTTA  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-04-17

     A common problem in apartments with closet doors that fold open on sliding tracks is that they stick and sometimes completely come off the track and just swing open.

     If the slider attachment at the top of the door isn’t damaged, you should be able to easily put the bifold door back on its track.

     Reach up to the top of the detached door — or climb onto a sturdy stepladder or footstool so you can reach — and feel along the top near the front edge of the door. You should feel a round disc, or wheel, sticking up.

     Place your finger on top of the wheel and push down. If it’s spring-loaded, the disc will depress down and then spring back up.

     Check the bottom of the door as well. If the door opens along a top and bottom track, a similar wheel, or a simple metal pin called a pivot, will be located in the same position near the front of the door. It may or may not have a spring.

     If both wheels are in good shape, great. If either one is broken or missing, contact apartment maintenance to have them repair the door. Or, if they don’t respond, contact management and ask if they can either speed up the repair, or if you can do the repair yourself and have them take the difference off the bill (you’ll need to give them a receipt for parts and labor).

     Let’s start from the premise that both wheels are all right. It’s a pretty easy fix, made easier if a friend helps steady the door. If one of the wheels isn’t spring-loaded, carefully ease that rigid wheel into the corresponding track. Then reach up (or down) to the spring-loaded disc, depress it with one finger, and guide that part of the door back into its corresponding track, sliding your finger out of the way until the disc pops up into the track. Move the door back and forth a couple times to test it.

     What if the door doesn’t seem be straight? That can cause the wheels to stick in or jump out of the tracks. You can adjust the door in a number of ways: The Family Handyman website (www.familyhandyman.com) has a step-by-step description of how to do it.

     Home Tip: To smooth a sliding door’s path, put a thin coat of wax or silicone spray on the wheels.

© 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.

Kia Introduces All-new Niro Hybrid

BY STEVE SCHAEFER  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     You may think you know what a hybrid car looks like. But with the all-new Kia Niro, you’re wrong. Eschewing the hunkered down Prius look, the Niro is a remarkably handsome compact crossover, but still earns the kind of fuel economy numbers that are the reason why people buy hybrids.

     This new car fits right in with the other Kias, from tiger nose grille floating in a dark surround to the alert, swept-back headlamp pods to the vents on the front wheelwells. Along the sides, a gentle lower half slice adds strength and movement. The roofline stands clean and uncomplicated. The rear flows from convex to concave, with the horizontal taillamps pulled just out from the surface for definition.

     The inside complements the outside with simplicity and cleanness. The grained plastic sports a little bit of padding, to keep it from feeling cheap. In my Silky Silver top-level Touring model, the leather seats were heated and cooled, and the armrests, seats and leather wheel all featured stylish stitching. It’s a dignified, classic look, welcome to the eye when compared to some of the more radical approaches today.

     Every Niro, from the entry level FE to the LX to the EX to the Touring, gets the same combination of a 1.6-liter gas engine, 43-horsepower electric motor, and 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. These components are mounted together and provide 139 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque to motivate the 3,274-pound Niro.

     As a hybrid, the Niro uses battery storage for the electricity it regenerates from braking. There’s no place to plug in, but the 1.56 kW battery, tucked under the rear seat, doesn’t get in the way of people or stuff, and works hard enough to give the car its excellent fuel economy. Numbers wise, with carbon emissions of 207 grams per mile, the Niro has half the environmental impact of the average vehicle.

     Fuel economy numbers for the Touring are impressive. My test car carried EPA ratings of 46 City, 40 Highway, and 43 Combined. Do you know what I got for a week’s worth of driving? 43.8 mpg! The FE model, lighter and more efficient, earns an even 50 mpg Combined.

     The EPA green scores are 8 for Smog and 9 for Greenhouse Gas. Granted, the fuel economy numbers are a little below a Prius, but it sure is pretty looking, and with its crossover proportions, the Niro can carry 54.5 cubic feet of cargo and some pretty comfortable passengers, too.

     My topline tester featured a crisp sounding Harman Kardon premium audio system, made more accessible with your choice of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. High-tech electronic equipment includes blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, and a front and rear parking assist system.

     Kia brags that this is a “fun” car to drive, and compared to a regular hybrid, they’re not kidding. Although the new Prius features an all-new platform and has more responsiveness today, the Niro doesn’t feel like driving a hybrid. The engine and motor provide adequate oomph and don’t make a racket doing it, the steering feels responsive, and the dual-clutch transmission shifts quickly. There’s a Sport mode that allows a little delayed shifting for when you get off the freeway and onto the quieter, curvier back roads.

     This isn’t a luxury car, but it’s remarkably quiet. Kia spent time and energy insulating the cabin, and with more than half of the frame in Advanced High Strength Steel, weight was kept down. Some visible and hidden aluminum components also reduce pounds.

     Some Kias are now assembled in the U.S., but the Niro hails from Hwaseong, Korea. However, the design originates from Kia’s Irvine, California studios, which may explain why the Niro looks so right on American roads.

     You can pick up the FE for as little as $23,785, but my top-level Touring came to $30,545, with “Inland Freight and Handling” added in.

     Kia has created a sub brand called EcoDynamics to encompass its green offerings, and plans to release lots more members of the collection, which now includes the Optima Plug-in hybrid and Soul EV all-electric model. They plan to offer a plug-in hybrid Niro, which could double the hybrid’s fuel economy number, if my experience with other plug-in hybrids is any guide.

     Interestingly, the Niro received a Guinness World Record last December for the lowest fuel consumption driving across the United States (hybrid car). Two guys from Carlsbad, California and Williamsburg, Virginia drove a standard, unaltered Niro 3,715.4 miles and used only 48.5 gallons — just over 4 tankfuls.

     The Niro is another step forward for Kia, which has come a very long way and is heading strongly into the future with more alternative technology offerings.

CAPTION: The all-new 2017 Kia Niro’s profile is distinguished by its strong shoulders, defined wheel arches, rocker-panel cladding and roof rails.

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Kia Forte Challenges Corolla, Civic

BY STEVE SCHAEFER  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-18-17

     Despite all the excitement over crossovers these days, many people still want a reasonably sized, economical sedan that’s big enough to have road presence and safety but doesn’t break the bank, either. The Forte offers a rich mix of features for day-to-day living, five-star government safety ratings and affordability.

     Competing directly with the extremely popular Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, the Forte gets some improvements on an already compelling package. The nose and tail receive upgrades for a more smoothly integrated appearance. More noteworthy, the base engine bulks up to a more powerful 2.0-liter multi-point fuel injected four, with 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque. Additional high-tech safety features arrive as part of an optional package.

     Situated between the compact Rio and larger Optima, the Forte offers three trim levels — LX, S and EX. The LX already brags of many worthwhile features, and is the only trim level that offers a manual six-speed transmission, should you want one. The S provides more: a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED positioning lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome exhaust tip. The top-level EX, like my Silky Silver test car, boasts leather seats, heated up front. Also, you get LED taillamps, a smart key and larger 17-inch alloy wheels.

     The EX also motivates itself with a more powerful engine — Kia’s Gas Direct Injection four, which puts out 164 horsepower and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. That moves the 2,908-pound car down the line with more vigor. One can speculate on how that six-speed manual might handle the extra power, but you can’t get that configuration now (how about a Forte GT, Kia?).

     The EX’s engine earns EPA numbers of 25 City, 33 Highway, and 28 Combined. I averaged 25.4 mpg during my test week, although much of my driving was on the freeway. The green scores come in at an above-average 8 for Smog and 6 for Greenhouse Gas. The less powerful engine in the S and LX earns EPA SmartWay status with its 7 and 7 scores respectively — but the EX is right behind.

     Some cars build their reputations with flashy styling or luxury appointments, but the Forte is in there for the daily ride and drive. The body proportions are pleasing, and not as extreme and polarizing as the class-leading Honda Civic.

     Comparing the Forte and Civic, the Forte stretches 2.8 inches shorter nose to tail, .7 inch narrower, half an inch taller, and rides on an identical wheelbase. They both weigh within 10 pounds of each other. But their personalities are very different.

     The Forte’s interior features a pleasant scallop motif and feels smooth and solid. The accommodations feel adequately roomy for extended seat time. There’s a roll-top bin in the console, and the plastics covering the dash, doors and trim don’t feel low-budget. You get dual-zone climate control, and leather on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob.

     There’s plenty to do inside the car. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto allow smartphone users to manage their apps and functions, as well as phone directly from their dash screen — or using voice commands. Bluetooth connects your phone as well, and you get Kia’s UVO eServices Infotainment system too. SiriusXM Radio comes with it, as well — but that’s normal for a car these days.

     My tester packed in the EX Premium Plus Package, with a long list of safety and convenience features. For $4,490, you get everything from an upgraded instrument panel display to a power sunroof, power seats, ventilation on the heated seats and an auto-dimming mirror.

     For safety, drive with confidence with autonomous emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and more. This package elevates a regular car into a fine one. The Forte receives a five-star safety rating (the top level) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

     The Forte rolls out of a plant in Mexico, and you’ll find 88 percent Mexican content, including the engine and transmission. Take that, Mr. President! The rest has its origins in Korea, not unexpectedly.

     My tester came to $26,540, including shipping. The Forte LX starts at just $17,450.

     It may not be new anymore, but Kia’s 10-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty was a blockbuster when it debuted. You get five years or 60,000 miles of free roadside assistance, too.

     The Forte serves as the “little big man” of the Kia brand. Today’s compact sedans have grown enough to gain midsize designation by the EPA. This is your chance to score a deal on a car that’ll carry a small family with ease.

CAPTION: The 2017 Kia Forte dons a new front bumper and “tiger nose” grille that has been extended to connect with its newly designed headlights.

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Go Green or Greener in Ford’s Fusion

BY STEVE SCHAEFER  •  SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Ford’s Fusion occupies the traditional role at Ford — a midsized sedan. For those who don’t savor driving a crossover SUV to carry multiple passengers, this segment remains popular, and includes such perennial bestsellers as the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

     The Fusion remained attractive, so I assume that Ford realized that when they doled out only modest midcycle updates. Outside, the front end gets sharpened while the taillamps become connected by a chrome bar, but otherwise things remain about the same. Inside, the transmission control transformed to a finely rendered disc, like a small, thick hockey puck, much like the one in Jaguars and Land Rovers, but without the clever rising effect found in those luxury makes.

     This American-branded car, built in Mexico, comes in a variety of flavors, but let’s look at the two greenest ones now — the Hybrid and the Energi.

     The Hybrid combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a total of 188 horsepower and 129 lb.-ft. of torque. Like a good hybrid, the Fusion moves between these two energy sources automatically, depending on driving conditions and driver input. Take it easy on the accelerator and you’ll find the Hybrid remains more in electric mode. Climb a hill and you’ll hear the engine kick in, regardless. On downhill descents, the battery charges silently.

     This behavior nets you EPA numbers of 43 City, 41 Highway and 42 Combined. Compare these with the Toyota Camry Hybrid’s 38 mpg and Honda Accord Hybrid’s 48 combined scores. My Blue Lightning test car averaged 41.0 mpg during its test week.

     Choosing the Energi model adds a major new element into the picture. With its 7.6 kWh battery, this Fusion can run as a pure electric vehicle for an EPA rated 21 miles. That meant that when I took my 18-mile-each-way commute in the Energi, I made it just about door-to-door without using a drop of gas.

     With the variety in traffic conditions, on a few days, I pulled up to the charger at work with a little juice left. The Energi’s EPA ratings, for MPGe this time, are 97 MPGe Combined, or 35 kWh per 100 miles (compare this with other plugin hybrids). The gauge in my Magnetic Metallic (gray) test car read 101.4 MPGe at the end of my test week, and the gas gauge had hardly budged from “Full”.

     Driving the cars feels about the same, except that the Energi is smoother and quieter longer, since an entire trip may not use the gasoline engine at all. The Energi weighs 298 more pounds than the Hybrid (3,913 vs. 3,615 pounds), and its trunk is shortened to accommodate its larger battery (the Hybrid’s smaller battery, without charging ability, has only a 1.4 kWh capacity).

     EPA Green ratings are a very good 8 for Smog and 9 for Greenhouse gas for the Hybrid and 8 and 10 respectively for the Energi. More numbers: the CO2 grams-per-mile output of the Energi runs about half the Hybrid — 110 vs. 210.

     When you drive the Hybrid, you can set the center screen to show you one of the car’s three driving modes. Under the right conditions, you’re in “Electric Drive” mode, using no gasoline. When the engine engages, you’re in “Hybrid Drive” mode, where the engine and motor work together. If you’re generating electricity, you’re in “Recharging High Voltage Battery” mode. These switched back and forth as I drove.

     Both cars’ instrument panels provide a bar chart of driving behavior, including acceleration, braking and cruising. Depending on road and traffic conditions, sometimes one or the other metrics dipped into the negative “yellow” condition, but normally they showed the desired blue.

     Fusions come in different equipment levels, ranging from S to SE to Titanium to Platinum, and you can get a regular nonhybrid version, too. My Hybrid wore the Titanium nameplate while the Energi flaunted the top-level Platinum badge on its tail. The Platinum level borders on the luxurious, featuring soft, quilted leather on the seats and doors, among other upgrades.

     With $3,760 worth of style and safety options, the Hybrid came to $35,155, including Destination and Delivery. The Energi, with no extras and with the “Fusion Energi Discount,” rolled in at $39,995.

     Interestingly, the Annual Fuel Cost on the window stickers was $900 for the Hybrid and $800 for the Energi. So, your benefits here become less financial and more about environmental impact.

     There is no pure electric Fusion for sale now, but if industry trends pan out, there could be in the future. For now, if you’re a commuter, you may find the extra cost of the Energi really pays off.

     If you want an attractive, comfortable sedan with a little greener perspective, try one of Ford’s two greener Fusions.

CAPTION: For 2017, the Fusion Energi and Fusion Hybrid feature a redesigned front and rear fascia, updated interior with rotary gear shift dial, improved storage and USB access. New Fusion Energi Platinum edition features include leather-lined and quilted door trim panels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather dashboard and LED headlamps.

Current Scientific Data Debunks Claims of Sunscreen Being Toxic

BY HENRY W. LIM, M.D.  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-25-17

     The American Academy of Dermatology, in a statement last week, emphasized that sunscreen remains a safe, effective form of sun protection. As one component of a daily sun-protection strategy, sunscreen is an important tool in the fight against skin cancer, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

     Current scientific data does not support claims that sunscreen ingredients are toxic or a hazard to human health. Rather, evidence supports the benefits of applying sunscreen to minimize short- and long-term damage to the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.

     Sunscreen products contain one or more active drug ingredients — compounds that absorb, scatter or reflect UV light — and are regulated as over-the-counter drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

     The FDA has several safety and effectiveness regulations in place that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products, including safety data on its ingredients.  

     To reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging, dermatologists continue to recommend generously applying a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen — that protects against both types of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) — with an SPF of 30 or higher, in conjunction with other sun-safe practices such as limiting sun exposure, seeking shade, and wearing sun-protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.

     To ensure the most effective protection from sunscreen, you should apply enough sunscreen to cover all exposed skin — for most adults, this is about 1 ounce, or enough to fill a shot glass. Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours, when outdoors, or after swimming or sweating.

     There are a wide range of sunscreen products on the market today; choose the one that follows the AAD’s recommendations in the form that you are most likely to use.

     Anyone with questions about sun protection and sunscreen ingredients should talk to a board-certified dermatologist, who can use his or her expertise to help you develop an effective sun protection plan.

     For more information, visit www.aad.org/media/news-releases/safety-of-sunscreen#sthash.U2xKB7OO.dpuf.

     Dr. Henry W. Lim is president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

CAPTION: Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every two hours, when outdoors, or after swimming or sweating.

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Melanoma Rates Doubled in the Past 30 Years

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-25-17

     Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It’s estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

     It is estimated that nearly 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.

     Researchers estimate that 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, were diagnosed in 3.3 million people in the United States in 2012.

     Melanoma rates in the U.S. doubled from 1982 to 2011.

     Caucasians and men older than 50 have a higher risk of developing melanoma than the general population.

     The incidence in men ages 80 and older is three times higher than women of the same age.

     In people of color, melanoma is often diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is more advanced.

     Before age 50, melanoma incidence rates are higher in women than in men, but by age 65, rates are twice as high in men.

Survival rates

     Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common forms of skin cancer, are highly curable if detected early and treated properly.

     The five-year survival rate for people whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98 percent.

     The vast majority of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma. On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour. In 2017, it is estimated that 9,730 deaths will be attributed to melanoma — 6,380 men and 3,350 women.    

Risk factors

     Exposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet light is a risk factor for all types of skin cancer. Avoiding this risk factor alone could prevent more than 3 million cases of skin cancer every year.

     Research indicates that UV light from the sun and tanning beds can both cause melanoma and increase the risk of a benign mole progressing to melanoma.

     Even one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence can nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma.

     In 2010, new research found that daily sunscreen use cut the incidence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in half.

     Risk factors for all types of skin cancer include skin that burns easily; blond or red hair; a history of excessive sun exposure, including sunburns; tanning bed use; immune system-suppressing diseases or treatments; and a history of skin cancer.

— American Academy of Dermatology

Guard Against Medicare Fraud

BY JIM MILLER  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-18-17

     Medicare fraud costs taxpayers more than $60 billion every year, making it one of the most profitable crimes in America.

     Here’s what you should know, along with some tips for preventing, detecting and reporting it, if it happens to you.

What is Medicare fraud?

     In a nutshell, Medicare fraud happens when Medicare is purposely billed for services or supplies that were never provided or received. Here are a few examples of some different types of Medicare fraud that’s out there:

     • A healthcare provider bills Medicare for services you never received.

     • A supplier bills Medicare for equipment you never got.

     • Someone uses your Medicare card to get medical care, supplies or equipment.

     • A company offers a Medicare drug plan that has not been approved by Medicare.

     • A company uses false information to mislead you into joining a Medicare plan.

What You Can Do

     The best way for you to spot Medicare fraud is to review your quarterly Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) or your Explanation of Benefits (EOB).

     Be on the lookout for things like charges for medical services, medications or equipment you didn’t get, dates of services and charges that look unfamiliar, or if you were billed for the same thing twice. You can also check your Medicare claims early online at MyMedicare.gov (you’ll need to create an account first), or by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.

     If you do spot any unusual or questionable charges, your first step is to contact your doctor or health care provider. The charge may just be a simple billing error. If, however, you can’t resolve the problem with the provider, your next step is to report the questionable charges to Medicare at 800-633-4227, or to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Fraud hotline at 800-447-8477.

     When you call in, have the MSN or EOB with the questionable charges handy because you’ll need to provide them with the following information: your Medicare card number; the physician, supplier and/or facility name where the service was supposedly provided; the date the service was rendered; the payment amount approved and paid by Medicare; as well as the reason you think Medicare shouldn’t have paid.

     As an incentive, if the suspicious activity you report turns out to be fraud, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

     If you need help identifying or reporting Medicare fraud or resolving your Medicare billing errors, contact your state Senior Medicare Patrol program, which provides free assistance. Go to smpresource.org or call 877-808-2468 for contact information.

Protect Yourself

     To help you protect yourself from becoming a victim of Medicare fraud, you need to guard your Medicare card like you would your credit cards, and don’t ever give your Medicare or Social Security number to strangers.

     Also, don’t ever give out your personal information to someone who calls or comes to your home uninvited to get you to join a Medicare plan. Medicare will never call or visit your home to sell you anything.

     It’s also a smart idea to keep records of your doctor visits, tests and procedures so you can compare them with any suspicious charges on your MSN or EOB.

     For more tips and information on how to protect yourself from Medicare fraud, visit StopMedicareFraud.gov.

     Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and  author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

CAPTION: Medicare fraud is one of the most profitable crimes in America. If suspicious activity you report turns out to be fraud, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

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Who Is Entitled to Trust Information?

BY GENE L. OSOFSKY, ESQ.  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-18-17

Q: My sister just passed away and had previously appointed me as trustee of her trust. She was estranged from one of her sons and left him nothing on purpose. However, I anticipate that he will demand a copy of the trust and information about her estate. Am I legally obliged to share any of that information with him?

A: Here are the short answers: Yes, on a copy of the trust; No, on information about the estate. Here’s the explanation:

     Copy of the Trust: California law provides that, upon the demise of a trust-maker (aka, a “Settlor”), formal notice must go out to all of the Settlor’s beneficiaries AND heirs at law.

     Beneficiaries are persons or organizations named in the trust to receive a bequest; they may, or may not, also be family members. Heirs are close family members whose status is measured by bloodlines and who may, or may not, also be named as beneficiaries.

     This formal notice advises both named beneficiaries and unnamed heirs that they are entitled to a copy of the trust and that, if they wish to challenge its legal validity, they must do so within a prescribed period of time.

     The law’s rationale appears to be the following:  Heirs, who may have been left out entirely, as in your sister’s case, or who may feel that they were “short-changed” on their anticipated inheritance, should have the right to challenge the trust by, for example, proving to a judge that your sister was of unsound mind when she signed the document.   

     To challenge the trust, the law understandably affords them an opportunity to obtain a copy of the trust instrument upon formal request.

     Information About the Trust Estate: By comparison, however, only a beneficiary is entitled to information about the trust estate, including an accounting of the trust assets, income and expenditures.  

     In this sense, beneficiaries would include both primary beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries, the latter being persons who would take in the event that the primary beneficiaries predeceased them or disclaimed their bequests.

     Other Options: Sometimes, clients with estranged family members balk at having to formally notify them of the commencement of formal trust administration following a settlor’s death. These families are concerned that the estranged heirs may make trouble, especially when offered the right to a copy of the decedent’s trust.  

     Unfortunately, if the decedent’s assets are held in a trust, there is really no way around the formal notice requirement required by California law. However, if we are consulted in advance, say, at the time the Settlor is designing his or her estate plan, there are sometimes alternative arrangements that can avoid the necessity of formal notice.

     One option: Instead of placing assets in a Living Trust, many kinds of assets can be held in Beneficiary Form, so that the particular asset goes automatically to the designated beneficiaries upon the owner’s death and without probate or formal trust administration.

     Examples: Pay on Death (“POD”) Bank Accounts, Transfer on Death (“TOD”) Brokerage Accounts, Insurance and Annuity Policies and even Transfer on Death Home Deeds.

     In connection with trust administration, especially where — as here — you expect difficulty from a disgruntled heir, it is wise to engage the services of an attorney familiar with trust administration to guide you.

     Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney in Hayward. Visit his website at www.LawyerForSeniors.com.

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What Are the Health Coverage Options for Pre-Medicare-Age Spouses?

BY JIM MILLER  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-18-17

Q: My wife, who is 62, is on my health insurance plan through my employer. When I retire in a few months at 65, and go on Medicare, what are my wife’s options? Is there some kind of Medicare coverage for dependent spouses, or do we have to purchase Obamacare?

A: Medicare, unfortunately, does not offer family coverage to younger spouses or dependent children when you qualify for Medicare. Nobody can obtain Medicare benefits before age 65, unless eligible at a younger age because of disability.

     With that said, here are some coverage options, including Obamacare, to consider for your wife.

     Keep working: If possible, consider working past age 65. This would allow your wife to continue coverage under your employer health insurance until she becomes eligible for Medicare.

     Employer options: If your employer provides retiree health benefits, check with your benefits administrator to find out if they offer any options that would allow your wife to continue coverage under their plan. Or, if your wife works, see if she can she switch to health insurance provided by her own employer.

     COBRA: If you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, once you make the switch to Medicare, your wife could stay with your company insurance plan for at least 18 months (but could last up to 36 months) under a federal law called COBRA.

     You’ll need to sign her up within 60 days after her last day of coverage. But be aware that COBRA isn’t cheap. You’ll pay the full monthly premium yourself, plus a 2 percent administrative fee.

     To learn more, see DOL.gov/ebsa/publications/cobraemployee.html or call 866-444-3272.

     If, however, the company you work for has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be able to get continued coverage through your company if your state has “mini-COBRA.” Contact your state insurance department to see if this is available where you live.

     Individual insurance: Buy your wife an individual health insurance policy through the Health Insurance Marketplace (aka Obamacare) until she turns 65. The Marketplace, as it stands now, offers comprehensive health coverage and they can’t deny her coverage or charge extra for preexisting health conditions.

     And, if your income falls below the 400 percent poverty level – anything below $47,520 for an individual or $64,080 for a couple in 2017 – you may be eligible for a tax credit that will reduce the amount you’ll have to pay for a policy.

     To see how much you can save, see the subsidy calculator on the Kaiser Family Foundation website at KFF.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator.

     To shop for marketplace plans in your state, visit Healthcare.gov or call their toll-free helpline at 800-318-2596.

     If, however, your wife isn’t eligible for the government subsidy, or you want additional policy options to what the Marketplace offers, you can also buy health coverage outside the government marketplaces directly through a private insurance company, an online insurance seller, or an agent or broker.

     These policies do not offer the federal tax credits, but they are required to offer the same menu of essential benefits as Marketplace policies do, and they can’t deny coverage or charge extra for preexisting health conditions. You might even find slightly lower premiums on outside policies, assuming that you don’t qualify for the tax credits.

     To find a local broker or agent that sells insurance plans, check the National Association of Health Underwriters website (NAHU.org) which has an online directory. But keep in mind that agents won’t necessarily show you all available policies, just the ones from insurers they work with.

     You can also look for these plans at insurance shopping sites like eHealthInsurance.com or GoHealth.com, which lists plans and providers that may not be listed on Healthcare.gov.

     Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

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Nine Tips to Keep Child Safe Around Water This Summer

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Few things are as much fun as splashing around at the beach or in a backyard pool, but not every child is confident about taking the plunge.

     May is National Water Safety Month, a good time for parents to consider teaching their children how to swim. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports swimming lessons for most children 4 years and older.

     Water safety classes can also reduce the risk of drowning in younger children, the pediatrics group reports, but advises that because children develop at different rates, not all will be ready to swim at the same age.

     “For some children, the idea of getting in the water and trying to swim can be a bit frightening,” says K.J. Hales, author of It’s Hard to Swim (www.ellietheweinerdog.com).

     “But with the proper positive reinforcement, they can overcome their fears and discover just how much fun swimming can be.”

     Hales says swimming is a valuable skill that all children should learn.

     “Most children are around water in some form, whether it’s a pool, a river, a pond, a lake or the ocean,” she says. “So learning to swim isn’t just for fun. It’s also important for safety.”

     The Pediatric Academy cites several water-safety tips for parents, including:

     • Never – even for a moment – leave small children alone or in the care of another young child while in bathtubs, pools, spas or wading pools, or near irrigation ditches or standing water.

     • Empty water from buckets and other containers immediately after use.

     • Closely supervise children in and around water. With infants, toddlers and weak swimmers, an adult should be within an arm’s length. With older children and better swimmers, an adult should be focused on the child and not distracted by other activities.  Bath seats cannot substitute for adult supervision.  

     • If children are in out-of-home child care, ask about exposure to water and the ratio of adults to children.

     • If you have a pool, install a four-sided fence that is at least 4-feet high to limit access to the pool. The fence should be hard to climb (not chain-link) and have a self-latching, self-closing gate. Families may consider pool alarms and rigid pool covers as additional layers of protection, but neither can take the place of a fence.

     • Parents, caregivers and pool owners should learn CPR.

     • Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as inflatable arm bands) in place of life jackets. They can deflate and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.

     • All children should wear a life jacket when riding in a boat. Small children and non-swimmers should also wear one at water’s edge, such as on a river bank or pier.

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Health Tips for Families

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     Anytime is a good time to eat more nutritiously. The Society for Public Health Education offers 12 tips to help.

     • Go fresh. Choose fresh seafood, lean poultry, and beans as your protein source. If using ground meats, choose 93 percent lean ground turkey or ground sirloin beef.

     • Make fresh salsa or black bean dip. Store-bought salsa is often loaded with sodium. If you plan to have more than a tablespoon or two, fresh salsa is a much better option. While guacamole contains healthy fats, it is high in fat and calories.

     • Measure out portions. It is easy to overeat on snacks like potato or tortilla chips. Measure out just one serving (usually about 10) so you can save room for the main course.

     • Favor whole grains. Brown rice is a whole grain and has more nutrients than white rice. Buy or bake whole grain breads and baked goods.

     • Use the plate method. Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. Fill one quarter of your plate with a lean protein. Then fill one quarter of your plate with a starchy food, such as beans or brown rice.

     • Use healthy cooking methods. Grill chicken, fish or vegetables. You can also try baking, steaming or broiling. Small amounts of vegetable oil, olive oil or cooking spray are better options.

     • Substitute healthier options for sour cream. Non-fat Greek or plain yogurt and non-fat plain yogurt have a similar taste and texture to sour cream for much less calories and fat.

     • Cut your portion size when eating out. If you eat out, split the meal with someone else, or eat only half the meal and bring home leftovers for the next day.

     • Snack on fruits and vegetables. Keep a bowl of fruit out on a table or counter to encourage healthy snacking.

     • Pack your lunch. Skip eating out and bring your lunch.

     Eating healthy foods can help weight management and lower risk for many chronic diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Visit: www.partnering4health.org.

— North American Precis Synd., Inc.

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What Your Kidneys Do for Your Body

SAN LEANDRO TIMES  •  05-11-17

     When it comes to internal organs, hearts tend to get all the attention. But when your kidneys don’t work, the rest of you won’t work, either. That’s why now is a good time to show these two fist-sized organs on either side of your spine some respect.

     Kidneys are vital organs that keep you alive. They play the powerful roles of filtering everything in your system, keeping your body clear of waste and toxins, balancing your internal fluids, releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure, and controlling the production of red blood cells, among other things.

     That’s a lot of responsibility, and kidneys live up to it 24/7 in order to keep your system running smoothly.

The Problem

     Many people aren’t paying attention to their kidney health.

     Twenty-six million Americans are affected by kidney disease today, and millions of them don’t even know they have it, says Kevin Longino, CEO of National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient himself.

     “There’s a myth that only old people get kidney disease but, really, it can affect anyone,” he adds. “We felt we needed to address prevention, and not just support for people who are already dealing with these issues.”

     Kidney health isn’t something to put off thinking about. When your kidneys stop functioning properly, you’re at risk for dialysis or needing a kidney transplant. The effects of kidney failure can be fatal.

     “Your kidneys are essential to keeping you alive and healthy,” says Longino. “They are powerful chemical factories working nonstop, and if they don’t, the effects are life-threatening. Your kidneys help clean out everything in your body—if you think about your body like a machine, kidneys are just as important as the heart in terms of keeping the engine running.”

     Certain factors can cause chronic kidney disease. People with diabetes and/or high blood pressure are at a higher risk, as are certain demographics such as African Americans, Hispanics and Asians.

     If you’re in one of these groups, it’s important to be diligent about maintaining your overall health, and to speak to your primary care physician about two simple tests (one blood, one urine) that can determine whether or not your kidneys are functioning properly.

What You Can Do for Your Kidneys

     Kidney health is impor­tant even if you’re not part of a high-risk population. Taking action toward a healthy lifestyle helps protect them.

     Some of the most effective measures are also the easiest. Follow a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy; stay hydrated and minimize alcohol intake; exercise regularly and control your weight; reduce your salt intake; monitor your cholesterol levels; keep an eye on blood pressure; know your family’s medical history; and go in for annual physicals that include honest conversations with your doctor about your lifestyle and habits.

     These actions will have a positive effect on not just your kidneys, but your health overall.

     For further information, visit www.kidney.org or join the conversation at #heartyourkidneys.

— North American Precis Synd., Inc.

CAPTION: Kidney health isn’t something to put off thinking about. When your kidneys stop functioning properly, you’re at risk for dialysis or needing a kidney transplant.

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Listen Up! There Are Some Nifty Gadgets That Can Help Seniors with Hearing Loss

BY JIM MILLER •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-04-17

Q: What types of products can you recommend to help people with hearing problems? My 65-year-old husband has some hearing issues, but doesn’t think he needs a hearing aid, so I’m looking for some alternative devices that can help.

A: If your husband feels he’s not ready for a hearing aid but needs some hearing help, there are dozens of “assistive listening devices” on the market today that can make a big difference.

     Assistive listening devices are over-the-counter electronic products (they are not FDA-approved hearing aid devices) that can amplify and improve sound to help your husband in different listening situations.

     It’s also important to know that these products are best suited for people with mild to moderate hearing impairment, and they usually aren’t covered by insurance or Medicare.

     Here’s a breakdown of some of the different devices that can help.

     Personal amplifiers: For better hearing, especially in noisy environments, there are personal sound amplification products that can be worn in the ear like a hearing aid, and are designed to amplify sound while reducing background noise. Two top rated products to consider that were recently recommended by Consumer Reports are the SoundWorld Solutions CS50+ and the Etymotic Bean.

     The CS50+, which costs $350, looks like a Bluetooth cell phone headset, and has customizable settings that can be programed with a smartphone. The Etymotic Bean, which costs $399 a pair or $214 for one, is ready to use right out of the box and is best suited for those with high-frequency hearing loss.

     If these are too pricy, there are also a number of small hand-held or body-worn amplifiers – like the Williams Sound Pocketalker ($139) and Bellman & Symfon Mino Personal Amplifier ($188) – that have a microphone and headphones or earbuds that are very effective too.

     TV amplifiers: To hear the television better, there are TV listening devices that will let your husband increase the volume and adjust the tone to meet his needs, without blasting you out of the room.

     Some of the best options include wireless infrared, radio frequency or Bluetooth devices that come with standard or stethoscope headphones.

     Sennheiser makes a variety of quality products with prices running between $130 and $450. Or, for a more affordable solution, consider the Serene Innovations TV Sound Box for $120. This is a wireless amplified TV speaker that would sit near your husband, and provide clear stereo sound from the TV without the need for headsets.

     Amplified telephones: To have clearer phone conversations, there are a wide variety of amplified telephones that offer enhanced volume and tone adjustments, and they usually come with extra loud ringers and flashing ring indicators to alert him when a call is coming in.

     Some top makers of these products are Clarity, ClearSounds and Serene Innovations, and a top seller today is the Clarity XLC2+ Amplified Phone ($144), which is a cordless phone that provides three tone settings and 50 decibels of amplification.

     Alerting devices: There are also a variety of alerting devices that can help people who have trouble hearing the doorbell, phone, alarm clock, smoke detector or even weather radio. These products use flashing lights, multi-tone ringers or vibrating devices as a means to alert you.

     Some popular products in this category include: The Bellman & Symfon Care Home Alerting Solution that provides door and phone notification with a flashing alert ($198); the Silent Call Weather Alert Radio with strobe and bed shaker ($165); and the all-in-one Serene Innovations CentralAlert CA-360 Clock/Receiver Notification System, which provides alarm clock, doorbell, phone, motion and storm warning alerts ($180).    

     To locate these and any other hearing loss products visit Harris Communications (HarrisComm.com, or call 866-476-9579), which offers more than 2,000 assistive devices and provides customer support services to assist you.

     Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

CAPTION: Assistive listening devices are over-the-counter electronic products (they are not FDA-approved hearing aid devices) that can amplify and improve sound in listening situations.

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Special Needs Trust May Preserve Benefits

BY GENE L. OSOFSKY, ESQ.  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-04-17

Q: Our 35-year-old daughter is going through a divorce. She is on disability and gets SSI and Medi-Cal. We worry that she may lose her benefits once she is awarded support and receives her share of community property. You recently wrote about a Special Needs Trust to protect benefits for a senior in a nursing home. Might that trust also be used in her situation?

A: Yes, indeed, and my compliments for asking the question. Very few attorneys and judges are familiar with the use of the Special Needs Trust (SNT) in the divorce context. As a result, the sad fact is that many persons on SSI and/or Medi-Cal lose their benefits when they divorce.  

     A bit of background:

     To qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), an individual with a disability must meet two conditions: They must (a) have less than $2,000 in non-exempt resources (e.g. savings), and (b) their monthly income must be less than the SSI benefit rate, currently $895.72 (in 2017).

     An award of SSI also entitles the beneficiary to Medi-Cal.

     In the divorce context, a spouse would typically be awarded both spousal support and a division of marital assets, such as bank accounts, IRAs, etc.  

     If that spouse were receiving SSI and/or Medi-Cal, the award of support and/or marital assets could render that spouse ineligible for these public benefits if they put them over the respective income or resource ceilings. The question, then, is whether there is a way to preserve both a spouse’s public benefits and their right to support and share of marital assets?

     Answer: Yes. Enter the Special Needs Trust. If handled with proper care, the SNT could hold both court-ordered support and awarded assets, thereby preserving for the spouse with a disability both their public benefits and the divorce award, and help make their life post-divorce more comfortable.

     Once inside the SNT, the Trustee would handle the funds in a manner compliant with the SSI and Medi-Cal rules.

     This typically would mean that the Trustee would not disburse funds directly to the beneficiary, themself, but instead would pay third-party providers, selected by the beneficiary, directly for goods and services that they needed, such as a car, computer, clothing, etc.

     A good trustee would comply with the beneficiary’s requests for payment to their selected providers, so long as those payments did not undermine their ongoing eligibility for the public benefit programs.

     The trustee would also typically make periodic reports to the government programs to affirm compliance with program rules.

     If mentally competent and under age 65, the beneficiary could, themself, establish the SNT and even select their own Trustee, who might be a parent or trusted friend. Alternatively, they could join a Pooled SNT established by a non-profit organization, which would provide professional trustee services for a reasonable fee.

     To make this option work in your daughter’s case, it is essential that she engage an Elder Law or Special Needs attorney familiar with the use of the SNT in divorce.

     The SNT attorney would then work with her divorce attorney and might also help educate the judge and opposing counsel to the benefits of this technique. It is important that the SNT attorney be engaged early in the case.  

     Gene L. Osofsky is an elder law and estate planning attorney in Hayward. Visit his website at www.LawyerForSeniors.com.

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Can I Inherit Debt From Parents?

BY JIM MILLER  •  SPECIAL TO THE TIMES  •  05-04-17

Q: What happens to a person’s debt after they die? My mother has taken on a lot of medical and credit card over the past few years and I’m worried that my brother and I will be responsible for it when she dies.

A: In most cases when a person with debt dies, it’s their estate, not their kids, that is legally responsible. Here’s how it works.

     When your mom dies, her estate – which consists of the stuff she owns while she’s alive (home, car, cash, etc.) – will be responsible for paying her debts. If she doesn’t have enough cash to pay her debts, you’ll have to sell her assets and pay off her creditors with the proceeds.

     Whatever is left over is passed along to her heirs as dictated by the terms of her will, if she has one. If she doesn’t have a will, the intestacy laws of the state she resides in will determine how her estate will be distributed.

     If, however, she dies broke, or there isn’t enough money left over to pay her “unsecured debts” – credit cards, medical bills, personal loans – then her estate is declared insolvent, and her creditors will have to eat the loss.

     “Secured debts” – loans attached to an asset such as a house or a car – are a different story.

     If she has a mortgage or car loan when she dies, those monthly payments will need to be made by her estate or heirs, or the lender can seize the property.

     There are, however, a couple of exceptions that would make you legally responsible for her debt after she passes. One is if you are a joint holder on a credit card account that she owes on. And the other is if you co-signed a loan with her.

     In California, any debts that one spouse acquires after the start of a marriage belongs to the other spouse too. Therefore, spouses in community property states are usually responsible for their deceased spouses debts.

Protected Assets

     If your mom has any IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies or employer-based pension plans, these are assets that creditors usually cannot get access to. That’s because these accounts typically have designated beneficiaries, and the money goes directly to those people without passing through the estate.

Settling Her Estate

     You also need to be aware that if your mom dies with debt, and she has no assets, settling her estate should be fairly simple.

     Her executor will need to send out letters to her creditors explaining the situation, including a copy of her death certificate, and that will probably take care of it.

     But, you and your brother may still have to deal with aggressive debt collectors who try to guilt you into paying.

     If your mom has some assets, but not enough to pay all her debts, her state’s probate court has a distinct list of what bills get priority. The details vary by state, but generally estate administrating fees, funeral expenses, taxes and last illness medical bills get paid first, followed by secured debts and lastly, credit card debts.

Need Help?

     If you have questions regarding your situation, you should consult with a consumer law attorney or probate attorney. Or, if you just need a question or two answered, call your state’s legal hotline (Legal Services of Northern California (800) 222-1753 or visit the website: lsnc.net/slh.

     Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

LETTERS • 05-25-17

Open Letter to City Council Members Regarding Crosswalks

Council Members:

     For years, Estudillo Estates residents have begged for a crosswalk (ideally, one with flashing lights, but we’ll take anything) on Bancroft at Oakes so that pedestrians can take full and safe advantage of their proximity to Paradiso, Zocalo, and the other small businesses that occupy the Bancroft/Dutton intersection.

     I have appealed countless times to the city traffic engineer to no avail. I get the standard, bureaucratic and not very persuasive, argument that “crosswalks create a false sense of security” for pedestrians, and that anyway in California, pedestrians have the right of way to cross, crosswalk or not.

     I have at least two rebuttals:

     1) if crosswalks are unsafe, why do we have any at all? Obviously there’s some justification for these markers. As a citizen, I will vouch for their usefulness.

     2) it would seem that having a marker would be a lot more of an effective warning that pedestrians might be crossing than no marker at all. In fact, (like many other drivers), I didn’t even know that California pedestrians always have the legal right-of-way with or without crosswalks. Unless there’s a designated pedestrian crossing, drivers will look at pedestrians who cross willy-nilly as J-walkers, and why wouldn’t they?

     There is almost 1/2 mile between Dutton and Callan crosswalks. Over the past 20-30 years, neighbors have played Frogger with their baby strollers to get from east of Bancroft to access the stores on west Bancroft. With the city’s recent focus on promoting bicycles and pedestrian access, why are we still in this predicament?

     To those of the council who will respond and/or take action regarding your positions, thank you in advance,

— Sarah Nash, San Leandro

Drivers Show No Courtesy to Pedestrians on Estudillo Avenue

Editor:

     This morning I was walking and attempting to cross Estudillo Avenue at San Rafael Street around 10:30 in the morning. I stepped off the curb into the gutter on Estudillo Avenue and stood there while 13 cars sped by me without slowing.

     I am semi-ashamed to note that I sent the flying bird to the last three cars – no one slowed at all.

     Drivers: You are required to stop for pedestrians once they have stepped off the curb whether there is a marked or unmarked crosswalk (unless there is a sign prohibiting pedestrians from crossing and directing them to a near crosswalk).

     Pedestrians have a responsibility not to jump in front of cars, but when a pedestrian steps down – stop! It is a shame to note that I have seen people drive through the marked and flashing lighted marked crosswalk by the library on Estudillo. Please slow down and stop for pedestrians. It only takes a minute.

— Moira Fry, San Leandro

Realigning Electrical Outlets a Job for Electricians

Editor:

     As a mostly retired yet still licensed electrician, I am very concerned that Ms. Mazzotta would list a set of instructions for handymen/women to realign their own electric outlet boxes (“Do Your Electric Outlets Sit Straight,” by Samantha Mazzotta, Page 10, The Times, May 18). 

     This work should be performed by someone who has a license to perform electric work and knows how to not get electrocuted. Although she does make a note quite near the end of the article that if the person is not confident in their skill they should contact a licensed electrician, that should be the first order of business when moving junction boxes and “fiddling” with electric wiring.

     This is especially true in the older homes in San Leandro. Sorry, it’s just not a “DIY” project.

— Bob Ewert, BDM Electric, Inc., San Leandro

Meat and Dairy Industries Should Take a Cue from Barnum & Bailey

Editor:

     This past Sunday, animal rights activists shut down the 146-year-old Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after years of effectively exposing them for animal abuse. Can the meat and dairy industry be far behind?

     The shift toward plant-based eating is everywhere. Fast-food chains like Chipotle, Quiznos, Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy’s offer plant-based options. Parade, Better Homes and Gardens, and Eating Well are all touting vegan recipes.

     Indeed, Global Meat News reports that nearly half of consumers are reducing their meat intake. Beef consumption has dropped by 43% in the past 40 years.

     Google CEO Eric Schmidt views replacement of meat by plant protein as the world’s No. 1 technical trend. The financial investment community is betting on innovative start-ups, like Beyond Meat, or Impossible Foods, while warning clients about “death of meat.”

     Even Tyson Foods new CEO Tom Hayes sees plant protein as meat industry’s future. The industry needs to transition to plant-based foods, or shut down like the Greatest Show on Earth.

     In the meantime, every one of us can shut the meat and dairy industry out of our own kitchen by checking out the rich collection of plant-based entrees, milks, cheeses, and ice creams in our supermarket.

— Kurt Champler, San Leandro

A President Guided by the Need ‘For Attention and Adulation’

Editor:

     The President-for-Now gave a speech in Saudi Arabia that was way more moderate than the angry, anti-Islam invective that he has been spewing throughout his campaign and long before as well.

     Normalists, who would like to believe that the mendacious narcissist is actually a normal, rational president, are celebrating his reading all the way through the prepared speech without going all wicky-wacky.

     The question remains, however, if he can pivot so completely after years of hateful, divisive statements, can one believe that he won’t just pivot again, from this apparently normal speech?  

     At any time, in any moment, he will say whatever he’s thinking, with no internal consistency to guide him, except for his narcissistic need for attention and adulation.

— Bruce Joffe, Piedmont

Speaking Up for American Indians in the Bear Ear Region of Utah

Editor:

     The Bear Ear Region in Utah is where the cultural sites of American Indians such as the Hopi, Navajo, Ute, and Pueblo People are located. It includes the cliff dwelling, villages, and rock art panels of the Puebloan People. The region is where American Indians look for healing, spirituality, and subsistence.

     It is the reason why former president Barack Obama declared the Bear Ear Region a natural monument. So it is outrageous that President Trump signed an executive order that will desecrate it in favor of both oil and gas drilling. He sent his Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, to go to part of the region where there will be drilling.

     I urge the majority of Americans to stop Trump from desecrating the Bear Ear Region.

— Billy Trice Jr., Oakland

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LETTERS • 05-18-17

San Leandro Police Officers Take Serve-and-Protect Oath Seriously

Editor:

     I have lived the last 30-plus years of my life out on my horse farm. Rarely have I been in a large city and not one as large as the Oakland-San Leandro area.  

     All too often, we hear negative stories about the police and the way some have conducted the oath of their office. I wanted to raise people’s attention to the fact there are good police that do take the “serve and protect” oath seriously.

     While having coffee and a bagel at a café in San Leandro this morning, I had the unfortunate experience of hearing a drunk and disorderly gentleman sitting out on the patio – around the corner from me. I couldn’t see the person but I could certainly hear the profanity and vulgar commentaries spewed upon other innocent passing citizens. In fact, he was so loud three San Leandro police officers could also hear the man from 500 yards away.  

     I assumed he was drunk, even though it was only 10 in the morning along with the random ramblings of his profanity.

     The officers observed the situation for about two minutes. After locking up their vehicle, they proceeded across the street and approached the gentleman.

     I couldn’t hear what they were saying to him but the man did calm down, stopped his profanity, and in the matter of five minutes left the café and started down the street.  

     The officers stood their ground and observed the man as he walked down the street and away from them. The officers continually glanced around the café and patio area. Always aware of the other patrons on the patio and inside of the café.  The officers remained very calm and conducted themselves in a professional and courteous manner.  

     The two officers I could see from my seated area were non-threatening and kept their composure throughout the incident. This, despite some people passing by making negative remarks about the “po po” that made me very sad. Sad on so many levels. Suffice it to say, the thoughts that ran through my head were a mixed bag of emotions.  

     Sadness for the people walking by that have become so jaded over the “police” for their own reasons. Sad that most of us sat pulverized to our seats not knowing what to do. For myself, wanting to approach the man to ask him to please stop his profanity, but worried what hostilities that may evoke. Sadness for the others that sat transfixed in their seats waiting for the man to leave or someone to make him leave.  

     Two gentleman sort of chuckled and looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. As if to silently say, “What are you going do?”  

     Even with the sadness came joy and encouragement.  

     Joy witnessing a calm and non-confrontational resolution to what could have become a complex situation. Encouragement that there are police officers who take their oath to “serve and protect” seriously.

     Kudos to these officers with the San Leandro Police Department that made my morning as enjoyable as I set out to accomplish.

— D’Arcy L. Demianoff-Thompson, Sheffield Village

Claims Trump Doesn’t Know American History

Editor:

     President Trump does not know history. He claims that the American Civil War which started over 150 years ago, could had been prevented if his hero, Andrew Jackson, was president during that period, even though Jackson died in 1845, 16 years before the war.

     People should know, before and during his presidency, Jackson was created with racist atrocities toward people of colors in this country during his time in the mid-1880s. As a general in the United States Army, he and his army led an invasion of Florida to try to capture the Black Seminoles and send them back to slavery. When the Black Seminoles resisted, Jackson and the army massacred them at Fort Negro and those who survived were sent back to slavery.

     During his presidency, Jackson led the forced removal of American Indians from their homeland in the Southeast to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) where thousands had died.  

     When President Trump uses his executive orders creating health problems toward Indigenous Peoples with the building of both the Keystone and Dakota Access Pipeline, he’s just following the footstep of his hero, former president Andrew Jackson.

— Billy Trice, Jr., Oakland

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LETTERS • 05-11-17

Accuses School District of Not Playing Fair in Tax Campaign

Editor:

     How fair is it that the San Leandro School District would deliberately seek to gain the support of seniors regarding the plan to add a parcel tax to non-seniors’ annual property tax bill?

     Is there no shame in such a tactic? How about you go directly to those who will be footing the bill to plead your case? I’ll tell you why, because you know there will be push-back.

     You have no intention of playing fair to get what you want – more hard-earned working-class dollars to fill your coffers. I agree that funds may be needed, but as educators, the first thing you should do is level the playing field. “All who vote for, should pay for.”

     If you want money through a parcel tax, then do the honorable thing and ask the person who will be writing the check. Otherwise, you appear to be sneaky and greedy by going to the seniors where there will be no resistance, because it will be none of their skin in the game. Shame on you, Tramutola.

— Sharon Dixon, San Leandro

Each Year, Citywide Track Meet Gets Better and Better

Editor:

     There is this awesome event that has now happened four years in a row in San Leandro. And, every year it is getting better and better.

     It is the Citywide Track Meet for all San Leandro Middle and Elementary school students. There is so much cheering and everybody is a  winner. All participants get ribbons and big cheers from the audience.

     This kind of event really brings the community together.

     I want to thank the San Leandro Sports Foundation for starting this event and keep organizing it, and thank you to all the volunteers.

— Liisa Burns, The Principled Academy, San Leandro

Calls Leo West’s Attacks ‘Divisive and Harmful to Labor Movement’

Editor:

     While I differ with Guillermo Elenes’ embrace of the Democratic Party, he has spoken out for all workers in my experience.

     However, I am very familiar with Leo West’s branding of undocumented workers as “scabs.” He is well known for vicious assaults on undocumented workers and his continued attacks on these workers are divisive and harmful to the labor movement.

     It is in our interest to organize the undocumented and join in solidarity with them in improving their living standards in their countries of origin. These people do not risk life and limb coming to the U.S. to work, often in the most oppressive conditions, because they don’t like home.

     Mr. West would do us a service to inform people of the historical role U.S. capitalism has played in Latin America, considering the region is in its own back yard. NAFTA has not only devastated some rust belt communities here, it drove millions of Mexican subsistence farmers off their land and their source of food and shelter.

     U.S. Marine, Major General Smedley Butler noted:

     “I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903.” War is a racket.

     Mr. West’s criticism of Mr. Elenes may or may not be justified on some points, but his xenophobic, racially loaded attacks on immigrant workers are far more damaging to the workers’ movement.

— Richard Mellor, San Leandro

Says Trump No Advocate of Tenant Rights Laws

Editor:

     Let me see if I have this straight. Leo T. West is advocating for some type of law or regulation that will assist and/or protect vulnerable tenants in a very competitive rental housing market.

     I wonder if Mr. West understands that things like rent control, tenant rights laws and subsidies for ordinary folks are an anathema to “Free Market” devotees like his heroes, Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Leo T. does a lot of ranting against Democrats and the very folks who stand with those who get victimized when the greedy take advantage of the needy.

     My advice to anyone who finds themselves caught in the rental housing squeeze is not to consider Leo as a champion for your cause. Because, if you are clueless about who your enemy really is, your chances of winning are not so good.

— Vernon S. Burton, San Leandro

Appalled that GOP Not Seeking CBO’s Analysis of New Health Law

Editor:

     Our Congress is equipped with the tools to make informed decisions and yet with the recent adoption of the GOP’s healthcare legislation, the House of Representatives doesn’t seem to be using these tools.

     The Congressional Budget Office is nonpartisan and produces independent analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the Congressional budget process.  

     The CBO releases both reports and cost estimates for proposed legislation, without issuing any policy recommendations.

     Why, then, does our House of Representatives move ahead to pass health care legislation that will affect so many already marginalized Americans without waiting to study and read the not yet published report on this legislation from the CBO?  

     This action seems to be another instance of our government attacking evidence-based logical thinking at the expense of the American people.  

     I am appalled.  

— Susan Hupp, San Leandro

Calls for Rejection of ‘Dairy Industry’s Cruelty’ to Cows

Editor:

     Last week, The Washington Post published a major exposé of the U.S. dairy industry concluding that mega dairies scam consumers into paying extra for “organic” milk that isn’t.

     The timing, a few days before Mother’s Day, could not be more appropriate. Dairy cows, world-wide symbols of motherhood, never get to see or nurture their babies.

     The newborn calves are torn from their mothers at birth and turned into veal cutlets, so the dairy industry can sell their milk. The distraught mothers bellow for days, hoping in vain for their babies’ return.

     Instead, they are chained on a concrete warehouse floor, milked by machines, then impregnated artificially to renew the pregnancy and keep the milk flowing. When their production drops, around four years of age, they are ground into hamburgers.

     This Mother’s Day, let’s all honor motherhood and our natural compassion for animals by rejecting the dairy industry’s cruelty. Let’s replace cow’s milk and its products, laden with cholesterol, saturated fats, hormones and antibiotics. Let’s choose delicious, healthful, cruelty-free plant-based milk, cheese and ice cream products offered at our grocery store.

— Dennis Roth, San Leandro

Answer: Yes and Yes

Editor:

     So, did the entire May 4 issue of the San Leandro Times go out with the date “January 5, 2012” on the masthead, or do I have a valuable collectors item?

— Victor De Grande, San Leandro

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LETTERS • 05-04-17

A Real Headline

Editor:

     “City of San Leandro earns $168,750; 24 new jobs created in San Leandro; and residents have more access to quality, affordable health care”

     That should have been the headline for the article when the loan to Davis Street was paid in full. Instead, the great work of Davis Street has been overshadowed by articles and letters to the editor insinuating mismanagement of loan funds.

     In fact, each year, Davis Street undergoes an independent financial audit by a third-party firm to ensure funds are properly expended. The independent audit is submitted with each Federal, State, County, City and private grant application, and is reviewed by the countless grantors we receive funding from.  

     Our board, comprised of attorneys, medical professionals, educators, local stakeholders and consumers also review the detailed monthly financials with our CPA.

     Davis Street’s operating budget for Fiscal Year 16/17 is $12.4 million. Total money granted by the City for the same FY is $46,731.

     For pennies on the dollar, Davis Street provides thousands of residents emergency food, clothing, housing and utility assistance, medical, dental, counseling, and childcare services.

     The $12 million-plus gap or the remaining 99.8 percent is filled in by securing grants and donations from government agencies, health districts, businesses and individuals.

     Davis Street is grateful for the $1.5 million loan from the City to help launch the clinic but it was in fact – a loan. The city received $168,750 in interest payments, the loan was fully repaid and we never missed a payment.

     I hope we can now focus on the great work of Davis Street and the thousands that depend on us for services to make ends meet.

     We thank the community for their unwavering support.

— Gordon Galvan, President, Board of Directors, Davis Street Family Resource Center

Claims ‘Just Cause’ Doesn’t Prevent Evictions

Editor:

     In two consecutive letters to the San Leandro Times, Guillermo Elenes flashes his badge as a member of the Democratic Party Central Committee, thus confirming my accusation that he’s a “political operative.”

     Previously, he was writing as the spokesman for the “Unión de Vecinos,” a phantom organization.

     In the last letter, he writes as an advocate for the “blue collar workers,” a cruel joke, for if something is clear about Elenes, it is that he’s being an advocate for illegal scabs who’ve displaced U.S. blue collar workers from their jobs and housing.

     I’ve put in 40 years as a blue collar worker and a tenant; I wonder what Elenes does for a living, other than

being a stooge for the Democratic Party.

     In his previous letter, Elenes writes: “I speak for tenants, and have succeeded in passing a resolution affirming that Democrats believe in rent control and just cause” – toilet paper. Elenes never says that he is a tenant, a question that I raised.

     “Just cause” doesn’t prevent any eviction, the landlord can still keep on raising the rent until the tenant can no longer afford it and thus be forced to leave.

     Elenes states that the Tenant Relocation Assistance Program is “bad for tenants.” Elenes should explain why the landlords come out in force to oppose it.

     Furthermore, Elenes writes that “Any proposed payment will not cover the cost of moving to a comparable unit.” Therefore, Elenes prefers that the tenants receive absolutely nothing, because that’s the law now.

     It’s good that Elenes clarified his position in the Democratic Party, for all of us, the tenants, know quite well who brought up this housing situation to us in California, with the democrats in Sacramento; they’d like to blame it on Donald Trump.

     Elenes also tries to link me with Lee Thomas. While council member Thomas has been using all kinds of sneaky arguments to prevent the implementation of the ordinance, I have been speaking strongly for the implementation of this palliative for evicted tenants.

     Finally, Elenes cannot avoid resorting to the politically correct accusation of “bigotry” and “repulsive” against me, when he only works with “Latinos” to whom he does very little favor with his position. What’s more repulsive than being a stooge for the Democratic Party?

— Leo T. West, San Leandro

Praise for Times’ Elder Law Columnist Osofsky

Editor:

     I have lived in San Leandro for many years and have often enjoyed reading through the San Leandro Times for pleasure, but never once thought that one day it would lead me to the help I desperately needed.

     Without going into details, I found myself in need of someone well versed in certain areas of the law and through serendipity I came across an article by Mr. Gene Osofsky, Esq. in a recent issue of the San Leandro Times and reached out to him in the hopes of some clarification and perhaps a reference, and instead found in Mr. Osofsky everything one could hope for as he was not only swiftly responsive but unbelievably informed and had all the answers I was looking for and then some, actually making me aware of other questions I needed to ask and solutions to their problems.

     Mr. Osofsky also showed incredible compassion, which I believe most people would say, and my own previous experience has proved, is a characteristic not many attorneys possess.

     I hope the San Leandro Times realizes what an incredibly invaluable resource Mr. Osofsky and his column is to its readers, and I highly recommend to anyone who is in need of such an attorney to retain Mr. Osofsky as I can attest you will be very well represented as he is not only deeply knowledgeable in his area of expertise but he possesses the highest level of integrity, altruism and empathy that I have ever seen in any professional of his kind. He is a blessing to the field and a major asset to the San Leandro Times and its readers.

— Laura Ruh, San Leandro

Says ‘Bumbling’ Trump Not Fit to Be President of the U.S.

Editor:

     By the time this edition of the San Leandro Times is published, the first 100 days of the Trump, administration will have passed.

     What is obvious by now to all but the most obtuse among us, is that Donald Trump isn’t fit to be President of these United States.   

     The bumbling and ineptitude would be enough to cause concern if that was all that was going on. But there is a real possibility that this idiot is being controlled by Russian Premier Vladimir Putin.

     The President’s family, with all their conflicted ties, are firmly ensconced in the American government – a situation that will not end well, I fear.

— Vernon S. Burton, San Leandro

Special Words of Thanks to Downtown Cleanup Volunteers

Editor:

     We want to thank the readers for their kind words of acknowledgment for our recent clean-up work for Downtown San Leandro. However, I think it’s important to spotlight a few organizations that put forward a

massive positive impact, and are

deserving of the credit for the day.  

     I would sincerely like to thank all of the members of Sheet Metal Workers’ Union Local No. 104 who came out (well over 50), ACCO Engineered Systems for providing gloves and vests, and to the rest of the many volunteers who believe in community beautification.

     There was over 150 volunteers who believe in what we do. We look forward to continuing to find opportunities to engage with the City of San Leandro and the many great organizations to work towards community betterment and quality of life.

— Bryan Azevedo, San Leandro

Outraged by President Trump’s Planned 30% EPA Funding Cut

Editor:

     It is outrageous that President Trump is cutting 30 percent of funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

     This agency is the one that promotes clean water and for the president to cut funding will result with the majority of Americans experiencing health problems due to dirty water which is contaminated by corporations who pollute it.

     Clean water is about surviving and it is a way to be healthy. I urge President Trump to not cut funding for the EPA.

— Billy Trice Jr., Oakland

White House Not Abiding by the Laws the Rest of Us Respect

Editor:

     Tax Day has passed, and nearly all of us fulfilled our civic duty to pay. But Donald Trump brags about how little he can get away with paying, with no civic shame.

     Jeff Sessions committed perjury under oath, yet he faces no legal consequences now as Attorney General.  

     Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort failed to register as paid lobbyists of foreign governments, in violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act, yet they are not being prosecuted.  

     Trump, his daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law have been receiving

emoluments from foreign

governments, in the form of exclusive trademark protections, yet no legal enforcement of the Constitution’s prohibition is underway.

     The privileged few are not abiding by the same laws that the rest of us must respect.

     That just ain’t right. That isn’t the way our country is supposed to be governed.

— Bruce Joffe, Piedmont

OBITUARIES • 05-25-17

SOLDATI DOUGLAS, Virginia

ESCOBAR, Rose Mary E.

EVANS, David Jr.

RICHARDS, Mary

SANTROCH, Fama

SNYDER, Ellouise M.

STOKES, Donna Pearl

Virginia Soldati Douglas, or Ginnie Douglas (Virginia Marie Soldati) of San Leandro, passed away on May 19, 2017, after a long illness. She was born in San Francisco on January 6, 1931, the youngest of three siblings — Rosalie and Ernest (Bud) Soldati who preceded her in death. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School, she went to work at Pacific Bell. After more than 40 years at what became AT&T, she retired and enjoyed travelling and gardening. She especially loved caring for her  grandchildren prior to their start at pre-school. She was immensely proud of her Italian heritage and was thrilled for the opportunity to visit her ancestral village, Sonvico, especially the church and home of her granduncle, who was the local priest. Ginnie was a member of the Colombo Club Women’s Auxiliary and a regular volunteer at San Leandro Hospital.  She was devoted to her daughter Alisa, her husband Erik, and her two grandchildren, Caleb and Sydney.  She is also survived by nephews, Stanley Bowers, Ronald Bowers and Brian  Soldati; and her niece, Sharon Bowers Marshall. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, May 26, at 11 a.m. at Church of the Assumption, 1100 Fulton Ave., in San Leandro.

Rose Mary E. Escobar passed away on May 20, 2017 at the age of 93. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 31, at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., in San Leandro from noon to 4:30 p.m.  The vigil service will be on Wednesday evening, May 31, at Church of the Assumption, 1100 Fulton Ave., in San Leandro beginning at 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, June 1, at Church of the Assumption beginning at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary (www.santos-robinson.com, 510 483-0123).

David Evans, Jr. aka “Dancin’ Dave”, died unexpectedly but peacefully on May 17, 2017 in Oakland at the age of 84. A viewing is scheduled for Monday, May 29, at Garden Chapel, 885 El Camino Real, in South San Francisco from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be on Tuesday, May 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the same location. A military burial ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 31, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend and to bid a fond, if tearful, farewell.

Mary Richards, a resident of San Leandro, passed away on May 16, 2017 at the age of 85. Mary was a native of New York and interment will be in New York. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary in San Leandro (510-483-0123, www.santos-robinson.com).

Fama Santroch, 94, of San Leandro, passed away on May 7, 2017 in her sleep. She is survived by William Wasson, Debra Edwards, Annette Bicha, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ellouise M. Snyder passed away on May 17, 2017 at the age of 95. She was born and raised in Oakland and lived in San Leandro for 67 years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Antone and Louise Francis; brother, Donald Francis; sister, Lorraine Owings; and husbands, Walter Delgado, Walter Bjorkman and Donald Snyder. She is survived by her children, Douglas Delgado (Ramona) and Diana Osheim (Steven); her grandchildren, David Delgado, Delora Delgado, Katherine Bamford (William), Elizabeth Owens (Jason), Richard Osheim (Darcy); and 7 great-grandchildren. Ellouise graduated in June, 1940 from Castlemont High School and was a member of Block C, the girl’s athletic association. She continued her love of sports after high school, playing softball and volleyball into the early 1950s. She worked for the San Lorenzo Unified School District as a cafeteria cook at Fairmont Elementary School. She was also employed by the Federal Government at Alameda Naval Air Station where she served as a procurement supervisor. After 20 years, she retired and enjoyed traveling and volunteer work. She loved to dance and was a regular at the Wednesday afternoon dances at the San Leandro senior center.

Donna Pearl Stokes, age 89, went to be with her Lord on May 16, 2017, surrounded by her family in San Leandro. She was born September 7, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Samuel and Elizabeth Hanni. She was the youngest of 10 children. All her siblings have preceded her in death. Donna lost her mom at an early age and stayed with different family members throughout her childhood. At the age of 19, she and a friend traveled to San Francisco. There, she met her husband, John, within the month, and the two married three months later on December 13, 1946. Together, they raised three children. Donna and John enjoyed many happy years together. Donna spent most of her time as a homemaker. She was an amazing cook, whether it was preparing a family favorite or trying something new. She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church for over 20 years. She was an incredible seamstress, loved to do daily word puzzles and play her favorite game “Aggravation”. Her favorite color was pink — so much so, she drove around in a pink 1972 Pinto for many years. She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, John; their children, Carolyn (Ron, preceded in death) Lamb, John (Debbie, preceded in death) Stokes, and Jill (John Baumgartner, preceded in death) Stokes; five grandchildren, Sam (Lynda) Lamb, Pamela (Thomas) Negd, Jennifer Stokes, Stephanie Stokes and Shawn Stokes; one great-grandchild, Olivia Lamb; and several nieces and nephews in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 1801 Manor Blvd., in San Leandro with the Rev. Luther Werth officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time. The family requests all attending to consider wearing pink in Donna’s honor. There will be lunch immediately following the service. Burial will follow the lunch at Lone Tree Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Donna’s name to Hope Lutheran Church.

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OBITUARIES • 05-18-17

COSTA, Agostinho M.

HARRISON, Dennis D.

NUÑEZ, Dolores Galindo

PERRY, Dr. Leroy R., Sr.

Agostinho M. Costa passed away on May 13, 2017 at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife, Maria Costa. Visitation will be held today, May 18, at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., in San Leandro from 2 to 8 p.m. with a vigil service beginning at 7 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 19, at St. Leander Catholic Church, 550 W. Estudillo Ave., in San Leandro beginning at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary (510-483-0123, www.santos-robinson.com).

Dennis D. Harrison passed away on May 12, 2017 at the age of 68.  He was a lifetime resident of San Leandro. Dennis is survived by his wife, Annette; and children, Joseph and Jennifer. There will be a private family burial at sea and a celebration of life BBQ at a later date. Arrangements made by Santos-Robinson Mortuary (510-483-0123, www.santos-robinson.com).

Dolores Galindo Nuñez passed away peacefully in her San Leandro home surrounded by family on Wednesday afternoon, May 10, 2017 at age 91. Dolores was born on February 23, 1926 in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico. Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Salvador Joseph Nuñez; and brother, Angel Galindo. She is survived by her brother, Marcelino Galindo (wife Socorro); children, Patricia Nuñez-Rabelo (husband Ray), Deborah Nuñez (Ramon) and Sal M. Nuñez (wife Lisa); step-children, Rick Nuñez (wife Evelyn), Roxanne Botai, Cathy Trujillo (husband Rick), Victoria Molina and Gael Antognini; grandchildren, Ricardo, Anthony, Danny, Joaquin and Alyssa; step-frandchildren, Lenny, Bernadette, Adriana, Leslie, Celena, Marissa and Christina; great-granddaughter, Leah; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Dolores enjoyed trips to Mexico to see her family, playing quarter slot machines in Reno, and doing her word puzzles. She especially loved cooking and being surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her kind heart, being a loving mother and grandmother, and for her delicious Mexican cooking.

Dr. LeRoy R. Perry, Sr. (December 14, 1920 – May 14, 2017) passed away peacefully on May 14, 2017. He was the eldest of two sons born to Manuel and Virginia Perry, and was proud of his Portuguese heritage. Dr. Perry was born in Oakland, and a graduate of Fremont High School. He attended U.C. Berkeley on dual athletic and scholastic scholarships where he was a member of both the track and football teams, and attained his B.S. degree. He subsequently attended UCSF Medical School and taught anatomy at the Oakland Chiropractic College which led to his decision to become a Doctor of Chiropractic in 1948. He practiced for 54 years. He married Alice M. Andrade on December 28, 1941 and, in 1942, enlisted in the Coast Guard. He became an officer and was a first responder to the Port Chicago explosion in 1944 and served in the landings in Tarawa and Saipan. He and his wife, Alice, were the proud parents of six children. He is survived by Janice Coleman-Knight, James Perry Esq., Dr. LeRoy R. Perry, Jr., Jerry Perry, and Dr. Judy Alice Day. He is predeceased by his daughter, JoAnn Lenhart. He was loved by 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting, especially in the Alaskan wilderness. He was dedicated to his patients, whom he considered his friends. He is the last survivor of his generation and will not be forgotten by those who he cared for, or by those who knew him. Friends and family are invited to a Rosary (7 p.m.) and visitation (5 to 8:30 p.m.) at the St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 3700 Dorisa Ave., in Oakland on Thursday, May 25, and a Requiem Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 26. The burial ceremony will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 26320 Mission Blvd, in Hayward. After the ceremony, all are invited to attend a celebratory luncheon.

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OBITUARIES • 05-11-17

CHENOWETH, Margaret

DOEMAN, Zipporah

FROGGE, Matsue “Rose”

RANDEL, Eleanor Elizabeth

ZIPES, Georgiana

Margaret Chenoweth, 56, a lifelong resident of San Leandro, passed away on May 4, after a short illness.

Eleanor Elizabeth Randel (December 23, 1932 – April 23, 2017), a resident of San Leandro, passed at age 84. Arrangements made by Grissom’s Mortuary (510-278-2800, grissomsmortuary.com).

Zipporah Doeman (Sunrise: 21, 5, 1928 • Sunset: 25, 4, 2017) Mother (By Phyllis B. Mitchell): The letter M for mother stands a mom, one of a kind. She toiled with head, with heart and hands, and never seemed to mind. The O is for open mindedness, for things she understands. We pray the Lord her soul to bless. We never know God’s plans. For trust will be the letter T. In Him she puts her trust. And now with Him, she’s gone to be. Accept His will we must. And H is for that heart of gold, within she carries deep. The grasp of death so icy cold, has now put her to sleep. The E is for the everlasting love we feel for “Zippy” dear. The love that comes from God above, from us ne’er to tear. The letter R, last but not least, that letter stands for rest. We pray her soul will rest in peace. We know that God knows best!

Matsue “Rose” Frogge passed away peacefully in her San Leandro home surrounded by family on Thursday morning, May 4, 2017 at age 81. Matsue was born on December 20, 1935 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Imaizumi. Matsue was preceded in death by her husband, Keith; brother, Yoshihiro Imaizumi; daughters, Doris Frogge and Susan Nelson; and sons, James and Edward Frogge. Matsue is survived by her daughters, Rosalie Waters of Sonora, and Stephanie Frogge of San Leandro; sons and daughter in-laws, Thomas and Kendra Frogge of Puyallup, Washington, David and Betsy Frogge of Lake Elsinore California; grandchildren, Stephanie, Vanessa, Robert, Tommy, Wesley, Rachele, Florence, Casino and Carl; great-grandchildren, Janelle, D’lano, Shamanice, Arius, Celeste, Serenity, James and Leela; great-great grandchildren, Jordan and Clara; and her faithful Chihuahua “Cookie”. Matsue enjoyed gardening, spending time with family and friends, and attending 3 Crosses Church in Castro Valley. She will be remembered for her kind heart, generosity, wonderful sense of humor, and her great spirit for life. Those fortunate to know Matsue were touched by her warm affection, love and genuine regards for others. Family and friends may gather for interment graveside service at Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591 Fairview Ave., in Hayward at noon on Friday, May 12. A celebration of Matsue’s life will follow at 1214 Belleau St. in San Leandro at 2 p.m.

Georgiana Zipes, a resident of San Leandro, passed away May 3, 2017. Visitation is Friday, May 12, at Santos-Robinson Mortuary, 160 Estudillo Ave., in San Leandro. A celebration of Georgi’s life will also be the same day beginning at 2 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Scout of America, 1001 Davis St., in San Leandro. Arrangements by Santos-Robinson Mortuary (510-483-0123, santos-robinson.com).

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OBITUARIES • 05-04-17

CASTLEMAN, Martha Frances

FARMER, Jo-Ann Sonja (Foreman)

FLORRY, Jerry Edward

FRANCESCHINI, Dorothy

ROMERO, Joe Gonzalo

Martha F. Castleman (May 12, 1926 – April 30, 2017), a resident of San Lorenzo, age 90, died on Sunday, April 30, peacefully in her home. She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Earl Castleman; and son, Randal Lynn Castleman. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Ken and Ellen Castleman of Walnut Creek, Rob and Linda Castleman of Yuba City, and Cornelia Locher of White Plains, New York; her grandchildren, Kevin, Sean, Matthew, Amanda, Laura and Andrew; and many more family members and friends. Services for Martha will be held today, May 4, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene, 19230 Lake Chabot Rd., in Castro Valley. Martha will be laid to rest at Irvington Memorial Cemetery, 41001 Chapel Way, in Fremont.

Jo-Ann Sonja (Foreman) Farmer (1940–2017) is survived by the family she so dearly loved: Jen, Kirk, Hillary, Tyler (Lauren), Jessica (Kyle, Norah, Harper), Emily (Jason, Sonja) and numerous relatives. Quietly and courageously she fought a very aggressive cancer. A native Californian, Jo-Ann attended school in Oakland and later lived in San Leandro. Her greatest gifts were a fierce loyalty and duty to those she loved, and an unbelievable knack to make us laugh at her bold beliefs. Thanks to special friends, Lisa, Ronny, Nancy, Lynn, Jaret, her Moose and Shooters buddies, and everyone who was lucky enough to find themselves listening to one of her crazy stories. A Celebration of her Life is being planned for a later date.

Jerry Edward Flory, 88, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2017 with his wife of 66 years by his side. He was the eldest son of Duffy and Evelyn Flory, originally of Fort Worth, Texas. Jerry’s legacy lives on in the family he cherished: his wife, Alice; 3 children, David (Beatrix), Robert (Susy) and Teresa (Lou Gregus); 9 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his eldest son, Jerry “Jeff” Flory, Jr. (Sheila); and his sister, Carol McNely. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Sequoyah Community Church in Oakland on Friday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you consider making a donation in Jerry’s honor to The Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).

Dorothy Franceschini died on March 31, 2017.  She was born and raised in Oakland by Antonio and Maria Ferreira. She was the fifth of seven children. Dorothy met and married Paul Franceschini after a whirlwind courtship. They settled in San Leandro with their children, Nanette, Paul (Vivian) and Dorothy (Steven). They are also survived by their 3 granddaughters, Gina (Erick), Vanessa (Brandon) and Stephanie; and their 4 great-grandchildren, Erick, Jacob, Victoria and Jackson. Her husband, Paul, died in April 2012. Dorothy will also be missed by her surviving brothers, Manual Ferreira and Ray Ferreira; and her numerous nieces and nephews. She always enjoyed bingo, her sewing club, trips to Reno and Cache Creek Casino with Paul, and raising her children and grandchildren. After some time, Dorothy moved into Marymount Villa Assisted Living, where she still got to enjoy her bingo and arts and crafts. A Celebration of her Life will be held after her Memorial Mass which will be held on her birthday, May 5, at Transfiguration Church, 4000 E. Castro Valley Blvd., in Castro Valley at 11:30 a.m. Her family would especially like to thank Marymount Villa for over four years of assisting Dorothy. They would also like to thank Kaiser Hospital and Suncrest Hospice Care.

Joe Gonzalo Romero, a former resident of San Leandro, passed on April 14, 2017, at age 73. Cremation was held in Denton, Texas.