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Transcription

Sec 1 - PleasantonWeekly.com

Castlewood coach arrested
Tennis teacher faces molestation charges
°
page 5
6OL)8.UMBERs3EPTEMBER
WWW0LEASANTON7EEKLYCOM
Remembering
9/11
1st OK
Sharks facility
clears major
hurdle °page 5
Military group hosts
event honoring
patriots
°
Ballistic turns 40
3OCCERCLUBCELEBRATESFOURDECADES
PAGE 12
Section 2
info
Pleasanton
M A G A Z I N E
2008-2009
Coming to Pleasanton homes this Month
The most complete local resource magazine guide.
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Tel: 925.461.8409
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Castro Valley, CA 94546
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Remembering
Grandpa Schlereth
W
hen Howard E. Schlereth
died last week at the age
of 89—almost 90—there
was no funeral, no flowers, no service, not even an obituary notice.
An Army veteran with 22 years of
service, including World War II,
one of his duties was to escort the
coffins of his fallen comrades home
to their bereaving families. He’d
seen enough sadness and wanted
no more of it when his time came.
Although his family honored his
wishes, granddaughter Donalyn
Harris sent me a note, which we
followed up with a phone call, asking if there wasn’t some way we
could honor “my truly great grandpa” who so many in Pleasanton
knew. Let me give it a try.
Mr. Schlereth, indeed, led a
remarkable life. The last surviving
sibling of eight, he enlisted in the
Army at the age of 17, having a
neighbor sign an affidavit falsifying his age as 18. He was sent to
Hawaii and shipped out just before
the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
Dec. 7, 1941. It was his first taste
of war, thankful that he had escaped
the carnage but sad that so many
of his newly-made friends had perished. During the war, he served in
the South Pacific, and eventually
rose to the rank of Master Sergeant,
the highest an enlisted man could
hold at the time. After the war,
he studied French at the Army
Language School in Monterey and
then was reassigned to Berlin where
he moved with his wife Doris, who
is now 86, before the Berlin wall
was built. Later, he served in Korea,
then took his discharge and started
his civilian career as a purchasing
agent, moving with Doris and their
young son Howard H. to Danville.
That’s also when property taxes
were soaring, with Contra Costa
County leading the way. During his
military years when he was bringing
war casualties home, Mr. Schlereth
had gotten to know Graham Hitch
who had a mortuary in Pleasanton,
and Hitch persuaded the Schlereths
to move here where homes, at the
time, were much more affordable
and taxes were low. That was 1967
and Doris recalls the wide open
spaces of Pleasanton with its twolane Hopyard Road and lots of trees
and hops growing alongside.
The Schlereth family has been
here ever since, with son Howard
now married to Sandra and their
three children—Donalyn and
Matthew also living in Pleasanton
and another son, Daymon, living in Corning, near Chico.
Donalyn, who attended Walnut
Grove Elementary and Harvest
Park Middle schools and graduated from Amador Valley High,
now lives in the Jensen tract with
her husband Scott and their three
children: Gary, an eighth-grader
at Harvest Park and one-year-old
twin daughters Parker and Piper.
A close-knit family, the
Schlereths have been a popular,
well-known family in town with
“Grandpa Howard” especially
remembered for his good humor
and seemingly endless number
of jokes. His jovial personality,
Donalyn believes, was the result of
his absolute determination when he
was growing up under his mother’s
care during the hard times of the
Depression to push ahead no matter what the odds and succeed.
When he talked of those early days
or of the harsh war years, he was
never bitter, but always proud of his
accomplishments. He also always
put his own family first, finding
ways to communicate or sometimes even sneak a visit during the
times he was stationed elsewhere.
Mr. Schlereth was cremated at
his request and the family will
place his ashes in a crypt in St.
Augustine Catholic Cemetery
shortly. Although he wanted to
be remembered just in life, not
in death, granddaughter Donalyn
won’t let that happen. There’ll be
a nameplate on the crypt where
she intends to place a rose and
plant a kiss occasionally just to
show how a great man should be
remembered. N
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About the Cover
This 1972 photo shows then-Gov. Ronald Reagan saluting the BUSC team
of 10-year-olds in his Sacramento office after they won the California State
Soccer Championship that year. Former Tri-Valley Herald sports editor and
TV30 sportscaster Dennis Miller is second from the left in photo, with businessman Mitch Pereira to his left and the late John Costello to his right.
Vol. IX, Number 32
The Pleasanton Weekly is published weekly by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 5506
Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. USPS 020407.
The Pleasanton Weekly is mailed free upon request to homes and apartments in
Pleasanton. Voluntary subscriptions at $30 per year ($50 for two years) are welcome
from Pleasanton residents. Subscription rate for businesses and for residents of other
communities is $40 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton
Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. © 2008 by Embarcadero
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PLEASANTON
PLEASANTON*
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DUBLIN
3420 Stanley Blvd.
4216 Rosewood Dr.
1485 First St.
6028 Dougherty Rd.
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925-734-3444
925-455-4330
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your
chi
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Streetwise
Q:
Should restaurants be
required to list the nutritional values of their foods?
Asked Downtown
Rebalance your life at ClubSport
Joe Fox
Relax your body and calm your mind with wellness classes, spa
Software Industry
treatments and resort-style pools. Elevate your Chi at ClubSport.
I think it is natural for a person dining in a restaurant to want to know
what they are eating. The large populations of persons with allergies or
diabetes need to know the ingredients of the foods they are eating. I
think it is a good idea.
Get two personal training sessions, a nutrition consultation,
and a ClubSport gym bag FREE when you join in September.
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Bailey Powell
After School Program Teacher
(925) 271-0553
7090 Johnson Drive
The
I think it would be a good thing to
know. Sometimes we order things
and are unaware of the calories
or fat content. If I knew what the
ingredients were I might change
my mind and make a more healthconscious decision.
Udderly Divine Bovine Days!
September 20th, 1:00 PM
October 4th, 6-11 PM
Main & St. Mary St.
Pleasanton Downtown Assn.
Art & Heritage Celebration
Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.
Dance to Tommy & The 4Speeds
“Running of the Cows”
Bill Woodruff
Marketing
Menus need to be concise. It is not
consistent to put nutritional values on
menus. The nutritional choices people
make begin at home. If you make
bad choices at home, you’ll make bad
choices eating out. Overall, I’m not
interested in being thrown a bunch of
minutia on my menu when most of us
know a chimichanga is deep fried and
a large Coke is full of sugar.
“Udder Event”
Cuisine Tastings from Local Restaurants
Alviso Adobe Community Park Presentation
Silent & Voice Auctions
Benefiting Alviso Adobe Community Park and Museum On Main
For reservations call the Museum On Main at 925-462-2766
or Joanie Fields at 925-462-4312
Co-Sponsored Event!
Luis Huerta
Management
I believe they should. As we try to
become more health conscious this
type of information can only help to
educate consumers to make better
choices. We choose restaurants now
that do supply that information.
Savvy Seconds joins Party Bee’s for
Girls/Kids Night Out!
6-10 pm Friday, Sept. 5th
“Shop and Sip” & “Children’s Magic Show” Call to make reservations
Becky Ferrari
Student
925.846.6600
Shop at our new location at
560 Main St., Downtown Pleasanton
Monday through Saturday 10-6, and Sunday 11-5
I think the Legislature has more
important things to worry about
so absolutely not I don’t think it
should be mandatory. I think it’s
great if restaurants want to but only
by choice.
www.shopsavvyseconds.com
Debbie Lopes
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Have a Streetwise question? E-mail: [email protected]
Compiled by Cybele Ryan
Newsfront
News Digest
Castlewood tennis coach arraigned
on alleged molestation charges
Adult school back in
session this month
At least two female victims report ongoing sexual abuse between 1995 and 2001
Amador
Adult
and
Community Education has
classes for parents in September.
Classes range from baby sign
language to financial planning
for families with special needs
children to changing destructive
adolescent behavior. To learn
more about these classes and to
register, call 426-4280 or visit
www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/
adulted.
by Emily West
N
o bail has been set for
Henry John Germain, the
director of tennis programs
at Castlewood Country Club, who
was arrested Monday on charges of
alleged child molestation.
Appearing at an arraignment before Judge Hugh Walker
Wednesday afternoon at the
Pleasanton courthouse, the district attorney said he wanted to
be conservative and not
allow Germain’s release,
adding that the victims
reported sexual abuse
that took place on a daily
basis, potentially “hundreds” of times.
Germain, a 62-year-old
Dublin resident, was formally charged with eight
counts of lewd behavior
on minors, some with a
child under the age of
Germain
New museum
programs to teach
children, families
by Jeb Bing
A
Corrections
The Weekly desires to correct
all significant errors. To request
a correction, call the editor
at (925) 600-0840 or e-mail:
[email protected]
Jay Flachsbarth
In this month’s Coffee and
Conversation with the Experts, at
10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pleasanton
Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.,
experts will discuss how much
salt should be consumed and how
to use less in everyday cooking. There will be sampling of
salt-free dishes as well as recipe
ideas. Drop-in fees apply. Call
931-5365.
(continued on page 8)
Council votes 5-0 to proceed with
30-year ground lease
Boys, men invited
to audition for
‘Nutcracker’
Experts say to cut
down on the salt
ing foreign objects. Germain spoke
before the judge in the courtroom,
dressed in an orange jumpsuit, and
appeared stoic.
According to the county sheriff’s
report, some of the victims informed
the Castlewood Country Club of the
previous molestations so that management could take employment
action against Germain. That led
the sheriff’s department to begin
their investigation late last week,
Sharks ice facility
clears a hurdle
The Museum On Main, 603
Main St., announced new monthly programs focused on educating children and families. Each
event is held from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Sundays, except for the Halloween
event on Friday, Oct. 31. To learn
more about these events, call the
museum at 462-2766 or visit
www.museumonmain.org.
The Valley Dance Theater is
auditioning boys and men for
a production of Tchaikovsky’s
“Nutcracker.” Boys ages 6 to 12,
with or without previous experience, can audition at 12:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 at the studio, 2247
Second St., Ste. B, in Livermore.
Men with ballet experience can
audition at 8 p.m. Sept. 15 at
the studio. The performances
will take place Dec. 12-21 at the
Bankhead Theater, 2400 First
St. in Livermore. More auditions are available by calling
Betsy at 243-0925.
14. The Alameda County
Sheriff’s office reports
that numerous molestation
incidents occurred between
1995 and 1999, although
the judge said some could
have occurred up to 2001.
Several times during
Germain’s arraignment the
judge stressed the seriousness of the felony charges,
adding that they are also
considered violent, involv-
Toss was no loss
Professional Class competitor Mike Pockosik of Las Vegas throws
a perfect score on his caber toss at last weekend’s Scottish Highland
Games at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Festivities for the annual
games officially kicked off Friday night with a “March Under the Arch”
in downtown Pleasanton, with dancers, bagpipers and athletes. A
traditional caber is 16-20 feet long and weighs 80-130 pounds.
A golden opportunity
NorCal Golden Retriever Rescue
hosts “Wag ‘N Walk” at Shadow Cliffs
by Janet Pelletier
H
allie, a 2-year-old golden
retriever, was saved from a
puppy mill last December
in Oklahoma. When her rescuers
found her, she was tied up by a rope
and identified only as No. 113. Due
to her troubling treatment, Hallie
was afraid of loud noises, people
and cars, didn’t make eye contact and her normally lush coat
of hair was thin and brittle. All
that changed when she was placed
in a loving home through NorCal
Golden Retriever Rescue.
Hallie’s story is not uncommon,
but NGRR successfully rehabilitates
and places nearly 400 golden retrievers per year into loving homes.
“Hallie’s story is particularly
gratifying because she was res(continued on page 7)
multi-million-dollar
regional ice skating rink
planned by a subsidiary of
the San Jose Sharks in Pleasanton’s
new Staples Ranch park could be
up and running within two years
following the City Council’s unanimous approval Tuesday to move
forward on the project.
The council approved a series of
core objectives that would govern
a ground lease for the 7-acre, twostory ice rink and hockey complex.
Representatives of San Jose Arena
Management, which would build
and operate the facility at no cost
to the city, have already indicated
they would agree to the numerous stipulations imposed by the
City Council. Once written into
the lease agreement, the contract
would go back to the council within 90 days for final approval.
At that time, the project would
begin the routine process of being
reviewed by the city Planning
Commission and then again by the
council before construction permits could be issued.
Already, before the ground lease
is finalized, SJAM has indicated
it will work with city officials to
install and operate an outdoor skating rink this winter. City Manager
Nelson Fialho said the rink would
be located in a section of the parking lot between the Civic Center
and the public library, using the
parking stalls and a parking lane
alongside Old Bernal Avenue.
According to plans, the Sharks
would open the rink during the
Thanksgiving holiday week and
operate it through early January.
The outdoor rink was one of the
stipulations imposed by the council
in its list of requirements in approv-
ing the ice rink ground lease. Other
requirements include an agreement
with the Pleasanton school district
to provide ice time to physical education programs and school hockey
teams and to offer discounts to
Pleasanton residents.
The 7-acre site where the Sharks
ice arena would be built lies east of
where Stoneridge Drive currently
terminates and west of El Charro
Road, the eastern boundary of
Staples Ranch. The facility would
occupy a 17-acre community park,
which the Sharks subsidiary also
will develop with sports fields and
other amenities.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the
Sharks were also asked to make
a substantial contribution toward
more sports fields on the Bernal
property to compensate the city for
athletic fields the rink would occupy, and also to contribute to the
downtown Firehouse Arts Center
Foundation fundraising drive.
Staples Ranch is a 124 acre site
at the southwest corner of I-580
and El Charro Road that is unincorporated and owned by Alameda
County. Other developments
planned for Staples Ranch include
an auto mall at the northeast corner
of the site at the I-580-El Charro
Road interchange planned by
Hendrick Automotive; a 600-800
unit independent living, assisted
living and skilled nursing care facility for seniors, planned by CLC
Continuum, a Southern Californiabased senior care organization; and
a retail store complex between the
park and the auto mall, to be developed by Fremont Land developers.
In addition, the developers of these
three parcels and the Sharks also
will pay for a 5-acre neighborhood
Newsfront
Sharks
(continued from page 5)
park on the western side of Staples
that would be developed by CLC but
maintained as a public park by the
city of Pleasanton. It would include
a 3.5-acre water runoff detention
system.
A required Environmental
Impact Report for the entire site has
also been completed and accepted.
The deadline for filing comments
passed earlier this summer with
few comments.
Only two of more than 20 speakers at the council’s public hearing
on the proposed ground lease contract Tuesday night questioned the
agreement.
John Carroll said he has yet to
hear back from an email he sent to
city staff April 1, 2007 questioning financial arrangements being
made with the Sharks and urged
the council to halt negotiations
until the answers are made. He
said the proposed $1 a year lease
over the life of a 30-year contract
is “not what it should be,” and
urged the council to insist on a
bond upfront to cover any shortfall by the Sharks subsidiary or its
Living a Long
Healthy Life
A Free Community Seminar
default.
Richard Pugh also asked for a
surety bond and suggested that the
lease term be cut from 30 years to
five or 10.
At Councilman Matt Sullivan’s
urging, those requests were included
in the upcoming negotiations between
city staff and the Sharks subsidiary,
although the 30-year lease provision
stayed in place.
Chamber
of
Commerce
President Scott Raty and former
Councilwoman Sharrell Michelotti
urged the council to move forward
on the project, which they said had
been delayed too long already.
“There is a point at which the deal
Everywhere you turn someone has a
new secret to a long healthy life. What
do you believe? Lowell Kleinman, M.D.,
will discuss facts and myths about
health and wellness, and present some
simple everyday steps to help prevent
illness. Discussion will include: What’s
the right amount of exercise? Do
I need vitamins, herbs or supplements?
Do they substitute for pharmaceutical
medication? How often do I need to
see a doctor? What are the most
important health screenings and
medical tests? Are they necessary?
San Ramon Regional Medical Center,
your neighborhood hospital, invites
you to attend the educational
program and bring your questions
for Dr. Kleinman. See you in the
Dougherty Valley neighborhood.
Speaker:
Lowell Kleinman, M.D
Family Medicine Specialist
Free Educational Seminars
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Seminar Location
Dougherty Station Community Center
Front Row Theater
17011 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA
Reserve your place by calling
925.275.8230
or online www.sanramonmedctr.com
breaks,” Raty warned. “We have to
stay on top of this so that we don’t
kill the golden goose by delays.”
Attorney Pat Kernan, who represents the Sharks subsidiary, said
the Sharks have already had a discussion with the school district to
develop skating programs for high
school students. He said between
700 and 800 kids are enrolled in
ice skating and hockey programs
in SJAM’s facility in San Jose,
which is identical to what the subsidiary is planning in Pleasanton.
Fialho said the Sharks project
will be fourth in line as the Planning
Commission and City Council consider the four major projects on
Staples. Hendrick Automotive will
be first so that the firm can get
started on building a new auto row
for Pleasanton. CLC with its senior
housing will be second, followed
by the Fremont retail center, and
then the Sharks. The process could
be completed by mid-2009.
The proposed Sharks ice complex
would operate from 5:30 a.m. to 1
a.m. daily and would include four
rinks, a family style sports restaurant, a sports bar, pro shop and
public meeting rooms. N
A Silver night
Nearly two dozen children on Silver Street in the Jensen tract neighborhood
participated recently in the Pleasanton Police Department’s celebration of
National Night Out. Held Aug. 5, the police department encouraged neighborhoods to hold block parties to socialize with and get to know neighbors.
Axis grant funds
nutrition program
for low-income
Kaiser Permanente donates $25,000
to help serve people with diabetes, obesity
Axis Community Health recently received a $25,000 grant from
Kaiser Permanente to form a clinical nutrition department, which
will help low-income residents
who have chronic diseases such as
diabetes.
The grant will cover initial
department startup costs and the
recruiting and hiring of a registered
dietician, according to Axis.
Axis, which provides medical,
mental health, substance abuse
counseling and health education to
the uninsured and underinsured in
the Tri-Valley, said the new department will allow the organization to
improve care to these individuals,
with the highest priority going to
diabetics and children and adults
who are obese.
“Other patients to be served
include those who have congestive
heart disease and hypertension,”
said Axis CEO Sue Compton. “As
a result of this funding, specific
outcomes will include: 1) improved
access to nutrition education activities by low-income Tri-Valley individuals, 2) integration of nutrition
education with medical care and
behavioral health services; and 3)
reduced blood pressure, weight
and cholesterol and glucose levels, among our chronically ill
patients.”
In terms of numbers, the grant
will allow Axis to provide more
than 400 hours of nutrition counseling services for Tri-Valley residents
over the next year. The nonprofit
serves 14,000 people per year and
operates facilities in Pleasanton,
Livermore and Dublin, and is supported by local, state and federal
funding, foundation grants, client
revenues and community donations. For information, visit www.
axishealth.org.
—Janet Pelletier
Newsfront
Library nabs
a Big Read grant
‘The Great Gatsby’ will be the focus
of events through Oct. 25
The National Endowment for the
Arts named the Pleasanton Public
Library as a host for The Big Read,
a national project to strengthen
community through reading. From
now through Oct. 25, the library is
hosting events centered around the
F. Scott Fitzgerald classic, “The
Great Gatsby.”
Just over 200 organizations
including libraries, municipalities
and arts organizations represent 46
states, the District of Columbia and
the U.S. Virgin Islands are participating in The Big Read nationwide festivities through June. Of
500 grants given, they range from
$2,500 to $20,000.
Several “Gatsby” events have
been planned, including a big
Kickoff Extravaganza from 1 to 4
p.m. Sunday, where there will be
food, games and prizes as well as
Sara & Swingtime bringing the
jazz tunes and Dr. Philip Manwell
of Las Positas College giving a
keynote address. This is a free
event and 1920s attire is encouraged.
For a schedule of events, visit
the library’s website at www.
ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/library
or give them a call at 931-3400.
NEA puts on The Big Read in
hopes to restore reading to the center of American culture, in partnership with the Institute of Museum
and Library Services and with Arts
Midwest Support for The Big Read
provided by the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation. To learn more about
the program, visit www.neabigread.org.
—Emily West
Golden
cued from a puppy mill,” said
Laurel Stanley, who is the president of the retriever rescue. “She
is in a home with a loving family, a gentle golden retriever who
mentors her, and a big back yard.
Hers is truly a Cinderella story.”
On Sept. 13, the rescue organization will put on its big fundraiser
of the year, “Wag ‘N Walk,” a twomile, all-breed dog walk at Shadow
Cliffs Regional Recreation Area. The
event features an alumni parade of
dogs who have been rescued by the
organization’s volunteers, as well
as a dog walk (including a swim
break) for all dog breeds and their
families. Canine-related demonstrations and activities will also be
included. Participants will receive
goody bags and T-shirts. Registration
is $25. Children 14 and under are
free. Parking at Shadow Cliffs is $6
and there is a $2 fee per dog entering
the park. In addition to the activities,
there will be a raffle and silent auction for sailing, baseball tickets, wine
and a two-night stay at dog-friendly
hotels.
Retrievers needing homes will
also be on hand.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
and the walk starts at 10 a.m. For
more information or to register, visit
www.golden-rescue.org or email to
[email protected]. N
Hallie, a 2-year-old golden retriever was rescued from a puppy mill and
placed into a loving home with the help of NorCal Golden Retriever Rescue.
eScrip helps high school
boosters clubs
Popular fundraising program ever more crucial
in light of state budget cut projections
by Elyssa Thome
If you registered a child for high
school recently, you were likely asked to subscribe to eScrip.
Volunteers are using the beginning
of a new school year as the perfect
opportunity to advertise the popular fundraiser.
With a $15 billion-plus
California state budget deficit and
a slow economy, the Boosters at
both Foothill and Amador Valley
high schools want to keep their
programs running at high speed
without hurting anyone’s wallet. As
school groups prepare to deal with
possible budget cuts, the organizations are asking the community to
help out through eScrip.
“We still don’t know what’s
going to happen,” said Lori Rice,
president of Amador’s boosters.
“We’re trying to really get people
to see the value.”
The eScrip program allows parents, friends and strangers the chance
to give money to schools at no cost
to themselves by registering grocery store loyalty cards, major credit
cards and debit cards. When the registered cards are used at participating
stores, a percentage of those sales go
to the program you chose.
“It’s really a very simple way to
give money to your school at no
cost to you,” said Liz Klein, a par-
ent volunteer at Amador. “Everyone
should be doing it—everyone in the
community.”
Amador Boosters has raised the
most money of any organization in
the U.S., according to Rice, and has
participated in the eScrip program
since it was introduced in 1999
thanks to the efforts of Ken Mano.
Over the past nine years AVHS
Athletic Boosters alone have raised
more than $1 million and averages
about $150,000 per year.
Foothill High School also participates. Subscribers who want to
support FHS can choose between
Activities and Academics, Athletic
Boosters, Band Boosters, Drama
Department, Choirs and GAPP.
For those who want to support
Pleasanton schools but have multiple causes close to their heart,
eScrip subscriptions can be split
between up to three separate groups.
These groups can be changed,
added and dropped through your
online account.
According to Klein, many people
are confused about the program
and do not realize how easy and
secure it is. She said by registering
a card, subscribers give the companies permission to give money
to the schools. The percentage of
sales, a number typically between
1-5 percent and chosen by each
company, is donated by the com-
pany, not the individual shopper.
This is similar to traditional scrip,
where the individual pays a specific
dollar amount and receives the same
amount of money to specific stores.
When the scrip is used at the designated place of business, the company gives money to the organization
through which the scrip was purchased. In the case of eScrip, simply using the registered card allows
money to be given to the schools.
According to the eScrip website (http://escrip.com), subscribers can track how much money
they have raised and register cards
themselves online. Klein suggests
people concerned about privacy
register Safeway or Raley’s cards
through the school, then register
credit cards online.
Card information given on paper
is entered into the eScrip system by
volunteers, then immediately shredded to ensure security, according to
Klein.
In order to subscribe, http://
escrip.com. Paper forms are available through both high schools’
boosters, and Amador has a printable version online at www.amadordons.com. Be sure to enter
the correct organization(s). More
information about the program,
including a list of participating merchants is available at the
eScrip website. N
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Newsfront
A Professional Accounting Corporation
You’re More Than Just a Number!
Not-so-new license
law still confusing
T
IMPORTAN
What are the rules and exceptions to driving with a provisional license?
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410 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA
(925) 600-8925
www.murphyspaw.com
With another school year under
way and a new crop of drivers, it
seems like an appropriate time to
brush up on provisional license
knowledge. As of Jan. 1 2006,
restrictions on new drivers under the
age of 18 were expanded and have
remained the same for the past three
years, but many people are still confused.
“The reality is that it’s not that
confusing,” said Sgt. Michael
Collins, supervisor for the traffic division of Pleasanton Police
Department. “We do so many educational campaigns for parents and
drivers, there is really no excuse.”
Even so, many parents and drivers have questions, or have answers
that also happen to be wrong. For
those of you concerned about when
you can, and cannot drive alone,
we’re here are some clear answers.
Upon receiving a license, restrictions apply for the next twelve
months or until the driver turns
18. The restrictions do not apply to
anyone over the age of 18, so if you
turn 18 before the 12 months are up,
the restrictions no longer apply.
For those 12 months, a minor
must be accompanied by a parent,
guardian or other licensed driver 25
years or older and specified by law
when:
s 4RANSPORTING PASSENGERS UNDER
the age of 20.
s $RIVING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF
11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
This means driving with a parent without a license or your 22
year-old sister (who is not your
legal guardian) does not make you
exempt from the restrictions. You
can drive with that parent or 22
year-old sibling, but you cannot do
so between 11-5 or with someone
under 20 in the car.
If you do not remember when your
license was issued and are therefore
unsure when the restrictions end,
look at the bottom of your driver
license. Just to the left of your photograph is the date when the restrictions began, so if you calculate one
year from that date you can find the
date the restrictions end.
The restrictions themselves are
Germain
ending with Monday’s arrest.
Two women are reported as the
victims in the charges, although officials have said there’s a good possibility that there may be more. The
victims are reportedly children of
club members.
Jerry Olson, general manager of
the Castlewood Country Club, said
the club’s reaction is “one of great
disappointment and concern for the
families of the victims.”
“This is obviously not what our
club stands for,” he said.
Germain, worked at Castlewood
for 16 years, where he taught
juniors and adults tennis as the
fairly straightforward, but the exceptions have raised the most questions.
Exceptions are listed in California
Vehicle Code Section 12814.6. Here
is what you need to know:
In all of the following cases, the
phrase “reasonable transportation
facilities are inadequate” is important.
If there is any other way for an underage passenger to get where they need
to be, including public transportation,
a neighbor or a bike, a signed note
is not legitimate permission. That
means for most daylight hours, some
means of transportation is likely open
to you in Pleasanton, so you cannot
break the provisionary rules.
s%MPLOYMENTTHEREISANEXCEPtion for a person who has to work,
provided that reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate. You
must carry a statement with you that
is signed by your employer verifying your employment and indicating the date your employment is
expected to end. An application for
an exception is not necessary.
Translation: If your work requires
you to drive during restricted hours,
you can do it with the proper documentation, but you must be driving
directly to or from work.
s -EDICAL NECESSITYWHEN REAsonable transportation facilities
are inadequate. You must carry a
signed statement from your doctor
stating the diagnosis and the probable date the necessity will end.
Translation: If you must break
restrictions because of a medical
condition, you are allowed to with
proper documentation if no other
options are available.
s3CHOOLINGORSCHOOLAUTHORIZED
ACTIVITIESWHEN REASONABLE TRANSportation facilities are inadequate.
You must carry a statement signed
by the school principal, dean or
A STAFF PERSON AUTHORIZED BY THE
principal or dean, indicating when
THESCHOOLINGORSCHOOLAUTHORIZED
activity will be completed.
Translation: If school or school
related activities require you to
break restriction, you can do so
with proper documentation if no
other options are available.
s.ECESSITYOFFAMILYMEMBER
including yourself, when adequate
transportation facilities are unavailable and you need personal transportation or to transport a family
member. You must carry a signed
statement by a parent/legal guardian verifying the reason you must
drive and the probable date the
necessity will end.
Translation: You can drive a family member if it is absolutely necessary, no other options are available
and you have a note from a parent or
guardian. The note is a one-time only
kind of note, not a “blank-check,”
and applies only to family members.
s %MANCIPATED MINOR)F YOU
have filed documents with DMV
to show you are emancipated and
have filed either an SR-1P or SR
22 as required by law, you are
not held to the provisional driving
restrictions. It may be a good idea
to carry proof of your emancipated
status with you.
Translation: If you are an emancipated minor, the restrictions don’t
apply, but you should be able to
prove your status.
s 4HE LAW DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR
emergencies; only for exceptions
as listed in Vehicle Code Section
12814.6. It is the discretion of law
enforcement to determine if they
will cite you for violating your
provisional license restrictions.
Translation: Emergencies are not
included in the law, so if you get
pulled over, explain yourself and
hope for the best.
Collins said that despite the Police
Department’s continued efforts to
get this information out there, they
have found a disappointing lack of
parent support from a majority of
their audience.
“The thing that we find most
frustrating is that we have a hard
time getting parents to buy into
this,” he said. “It’s an inconvenience so we have a hard time getting a majority of parents to help us
out.”
Collins said the need for kids to
gain experience before driving others
is crucial. Just as parents would not
knowingly allow their child to ride in
the car of a drunk driver because that
would be irresponsible, they should
take this law seriously. N
club’s tennis professional. Prior to
that, he worked at the Pleasanton
ClubSport. Olson declined to comment on whether Germain was still
employed with the club, saying that
any actions would be premature.
“We are going to let the legal
process take its course,” he said.
Olson, who has served as general
manager for just over a month, said
he doesn’t believe they will change
hiring policies as a result of this
incident.
“We have a pretty extensive hiring background check,” he said.
“We’re pretty confident with our
processes as they stand.”
At the Wednesday arraignment,
Germain said the lawyer he has
contacted for representation was
on vacation and was unable to
contact any others. The judge
scheduled a plea hearing for this
morning. It’s possibility it will be
postponed if Germain is not able
to secure legal representation.
Prior to the Wednesday hearing,
people who know Germain gathered around the courthouse and
shared words of shock and disbelief. Close friends and family of
the suspect declined when asked to
comment on the allegations.
The investigation is ongoing and
anyone with information about
the case are encouraged to contact
detectives. Victim information is
kept confidential. The anonymous
tip line is 510-667-3622.
For updates to this story or to comment on our Town Square forum,
visit www.pleasantonweekly.com. N
Newsfront
C
ompassionate therapy
Police still on lookout for robbers
for change, helping
Three men took cash, jewelry, pistol-whipping employee in the process
you move from merely
Pleasanton police continue to
search for three suspects involved
in a jewelry store robbery in which
one victim was struck on the head
by a pistol.
The robbery occurred at about
3:20 p.m. Aug. 28 when two men
entered the Diamond Creation
Jewelry Store in the 4000 block
of Pimlico Drive brandishing a
handgun, according to police.
The suspects ordered victims to
get down on the floor and hit a victim on the head with the gun. The
suspects stole cash and jewelry
and left the area in a light-colored
vehicle driven by a third suspect,
police said.
The two suspects in the store
were described as black men in
their 30s. One suspect is about 5
feet 1 inches tall with short hair
and was wearing a white shirt.
The second suspect was described
as 5 feet 11 inches tall and was
wearing a black hat and shirt,
police said.
Anyone with information about
the incident is encouraged to call
the Pleasanton Police Department
at (925) 931-5100.
—Bay City News
Community TV station will produce, broadcast 11 different forums
for candidates to states their views
out October and before the Nov. 4
election.
Candidates are likely to be interviewed by Carolyn Siegfried, a
long-time on-air interviewer for
TV30.
The races to be covered are:
Dublin City Council, Dublin
mayor, Pleasanton City Council,
Pleasanton mayor, Dublin Unified
School District board, Livermore
Unified School District board,
Pleasanton Unified School District
board, San Ramon Valley Unified
School District board, Dublin-San
Ramon Services District board and
the Livermore Area Recreation and
Park District board.
The station also will interview
proponents and opponents of two
competing initiatives in Pleasanton
that are on the Nov. 4 ballot, measures that deal with proposed bans
on hillside development and the
city’s 29,000-unit housing cap.
Bradley said each program would
cost an estimated $540 to produce.
Other candidate forums also
will be produced and broadcast
on Comcast’s separate community
service Channel 26.
—Jeb Bing
Of Note
Alt graduates from Marine Corps basic training
Brandon D. Alt graduated
from United States Marine
Corps basic training in San
Diego Aug. 15 in the 3rd
Battalion, India Company,
Platoon 3213. He received
a meritorious promotion
to private first class. He
served as squad leader and
received the highest score
in his platoon on the physical fitness test.
He attended Amador
Valley High School from
2004 through 2007 and
graduated from high school
in Alpine, Utah in 2008.
Brandon D. Alt
Two Foothill seniors earn Eagle honors
Justin denBroeder, a senior at Foothill High School,
received his Eagle Scout award, the highest rank in
Boy Scouts, in May. A celebration of his accomplishments will be held at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church at 2
p.m. Sept. 14.
Justin joined Cub Scout Pack 948 in second grade as
a Wolf scout. After earning his Arrow of Light award
in fifth grade, he joined Boy Scout troop 941. He
continues to be an active member of 941. His journey
through boy scouting has given him a love for hiking
and backpacking and he plans to hike the Pacific Crest
Trail in the future.
His Eagle project was a series of musical concerts
for the residents at Kottinger Place, a low-income
senior housing facility in Pleasanton.
Anthony DeBenedetti, an 18-year-old senior
at Foothill, also earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
DeBenedetti was required to earn a minimum of 21
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TV30 to air candidates forums
TV30, the Tri-Valley’s community television station, will produce
and broadcast 11 different forums
for candidates to states their views
before the Nov. 4 elections.
The TV30 board of directors,
at the request of interim system
executive director Roger Bradley,
administrative analyst for the city of
Dublin, approved budgeting $6,000
to produce the programs. Bradley
estimated that it would take 140
hours of TV30 staff time to handle
the work and that the 30-minute to
one-hour shows would be broadcast
live and then re-broadcast through-
surviving to thriving.
merit badges. Some
of these badges
included rifle shooting, first aid, canoeing, music, backpacking, pioneering, and wilderness
survival.
His Eagle project
involved a toy and
hygiene products
drive for the Oakland
Children’s Hospital.
To accomplish this,
DeBenedetti placed
collection boxes
inside businesses
for donations of
toys and cash. Once
Justin denBroeder
items were collected, he coordinated
and organized workforces required to wrap and deliver the items.
His Scouting experience allowed him to make new
friends and learn about the disadvantages of procrastination.
“I also had a lot of fun completing the various
merit badges,” he said. “One of my favorites was the
Wilderness Survival merit badge. We hiked out into the
middle of nowhere with nothing but a flashlight and the
clothes on our backs. I also really enjoyed the 50-mile
hike I did before freshman year. Despite being one of
the most physically challenging things I’ve ever done, I
had a great sense of accomplishment afterwards.”
An Eagle Scout Court of Honor was held May 17
at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to
recognize his achievement.
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pleasanton dowtown association presents
PARK
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Fridays 7 PM
to 8:30 PM
lions wayside park at first & neal streets
www.pleasantondowntown.net (925) 484-2199
September 5
Public Eye
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Sponsored by
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Weekly Concerts in the Park Drawing
Bring this entry form
to this week’s concert
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E-MAIL: __________________________ great prizes
NAME: ___________________________
Donated by members of the Pleasanton Downtown Association.
Must be present to win. Must be 21 years of age to enter.
New police
contract reins in
pension costs
It may take a couple of decades before taxpayers realize
the financial benefits, but at least the process has started.
We’re talking about the agreement approved Tuesday by
the City Council and the police union, the Pleasanton
Police Officers Association, to cut back medical insurance benefits for retirees hired after Jan. 1, 2009. Under
the recently expired contract, retirees eligible to retire
and receive retiree medical benefits received a two-party
benefit. Spouses were covered the same as the employee.
Under the new agreement, spouses will no longer receive
medical benefits. The agreement, hammered out by police
union leaders and City Manager Nelson Fialho and his
staff, amounts to a 50 percent reduction in retiree health
care benefits going forward.
This was a significant shift in philosophy for the city
and police union and was made necessary to preserve
the city’s long-term financial strength. Union and city
negotiators made progress because the city’s cost to fund
increasing health care benefits threatens to far outweigh
projected revenue that can be set aside to meet this obligation. The proposal was sweetened with the city agreeing to
cover police officers and their spouses hired through Dec.
31, with the new two-tiered plan becoming effective for
new-hires only. The breakthrough agreement will likely
set a pattern for future negotiations with the firefighters’
union, which just signed a new three-year contract, and
with other city employees who are represented by a union
and whose contract expires next year.
Pension benefits for police accrue at the rate of 4 percent per year. So officers who retire after 10 years of
service are eligible for 40 percent of their pay and health
benefits. After 25 years and beyond, they are fully vested.
With the new contract, police also will receive 4 percent
pay increases in each of the next three years, retroactive to
last May 1. The co-pay for health care services also was
increased, but a new provision caps the increase in any
given year at 15 percent. Any increases by the medical
benefit insurer above 15 percent will have to be paid by
the employee.
The three-year contract follows a contract that was in
effect for seven years. This shorter contract gives both
sides the opportunity to renegotiate wages and benefits
earlier as the economy changes. The new contract was
based on studies of police department benefits paid by
neighboring and similarly-size cities and departments,
including Livermore, Fremont, Hayward, Milpitas, Union
City and Walnut Creek. Dublin was not included in the
study since its police force is handled on a contract basis
by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.
Recruiting by municipal police departments is highly
competitive with benefit packages often deal-breakers
where wages are similar. But with run away pension
benefits threatening the financial solvency of many cities
in California, Pleasanton’s agreement on spousal coverage offers an opportunity to cut costs long-term without
diminishing the salary and other benefits of working in
Pleasanton.
5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100
Phone: (925) 600-0840
Fax: (925) 600-9559
President
Gina Channell-Allen, Ext. 19
Publisher
Jeb Bing, Ext. 18
EDITORIAL
Editor
Jeb Bing, Ext. 18
Managing Editor
Janet Pelletier, Ext. 11
Features Editor
Emily West, Ext. 21
Intern
Elyssa Thome
Contributors
Jerri Pantages Long
Joe Ramirez
Cybele Ryan
ART & PRODUCTION
Design Director
Rick Nobles, Ext. 17
Designers
Trina Cannon, Ext. 14
Lili Cao, Ext. 25
Kristin Herman, Ext. 14
Manuel Valenzuela, Ext. 20
ADVERTISING
Advertising Sales Manager
Esmeralda Escovedo-Flores, Ext. 23
Account Executive
Steve Chapman, Ext. 28
Paul Crawford, Ext. 13
Karen Klein, Ext. 22
Real Estate Sales
Nancy Taresh, Ext. 10
Inside Sales
Art Gordillo, Ext. 12
Ad Services
Sandy Lee, Ext. 16
Real Estate Ad Services
Tracey Fordahl, Ext. 30
BUSINESS
Business Associate
Lisa Oefelein, Ext. 26
Circulation Director
Bob Lampkin, Ext. 41
Front Office Coodinator
Kathleen Martin, Ext. 0
How to reach the Weekly
Phone: (925) 600-0840
Fax: (925) 600-9559
Editorial e-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Display Sales e-mail:
[email protected]
Classifieds Sales e-mail:
[email protected]
Circulation e-mail:
[email protected]
The Pleasanton Weekly is published every
Friday by Embarcadero Publishing Co.,
Pleasanton, CA 94566;
(925) 600-0840.
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Opinion
Guest Opinion
Letters
Take Haggerty up on
Stoneridge Drive offer
Backpack drive
very successful
NIMBY initiative is bad news
Dear Editor,
Recently at a Pleasanton
Chamber of Commerce luncheon,
Alameda County Supervisor Scott
Haggerty challenged our mayor to
put in the Stoneridge Drive extension through to El Charro as soon
as possible, saying that the county
would pay for it. What a great
offer to the City of Pleasanton.
The sooner this “gift” could be
implemented into reality, the less
it would cost. Pleasanton needs
to compromise with the county
to solve a major traffic problem.
Stoneridge Drive has been in the
General Plan since 1965.
As a candidate for the Pleasanton
City Council, if elected, I will
make it a first priority of mine
to accept Supervisor Haggerty’s
generous offer to install and complete Stoneridge Drive immediately, as opposed to not doing it,
or putting it off until some future
date. Pleasanton voters concerned
with traffic congestion, and fiscal
responsibility, hopefully will support my position.
Howard Neely
Pleasanton
Dear Editor,
I am excited to report that this
year’s annual backpack drive
was even more successful than
last. This year I was pleased to
work with Janet Wolfinger and
the Pleasanton Unified School
District to distribute the supplies.
Thank you to all the members of
the community that stepped up
to make sure that the kids returning to school this week will do
so with the supplies they need.
Having a new backpack with all
the supplies is more than a basic
necessity. It gives a real boost of
confidence to the kids, knowing
that they have the tools to succeed.
David H. De Bonis, D.C.
Pleasanton
by Peter MacDonald
‘Shop local’ good
in theory, not so much
in practice
Dear Editor,
Once again, I am compelled
to comment on, and agree with,
the recent editorial (“Shop Local,”
Editorial, Aug. 22, page 12) referencing downtown Pleasanton and
its myriad of banks.
The belief that a 10,000-squarefoot space is too large for most
retailers seems to be an excuse for
poor planning, recruiting, and an
apparent inability to cut through
the red tape that has scared away
potential businesses in the past.
Has anyone from our Planning
Commission or PDA been to
Walnut Creek lately? Stores like
Restoration Hardware and Crate
& Barrel (apparently in consideration), Sur La Table, The
Container Store, just to name a
few, certainly occupy spaces equal
to or greater than 10,000 square
feet.
It is difficult to believe that our
unique and charming downtown
cannot attract the best retailers in
the area. How can it possibly take
two years to complete the approval/
permit process (Redcoats)? Maybe
that’s why we have so many restaurants owned by the same person/group (Baci)—at least part of
the approvals is already in place.
Whoever is in charge of getting
the ball rolling needs to wake up,
or we will soon find ourselves left
in the revitalization dust of our
neighboring cities—Livermore,
Dublin, etc. I would love to ‘shop
local,’ and do whenever I can. We
just need more quality reasons to
make it happen.
Cathy Wankle
Pleasanton
Think before voting
for Brozosky
Dear Editor,
So we have Brozosky v.
Hosterman again. Oh joy. We are
in for such a treat.
Again we get to witness
Brozosky and Dan Carl whining about everything Hosterman
says, and then saying the same
things behind her back, complaining about everything she does,
then doing the same things. But,
let’s not forget history’s lesson.
Brozosky will go on to lie about
it and conveniently “lose” the evidence against him.
Brozosky and Carl will act like
impetuous children who aren’t
getting what their big sister is getting, sniping and taking a cheap
shot every chance they get. Let’s
not forget that Brozosky enthusiastically backed what has turned
out to be the biggest failure in
the history of the city, the “water
park.” Let’s not forget about the
email scandal and his aforementioned failure to turn over emails
that constituted public property. Maybe Brozosky will throw
enough money around to win this
time—but think about the kind of
person he has proven himself to
be before you randomly cast your
vote.
Richard Roberts
Pleasanton
School candidates
should discuss
overcrowding, safety
Dear Editor,
The candidates’ initial statements were fluffy, without substance. We need school board
members that are willing to tackle
tough issues and be proactive in
their solutions.
They can begin with high school
overcrowding and school safety.
Paula Plunk
Pleasanton
I had hoped with Pleasanton
almost built out, that the growth v.
no growth wars could quiet down.
When City Council reached agreement on the draft General Plan
Land Use Element early this year,
it seemed that the council and community were coming to consensus
about Pleasanton’s future. But that
consensus would be shattered by
the poorly worded and unnecessary
Peoples’ Hillside Initiative (Measure
PP on your November ballot).
Measure PP is primarily a
NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard)
Initiative. City Council approved
the Oak Grove project last
November by a 4-1 vote, and that
triggered this NIMBY Initiative. A
citizens’ committee made up from
adjacent neighborhoods endorsed
the final project design by a substantial majority. The approved
density is only half the density
stated in the General Plan.
So a minority of that neighbor
committee broke away and started
both a referendum and an initiative, against Oak Grove and other
projects like it. They incorrectly
believe
that
city politicians
can interpret
the stated density as meaning any density between
zero and the
stated density.
In their view,
allowing even
50 percent of the stated density is
a political gift, and dedicating a
490-acre public park is too small
of a gift back.
If a neighborhood minority can
take away all of the property owners’ rights in Oak Grove and similar
properties, with no regard for the
general plan or the Constitution,
then the incentive for political gouging is too great, and the political
wars will never end.
s4HATISGOODNEWSFORTHELAWyers who will litigate the tricky
clauses and ambiguous wording of
this NIMBY initiative.
s 4HAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE
who see our city government primarily as entertainment—a circus in
which outcomes do not matter.
s "UT THIS .)-"9 INITIATIVE IS
bad news if you want city government that develops consensus, provides good service, is predictable,
and is fair.
s 4HIS .)-"9 INITIATIVE IS BAD
news if you want parks and trails,
and quality of life. (e.g. 490-acre
park on Oak Grove.)
s 4HIS .)-"9 INITIATIVE IS BAD
news if you want the general plan
update finally completed, and a
general plan that embodies a community consensus around a worthy
vision for Pleasanton.
The far better alternative is the
initiative sponsored by our City
Council (Measure QQ on your
November ballot). Measure QQ sets
up a consensus process to develop
a hillside ordinance consistent with
general plan hillside policies.
[These views are strictly mine. I
am not (yet) associated with the “No
on Measure PP” Committee, if there
is one.]
Peter MacDonald was formerly
the city attorney for the city of
Pleasanton from 1982-1988 and
formerly the chair of the Pleasanton
Downtown Association board of
directors. He practices law from his
firm in downtown Pleasanton.
Talking Points
by Gina Channell-Allen
Eco-friendly, user-friendly
search leaves publishers green
Got green? Are you “eco-friendly,” reducing your carbon footprint and concerned about climate
change? Or do you just like the
convenience of getting your news
online?
Whatever the reason, more and
more newspaper readers are asking
for their news in an electronic version.
I recently ran across a book copyrighted in 1901 titled, “Establishing
a Newspaper.” It’s a step-by-step
how-to for starting a newspaper.
Appallingly, it had absolutely no
mention of asking potential readers what they wanted or needed
in a community newspaper. The
author went into selecting headline
type, setting rates, establishing a
subscriber list and collecting on
outstanding invoices, but never on
how to publish news and information that is important to the people
of the community.
It seems as if in 1901, would-be
publishers had the “if you build it
they will come” attitude. And, to
be honest, that was pretty much the
case. The local newspaper was THE
source of news, local and otherwise.
Now we have a world of multiple
news sources and an amazing tool
called the Internet. Unfortunately,
until recently, most media groups
maintained the 1901 “if you build
it they will come” attitude when it
came to their online presence.
There are as many versions of
electronic media as there are newspapers. More actually, because
some communities have a website and no printed newspaper. Just
proves that, unlike in 1901, there is
no handbook for a one-size-fits-all
news vehicle.
With the world turning “green,”
the Weekly has received a few
requests for an electronic version /
edition of our paper from readers in
our community.
We currently have a lot of the
stories found in the print edition
as headlines on our website and a
PDF version, with links to all the
stories, of all print editions online.
(If you’re unfamiliar with these,
scroll to the bottom of the website.)
The PDF is the electronic duplicate
of the newspaper, because it is created by the same files we send to
the press.
Moving into the next phase of
media, with the full knowledge that
the “if you build it they will come”
attitude is antiquated and thinking we know what readers want is
arrogant, publishers are wondering
what exactly to build electronically.
I would like to hear from you
about what type of electronic vehicle you would like to see: An
email with headlines that link to
the website? Daily, twice a week or
weekly?
A digital reproduction of the paper
that is interactive? A combination of
these? What is the advantage of having a list of headlines, or a PDF?
If you send me an email to [email protected] with
your advice, suggestions and / or
examples, your name will be put in
a drawing for a $50 gift certificate
to a local restaurant. I will share
some of these suggestions, and the
name of the certificate winner, of
course, in a September column.
This is your community news
source—whether you like reading
your news in print, online, from
your Blackberry, whatever—and
we want your opinion.
Gina Channell-Allen, a 21-year
journalism veteran, is the president of the East Bay division of
Embarcadero Publishing Company,
president of the Pleasanton Weekly
and publisher of the Danville
Weekly. Send questions to gallen@
pleasantonweekly.com.
Cover Story
Bill Free
The Sharks march through downtown as part of the annual soccer parade which goes from 6:30-9:30 a.m. Tomorrow’s parade will mark the 40th year of BUSC and will be followed by a celebration at the Sports Park picnic area from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Ballistic turns 40
Ballistic United Soccer Club celebrates four decades, moves toward future
by Elyssa Thome
T
omorrow morning, hundreds of children will march through downtown
Pleasanton dressed in soccer uniforms
and costumes. For some children, it will be
the first time they get to participate in the
local tradition. For many other players and
coaches, they can’t remember a time before
the event was part of their lives. For people
who have nothing to do with soccer but still
sit on porches or line the streets, it’s another
hometown tradition to enjoy. For the Ballistic
United Soccer Club, this parade will mark
the beginning of the 40th youth soccer season for Pleasanton’s boys.
Pleasanton has become renowned for its
youth soccer programs. In fact, participation
in youth soccer almost seems to be a requirement for residency in Soccer Town USA.
From small children in BUSC uniforms
with their parents who coach, volunteer and
in some cases played for the club to university students across the country who still wear
Like the club itself, the BUSC patch has changed over the past 40 years. From left to right, these
patches represented the club from 1968-1973, 1973-1980, 1980-2000 and 2000-now.
Ballistic United jackets, 40-year-old Ballistic
has a far reaching touch.
Kick off
Forty years ago this program made a name
and a place for soccer in the Tri-Valley.
While 40 years is a long time for anything to
stay together—as many interviewees pointed
out—many founders of the program are still
in town and remember the early days of
Pleasanton soccer.
Over four decades ago, Pleasanton hired its
first director of recreation, Gary Patton. After
getting settled, Patton decided Pleasanton
needed a soccer club. He got together a group
of men, including Larry Boldrini, former
BUSC president and coach.
“When we first started Gary Patton wanted
to start a club,” Boldrini said. “There were
some other clubs up and down the Bay Area,
so we got together, he and myself, and a few
other guys.”
Harry Miller was one of those original guys
and, like Boldrini, still lives in Pleasanton.
Miller and Boldrini are also Ballistic coaching legends.
According to Miller, Patton called Miller,
Boldrini and Harry Reagan together to organize a league for the increasingly popular
sport of soccer. While most of the men did
not know each other well before the endeavor, Miller said they have since become and
remained very good friends.
Harry, Harry, Gary and Larry, as the group
came to be known, created six Pleasanton
teams and, in the first year, they only played
each other. Boldrini became the first club
president and Harry Miller was the first vice
president.
Early in the program, Miller called a
friend who coached a youth team in Southern
California. He invited the SoCal team to play
his team, and from then on Pleasanton teams
continued to play and travel outside of the city.
Locally, Ballistic played against Dublin
and Livermore teams—both towns developed
Cover Story
leagues around the same time as Pleasanton
but Livermore got there first—and the league
soon expanded to include Fremont, San
Ramon and Danville.
According to Boldrini, the competition
between these local clubs is the origin of
the Al Caffodio league and Ballistic. While
many people familiar with the league, but not
its history, assume the name is a foreign term
for something related to the sport or have
really just never thought about it, the title has
its own history.
According to Miller, the league was named
after a man, Al Caffodio, who had a newsstand in Livermore. Apparently the generous
local merchant never hesitated to give to the
local kids, especially for youth sports, and
the founders of the league hoped naming the
league in his honor would be a lasting tribute
to him.
The name Ballistic, now emblazoned
across jerseys, t-shirts and jackets, is as old
as the club, so where did that title come
from?
“Gary Patton is responsible for the name
Ballistic,” Miller said. “What it was supposed to represent was speed and accuracy
initially.”
According to Miller’s wife Georgianne,
a well-kicked soccer ball is said to have the
speed and accuracy of a bullet, which inspired
the name. In a speech given at the Pleasanton
Museum in 2003, Gary Patton said the name
had roots in the prevalence of Intercontinental
Ballistic Missiles in headlines at the time.
Livermore’s club was named “Atomic,” due
to its proximity to the National Livermore
Laboratory, so Pleasanton chose the related
name “Ballistic.”
And so it began.
In the bleachers, behind the scenes
The 40th anniversary of Ballistic will be
celebrated with a party in the park for players
and their families, an event that is appropriate for an organization that is as much for the
parents as the children.
“It’s a community organization,” said
Karen Reedy. “It becomes a social organization where families get to know each other.”
Reedy, like many of the people involved
with the club, got started when her boys started
playing soccer and the club needed coaches.
She signed up along with her sons and has been
coaching and volunteering in other capacities
for the club for the past eight years.
Because many of the boys stay on the same
teams as they grow through the system, the
families get to know one another, according to
Reedy. In the early days of BUSC, the closeness between the families was further encouraged by parties and dances for the parents.
For example, the tournament that Harry and
Georgianne Miller started, which continues
today, used to include a dinner dance for the
parents with food, music and a bartender.
“A lot of people will say, ‘how did you
do it for so many years?’ and the thing was,
it wasn’t any kind of sacrifice,” Georgianne
Miller said. “It was so much fun.”
Many parents today still value the relationships they have built with other families, but
there is no doubt the dynamic is different
than it was in the beginning. According to
Miller, the camaraderie in the early days led
to something that has not been attempted
for many years—a musical. Three sold out
Ballistic United musicals, written, choreographed and performed by players, coaches
and families in the club, helped raise funds
for the early teams.
Something that hasn’t changed is the need
for volunteers and the ability of Pleasanton
parents to rise to the occasion. From the first
six teams to the current size of the BUSC organization, all parties said the club could not be
what it is without parents and volunteers.
“The people that volunteer keep it going,
the people behind the scenes that people
don’t know about,” said Tony Chavarria,
whose title, technical director of Division 4,
barely scratches the surface of his involvement in the club.
“Without volunteers we’re nothing,” said
Nandor Krause, the current president of
BUSC and fourth in the club’s history. “We
have a great town and a great bunch of parents.”
Are you here?
If that’s you with the goofy haircut below, please let us know. Send a current photo of yourself
to [email protected] so we can reconstruct the teams with how you look now.
Goal!
The foundation and essence of any youth
sports program is in the name—youth. With
1,660 players registered so far this year,
Ballistic has a lot of it and the numbers continue to grow.
One of the major changes most often
named is the growth of the club. The large
numbers of players become most obvious
any Saturday during season if you try to
count boys in a BUSC uniform around town
or drive by any soccer field. As the numbers
grow, the club has seen more and more
former players continue on to find success
in the soccer world. For some, that means
playing college soccer with or without a
scholarship. For a select few it means playing professionally, and for many more, that
success includes coaching the next generation. The players that make up the program
are an integral part of its longevity, and they
had a lot to say.
“Being a part of BUSC has helped me not
only succeed with soccer, but also in life,”
said former player Adam Sloustcher.
During his soccer career, Sloustcher played
for Amador Valley High School, the USA
Youth National Team, University of North
Carolina Chapel Hill, Loyola Marymont
University, the San Jose Earthquakes for two
months through a development contract and,
most importantly, BUSC. Sloustcher said
Ballistic provided a competitive environment
that helped him to improve as a player and
afforded him high profile exposure, but that
wasn’t his favorite part.
“What I enjoyed most was the relationships that I built with the teammates that I
had over the years,” he said. “Together we
traveled all around the country playing soccer. We went through good times and bad
times together, and I could not ask for better
kids to grow up with during my childhood
than the teammates I had while playing for
BUSC.”
One of Sloustcher’s coaches is also among
the former players that have come back to
Ballistic. Chavarria got started in Ballistic
when the kids he was playing neighborhood
soccer with recommended that he sign up for
the club and hasn’t stopped. His son, another
former player, continued in his father’s footsteps and is coaching now, too.
Chavarria also has good friends from
his Ballistic soccer days, including Jason
Maratsos. As Maratsos, who coaches his
sons’ U5 and U7 teams, brought the two
boys to the field for an instructional training
session with Chavarria, his former teammate
greeted him and joked with him. Maratsos
and Chavarria played side by side through
Ballistic and then at Amador, and soccer still
brings the men together.
According to Chavarria, more current players are already getting involved and helping out
with the younger kids. Current BUSC player
David Norton gets involved by helping with the
beginners when he can. The eighteen-year-old
Foothills senior plays soccer for his school and
hopes to play in college.
“It’s fun to get to work with the kids,”
Norton said. “My favorite part of Ballistic is
that it’s fun. I get to do what I like to do and
you get to meet people.”
Larry Boldrini (Top right) was the first president of BUSC and one of the first coaches. He poses
here with one of the original 1968 Ballistic teams.
Harry Miller’s 1974 team won State Cup and had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver. The team
poses here ready to take off.
Yellow Card
Through the past 40 years, BUSC, as well
as most other clubs in the area and across the
nation, has faced difficult choices and changes.
In 1977 Tony Chavarria (middle row, third in from the right) probably didn’t think he would still be
involved with Ballistic 30 years later. The former player is now a trainer and coach.
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Cover Story
BUSC
Bill Free
The direction the club has gone due to these
issues has upset many people, including at least
one founder of the program. Others say the
changes are necessary and for the best.
One change that has reshaped the program
was not voluntary. Several years ago the club’s
governing body, the California Youth Soccer
Association changed the rules, opening formerly strict boundaries and allowing athletes to
play in other towns if they choose.
According to Krause, the new rules did not
have a large impact on the face of the club,
thanks to the quality of BUSC programs.
“There is a very small percent of kids that
play from outside of town,” Krause said. “I
think that says something about our program
and what we are able to do.”
For some, however, this change has taken
away an important part of youth soccer.
Since players pick where to play, politics can
have more of an influence than pride, according to Maratsos.
“I would really like to see it go back to
the way it used to be—pride in Pleasanton
soccer,” he said. “There will always be your
share of politics, but I’d like to see it get back
to kids who dedicate themselves to soccer
take pride in it. They work hard at try-outs
and are proud to make the team.”
Bob Maas was president of BUSC when
the rules changed and emphasized the positive aspects of the switch.
“I don’t believe it was necessarily bad,”
Maas said. “It forced clubs to improve programs so kids would want to stay in the town
they grew up in.”
Another change, this time made by the
club, led to conflict in 2000. In 1998 the first
paid director of training was hired and in
2000 BUSC decided to include paid trainers
and coaches for the competitive divisions.
For Miller, this decision meant a break
with the tradition of volunteer coaches the
club was founded on, as well as an intolerably high cost for registration.
“We were able to do quite well on a volunteer basis,” Miller said. “Unfortunately our
club led the way and now all teams in the
area have paid trainers.”
Miller, who coached the first BUSC team
to win State Cup in 1972, listed the suc-
The cubs prepare to march in the parade down Main Street early in the morning. For more information about Ballistic United visit www.busc.org.
cesses of volunteer coaches of BUSC competitive teams, including 12 state cups, two
Western Regionals and one Pacific Coast
Championship. He said BUSC is now committed to the new style, and in 2000 he
helped a group of parents try to start a new
league in town. For a variety of reasons, the
new league never got started.
“To say Ballistic goes back to where it
started. No. Not anymore,” Miller said.
But Maas defends the decision made during his time as president.
“There is no doubt that the program in the
early years was one of the best in the country,
but times have changed,” Maas said. “The
competitive level of play has increased. It
required that people who coach the individuals need to be more educated about the game
and about teaching the game.”
According to Maas, in order to have the level
of expertise necessary for today’s competitive
leagues, BUSC has to go out and get it, but he
recognized Miller, Boldrini and others for their
impressive contributions to the club.
“They did an outstanding job and deserve all
the credit in the world for what they’ve done
and what they’ve done for the club,” he added.
Krause acknowledged the concerns of
Miller and others, saying the transition to
paid coaches carries the risk of bringing in
coaches that are just doing it for the money
and do not have the kids and the program at
heart. According to Krause, BUSC has been
able to avoid that so far.
“I think [having paid coaches and trainers]
is a benefit provided that it’s managed carefully,” Krause said. “We’re very careful about
that whole process.”
On the sidelines and in your head
Whether the coaches are paid or volunteers, those affiliated with BUSC attributed
the success of the program or their positive
personal experiences to the dedication of the
coaches to the game and the players.
For Chavarria, the best way to repay the
coaches that shaped him was to continue
their legacy and teach a new group of kids to
love the game.
“I gained a passion from the coaching I
received while I was playing,” he said.
His dedication can be seen in the faces of
5-year-olds tripping over the ball to college
athletes, posing for a photo with their former
coach after a game.
In Miller’s case, his dedication to the sport
and his teams can be seen the moment you
walk into his home. Every wall features
team photos, posters teams made, special
moments and big games, as well as photos of
the children of former players who still keep
in touch. As Miller recounts the tournament
in Mexico City, the team that won the first
State Cup for BUSC and a variety of other
detailed stories and successes, Georgianne
cautions him not to pick any favorite teams,
explaining they are still close to a lot of the
players and their families.
When asked what they hope for in the
future of BUSC, Chavarria, Krause and Maas
all said they hoped for more high quality
playing fields. According to Maas, BUSC
was pivotal in getting Val Vista Community
Park. Krause said that those fields definitely
help but that’s not enough.
“If I have one legacy, not only leaving the
club in better condition then when I left it,
but also leaving the kids better fields.”
According to Krause, kids need lighted
turfed field, like the ones many other towns
in the area have, in order to keep kids playing and out trouble. While the future Bernal
Community Park includes such fields, they
are at least eight years out. Krause said
Upper Bernal could easily be converted to
meet a need now.
A merger of sorts between RAGE, the girls
soccer organization in town, and BUSC is
also on the list of possible coming changes.
“I’m optimistic that the boys and girls
programs will formally merge operations,”
Krause said. “It’s still in the courtship stages;
we’re dating right now. With any merger we
have to take it slow to ensure success.”
In a more general sense, Krause also
expects to see the name Ballistic has made
for itself in the past 40 years to get stronger.
“I do expect the reputation to continue to
grow,” he said. “I also expect we’ll continue
to provide a fun and safe place for kids to go
and play soccer.” N
Community Pulse
WEEKLY MEETING NOTICES
Police Bulletin
Planning Commission
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 @ 7:00 p.m.
Council Chamber, 200 Old Bernal Avenue
Veteran police
officers promoted
Three veteran officers with the Pleasanton
Police Department have
been promoted. Police
Chief Michael Fraser most
recently announced the promotion of Officer Penelope
Tamm to the rank of sergeant effective Sept. 20.
Tamm was hired as
a police officer with
Sgt. Penelope Tamm
the Pleasanton Police
Department in 1991 after
serving as a deputy sheriff with the Alameda County
Sheriff’s Office from 1987-1990. Her assignments in
Pleasanton have included bike patrol officer, detective,
field training officer, crime prevention officer, hostage
negotiator and member of the arson response team.
With the retirement of Lt. Robert Lyness, who
served 30 years in law enforcement, Fraser also promoted Sgt. Jeff Bretzing to the rank of lieutenant and
Officer Scott Rohovit to the rank of sergeant.
Bretzing started with Pleasanton as a community
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Sgt. Scott Rohovit
Lt. Jeff Bretzing
service officer in 1987 before becoming a police officer in Hayward. He returned to Pleasanton in 1992
and has since worked on assignments such as motor
officer, detective, code enforcement officer and field
sergeant.
Rohovit was hired as a Pleasanton police recruit and
after graduating from the Rio Hondo Police Academy,
was sworn in as an officer in 1990. Since then he
has served as a canine officer, DARE officer, school
resource officer and personnel and training officer.
Police Report
The Pleasanton Police Department
made the following information available. Under the law, those charged
with offenses are considered innocent until convicted.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Employment Opportunities
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ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS WELCOME
The above represents a sampling of upcoming meeting items.
For complete information, please visit
www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/community/calendar
Transitions
Weddings
Obituaries
Larry Ryan Auser
Larry Ryan Auser diedAug. 30
of heart failure while going to a Cal
Berkely football game.
Mr. Auser was born in Gilroy to
Rita and Tom Auser and was the
oldest of three boys. Mr. Auser
married Marilyn Geweke in 1976
and they had 32 wonderful years of
marriage. They lived in Pleasanton
throughout their entire marriage
and they raised their two daughters
Alicia and Allison.
After working in sales for many
years, Mr. Auser spent the last 15
years of his life teaching elementary school. He loved to spend his
time hiking with his dog, Jack,
gardening, going on road trips,
going to Cal football and rugby
games, listening to music
and
spending time with
his family. He
had a lifelong
love of learning and was
always reading
and recently
enrolled
in
college level
classes just for fun.
He is survived by wife, Marilyn;
daughter, Allison; daughter, Alicia
Baker and son-in-law Dustin Baker;
mother, Rita Auser and two brothers, Bob and Richard Auser.
His memorial service will be
held at 1 p.m. today at Valley
Community Church in Pleasanton.
The family asks that those who
attend try to wear blue and gold
in honor of Mr. Auser’s beloved
Cal Bears. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cal Athletics
at http://calbears.cstv.com or the
American Heart Association at
http://www.americanheart.org.
Fall registration now open!
FALL 2008 SAT COURSE
Sept. 8 - Oct. 2
Oct. 6 - Oct. 30
Nov. 3 - Dec. 4
are a free editorial service.
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Send to:
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Transitions
Pleasanton Weekly
5506 Sunol Blvd., Ste. 100
Math • Essay Writing
World Language • Science • SAT Prep
Couples confirm their love
Sandra Wing and Gracie Santos, together 14 years; Regina Stoops and
Diane Berry, together 18 years; and Roy Cook and Tim Roach, together 14
years; renewed their commitment to each other during a small private civil
marriage ceremony in early July following the State Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. The couples are long time residents of
Pleasanton and are planning separate receptions in the very near future.
Or fax: (925) 600-9559
Students review concepts, prepare for tests, gain confidence,
and improve grades. Our exclusive staff of PUSD teachers
guarantees our program to be the most efficient and effective
tutoring program for Pleasanton students!
tion
Loca r
w
e
N
igge
It’s b tter
be
and
Deaths, Weddings
and Births
The Leader in Providing
Educational Support to students
in the Pleasanton Community
Or e-mail:
editor@PleasantonWeekly.
com (subject: Transitions)
Please include a contact name
and telephone number. Not
responsible for lost photos.
Information how to send a
photo digitally can be found on
the Weekly’s website: www.
PleasantonWeekly.com.
The Weekly reserves the right
to edit information for space
and format considerations.
Births
The following information on
Pleasanton births was provided
by ValleyCare Medical Center.
Aug. 1
Alisa and Steven Price, a boy
Aug. 17
Carmelisa Bayan, a boy
Aug. 18
Linh Ai Chau and Thien Nguyen,
a boy
Aug. 19
Ananya Sensharma and Punyanjan
Sen, a girl
Aug. 20
Christina and Matthew Gaidos, a
girl
December Diane and Joseph Lotz,
a girl
Aug. 22
Sara and Michael Solomon, a boy
2340 Santa Rita Road, Suite 10, Pleasanton, CA 94588
End of Summer Sale!
30% OFF
All cotton yarn in stock
September 6-12
205 A Main St.
Pleasanton ( Behind Vic’s All Star Cafe )
925.249.YARN
www.yourknittingplace.com
&$ $$$ !$$$$
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Take Us Along on your travels and send photos to [email protected] or 5506
Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton 94566. Be sure to include a daytime telephone number.
Aloha from Maui
The Kojima family: Russell, Julie and Kevin, 6, took the Weekly
to enjoy the sights of scenic Maui.
Glacial Weekly
Sandra and Brad Hirst bundle up with the Weekly at South Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm, Alaska.
Weekly hold
The Foothill High School wrestling team read some hometown
news prior to the start of a team tournament at Freedom High
School in Oakley. You’ll have to wrestle the paper away from them
if you want to read it!
A local Weekly
Jamie Renton sent us this photo from her and her husband Ian Renton’s Labor Day weekend pool
party and barbecue here in town in 2007. Pictured are: Jim Scalise, Marti Scalise, Ian Renton, James
Gilbreth, Don Snyder, John Dwyer, Frank Gouveia, Kristen Dwyer, Dianne Gilbreth, Kristin Snyder, Dee
Nitzsche, Jamie Renton, Rob Nitzsche, Connie Gouveia, Bernice Renton and Barbara Loweree.
Puttin’
on the Ritz
Barbara and Allan
Hopper vacationed
with the Weekly at the
Ritz Carlton on Grand
Cayman Island.
Oh Canada
Bill Woolridge, July Holthe and Richard and Mary Sites took the
Weekly to Victoria, British Colombia as part of their cruise to Alaska.
Calendar
Auditions
Valley Concert Chorale Auditions
for the Valley Concert Chorale’s
45th season take place Sept. 15 at
First Presbyterian Church, 4th and L
streets, Livermore. The group seeks
singers with sight-reading skills who
enjoy classical to contemporary, and
folk to jazz. Call 462-4205 to schedule
an appointment.
Valley Dance Theater’s ‘Nutcracker’
Valley Dance Theater, 2247 Second
St., Ste. B, Livermore, is auditioning
boys ages 6-12 from 12:30 to 2:30
p.m. Sept. 13 for the “Nutcracker.”
No previous experience required. Call
243-0925.
Valley Dance Theater’s ‘Nutcracker’
Valley Dance Theater, 2247 Second
St., Ste. B, Livermore, is auditioning men for “Nutcracker” from 8 to
10 p.m. Sept. 15. Ballet experience
required. Call 243-0925.
Book Clubs
Great Books of Pleasanton The
Great Books of Pleasanton book club
meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday
monthly at Towne Center Books, 555
Main St. Call Sadie at 846-1658.
Civic Meetings
City Council The Pleasanton City
Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first
and third Tuesdays at City Council
Chamber, 200 Old Bernal Ave.
Housing Commission The
Pleasanton Housing Commission
meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday
of the month at City Council Chamber,
200 Old Bernal Ave.
Human Services Commission The
Human Services Commission meets
at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of
the month at City Council Chamber,
200 Old Bernal Ave.
Parks & Recreation Commission
The Pleasanton Parks & Recreation
Commission meets at 7 p.m. on the
second Thursday of the month at City
Council Chamber, 200 Old Bernal Ave.
Planning Commission The Planning
Commission meets at 7 p.m. the
second and fourth Wednesday of the
month at the City Council Chamber,
200 Old Bernal Ave.
School Board The Pleasanton Unified
School District Board meets at 7 p.m.
on the second and fourth Tuesday
monthly during the school year in the
district office board room, 4665 Bernal
Ave.
Youth Commission The Pleasanton
Youth Commission meets 7 p.m. on
the second Wednesday of the month
at Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353
Sunol Blvd.
Class
Reunions
Amador Class of 1988 Reunion
Calling all Dons: The Amador Valley
High School Class of 1988 is holding
its 20th reunion. Come see old friends
and make new memories together.
Dinner, entertainment, a photo booth,
cigar bar, visual entertainment and
baby pictures included. Group hotel
rates available at the Radisson Hotel
in Dublin. Reunion is from 6 p.m.
to midnight Sept. 13 at Barone’s
Restaurant & Garden, 475 St. John
St. Cost is $90-97. For more information, visit http://avhs1988.myevent.
com or call Marti Gilbert at 846-5607.
Foothill High Class of 1988 Fellow
Falcons of 1988, believe it or not
it’s been 20 years. Join classmates
and faculty at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 for an
evening of entertainment, videos from
the past, and great company at Faz,
5121 Hopyard Road. Tickets are $75.
A family barbecue will be held Sept.
21 at Val Vista Park. Visit www.foothillhigh1988.com.
Classes
Adult Beginner Piano Class
Presented by Community Education
at Las Positas College, 3033 Collier
Canyon in Livermore, the class lets
students explore every type of music
Get more out of
your cabinets...
kitchen, pantry, bath & garage!
• Custom made for your existing cabinets.
• All wood construction with European hardware.
Call for a FREE in-home estimate!
408-369-8258
WWW.calrollout.com
while learning how to read notes, timing and key signatures. Class is $69
and meets from 6 to 7 p.m. Fridays
Sept. 5 to Oct. 3. Call 424-1467 or
visit www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed.
Lions Club, that helps many worthy
causes in our community. Lioness
main focus areas are women, children
and family issues, in addition to helping the blind. Call 443-4543 for more
information.
Women’s Wisdom in Midlife Midlife
is a time when women have an important choice to either focus on the perils of aging or focus on the power of
wisdom. In this workshop you will gain
the tools necessary for physical, mental, and spiritual renewal. It meets from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 13 at Las
Positas College, 3033 Collier Canyon
Road in Livermore. The cost is $69.
Call 209-482-5343.
Local Writers Meet for Support and
Learning The California Writers Club
Tri-Valley branch meets the at 11:30
a.m. the third Saturday of each month
at Oasis Grille, 780 Main St., to support experienced and aspiring writers
in learning about their craft and sharing their work. Anyone who is curious
about the group is invited to attend
with no obligation to join. Call Kathy
Urban, 296-0447 or visit www.trivalleywriters.com.
Clubs
Amador Valley Quilters The
September meeting of the Amador
Valley Quilters will be presented by
some of our own talented quilters. It
meets from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sept. 13
at Pleasanton Middle School, 5001
Case Ave.
NARFE The Livermore Chapter 0397
of the National Active and Retired
Federal Employees Association meets
at 12:30 p.m. the second Thursday
monthly at Emil Villa’s Restaurant at
the corner of Pacific and S. Livermore
avenues in Livermore. Call 484-0813
or 846-7167.
Amador Valley Toastmaster Club
Wake up your career and improve
your communication skills by joining
the Amador Valley Toastmaster Club.
They meet at 7 a.m. Thursdays at
Mimi’s Cafe in Dublin.
Tri-Valley Rotary Club Meeting
The Tri-Valley Rotary Club is one of
the newest and most diverse Rotary
Clubs. Club members meet Tuesday
nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the
Girasole Grill, 3180 Santa Rita Road.
The cost is $20. Email [email protected].
Boutique Textile Art Create home
accessories, wearable art or soft
sculpture. Learn how to piece, applique and embroider ideas into art from
10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday at the
Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol
Blvd. Class is free. Bring fabric scraps,
a yard of unbleached muslin, sharp
scissors and dressmaker pins.
Tri-Valley Wood Carvers Tri-Valley
Wood Carvers meet each Tuesday at
the Pleasanton Senior Center, wood
shop room, from 12 to 4 p.m. The
regular business meeting is held the
second Saturday of the month, at
the Pleasanton Senior Center, from
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Call Ken Morgan,
462-6586.
Communication Arts Network The
East Bay’s Communications Arts
Network (CommArt) meets from 11:45
a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the second Tuesday
of each month at Forli Ristorante in
Alamo. Tickets are $20 cash, includes
lunch. Call Terry, 462-8083, or visit
www.commartnet.org.
Widowed Men and Women Social
The Widowed Men and Women of
Northern California meets for a happy
hour gathering at 5 p.m. the third
Friday of the month at the Sheraton
Hotel across from JC Penney’s at
Stoneridge Mall. Guests welcome.
RSVP prior to event. Call Lorraine,
846-5695.
Livermore Lioness Club The
Livermore Lioness Club welcomes
new members at their regular monthly
meeting at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday
monthly. The Lioness Club is a service
club, sponsored by the Livermore
Widows and Widowers Breakfast
Widows and Widowers of Northern
California will meet for breakfast at
IHOP, 6379 Dublin Blvd., in Dublin at
10 a.m. Sept. 6. Guests are welcome.
Reserve space by Sept. 5. Call 8460111.
Women’s Networking Opportunity
The local ABWA E2S chapter meets
at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday monthly at
Four Points Sheraton, 5115 Hopyard
Road, which focus on personal and
professional development for women
in business. Meetings include a guest
speaker and networking opportunities.
Nonmembers are welcome to attend
at a cost of $5 per meeting. Visit
www.expresstosuccess.org.
Concerts
Annual Piano Recital An annual
recital at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Asbury
United Methodist Church, 4743 East
Ave., Livermore, co-sponsored by
the Alameda County East Branch of
the Music Teachers’ Association of
California and Asbury, features MTAC
Young Artist Guild member Ian Counts
of Rancho Palos Verde, freshman
at Stanford, performing Beethoven,
Rzewski and Gershwin. No charge for
admission; refreshments served. Call
443-2514.
Events
3 Day Walk Team Unraveled will be
participating in the Breast Cancer
3-Day Walk from Sept. 5-7 in San
Francisco. The team consist of
women from the Tri-Valley Area who’s
common thread is knitting. This group
of outstanding women met at the local
yarn shop, “Knit This, Purl That!” at
205A Main St. where donations can
be made.
Indian Cultural Program East
Bay Marathi Mandal will be celebrating Indian Cultural Festival,
Ganeshotsava 2008, Sept. 13 at
Foothill High School, 4375 Foothill
Road. Activities include Aarti, Indian
Drama in Marathi, Melody of Indian
Songs and lunch. Tickets are $15 for
adults, $10 for children. Register at
www.ebmm.org.
Pleasanton Harvest Festival The
Pleasanton Harvest Festival is from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 12 to 14 at the
Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501
Pleasanton Ave. Over 24,000 different
handmade items will be showcased
by hundreds of artisans. Tickets are
$9 for adults, $7 for seniors and $4 for
teens. Free for kids 12 and under. Visit
www.harvestfestival.com.
Roses to Grandparents From 2 to 4
p.m. Sept. 7, grandparents and families are invited to gather in the Rose
Hotel lobby, 807 Main St., for cake,
coffee and conversation. They will be
treated to tours of the hotel and will
be eligible to win a free night’s stay at
the 4 p.m. drawing. Each grandparent
will receive a long stemmed rose. Call
846-8802.
SOLD Project Film & Outreach The
SOLD Project will hold an outreach session at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Cornerstone
Church, 348 North Canyon Pkwy.,
Livermore. The event highlights
SOLD:Thailand, the first film presented
by The SOLD Project, a grassroots
movement dedicated to exposing the
truth behind child prostitution through
multimedia and the collaborative
response of individuals striving to make
a change. Call 808-387-7355 or visit
www.thesoldproject.com.
Spiritual Experience Workshop
Have you ever experienced a dream
with a departed loved one? A neardeath or out-of-body adventure? A
sense you’ve lived before? This free
workshop, from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 7
at the Four Points Sheraton, 5115
Hopyard Road, helps to go beyond
faith to direct spiritual experience. Call
800-485-8129 or visit www.haveaspiritualexperience.org.
The Big Read Gatsby
Extravaganza The Pleasanton
Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave.,
presents the kickoff party The Big
Read from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 7. The
Gatsby Extravaganza includes Sara
and Swingtime playing hot jazz, Dr.
Philip Manwell delivering a keynote
address, food, games and prizes. Call
931-3405.
Wag ‘N Walk The two-mile, all-breed
dog walk for the entire family will be
held at 9 a.m. Sept. 13 at Shadow
Cliffs Regional Park, 2400 Stanley
Blvd. Hosted by the NORCAL Golden
Retriever Rescue, it will feature an
“alumni parade” of dogs rescued by
NGRR volunteers followed by the walk
(with a swim break) for all breeds and
humans. Registration is $20. Children
14 and under are free. Visit www.
golden-rescue.org.
Exhibits
Imagination Expressed The
Pleasanton Art League has an exhibit,
“Imagination Expressed,” in the
Calendar
Phoebe Hearst room of the Museum
On Main Street, 603 Main St., which
runs through Oct. 5. It features paintings, wood, ceramics, jewelry and
textile artworks. Open 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1
to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2.
support group meets the second
Wednesday of the month at the
Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador
Valley Blvd. Topics will cover travel,
stress, medications, food, emotions
and general living with diabetes. Call
510-383-5185.
Film
Gentle Yoga for 55+ Are you an
active person 55+ years young? This
free, gentle yoga class helps stress,
flexibility, balance and overall health
and is excellent for special/chronic
conditions. Call Pleasanton school
district at 426-4280 for times and
locations.
The Big Read ‘The Great Gatsby’
Pleasanton Public Library, 400 Old
Bernal Ave., presents the film “The
Great Gatsby” at 1 p.m. Sept. 16 as
part of the Big Read and the Mature
Adults Program. Call 931-3411.
Fundraisers
Fabric Bags Benefit Firehouse
Arts Center Pleasanton photographer Sue Evans is sponsoring the
sale of special Pleasanton recycle
grocery bags to raise money for the
Firehouse Arts Project. The final day
of sales, with all proceeds going to
this project, will be Sept. 14 from 11
am to 3 pm at The Firehouse Fling,
an old-fashioned family fun day.
The bag is forest green with taupe
colored ink and has the Pleasanton
Arch along with, “Paper or Plastic?
No thanks, I have my own” on it.
There are no company logos on it.
They are currently available at The
Berry Patch on West Angela Street
or directly through Evans for bulk
orders. The bags sell for $4.99 each
or 5 for $20. She may be reached at
[email protected]
or 989-4113.
Firehouse Fling: Old Fashion
Family Fun Firehouse Fling: An Old
Fashioned Family Fun Day, takes
place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept.
14 at Lions Wayside Park at First and
Neal streets. Benefits the Firehouse
Arts Center. Games, pony rides, pie
eating contest, sack races, bake walk,
petting zoo, arts and crafts, food and
live entertainment. Visit www.pleasantonartsfoundation.org.
Furry Faces Pet Calendar Contest
Make your pet a star by submitting
pet photos to the Valley Humane
Society’s Furry Faces Calendar
Contest. Entries are a $15 donation
each, which benefits VHS, and will be
accepted through Oct. 1. Call 4268656 ext. 11, or visit www.valleyhumane.org or 3670 Nevada St.
Meat & Seafood Sale The Foothill
High School Athletic Boosters will
have quality meats and seafood on
sale at warehouse prices from 11
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13-14 at the
school parking lot, 4375 Foothill
Road. Meats include filet mignon, rib
eyes, New York steaks, top sirloin,
ground beef, sausages, thick cut
applewood smoked bacon, shrimp,
and scallops.
Romania Animal Rescue A wine
and appetizer fundraiser for Romania
Animal Rescue will be held from 5:30
to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Oasis Grille
and Wine Lounge, 780 Main St. The
funds will send vets to Romania. The
food is vegetarian. Activities include
an auction and raffle for vacation
getaways and golf. Tickets are $25 in
advance, $35 at the door. For more
information, visit www.romaniaanimalrescue.com or call 672-5908.
That’s Amore Tri-Valley Animal
Rescue’s biggest fundraiser of the
year will be held from 6 to 10 p.m.
Oct. 11 at the Dublin Senior Center,
7600 Amador Valley Road. There
will be live and silent auctions and
Girasole Restaurant catering. Tickets
are $60. To purchase, visit www.
tvar.org and click on Pay Pal. Call
803-7044.
Health
Diabetes Support Group Free
Living a Long Healthy Life At
7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Front Row
Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon
Road, San Ramon, Lowell Kleinman,
M.D., will discuss facts and myths
about health and wellness, and present some simple everyday steps to
help prevent illness. Call 275-8230 or
visit www.sanramonmedctr.com.
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Summer Immunization Clinics
for Children Saturday clinics,
from 9 to 11:30 a.m. July 12, Aug.
2 and Sept. 6 at Axis Community
Health, 4361 Railroad Ave., are
open to Tri-Valley families who are
low income or uninsured, including
Medi-Cal and Medi-Cal Managed
Care. Parents should bring child’s
immunization records, information
about family income and medical
insurance. There is a fee for some
immunizations. Call 462-1755.
Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis Every
Tuesday through Dec. 30 from 1:45
p.m. to 3:15 p.m., Downtown Yoga,
220 B Division St., hosts a series of
gentle stretching movements that can
help to reduce stress within the body.
Call 462-5285.
Kids & Teens
African-American Dance at
the Library At 2 p.m. Sept. 13,
Dimensions Extensions Performance
Ensemble, one of the finest preprofessional youth companies in the
Bay Area, showcases talented dancers between ages 12-19 trained in
jazz, modern, hip hop, Haitian, ballet
and traditional African movement. Call
931-3400 ext. 8.
Competition for Young Musicians
The Livermore-Amador Symphony
Association’s 36th annual
Competition for Young Musicians is
open to instrumentalists and vocalists who reside or attend school in
Pleasanton, Livermore, Sunol, Dublin
or San Ramon. Students are eligible
through grade 12, or age 17 if not
enrolled in high school. Each winner
will be awarded $250. Applications
are due Oct. 5 and must include a
$5 fee. Call 447-1957 or visit www.
livamsymph.org.
Library Book Clubs Begin
Students are invited to join either
our fourth and fifth or sixth to eighth
grade book clubs, which meet
Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. starting in September at the Pleasanton
Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave.
Come for good books, snacks and
lively conversation. Registration
begins Aug. 18, and is limited to 18
per club. Call 931-3400 ext. 8.
The Hipwaders at Kidsfaire! Awardwinning band, The Hipwaders, will be
performing “hip music for kids” and
families at KidsFaire, Sept. 6 at the
county fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton
Ave. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for
children 2-12. Call 866-283-8600 or
visit www.hipwaders.net.
Lectures/
Workshops
Free Gardening Workshops BayFriendly Gardening presents four free
gardening workshops Saturdays in the
Nestled high in the Pleasanton Hills,
on what was once Phoebe Apperson Hearst’s
beloved Hacienda De Verona Estate, Villa del Sole is a privately
owned property and rarely opens to the public.
An Evening at Villa del Sole offers you
the opportunity to tour the spectacular grounds
of this historic site while sipping fine wines,
savoring sumptuous buffets and listening to smooth jazz.
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Mike & Mary Lou Azevedo
Lee Busey
Rob and Suzy Goldstein
Tom & ChrisAnne Olenic
Petway Discount Pet Food
The Prescott Family
Jeanie Reitzell
David & Lori Rhodes
Mike & Lori Rice
Joe & Susan Sasek
Jim & Linda Schwartz
Tom & Sandy St. Dennis
Carl Wolfston
Linda Zaiss
Drs. Iraj Zandi & Mitra Ara
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is a benefit for
Valley Humane Society
tickets and more information:
925 426-8656
www.ValleyHumane.org
Calendar
month of September. Topics include
the basics, healthy soil, year-round
edible gardens and managing pests
naturally. Registration for these classes
is required. Call 510-444-SOIL (7645)
or visit www.bayfriendly.org.
Home Based Business Opportunity
& Art of Living Learn wealth strategies and self care tips for wealth and
health from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at
the Radisson Hotel, 6680 Regional St.,
Dublin. The event is free, but registration is required. Call 831-4831 or visit
september17.eventbrite.com.
I Was a TV Horror Show Host
Lecture by former KTVU-TV Creature
Features host, John Stanley, will be held
at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Lynnewood United
Methodist Church, 4444 Black Ave. The
lecture is presented by Museum On
Main Street. The cost is $5 for members
or $10 for non-members.
Live Music
Chris Bradley’s Jazz Band Chris
Bradley’s Jazz Band plays music of
the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s every second
and fourth Wednesday of the month
at the Pleasanton Hotel, 855 Main St.
No cover.
The Jambalaya Swing Band Dance
to the oldies as performed by the
11-piece Jambalaya Swing Band on
the first and third Wednesdays of each
month at the Pleasanton Hotel, 855
Main St.
Tuesday Tunes Every Tuesday from 5
to 8 p.m. enjoy live music at either the
Livermore Valley Plaza or the Flag Pole
Plaza in downtown Livermore. Bring
a blanket and lawn chairs. Visit www.
livermoredowntown.com.
Miscellaneous
Assistance League of Amador
Valley Assistance League of
Amador Valley is having an informational wine and cheese gathering
on at 7 p.m. Sept. 10. The group is
seeking new members who are interested in an opportunity to give back
to those in need in the Tri-Valley
Community. Call 461-6401 or email
[email protected] for more
information. Visit www.amadorvalley.
assistancelegue.org.
Healing Touch Therapy Pleasanton
Public Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave.,
andy lost 9% body fat in 2 months
re-active is a private gym that specializes in re-activating
people’s lives. are you ready to re-activate your life?
presents Healing Touch Therapy
seminar at 7 p.m. Sept. 15. Healing
Touch is an energy therapy that
encompasses a group of non-invasive
techniques which utilize the hands to
clear, energize and balance the human
energy field. Call 931-3408.
Retirement Party for Dave
Hartman Dave Hartman, a fourth
grade teacher at Lydiksen Elementary
School, retired this summer after 30
years of teaching. His friends, family and former students are invited
to celebrate at a retirement party
from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. Sept. 18 at
Lydisken’s multipurpose room, 7700
Highland Oaks Drive. Refreshments
will be provided. Contact Cie Probst
at 989-0540 or [email protected]
for details and to submit photos for
our Wall of Dave.
VFW Auxiliary Boutique VFW
Auxiliary is seeking crafters and artists to participate in its annual Holiday
Boutique Oct. 17-18 at the Veteran’s
Memorial Building, 301 Main St. Fee is
$55 for an 8-foot table. All items must
be handmade or crafted by participant
or their family. Call 946-5453 or email
[email protected].
On Stage
The Great Gatsby Pleasanton Public
Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave., presents
the Calaveras Repertory Theater production of “The Great Gatsby” as part
of The Big Read at 7 p.m. Sept. 13.
Seniors
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Brain Matters Our brains are vital
organs that deserve the same attention to care and maintenance as our
hearts. Engaging in active learning will
help maintain brain health. This new
weekly program, meeting at 10 a.m.
every Friday starting Sept. 5, combines lectures and interactive workshops dedicated to improving brain
health and function. The cost is $1.50
for residents or $2 for non-residents.
Call 931-5365.
Cut Down the Salt Want to use less
salt in your cooking? Learn much
you should consume, and how to
get started with salt-free cooking
from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at the
senior center, 5353 Sunol Blvd. Cost
is $1.50 for residents or $2 for nonresidents. Call 931-5365.
Health Chat Health Chat takes place
from 10 to 11:30 a.m. every Thursday
at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353
Sunol Blvd. This group setting informs
and educates seniors about various
health issues. It is open forum and
an interactive session. Sponsored by
Amador Valley Adult School and the
senior center. Call 426-4280.
Pleasanton PC USers Group The
PC User Group meets monthly at
10 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of
the month at the Pleasanton Senior
Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd. You don’t
need to be an expert to attend, we
have all skills levels in our meetings.
Call 931-5365 or see pleasenior.
googlepages.com for more info.
Sons in Retirement (SIR) SIR is
an organization for retired men. The
Pleasanton SIR holds a luncheon
meeting at 11 a.m. the first Thursday
of the month with golf, bridge, bocce,
fishing and other activities and trips.
Call 606-7189.
Spiritual
Bible Study Fellowship The
33-week study of The Life of Moses
begins Sept. 8. Women’s classes
meet at 9:25 a.m. Wednesdays at
Cedar Grove Church, Livermore;
and 6:55 p.m. Mondays at Valley
Community Church, Pleasanton.
Men’s class meets at 6:55 p.m.
Tuesdays at Community Presbyterian
Church in Danville. Call 877-2733228.
Community Bible Study Join CBS
for a nondenominational, in-depth
study of the book of Revelation for
women, along with a children’s program (infant to elementary age), for
30 weeks. The class will begin at
9:30 a.m. Sept. 11 at Centerpointe
Presbyterian Church, 3410
Cornerstone Court. The women’s and
children’s classes run concurrently.
The cost is $25 for adults and $10
for children. Call 209-0242 or visit
www.communitybiblestudy.org.
Faith Chapel Assembly of God
Faith Chapel Assembly of God, 6656
Alisal St., has Sunday school for all
ages at 9:30 a.m. and worship at
10:30 a.m., with nursery for both services. Children’s church, ages 3-12,
meets at 11:15 a.m. Women’s Bible
study meets at 10 a.m. Wednesdays.
A prayer at 6 p.m. is held the first and
third Monday of the month. Call 8468650 for more programs.
Four-Week Class on Personal
Transformation Based on the book
“The Alchemist” by Paulo Coehlo,
Rev. Steve Maynard will be focusing
on “spiritual alchemy,” transforming
ideas into manifest reality. First class is
“Being Dream Weavers: Transforming
Dreams to Reality.” Morning classes
are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, beginning Sept. 9. Wednesday evening
classes are at 7 p.m. beginning Sept.
10. Locations vary, so call Tri-Valley
Unity church at 829-2733.
Women’s Christian 12 Step
Discover how much comfort there
is in the journey of recovery walking with the Good Shepherd every
STEP of the way! This group meets
at noon every Friday and Saturday at
Shepherd’s Gate, 1660 Portola Ave.,
Livermore. Call 443-4283.
Sports
Back to School Scholarship Run
Run or walk at the 13th annual Back
to School Scholarship run Sept. 20
at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park, 2500
Stanley Blvd. The event raises money
for college scholarships that are
offered to children of parents working
in the California food industry. It features three courses: 10K run, 5K run
and walk, and a Children’s mile. For
details, including entry fees, visit www.
onyourmarkevents.com or call 209795-7832.
Callippe Niners Callippe Niners is a
fun group of nine-hole women golfers. We are currently welcoming new
members into our group. Our play
days are Tuesday mornings. Call Joan,
462-1054.
High School Mini Baseball Camp
Tigers Baseball is sponsoring a back
to school high school mini camp to be
held at the Foothill High School varsity
baseball field Sept. 6 to 7. All high
school players and their parents are
invited to learn what it takes to play
collegiate baseball. Players will have a
chance to training under the guidance
of Coach Robert “Skip” Claprood.
Register at www.livermorepony.com.
Mountain Rides Join cyclists of all
levels for this friendly, no-drop mountain ride which lasts approximately
two hours. Riders should be in good
fitness, have a well-adjusted, safe
mountain bike and general knowledge
of bike handling skills. Odd-numbered
months, the Cyclepath group goes
to the Pleasanton Ridge and evennumbered months, they go to Lake
Chabot. For the ridge rides, meet the
Cyclepath group at the Foothill staging area. Rides are from 6 to 8 p.m.
For more information, contact rides@
cyclepath.com or call 485-3218.
Saturday Morning Beginner Ride
This weekly no-drop ride from 8 to
Calendar
Weekend Preview
ia. The first meeting is at 7 p.m. Sept.
16 at the Pleasanton Public Library,
400 Old Bernal Ave. Call 368-6138.
Pleasanton Military Families
Pleasanton Military Families, a support group for families of service
members, meets at 7 p.m. the
second Tuesday of the month.
The group includes families who
have loved ones serving in Iraq,
Afghanistan and in the Global War
on Terrorism. Meetings are held at a
different group member’s home each
month. Call Chris Miller for information on the placement of a yellow
streamer for the military person on
Main Street and for information on
the group, 730-1604.
Artworks “Hollyhocks” and “Yosemite Falls” are by Pleasanton artist
Charlotte Severin and are watercolor done on Yupo paper.
Pleasanton artists join in
Hayward exhibit
The Hayward Arts Council present the Art: Believe/
Achieve exhibition, with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
to celebrate the artists. Local artists include Elaine Drew,
Charlotte Severin and Barbara Spanskie, who, among others, represent the National League of American Pen Women,
which began in Washington D.C. in 1897. The exhibit is
on display through Oct. 29 at the John O’Lague Galleria,
located at Hayward City Hall, 777 B St. in Hayward. To learn
more, visit www.haywardarts.org.
10 a.m. Saturdays is for those new
to cycling, who haven’t been on their
bike for a while or just want to ride
at a slower pace. Rides depart from
Cyclepath Pleasanton and will generally be 12 to 15 mph, 20 to 25 miles
and no more than two hours. E-mail
[email protected] if you plan to
attend.
Sunday Morning Group Ride Join
cyclists of all levels from 8 to 11 a.m.
Sundays for this friendly, no-drop
road ride. Routes vary weekly and
last approximately two to three hours.
Riders warm up together and split
into smaller groups based on skill
level (A—60 miles, B—35 to 40 miles,
C—20 to 25 miles). Bring water and a
snack. Rides depart from Cyclepath,
337-B Main St. (in the Bank of
America building).
Tri-Valley Babe Ruth Skills Clinic
Tri-Valley Babe Ruth will hold its annual Fall Skills Clinic Sept. 14 at Camp
Parks in Dublin. Registration starts at
8 a.m. with the clinic from 9 a.m. to
noon. Clinic is led by top coaches and
players in the area. Open for players
ages 12 to 15. The cost is $50. Email
[email protected].
Support
Groups
Cancer Support Group A free support group for people with cancer and
their loved ones is held from 2 to 4
p.m. every Tuesday at the Valley Care
Health Library, 5725 W. Las Positas
Blvd., Ste. 270. This group is facilitated by The Wellness Community. For
information, call 933-0107 or email
[email protected].
Crohns and Ulcerative Colitis
Support Group This support
groups meets at 6:30 p.m. the third
Thursday of every month at the
ValleyCare Health Library, 5725 W.
Las Positas Blvd., Ste. 270. Walk-
ins are welcome. Feel free to bring a
guest. Call 462-6764 or 846-4653.
Domestic Violence Support Group
On-going support for women dealing
with conflictual issues is available at
Tri-Valley Haven, Livermore, from 5 to
6:30 p.m. Thursdays. A fee of $40 for
every eight weeks or based on a sliding scale. Call Elizabeth, 667-2799.
Prostate Cancer Support Group
The Man to Man American Cancer
Society program is designed to help
men cope with prostate cancer by
providing community based education and support to patients and their
family members. The group meets
at 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at San Ramon Regional
Medical Center’s south conference
room, 7777 Norris Canyon Road, San
Ramon. Men at any stage of prostate
cancer and their family members are
welcome. Michael Stephens, MST,
facilitates. Call 933-0107.
Tri-Valley Parkinson’s Support
Group The group meets at 10 a.m.
on the second Saturday of each
month at the Pleasanton Senior
Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., to provide information and support for
Parkinson’s patients and caregivers.
Call 831-9940.
Twin Valley Mothers of Twins Club
General meetings are at 6:30 p.m.
the second Tuesday of the month at
John Knox Presbyterian Church, 7421
Amarillo Drive. and include round table
discussion and dinner. Visit www.
TVMOTC.com.
Volunteering
Grief Support The death of a loved
one is unlike any other loss. Grieving
people need time and space to honor
their grief. An eight-week workshop
starting Sept. 18 will be held at St.
Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 4001
Stoneridge Drive. Pre-registration is
required. A $15 donation is requested.
Call Mary, 846-5377.
Alviso Adobe Community Park
Exciting volunteer opportunities are
available at the new Alviso Adobe
Community Park on Foothill Road.
Details and applications are available
at Pleasanton’s Museum On Main, 603
Main St., and the Pleasanton Library,
400 Old Bernal Ave. There will be volunteer training sessions. Call 462-2766.
Livermore Peripheral Neuropathy
Support Group The Livermore
Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group
meets at 10 a.m. the fourth Tuesday
of each month at Heritage Estates
Retirement Community, second floor
conference room, 900 E. Stanley
Blvd., Livermore. All are welcome.
Contact Lorene Stack, 447-6158 or
Ann Laye, 443-4098.
American Cancer Society
Discovery Shop The American
Cancer Society Discovery Shop, a
furniture store in Mission Plaza, needs
volunteers. Do you like to decorate
and rearrange furniture? If so, help
is needed four hours a week. Call
Monday at 462-7374.
Parents of Dyslexic Children
Parents of dyslexic children can come
together to support each other in the
journey of raising children with dyslex-
Hats Off America Volunteers are
wanted for the Hats Off America
Casino Night April 19; Muscle Car,
Hot Rod, and Art Fair May 16 to
18; Red T-Shirt 10K runs/5K walks
June 7, Sept. 13 and Nov. 8. HOA
is a nonprofit organization benefiting
families of fallen soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Email Sparky George,
[email protected].
Tri-Valley Animal Rescue Do you
love animals? Become a volunteer or
a Foster with Tri-Valley Animal Rescue.
Orientations are held at East County
Animal Shelter (ECAS) from 1 to 2:30
p.m. the second Saturday and fourth
Sunday of each month. Registration is
not required to attend the orientation.
Call 803-7043 or visit www.tvar.org.
MONEY
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Vision Support Group Individuals
with low vision, and their loved ones,
are invited to join us on the third
Tuesday of each month from 10
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Pleasanton
Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd. Join
us for low vision information, speakers, resources, discussions, and day
trips. No reservations are required.
Nominal fees may apply. Call 9315369.
Fibromyalgia Support Group
This group meets at 6:30 the first
Thursday monthly at the ValleyCare
Library, 5725 West Las Positas
Boulevard. Call 847-3000.
Overeaters Anonymous Do you
worry about the way you eat?
You are not alone. Overeaters
Anonymous may have the answer
for you. This is not a diet club. OA
is a fellowship of people recovering
from compulsive overeating, starving and/or purging. OA offers mutual
support and a helpful plan of action.
They meet at 7 p.m. every Tuesday
at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal
Church, 678 Enos Way, Livermore.
Visit www.diablovallyeyoa.org.
Let’s Talk
Let’s face it. The news
about real estate makes
it confusing to know your
home financing options.
Your Neighbor & Home Finance Expert
for 20 Years
Chris Jensen
925.738.0315
[email protected]
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DiningOut
American
Vic’s All Star Kitchen
201 Main St., Pleasanton, (925)
484-0789. Vic’s delivers a starry mix
of American food, fast service and
a cheery atmosphere. Owner Vic
Malatesta teamed his love of sports with
his passion for good food to create a
solid dining experience. Vic’s is open
daily 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Evening banquets
and daytime catering are available.
Bridges
44 Church St., Danville, 820-7200.
Executive Chef Kevin Gin interprets
California-American cuisine with
European and Asian influences with
expansive lunch and dinner menus.
Add dessert, wine and cocktails and
you have Bridges’ casual fine dining
experience. Visit www.bridgesdanville.
com for event and private party details.
Pleasanton Hotel Restaurant
855 Main St., Pleasanton, 846-8106.
Executive Chef Chris Smith offers
exciting contemporary American cooking at lunch and dinner, featuring a
wide selection of fresh fish entrees.
To have your restaurant
listed in this dining
directory, please call
the Pleasanton Weekly
Advertising Department
at (925) 600-0840
Also offering our famous Sunday
Champagne Buffet Brunch full bar and
patio service. Visit us at www.pleasantonhotel.com for menus and private
party and catering details.
Barbecue
Red Smoke Grill
4501 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton,
734-0307. Home of the Tri Tip and
Blue, Red Smoke Grill was Voted
Reader’s Choice Best 2006, 2007,
2008. Dine in or take out rotisserie
chicken, ribs, prawns, salads and tri
tip, or pulled pork sandwiches. Relax
with a beer or a bottle of wine. Visit
www.redsmokegrill.com.
Brewpub/Alehouse
Main Street Brewery
Pleasanton’s only BrewPub, some ales
(Attaboy IPA) are brewed with locally
grown hops. We also have a rotating
selection of guest brews and seasonal
Italian Style Spaghetti & Ravioli
s,UNCHES$INNERSs"EERSON4AP
s/RDERSTOGOs0ATIO$INING!VAILABLE
ales. To-go orders welcome and we’re
available for parties up to 100. Live
music every Friday and Saturday, visit
www.mainstbrewery.com for activities
and specials.
The Hop Yard American Alehouse
and Grill
3015H Hopyard Road, Pleasanton,
426-9600. Voted Best Watering Hole
in Pleasanton, The Hop Yard offers
30 craft beers on tap as well as great
food. The full-service menu includes
appetizers, salads and grilled fare that
will bring you back time and again.
Banquet facilities available. On the web
at www.hopyard.com.
470 Market Place, San Ramon, 2779600. Featuring a giant 8-foot projection screen for major sporting events,
they also feature 30 beers on tap and
a great grill. Go in for the beer, go back
for the food. More at www.hopyard.
com.
California Cuisine
Stacey’s Cafe
Located on Main Street in downtown
Pleasanton, Stacey’s is open for lunch
and dinner seven days a week, serving
fresh California cuisine. Come as you
are and enjoy our dining room, banquet
room, outdoor patios and full bar. Visit
www.staceyscafe.com.
Catering
-AIN3TREETsswww.gayninetiespizza.com
Fontina’s Catering
349 Main St., Downtown Pleasanton,
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462-9299. Fontina Ristorante’s awardwinning menu can now be delivered
to your home or office. Our lunch and
dinner specialties feature homemade
soups and pastas, premium seafood
and meats, and a vegetarian menu. For
parties of 10 or more, we’ll include free
dessert or 10 percent off your total bill
(excluding tax).
Girasole Grill/Pampered Palate
Catering
831-4888. Offering affordable and
elegant catering, Girasole Grill/
Pampered Palate provides quality food
and generous portions at a fair price.
Services include: decorated buffets
with hors d’oeuvres and carving stations; sit down meal service; strictly
hors d’oeuvres, both buffet and server
passed; and a variety of beverage
packages with no corkage fees. Visit
www.ppceastbay.com.
Pleasanton Hotel Catering Catering
846-8112. The Pleasanton Hotel
Restaurant has proudly provided our
fine-dining restaurant, banquet and
catering services in the Tri-Valley for
over 25 years. We have multiple catering packages to choose from to fit any
event & budget; we also tailor menus
to fit client’s needs. Executive Chef
Chris Smith also offers an array of
creative events from In-Home Personal
Chef to Cooking Classes. Our commitment to provide the highest quality of
food plus prompt and attentive service
has given us a reputation we are very
proud of. Contact Gerard Lek for more
information 846-8112.
Chinese
Chinese Szechuan
3059 Hopyard Road #G, Pleasanton,
846-5251. Chinese Szechuan is
Pleasanton’s best-loved Chinese restaurant. Family owned and run since
1987, it has friendly service, delicious
food and great prices, including lunch
specials and carry-out. A banquet
room is available.
Panda Mandarin Cuisine
30 W. Angela St., Pleasanton, 4844880. Panda offers several delicious
specials using fresh ingredients and
spices that make traditional northern
Chinese cuisine such a delight. Open
for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Monday through Saturday, closed
Sunday. A private banquet room is available. Visit www.pandapleasanton.com.
Continental
Barone’s
475 St. John St., Pleasanton, 4260987. Pleasanton’s most romantic
continental cuisine restaurant features
innovative pasta, seafood and meat
entrees, outdoor dining, and a full
bar. Barone’s is open for dinner seven
nights and lunch Monday through
Friday, with live music on Friday and
Saturday evenings. Ask about our banquet facilities and special events.
Fusion
Oasis Grille
Visit downtown Pleasanton’s exotic dining destination. Oasis features kabobs,
rice and vegetarian dishes, to name a
few. Check out our updated wine and
exotic cocktail menus. We also cater!
Visit www.OasisGrille.com.
Italian
Fontina Ristorante
This popular downtown restaurant
gets rave reviews from both locals
and visitors. Fontina offers a changing,
seasonal menu and daily specials—
including homemade soups, pastas,
seafood, chicken and veal—served in
a comfortably elegant atmosphere. We
have indoor and outdoor seating. Join
us for Saturday and Sunday champagne brunch.
La Vite Ristorante
3037-G Hopyard Road, Pleasanton,
485-4500. La Vite Ristorante was rated
“A” by the Contra Costa Times restaurant critic and voted the best Italian restaurant by the readers of the Tri-Valley
Herald. We’re located off the beaten
path of downtown Pleasanton in the
Hopyard Village Shopping Center.
NOW OPEN FOR
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!
Come in for the Beer
Come back for the Food
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417.2206
Family Meals To Go
Meals include four corn muffins and two large sides.
Rotisserie Chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tri-Tip
1 1/2 pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 pound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Slab-and-a-Half of Ribs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
One Pound Tri-Tip and Whole Chicken . . . . . . . .
Full Slab of Ribs & Whole Chicken . . . . . . . . . . .
One Pound Tri-Tip and Whole Slab . . . . . . . . . . .
Now
Open
LUNCH
SPECIALS
"ENTO"OX
$7.95
4ERIYAKI#HICKEN
BUSINESS HOURS
$6.95
-/.&2)!-0-
3550 Bernal Ave., #130, Pleasanton
6INTAGE(ILLS3HOPPING#ENTER
(925) 426-9600
3015-H Hopyard Road
www.hopyard.com
3!4035.0-0-
Sides
4501 Hopyard Rd, Pleasanton
734-0307
Open daily from 11am
www.redsmokegrill.com
Small Side Salad, French
Fries, Roasted Corn
Salad, Potato Salad,
Creamy Cole Slaw,
Santa Maria Style Beans,
Chicken Tortilla Soup,
Mashed Potatoes
$16.99
$25.99
$29.99
$28.99
$32.99
$32.99
$36.99
Dining Out
Girasole Grill
3180 Santa Rita Road at West Las
Positas Boulevard, Pleasanton,
484-1001. Girasole, a locally owned
family business, is an award winning
California style Italian restaurant. It
was voted Best Italian Restaurant by
Pleasanton Weekly readers for 2007.
We feature signature cuisine such as
Scoozzi, Absolut! prawns, chicken
gorgi, ppinach for Veronica, Tuscan
pork and signature fresh seafood...just
to name a few. We are upscale, but
California casual with friendly prices.
Silver Palate Restaurant & Market
680 Main St Downtown Pleasanton,
417-5900 The ambiance of this restaurant evokes the light-filled expanse
of a European marketplace, while
the outdoor patio captures the best
in al fresco dining. Choose from a
wide selection of flavorful entrees and
side accompaniments ... Just $14.95
or less everyday! We also feature a
special dinner menu. Kids eat FREE
with each paying adult. Now open for
breakfast! Country Brunch Buffet every
Sunday. Open seven days a week.
Japanese
Kokoro Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Now open for lunch and dinner daily.
Take out orders and catering available.
Serving a variety of regular sushi rolls
and Nigiri Sushi daily. Full Japanese
dining menu items including:Teriyaki
Dishes, Bento Boxes Yakisoba,
Udon Soup, Salads and Appetizers.
Business Hours: Monday-Friday 11AM
- 9:30PM; Saturday 12PM - 9:30PM;
Sunday 5PM - 9:30PM Phone: 4172206 Located in the remodeled
Vintage Hills Shopping Center at 3550
Bernal Ave #130 in Pleasanton.
Sato Japanese Cuisine
3105-K Hopyard Road, Pleasanton,
462-3131. Makoto Sato, Owner
Operator has been serving traditional
japanese cuisine for over 25 years in
Specializing in
Europe and the
South Pacific
Pleasanton. Enjoy the variety of our
sushi bar and Japanese tempura and
teriyaki sushi. We are open for lunch
and dinner. We also do catering. Open
Tuesday through Sunday and closed
Monday.
Mexican
Blue Agave Club
Come downtown for fine dining and
casual lunches in our outdoor patio.
Our menu includes a variety of selections from classic tortilla soup and mole
poblano to grilled salmon (a house
specialty) and filet mignon with a spicy
Chipotle Chile sauce. We also specialize in premium “sipping” tequilas and
carry over 200 different varieties. Visit
www.blueagaveclub.com.
Pizza
Gay Nineties Pizza Co.
Gay Nineties is family-oriented with
an extensive menu, including our
renowned pizza, Italian dishes, salads
and sandwiches. We also have wine,
beer, patio dining and games for kids.
Come for groups, take out and callahead lunch orders. We’re open seven
days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Steakhouse
Bighorn Grill
2410 San Ramon Valley Blvd., San
Ramon, 838-5678. Relax in our luxurious “mountain lodge” with a quintessential martini. Experience the aroma
and flavors of our wood-fired grill. Enjoy
a savory steak, traditional prime rib,
smoked ribs, fresh seafood, and a variety of signature dishes. Fabulous wine
list and two private banquet rooms.
Visit www.bighorngrill.com.
House of Omelettes
DeansCafe
To have your
restaurant
listed in this
dining
directory,
please call the
Pleasanton
Weekly
Advertising
Department
at (925) 600-0840
-OST2OMANTIC
2ESTAURANT
"REAKFASTs,UNCH
6am-2:30pm
-ONDAY3ATURDAY
AMPM3UNDAY
Joseph & Maricela Barone
Your Hosts Since 1995
Barone’s Restaurant
#OME4ASTE/UR.EW
,UNCH$INNER%NTREES
s)NNOVATIVE
#UISINE
s2EHEARSAL
$INNERS
s%NTERTAINMENT
ON7EEKENDS
s"ANQUETS
s&ULL"AR
475 Saint John
Pleasanton
426-0987
DIABLO FLOORING, INC
WHERE SERVICE AND QUALITY MATTER
FREE ESTIMATES
Exact pricing, no rough estimates
Residential/Commercial
Financing Available
Experience A New
Flooring Today!
Established in 1985
Destinations
Unlimited
1989-C Santa Rita Road s (925) 462-0402
www.travel-desk.com s CST#101368810
CARPET HARDWOOD LAMINATE TILE VINYL
(925) 426-RUGS (925) 426-7847
www.DiabloFlooring.com
5600-D Sunol Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566
CA License #898787
Savory Delights of Northern China
LUNCH SPECIALS:Ê`>ÞÀ`>ÞÊ££\ÎäÓ\ää
DINNER:ÊÊ`>Þ/ÕÀÃ`>ÞÊx\ää\ÎäÊ
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PRIVATE BANQUET ROOM TAKE-OUT
2004/2005 &
2006 WINNER
30 West Angela St., Downtown Pleasanton
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Presents…
Back to School, Back to Work
Fall Sale 2008
Thursday, Sept. 18th 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Come in for our showcase where we will have frame
representatives on-site with their full line of frames ready
to help you choose the best style.
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Open for Lunch and Dinner
With combination of an elegant Banquet room and charming wine bar ideal for rehearsal
dinners, bridal showers, company parties or any special occasion you are celebrating.
3037-G Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton (At Valley Ave in Hopyard Village)
925-485-4500
www.LaViteRestaurant.com
$50.00 Off
$30.00 Off
party insurance.
*Not applicable through third party
insurance.
Complete pair of prescription
glasses. *Not applicable through third
620 MAIN STREET, PLEASANTON, CA
846-4222
Sunglasses (Non Prescription).
925 463-7330
4555 Hopyard Road, Ste. C -19 (Next to Sweet Tomatoes)
www.veoptometry.com
Now Accepting Appointments
Pleasanton
Real Estate News
by
Gerarda
Stocking
REALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS
During a real estate boom, we get
used to tacking maybe an additional
20% to the value of our home each
year, and sometimes even more.
In a few years, we begin to assume
that this is the way it should be and,
indeed, this is the way it will always
be. But it isn’t.
The real estate market goes
through cycles. When you notice
that the market value of your home
has risen so much that you yourself
could no longer afford to buy the
home, you see problems in the making. Someone like you can’t buy your
home. Who can? Who will?
Though the purchase of a home
is usually based on a complex set of
emotions, the fact remains that the
property is a commodity. Just like a
car whose design makes you imagine
feeling like king of the road as you
cruise the beach highways, a spectacular home may seem to be worth far
more than its plainer counterparts in
the neighborhood, but nothing will
erase several very basic facts about
your local real estate market. Values
in that market are interdependent.
A very crucial step in putting
your home on the market, therefore,
is to get as real as possible about your
home and the micromarket in which
you will sell it. Whether it is a Kiastyle tract home or a Porsche-style
beachhouse, you really can’t evade
the market in which your home is
selling. Your home’s market value is
primarily determined by what similar
nearby homes are selling for in today’s market, not on wild emotions.
For assistance call Gerarda Stocking
at 846-4000 or visit her website at
www.gerardastocking.com.
Gerarda Stocking is the Owner/Broker
of Stocking Realty.
Senior Support of the Tri-Valley presents
Alexandria’s
DeLovely Evening
Flowers
Flower Happy Hour at Alexandria's
Enjoy a Fresh Summer Bouquet for $15 (reg. $25)
BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME WITH FRESH FLOWERS
484-1149 UÊÎäÎÇÊÊ«Þ>À`Ê,>`]Ê-ÕÌiÊ
D|{Dy©cC\OCKBiwGFCI
SMOG INSPECTION
cial
Spe
$45
with
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Harry’s Auto Repair
Music from the Rip-Roaring 20’s and Art Deco 30’s, featuring the scat singing
and period style of the internationally-acclaimed trio The Jesters
Saturday, September 27, 2008 — 8:00 p.m.
Amador Theater
1155 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton
$50 per person
Tickets at: Amador Theater Box Office
10 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday-Friday
925-931-3444
www.civicartstickets.org
Test and Repair
925-462-3237
We can smog any vehicle!
s4EST/NLY
s'ROSS0OLLUTERS
s#HANGEOF/WNERSHIP
s"IANNUAL
No Appointments Necessary!
Mon-Fri 8-4pm
Proceeds benefit Senior Support of the Tri-Valley. The group’s mission is to:
s&OSTER)NDEPENDENCEs0ROMOTE3AFETYAND7ELL"EINGs0RESERVE$IGNITYs)MPROVE1UALITYOF,IFE
183-A Wyoming St., Pleasanton
To become an event sponsor or for more information, call 925-931-5387.
— Gold Shield Station —
The Best In Furniture...The Lowest In Prices.
Beautiful Designer furniture at consignment prices.
Danville
1901 Camino Ramon
925 866 6164
Mt. View
141 El Camino Real
650 964 7212
San Rafael
863 East Francisco
415 456 2765
San Mateo
1888 South Norfork
650 577 8979
Saratoga
600 El Paseo de Saratoga
408 871 8890
Additional locations in Yorba Linda, Laguna Niguel, Las Vegas, Folsom, Foothill Ranch, Roseville, Newport Beach, and Austin
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