Pleasanton Weekly November 27, 2015 by Pleasanton Weekly

Pleasanton Weekly VOL. XVI, NUMBER 44 • NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Holiday Fund underway Page 14 WWW.PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM

! e r e h It’sBlack Friday givesyyoouudtrhoep til ' p o h s o t chance

Page 12

5 NEWS

Zone 7 general manager granted 15% raise

9 HOLIDAY STARS Seasonal entertainment favorites 18 SPORTS Foothill football set for semis showdown

William Doerlich San Ramon | Arts & Culture

Ellen Aguirre Pleasanton | Community Spirit

Joshua Burger Pleasanton | Courage

Pleasanton Youth Commission Pleasanton | Environmental Stewardship

Dan and Rosalie Gallagher Dublin | Innovation

Christina Adams Danville | Rising Star

Arlie Smith San Ramon | Role Model

Tony Macchiano Pleasanton | Lifetime Achievement

Congratulations to our

TRI VALLEY HEROES who stand for excellence

Gary E.D. Alt, AIF*, CFP Kenneth B. Petersen, CFP*, EA, MBA, AIFA Steve C. Merrell, AIF*, CFP, MBA Cristofer A. Cabanillas, AIF*, CFP

MontereyPrivateWealth.com Page 2 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rob Cain, chief executive of Adept Technologies in Pleasanton, and Realtor Jennifer Haus in front of Eiffel Tower in Paris the day before terrorist attacks.

hen Pleasanton Realtor Jennifer Haus got off her Delta flight in Los Angeles at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, she found 23 urgent messages on her cellphone, and with good reason. In the hours she was on the plane after leaving Paris that morning at 9 a.m. (Paris time), the city had been attacked by terrorists in multiple locations, leaving at least 130 dead and many more injured. Just the night before, she had spent her last evening in Paris with friends, enjoying the final hours of her European trip at a sidewalk cafe not far from where the attacks occurred. She described her trip as “fantastic,” seeing the Eiffel Tower, walking the cobblestone streets and having cappuccinos every afternoon sitting outside at the local cafes. “So beautiful and such memories made,” she said. She had texted her three children and others that her Lufthansa flight the next day might be canceled because of a workers’ strike so she might not be back home as scheduled. That was the last anyone heard from her because Lufthansa found an alternate flight Friday morning and rushed her to the Delta gate. Although the Delta flight followed a circuitous route through London and then Los Angeles before getting her to San Francisco and home to Pleasanton, she had no time to send that message to anyone before leaving Paris. Even though Jennifer was tempted to take advantage of Lufthansa’s offer to spend another day or two in Paris, her daughter Raegan, a freshman at Amador Valley High, was performing in a play Saturday and she wanted to be there. “Thank God for that play and that I chose to be there for it got us home safely on Friday evening just hours after the tragic mess in Paris,” she said. The cellphone texts and countless Facebook messages on the L.A. tarmac provided the first word of the Paris attacks. There was no announcement on the plane, probably intentional so that passengers would not become afraid. She quickly replied to her three children, her mother, others in the

family and friends with her heart filled with gratitude that she had caught that Delta flight and not waited for a direct red-eye flight to San Francisco later Friday night or decided to stay another day. If she had, Jennifer said, she most likely would have been there for days because the French government closed the airport and borders as soon as the attacks began. Jennifer Haus’ comments follow: “We had been very close to where some of the attacks took place, sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful city. In the wake of tragedies like the Paris attacks, it’s natural to feel somewhat hopeless about the tumultuous state of the world. What happened in Paris was shocking and heartbreaking. Far too many innocent lives were taken by a vicious group of cowardly individuals and a beautiful city adored by people around the world was shaken to its core. What good can come of any of this? “As I woke up Saturday morning back in California with rain coming down most of the day, and then saw my daughter’s play Saturday evening and then laughed with friends Sunday evening, these were the things that really mattered and I was so thankful I had chosen to catch the longer flight home. “Sure, there would be other plays, but this was her first high school performance. I hugged her tighter that night and smiled bigger when I saw the sunshine and rain and enjoyed friends more and remembered what really matters. Go into this week and holiday season allowing this tragedy to affect you in a positive way in your families and with your friends and take the time to really remember what is important and never take our precious relationships and people in our lives for granted. In the end, that is all that really matters.” Jennifer Haus has been in real estate for the last 11 years and is team leader at Keller-Williams Tri-Valley Realty. Besides Raegan, she has another daughter Savannah, a freshman at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, and a son Christian, a sophomore at San Diego State University. Q

About the Cover Today is Black Friday, traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year and a day when shoppers look for the best buys during the holidays. Photo courtesy of Stoneridge Shopping Center. Cover design by Kristin Brown. Vol. XVI, Number 44

Help Improve Walking and Biking in Pleasanton! The City of Pleasanton is in the process of updating its Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The update will focus on improving biking and walking citywide for people of all ages and abilities. The Plan update process will consist of three workshops at which City staff will share information and the public will have the opportunity to provide input on the Plan update.

Workshop #1 Tuesday, December 8, 2015 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Pleasanton Library Conference Room 400 Old Bernal Avenue Join your neighbors, colleagues, and friends to share ideas and discuss strategies to: • • •

Improve safety and comfort for walking and biking Address gaps in the walking, biking, and trail networks Prioritize key walking and biking improvements

The 2010 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan is available on the City’s website at www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/PedBikeMasterPlan

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Matt Nelson, Associate Traffic Engineer, by phone at (925) 931-5671 or by email at manelson@cityofpleasantonca.gov

Support Pleasanton Weekly’s coverage of our community. Join today: SupportLocalJournalism.org/Pleasanton Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 3

Streetwise

Send us your photos with Santa

’Tis the season

of sharing Are your children (or fur-kids) visiting Santa Claus this year?

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Jason Campbell Wine sales When I’m in a bad mood, the quickest way to turn it around is to go out running. When I do that, whatever is bothering me is behind me and can’t catch me. It’s in the past. So once I’m finished with my run, I’m feeling good again.

Alan MacFarlane Sales I like to go to the beach. The combination of the fresh sea air, the sunshine, the crashing waves and the sand on my feet is always more than enough to undo a bad mood and get me feeling great again.

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News, sports and local hot picks Deadline to receive photos is

Dec. 11 Send your photos to dciardelli@pleasantonweekly.com with “Santa photo” in the subject line by Dec. 11 for Dec. 25 publication. Photos should be JPEG format and at least 500K.

Please include names of the children in the photo, the names of the parents, where you ran into Santa, where you live, where the children attend school, and anything else you think might be interesting in the caption.

The local news you care about is one click away. Receive information on what’s happening in your community by email every day. Sign up today at PleasantonWeekly.com

Page 4 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

Lynne MacFarlane Account manager What always works for me is to go outdoors for a nice, really long walk, and also to do some yoga. The combination of those two activities really clears my mind, recalibrates my mood and helps me to see things in a positive light again.

Dave Stelchek Butcher First I take a lot of deep breaths and count to five. I also find that listening to other people’s problems, especially at work, is helpful because they feel better being able to air their grievances and talk about what’s bugging them. Knowing that I’m helping others to feel better is helpful to me in making my own bad mood pass more quickly.

Barbara Mostardi Optometrist I take a lot of deep breaths, and then I take a nap. I always wake up feeling better, because usually, if I’m in a bad mood, it’s because I am over-tired. Things get on my nerves more when I’m tired, so once I’ve gotten some much-needed sleep, I wake up feeling good again. —Compiled by Nancy and Jenny Lyness Have a Streetwise question? Email editor@PleasantonWeekly.com The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rate, USPS 020407. The Weekly is mailed upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton. Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100 for two years. Go toPleasantonWeekly.com to sign up and for more information. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. ©2015 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Newsfront DIGEST

Zone 7 general manager granted 15% raise

Growing the future Local leaders are joining together on Tuesday in Dublin for a panel discussion about the importance of developing a strong civic learning and community involvement curriculum for California’s K-12 students. Panelists are set to include State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon), superintendent Michael Chen, Ed.D., of Valley Christian Schools, Dublin Mayor David Haubert, former San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson, Marilyn Lucey of the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs and principal Jamie Westgate of San Ramon Valley Christian Academy. The event is set to run from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Worship and Performing Arts Center at Valley Christian Schools, 7500 Inspiration Drive in Dublin. For more info, call 790-2718 or email carrie@amfmediagroup.com.

Regional water wholesaler’s board votes 4-2 to approve pay bump

BY MEREDITH BAUER

one 7 Water Agency’s general manager has been granted a 15% salary increase by the agency’s Board of Directors. Jill Duerig will now be paid an annual base salary of $275,941.12, a raise of just under $36,000. Her total yearly compensation, including benefits and retirement, is now estimated at $381,941, according to Zone 7. The agency’s board approved the pay bump in a 4-2 vote last week, with board members Angela Ramirez Holmes and Dick Quigley dissenting and Jim McGrail absent. Duerig, who was named general

manager in December 2006, said her salary was kept mostly steady — other than inflationary increases — after the recession hit the water agency, and the new increase represents years of regular raises that did not occur. “The board maintained my salary at well below the average to save money during the financial crisis,” she said in an email interview. “With the adjustment, I will be only slightly below the average. The community saved a lot of money over the last five years because of these decisions.” She added: “This is the first major ‘equity adjustment’ the board has

given me, although I have received inflationary adjustments to match those provided to the bargaining units under multi-year contracts, the most a 3% across-the-board for all Zone 7 staff effective July 1 of this year. Equity adjustments are those for specific classifications that have fallen well below the mean of other Bay Area Agencies so that we don’t start losing critical staff to other agencies.” Still, Ramirez Holmes said increasing Duerig’s salary by 15% seemed excessive given the financial difficulties the agency had just stressed during its recent rate increase. “Last month, we heard a lot about

Usher in the season

Coat drive

“Elf, Jr.,” based on the holiday movie comedy “Elf,” is coming to the Amador Theater stage next month thanks to a partnership between the city of Pleasanton’s Civic Arts Stage Company and the Bay Area Children’s Theatre Company. For more details about the show and other local holiday performances, check out our “Holiday Stars” section, beginning on page 9.

The Tri-Valley Evening Rotary Club has started its annual drive to collect new or gently used coats for in-need children ages 2-16. Coat drive collection will run through Dec. 7, with distribution set for Dec. 19. People can drop off coats in boxes at ClubSport Pleasanton (7090 Johnson Drive), Hairlights Salon (4307 Valley Ave.) and Gene Morgan Insurance Agency (2020 Fourth St. in Livermore). For more info, email info@ trivalleyrotary.org or visit www. trivalleyrotary.org. COURTESY OF CITY OF PLEASANTON

Food assistance The Assistance League of Amador Valley has a new program aiming to serve good, healthy meals to local families in need. Each month, the league receives a list of needed food items from the Tri-Valley Haven Food Pantry, and then league members purchase and deliver the food to the Haven, which in turn distributes the food to needy families and individuals. The Food Pantry serves approximately 2,000 individuals, about 600 families each month, and its distribution of food has increased by 30% during the last four months. The league’s effort is one part of a network of contributions coming from businesses, groups, and individuals. The Assistance League of Amador Valley is a nonprofit consisting of 90 volunteer women who are dedicated and highly motivated to support the betterment of local communities. They dedicate 6,500 volunteer hours each year through programs that touch the lives of more than 3,000 people. Q

Little leagues merge American, National join to form new Pleasanton Little League BY JEREMY WALSH

Pleasanton American Little League and Pleasanton National Little League have combined efforts to create a new, joint Pleasanton Little League starting in the upcoming season. The decision, announced this month and approved by Little League International, occurred because of Pleasanton American’s desire for a long-term solution to address its declining registration, and the move is unrelated to the embezzlement scandal that struck that league earlier this year, according to Mike Paden, president of the Pleasanton Little League. “Basically you have the two oldest leagues in the city of Pleasanton joining together ... to build a stronger, more competitive league for the boys and girls,” Paden said Tuesday. The new league includes all prior boundaries of Pleasanton American and Pleasanton National, according

to Paden. The city’s third league, Pleasanton Foothill Little League, remains intact and unchanged. Officials hope the combined effort will create more competition and help build a better foundation of baseball skills for the boys and girls, and in turn keep their interest in Little League baseball rather than other sports or travel baseball leagues. “We wanted a stronger, better experience for our kids and we don’t want to keep losing kids (to travel ball or other sports),” the Pleasanton American board said in a statement. As for its support of the merger, the Pleasanton National board said, “We’re ambassadors of baseball for all kids, not just those within our boundaries. We have an obligation to help make the Little League baseball experience a positive and fulfilling one for every child.” Paden said Pleasanton American had explored merging with the other

leagues for the past several years, including negotiations to potentially join with Pleasanton Foothill. “A formula to bring the three leagues down to two had been in the works for a number of years,” he said. “It’s not about what happened with the American president,” he added, referring to the February arrest of former Pleasanton American president Jeremy Lee Cardera for felony embezzlement after police said he stole more than $20,000 from the league’s accounts, using some of the money to pay for a family trip to Southern California. Pleasanton American was repaid the misappropriated funds, according to league officials. Registration is underway for the new Pleasanton Little League, available online at pleasantonnational. org. Kids in the Pleasanton Foothill boundaries can also sign up for their league, online at pfllonline. org. Q

how we’re headed off the fiscal cliff,” she said in a follow-up interview. “And just the next month, there’s a 15% increase for the general manager. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense.” A regional water wholesaler, Zone 7 raised its wholesale rate by roughly 33% at its October meeting, citing fiscal hardship brought upon by a historic unwillingness to raise rates, a large buildup of capital improvement projects that require imminent funding and reduced revenue due to drought conservation. Rates increased from $2.36 per See ZONE 7 on Page 7

Holiday parade set next weekend Still time to sign up to be part of city’s most festive event BY PLEASANTON WEEKLY STAFF

Pleasanton’s Hometown Holiday celebration, the city’s most festive event, starts at 5 p.m. next Saturday, Dec. 5, featuring music, floats, colorfully dressed marching groups and, of course, Santa himself. Mayor Jerry Thorne will light the city’s Holiday Tree in front of the Museum on Main at the end of the parade. Amador Valley High School’s marching band will lead the parade with Foothill High’s band providing festive Christmas music midway through the event. Hundreds of holiday-inspired participants will include the renowned Balloon Platoon, scouting and church groups, hot rod car clubs, dancing troupes and much more. A horse-drawn carriage will transport Thorne and the City Council. We’ll be there, too, with Pleasanton Weekly’s publisher Gina Channell-Allen and Editor Jeb Bing waving from an open-top convertible and urging the crowds to donate to this year’s Holiday Fund. After the parade, the Jukebox Heroes will join Santa and the City Council on stage near the Pleasanton Arch for holiday music. Then Thorne will pull the giant switch to light the tree. A traffic reminder: Main Street will close to vehicular traffic beginning at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 5. But many stores and all restaurants will be open, with early diners able to See PARADE on Page 7

Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 5

;OL *P[` *V\UJPS TLL[PUN VM 5V] ^HZ M\SS VM Z\YWYPZLZ (U V]LYÅV^ crowd of more than 200 attended to hear and participate in Greenbriar’s application to build 50 mansions on the Lund Ranch Property (Lund II) and connect the development exclusively into the Mission Hills Park area. The park is home to Pleasanton’s famous “BIG SLIDE” which is an attraction enjoyed by residents and visitors for almost 25 years. The City has determined the development would add 550 cartrips EACH +(@ [V [OL WHYR HYLH (U HYLH HSYLHK` Z\IQLJ[LK [V ZPNUPÄJHU[ [YHɉJ (SS 550 cars would pass the park. For years, this neighborhood has been a “short-cut” for those wishing to avoid the Sunol/1st/ Bernal intersection. An intersection which the City has determined has a Level Of Service (LOS) rating of “F” The Pleasanton Planning Commission, after a workshop and 2 hearings, voted 4-1 to allow 50 homes, but that no road connection would be allowed into the park area. The Planning Commission directed that the road connection to this development would be to Sunset Creek Lane in the Sycamore Heights development. The plan for 25 years has been for development of Lund II to connect to Sunset Creek Lane, with no connection to the park area (Independence Dr). The City currently ownes the land necessary to make the road connection from Sunset Creek Lane to the Lund II development. The Mayor set the tone early in the meeting after Kelly Cox, whose family is a local, small business owner spoke in opposition to the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone. At the conclusion of her speech, she received resounding applause from the crowd. Thorne, looking to quickly gain control, pounded his gavel numerous times and stated he would allow no such reactions from the crowd –Positive or Negative- during the meeting. The crowd honored the Mayor’s request and remained respectful throughout the long meeting. DEVELOPER TO CITY: APPROVE 50 OR WE’LL SUE! The 1st surprise occurred before the meeting even started. One day before the meeting, an item was added via a supplemental agenda action from the City Attorney. The City Attorney provided a copy of a letter from Greenbriar’s legal team requesting approval of 50 units, or risk a legal action. The next surprise was Councilman Pentin voluntarily recusing himself. Pentin had been cleared by the City Attorney as well as the FPPC. However, during the public comments, two people from Sycamore Heights requested that Pentin recuse himself, questioning his ability to be objective living so close to the proposed development. Pentin, who has served the Community for 20 years stated that no one has ever questioned his integrity. He stated that once one is being accused, that the person must then be guilty of something. Pentin stated that the decision made by the Council should be above reproach. He then gathered his items and left the chambers. (SZV Z\YWYPZPUN ^HZ [OL JOHUNLZ [V [OL YPKNLSPULZ ;OL *P[` Z[HɈ WYLZLU[LK H UL^ HS[LYUH[L PU[LYWYL[H[PVU ZOV^PUN ZPNUPÄJHU[ L_[LUZPVUZ VM the ridgelines. The location and position of the ridgelines is an extremely important factor since no development can occur within 100’ of the ridgeline as directed by the 2008 voter approved initiative: Measure PP. If the ridgelines are extended, the land proposed for the development is less than 100’, rending the property un-developable. The maximum development HZ KLÄULK I` 4LHZ\YL 77 ^V\SK IL OVTLZ VU [OL HJYL WHYJLS (U analysis prepared by the City in advance of Measure PP stated that only 5 units could be developed if Measure PP passed. Mayor Thorne, polled the crowd asking how many want a 10 unit development on the land? The response, by a show of hands was that 80% of the audience want a 10 unit development. A small group of homeowners, who KPK UV[ YHPZL [OLPY OHUK KPK UV[ [OPUR [OL X\LZ[PVU ^HZ ZWLJPÄJ LUV\NO Those homeowners want both Measure PP (10 units) and the “BONDE AGREEMENT” enforced by the current City Council. The BONDE AGREEMENT was facilitated by Mayor Ken Mercer, and approved by the City Council on May 21, 1991. That agreement is now been called into question. Find out more about the BONDE AGREEMENT at www.LUNDRANCH2.com Councilmember Brown appears to be the only member of the Council who at this time has the position that both Measure PP and the BONDE AGREEMENT should apply to this property. Her motion failed to be seconded and died. COUNCIL IGNORES VOTERS, SIDES WITH DEVELOPER APPROVES 50 HOMES Councilmember Olson stated that to be fair to the developer, the Council should approve the application for 50 homes. Olson made the motion for a 50 home development which was quickly seconded and approved by a vote of 3-1. Councilmember Karla Brown was the only vote opposing the 50 home development. IS A PUBLIC ROAD A PRIVATE STRUCURE? Olson sides with Brown, Mayor adamant that a road is not a structure. Former Council Members, and architects of Measure PP; Kay Ayala and Steve Brozosky publicly stated their support of Mayor Thorn’s position that roads were never intended to be structures in the Measure PP initiative.

NEWSFRONT

Zone 7 gains official control over well permitting, fee collection in region Long-waived fees to be charged for new well projects BY MEREDITH BAUER

With groundwater protection becoming an increasingly important issue, the Zone 7 Water Agency officially adopted a new county rule that gives the agency authority over permitting for new well drilling, maintenance and other situations. In effect, the change means residents, businesses and municipalities that want to dig new wells, get them fixed or do other work will have to pay for the permits to do so. Zone 7 has been taking care of permitting under the direction of the Alameda County Public Works Agency since 1973. While the county allowed for fee collection related to the permits and even set up a fee schedule for each permit, Zone 7 had long waived the county fees associated with those permits. Alameda County Public Works Agency passed an updated county ordinance in March that gives Zone 7 regulatory authority on paper, so Zone 7 will now be able to collect the fees associated with the permits it issues, starting Jan. 1. Zone 7 approved a resolution acknowledging their new powers and directing staff to collect the appropriate fees at a board meeting last week.

Zone 7 monitors more than 200 groundwater wells in the Tri-Valley. Permits to build, rehabilitate or destroy wells for water supply, water monitoring and other specified uses cost $397 per site. Permits for exploratory holes for contamination studies, environmental studies and geotechnical studies, as well as construction or destruction of vapor monitoring wells, cost $265 per site. Permits for construction or destruction of remediation systems, such as vapor probes, recharge wells or other specified systems, cost $265 per site. Alameda County Public Works Agency decides how much the fees for each type of permit costs. That money will go into Zone 7’s Fund 100, which is used for regular maintenance, staff salaries and other day-to-day expenses. Zone 7 was put in charge of groundwater management, including well permitting, in the 1970s when regional officials realized the

County’s unemployment rate now at 4.5%, below state rate of 5.8% State gains 2.1 million jobs since economic recovery began in February 2010 The number of workers without jobs in California decreased last month from the previous month and the number of non-farm payroll jobs increased. New data from the California Employment Development Department (EDD), based on two separate surveys, show the state’s unemployment rate decreased to 5.8% in October from 5.9% in September, while non-farm payroll jobs increased by 41,200. The number of non-farm payroll jobs added in October makes for a total gain of 2,131,800 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010, according to EDD officials.

The number of non-farm payroll jobs comes from a survey of 58,000 California businesses. The data from the survey shows that the number of non-farm payroll jobs increased in the state by 465,000, or 2.9%, from October 2014 to October 2015. In the Bay Area, Alameda County’s unemployment was 4.5% in October. In Contra Costa County, it was 4.7% and in Solano County, 5.6%. San Mateo County had the lowest number of unemployed workers at 3.2%, followed by Marin County at 3.3% and San Francisco at 3.4%. Unemployment figures are taken

It looks like Councilmember Narum will cast the deciding vote after observing the positions taken by Brown, Olson, and Thorne. Mayor Thorne admits his prior vote was a mistake after being needled by Vice-Mayor Brown, reminding him that he had in the past cast a vote stating that a road is a structure. The previous City Council last voted that a road was NOT a structure. Allen Roberts, addressing the Council stated that Measure PP, as applied to Lund II is like playing a football game where the rules and goal-line position PZ KL[LYTPULK VU [OL ÄUHS WSH` VM [OL NHTL /L YLX\LZ[LK [OH[ [OL *P[` KLÄUL RL` WYV]PZPVUZ HUK [LYTPUVSVN` VM 4LHZ\YL 77 ZV [OH[ [OL PUP[PH[P]L can be consistently applied equally to all hillside properties. He stated his disappointment that the City Council, in a closed session decided to apply Measure PP on a case-by-case basis. ;OL L]LUPUN JVUJS\KLK ^P[OV\[ HU` ÄUHS KLJPZPVU I` [OL *V\UJPS HUK ^HZ agreed to be continued to Dec 1, 2015.

Page 6 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

from a federal survey of 5,500 households throughout the state. The data from that survey reveals that the state’s unemployment rate has dropped significantly when compared to October 2014, when the rate was 7.2%, according to the EDD. Last month, there were about 1,095,000 workers without jobs in California, down by 26,000 from the previous month, and down by 271,000 when compared with October 2014. The national unemployment rate also decreased in October from the previous month, to 5%, EDD officials said. Q —Daniel Montes, Bay City News Service

Scouts give back

ALL EYES ON NARUM

Residents are requested to weigh-in with their position. Contact the City Council at citycouncil@cityofpleasantonca.gov Let them know how you feel ILMVYL [OL` [HRL H ÄUHS ]V[L www.LUNDRANCH2.com established to keep voters up to date on developments and provide a forum for civil, respectful discussion and collaboration. www.LUNDRANCH2.com Paid Advertisement

local aquifer was being sucked dry. Through the decades, the aquifer has risen from a historic low of about 190 feet below the surface to about 270 feet below the surface, representing a recovery of the underground water supply to safe levels, Zone 7 general manager Jill Duerig said. Statewide, the issue of groundwater and well management has been a topic of interest for public and private water agencies since 30-46% of the state receives its potable water from groundwater — a particularly important statistic given the lack of water coming via rain and snow over the years-long drought. Zone 7 monitored 237 groundwater wells as of the latest count in September 2014, according to the Zone 7 Groundwater Management Program Annual Report. Some are owned by municipalities, some are owned and operated by Zone 7 and some are run by residents or businesses. Q

COURTESY TIM TOTAH

Cub Scout Pack 944 gave “thanks” this holiday season by using some proceeds from popcorn sales to create care packages for homeless individuals. The scout pack, based at Fairlands Elementary School, joined Girl Scout Troops 30058 and 30980 to send care packages through the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team. “The boys ... learned that serving people with needs is a wonderful way of showing gratitude for all they have in their lives,” said Tim Totah, whose son is in Cub Scout Pack 944.

NEWSFRONT

Comedian discusses life story, identity at AVHS ‘No one has the right to define you but you,’ he tells students Brian Copeland, a San Leandrobased comedian and author, took the stage at Amador Valley High last week to discuss race, inequality and how to deal with being different. In a talk held at the school’s multipurpose room, Copeland recounted his childhood years in a community that was nearly all white in the 1970s due to “white flight” from San Francisco. He urged students in Pleasanton to take a lesson from the mistakes of the Bay Area’s past and remember that “no one has the right to define you but you.” About 200 students from classes and clubs related to social justice, equal rights and ethics attended the Nov. 19 talk, which was a mix of deep, personal stories and light humor. “At some point in your life,” Copeland told Amador Valley students, “you will be the only one. The only man, the only woman. The only Christian. The only Jew.” How you navigate that challenge, he said, will be a testament to your character and your strength. He challenged students to determine their own identity — and to allow other students the same right. “My biggest take away point from Mr. Copeland’s speech is that only you can define yourself,” sophomore Nicole Zhang said. “Mr. Copeland emphasized several times that at some point in our lives, we will be the only one: the only boy in the room, the only girl, the only Christian, the only Muslim, the only Asian, the only Latino, the only one who likes country music, etc.”

“When we navigate those waters, we need to remember that only we can define ourselves. Others may try to label you, but they cannot define who you are,” Zhang added. While Pleasanton is significantly more diverse than the 1970s version of San Leandro, Copeland pointed out some people settled in Pleasanton over the past decades after moving away from communities such as San Leandro when the racial and socioeconomic makeup of those communities changed. Pleasanton is 66% white, 25% Asian, 11% Hispanic and 2% black, according to the 2013 U.S. Census report supplement. California as a whole is 62% white, 13% Asian, 37% Hispanic and 6% black. Respondents could identify as multiple races, according to the census. Copeland recounted his years encountering racism in San Leandro, where he was frequently called racial epithets and told “you don’t belong here” by residents, police and playmates alike. He said that environment inspired his first book, “Not a Genuine Black Man,” which discusses concepts of race, culture and self-determination. “I believe you have the right to live anywhere you want to live if you can afford it and if you’re going to be a good citizen,” he said. Copeland told of his mother’s determination to stay in their community, even though residents tried to force them out. He said he remembers adults would scream “the Nword” at him, even as an 8-year-old.

When asked by a student whether Muslims in America are being treated like blacks were half a century ago, Copeland said his heart goes out to residents and students who have been made to feel like outsiders. “It is definitely the most trying time to be a follower of Islam in the history of America,” he said. Copeland is the author of two books, “Not a Genuine Black Man” and “The Jewelry Box: A Memoir of Christmas,” a radio host of “The Brian Copeland Show” on KGO and a stand-up comedian. Copeland waived his speaking fee to appear at the school, according to Zhang, who assisted with organizing the event. Q —Meredith Bauer

ZONE 7

earlier this month, and a permanent successor has not yet been selected. DSRSD handles water and wastewater services for areas of the TriValley. The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) pays its general manager Alexander Coate a base annual salary of $251,346, with total compensation package of $444,977 including benefits and all other compensation. EBMUD is a water and wastewater retailer that provides services to parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Contra Costa Water District pays its general manager Jerry Brown $268,715 a year in base salary, according to his most recent contract. Contra Costa Water is a water retailer for parts of northern Contra Costa County. Deliberations on Duerig’s salary were completed in closed session and

reported out after the regular open session during the Nov. 18 meeting in Livermore. Duerig said the regular closed session meeting, which happens before open session starts at 7 p.m., ran long, so negotiations on her salary were tabled until after the board’s open session was finished. Ramirez Holmes confirmed Deurig’s salary negotiations were completed after open session. She said closed session initially began at 5:30 p.m. and because board members hadn’t gotten through all of their closed-session items by 7 p.m., they decided to vote on the salary negotiation after open session business had concluded, rather than before. The board re-entered closed session around 8:30 p.m. and concluded the meeting about 15 to 20 minutes later, she said. Q

terested in participating. There is no fee to register, with the only requirement that entrants have a theme that is consistent with the winter holidays. Groups can participate on a float, in individual autos, as walking groups or with animal entries. All float entries must be safe for passengers and spectators and are limited to a height that does

not exceed 14 feet. Those interested in participating in the parade or volunteering to help city staff can register at www.HometownHoliday.com. For more information, contact event administrator Michelle Dunaway at 931-5352 or email her at HometownHoliday@ CityofPleasantonCA.gov. Q

Continued from Page 5

100 cubic feet of water (CCF) to $3.15 per CCF. Zone 7 sells potable water wholesale to four local water-service providers, including the city of Pleasanton, which in turn deliver the water to residents, businesses and other customers. Zone 7 is also responsible for flood control in the Livermore and Amador valleys. At the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), which purchases water from Zone 7, nowretired general manager Bert Michalczyk’s most recent annual base salary was $294,108, which took effect in July, according to DSRSD human resources supervisor Michelle Gallardo. Michalczyk retired

PARADE Continued from Page 5

claim outdoor tables on Main Street for comfortable viewing. Those organizations wanting to be part of the parade have until close of business Monday to sign up. There are still volunteer opportunities to help with the event. The Hometown Holiday parade is open to all individuals, groups and organizations in the community in-

COURTESY COPELAND

Brian Copeland, an East Bay author and comedian, gave a talk to Amador Valley students last week on his life growing up in San Leandro in the 1970s.

‘Those were the days ...’ William Florian, former lead singer of the ‘60s New Christy Minstrels, plus trio will take everyone on an upbeat musical journey through folk songs of that era, including the music of Peter, Paul & Mary, John Denver, Pete Seeger, and the Mamas & the Papas. The show, which also has original songs and amusing stories, begins at 2 p.m. this Sunday at the Firehouse Arts Center. Tickets are $15-$25. Go to www.ﬁrehousearts.org, call 931-4848, or purchase at the center Box Ofﬁce, 4444 Railroad Ave.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TAKE US ALONG

Goddess of Mercy: Debbie Ayres brought the Pleasanton Weekly to the World Deaf Basketball Championships in Taiwan. Between games, Debbie read the Pleasanton Weekly at the Lungshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan, established in 1738 and dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, Guan-Yin. To submit your “Take Us Along” entry, email your photograph to srhodes@ pleasantonweekly.com. Be sure to identify who is in the photo (names listed from left to right), the location, the date and any relevant details about where you took your Weekly.

Pleasanton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center “Your Independence is Our Mission”

Experience the difference at Pleasanton Nursing and Rehab Center. Our therapy programs and nursing care will help you reach your recovery goals. Come in for a tour or call (925) 462-2400. 300 Neal Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566 www.pleasantonnursing.com

Serving your community for more than 40 years. Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 7

Community Pulse POLICE BULLETIN

Tips for staying safe online, at stores on Black Friday It’s undeniable that Black Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season, but there isn’t always only goodwill and cheer behind the packages and bows. Law enforcement and security officials are reminding Pleasanton residents to use commonsense strategies to stay safe when they go out to shop or when they shop online. Pleasanton police officer Shannon Revel-Whitaker said she recommends re-parking if someone is going to take multiple trips inside a store or the mall. “Don’t load up your car for a criminal,” she said. “A deal is great, but is it worth it?” She also emphasized parking smartly — in a well-lit area that isn’t near loitering people — and remembering basic safety rules, such

as being careful while on the road. “Please make sure you have your wits w about you and you’re driving safe,” Revel-Whitaker said. “Take sa care ca of yourself.” Cyber crimes are particularly invisible crimes. To keep attackers vi from fro getting your banking information tio or from introducing malware onto your computer, use these tips from the National Cyber Security Alliance: • Keep your devices and machines up to date with security software. • Do not click on suspicious emails, Tweets or Facebook messages, and delete them if possible. • Don’t make online purchases over an unsecure network. Using a direct web access over a 3G/4G connection on your phone is safer than using an unsecure network on your computer. • Make sure the website you’re purchasing from is legitimate. Be wary of URLs that use close but incorrect spellings of popular websites. • Stick to paying with credit cards, rather than checks or direct banking information. Never send cash or a check through the mail, and don’t use money-wiring services. • Save a paper trail of receipts for all purchases, and double-check your bank statement against those receipts.

Nancy Olive Henninger April 1, 1937 – November 5, 2015 California, graduating from Oakland High. Marrying Fred Henninger. Nancy and her husband, Fred Henninger moved to Pleasanton in 1968 where they raised their four energetic kids. Fred preceded her in death in 1996 after forty years of marriage. Nancy began her working career at Saint Rose Hospital in Hayward and eventually retired from Valley Memorial Hospital in Pleasanton, making lifelong friends along the way. Best known for her keen and shrewd card playing skills, Nancy had a great sense of humor and was extremely creative with a gifted eye for decorating. Her warm home was always beautifully decorated for every holiday, with Halloween and Thanksgiving being her favorite. The loving matriarch of her family, Nancy’s kind heart and generosity touched her family and friends in so many ways, including the numerous children she shared her home with as she shepherded them through difficult times. A true friend, Nancy will be sorely missed by so many. her spirit lives on in her children, Deanne Henninger (Micheal Banchio), Kathryn Henninger, Jeffrey Henninger (Donna Henninger), Lisa Bradley (Scott Bradley); her grandchildren, Shane Henninger, Sarah Bradley, Trevor Bradley, Nicole Henninger and Chase Bradley, and her very close nieces and nephews. “I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history. I believe that dreams are more powerful than facts. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the only cure for grief. And I believe that love is stronger than death.” A Celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Center for Independent Living, 3075 Adeline Street, Suite 100, Berkeley, CA 94703 or www.cilberkeley.org or a charity of your choice. PAID

Page 8 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

OBITUARY

As for shopping in person, theft from cars is among the most common crimes in Pleasanton. Avoid leaving valuables in your car while you shop, and don’t transfer items to your trunk while in the store parking lot in case a would-be thief is casing the parking lot — do so before you leave your house. Do shopping in several trips to avoid having too many packages to handle, or ask a friend or store employee to help you carry all your items to the car in one trip. By putting packages in a car trunk and going back into the mall, you may return to find the trunk open and the items stolen, according to the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Wait until asked to take out your credit card or check when at the register if there is someone close enough to see over your shoulder. Thieves can memorize your credit card number if it’s out too long, according to the NCPC. Deter pickpockets by carrying your purse close to your body, have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle and check the backseat of your car before getting inside. If you are shopping with children, have a plan in case you get separated. Select a central meeting place, such as a large landmark inside the store that they should wait by if they get lost, and alert mall security to help you find your children. In other police news: • Police are searching for four men who allegedly jumped a man outside Redcoats Pub & Restaurant. Pleasanton police were alerted at 10:49 p.m. on Saturday of a fight between four men and another man in the restaurant parking lot. When

COURTESY OF PPD

Police say they’re looking for this woman, who was seen on security footage taking jewelry from the Stoneridge Shopping Center Brighton store in October without paying. The photo is a still image pulled from in-store video surveillance released by investigators on the PPD Facebook page.

police arrived, they found the man had been beaten up but was otherwise OK. The man told police he was dancing with a woman inside the restaurant and got into a fight with another man about it. He decided to leave, and four unidentified men came up to him in the parking lot. When he tried to leave, police stated, the men jumped him. The man who was attacked had injuries to his face and head, including cuts around his eyes and ears and a large cut on the side of his head. He declined medical attention, telling police he just wanted to go home, police stated. No arrests had been made as of Monday, and no suspect information was available. • Pleasanton police are searching for a woman who was spotted on a store’s security footage stealing

several pieces of jewelry. Pleasanton police posted security footage on social media late last week of an alleged shoplifting incident from Brighton inside the Stoneridge Shopping Center on Oct. 11. The footage shows a woman walk into the store around 2 p.m. and inspect some bracelets and necklaces before taking a few and putting them in her purse. She is described by police as a white or Hispanic female in her 50s with short, thinning hair. She was wearing a long-sleeved lavender shirt with jewels imprinted on the fabric, black pants and black framed glasses with crystals on them. Police stated she may go by the name Marie or Maria. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Pleasanton Police Det. Mark Gwin at 931-5100. Q —Meredith Bauer

POLICE REPORT The Pleasanton Police Department made the following information available.

Nov. 20 Theft Q 9:10 a.m., 11900 block of Dublin Canyon Road; theft from auto Q 9:39 a.m., 8000 block of Mountain View Drive; theft from auto Q 10:31 a.m., 6300 block of West Las Positas Boulevard; theft Q 1:58 p.m., 5100 block of Mount Tam Circle; theft from structure Q 9:03 p.m., 7000 block of Johnson Drive; theft from auto Q 10:31 p.m., 7600 block of Chestnut Way; auto theft Burglary Q 4:35 a.m. in the 5500 block of Springhouse Drive

Nov. 19 Assault Q 9:44 p.m. in the 5400 block of San Jose Drive Theft Q 8:57 a.m., 5600 block of Owens Drive; theft from auto Q 9:18 a.m., 4800 block of Hopyard Road; theft from auto Q 1:47 p.m., 5700 block of Owens Drive; bike theft

6:38 p.m., 5800 block of Owens Drive; bike theft Q 7:23 p.m., 5400 block of Sunol Boulevard; shoplifting Q 7:42 p.m., Stoneridge Mall; shoplifting Q 9:04 p.m., 4500 block of Rosewood Drive; shoplifting Fraud Q 1:54 p.m. in the 1100 block of Hopkins Way Q 10:08 a.m. in the 9500 block of MacDonald Court Q

Nov. 18 Residential burglary Q 6:50 p.m. in the 4600 block of Mohr Avenue Fraud Q 3 p.m. in the 7400 block of Hillview Court Theft from auto Q 8:51 a.m. in the 6700 block of Bernal Avenue Q 11:01 a.m. in the 6400 block of Owens Drive Q 2:50 p.m. in the 300 block of Mission Drive

Nov. 17 Domestic battery Q 10:53 p.m. on Vineyard Avenue

Residential burglary 7:31 p.m. in the 7400 block of Stonedale Drive Assault Q 1:26 p.m. in the 5100 block of Hopyard Road Fraud Q 11:01 a.m. in the 4400 block of Hacienda Drive Q

Nov. 16 Commercial burglary Q 2:37 a.m. in the 5600 block of Stoneridge Drive Assault Q 12:21 a.m. in the 1800 block of Santa Rita Road

Nov. 15 Theft Q 1:02 p.m., 4700 block of Hopyard Road; theft from structure Q 3:34 p.m., 4700 block of Hopyard Road; theft from auto

Nov. 14 Domestic battery Q 11:46 a.m. on Alma Court Theft Q 11:47 a.m., 300 block of Bernal Court; auto theft Q 3:34 p.m., 4700 block of Hopyard Road; theft from auto

y a d i l o H Stars ’Tis the season to enjoy

old favorites —

and new ones

A mouse (from Valley Dance Theatre’s Young Children’s Division) creeps from the shadow of Herr Drosselmeyer (Kai LaFountain) during the 2014 production of “The Nutcracker.” COURTESY OF JERWIN CHUA

BY DOLORES FOX CIARDELLI

eat up the eggnog, pass the fruitcake and slip your favorite holiday movie into the DVD player. One great thing about this time of year is those beloved films and songs, plus the live seasonal offerings — “The Nutcracker” and “Sing-It-Yourself Messiah” to name two. Valley Dance Theatre will present its annual full-length production of the “The Nutcracker,” with eight shows beginning Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St. in Livermore. Tchaikovsky’s enchanting score will be played by the Valley Dance Theatre Pit Orchestra, and some of the performances will include preperformance musical festivities by the Cantabella Children’s Chorus and Harmony Fusion Chorus. This year, a $500 grant from the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley has paid for new costumes for those eight frisky little mice. “All our costumes are built to last at least 20 years, but you can imagine that, after 23 seasons of use and lots of movement, the old mice costumes desperately needed to be replaced,” said Valley Dance Theatre founder Betsy Hausburg. “The community enables us to keep going with its donations of time and money,” she noted. “Whether it is volunteers helping to build scenery or local dignitaries making cameo appearances in shows, whether it’s Rotary providing funds for costumes or families including us in their annual giving, the entire community sustains us.” Tickets are $38, $28 for adults and $20 for students 18 years and younger. Go to www. livermoreperformingarts.org, call 373-6800, or visit the box office. On Dec. 4, Valley Concert Chorale will host its annual “Sing-it-Yourself Messiah” with the community invited to sing Handel’s choral masterpiece at 7:30 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Ave. in Livermore. The Christmas portion of “Messiah” concludes with

the powerful “Hallelujah Chorus.” “This is our 10th year of hosting the event for the community,” said Valley Concert Chorale president Bobby Jensen. “Each year the number of singers increases with well over 100 singers from around the Tri-Valley and beyond. It’s great being able to offer this musical experience to the area, complete with professional soloists and accompaniment by our internationally known concert pianist Daniel Glover.” Singers are encouraged to bring their own copy of “Messiah,” though there will be some available. People can also attend who wish to just listen. Tickets are $10. A week later, Valley Concert Chorale will present its “Annual Holiday Concerts” of sacred and popular holiday songs, which also include an audience carol sing-a-long. “At our annual December holiday concerts, you’ll experience the spirit of the Christmas season with our theme ‘There is Sweet Music Here,’” said conductor John Emory Bush. “This text comes from the great Tennyson poem of the same title and set to music by the renowned Canadian composer Stephen Chatman.” The concerts take place at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church, 2020 Fifth St. in Livermore; and at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13, at Lynnewood United Methodist Church, 4444 Black Ave. in Pleasanton. “We include the opening and closing movements of Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘Christmas Oratorio,’ a jubilant chorus and triumphant chorale,” Bush said. Board president Jensen said the audience sing-along has proved to be popular over the years. “It’s obvious that the audience is getting in the spirit of the season as we sing the carols,” Jensen said. “You can see it in their faces, and it makes the experience extra special for us singers.” Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. High school and college students are $10, and children are free. For the Valley Concert Chorale performanc-

es, telephone 866-4003 or visit www.valleyconcertchorale.org. This year the Livermore-Amador Symphony, directed by Lara Webber, will present “Symphony Storytime & Surprises: A Free Family Concert” at 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Bankhead Theater. The 50-minute concert will feature Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” with Livermore Mayor John Marchand narrating. This children’s favorite was written by Prokofiev at the invitation of the Moscow Children’s Theater in 1936; it has different instruments representing characters in the musical fairytale of brave Peter who, with his animal companions, confronts a wolf. The program will include holiday favorites with Cantabella Children’s Chorus, directed by Ofer dal Lal. Afterward, an Instrument Petting Zoo will be in the lobby for children to interact with the instruments and meet symphony and chorus members. The performance will be completed in time for families to attend the Livermore Holiday Parade. The concert is free, underwritten by Shea Homes’ donation of $5,000 with support from the Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, but tickets are required. Call 373-6800 or visit www.livermoreamadorsymphony.org. The Livermore-Amador Symphony will also perform “Peter and the Wolf” in the opening concert of its 53rd season, “Symphonic Stories,” at 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, also at the Bankhead. The concert will include other music inspired by fairy tales and childhood stories, including the prelude to Humperdinck’s opera

“Hansel and Gretel,” Ravel’s “Mother Goose” Suite, and Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty.” The Ravel suite has five movements: “Sleeping Beauty,” “Tom Thumb,” “Empress of the Pagodas,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Enchanted Garden.” “Each movement of Ravel’s ‘Mother Goose’ Suite is a perfect gem, each one a unique and marvelous story,” said conductor Lara Webber. The third-annual Holiday Youth Music Festival, a fun holiday-themed afternoon for the whole family, begins at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Firehouse Arts Center. More than a dozen young local musicians, from middle school through high school, will present performances with classic holiday storylines. Student tickets are $5; adults, $10. Tomorrow evening, Australia’s Ten Tenors will perform “Home for the Holidays” with “Joy to the World,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Feliz Navidad” and other holiday favorites, at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Bankhead Theater. The venue also has these holiday offerings: Q “Christmas with the Celts” at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, featuring the renowned Irish group, The Celts, the Gael String Orchestra and skilled Irish singers and dancers, combining Irish and Scottish Christmas carols dating back to the 12th century, with modern drum beats and pop vocal styles. Q “Navidad en Mexico,” Ballet Folklórico Mexicano sharing the holiday joys of the Mexican culture with colorful costumes, vibrant See SHOWS on Page 10

Benefiting programs for the community

Saturday

December 5 11 am - 5 pm

Sunday

December 6 12 noon - 5 pm

Costumes Encouraged H Silent Auction H Drawings Children’s Activities H Entertainment H Live Music Refreshments H Carolers H Fiddler Brass Trio H Dancers H Players Step into Bustling Victorian England View Live Scenes from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Stroll the Streets of Old London Where Crafters Ply their Wares Quench Your Thirst at The Cat & The Fiddle Pub Enjoy a Visit from Father Christmas Sit down to High tea at 4 pm

$10/person Admission 12 & under free

$20/person High Tea Admission required

Tickets & Info: saintbartslivermore.com St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church 678 Enos Way, Livermore • (925) 447-3289 Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 9

HolidayStars Top 5 holiday movies Rotten Tomatoes doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just ask fans for their favorites. The movie review website uses a weighted formula, factoring in a movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tomatometer score, the number of reviews it received, and its year of release. It was hard to agree with their choices because â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Christmas Storyâ&#x20AC;? and its tale of a young boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desire for a Red Ryder B.B. gun only came in at No. 10. And Chevy Chaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas Vacationâ&#x20AC;? did not even make the Top 25. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the holidays for me unless I see Cousin Bethany recite the Pledge of Allegiance instead of grace at Christmas dinner. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Die Hard,â&#x20AC;? from 1988, came in No. 8 although being taken hostage while enjoying a company Christmas party doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify as holiday fare, in my book. But apparently there is a genre called Christmas Action Movie. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Christmas Carolâ&#x20AC;? came in No. 18, the version made in 1951, credited with being the most faithful film version of the Charles Dickens tale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trading Placesâ&#x20AC;? from 1983 was listed at No. 12, and I vaguely remember it ending on Christmas Day. It was a clever social satire, no argument, with great interplay between Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. But what about â&#x20AC;&#x153;Scroogedâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Home Aloneâ&#x20AC;?? Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the cut. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s their Top 5: No. 1: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Wonderful Life,â&#x20AC;? made in 1946 with James Stewart

and Donna Reed. Everyone loves this special movie, but does anyone else find the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-pitched monotone a little annoying when she says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.â&#x20AC;? No. 2: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Miracle on 34th Street,â&#x20AC;? made in 1947, starring Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara and Natalie Wood. I would have put it higher â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what can get you into the holiday spirit more than those huge bags of letters to Santa being delivered to the courtroom? No. 3: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Shop Around the Corner,â&#x20AC;? from 1940. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve missed this one, but Rotten Tomatoes calls it a romantic comedy in the finest sense of the term, which sounds good to me. It stars Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart, and is adapted from the Hungarian play by Nikolaus Laszlo. No. 4: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holiday Inn,â&#x20AC;? from 1942. This is definitely a season classic, with Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin. It introduced the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;White Christmas,â&#x20AC;? which we in the Bay Area can enjoy since we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to live with snow. No. 5: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stalag 17,â&#x20AC;? made in 1953, starring William Holden and Peter Graves. I had no idea a movie about a German POW camp was perfect for the holidays. It climaxes on Christmas Day â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but still. But guess I should see it before I judge. Q â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Top 10 holiday books This list was compiled by www. goodreads.com; with input from its readers; the list ran to 330 but we have gleaned the Top 10. My personal Top 10 would have included the tales of Rudolph and Frosty, but on Goodreads they came in 14 and 24, respectively. 1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Christmas Carolâ&#x20AC;? by Charles Dickens 2. â&#x20AC;&#x153;How the Grinch Stole Christmas!â&#x20AC;? by Dr. Seuss 3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Night Before Christmasâ&#x20AC;? by Clement C. Moore 4. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Polar Expressâ&#x20AC;? by Chris Van Allsburg 5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Gift of the Magiâ&#x20AC;? by O. Henry 6. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Little Womenâ&#x20AC;? by Louisa May Alcott 7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skipping Christmasâ&#x20AC;? by John Grisham 8. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Best Christmas Pageant Everâ&#x20AC;? by Barbara Robinson 9. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A World of Joyâ&#x20AC;? by Christopher Shields 10. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Little Match Girlâ&#x20AC;? by Hans Christian Andersen Q â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Dolores Fox Ciardelli

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Valley Concert Chorale will perform a special holiday program Dec. 12-13 as well as lead the community is singing â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Messiahâ&#x20AC;? on Dec. 4.

SHOWS Continued from Page 9

music and traditional dancing at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;The annual Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve Celebration with Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings joined by special guest Carlos Reyes for an evening of original blues-infused music, followed by a reception in the lobby. The show begins at 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31. At the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton, the Pleasanton Community Band will give its annual free Holiday Show from 2-3:15 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6. Other holiday entertainment at the Firehouse is as follows: Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;Holiday Shortsâ&#x20AC;? by the Creatures of Impulse Improv Troupe at 7:30

p.m., Friday, Dec. 4. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;December People: Classic Rock Christmasâ&#x20AC;? at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;Golden Follies, a Toe-Tapping Holiday Revue!â&#x20AC;? at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jeff Bordes & Friends, a Jazzy Christmasâ&#x20AC;? featuring Don Lewis at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 19. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Cash Country Christmas, Holiday Tribute to the Man in Blackâ&#x20AC;? at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 20. Q â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Big Fat Year-End Kiss Off!â&#x20AC;? starring Will Durst & Friends at 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27. Pleasantonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Civic Arts Stage Company and the Bay Area Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theatre Company will present â&#x20AC;&#x153;Elf Jr.â&#x20AC;? at the Amador Theater with evening and afternoon performances on weekends from Dec. 11-20. This funny and heart-warming classic follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Q

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* Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country during one of the busiest shopping times of the year. Founded by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Page 10 â&#x20AC;˘ November 27, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Pleasanton Weekly

Christmas Trees 30 Years Ser v ing

the Bay A rea!

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Thirteen years ago, the PLEASANTON LIBRARY partnered with Valley Humane Society to create Paws to Read, a beloved program that we know has transformed the lives of over 12,000 children. This program has allowed children of all reading abilities to acquire the confidence and skills that instill a love of reading which translates into academic success. - Sandy Silva, Assistant Director of Library Services • We, at the EAST COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, are proud to partner with Pleasanton’s Valley Humane Society. We are extremely grateful for the assistance they provide by pulling dogs and cats from our shelter with the goal of finding them a “forever” home. Thank you for all you do, Valley Humane Society! - Carol Stavert, Supervisor, Animal Control • A visit from a wonderfully calm and sweet-natured dog can make a huge difference in the day of a hospice patient. Thanks to our partnership with Valley Humane Society, Canine Comfort volunteers bring smiles and joy when entering a patient’s room. These teams must meet special training requirements for both dog and handler before they can brighten the day of a hospice patient. We’re thankful for their dedication. - Bob Boehm, HOPE HOSPICE Interim CEO • I am very pleased with our relationship with Valley Humane Society. Their volunteers provide pet therapy for the residents at the Community Living Center at the VA PALO ALTO HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, Livermore Division. The training they provide their volunteers is comprehensive and relevant to the populations they visit. Thank you Valley Humane Society volunteers for brightening the day of our American heroes. - William J. Ball, Chief, Voluntary & Hospitality Services • The PLEASANTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT appreciates the relationship we have with Valley Humane Society. Our students benefit greatly from Canine Comfort Pet Therapy visits during finals weeks and in our special education classes. It’s amazing how much a dog can have an impact on a student’s ability to learn and grow. - Jim Hansen, Interim Superintendent • HAYWARD ANIMAL SERVICES BUREAU has had the great pleasure of partnering with Valley Humane Society since 2012. As a result of this lifesaving collaboration, 301 formerly homeless Hayward animals have found new homes through [their] adoption program. They have even given a second chance to some behaviorally challenged dogs in need of training and animals in need of medical care. We value the relationship we have with them and it is easy to see how truly passionate their staff are about what they do. - Jennie Comstock, Animal Services Administrator Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 11

COVER STORY

It’s

here! Black Friday gives you chance to shop 'til you drop By Jeb Bing

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Shopper looks at colorfully decorated windows in downtown Pleasanton during “Magical Holiday Evening” last Sunday.

oday is Black Friday, traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year and a day when shoppers look for the best buys during the holidays and when retailers hope to make their most profits of the year, moving their ledger into black after months of red margins in a weak 2015. During the week, shoppers have been turning out en masse, especially at the big box stores that launched their sales early. Old Navy kicked off the holiday season with five days of sales early this month along with extended shopping hours. Costco, one of the few stores closed Thanksgiving Day, launched its sales last week with major discounts on television sets and computers. The retail chain REI went farther. It held its sales early this week and then decided to stay closed both Thanksgiving Day and today to give employees the extra day off as most of corporate America also does. At least 25 other large retailers joined Costco and REI in staying closed yesterday on Thanksgiving Day, a change from in past years. They included Staples, GameStop, T.J. Maxx, Nordstrom, Sam’s Club and Home Depot. But others opened their doors yesterday to get a jump on the competition, including Best Buy, Walmart, stores in the San Francisco Outlets and others. If sales clerks at Stoneridge Shopping Center seem a bit tired when today’s early bird special started at 6 a.m., it’s because some were at their posts Thanksgiving Day starting at 6 p.m. in shifts that just ended at 1 a.m. this morning. They’ll be there until 10 p.m. and then back from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. again tomorrow and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday as all of the mall’s 165 stores and restaurants stand ready to help customers celebrate the season. Downtown Pleasanton is also on board with its version of Black Friday. While merchants offered specials during last Sunday’s “Magical Holiday Evening,” the big celebra-

tion comes tomorrow when Pleasanton celebrates “Small Business Saturday.” The Pleasanton Downtown Association, Visit Tri-Valley, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and Hacienda are working with city officials to encourage the community to shop locally tomorrow and during the holiday season and throughout the year. Numerous organizations have joined the national campaign, founded by American Express in 2010, declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving every year as Small Business Saturday. It’s a day dedicated to supporting the small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country during one of the busiest shopping times of the year. In Pleasanton, small businesses having between 1 and 100 employees provide more than 23,000 jobs. According to research by American Express, consumers last year spent an estimated $14.3 billion at independent merchants on Small Business Saturday. Further, a study of independent retailers that included Pleasanton merchants showed that for every $100 spent at an independently owned store, $46 stays in the community. Shoppers are encouraged to visit inPleasanton.com as well as partner organization websites to discover all of Pleasanton’s retail shopping locations, and visit shopsmall.com to find local merchants that have joined the Small Business Saturday campaign by offering special promotions or discounts. Black Friday is not new. It started the day after Thanksgiving in the 19th century. Parades held on Thanksgiving concluded with the appearance of Santa Claus to signify that Christmas was coming. Stores would not advertise for Christmas shopping until after the Thanksgiving Day parade appearance of Santa Claus, thus making the Friday after Thanksgiving Day the official start of the holiday shopping season. In the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt

Page 12 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

changed the official Thanksgiving date from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday. This was to make sure the holiday shopping season would start a week earlier during the years when November had five Thursdays, and stores would not need to break tradition by advertising before Thanksgiving Day. Consequently, this meant that the start of the holiday shopping season would always fall on a Friday in November. While the day after Thanksgiving Day has

been the start of the holiday shopping season for many years, the day was not called “Black Friday” until around 1961 when the term originated in Philadelphia. There is speculation as to why Black Friday is called Black Friday. According to BlackFriday.fm, an online shopping service, traditionally, putting “Black” before a day of the week describes that day as an unforgettable and chaotic event. “Black Friday” creates this imagery

COURTESY OF VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY

Just in time for Black Friday is this black cat ready to stare you down in the pet adoption center at Valley Humane Society in Pleasanton.

COVER STORY

reflected by the vast amount of shoppers and traffic, which were the conditions in Philadelphia where the term originated. Black Friday could also be named as such because the retail industry operates “in the red” (at a loss) throughout the year, but then operates “in the black” (at a profit) starting on Black Friday. Not long ago, shoppers would have to cue up at retail stores before daybreak on Black Friday to shop first because of limited-time, door-buster deals that would last for as little as one hour, with stock often limited. This year, with many stores advertising “pre-Black Friday” specials and most stocking their shelves to provide adequate inventory at least through the three-day weekend, the long lines at daybreak have largely disappeared. Then, of course, there’s more to Black Friday than “black” or “Friday.” Cyber Monday has become just as popular for those who increasingly shop online. Mondays after Black Fridays have become the day to log in to favorite stores and shop away on a keyboard, keeping the numbers and expiration dates of credit cards handy as well. Q

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

(Photos clockwise from upper left) Shoppers will fill up this lower level court today as Stoneridge Shopping Center opens with longer hours until Christmas Eve. The mall opened at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and closed at 1 a.m. today, before opening again at 10 a.m. Construction crews line up for last-minute assignments as San Francisco Premium Outlets make finishing changes ahead of the holiday shopping season. Gourmet Works on Main Street has new display counters and decorations for holiday shoppers. Pleasanton’s Main Street awaits crowds expected for Small Business Saturday, when merchants and restaurants will have seasonal specials.

Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 13

ach year the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund raises money to support programs and services that care for local families and children in the community. The Holiday Fund partners with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which handles all finances, so every dollar of your tax deductible donation goes directly to the 12 local nonprofits with no administrative expenses. Agape Villages Foster Family Agency locates stable homes and a loving environment for abused and neglected children throughout 14 counties in Northern California.

REACH (Resources Education Activities Community and Housing) provides education programs, resources and housing opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Axis Community Health provides services for low-income or uninsured families, including medical care for children, adults and seniors, prenatal care, mental health counseling, drugand alcohol-recovery, and nutrition.

Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation provides cancer patients with the benefit of complementary therapies to help alleviate the side effects caused by radiation and chemotherapy.

Hope Hospice provides ethical hospice care, transition services for those not quite eligible for hospice, bereavement support for adults and children, and community education. Museum on Main enriches community life through education and preservation, and provides a place where people can reminisce and engage with others on how life has changed. Open Heart Kitchen serves prepared, nutritious, hot meals every weekday free of charge to hungry people at multiple locations in Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin. Pleasanton Partnerships in Education (PPIE) Foundation raises funds to support critical educational programs for students that have been threatened by state budget cuts in the public school system.

Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley provides services for seniors over 60 to promote independence, safety and well being, preserve dignity and improve quality of life. Stanford Health at ValleyCare contributions support the Breast Cancer Patient Navigator program, helping guide patients through the treatment and follow-up process to improve a patient’s experience and quest for wellness. Sunflower Hill creates a sustainable residential community for individuals with special needs with life-long living opportunities, vocational education, and recreation programs to ensure a full and productive life. Valley Humane Society rescues and rehabilitates companion animals, champions responsible caretaking, shares pets’ soothing affections with people in need of comfort, and supports and preserves existing pet-guardian relationships.

Help those in need with the

Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund Donation by credit card: Go online at: www.siliconvalleycf.org/pleasantonweeklyholidayfund

Donation by mail: Use the form and mail to: Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund c/o Silicon Valley Community Foundation 2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300, Mountain View, California 94040 Make checks payable to: Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Enclosed is a donation of: $___________ Name: ___________________________________________________ Business Name: _____________________________________________ (Only required if business name is to be listed as donor in the paper)

Address: __________________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _________________ / __________ / _____________ Email: ____________________________________________________

2015 Holiday Fund Donors At the start of the 2015 Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund campaign, 21 donors have contributed $6,256 to the fund. This list includes donations received and reported on or before Nov. 20, 2015. Individuals Gene Johnson .......................... $100 Ajay Shah .................................... ** Sue & Jim Falls ......................... $100 Jason Stinebaugh ....................... $20 Susan Evans ............................. $100 Pat & Ron Costello ....................... ** Eric & Lainie Krieger ................. $500 Andy & Valerie Poryes .................. ** Judith Del Tredici ...................... $100 Colleen Seal ............................. $100 Kim & Ron Possehl ................... $250 Betty Kirvan ............................. $100 Raymond Szidon ........................ $50 Vince & Sarah Ciccarello .............. ** M.C. Chesnut .............................. **

Page 14 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

Businesses & Organizations ACCUSPLIT Make A Difference Programs Team ........................ $100 Alain Pinel Realtors Tim McGuire Team ................ $1,000 In Memory Of Doris Cink & Charles Glass from Vern Cink ............................ ** Morris Mote............................. $150 Walt Wood .............................. $150 Jameson Lindskog from Candace Lindskog ............... ** Karl K. Witze ........................... $500

Phone: _______________________________ I wish to designate my contribution as follows (select one): T In my name as shown above T In the name of business above – OR – T In honor of: T In memory of: T As a gift for: _________________________________________________________ (Name of Person)

The Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund is a donor advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. A contribution to this fund allows your donation to be tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

All donors and their gift amounts will be published in the Pleasanton Weekly unless the boxes below are checked.

T I wish to contribute anonymously. T Please withhold the amount of my contribution.

In partnership with:

Opinion Pleasanton Weekly PUBLISHER Gina Channell-Allen, Ext. 119 EDITORIAL Editor Jeb Bing, Ext. 118 Tri Valley Life Editor Dolores Fox Ciardelli Associate Editor Jeremy Walsh, Ext. 111 Staff Reporter Meredith Bauer, Ext. 121 Contributors Cathy Jetter, Dennis Miller (sports), Mike Sedlak, Kate Lyness, Nancy Lyness ART & PRODUCTION Marketing and Creative Director Shannon Corey Design and Production Manager Kristin Brown Designers Linda Atilano, Diane Haas, Rosanna Leung, Paul Llewellyn, Nick Schweich, Doug Young ADVERTISING Account Executive Karen Klein, Ext. 122 Real Estate Sales Carol Cano, Ext. 226 BUSINESS Business Associate Lisa Oefelein, Ext. 126 Circulation Director Zachary Allen, Ext. 141 Front Ofﬁce Coordinator Sierra Rhodes, Ext. 124 HOW TO REACH THE WEEKLY Phone: (925) 600-0840 Fax: (925) 600-9559

EDITORIAL

THE OPINION OF THE WEEKLY

Kottinger Gardens gets final OK after 11 years of planning

he construction of the first phase of a new 185-unit, affordable-priced housing development for seniors will get underway in March, thanks to the final approval of the long-awaited project by the Pleasanton City Council. The pre-development report with its final recommendations also marked the disbandment of the Kottinger Place Redevelopment Task Force that was formed in early 2004 and has labored through scores of meetings to replace and expand aging Kottinger Place and Pleasanton Gardens. At times, applicants for an apartment in one of these facilities had to wait five years before their reservation number came up. To be called Kottinger Gardens, the new cottage apartments and units in a new three-story building on the expanded Kottinger Place site on Vineyard Avenue will be built in phases with the garden apartments coming first. Seniors now living in Kottinger Place, some in their 90s, will have their belongings packed up free of charge and relocated to a similar facility, possibly in Livermore or Dublin, while those apartments are constructed. Then they’ll be moved back into the new units, complements of Foster City-based MidPen Housing Corporation, the developer. They’ll also have priority to move into the three-story apartment building if they choose after it gets built, which will come in a following project phase. Work on Pleasanton Gardens, across Kottinger Drive, will be the

final phase of MidPen’s housing development, which again will require demolition of the existing 1960sage buildings. At that time, the street will be narrowed at that location, speed bumps added and special pedestrian walkways installed between the two new properties. This new development best meets the objectives to increase subsidized senior housing in Pleasanton while retaining the existing site character, achieving financial efficiency and sustainability and developing a site plan that is complimentary to the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Final approval of the project came with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development authorizing the land it controlled to be transferred to the city of Pleasanton so that a single development with centralized management could be planned. The $60 million development will be funded primarily through federal tax dollars with a contribution of $13.7 million from Pleasanton’s lower-income housing fund. Rather than search for new land for the development, the task force determined that it would make sense to tear down the old buildings which lack modern amenities, such as air conditioning, and keep everything on the current site. Located near First Street, it is also close to parks, grocery stores, pharmacies and public transit. MidPen will operate the housing development with a 30-year lease that is renewable. The city of Pleasanton will own the land. Q

CITY OF PLEASANTON

A groundbreaking for these single-story garden apartments in new Kottinger Gardens development will take place in March. Project will more than triple number of subsidized apartments now available at Kottinger Place and Pleasanton Gardens.

CITY OF PLEASANTON

Three-story apartment building planned for Vineyard Avenue will feature contemporary kitchens, bathrooms and more living space for seniors now housed in Kottinger Place.

Visit Town Square at PleasantonWeekly.com to comment on the editorial.

Editorial email: editor@PleasantonWeekly.com calendar@PleasantonWeekly.com Display Sales email: sales@PleasantonWeekly.com Classiﬁeds Sales email: ads@PleasantonWeekly.com Circulation email: circulation@ PleasantonWeekly.com

WEEKLY MEETING NOTICES City Council

The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rate, USPS 020407. The Pleasanton Weekly is mailed upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton. Community support of the Pleasanton Weekly is welcomed and encouraged through memberships at levels of $5, $8 or $10 per month through automatic credit card charges. Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100 for two years. Go to www.PleasantonWeekly. com to sign up and for more information. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. © 2015 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Council Chamber, 200 Old Bernal Avenue • Public Hearing: Adopt a resolution levyng the Pleasanton Downtown Business Improvement District Assessment for 2016 • Continued from November 17, 2015 - Public Hearing: PUD-25, Greenbriar Homes/Lund Ranch II – Consider introduction of ordinances (1) approving a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Rezoning and Development Plan approval to construct 50 single-family, two story homes and related improvements on the approximately 194.7-acre Lund Ranch II property located at 1500 Lund Ranch Road at the end of Lund Ranch Road, and (2) Development Agreement to vest entitlements for the project; and approval of a resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the project • Continued from November 17, 2015 – Update on Kottinger Gardens Project • Continued from November 17, 2015 – Consider adoption of a resolution accepting the FY 2014/15 year-end operating budget report and designating General Fund reserves

Human Services Commission Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Council Chamber, 200 Old Bernal Avenue • Selection of Commission Chair and Vice-Chair for 2016 • Commission Meeting Schedule for 2016

To explore more about Pleasanton, visit us at www.cityofpleasantonca.gov Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 15

Tri-Valley Hero

ARLIE SMITH for the children By Jeremy Walsh Arlie Smith’s face and smile are known to thousands throughout the San Ramon Valley, and now many of them in turn have helped his name become synonymous with a deep commitment to raising vital funds for children in need. Smith, a longtime cashier and greeter at Danville’s Costco, raised more money this spring than any other Costco associate nationwide during the company’s annual Children’s Miracle Network campaign — all while himself battling terminal cancer and multiple sclerosis. “I just love kids ... and I just hate seeing a kid sick,” Smith, 46, said during a recent interview in his San Ramon townhouse. “To see a sick child, it’s just the worst thing in the world ... I think every child should be outside playing and learning and living a regular life.” And he said that’s a big reason he’s become such a champion for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, to support the medical

care and advancements helping those ill children. In all, Costco shoppers and online donors raised more than $130,000 in Smith’s name during the store campaign last spring to benefit the hospital. “Arlie’s efforts on our behalf have meant so much to our hospital staff, families and patients,” said Melinda Krigel, media relations manager for the hospital. “His unflagging support for us, despite his own health difficulties, has inspired others in our community to give their time to help raise funds or volunteer in other ways to help the hospital.” While Smith avidly participated in the fundraising effort in years past, his drive this year got a jolt after local news outlets, and then some national media, learned about how some San Ramon Valley residents gave back to Smith after hearing about his cancer diagnosis. In March, a group of local community members — some who

Hero FYI Arlie Smith attended Neil Armstrong and Walt Disney elementary schools, Pine Valley Middle School, and after moving away to Tennessee, he returned to graduate from Cal High. He served in the Army Reserve (1989-91) and in the Navy (1991-93). The Smiths aren’t parents themselves — other than to a rambunctious pup named Tinkerbell. They attend Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore. While eating dinner on their Laguna Beach vacation, Smith remembered trying to pay for a bottle of wine but the restaurant insisted on covering it. The owner, who later chatted with them at their table, was a grandson of film icon John Wayne.

MIKE SEDLAK/MIKE@DIGITALSIGHT.COM

Arlie Smith accepts his Tri-Valley Hero Role Model award during a ceremony in Pleasanton last month. Smith, who is battling terminal cancer and multiple sclerosis, stood with his wife Shari and shared a few words about the community members who support him when he works as a Costco greeter.

2015

TRI-VALLEY

HEROES

AMADOR VALLEY-LIVERMORE VALLEY-SAN RAMON VALLEY

Money raised by Smith and other Costco associates supports underfunded programs and services at the hospital, as well as its “Family House” that allows qualifying families of ill children to stay on-site, Krigel said. Smith’s new goal is to raise $1 million for the hospital — and then find someone to match it. To contribute, visit Bitly.com/arliecares.

THANK YOU TO THE 2015 SPONSORS

LE EADERS

FRIENDS S

SPONS SPONSORS

PHILLIP G. VERMONT

P LEASANTON AT THE CLUB Page 16 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

Role Model 2015

TRI-VALLEY

HEROES

AMADOR VALLEY-LIVERMORE VALLEY-SAN RAMON VALLEY

knew Smith, some who just recognized him from Costco and some who’d never met him — banded together to provide a surprise, expenses-paid Laguna Beach vacation for Smith and his wife, Shari. The resort getaway in June was a truly memorable experience, Smith said, even though initially, he wanted to turn down the vacation gift and instead have the money donated to Children’s Hospital Oakland. But the woman who spearheaded the trip fundraising was “sneaky and clever” — Smith joked — and also gave him money to donate to the hospital. Perhaps more importantly, she also contacted local media, who covered the gift-giving surprise at Costco. Video and photos from the event soon went viral, as did Smith’s call to support Children’s Hospital Oakland. “It just created this wildfire, and I had people coming in (to Costco) acting like they’re shaking my hand and handing me $100 bills,” Smith said, remembering some days customers combined to give him more than $1,000.

The popularity helped Smith achieve his goal of becoming the top-fundraising Costco associate, but it also came at a cost. Smith acknowledged he wasn’t mentally prepared to handle the flash of fame and slipped into a “deep, dark depression” for several weeks, questioning whether he should be a role model. “I haven’t lived a perfect life,” he said. Raised mainly in San Ramon, Smith graduated from California High School in 1988. After serving four years in the military, he began working at the Danville Costco in June 1993. But as the new millennium dawned, Smith found himself battling alcohol and drug addiction and anger management issues while also struggling to care for his grandparents who were dealing with dementia. He said the stresses came to a head in November 2001, when the police responded to their house during a loud argument between him and his grandfather. Smith said he opened up to a police officer that night and admitted he had smacked his grandfather — the

man who was his true father figure. “That’s something I can never take back that I did to the people that I cared about the most, to the people that cared about me,” he remembered, with tears in his eyes. Smith said the 11 “peaceful” days he spent in jail for misdemeanor assault proved to be the greatest blessing. His grandparents were able to get the day-in, day-out health care they needed, and he was able to get sober and begin overcoming his addiction and emotional demons. His life took another unexpected positive turn just six weeks later, the day he met Shari — Jan. 4, 2002, a date they’re both quick to recall. She was returning a bracelet at Costco, and as she stood in a lengthy line, she watched as Smith interacted with families. “I thought, that is a guy who truly loves children, genuinely loves children,” she said. A conversation sparked, and the two began hanging out as friends a week later, they recalled. “God just brought us together,” Smith said. “I met her, and I’ve had like 14 years of happiness. Real

happiness.” They started officially dating several months later, and they married in April 2003. Smith’s life would take another turn more than four years ago when he first began exhibiting symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as multiple sclerosis — a disease that also affected his mother. And then a second medical bombshell fell last year, when Smith was diagnosed with kidney cancer that metastasized to his bones. Doctors told him the median life span for someone with his cancer was 2 1/2 years. Smith said that throughout his health battles, the smiling Costco

customers and supportive colleagues inspire him deeply — just as they did during his darkest days. “Every day at work, these members, without even knowing what they’re doing, are breathing life into me,” he added. And when mired in a personal funk amid fame last spring, he credited his assistant store manager with helping him see the light. “She said, ‘Well Arlie, you’re a hero for the children.’ And that stuck,” Smith remembered. “Before she said that, I really had trouble accepting being called a hero.” “When she said that, it made me feel good. It made me feel better. OK, I’ll be a hero for the children.” Q

Robert Half congratulates this year’s Tri-Valley Heroes award recipients.

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1.800.803.8367 PHOTO BY JEREMY WALSH

An emotional Arlie Smith (center), who is a longtime greeter at the Danville Costco, receives a surprise gift vacation from shoppers and other community members in March. Also shown is wife Shari Smith (left) and gift organizer Bridgette Loughnane.

Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 17

Sports Foothill freshman Ryan Weiglein, left, competes with his twin brother Dylan, middle, in a club water polo game this summer.

PLEASANTON PREPS BY DENNIS MILLER

Sponsored by

925.621.1000 miradorcp.com

COURTESY OF WEIGLEIN FAMILY

Double play Pleasanton twins who compete together say they improve together BY MEREDITH BAUER

Ryan Weiglein knows what one of his teammates is thinking with just a look, and he can predict whether the other player is confident or uncertain. He said it’s as easy as reading his own face. Then again, he’s talking about his identical twin brother, Dylan. Foothill freshmen Dylan and Ryan Weiglein are among a handful of Pleasanton twins who compete together in the same high school sport, pushing each other to improve and acting as constant cheerleaders. Being on the same team as your twin comes with a set of advantages and challenges, they said. Two Foothill water polo juniors said they have high expectations for one another, two Amador Valley cross country runners said training at home and at school has brought them closer, and the Weigleins said they’ve improved at about the same pace, so they are on equal ground when providing encouragement and critiques. Whether they’re debating about a missed goal at a water polo match or who got better grades, everyday life is filled with rivalries when you’re twins, Ryan said. He and Dylan race up stairs, see who can bounce a ping pong ball on a paddle longer and race their bikes. “Anything we do is kind of a competition,” Ryan said. Having your twin on your sports team seems like a natural extension of that attitude. But when they’re on a team together, they’re in sync for common goal, he said. “We know more about the other person than any other person on the team, so it just takes eye contact and we know what the other person is doing,” Ryan said, adding he can watch Dylan’s performance when he’s on the bench to critique his own style. For Madison and Jovan Perez, Amador Valley sophomore cross country runners, having their twin on the team means having someone at home to push them to run at their best every day. “When one of us wants to start walking, we’re like, ‘You can’t start walking. Do you want to get better?’” Jovan said.

For many years, the Perez siblings participated in school sports, but each one followed their own path. Madison said she played basketball while Jovan ran cross country, but her brother eventually convinced her to try his sport. They both said they prefer middle-distance cross country runs, and they feel their personal records have improved by relying on one another for encouragement and accountability. “I feel like we’ve gotten closer,” Madison said. “We can just bond over the same sport.” Negin and Negar Tehranian, Foothill juniors, said everyone on their varsity girls water polo team competes during practice to push one another to improve. “With Negar, it’s even more so,” Negin said. “When we eggbeater, (we see) who can get up the highest, and when we do sprints, who can go the fastest.” Going through the same life experiences with a sister can be helpful since they can talk each other through difficulties, they said. They said they are both considering continuing water polo when college comes in two years, so they have an incentive to continually improve. They said inside jokes keep their ubiquitous competition light, and practicing is easy because the duo can go to a local pool whenever they want to run through extra drills. “We know each other’s limitations better, and we know what we can do and what we can’t do,” Negin said. “It’s just a stronger and deeper connection with each other.” At the same time, Dylan Weiglein said, it’s also helpful to compete separate from your twin. When he does tennis in the spring, it requires a different way of thinking to compete independently. “It’d be a lot harder to play because I’m so used to having him on my team and supporting me,” Dylan said. However, he added their differing career interests may soon send the Weiglein brothers in different directions for college. “It’s also good,” he said. “It prepares you for your future when you don’t have your brother by your side.” Q

Page 18 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

MIKE SEDLAK/MIKE@DIGITALSIGHT.COM

Foothill’s Hana Okuhara (4) hits against James Logan in the NCS semifinals as Kellie Hughes (5), Olivia Larsen (6), Kate Goto (16) and Taylor Campbell (13) all are in ready position. The Falcons’ volleyball team advanced to the sectional finals but lost to top-seeded Monte Vista last weekend.

Foothill football advances to sectional semis Falcons set to play Antioch, who beat Amador Valley in quarters Isaiah Floyd has been a force throughout the football season for the Foothill Falcons, scoring touchdowns in bunches as the Falcons finished the regular season 10-0 and brought home the East Bay Athletic League title. Last weekend in the North Coast Section Division I quarterfinals, Freedom found out first-hand what Floyd can do, as the senior scored five touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 45-14 win. Crosstown rival Amador Valley had also advanced to the NCS quarters, but the Dons dropped a 58-21 game to Antioch last Friday. Now Foothill, the third seed, travels to second-seeded Antioch for a Saturday night showdown and a spot in the NCS finals. In the Foothill win, the Falcons scored early and often, running out to a 28-7 lead at the half before cruising home with the win. As it had throughout the year, the offense got it done behind skill players Floyd, quarterback Ben Wooldridge, Matt Gates, Ruben Mercado, Cash Connolly and Josh Merryman. The offensive line led by three-year starter Dustin Dukleth was once again opening holes. On defense it was also business as usual, as the Falcons were all over Freedom from the start. Blake Braden led the charge as he was seemingly in the offensive backfield throughout the game. Dallas Mar-

tin and Dario Dondero were also forces throughout the game. Amador ran into the Antioch buzz saw as the Dons season came to a close. The Panthers ran their record to 11-0 behind their dynamic offense led by running back Najee Harris, who finished with 118 yards rushing on just 13 carries. The junior, who will be headed to Alabama following his senior campaign, helped Antioch out to a 36-0 halftime advantage. Patrick Loughnane, Ronnie Jones and Adam Ashley all had secondhalf scores for the Dons, who finished the year 8-4. In the semifinals, it appears to be an interesting match-up. Both have big play backs in Harris and Floyd, but the similarities end there. Amador coach Rick Sira has seen both teams in the last three weeks. “Both are very different teams,” Sira said. “Antioch is big and physical, but Foothill does such a great job of causing you to make mistakes and because of that, they all of a sudden take charge of the game. If they can put pressure on the Antioch offense, (Foothill) will win the game.”

Volleyball The Foothill girls rode a hot streak that started in the second half of the season, advancing all the way to the NCS Division I championship game before losing to top-

seeded Monte Vista last Saturday. The Falcons took a 17-match winning streak into the finals that included a thrilling, five-set win against James Logan in the semifinals on Nov. 18. In the finals, Kelli Hughes had 38 assists and 15 service points to lead the way. Taylor Campbell had 25 digs and six service points and Olivia Larsen had five kills and three blocks. In the semifinals, Andreea Paduraru had 19 kills and 13 digs to pace the effort. Kate Goto had 20 kills and Hughes added 58 assists and 10 service points. Campbell chipped in 28 digs and seven service points.

Cross country The season may have ended for most of the Amador Valley cross country teams, but Melodie Leroudier turned in arguably her gutsiest race on a big stage, as she finished seventh in the NCS meet last Saturday and earned the final qualifying spot for the California State Meet. Leroudier struggled early in the race, not feeling well, but battled throughout, finding herself just out of seventh with a half-mile to go. Pushing through the pain, she was able to pass the runner in front of her and grab the final spot. The State Meet will take place this Saturday at Woodard Park in Fresno. Q

Calendar Auditions SUNOL REP ANNUAL MELODRAMA Come join the fun. Try out for the annual Sunol Melodrama at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Sunol Glen School, 11601 Main St., Sunol. Parts for ages 16 and older. Fun costumes and great sets. Interesting jobs behind the scenes also. Profits go to Sunol Glen School liberal arts programs. Contact 519-4839 or SUNOLREP@gmail.com.

Civic Meetings CITY COUNCIL The Pleasanton City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays 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.

Clubs LIONESS CLUB The Livermore Lioness Club welcomes new members at its regular monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. A $2 to $5 donation is requested. Participating in the many activities of the group is a great way to meet local people. Lioness is a service club which helps many worthy causes in our community. Call 443-4543. PLEASANTON NEWCOMERS CLUB This club is a great way for new and established residents to make new friends. It meets for coffee on the first Wednesday of every month and for lunch on the second Wednesday of every month. The group has activities like hiking, walking, Bunco and more. Visit www.pleasantonnewcomers.com. Contact Info@PleasantonNewcomers. com or 215-8405. SENIOR MENS SOCIAL CLUB Sons In Retirement (SIR) is a social club for senior men. In addition to friendships, members can participate in interest groups like golf, bridge, travel, photography, etc. We meet for lunch first Thursday of the month at San Ramon Golf Club. Open to retirees in the Tri-Valley. Contact Rich Osborne at 785-3549 or trivalleysir@gmail.com. Go to branch34. sirinc2.org.

Concerts ‘THOSE WERE THE DAYS’ SPIRIT AND SONGS OF THE 60S William Florian, former lead singer of the famous 60s group The New Christy Minstrels, will perform with his trio from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Firehouse Arts Center. Tickets are $15-$25. Call 931-4848 or go to www.firehousearts.org.

Exhibits SPECIAL FALL EXHIBITS Harrington Gallery and Firehouse Arts Center present works by prolific Los Gatos artist Ed Lucey, with works in oil of Central California farmland; and Oakland artist Jon Steven Walters, whose

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNIT Y

technique juxtaposes mixed layers of media, colors and shapes to transform figures into skewed afterimages harnessed in layers of translucent paint. Exhibits run Oct. 15-Dec. 5. Contact the Gallery Director at 931-4849 or JFinegan@cityofpleasantonca.gov. THAT 70’S EXHIBIT Feather that hair, break out those bell-bottoms, and get ready for a trip to Funkytown at this exhibit at Museum on Main. This exhibit, running now through Jan. 3, was originally created by the Hayward Area Historical Society and looks back at the movies, the music, the TV shows, toys and fads that gave the Me Decade its distinctive feel. Go to www.museumonmain.org.

Fundraisers AMADOR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE Support the AVHS cheer team and shop at their Holiday Boutique from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 at Amador Valley High School, 1155 Santa Rita Road. With a wide variety of unique vendors and gifts, and raffle prizes too. Call 846-8408. FOOTHILL HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS GARAGE SALE Foothill High School’s senior class will hold a garage sale to raise money for their senior ball from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sat Dec. 12 in the Foothill High School parking lot. They will collect books, clothing, Foothill apparel, and sporting equipment from 7:3010:30 a.m. weekdays, from Nov. 30-Dec. 10. FRIENDS OF THE DUBLIN LIBRARY HOLIDAY BOOK SALE Friends of the Dublin Library will hold a Holiday Book Sale from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. You will find a great selection of beautiful hardcover books in excellent condition, ideal for gift giving. Call 803-7252 or go to www.dublinfriends.org. PAWS IN NEED PHOTOS WITH SANTA Want a festive photo with Santa? Photos with Santa will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Pet Extreme, 4500 Arroyo Vista, Livermore. Use your camera or our photographer for $10 donation to Paws In Need. No reservations. Dogs on leashes, cats in carriers. Call Gay at 447-8903 or go to Paws-In-Need.org. SLEEP TRAIN’S TOY DRIVE FOR FOSTER KIDS AND PHOTO CONTEST Christmas is an exciting time of year, but foster children often have the added worry of wondering whether Santa will find them. To help ensure every foster child wakes up with a gift on Christmas morning, Sleep Train is hosting its Toy Drive for Foster Kids and #SleepTrainSecretSanta photo contest, now through Dec. 13 at any Sleep Train location. TRI-VALLEY HAVEN’S ‘SIP AND SHOP’ Help Tri-Valley Haven’s Holiday Program while you “Sip and Shop” from 6:30-9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 at Rubino Estates Winery. Join them and local vendors for raffled gift items or baskets where 100% of proceeds from the raffle go directly

to Tri-Valley Haven. Special sales and wine available. Call 449-5842 or go to www.trivalleyhaven.org.

POST CALENDAR ITEMS AT PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM

PET OF THE WEEK VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY/G. SUBRAMONIAN

Bubbles

Holiday

A friendly, 1-year-old Dachshundmix dog with the perfect combination of gentleness and energy, Bubbles loves going on walks and playing fetch. Calm and laid back, she is equally content ﬂoating along by your side. Catch this irresistible sweetheart at Valley Humane Society before she gets away: 3670 Nevada St. in Pleasanton. For more info, visit www.valleyhumane.org or call 426-8656. This is Black Cat Friday Weekend for VHS today and Saturday.

CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY TEA PARTY Children can experience a real tea in a historic barn from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin. Child friendly menu, table amusements and a merry sing-a-long. Old St. Nick will a visit and take photos with the children. Cost is $25. Call 452-2100. HOLIDAY TEA Take a break from the holiday hustle-and-bustle for a traditional holiday tea, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, and at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums, 6600 Donlon Way, Dublin. Featuring classic tea sandwiches, scones, delectable desserts and peaceful holiday music. Cost is $25. Call 452-2100.

Lectures/ Workshops AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE IEP PROCESS AND IEP GOALS The Pleasanton Special Needs Committee is sponsoring a free parent event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at Pleasanton Middle School, 5001 Case Ave. Learn how to help your child’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) team develop appropriate goals to better support your child’s educational progress. Register at http://tinyurl.com/ DecemberSNC. HOPE HOSPICE: CREATIVE GRIEF, HEALING THROUGH EXPRESSION Holidays can be an especially difficult time for grieving families. This workshop helps children acknowledge the upcoming holidays and honor them in the process. We create various keepsakes that not only connect them to their loved one, but serve as a method of grief expression and healthy coping. Join from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Ave., Dublin. Call 829-8770.

Miscellaneous FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ONLINE BOOK SALE Did you know you could buy books from the Friends of the Library at Amazon.com? The Friends have a year round magazine and paperback book sale in the library and have two major book sales a year. To buy books, visit www.amazon.com/shops/ptwnfriends or call Nancy Bering at 462-4368. VFW-AL COFFEE AND DONUTS Every Saturday morning from 7:30-9 a.m., the VFW and American Legion host coffee and donuts for all veterans at the Veterans Memorial Building, 301 Main St. All veterans are welcome. Visit www.vfwpost6298.com.

Recreation THURSDAY MORNING BIKE RIDE Join our every Thursday morning bike ride as we tour the trails and vine-

yards of the Tri-Valley area. We will ride 20-30 miles at a “social” rate of speed with a coffee stop along the way. You will need a bike, a helmet and a sunny disposition. Call 4261290 or go to www.meetup.com/ Pleasanton-Pedalers/.

Seniors BRAIN MATTERS Enjoy a morning of fun while learning how to keep your brain active and your memory sharp. The class is held from 10-11:30 a.m. the first and third Fridays of every month at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd. Word games, puzzles, challenging activities, reminiscing and more, geared to help you age-proof your mind. Cost $1.75 for resident and $2.25 for non-resident. Call 931-5365 or visit www. pleasantonseniorcenter.org. DUBLIN SENIOR CENTER FOUNDATION MEETING The Dublin Senior Center Foundation meets at 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd. Call 556-4511. HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT THE DUBLIN SENIOR CENTER Enjoy delicious food, close friends and songs sung by Janice Reid at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin. With holiday chicken roast, cornbread stuffing, roasted vegetables, sweet potato mash, gravy and apple cinnamon cobbler. Register in person, by mail or online by Dec. 11. Cost is $15 for Dublin residents, $18 for nonresidents. Call 556-4511 or go to seniorctr.dublin.ca.gov. MILLS LINE DANCE SOCIAL DJ Millie Dusha will play tunes from the classic oldies at the Mills Line Dance Social from 2-4 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd. All levels of dancers are welcome. Cost is $3. Call 556-4511. ROTARY HOLIDAY DINNER TICKET DISTRIBUTION Tickets for the annual Rotary Holiday Dinner will be distributed on Tuesday, Dec. 8 on a first come first served basis at the Pleasanton Senior Center. One ticket per senior, 62 years of age and older. Open to Pleasanton residents,

proof of residency required. To pick up a ticket for a spouse bring their ID. Call 931-5365 or go to www. pleasantonseniorcenter.org.

Spiritual MOM2MOM MEETINGS Moms and Grandmothers of all ages are welcome to join the Mom2mom group based on the Titus 2 women where the older moms are mentoring the younger moms. Parenting tips, guest speakers, crafts and practical life applications. Meetings are 9:30-11:30 a.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Harvest Valley Church, 3200 Hopyard Road. Contact Valerie Fleming at 484-2482 ext. 121 or valerie@harvestvalley.org.

Support Groups BODY IMAGE ANONYMOUS (BIA/ BDD) Body Image Anonymous is a support group for those living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder or other related body image disorders. Our goal is to restore our “true selves,” finding self acceptance and recovery. Meetings are 3-4:30 p.m. the last Sunday of the month at the Pleasanton Library. Contact Lon at (209) 513-2319, or Tim at (408) 771-6620. CLUTTERLESS (CL) SELF HELP GROUP Overwhelmed? Clutter stressing you out? CL is a nonprofit, peer-based, self-help group for people with difficulty discarding unwanted possessions. Meetings are 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays at The Parkview, 100 Valley Ave. in the second floor Activity Room. Free. Optional $3-$5 donation appreciated. Call 922-1467 or go to www. ClutterLess.org. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS This 12-step support group for people with eating behavior problems meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 678 Enos Way, Livermore; and at 7:30 a.m. Saturdays in the Middle School Room at The Unitarian Universalist Church, 1893 North Vasco Road, Livermore. Free with donations accepted toward room rent. No weigh-ins. Call Nora at 337-9118.

Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 19

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Home Services 751 General Contracting A NOTICE TO READERS: It is illegal for an unlicensed person to perform contracting work on any project valued at $500.00 or more in labor and materials. State law also requires that contractors include their license numbers on all advertising. Check your contractor’s status at www.cslb.ca.gov or 800-321-CSLB (2752). Unlicensed persons taking jobs that total less than $500.00 must state in their advertisements that they are not licensed by the Contractors State License Board.

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Page 20 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

781 Pest Control

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Public Notices 995 Fictitious Name Statement NHB AERIAL VIDEO FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511095 The following person(s) doing business as: NHB AERIAL VIDEO, 811 DIVISION STREET, PLEASANTON, CA 94566, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Nathan Harding Belch, 811 Division Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566; Holly Amber Belch, 811 Division Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566. This business is conducted by a Married couple. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein. Signature of Registrant: Holly Belch. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 10/28/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27; 2015) ZEN FITNESS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511474 The following person(s) doing business as: ZEN FITNESS, 3059 HOPYARD ROAD #C, PLEASANTON, CA 94588, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Traci Saba, 128 Alamo Lane, Tracy, CA 95377. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant began transacting business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein 09/01/2010. Signature of Registrant: Traci Saba. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 11/06/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 2015) FASTEK TECHNICAL SERVICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511564 The following person(s) doing business as: FASTEK TECHNICAL SERVICES, 4479 STONERIDGE DRIVE, SUITE C, PLEASANTON, CA 94588, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Fastemps, Inc., 4479 Stoneridge Drive, Suite C, Pleasanton, CA 94588. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began transacting business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein 07/01/1989. Signature of Registrant: Mari Ghazey, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 11/10/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 2015) DESIGN WORKS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511272 The following person(s) doing business as: DESIGN WORKS, 275 ROSE AVE. #200, PLEASANTON, CA 94566, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): MonaFox, Inc., 9104 Longview Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began transacting business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein 09/03/2008. Signature of Registrant: Mona Fox, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 11/03/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 2015) SWEET AND SAVORY CAFE AND BAKERY FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511566 The following person(s) doing business as: SWEET AND SAVORY CAFE AND BAKERY, 5685 GIBRALTAR DRIVE, PLEASANTON, CA 94588, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): SIDK, Inc., 5685 Gibraltar Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588. This business is conducted by a Corporation. Registrant began transacting business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein 11/03/1992. Signature of Registrant: Donald L. Eichler, CFO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 11/10/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 2015) ACHIEVE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511738 The following person(s) doing business as: ACHIEVE, 3550 BERNAL AVE. UNIT 140, PLEASANTON, CA 94566, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Gabriel Araiza, 3513 Kamp Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant

has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein. Signature of Registrant: Gabriel Araiza. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 11/17/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18; 2015) PSPS FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 511141 The following person(s) doing business as: PSPS, 4300 BLACK AVE. #415, PLEASANTON, CA 94566; PO BOX 415, PLEASANTON, CA 94566, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Joseph Upchurch, 4300 Black Ave. #415, Pleasanton, CA 94566. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed herein. Signature of Registrant: Joseph Upchurch. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Alameda on 10/29/2015. (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18; 2015)

997 All Other Legals ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA Case No.: HG15793198 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: JAMES DERRICK GIBRON and TRACY LYN GIBRON filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: JAMES DERRICK GIBRON to JAMES DERRICK STARK; TRACY LYN GIBRON to TRACY LYN STARK. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: APRIL 7, 2016, 1:30 p.m., Dept.: 503 of the Superior Court of California, County of ALAMEDA, 24405 AMADOR STREET, HAYWARD, CA 94544. A copy of this ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: PLEASANTON WEEKLY. Date: Nov. 13, 2015 /s/ Winifred Y Smith, JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT (Pleasanton Weekly, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4, 11; 2015)

Need to publish a fictitious business statement in an Alameda County newspaper of general circulation? Just call

925-600-0840 Deadline: 5 p.m. the Friday before publication

Real Estate East Bay luxury home sales edge higher Hope is for more properties to come on market after New Year’s BY JEB BING

East Bay luxury home sales edged up 5.3% last month from a year ago, but the median sale price trended lower. A new report by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage showed that a total of 319 luxury homes changed hands in October in the East Bay, up from 303 high-end sales in October 2014. The report was based on Multiple Listing Service data of all homes sold for more than $1 million last month in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Luxury home sales last month were off from the 347 transactions in September, although a seasonal decline from September to October isn’t unusual. The upper end of the luxury market remained vibrant in October with 39 sales over $2 million, up sharply from the 24 sales at that level during the same month a year ago. There were also seven sales over $3 million. Meanwhile, the median sale price of a luxury home last month fell to $1.3 million, down 6.8% from a year ago when the median stood at $1,394,918. October’s median sale price was higher than September’s $1,275,000. “The Bay Area in general, but especially the East Bay, continues to be challenged by the fact that we just don’t have enough homes for sale to meet the number of buyers out there in the market looking right

now,” said Mike James, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “The number of listings in October was down 16% throughout the Bay Area when compared to the same time last year, and last year was already at an unusually low level of inventory,” James said. “Our hope is that we’ll see more properties come on the market after New Years Day, as often happens.” Some key findings from this month’s Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage luxury report: • The most expensive sale in the East Bay last month was five-bedroom, five-bath approximately 7,700-square-foot home in Alamo that sold for $5.75 million • Oakland boasted the most luxury sales with 40, followed by Danville with 38, San Ramon with 29, Berkeley with 24, Pleasanton with 23 and Fremont with 22 • Homes sold in an average of 29.3 days on the market, compared to 29.8 days a year ago and the previous month • Sellers received an average of 107% of their asking price, up from 106% a year ago and 105% the previous month. The East Bay Luxury Housing Market Report is a monthly report by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. The firm has nine East Bay offices serving Pleasanton, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Danville, Fremont, Oakland, Piedmont, Orinda and Walnut Creek. Q

OPEN HOME GUIDE AND REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

SALES AT A GLANCE This week’s data represents homes sold during Oct. 23-Nov. 2

Livermore (Oct. 23-29) Total sales reported: 25 Lowest sale reported: $265,000 Highest sale reported: $1,455,000 Average sales reported: $595,740

Pleasanton (Oct. 23-29) Total sales reported: 16 Lowest sale reported: $520,000 Highest sale reported: $2,250,000 Average sales reported: $1,031,563

San Ramon (Oct. 27-Nov. 2) Total sales reported: 13 Lowest sale reported: $525,000 Highest sale reported: $1,390,000 Average sales reported: $916,769

Dublin (Oct. 23-29) Total sales reported: 11 Lowest sale reported: $550,000 Highest sale reported: $1,200,000 Average sales reported: $796,955

Source: California REsource

Tri-Valley

Real Estate Directory Darlene Crane,

Your local move-up specialist

Branch Manager/Mortgage Advisor

R P M M O RT GAG E , I N C . 925-699–4377 dcrane@rpm-mtg.com www.darlenecrane.com NMLS 30878 License 00907071

30 W. Neal Street #105, Pleasanton

STEVE® MOHSENI Realtor Re/Max Accord 925-400-7533

Steve@BayAreaHomeFinder.com www.BayAreaHomeFinder.com BRE#01267039

To advertise in the Tri-Valley Real Estate Directory call (925) 600-0840. Ask about online and email advertising.

Trust your home to the award winning Weiner McDowell Team! 4 4318 First Street, iin the heart of Downtown Pleasanton D E ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN LLIFESTYLE! • Farmers Market • Concerts in the Park • Restaurants and Shopping A work of art, and a piece of h history! TThis completely remodeled, e expanded and improved V Victorian is the best of both w worlds. Incredible Amenities! Features 4 Bdrms, 3 ½ Baths, 2 2694 sq.ft. • Completely Remodeled 1900 Victorian! • Highest quality materials and workmanship • Separate Guest Apartment • 480 Sq.Ft. Basement

282 Mission Dr., Pleasanton Already Pending in 3 days with Multiple Offers! Pottery Barn adorable 4 bdrm, 3 bath single level home with 1806 sq ft on huge private lot! U Updates throughout with h hardwood ﬂoors, granite, ttravertine, crown molding a and more! Sorry you m missed it but we have o others, give us a call!

Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 21

NE W

PR I

LITTLE VALLEY LOT IN SUNOL

Dedicated to the extraordinary. The exceptional. The unique. LIVING THE DREAM

BUILDING THE DREAM

7795 Cedar Mountain Road Livermore

4108 & 4112 Foothill Road Pleasanton

$3,750,000

$1,488,000 & $1,888,000

BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME! 6+ ACRES, $697,500 6625 HUBBARD LANE, SUNOL 5 BED, 4.5 BATH, 5,375 SQ FT, 8+ ACRES, $2,995,000

7 Bed | 6 Bath | 6,671 SF Vineyard Estate

LIVERMORE LAND • 1.57 AC ZONED COMMERCIAL — PORTOLA • 5.6 AC ZONED RURAL RESIDENTIAL — TESLA • 14.46 AC ZONED RURAL RESIDENTIAL — TESLA

2.2 Acre/7.3 Acre Buildable Lots

2015 has been a stellar year for our team, representing over 55 buyers and sellers and closing more than $70M in Tri-Valley real estate. We are working with homeowners now, prepping for a banner 2016! Some of these homes are available to see now for private showings, please V Ì>VÌ ÕÃ Ì w ` ÕÌ Ü >Ì½Ã V } Õ« ,ÕLÞ > ` Ì i /À 6> iÞt

• 290.3 AC ZONED AGRICULTURE — TESLA

PLEASANTON COMMERCIAL

2015

• 1,500 SF FOR LEASE ZONED CC — FIRST STREET

DAVID MORRIS 925-699-0999 BRE# 01117395 REALTOR SINCE 1991

DONNA GARRISON

BRIAN WRIGHT ON M A I N

925-580-4524 BRE# 00887067 REALTOR SINCE 1985

LOCATED UPSTAIRS IN THE HISTORIC PLEASANTON HOTEL

JUST LISTED

925.980.0273

925.519.8226

FA BU LO US PRO PE RT I ES. N E T ^ Óä£x - Ì iLÞ½Ã ÌiÀ >Ì > ,i> ÌÞ čvw >ÌiÃ ° č ,i> }Þ «> Þ° č À } ÌÃ ÀiÃiÀÛi` - Ì iLÞ½Ã ÌiÀ >Ì > ,i> ÌÞ Á Ã > Ài} ÃÌiÀi` ÌÀ>ì >À Vi Ãi` Ì - Ì iLÞ½Ã ÌiÀ >Ì > ,i> ÌÞ čvw >ÌiÃ ° č µÕ> "«« ÀÌÕ ÌÞ «> Þ° µÕ> ÕÃ } "«« ÀÌÕ ÌÞ° >V "vwVi Ã ì«i ì Ì Þ "Ü i` > ` «iÀ>Ìi`°

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NEW PRICE

951 Laguna Creek Lane

West Side Custom

Elegant 5 BR + ofﬁce & bonus, 5.5 BTH, hardwood ﬂoors, granite/marble/stainless, large private yard $2,099,000

Fabulous 5 BR + Bonus Rm & Ofﬁce on premium .69 Acre wooded cul-de-sac lot with gate $1,999,000

7 BEDROOMS

SUSAN SCHALL

JUST SOLD

Wishing you Many Blessings this Holiday Season and

3891 Hot Springs Ct

2688 Becard Ct

Remodeled home with 2 master suites! 6 BR + ofﬁce, 4 BTH, cul-de-sac location $1,049,000

The one you want! Gorgeous Birdland home with 5 BR, 3 BTH, hardwood ﬂoors, pool, and more! $1,304,000

Throughout the New Year!

Considering selling or buying a home?

BRE #00843458

Call me today and put my market knowledge, experience, and negotiation skills to work for you.

Go to 680Homes.com for more information on these and other homes, along with market trends, tips & advice, and advanced home search Page 22 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly

TEAM

A Concierge Approach To Real Estate www.TimMcGuire.net 925.462.SOLD (7653)

Tim McGuire

Mark James

Erika Vieler

KarenCarmichael

Realtor®/Leader

Realtor®/Associate

Client Services

THE ONLY TEAM YOU NEED TO CALL WHEN BUYING OR SELLING A HOME • 55 Transactions in 2015 • $50 Million in Real Estate listed and sold in 2015 • Our listings sell ﬁve times faster than our competition — average listing sells in 8 days • Our listings sell for more than our competition — average sale price was 102.7% of list price • Nearly 70 favorable and recent reviews on Zillow.com • Comprehensive marketing strategy to ensure successful results • Over 50 years combined Team experience selling Real Estate • Resources to handle every aspect of preparing your home for market • Certiﬁed Residential Specialist Designation • East Bay Association of Reators Pinnacle Award winner 2009-2015

Buyer’s needs Family of 4 seeks 2800+ sq.ft home with large lot, prefer pool and 3-car garage up to $2 million Family of 4 seeks 4 bed house up to $1.1 million, prefer remodeled

What our clients are saying......... Tim McGuire and his team sold our Birdland home this summer and we had a very successful experience. We hired Tim because of his reputation and he delivered on all promises made! He was a great help in getting the home ready to sell and utilizing his network of contractors. Tim´s concierge service really helped to take a load off of us by providing staging and cleaning services and resources for anything that needed to be addressed. Tim´s market knowledge guided us to the appropriate asking price, resulting in multiple offers and ultimately a sale price of $100k above the asking price. We were very pleased with Tim and the results he achieved for us. — Martin Ward, Longspur Way, Pleasanton

900 Main Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566 Pleasanton Weekly • November 27, 2015 • Page 23

The Armario Venema Homes Team

SOLD

DeAnna Armario

SIMPLY STUNNING!

PENDING!

925.260.2220

DeAnna@ArmarioHomes.com REALTOR® LIC # 01363180

1977 ARMONDO COURT, RUBY HILL Stunning custom w/ views. 6BR, 5BA, 6828+/- sq. ft. OFFERED AT $3,199,000

3338 SLEEPING MEADOW WAY, SAN RAMON Highly upgraded! 5BR, 4BA, 3758+/- sq. ft. OFFERED AT $1,399,000

COMING SOON!

Gail Boal REALTOR® LIC # 01276455

925.577.5787

7961 SPYGLASS CT, LOWER GOLDEN EAGLE, PLEASANTON Sold for $1,020,000 - Gorgeous 1 story STIR ¾SSV TPER MR KEXIH GSQQYRMX] MR Lower Golden Eagle. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. 2523 sq ft. with Living, Family and Formal Dining areas. Beautiful community pool and tennis courts! Represented Buyers.

Liz Venema

925.413.6544 Liz@VenemaHomes.com REALTOR® LIC # 01922957

COMING SOON!

1054 SANTA RITA RD., PLEASANTON 2106 CASCARA CT., PLEASANTON Golden Eagle estate. 5BR, 6BA, 10,000+/- sq. ft. 3BR, 1 BA, 1001+/- sq. ft. CALL FOR PRICING. 1+acre lot. OFFERED AT $4,750,000

ArmarioVenemaHomes.com

www.gailboal.com

6343 INGLEWOOD DR., PLEASANTON Beautifully updated single story. 4BR, 2BA, 1608+/-sq. ft. OFFERED AT $799,000

COMING SOON!

1838 HARVEST RD., PLEASANTON 3BR, 2BA Townhome, 1684+/-sq. ft. CALL FOR PRICING.

#1 Top Producing Team in Sales and Volume for Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty in 2014 and 2015! COMING SOON!

Fabulous Foxbrough Estates Picturesque 4 bdrm, 3.5 bath home is 3400 sq ft & sits on a 18,000 sq ft lot. PRICED IN THE LOW $1,700,000’S

COMING SOON!

Beautiful Vintage Hills

Charming 4 bdrm, 2.5 bath & over 2200 sq ft. Gourmet granite slab kitchen! $1,100,000

PENDING — 4 OFFERS!

COMING SOON!

Stunning Vintage Heights! Wonderful custom home with almost 4000 sq ft and a ½ acre parcel with pool, spa & outdoor cabana. LOW 1,700,000’S

ANOTHER SOLD HOME!

PENDING — 2 OFFERS!

REALTORS®, GRI, CRS, SRES

925.463.0436 www.SoldInAFlash.com

1654 HEIDELBERG DRIVE, LIVERMORE

COMING SOON!

This Charming Livermore, Sunset East home with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths is 1466 sq. ft. Lovely kitchen with granite counters, new floors throughout and freshly painted. Close to downtown and walk to Sunset Elementary School! Thinking of moving up or downsizing? Call me for a FREE market analysis of your Home!

Cindy and Gene Williams REALTORS® BRE LIC # 01370076 and 00607511

925.918.2045 www.WilliamsReGroup.com

3175 CARAMELLO COURT, PLEASANTON Spacious 2 bdrm, 2 bath, one level condo $630,000

13040 BROOKPARK ROAD Stunning views of the Moraga Hills. Beautiful 3 bdrm, 2 bath one level home. $800,000

1085 MURRIETA BLVD, LIVERMORE Cute as a Button! Adorable 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in Livermore. Gourmet granite kitchen and bathroom!

WHY BUY WITH KW? We love helping buyers ½RH XLIMV HVIEQ LSQI That’s why we work with each client individually, taking the time to understand their unique lifestyles, needs and wishes. Contact us at 925.397.4200 XS ½RH SYX LS[ [I GER LIPT ]SY

DAVE MINGIONE

BECOME PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

JENNIFER HAUS

510.303.3887

Keller Williams Realty is a company that changes lives. Contact me about a career with KW.

Jennifer.Haus@kw.com

OPES Advisors

Preferred In House Lender

Team Leader 925.417.8628

5994 W. Las Positas, Suite 101, Pleasanton | 459 Main Street, Pleasanton | 2300 First Street, Suite 316, Livermore | Broker License #01395362 Page 24 • November 27, 2015 • Pleasanton Weekly