editor@yourmonthlypaper.com
November 2014
Serving Alamo and Diablo
Alamo Tree Lighting Festival
Sunday, November 23 from 4:30 -6:30 rd
pm
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The Community Foundation of Alamo will present the 2014 Alamo Tree Lighting Festival at 4:30pm, Sunday, November 23rd. The festival signals the beginning of the holiday season for families sharing an evening of caroling, entertainment, beverages, and crafts. “Guests are urged to come early and stay late,” said the organizers. Students from local schools, elementary through high school, will be performing. Santa will make his annual appearance and hear what the dreams and wishes are for this Christmas. Light treats and beverages will be provided by local restaurants as well as local civic groups. Local vocal quartet, LaDiDa will be roaming the crowd and singing a cappella classics for everyone throughout the evening. Community organization Shelter, Inc. will be collecting new toys, clothing,
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Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes By Jody Morgan
News accounts labeled March 21, 2009, the deadliest day for California law enforcement since 1970 and the worst loss of life for police officers nationwide since 9/11. A shooting rampage triggered by the routine traffic stop of a convicted felon claimed the lives of four Oakland police officers. The response The Fallen Heroes organization pays tribute to CHP Officer of shocked and sad- Kenyon Youngstrom, shot in the course of a traffic stop on dened San Ramon Val- I-680, Alamo. Photo courtesy of The Fallen Heroes. ley residents determined to help evolved into an organization that not only pays tribute to California police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty, but also provides scholarship support to the children they have left behind and preventative financial assistance to agencies throughout the state otherwise unable to afford basic safety equipment. Now past the five-year mark defining a non-profit as viable and here-to-stay, Police and Fire: The Fallen Heroes continues to be small enough to act immediately and large enough to make a major impact. Oakland Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Gallinatti was sidelined with the injury that led to his retirement when the 2009 tragedy occurred. Reaching out to him as a member with personal ties to the agency involved,
The Bulldozers Come in December
Each FaF team member had crafted at least one paper bead and were very proud of themselves! Front row - Hailey Hunter (SRVHS), Morgan Graziadei (AHS), Kira Weiss (MVHS), Leah DeLaPena (SRVHS), Makenna Doliber (MVHS), and Taylor Chang (MVHS). Back row, Nicki Pryte (MVHS),Cole Kuhnsman (SRVHS), and Tim Scatterday (SRVHS) with Akello Esther.
Local Postal Customer
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The Weiss family lived and loved soccer. As soon as the kids could walk, they were kicking a soccer ball. Dad became their coach and their weekends and weeknights revolved around the sport. In 2006, eight-year-old Kira, along with her older brothers Kyle and Garrett and their parents, traveled to Germany to attend the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They found themselves at a game featuring Angola and Iran. They saw the Iranian fans in their green and red team colors flooding the stadium, and then in the corner they saw a very small section of red shirts and Angolan flags. It was Angola’s first year ever playing in the World Cup, and the players knew that they were not nearly as competitive as the other teams. However, the Angolan fans loved their team, and the feeling was contagious. Just their team making it to the World Cup was a major achievement for this impoverished country. Organized sports are a luxury that most cannot afford in Angola. Daily life for many African children consists of little or no education, near starvation, and lack of medical care. The Weiss kids realized their fortune of having grown up in the Danville area with playable fields, sufficient equipment, and organized soccer teams. Meeting the Angolan fans, seeing their excitement, and hearing their passion for a mutually loved sport motivated Kyle and Garrett to return home and create an organization they named FUNDaFIELD (FaF). They hoped to bring to African children the same enjoyment they had experienced growing up on a soccer field. The initial goal was to raise $100,000 for soccer fields and equipment. Volume XIV - Number 11 In the last seven years the kid-run FaF team built 10 soccer fields in three 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, countries; held 12 soccer tournaments with 2,602 kids competing and many Alamo, CA 94507 thousands of spectators; distributed 11,810 soccer socks, jerseys, balls, shorts, Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 and cleats; and currently has one soccer Fax (925) 406-0547 PRSRT STD field under construction in Haiti. U.S. Postage Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PAID In 2010 Kira was 12 years old when Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 Sharon Burke ~ Writer she took her first trip to Uganda with Alamo CA The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do FaF. She connected with the people in not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today ECRWSS See Bulldozers cont.on page 28 is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.