PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLEASANTON, CA PERMIT NO. 548
Dublin San Ramon Services District, Pleasanton court to limit hours. Page 6
Vol. I, Number 13 • October 26, 2009
DUBLIN EDITION
INSIDE
Happy campers: The Taylor Family Foundation needs help in sending kids to camp. Page 5 Cuts lead to closure: Tight budgets lead
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Around the Tri-Valley Get those flu shots before it gets you
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arly anxiety over the swine flu has waned a bit primarily because the large numbers of flu-like illnesses being reported are just that: typical influenza that we deal with every year. It’s early for a flu outbreak, which usually comes in the late fall/early winter time frame. This year’s outbreak is catching many before we’ve gotten our annual flu shots although the lines at grocery and drug stores and other locations that are providing the shots show that we’re lifting our shirtsleeves quickly to gain protection from the disease. Flu is nothing to slough off. A typical flu outbreak kills about 36,000 people each year in the U.S., with most victims already suffering from other health complications. Now, with the weather getting cooler and people spending more time indoors, germs flourish, infections spread more easily and the worst may be yet to come. That’s especially true in our schools in the Tri-Valley, where we’re seeing an increase in the number of students who are absent due to reported flulike symptoms. Elementary schools are reporting a higher number of absences due to flu-like symptoms. Families with children in individual elementary classrooms that find five or more students are home with the flu are being notified by their teachers. At middle and high schools, the principals are notifying families if there are more than 20 students with these symptoms at a grade level. No one really knows if any of these cases are the H1N1 virus since most suspected cases of the swine flu have been mild or moderate, hardly distinguishable from the typical flu, which, as we all know, can be bad enough. That’s why everyone should have a regular flu shot as soon as possible and then consider the H1N1 vaccination when it becomes available. Health experts tell us that virus-
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es are unpredictable and adaptable, and a mild strain can mutate into something that packs a nasty punch. Anyone in the family who travels should be especially vigilant since some countries — India, for one — are shutting down colleges, schools, movie theaters and other places where people congregate to help contain the H1N1 and other flu outbreaks. Last June, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic, a super-epidemic, although again, it’s unclear if it was a typical flu or H1N1 epidemic. Adding to the uncertainty was a report by a presidential advisory group in August of a “plausible scenario” in which a swine flu epidemic could cause up to 90,000 deaths, three times the number felled in a typical flu season. Fortunately, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention countered that the toll would most likely not approach that number. Clearly, as we are already seeing in our public schools, this could be a worse-than-average flu season, which is why so many of us are rushing to have the shots. It’s the second time around for the flu concerns. In the initial outbreaks last spring, several schools closed in neighboring counties, although not in Alameda, and there were twoto-three suspected H1N1 cases in Pleasanton, although those turned out to be typical flu illnesses. In New York, where the outbreak was the biggest, 800,000 New Yorkers, or about 10 percent of the city’s population, developed symptoms attributed to the swine flu virus. Here, students were barely at their desks for the new school year before teachers, school nurses and others started lecturing them on the necessity to wash their hands often, use sanitizers that schools are now providing and cover their mouths when coughing. This is good because, as the Brooking Institution reported last month, closing schools and day care centers across the country because of swine flu could cost between $10 billion and $47 billion in lost revenue, salaries and unscheduled time off for parents who also must stay home to care for children who are out of school. n
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Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi, Alameda County Congestion Management CY Agency Executive Director Dennis Fay and Congressman Jerry McNerney experience the CMY new HOV lane along eastbound I-580 on a WHEELS bus ride taken after the ceremony. Photo by Janet Pelletier. K
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TriValley Views and TriValleyViews. com are products of Embarcadero Publishing’s East Bay Division, which publishes Pleasanton Weekly and Danville Weekly. ©2009 Embarcadero Publishing
Publisher Art & Production Gina Channell-Allen Lead Designers Trina Cannon Editorial Designers Editor Lili Cao Jeb Bing Kristin Herman Managing Editor Manuel Valenzuela Janet Pelletier Marcus Woodworth Living Editor Ad Services Emily West Sandy Lee
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TriValley Views • October 26, 2009 • Page 3
First segment of Interstate 580 carpool lane complete Work starts on second phase of project, and Isabel/84 interchange in Livermore
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BY JANET PELLETIER City leaders and elected officials recently lauded transportation improvements that are expected to bring some relief to the 150,000 people who commute daily on Interstate I-580. The California Department of Transportation held a ceremony in Livermore earlier this month for the completion of five miles of what is planned to be an 11-mile high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane on eastbound I-580. The $123-million project, which broke ground in August 2008, is being funded by state Proposition 1B, a transportation bond passed by voters in 2006. This is the first in a three-phase project. The first segment runs from the Portola Road overcrossing to Greenville Road. The second phase will be from Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton east to Portola and the final phase will include the construction of auxiliary lanes from Isabel Avenue to North Livermore Avenue and from North Livermore Avenue to First Street. The HOV lane is anticipated to shave time off of motorists’ commutes as well as encourage carpooling. Interstate 580 is one of the most congested freeways in the Bay Area. The eastbound commute in the evening is the third worst, and the worst on a permile basis, according to a study by Caltrans and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty praised all who worked on the project, saying it came in on time and within budget. “I drive out on this road every day and I’m looking forward to
JANET PELLETIER
From L-R: Caltrans District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi, Alameda County Congestion Management Agency Executive Director Dennis Fay and Congressman Jerry McNerney experience the new HOV lane along eastbound I-580 on a WHEELS bus ride taken after the ceremony.
using it,” he said. Haggerty said the carpool lane will not only improve congestion, but also air quality. The HOV lane is just one of a few improvements made in the past year to help ease traffic backup in the mornings and early evening weekdays. Metering lights that were installed at on-ramps along I-580 “are saving 10, 15, 20 minutes on (motorists’) commute times,” he said. While the HOV lane is for carpoolers, solo drivers will be able to use the express lane by paying a toll. Congressman Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, whose district includes the I-580 corridor, helped secure federal funding for the project and said the freeway is very important to national trade.
“This is a true corridor,” he said. “It opens the Bay Area to the rest of the country, Stockton. The more we keep this flowing, the more it benefits the country.” State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, echoed McNerney’s comments, adding that the population in the Tri-Valley region has grown from west to east and as a result, I-580 has become a parking lot during the commute periods. “One of the greatest challenges we have ... is getting people from point A to point B,” she said, adding that this will benefit the movement of goods with the Port of Oakland, the third largest port in the state, and the Port of Stockton, the fourth largest. ■
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Lawsuit against ValleyCare Health System may head to trial Patients’ rights group claims health organization has monopoly on providing medical care BY JANET PELLETIER A lawsuit filed by a patients’ rights group against ValleyCare Health System may possibly be headed to trial. The Patient Physician Alliance, which bills itself as a grassroots organization based in Berkeley, states in its claim that ValleyCare, which operates a hospital in Pleasanton and medical offices in Livermore, “has hired doctors through an illegally formed entity in violation of state law.” In its claim, filed in Alameda County Sept. 2, the alliance said ValleyCare must have 40 participating doctors in 10 different specialties in accordance with state law. The suit also alleges that the medical provider engages in unfair business practices. “Specifically, the hospital is using its power to refer patients to favor its employed physicians over community doctors; it is using its real estate holdings to force doctors out of their offices and ultimately out of private
practice altogether as a means of recruiting physicians into the hospital’s controlled group,” said Charles Bond, an attorney representing the Patient-Physician Alliance. Bond said because of this, patients will have less choice as to who cares for them. “The hospital is using unfair strong-arm tactics to drive private physicians out of business so the hospital can take over the entire delivery of health care in the area,” he said. The alliance had sought a restraining order forcing ValleyCare to close its medical foundation clinic immediately, but an Alameda County judge denied its request Sept. 18, ordering the suit to go to trial. For its part, ValleyCare denies an impropriety and said the accusations are just that — accusations. “The lobbying organization sought to convince the court that the medical foundation was not
Providing high quality childcare and educational programs
operating in compliance with a statute that exempts the medical foundation from clinic licensure requirements as a clinic that contracts with a group of 40 or more physicians,” ValleyCare spokeswoman Denise Bouillerce said in a statement. Bouillerce said the medical foundation does comply — its 41 doctors are associated with ValleyCare Physicians Associates, which is an independent medical group owned and controlled by physicians who practice in the Tri-Valley. ValleyCare, a nonprofit health provider, has been operating in the region since 1961. The Patient Physician’s Alliance filed an amended complaint late last month to challenge the judge’s ruling. A case management conference to go over matters in the case has been scheduled tentatively for Jan. 15 and at that point, the judge will decide whether the case will go to trial and when. ■
Embracing childhood The Taylor Family Foundation seeks help in sending kids to camp
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BY EMILY WEST For kids attending Camp Arroyo in Livermore, it’s not just about having fun at summer camp, it’s about feeling normal. Run by the Taylor Family Foundation, it serves kids with special needs who may not normally have a chance to have the classic childhood experience. Ellen Taylor, president and founder of TTFF, said the bonds campers create during a summer or weekend camp continue beyond the limits of Camp Arroyo. “We want these kids to come together and learn from each other,” she said. “They can build a sense of community, hope and awareness.” It’s also helpful for the family members, with parents able to access information on topics like insurance and siblings connecting with other siblings to lean on each other. Founded in 1990, the foundation offers programs for kids with lifethreatening and chronic diseases, developmental disabilities and those who are at-risk. Camps are held at Camp Arroyo, located near Lake del Valle in southeastern Livermore. The facility started in 2000 in a partnership with the East Bay Regional Park District and is co-operated by the YMCA of the East Bay. Children come from all over Northern California with afflictions such as brain tumors, skin disease, diabetes, AIDS and burn survivors, to name a few, are able to come together and have carefree fun. While medical treatments and equipment could prevent these children from attending a typical camp, the facilities at Camp Arroyo have been designed to accommodate the campers. In listing some of the more popular activities, Taylor said swimming
o omething to crow ab
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THE TAYLOR FAMILY FOUNDATION
At Camp Arroyo kids with special needs are able to put those aside to be a kid. Put on by the Taylor Family Foundation, these camps include activities such as water games on the meadow, skit and talent nights in the amphitheater, rock climbing and swimming, just to name a few.
in the 3,500-square-foot adapted pool is up there, along with the rock wall for climbing, ropes course, horse program, activities in the meadow, and skit and talent nights at the amphitheater. “Each group brings in their own activities,” Taylor said, mentioning casino night with jelly beans to pirate nights. “Every group has a dance night, which may be the most fun. Some are like proms because some children are so sick that they may never go to the prom.” Yet, times are tough for area nonprofits and TTFF is not immune. Earlier this year, Taylor announced the cancellation of their popular fundraiser, Day in the Park. The down economy would make it difficult for restaurants to participate, as many of them are no longer in business. Without strong financial support
as in years past, the foundation has had to reduce staffing in order not to affect the program offerings, which are still in high demand. Taylor said the camp calendar is booked through 2011 and said they will continue to find ways for the nearly 3,000 campers they serve each year to be able to attend. Right now, the effort is being made through their latest fundraising effort called Kids-to-Camp. The foundation is seeking donations big or small to provide direct services to campers. “Now is the time we need donations the most, to provide our nearly 3,000 Bay Area campers the best time of their lives, so they can enjoy our camp and provide a respite time for almost 6,000 parents of the campers,” she said. To learn more about the Taylor Family Foundation or to donate, call 455-5118 or visit www.ttff.org. ■
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Carden West School
Area agencies plan closures due to budget cuts CARDEN WEST SCHOOL Success for every child, every day
School Tours Every Wed. & Sat. 10 am to 12 noon or by appointment at (925) 463-6060 or www.cardenwest.org
• 1st-6th Grade • Full-Day Kindergarten • Pre-Kindergarten • Preschool • Toddler Program • Extended Care • Summer Camp
The Dublin San Ramon Services District in Dublin and Alameda County Courthouse in Pleasanton are two agencies joining a growing number of others in planned closures to save money amidst budget cuts. The DSRSD administrative office is now being closed on alternate Fridays through September of next year. The district has reduced operating expenses by laying off employees and asking others to take unpaid time off. Closing the office every other Friday enables the district to schedule employee furloughs efficiently, provide a predictable schedule for custom-
ers, and reduce heating and air conditioning costs, according to General Manager Bert Michalczyk. The administrative office, located at 7051 Dublin Blvd., will be closed on the following Fridays and holidays during the remainder of 2009: Oct. 30; Nov. 13, 26 and 27; and Dec. 11 and 25. The alternate Friday closures will continue through September 2010. The Dublin San Ramon Services District serves more than 143,000 customers, providing water service to Dublin and Dougherty Valley and wastewater collection and treatment to Dublin, south San Ramon, and Pleasanton (by con-
tract). For more information, visit www.dsrsd.com. A budget-cutting plan to close all California courts one day per month went into effect for the first time last month, including the Alameda County Courthouse in Pleasanton. The closures on the third Wednesday of each month will apply to all state courts, including the trial-level superior courts of 58 counties, six regional appeals courts and the California Supreme Court. The plan was approved by the California Judicial Council, the governing body of the state court system, in July. The shutdowns
will continue until the end of the fiscal year in June 2010, but will be reconsidered by the council in January. The closure days will be treated as holidays for purposes of calculating court deadlines. As on holidays and weekends, one judge in each court will be available to sign emergency orders. The council was authorized by the state Legislature to select a method of closing courts one day per month to cut costs during the state’s budget crisis. The remaining closure days in the current fiscal year will be Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 16.
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Axis Community Health, which provides medical, mental health, substance abuse counseling and health education services to the uninsured and underinsured, recently received two grants totaling $35,000. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District awarded Axis Community Health $30,000 to provide direct medical and educational interventions for approxi-
Dublin
mately 335 patients who suffer from severe asthma. The grant will allow for one-on-one medical care that will include educational sessions, telephone advice and follow-up care from Axis’ medical staff and program nurse. In addition, $5,000 was received from Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS), the contract manager for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as part of
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its 2009 LLNS Community Gift Program. The funds will provide additional medical visits for lowincome Tri-Valley children who otherwise would not be able to access medical care. “At a time when our patient load is exploding due to layoffs and the resulting increase of uninsured people in our community, these funds are urgently needed and very much appreciated,” said
Axis CEO Sue Compton. “The Lab funding will allow us to serve more children by extending hours at our pediatric clinics and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District funding will help us to significantly improve the health of low income patients who are struggling with asthma.” —Janet Pelletier
Dublin awarded stimulus funds $187,000 will be used toward energy efficient lighting at city parks
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Stimulus funds recently awarded to the city of Dublin by the federal government will be used to install energy efficient lights in parks. The funds total $186,700 and are coming in the form of a clean energy project grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They were allocated by the U.S. Department of Energy to help communities improve energy efficiency and create local jobs. Rosemary Alex, who is Dublin’s parks and facilities development coordinator, said the city is planning to use the money in two or three of the following parks: Alamo Creek, Shannon, Kolb, Dolan and Mape. Specifically, the city will embark on an LED light retrofit project that will help reduce municipal energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by replacing older public lighting within the parks with newer and more efficient lighting technology. “The LED lights are more energy efficient, so it will reduce our cost of energy consumption over the long term, thus saving money,” Alex said.
“By choosing to conduct an energy efficiency project within city parks, the project will be visible to the community and provide envi-
“The city is planning to use the money in two or three of the following parks: Alamo Creek, Shannon, Kolb, Dolan and Mape.”
ronmental and safety benefits to all Dublin residents,” Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti said. “It is anticipated that the project’s visibility will increase interest in more energy efficient practices elsewhere within the city.” Alex said design work would most likely begin after the first of the year. “I would anticipate construction to begin sometime next summer and fall,” she said. ■
Goings On a calendar of TriValley
events worth a look
Oct. 27-Dec. 1 Write a Novel in a Month In this class, write more than you ever thought, learn about yourself and your writing process, gain confidence in your creativity, and pound out the rough draft of novel. It meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays from Oct. 27 to Dec. 1. Class is $99 and $15 for materials. Call 424-1467 or visit www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed.
Oct. 29 Twilight of the Bombs Pulitzer Prize winner, Richard Rhodes, is the author or editor of 22 books and the recipient of numerous fellowships and grants for research and writing. He will speak at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Tickets are $30-$40 for adults and $15-$20 for students 21 and under. Call 373-6800 or visit www.livermoreperformingarts.org.
Oct. 31 Senior Health Summit Visit with health and resource vendors at the Senior Health Summit, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd., Dublin. Enjoy free presentations, food, music, giveaways, and sign up for raffle prizes and more. Sponsored by Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Senior Helpers, and the Dublin Senior Center. Call 556-4511.
EMILY WEST
People check out the produce at the new farmers market taking place Fridays and Sundays at the Stoneridge Shopping Center.
Holiday Drive for Operation: S.A.M. Remembering our Heroes Winter-Holiday Drive, sponsored by Operation: S.A.M. (Supporting All Military) will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 at Pleasanton WalMart, 4501 Rosewood Drive. Call 4437620 or visit www.operationsam.org.
Nov. 1
Nov. 11
Chuckles for Charity
American Red Cross Public Blood Drive
Four comedians will entertain from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 at Bunjo’s Comedy Club, 6513 Regional St., Dublin. Proceeds to benefit the Arc of Alameda County, a nonprofit that provides life-skills and vocational training to people with developmental disabilities. Tickets are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Call 510-357-3727 or visit www.arcalameda. org.
Nov. 7 Animal Lover’s Boutique Help Tri-Valley animals while shopping for unique gifts for people and pets, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, Feline Medical Center, 3160 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton. Proceeds will benefit the Just Like New Fund which assists with onetime emergency veterinary costs for sick or injured pets to prevent euthanasia due to lack of funds. Visit www.valleyhumane. org or call 484-1224.
The American Red Cross is holding a public blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Safeway Fitness Facility, 5858 Stoneridge Mall Road. Call 800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or go to HelpSaveALife.org/NC (Sponsor Code: SAFEWAY84) to schedule an appointment.
Nov. 16-23 Operation Christmas Child Collection Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritanís Purse, will be collected gift-filled shoe boxes to hurting children around the world. The organization hopes to collect 8.2 million boxes this year, with a goal of 50,000 for the Bay Area. CrossWinds Church, 6444 Sierra Court, will accept boxes from Nov. 16 to 23. For more information, call 800-3431459 or visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
Nov. 19 Put a Little Love In Your Heart This event, supporting Open Heart Kitchen, is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Blacksmith Square, 21 South Livermore Ave., Livermore. It features classic rock guitarist Roger Kardinal, wine tasting and appetizers, jewelry and sports memorabilia sales, and raffle prizes. Call 580-6793 or visit openheartkitchen.org.
Dec. 13 Bay Bells — Light a Candle Bay Bells will perform a holiday concert at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Shannon Community Center, 11600 Shannon Ave., Dublin. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 12 and younger. Reservations recommended. Call 556-4500 or visit www.dublinrecguide.com (No. 21930).
Ongoing Networking event Career Networking Event for Executives Executives are invited to a Breakfast Career Networking meeting for mid- and senior-management from 7:30-9:30 a.m., on the third Tuesday of every month, at Mimi’s Cafe, 4775 Hacienda Dr., Dublin. Cost is $25 for members; $30 for nonmembers if pre-registered; $35 at the door. Call 218-1868.
Farmers Market Island Earth’s farmers market is open from noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in the parking lot between Macy’s and Sears at Stoneridge Shopping Center. It features organic produce, artisan wares, fresh flowers and more. Call 415-834-5358 or visit islandearthfarmersmarket.org.
YMCA Model Court/ Legislature YMCA Youth & Government program is open to high school students this year. Teens will have fun learning and meeting people from all parts of California. Call Jeff, 475-6108, or visit www.calymca.org/ mlc.
Animal Fosters Needed Tri-Valley Animal Rescue is looking for fosters for cats, kittens, dogs and puppies. We provide training on how to be a foster, food and vet care; you provide love and a place for them to stay until they are adopted. For cats/kittens call Linda 961-0260 for dogs/puppies call Lisa 3559039. Visit www.tvar.org.
Volunteer Drivers Senior Support Program of the TriValley is looking for Volunteer Drivers to transport seniors to their medical appointments. The Senior Transportation Program supplements existing public and paratransit services by providing rides via volunteer drivers. For information, call Jennifer at 931-5387. TriValley Views • October 26, 2009 • Page 7
W O N ! N E OP
Don Ramon’s Restaurant Famous for authentic & delicious carnitas
Grand Opening Special!
★
San Ramon Rd.
Buy One Meal at Regular Price & Receive the Second Meal for 50% off. t s Second meal must be of equal or akfa e r B d lesser value. Cannot be combined e Serv Sun with any other offer. & . Offer expires 11/23/09. t Sa Book Your Holiday Parties and Catering Today.
Amador Valley Blvd.
925-828-8100 7268 San Ramon Road • Dublin In the Lamps Plus Plaza
580
Monday thru Thursday 10 am – 9 pm Friday 11 am – 10 pm • Saturday 8 am - 10 pm • Sunday 8 am - 9 pm
p a r a d i s e
r e s t a u r a n t EstablishEd 1990
Open 7 Days a week 3 locations Danville • Blackhawk • Dublin
Lunch Specials Daily from $7.95 Includes Appetizer & Soup of the Day Fried or Steamed Rice Served 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dinners – Family Style for Party of Two or More Starting at $14.95 per person
3rd location now open!
4580 Dublin Blvd. • Dublin, CA 94568
925-556-9988 Page 8 • October 26, 2009 • TriValley Views
Dine In • Take Out • Deliver • Catering • Corporate Events We Deliver from Alamo to Dublin 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
www.ChinaParadiseRestaurant.net