TriValley Views 11.22.2009 - Section 1

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Livermore Airport face-off Bay Area’s 4th largest field faces critics over growth PAGE 4

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Around the Tri-Valley Horses don’t come cheap, but the lifestyle is exhilarating

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arah Vernlund doesn’t have any children but she has hundreds scattered throughout the Tri-Valley and beyond whom she considers part of her extended family. Many of them are accomplished equestrians who first learned to ride as 7-year-olds during Vernlund’s 30 years as a professional riding instructor and trainer, much of it spent on her Highland Riding farm just off Tassajara Road near Dublin. She lives on the 5.6-acre ranch with her husband Tom Hall, an environmental engineering consultant in Oakland. They met at the University of Vermont where they both rode horses and she had just earned the North American Junior Team riding championship. By then, Sarah Vernlund already had 12 years of horseback riding and jumping experience behind her, jumping onto ponies, she says, as soon as she no longer fit in her baby carriage. Her mother, still living at the family home in Connecticut, raised Morgan horses, a particularly popular breed, so the lifestyle of riding was already engrained in Vernlund and her sisters. After earning advanced degrees at the University of Florida — she in dairy science and her husband in environmental engineering — they headed to UC Berkeley where Hall pursued a doctorate. Vernlund went to work as a trainer for horse farms in Richmond and later in Martinez before the couple found “the most perfect and scenic place in the Valley,” which she named Highland. Every morning, she goes galloping off around the farm or at competitions around the country, and in recent years always on her 9-year-old grey gelding KF MacGuiness, or Mackie for short. Together, they’ve won a number of competitions including finishing in fourth place among more than 100 entries in last weekend’s Gateway Downs International at Temecula,

By Jeb Bing

in southern California. Turning 55 years old this month, Vernlund has turned over the horse training program at Highland Farms to her partner Alex Helffrich. Although she plans to slow down a bit, she has no plans to hang up her spurs. I’m not much for horseback riding, usually regretting the next day the physical fallout of an hour or two in the saddle. So it was fascinating to see the skills and determination of Vernlund and Mackie because the two really have a highly visible partnership. It requires togetherness when competing in cross-country endurance tests, with Mackie sensing every touch and feel of Vernlund on top of him as they approach 3-foot, 7-inch barriers, with Vernlund high off the saddle and leaning far forward parallel to Mackie’s back as he jumps high to clear the obstacle and then moves forward back onto the path or sometimes into a water landing. Both have to have the absolute confidence of their partner to make these successful jumps, trusting each other to make the right moves. This is part of the training Vernlund offers to her students, usually about 7 years old when they take their first lessons. She has a stable of highly trained horses to help soften the first 30-minute lessons. To develop their skills, Vernlund insists that they ride two or three times a week, always on her horses, not theirs if they own one. At age 13, most are ready to move to competitive riding and jumping, which means they leave Highland Farms for professional trainers she recommends. This is also the age when those enthused and committed lease or buy a horse of their own, boarding them but also providing daily care. It’s not an inexpensive lifestyle. Vernlund’s lessons cost $200 a month. That usually jumps to $500 or more for more advanced training and boarding. Horses can be leased but Vernlund says real horse enthusiasts want their own. But be prepared for the sticker shock. Vernlund says a horse suitable for showing and competition can cost $15,000. I know now why I never really got into the sport. n C

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ABOUT THE COVER Air Traffic Control Tower operated by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees at Livermore Municipal Airport operates daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and handles 30 flights a day, including jet traffic serving Tri-Valley businesses. Photo by Janet Pelletier.

ViewS TriValley

TriValley Views and TriValleyViews.com are products of Embarcadero Media’s East Bay Division, which publishes Pleasanton Weekly, Danville Express and San Ramon Express ©2009 Embarcadero Media

Publisher Art & Production Gina Channell-Allen Lead Designer Trina Cannon Editorial Editor Designers Jeb Bing Lili Cao Kristin Herman Managing Editor Manuel Valenzuela Janet Pelletier Features Editor Ad Services Emily West Sandy Lee

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Livermore Airport face-off Bay Area’s 4th largest field faces critics over growth

By Jeb Bing An ambitious plan to rezone and modernize the Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) will go before city planners and eventually the Livermore City Council early next year to set new standards for airport operations, allow more commercial-support businesses and replace an outdated 1975 master plan that still considers the 643-acre airport site suitable for educational and institutional uses. The proposed new zoning plan would bring a 403-acre portion of the airport into compliance with standards affecting its current and future operations. These would allow adding more airport hangars, air-related office and fuel services, fuel services and a host of airport business operations. In promoting its airport and the need for change, officials said that LVK, now the 10th busiest airport in California, will have an increasingly important role in the future development of the Tri-Valley. “With the Tri-Valley population projected to increase approximately 25 percent in the next 15 years, the airport will be called upon to serve the growing air transportation needs of local businesses, as well as many area residents,” a city of Livermore brochure states. The airport is owned and operated by the city of Livermore. The airport is a general avia-

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tion airport which serves private, hangars are rented and there is a business and corporate tenants waiting list of over 200 people. and customers. Located at the The airport has approximately 600 western edge of Livermore next based aircraft, more than 150,000 to Pleasanton’s Staples Ranch and annual aircraft operations and sells across Interstate 580 from Dublin, over 650,000 gallons of aviation fuel the airfield has two parallel run- each year. The airfield is accessible 24 ways: a 5,255-foot lighted main hours a day with its Air Traffic Control runway, and Tower oper2,700-foot ated by Federal Although many people unlighted trainAviation ing runway. Administration are opposed to jet aircraft, The site also (FAA) employcontains 24 cityees daily from these are actually the owned buildings 7 a.m. to 9 that consist of 392 planes that are the quiet- p.m. aircraft storage hangar units, a est today. Even so, no one A l t h o u g h 2,400-square-foot pilots, private terminal building, should worry. Our opera- aircraft ownan aircraft storers and many age shelter, and tions are down consider- b u s i n e s s e s a corporate-style that use the hangar building ably these days because of airport have containing 18,000 been pushing square feet of for increased the economy. hangar space and operational Leander Hauri, 2,400 square feet services, critics Airport Manager of office space. of any airport The airport expansion are owns and operates a 45,000-gallon working to halt the rezoning plan underground aviation fuel storage and any upgrades. Max Curtis of facility, dispenses fuel via four tank Amberwood Way was among 75 trucks, and maintains a 24-hour who attended a recent Livermore self-serve fuel island with two Planning Commission workshop on pumps. It has 250 ramp tie-down the rezoning plan. He said the numaircraft parking spaces of which ber of jets that will eventually use over 100 are currently rented. All the Livermore Airport will be many

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more than are projected and said the commercial development proposal is necessary. Curtis is also among those in the Livermore Airport Citizens Group (LACG) who are circulating a petition in Livermore to block the measure and to force the city to require public votes on any improvement or expansion plans. The most vocal complainers at the meeting, however, including a few from Pleasanton, objected to the noise of planes — especially jet aircraft — flying over their homes. Susan Frost, Livermore’s principal planner, said that jet operations only represent about 1 percent of total flights into and out of the airport. Even if today’s projections are accurate, by 2030, jets would account for 3,000 flights at the airport, or about 1.4 percent. She also said that because of a phase out of noisy aircraft and a voluntary restraint on nighttime flying, noise complaints have dropped 59 percent since 2006. But residents who spoke at the workshop said complaints have only dropped because people have become frustrated at the boilerplate response they get with no resulting changes. Among the complaints Livermore has received to its airport rezoning plan, the most troubling was likely a letter sent two weeks ago by Brian Dolan, Pleasanton’s director of community development. In the letter, which had the approval of the Pleasanton City Council, he wrote that “if Livermore adopts the (airport rezoning) project, mitigation measures should be adopted that discourage jets and other noisy planes from using the airport.” Livermore pointed out that several of Pleasanton’s largest companies use the airport, either flying their corporate jets from there or having their contactors and suppliers from other parts of the country touch down at Livermore in corporate jets to drop off sales and management executives for meetings. “Although many people are opposed to jet aircraft, these are actually the planes that are the quietest today,” said Livermore Airport Manager Leander Hauri. “Even so, no one should worry. Our operations are down considerably these days because of the economy.” The 1975 Airport Master Plan projected that as many as 340,000 operations per year would occur by 1995. The highest number of flight operations ever achieved at the airport was 282,621 in 1993. The current number of flight operations is less than 159,000 per year. The flight forecast included in the Draft EIR projects that there will be 220,100 operations by 2030. Daily traffic last month totaled about 300 flights, half of what the airport had a year ago. The downturn is attributed both to the sluggish economy and to the continued high cost of airplane fuel. Although motorists are paying less for gasoline, airplane fuel today costs $4.42 a gallon with a typical small plane burning about 12 gal-

lons an hour. Jet traffic is also down as businesses curb corporate flying. The number of Livermore-based corporate jets has also remained steady at seven, although Livermore Vice Mayor John Marchand told an airport discussion group recently that more jets based at Livermore would actually reduce the number of flights these planes now make in and out of the airport and would add significantly to Livermore’s tax revenue because of their multimillion-dollar valuations. According to a report, in fiscal year 2002-03, taxes paid by aircraft owners and LVK tenants resulted in nearly $800,000 in direct payments to the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, the city of Livermore, Alameda County and various countywide special districts. Those tax payments would significantly increase if more jets were based at Livermore, according to Marchand. Livermore officials have long scoffed at critics’ suggestions that someday their airport could become a major jet facility or even attract a commercial carrier, as Stockton’s airport once did. In fact, the exiting terminal building is slated to be torn down under the new plan. Also, no changes to the runway lengths are proposed with the airport rezoning. However, Livermore cannot restrict the number of flight operations at the airport or the number of jets that can be based there. Under both federal law, and under the contractual “Grant Assurances” required by the Federal Aviation Administration when Livermore received funds to build the airport in the 1960s, the city is precluded from discriminating against various types, kinds and classes of aviation uses at the airport. To prohibit these types of activities would violate federal law and the airport’s federal grant assurances. The city also could not legally prohibit air cargo service should a carrier such as FedEx choose to use the airport. However, officials point out that as a practical matter, the possibility of an air cargo service relocating to the Livermore airport is extremely remote. They argue that there is enough capacity for this type of service at the three major international airports in the Bay Area that serve much more effectively as air cargo hubs. Despite Livermore’s projections that air traffic using its airport is much lower than earlier forecast, Dolan, in his letter, said that “impacts from jet travel could be significant in those portions of Pleasanton lying under the flight path and those portions near the airport.” “There are numerous existing residences, parks and an elementary school under or near the flight path,” Dolan said. “Livermore staff has regularly received complaints from Pleasanton residents about existing airport operations, and any increases in jet flights will inevitable lead to additional complaints unless effective and enforceable mitigations are implemented.” n

Fiorina pledges no new taxes as she opens campaign for Senate seat

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By Jeb Bing Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina brought her campaign for the U.S. Senate in the June 8 California primary to the Tri-Valley recently, promising that if elected she would work to hold the line on federal regulations and taxes while working to focus the Senate’s attention on incentives for the private sector — not Washington — to create jobs for Americans. In her bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer next year, Fiorina, 55, said her business experience makes her the GOP candidate best able to defeat Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer in next year’s general election. She said increased federal spending and record-high deficits were sapping the financial strength of the country and adding to the long-term tax obligations for all Americans. She vowed to never vote for any tax increase as a senator and to focus her energies on job-creation, “which is the No. 1 concern in this country today.” She said Boxer has no understanding of the needs of the private sector, has never met a payroll and that in her 13 years as a senator has only seen three of her co-sponsored bills passed into law. Her remarks were made earlier this month at an invitation-only presentation at Goal Line Productions in Hacienda Business Park in Pleasanton, which was sponsored by the Tri-Valley Business Council. The same organization also sponsored a campaign stop by California gubernatorial candidate and Republican

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Meg Whitman two months ago. More than 150 filled Goal Line’s large production studio with Mayor Abram Wilson of San Ramon the most prominent local official to attend. No elected leaders from Pleasanton, Dublin or Livermore attended, although Anne White of the Livermore school board joined the meeting. Several from the Danville town council were on the invitation list, including Mayor Newell Arnerich, but none stood up to be recognized when the business council’s executive director Toby Brink introduced them. Fiorina surprised some at the rally who had not seen her since her surgery last March and subsequent treatments for breast cancer. With her hair cropped short compared to her pre-cancer campaign photos given out at the Goal Line reception desk,

Dublin accepting nominations for Citizen of the Year Young Citizen of the Year and Organization of the Year picks also requested The City of Dublin is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Organization of the Year. The purpose of the awards is to recognize outstanding individuals and groups who have contributed to the quality of life in Dublin this past year. Nomination criteria for both the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Awards are based on the Dublin Pride — Integrity in Action Program’s 10 Characteristics: Responsibility, Respectfulness, Caring, Giving, Positive Attitude, Trustworthiness, Cooperation, Doing One’s Best, Honesty and Self-Discipline. The Young Citizen of the Year recognizes the volunteer service of Dublin’s

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youth in first through 12th grades. Nominations can be made online at www.ci.dublin.ca.us or by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 833-6650. The nomination deadline is Jan. 28. Nominees will be recognized at the City Council meeting on Feb. 16 and then invited to attend a recognition event to be held at the Shannon Community Center on Feb. 19, where the winners will be announced. The Organization of the Year will receive a $500 cash prize, and a $300 donation will be given to each the Citizen and Youth Citizen of the Year’s favorite nonprofit organization. —Janet Pelletier

she talked about her “crazy hair-do,” adding that after nine months of chemotherapy, “Barbara Boxer just isn’t that scary.” “She has always taken the low road to higher office, so get ready,” said added. “But it’s OK, I can take a punch and I can throw a punch.” Boxer has the edge in Democraticleaning California, but Fiorina’s entry means that she could face her greatest challenge since first elected to the Senate in 1992. That’s of course if the charismatic former business leader wins the GOP nomination in June. So far, her only opponent is Chuck Devore, 47, of Irvine, a long-term conservative. Well-known in state GOP circles, he has little name recognition across the state and lacks the financial campaign war chest that Fiorina brings to the race. n

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Holiday ice rink open in downtown Pleasanton Parking will be at a premium in and around the library through rink’s operation, which will end Jan. 10 By Janet Pelletier There’s a new holiday ice rink installed for the winter season and it doesn’t require trekking all the way to Walnut Creek anymore. San Jose Arena Management, which owns the San Jose Sharks hockey team, began operating a holiday rink today in the parking lot of the Pleasanton Library downtown. The rink is being operated and managed by SJAM in a deal that was announced a few months ago between the company and the city of Pleasanton. SJAM will pay all costs of building and operating the rink with the city contributing about $20,000 for added power and lighting, costs that will be reimbursed from SJAM profits from ticket sales and sponsorships. All net proceeds from the operations of the winter rink will be donated to Pleasanton education, sports and recreational activities. The city and SJAM have signed a five-year contract for a holiday rink, but the library location was not the preferred choice. City Manager Nelson Fialho has said he hopes to persuade Domus or Round Table Pizza property owners to allow the rink on one of their parking lots on Main Street next year. The location originally was to be Delucchi Park

Axis celebrates new women’s health clinic Janet Pelletier Axis Community Health has had a lot to celebrate as of late as the nonprofit, which provides health care services to low-income residents, opened its new women’s health clinic and reopened its newly-renovated adult medical clinic. Both are located at Axis’s campus of medical suites located at 4361 Railroad Ave., in Pleasanton. Axis CEO Sue Compton said the need for these services is greater

now more than ever with the down economy. She said they’re serving 400 new patients per month, which is double what it was before the recession. As part of the new changes, Axis plans to relocate the drug and alcohol services to Livermore once they locate a property to purchase. The women’s clinic cost $350,000 and the renovation work at the adult clinic cost $100,000. Money came from the cities of Pleasanton and Livermore. n

Shop • Dine • Discover The Holidays in Downtown Pleasanton The “perfect” gift for everyone on your list... CITY OF PLEASANTON

An artists’s rendering shows a holiday ice rink that is now located in the Pleasanton Library parking lot for the winter season.

on First Street, but was moved to the library lot after neighbors of the park complained. Pleasanton officials are currently negotiating with San Francisco, which owns the 3-acre parcel across Bernal between the ACE train station and the library to see if Pleasanton can lease the land and grade it for parking during the skating rink season, but it’s unclear what has happened with

those negotiations. San Francisco has offered to sell the property to Pleasanton in the past. Skaters will be able to use the rink from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission ranges from $10-$16 and includes the price of skate rental. For more information, visit www.devconholidayiccerink.com. n

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Man accused of anti-Christian disturbance at mall pleads not guilty Abdul Walid Hamid ordered to stay away from Stoneridge Shopping Center, will appear at a pretrial Dec. 17 By Emily West Abdul Walid Hamid pled not guilty Nov. 12 to charges of battery, grand theft, exhibition of a deadly weapon and a possible hate crime. Police arrested the 22-yearold Hayward man Nov. 4 after he reportedly robbed a person and scared others at Stoneridge Shopping Center. Hamid’s family posted bail, which was set at $27,000 bail, following an arraignment. He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial at 9 a.m. Dec. 17 in Department 703 of the Pleasanton courthouse

on Stoneridge Drive. Calling it a bizarre case, Deputy District Attorney Ronda Theisen asked that Hamid be ordered to stay out of the mall. According to reports, Hamid was yelling “Allah is power� and “Islam is great� while holding a pen in a fist over his head and witnesses said he had been shouting antiChristian comments. Lt. Mike Elerick of the Pleasanton Police Department said the man was not provoked and didn’t threaten violence, but he committed robbery when he grabbed and broke a

crucifix off a person’s neck. Hamid’s family members, who declined to give their names, say it was all a misunderstanding. Outside the courtroom, they said Hamid was provoked when the customer with the necklace reportedly called him a derogatory name. They said Hamid put his hand on the customer’s shoulder, asking the person not to use that word. When the customer pulled away, the family said Hamid’s hand came into contact with the

necklace and it accidentally broke. His family also said that he’s only been in the country a few months and is still learning the language and the laws. Co-workers told police that Hamid’s actions were out of the ordinary. Police also said they weren’t aware of a prior criminal history for the man. “We had multiple people calling 911,� Elerick said. “One female was crouching down and hiding from

him. He definitely scared quite a few people.� After Hamid’s arrest, he was taken to John George Hospital in San Leandro for a psychiatric evaluation. Elerick said much of the man’s speech was similar to the loud scene of the Christian activists who frequent downtown Pleasanton. The big differences, however, is that Hamid was on private property and had physical contact with someone. n

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ALAMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS

A truck along the newly realigned Vasco Road, a popular commute for those working in the Tri-Valley.

Reworked Vasco Road opens back up

Commuter thoroughfare realigned for motorists’ safety by Janet Pelletier Transportation leaders lauded the opening of a realigned and safer Vasco Road last week. The regional roadway, which has become a primary access route between job centers in the TriValley area and residences in the southern portion of east Contra Costa County, was closed earlier this month for improvements. Traffic volumes on Vasco have more than doubled from 10,000 vehicles per day in 1990 to over 22,000 in 2007. The increase in traffic has resulted in a high number of injury and fatal collisions on Vasco Road, both in Contra Costa County and Alameda County. The now complete Vasco Road Safety Improvements Project improves safety for drivers traveling along this segment of Vasco Road. The project straightened curves and realigned approximately 1.3 miles of Vasco Road in eastern Alameda County. The reconstructed roadway provides new and improved alignment and grade, wider shoulders, and adds truck/bus climbing lanes. Other measures have included centerline rumble strips, centerline

delineators, speed display signs, community safety signs, a daytime headlight program and coordinated speed enforcement. The improvements are expected to improve traffic flow and safety and facilitate express and regular bus service between the two counties. The Alameda County Public Works Agency was selected to receive a 2009 National Roadway Safety Award recognizing the Vasco Road Safety Improvements Project. The award was presented to Director Daniel Woldesenbet Nov. 5 in Washington D.C., the agency said. The National Roadway Safety Awards program honors agencies and organizations in the transportation community biennially that have made verifiable and significant strides toward improving the safety of our nation’s highways through infrastructure improvements, operational improvements or program planning, development and evaluation. The award program is cosponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and Roadway Safety Foundation. n

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Facility offers state-of-the-art imaging technology By Janet Pelletier The San Ramon Regional Medical Center’s new Breast Center has been operational for a few weeks now, offering patients state-of-theart imaging technology. The hospital offered tours to the community and a special breast health seminar Nov. 11 and a ribbon-cutting for the center was held Oct. 29. Tim Ulrich, who is director of diagnostic imaging at the center, said female patients will get the best care around. “We offer a real 20-minute procedure,� he said of the mammograms offered. “Most hospitals say they offer that, but then they start helping another patient 10 minutes into your visit. Here, you get 20 minutes of free, individual time. We also offer screenings for women with breast implants.�

Featured at the Breast Center, located in the South Building of the hospital campus at 7777 Norris Canyon Road in San Ramon, are two digital mammography units, computer-aided detection technology that can better detect calcifications in the breast tissue, ultrasounds, ductography, bone density scans, x-rays and a stereotactic biopsy room. Ulrich said the hospital conducts 90,000 mammograms per year, an average of 35 per day. Patients have been lining up to schedule visits. He said the stereotactic biopsy machine is not offered in many area hospitals. “This is something necessary and needed, something not offered in the community,� Ulrich said. “I have four patients already scheduled for next week.� “This machine is a lot less inva-

sive,� he continued. “The patient doesn’t need full sedation.� Kari Chandler, a supervisor at the new center, said the facility caters to women and has a doctor on-site, which isn’t common. “It’s exciting,� she said. “It’s going to help patients have a comfort level here. Monday through Friday, there will be a doctor on staff. There’s no waiting game.� San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson, who attended the ribboncutting, praised the new center, saying it’s not just for women, but for families. “We are so blessed to have a facility like this in the Valley,� he said. “When you hit a wall, to be able to walk in here and know someone cares, that’s half the battle.� For more information about the Breast Center, visit www.oursanramonhospital.com. n

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McNerney plans 3rd annual ‘Holiday Cards for our Troops’ program Public asked to send cards for distribution to military in Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S. hospitals By Jeb Bing Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) has announced his third-annual “Holiday Cards for Our Troops” program in honor of the military men and women who will be away from their families during the holiday season. The program encourages Bay Area residents to give cards to service members who are either recovering from injuries or are

stationed away from their families. McNerney will then hand deliver the cards to soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and sailors and marines at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Last year the program brought in more than 9,000 cards that included touching and personal messages of thanks.

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McNerney is also partnering with local organizations to send holiday cards to troops stationed overseas. Those cards will be sent to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of troopsupport packages organized by the Pleasanton Military Families, Danville Blue Star Moms and Packed With Pride in Stockton. “The holiday season can be a difficult time of year for the men

and women who serve our country,” McNerney said in a statement. “Being away from friends, family and the comfort of tradition during the holidays is an incredible sacrifice,” he continued. “Thoughtful words of encouragement and support from our community can make a huge difference in boosting the morale of our brave men and women who

serve our country with honor.” To participate in the program, make or purchase a holiday card, write a message of thanks to a soldier and deliver the card to McNerney’s office in Pleasanton, located at 5776 Stoneridge Mall Road, Ste. 175, or in Stockton at 2222 Grand Canal Blvd., Ste. 7. Cards should remain unaddressed and the envelopes should be unsealed. Deadline is Dec. 2. n

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Park district reaches milestone 100,000 acres with land near Sunol Board members approve acquisition of 1,156-acre Tyler Ranch property The East Bay Regional Park District board has formally approved the purchase of a new property next to the Pleasanton Ridge, which now brings the amount of land acquired by the district to over 100,000 acres. The milestone comes as the district celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, forming in 1934. The new acquisition is 1,156 acres and known as Tyler Ranch, located next to the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and Sunol. The property extends for nearly 3.5 miles along Sunol Ridge, rising nearly 2,000 feet from Niles Canyon below. It consists of steep, heavily vegetated slopes, with open grasslands and rock outcrops on the ridge tops. “Tyler Ranch is a great addition to the district,� said park district board member Ayn Wieskamp, whose ward includes Pleasanton, Livermore and Sunol. “Like our original parks of Tilden, Sibley, and Redwood, it preserves critical wildlife habitat, retains the aesthetic quality of the region, and provides future recreational opportunities.� The property had been owned since the 1940s by the Tyler family. In 1997, the Tyler family sold 1,156 acres of their ranch to the Priem Family Foundation for $5.2 million and the remaining 320 acres to the park district for $1.4 million, according to district spokeswoman Shelly Lewis. The total sale price, $6.6 million, was well below the ranch’s appraised fair market value,

she said. The purchase was made through support from the foundation, which is a private, tax-exempt organization created in part for the purpose of preserving open space in the greater East Bay. It agreed to hold the land for up to three years in order to allow the park district time to obtain funds, Lewis said. The foundation will sell the parcel to the park district for $3.4 million, saving the district $1.8 million. The park district has secured funding from various sources. A total of $1 million came through a grant from the Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund; $300,000 came through a grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund; and $10,000 from the Frederick E. and Anne R. Barstow Fund, conveyed through the East Bay Community Foundation. Funding will come from Measure WW, the open space bond issue approved by voters in 2008, and from interest accrued from Measure AA, the original open space bonds approved back in 1988, Lewis said. With the acquisition of Tyler Ranch, the park district will comprise 65 public parklands totaling 100,331 acres throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The new parcel will be placed in land bank status pending cleanup, park planning, trail and signage work, and other measures before it is ready to open to the public. —Janet Pelletier

Goings On a calendar of TriValley

events worth a look

Now through Call 828-1315. Dec. 12-20 Nov. 30 The Lindsay Dirkx Brown Gallery is hosting an exhibit featuring the Livermore Art Association, representing 280 local artists, that will last through Nov. 30. The exhibit will depict artwork in various mediums. The gallery is located at 12501 Alcosta Blvd. in San Ramon and is open Monday-Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 973-3200 or go to www.sanramon.ca.gov.

Nov. 27-29 Thomas Coyne Winery Winter Open House The historical tasting room located at 51 E. Vallecetos Road in Livermore will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 27 to 29 for a winter open house. Fine fruits and cheeses will be served along with new releases. Call 373-6541 or visit http://thomascoynewinery.com.

Dec. 4 Golden Bough Golden Bough’s festive family program combines old world carols, Celtic holiday songs and original compositions played on an array of unique acoustic instruments. They perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Road. Tickets are $15 to $25 for adults and $10 to $20 for children and seniors. The audience is encouraged to bring food donations to the theater to benefit The Haven Food Pantry. Call 931-3444 or visit www.civicartstickets.org.

Dec. 5-6 Holidays in the Vineyards From noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 and 6, several Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association wineries will be open for the annual Holidays in the Vineyards event. In addition to wine tasting, many tasting rooms will also feature vendors and music. For a list of participating wineries, visit www.lvwine.org.

Dec. 5 Holiday Book Sale The Friends of the Dublin Library present a Holiday Book Sale from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. There will be hardcover, children’s and holiday books, as well as cookbooks, photographic collections, collectible books, games and more.

‘Nutcracker’

The Valley Dance Theatre presents “Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Dec. 12, 18, 19 and 20; and at 2 p.m. Dec. 12, 13, 19 and 20 at the Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St. Livermore. Performances will be accompanied the Livermore-Amador Symphony pit orchestra and holiday carols by Harmony Fusion will highlight the show prior to opening curtain and during the “snow” scene. Tickets are $24 to $33 for adults, students 17 and younger are $18. Call 3736800 or visit www.bankheadtheater.org. Visit www.valleydancetheatre.com.

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).

closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, but will be open the Sunday before the holidays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22, Dec. 20 and 17. Donations of food are by Valley Bible Church, Centerpointe Church, Valley Community Church, Boy Scout Troop 941 and Pleasanton Middle School. Call 426-2492.

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 355-9039. Visit www.tvar.org.

American Cancer Society Discovery Shop The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop Holiday Store, 1987-F Santa Rita Road, is open. It features wreaths, trees, ornaments, dishes, decorator items, music, books and clothing. All proceeds go to fund research and patient services.

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Ongoing Christmas Trees for Wishes Support the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation by purchasing a tree from Nov. 27 to Dec. 22 at Alpine Christmas Trees, 6407 Tassajara Road, Dublin. Proceeds will help grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Model Trains at Blackhawk Museum The European Train Enthusiasts will be bringing their exhibition of HO Scale Model trains to the Blackhawk Museum, 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, Nov. 27 to Jan. 17. With hand-built miniature countrysides and an assortment of locomotives and engineers, this exhibition shows the European rail experience. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniros and children 6 and under are free. Call 736-2280 or visit www.blackhawkmuseum.org.

Food Pantry at Valley Bible Church The Food Pantry at Valley Bible Church, 7106 Johnson Drive, Pleasanton has an open pantry from 6 to 8:30 p.m. It can be reached from Wheels route 3. It will be

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