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Budget shortfall: Dublin projects a $4.6-million deficit for 2010-11 PAGE 4 Spring cleaning: Professional organizer gives tips on tackling clutter page PAGE 10
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‘It s great to be Irish!’ Tri-Valley celebrates St. Pat’s Day
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AROUND THE TRI-VALLEY Teenagers shine at Youth & Government Day
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hen my 14-year-old grandson Jordan Nally asked me to join him on a YMCA trip to Sacramento, I envisioned rafting down the Sacramento River followed by a campfire supper and a sing-along. Was I surprised. This was a statewide Youth & Government program that involved most of the YMCA organizations in California, including 28 high school students and three advisors from the Tri-Valley YMCA. As I walked to the Capitol and hotel meeting rooms, I found myself among 2,500 smartly dressed teenagers on their best behavior, each carrying thick binders with a 46-page “Model Legislature & Court” program schedule. The boys wore suits and ties, and since this was a five-day conference, they had to know how to tie their own ties each morning, which was a first-time challenge for some. The girls were also dressed professionally. For everyone in this freshman to senior age group, the dress code for this convention was far different from the high school campuses they represented. The trip, under the direction of Kelly O’Lague Dulka, executive director of the Tri-Valley Y, and Jeff Atwood and Tim Stier, program director and associate program director, respectively, culminated the model legislature and court program year for the Y. Its delegation along with the others participated using the actual chambers of the State Supreme Court, Assembly and Senate to study and conduct mock state government work while producing a daily newspaper to cover all the developments. The Tri-Valley Y had been preparing for six months for this conference by attending weekly meetings and also by holding two preparatory conferences in central California. The freshman division of Youth & Government is called Forum and several of the local Y’s ninth graders distinguished themselves. In a rigor-
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ous political campaign, I’m proud to say that my grandson Jordan was elected Speaker of the Assembly, which made me glad I was on scene to cheer. Other local leaders who were also elected to key posts were Grant Bonham, chosen at Senate Clerk; Vidya Awasty, Assembly Clerk; Madison Brinnon, Senator of the Year; Morgan Ingram, runnerup Senator of the Year; Dena Benham, Editor-in-Chief of the Forum Press; and Edward Wang, Editor of the Forum Press. Albi Solana came home with the Y’s Political Action Committee (PAC) Team Award for his leadership and initiative as a lobbyist. At the weekly delegation meetings preceding this conference, each delegation was required to write at least one bill to take to Sacramento for the Senate and Assembly to debate. Annie Dulka (Kelly’s daughter), the Tri-Valley’s bill sponsor, wrote and debated a bill that seeks to amend the elections code to allow a person that is defined as homeless to use a homeless shelter as their place of residency for the purpose of voting. Her bill quickly moved through the Assembly and went on to the Senate. Mind you, this was serious business. Besides the program, the California YMCA model legislature printed a thick booklet each day of the convention that listed 284 different bills that were written by individual Y organizations. Assembly Bill 120, for example, written by the Wilmington branch of the YMCA of metropolitan Los Angeles, sought to amend regulations for provisional driver’s licenses. I was honored to be part of the “V.I.P.” luncheon. Held in the grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency, the room was packed with YMCA supporters, legislators and sponsors. I sat with the Palo Alto delegation, which operates half a dozen Y’s on the Peninsula. Familiar with those Y’s and their swimming pools and large workout rooms, I couldn’t help but ask the Tri-Valley Y’s Dulka why we don’t have a big YMCA facility here. I quickly found my name added to her donors’ list of those willing to help build one.
ABOUT THE COVER Mayor Tim Sbranti (center) is flanked by other members of the Dublin City Council as he waves to crowds during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Shown are (from left to right) Councilwoman Kate Ann Scholz, standing on lower step; Councilman Don Biddle; Sbranti, and Councilman Kevin Hart. Photo by Jeb Bing. Vol. II, Number 6
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TriValley ViewsÊUÊMarch 29, 2010ÊU Page 3
Dublin projects up to $4.6-million budget shortfall for 2010-11
1,400 Iraqi Americans cast ballots in recent election County fairgrounds serves as polling location for Iraqis eligible to vote
State ‘takeaways’ and slowing economy taking their toll on city revenue
BY JEB BING
Just over 1,400 registered Iraqi voters cast ballots at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton recently, one of eight polling locations across the United States where Iraqi Americans who still retain their Iraqi citizenship had the chance to vote. There were 18.9 million Iraqis eligible to cast ballots in last Sunday’s national elections in Iraq with an estimated 60 percent turnout. They voted to fill 325 seats in the Council of Representatives, Iraq’s parliament, representing the country’s 18 provinces. Voting outside of Iraq occurred in the U.S. and in some of the 15 other countries where Iraqis are living, including the United Kingdom, Turkey, Iran, Canada and others in the Middle East and Europe. There were no exact figures available on those eligible to cast ballots abroad. Estimates on turnout have ranged anywhere from 300,000 to 3 million. This was Iraq’s fifth nationwide vote since 2003, but only the second for a full four-year term parliament. Every voter, including the estimated 1,400 who voted at the fairgrounds, walked away with a purple ink-stained finger, evidence of casting a ballot. Although there were 6,000 candidates in the election, most voters said they had made up their minds long before reaching the polls. Iraqi voters huddled in casual circles at the fairgrounds to discuss the election before and after casting their ballots. Vans also shuttled voters in from other cities. The calm here contrasted sharply from Iraq, itself, where 36 people were killed in mor-
JEB BING
Top photo: Groups of Iraqis congregate to discuss candidates in Iraq’s national parliament election before voting at a polling booth set up at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. An estimated 1,800 Iraqi Americans who are registered to vote in Iraq traveled to Pleasanton, one of eight voting stations set up in the U.S. Lower photo: Iraqi Abas Altuwarish and his family from Sunnyvale show their purple fingers after voting in the Iraqi national elections.
tar and rocket attacks in various Baghdad neighborhoods. In Iraq, counting took place at the
polling stations at the end of voting, under the gaze of United Nations observers. N
V EHICLE RT EGISTRATION F EE W RANSPORTATION
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The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA) invites you to upcoming transportation workshops. The ACCMA is considering placing a local Vehicle Registration Fee on the November 2, 2010 ballot. This fee would help fund transportation improvements throughout Alameda County. The Vehicle Registration Fee could fund programs that: Repair and maintain our local streets and roads. ■ Make public transportation easier to use and more efficient. ■ Make it easier to get to work or school, whether driving or using public transportation. ■ Result in the reduction of pollution from cars and trucks. ■
Provide input on what programs this fee should fund at one of the following PUBLIC WORKSHOPS. All workshops will be held between 6:30 AND 8:30 P.M. SAN LEANDRO: Thursday, March 18 Bay Fair Center Mall, 15555 East 14th Street ■ FREMONT: Wednesday, March 31 Fremont Library, 2450 Stevenson Boulevard ■ DUBLIN: Thursday, April 8 Dublin Library Community Room 200 Civic Plaza ■ OAKLAND: Thursday, April 15 City of Oakland Hearing Room 3 One Frank H Ogawa Plaza ■
For more information, or to be notified about the progress of this project,
visit www.alamedacountyvrf.org or contact ACCMA at (510) 836-2560 Page 4ÊUÊMarch 29, 2010ÊUÊTriValley Views
A special budget report reviewed by the Dublin City Council shows declining future revenue projections and a reported budget shortfall of as much as $4.67 million in Fiscal Year 2010-11. City Manager Joni Pattillo reported that needs for essential city services continue to exceed revenues. She said the city has already had to utilize one-time economic uncertainty reserves to balance the current budget. “This growing deficit will affect our ability to maintain current levels of service to the community in the long term,” Pattillo said. The $4.67 million budget gap does not include more than $2 million in state takeaways from Dublin this year or any future state takeaways that are currently being discussed in Sacramento, Pattillo added. The city’s ongoing budget problems are primarily due to the lagging economy which has negatively impacted property and sales tax revenues, she explained. These two funding sources together make up over 70 percent of the city’s operating revenues. In the last two years, Dublin’s sales tax revenues have rolled back to less than what was received in 2001 and property tax revenues per capita have decreased by 13 percent. “Many people don’t realize that the city is only allowed to keep 24 cents out of every property tax dollar and only 10 cents from every dollar collected in sales tax,” said Pattillo. “For its part, Dublin has already slashed mil-
lions in city operating expenses to address the budget gap in its previous year and current year budgets.” “However, the city cannot continue to maintain current service levels without putting a substantial strain on emergency reserve funds,” she added. “Without additional revenue, the city will be forced to examine cuts in services.” “We are focused on trying to protect and maintain the services that the community relies on, such as the number of firefighters and paramedics needed to keep emergency response times short, saving lives,” Pattillo said. “While we want to protect and maintain our emergency responses times, the city can’t ignore the fact that more than half of Dublin’s operating budget is comprised of costs relating to public safety and these budget areas must be examined.” “Dublin’s population includes a significant number of seniors who depend on the city having reliable emergency response services,” the city manager noted. “It would be devastating if we could not meet the needs of all of our families, including our senior population.” The City Council will be taking up the budget discussion again in April and will continue to get input from the community on its priorities for Dublin. “It is important we hear from residents on what types of services they want protected as we address these serious budget issues,” Pattillo said. —Jeb Bing
Home sales in Bay Area up 2.8% over January, but still less than year ago ‘Market remains fundamentally off kilter,’ analyst says Despite a modest rise last month, Bay Area home sales continue to stagnate, according to the latest figures released today by San Diego-based real estate analysts MDA DataQuick. The report said 4,987 new and resale homes were sold in the ninecounty Bay Area in February, up 2.8 percent from January but down 0.9 percent from the same time last year. Since DataQuick began recording statistics in 1988, the average number of Bay Area home sales in February is 6,413. This February’s numbers were the second-lowest for the month since 1995. DataQuick said some buyers are worried about job security, while others can’t get financing or have found only a small inventory of homes for sale.
“The market remains fundamentally off kilter,” MDA DataQuick President John Walsh said in a prepared statement. “Despite the widening stability seen in the housing market in recent months, the outlook remains murky,” Walsh said. He cited uncertainty about the housing market’s response to government reduction of the housing stimulus, the sagging economy, and whether more foreclosures are on the way. The median price for sold homes in the Bay Area in February was $354,000, up 1.1 percent from January and up 20 percent from the same time last year. San Francisco had the highest median sale price in the Bay Area at $627,500; Solano County had the lowest, at $208,500. —Bay City News Service
Livermore Lab unveils technology to save truckers billions of gallons of diesel fuel ‘Significant step toward reducing the U.S. dependency on fossil fuels’ says Lab Director George Miller
JEB BING
Dublin Sister City Association celebrates its relationship with Bray, Ireland, with this float-load of supporters in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day festival.
‘It’s great to be Irish!’ Tri-Valley celebrates St. Pat’s Day BY JEB BING
Green has been seen throughout the Tri-Valley, and we aren’t talking about the environment this time. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations started early this year, with TriValley merchants seizing the advantage with Irish-themed merchandise ranging from flags and banners to fancy green-iced cakes. For those with a taste for green beer, it was a do-it-yourself exercise at many watering holes, as a California rule no longer allows bartenders to serve green beer because of a state health code that prohibits tampering with already-certified products. So, with a squish of dye, the beer can still come out green. Always, though, the biggest celebration is the Dublin (California, that is) St. Patrick’s Day parade and fair, where Mayor Tim Sbranti and the City Council waved to thousands of spectators along downtown streets for the two-hour-long parade. But perhaps the most genuine Irish politician in the parade was County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, an Irishman whose ancestors hail from Cork County in Ireland. The largest county on the Emerald Isle, in Cork County three things are taken very seriously, Haggerty said: sports, food and politics. This may explain many things about Haggerty who has served on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors representing Tri-Valley communities for the past 13 years. “My dad was the Irish in the family and I have many great memories from St. Patrick’s Days of past,” said Haggerty. “I’ve been told that when my ancestors immigrated here the family name was originally O’hegerty. After their arrival in the U.S., and like so many immigrant families, O’hegerty evolved into Haggerty.” Descended from immigrants, Haggerty has a deep appreciation for the contributions of those that come to this country seeking to work towards a better life for themselves and their families. “I encourage my children to learn about and enjoy the best
“Riding in the Dublin
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and all the related festivities has become a fun tradition that the entire family looks forward to each year.” Scott Haggerty, County Supervisor
of their Irish heritage,” he said. “My daughters learned Irish dance and I always enjoy watching them perform. And riding in the Dublin Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and all the related festivities has become a fun tradition that the entire family looks forward to each year.” Haggerty, by the way, lives in Dublin, a fitting place for an American descendant of a Cork County O’hegerty. This was the 27th year that Dublin has hosted its St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The two-day celebration included a pancake breakfast, parade, street fair and the annual Shamrock 5K Fun Run & Walk marathon. With an estimated 100,000 at this year’s event, Dublin’s observance of the Irish holiday is right behind San Francisco’s, although Dublin, Ireland draws half a million people to its week-long event. Throughout the two-day festival, more than 100 arts and crafts booths filled Dublin’s Civic Center parking lot, selling wares, some even with an Irish flavor. Irish music, carnival rides, international foods and drink added to the attraction for the thousands who trekked through the fair both days. We were there, too, with representatives of TriValley Views, the Pleasanton Weekly, as well as www. sanramonexpress.com and www. danvilleexpress.com, demonstrating to the public how easy it now is to access local news. N
After more than a decade of research, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory recently unveiled technology that they say could save 3.4 billion gallons of diesel fuel each year in the trucking industry. At a news conference inside a wind tunnel at NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, scientists explained how reducing the aerodynamic drag of a semitruck can increase the truck’s fuel efficiency, saving $10 billion in diesel fuel costs annually. Aerodynamic drag is caused by pressure differences around the vehicle, and at highway speeds semi-trucks use more than 50 percent of the energy produced by the vehicle engine to overcome that drag, according to scientists.
About three weeks ago, scientists brought a semi truck to the wind tunnel, owned by the U.S. Air Force and located at Ames. There, the truck has been undergoing tests, according to Kambiz Salari, a senior scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Scientists have learned that inserting a gap-seal plate between the truck and the trailer, base flaps on the side of the trailer in the rear, and an underbody device on the base of the trailer that blocks air flow beneath the truck can increase fuel efficiency by up to 12 percent, Salari said. The technology to reduce the aerodynamic drag still needs about 2.5 to three years to complete before it can be put on the
market, Salari said, but testing the truck in a wind tunnel helps move the process forward. “This is a significant step toward reducing the United States’ dependency on fossil fuels,” Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory director George Miller said. The wind tunnel, which is large enough to fit a Boeing 737 plane, became operational in 1987 and functions as a test zone for parachutes, helicopters, planes and other vehicles, according to David Duesterhaus of the Ames Research Center. Wind blows up to 100 knots in the tunnel and can simulate whatever speed is needed, Duesterhaus said. Bay City News contributed to this report.
Las Positas, Chabot colleges accredited again Report commends Las Positas for its ‘quality of instruction’ The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has reaffirmed the accreditation for Las Positas College in Livermore and its sister campus Chabot College in Hayward for the next six years. The accreditation received by the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District officials was part of the year-long process where both colleges conducted extensive self-studies and prepared written reports for the commission. Accreditation team members visited both campuses and met
“The reaffirmation
of our accreditation is a reflection of our self-inquiry process as a college.” Dr. DeRionne Pollard, Las Positas College president.
with faculty, staff and students. “The reaffirmation of our accreditation is a reflection of our
self-inquiry process as a college,” said Dr. DeRionne Pollard, Las Positas College president. “The report commends Las Positas for our quality of instruction and our commitment to student success. We are delighted with the results.” Copies of the reports are available through the college websites (www.laspositascollege.edu and www.chabotcollege.edu) as well as the district website (www. clpccd.cc.ca.us) and in the college libraries. To learn more, call Laura Weaver, 485-5215. —Emily West
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Poets unite with annual gathering Registration is open for the ninth Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival
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With a growing interest in literary arts in the Tri-Valley, it is natural for the area’s poetry festival to expand as well. In its ninth year, the Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival in Pleasanton is back with new workshops, contests, an awards banquet, arts events and a keynote address from storyteller Bob Jenkins. The twoday event is hosted by the city as well as the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council and will take place from April 17 to 18 at the senior center, located at 5353 Sunol Blvd. Due to popular demand from young writers, the festival has mostly expanded in its offerings for teens. “We have a full two days of teen workshops,” said festival cochair Dave Wright. “We’ve never had more than two workshops (for teens) before.” The focus on supporting young poets is a passion of Wright’s, who has chaired the festival for all its nine years. “People who get into writing and expressing themselves early on carry it with them their whole lives,” he said. “A lot has to be put into words and the fact that people are putting into words what most deeply touches them in poetry and prose, that starts early on.” Wright, who has taught at Las Positas College in Livermore for several years, said he’s often had students say they knew they were going to be writers from as young as age 6.
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COURTESY DAVE WRIGHT
Poet Cheryl Dumesnil leads a poetry workshop at a past Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival.
“I see these opportunities as life changing,” he said. “They have experiences that really set them off.” In addition to programs for teens, there are workshops for children, starting at age 6, as well as adults. There are also some new types of workshops, including songwriting lyrics and storytelling, the latter thanks to keynote speaker Jenkins. Wright is also excited for the mini courses: “On the Chapbook” by Rebecca Foust and “Putting the Pieces Together: The Six Elements of Fiction” by Ann Parker. These mini-courses, he said, allow people to go more in-depth as each carries over from Saturday to Sunday. In addition to literary arts, there will also be other art forms for the community to enjoy. The Pleasanton Art League will have a free exhibition that is open to the public from 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 17. Also during that time will be the popular Literary Row, a reception and book signing that connects authors with readers. There are also various musicians that will be playing throughout the weekend. All of these newest features are quite a jump from when Wright and others put the event together in 2001. It has grown to attract about 100 people from near and afar. First held at CarrAmerica before the Pleasanton Senior Center, the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council is excited to eventually move the festival to the Firehouse Arts Center next year. Wright said he hopes the venue between Railroad Avenue and Lions Wayside Park would allow them to have more music and art in addition to the literary event. It would also help bring more people into
restaurants and shops downtown, he added. Until then, the literary arts lovers can sign up for this year’s event, with the final registration deadline April 9. A full-weekend package is $160$185 for adults and $120-$145 for teens. The Saturday youth session is $15-$20. One-day only packages are also available. Tickets to the awards banquet on Saturday night are $35. Details as well as registration and contest forms can be found at www.pleasantonarts.org. —Emily West
2010 Poetry, Prose and Arts Festival schedule Saturday, April 17 N 8:30 a.m. – Festival registration and breakfast N 9:15 a.m. – Opening ceremony N 9:30 a.m. – Keynote address N 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Morning workshops N 1 to 2:30 p.m. – Buffet lunch, music, literary row, PAL fine arts show and reception N 2:30 to 5 p.m. – Afternoon workshops N 5:15 to 7 p.m. – Festival banquet and awards ceremony with music and door prizes
Sunday, April 18 9 a.m. – Breakfast 9:30 a.m. to noon – Morning workshops N Noon to 1 p.m. – Buffet lunch N 1 to 3:30 p.m. – Afternoon workshops N N
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WHOgS WHO IN BUSINESS
who’s who in business
Deanna Moser Family Service Director
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who's who in business
I have the rewarding opportunity of guiding and assisting Families with the many details and decisions associated with advance funeral planning. It is very comforting when future plans are completed and people realize the tremendous value, beneďŹ ts and peace of mind that comes with planning ahead. I also assist the bereaved with follow-up care, guiding them through the complexities and adjustments after the loss of a loved one. I really enjoy my career and consider it an honor to serve the wonderful people of our community. 925-846-5624 4167 First Street, Pleasanton CA www.grahamhitch.com Lic#FD429
who's who in business
GRAHAM PIANO STUDIO AND GRAHAM PIANO SALES RONALD GRAHAM has owned and operated GRAHAM PIANO STUDIO and GRAHAM PIANO SALES continuously since 1990. He has been performing and teaching since graduating with Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Performance from San Francisco State University. During that time, combined with his college teaching and performing, he has literally influenced thousands of students and audiences in the enhancement of their music enjoyment through teaching piano performance, music appreciation, music theory and music history. RONALD GRAHAM has performed around the world i.e. Europe, South America, Egypt and the Caribbean, and has accumulated reviews that are the envy of performers. He has performed solo recitals, as well as with orchestras, and as accompanist with singers. RONALD GRAHAM is a member in good standing of the Music Teachers Association of California, The National Guild of Piano Teachers, The California Association of Professional Music Teachers and The Music Teachers National Association. GRAHAM PIANO STUDIO offers classes in piano performance for all ages, levels and styles, and is qualified for charter schools. Students of RONALD GRAHAM have acquired awards, praise and are themselves respected teachers of music. GRAHAM PIANO STUDIO offers classes through the Pleasanton Parks & Community Services. GRAHAM PIANO SALES offers for sale and rent all sizes of new and used pianos including digital electronic, upright acoustic and grand pianos at the best prices in the Bay Area. Please call for an appointment to schedule classes or see pianos. "...his playing illuminates the room like a crystal chandelier."
—San Jose Mercury News
"...an excellent pianist...control and concentrated power that were absolutely marvelous." —San Francisco Examiner "...interesting and inspiring performance." —Dr. Cornelia Szabo Knotik - Hochschule fur Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna "...Mr. Graham's performances have the power of an atomic bomb!"
—Honolulu Start Bulletin
925.462.5645 www.grahampiano.com 4337 1st Street, Pleasanton, CA 94566
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O’Malley will retain post as Alameda County’s District Attorney Appointed to job 6 months ago, no one challenges her in upcoming election Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley was assured of another four years in office March 13 when no one filed papers to challenge her in the June 8 election. A group of about 30 prosecutors from her office who joined her at the Registrar of Voters office in the basement of the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse cheered O’Malley when the 5 p.m. filing deadline passed. O’Malley, 56, became Alameda County’s first woman district attorney under controversial circumstances last Sept. 15 when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to appoint her to fill the last 15 months of Tom Orloff’s term. Orloff had suddenly announced his retirement after 15 years of heading the office. Two of the five board members, Keith Carson and Nate Miley, abstained from voting for O’Malley, saying at a contentious three-and-ahalf hour hearing that they thought the board should take more time and get more public input before making an appointment. Several board members said San Francisco Chief Assistant District Attorney Russ Giuntini, who was an Alameda County prosecutor for many years and headed one of its branch officers, had contacted them seeking to be appointed and it wouldn’t surprise them if he ran
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against O’Malley this year. But San Francisco district attorney spokesman Brian Buckelew said today that Giuntini has decided not to seek election to the Alameda County post at this time. He said Giuntini was unavailable to comment today because he’s busy dealing with problems with the San Francisco Police Department’s crime lab, which are forcing his office to drop charges against many drug suspects. O’Malley, who lives in the city of Alameda, has been in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for 25 years and served as Orloff’s top assistant for the last 10 years of his tenure. She comes from a prominent legal family. Her father, Bill O’Malley, served as Contra Costa County’s district attorney for 15 years and later was a judge there. Her brother, Bill O’Malley, a former prosecutor and judge, is running to be Contra Costa County’s next district attorney in the election in June. And Contra Costa County Presiding Judge Mary Ann O’Malley is Bill O’Malley’s wife and Nancy O’Malley’s sister-in-law. O’Malley said, “I’m thrilled” and said the fact that no one will run against her in the election “takes a lot of weight off of me.” O’Malley said she can now focus
FILE PHOTO
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley
on running the District Attorney’s office but she will still spend time meeting with the public. When she filed for the office on Monday, O’Malley said, “I have worked tirelessly on behalf of the victims of crime” and is proud to be a nationally recognized expert on the advancement of victims’ rights. She said she helped create the Alameda County Family Justice Center, which is a one-stop shop for the victims of family violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, child abuse and the sexual exploitation of minors. —Bay City News
Healthcare workers take 1-day walkout at county jail Contract employer calls action illegal BY JEB BING
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Page 8ÊUÊMarch 29, 2010ÊUÊTriValley Views
Nurses, physician’s assistants, dental assistants and others who provide medical care at Alameda County’s two correctional facilities staged a one-day walkout March 9, charging their private employer with unfair labor practices, overstaffing levels and workplace safety at the facilities. The workers are members of the United Healthcare Workers-West (SEIU-UHW), part of the Service Employees International Union, a national union with 2.1 million members. They were joined on the picket line by SEIU International President Andy Stern. Healthcare services at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and at the Glenn Dyer Detention Center are contracted out to Prison Health Services, a Tennessee-based for-profit corporation. It holds a $77-million, three-year contract with Alameda County to provide medical services at the two facilities. “This is about the selfishness of an out-of-state corporation — Prison Health Services — with earnings of over a half-a-billion dollars that is pocketing taxpayer dollars instead of using the money to ben-
efit the county and our people as it promised,” said Maxine Persky, a nurse at the Santa Rita Jail for 10 years. In a statement signed by Adriana Surfas of the SEIU-UHW, the union accused Prison Health Services of launching “a campaign of threats and intimidation against workers including notifying employees of a seven-day illegal lock-out following Tuesday’s planned one-day strike, and cancelled workers’ approved vacations.” The union statement also said that in its contract with the Alameda County, Prison Health Services budgeted for a 10-percent increase in wages and healthcare benefits in years two and three of its county contract. N
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We want to know your favorite places to eat, shop, mingle and more in Dublin! Balloting in TriValley Views’ first Readers Choice Dublin contest will be all online between April 2 and May 3 at TriValleyViews.com. You will need to vote for at least 15 categories and complete the contact information at the end of the ballot. You only get one vote! To discourage ballot box stuffing, your ballot will not be counted until you activate it by responding to a confirmation email that will be automatically sent to you. Since this is the first year, some of your favorites might not be on the dropdown menus. If you have a favorite not on the list, feel free to write it in. If we get a significant number of write-ins for a particular location, it will be included in the drop-down.
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Around Town Best Auto Dealership Best Car Repair Best Car Wash Best Golf Course Best Pet Groomer Best Place for Dance Lessons Best Place to Get a Traffic Ticket Best Place to Have a First Date Best Place to People Watch Best Tire Store / Service Center Best Tutoring School Best Veterinarian Personal Care Best Dry Cleaners Best Hair Salon for Men Best Hair Salon for Women Best Manicure / Pedicure Best Massage Best Medical Spa Specialty Retail Best Art Gallery Best Bicycle Shop Best Bookstore Best Consignment Store Best Florist Best Health Food Store Best Hobby / Craft Store Best Jewelry Store Best Pet Store Best Place to Buy a Gift Best Womens Clothing Store
If you would like your ad on this page for the April issue, please contact Karen at (925) 600-0840 ext. 122.
Epicure Best American Food Restaurant Best Atmosphere Best Bakery Best Barbecue Best Breakfast
Best Burger Best Burrito Best Chinese Restaurant Best French Fries Best Ice Cream / Yogurt Shop Best Independent Coffee House Best Italian Restaurant Best Margarita Best Meal Under $20 Best Mediterranean / Middle Eastern Restaurant Best Mexican Restaurant Best Outdoor Dining Best Pizza Best Place for a Business Lunch Best Romantic Restaurant Best Seafood Restaurant Best Steakhouse Best Sushi / Japanese Restaurant Best Take-out Restaurant Best Thai Restaurant Let’s Get Physical Best Bike or Walking Trail Best Health Club Best Martial Arts Studio Best Personal Trainer Best Place to Jog Best Place to Walk a Dog Best Yoga / Pilates At Home Best Carpet Cleaners Best Flooring Store Best Hardware Store Best Home Consignment Shop Best Home Furnishings Best Outdoor Furniture Store Best Plumber Best Roofer Stepping Out Best Place for a Picnic Best Place for an After Work Drink Best Place for Dancing Best Place for Live Music Best Place to Get Together With Friends Best Place to Meet New People
TriValley ViewsĂŠUĂŠMarch 29, 2010ĂŠU Page 9
AC Transit, facing $56-million budget shortfall, makes major service cuts Bus agency it will ‘retain, even enhance’ service to communities in need Facing a projected $56 million budget shortfall by June of 2011, AC Transit recently made perhaps its broadest service changes ever Sunday. The Oakland-based bus agency, which serves parts of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, said the service changes will impact 108 bus lines, reducing overall service hours by about 8 percent and saving it about $9.5 million annually. However, AC Transit said that even though the changes are unprecedented and will be felt throughout its services areas it has taken care to retain and even enhance services for communities who are most in need. Interim General Manager Mary King said in a statement: “We did a lot of analysis on who rides the bus,
Clearing out clutter Organizer Emily Wilska gives tips to regain control over stuff BY EMILY WEST
how the service is used and what kind communities need the service the most. We worked hard to leave no one out.” AC Transit said that given the service reductions that were forced by its bleak fiscal picture, it chose not to simply reduce service hours and is instead reshuffling them, line-by-line, based on demonstrated usage and functionality. In addition to making the service adjustments, the bus agency has laid off some employees, imposed a hiring freeze, improved operating and departmental efficiencies by 15 percent and raised fares to help offset its projected deficit. —Bay City News
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Spring has sprung, which means if a New Year’s resolution to be organized has lost steam, consider trying again as the ritual cleaning time approaches. Organizer Emily Wilska said a common clean-up derailment has to do with lofty expectations that stem from the pages of popular magazines such as Real Simple or Martha Stewart. “Anyone has the power and the ability to be organized,” Wilska said. “It’s simply a matter of finding the approach that works specifically for you. There are tons of different ways of going about it.” The San Francisco-based professional recently spoke at the Dublin Library, where she gave people an overview and direction into a world clear of clutter. “I hope to dispel some myths and for people to feel empowered,” she said. One such myth is that simply cleaning a space will solve the problem. A holistic approach, she said, is likely to leave lasting habits. “I can go in and make a room look good, but if we don’t address the systems and habits involved in keeping it up, things are going to return in a week, month or six weeks,” she said. The process, Wilska said, is identifying the overlying goal. More than just being organized, some people want a clean desktop while others want a particular room or space to be functional. Once goals are established, the next step is to deal with the stuff, which Wilska said is the most popular complaint. Making decisions about items comes down to how meaningful they are to people. “Rather than thinking ‘do I need this’ or ‘it fits here,’ when thinking
about your space and your stuff, ask what actually deserves to be close to you,” she said. Even motivated people seem to have trouble making decisions over so many items. In deciding what goes and what stays, Wilska said people associate value based on thoughts of potentially needing it in the future, having once paid good money for it, wanting to use it but haven’t found the time, or even feeling guilty for giving it up. By assigning real value to items, people find that they aren’t in fact as valuable as they thought. “People say, ‘I haven’t used this for six months, but it’s taking up a huge chunk of my desktop,’” she said. “They then give themselves permission to take back the space. It’s really liberating for them.” Emotion is a large part of the organization process, which is why many only relent after reaching a breaking point. “They realized that their space, stuff, schedule, file drawer — whatever is feeling disorganized — add significant stress, particularly if they interact with it everyday” Wilska said. “Getting organized puts people back in control. We don’t think of it as stuff having control over us, but often that is the case.” Whether the next action to regaining control is hiring a professional or clearing out time to tackle it in a do-it-yourself fashion, Wilska reminds people that it’s not about being perfect. “The gospel of organizing,” she said, “is that it’s not just something that already organized people can do. I’m a strong believer that being organized can help almost everyone.” Wilska also recently put her tips into print with the book “Knack Organizing Your Home: Decluttering Solutions and Storage Ideas.” N
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7 Railroad Avenue, Stes. 7&9 Danville, CA 94526 Page 10ÊUÊMarch 29, 2010ÊUÊTriValley Views
Political and civic leaders gathered earlier this month to cut the ribbon marking the completion of the $18 million Fallon Road overpass and interchange at I-580. Of the total cost, $13 million came from developers Jennifer and Frederick Lin and the city of Dublin as transportation mitigation, with the remaining funds coming from the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton. The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency also contributed funding towards the auxiliary lane between Fallon and Tassajara roads. In the photo (left to right) are County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, Caltrans District Director Bijan Sartipi, Dublin City Councilman Don Biddle, developer Jim Tong (representing the Lin Family), Dublin City Councilwoman Kate Ann Scholz, Mayor Tim Sbranti, Cheri Clasen (representing Congressman Jerry McNerney), Pleasanton City Councilman Jerry Thorne, former Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart and Dublin City Manager Joni Pattillo.
Goings On a calendar of TriValley
events worth a look
March 31
April 16
IMPROV WITH TWISTED GRAY MATTER
NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION MAZE
Twisted Gray Matter specializes in short form improvised comedy, that is created on the spot by using ideas from the audience. Show is at 8 p.m. March 31 at Bunjo’s Comedy Club, 6513 Regional St.. Call 264-4413 or visit www.bunjoscomedy.com.
The class is from 6:30-9 p.m. April 16 at Las Positas College, 3033 Collier Canyon Rd., Livermore. Course will provide an overview of the entire college application process including general procedures, early action, decision, recommendations, writing strong essays, and strategies for keeping everything organized. Many shortcuts, time saving resources, and insider tips will be provided. Cost $39. Call 424-1467 or visit www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed.
April 4 FOOLSGOLD: A CREATIVITY WORKSHOP WITH SUSAN WOOLDRIDGE The event is from 1-3 p.m. April 4 at the Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. Join poet and author Susan G. Wooldridge for a two-hour afternoon workshop exploring creativity utilizing poetry, writing and collage. Susan is a poet/teacher with California Poets in the School. Call 828-1315 or visit www.aclibrary.org.
April 5 DINNER BY THE KIDS From 10 a.m. to noon April 5 to 9, youth ages 9 to 12 can learn to plan, buy and cook a four-course dinner. On Friday, they will ďŹ nish preparing the menu items, set the table and sit down to enjoy our feast. Cost is $100 for Dublin residents or $115 for non-residents. Call 556-4500 or visit www.dublinrecguide.com.
April 10 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION The class is 1-2:30 p.m. April 10 at the East County Animal Shelter, 4595 Gleason Dr., Dublin. Do you love animals and have an interest in volunteering? Tri-Valley Animal Rescue will be holding an orientation for new volunteers. Come and learn about current volunteer opportunities. Cost is $10. Call 408-202-6708 or visit www.tvar.org.
April 14 LAVENDER — THE WONDER PLANT From 7 to 10 p.m. April 14, learn about varieties, growing, harvesting and using lavender. Make four lavender crafts, taste both sweet and savory lavender products. Cost is $36 for Dublin residents and $39 for non-residents. Pre-registration is required. Call 556-4500 or visit www.dublinrecguide.com.
NOSE TO GLASS BY DON COLMAN
‘Diwine’ intervention
Merlot, poor merlot. Right now, this might be the most unwanted wine in the land. Fortunately, the “bad rap� is unwarranted. Grapes, like clothes and music, go in and out of style and right now, merlot is completely out of style. Why these fads happen is anyone’s guess, but unlike leather ties, this is a fad that will come back. Unfortunately, I follow the trends, too. I have drifted away from merlot andhave become attracted to other grapes. It had been months, perhaps even a year, since I sat down with a glass of merlot. I can’t tell you what made me reach for it this time — call it “diwine�
intervention, but am I glad I did. The 2007 Blackstone Merlot, at only $12 a bottle, is a down right steal. When I sit down to review a wine, I check for three things. First is the look of the wine. This wine is a deep red, with very little residue giving a clear finish. Although this does not guarantee quality in wine, it does indicate clean filtering and is appealing to the eye. Second is the smell, my favorite part of any wine. This is where you prepare your taste buds for what they are about to experience. As with many Californian wines, this is a fruit-forward wine with odors of nut fruits (plums, cherries, etc.) being most prevalent. In addition, there is a hint of oak that comes through providing this wine with some needed complexity. Third is the actual taste of the wine. I am of the school of thought that most of the flavors are sensed during the smelling of the wine. The taste of the wine tells me two things. First is where you sense
wine on your tongue. The front of the tongue is sweet, sides are bitter and the back is sour. In this case it was a sweet taste followed with a touch of bitterness. The second part of the taste is looking for tannins, which come from the skin of the grapes. The longer the juice stays in contact with the skins, the greater the tannin feel to the wine. I call this the “chewiness� of the wine. In this case, the wine has a very soft and silky feel, meaning it is light on the tannins. When you put all of these things together, you end up with a high quality, easy to drink, reasonably priced wine. In matching this to food, I would aim for everyday type food — spaghetti and meat balls, burgers, pizza, etc. If merlot was in style, you would see this wine selling for $5 to $10 more. Just like it is smart to buy an umbrella when it is sunny, now is a great time to buy a merlot. Until next time, cheers! Don Colman lives in the East Bay and writes a wine blog at www.nosetoglass.com.
April 17
Got pride?
PLAN TO PLANT A GARDEN From 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 17, learn to plant a garden. Bring the measurements of your garden area, graph paper and pencil. Instructors can help plan the layout and discuss soil, water and sun needs. Cost is $14 for Dublin residents or $16 for non-residents. Call 556-4500 or visit www.dublinrecguide.com.
April 25 MEXICAN FIESTA DINNER From 4:30 to 9 p.m. April 25, spend Sunday afternoon preparing a four-course Mexican ďŹ esta. Cook and enjoy the meal together; leave with great recipes. The cost per couple is $45 for Dublin residents or $52 for non-residents. Call 5564500 or visit www.dublinrecguide. com.
Ongoing FREE HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) of Alameda County offers their service each month and seniors receive free counseling about Medicare. Appointments will be scheduled at the Dublin Senior Center, 7600 Amador Valley Blvd. To schedule your appointment with counselor Ada Schoch, call 556-4511 by the prior Monday.
LPD AAUW LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP The Local Scholarship Foundation of the Livermore-Pleasanton-Dublin branch of AAUW is now accepting applications. Applicants must be women who live, or have gone to high school, in the branch cities, be an undergraduate planning to attend a four-year college in fall 2010. Applications are due April 1. Call Joan at 484-0602.
City looking for volunteers in annual event to improve the community Dublin Pride Week is set for April 24 through May 1 and they need help from the community. Last year, a record-setting 400 volunteers helped in the annual event to improve the community and the world through environmental awareness and volunteerism. Individuals and groups, including faith-based and service organizations, worked on projects ranging from helping seniors with household maintenance and yard work, to elementary and middle school beautification projects, such as painting and landscape work. There were also several clean-up efforts done throughout the city. “Dublin Pride Week is a great
tradition that speaks to the very character of our community,� Vice Mayor Kasie Hildenbrand said. “This program demonstrates that, through volunteerism and environmental stewardship, residents can truly impact and make a difference in the city.� Youth are encouraged to participate in the event, which also includes an annual poster contest. This year’s artwork is called “Step Up and Reach Out� by Ariana Castro, an eighth-grader at Wells Middle School. To sign up to help beautify Dublin, call 833-6650 or visit www. dublinprideweek.com. —Emily West
Dublin Pride Week schedule April 24 N 8 a.m. to noon: volunteering N noon to 1 p.m.: volunteer barbecue at Shannon Park N 2 to 3:30 p.m.: Water Wise Workshop at the Dublin Library May 1 N 1 to 2 p.m.: guided nature walk (registration required) N all day: free hazardous waste collection and compost giveaway
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www.OurSanRamonHospital.com
Ayman Hosny, M.D. John Krouse, M.D. Donald Lai, M.D. Morgan Lin, M.D. Mark Nathan, M.D. Bahman Nouri, M.D. Iqbal Omarali, M.D. Srikrishin Rohra, M.D.
Baijnath Saw, M.D. Pramodh Sidhu, M.D. Dineshkumar Thakur, M.D. John Vu, M.D. Neal White, M.D. Christopher Wulff, M.D.
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UÊ `Ê*iÀv À > ViÊ V iÛi i ÌÊ Ü>À`Êv ÀÊ À >ÀÞÊ ÀÌiÀÞÊ Ãi>ÃiÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊ iÀ V> Ê i>ÀÌÊ Ãà V >Ì É iÀ V> Ê-ÌÀ iÊ Ãà V >Ì ½ÃÊ iÌÊÜ Ì ÊÌ iÊ Õ `i iÃÊÓään UÊ1 Ìi` i> Ì Ê*Ài Õ ®Ê >À` >VÊ-ÕÀ}iÀÞÊ-«iV > ÌÞÊ i ÌiÀÊÓää UÊ1 Ìi` i> Ì Ê*Ài Õ ®Ê >À` >VÊ >ÀiÊ-«iV > ÌÞÊ i ÌiÀÊÓää
These testimonials reflect results achieved by these patients. As each case is different and must be independently evaluated and managed, actual results will vary.