Gives $100,000 Prize to Modesto School - The Independent

VOLUME XLVI, NUMBER 39
Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
Rancho Wins Governor’s Fitness Challenge
Gives $100,000 Prize to Modesto School
Don't Miss
The Independent's
second section.
Section II is filled with information
about arts, entertainment
and special events. There
are education stories, a variety
of features, and the arts and
entertainment and bulletin board
listings.
Pleasanton
Plan Calls for
More Bike,
Walking Routes
Pleasanton has created an
ambitious plan in an effort to
provide greater access to routes
for pedestrians and cyclists.
The city council heard a
report on the draft Pedestrian
and Bicycle Master Plan at last
week’s meeting. Mike Tassano,
city traffic engineer, declared,
“This plan is just a vision of the
future.” He added that there is
no funding tied to it. The goal,
he said, is to create a safe and
convenient circulation system
for non-motorized travel.
The council will consider
approving the plan at a meeting
in October.
Mayor Jennifer Hosterman
commented, “This is a master
plan that allows us to go after
funding. There are a lot of good
concepts.
The city used a grant of
$111,000 from the Alameda
County Transportation Improvement
Authority to prepare the
plan.
Tassano listed five major
goals contained within the
plan.
They are as follows: create
a citywide bicycle and pedestrian
network; provide a viable
alternative to driving for community
and recreation; establish
citywide design guidelines for
bicycle and pedestrian facilities;
encourage and educate residents
about biking and waking opportunities;
and improve safety for
pedestrians and bicyclists.
Currently the city has 6 miles
of class I paved bike paths (offstreet),
27 miles of class II bike
lanes (on-street striped lanes),
and 10 miles of class III bike
routes (on-street signed routes).
If draft plan is approved and all
of the proposed improvements
built, there would be 17.6 miles
of new paved bike paths, 24.8
new miles of bike lanes, and 5.7
new miles of bike routes.
There are 60 projects identified
at an estimated cost close
to $30 million. The plan does
identify sources of funding that
the city could apply to apply for
(See PLAN, page 4)
Bring Canned
Goods to
Nostalgia Day
There will be a canned goods
food drive for Open Heart Kitchen
in conjunction with the Altamont
Cruisers Nostalga Day
on Sunday, Sept 27 in downtown
Livermore. The event will run
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The shelves at Open Heart
Kitchen are getting bare. Items
needed are: Fruit Cocktail, Green
Beans, Corn, All Blend vegetables,
Cream of Mushroom Soup,
Cream of Chicken Soup, and
Juices; For the children’s “Box
Lunch” Program the following
items are needed: 4 oz. juice
boxes, Ritz Cheese and Crackers,
Granola and Nutri-Grain bars.,
and Single serving fruit cups or
apple sauce.
The canned goods can be given
to any cruiser. The Open Heart
Kitchen truck will be downtown
as well. Canned goods can be
dropped off at the truck.
For more information go to
www.altamontcruisers.org or
http://openheartkitchen.org.
By Patricia Koning
Rancho Elementary School
in Livermore won the gold medal
in the Governor’s Fitness
Challenge. However, the school
earned something far more valuable
by passing along its prize
of a $100,000 fitness center to
Modesto’s Tuolumne Elementary
School.
“It just made sense,” said Rancho
principal Chris Calabrese.
“Rancho could definitely use the
fitness center to evolve our wellness
programs. We are not the
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Students at Rancho Las Positas Elementary in Livermore have been active participants since
2006, when the Rancho Running Club was organized. (File photo)
Art & Entertainment........Section II
Bulletin Board.................Section II
Classifieds...........................10
Editorial.................................4
Mailbox...................................5
Roundup..................................3
Inside
Short Notes.............................9
Sports......................................6
Obituaries................................10
most in need. We already have
our Project Fit equipment and we
are getting closer to our goal of
putting in a track here at Rancho.
This is a very caring school.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 16,
Rancho received the gold medal
award for elementary schools in
the 2009 Governor’s Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports Spotlight
Awards presented by the
Anthem Blue Cross Foundation.
All of the school’s fourth and fifth
grade students, their teachers,
office staff, running club coordinators
Bret Dupuis and Dave
Hinds, and Calabrese traveled
to Sacramento that morning to
receive the award, which was
presented by Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger and Council
Chairman Jake Steinfeld.
When Rancho’s decision
to donate their award was announced,
all of the dignitaries
at the event gave the students a
standing ovation. “For a group
of kids to be that generous is
absolutely fantastic and renews
my optimism for the future of this
HOT Lanes Coming to Freeways
The Pleasanton City Council
was given a preview on how
driving on local freeways could
change in the next two years,
reducing congestion.
High occupancy toll (HOT)
lanes are expected to be opened
during that time period. A 14-
mile stretch on I-680 over the
Sunol grade is projected to open
in August 2010. It will be the first
toll lane in the Bay Area.
Targeted for opening in 2011
will be HOT lanes along a 11-
mile eastbound stretch on I-580
from the 580/680 interchange to
the Altamont.
Studies have shown that drivers
save up to 17 minutes in time
if they use the HOT lanes, David
Himes, a Congestion Management
Agency (CMA) representa-
tive told the council.
The lanes will be free to
carpools, buses, and permitted
hybrids. Solo drivers will pay
a fee. The toll rises when traffic
is more congested in the HOT
lane to discourage additional
drivers from using the lane. The
price drops when traffic is low
to encourage entry. The price is
aimed at keeping traffic moving
at a minimum of 55 mph in the
HOT lane.
The price will change every
three minutes. The cost when
drivers enter the lane is the price
that will be subtracted for the
entire trip from a FasTrak pass
drivers will have in their cars.
The Sunol grace HOT lane will
have three entries and three exits.
This is to discourage motorists
ValleyCare Stops
Injunction; Trial Ahead
By Ron McNicoll
Superior Court Judge John
Appel has refused to grant an
injunction to stop ValleyCare
Health System’s medical foundation
from continuing in operation.
However, the judge said at
a hearing Sept. 18 that the suit
filed by some Valley doctors,
who are not in the foundation, is
meritorious of a trial. Appel set a
case management conference for
Jan. 15, 2010. After any pre-trial
issues are settled at that time, a
date for a trial would be set.
With Appel’s current caseload,
trial dates are being set in
May. However, Chris Miller,
attorney for the plaintiff doctors,
told The Independent that judges
often move up cases that ask for
an injunction to halt an apparently
illegal activity.
Since the suit involves an injunction
to have ValleyCare cease
its medical foundation operation,
because it allegedly is in violation
of state law, it’s possible the
pre-trial conference and the trial
would be changed to an earlier
date, said Miller.
The plaintiff doctors, known
in the court filing as the Patient-
Physician Alliance, claimed ValleyCare
fails to have 40 physician
members. At least 10 of the doctors
must be representative of 10
different medical specialties.
ValleyCare’s attorneys countered
that the foundation has 41
doctors. It has 30 physicians, and
they refer patients to 11 different
specialties, which ValleyCare
contends makes the foundation
a 41 member foundation.
The law requires forty mem-
(See VALLEYCARE, page 4)
from darting in and out of the
HOT lane.
The money raised from the
tolls will be used to fund transit
improvements along the 580/680
corridor.
Himes told the council that
surveys have shown that 64 percent
of commuters support the
HOT lane concept. He said when
asked that the toll maximums and
minimums had not yet been set.
PARKING FINES GOING
UP
The city council approved
higher fines for parking violations.
It is the first increase since
1993.
City attorney Michael Roush
told the council that part of the
money collected for fines goes
(See HOT LANES, page 4)
great state,” said Steinfeld.
Dupuis, a Rancho parent,
said the decision to give away
the award was easy and one that
the students embraced. “Reading
essays from other schools
demonstrated that we do not need
this fitness center in the way they
do,” he said. “There are schools
dealing with toxic fumes coming
off the freeway and high crime
neighborhoods.”
Plus, he added, Rancho wants
to stay focused on its goal to
By Ron McNicoll
Zone 7 directors have given
the green light to separating
the administrative, insurance
and financial operations of the
agency from Alameda County
government.
However, amid startling and
unprecedented statements by
two Zone 7 middle managers
who criticized top management,
the board at its meeting Sept. 16
held back on the fourth proposed
area of separation: employee
relations. The delay was also
the recommendation of general
manager Jill Duerig, who heard
complaints from staff at committee
meetings about a lack of
information concerning separation
from the county on personnel
matters.
Livermore Superintendent
Brenda Miller to Retire
build a track. So far Rancho
has collected more than half of
the $40,000 needed. A total of
$13,000 came in last year alone,
$5,000 of which was prize money
for winning the regional award in
the 2008 Governor’s Challenge.
Mark Lewis, principal of Tuolumne
Elementary School, said
that when his students learned of
the gift they were stunned and
then ecstatic. “We plan to pay it
forward by making a contribution
(See RANCHO, page 2)
Zone 7 Directors Hear
Management Criticism
Directors said that they are
open to employees’ concerns,
and agreed to wait at least six
months before deciding whether
to separate from the county’s
labor contracts, and the civil service
commission, which governs
employee grievances and other
labor matters.
The separation in the three
categories approved by the board
is expected to eliminate some
duplication in Zone 7 staff work.
The consulting firm Management
Partners estimated that the
savings in the approved agency
areas will be $355,000 annually,
a reduction from $1.23 million
to $877,000.
Some of the savings will result
from no longer having to prepare
(See ZONE 7, page 4)
By Patricia Koning
Livermore Superintendent
Brenda Miller has announced
her retirement. She made the
announcement at the Sept. 15
meeting of the Board of Education.
Her effective retirement
date will be Feb. 1, 2010. However,
she will begin using her
accumulated vacation on Dec.
21, 2009 when the District begins
winter recess.
“I want to thank the Superintendent
for her long service
to this community and to public
education,” said Board president
Kate Runyon. “I would have been
happy to have her leadership forever.
However, that is not the way
the world works. We have known
for a long time that this day was
coming and have planned for a
transition process.”
Assistant Superintendent
Mike Martinez will serve as
interim Superintendent until a
replacement is found. Miller’s
duties will be split among Martinez,
Assistant Superintendent
Kelly Bowers, and Budget Director
Susan Kinder.
Runyon said that the Board
has asked for proposals from
three experienced superintendent
search firms and will begin
immediately the search for a
permanent replacement for Superintendent
Miller.
Miller began her career in
education as a teacher with the
Pleasanton Unified School District
in 1972. She also served
the Pleasanton District as a Vice
Principal, Curriculum Specialist,
Principal, and Director of Curriculum
and Staff Development.
She joined the Livermore Valley
Joint Unified School District in
1997 as the Assistant Superintendent
of Education Services.
In 2004 she succeeded retiring
Superintendent Lorraine Garcy.
“It’s been a privilege to work
in Livermore,” said Miller. “This
(See MILLER, page 4)
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Grupo Folklorico Tlapalli entertained visitors at the annual Children's Fair in Livermore. The fair
is hosted by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District. In addition to entertainment, there
were a variety of other activities, including a petting zoo, at the Robert Livermore Community
Center.
PET OF THE WEEK
Marley is a Dachshund/Chihuahua mix with a super-sweet
disposition. She loves to meet new people and is a big
snuggler, too. Marley will be shown at Valley Humane
Society from 11AM to 2PM on Sat., Sept. 26. VHS is
located at 3670 Nevada Street in Pleasanton. Visit the
web site www.valleyhumane.org or call 925-426-8656 for
more details. Bring your e-waste to 4 California Ave in
Pleasanton on Sat., Oct 3 from 9AM to 4PM- all proceeds
benefit homeless pets like Marley!

PAGE 2 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
RANCHO
Rancho students shown with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
to another deserving institution,”
he said. “An indoor fitness center
will be great. We’re a year-round
school in an area with high smog
and high heat that prevent us
from going outside for days at a
time in the summer.”
Each finalist for a regional
award and grand prize must submit
three essays describing the
school’s commitment to healthy
eating, commitment to supporting
physical activity, and the
impact of a new fitness center.
The third essay for Tuolumne
described the school as an island
of safety for the community.
“Though there is a park a few
blocks away, students are afraid
to use the park because of gang
activity. The only other open
space for students to play is the
school. Due to the location and
high poverty level, students do
not have access to community
recreation activities, available to
other students in the community,”
the essay stated.
To participate in the Governor’s
Challenge, students must
be active 30-60 minutes a day at
least 3 days a week for a month
in addition to physical education
classes. At Rancho, much
of that physical activity happens
in the Rancho Runners Program.
Three days a week before school
students walk and run laps on
the grass track that Dupuis and
Hinds hope to turn into a regulation
track soon. For more on the
Rancho Runners and Rancho
Elementary School, visit www.
ranchoschool.com.
“In each of the last two years,
our kids have run over 40,000
miles. That averages out to 80
miles per student,” said Dupuis.
“These kids are always asking
when they can run.”
Rancho conducts a Monthly
Family Fitness Day in which
parents and staff join the students
on the track before school. Last
year, the school held its first
Rancho Mile Challenge with a
top time of 5:57. In addition, the
school has Project Fit America
outdoor exercise equipment that
it received through a grant from
Kraft Foods in 2006.
The kids aren’t the only ones
committed to running and fitness;
some Rancho parents were
inspired to participate for the
first time in marathons, halfmarathons,
10k and 5k races, and
triathlons. Dupuis and Hinds both
compete in ironman distance
triathlons.
The California Governor’s
Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan
organization dedicated to
promoting physical activity for
all Californians, with an emphasis
on children and youth. For
more information, visit www.
calgovcouncil.org.
Waste Reduction Helps Bottom Line
U.S. Foodservice demonstrates
that making operations
more environmentally responsible
serves not only planetary
and human health, but also a
company’s financial wellbeing.
Working with local public
agency StopWaste.Org since
2006, U.S. Foodservice’s distribution
center in Livermore has
reduced waste by 40%, saving
over $90,000 in waste-related
expenses annually. In addition,
the facility has implemented energy
efficiency measures, cutting
electricity usage by 1.4 Mio kWh
between 2008 and 2009, and the
electricity bill by $150,000. The
distribution center is currently
working on plans for a megawatt
solar roof, with the goal of
generating 100% of their own
clean energy.
One of the top employers
in the area, U.S Foodservice’s
Livermore facility is highly
regarded by elected officials for
their own achievements as well
as their efforts in helping fellow
businesses and clients green their
operations.
“I am proud that US Foodservice
is part of Livermore’s
business community,” says City
of Livermore Councilmember
Marj Leider, who also sits on
the Alameda County Waste
Management Authority Board,
which oversees StopWaste.Org’s
activities. “Their success shows
how doing the right thing for
the planet doesn’t have to add
cost, but can, in fact, benefit the
bottom line in a big way.” She
adds: “What I admire most about
this company is how they inspire
and support others in adopting
environmentally responsible
practices. They truly walk the
talk.”
Key to the distribution center’s
success in going green is
the company’s strategic engagement
of staff. “Our ‘Great Ideas’
program encourages suggestions
for operational improvement
from employees of all levels and
in all departments,” explains
Chuck Brown, facility director
and coordinator of the division’s
resource conservation and business
efficiency efforts.
Under Phil Collins, president
of US Foodservice’s San Francisco
Division, sustainability has
become an important business
principle, reflected—among
several initiatives—by the recent
development of a sustainability
line of products, offering organic,
fair-trade and locally grown
foods, as well as a range of other
environmentally responsible
products.
U.S. Foodservice’s San Francisco
Division has earned several
awards and titles, including the
2007 Business of the Year Award
by the Livermore Chamber of
Commerce and the title of 2008
Flex Your Power Demand Response
Winner by PG&E.

County Instrumental in Saving Health Care
Alameda County played a
pivotal role in efforts to save a
program providing publicly subsidized
health insurance to poor
children in California – efforts
VALLEY ROUNDUP
Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council –Northern
California Chapter (USGBC-NCC) has formed
the Diablo East Bay Branch as part of the Chapter.
USGBC-NCC Diablo East Bay Branch joins
the Sacramento, Monterey Bay and Silicon Valley
Branches of USGBC-NCC.
“The USGBC’s mission is to transform the
built environment and improve the quality of all
life,” said Andrea Traber, USGBC-NCC board
president. “The Diablo East Bay Branch will
advance green building practices in an evolving
area.” Dan Geiger, executive director of the chapter,
added “we’re very excited to have a branch
in the eastern portion of the Bay Area to increase
awareness, membership and programming.”
USGBC-NCC Diablo East Bay Branch will
provide education and information to area businesses,
jurisdictions, organizations, designers
and stakeholders regarding green building,
planning and sustainability trends that impact
our communities, building development and
associated industries USGBC-NCC Diablo East
Bay Branch held inaugural gala at Wente Vineyards
last week.
The Branch’s leadership includes: Chairman:
Alex Gilmete, LEED AP, Interform Commercial
InteriorsVice-Chairman: Art Coon, LEED AP,
Miller Starr Regalia Secretary: Diana Volovelskay,
Marketing ConsultantTreasurer: Cathy Li,
LEED AP Cushman & Wakefield of California,
Inc.Program Chair: Bridgit Koller, LEED AP,
Koller Real Estate DevelopmentMembership
Chair: Sandy Davis, Restoration Management
Advocacy Chair: Marsha Golangco, Marsha
Golangco ConsultantsEmerging Green Builders
Chair: Stephen Velyvis, Miller Starr Regalia-
Communication Chair: William Ferree, Argo
Insurance Brokers
The U.S. Green Building Council - Northern
California Chapter is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit,
voluntary organization that educates, motivates,
provides resources and advocates for industry
transformation to build and maintain sustainable
communities. USGBC-NCC is part of a network
of approximately 65 USGBC Chapters throughout
the United States which represent USGBC
in their respective regions.
Visit the U.S. Green Building Council -
Northern California Chapter on the web at www.
usgbc-ncc.org/
Democratic Unity Dinner
California State Attorney General Jerry
Brown, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, and 10 th
Congressional District Democratic candidate Lt.
Gov. John Garamendi will headline the 39 th Annual
Alameda County Democratic Unity Dinner
Saturday, September 26, at the Oakland Airport
Hilton. State Board of Equalization Chair Betty
Yee will emcee the event.
The reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., with
dinner at 7:30 p.m. All interested Democrats are
invited to attend. Tickets are $75 per person in
advance, $125 for patrons; tables are available at
$1,000 and up. Advance tickets can be purchased
by calling 510/263-5222. A limited number of
door tickets will be available at $85.
Highway 84 Closure
Caltrans is planning to close State Route
84 in Niles Canyon, from Silver Springs Road
Undercrossing to Old Canyon Road, for extreme
maintenance on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 5 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
that resulted in legislation that
was signed into law on Tuesday
by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Three prominent Alameda
Except for emergency services, the roadway
will be closed for all westbound and eastbound
traffic, including bicyclists. Work will include litter
removal, drain cleaning, weed and overgrown
brush removal, tree trimming, mowing, rock
slide clearing, shoulder grading, pothole repairs,
sweeping, striping, and delineation.
The California Highway Patrol will be on site
for traffic enforcement.
Plan to Protect Infrastructure
Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD)
invites public comment and questions on its
strategies to reduce or eliminate the impact of
natural disasters on critical infrastructure that
delivers potable and recycled water and collects
and treats wastewater. The District will present
a summary of its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
at a public meeting on Monday, September 28, at
4:00 p.m. in the District boardroom, 7051 Dublin
Blvd., Dublin. Also, the presentation is available
on the District’s website at http://www.dsrsd.
com/news_and_event/LHMPslides.pdf .
The District is considering joining the Association
of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Multi-
Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for
the San Francisco Bay Area (http://quake.abag.
ca.gov/mitigation/plan.html.) ABAG initially
developed this plan in 2005 to build consensus on
regional priorities for pre-disaster planning and
mitigation. Each participating local government
prepares an Annex to the plan that explains how
regional mitigation strategies specifically apply
to that agency’s services and infrastructure.
About 100 Bay Area cities, counties, and special
districts currently participate.
Public comments on the proposed plan may be
e-mailed to strommen@dsrsd.com, faxed to the
attention of Curt Strommen at 925-462-0658, or
mailed to Curt Strommen, DSRSD, 7051 Dublin
Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568.
Mayor Hosterman
County residents turned out to
be key players in negotiations
resulting in the new law – Kris
Perry, executive director of First
5 California; Carla Dartis, a
Hosterman to Serve on Water Council
Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer Hosterman has
been appointed to serve as the Co-Chair of the
Mayors Water Council for the United States
Conference of Mayors.
The primary purpose of
The Mayors Water Council
(MWC) is to assist local
governments in providing
high quality water resources
in a cost effective manner and
to provide a forum to share
information on water technology,
management methods,
operational experience, and
financing of infrastructure development.
“I am honored to have been selected to co-lead
this vitally important council and look forward
to working with my peers to resolve some of the
major challenges regarding water in cities today,”
declared Hosterman.
Hosterman was also named as a full member
of the Local Area Formation Commission (LAF-
CO), the Alameda County Transportation Improvement
Authority (ACTIA), and the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
She serves on the Executive Committee of the
Alameda County Mayors Conference.
Mayor Brian Stratton of Schenectady, New
York will co-chair the committee with Mayor
Hosterman.
member of the state First 5 Commission;
and Dave Kears, the
retired Alameda County Health
Director who currently works as
a Special Assistant to Alameda
County Administrator Susan S.
Muranishi. Kears also is a key
player on the state’s First 5
Commission, which administers
programs helping low-income
youth generated through a tax
on cigarettes.
The health insurance program,
known as Healthy Families,
was almost eliminated through
$175 million in reductions made
this summer by the California
legislature and the Governor in
order to close the state’s massive
budget deficit.
The cuts sparked marathon
negotiations aimed at saving a
program that provides insurance
to nearly 700,000 children from
low-income families - talks that
involved officials in the Governor’s
office and top legislators,
as well as representatives from
insurance companies and child
welfare advocates. Prominent
among those advocates were
representatives of First 5 California.
Kears serves on the state’s
First 5 Commission as its Health
Systems representative and vice
chair. With the Commission’s
top seat currently vacant, Kears
serves as its de facto chair, which
caused him to be thrust into the
talks surrounding the Healthy
Families crisis. He received
ample support in this effort from
Muranishi, who has pioneered
several local efforts to help atrisk
youth and placed a high
priority on saving a health insurance
program that directly serves
about 16,000 youth and families
in Alameda County.
The talks resulted in legislation
that received rare bipartisan
support in both houses of the
State Legislature and was signed
into law by Schwarzenegger on
Tuesday. It closes a funding
gap within Healthy Families of
about $200 million, of which
about $97 million will be generated
by health insurers who have
agreed to impose a special tax on
themselves.
Another $81.4 million will
come directly from First 5, as
part of an agreement involving
the state organization and the
58 County Commissions that
administer First 5 programs locally.
Perry, Dartis and Kears
were instrumental in hammering
out First 5’s contribution to the
new funding formula that will
keep Healthy Families solvent
through 2010.
After attending the Governor’s
bill signing ceremony on
Tuesday, Kears said, “The reason
this is a triumph is that so many
parties were willing to come
together, to think outside the box
and set aside their own interests
because they recognized that
doing nothing would have been
a disaster and an embarrassment
for the State of California.”
Muranishi said the potential
dismantling of Healthy Families
was one of the most difficult impacts
of the State Budget crisis,
which resulted in cuts to a wide
array of safety net programs that
Alameda County operates on the
local level.
The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 - PAGE 3

PAGE 4 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
EDITORIAL
Spectacular Test Score Gains
Livermore schools achieved spectacular gains in the
2008/2009 Academic Performance Index (API) released by
the California Department of Education last week.
Pleasanton schools meanwhile continued to score among
the state’s leaders, ranking 11th among California’s more
than 300 unified school districts.
API is a statewide school performance measure based
on standardized test scores. The target is a score of 800 or
better. The statewide average was 755, with 42% of the
schools exceeding 800.
Livermore’s API was 817, up from 794 in 2007/08. Ten
Livermore schools scored over 800 and two, Sunset and
Smith, tallied over 900.
In Pleasanton 11 of the 15 schools scored over 900.
The district, however, slipped from 9th to 11th in the state
rankings, a reflection of other districts doing better rather
than of Pleasanton doing worse. Pleasanton’s API actually
rose 8 points.
Raising the scores— doing better each year — is what the
API is all about. Granada High led the gains in Livermore
with an incredible 53-point increase.
Livermore and Pleasanton schools, we applaud you.
MILLER
(continued from page one)
community is unique in how education
is valued so highly.”
She said she considered retiring
at the end of the 2008/09
school year. However, the Board
asked her to stay through the fall
to work through difficult issues
including budget cuts, the potential
closure of a District school,
and the pending opening of the
charter high school.
After her official retirement
date, Miller will be available
on a consultant basis to assist
the interim superintendent, new
PLAN
(continued from page one)
from Alameda County, the state
and federal governments.
Priorities were set for projects
using such criteria as key corridors
and routes that achieve a
balance between work and recreational
trips. Connectivity, safety
and ease of implementation were
also considered.
Among the on street projects
that had a high priority were bike
lanes along Santa Rita Road, First
Street, and Del Valle Parkway
near Amador Valley High School.
Tassano said these projects are
relatively quick fixes. The city,
as it makes street improvements,
would include the provisions in
the master plan in the construction,
adding the bike lanes where
identified. Tassano said one way
narrow roads could incorporate
bike use would be to paint sharrows
on the road. These are arrows
that indicate to motorists
that they are sharing the road
with cyclists.
Off-street improvements are
larger in scale, he stated. Leading
the list were an east-west connector
all the way to El Charro Road,
completing the Iron Horse trail
connection to Dublin, and routes
also the Arroyo de La Laguna and
Arroyo Mocho, among others.
Tassano told the council that
the plan also assessed the city’s
existing pedestrian network in
locations where there are a lot of
people to see what improvements
or changes may be required.
These include the downtown,
civic center, perimeter of the Alameda
County Fairgrounds, ACE
and BART stations, Stoneridge
Mall, and areas surrounding all
schools and parks.
Conditions of sidewalks including
obstructions, missing
segments and ADA accessibility
were identified.
“The top priorities in improving
the pedestrian network are
crossing improvements and connectivity,”
Tassano stated.
The plan also has an element
that looks at improving safety.
Tassano said that schools are a
focus. Three, Lydiksen, Alisal
and Walnut Grove, are being
used as templates for future site
evaluations of all schools. As an
example, Tassano said Lydiksen
would like greater access to the
canal near the school. More bike
racks are needed, along with
ADA accessibility in back of the
school. High visibility yellow
paint should be used to identify
crosswalks. Eventually each
school would have a plan in place
to provide easier ways to walk
and bike to and from school.
There are also education pro-
(INLAND VALLEY PUBLISHING CO.)
superintendent, and Board on
budget issues. She is planning to
spend some time working with
the Board in the spring on budget
development for the 2010/11
school year.
“I think the District is in a really
good place now. Financially
we have a plan. Our test scores
could not have been better,” Miller
said. In retirement, she plans to
play golf, spend time with friends
and family, and travel. She has
trips to Boston and Italy lined up
for next year.
grams proposed to help teach
kids how to be safe when walking
or riding.
City Councilmember Cindy
McGovern suggested that the
city work with the school district
closely on any areas that impact
the schools.
She expressed concern about
bicycle access on Foothill Road,
noting that there are very narrow
areas of the road. She suggested
that rather than share, the road,
as the plan proposes, a separate
lane should be provided for
bicyclists.
Councilmember Matt Sullivan
commented, “For a long
time, the focus has been on cars.
We haven’t had something like
this plan that talks about bikes
and walking. It looks like a really
good document.” He added
there are some places where it is
scary to ride a bike. “I don’t know
about sharrows.”
HOT LANES
(continued from page one)
to the state. Prior to 2008, that
amount was $5. Now, the state
takes $9.50 for every violation
issued.
Staff looked at neighboring
cities and the fines they charged
prior to recommending what
fines should be in Pleasanton.
Roush said that the proposed
fines are very much in line with
other cities.
Most fines would go up from
the current $27 and $33 fines
to $50 or $60 depending on the
signage such as “no stopping,”
“no parking,” “2-hour zone,” etc.
Parking too long in a 3 hour zone
would generate a $53 fine.
Parking along a curb painted
red would result in a $100 fine.
Parking in a bus zone or in front
of sidewalk curb that has been
cut to provide wheelchair access
would cost the motorist $260
(state law provides that penalties
for the violation may not be
less than $250). There is a fine of
$285 for parking in a handicap
space.
Staff had proposed a $100
penalty for parking more than 72
hours or abandoning a vehicle.
Councilmember Cindy McGovern
said the fine should be higher
to discourage such activities. She
suggested a fine of $235, the
same as Livermore charges. The
rest of the council agreed with
her suggestion.
The council asked Police
Chief Michael Fraser how many
parking citations were issued
each year in Pleasanton. He re-
Publisher: Joan Kinney Seppala
Associate Publisher: David T. Lowell
Editor: Janet Armantrout
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Reformers Talk About Changing Revenue Picture
By Ron McNicoll
Whether it is by way of a
constitutional convention or
amendments to current laws
through the initiative process,
two major reform groups agree
that the state’s financial support
system needs to be changed.
That was the message to more
than 100 people who attended a
forum on state financial reform at
the Alameda County supervisors
chamber Sept. 17.
The town hall meeting was
sponsored by the supervisors,
the Bay Area Business Council,
Repair California, and an organization
representing seniors and
people with disabilities.
County administrator Susan
Muranishi underscored the need
for fiscal reform. She noted that
not only did Proposition 13 in
1978 put the pinch on county
revenue, the state then imposed
ERAF in the early 1990s, taking
away even more revenue. ERAF
is still in effect, and continues to
drain the county, she said. “We
send more taxes to Sacramento
than we keep here,” she said.
The recession has made things
even worse, because of decline in
both sales tax and property tax
ZONE 7
(continued from page one)
two budgets: one for Zone 7’s
calendar year, and the other for
the county’s fiscal year, which
begins on July 1. The board vote
will officially launch the process.
However, there will still be
much work for county and Zone
7 staffs in accomplishing the
separation.
CRITICISM A SURPRISE
The criticism of top management
and an office culture with
poor communication came from
Jim Horen and David Lunn. Both
are engineers by profession, and
long-time Zone 7 employees.
Lunn started with the agency
in 1980.
Speeches from both were startling
because over the years their
remarks to the board at meetings
have been about their areas of expertise,
namely water supply and
water resources management.
Further, their criticism appeared
to be a form of whistle-blowing,
something that employees don’t
normally do publicly, out of fear
of a demotion, job loss, or clouded
relations with superiors.
Lunn came right to the point
about employees’ fears of criticizing
management when he
referred to water plant operators
and an engineer who spoke out at
the August board meeting and at
committee meetings.
Lunn said that he commended
those employees, because they
“had the courage” to address the
board about the issues of staff
morale and the lack of communication
about the separation from
the county.
Usually, a staff member would
work through normal communication
channels as a team member,
with the general manager,
who reports directly to the board,
said Lunn. However, the culture
at Zone 7 “has changed from
serving the community to serving
the general manager,” he said.
Lunn said, “Executive management
excludes the talented,
knowledgeable and experienced
staff from the decision-making
process.”
Lunn added, “These dedicated
people are shunted aside, kept
out of discussions, unaware of
agency strategy on key issues.”
Zone 7 is the poorer for it, and
so is the board in making its
decisions without that valuable
VALLEYCARE
(continued from page one)
bers in a foundation.
That difference about what
constitutes a medical group is
at the heart of the case, and is
an interesting question for state
law considerations, Appel said at
the hearing Sept. 18. He said that
he definitely wants a trial on the
matter to resolve the issue.
Miller said earlier this week,
“It’s a very significant issue that
could have statewide impact and
beyond. These foundations are
being set up. You could hire a
doctor, and have 40 referrals, if
their (ValleyCare’s) point about
referrals is correct. It makes a
mockery of the statute. Why even
have the statute?”
Claire Shoen, the ValleyCare
medical foundation’s CEO, told
The Independent after the hearing
that the judge’s refusal to grant
the injunction shows that the
foundation is in compliance with
the law. There will be continuing
care for patients, she said.
The doctors in the foundation
lease offices from ValleyCare.
The suing doctors’ claim states
that the foundation is creating an
revenue. For the first time in
50 years, there was a decline in
property assessed valuation. “We
are an arm of state government,
but we have only two or three
fingers left,” said Muranishi.
Talking about what might
be done, John Grubb of Repair
California said that if his group
can get enough signatures for two
ballot initiatives, it would put the
process for a state constitutional
convention into motion.
One initiative would enable
people legally to call a convention.
The second initiative would
be the call for the convention. If
$6 million can be raised to gather
signatures, Grubb is certain the
initiatives would appear on the
ballot.
The initiative would focus
only on the fiscal repair needed
for the structure of California
government, said Grubb. If the
initiatives were on the ballot in
2010, there could be a constitutional
convention in 2011. The
proposals from that convention
could go to a ballot in 2011 or
2012.
Fred Keeley, of California
Forward, said that although his
organization is separate from
contribution, said Lunn.
“It is time for you, the board,
to control the direction of Zone
7,” said Lunn. He recommended
that directors talk directly to individual
employees, to the community,
and the water retailers
about the situation.
CALL FOR HIGHER
MORALE
Horen, who said that he will
retire soon, praised the “wonderful
board and staff.” However,
“conditions have arisen” that
have prompted him to ask for
an ad hoc committee, or for
interviews, to obtain feedback
on the current state of Zone 7
“to achieve a higher level of
morale.”
Citing what he considered
failed communication, Horen
also spoke of a separate, but
somewhat related topic affecting
employee morale. It is the
creation of a strategic plan for the
agency. To hear staff’s thoughts
about the future direction of the
agency, management sent all
employees an electronic questionnaire
to obtain comments on
priorities.
There were also interviews
with some key staff by consultant
Carl Morrison, who is writing a
draft of the strategic plan. Alluding
to Morrison’s interviews, Horen
said, “We bared our souls to
him, so that a plan would emerge.
This result never emerged. We
were all ignored,” said Horen.
However, board president
Dick Quigley told The Independent
this week that it’s too soon
to make a judgment about the fate
of any staff input concerning the
plan. The document is still in the
draft stage. Creating the strategic
plan will be a long process.
Zone 7 won’t even be going to
the water retailers with it until
winter. There will be more time
to consider staff views.
Quigley said that he has “great
respect” for Lunn and Horen.
“They worked tirelessly for the
agency. We can’t take action
on their comments (the Brown
Act prohibits it on issues raised
at the public communications
part of the agenda), but we can
listen. They conveyed serious
business,” said Quigley.
GENERAL MANAGER RE-
unfavorable business conditions
for them, because the foundation
is in direct competition with
them. They have to pay more
expenses and overhead, because
they are for-profit enterprises.
The plaintiffs claim that they
are being pressured to join the
foundation, and to refer their
patients to foundation-preferred
specialists.
ValleyCare issued a press
release Monday commenting
on the case. It quoted Schoen as
saying, “Through its lawyers,
the organization that sued ValleyCare
made many untrue and
misleading accusations.”
Shoen went on to say that if
the plaintiff doctors care so much
about medical care, why did they
file a quick injunction suit that
she said would force “50,000 patients
to find new doctors without
any prior notice?”
Miller’s law partner, Charles
Bond, spoke to that point in an
earlier Independent story. He
said then that there would be no
shutdown of the hospital. All that
would happen is that physicians
would be able to refer patients to
Repair California, they have the
same overall goal of getting the
state on a more solid financial
footing.
Keeley’s organization wants
to change specific laws, either
through initiatives or legislation.
One reform would be a two-year
budget, so that money fights are
resolved one year, and other
legislation passed in the second
year. “You can’t get to health and
human services legislation, if the
budget sucks the air out of all the
discussion,” said Keeley.
Changing the budget from
output-based, (there is this pot
of money, let’s spend it), to outcome-based
(what do you get for
your money?) would be a big step
ahead. That injects more accountability
into the budget process,
said Keeley.
A third speaker, Steven Hill
of the political reform program
of the New America Foundation,
focused his remarks on how a
politician-free selection process
might look for a constitutional
convention.
Using current legislators
or people they would appoint
doesn’t seem to be a good idea,
SPONDS TO COMMENTS
General Manager Jill Duerig
said Monday that she has high
respect for Lunn and Horen.
Asked about Horen’s criticism
of her leadership, Duerig said, “I
think there was some criticism,
but you make mistakes, and try
to do better.”
Speaking of Lunn’s comments
about failing to involve
veteran agency members in staff
discussions, Duerig said that the
agency has grown over the years,
with new positions created and
responsibilities spread over the
organization chart. (That growth
and the resulting compartmentalization
of the organization chart
occurred while Duerig’s predecessor,
Dale Myers, was general
manager for 10 years.)
Veteran employees such as
Horen and Lunn started at Zone
7 when it was a much smaller
organization, said Duerig. “That
made collegiality easier. People
were working together on all
of the projects. The agency has
grown a lot. We may not be able
to recapture that tiny agency
where everyone knows everything
(about each project),” she
said.
Budget considerations work
against involving more people
in a staff meeting. It is cheaper
to hold a meeting with six people
than with 30, since hourly rates
are being paid to all present,
said Duerig. “In a large organization,
you trickle down (the
information). That works more
efficiently,” she said.
Duerig said that assistant general
manager Kurt Arends, who
heads the engineering staff, tries
to have his staff report to him
on a regular basis, even meeting
off-site sometimes, so there are
no interruptions.
WATER RATES DUE
IN OCTOBER
On another item, the board
heard a report on options for
setting water rates, but took no
action and made little comment.
Traditionally the board sets rates
at its meeting in October.
A Zone 7 committee earlier
this month recommended that
the board adopt a rate increase of
9.25 percent. That was lower than
four other options, including a
any medical professional. They
could be in private practice or in
another medical group outside of
Local Conservation
Work Group to Meet
The Alameda County Conservation
Partnership is convening
a Local Work Group meeting
on October 7, for the fiscal
year 2010 Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS)
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP).
EQIP is a Farm Bill program
that provides funding for conservation
projects on agricultural
lands. The purpose of the local
work group is to facilitate locally
led conservation and to provide
advice to NRCS concerning the
implementation of conservation
programs in Alameda County.
NRCS local advisory groups
were established to make recommendations
on local natural
resource priorities and guidelines
since these are the people who
keep on failing to clean up the
mess, said Hill.
Instead, just plain people from
all walks of life could be selected,
either in a lottery that they choose
to join, or in a draft. The draft
would simply pick people at random,
via their driver’s licenses
or voter registration records.
This approach has been used in
some states.
People could refuse to take
part. However, those who did
form the constitutional convention
would truly be people from
all walks of life. Further, the fact
that they live in their own communities
would give them access
to everyday people who would
have everyday questions about
just how the constitution and
its reform would affect them. It
could generate some excitement
at the grass-roots level, and give
people the feeling that it really
is reform by the people, said
Keeley.
Miley announced that he will
conduct another town hall meeting
on the reform topic on Oct.
20 at the Fremont library, 2400
Stevenson Blvd., Fremont.
9.5 percent increase, which staff
had recommended.
The 9.5 percent increase had
a budget of $8 million in it for
water conservation programs.
The Valley’s four water retailers
asked the committee to cut that in
one-half, to keep $4 million in the
water conservation fund.
The 9.25 percent increase
would cost the typical homeowner
$3.07 more per month.
The 9.5 percent increase would
cost the homeowner $3.17 more
per month. Although the difference
may not sound like much,
it’s important to make figures
as low as possible, to help water
users in these tough economic
times, said the retailers.
Lori Rose, financial services
manager at DSRSD, added to
that thought at the board meeting
Sept. 16. She said that DSRSD
has accomplished some belttightening
on cost by laying off
five staff members.
Duerig countered that Zone
7 has had its own “soft lay-off”
policy by not filling vacant positions,
even though it means dividing
up the work among fewer
staff people.
WATER CONSERVATION
The retailers told the board’s
committee earlier this month that
Valley customers have achieved
much water conservation. An
extra push isn’t needed.
Staff members said that the
new emphasis is on institutional
change involving big irrigators.
For example, one school
in each Valley district will be
surveyed to see how much water
consumption can be cut back.
Assistance could be provided to
help achieve it.
The more money that is taken
from the new water conservation
push, the longer it will take for
Zone 7 to achieve mandatory water
conservation goals for 2020,
said Duerig. The goals are not
in place yet, but are expected to
come from the state legislature.
The Valley water retailers
— Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin
San Ramon Services District
(DSRSD) and the private California
Water Service — are free
to add their own increases, or
absorb some or all of the Zone
7 increase.
VMF. Physicians would be assured
that they have full freedom
in referring patients, said Bond.
for NRCS conservation programs.
The Local Work Group
meeting provides a forum for local
farmers and ranchers, public
agency representatives and other
partners to communicate their
views on the most critical natural
resource issues and priorities for
the county. Local NRCS staff
can then use the input provided
to help prioritize EQIP funding
allocation to meet local natural
resource needs.
This year’s Local Workgroup
Group meeting will be held
Wednesday, October 7 at 6 p.m.
with a free BBQ dinner starting
at 5 p.m. Please RSVP to
Peggy Kiefer at (925) 371-0154
extension 122, or peggy.kiefer@
acrcd.org

Global Warming Fight
Comes to Rural Areas
Alameda County planning
officials and consultants heard
some ideas about how rural
residents can help reduce carbon
emissions that cause greenhouse
gases.
Only about a dozen rural
residents attended the meeting
Sept. 15 at the Martinelli Events
Center. They broke into three
small groups, and heard presenters
from a consulting firm
focus them on different aspects
of conservation. The residents
managed to generate a variety
of ideas about what individuals
can do to make the countryside
a little greener.
One thing, said a resident,
would be to make one’s own
yard less green. She said that
she took out her yard, so that the
underground water level won’t
go down so far that wells in the
area won’t work.
People moving into a new
home near her haven’t been that
thoughtful, she said. They put in
a big yard. “They use more water
on their yard than I use in my
whole house,” she said.
While judicious use of the
water substance itself won’t cure
global warming, the electricity
that operates the well pumps, and
anything else in a rural home, is
at point in the discussion.
One resident said she wants to
get off the electrical grid, because
she is paying from 27 cents to 33
cents per kilowatt hour for her
power. She would love to install
solar panels. However, when she
looked into that, she was told
the cost is so high, it would take
20 years to break even on the
investment.
There are ways around that
though, she was told by consultant
Claire Bonham Carter. There
are solar firms that will lease out
equipment. That would eliminate
the high initial investment.
Arroyo Mocho Neighbors Ask
Community to Help Clear Fire Hazard
By Patricia Koning
On Saturday, Oct. 17, neighbors
of the Arroyo Mocho plan to
take matters into their own hands
and remove dead vegetation and
debris from the dry creekbed
behind their homes. The magnitude
of the job is huge because
the work has to be accomplished
through manual labor. As a result,
the residents are asking the community
for help.
“We’re hoping to get a lot of
hands to move debris out of the
creekbed onto the bank where
LARPD can come by the following
week to pick it up,” explained
Nile Runge, an Arroyo Mocho
neighbor who is chairing the
effort. He is working with the
Livermore Area Recreation and
Park District (LARPD), who
will help organize the project and
dispose of the debris and dead
vegetation.
Residents of Chateau Way,
which runs along the Arroyo
Mocho, began raising concerns
about the fire danger posed by
dead vegetation in the spring of
2008. The problem was created
about three years ago when water
stopped running year round in
the Arroyo Mocho. Trees and
vegetation that flourished with
Another idea about financing
solar panel installation came
from a resident who suggested
that the county might come up
with loans for homeowners to
buy the equipment. The county
could set aside a pool of money,
which would be used in an ongoing
way for the task.
Transportation was another
topic visited at the meeting. One
resident said that he drives to the
Livermore Transit Center, and
catches a bus to Dublin/Pleasanton
BART when he takes a train
to San Francisco. That’s better
than being left high and dry at the
BART station when he can’t find
a parking place, he said.
Another resident said he
would use Wheels to connect to
BART. However, with the current
level of service, it adds an hour
to his trip. More frequent Wheels
service could encourage more
BART trips, he said.
One resident said that a dedicated
bus lane on Interstate 580
would help speed the commute.
He apparently was unaware that
the Congestion Management
Agency has been working on a
plan to do exactly that.
Robert Allen, the Valley’s first
BART director, was at the meeting.
He put in a pitch for getting
more traffic off Interstate 580. He
noted, “It’s our air basin. We all
benefit if we can get traffic off
the freeway.”
Filling in gaps in cycling and
pedestrian trails, more ride-sharing
in cars, and discouraging
single-car occupancy were other
suggestions about how rural
residents can help curb carbon
emissions.
The county planning staff collected
all of the ideas presented.
After taking additional public
input, the county will conduct
another meeting Dec. 1 at the
Martinelli to discuss a draft version
of the report.
plentiful water died and remain
in the creek bed. The situation
is complicated because the State
Department of Fish and Game
has jurisdiction over the creek
bed, which is a protected riparian
area.
Steve Gregg, an LARPD
Park Supervisor, explained that
methods for cleaning up the
Arroyo are limited by State
Department of Fish and Game
restrictions. “Our resources are
limited because of the budget
cuts LARPD has taken. The Fish
and Game constraints compound
the difficulty,” he said. “We are
supportive of the community’s
efforts in removing the fire hazard
from the creek bed.”
In June, LARPD began a
program to allow goats to graze
in the Arroyo Mocho as a means
of naturally removing debris.
Residents expressed concern
regarding this plan, noting that
the goats were not likely to climb
20-foot trees and eat them. At a
May LARPD Board meeting,
director Scott Kamena said he
did not believe the goats would
be enough to solve the problem
and that the District should pursue
a long-term permit with Fish
and Game to manage the Arroyo
(Opinions voiced in letters
published in Mailbox are those
of the author and do not necessarily
reflect the opinion of The
Independent. Letter Policy: The
Independent will not publish
anonymous letters, nor will it
publish letters without names.
Frequent letter writers may have
publication of their letters delayed.)
Support Health Care Bill
William Zagotta
Livermore
This is in response to a letter
in The Independent on 9/17/09
from Roy Cornwell.
His letter is sadly wrong.
He was discussing the House
Health Care Bill (http://docs.
house.gov/edlabor/AAHCA-
BillText-071409.pdf). Due to
space limitations, I have enough
space to take up only two of
Cornwell’s five issues.
Cornwell (Cites p50) – “especially
irritating … is the granting
of full medical benefits to illegal
immigrants.”
The Bill does not grant any
benefits to any illegal immigrants.
There are State and federal laws
that forbid aid to illegal aliens.
The section of the Bill cited by
Cornwell specifically commands
these laws must still be honored.
Unfortunately it does so in legal
gibberish.
The Bill - Sec151 (p50) – the
requirements of this title do not
supercede any requirements
(including requirements relating
to genetic information nondiscrimination
and mental health)
applicable under title XXVII of
the Public Health Service Act or
under State law.
Although, the following
item from the Bill seems clear
enough.
The Bill - Sec246 (p143) No
Federal payment for
undocumented aliens.
Nothing in this subtitle shall
allow Federal payments for affordability
credits on behalf of
individuals who are not lawfully
present in the United States.
Mocho.
Linda Milanese, a Chateau
Way resident said she is happy
to see something positive happening
after working on the fire
hazard for a year and a half with
neighbors. “The goats served the
temporary function this summer
of eating some of the lower ladder
fuel. We think it’s great that
the neighbors and community
will join with LARPD to clear
the creek of other fire hazards,”
she said. “My husband Don and
I remain concerned about the
large number of dead trees in the
arroyo that we hope will also be
removed.”
On October 17, volunteers
will meet before 9 am at the
horseshoe pits where LARPD
will have a tent and table. Runge
explained that the creek will be
divided into color-coded sections
and each section will have
a leader to organize the work. “If
we get enough people helping,
we should be able to clear out
enough to make a big difference,”
he said.
The project will take place
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between the
Robertson Park and Arroyo Road
bridges. For more information,
contact Runge at 925-443-2237.
Cornwell (Cites p29) - The
Bill “Admits that your heath care
will be rationed.”
The Bill - Sec122 (p29) The
cost-sharing incurred under the
essential benefits package with
respect to an individual (or family)
for a year does not exceed
the applicable level specified in
subparagraph (B).
Basically cost-sharing means
co-pays. Cornwell tries to make
the bill stand on its head when
he mistakes cost-sharing for
benefits. The section he cites
guarantees that we will not have
to co-pay more than $5000 in a
year. The money we have to pay
is the only money “rationed”. My
health insurance has a similar
limit.
If he was worried about losing
coverage, he should have read
Sec122.
The Bill - Sec122 (p27) - does
not impose any annual or lifetime
limit on the coverage of covered
health care items and services.
Because of this Bill, if you
contract a long term, incurable
illness, you will not go bankrupt
paying hospital bills that the insurance
company wouldn’t pay
beyond the company’s lifetime
limit of payments. My present
insurance has a life time limit.
Cornwells’ complaints seem
to be derived almost word for
word from a Blogger. (http://
slopeofhope.com/2009/08/someforthcoming-health-system-highlights.html)
These irresponsible
Bloggers publish outlandish lies
and sadly some very smart people
are being bamboozled and in turn
these smart people are sowing
fear among the rest of us.
There may be items that I
would not like in the Bill but
on the whole it deserves to be
approved, in some form by both
Houses of Congress.
War in Afghanistan
Art Tenbrink
Pleasanton
“Admiral: To win war, send
troops” to Afghanistan reads
Sept. 16 CC Times Morning
Report leadline. And as a concerned
U.S. Citizen, I sense my
intelligence again being abused.
Smart money knows this war is
militarily unwinable. The Times
penned an intelligent editorial
recently recognizing we are losing
more hearts and minds (and
lives), on all sides, and that no
amount of military maneuvering
will a nation build there.
Budd MacKenzie, founder of
Trust In Education in Lafayette
has made numerous Afghan trips
since 2003. On this week’s blog
he writes: “What was once described
as ‘the justifiable war’ or
the ‘necessary war’ is rapidly becoming
portrayed as the war ‘not
worth waging’… It’s not surprising
that many Afghan families
are reluctant to take sides. The
penalties for supporting NATO
forces or ignoring directives
from the Taliban are severe.” I
applaud his Trust in Education.
Peace is a learning process and
clearly it cannot be taught by
more troops and more killings.
I believe there are many more
intelligent citizens who want to
move our focus from warring to
educating if only a sane forum for
such effort arose.
One local effort seems to be
Pleasantonians 4 Peace. In his
recent letter to the editor Matt
Sullivan wrote about this “grassroots”
effort to sow some sanity
in the fields of fighting when our
leaders are briefed by Admirals
and others interested in wasting
yet more of our dwindling national
treasure on war maneuvers.
I plan to heed Mr. Sullivan’s call
to peace through widespread
grassroots action and intend to
The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 - PAGE 5
be at the next Pleasantonians 4
Peace vigil at 7 p.m. on the 2nd
Wed. at the Museum on Main. I
hope to see you there too!
Health Insurance
Barbara E. Hempill
Pleasanton
During a long cab ride in New
York last year, the driver told us
how worried he had been because
cab drivers have no employer
provided health insurance, and
he couldn’t afford to buy it on his
own. Then he received a notice
from the Veterans Administration
that because he had been
in the National Guard when it
was activated during the conflict
in Grenada, he was eligible for
health care through the V.A. He
said that was the happiest day of
his life.
I believe every American
should have worry free quality
and affordable health care. Three
years ago two of my friends in
their early 60’s lost their jobs—
one company moved, the other
went bankrupt. Because both
friends were under 65 years of
age, health insurance cost them
$1,000 a month. One of them,
whose husband was already 65,
turned 65 recently. She said
that was the happiest day of her
life because, “Paying $1,000 a
month for health insurance was
killing us.”
Support Congressman Mc-
Nerney in seeking health insurance
reform.

PAGE 6 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
Livermore Elite Avalanche U9 girls are in the midst of qualifying for the NorCal tournament to be
held in Sacramento in late November. Pictured (front, left to right) Janessa Sanchez, Sophia Mylius,
Talina Quezada, Kylie Karter, Ashley Porter, Jennifer Wise; (back) Josie Berg, Alyssa George,
Stephanie Boschee, Caitlyn Quartaroli, Kalea Bartolotto, Sierra Street and Coach Ed Mylius.
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Amador Valley High School defeated Cal High 13 to 6 in women's varsity water polo action last
Thursday. In the photo, goalie Talia Greenwald makes a save.
Seahawk Wins
Open Water Swim
Rachel Knowles, at age 12, enjoys
chillin’ with friends, playing with her dogs
or being plugged into the latest music. As
a year-round swimmer, a large part of her
day is spent practicing with the Pleasanton
Seahawks at the Aquatic Center. Recently
she swam a nautical mile in the 10th Annual
Tiburon Mile in the San Francisco Bay.
On September 13, Rachel competed
with 400 polar bear types (8 to 75 years old),
finishing first in the open water swim in the
13 & under category. Rachel swam against
the chilly 50ish degree current from Angel
Island to Tiburon Harbor. In preparation for
the race, Rachel has competed in multiple
open water swims.
When asked what was the most difficult
part of the race Rachel answered, “The start.
There were so many swimmers that people
were grabbing your feet, kicking and even
swimming over you.” She said that when
swimmers came out of the water, they were
hosed off and the cold water felt “like a hot
shower.” Rachel added, “The best part of the
experience was finishing and running on the
red carpet at the finish line.”
Gymfinity Gymnastics
The level 5 team from Gymfinity
Gymnastics in Livermore competed this
past weekend at the Tumble in the Jungle
Invitational held in Marin. The team placed
third in their session.
Highlights included Paige Chew placing
3rd on bars in the middle age group with a
9.1 and Sierra Norvell placing 2nd on floor
in the younger age group. The entire Gymfinity
team of Chew, Norvell, Kaylee Brist,
Miranda May, Priscilla Cruz and Megan
Hebert brought home medals on floor.
EDGE Gymnastics
EDGE Gymnastics of Dublin competed
in Level 5 at the Tumble in the Jungle held
in Larkspur over the weekend.
Results: Level 5 Younger: Serena Chan,
first all-around 35.60, 1st vault 8.475, 1st
beam 9.275, 2nd bars 9.125, 3rd floor 8.725;
Brianna Londeree, 2ndall-around 34.625, 1st
9.275, 1st floor 8.85, 3rd beam 8.85; Isabella
Baldacci, 3rd all-around 34.40, 2nd beam
8.925, 3rdvault 8.35, 4th floor 8.70; Amanda
Fingerut, 4th bars 8.75; Stephanie Lowe, 5th
bars 8.55; Skylar Relova, 5th beam 8.65;
Hannah Skepner, 5th vault 8.10
Middle: Rhianne Khweled, 2nd allaround
35.375, 1st beam 9.35, 2nd floor
9.10, 4th bars 8.875; Danielle Mullins,
5th all-around 34.55, 2nd beam 9.20, 4th
vault 8.525
Older: Lydia Henderson, 2nd all-around
35.30, 1st bars 9.175, 2ndbeam 9.225, 4th
vault 8.35; Julia Morgin, 3rdall-around 35.05,
3rd bars 9.10, 3rd floor 9.10; Natalie Mauch,
5th all-around 34.275, 2nd vault 8.55; Claire
Koupal, 4th bars 8.775, 4th beam 8.925
Livermore Youth Soccer
The Livermore Hurricanes U12 high
comp soccer team defeated the Fremont
Olympians Josh Davis and Aaron Peirson work on swim techniques with members of the Livermore
Aqua Cowboys.
Swimmers Learn from Olympians
Livermore swimmers had
the unique opportunity to train
with four Olympic athletes and
World Champions at the Mutual
of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinic
hosted by the Livermore Aqua
Cowboys on September 19-20.
The swimmers performed drills
and learned championship techniques
from Randal Ball, Ben
Wildman-Tobriner, Josh Davis
and Aaron Peirsol.
The Olympians conducted
in-water instruction in each of
the four competitive strokes
and spoke about nutrition, goal
setting, and having a winning
DFC97 team 3-0 in a hard fought battle.
Scott Newby and Max Wiggington split
goalie duties and kept the tough Fremont
team from scoring. Newby also scored a
goal in the second half. Dominic Mingione
and Hayden Olsen scored for the Hurricanes.
Brian Martinez and Connor McGee played
outstanding defense.
The Livermore Elite Fury U14 girls
improved its GSSL record to 3-0 with a 5-0
win over the East Diablo Impact. Early pressure
by Kylie Diaz and Hannah Gooby tested
the Impact defense. In the 11th minute, Elise
Falgout ran a ball down in the midfield, raced
beyond a defender and found the right corner
for a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later, Amber
Lennier made a straight run to the goal from
near midfield, beat several defenders and
the goalie to make it 2-0. Sarah Wilkinson
played a strong first half on defense and Jenna
Hatch kept the offense going. East Diablo
countered with its best play during the first
ten minutes of the second half. However,
goalie Tayler Lennier made a one-handed
stop on a crossing shot and after a follow-up
shot hit the top post the Fury finally cleared.
Nine minutes later, Amber Lennier passed
the ball to the left wing where Alison Pierson
controlled, cut in and placed a high shot into
the back of the net for 3-0. Two minutes later,
midfielder Madyson Souza also sent a hard,
high shot beyond the keeper for 4-0. Hannah
Gooby completed the scoring in the final
minutes with a quick shot from the left side.
Altogether, Livermore played another strong
game to post its third consecutive shutout.
Sarah Franklin, Kaitlin Bulhoes, Amanda
Fairclough, Ryley Landreth and Beth McCall
all defended well. Rebekah Johnson, Elyse
Codiroli and Morgan Brandt created several
scoring opportunities.
Livermore Rampage 98 U11 Div 1,
5, Lamorinda 0: Rampage 98 showed us
all how it was done in Saturday's win over
the Lamorinda Firecrackers. Lauren Sandy
started out strong scoring, Rampage's 1st
goal by corralling a ball in the 18 yard box
and knocking it into the net. Goal #2 came
from Alyssa Oki as she perfectly timed a cross
and volleyed it into the goal. Rampage's 3rd
goal was by Jessey Espana as she ran the punt
from Keeper Ashley Morton down the field
and past the Lamorinda defense to belt in a
left footed grounder to the left corner of the
net. The 4th goal was a beautiful "through
pass" from Leslie Jimenez to Lauren Sandy
as she ran the ball and powered it into the
net. Rampage's final goal came from Jessey
Espana as she dribbled from half field
through three defensive players and took a
power shot to score. Rampage defense was
successful in completely shutting down
Lamorinda. Rampage had fantastic goal
keeping by Ashley Morton, Alyssa Oki and
Jessica Mahabali.
Pleasanton Ballistic United
The Pleasanton Ballistic United Soccer
Club (BUSC) U16 Select traveled to Newark
and unleashed a devastating offensive
attack in putting together a 5-0 victory over
the Rebels. The Select got on the board in
the 13th minute off a pass from midfield by
center back Randy Copeman. Copeman, who
had a tremendous game defensively, lofted a
pass to Jake Lorentz running on. He took it
attitude. The swimmers were
inspired by the motivational stories
that each of the Olympians
shared. The small group instruction
helped the kids not only learn
new drills and new techniques
but gave them the opportunity to
learn from four of the most successful
swimmers in the world.
They also had the unique and
challenging opportunity to race
against the Olympians.
Following the clinic, the athletes
signed autographs and took
pictures, allowing the swimmers
to try on their Olympic Medals,
including the Gold Medal won
by the Men’s 4x100 Relay from
the Beijing Olympics and Aaron
Peirsol’s Gold Medal from Beijing.
The Aqua Cowboys would
like to thank the following local
businesses that helped to sponsor
this event: Safeway, Noah's
Bagels, Trader Joe's, Starbucks
Vineyard and Costco. The Livermore
Aqua Cowboys is a USA
swim team offering a year round
program that includes both inwater
and dry-land workouts
for the beginner swimmer to the
elite swimmer. For additional
information, contact Emily Horst
at 925-443-7700.
Pleasanton Rage Under-12 action included Christy Jensen (center, with ball) ready to pass to
Carley Robertson [right]. Photo taken by Paul LaBella.
in stride, spun his mark around, and fired for
the 1-0 lead. In the 20th minute Abe Barreras
streaked down the left side and sent a true
cross to Lorentz planted inside the eighteen.
Again, Lorentz fired and scored. In the 22nd
minute, Lorentz turned helper, stealing a
ball in the Newark end and feeding Miguel
Nino from about 30 yards away. Nino lofted
a brilliant ball over the keeper for the 3-0
halftime lead. Tyler Mende, Hunter Meurrens,
and Cam Baker were controlling the
midfield and keeping Newark from building
any type of attack.
Looking to keep the Rebels from getting
back in the game, the Select put an end to it
quickly. Nino stole a ball off the kickoff and
sent Frank Morley down the right sideline.
He outran his mark, went to goal, and put
it over the GK 21 seconds into the half for
a 4-0 lead. Newark did put together an offensive
flurry in the 54th minute, but GK
Lukas Moses laid out to his left for a fingertip
save. He was able to clear the ensuing corner
for Newark's last strong chance. The Select
finished out the scoring when Joe Lee flew
down the right side and sent a low cross
through the box. Moses, who had moved
to striker, moved it on to Nino rushing the
back post for the 5-0 final. Yashar Benham
finished in net and kept the shutout with a
save in the 80th minute.
The Ballistic United U19 Select scored
13 goals over the weekend. Ballistic United
was victorious on Saturday followed by a
win over Mustang United on Sunday. Keeper
Josh Cho along with backs Tyler Copeman,
Steven Gilbert, Brian Bui and Jason Teague
played well allowing one goal over the
weekend. In Saturday’s game Jason Scott
scored a hat trick while Alex Caravan and
Niko Lecco both scored twice. Left Back
Brian Hu scored on a beautiful 40 yard shot
that tucked in under the bar.
In Sunday’s game against Mustang, Alex
Caravan slotted home a feed from Jaymi Van
Dam in the 18th minute. Niko Lecco scored
twice including a highlight reel goal on an
assist from Keeper Josh Cho. Cho punted the
ball past the Mustang defense, found Lecco
who then chipped the charging keeper.
The wins put Ballistic atop the Al Caffodio
table with a record of 3-0.
The BUSC U16 Select visited the Mustang
Earthquakes and came away with a hard
fought 1-0 victory. The Select dominated play
in the first half with possession but could not
close the deal. Jake Lorentz hit a screamer
from point blank range in the 17th minute that
the Quake GK bravely stood in for. Brandon
Cohen hit the first of two posts on the day,
and the Select was feeling a little snakebit.
Their defense was stifling, with center backs
Randy Copeman, Joe Lee, and Frank Morley
taking turns stuffing the Mustang attack and
sending the Select on counterattacks. Outside
backs Eric Brooks and Chandler Bullock
stepped up into the offense, creating more
pressure, but the half ended 0-0.
Select GK Lukas Moses wasn't tested
in the first half, but had to withstand several
Mustang corners in the second. Finally, the
Select broke through in the 75th minute.
Bullock tucked in deep into the Quakes end
and battled to keep the ball in their end. It
ended up at Cohen's feet, whose volley strike
found the back of the net. The Select finished
out the last five minutes with a brilliant possession
display, and finalized the 1-0 victory.
The Select (6-2-2, 2-0-0) again hit the road
to take on Newark.
BUSC U13 Div III Select team had
two matches last weekend that were very
challenging and showed there is work to be
done in converting scoring opportunities into
goals. The Select team produced a total of
53 shots on goal for both games and only
converted 4 into scores. Their opponents
were much more efficient with their “goals
to shots” conversion rate with only 23 total
shots on goal, creating 6 scores. Even though
the BUSC boys out shot their opponents,
their ability to “finish” an attack was lacking
an acceptable performance level. The final
outcome was a loss to Union City Chivas 3 to
1 and a 3 to 3 tie with the Danville Mustangs.
The equalizer was scored by BUSC in the
69th minute of the match.
BUSC U12 Premier 3, Turlock Scorpions
1: Trailing 1 to 0 at the half to a well
organized Turlock Scorpion team, the BUSC
U12 Premier rallied back to defeat the Scorpions
3 to 1. Jeffrey Klei began the comeback
with a direct kick goal from just outside the
top of the area. Jackson Still scored Ballistic's
next goal with a lovely inward bender corner
kick that snuck in underneath the keeper's
hands, and Cameron Ritchie sealed the victory
with a penalty kick conversion.Once
again Ballistic's defense was on top of their
game, with Mitchell Wilson and Geoffrey
Wiederecht taking charge. Ryan Racer had
another strong outing in the midfield, and
the team welcomed back keeper Omeed
Ziari from injury.
Division 4- Recreational
Under-5: Coyotes vs. Chargers: Among
the Coyotes, Colby Wallace and Zachary Riley
were playing amazingly well in defense.
Anthony Mitine had great kicks towads the
Charger’s goal, and scored during the 3rd
quarter of the game. Chargers - Top Offensive
Player: Anthony Mitine; Top Defensive Players:
Colby Wallace, Zachary Riley
Under-6: Bats. vs. Bulldogs: The Bats
swooped down on the field and were lead in
scoring by Jackson Flora, Matthew Andre,
and Kevin Ellis. On defense, Cannon DeFraia
kept the Bulldogs at bay, while Tyler Cheng
both defended and scored. Top Offensive
Players: Matthew Andre, Jackson Flora,
Kevin Ellis; Top Defensive Players: Tyler
Cheng, Cannon DiFraia,
Under-7: Stallions vs. Stingrays: Top
Offensive Players: John Serrano, Jeremy
Fortner, Dillon Lambert; Top Defensive
Players: Owen Maratsos, Evan McConnaughey,
Brett Miller
Savercats vs. Stingrays: Riley Cornelius
and Matteo Schiaffino provided excellent
goalkeeping. Top Offensive Player: Jimmy
Andre; Top Defensive Players Adon Arias
Squadron vs. Stallions: Excellent offense
by Liam Fournier and Jonathan Kossman,
both scoring goals against a tough Squadron
defense. Mateo Brandao and Nicholas Neri
played tough defense, making it hard for
the Squadron players to get past them. Top
Offensive Players: Liam Fournier, Jonathan
Kossman; Top Defensive Players: Mateo
Brandao, Nicholas Neri
Under-8: Cheetahs vs. Cobras: Top
Offensive Players: Adam Carper, Michael
McMasters, Evan Thomas; Top Defensive
Players: Allan Ard, Daniel DeJarnatt, Tanner
Fehrmann
Cannonballs vs. Cougars: The Cannonballs
were led by two goals from Jaden
Cardera, and a goal each from Jake Borges
and Nate Kragen. The team also had outstanding
goalkeeping from Tyler Rocha,
Cody Vaeth and Cardera. Top Offensive
Player: Jaden Cardera; Top Defensive Player:
Tyler Rocha
Cheetahs vs. Cobras: The Cheetahs had
a fast start with 3 quick goals. Cobras made
a valiant comeback and evened the game by
half time. Second half was evenly fought
with both teams trading goals. Top Offensive
Players: Adam Garza, Eizak Sanchez, Tyler
Larson; Top Defensive Players: Tristan Scott,
Joseph Recupero, Connor Grimes
Commandoes vs. Condors: Tomas Kersulis,
Dylan Weiglen, Michael O’Brien and
Taylor Lee all contributed with goals. Aidan
Srouji provided strong midfield support.
The defense was strong with Aiden Mehta,
Landon Felton and Nathaniel Sanchez as
solid contributors. Top Offensive Players:
Michael O’ Brien, Landon Felton, Tomas
Kersulis; Top Defensive Players: Aiden
Mehta, Aidan Srouji, Nathaniel Sanchez
Mercury vs. Minutemen: The Minutemen
were a team on fire this week with
goals by 7 different players and a defense
that allowed only 2 shots on goal. Brilliant
passing by Ben Schwartz, Leopold Borghese,
Joey Battilega, Tarun Prakash and Matthew
Mackirdy led to a 6-goal game for Max
Buscheck. And the incredible steals and
blocks by Alex Moirano, Cole Bartolo, Marco
Lazzarato and Patrick Gallagher made it
nearly impossible for the Mercury to get the
ball into the goal. A huge team effort with
a season-high 39 passes made this game
outstanding. Top Offensive Players: Matthew
Mackirdy, Max Buscheck, Joey Battilega;
Top Defensive Players: Cole Bartolo, Ben
Schwartz, Leopold Borghese
Under-9: Tigers vs. Tyrants: The Tyrants
dominated the first 12 minutes with goals
scored by Maxwell Stubbs and Joao Pais. The
Tigers made a come back with goals in the
14th, 17th and 21st minute with a great save
by Tyrants goalkeeper, Maximilian Maratsos.
The Tryants kept up the pace in the second
half with goals by Euann Owens, Brandon
Doyle, Maximilian Maratsos and Maxwell
Stubbs with assists by Shawn Keswani and
Rohit Jaganathan. Good defensive play in
both halves by Eustyn Trinh, Rohit Jaganathan,
Jonathan Ouyang, Vishal Cherukuri and
Mihir Weling. Game referee: Grace Ouyang.
Top Offensive Player: Maxwell Stubbs; Top
Defensive Player: Maximilian Maratsos
Under-10: Avalanche 1, Admirals 0:
Admirals played their hearts out but luck was
not on their side they outshot the Avalanche
100 to 20 but they just couldn’t get any of
the shots to go in they had them hit the top
bar and side bar just not in the net. Austin,
Donovan, Jhett, Timmy, and Jeremy all had
multiple shots on goal . The Admirals defense
played well also holding the Avalanche
to a few shots on goal and allowing only
one but that was enough. tough loss but
great game. Top Offensive Players: Austin
Telles, Donovan Brunk Jr., Jhett Manougra;
Top Defensive Players: Kaden Brady, Brian
Kim, Jeremy Mast
Under-11: Rapids 5, Rockets 0: The
Rapids cruised to victory over the Rockets
after scoring two goals in the first four minutes
on the strength of well-directed crossing
passes, exerting steady offensive pressure
and clamping down on defense. Damian
Johnson and Jeffrey Deguchi each recorded
two goals and an assist, Tyler Kline added
a goal and two assists, Eric Holmes scored
his first goal of the season off a centering
pass from Deguchi, and Amir Farsi and Ben
Foos each notched assists. Farsi anchored
the defense, while Foos repeatedly fueled
the midfield attack with deft dribbling and
passes to the forwards. Kline recorded the
defensive stop of the day when he chased
down and stole the ball from a Rocket who
had broken loose at midfield and streaked
to the penalty box.
Ravens 0, Rapids 4: Rapids forward
Damian Johnson scored two second-half
goals to break open what had been a first-half
dogfight with the Ravens. Just six minutes
into the game, Johnson pulled up outside the
penalty box and lifted a shot over a defender
and the goalie, but the Ravens refused to
yield another score the rest of the half as the
keeper made five saves on nine Rapids shots
on goal. The Rapids gained some breathing
room three minutes into the second half,
however, when Jeffrey Deguchi’s shot was
deflected and Johnson alertly punched it
home. Minutes later, the Rapids iced the 4-0
game with a Ben Foos assist to Johnson for
his third goal, and an assist from Deguchi
to Tyler Kline. Defensively, the Rapids
recorded their third consecutive shutout.
Michael Schwanhausser repeatedly broke up
Ravens attacks, including one play in which
he chased down a dribbler from behind and
several in which he stole balls and patiently
dribbled upfield to start offensive thrusts
with carefully aimed passes. Amit Nagdev
preserved the shutout, though, when keeper
Nate Gipson lunged out to deflect a Ravens
shot across the goal. As the ball caromed
toward two Ravens at the left corner, Nagdev
hopped over a fallen player and kicked the
ball loose from the two attackers.
Under-12: Raptors 0, Rays 5: The Rays
got to work early scoring two goals quickly
with Kevin Yang assisting Keegan Locher
and Jordan Singh scoring unassisted. The
Raptors defended mightily but at half the
Rays were able to sneak two more goals
past them with Andrew Bailey putting an
unassisted goal in the upper right hand
corner of the net and the again crossing the
ball to Joey Brasil for a Brasil score. With
the score 4-0 Rays after the half the Raptors
were determined to dig in. The second half
was a defensive battle with neither team
scoring until the Rays were able to poke the
the ball in one more time with Timothy Wu
assisting Innes McEntee’s breakaway for a
final score of 5-0 Rays.
Rays 6, Renegades 0: The Rays struck
quickly with Keegan Locher assisting Andrew
Bailey for a quick score and then Sean
Kienhofer assisting Kevin Yang for a second
goal. The Renegade goalie put on a dazzeling
defensive display with an number of increadible
saves against the Ray’s offense. However
before the half was ended the Rays were able
to put three more points on the board with
Joey Brazil assisting Jordan Singh, Andrew
Baily assisitn Timmy Wu and Timmy Wu
assisint Jove Rogers. The second half turned
into a defensive battle as the Rays were held
to score one more goal with Keegan Locher
assisting Tyler Winnegar.
Pleasanton Rage
The Pleasanton Rage U18AC battled
to the end to beat Benica Arsenal 2-1. The
first goal came in the first half when Paisley
Miller blasted one in just under the cross bar
from the 20 yard line. Benicia answered back
early in the 2nd half. Rage scored the go
ahead goal in the last 2 minutes of the game.
From a corner kick, Kira Capaccioli's shot
hit the crossbar and Danielle Paxton finished
it off with a diving header into the goal. The
stingy defense of Alyssa Malfatti, Victoria
Piazza, Morgan Dorsey, Laura Yoshida and
keeper Megan Piper frustrated Benicia's
offense. Forwards Brehana Berry and Brittany
Carrolan had numerous shots on goal
while midfielders Brittany Repac, Amanda
Briones, Sarah May, Chrissy Waite and Kim
Denne controlled the center. Top Offensive
Players: Paisley Miller Danielle Paxton Kira
Capaccioli; Top Defensive Players: Alyssa
Malfatti Victoria Piazza Laura Yoshida.
The Pleasanton Rage U11 Premier
team posted another convincing win with a
4-1 victory over the Diablo Flames. In the
very first minutes of the game Haley Okumura
scored a goal off a great assist from Sam
Frost. The first half the Rage held 1-0 with
excellent defense coming from Ariana Nino,
Amy Schoendienst and Tiara Lewis. Sarah
Broacha had a brilliant defensive header and
goalie Juliet Allen, more than once, slid in
on the ball saving a few close ones. Early in
the second half the Flames scored, but very
quickly the Rage answered back when Jo
Salinas kicked the ball from a distance and
scored the Rage’s first goal of the second
half. Shanece Hunsaker was able to tap the
ball in off of a well set up play by Ariana
Nino and Haley Okumura. The fourth goal
for the Rage came as a penalty kick, when
Sam Frost kicked the ball perfectly past the
Flames goalie. Ryan Murphy had several
great breakaways and attempts on goal as
did Tiara Lewis, Sam Frost & Lorna Roberts.
The girls have really picked up their passing
game, there were many nice strategic passes
most notably between the defense of Ariana
Nino and Amy Schoendienst which kept the
Flames offense away from the Rage goal
most of the game.
It was another win for the U11 Premier
team on Sunday, this time against the Mustang
Strikers. It was a shutout for the Rage
who won 3-0. The first goal came midway
through the first half when Sarah Broacha
gave a great assist to Lorna Roberts who
scored. Goalie Juliet Allen dove for the ball
to save a potential Striker goal, while the defense
of Ariana Nino and Amy Schoendienst
played remarkably well keeping the first half
scoreless for Danville. The second half was
just as strong defensively thanks to Lorna
Roberts, Amy Schoendienst and especially
Ariana Nino who towards the end even took
the ball down the field for an attempt on goal.
Two more goals were scored by the Rage; the
first was an amazing “pick up the garbage”
goal that Ryan Murphy was able to punch into
the net off of assists from both Ariana Nino
and Tiara Lewis. The second was scored by
Shanece Hunsaker with another tremendous
assist from Tiara Lewis.
The Rage U16AC dominated Diablo
FC 93 for the 3-0 win. Rage got on the
board early when Erin O'Loughlin scored
off a great cross by Cassie Scroggins. The
2nd goal came when Haley Paxton sent a
beautiful pass to Abigail Moore who took a
couple of touches, then blasted it just under
the crossbar. Megan Ash finished off Diablo
when she scored the final goal from a great
cross by Ashley Jenezon. The stout defense
of Lindsay Rigel, Molly Rowse, Stephanie
Little, Charlie Garcia and keeper Shannon
Easley contributed to the 2nd Rage shoutout.
Midfielders Erin Schoendiest, Olivia Zhu,
Jillian Beck, and Marissa Victor did a great
job distributing balls forward. Top Offensive

The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 - PAGE 7
Christian Rabino (#20) of the Raiders took off on a run in
Livermore Junior Football action. See results in Sports Notes
on page 8.
Players: Abigail Moore Erin O'Loughlin
Megan Ash; Top Defensive Players: Erin
Schoendiesnt Olivia Zhu Jillian Beck.
Rage U14 AC played the 1st half of the
game with respect for Lamorinda United95
team who defeated them in the Cherry Island
tournament a few months ago 4-0. Lamorinda
took advantage of that and possessed the ball
most of the time. A brilliant performance of
Rage’s goalie Olivia Brown and her saves
in three occasions frustrated Lamorinda’s
forwards allowing Rage to keep the result
at 0-0. The 2nd half started in the same pace
and Lamorinda scored for the lead. Olivia
was boosting the morale by her performance
as a goalie and actively kicking the ball out
of the danger zone. It appeared that Rage
needed Lamorinda’s goal to energize and
organize their game. It resulted in better
passing and constant pressure towards the
Lamorinda goal. Hannah Stapp crossed the
ball for the perfect opportunity for scoring,
but forwards were just an inch too short
to reach that ball. In next action Rachel
Reichenbach got the ball, dribbled through
3 defenders and concluded with the equalizing
goal. Evan Murphy passed a corner
kick back to Marisa Riordan who crossed
the ball into the box. Lamorinda’s goalie
bounced the ball short and Molly Grozier
was able to drill it into the net. The rest of
the game was controlled by Rage players
with good running and ball movement. Top
Offensive Player: Rachel Reichenbach; Top
Defensive Player: Olivia Brown.
Rage U12 Premier 5, Mill Valley Rockers
0: The match-up against the Mill Valley
Rockers saw Rage playing an aggressive,
attacking, possession game that was so
successful the opening weekend. Carley
Robertson scored three goals, with assists
from Christy Jensen and Brookey Villanueva.
The other two goals were scored by Malissa
Shadle, with an assist from Makenna Elias,
and by Julia Densmore. Shots on goal were
made by Julia Densmore and Sophie Santos.
The defensive play of Jasmine Dessouky,
Eilis Hegarty and Hannah McGillivray,
anchored by goal keeper Sophia Brown,
produced the second shut-out in as many
weeks. In addition to her play on the field,
Dessouky made a wonderful save while the
keeper was down.
Rage U-12 Premier 2, Menlo Park Strikers
3: Shots on goal were made by Kayla
Bowers, Sami LaBella and Carley Robertson.
Hannah McGillivray made the first goal for
Rage on a penalty kick, after Juliana Leedeman
was fouled in the box. The team’s second
goal was made by Christy Jensen, bringing
the game to a tied score. With just minutes
left in regulation play, a controversial penalty
was called on the edge of the Rage penalty
box that resulted in the go-ahead goal for
the Menlo Park Strikers.
Rage U14 Orange beat Castro Valley
1-0. Rage battled the heat and a tough Castro
Valley team. This was a scoreless contest
until late in the game when midfielder Ariel
Gershman passed the ball up to forward
Vanessa Villanueva who sent the ball over
the Castro Valley goalie. Speedy Fullbacks
Katie Oross and Laura Morgan combined
to run down and shut down 4 Castro Valley
breakaways. Top Offensive Players: Vanessa
Villanueva Ariel Gershman Lindsay Curlett;
Top Defensive Players: Katie Oross Laura
Morgan Olivia Deutschman.
The Rage U-12 White lost the first of
their Nor-cal prelimenary games to the San
Jose Heat, 5 to 1. The game highlight came
in the second half. Madison Avery look a pass
from Heather Jackson Madison took the ball
down the field crossed it to the middle and
MacKenzie Bammer shot it in. Top Offensive
Players: Madison Avery, Heather Jackson,
Hanna Mallie, Sadie Moore; Top Defensive
Players: Lisa DeFeo, Kennedy Truex, Bryanna
Schreiber, Megan Martin.
Rage U-9 Black Division III: Despite
nice offensive plays from Emily Ferrey,
Jasmine Erickson and Abby Smith the Rage
team couldn't push one accross, losing 6 to 0
to the Mustange SaberCats. Mollie McKay
and Emily Esparza helped to control the
midfield and support nice goal keeping from
Emma Tsztoo and Erickson.
Rage White Division I U-12 defeated
the Dublin Hot Shots 6 to 0. Lisa DeFeo
dribbled down the field cut the ball back
and sent it to the far post with her left foot,
as the ball sailed through the air Madison
Avery made a diagonal run making contact
with the ball and volleyed it into the
net, for a shut out. Top Offensive Players:
Meredith Gil, Madison Avery, Sadie Moore,
Nicole Tsuno, MacKenzie Bammer; Top
Defensive Players: Kennedy Truex, Megan
Martin,Christina Echavia
The Rage U10 Orange team tried hard
against the Mustang, eventually losing 3 to
1. The defense for Rage was the highlight of
the game led by Nicole Riordan and Madison
Baxter. Lilly Ryan played goalie and had
some top notch kicks as well as saves. Top
Offensive Players: Tami Kwong, Molly
Murphy, Jordyn Grimes; Top Defensive
Players: Nicole Riordan, Madison Baxter,
Danielle Williams.
Pleasanton Rage U16D3 Orange scored
early and never looked back in defeating the
San Ramon Stingers on Saturday at the Sports
Park. Katey Cloonan scored the first goal of
her hat trick by taking the opening kick-off
and navigated through traffic to score the first
goal in less than 15 seconds, pacing the Rage
to its second consecutive 8-0 victory. Kiley
Zieker and Sarah Machado scored impressive
goals, with Kiley booting one from 20
yards at a sharp angle to the far post, and
Sarah moving up from her usual defender
position to send a shot over the goalie's arms
from over 35 yards out. Haley Boehmer and
Jessie Hopson also scored. Carly Boehmer
earned her second shutout in goal, providing
leadership and direction from the rear. Megan
Smart and Madison Nethery also provided
strong efforts at defense and midfield, respectively.
Top Offensive Players: Katey
Cloonan, Jessie Hopson, Kiley Zieker; Top
Defensive Players: Sarah Machado, Megan
Smart, Carly Boehmer.
DIVISION 4
Under-14: Vortex 1, Orange Socks 2:
Hannah Kim from Orange Socks scored
first goal in first few minutes of the game.
Excellent defense from Orange Socks put
opposition's offense off-balance. Overall it
was fantastic game and Orange Socks secured
second win of the season. Top Offensive
Players: Kelly Dixon, Hannah Kim, - Orange
Socks; Morgan Iversen, Cassidy Holmes, Zoe
Zimpher – Vortex; Top Defensive Players:
Corinne Valdix, Rachel Laursen, Megan
Ferguson - Orange Socks; Alexa Hanson,
Shayna Doyle, Katie Eppand -Vortex
Under-12: Bandits 5, Big Dwags 1;
Barracuda 8, Blaster 0: In a sizzling match
the Bandits dominated against the Big Dawgs
with a win. Some all round good soccer was
displayed by both the teams with diving saves
and excellent dribbling. The Bandits showed
some excellent team work with great passes
at the right time and moment. Lauren, who
mainly played forward, was a winner with
some fabulous runs down the field with
excellent support from Vedika and Amy.
The Bandits' defense team and midfield was
very strong too with Ryanne and Andrea on
defense and Megan and Caroline on midfield.
Top Offensive Players: Madelyn, Vedika,
Tori –Lauren; Kelly O'Neill, Tasia Halim,
Ellen Olson - Barracuda; Top Defensive
Players: Caroline, Megan, Vaidehi –Andrea;
Katherine Zieker, Jessica Rieble, Hayden
Harker - Barracuda
Under-9: Princess Warriors vs. Penguins:
The hot weather could not stop the
strong forwards for the PWs. Ashley Lopez
had a great game by scoring 3 goals while
team mates Gianna Lyng and Allison DeFazio
also added to the scoring excitement. Goalie
Katie Schmitz denied 7 shot attempts and
Viviana Carnes kept 5 shots from becoming
points for the Penguins. Defender, Jessica
Maloney, ensured the ball was away from her
team's goalie by kicking the ball out of the
box. Top Offensive Players: Ashley Lopez,
Gianna Lyng, Allison DeFazio - Princess
Warriors; Top Defensive Players: Kaitlin
Schmitz, Jessica Maloney, Viviana Carnes
– Princess Warriors
Under-8: Monkeys vs. Montanans:
Outstanding play by Kieran Wallace (3 goals)
and Michaela Riter (2 goals). Top Offensive
Players: Kieran Wallace, Michaela Riter,
Megan Reilly – Monkeys; Top Defensive
Players: Allison Casey, Gracie Shaeffer,
Hanna Deckenger – Montanans.
Under-6: Dashers vs. Diamonds: The
Dashers and the Diamonds was a great
match with goals scored by multiple girls
on both teams. The Dashers displayed their
new found ball skills with four girls doing
pull-backs to change the direction of the
ball. Top Offensive Players: Lauren Jang,
Megan Rovira, Emma Baer – Dashers; Olivia
Soble, Carley Shamblen, Kaitlyn Lemus
– Diamonds; Top Defensive Players: Julia
Aldaz, Ella Srouji, Shay McIntyre – Dashers;
Olivia Martin, Sydney Lu, Yunsuh Jeong
– Diamonds.
Pleasanton Jr. Football
Pleasanton Junior Football League
scores:
Intermediate Division: Colts 20, Broncos
14: Opening day found 2 well coached
teams ready to do battle under a thunderous
rain filled sky. The Colts broke the scoreless
tie after Ruben Mercado scampered into the
end zone after a long run. Jack Gerlach made
a 2 point field goal making the score 8-0.
Ruben also scored the go ahead touchdown
in the 4th quarter with approximately 35
seconds left. Due to thunder the referees were
forced to clear the players off the field for
approximately 30 minutes. Upon returning
to play The Broncos offense made a great
run scoring a touchdown making the score
8-7. Baylee Zubek caught a 20 yard pass for
a first down and he also scored a touchdown
during the second quarter making the score
14-7 at halftime. Other good plays included
Austin Bartholomew with a fumble recovery.
Paul Jackson turned in other great plays with
a sack. Jack Gerlach and Scott Lewis also
made great tackles to protect the lead late
in the game.
In the second week of action, it was
Raiders 20, Colts 14: The first quarter
started off with strong running by Ruben
Mercado and Christian Liscano to move the
ball downfield. The Raiders scored first on
a 35 yard run after the colts turned the ball
over on downs. Strong running by Ruben
Mercado and Christian Liscano and good
downfield blocking allowed the Colts to
move the ball. An interception gave the ball
back to the Raiders. During the Raider drive
Michael Smith and William Hammer made
great tackles. A stellar defense prevented
the Raiders from scoring. A run of about
85 yards by Ruben Mercado resulted in a
touchdown but the play was nullified by a
penalty. An on-side kick gave the ball to Colts
to start the second half. A fake kick picked
up the 1st down by Christian Liscano. A 30
yard touchdown by Ruben Mercado and 2
point extra kick by Jack Gerlack made the
score 8-6. A strong Colt defense stalled the
Raiders drive. Mason Bartolo,Patrick Mackle
and Austin Bartholomew(twice) sacked the
quarterback and the Raiders lost yardage.
An interception started the 4th quarter
and the Raiders #24 scored on a 42 yard run
but the Colts blocked the extra points kick. A
failed on-side kick gave the Colts a short field
but they failed to score. A great touchdown
run by Raiders #24 with 2:30 left in the 4th
quarter put the game out of reach for the
Colts. Raiders 20-Colts 8. With only 1:26
left in the 4th Quarter Scott Lewis made a
great pass to Ruben Mercado netting a first
down going over 30 yards. With 1:12 left in
(continued on page 8)

PAGE 8 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
(continued the game Christian from page Liscano 7) scored the Colts
Second touchdown making the score 20-14.
The Raiders defense stopped the Colts from
getting the extra point.
Livermore Jr. Football
Livermore Junior Football's season
continued on September 19 with 4 games
at Livermore High School:
Senior Division: Giants 20, Saints 6:
The Giants beat the Saints 20 to 6 on a hot
Saturday afternoon. This game came down
to the Giants' offensive and defensive lines
stepping up to get the Giants their first win
of the season. The defensive front of the
Giants played tough with DL Luke Quesada,
DL Chris Lassen, DL Russell Lovett, DL
Devin Bernacil. Giants DE Jacob Roach
was a one man wrecking crew contributing
10 tackles and recovering 3 fumbles. The
Saints coughed up the ball 8 times, losing
possession on 6 of them. Contributing on
the turnovers for the Giants was stand out
LB Taylor Disbrow with 15 tackles, causing
2 fumbles and recovering another one. CB
Ryan Holmes knocked a ball out during a
tackle for a turnover as the Saints were
driving to tie the game and S Kevin Key's
7 tackles along with an interception on the
5 yard line to thwart a touchdown drive by
the Saints. The nice tackle in the backfield
by LB Ryan Silvas on the previous play
set up the interception. Hard hitting LB
Jonathan Davis had 9 tackles and CB Alec
Sblendorio had 3 tackles with two coming in
the backfield. Special teams tightened up this
week allowing fewer yards on returns with
WR Cameron Church and WR Conor Cruz
making several plays. The Giants' offense ran
the ball hard. FB Jay Garay was punishing
Saints defenders all game long. The Giants
offensive line with C Russell Lovett, T David
Pinon, T Shane Silva, G Devin Bernacil and
G Victor Eassa, TE James Wilker dominated
in the 4th quarter with 6 straight runs up the
middle for positive yards. Elusive running
back Timothy Harris showed his wiley running
ability and also his ability to power
between the tackles. Harris had an 85 yard
run that included a stiff arm and spin move
to find pay dirt. Quarterback Greg Plantega
threw some nice long passes under pressure
with a nice 3 yard two point conversion to
TE James Wilker.
The Saints and Giants played a tough
game this weekend but the Saints had too
many turnovers and the Giants were able to
capitalize on them, winning the game by a
score of 20-6. The Saints’ offense racked up
330 yards and moved the ball all day with
a solid rushing attack behind the blocking
of Justin Martin, Clayton Frieders, Lucas
Bumanlag, Chris Logan and Steve Perry.
The rushing attack was led by Jeremy Edwards
with 100 yards on 10 carries and a
touchdown, Matt Franco with 75 yards on
9 carries, and Tyler Offill who had 35 yards
on 7 carries. Peter Munns hooked up with
Jacob Velasco through the air for 5 passes that
gained 95 yards. The Saints had 8 fumbles,
5 of which were lost, that stopped most of
their offensive drives. The defense played
well but had trouble corralling Timmy Harris
on a couple of long touchdown runs. They
were anchored by their ends and linebackers;
Lucas Bumanlag had 7 tackles, Ben Parker
with 12 tackles and a pass deflection, Tyler
Offill and Dalton Moreno with 4 tackles,
Collin Stafford with 5 tackles, and Dalton
Miller with 3 tackles. Overall, the Saints
showed a big improvement over their opening
week loss.
Jets 6, Cardinals 24: The Cards got on
the board in the first quarter with Casey Soltis
running around the left end for a 14-yard
touchdown run. The blocking of Kyle Constable,
Garrett Torres, and Billy Henderson
sealed the end to allow Soltis to get to the
outside. The Cardinals defense was strong
again as Travis Adams (6 Tackles), Nick
Penrod (5 Tackles), Bo Carter (4 Tackles)
and Jacob Benavidez (6 Tackles) led the way
stopping the powerful running backs of the
Jets. The Cards were able to stretch the lead
in the 2nd quarter on Ryan Dearborn’s 2-yard
touchdown run up the middle. Soltis’s 2 point
conversion allowed the Cards go in to the half
with a 16 – 0 lead. The 3rd started well for
the Cardinals, as Benavidez recovered a Jets
fumble to give the Cards the ball deep in the
Jets' territory. The Cardinals started pounding
the ball inside with Dearborn finishing the
drive with a 9-yard run to complete the scoring
for the Cards. The Cardinals' offensive
leaders were Dearborn with 16 carries for
91 yards and 2 touchdowns and Soltis with
13 carries for 87 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Cards finished the day with 212 yards
rushing. Also having a strong defensive game
was cornerback Jacob Torres and linebacker
Trevor Escover.
The injury-plagued Jets suffered their
first loss of the season. Despite a valiant
effort, their first four possessions turned up
short. Offensively, things just weren't working
for the Jets. Facing a tough Cardinals
defense, they were unsuccessful in breaking
open their running game in the first half. At
halftime the score was 16-0 in favor of the
Cards. As always, Cole Partington made the
game interesting while scrambling back and
forth, piling his way through the line and
hurdling over blocks when necessary. He
was finally able to score in the 4th Qtr with
an impressive 65 yard run to get the Jets on
the board. By the end of the game, Cole had
a total of 195 rushing yards. Defensively, the
Jets only allowed one TD in the second half.
Stopping the Cards several times was the
stealth defense led by Isaiah Mendez with
8 tackles, Jacob Shinnick, Derek Lennier
and Dominik Luzader with 5 tackles each
and Matthew Calcagno and Clayton Bailey
with 3 tackles a piece.
Advanced Division: Ravens 22, Raiders
6: Running back Christian Rabino plowed
through the Ravens' defense for the lone
Raiders score with a nimble run. Both Rabino
and running back Bruno McLeod accounted
for the majority of the Raiders rushing yards
and first downs. Key defensive plays were
made by Dillan Martinez and Isaac Flores as
they teamed up to strip the ball from a Ravens
ball carrier and then Martinez recovered the
fumble. Additionally, Jacob Currie made a
key aggressive tackle on a 3rd down play to
stall the Ravens' drive. The offensive line, as
a unit, opened holes for the Raider running
backs including key blocks by the left side
of the line led by left guard Jake Mina and
left tackle Brett Bernstein along with right
guard Ryan Escover.
Dolphins 28, 49ers 16: The Dolphins'
offense recorded a 45-yard touchdown run
by Scott Plantenga, a 55-yard TD run by
Brandon Untalan, and a 64-yard TD run by
Jason Frost. Frost also completed a beautiful
15-yard pass to Bryce Disbrow for a 2 point
conversion. There were some key tackles of
the game by Will Mohler and RJ Guel. Jonny
Stalie played great defense and recovered
a fumble. The offensive line was led by
Bradley Archer, Pablo Angeles and Ronnie
Hahlbeck who provided great protection for
Frost. The 49ers took the opening kickoff
for the game. It only took one series before
Ian Barnes broke loose for a 58-yard sweep
around the left side for the first score of the
game. The Dolphins responded on the first
play of the next series. On the first play of
the next series Brandon Untalan took the
ball on a sweep around the left side and
scampered from midfield all the way to the
end zone, tying the game up at 8-8. The 49ers
answered on the very next possession. Barnes
got loose on a sweep around the right side
for a 22-yard burst to the end zone making it
14 -8. The Niners converted the extra point
making it 16-8. Dolphins responded on the
very next possession again taking it to house
on one play, but were unable to convert for
the extra point giving the Niners the lead
16-14. It was the Niners 3rd possession that
the Dolphins figured them out and stopped
them without scoring. The Dolphins took
over near midfield for their 3rd possession.
The Niners did better by keeping them from
scoring on their first play from scrimmage but
where still unable to stop the running game
around the ends. The first half ended with the
Dolphins leading 20-16. The Niners made
the adjustments but the Dolphins still scored
one more time making it 26-16. Top players
for the 49ers' offense: Ian Barnes, RB (10
carries, 126 yards, 2 TD), Joseph Murphy,
FB (11 carries, 48 yards). Defense: Steve
Royster, LB (7 tackles), Dylan Guilin, LB (5
tackles), JT Tidwell, LB(4 Tackles)
Livermore Youth Football
Livermore Youth Football League
results:
The Livermore Vikings beat the Concord
Cobras 31-20. Livermore's offensive
line had the Concord defense on their heels
all day with great blocking from Joel Iniguez,
Joe Andrews, Garrett Granados, Sal Ceja,
Mike Walls, Nate Burke, and Blake Sweet.
Vince Volpatti had a great offensive day running
the football for over 100 yards, with a
40 yard Touchdown run dragging Concord
defenders into the end zone. Volpatti added
a 65 yard TD pass to Riley Draa. Devon
Sturgill capped the scoring with a 1yard
QB sneak, after Zack Rosas' set HER up
with a 31 yard run that fell just short of the
endzone. Livermore's defense had trouble
all day finding the ball carrier in Concords
" Rugby Scrum" offense, but managed to
adjust and hold on for the win.
Open Water Swim Group
A new open water swim group is starting
up this season at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park
in Pleasanton. Membership in this nonprofit
group is open to all qualified individuals.
We will have day and evening swim times.
The lake temperature can reach upwards
of 75 degrees during the warmest months
. If interested, or to sign up, you can check
our website at shadowcliffsorcas.com. For
further information you can contact Al
DeGraw at (510) 414-7928 or John Bower
at (925) 294-9050.
Tee Up for Teens
"Tee It Up For Teens," a benefit golf
tournament for Tri-Valley Young Life is set
for Mon., Oct. 19 at Castlewood Country
Club in Pleasanton.
Registration and driving range are open
10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. There will be a
BBQ lunch provided by Carl's Jr. from 11
a.m. to 12:15 p.m. followed by a shotgun
start scramble format at 12:30.
The golf play will be followed by a dinner
and auction at around 5 :30 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit
www.ylgolf.org
PGSL Registration:
2010 registration is now open for all
divisions in the Pleasanton Phantom Girls
Softball League. All girls living in Pleasanton
, Dublin and Sunol are eligible to play
PGSL softball. Two ways to register: 1)
Online at www.pleasantonsoftball.org; 2)
Mail-in: PGSL, P.O. Box 911, Pleasanton
, CA 94566 (download a registration form
from the website). For more information
or questions, contact Chris Tanis at chris@
tanisfamily.com.
PGSL Upper Division Try-Outs
Upper Divisions consist of girls in
grades 3 thru 8 and is for all girls wanting to
increase their skills and learn to play softball
at a more advanced level. All girls interested
in playing uppers are required to try-out.
No previous uppers experience necessary.
All players trying-out must be registered
for PGSL's 2010 season prior to attending
one of the try-out sessions. Please visit the
PGSL website at www.pleasantonsoftball.
org for details regarding try-out dates, times
and locations.
Lacrosse Registration
Girls lacrosse Spring 2010 registration
is now open. It is open to girls in grades 2
to 8. Registration is now through the end of
November 2009 at www.pleasantongirlslacrosse.com.
Questions? Richard Murphy at
rl_murphy@sbcglobal.net. Spring season
runs from February to May 2010.
LGSA Registration
Registrations are now being accepted
for the 2010 Spring Recreation Season for
Livermore Girls Softball Association. All
girls living in Livermore are eligible to play.
Walk-in Registrations and uniform jersey
sizing: Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday,
October 21, 6pm-9pm at Holy Cross Lutheran
Church, 1020 Mocho Street.
For more information and to download
the registration form, visit www.
livermoregirlssoftball.org, email registration@livermoregirlssoftball.org
or call
925-556-5259.
LGSA 10U & Middle School Tryouts:
Spring 2010 recreation season tryouts
will be held on Saturday, November 14th
and Saturday, December 5th for all registered
10U and Middle School girls. Tryouts will
be held at Joe Michell School, 1001 Elaine
Avenue, Livermore. For more information
and to download the registration form, visit
www.livermoregirlssoftball.org, email registration@livermoregirlssoftball.org
or call
925-556-5259.
Pleasanton to Launch New Curbside Recycling
Pleasanton’s new curbside
recycling program will get underway
during the first trash
pick-up in October 2009. Pleasanton
Garbage Service (PGS)
began deploying carts and informational
recycling brochures
along some routes over the past
week. Residents are encouraged
to leave their carts on the curb for
a few extra hours on trash day to
allow for this change to occur.
By October 1, every resident
who subscribes to Pleasanton
Garbage Service should have
a new cart as part of the new
program. All households were
sent a card earlier this Spring
that shared information about
the new program and were asked
to submit a mail in post card if
they wanted to get a smaller trash
can (change from a 96-gallon to
a 35-gallon). No response was
necessary for those residents who
did not want to change their trash
cart size. Residents who missed
the mail-in deadline in June and
wish to change to a smaller cart
can call PGS to be placed on a
waiting list at (925) 846-2042.
The new curbside recycling
program eliminates the use of
the blue bags that have been used
in the past, but are no longer in
inventory. Between now and the
October 1 start date, PGS will
continue to sort through all the
refuse (with or without a blue
bag) to recover recyclable material
before waste goes into the
landfill.
PGS is presently deploying
96-gallon recycling carts to
approximately 15,000 households
and 35-gallon trash carts
to 5,000 households. Of the
20,000 PGS accounts, 5,000 requested
the change to a smaller
cart and 15,000 households did
not respond to the card mailer,
resulting in no change to their
trash cart size. As a result, cart
deliveries will be as follows:
Residents who elected to
keep their 96-gallon trash cart
will be given a new 96-gallon
recycling cart
Residents who elected to
downsize to a 35-gallon trash
cart will receive a new trash cart,
their existing trash cart (96-gallon)
will be converted to a recycling
cart, and a sticker will be
affixed to notate this change.
Residents who already had a
35-gallon trash cart will receive
a 35-gallon recycling cart
Seniors or disabled residents
who cannot maneuver the larger
cart can request a smaller 35-gallon
recycling cart.
Town homes will receive
35-gallon recycling containers
to accommodate their limited
storage spaces.
Town homes will not receive
green waste carts (as they have
never had one in the past).
No changes to the green waste
program for single-family residences.
A second free informational
workshop about the program
will be hosted by the City of
Pleasanton and PGS on Tuesday,
October 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Veteran’s Memorial Building,
301 Main Street . The workshop
will include an overview of the
program, a question and answer
session, and a display of the trash,
green and new recycling carts
that will be used in the program,
along with the materials that
should be placed in each cart.
Many common household
items contain toxic chemicals
that require specific disposal.
These items are not allowed in
any of the three carts.
Residents can drop off the
materials listed below at any
Alameda County Household
Hazardous Waste facility. The
nearest facility is at 5584 La
Ribera Street, Livermore. It is
open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thurs.-
Sat. on a limited schedule. For
dates of operation, go to www.
household-hazwaste.org or call
Members and employees at
UNCLE Credit Union’s main
branch in Livermore received
quite a surprise recently when a
bull from a neighboring field came
for a visit! Ferdinand, a friendly
bull, escaped the field he calls
home on two separate occasions
and happily grazed on the lawn
surrounding UNCLE’s branch.
UNCLE’s staff and a helpful
member were able to occupy
Ferdinand with grain and lots of
lawn until his owners arrived to
safely return him home. All’s well
that ends well. Ferdinand is safely
home and UNCLE employees have
made a new friend.
Recycling bins are being delivered in time for start of the new
program.
800-606-6606
The new program is expected
to capture more recyclable mate-
rial and send less waste to landfill.
For more information, please
call PGS at (925) 846-2042.

The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 - PAGE 9
Observing Nature
Enhancing Nature Observation
is the topic of the Livermore Area
Recreation and Park District ranger
program on Sun., Sept. 27.
Meet Ranger Patti Cole at 6 p.m.
at the Veterans Park group picnic
area.
Participants will learn several
techniques for strengthening their
powers of nature observation which
will lead to a greater enjoyment of
the outdoors. The group will also
learn some skills that can be used
for tracking. Space is limited, so
please call 925-960-2400 for advance
reservations.
There is a $4 per vehicle parking
fee. A $2 donation is requested to help
support the programs. Participants
may call 925-960-2400 for more
information.
Dog Ownership
The Livermore Library will
present a program on responsible
dog ownership this Sat., Sept. 26
at 1 p.m.
Speakers from the Fox Terrier
Club of Northern California will
discuss pet ownership. Kids will learn
about what's involved in responsible
pet ownership and how to have fun
at the same time. Those attending
will meet Monty, Scout and Libby,
certified therapy fox terriers. Heather
Moore, DMV, Livermore Veterinary
Hospital, will be on hand to examine
favorite stuffed animals brought in
by children. Puppy face painting for
kids will also be available.
The Civic Center Library is
located at 1188 So. Livermore Ave.
here is no charge for this event. For
information, call 373-5505 or go to
lib@livermore.lib.ca.us.
Teachers of the Year
Nineteen teachers from around
Alameda County have been selected
by their districts to be honored at this
year's Teacher of the Year Award's
The arroyos that bisect Pleasanton
got a fresh face this weekend
after Cub Scouts from Packs
Ceremony for their commitment
and dedication to providing a quality
education to all students. The
ceremony will be held on Thursday,
October 8, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the
Alameda County Office of Education
offices located at 313 West Winton
Avenue, Hayward.
Two of the district winners will
be selected as the county-wide Alameda
County Teacher of the Year
at the ceremony. Those two winners
will go on to participate in the state
competition later this year.
Local teachers being honors
are: John Cardinalli, Wells Middle
School, Dublin Unified School
District; Janice Louthan, Altamont
Creek Elementary School, Livermore
Valley Joint Unified School District;
Debbie Harvey, Amador Valley High
School, Pleasanton Unified School
District; Shay Galletti, Tri-Valley
ROP (Pleasanton); and Leslie "Kitty"
Jowe, Sunol Glen School District.
Sunol Park Programs
Sunol Regional Wilderness, 1895
Geary Road, Sunol, has a variety of
programs planned .
The Sunol Visitor Center is open
Sat-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For
information, call (510) 544-3249, or
email svisit@ebparks.org.
Outdoor discoveries: 10 to 11:30
a.m. Children 3-5 years and a parent
are invited to make wild discoveries.
Sept. 24: Tarantulas, Spiders And
Silk, Oh My! Hurray! Off to find
roaming tarantulas and other wild
relatives of Charlotte, Itsy Bitsy and
Shelob. October 1: Rockin’ Out–Investigate
rocks, then use them to
build! October 8: Fire–Friend Or Foe?
Learn what fire needs to survive, how
to behave safely around it, how to put
it out and use it to cook up our lunch!
October 22: Rocks Are Fall-Ing! But
earthquakes do happen, so we’ll find
out where they come from and what to
do when the ground begins to rock and
roll. October 29: Halloween–Delve
into the hallowed origins of our Halloween
traditions. Dress in costume
for a parade and bring a pumpkin to
carve. 3-5yrs. Registration Required:
1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757,
option 2, 3). Fee: $6 (non-res. $8)
Valley Nature Ride, 10 to 10:45
a.m. Sun., Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 and 25.
Enjoy an introduction to the cultural
and natural history of Sunol Regional
Wilderness during a horseback ride.
6+yrs. Registration Required: 1-888-
EBPARKS, (1-888-327-2757, options
2, 1). Fee: $25 (non-res. $29)
Mount Diablo Programs
Save Mount Diablo upcoming
hikes and events on and around
Mount Diablo are designed to raise
public awareness, appreciation, and
support to preserve natural lands on
and around the mountain.
Events and hikes:
Save Lime Ridge’s Peak Hike
(Save Mount Diablo), Saturday Sept.
26, 2009, Time: 9 am - 12:30 pm;
Leader: Seth Adams, Director of Land
Programs. The City of Walnut Creek
is currently considering a proposal to
grant a lease to Nextel to allow then
to use the peak of Lime Ridge for
expanded communications facilities,
even though their lease expired two
years ago. This is the City’s opportunity
to end this inappropriate use
of the open space and to return the
area to its natural setting by requiring
the removal of the existing facilities.
All Hikes Begin at: the staging area
at the eastern end of Valley Vista
Road in Walnut Creek next to the
Boundary Oaks Club House. Bring
water, layers, sunscreen and a snack,
No dogs are allowed in this section
of Lime Ridge
Sun., September 27, 9am, Hike
SMD’s Young Canyon – Discover a
Remote Area of the Mountain (SMD);
Leader: Dick at (925) 719-1863
or herondick@comcast.net. Meet:
Clayton Library. Join SMD Steward
Burt Bogardus on this moderate hike
to admire wildflowers on the serpentine
meadow at Young Canyon. The
18-acre Young Canyon property is
one of Save Mount Diablo’s smaller
properties but offers an opportunity
to experience a part of the mountain
that is normally not easily accessible.
Burt Bogardus was once a ranger
at Mt. Diablo State Park and has a
vast depth of knowledge about the
park and the mountain. http://www.
savemountdiablo.org/home.htm
Fri., October 2, 7:45pm, Moonlight
Hike on Save Mount Diablo’s
Mangini Ranch property (SMD);
Leader: Dave Sargent at (925)
933-9402 or earlyrider@earthlink.
net. Join SMD Board Member and
Stewardship Committee Chairman
Dave Sargent on this moonlight hike
of Mangini Ranch. The 207-acre
property includes the headwaters of
Galindo creek with rolling grasslands
covered in oaks, buckeyes, and other
outstanding botany rising from the
creek to form a spectacular canyon.
http://www.savemountdiablo.org/
home.htm
Mount Diablo Challenge (Save
Mount Diablo), Oct. 4. The Mount
Diablo Challenge is a 10.8 mile
timed bike ride, starting at Athenian
School in Danville and climbing up
Southgate Road 3,249 feet to the summit
of Mount Diablo. 1,000 cycling
enthusiasts compete and prizes are
awarded for several categories in a
ceremony at the summit with food
and beverages for all. All proceeds
benefit Save Mount Diablo’s land
conservation efforts. Registration
cost is $55.00. To register please
visit www.savemountdiablo.org or
www.active.com. No day of event
registration.
Sunday, October 4 2009/ 4 pm
- 8:30pm, Vasco Harvest Moon Hike
(East Bay Regional Park District).
Leader: Naturalist “Outdoor Ed”
510-544-2768, ewillis@ebparks.
org; Hike 2-3 moderate miles under
the sunset and full-moonrise at Vasco
Caves. We'll seek raptors hunting
Volunteers Remove 1330 Pounds of Garbage from Arroyo
902, 916 and 934 joined with
members of the local Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
and the Congregation Beth Emek
to take part in the 25th annual
California Coastal Cleanup.
Around 200 volunteers helped
clean nearly 12 miles of local
waterways. The crews braved
the high temperatures to haul 78
tires and 1,330 pounds of garbage
from the creeks.
Much of that mess begins as
trash on local streets or parking
lots and ends up washing down
the storm drains. Clearing the
creeks of debris at the end of
summer helps prevent pollution
and makes sure our local waterways
are ready to handle flows
for the next season’s storms.
The annual California Coastal
Cleanup event is sponsored locally
by the City of Pleasanton
with support from Zone 7 Water
Agency, which provides the
Livermore-Amador Valley with
flood protection and water supply
services.
bountiful prey in robust grasslands,
marvel at Indian rock art, and take in
sensational vistas. This preserve is
accessible through guided tours by
District-provided bus transportation
only. (Ages 10+). Fee: $30 residents/
$34 non-residents. Registration Required:
1-888-EBPARKS option 2, 3
course #22547 www.ebparks.org
Book Published
Theopneusty Media has signed
an exclusive agreement with Darwin
Stephenson, Livermore resident,
contemporary spiritual teacher and
author, to publish his first major book
release, "Inspiration Divine: Your
Purpose and Path to Health, Happiness
and Enlightenment."
Inspiration Divine will release
worldwide on October 4th, 2009.
For more information, go to www.
inspirationdivine.com.
Walk to Cure Diabetes
More than 7,000 walkers throughout
the Bay Area including corporations,
children, adults, families and
friends, schools, and other organizations
are expected to participate
in the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation (JDRF) 2009 Walk to
Cure Diabetes events this October.
JDRF’s goal is to realize more than
$2 million from Bay Area walks for
research to find cures for diabetes and
its complications.
There are five fund-raising walks
scheduled. Registration begins at
10:00 a.m. at all sites: October 4 in
Walnut Creek at Heather Farm Park;
October 11 in Sunnyvale at Baylands
Park; October 17 in San Francisco
at Crissy Field; October 24 in Santa
Rosa at the Wells Fargo Center for
the Arts; and, October 25 in Pacific
Grove at Lover’s Point
JDRF has added several new
events this year all supporting the
Walk to Cure Diabetes. Walktoberfest
is an authentic German beer garden
sponsored by Gordon Biersch and
hosted by Sports Basement across
from Crissy Field from 11:30 a.m.
– 2:00 p.m. on October 17.
In the North Bay, a special wine
tasting will be held under the Event
Tent at the Wells Fargo Center for
the Arts is Santa Rosa immediately
following the Walk on Saturday,
October 24.
A 5k Run will be featured in Baylands
Park in Sunnyvale beginning at
10:50 a.m. on October 11.
Luke (in glasses) and Jake Bell, are nine-year-old twins from Cub Scout Pak 916 who helped
clean along Arroyo Mocho. Photo courtesy of Zone 7 Water Agency

PAGE 10 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
James Albert Callahan
Pleasanton resident James
Callahan, 61, native of New York,
died September 12, 2009, after a
one year battle with cancer.
He was born September 21,
1947.
He is survived by son, James,
Jr, three sisters, Sheila, Sally and
Sherry, and one brother, Tim.
Memorial Mass will be celebrated
at 10 a.m. on Thursday,
September 24, St. Augustine
Catholic Church, 3999 Bernal
Ave., Pleasanton.
Arrangements by Graham-
Hitch Mortuary.
Guy G .McMillan
Guy McMillan was born on
Aug. 31, 1937 in Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho and passed away on September
10, 2009, at the age of
72.
He was a Sergeant in the 1
st
Marine Division Reconnaissance
Company, Korean War 1952-
1957. He worked at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory
1961-1997, in Computations,
Nuclear Chemistry, and Computer
Security. He was a soccer
coach for the Livermore Soccer
Club for over 20 years, and a
member of the Sea Scouts. He
graduated from Cal State Hayward,
Summa Cum Laude. He
enjoyed wood working, model
railroading, gardening, reading,
and cooking.
He is survived by his wife
Joan, his children and their spouses:
Michael (Jennifer) McMillan,
Shelly (Craig) Puderbach, grandchildren:
Kinci McMillan, Devon
McMillan, Michael McMillan,
Kaylee McMillan, Kera McMillan,
Daniel Puderbach, Andrew
Puderbach, Laruen Massone.
A Celebration of Life was held
Sept., 19 in Livermore.
Arrangements by Callaghan
Mortuary.
Virgil F. Gregory
Longtime Livermore resident
Virgil Gregory died September
10, 2009 at his home. He was
81.
Virgil was born in Nebraska
August 29, 1928 to Floyd and
Orpha Gregory, and moved to
Salem, Oregon at 11 years of
age. He married his wife, Hazel
Gregory, in 1951 in El Paso,
Texas. He served in the United
States Army from 1951 to 1956.
Upon completion of his service
he attained a technical education.
Lawrence Livermore National
Lab hired him where he worked
from 1957, until his retirement
in 1990.
According to his family, Virgil
was an avid hunter and hobbyist,
who enjoyed working with clocks
and automobiles. Virgil loved and
spent time with all of his children
and grandchildren.
Virgil is survived by daughter
and son-in-law Lauren Marchese
and Peter Street of Texas; son and
daughter-in-law Jeff and Vicki
Gregory of Ohio; daughter LeAnn
Gregory of Livermore; and son
Kurt Gregory of Livermore;
grandchildren Zachary, Ashley,
Hayden, and Athan Gregory of
Ohio; sister and brother-in-law
Dorlene and Bob Cuningham of
Oregon; sister-in-law Inez Dodge
of Oregon; sister-in-law Norma
Gregory of Oregon; longtime
friends Max and Jerri Blair of
Oregon, Dave Dixon of Livermore,
Ken and Helen Miller of
Livermore, numerous nephews
and nieces and many other family
and friends.
His wife, Hazel in 2003; a
daughter, Viette Gregory; his parents,
Floyd and Orpha Gregory;
and two brothers, Al and Gordon
Gregory, preceded Virgil
in death.
A funeral service followed
by a graveside service were held
September 22 in Livermore.
In lieu of flowers, please
donate to a favorite charity in
his name.
Arrangements by Callaghan
Mortuary.
Dorothy Lazzo Nickolas
Dorothy Lazzo Nickolas, 90,
of Livermore returned peacefully
to her Heavenly Father in the wee
hours of the morning on Tuesday,
September 15, 2009, of causes incident
to age. At her side then, as
he has been for the past 55 years,
was her husband, Pete Nickolas.
Both long-time residents of
Livermore, Pete retired from the
Lawrence Research Laboratory
and is a MSGT (Ret.) in the U.S.
Air Force Reserve.
Dorothy was born in New York
City, N.Y., November 1, 1918, to
immigrant parents Nicholas and
Theadora Metropole Lazzo of
Patras, Greece. Her brother and
three sisters predeceased her.
Friends and family remember
Dorothy as a wonderful hostess
and cook. She was well known
among them not only for her
Greek dishes, but for the huge
salads she made. She was encouraged
to make plenty because
guests wanted leftovers to take
home.
She is survived by her husband,
two children and a son- and
daughter-in-law, Carole Osborne
(Mrs. Norman J.) Cole and Joel
A. (Judy) Osborne, of Bountiful
and Springville, Utah, respectively.
Dorothy also leaves six
grandchildren: Lori C. Kunz
(Mrs. Vernon), Matthew J. Cole
and wife Julia L. Cole, Martin J.
Cole, and Julie Cole Martin, Jody
Osborne and wife Wendy, and
Roxanne Osborne Tidwell (Mrs.
Ty) and 20 great-grandchildren.
(I’m not including Ty Tidwell’s
two children as I don’t think
Mom ever knew either of them)
Services are pending at Callahan’s
Mortuary in Livermore.
Please visit and sign Callahan’s
on-line guest book at www.callaghanmortuary.com.
Anthony James Nading
Anthony Nading, (1984-2009)
former Livermore resident, died
at the young age of 25 in a
tragic accident
in Anderson,
Missouri.
He is survived
by his
loving mother
Margaret Giannini,
two
brothers Jermey
and Jonathon,
and two Anthony Nading
l o v i n g s o n s
Tucker and Lucky of Missouri.
Anthony will be deeply missed
by all who knew and loved him.
A celebration of life will be
held in his honor on Sat., September
26, between 4:00 p.m.
and 6:00 p.m. at 849 Cherokee
Dr., Livermore
Elisabeth Pavel
Elisabeth Pavel passed away
September 3, 2009 at the Reutlinger
Community for Jewish
Living in Danville, where she
was surrounded by family and
friends. She was buried in New
York next to her beloved husband
and mother.
She was born on September
24, 1918 in Ungvár, Hungary,
and grew up in Budapest. In
1944, she was taken by Nazis and
spent time in concentration and
forced labor camps in Hungary,
Austria, and Germany.
After the war, she married
Jakob Pavel and their family
grew to include her mother, two
sons, and a cousin. In the winter
of 1956, after the Hungarian
Revolution was crushed, and
not feeling at home in Hungary,
the family escaped into Austria,
living in a refugee camp for a
year until a relative in Brooklyn
sponsored them. She worked as
a waitress, later resuming her
profession as a bookkeeper. She
also went to night school to learn
English and other subjects and
won an award for accomplishments
in math.
Elisabeth continued to work
long after her sons grew up,
graduated from college, and left
home. Her husband died young,
and her mother soon after, leaving
her alone for thirty years,
until she moved to California,
residing at the Reutlinger Community
for Jewish Living for the
last seven years. There, at the age
of 84, she developed a talent for
drawing.
Family was the most important
thing to her and her love
extended to all the people she
knew. She was never happier than
when she was feeding people and
being useful to them. She never
thought of herself. She worked
hard. She was strong. She was
a survivor.
Elisabeth leaves behind her
son Robert Pavel of San Francisco,
her son and daughter-inlaw
George and Lindsay Pavel
of Livermore, and her two grandchildren,
Vera and Guy.
Memorials may be made to
the Reutlinger Community for
Jewish Living, Hope Hospice, or
another charity.
May her memory be a blessing.
Michael Curran Gable
Michael Gable was born in
Seattle, Washington, November
16, 1970, the son of Beverly and
LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDS
Thomas P. Gable. Michael, a beloved
son, brother, husband and
father passed away unexpectedly
on September 17, 2009.
Michael grew up in Monroe,
WA and then moved to California
where he played Division 1
Soccer and graduated from Saint
Mary’s College in Moraga.
Michael was known for his
passion for life. His energy lit up
a room. He had a warm and caring
personality , infectious smile
and was known to all of us as a
great listener. Michael dreamed
“big," and in many cases, made
his dreams come true. He was
very successful in his professional
career which included
many top sales awards and was a
role model to his colleagues.
Family and friends were everything
to Michael, and he
would go above and beyond to
help those around him. He loved
soccer, music, golf, reading,
finances & travel.
He is survived by his wife,
Michelle, son and daughter, Matteo
and Grace, parents Beverly
and Thomas Gable, and sister
Monika Little, and numerous
family and friends. He will be
greatly missed.
A vigil service will be held at
7 p.m. at Graham-Hitch Mortuary,
First St., Pleasanton, on
Thursday, September 24. A funeral
mass will be on Friday,
September 25 at 10:00 a.m. at St.
Augustine’s Church, 3999 Bernal
Ave., Pleasanton with a reception
immediately following.
A private interment will be
held.
In honor of Michael, a fund
has been established for his children.
Donations can be made to
the Michael Gable Children’s
Fund at Fremont Bank, 6654
Koll Center Pkwy., Suite 345,
Pleasanton, CA 94566.
Ernest Franklin Wilson
Ernest Franklin Wilson died
September 17, 2009. He was
born September 30, 1923 in Fallon,
Nevada to Geneva and Hugh
Wilson.
He graduated from the University
of Nevada at Reno, with
master's studies at Yale, Harvard
and MIT. He served as a 2nd
Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps
during WWII, worked as an electronics
engineer (senior scientific
timing specialist) for 40 years
with E.G.& G. He was a national
award winning scientist for the
Department of Energy.
He is survived by his wife
of 62 years, Mary. Their children
are Stephen Wilson, Kathy
Czaplicki, Anita Wise and Brian
Wilson; grandchildren Katrina
and Robert Czaplicki and Jorden
and Oliver Wise.
Ernest enjoyed his retirement
www.independentnews.com
by working at Barnes and Noble
booksellers for 10 more years.
"Ernie" and his family lived in
Waltham, Mass., Danville and
Livermore. He loved his computers,
books, sailing, old movies
and classical music.
Services will be held at 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 24 at Callaghan
Mortuary in Livermore. Internment
will be at the National
Cemetery in Gustine, CA.
In lieu of flowers, please send
donations to the Michael J. Fox
Parkinson's Research, donations@michaeljfox.org.
Antony Michael Burdick
On September 19, 2009, Antony
Michael Burdick was born
in the arms of an angel.
Baby Antony will be loved
and remembered by parents,
Antony and LaDawnna Burdick,
sister; Katelynne Mae Burdick,
great grandparents, Ron and
Mary Gunn, paternal grandmother,
Victoria Miraglio, paternal
grandfather, John Earl Burdick,
maternal grandmother, Kelly
Gunn, and maternal grandfather,
Bob Follenfant.
A Memorial Mass will be held
at 2 p.m. Fri., Sept. 25 at St.
Michael's Church, 458 Maples
St., Livermore. Family and close
friends are welcome.
The family asks that a contribution
be made in Antony
Michael Burdick’s name to the
Oakland Children’s Hospital in
lieu of flowers.
Charles Peter Valente
Charles was a first generation
Italian-American born to
immigrant parents on Nov. 20,
1913 in Herkimer, New York.
Throughout his life he was very
proud of his Italian heritage and
passed that on to his family. He
died on September 9, 2009. He
was 95 years old.
Charles was preceded in death
by his wife, Helen, in 1996, his
grandson, Chuck Jr., in 1991, his
brother Sal, sisters Edith, Vera,
Anna and Rosie.
While living in New York,
he worked as a machine setter at
the Remington Arms Company
during WWII. Later, he worked
as a truck mechanic at Associated
Transport Trucking Company.
Charles worked for many years
as a master mechanic for the
International Union of Operating
Engineers on a number of largescale
construction projects in
Upstate New York such as the St.
Lawrence River SeaWay Project,
the Rome Airbase Expansion,
Defense System Missile Bases,
Hydro-Electric Power Plants,
and Interstate Highways. After
retiring and moving to Livermore
in 1964 he worked for the
Murray School District. During
his career he was a strong union
supporter, serving many years as
a Union Steward. After retiring a
second time, he and his wife Helen
loved to spend their time with
their children, grandchildren and
friends. They especially loved
vacationing at their South Lake
Tahoe cabin. Having come from
Upstate New York, the Northern
California weather was a great
source of pleasure to him. In his
spare time Charles enjoyed gardening
and caring for the many
fruit trees, tomatoes and grapes
he had planted in his Livermore
backyard.
Charles was blessed with
many years of good health and
was an avid “walker," often
bragging even at age 94 that
he walked a mile each day. He
was very spiritual and a devout
Catholic. His family meant
everything to him. Charles and
Helen celebrated their 56 th wedding
anniversary before her passing
in 1996. Helen was the love
of his life and for many years
after her passing, he would still
visit her gravesite every day.
Mr. Valente is survived by
four children and their spouses:
Cinda (Roy) Swiger of Livermore,
Helen (Leonard) Cavanaugh
of South Lake Tahoe, Chuck
(Cathy) Valente of Nipomo, Buzz
(Linda) Valente of Livermore, his
brother Anthony, 12 grandchildren,
15 great grandchildren and
a number of nieces and nephews
here in California and in New
York.
A visitation will be held at
the Callaghan Mortuary on East
Avenue in Livermore on Tuesday,
Sept. 29, from 4-8 p.m.,
with a Rosary Service at 7 p.m.
A Mass of the Resurrection will
be celebrated on Wednesday,
Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at St. Charles
Borromeo Catholic Church, 1315
Lomitas Ave., Livermore. Entombment
will follow at Memory
Gardens Cemetery, the Chapel of
Prayer Mausoleum, East Avenue,
Livermore.
In lieu of flowers, the family
asks that donations be made to
the donor’s favorite charity.
LEGAL NOTICES
FOR INFORMATION
PLACING LEGAL NO-
TICES
CONTACT BARBARA @
925 243-8000
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.428531
The following person(s) doing
business as:Jaime Ascencion
Dominguez, 2047 Broadmoor
Street, Livermore Ca 94551
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Jaime Ascencion Dominguez,
2047 Broadmoor Street,
Livermore Ca 94551
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Jaime Ascencion Dominguez
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on August 25, 2009. Expires
August 25, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2572. Publish September 3,
10, 17, 24, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.428590
The following person(s) doing
business as:Coast Pass, 1856
Autumn Oak Drive, Livermore
Ca 94551 is hereby registered
by the following owner(s):
Takahiro Niwa, 1856 Autumn
Oak Drive, Livermore Ca
94551
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Takahiro Niwa
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on August 26, 2009. Expires
August 26, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2573. Publish September 3,
10 , 17, 24, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.428666
The following person(s) doing
business as:La Landscape
Management, 1217 Arlington
Rd., Livermore Ca 94551 is
hereby registered by the following
owner(s):
Greg Marty, 1217 Arlington
Road, Livermore Ca 94551
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
The registrant began to transact
business under the fictitious
business name (s) listed
above on August 28, 2009.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Greg Marty
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on August 28, 2009. Expires
August 28, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2574. Publish September 3,
10 , 17, 24, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429033
The following person(s) doing
business as:Faerie Mountain
Fibers, 7762 Ironwood Drive,
Dublin CA 94568 is hereby
registered by the following
owner(s):
Linda S. Partsch, 7762
Ironwood Drive, Dublin Ca
94568
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Linda S. Partsch
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 8, 2009. Expires
September 8, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2578. Publish September 17,
24, October 1, 8, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429173
The following person(s) doing
business as:S.A.S.S.Y.
Dance Armbands, 2795 Vintage
Ct., Livermore Ca 94550
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Sydnie Rose Montoya, 2795
Vintage Ct., Livermore Ca
94550
Klaus Montoya, 2795 Vintage
Ct., Livermore Ca 94550
This business is conducted
by:a General partnership
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Sydnie Rose Montoya and
Klaus Montoya
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 11, 2009. Expires
September 11, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2579. Publish September 17,
24, October 1, 8, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429260
The following person(s) doing
business as:SPEED-E
TIRE WRENCH, 6485 Alvord
Way, Pleasanton CA 94588
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Darry Chui, 6485 Alvord Way,
Pleasanton CA 94588
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Darry Chui
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 14, 2009. Expires
September 14, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2582. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429197
The following person(s) doing
business as:Planet Tan, 1490
N. Vasco Rd., Livermore Ca
94551 is hereby registered by
the following owner(s):
Master Marketeers, Inc., 2000
Cypress Pt., Discovery Bay
Ca 94505
This business is conducted
by:a Corporation
The registrant began to
transact business under the
fictitious business name (s)
listed above on September
11, 2009.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Susan L. Pacini
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 11, 2009. Expires
September 11, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2583. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429404
The following person(s) doing
business as:Casual Jewelry
Almeda, 4633 Carson
Ct., Pleasanton CA 94588
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Sami Wahedi, 4633 Carson
Ct., Pleasanton Ca 94588
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Sami Wahedi
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 17, 2009. Expires
September 17, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2585. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.428557-428558
The following person(s)doing
businessas:1)SoccerIQ
,2)Anlinz Personal Home
Services, 4361 Technology
Dr. #H, Livermore Ca 94550
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Anlinz Innovations LLC., 4361
Technology Dr. #H, Livermore
Ca 94550
This business is conducted
by:a Limited liability company
The registrant began to transact
business under the fictitious
business name (s) listed
above on June 22, 2009.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Andrea O. Aguilar
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on August 26, 2009. Expires
August 26, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2586. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429282
The following person(s)doing
businessas: MyNaggyAssistant,
8101 Regency Dr.,
Pleasanton CA 94588 is
hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Luca Bolsieri, 8101 Regency
Dr., Pleasanton Ca 94588
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Luca Bolsieri
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 14, 2009. Expires
September 14, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2587. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO.429414
The following person(s) doing
business as:A Gift Especially
For You, 2618 Vernazza
Drive, Livermore Ca 94550
is hereby registered by the
following owner(s):
Deborah Lynn Ritchey, 2618
Vernazza Dr., Livermore Ca
94550
This business is conducted
by:an Individual
Registrant has not yet begun
to transact business under
the fictitious business name
or names listed.
Signature of Registrant:
/s/:Deborah L. Ritchey
This statement was filed with
the County Clerk of Alameda
on September 17, 2009. Expires
September 17, 2014.
The Independent Legal No.
2588. Publish September 24,
October 1, 8, 15, 2009.
NOTICE OF INVITING BIDS
Notice is hereby given that
sealed competitive bids will
be accepted in the office of the
GSA-Purchasing Department,
County of Alameda, 1401
Lakeside Drive, 9 th Floor,
Oakland, CA 94612 MANDA-
TORY PRE-BID SITE VISIT
AND MEETING - S. County
Project #10014 – Santa Rita
Jail Dayroom Induction Lighting
Retrofit, Thursday, October
8, 2009 at 10:00 A.M. at
Santa Rita Jail Media Room,
5325 Broder Blvd., Dublin, CA
Attendance at the Mandatory
Pre-Bid Site Visit is
required Responses Due by
2:00 pm on October 27, 2009
County Contact : Matt Muniz
at (510) 208-9518 or via
email: matt.muniz@acgov.
org Information regarding
the above may be obtained
at the Current Contracting
Opportunities Internet website
at www.acgov.org.
9/24/09
CNS-1694600#
The Independent Legal No.
2584. Publish September
24, 2009
NOTICE OF APPLICATION
FOR CHANGE IN OWNER-
SHIP OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGE LICENSE
Date of Filing Application:
SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
The Names(s) of the
Applicant(s) is/are:
PLEASANTON OPERATING
COMPANY LLC
The Applicants listed above
are applying to the Department
of Alcoholic Beverage
Control to sell alcoholic beverages
at:
5990 STONERIDGE MALL
RD
PLEASANTON, CA 94599-
3229
Type of license(s) Applied
for:
47 - ON-SALE GENERAL
EATING PLACE
Department of Alcoholic
Beverage Control
1515 Clay St. Ste 2208
Oakland, Ca 94612
(510) 622-4970
The Independent Legal No.
2589 Publish September
24, 2009
ANIMALS
2) CATS/DOGS
FREE KITTENS To Good
Homes, 1 Orange & White,
1 All Black, 1 Black & White.
7weeks 925 443-6716
ADOPT A DOG OR CAT, for
adoption information contact
Valley Humane Society at
925 426-8656.
Adopt a new best friend:
TVAR, the Tri-Valley Animal
Rescue, offers animals
for adoption every Saturday
and Sunday, excluding most
holidays. On Saturdays from
9:30 am to 1:00 pm, both dogs
and cats are available at the
Pleasanton Farmers Market at
W. Angela and First Streets.
Two locations will showcase
cats only: Petsmart in Dublin
from noon to 4 and the Pet
Food Express in Livermore
from 1 to 4. On Sundays,
cats are available at Petsmart
in Dublin from 1 to 4, and
PetCo in San Ramon from 11
to 3. Information, call TVAR
at (925) 803-7043 or visit our
website at www.tvar.org.
4)FOUND
FOUND BIRD Peach Faced
Love Bird, in vicinity Ventana
Hills Pleasanton 925
462-1256
FOUND AN ANIMAL?
FREE SECTION. Call
Barbara
925 243-8000 to let 49,118
households know!
6)LOST
LOST A FAMILY PET? FREE
SECTION. Call Barbara
925 243-8000 to let 38,000
households know!
AUTOS/BOATS/RV’S/
TRUCKS
10)AUTOS WANTED
DONATE VEHICLE: RE-
CEIVE $1000 Grocery Coupon.
Your Choice. Noahs Arc
- Support No Kill Shelters,
Advance Veterinary Treatments.
Free Towing, IRS Tax
Deductible, Non-Runners. 1-
866-912-GIVE. (CAL*SCAN)
DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s
Cancer Fund! Help
Save A Child’s Life Through
Research & Support! Free Vacation
Package. Fast, Easy &
Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-
252-0615. (CAL*SCAN)
SELL YOUR USED CAR
HERE. Call Barbara at 925-
243-8000
0R www.independentnews.com
Pay by Credit
Card for any Classified or
Display ads.
EMPLOYMENT
56) ADULT CARE
CAREGIVERS
NEEDED for elder care.
Light housekeeping errands
transportation meal
prep personal care. Please
fax resume
925 371-8118
60) BUSINESS OPPORTU-
NITY
ALL CASH VENDING! Be
Your Own Boss! Your Own
Local Vending Route. Includes
25 Machines and
Candy for $9,995. Multi-
Vend LLC, 1-888-625-2405.
(CAL*SCAN)
BE WARY of out of area
companies. Check with the
local Better Business Bureau
before you send any money
or fees. Read and understand
any contracts before you sign.
Shop around for rates.
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED
AD call Barbara
925 243-8000
or go on-line at
www.independentnews.
com Also available pay by
Credit Card for Classified and
Display Ads.
71) HELP WANTED
Opportunity Knocking
Auto Sales
Self-Motivated
Easy Schedule
No Experience Needed
Will Train!
Benefits
Apply Within
Or Online @
LivermoreAutoGroup.com
Call Parm or Ravi @
(925) 294-7700
Ford / Lincoln / Mercury

LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDS
www.independentnews.com
The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 - PAGE 11
INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTORS WANTED
for Senior Home Health
Care Must Have
Experience
Senior Solutions, Inc.
925 443-3101
ATTN: COMPUTER WORK.
Work from anywhere 24/7. Up
to $1,500 Part Time to $7,500/
mo. Full Time. Training provided.
www.KTPGlobal.
com or call 1-800-330-8446.
(CAL*SCAN)
ELECTRICIANS NEEDED.
Great pay & benefits, 30 days
vacation/year, retirement &
raises. No experience needed.
HS grads ages 17-34.
Call Mon-Fri 1-800-345-6289.
(CAL*SCAN)
MECHANICS: Keep the
Army National Guard rolling.
Fix Humvees, Strykers, etc.
Expand skills through paid
career training. Part-time
work. Full-time benefits. www.
NationalGuard.com/Mechanics
or 1-800-GO-GUARD.
(CAL*SCAN)
CLASSIFIEDS
**************
Reaches
38,000 Homes
Direct mail
to
Livermore
Pleasanton & Sunol
Call Barbara
925 243-8000
79)HELP WANTED/SALES
OVER 18? AVAILABLE to
TRAVEL? Earn Above Average
$$$ with Fun Successful
Business Group! No Experience
Necessary. 2wks Paid
Training. Lodging, Transportation
Provided. 1-877-646-
5050. (CAL*SCAN)
82)JOB FAIRS & CAREER
EARN AN INCOME
YOU DESERVE
www.SuccessToYou.INFO
Ask about our next
career info opportunity in
Pleasanton!
MERCHANDISE
110)ANTIQUES/ARTS/
COLLECTIBLES
FLEA MARKET
and FUND RAISER
Ridge View Commons
Activity Club
5200 Case Ave Pleasanton
Sept 26th Sat 10-4pm
New and old treasures,
f o o d h o t d o g s a n d
chips $3.00 etc HELP
Open Heart Kitchen by:
Please bring can goods
like cream of mushroom
soup, green beans, corn,
all veg, juices, crackers,
fruit cup for kids etc.
PLEASE
Help Your Community
Out
Thank You
118) FREE/GIVEAWAY
GOT OLD JUNK
FREE/GIVEAWAY
SECTION
Call 925 243-8000 Barbara
FREE ITEMS 14ft Skylark
Sailboat. All Running Gear
but No Sails or Trailer.
Call 925 447-3857
FREE - Cardboard Moving
Boxes of all sizes, some
packing material. You Pick up.
925 447-7879. EVENINGS
ONLY.
1 2 0 ) E Q U I P M E N T F O R
SALE
SAWMILLS FROM ONLY
$ 2 , 9 9 0 - C o n v e r t y o u r
Logs To Valuable Lumber
with your own Norwood
portable band sawmill. Log
skidders also available. www.
NorwoodSawmills.com/300n -
FREE information: 1-800-578-
1363 x 300-N. (CAL*SCAN)
121)ESTATE/GARAGE/
YARD SALES
RAIN OR SHINE! Call Barbara
925-243-8000 or go to
www.independentnews.
com before 8am Tuesdays
to get your ad in for the next
edition.
125)HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Place your household items
here for sale. Call
925 243-8000 or go on-line
at www.independentnews.
com Also you can pay by
Credit Card for Classified
and Display Ads.
127) LOST/FOUND
LOST or FOUND AN ITEM
FREE SECTION
Call Barbara 925 243-8000
130)MISC FOR SALE
Used Chain Link Gate
13'4" Wide x 4' Tall with
Hinged Mounting Post and
Hardware to Attach to Swing
Gate Operator Elite
CSW-200-UL
Call 925-872-1321
$250 or BO
Heavy Duty Electric Automatic
Gate Opener, Swing
Type
Model Elite CSU-200-UL
Good Working Order
Call Lynn 925-872-1321
$400 or BO
DISH NETWORK. $19.99/Mo.
Why Pay More for TV? 100+
Channels - FREE! 4-Room
Install - FREE! HD-DVR
Plus $600 Sign-up BONUS.
Call Now! 1-866-747-9773.
(CAL*SCAN)
NOTICES/ANNOUNCE-
MENTS
151)ANNOUNCEMENTS
Axis Health Center
4361 Railroad Ave., Pleasanton.
Serves Valley residents
with emphasis on those with
low income. The center has
general medical services,
family planning, well baby,
prenatal and maternity programs,
social services, blood
pressure checks, WIC food
supplement programs, premarital
blood test, sports/
camp physicals, TB screening,
free transportation available.
925 462-1755
155)NOTICES
“NOTICE TO READERS:
California law requires that
contractors taking jobs that total
$500 or more (labor and/or
materials) be licensed by the
Contractors State License
Board. State law also requires
that contractors include their
license numbers on all advertising.
Check your contractor’s
status at www.cslb.ca.gov
or 800-321-CSL B (2752).
Unlicensed persons taking
jobs less than $500 must
state in their advertisements
that they are not licensed by
the Contractors State License
Board.”
REAL ESTATE
The Federal Fair Housing Act,
Title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, and state law
prohibit advertisements for
housing and employment
that contain any preference,
limitation or discrimination
based on protected classes,
including race, color, religion,
sex, handicap, familial status
or national origin. IVPC does
not knowingly accept any
advertisements that are in
violation of the law.
157)APT/CONDOS/HOUSE/
TOWNHOUSE/RENTAL
GOT A HOUSE FOR RENT?
Let the 49,119+ households
that read the Independent
find out about it. . To place an
ad go to www.independentnews.com
or call Barbara at
925 243-8000
160)BOAT/RV and RETAIL
LOOKING FOR RETAIL
OR
STORAGE SPACE?
Great Location Off Hwy 580
On Kitty Hawk Road
For Details Email:
Pmatharu@lagmail.net
162)HOMES FOR SALE
By Advertising with The Independent
reaching over 38,000
homes and businesses with
your ad placement. Call Barbara
925 243-8000
1 6 4 ) H O U S E R E N T A L
WANTED
LOCAL BUSINESS WOM-
AN Looking to Rent/Lease
Cottage or Mother In-Law
Apartment. Non-Smoker
and No Pets. Cell Phone
(310) 849-6609
165) HOUSE/ROOMS/RENT-
ALS TO SHARE
RENT YOUR EMPTY LIV-
ING SPACE By Advertising
with The Independent
reaching over 38,000 homes
and businesses with your ad
placement. Call Barbara 925
243-8000
L A N D F O R E C L O S U R E
SOUTHERN COLORADO
35 Acres - $29,900 Rocky
Mtn. views, Warranty Deed
Survey. Utilities. Enjoy
300 days of sunshine. Low
down payment. Call Today!
1-866-696-5263, x5355 www.
coloradolandbargains.com
(CAL*SCAN)
172)REAL ESTATE LOANS
T U R N E D D O W N F O R
MORTGAGE? Qualify today
- Bad Credit OK. Good
People with Bad Credit Program.
Limited time program
only. Call Francis 866-213-
2169. www.Mortgage4Low
Credit.com (CAL*SCAN)
SERVICES
176)BUSINESS SERVICES
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers
for the best reach, coverage,
and price. 25-words $450.
Reach 6 million Californians!
FREE email brochure. Call
(916) 288-6019. www.Cal-
SCAN.com
DISPLAY ADVERTISING in
140 Cal-SCAN newspapers
statewide for $1,550! Reach
over 3 million Californians!
FREE email brochure. Call
(916) 288-6019. www.Cal-
SCAN.com (CAL*SCAN)
NEWS RELEASE? Cost-efficient
service. The California
Press Release Service has
500 current daily, weekly and
college newspaper contacts
in California. FREE email
brochure. Call (916) 288-
6010. www.CaliforniaPress-
Release
Service.com (CAL*SCAN)
182)HEALTH/FITNESS
LOSE UP TO 2-8lbs. EV-
ERY week! Eat the foods you
love! Have More Energy!
Guaranteed-Natural-Safe
D o c t o r R e c o m m e n d e d !
C a l l a n d g e t a f r e e
Evaluation. 888-235-8890.
jbrown5354@gmail.com.
(CAL*SCAN)
189)LEGAL SERVICES
EVICTION for LAND-
LORDS ONLY
Michael Notaro, Esq.
(510) 522-2666
Visit: www.notarolaw.com
190)POOL SERVICES
POOL SERVICE
SPARKLE POOL
Weekly Pool & Spa Maint .
Equipment Install & Repair
Pool Inspections
925-577-7111
License #537418
195)SCHOOLS/EDUCA-
TION
HEAVY EQUIPMENT
TRAINING.
Learn to operate
bulldozer, backhoe, loader,
motor grader, excavator. Job
placement assistance.
Call 888-210-4534. Northern
California College of Construction.
www.HEAVY4.
com promocode: NCPA1.
(CAL*SCAN)
198)TUTORING SERVICES
Professional in-home tutoring
by college senior.
All subjects available. All
ages. Call to discuss rates.
925- 980-1213
TO PLACE A
CLASSIFIED AD
call Barbara 925 243-8000
or go on-line at
www.independentnews.
com Also available pay by
Credit Card for Classified
and Display Ads.
The Truth about
Reverse Mortgages
By Cher Wollard
Sophia is 82 years old and in moderately good health, although
she needs help with cooking and housework, transportation, and
assistance keeping track of her medical requirements. Such inhome
care is expensive, especially for a widow living on Social
Security and a little savings.
Sofia still lives in the Bay Area home she shared with her late
husband and grown children. The home is currently worth about
$550,000, and is paid off.
Jon and Jan are in their mid-60s. They would like to sell their
2500-sq.-ft. house and move to a small home. Their Realtor has
advised them they will net about $220,000 on the sale of their
current home. The condo they have their eye on is priced at
$375,000.
Jon and Jan hoped to retire without mortgage payments to
worry about.
In both cases, a reverse mortgage may be the answer.
Reverse mortgages had a bad reputation in the past when some
unscrupulous lenders took advantage of unsuspecting seniors. As
a result, most reverse mortgage programs have been shut down.
The only reverse mortgage program available today is the
Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), a FHA mortgage
that is safe and reliable. Still, many folks do not understand how
the program works.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about
reverse mortgages:
Q. What is a reverse mortgage?
A. A program that allows seniors to borrow against the equity
in their homes without incurring a monthly mortgage payment.
Q. Must the equity be used for specific purposes?
A. No. The homeowner can use the amount borrowed for any
purpose, including to purchase property.
Q. How will the amount borrowed be distributed?
A. The loan amount may be taken in a lump sum, as a line of
credit, in monthly payments, or in a combination. The lump sum
distribution is commonly used to purchase a new home.
Q. How much can be borrowed?
A. It depends. Loan guidelines are based on the worth of the
property and the age of the homeowners. Older homeowners can
borrow a larger percentage of the value of the home than younger
homeowners.
In addition, there are federally mandated ceilings, regardless
of how much the property is worth. The top ceiling is currently
$625,500. That is due to revert to $417,000 at the end of 2009,
unless the higher amount is extended by Congress.
The National Association of Realtors and other real estate
interest groups are currently urging Congress to raise the ceiling
permanently.
Q. What are the interest rates on reverse mortgages?
A. Interest rates are based on prevailing rates and the age of
the borrowers. Interest accrues throughout the life of the loan and
is added to the balance due.
Check with a loan officer experienced in reverse mortgages
for details.
Q. Are reverse mortgage rates fixed or variable?
A. Both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate reverse mortgages are
available.
Q. Are reverse mortgages expensive?
A. There are fees attached to reverse mortgages, similar to
fees for other FHA mortgages. In addition, the borrower must
purchase mortgage insurance, although at a lower rate than for
other FHA loans.
Q. How is the loan repaid if there are no monthly payments?
A. When the homeowner dies, moves or transfers the property,
the loan balance – including fees and accrued interest – is
payable in full.
Q. What if the property is worth more than the loan balance?
A. The borrower or his/her heirs keep the difference.
Q. What if the property is worth less than the loan balance?
A. Neither the borrower nor his/her heirs will ever owe more
than the property is worth.
Q. Who is eligible?
A. Homeowners age 62 and older with sufficient equity in their
homes. There are no income or credit requirements. The home
must meet standard appraisal guidelines.
Q. What if a child or younger spouse is on the deed with the
senior?
A. All parties to the reverse mortgage must be 62 or older.
Q. Does the lender take ownership of the property?
A. No, the homeowner retains title to his or her home.
Q. What responsibilities does the borrower have?
A. The borrower must pay property taxes on time and in full;
maintain adequate insurance on the home; and keep the home in
good condition.
Q. Can a reverse mortgage be used to purchase a home?
A. Yes, eligible seniors may obtain a reverse mortgage to purchase
a single-family house, condo or townhouse to use as their
primary residence; or a building with up to four units, one of which
they intend to occupy, as long as all guidelines are met.
Q. Can a reverse mortgage be used to refinance a home?
A. Yes, eligible seniors may refinance their primary residence
using a reverse mortgage, as long as all guidelines are met.
Q. Can you use a reverse mortgage on a vacation house or
rental property?
A. No, reverse mortgages are only allowed on primary residences.
Q. When is the balance due?
A. The balance is due when the last eligible mortgage holder
moves, dies or transfers the property.
Q. Will the lender then take possession of the property?
A. No. This is one of the most widespread myths about reverse
mortgages. The home belongs to the homeowner or his/her heirs.
The lender is owed only the balance due, plus fees and accumulated
interest, minus the cost of selling the home.
For more information about reverse mortgages, contact a
trusted mortgage specialist who works with reverse mortgages.
If you do not have someone in mind, ask your Realtor to refer
you to someone.
Cher Wollard is a Realtor with
Windermere Welcome Home Realty, Livermore.
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
call Barbara 925 243-8000 or go on-line at
www.independentnews.com
Pay by Credit Card for Classified and Display Ads.

PAGE 12 - The Independent, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Dublin's annual Day on the Glen is a time for fun and entertainment for every member of the family.
Disc Dogs of Golden Gate had their own special event, chasing and catching frisbees.
New High School Planned in Dublin
Dublin Learning Corporation
has announced plans to open Tassajara
Preparatory High School,
an independently-operated, fully
credentialed public educational
institution in Dublin.
Scheduled to open in August
2012, Tassajara Prep aims to
offer the advantages of a private
education at a tuition-free,
public school. With the goal
of delivering a combination of
rigorous curricula and innovative
teaching practices from leading
instructors, Tassajara Prep will
emphasize parent and community
involvement, a collaborative,
student-focused learning environment,
an expanded choice of Advanced
Placement (AP) courses
and extracurricular enrichment
programs, and the integration
of state-of-the-art teaching and
learning technologies.
“Tassajara Prep was established
to offer all Dublin parents
a new choice,” said Rully Kusuma,
president of Dublin Learning
Corporation. “It will provide the
best possible academic program
to help all of our students prepare
for life beyond high school. In
addition, while we may initially
utilize a shared-use Proposition
39 facility in one of the DUSD
buildings, our long term vision
is to offer families in Dublin the
cohesive sense of community
that a neighborhood high school
brings, while eliminating the
need for thousands of daily crosstown
car trips to the only high
school currently available, which
is on the west side of town. It’s
a truly win-win-win situation for
our students, parents and the city
of Dublin.”
Parents, educators, community
members, and local business
and government leaders
interested in getting involved
are encouraged to attend the
following public events: Town
hall meeting #1 – Dublin Library
Community Room – Oct. 20,
2009, 7pm; Town hall meeting
#2 – Dublin Civic Center, Regional
Meeting Room – Oct. 27,
2009, 7pm; Town hall meeting
#3 – Dublin Library Community
Room – Nov. 3, 2009, 7pm.
More information about DLC
and Tassajara Prep is available at
www.tassajaraprep.org.
Drug Take
Back Event
Scheduled
To help residents safely and
properly dispose of unwanted
prescription and over-the-counter
drugs, the City of Livermore,
Waste Management and Alameda
County Household Hazardous
Waste Program, are hosting a
Drug Take-Back Event.
The event will be from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 26 at the
Livermore Police Department
Building (outdoors), 1110 S.
Livermore Avenue, Livermore.
Tri-Valley residents are invited
to bring the following items
to the event for proper disposal:
Medicated ointments, lotions and
creams; Capsule, tablet or liquid
prescriptions; All over-the-counter
medications; Vitamins and
supplements; Pet medications
Medications should be kept in
original containers with personal
information marked out.
Disposing unwanted drugs by
pouring or flushing them down
the sink and toilet pollutes the
environment. Wastewater treatment
plants do not remove the
chemicals used in prescription
and over-the-counter drugs.
As a result, treated water from
wastewater treatment plants flows
to the San Francisco Bay or enters
irrigation systems. Although
long-term health effects of these
chemicals on aquatic life and
humans are still being studied,
proactive measures are recommended
to keep the drugs out of
the environment. Two ways to
do this are to stop pouring drugs
down the sink, and stop flushing
drugs down the toilet. This event,
which is open to all residents of
the Tri-Valley area, will help do
just that.
For more information contact
the City of Livermore Water Resources
Division at 960-8100 or
wrd_info@ci.livermore.ca.us.
Entries Due in Watershed
Council Photo Contest
Alameda Creek Watershed Council Announces 2009 Photo
Contest
The Alameda Creek Watershed Council is taking entries in its 2009
Photo Contest. The Alameda Creek Watershed Council is a group
of stakeholders that work to protect and enhance the watershed’s
natural resources.
The contest is open to all amateur and professional photographers.
The Council is looking for photos taken of creeks found in
the Alameda Creek Watershed. The Alameda Creek Watershed covers
an area of approximately 700 square miles from Mt. Diablo in
the North to Mt Hamilton in the south. The tributaries and creeks
of Alameda Creek drain one of the largest watersheds flowing into
San Francisco Bay.
Winning photos will be highlighted on the Webpage and featured
in our 2010 calendar.
Visit www.acrcd.org/WatershedCouncil for more information on
the Watershed Council, the Photo Contest, and to view the complete
rules and regulations. Deadline for submission: October 1, 2009.
Contact Leslie Koenig at 925-371-0154 ext 115 or leslie.koenig@
acrcd.org for more information.

THE INDEPENDENT • SECTION II
Art, Community, & Education
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
Julie Gallagher talks
about her family
during the dedication.
Viale Family
Honored for
Contributions to
Livermore
High School
By Patricia Koning
If you walk along the eastern side of the courtyard in
front of Livermore High School’s new science building,
you can trace what was once the property line of the Viale
family homestead. Almost 100 years ago Louise and Rose
Viale owned 20 acres of vineyards and Viale’s Grocery
and Meat Market, which was located on First Street and
McLeod Street.
Beginning in the 1950’s, the family began selling parts of
its homestead to the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School
District to accommodate the expansion of Livermore High
School. The family sold the last parcel about three years
ago. It became the site of the new science building that
opened last January.
Louise and Rose were Italian immigrants who arrived in
1911. They had three sons: Frank, Joe, and Atillio, who was
known as Butch. Frank and his wife Adelia’s home was on
that last parcel of land. It was torn down to make way for
the new science center.
On Friday, Sept. 18, Floyd Wilson, executive director of
facilities for the District, unveiled a plaque in the science
courtyard commemorating the Viale family’s contributions.
“You all were directly involved with what we are
doing now,” said Darryl Avila, principal of Livermore High
School. “Through your graciousness, instead of growing
fruits on the vine, we are growing minds—science minds.
We thank you for your generosity.”
In attendance were three of Louisa and Rose’s grandchildren:
Marie Bidinost and her husband Bob, Rose Gallagher
and her husband Skip, and Carla Lewis. Marie and
Rose were Frank’s children, and Carla’s father was Butch.
Representing the third and fourth generations were Marie’s
two sons Frank and Tom Motta, Rose’s daughter Julie Gallagher,
and her daughter Amanda Steer.
Rose Gallagher said the family decided to sell the property
after her mother Adelia could no longer live alone due
to old age. “I am so happy there is a school here rather than
houses or apartments,” she said. “I’d rather see this property
used for education. This place is alive with children. It
makes me very happy.”

2 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Community
Altamont Cruisers club has held
its Nostalgia Day Car Show on the
streets of downtown Livermore for
the past 19 years. The 20th show
is set for Set. 27 from 8 a.m. to 4
p.m. Cars will line the streets in
downtown Livermore.
On display will be over 700
muscle cars, street rods, custom
and classic cars. The annual Nostalgia
Day Car Show raises funds
Harmony Fusion Chorus performs
a program of “Love in Any
Language,” on Sept. 26 at the Amador
Theater in Pleasanton.
The performance begins at
7:30 p.m.
The all-woman chorus will be
singing in four-part a cappella
harmony a variety of songs and
will include as guests the award
winning Ignite Quartet and the
hilarious Neutral Tones.
Tickets are $20 adults, $15
This Weekend . . .
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Visitors check out some of the cars on display at a Altamont Cruiser's Nostalgia Day Car Show.
Muscle Cars, Street Rods Among
Those to Fill First Street
to combat the use of drugs. To date,
this fund-raiser has enabled the
club to donate over $210,000 to local
organizations that promote the
Tri-Valley youth, help strengthen
their families and help keep kids
off drugs. Funds are raised from
fees to enter the show.
There are food booths and
vendors of every type. Continuous
dejay music will fill the air.
students (with ID) and seniors (65
and over).
Tickets may be purchased at
931-3444 or www.civicartstickets.
org.
The Amador Theater is located
at 1155 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton.
Harmony Fusion Chorus is a
chapter of Sweet Adelines International,
a worldwide organization
of women singers committed to
advancing the musical art form
There will be drawings, and arts
of crafts. A parade of all the award
winning vehicles will be held on
First Street.
The festivities will take place
from First to Fourth Streets between
L Street and Livermore
Avenue.
There is no admission charge.
Call 925-461-2020, or visit
website at www.altamontcruisers.
org for additional information.
Harmony Fusion Sings 'Love in Any Language'
of barbershop harmony through
education and performances.
The ensemble was formed by
the consolidation of two smaller
choruses, both chapters of Sweet
Adelines International. Harmony
Bay Chorus, chartered in 1973,
had a home in Oakland at the
Lake Merritt United Methodist
Church. Harmony Crossroads,
chartered in 1993, was based at the
Pleasanton Community Church in
Pleasanton.
Static displays will feature a variety of aircraft.
Photo - Doug Jorgensen
Annual Airport
Open House Set
for Saturday
The 14th annual Airport Open House will be held on Saturday, September
26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Livermore Municipal Airport.
This is a free community event, featuring exhibits, food, entertainment,
and a fabulous static display of Livermore based aircraft.
Hosting the event are the City of Livermore, airport staff, and
tenants.
Radio station, KKIQ will be on hand giving away prizes, and
broadcasting during the event. Live entertainment will be provided
by a celebrated Livermore band: “Sound Chek”.
Livermore Airport is home to over 600 aircraft, including General
Aviation, Military Warbirds, Antique/Classic, Experimental/Homebuilt,
and Aerobatic type aircraft.
Local Chapter 663 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
will be signing up youngsters age 8 – 17 for ”Young Eagle” airplane
rides, which will take place at a later date. The rides provide an opportunity
for kids to experience flight, and learn about aviation from
an EAA pilot.
Visitors to open house will be able to meet representatives of local
flight schools, clubs and organizations.
The US Coast Guard Air Rescue team will perform a simulated
rescue. Members of the “Henry’s Model A’s” and the Tri-Valley Classic
Car Club will be there as well.
There is no admission charge. Parking is free.
Community
Garden Tours, Guest Artists, and
More at Quilting in the Garden
Quilting in the Garden will be
held Sept. 26 and 27 from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. both days.
The event is hosted by Alden
Lane Nursery and In Between
Stitches. They century-old valley
oak trees at Alden Lane Nursery
provide the backdrop for the quilts.
Each morning of the show the
quilts are hung from lines that go
from tree to tree.
This year’s guest artist is Laura
Wasilowski. Laura is a textile artist,
author, teacher and creator of
hand dyed fabrics and threads.
She is the owner of ARTFABRIK.
Laura combines vivid fabrics wand
whimsical stories to make pictorial
art quilts. She uses colorful,
hand-dyed fabrics that are inspiring.
Her pieces often chronicle
her life. Each wall piece is of her
own design, fused appliqué and
machine quilted.
This year’s show will offer
several opportunities to spend
time with our guest artist, Laura
Wasilowski during evening lectures,
classes and mini walking
tours.
There is no admission charge
for the garden show.
From “The Quilt Show with
Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson,”
Alex will be joining us for the
weekend. She will be at the show
both days.
A variety of quilting, craft and
food vendors will be available.
In a special area for budding
beginners Amador Valley Quilters
Guild is offering a special project
for first time quilters and kids.
A Livermore Valley Garden
Tour will be offered Sat., Sept. 26,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alex Anderson’s
quilts will be hung in each garden
on this self-guided tour. Proceeds
go to the Livermore Amador Valley
Garden Club. The fee is $12.
There are 12 gardens in Livermore
and Pleasanton on the tour. Tickets
can be purchased in advance at Alden
Lane or the day of the tour.
During the show on both Saturday
and Sunday, the featured artists
will offer a Walk and Talk Tour of
the quilt show for up to one hour.
Fee is $12. On Saturday, Laura
Wasilowski will lead the tour from
11-12 and Joanna Figueroa from
1-2; on Sunday Laura Wasilowski
from 11-12, and The Pixeladies
from 1-2 will lead. Alden Lane
Nursery is located at the corner
of Holmes and Alden Lane in
South Livermore. Parking is free,
carpooling is recommended, as
parking is limited.
For additional event or nursery
related information, please call
(925) 447-0280
Wedding Faire to Be Held
At Bankhead Theater
The 1st Livermore Valley Wine
Country Wedding Faire will be
held this Sun., Sept. 27 at the
Bankhead Theater in Livermore.
The event will run from 11 a.m.
to 4 p.m. The faire will showcase
professionals who are expert in
helping brides and grooms plan
the perfect, romantic day.
Livermore Downtown, Inc., the
sponsors of the event, has gathered
a large collection of experts
for an intimate and distinct open
house. Those attending will see
the trendsetters of the season, taste
the local wines and wedding cakes,
be pampered with a facial, take a
horse and carriage ride, compare
prices and quality and start to create
wedding memories.
The day will also include a
fashion show. It will be presented
at two different times, 12:30 p.m.
and 2:30 p.m. Doors open at noon
and at 2 p.m. for the shows.
Co-hosting the fashion show
are Jody Amos and Faith Alpher.
It is directed by Kala Ketchum,
a freelance, make-up and hair
artist in the fashion and bridal
industries.
Brides and grooms will be able
to plan their weddings in one day
at one location.
The bride and groom will find a variety of experts to help plan that
special day.
General admission tickets are
$7. They can be purchased at the
Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St.,
Livermore.
There will be information about
the following: flowers, videos,
bridal boutiques, wedding cakes,
photography, invitations, jewelry,
entertainment, transportation, hair
styling, make up, spa, winery venues,
hotels, real estate, travel, and
event planning.
THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 3
A quilt by Liz Berg will be raffled off by the Amador Valley Quilters.
Tickets will be available for purchase at “Quilting in the Garden.”
The winning ticket will be drawn at the October meeting of the
Quilters.

4 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Art & Entertainment
Art & Entertainment
THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 5
Steve Senes
The Bankhead Theater kicks off its new World Music Series on Friday, October 2 at
8 p.m. with the sultry-voiced, colorful whirlwind of Cape Verdean exhilaration, Maria
de Barros.
She has been hailed by the New York Times as “irresistible,” and described by the
Boston Globe as “…effortlessly communicating joy and pleasure with her cool, lustrous
voice, whether one understands the lyrics or not.” The Miami Herald says “…With her
sweet, pure voice, melodic songs and ability to cross genres (Cape Verdean morna and
coladeiras, Latin American boleros and sambas) and languages, de Barros easily finds a
grateful audience with world music fans.”
In addition to the African and Latin flavored coladeiras and bluesy mornas common
to her culture’s music, de Barros introduces another rhythm, the funana. The rhythm is
driven by an instrument called a ferro, which is simply a piece of metal played with a
knife. Many of Maria’s songs are filled with stories of love and romance. “The stories told
in my songs are poetic descriptions of real and profound human emotions that are not just
felt by Cabo Verdeans, but by the rest of the world as well,” she explains.
Since the release of her first album “Nha Mundo” (My World) in 2003 and her second
“Danca Ma Mi” (Dance with Me) in 2005, de Barros has been appeared at renowned
festivals and venues in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean
Islands and, of course, Cape Verde. In 2006, she received the Miriam Makeba Music
Award for Excellence in Music. In January 2008, Maria received the highest honor given
a Cape Verdean artist by the government of Cape Verde. Maria is currently working on a
new album, “Morabeza,” which is due out next year.
Maria de Barros will appear with her trio at the Bankhead Theater for one performance
only on Friday, October 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the theater ticket office, 2400
First Street, Livermore, by phone at 925-373-6800 and online at www.bankheadtheater.
org.
Following de Barros in the World Music Series will be the hot Cuban-American band,
Tiempo Libre on Friday, November 13th at 8pm.
Steve Senes Wins Battle for
'Guitar Superstar' Title
Ten finalists battled for the
international title of “Guitar Superstar”
at Guitar Player’s Guitar
Superstar 2009 competition Saturday,
September 12 at the Bankhead
Theater in Livermore. Steve
Senes of Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina, captivated the crowd
and the judges with his fierce
technique to emerge victorious in
Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar
competition.
First runner-up was Krisz Simonfalvi
of Dallas, Texas (originally
from Budapest, Hungary)
and Brian Davidson of Nashville,
Tennessee took second runnerup.
Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar
fifth annual event was the centerpiece
of Guitar Player LIVE!,
a 3-day celebration of guitars,
music, and gear presented by the
Livermore Valley Performing Arts
Center in Livermore.
Across the globe, hundreds of
“unknown” guitarists of all ages
and styles answered the call to
post their best performances at
sonicbids.com. Ten finalists were
chosen to perform onstage in front
of a live audience and a panel of
world-famous guitar stars that
included Elliot Easton (The Cars),
Jennifer Batten (guitarist for Michael
Jackson, Jeff Beck), Steve
Lukather (Toto), Earl Slick (David
Bowie), and Greg Hampton,
(producer of Alice Cooper, Ronnie
Wood, Lita Ford).
The judges provided comments
after each contestant’s performance
in an American Idol-style format,
finding much to highlight among
the uniformly high quality of the
performances. Introducing each
contestant and serving as master
of ceremonies was Brendon Small,
co-creator of Adult’s Swim’s Metalocalypse
animated series.
“This event is about celebrating
the awesome power of the guitar,
and all ten finalists stood onstage
and delivered absolutely sizzling
performances,” said Guitar Player
Editor in Chief Michael Molenda.
“Each player is a thrilling evangelist
for all that is good and holy
about transcendent guitar playing,
and we were honored and humbled
to have them represent their technique,
creativity, and passion right
here at Guitar Superstar 2009.”
Senes, the tenth and final contestant
of the night gave a mesmerizing
performance, wowing judges
and audience alike with his chops,
dynamics, tone, and attitude.
Jennifer Batten said, “Where
did you come from and why are
we just now getting to hear you?”
Elliot Easton said, “We sit here
and listen to ten guitarists, then
all of a sudden, here You come.
Wow.” Further thrills were provided
by Vicki Genfan, last year’s
Guitar Superstar winner as well
as from the house band Thud
Factor.
All ten contestants received an
all-expenses paid trip to the San
Francisco Bay Area.
The winner, First Runner-Up
and Second Runner-Up of the event
received custom trophies and complete
gear packages. Steve Senes
will be featured in a forthcoming
article in Guitar Player magazine.
He took home prizes from event
sponsors—including presenting
sponsors Voyage-Air Guitar,
and Digitech, with additional
sponsorship from Harman International–Digitech,
Mesa Boogie,
Taylor Guitars, D’Addario, Planet
Waves, GBase, Line 6, Sennheiser,
Washburn, Randall and Gallien
Kruger.
Maria de Barros to Launch World Music Series
Photo - Johnny Fernandes
Legendary guitarist Craig Chaquico
will perform two shows, one
at 7 p.m. and another at 10 p.m.
on Wed., Oct. 7 at Tommy T’s
Steakhouse, 5104 Hopyard Road,
Pleasanton.
Admission is $40 per person.
A portion of the proceeds go to
support the programs of Valley
Humane Society, a nonprofit organization.
Headliner Craig Chaquico has
engaged and inspired two generations
of pop music fans as the
lead guitarist and most prolific
principle song-writer for Jefferson
Starship and Starship from 1973-
1990. With twenty gold records
combined between the Jefferson
Airplane, Jefferson Starship and
Starship, Craig was instrumental
in making that combination one
of the most successful bands in
history.
In the early 1990’s Craig left
the fast-paced pop world and
reinvented himself as an award
winning solo contemporary instrumental
artist, songwriter, producer
and bandleader.
Craig is now one of the most
popular and best-selling artists in
the smooth jazz genre.
Craig is promoting a new album
Follow The Sun, which is a return
to his rock roots.
Jazz Review magazine writes,
“The former guitarist with Starship
turns up the tempo and the heat on
Rockin' for Valley Pets
Craig Chaquico
(his new album Follow The Sun),
his best release to date. Utilizing
the electric guitar in a stronger
fashion than in the past, the result
is a stronger and hipper sound
more true to his rock roots.”
To purchase tickets, visit Tommy
T’s web site www.tommyts.
com or call them at 925-227-
1800.
For more information about
Valley Humane Society call (925)
426-8656 or visit the web site
www.valleyhumane.org.
Valley Humane Society is located
at 3670 Nevada Street, Pleasanton.
Hours are Tuesday through
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Ballet Sessions
Offered for Boys
Tiffany’s Academy of Dance
offers a boy’s ballet class on Thursdays
in Livermore.
Sessions are 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
The academy notes that according
to a 2005 Sports Illustrated
cover story of world class athletes
cross training with classical ballet
lessons dates back to the 1970s
when fans were informed that
wide receiver Lynn Swan hones his
skills by taking ballet lessons.
Last Thursday, in the class at
Tiffany’s, the instructor had soccer
enthusiast show what movements
were performed when moving in
to kick the ball. The moves were
similar to those a ballet dancer
might make.
For information about the class,
call 447-5299.

6 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Art & Entertainment
by Susan Steinberg
What profit a man if he gain
the world but lose his soul? This
has been the profound moral question
asked since ancient times by
prophets and philosophers.
Unfortunately, in modern business,
is seems more important to
gain the world and forget about
the soul. Horrible examples of
conscienceless greed abound, from
pharmaceuticals being heavily advertised
despite known dangerous
side effects, and cigarette-makers
hiding cancer data on smokers, to
Bernie Madoff and other financial
scammers.
In “Speed The Plow," playwright
David Mamet turns his
cynical eye on the profit-hungry
industry he knows best: Hollywood
movie studios. Dedicated to
making popular (profitable) films,
producers look for box-office
appeal above all concerns about
quality.
Trash sells, or, as one character
puts it “Sex, violence, titillation
is what people want… good taste
won’t hack it in this business.”
In another smashing Black
Box Theatre success, Role Players
stars Richard Aiello and Stephen
Rexrode bring this fast-paced play
to life with electrifying intensity.
As the newly-promoted Production
Head of a major studio,
Aiello can preen and lord it over
by Janet Armantrout
The story starts slowly. The
tension builds throughout as "Wait
Until Dark" reached its dramatic
conclusion on opening night.
Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre
launched its season at the Studio
Theatre in Pleasanton with the
play, best remembered as a movie
starring Audrey Hepburn.
The plot revolves around a doll
that three "bad guys" are trying to
retrieve from a Greenwich Village
apartment, where Sam Hendrix
and his blind wife Susy live. The
doll contains heroin.
The menacing performance by
Dean Creighton as Harry Roat Jr.
& Sr., the really, really bad guy,
adds to the tension. As portrayed
by Creighton, Roat is not someone
you would like to meet in a dark
alley. He is very convincing in his
performance.
Two small-time criminals are
hired by Roat to hatch a plot to
'Speed' Is A Smashing Success
his long-suffering “best friend” of
11 years, while pretending modest
magnanimity. Rexrode, in turn,
feigns toadying adulation, barely
masking his resentment with calculated
camaraderie. (He “jokingly”
points out that he’s had to eat his
“friend’s” doo-doo for years.)
Their conversation is a real operatic
tour de force, with the men
speaking at, over, and through each
other, like a frenetic verbal pingpong
game. Difficulty for this kind
of madly overlapping dialogue is
about 12 on a scale of 1 to 10!
Charlie (Rexrode) has come
to pitch a new script to “friend”
Bobby (Aiello), with the heady
prospect of signing a famous star
from a rival studio. Bobby is enthusiastic
about the project’s obvious
box-office appeal, and offers
Charlie co-producer status, with
the longed-for power and profit he
has craved.
Charlie’s intoxicating anticipation
of finally realizing his dream
sends him into a verbal war dance
of triumph, egged on by an indulgent
Bobby. It’s a beautiful,
perfectly believable portrayal of a
“little man” coming out on top of
the heap after years of miserable
scrounging.
Their ribald revelry is interrupted
by the arrival of Karen, a
stunning young secretarial temp.
Charlie bets Bobby that he could
never seduce her for himself, but
only as a top studio executive.
His pride stung, Bobby accepts
the bet, and invites the seemingly
naïve young woman to do a “courtesy
reading” of a new book, and
bring the report to his home that
night. Of course, he cautions her,
this is an “artsy” book, and so presumably
poor movie material.
Obviously thrilled, Karen arrives
to “pitch” the book that has
mesmerized her, assuring Bobby
he has a rare chance. He can use his
new power to rise above the trashy
muck of popular movies and produce
a truly “meaningful” film.
It’s a tantalizing vision, and so
is her not-too-subtle sexual comeon.
No longer the seducer, Bobby
is being seduced on many levels.
Uncharacteristically, he rises to
the bait of both offers, and arrives
at work next morning a changed
man. At the risk of box-office
failure (and his whole career), he
will ditch the rote popular film and
produce the artsy one.
Charlie, seeing his dream of
success and wealth evaporate, goes
beserk with frustration and anger.
In a bravura male mad scene he
throws a fantastic tantrum of operatic
proportions. Then, regrouping
shrewdly, he coldly moves in
for the kill, hoping to expose the
calculated power-grab he now
sees behind Karen’s “innocent
naivete”.
Watching Aiello’s Bobby trying
desperately to hold on to his
last hope for moral redemption
and true love is a powerful Shakespearean
moment of truth, handled
with masterful acting (especially
devastating facial nuances). For
him and for the audience, seeing
Karen revealed as no better than
these two cynical old sharks is a
visceral shock.
That’s how fine an actress Sylvia
Burboeck has been throughout.
We only believe her true character
when she abruptly changes course,
trying to stay in the game with a
pathetic attempt to vamp a scornful
Charlie.
Three incredibly rich performances
make this a must-see
theatrical experience. “Speed The
Plow” will play only one more
weekend, at 8 PM Friday and
Saturday, September 25 and 26,
in the Diablo Actors Ensemble
Theatre, 1345 Locust Street, Walnut
Creek.
Tickets are a give-away at $12
in the small venue tucked way
back, next to Peet’s Coffee and
across from Lark Creek Restaurant.
It’s more than worth the
40-minute drive to see this rare
constellation of talent literally
chew up the stage. To secure seats,
call 925-820-1278.
'Wait Until Dark' Worth a Night Out
convince Susy to give them the
doll. They are a different level of
criminal, more "con men."
Mike Talman, as the sympathetic
thug, is played by Ben Ortega.
He is likable, but desperate. The
second, who acts as a phony policeman,
Sgt. Carlino, is played
by Christopher Zuniga. His role is
to give credibility to the plot that
includes a murder that may or may
not include Susy's husband. It's
kind of a good cop, bad cop type
of scenario, with Talman urging
Susy to give the doll to him. Carlino
continually brings up evidence
pointing to Susy's husband.
As Susy the blind heroine who
is terrorized by the three criminals,
Jennifer Hughes is convincing as
she stumbles around the apartment,
arms outstretched, staring
straight-ahead.
The fact that she is blind, does
not prevent her from using her ability
to hear to know what is going
on around her.
She is feisty, refusing to hand
over the doll, despite pleas by
Talman. With the help of a little
girl who lives upstairs, Gloria,
she works out a way to level the
playing field.
Darkness is the key. Since
she can't see, Susy believes that
complete darkness will give her
an advantage over the criminals.
Portions of the tense final scenes
take place in darkness or semidarkness
with a few twists and
turns to the plot.
Emma Thvedt gives an outstanding
performance as Gloria
The set manages to include all
aspects of the story on the small
Studio Theater stage, without
seeming to be too crowded. There
set contains a kitchen, washing
machine, dining area, living room
and a photography studio. (Susy's
husband Sam is a photographer.
The role is played by Dustin Battaion.)
Wait Until Dark is worth a night
out. It is well acted.
Matt Davis, in his first directing
effort, has done a credible job. In
his director's notes, Davis writes,
"This play goes back to the days
when we would all play cops and
robbers. It's a throwback to the time
of true horror and suspense."
Performances are weekends
through October 11. Curtain time
is 8 p.m Fridays and Saturdays and
2 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $25 for adults (18-
60), $22 for seniors (60+), $20
for juniors (under 18), and $19
each for groups purchasing 20
or more tickets. Tickets may be
purchased on our website at www.
trivalleyrep.com or by phone at
925-462 2121.
Wait Until Dark is presented
with permission from Dramatists
Play Service.
Gala to Open
Opera Week
Livermore Valley Opera will
host a gala on Sat., Oct. 10 to
celebrate the opening of the latest
production, two, well-known Italian
operas, Cavalleria Rusticana
and I Pagliacci.
The event, which begins at 5:30
p.m., will be held at the Bankhead
Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore.
It will include a wine and full appetizer
reception.
The classical strings group
“Quartet for Occasions” will
provide entertainment. Stage Director
David Cox and our Music
Director & Conductor Alexander
Katsman will be on hand for a Q
& A session.
Tickets for the opera performance
are $39-$59 adults, $29-
$49 students/youth. A separate $50
ticket is required to attend the gala,
capacity is limited.
Tickets are available at the Theater,
2400 First St., Livermore, by
calling 373-6800 or go to www.
livermoreperformingarts.org.
Livermore
Artist Featured
on Show
Kim McCool of Davenport,
Iowa will be featuring California
native Barbara Stanton on
McCool’s live radio talk show,
“Discover the Heart of Art” on
internet’s Blog Talk Radio on September
28, 2 p.m. Central Time.
Barbara Stanton lives in Livermore.
She specializes in miniature
oil paintings and portraits (miniature
and full size). Painting for
more than thirty years, Stanton
has mastered her technique and
continues to seek new challenges.
She is an IGMA Fellow
(International Guild of Miniature
Artisans). She is also an
art instructor and is available for
demonstrations and workshops.
She has taught twice at the annual
IGMA Guild School in Castine,
Maine. She is the Gallery Director
for the Livermore Art Association
Gallery. Member of IGMA, MASF,
MPSGS, MAA, LAA & AIM. Her
work can be seen on her website
www.barbarastanton.com.
“Discover the Heart of Art with
Kim McCool” is a bi-weekly show
where McCool interviews artists of
all kinds - from classic art, such as
painting and sculpture to writing,
music and choreography discuss
the heart of their art.
If people are not able to listen
to the live broadcast, they can
go to McCool’s website www.
kimmccool.com to download the
podcast.
Community
THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 7

8 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Art & Entertainment
Art & Entertainment
THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 9
ART EXHIBITS
An art exhibition, “Good Earth,” featuring
abstract paintings by Alan Mazzetti and
landscape photography by Brad Perks will
be on display at Deer Ridge Vineyards
through October 11. The work will be open
for viewing Friday through Sunday 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. An artists’ reception and book
signing will be held Sun., Sept. 27 from
2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit and reception are
free and open to the public. Deer Ridge
Vineyards is located at 1828 Wetmore
Road, Livermore. For more information,
call 1-866-561-0838.
Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Butterfly Art,
The Museum’s upstairs art gallery will feature
the work of water colorist Elizabeth
Koval Maffeo from thru November 15,
2009. Free with museum admission. For
more information contact Connie Loosli
at cloosli@wildlife-museum.org. www.
wildlife-museum.org. The Museum is
located in Walnut Creek.
Wildlife artist Carl Brenders, Lindsay
Wildlife Museum, An exhibition of the
work of the internationally acclaimed
wildlife artist Carl Brenders September
19-27. Free with museum admission.
Special Event and Reception: Sunday,
September 27th 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Carl
Brenders will be available to sign and personalize
prints, posters, and his most recent
book “Pride of Peace.” Reservations
are required. Call or write Pacific Wildlife
Galleries (925) 283-5809 / dennissalvo@
gmail.com to RSVP. Info contact Connie
Loosli at cloosli@wildlife-museum.org.
www.wildlife-museum.org. The Museum
is located in Walnut Creek.
Livermore Valley Camera Club, photographic
exhibit the month of September
at the Livermore Civic Center Library,
1188 So. Livermore Ave. Information
373-5500.
Mixed Media Art Exhibition, featuring
work by Edmee Keele and Marge Huffman,
Oct. 1 to 29. Artists reception Sun.,
Oct. 11, 1 to 3 p.m. Wente Vineyards
Estate Tasting Room, 5565 Tesla Rd.,
Livermore.
ArtWalk, Oct. 10 from 11-5 pm, downtown
Livermore. Cross between an arts
festival and an exhibition, with over 150
artists exhibiting inside boutique shops,
restaurants, wine bars, and outside on
sidewalks and pocket parks. Live music.
Hands-on art. End-of-event celebration
with live music and fine art banner auction
at the Livermore Valley Plaza. www.
artwalklivermore.org 925-447-ARTS.
2nd Annual Muestra de Arte, Murrieta’s
Well, Sat., Oct. 17, noon to 5 p.m. view
fine art, taste artisan cheeses and wines at
Murrieta’s Well. Event is complimentary
to Silver Spur members, $10 to the public.
Murrieta’s Well, 3005 Mines Road,
Livermore.
WINERY EVENTS
Harvest Wine Tasting, Saturday and Sunday,
September 26 and 27, from noon to
5:00 PM. Fenestra Winery, 83 Vallecitos
Road, Livermore. There is a $5.00 tasting
fee for non-wine club members. New
releases: 2008 Semonnay (55% Chardonnay/45%
Semillon), 2008 Semillon,
2006 Alvaralhão, 2005 Merlot and 2006
Grenache. 925-447-5246, e-mail info@
fenestrawinery.com., or view the web site
www.fenestrawinery.com.
Cedar Mountain Winery events: Evening
of Port and Cigars - September 26, 7 p.m.
Cedar Mountain Winery has partnered
with Vino Cellars & Accessories to present
you with some of the finest port and cigars
in the valley. Selection of Cedar Mountain
Port and 2-premium cigars, (90 pts.) hand
picked by Vino Cellars and Accessories,
from downtown Livermore. Music and
Hor d’ oeuvres will be provided. Tickets
are $35 p/person when purchased before
September 22nd; $40 p/person after
September 22nd. Advance reservations
required. Please contact Cedar Mountain
Tasting Room at (925) 373-6636,
or Vino Cellars at (925) 447-8000 for
reservations.
Wine Release, Mitchell Katz Winery, 1188
Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton. Sat., Sept. 26,
noon to 5 p.m. 2006 Petite Sirah - Reserve,
Falling Star, LV; and 2007 Zinfandel,
Livermore Valley. Music by Bacchus
Brothers, barrel sampling, heavy appetizers,
keepsake wine stem. $20 per person
entry fee. No reservations required. www.
mitchellkatzwinery.com or 931-0744.
Harvest Tour & Tasting Event: Wente
Vineyards, behind the scenes look at how
estate grown wines are produced; Chef
Arthur Wall creates a daily changing menu
to highlight produced from the restaurants
organic garden. Sept. 26, 10 a.m., noon,
2 and 4 p.m. Reservations for the specially
offered event are required, and tour space
is limited. Reservations can be made by
calling 925-456-2305 ext. 4. The tour and
tasting is offered at $20 to the public and
$15 to wine club members. The event will
take place at the Wente Vineyards Estate
Winery and Tasting Room, 5565 Tesla
Road, Livermore.
Livermore Wine Social, benefiting the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Red
Feather Winery, 5700 Greenville Rd.,
Livermore. Sun., Sept. 27, 4 to 8 p.m.
$25 donation with door prizes, raffle,
food and wine. DJ with special acoustic
performances by Speechless Story. Information
www.lls.org.
Summer Mini Concert featuring: Red
House All Stars, Saturday, September
26, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Food and wine
available for purchase. 4948 Tesla Road,
Livermore. (925) 449-0458
La Luna Friday, Fri., Oct. 2. Murrieta’s
Well, Livermore, features Spanish-inspired
tapas and Murrieta’s Well wines
served on the terrace under the light of
the full moon, accompanied by a live
musical performance by The Top Secret
Band. Tapas and wine service 6:00pm
- 7:30pm; music until 9:00pm. $45 for
club and $55 for public. (925) 456-2395
or www.murrietaswell.com.
Crooked Vine/Stony Ridge, Wine Down
Friday, October 9, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Live music by “The CoolTunes.” Wine for
purchase by glass or bottle. Food available
for purchase from Crooked Vine’s
“Gotta Lovett BBQ.” 4948 Tesla Road,
Livermore. (925) 449-0458.
Buon Appetito Wednesdays at Tamás
Estates, Wednesday, October 14 from
4pm to 7pm, Tamás Estates will host the
Buon Appetito Wednesdays event, inviting
guests to a wine and appetizer pairing
in the tasting room. Salute Club Members
are complimentary guests and the event
is offered to the public for $10. Tamás
Estates, 5489 Tesla Road, Livermore.
Harvest Celebration, Rodrigue Molyneaux
Winery, October 17, noon to 5 p.m.
Gourmet lunch prepared by Executive
Chef Tracy Flores (12:00-1:30). Class on
harvest and tour our vineyards, equipment,
and winery (1:30-3:30). Art displayed by
local artist Louise Gray (2:00-5:00). Relax
under the Eucalyptus trees with a chair
massage (12:30-5:00). Public Welcome.
To attend the class or have lunch, advanced
purchase required. Lunch $15.00 pp/ Wine
club $12.50 Class $5.00 pp/ Wine Club
Free. Free tasting to all class and lunch
participants. To reserved e-mail events@
rmwinery.com Space is limited. Rodrigue
Molyneaux Winery, 3053 Marina Ave,
Livermore. www.rmwinery.com.
2nd Annual Muestra de Arte, Murrieta’s
Well, Sat., Oct. 17, noon to 5 p.m. view
fine art, taste artisan cheeses and wines at
Murrieta’s Well. Event is complimentary
to Silver Spur members, $10 to the public.
Murrieta’s Well, 3005 Mines Road,
Livermore.
Wine Cave Tasting Experience, sit-down
wine tasting experience. Lasting about
an hour, guests will be served a special
selection of small-lot wines available only
at the winery and artisan cheese pairings.
The Wine Cave Tasting Experience is offered
for $30 to guests on Saturdays and
Sundays at 1pm and 3pm. Reservations
are required; please call 925-456-2405.
Wente Vineyards is located at 5050 Arroyo
Road in Livermore Valley, CA.
MUSIC/CONCERTS
Tuesday Tunes, Livermore Downtown Inc.
free, live music to the Flagpole Plaza
each and every Tuesday through October
13th. Concerts begin at 5 p.m. Bands to
perform on the following schedule: Sept.
29, Groovy Judy; Oct. 6, U Get What
U Pay 4. For more information, go to
www.livermoredowntown.com or call
925.373.1795.
Pacific Chamber Symphony concert,
Thurs., Sept. 24, 8 p.m. Bankhead Theater,
2400 First St., Livermore. Tickets
available at 925-373-6800, www.bankheadtheater.org.
Alexander String Quartet with June Oh,
piano, Sept. 26, 8 p.m. Del Valle Fine Arts
concert. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First
St., Livermore. 925-373-6800, www.
bankheadtheater.org.
Diablo Symphony Orchestra, guest conductor
John Kendall Bailey leads an all
Mendelssohn concert with violinist Andrew
Sords and Voices of Musica Sacra.
Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the
Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek. $12,
$18, $20. 943-7469, www.lesherartscenterorg,
www.diablosymphony.org.
Jorge Rojas-Zegers in concert, October
2. Internationally renowned classical
guitarist and founder of Coaniquem, the
Children’s Burn Center in Santiago, Chile.
The concert will benefit both Coaniquem
and the Rotary Club of Livermore’s Music
Scholarship Fund. Our Savior Lutheran
Church, 1385 S. Livermore Ave., Livermore
at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available
at ABC Music Source and Academy,
2156 First Street; Alden Lane Nursery,
981 Alden Lane; Fine Fretted Friends,
2181 First Street; and on line at www.
BrownPaperTickets.com/event/79681.
Cost is general $20, student $15.00. A
limited number of tickets may be available
at the door on a first come, first served
basis. For more information about the
event, contact Clark or Kathy Streeter at
(925) 447-8924.
Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Songs of Lieber
and Stoller, Oct. 9-10 and 16-17. Alameda
Elks Lodge, 2255 Santa Clara Dr., Alameda.
Tickets $30, dinner and show package
$55. Doors open 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7
p.m., curtain at 8 p.m. 510-522-3428.
A Jazz Tribute to Jim Heiner, Bankhead
Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore. Oct. 3,
8 p.m. Las Positas College Jazz Ensemble,
Jazz Choirs and Alumni. $12. 925-373-
6800, www.bankheadtheater.org.
Foothill High School Band Review/Parade,
Oct. 24, Main Street, downtown
Pleasanton, 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Concerts
and field competition at the high school.
www.foothillband.org/Events
ON THE STAGE
On the Town, Leonard Bernstein musical
about three sailors on shore leave. Diablo
Theatre Company (formerly Diablo Light
Opera Company). Performances 2 p.m.
Sept. 26, 27. ($29-$42). Lesher Center for
the Arts, 1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek.
943-7469.. www.lesherartscenter.org.
Manon, Opera San Jose, eight performances
of work by French composer Jules Massenet.
Sept. 12-27, California Theatre,
345 South First St., San Jose. In French
with English supertitles. $51-$91. 408-
437-4450 or www.operasj.org.
Speed-the-Plow, Role Players Ensemble
Black Box Production, Sept. 25 and 26,
8 p.m. Diablo Actors Ensemble Theatre,
Walnut Creek. Tickets at $12 will be
on sale at the door. Space is limited.
Reservations may be made by calling
820-1278.
Wait Until Dark, Tri-Valley Repertory
Theatre Studio Theatre production. Sept.
25, 26, 27, Oct. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11. 1048
Serpentine Lane, Suite 309, Pleasanton.
Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. Ticket
information 462-2121 or www.trivalleyrep.com.
Sullivan and Gilbert, a play with music
by Ken Ludwig, Sept. 25-Oct. 11; Thurs.,
Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. The
Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 North
Third Street, Hayward. Tickets adults
$25, seniors $22, students $15. www.
dmtonline.org.
A Taste of Opera, Livermore Civic Center
Library, Sat., Oct. 3, 3 p.m. 1188 So.
Livermore Ave. Arias from Livermore
Valley Opera’s upcoming operas will
be performed, featuring tenor Mathew
Edwardsen and Soprano Jillian Boye who
will appear in the roles of Turiddu and Lola
respectively in Cavalleria Rusticana. This
is a non-ticketed event, and open to the
public. Refreshments will be served.
Charlotte’s Web, Pleasanton Civic Arts
Stage Co., Amador Theater, 1155 Santa
Rita Rd., Pleasanton. Oct. 2, 3, 9, 10.
Tickets at http://civicartstickets.org or
(925) 931-3444.
Maria de Barros, Latin singer, Livermore
Valley Performing Arts Center Presents.
Oct. 2, 8 p.m. Bankhead Theater, 2400
First St., Livermore. Tickets available at
925-373-6800, www.bankheadtheater.
org.
Livermore Valley Opera, I Pagliacci
by Ruggero Leoncavallo & Cavalleria
Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. Oct. 10,
11, 16, 17, 18. Bankhead Theater, 2400
First St., Livermore. 925-373-6800, www.
bankheadtheater.org. Complimentary
pre-opera lecture offered one-hour prior
to curtain included in ticket price.
Tambalan, Fil-Am Community Health
and Development presents A Variety
Show: Alay Sa Kapway 2009. Oct. 18,
6 p.m. Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita
Rd., Pleasanton. Tickets 846-8679 or
846-7831.
The Emperor’s New Clothes, by Katen
Boettcher-Tate, 40-minute children’s
theater show. Fri., Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. and
Sat., Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. Las Positas College,
room 601, 3000 Campus Hill Dr.,
Livermore. Free admission. Information,
contact Ken Ross, 424-1166.
Ragtime, Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre
mainstage musical, Oct. 23, 24, 25, 30,
31, Nov. 1, 6, 7, 8. Bankhead Theater,
2400 First St., Livermore. 925-373-6800,
www.bankheadtheater.org.
Bill Harley, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. Amador
Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton,
SaturYAY, Pleasanton Civic Arts,
Tickets at http://civicartstickets.org or
(925) 931-3444.
COMEDY
Comedy Uncorked, Fri., Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m.
Retzlaff Vineyards, 1356 So. Livermore
Ave., Livermore. Featuring Michael
Slack, Ronn Vigh, Sam Arno and Faith
Alpher. Portion of proceeds go to Open
Heart Kitchen. $20 in advance, $25 at the
door. Bring food donations. Doors open 6
p.m. www.comedyuncorked.com.
Capitol Steps, Livermore Valley Performing
Arts Center Presents. Oct. 15, 7:30
p.m. Bankhead Theater, 2400 First St.,
Livermore. 925-373-6800, www.bankheadtheater.org.
AUDITIONS/VOLUNTEERS
Cinderella auditions, production of the City
of Pleasanton Civic Arts Stage Company,
in partnership with the San Francisco
Shakespeare Festival. Auditions Oct. 5
and 6 at the Amador Theater, 1155 Santa
Rita Road, Pleasanton. Auditions for
adults and teens 12 year and older will
take place on Monday, October 5, from
6:00-9:00 p.m. Auditions for children
6-11 years will be on Tuesday, October 6,
from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Audition appointments
are required and may be made by
via email by submitting the auditioner’s
name, age, parent’s name (if under 18),
telephone number and email address to
LEbright@ci.pleasanton.ca.us. Appointments
will be confirmed via email or
phone. Audition packets will be available
online after September 15, 2009 at www.
pleasantoncivicarts.org, or at Pleasanton
Parks and Community Services offices,
200 Old Bernal Modular in Pleasanton
from 8:00 am-5:00 pm., weekdays. Cinderella
will be presented in the English
pantomime style, combing elements of
the fairy tale, a musical, and a satire to
produce a high-spirited, fanciful review.
Rehearsals will take place at the Amador
Theater on Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Sundays from 6:30-9:00
p.m. beginning October 20, 2009. Daytime
performances will be at the Amador
Theater on December 11-13 and 16-18.
Evening performances will take place on
December 19 and 20, 2009.
Competition for Young Musicians. Livermore-Amador
Symphony Association is
taking applications; open to instrumentalists
and vocalists who reside or attend
school in Livermore, Sunol, Pleasanton,
Dublin, or San Ramon. Students are
eligible through grade 12. If not enrolled
in high school, the maximum age is 17.
All instruments will be considered. The
purpose of the competition is to select
two young musicians who will perform
as soloists with the symphony on Feb.
13, 2010. Each winner/soloist will be
awarded $250. The application deadline
is Oct. 4, 2009. Completed applications
must be accompanied by a $5 fee and a
cassette tape or CD for preliminary screening.
Application forms and additional
information may be obtained from the
symphony’s website, www.livamsymph.
org or by calling the competition committee
at 447-1947.
California State University, East Bay
Department of Theatre and Dance will
hold open auditions for all 2009-10 shows.
Most auditions will be held Wednesday,
Sept. 30 in the University Theatre, on the
northeast side of the Hayward campus,
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd. Dance auditions
will begin at 6 p.m.; actor auditions at
7:30 p.m. Callbacks will be at 6 p.m.
Oct. 1 in the University Theatre for “Ring
the Bells for Change,” 7 p.m. Oct. 1 in
the University Theatre for “The Iago
Syndrome,” and 6 p.m. Oct. 6 in P.E. 140
for “Wayward.” For the winter musical,
“Chicago,” singers and actors will audition
Oct. 8 from 6-7:30 p.m. and Oct.
10 from 10 a.m.-noon, and dancers will
audition Oct. 8 at 7:45 p.m. and Oct. 13
at 7 p.m., all in the University Theatre.
Callbacks will be several days later. Performance
Fusion auditions will be held
in winter quarter; watch the Callboard for
announcements. http://class.csueastbay.
edu/theatre/Future_Performances.php.
For updates, call 510-885-3118.
MOVIES
Outdoor Movie Night, Shadow Cliffs
Regional Park. Sat., Sept. 26, 7 p.m.
showing “Back to the Future.” Free. Bring
warm clothes, flashlight and a blanket or
chair to sit on. Purchase snacks or bring
own. No pets. 510-530-8241 or www.
ebparks.org.
CHORAL
Harmony Fusion Chorus, Pleasanton
Civic Arts Presents, Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita Rd.,
Pleasanton. Tickets at http://civicartstickets.org
or (925) 931-3444.
MISCELLANEOUS
Dan Winters, photographer, will talk about
his early influences and interest in film
and photography on his path to becoming
an editorial photographer. He will
also discuss his first book: Dan Winters:
Periodical Photographs. Thurs., Sept. 24,
7:30 p.m. at the Livermore Library, For
more information call 925-373-5505 or
e-mail Joyce Nevins.
Friends of the Pleasanton Library Fall
Book Sale, Sept. 25-27 at the library in
the meeting room. Friday, Sept. 25, sale
will run from 6 to 9 p.m. for members
of Friends of the Library. Memberships
will be available at the door. The sale is
open to everyone on Sat., Sept. 26 from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun., Sept. 27
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For book sale or
volunteer information, call Nancy Bering
at 462-4368.
14th annual Airport Open House, Saturday,
September 26, from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m at the Livermore Municipal Airport.
Free. Features exhibits, food, entertainment,
and a fabulous static display of
Livermore based aircraft. Hosting the
event are the City of Livermore, airport
staff, and tenants. Local Chapter 663 of
the Experimental Aircraft Association
(EAA) will be signing up youngsters age
8 – 17 for ”Young Eagle” airplane rides,
which will take place at a later date. The
rides provide an opportunity for kids to
experience flight, and learn about aviation
from an EAA pilot. Visitors to open house
will be able to meet representatives of
local flight schools, clubs and organizations.
The US Coast Guard Air Rescue
team will perform a simulated rescue.
Members of the “Henry’s Model A’s”
and the Tri-Valley Classic Car Club will
be there as well.
Quilting in the Garden, Sept. 26 and 27,
Alden Lane Nursery, 981 Alden Lane,
Livermore. Quilts, local artists as well as
featured artist Laura Wasilowski. Classes
begin on Thursday. 447-0280.
Nostalgia Day Car Show, 20th car show
staged by Altamont Cruisers, Sept. 27
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Livermore.
Muscle cars, street rods, custom
and classic cars on display. Fund-raiser
for local organizations that promote the
Tri-Valley youth, help strengthen their
families and help keep kids off drugs.
Free admission. Food booths and vendors
of every type on hand. Information at
altamontcruisers.org.
Wedding Faire Experience, Sun., Sept. 27,
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bankhead Theater, 2400
First St., Livermore. $6 in advance, $9
at the door. www.LivermoreDowntown.
com. 373-1795.
Jeans & Jewels, Thurs., Oct. 1. night of
music and dancing hosted by Tri-Valley
Conservancy. Fund-raising event
designed for those who enjoy music,
dancing, friends and fun in a casual atmosphere.
Live auction. Event 6 p.m. Casa
Real Event Center, Ruby Hill Winery, 410
Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton. Tickets $75
per person. Tickets 449-8706 or www.
trivalleyconservancy.org.
Ghost Walks, Downtown Pleasanton, led
by museum docents to 18 downtown
Pleasanton sites, will be held from 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 23 and
Friday, October 30; and from 4:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24. Walks
begin every 30 minutes. Each tour is two
hours long. Costumed guides will tell all
of the stories about the hauntings from
the psychics, business owners, and Ghost
Trackers. Tickets for the Ghost Walk, presented
by the Museum On Main Street, are
available at the museum, 603 Main Street,
Pleasanton, near the Arch. Reservations
are requested. Costumes are encouraged.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for
children 12 and under. After September 1,
checks, cash and bank cards are accepted
with phone or walk-in reservations. (925)
462-2766 or office@museumonmain.org
or visit www.museumonmain.org.
Creative Time-Travelers, after school art
program, starting in October, Bothwell
Arts Center. Students grades 1-12 are
invited to leap through time with instructor
Jen Lock exploring art from ancient cave
paintings to modern art. Together they
will make art, music and culture come
alive as they get to know the artists, their
works and techniques. Cost $85.00 for
six sessions. For more information and
to register contact Jen Lock at (925) 858-
2801 or jen@jenlock.com. www.Jenlock.
com/creativeexpressions.pdf
11th Annual Fine Arts Festival, Danville,
October 3 & 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the
grass, Front Street Park. Paintings in All
Media, Photography, Ceramics, Graphics,
Fine Jewelry, Live Musical Entertainment,
Food, Snacks, Wine, Children’s Hands on
Art. Judged Inside Art Show. Co-Sponsored
by Alamo Danville Artists’ Society
& the Town of Danville.
Tri-Valley Trailblazers Poker Ride and
Hike. Sun., Oct. 4, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Del Valle Regional Park Caballo Loco
Horse Camp. BBQ and raffle. Proceeds
benefit Hoofprints on the Heart Adaptive
Riding Center and a scholarship fund for
therapy classes for individuals with cystic
fibrosis. Hikers welcome. Information
trivalleytrailblazers.com.
Brothels, Bar Rooms and Bandits, a fundraiser
for the Museum On Main Street in
Pleasanton, will be held from 7-11 p.m.,
Saturday, October 10 at the Pleasanton
Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Boulevard,
Pleasanton. Reservations required. Tickets
at $40 person go on sale August 1 at
the Museum, 603 Main Street, and include
food and gaming chips. Dressing up in
period attire is encouraged. The Pleasanton
Lion’s Club is sponsoring the gaming
tables. For tickets call 925-462-2766 or
visit the museum. Cash, credit cards, and
gold nuggets are accepted.
Antiques and Collectible Street Faire,
Main Street, downtown Pleasanton, Oct.
11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information events@
pleasantondowntown.net
The American Century: Past Tense or
Future Promise?, John Hamre, Livermore
Valley Performing Arts Center
Presents. Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m. Bankhead
Theater, 2400 First St., Livermore.
Tickets available at 925-373-6800, www.
bankheadtheater.org.
History Lecture, presented by Pleasanton
Museum on Main Ed Kinney Lecture
Series, Thurs., Oct. 15, 7 p.m. “Spirits,”
local haunted experiences, talk by Teri
Carlson. Lynnewood Methodist Church,
4444 Black Ave., Pleasanton. $10 nonmembers,
$5 museum members. Reservations
suggested. 462-2766.
Cowboy Culture Extravaganza, Oct. 17,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunol Regional Park.
Cowboy music and poetry, hayrides,
roping, pioneer crafts, slideshows, food
and demonstrations. Bring a picnic. 1-
888-327-2757.
Sarah Vowell, City Read author. Sat., Oct.
17, 7 p.m. Dougherty Valley Performing
Arts Center. www.sanramonperformingarts.com
or 973-ARTS.
Holiday Craft Faire, Livermore Valley
Charter School and Gamma Alpha
Chapter of OTO, Sunday, October 18. It
will be held in the LVCS Multi-Purpose
Room, 543 Sonoma Avenue in Livermore.
The hours are 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
To rent a 10' x 8' space for $25.00 please
contact Janelle Rasmussen at pto.lvcs@
gmail.com. Holiday Gifts, Decorations
and much more.
The Diablo View Orchid Society, annual
“World of Orchids - Show and Sale,”
Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 am to
5:00 pm and Sunday, October 18 from
10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Pleasant Hill
Community Center at 320 Civic Dr., off
of Taylor Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. There will
be orchid displays, orchid sales, raffles
and a plant doctor. Potting & culture
demonstrations daily at 11:00am-1:00pm
– 3:00pm. Adults - $2.00; Children Free.
www.dvos.org (925) 648-7667
Boo-etry, 2 to 4 .m. Sun., Oct. 25, Century
House Poetry Reading, 2401 Santa Rita
Rd., Pleasanton. $5 admission, free to
students with ID. Spooky poems read by
local teens; performance of “The Raven”
by Blanche Abrams. 931-5350.
Tri-Valley High: Episodes of Terror,
presented by teen group, Creatures of
Impulse, Oct. 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m. and
Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. Veterans Hall, 301 Main
St., Pleasanton. $8 in advance and $10 at
the door; student tickets with valid ID $5
in advance and at the door.
An exhibition by oil artist Amy D. Leung is on display at John
Christopher Cellars, at Blacksmith Square, 25 South Livermore
Ave., Livermore. One of her paintings is shown above. Leung is
a contemporary realist painter. Her work is characterized by soft
brushwork and use of color and light. Each painting is focused on
conveying to the viewer her emotions and sensitivity about the
subject matter. “The ultimate satisfaction is to reach out and touch
the viewer deeply through my work,” said the artist. The exhibition
runs from October 1 until November 29. It is available for viewing
every Thursday to Sunday from 12:00 -6:00 PM.
For information please call 925-456-9463
Tickets Available for
Victorian Tea at Ravenswood
A special afternoon at Ravenswood Historic Site will allow those in attendance
to experience a traditional Victorian tea. The annual Ravenswood
Victorian Tea event is scheduled from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
The menu includes succulent savories, delicious desserts and buttery
scones served with a selection of teas and sparkling wine.
The event, presented by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District
and the Ravenswood Progress League, will benefit the Ravenswood
Historic Site Furnishing Fund.
Tickets are $37 per person. The event is appropriate for adults and
children ages 8 and older. There is a set menu for the event, so special
food requests cannot be accommodated.
Advance reservations are required and encouraged, as this event typically
sells out fast. To reserve a spot, call 925-443-0238. Ravenswood
Historic Site is located at 2647 Arroyo Road, Livermore.

10 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Community
Community
THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 11
Block Party Fund-raiser for Tri-Valley Haven
The Pace for Peace and Panama
Red Block Party is set for Saturday,
October 3.
The Panama Red Coffee Company
is hosting the second annual
Panama Red Block Party benefiting
Tri-Valley Haven. It will be
held on K Street in Downtown
Livermore, between 1st and 2nd
Streets.
The fun will begin at 8 a.m.
with Pace for Peace, a 5-K run/
walk through Downtown Livermore.
The neighborhood Block Party
follows, from 10 a.m. until 2
p.m., featuring live entertainment,
downtown Livermore vendors,
children’s activities, a bucket
auction, food, and beverages.
Admission for this event is free.
Sponsors, vendors and volunteers
interested in participating please
call Christine Dillman, at Tri-Valley
Haven: (925) 667-2707.
Poker Ride &
Hike to Benefit
Nonprofits
Tri-Valley Trailblazers Poker
Ride & Hike will be held Sun.,
Oct. 4 at Del Valle Regional
Park.
The event will take place
from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Caballo Loco Horse Camp. The
fund-raiser includes a barbecue
and a raffle.
Proceeds will benefit Hoofprints
on the Heart Adaptive
Riding Center and a scholarship
fund for therapy classes
for individuals with Cystic
Fibrosis.
The object of this event is
to have fun. The course will be
about 6 miles over single track
and fire roads; part of it is on
trails not normally used by the
public.
Upon returning to camp,
participants turn in their poker
cards to the “Poker Room”
and may purchase additional
hands or replacement cards for
$1/card.
Hikers are welcome. Entry
fee, which includes a BBQ tritip
lunch and poker hand is $35
for each rider and/or hiker. Park
entrance fee for a horse trailer
is an extra $11.
For more information or to
register go to Trivalleytrailblazers.com.
Photo was taken at last year's party.
“In light of the recent elimination
of the California Department
of Public Health’s Domestic Violence
Program, a major source of
funding for many programs offered
by the Tri-Valley Haven, the Haven
needs the help of the community
more than ever!” says Tri-Valley
Haven Board of Directors President
Rabbi Laura Novak Winer.
“The upcoming Pace for Peace
and Block Party is a fun way of
demonstrating your support for
the many essential services the
Tri-Valley Haven offers to the
victims of domestic violence and
to others in need.”
As a sponsor of the Block Party,
Wells Fargo Bank has set up a special
account to facilitate financial
contributions to the Tri-Valley
Haven. Donations can be made
on-line at www.trivalleyhaven.org
or visit any Wells Fargo branch.
Four Organizations Join Forces
to Host New Year's Gala
Axis Community Health,
School of Imagination, Tri-Valley
Haven and Valley Humane Society
will join forces to host the first
annual New Year’s Eve Ball at the
Mall on December 31, 2009.
Festivities will be from 9:00
p.m.-1:00 a.m. at Stoneridge Mall,
One Stoneridge Mall Road, in
Pleasanton. The fundraising gala
will benefit the four “safety net”
organizations.
The New Year’s Eve Ball at the
Mall will feature bands at each
end of the mall, a piano bar, and
a variety of games and activities
throughout the mall’s common
areas. Refreshments will be available
throughout the mall. Several
no-host bars will serve soft and
alcoholic beverages. Champagne
in commemorative glasses will be
served at midnight.
“These are tough times for
many people in our community
and local nonprofit organizations
are feeling this, especially,” says
Axis Community Health CEO Sue
Compton. “More and more Tri-
Valley residents are seeking our
services while, at the same time,
budget cuts are hitting us hard.
We four nonprofits have joined together
to present a wonderful fundraising
event that will be classy and
affordable. We want everyone to
have a fabulous New Year’s celebration
close to home, and, best
of all, to feel good about the work
of Tri-Valley organizations that are
providing much-needed help to our
friends, neighbors, and even our
furry friends.
“Stoneridge Mall stepped up
with enthusiasm when we approached
them, and we are now
busy planning for a truly festive
and fun New Year’s Eve event.
Many more exciting details are to
come in the next few weeks.”
The New Year’s Eve Ball at
the Mall is open to adults 21 years
and older. Tickets are $75 per
person, $100 per person for VIP
admission and $150 per person for
VIP admission with hotel package.
They will be available for purchase
online at http://theballatthemall.
org or at the information counter
in the Stoneridge Mall main concourse
area beginning October 1,
2009.
Information is available at
(925) 292-8058. More details
about event activities, sponsorships,
and volunteer opportunities
will be available soon at http://theballatthemall.org.
Axis Community Health provides
medical care, mental health
counseling, substance abuse recovery,
and nutrition services for all
members of the Tri-Valley community.
http://axishealth.org)
The School of Imagination offers
families educational, developmental
and enrichment services to
ensure that their young children’s
individual needs and true potential
are discovered. Call (877) KIDS-
TLC (543-7852 for information
or go to(http://schoolofimagination.org)
Tri-Valley Haven provides
shelter and services to victims of
domestic violence and homeless
families, TVH operates a Food
Pantry and a 24-hour crisis line
for domestic violence and sexual
assault survivors. (http://trivalleyhaven.org)
The Valley Humane Society
provides educational outreach and
collaborative programs that enrich
the bond between people and
companion animals and eliminate
unnecessary euthanasia. (http://
valleyhumansociety.org)
Author at
Pleasanton
Library
What do lawn weenies, dunk
tank Bozos, the Gameboy® game
Frogger and teenage zombies have
in common? They are all the work
of children’s and young adult author
David Lubar, who visits the
Pleasanton Library on Tuesday,
September 29 at 4:00pm.
Lubar is the author of scores of
short stories and a dozen popular
books for children through teens.
Whether scary, strange, dramatic
or funny, his books such as In
the Land of the Lawn Weenies,
Hidden Talents, Punished, Dunk,
Flip, and Sleeping Freshmen
Never Lie have unique appeal to a
broad range of readers. A Rutgers
University graduate in philosophy,
he has been a computer magazine
editor, a video game designer and
programmer, and finally a fulltime
author since 1996. On tour
to promote his latest work — My
Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie,
Accidental Zombie – Lubar will
offer an engaging glimpse into
his writer’s world and the process
he goes through in creating such
notable fiction.
No registration is required
for this free event, which is recommended
for ages 8 or older.
Co-sponsor Towne Center Books
will have My Rotten Life and
other Lubar titles on hand for
purchase and autographing. For
more information about this and
other children’s library programs,
visit the library website at www.
ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/library/programs-events-child.html
or call the Children’s Desk at (925)
931-3400 ext. 8.
The library is located at 400
Old Bernal Avenue.
Lab Pioneer Awarded National Medal of Science
Retired Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory physicist and
computational pioneer Berni Alder
has received the National Medal
of Science.
President Barack Obama on
Thursday named nine eminent
researchers as recipients of the
National Medal of Science, the
highest honor bestowed by the
United States government on scientists,
engineers, and inventors.
The awards will be presented Oct.
7 at a White House ceremony.
Alder is widely regarded as the
founder of molecular dynamics, a
type of computer simulation used
for studying the motions and interactions
of atoms over time. His
expertise includes changing kinetic
molecular theory by showing that
simulations can significantly affect
a scientific field. In 1980, Alder
was one of the pioneers who used
large-scale simulations to solve
quantum mechanics problems.
The National Medal of Science
was created by statute in 1959. It is
administered for the White House
by the National Science Foundation.
Awarded annually, the medal
recognizes individuals who have
made outstanding contributions
to science and engineering. Nominees
are selected by a committee
of presidential appointees based on
their advanced knowledge in, and
contributions to, the biological,
behavioral/social, and physical
sciences, as well as chemistry,
engineering, computing and mathematics.
“These scientists, engineers
The Livermore Lions’ Club
announced that it has selected
Alameda County Supervisor
Scott Haggerty was selected as its
Citizen of the Year for 2009. The
announcement was made at the
club’s 85th annual gala dinner.
Haggerty was recognized by
the Lions for his leadership in
transportation policy, mobilizing
political support and drawing
attention and funds to the chronically
congested Tri-Valley I-580,
I-680 and State Route 84 gateway
highways into the Bay Area region.
Currently, about $1 billion
in improvements are planned or
underway in the region. Haggerty
Berni Alder
and inventors are national icons,
embodying the very best of American
ingenuity and inspiring a new
generation of thinkers and innovators,”
President Obama said.
“Their extraordinary achievements
strengthen our nation everyday
- not just intellectually and technologically,
but economically, by
helping create new industries and
opportunities that others before
them could never have imagined.”
Alder did his undergraduate
work at UC Berkeley and, in
the late 1940s, studied for his
Ph.D. at the California Institute of
Technology, where he met computer
designer Stan Frankel. Using
CalTech’s mechanical computers,
Alder and Frankel developed a
computer technique, now called
the Monte Carlo method, for
calculating results from random
sampling.
Alder continued developing his
ideas at UC Berkeley and became a
consultant to Lawrence Livermore
when it opened in 1952 under
Edward Teller’s leadership. At
the time, the connection to Livermore
provided access to some of
the only electronic computers in
the nation. Alder joined the Lab
full-time in 1955 and published
his pioneering work on molecular
dynamics in 1956.
In 1963, Alder helped found
the UC Davis Department of Applied
Science, which offers undergraduate
and graduate programs in
physical sciences and engineering
at UC Davis and at Livermore.
Among numerous other honors, he
also is a member of the National
Academy of Sciences.
Today, molecular dynamics
and Monte Carlo methods are
widely used across a wide range
of sciences, from fundamental
physics to molecular biology. But
at the time of Alder’s work, those
methods marked a radical change
in how scientists thought about
such problems.
Just last year, Alder was inducted
into the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences. He joined the
ranks of Lab physicist Claire Max,
LLNL founding father Edward
Teller and former Science and
Technology Principal Associate
Director Cherry Murray, who also
earned that honor.
Lions Select Haggerty as Citizen of the Year for 2009
was also recognized for his contributions
in support of establishing a
local host-impact fee for a landfill
operation in Livermore which the
city has designated for the construction
of a regional performing
arts center.
Haggerty shares this prestigious
honor with past and present notables
that include Livermore Mayor
Marshall Kamena, 14th U.S. Chief
Justice Earl Warren and former
First District Alameda County
Supervisor Chester Stanley.
The Livermore Lions Club,
established in 1924 and one of
the oldest clubs in the world celebrated
its 85th Anniversary at
the gala held at the Poppy Ridge
Golf Course club house. The
Lions Club International boasts
45,000 clubs world-wide with 1.3
million members in 202 countries.
The Livermore chapter is active
in the community with programs
for youth and local charities and
focuses on programs for the blind
and vision impaired.
Haggerty is the First District
Supervisor representing Livermore,
Fremont, Pleasanton, part of
Dublin and eastern unincorporated
areas on the five-member Alameda
County Board of Supervisors.
Amy Leider and Richard Quinn Henley to wed.
Leider-Henley Wedding Plans
Amy Lynn Leider and Richard Quinn Henley, both of Livermore,
are pleased to announce their engagement to be married.
Amy is the daughter of Herman and Marjorie Leider of Livermore.
She graduated from Granada High School in 1982, the University of
California - Davis in 1987, the University of Montana in 1990, Colorado
State University in 2000 and the University of North Texas in 2006.
Quinn is the son of William and Diane Henley of Oakdale. He graduated
from Riverbank High School in 1982, the University of Nevada
- Reno in 1987, and Colorado State University in 1991.
Both Quinn and Amy are veterinarians with the United States Department
of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service and are based
in Alameda. After their October wedding at Castlewood Country Club
in Pleasanton and their honeymoon in Loreto, Baja California, Mexico,
they will continue to reside in the Livermore countryside.
Air Force Airman Eric R. Heiling graduated from basic military
training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman
completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in
military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness,
and basic warfare principles and skills. He is the son of Tylene Albrecht
of Pleasanton. Heiling is a 2007 graduate of Granada High School,
Livermore.
Army Pvt. Thomas E. Plaza has graduated from basic combat training
at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training,
the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values,
physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat
skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and
ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat,
map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system,
basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises. He is the son
of Kim Lovato of Livermore, and Doug Plaza of San Jose. Plaza is a
2008 graduate of Granada High School, Livermore.

12 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 Community
Organizations wishing to run notices in
Bulletin Board, send information to PO Box
1198, Livermore, CA 94551, in care of Bulletin
Board. Include name of organization,
meeting date, time, place and theme or subject.
Phone number and contact person should also
be included.
Notice: Notices of holiday boutiques and
fund-raisers to be held by nonprofits will be
printed in the next edition of The Independent
Magazine. Events should be submitted by October
7 to editmail@compuserve.com.
Jeans and Jewels, Tri-Valley Conservancy’s
2nd annual fund-raiser for those who enjoy
great food, dancing, friends & fun in a casual
atmosphere. Wear your jeans & favorite jewels
(real or faux!) Favorite hat contest with prizes
for “Truly the West” “Over the Top” & “Most
Elegant." 6 – 10 p.m. Oct 1 Casa Real at Ruby
Hill Winery, 410 Vineyard Ave, Pleasanton.
Tickets are $75 online www.trivalleyconservancy.org
call 925-449-8706. (tickets will not
be available at the door)
Dance Clinic, Granada High School Dance
Team's Sixth Annual Dance Clinic. Saturday,
October 3, 9 am to 12 noon. Open to Grades
3rd - 8th. $40.00 per person. Go to www.
granadadance.com for more information and
a registration form.
Livermore Heritage Guild's 36th annual
dinner Sat., Sept. 26 at the Duarte Garage on
the old Lincoln Highway, corner of Portola and
L Street, Livermore. Entertainment 5:30 p.m.
with the Valley Banjo Band. Dinner and dessert
will follow. Susan Dopking Canfield will present
photos from Elliott Dopking's collection,
"Old Livermore, Then and Now." Dinner 6 p.m.
Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for children
age 10 and under. There will be no host wine
and soft drinks. Dress is casual, western wear
is encouraged. Tickets are available in advance
at the Carnegie Building, 3rd and J Streets,
Livermore. The building is open Wed.-Sun.
11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursdays until 8
p.m. For information, call 449-9927.
E-Waste Fund-raiser, Valley Humane
Society is hosting an electronic waste recycling
event with proceeds benefiting homeless pets.
Most items are free to recycle, some require
a small fee that will be donated to VHS.
Parking Lot- 1 block from VHS 4 California
Ave Pleasanton. Oct. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information, Valley Humane Society 925-426-
8656 www.valleyhumane.org.94566
Bingo, with the Pleasanton Seahawks,
Bingo Ranch: Saturday 10/3, 10/17 and 10/31.
Regular game pays $175 to $500 . Bingo
Ranch, 3070 Pacific Ave. Livermore. Doors
open at 4:30 pm, Bingo starts at 6:30 pm. Buy
in as little as $17.00 (must be 18 years old to
enter and play).
Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Touring Club,
Sat. and Sun., Sept. 26-27, Tour of the Sacramento
River Delta, www.valleyspokesmen.org.
Wed., Sept. 30, 30 miles, rural roads of North
Livermore, Gail Blanco, 872-1001.
Sports Equipment parking lot sale,
Amador Valley High School Marching Band
and Colorguard will hold the sale on Sat., Oct.
3, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the student parking lot at
the school, 1155 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton.
Winter Percussion and Winter Guard programs
at Amador Valley High School will benefit. A
number of stores and vendors from the Bay Area
will have new and gently used sports equipment
and gear of all kinds available for purchase;
featuring skis, snowboards, wakeboards and
waterskis, kayaks, bicycles; gear for football,
soccer, lacrosse, baseball/softball, golf, tennis,
backpacking and climbing. Baked Goods and
Drinks for sale. Sponsored by: Amador Friends
of Music, a non-profit booster organization.
For more info, contact: Trish Moosbrugger,
pmoosbrugger@comcast.net, or 398-6652.
Livermore Library Board, meets 7 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 24 at the Civic Center Library,
1188 So. Livermore Ave. An agenda will be
posted at the library 72 hours prior to the
meeting.
7th Annual All You Can Eat Spaghetti
Feed, Sept. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. last time Danny and
Michele Pearson will be cooking for this event.
Altamont Creek School fund-raiser. $10 adults,
$5 per child (4 and under free). Information,
contact Tricia Johnson, 245-1804.
Meat and Seafood Sale, Granada High
School parking lot, 400 Wall St., Livermore.
Sat., Sept. 26 and Sun., Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Purchase by the pound: ground beef, top
sirloin, rib eye, New York, filet mignon, chicken
leg quarter, chicken breasts, mild link, hot links,
bacon applewood smoked, shrimp cooked deveined,
scallops, talapia, red snapper. Butchers
on site to cut selection for a small donation. All
proceeds go to the high school boys' and girls'
soccer programs. Granada High School Soccer
Boosters are holding the event.
Cosmic Dog Yoga studio has a new weight
loss support group Mondays at 11 am. It is free;
the focus is a healthy relationship with your
body, food and exercise. More information at
www.CosmicDogYoga.com
Family Flea Market, Croce Elementary
School, 5650 Scenic Ave., Livermore. Sat.,
Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Flea Market, Fraternal Order of Eagles
event Sat., Sept. 26. Set-up 6 a.m., closing 4
p.m. 527 North Livermore Ave., Livermore.
Cost $20 for a 15'x15' space, $5 for a table
rental. Sign up for space at the Eagles social
room, or call 449-6281 or 449-5807. Vendors
welcome.
Children's Clothing and Equipment
Sale, Twin Valley Mothers of Twins Club
semi-annual sale sponsored by Kaiser Permanante
on Sat., Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at
the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Pleasanton.
Most items unsold will be half-off from 1:45
to 2:45 p.m. $2 per person entrance fee, free
parking. Participation to buy and/or sell is open
to the public. Clothes, strollers, toys, videos,
playpens, layettes, books, high chairs, swings,
gates, cribs, outdoor toys, and more. Information
at www.tvmotc.org/cesale.
Flea Market Old / New treasures, Sept.
26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ridge View Commons,
5200 Case Ave., Pleasanton. Free to the public.
Old and new merchandise. Jewelry, scarfs,
Honey, Flowers, clothes, and many many more
we are also selling food Hot dog's Ice cream,
chips, soda coffee etc., etc.
Project Read, tutor training and orientation,
Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pleasanton
Public Library needs adult volunteers to provide
free tutoring to adults who want to improve
reading, writing, and English speaking skills.
Adults come to the library’s literacy program
– Project Read- with a variety of goals. They
want to learn to read to their children, help their
children with homework or get a job. Tutors
have flexible hours, volunteer once a week and
we supply all materials. Qualifications: at least
18 years of age, average reading and writing
skills, interesting in helping another adult, no
reaching experience needed. Please call to register
for the Project Read orientation. For more
information, call Janice Bauman, 931-3411 or
email jbauman@ci.pleasanton.ca.us
The Foothill High School Choirs are
selling the East Bay Entertainment Book now
through September 30. This is a school fundraiser.
Books cover from Tri-Valley to Oakland,
Fremont and Tracy. Cost is $30. Information at
www.foothillfalcons.org/apps/pages.
Holiday Craft Faire, Livermore Valley
Charter School and Gamma Alpha Chapter of
OTO, Sunday, October 18. It will be held in
the LVCS Multi-Purpose Room, 543 Sonoma
Avenue in Livermore. The hours are 9:00 a.m.
until 4:00 p.m. To rent a 10' x 8' space for
$25.00 please contact Janelle Rasmussen at pto.
lvcs@gmail.com. Holiday Gifts, Decorations
and much more!!
Widowed Men and Women of Northern
CA., Annual picnic in Pleasanton, Oct. 17, 2:30
p.m., RSVP by Oct. 12 to Ruby, 462-9636.
Pleasanton VIP Travelers, Tues., Oct. 13,
Sausalito, ferry ride from SF, time on own to
walk and shop and have lunch. $43 members,
$45 nonmembers. Senior Center, 3535 Sunol
Blvd., Pleasanton. 931-5370.
Hawaiian Beach Party, Fri., Sept. 25 at
the Veteran's Hall in downtown Pleasanton.
Special guests will be the delegates from
Tulancingo, Mexico. Authentic Hawaiian
menu, dancing to the live music of Audio Jetz,
no host bar. 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Hosted by
the Pleasanton-Tulancingo Sister City Association.
Everyone is invited. Tickets are $35
per person. To purchase a ticket, call Frances
Hewitt at 487-4748.
Walk for Education, American Swim
Academy will host a Walk for Education at
Granada High School on Saturday, September
26. All of the proceeds will go to the Livermore
Valley Education Foundation. Along with the
walk, there will be a Family Fun Festival with
games, prizes, children's entertainment, a live
DJ and more. The Livermore Valley Education
Foundation (LVEF) is dedicated to restoring
and enhancing academic and extracurricular
programs within the Livermore Valley Joint
Unified School District. Sponsorships are available,
call (925) 373-7946. for information or
go to LVEFWalk@AmericanSwimAcademy.
com Federal Tax ID # 94-3136289. www.
americanswimacademy.com/LVEF/
Panama Red Coffee, K St. Block Party
is scheduled for Sat. Oct. 3, 10am-2pm. Proceeds
will benefit the Tri-Valley Haven. Author
Sandra Kay will provide signed copies of her
book, "eat, write & exercise," with 100%
proceeds (for sales on this day) going to the
Tri-Valley Haven. In addition, a percentage
of proceeds from all sales moving forward
will be donated.
Bingo, every Sunday, Games 4 p.m. to
8 p.m. 18 $250 pay-outs, 1 $350 payout, &
more! Bingo Ranch, 3070 Pacific Avenue,
Livermore. 606-7777. Must be 18 years old to
attend. Pacific Avenue, Livermore. 606-7777.
Benefits LVCS / CCEF.
RELIGION
Kol Nidre observance, Sunday, September
27, a non-religious program of readings,
music and examination of ourselves and our
communities. Gather at 5:00, program begins
at 5:15 at the Bothwell Center, 2466 8th St.
in Livermore. Free to members, $10/adult
(over 13) for non-members. There will also
be opportunities to donate to local, national
and international charities.
Chocolate (and other sweets) & Comedy
– A Night for Couples, fun-filled evening of
amazing desserts and the always hilarious
comedy of Barnes & Miner - part reality, part
therapy, all comedy. Television appearances
include: Fox, NBC, HBO, A&E, National
Lampoon, Comedy Central, and more. Saturday,
October 24, 7:00-9:00pm at CrossWinds
Series of Events Benefits Healing Therapies
October is being planned as
a fun time at the Sandra J. Wing
Healing Therapies Foundation.
The Tri-Valley based nonprofit,
which assists cancer patients, is
hosting a series of ten fund-raising
parties known collusively as “Party
Palooza 2009.”
The parties include “Pinot
Palooza” wine party on Sun., Oct.
3; “Your Hollywood Hot Shot” spa
day on Sun., Oct. 18; and “Brazilian
Extravaganza” featuring the
tastes and sounds of Brazil on
Sun., Oct. 25. Seven other parties
are scheduled.
“Having cancer is no fun,” said
Sandra J. Wing, a cancer survivor.
“We offer fun ways to raise money
and awareness to help people cope
with cancer.” Her foundation offers
grants to help with treatments
not covered by insurance such as
acupuncture, acupressure, guided
imagery and meditation.
“I found these treatments to
be comforting and helpful when I
had cancer, so I wanted people to
have access to them,” said Wing,
a Pleasanton resident.
The foundation offers $1000
grants to cancer patients seeking
such therapies. Patients who live
in Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin,
San Ramon and Danville are eligible
to apply.
F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n
go to www.HealingTherapies
Foundation.org.
Church in Dublin. $35 per couple through
October 17; $45/couple thereafter. Purchase
tickets online at www.crosswindschurch.org,
community life, events.
Grief support, meetings Thursdays, Sept.
17 to Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Seton
Church, 4001 Stoneridge Dr., Pleasanton. Open
to all, regardless of religious orientation. Call
Mary at 846-5377 with questions. A one-time
$15 donation is requested.
Divorce Care, Valley Bible Church, 7106
Johnson Dr., Pleasanton. 13 week seminar and
support group for people who are separated
or divorced. Meetings Mondays from 7 to 9
p.m. $25 for workbook and other materials.
Preregistration is required. Contact Mark
Porter, 846-9693 or mcporter@hotmail.com
for details or to register.
Finding Our Voices: Women, Wisdom
and Faith is St. Charles Borromeo’s book
club opportunity for women to engage in a
respectful, self-reflective dialogue about how
being a woman impacts how we practice our
faith, the challenges and the responsibilities
we have. The book is by the author Patricia
O’Connell Killen. Betty Levin will lead an an
8-week series beginning Tuesday, September
29th at 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the Pope Room at
St. Charles, 1315 Lomitas Ave. This a series is
open to all women regardless of denomination.
Please purchase books in advance through
Amazon’s new or used books and RSVP to
Betty at LVNLVM@COMCAST.NET or by
phoning Julie Gallagher at 447-4549 x114.
Tri-Valley Unity Church, Licensed Unity
Teacher Bob Hardy will speak on the topic of
“Instrument of Peace,” the 10:00 a.m. Sunday
service, Sept. 27, 2260 Camino Ramon, San
Ramon. All are welcome. Ongoing groups
and activities. (925) 829-2733. www.trivalleyunity.com