06/10/2010 - The Independent

PAGE 2 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010Lab Appoints New Deputy DirectorFor Science and TechnologyTomás Díaz de la Rubia hasbeen selected as the Deputy Directorfor Science & Technology(DDST) to steward the continuedlong-term health of science, technologyand engineering at theLawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory.Díaz de la Rubia has served asan Associate Director for Chemistry,Materials, & Life Sciences.Since June 2009, he has been theacting S&T Principal AssociateDirector and Laboratory chiefR&D officer. The new positionis effective immediately.Lab Director George Millerstated, “Over the last two years,he has helped facilitate significantchanges in structureand management processes inthe S&T Principal Directoratethat have resulted in increasedbusiness efficiencies and organizationalintegration.”In addition, Díaz de la Rubialed the development of LLNL’sscientific and engineering strategichuman capital program and inhelping plan for the Laboratory’sfuture through the 100-day planand the creation of the five-yearstrategic roadmap.Díaz de la Rubia said. “LLNLhas always taken pride in translatinginnovative scientific conceptsand ideas into solutionsthat impact the most importantnational security problems andglobal societal priorities of ourtime. Game-changing scienceand technology in the nationalinterest is what we do best. I’mprivileged to be a part of it.”Díaz de la Rubia joined theLaboratory as a postdoc in 1989.Since 2002, he has held a varietyof senior management positions.He has published more than 150peer-reviewed articles focusedon the application of high-performancecomputing to materialsproperties in extreme environments,and co-edited severalbooks. His work has been citedmore than 5,800 times.Díaz de la Rubia was electeda fellow of the American PhysicalSociety in 2002 and a fellowof the American Association forthe Advancement of ScienceTomás Díaz de la Rubiain 2007. In addition to being amember of the Board of Directorsof the Materials ResearchSociety between 2002 and 2005,he was the vice chair (chair elect)of the Division of ComputationalPhysics of the APS in 2008. Heholds both a bachelor’s of sciencedegree (summa cum laude)and a Ph.D. in physics from TheState University of New York,Albany.Parking Fee to Go up at Sycamore GroveBeginning July 1, the dailyparking fee at Sycamore GrovePark and Veterans Park willincrease by one dollar. The currentdaily parking fee of $4 isincreasing to $5.The Livermore Area Recreationand Park District, likemany other agencies and municipalities,is struggling during thisdifficult economic time. Facinga 2010-2011 budget deficit, staffmembers are working to balancethe budget and still provideas many quality services anddesirable facilities as possible.The daily parking fee increase atSycamore Grove and Veteransparks is just one piece of theoverall action plan to address thebudget deficit.Sycamore Grove and Veteransparks combined total 774 acres.The connected parks offer hiking,biking and horse trails; picnictables; restrooms; and barbecues.Sycamore Grove’s entrance islocated at 1051 Wetmore Road.Veterans Park’s entrance is locatedat 5211 Arroyo Road.At this time, the annual parkingpass for the parks will remainat $48 for Livermore residentsand $60 for non-residents per calendaryear. There is a discountedprice for seniors (60 years ofage and older). Annual parkingpasses may be purchased fromLARPD Park Rangers or at theRobert Livermore CommunityCenter. The Community Centeris open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday and is located at4444 East Ave., Livermore.

VALLEY ROUNDUPNuclear Security Practices PresentedA delegation of U.S. Department of Energyand State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom"(ROSATOM) officials completed a week-longeffort aimed at sharing best practices in nuclearsecurity.The delegation visited the Y-12 NationalSecurity Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. andthe Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(LLNL) in Livermore.Led by Rosatom’s Deputy Director GeneralYevgeniy Sofyin, Rosatom experts metwith National Nuclear Security Administration(NNSA) Administrator Tom D'Agostino, PrincipalAssistant Deputy Administrator for DefenseNuclear Nonproliferation Kenneth Baker, andAssociate Administrator for Nuclear SecurityBrad Peterson in Washington, D.C.“The United States and Russia continue tofoster close cooperation in the area of nuclearsecurity,” said NNSA Administrator ThomasD’Agostino. “Our nations have a unique responsibilityto ensure the security of nuclear materialaround the world. These meetings highlightour continued commitment to implementing thenuclear security agenda outlined by PresidentObama and President Medvedev.”In his first visit to the U.S., Sofyin and histeam were able to observe protection force-onforcedemonstrations, performance testing ofphysical protection systems, and presentationson the practical implementation of personnelreliability programs at both Y-12 and LLNL. Theexchange is designed to enhance both parties’understanding of the challenges faced in nuclearsecurity and the creative solutions devised to meetthose challenges.This week’s cooperation builds on the effortsof the U.S.-Russian Nuclear Energy and NuclearSecurity Working Group, which was establishedunder the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commissionduring the July 2009 Summit.As stated in their Joint Statement on NuclearCooperation, President Obama and PresidentMedvedev recognized the special responsibilityof the United States and Russia for securityof nuclear weapons and agreed to broaden anddeepen U.S.-Russian long-term cooperation tofurther increase the level of security of nuclearfacilities around the world.ACE Train Event Just a DrillPeople driving along Stanley Boulevard lastweek were startled to see an ACE train stoppednear the quarries with what appeared be policeactivity around it.According to an ACE spokesperson, it was adrill. The drill was part of a Transportation SecurityAdministration exercise. It began Tuesdaynear Stanley and El Charro Road.Local and regional law enforcement agenciesparticipated in the exercise to train area bombsquads on how to respond to explosives threatson public transit.Tri-Valley Haven, Raiders Team UPTri-Valley Haven has been selected by theOakland Raiders to sell tickets to all home gamesand keep a portion of the proceeds."We are thrilled," said Jennifer Dow, DirectorLIGHT(continued from page one)more to see the light bulb andmeet members of the community,including those who aided in herresearch. The book will be availablefor purchase and signing atthe History Lecture.A hose cart and the model1919 T fire car that was the first,motorized fire vehicle in Livermorewill be on display.The event will be held at theDuarte Garage/Lincoln HighwayMuseum on the corner ofPortola Avenue, North L Street,Livermore, California. Enter atthe Pine Street side. Cool drinkswill be provided and fans will beturned on. A $2.00 donation suggested.Call the Heritage Guild’sHistory Center at 449-9927 formore information.Another opportunity to meetJanet Nolan, author of the “FirehouseLight” will be at TowneCenter Books in Pleasanton at10:30 a.m. on Sat., June 12of Community Education and Development forTri-Valley Haven. "In these difficult economictimes, it is a joy to be able to form partnershipssuch as these with the community. We are touchedthat the Oakland Raiders are looking out for thecommunity and giving back."Tri-Valley Haven Days with the Oakand Raidersare Aug. 28, Oakland vs. San Francisco, andOct. 10, Oakland vs. San Diego.Ticket prices range from $40 to $56. Orderforms can be found at www.trivalleyhaven.org.Transportation Working GroupThe Alameda County Transportation ImprovementAuthority (ACTIA) and the AlamedaCounty Congestion Management Agency (CMA)invite Alameda County residents, businessesand interested parties to take an active role on aCommunity Advisory Working Group (CAWG)to assist in the development of the CountywideTransportation Plan and Expenditure Plan.Members will provide input on the following:• Development of the Countywide TransportationPlan, a 25-year transportation plan.• Development of an Expenditure Plan thatwill serve as a funding element of part of theCountywide Transportation plan and go to votersfor approval.Applications are due by June 30.Download an application from the AC-TIA website at: www.actia2022.com/files/managed/Document/968/CAWG_Application_051110.pdfComplete and return it by June30, 2010 to ACTIA c/o Steering Committee, 1333Broadway, Suite 300, Oakland, CA, 94612, or fax(510) 893-6489.For more information, contactTess Lengyel at tlengyel@actia2022.com or (510)267-6111, or Beth Walukas at bwalukas@accma.ca.gov or (510) 350-2326.Federal Assistance for WorkersCongressman John Garamendi (D-WalnutCreek, CA) joined Secretary of Labor Hilda L.Solis, Congressman Jerry McNerney, and CongressmanPete Stark at the New United MotorsManufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) automobile plantin Fremont Monday to announce new federal assistancefor former NUMMI employees who losttheir jobs when the plant shut down April 1.Secretary Solis announced a National EmergencyGrant, awarding up to $19 million with$11 million released initially made availableto the California Employment DevelopmentDepartment, assisting workers who recentlylost their jobs with the closure. This fundingwill serve about 4,347 workers affected by theclosure of NUMMI, and 39 other supplier companiesaffected by the closure of the NUMMIplant. Agencies receiving the funds include theAlameda County Workforce Investment Board,Contra Costa County Workforce DevelopmentBoard, and Workforce Investment Board ofSolano County.Thirty-five California counties were home toat least one NUMMI supplier. The five countieswith the most suppliers included: Alameda (389),Santa Clara (204), Los Angeles (126), ContraCosta (79), and Orange (73).In her book, Nolan chroniclesthe many historic changes thathave happened during the 109years that the famous light bulbhas been burning in the LivermoreFirehouse. All ages areinvited to attend this event. Thereis no admission charge.Books will be available forpurchase.Towne Center Books is locatedat 555 Main Street, downtownPleasanton.Camera toCatch IllegalDumpersAlameda County has installeda camera to catch those dumpingitems illegally in unincorporatedEast County.Supervisor Scott Haggertyannounced the camera is locatednear Lorraine Road and HartfordAvenue in North Livermorearea.These cameras operate bymotion detection to capture picturesof potential violators. Thecameras operate both during theday and night time periods. Theycan easily be relocated to differentareas as needs change. It isexpected that these cameras willimprove the safety and aestheticsof areas that usually experienceillegal dumping activities.Residents have been concernedby incidents of illegaldumping along the county roadsin the area, and requested Countyofficials to take action to eliminatethese illegal activities.Supervisor Scott Haggertystated, “I am pleased with theinstallation of the camera by thePublic Works Agency. Illegaldumping is not only unsightly,it creates hazardous conditionsalong county roads. The hopeis that these cameras will deterillegal dumping activities, andhelp us catch those who commitsuch acts.”The Public Works Agency inpartnership with the Sheriff’sDepartment and the DistrictAttorney’s Office will use thesecameras to prosecute those whocommit illegal dumping activities.PET(continued from page one)cause.”Valley Humane Society istaking part in the adoptathon. Itis located at 3670 Nevada Streetin Pleasanton. All adoptionsfees are waived to good homeson June 12 and 13. Adoption applicationprocess and screeningpractices still apply.Tri-Valley Animal Rescueadoption locations are:Dogs and cats, East CountyAnimal Shelter, 4595 GleasonDrive, Dublin, June 12 and 13,11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.Dogs and Cats, PleasantonFarmers’ Market, Main Street atWest Angela Street, in Pleasanton,Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m.to 1 p.m.Dogs and cats, PetSmart, 6960Amador Plaza Road, Dublin,June 12 and 13, noon to 4 p.m.Cats only, Pet Extreme, 4500Arroyo Vista Drive, Livermore,June 12 and 13, noon to 4 p.m.For more information onMaddie’s Fund & on Maddie’sMatchmaker Adoptathon event,please visit their website athttp://www.maddiesadoptathon.org/ or visit their Facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/MaddiesPetAdoptathon?ref=mThe Independent, JUNE 10, 2010 - PAGE 3

PAGE 4 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010EDITORIALValley Cities Going 'Green'Valley communities have been strong advocates of“greening” their cities.Green living is more than just a fad, according to theco-founders of Natural Capitalism Solutions. Sustainabilitycan save the environment and the U.S. economy. L. HunterLovins and Elliot Hoffman made that observation during atalk in Pleasanton.Livermore and Pleasanton, together with Dublin, formeda Solar Cities consortium to make it easier to install solarenergy on homes and businesses. To set an example, Livermoreinstalled solar panels on its city hall.Livermore and Pleasanton have instituted green buildingordinances for both residential and commercial construction.Now Pleasanton is preparing to take another step forward.The city has been participating in an ad hoc GreenEconomy Group. Stakeholders participating in the groupcome from business, education, unions, residents, legislators,government, conservationists and environmentalists.They talk about how working together they can make thecity sustainable in the future.Pleasanton is also involved in a Bay Area networkformed by Natural Capitalism Solutions, which trains andadvises companies and government agencies on how tobecome more sustainable. As part of the program, the citywill have a license to a newly developed software packagethat is interactive. It allows the city to model and analyzefacilities for “green” compliance.All of the cities are working on climate action plans, tohave less impact on the environment. All of these effortsput the area in the forefront of planning.COMPENSATION(continued from page one)of concern. Chronic berylliumdisease is also covered bythe Compensation Program. Survivorsmay qualify following thedeath of the former employee.The new announcement makesit easier to qualify for the compensationby specifying that Labemployees and contractors fromthe 1950-1973 period who arediagnosed with any of 22 cancerswill be presumed to have gottensick because of their jobs. Theycould thus be eligible withoutthe need for finding old worklocation or radiation exposurerecords or proving that workingconditions caused the illness.It was unclear at the time ofthe Independent’s deadline whythe earliest date of qualificationprecedes opening of the Laboratoryin the Fall of 1952. Onepossibility is that workers areintended to include those at CaliforniaResearch & DevelopmentCo., a Standard Oil of Californiasubsidiary whose research onnuclear materials productionstarted at the Livermore sitebefore the Laboratory itself wasestablished.To date, 1,004 eligible LivermoreLab employees have receivedmore than $118 millionfrom the Compensation Program.Nationwide, the program haspaid out more than $5.7 billion.Congress established the programto provide “compensationand medical benefits to workerswho became ill as a result ofworking in the nuclear weaponsindustry,” according to the programwebsite.Whether government compensationwas justified can be,and was, hotly debated. It is rareto be able to prove scientificallythe cause of an individual case ofcancer. Roughly 30 percent of apopulation gets cancer whetherthey work in weapons programsor not. Most weapons workersnever encountered significantradiation exposures at work. Inaddition, at Livermore, medicalstudies have shown workers tobe unusually healthy in havingsignificantly lower mortalityrates than the average workingpopulation.The Compensation Programhas become something of apatchwork of benefits. Somecompensation groups includeworkers and contractors whoseefforts were clearly in the mainstreamof weapons research orproduction; for example, thosewho worked in the Pacific testingprogram in the 1950s andWATER(continued from page one)plaintiffs in the suit, whichwas filed June 3. Defendant is theState Water Project (SWP). Theaim is to invalidate the MontereyAgreement.The agreement was attackedin court a few years ago; theplaintiffs won. The contentionthen was that the hearing that wasused to adopt the agreement washeld at a virtually secret meetingin an obscure water district in(INLAND VALLEY PUBLISHING CO.)the Nevada Test Site in morerecent years.Other groups are less clearlycategorized. The big researchlabs like Livermore, Los Alamosand Oak Ridge, weapons andnon-weapons research programshave often been intertwined, tothe scientific benefit of all. Bycombining employees and contractorsat these labs in a singlepool, the Compensation Programhas been available to many conductingnon-weapons R&D.Those who worked at LawrenceBerkeley Lab through 1961constitute one of the beneficiarygroups whose cancers are presumedoccupational, and yet verylittle nuclear weapons researchtook place there starting a fewyears after World War II.Similarly, those working atOak Ridge Hospital or the OakRidge Institute of Nuclear StudiesCancer Research Hospitalthrough the late 1950s and early1960s form a qualified compensationgroup, as do controlledfusion researchers working atGeneral Atomics 1960 through1969.The situation at LawrenceLivermore demonstrates howdifficult it is to create a cleardivision between weapons andnon-weapons. For many years,all employees had high level“Q” clearances and could shiftback and forth between the programs.Some never crossed theline while others moved daily.Some spent years in weapons,then years in non-weapons, andthen moved back to weapons.All employees were monitoredfor radiation. Some weaponsresearch (computer modeling,for example) was conductedin offices far from radioactivematerials. Some non-weaponsexperiments involved radioactivematerials and processes (magneticfusion.)A complete list of covered illnessand sites where employeesand contractors may qualify forcompensation, either presumptivelyby the simple fact of employmentor by making a caseinvolving work, health and safetyrecords, is at the Department ofLabor website http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/law/SEC-Employees.htm.For additional informationabout the Compensation Programor to schedule an appointment forclaim-filijng assistance, contactthe Labor Department’s CaliforniaResource Center toll-free at866-606-6302.Central California. The plaintiffsin that suit were attacking thevalidity of the EIR.The judge ruled SWP had tostart over with the EIR. It was notcompleted until last month. Thecurrent plaintiffs promptly filedtheir suit, saying the resultingEIR is not sufficient.They contend that the agreementwas used by private developmentand ranching interests inPublisher: Joan Kinney SeppalaAssociate Publisher: David T. LowellEditor: Janet ArmantroutThe Independent is published every Thursday by Inland Valley Publishing Company, 2250 First St.,Livermore, CA 94550; (925) 447-8700. Application to Mail at Periodical Postage Prices Pending at theLivermore Post Office and additional mailing offices. The Independent is mailed upon request. Go to www.independentnews.com to sign up and for more information. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TheIndependent, 2250 First St., Livermore, CA 94550.Advertising rates and subscription rates may be obtained by calling (925) 447-8700during regular business hours or by fax: (925) 447-0212.Editorial information may be submitted by editmail@compuserve.com.Storage Facility Expansion Turned DownThe Alameda County PlanningCommission denied anapplication to expand the IdealBoat and Camper Storage facilityon Tesla Rd.The commission found thatthe proposal was in conflict withMeasure D.The vote was 6 to 1 for the denial,with one abstention. CharimanKen Corbone stated that thequestion is not whether Ideal canexpand or if there is a need formore storage. The debate is overMeasure D compliance. “It’spretty clear where that lands.”County planner Jan Beattystated that under Measure D thestorage facility is a nonconforminguse and could not expand.The Migliore family, whichowns Ideal, has ten days to appealthe decision to the Board ofSupervisors.An earlier attempt to expandthe use ended in 2005 with anegative vote from the Board ofSupervisors.The proposal by the Migliorefamily is to add 720 spaces tothe 1000 spaces that exist at thefacility. The expanded projectwas proposed to take place infour phases over four years.The property, originally ahog farm, has been in the familyfor more than 40 years. Idealfirst received permission for thestorage facility in 1983 whenthe property was granted a PDzoning. They built on a portionof the property.Ideal’s attorney, David Lanferman,argued that the PD zoningapplies to the entire property,therefore the proposed 720spaces does not represent an expansion.He told the commissionthat the Migliore’s believe theyhave a vested right to developtheir entire property. He statedthat the plan is to use the legalzoning already on the property.He said that Ideal has a vestedright to add spaces. All that isCHARTER(continued from page one)which would have the finalsayṪhe applicants want to openthe school in 2012 with 200students as freshmen, then add aclass of 200 each year until it isa four-year high school.Tri-Valley Learning Corp. iscomprised of Dublin residentswho want the school, along withLivermore residents who havebeen successful in establishingthe Livermore Valley charterelementary and high schools.John Zukoski, a Dublin residentworking for the proposal,said that the Livermore grouphas been very helpful with adviceabout procedures.SMALL SCHOOLATMOSPHERE SOUGHTParents behind the TassajaraPrep drive want a publicly financedschool that reproducesthe atmosphere of a college prepschool, said Zukoski. Having aschool with a maximum enrollmentof 864 is important for theprep school, he declared.Zukoski said that Dublin Highschool provides a good education.The new group is not criticalof the school.However, Zukoski added thatpeople move to Pleasanton, Danvilleand San Ramon for the highschools. Some areas of Dublinalso attract home-buyers becauseof their local elementary schools.If Tassajara Prep were approved,it would also be a magnet forpeople seeking an academicallyhigh-performing high school,said Zukoski.Tassajara Prep would go beyondwhat Dublin High is alreadyproviding with standards for collegeentrance, said Zukoski.“We want a high caliber educationfor top universities, suchas Stanford and MIT,” explainedZukoski. The question of geographyalso has arisen. East Dublinis developing. While it has elementaryand middle schools,there is no high school.Zukoski said that location isless important, and its up to thedistrict to offer an appropriatefacility by law. But putting acampus in east Dublin wouldhelp residents there.The charter school also wouldprovide students a choice of differentclass offerings, as otherTri-Valley cities have with theirSouthern and Central Californiato spend public money benefittingtheir private businesses.CBD attorney Adam Keatstold the Independent that if theMonterey Agreement were invalidated,and the earlier SWPpriorities restored, it would makemore agricultural surplus waterin flood years available to urbandistricts.Zone 7 assistant general managerVince Wong said that underthe old rules, it’s true that Zone 7could receive more water allocationduring wet years, but only upto a certain quota.However, eliminating theMonterey Agreement would havea huge impact on the Zone 7 watersupply, if the agreement reallywere voided. Wong said that hecan’t imagine any judge wouldallow the situation to revert backto the days before the Montereyrequired is a site developmentreview (SDR). Measure D doesnot limit a SDR.Lanferman referred to Idealas an “established and well usedLivermore resource. It has a goodhistory of compliance with conditionsfor development.”He added, “If people think theland will be plowed under andturned into potatoes or hogs, theyare mistaken.”County planner Jan Beattycountered that under MeasureD the storage facility is a nonconforminguse and could notexpand. She also noted that theuse is contrary to provisions inthe South Livermore Valley AreaPlan (SLVAP) in that it does notexpand or enhance viticulture.Ideal can continue to operateat its current size as a nonconforminguse, she added.Members of the public spokefor and against the proposal.Those in favor of it pointedto the need for a place to storeboats, RVs, and other large vehicles.They noted that the Cityof Livermore does not allowthem to be parked on the streetand will issue tickets when thereis a complaint.William Ormond stated thathe likes to be able to go out, getinto his motor home and get awayfrom his job. “Ideal is very convenient.It is a beautiful facility.It is important to recognize thatthere is a need for storage.”John Shirley said that Idealhad been a wonderful facility. “Ithas been good to Livermore.”Marge Wood declared thatIdeal represents a need that mustbe filled. “It’s not unsightly. It’sclean and tidy. The family hasdone a fine job with landscaping.”Lisa Migliore Stanford saidshe had no argument with MeasureD. However, she stated thatthe discussion is about whatbegan in 1983. The family hastwo comprehensive high schools,said Zukoski.As for financing, the charterschool would receive itsmoney directly from the state,not through the Dublin schooldistrict, said Zukoski. Therealso would be some federal andstate grants. “The federal andstate governments love charterschools,” said Zukoski.SCHOOL DISTRICTEXPLAINS REJECTIONDublin schools superintendentStephen Hanke said thatthe district staff reviewed theapplication from a professionalstandpoint, as required by law,and found it falls short. “Theycan’t put the program into effectthat they say they will. There arenot enough students to supportit,” said Hanke.The charter school also wouldhave trouble finding enoughteachers with multiple credentialsfor such a small distribution ofstudents, said Hanke. However,Zukoski said that meeting therequirements would not be aproblem.It’s not clear to Hanke wherethe charter school would set upshop. All the district must dois offer comparable facilities.There are none, said Hanke. Theonly vacant school is the formerNeilsen elementary school onthe city’s west side. It does notmeet space requirements for highschool facilities, he said.There is no money to builda new high school, said Hanke.Dublin is spending all of themoney it will ever receive fromthe state for expanding highschool facilities for the districtuntil development is at build-outin the community.Construction has been underway,and will be finished forthe entire campus in two years.The high school will have 2500students, plus or minus 300, atbuild-out, said Hanke. Currentlythere are 1450 students.The $120 million expansionand upgrade will include all necessaryclassroom and lab space, anew gym, and a fine arts performingspace. It will be paid by thestate allocation money, a localbond, and developer fees.Dublin made a decision yearsago to go to build-out with onlyone high school, said Hanke.ACHIEVEMENT GOODAgreement.Water Agencies have grownsince 1995 to serve much moredevelopment. The current watersupply must be counted on.He cited what Zone 7 has donesince then. The agency used upits previous 46,000 acre feet peryear contingency in the SouthBay Aqueduct. Later, it acquiredmore capacity, bringing the totalto 80,000 acre feet.If the Monterey Agreementwent away, Zone 7’s share of theState Water Project could shrinkto 29,000 acre feet. Wong saidhe couldn’t begin to calculatewhat impact that might have onwater users.Furthermore, Zone 7 is committedto paying the State WaterProject for that 80,000 acre feetcapacity in the South Bay Aqueduct.That debt won’t go away.gone to great lengths to ensureimprovements. This is a neededfacility for a growing community.Barry Rose, a Castro Valleyresident, said he saw the expansionas an asset to the entirecounty.Representatives of Friends ofLivermore, Friends of the Vineyards,the Sierra Club, and theTri-Valley Conservancy askedthe commission to deny theproject.Bob Baltzer, chairman ofFriends of the Vineyards, pointedout that Ideal is a nonconforminguse under SLVAP as well asMeasure D.President of Friends of theVineyards, Tamara Reuss, toldthe commission that the SLVAPneeds to be protected. “The visionit is serving is extremelyimportant. The fact there are50 wineries shows the growingpromise of the region.” Shesaid that the argument that theproposal is not an expansion isan attempt to obscure what it is- an addition of more vehicles. “Ifthat’s not an expansion, I don’tknow what is,” she declared.Other speakers made similarpoints, particularly focusing onnoncompliance with both SLVAPand Measure D. Winery ownerMax Rios called the proposalan enormous project. “The lotwill be larger than the OaklandColiseum. It’s a bad project forthe area.”Speaking for the Tri-ValleyConservancy (TVC) was executivedirector Sharon Burnham.She stated that the TVC feelsstrongly that the expansion wouldopen a door that could be harmfuldown the road. She noted thatSLVAP plan is very specific aboutwhat can and cannot happen inthe area. Any allowable commercialuses must support agricultureand the wine industry.IN ACADEMICSDublin High School does agood job of educating all students,and has graduates going onto Stanford, MIT and other eliteschools, said Hanke.The Academic PerformanceIndex (API) scores released bythe state in May show that DublinHigh School scored 849 on theAPI, and was rated in the 9thdecile overall in the state, and the9th decile in comparison to thestatewide schools most resemblingthem. The state wants allschools performing above 800.By comparison, in the Pleasantondistrict, Amador ValleyHigh School scored 879, andwas in the 10th decile statewide,and the 7th decile in the school’scomparison group. Foothill HighSchool scored 889, and was in the9th decile statewide, and the 8thdecile in comparable schools.In the San Ramon Valley district,Monte Vista High Schoolscored 897 and was in the 10thdecile statewide and the 8th incomparable schools. San RamonValley High School scored 884and was also in the 10th and8th deciles in the respectivecategories.DIVERSION COULDHAVE AN IMPACTZukoski said that dollars followstudents, not school districts,so the charter school would notbe taking dollars away from theDublin district.However, Hanke said thatwhile the Sacramento fundsare administered separately, theongoing funding to pay staff atthe charter school would comefrom the same pot, and is donebased on a per-pupil revenueallocation. If there were fewerpupils at Dublin High, it mightnot be possible to reach a criticalmass that would enable startinga class that is not part of the corecurriculum, said Hanke.Summing up the district’s position,Hanke said that the charterschool is “not needed, not wantedand divisive.” Some 75 speakersprotested it at the Dublin hearing.Another large number opposedit at a hearing May 25 before thecounty board, said Hanke.Zukoski was the only personwho spoke for the applicationat the Dublin meeting. He toldThe Independent that the chartergroup wants to wait to speak upwhen it goes to the state boardof education, if the county also(Opinions voiced in letterspublished in Mailbox are thoseof the author and do not necessarilyreflect the opinion of TheIndependent. Letter Policy: TheIndependent will not publishanonymous letters, nor will itpublish letters without names.Abusive letters may be rejectedor edited. Frequent letter writersmay have publication of theirletters delayed.).Isabel StationRobert AllenLivermoreFormer BART DirectorUnless BART to Livermorehas a station near Isabel withgood freeway access and abundantsurface parking, it will be agross, unconscionable waste ofLanferman countered that thearea has grown to 50 wineries.“Ideal has been there the entiretime. It hasn’t deterred the developmentof the wine region.”Commission Chariman Corbonesaid that the current expansionis subject to an SDR. Thequestion is whether the requestrepresents an expansion or a continuationof the current PD.Brian Washington, countycounsel’s office, said that Idealhas a PD that allows agricultureuse and an existing storage use.The commission needs to determineif the use falls within oneof the categories allowed underMeasure D. The fact that SDRsare discretionary actions, makesthe applicant’s argument thatthere is a vested right to developthe entire site very challengeable.Commissioner Alane Loiselwondered why, if Ideal couldhave developed the entire parcelin 1983, it couldn’t do so now.“Isn’t that inverse condemnation,”she asked.Washington replied, “No,because a discretionary approval,the SDR, is required to be inplace before the owner can usethe additional land. When anSDR is required, there are novested rights.”In commenting on the proposal,Commissioner GlennKirby said,“There have been improvementson the site. There is nodenying the need. However, anonconforming use cannot beexpanded. With a PD zoning theuse is fixed. The footprint wasset in 1983 and again in 1990.Measure D further locked in thefootprint. That says that this is anexpansion.”He added later that he was reluctantto change something thathe believes was the intent of voterswho supported Measure D.rejects the application.Zukoski said that school districtsoppose independent charterschools. It’s a different storyat the state board of education.There the members have an eyeonly on whether the applicantshave met all 16 of the necessarycriteria.Hanke said that if there werean appeal to the state, it may bethat just the division created inthe community would be enoughto reject it. He said that a requestin Fillmore for a charter schoolmet that fate.The state board rejected theapplication 6-2, and did cite divisionin the community. However,the circumstances were different.Applicants were trying to convertthe lone public school in thedistrict to a charter school. Nineof the school’s 17 teachers hadmade the application.Hanke said that charter schoolswere allowed by state governmentto improve education indeficient districts. However, thatdoesn’t fit Dublin’s description,said Hanke. “Individuals incommunities sometimes createa charter for other reasons,” butthese are not needed and notwanted, he said.BILL WOULD CHANGEAPPEAL PROCESSThe Dublin application comesat a time when the Legislature islooking at cutting the state boardof education out of the appealsprocess. A bill written by DemocratSandre Swanson of Oaklandwould eliminate the state appeal,and make the county board thecourt of last resort.The bill, AB 2320, passed theAssembly last week, on a 48-29vote, with all Democrats for it,and all but two abstaining Republicansvoting against it. The billgoes next to the Senate.AB 2320 has the backing ofteacher and school employeeunions and the statewide administratorsassociation. A spokeswomanfor Swanson said thathe thinks that decisions aboutcharter schools should be as localas possible, and not left up tothe state.Zukoski said that most districtsoppose independent charterschools. “The state looks objectivelyat what is the program, anddo we have confidence in beingable to provide education? Itwould be unfortunate to take thatlens away,” said Zukoski.public funds.With such an in-directionstation, BART could serve all ofLivermore and the region far betterand at less than one-third thecost of alternative 2b, endorsedby the city council. Without thatstation most BART users fromLivermore would have to driveout of direction in heavy trafficto constricted parking, and payhigher fares for the privilege.(BART fares are based on mileage.)Many would continuecrowding I-580 or Stanley Blvd.or just skip transit and driveinstead.An Isabel freeway interceptstation, like an international airportextension, should not be(More MAILBOX, see page 9)

GUIDELINES(continued from page one)The state air board has passedregulations designed to cut backon diesel fuel as a source. Theregulations will take a few yearsto be fully implemented, and willnot eliminate the entire problemconcerning diesel.On the receiving end of pollution,if a residential developmentis located near a big emitter, thedeveloper needs to meet standardsfor protecting the project’sinhabitants. That might meanintroduction of mitigation measures.Some mitigation measuresare not very expensive, such aslocating a building’s air intake onits far side, away from a freeway,and expanding an open spacebuffer between building and apollution source, said Phil Martien,an advance projects advisorfor BAAQMD.LOCAL IMPACTSNOT CLEAR YETPlanners in Livermore andPleasanton said the guidelinesare new. They haven’t had muchtime to become familiar withthem yet.New Music Program for LivermoreBy Patricia KoningMonths after eliminating allDistrict funding for elementarymusic, on June 1, the LivermoreBoard of Education voted torestore one elementary musicteaching position. The positionis entirely funded by donationsthrough the Livermore ValleyEducation Foundation (LVEF),with support from the LivermoreCultural Arts Council (LCAC),ABC Music, Wente Vineyards,the Gene Morgan InsuranceAgency, and many individualcommunity members.“We have an opportunity tocreate a new music experiencefor our students,” said CindyAlba, executive director of curriculumand special projects. “Wecannot maintain the program thatwe’ve had in the past, but wecan create a new program thatbuilds a foundation and interestin music.”She presented to the boarda proposal for an introductoryexploratory music class thatwould be offered twice a weekto 600 fifth graders across theLivermore Valley Joint UnifiedSchool District. The class wouldcover music theory, piano keyboard,song flute, vocals, and anintroduction to band and orchestrainstruments.Trustee Kate Runyon questionedwhy the class wouldn’tGrade Schools Lead Fund-raising DriveThe parent-centered fund-raisingdrive to restore programs inthe Pleasanton school district hasreached 50 percent of its goal.Much of the fund-raisinghas been concentrated on theelementary school level, where70 percent of the goal for thatlevel has been reached, accordingto figures updated on June 6 byPleasanton Partners in Education(PPIE). The non-profit group isconducting the drive.The goal at the elementarylevel has been $399,375, with$280,952 raised so far. At themiddle school level, $88,526 hasbeen collected, toward a goal of$229,689, which is 38 percentattainment.The high school goal is$325,000, and $97,226, or 24percent of the goal, has beenreached.In a separate campaign tosave the band and strings programsin the elementary schools,Livermore principal plannerSusan Frost said that the cityhas adopted a new general planand certified the new EIR for it.“I don’t believe we will have togo back and amend policies forthe guidelines. When we writean EIR on projects, we willhave to take the new guidelines’thresholds of significance intoaccount.”Livermore is working on a climateaction plan, and likely willhave to take the new numbersinto account for that, said Frost.Pleasanton planning managerJanice Stern said that withregard to the guidelines relatedto residents’ health, “we supporta healthy living environment.But until (dealing with the newguidelines) becomes routine,we’ll probably rely on air pollutionconsultants to interpret theregulations.”Since the guideline affectsprojects within 1000 feet of freeways,and potentially major roadssuch as Santa Rita Road andHopyard Road, it could “affecta large proportion of the city,”Pleasanton Schools EducationalEnrichment (PSEE) has raisedmore than $76,000 toward a goalof $90,000, over 80 percent ofthe goal..A big contributor to the drivewas a two-day event at the BankheadTheater last weekend. Itraised $29,600.Student art was auctioned onFriday night. There were separatelyticketed musical performanceson Saturday by studentmusicians from each of the threeschool levels in the Pleasantondistrict.The fund-raisers and schooldistrict are still collecting donations.However, June 8 was a tentativedeadline to begin summingup the situation. Starting workon allocating the money thenwill provide the district a betterhandle on how many positions itcan restore.In turn, the district can let laidoffworkers know what their fatecommented Stern.The guidelines could affectin-fill parcels near HaciendaBusiness Park and the BARTstation and places along I-680,said Stern.Having to deal with newguidelines could add some costto the list for a project. However,there is no way of knowing nowwhat that might be, she added.Proponents of affordablehousing were concerned at theair board meeting that the needfor more mitigation to meet thenew standards might cost them somuch that the development couldnot be built.Richardson said that air boardagency staff has developed casestudies of low income projectsthat could be sited in a safe locationnear freeways, for example.The same is true for any transitorienteddevelopment near BARTstations or freeways, he said.“We want to avoid puttingvulnerable populations at risk.Sometimes just proper setbackfrom freeways are needed,” saidRichardson.be offered to all of the District’sfifth graders, approximately900 students. Alba said that indiscussions with elementaryschool principles, they expressedenthusiasm for a program thatwould reach all fifth grade students.“I’m not in support of aprogram that is not available toall students,” said Runyon.Board president Stu Garyagreed with Runyon, but addedthat his two children have verydifferent attitudes toward musicclasses. “One would have lovedit, but for the other it would havebeen a waste of time,” he said.Trustee Anne White pointedout that students often are forcedto study other subjects theywouldn’t choose. “Some peoplewould be dragged kicking andscreaming into math class andwe make them go anyway. Noteveryone wants to learn to read,”she said. “I agree with providingit for all kids.” She felt thatall students should be in musicclasses.For all fifth graders to take theclass, it would have to be offeredonce rather than twice weekly,said Alba.The program is a far cry fromthe robust elementary musicprogram that Livermore studentsonce enjoyed. Starting in theearly 1990’s, interested fourthgrade students that passed testingreceived twice-weekly instructionin a stringed orchestralinstrument. Instruction in bandinstruments was available infifth grade.In the late 1990s, music becamethe designated prep periodfor all fourth and fifth gradeteachers. At that time, all fourthand fifth graders either studied aninstrument or took a general musicclass. The general music programwas eliminated in 2003/04because of a budget shortfall.From 2003/04 to 2008/09,the District employed six musicinstructors teaching instrumentalmusic to elementary schoolstudents. In 2009/10, the fourthgrade strings program was eliminated,resulting in the loss of 3.75FTE instructors.That year, the state visualand performing arts categoricaldollars funded the fifth gradeinstrumental music program.Beginning with the 2010/11school year, those categoricaldollars will be “swept” to meetgeneral funds obligations leavingno District funding for elementarymusic.“I thank LVEF and LCACfor making this possible,” saidGary. “We need to start fundraisingnow for 2011 because thingsare not going to get better, atleast not for the next three years.We’re all going to have to pitchin to help.”will be before they go on summervacation, said district spokeswomanMyla Grasso.The school board will formallyapprove the donations for thedifferent positions to be restoredat its meeting June 22. Parentshave been able to earmark theircontributions specifically forcertain uses, for example, libraryassistant positions and technologyspecialists.MODEL(continued from page one)knew him, stopped by theschool to say hello.Torlakson and Omania touredthe school with principal JeffKeller, Livermore School Boardpresident Stu Gary, superintendentKelly Bowers, and severalstaff members. A highlight of thevisit was the staff room, which iscovered wall to wall with graphsand charts of assessment resultsand student achievement. Kellerexplained some recent successes,like the fact that second graders,on average, made 15 monthsworth of progress in their readingability over the course of the9-month school year.Torlakson wanted to visitMarylin Avenue because overthe past three years, the schoolhas received $850,000 in fundingfrom the Quality EducationInvestment Act (QEIA), whichTorlakson authored in 2006. Thelegislation (Senate Bill 1133) wasthe result of a lawsuit settlementover State education funding.“I’ve been sharing the MarylinAvenue story with many people.This is what we mean by reformthat works,” he said. “What I’velearned from visiting Marylinand other schools receivingQEIA funds, is that smaller classsizes really do enable differentiatedlearning.”Marylin uses the QEIA moneyto lower class sizes, hire newstaff, and provide professionaldevelopment. “The extra professionaldevelopment time wascritical,” said Keller. “Our teachershad to learn how to drive dataand prepare many kinds of assessments.We were able to send ourteachers to several conferencesthat really helped us change theculture at the school.”Keller also used the QEIAmoney to increase Marylin’ssecond science specialist’s hoursfrom approximately 30% tofull-time. With two science specialists,science instruction doesnot interrupt the literacy blockthat happens during the first twohours of each school day. Duringthe literacy block, the sciencespecialists assist with readingintervention.Marylin has made impressiveacademic gains. In the 2009Academic Performance Index(API), Marylin raised its score by40 points, from 744 to 784. Theschool was one of about 50 statewideto emerge from ProgramImprovement (PI), from nearly3,000 schools in PI. Over a threeyearperiod, Marylin gained 117points on the API, making it oneof the top schools in the state interms of point gain.Keller is confident that thisyear the school will pass 800, thetarget for all schools in the state.“We will gain 30 to 60 points onThe Independent, JUNE 10, 2010 - PAGE 5the API when the results come outin August,” said Keller. “I knowthis because we’ve been measuringour students all year.”Keller and Gary also talkedabout how Marylin has benefittedfrom strong community support.A community outreach worker,funded by the United Way andCity of Livermore, has helpedparents become more involvedin their children’s education. Theschool contains a food pantry. Inaddition, Open Heart Kitchenprovides weekend meals for children.The Rotarian Foundation ofLivermore’s mobile health unitpays regular visits to the schoolto ensure that students receivepreventative medical and dentalcare.Torlakson described Marylinas a model school, both for itsacademic success and the levelof neighborhood, city, and communityinvolvement. Marylin’ssmall class sizes and extra resourcesare a rarity among publicschools.“We have to turn around whatis happening to education in thisstate,” he said. “I’m convincedI’ll be able to help the legislaturesee its way back to adding moneyto education instead of cuttingand to give more local controlby changing the threshold forpassage of a parcel tax to a simplemajority.”

PAGE 6 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010The spring soccer division winning Pleasanton Rage U11 Premier teamtook home another title (and a very large trophy) over the weekendwhen they finished in first place at the Santa Cruz Pro Am Beach SoccerTournament. Ten members of the team participated in the 2 day event.All five games were played on sand; the games consisted of threeexhausting 12 minute periods played in temperature that reached 85degrees. Saturday's 8am game was the only game played on "packedsand," as the Rage took the field against Dublin and won decisively19-1. Then under the blazing sun and a very loose playing field ofsand the afternoon became a little more concerning as the girls tiedthe Placer Pride 10-10. However, thanks to careful strategy planningby beach coach Jim Frost the girls knew they needed a shutout intheir third game on Sunday in order to advance to the playoffs. Theydelivered an 8-0 shutout over the Thunder. In the semi finals, TheRage beat the Wipeout 8-6. The finals were just by coincidence againstLivermore a team that these girls have gone head to head with morethan once. The team stayed on top of Livermore throughout and wonthe championship title with another shutout 2-0. Pictured are, fromleft, coach Jim Frost, Juliet Allen, Sam Frost, Haley Okumura, HunterVice, Bianca Stubler, Sadie Grozier, Jessica Hayes, Sarah Broacha,Amy Schoendienst, not shown, but participating was Mia Banducci.Photo - Kathy SchoendienstBallistic Premier SoccerPleasanton Ballistic United Club PremierU20 team defeated Diablo FC 1 to 0:: KyleCrain's goal in the 47th minute turned out tobe the game winner as Ballistic United Men'sPremier (under 20) soccer team defeatedDiablo FC by a score of 1-0. The first halfwas played at a frenetic pace as both teamsshowed first game jitters. Ballistic createdseveral great scoring chances. The best opportunitywas Kris Hall's shot from 5 yardsout which was turned aside on a nice saveby the Diablo keeper. Diablo's attempts toattack Ballistic over the top were thwartedby Central defenders Michael Janjigian andPhoto - Doug JorgensenOlympic Silver Medalist Merrill Moses was on hand during theFirst Wednesday Party on June 2 in downtown Pleasanton.Moses was the goalie for the water polo team. He was at LittleValley Winery to meet and great his fans. Little Valley Wineryowner Sandi Bohner admires his medal.Jeff Squires. The pair combined with KeeperNiko Lecco to completely shut down anyscoring opportunities for Diablo.In the second half Ballistic Unitedquickly went to work scoring the game's onlygoal 2 minutes in. Left back Evan Sherwood'sthrough ball found Kyle Crains perfectlytimed run. Crain got in 1 vs. 1 with the Diablokeeper and calmly finished his chance to putthe score at 1-0 Ballistic. Diablo pushedhard to get back in the game but Pleasantonkeeper Niko Lecco dominated his penaltyarea effectively turning aside Diablo's attack.Winger George Mayer had a sharp blast ongoal from 25 yards that forced the Diablokeeper to make a spectacular save.The win kicks off a new era for BallisticUnited as the club looks to create playingopportunities for older Ballistic players.Top Offensive Players: Kyle Crain,Andrew Cruz. Top Defensive Players: NikoLecco, Michael JanjigianPleasanton National LLPleasanton National Little Leaguehighlights:A Division: Braves vs. Dodgers: Bothteams started off slowly, but things quicklypicked up were they left off Saturday morning.Declan Alsup helped the Dodgers stopthe Braves from having a big inning in the2 nd . He got the first out of the inning fieldinga hard grounder at 2 nd base and made a goodthrow to JT Fulmer at 1 st . Then, with thebases loaded and one runner already homefor the Braves, Declan snagged a blisteringline-drive and tossed the ball over to JT tocomplete the double-play, ending the inning.Defense kept the Dodgers in the game againin the 3 rd . Ryan Haley’s inning-ending doubleplay really got things going for the Dodgers.The bats came alive in the bottom half of theinning as Declan, Ryan and Ben Wold allscored for the home team. Ben and Declanboth hit doubles tonight, each finishing thegame going 3-4 with 2 RBIs a piece. JTalso batted in a run with a clutch double inthe 5 th . Aidan McCarthy help the cause witha big night at the plate going 3-4, added aRBI, scored a run and showed some greathustle on the base paths. Kade Ogden ledthe charge for the Braves again. He went4-5 from the leadoff position, with a deephit to left field in the 4 th and also pitched asolid 5 th inning, striking out three. DrakeWilbur and Alex Moirano also helped theBraves cause, both going 3-4 for the visitors.Top hitters: JT Fulmer (2-5, double, 2runs scored, RBI); Aidan McCarthy (3-4,Photo - Bill NaleThe winning team, The Dogs of War, posed with John Madden(3rd from right) and Steve Mariucci (2nd from left). The Dogsof War are (left to right) Fil Calderon, Chris Albanese, JoeyBernardi, Dave Alaimo, Ben Nicosia, Bob Rogers. The Dogs ofWar defeated Mooch’s Gumbas in the finals.Dogs of War Take Bocce HonorsSan Francisco Bay Area legendsJohn Madden and SteveMariucci hosted the 12th Annual“Battle of the Bay” Bocce tournamenton June 2nd. MogulaireInc. joined the fun with a luxuryautomobile exhibit that providedcelebrity guests a sneak peek ofthe recently announced Concoursd”Elegance “ coming tothe Bay Area in July 2011.The tournament took place inthe Livermore Valley wine countryat the popular eatery Campodi Bocce. A packed house of 800guests or so watched the festivities,highlighted by the presenceof competitive players. RonnieLott, Keena Turner, BryantYoung, George Siefert and JimOtto were some of the sportsicons in attendance.Over the years, this mixer hasbrought together famous athletes,celebrities, dignitaries andbusiness leaders to enjoy winetasting, catered Italian cuisineand celebrity-filled bocce courtsin a venue dedicated to the oldworld game of bocce.Beneficiaries of the charityevent include Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation, NorthernCalifornia Special Olympics,Easter Seals/Kaleidoscope andTri-Valley High School Footballprograms.Kuoni Destination ManagementInc. produced the $500 perticket / $5,000 per team event.After the sun set in California”sbeautiful Tri-Valley region, theteam dubbed “Dogs of War,”captained by local concrete companyJJ Albanese, beat SteveMariucci”s “Mooches Goombas”team for the ultimate in boccebragging rights.

The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010 - PAGE 7run scored, RBI); Ben Wold (3-4, double,run scored, 2 RBIs). Top defensive players:Declan Alsup – 2 nd inning: 2 nd Base (madeall three outs that inning including a doubleplay); Ryan Haley – 3 rd inning: SS (madeinning-ending double play).Dodgers at Mets: The Dodgers and Metspicked a perfect night for baseball this pastWednesday. Both teams have played wellthis season and it was a great opportunity toshowcase some of the league’s best youngtalent. JT Fulmer got things started quicklyfor the Dodgers in the top of the 1 st , runningout an infield single. Ryan Haley moved himover to 3 rd with a big double to left. DeclanAlsup hit a sacrifice groundout to bringin the run and put the boys in blue on thescoreboard. Ben Wold also had a great dayat the plate, going 2 for 2 and always causesproblems for the opposing team on the basepaths. Ryan pitched a perfect 3 rd inning forthe Dodgers, striking out the first two battersand getting the third to groundout. The lastout of the inning was the play of the game.Aidan Dougherty fielded a hard hit shot toshortstop perfectly and made the long throwto 1 st . Declan made a beautiful backhandscoop in the dirt to complete the play andend the inning. Aidan D also showed offmore nice glove work later in the 5 th withsome great stops at 1 st base, making two outshimself. Jack Hollmeyer was the star of theMets today. The big southpaw pitched twoperfect innings for the home team, strikingout three. He also went 2 for 2 at the plateand had 2 RBIs. Kevin Santero had a greatday at bat for the Mets as well, going 3 for3, scoring a run and hitting in a run in the1 st . Top Hitters: JT Fulmer (1-2, run scored);Ben Wold (2-2, 2 singles); Top DefensivePlayers: Ryan Haley – 3 rd inning: P (2 Ks,a perfect 1-2-3 inning); Declan Alsup – 3 rdinning: 1 st Base (great backhand scoop outof the dirt); Aidan Dougherty – 3 rd inning:SS (great throw from SS for the out, made 2outs from 1 st ; Aidan Dougherty – 5 th inning:1 st Base (fielded 2 tough grounders, madethe outs himself)Dodgers at Padres: The Dodgers andPadres finished off the 2010 baseball yearin fine fashion this weekend. Garrett Alsupled the Dodgers attack today, going 4 for4, scoring a run and hitting 4 RBIs. AidanMcCarthy followed him in the batting orderand made for a tough middle of the lineuptoday. Aidan hit 3 hard singles and added 2RBIs for the visitors. Logan Seitz didn’t letup the pressure for the Dodgers, going 4 for4 with a clutch double in the 4 th inning. Onthe defensive side, the boys in blue lookedjust as good. It was warmest day we had allseason, but it was Ben Wold who brought theheat today when he took the mound in the2 nd inning. Only one batter reached base thatinning, while Ben struck out the other three.Declan Alsup continued where Ben left offin the bottom of the 3 rd inning, striking outtwo batters while pitching a perfect 1-2-3inning. The Padres had a great game. Weknew they’d be ready to play after meetingup with these guys earlier in the season andthey were. Elan Soloman was the ace of thestaff and threw nothing but smoke for the2 nd inning of the game. Not many boys willwant to step up to the plate when that kid’son the mound over the next few years. Hestruck out two batters. Chad Cliff followedin the 3 rd and pitched really well for the hometeam. After a shaky start, he settled downand struck out the last batter to get out ofthe jam. Top Hitters: Garrett Alsup (4-4, 1run, 4 RBIs); Aidan McCarthy (3-4, 2 RBIs);Logan Seitz (4-4, double, 1 run, 3 RBIs); TopDefensive Players: Ben Wold – 2 nd inning:P (3 Ks, 0 runs): Declan Alsup – 3 rd inning:P (2 Ks, 1-2-3 inning)Pleasanton PhantomThe Pleasanton Phantom summer travelsoftball teams have started their season.Pleasanton’s 12C Phantom travelingsoftball team scored two wins in San Carlosover Memorial Day weekend. The tournamentincluded 16 teams with Phantom earningthe 8th seed position by Sunday morning.On the way, the ladies played two SanRamon based teams and then had to replaySan Ramon South for the single eliminationplay. Unfortunately after being up by 5 runsin the bottom of the 7th inning, San Ramon(brewing rivalry!) rallied to win. Phantomstar pitchers were: Kelsey Congdon, MadisonAvery and Marisa Camarena. Phantomcatchers threw-out numerous steal attempts:Regan Lacy, Erin Overland. Brilliant bunterswere Jenna Crawford, Carley Robertson,Taylor Campbell and Paige Heacox.Seahawks Sets RecordsThe Pleasanton Seahawks (PLS) swimteam members made the cut at the Tiger Meetin Stockton May 28 to May 30, setting newrecords and achieving new time standards.Pre-Senior results from Tiger: 22 newPLS All Time Top Ten times - Eva Chung,Maggie Kauffeld, Anna Parker, KaylaLindsay, Hanna Folmar, Maxime Rooney,Jeff Tang, Kyle Oslund, Thomas Neufeld,Jon Ong, Ryan Vicencio, and Jeff Wang allswam very well. RJ Scott and Alex Gilchristswam the 800 free on Friday night and bothearned spots on the PLS All Time Top Tenlist. Congratulations to Eva Chung for aNew Team Record in the 11-12 girls longcourse 100 Breast (1:20.19).Junior/Pre Junior groups: Adrien Rooneymade FW in 100 breast, Tim Yao A timesin the 50/100 breast, Shawn Kim new Atimes in 100 back and 50 fly, Matt Huonew A time in 100 breast, Mike Yao newJO in 50 breast.Novice group results: The group senta handful of swimmers to this meet buthad some terrific results; Novice KatieAbhyankar established her first B time in100 breast.Pleasanton Girls SoftballPleasanton Girls Softball Leaguehighlights:Micro Division: Contra Costa Co.Public Auto Auction vs. Jabwire: Top Players:Contra Costa Co. Public Auto Auction- Kate Carroll, Molly Perez, Audrey Voit;Jabwire - Niav Chapman, Kristina Cuevas,Peyton WilliamsAccurate Impressions vs. GreyhoundProperties: Top Players: Accurate Impressions- Nicole Anderson, Amelie Chabot,Camille Rodriguez; Greyhound Properties- Kate Derham, Kelly MeyrathMinor Teal Division: ViewMobile-Dental.com 6, Richert Lumber Co., Inc.0: ViewMobileDental.com beat RichertLumber Co., Inc. in this playoff game witha score of 6 to 0. For ViewMobileDental.com, Reya Paulos struck out five batters andpitched a complete game shut-out. GraceNielsen fielded her position well and alsohit a double. For Richert Lumber Co., Inc.,Jessica Schmidt pitched four innings andstruck out four batters, allowing only onerun. Jessica Emde made two outs in oneinning with her solid defensive skills. TopPlayers: Richert Lumber Co., Inc. - MichelleCyr, Jessica Emde, Jessica Schmidt;ViewMobileDental.com - Kamdyn Maher,Grace Nielsen, Reya PaulosAssociation Management Solutions,LLC 7, ViewMobileDental.com 6: TopPlayers: Association Management Solutions,LLC - Krista Buescher, Helena Haase, HannahMyers; ViewMobileDental.com - MiaBattilega, Maddie David, Rachel YetsoAssociation Management Solutions,LLC 4, Concord Feed 2: AssociationManagement Solutions, LLC and ConcordFeed squared off in the playoffs in a closelycontested game won by Association ManagementSolutions, LLC 4-2. Concord Feedwas led by Kara Haynie who pitched threesolid innings and had a double, Jasmin Rosswho played a solid game at third base, andBrianna Bench who had a single and anRBI. Association Management Solutions,LLC was led by Helena Haase who had asingle and an RBI, Claire Helmer who hada single and was solid at catcher, and HannahMyers who had two hits, two RBIs andpitched two shutout innings including gettingout of a bases loaded jam with no outs. TopPlayers: Association Management Solutions,LLC - Helena Haase, Claire Helmer, HannahMyers; Concord Feed - Brianna Bench, KaraHaynie, Jasmin RossLivermore American LLLivermore American Little LeagueAAA Division: Padres 7, Diamondbacks6: The AAA Padres clinched third place with a7-6 win over the Diamondbacks. Noah Renopitched well for the Padres with 9 strikeouts.Tai Phan had a single and an RBI and BobbyCanteline scored two runs and hit a single.For the Diamondbacks, Grant Murphy led theoffense with two triples. Dante De Mayo hada single and double. Tyler McMahon pitchedwell, recording 6 strikeouts. Top Padres Players:Noah Reno, Tai Phan, Bobby Canteline;Top Diamondback Players: Grant Murphy,Dante De Mayo, Tyler McMahon.AA Division: Indians 2, Astros 1: The finalgame of the season ended with the Indianstaking the Astros 2-1, to tie both teams for3rd place. Top Astros players: Aaron Aguilarplayed a fantastic game, going 2 for 2 with2 singles as well as displaying excellentfielding with an unassisted double play in the2nd. Carson King also plaed an impressivegame with a single and a double in two atbatsand strong defensive plays at shortstopincluding a diving stop with an exact throwto first to get the runner in the 4th inning.Bailey Kemp showed phenomenal skill in theoutfield, making a great catch of a long ballhit deep to centerfield. Top Indians players:Allejandro Cabassa – hit a solid single for2 RBIs in the 2nd inning. Paul Curbelo – hita single in the 2nd inning, and 4th inning.Grant Peterson – first time pitching in theseason, showed some great skill.Tigers 2, Cubs 8: In the first of threeplayoff games in the AA division, the fanswere not disappointed. It was another greatgame between the two very evenly matchedgames. The Tigers scored early, but the Cubsrallied back, with the bottom half of the battingorder coming through with timely hits.Joe Bartoni had a two out single in the bottomof the second inning. Elijah Kutsenda,whose bat had been quiet of late, ripped alead off homerun over the fence in the bottomof the 3rd inning to ignite the Cubs. In the4th inning, Sam Bush made it safely to firstbase on a “swinging bunt” that caught theTigers by surprise. While the Cubs playedhard on the field, the MVP’s of the gamewere Matt Hagan and Tyler Revay. Whilethey were unable to play due to recent injuryand illness, they came out to the game andcheered on their team mates, proving that ittakes every team mate to have a successfulgame. The Tigers did not go down without afight. Evan Caperro had a single and a stolenbase in the 1st inning, and an RBI doublein the 4th. Ian Partridge made an amazingdiving catch at first base in the 2nd inningand struck out 4 batters from the mound laterin the game. Joseph Fields helped keep thegame close for the Tigers with excellentfielding at 1st base. Both teams played agreat game and are looking forward to thenext game in this best out of 3 series for firstplace in the LALL AA division. Good luckto both teams!Cubs 6, Tigers 0: The final playoff gamefor the AA division was filled with actionand great baseball. The Cubs came to hitwith great hitting from most of their team.Although the Tigers struggled, they foughthard and never gave up. For the Tigers,Nolan Smith hit a single up the 3rd base linein the 1st and made another great hit in the4th inning. Drew Braudrick showed nervesof steel in the final innings of the game,when he struck out 5 players and made agreat throw to first to Joseph Fields to geta player out. Evan Capurro continued hishitting streak with a huge single in the firstinning. For the Cubs, Shane Clifton went 3for 3, and he hit an over the fence homerunearning 2 RBIs. Brad Archer also hit a hugeover the fence home run for the team. ElijahKutsenda had a line drive down the 3rd baseline for a double in the 5th inning. Clifton,Archer, and Conner Livingston also showedgreat pitching to keep the Tigers from scoring.The Cubs win the AA division and theTigers got 2nd place. Way to go boys! Topplayers for the Tigers: Drew Braudrick, NolanSmith, and Evan Capurro. Top players forthe Cubs: Shane Clifton, Brad Archer, andElijah Kutsenda.T-Ball: Marlins vs. Giants: Both teamsshowed great hitting skills and hustle onthe field. Top Marlins players: ThomasMcKnight, Ryan Miria, Alex Scull; TopGiants players: Joey Makarewicz, MichaelBliss, Ryan Jones.Livermore National LLLivermore National Little Leaguehighlights:Majors: Cardinals 8, Dodgers 0: Cardinalspitcher Koll Waddle pitched 5 scorelessinnings and struck out 13 batters while givingup only 2 hits to lead the Cardinals to an 8-0victory over the Dodgers. Waddle went 2 for3 at the plate with an RBI. Andrew Romeroalso went 2 for 3, adding 2 RBI and a stolenbase. Wyatt Pennybacker struck out 6 in 3innings pitched for the Dodgers, while gettingtwo hits in two at bats. Dodger pitcherDylanger Rucker pitched 2 1/3 strong inningsand struck out one. Derion Hampton battedwell, going 1 for 2.AA Division: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks:Eric Ruloma had a double and 2 RBI'sas the Dodgers came back from a deficit togive the Diamondbacks a fight. CatcherMason Smith kept the game going strong andhad a great hit to the outfield which resultedin another RBI. Slugger, Caden Emry hada strong hit to first and played well in theoutfield. The D'backs were led by pitcherColton Berlin. 2nd baseman Benjamin Tiedemanhad a great catch and threw for an out,while Ian Humes ran the bases. .Rockies vs. Cardinals: Joshua Whitepitched a good game for the Rockies,while Sean Pascul and Robert Hoffs fieldingwas terrific. Camron Aslin and JacobLords catching made the perfect pair forthe Cardinals along with Dylan Breeschesstrong fielding.Rockies vs. A's: Jacob Garcia pitcheda great game for the Rockies. Robert Hoff,Brendan Johnston and Sean Pascul displayedgreat fielding skills. The As provedto be consistent hitters with Logan Vinson,Tony Boblinardo, Tyler Felipe and MasonDelisser.Rockies vs. Diamondbacks: JonathanMulrooney and Robert Hoff had some solidhits for the Rockies with Zachery Fumero andJoshua White as standout fielders. ColtranBerrliv, and Jumanne Smith both hit homeruns for the DBacks. Brett Oelrich and DarrenONeill lead with runs batted in. ColtonBerlinn and Jumanne Smith both had homeruns for the Diamondbacks. Josh Freitashad a great outfield assist from center fieldfor the third out to end the Rockies threatlate in the gameRockies vs. Dodgers: The Rockies lastgame was phenomenal, both teams wereconsistent showing their growth this year.The Rockies Jacob Peterson played catcherand Kyle Mckinzie pitched. Both EliizabethKennedy and Brendan Johnston wereoutstanding. The Dodgers Cassey Wilcoxhit a triple, Todd Niezman and BrandonArcher pitched.Single A Division: Cardinals vs. OrangeGiants: This was a fast-paced gamebetween two well-matched teams on a sunnySaturday morning. Both teams' defense wasformidable; three outs were made in manyof the innings. The Cardinals' DominicScott and Caden King had a great partnershipat second and first bases, respectively,successfully completing two difficult plays.Austin Statham, as pitcher, also made twoimpressive stops, throwing to Ryan Hanleyat first base, who handled the balls expertlyand tagged the base for the outs. For theGiants, Brody Resler-Miller made a cleantag at second base. Offensively, both teamshit reliably and strongly, with noteable hitsfor the Cardinals by Nico LaManna, amongthem a solid single which he followed upwith some fast base running. For the OrangeGiants, Daniel Vergara hit two blasts throughthe infield, and Landon Ratinho pulled a linedrive down the the third base line.Diamondbacks vs. Orange Giants: Intheir final match-up of the season, the Diamondbacksfaced the Orange Giants for whatturned out to be a battle of the web gems.The D’backs opened up with impressiveplay from Nathan Bruan and Wyatt Jackson.Then Brandon Sandoval arrived on the scene,making multiple outs and pulling off a doubleplay. Then the Giants got in on the action.Pitcher Dylan Silva pulled off a double playof his own, and combined with the solid gloveof Landon Ratinho at first for another. Thetwo would join forces later with Ratinhopitching and Silva catching for some spectacularouts at the plate. Daniel Vergara andEthan Henderer had solid glovework as well,creating a few web gems of their own. Atthe plate Jimmy Rodriquez and John Stanglhit to the fence for the D’backs while AdamPatterson, Dane Winslow, and Cody Francohit for power for the Giants.Cubs vs. A's: For the Cubs: AydenMartinez solid hits for the Cubs and ColbyCairel also had solid hits, while Jake Carmichaelplayed 2nd base and 3rd base andalso had very solid hits for the Cubs. For theA's: Evan Nystrom – Big hit for a double,nice catch on a fly ball, received game ball.Landon Wiedenfield – Fantastic hit to leftcenter for a doubleDiamondbacks vs. Cubs: On the Cubsside , Jimmy Theberge, Joey Mifsud andJoshua Spencer had giant hits that impressedeveryone. For the Diamondbacks, JohnStang,l Dylan Mizuhara, Jimmy Rodriguezand Gavin Powers were the big hitters smakingthe ball to the field.Black Giants vs. Dodgers: For theBlack Giants, the defense was extremelyimpressive. In the first inning, Jacob Nixoncaught a pop up and fielded two groundersand was responsible for all three outs. In thefollowing innings, Julian Quigley recordedseveral defensive gems and hit the ball hardinto the gaps. Rylan Myhre used his glove tomake several plays at shortstop including acleanly fielded grounder with a perfect striketo second base for the out. Jack McDowellplayed first base like a pro catching variousthrows that came his way. Jason DeSantiswas an all around playmaker using his gloveand arm on defense and running the bases aggressively.For the Dodgers, Mason Swangerwas tremendous in the field playing defensivestopper. Shaun Smith was strong behind thedish at catcher and Aiden Follis played greatboth offensively and defensivelyBlack Giants vs. Diamondbacks: TheBlack Giants hosted the Diamondbacks in agame that featured solid offense and defensefrom both teams. For the Diamondbacks,Brandon Sandoval, Jimmy Rodriguez, GavinPowers and Wyatt Jackson all showed skillsusing their bats to produce several hits to theoutfield grass. For the Giants, Jason DeSantiswas tremendous on offense with multiple hitsincluding one that went all the way to thefence. Alex Flegel helped the Giants with hisbat and speed as he hit a hard ground balldown the third base line and ran the baseswith determination.Cardinals vs. Athletics: The Cardinalsquickly made three outs in the first inning,aided twice by Matthew Sciascia's sparklingfielding at first base. Jacob Burke was alsoinstrumental in the Cardinal's defense, makingsome excellent plays later in the game atfirst base. For the Athletics, Gabe DeCarskyattacked the balls at short stop. Offensively,Alex Alamillo had a terrific game, driving ina run with a solidly hit single, and MichaelTurpin hit a double and a single well into theoutfield. The Athletics' Scott Dougherty hada strong hit up the third base line. NathanO'Neill of the Athletics and Austin Stathamof the Cardinals were commended by theircoaches for their overall good efforts andpositive attitudes.Cubs vs. Black Giants: For the Cubs:Tyler Blue had solid hits for the Cubs whileChristopher Johnson did a great job playing1st Base. Ayden Martinez had solid hits 3times for the Cubs and Joey Mifsud playedgreat shortstop with the season ending withan awesome double by Ryan Kelly for theCubs final game. For the Black Giants: JackMcDowell played great defense includingfielding a hard hit ball and throwing therunner out at 2nd base. Kyle Winkler was anoffensive machine with several hits includinga double to the fence. Collin McDowelland Zachary Sousa hit the ball all over thefield and ran the bases well. Jason DeSantisplayed great defense and offense for an allaround good game.T-Ball: Giants vs. Cardinals: The Giantsand Cardinals played a fast paced game onthe Majors field. On the Cardinals, CharlieLatkowski made some stellar plays at firstand second base. Aleksandr Cortez madegreat plays at third base. On the Giants,Damon Miller earned the game ball for afantastic overall game, his best playing todate. Ian Silveira caught a pop fly as pitcher.Justin York had some far hits and playedgreat defenseBowling NewsKen DiBattista rolld a perfect "300"game n the Gene's Pro Shop ChampionshipTrios last Wednesday at the Granada Bowlin Livermore.Mark Eiden, in the Summer Fun Timeleague, bowled a 237 game. Right behindhim was Jason Barrett with a 234. GeneBruihl turned in a 278 game in the ChampionshipTrios league. Gabe Donhue rolleda 247 game.In the Donna's Mixers league onThursday morning, Judy Barrett rolled 53over average with a 202 game. GrahamScott bowled 268 in the Practice Leagueand Wendy Browning a 210 game (60 pinsover). Austin Stuber recorded 138 overaverage with games of 254-246-184 to endwith a 684 in the Generation Gap league onSunday night.Pleasanton Spirit RunMore than 1,200 runners are expectedFather's Day when the Rotary Club ofPleasanton's stages its 17th annual SpiritRun in downtown Pleasanton.Main Street will be closed from 5 a.m.until about 11 a.m. between Del Valle Parkwayand Neal Street on June 20.The Father's Day tradition has continuedto grow as runners, families and kidsparticipate in either a 10K or 5K run or thekids' challenge.Race-day registration will be acceptedstarting at 7 a.m. in the Round Table Pizzaparking lot on Main Street. The 10K run willstart at 8 a.m. on Main Street followed bythe 5K run at 8:20.The courses wind through Pleasantonneighborhoods, the Alameda County Fairgroundsand on trails along the scenic Arroyodel Valle. Traffic also will be slowed bypartial lane closures along the race courses.This will affect Valley Avenue, Paseo SantaCruz, Del Valle Parkway, Division Streetand St. Marys street between about 7:30a.m. and 9:30 a.m.Proceeds go to support the Rotary Clubof Pleasanton's scholarship program. In thelast 12 years, more than $320,000 has beenraised for scholarships to deserving Pleasantongraduates who need financial help toattend college.In 2009 the Pleasanton Rotary awarded21 scholarships ranging from $750 to $2,350.The total was $24.400. Recipients will beannounced at the schools' awards ceremoniesthis month.The run is sponsored by Sensiba SanFilippo LLP, a Bay Area-wide accountingfirm with an office in Pleasanton.To register for the runs, please go onlineto www.spiritrun.com. Online preregistrationcloses at midnight June 16. Runners canhelp Pleasanton schools by designating aschool and/or a school organization whenregistering. The Rotary Club is continuingits practice of donating $5 per registration toPleasanton schools when runners designatea group or school.For information about the Rotary Clubof Pleasanton, please see www.pleasantonrotary.org.Golf TournamentThe 3rd Annual Dublin Community GolfTournament will be held June 22 at the DublinRanch Golf Course. The event begins with a1:00pm shotgun start, followed by a buffetdinner and silent auction.This weekend marks the 92nd year of the Livermore Rodeo,known as the “World’s Fastest Rodeo.” Events are June 12 and13 at Robertson Park Stadium. Grand entry is at 2 p.m. each day.Gates open at 10 a.m. Competition is in the following events:saddle bronc and bareback riding, wild cow milking, steerwrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing (pictured)and bull riding. Bailey Castello is this year’s Miss LivemoreRodeo. The Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls are the specialty act.They perform trick riding and roping. On Thursday, June 10,there is a Family Night — featuring local team roping and wildcow milking. The admission to this event is free. The annualrodeo parade is June 12, starting at 10 a.m. on Second Street indowntown Livermore. For more information about events andtickets, go to www.livermorerodeo.org.

PAGE 8 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010This is a scramble, best-ball type tournament.Handicaps are not used. This intergenerationalcommunity tournament raisesfunds for the Dublin Youth Fee AssistanceProgram, which provides quality recreationalexperiences for children who otherwise mightnot get this opportunity.Teams or individuals can register at www.dublinrecguide.com. The cost of $90 Adults,$50 Seniors (50+) and $50 for Teens includesgreens fees, cart and dinner.The tournament includes holes for LongestDrive, Closest to the Pin, Hole-in-Oneand a Putting Contest plus a special “GripIt and Rip It” appearance by Dublin mascotGlen the Guide.For more information, please contact theParks and Community Services Departmentat (925) 556-4500.15U Summer BaseballGranada Wolf Pack Baseball Club2010 Summer Team is seeking talented andpassionate players for its 15U tournamentteam. Season will be during June and July.Experienced coaching; highly competitivebaseball. Contact Manager David Journeyat granadabaseball@hotmail.com fortryout info.Baseball CampsLivermore High Varsity Baseball CoachDavid Perotti is hosting two summer camps.Each camper will receive individual instructionfrom coaches and Livermore High players,a snack each day and a camp shirt. Thereare two 5-12 year old camps that cost $100and $125. The two dates are: June 28-July1 (four days only) and July 12-16 and runfrom 9-12 each day. For more info to signup please contact David Perotti at (925)586-2811 or dpperotti@yahoo.com or checkwebsite www.eteamz.com/lvbIronhead LacrosseA large selection of summer lacrosseprograms are now open for registration.Ironhead Lacrosse offers activities for youthboys and girls, men and women of all agesand experience levels. Events and leaguesessions are conducted at Cabernet Sportsin Livermore. For more details visit www.ironheadlacrosse.com or call Bob Mezeulat 925-989-4553.Basketball CampLas Positas College Girls BasketballCamp is set for July 26-30, 4 to 6 p.m. Earlyfee payment $50 by July 2; $75 late fee. Mailchecks to: Las Positas Women’s BasketballOffice, 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore,CA 94551. Make Checks Payable to: LasPositas Women’s Basketball. Access theRegistration form on: www.laspositascollege.edu/athletics.Contact Lindsay Wiselywith questions: lindsaywisely@yahoo.com.All proceeds benefit Las Positas CollegeWomen’s BasketballTriathlon SeriesSaturday, June 21 is the kick off to OnYour Mark Events’ 23rd annual Tri-For-FunTriathlon Series, at Shadow Cliffs Park inPleasanton, On Your Mark Event’s Tri-For-Fun Triathlon Series.Utilizing the lake and rolling hills ofShadow Cliff Park and the flat paved roadsrunning through Pleasanton and Livermore,the Tri-For-Fun features a course distanceof 400-yard Swim (warm, clean lake);11-mile bike (loop course, flat streets);3.1-mile run (rolling fire trail). The courseis perfect for the newcomer as well as theseasoned triathlete. Along with the shorter(than usual tri distance) course and the safe,friendly, and non-competitive atmosphere,the Tri-For-Fun makes an excellent eventfor the numerous first-time triathletes. It’snot unusual to see a 10-year old runningalong side with a 70-year old. (Last year,the youngest and oldest participants recordedwere 6-years old and 78-years old.) Thoughthe three Tri-For-Fun triathlons are notcompetitive with awards (remember, it’sfor fun), there is a digital timing clock soeach participant can check on his/her timepersonal achievement.The 2010 On Your Mark Tri-For-FunSeries dates are June 19, July 17, andAugust 21. The Tri-For-Real will be heldon September 19. All races will start at7:00 a.m., at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park,2500 Stanley Blvd., Pleasanton, CA. Thereis a 1,000-participant maximum for eachtriathlon. The triathlons do sell out.Entry fee for the three Tri-For-Funsis $55.00 in advance, and $65.00 day of.Participants will receive a commemorativeT-shirt, refreshments, snacks, and entry intothe always exciting raffle (must be presentto win). ($65.00 advance, and $75.00 dayof for the Tri-For-Real, which also includestrophies and medals.)Check-in and registration will beginat 5:00 a.m., with the first wave hitting thewater at 7:00 a.m.To register or to receive more informationabout On Your Mark Events’ Tri-For-FunTriathlon Series, call 209-795-7832 or visittheir Web site at www.onyourmarkevents.com.Women's TriathlonThe 2010 Trek Women Triathlon Series,with races planned in eight markets acrossthe United States, is coming to the ShadowCliffs Recreation Area in Pleasanton, on June27. The Trek Women Triathlon Series joinsthe Danskin Triathlon Series, another XxtraMile property, as the only major women’striathlon events created by women, run bywomen, exclusively for women.Maggie Sullivan, Trek Series Directorand president of The Xxtra Mile has beenan integral force in women’s triathlons, andat the forefront of creating opportunities forwomen in the sport of triathlon since the firstDanskin event in 1990. The PhiladelphiaInquirer recognized Sullivan as the “TheGrande Dame of Women’s Triathlons.”Triathlon Hall of Famer and IronmanMaster’s world record holder, Sally Edwardswill again serve as Chief Inspiration Officerfor this second year of the Trek Women TriathlonSeries. “My role will be to help womenfind what it takes to participate in this type ofactivity,” explains Edwards. “I’m thrilled tobe part of Maggie’s team in helping womenexceed their own expectations.”The Pleasanton race distances consistof a half mile swim, 12.5 mile bicycle ride,and 3.1 mile run/walk. Participants areencouraged to go to www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.comfor registration. For furtherinformation, call toll free at 1-877-221-9665or send us your questions at info@trekwomenstriathlon.com.The Trek Women Triathlon Series isdedicated to providing women with everyopportunity to support themselves and theirindividual causes. 100% of the money fromthe Series’ Participant Pledge Program isdonated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundationand The National Association of TeamSurvivor. The Xxtra Mile has also launched“I Want to Tri for My Cause.” Through thispromotion, the Series contributes a portionof registrant fees to the charity of choice forany group of women – from six to fifty-nineparticipants.In addition, the Trek Women TriathlonSeries is reaching out and supporting womenwho have recently lost their jobs.Golf TournamentGolf tournament on Mon., June 21at Ruby Hil Country Club in Pleasantonwill benefit the The Boys and Girls Clubsof Tracy.Former 49er Keena Turner will hostthe event. Foursoms are $1400, includingdinner tickets for guests; single golvers$350 including dinner; $80 tournamentdinner. Fee includes shirt, hat, give-aways,photo opportunity with Keena, 18 holes ofgolf, specialty holes, dinner, and silent andlive auctions.Sponsorings are available. Informationwww.bgcoftracy.org.Golf TouranmentThe Rotary Club of Livermore Valleywill host the 2nd annual Every 15 MinutesCharity Golf Tournament on Mon., Aug. 2at the Ruby Hill Golf Club. Shotgun startis 8 a.m.Entry fee up to July 12 is $175; $195 afterthat date. Funds go to finance the presentationof the Every 15 Minutes program for highschool juniors and seniors in Livermore.To participate or for sponsorship opportunities,contact either Captain Scott Trudeau371-4717 or Dave Bedford 980-8143.Football TrainingLivermore Youth Football and Cheer(LYFC) is seeking 12-14 year old footballplayers that want to train and play youthchampionship football. Athletes will trainwith doctors, personal speed and fitnesstrainers, former NFL players and coaches.This is a program that will prepare athletesto be leaders in the high school programthey select. Athletes will compete againsthigh comp teams in neighboring cities andregions to gain experience in the diverse skillsets that their programs contain.This is an intense 5 month program thatfocuses on nutrition, fitness and condition andskills development. The athletes will receivespecific instruction on eating and conditioningfrom experienced professionals.This is designed for athletes that areprepared to give 110% to reach their peakperformance levels in preparation for highschool, and college football programs.There are discounts on fees for familieswith multiple athletes. Payment plans andscholarships are available on a limited basis.Visit the program website at Livermorekids.com or call The Athletic Director Eric withquestions at (925) 200-1556 or e mail Livermorekids@gmail.com.Or with representativesin person at the Livermore FarmersMarket on June 10 at the corner of J Streetand Third. This porgram is supported by theOakland Raiders, Valley Christian, Granadaand Livermore High Scools.CheerleadingLivermore Youth Football and Cheeris looking for cheerleaders from age 5 to14. LYFC provides a complete trainingand development program for Junior Cheerathletes. Previous experience is not required.Coaches emphasize “positive reinforcementtechniques." The teams compete at the localand National Level. Competitions includeJamz and USA Cheer at exciting venues suchas Great America, Marine World, Santa CruzBeach Boardwalk, Granada and LivermoreHigh Schools, Napa etc. All registered playersparticipate.The athletes compete against nearby citiesand teams made up of the athletes they willcompete against at a high school level.There are discounts on fees for familieswith multiple athletes. Payment plans andscholarships are available on a limited basis.Visit the program website at Livermorekids.com or call The Athletic Director Ericwith questions at (925) 200-1556 or e mailLivermorekids@gmail.com. Or meet withrepresentatives in person at the LivermoreFarmers Market on June 10 at the corner ofJ Street and Third.Football ProgramFootball players from 7-11 years oldare welcome to participate in the LivermoreYouth Football and Cheer (LYFC) program.LYFC is a 37 Year old “Pop Warner”styletraditional football program. Previous experienceis not required. Athletes are trainedby experience coaches utilizing “positive”coaching. Development of character aswell as fitness and nutritional guidanceare provided. Athletes are provided 60 fullhours of training prior to their first gameof the season. Optional fitness programsand football camps are available to furtherprepare the athletes in advance of the season.All registered players participate.The players compete against nearbycities and teams made up of the athletesthey will compete against at a high schoollevel. This is the only football programoffering this diverse and complete skillstraining systems.Special fundraising programs are in placefor athletes and their families.There are discounts on fees for familieswith multiple athletes. Payment plans andscholarships are available on a limited basis.Visit the program website at Livermorekids.com or call The Athletic Director Ericwith questions at (925) 200-1556 or e mailLivermorekids@gmail.com. Or meet withrepresentatives in person at the LivermoreFarmers Market on June 10 at the corner ofJ Street and Third.The 5 th Annual “SummerClassic” Golf Tournament, dinnerand concert to raise moneyfor the JDRF, Juvenile DiabetesResearch Foundation, is FridayAugust 13, 2010 at the Wentecomplex in Livermore. It is opento the general public.The event is hosted by ActiveCharity, a group of localbusinessmen and their supporterswho have already raised over $1million dollars for JDRF. Thecharity fundraiser is co-hostedby Tri-Valley Bank.This year’s event will featurea special treat— a concert performanceby, “Super Diamond,”a popular Neil Diamond tributeband. Neil Diamond has writtenfive-decades worth of hit songs,so “Super Diamond” will appealPictured are, left to right, Theresa Martin, Christopher Guido,Krishnan Rajagopalan, Karen Wang, and Chelsea Finn.Seahawks Class of 2010Heads off to CollegeThe crew start their day in thepre-dawn hours several times aweek as they ready themselves tomaneuver through multiple tasks:ten weekly practices, weekendmeets, high school, homework,academic tests, and additionaloutside activities. Then there istime left over for family, friends,fun and sleep. With a GPA averageof 4.0 these hard workingathletes have become mastersat multitasking, while integratingtheir time and talent. Theroad to success is always underconstruction and the graduatinghigh school seniors of the PleasantonSeahawks (PLS) SwimTeam have learned the fine art ofproject management. Meet thePLS Class of 2010: ChristopherGuido, Krishnan Rajagopalan,Theresa Martin, Karen Wang,and Chelsea Finn.As part of their logisticalplanning, these elite athleteswill be attending the college oftheir choice, including UC Davis(Christopher and Krishnan), CSU- Sacramento (Theresa), PrincetonUniversity (Karen) and MIT(Chelsea). Christopher, Krishnan,Karen and Chelsea will bestudying Engineering. Theresaplans to study Nursing.Christopher stated of his timewith the team, “The most importantqualities I gained from Seahawksswimming are time managementand perseverance.”“I learned the value of hardwork and consistency with respectto attending practice,”explained Krishnan.Chelsea stated, “Motivateyourself, don’t let your parentsor coaches be your primary motivation.”Karen noted, “Being at PLShas taught me the importanceof being persistent and workinghard.”Head PLS Coach, Steve Morsilli,stated, “We celebrate ourgraduating PLS swimmers notonly for their accomplishments,but, more importantly, for theirto several generations of fans.“We want to invite the entireEast Bay out to this fun, worthwhileevent,” said Jason Skeoch,of San Ramon, a co-founderof Active Charity, “People cangolf, or they can just come forthe dinner and concert. There isno need to do both, although youare welcome to do so.”Over four million Americansnow have diabetes, many of themchildren. Sadly, the numbers aregrowing. Every thirty seconds,another person in the UnitedStates is diagnosed with diabetes.“My teenage daughter has Type-1diabetes,” said Jim Horalek, ofAlamo, East Bay President ofJDRF, “She is getting the medicalperseverance and sticking withthe swim program.”The swimmers did not spendall of their time in the water.Krishnan was an East Bay RegionalParks District Lifeguard.Christopher received the rankof Eagle Scout, earned the APScholar with Distinction awardand is the recipient of the marquisscholarship from the PedrozziFoundation. As a member ofLeadership at AVHS, Theresastated, “I take part in schoolevents and I participate in communityservice.”Karen was voted most athleticat Foothill HIgh School,is a member of the NationalFrench Honor Society, a CSFmember and the co-president ofthe Uganda Club. She said, “Mymost proud athletic accomplishmentwas when I made it to theOlympic trials in 2008.” Chelseawas in the AVHS Marching Bandas Trumpet Section Leader and1 st Chair Trumpet in the AVHSWind Ensemble. Both Karen andChelsea will continue to swim incollege.They take special memorieswith them. Krishnan remembersa favorite moment, “when CoachTodd attempted to run across thepool cover.” “I’d have to saythat my favorite PLS momentwas when I was in Coach Todd’sgroup,” remarked Theresa. “Alightning storm began duringour practice, so we all got outof the pool and Coach Todd letus do relays in the muddy grassand we all played in a mud slipin-side.”Chris mentioned oneof his favorite PLS experienceswas when Coach Steve took theSenior Elite group to the OlympicTraining Center in ColoradoSprings this past spring break fortraining. In addition, Chelseastated, “I will miss my friendsand coaches.”“The Seahawks wish themthe absolute best in the years tocome,” announced PLS SeniorCoach, Heather Morsilli.Golf Classic Raises Funds for Jr. Diabetes Foundationhelp emotional support and hopefor the future because of eventslike this.”Once again, the title sponsorthis year is Chevron, and WenteVineyards is a generous supporter,along with Service ChampionsHeating & Air Conditioning. “Weappreciate the great support ofour sponsors,” said Skeoch.For information on how tosign up to golf, or for dinner andconcert tickets, see www.Cure-Type1.org/summer. For press,publicity and media sponsorshipopportunities, please call MarkCurtis at (510) 393-9903 orMark@MarkCurtisMedia.com.Livermore Man LaunchesA Concours d'EleganceEric Pestana, a LivermoreValley entrepreneur, has bookeda Father’s Day event into hisseries of car-related celebrationsleading up to what is billed asa ground-breaking Concoursd’Elegance on the grounds ofWemte Vineyards in the middleof next year.Before the grand finale, whichwill cost what Vegas types like tocall “a bill,” all of the events arefree. They begin on June 20, withthe Father’s Day fete at the FourSeasons Silicon Valley Hotel inEast Palo Alto.Cars are the main thing, saidPestana, 34, who, as a younglad in Los Angeles and the EastBay, liked to lie on his stomachand draw the ones he saw aroundhim, beginning with the vintageAmerican roadsters and hot rodsthat his parents adored.Pestana said about 20 exceptionalvehicles will be on displayat the Four Seasons, along withattractions like a virtual golf dioramawhere people can swing aNike club at any one of more thana thousand courses from aroundthe world.The Father’s Day event, setfor 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will kickoff a yearlong series of parades,promenades, tastings and puttaboutspromoting Pestana’s bigbash on July 23, 2011: the MogulaireConcours d’Elegance atWente Vineyards in Livermore.Mogulaire is the name ofPestana’s 2-year-old firm, designedto promote a variety ofproducts, using audacious autosas a hook.Pestana said the winery eventwill distinguish itself from otherconcours-type car shows in Californiaby concentrating only onWATER(continued from page one)said. “We have no choice but toraise rates.”Even with the rate increase,Smith said that the Pleasantonrates are the least expensive inthe area.The average water users (20to 24 Ccf) will see an increaseof $5.20 per month on their billsfor use. Those in the highesttier, the monthly increase wouldbe $16.40 for 60 Ccf and up to$51.40 for 100 Ccf usage.In addition to an increase inresidential rates, commercial andirrigation rates are going up. It isanticipated there will be an average21 percent increase in waterbills for commercial users. Thereare three tiers: low use, moderateuse and high use tiers. Themonthly increase at the low userate is anticipated to be $7.95 (30Ccf); moderate $23.85 (90 Ccf),and high use, $47.70 (180 Ccf).Irrigation rate changes will producea $45.90 per month increasefor low use (170 Ccf), $81 formoderate use (300 Ccf) and $189for high use (700 Ccf).Some discounts will be administereddifferently as well.The 30 percent discount for lowincome residents will not change.There will be changes in thesenior discount. Smith said thatseniors on fixed incomes withfairly small houses are the targetgroup for a discount. Currently,a 20 percent discount is allowedat age 62. The discount requiresover $656,000 subsidy from thegeneral fund.Under the new system, the20 percent discount for seniorswould kick-in at age 65. Thosealready on the program wouldbe grandfathered in. The discountwould be available only if waterusage were at 40 Ccf or lower.Smith said the change wouldmean the city would reduce itssubsidy from the general fund to$345,000.Smith said that water rateswill continue to increase. Inthe future, the city will passthroughannual Zone 7 water rateincreases. Zone 7 is projecting8.25 percent increases in both2011 and 2012. There will alsobe an increase tied to the cost ofvehicles manufactured (in mostcases) from 1949 until now. Bysticking to products of the past60 years or so, he said, “Youcan truly see the evolution ofthese automobiles from whenaerodynamics started takingover and they began consideringthat in Milan and elsewhere inEurope.”To Pestana, any $250,000car is worth taking a gander at,whether it was made in postwarItaly or contemporary SiliconValley, home of the fabled Tesla,an all-electric super-roadsterfavored by the likes of GeorgeClooney and David Letterman.Pestana called Teslas thevintage classics of tomorrow:“They’re the Model T, the ModelA of this generation.”Entrance to the concours willbe restricted to 2,500 participants.VIP tickets will be $250,general tickets will cost $100.Free activities around thearea leading up to the concoursinclude:• A downtown Los Gatos display.North Santa Cruz Avenuewill be closed to allow parkingof as many as 50 elegant cars onSept. 25.• A similar show, this time atBroadway Plaza in Walnut Creek,set for April 2, 2011.• Free admission to the BlackhawkMuseum, housing a collectionof classic cars, on May28, 2011.• A Driver’s Tour featuringelegant motorcars wending theirway from Walnut Creek to Livermoreon July 9, 2011.More information is availableat www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.living.Pleasanton sewer fees wouldgo up based on increases approvedby Livermore and theDublin San Ramon ServicesDistrict. Ruby Hill residentsreceive sewer service throughLivermore.Smith stated, “Over the nextdecade, the city will be facingsome real issues with regard toutilities.” He urged Zone 7 andDSRSD to use reserves andincrease efficiencies before automaticallyhiking rates.Smith said that the city will beproposing conservation rates inthe future. “Most people are nothappy with these rate increases.They understand the reasonsbehind them.” These reasonsinclude the rise in what the statecharges for water and the cityand Zone 7’s cost to maintainand improve infrastructure. Forexample, Smith pointed out thereare 600 miles of pipe undergroundthat need to be taken careof. “People are not just payingfor water.”He added that even when thereservoirs are full, the costs tobring in water and treat it arefixed.“The only way to get peopleto stop using more water is tocharge them. There will probablybe a drought charge instituted bythe state. Those top tier rates willgo higher. There is not enoughwater in California to go around,”Smith declared.Councilmember Jerry Thornesuggested it was time to moveforward with consolidation ofutilities, such as DSRSD andLivermore Amador Valley WaterManagement Agency (LAVW-MA). “There has got to besome duplication. If there wereone agency, would we need twogeneral managers and all thestaff. I think we should look atwhether the cities can take onthe LAVWMA functions. I can’tbelieve we can’t come up with away to eliminate LAVWMA.”DSRSD, Livermore and Pleasantoncomprise the LAVWMA.The agency takes care of takingtreated sewage from DSRSDand Livermore for disposal intothe Bay.

The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010 - PAGE 9(continued from page 4)subject to the TOD policy(section 2, MTC resolution 3434)due to the infeasibility of housingdevelopment. In both casesthe extension serves the samepurpose: reduce urban automobiletraffic.Whether BART stays in thefreeway median east from Isabel,which I far prefer, or continuesalong 2b, the Isabel station iscritical.Businesses ThankedTim and LiaLivermoreTim and Lia put togetheran "Amazing Race" style funevent. Contestants travel aroundLivermore solving clues whichled them to a location where theyPleasanton Partnerships inEducation (PPIE) Foundationhas annouced the PPIE EducationGrant awards for 2010. FortyOne Pleasanton Unified SchoolDistrict teachers’ / faculty applicationshave been selected toreceive a total of $58,000.00 infunding for their Education Grantprojects.The $58,000 includes a grantdonation of $25,000 from Oracle,earmarked to support projects /needs falling within the Science,Math, and Technology categories.Accusplit, a Pleasanton-basedpedometer company donated$1,032 to support wellness projects.Throughout the PPIE Grantprogram’s 20 year history, thefoundation has awarded over$707,000.00 in grants.PPIE Foundation offers EducationGrants for Pleasanton UnifiedSchool District employeesto fund projects that are studentfocused,that promote creativityand innovative thinking, and thatoffer expanded learning opportunitiesto students. Grant requestsare accepted in amounts up to$2500.00, and supplement, notreplace, district funding.The PPIE Grant programalso offers Student Grants twicea year. These promote positivelearning experiences inside andoutside the classroom, and supportco-curricular and extra curricularactivities and projects.Pleasanton Partnerships inEducation Foundation, a community-basedvolunteer group, existsto enhance learning experiencesfor students of the PleasantonUnified School District througha partnership of businesses,schools and the community.PPIE Foundation EducationGrants, 2010:AP World History Summer Institute:$1000.00 – Delise Anderson /Chris Murphy – Amador Valley HighSchool, funds to pay for a five dayAP World History Summer InstituteConferenceLiterature For Learning: $1500.00– Alma-Ruth Avalos, Valley ViewElementary School, funds to provideliterature offering a well-balancedreading & language arts programintegrating social studies & scienceRedCAt Audio System: $1100.00– Jacob Berg, Lydiksen ElementarySchool, funds to purchase an audioamplification system enabling bettercommunication with studentsTouchMath For Special EducationStudents: $2287.23 – KathleneBruen, Lydiksen Elementary School,funding to provide math interventionprogram for special educationstudentsPhysical Education Workshop:$624.00 – Kathlene Bruen, LydiksenElementary School, funds to pay for asix day Summer Elementary PhysicalEducation WorkshopInteractive Digital Whiteboard:$1924.65 – James Clark - FoothillHigh School, funds to fund digitalwhiteboard to enhance student &teacher presentations and delivery ofstandards based course contentLearning Science Though AnotherView: $2073.18 – MichalAnn Conley– Mohr Elementary School, fundingto provide equipment / materialsallowing students to develop skillsbeginning with basic microscopicobservation & progress to use ofcompound light microscopesOnline Production of StudentNewspaper: $500.00 - Mary Crawbuck– Foothill High School, fundsto pay for summer Internet YouthJournalism Advising Workshop2010-2011 Spring Science Extravaganza:$1594.40 – Beth Cutter,Amador Valley High School, fundsto purchase materials / supplies foreducational science festival gearedtoward supporting elementary schoolscience education. Designed by 9th– 12th grade chemistry students,various stations teach students K-5about scienceIncrease Recess Activity Successfully:$426.09 – Nancy Day, ValleyView Elementary School, fundingto provide equipment (balls, jumpropes, hoop sets, equipment cart) toenable students to be active and enjoyrecess timeDissections for Grades 3 - 5:$300.00 – Janet Dobbs, Valley ViewElementary School, funds to purchasematerials for dissection by studentsin grades 3 – 5Triple Beam Balances & DigitalScales: $2236.75 – HeidehFarahmand, Lydiksen ElementarySchool, funds to provide equipmentto supplement & enhance currentwould do a puzzle or completesome kind of an easy-ish physicalchallenge and so on throughoutthe day.The contestants solved andwent to 17 locations downtown.Below and attached (the same) isa list of retailers who we wouldlike to thank for their participationand or contribution.Lia & Tim wanted to take thisopportunity to thank the DowntownLivermore retailers whomade this event possible: EliteSelf-Defense, Eddie Pappa's,Fantasy Comics, Hairtini, FirstStreet Ale House, Dom's SportingGoods, Van's Health Foods,Luna Loca Restaurant, ValleyRock, and Shakabuku.And a very special thankyou to Sensei John at Elite Self-science programPreparing Students for SuccessfulEmployment: $2500.00 – GregGiglio, Village / Horizon HighSchool, funds to provide materialsfor students to develop job placementportfolios, train on successfuljob interview techniques, develop& determine appropriate work placeetiquette & attire; for placement intoworkplace opportunities in the City ofPleasanton governmental offices.Global Studies Curriculum Enhancement:$1948.79 – RichardGorton, Foothill High School, fundsto provide teaching resources &equipment to address a variety oflearning modalities and encourage ahigher level of critical thinking in theGlobal Studies curriculumTeaching Kindergartners to beResponsible for Their Belongings:$1051.41 – Kelly Gossett, LydiksenElementary School, funds to purchasetwo storage units providing the opportunityto teach responsibility,organizational skills, independence,and space allowanceA Day In The Life: $2113.10– Myla Grasso, PUSD, funds toprovide support to film, edit, andproduce a DVD providing parentswith a greater understanding of theirhigh school student’s school experienceson a day to day basisHelping 1st Graders Master SightWords: $315.00 – Jennifer Heid,Donlon Elementary School, fundsto purchase DVD’s to support themastery and understanding of sightwords.The End to Monday – FridaySpellers!: $1256.68 – Lisa Highfill,Fairlands Elementary School, fundsto purchase Sitton Spelling Program,to help bridge the gap betweenspelling instruction and writer’sworkshopDocument Cameras: $1400.00– Teresa Huk / Kelly Gibson – VintageHills Elementary School, funds topurchase two document cameras toimprove whole class instructionPeace Maker Conflict ResolutionProgram: $2500.00 – Abby Johnson,Valley View Elementary School,funding to purchase peer-to-peer conflictresolution program, providingstudent involvement and trainingTurning Point for Biology:$1725.00 – Craig Kelso, FoothillHigh School, funds to provide a realtime student assessment system withremotes to provide biology studentsimmediate & individual feedback totheir answers and to assists teachersin determining whether the concepthas been graspedGuided Reading Books: $1200.00– Kerry King, Vintage Hills ElementarySchool, funds to provide guidedreading books to supplement currentreading programClassroom Sound-field AmplificationSystem: $2200.00 – NancyKoh-Zakaria, Donlon ElementarySchool, funds to purchase two audioamplification systems enabling bettercommunication for students withauditory processing and / or attentiondeficit disordersStudent Benches: $1125.71 – AnnKyle, Lydiksen Elementary School,funds to purchase two permanentbenches for students to use as a gatheringplace to do projects, draw, reador work on other assignmentsGaga Ball Court: $2000.00 – DianaLeyva, Valley View ElementarySchool, funds to provide materialsto build a Gaga Ball court for recessplayMathematical Reasoning &Problem Solving: $962.67 – RachaelMaher, Lydiksen Elementary School,funds to purchase provide mathmaterials to help improve problemsolving & reasoningReading Voices: $574.00 – RachaelMaher, Lydiksen ElementarySchool, funds to purchase digitalaudio recorders allowing students torecord themselves while reading andto track their progressVernier Labquest Units: $1484.00– Drew Melby, Foothill High School,funds to provide equipment to assistwith data collection and analysis,focusing on the teaching of laboratoryconcepts and understanding ofthe dataDigital Visual Presenter: $700.00– David Middleton, Foothill HighSchool, funding to provide a digitalvisual presenter allowing studentsand teachers to digitally enhancepresentations and support the socialstudies curriculumHealthy Hearts at Valley View:$1655.05 – Brent Miller, ValleyView Elementary School, funds topurchase heart monitors to increasestudent involvement in physicalactivity and expand their knowledgeof target heart rate, aerobic activity,and improved fitnessDefense who with his awesomeobstacle course and high energywas everyone’s favorite stage ofthe event.Congratulation to the top threeteams: The Riders, 2 hours and2 minutes (Andy and Clark);Purple Rain, 2 hours, 18 minutes(Mathew and Emeka); and DNA,2 hours, 18 minutes (Dean andAshley).Thank you all for a wonderfulday. We look forward to comingback to Livermore for anotherround.BART ExtensionTom O'NeillLivermoreI write regarding deliberationsabout the best route for BART extensionto Livermore. I hope youPPIE Awards $58,000 in Education GrantsSpectrophotometers: $2394.94– Lata Mistry, Amador Valley HighSchool, funds to purchase spectrophotometersand test tubes for usein five major labs and final exam labpractical in biotechnology.LCD Projector: $795.00 – DeniseMorgan, Donlon Elementary School,funds to provide an LCD projector toutilize when teaching math, languageand arts concepts; to enrich and expandteachingComparative Human AnatomyDissection: $1953.25 – Renee Ogle,Amador Valley High School, fundsto provide materials for hands onlaboratory activities for Anatomy &Physiology classesPuzzle Perfection & MagicalMatching: $268.49 – Lori Sjodahl,Mohr Elementary School, Support topurchase materials helping studentsphonically decode & read words usingpicture clues when neededInteractive Teaching Tools:$1377.75 – Jamie Smith, Hart MiddleSchool, funds to provide a documentcamera & LCD projector to allowinteractive teaching and to improvewhole class instructionGetting Active with Animals:$349.88 – Amy Turner-Bull, AmadorValley High School, funds to providematerials to engage students in activitiesfocused around living things;focusing on reproduction, life cycles,and behaviorLearning to Read Words by Heart:$1406.00 – Cindy Vance, DonlonElementary, funds to provide booksets to teach high frequency wordsand early reading strategiesBlack History Month Rally:$1400.00 – James Vaughn, AmadorValley High School, funding to providespeakers and entertainment forannual school festivalAssistive Technology for TheChallenged Reader: $2500.00 – MichelleVerkuilen, Vintage Hills ElementarySchool, funds to purchasetechnology providing students withlearning disabilities greater access tothe grade level curriculumSupporting Student LearningThrough Use Of Technology: $795.00– Mary Christine Wise, Donlon ElementarySchool, funds to providean LCD projector to utilize whenteaching math; to enrich and expandteachingBarton Reading Site License:$2500.00 – Charles Young, WalnutGrove Elementary School, fundingto purchase site licenses for levels 1– 3 of the Barton Reading & SpellingSystem in order to expand program /tutors to Walnut GroveLouis Joseph Eula Sr.On May 30, 2010, Louis JosephEula Sr. joined his father,mother and brother and now sitswith the Lord. On his passing,he was surrounded by familyincluding his wife, Janet.Born in the Bronx on May28, 1929, he spent 20 years inthe military. Upon retiring heembarked on a very successfulsales career in the securityindustry. He would tell you hiscareer accomplishments wouldfade in the light of his success asa family man. He was a husband,father and grandfather first andforemost. He had a storybookromance with his first love, Kate,which lasted 56 years. Kate andLou have two adoring sons anddaughters-in-law, Bud and Debbieand Joe and Nadia.He is survived by his grandchildren,Ryan, Kara and Jen.will begin with: "Do no harm."It's very desirable that BARTreach Livermore. BART could,however, reach Livermore insuch a manner that it would shatterLivermore. That may soundlike an argument for bypassingdowntown. It isn't--at least as Isee things. If BART is built onthe outskirts of Livermore, ourrather delicate community willlose its center-of-gravity. A "newLivermore" will grow up on ourborders, and the Livermore wecherish will become a backwater.I grew up in Los Angeles.In the last couple decades, LosAngeles has tried to reverse thedreadful decisions it made in thefifties and sixties--when centralcitytransportation was uprootedand very nearly destroyed. Fora long time in the fifties, sixties,and seventies, there was asteady movement out of cities;the suburbs flourished, and theinner-city corroded, deteriorated,became dysfunctional and a placethat fostered poverty, crime, andugliness.I hope the advent of BART toLivermore will not have similareffects. The way to avoid these isto run BART through downtown.This will cost more, and will takelonger to accomplish. I hopethough, as I said, that your firstprinciple will be to do no harm.I would rather wait longer, andpay more, than see Livermorewounded and deteriorating froma well-intended project.His family is comforted by thevision of Big Lou in Heavenwith Kate and Shadow, talkingYankees, Giants and Jets. He ishovering over a pot of tomatogravy or a BBQ. He is readinga book, listening to jazz, most ofall, we hear him laughing.A funeral mass was held onMonday, June 7, at St. Michael’sCatholic Church, Livermore.Arrangements by CallaghanMortuary.Henry Victor "Vic" TardiffHenry Victor "Vic" Tardiff,75, died Tuesday, March 30, 2010at Marshall Center in Placerville,CA after a long battle with cancer..He was surrounded by hisfamily.Vic was born March 28, 1935in Claremont, NH, the son of Victorand Beatrice (Ryan) Tardiff.Vic served his country in theLivermore BudgetKen BradleyLivermoreAt a recent city council meetingthe council voted to establishan administrative services department.We were told that therewere cuts from other departmentsin order to form the new one.Later in the meeting, we foundout that only the responsibilitywas removed "primarily fromthe finance department." Thisnew department will requirethousands of dollars per year tooperate. The public is being toldthat the city is cutting expenses,not increasing them.I requested that the city lookfor cuts in capital expenditures.Staff said this was not possibleas the city would lose funding onsubstantially all of the projects ifthey were delayed. So far, it lookslike only about 30 percent of theprojects would be so affected.The council should direct staff togive a project by project breakdownto help decide the projectsthat could be delayed.At the last meeting I commentedthat there were over160 city employees who earnedover $100,000 and that it mightbe appropriate to look for cutsin this area. Actually, last yearthere were over 160 employees,this year it is over 180 and thatdoes not include the fire department.The average pay for the firedepartment is over $141,000 peryear. This is about $56,000 moreper year per person than firemenin the City of Hayward.We have heard about the sacrificesin pay and benefits fromvarious departments. We weretold that the top employees hadno pay increases and now hadto pay a small portion to benefits.Many people in Livermoreshould be so lucky. Last year,I made a spreadsheet of thosepeople earning over $100,000and this year I added current pay.Year over year has seen dramaticincreases in pay as well as thenumber of people in that paycategory. The increases measurefrom approximately $4000 peryear to over $12,000.It is time to get real with thebudget. High expense items andemployees should be cut. Therank and file should not bear theburden of the new budget. Emergencyservices for the northwestarea of Livermore should besacrificed. Everything should beexamined.Oil SpillWalter BattagelloPleasantonAfter reading your May 27edition, I had to take pen inhand.Some long-winded writer hadall the answers. I sure would likehim to answer this one.I was brought up in Montreal,Que., Canada. World War II wason. The news was scary. Everyday,the wolf pack was sinkinganything that floated. The Battleof the North Atlantic, the NorthwestPassage, the Bering Sea - allthose ships went down.Whatever happened to thehundreds of oil tankers thatexploded, spewing oil into theoceans? What about battle shipsfull of fuel that were torpedoed;submarines with the toxic fumesform their batteries, oil spills. Icould go on. Panic. Etc.? Howcome the oceans survived?The chemicals they use todayare the real danger.Let nature take its course.There were no clean ups inWWII. Nature did it. How werethe seas protected?Amazing, all that debris in theoceans, yet it righted itself. Thecoast lines had plant life, animals,birds survived. The oceans haverecovered, by nature alone, therewere no clean ups.Enlighten me, please. Hemingwaystyle - terse, concise, succinct,pithy.No lecture.Vote for ChangeDavid WilliamsLivermoreBP gave large contributionsto the members of Congress,including Senator Obama. Sodid the other oil industry companies.Adequate regulations andinspections may have preventedthe oil spill.Wall Street and the banks gavecontributions to the members ofCongress and Presidents Clintonand Bush. Inadequate regulationresulted in the recession that hashurt most Americans.We rank 11th in longevityand 30th in infant mortality, butUnited States Air Force from1952 to 1956 as a cargo specialiston transatlantic flights and as amember of the Air Police on theisland of Bermuda.After honorable discharge,Vic worked various jobs in severalindustries, eventually securinga position as a mechanicaldesigner and president of thelocal chapter of the United SteelWorkers at Cone BlanchardMachine Company in Windsor,VT. He continued his careerin mechanical design and wasinstrumental in the creation ofU.S. Patents.He later earned high positionsat both Westinghouse Hanfordand Lawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory, where heretired in 1993.Vic enjoyed several hobbiesincluding amateur astronomy,reading, home remodeling,we spend much more per capita.There are many other governmentfailures. One wonders whatis next.The five needed reforms include:cannot vote for = cannotcontribute to with a maximum of$50 per voter per candidate perelection including by the candidates;three mandatory debatesfor every election televised inprime time and publicly financed;gerrymandering outlawed; noneof the above on every ballot; a1920 hour real work year excludingcampaigning for all governmentemployees.These reforms may happenif there is a large voter turnoutresulting in the defeat of manyRepublican and Democratic incumbents.Support their challeEnvironmental Poison AlertPaul WeissLivermoreCalifornia consumers willsoon be human guinea pigs for ahighly toxic pesticide if approvedfor use in state agriculture.Replacing a soil fumigantruled damaging to the ozonelayer, METHYL IODIDE wasapproved by the EPA despitescientific objections that “its highvolatility and water solubilitywill guarantee substantial releaseto air, surface and ground water,with exposure to many people”.In fact, chemists consider Meiso dangerous that only smallamounts may be used in theirlaboratories, and only with extremecare. Five Nobel Laureatechemists objected strongly to itsEPA approval.The California State Regulators’own scientific committeealso reported concern aboutMei’s “potential threat to publichealth”. They warned that“methyl iodide is a highly toxicchemical, and use of this agentwould result in exposures to alarge number of the public andthus would have a significant adverseimpact on public health."Unbelievably, our Departmentof Pesticide Regulation plans toapprove this dangerous chemicalfor use in strawberry and tomatofields, fruit orchards, and nurseriesafter the public commentdeadline of June 29.The Department describesa few token safety regulations,none of them very reassuringin light of present lax to nonexistentenforcement of currentregulations.Simply saying that this killerchemical “will not get into foodor drinking water” and “will notexpose people to harmful levels”is about as believable as BP’spromises that “no damage will resultfrom a possible blow-out”.Only massive public oppositioncan stop this untested plan topoison our environment. Write to:PESTICIDE REGISTRATIONBRANCH, DEPARTMENT OFPESTICIDE REGULATION,PO BOX 4015, Sacramento, CA.95812, or E-mail to mei_comments@cdpr.ca.gov. beforeJune 29.woodworking, and various projectsinvolving his trusty JohnDeere.He is survived by his sister,Carol Harrington; his brother,Wesley Relation; children: GloriaFleming, David Tardiff and MichaelTardiff; five grandchildren,Tony, Erik, Sara, Collin andJessica; and several nieces, nephews,and great-nieces/nephews.He was preceded in death by hisdaughter Laurie Ann in 1967.The family suggests that donationsbe made in his memoryto The American Legion, P.O.Box 361656, Indianapolis IN46236-1656.A memorial service will beheld on June 12, 2010 at 10:00a.m. at Celebration ChristianCenter, 1135 Bluebell Drive,Livermore. Refreshments willfollow.

PAGE 10 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010Financial awards were granted by the Livermore Soroptimist to the following Livermoreorganizations: Axis Community Health; CCISP - Back Pack Project; Good News Bears; HorizonsFamily Counseling; LARPD Aquatic Program; Tech Trek and Vast Foundation. Soroptimist grantswere also given for the Women's Opportunity Award, to a woman who is head of the household,attending school and working; the Violet Richardson Award, to a young woman's outstandingvolunteer efforts, and the Ruby Award to a woman making a difference in the lives of women andgirls in our local or international community.4th of July Vendors SoughtThe annual Fourth of July Celebrationby the Livermore AreaRecreation and Park District is drawingnear. The District is seeking additionalvendors to join in the fun.Gates open to the event at 3 p.m.on Sunday, July 4, at Robertson Park,3200 Robertson Park Road. The eventfeatures fireworks, pony rides, pettingzoo, carnival area, food and beverages,hat making and more.To round out the fun, LARPDis looking for a vendor to sell glownecklaces and a barbecue food vendorto sell pulled pork sandwiches,barbecue chicken and sausages.Community organizations areinvited to participate in either pickingup trash or running a water booth.These groups would receive a stipendfor their efforts. Individuals lookingto participate are invited to volunteerat the event entrance gates.Potential vendors and volunteergroups and individuals who wouldlike to get involved can contact SpecialEvent Coordinator Katrina Holeat 925-373-5748 or khole@larpd.dst.ca.us. For more information onthe Fourth of July Celebration, visitwww.larpd.dst.ca.us.Program on 'Ants'"Ants" are the focus of a programto be presented by Livermore AreaRecreation and Park District rangerstaff on Sunday, June 13.Meet Ranger Dawn Soles at10 a.m. at Veterans Park.Their strength is legendary, as istheir ability to ruin a picnic or raidthe kitchen pantry. Ants are amazinginsects that are found all over theworld. Some are hunters, some aregatherers, and some are farmers. JoinLARPD ranger staff to look into thelife of these little critters and exploresome of the different species foundaround the world.There is a $4 per vehicle parkingfee. A $2 donation is requested to helpsupport the programs. Participantsmay call 925-960-2400 for moreinformation.Pam Linney Joins StaffPam Linney, formerly of RadianceDay Spa, has joined the staff atAventine. Pam will be joining a teamdirected and supervised by plasticsurgeons John Romano, MD andPrasad Kilaru, MD. Currently, thecombined medical team has one of thelargest amounts of medical aestheticexperience in any one location in theTri-Valley area. Pam’s addition willadd 10 years of medical aestheticexperience to the total.Three years ago Aventine Medspalaunched at the base of Ruby Hill. It’soperated by John Romano, MD andPatrick Wong. Named after one ofthe 7 hills of ancient Rome, Aventinestarted as locally operated, nonfranchiseconcept focusing on noninvasivemedical esthetic treatmentsby a skilled medical staff. While it’sstill locally operated, Aventine hasexpanded to uniquely offer a fullservice hair salon, a path to upgradeto plastic surgery and an entire suiteof massage services. During thelast year and a half, Aventine’s staffhas grown from 6 employees to 26employees and now encompasses 3suites next to Ruby Hill.While Aventine is still developing,the goal is be “the spa” tosupport the Livermore Valley WineCountry. Expansion allows weddingday services, corporate retreats orgroup gatherings.Campo di Bocce has developed a“spa” menu for Aventine’s patrons.Back from ConferenceLinda Fong of the Plato's Closetstore in Pleasanton recently returnedfrom the company's annual conferencein San Diego, Calif. withknowledge and insight to enhancethe local retail business.Held May 11-14 at the HiltonSan Diego Resort & Spa, the conferenceagenda included such topics asfinancial and inventory management.Attendees received information thatprovided them with tools to becomemore profitable and efficient, as wellas to help them enhance the overallcustomer experience at their individualstores, according to Fong."After attending this year's Plato'sCloset conference, I was inspired andmotivated to continue to strive forthe best when it comes to my localbusiness here in Pleasanton," Fongsaid. "The four-day event providedall of us with one-on-one businessand financial consultations along withadvertising and marketing sessions,which I believe were very helpful.And, the agenda offered a variety ofworkshops where I could networkwith my colleagues."A highlight of the conference wasan address by guest speaker SteveLeFever, a well-known leader in thedevelopment of practical financialprograms and training for the independentbusiness community, Fongsaid. During his speech, LeFeverdiscussed his role as a successfulentrepreneur and commercial banker.And, he gave his perspective on financialanalysis, business managementand practical business decisions.Plato's Closet buys and sells brandname, gently-used clothing such asForever 21, 7 for All Mankind, Express,and American Eagle.For more information aboutPlato's Closet in Pleasanton, pleasecontact Linda Fong at 925-460-8881.APR Moves up in RankingsAlain Pinel Realtors (APR) wasranked the sixth largest real estatefirm in the United States based onits sales volume in 2009, movingup two positions from their 2008ranking, according to REAL Trends500, a compilation of a nationwidestudy of leading residential real estatecompanies. In spite of the marketconditions, APR had a successful2009, gaining market share whileother companies declined. The firmhad a sales volume of almost $5.7billion in 2008 and served 6,350+clients through its 32 offices.Once again, APR has been rankedat the forefront of both the San FranciscoBusiness Times’ and San JoseBusiness Journal’s Top ResidentialReal Estate Firms lists, as both the #2Largest Residential Real Estate Firmin the Bay Area, with $3.67 billion ingross sales by Bay Area offices.APR has proven to have theHighest Agent Productivity, HighestOffice Productivy and HighestAverage Sales Price out of any largeresidential real estate brokerage inthe Silicon Valley, as reported bythe San Jose Business Journal – TopResidential Real Estate Firms inSilicon Valley. APR had the highestagent productivity with $5,020,920,highest office productivity with$400,000,000, and highest averagesales price with $1,020,000.APR not only continues to leadthe Bay Area in home sales, but alsoranks as the largest privately-ownedand independent residential real estatecompany in California.LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDSHope Hospice CelebratesIts 30th Anniversary in MayHope Hospice marked its30th anniversary in May at a timewhen more Americans turn tohospice services for comfort careat home. The journey of hospicecare has evolved over time andis now considered an essentialoption of support services forfamilies whose loved ones facea life limiting illness.Hope Hospice had its beginningsin 1978, when a group ofcitizens in the Pleasanton/Livermorearea became concernedabout terminally ill people facingthe end of life as they remainedin the hospital. Led by RichardL. Martin of Pleasanton, whowas working as a church deaconin local hospitals, the groupbegan to meet and to learn moreabout the hospice philosophy ofcare. The early objective was torespond with compassion to theemotional, physical, social andspiritual needs of terminally illpeople and others affected by theloss of a loved one.Martin explains that on oneof his hospital visits he asked thestaff about the people “at the endof the hall” and was told that theywere terminal – nothing couldbe done for them. He wonderedwhy those patients weren’t senthome and was told that theirhealth insurance would no longercover them; they couldn’t affordto go home nor to a convalescenthome, which would cost themeven more.After he and other volunteersvisited a hospice in San Rafael,he says, “I took the new foundknowledge to some ‘can do’people in our community andthey literally took off and managedto find ways to implementthe entire program.”Incorporated in February,1979, Hope Hospice was initiallyformed in a small storage roomat Pleasanton Elementary School.One of the earliest volunteers,Ann Rathjen, remembers readingabout it in the newspaper anddecided to join the effort. She describesher experience in joiningthe team: “We were all in one bigroom. We got to know each otherreally well. I think one of themost incredible outcomes of myexperience was the camaraderieand friendships that developed.When you were there it was veryspecial…you knew you werewith kindred spirits.”Ann later was hired to managemedical records and then becameoffice manager and, in retirement,continues as a volunteer.She recalls, “When I started wehad three or four patients. Tosee Hope Hospice grow overtime to the number of peoplewe have helped over the yearsis just amazing. Looking back,I wouldn’t trade my experiencesover the years for anything. Ilove my connection to HopeHospice.”Karen Archer, RN, and currentClinical Coordinator, remembersthe early years at Hope Hospice.“We saw our first patient in Aprilof 1980. I began as a volunteer inwww.independentnews.comJanuary, 1985. We cared for tenpatients that year. There wereonly three employees at that timeand the rest were volunteers.”The team moved to their firstoffice in Dublin in 1987.Archer explains her initialexperience: “For me, it was ascary time. I wondered if I couldactually do this kind of work. Iwas interested because my grandfatherhad died of prostate cancerand spent the last three weeks ofhis life in severe pain. When Iheard about the opportunity tobe a part of Hope Hospice at mychurch, I thought it was a goodidea. Everyone has to die butbeing at home and not in painseemed to make sense.”She explains, “My secondpatient as a nurse volunteer wasan 18 month old baby who had abrain tumor. There was nothingmore that the doctors could do.He had a four year old sister. Hedied in his parent’s bed duringthe night. The call went out tous. It was horrific for the family.But he was at home surroundedby the love of his parents. That’sas good as it could have been.That experience told me I wasstrong enough to stay in hospicework.”Later, Archer was hired as acase managing nurse and workedsimultaneously as the VolunteerCoordinator. At the time, allthe nurses were volunteers whocalled on hospice patients inthe evening after working theirregular day jobs. There were nosocial workers or home healthaides so the nurses handled everything…theyprovided bedsidecare as well as emotional support.Lay volunteers provided personalcare services and respite for thefamilies along with the nurses.There was no reimbursement forhospice services at the time fromeither health insurance plans orMedicare. The money came fromindividual donations.Volunteers say that peopleoften assume hospice work is depressing,but quite the contrary istrue. There’s humor and laughterin the process as well. It happenswith the nursing team regularlyand is a great form of tension andstress relief. Many patients have asense of humor about dying andhave a realistic view of things andoften are joking with their familyover the course of their time inhospice care.For Karen, “The high pointsfor me are in seeing all thegoodness in people, in helpingfamily caregivers do things theynever imagined they could do,and in making death of a lovedone a positive experience. Themost unlikely people turn outto be wonderful caregivers withguidance and support from thehospice team.”Looking forward, Karen says,“I think the biggest challenge weface is to change the belief thathospice is not just for the lastfew days but to make the journeymore comfortable and meaningfulin the weeks and months thatprecede a person’s final hours.”Hope Hospice has servedover 4,000 patients since 1980and, since its inception, devotedvolunteers have contributed over100,000 hours of time in homes,nursing homes, the office, and atspecial events. Peter Wong, MD,the organization’s first medicaldirector who continues today atHope Hospices states, “As MedicalDirector of Hope Hospice fornearly 30 years, I have seen ourorganization grow to become oneof the most respected providersof high quality hospice care in thearea. I’m proud of the dedicationand skill of our staff in providingthis special kind of healthcare toour patients.”Richard Martin says, “Thecredit for the success of HopeHospice goes to those determinedpeople who saw the possibilitiesand contributed their ideas, skills,creativity and just plain hardwork to see this dream become areality. I feel blessed to have beenpart of such a quality organizationwhich has served so many intheir hour of need. Each personwho has given of themselves inany way has added so much tothe lives of those who have leftus and to their families. Peopletypically comment that ‘hospiceis a God-send’ and that is becauseof so many working together tobring about these results.”Charles Crohare, Hope HospiceBoard President shares theexcitement of this importantmilestone in the organization’shistory. “As a member of theboard, I extend my congratulationsin recognizing the vitalcontribution of the Hope Hospiceteam over the past thirty years. Iam proud to be part of an organizationthat continues to giveso much to so many and lookforward to sharing in its growthof reaching more families withcompassion, dignity and excellencein the future.”LEGAL NOTICESFOR INFORMATIONPLACING LEGALNOTICESCONTACT BARBARA @925 243-8000FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 437738The following person(s) doingbusiness as:ExcellentBookkeeping Solutions,3504Ovella Way, Pleasanton Ca94566 is hereby registered bythe following owner(s):Debra Sindelir St. John, 3504Ovella Way, Pleasanton Ca94566This business is conductedby:an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Debra S. St. JohnThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon April 26, 2010. ExpiresApril 26, 2015.The Independent LegalNo.2778. Publish May 20,27, June 3, 10, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 438026The following person(s) doingbusiness as:NovelTouch,1169 Farmington Way, LivermoreCa 94550 is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):Suzanne Christiana Eddleman,1169 Farmington Way,Livermore Ca 94550This business is conductedby:an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Suzanne EddlemanThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 3, 2010. Expires May3, 2015.The Independent LegalNo.2780. Publish May 20,27, June 3, 10, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 437670The following person(s) doingbusiness as:Cal StateFireplace, 1571 Sunset Dr.,Livermore Ca 94551 is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):Derek James Huerta, 1571Sunset Dr., Livermore Ca94551This business is conductedby:an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Derek James HuertaThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon April 23, 2010. ExpiresApril 23, 2015.The Independent LegalNo.2781. Publish May 20,27, June 3, 10, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 438005The following person(s) doingbusiness as:Chivamex Soccer,Inc., 3828 InternationalBlvd., Oakland Ca 94601 ishereby registered by the followingowner(s):Chivamex Soccer, Inc., 3828International Blvd., Oakland,CA 94601This business is conductedby:a CorporationRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Minerva C. MonnarThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 3, 2010. Expires May3, 2015.The Independent LegalNo.2784. Publish May 27,June 3, 10, 17, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 438438The following person(s) doingbusiness as:VB Enterprises,403 Junction Ave #117, LivermoreCa 94551 is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):Betty Baldi - Trustee - BaldiFamily Trust, 5395 BlackhawkDr., Danville, Ca 94506This business is conductedby:a TrustThe registrant began totransact business under thefictitious business name (s)listed above on February11, 2004.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Betty M. BaldiThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 12, 2010. Expires May12, 2015.The Independent Legal No.2786. Publish May 27, June3, 10, 17, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 438454The following person(s) doingbusiness as:Hugunin &Associates, 5958 Via DelCielo, Pleasanton Ca 94566is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Alan G. Hugunin, 5958 ViaDel Cielo, Pleasanton Ca94566This business is conductedby:an IndividualThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name (s) listedabove on August 9, 1995.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Alan G. HuguninThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 12, 2010. Expires May12, 2015.The Independent Legal No.2787. Publish June 3, 10,17, 24, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 438268The following person(s) doingbusiness as:SkywardStaffing, 5606 Owens Dr.#208, Pleasanton Ca 94588is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Aisha Chaudary, 5606 OwensDr., #208, Pleasanton Ca94588This business is conductedby:an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Aisha ChaudaryThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 7, 2010. Expires May7, 2015.The Independent LegalNo.2788. Publish June 3,10, 17, 24, 2010.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 439081-439083The following person(s) doingbusiness as:1)M2 ProfessionalSolutions LLC.,2)M2ProSol.com, 3)Y QuePiensas, 1486 Via Di Salerno,Pleasanton Ca 94566 is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):M2 Professional Solutions,LLC., 1486 Via Di Salerno,Pleasanton Ca 94566This business is conductedby:a Limited liability companyThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name (s) listedabove on March 7, 2007.Signature of Registrant:/s/:Miguel A. QuezadaThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon May 28, 2010. Expires May28, 2015.The Independent Legal No.2792. Publish June 10, 17,24, July 1, 2010.NOTICE OF BUDGETINSPECTIONANDPUBLIC HEARINGThe governing board of theLivermore Valley Joint UnifiedSchool District will conducta public hearing on theirproposed Final Budget for2010/11, in accordance withthe provisions of EducationCode Section 42103, at theirregular board meeting onJune 22, 2010. The meetingis called to convene at theLivermore Valley Joint UnifiedSchool District, Board Room,685 East Jack London Blvd.,Livermore, CA at 7:00 p.m.Any interested party mayinspect the budget on June17, 2010, any time between8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. atthe Livermore Valley JointUnified School District Office,685 East Jack London Blvd.,Livermore, CA and may appearbefore the governingboard at the public hearingstarting at 7:00 p.m. andspeak to the proposed budgetor any item therein.Inspection also available at:http:www.livermoreschools.comSHEILA JORDAN,SuperintendentAlameda County Office ofEducationBy: Carlene NaylorAssociate SuperintendenBusiness AdministrationThe Independent LegalNo. 2789. Publish June10, 2010NOTICE OF INVITING BIDSNotice is hereby given thatsealed bids will be acceptedin the office of the AlamedaCounty Lead PoisoningPrevention Program, 2000Embarcadero, Suite 300,Oakland, CA NETWORK-ING/BIDDERS CONFER-ENCE – N. COUNTY RFPHH2010ETX – EnvironmentalTreatment/Safety Device InstallationServices, Tuesday,June 15, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.,Alameda County Lead PoisoningPrevention Program,2000 Embarcadero, Suite300, Oakland, CA NET-WORKING/BIDDERS CON-FERENCE – N. COUNTYRFP HH2010HHI – HealthyHousing Interventions, Tuesday,June 15, 2010 at 10:00a.m., Alameda County LeadPoisoning Prevention Program,2000 Embarcadero,Suite 300, Oakland, CA ResponsesDue by 2:00 pm onJuly 02, 2010 County Contact:April Williamson (510)567-8255 or via email: april.williamson@acgov.org Attendanceat Networking Conferenceis Non-mandatory.Specifications regarding theabove may be obtained atthe Current Contracting OpportunitiesInternet websiteat www.acgov.org.6/10/10CNS-1875205#The Independent Legal No.2790. Publish June 10, 2010NOTICE OF INVITING BIDSNotice is hereby given thatsealed competitive bids willbe accepted in the office ofthe GSA-Purchasing Department,County of Alameda,1401 Lakeside Drive, 9thFloor, Conference Room 906,Oakland, CA 94612 MANDA-TORY PRE-BID SITE VISITAND CONFERENCE - S.County Project #5029-F,New Fence at Castro ValleyLibrary, Wednesday, June16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. – NorthProperty Line at Castro ValleyLibrary, 3600 NorbridgeAvenue, Castro Valley, CAAttendance at the MandatoryPre-Bid Conference isrequired Responses Dueby 11:00 am on June 30,2010 County Contact: TripMiller at (510) 208-9588 orvia email: charles.miller@acgov.org Information regardingthe above may beobtained at the Current ContractingOpportunities Internetwebsite at www.acgov.org.6/10/10CNS-1876072#The Independent Legal No.2791. Publish June10, 2010ANIMALS2) CATS/DOGSAdopt a new best friend:TVAR, the Tri-Valley AnimalRescue, offers animalsfor adoption every Saturdayand Sunday, excluding mostholidays. On Saturdays from9:30 am to 1:00 pm, both dogsand cats are available at thePleasanton Farmers Market atW. Angela and First Streets.Two locations will showcasecats only: Petsmart in Dublinfrom noon to 4 and the PetFood Express in Livermorefrom 1 to 4. On Sundays,cats are at Petsmart in Dublinfrom 1 to 4, and PetCo in SanRamon from 11 to 3. Information,call TVAR at (925)803-7043 or visit our websiteat www.tvar.orgADOPT A DOG OR CAT, foradoption information contactValley Humane Society at925 426-8656.6)LOSTLOST A FAMILY PET? FREESECTION. Call Barbara 925243-8000.AUTOS/BOATS/RV’S/TRUCKS10)AUTOS WANTEDDONATE VEHICLE: RE-CEIVE $1000 Grocery Coupon.Your Choice. Noahs Arc- No Kill Animal Shelters.Advance Veterinary Treatments.Free Towing, IRS TaxDeductible, Non-Runners. 1-866-912-GIVE. (CAL*SCAN)DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’sCancer Fund! HelpSave A Child’s Life ThroughResearch & Support! Free VacationPackage. Fast, Easy &Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CAL*SCAN)DONATE YOUR CAR! toSONGS of LOVE! Seen onthe TODAY SHOW! Make asick child smile and get a taxdeduction.,Endorsed by BobMcGrath of Sesame Street!Call 888-909-SONG (7664)(CAL*SCAN).SELL YOUR USED CARHERE. Call Barbara at 925-243-8000 0R www.independentnews.comEMPLOYMENT56) ADULT CARECAREGIVERSNEEDED for elder care.Light housekeepingerrands transportationmeal prep personal care.Please fax resume925 371-811860) BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYALL CASH VENDING! BeYour Own Boss! Your OwnLocal Vending Route. Includes25 Machines andCandy for $9,995. Multi-Vend LLC, 1-888-625-2405.(CAL*SCAN)BE WARY of out of areacompanies. Check with thelocal Better Business Bureaubefore you send any moneyor fees. Read and understandany contracts before you sign.Shop around for rates.71) HELP WANTEDOpportunity KnockingAuto SalesSelf-MotivatedEasy ScheduleNo Experience NeededWill Train!BenefitsApply WithinOr Online @LivermoreAutoGroup.comCall Parm or Ravi @(925) 294-7700Ford / Lincoln / MercuryINDEPENDENTCONTRACTORS WANTEDfor Senior Home HealthCare Must HaveExperienceSenior Solutions, Inc.925 443-3101TRUCK DRIVERS: CDLtraining. Part-time driving jobwith Full-time benefits. Getpaid to train in the CaliforniaArmy National Guard.Up to $12,500 bonus. www.NationalGuard.com/Trucko r 1 - 8 0 0 - G O - G U A R D .(CAL*SCAN)INTERNATIONAL CUL-TURAL EXCHANGE Representative:Earn supplementalincome placing and supervisinghigh school exchange students.Volunteer host familiesalso needed. Promote worldpeace! 1-866-GO-AFICE orwww.afice.org (CAL*SCAN)EMERGENCY MEDICALTECH. Must be H.S. gradages 17-34. No experienceneeded. Paid training,benefits, vacation, regularraises. Call Mon-Fri. 1-800-345-6289. (CAL*SCAN)72) HELP WANTED/DRIVERSSLT NEEDS CDL A TEAMDRIVERS with Hazmat.$2,000 Bonus. Teams split$.68 for all miles. Solo flatbedowner operators neededfor West Regional. . 1-800-835-9471, 1-877-253-2897.(CAL*SCAN)Company Drivers (Solos& Hazmat Teams) *GREATPAY * GREAT MILES * CDL- A Required. We Also havededicated & regional positionsavailable. Call 866-789-8947.Swift. (CAL*SCAN)ATTN: DRIVERS! New payIncrease! 34-40cpm. ExcellentBenefits. Need CDL-A & 3months recent OTR. 877-258-8782. www.MeltonTruck.com(CAL*SCAN)CLASSIFIEDS**************Reaches38,000 HomesDirect mailtoLivermore, Dublin,Pleasanton & SunolCall Barbara925 243-8000MERCHANDISE118) FREE/GIVEAWAYGOT OLD JUNKFREE/GIVEAWAYSECTIONCall 925 243-8000 Barbara121)ESTATE/GARAGE/YARD SALESRAIN OR SHINE! Call Barbara925-243-8000 or go towww.independentnews.com before 8am Tuesdaysto get your ad in for the nextedition.

LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDSwww.independentnews.comThe Independent, JUNE 10, 2010 - PAGE 11NEIGHBORHOOD YARDSALESaturday, June 129 am to 2 pm325 Kitty Hawk/1825ShorelineAlamedaVintage tools, toys, clothes,books, furniturehousehold goods125)HOUSEHOLD GOODSPlace your household itemshere for sale. Call925 243-8000 or go on-lineat www.independentnews.com Also you can pay byCredit Card for Classifiedand Display Ads.127) LOST/FOUNDLOST or FOUND AN ITEMFREE SECTIONCall Barbara 925 243-8000FOUND CASHLivermore AreaPlease Call 925 447-6623NOTICES/ANNOUNCEMENTS155)NOTICES“NOTICE TO READERS:California law requires thatcontractors taking jobs that total$500 or more (labor and/ormaterials) be licensed by theContractors State LicenseBoard. State law also requiresthat contractors include theirlicense numbers on all advertising.Check your contractor’sstatus at www.cslb.ca.govor 800-321-CSL B (2752).Unlicensed persons takingjobs less than $500 muststate in their advertisementsthat they are not licensed bythe Contractors State LicenseBoard.”REAL ESTATEThe Federal Fair Housing Act,Title VII of the Civil RightsAct of 1964, and state lawprohibit advertisements forhousing and employmentthat contain any preference,limitation or discriminationbased on protected classes,including race, color, religion,sex, handicap, familial statusor national origin. IVPC doesnot knowingly accept anyadvertisements that are inviolation of the law.1 5 7 ) A P T / C O N D O S / D U -P L E X / H O U S E / T O W N -HOUSE/RENTALGOT A HOUSE FOR RENT?Let the 38,000 households/businesses that read the Independentfind out about it. .To place an ad go to www.independentnews.comor callBarbara at 925 243-8000160)BOAT/RV and RETAILLOOKING FOR RETAILORSTORAGE SPACE?Great Location Off Hwy 580On Kitty Hawk RoadFor Details Email:Pmatharu@lagmail.net162)HOMES FOR SALEBy Advertising with The Independentyou can reachover 38,000 homes and businesseswith your ad. CallBarbara 925 243-8000165) HOUSE/ROOMS/RENT-ALS TO SHARERENT YOUR EMPTY LIVINGSPACE By Advertising withThe Independent reachesover 38,000 homes and businesseswith your ad. CallBarbara 925 243-8000170)LAND FOR SALE/OUTOF STATEBANK OWNED LAND! 10acres. Trout stream, $39,900.Substantial discounts, limitedavailability. BeautifulFish Lake Valley acreagew/year round rainbow troutstream in foothills of BoundaryPeak, Nevada’s highestmountain. Gorgeous snowcappedviews. Great recreationalopportunities. Upscaleranch community Financingavailable to qualified buyers.Call 1-877-669-3737.(CAL*SCAN)We FOUND The MIDDLE ofNOWHERE! Only 90 minutesfrom Phoenix. 36 acres- $49,900. In the good times,the neighbor paid 3 timesmore! Want to live 17 milesdown a bumpy county maintainedroad with electric? Forreal privacy and seclusion ina beautiful setting. Buy & hold.Outside Wickenburg. SaddleCreek Ranch by AZLR. ADWRreport. Financing available. 1-888-503-7063. (CAL*SCAN)By Advertising with The Independentyou can reachover 38,000 homes and businesseswith your ad. CallBarbara 925 243-8000172)LOTS & ACREAGE/OUTOF STATEAdvertise with The Independentand reach over 38,000homes and businesses withyour ad. Call Barbara 925243-8000175)REAL ESTATE AUC-TIONSSERVICES177)BUSINESS SERVICESCLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGin 240 Cal-SCAN newspapersfor the best reach, coverage,and price. 25-words $450.Reach 6 million Californians!FREE email brochure. Call(916) 288-6019.www.Cal-SCAN.com (CAL*SCAN)DISPLAY ADVERTISING in140 Cal-SCAN newspapersstatewide for $1,550! Reachover 3 million Californians!FREE email brochure. Call(916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SCAN.com (CAL*SCAN)ADVERTISE ONLINE in anetwork of 50-plus newspaperwebsites. Border toBorder with one order! $7cost per thousand impressionsstatewide. Minimum$ 5 , 0 0 0 o r d e r . C a l l f o rdetails: (916) 288-6010.www.CaliforniaBannerAdNetwork.com (CAL*SCAN)180)EDUCATIONHIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA!Graduate in 4 weeks! FREEBrochure. Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext. 60 www.S o u t h E a s t e r n H S . c o m(CAL*SCAN)184)FINANCIAL SERVICESCASH NOW! Get cash foryour structured settlementor annuity payments. Highpayouts. Call J.G. Wentworth.1-866-Settlement (1-866-738-8536). Rated A+ bythe Better Business Bureau.(CAL*SCAN)185)HEALTH/MISC.If you used Type 2Diabetes DrugAVANDIA andSUFFERED a STROKE orHEART ATTACK.You may be entitled to compensation.Attorney CharlesJohnson1-800-535-5727.(CAL*SCAN)187)SCHOOLS/TRAINNGAdvertisement for Training.HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAIN-ING. Learn to operate bulldozer,backhoe, loader, motorgrader, excavator. Job placementassistance. Call 888-210-4534. Northern CaliforniaCollege of Construction. www.HEAVY4.com promocode:NCPA1. (CAL*SCAN)Scam Artists Target Renters,Sellers, BuyersBy Cher WollardThe charming, well-maintained house was on the market. The Realtor’ssign was in the yard; a lockbox attached to the water pipe.Photographs and detailed descriptions of the home were posted onthe MLS, realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, Yahoo real estate, the agent’ssite and even a special URL dedicated to advertising the propertyfor sale.Now, apparently, it was also posted on craigslist.com – the megaInternet site that posts notices for jobs, housing, personals, servicesand community events.Only the posting on Craig’s list – complete with photographs anddetailed description – said the house was for rent, not for sale, andoffered at a bargain price.The contact person was neither the listing agent nor the homeowner,but a mysterious poster in another state who advised wouldbe-rentersto wire funds or send a cashier’s check to cover the depositplus first month’s rent.A scam? Definitely. And one that unfortunately is becoming morecommon.Agents report receiving phone calls from perplexed people whohave seen the ads and driven by the property, only to find a “ForSale” sign in the yard. Sometimes they call the listing agents formore information.“It’s really crazy,” said Gretchen Pearson, broker-owner of ParkPlace property management company. “The tenants are looking atCraig’s list and they are seeing these low rents being offered, butthey’re not real. How is a tenant going to check? At least dealingwith a property management company or a real estate agent, theyknow it’s legit.”In fact, Craig’s list now posts warnings at the top of all housinglistings: “Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally! Beware anyarrangement involving Western Union, Moneygram, wire transfer,or a landlord/owner who is out of the country or cannot meet youin person.”These frauds can be difficult to detect. Often the person will offeran elaborate and heart-wrenching reason why he or she cannotconduct the transaction in person.Snopes.com, the internet sleuths who report on urban legendsas well as scams, cites three tell-tale signs you are dealing with afraudulent lease offer:• Owners who are in a hurry to rent a unit and are offering a leaseat well below the going rate for the location and type of property;• Owners who do not make a property available for inspection byprospective renters;• Owners who require you to pay money – in any form – in advanceof providing you with a signed rental agreement and the keysto the property.Craig’s list also offers tips for sidestepping would-be scammers:• Deal locally with people you can meet in person.• Never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any otherservice.• Watch out for fake cashier checks and money orders. Banks maycash them and hold you responsible.• Be aware that Craig’s list does not handle payments, guaranteetransactions, provide escrow services, offer “buyer protection” or“seller certification.” Anyone who makes such a claim is probablya scammer.• Never give out bank account numbers, Social Security numbers,eBay or PayPal information or any other financial information unlessyou are sure who you are dealing withSometimes the fraud is reversed: Scammers claiming to want topurchase or rent property may offer phony cashier’s checks for morethan the required amount, then ask the homeowner or their agent toreimburse them for the difference either in cash or by wiring fundsto a bogus escrow service.If you suspect a posting on Craig’s list may be part of a scam,email the details to “abuse@craigslist.org”. Be sure to include theURL (or 10-digit post ID number) in your message.For any suspicious online activity, call the Federal Trade Commission’shotline at 1-877-382-4357 or contact your local policedepartment.Sometimes a shady offer comes from someone with a legitimateright to lease out the property.A prospective homebuyer, in contract to purchase a house in shortsale that had been vacant for awhile, noticed a moving van in thedriveway. Her agent made a few calls and discovered the homeownerwas renting the house out while awaiting approval from the bank onthe short sale.The renters were told they could have the house for a year, andso had painted interior walls to suit their taste.In truth, the seller was well into the short sale process and thetransaction was expected to close in less than 60 days.Not only did the buyer not appreciate the new décor, her agentwas concerned it could be difficult – and potentially expensive – toget the tenants out of the house before close of escrow.“As a property management company, we get people coming tous wanting to rent out these properties that are in default,” Pearsonsaid. “But we’re not going to put some tenant, some family, intothat situation.“Even if the tenant knows the situation, do they realize they arenot going to get their security deposit back if the bank forecloses?Do they know they could be forced out of the home when it is soldor goes to auction?“Sometimes the property owners don’t disclose the situation,but we screen them out. With the way things are now, we have toinvestigate properties before we list them.”In other cases the folks calling agents about properties are lookingto break in and strip them of appliances, copper wires, lightingfixtures and other items they can sell.Linda Futral, a Realtor with Alain Pinel Realty in Livermore, saidshe has had numerous suspicious phone calls from people fishing forinformation. “They ask about the condition of the home, what is inthe house, they want to see it right away. They really are trying tofind out if the property is occupied,” she said.“If something doesn’t feel right, I don’t volunteer information. Wehave to protect the property and the family behind it.”Then there are scammers seeking to defraud lenders.“Joe (not his real name) listed his home as a short-sale, but I talkedwith another agent today and he said it is one of Joe’s scams,” CathyMiller, a Realtor with Windermere Welcome Home, relayed. “Joeplans to have a friend buy it, and rent it out to him, and then he willeventually buy it back from the friend.“The agent had a buyer for the house, but Joe won’t show thehouse or accept offers. That is how the agent found out what Joewas doing.“It boggles the mind that this stuff can actually happen.”Futral agrees. “We as agents just have to be so much more onguard,” Futral said. “The public needs us more than ever, whetherthey are homeowners or buyers or looking to lease.”$108 Million Settlement in CountrywideMortgage Abuse CaseFormer customers of Countrywide Financial may be reimbursedsome of the excessive fees charged to struggling homeowners, accordingto the Federal Trade Commission.Bank of America, which acquired Countrywide Financial in 2008,has agreed to a $108 million settlement.The settlement is one of the largest in the commission’s history andwill be used to compensate affected homeowners. The FTC has notyet established how much will be paid to individual consumers.For more information, go to www.ftc.gov/countrywide.Cher Wollard is a Realtor withWindermere Welcome Home, Livermore.

PAGE 12 - The Independent, JUNE 10, 2010Photo - Doug JorgensenFriday night concerts got underway last week in Pleasanton. The concerts, which begin at 7 p.m.,are held in Lion's Wayside Park, corner of First and Neal Street.Livermore Business ExpandsTenth Congressional DistrictRepresentative John Garamendivisited Aero Precision in Livermorein an effort to learn moreabout the innovative spirit, commitmentto quality and agilebusiness model that has made thissmall business so effective andprofitable despite difficult worldwideeconomic circumstances.A stocking distributor,Aero Precision has been sellingOEM products since 1993.“We’re proud of our pedigreeand stand firmly behind the serviceswe provide to US militaryforces and international militariesaround the globe. Our pastsuccesses and recent growth is adirect result of the professionalismand burning desire to satisfyour customers displayed dailyby Aero Precision employees atevery level of our organization,”explains Evren Ergin, Presidentand Founder of Aero Precision.Congressman Garamendi tooka tour of Aero Precision headquarters.He had an opportunityto meet and converse with employees,and hear a presentationby the Business DevelopmentVP, Ertugrul Turhal. Topicsincluded sales achievements,new initiatives for employees(cross training, retirement plans,health coverage) and communityinvolvement (Aero Precision isfully engaged in Soup Kitchenvolunteering, breast cancerand leukemia research funddrives, food shelter donationsand local job fairs). In the last12 months, Aero Precision hasmore than doubled its workforceand increased annual revenuesby 34%.Garamendi said that he wasimpressed with what he saw inthe short time he witnessed theAero Precision team in action.“From the warehouse personnel,to the sales administrators, toPictured from left to right are Rep Garamendi, Gary Cohen (Rep’sChief of Staff), Ertugrul Turhal (Aero Precision VP of BusinessDevelopment), and Evren Ergin (President/Founder of AeroPrecision). They are in the warehouse, examining an aircraftcomponent prior to exportthe executive management, AeroPrecision displays an aggressivenature and a willingness to go theextra mile to satisfy its customerbase; I’m proud of what this organizationcontinues to achieve,and I’m excited about what AeroPrecision’s growth and charitableinvolvement means to the greaterLivermore community.”Aero Precision is a leader inaerospace distribution and servicesand a premier worldwidestocking distributor of aircraftOEM parts. With 17 years ofreliability, quality products andunparalleled customer service,Aero Precision facilitates sparepart purchasing, repair coordinationand aircraft maintenanceprogram management using aunique logistic support model tosource military aircraft solutionsfor the US Government and over60 allied military forces. AeroPrecision has sole stocking distributionagreements with CraneAerospace, Hamilton Sundstrand,Honeywell, Texstars,CEF, Curtiss-Wright and additionalstrategic OEM partners forvarious product lines. For moreinformation on Aero Precision,visit www.aeroprecision.com.Meeting to Take Input on Ironhorse Trail RouteThe East Bay Regional ParkDistrict in cooperation with theCity of Pleasanton is hosting thefirst of three community meetingsto discuss the 1.6 mile extensionof The Iron Horse Trail fromSanta Rita Rd to the Pleasanton/Dublin BART Station.Closing this gap will completethe Iron Horse Trail throughPleasanton.The meeting will be held from6 to 8 p.m. on Tues., June 22 atthe Veterans Memorial Building,301 Main St., Pleasanton.The East Bay Regional ParkDistrict has retained the servicesof Callander Associates to performa feasibility study on thealignment of the Iron Horse Trailfrom the current terminus on thenorth side of the Pleasanton/DublinBART to the existing segmentat Santa Rita Rd to the south.The trail is currently proposedas a paved multi-use trail locatedprimarily within the formerSouthern Pacific (SP) Railroadright-of-way established in 1891and abandoned in 1977. In 1998a license agreement was enteredinto by and between EBRPD andAlameda County for the purposesof constructing a trail within thisformer right-of-way.There was talk at one timeof placing the alignment alongOwens Drive and other streetsas an alternative alignment, butthis was met with resistance fromresidents and the Pleasanton CityCouncil who stated that Pleasantonwanted a “real Iron HorseTrail alignment.”The exact alignment has notbeen identified. The proposedalignment will pass under I-580, follow the utility corridorthrough the BART main parkinglot, through the Kaiser/Oracle offices,and pass through CreeksidePark, then navigate through theStoneridge/Santa Rita intersectionto meet with the existingsegment on the south side ofSanta Rita Rd. Along this route,it will cross Owens Dr, HaciendaDr, West Las Positas, TassajaraCreek, and the Arroyo MochoCanal.In the current study, CallanderAssociates will evaluate theproposed alignment challenges,environmental impacts, trafficand arterial roadway crossingissues, existing utility conflicts,and most importantly commentsand concerns from Pleasantonresidents and business owners.The initial information that Callandercompiled will be presentedat the June 22 meeting along withmaps and graphics.Map shows proposed route of trail.

THE INDEPENDENT • SECTION IIArt, Community, & EducationTHURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010Pictured are students who received grants. Seated center front is Nancy Bankhead, a member of LCAC.LCAC Provides Crucial Support to School Music ProgramsBy Patricia KoningLast year, the Livermore ValleyJoint Unified School District facedthe fact that it would have to drasticallyreduce music programs in itsschools, a result of severe cuts toK-12 education funding at the statelevel. But through the leadership oforganizations like the LivermoreCultural Arts Council (LCAC), theLivermore community has provenPCAC Recognizes Young Artists, Arts SupporterThe Pleasanton Cultural ArtsCouncil (PCAC) members sharethe philosophy that quality artseducation programs should beaccessible to everyone in the community.Helping to carry out that theme,PCAC recognized young artistsand a supporter of the arts whohave been involved with the arts.The awards ceremony was heldlast week.The Youth Excellence in Artsto be a strong supporter of artseducation.Last month, LCAC stepped upto provide critical support to twoessential music programs—theLivermore Valley Education Foundation’s(LVEF) effort to fund afull-time elementary music teacherand the Livermore Rotary MusicScholarship program.LCAC is an association of(YEA) Awards were given in creativewriting, music, dance and thevisual arts.The Arts Supporter of the Yeargoes to an adult. It recognizes theoutstanding contributions to thearts by special people in the Tri-Valley area. The award consists ofa book selected by the recipient.The PCAC donates another copyof the book to the PleasantonLibrary.Jill Vellinger, from PCAC,23 cultural organizations withinLivermore united with a commongoal of promoting educational andcultural activities within the city.The organization has a strong focuson arts education for Livermorechildren.“We felt it was important towork closely with the LivermoreValley Education Foundation thisyear, given the budget crisis in ourobserved, “The arts make such adifference in all our lives. Theseawards are made possible bypeople who believe in the arts andin supporting young people in thearts.”She mentioned the Renee Smithfamily, Phyllis Wentworth familyand the Max Biggs family; all haveestablished monetary awards forstudents.PCAC President Margene Rivara,who was also the recipientschools,” says LCAC presidentChuck Hartwig. “We decided todedicate a substantial portion ofour education fund to help supportthe elementary music teacher.”LCAC donated $6,000 to LVEFto help the organization meet itsgoal of just over $90,000, enoughto fund one full-time position withbenefits. “It was important that wereach that $90,000 mark to fullyof this year’s Arts Supporter of theYear, talked a little bit about theorganization. She pointed out thatit is an all volunteer entity. “PCACis organized in the belief that thearts nurture the spirit of those inour community," she stated.She mentioned just a few of theactivities. PCAC is involved inArts in the Schools, the annual Poetry,Prose and Arts Festival, andconcerts to help finance the variousprograms, among other activities.fund this full-time position andimportant that we do it before theend of the school year so there isless disruption in the elementarymusic program,” explains LVEFpresident Vicki Schellenberger.LCAC has close ties with bothof Livermore’s Rotary Clubs—Hartwig is a past-president ofLivermore Rotary and his wife(See LCAC, page 2)The Arts in the Schools programincludes grants for teacher. Rivaranoted that there had been a recordnumber of applications this year.She thanked Charlotte Severin,one of the founders of PCAC, forhaving the vision to move forwardwith the organization.Severin presented the first placeaward in visual arts, stating, “Weare extremely impressed with thequality of the work of the appli-(See PCAC, page 3)

2 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 Art & EntertainmentSara Persaud (Photo by KC Johnson)Dance ProgramCelebrates Three Decadesof PerformancesValley Dance Theatre 2010spring production has the themeA String of Pearls. Performanceswill take place at the BankheadTheater, 2400 First Street, Livermore,on Saturday, June 19, 2010at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m.The audience is invited to joinmembers of the ballet company ata gala 30 th Anniversary receptionat 5:00 p.m., prior to the eveningperformance, on the lobby patio.A String of Pearls celebratesValley Dance Theatre’s three decadesof dance in the Tri-Valleywith a program of classical andcontemporary works that includesGershwin’s An American in Paris,Vivaldi’s Four Season and GlennMiller’s classic A String of Pearls.The program combines companyfavorites with new and originalchoreography in a display of ValleyDance Theatre’s range andversatility.The ballet sequence fromGeorge Gershwin’s An Americanin Paris leads the audience pastParis landmarks, accompaniedby familiar melodies that conveyenergy and romance. The youngmusicians of Sycamore StringsAcademy then provide live accompanimenton a journey throughVivaldi’s Four Seasons, combiningclassical and modern dance in a innovativeinterpretation with a twistof humor. Short pieces, including aballet rendition of Glenn Miller’sbig band classic A String of Pearls,complete the program.“Over the past 30 years, literallythousands of young studentshave studied classical ballet at ourstudio in Livermore and attendedour summer ballet camps,” saysValley Dance Theatre founderBetsy Hausburg.“Thousands more people haveenjoyed our annual full-lengthproductions of The Nutcracker andour spring productions. We invitethem to experience the exhilaratingartistry of A String of Pearls andcelebrate this important 30 th Anniversarymilestone with us.”Tickets to A String of Pearlsare $18 for adults and $8 for students.Tickets to the reception are$15 each. Tickets are available atwww.livermoreperformingarts.org/tickets or by phone at 925-373-6800. They may also bepurchased at the Bankhead Theaterbox office, Monday-Saturday from12 noon-6:00 p.m. Ticket pricesinclude a $2.00 Bankhead Theaterfacility fee.Livermore Commission for theArts Presents First AwardsThe Commission for the Artsfor the City of Livermore hasformed an Award Program forgraduating seniors from the highschools in the Livermore SchoolDistrict. Students applied andwere chosen by the Art’s Commissionand awarded $200. Theaward winners were announced ata recent Livermore City Councilmeeting. They are as follows:Paige Anaya, Granada HighSchool, is the recipient of thePerforming Arts Award in music.She began taking flute lessonsin 6th grade and played in Symphonicand Marching Bands, andOrchestra Winds all 4 years in highschool. She has been accepted toBiola University where she plansto major in music and says aftercollege she hopes to share hermusical knowledge while teachingin the classroom.Katelyn James, Granada HighSchool, is the award winner forVisual Arts. She has been involvedmany years in music and balletas well. Katelyn is planning onLCAC(continued from front page)Khabira is a past-president ofLivermore Valley Rotary. “Again,because of the state of the schools,we felt this was a good year to helpRotary bridge the gap in their musicscholarships,” he says.In 2001, Livermore guitaristand businessman Michael Ferrucciestablished the Livermore RotaryMusic Scholarship program. Opento any student currently enrolled ina middle or high school in Livermore,the awards are intended tohelp students further their musicalpursuits. The program is fundedby benefit concerts sponsored bythe club and by donations fromindividual Rotarians and membersof the community.The awards have grown increasinglypopular, far outstrippingthe resources that Rotary has availablefor the program. A handfulof awards were given in 2001, anumber that increased to over 20in the past two years. “This year,the awards committee was startledto receive requests from over 50students,” explains Kathy Streeter,a member of both Livermore Rotaryand LCAC. “With only $6,000available to fund requests totalingover $25,000, the committee wasin despair over being unable tofulfill the obvious need.”With help from LCAC and individualRotarians, the two groupsbecoming a classroom teacher andsays, “I want to incorporate art andmusic into my classroom. I knowthis will prove to be helpful for thestudent’s learning abilities, just asit has helped me. With every artproject, I hope I will be able to helpthem realize that each and everyone of them has their own way ofcreating and looking at things.:Ashley Defenbaugh, LivermoreHigh School, is the recipient ofthe Art Commission’s Award forPerforming Arts. Ashley has beenstudying piano for 10 years andhas also played flute for 8 years inthe band programs in our schooldistrict. Ashley will use the awardmoney to study music during hercollege years and says she hopesto play piano in the pit orchestraof a musical in San Francisco orNew York.Alex Frogner, Livermore HighSchool, is the winner of the LiteraryArts award. He says his passionis creative writing and he alsoloves photography. He has beenheavily involved in the school’sPoetry Club, Editor of the school’sliterary and artistic magazine, andEditor of Fusion, a communitymagazine for teens. His AdvancedPlacement English teacher said ofhim, “This intelligent, kind, sensitiveand highly motivated youngman is exactly the kind of citizenI would like to see in a position ofinfluence in my country. Alex willbe attending McGill University.Elizabeth Sims, LivermoreHigh School, is the recipient ofthe award for Visual Arts in Photography.She has won severalawards in photography in school,many at the Alameda County Fairand also shown her photographyat the Bankhead Theatre in ourown city’s Art Walk. She says,photography allows me to expressmy thoughts and ideas in a waythat is directly connected with theworld, yet pliable enough to createmy own image. Elizabeth has beenaccepted to UC Santa Cruz andplans to major in art and becomea photography teacher.distributed $11,000 in grants andscholarships, ranging in value from$250 to $1,000, to 37 Livermoremiddle and high school studentson May 12 at a Livermore Rotarymeeting. Following the awardsceremony, college bound seniorPaige Anaya played the ChaminadeConcertina for flute for theassembled Rotarians and guests.Her performance was followed byaward recipients Bronwyn Hagerty,Laura Schildbach, and KeyonTaravati, joined by guest TorianneLamb in a string quartet playingthe 1st movement of Borodine’ssecond string quartet.“We are grateful to Sandia NationalLaboratories and LawrenceLivermore National Laboratory,along with many individual contributors,for their contributions toLCAC,” says Hartwig. “Our workis a reflection of this community’svalues.”The following students receivedLivermore Rotary Music Scholarshipsthis year: Paige Anaya, ChloeBrunton, Cianna Chavez, DuncanCluff, Ashley Defenbaugh, KieraDetert, Elizabeth Dimits, BrindaDixit, Cassandra Dukes, EthanEpperly, Sierra Freeland, EricGateno, Amanda Gile, Ethan Ha,Bronwyn Hagerty, Cassidy Herro,Alyssa Horning, Megan James,Katelyn James, Franklin Kerstetter,Casey Kim, Megan Kristovich,Chris LeBel, Olivia Miano, AllisonReggiardo, Joseph Rojas, RichardSarrica, Laura Schildbach, SadieSerdahl, Robert Shi, Valerie Sommer,Rachel Sowa, Kyle Talley,Clifford Tam, Keyon Taravati,Tristen Thalhuber, and Jenna Williams.Bonsai ShowPlanned forJune 19 and 20The 2nd Annual Valley BonsaiSociety Show will be hosted by theValley Bonsai Society on June 19and 20 at Alden Lane Nursery inLivermore. The show will be from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.Two special demonstrationsare planned at 1 p.m. each day. OnSaturday, Charles Harder will befeatured; master bonsai designerSam Adina is the Sunday expert.There will be displays, a raffle,and door prizes.Admission is free.Alden Lane Nursery is locatedat 981 Alden Lane, Livermore.

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 3PCAC(continued from front page)cants. It is heartening to see thatyouth will be in the forefront ofthe arts in the future.”Nari Kim, a junior at FoothillHigh School, was the first placewinner and recipient of the PhyllisWentworth Award. She submittedseveral portraits and a still-life.Kim described how she createda black and white pastel of an oldwoman. “I tried to explore depthby using light and dark contrast tocreate the wrinkles to portray thehardships she has been through.”In addition, there was a self-portraitin watercolor. The face isblack and white. There are brightcolors dripping down one side,which Kim said were an effort tobring out the feeling of joy.Gordon Gaines presented thesecond place award in visual arts toCaroline Kim. She is also a juniorat Foothill High School.Caroline Kim displayed amonochromatic portrait of herfamily, which she said was createdso she could become familiarwith color. She works in variousmedium. Gaines pointed out thatCaroline works in a variety ofstyles from surrealism to landscape.He said of the landscape,“This is just wonderful.”A new award category, JazzMusic, was sponsored by the RotaryClub of Pleasanton. The awardwas presented by Don Lewis. Hesaid he was pleased that jazz hadbeen added as a category. “Themusic allows the performers tolook into their art and souls. WhatI like about jazz is that a work isprobably never played the sameway twice.”The winner was Michael Czaja,a student at USC. He plays thesaxophone. Czaja and fellow musician,Greg Chin (piano) performedtheir rendition of “My FoolishHeart.”The Renee Smith Music Awardwent to two musicians, ConnieChen and Da Eun Kim. Both Chenand Da Eun Kim are freshman atAmador Valley High School. DaEun Kim is a violinist. Chen playsthe piano.Bob Williams, conductor of thePleasanton Community ConcertBand, judged the music competition.He said of the winners, “Itdoesn’t get any better than this.”The literary awards were presentedby Dave Wright. “It waswonderful to judge these people,”he stated.The 1st place winner was therecipient of the Max Biggs Award.It went to Vivian Tsai for herpoetry.Joanne Biggs presented the topaward named in honor of her latehusband. She described him as amulti-talented man who alwayshonored high achievement.Tsai is a junior at Foothill HighSchool. Her teacher said of her,“The muses inspire Vivian. Shewon’t ignore the muses that rumblein her soul.”Tsai read three poems, onewas inspired by her grandfather,who was a conscripted soldier;another was a commentary on theeducational system, called “TheWay We Waste Our Youth.” Thefinal poem talked about loss as onegrows older.The second place winner inliterary arts was Rhiannon Kelly,who submitted a short story.Kelly read her short story,which Wright described as, “amood piece. It resonates with momentsof magic.”Not present for the ceremonywas the dance award winner. Asecond place award went to KrisnapriyaSomasekharan for Indiandancing.The final award of the eveningwas presented by Rob Woodworthto Margene Rivara, Arts Supporterof the Year. Woodworth said therewas so much to say about Rivarathat he didn’t know where to begin.He noted that among manyother activities, she is the currentpresident of PCAC, chairman ofthe grand opening event for theFirehouse Arts Center, and one ofthe four founding members of thePleasanton Cultural Arts Foundation,which has been instrumentalin making the arts center a reality.She is also an artist, who paintsand works in stained glass. Shehas designed the costumes for anupcoming children’s opera, andshe has served on the city’s CivicArts Commission.In accepting the award, Rivarasaid, “I love Pleasanton. I love thearts. I am glad to be part of PCACand contributing what we can tomake other people’s lives better.”Rivara told the young awardwinners, “Keep your dreams alive.They are very important.”Series of Comedy Performancesto Benefit Open Heart KitchenComedy Uncorked, benefitting the Open Heart Kitchen, is back foranother summer series of laughs at Retzlaff Vineyards in Livermore.The series kicks off Saturday June 19 with Joe Klocek, MichaelMeehan, Norm Goldblatt, and Sandy Stec.Featured on July 24 will be Johnny Steele, Will Durst, Debi Durst,Michael Bossier, and Lynn Ruth Miller.The August 21 line-up will feature Tim Babb, Will Franken, andAnthony Hill.On Sept. 18, Fred Anderson, Aundre the Wonderwoman, and LynnRuth Miller will entertain.The shows begin at 7:30 pm (doors open at 6 p.m.).Retzlaff VineyardsRetzlaff Vineyards is located at 1356 South LivermoreAvenue in Livermore.Complete show details and tickets are at www.comedyuncorked.

4 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 EducationMario Pedrozzi Scholarship FoundationAwards $253,000 to 53 StudentsBy Patricia KoningThe Mario Pedrozzi ScholarshipFoundation honored the recipientsof its 2010 awards on June 3 duringa luncheon at the Vine Cinema.This year the Foundation awarded$253,000 in scholarships to 53recipients, bringing the cumulativetotal distributed in the past threeyears to just under one million.“We had so many amazingapplicants this year. Many of youwrote about your concern for theworld around you. That is what weare looking for,” said Paula Orrell,president of the Mario PedrozziScholarship Foundation Board ofDirectors. “We want to hear fromyou, about how you are doing.We wish you all the success in theworld.”Mario Pedrozzi was a successfulbusinessman, proprietor of theValley Food Center and LivermoreHotel, city councilmember andvice mayor. When he died in 2002,his will stipulated that most ofhis estate be used to establish theMario Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundationto provide college scholarshipsto graduates of Livermorehigh schools as well as graduatesof Alameda County high schoolsattending St. Patrick’s Seminaryand University in Menlo Park.The Foundation awarded itsfirst scholarships in 2008. The goalof the organization is to eventuallyprovide a $2,000 scholarshipfor every eligible student thatapplies.“Mario always said ‘rich is theperson who does not want,’” saidGene Hale, a friend and businesspartner of Mario Pedrozzi. “Hewasn’t one to buy something justbecause he wanted it. Over theyears he kept that in mind and puthis money into savings, stocks, andproperty. He was a great friend andI’m glad we’ve been able to turnhis life savings into this foundation.”The two winners of the $20,000Marquis Scholarship, Kelly Carpenterand Christopher Guido,both graduates of Granada HighSchool, expressed their thanksto the board and selection committee.“This is amazing,” saidGuido, who will study chemicalengineering at U.C. Davis. “I wasthrilled just to be interviewed forthe Marquis Scholarship.”“I can’t tell you how honored Ifeel. I’m still kind of in awe,” saidBrennan Mills, winner of an undergraduate Pedrozzi Scholarship,with Felicia Roeser, office administrator of the Pedrozzi ScholarshipFoundation.Carpenter. She will major in biologyat U.C. Santa Barbara this fall,with the career goal of becoming apediatrician.At the luncheon, Nicole Sadlerand Julie Bergmann, both 2004graduates of Granada, found theyhad more in common. They bothattended U.C. Davis and receivedPedrozzi Foundation scholarshipsfor graduate school.Sadler is entering a master’s degreeprogram in biology with a focuson stem cell research at PurdueUniversity. Since graduating fromU.C. Davis in 2008, she’s beenworking at Roche in Pleasanton; infact, she left the Pedrozzi luncheonto attend her farewell party at thecompany. While she’s found herwork at Roche very fulfilling—sheworked on a cervical cancer diagnostictool—her career goal is toteach at a community college.This fall Bergmann will begina doctorate program in medicalanthropology at the Universityof Kentucky. She has a master’sdegree in public health from JohnsHopkins University. “Medicalanthropology is like cultural anthropologywith a focus on publichealth,” she explains. “I plan tostudy gender-based violence inRussia.”About 25% of applicants to theMario Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundationare awarded scholarships.Many of the recipients said theyheard about the program throughword-of-mouth.Kristen Clements, a 2009 graduateof Granada, learned about theFoundation at last year’s awardsbanquet for graduating seniors. “Isaw that a bunch of my classmateshad gotten scholarships from thePedrozzi Foundation, so I had tocheck it out,” she says. “I wasthrilled to learn that it is not justfor graduating seniors.”The U.C. Davis freshman won a$2,000 scholarship. She is studyingclinical nutrition and hopes to useher degree to help girls with eatingdisorders.This year the Foundationformed an advisory panel withthe goal of getting the word outabout the organization. The panelincludes representatives frommany different sectors of thecommunity—arts, ranchers, thenational laboratories, agriculture,Kelly Carpenter and Christopher Guido, recipients of the 2010Marquis Scholarship.education, legal, and business. Thegoal, says board member MaurieLouis, is to encourage more applicantsas well as donations to theFoundation.The Pedrozzi Foundation scholarshipsare unique in that they areavailable for students in manyforms of post-secondary education,including community college, vocationalschool, four-year universities,and graduate school.“To find one scholarship thatprovides awards at all these differentlevels is unusual,” saysPhilomena Rambo, a vice principalat Granada High School. “Wepromote the Pedrozzi Foundationeverywhere we can. This is such agreat opportunity for graduates ofLivermore’s high schools.”Michael Bauer, a 2009 graduateof Granada, received a $1,000scholarship for his studies at LasPositas College. That scholarship,he says, will cover about half ofhis expenses for the school year.He received several other smallerscholarships that will pay for therest. Bauer plans to transfer to U.C.Davis in 2011 to pursue a degreein civil engineering.For more information, visitwww.pedrozzifoundation.org. Applicationsfor the 2011 school yearwill be on the website in Januaryand due in mid-March.The winners of the 2010 MarioPedrozzi Scholarships are:Technical/Vocational: Zoe Ashcraftand Amanda Seuss.Community College: MichaelBauer, Hillary Erbert, RemingtonFox, Brennan Graber, ChristieGroth, William Hughes, AmberLaigo, Alexandre Laronde, AlannaLeasau, Carolyn Masi, PaigeMiller, Natalie Rokov, and EricSmyth.Graduate School: Julie Bergmann,Sima Patel, Christine Quinn,Nicole Sadler, and Brian Shaw.Undergraduate: Alexandra Albiani,Jason Black, Kristen Clement,Jelena Cyr, Gerrit Davis, JillDayton, Mary Dec, Diljot Dhillon,Brigitte Eder, Corwin Eder,Matthew Hawkins, Julie Herman,Chelsea Jones, Lauren Jow, KatrinaKalantar, Arman Khachiyan,Harsha Koneru, Sophie Libkind,Nicole McCaffrey, Brennan Mills,Mallory Morelli, Catherine Nguyen,Sarah Roth, Arielle Sallai,Carly Shelar, Alexander Summers,Kaitlyn Tallarico, Joshua Volponi,and Kathryn Whittaker.Undergraduate 4 Year MarquisScholarship: Kelly Carpenter andChristopher Guido.St. Patrick’s Seminary Award:Leonard Marrujo.

Entertainment & CommunityJohn Zukoski Joins the Shakespeare'sAssociates BoardShakespeare’s Associates haveannounced the addition of JohnZukoski to their board of directorsthis month.Already an active communitymember, Zukoski created thepublic service blog and website“Around Dublin” (AroundDublinBlog.com)that gathers and disseminatesinformation about communityactivities in and around thecity of Dublin.“I saw a need to help my neighborsknow about all the arts andcultural events we have right herein our valley, and all of the civicdevelopments in Dublin. Creatinga central hub for the informationwas something I could do to help,”stated Zukoski. He has also servedas Treasurer of the Dublin RotaryClub as well as the Dublin LearningCorporation.Zukoski works for Robert HalfInternational in San Ramon, andnow serves on the board of Shakespeare’sAssociates in Livermore.“He has a vibrant personalityand a keen interest in creating agreat community here,” Chairmanof the Board Philip Manwellsaid. “We’re all looking forward toworking with him.”Zukoski joins the 9-personboard just in time to help produceRomeo & Juliet and The RealThing for the July 8 – August7th performances at ConcannonVineyard. Tickets range from $25to $39, day-dependent, with discountsfor seniors and others.Target Family Night, Sunday,July 11th includes $5 youth tickets.For tickets and information call1-800-838-3006, or visit LivermoreShakes.org.The Museum On Main EdKinney Lecture Series presents “Dead In The Sierra: The Legendof Joaquin Murieta and JoaquinValenzuela” by filmmaker WarrenHaack. There will be a screeningand discussion of his narrativefilm at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 17'The Wizard of Oz' Performance“The Wizard of Oz” will be performed by the Dance Studio @ Gymfinityon Sat., June 19.The show includes music, dance, gymnastics and tumbling. Danceranges from ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical to contemporary.Some of the numbers are performed to songs from “Wicked,” such as“No Good Deeds,” “No One Mourns the Wicked,” and “Thankful.”The performance will be at Gymfinity Gymnastics, 230 So. VascoRd., Livermore on Sat., June 19 at 11 a.m.All tickets are $5 for this full length production. For tickets, call960-9440 or email gymfinitygymnastics@yahoo.com.For more information about the Dance Studio, call 960-9440 orthe dance director Rochelle Popovits at 408-806-6828, shellypop@sbcglobal.net.Learn to Cookwith Olive OilA cooking demonstration, winepairing and book signing withauthor Fran Gage will be held atVictorine Olive Oil in downtownLivermore on June 26.Gage is the author of “The NewAmerican Olive Oil.”The class will include tastingsof three olive oils, cooking demonstrationand tasting, complimentarywine paring and book signing.The event is Sat., June 26 from1 to 4 p.m. The class fee is $55.Enroll in person at 21 So. LivermoreAve at Blacksmith Squarein Livermore, or call 454-8770 or454-8777.Talk on Legend of Two Joaquinsat Lynnewood United MethodistChurch, 4444 Black Avenue,Pleasanton.Award-wining filmmaker WarrenHaack from San FranciscoState University, Department ofCinema, will lead a discussionabout the research and makingof his film on the two Joaquins,followed by a screening of his30-minute narrative film, Dead InThe Sierra: The Legend of TwoJoaquins.Admission is $5 members andseniors, $10 non-members, and $3students and teachers with ID. Noreservations necessary. Purchasetickets at the door.For information call the museumon (925) 462-2766. The museumis located at 603 Main Street,Pleasanton. Hours are Wednesdaythrough Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.and Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Visit www.museumonmain.org.Reading 'Camp' Opens at Pleasanton LibraryThe Pleasanton Public Librarywill unveil a lavishly constructedtheme set for the 2010 SummerReading Program on Saturday,June 12 beginning at 10:00 a.m.Each year, a theme is selected forthe reading incentive game whichis enhanced with an elaborateset that is constructed within theChildren’s Library area. On openingday of the program, the librarystaff arrives at work in costumesthat coordinate with the programtheme.This year, Children’s LibrarianSandy Silva has selected a programtheme of Camp I-Wanna-Read,which continues through August6. Children of all ages can signup for the program by visitingthe KP Camp Counselors tents inthe Children’s Department of thelibrary. Prizes are claimed whenhappy campers complete 10, 20and 30 hours of reading and thehardiest campers can extend theirreading fun by completing a bonuscard to become eligible for a prizeat the conclusion of the program.“Last year we had an authenticOld West theme that includedan old fashioned hoedown withsquare dancing and a live caller,”says Library Director Julie Farnsworth.“We’re looking forward toa new adventure this summer thatwill take us into the great outdoorsand everyone is invited to join inthe fun,” she adds.Last year, nearly 4,000 Pleasantonyoungsters signed up toparticipate in the Summer ReadingProgram. The summer is jampacked with activities for librarycampers of all ages with a full slateof special programs. The hilarity ofDaffy Dave— everyone’s favoritehigh energy singing clown— kicksoff Wow Wednesdays on June 23at 2:00 p.m. Summertime moviesare scheduled on Thursdays at 1:00p.m. and are perfect for campers 7years old and up. Space is limitedand all programs will require aticket that can be claimed (at nocost) at the Children’s Desk, onehalf-hour before the start of eachshow.In July, the library hosts severalseries of “campfire tales” includingToddler Laptime on Mondaymornings at 10:00, 10:45 and11:30, for parents with childrenages 18-36 months; Pre-SchoolStorytime Cinema on Friday morningsat 11:00, for campers ages 3 to5; and S’More Stories Please, forchildren of all ages, on Tuesdaymornings at 11:00.For more information aboutCamp I-Wanna-Read and a completelisting of the library’s excitingprograms and activities, visitour website at www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/library.html or call the Children’sDesk at (925) 931-3400.THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 5The Voodoo Fix, based in Los Angeles, is embarking on a summer tour andwill be playing on Friday, June 11 at 8:30 p.m. at the Wild Vine in downtownLivermore and on Saturday, June 12 at White Crane Winery at 6:00 p.m.Returning to his East Bay roots is drummer, Trey Astbury, a 2004 graduateof Foothill High School. The band members met while attending WhittierCollege in southern California and have been playing the blues togetherever since. Currently in the studio recording their second EP, the Fixis gearing up for their summer tour which is sure to deliver funk and funto Livermore during the weekend of the Livermore Rodeo. Pictured areThe Voodoo Fix from left to right: Trey Astbury: Drums, Vocals; AndrewRussell: Guitar, Keyboard; Will Halsey: Bass, Vocals; Abe Rivers: Guitar,Vocals; Scott Parrelli: Guitar, Vocals.Photo: Jordan Irwin, Take a Picture It Lasts LongerPleasanton Community BandPerforms in San FranciscoThe Pleasanton CommunityConcert Band will continue tocelebrate its 35th Anniversary byplaying at the Golden Gate ParkBand Festival in San FranciscoSaturday, June 12, 2010 at noon.The Friends of the Golden GatePark Band will present The Let’sDo It Again in 2010 Fourth AnnualGolden Gate Park Band Festivalon Saturday and Sunday, June 12and 13, at the historic SpreckelsTemple of Music band shell in thePark’s beautiful Music Concourse,located between the CaliforniaAcademy of Science and the DeYoungMuseum.The Festival showcases theprofessional Golden Gate ParkBand, the US Air Force Band ofthe Golden West from Travis AirForce Base, and ten Northern Californiacommunity bands. Each ofthe guest bands will present a 45-minute performance. The Festivalstarts at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.both days, with the Golden GatePark Band featured at their regulartime from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday.There is no charge to attend andeveryone is welcome to enjoy twodays of great band music.The participating bands on Saturday,June 12, are: 11 a.m. - SanFrancisco Lesbian/Gay FreedomBand, Noon - Pleasanton CommunityConcert Band, 1 p.m. - USAir Force Band of the Golden Westfrom Travis Air Force Base, 2 p.m.- Foothill Symphonic Winds fromLos Altos Hills, 3 p.m. - OrovilleCommunity Concert Band, and 4p.m. - Daly City AllStars Band.For more information on theFestival go to www.friendsofggpband.org.The Golden Gate ParkBand’s web site is www.goldengateparkband.org.

6 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 Education & EntertainmentBy Patricia KoningLast week, Granada HighSchool junior Erika Carlson hardlysat down at lunchtime. She, alongwith the rest of Granada’s InteractClub, was too busy selling “SummerKisses”—good-bye noteswith Hershey’s Kisses that weredelivered earlier this week. Theproject was a last-minute fundraiserfor Granada’s Interact Clubto earn a little more for RotaryInternational’s End Polio Nowcampaign.“Our goal was to raise at least$2,000 for the polio campaign,and we actually raised over $3,000this school year,” says Carlson, theco-president of Granada’s InteractClub. She doesn’t expect to raise asignificant amount with the SummerKisses, maybe $50, but it’s anew type of fund-raiser they aretesting.“It’s not something we canlose on,” says Zoe Klingman, theother co-president of the club. “Wearen’t buying the kisses until afterwe sell the grams.”Over the course of the schoolyear, the students raised moneythrough several tried-and-truefund-raisers. They served as waitstaff for Livermore Rotary’s CrabFeed and will help the club runparking at the Livermore Rodeothis weekend.On campus, they partneredwith another service club on thepenny wars, which raised $1,000for Interact. In the penny wars,each class gets a bucket in whichto collect pennies. Each penny isLocal Students Contribute to WorldwideEffort to Eradicate Polioworth a point, but any other coinsor bills found in the bucket deductfrom the class total, so classessabotage each other. “Penny warsare lots of fun,” says Carlson. “It’sbecome a tradition here.”The 50-person Interact Club atLivermore High School (LHS) hasraised $4,000 for End Polio Nowthrough two e-waste recyclingdrives, a basket/service auction,helping at the Rotary Crab Feed,and through promotions at localrestaurants. English teacher HelenGladden advises the LHS InteractClub.When Granada’s Interact Clubputs on a fund-raiser like PennyWars or Summer Kisses, the studentsdrive the project. Scienceteacher William Rasor, who advisesthe club, helps the studentsfill out paperwork and managesany funds raised, but they do therest.Rasor began advising the InteractClub at the start of the2008/09 school year because hewas looking for a way to get moreinvolved at Granada. “I moved toLivermore three years ago, when Istarted teaching at Granada, so myinvolvement with Interact helpedme meet people in Livermore andget to know the community,” hesays.Interact is Rotary International’sservice club for young peopleages 14 to 18. Interact clubs aresponsored by individual Rotaryclubs, which provide support andguidance, but they are self-governingand self-supporting. EachMembers of Granada and Livermore High Schools' Interact Clubs at Livermore Rotary’s Fall Galafund-raiser.fall the Interact Clubs in RotaryDistrict 5170, which covers muchof Alameda and Santa Clara counties,choose an international Rotaryservice project to support.Rotary International has beenworking for the past 20 years toimmunize the world’s childrenagainst polio, part of a worldwideeffort to eradicate the disease. TheBill & Melinda Gates FoundationShakespeare Brings Cinemaand Theater TogetherThe Vine Cinema & Alehouse will present Shakespeare in Love this Thursday, June 10that 7:00 pm to celebrate the upcoming opening of Livermore Shakespeare Festival.The festival at Concannon Vineyard will consist of Romeo & Juliet, the theme of Shakespearein Love, and Tom Stoppard’s comedy The Real Thing. Tom Stoppard is the screenwriterof Shakespeare in Love.“I love seeing the cinema working so closely with the local community,” said volunteerDonna Blevins. Blevins volunteers for both groups and runs an informal Vine Club of movieenthusiasts.The Vine is selling tickets for only $7 to encourage attendance. Staff from Shakespeare’sAssociates will be on hand to talk about the film and the summer shows. “It’s informal andfun,” commented Peggy Riley, board member of SA. “It’s a great way to kick off the Shakespeareseason.”The Vine Cinema & Alehouse is located at 1722 First Street, Livermore, CA 94550. Fortickets and information about the cinema visit www.vinecinema.com. For Livermore Shakescall 925-443-BARD or visit www.LivermoreShakes.org.Photo - Doug JorgensenGetting their groove on were audience members (photo at right) who attended the AustinPowers Movie & 60’s Era Costume Party at the Vine Cinema & Alehouse last week. TheLivermore Valley Performing Arts Center costume and movie social was a benefit for localperforming and visual arts centers and its programs. Pictured is Monica Kulander.has pledged a $355 million challengegrant if Rotary can raise$200 million by June 30, 2012.Rotary’s progress against poliois impressive. According to theGates Foundation, when Rotarystarted its polio eradication program,more than 350,000 childrenworldwide were infected annually.In 2008, fewer than 2,000 childrencontracted polio. Today the wildpoliovirus persists in only fourcountries: India, Pakistan, Nigeria,and Afghanistan.The money raised by both ofLivermore’s Interact Clubs willprovide polio vaccinations formore than 11,500 children. Formore information, visit www.rotary.org/en/EndPolio.

Wine & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 7By Susan SteinbergIt’s titled “The Heidi Chronicles”,but it’s really a historylesson for everyone. For BabyBoomers it’s the story of ourlives. For younger viewers it’s areview course on the second halfof the Twentieth Century. For allof us it’s a cautionary tale aboutthe small choices we make veryearly that affect the whole span ofour lives.Playwright Wendy Wasserstein’sperceptive narrative beginsin the early 60’s, clearly rememberedby some, ancient history toothers. Guiding viewers back intime is effectively accomplishedby the clever use of popular music,clothes and hairstyles, and especiallyby the projected images offamous people and events.The gasps of instant recognitionand the whispered queries, “Oh,WHO is THAT?” on opening nighttestified to the success of DirectorSusan Hovey’s brilliantly innovativemulti-media design concept.The play is staged by the Tri-ValleyRepertory Theatre at its StudioTheatre in Pleasanton.Opening projections createthe look and feel of the 60’s, withphoto clips including Bob Dylan,Jerry Lewis, LBJ, and The Beatles.A final image shows a high schooldance, with neat girls and clean-cutboys looking impossibly young,putting us “back in the day.”Heidi, an uncomfortably shygirl, is nervously hovering at theReview:Heidi Chronicles All Of Usedge of her graduation dance. Hermore daring friend Susan spots anirresistibly sexy boy (“he can twistand smoke at the same time”), rollsup her skirt, unbuttons the top ofher sweater, and heads off in hisdirection. Mortified, Heidi sitsdown with a book, immersing herselfin the less threatening world ofDeath, Be Not Proud.Enter Peter Patrone, a sweetboy trying for a glib veneer ofintellectual disdain, (“I love bored,depressed women…”). Intriguedby his patter, Heidi starts to playalong, pretending they are elegantpassengers on a cruise ship, alooffrom the crowd of kids aroundthem. Declaring that she’ll keepher champagne glass (a plasticpunch cup} as a precious souvenir,Heidi and Peter swear eternalfriendship. It’s so endearingly– and familiarly – sophomoric!Blackout and a quick jump tol968 New Hampshire where Heidi,now an earnest college student, ishelping out at a community meetingfor Eugene McCarthy, liberalpresidential candidate. Backdropphotos flash by, showing snapshotsfrom Vietnam, Janis Joplin, DustinHoffman in “The Graduate,” andStar Trek’s Spock reading MadMagazine.Still hovering on the sidelines,Heidi is accosted by Scoop Rosenbaum,an abrasive wiseguy whochallenges her with calculatedcaustic jabs: “Oh, you’re from theSeven Sisters Schools, like Wellesley– ‘NEAT AND CLEAN FOREUGENE.”Affecting a tone of sophisticatedcynicism, he sneers at her planto become an art historian: ”Don’tsay that – it’s so suburban.” Soonhe is teasing her about wanting towrite Marxist interpretations of art,a la Herbert Marcuse, prominentleft-wing history professor (whomthis reviewer remembers fondly asa courtly old European lecturer).Self-proclaimed editor (of a tinyliberal paper, “but growing”), hehas the annoying habit of gradingeverything, from books to people.He’s obviously a man on the make,in more ways than one.Casually mentioning that he’son his way to pick up Gene (Mc-Carthy) and Paul (Newman), heinvites Heidi to come along, sleepingwith him first. Surprisingly,she agrees, despite his scorn forher motto, “All people deserve tofulfill their potential.” Impressed inspite of himself, he muses, “You’rea serious good person…you’reprissy but I like you.” And so anotherlifelong bond begins.In these two short scenes we’vemet the four characters who willevolve through the next three decades.Their paths will diverge, butwe’ll watch their individual growthand their future interactions withfascination.And we’ll follow the marchof history through the anti-wartraumas (cue the Vietnam napalmvictims and the Kent State shootings),the Equal Rights Amendmentmarches and Gay Liberationrallies, plus the lighter side of ElvisPresley, John and Yoko, movingon through LBJ’s death, Nixon’sresignation, and the historic Roev. Wade decision.We’ll be introduced to Women’sConscious-Raising Groups (hystericallyparodied by Wasserstein),feminist protest demonstrations,weddings, baby showers, and thechange from the Protest Generationto the ME Generation. We’rereminded of “Jaws,” Nadia Comenici,Jimmy Carter, HarveyMilk, and Woody Allen.Along the way, we see socialchange, as females are admittedto formerly all-male Ivy Leagueschools, and Women’s Studies areadded to curriculum lists. Somewomen move up the corporateladder, and even on to the SupremeCourt bench. But were the feministswho pursued careers ratherthan homes and families reallyfulfilled by changing the balanceof American society, or did theirdogged crusade leave them withempty personal lives?Pose that same question to allof us: What were our choices, andhow have they worked out for us?Has the world changed for thebetter because of our lives, or is itmerely different? That’s the powerof this play, which forces viewersto consider their own lives, andevaluate the decisions that shapedthem.It’s a tribute to the small cadreof gifted performers who bring theplay’s characters to life that we havebecome invested in them, and caredabout every step of their journeys.Intense audience discussions couldbe heard during intermission, withmany remaining in their seats,gripped by the immediacy of theirexperience.Special bouquets to award-winningactress Emily Garcia as Heidi,the linch-pin of every scene, aseffective in her silences as in herspeeches. Dustin Dean Battaioninhabited the irreverent Scoop toperfection, and Cin Separi sensitivelyconveyed the anguish of adedicated doctor facing a cruel anduntreatable killer disease. Cheersfor Chelan Glavan as a brittleSusan, and the cast members whoplayed a kaleidoscope of smallerroles with admirable authenticity.This is a must-see show forour times, rewarding viewers withnostalgic memories, much foodfor thought, and first-class theatricalshowmanship (oops, I meantshowpersonship).Performances continue Fridayand Saturday evenings at 8 PM andSunday matinees at 2 PM throughJune 27 . For reservations, call 925-462-2121, visit www.trivalleyrep.com, or go to the Studio TheatreBox Office at 1048 SerpentineLane, Pleasanton.Chouinard, Wente Capture Best of Show AwardsWente Vineyards and ChouinardVineyards captured top awards atthe Alameda County Fair Best ofthe Bay Wine Competition & ZinChallenge.The judging took place May17-18, at the fairgrounds in Pleasanton.Top awards were:Best of White Bay Wine - WenteVineyards 2008 Chardonnay RivaRanch, Arroyo SecoBest of Bay Red Wine - J. LohrVineyards 2007 Merlot, Los Osos,Paso RoblesBest of Bay Dessert - Chouinard2006 Petite Sirah Port, Mohr-FryRanch, LodiBest of Zin Challenge - RockWall Wine Co. 2008 Zinfandel,Sonoma CountyThis year 274 wines were enteredand judged from 64 wineriesby three panels of judges.A total of 18 Gold medals wereawarded to wineries who enteredthe Best of the Bay Wine Competition,which is open to all commerciallybonded wineries locatedin Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,San Benito, San Francisco, SanMateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruzand Solano counties.2010 marks the fourth year forthe Zin Challenge, a unique “competitionwithin a competition”.Celebrating one of California’smost popular red wines, the ZinChallenge attracted 79 entriesfrom 45 wineries. A total of 8Gold medals were awarded in theZin Challenge, which is open toall commercially bonded winerieswithin the United State producingZinfandel.The public is invited to minglewith the winemakers and taste thegold medal wines at the upcomingBest of the Bay Wine Competition& Zin Challenge Awards Reception& Wine Tasting Event, slatedfor Wednesday June 30, from 6:00pm to 8:00 pm, at the AlamedaCounty Fair Palm Pavilion.Tickets for this special winetasting event are $50.00 per couple,which also includes PreferredParking and Fair Admission fortwo adults. This event will mostlikely sell out so reserve your ticketnow at: 925-426-7678 or wine@alamedacountyfair.comAll wines entered into bothcompetitions will be displayedin the Wine Garden throughoutthe Alameda County Fair, June23 through July 11 (closed Tuesdays).For more information aboutthe Alameda County Fairgrounds,the annual Fair, and the 2010 FairConcert Series, please visit http://www.alamedacountyfair.com orcall 925-426-7600.Livermore Valley wineriesearning awards were as follows:Bent Creek: bronze 2008 Chardonnay,silver 2007 Red on Red, silver 2007Petite Sirah; Charles R Vineyards: bronze2008 Barrel Aged Petite Sirah; ChouinardVineyard: bronze 2007 Malbec, gold MJ’sCuvee (red table wine), Best of Bay Dessertand gold 2006 Petite Sirah, silver SparklingWine; Cuda Ridge Wines: bronze 2008 PetitVerdot; Deer Ridge Vineyards: bronze 2006Estate Petite Sirah, silver 2006 Estate SpecialBlend; Eagle Ridge Vineyard: bronze2006 Private Reserve Petite Sirah;Eckert Estate Winery: bronze 2007Viognier, silver 2008 Semillon; FenestraWinery: bronze 2007 Touriga, bronze 2006Tourvanillo, bronze 2006 Merlot, bronze2004 Port, gold True Red Lot 24, silver 2008Semonnay, silver 2009 Riesling, silver 2009Dry Rose, silver 2007 Mourvedre, silver2007 Zinfandel; Las Positas Vineyards:bronze 2008 Chardonnay, silver 2007 PetiteSirah Casa De Vinas Covarrubias; LavishLaines Winery: gold 2007 Estate GrownZinfandel;McGrail Vineyards and Winery: bronze2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; OccasioWinery: silver 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, silver2008 Petite Sirah, silver 2008 Zinfandel;Retzlaff Vineyards: bronze 2006 EstateCab/Merlot Blend, bronze Estate CabernetPort; Ruby Hill Winery: gold 2008 GrapefulRed, silver 2007 Estate Reserve Zinfandel;Stony Ridge Winery: bronze 2005 EstateTrifecta, gold 2007 Estate Syrah, silver2005 Estate Petite Sirah;The Wine Group: Concannon Vineyard:bronze 2008 Reserve Chardonnay, bronze2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, bronze 2007 ReserveSyrah, bronze 2009 Sauvignon Blanc,bronze 2007 Merlot, gold 2006 ReserveCabernet Sauvignon, silver 2009 Riesling,silver 2007 Merlot, silver 2006 CaptainJoe’s Petite Sirah, silver 2006 ReservePetite Sirah, silver 2009 Pinot Grigio, silver2008 Reserve Pinot Noir; Underdog WineMerchants: Darcie Kent Vineyards: bronze2007 Zinfandel, silver 2009 Gruner VeltlinerRava’s Blackjack, silver 2009 SauvignonBlanc Rava’s Blackjack;Wente Vineyards: Best of Bay White2008 Riva Ranch Chardonnay, bronzeTamas Estates 2008 Double Decker Red,bronze 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, bronzeMurrieta’s Well 2007 Meritage Red, bronze2008 Chardonnay Morning Fog, bronze2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, gold 2008 RivaRanch Chardonnay, gold 2009 SauvignonBlanc, gold 2007 Zarzuela, gold 207 PetiteSirah, gold Tamas Estates 2007 SangioveseRiserva, silver Tamas Estates 2007 Zinfandel,silver 2008 Riesling, silver 2007Merlot, silver 2007 Crane Ridge Merlot;Wood Family Vineyards: bronze 2007Madden Ranch Syrah, silver 2007 Zinfandel(Old Vine).

8 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 Art & EntertainmentACC (Art, Critique & Coffee) meetsFridays at 10 a.m. at Borders Cafe inPleasanton. The group welcomes artistsand art lovers to view the latest worksbe members as they discuss how tobetter each piece before release to thepublic. “Fine Art is an art that combinesmany years of practice, education andexperimentation. We find with a cup ofcoffee and a relaxed atmosphere, wecan share our thoughts as we help eachother review our work through a greatmany ideas given by the group, thatcombines experience in Watercolor,Oil, Acrylic and Mixed Media.” Foundedin 2007 this Pleasanton based grouphas taken on everything from Realismto Surrealism and Abstract artworks.Members will present an exhibit, “APassion for Art,” during the month ofJuly at the Lindsay Dirkx Brown Galleryin San Ramon. Pictured is a watercolorby Mahesh Baishya of ACC-Art, CritiqueART/PHOTO EXHIBITSLivermore Art Association Gallery,located in Carnegie Park, offers artclasses, unusual gifts, painting rentals, artexhibits and information pertaining to theart field, 2155 Third St., Livermore. Thegallery has been open since 1974 and isrun as a co-op by local artists. Hours areWed.-Sun. 11:30-4 p.m. For informationcall 449-9927.Seward Johnson Sculptures DowntownPleasanton, interactive exhibit by sculptorJ. Seward Johnson placed on sidewalklocations. The eleven life-size, threedimensionalbronze sculptures depict theeveryday activities of people who may befound anywhere, from a man reading anewspaper on a park bench and an elderlywoman carrying a bag of groceries to achild welcoming a soldier home from duty.The exhibit will remain in place throughJune 30, 2010. More information aboutthe J. Seward Johnson exhibit is availableby contacting Pleasanton Fine ArtsCoordinator Julie Finegan at jfinegan@ci.pleasanton.ca.us or (925) 931-5355.Trunk show, Livermore Art AssociationArt Gallery, summer jewelry and otherwearable art, Fri., June 18, 5:30 to 8 p.m.Wine and cheese will be served. CarnegieBldg., 3rd and J Streets, Livermore. www.Livermore ArtAssociation.org.Livermore Art Association 8th annualU.S. Bank show at the US Bankin Livermore on display until June 30.Most artworks are for sale. Open duringUS Bank's business hours: Mon-Thu9:00-5:00, Fri 9:00-6:00, and Sat 9:00-1:00. US Bank is located at 2125 SecondStreet, Livermore.New works by Livermore artist JoannaCrawshaw displayed through June 30,2010 at the Wild Vine, 2187 First Streetin Livermore. Artist reception to be heldon Thursday, May 20 from 6pm to 8pm.Refreshments will be provided. Joannais an abstract artist from Livermore. Sheis a 2005 graduate of the Art Institute ofBoston. Since her move from Boston,she has concentrated on finding a way tomarry her love of the human form with herpassion for abstract art. Joanna's currentwork represents a move from mood basedart to work that provides an atmospherein which the work can come alive andcommunicate with the viewer.The Contra Costa JCC will open threenew exhibits featuring work by MichaelYashar, a collection of Ketubot, and Traditions:From Generation to Generation,an eclectic collection of Judaica fromthe local community. The exhibits willbe housed at the Contra Costa JCC’sFriedkin Art Gallery, Gallery 925, andTice Valley Gallery from May 12 throughSeptember 17, 2010. Gallery hours areMonday through Thursday, 9:00 am to8:00 p.m and Fridays, 9:00 am to 3:00p.m. The public is invited to enjoy theexhibits. Admission is free. The ContraCosta JCC is located at 2071 Tice ValleyBlvd. in Walnut Creek.Call for Artists, Art in the Park, Danville,12th Annual Fine Arts Festival, October2 & 3, On the Town Green, Front StreetPark, by the Library. Categories: Paintingsin All Media, Photography, Ceramics,Sculpture, Graphics and limited openingsin Fine Jewelry (no crafts). Sponsored byAlamo Danville Artists’ Society and theTown of Danville, this event is a FundRaiser for Art in the Schools of the SanRamon School District. Art in the Parkincludes a Judged Inside Art Show andfood, wine and live entertainment. Boothspaces are 10’ x 10’ and the fees are $85 fornon ADAS members. Artist’s applicationsavailable: e-mail ormawebb@comcast.net or call 925 828-9170.Louise Gibler Exhibit , oil paintingsconsisting of still life, landscape, floraland figurative subjects for the months ofMay and June 2010 at the Garre Vineyard& Winery 7986 Tesla Road, Livermore.Hours of operation are Monday throughFriday 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and weekends11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All the pieces areframed and done in the chiaroscuro styleof painting.Art exhibit, May 21-June 30th – OccasioWinery hosts artist Patrick Segui’s latestexhibition, “Back Behind the Big Top.”This show depicts many scenes of an Edwardiancircus – Ringmasters, trapeze artistsand gypsy caravans. Patrick’s uniquestyle has decorated the Winery’s previousauction lots, and his intriguing mis-enscenetransports the viewer to another era.Fridays – Sundays, noon – 5 p.m. 2245BSouth Vasco Road, Livermore, 371-1987,www.occasiowinery.comNew works by Livermore artist JoannaCrawshaw will be displayed throughJune 30, 2010 at the Wild Vine, 2187First Street in Livermore. Refreshmentswill be provided. Joanna is an abstractartist from Livermore, California. Sheis a 2005 graduate of the Art Institute ofBoston. Since her move from Boston,she has concentrated on finding a way tomarry her love of the human form with herpassion for abstract art. Joanna's currentwork represents a move from mood basedart to work that provides an atmospherein which the work can come alive andcommunicate with the viewer.What Lies Above Below & ThroughJuried Art Exhibition, May 14 throughJune 19, explore 31 artists’ responses tothe subjects of surface, depth, transparencyand opacity at Ryan Fine Art gallery,171 So. J Street, Livermore. The galleryis open lunchtimes Thursday – Saturdayand Friday evenings. An extension of thisexhibition will hang at Panama Red CoffeeCompany, corner of First & K Street,from May 18 through June 19. See www.lindaryanfineart.com for details.MEETINGSPleasanton Art League and LivermoreArt Association, meeting 7:30 p.m. Mon.,June 21 at Almond Ave. School, 1401Almond Ave., Livermore. Guest artist willbe Alan Ryall. In his presentation, Alanwill describe is own journey as a marineartist and will use images of his work toillustrate techniques that he uses to achieverealistic effects in his oil paintings of theSan Francisco Bay, the ocean, boats ofvarious types and ships from the Age ofSail. Alan and his wife Flori continue tolive and work in Livermore where hestill gets out for an occasional sail onSan Francisco Bay. There is no admissioncharge to attend the meeting.Art Chat Lecture Series, Danville VillageTheatre Art Gallery, A series of discussionsabout art intended to demystify theart world and provide for a meaningfulexchange of ideas while surrounded bythe changing exhibitions at the newlyrenovated Village Theatre Art Gallery inDanville. Wed., June 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m.233 Front St., Danville. Topics include:Growing your Art Career and Becominga Gallery Artist; Ever wondered if youhave what it takes to show your work ingalleries; Unsure how to approach galleriesfor representation; and Know howto prepare your portfolio and yourselfto make an effective approach. Free tostudents and all art enthusiasts. RSVPby Monday, June 21. Panelists Include:Geri Arata, MFA, Arata Fine Art, SF;Claudia Worthington Hess, WorthingtonGallery West, Pleasanton; and, TriciaGrame, MFA, PhD. To RSVP or for moreinformation, please contact Shelley Barry,Gallery Specialist @ (925) 314/3460 orsbarry@ci.danville.ca.usWINERY EVENTSThomas Coyne Winery at BlacksmithSquare, Downtown Livermore, 25 S.Livermore Ave. Saturday and Sundayfrom 1 to 6 p.m. Live music everySaturday: June 12 Hurricane, June 19Kenny Robbins Band, June 26 Liam.http://thomascoynewinery.com.Nottingham Cellars, 2245C South VascoRd., Livermore. Acoustic event concertJune 11, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. FeaturingOf Shape and Sound and I The Mighty.Tickets are $15 at the door. club membersget in free with RSVP 925.294.8647,nottinghamcellars.com.Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery, June12th & 13th celebrate the local cowboyheritage and flag day. There will becowboy decorations and flags from allthe great wine regions around the world.Serving chili and sourdough bread bothdays. Two new wines will be released:Primitivo and iL Segreto. iL Segreto isan easy drinking red wine cuvee under$20.00. The Primitivo is finally back andis great. Event has a $5.00 tasting fee,waived with purchase. 3053 Marina Ave.,Livermore. Information 925-443-1998 orwww.rmwinery.com.Nottingham Cellars, Meet and GreetSylvia Thompson on Sun., June 13, noonto 5 p.m., 2245C Vasco Rd., Livermore.Sylvia Thompson is the featured artist forthe Livermore Valley Winegrowers Associationfeatured event: The 29th AnnualHarvest Wine. nottinghamcellars.comTamas Estates, Livermore, Salute WineRelease on June 19, 6 to 8 p.m. Reserveby June 11. Complimentary for ClubMembers, up to two additional guestsmay attend for $10 each. Visit shop.tamasestates.com or call 925-456-2380 topurchase tickets or make your reservation.Space is limited.Wine and Cheese Pairings, WenteVineyards. Sat., June 26, 4 to 5:30 p.m.Sample local artisan cheeses paired withthe finest expression in food and winepairings by Wente Vineyards. $20 WineClub Members, $25 for all guests, plustax. Estate Winery Tasting Room, 5565Tesla Road, Livermore. For reservations,call 925-456-2305 or purchase tickets online at shop.wentevineyards.com.Taste of Terroir, July 22, 6 to 9 p.m.featuring Livermore Valley Winemakersand Bay Area Chefs teamed up to createinnovative wine and food pairings forguests to enjoy. In a blind tasting, ourmedia judges, Leslie Sbrocco, W. BlakeGray, and Jessica Yadegaren will presentawards for taste top pairings whileguests vote for people's choice awards.In addition to the pairings, there will bea silent auction, a dessert room filled withsweets, ports, and more. The Palm EventCenter, 1184 Vineyard Avenue, Pleasanton.To view participating wineries andrestaurants or to purchase tickets, visitwww.LVwine.org.MUSIC/CONCERTSConcerts on the Green, Summer Series,Tuesdays through Sept. 24. Music 5 to8 p.m. at the Livermore Valley Plaza infront of the Bankhead Theater. No admissioncharge. Each week, two Livermorewineries featured; also beer selected bydowntown bartenders. Non-alcoholicbeverages will be available. Restaurantswill offer food for purchase. The LivermoreDowntown Inc. website lists therestaurants, wine shops and tasting roomsat www.livermoredowntown.com.Doo Wah Riders, Livermore Valley PerformingArts Center Presents. June 11,8 p.m. Bankhead Theater, 2400 FirstSt., Livermore. 925-373-6800, www.livermoreperformingarts.org.Velocity Handbell Ensemble concert onSat., June 12 at 7 p.m. Asbury UnitedMethodist. No admission will be chargedfor this concert. A free will offering willbe collected to supplement the cost ofAsbury Ringers attending Odyssey 2010,a handbell conference at UC Davis inJune. The church is located at 4743 EastAve., Livermore. For information, callww.AsburyLive.org.2010 Concert at Wente Vineyards, Thurs.,June 17, The Fray. Thurs., June 24, LizaMinnelli. Ticketmaster.com or by callingthe Wente Vineyards Box Office at925.456.2424. Wente Vineyards, 5050Arroyo Rd., Livermore.Jennings & Keller, Sun., June 20, 2 p.m.Pleasanton Library, 400 Old Bernal Ave.An acoustic duo based out of Miami. Theirmusic is called “Fusion Folk Americana”– a blend of many different elementsthat comes from their vast musical backgrounds.No admission charge. www.ci.pleasanton.ca.usManriquez & Rubis, Sun., June 26, 2p.m. Pleasanton Library, 400 Old BernalAve. Specialize in Latin Americanmusic. They sing, play guitar, charango,zomponas, cuatro and bombo, featuringan extensive repertoire of popular andfolk songs from Latin American. www.ci.pleasanton.ca.usON THE STAGEThe Heidi Chronicles, Tri-Valley RepertoryTheatre Studio Theatre production. June11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27. 1048Serpentine Lane, Suite 309, Pleasanton.Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. Ticketinformation 462-2121 or www.trivalleyrep.com.Scenes from Shakespeare's Romeo &Juliet, Tues., June 22, 7 p.m. LivermoreLibrary, 1188 So. Livermore Ave. ArtisticDirector Lisa Tromovitch and actors fromShakespeare’s Associates present scenesand discuss themes from their upcomingseason—romantic Romeo & Juliet andTom Stoppard’s The Real Thing. Underwrittenby the Friends of the LivermoreLibrary. Admission is free. For moreinformation call 925-373-5505.Blown Sideways Through Life, June 26and 27, July 3 and 4. Creative WritersProducers Group Presents: "Blown SidewaysThrough Life" by Claudia Shear.Adult themes and language. Performancesat 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on June 26,at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on June 27.Cost: $23.50 At the Bothwell Arts Center2466-8th Street, Livermore. Information:373-6800 or www.LivermorePerformingArts.org.eventsCOMEDYComedy Uncorked, benefitting the OpenHeart Kitchen, is back for another summerseries of laughs at Retzlaff Vineyards inLivermore. Performances are June 19,July 24, August 21 and Sept. 18. Showsbegin at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m.Complete show details and tickets are atwww.comedyuncorked.com. Performersinclude Joe Klocek, Michael Meehan,Norm Goldblatt, Sandy Stec, JohnnySteele, Will Durst, Debi Durst, MichaelBossier, Lynn Ruth Miller, Tim Babb, WillFranken, Anthony Hill, Fred Anderson,Aundre the Wonderwoman. Retzlaff Vineyardsis located at 1356 South LivermoreAvenue in Livermore.DANCEDance the Magic Showcase 2010, June13, Xtreme Force Dance Company inLivermore. The performance includesdancers of all levels and ages dancingto all Disney music. At 2:00 p.m. in theBankhead Theater, 2400 First Street,Livermore. Tickets at 925-373-6800 orwww.LivermorePerformingArts.org.OLIO, June 13, Spark Dance Studio annualrecital. All seats reserved. At 1:00 p.m. and4:30 p.m. in the Amador Theater, 1155Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton. Information:925-931-3444 or www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/community/arts/civic-arts.html.Saturday Night Dance Parties, themedparties each Saturday night from Salsato Swing, includes an optional groupdance lesson at 7:15. $15 cover charge,7:15 dance lesson, 8:00-10:30 for danceparties. It's All About Dancing, 171 So.Livermore Avenue, 925-449-9292, orstudio@itsallaboutdancing.com.A String of Pearls, Saturday, June 19, 2and 7 p.m. Bankhead Theater, 2400 FirstSt., Livermore. Valley Dance Theatre’s30th Anniversary Celebration brings tolife Gershwin’s An American in Paris,Glenn Miller’s classic A String of Pearls,and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, plus excitingnew works. www.livermoreperformingarts.org.The Wizard of Oz, presented by DanceStudio at Gymfinity. Sat., June 19, 11 a.m.230 So. Vasco Rd., Livermore. Public isinvited to attend.MOVIESShakespeare in Love, Thurs., June 10, 7p.m. Vine Cinema & Alehouse, 1722 FirstSt., Livermore. $7. Hosted by LivermoreShakespeare Festival as a kickoff to "ASummer of Love." Tickets to the movieat www.vinecinema.com. Informationabout upcoming performances, go towww.livermoreshakes.org.OPERAChildren's Opera, Cantabella Children’sChorus will present three performancesof The Piper of Hamelin, a fully staged

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 9opera by renowned composer John Rutter.Saturday, July 24, 2010, 3:30pm and7:30pm; Sunday, July 25, 2010, 3:30pm,at the Amador Theater, 1155 Santa RitaRoad, Pleasanton. Characters in thisclassic opera include the piper, the mayorand the corporation, the lame child, theshopkeeper, the townspeople and therats! Proceeds from the Sunday matineewill be donated to music programs ofthe Livermore and Pleasanton publicschools. Tickets $10 student, $15 adult.More information: 925-292-2663/Cantabella.org.Opera in the Vineyard, August 1, A fundraiser for the Livermore Valley Opera.Bring your own picnic and experience musicand song. Information: 925-960-9210or www.LivermoreValleyOpera.com.MISCELLANEOUSLivermore Valley Restaurant Awards,Livermore Valley Winegrowers Associationhas implemented a new program torecognize restaurants that support andpromote Livermore Valley wines andwineries. To nominate a restaurant,please visit www.LVwine.org and clickthe "Nominate a Restaurant" link at thebottom of the homepage. Nominationsmust be received by July 1st. The Restaurantof the Year Award will be announcedat the annual Taste of Terroir event heldon July 2238th annual Competition for YoungMusicians, Livermore-Amador SymphonyAssociation competition is opento instrumentalists and vocalists whoreside or attend school in Livermore,Sunol, Pleasanton, Dublin, or San Ramon.Students are eligible through grade 12. Ifnot enrolled in high school, the maximumage is 17. All instruments will be considered.The purpose is to select two youngmusicians who will perform as soloistswith the symphony on Feb. 12, 2011.Each winner/soloist will be awarded $250.The application deadline is Sun., Oct. 3,2010. Completed applications must beaccompanied by an $8 application feeand a CD or cassette tape for preliminaryscreening. Additional information maybe obtained by calling the competitionchairperson at 447-1947.Father's Day Photo Contest, sponsored byAlameda County CattleWomen's Association.Cash prizes: $50 for first place, $30for second place, and $20 for third place.Anyone can enter. The winning photoswill be published in The Independent aswell as on the Alameda County Cattle-Women website. The photo theme is"Show why your father deserves BEEFfor Father's Day." The photo can be ofFathers, Grandfathers, or "Father-like"figures. Entries are due by June 17, 2010.For contest details go to AlamedaCountyCattleWomen.com.Livermore Rodeo Parade, Sat., June 12,downtown Livermore along 2nd and 3rdStreets. 10 a.m. start. Free.Livermore Rodeo, June 12 and 13, RodeoGrounds at Robertson Park, Livermore.Joaquin Murrieta: Dead In The Sierra,Thursday, June 17, Join filmmaker, WarrenHaack, for a screening and discussionof his narrative film on the famous outlawJoaquin Murrieta. Museum on Main EdKinney Lecture series. 7 p.m. at LynnewoodUnited Methodist Church, 4444Black Ave., Pleasanton. Tickets are $5members and seniors, $10 nonmembers,$3 students and teachers with ID. Reservationsare suggested. Tickets may bepurchased at the door. Call the Museumon Main at 462-2766.California Writers Club, Tri-ValleyBranch, meeting June 19. Internationalbest-selling thriller writer Jeff Carlsontells you why, when and how to bend,break and beat the laws of publishingwith his lecture on Breaking The RulesTo Breaking In: Ten Tips To Sell YourFirst Novel. Information: www.trivalleywriters.org.Father’s Day Picnic, City of Dublin Parks& Community Services Department,Sunday, June 20 from 10am to 2 pm inthe Group Picnic Area at Emerald GlenPark. Cost is $3 per person, which willguarantee your family reserved tableseating in our Group Picnic Area and allthe games, activities, entertainment andice cold lemonade. All you need to bringis your picnic lunch and dad. Registeron-line at www.DublinRecGuide.com.Call 556-4500 if you would like moreinformation.Book Into Film, June 27, "The Namesake,”a film based on the book by JhumpaLahiri. View the movie at 2:00 p.m. inthe Pleasanton Public Library, 400 OldBernal Avenue, Pleasanton. A comparisonof the movie with the book follows. Free.Information: 925-931-3405.Alameda County Fair, June 23-July 11(closed Tuesdays), Alameda CountyFairgrounds, Pleasanton. Farm animals,16-days of live horse racing, professionalentertainment, midway and carnival, food,fun for all ages. www.alamedacountyfair.com.A cooking demonstration, wine pairingand book signing with author Fran Gagewill be held at Victorine Olive Oil indowntown Livermore on June 26. Gageis the author of "The New American OliveOil." The class will include tastings ofthree olive oils, cooking demonstrationand tasting, complimentary wine paringand book signing. The event is Sat., June26 from 1 to 4 p.m. The class fee is $55.Enroll in person at 21 So. Livermore Aveat Blacksmith Square in Livermore, or call454-8770 or 454-8777.Women Photographers of the TwentiethCentury, Thurs., June 27, 7 p.m.Livermore Library, 1188 So. LivermoreAve. Marcy B. Freedman will present aone-hour talk with slides, highlighting thework of several amazing women photographers.Underwritten by the Friends of theLivermore Library. Admission is free. Formore information call 925-373-5505.Author Jonathan Curiel, Sun., June 27, 2p.m. Livermore Library, 1188 So. LivermoreAve. Journalist in San Franciscoand the author of Al' America : TravelsThrough America's Arab and IslamicRoots. The book details the historic influenceof Arab and Muslim culture onAmerica, from the time of Columbusto the modern age. Underwritten by theFriends of the Livermore Library. Admissionis free. For more information call925-373-5505.4th July Celebration, noon to 2 p.m.Wayside Park, First and Neal Streets,Pleasanton. Patriotic speeches, musicby Pleasanton Community ConcertBand. Free.Ranchers of the Amador-LivermoreValley, Aug. 19, A panel of local ranchersdiscuss the history and practices ofranching in the Amador-Livermore Valley.An event in the Ed Kinney Lecture Seriessponsored by the Museum on Main. At7:00 p.m. at the Lynnewood MethodistChurch, 4444 Black Avenue, Pleasanton,CA. Museum members: $5, others: $10.Information: 925-462-2766 or www.museumonmain.org.Good News forOpera LoversAll opera-lovers who missedsome of the Metropolitan Opera’smost stunning theatercasts have alast chance to see seven of themthis summer.Dublin’s Regal Cinema willshow each “live” performancerecording Wednesday eveningsat 6:30 on the following dates:“Aida” June 16th, “Romeo et Juliette”June 23, “Eugene Onegin”July 7, “La Boheme” July 14,“Turandot” July 21, and “Carmen”July 28.More performances may beshown later in the summer, butno further schedule is currentlyavailable. For later dates inquireat the theater.Artist Chosen for On-Line Juried Exhibitartists were selected by the jurorLaurence Bradshaw, Professor ofArt at the University of Nebraskaat Omaha, U. S. A.Bradshaw states, “Tricia PoulosLeonard of Pleasanton successfullymixes media to portray theidea of ‘In the Nest’ with the dovelikeformations emphasized by itslightness."The exhibition will be featuredonline at the website www.upstreampeoplegallery.com andcontinue for 12 months, closingMay 31, 2011.Poulos Leonard says of herwork, “‘This piece is a mixedmedia representation of the loveand protection a mother gives toher child. The mother bird is protectingher chick from the weatherperched above a nest containing anegg a future offspring in the wings.I was thinking of the love I have formy own chicks and how I want toprotect them from the harshness ofthe world. This painting was composedusing watercolor and acrylicpaints with collage material on 140lb. Arches watercolor paper. It is22X30 inches.”’In the Nest.Artist Tricia Poulos Leonard ofPleasanton has received a SpecialRecognition Merit Award for artwork in the “12th Annual Collage,Digital & Mixed Media JuriedOnline International Art Exhibition”hosted by UpstreamPeopleGallery.This international exhibitionreceived approximately 200 entriesfrom around the world and 40

10 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010Four high school seniors fromLivermore and Tracy have beenawarded Lawrence LivermoreNational Laboratory’s (LLNL)prestigious Edward Teller ScienceScholarship.The awards, instituted in 2004in honor of the late Dr. Teller,renowned physicist and Lab cofounder,are given annually by theLaboratory to graduating seniorswho excel in science studies.This year’s award winners fromthe Livermore Valley Joint UnifiedSchool District are MatthewHawkins from Livermore HighSchool and Manika Paul fromGranada High School. The TracyUnified School District winnersare Dennis Coleto of West HighSchool and Mary Shi of TracyHigh School. Each receives ascholarship of $1,500 toward acollege education.Hawkins has applied his sciencecourse curriculum to extracurricularactivities. This year, he and twoclassmates built and programmedan autonomous robot that qualifiedfor the world championships. Healso has participated in engineeringEdward Teller Science ScolarshipsAwarded to Four Seniorschallenges including catapult andhovercraft building. In the fall,Hawkins will attend University ofCalifornia at San Diego to studymechanical engineering.Paul completed Granada HighSchool’s Biotechnology Pathwayprogram, designed for studentsinterested in pursuing biotechnologyas a career path. The SandiaNational Laboratories Women’sCouncil honored her as the outstandingGranada High Schooljunior girl in science.She was a captain and outstandingmember of the Granada Highscience bowl team that placedsecond in the regional competition.She participated in a Departmentof Transportation program inwhich she was named “Engineerof the Future.”Coleto regularly participatesin advanced placement physicsstudy sessions, and often assistsstudents who ask for help. He hasled science activities at elementaryschool science nights, madepresentations about engineeringto eighth grade classes, and helpedincoming freshmen learn skills thatPolitical Book Wins Awardincredible and suspenseful presidentialcampaigns in American history.Every week was a cliffhanger.Curtis was there for every dramaticstep, from Barrack Obama’s upsetvictory in Iowa; to HillaryClinton’s and John McCain’s stunningcomeback wins a week laterin New Hampshire; and, all theway to the final primary, reporting“live” from Mount Rushmore inSouth Dakota.Then it was on to both politicalconventions and the Novemberelection and, finally, the Inauguration.“Age of Obama: A Reporter’sJourney…” takes you to every keymoment, from beginning to end!will prepare them for high school.He has served as a teaching assistantfor the Science Olympiadteam at the Freiler School in Tracy.Coleto plans to attend Santa ClaraUniversity this fall, where he willstudy engineering physics.Shi was awarded the SandiaNational Laboratories OutstandingScience Achievement Awardas a junior and has worked in alaboratory at Sandia during thesummer.She attended a microbial genomeannotation workshop at theJoint Genome Institute and madesuch an impression that she wasasked for input on expanding thetraining to high school students.Her team that attended the workshopwas the only group from ahigh school, while others representeda university, college anda medical school faculty. Shi willattend Yale University in the fall.Richard Farnsworth, Scott Wilsonand Nadine Horner of LLNLpresented the awards to the studentsat the high schools’ awardsceremonies.The book is still availableat www.Amazon.com. “Age ofObama: A Reporter’s Journey…”is now available for Kindle users.More information is at the publisher’swebsite at www.Nimble-Books.com.Curtis currently splits his worktime between Danville, where heruns MarkCurtisMedia, and Providence,Rhode Island, where he isthe Weekend Anchor and ChiefPolitical Reporter for WLNE-TVABC-6. He is currently completinghis Doctorate in EducationalLeadership at St. Mary’s Collegeof California in Moraga.All ten Girl Scouts from Pleasanton Girl Scout Troop 30778 werepresented their Silver Award Pins and certificates on June 2 forcompleting over 40 hours of work apiece on their Silver AwardProject. The Silver Award is the highest award a Cadette Scoutcan earn. The girl’s project included planning and staging both aBrownie Scout “Girls’ Sport” Try-It Badge event and a baby-sittingevent for local parents. In addition, the girls collected paper productsto donate to a local women’s shelter. Pictured are: (front row,left to right) Carly Krakauer, Naomi Chan, Anika Kilkenny, ClaireHolt and Caroline Lilja; (back row) Shivani Doraiswami, BiancaBacaltos, Colleen McCullough, Courtney Cavanaugh and HeatherMcKenzie.Danville author and politicalreporter Mark Curtis has won a“2010 International Book Award”for his book, “Age of Obama: AReporter’s Journey with Clinton,McCain and Obama in the Makingof the President 2008,” which tookFirst Place in the category: “CurrentEvents/Political-Social.”The book was also a finalistin the “Non Fiction Narrative”category.2008 marked one of the mostTroop Members EarnBronze AwardsGirl Scouts from Troop 32007 have been working on their BronzeAward for the last year.Their project, Stop the Hunger, was inspired by Open Heart Kitchen’sneed for additional food supplies. These girls attended monthly Girl ScoutLeader meetings to collect food from local Girl Scout troops to donateto Open Heart. They made their last drop off of food last week.The girls, Grace Ogunfunmi, Haley Thacker, Jessica Murray, andKaitlyn Biehl (all LVCS), also participated in Girl Scouts of NorthernCalifornia Golden Gate Bridging. This was the 29th anniversary of theGGB marking the girls accomplishments to a new program level.Girl Scout Troop 31209 completed their Silver Award Project withthe installment of the new address sign for the Girl Scout Cabin inLivermore. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award availableto a Girl Scout Cadette. To attain this award, a young woman worksto complete a series of leadership challenges and an extensiveservice project in her community. Lowes of Livermore helped byallowing the troop to purchase the needed supplies at cost. HollySimpson (LVCS), Kristin Rose (Home), Marisa Malone (LVCS), andKathy Biehl (LVCS) planned and worked their project for just over ayear. The girls and Troop Leader, Kristine Biehl, would also like tothank their project advisor, Matt Malone, who assisted and taughtthe girls how to use the tools needed for the project.

12 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010(Organizations wishing to run notices inBulletin Board, send information to PO Box1198, Livermore, CA 94551, in care of BulletinBoard. Include name of organization, meetingdate, time, place and theme or subject. Phonenumber and contact person should also beincluded. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.)Rodeo dinner dance, hosted by the LivermoreKnights of Columbus Friday June 11 atSt. Michael’s large hall. The cost is $25.00per person which includes a Rib Eye steakdinner and dancing from 8-11. Music by DJPower. Cocktails will be from 5-6 and dinnerfrom 6-8. For tickets contact Mark Duguid at925 443-5873Tri-Valley Democratic Club, Mon., June21, 7 p.m. A forum concerning the CaliforniaWater Bond and the BP Disaster. Speakersinclude Bill Quirk of the Hayward City Council& Elanor Starmer Western Region Directorof Food & Water Watch. Q&A - Discussion- Refreshments - Public Invited - Free. IBEWHall, 6250 Village Pkwy., Dublin.Amador Valley Quilt Guild, meets Saturday,June 12 at 1:30 pm at the Pleasanton MiddleSchool, 5001 Case Avenue, Pleasanton. Themeeting is open to all those who are interestedin the culture, history and artistry of quiltmaking.The guest speaker will be Bobbi Bullardof Bullard Designs. This is presentation aboutgood design principles to help build confidencein your own creative ability.Night Movie at the IBEW presents, "Endof the Line," how huge corporate commercialfishing businesses are wiping out the world’sstock of fish. Sat., June 26, 7 p.m. Discussion- Refreshments - Public Invited - Free. IBEWHall, 6250 Village Pkwy., Dublin.Country-Western Barbecue, June 28,Pleasanton VIP Club, good food, dancingto the Paul Micheal Band with music and ashow. Tickets $10 available at the VIP Desk,senior center, 5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton.931-5370.Tri-Valley Animal Rescue needs volunteersAugust 5-8, 2010, with the followingskills: veterinarian, veterinary technician,and dog and cat grooming. Volunteers willparticipate with Tri-Valley Animal Rescue inthe East Bay Stand Down, a 4-day event inPleasanton. Volunteers can participate duringany or all of the four days. Anyone interestedin volunteering can contact Leslie Haas at925-216-2569, or at tvarleslie@prodigy.netFor more information about TVAR, pleasevisit www.tvar.org.Widowed Men and Women of NorthernCA., Champagne brunch in San Ramon, June13, 11:45 a.m., RSVP by June 10 to Marsha,830-8483. Bocce Ball in Pleasanton, June 14, 1p.m., RSVP by June 11 to Eleanor at 846-2728.Lunch in Danville, June 16, 11:30 a.m., RSVPby June 14 to Marsha, 830-8483. Happy hourin Pleasanton, June 17, 5:30 p.m., RSVP byJune 15 to Marge, 828-5124. Friendly Bridgein Livermore, June 19, 1 p.m., RSVP by June16 to Harriet, 447-8229. Luncheon in Dublin,June 24, 1:30 p.m., RSVP by June 22 to Sylvia,510-568-2521. Buffet breakfast in Livermore,June 17, 10:45 a.m., RSVP by June 25 to Hilda,298-8808. Amy Band Concert at the BankheadTheater, Livermore, July 3, 7 p.m., seating onfirst come, first served basis, RSVP as soon aspossible to Christy, 361-0931.Golden Spoon in Livermore will be offering"up to 50" fund-raisers over the next coupleof weeks. On June 10 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.up to 50 percent of sales will go to RanchoLas Positas Elementary School 5th grade sciencecamp. Bring in a flyer. The second willbe in support of the American Cancer SocietyRelay for Life on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to11 p.m. Golden Spoon is at 2100 Portola Ave,Livermore. 300-8988.Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Touring Club,June 12, 20 miles Lafayette-Moraga-Orindabike trail, meet 10 a.m. at parking lot, RandyHuey, 518-8439. June 13, 40 miles tide tosummit of Mt. Hamilton, meet 9 a.m. cornerof Alum Rock Ave. and Mt. Hamilton Rd.,Alaine Nadeau, 577-6586. June 16, 30 miles,meet at Shannon Center at 10 a.m. Anyoneplanning to go on a ride is asked to contactthe leader for details on where to meet andwhat to bring.The 13th Annual Pooch Parade willtake place on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 indowntown Pleasanton. This event runs inconjunction with the "1st Wednesday StreetParty" sponsored by the Pleasanton DowntownAssociation. Registration begins at 5 p.m. andthe parade starts at 6 p.m. at Lions WaysidePark, corner of First Street and Neal. Enteryour pooch, any size, in any of the sevencategories for great prizes! The entry fee is$10.00 per category. All proceeds benefit theTri-Valley Guide Dog Puppy Raisers. Forcomplete details and registration, go to www.trivalleyguidedogs.org.Bethel No. 1, Dublin will hold the 174thAnnual Installation on Sunday, June 13th, 2:00pm, at the Castro Valley Masonic Lodge. DanielleOrtiz is incoming Honored Queen. Receptionand dance following the ceremony.Livermore Area Blood Drive - Friday,June 18, 1-7:00 p.m. at Asbury United MethodistChurch, 4743 East Avenue (note newlocation!). There is a severe shortage of bloodin the Bay Area, and only 3% of the eligiblepeople give blood. Please help save a life bygiving blood. The process takes 1-1½ hours,and snacks and refreshments are served afteryou donate. You must be 17 years old, and havea form of identification with you. To sign up,go to www.GiveLife.org, and use RLCC as thesponsor code. For more information contactTom Petty at 925-980-8164.Tri-Valley Holistic Moms Network,meets 7 p.m. June 21, Harvest Park MiddleSchool, 4900 Valley Avenue, Pleasanton.Topic will be Gentle Chiropractic: Nurturingthe Whole Person - Emotionally, Mentally andPhysically presented by Dr. Nicole Valega, DC,HBCE and Dr. Andrea Pritchett, DC, Ownerof Vital Life Wellness, www.vlifewellness.com. This meeting is free for Chapter membersand first time visitors. Meetings are heldon the third Monday evening of each month.For further information, please visit: www.holisticmoms.org or email Tri-ValleyHMN@hotmail.comFree Diabetes Class Series in Pleasantonand San Leandro. Morning and evening classes,7 week series starting June, July and August.This ADA accredited program is offered bythe Alameda County Diabetes Program. Call510-383-5185 for times and location.Pleasanton Newcomers Club, open tonew and established residents of the Tri-Valley.Activities include a coffee on the firstWednesday of the month, a luncheon on thesecond Wednesday of the month, bunco, MahJongg, bridge, walking and hiking groups,family activities and monthly adult socials.Information, call 215-8405 or visit www.PleasantonNewcomers.com.Free teen workshop, Pleasanton CommunityCounseling Center, topic: ways to keepbusy, have fun, and stay safe over summervacation. Teens will have opportunity to sharewith one another and participate in a creativeproject. Pleasanton Library on Sun., June 13,2 to 4 p.m. Free. Participants will receivea Jamba Juice gift card. Open to ages 13 to18 (high school only). Call Jenny to register,600-9762 ext. 7#.Tri-Valley Animal Rescue is holding anorientation for new volunteers. Come & learnabout volunteer opportunities like fosteringdogs/cats, socializing shelter animals, helpingat adoption events & fund-raisers, & manyother roles available for you to participate in.Age 18+. Orientation is July 10, 1:00-2:30 PMat East Count Animal Shelter, 4595 GleasonDrive in Dublin. Bring $10 cash or check tohelp cover the cost of material. Informationat www.tvar.orgExceptional Needs Network MurderMystery Dinner Gala, Fri., June 25, 6 p.m.Raise funds for Tri-Valley developmentallydelayed children and ENN's Camp Arroyo.Robert Livermore Community Center, 4444East Avenue, Livermore. Tickets can bepurchased at http://ennetwork.org/MMN/Murder_Mystery_Night/Home.html1980 Granada High 30th Reunion: June25, 2010 Pine Street Bar & Grill Mixer 8:00pm,June 26, 2010 The Club at Las Positas-Beeb'sDinner Reception 6:30-11:30pm, After Party,Jackie Tarin Rankl's Residence 11:30pm to1:00am. Tickets on sale now $95 per graduate,$70 for guest through June 1st. Find informationon www.Granada High.com/alumni /freeregister, Facebook and ClassmatesBikers and Bands Ride for Autism, Sat.,June 12, Livermore. Live music from 6 Livermorebands, food and drinks. 10 a.m. start infront of Pit Stop, 4084 East Ave. concludes atthe Pine Street, 875 Rincon. Ride is $25 perperson and includes a Luau Lunch halfwaythrough the ride at noon and admission to PineStreet after the ride. Entertainment starts at 5p.m. Admission if not riding is $10. Benefit forthe Early Intervention of Autism and AutismSpeaks. Information at facebook/autismarmy.org or marty.seagrave@yahoo.com..San Ramon Valley Newcomers Clubinvites new & longtime residents to theirmonthly luncheon on June 17 at Faz Restaurant,600 Hartz Restaurant, Danville from 11:30 to2pm. The speaker will be San Ramon MayorAbram Wilson. Cost is $19. For information,call Myrna, 560-0656.Pleasanton VIP Travelers, ColumbiaState Park, National, Hotel and Railtown, June19, $78 members, $79 nonmembers. Reservationssign up at the travel desk at the PleasantonSenior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.Learn Scottish Country dancing at theLivermore class of the Royal Scottish CountryDance Society, San Francisco Branch. Livelyreels and jigs, graceful strathspeys. All ages.Adults Mondays 8 to 9:30 p.m. LivermoreVeteran's Hall, 522 South L St., Livermore;Speaker Offers Tips and Tricks to Achieve a Writing CareerThe California Writers Club–Tri-Valley Branch offers writersof all genres and experience levelsthe opportunity to learn about theircraft and share their work. Thenext meeting is on Saturday, June19 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm atOasis Grille, 780 Main Street,Pleasanton.You know how it works. “Youcan’t get an agent until you’vebeen published, but you can’tget published until you have anagent.” “You have to completeyour manuscript before you caneven start submitting it.” We’veall heard so-called Writing Ruleslike these… none of which areabsolutely true.International bestselling thrillerwriter Jeff Carlson tells you why,when, and how to bend, break,and beat these laws. Bring yourquestions, your hard-luck stories,or your own encouraging tales.Jeff has a list of tips and tricks tohelp you break in and further yourcareer.Jeff is the international bestsellingauthor of the Plague Yeartrilogy, hailed by New York Timesblockbuster James Rollins as“Harrowing, heartfelt, and rockhardrealistic. Not to be missed.”Jeff’s writing alternates betweenmainstream and genre fiction.He is currently at work on anew stand-alone thriller. To date,his writing has sold in thirteenlanguages. Jeff lives with his wifeand sons in California. Readers andwriters can find more about Jeff’swork at www.jverse.com.The meeting cost is $21 formembers and $27 for nonmembers,including lunch. Anyone curiousabout the group is invited to attendwith no obligation to join. Reservationsare required. To make a reservationfor June 19, contact FredNorman at Fnorman300@aol.comor 925-462-7495 by Wednesday,June 16. For more information onthe California Writers Club–Tri-Valley Branch, contact Lani Longshoreat 925-455-1338 or longshore1769@yahoo.comor go towww.trivalleywriters.org .youth or adult Fridays 7 to 8:30 p.m. at theValley Dance Theatre School, 2247 SecondSt., Suite B, Livermore. Call Margaret Ward,449-5932 or Sheena MacQueen, 447-1833.ClutterLess Self Help Support Group,(CL) is a nonprofit, peer-based, self-help supportgroup for people with difficulty discardingunwanted possessions. Meetings in Room 7 at7 p.m. every Monday 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at theSt. Mary & St. John Coptic Orthodox Church.Room 7, 4300 Mirador Drive, Pleasanton. Justcome or call our one of the volunteers: 925-200-1943, or go to www.ClutterLess.org.Retired Public Employees Association,all retired public employees under the Calpersretirement program are invited to attendbimonthly meetings at Emil Villa's HickoryPit & Grill, 3064 Pacific Ave., Livermore, at10:45 a.m. Dates: August 5 speaker is MargaretHankle from Explorititas (former Elderhouse)speaking on planning group trips for seniors.,Oct. 7 speaker will be Veronica Conley fromDMV senior ombudsman program, and Dec.2. For more information, call Dona Allen,443-3484.Sunday Bingo, All regular game pay-outs$250. Free game guarantees payout of $350.Flash games for a chance to win up to $1,199.One session of speed. Free bagels and coffee.Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Session begins at4:00pm. Must be 18 years old. Bingo Ranch,3070 Pacific Ave., Livermore. 606-7777.Proceeds go to LVCS/CCEF.The Bingo Ranch, 3070 Pacific Ave. inLivermore and is open Mondays, Wednesday,Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. Buenas VidasYouth Ranch has been running Bingo for 16years and is now working with Christensen,Arroyo Seco and East Ave Schools, and ExceptionalNeeds Network and All American SportsAcademy Teams. Come play Bingo and supportthe kids in Livermore. Call 925-606-7777 formore information.RELIGIONSt. Matthew's Baptist Church, 1239North Livermore Ave., Livermore. Serviceson Sunday at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Adult Sundayschool 9:30 a.m., Children's Sunday school at9:30 a.m. Prayer each Wednesday at 7 p.m. followedby Bible study at 7:30 p.m. 449-3824.United Christian Church, celebrating50 years in the Tri-Valley. 1886 College Ave.at M St., Livermore; worships on Sundaymorning at 10:30 a.m. Children’s program onSunday morning and first Fridays. The communityis welcome. United CC is an Openand Affirming ministry. Call 449-6820 formore information.Bible Study, offered Wednesdays, 7:30to 8:30 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints, 6100 Paseo Santa Cruz,Pleasanton. Refreshments served at no cost.925-305-9468.Trinity, 557 Olivina Ave., Livermore.Services on Sunday at 8:30, 11 a.m. and 6p.m. with Sunday school or Bible study forall ages at 9:45 a.m. Bible study for adultsand activities for all ages on Wednesdays at6:45 p.m. 447-1848.