03/10/2011 - The Independent

PAGE 2 - The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011Charter School Students Excel inModel United Nations CompetitionBy Patricia KoningDespite being high schoolfreshmen competing againstmostly juniors and seniors, theLivermore Valley Charter PreparatoryHigh School’s (LVCP)Model United Nations (MUN)club walked away with the BestClub award at the Gaucho ModelUnited Nations High SchoolConference, held in Santa Barbaraover President’s Day weekend.LVCP also picked up fourindividual awards: Julia Di Simone,Tristan Bench, and CiaranBench all earned honorable mention.Paul Epperson won BestResearch Paper for his reporton the French positions on theIranian nuclear program and thepromotion of responsible usageof nuclear technology globally.While the LVCP MUN clubmay be relatively new—the clubwas formed last fall just after theschool opened—its membershave already garnered a lot ofexperience. This was the fourthMUN conference that the LVCPstudents have participated in thisschool year, and they’ve takenhome awards from each.MUN is an academic simulationof the United Nations (UN)in which students learn aboutcurrent events, internationalrelations, diplomacy, and theUN agenda. In MUN activities,students role-play as diplomatsrepresenting a nation, non-governmentalagency, or other organizationin UN committees, suchas the Security Council or theGeneral Assembly. Participantsresearch their nation’s views onspecific issues and then debatewith representatives of othernations to develop solutions andagreements.For the participants, this canmean taking on challenging issuesand unpopular positions,depending on which nation theyrepresent. At a San FranciscoMUN conference, one of theLVCP students represented theNetherlands, usually a countrywithout much controversy, exceptthat the topic was women’srights and prostitution is legalin the Netherlands. Sara Neunerwas involved in heated debatewhen she represented Libya in asession on human torture.Not all MUN topics are as serious.Seth Bowman representedthe Chicago Cubs in a MajorLeague Baseball committee thatlooked at expansion, realignment,and new franchises. “I’ma huge baseball fan, so this wasa lot of fun,” he says. “I learned alot—I had no idea how overpaidthe Cubs are.”Current events affect whathappens in MUN. At the SantaBarbara conference, the grouprepresenting Egypt had to changetheir policies on human torture onthe fly. “This is one of my favoriteaspects of Model UN. Theyconduct research and prepare butthey also have to use a lot of commonsense,” says Rashida Haveliwala,LVCP history teacher andthe MUN club’s advisor.LVCP student Julia Di Simonesays MUN has taught her how toundertake research. “Some classassignments are now easier thanModel UN research papers,” shesays. “You learn how to research,how to speak publicly, and howto persuade. It’s a lot more funthan it sounds like.”Neuner describes being terrifiedbefore her first MUN conference,in part because she thoughtit would be boring. “It was somuch fun,” she says. “You learnso much. I think we learn morein a 3-day simulation than in aweek in class.”Parents of the MUN clubmembers see some additionalbenefits. “It really teaches themto listen,” says Maria Mancini,Laura’s mother. “In diplomacy,you have to listen and absorbwhat the other party is saying toform a good rebuttal. Another advantageis that these conferencesare held on college campuses,so these kids already are gettingfamiliar with schools they maywant to attend.”Nina Stoien, parent of anotherclub member, adds that MUN isnot as daunting as it sounds. “Ithink there is a misconceptionthat you have to be upfront andcenter right from the start,” shesays. “You can ease yourself in.Kids can do the preparation, butjust listen until they feel ready tojoin the debate.”MUN has been a personalpassion of Haveliwala’s since shewas in the ninth grade. “A teacherencouraged me to participate andI loved it,” she says. “Since then,I’ve been a part of Model UNeverywhere I’ve gone to schoolor worked as a teacher.”Her history students are currentlyworking on a MUN projectin class. Students chose a countryand researched “diplomacy vs.total war”. In addition to writinga research paper, the studentswill participate in a school-wideMUN simulation on Saturday,April 16.“One of my goals is to exposeall of the students to Model UN,so they can see how fun it is, andhopefully encourage more to jointhe club,” she says. “I’d love tomake Model UN an elective classin the future.”Teen Poet Entries Begin April 1On Saturday, May 14, 2011,Livermore Public Library willpresent “Livermore’s Top TeenPoet Contest” on Sat., May 14.Charan Sue Wollard, Livermore’sPoet Laureate, and Connie Post,Livermore’s Poet Laureate Emeritus,will co-sponsor this event.The contest will take placefrom 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm inthe Community Room of theLivermore Public Library. AllLivermore teens, ages 12 to 17are invited to submit poems toperform. Poetry submissionswill be accepted at each LivermorePublic Library branch fromApril 1, 2011 through May 7,2011. Approved poems will beperformed before an audienceand judges based on the age ofthe poet.A select panel of judges willdetermine the winners of eachage division. Winners will bechosen based on poem contentand performance. Contest winnerswill be announced and prizesawarded immediately after eachage division. Family and friendsare invited to attend this freeevent.For further information and todownload the submission form,please visit Teen Space on thelibrary’s website at www.livermore.lib.ca.usor call Sandy at373-5500 extension 5583.Kaity Burns photographed the MUN students during the trip to Santa Barbara.

VALLEY ROUNDUPThe Independent, MARCH 10, 2011 - PAGE 3Open Heart Kitchen Back at AsburyOpen Heart Kitchen has moved back toAsbury United Methodist Church, 4743 EastAvenue, Livermore from the its temporary locationat Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The firstday back was March 1.Hot meals are provided on Tuesdays andWednesdays from noon to 6 p.m. at Asbury.On Mondays, meals are served at CrosswindsChurch in Dublin from 4 to 6 p.m. Service isprovided on Thursdays at Vineyard ChristianFellowship in Livermore, 4 to 6 p.m. TrinityLutheran in Pleasanton is the host on Fridaysfrom 4 to 6 p.m. Meals are served to seniorsweekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. at Ridgeview Commonsin Pleasanton.Open Heart Kitchen prepares and servicesapproximately 750 meals each weekday. Formore information on services provided by OpenHeart Kitchen or how to donate or volunteer, goto http://openheartkitchen.org.State Budget Discussion15h District Assemblywoman Joan Buchananwill present a discussion of the proposedCalifornia State Budget during a program to bepresented on Saturday March 12 from 2-4pm atthe Livermore Civic Center Library, 1188 SouthLivermore Avenue.RSVP TO: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpzrdv. Seating is limited, so pleaseRSVP early.County Wins AwardsAlameda County Public Works Agency wastops at the recent Northern California Chapter ofthe American Public Works Association (APWA)award luncheon. The 2011 Public Works Leaderof the Year Award was presented to the Directorof the Alameda County Public Works Agency,Daniel Woldesenbet. The Agency also receivedtwo ‘Project of the Year’ awards, and two staffmembers received Award of Merits in the fieldsof Engineering and Technology and Public FleetManagement.McNerney Graded 100 PercentCongressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) hasreceived a 100 percent score in 2010 from theLeague of Conservation Voters (LCV), whichevaluates the voting record of Members ofCongress on environmental, public health andenergy issues.“As a clean energy engineer, I know howimportant it is that we invest in new energytechnology, lessen our dependence on foreignoil and fight to preserve our clean air and water,”said McNerney. “Our national security and oureconomic future depend on moving towards aclean energy future and preserving the healthand well-being of our environment. I’m glad tostand up for these important issues.”Before being elected to Congress in 2006,Rep. McNerney spent over two decades workingin wind energy and smart grid technology, includingon the Altamont Pass windmills that overlookhis congressional district. He now serves on theSubcommittee on Energy and Environment aspart of his tenure on the Committee on Science,Space, and Technology. He has made cleanenergy policy a top priority, and has authoredinitiatives to invest in green job training programs,improve our electrical grid and increaseinfrastructure for electric vehicles.The nonprofit League of Conservation Votersis a national organization that works to turnenvironmental values into national priorities.The LCV has published a scorecard grading thevoting history of Members of Congress since1970, the year the organization was founded.The scores are based on votes on energy, globalwarming, environmental and conservation issues.The full scorecard can be viewed at http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/.SERIES(continued from page one)LLNL does that requires crossdisciplinaryexpertise.”Ho explained how the ideaof the series evolved duringher summer research at LLNL,funded by the U.S. Departmentof Energy. Ho has a three-yearappointment in the AcademiesCreating Teacher Scientists program.The seminar lectures will befollowed by question and answerperiods. Following are thetwo seminars scheduled for thissemester in the series entitled,“Theory to Practice: How ScienceGets Done:”Portola Eastbound Off-Ramp to CloseAs part of the construction activitiesfor the Interstate 580/StateRoute 84 Interchange project atIsabel Avenue in Livermore,Caltrans is working to completethe new overcrossing at PortolaAvenue and is now ready to connectPortola Avenue south ofSEVENTH(continued from page one)contract ended the extra periodand a teachers’ collaborationperiod. It saved the district$460,000.Parent Marilyn Palowich,president of the Amador Friendsof Music, said that she is worriedabout a long-term slide thatwould occur in band participation,if the seven-period day werenot returned.“Those unable to register formusic this year (because of no 7thperiod), won’t come back. We’llsee a decline of quality in the musicprogram,” said Palowich.Amador band director JonGrantham said that the real impactof losing the 7th period is notso much losing musicians, as it isstudents delaying other subjects,such as a foreign language, sothey can continue in band.There definitely is a threat tothe music program, without a 7thperiod. “After nine years here, itwould be a tragedy and a travestyto have this unravel. When wetalk about restoring 7th period,we are talking about the livesof students. To deny them theseopportunities is just wrong,” saidGrantham.A band boosters speakersaid that the district’s studentplan talks about creativity andachievement, innovation andpersonal communication. “That’swhat we are talking about tonight.It seemed like the right thing todo then (getting rid of 7th periodto save money), but not the rightthing now,” he said.• Monday, March 14. “ThePower of Bioinformatics: ComputerScientists and BiologistsJoin Forces to Address Challengesof Evolving Biothreats,”presented by Elizabeth Vitalis,Ph.D., Biomedical Scientist, andTom Slezak, M.S., ComputerScientist.• Thursday, April 7. “TraumaDiagnosis: Physicists, Biologists,and Engineers Merge Effortsto Develop New MedicalDevices,” presented by JohnChang, Ph.D., Engineer.As a public service, Las PositasCollege invites interestedI-580 with the new structure.On Monday, March 14, 2011Caltrans will close the eastboundI-580 Portola Avenue off-ramp.The off-ramp will be closed toaccommodate the constructionof Portola Ave on the south sideof I-580. When the Portola AveAmador senior Emily Truaxsaid that loss of the 7th periodcut her musical activity to threedays of jazz band and two daysfor the wind ensemble. “I felt thatwith the wind ensemble, I wasnot improving as much as in thepast,” she said.Foothill high school studentLeanna Kelly said that she tookeight periods a day, apparentlywhen there were sections A andB offered.“I did it for a well-roundededucation, with programs likedrama, art and band, and that allowedme to participate in them,without jeopardizing academics.It’s what makes schools trulyspecial: the creativity of it,” shesaid.One way of creating the timefor band and other electives andactivities would be a staggeredschedule, which might not haveany financial impacts on thedistrict.Trustee Chris Grant said, “It’sa no-brainer not to stagger theschedule. It would be a disserviceto the kids. To extend (the schedule)we’d be able to add sections.Community members supportthat, so that no child, regardlessof space available, is denied.”Grant added, “We may communitymembers support if theyadd sections.” He was referringto financial support, with theimplication that the communityhas a chance to pass the parceltax on the mail-in ballot May 4,as well as making private donationsto the city’s two educationalsupport groups.members of the community toattend the seminars on campus.They are held 6-7:15 p.m. inthe Multi-Disciplinary Building(Building 2400). The seminarsare free. Parking is $2; permitscan be purchased in the parkinglots.Registration is not required;seating is first come, first served.For more information aboutthe series, please visit the website,www.laspositascollege.edu/news/scienceSeries.php.Las Positas College is locatedat 3000 Campus Hill Drive inLivermore.realignment is completed, trafficwill be able to go across thenewly constructed bridge overI-580 and continue to Isabel Ave.The closure of the eastboundI-580 Portola Avenue off-rampis permanent. The ramp willnot reopen when the project iscomplete.The current eastbound I-580Portola Avenue off-ramp willultimately be replaced by thenew eastbound I-580 IsabelAvenue Interchange off-ramp.Eastbound I-580 traffic can usethe Airway Boulevard and NorthLivermore Avenue Interchangesfor local City access while thenew Isabel Interchange is underconstruction.

PAGE 4 - The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011EDITORIALNiles Canyon TreesThe trees are what make Niles Canyon Road thescenic road it is. CalTrans has begun cutting many ofthem down (some 400 are supposed to go) to accommodatea three-phase $80 million safety improvementproject.Residents at the two ends of Niles Canyon, Sunolon the east and Niles/Fremont on the west, have begunpicketing against the tree removal. Supporting themare the Fremont City Council and Alameda Creek Alliance.The latter is talking about a lawsuit.Meanwhile on the other side, the project is stronglysupported by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition. Speakingfor the many cyclists who travel Niles Canyon Road,the group says the project will make the road significantlysafer for them.We hope CalTrans will revisit the tree removal aspectof the issue. Maybe there’s a way to save trees and alsomake the road safer for cyclists and motorists.This issue is more than an environmental one. Thefoes make the point that the road isn’t inordinantlyhazardous. It’s ranked average in safety among countryroads of this type. They argue that safety couldbe improved through small, less costly upgrades — amajor factor given all the concern today about publicspending.This isn’t just another road. Niles Canyon Road,a.k.a. State Route 84, is one of the region’s jewels.More sensitivity toward the trees is in order.NILES(continued from page one)address some of the objectionsthat critics have raised.Although the critics have saidthat CalTrans’ own statistics citefigures that trucks are the accidentculprits far beyond theirnumbers in traffic, the open letterdoes not mention it.The critics call for a ban ontruck traffic through the canyon.The Fremont City Council islooking into taking that possibleaction.The open letter also does notaddress the critics’ contentionthat CalTrans’ own figures showan accident rate that is belowaverage for the state’s rural roadsfor the past four or five years,and could be lowered by simplyadding rubber dots to the existingroadway.Instead, the open letter saysthat between 1999 and 2008,there were 436 collisions, 11of which resulted in fatalities,and 226 injuries. “More thanone-third of the total collisionsoccurred across the median lineor on the shoulder.”CalTrans wants to changethat by the 12-foot widening ofthe road, and the widening ofshoulders to the state standard of18 inches. There would also beinstallation of rubberized dots onthe median and shoulders.DISPUTE OVER PUBLIC’SCHANCE TO COMMENTThe critics also complainedthey didn’t have a chance to commenton the final EIR, which wasin the lesser form of a negativedeclaration. Jeff Miller, a spokesmanfor the Alameda CreekAlliance, said that although heprovided input to CalTrans duringthe draft comment period,he never heard back about thefinal draft, and therefore had nochance to comment on it.The final draft was adoptedmore than four years ago. Thatalone can be grounds for a lawsuitthat would stop the project,said Miller. He is speaking withan attorney about the possibilityof suing CalTrans. Miller wasnot able to read the EIR untillast week. He learned of it onlybecause the tree-cutting hadstarted.Further, CalTans advertisedthe document as one project, butMOVIE(continued from page one)represent location fees, city fees,local resources contracted (suchas caterers), local employment,and local purchases.Using an industry-standardformula inputting the data, theCommission estimated that theLivermore Valley realized over$233,000 in economic impact.The number doesn’t include(INLAND VALLEY PUBLISHING CO.)now appears to be “piecemealing”it by breaking the projectinto three segments. That’s illegalunder state environmental law,said Miller. The second segmentis supposed to start in 2012.Piecemealing is illegal becausean agency can use it tomake the effects of a project lookless significant than dealing withit as one project, said Miller.The Creek Alliance objects tothe impacts of the project on AlamedaCreek, which flows nextto the road. Rain run-off will gainmore velocity from concrete retainingwalls that CalTrans wouldinstall. This creates a poorerenvironment for fish.The only good news for thefish in the project is constructionof an arch bridge over thestream, and removal of a dam andculvert, which would otherwiseimpede the spawning of steelheadtrout. “They don’t have tocomplete the entire project, justto build a bridge,” said Miller.CONCERN ABOUTLOWERING ROADWAYThe widening opponents firstlearned of the tree-cutting on Feb.25, when a tree removal crewstarted work at night under brightlights. Six protesters turned outon the spur of the moment.Since then, the word spread,and a scheduled demonstrationfor late afternoon on March 5brought out about 50 people, accordingto Fremont resident RoyHeaivilin.Heaivilin is a volunteer withthe Niles Canyon Railway, whichtakes hundreds of people on railrides through the canyon.The train passengers spendmoney at both ends of the line.Merchants have expressed concernabout how the change inscenery will impact the popularattraction, said Heaivilin.The railway group, as a nonprofit,can’t take a political stand.However, Heaivilin said thegroup is concerned that theplan would lower the road severalinches and might also havesome impact then on the railwayroad bed when there is a flood.One area was under water duringa flood in the late 1980s,so it should be a concern, saidHeaivilin.some data from recent filming orprojects that are pending.Even if a production does notdecide to film here – usually notbecause they don’t want to butbecause we don’t have just theright look – there has been animpact. The location scouts anddirectors visiting the area willeat and purchase locally, and willstay overnight in hotels.Publisher: 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. Mailed at Periodical Postage Prices at the Livermore Post Office andadditional entry office: Pleasanton, CA 94566-9998. 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.Pleasanton on Schedule to Meet Settlement MilestonesPleasanton has completed allbut three of the twenty-one provisionsin its lawsuit settlementwith Urban Habitat.The approval of an ordinanceestablishing development standardsand design guidelines forthree Hacienda Business Parksites was completed on March1.By July 10, 2011, the city isto issue the second payment ofattorney fees, $995,000. Staffreported that funds for the paymenthave been earmarked. Thepayment will be made on time.August 16, 2011 is the deadlineto send an updated housingelement to the state. The finalprovision of the settlement, tobe met by Feb. 17, 2012, is theadoption of a climate actionplan. The city is in the processof completing work on both thehousing element and climate actionplan.CORRIDOR(continued from page one)station locations down to threeoptions.Two of the options would goalong current railroad corridorsthrough both downtown Livermoreand Pleasanton. Portionscould be aerial, some below gradeor below ground. The secondroute would travel east of VascoRoad near homes in the Sandiaarea, turn down Tesla Road andgo underground through nearbyhills and Sycamore Grove Parkemerging opposite G.E. Vallecitos.Opening comments wereoffered by Livermore MayorMarshall Kamena and AlamedaCounty Supervisor Scott Haggerty.Kamena commented, “Theproposal to upgrade ACE wouldreduce congestion and greenhousegas emissions. The benefitsof an upgraded ACE systemare not without impacts. Thoseimpacts have not yet been identified.”Haggerty made a pitch forthe creation of a “grand centralstation” east of Livermore. Highspeed rail could link to BARTand ACE, as well as e-BARTfrom Contra Costa County, openingup the entire East Bay. Headded, “BART should hook intohigh speed rail. I think that is theonly way a BART extension toLivermore will be built. This isdo or die for us.”Will Gimpel, from the CaliforniaHigh Speed Rail Authority,said that the proposals on thetable to upgrade ACE and eventuallybuild high speed rail wouldprovide people with more travel(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. Letters should besubmitted by e-mail to editmail@compuserve.com.)An InvitationBarbara HickmanLivermoreHost of "Grassroots Issue"Our TV program, "GrassrootsIssues," recently featured guestLinda Jeffery Sailors discussingthe issue of keeping BART on580, as the current General Planspecifies, vs. running the trackthrough downtown Livermore,as our City Council recently decidedit should be. She mentionedseveral important facts that thepublic meetings have glossedover, have not made public, orhave misled us about, such asthe self-imposed environmentalconstraints, how and how manyLivermore residents would beimpacted by the downtown track,and the expected economic developmentarising from havingBART downtown. She also announcedthe petition that is beingcirculated to get an initiativeon the November ballot to keepBART on 580. The video can beseen on our website, www.grassrootsissues.com,#392.Among the many viewers ofLBL(continued from page one)safe with a low crime rate. Severalamenities should be locatednearby.The council was told thatDublin meets all of the criteriawith the exception of the 25minute drive time, which is onlya few minutes longer. The shortlist of communities will be announcedat the end of March.Councilmember Eric Swalwellasked what type of researchwould be conducted at LBL?Staff responded that it hasa different management fromLivermore’s labs. LBL is managedby the University of Californiafor the Department ofEnergy’s Office of Science. Itconducts mainly unclassified research;“so no bomb.” There is aAssistant City Manager SteveBocian added that, while not partof the settlement agreement, thecouncil has indicated an interestin pursuing an amended growthmanagement ordinance. A subcommitteehas been discussingthe issues. The goal is to have arecommendation ready in time totrack the approval of an updatedhousing element.The council asked for thegrowth management options inan effort to control how growthcould occur in Pleasanton. Theurban habitat lawsuit overturnedthe city’s housing cap of 29,000units. The successful argumentwas that the cap prevented thecity from meeting its regionalhousing numbers.City Councilmember CindyMcGovern commented her goalwas to maintain control overdevelopment in Pleasanton. “Ihaven’t seen how that will happen.The issue can change theoptions. The high speed rail mainroute would still go throughPacheco Pass. He stated, “Thestate has made a commitment toimprove the ACE corridor as acomplementary project to highspeed rail.”The Altamont Corridor is over100 miles long connecting Stocktonto San Jose. Construction ofan upgraded ACE system wouldbe phased. Brent Ogden, fromAECOM Technology Corporation,said the potential first phasecould link Stockton to Livermore,where ideally it would connect toBART. Buses could take commutersto the Bishop Ranch andother locations.The upgrade would beginwith a single track. The nextstep would be grade separation,which would allow higher speedsof operation. Eventually, the systemwould be electrified, whichwould support the operation of abullet train in the future.ACE would travel at speedsof 100 + mph when fully improved.The public then weighed in.Valerie Raymond of KeepBART on 580 said the groupis circulating an initiative thatwould direct the city council tosupport a BART extension onI-580 to Livermore. “We have everyexpectation that the measurewill qualify for the Novemberballot.” She suggested that anydecision on station locationsfor ACE be delayed until thereis a resolution of the initiative.Several other speakers made thesame observation.Donna Cabana was upsetthe video, we've had just onecomment that we should alsopresent the opposing side, someonewho favors the BART-todowntownroute. We'd be happyto present the opposing side, butwe haven't found anyone whowants BART downtown and iswilling to come on our program.In fact, I've met only one personoutside the Council Chamberswho wants BART downtown,and he refused to share his opinion,simply stating, "I disagree. Iwant to see BART downtown."He would not tell me why; hesimply walked away.So, I hereby invite anyonewho would like to present thedowntown route as the desirableroute to contact us at Barbara@grassrootsissues.com. We'll airyour views on our website aswell.Big Thank YouDeAnna McDaidOwner N2 Electric, Inc.LivermoreSpecial, special thanks tothe person(s) who found my 2credit cards and drivers licenseon the First Street sidewalk near“old” Safeway and the closedvideo store. I want to sincerelythank you for giving them tothe first police officer you saw.And thanks to the police officerswho brought them to my home.Though I don’t have any of yournames I could not let my thanksand appreciation go unheard.This is the only way I know to getthem out to you. I was just aboutto call the credit card companieswhen they were returned to myfocus on commercialization.Mayor Tim Sbranti declared,“The theme of commercializationwould provide an incredibletie-in with i-GATE and with theother national laboratories.”A letter of support has beenprovided by i-GATE.“This is a no-brainer. It’sone of the easiest decisions wehave to make tonight. It’s exciting,”stated Councilmember DonBiddle.Sbranti added, “There is somuch more potential here inDublin. We have more land available.There is transit with housingnearby. In addition, there is landalready zoned for office use.”The letter approved by thecouncil points out that the sitecommunity forever.” She askedif the city were going to takeaway some of the office/commercialentitlement for HaciendaBusiness Park in light of the factthat housing will be built in thebusiness park. Her concern aboutretaining development that resultedin job growth was that thecity could be assigned additionalhousing unitsCity Manager Nelson Fialhoreplied, “Changes may not justbe in Hacienda. We may have toadjust the general plan assumptionsfor east Pleasanton jobgrowth. We need to hold discussionsbefore the housing elementcomes to the council.”In another matter, the councilapproved the use of yellowto mark handicapped crossinglocations.The issue was reviewed afterthe council heard from residentAngelina Summers that she feltthat the information used todetermine the final routes wasincomplete. She pointed out thatthere are hundreds of homes notmarked on the maps, such asthose near Sycamore Grove Parkand in South Livermore. The parkis the jewel of Livermore. Cabanasaid that Holdener Park, anotherregional open space park, is noton the maps. She stated, “Wewant to preserve our agricultureheritage and wineries. You don’tdo this by tunneling under vineyardsand parks.”Tammy Reuss from Friendsof the Vineyards echoed hercomments. She said the tracksshould be where people are andwhere BART would be located atstations at Vasco Rd. and in thedowntown.Robert Allen, another memberof the Keep BART on 580group, suggested it would be lesscostly to extend BART along thefreeway to Greenville Road andeventually to Grant Line Roadthan to upgrade ACE. He notedthat the current proposal wouldeventually mean there would befive tracks through downtownLivermore where there is nowone. “I see no justification forsuch extravagance.”Livermore Area Recreationand Park District Assistant ManagerJohn Lawrence said the districtdoes not want a public worksproject through Sycamore Grove.“It is the frontyard of the city.”Chester Moore describedhimself as a 580 group supporter.“This plan is the latest in a longline of high priced, high speedrail ideas. Neither the federalhome. My lost articles weresafely in my possession within20 minutes of dropping themfrom my pocket on my walkhome. Thank goodness folkslike you still roam around in ournice little town. I will surely payit forward.is adjacent to several major innovationcompanies, includingthe headquarters of Sybase, CarlZeiss Meditec, Microdental andAB Sciex, to name a few. It alsosits between two of the largestbusiness parks in California,Bishop Ranch in San Ramon andHacienda in Pleasanton, each ofwhich is home to large corporationsand emerging technologycompanies.It also notes that the regionwas recently designed as an “InnovationHub” by California.“This designation is to create newgreen technologies.”LBL set a timeline for constructionto begin in July 2013and occupancy by December2015.the bright yellow did not fit wellin Pleasanton. However, afterhearing the staff report, Summersstated, “I don’t agree with yellow,but I can live with it.”Daniel Smith, Director of OperationsServices, told the councilthat the yellow was the mostvisible color. Since the issue isone of safety, staff recommendedcontinuing to use it.Pleasanton will spend $2.3million over the next twentyyears putting in the crosswalkmarkers.Smith noted that in the past,guidelines were used to designatecolor. The guidelines willbecome requirements. One ofthose is that the markers musthave 70 percent visual contrastwith the surrounding surface.Cities who have not met theguideline, Smith said, will haveto replace the work that has beendone in order to conform to therequirement.government nor the state canafford to pay for such boondoggles.”A better alternative wouldbe to connect ACE and BART atGreenville, he stated.Save Our Sunol representative,Dan Reisser, declared,“Keep your train out of our townand Niles Canyon.” He pointedout that Sunol is not even identifiedon the maps, yet ACE trainstravel through the town daily.Bob Baltzer, Friends of Livermore,said he strongly supportedHaggerty’s concept of a grandcentral station at Vasco Road.BART down 580 to Greenville isnot fundable. It is in a very environmentallysensitive area. Fishand Game has said it would notissue a permit to build there.Vaughn Wolffe, a Pleasantonresident and member of Rail PassengerAssociation of California& Nevada (RAILPAC), said thata BART extension to Livermoreis probably not going to be built.Upgrading the current ACE systemcould provide better serviceat $20 million, much less than theprojected $4 billion for the currentproposal. An upgraded ACEsystem would be quieter than theexisting ACE train.Gail Shearer totally opposedthe route south of Livermore.She responded to comments byone speaker that France has manyhigh speed trains through its winecountry. “The Livermore winearea is not huge. It’s precarious.We are trying to protect it. We approvedurban growth boundariesto make that happen.”TheaterRoger LakeLivermoreIn my November letter, I askedhow the Livermore regional theateris to be funded. Now, I havethe answer, first bonds cosignedby the City of Livermore andnow Len Alexander proposesdirect funding by the City ofLivermore.The Livermore regional theaterproject has become a runawaytrain.Hopeful statements have becomefact (it will result in aproject that generates $20-$25Mannually).Negative facts are ignored(there are three regional theatersin San Francisco that operatecontinuously and bring in theBroadway shows only 50 milesaway and accessible by BART,a fact conveniently forgotten.) Aregional theater, the Circle Star(3700 seats) in San Carlos couldnot compete and went bust in thelate 60s and early 70s.Biased studies become fact(the theater will attract 400,000people a year). From where, abase of 900,000? How many ofthose people will fork out $100plus for a ticket?Examples of successful regionaltheaters are misused (Charlotte,NC, is used as a model. Butit was not pointed out that Charlotteis 100 miles from the nearestlarge city - far different from theBay Area where San Francisco,San Jose and Oakland/Berkeleyare all competing for the culturalentertainment dollars).The unthinkable becomesaccepted (the use of the Livermoregeneral fund to fund thetheater).With Livermore now beingproposed as the funding course,the citizens of Livermore need tolook at this project and its fundingin the clear light of day notin the present smoke and mirrorsenvironment. This is now becomingthe citizens of Livermore'sproject. Let's look at just whatthe facts are.The construction cost hasbeen estimated between $69 and$61M. The number will not beknown until the construction isfinished regardless of what issaid.The amount will have to bepaid at the end of construction.Some type of loan will beneeded to pay off the constructioncost. Estimates have beenmade of a 30 year loan, withinterest, totaling $165M.On the revenue side, onlythe garbage fund is a fairly firmnumber.The benefits from the redevelopmentare just hopeful, piein the sky numbers. There aretoo many variables that can gowrong - no wonder bankers haveshied away from this project.Incidentally, there is a move todirect the redevelopment fundingto the schools.Pledges are not money in thebank.The use of the general fund,while possible, could have seriousnegative impacts on the qualityof life in Livermore.This leaves one solution thatwould pay for the theater withoutjeopardizing the general fund orimpacting the quality of life inthe community: a municipal bondfunded by a parcel tax on theproperty in the city. This wouldallow the construction paymentsto be made and over 30 yearsthe borrowed amount would bepaid back. Each property ownerthen becomes an "owner" of theregional theater. All it will take isan election to approve the tax andthen the citizens of Livermorewill have their regional theaterand it won't make any differencewhat the projects are. We willthen be able to see if it is thejewel in the crown or a whiteelephant. But, most importantlythe Livermore general fund willbe preserved to be used as itshould be.

The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011 - PAGE 5

The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011 - PAGE 7Morrisroe, Neil Shah, Jason Zaia. D'Backs- offense: Bobby Zepeda, Braeden Cochran,Hudson Steele defense: Jake Steele, JensenRoldan, Luke Shepard.The Livermore American Little League Cardinals kicked off theLittle League season on March 5 by keeping the “Fear the Beard”spirit alive and well in the Bay Area. It worked as the Cardinalssmacked 19 hits and won their opening day game 9-3 over theRockies and followed it up with a 4-2 win over the Tigers onMarch 7.The Amador Judo & Jujitsu Studio in Livermore sent judoplayers to compete in the 19th Annual San Jose Buddhist SenseiMemorial Judo Tournament in San Jose. Competing againstjudo players from all over the United States and Mexico, severalLivermore representatives brought home top honors in theirrespective divisions. They are: Gold medal, 1st place: Nick Chua,Gabriella Gamboa and Dan Ikegami; silver medal, 2nd place, KaiIkegami.In the Jr. Warriors Basketball League Girls Grades 1-3 Division,the Lynx basketball team ended the season undefeated. In theirgame against Sky, they played very well as a team. AutumnDeLange, Kaitlyn Fernsten, Natalie Fernsten, Vanessa von Sosen,and Kaeli Tembrevilla scored many baskets. Nicole Anderson,Enayah Aamir, Trisha Shangle, Chloe Richard and Claire Ryanprovided great team support with nice passes that created manyopportunities. Lynx defense was very tight causing Sky toencounter multiple turnovers. They also dominated the boardswith many rebounds on both offense and defense. Pictured are(back row) Coach Valerie, Nicole Anderson, Vanessa von Sosen,Natalie Fernsten, Coach Shelley, Kaitlyn Fernsten, Enayah Aamir,Coach Robert; (front row) Trisha Shangle, Kaeli Tembrevilla,Claire Ryan, Chloe Richard, and Autumn DeLange.Adult Open GymBasketballOpen Gym Basketball is held at FallonMiddle School, 3601 Kohnen Way, Dublinevery Wednesday evening from 7:00 - 9:00pm. Space is limited to the first 36 in attendance.The cost per night is $3.00 perparticipant ages 18 years and older. Fee iscollected on site. For more information pleasecall 925-556-4500 or email glentheguide@dublin.ca.gov.Bocce Kits for RentFollowing the debut of two new boccecourts at the freshly renovated BothwellPark, the Livermore Area Recreation andPark District is now making bocce ball kitsavailable for rent to the public.Bocce ball kits can be checked out for aweek at a time from the Robert LivermoreCommunity Center. The kits are available atthe front counter from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Monday through Friday.Rental for one week is $20, plus a $40refundable deposit by credit card or cash – atotal of $60. The $40 deposit is refundable ifequipment is returned in good condition. Kitsare rented on a first-come, first-served basis;reservations are not available in advance.Rental of a bocce ball kit does not guaranteea bocce ball court will be available.The Robert Livermore Community Centeris located at 4444 East Ave., Livermore.Bothwell Park is located at 2466 EighthSt., Livermore. For more information, call925-373-5700.Shamrock RunThe 13th Annual City of Dublin Shamrock5K Fun Run and Walk is set for Sun.,March 13 along a 3.1 mile course.Registration begins at 7:15 p.m. The racewill begin at 8:30 am on Dublin Boulevardacross from the Civic Center.There will be a post race celebrationat the festival site. The Shamrock 5K FunRun and Walk is part of the St. Patrick’s DayFestival with Irish music, dancing, food andover 170 artisans and crafters.Register at www.active.com.Trails ChallengeSave Mount Diablo has partnered withBrazen Racing to bring the Diablo TrailsGet the scoop on the sportof bike racing, at the LivermorePublic Library Civic Center,1188 S. Livermore Avenue, at 2p.m. on Sunday, March 20.There is no charge for thisevent.This program is part of TheAmgen Tour of California Series– three programs focused on bicyclingin support of the AmgenTour of California bike race.Local bike racers Ron Castiaand Patrick Dempsey will sharetheir expertise on a wide rangeof bike racing topics. Find outabout the Amgen Tour of California,how it compares to localracing and athletes, how to getstarted in bike racing at any age,as well as some basic trainingtips. Ron and Patrick will alsodiscuss why cycling is a teamsport and the unseen subtletiesof tactics. They will also show aslide show from a 4-day mountainbike stage race in Costa Rica.There will be open discussion forbeginners or experienced racers,so bring your questions!Ron Castia of Livermore, isan Associate Level Coach withWenzel Coaching, a nationalendurance athlete coaching firm,with coaches all around the nation.Ron has been racing roadand mountain bikes since 1997and currently races at the Professionallevel on the mountain bikeand Category 2 Masters level, onthe road. He has competed inseveral international mountainbike cross country races andparticipates in local, national,and state championships withhis road team. Ron volunteershis time throughout the year withthe local racing district knownas the NCNCA, as mentor forbeginning level road racers toassist with safety, skills, and instruction.He is also the founderof East Bay Cyclists (InfoVistaCycling Team), a Mountain Bikeand Xterra focused club, whileracing road for IronData/Thirsty-Bear Cycling. Ron regularly promotesbeginner and intermediaterace skills clinics throughout theyear, helping riders take theirracing to the next level.Patrick Dempsey grew up inLivermore and currently livesand works in Livermore. He hascompeted in many different typesof sports from the time he wasyoung, including BMX racing,off-road motorcycling and morerecently in endurance sports. Hisrecent sports resume includesPhoto - Doug JorgensenTeams lined up for the Livermore American Little League opening day ceremonies. The playersin the front are holding team banners.Challenge on Sat., March 19.A portion of all entry fees will go to SaveMount Diablo to help preserve open spaceand building trails for all of us to enjoy. Allrunners receive medals, T-shirts and BBQlunch after the race.The 5K, 10K and Half Marathon willall begin and end at Castle Rock Park inWalnut Creek. The 50K is a point to pointrun and will begin at Round Valley RegionalPreserve, following the Diablo Trail throughMorgan Territory Regional Preserve, MountDiablo State Park and finishing in CastleRock Park. All races will be professionallytimed. Saturday, March 19, 8 am for 50Kand 9 am for other races. Cost from $33 toCategory 3 Masters Bike Racer,Past President of Valley SpokesmenRacing Team, member ofthe LLNL Cycletron cyclinggroup, three time Ironman 70.3finisher, qualified for Ford IronmanChampionships in Hawaii,and five time Death Ride finisher.Patrick will be competing in Iron-Man Canada this August. Patrickcan often be seen training on thelocal roads as he typically logsabout 125 miles on the bike, 30miles running, and 4 miles in thepool every week.The largest cycling event inAmerica, the 2011 Amgen Tourof California is a Tour de Francestylecycling road race that challengesthe world’s top profes-$95 depending on distance.Register at http://brazenracing.com/diablo.html.'One Roll at a Time'Campo di Bocce of Livermore andCampo di Bocce of Los Gatos are jointlyhosting the Building Brilliance BenefitCampaign, “One Roll at a Time."Any educational organization frompreschool to high school can choose to hosttheir own benefit week at either Campo diBocce location at zero cost to their organization.Simply sign up, spread the word of theirLibrary to Present Program on Bike Racingsional cycling teams to competealong a demanding course fromMay 15-22. Stage 4 begins inLivermore on May 18.benefit week to anyone of their choosing, andthen collect 15% of all funds raised by theirguests. This includes all funds generatedthrough sales of lunch, dinner, to-go orders,bocce, and alcohol; excluding tax and tip.To reserve a benefit week or request moreinformation, please contact the coordinatorat the preferred location.

PAGE 8 - The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011Pleasanton City Naturalist Eric Nicholas explains the flora and fauna of the region on a group hikeon trails that run through the Pleasanton ridge. Photo - Dino VournasChallenger team members marched in the opening ceremonies.CHALLENGER(continued from page one)Gina Marco-Hermann foundedLALL’s Challenger team afterher daughter Angelina played onGranada Little League’s Challengerteam last year. “We hadsuch a wonderful experience thatI, of course, told other parentsabout this program and joinedthe Little League District 57Challenger Jamboree Board,”she says. “Many special needschildren, parents, caregivers,and teachers had never heard ofChallenger and were very excitedabout it.”The Granada Challenger teamincluded nearly 20 players lastyear, so Gina felt there was a needfor a second team in Livermore.She approached LALL presidentLouie Roessler, who, with hiswife Delores, has volunteeredat the Little League District 57Challenger Jamboree since itsinception seven years ago.With the help of LALL, theLivermore Valley Joint UnifiedSchool District, and the ExceptionalNeeds Network, Ginaspread the word about the newChallenger team. At the two Saturdaysign-ups for Little League,she registered 21 players.The team’s assistant coachis Jennifer Kinney, a personaltrainer who works with specialneeds kids. In late February,Rick McCewan and KevinShimabuku, owners of DoubleDiamond Sports Academy, leda training session for the team atthe facility.As part of opening day onMarch 6, the LALL Challengerteam marched along with all ofthe other Little League teams inthe opening ceremony. The Challengerteam also participated inthe Hit-A-Thon and played anexhibition game, which drew thelargest crowd.A special feature of Challengerbaseball is the “buddies,”little leaguers who stand by theChallenger player in the field andassist as necessary with fieldingand throwing, hitting, and runningthe bases. At the openingday exhibition game, there wereat least two buddies for everyLALL Challenger player.“It’s really a heartwarmingsite to see these players on the littleleague diamond with the helpof their buddies,” said Louie.“It’s a great experience for boththe buddies and the Challengerplayers.”Lisa Clinton’s 13-year-olddaughter Camryn joined theLALL Challenger team aftershe heard about it through Gina.“I have two younger children.They’ve had plenty of opportunitiesfor sports,” she said. “Forkids like Camryn, team sports arehard, so this is really exciting.”Gina describes Challengerbaseball as an all around greatpackage. “It doesn’t have a lotto do with skill, it’s really moreabout socializing,” she said. “Theplayers make new friends, meetother special needs kids and thebuddies. They just love the attention.”The LALL Challenger playersreceived plenty of attention onopening day, with lots of cheersand encouragement for everyball hit and every base run. Itwas hard to tell who was havingthe most fun—the players, thebuddies, or coaches Gina andJennifer.The 7 th annual Little LeagueDistrict 57 Challenger Jamboreewill be held on May 28 at theDublin Sports Park. Over 400Challenger players are expectedto attend. For more informationon Challenger baseball,visit www.littleleague.org/media/challenger.htm.For more information on theLALL Challenger team, contactGina at 925-580-2865 orgina@5starnetworking.net.Oldest Objects in Solar SystemIndicate a Turbulent BeginningScientists have found that calcium,aluminum-rich inclusions(CAIs), some of the oldest objectsin the solar system, formedfar away from our sun and thenlater fell back into the mid-planeof the solar system.The findings may lead to agreater understanding of howour solar system and possiblyother solar systems formed andevolved.CAIs, roughly millimeter- tocentimeter in size, are believedto have formed very early in theevolution of the solar systemand had contact with nebulargas, either as solid condensatesor as molten droplets. Relativeto planetary materials, CAIs areenriched with the lightest oxygenisotope and are believed to recordthe oxygen composition of solarnebular gas where they grew.CAIs, at 4.57 billion years old,are millions of years older thanmore modern objects in the solarsystem, such as planets, whichformed about 10-50 million yearsafter CAIs.Using Lawrence Livermore’sNanoSIMS (nanometer-scalesecondary-ion mass spectrometer)– an instrument that cananalyze samples with nanometerscalespatial resolution – LLNLscientists in conjunction withNASA Johnson Space Center,University of California, Berkeleyand the University of Chicagomeasured the concentrations ofoxygen isotopes found in theCAIs.In the recent research, theteam studied a specific CAIfound in a piece of the Allendemeteorite. Allende is the largestcarbonaceous chondrite meteoriteever found on Earth. It fellto the ground in 1969 over theMexican state of Chihuahua andis notable for possessing abundantCAIs.Their findings imply that CAIsformed from several oxygen reservoirs,likely located in distinctregions of the solar nebula. CAIstravelled within the nebula bylofting outward away from thesun and then later falling backinto the mid-plane of the solarsystem or by spiraling throughshock waves around the sun.Through oxygen isotopicanalysis, the team found thatrims surrounding the CAI showthat late in the CAI’s evolution,it was in a nebular environmentdistinct from where it originatedand closer in composition to theenvironment in which the buildingmaterials of the terrestrialplanets formed.“Allende is this very unusualmeteorite with all these wonderfulinclusions (CAIs),” said IanHutcheon, one of the LLNLscientists.Photo - Doug JorgensenThe new observations, “supportearly and short-lived fluctuationsof the environment inwhich CAIs formed, either due totransport of the CAIs themselvesto distinct regions of the solarnebula or because of varying gascomposition near the proto-sun,”Hutcheon said.Other Livermore researchersinclude Jennifer Matzel, ErickRamon and Peter Weber.Pleasanton Offers a Full Calendar ofOutdoor Adventures This SpringPleasanton City NaturalistEric Nicholas will lead someunique outdoor adventures thisspring season. Please call (925)931-5340 for information or toregister for any of these programs.The following programsare scheduled in the comingmonths:Free Tours of Alviso AdobeCommunity Park (ages 18+):Each month the naturalist leadstours of the Alviso Adobe CommunityPark for the public andinterested volunteers. Learn whathappened at this special park siteover the past several thousandyears, and what’s happening today.Tours take place on the lastSaturday and the second Sundayof each month from 2:00 to 3:00p.m. Meet at the Milking Barn.Walks with the Naturalist(all ages): Wild walks aroundthe hidden parks of Pleasanton.Learn about local wildlife,plants, habitats, tracking, andmuch more. Plan to get dirtyon these treks. Bring water, asense of adventure, and dresswith weather in mind. Childrenunder the age of 12 must be accompaniedby an adult duringthe entire hike. Fee is $6 forresidents/$9 for non-residents.Schedule: Arroyo de la Laguna,Saturday, March 26, 4:30 p.m. to6:00 p.m. (easy); Laurel CreekPark, Saturday, April 30, 4:30p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (moderate);Callippe Preserve, Saturday,May 28, 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.(moderate).Night Hikes with the Naturalist(ages 4 and up): Wild nightwalks around the hidden trailsand parks of Pleasanton. Learnabout local wildlife, plants,habitats, tracking, and muchmore. Plan to get dirty on thesetreks. Children under the age of14 must be accompanied by anadult during the entire hike. Feeis $6 for residents/$9 for nonresidents.Schedule: MarilynMurphy Kane Trail, Saturday,March 12, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.(stroller friendly); Augustin BernalPark, Saturday, May 14, 7:30p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (moderate).The Legend of the Vaquero(ages 5 and up), Alviso AdobeCommunity Park, 3465 OldFoothill Road, Saturday, March26, 2011, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.:Travel back in time to learn aboutsome real California history: thelegend, the lore, and the traditionsof the Vaquero. The originof the California Vaquero datesback to the 1770’s. Learn aboutthe early developments of whatwould become the true cowboyand the culture we all share.Participants will also have anopportunity to meet the otherhalf of this great cultural andhistoric duo, the horse of course.Fee is $12 for residents/$15 fornon-residents.Star Party (all ages), AlvisoAdobe Community Park, 3465Old Foothill Road, Saturday,April 9, 2011, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m.How big is our galaxy? How faris the nearest star? How was oursolar system made? Explore theuniverse as we try to answer thesequestions and more. Games andhands-on activities will aid us aswe search for the answers. Then,if the skies are willing, we’ll takea peek at the wonders above. Feeis $12 for residents/$15 for nonresidents4th Annual Ladybug Release(ages 2 to 12), Alviso AdobeCommunity Park, 3465 OldFoothill Road, Saturday, May21, 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.They’re cute as a bug but don’tbe fooled. Ladybugs can be aferocious predator if you are anaphid. Visit the ladybugs andlearn how they can help keep agarden healthy and safe. We’llrelease some at the Alviso AdobeCommunity Park, and some willgo home with participants fortheir own garden. Fee is $9 forresidents/$12 for non-residents.Magnolia, Pleasanton, is a photograph by Ian Danielson.Danielson is displaying at Main Street Designs in downtownLivermore during Art Crawl on Saturday, March 12, from 1 to4 p.m. Other highlights of the Crawl include Tim Dangaran atSanctuary Ultra Lounge, William Hackett at Panama Red, andJennie McGregor at Carratti Jewelers. Other venues includeBlacksmith Square, Ryan Fine Art, Ethereal Designs, ABC MusicSource, Art Glass Studios, ultra-spectives and the Bothwell ArtsCenter's new Downtown Art Studios. Maps will be available atall of these locations just prior to the crawl.

Women's Hall ofFame InducteesTo Be HonoredTwelve outstanding womenwill be inducted into the AlamedaCounty Women’s Hall ofFame at a luncheon in Oaklandon March 19.This year’s inductees areWei-Ling Huber, Business andProfessions; Olis Simmons,Community Service; JacquelineHairston, Culture and Art; CaroleWard Allen, Education; ElaineTaylor, Environment; Mary JaneGross, Health; Julie Rems-Smario,Justice; Frances Jefferson,Non-Traditional Careers; CrystalJaing, Science; Lisa Busbee-Young, Sports and Athletics; andNatassija Jordan-Oliver, Youth.This year’s Women’s Hallof Fame luncheon and awardsceremony is set for 12:30 p.m.on Saturday, March 19, 2011, atthe Greek Orthodox Cathedral,4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland.The event will be hosted by theAlameda County Board of Supervisorsand the Alameda CountyCommission on the Status ofWomen.Visit the Women’s Hall ofFame website at http://www.acgov.org/cao/halloffame/ tosubmit an online nomination orfor more information, or contactthe Alameda County Commissionon the Status of Women at(510) 259-3871.The program raises money forlocal charities addressing women’shealth issues. The Women’sHall of Fame also sponsors aYouth Scholarship to help a girlor young woman further their educationor training. Tickets to theluncheon and awards ceremonyare $75. For tickets, call (510)272-6510 or go to http://www.acgov.org/cao/halloffame/Those being inducted witha local connection include thefollowing:Wei-Ling Huber, business andprofessions: A lifelong activistfor justice, Wei-Ling Huber hasbeen a catalyst for improvingand expanding economic opportunitiesfor Alameda Countyworkers since 1995 through herwork with UNITE HERE 2850,the East Bay hospitality workersunion. The President of Oakland-basedUNITE HERE since2006, Wei-Ling leads a unionthat represents 2,300 East Bayworkers, including hotel housekeepers,banquet and cafeteriaworkers, cooks, dishwashers andconcession workers. Generally,these workers receive low wagesand no healthcare, but underWei-Ling’s leadership unionmembers have seen substantialgains in working conditions andcompensation and the union’smembership has grown by morethan 20 percent.Elaine Taylor, environment:Elaine Taylor is Co-Founderand President of the Taylor FamilyFoundation, which operatesCamp Arroyo in Livermore.Each year, the camp offers aback-to-nature summer campfor nearly 3,000 children withlife-threatening conditions, aswell as at-risk youth and youthcoping with bereavement. ButElaine’s work is about morethan creating opportunities forlife-transforming experiences innature. She also has led efforts tomake Camp Arroyo the greenest,most eco-friendly operation of itskind. Its cutting-edge operationsmake Camp Arroyo the idealvenue for thousands of studentsfrom around the Bay Area whogo there during the school year tolearn how to live sustainably.Crystal Jaing, science: CrystalJaing is a molecular biologist atLawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory and a central playerin developing an award-winningtechnology that will providenew tools to detect bioterrorismattacks, diagnose disease andverify product safety. The technology,known as the LawrenceLivermore Microbial DetectionArray (LLMDA), allows forthe detection of any bacteria orvirus on a tested sample within24 hours. The technology relieson 388,000 tiny probes that fit inthe middle of a one-by-three-inchglass slide. LLMDA has beenevaluated for use by the U.S. Departmentof Homeland Securityand is the subject of interest from15 companies worldwide examiningthe technology’s potentialas a product safety tool.Funky Fish, WildflowersFunky Fish is the theme of a Sat.,March 12 program presented by theLivermore Area Recreation and ParkDistrict ranger staff. Meet RangerDawn Soles at 6:30 p.m. at The Barn,3131 Pacific Ave., Livermore.The oceans are home to manycreatures, both great and small. Jointhis evening presentation to look atsome of the unusual or just outrightgoofy-looking fish that swim in theoceans and seas around the world.Sun., March 13, the topic is WildflowerWonders. Meet Ranger AmyWolitzer at 10 a.m. at the WetmoreRoad entrance to Sycamore GrovePark.A hike into the hills is always anexciting venture, but this time of yearit can be especially rewarding. Thereare jewels to be found of all colors andshapes – yellow Buttercups, purpleBlue Dicks, shy Johnny Jump-Ups,the elusive Shooting Star and more.Join this four- to five-mile slowpacedwalk, which will last for aboutthree hours. Participants preferring ashorter walk can head back wheneverthey choose.There is a $5 per vehicle parkingfee at the parks. A $2 donation is requestedto help support the programs.Participants may call 925-960-2400for more information.Mt. Diablo Jr. RangerMount Diablo State Park is takingregistration now for the Spring2011 Junior Ranger Program. TopicsReba Jean Van GundiaReba Jean Van Gundia passedaway at home on March 2, 2011,in Copperopolis, California atage 88. She was the tenth ofeleven sisters and brothers bornto Elmer and Annabelle Hardy ofWashington, Indiana on October21, 1922.After WWII ended, she marriedGordon K. Van Gundia (Van)in June, 1948. They resided inLivermore from 1959 to 1980and moved to Copperopolis afterVan retired from Sandia NationalLaboratories. They celebratedtheir 62 nd anniversary in June,2010.Reba Jean is survived by herhusband, Van, and their twindaughters, Cheryl Perkins (Richard)and Carol Neely (Steve),eight grandchildren, and tengreat-grandchildren all whom sheloved dearly. Reba Jean’s loving,kind, and gentle spirit will alwaysbe remembered. In lieu of flowers,memorial contributions to thecharity that touches your heartwould be appreciated.Mark E. ArchuletaMark E. Archuleta was bornon November 24, 1929 in PagosaSprings, Colorado and died onWed., March 3, 2011 in Pleasanton,Ca.Mr. Archuleta was raised inColorado where his dad taughthim and hisfour brothersto cuttimber andplay music.He served inthe UnitedStates ArmyN a t i o n a lG u a r d ,worked atLawrenceLivermore National Laboratoryfor 16 years and retired from theBricklayers & Allied CraftworkersLocal 3 Union as a Bricklayer.In 1957, Mr. Archuleta came toinclude: prehistoric times, CaliforniaIndians, wildlife education and geology.Hosted by a park docent, eachsession will include presentations,hands-on activities and a hike.Children, ages 7 to 12, plus oneaccompanying adult are eligible toparticipate. Sessions will be held atvarious locations in the Park. The fiveSaturday sessions begin April 30 andconclude June 4. Each session runsfrom 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registrationis limited to 15 children, plus oneparent per child. While there is nocharge for the program, payment ofthe Park’s entrance fee is required.For more information or to register,contact Steve Elliott at 925-362-8697 or at SAE612@msn.com.Advance registration is required.This program is sponsored by MountDiablo State Park in cooperationwith the Mount Diablo InterpretiveAssociation.California State Parks does notdiscriminate against individuals withdisabilities. Prior to arrival, participantswith disabilities who need assistanceshould contact Ranger DanStefanisko at 925-855-1730.Game Night at LibraryCome enjoy an afternoon of funand games at the Pleasanton PublicLibrary on Saturday, March 12. Playa variety of board and card games,then take a turn at the Nintendo Wiion our big drop-down screen. Cometo play, then stay to watch and cheerLivermore with his wife, Grace,where they raised their four childrenand enjoyed family life. Hispassions included golf, his familyband and where he played professionallyin the Bay Area and onTV for many years.He was preceded in death byhis brothers Pete and Fred. Heis survived by his wife Graceof 55 years and children LindaCampbell and Tony Archuletaboth of Utah, Rick Archuleta,Cheryl Archuleta, Tom Archuleta,and Elizabeth Archuleta allfrom California; brothers, BenArchuleta of Utah, Rick Archuletaof Oregon, Delores Martinezand Berlinda Archuleta both ofCalifornia. He had 13 grandchildrenand numerous greatgrandchildren.A Mass of Christian Burialwill be celebrated on Thurs.,March 10th, 11 a.m. at St. MichaelCatholic Church in Livermore.Burial will follow mass atSt. Michael Cemetery in Livermore.A reception will be held at1271 S. Livermore Ave.Memorial donations can bemade to the charity of choice inMark’s honor.Arrangements by CallaghanMortuary.Shirley Mae LacyShirley Mae Lacy, of Livermore,California passed awayon Sunday, February 27, 2011 inWalnut Creek, California. Shewas born on September 21, 1938in Beuche, Louisiana, from theunion of Wilbert and Ora LeePrice.Shirley was a 1956 graduateof Capitol High School in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. She wenton to marry her sweetheart AlfredLacy and through this union theyhad three children.Shirley started her workingcareer as a beautician. Laterupon relocating to California shestarted her civil service career asa cashier at the commissary onon others.This drop-in event will run from2:00-4:00 pm. No registration isrequired; stop by when you wouldlike and stay as long as you can. Forages 5 and older; children youngerthan 8 must be accompanied by ahigh-school age teen or adult whilethe child is in the room.For more information, please callthe Children’s Desk at (925) 931-3400 ext. 8.SELF Meeting SetGuests are welcome at the annualboard meeting of the StudentEducation Loan Fund, which will beheld on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at7:30 PM. The meeting will be heldin the Board Room at the LivermoreCivic Center Library, 1188 SouthLivermore Avenue.The Student Education Loan Fund(SELF) was established 48 yearsago to provide interest free loans tograduates of Livermore high schooland to Livermore residents to helpthem attend community college, tradeschools, state colleges, or universities.During that time $623,695 hasbeen loaned to 484 students.Funds for loans are obtainedthrough donations by individuals,as well as donations by businesses.Donations are deductible as providedunder Federal and California incometax codes. As loans are repaid, themoney coming in is added to the poolfrom which new loans are made—sothe Presidio in San Francisco,California. She later transferredto Moffett Field and changedher profession to become a supplyclerk. She was a Federalemployee for 21 years and 3months.Although Shirley workedoutside of the home she remaineddevoted to her family. Shirleywas an excellent cook and baker.She was also an avid sports fan.Shirley was preceded in deathby her husband, Alfred Lacy Sr.,her parents, Wilbert Price Sr. andOra Lee Price, sisters, IdameasePrice and Lois Marie Price, anda brother, Wilbert Price Jr.Shirley leaves to celebrate herlife, her children: Anthony L.Lacy, Sharon M. Lacy and AlfredLacy III; grandchildren AnthonyA. Lacy, Patrice L. Lacy,Shalaonna L. Temporal, AnalishaJ. Temporal, Pilar Y. Farfanand Samantha S. Lacy; greatgrandchildren Larry Johnson,Kamara Clark, Kayla Gaines,and Carole Johnson; her sistersJoan N. Smith, Barbara Cherry,and Daphne Price; and a host ofaunts uncles, nieces and nephews,other relatives and closepersonal friends.A celebration of Shirley’s lifewill be held on Friday, March11, 2011 at 1p.m. at CallaghanMortuary in Livermore.Elizabeth Ann HatchLiz, a California native passedaway at her home, with her familyby her side on Monday, March7, 2011.Liz was born to Alf and MaryLyn Larsen in North Hollywood,CA on July 27, 1946. Liz graduatedfrom San Jose State Universitywith a degree in SpeechPathology & Psychology andlater achieved a Masters degreeas an Audiologist. Liz retired in2008 from the Livermore Valleycontribution funds are used overand over.The fund is managed by a volunteerboard of thirty Livermoreresidents. These volunteers do allthe necessary administrative workand contribute enough funds to coverSELF’s yearly expenses. Therefore,all incoming donations go 100% intostudent loans.For more information about themeeting or about SELF, please callRuth Gasten at (925)443-7140.Arthritis WalkThe Arthritis Foundation – NorthernCalifornia Chapter will host the5 th annual Tri-Valley Arthritis Walkon Saturday, April 30 at LifestyleRX,1119 East Stanley Blvd. inLivermore.Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.and the walk starts at 9 a.m. TheArthritis Walk is the signature eventfor the Arthritis Foundation and ittakes place in communities nationwideto raise awareness for arthriticdiseases and research. The ArthritisWalk is a family friendly event thatfeatures a one and three mile course,kids’ activities, entertainment and aspecial dog walk. After all, dogs getarf-thritis too.This year’s youth honoree – Angelina“Lina” Robinson was diagnosedjust before her third birthday withJuvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA),a debilitating form of arthritis thatcauses systemic inflammation. Nowapproaching her 5 th birthday, her lifeThe Independent, MARCH 10, 2011 - PAGE 9is filled with a myriad of medications,bimonthly IV infusions, weekly shots,but despite her challenges, she faceseach day with an amazing spirit, aninfectious laugh and a desire to makeJRA better for other kids.Start or join a team today andtake the first step to helping to find acure. Arthritis affects more than 50million people in the United Statesand 300,000 are children. For moreinformation or to form a team call415-356-1230 or visit us on line atwww.aw2011trivly.kintera.org.For more information aboutthe Arthritis Walk or the ArthritisFoundation visit their website atwww.northerncalifornia.arthritis.org . For more information regardingthis event, please contact TamaraJones at 415-356-1237 or tjones@arthritis.org.'Tech Trek' Fashion ShowA fun and unique fashion showwill be presented on Monday, March14. Money raised will help sendmiddle school girls to summer campsto pursue their interest in math andscience.The fashion show promotes “TechTrek” and will be held at the SanRamon Community Center, FountainRoom, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. TheCenter is located at 12501 AlcostaBoulevard, San Ramon. The eventis sponsored by the San Ramonand Concord branches of AAUW,(continued on page 12)Joint Unified School District as aSpeech Therapist after 38 years.She loved traveling to see hergrandchildren, trying new restaurantsand especially going toDisneyland. She was very activein The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-Day Saints and in communityactivities.Liz is survived by her husband,Mark Hatch, her children,Ryan (Rebakah) Hatch, Paige(Ed) Clarkson, Steven (Jeana)Hatch, David (Heather) Hatch,Jared Hatch, Erin (Joe) Brownand John (Becky) Hatch and seventeengrandchildren, Claudia,Ben, Julia, Quinlan, Carter, Joel,Kelby, Georgia, Aidan, Abby,Caraline, Ryan, Caris, Hailey,Ali, Chloe and Ruby. Robert,and Paul Larsen, and precededin death by her brother DavidLarsen.A memorial for Liz will beheld at the Church of Jesus Christof Latter-Day Saints at 1501Hillcrest Ave. Livermore, CAon Saturday March 12, 2011 atnoon.Arrangements by CallaghanMortuary.

PAGE 10 - The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011Photo - Doug JorgensenThe 4th Annual New Orleans Bash at the Bothwell Arts Center in Livermore was filled with dance,music, and colorful characters. There were performances of New Orleans Jazz, along with displaysof paper mache gators & jesters, and souvenir stalls selling feather masks, trinkets, jewelry,and “street artists” selling their paintings. Overseeing the festivities, were some well-dressedmannequins.Dublin Creates Group toPromote Good CharacterBy Ron McNicollDublin has launched its Integrityin Action program, whichis designed to promote variouspositive character traits.It is similar to Pleasanton’sCommunity of Character, andcharacter programs in other citiesthroughout the United States.Former Dublin Mayor JanetLockhart coordinated the effortfrom her positions as presidentof Dublin Partners in Educationand Dublin Integrity in Action(DIA).The new organization bringstogether a variety of characterpromotion and recognition programsthat have been functioningin Dublin, said Lockhart.“We have a number of characterprograms. They are wonderful.However, they were notunder one umbrella. Next wewill contact the business community,and sign them up,” saidLockhart.Business people will beamong the organization’s 14board members. Other sectorsrepresented will be public andprivate schools, religious communities,and city government.Lockhart said that all organizations,including non-profits, areinvited to join.When it comes to business,the program wants to recognize afirm’s reputation for integrity andfair dealing, as cited by customers.DIA also wants to enable thebusinesses to recognize employeeswho stand out in showing thecharacter traits.The main goal is to set up aninfrastructure so all who are doingsomething can be more easilyaccessed for information aboutthat recognition, said Lockhart.Ten characteristics were citedin a citywide survey about a decadeago. DIA is using that list.The top-ranked answer wasintegrity, which is why the wordfound its way into the organization’stitle. Caring and responsibilitywere also prominent onthe list.The Dublin Unified SchoolDistrict has offered a charactereducation program for a fewyears. Teachers use a differenttrait each month to work withtheir students. The program evencontinues in summer, when oneof the traits is stretched to coverthe two-month vacation period,Some reinforcement of theteaching also comes out on theDublin streets. The city boughtbanners naming various traits,and flies them for about six weeksaround the times of communitycelebrations such as St. Patrick’sDay, said Lockhart.City government includesseveral character programs. Cityemployees receive recognitionfor the positive things that theyaccomplish in serving the public.Dublin’s senior center recognizestheir clients for their shiningexamples of the traits.TEENS SHOW ADULTSHOW CARING WORKSLockhart told a dramatic storyabout a couple of continuationhigh school students who demonstrateda strong example of caringand responsibility.The two girls were in a classthat had taken CPR classesthrough arrangements by theschool district. Two weeks later,they were in a department storewhen a woman fell and hit herhead.“While the store staff stoodthere, they went into action. Theyhad an ambulance ordered forher, and put a compress on whereshe was bleeding. They kept herwarm, and took care of her,” saidLockhart.Now the teens are reachingout to the store, because they areconcerned that the employeeshad no idea about how to help.They want to see that the employeesreceive some training,said Lockhart.Photos - Doug JorgensenLe Tableau Magnifique, balletcompany for Livermore School ofDance, performed “Variations inMotion” at The Bankhead Theaterlast Saturday. The performanceswere a benefit for The DiabeticYouth Foundation. Among thedances performed were a fulllengthproduction of the storyballet, Coppelia, the classic,comedic tale (top photo) and amontage from the Broadway hitmusical, Wicked.LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDSwww.independentnews.comLEGAL NOTICESFOR INFORMATIONPLACING LEGALNOTICESCONTACT RICHARD @925 243-8000FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 447533The following person(s) doingbusiness as: HometownHouse Services, 575 SouthO St, Livermore, CA 94550,is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Mary Marcyes Strommer,575 South O St, Livermore,CA 94550This business is conductedby: an IndividualThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name (s) listedabove on January 27, 2011Signature of Registrant:/s/: Mary Marcyes StrommerThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon January 31, 2011. ExpiresJanuary 31, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2940. Published February 17,24, March 3, 10, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 447582The following person(s) doingbusiness as: the 47thelement, 622 Hamilton Way,Pleasanton, CA 94566, ishereby registered by the followingowner(s):Karen Trown, 622 HamiltonWay, Pleasanton, CA 94566Nicolas Trown, 622 HamiltonWay, Pleasanton, CA 94566This business is conductedby: Husband and WifeRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Karen TrownThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 1, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 1, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2941 Publish February 17,24, March 3, 10, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 447950-952The following person(s) doingbusiness as: 1) HomeLoan Funding, 2) The HomeMart, 3) Trupro Real EstateServices, 39 California Ave.#201, Pleasanton, CA 94566,is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Gary Stange, 4103 StanleyBlvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566This business is conductedby: an IndividualThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name(s) listedabove on August 8, 1993.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Gary StangeThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 9, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 9, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2942. Published February 17,24, March 3, 10, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448030The following person(s)doing business as: CurvesLivermore, 1129 CatalinaDr., Livermore, CA 94550,is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Amber Baydo, 1137 ViaGranada, Livermore, CA94550Sharon Hebenstreich, 1124Via Granada, Livermore, CA94550This business is conductedby: Co-PartnersThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name(s) listedabove on February 8, 2011.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Amber Baydo and SharonHebenstreichThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 14, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 14, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2943. Published February 17,24, March 3, 10, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448055-56The following person(s) doingbusiness as: 1) A LivermoreTaxi Cab Co., 2) A First StreetCab Co. of Livermore, 849East Stanley Blvd #475, Livermore,CA 94551, is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):Harmony Pennington, 3068Gardella Plaza Apt 3, Livermore,CA 94551This business is conductedby: an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Harmony PenningtonThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 14, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 14, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2944 Published February 17,24, March 3, 10, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448458The following person(s) doingbusiness as: Real EntertainmentManagement, 869Caliente Ave, Livermore, CA94550, is hereby registered bythe following owner(s):JCUBED INC, 869 CalienteAve, Livermore, CA 94550This business is conductedby: a CorporationThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name(s) listedabove on February 9, 2011.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Jon Thomas Van FossenThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 24, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 24, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2946. Publish March 3, 10,17, 24, 2011.

LEGAL NOTICES/CLASSIFIEDSwww.independentnews.comThe Independent, MARCH 10, 2011 - PAGE 11FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448185The following person(s) doingbusiness as: Valley WideTransport, 353 YosemiteDr, Livermore, CA 94551,is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Terrence Francis Monser,353 Yosemite Dr, Livermore,CA 94551This business is conductedby: an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Terrence F. MonserThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 16, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 16, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2947. Published March 3, 10,17, 24, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448621The following person(s) doingbusiness as: Motion Analytix,2480 Ancona Circle, Livermore,CA 94550, is herebyregistered by the followingowner(s):Douglas L. Perry, 2480 AnconaCircle, Livermore, CA94550This business is conductedby: an IndividualThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name(s) listedabove on January 25, 2011.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Douglas L. PerryThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 28, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 28, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2950. Publish March 10, 17,24, 31, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 447798The following person(s) doingbusiness as: The UPSStore (#4722), 1452 N VascoRd, Livermore, CA 94551,is hereby registered by thefollowing owner(s):Edward B. Belmont, 1154Central Ave, Livermore, CA94551Leslee Belmont, 1154 CentralAve, Livermore, CA 94551This business is conductedby: Husband and WifeThe registrant began to transactbusiness under the fictitiousbusiness name(s) listedabove on April 7, 2003.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Edward B. BelmontThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 7, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 7, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2951. Publish March 10, 17,24, 31, 2011.FICTITIOUS BUSINESSNAME STATEMENTFILE NO. 448475The following person(s) doingbusiness as: Deliver More,454 North L St, Livermore, CA94551, is hereby registered bythe following owner(s):Amber Star Lancaster, 454North L St, Livermore, CA94551This business is conductedby: an IndividualRegistrant has not yet begunto transact business underthe fictitious business nameor names listed.Signature of Registrant:/s/: Amber S. LancasterThis statement was filed withthe County Clerk of Alamedaon February 24, 2011. ExpiresFebruary 24, 2016.The Independent Legal No.2952. Published March 10,17, 24, 31, 2011.NOTICE OF INVITING BIDSNotice is hereby given thatsealed competitive bids willbe accepted in the office ofthe GSA-Purchasing Department,County of Alameda,1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite907, Oakland, CA 94612N E T W O R K I N G / N O R T HCOUNTY BIDDERS CON-FERENCE RFP #900858for State Legislative AdvocacyServices, Wednesday,March 16, 2011, 10:00 a.m.– General Services Agency,1401 Lakeside Drive, Room1107, 11 th Floor, Oakland,CA NETWORKING/SOUTHCOUNTY BIDDERS CON-FERENCE RFP #900858 forState Legislative AdvocacyServices, Thursday, March17, 2011, 2:00 p.m. – Cityof Dublin, 100 Civic Plaza,Regional Meeting Room,Dublin, CA Responses Dueby 2:00 pm on April 15, 2011County Contact : KelleySmith (510) 891-5670 or viaemail: kelley.smith@acgov.org Attendance at NetworkingConference is Non-mandatory.Specifications regardingthe above may be obtained atthe Alameda County CurrentContracting OpportunitiesInternet website at www.acgov.org.3/10/11CNS-2054140#The Independent Legal No.2948. Published March 10,2011.NOTICE OF INVITING BIDSNotice is hereby given thatsealed competitive bids will beaccepted at the Health CareServices Agency, 1000 SanLeandro Blvd., Suite 300, SanLeandro, CA, 94577 NET-WORKING/NORTH COUNTYBIDDERS CONFERENCERFP #2011REVMAX forHCSA Revenue MaximizationProgram, Tuesday, March15, 2011, 9:30 a.m. – CountyAdministration Building, 1221Oak Street, Room 220-E, 2 ndFloor, Oakland, CA NET-WORKING/SOUTH COUNTYBIDDERS CONFERENCERFP #2011REVMAX forHCSA Revenue MaximizationProgram, Wednesday, March16, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – HealthCare Services Agency, 1000San Leandro Blvd., Suite300, Conference Room 325,3 rd Floor, San Leandro, CAResponses Due by 2:00pm on April 4, 2011 CountyContact: Rebecca Gebhart(510) 667-3024 or via email:rebecca.gebhart@acgov.org Attendance at NetworkingConference is Non-mandatory.Specifications regardingthe above may be obtainedat the Alameda County GSACurrent Contracting OpportunitiesInternet website atwww.acgov.org.3/10/11CNS-2055311#The Independent Legal No.2949. Published March 10,2011.ANIMALS2) CATS/ DOGSADOPT A DOG OR CAT, foradoption information contactValley Humane Society at925 426-8656.Adopt a new best friend:TVAR, the Tri-Valley AnimalRescue, offers animals foradoption every Saturday andSunday, excluding most holidays.Saturdays from 9:30am to 1:00 pm, dogs and catsare available at the PleasantonFarmers Market at W.Angela and First Streets.Two locations will showcasecats only: Petsmart in Dublinnoon to 4 and the Pet FoodExpress in Livermore 1 to 4.Sundays, cats are at Petsmartin Dublin 1 to 4, and PetCoin San Ramon 11 to 3. TVARat (925) 803-7043 website atwww.tvar.orgEMPLOYMENT60) BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYBE WARY of out of areacompanies. Check with thelocal Better Business Bureaubefore you send money orfees. Read and understandany contracts before you sign.Shop around for rates.65) ENGINEERINGEngineers-Product Development/Marketing/ Sales/Support for LED productsfor Asia Pacific region. Mail:Job 4900-01, Bridgelux,101 Portola Ave, Livermore,CA 9455170) PROGRAMMERPROGRAMMER ANA-LYST (SR. JAVA PRO-GRAMMER), Scane Corp.,Pleasanton, CAReq: Bachelors in computeror business-related field, orforeign equivalent, + 5 yrs ofrelated/similar progressiveprogramming experience.Knowledge/experience of:development/analysis rolein large enterprise setting;MVC Frame Works Struts/Spring, Spring AOP, Hibernate,Web Services(Axis, SOAP), J2EE, JAXB,Multithreading, Object Design,and Service-OrientedArchitecture, Websphereand Rational ApplicationDeveloper, RDBMSwith DB2 or Oracle, andJ2EE, EJB, JMX, XML,XSL, XSLT, XSLFO, Tiles,Velocity, JSF and JMS,HTML, CSS, Java script,AJAX, SQL, Maven, CVSand UNIX scripting. Emailresumes to: Hari Cheruku,hari@scanecorp.comMERCHANDISE125) HORSESFor Sale 3/10/2011 12am. 1999 Dutch WarmbloodGelding. Soleil “Levi”Levant. Call Erika Ibsen(925) 260-0928.127) LOST/ FOUNDJEWELRY Well-MadeHoop Earring, 14k gold,with small stones. Pleasedescribe to claim. 925-447-5475NOTICES/ANNOUNCEMENTS155) NOTICES“NOTICE TO READERS:California law requires thatcontractors taking jobs thattotal $500 or more (laborand/or materials) be licensedby the Contractors State LicenseBoard. State law alsorequires that contractors includetheir license numberson all advertising. Check yourcontractor’s status at www.cslb.ca.gov or800-321-CSLB (2752). Unlicensedpersons taking jobsless than $500 must statein their advertisements thatthey are not licensed by theContractors State LicenseBoard.”REAL ESTATEInland Valley PublishingCo.Client Code:04126-00001Re: Legal Notice forClassified AdsThe 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.TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED ADcall Richard 925 243-8000How to Save Money onEnergy Costs in Your HomeBy Cher WollardThe biggest costs in our homes are: mortgage payments or rent,taxes, insurance and utility costs. Of these, the one we have themost control over is utility costs.Making sure your home has sufficient insulation to keep heatingand cooling costs down and replacing old appliances with newenergy-efficient models are the big-ticket savers.Did you know that increasing your ceiling insulation can reduceheating costs by up to 25%? Insulation is measured by R-Value.Doubling the R-value of insulation cuts conduction heat loss in thatarea approximately in half. For more information about determiningthe R-value for your home, visit the Department of Energy’sInsulation Fact Sheet, www.ornl.gov/sci/roofs%2Bwalls/insulation/ins_05.htmlBut there are other, inexpensive ways to save on energy in yourhome.Here are a few low-cost tips to reduce your home’s operatingcosts. Bonus: Some of these tips will also help cut emissions thatcould be harmful to your family’s health.1. Don’t pre-rinse your dishes.Less work, more savings – what’s not to like about that? ConsumerReports’ tests show that today’s dishwasher are more effectiveand efficient, making pre-rinsing all but the grimiest grime anunnecessary effort. Put dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher andyou’ll save the cost of heating and consuming up to 6,500 gallonsof water per year.Operate the dishwasher at full loads to increase efficiency.2. Wash your clothes in cold water.Consumer Reports’ tests of leading laundry detergents found thatcold-water formals perform well, and can save you an average of$60 per year, while reducing energy consumption.PG&E suggests drying multiple loads at a time so your dryerstays hot.3. Switch to energy-efficient devices.Energy Star appliances, including refrigerators and hot-waterheaters, use 10-50% less energy than standard models.And to save even more, unplug small appliances and electronicdevices when not in use. Many new TVs, VCRs, computers peripheralsand chargers use electricity even when they are switchedoff.Consumer Reports also recommends switching to two wattmeters, and using thermal leak detectors and energy-saving powerstrips.4. Install energy efficient light bulbs.Both CFL and LED lights have become less expensive and moreeffective than earlier versions. According to Consumer Reports,LEDs use 84 percent less energy than a comparable incandescentand 30 percent less than a comparable CFL. They can also last aslong as 22 years.5. Install a programmable thermostat.Lowering the temperature settings on our thermostats by 5 to 10degrees at night and when we’re not home can trim up to 20 percentoff heating bills. A well-performing programmable thermostat canautomate those savings.6. Let your refrigerator “breathe.”Our refrigerators consume a big part of our energy usage. Givethe refrigerator breathing room against the wall. Vacuuming outthe condenser coils in your refrigerator helps maintain efficiencyand avoid costly breakdowns. Don’t set the temperature too low.Fresh foods keep at 37-42 degrees Fahrenheit; frozen foods at 0-5degrees Fahrenheit.That spare refrigerator in the garage you only use for parties?It can be adding up to 20% to your energy costs. And if you reallydon’t need it, PG&E may pay you $75 to get rid of it. Call 1-800-599-5798 for more information.7. Keep things clean.Clean or replace furnace filters once a monthClean your hot-water heater by draining off sediment in thebottom of the tank. Open the drain valve or faucet at the base ofthe water tank and drain a gallon or two of water into a containeruntil it runs clean. A clean heater will run more efficiently andlast longer.8. Insulate your hot-water pipes.Wrap your pipes with slip-on foam insulation and secure withelectrical tape to reduce the energy required to heat water in yourhome. It will save you money, too.9. Seal leaks in your home.Install weather-stripping or caulk leaky doors and windows andinstall gaskets behind outlet covers. Repair or seal ducts. Leakingductwork accounts for about 25% of heating costs in an averageCalifornia home. Keeping your windows and doors sealed will keepthe warm air inside in the winter and outside in the summer, thuskeeping your home more comfortable and reducing energy costs.Keep the fire-place damper closed when not in use.Check for water leaks too. In just one month, a leaking hot waterfaucet can waste hundreds of gallons of hot water.10. Schedule an energy audit.Utility companies, including PG&E, offer free or low-costhome energy audits that can pinpoint what fixes will help saveyou money and energy.Speakers to address Real EstateAlliance of LivermoreSeveral guest speakers are scheduled to address the Real EstateAlliance of Livermore this month.On March 10, Jim Suth, Western Regional Trainer for the builderDR. Horton, will speak on “Selling the Whole Market.” Suth is anationally recognized speaker who has trained thousands of newhome sales representatives across the company.On March 17, Bobbye McKelvey will talk about “Tax Strategiesfor the Real Estate Professional.” And on March 24, new BayEast President Otto Catrina and President-elect Doreen Robertswill address the group on the topic, “Bay East Leadership Wantsto Know.”R.E.A.L. is a marketing and networking group for real estateprofessionals working in Livermore.Meetings are held Thursday mornings at First Street Alehouse,2106 First Street. Doors open for networking at 8 a.m. and the meetingruns 8:30-9:30. Admission is $4, including refreshments.For more information, contact Charity Shehtanian, (925) 583-3411.Cher Wollard is a Realtor withPrudential California Realty, Livermore.

PAGE 12 - The Independent, MARCH 10, 2011(continued from page 9)American Association of UniversityWomen.“The focus of Tech Trek is to keepgirls interested in pursuing degreesand careers in the math and sciencedisciplines,” said Laurie Dennen,event co-chair and AAUW SanRamon Tech Trek Coordinator. “Somany careers in medicine, engineeringand technology are based in mathand science, so we need to foster thedesire to pursue such disciplines inthese young women,” Dennen added.“Tech Trek” camps are held in thesummer at eight college campusesthroughout California.Doors open for the event at 6:30with the fashion show getting underwayat 7 p.m. There will be drawingsfor fun door prizes. The show willfeature local women modeling thenew CAbi spring collection; accessoriesby Premier Jewelry; make-up byArbonne International; and hair styledby The Fringe Hair Salon in Danville.Tickets are $15 at the door.The event will also feature remarksby author, Brandy Mychals,owner of Split Second Perceptions.Her company offers coaching for menand women to help them effectivelycommunicate with confidence andto promote themselves and theirbusiness by creating a great firstimpression.American Association of UniversityWomen is a national nonprofitorganization focused on promotingequity for women and girls througheducation, research, advocacy andphilanthropy. Its motto is, “Breakingthrough Barriers for Womenand Girls.” AAUW began in 1881and has branches all across America,including 140 branches in California.For more information visit: www.AAUW.org.Scholarships AvailableNational Security TechnologiesLLC (NSTec) has invested in futureengineers and scientists through thegift of scholarships for outstandingLivermore High School seniors.Up to two scholarships in theamount of $5,000 each will beawarded to eligible students who apply.The award program, an extensionof the NSTec education outreach andcommunity engagement philosophy,was launched in 2007. To date, ithas provided over 75 scholarshipsand $375,000 to high school seniorsacross the country planning an educationin engineering or science. NSTecis the management and operatingcontractor for the Nevada NationalSecurity Site and its related facilities,such as Livermore Operations.“This type of outreach expandsour existing business-educationpartnerships in the lower grades to thecompetitive environment of highereducation,” says NSTec PresidentStephen Younger. “Several of thesescholarship recipients have becomeour interns, including one who isplanning to intern this summer in ourLivermore Operations office. Followingthe completion of their degrees,we hope they become members ofour professional team.”Scholarship requirements includea minimum 3.5 GPA and a plan to attenda four-year college or universityto major in engineering or science.Application deadline is April 1, 2011.For more information, go to www.NSTec.com.NSTec is dedicated to devisingintegrated national security solutionsand forging new partnerships at theNevada National Security Site and itsrelated facilities and laboratories forthe Department of Energy, NationalNuclear Security Administration,Nevada Site Office.Varicose VeinsSan Ramon Regional MedicalCenter will present a free communityeducational seminar, “MinimallyInvasive Treatment for VaricoseVeins,” from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,Wednesday, March 16, 2011. Theprogram will be held at San RamonRegional Medical Center’s SouthConference Room in the South Building,located at 7777 Norris CanyonRoad, San Ramon.Soohyun Kim, M.D., vascularand endovascular specialist, willdiscuss surgical and nonsurgicaltreatments for varicose veins, andhow to reduce pain and discomfort.In the past, vein stripping surgerywas the only solution. Today there isa minimally invasive laser treatmentfor varicose veins in which patientsusually experience mild discomfortand a fast recovery. Dr. Kim will beavailable for your questions.Varicose veins and spider veinscan be more than a cosmetic concern.They can lead to night cramps, legswelling, itching, fatigue, and evenulcers. An estimated one in 10 peoplehas varicose veins. Most are women,particularly those who stand and sitfor long periods of time, who havebeen pregnant, or do anything elsethat places pressure on the veins andrestricts blood flow.Seating is limited. To registerfor the community seminar, call800.284.2878 or register on-line atwww.OurSanRamonHospital.com.Purple and Gold GalaAmador Valley High SchoolAthletic Boosters Club will host the25th anniversary Purple and GoldGala on Saturday, March 26, 2011,from 5 to 11 p.m. at the Casa RealEvent Center, 410 Vineyard Ave.,Pleasanton.This will be an evening of dinner,dancing, auction packages andsurprises. Last year's event generatedover $110,000 for the Amador athleticprograms.The goal is to surpass $150,000 innet proceeds this year. Funds raisedfrom this event will be used to supportAmador Valley High School's 23athletic programs that serve over 850student athletes. The majority of themoney that is raised will help to reduceout-of-pocket costs for all familiesand allow all students at Amadorto participate in sports regardless oftheir ability to pay. Additionally fundsraised at this year's Gala will pay forcoaches and athletic trainers' salariesas well as academic scholarships forgraduating seniors.To reserve tickets go to https://hvhsabc.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/2011PurpleandGoldGala/tabid/261157/Default.aspxEach general admission attendeewill receive a three course mealserved family style as well as twocomplimentary drinks. There willbe close to 200 auction packages tobid on, as well as raffles and othersurprises!Anyone with a merchandise,services, time-shares, etc. that wouldlike to donate for the auction, pleasecontact Sally Parsons, PresidentAmador Valley Athletic BoostersClub, at parsons-sally@comcast.netor 925-846-9531.Read Across AmericaRead Across America is theNational Education Association's(NEA) annual program to promotereading motivation and awarenessin the nation's children.Since 1998, the NEA has celebratedRead Across America Dayon or about March 2nd to honor thebirthday of children's book author,Theodor Seuss Geisel, better knownas "Dr. Seuss." Each March, HuntingtonLearning Center in Pleasantonhelps to support this awareness effortby emphasizing the importance ofreading as a lifelong learning tool forpeople of all ages. Through specialprograms, the supplemental educationprovider will also offer tips tochildren and their parents on how tomake reading a fun and rewardingactivity."There is a world of knowledgeand entertainment in books," said DanChou of Huntington Learning Centerof Pleasanton. "It's important for all ofthe adults in a child's life to emphasizethe enjoyment and enrichment thatreading offers. It's difficult to competewith today's technology, but readingfor enjoyment as well as for learningis a fundamental skill that we need tonourish in our children."Chou offers these tips to helpPleasanton-area families makereading a priority, based on "Raisinga Reader" suggestions from theNEA:• Teach by example. Read thenewspaper, a magazine or the latestbest-seller in front of your children.• Treat reading as a treat. Subscribeto a children's magazine or set a date tovisit your library each month and readthe new edition with your child.• Plan ahead. Keep a stash ofbooks with you wherever you go. Turnwaiting time at the doctor's office, inline at the store, or on a long car rideinto reading time.Excellence in EducationThe Pleasanton community isencouraged to nominate a specialteacher or an employee of the PleasantonUnified School District forPleasanton PTA Council’s Excellencein Education Award. Nominationforms are available on the PleasantonPTA website and PUSD website.Nomination forms and requirednomination letters must be receivedby Thursday, March 24, 2011 at4:00 p.m.A public ceremony for the honoreeswill be held on Wednesday, June 1,2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church.For more information contact KimChew at 925-426-2492 or smchew@sbcglobal.net.Events at FairgroundsEvents this month at the AlamedaCounty Fairgrounds in Pleasantonare: March 11 - 13, Gem Fair: Gems,Jewelry, Crystals, Beads, LapidaryEquipment, Silver, Gold, all yourjewelry needs under one roof. Qualityjewelry & beads at manufacturer’sprices. Classes and demonstrationsfor your jewelry making needs.March 12: Tri-Valley Mothers ofTwins Semi-Annual Used Clothing& Equipment Sale: Get great dealson gently used clothes and shoesfor newborns to teens, toys, books,DVDs, furniture, equipment andmuch more! Sale is from 9:00 a.m.to 2:45 p.m. (doors close at 1 p.m.to prepare for the half-off sale whichbegins at 1:45 p.m.) For only a $1.00entrance fee, you can load up on allkinds of goodies for the spring andfall season.March 18 & 19: 2011 ScrapbookExpo: National manufacturers & localretail stores selling scrapbook suppliesto the public. This years eventwill feature 4 great crop parties andtechnique filled workshops.March 26 & 27, Goodguys 29thAll-American Get-Together: HugeIndoor & Outdoor Happenin' at theFairgrounds in Pleasanton featuringover 3,000 All American Made &Powered hot rods, customs, classics,muscle cars and trick trucks. Shopat 100's of vendor/exhibitor boothsor take a trip to the Swap Meet forautomotive related parts and Cars4 Sale.More information at www.AlamedaCountyFair.com.The fairgroundsare located at 4501 Pleasanton Ave.Landmark MortgageTri-Valley-based mortgage banker,Landmark Mortgage Group hasannounced that mortgage professionalsDavid Morris and Todd Galdehave joined the company. Both willwork from the company’s Pleasantonoffice where they will offer all ofLandmark’s mortgage products.Morris has been providing mortgagesto home buyers in the EastBay region for more than 21 years.He has cultivated long-standingrelationships with financial serviceproviders that enabled him to meethis client’s needs more efficiently.Home buyers will benefit greatly fromDavid’s mortgage banking expertisein residential lending.Galde has earned a reputationin the Bay Area community as ananchor for Realtors and clients byoffering customized lending solutionsdesigned to complement each client’sfinancial goals. A graduate of WheatonCollege in Illinois, Galde tookover his father’s mortgage practicein Milpitas eight years ago and haswon the confidence of affluent clientsthrough his expertise in mortgagelending.Craft ProgramsCome and celebrate Spring Breakat the Library at one of the SpringtimeCraft Programs—come make a cuteSpring decoration!• Civic Center Library, 1188 S.Livermore Avenue: Monday, April4, drop in any time between 12:30and 5:30 p.m.• Rincon Library, 725 RinconAvenue: Friday, April 8, drop in anytime between 1 and 3 p.m.• Wednesday, April 6, 10:30 a.m.:come join in a family sing-along withaward-winning singer/songwriterMaryLee Sunseri (1-2-3, Sing WithMe) at the Civic Center Library,1188 S. Livermore Avenue. MaryLeegets people of all ages moving andsinging along with wonderful songs,colorful props, and plenty of audienceparticipation!All ages are welcome to these freeLibrary programs. For further information,contact Youth Services at(925) 373-5504 or drop by the libraryto speak with one of the staff. Youmay also visit the website for details:www.livermorelibrary.net .Family Game DayBoard games—remember those?Bring the entire family and learn toplay some of the newer hit boardgames with Kevin O’Hare and friendsfrom KublaCon, a family gamingclub (www.kublacon.com). Enjoyplaying some of the familiar classicgames you know and love as well.Drop in on Saturday, March 12, anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., inthe Craft Room of the Civic CenterLibrary, located at 1188 S. LivermoreAvenue.All those attending can entera contest to win a board-game relatedprize, sponsored by CooleykatzToys!All ages are welcome to thisfree library program. Contact YouthServices at (925) 373-5504 or GaryMyer at (925) 373-5500, ext. 5582,for more information.Children's FairThe Livermore-Pleasanton ElksLodge #2117 is holding a Tri-ValleyChildren's Fair on Sat., March 26, 10a.m. to 2 p.m.There will be lots of games andprizes. Children, ages 2 to 12, willreceive a free meal consisting of ahot dog, chips and drink plus cottoncandy, bag of popcorn and 10 gametickets. Additional tokens and foodcan be purchased for a nominal fee.All proceeds will benefit theElks National Foundation and majorprojects.The event will be held at theElks Lodge, 940 Larkspur Dr.,Livermore.

THE INDEPENDENT • SECTION IIArt, Community, & EducationTHURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011Golden BoughGolden Bough WillPerform Celtic MusicSt. Patrick’s Day weekendmarks the return of Celtic musictrio Golden Bough on Saturday,March 19, 2011 at he FirehouseArts Center.A special kid-friendly FirehouseKids matinee at 2:00 p.m.will be followed by an eveningperformance at 8:00 p.m. TheFirehouse Arts Center is locatedat 4444 Railroad Avenue in downtownPleasanton, Calif.After several years of performingas a duo, Paul Espinoza andMargie Butler formed GoldenBough. They wanted to com-This year's parade will be held Sat., March 12.bine traditional Celtic music witha more contemporary acousticsound, highlighting their owncompositions. Their first Europeanperformances were in the streetsand small folk clubs of the BritishIsles, Germany, Holland andSwitzerland in the early 1980s and,last year, the trio completed its 30 thAnniversary European Tour.Kathy Sierra joined GoldenBough in 2001, bringing additionalenergy and excitement and blendingnaturally with Espinoza andButler to create a richer, fuller(continued on page 2)Photo - Doug Jorgensen'Wake the Dead' on Stage atLas Positas CollegeThe St. Patrick’s Day celebrationcontinues on Fri., March 18 atLas Positas College with a “Wakethe Dead” benefit concert on at8 p.m. in the Barbara FraciscoMertes Center for the Arts.Tickets are $22 for generaladmission and $10 for students;parking is $2. Proceeds will benefitthe Las Positas College MusicDepartment.Touted as “the world’s onlyCeltic all-star Grateful Dead jamband,” Wake the Dead blendsCeltic traditional music and thesongs of the Grateful Dead. Theeight-member band has touredextensively throughout the BayArea and has entertained concertand festival audiences from SanFrancisco’s Fillmore Auditoriumto the Oregon Country Fair.“Wake the Dead is a rompthat flows seamlessly from rockgrooves to hot Irish reels, and fromhaunting airs to melodies familiarto Deadheads everywhere,” ac-Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day witha Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner,followed by a concert by Celticband, Molly’s Revenge. 6 p.m.,Saturday, March 19 at St. Clare’sEpiscopal Church, Pleasanton. Thecost is $25 per person or $75 for afamily of four (with kids under 16).The fee includes dinner, beverage,and concert by Molly’s Revenge.Molly’s Revenge is a dynamic,acoustic Celtic band known forits unique and infectious on-stageenthusiasm.The classic combination ofbagpipes, whistle, fiddle, and songable experience for all fans ofThe City of Dublin’s 2011 St.Patrick’s Day Celebration willbe held on Saturday and Sunday,March 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. at the Dublin Civic Center.This two day outdoor Festivalincludes authentic music anddance, an Irish Tea Cottage, overLas Positas College to present “Wake the Dead” benefit concert.cording to the band’s website.“Our music delights Deadheads,lovers of Celtic music, folkies, jamband fans, and adventurous musiclovers alike around the world,”150 arts and crafts and vendorbooth displays, two stages of entertainment,carnival rides, food &drink and something for the wholefamily.There is no admission chargeto attend the festival. Parking isalso free.said Cindy Browne Rosefield,Las Positas College director ofInstrumental Music and Wake theDead bassist. She noted the success(continued on page 2)Molly’s Revenge in Concert at St. Clare’s Church(continued on page 2)Molly's RevengeDublin Hosting AnnualSt. Pat's FestivitiesThe weekend’s celebrationalso features a Firefighter PancakeBreakfast, Lions Club Parade,Dublin Sister City Green & WhiteGala and the Shamrock 5K FunRun and Walk.The parade will be held on(continued on page 3)

2 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Art & EntertainmentModern dance masterworkscreated by choreographer PaulTaylor will be presented by hisdance group Taylor 2 at the BankheadTheater in March.Considered a living legend inthe world of modern dance, PaulTaylor is known for his remarkableability to translate the athleticismand physical grace of his dancersinto an expression of human emotion.Taylor 2, a small ensembleof dancers specifically chosen fortheir ability to convey his expressivestyle, was described last yearby The New York Times as “a kindof miracle. All of the dancers areconsiderable talents [who] unitefearlessness with skill.”A single performance by Taylor2 is scheduled at the BankheadTheater on Tuesday, March 22,2011 at 7:30 p.m.Paul Taylor did not discover thejoy of dance until his late teens butquickly demonstrated exceptionaltalent. Originally a swimmer, Taylorincorporated a lithe and fluidstyle of movement into his dancingand choreography. By his mid-20s,he was regularly performing as asoloist with the Martha GrahamDance Company and danced asa guest artist for New York CityBallet.He had also begun to establisha reputation for innovative choreography,building the fledglingcompany that would grow tobecome his life’s work. From thebeginning, Taylor’s pieces havealways been cutting edge with atimelessness that ensures relevancedespite our changing times. Expressinga full range of emotions– from passion and joy, to grief,anger, and unexpected humor– Taylor entertains his audiences,while challenging them to exploresuch wide-ranging topics as humanGOLDEN BOUGH(continued from front page)Modern Dance Masterwork at the BankheadPhoto - Tom CaravagliaPictured are Jared Wootan, Francisco Graciano, Jamie Rae Walker, Winston Dynamite Brown, AlisonCook and Latra Wilson in Paul Taylor's "Images."relationships, morality, spirituality,nature, and the searing pain of war.After retiring as a performer in1974, Taylor continued to build anextensive catalog of masterworksfrom the groundbreaking “Aureole”and “Company B,” set toWWII era songs by The AndrewsSisters, to “Esplanade” and “PrometheanFire.” At age 80, Taylorremains one of the most productiveand sought-after choreographers inthe world.sound. The three blend three-partharmony with an array of acousticinstruments: Celtic harp, pennywhistle,bodhran, guitar, octavemandolin,accordion, violin andviola, to produce unique interpretationsof Celtic music.The music of Galicia is themost recent to be added to GoldenBough’s Celtic repertoire. Galiciais one of the few areas in ContinentalEurope that has maintainedits Celtic culture. With melodiessimilar to Irish and Scottish music,Galician music also incorporatesthe rhythms of Spain, giving it adistinctive flavor all its own.Tickets to the Firehouse Kids2:00 p.m. matinee are Adult: $10,$15, $18; Child and Senior: $6, $9,$12. Tickets to the 8:00 p.m. eveningconcert are Adult: $16, $20,$24; Child: $12 and Senior: $20.Tickets may be purchased onlineat www.firehousearts.org upto three hours prior to the performances,by phone at (925) 931-4848, or in person at the FirehouseArts Center Box Office.Take Wheels Route 10 to Dublin’sSt. Patrick’s Day Celebration!The heart of the festivities willtake place at the Dublin CivicCenter on March 12-13, 2011, 10Even from his earliest days asa performer, making dance accessibleto all audiences was a priorityfor Taylor. In 1993 he createdTaylor 2 so his work could be moreeasily shared in small towns, intimatetheaters and non-traditionalvenues, with fewer economic ortechnical difficulties. He reworkedmajor pieces to utilize the strengthsof the smaller ensemble, whileretaining the spirit and emotionLAS POSITAS(continued from front page)of the band’s three albums whichhave been airing on national radiostations.Tickets for the March 18 concertcan be purchased throughwww.brownpapertickets.com. Formore information, please visit theLas Positas College PerformingArts website at www.laspositascollege.edu/performingarts.Las Positas College offers anWheels Route 10 Goes to FestivalAM - 5 PM and is accessible by aWheels Route 10 bus. Route 10 isscheduled to provide convenientconnections with BART for eacharriving train. Route 10 connectsLivermore, Pleasanton, andof the original work. Taylor 2tours extensively and, in additionto performing, teaches moderndance technique in workshopsfor both students and professionaldancers.Tickets to see Taylor 2 at theBankhead Theater on March 22ndrange from $29 to $51 with $12student tickets.The Livermore Valley PerformingArts Center is buildingan audience for a variety of danceassociate in arts degree in Music,which provides a foundation forfurther study, and a Certificatein Piano Pedagogy, which preparespianists for teaching privatestudents. Courses in the MusicDepartment are designed to fulfillthe needs of music majors,professional musicians, and thosewhose interest is a vocational orrecreational.BART to the festival in DowntownDublin.For more information aboutDublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebrationgo to the website www.DUBLINSTPATS.com.experiences – from the classicballet of ABT II during the BankheadTheater’s second season andthe contemporary ballet of AspenSanta Fe Ballet last year, to themodern choreography of Taylor 2.The March performance by Taylor2 is the first of two programs celebratingthe art of movement ina single week. On Friday March25th, the Golden Dragon Acrobatsof China will present a breathtakingperformance featuring theiraward-winning combination oftraditional Asian dance and precisionacrobatics.Taylor 2 appears at the BankheadTheater as part of the LivermoreValley Performing ArtsCenter’s “LVPAC Presents” series,which features acclaimed performersin music, dance and other performingarts across a wide range ofmusical styles and genres.Next in the series will be theclassic drama Six Charactersin Search of an Author by LuigiPirandello, presented by theNew York-based Aquila TheatreCompany. Considered one of themost important plays of the 20thcentury, Pirandello’s surrealistic“play within a play” is a complexand fascinating work that engagesthe imagination of the audience byblurring the distinction betweenwhat is real and what is illusionary.Six Characters in Search of anAuthor will be presented for onenight only on Tuesday, March 29,2011 at 7:30 p.m.The Bankhead Theater is locatedat 2400 First Street in DowntownLivermore. The ticket officeis open Tuesday through Saturdayfrom 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. Topurchase tickets call 925-373-6800or visit www.bankheadtheater.org.Las Positas College is locatedat 3000 Campus Hill Drive inLivermore.ST. CLARE'S(continued from front page)Scottish and Irish music.Their arrangements of traditionaljigs and reels bring thesedance tunes up to date with adriving, hard-edged accent thatalways leaves audiences shoutingfor more.St. Clare’s Church is locatedat 3350 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton,across from the Sports Park. Fortickets or information, call thechurch at 925-462-4802 or visitthe website at www.stclarespleasanton.org

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 3Valley Concert Chorale, in collaborationwith Ohlone ChamberSingers and San Francisco ConcertChorale will present a unique andmemorable choral experienceon March 18, 2011, called “InRemembrance on 9/11,” to commemoratethe upcoming 10thanniversary of the September 11,2001 tragedy.The concert will be held at 8p.m. at Valley Community Church,4455 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton.The combined forces of thethree choruses, approximately 100singers with chamber orchestra,will offer this choral tribute underthe direction of John Emory Bushand Dennis Keller“Through the beauty of thechoral art we hope to bring a senseof harmony and peace as we markthis 10th anniversary year of 9/11,”says John Emory Bush, ArtisticDirector for the Valley ConcertChorale and San Francisco ConcertChorale. “We’ll perform movingchoral works to honor the thousandsof lives lost on 9/11. Themusic was specifically selected tocapture the spirit and essence ofthat most tragic day as a way tomemorialize those lost.”The idea for this collaborationwas that of Ohlone’s choral directorDennis Keller, who has beenworking with Bush over the pastyear refining the program andselecting music that they believerepresents the emotion and importanceof the 9/11 anniversary thisSeptember.“We felt it was important tooffer a concert in remembrance ofthis tragic event which impactedso many families here in the BayDUBLIN(continued from front page)Valley Concert Chorale to Present Programin Remembrance of 9/11Area,” says Bush. “Music is avery powerful way to convey amessage, often speaking strongerthan words to reach the heart ofthe subject.”The great American composerStephen Paulus will be representedby two beautiful and appropriateworks for this concert:“Hymn to America” and “TheRoad Home.”“‘The Road Home’ with itsdeep harmonies and a text that isso moving, it’s amazing any of uscan get through the song withoutour voices breaking,” says sopranoand VCC Vice President BarbaraPelletier. “The words truly touchyour soul.”The first verse of “The RoadHome”: Tell me where is the roadI can call my own, That I left, thatI lost, so long ago. All these yearsI have wandered, oh when will Iknow, There’s a way, there’s a roadthat will lead me home?Herbert Howell’s “Requiem,”featured in the first half of theprogram, will be directed by Bush.“This Requiem,” explains Bush,“written for a’capella double choir,is a Requiem for the living, similarto the idea of Brahm’s “Requiem”and is filled with comfort, hope andthanksgiving.” Though the workwas written in 1935, it was not releasedfor performance until 1980,only three years before Howell’sdeath. “The work radiates gloriouslush chords and harmonies thattranscend the spirit. It is one ofthe great choral gems of the 20thcentury.”The second half of the programfeatures Arthur Honegger’s “KingDavid,” directed by Keller. “Ichose this piece as it typifies theultimate and historical example ofthe conflict/resolution dynamic,”explains Keller.Honegger’s masterpiece depictsthe biblical story of King David’slife from the time he was a shepherd,to his conquests in battle, hisrise to power, his lust for anotherman’s wife, his agony over hisson’s death, his disobedience toGod, and finally to his own death .The work is separated into twentysevensections or movementsand depends heavily on thematicelements.“We are very fortunate to havesecured David Cox as our narratoras his voice will carry the dramaof the story, as further illuminatedby the musical expression of thechoral voices and instrumental accompaniment.My hope is that wewill all take a moment and reflectnot only on the tragic events, buthow we are all changed by worldevents and the importance of ‘seeing’a larger picture of our place inthis world.”Tickets are $20 if purchasedin advance, $25 at the door. Highschool and college students $10with valid student ID. Children 14and under are free.Advance tickets may be orderedby calling (925) 866-4003, byvisiting the Chorale’s website atwww.valleyconcertchorale.org, orat Towne Center Books in downtownPleasanton.More information about theValley Concert Chorale is availableat www.valleyconcertchorale.orgor by calling the general informationline at (925) 866-4003.The concert will also be performedon these additional dates:Saturday, March 19, 2011 8:00PM, Ohlone College, Smith Center,43600 Mission Boulevard, Fremont;and Sunday, March 20, 20114:00 PM, Mission Dolores, 3321Sixteenth Street, San Francisco.Saturday March 12th, , beginningat 9:30 am. It will “stage”on Amador Plaza Road and startat the corner by Safeway. It willproceed east on Dublin Blvd. (inthe westbound lane), turn northon Village Parkway (on the southside of the street), and then headwest on Amador Valley Blvd. (onthe eastbound side of the street),ending at the entrance to Target(Donlon Road). Over 80 entriesincluding equestrians, clowns, localmarching bands, and bagpipeplayers will participate.There are many activitiesplanned at the Civic Center festival.There will be carnival rides forchildren, teens and adults.Irish Tea Cottage will offer awee bit of Ireland in a quiet setting(the Library Community Room(, complete with a Celtic harpist,storytelling, crafts, knitting, tea &scones. It will be open Saturday1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.The Annual Firefighters’ PancakeBreakfast will be held at FireStation #16, 7 to 10 a.m. on Sat.,March 12. The station is located at7494 Donohue Dr., Breakfast is $5per person. Advance reservationsnot required, simply buy ticketsat the door.The Shamrock 5K Fun Run andWalk will take place Sunday morning.This is a certified 3.5 milecourse with great prizes and pre &post activities located right at thefestival. Register online at Active.com or download an applicationfrom the event website.The Dublin Sister City Green& White Gala is Fri., March 11,6:30 p.m. at the Dublin SeniorCenter. Tickets at $65 per personincludes dinner and entertainment.Call (925) 829-4758 for tickets andinformation.

4 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Art & WineBy Laura NessThis is the Golden Globe yearfor Petite Sirah. It’s the 50 th anniversaryof the first varietal bottlingof this bodacious berryliciousgrape by Concannon Vineyard’sJim Concannon, 3 rd generationvintner, back in 1961. He’s certainlyglad he took the advice ofa wine sales person to showcasethe intense jammy fruit and ageworthytannins of the yeomangrape that had long labored as abackbone blender.Until Jim isolated Petite Sirahand gave it a pedestal, it was likethe spine of many blends, invisible.It showed up only on x-rays.Now it’s moved well beyond theskeletal structure stage, and hasits own organization, PS I LoveYou, with thousands of devotedfans worldwide.At the recently held “Dark &Delicious” Petite Sirah tastingevent at RockWall wine companyin Alameda, Livermore was representedby Concannon, NottinghamCellars and Page Mill winery. The50 th Anniversary celebration yearLivermore artist Carolyn Lordwill teach a figure drawing andpainting workshop at Las PositasCollege in Livermore March 19-20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Class fee is$99 plus $50 model’s fee, studentsbring their own art supplies. Asupply list is available online orby telephone.Register through Las PositasCommunity Education. “FigureDrawing and Painting Workshop,”when registering the Class’ CodeNumber is AL478 at www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed/index.php?Carolyn Lord will present asystematic series of lessons onfigure drawing and painting, workingfrom professional nude modelsfrom the Bay Area Model’s Guild.These lessons are designed to introducethe figure to first time students,as well as to benefit devoteesof figure drawing. Carolyn willdemonstrate drawing and painting,followed with time for the studentsWorkshop to Focus on FigureDrawing and PaintingConcannon Celebrates 50 th Anniversary ofPetite Sirah: And, They’re Not Aloneto practice the lessons.“Platform Pose” is an exampleof the 20 minute pose that shewill be demonstrating on Sunday.The goal is for the artist, after theworkshop, to be able to continuedeveloping their skills while attendinguninstructed figure drawingsessions that are availablethroughout the Bay Area.Las Positas College is locatedat 3000 Campus Hill Dr., Livermore.Carolyn Lord has been drawingand painting the figure since collegein the 1970’s. She has attendedthe Bay Area Classical Art Atelierin Belmont, and is currently exhibitingthree of her 20-minute figureoil paintings, including “PlatformPose” in “Unclad: The art of theFigure” in the Puget Sound Regionof Washington. This open, juriedshow features over 90 artists, andcan be previewed on line at www.uncladart.com.is now in full swing.Petite Sirah LineageThe Petite Sirah grape wasdeveloped in 1880 by FrancoisDurif in Montpellier, France. Thevariety is a cross between Syrahand Peloursin. First planted inCalifornia in 1884, Petite Sirah,also called Durif, was the blendingbackbone of many home-madeprohibition era wines. The TTB iscurrently being petitioned to allowboth names to be used interchangeably:they are presently listed asseparate varieties by the TTB, asource of much irritation for thosewho know the genetic truth. Youwill still find some examples ofDurif out there: Jeff Emery ofSanta Cruz Mountain Vineyardbegan making it in 1977, and stillhas some of the older vintages leftin the library. These are big, densewines meant for eternal cellaring.He began making Durif from a newvineyard near Shell Creek in PasoRobles in 2000.This is a good sign: Petite Sirahis on the rise, both in acreage andpopularity. Back in 1961, whenJim Concannon first bottled PetiteSirah by its lonesome self, therewere 4,440 planted in the U.S. Itsuffered a big decline in the 80s and90s as the Cabernet Craze hit like anew drug. Fifty years later, acreagehas nearly doubled, to 7,592 acres.There are now over 723 producersthat feature a Petite Sirah in theirportfolio. Livermore, birthplaceof this beloved little monster, currentlyhas over 20 wineries makingbrilliant examples of this onceanonymous backup singer that hasnow taken center stage. We shouldget Cheryl Crow to do a fight songfor Petite Sirah.According to Nielsen data, in2010, Petite Sirah grew +10%,making it the second fastest growingred varietal in the industry, narrowlybehind Pinot Noir, at +12%growth. Take that, Sideways.Mark Your Calendars: August13 & 14Concannon is celebrating theoccasion with several events andan overall awareness campaignto attract and entice a whole newlevel of consumer appreciation.Don’t miss the August celebration,to be held at Concannon, Saturdayand Sunday, August 13 & 14. Itwill include cooking demonstrations,unique Petite Sirah products,such as chocolates and ice cream,live music and one of a kind verticaltastings from Concannon’slibrary.“I am very proud of the factthat my father started America’slove of Petite Sirah,” said JohnConcannon, fourth generationvintner. ”I’m honored to host retrospectivePetite Sirah tastings inover 50 markets across the nationthis year to promote awareness ofthis distinctive grape in celebrationof such a significant milestone.”JOINING THE PARTYThe best part is they won’tbe celebrating alone. While thename Concannon may, indeedbe synonymous with Petite Sirahand Livermore, they thankfullyare not the only billboard in theValley. They have plenty of company.Some of the best wines inthis Valley are Petite Sirahs. Thelevel of quality expressed in therecent TVC competition, alongArtistic Edge March MadnessArt Show features a variety ofartists in support of the Art Crawlon Saturday March 12. Artists willbe present from 1-4 at BlacksmithSquare, corner of Railroad Avenueand South Livermore Ave.,Livermore.Walter Davies - Davies is awell-known photographer whosework has appeared in numerousshows in California and NewMexico. His photographs are heldin public and private collectionsthroughout the West.Karen Fleschler – Karen hasan exhibit “Country Charm andCountry Vines” at John ChristopherCellars until April 15. Shewill have many additional printswith the recognition garnered forLivermore Petite in the 2011 SFChronicle Competition, bodeswell for this to be one of the drafthorse grapes that pulls the wagonof Livermore boldly forward.I’ve had some awesome Petslately.The 2008 Bent Creek Petite islush and satisfying, without beingcloying in any way. The tanninsare fine and raw silk-like: you canwrap your mouth around them.This fruit comes from Ghielmetti.There is a characteristic eleganceand completeness to the wine thatcould only come from a well-caredfor vineyard. Impressive and accessible,this is a wine meant to beenjoyed over the next few years.It’s not a cellar monster.Nottingham Cellars, a labelconcentrating on Bordeaux varieties,has two new Petites in the offing.One you’ll be able to get yourcorkscrew into soon, the other,you’ll just have to wait for, but itwill be worth it, without a doubt.The fruit is from Julio Covarrubias,the man who is steadfastlydevoted to making his vineyardthe most pristine and photogenicin the Valley.Winemaker Collin Cranor obtainedtwo lots of this fruit in2009 from two different vineyardsections: the fruit from the 4-star(by Wente farming standards) vineyardwent into the regular bottling,which will be released to the wineclub on April 23rd. The 5-star fruit,much more concentrated and lowyielding,went into the Reservebottling, which will debut later inthe fall.The ’09 Petite, at $26 and 175cases, is muscular, intense, yetyielding, with graphite, chocolatecoveredraspberries, licorice, teaand Angostura bitters. The finishis an enormous wollop of cocoa.March Madness in Art Crawland cards available at the show.Paula Chinick - It was all therage at the last show, so don’t bethe last to have the new wave ofwraps and scarves. They are funand colorful.JoAnn Duncan – has been creatingre-usable art with all thosewine corks from John ChristopherCellars and Swirl.KC Frogge – Still turning headswith new designs and not responsiblefor whiplash.Ozell Hudson, Jr. – a localLivermore Artist who has a passionfor the arts and teaching othersthat emerges when you start totalk with him. Sally Haig – Sallypaints with colors, brushstrokes,textures, shadow and light toThis wine has stones.In contrast, the ’09 NottinghamCellars Reserve Petite is acastle rampart. The fruit had 5days longer hang time, intensifyingthe gargantuan Devil’s foodchocolateyness that almost goes tofudge. The texture is beautiful andplush, like red velvet layer cake,and the flavors offer intriguingside-tracks of white pepper andgingerbread. This is one hunk ofchunky, burning love in the mouth,and is going to be sensational withsome bottle age.My husband and I tasted both ofthese Livermore brands alongsidea 2007 Guglielmo Petite Sirahfrom old vines in Santa Clara, aswell as a 2007 Aver Family Petite,also from Santa Clara. The terroirdifferences are remarkable: SantaClara has a much heavier, earthier,baked in the sun character, withflavors more towards plum andmolasses. The Livermore winesare certainly rich enough, but retaina pleasing litheness and aciditythat keeps them vibrant from startto finish. Not too acidic, though.If you want to taste Petitefrom a much more fog-influencedclimate, one made in the old-worldstyle at a phenomenally low 13%alcohol, go for the Galante Vineyards2008 from Carmel Valley.Smoky, tannic, and intense, there’sa bullet-like intensity to its herbal,blackstrap molasses, Guinnessstout-like core. It has all the fierce,growling focus of a Rottweilerwith your pant leg in his mouth.At least Livermore Petites aredogs that like to be…er, “Pet.”As John Concannon likes to say,“Petite Sirah is the St. Bernard thatjust wants to sit in your lap.”Make sure you have some Petsin your cellar for those chilly winter3 dog nights.create an inspirational style andher enjoyment of painting shinesthrough in each piece.Brandi Collins - designs andcreates each Villain Accessoriespiece by hand in her workshop.Villain Accessories Jewelry pairsmetalsmithing, wire-wrapping,mixing metals and textures andplaying with contrasts to createdesigns that are at the same timebold and delicate, dramatic butstill classy.Additionally, Artistic Edge ishome to 45 artists. Stop by andenjoy wine tasting at John ChristopherCellars and Swirl, test outOlive Oil at Victorine’s TastingRoom and see the new grills andproducts at Greenleaf BBQ.

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 5Program Features the Songs of Judy GarlandThree celebrated vocalists cometogether in a nostalgic tribute to thesongs of Judy Garland in “Judy,Judy, Judy” at the Firehouse ArtsCenter March 20.The show opens the spring CabaretSeries on Sunday, March 20,2011 at 2:00 p.m. The FirehouseArts Center is located at 4444Railroad Avenue in downtownPleasanton.Three vocalists include musicaltheatre and opera star TielleBaker, international pops symphonyartist Pamela Brooks, andEmmy Award-featured singer andactress ML Parr, come together toperform the songs that Garlandmade unforgettable. Among themare classics such as “Come Rainor Come Shine,” “I Got Rhythm,”“That’s Entertainment,” “The ManThat Got Away” and “For Me andMy Gal.” Duets include numbersfrom films such as “Babes onBroadway,” “Listen Darling” and“The Pirate.” Memorable momentsfrom Garland’s television showsare remembered through duetswith Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand,and Garland’s daughter, LizaMinnelli. A highlight of the showis a salute to Garland’s trademarksong, “Over the Rainbow.”Tielle Baker has appeared inmore than 50 productions withJoin the cast and crew of LivermoreValley Opera’s production ofMadama Butterfly for the experienceof a full performance at thefinal dress rehearsal before OpeningNight. This special studentaccess includes an introductionbefore the show by Director BrianLuedloff and general seating in theBankhead Theater.Puccini’s Madama Butterflyis the tragic love story of a U.S.Naval officer and a Japanese Geishain the early 1900s in Japan.Madama Butterfly is a staple ofTielle Baker, Pamela Brooksand ML Parr perform in "Judy,Judy, Judy."Special Student Access to 'MadamaButterfly' Dress Rehearsalthe standard operatic repertoire forcompanies around the world andit is the most-performed opera inthe United States, where it ranks asNumber One in Opera America’slist of the 20 most-performed operasin North America.Dress rehearsal night is 7 p.m.March 10 at the Bankhead Theater,2400 First St., Livermore. Ticketsare $5 with student ID and $25 foraccompanying parent or guardian.General seating . Tickets are availableat the Bankhead Theater Boxor 373-6800.performing companies throughoutthe Bay Area and internationally.Pamela Brooks is a San FranciscoCabaret Gold Award-winning performerand pops symphony artistwho has appeared as a featuredsoloist throughout the world. MLParr has starred in such shows as“Hello Dolly!”, “Pump Boys & Dinettes”and “Hats!: The Musical.”Musical Director Richard NelsonHall is a celebrated jazz pianistin his own right and was musicaldirector for the long-running “RatPack Tribute Show.”Tickets are Adult: $15, $20 and$25; Child: $15 and Senior: $22.They may be purchased online atwww.firehousearts.org up to threehours prior to the performance,by phone at (925) 931-4848, or inperson at the Firehouse Arts CenterBox Office. Box Office hours areWednesday-Friday, 12 noon-6:00p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m.-4:00p.m., and for two hours prior to theperformance. The entrance to freeparking is on Spring Street nearFirst Street.

6 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Art & EducationYoung at Art Offered as Part of Firehouse Arts Center ProgrammingA new visual arts program atthe Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasantonis inspiring children to bothlook at art and create their ownworks. Young @ Art is a series ofclasses for children developed byJulie Finegan, visual arts coordinatorfor the City of Pleasanton, andDebbie Wardrope, who teacheschildren’s art classes. Inspired bysimilar museum programs anddesigned around the exhibit in theFirehouse Arts Center’s HarringtonGallery, the Saturday classes aredevised to teach children to seeand learn about art by viewing theshows and then visiting the studioto make art. It is offered everyother month.“I’ve wanted to work with kidsagain for awhile,” says Finegan. “Ilove talking to the children aboutthe works in the exhibits and givingthem the opportunity to see artin a gallery setting. It’s also fun tosee them get excited about the artprojects we do.”The most recent Young @ Artclass was based on The Look ofJazz exhibit currently at the HarringtonGallery. The children tookBy Patricia KoningRadio Disney might want toconsider opening a Livermorebranch. Three Livermore schools—Altamont Creek Elementary, RanchoElementary, and Joe MichellK-8—won Radio Disney DanceParties in the “Get Active, GetFit!” School Challenge.Radio Disney partnered withAnthem Blue Cross on “Get Active,Get Fit!, which challengedschools to ensure their studentswere physically active at least 15minutes every day from Oct. 4through Nov. 27. Students wererequired to be active for at least 40out of the 55 days.Radio Disney AM 1310 SanFrancisco deejays came to Joe Michellon Monday, Feb. 28 to hosttwo dance party assemblies forstudents in kindergarten throughfifth grade. Deejay Leanne Bibeestarted off the morning with afreeze dance featuring teachersBobbi Matulich, Heather Alvarez,Julie Ashworth, and Sherre Hallahan.Then the kids got into the funwith dance, hula-hoop, jump rope,basketball, and soccer contests.For their participation the kidswon Radio Disney water bottlesand posters.“This is the first year that RadioDisney has participated in the GetActive, Get Fit! challenge,” saidYoung @ Art participants show off their creations. Left to right are Ellie Grant, Tess Shotland, LyLyColebourn, Claire McNerney, and Aoife Kennedy.Three Livermore Schools WinRadio Disney’s Get Active, Get Fit! ChallengeBibee. “We reached out to thousandsof schools across the statefor this program.”Radio Disney is making a secondtrip to Joe Michell on March10 to host a rock concert sponsoredby the Dairy Council of California.The school won the concert forstarting a new breakfast program.The performance will feature aRadio Disney star.In addition to their Radio DisneyDance Party, Rancho won aplayground activity kit for beingone of the schools with the highestlevel of participation. The kitincludes playground balls, basketballs,soccer balls, volleyballs,beanbags, flying discs, jump ropes,cones, and hoops.“Compared with the Governor’sFitness Challenge, this was a pieceof cake,” said Rancho principalChris Calabrese. “The dance partywas a lot of fun. We were thrilledwith the playground equipment.That was a surprise.”Rancho won the Governor’sFitness Challenge in 2009 and wasthe Bay Area Regional winner in2009. The school also was a finalistfor four years straight, from 2006to 2009. Rancho was also namedas a finalist in 2010, but withdrewto allow another deserving schoolto win.Rancho and Junction Avenuea tour of the gallery, learning howartists are inspired by music andmusicians and then were led ina project to make stuffed-papersculptures of colorful musicalinstruments.Two new Young @ Art classesare scheduled for spring. The sessionMarks of Nature, named forthe exhibit, will emphasize howartists are inspired by nature andencourage the children to use realobjects from nature to make theirown artwork. It will take place onSaturday, March 19, 2011. Horizontaland Vertical will take placeon Saturday, April 16, 2011, andwill focus on using space and warmand cool colors while creating anabstract landscape. Both classesrun from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m. Thecost of each class is $12.00 perchild for Pleasanton residents and$15.00 for non-residents.Children may be registered forYoung @ Art online by visitingwww.firehousearts.org/programs.For more registration information,call (925) 931-5340.Photo - Doug JorgensenRadio Disney representatives lead students in an exercise session.K-8 are participating in the 2011 education class at school, three visit http://www.calgovcouncil.Governor’s Fitness Challenge, days a week for a month. For the org/challenge/. For more informationon Radio Disney AM 1310which they began on March 7. For last four years, Rancho had 100%the Governor’s Fitness Challenge, participation.San Francisco, visit http://radio.students must be active for at 30-60 For more information on the disney.go.com/music/yourstation/minutes a day, excluding physical Governor’s Fitness Challenge, sanfrancisco.

EducationTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 7Learn More about Classical ChristianEducation on March 18 and 19By Patricia KoningEducators often look to thenewest developments in the fieldto inform their teaching methods,but not Judy Mackanic and ChristiStevenson. These two womenreached far back in time, all theway to the Middle Ages, to createthe Tri-Valley Classical ChristianAcademy (TVCCA).Mackanic and Stevensonopened the school in the fall of2009 with the goal of creatinganother choice in education for theTri-Valley. “We want to providethe community with somethingthat we believe in,” says Mackanic.“We want to get the word out sopeople know classical educationis a real option here.”TVCCA follows the universitymodel, with part-time schoolingthat is supplemented by parents athome. Students receive classroominstruction on Monday, Wednesday,and Thursday. They study athome with their families on Tuesdayand Friday. Weekly lessonsplanned by TVCCA teachers guidethe at-home study.Classical education, explainsMackanic, finds sound guidancein the ancient educational practicesof the Trivium as adapted andinterpreted by Christians of theMiddle Ages and as more recentlydescribed by Dorothy Sayers in“The Lost Tools of Learning”and Douglas Wilson in “Recoveringthe Lost Tools of Learning.”The Trivium refers to the threesubjects first taught in medievaluniversities: grammar, logic, andrhetoric.Those three subjects also referto the three stages of learning ofclassical education. Up to about 12years old is the grammar stage inwhich students learn solid factualfoundations through repetition.From 12 to 14 years is the logicstage, a time when the studentslearn reasoning and critical thinkingskills. In the rhetoric stage,which corresponds to high school,students are empowered to expressthemselves with clarity and confidence.“Classical education teacheschildren how to pursue the truth.The stages really relate to howthey learn best at each age,” saysSorenson. “Kids have such abilityfor retention at a young age, so thegrammar stage is really a steppingstone. When they are older andwant to argue and debate, theyhave all these facts in their backpocket that they learned when theywere younger.”The TVCCA course of studyincludes literature, composition,Briana Bench and Karinna Stevenson work on a project.history, geography, Bible, science,Latin, art, and logic. Physicaleducation and math are coveredby parents on the at-home instructiondays.Mackanic explains that one ofthe biggest differences betweenclassical and traditional Americaneducation is the emphasis on history.“History is really the skeletonon which we attach information,”she says. “The children learn ancienthistory in second grade andcontinue until they reach moderntimes in sixth grade. Then theyrepeat the entire timeline in middleand high school, but each time at adifferent level.”Literature is interwoven withthe history. In the study of ancienthistory, the students memorize“Ozymandias” by Percy ByssheShelley. They read Shakespeare’s“Macbeth” as they study the middleages and then learn the GettysburgAddress while covering 19 thcentury American history.“We want our students to knowthe world we live in from the beginningof time. Having historyat one’s fingertips produces themost robust student possible,”says Mackanic. “They are able tothink critically and engage withculture.”Christian beliefs are also centralto TVCCA’s program. The websiteclearly states, “our Christian faithis of first, formative, and finalPhotos - Doug Jorgensenimportance to us. For the purposeof clearly and publicly making acorporate confession of faith, weadhere to that most eminent ofRussell Stevenson appears pleased with how his print turned out.historic creeds, the Nicene Creed,as adopted in the original Greekand Latin by the ancient Church,and as used throughout the Churchin all ages since.”Currently TVCCA has 18 studentsand six teachers, somepart-time. Mackanic and Sorensonwould like to grow the school andpossibly offer full-time classicaleducation if demand warrants. Inthe eyes of the law, students attendingTVCCA are classified ashomeschoolers.Mackinac and Sorenson inviteanyone interested in learningmore about classical educationand TVCCA to attend a classicaleducation seminar by Marlin Detweileron Friday, March 18 andSaturday, March 19. Detweileris the chief executive officer andfounder of Veritas Press, whichspecializes in educational materialsfor classical Christian education,and serves on the nationalboard of the Association of Classical& Christian Schools.On March 18 from 7 to 9 pm,the topic is “What is ClassicalEducation.” On March 19 from10 am to noon, the topic is “History,Latin and Logic: A Must forEducation.” Both talks are free andwill be held at Valley CommunityChurch, 4455 Del Valle Parkwayin Pleasanton.For questions, contact Mackanicat 925-373-1041 or main.tvcca@gmail.com. For more informationon TVCCA, visit www.trivalleyclassical.org.

8 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Art & EntertainmentART/PHOTO EXHIBITSImages of California by Livermore photographerWilliam Hackett of CheshireCat Photo, during the months of Februaryand March, First Street Alehouse, Livermore.The show will be open during theAlehouse's regular hours. The First StreetAlehouse is located at 2106 1st Street,Livermore; (925) 371-6588.Tuscany and the Cinque Terre, exhibit ofworks by Charlotte Severin and fellowartists. Livermore Civic Center LibraryGallery, 1188 So. Livermore Ave. Theexhibit will continue through March 31during regular library hours. Participatingartists and photographers are Ann andHugh Bevan-Thomas, June Ferreri andJustin Trent, Martin Spellman, Margoand Arne Kirkewoog, Bonnie Bartlettand Charlotte Severin.Harrington Art Gallery exhibit, Marks ofNature. A look into artistic interpretationsof the pleasant, abstract qualities of imagesin nature. Runs Wed., March 9 – Saturday,April 2, 2011. Gallery Reception Thurs.,March 10, 2011, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. FirehouseArts Center, 4444 Railroad Ave.,Pleasanton. www.firehousearts.org.Kaleidoscopes by artist Christine McCallnow showing until April 15 at Casbah,1770 First Street, Livermore CA. Hours11 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily. Show sponsoredby Artistic Edge.Country Charm & Country Vines by artistKaren Fleschler is on display at the JohnChristopher Cellars until April 15. HoursThursday – Sunday 2:00 – 6 p.m. Showsponsored by Artistic Edge.Artistic Edge at Blacksmith Square presentMarch Madness Art Show with localartist original art pieces and jewelry March12 from 12 – 5. Linda Beach featuredartist for March at Wente Vineyards EstateWinery, 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore.The exhibit entitled "Sense of Place" willfeature pastel landscapes. The subjects ofher paintings include local and Californiascenes as well as coastal images fromher native New England. The show willbe on display March 1-31 from 11:00 to4:30 daily at the Wente Vineyards EstateWinery Tasting Room, 5565 Tesla Road,Livermore.Call for Artists – Danville Art in the Park,October 1 & 2, 2011, Town Green. This13th annual Fine Arts Festival is acceptingapplications from artists with paintings,sculpture, photography, ceramics, graphicsand fine jewelry (no crafts). The eventis sponsored by the Alamo Danville Artists’Society and the Town of Danville.Booth spaces are 10’ x 10’ and $70 formembers of ADAS and $85 non-membersplus 10% to Art in the Schools fund.www.ADAS4ART.org or send an e-mailto normawebb@comcast.net or call 925828-9170. or call 925 828-9170. Applicationswill be reviewed April 1st.MEETINGS/CLASSESLivermore Art Association, PleasantonArt League, meeting Mon., March 21,7:30 p.m. Almond Ave. School, 1401Almond Ave., Livermore. Program byWalter Davies and Bill Hackett, "AlternativePhotographic Processes" and "DigitalPhotography 101." Public is invited. Thereis no admission charge.Avant-Garde Arts Studio has moved toa new location in Pleasanton, 435 BoulderCourt, #600. Studio art courses atAvant-Garde offer students a serious andsustained exploration of the creative processesin visual art. Technical, perceptualand aesthetic issues are addressed in a historicaland contemporary context. Classesare structured so that students experiencethe creative process through a direct anddynamic engagement with visual media.Adult art classes are offered on Weds.mornings at 10 am - 12:30 pm and Thurs.evening at 7:15 - 9:45 pm. A variety ofworkshops are also available. For information,go to www.avantgardeartstudio.com or call 484-1378.Figure Drawing Workshop, every Friday9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Artists bring theirown materials and easels. Open to all artists.Professional artist models (nude). Noinstructor. Students under 18 need writtenparental permission to attend. Cost $20per session. At the Bothwell Arts Center,2466 8th St., Livermore. Coffee, tea andrefreshments are available. Call or emailBarbara Stanton for more info about theworkshop, 925-373-9638 - microangelo@earthlink.net.Art Critique and Coffee, meets at theStoneridge Mall in Pleasanton. Fridaysat 10 a.m. in the common area in frontof Nordstrom's. ACC/ Art, Critique andCoffee meets weekly where artists canshare the newest works, techniques andtalk about art. For more information call925 461-5084 or e-mail PoetryOnCanvas@Mac.ComBeginning painting and drawing lessons,Livermore artist and instructor offers lessonsto children and adults with little orno art experience. Students learn to drawand paint in a realistic way in various mediumsusing various techniques. They willlearn about perspective and color theory.Lessons will cover portraits, landscapes,still-life, illustration and more. $22 for45 minute lesson. For more informationcontact Thomasin Dewhirst at 216-7231or thomasin_d@hotmail.com.Figure Drawing and Painting Workshoptaught by Livermore artist Carolyn Lord,Saturday, March 19 and Sunday March20, 2011, 9 am to 4 pm. $99 plus $50Model’s fee. Students bring own artsupplies Register through Las PositasCommunity Education. "Figure Drawingand Painting Workshop" , when registeringthe Class' Code Number is AL478How to register www.laspositascollege.edu/communityed/index.php.Summer Camp offered by Tri-ValleyRepertory Theatre, class production:"Seussical Jr." Three separate sessionsof camp during July/Aug 2011. First twosessions span 2 weeks each and are opento children in grades 2-8. Third sessionis accelerated at 5 days and is open tochildren in grades 4-9. All children willparticipate as cast members in a musicalproduction learning singing, dancing, andacting skills, as well as creating their owncostumes, sets, and props. Culminates intwo performances of "Seussical Jr." at endof session. Session I: July 11-22 (shows onthe 23), Session II: July 25- Aug. 5 (showsAug. 6) and Session III: Aug 8-12 (showson Aug. 13). Sessions 1 & 2: $400, Session3: $300 www.trivalleyrep.orgWINERY EVENTSTamás Estates: Big Red Wine Tasting Eventwines from Tamás Estates, Murrieta's Welland Wente Vineyards. Saturday March 12,6-8 pm. 925-456-2380 or more informationor to make a reservation. TamásEstates, 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore.MUSIC/CONCERTSMusic every Saturday in the tasting roomfrom 12 to 4; open every day if the gateis open and for sure on Fridays, Saturdaysand Sundays 11 to 5. Red FeatherWinery, 5700 Greenville Rd., Livermore.Information at 449-1871 or www.redfeatherwinery.comChris Bradley's Jazz Band, plays at TheSunol Jazz Cafe (In the Center of Sunol)the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month7:30-9:30 p.m. The band features real Jazzfrom the 1920's, 30's, 40's.Blacksmith Square live music, Saturdays3-6 May – September, sponsored byArtistic Edge, Greenleaf BBQ Products,John Christopher Cellars, Swirl, andVictorine Olive Oil. Corner of SouthLivermore Ave. and Railroad Ave. downtownLivermore.Al Stewart, Singer, Songwriter, and FolkMusician, March 11, 8 p.m. Firehouse ArtsCenter, 4444 Railroad Ave., Pleasanton.www.firehousearts.orgA Tribute to Patsy Cline with Joni Morris,March 12, 8 p.m. Firehouse Arts Center,4444 Railroad Ave., Pleasanton. www.firehousearts.orgEarly Music Concert, Jay White, CounterTenor; Yuko Tanaka, Harpsichord, March12, 2011. 7:30 pre-concert talk, 8:00concert. The Morning Star - music fromNorthern Europe. Barbara Mertes Centerfor the Arts, Las Positas College, 3000Campus Hill Dr., Livermore. Tickets are$15 for individual concerts. www.lpcearlymusic.orgor www.laspositascollege.edu/performingarts.San Ramon Symphonic Band, March 11,7:30 p.m. “The Art of the Wind Band,”Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center,10550 Albion Rd., San Ramon, 973-3343or SanRamonPerformingArts.com.Ohlone College Wind Orchestra WinterConcert, 2 p.m. Sun., March 13. Featuredwork is James A. Beckel Jr.’s The GlassBead Game, with Tyler Morse, hornsoloist. Familiar works include Paradeof the Charioteers, from Ben-Hur byMiklos Rosza, and selections from E.T. byJohn Williams. New works include RolfRudin’s Der Traum des Oenghus Part 2,Jukka Viitasaari’s Dance of the Epiphytes,and a new work by Bay Area composerGeorge Roumanis. $10-$15. OhloneCollege Symphony Orchestra, Sun.,March 13, 5 p.m. featuring SymphonyNo. 5 in D Major by William Boyce,and Symphony No. 3 in E flat (Eroica)by Beethoven. $5-$10. Tickets for eitherconcert: 510.659.6031. www.smithcenter.com. Smith Center at Ohlone College,43600 Mission Boulevard, Fremont.Golden Bough, concert, March 19, 8 p.m.Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 RailroadAve., Pleasanton. www.firehousearts.orgThe Rolling Stones Concert Experience: ALive Rock Tribute to The Rolling Stonesfeaturing URS: the Unauthorized RollingStones. West Coast Performing ArtsPresenters. March 19, 8 p.m. The GrandTheatre, 715 Central Avenue, Tracy; (209)831-6858; www.atthegrand.orgLivermore-Pleasanton Youth OutreachSymphony, concert, March 26, 10 AM,at VA Livermore, Building 90, 4951 ArroyoRd, Livermore. Selections featuringAndrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantomof the Opera, Moron Gould’s AmericanSalute, and Joe Garland’s In the Mood.Admission is free. www.lpyos.orgLivermore-Amador Symphony, concert,Brahms’s 4th and soloist Joe Bonfiglio,March 26, 8 p.m. Bankhead Theater,2400 First St., Livermore. Brahms’s 4thand Joe Bonfiglio, soloist. Prelude talk 7p.m. 925-373-6800, www.livermoreperformingarts.orgON THE STAGEBat Boy: The Musical, Tri-Valley RepertoryTheatre. Studio Theatre, 1048Serpentine Lane, Suite 309, Pleasanton.Weekends Feb. 18-March 13. Call 462-2121 or go to www.trivalleyrep.com forinformation.Shakespeare’s Associates’ production ofA Life in the Theatre by David Mamet.March 31-April 23, 2011, Thursdays,Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at theBothwell Arts Center, 2466 Eighth Street,Livermore, CA. Tickets from $25-$35 bycalling 1-800-838-3006 or www.LivermoreShakes.org.For more informationvisit www.LivermoreShakes.org or call925-443-BARD (2273).The Sound of Music, presented by AmadorValley and Foothill high schools, March17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 7:30 p.m. AmadorTheater, 1155 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton.Tickets at www.firehousearts.org.Sunol Repertory Theatre, annual melodramaTrouble Bubbles at the Hot Springsor Hold Your Nose as You Walk By, byGary McCarver. March 12, 18, 19, 25, 26,April 1, 2. Admission $15 Reserved Seating.All Performances at 8 p.m. Sunol GlenSchool Theatre, 11601 Main St., Sunol.Tickets go on sale to the general publicon February 4 at Little Valley Winery,793 Main Street, Pleasanton, 12-5 PMThursday-SundayArsenic and Old Lace, Asbury Players,March 18, 19, 20, 2011. Asbury UnitedMethodist Church, 4743 East Ave., Livermore.Curtain time is 8 p.m. on Fridayand Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.Doors open 20 minutes prior to showtime. Tickets are $10 general admission,$8 for seniors and children under 12. Foradditional ticket information, please call455-1048.The National Tour of The Music Man,March 19, 8 p.m. Dougherty ValleyPerforming Arts Center, 10550 AlbionRd., San Ramon, 973-3343 or SanRamonPerformingArts.com.Judy, Judy, Judy, a cabaret tribute will beperformed at the Firehouse Arts Center,4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton,on March 20, 2 p.m. A tribute to thelegacy of legendary singer and actressJudy Garland. Performers will includeinternationally known Tielle Baker, SanFrancisco Cabaret Gold Award-winningsinger Pamela Brooks, Emmy Awardsinger ML Parr, joined by celebrated jazzpianist Richard Nelson Hall.Golden Dragon Acrobats, Chinese touringcompany, Fri., March 25, 7:30 p.m. BankheadTheater, 2400 First St., Livermore.Tickets or information www.livermoreperformingarts.orgor 925-373-6800.Aquila Theatre Company in Pirandello’sSix Characters in Search of an Author,Tues., March 29, 7:30 p.m. BankheadTheater, 2400 First St., Livermore.www.livermoreperformingarts.org or925-373-6800.Reach for the Stars! An Evening of theArts for the Arts, Livermore ValleyEducation Foundation presents a specialevening fund-raiser featuring artsshowcase performances by elementary,middle and high school students enrolledin Livermore Valley Joint Unified SchoolDistrict’s music, drama, dance and visualarts programs. Thurs., March 31 at 7 p.m.at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore.Tickets are $25 for reserved seats; studentstickets are $12.50 with the purchase ofa reserved seat in any section. www.livermoreperformingarts.com, or at theBankhead box office, 2400 First St., Livermore.For additional information, contact:Victoria Schellenberger, LVEF President,vschellenberger@sbcglobal.netDANCETaylor 2, Paul Taylor’s dances, Tues.,March 22, 7:30 p.m. Bankhead Theater,2400 First St., Livermore. www.livermoreperformingarts.org or 925-373-6800.Friday Night Dance Parties, themedparties each Friday night from Salsa toSwing, includes a group dance lessonat 8:15. $15 cover charge, 8:15 dancelesson, 9:00-10:30 for dance parties. It'sAll About Dancing, 171 So. J Street,Livermore. 925-449-9292, or studio@itsallaboutdancing.com.MOVIESGoing Places: A Classic Film Series, shownthe first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.in the Pleasanton Library's meeting roomthrough June 2, 2011. The program is apartnership of Las Positas College and thePleasanton Public Library proudly present.Candy Klaschus, film historian andCoordinator of the Humanities Programat Las Positas College, is the host. Thereis no admission charge. 400 Old BernalAve., Pleasanton. 931-3400. No registrationrequired.Jewish Cultural Film Series, three films,all with subtitles, Vine Cinema, 1722 FirstStreet in Livermore. German film DieWelle (The Wave). March 10, 7:30 p.m.Freres (Brothers). The Jewish CulturalFilm Series is presented by the JewishFederation of the East Bay in partnershipwith City National Bank, Peet’s Coffee& Tea, Congregation Beth Emek, TempleBeth Torah, Tri-Valley Cultural Jews andthe Tri-Valley Midrasha. Purchase ticketsand view the entire festival at www.eastbayjewishfilm.org,phone 510.318.6456,or pay at the door.Italian Film Festival, March 25-26, timesto be announced. Barbara Mertes Centerfor the Arts, 3000 Campus Hill Dr.,Livermore. Performing Arts Events Lineat 925.424.1100 or go to www.laspositascollege.edu/performingartsFacing Ali, a documentary film about boxerMuhammad Ali, will be shown on March17 at the Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 RailroadAve., Pleasanton. Presented by thePleasanton Library. Doors open 6:15pm,film screens at 7pm. Seating is on a firstcome,first-served basis. The film eventsare free and open to all. No registrationis required. For more information, callPenny Johnson, 931-3405.CHORALValley Concert Chorale, Winter concert,“In Remembrance,” marking the upcoming10th anniversary of the September 11,2001 tragedy. Fri., March 18, 8 p.m. ValleyCommunity Church, 4455 Del ValleParkway, Pleasanton. Ticket informationat www.valleyconcertchorale.org.OPERALivermore Valley Opera, presentsPuccini’s Madama Butterfly, March 12,13, 19, 20. Bankhead Theater, 2400 FirstSt., Livermore. www.livermoreperformingarts.orgor 925-373-6800.Met Opera Theater-casts, 10 a.m. simultaneousviewings and 12 encore rebroadcastsof Metropolitan Opera productionsat Dublin's Regal Cinema, 6:30 p.m.Wednesdays - Schedule: Mar. 16: Gluck's"Iphigenia in Tauride;" April 9, 27:Rossini's "Le Comte Ory;" April 23, May11: Richard Strauss's "Capriccio;" April30, May 18: Verdi's "Il Trovatore;" May14, June 11: Wagner's "Die Walkure."MISCELLANEOUSDublin St. Patrick’s Day Celebration,Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13 atthe Dublin Civic Center. Festival includesauthentic music and dance, an Irish TeaCottage, over 150 arts & craft and vendorbooth displays, two stages of entertainment,carnival rides, food and drink. Also aFirefighter Pancake Breakfast, Lions Club

Art & EntertainmentTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 9Parade, Dublin Sister City Green & WhiteGala and the Shamrock 5K Fun Run andWalk. www.ci.dublin.ca.usMuseum on Main, 2011 Ed KinneyLecture Series. Wednesday, March 16,7pm, An Evening with Julia Morgan.Firehouse Arts Center, 4444 RailroadAve., Pleasanton. No reservations arerequired. Tickets are available at the dooron a first come first served basis. TheFirehouse Arts Center is located at 4444Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton. Ticketsare $10 general admission, $5 membersand seniors, $3 students/teachers withID. Information, contact Jennifer Amiel,Director of Education at (925) 462-2766or education@museumonmain.org3rd annual Barrel Tasting Weekend,Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association.March 19-20, noon to 4:30 p.m. atvarious wineries. www.lvwine.org. 447-9463. Taste wines right out of the barrel,meet winemakers, and more.Golden Dragon Acrobats, Chinese touringcompany, Fri., March 25, 7:30 p.m. BankheadTheater, 2400 First St., Livermore.Tickets or information www.livermoreperformingarts.orgor 925-373-6800.10th Annual Pleasanton Poetry, Prose &the Arts Festival, Sat. and Sun., March26 and 27, Firehouse Arts Center, 4444Railroad Ave., Pleasanton. Guest speakers,poetry and prose workshops foradults, youth and teen workshops, writingcontests and an award ceremony. Thereare also be a linked visual and poetrycontest and display downtown and at thefestival, a fine art exhibit and literary rowwith local and nationally known authors.For information, contact Michelle Russo,City of Pleasanton Civic Arts, mrusso@ci.pleasanton.ca.us, (925) 931-5350 orDeborah Grossman, City of Pleasantonpoet laureate at pleasantonpoetry@gmail.com. www.firehousearts.org.2011 San Francisco Flower & GardenShow, March 23-27 at the San MateoEvent Center. Celebrate "Life in theCalifornia Garden" with food, wine,fun, flowers and more. Local wineriesparticipating are Concannon Vineyard,Crooked Vine, Cuda Ridge, Darcie Kent,Les Chenes Estate Vineyards, McGrailVineyards, Murrieta's Well, Stony Ridge,Tamas Estates & Wente Vineyards. Gardendesign, new plants, 200 vendors, 75seminars and films, "Garden To Table"cooking demonstrations with Bay Areachefs headlined by Alice Waters, 6000 sqftof Edible Garden displays with hands-onadvice, an expanded children's section, awine garden, and a film premiere. Hoursare Wed-Sat 10am-7pm and Sunday10am-6pm. http://sfgardenshow.com.A Special Poetry Evening with CynthiaBryant, Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 7:30- 8:30 p.m. Towne Center Books, 555Main Street in Pleasanton. Cynthia’s latestbooks are Pebbles in the Shoe and No Timeto Shoot the Poets. Light Refreshments.Free event.George Komsky Live in Concert, an ItalianNight in Diablo. Thurs., April 14, 5:30p.m no-host bar and limited live auctionfor $100.00 per person. “An Italian Nightin Diablo” will feature Italian opera ariasby Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and otherfavorite timeless pieces. The concertproceeds will support Police and Fire:The Fallen Heroes with funds to assistthe families of law enforcement and fireservice personnel who lost their lives inthe line of duty. Held at Diablo CountryClub in the town of Diablo Information isavailable at www.thefallenheroes.org oremail info@thefallenheroes.org Tickets925.831.2011Betty Marvin as Julia Morgan. Photo - Sandra SherEd Kinney Lecture Series PresentsAn Evening with Julia MorganMuseum on Main will host theBay Area architect of the first halfof the 20 th century, Julia Morgan(1872-1957) as she pays a visit toPleasanton on Wednesday, March16 at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse ArtsCenter. Most widely known forher work on Hearst Castle at SanSimeon and locally the home ofPhoebe Apperson Hearst, Morganis portrayed by City of Oaklandhistorian and preservation plannerBetty Marvin. The lecture issponsored by Julie Eckroat.Phoebe Hearst and her Pleasantonhacienda played an importantrole in launching Morgan’s career,as well as introducing her to twovery different continuing clients- the YWCA and Phoebe’s sonWilliam Randolph Hearst.When Morgan visits she willreminisce about her experiencesas a student in Berkeley and Parisin the 1890s, her philosophy of architecture,her colorful clients andassociates including the Hearstsand Bernard Maybeck, and herlifelong involvement with civic,educational, and philanthropicorganizations.Tickets are $10 General Admis-sion, $5 Members & Seniors, and$3 Students and Teachers w/ID.Tickets may be purchased at thedoor or reserved in advance bycalling the Museum on Main at(925) 462-2766. All tickets areopen seating and after 6:45pm anyunclaimed reserved tickets will bereleased for sale. All tickets arepaid at the door. Payment forms:cash, check, Visa and Master-Card.For more information on the EdKinney Lecture Series or speakerstaking part in the lecture series,contact Jennifer Amiel, Directorof Education at (925) 462-2766 oreducation@museumonmain.org.All lectures in the 2011 EdKinney Lecture Series take place atthe Firehouse Arts Center at 4444Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton.The Museum On Main is locatedat 603 Main Street, Pleasanton,CA 94566, 925-462-2766, Fax:925-462-2779, www.museumonmain.org.Regular hours of operation:Wednesday through Saturday11:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday1:00pm to 4:00pm. www.museumonmain.org.History Lecture Looks atOrigins of LARPDDon Meeker will be the guestspeaker for the Wed., March 16History Lecture hosted by theLivermore Heritage Guild.Meeker is active in variouscommunity events involving history,the arts and research of Livermorehistory.He has been conducting researchon the history of whythe Livermore Area Recreationand Park District (LARPD) wasThe American Cancer SocietyDiscovery Shop in Pleasanton ishosting its jewelry event, “Finda Treasure,” on March 11 and 12.This popular event will feature preciousand semi-precious gems, finejewelry, designer items, costumejewelry, themed, heirloom, andcontemporary pieces, plus much,much more.The Discovery Shop is locatedEntries are being sought forthe Las Positas Literary Anthology.The anthology is currentlyaccepting prose, poetry or artworkto be considered for the 2011 editionof the book. The deadline forsubmissions has been extendedfrom March 1 to March 14, 2011,at midnight.There is no requirement to bea Las Positas student to submitwork. The anthology’s mission isto give all local artists a chance tobe recognized and published.Prose writers may submit up to5000 words of prose, and poetryAmador Valley and FoothillHigh Schools present “The Soundof Music” at the Amador Theaterin Pleasanton.Music and lyrics are by RichardRodgers and Oscar Hammerstein,II; book by Howard Lindsay andRussel CrouseSet in 1938 Austria, The Soundof Music tells the story of MariaRainer, a free-spirited nun-intraining,who is hired by CaptainGeorge Von Trapp to care for hisseven children. Loosely based ona true story, Captain Von Trappformed by Alameda County.The lecture will be presentedat the Civic Center Library, 1188S. Livermore Avenue, Livermore.Doors open at 7 p.m. with the talkat 7:30 p.m.Come early for conversation,coffee and cookies. The talk isopen to everyone. A $2 donationis suggested.For more information, call443-9740.'Find a Treasure' In Support ofAmerican Cancer Societyin the Mission Plaza ShoppingCenter at 1987A Santa Rita Road,Pleasanton. The shop hours areMonday to Friday 10-6, Saturday10-5, Sunday 12-5. Contact MondaWiseman, Mgr. at (925) 462-7374for more information.All proceeds benefit the AmericanCancer Society’s programs ofresearch, education, service andadvocacy.Deadline Extended toSubmit Anthology Entrieswriters may submit up to 10 poems.Artists may submit up to 10pieces of artwork or photography.All submissions will be reviewedand automatically consideredfor awards. Decisions will bemade in mid-April with a releaseand awards ceremony to be heldSaturday, May 14 at 2 p.m. at LasPositas College.For information about how tosubmit work, search for “anthology”on the LPC website.For more information, contactMelissa Korber, co-adviser of theanthology, at 925-424-1286.Amador, Foothill Present'The Sound of Music'and Maria eventually fall in loveand marry—but their happiness issoon in jeopardy when the Nazisinvade Austria.This classic musical brings tothe stage many beloved songs,including My Favorite Things,Do-Re-Mi and Edelweiss.Performances will be at 7:30pmThursday, Friday and SaturdayMarch 17 through 19 and March 24through 26, 2011. Tickets are $10for students/seniors and $12.50 foradults and available through www.civicartstickets.org

10 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 CommunityLas Positas College Talk Hawks Win Championship Events, Plan Trip to NationalsThe Las Positas College TalkHawks forensics team continuedits winning streak at the NorthernCalifornia Forensics Association’sChampionship Tournamentat Santa Rosa Junior College,Feb.12-13, in competition againsttwo- and four-year colleges anduniversities.“The team scored higher inindividual events than teams fromU.C. Berkeley, San Jose StateUniversity, and St. Mary’s College,among others,” said Janet BreheJohnson, Las Positas Collegedirector of forensics. “A specialhighlight of this tournament wasBrandon Rogers’s double victory:First Place in Drama Interpretationand Second in Duo Interpretation,”she said.Brehe Johnson said the TalkHawks are raising funds to supporttheir participation in the upcomingNational Championship Tournament.Donations are welcome.Persons interested in supportingthe Talk Hawks can contact theLas Positas College Foundation orBrehe Johnson at jbrehe@laspositascollege.edu.Following is a list of the recentThe Las Positas College Talk Hawks bring home tournament awards.Bottom row from left to right: Melanie Johnsen and Jordan Adelman;middle row from left to right: Adam Neylan, Katie Johnson, and LaneaWarren; and top row from left to right: Brandon Rogers, MeganSinclair, and Salim Razawi.championship winners: JordanAdelman, Livermore: finalist OpenDrama Interpretation of Literature,finalist Open Prose Interpretationof Literature; Melanie Johnsen,Livermore, second place NoviceProse Interpretation of Literature;Katie Johnson, Livermore, secondplace Open Duo Interpretation ofLiterature; Adam Neylan, Livermore,finalist Open ProgrammedOral Interpretation; Salim Razawi,Dublin, finalist Open ProgrammedOral Interpretation of Literature;Brandon Rogers, Livermore, firstplace Open Drama Interpretationof Literature, second place OpenDuo Interpretation of Literature;Lanea Warren, Pleasanton, finalistOpen Informative Speaking.Science teacher Tiffany Burkle of Livermore's Junction AvenueMiddle School observes her student during the "FingerprintingWhodunnit?" workshop at the EYH conference.Students took part in History Day.History Comes Alive in MendenhallMendenhall Middle Schoolstudents in Livermore participatedin History Day on Feb. 16. This isa national program in which studentschose one topic and exploreit for several months using a widerange of sources and informationto draw a conclusion. The programhelps the 7 th and 8 th grade studentsdevelop strong skills in research,organization and planning, writtenand verbal skills, as well as timemanagement.Robbie See, eighth grade honorsteacher, announced the MendenhallMiddle School students who wonthe History Day Competition andnow will advance to the AlamedaCounty Competition on March 12at the Oakland Museum.The are as follows: IndividualExhibits: Vera UmanskyGroup Exhibits: Logan Brist& Justin Walker, Anna O’Brien& Shoshana Cohen, Taylor Cole,Jamie Dittmore, Erika Dittmore& Jenna Thompson, Shelby Rocereto,Mia Niklewicz & DevonShortridgeIndividual Websites: BenThompsonGroup Websites: Katie Reddick& Heather O’Brien, Brandon Cuy& Josh Lewczyk, Ipshita Patra &Jane WuIndividual Documentary: GabriellaCustodio, Nathan BarneyHistorical Paper: RoopjoteKaur AtwalGirls Explore Science andMath Careers at EYH“Explore your horizons in whatyou can do with a math and sciencedegree,” environmental lawyer,Courtney LeBoeuf told the morethan 300 girls, during her keynoteaddress at the annual Tri-ValleyExpanding Your Horizons (EYH)career conference held on Feb.26.Le Boeuf, a Bay Area nativeand graduate from Tracy HighSchool, earned a bachelor’s degreein environmental biology andmanagement from U.C. Davis.As an environmental lawyer, shecombines her love of science andnature with law and helps companiesfigure out how to clean upproperties, or protect land that maybe threatened by development.At the conference, girls ingrades six through nine were partof more than a dozen hands-onworkshops that covered a widerange of topics including: fingerprinting,DNA, chemistry,veterinary medicine, computersand robotics.A career fair was held during thenoon hour that gave opportunitiesto meet role-models — scientists,engineers and representatives fromlocal companies and organizations— to learn more about theircareers.Tiffany Burkle, a science teacherat Livermore’s Junction AvenueMiddle School, was one of theteachers who accompanied 75girls to the event. The LivermoreRotary Club donated funds for twobuses to transport the girls to theconference. This was the first yearsuch a large group from Junctionschool took part.“I’m excited to see my studentsget so excited about science,”Burkle said.Organizing sponsors of the 32 ndTri-Valley EYH included SandiaNational Laboratories/California,Lawrence Livermore National Security,Diablo Valley College, SanRamon Campus and the AmericanAssociation of UniversityWomen.For more information, go tohttp://tveyh.org/

CommunityTHE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 11Pleasanton Native Takes Part in Discussionsabout Iraqby Sgt. Eunice Alicea ValentinUnited States Forces-Iraq advisorstraveled to Washington with ajoint team of Iraqi engineers fromthe Iraqi Ministry of Defense’sMilitary United States Forces-Iraqadvisors work closely with theIraqi Ministry of Defense’s MilitaryPublic Works and the Ministryof Interior’s InfrastructureDepartment sharing techniques forplanning, budgeting and executingresources to sustain Iraqi SecurityForces’ infrastructure.Looking to build upon this relationshipa joint team of engineers,from Iraq’s Ministry of Defenseand Ministry of Interior, traveledto the United States in late January,to meet with the U.S. deputyundersecretary of Defense forInstallations and Environment inWashington. They were introducedto proven installation-managementconcepts and techniques,and attended forums focusing onthe importance of standardizingreal property inventory, projectingfuture maintenance requirements,and ways to prioritize scarce resources.“We are in a unique role, helping[the Iraqi MoD and MoI] standup their capabilities to maintaintheir facilities and build a strategiclong-range plan to sustain,” saidU.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Gary Lund,United States Forces-Iraq’s ForeignMilitary Sales InfrastructureTeam chief with Iraq Security andAssistance Mission.ISF infrastructure includeseverything from police stations tomilitary warehouses, airports, andrunways. So, the goal is to helpIraqi lead engineers and techniciansfurther develop their proficiencyto protect a million-dollarinvestment, said Lund, a native ofPleasanton.Long term, the MoD MilitaryPublic Work’s desire is to establisha Corps of Engineers school toprepare Iraq’s future engineers andformalize standard-engineeringpractices according to internationalsafety standards, said USF-I’s SeniorMoD Infrastructure AdvisorTom Bishop.Their trip to several U.S. militaryinstallations gave USF-Iadvisors credibility with Iraqileaders, and helped to reinforcethe methods shared between theUnited States and Iraq, said Bishop,a retired U.S. Air Force pilotof 27 years, who currently workswith the ministries’ leaders in anadvising and training capacity toestablish effective maintenanceand sustainment practices.Joint endeavors such as thistrip are critical in strengtheningan enduring, strategic partnershipbetween Iraq and the United States,as they help establish a foundationfor increased security andeconomic stability benefitting Iraqand its regional neighbors.The $6000 check was presented by Tanner Insurance Services representative Ron Hernbroth, andChubb Group representative Kurt Stemmler to REACH representatives Norm Guest, Judy Butterlyand Pat O’Brien.Company Donates Funds to Tri-Valley REACHBB&T Tanner Insurance Servicesof California chose TRI-ValleyREACH to be the beneficiaryof a $6,000 award, after its teamcompeted in the championshiptournament of the Chubb CharityChallenge in Kiawah Island, SC.The $6000 check was presentedby Tanner Insurance Services representativeRon Hernbroth, andChubb Group representative KurtStemmler to REACH representativesNorm Guest, Judy Butterlyand Pat O’Brien.REACH for Special Adults ofthe Tri-Valley provides resources,education, activities, communityparticipation and housing opportunitiesto adults with developmentalchallenges.The team, consisting of RonHernbroth of BB&T Tanner Insurance,Deborah and James McKeehanof Signature Properties,and Pat O’Brien of Leisure Sports,Inc., raised $6,000 for REACH forSpecial Adults of the Tri-Valleyin Pleasanton. Last June, the teamtook first place at the regionalChubb Charity Challenge tournamentat Blackhawk Country Cluband won $500 each for the AmadorAthletic Boosters Club, PleasantonCultural Arts and REACH..The Chubb Charity Challengebrings together insurance agents,brokers and customers throughoutthe United States and Canada eachyear to raise money for worthycauses. The 2010 golf events, inwhich 325 teams played in 45regional tournaments leading tothe Kiawah championship, raised$925,000. Since its creation in2000, the Chubb Charity Challengehas raised nearly $9 millionfor charities.DAR Honors TeacherDaughters of the American Revolution, Josefa Higuera LivermoreChapter, recently honored an outstanding teacher. The award, alongwith a check for $100, was presented to Christina Pomykal on March 5.Pomykal is a science teacher at Marilyn Avenue School in Livermore.The award is presented to an outstanding teacher for going above andbeyond expectations to help students and creates excitement amongstudents about the subject being taught.Bank Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal YearValley Community Bank(OTCBB: VCBC), reported resultsfor the fourth quarter andfiscal year ended December 31,2010. For the fiscal year 2010,net income after tax was almostunchanged at $527,000, comparedto $526,000 in 2009.Net interest income before provisionfor loan loss increased 2%over 2009 to $9.46 million. Thisincrease was attributable to lowerdeposit and borrowing costs whichdecreased 29% year over year.Revenues from non interestincome for 2010 were lower by37% compared to 2009, partiallydue to a required regulatory accountingchange to delay revenuerecognition from SBA loan sales,a historically strong earningsarea for the Bank. This requiredaccounting change resulted in$526,000 of SBA loan sales revenuebeing delayed into the firstquarter of 2011.

12 THE INDEPENDENT • THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2011 Community(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.)Registration Fair, Livermore ValleyJoint Unified School District, for kindergartenand new students in grades 1-8: March 17,3:30-7:30; March 18, 2:00-6:00 at RobertLivermore Community Center, 4444 East Ave.,Livermore. Visit www.livermoreschools.comfor more information.Pleasanton VIP Travel, Wed., March 16,Sacred places of San Francisco. 8:15 a.m. to5 p.m. Fee includes guided tour of churches,lunch and motorcoach transportation. $72members, $73 nonmembers. Visit Safari West,Wed., May 25, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $86 members,$87 nonmembers. Price includes one hourguided tour of Safari West, lunch, Marin cheesefactory, and motorcoach transportation. Signupat travel desk, Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.,Pleasanton. Information, 931-5370.California Retired Teachers Association,Tri-Valley Division #85, will presentlocal author Ruth Gasten, who will discussher memoir, "An Accidental American." Shenarrowly escaped the Holocaust with her family.Luncheon will be held at the InternationalBrotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Hall(IBEW), 6250 Village Parkway, Dublin at 11:15a.m. on Tues., March 15. Cost $13. Guests arewelcome. Information, call 443-9913.Tri-Valley Chapter of the National Federationof the Blind, meeting 1 to 3 p.m. Sat.,March 12. Are you losing sight? We can help.Meeting in Cafeteria Room 2 at Valley MemorialHospital in Livermore, 1111 East StanleyBlvd. Any visually impaired or blind person isurged to attend. Call, Carl, 449-9362.Amador Valley Quilt Guild, meetingSaturday, March 12, at 1:30 p.m. at PleasantonMiddle School, 5001 Case Avenue,Pleasanton. The meeting is open to all thosewho are interested in the culture, history andartistry of quiltmaking. Guest speaker will beSandy Klop of American Jane Fabrics. She isa local artist from Walnut Creek. The colorfulfabrics that she designs are colorful and matchher original patterns perfectly. Her talk will becalled “The American Jane Story in Fabric,”with an accompanying trunk show which willshow examples of her talents. Visitors arewelcome as guests.Widowed Men and Women of NorthernCA., Happy hour in Pleasanton, 5 p.m. March17, RSVP by March 15 to Marge, 828-5124.Friendly bridge in Pleasanton, 1 p.m. March 19,RSVP by March 15 to Kay, 606-1758. Lunchon San Ramon, 11:30 a.m., March 23, RSVPby March 20 to Marsha, 827-2501. Birthdaydinner in Pleasanton, 6 p.m. March 26, RSVPby March 23 to Mary Ann, 294-5708. Lunchin Fremont, 1 p.m. March 29, RSVP by March26 to Vickie, 51-656-1166.Monte Carlo, safe and sober grand nightcelebration fund-raising for Granada andLivermore high schools. Fri., March 25, 7 to11 p.m. at the Shrine Event Center, 170 LindberghAve., Livermore. Casino games, horsd'oeuvres, music, and live and silent auctions.All proceeds benefit the safe and sober gradnight celebrations at both high schools. Tickets$40 per person. Information and updatesat granadagradnight.com and lhsgradnight.com, or call Barbara Mastrobuoni, 683-7457or Shirley Brooks, 346-3388.Bingo, Livermore High School wrestlingteam is hosting the bingo sessions on Thurs.,March 10 at the Bingo Ranch, 3070 PacificAve., Livermore. This event is held in conjunctionwith the Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch. Doorsopen at 5 p.m. The first game begins at 6:30 p.m.Call 606-7777 for more information.Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Touring Club,Sat., March 12, 45-53 miles Cinderella Classictraining ride, meet 9:30 a.m. at Dublin/PleasantonBART, Alma Schiefer, afschiefer@gmail.com. Sun., March 13, 25 miles summit of Mt.Diablo, meet 10 a.m. at Danville RailroadMuseum, Richard Hedges, 447-6197. Wed.,March 16, 38 miles climb up Mt. Tamalpais,meet 10 a.m. at Commons Park in Ross, RichardHedges, 447-6197. Anyone planning to go ona ride is asked to contact the leader for detailson where to meet and what to bring.Sunset Christian Schools MasqueradeGala, Sat., March 26, at the Livermore Barn,3131 Pacific Ave., Livermore. Fund-raisingevent featuring a catered dinner, dancing,raffles, lice and silent auctions. Doors open at6:30 p.m. Dinner served at 7 p.m. Live auctionbegins at 8 p.m. with dancing to follow. Allfunds raised will be used to benefit the childrenof Sunset Christian Schools. The public isinvited to attend. Tickets are $60 per person.Cocktail dress and masks are encouraged.Information or reservations, call 895-4051 oremail scs.ladiesleague@gmail.com.GNON (Girls Night Out Networking)and Pleasanton Unified School District PresentsSpeaker Series 2011. This month’s topicis Traveling on a Budget with Diane Oates ofLady Di’s Travel! Presentation will explorethe various types of accommodations, tours,and cruises available. Learn some packingtips, how to minimize extra airline fees andwhen travel insurance is beneficial. Explore thevarious websites to watch for the best traveldeals. Event takes place March 10. 7 to 9 p.m.RSVP: Register for class at www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/adulted. Once on site, please clickon ENRICHMENT COURSES for additionalinformation. Questions, contact Frances Hewittat 925-487-4748Tri-Valley Communities Against a RadioactiveEnvironment (Tri-Valley CAREs)was founded in 1983 in Livermore, Californiaby concerned neighbors living around theLawrence Livermore National Laboratory,one of two locations where all US nuclearweapons are designed. All are welcome at themonthly meeting at the Livermore Civic CenterLibrary Thursday, March 17 from 7:30 p.m.to 9 p.m. For more information call Tri-ValleyCAREs at (925) 443-7148 or visit our websiteat http://trivalleycares.orgLivermore Peripheral Neuropathy SupportGroup meets the fourth Tuesday of themonth, 10 a.m. at Heritage Estates RetirementCommunity, 900 E Stanley Blvd. , Livermore.The next meeting is March 22. All are welcome.A video presentation entitled, Coping with aChronic Neuropathy, will be shown. Informationcontact: Ann Laye, 443-4098Scholarship, Chapter FX, of the P.E.O.Sisterhood (a philanthropic and educationalorganization promoting women’s education)announces that applications are available fortheir annual $600 scholarship and the Marcia M.Howie Memorial Scholarship. The awards areopen to any female who is a graduating seniorintending to further her education by attendingan accredited college, business school, cosmetologyor nursing course. Applicants must beresidents of Livermore. When awarding thesescholarships, financial need is considered, aswell as scholastic achievement and extracurricularactivities. Letters of recommendationand official transcripts must be attached to theapplication. Applications may be obtained fromhigh school scholarship advisors or by sendinga stamped, self addressed envelope to: ChapterFX, P.E.O., 1961 Evans Street, Livermore CA94550. (925) 366 5567. Applications must bepostmarked no later than April 12, 2011.Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous,meeting Alamo, 9:30 a.m. – Wednesdays -SanRamon Valley United Methodist Church, 902Danville Blvd., Contact - Nicole O., 925-997-4047 / Erin S., 415-215-1187 http://foodaddicts.org/images/wheelchair_logo.JPG.Nodues, fees or weigh-ins. All are welcome.Funds for school, Pet Food Express willbe donating all the proceeds from pet washesduring the month of March to Amador ValleyHigh School Sports & Deca Programs. Washingyour pet has never been easier with their selfservicepet stations. Each station includes raisedtubs, shampoos, air dryers, towels, aprons tokeep you dry and no mess to clean up. The newPet Food Express is located next to Safewayat 1737 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton.Daughters of the American Revolution(DAR), Jose Maria Amador Chapter,Pleasanton, meets first Saturday of the month.Members are descendants of patriots of theAmerican Revolution. Dedicated to preservingAmerican history, promoting patriotism andsecuring America's future through education.Please contact Ann at 510-507-5509 or anarciso@comcast.netfor time and location.Special Fund-raising, Cantabella Children’sChorus will host a gourmet spaghettidinner, an auction of fabulous desserts, plusentertainment by talented chorus members.Friday, March 25, 6:30-9:00 P.M. at Our SaviorLutheran Ministries gymnasium, 1385 SouthLivermore Avenue, Livermore. Proceeds areto benefit Cantabella choristers who will attendthe prestigious Pacific International Children’sChoir Festival in June, 2011, at the Universityof Oregon, home of the Ducks! Join us for adelightful evening of delicious food, beautifulmusic and lots of fun, and help send membersof the “Quackabella” chorus to UO! Tickets$20. Call (925) 577-3514 or (925) 292-2663.Information: Cantabella.org.Free nutritional class, presented by ZenPilates and Fitness owner Traci Saba. Learnabout diet, nutrition, and weight loss. 9am-9:45am and 5pm-5:45pm Learn how to build abalanced diet and time your meals for optimalnutrition. Class is March 15; call Traci Sabafor appointment at 925-600-7800. Zen Pilatesand Fitness is located at 3059 Hopyard Rd.,Pleasanton 94566.Craft Fair and Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m.to 1 p.m. on March 13 at Hart Middle School,4433 Willow Rd., Pleasanton. Hosted by HartMiddle School Band. Vendors from all over theBay Area selling a wide variety of crafts. Thepancake breakfast which includes pancakes,eggs, sausage, juice or coffee will cost $5.00for adults and $3.00 for children 6 and under.To add to the fun, the Hart Middle School Bandwill be having a concert at 10:00. Walk-ins arewelcome. Breakfast will be served from 8:00-11:00; the craft fair will run from 8:00-1:00.Craft vendors interested in renting a 6' tableshould contact us. Tables will rent for $25 each.Each vendor will be responsible for settingup and managing their table. 925 484 2513 oremail. pancakeandcraft@gmail.comMangini Ranch hike, led by David Ogden.Closed to the public, Save Mount Diablo's208-acre property includes the headwaters ofGalindo Creek with rolling grasslands, oaks,buckeyes, and a rare desert olive grove. Visita secret spring and keep your eyes out forbobcats and coyotes looking for breakfast,plus burrowing owls, quail, and many otherfeathered friends. This is a two hour, fourmile hike with one moderately strenuous hill.Sunday, March 13, 10 am - 12 pm. Meet atSMD's Mangini Ranch. RSVP: to David Ogdenat davidogden@sbcglobal.netNavy, Marine Corp. & Coast Guardveterans, meet with other like minded veteransfor camaraderie and more. There are no lawsto protect benefits, so it is time to get involved.The local branch of the FRA, a veteransservice organization, meets the first Friday ofeach month at 1900 at the Veterans MemorialBuilding, 511 South L Street, Livermore. Formore information, go to www.fra.org or contactRoy Warner, 449-6048.Recruitment Grant, a $500 recruitmentgrant is available for a woman student pursuinga career in education. Eligibility includesgraduate of a high school in Livermore,Pleasanton or Dublin, full time student ofupper division or graduate standing as of fall2011, must have a good gpa. The applicationdeadline is March 19, 2011. The grant will beawarded by the local chapter of Delta KappaGamma, an international honor society forwomen educators. To receive an applicationform, send a self-addressed stamped envelopeto: Susan Canfield, 262 Trevarno Rd., Livermore,CA 94551.Livermore Amador Valley Garden Clubwill meet 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10 atthe Alisal Elementary School's multipurposeroom, 1454 Santa Rita Rd., Pleasanton. JeffRosendale, owner of Sierra Azul Nursery inWatsonville, and past president of UC SantaCruz Arboretum Associates, will speak aboutplants for a drought tolerant garden. Visitorswelcome. For more information visit www.lavgc.orgPleasantonians 4 Peace, Peaceful WarProtest will be held on the fourth Wednesdayof the month, March 23, between 5 - 6 at thecorners of First and Neal Streets. Call CatheNorman at (925) 462-7495; Matt Sullivan atmjs7882@gmail.com; or kdowding@pacbell.net. www.Pleasantonians4Peace.orgLivermore High Cowboy BoostersRound-up, dinner, dance, auction benefitingLivermore High School athletics. Sat., March12, 6 to 11 p.m. Shrine Event Center, 170Lindbergh Ave., Livermore. Tri-tip dinner withall the fixings, silent, live, dessert, themed basketsauctions, raffles and drawings. Dancing.Tickets $45 per person, $30 for LHS staff andcoaches; table of 8 $360 with $45 donated tosport of choice. Information email coferhome@aol.com. LHS Cowboy Boosters, 600 MapleSt., Livermore, CA 94550.Pacific Locomotive Association, nonprofitgroup operates the Niles Canyon Railroadbetween Fremont Niles District and Sunol.Volunteers are sought for the following glazier,painter, electrician, mechanic or welder torestore historic trains. Other volunteers can bea brakeman or brakewoman, shopkeeper, treetrimmer, docent, caterer or engineer. For moreopportunities, call Rich Alexander at 510-996-8420 or email pla_ncry@ncry.org.11th Annual Danville-Alamo-WalnutCreek Branch of AAUW Garden Tour willbe held Fri., May 6 and Sat., May 7. Sevengardens in Alamo, Danville and Walnut Creekwill be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are$30 if postmarked by April 30th, $35 thereafter;$25 for seniors 65+ by April 30, $30 thereafter.No children under 12 please. For tickets withgarden locations, mail check by April 30 payableto “AAUW Funds” with a business size,self-addressed stamped envelope to: AAUWGarden Tour 400 Cliffside Dr., Danville, CA94526. Further information: gardentour@aauw.daw.org or Tena: (925) 837-0826. Variouslandscape designers as well as expert gardenerswill be on hand to share their knowledge. Allproceeds benefit AAUW’s Funds that supportaspiring female scholars.Volunteer for 20th annual LivermoreWine Country Festival will be held April30 and May 1, 2011. Volunteers are neededto help make the event a success. Festivalhours are Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The winepouring shifts are Saturday 10:30 a.m. (½hour to set up) to 2:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to5:30 p.m. (1/2 hour to clean up). Sunday 10:30a.m. (½ hour to set up) to 1:30 p.m. and 1:30p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (1/2 hour to clean up). Allvolunteers required to attend the Wine CountryFestival Volunteer Training Meeting which isscheduled for Thursday, April 21 at 6:00 p.m.Download a volunteer agreement form atwww.livermoredowntown.com. Forms mustbe returned no later than Monday, April 18th,2011. For information, call 373-1795.Free income tax help, Livermore, AARPvolunteer preparers. Mondays, Feb. 7-April 18,noon-4 p.m. Robert Livermore CommunityCenter, 4444 East Ave., Livermore, by appointment,373-5760. Thursdays and Fridays,Feb. 3-April 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Civic CenterLibrary, 1188 So, Livermore Avenue, firstcome, first served. Bring W2, all 1099 forms,copy of previous year's tax return, and otherimportant documents.Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance(DBSA) Pleasanton, meets Wednesdays7:15 to 8:45 p.m. St. Clare's Episcopal Church,3350 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton (not affiliatedwith the church. Information at www.dbsalliance.org/pleasantonor contact chapter leader,Al Pereira, 462-6415.RELIGIONBible 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.Spiritual Reiki Group The Japanesesystem of Reiki is a spiritual practice whichuses meditations, chanting, visualizations,and hands-on energy group work so that wecan connect to our true nature. No prior Reikiexperience is necessary. On the first and thirdSaturdays of every month, 10-11:45 a.m. at Tri-Valley Unity's Gathering Place, 7567 AmadorValley Blvd., #120, Dublin. Contact Gayle atgstaehle@comcast.net.Community Bible Study Class, book ofLuke will be the topic of study in Pleasanton atValley Bible Church. CBS is a non-denominationalBible study ministry open to all women,with a special children's program for ages 0-5years old. The class meets on Thursdays from9:30-11:30AM beginning 9/9/10 and goesuntil 5/12/11. More information about theCBS program and registration available bycontacting Sharon at 925-399-5072, or emailbobsharonmerrill@gmail.com.Stepping Stones on Grief Journey,Grief Ministry Workshop Spring 2011 Series,Catholic Community of Pleasanton. EightThursday evenings, 7:30 p.m., April 7-June 2(omitting April 21) at St. Elizabeth Seton, 4001Stoneridge Dr., Pleasanton. Preregistration isrequired. A one-time $15 donation is requested.Open to all regardless of religious affiliation.Please call Mary Hagerty, 846-5377, for moreinformation.The deaf community is invited to worshipat First Presbyterian Church in Livermore,where ASL translation will be provided everySunday at 10:30 A.M The church is located onthe corner of 4th and L streets.Art history seminar, the Second Comingof Christ and the Last Judgement in Art:slide lecture presented by historian BarbaraMitchell will illustrate Christian art depictingthe end times. Sun., March 13, 4 to 5:30 p.m.St. Michael Church in the large hall, 458 MapleSt., Livermore. Free of charge.Faith Chapel Assembly of God, 6656Alisal St., Pleasanton, Sunday School for allages 9:15 a.m., Worship 10:30 a.m., Children’sChurch 11:15 a.m. Women's Bible studyWednesdays at 10 a.m. Intercessory prayer1st and 3rd Wednesdays. Please call office at846-8650 for weekly programs.Lenten Retreat - "Heart & Soul Spirituality,"St. Charles Borromeo, located at1315 Lomitas Ave., in Livermore. Led byFr. Geoff Rose, OSFS Sunday, March 13th-Wednesday, March 16th. The evening sessionsare from 7:30-9:00 pm and the identicalmorning sessions are from 9:45-11:00 am inthe Sanctuary. There is a special retreat forK-5th grade students on Wednesday, March16th from 3:30-5:00 pm. Each of the retreatsessions will be wrapped around Liturgy ofthe Word and a focus will be on one of theSacraments. Contact Julie at 925-447-4549 ext114 or upcatholic@aol.com. All denominationsare welcomed.Trinity Church, 557 Olivina Ave., Livermore.Bible studies for all ages, including 21classes for adults every Sunday morning at9:45. Worship at 8:30 and 11 a.m. as well as6 p.m. There is also a Hot Topics Bible Studyon Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. while children arein Children's choir and youth are in worshipand other activities. 447-1848, www.trinitylivermore.org.St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church,678 Enos Way, Livermore. Inquirers/confirmationclass Sundays through May 22, 9:30 to11:15 a.m. All are welcome. Variety of subjectswill be covered. Call The Rev. Debra Low-Skinner,447-3289. Lenten evening prayer, soupsupper and study offered on Mondays, March14-April 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Study will use "TheLast Week" A Day by Day Account of Jesus'Final Week in Jerusalem;" call The Rev. DebraLow-Skinner, 447-3289. St. Patrick's GreenFund-raiser and Potluck, March 17, starts at5:30 p.m., call Jenny Moy, 447-3289.Purim Activity, Congregation Beth Emekwill celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim Sat.,March 19, which recalls the triumph of goodnessand loyalty over bigotry and evil. Jewstraditionally celebrate Purim with abundantfood and drink and donations to charity. BethEmek’s annual Purimspiel, a retelling of thestory of Purim, will feature entertainment andauctions, with proceeds going to organizationsthat include Hope Hospice, the Tri-ValleyHaven and the Tri-Valley Humane Society.Adult Megillah reading will be at 5:30pm,PurimSpiel at 7:00pm. Congregation BethEmek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton. $10per person. 925- 931-1055