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Lights,
camera,
acting
Page 17
VOL.
OL. XXII,
OL XXII NUMBER 15 • MAY 7
7, 2021 WWW.PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM
Ha p p y Mo t her’ s D a y
Lookalike contest celebrates
lifelong joys of motherhood
Page 12
5 NEWS Council confirms JDEDZ transportation fees
5 NEWS Stein keeps commission seat, must do training
19 SPORTS Local products drafted in NFL’s 2nd round
exceptional
health care in
the new normal
Stanford Health Care – ValleyCare is ready to care for you, now and always.
Star
We continue to adapt and adhere to the most up-to-date safety guidelines,
so you can feel confident getting the care you need.
QUALITY
RATING
RATED BY THE CENTERS for To ensure your safety, we are:
MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES
• Screening both staff and patients for COVID-19
Awarded the highest quality
ranking by the Centers for Medicare • Requiring and providing masks for all
& Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Staggering visits to allow for physical distancing in common areas
• Ensuring separate screening areas for symptomatic patients
• Sanitizing exam rooms after every patient
• Scheduling urgent care video visits in addition to in-person care
Don’t delay your care. Appointments are available at our locations across
the Tri-Valley and remotely by video visit.
stanfordhealthcare.org/resumingcare
Page 2 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
PLEASANTON LISTINGS
WHAT A WEEK BY JEREMY WALSH
OFFER PRICE: $4,295,000 COMING SOON!
PUSD wants to hear from you
O r at least that’s what I took
away from the pair of press
releases district officials is-
sued in recent days.
On Monday, the Pleasanton Unified
district communications and the pan-
demic (scale: Strongly agree; Agree;
Disagree; Strongly disagree; Don’t
know).
Oh, and of course, “How would
School District publicly launched its you rate how Pleasanton Unified
annual “School Quality Stakeholder School District handled the COVID- 3 WINDING OAKS DRIVE 6955 CORTE ANTONIO
Survey,” an online questionnaire tar- 19 pandemic for the 2020-21 school 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Bathrooms 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms
geting insights from parents, guard- year?” 5,197 Square Feet 2,632 Square Feet
ians, staff and secondary students but That area of results will undoubt-
also open to the community at-large. edly be the headline. How was the 1.97 Acre Lot 8,944 Sq Ft Lot
That news came one week after at-home learning experience? Were
PUSD unveiled its new “Let’s Talk!” course expectations clearly explained?
platform, a centralized tool allowing
people to send a question, comment
or concern to PUSD any time online
What about when kids came back to
campus? And what elements from
hybrid learning should the district
VOTE FOR US!
or via mobile app. bring back? Best Realtor &
The two efforts, both coordinated I do recommend, on the COVID-
by national education consultant firm era questions, being thoughtful and Real Estate Brokerage
K12 Insight under separate contracts fair in focusing on PUSD specifically
totaling about $56,000 per year, seem and how it handled decisions, pro-
rooted in information gathering, in- grams and outcomes under their con-
ternal improvement, stakeholder en- trol during this pandemic. Consider 7TIME WINNER AS PLEASANTON’S BEST REALTOR & HALL OF FAME MEMBER
gagement and enhanced customer recognizing what negatives (or posi-
service — areas all governmental en- tives) were more the result of state
tities, PUSD included, should always
be striving to get better at.
and county mandates or guidelines.
That’s how the district can truly get
Gina Piper
So I decided to dig a little deeper. the types of responses to help them 925.200.0202 • DRE #01201349
Interviewing Patrick Gannon, improve where and how they can in gina@elationre.com
PUSD’s coordinator of communica- the future. ElationRE.com
tion and community engagement, The survey is open through May
I learned the stakeholder survey is 17. Staff and students in grades 6-12
a mix of questions similar to those received the survey by email invita-
from the two previous years’ surveys tion; parents, guardians and commu-
along with new questions targeting
input on the district’s COVID-19 re-
nity members can take it at pusdedu.
info/2021sqsurvey. There are English,
Tri-Valley readers, what is
local journalism worth to you?
sponse and the learning experience Spanish and Chinese language ver-
in the 2020-21 school year. (Gannon sions. Responses are anonymous.
noted there was no annual survey for Also Tuesday night, I visited the
2019-20 due to the impacts of the App Store, found “Let’s Talk! (school
pandemic in spring 2020.) customer experience)” and tried it
In many ways, the 2021 results out.
will serve as a post-pandemic bench- I’ll often download relevant (free)
mark, according to Gannon. apps onto my phone as part of my
Survey data are expected to be journalistic research — I still have
shared with the school board and the town’s “Danville Connect” app
leadership at individual school sites I downloaded soon after it debuted
this summer; the district hopes to in 2013. It’s instructive in reporting
identify its strengths and where it to experience what the user would
needs to improve. experience.
I clicked through the stakehold- Once accessing PUSD specifically
er survey myself on Tuesday night. (via ID No. PU1922), “Let’s Talk!”
Don’t worry; I didn’t submit it at the seemed straightforward.
end and selected “Don’t know” or That’s what I like to see from a digi-
put “N/A” in answer boxes wherever tal customer service tool; regardless of Keep strong journalism alive in your community.
possible. I just wanted to get a sense, whether I like the answers I get, I can
first-hand, of what online respon- respect an intuitive and efficient pro- With local retail advertising steadily declining around the nation,
dents will face. cess for delivering direct responses to the future of local journalism is in the hands of our readers. Only
It’s mainly multiple choice in for- my questions.
mat. And they’re fair in estimating 10 Of course in PUSD’s case, I expect
with your direct support as a subscribing member can we retain
minutes at most. the depth of the query could impact our professional journalists and continue to provide insightful and
There are broader questions you’d timeliness of response, but Gannon engaging coverage of the community.
expect like “How would you rate the told me his goal is within 24 to 48
overall quality of the district?” (scale: hours. Fair standard; we’ll have to see
Excellent; Good; Fair; Poor). And how it plays out.
For just $10 a month, or 33 cents a day, you can do your part to
there are more targeted queries within Check it out via the app or at ensure that a free and responsible press continues to hold institutions
topics like academic support, school pusdedu.info/letstalk. Then, let me accountable.
leadership, family environment, know what you think. Q
Sign up for membership at pleasantonweekly.com/join
About the Cover
Pareena and Varupi Gupta have won our 2021 Mother’s Day Lookalike Danville
San
.com
Ramon
Contest. Learn more about the Guptas and look back over all of this year’s
finalists inside on Pages 12-13. Cover design by Paul Llewellyn.
Vol. XXII, Number 15
Pleasanton Weekly • May 7, 2021 • Page 3
Camp Connection PleasantonWeekly.com/
camp_connection/ Streetwise ASKED AROUND TOWN
Fashion Design & Sewing Camp @ KIDZ Covid tests and vaccines. In this camp you will get a
KRAFTZ! chance to utilize some basic molecular biology tools used
7690 Quail Creek Cir. | Dublin | (925) 271-0015
to observe and measure cells, viruses, proteins and DNA.
We will provide a laboratory kit with safe supplies to run
What are your plans
KidzKraftz.com
Focus on sewing stylish, wearable clothing, accessories,
experiments in your home and will collaborate over Zoom.
Graphic Design & Digital Media for Middle School
for Mother’s Day?
craft and jewelry projects, while introducing children to Students
fashion design concepts, sewing techniques, basic pattern July 19-23, 2021 | 9am to 2pm | Via Zoom
manipulation and fashion illustration. Sewing machines
$100 per student | Age Group: 12-14
Kristina Young
and notions provided. FREE fabric for first day of the camp. Wine server
Pizza party on last day of the camp. Early Bird Registration Have you ever wanted to create your own character and
bring it to life? Throughout the Graphic Design & Digital I’m having brunch with my family, and
Special, as well as many discount options available.
Media summer camp, you will learn how to sketch then going to work at 3 Steves. My
Hacienda Campus, HeadsUp! Montessori and draw your own character in Photoshop, and then daughter is coming into town specially
Preschool model it 3D using Maya. At the end of the camp, you will for the occasion. We are all vaccinated
Pleasanton | Palo Alto | San Jose receive a 3D printed figure of your own design! now and looking forward to hugging one
Hacienda Campus: (925) 463-2885 Interior Design another.
Palo Alto: (650) 424-1221 July 19-22, 2021 | 10am to 12:30pm | Via Zoom
San Jose: (408) 432-1644 $100 per student
www.headsup.org | writenow@headsup.org The Interior Design summer camp teaches students
about interior design through practical application
For 35 years, HeadsUp! Montessori in the Hacienda
of hands-on creative spaces as well as digital means. Tiffany Phillips
Business Park has provided children ages 0-6 the highest IT in the cloud
Students will develop an understanding of measuring,
quality care and learning: full-day programs, year-round
schedule, on site and online. Call for more information. designing human centered spaces, while investigating I’m going to see my mom and take her
relationships of human behavior and the space they on a miniature golf outing. It is a bit of
occupy. Students will engage in design elements and an annual ritual, and she always plans to
Las Positas College Summer Camps
principles including use of color and textures within the
www.laspositascollege.edu/summercamps be our designated driver.
design space. Design kits will be available for pick up on
Welding Technology campus the week before the camp. Students will have
June 14 – 24, 2021 | 8am to 2pm | On Campus Learning! access to model home tours, construction site tours, and
For Credit Tuition and Fees Apply | Age Group: 15-18 showroom tours.
The Welding Technology summer camp gives high
school students an opportunity to earn college credit Stratford School
while igniting their interest in the field of welding. The http://stratfordschools.com/summer
two week camp introduces the basics of shop safety, April Murray
hand tools, and fabrication of simple metal projects. Rediscover Summer@Stratford CFO
There is an emphasis on practical uses and applications. Summer@Stratford is back with our academic camp
favorites and all NEW day camp programs! This
I’ll be on the golf course with my son.
This is a one unit for credit course that is CSU He’s playing in the SNEDS Junior Golf
transferrable. Note: A lab section will be held on campus summer, children will have a wide range of options
to explore new interests, discover a world of wonder, tour in Tennessee. He’s promised to hit a
for students to gain hands-on experience.
make new friends, and expand their horizons. It all hole-in-one for me.
Automotive Technology starts with our outstanding Summer Team, whose
July 5-8, 2021 | 8am to 2pm | On Campus Learning! talent, creativity, and leadership set the tone for an
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Have you ever wanted to know more about your car but the fun of learning and give your child a summer to
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cryptic code on the tire means? Learn general knowledge Academic Camps — Stratford’s Academic Camps are
the perfect way to enhance your child’s love of learning Holger Hornisch, with Riley
about cars? If so, then this is the summer camp for you!
while focusing on a specific subject. From math and Winery general manager
Note: A lab section will be held on campus for students to
gain hands-on experience on your personal vehicle. robotics to literature and creative writing, we have My mom is flying in from Michigan
something for every student. Working independently and we’re planning to do lots of hiking
Commercial Music and in small groups, students will apply real-life
July 5-9, 2021 | 9am to 2pm | Via Zoom throughout the East Bay. I can’t wait for
experiences to lessons learned in the classroom. all of the great German food she’ll be
$100 per student | Age Group: 14-18
Making Music for Film and Games: The Commercial Day Camps — All NEW Day Camps. Each week, cooking for us.
Music summer camp will be action filled with creating students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will jump
short pieces for film scenes and game projects. It will into action as they explore science and nature, discover
cover the basics of the topics covered in the Scoring for creative and performing arts, participate in sports and
Film and Multimedia course including an intro to Logic games, and so much more. Activity blocks give campers
Pro X and using MIDI to create music digitally. This camp a variety of experiences throughout each camp day.
is for people with at least some musical experience Specialty Camps — Add even more fun with Specialty Robert Kent
(familiar with notes, scales, and rhythms), and a Camps — packed with hands-on experiences. Architect
willingness to dedicate time to creating. We will be using Stratford’s Specialty Camps provide campers with a
Logic Pro X, a Mac based program, but will be accessible We’re going to the Cuda Ridge Winery
variety of activities including robotics, to explore while
for PC users, or those who do not have their own license, for their Roses, Rosé & Runways event. It
discovering new STEAM skills and talents!
through a remote access application. is a special Mother’s Day event that will
These innovative camps are available for children ready be featuring a distinct tasting flight and
Graphic Design & Digital Media for High School for Preschool, Elementary, and Middle School. Give your
Students also some fancy chocolates to pair with
child the Summer@Stratford experience they deserve each wine.
July 12-15, 2021 | 9am to 2pm | Via Zoom and secure your space today!
$100 per student | Age Group: 15-18
Have you ever wanted to create your own character and Write Now! Summer Writing Camps
bring it to life? Throughout the Graphic Design & Digital
Media summer camp, you will learn how to sketch Pleasanton | Palo Alto — Compiled by Nancy and Jeff Lewis
and draw your own character in Photoshop, and then Hacienda: (925) 485-5750
model it 3D using Maya. At the end of the camp, you will Emerson: (650) 424-1267 Have a Streetwise question? Email editor@PleasantonWeekly.com
receive a 3D printed figure of your own design! www.emersonmontessori.com
BioSciences writenow@headsup.org
The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd.,
July 12-15, 2021 | 10am to 3pm | Via Zoom Emerson Montessori’s three courses improve students’ Suite 203, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rate,
$100 per student | Age Group: 15-17 writing and public presentations: Expository Writing USPS 020407. The Weekly is mailed upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton.
Information: commed@laspositascollege.edu Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100
(school prose forms), Creative Writing (stories, plays, for two years. Go to PleasantonWeekly.com to sign up and for more information.
Molecular biologists have been some of the unsung heroes poems), and Presentation Skills (“debate” this year). Visit POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly,
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All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
Page 4 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
Newsfront
DIGEST Pleasanton council confirms new fees for
Vaccine availability
Tri-Valley health care nonprofit
Axis Community Health is offer-
Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone
ing COVID-19 vaccination ap- Revenue to cover cost of traffic improvements ahead of future projects like Costco
pointments at its clinics in Pleas-
anton and Livermore for those BY JULIA BAUM anchor the location of Pleasanton’s years. Originally adopted in 2018, the city’s General Plan to “spur
D
ages 16 years old and older. evelopers who build on newest commercial development, the transportation fee was rescind- investment” in the 40-acre area
The service is free, with no land in Pleasanton’s John- city staff said revenue collected ed several months later while the near Johnson and Stoneridge
insurance card needed. Open as
son Drive Economic De- from the transportation fees would city conducted additional envi- Drive.
long as slots are available. Drive-
thru or walk-up appointments velopment Zone (JDEDZ) by the mitigate the impact of new devel- ronmental review of the project to “I’ll just reiterate my stance that
are offered for Moderna, Pfizer I-580/I-680 interchange will also opment in the JDEDZ by upgrad- resolve an initial lawsuit. it’s essential that the Stoneridge
and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. cover the cost of traffic improve- ing and adding to the city’s traffic After completing the review, Drive work proceed,” Council-
Call 925-462-1755; no computer ments in its vicinity, after the infrastructure. Fees would be as- the JDEDZ was formally ap- member Jack Balch said before
needed. City Council unanimously voted sessed according to land-use and proved last year — though that voting Tuesday evening. “Regard-
Also this week, officials in on Tuesday to levy transporta- the building square footage being decision was hit with litigation, less of the outcome or results
neighboring Contra Costa Coun- tion fees on new development in proposed. too, which is headed to the state of the lawsuit, I think that is
ty announced that it has enough the area. The item made its way to the appellate court. Approval of the essential.”
COVID-19 supply to offer doses With a Costco, two hotels council at their meeting this week project would also change land-
to anyone, regardless of whether
and other businesses planned to after being on pause for several use designations and zoning in See COUNCIL on Page 10
they live or work in the county.
The expansion of vaccine eligibil-
ity is not expected to hamper the
county’s ability to continue vac- Lengthy
cinating people who are from the
county. Visit cchealth.org or call
833-829-2626.
Livermore keeps Stein on outage
PDA interim exec
commission, orders training sparks
The Pleasanton Downtown As-
sociation has elevated Rochelle
Stone internally to serve as interim
after ‘ghetto’ comments debate
executive director while the PDA Public opinion runs the gamut at special council meeting ‘Disgruntled’ residents
board continues to recruit for a
permanent leader going forward. BY CIERRA BAILEY the discussion back in a special seek to improve city’s
Prior executive director Tiffany John Stein will remain on the meeting where they would de-
Cadrette moved on from the PDA
Livermore Planning Commis- cide how to move forward.
internet infrastructure
last month after 1-1/2 years at the
helm to take a new job as marking sion, the City Council decided in Before deciding Stein’s fate BY JULIA BAUM
and communications manager for a 4-1 vote during a special meet- Monday night, the council heard Public interest in building a fiber
the Alameda County Fairgrounds. ing Monday evening. from more than a dozen commu- optic network throughout the city
The PDA aims to promote down- The council’s decision was nity members during the public has increased recently, after a Com-
town Pleasanton and enhancing its contingent upon the conditions comment portion of the meeting. cast outage last month left several
viability. The organization is the that Stein — who is also a former The remarks were reflective hundred homes in Pleasanton with-
main driver for the “Weekend on councilmember — attend a series of divisive views, with several out internet service for much of a day.
Main” program — the closure of of training webinars for plan- people calling for Stein to resign With more people working and
Main Street to vehicular traffic to ning commissioners across the or be removed, others advocat- studying from home these days, the
allow businesses to expand into the
state and that he meet with city ing for him to remain on the movement for improving the city’s
street, which returned last week-
end and runs every Friday through human services staff. The council planning commission with no network infrastructure is gaining
Sunday until Labor Day. will also issue a formal written consequence and a few people momentum among residents.
warning explaining that this will Screengrab of Livermore Planning who condemned his comments A new group on NextDoor called
be the only opportunity he has to Commissioner John Stein at April but didn’t express support for his “Improving Pleasanton’s Internet” has
HPMS teacher award 20 meeting.
correct his actions. dismissal. more than 50 members and con-
Harvest Park Middle School
Councilmember Bob Carling, April 20 planning commission After the vote, Stein accepted tinues to grow while also starting
teacher Greg Dankwardt is one
of 19 teachers statewide recently who called for Stein’s removal meeting where he referred to a the conditions put forward by conversations about the issue with
awarded a $100 mini-grant from Monday, was the only dissenter. proposed affordable housing de- the council, noting that he be- city leaders, group leader Evan Miller
the California Resource Recovery “Everyone makes mistakes. velopment as a “ghetto.” lieves these steps will make him a told the Weekly.
Association (CRAA) K-12 Techni- Those with integrity want the “I really don’t want to see the “better planning commissioner.” “There’s been a shift towards work-
cal Council. chance to fix those mistakes,” downtown become a ghetto of “What I’ve seen happen tonight ing from home that the pandemic
Dankwardt wrote in the appli- Vice Mayor Trish Munro said. affordable housing, and I support was compassion, really, and an has massively accelerated, so the im-
cation that “if awarded the grant, “If you expect that for yourself, inclusionary housing both on a understanding that people get a portance of home internet is far more
we would use the money towards know that opportunity must be macro and micro scale. I think it second chance — and I’ll just say than it was in 2020,” Miller said.
signage to help advertise and pro- given to everyone.” should be distributed throughout that is consistent with my own Internet service providers (ISPs)
mote our recycling program in our
Before the council began its the city and if we see high-densi- life experience. However, there “are one of those areas where every-
lunch area.”
PUSD spokesman Patrick Gan- deliberations, Stein offered an- ty housing downtown, it should aren’t more chances,” Mayor Bob one’s generally quite disgruntled,”
non told the Weekly, “Mr. Dank- other apology. “A number of be market rate with maybe 20% Woerner said in closing remarks according to Miller.
wardt and his students are doing people were hurt by my offensive affordable rather than entire af- before adjourning the meeting. “Most people aren’t technical
incredible work keeping the Har- comments during the last Plan- fordable,” Stein said during the Stein’s initial comments were enough to understand what their
vest Park campus ‘green’.” ning Commission (meeting), to April 20 meeting. in reference to an Eden Hous- options are and what to ask for,” he
“New signage and bins will raise all of them, I say I am truly sorry He publicly apologized to the ing residential project proposed said. “We’re hoping to bring together
awareness in our Harvest Park and I will do my best to see that community and the City Council for downtown Livermore at the more technical people who can navi-
classrooms and common areas it never happens again,” he said. at its April 26 regular meeting, southeast corner of the Railroad gate all this stuff and all the residents
to reduce waste by encouraging Stein — who was appointed after facing backlash for his com- Avenue and L Street intersection. who care about it but don’t know
students to recycle and separate
to the commission in 2019 and ments. The council could not The development would provide what to do next.”
food scraps,” Gannon said. “This
supports the district’s overarch- previously held a seat on the City make a decision at that time 130 new affordable homes rang- Earlier this year, the city’s Economic
ing environmental sustainability Council from 1982-85 and again about whether to expel Stein as ing from one to three bedrooms Vitality Committee recommendation
efforts and our collective mission in 1989 to 2000 — became the it was not on the agenda but the
to empower students to make a center of controversy after an councilmembers voted to bring See STEIN on Page 10 See INTERNET on Page 6
better world.” Q
Pleasanton Weekly • May 7, 2021 • Page 5
NEWSFRONT
Dublin: DA declines to file charges against
pair arrested in Lil Yase homicide
Investigation continues after arrestees released from jail, police say
BY JEREMY WALSH criminal complaint in court against a Dublin residents — without incident Continued investigation of phone
A local couple arrested by police person within 48 hours of their arrest April 27 on suspicion of murder after and social media records, as well
last week in connection with the in order to keep them in custody in a five-month investigation led detec- as processing of DNA evidence, al-
shooting death of rapper Lil Yase that case. tives to identify the couple as their legedly led to detectives identifying
in Dublin in November has been The high burden of proof and the prime suspects in the shooting death Williams and Butler as the prime
released from custody after Alameda 2019 change to California’s felony of Lil Yase, according to Schmidt. suspects in the case.
County prosecutors declined to file murder law were among the key Lil Yase — a rising Bay Area rap- A love triangle could have been at
formal charges against the pair for factors for the DA’s office decision, per whose legal name was Mark play, according to police. PHOTO FROM YASE’S IG
evidentiary reasons. according to Schmidt. Antonyyo Alexander Jr. — arrived Butler and Williams live together Bay Area rapper Lil Yase died on Nov.
The Alameda County District At- “Our hopes were pretty high with at Stanford Health Care-ValleyCare with their child in an apartment 28 after being shot multiple times in
torney’s Office had not responded for getting the DNA from that casing,” hospital in Pleasanton around 1 a.m. complex close to where the shoot- Dublin. He was 26.
a request for comment to date, but Schmidt said. “We had plenty of evi- Nov. 28 with serious injuries after ing occurred, according to Schmidt.
Dublin police Capt. Nate Schmidt dence to arrest them, but the DA has being shot multiple times, police Meanwhile, Butler and Lil Yase had a and he can point at her’ is how it was
confirmed prosecutors’ decision late to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.” said. Subsequent investigation re- prior relationship that appeared to be explained to us,” the captain said.
Monday morning. It is unclear whether the arrestees, vealed the shooting occurred in the maybe still ongoing, which is why Lil Schmidt said he has confidence
“The DA declined to charge either Angel Butler and Jovante Williams, 5100 block of Iron Horse Parkway Yase was visiting Dublin, the captain Dublin detectives will be success-
of our suspects at this time. Our are yet represented by an attorney. near the Dublin-Pleasanton BART said. ful in continuing to “push forward
detectives will continue to move for- They were released from the Santa Station that night. A key turning point in the in- and find that next piece of evidence,
ward with the case in hopes of devel- Rita Jail after prosecutors declined to Lil Yase was soon transferred to vestigation occurred recently when for the family of the victim.” He
oping additional evidence,” Schmidt file charges as of April 29. Eden Medical Center in Castro Val- DNA found on a shell casing was also pointed out there is no stat-
told the Weekly. Dublin Police Services arrested But- ley, where he died from his traumatic determined to be a match for the ute of limitations for a homicide
Prosecutors generally have to file a ler and Williams — both 28-year-old injuries later that morning. The San suspects’ toddler child, according to investigation.
Francisco native was 26 years old. Schmidt. But prosecutors deemed In the press release announcing
RETIRE WISE:
The circumstances of the killing, more evidence is needed to secure the arrests last week, Schmidt said
including who pulled the trigger, a conviction, in part because of the Lil Yase’s family “have expressed
remained very unclear as the inves- change in California law 2-1/2 years their extreme gratitude to the Dublin
A Retirement Strategy
tigation unfolded that first weekend, ago for felony murder and the need Police for their unwavering com-
although Lil Yase did provide some for proof of intent to kill for those mitment in identifying and holding
Workshop
information in what was ultimately a responsible for a homicide. those responsible for the death of
dying declaration, Schmidt said. “Basically, ‘she can point at him their loved one.” Q
INTERNET from what we understand.” potentially fund’. But I don’t think it
Continued from Page 5 “I think we need to think of it requires the effort that a fiber master
in a different paradigm, which is plan calls for.”
to prioritize creating a fiber network the challenge of understanding our Miller told the council that “this
and combine it with large-scale proj- public right-of-way so that we can isn’t about any particular outage.
ects like the Stoneridge Mall Frame- continue to provide opportunity for Developing a more robust backbone
work was scrapped. high-speed internet throughout our for the city has all sorts of benefits
According to the committee’s Feb. community,” Balch said on April 28. in terms of stability and diversity of
18 meeting minutes, staff said “fiber City Manager Nelson Fialho said choice, and making events like this
planning is dependent on service Balch’s comment “about proprietary possible, where we’re all talking with
providers and that city staff in engi- information not being shared with each other.”
neering and other departments was the city is spot-on,” and explained Former council member Becky
already coordinating applications for the city has “tried to get that informa- Dennis — also a member of Improv-
infrastructure upgrades, such that tion and we just can’t.” ing Pleasanton’s Internet — said the
it would be appropriate to consid- State and federal laws “don’t give recent outage “uncovered an extraor-
er removing this priority from the us the ability to have that infor- dinary amount of interest in having a
recommendations.” mation, even though they’re using robust broadband service for the city.”
Miller said anything built “would our public right-of-way,” and even “A lot of people depend on that
certainly be piecemeal, anything we though the city has about 10 active service and I think probably every
Retirement is a time to create the life you have dreamed do is going to be incremental im- permits for installing fiber over the resident in the city has the inter-
provements,” but that ultimately the past year, Fialho said ISPs are “fairly est,” Dennis said. “A master plan is
of living – free of the commute, deadlines, and pressures group is interested in “discovering if tightlipped about what they’re put- not just figuring out how to serve
of professional life. The challenge is finding a way to it’s feasible to build and operate our ting in.” the Stoneridge Drive Specific Plan.
finance that dream. Reaching retirement doesn’t matter own municipal fiber network.” However, “there’s a lot of fiber It shouldn’t just be driven by Com-
if you can’t live comfortably for the duration of your “The vast majority of (ISPs) are being installed currently,” he added, cast or broadband providers, in my
post-career years. Inflation, market shocks, emergency not actually providing direct internet though “it may not solve the alterna- opinion.”
connectivity to the home,” Miller tive to Comcast.” To that end, Dennis has been help-
spending, and long-term care needs can derail your plans.
said. “That could be part of the pic- In one instance, Verizon put in ing the group navigate some of their
Are you as prepared as you could be? ture, the city could develop parts of 23 miles of fiber line and man- interactions with the city and said
Join us for this educational and core infrastructure and maybe entice aged right-of-way to ensure the city she’s “going to urge people not to
other ISPs to come in and work with knows where the infrastructure is give up their platform, because when
interactive workshop that will arm you
the last-mile bits.” located and recorded in the Dig the City Council has identified some-
with the strategies you need to live well
“Apartment buildings and other Alert system, while another nine thing as a priority, that gives the pub-
throughout retirement. more dense living situations are good miles of empty conduit mostly laid lic more access and gives staff more
targets because you only need to in a business park is available for time to spend on it.”
Tuesdays, May 18 & 25; 6:30 - 7:30 PM dig a single line to get to dozens of private utilities to use to expand “We have master plans for every-
or Thursdays, May 20 & 27; 12 - 1 PM homes,” he added. fiber throughout the park. thing ... I don’t understand why we
During a special meeting and The city is looking to “engage should not have a fiber master plan,”
REGISTER HERE: summitadvisors.com/university/ workshop for the city’s draft work in some ideas and explore some Dennis added.
plan last week, City Councilmem- possibilities,” Fialho said. “We don’t Comcast did not immediately re-
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial ber Jack Balch said, “There’s frustra- know that it’s a fiber master plan; spond to a request for comment
Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Summit Financial Group, LLC is independently
owned and operated. 2000 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 450, San Ramon, CA 94583. tion that providers have a propri- we think it’s more of a ‘what are the about the lengthy April 16 outage as
(925) 866-7800. 3573125 DOFU 5/2021 etary network and they don’t want options that we can really get behind well as the larger issues raised by the
to make it public with the cities and support, and maybe someday resident group. Q
Page 6 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
NEWSFRONT
PUSD breaks ground on Hart science building project
New parking lot and drop-off loop will be added during first phase
BY JULIA BAUM learned this last year in teaching is that “students, families and the com-
One of many projects putting that so much of a student’s educa- munity are all aware of the impact
Measure I1 bond money to use in tion is based on creative teaching, of deliberately tailored and secure
Pleasanton schools, Hart Middle responsive teaching and innovative learning (that) space can create.”
School marked the start of work teaching,” Wigand said. “It’s not “I happen to speak from experi-
for its new science building with completely based on a flashy build- ence on that matter after having left a
a groundbreaking ceremony at the ing, brand new lab tables and the lat- position when classroom conditions
future site last week. est technology, but it sure ain’t gonna sent me to the emergency room,”
Board President Joan Laursen in- hurt.” Orsi-Davis said. “The investment
troduced the socially distanced out- Last week’s kickoff on the first that the Pleasanton community has
door event, which was livestreamed phase of work will see a new park- made to drive the future meshing
on social media and also attended ing lot and secondary drop-off lane of science, technology, engineering,
by the Pleasanton Unified School added, then the science building arts and math — ‘STEAM’ — to the
District Board of Trustees, cabinet courtyard during the second phase, forefront of this district’s agenda is
members and staff, and Hart student and the science building’s construc- astonishing.” PUSD
body president on April 27. tion during the third phase. The ex- Orsi-Davis added, “Pleasanton’s School and district officials ceremonially break ground on the first phase of the
Hart science department chair isting science labs will be renovated next generation is now given an op- Hart Middle School science building project.
Brian Wigand told the crowd that into general education classrooms, portunity to become those emergent
“we were beyond ourselves but it also and four portable buildings will be scientists equipped for well beyond several days earlier at their April 22 science building are estimated at
seemed impossibly far away” when removed from the site in the fourth the 21st century. “ meeting. Construction costs were $11.4 million, and will be funded by
teachers at Hart first heard about the and final stage of work. The trustees unanimously ap- originally estimated around $2.25 Measure I1 bond revenue. Work is
new building, “and yet here we are Overall, the project won’t add proved a $1,941,747 contract with million, but the latest bid reduced expected to finish on the first phase
now at the groundbreaking.” much capacity, but Hart eighth-grade Silicon Valley Paving Inc. for work that by about $300,000. of construction by August, according
“One of the things we definitely science teacher Ali Orsi-Davis said on the project’s first phase just Total costs for the new Hart to PUSD. Q
READ IT ONLINE!
Here are snippets of articles
recently featured on Pleasanton-
the citizen working group — com-
posed of residents, working under HIKE
FOR
the council subcommittee — has
Weekly.com. Read the full stories held planning meetings to organize
on our website today. their culminating projects. As the
group phases out, the council will
HOPE
Remembering Kalthoff receive a final update on June 21.
Stephen Kalthoff, a former —Cierra Bailey
four-term director for the Zone
7 Water Agency and a third-gen- Acquired for $435M
eration vintner in the Livermore Pleasanton-based Unchained
Valley, died on March 31 at the Labs broke major news last week & JAMBOREE AFTER-PARTY
age of 80. when it announced it had been
A longtime Livermore resident acquired by The Carlyle Group
who grew up in San Leandro, for $435 million.
Kalthoff served in the U.S. Air Carlyle partnered with Un-
Force and worked a long career chained management in the deal. Hike for a good cause.
in the train industry while also It’s headquartered in the Ber-
developing his grandfather’s Es- nal Corporate Park. Founder and Enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
condido Vineyard. He was elected CEO Tim Harkness and his lead-
to the Zone 7 board from 1994 ership will continue in their cur-
to 2010 as part of a long com- rent roles. NEW: HIKE WHERE YOU CHOOSE!
munity service record that also In a press release, he said, “This
included time as president of the is a great day in the history of
Livermore Valley Winegrowers Unchained Labs. The Unchained $39 EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FEE
Association. F O R R E G I S T R AT I O N S R E C E I V E D B Y A P R I L 3 0
team has solved a ton of prob-
Kalthoff’s family also detailed lems for researchers over the past
his life and achievements in an $45 REGULAR REGISTRATION FEE
few years, but we are just begin- F O R R E G I S T R AT I O N S R E C E I V E D M AY 1 – J U N E 4
obituary with the Weekly. A cause ning to scratch the surface of
of death was not confirmed. the biologics and gene therapy FREE FOR YOUTH AGE 12 AND UNDER
—Jeremy Walsh opportunity.”
—Tim Talk This year’s format is a little different, but the goal is the same:
E&I work continues
Livermore’s Equity and Inclu- Keep remote access to raise $100,000 for patient care and community programs,
sion Subcommittee is currently
in its final stage with working
One of the silver linings of the including grief support services, dementia education,
pandemic was that more pub-
group members focusing on vari- lic meetings of local jurisdictions and caregiver resources for local families.
ous projects related to policing, were streamed online, allowing
culture, economic equality and more residents to tune in and
engaging with youth, according participate without having to Single-Day Hike
to a staff update presented to the make time to go in-person. YOUR Saturday, June 5
City Council last week.
The second phase of the city
So, some state legislators are
trying to preserve remote access
CHOICE Week-long Challenge
initiative kicked off in February to public meetings post-pandem- Saturday, May 29, through Saturday, June 5
after Mayor Bob Woerner ap- ic through the passing of As-
pointed Councilmember Bob Car- sembly Bill 339. The bill passed
ling to take his place as co-chair through the Assembly Committee
on the subcommittee upon his on Local Government but nota-
ascension to mayor and the city’s ble opposition forced significant TheHikeForHope.com
decision to accept new working compromises. Q
group applicants.
Since then, each subgroup of
—Jana Kadah, BCN Foundation (925) 829-8770
Pleasanton Weekly • May 7, 2021 • Page 7
Page 8 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
Pleasanton Weekly • May 7, 2021 • Page 9
NEWSFRONT
Foothill, Amador Valley named 2021 Distinguished Schools
BY JULIA BAUM programs and practices.” from middle and high schools. behavior intervention. “especially remarkable” given the
Foothill and Amador Valley high Both schools were awarded about a Honorees hold the title for two Performance and progress indica- “uncertainty and hardship facing all
schools are the most recent Tri- month after Harvest Park and Pleasan- years in a row, which is given by tors on the California School Dash- California schools this past year.”
Valley schools to join this year’s crop ton middle schools were announced the California Department of Edu- board, including test scores, sus- Among the other high schools on
of California Distinguished Schools winners, along with Fallon Middle cation and based on excellence in pension rates and conditions and the 2021 California Distinguished
awardees, a designation given to in Dublin and Mendenhall Middle instruction and learning, as well as climate, are used to determine the Schools list are Dougherty Valley and
schools throughout the state for in Livermore. Elementary schools data-driven action including pro- winners each year. California high schools in San Ramon
their “outstanding education are recognized during alternate years fessional development and positive State officials called the recognitions and Monte Vista High in Danville. Q
DUSD to fill board vacancy by appointment
Applications due by 4 p.m. Tuesday
BY JEREMY WALSH public hearing one week later, will and make the final appointment for Preferred qualifications, according Kuo’s shocking death on March 24.
The Dublin Unified School District last through DUSD’s next regularly the 20-month assignment. to DUSD, include “experience in com- The second-year trustee and married
Board of Trustees has opted for a scheduled election in November To be eligible, an applicant must munity leadership; knowledge of the mother of two was fatally struck by
direct appointment, rather than call- 2022 — as opposed to the full dura- live within Trustee Area 3, which is Dublin Unified School District; and an SUV while volunteering to dis-
ing for a special election, to fill the tion of Kuo’s term, which was due to generally the southern half of Dublin knowledge and/or practical experience tribute food at Fallon Middle School
vacancy on its dais created by the run out in 2024. between Dougherty Road and Tassa- needed to understand publicly funded in what police and school officials
sudden death of Trustee Area 3 rep- The four sitting trustees decided jara Road, with a little bit also extend- school district issues — finances, bud- described as a “tragic accident.”
resentative Catherine Kuo in March. against a special election and set the ing over to Fallon Road. A full map is get, personnel and policies.” Dublin Police Services has com-
Area 3 residents interested in ap- application and appointment sched- available on the district website. To obtain an application, visit dub- pleted its investigation into the col-
plying must complete the packet by ule during their meeting on April 29. Candidates must also be at least linusd.org or call 925-828-2551. lision and forwarded the case to the
4 p.m. Tuesday (May 11). There will be a special board meet- 18 years old, a California citizen, a The board has been faced with Alameda County District Attorney’s
The provisional appointment, ing on May 18 for the trustees to pub- registered voter and not disqualified the prospect of addressing the va- Office for review, according to Capt.
which is expected to be made at a licly interview qualified candidates by law from holding a civil office. cancy as part of the aftermath of Nate Schmidt. Q
COUNCIL (Dublin San Ramon Services District) If applied to all future non-Cost- total project costs, “and therefore expenses, and half of any project
Continued from Page 5 frontage, so that westbound lane co development, staff said the fee the $8.6 million allocation to future costs exceeding estimates from
continues through the intersection would raise $8.6 million — enough development,” staff said. 2017.
An estimated $27.6 million in and that brand new lane would then to reduce the city’s mandatory re- The council also approved al- The master fee schedule was also
transportation improvements are go immediately on to I-680 north.” imbursement to Costco. Any fee locating a $5.2 million grant from amended on Tuesday to reflect fees
needed to accommodate traffic when “That I-680 north currently has revenues received after the city has the Alameda County Transportation of $38.16 per square foot to develop
the JDEDZ is fully built out, accord- just one lane, so we need a second fully reimbursed Costco would be Commission to reduce the city’s cost retail for currently vacant parcels in
ing to staff. Traffic engineer Mike lane, which requires the construc- used to reimburse the general fund. between traffic impact fee and cost the JDEDZ, and $14.12 per square
Tassano told the council that one of tion of a bridge widening, which The $8.6 million includes approx- contributions toward the Stoneridge foot for hotels. A second reading of
the projects has been planned since is just essentially a second bridge imately $1 million of right-of-way Drive and I-680 on-ramp project, the ordinance is scheduled to take
1998 and will be paid by traffic im- attached to the current bridge,” Tas- (ROW) costs; staff said most of the as well as paying $1.8 million from place at the May 18 council meeting;
pact fees already collected by the city. sano said, adding that the project needed ROW is located in the par- the Dublin Freeway Reimbursement if approved, the fee would go into
“That’s the only project that’s with- costs are “all anticipated in the Traf- cels that would be charged. A credit Reserve to fund their half of ROW effect 60 days later. Q
in these five projects that can be fic Impact Fund.” against the fee to property own-
funded through our traffic impact Since the overall project’s original ers equal to the contributed ROW
fee because it’s in there and so we’ve
separated that one out,” Tassano
budget was set four years ago, costs
have grown by $6.1 million — from
value was recommended, as well
as extending credit for previously TAKE US ALONG
said. Work on the project includes $21.5 million. A sales tax-sharing completed JDEDZ work, including
widening on westbound Stoneridge agreement at a 1.5% interest rate California Environmental Quality
Drive, heading toward Hacienda with Costco lasting 25 years will pay Act and preliminary transportation
Drive, from three lanes to four lanes. for about $6.8 million of the nec- design work.
Tassano explained, “Essentially the essary transportation improvement There is also $440,000 expended
widening length is along the entire costs. to cover preliminary costs in the
STEIN complex in the nearby L Street Supporters of the plan argue that
Continued from Page 5 public garage. more affordable housing is needed
The new project has been at the in the city — especially as housing
for low-income families and the center of a community debate with insecurity has been exacerbated by
local workforce. some residents objecting to the the pandemic — and shouldn’t be
The proposal consists of two size and location of the estimated delayed for fears that further post-
four-story buildings with units that 2.5 gross acre development. Oppo- ponement could result in the loss
range in size from 500 to approxi- nents argued at the April 20 com- of state funding for the project.
mately 1,000 square feet, according mission meeting that a vacant par- Eden Housing currently has
to a staff report presented to the cel across Railroad Avenue would three properties in Livermore: Owl’s
Planning Commission. be a more suitable location for a Landing Apartments on Herman
Both buildings would occupy project of this size and scope. Avenue, Stoney Creek Apartments
a combined footprint of about Challengers of the project have on East Avenue and Arroyo Del
38,000 square feet and would in- also expressed concern that the Valle Commons on Mocho Street.
clude various amenities like lob- proposal has changed since the The Planning Commission ulti- Jump in the Jeep: Two Pleasanton moms who have waited decades for their
bies, recreation rooms and laundry initial conceptual design that was mately approved the project in a dream cars finally got them. Janeen Rubino-Brumm and Lien-Thi de la Pena
facilities. About 31,000 square feet approved by City Council in 2018 4-1 vote, with Stein being the lone are having a blast driving their new 2021 Jeep Wranglers around Pleasanton,
of land between and to the south- that featured four separate build- dissenter. Despite his controver- after waiting 30+ and 25 years, respectively. Once they were done with years
of mom-vehicles, they both built their perfect Jeep online, ordered them, and
east of the two buildings would be ings and a larger park. City staff sial comments in reference to the
waited about three months for their arrivals. And they didn’t do this together,
allocated to Veterans Park, which said that state affordable housing development itself, Stein said the as they recently learned that the other had the same dream car and same
would be open to the public. grant funding requirements called reason for his vote was based solely experience.
Two private underground park- for changes in the mix of units, unit on his view that the parking plan is
ing garages are also a part of the sizes and common areas compared inadequate. To submit your “Take Us Along” entry, email your photograph to editor@
proposal, with additional park- to what was initially considered for The project is set to return to the pleasantonweekly.com. Be sure to identify who is in the photo (names listed
from left to right), the location, the date and any relevant details about where
ing reserved for residents of the the project. City Council on May 24. Q
you took your Weekly.
Page 10 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly2021
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CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Above left: The win
winners of the Pleasanton Weekly’s 2021 Mother’s Day Lookalike
Contest are Varupi Gupta (right) and her daughter Pareena. Above right: Runners-
Lookalike Contest are Monica (left) and Ava Chinn.
up in this year’s Loo
Lookalike contest celebrates lifelong joys of motherhood
BY DOLORES FOX CIARDELLI University School of Medicine, and dad that,” Varupi said. “That was our refuge.” wine-tasting last month.
V
Nitin Gupta works at Oracle in finance. She said she’s read the Weekly since she “My mom has been wanting to enter
arupi Gupta says her daughter But when it was time to buy a house in moved here. this contest for a long time, and she was
Pareena, now 12, did not always 2014, they returned to Pleasanton. “Pleasanton Weekly is not only a great looking through her photos and found
look like her. But the older she “We really like downtown Pleasanton, it source of reliable information but also this one,” said Monica, 28, who teaches
gets, the more the resemblance shows. has an old-world charm to it,” Varupi said. helps us connect with the vibrant Pleasan- kindergarten in Dublin but lives nearby in
“I’m really happy my daughter looks “We are really blessed and lucky to have ton community and has helped in making Pleasanton.
like me, and I am glad people compliment such a community.” Pleasanton our home,” Varupi said. “From the get-go people said we looked
us,” Varupi said. “We really like the diversity in Pleas- She always followed the Mother’s Day like each other,” Ava said. “Our whole
And many of our readers agree they anton in terms of all the ethnicities that contest, but only the last year or two, as lives, people would say, ‘Oh, my gosh, you
look alike — they were voted No. 1 in this are reflected in the shops and restaurants their resemblance grew, did she consider look so much alike.’ Someone even com-
year’s Mother’s Day Lookalike Contest. downtown,” she added. entering. mented that our teeth are the same.”
The resemblance is more pronounced People compliment her when she wears “This year we decided we had to do it, People often tell them they look like sis-
when Pareena performs in classical Indian Indian dress, she noted. to do something fun,” Varupi said. “Since ters, which makes Ava happy but Monica
dance, the mother and daughter agreed. “People appreciate the diversity. They Pareena is at an age where she is changing less so, they agreed with a chuckle.
She has been performing in such shows say, ‘That’s so pretty.’” every few months, we had to take a fresh “We get our hair cut from the same lady,
for years and also performs Bollywood Pareena went to Mohr Elementary, and picture.” and she says we have the same manner-
dance. now she attends Harvest Park Middle Dad Nitin stepped up to do that. isms, too,” Ava added.
“People say I look like her when I have School. “He’s not at all a keen photographer but Ava’s family moved to Pleasanton from
makeup on for dance performances,” Pa- During the pandemic, while working often gives in to the demands of our mom- Berkeley when she was in the first grade,
reena said. and attending school at home, mother daughter team,” Varupi commented with a and she went to Alisal Elementary (be-
The Guptas lived in Pleasanton, then and daughter enjoyed getting out together laugh. cause nearby Fairlands Elementary was
moved to Foster City to be nearer their to their plot in the Pleasanton community The runners-up in the 2021 Looka- not yet opened), then Harvest Park Mid-
jobs on the Peninsula, where Varupi is garden. like Contest are Ava and Monica Chinn. dle School and Foothill High. After col-
in communications/marketing at Stanford “We grow our food and really enjoy They submitted a photo they took while lege at Cal Poly she returned to work at
Page 12 • May 7, 2021 • Pleasanton WeeklyYou can also read
