Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly

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VOL. XXI, NUMBER 39 • JANUARY 1, 2021                                       WWW.PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM
                                                                            W

          Year in Review: Part II
           Last six months of 2020 went from fortitude to longing to hope | Page 12

                                                   5 NEWS   COVID-19 spreads in group housing in Tri-Valley

                                                   5 NEWS   Three fatal crashes in 33 hours in Livermore

                                                   5 NEWS   Janitor dead, another ill at Fallon Middle School
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
Page 2 • January 1, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
COMING SOON IN PLEASANTON
TIM TALK                                                         BY TIM HUNT

  Many more questions
  than answers for 2021                                                                  Highly Desired Foothill Knolls             Huge Backyard w/ Pool

A        s the New Year dawned at
         midnight, I’m hard pressed
         to find a time with so many
more questions than answers.
   Yes, there’s great news about vac-
                                            The other big question facing
                                         Pleasanton is what the new majority
                                         on the City Council will do about
                                         housing. The prior City Council
                                         established the two-year work plan
                                                                                                    7812 FOOTHILL KNOLLS DRIVE
                                                                                        5 Bedrooms / 6 Bathrooms, 4,304 Square Feet, 17,806 Square Foot Lot
cines against the COVID-19 virus         that included as a high priority re-
                                                                                         Nicely updated and expanded home with pool and detached unit. This
and health care workers already are      suming planning on the east side. It           lovely home is perfect for multi-generational living and provides plenty
being immunized. That’s an amaz-         was suspended during the drought.                       of space for those working and schooling from home.
ing tribute to the scientists and        Ponderosa Homes has optioned one
other researchers in Big Pharma and      key parcel land and worked out a
some of their partners that deliv-       contract with the other big land-                       3183 CONTI COURT, PLEASANTON
ered a safe vaccine years earlier than   owner to master plan the area.                  4 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms, 5,799 Square Feet, 27,956 Square Foot Lot
skeptics predicted. Go back and             The concept for the 1,100 acres
look at some internet news clips         includes a school site, an exten-            Gorgeous custom home in Ruby Hill on a lovely court with a large lot backing
when Operation Warp Speed was            sion of the popular Ironwood active          to the golf course. This beautiful home features a theatre room, private office
announced — the president and his        adult community and more than                                             and separate library.
administration deserve lots of credit    500 affordable housing units. City
as well.                                 staff leadership held the agreement
   But big questions remain as more      with Ponderosa through the elec-              7TIME WINNER AS PLEASANTON’S BEST REALTOR & HALL OF FAME MEMBER
and more people are immunized.           tion season, and now it’s a question
When will people be comfortable          of what new Mayor Karla Brown
flying on airplanes, particularly on
the long-haul international flights
                                         and councilwomen Julie Testa and
                                         Valerie Arkin will do about it.
                                                                                                     Gina Piper
that have been the bread-and-butter         They will face significant pres-                         925.200.0202 • DRE #01201349
for the airlines? Has business travel    sure from the state. The governor                           gina@elationre.com
— a lucrative revenue source for         promised, pre-pandemic, aggressive                          ElationRE.com
airlines — shifted forever?              action to address the state’s chronic
   Will employers continue to allow      housing shortage. That got derailed,
their employees to work remotely,        but, as the pandemic eases, it will
whether full-time or part-time?          be back on the front burner in
What will that mean for the “class
A” office space in San Francisco and
                                         Sacramento.
                                            Testa is a founder of California
                                                                                         Tri-Valley readers, what is
other job hubs? The San Francisco        Alliance of Electeds, as well as ac-
Business Times reported Monday
that leasing activity in San Fran-
                                         tive in Liveable California, both
                                         groups that are committed to local
                                                                                      local journalism worth to you?
cisco is down 75% year-over-year,        control. In this case, you can trans-
hitting a low last seen 20 years ago.    late local control to strict limits on
   Here in the Tri-Valley, an area       housing.
known for its quality of life and as        That will run afoul of the upcom-
an ideal place to raise a family, the    ing new regional housing goal num-
business future also has plenty of       bers that are due this year. Pleas-
questions.                               anton’s goal is expected to be in
   The Livermore Valley will benefit     the 4,000-unit range, significantly
from its strong cluster of life sci-     more than the current cycle. With
ence and advanced manufacturing          its strong job base and two BART
companies. The life science firms        stations, Pleasanton is exactly the
require lab space so remote work         type of community where regional
for the entire employee pool doesn’t     planners expect more high-density
play — the same for manufacturing        housing to be built close to public
facilities such as Topcon, Gillig and    transit. The city, with the ACE train
Lam Research.                            and its downtown station is correct-           Keep strong journalism alive in your community.
   What the lessons learned this         ly concerned about high-density in
year will mean for the valley’s strong   a single-family neighborhood.                 With local retail advertising steadily declining around the nation,
software companies and demand               2021 brings lots of questions              the future of local journalism is in the hands of our readers. Only
for office space is a big question.      with a fuzzy crystal ball when it
Workday gave an early hint this          comes to answers. Q                           with your direct support as a subscribing member can we retain
year after the pandemic hit when it           Editor’s note: Opinion columnist Tim     our professional journalists and continue to provide insightful and
walked away from a deal to take the               Hunt has written columns on the      engaging coverage of the community.
14-acre retail site next to Stoneridge         Tri-Valley community for more than
Shopping Center. 10x Genomics,                   40 years. He grew up in the valley
with its headquarters a block away,              and lives in Pleasanton. His “Tim     For just $10 a month, or 33 cents a day, you can do your part to
scooped it up and has submitted                 Talk” blog appears twice a week at     ensure that a free and responsible press continues to hold institutions
plans to the city.                                          PleasantonWeekly.com.      accountable.
                                                                                          Sign up for membership at pleasantonweekly.com/join
About the Cover
We’re back with the second half of our annual retrospective. Reflect on all the                                                              Danville
big news in the Tri-Valley from July through December in our Year in Review:                                                                 San
                                                                                                                                             .com
                                                                                                                                                  Ramon
Part II, inside from Pages 12-18. File photos. Cover design by Paul Llewellyn.
                                                            Vol. XXI, Number 39
                                                                                                                                      Pleasanton Weekly • January 1, 2021 • Page 3
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
Streetwise                                                ASKED AROUND TOWN

                                                                                                                        What are you looking forward
                                                                                                                         to doing in the new year?
                                                                                                                                                           Marie Riccio
                                                                                                                                                           Law school student
                                                                                                                                                           I am looking forward to doing everything
                                                                                                                                                           I haven’t been able to do since March

                         +$33
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
Newsfront
DIGEST                                   COVID-19 spreads in group housing
Tree disposal
   Signups are underway for the                Tri-Valley nursing homes grapple with virus; outbreak at Dublin women’s prison
annual Christmas Tree Pickup
and Recycling Day this month                    BY JULIA BAUM                   on the Alameda County Public            Tri-Valley currently in the top 10      cases in the facility this summer.
benefiting Boy Scouts Troop 941          The Vineyards Healthcare Cen-          Health Department website as of         for most COVID-19 cases among              More recent cases have been
in Pleasanton.                        ter in Livermore was No. 9 among          Monday afternoon.                       residents in skilled nursing fa-        reported, but Pleasanton Nursing
   Money raised by the effort is      skilled nursing facilities with the          There has been at least one          cilities countywide, several other      and Rehab officials had not re-
used to help buy camping equip-       most resident cases of COVID-19           resident death at the facility at-      nursing homes in Livermore and          sponded to a request for comment.
ment and fund the troop’s scout-
                                      in Alameda County, according to           tributed to COVID-19, but none          Pleasanton have reported cases             Twelve resident deaths are also
ing activities such as summer
camp and weekend outings.             data from local public health of-         among employees to date. The            and deaths as well. In all but one      documented for Pleasanton Nurs-
   The Scouts’ holiday tree pick-     ficials on Monday.                        public data does not include an         facility, resident cases outnum-        ing and Rehab, which date back to
ups will take place Jan. 9 between       The rising totals at the facility      exact number of cases or deaths if      bered employee cases.                   the summer outbreak. The death
8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and are re-        on Fenton Street come as other            a facility has 10 or fewer on record       Pleasanton Nursing and Reha-         of one employee due to COVID-19
stricted to Pleasanton addresses.     group living settings in the Tri-         (otherwise it is tracked as “less       bilitation Center remains just out-     was confirmed around the same
All trees must be curbside when       Valley face the winter trend of           than 11,” with no precise number        side the top 10 most COVID resi-        time; the facility’s death count is
pickups start that morning, and       increased COVID-19 cases, in-             as a “de-identification” strategy).     dent cases in an Alameda County         still reported as less than 11 so an
all ornaments, lights and tree        cluding an ongoing outbreak at               Representatives of The Vine-         skilled nursing facility. The center    exact total remains unclear.
stands must be removed. No            the federal prison for women in           yards did not respond to re-            is currently No. 11 with 51 resi-          Four other Tri-Valley skilled
flocked or artificial trees will be
                                      Dublin.                                   quest for comment as of Monday          dent cases and 49 employee cases        nursing facilities are listed farther
picked up.
   Register by Tuesday (Jan. 5). To      In total, 53 resident and 38 staff     afternoon.                              — most of which happened dur-
sign up, visit www.Troop941.org.      cases at The Vineyards are listed            Though the only facility in the      ing an outbreak of more than 90               See COVID-19 on Page 9

Talk Hawks
   Las Positas College’s champion
forensics team, Talk Hawk, won
                                                                                                                                                                Janitor dead,
first place and took second in two
tournaments in December.                                                                                                                                         another ill
   The team attended the 2020
Off Broadway Swing, which was
held virtually over the weekend
                                                                                                                                                                at Fallon MS
of Dec. 5, in two tournaments.                                                                                                                                   Strange chemical odor,
Overall, Talk Hawk received sec-
ond place at the Nassau Com-                                                                                                                                        fentanyl at scene,
munity College tournament —                                                                                                                                         per Dublin police
beaten out only by Cornell Uni-
versity — and won first place in
the other tournament held by                                                                                                                                             BY JEREMY WALSH
Hofstra University.                                                                                                                                                Dublin police continue to in-
   Both tournaments were held                                                                                                                                   vestigate the death of a Fallon
virtually this year, allowing the                                                                                                                               Middle School janitor and the
entire Talk Hawk team to par-                                                                                                                                   illness befalling his fiancee, also a
ticipate, and featured competitors                                                                                                                              custodian at the school, when the
from 30 colleges and universi-                                                                                                                                  engaged couple were found by
ties from 15 different states. The                                                                                                                              police in severe medical distress
team’s novice competitors were                                                                                                                                  in the library early in the morn-
also able to compete in open level
                                                                                                                                                                ing after not returning home after
competition for the first time.
   In a statement, Talk Hawk                                                                                                                                    their shift last week.
coaching staffer and LPC com-                                                                                                                                      The decedent has been identi-
munications studies instructor                                                                                                                                  fied by the Alameda County Cor-
Jim Dobson called his students                                                                                                                                  oner’s Bureau at James Coving-
“amazing.”                                                                                                                                                      ton, 32, of Pittsburg. His fiancee
   “We are certainly making a                                                                                                                 CIERRA BAILEY     and colleague, identified online
lot of noise around the country,”        Memorial display alongside Las Positas Road honors three teenage boys from Livermore who died in a crash with          as Shameka Wilbon, had been
Dobson said. “This small commu-          a big-rig on the night of Dec. 21.                                                                                     treated at a local hospital and was
nity college is doing something                                                                                                                                 expected to make a full recovery.
very unique. We just went against
an Ivy League school in an aca-
demic activity and won.”
                                                 Fatal crashes rock Livermore                                                                                      Investigators are still unsure
                                                                                                                                                                what caused both to be left ail-
                                                                                                                                                                ing at Fallon on the morning of
                                                               Memorial honors teens killed on Dec. 21,                                                         Dec. 23, as well as the source of
Nonprofit of the Year
   Tri-Valley State Senator Steve
                                                               among three deadly collisions last week                                                          the strange chemical-like odor
                                                                                                                                                                responding officers reported
Glazer (D-Orinda) this fall award-
                                                 BY JEREMY WALSH                around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.          outside the city limits.                 smelling in the library. Officers
ed the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year
honor for his District 7 to Trin-           The Livermore community is             It was the second of the three         The crashes have left family,         did locate apparent fentanyl at
ity Center, a nonprofit organiza-        reeling after three separate traf-     fatal crashes in Livermore be-         friends and colleagues mourning          the scene later that day, Capt.
tion based in Walnut Creek that          fic collisions killed five people      tween Dec. 21 and 22.                  during the holiday season —              Nate Schmidt told the Weekly on
supports homeless and very-low-          within a 33-hour period last              Earlier on Dec. 21, Livermore       and the three incidents occurring        Monday.
income individuals.                      week, including the nighttime          resident Christine Boyle died at a     in seemingly rapid succession               The pending results toxicology
   Trinity Center served 970 dif-        crash along Las Positas Road that      nearby hospital hours after being      rocked the Livermore Valley.             testing, which could take several
ferent individuals and provided          claimed the lives of three teenage     hit by a gravel truck while trying                                              weeks or more to process through
more than 56,000 services in                                                                                                Three teens killed
                                         boys.                                  to ride across an intersection on                                               external laboratories, will shed
2019-20. It operates during the             Rahul Brar, 18; Shej Kumar,         her bicycle on Stanley Boulevard          Brar’s family said on so-             more light on exactly what took
day and offers services such as
                                         16; and Ian Ericksen, 16 —             that morning.                          cial media that the 18-year-old          place, according to the captain.
meals, showers, laundry, cloth-
ing, and mail and telephone ac-          all Livermore residents — died            And the next evening, Stock-        was driving his cousin Kumar                “No matter how you look at it,
cess, coupled with case man-             after their vehicle struck a big-rig   ton school teacher Julie Ownbey        and friend Ericksen home after           this is very, very sad,” Schmidt
agement for benefits, housing,           trailer that was blocking the in-      died in a solo-vehicle rollover
employment and substance use             tersection at a business driveway      along North Livermore Avenue               See CRASHES on Page 10                      See JANITOR on Page 7
counseling. Q
                                                                                                                                                        Pleasanton Weekly • January 1, 2021 • Page 5
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
NEWSFRONT

 County delays appeal hearing for Aramis solar plant project
                                                   Postponement gives Haubert more time for community meetings
           BY JULIA BAUM                                                                                                         Friends of Livermore solar com-       chairman for Save North Livermore
   One month after a 410-acre solar                                                                                           mittee chair Michael Fredrich and        Valley, said in a statement, “We are
power plant north of Livermore was                                                                                            Tamara Reus, president of Friends        pleased that Intersect Power will no
initially approved, Alameda County                                                                                            of Open Space and Vineyards, said        longer be allowed to rush the review
officials have postponed an appeal                                                                                            in a joint letter to county planning     of its massive Aramis industrial solar
hearing for the project until early                                                                                           director Albert Lopez that they only     power plant proposed for the scenic
February.                                                                                                                     learned about the original Aramis        North Livermore Valley, an area spe-
   Proponents and opponents of the                                                                                            appeal hearing date informally from      cifically designated by voters for the
Aramis solar project both recently                                                                                            county staff on Dec. 11.                 preservation of agriculture and open
requested to delay the originally                                                                                                Fredrich and Reus argued hold-        space.”
scheduled Jan. 12 hearing before the                                                                                          ing a hearing in mid-January also           The organization also supports
county Board of Supervisors, accord-                                                                                   SNLV   would have placed “a significant         Haubert’s call for a moratorium on
ing to Shawn Wilson, chief of staff for   Project areas of the Sunwalker industrial solar power plant in the foreground       burden” on volunteers for both           reviewing new solar plants on agri-
outgoing Supervisor Scott Haggerty,       (in orange) and the larger Aramis solar plant (in red), totaling 700-plus acres.    groups to prepare, especially during     cultural land “until the county com-
whose District 1 includes the project                                                                                         the holidays.                            pletes a comprehensive study and
area.                                     the new supervisor and let’s talk to      members.                                     “The compressed time frame in         mapping project on the appropriate
   The postponement “makes more           him,’” Wilson told the Weekly.              “It’s not something that deserves       which the solar hearings have oc-        siting, scale, and operation of solar
prudent sense,” Wilson said, not-            Instead, the Board of Supervisors      to be rushed. We’re talking about a       curred has put additional pressure       power plants, if any, on agricultural
ing that Haggerty’s successor, former     will consider the proposal at their       400-plus acre project,” he added.         on us to be able to keep up with the     land, and incorporates this work in
Dublin mayor and now Supervisor-          next meeting in February, Wilson            In late November, the East County       applicants and the county,” they said.   a solar ordinance and General Plan
elect David Haubert, will have more       said.                                     Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA)             Another grassroots organization       Amendment,” O’Brien said.
time to become familiarized with             With only a week between Hau-          approved the Aramis solar project         also fighting both projects, including      Aramis developer Intersect Power
plans after being sworn in Jan. 4.        bert’s induction and the original hear-   by Intersect Power in the north-          appealing the recent zoning board’s      also filed an appeal, challenging
   “The neighbors in particular that      ing date, Wilson said there would         ern Livermore Valley — a separate         decision on Aramis and request-          county-imposed conditions of ap-
live in close proximity and also some     have been little time for the new su-     smaller solar power plant by Sun-         ing time extensions for the hearing,     proval around increased wildlife
of the Livermore organizations said       pervisor to meet with the applicants,     walker Energy in the same area was        praised the delayed hearing.             buffer, setbacks and agricultural
‘let’s take some time and meet with       neighbors and other community             approved weeks later.                        Chris O’Brien, steering committee     plantings. Q

 DUSD invites public to apply for superintendent’s Interview Committee
                                          Members will ‘play a key role’ in selecting the district’s next permanent leader
           BY JULIA BAUM                  Trustees with feedback that will be       process and approved by the trust-        year so the district would have suf-        • Jan. 25: Deadline to submit ap-
   The Dublin Unified School Dis-         used when making the final hiring         ees. Prospective candidates must          ficient time to find a permanent         plication form
trict is creating a committee of com-     decision.                                 complete and submit an application        superintendent.                             • Feb. 23: Board appoints com-
munity members in its search for            Each of the five Board of Trustees      form by Jan. 25.                             It was the second time in over a      mittee members
the next permanent superintendent,        members will appoint one member,             The search process has been con-       year that a superintendent suddenly         • March 25: Committee orienta-
with the hopes of selecting a vi-         as well as the Dublin Teachers As-        tinuing amid the COVID-19 pan-            left DUSD. Prior to Marken’s tenure,     tion session
able candidate before the 2021-22         sociation, California Schools Em-         demic and in the wake of former           Leslie Boozer and the board mutu-           • April 22: Committee interviews
school year.                              ployees and student school boards         short-term superintendent Dave            ally parted ways in March 2019.          superintendent candidates and pro-
   The Community Interview Com-           representing Dublin and Valley high       Marken abruptly giving his resig-            Interim Superintendent Daniel         vides feedback
mittee’s 15 members will “play a          schools.                                  nation to the board in late June.         Moirao has been leading the district        • May 11: Board hires new su-
key role” in the district’s recruit-        The remaining six committee             Marken came out of retirement in          since Marken’s departure.                perintendent (tentative).
ment process by interviewing can-         members will be selected through          April 2019, and later agreed to              Key dates for the superintendent         For more information, visit dub-
didates and providing the Board of        a board subcommittee application          stay on through the 2020-21 school        search process include:                  lin.k12.ca.us. Q

    LAVTA seeks input on
  pandemic service changes
  Residents have through Jan. 20 to submit comments
      Community feedback is               six routes has been reduced.
   wanted on the Livermore Ama-           All service after 11 p.m. is
   dor Valley Transit Authority’s         discontinued.
   changes to service that were              Details about LAVTA’s actions
   brought about by the COVID-            to operate during the pandemic
   19 pandemic.                           and emergency service changes,
      The public input process is         as well as the public input pro-
   required “when emergency ser-          cess, are available at wheelsbus.
   vice changes have been in place        com/covid.
   for more than 180 days,” of-              Comments received will be
   ficials said.                          summarized and given to the
      LAVTA was forced to reduce          Board of Directors. Submit
   or eliminate services with low         comments by email to info@
   use in order to maintain es-           lavta.org or by postal mail to
   sential functions after overall        COVID Service Change Com-
   ridership plummeted by ap-             ments, LAVTA, 1362 Rutan
   proximately 90% during the             Court, Suite 100, Livermore.
   first week of Alameda County’s         Comments may also be faxed:
                                                                                                                                                                                                       HIVELY
   shelter-in-place order in March.       443-1375.
      Currently, two regular and             The deadline to submit com-            Hively helps this holiday season
   three express routes have been         mentary is Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. Q            Staff from local nonprofit Hively, along with 40 volunteers, distributed items outside its offices in Pleasanton to
   discontinued, and service on                                —Julia Baum          more than 600 children living throughout Alameda County, including toys, warm clothing, food, diapers, baby
                                                                                    wipes, children’s books and gift cards to purchase essential items.

Page 6 • January 1, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
NEWSFRONT

                                                                                                                                                                                             Italian Style
                                                                                                                                                                                          Spaghetti & Ravioli
                                                                                                                                                                 HALL OF FAME
                                                                                                                                                                  PLEASANTON
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Pleasanton native Aaron Gnagy serves in the U.S. Navy at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
                                                                                                              NAVY/COLIN SENS    We buy gold, silver
                                                                                                                                      & platinum jewelry
    Navy spotlights Pleasanton sailor
       for service in East Africa
                Gnagy currently serving at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti
         BY RYAN J. DEGAN                 in December, which seeks out to tell       and for coordinating with foreign and
   Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class       the stories of the average service         coalition air operation controllers.”
Aaron Gnagy, a Pleasanton native          member stationed abroad, bringing             “I’ve made many sacrifices, such as
serving in the Navy at Camp Lemon-        to light their backgrounds and cur-        time away from my family and events
nier in Djibouti, has been featured       rent activities.                           in life that I’ve missed, while being in
recently by a national military news         Gnagy is the ground control tower       the Navy,” Gnagy told DVIDS. “How-
service that shines the spotlight on      liaison for air operations at Camp         ever, I’m proud of the qualifications
U.S. service members working to
protect their country around the
                                          Lemonnier Djibouti — a U.S. Naval
                                          Expeditionary Base near the intersec-
                                                                                     that I’ve earned as well as the friends
                                                                                     that I’ve made during my time in the
                                                                                                                                                                                 We buy &
globe.
   Gnagy was featured in the Defense
                                          tion of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
                                          in eastern Africa — where DVIDS
                                                                                     Navy.”
                                                                                        Interested residents can read the
                                                                                                                                                                                  sell gold and
Visual Information Distribution Ser-      officials say he is responsible for “is-   whole profile on Gnagy online at                                                              silver coins
vice’s (DVIDS) Spotlight series earlier   suing ground movement instructions         www.dvidshub.net/news. Q

                                          back of the school, and began              officers to discover a substance
         JANITOR                          searching the school. A cellphone          that tentatively tested positive for
        Continued from Page 5
                                          ping soon identified one victim’s          fentanyl at an unidentified location
said. “Our hearts go out to the           cellphone as being in the library,         on campus, according to Schmidt.
family. Horrible.”                        according to Schmidt.                         The cause of the janitors’ medi-
                                                                                                                                  High end
   Dublin Unified School District
Interim Superintendent Daniel
                                             The officers located the missing
                                          man and woman in the library
                                                                                     cal issues has not been determined,
                                                                                     nor has the cause of Covington’s
                                                                                                                                   watches, coins
Moirao issued a statement late on
the afternoon of Dec. 23 confirm-
                                          suffering from unknown medi-
                                          cal issues. They also detected “an
                                                                                     death, according to Schmidt. The
                                                                                     case remains under investigation.
                                                                                                                                    & diamonds
ing the on-campus death of an             unknown chemical smell” in the                Moirao told the school com-
unnamed member of the Fallon              room, Schmidt said.                        munity last week he had no new
site custodial team and offering             Officers carried both ailing peo-       information about the incident to                 FREE quotes • A+ Rating with BBB
condolences to their family.              ple outside to the school courtyard,       share beyond what Dublin police
   “Our deepest sympathies go out         but the man — later identified as          released publicly.
to the family and friends of our lost
colleague and also to the students,
                                          Covington — succumbed to his
                                          injuries and was pronounced dead
                                                                                        “As we stated earlier today, you
                                                                                     may not have all the information
                                                                                                                                         SILVER & GOLD
staff and community of Fallon Mid-
dle School,” Moirao said. “No mat-
ter how strong the Fallon Mustang
                                          at the scene, according to Schmidt.
                                             The woman — later identified as
                                          Covington’s fiancee and colleague
                                                                                     you’d like, but we ask that you
                                                                                     avoid speculation and allow our
                                                                                     partners at the Dublin Police De-
                                                                                                                                         EXCHANGE
family is, losing a family member at      — was treated at the scene by              partment to provide us with the                      4211-3B Rosewood Drive, Pleasanton
any time is tragic, but during this       Alameda County Fire Department             facts. Speculation helps no one,” he                            925.463.2274
time of year, it is devastating.”         and Faulk Ambulance Services and           said.
   Police responded to the school
on Kohnen Way around 7 a.m.
                                          then transported to a local hospital
                                          for further treatment, the captain
                                                                                        Moirao also encouraged any stu-
                                                                                     dent or staff member struggling
                                                                                                                                       www.silverandgoldc4g.com
Dec. 23 after a caller reported two       said. She was expected to make a           with the news of the custodian’s
people missing after saying they          full recovery.                             death to contact the district’s coun-
didn’t return home after their shift         ACFD’s hazardous material sup-          seling team for assistance.
providing janitorial services at Fal-
lon the day before, according to
                                          port unit was called in to investi-
                                          gate the chemical smell, but after
                                                                                        “Finally, I know that this has
                                                                                     been a tough year for our commu-           VERY                               Print or online subscription starts
                                                                                                                                                                            at only $5/month
Schmidt. The pair had been sched-
uled to work a normal afternoon-
                                          an extensive search of the area, “no
                                          toxic chemicals were found, noth-
                                                                                     nity. If we have learned anything
                                                                                     in 2020 it is to appreciate what           REAL                                Visit: PleasantonWeekly.com/join
into-evening shift at Fallon on Dec.
22.
                                          ing that could cause the medical
                                          issues the victims were experienc-
                                                                                     we have and to remember to tell
                                                                                     our family and friends that we love        LOCAL
   Officers found a vehicle belong-
ing to the missing couple at the
                                          ing,” Schmidt said.
                                             A subsequent school search led
                                                                                     them,” the interim superintendent
                                                                                     said. Q                                    NEWS                             #PressOn

                                                                                                                                                               Pleasanton Weekly • January 1, 2021 • Page 7
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
Donate online at www.PleasantonWeekly.com/holiday_fund

                                              Donate to the Pleasanton Weekly

         The following agencies will benefit from the Holiday Fund:
                                                                                                                        2020-2021 Holiday Fund Donors
     • Axis Community Health                              • Open Heart Kitchen
                                                                                                                        As of December 21, 272 donors have contributed $67,722
     • CityServe of the Tri-Valley                        • Valley Humane Society                                               to the Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund.
     • Hope Hospice                                       • ValleyCare Charitable Foundation
                                                                                                          36 Anonymous .........................................$10,185               William Lincoln .................................................100
                                                                                                          Rich & Gloria Fredette ........................................**           Sandy Nunn .....................................................100
                                                                                                          Jim & Elaine Keysor ..........................................300           Michele VerKuilen ............................................250
                                                                                                          Alan & Julia Casamajor.....................................100              Shelley Bugler ...................................................200
                                                                                                          Bobby Jensen ...................................................300         Jerry & Judy Gagne...........................................100
                                                                                                          Bruce & Cindy Yamamoto ................................100                  R. Csencsits & M. Kundmann ...........................200
                                                                                                          Dean Buchenauer...............................................**            Hermann Family ...............................................300
                                                                                                          Donna & Jim Zarrillo ...........................................**          Harold & Rozann Densmore ...............................**
                                                                                                          Norm & Joyce Pacheco .......................................**              Chris & Erika Beratlis ..........................................**
                                                                                                          Austin & Xu ...................................................2,000        Kathi & Phillip Vermont ....................................100
                 Please consider donating online, which enables your gift to be                           Bob & Marianne Eisberg.....................................**               Bob & Joyce Shapiro .........................................100
                          processed immediately. The secure website is:                                   Ken & Barbara McDonald ..................................**                 Bor-Ruey Fu & Lien-Chi Yu..................................**
                                                                                                          Robert Russman ...............................................100           Chris & Linda Coleman.....................................500
                    siliconvalleycf.org/PleasantonWeeklyHolidayFund                                       Ran & Pat Costello..............................................**          Mark & Mary Anne Lewis ...................................**
                                                                                                          Shake Sulikyan ...................................................**        Kay Fogarty ......................................................200
                                                                                                          Marvin Rensink...................................................**         Banahan Family ................................................500
      Enclosed is a check for $___________                                                                Victor Wheatman .............................................100            Randy & Emily Yim ...........................................200
                                                                                                          Sonal & Ajay Shah ..............................................**          Bill & Pat Ruvalcaba ..........................................500
      Name: ____________________________________________________                                          Eric & Lainie Krieger .........................................500          Frank Geasa .....................................................200
                                                                                                          Chuck & Mary Shoemaker .................................**                  Mary Claire Sites...............................................100
      Business Name: ______________________________________________                                       Vincent & Sarah Ciccarello .................................**              Betty Kirvan ......................................................100
      (Only required if business name is to be listed as donor in the paper)                              Kathy & Jeff Narum ..........................................100            Michelle Suski.....................................................**
                                                                                                          Chuck & Debra Uhler .......................................125              Dave Cryer .......................................................100
      Address: ___________________________________________________                                        Alica Desrosiers ................................................100        Rick & Dawn Marie Barraza ..............................250
                                                                                                          Carmen Merritt ..................................................**         Lou & Susan Astbury ........................................100
      City/State/Zip: _________________ / __________ / _____________                                      Glenda Beratlis ..............................................1,000         Nanda & Sangeeta Gottiparthy ..........................**
                                                                                                          Greg Landrum ..................................................500          Mike & Christie Underwood .............................100
      Email: _____________________________________________________                                        Pete & Julie Mason .............................................**          Lynn Dantzker ..................................................250
                                                                                                          Rony & Lonnie Shaw ........................................100              Art & Joan Tenbrink ............................................35
      Phone: _______________________________                                                              Donna Johnson ................................................100           Ellen & Steve Shiromizu ......................................**
                                                                                                          John & Noel Wilson ..........................................100            Noel & Don Anger..............................................**
      I wish to designate my contribution as follows (select one):                                        John & Barbara Severini....................................200              Roger & Laura Miller...........................................50
                                                                                                          Kevin & Cindy Powers ........................................**             Helmuth Meissner ..............................................**
      T In my name as shown above           T In the name of business above                               The Markel Ohana ...........................................350             William Haynes..............................................1,000
                                                                                                          Barry Jolette .....................................................100      Diane Wardin .....................................................25
                                           – OR –
                                                                                                          David Clausen ..................................................250         Joe & Janet Cristiano ..........................................**
                        T In honor of: T In memory of: T As a gift for:                                   Teri Bush.............................................................50    Sarah Loduha .....................................................**
                                                                                                          Susan Mirabelli ...................................................25       Jan & Jeb Bing ..................................................100
                                                                                                          Julia Murtagh ...................................................500        Kristine Gross ...................................................100
      ___________________________________________________________                                         Andy & Valerie Poryes ......................................250             Liz Kerton .........................................................250
                                               (Name of Person)                                           Lori James Rice ...................................................**       Bernie & Michael Billen.......................................**
      The Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund is a donor advised fund of Silicon Valley Community              Gemma Herbert ...............................................100            Steven Ethier ......................................................**
      Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. A contribution to this fund allows your donation   The Cohen Family.............................................500            Curtis Lum..........................................................75
      to be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.                                              Jeffrey Fugate ...................................................100       Thomas Fox ......................................................200
                                                                                                          Christopher Scott ...............................................50         Marjorie York ...................................................250
      All donors and their gift amounts will be published in the Pleasanton Weekly unless                 Christina Amber .................................................50         Kathleen Reinig ................................................100
      the boxes below are checked.                                                                        Christina Nystrom Mantha .................................**                Richard Alexander ............................................800
                                                                                                          John Parker ......................................................200       Xiaoli & Tim Yu.................................................200
      T I wish to contribute anonymously.                                                            The Lombardi Family ..........................................**            Kay King...........................................................200
                                                                                                          Robert Green......................................................50        Richard & Poy Chew.........................................100
           T Please withhold the amount of my contribution.
                                                                                                          Susan Evans......................................................100        The Vellinger ....................................................200
                                                                                                          John Stephens ..................................................100         Carol Guarnaccia................................................**
          Make checks payable to Silicon Valley Community Foundation and send to:
                                                                                                          Peter Bedegi .....................................................400       Ilene & Mike Forman ........................................250
                          05 – Pleasanton Weekly Holiday Fund                                             Frank & Muriel Capilla ........................................**           Randy & Pat Davis ............................................100
                          Silicon Valley Community Foundation                                             Herbert & Stella Chang ......................................**             Ann & Don Rathjen ............................................**
                                                                                                          Al & Anna Lipski .................................................**        Hina & Chetan Saiya ..........................................**
                                       P.O. Box 45389                                                     Cindy & Bob Gee..............................................100            Sharon Piekarski ...............................................250
                              San Francisco, CA 94145-0389                                                Joe & Sue Silva ...................................................**       Bob & Betsy Harris ............................................400
                                                                                                          Garrett Holmes & Angela Ramirez Holmes .......100                           Patricia Bacon ...................................................100
                                                                                                          Jeff & Jeri Oh ......................................................**     Peggy Bryant ....................................................100
                                                                                                          Kevin & Sandra Ryan ........................................100             Bob & Debbie Rycerski .....................................100
                                    In partnership with:                                                  Sue Compton ...................................................250          The Jolley Family.................................................**
                                                                                                          Rebecca Dennis ................................................100          Edward Herman .................................................**
                                                                                                          Madhusudan Vishwanath ................................100                   Jack Balch.........................................................100
                                                                                                          Jill Buck ............................................................200   Terry Gianatasio..................................................50

Page 8 • January 1, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
NEWSFRONT

Peter MacDonald........................... 200
Jeff Christensen ............................. 300
                                                              Charles Soule, from Dorothy Soule .....**
                                                              Charles J. Sebahar & Charles J.
                                                                                                                            ‘Save Scrooge’ in online escape room
James Price ................................. 5,000           Sebahar, Jr., from Karen Sebahar .....100
Nancy Allen ................................... 500           Lana Vigallon .......................................**                       Virtual activity offers family-friendly puzzle solving fun
Linda Mullineaux ........................... 100              Lee B. Young, from Marsha Young.....**
Marilyn Duman ............................. 500               Karen Milelli.........................................**              BY RYAN J. DEGAN
Johanna Prevost .............................. 30             Bob Williams........................................**          Infamous misanthrope and
The Morgenstern Family.................. **                   William C. “Bud” Lunde,                                      cold-hearted miser Ebenezer
Kelly & Steve Kanty ....................... 200               from Louise Lunde...............................**           Scrooge is back to his holiday-
Nancy Page ................................... 500            Margaret Hale & Helen Martin,                                hating ways, and Tri-Valley resi-
Michael Siegling .............................. 25
                                                              from Dave & Roz Gamble ...................**                 dents may be the only ones who
Ana & Michael Fong...................... 150                  Moms-Mary Britto & Lee Gagnon,                               can help by signing up for the
                                                              from Carl & Maggie Britto.................100                virtual adventure “Saving Scrooge:
Praveen Sampat ............................ 100
                                                              Hathily P. Johnson & Marcus E. Peterson,                     A Holiday Haunt.”
Peter Schulze ................................. 250
                                                              from Hathi Winston &                                            Created by Fantasy Escape
Stacey Ristow ................................ 500            Jerry Prettyman..................................200
Leah Anderson .............................. 200
                                                                                                                           Games, Saving Scrooge takes in-
                                                              Grandpa Tom & Grandma Marge, from
Deborah Wallace ........................... 100               Jeff & Nina .........................................150
                                                                                                                           spiration from Charles Dickens’
Ron & Kathy Anderson.................. 200
                                                                                                                           famous novella “A Christmas
                                                              Grandpa Ray & Grandma Terry, from
Dorothy Maddox ............................. **               Kevin & Annie....................................150         Carol,” blending together tradi-
Carole Peterson & James Brice ........ **                     Vicki Marien & Claude Ganage...........**                    tional escape room puzzling and
Elise & Jeremy Walsh ..................... 100                Brien Dowdakin, from Sean Chase .....**                      problem solving with interactive                                                                      CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Robert Widmer ............................... 50              My two wonderful dads-Rick Aguiar &
                                                                                                                           narrative adventure in an online        Residents are invited to a virtual holiday-themed escape room challenge for the
Kathleen Kearney ............................ 25              George Fargis, from                                          format.                                 “Saving Scrooge: A Holiday Haunt.”
Donald & Julie Lewis ....................... **
                                                              Marianne Ottaway ............................200                An entirely virtual experience,
Michael Montoya .......................... 300                Dr. Donald R. Gardner, DVM, from                             the game allows groups of par-          from disturbing him. Players act as      and interactions with characters.
                                                              Wendy Wong & Matt Traini ................**                  ticipants to work together to solve     the Christmas spirits and will work      The virtual experience allows for
Todd Miller .................................... 250
                                                              Chris Beratlis, from Vic’s Coffee Shop                       puzzles during a one-hour private       together, along with a Game Master       limitless creative choices that can
Robert Sygiel ................................. 200
                                                              Guys ..................................................260   experience held over Zoom.              Guide, to solve puzzles and help         change the course of players’ ad-
Elizabeth D. Beebe ........................ 500
                                                              Alex V. Spotorno, from                                          “The game was so much fun            Scrooge learn the true meaning of        ventures,” McCarthy said.
Jorge Victoria ................................ 100           Alex Spotorno Family ..........................**
The Ramkissoon Family ................. 200
                                                                                                                           to design. The story is inspired        the holiday season.                         Puzzle difficulty is adjustable,
                                                              Bernadette Dantzig-Leo Barsotti, from
Lola Malatesta ................................. 50
                                                                                                                           by Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol,’           The Game Master will serve as         making it an experience accessible
                                                              Terry & Judy Scavone ...........................50
Smita & Ranjit................................ 100
                                                                                                                           where grumpy old Scrooge refuses        facilitator of the game and act as       for kids as well as adults.
                                                              Van Gilbert ..........................................**
George & Hilary Strain..................... **
                                                                                                                           to participate in the holiday season.   different characters to set the tone        Tickets are between $15 to $18 per
                                                              Gretchen Clatworthy, from Deborah &
Barbara Hollingsworth..................... **                 Michael Grossman ..............................50
                                                                                                                           But this has a twist,” said Jack Mc-    of the adventure while displaying        person, and private group games are
Tom & Saral Catalano .................... 100                 William & Emily Hirst, from Bill Hirst....**
                                                                                                                           Carthy, a local escape room design-     puzzles on their screen for players      available seven days a week, includ-
                                                              Owen Saupe, from Rebecca Saupe...100
                                                                                                                           er and director at Fantasy Escape       to solve.                                ing the weekend. Saving Scrooge:
                IN MEMORY OF                                                                                               Games.                                     “Alongside using their logical        A Holiday Haunt is set to run
                                                              Jerry Lemm, from Marilyn, Mark &
Janet Reichlin, from Mike, Lori &                             Michele Lemm...................................200              In this version, Scrooge has cast    skills to solve puzzles, players use     through Jan. 10. Residents can pur-
Michael Reichlin.................................200                                                                       away the Christmas spirits and this     their creative instincts to navi-        chase tickets or learn more online at
                                                              Steve DeCoite, from Jane DeCoite......**
Gam & Papa Abbot, from the                                                                                                 time has magical traps to stop them     gate the realities of being a spirit     www.fantasyescapegames.com. Q
Casey Family ........................................**       Our parents - Les & LaVergne Fields &
                                                              Harold & Gen Malmquist ....................**
Robert Himsl, from Charlotte Himsl...200
                                                              Bill Haraughty, from
Richard Del Tredici,
                                                              Anita Haraughty ..................................**
from Judith Del Tredici .......................100
                                                              Cora L. Maille, from
                                                                                                                                   COVID-19
Coach Tony Costello, from Michael &                                                                                                Continued from Page 5
                                                              Maille/Massingham ...........................500
Cheryl Costello ....................................**
                                                              Jordan Bibbs, from Frank &                                   down on the list of more than
Beloved Xiaofan Han, from Xiaojun Mo’s
Family ..................................................**   Teresa Morgan...................................200          70 in Alameda County, includ-
Hank Gomez, Robert & Donna Williams,                          Carol Emmett, from George &                                  ing Stratford Villa Post Acute in
from Frank Gomez and                                          Jeannie Emmett..............................2,500
                                                                                                                           Livermore at No. 32 with 22 resi-
Maureen Nokes .................................200                                                                         dent cases and less than a dozen
                                                                               IN HONOR OF
Carl W. Pretzel, from Marilyn Pretzel...**                                                                                 employee cases. Stratford Villa has
                                                              Our “Fabulous” 5 Grandkids, from
Betty Patrick, from Charles &                                 R&G Spicka....................................**             had at least one resident death,
Joan Brown .......................................100
                                                              Our Loved Ones, from William Wayne                           however, but none among staff
Woody Pereira, from Slivia & Family..200
                                                              Emery & E. Anne Emery ..................**                   members.
Lynne & Liane Pruiksma,
                                                              Our granddaughters: Norah &                                     Valley Memorial Hospital
from C. Heller ......................................**
                                                              Savannah Huff, from Kay &                                    Skilled Nursing Facility — also
Dr. Gerald L. Severin,                                        Charles Huff ..................................**
from Charlotte W. Severin.................100                                                                              in Livermore — was listed at No.
                                                              Everyone hurting during Covid-19,
Rick Aguiar & George Fargis, Jr,. from                        from Sue King-Irwin &
                                                                                                                           42, but had no recently reported
Nancy Aguiar Fargis...........................100             Hank Irwin ...................................100            COVID cases for any residents or        at the Federal Correctional In-          located not far from the Santa
Steve DeCoite, from Frank &                                   Our wonderful parents, Jeb & Jan                             staff. In Pleasanton, CreekView         stitution in Dublin — which              Rita Jail. Its inmate population
Muriel Capilla ......................................**       Bing, we love you very much, from                            Health Center made the list at No.      climbed to 185 inmates and three         sometimes includes celebrity con-
Brenda Lathlean Faggiano, from Ellen &                        Kerry, Chris & Jenny .....................150                60 with at least one resident cases,    staff members as of Dec. 23 —            victs; TV actress Lori Loughlin this
Bill Lathlean .......................................150
                                                              Trudy Fabian, from Lisa Fabian .....100                      16 employee cases and no deaths         stood at 169 inmates and three           week just completed a two-month
Karl K. Witze .......................................**
                                                              Fabian, Inc. Siblings, from                                  at all.                                 staffers as of Monday afternoon,         sentence stemming from her con-
Bert Brook, from Dee Brook..............200                   Lisa Fabian ...................................100              There are 1,645 skilled nursing      according to the Federal Bureau          viction in the college admissions
June & Harry Pantages ........................**
                                                                              AS A GIFT FOR
                                                                                                                           facility resident cases in Alameda      of Prisons.                              bribery scandal. Her COVID-sta-
Too many to list. In my heart and
prayers, from Howard Merrill ............100                  Our grandsons Benny &
                                                                                                                           County, as well as 187 resident            FCI Dublin is housing approxi-        tus was not known.
Tracy, from Vernon Cink ......................**              Teddy Threshie ...............................**             deaths attributed to COVID-19.          mately 865 prisoners between its            All visitations at FCI Dublin
Elizabeth Ng, from Chris &                                    Those in need this holiday season,                              Sunrise of Pleasanton adminis-       main facility and adjacent satellite     have been suspended indefinitely,
Linda Coleman ...............................1,000            from Mark & LaRene Kidd............250                       tration informed resident families      camp, according to the prisons           according to prisons bureau.
Erik Lemoine, from the                                                                                                     last week that one employee as-         bureau.                                     More broadly for the Tri-Valley,
                                                               BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS                                  signed to the Terrace Club Neigh-          There had been no COVID-19            the overall number of COVID-
Lemoine Family..................................200
                                                              Time 4 Order - Professional                                  borhood tested positive for the         deaths reported among inmates or         19 cases in Livermore, includ-
Jim Snodgrass,
                                                              Organizing...................................100
from Virginia Snodgrass ......................**                                                                           virus. No other residents or em-        staff at the Dublin prison through-      ing skilled nursing facilities and
Robert C. Bush, from Arlene Bush ....100                      DeBernardi Develoment Construction
                                                              & Remodeling ................................**
                                                                                                                           ployees had symptoms, and all           out the pandemic as of Monday,           other residents, is nearly double
Bob Griffitts, from Sharon Morrison ...50                                                                                   were set to be tested.                  according to federal officials. They     that of Pleasanton. The count was
                                                              J.E. Moore Air Conditioning Inc. ..500
Bill & Alice Marsh, from Bill &                                                                                               Meanwhile, one in five inmates       said previously 115 inmates and          2,520 cases compared to 1,306
Audrey Sears .......................................**        Rita CPA ......................................251
                                                                                                                           incarcerated at the low-security        seven staff members have recov-          in Pleasanton, while the city of
Betty Dawson, from Dan Dawson ......**                        Fabulous Properties......................250
                                                                                                                           women’s federal prison in Dublin        ered from COVID-19 over the              Dublin had 1,113 as of Monday
Sarah Anne Lees, from Donald &                                Tim McGuire Team/Compass ....2,000
                                                                                                                           had tested positive for COVID-19        course of the pandemic.                  afternoon. Q
Judy Person........................................200        Pleasanton Newcomers Club ....1,000
                                                                                                                           last week.                                 FCI Dublin is a minimum-se-                  Editor Jeremy Walsh contributed
                            ** Donor did not want to publish the amount of the gift.                                          The active coronavirus outbreak      curity facility for female inmates                                 to this story.

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Pleasanton Weekly • January 1, 2021 • Page 9
Year in Review: Part II - Pleasanton Weekly
NEWSFRONT

        CRASHES                                                                                                                                                          The MUSD statement did not
       Continued from Page 5
                                                                                                                                                                      identify Ownbey by name for pri-
                                                                                                                                                                      vacy reasons. But Ownbey had been
picking up the pair after their shift                                                                                                                                 listed as a teacher at August Knodt
ended at a local Baskin-Robbins ice                                                                                                                                   Jr. School, a K-8 school in the
cream store on the night of Dec. 21.                                                                                                                                  Weston Ranch area of Stockton
   The collision happened around                                                                                                                                      served by Manteca Unified.
10:30 p.m. when a semi-truck driv-                                                                                                                                       “We encourage families to be
er turned into a business driveway                                                                                                                                    especially sensitive and prepared
in the 5600 block of Las Positas                                                                                                                                      to offer support to their children
Road but left the trailer stopped                                                                                                                                     during this time. District Health
blocking the roadway. The east-                                                                                                                                       Services staff and Valley Commu-
bound passenger vehicle carrying                                                                                                                                      nity Counseling are available to
the three teens then struck the big-                                                                                                                                  offer support for students and staff,”
rig, according to Livermore police                                                                                                                                    MUSD officials said.
Sgt. Steve Goard.                                                                                                                                                        Excessive speed and the lack of a
   Two of the victims were pro-                                                                                                                                       seatbelt were key factors in the fatal
nounced dead at the scene while                                                                                                                                       crash, according to Officer Tyler
the third occupant succumbed to                                                                                                                                       Hahn of the CHP-Dublin office.
his injuries at a local hospital, ac-                                                                                                                                    The situation unfolded at ap-
cording to Goard.                                                                                                                                                     proximately 5:25 p.m. Dec. 22 after
   Speed and impairment are not                                                                                                                                       the driver of a 2006 Lexus ES 330
considered to be factors at this                                                                                                                                      — later identified as Ownbey —
point, but the investigation is still                                                                                                                                 traveling at a high rate of speed
pending and police have not made                                                                                                                                      southbound on North Livermore
                                                                                                                                               CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
a final determination about the                                                                                                                                       Avenue, south of Hartman Road,
                                        Christine Boyle, shown here in a previous photo while cycling in Lake Tahoe, died on Dec. 21 after a crash on Stanley
cause and probable factors, Goard       Boulevard. The Livermore resident was 63.
                                                                                                                                                                      failed to negotiate a right-hand
said. The name of the truck driver                                                                                                                                    curve in the road, according to
has not yet been released publicly.     It had generated just over $29,000          The sergeant said the collision        mergers — taking trouble calls from        Hahn.
   Ericksen was a junior at Liver-      as of Monday afternoon.                  occurred just after 8 a.m. Dec. 21        technicians in the field until retir-         Out of control, the Lexus went
more High School, Kumar attend-            The situation left the Tri-Valley     along eastbound Stanley Boulevard         ing, according to Clibbens.                across the northbound lanes, off
ed Del Valle Continuation High          reeling as the loss of three students    within the Livermore city limits.            She is survived by her adult son        the roadway and into a barbed-
School, and Brar was an alumnus of      in one night during the holiday             A gravel truck with trailer was        Colin, whom she loved deeply and           wire fence. “After colliding with the
Vineyard Alternative High School.       season was all too familiar — eerily     making a right turn toward the            cared for as he lived with autism,         fence, the vehicle began to overturn
   A roadside memorial has been         reminiscent of a similar tragedy that    Isabel Avenue/Highway 84 connec-          according to Clibbens.                     and cartwheeled into the field to
put up in recent days with flowers,     occurred in Pleasanton on Christ-        tor, when at the same time, Boyle                                                    the east of the roadway,” eventually
                                                                                                                              Teacher dies in rollover
balloons, handwritten messages and      mas Night the previous year.             was riding off the sidewalk to cross                                                 coming to rest on its roof about 50
other items of remembrance at the          It was around 10 p.m. on Dec.         straight at the intersection within          On the evening of Dec. 22, Own-         feet away from the road, according
crash site in eastern Livermore to      25, 2019, when a car carrying            the crosswalk. A final determina-         bey was driving on North Liver-            to Hahn.
honor the two high school juniors       five Dublin teens lost control and       tion about who was at fault is still      more Avenue when she lost con-                Ownbey, who was unrestrained
and recent high school alumnus.         crashed into a power pole and            pending as the investigation contin-      trol for unknown reasons and was           in the sedan, was ejected and land-
   “At this time of year when we        then a large tree alongside Foothill     ues, Goard said.                          thrown out of the sedan as it rolled       ed in the field as the vehicle flipped
take time to celebrate, appreciate      Road. Dublin High students Javier           Clibbens said a witness told           end-over-end into a nearby field,          over and over. She was pronounced
and cherish our family and friend-      Ramirez and twin brothers Mark           the family that Boyle attempted to        according to the California High-          dead at the scene, according to
ships, it is particularly somber that   Anthony Urista and Michael Angelo        avoid a serious collision by push-        way Patrol. The 52-year-old was            Hahn.
we instead acknowledge such a           Urista (all 16 years old) died at the    ing off the truck but she fell and        pronounced dead at the scene.                 CHP officials identified the driver
devastating loss to our schools and     scene.                                   was run over by the tires. Boyle             Her LinkedIn profile confirmed          as from Stockton, but the coroner’s
community,” Superintendent Kelly           (Note: When confirming the            was treated at the scene and trans-       Ownbey worked as a fourth-grade            bureau said Ownbey’s residence
Bowers, of the Livermore Valley         Livermore victims’ identities this       ported to Eden Medical Center in          teacher in the Manteca Unified             was listed in Antioch.
Joint Unified School District, said     week, the Alameda County Coro-           Castro Valley, where she died that        School District.                              Anyone who may have witnessed
in a statement to the school com-       ner’s Bureau said Brar’s first name      afternoon.                                   “We are deeply saddened by the          the crash or has other relevant
munity last week.                       was officially listed as Rahal —            “She held on; she tried to fight as    death of one of our beloved teach-         details can contact CHP-Dublin at
   “As always, during periods of        though family and other sources          long as she could,” Clibbens said.        ers from August Knodt Elementary           925-828-0466 and ask for Hahn.
crisis, the LVJUSD and our entire       said his first name was Rahul.)          “She fought with everything she           School,” Manteca Superintendent               “This is a sad reminder that ex-
Livermore community will pull to-                                                had for (her son).”                       Clark Burke said in a statement to         cessive speed combined with not
                                              Truck strikes cyclist
gether. We have built a strong net-                                                 The niece said the family was          media the next morning.                    wearing your seatbelt can be dead-
work of support at Livermore, Del          On the morning of Dec. 21,            especially grateful for the support          “The elementary school staff, stu-      ly,” the officer said. “It is also a
Valle and Vineyard High Schools.        Boyle was riding along Stanley Bou-      provided by bystander Jessica Bena-       dents and entire school community          reason why we, as law enforcement,
I know we will come together dur-       levard when she collided with a          videz, who stayed with Boyle at the       are deeply saddened by this news.          are out enforcing traffic violations
ing this time to bolster and comfort    gravel truck that was making a           scene until first responders arrived.     Our thoughts, prayers and condo-           that cause deadly collisions. As we
one another. We are mobilizing our      right-hand turn at an intersection.         Livermore police are continuing        lences are with the family during          enter the holiday season, please, as
district crisis team to provide grief   The Livermore resident sustained         to investigate the crash and locate       this difficult time,” August Knodt         always, don’t drink and drive, slow
and trauma counseling to students,      serious injuries, and died at the        potential witnesses to interview. In-     principal Jillian Friend added.            down and wear your seatbelt.” Q
faculty, and support staff,” Bowers     hospital hours later.                    vestigators are also still working
continued, adding:                         Boyle, 63, was a mother and re-       to identify the trucker, who drove
   “Let’s keep their families in our
minds and hearts, as they have
                                        tired phone company worker who
                                        loved the outdoors and her daily
                                                                                 away from the scene without stop-
                                                                                 ping, and “it is unclear if the driver
                                                                                                                             PET OF THE WEEK
suffered such an unimaginable and       bike rides, according to family.         was aware of the collision or not,”                                                          Rockin’ Robyn
heartbreaking loss. Our commu-             “Just a tragedy,” Barbara Clib-       Goard said.                                                                                  Robyn is a female bully
nity’s strength and sheer love will     bens, Boyle’s niece, told the Weekly        Clibbens implored the truck                                                               mix puppy; puppies are a
help them through.”                     on Monday.                               driver to come forward. “If it was                                                           handful but they can bring
   Investigators continue to actively      “She was a good person, just a        just a horrible accident and he                                                              your family lots of joy and
search for information, and anyone      wonderful person,” Clibbens said of      didn’t know, that’s OK; we un-                                                               years of companionship. If
who witnessed the crash or has          her aunt. “She loved her son, Colin.     derstand,” she said. “But if he left                                                         your New Year’s resolution
relevant details about the case can     Family was everything to her ... She     for another reason ... we want to                                                            is to add a canine to your
                                                                                                                                                                              household, check out
contact Sgt. Justin Lash at Liver-      loved to do photography. She loved       know.”
                                                                                                                                                                              Robyn and other adoptable
more PD, 925-371-4857.                  to ride her bicycle. She loved being        Boyle, who was one of 11 chil-                                                            dogs at valleyhumane.org. If
   Brar’s family has started a Go-      outdoors. She loved exploring. She       dren, grew up in Mount Washing-                                                              you are interested adopting
FundMe page to raise funds for          was a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan.”     ton in Pittsburgh, Penn. She moved                                                           Robyn, contact Valley
funeral and related costs for all          Livermore police are still working    to California in her early 20s and                                                           Humane Society via email at
three teenagers, vowing to split the    to locate the truck driver, who left     worked for years at Pacific Bell --                                                          info@valleyhumane.org.
money equally among the families.       the scene, according to Goard.           and its subsequent companies after                         VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY/J. SAMPAT

Page 10 • January 1, 2021 • Pleasanton Weekly
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