Oakland Tribune back issues from September 2008:
Clean up the old ships
Sep 01, 2008; ... WITH STATE WATER pollution regulators rightly threatening to sue,it's time for the U.S. Maritime Administration to clean up thetoxics shedding from the scores of mothballed ships in the SuisunBay Reserve Fleet. The federal agency's stonewalling has gone on forfar too long. Last ...
Don't alter two-thirds budget vote
Sep 01, 2008; ... I have to laugh at the Democrats' ongoing complaint about the two-thirds majority needed to pass a state budget. This is the same party that kicks its party members out of theiroffices if they don't vote in lockstep with the rest of the party;described Republican attempts at ...
Leonard Pitts Jr.: This is a fine line indeed
Sep 01, 2008; ... YOU CAN'T BLAME Karen Fletcher for deciding not to fight. Had she lost, she faced the possibility of five years in prison.Under the plea agreement she accepted in early August, she got sixmonths of house arrest, five years on probation and a $1,000 fine.But if the agreement allows ...
Tax pledge straitjacke
Sep 01, 2008; ... IF ANYONE THINKS our representatives in Sacramento are makingprogress toward a compromise on the state budget, just take a lookat the no-new-taxes pledge signed by all but one Republicanlawmaker. The pledge is absolute. It states, "I will oppose and voteagainst any and all ...
Dan K. Thomasson: Who cares about houses or past deeds of friends?
Sep 01, 2008; ... WHO CARES IF John McCain and his wife own seven houses orcondominiums? Who cares if Barack Obama knows William Ayres, the now-respectable militant of nearly 40 years ago? The entire presidentialelection campaign seemed in imminent danger of degenerating into the"who cares" category where ...
MONDAY, Sept. 1
Sep 01, 2008; ... Midnight (HGTV) 25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes -- Counting down thebiggest mistakes in real estate. 5239623 1:30 a.m. (HGTV) House Hunters International -- A couple want to move toCosta Rica to open a bed and breakfast. 9509401 2 a.m. (HGTV) Property ...
Fitness trainer finds path to Olympic glory
Sep 01, 2008; ... FREMONT -- Fitness trainer Mahnaz Barhaghi takes all comers. Someof her clients at the 24 Hour Fitness branch in Fremont are trainingfor competitions, while others would be happy to make it from theirbedroom to their bathroom pain-free. She trains teachers and doctors, students ...
Fast-food fast
Sep 01, 2008; ... I want to thank the California State Legislature for making mylife so much healthier. Thanks to their concern for healthy profits for the chemicalindustry by burying bills that would banned PFCs from food packagingthat could be harmful to humans especially children, my family ...
Pay grade theology
Sep 01, 2008; ... "At What Point Does a Baby Get Civil Rights?" Rev. R. Warren,("Purpose Driven Life", 2002). Sen. Barack Obama: "Whether looking from a theological . . . orscientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, isabove my pay grade." Sen. John McCain: "At the moment ...
Ready to lead
Sep 01, 2008; ... John McCain has asked if Barack Obama is ready to lead. The realquestion is, has McCain passed being ready? The media will pass it off as shooting from the hip as he alwayshas done, but I call it something else. McCain forgets what he is talking about at times. A case ...
Losing the fight worth fighting
Sep 01, 2008; ... Twenty-five thousand research and medical professionals, socialworkers and community activists, government officials and newsreporters attended the 17th International AIDS Conference in MexicoCity early August. Convening every two years, we once again embraced, wept,networked, ...
New California medical marijuana guidelines aim to flesh out vague law
Sep 01, 2008; ... Even as state Attorney General Jerry Brown was preparing torelease new medical-marijuana guidelines praised by advocates, hisnarcotics agents were busting a Southern California dispensary. Mixed messages? Not necessarily. Both Brown and medical marijuana advocates say the ...
Homeroom
Sep 01, 2008; ... Fremont teens win scholarships Three Fremont teens were among 12 Bay Area students who recentlywere awarded $1,000 scholarships from the San Jose-based Buddhistorganization Palpung Lungtok Choeling. The Fremont students, all 2008 graduates, were Chelsea Harris ofAmerican High ...
Weddings
Sep 01, 2008; ... Angela Michelle Witrykus and Nicholaus Lee Hunziker were marriedJuly 5, 2008, in a late afternoon wedding ceremony at the CommunityUnited Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father. Her sister,Christina Witrykus, was the honor attendant ....
Barney: Bummed out on 'Gossip Girl"
Sep 01, 2008; ... It's back-to-school time for the snooty rich kids of "GossipGirl," who have spent their summer chilling out in the Hamptons,naturally. But as the show's mysterious snark-spewing blogger voicedby Kristen Bell informs us, "Sex, lies and scandal never take avacation." Oh ...
This week: What's on tap for the week of Sept. 1-7
Sep 01, 2008; ... DVDs Tuesday: Helen Hunt directs and stars in "Then She Found Me,"about a schoolteacher whose birth mother (Bette Midler) shows upafter her adoptive mother dies and her life starts to fall apart. When a contented husband falls for a younger woman, he decides tokill his wife ...
Community Calendar
Sep 01, 2008; ... TODAY, Sept. 1 Historic rail fair -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 8th annual fairreturns to Ardenwood Historic Farm over Labor Day weekend. Thecenterpiece of the event is the 1891 Baldwin steam locomotive"Deanna." Enjoy train and handcar rides, displays of gardenrailroads and rail yard ...
On the menu: Breakfast pizza
Sep 01, 2008; ... FREMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Students may have the entree in addition to fruit and vegetablesfrom the salad bar. Today: Holiday. Tuesday: No school. NEW HAVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BREAKFAST Students may have juice or 1 percent milk in addition to a ...
Diet Club: Motivation tips
Sep 01, 2008; ... The last time the Diet Club met, we talked about finding theright diet, and this time we're going to discuss ways to staymotivated. Having just come back from a vacation in which I took theword vacation as literally as I could, I'm highly motivated to getback on my healthful eating ...
Briefs: Needles banned from trash
Sep 01, 2008; ... The state Needles banned from trash: Beginning today, it will be illegalfor people to dispose of hypodermic needles and medical syringes intheir trash or home recycling containers. More than 300 million needles are disposed of annually inCalifornia. Many end up in landfills ...
It's not up to mother to ask son why he doesn't have a girlfriend
Sep 01, 2008; ... DEAR AMY: I am a 45-year-old man, own my own business, sit on theboards of several charities, and enjoy sports and travel. I am also gay, and I have been in a committed relationship formore than seven years. All of my friends, associates and family --except my mother -- know about ...
Spin Cycle: Cartwheels, pontiffs and magazines
Sep 01, 2008; ... Fluffing and folding the news Head over heels That Australian school that just banned cartwheels, handstandsand other risky recess maneuvers is already rethinking its decision.According to Reuters, the school had classified somersaults and suchas a "Medium Risk Level 2" when ...
Too much affection spoils the family gathering
Sep 01, 2008; ... DEAR MISS MANNERS: Yesterday night, my mother wanted to have a"little talk," so I listened to what she had to say. It was thatthis past weekend, at a family picnic with my boyfriend present,apparently I was a little more hands-on than what she prefers. Iwill respect her wishes and not be ...
Gathering history is part of anesthesiology
Sep 01, 2008; ... So you are going to have surgery " ... What to expect? Who willyour anesthesiologist be? About 40 million inpatient surgical procedures and 30 millionoutpatient surgical procedures are performed every year in theUnited States. In preparation for surgery, the patient may have ...
Madam Chairwoman, this is really boring
Sep 01, 2008; ... So here it is, Thursday afternoon. The Democrats have justnominated Obama by acclamation. The crowd went politely nuts as"Love Train" played over the Democratic National Conventionspeakers. Like most Americans who have paid the least bit of attention, Iwasn't surprised by the ...
Potassium is cells' principal mineral
Sep 01, 2008; ... Q: What is the significance of having elevated potassium? I havehad it for a long time. A: Potassium is found inside body cells, where it keeps them inelectrical balance and figures into muscle contractions, the heart'sbeating and nerve cell transmission. Normal blood potassium is ...
One man's quest to join the men in brown
Sep 01, 2008; ... I'm in a cavernous building in San Ramon, where a supervisor hasjust briefed a couple dozen employees, mostly men, in uniform. Hefinishes, they head to their vehicles, and suddenly, as a giantrumble fills the hangar-size warehouse, I can't hear myself think. One by one, the UPS ...
Raiders agree to terms with Ashley Lelie
Sep 01, 2008; ... The Raiders have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with widereceiver Ashley Lelie. Lelie failed to make the 53-man roster of the San Francisco49ers, who like the Raiders are having issues finding qualityreceivers. He caught 10 passes for 115 yards with the 49ers lastseason ...
What's Happening
Sep 01, 2008; ... To submit an item to the What's Happening calendar, e-mailccnsports@bayareanewsgroup.com to request a form. Put "What'sHappening" in the subject line. Nonprofit organizations only. Youmay be asked to submit a copy of your 1099 or 501(c)3 to verifynonprofit status. Entries are edited for ...
Motorhead slams one home at Metal Masters concert
Sep 01, 2008; ... The Metal Masters concert was fun to watch. Among the curiositiesseen during the nearly six-hour show Sunday at ShorelineAmphitheatre in Mountain View were: 1. A horse ridden onstage during Testament's set 2. Inflatable sheep, a life-size sex doll and go-go dancers thatshared ...
Hornets counting on potent offense
Sep 01, 2008; ... With the maiden voyage of head coach Steve Rochlin etched intothe history books, the Alameda High School football team didn't somuch pen a new chapter in 2007 as it remained locked within abookmarked passage -- a passage worthy of admiration by mostaccounts, but a familiar passage ...
Desperate search for gift of life
Sep 01, 2008; ... CORRESPONDENT Even though chemotherapy often leaves her weak, Michelle Maykinis armed with a powerful weapon whenever she sets out to convincepotential donors to join a national bone marrow registry -- herbeaming face. "It makes a difference when you can say, 'Here's ...
Kicking the habit of using a car
Sep 01, 2008; ... MY FATHER reminded me recently of the angry response he receivedwhen, some time in the late 1970s, he taped a small sign,handwritten in ink on a 3- by-5-inch card, to the front door of ourhouse. He wrote, "No tobacco, please." Even though his friends weremostly progressive ...
Carnegie Library project expands to Foster House
Sep 01, 2008; ... The Historical Advisory Board on Thursday will weigh Alameda'splan to restore and renovate the historic Carnegie Library and theadjacent Foster House in an effort to eventually turn the 105-year-old buildings into city offices. As part of the preservation project, city planners ...
Alameda City Briefs
Sep 01, 2008; ... Posey Tube closures begin tonight Caltrans will close the Posey Tube connecting Alameda with themainland several nights this month, to allow for removal of old, 12-KVA systems at each end of the tunnels, the city of Alameda reports. The Posey Tube will close at 9 tonight and ...
calendar
Sep 01, 2008; ... Alameda Stamp Club -- Meeting, Tuesday at 7 p.m. social; 7:30business. For active collectors and those interested in learningmore about stamp collecting. Fellowship Hall of Immanuel LutheranChurch, 1420 Lafayette St. Details: 510-522-0258. -- Mastick Senior Center -- Activities ....
New Eagle Scouts
Sep 01, 2008; ... Daniel Pratt, left, and Tyler Scott of Alameda Troop 1015 haveearned the rank of Eagle Scout. Sponsored by the Elks Lodge, Troop1015 has produced almost 200 Eagle Scouts in ...
Wind advisory canceled but fire warning extended
Sep 01, 2008; ... The National Weather Service this morning canceled a windadvisory for the North Bay mountains, East Bay hills and DiabloMountain Range and extended a red flag fire warning that has been ineffect about a week. Forecaster Bob Benjamin said the wind advisory issued Sundaynight in ...
support groups
Sep 01, 2008; ... Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Group -- meets 10 a.m.-noon secondThursdays monthly. Media Room, Mastick Senior Center, 1155 SantaClara Ave. Details: 510-747-7500, 800-272-3900, alznorcal.org. -- Breast-feeding support -- La Leche League offers monthlymeetings, telephone advice to ...
Fire damages home in Oakland
Sep 01, 2008; ... Four adults were displaced after a fire broke out early thismorning in a two-story home in Oakland, a fire lieutenant said. The one-alarm blaze was reported just after 12:30 a.m. at thesingle-family home at 2431 55th Ave., said Oakland fire Lt. DavidBrue. The flames spread ...
'The Best Man's' near 50 and fresh as ever
Sep 01, 2008; ... Almost 50 years ago, Gore Vidal turned his novel "The Best Man"into a play filled with barbed political jibes and populated bycharacters who kept audiences guessing about which contemporarypolitical figures they were based upon. Now, with a breathtaking revival of the play by ...
No injuries in early-morning Oakland house fire
Sep 01, 2008; ... OAKLAND -- Four people were displaced Monday after an earlymorning fire broke out at a two-story home in East Oakland,authorities said. The fire was reported at 12:33 a.m. at a single-family home at2431 55th Avenue, said Oakland fire Lt. David Brue. The flames from the ...
Suspect in fatal Oakland hit-and-run turns himself in
Sep 01, 2008; ... OAKLAND -- A man who struck a 4-year-old boy Saturday with hisvan, stopped briefly and then fled turned himself in Sunday, policesaid. The suspect was identified by police as Juan Magana, 27, ofOakland. He lives just a few blocks from where the boy, LuisHernandez Jr., was hit by ...
Manteca students cut grapes and sell them to Gallo
Sep 01, 2008; ... Cutting grapes is no easy task. High school students from MantecaUnified School District learned this quickly one Friday afternoon. In the heat and the dust, with sweat dripping down their facesand sunburns beginning to form, students reached into the vines, cutgrapes and put them ...
Half Moon Bay loses last chance for state aid on Beachwood bill
Sep 01, 2008; ... HALF MOON BAY -- After months of frantic lobbying, the city lostits last chance at passing a bill that would help pay down itsBeachwood lawsuit debt by the end of the year Sunday, the last dayfor any bill to be passed by the state legislature. The weekend ended with state Sen ....
Business Bulletin Board for Aug. 31
Sep 01, 2008; ... This week Opportunity Junction -- Job Training and Placement Programapplication sessions today through Sept. 4, 8-11 and 15-18. 12-weekprogram begins Sept. 29. 3102 Delta Fair Blvd., Antioch. 925-776-1133, www.opportunityjunction.org. -- East Bay Women's Network -- 11:30 ...
John Horgan: Monisteri leaves Poplar Creek
Sep 01, 2008; ... Gary Monisteri is no longer the head professional at the PoplarCreek Golf Course. A San Mateo County sports institution, he is embarking on a newcareer. Monisteri, 52, had worked at the public links at Coyote Point inSan Mateo since 1979. He had been the chief pro since ...
Pleasanton to hear ice rink proposal
Sep 01, 2008; ... By Robert Jordan PLEASANTON -- Ice hockey and other frozen activities could be astep closer to the city's future if the City Council approves a listof core objectives for the proposed ice facility at tonight'scouncil meeting. The city's staff, through a series of workshops ...
Pleasant Hill YMCA gets face-lift
Sep 01, 2008; ... Pleasant Hill YMCA member Crissy Anderson has been impressed withthe recent renovations at the dated facility. The 30-year-old Concord mother enjoys a regular boot-campexercise class on the new 15,000-square-foot sports court, whichfeatures six basketball and two volleyball courts ...
Vocal-ease has long history
Sep 01, 2008; ... BACK IN 1988, then-Good Shepherd Church Folk Choir Director SalBruno was asked to put together acts for a four-day militarypersonnel reunion taking place at Camp Stoneman. He asked BetsyKohler, Carol Zbacnik and Julie Enea, who had formed their owninformal "trio" within the choir, to ...
Richmond's unique art center struggles to stay in public eye during renovation
Sep 01, 2008; ... Behind the towering scaffolding and the plastic sheath thatcovers the windows, directors at the Richmond Art Center line upclasses for the fall and plot the next exhibition. The center is still open during the massive renovation of CivicCenter, though it might not look like ...
Giants' how they scored
Sep 01, 2008; ... How they scored Rockies second: Iannetta walked. Baker flied out. Spilborghsgrounded into fielder's choice, Iannetta out. Tulowitzki tripled,Spilborghs scored. De La Rosa singled, Tulowitzki scored. Rockies 2,Giants 0. Rockies third: Taveras walked. Taveras stole ...
Teens show their urban planning prowess
Sep 01, 2008; ... DEVELOPERS, PLANNERS, city officials and community members havetried for years to devise a cohesive and appealing plan for the areaalong San Pablo Avenue at the Del Norte BART station in El Cerrito.Now, 10 students from Kennedy High School in Richmond have come upwith their own ideas for ...
Lelie crosses the Bay, signs one-year deal with Raiders
Sep 01, 2008; ... The Raiders signed former Denver Broncos and 49ers wide receiverAshley Lelie on Monday in a move designed to add speed andexperience. Lelie, 28, was released by the 49ers on Saturday. They opted tokeep five other receivers, including rookie Josh Morgan. Leliesigned a one-year ...
Susan Groshans: Please don't burn the dorm down
Sep 01, 2008; ... JUST BECAUSE YOUR child moves out, doesn't mean the worryingends. Will they burn the dormitory down? Electrocute themselves?What kind of science experiments will appear in the fridge? Will thebathroom ever be cleaned? With my daughter's move away from home to college, I've ...
Bay Area rescue teams deploy to help with hurricane
Sep 01, 2008; ... MOFFETT FEDERAL AIR FIELD -- Convoys of local rescuers weredeployed Monday to aid in search-and-rescue missions once HurricaneGustav passes through the Gulf Coast. Before noon, pararescue equipment and 60 Air National Guardsmenfrom the 129th Rescue Wing flew out of Moffett. All ...
This Valley Life
Sep 01, 2008; ... This past July, Audrey Gillette joined a handful of relatives andfriends to compete in an 11.5-mile relay swim race across LakeTahoe. Gillette's two-mile portion of the relay was especiallymeaningful because she was seven months pregnant. "Although we didn't break any time ...
What really got up Helen Mirren's nose
Sep 01, 2008; ... The Queen used to be a cokehead. But a social conscience made herturn her nose up. So reveals British GQ magazine in an interview with Helen Mirren,who won an Academy Award for playing Queen Elizabeth II. In her youth, she told the magazine, "I loved coke. I never did alot, ...
McClain crashes majors again
Sep 01, 2008; ... DENVER -- In the middle of a full-scale youth movement, theGiants called up a balding, 36-year-old corner infielder playing inhis 19th professional season. Scott McClain understands he is a non sequitur. That's why hedidn't bother to bring a suit when he packed for the last road ...
Castro Valley toddler doing well after kidney transplant
Sep 01, 2008; ... CASTRO VALLEY -- Angelo Miramontes, the Castro Valley toddler whoreceived a donor kidney during transplant surgery Aug. 20, shows nosigns of rejecting the organ, his mother says. "If there is any such thing as the perfect kidney, this is it,"Cynthia Canales said ...
Come to Think of It
Sep 01, 2008; ... Note to self: When a 40-something man tells you he saw a 30-ishwoman in a thong bikini, don't ask him what color her bikini wasunless you want to become the immediate object of ridicule. "Remember the thong girl I told you about?" my friend asked,approaching me as I took shade ...
Oakland's Art & Soul festival ends on a high note
Sep 01, 2008; ... Oakland's Art & Soul Festival wrapped up Monday, having attractedthousands to the downtown area during Labor Day weekend. The event culminated with headline performances by StephanieMills, Bishop Walter L. Hawkins, Lenny Williams, Groupo Samba Rioand Legally Blynd. City ...
A's scouting reports have gone high tech
Sep 01, 2008; ... The A's preparation for today's game against the Kansas CityRoyals begins not with batting practice, but with an e-mail. Sometime on Sunday afternoon, possibly before Oakland's game withthe Minnesota Twins had even finished, advance scout Joe Sparksdropped his report on the Royals ...
A's on deck
Sep 01, 2008; ... On deck: at Kansas City PITCHING MATCHUPS TODAY: A's Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 7.25) vs. Royals' Zack Greinke (9-9, 3.72), 5:10 p.m. Radio: 106.9-FM, 1550-AM -- WEDNESDAY: Dana Eveland (8-8, 4.21) vs. Brian Bannister (7-14, 5.75), 5:10 p.m. TV: CSNBA. Radio: 106.9-FM, ...
Strong pass rush is a must for '08 49ers
Sep 01, 2008; ... SANTA CLARA THE START OF what will be a very long season for the 49ers comesSunday. Lose that game to the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick, andthere goes any inspiration for the ensuing 15 tilts. So how do the 49ers win Sunday, and how do they get off to astart that'll be ...