Oakland Tribune back issues from April 2009:
Measure D wrong
Apr 01, 2009; ... Measure D wrong The Mt. Diablo Unified School District has proposed Measure D, a$99 annual parcel tax on property owners to run for five years. Thisis in addition to the existing $113 per year bond payments that rununtil 2018. Trustees threaten to cut sports programs, ...
Road to hell
Apr 01, 2009; ... Road to hell Your article on March 27 regarding job cuts at the ClaremontHotel would bring tears of joy to President Barack Obama andDemocratic members of Congress. Going on TV daily to criticize companies for spending money ontravel and employee or customer events at hotels ...
Obamaspeak
Apr 01, 2009; ... Obamaspeak "1984" and "Animal Farm" were George Orwell's great takes ontotalitarianism. Both were blacklisted in the Eastern Bloc. Afterthe Berlin wall fell in 1989, former inmates of this giant gulagsaid Orwell's books had Stalinism exactly right (see "The CaptiveMind" by ...
Ways to keep students from dropping out
Apr 01, 2009; ... Attacking the truancy problem will only work if the core problemleading to this dilemma is addressed. Students drop out of school for many reasons some of which are:lack of parental involvement in their school activities, large classsizes leading to lack of teacher/pupil ...
Reject Prop. 1D
Apr 01, 2009; ... Reject Prop. 1D In its March 22 editorial, the Times urged voters to approveProposition 1D. This measure transfers $1.7 billion to the stategeneral fund from the First 5 program, which has already beenapproved twice by voters to address the pressing needs of childrenunder age ...
Only one to blame
Apr 01, 2009; ... Only one to blame After reading "Seeking answers in grief" (March 24), this articleabout the emotional aftermath of the recent police shootings inOakland, my head filled with questions on who or what wasresponsible for such carnage. Why does the California penal system allow ...
Happy Together: Wente Vineyards 2006 Reliz Creek Pinot Noir ($22) with Salad of Chicories, Blue Cheese and Apple
Apr 01, 2009; ... IT WAS AT a celebration lunch in the newly renovated TheRestaurant at Wente in Livermore that I first encountered thispairing -- in a somewhat different form. Executive chef Arthur Wallserved our group this very salad, but with the blue cheese in theform of a souffle rather than in ...
San Ramon 'Supermodel' contestant feels burned by reality TV
Apr 01, 2009; ... No one really sets out to be a reality-TV villain. It just sortof happens. And like it or not, it's a role CJ Kirkham finds herselfinvoluntarily slipping into on Bravo's "Make Me a Supermodel." "Apparently I'm the person everyone loves to hate," says the 19-year-old San Ramon ...
Blackstone-Ford and Jupe: She s pregnant, husband s ex now uncooperative: connection?
Apr 01, 2009; ... Q: I recently read an article you wrote where an ex-wife ran hotand cold and the second wife was asking for help. I'm the secondwife also, and I have the same problem. My husband's two kids goback and forth between homes and at first his ex was verycooperative, but for some reason she ...
Ask Amy: Divorce complicates what to call her
Apr 01, 2009; ... DEAR AMY: I am a divorced woman with two teenage sons. I havebeen divorced for five years. My question is how I should beaddressed by my son's friends, parents and teachers. For example, I am commonly referred to as "Mrs. Smith." I mostlyignore the Mrs. reference, because I feel ...
Picky Eater: Vita-Mix is a blender on steroids
Apr 01, 2009; ... AS A MAKER of hummus and soup and cheesecake, marinades andsauces and pestos, I have known my share of blender woes. The thinggets stuck, won't go, freaks if you don't have enough liquid,overflows if you have too much. My blender spends more time blending air than anything else ....
Food and wine calendar
Apr 01, 2009; ... Events Slow Food on Film Screening: "Mr. Bene Goes to Italy" -- 6:30-9p.m. April 4. Benedito Batista da Silva, 60, is considered anauthority when it comes to manioc flour production in the BrazilianPara State, deep within the Amazon. This documentary shows his tripfrom Braganca ...
Record on the Road
Apr 01, 2009; ... Record goes to Wisconsin PLEASANT HILL RESIDENT Eileen Hammer Housfeld traveled toAshwaubenon, Wis., a suburb of Green Bay, during the week beforeThanksgiving for an event at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh,her alma mater, and to visit family and friends. Since she lived ...
Kid Tips: Our society is broken
Apr 01, 2009; ... YOU KNOW our society is broken when 7.3 million people are inU.S. prisons or jails, on parole or on probation. That calculates toone out of every 31 adults. Another hint is knowing that some statesspend more money on prisons than on our public universities. We arenow the world's leading ...
Fundraisers calendar
Apr 01, 2009; ... Good News Jail and Prison Ministry Banquet -- 6 p.m. April 3.Benefits the four chaplains and volunteers serving the inmates withspiritual needs in the Contra Costa Prison system. Complete sit downdinner and silent auction. Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd.,Concord. $55 ....
From the dinosaur's spine
Apr 01, 2009; ... DAN ROSENSTRAUCH/STAFF From the dinosaur's spine A BREAK IN A day's routine can turn into a feast for the eyes onan idyllic spring morning last week. Leaning back into the naturalseat in the ...
Pets of the Week
Apr 01, 2009; ... GOLDEN RESCUE "CHARLIE" is an 11-year-old, neutered, male golden retriever whois great with everyone and everything -- children, adults, cats anddogs. He enjoys short walks, car rides, being with people and,especially, snuggling. No training necessary -- he just wants aquiet ...
Pleasant Hill police report
Apr 01, 2009; ... The following excerpts were taken from the Pleasant Hill policelog: THURSDAY, MARCH 19 AUTO THEFT -- At 6:21 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen fromthe first block of Donegal Court. -- BURGLARY AUTO -- At 8:33 a.m., a caller reported a vehicle inthe 100 block of ...
Martinez police report
Apr 01, 2009; ... The following excerpts were taken from the Martinez police log: THURSDAY, MARCH 19 FRAUD -- A duplicated ATM card was reported fraudulently used at1:46 p.m. on Alhambra Avenue. -- FRAUD -- A caller reported at 3:03 p.m. that a credit card wasfraudulently used at a ...
GOOD NEIGHBOR: JACQUIE OLIVERIUS Walnut Creek Garden Club plants knowledge of nature in first-graders
Apr 01, 2009; ... SPRING IS IN the air, flowers and fruit trees are blooming, andeveryone seems to be thinking about digging around in the garden.But several groups in Central County think about gardens just aboutevery day of the year. One group is the Walnut Creek Garden Club, whose members ...
Library Corner
Apr 01, 2009; ... All Contra Costa County library branches offer programs forchildren, teens, adults and families. All branches are closedSunday, April 12. For updated information, call 800-984-4636 orvisit www.ccclib.org. -- At the Martinez Library, Story Times are free and there is ...
Reflections of the Past
Apr 01, 2009; ... City spirit DURING WORLD WAR II, the residents of Martinez worked diligentlyto raise $1 million in war bonds, and it was because of theirefforts that 1st Lt ....
My Word: Oakland's fallen officers prove that in valor there is hope
Apr 01, 2009; ... "In Valor There is Hope." This quote by Roman historian PubliusTacitus adorns the marble walls of the National Law EnforcementOfficers Memorial in Washington D.C., which commemorates the morethan 18,000 peace officers killed in the line of duty (dating backto 1792). Over the last ...
Contra Costa Times April 1 Letters from our readers
Apr 01, 2009; ... I'm a parent with children attending elementary school in Albany. Education is not a simple matter of number of minutes spent in aclassroom; assuming "more is better" is naive. What teachers and most parents are trying to do is to have theschool board rescind its Feb. 3 ...
Liberty Union district superintendent announces retirement
Apr 01, 2009; ... BRENTWOOD -- After 15 years at the helm of the Liberty Union HighSchool District, Superintendent Dan Smith announced this week thathe will retire at the end of the school year. Smith, 60, broke the news to a handful of district employees whoturned out for Monday's special board ...
Editorial: Force FAA to disclose bird strike data
Apr 01, 2009; ... THE FEDERAL Aviation Administration doesn't want you to know whenor how frequently commercial planes are damaged by hitting flyingbirds, apparently assuming that if people know the truth it will bebad for the airline business. So, the FAA proposes to withhold safety information ...
Eugene Robinson: Logical moves on cars and banks lead to an illogical place
Apr 01, 2009; ... THROUGH A SERIES of logical decisions, the Obama administrationhas maneuvered itself into an illogical and uncomfortable place. Thepresident is telling Detroit to shape up or die while at the sametime politely asking Wall Street, whose recklessness and greedcaused this economic crisis, ...
Tom Purcell: Fried green liberalism is now running the country
Apr 01, 2009; ... MY FRIEND BILL G. offers an apt term to describe what is going onin Washington: Fried Green Liberalism. Bill is the type of fellow upon which every great civilization isbuilt. He sacrificed long and hard to get himself through lawschool. He's worked harder ever since to provide for ...
Oakland Tribune April 1 Letters to the editor
Apr 01, 2009; ... Inept OUSD DAVE NEWHOUSE'S wonderful March 19 column, "Witness sportsmanshipredefined," warmed hearts and gave people hope that differences canbe overcome by common humanity. By Saturday's column, "District grandstands again," March 21, thestory took a negative turn and ...
Fremont Argus April 1 Letters to the editor
Apr 01, 2009; ... Great assignment BRAVO, MARK Narciso at Newark Memorial High School. His photo project, reported in the March 24 Argus, reaches andteaches students at many levels, the most important of which is thestudents' relationship to their own family. Learning about family ...
Editorial: Vaccine fear is harmful for children
Apr 01, 2009; ... A MISGUIDED FEAR that some vaccines may cause autism haspersuaded a growing number of parents to decline to have theirchildren inoculated against childhood diseases such as measles,mumps and whooping cough. These are illnesses that had been eradicated in the United Statesyears ...
Valley Times April 1 Letters from our readers
Apr 01, 2009; ... With the tragic shooting of police officers in Oakland this pastweek, it made me all the more appreciative and thankful for theDublin Police Department. I want to give a big 'thumb-up' to ChiefGary Thuman and all of his great officers and staff. They need to berecognized and thanked for ...
Marie Simmons: California olive oil a staple in Simmons kitchen
Apr 01, 2009; ... FOR AS LONG as I can remember, olive oil has been an importantpart of my life. My mother cooked with it, and consequently itbecame a staple in my kitchen, too. Today I keep butter in the freezer for the occasional bakingforay, but otherwise olive oil reigns. I pour a thin stream ...
Cookbook review: "Ten: All the Foods We Love and 10 Perfect Recipes for Each"
Apr 01, 2009; ... The following review is by a reader who was given a cookbook fromthis newspaper. The included recipes were selected and prepared bythe reader. It takes moxie to use the word "perfect" so many times. ButSheila Lukins has that in spades in her latest cookbook, "Ten: AllThe Foods We ...
Gary Bogue: What if a bee swarm lands in your backyard?
Apr 01, 2009; ... To learn more about the migrating painted lady butterflies thathave been fluttering about the Bay Area, see my blog. Dear Gary: I have a very newly formed (watched it myself!) bee swarm in mybackyard. It is hanging from the end of a tree branch. I'm not sure whatkind ...
Spin Cycle: Cowboys, bling and sausages
Apr 01, 2009; ... Cowboy lore Every state has an official flower, bird and animal. Now NewMexico, which has already raised the official song stakes thricebefore by recognizing an official Spanish song, a ballad and abilingual ditty, has taken this official lyrical thing one stepfurther by ...
Reunions calendar
Apr 01, 2009; ... To place a reunion notice, fax information (school name, classyear, date of reunion, place, contact name and phone number) to 925-943-8362. P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Announcement formsmay be obtained by calling 925-943-8235. Alhambra High School, class of 1977 -- is ...
Family Fun calendar
Apr 01, 2009; ... BLACK DIAMOND MINES Coal mining began in the 1860s at Black Diamond Mines, which wasoriginally the home of several American Indian tribes. The preservetoday features old mines and displays of the history of the area. Special activities: "Hazel-Atlas Silica-Sand Mine ...
Liberty Union district superintendent announces retirement
Apr 01, 2009; ... BRENTWOOD -- After 15 years at the helm of the Liberty Union HighSchool District, Superintendent Dan Smith announced this week thathe will retire at the end of the school year. Smith, 60, broke the news to a handful of district employees whoturned out for Monday's special board ...
East Bay Winners
Apr 01, 2009; ... EAST BAY WINNERS Company HQ Closing price Ticker symbol Percent change fromprevious quarter Novabay Pharmaceuticals Inc. Emeryville $2.94 NBY +188% Zhone Technologies Inc. Oakland $0.19 ZHNE +130 Neurobiological Technologies Inc. Emeryville $0.67 NTII ...
Reduction in funding for youth programs hits ballot
Apr 01, 2009; ... OAKLAND -- Voters will be asked July 21 to reduce the amount ofmoney the city sets aside for youth programs, with city officialssaying the vote will have huge consequences for Oakland's ability tofund other city services including libraries, parks and seniorprograms. The City ...
Richmond police find few leads in Hilltop-area shooting
Apr 01, 2009; ... Someone shot and killed a teenager as he drove west on AtlasRoad, but the crime scene offered little more information toinvestigators Tuesday night, Richmond police said. Devin Johnson, 18, was traveling to pick up a friend in southRichmond. About 11:25 p.m., several people who ...
Rackable buys fallen icon SGI
Apr 01, 2009; ... Rackable Systems Inc. has struck a deal to buy Silicon GraphicsInc., a fallen star of the high-tech industry whose computing and 3-D graphics technology powered the special effects for Hollywoodblockbusters such as "Jurassic Park," "Toy Story" and "Twister." Fremont-based Rackable ...
Coast Guard rescues a dozen canoeists from Bay near Oakland airport
Apr 01, 2009; ... OAKLAND -- Twelve people taking a canoe trip from the San LeandroMarina to the Oakland Airport last night ended up in the water andrequired rescue from the Coast Guard. Their contact near Oakland Airport reported a pair of 45-foot,six-person canoes missing around 8:20 p.m. The ...
Paris earns four-peat as an All-American
Apr 01, 2009; ... Whether or not she delivers a national title, Courtney Paris willleave Oklahoma with quite a legacy: the only four-time All-Americanin women's college basketball. "I'm truly honored to be the first," said Paris, the formerPiedmont High star who already holds 18 NCAA records. "I'm ...
Bobcats continue dominance over Lakers
Apr 01, 2009; ... Gerald Wallace had 21 points and 13 rebounds, and Charlotte beatthe visiting Los Angeles Lakers 94-84 on Tuesday night. The Bobcats completed a season sweep of the Western Conferenceleaders, who have lost six of seven to Charlotte over the past fourseasons. The Lakers' Kobe ...
I-680 commute through Alamo slow after crash
Apr 01, 2009; ... ALAMO -- A two-car crash has significantly slowed the southboundcommute on Interstate 680 this morning, the California HighwayPatrol said. The collision between a pickup truck and sedan was reported at8:12 a.m. north of Stone Valley Road and initially blocked twomiddle lanes, the ...
Around the Horn
Apr 01, 2009; ... Concord pole vaulters soaring March 25 definitely will go down as a monumental day for theConcord High track and field, especially in the pole vault. In theDiablo Valley Athletic League dual meet at Clayton Valley, AndrewArmstrong and Sarah Ribeiro each broke a school record in ...
Center Repertory Theatre opts for love with 'Enchanted April"
Apr 01, 2009; ... Walnut Creek's Center Repertory Company turns its attention toromance with its production of Matthew Barber's Tony-nominatedromantic comedy "Enchanted April." The show, based on the novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, is inpreviews, with the opening set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the ...
Walnut Creek news briefs -- April 2
Apr 01, 2009; ... RPM donates to officers' families Rob and Tracey Hirt, owners of RPM Mortgage, are donating $10,000to the families of the slain Oakland police officers under the RPMcompany name. The money is intended to help the families left behindwith the cost of education for their ...
Public meetings in Walnut Creek -- April 2
Apr 01, 2009; ... City Council The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. April 7 in the City Councilchamber, 1666 N. Main St. More information will be available after 2p.m. Friday at 925-943-5818 or www.walnut-creek.org. Regular councilmeetings are televised live on Comcast Cable Channel 28 in most ...
Four Fremont schools reopened after robbery suspect caught
Apr 01, 2009; ... FREMONT -- Four schools were briefly placed under lockdownWednesday as police sought -- and eventually caught -- an armed manwanted in connection with a November street robbery. American High School, Thornton Junior High School, and Oliveiraand Cabrillo elementary schools were ...
Police arrest man who may have tried to leave 2nd suspicious package for Oakland attorney
Apr 01, 2009; ... Police have arrested a man who may have left a suspicious packageTuesday at an Oakland attorney's office. Police arrested Curtis Hepner, 39, of Vallejo, in the parking lotof 7677 Oakport St. today, as he was apparently trying to deliver athreatening package to Attorney John Burris' ...
Bay Point shooting victim dies, suspect arrested
Apr 01, 2009; ... BAY POINT -- A man who was shot in the head Monday evening hasdied and a teenage suspect has been arrested in the killing, theContra Costa County Sheriff's Office said. Curtis Adams, 21, of Bay Point, died about 4 p.m. Tuesday at JohnMuir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, said ...
Walnut Creek gets new Web site
Apr 01, 2009; ... Walnut Creek's cyber home looks a little different now. The city's Web site (www.walnut-creek.org) recently received amajor upgrade. The city spent almost $50,000 to have the siteredesigned. The reason? To make the site more user-friendly,especially when users are trying to ...
St. Stupid's Day parade in SF pays homage to stupidity
Apr 01, 2009; ... Participants in San Francisco's annual St. Stupid's Day Paradewill march through the Financial District today carrying pink slips,eviction notices and drums to pay homage to "the business ofreligion and the religion of business," the parade's organizer saidthis morning. The 31st ...
Eagles prepared for challenges
Apr 01, 2009; ... Berean Christian High School is used to softball success. And while there's no lack of talent on this year's squad,longtime coach Fran Lacey-Grant and the Eagles know they have someunique challenges ahead. After owning the Bay Counties League- East for the last severalyears, ...
Pair qualifies for state gymnastics competition
Apr 01, 2009; ... Gymnastics These girls, members of Edge Gymnastics in Dublin, competed March27-29 at the USAG Northern California State Championship Meet inLemoore and qualified to complete in the Region One Championships inSacramento on April 17-19: Miranda Gold, ...
Whats happening
Apr 01, 2009; ... 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 ...
Around the Horn
Apr 01, 2009; ... Broncos take Mare Island Tournament The Northgate High School boys volleyball team won five matchesin a row to claim the title at the Cal Mare Island Tournament onMarch 28. The Broncos scored straight-sets wins over Tamalpais-MillValley, Encinal and Head-Royce in pool play, beat El ...
Federal stimulus cash now available to states, local school districts
Apr 01, 2009; ... Good news for cash-strapped school districts: $44 billion worthof education stimulus funds is now available, U.S. EducationSecretary Arne Duncan announced Wednesday. While $11 billion will be distributed immediately for specialeducation purposes and low-income Title I schools, ...
'On Golden Pond"
Apr 01, 2009; ... 'On Golden Pond' THE WILLOWS THEATRE presentation of the award-winning "On GoldenPond" continues through April 19, at 1975 Diamond Blvd., Concord.Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; and8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Matinees are at 2 p.m. Saturdays, ...
Traveling in dance circles
Apr 01, 2009; ... Scott Belding/Moving Arts Dance Traveling in dance circles MOVING ARTS DANCE in Concord received a $15,000 grant from theTravelers Foundation for its educational outreach program thatprovides demonstrations in schools, and scholarships for needystudents. From Travelers, l-r, ...
Concord seeks applicants for boards and commissions
Apr 01, 2009; ... Concord residents may apply through May 15 for several openingson various city boards and commissions. There are vacancies on the Commission on Aging, Community ServiceCommission and the Human Relations Commission for two-year termsending June 30, 2011. There are also three ...
How does your garden grow?
Apr 01, 2009; ... Dandelions aren't just for plucking from the fields and blowinginto the wind anymore. At a recent meeting of the Northern California unit of the HerbSociety of America, those present learned that what had once been anobject of a favorite childhood activity is actually one of the ...