Woody Allen observed that time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once.
But nature sets aside the rule of time on April 14, when the East Bay regional parks will present a cornucopia of colorful events and activities from which to chose.
For starters, there's the Tartan Day Scottish Fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14, at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, sponsored by the park district and the East Bay Scottish Association.
Festivities will include Scottish dancing, bagpipes, handmade crafts, historic re-enactments, bagpipes, Highland athletic competitions, and did I mention bagpipes? Scottish clans and societies will share their heritage and culture; children will enjoy the Children's Glen. There will be Scottish food and drink for sale.
Ardenwood is at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. Fee for the event is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children ages 4-17, and free for ages 3 and under. Parking is free. For information, call 510-544-2797.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
WINNING LOTTERY TICKET IN ARDENWOOD
Five Bay Area lottery tickets pay $227,955 prize
By Chris De Benedetti, Tracy Seipel and Troy Wolverton
San Jose Mercury News
contracostatimes.com
It was close, but no cigar for 29 people -- including five in the Bay Area -- who bought tickets that matched five of six numbers in Friday night's Mega Millions draw. But coming so agonizingly close to being a multimillionaire probably never felt so good:
Each of the 29 will receive $227,955.
"We have been given so many blessings, I don't have enough room to contain it," said Amalia Walia, co-owner of Fast & Easy Mart, a store in Fremont's Ardenwood neighborhood that sold one of the winning five-match tickets. "I believe that the window to heaven has been opened up for this business."
Walia, a 48-year-old mother of three, and her husband, Prit, will get a half-percent cut of the winnings -- about $1,140.
The couple didn't yet know which of their customers had won.
In fact, none of the statewide winners had contacted lottery officials as of late Saturday, but that could change as the weekend goes on, said Russ Lopez, a California Lottery spokesman.
"Winners usually don't come forward right away," Lopez said. "They will wait for weeks sometimes. Sometimes they need to talk to their family or want to get mentally prepared for coming into some money they never had before."
But one woman who bought a five-match winner Friday evening at a 7-Eleven in San Jose didn't wait long to verify her ticket.
She returned about 9:40 a.m. Saturday to the store on Blossom Hill Road to check its accuracy by placing it through a machine, said Balkar Singh, the store manager. The woman, who did not reveal her name, was one of about 1,000 customers who spent $12,000 on lottery tickets at the store on Friday, he said.
"She said, 'I think I'm a winner,' " Singh said, warning her to keep the ticket a secret because he didn't want her to be put in danger.
"She said she realized she should be careful and shouldn't attract attention because someone could take advantage of that," Singh said. "I'm happy for her. Maybe there will be more players here because this is a lucky place."
Liquor, Tobacco and More -- a Sunnyvale store that also sold one of the five-match winners -- was so busy Friday that instead of just one employee working the counter, the shop had three, including owner Hany Selim, 55.
Selim said his store on South Mary Avenue, which also sells high-end wines, liquor and cigars, has never sold a big winning ticket before.
The store doesn't make a lot of money from selling lottery tickets, said Selim, who works as a medical device engineer. But, he said, lottery sales "bring a whole bunch of people to the shop."
Randy Ackerman, 66, was among those buying lottery tickets Saturday. Ackerman, a former carnival worker who lives with his sister in Sunnyvale, said he doesn't believe any store is luckier than the rest.
"If you're there at the right moment, you're going to win," he said. "I do better at cards when I go to Vegas, but I don't go to Vegas all the time."
Three lucky people in Maryland, Illinois and Kansas matched all six numbers Friday night. They will divide the national Mega Millions jackpot estimated at $640 million.
In California, the "runner-up" winners bought tickets that matched the numbers 46, 23, 38, 4 and 2, missing only the Mega Ball number of 23.
The other Bay Area stores that sold winning five-match tickets are Fox Liquor in San Francisco and Al's Food & Liquor in San Rafael.
Five stores in the Central Valley -- three in Sacramento County, and one each in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties -- also sold winning tickets. The other 19 five-match winning tickets were bought in Southern California.
Winners can receive their cash prize by visiting one of the lottery's nine district offices, or by downloading a claim form at www.calottery.com, Lopez said. Winners must fill out the form and send it by regular mail to state lottery officials.
It takes a minimum of three weeks, and sometimes as long as six weeks, for a cash prize to be claimed, Lopez said.
State lottery officials reported sales totaling about $250 million in the days before the winning Mega Millions jackpot.
Californians spent about $78 million on Friday alone.
And lottery fever doesn't seem to be subsiding.
"We sold $10,000 worth of tickets yesterday and tonight the SuperLotto will pay $17 million," Amalia Walia said. "I expect more people to keep coming."
Eliut Hernandez, a 66-year-old retired engraver, didn't win any big prizes, but on Saturday afternoon the longtime Hayward resident was back at Kavanagh Liquors in San Lorenzo -- dubbed California's "luckiest store" because it has produced four jackpot winners.
Hernandez bought tickets there for several of the state lottery's games: SuperLotto Plus, Fantasy 5, Scratchers and the next round of Mega Millions, which begins Tuesday.
The grandfather of 12 said he would pay for his grandchildren's college educations if he wins.
"You don't win if you don't play," he said. "Go for it."
By Chris De Benedetti, Tracy Seipel and Troy Wolverton
San Jose Mercury News
contracostatimes.com
It was close, but no cigar for 29 people -- including five in the Bay Area -- who bought tickets that matched five of six numbers in Friday night's Mega Millions draw. But coming so agonizingly close to being a multimillionaire probably never felt so good:
Each of the 29 will receive $227,955.
"We have been given so many blessings, I don't have enough room to contain it," said Amalia Walia, co-owner of Fast & Easy Mart, a store in Fremont's Ardenwood neighborhood that sold one of the winning five-match tickets. "I believe that the window to heaven has been opened up for this business."
Walia, a 48-year-old mother of three, and her husband, Prit, will get a half-percent cut of the winnings -- about $1,140.
The couple didn't yet know which of their customers had won.
In fact, none of the statewide winners had contacted lottery officials as of late Saturday, but that could change as the weekend goes on, said Russ Lopez, a California Lottery spokesman.
"Winners usually don't come forward right away," Lopez said. "They will wait for weeks sometimes. Sometimes they need to talk to their family or want to get mentally prepared for coming into some money they never had before."
But one woman who bought a five-match winner Friday evening at a 7-Eleven in San Jose didn't wait long to verify her ticket.
She returned about 9:40 a.m. Saturday to the store on Blossom Hill Road to check its accuracy by placing it through a machine, said Balkar Singh, the store manager. The woman, who did not reveal her name, was one of about 1,000 customers who spent $12,000 on lottery tickets at the store on Friday, he said.
"She said, 'I think I'm a winner,' " Singh said, warning her to keep the ticket a secret because he didn't want her to be put in danger.
"She said she realized she should be careful and shouldn't attract attention because someone could take advantage of that," Singh said. "I'm happy for her. Maybe there will be more players here because this is a lucky place."
Liquor, Tobacco and More -- a Sunnyvale store that also sold one of the five-match winners -- was so busy Friday that instead of just one employee working the counter, the shop had three, including owner Hany Selim, 55.
Selim said his store on South Mary Avenue, which also sells high-end wines, liquor and cigars, has never sold a big winning ticket before.
The store doesn't make a lot of money from selling lottery tickets, said Selim, who works as a medical device engineer. But, he said, lottery sales "bring a whole bunch of people to the shop."
Randy Ackerman, 66, was among those buying lottery tickets Saturday. Ackerman, a former carnival worker who lives with his sister in Sunnyvale, said he doesn't believe any store is luckier than the rest.
"If you're there at the right moment, you're going to win," he said. "I do better at cards when I go to Vegas, but I don't go to Vegas all the time."
Three lucky people in Maryland, Illinois and Kansas matched all six numbers Friday night. They will divide the national Mega Millions jackpot estimated at $640 million.
In California, the "runner-up" winners bought tickets that matched the numbers 46, 23, 38, 4 and 2, missing only the Mega Ball number of 23.
The other Bay Area stores that sold winning five-match tickets are Fox Liquor in San Francisco and Al's Food & Liquor in San Rafael.
Five stores in the Central Valley -- three in Sacramento County, and one each in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties -- also sold winning tickets. The other 19 five-match winning tickets were bought in Southern California.
Winners can receive their cash prize by visiting one of the lottery's nine district offices, or by downloading a claim form at www.calottery.com, Lopez said. Winners must fill out the form and send it by regular mail to state lottery officials.
It takes a minimum of three weeks, and sometimes as long as six weeks, for a cash prize to be claimed, Lopez said.
State lottery officials reported sales totaling about $250 million in the days before the winning Mega Millions jackpot.
Californians spent about $78 million on Friday alone.
And lottery fever doesn't seem to be subsiding.
"We sold $10,000 worth of tickets yesterday and tonight the SuperLotto will pay $17 million," Amalia Walia said. "I expect more people to keep coming."
Eliut Hernandez, a 66-year-old retired engraver, didn't win any big prizes, but on Saturday afternoon the longtime Hayward resident was back at Kavanagh Liquors in San Lorenzo -- dubbed California's "luckiest store" because it has produced four jackpot winners.
Hernandez bought tickets there for several of the state lottery's games: SuperLotto Plus, Fantasy 5, Scratchers and the next round of Mega Millions, which begins Tuesday.
The grandfather of 12 said he would pay for his grandchildren's college educations if he wins.
"You don't win if you don't play," he said. "Go for it."
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
OUTING TO ARDENWOOD FARM - 4/22
WHAT- An FCC outing to a local historic farm on their sheep shearing day
WHERE- Ardenwood Farms located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont
About Ardenwood: Ardenwood is a working farm with staff and volunteers attired in Victorian clothing who guide guests through the Victorian house, demonstrate farm chores, and explain what life was like in the early 1900s. No visit to Ardenwood is complete without taking the train ride and visiting the Blacksmith shop.
On the day of our outing, Ardenwood is hosting their annual sheep shearing day. We will watch the farm's sheep get sheared, then try our hands at wool carding and see the transformation from fiber to yarn at the spinning wheel. Kids will enjoy stories about sheep and will be able to make their own wooly lamb to take home.
WHEN- Sunday, April 22 from 10:00 - ??
We will plan to meet at the park entrance at 10:00, then we will venture inside to explore the activities. Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and stay for as long as desired.
HOW MUCH- Because we will be going on a special event day, prices will be $8 for adults, $5 for children 4-17, and free for children under 4. Parking is free.
MORE INFO- http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
Contact: Katie, kstokesguinan@yahoo.com; 408-768-6388
WHERE- Ardenwood Farms located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont
About Ardenwood: Ardenwood is a working farm with staff and volunteers attired in Victorian clothing who guide guests through the Victorian house, demonstrate farm chores, and explain what life was like in the early 1900s. No visit to Ardenwood is complete without taking the train ride and visiting the Blacksmith shop.
On the day of our outing, Ardenwood is hosting their annual sheep shearing day. We will watch the farm's sheep get sheared, then try our hands at wool carding and see the transformation from fiber to yarn at the spinning wheel. Kids will enjoy stories about sheep and will be able to make their own wooly lamb to take home.
WHEN- Sunday, April 22 from 10:00 - ??
We will plan to meet at the park entrance at 10:00, then we will venture inside to explore the activities. Families are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and stay for as long as desired.
HOW MUCH- Because we will be going on a special event day, prices will be $8 for adults, $5 for children 4-17, and free for children under 4. Parking is free.
MORE INFO- http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood
Contact: Katie, kstokesguinan@yahoo.com; 408-768-6388
Friday, March 23, 2012
'The Descendants' Hits Close To Home
By Barbara Wood
Almanac Staff Write
When Wilcox Patterson of Portola Valley first read "The Descendants," the book on which the Academy Award-winning movie was based, it was a deja vu experience -- the history of main character Matt King seemed an awful lot like the history of Mr. Patterson's own Hawaiian ancestors.
Watching the movie provided even more deja vu for Mr. Patterson, known as Wil, and his wife Sandra. The beach house in the movie looks just like one owned by a cousin on the north shore of Kauai, and other scenes were suggestive of Mr. Patterson's family background as well.
"I thought, wait a minute -- this is getting awfully familiar," Mr. Patterson says.
Some of the characters' names even matched those of his family. "We actually have a cousin Hugh in the family, but the character played in the movie is the antithesis of our cousin Hugh," Mr. Wilcox says.
It turns out there is a very good reason for the similarities: Author Kaui Hart Hemmings is a distant cousin of Mr. Patterson's, and although she has denied in interviews that her book follows any specific family, it borrows a lot of the history of her, and Mr. Patterson's, own family.
Mr. Patterson and Ms. Hart Hemmings are descendants of Abner Wilcox and Lucy Eliza Hart Wilcox, missionary teachers who settled on the island of Kauai in 1846. One of their eight sons, George Norton Wilcox, became one of the wealthiest people in Hawaii and an influential politician and philanthropist before he died at the age of 93 in 1933.
George Wilcox's brother, Charles Hart Wilcox, was Mr. Patterson's maternal great-grandfather and Kaui Hart Hemmings' maternal great-great-grandfather.
George Wilcox, who never married or had children of his own, left his fortune in trust to his great-nieces and nephews, including Wilcox Patterson's mother. A board of directors including many family members managed the business, called Grove Farm, until 2000, when it was sold to AOL founder Steve Case, a native of Hawaii with family ties to Grove Farm.
Like the sale of the family land in "The Descendants," the sale was not without controversy. An unsuccessful lawsuit filed by some family members to try to reverse the sale was dismissed by a federal judge in 2008.
While Wil Patterson has strong family ties to Hawaii, he did not visit the islands until he was an adult. His great-grandfather left Hawaii for California in 1857, and Wil Patterson was born and raised in California. He and Sandy have lived in Portola Valley since 1988.
He knows his family in Hawaii well, though. In 1980 Mr. Patterson, who has a background in the banking industry, was asked to join the board of directors of Grove Farm. He served until 2000, attending quarterly meetings in Hawaii, but was no longer on the board when Grove Farm was sold.
There are some significant differences between Mr. Patterson's family and that of "The Descendants" family. The fictional Hawaiian family got much of the land it owned when an ancestor married a Hawaiian princess with major landholdings on Kauai. In the real world, according to the book "Grove Farm Plantation," 10,500 acres of George Wilcox's property was purchased from a Hawaiian princess, Ruth Keelikolani, who wanted the money to build herself a mansion in Honolulu.
While the family no longer owns the Grove Farm Company, the Waioli Corporation, a nonprofit formed in 1975 by Mabel Wilcox, niece of George Wilcox and daughter of Sam Wilcox, retains ownership of the heart of the Grove Farm sugar plantation. The 100-acre historic site includes the Wilcox home and some of the locomotives that were used to transport sugar cane. Located in Lihue, on the east shore of Kauai, it can be visited by appointment.
The Waioli Corporation also owns the Wai'oli Mission House museum, home of Abner and Lucy Wilcox, near Hanalei. Many visitors to the North Shore of Kauai are also familiar with the distinctive green Hui'ia Church in Hanalei, built in 1915 with money donated by Abner and Lucy's sons Sam, George and Albert Wilcox.
The family also donated the land and funds for the Kauai Community College and the Wilcox Community Hospital, both in Lihue.
Both Grove Farm and the Wai'oli Mission House are in the National Register of Historic Places, and Wil Patterson says many of his relatives provide financial and volunteer support for the museums.
"There's a tremendous amount of family philanthropy there," he says.
The family also has ties to the Kilohana Plantation complex in Lihue, featuring the 1936 mansion of Gaylord Parke Wilcox, George Wilcox's nephew, son of his brother Sam. Tourists visit the complex to shop, ride the Kauai Plantation Railway into the rain forest, tour the historic home or eat at Gaylord's Restaurant.
Even without the family ties to author Kaui Hart Hemmings, Wil Patterson may have seen parallels between his life and that of the family in "The Descendants." On his father's side of the family, George Washington Patterson came to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. He eventually took up farming in Fremont and Livermore, and amassed major landholdings, some of which are still in the family. Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont was GW Patterson's home, donated to the city of Fremont by the family in 1974.
Local residents may know Wil Patterson from his civic activities, including membership in the Menlo Park Rotary Club since 1970, and as a past president of the club's foundation.
In Portola Valley, he has been on the Traffic Committee for 16 years, serving many years as its chairperson, as well as serving on the Emergency Preparedness and Public Works committees.
Barbara Wood is a freelance writer, photographer and gardener who lives and works in an 1889 farmhouse in Woodside.
Almanac Staff Write
When Wilcox Patterson of Portola Valley first read "The Descendants," the book on which the Academy Award-winning movie was based, it was a deja vu experience -- the history of main character Matt King seemed an awful lot like the history of Mr. Patterson's own Hawaiian ancestors.
Watching the movie provided even more deja vu for Mr. Patterson, known as Wil, and his wife Sandra. The beach house in the movie looks just like one owned by a cousin on the north shore of Kauai, and other scenes were suggestive of Mr. Patterson's family background as well.
"I thought, wait a minute -- this is getting awfully familiar," Mr. Patterson says.
Some of the characters' names even matched those of his family. "We actually have a cousin Hugh in the family, but the character played in the movie is the antithesis of our cousin Hugh," Mr. Wilcox says.
It turns out there is a very good reason for the similarities: Author Kaui Hart Hemmings is a distant cousin of Mr. Patterson's, and although she has denied in interviews that her book follows any specific family, it borrows a lot of the history of her, and Mr. Patterson's, own family.
Mr. Patterson and Ms. Hart Hemmings are descendants of Abner Wilcox and Lucy Eliza Hart Wilcox, missionary teachers who settled on the island of Kauai in 1846. One of their eight sons, George Norton Wilcox, became one of the wealthiest people in Hawaii and an influential politician and philanthropist before he died at the age of 93 in 1933.
George Wilcox's brother, Charles Hart Wilcox, was Mr. Patterson's maternal great-grandfather and Kaui Hart Hemmings' maternal great-great-grandfather.
George Wilcox, who never married or had children of his own, left his fortune in trust to his great-nieces and nephews, including Wilcox Patterson's mother. A board of directors including many family members managed the business, called Grove Farm, until 2000, when it was sold to AOL founder Steve Case, a native of Hawaii with family ties to Grove Farm.
Like the sale of the family land in "The Descendants," the sale was not without controversy. An unsuccessful lawsuit filed by some family members to try to reverse the sale was dismissed by a federal judge in 2008.
While Wil Patterson has strong family ties to Hawaii, he did not visit the islands until he was an adult. His great-grandfather left Hawaii for California in 1857, and Wil Patterson was born and raised in California. He and Sandy have lived in Portola Valley since 1988.
He knows his family in Hawaii well, though. In 1980 Mr. Patterson, who has a background in the banking industry, was asked to join the board of directors of Grove Farm. He served until 2000, attending quarterly meetings in Hawaii, but was no longer on the board when Grove Farm was sold.
There are some significant differences between Mr. Patterson's family and that of "The Descendants" family. The fictional Hawaiian family got much of the land it owned when an ancestor married a Hawaiian princess with major landholdings on Kauai. In the real world, according to the book "Grove Farm Plantation," 10,500 acres of George Wilcox's property was purchased from a Hawaiian princess, Ruth Keelikolani, who wanted the money to build herself a mansion in Honolulu.
While the family no longer owns the Grove Farm Company, the Waioli Corporation, a nonprofit formed in 1975 by Mabel Wilcox, niece of George Wilcox and daughter of Sam Wilcox, retains ownership of the heart of the Grove Farm sugar plantation. The 100-acre historic site includes the Wilcox home and some of the locomotives that were used to transport sugar cane. Located in Lihue, on the east shore of Kauai, it can be visited by appointment.
The Waioli Corporation also owns the Wai'oli Mission House museum, home of Abner and Lucy Wilcox, near Hanalei. Many visitors to the North Shore of Kauai are also familiar with the distinctive green Hui'ia Church in Hanalei, built in 1915 with money donated by Abner and Lucy's sons Sam, George and Albert Wilcox.
The family also donated the land and funds for the Kauai Community College and the Wilcox Community Hospital, both in Lihue.
Both Grove Farm and the Wai'oli Mission House are in the National Register of Historic Places, and Wil Patterson says many of his relatives provide financial and volunteer support for the museums.
"There's a tremendous amount of family philanthropy there," he says.
The family also has ties to the Kilohana Plantation complex in Lihue, featuring the 1936 mansion of Gaylord Parke Wilcox, George Wilcox's nephew, son of his brother Sam. Tourists visit the complex to shop, ride the Kauai Plantation Railway into the rain forest, tour the historic home or eat at Gaylord's Restaurant.
Even without the family ties to author Kaui Hart Hemmings, Wil Patterson may have seen parallels between his life and that of the family in "The Descendants." On his father's side of the family, George Washington Patterson came to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. He eventually took up farming in Fremont and Livermore, and amassed major landholdings, some of which are still in the family. Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont was GW Patterson's home, donated to the city of Fremont by the family in 1974.
Local residents may know Wil Patterson from his civic activities, including membership in the Menlo Park Rotary Club since 1970, and as a past president of the club's foundation.
In Portola Valley, he has been on the Traffic Committee for 16 years, serving many years as its chairperson, as well as serving on the Emergency Preparedness and Public Works committees.
Barbara Wood is a freelance writer, photographer and gardener who lives and works in an 1889 farmhouse in Woodside.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tartan Day Scottish Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm, Fremont - 4/2
Celebrate Tartan Day, held at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont, Saturday, April 2, 2011, 10 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Join in the pageantry as Scottish folk from all over the area gather their clans and celebrate their heritage. Enjoy bagpipe bands – including a bagpipe competition, highland dancing, traditional Scottish food, and historic re-enactments. There will also be Clan Society exhibits and a special Children’s Glen where they can partake in Highland games, a traditional haggis toss, arts & crafts, storytelling … and perhaps find fairies! New this year, enjoy refreshments at the ale garden.
Entertainment by: Pladdohg, Neil O'Neill, Eachdraidh, Macintosh Pipe Band, Highland Dancers, The Red Thistle Dancers, and Pat Ryan's Celtic Junket. Opening Ceremonies featuring the Fremont Police Honor Guard.
Presented by the East Bay Scottish Association and East Bay Regional Park District Interpretive Staff. Special Event Fee: $8 adults/ $6 seniors/ $5 children (4-17), 3 years and under free. Free parking. Wheelchair accessible. Event ends 5:00 p.m.; no admissions after 4:30 p.m.
For more information call (510) 544-2797 or visit www.ebparks.org.
Ardenwood Historic Farm is located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd.
Fremont, California 94555.
Entertainment by: Pladdohg, Neil O'Neill, Eachdraidh, Macintosh Pipe Band, Highland Dancers, The Red Thistle Dancers, and Pat Ryan's Celtic Junket. Opening Ceremonies featuring the Fremont Police Honor Guard.
Presented by the East Bay Scottish Association and East Bay Regional Park District Interpretive Staff. Special Event Fee: $8 adults/ $6 seniors/ $5 children (4-17), 3 years and under free. Free parking. Wheelchair accessible. Event ends 5:00 p.m.; no admissions after 4:30 p.m.
For more information call (510) 544-2797 or visit www.ebparks.org.
Ardenwood Historic Farm is located at 34600 Ardenwood Blvd.
Fremont, California 94555.
Friday, March 2, 2012
CHALLENGER SCHOOL AT ARDENWOOD WINS SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
The Challenger School at Ardenwood, an independent private school, has won the Bay Area Regional Science Olympiad for the second straight year.
The Challenger Ardenwood Scientists beat 17 other teams Feb. 18 in a test of science and engineering skills at Foothill High School in Pleasanton.
The team of 15 seventh- and eighth-graders participated in 23 different scientific events, which included designing and constructing a Bottle Rocket and Mouse Trap Vehicle.
The regional contest is for public, private and home-schooled students in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Next up for the Challenger team is the NorCal Science Olympiad on April 14 in Visalia.
The Challenger Ardenwood Scientists beat 17 other teams Feb. 18 in a test of science and engineering skills at Foothill High School in Pleasanton.
The team of 15 seventh- and eighth-graders participated in 23 different scientific events, which included designing and constructing a Bottle Rocket and Mouse Trap Vehicle.
The regional contest is for public, private and home-schooled students in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Next up for the Challenger team is the NorCal Science Olympiad on April 14 in Visalia.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
ARDENWOOD FARM - FEBRUARY 2012 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4
STORIES BY THE STOVE
11am-noon Interpretive Staff Cozy up to the old wood-burning stove while we read some favorite farm stories and even meet a character or two! Meet at the Granary.
WONDERFUL WOOL
1:30-3pm Christina Garcia We’ll start with a yarn about wool before visiting our fleeciest friends. Along the way we’ll learn about these wooly wonders and how their special fur can help keep us warm. Meet at the Granary.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description above. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
CALIFORNIA WESTERN MONARCH DAY
11am-2pm Jenna Scimeca Celebrate the monarchs by taking a journey to discover their mysterious migration.We’ll make a butterfly craft before we honor our colorful friends with a trip to the butterfly grove.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description to left. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
MEET THE BUNNIES
11:00am-noon Christina Garcia Come meet the farm rabbits.Learn why they have big ears, their favorite food and how they communicate. See if you can find the softest part of a bunny. Meet in the Farmyard.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. LINCOLN!
Noon-1pm
Sara Witt Come out to help us celebrate Honest Abe’s 203rd birthday! Learn about Mr. Lincoln. Make your own stove pipe hat and enjoy our 16th president’s favorite dessert, apple pie.
SPEED HISTORY HIKE
1-2:30pm Christina Garcia Time travel to the days when Ardenwood was a thrivingVictorian farm.Find out what life was like on this land while you stretch your legs on an ambitious 1.5 mile hike.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description to left. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
FAREWELL TO THE MONARCHS
10:30am-12:30pm Jenna Scimeca Come say farewell to our monarch butterflies and learn about their very special journey back home! Make yourself a yummy butterfly treat before we bid our friends a fond farewell!
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
BARNYARD BUDDIES
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca Here’s your chance to get close to all your favorite barnyard pals. Feed the goats a snack, pet a bunny, and tickle a chicken (if you dare).
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
10:30-11:30am Christina Garcia Beyond the fields, fences, and corrals live the wilder residents of the farm. Come on an exploratory walk as we search for untamed creatures that also call the park home.
FIXIN’ FEED
12:30-1:30pm Christina Garcia Learn all about the many types of corn as you work with old equipment in the barn Even the little ones can lend a hand cracking corn for the animals. Meet at the Granary.
WONDERFUL WOOL
1:30-3pm Christina Garcia See description on page 2.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
MEET THE BUNNIES
11:00am-noon Jenna Scimeca See description on page 2.
THERE’S GOLD INTHEM THAR HILLS!
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca The gold rush of 1849 brought thousands of people to California. Miners, including Ardenwood’s George Patterson, came flooding in expecting to make easy money but discovered that it’s hard work! Come learn how to pan for gold and shout “Eureka!” when you strike it rich. FEE: $2
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
FARM CHORES FOR KIDS
11am-noon Christina Garcia There’s lots of work to do on the farm. Help grind corn, gather eggs, and feed the farm critters as we do our daily farm chores. Meet at the Granary.
GORGEOUS GOATS
1-2pm Interpretive Staff Let your little ones lend a hand giving our goats some much needed exercise and grooming attention. See if your kids like working with our kids.
WINTER FUN & GAMES
2-3pm Interpretive Staff Ready for some old-fashioned fun? Gather around
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
the wood-burning stove and join a game of pick¬up-sticks, tops, or jacks as you delve into our box of games from days-gone-by.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
SKULLS &TRACKS & SCAT, OH MY!
10:30am-noon Jenna Scimeca Ever wonder what a coyote skull looks like or maybe what its scat looks like? But what is scat, you ask? Come find out the answer and discover much more!
MEET THE CHICKENS
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca Check out our coop full of chickens! Discover why they like to roam around the farmyard and scratch and peck at the ground while we feed them a little snack.
WINTER FUN & GAMES
2-3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
STORIES BY THE STOVE
11am-noon Interpretive Staff Cozy up to the old wood-burning stove while we read some favorite farm stories and even meet a character or two! Meet at the Granary.
WONDERFUL WOOL
1:30-3pm Christina Garcia We’ll start with a yarn about wool before visiting our fleeciest friends. Along the way we’ll learn about these wooly wonders and how their special fur can help keep us warm. Meet at the Granary.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description above. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
CALIFORNIA WESTERN MONARCH DAY
11am-2pm Jenna Scimeca Celebrate the monarchs by taking a journey to discover their mysterious migration.We’ll make a butterfly craft before we honor our colorful friends with a trip to the butterfly grove.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description to left. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
MEET THE BUNNIES
11:00am-noon Christina Garcia Come meet the farm rabbits.Learn why they have big ears, their favorite food and how they communicate. See if you can find the softest part of a bunny. Meet in the Farmyard.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. LINCOLN!
Noon-1pm
Sara Witt Come out to help us celebrate Honest Abe’s 203rd birthday! Learn about Mr. Lincoln. Make your own stove pipe hat and enjoy our 16th president’s favorite dessert, apple pie.
SPEED HISTORY HIKE
1-2:30pm Christina Garcia Time travel to the days when Ardenwood was a thrivingVictorian farm.Find out what life was like on this land while you stretch your legs on an ambitious 1.5 mile hike.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description to left. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
FAREWELL TO THE MONARCHS
10:30am-12:30pm Jenna Scimeca Come say farewell to our monarch butterflies and learn about their very special journey back home! Make yourself a yummy butterfly treat before we bid our friends a fond farewell!
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
BARNYARD BUDDIES
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca Here’s your chance to get close to all your favorite barnyard pals. Feed the goats a snack, pet a bunny, and tickle a chicken (if you dare).
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
10:30-11:30am Christina Garcia Beyond the fields, fences, and corrals live the wilder residents of the farm. Come on an exploratory walk as we search for untamed creatures that also call the park home.
FIXIN’ FEED
12:30-1:30pm Christina Garcia Learn all about the many types of corn as you work with old equipment in the barn Even the little ones can lend a hand cracking corn for the animals. Meet at the Granary.
WONDERFUL WOOL
1:30-3pm Christina Garcia See description on page 2.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
MEET THE BUNNIES
11:00am-noon Jenna Scimeca See description on page 2.
THERE’S GOLD INTHEM THAR HILLS!
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca The gold rush of 1849 brought thousands of people to California. Miners, including Ardenwood’s George Patterson, came flooding in expecting to make easy money but discovered that it’s hard work! Come learn how to pan for gold and shout “Eureka!” when you strike it rich. FEE: $2
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
FARM CHORES FOR KIDS
11am-noon Christina Garcia There’s lots of work to do on the farm. Help grind corn, gather eggs, and feed the farm critters as we do our daily farm chores. Meet at the Granary.
GORGEOUS GOATS
1-2pm Interpretive Staff Let your little ones lend a hand giving our goats some much needed exercise and grooming attention. See if your kids like working with our kids.
WINTER FUN & GAMES
2-3pm Interpretive Staff Ready for some old-fashioned fun? Gather around
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
the wood-burning stove and join a game of pick¬up-sticks, tops, or jacks as you delve into our box of games from days-gone-by.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
SKULLS &TRACKS & SCAT, OH MY!
10:30am-noon Jenna Scimeca Ever wonder what a coyote skull looks like or maybe what its scat looks like? But what is scat, you ask? Come find out the answer and discover much more!
MEET THE CHICKENS
1-2pm Jenna Scimeca Check out our coop full of chickens! Discover why they like to roam around the farmyard and scratch and peck at the ground while we feed them a little snack.
WINTER FUN & GAMES
2-3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2.
ANIMAL FEEDING
3pm Interpretive Staff See description on page 2. Meet at the Chicken Coop.
Friday, January 27, 2012
FREMONT SEEKS COMMUNITY INPUT ON SCHOOL NEEDS
By Rob Dennis
The Argus
FREMONT -- The school district will hold two community meetings next month to find out what residents think about school facility needs for the next two decades.
The sessions are part of an effort to develop a long-range facilities plan and funding strategy, including a possible bond.
The school board Wednesday night discussed options for a bond, including how much the average homeowner would pay under various scenarios.
According to the Alameda County Auditor-Controller, Fremont has the lowest school district tax rate in the county -- $44.40 per $100,000 of assessed value. That compares with $164.50 for Albany and $153.40 for Piedmont, the districts with the highest rates.
Among its neighbors, Newark's rate is $93.50 while New Haven's is $129.50.
"It's an important consideration to see where you stack up," said Chet Wang, managing director of Keygent, which advises Fremont and other California school districts on financing issues. "Even if you were to add on a brand new $60, you would still be in line with ... your neighboring districts."
If the district asked voters to authorize a new tax of $60 per $100,000 of assessed value -- the option that would raise the most money -- the average homeowner, with a house valued at $385,000, would pay an extra $231 a year.
The deadline to put a bond on the ballot would be March 9 for the June primary or Aug. 10 for the November general election.
The board this month hired Godbe Research to conduct a phone survey of 600 Fremont voters about their support for a bond. In November, trustees approved a contract with WLC Architects and MGT of America to estimate how much it would cost to renovate or add facilities and raise technology infrastructure to current standards.
The most recent facilities assessment was completed in 2001 for a health and safety bond the following year. That study identified $230 million in facility needs, $157.2 million of which were covered by the bond. A $7.5 million bond surplus went toward other projects.
The consultants have gathered documents, conducted interviews and evaluated sites, and now they're seeking public input. Those sessions will be held Feb. 4 and 6 at Irvington High School, followed by an online survey Feb. 7 through 13.
"I hope everyone turns out to give their input, because we need everyone's help on this one," trustee Bryan Gebhardt said.
The final assessment report is expected to be completed in March, followed by a long-range facilities plan in June.
The Argus
FREMONT -- The school district will hold two community meetings next month to find out what residents think about school facility needs for the next two decades.
The sessions are part of an effort to develop a long-range facilities plan and funding strategy, including a possible bond.
The school board Wednesday night discussed options for a bond, including how much the average homeowner would pay under various scenarios.
According to the Alameda County Auditor-Controller, Fremont has the lowest school district tax rate in the county -- $44.40 per $100,000 of assessed value. That compares with $164.50 for Albany and $153.40 for Piedmont, the districts with the highest rates.
Among its neighbors, Newark's rate is $93.50 while New Haven's is $129.50.
"It's an important consideration to see where you stack up," said Chet Wang, managing director of Keygent, which advises Fremont and other California school districts on financing issues. "Even if you were to add on a brand new $60, you would still be in line with ... your neighboring districts."
If the district asked voters to authorize a new tax of $60 per $100,000 of assessed value -- the option that would raise the most money -- the average homeowner, with a house valued at $385,000, would pay an extra $231 a year.
The deadline to put a bond on the ballot would be March 9 for the June primary or Aug. 10 for the November general election.
The board this month hired Godbe Research to conduct a phone survey of 600 Fremont voters about their support for a bond. In November, trustees approved a contract with WLC Architects and MGT of America to estimate how much it would cost to renovate or add facilities and raise technology infrastructure to current standards.
The most recent facilities assessment was completed in 2001 for a health and safety bond the following year. That study identified $230 million in facility needs, $157.2 million of which were covered by the bond. A $7.5 million bond surplus went toward other projects.
The consultants have gathered documents, conducted interviews and evaluated sites, and now they're seeking public input. Those sessions will be held Feb. 4 and 6 at Irvington High School, followed by an online survey Feb. 7 through 13.
"I hope everyone turns out to give their input, because we need everyone's help on this one," trustee Bryan Gebhardt said.
The final assessment report is expected to be completed in March, followed by a long-range facilities plan in June.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
MAN DEAD AT SCENE OF HIT AND RUN
By Zoneil Maharaj
A pedestrian was found dead this morning after a possible hit-and-run near the intersection of Alvarado-Niles Road and Union Square Drive in Union City, police said.
Police responded to the location at 6:11 a.m. after receiving a report of a man down, said Sgt. Dean Sato of the Union City Police Department.
Based on the victim’s injuries and evidence at the scene, investigators believe that he was struck by a vehicle going westbound on Alvarado-Niles Road, Sato said.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. His identity has not yet been released.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact investigating officer Michael Silva at 510-675-5292 or the Union City Police Department at 510-471-1365.
Anonymous tips may also be left by calling 510-675-5207 or by emailing tips@unioncity.org.
A pedestrian was found dead this morning after a possible hit-and-run near the intersection of Alvarado-Niles Road and Union Square Drive in Union City, police said.
Police responded to the location at 6:11 a.m. after receiving a report of a man down, said Sgt. Dean Sato of the Union City Police Department.
Based on the victim’s injuries and evidence at the scene, investigators believe that he was struck by a vehicle going westbound on Alvarado-Niles Road, Sato said.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. His identity has not yet been released.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact investigating officer Michael Silva at 510-675-5292 or the Union City Police Department at 510-471-1365.
Anonymous tips may also be left by calling 510-675-5207 or by emailing tips@unioncity.org.
Monday, January 23, 2012
ARDENWOOD COMMUNITY MEETING REMINDER - 1/25
The Fremont Police Department is hosting a meeting for the Ardenwood community to discuss recent criminal activity that has taken place in the Ardenwood neighborhood. Everyone is invited, please tell your neighbors.
The meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday, January 25, 2012,
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Forest Park Elementary School, Multipurpose Room
34400 Maybird Circle
We look forward to seeing you there. Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions.
Martha Matthiesen mmatthiesen@fremont.gov
Community Engagement Specialist
Fremont Police
2000 Stevenson Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
510 790-6979
The meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday, January 25, 2012,
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Forest Park Elementary School, Multipurpose Room
34400 Maybird Circle
We look forward to seeing you there. Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions.
Martha Matthiesen mmatthiesen@fremont.gov
Community Engagement Specialist
Fremont Police
2000 Stevenson Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
510 790-6979
Friday, January 20, 2012
WHOSE SILICON VALLEY FOOTPRINT'S GROWING FASTEST
by Mary Ann Azevedo
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Search giant Google and cloud computing pioneer VMware have laid claim to more space in the Bay Area since 2009 than any other tech company, according to a Grubb & Ellis report on Friday.
The firm's managing director, Richard Scott, spoke at the Business Journal's Economic Forecast breakfast Friday about the biggest tech office/R&D space users in Silicon Valley and who has taken the most space since 2009.
While Cisco Systems has by far the biggest CRE footprint in the valley with nearly 7 million square feet, the San Jose networking equipment giant has absorbed very little new space since 2009.
Meanwhile, VMware has done most of its leasing or acquiring of space after 2009 although it was founded in 1998.
As of mid-October 2011, Google had leased or bought about 1.42 million square feet of space and VMware had leased or bought about 1.4 million square feet of space in the Bay Area since 2009 – more than social networking giant Facebook and even more than Apple, which has seen demand for its products explode in recent years.
In the spring of 2011, VMware took over more than 1 million square feet former Roche campus in Palo Alto’s Stanford Research Park. Over the year, Google bought or leased dozens of buildings in Mountain View. And Apple slowly leased up nearly all the available space in Cupertino.
"Apple owns Cupertino. Google owns Mountain View," Scott said. "Now they’re spilling into Sunnyvale."
Looking ahead, he predicted that as Facebook continues to grow beyond its Menlo Park campus, it may end up migrating to the Ardenwood/Fremont area.
"At the end of the day because these movers and shakers are so dynamic and big, they have more to say as to what happens over the next year than any other indicator," Scott said. "And all this activity are signs that they want to stay here."
Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal
Search giant Google and cloud computing pioneer VMware have laid claim to more space in the Bay Area since 2009 than any other tech company, according to a Grubb & Ellis report on Friday.
The firm's managing director, Richard Scott, spoke at the Business Journal's Economic Forecast breakfast Friday about the biggest tech office/R&D space users in Silicon Valley and who has taken the most space since 2009.
While Cisco Systems has by far the biggest CRE footprint in the valley with nearly 7 million square feet, the San Jose networking equipment giant has absorbed very little new space since 2009.
Meanwhile, VMware has done most of its leasing or acquiring of space after 2009 although it was founded in 1998.
As of mid-October 2011, Google had leased or bought about 1.42 million square feet of space and VMware had leased or bought about 1.4 million square feet of space in the Bay Area since 2009 – more than social networking giant Facebook and even more than Apple, which has seen demand for its products explode in recent years.
In the spring of 2011, VMware took over more than 1 million square feet former Roche campus in Palo Alto’s Stanford Research Park. Over the year, Google bought or leased dozens of buildings in Mountain View. And Apple slowly leased up nearly all the available space in Cupertino.
"Apple owns Cupertino. Google owns Mountain View," Scott said. "Now they’re spilling into Sunnyvale."
Looking ahead, he predicted that as Facebook continues to grow beyond its Menlo Park campus, it may end up migrating to the Ardenwood/Fremont area.
"At the end of the day because these movers and shakers are so dynamic and big, they have more to say as to what happens over the next year than any other indicator," Scott said. "And all this activity are signs that they want to stay here."
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
2012 SUMMER PROGRAMS FAIR @AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
Community Event ** Free*** Open to the Public
Organgized by: TGIF - The Gifted in Fremont,Fremont Unified School District
What: "2012 Summer Programs" Fair
Where: American High School (Rotunda), 36300 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, 94536
When: Friday, March 02 , 2012, from 6:15 - 8:15pm
Who: ALL families with kids ages 5-18 yrs
Why * Looking for ways to enhance your kids' study skills, life skills, leadership, and communication skills over the summer?
* Do your teens need service learning hours and activities for their college applications?
* Need ideas to engage your kids for the summer?
Mark your calendar.
Check us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/TGIF-Summer-Programs-Fair/358894864125867?sk=info
If you are a business or an organization that provide services to kids ages 5-18 and would like to showcase your services, contact spf2012@giftedinfremont.org
Organgized by: TGIF - The Gifted in Fremont,Fremont Unified School District
What: "2012 Summer Programs" Fair
Where: American High School (Rotunda), 36300 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, 94536
When: Friday, March 02 , 2012, from 6:15 - 8:15pm
Who: ALL families with kids ages 5-18 yrs
Why * Looking for ways to enhance your kids' study skills, life skills, leadership, and communication skills over the summer?
* Do your teens need service learning hours and activities for their college applications?
* Need ideas to engage your kids for the summer?
Mark your calendar.
Check us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/TGIF-Summer-Programs-Fair/358894864125867?sk=info
If you are a business or an organization that provide services to kids ages 5-18 and would like to showcase your services, contact spf2012@giftedinfremont.org
Friday, January 13, 2012
Logan Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Having Sex With Student
by Zonelle Maharaj
Newark Patch
A former James Logan High School teacher was arrested Thursday on suspicion of having sex with a student, police said.
Peter Kolesnikov, 38, faces 22 counts of sexual assualt, including charges of statutory rape, oral copulation of a minor and communicating with a minor with criminal intent, according to Cmdr. Ben Horner of the Union City Police Department. He was arrested without incident by Union City police while en route to meet with the juvenile victim at an undisclosed location in Hayward.
Police received information on Tuesday morning alleging that Kolesnikov, an English teacher who also taught some art, had engaged in sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl over a nine-month period, starting last year in March and ending in November. Investigators then served search warrants at Kolesnikov’s residences in San Francisco and Berkeley.
According to the New Haven Unified School District, Kolesnikov has been on leave since the beginning of the school year and has not worked for the district since last June.
The victim, now 17, told police that the relationship began with kissing and grew into sexual encounters in private homes and motels in Alameda County.
Kolesnikov is being held at Santa Rita Jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Fremont Hall of Justice.
Authorities in Union City have worked with the New Haven Unified School District to ensure the safety of all students in the district, Horner said.
Police believe that there may be additional victims and our urging parents to speak to their children about the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Union City Police Department’s Press Information Officer Ben Horner at 510-675-5225. Anonymous tips may also be made by calling 510-675-5207 or emailing tips@unioncity.org.
Kolsenikov becomes the third Bay Area teacher arrested in a sex scandal this week.
On Wednesday in Livermore, Marie Johnson, a 40-year-old Granada High School teacher, was arrested on suspicion of committing 24 counts of sexual assault on a 14-year-old boy. On Tuesday in San Jose, 35-year-old Whaley Elementary School teacher Craig Chandler was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a student.
With word of Kolesnikov's arrest spreading rapidly Friday, former students have taken to social media to voice their support for the former Logan teacher, whom many refer to as "Mr. K."
"That was my teacher! No way he would do that. Best teacher I had," one former student wrote on Twitter.
Another student, however, wrote that Kolesnikov "was always talkin bout sex" in art class. "He was the coolest teacher ever though!," the student added.
Newark Patch
A former James Logan High School teacher was arrested Thursday on suspicion of having sex with a student, police said.
Peter Kolesnikov, 38, faces 22 counts of sexual assualt, including charges of statutory rape, oral copulation of a minor and communicating with a minor with criminal intent, according to Cmdr. Ben Horner of the Union City Police Department. He was arrested without incident by Union City police while en route to meet with the juvenile victim at an undisclosed location in Hayward.
Police received information on Tuesday morning alleging that Kolesnikov, an English teacher who also taught some art, had engaged in sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl over a nine-month period, starting last year in March and ending in November. Investigators then served search warrants at Kolesnikov’s residences in San Francisco and Berkeley.
According to the New Haven Unified School District, Kolesnikov has been on leave since the beginning of the school year and has not worked for the district since last June.
The victim, now 17, told police that the relationship began with kissing and grew into sexual encounters in private homes and motels in Alameda County.
Kolesnikov is being held at Santa Rita Jail on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 2 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Fremont Hall of Justice.
Authorities in Union City have worked with the New Haven Unified School District to ensure the safety of all students in the district, Horner said.
Police believe that there may be additional victims and our urging parents to speak to their children about the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Union City Police Department’s Press Information Officer Ben Horner at 510-675-5225. Anonymous tips may also be made by calling 510-675-5207 or emailing tips@unioncity.org.
Kolsenikov becomes the third Bay Area teacher arrested in a sex scandal this week.
On Wednesday in Livermore, Marie Johnson, a 40-year-old Granada High School teacher, was arrested on suspicion of committing 24 counts of sexual assault on a 14-year-old boy. On Tuesday in San Jose, 35-year-old Whaley Elementary School teacher Craig Chandler was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a student.
With word of Kolesnikov's arrest spreading rapidly Friday, former students have taken to social media to voice their support for the former Logan teacher, whom many refer to as "Mr. K."
"That was my teacher! No way he would do that. Best teacher I had," one former student wrote on Twitter.
Another student, however, wrote that Kolesnikov "was always talkin bout sex" in art class. "He was the coolest teacher ever though!," the student added.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
ARDENWOOD FARM SEE MONARCH BUTTERFLY BOOM
By Jonathan Bloom, KGO
FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- Monarch butterflies flock to California's coastline each winter and right now, they're here in record numbers. There's a big surge among the butterfly that is one of nature's great mysteries.
At first glance, they look like clumps of leaves, hanging high in a eucalyptus grove. However, if you look closely and you'll see what may be the biggest population of Monarch butterflies that Ardenwood Historic Farm has ever seen.
"We had 4,188 butterflies," said Ira Bletz, a supervising naturalist. That count is about 10 times the amount from the year before. "And more than we've had in the past 10 years."
Naturalists say it's possible last year's rainfall caused a spike in the growth of the milkweed plant where monarchs lay their eggs, which looks like a little white pinprick that will hatch into a caterpillar. Those caterpillars will eat the milkweed nonstop for 15 days, before starting its transformation.
Most Monarchs live only a few weeks, but each year, one generation will live for six months -- migrating across the country to where the climate is just right. These butterflies have come from as far east as the Rocky Mountains and as far north as British Columbia.
To survive the winter, Monarch butterflies need a ring of trees that's shielded from the wind, but lets in just enough sunlight to keep them warm. And the thing is they don't go looking for it, they just seem to know where it is.
"They've never been here before, they've never seen any other butterflies coming here, but somehow they find their way to specific spots, and they come there to spend the winter," said Bletz.
Because they come from all over, the population surge tells a story far bigger than this grove in Fremont.
"Monarch butterflies are really an indicator of a healthy environment. A good population indicates that things are going well all across the western us," said Bletz.
And in February, they'll head back out across the country to lay their eggs and let the cycle begin again.
These butterflies will not return here, but their great-great-grandchildren will come back next fall to spend the winter here in our eucalyptus grove," said Bletz.
FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) -- Monarch butterflies flock to California's coastline each winter and right now, they're here in record numbers. There's a big surge among the butterfly that is one of nature's great mysteries.
At first glance, they look like clumps of leaves, hanging high in a eucalyptus grove. However, if you look closely and you'll see what may be the biggest population of Monarch butterflies that Ardenwood Historic Farm has ever seen.
"We had 4,188 butterflies," said Ira Bletz, a supervising naturalist. That count is about 10 times the amount from the year before. "And more than we've had in the past 10 years."
Naturalists say it's possible last year's rainfall caused a spike in the growth of the milkweed plant where monarchs lay their eggs, which looks like a little white pinprick that will hatch into a caterpillar. Those caterpillars will eat the milkweed nonstop for 15 days, before starting its transformation.
Most Monarchs live only a few weeks, but each year, one generation will live for six months -- migrating across the country to where the climate is just right. These butterflies have come from as far east as the Rocky Mountains and as far north as British Columbia.
To survive the winter, Monarch butterflies need a ring of trees that's shielded from the wind, but lets in just enough sunlight to keep them warm. And the thing is they don't go looking for it, they just seem to know where it is.
"They've never been here before, they've never seen any other butterflies coming here, but somehow they find their way to specific spots, and they come there to spend the winter," said Bletz.
Because they come from all over, the population surge tells a story far bigger than this grove in Fremont.
"Monarch butterflies are really an indicator of a healthy environment. A good population indicates that things are going well all across the western us," said Bletz.
And in February, they'll head back out across the country to lay their eggs and let the cycle begin again.
These butterflies will not return here, but their great-great-grandchildren will come back next fall to spend the winter here in our eucalyptus grove," said Bletz.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
As Class Size Grows, More Chaotic Classrooms
by Richard Lee
New America Media/World Journal
FREMONT, Calif. -- "Guys, I almost can't hear myself," exclaims teacher Jenna Kelly to her large class of third graders at Ardenwood Elementary School in Fremont. She felt torn between paying attention to individual students and controlling the classroom. Whenever she tried to help one student with his class work, the rest of the class clamored for her attention.
Class size is a huge issue at Ardenwood Elementary, which is located in northern Fremont and serves about 900 students, over 70 percent of whom are Asian, largely Chinese and Asian Indian. Each class this year has an average of almost 30 students.
Big budget cuts at the Fremont Unified School District level are to blame. Ardenwood itself did not suffer any dramatic funding. But the district budget dropped from $273 million in 2007-2008 down to $251 million in 2010-2011. Seven teacher positions were cut.
Because there was a no-layoff clause written into the contract for permanent teachers, layoffs targeted temporary teachers. Attrition made up for the rest. To compensate, each classroom was required to absorb more students, raising student-teacher ratios across the district. In FUSD, class size for first and third grades went up 40 percent from 20 in to 28.
"It's just more chaotic," says Kelly, who spends a lot more time keeping students quiet before she can teach. Kelly is grateful there are more parents volunteering in the classroom. But she's also seen a dramatic increase in students. She winds up spending less time with each student.
"It's just not the same," she explains. "They are louder, they are not reading as fast, and their scores aren't as high (as before)," she says.
Teacher workloads outside the classroom are also heavier because there are more papers to grade. Kelly says her class usually has two to three tests per week and it takes an average of 45 extra minutes to grade each test, not to mention the time to prepare learning materials for more students. "If you are talking about planning and preparing, that's a couple of hours more." She takes work home about three nights a week and often works on weekends.
Paula Rugg, principal of Ardenwood, recalls that it was difficult when teachers needed to absorb eight more students into their classes for the first time. But, she says, teachers slowly learned to be more creative to help students adjust to more crowded classrooms.
"Teachers learned to manage the class by having children in groups," Rugg says. "There's a lot of group work now. If you walk into a classroom, you'll see kids sitting in table groups." Ying Lu, a Chinese mother of a fifth grader at Ardenwood, says she was concerned about classroom sizes at first, but was glad that her son was able to adapt quite well. "He makes more friends in the class, and his test score is about the same," she says.
Rugg says teachers are doing a great job to minimize the impact and school data suggest English learners' performance hasn't been impacted. English language learners account for 17 percent of the entire student body, many of whom are Chinese.
Ivy Wu, a FUSD board member, says Chinese parents, like other parents, are stressed about declining school funding levels and don't understand how school budgets are made. She thinks Chinese-English learners are doing alright because their parents -- while not necessarily wealthy -- "spend their money on education purposes."
In fact, Ardenwood parents overall have been donating to the school to reduce class size, but the deficit was too big to be covered by parental donations.
Apart from class size, the school district has also eliminated a variety of services over recent years, including cutting school bus services, eliminating teachers' positions in fine arts, music and sports, shortening the last school year to 177 from 180, as well as reducing school library hours.
"(Back in 2010), I only worked two and a half days a week," says Sandhya Sharma, Ardenwood's librarian. The result is that students come only once every other week, she says, losing the chance to learn research skills and check out books.
Voters approved a FUSD parcel tax in 2010, which school officials believe will generate about $3 million a year over the next five years. By using the property tax levy, Ardenwood was able to restore the school library hours and bring back their arts and music teachers.
"With more budget cuts looming, we are still very concerned about the future," says Wu.
Fremont Unified School District:
Class Size: 28 in Kindergarten to 3rd grades, 30 in 4th and 5th grades. In high schools, classes were staffed at 27.5 to 1, but some core academic classes (English, Math, Social Science and Science) were as high as 36 to 1.
Teacher Layoffs: None. However, 202 temporary teachers were laid off.
School Year: 180 Days, restored from 177 days in 2010-2011.
New America Media/World Journal
FREMONT, Calif. -- "Guys, I almost can't hear myself," exclaims teacher Jenna Kelly to her large class of third graders at Ardenwood Elementary School in Fremont. She felt torn between paying attention to individual students and controlling the classroom. Whenever she tried to help one student with his class work, the rest of the class clamored for her attention.
Class size is a huge issue at Ardenwood Elementary, which is located in northern Fremont and serves about 900 students, over 70 percent of whom are Asian, largely Chinese and Asian Indian. Each class this year has an average of almost 30 students.
Big budget cuts at the Fremont Unified School District level are to blame. Ardenwood itself did not suffer any dramatic funding. But the district budget dropped from $273 million in 2007-2008 down to $251 million in 2010-2011. Seven teacher positions were cut.
Because there was a no-layoff clause written into the contract for permanent teachers, layoffs targeted temporary teachers. Attrition made up for the rest. To compensate, each classroom was required to absorb more students, raising student-teacher ratios across the district. In FUSD, class size for first and third grades went up 40 percent from 20 in to 28.
"It's just more chaotic," says Kelly, who spends a lot more time keeping students quiet before she can teach. Kelly is grateful there are more parents volunteering in the classroom. But she's also seen a dramatic increase in students. She winds up spending less time with each student.
"It's just not the same," she explains. "They are louder, they are not reading as fast, and their scores aren't as high (as before)," she says.
Teacher workloads outside the classroom are also heavier because there are more papers to grade. Kelly says her class usually has two to three tests per week and it takes an average of 45 extra minutes to grade each test, not to mention the time to prepare learning materials for more students. "If you are talking about planning and preparing, that's a couple of hours more." She takes work home about three nights a week and often works on weekends.
Paula Rugg, principal of Ardenwood, recalls that it was difficult when teachers needed to absorb eight more students into their classes for the first time. But, she says, teachers slowly learned to be more creative to help students adjust to more crowded classrooms.
"Teachers learned to manage the class by having children in groups," Rugg says. "There's a lot of group work now. If you walk into a classroom, you'll see kids sitting in table groups." Ying Lu, a Chinese mother of a fifth grader at Ardenwood, says she was concerned about classroom sizes at first, but was glad that her son was able to adapt quite well. "He makes more friends in the class, and his test score is about the same," she says.
Rugg says teachers are doing a great job to minimize the impact and school data suggest English learners' performance hasn't been impacted. English language learners account for 17 percent of the entire student body, many of whom are Chinese.
Ivy Wu, a FUSD board member, says Chinese parents, like other parents, are stressed about declining school funding levels and don't understand how school budgets are made. She thinks Chinese-English learners are doing alright because their parents -- while not necessarily wealthy -- "spend their money on education purposes."
In fact, Ardenwood parents overall have been donating to the school to reduce class size, but the deficit was too big to be covered by parental donations.
Apart from class size, the school district has also eliminated a variety of services over recent years, including cutting school bus services, eliminating teachers' positions in fine arts, music and sports, shortening the last school year to 177 from 180, as well as reducing school library hours.
"(Back in 2010), I only worked two and a half days a week," says Sandhya Sharma, Ardenwood's librarian. The result is that students come only once every other week, she says, losing the chance to learn research skills and check out books.
Voters approved a FUSD parcel tax in 2010, which school officials believe will generate about $3 million a year over the next five years. By using the property tax levy, Ardenwood was able to restore the school library hours and bring back their arts and music teachers.
"With more budget cuts looming, we are still very concerned about the future," says Wu.
Fremont Unified School District:
Class Size: 28 in Kindergarten to 3rd grades, 30 in 4th and 5th grades. In high schools, classes were staffed at 27.5 to 1, but some core academic classes (English, Math, Social Science and Science) were as high as 36 to 1.
Teacher Layoffs: None. However, 202 temporary teachers were laid off.
School Year: 180 Days, restored from 177 days in 2010-2011.
AUTHORITIES ID MAN KILLED IN FREMONT HIT-and-RUN
By Chris De Benedetti
Fremont Argus
FREMONT -- Authorities have identified the 56-year-old man who died in a hit-and-run accident involving two vehicles near the Newark-Fremont border Monday night.
Ralph Huerta was crossing Ardenwood Boulevard about 7:42 p.m., when he was struck by the vehicles, an Alameda County Coroner's Bureau official said.
Police said Huerta was first hit by a silver or light-colored sport utility vehicle going southbound on Ardenwood Boulevard, near Highway 84.
The SUV knocked him to the pavement and drove away, police said.
A car behind the SUV also ran over Huerta and kept going. Based on physical evidence found at the scene, police believe a 2003 to 2007 four-door Honda Accord was the second vehicle and sustained damage to its right front wheel area.
Huerta, a transient, was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley where he died.
Anyone with information about the incident are asked to call police at 510-790-6760 or 510-790-6972.
Fremont Argus
FREMONT -- Authorities have identified the 56-year-old man who died in a hit-and-run accident involving two vehicles near the Newark-Fremont border Monday night.
Ralph Huerta was crossing Ardenwood Boulevard about 7:42 p.m., when he was struck by the vehicles, an Alameda County Coroner's Bureau official said.
Police said Huerta was first hit by a silver or light-colored sport utility vehicle going southbound on Ardenwood Boulevard, near Highway 84.
The SUV knocked him to the pavement and drove away, police said.
A car behind the SUV also ran over Huerta and kept going. Based on physical evidence found at the scene, police believe a 2003 to 2007 four-door Honda Accord was the second vehicle and sustained damage to its right front wheel area.
Huerta, a transient, was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley where he died.
Anyone with information about the incident are asked to call police at 510-790-6760 or 510-790-6972.
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