As the year comes to a close and we enjoy holiday festivities, we here at the District 2 Office would like to continue a commitment to helping the less fortunate through charitable giving.
It was a difficult time when the wildfires devastated our neighbors in the north. The effects of the Camp Fire were felt all throughout the Bay Area as the winds carried the smoke and debris westward. Schools and businesses were forced to closed due to hazardous air quality and advisories for limited outdoor activity and the wearing of face masks were sent out. The impact of the Camp Fire will undoubtedly remain with us for some time. However, it is always uplifting to see communities coming together in the face of adversity.
In light of this disaster, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors has reactivated the Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund. This fund was created in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and has been activated numerous times and drawn strong community support in response to tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina, the Northern Japan Earthquake/Tsunami, and the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland.
To find out how you can contribute to this fund and give a gift of donation to those directly affected by the wildfires click here or continue reading below for more charitable opportunities.
The District 2 Office wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday season! See you in the New Year!
In this issue’s spotlight, we highlight Toni Shellen for being a remarkable educator and community member.
Toni Shellen was born and raised in the Bay Area. She became the first in her family to attend college, receiving her degree and teaching credentials from San Jose State University. She is a lifetime member of the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association.
Toni continuously demonstrates her concerns for the safety of schools and her students. Following the Sandy Hook Tragedy she founded the Tri-City Alameda County Chapter of the Brady Campaign to prevent Gun Violence where she serves as the President of the Chapter and also serves as a member on the California Brady Chapters Executive Committee.
|
|
 |
Under Toni’s leadership Fremont Unified School District, Newark Unified School District, New Haven Unified School District, and San Leandro Unified School District have adopted the Brady Campaign’s parent outreach program which includes sending out a memo that informs, teaches, and reminds parents how to properly store and put away firearms when there are children at home.
Toni has been involved in vital organizations that relate to her passions for peace, community, social justice, education, and the environment. Throughout her years, she has become a valuable member to groups such as the Ad Hoc Citizen’s Committee for Review of Hazardous Materials, Tri-City Ecology Center, The League of Women Voters, Pax Christi Fremont, the Tri-City Interfaith Council, and the Tri-Cities Democratic Forum.
Toni has organized many vigils and rallies in support of issues promoting nonviolence and social justice. She coordinates the monthly “We Are One” vigils for the Tri-City Interfaith Council and Compassionate Fremont organizations. Topics at the rallies include: Standing in Solidarity with Immigrants and Refugees, Health Care as a Human Right, Love is Love, Peace, The Earth, Our Common Home, and ENOUGH, and a Fremont Families Belong Together rally.
In 2013, Toni was named by California Senator Bob Wieckowski as “Fremont Hero”. Assemblymember Kansen Chu also praised her and recognized Toni as an “Inspirational Woman of the 25th Assembly District” in 2016.
In addition to being an outstanding role model for Alameda County youth she is a dedicated mother and grandmother drawing motivation from her family who include her husband, Jay Shellen, their three sons and eight grandchildren.
is placeholder text.Click to edit this placeholder text.
|
Our office held the biennial Science in the Park event on Saturday, October 6th.
Science in the Park is a bi-ennial event hosted by Supervisor Richard Valle. It is an opportunity for the community to learn more about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), the environment, and health, while having fun and supporting the school districts in District 2.
|
|
 |
This year, we had over 50 vendor groups and thousands of families participated in the biggest Science in the Park to date. Like the previous events, this year’s festivities featured a number of activities including the highly anticipated egg drop contest and water rocket launch.
We'd like to give a huge thank you to Kaiser, IBEW Local 593, Alameda County EMS, Childhood Injury Prevention Network, Bay Area Bike Mobile, Union Sanitary District, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Washington Hospital, Masonic Homes of California, and the San Francisco Public utilities Commission for sponsoring this year's event.
Science in the Park would have been possible without the support of our partners; we'd like to extend our gratitude to the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, Hayward Education Foundation, Newark Educational Foundation, New Havens Schools Foundation, and Fremont Education Foundation.
Enjoy these pictures of Science in the Park and prepare yourselves for all the fun to be had at the next Science in the Park on Saturday, October 5th, 2020.
See you then!
 |
|
|
District 2 offers an applause to everyone for their engagement in the general election last month. Alameda County voters cast a record number of ballots, surpassing the previous record for voter engagement by over 20%. Results show a voter turnout of nearly 67 percent of the County’s 879,912 registered voters.
|
587,501 ballots were cast in Alameda County; this is 25.4 percent more than Alameda County’s previous record for a gubernatorial general election with 468,483 ballots cast in November 2010.
|
The number of vote-by-mail ballots counted was 428,001, which represents about 73 percent of all ballots cast in Alameda County, and shatters the County’s previous record for a mid-term election by more than 174,000 votes.
Registrar of Voters officially certified Alameda County's final election results on December 6. See Alameda County's Final Results here
|
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) is in the process of updating its Park and Recreation Master Plan and they need your help!
Help contribute to H.A.R.D.’s efforts by watching their informational video and participating in their survey here. They need your input in planning the future of our parks, facilities, and programs.
|
|
 |
Your contribution to this planning effort will help to set a new vision, ensuring that H.A.R.D. continues to deliver a high level of quality recreation and leisure programs, safe and attractive parks and trails, and recreation facilities that meet the needs of all ages.
Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund
Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund Reactivated in Response to Wildfires On November 20th, the Board of Supervisors reactivated the Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund to support people affected by wildfires in other parts of California that have taken numerous lives, destroyed thousands of homes and devastated communities at both ends of the state.
The Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund allows County employees and people in the community to voluntarily make cash and/or online donations to benefit people directly affected by natural and human-caused disasters.
The Fund is now supporting communities affected by the Camp Fire in Butte County, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history; and the Woolsey Fire, which has scorched about 100,000 acres in Southern California.
All current contributions to the Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund will go directly to victims of the wildfires in Butte and Los Angeles counties.
Cash donations can be contributed by personal check payable to the Alameda County Disaster Relief Fund, c/o the Auditor-Controller Agency, 1221 Oak Street, Room 238, Oakland, CA 94612.
Credit card donations can be made through the Disaster Relief Fund website. County employees may also have the option to donate up to 5 days of their accrued vacation time, compensatory time and/or holiday in-lieu time.
Clover Valley Steam Locomotive #4
 Please help return this historic California Baldwin Logging Mallet back to service on the Niles Canyon Railway located between Fremont and Sunol, California. Running gear repairs on the rear truck, suspension and main rod bearings were started in February of 2018. As the locomotive has been taken apart, the extent of the wear over the years of operation has far exceeded their worst expectations. The Niles Canyon Railway has contracted with Steam Services of America to help their volunteers complete this work in the short time frame required to return the locomotive to service for next year’s 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Transcontinental Railroad Completion.
The Pacific Locomotive Association requests your donation to help raise $50,000 in funding to complete these important repairs to return the Clover Valley #4 to service.
Learn more about the project
Donate Here
Giving Hope Holiday Program
Bring Cheer to Families & Seniors in Need!
Giving Hope is intended to raise the spirits of community members in need by providing gifts to help lift up children, seniors, and families who are struggling. We also provide low-income seniors with supplies and treats for their much loved furry and feathered companions, and every effort is made to make sure that children and students supported by the program have the learning supplies they need to succeed. Other families and seniors in crisis are helped throughout the year through cash donations received during the Giving Hope Holiday Program.
What you can do to help:
You (or your office or organization) can sponsor and provide personalized gifts for a family or senior by using their Wish List. Make it a team effort! You can browse their Story Cards and Wish Lists at Fremont.gov/GivingHope, where you will also find more information about the program and how to participate.
You can also make cash donations to support the city's efforts to ensure all Wish Lists are fulfilled. Corporate matching gifts are gladly received. Donate online at Fremont.gov/HSDonate or contact John Nguyen-Cleary at jnguyen-cleary@fremont.gov with any questions.
Your Contributions are tax deductible to extent allowable by law. (Tax ID #94-6027361)
Thank you for Giving Hope this Holiday Season!
 District 2 has openings on the Alameda County Boards, Commissions & Committees.
If you reside in District 2 (Hayward, Union City, Newark, Sunol or North Fremont) and would like to participate in one of our County Commissions. Please apply!
Current openings:
Assessment Appeals Board – 2 vacancies, need for the two professions below
- Real Estate Broker
- Property Appraiser
Consumer Affairs Commission – 1 vacancy
Human Relations Commission – 1 vacancy
Mental Health Advisory Board – 1 vacancy
Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission – 1 vacancy
Public Health Commission – 1 vacancy
To learn more about these boards and commission, please visit: http://www.acgov.org/bc/
Further inquiries can be submitted to Ginny DeMartini at ginny.demartini@acgov.org or 510-670-6150
#Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. If the holidays has inspired a giving spirit in you, please consider donating to the following organizations and causes.
|
