 As we welcome the New Year, I
am excited to continue the work of District 2 residents. In 2013, great progress was made on our initiatives.
We kicked off 2013 with the Tennyson Corridor
Executive Committee
convening. They have completed the overall
outline of the project, and will be focusing on building a new multi-service community center at the current Eden
Youth and Family Center site. In Union City, the Woodlands Habitat
Restoration Project has successfully been planting trees on the Masonic Homes property. The project has incorporated to date 9 at-risk
interns who have been learning the fundamentals to environmental science. Also, in 2013, Science in the Park began planning for the 2014
event on October 4. Through our commitment to STEM projects, my office created
the “Supervisor’s Challenge” to help fund District 2 school foundation’s STEM
projects. To date, our office has donated $3,262.25 to assist in science
projects, math programs and school gardens.
With
all
that we achieved together in 2013, my office looks forward to
continuing to be the voice for District
2 to County government. We will continue to be
accessible, improve the quality of life in our communities, and make progress on our
initiatives. Please
do not hesitate to
contact my
office at
(510) 272-6692 or District2@acgov.org.
Sincerely,
 As
a new feature to our newsletters, we will be highlighting the achievements of
District 2 residents, organizations and more! Our first District 2 Spotlight
highlights the achievements of Hayward residents and activists, John and Marion
Sands’ son, Timothy Sands.
Timothy
Sands, a product of Hayward Unified School District, has been named the new
President of Virginia Tech University, effective June 1st. Timothy currently serves as Provost to Purdue University as the Executive Vice President for
Academic Affairs. He was selected after beating out 237 other candidates in becoming Virginia
Tech’s 16th president. Virginia Tech has more than 31,000 students
enrolled. Virginia Tech University’s Board of Trustees were largely impressed by
Timothy’s emphasis on modern research, as well as, the student retention and
graduation success rates during his time at Purdue.
Timothy received his bachelor’s degree in
engineering physics and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in materials science and
engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Raised in Hayward,
Timothy attended Winton Grove Elementary School, Rancho Arroya Middle School and Sunset High
School. His parents, John and Marion Sands, still reside in Hayward and
continue to be active in the Greater Hayward Democratic Club.
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 A
major change to our health care system is underway. On January 1, 2014 most residents are
required to have health insurance as part of President Obama’s Affordable Care
Act. If you already have health insurance, either from your employer or through
a public program, such as Medi-Cal, there are no additional forms for you to
fill out due to the new health law.
If you are unsure what health program
you and your family members may qualify for consider joining SEIU United Long
Term Care Workers and Alameda County at an upcoming Health Care Reform Town
Hall.
All
Alameda County residents & business owners are invited to join the town
hall. There will be a panel discussion of the changes in the health care system
due to the Affordable Care Act, as well as, a question and answer period. The
Panel will have Education Coordinators from Covered California and Medi-Cal,
and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director Alex Briscoe. Two
enrollment specialists from Alameda County Social Services Agency will also be
on hand to assist in signing people up for health care coverage during the
event.
When:
Saturday,
January 25, 2014
2:00
to 4:00 p.m.
Where:
Hayward
City Hall
Council
Chambers
777
B Street, Hayward
Start
gathering your documents and bring them with you – proof of identity, a piece
of mail postmarked to you at your address, last year’s taxes if you filed, and
citizenship or immigration status. For
food assistance also bring proof of housing expenses such as
rent/utilities.
For additional information or to RSVP contact
the District 2 Office at (510) 272-6692
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 In
a response to the near freezing temperatures last month our office, with Supervisor
Scott Haggerty, contributed funds towards the City of Fremont for a Warming
Center. The Center will be in partnership with Abode Services, Fremont Resource
Center and the City of Fremont.
The Warming Center serves as an example and much
needed response county-wide to help save lives during the most frigid
conditions. Three lives were lost during the cold, and with temperatures
continuing to drop all over the country, we owe it to our residents to be
prepared.
For more information on homeless response initiatives county-wide, please contact our district office at (510) 259-1097.
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 Marquette
Williams’, Fatherhood 101, documentary will make its Northern
California premiere on Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Lake
Theater in Oakland. Marquette Williams will be there to answer questions about
his journey as a father, film maker and advocate for the involvement of fathers
in their children’s lives.
Fatherhood
101
explores the importance of fatherhood from all socio-cultural backgrounds and highlights
the effectiveness of intentionally targeting the needs of men and the
challenges they face in fulfilling their roles as fathers. The film includes
celebrity fathers such as Lee Daniels, Alan Thicke, Christopher McDonald, Grant
Hill, Lance Henriksen, Robert Davi, Tyrese Gibson and others as they reveal an
intimate side of themselves.
View
the trailer for this film here: http://fatherhood101.net/videos.html
Tickets are
$5. Please email FathersCorps@First5Alameda.org for more information
The
film is presented by Alameda County
Fathers Corps, a collaboration of
the Alameda County Public Health Department and First 5 of Alameda County.
|
 On
Saturday, February 8, Southern Alameda Dental Society will offer free state-mandated
screenings and treatment as part of the National “Give Kids a Smile” Campaign.
The Southern Alameda County Dental
Society and the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry Union City Dental Clinic
will be giving free screenings and treatment to local kids in participation
with Give Kids a Smile®, a nationwide campaign combating dental disease in
children. More than 80 dental health professionals have stepped forward to help
give kids local treatments and services.
The event begins Saturday, February 8 at 9 a.m.
and continues until 1 p.m. Children between the ages of 4 to 14 years old
will be seen on a first come, first served basis. The Union City Dental Clinic
is located at 1203 J Street Union City,
CA 94587.
To learn more about Give Kids a
Smile®, call Melinda Sciandri (510) 782-5316.
The
Southern Alameda Dental Society is a component of the California and American
Dental Associations. Give Kids a Smile®, is sponsored by the American Dental
Association.
|
 In
an effort to make fresh produce easily accessible and more available, the
Alameda County Social Services Agency and St. Rose Hospital, have partnered
with Dig Deep Farms to provide weekly produce stands.
CalFresh
recipients will be able to use their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to purchase
healthy organic fruits, vegetables and other offerings. Cash and credit cards will
also be accepted.
Dig
Deep Farms, a project of the
Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs' Activities League, grows some of the produce
sold at the stands on its plots in Cherryland, Ashland and unincorporated San
Leandro. All other produce is bought from other local farmers.
Farm Stand Locations and Days:
St. Rose Hospital
27200 Calaroga Avenue in Hayward
Every Tuesday
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Alameda
County Social Services Agency
Eden
Area Multi-Service Center
24100
Amador Street in Hayward
Every
Thursday
10
a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stop by at one of the participating locations to make a healthy and affordable choice!
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 The
ARTSFUND Grants Program supports all types of arts programming
such as dance, literature, media arts, music, theater, visual arts, and
multidisciplinary arts programs presented in Alameda County by Alameda County
nonprofit organizations. Last year's ARTSFUND Grants Program awarded grants of
$1,000 to $2,500 to 48 nonprofit organizations throughout Alameda County.
During the 2014 funding cycle, between 40-50 arts organizations may be awarded
grants.
One last free workshop will be offered to assist organizations in preparing their
grant applications. Reservations are required, please RSVP at least seven days
in advance by email or call (510) 208-9646.
Free Grant Application Workshop:
Wednesday, February 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Livermore Community Center
Funding
for the ARTSFUND Grants Program is provided by the County of Alameda,
individual contributions submitted with County property tax payments, and
donations to the Foundation for the Arts in Alameda County.
Application Deadline: March 5, 2014
For more information visit www.acgov.org/arts
click on “What’s New”
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 The Great Race for Clean Air is a friendly competition between Bay Area
companies to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion by encouraging
employees to change how they commute to work.
Register to receive a Great Race toolkit including
posters and outreach materials. Participating employees use the 511 Trip
Diaries to track their clean commutes – walking, biking, transit, and carpooling
– anything but driving alone to work! Companies and individuals can win
recognition and prizes.
Registration for the Great Race for Clean Air
commuter challenge opened on January 6, 2014 at www.sparetheair.org.
Contact Stephanie Anderson sanderson@communityfocus.org for details.
Great Race for Clean Air is sponsored by the Bay
Area Air Quality Management District.
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