This month’s spotlight focuses on two athletes that not only represented Hayward, California, but the United States of America. Cherrelle Garrett and Nicholas (Nic) Taylor, both Mt. Eden High School Alumni, competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Nic participated in the Olympic events of bobsled and skeleton, as Cherrelle competed for Team USA bobsled.
  
Cherrelle started her athletic career in high school, as she joined the Mt. Eden track and field team where she competed in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay. Her success in high school would be followed by a career at the University of California at Berkeley, where she graduated with a Bachelors of Art in Social Science. After her collegiate career, former Cal coach Mike Gipson motivated Cherrelle to try out for the USA bobsled team, due to her speed and strength.
  
Nic was a tri-athlete at Mt. Eden playing football, wrestling and running track for the Monarchs. After high school, Nic attended California State University at Northridge, running the 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay. Before attending California State University at Northridge, Nic spent a year at Boise State where his roommate, and 2010 Olympian, Nick Cunningham introduced him to bobsledding. 
  
We wish Cherrelle and Nic all the best in their Olympic careers!

Students and families are invited to attend free workshops hosted by Cash for College to help fill out free applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and learn more about Cal Grant opportunities.
  
Recently the California Legislature expanded access to higher education through the enactment of the Cal Grant program. California high school seniors who meet income qualifications and have a minimum GPA of 2.0 are guaranteed financial assistance through the Cal Grant program. Cal Grants are not loans and do not have to be repaid. Students can maximize their financial aid by applying for a Cal Grant by the March 2nd deadline.
  
For more information about completing financial aid forms, Cal Grant opportunities, or a list of student aid resources, please attend the upcoming Cash for College workshop.
  
Thursday, February 27 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Chabot College (25555 Hesperian Boulevard, Hayward)

More Information on Financial Aid:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA.gov
California Student Aid Commission – http://csac.ca.gov/
California Dream Act – CalDreamAct.org
Cal Grant Website – CalGrant.org 
California Colleges Website – CaliforniaColleges.edu
Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid – FinAid.org
U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid – StudentAid.gov
California Community Colleges- ICanAffordCollege.com
East Bay Consortium – EastBayConsortium.org

Tax time is fast approaching and the Fremont Family Resource Center (FRC) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program has opened its doors again. Last year, the FRC VITA site helped over 2,300 families with tax preparation services, and provided information and linkages to programs and services offered by the various agencies at the Fremont Family Resource Center. 
  
This year, there are 5 convenient VITA locations to serve the tri-city area:
Fremont Family Resource Center (main VITA site)
39199 Liberty Street, Building EFGH in Fremont
January 22 to April 14, 2014
Mondays & Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m.
Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  
Holly Community Center
31600 Alvarado Boulevard in Union City
February 1 to April 5, 2014 (no tax service on March 8th)
Saturdays only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  
Union City Library
34007 Alvarado-Niles Road in Union City
February 1 to April 5, 2014 (no tax service on March 8th)
Saturdays only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  
Newark Library
6300 Civic Terrace Avenue in Newark
February 1 to March 15, 2014 (no tax service on March 8th)
Saturdays only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  
Tri-City Volunteers
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – Contact Sara at (510) 793-4583
37350 Joseph Street in Fremont
February 4 to April 8, 2014
Tuesdays only from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  
What to Bring:
Picture ID for you & spouse, if married, and original social security/ITIN cards or letters for all persons to be listed on tax return (married couples must come together)

• 2013 tax documents such as W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, etc.
• Other 2013 records: charitable contributions, property tax bill, DMV registration bill, childcare provider information and expenses, college expenses, landlord information, business incomes and expenses, etc.
• For faster refunds with free e-filing (7–10 business days), bring a voided check or bank routing & account numbers for saving accounts (not deposit or withdrawal slip)
• 2012 tax return

For more information, please contact SparkPoint Fremont at (510) 574-2020 or www.Fremont.gov/SparkPointFRC

Help lead the way as a Community Ambassador at an Alameda County Social Services Agency (SSA) office.
  
SSA is currently seeking dedicated volunteers who are:

• Age 18 or older
• Not a current Social Services Agency client
• Not a current employee of SSA or County of Alameda
• Available on a regular basis for at least 3 months

Hundreds of customers pass daily through the doors of SSA waiting rooms. It is the priority of the Agency to provide responsive, effective, and timely service to all. Community Ambassadors play an important and highly visible role in this endeavor:

• Greet clients and provide directional assistance, escort clients to location as needed
• Facilitate services on behalf of elderly or physically impaired clients
• Assist clients with operating in-house phones and troubleshooting photocopy machines
• Circulate reading materials and/or disseminate Agency information as needed

 Office locations:

• 2000 San Pablo Avenue in Oakland
• 24100 Amador Street in Hayward

Hours of operation are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ambassadors are asked to complete at least 1 shift weekly for the duration of 3 months. Preferred shift times are from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., please check with the program coordinator to see which shifts are still available!
  
If you are interested in participating, plan to attend the next Ambassador Orientation on:
Saturday, February 22
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Eden Area Multi-Service Center
2nd Floor/California Poppy Room
24100 Amador Street in Hayward
  
To RSVP or request additional information contact Andrea Wong, Program Coordinator at (510) 271-9163 or ssavolunteer@acgov.org.
  
Visit our website at: http://tinyurl.com/communityambassadors

Alameda County Water District (ACWD) asks customers to reduce water usage by 20%.
ACWD announced that it is requesting Tri-City area residents, businesses, and institutions to voluntarily cut back on their water use by 20% in response to Governor Brown’s declaration of a statewide drought emergency. 
  
ACWD staff is closely coordinating with officials from the California Department of Water Resources and the SFPUC regarding water supply conditions of the State Water Project and Hetch-Hetchy system, respectively. Below, please find guidelines on ways to reduce water use.

ACWD officials encourage customers to conserve water in the following ways:

• Find and fix leaks as leaky faucets, showers, toilets and irrigation systems can waste a lot of water.
• Significantly reduce, or if possible, eliminate landscape water use during these shorter days and cooler nights.
• Cover exposed soil with mulch.
• Operate clothes washers and dishwashers with full loads only.
• Take shorter showers.
• Turn off the tap when brushing teeth or shaving.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and walkways.
• Get your car washed at a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Replace older, high water use fixtures and devices with water efficient models (toilets, showerheads, faucet aerators).

For additional information on ACWD’s water conservation programs, including rebates on turf replacement and high efficiency clothes washers, please visit the ACWD website at www.acwd.org.
  
The Alameda County Water District supplies water to the residents and businesses of southern Alameda County and drinking water to the more than 336,000 people living in Fremont, Newark, and Union City. 

Join the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s certified safety instructors at this fun free workshop for children who are able to ride a bike and ready to take to the streets and paths with their parents.
  
Children and parents must attend together and bring their own bikes and helmets.
  
When: Saturday, March 14
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Burbank Elementary School
222 Burbank Street, Hayward
  
Visit www.ebbc.org/education to sign up for free! For more information email Robert@ebbc.org or call (510) 845-7433 ext. 2.
  
Brought to you be East Bay Bicycle Coalition and Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools.