Dennis Evanosky Federal authorities have charged Ross Gordon Laverty with mailing an explosive device with intent to kill. Laverty was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero in San Francisco last Thursday. Court papers revealed that the 56-year-old Oakland man allegedly mailed bombs to a home in East Palo Alto on Oct. 19, and to an Alameda address on Nov. 24. Both bombs exploded. Laverty is currently only charged with mailing the bomb to the East Palo Alto address. However, in court papers, postal inspectors revealed striking simi- larities between the two bombs. These include the use of a nickel coin in both, along with similar cop- per pipe and fishing line. The packag- ing was also similar in each bomb with the wrapping spray painted in gold. The return address on the Alameda bomb was of a Berkeley jewelry store that closed in 2014. Spero scheduled a detention hearing for today, Dec. 28. At that hearing, Spero will determine if fed- eral authorities can detain Laverty without bond while he awaits trial. If convicted, Laverty faces a maxi- mum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Contact Dennis Evanosky at [email protected]. Vol. 17 b No. 16 Dec. 28, 2017 Alameda Sun is a publication of Stellar Media Group, Inc. 3215J Encinal Ave. Alameda, CA 94501 News: (510) 263-1470 Ads: (510) 263-1471 Fax: (510) 263-1473 CONTENTS HOMETOWN NEWS 2 PUZZLES & KIDS 4 SPORTS 5 HOLIDAY FUN 6 LOCAL HAPPENINGS 8 OBITUARIES 9 CLASSIFIED 9 OPINION 10 Alameda Sun Almanac Date Rise Set Today 07:23 16:57 Dec. 29 07:24 16:58 Dec. 30 07:24 16:59 Dec. 31 07:24 17:00 Jan. 1 07:24 17:00 Jan. 2 07:25 17:01 Jan. 3 07:25 17:02 Alameda Sun JoanAnn Radu-Sinaiko Looking back over a year of athletic acheivements. SPORTS Year in Review Page 5 LOCAL HAPPENINGS Holiday events Page 8 New Year’s Eve and lots more coming up on the slate. Former and current teachers team up to spread holiday joy. GOOD DEEDS Earhart helps out Page 4 Lots of fun on the puzzles page this week. THE PUZZLES PAGE Sudoku & more Page 4 Visit us Online at www. .com Like or Friend us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter at Alameda_Sun HOMETOWN NEWS Fire Wire Page 2 Police Blotter Page 3 All the doings of Island safety & law personnel Locally Owned, Community Oriented HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY Compiled by Sharanth “Lawrence” Kumarisivan Part 1 January A major figure in Alameda his- tory passed away on Jan. 11. Ron Cowan presided over the develop- ment of Bay Farm Island in the 1960s and 1970s. Cowan started off a modest owner of a men’s clothing store in South Shore Center in the 1950s. With a keen business mind, he multiplied his profits through real estate investment on Bay Farm Island. In addition, he was the pri- mary booster of efforts to revital- ize ferry transportation in the Bay Area. His name is enshrined in the upcoming Ron Cowan Central Bay Operations & Maintenance Facility — the headquarters for the emer- gency ferry service he started. A major theme of 2017 would be fire. On Jan. 13, a fire started overnight at Kamakura restaurant, a favorite of Alamedans. The fire did little to dent the spirit of the restaurant’s 93-year-old owner Faith Akiko Yamato, who said this epi- sode would only “make her stron- ger.” The fire also brought together the larger business community of Alameda, with owners of local busi- nesses starting an online fundrais- ing campaign and hosting fundrais- er dinners. January also witnessed Alameda’s swift response to the beginning of the Donald Trump presidency. In anticipation of poten- tial immigration crackdowns and violence against people of color, the City Council moved quickly to declare Alameda a sanctuary city. Within 24 hours of Trump signing his first executive order on immi- gration on Jan. 27, Alameda resi- dents took to the streets, in a peace- ful march that drew an estimated 300 to 400 protesters. February The city suffered the rare loss of a sitting elected official when school board member Solana Henneberry passed after a long illness. She died on Valentine’s Day. Alameda continued to voice its dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s immigration poli- cies through the Hands Across Alameda protest. Alameda resi- dents joined hands and stood for photos along the shoreline. The group stood through heavy rains while singing “This Land is Your Land” on Presidents Day, Feb. 20. Three owners of commercial 2017: Year in Review Council Nixes Terminals Bomb Mailer Charged File photos In January Alamedans took to the streets to protest the newly elected president’s executive order on immigration. Prime among the city’s issues this year were tenant and landlord rights. Above, small landlords protested at city hall in May. “Arms Around Alameda,” an event proclaiming the city’s commitment to unity in the face of great divisiveness, was held more than once in early 2017. Sitting school board mem- ber Solana Henneberry passed in February. properties in Alameda filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court against the Alameda Unified School District. The suit challenged the validity of Measure B1 that Alameda voters approved on Nov. 4, 2016. The school district put Measure B1 on the ballot to extend the life of Measure A, which voters passed in 2011. Measure A is set to expire in 2018. Measure B1 essentially extends the Measure A parcel tax through 2025. March Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) announced a plan to upgrade electrical meters. The new smart meters send usage information directly to AMP, avoiding the need for site visits to customers’ proper- ties. The meters can also automati- cally report power outages to AMP, and can help get power running back quicker. The utility planned on having all homes and businesses retrofitted with the smart meters by December 2017. The meters have been met with some opposition from local residents based on the quantity of emitted radiation. At its March 7 meeting, the Alameda City Council passed a resolution seeking a Congressional investigation of President Donald Trump regarding possible Constitutional violations. The coun- cil unanimously passed the reso- lution that potentially would lead to the president’s impeachment if violations were found. On March 14, the College of Alameda proclaimed a ground- breaking new initiative at a Board of Education meeting. Billed as “The Alameda Promise,” the ini- tiative seeks to provide one year of free tuition at the College of the Alameda, to any graduate of an Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) high school. The program’s purpose is to increase access to college, and create a deeper con- nection between the college and the island community. April On April 1, 1942, the USS Hornet (CV-8) departed the Alameda Naval Air Station under disguise of fog to launch a surprise air raid on Tokyo. The counterpunch to Japan would be a morale-boosting victory for the United States, just four months after Pearl Harbor. The Doolittle Raid itself struck on April 18, 1942. Alameda celebrated the raid’s 75th anniversary in 2017. The Naval Air Museum arranged for a historic B-25 bomber, like the ones used in the raid, flyover above the Naval Air Station. The USS Hornet Museum held its own tribute. Two water-based agencies with significant operations in Alameda, both welcomed new vessels. Firstly, the United States Coast Guard brought a new cutter that would be homeported at Alameda’s own Coast Guard base. Coast Guard b YEAR: Page 12 News in Brief Sun Staff Reports Straws Upon Request in the New Year Starting Jan. 1, the City of Alameda will be one of the only cities in California where drinking straws will only be available upon request. Additionally, all dispos- able to-go food ware in the City must be reusable, compostable or in a few specific cases, recycla- ble. These changes were formally passed on Oct. 3, 2017, and the 2008 ordinance was renamed the Alameda Disposable Food Ware Service Reduction Law. Food vendors will only be able to provide straws upon customer request, and when requested, the straws provided must be composta- ble paper straws. In addition, any ven- dor providing to-go food ware must use compostable-fiber products. The new requirements will be enforced beginning July 1. There will be significant public outreach and education to both businesses and consumers by city staff, the Clean Water Fund and Community Action for Sustainable Alameda (CASA). Outreach will be conducted for 18 months that will emphasize the financial and environmental benefits of choosing reusable options instead of single-use, disposable plastics. For questions or more informa- tion about this new policy, contact Kerry Parker, Program Specialist, Public Works at 747-7959. Kick-off a Year of Sustainable Gardening Join Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) as they kick off their “Year of Sustainable Gardening” for a free screening of filmmaker Mark Kitchell’s new film: Evolution of Organic at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Rhythmix Cultural Works. The film tells the story of organic agriculture, told by those who built the movement. By now organic has gone mainstream, split into an industry oriented toward bringing organic to all people and a movement that has realized a vision of sustainable agriculture. ABG is a community-wide net- work of gardeners in Alameda. ABG grows food and donates extra pro- duce to the Alameda Food Bank. Participation is free and open to all residents of Alameda and the sur- rounding area. Visit www.alamedabackyard growers.org to find out more about upcoming monthly educational meetings and other special ABG or community events. Happy Chanukah, Alameda Photo courtesy Yehuda Ben-Israel L eft to right, Mayor Trish Spencer joined Mushki, Mendel and Rabbi Meir Schmotkin of Chabad of Alameda and councilmember Frank Matarrese for the city’s first-ever menorah lighting at the Bayport Park Recreation Center Dec 17. The mayor herself lit one of the candles. Ekene Ikeme Alameda City Council decided not to approve the proposed 589- unit Encinal Terminal project at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 19. The project, which includes a land swap agreement between the city and the developers, is now put on hold until further notice. Mayor Trish Spencer said she did not support the project over her concerns about the site’s loca- tion. Researchers have said the site may be subject to liquefaction and a rise in sea-level could also pose a threat to the housing units. Vice-Mayor Malia Vella and Councilwoman Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft did not make motions to approve the development agreement. However, they both spoke positively of the projects goal of providing more housing units to Bay Area residents. Councilmembers Jim Oddie and Frank Matarrese asked that the city learn how much the land would be worth after the units are constructed before handing it over to the develop- ers, Tim Lewis Communities. More than 20 residents spoke at the meeting that went well past midnight. Speakers seemed to be split with half opposed because the project did not offer enough low-income housing. While the others praised the project for adding much needed housing to Alameda. The City Council did approve the project’s Environmental Impact Report 4-1, Spencer voted against the report, at the meeting. The Encinal Terminal project is located at 1521 Buena Vista Ave. Oakland Police Laverty Reflecting on Alameda stories written over past 52 weeks
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Dennis EvanoskyFederal authorities have
charged Ross Gordon Laverty with mailing an explosive device with intent to kill. Laverty was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero in San Francisco last Thursday. Court papers revealed that the 56-year-old Oakland man allegedly mailed bombs to a home in East Palo Alto on Oct. 19, and to an Alameda address on Nov. 24. Both bombs exploded.
Laverty is currently only charged with mailing the bomb to the East Palo Alto address. However, in court papers, postal inspectors revealed striking simi-larities between the two bombs. These include the use of a nickel coin in both, along with similar cop-
per pipe and fishing line. The packag-ing was also similar in each bomb with the wrapping spray painted in gold. The return address on the Alameda bomb was of a Berkeley jewelry store that closed in 2014.
Spero scheduled a detention hearing for today, Dec. 28. At that hearing, Spero will determine if fed-eral authorities can detain Laverty without bond while he awaits trial. If convicted, Laverty faces a maxi-mum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Contact Dennis Evanosky at [email protected].
Vol. 17 b No. 16Dec. 28, 2017
Alameda Sun is a publication of
Stellar Media Group, Inc. 3215J Encinal Ave. Alameda, CA 94501
News: (510) 263-1470Ads: (510) 263-1471Fax: (510) 263-1473
CONTENTSHOMETOWN NEWS . . . . 2PUZZLES & KIDS . . . . . 4SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5HOLIDAY FUN . . . . . . . . 6LOCAL HAPPENINGS . . 8OBITUARIES . . . . . . . . . 9CLASSIFIED . . . . . . . . . 9OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Alameda Sun Almanac
Date Rise SetToday 07:23 16:57Dec. 29 07:24 16:58Dec. 30 07:24 16:59Dec. 31 07:24 17:00Jan. 1 07:24 17:00Jan. 2 07:25 17:01Jan. 3 07:25 17:02
Alameda Sun
JoanAnn Radu-Sinaiko
Looking back over a year of athletic acheivements.
SPORTS Year in Review Page 5
LOCAL HAPPENINGSHoliday events Page 8New Year’s Eve and lots more
coming up on the slate.
Former and current teachers team up to spread holiday joy.
GOOD DEEDSEarhart helps out Page 4
Lots of fun on the puzzles page this week.
THE PUZZLES PAGE Sudoku & more Page 4
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
Visit us Online at www. .com
Like or Friend uson Facebook
Follow us on Twitter at Alameda_Sun
HOMETOWNNEWSFire Wire Page 2Police Blotter Page 3
All the doings of Island safety &
law personnel
Locally Owned, Community Oriented
HAPPY NATIONAL
CHOCOLATE DAY
Compiled by Sharanth “Lawrence” Kumarisivan
Part 1January
A major figure in Alameda his-tory passed away on Jan. 11. Ron Cowan presided over the develop-ment of Bay Farm Island in the 1960s and 1970s. Cowan started off a modest owner of a men’s clothing store in South Shore Center in the 1950s. With a keen business mind, he multiplied his profits through real estate investment on Bay Farm Island. In addition, he was the pri-mary booster of efforts to revital-ize ferry transportation in the Bay Area. His name is enshrined in the upcoming Ron Cowan Central Bay Operations & Maintenance Facility — the headquarters for the emer-gency ferry service he started.
A major theme of 2017 would be fire. On Jan. 13, a fire started overnight at Kamakura restaurant, a favorite of Alamedans. The fire did little to dent the spirit of the restaurant’s 93-year-old owner Faith Akiko Yamato, who said this epi-sode would only “make her stron-ger.” The fire also brought together the larger business community of Alameda, with owners of local busi-nesses starting an online fundrais-ing campaign and hosting fundrais-er dinners.
January also witnessed Alameda’s swift response to the beginning of the Donald Trump presidency. In anticipation of poten-tial immigration crackdowns and violence against people of color, the City Council moved quickly to declare Alameda a sanctuary city. Within 24 hours of Trump signing his first executive order on immi-gration on Jan. 27, Alameda resi-dents took to the streets, in a peace-ful march that drew an estimated 300 to 400 protesters.
FebruaryThe city suffered the rare loss of
a sitting elected official when school board member Solana Henneberry passed after a long illness. She died on Valentine’s Day.
Alameda continued to voice its dissatisfaction with the Trump administration’s immigration poli-cies through the Hands Across Alameda protest. Alameda resi-dents joined hands and stood for photos along the shoreline. The group stood through heavy rains while singing “This Land is Your Land” on Presidents Day, Feb. 20.
Three owners of commercial
2017: Year in Review
Council Nixes Terminals
Bomb Mailer Charged
File photos
In January Alamedans took to the streets to protest the newly elected president’s executive order on immigration.
Prime among the city’s issues this year were tenant and landlord rights. Above, small landlords protested at city hall in May.
“Arms Around Alameda,” an event proclaiming the city’s commitment to unity in the face of great divisiveness, was held more than once in early 2017.
Sitting school board mem-ber Solana Henneberry passed in February.
properties in Alameda filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court against the Alameda Unified School District. The suit challenged the validity of Measure B1 that Alameda voters approved on Nov. 4, 2016. The school district put Measure B1 on the ballot to extend the life of Measure A, which voters passed in 2011. Measure A is set to expire in 2018. Measure B1 essentially extends the Measure A parcel tax through 2025.
MarchAlameda Municipal Power
(AMP) announced a plan to upgrade electrical meters. The new smart meters send usage information directly to AMP, avoiding the need for site visits to customers’ proper-ties. The meters can also automati-cally report power outages to AMP, and can help get power running back quicker. The utility planned on having all homes and businesses retrofitted with the smart meters by December 2017. The meters have been met with some opposition from local residents based on the quantity of emitted radiation.
At its March 7 meeting, the Alameda City Council passed a resolution seeking a Congressional investigation of President Donald Trump regarding possible Constitutional violations. The coun-cil unanimously passed the reso-lution that potentially would lead to the president’s impeachment if violations were found.
On March 14, the College of Alameda proclaimed a ground-breaking new initiative at a Board of Education meeting. Billed as
“The Alameda Promise,” the ini-tiative seeks to provide one year of free tuition at the College of the Alameda, to any graduate of an Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) high school. The program’s purpose is to increase access to college, and create a deeper con-nection between the college and the island community.
AprilOn April 1, 1942, the USS Hornet
(CV-8) departed the Alameda Naval Air Station under disguise of fog to launch a surprise air raid on Tokyo. The counterpunch to Japan would be a morale-boosting victory for the United States, just four months after Pearl Harbor. The Doolittle Raid itself struck on April 18, 1942. Alameda celebrated the raid’s 75th anniversary in 2017. The Naval Air Museum arranged for a historic B-25 bomber, like the ones used in the raid, flyover above the Naval Air Station. The USS Hornet Museum held its own tribute.
Two water-based agencies with significant operations in Alameda, both welcomed new vessels. Firstly, the United States Coast Guard brought a new cutter that would be homeported at Alameda’s own Coast Guard base. Coast Guard
b YEAR: Page 12
News in BriefSun Staff Reports
Straws Upon Request in the New Year
Starting Jan. 1, the City of Alameda will be one of the only cities in California where drinking straws will only be available upon request. Additionally, all dispos-able to-go food ware in the City must be reusable, compostable or in a few specific cases, recycla-ble. These changes were formally passed on Oct. 3, 2017, and the 2008 ordinance was renamed the Alameda Disposable Food Ware Service Reduction Law.
Food vendors will only be able to provide straws upon customer request, and when requested, the straws provided must be composta-ble paper straws. In addition, any ven-dor providing to-go food ware must use compostable-fiber products.
The new requirements will be enforced beginning July 1. There will be significant public outreach and education to both businesses and consumers by city staff, the Clean Water Fund and Community Action for Sustainable Alameda (CASA).
Outreach will be conducted for 18 months that will emphasize the financial and environmental benefits of choosing reusable options instead of single-use, disposable plastics.
For questions or more informa-tion about this new policy, contact Kerry Parker, Program Specialist, Public Works at 747-7959.
Kick-off a Year of Sustainable Gardening
Join Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) as they kick off their “Year of Sustainable Gardening” for a free screening of filmmaker Mark Kitchell’s new film: Evolution of Organic at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, at Rhythmix Cultural Works.
The film tells the story of organic agriculture, told by those who built the movement. By now organic has gone mainstream, split into an industry oriented toward bringing organic to all people and a movement that has realized a vision of sustainable agriculture.
ABG is a community-wide net-work of gardeners in Alameda. ABG grows food and donates extra pro-duce to the Alameda Food Bank. Participation is free and open to all residents of Alameda and the sur-rounding area.
Visit www.alamedabackyard growers.org to find out more about upcoming monthly educational meetings and other special ABG or community events.
Happy Chanukah, AlamedaPhoto courtesy Yehuda Ben-Israel
Left to right, Mayor Trish Spencer joined Mushki, Mendel and Rabbi Meir Schmotkin of Chabad of Alameda and councilmember Frank Matarrese
for the city’s first-ever menorah lighting at the Bayport Park Recreation Center Dec 17. The mayor herself lit one of the candles.
Ekene IkemeAlameda City Council decided
not to approve the proposed 589-unit Encinal Terminal project at the City Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 19. The project, which includes a land swap agreement between the city and the developers, is now put on hold until further notice.
Mayor Trish Spencer said she did not support the project over her concerns about the site’s loca-tion. Researchers have said the site may be subject to liquefaction and a rise in sea-level could also pose a threat to the housing units.
Vice-Mayor Malia Vella and Councilwoman Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft did not make motions to approve the development agreement. However, they both spoke positively of the projects goal of providing more
housing units to Bay Area residents. Councilmembers Jim Oddie and Frank Matarrese asked that the city learn how much the land would be worth after the units are constructed before handing it over to the develop-ers, Tim Lewis Communities.
More than 20 residents spoke at the meeting that went well past midnight. Speakers seemed to be split with half opposed because the project did not offer enough low-income housing. While the others praised the project for adding much needed housing to Alameda.
The City Council did approve the project’s Environmental Impact Report 4-1, Spencer voted against the report, at the meeting. The Encinal Terminal project is located at 1521 Buena Vista Ave.
Oakland Police
Laverty
Reflecting on Alameda stories written over past 52 weeks
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