Soda
Club Soda Maker
I have been using a Soda Club soda and seltzer
maker for two years and I love it. So now I'm an
affiliate. I'll make a few bucks if you buy products from the
San Ramon Observer. So click on the picture of the soda
maker above, and find out how easy it is to make your own
fresh sodas and seltzer at home.
I shall be adding more links, and a new
Click-to-Buy page. I try to select products and services
that I can personally recommend. I finance this website
on my own with no other income. It would help support
the Observer by buying products online at no additional cost
to you.
Bank of America
Robbed
(SR Police Press Release, 11/5/08)
On
November 5, 2008 at approximately1:00 PM, three suspects
entered the Bank of America and brandished a handgun in the
robbery of the bank.
The suspects were wearing masks and hooded sweatshirts
when they entered the bank. The suspects took an undisclosed
amount of cash and left the bank driving a stolen black
Pontiac sedan. This vehicle was found abandoned on Highway 680
Northbound at Sycamore Valley Road a short time later.
There
were no injuries to anyone inside the bank. Two persons were
detained for questioning and were later released; the suspects
remain outstanding. The case is under investigation and no
further information is available.
Final Voting
Results
(11/4/08)
Here are the final results reported on
Smartvoter.org:
Measure Q - Mayor's
salary:
Failed
Measure P - Mayor's
terms:
Failed
Measure WW - East Bay
Parks: Passed by more than
2/3rds
15th Assembly
District:
Buchanan beats Wilson
SR Fire Protection
District: Firefighter Thomas
Linari is leading, two incumbants will be
reelected
Dublin-San Ramon
Services:
Incumbants reelected
Central CC Sanitary
District: Incumbants reelected
7th
District State
Senator:
DeSaulnier beats Amsberry
11th Congressional
District:
McNerney beats Andal
Have a Voice in
First 5 Strategic Planning
(11/4/08)
First 5 Contra Costa has started their 2009
strategic planning process. This plan will guide future
investments in programs and services that benefit children
ages 0 to 5 and their families. Individuals and
organizations that provide services to children ages 0 to 5
are invited to attend a community forum to share ideas about
how First 5 Contra Costa can best meet the needs of young
children and families.
The South County meeting will be held at the San
Ramon Community Center on November 18, 2008 from 6 pm to 8
pm. RSVP to Caline Raab at 925-771-7317 or email ahernandez@firstfivecc.org
by November 10, 2008. A light dinner and child care will
be provided. Spanish translation is available upon
request.
Redevelopment Agency
Buys Mudds
(10/29/08)
Mudds Restaurant, founded by Virginia Mudd over
20 years ago, was put up for sale last year. The
restaurant is famous for its unusual architecture and is
historically significant in San Ramon for its relationship to
Crow Canyon Gardens. The City acquiired Crow Canyon
Gardens from Virginia Mudd in 1992. The restaurant
remained privately owned.
Rather than have the property developed
into another office building or apartment complex, the
City, under the umbrella of the Redevelopment
Agency, officially approved purchase of Mudds at the
October 28, 2008 meeting of the Agency. The
property is 2.2 acres at 10 Boardwalk Place.
The Crow Canyon Gardens Master plan was approved
by the City Council in 1996. The adoped Master Plan
calls for a nature center which will provide classroom,
office, restroom, storage and a sheltered picnic area for
education/recreation activities at the Garden. According to
the staff report the acquisition of the Mudd's property would
implement the Crow Canyon Gardens Master Plan.
Bus Fares to Rise
County
Connection has scheduled a series of six public workshops to
discuss proposed service changes and an earlier implementation
of the approved fare increase originally scheduled to take
place July 1, 2009.
Members of
the public are encouraged to attend one of the public
workshops. One workshop will be held in San Ramon on Monday,
November 10, 2008 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the San Ramon Community
Center on Alcosta Blvd.
All
proposed changes, if approved by the County Connection Board
of Directors, will take place in the spring of 2009. Planning
staff will be available to describe proposed service changes,
and gather usage information from riders to minimize ridership
loss.
County
Connection operates a fleet of 29 ft. 35 ft. and 40 ft. buses
which are fully accessible to persons requiring mobility
devices, and carries over 5,000,000 passengers each year. For
more information on County Connection services, please call
(925) 676-7500, or visit www.cccta.org.
Council Meeting
Recap
(10/28/08)
Dr. George Baljavich, TV30
Sports Director, operated the camera at the October 28, 2008
City Council meeting, but a sporting event didn't break
out. Dr. B is being cross-trained as technical backup
under the new TV30 management. This will make TV30 staff
more versatile and give them opportunities for steady
employment.
The Council authorized
matching funds of $253,223 to be combined with an equal amount
from the California Cultural and Historical Endowment to
renovate building 14 at Forest Home Farms. Building 14 is a big
wooden building at the Western end of the Farm. It's where Whole Foods
and the bakery have booths at the Farmers' Market. This
building currently houses tractors being restored and the mock
kitchen used for canning demonstrations. The funds will be used
to turn this rustic, barn-like building into an Education
Center.
The Council voted to change
the name of the San Ramon Senior Center to the Alcosta Senior
and Community Center, Park and Gardens. Esther Lucas, Parks
and Community Services Director, explained that the name
change had been considered for many years, but now that the
Senior Foundation is funding a new electronic sign, this is
the time to do it.
The city conducted a survey in May and received over
1400 responses.
85% of the respondents voted for the new name, Alcosta
Senior and Community Center, Park and Gardens. David Ernest (spelling corrected), Chairman of
the Parks and Community Services Commission told the Council,
"We hope to expand the facility to include community events
and show people there is a lovely park and community
gardens." The
Council voted unanimously to approve the name change.
Susan Gitlin, Chairperson
of the Transportation Demand Management Advisory Committee,
presented the Committee's Annual Report. Councilmember Hudson
commended the Committee for its good work in reducing traffic
and congestion in the city.
The Council opened a Public
Hearing on changes to some definitions in the Zoning
Ordinance, but nobody spoke. The Ordinance will be approved at
the next meeting. The Council voted to
cancel the November 11, 2008 meeting, which falls on Veterans'
Day. So the next
meeting will be held on November 25,
2008.
Police Officer Lance
Santiago gave a presentation on the Crime Free Multi-Housing
Program. This is a cooperative program among police, apartment
owners and managers, and tenants. Two apartment
complexes have completed the program and the rest are in
progress. So far
the program has been a big success, reducing the number of
calls and police reports by 40% to 70%. Santiago said that the
methods used in this program will be extended to businesses
and residential neighborhoods too.
City Center
Timetable
(7/18/08)
Here's an
abreviated development schedule for the new City Center that
was presented by Alex Mahran, President of Sunset Development,
at the June 24, 2008 City Council meeting.
·
Site plans and engineering will be
completed for the lots on the South side of Bollinger by the
end of 2008.
· The
architectural design of Plaza with the hotel, retail and
residential units on the North side of Bollinger will be
submitted to the City for approval in March of 2009.
· Construction
of the office buildings on the South side of Bollinger will
begin in 2010 along with the new City Hall to the West.
·
The first Office Building will open in
December of 2010.
·
The City Hall will open in December,
2011.
·
The whole project will be completed by
November, 2012.
The project
is estimated to bring in $4-6M a year in new revenue. The
Council and Sunset Development will hold a Public Workshop
this fall to go over the financial terms and conditions for
the City Center Project.
November 6, 2008 8:30 AM
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