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Your coverage made a difference
Thank you for the cover story and photo spread publicizing our annual Make A Difference for Pleasanton Festival. That undoubtedly was part of the reason that we set a new record: Over 700 attendees during the four hours of the event!
And that doesn’t include more than 100 volunteers taking shifts behind the 40-some exhibits.
New this year was advanced online signup for student community service hours, which saw 142 individuals sign up for the 202 volunteer slots (some serving more than one slot).
There were four hands-on projects: a hundred handmade cards were created to send to local military personnel serving far from home; 300 pounds of crayons were sorted by color, to be melted down to make fresh crayons to be distributed to children in hospitals; 4,500 sets of safety pins were prepared for use at the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Burn, for the bibs participants attach to their clothing (saying “I am thankful for….”); and 15 fleece blankets had fringe cut and tied, plus animal chew toys were braided.
Teen volunteers also signed up to help with setup and cleanup, plus other tasks during the festival, for a total of 252 hours of service.
In addition, for the first time, those entering the exhibit hall had the opportunity to quickly put together hygiene kits for distribution to homeless and other neighbors in need. This was especially popular for families with young children, who could experience how they, too, could make a difference for other peoples’ lives. There were 300 kits assembled.
Many exhibitors expressed gratitude, not only for the opportunity to recruit volunteers, but also for the chance to meet people from other organizations who have found positive ways to make a difference. For those unable to attend the event, we encourage a visit to MAD4P.org, where they can see a listing of participating nonprofit organizations, plus their mission statements and contact information.
We could not have the Make A Difference for Pleasanton Festival without the sponsorship of the City of Pleasanton, Pleasanton Unified School District, Pleasanton Community of Character Collaborative, ACCUSPLIT Make A Difference Programs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Karlsson & Lane Accountancy Corporation. Thanks again for your help.
— The Planning Team: Ken Mano, Ron Sutton, Jerri Long, Bruce Bird, Patrick Gannon and Julian Mireles
Our downtown
I read Jeremy Walsh’s report on his downtown stroll and was encouraged by his signoff, indicating more editorial coverage soon. I hope that this future coverage includes an exploration into the economics of vacancy, because most of us can’t fathom how it makes sense for storefronts to be empty for so long.
We hear vague reports of tyrannical landlords and property owners charging rents that have essentially driven businesses away. How can this be good fiscal policy? What is going on here?
We want to understand the forces at play that have resulted in buildings sitting vacant for years on end. Please provide that for us.
— Rick Altman
Citizenship reform is possible
Citizenships sold abroad for $50,000 to $100,000 are seen as tawdry by the overwhelming majority. A system that splits immigration status within a family on account of a birth defies logic and common sense.
Those who insist an amendment is needed might ask themselves: “How did Native Americans obtain U.S. citizenship?”
In passing the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, Congress overruled the 14th Amendment’s 1884 Supreme Court interpretation (Elk vs. Wilkins). This demonstrates that Congress can modify pathways to citizenship as ideas about how they should work change over time. That clears the way for corrective legislation this year based a few simple principles:
1. After some effective date, births no longer cause split-status within a family.
2. Instead, all newborns inherit the nationality and immigration status of their parents.
3. States and localities are given adequate time for an orderly change process.
The idea of American parents passing citizenship to their baby will resonate very strongly, regardless of party affiliation. With bipartisan support, a well-crafted bill based on these principles can make it across the finish line.
What to call it? Why name it the thing being phased out (birthright citizenship), when it establishes something new and exciting?
The Citizenship Inheritance Act.
— Pierre Bierre
Keep eye on downtown
Jeremy, nice job on the editorial Friday. I am so glad you’re going to keep an eye on downtown since I think it’s dying. I think one or two of the street closures last year might have actually hurt the normal business and it will be interesting if Costco has an impact.
As it relates to Costco, I noted at a city council meeting a few months ago that my eyeglasses, hearing aids and RX prescriptions were all from Pleasanton establishments and could be done as “one stop shopping” at Costco (and cheaper).
When a neighbor told me that the Christmas parade was the only time she went downtown last year, it really caught my attention.
Thank you for what you do.
— TJ McGrath
Giving thanks for 2024 Turkey Burn
Pleasanton North Rotary has many reasons to be thankful for the Tri-Valley Turkey Burn, our Thanksgiving morning 5K/10K Family Fun Run in Pleasanton’s Ken Mercer Sports Park.
As its organizer, PNR is thankful for record turnout at our 10th annual event last November. Nearly 3,200 runners and walkers from 23 states and British Columbia, Canada, participated.
We are thankful the Turkey Burn has fulfilled its original goal, as proposed by the event’s co-creators W. Ron Sutton and Kevin Greenlee. They created it as an opportunity for the community to gather on Thanksgiving Day morning for healthy exercise to compensate for all the calories they would consume later in the day.
We also credit Mr. Sutton for designing the Turkey Burn’s iconic “I am thankful for …” bibs. Instead of assigning registrants a number, the face of the bib is left blank to provide space that nearly every registrant fills with messages of thanks. The bibs are fun and make an emotional connection between the Turkey Burn and the national holiday.
PNR past president Michael Cherman and his wife, Viviana, deserve our appreciation for the Turkey Burn’s longevity. They converted it into a virtual event in 2020 to assure its survival through the COVID-19 pandemic. They then switched it back to a live format that increased its popularity after the health crisis was over.
Corporate sponsorships are another key. Gina Piper’s Elation Real Estate has been our top donor for several years. Her company was joined by 22 other Tri-Valley businesses in 2024 to fund Rotary youth service programs that include Interact, an after-school community service club; the Annual Richard D. King Youth Speech Contest; Rotary Youth Achievement Awards (RYLA), a week-long student leadership training camp; and International Youth Exchange, which supports opportunities for Tri-Valley high school students to live and study abroad.
We have also welcomed help from the City of Pleasanton for holiday access to the sports park, Zone 7 Water District for use of its Mucho Arroyo Trail, the Pleasanton Police Department for security, the Pleasanton Weekly and The Independent of Livermore for news coverage, and our own PNR members, who volunteered hundreds of hours to hold the event and assure its affordability.
Finally, we cannot say enough to thank everyone who answers the Turkey Burn’s Thanksgiving morning call. We owe our success their support, enthusiasm, and good behavior. They make all our efforts worthwhile.
— Steve Sherman, president, Pleasanton North Rotary
Thank you to the Pleasanton community
Pleasanton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center would like to thank our Pleasanton community for their support. Our families and friends who visit regularly. Our church families St. Augustine’s and Presbyterian Fellowship. Special thanks to Dominic Wong from St Augustine’s and Betty Gail from Presbyterian Fellowship.
Our medical director Dr. Raafat Zamary and all the visiting Doctors for their special care for our residents.
Our Activities Department for always keeping our residents engaged. Our Rehabilitation Department for working miracles every day.
Our nurses, CNAs and RNAs who never fail our residents’ needs.
Our transport services Wheels, Angelica and Royal Ambulance for taking our residents to appointments and returning them safely. Our delivery services USPS, UPS, FedEx and Amazon for bringing our residents their deliveries.
Our pharmacy, lab and X-ray techs for their team effort.
Our entertainers who share their talents with our residents and families and staff. Our own bookkeeper Rexella who plays the piano for our residents on a regular basis.
Our Dietary Department, who cook with love. Our Housekeeping, Laundry and Maintenance Department, who keep our facility clean and well-maintained.
Finally to our administrator Ed Johnson who takes care of all of us: residents, families and staff. A kind, generous and fair man we all admire and love.
— Linda DeGennaro, receptionist, PNRC
Sanctuary Pleasanton?
The Pleasanton police have announced that they will not help federal authorities enforce current immigrants law.
Really? I guess the tragedy of Laken Riley’s murder at the hands of an illegal alien means nothing.
If public safety is really the goal of the Pleasanton Police Department then cooperation with federal authorities is vital to achieving that goal.
— Harry Edwards
@harryedwards….it’s called adhering to all laws, not just the ones you agree with