San Leandro Bytes

BZA Approves Abatement of City Council Candidate's Home

The Alameda County Health Department and San Leandro Building Department aren't the only ones forcing City Council candidate Mark Tichy to comply with regulations. At its March 20, 2008, meeting, the Board of Zoning Adjustments approved a staff recommendation to "obtain a court order to enter the property and abate the violation" consisting of "Unlawful outdoor storage of items in the front yard."

A complaint about the property, where Tichy resides with his wife Candus Baca, was first received on October 4, 2007. The staff report noted, "Weeds and grasses were approximately 1 1/2 feet tall throughout the property. The driveway was filled with appliances, boxes and miscellaneous debris."

Subsequent visits were made on October 18, 2007, November 12, 2007, November 27, 2007, and March 20, 2008. Although the grass and weeds were cut prior to the October 18, 2007, visit, the items stored in the driveway still haven't been abated and the BZA will require Baca, the property owner, to pay fines of $300 and the cost of the contractor hired to abate the violations.

A photo taken by city staff on one of the visits to the property:

The relevant San Leandro Municipal Code sections are 3-2-205 for the height of the weeds and grass and 3-1-200 for unlawful outdoor storage.

Automated Buses Get Tested in San Leandro

The California Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) is testing vehicle guidance technologies on a bus on a stretch of E. 14th Street in San Leandro from 140th Avenue to 150th Avenue.

The vehicle guidance system consists of "magnetic markers embedded in the lane center" that are detected by magnetometers mounted under the bus as it moves along the street. Based on the strength of the magnetic field, an onboard computer steers the bus to keep it properly positioned within the lane and at bus stops.

Video of the bus being tested in San Leandro has been posted on YouTube:

Testing started in February 2008 and is being performed several times per month, usually during the early morning hours. According to Associate Research Engineer Han-Shue Tan, a driver is always present during the testing, but as can be seen in the video, the driver is only a backup to the computer-controlled guidance system.

According to documentation provided by Tan, the test site was chosen because it is part of the planned route for AC Transit's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, it is part of SR-185, for which CalTrans has responsibility, and it's a representative urban corridor.

If the testing is successful, it should make BRT "more competitive with rail transit quality of service," reduce the right-of-way needed for buses, and reduce the "width of future truck-only highway facilities so that they should cost less to build and require less right of way."

More information about PATH can be found at http://www.path.berkeley.edu/ and Transit Operations Research at http://www.path.berkeley.edu/PATH/Research/currenttransit.html.

San Leandran to Carry Olympic Torch in San Francisco

Robin Luo, 21, of San Leandro, will be one of 80 people to carry the Olympic torch through San Francisco on April 9, 2008. Luo was selected as part of an essay contest called "Sustainable Journey" in which she wrote about her battle with cancer. Luo was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2006.

Luo attended San Leandro High School, where she competed in cross country.

San Leandro Company Takes First Step Toward IPO

According to an S-1 filing on April 1, 2008, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Energy Recovery, Inc. is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of common stock. The amount of the IPO may total $175 million, but the company said that it is subject to change.

Energy Recovery is "a leading global developer and manufacturer of highly efficient energy recovery devices utilized in the rapidly growing water desalination industry. We operate primarily in the sea water reverse osmosis, or SWRO, segment of the industry. In the SWRO process, high pressure is used to drive sea water through filtering membranes to produce fresh water."

In the filing, the company said that its product, the PX Pressure Exchanger, reduces the amount of energy needed for SWRO by 60%. Its product has been installed in more than 300 desalination plants. The company claims a "green" component to its product as well, stating that its products shipped as of last year will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 1.5 million tons per year based on reducing electricity consumption by 300 megawatts.

Revenue has increased from $10.7 million in 2005 to $35.4 million in 2007 with almost 94% of that revenue from international sales. Earnings more than doubled from $2.4 million in 2006 to $5.8 million in 2007.

Energy Recovery was incorporated in Virginia in April 1992 and reincorporated in Delaware in March 2001. The company is located at 1908 Doolittle Drive in San Leandro.

San Leandro Sailor May Play Role in Shooting Down Wayward Satellite

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 16, 2008) Fire Controlman 2nd Class John Whitby, from San Leandro, Calif., operates the radar system control in the combat information center during a ballistic missile defense drill aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). Lake Erie is currently operation off the coast of Hawaii. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Hight. (Source: US Navy)

The USS Lake Erie is set to launch an SM-3 missle to shoot down a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite that lost power shortly after it reached orbit on December 14, 2006.

Suspect Arrested in Murder of San Leandro Girls

Oakland resident Gumaro Baez, 18, was arrested on February 6, 2008, and charged with the February 3 shooting deaths of San Leandro High School students Dominique Hoover-Brown, 15, and Melissa Jackson, 17, in Oakland. Baez was also charged with the attempted murder of two 23-year-old Oakland men that were with Jackson and Hoover-Brown.

Police allege that Devashawn L. Walker, 19, of Oakland, was with Baez at the time of the shootings and have charged him violating his probation.

San Leandro Soldier Killed in Iraq

San Leandro resident and US Army Specialist Michael T. Manibog, 31, was killed on February 8, 2008, when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Taji, Iraq, according to a press release from the Department of Defense. Manibog was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

Manibog grew up in San Leandro and graduated from San Leandro High School in 1996. He leaves a nine-year-old son. Click here for Manibog's MySpace page.

San Francisco Chronicle and Daily Review coverage.

Local Man Wins $150,000 on Big Spin

San Leandro resident Aaron Chavez won $150,000 during the show "The Big Spin," which aired on Saturday, February 9, 2008. Chavez, a purchasing manager, had to play and win the game Aces High before spinning the Big Spin wheel.

The Big Spin is part of the California Lottery, which was authorized by voters in November 1984.

Two San Leandro Students Shot and Killed in Oakland

Dominique Hoover-Brown, 15, and Melissa Jackson, 17, were identified as the teenagers who were shot and killed on Sunday night, February 3, 2008, in Oakland. Two men, both 23, had been traveling with Hoover-Brown and Jackson and had been shot as well.

The girls, who were recent students at San Leandro High School, were found in a van that had crashed into several parked cars in the 6500 block of Outlook Avenue. Police believe that the incident may have started in the 1400 block of Havenscourt Boulevard, where one of the injured males was found.

Donations are being collected to help cover funeral expenses. Checks payable to San Leandro High School may be mailed to the school, attention Jack Nelson, at 2200 Bancroft Ave., San Leandro, CA 94577-6108.

There is a reward of up to $30,000 leading to the arrest of a suspect. If you have information about this crime, call Oakland Police at 510-238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 510-238-6946.

Belly/Pole Dancer Spotted on 880

According to the California Highway Patrol, a woman used a highway sign on Interstate 880 for a pole dance near the San Lorenzo/San Leandro border on Monday, January 28, 2008.

Officers responded, but the woman clad in a black halter top and black pants made her way across the freeway and escaped into the brush before she could be apprehended.

As reported in the Contra Costa Times.

San Leandro BART to Get Electronic Bike Lockers

The BART Board decided at its January 24, 2008, meeting to install 198 electronic bicycle lockers at six East Bay BART stations, including San Leandro. The San Leandro station already has bicycle lockers, which are rented out to one person at a time for $30 a year. The BART Board also decided to increase the bicycle locker rental fee to $40 a year.

The lockers will be installed by late July 2008, can be opened and closed using a pre-paid charge card, and will cost three cents an hour. Funding for the lockers at the San Leandro BART station comes from the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority's Bike/Ped Countywide Discretionary Fund and the City of San Leandro.

Substation Fire Near Georgia Pacific on Marina Blvd.

Around 10am on Sunday, January 13, 2008, a fire broke out at an electrical substation behind Georgia Pacific near 1990 Marina Boulevard. Firefighters first tried to access a vacant lot adjacent to the fire, but were unable to cut the locks using bolt cutters. By the time firefighters used a gas-powered grinder to cut through the lock, the fire appeared to be buring itself out. One of the bystanders noted that the lights in his house had flickered at about the time the fire started.

Another photo and eyewitness account.

Former Mayor Shelia Young Featured in East Bay Business Times

Former San Leandro Mayor Shelia Young is profiled in an East Bay Business Times article in the December 31, 2007, issue.

Young served as the San Leandro District 2 Councilmember from 1996 to 1998 and as Mayor of San Leandro from 1998 to 2006. She ran for Alameda County Supervisor in 2006 and lost to Alice Lai-Bitker.

According to the article, Young is currently working towards an associate degree in liberal arts.

OSISoft Software Recognized by Microsoft for Contribution to Environmental Sustainability

According to a Microsoft press release dated December 17, 2007, local software company OSISoft was one of the winners in its Ingenuity Point contest. The contest recognizes "software solutions that are making a meaningful difference in the areas of education, healthcare and environmental sustainability."

OSISoft was recognized in the environmental sustainability category for PI System, a software product designed for managing and monitor the infrastructure of plants and facilities. According to the press release, "OSIsoft’s PI System helps companies in manufacturing, energy, utilities and other process industries monitor, manage and track performance indicators in real time. Several water utilities have used the PI System to more closely manage their water supplies and reduce the cost and energy associated with treating water and wastewater."

According to OSISoft, PI System is used by more 11,000 installations around the world. OSISoft is located at 777 Davis Street in San Leandro.

Former San Leandro Football Player Named PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year

According to a December 3, 2007, press release from the Pacific-10 Conference, former San Leandro High School football player Dennis Dixon was unanimously chosen as Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. From the press release:

Dixon, a senior from San Leandro, Calif., was a unanimous choice for Pac-10 offensive player of the year despite missing the final two games of the regular season with a knee injury. Dixon led the Pac-10 in passing efficiency by completing 172 of 254 passes (67.7%) for 2,136 yards and 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He also was dangerous as a runner with 105 rushes for 583 yards (5.6-yard average) and nine touchdowns. Under Dixon's direction, Oregon led the Pac-10 in both scoring offense (36.7) and total offense (462.1). He was named Pac-10 offensive player of the week three times this season following Oregon victories against Michigan, Stanford and Arizona State. Dixon has been named one of three finalists for both the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. In addition, he has been selected as one of 15 National Scholar-Athletes by The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and is a finalist for the Foundation's Draddy Trophy.

Dixon was the quarterback for the San Leandro High School football team from 1999 to 2002. He was also drafted by the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the 20th round in the 2003 draft and by the Atlanta Braves in the 5th round in 2007.

San Leandro Chamber CEO Resigns Effective December 31, 2007

The San Leandro Chamber of Commerce anounced today that CEO Diana Gentry has resigned for personal reasons effective December 31, 2007. Gentry assumed the role of CEO less than a year ago on January 2, 2007, after serving as director of operations and communications for the Orange Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau. Gentry replaced Heidi Finberg, who left the San Leandro Chamber to take a position with the Chabot College Foundation.

Rose Padilla Johnson, the President-elect of the Chamber will form a search committee for a successor to Gentry.

San Leandro Times Starts a Blog (Kind of)

On October 25, 2007, the San Leandro Times started a blog at sanleandrotimes.wordpress.com. Unlike many newspaper blogs, it contains snippets of stories that appear on the web site instead of new or different content. But for those people who use RSS, you can point your newsreader at feed:http://sanleandrotimes.wordpress.com/feed/ to see the latest from the San Leandro Times. The blog also enables readers to comments on articles now, as one reader has done in the article about the discussion of the fate of Timothy Drive.

As of November 1, 2007, there were categories for automotive, entertainment and news.

Earthquake Felt in San Leandro October 30

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake centered seven miles east of Milpitas was felt around the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Leandro, at 8:04pm on October 30, 2007. The shallow quake was centered on the Calaveras Fault and knocked items from shelves in areas close to the epicenter. No injuries or damage was reported.

Fire Destroys M.A.R.’s Engineering Building in San Leandro

A fire destroyed one of two buildings at M.A.R.’s Engineering Company Inc., on Montague Avenue on Friday morning, October 5, 2007. According to an employee, an explosion ignited the fire, but nobody was seriously injured. Two employees were reportedly treated for minor injuries. The mutiple-alarm fire generated a overwhelming response from the Alameda County Fire Department, ensuring that the fire didn't spread to neighboring businesses.

According to the company's web site, M.A.R.'s Engineering started in 1964 with two automatic screw machines purchased at an auction. The company produces screw machine products and performs light assembly work. The web site also states, "M.A.R.’s currently employs thirty-six full time employees in two side by side buildings consisting of 15,000 sq. ft."

M.A.R.'s Engineering is located at 699 Montague Avenue in San Leandro.

More coverage from CBS 5, the Daily Review, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Overhead video from NBC 11 and KGO 7.

Local Company Fined by EPA

According to a press release issued August 29, 2007, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Copper Harbor Company, a San Leandro firm that manufactures pesticides, was fined $5,200 for allegedly violating reporting requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Copper Harbor reportedly failed to submit its annual pesticide production report for 2006 by the March 1, 2007, deadline, but has since filed the report.

Copper Harbor is located at 2300 Davis Street in San Leandro.

Housing Bust Hits San Leandro

With housing prices on the decline, increasing numbers of foreclosures, and fewer people buying houses, Wachovia Bank announced it is laying off 100 people in San Leandro and 15 people in Walnut Creek. According to a spokesman for Wachovia, the people being laid off were loan closing specialists, underwriters and loan processors. According to this posting, those laid off were in the "ELOC group and Portfolio Retention."

Fire Destroys West Coast Sporting Goods

West Coast Sporting Goods at 13720 E 14th St. was destroyed by a fire late Friday, August 17, 2007. The business was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, filling the neighborhood with smoke while burning embers floated up and over the adjacent building of doctors' offices. The fire spread to the wall of the neighboring Casa Camelias apartment building. Firefighters were able to put it out before it damaged the interior of the apartment building, but smoke and water caused some damage. With nearly a dozen fire engines, including some from Oakland, the firefighters had nearly extinguished the fire by midnight. No injuries were reported.

New coverage from KTVU, Daily Review, San Francisco Chronicle, and KPIX.

Update: According to the Alameda County Fire Department, the cause of the fire was accidental. West Coast Sporting Goods is now operating out of its warehouse at 1855 Alvarado Street in San Leandro.

San Leandro Company Produces Dive Mask with Built-in Computer and Display

San Leandro-based Oceanic Worldwide has developed a dive mask that displays current depth, elapsed dive time, cylinder pressure, and dive time remaining inside the dive mask. The DataMask HUD (heads up display) doesn't project the information onto the diver's mask, but uses a small LCD to display vital dive information. The Oceanic website includes a slide show and PDF demo.

Originally developed for the military, the website indicates that it will be available in July 2007, for nearly $1,500.

Oceanic Worldwide is located at 2002 Davis Street in San Leandro.

San Leandro Boy Loses Leukemia Battle

Harrison Leonardo, a two-year-old San Leandro boy who had been battling leukemia, died on July 16, 2007, at Children's Hospital in Palo Alto.

Thousands of potential bone marrow donors were tested for a possible match for Harrison. For Harrison, this was very difficult because of his mix of Filipino and Caucasian parents.

A funeral mass was held Friday, July 27, 2007, at St. Monica's Church in San Francisco.

Harrison is survived by his parents O.J. and Stephanie and his brother Lucas.

Previous stories on SF Gate blog, San Francisco Chronicle, KPIX, KCBS, KGO, and the Rice Daddies Blog.

Shark Bites San Leandro Man's Kayak

San Leandro resident Dan Prather was fishing in his kayak off Bean Hollow State Beach when a great white shark bit into the kayak on Saturday, July 21, 2007. The shark knocked Prather out of his kayak but he was able to get back in the kayak after falling out two more times. Prather was uninjured, despite the tooth marks on his kayak.

For eyewitness accounts and picture of Dan and the damaged kayak, click here.

Small Quake in Oakland Jolts Area

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck just a few miles from Oakland on the Hayward fault at 4:42am early on July 20, 2007.

No injuries were reported, but windows at a Safeway store in Berkeley reportedly broke.

San Leandro Man Wins World Boxing Title

San Leandro's Nonito Donaire won the IBF and IBO flyweight championships on Saturday, July 7, 2007, after a technical knockout of undefeated Vic Darchinyan. The end came 38 seconds into the fifth round when Donaire, The Filipino Flash, nailed Darchinyan with a left hook. Darchinyan fell to the floor, tried to get up, but ended up on his knees with his hands raised. The referee stopped the fight and awarded the win to Donaire, his first world title.

Donaire is originally from General Santos, Philippines. The win improves Donaire's rcord to 18 wins and 1 loss with 11 knockouts.

Click here for news article from Connecticut Post.

Local Man Gets Posthumous Carnegie Hero Award

Marlin A. Coats, 29, a store manager from San Leandro, Calif., received a Carnegie Hero Award on July 6, 2007, for helping to save two boys, ages 11 and 14, from drowning when they were caught in a riptide off Ocean Beach in San Francisco on May 14, 2006. According to the press release, "He swam out to the older boy and helped him toward shore, and that boy left the water. Coats turned back for the other boy, who was farther out. Others entered the water, including two lifeguards who had been alerted. Finding that Coats had submerged, the lifeguards pulled him to the surface of the water and placed him on a rescue board. They returned him and the other boy to shore. Coats and both boys were taken to the hospital for treatment, but Coats could not be revived, as he had died of drowning."

The mission of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1904, is "To recognize persons who perform acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependants of those killed helping others." Winners of the award are announced five times a year.

According to this San Francisco Chronicle article, Coats' widow is facing deportation to Kenya because her husband died before immigration paperwork needed for her to remain in the country was completed. In response to this, Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced S. 420 on January 29, 2007, a bill that would grant permanent residency to Jacqueline Coats.

Each of the honorees or the next of kin receives $5,000 and becomes eligible for one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and continuing assistance.

Click here for Daily Review coverage.

Bancroft Teacher Jim Sorensen Sets Masters Track Records

Local teacher Jim Sorensen won the men's masters exhibition mile at the 2007 AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held from June 20 to 24, 2007, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Sorensen finished the mile with a time of 4 minutes, 13.21 seconds. The masters record for the mile is held by David Moorcroft, who ran the mile in 4 minutes, 2.53 seconds in 1993.

On June 3, 2007, Sorensen set the world masters record in the 1,500 meter race with a time of 3 minutes, 44.06 seconds at the Jim Bush Invitational/USATF West Regional Track & Field Championship at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Sorensen's was just 0.18 seconds slower than the time he set when he finished second while attempting to qualify for the 1996 Olympics at age 29. The previous masters record for 1,500 meters was 3 minutes, 44.89 seconds set by Luis Jose Gonsalvez in 1999.

Two days after Sorensen turned 40, he set the American masters record for 800 meters with a time of 1 minute 51.57 seconds at the Occidental Invitational on May 12, 2007. The previous record of 1 minute 52.42 seconds was held by Olympian Johnny Gray.

Update: At the American Milers Club meet at Indiana University in Bloomington, on Saturday, June 30, 2007, Sorensen set the world masters record for 800 meters with a time of 1 minute, 50.34 seconds, besting the previous world record set in 2000 by Ireland's Colm Rothery by 0.35 seconds.

Sorensen teaches physical education at Bancroft Middle School in San Leandro, California.

Text of interview from Masters Track Blog in May 2007

Click here for a summary of Sorensen's running career.

Video of a mile race at Stanford.

Video of interview with Sorensen.

Video from 1986 800 meter at Cerritos College

San Leandro Boy Dies During Soccer Game

Sixteen-year-old Michael Ezeh Ifeny Jr. suddenly fell down during a soccer game on Saturday, June 9, 2007. Ifeny was transported to Alameda Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day at 9:12pm. An investigation will be performed to determine the cause of death.

Daily Review and San Francisco Chronicle coverage.

Brian Copeland Shows in San Francisco and Malibu in June 2007

Local comedian, radio show host, writer, and performer Brian Copeland will perform Not a Genuine Black Man as a benefit for the American Conservatory Theater's Masters Program on June 18, 2007, at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

For tickets ($10 to $30), call (415) 749-2ACT or click here.

Copeland will also be performing Not a Genuine Black Man at the Malibu Stage Company in Malibu, California, June 21-23 and June 28-30, 2007.

Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 1-800-838-3006 or going to www.brownpapertickets.com.

If you haven't seen or read Not a Genuine Black Man, find out more at Brian Copeland's web site.

Google Offers a Street-Level View of Parts of San Leandro

Google Maps has a new Street View feature that enables you to see a street-level view of an address in addition to an aerial photograph and street map. Basically, a vehicle with photographic equipment travels through an area shooting video. This video is converted into seamless images and mapped. When you click on the Street View button in Google Maps, the streets for which street level photographs are available are highlighted in blue and you can drag a human icon to the area you want to see.

Portions of downtown San Leandro, Bay-o-Vista, Assumption Parish, Davis Street, Bancroft Avenue, Estudillo Avenue, Washington Avenue, Halcyon Drive, and Hesperian Boulevard have already been photographed. This means you can see Casa Peralta, San Leandro High School, Zocalo Coffeehouse and the San Leandro Library.

Once you have a street level view, you can rotate the picture and turn around a full 360 degrees. You can also zoom in and out. It is very clear and you can see license plates of cars and people's faces.

San Leandro Company Recalls Its Sesame Tahini

In a press release dated May 25, 2007, nSpired Natural Foods of San Leandro is recalling its "MaraNatha Sesame Tahini in 16-oz sizes with a Use By Date of 04/11/08 and earlier, and 15-lb and 32-lb sizes with an expiration date of 01/05/08 (lot 07130) and earlier", because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

"Potential salmonella contamination was discovered during routine, random sample testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency." "Consumers who have purchased MaraNatha Sesame Tahini are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-883-8312."

In related news, Whole Foods issued a press release on May 22, 2007, recalling 365 Organic Everyday Value Sesame Tahini after it was notified by the manufacturer of possible salmonella contamination.

nSpired Natural Foods, Inc. is located at 1850 Fairway Drive in San Leandro.

San Leandro's Population Almost 81,500

According to a press release issued on May 1, 2007, by the Demographic Research Unit of the California Department of Finance, San Leandro's population was 81,466 as of January 1, 2007. This is a 0.5% increase from San Leandro's population of 81,071 as of January 1, 2006.

Alameda County's overall growth rate was 1.1% (1,526,148) while California's was 1.3% (37,662,518). The fastest growing city in Alameda County was Emeryville with a 7.3% growth rate and the slowest growing cities were Albany, Newark, Piedmont, and San Leandro at 0.5%.

Click here for the complete spreadsheet of preliminary 2007 data and revised 2006 data.

Associated Aerospace Wins $14.6 Million Air Force Contract

According to a press release from the Department of Defence, Associated Aerospace Activities, Inc. was awarded a $14,641,822 firm fixed price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to provide divergent flaps for the F101 engine used on the B-1 Bomber. Contracting is being handled by the Air Logistics Center Headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma under ID# FA8104-07-D-0006.

Associated Aerospace Activities manufactures and supplies jet engine components and high temperature alloy sheet metal fabrication for all industries, according to its website. The facility is located at 2502 Williams Street in San Leandro.

Broadreach Capital Partners Buys Old Kelloggs Site

Broadreach Capital Partners of Palo Alto recently paid $21.5 million for the 22-acre former Kellogg Co. production facility and an adjacent 3.9-acre parcel. The property contains a 186,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehouse building and a 278,727-square-foot warehouse and office building.

The Kellogg Company ceased operations at the site in late 1995, eliminating 325 jobs in the process. The site is located at 2040 Williams Street in San Leandro.

Man Killed in Marina Boat Fire

According to the Alameda County Fire Department, one person person was killed in a boat fire at the San Leandro Marina on Friday, March 30, 2007, at abour 8pm. Firefighters responded to reports of a boat fire, but it had been extinguished by people with hoses and fire extinguinshers by the time firefighters arrived. A body was discovered when firefighters closely examined the boat.

Update: The man was identified as 55-year-old Stanley Garvin, who lived on the boat.

Harsch Investments Buys Polvorosa Business Park

Harsch Investment Properties of Portland, Oregon, has reportedly purchased Polvorosa Business Park from Chamberlain Associates of Pleasanton.

Polvorosa Business Park consists of three buildings totalling 92,250 square feet located at 1555 Doolittle Dr. and 2235 and 2265 Polvorosa Ave. at the intersection of Doolittle Dr. and Polvorosa Ave. The property comprises 5.6 acres and was developed in 1987. Current tenants include TiNi Aerospace, Northern California Marine Association, Bridgepoint Systems, California Teachers Association, Sutter Health, and Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation.

Earthquake Shakes San Leandro

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 centered 1 mile northeast of Lafayette shook San Leandro on Thursday, March 1, 2007, at 8:40pm.

San Leandro Pastor Sentenced to Jail for Poaching Sharks

In a press release issued on January 23, 2007, US Attorney Kevin Ryan announced that San Leandro pastor Kevin Thompson was sentenced on January 22, 2007, to one year and one day in jail for poaching juvenile leopard sharks.

"The indictment specifically charged that approximately 465 juvenile leopard sharks were sold to companies in Miami; Chicago; Houston; Romulus, Michigan; Milford, Connecticut; the Netherlands; and the United Kingdom."

Thompson was also ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution.

Thompson is the pastor at the Bay Area Family Church, Holy Spirit Association for Unification of World Christianity, located at 2305 Washington Avenue in San Leandro. He is scheduled to surrender into custody on March 19, 2007.

According to the press release, "Hiroshi Ishikawa, 36, of San Leandro, was a member of the Church and was sentenced on October 11, 2006, to three years probation, and $40,000 restitution."

Others who were charged and pleaded guilty are John Newberry, 34, of Hayward, California, Ira Gass, 53, of Azusa, California, Vincent Ng, 43, of Oakland, and Sion Lim, 39, of San Francisco, California. Lim was sentenced on June 6, 2006, to one year probation, a $5,000 fine, and $20,000 in restitution. The others are awaiting sentencing.

San Leandran Marches as Stormtrooper in Rose Parade

San Leandro resident Ian Hiebert marched in the 118th Rose Parade on January 1, 2006, as one of 200 Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion. The 501st Legion is a group of Star Wars fans that makes their own costumes and Hiebert is the commanding officer of the legion's Golden Gate Garrison.

The 200 Stormtroopers from 22 countries preceded the Parade's Grand Marshal, George Lucas. The selection of Lucas as the Grand Marshal coincides with the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Star Wars in 1977. The Rose Parade also featured Star Wars-themed floats of the planet Naboo and the Ewok forest from the moon of Endor.

Two Dead and Six Wounded in Shooting at San Leandro Bar

Daniel Camarillo, a 23-year-old man from Union City and Ruby Vega, a 26-year-old woman from Hayward, were shot and killed outside the Lucky Star Lounge early Saturday, December 23, 2006. The shooting occured after an argument between two groups of people. One group was at the bar for a birthday party. A person involved in the argument left and when he returned, he opened fire on a group of people outside the bar. Six people were also wounded and all are expected to survive.

According to Bay City News, "police are looking for an Asian man, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and in his 20s, who may have played a role in the shooting."

These were the third and fourth homicides in San Leandro in 2006.

Coverage also in the Daily Review, Bay City News, and San Francisco Chronicle.

The Lucky Star Lounge is located at 2090 Doolittle Drive near the intersection with Marina Boulevard.

Update: Johnny Deneng, 21, of Oakley, was arrested on December 24, 2006, at the hospital where he was recovering from injuries suffered at the scene of the shooting. According to police, Deneng was subdued by a group of people after his gun jammed. Police initially believed that he had been a victim.

Small Earthquake Jolts San Leandro

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake was reported by the United States Geological Survey at 7:12pm on Wesdnesday, December 20, 2006. The epicenter of the quake was 2 miles east-southeast of Berkeley on the Hayward Fault.

The quake was reported to cause a brief and light shaking, such that it was noticeable if you were sitting and was missed by many who were moving around at the time.

San Leandro Company to Build New Redwood Shores Library

San Leandro's Sausal Corporation was awarded a contract to build a branch library in Redwood Shores for its bid of $14,472,500. The Redwood City Council rejected all bids for the project in September and put it out to bid again in November. Although Sausal's bid was 26% above the initial estimate, it was the lowest of the five bids received.

According to its web site, Sausal Corporation was "licensed as a General Building Contractor in November of 1972" and has been at its location at 422 Whitney Street in San Leandro since the company started.

San Leandro Software Company Sues Sun and StorageTek for Copyright Infringement

In a December 4, 2006, press release, San Leandro software company Netbula announced that it was suing Storage Technology Corporation (StorageTek) and Sun Microsystems, Inc. for copyright infringement. Netbula alleges that Sun's LibAttach software infringes on its core technology, that Sun defrauded Netbula and violated a contract.

According to its web site, "Netbula is a technological leader in RPC (Remote Procedure Call) development tools for distributed computing..."

Netbula is located at 2777 Alvarado Steet, Suite C, in San Leandro.

Hormel Buys Saag's Specialty Meats

According to Meatingplace.com, Hormel Foods has purchased San Leandro's Saag's Specialty Meats. According to Hormel, the deal was for "$12 million cash plus the assumption of certain obligations."

Saag's products include rankfurters, traditional entrée sausages, gourmet poultry sausages, breakfast links, roast beef, roast turkey, hams, paté, sandwich meats, dry and semi-dry salamis, and snack meats.

Saag's was founded in Oakland in 1933 and had been owned by the Mosle family. According to Meatingplace.com, "Saag's recently completed a remodel and renovation of its San Leandro plant." Saag's is located at 1799 Factor Avenue in San Leandro.

State Agency Declares Cleanup Complete at Cintas Site

In a press release issued on November 3, 2006, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control said that "all required hazardous substances cleanup activities have been completed for the [Cintas/Dedominico] site" at 777 139th Avenue in San Leandro.

According to the press release, Ross Rental Services used the property from 1971 to 1983 to clean clothes using tetrachloroethylene (PCE). PCE is commonly used for dry-cleaning and is a suspected carcinogen and can damage the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. PCE leaked from underground storage tanks into the soil and groundwater at the property and spread via groundwater to the Bonaire and Mulford Gardens neighborhoods. Cleanup activities included removal of underground storage tanks, removal of contaminated soil, and using wells to extract vapors of PCE and the breakdown products trichloroethene (TCE) and petroleum hydrocarbons.

In 1992, the DTSC ordered Cintas to begin an investigation and cleanup of the property. Cintas still operates a commercial laundry facility at the property.

Groundwater quality will continue to be monitored and a deed restriction has been put in place for the property.

Click here for Daily Review coverage.

Brian Copeland off to the big screen

Brian Copeland has been cast as Morgan Freeman's son in Rob Reiner's new film THE BUCKET LIST. The film, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, is about two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. Brian will start three weeks of shooting at the end of November.

Brian's show, Not a genuine black man, continues drawing crowds at the Marsh Theater. The show's run at the Marsh was supposed to end in October, but has now been extended until November 25th - right before Brian heads to Hollywood. Tickets for October are sold out, so get your November tickets early!

Brian's book "Not a genuine black man" continues to be a Bay Area bestseller and has recently been profiled in Ebony Magazine as a "must read".

Brian will be talking at the San Leandro Main Library on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 7:00 PM. He will read from, discuss, and sign copies of his new book Not a Genuine Black Man. Refreshments will be served, and copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. For more information call (510) 577-3971.

Otis Spunkmeyer Sold to Irish Food Company

In a press release dated October 16, 2006, IAWS Group Plc, an Irish food company, announced that it had purchased Otis Spunkmeyer from Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC for an estimated $365 million.

The IAWS Group web site also has a PowerPoint presentation summarizing details of the purchase.

On June 20, 2006, Otis Spunkmeyer had filed papers for an initial public offering to raise up to $230 million.

According to its web site, Otis Spunkmeyer sells "frozen gourmet cookie dough, ready-baked muffins, and a variety of other premium bakery products..." Otis Spunkmeyer made news in 2005 by becoming one of the first US cookie makers to eliminate trans fats from its frozen cookie dough.

Otis Spunkmeyer's corporate headquarters is located at 14490 Catalina Street, San Leandro, California.

Early voting comes to Bayfair on Tuesday, October 17, 2006

On Tuesday, October 17, 2006, Alameda County's Registrar of Voters will bring its mobile voting unit to Bayfair Center for those voters who want to get their voting done early. Normally, early voting is available at government buildings and city halls, but acting registrar of voters Dave Macdonald wants to make voting even more convenient. Early voting will be available at the Fremont and MacArthur BART stations on Friday and California State University East Bay (CSU Hayward) and UC Berkeley in the near future. For more information, call the Alameda County Registrar of Voters at (510) 272-6961.