VOLUME XLIX, NUMBER 17 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 Panel Hears That Open Facilities Open Up Learners By Ron McNicoll Steve Goodman of LPA, Inc., Robinson said that divergent many uses they could find for do express wonder and look at The Pleasanton Unified School kicked off the discussion by thinking is crucial to future suc- a paper clip. People commonly things from any angle. They District’s Facilities Master Plan showing part of a talk by Sir Ken cess for educating the workforce came up with 10 or 15 uses. did not put any limit on the way Committee (FMPC) looked at Robinson, which emphasized the of the 21st century. Such thinking However, people at the genius they thought about the problem. a variety of newly designed op- value of divergent thinking. is not the same as creativity, but it level came up with more than Paper clips that are 6 feet tall Find Out What's tions for classroom space and (The talk, illustrated in rapid- forms the basis for it. Divergent 200 uses. are fine, and so are those made talked about how they might hand, comic-strip style anima- thinking looks at a problem from Some 1500 kindergartners of rubber. Happening meet future program needs. tion, is available on Robinson’s many different perspectives and were asked the same question. The same kindergartners were Check Out Section A The panel met April 19 at web site, http://sirkenrobinson. comes up with a variety of solu- Some 98 percent of them came tested five and 10 years later. Section A is filled with in- school district headquarters with com/skr/watch. Scroll down to tions, he explained. up with more than 200 uses. They Most lost their genius perfor- formation about arts, people, most of its 28 members present. the RSA-Animate — Changing He provided an example of were geniuses, said Robinson. mance. The reason is that they entertainment and special events. Facilitators Jim Kisel and Education Paradigms video.) a study that asked people how Kids have minds that really (See FACILITIES, page 10) There are education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and entertainment and bulletin board. Council Told to Be Careful Of Brown Act Violations When Using Social Media Livermore City Council- two policies. One would deal members considered a discus- with the city sponsored website; sion concerning the use of social the other with outside sites. She media. said that if it is permissible to The council came to a basic discuss an issue one-on-one with Pleasanton Joins conclusion concerning on-line someone at a coffee shop, why comments. The focus will be on wouldn’t the same be true of an Hunger Walk the official city website, where electronic conversation. She said Pleasanton joins ten other they would speak with one voice. she would not discuss issues that Bay Area communities to fight When it comes to off-city web- would come to the council or hunger at home and around the sites, City Manager Marc Robert might alter public safety. “It is world in the Bay Area Hunger said, “Follow the law. There are not appropriate to have a policy Walk over the weekend of April Brown Act and due process is- for external sites.” 28 and 29. sues that arise. Some may not be Councilmember Stewart Gary The Pleasanton-Tri-Valley obvious.” said, “It is possible to engage Crop Hunger Walk, hosted by The social media discussion and discuss with people. The the Catholic Community of included guidelines for interact- trouble with electronics is that Pleasanton and open to all walk- ing with the public on both the once something is published, ers, leaves from the parking lot city website and other sites. The there is nothing to prevent the of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Brown Act prohibits discussion four other councilmembers from on Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 about items that would be coming reading it.” a.m. Participants can register to the council outside of a noticed Mayor John Marchand added, to walk alone, in a group, or as public hearing. Blogging was one “Electronic communication is part of a team. The church is A scene from the Koopmann ranch. concern. If one councilmember instant. It is not possible to de- located at 4001 Stoneridge Drive were to post an opinion about an fend against personal attacks on in Pleasanton. Registration gets issue and other councilmembers blogsites. Since we can’t, people underway at 9:00 a.m. on the day read it, that would constitute a think what is being said is true. A of the walk. Ranchers Instrumental in serial meeting, a violation of the discussion at a coffee shop does The three mile route heads Brown Act. not result in immediate public west on Stoneridge Drive, con- Councilmember Laureen dialog.” necting to West Las Positas and, Preserving Endangered Species Turner argued there need to be (See SOCIAL MEDIA, page 4) after taking a right on Hacienda Drive loops back to the church. By Carol Graham practices that earned the Koop- they purchased the land in 1918. The suggested individual dona- The rolling hills of the Koop- manns The Leopold Conserva- The 850-acre Sunol ranch sits Zone 7 Continues Path to Independence tion is $25. However, participants mann Ranch rise up like sentinels tion Award for 2011. between Interstate 680, Highway By Ron McNicoll calendar year budget. Staff will may register for as little as $5. - breathtaking, solid, alive. Following a lunch and pre- 84 and Pleasanton’s Callippe Zone 7 Water Agency contin- accomplish the task by preparing Every dollar raised for the On April 20th, a diverse group sentation in the rustic barn, Golf Course. ues to take steps to separate from a transitional 18-month budget, CROP Hunger walk will be of visitors with backgrounds in Tim Koopmann (pronounced “Rangelands are vital to con- Alameda County and become an and then switching to a calendar partially matched this year. The agriculture, government, aca- Cope-man) led the 11-vehicle, servation and ecosystem services, independent agency. year budget, beginning Jan. 1, Feinstein Foundation will divide demia, industry and non-profit 80-visitor caravan over terrain and improve the quality of life for The board at its meeting April 2013. $1 million among hunger fighting organizations came together to that revealed stock ponds, centu- all Californians,” said University 18 authorized staff to break away The planned Zone 7 separa- events during March and April, tour the scenic rangelands and ries-old oaks, and the red angus of California, Berkeley Profes- from the county’s fiscal year tion from the county allows the so the more funds raised, the learn about the stewardship cattle the family have raised since (See RANCHERS, page 10) budget overlap with the Zone 7 (See ZONE 7, page 5) more will be received to benefit Open Heart Kitchen and global hunger relief agencies. Open Heart Kitchen is the only hot Council OKs High Density Livermore High School Baseball Players meal program of its kind in the Tri-Valley area. The program Housing in Hacienda Partner with Challenger Baseball Team feeds the hungry in five locations By Patricia Koning in Pleasanton, Livermore, and The Pleasanton City Council erties, a national affordable Last Saturday was a perfect Dublin, and all are welcome. approved its first transit oriented housing developer that uses non- day for a game of a baseball. At To register and/or make development (TOD) projects union labor. the Dublin Sports Park, the Liver- a donation, please vis- last week. Both councilmembers and more High School (LHS) junior it www.churchworld The vote was unanimous. union leaders said that talks varsity baseball team partnered service.org/site/TR/ There was no opposition to aimed at coming to an agreement with the Livermore American 2012SpringCROP the two Hacienda Business Park with BRE over mixing union and Little League (LALL) Challenger HungerWalk/TR-Spring2012?fr_ projects from the overflow crowd non-union labor had failed. baseball team for some fun in id=14410&pg=entry. that filled the council chambers. The approval of the hous- the sun. For more information, The only controversy arose over ing will help the city to meet “This was an incredible op- email socialjustice@catholicsof who would build the high den- court-approved requirements to portunity for our players,” says pleasanton.org, or call (925) sity housing, union or non-union provide more affordable housing Gabe Gutierrez, coach of the 890-4343. labor. in town. The projects also help LHS junior varsity baseball team. The developer is BRE Prop- (See HOUSING, page 4) “We at the LHS baseball program are really trying to build the boys’ character and instill a sense of responsibility not only with being Lung Group Says Air Better, But part of the team but with their community as well.” Federal Act Needs Defending Established by Little League in 1989, the Challenger Divi- By Ron McNicoll The CAPCOA report offered sion enables boys and girls with The American Lung Associa- data summaries of the state’s physical and mental challenges to tion’s (ALA) annual report on the air basins. It showed very few enjoy the game of baseball. Last State of the Air shows improve- violation days in the Bay Area year, Gina Marcon-Hermann ment in air quality in California, for either ozone or particulate founded the LALL Challenger but says there is still a long way matter (PM), the tiny particles team and is the coach. Her daugh- to go to meet federal standards.