Vol. VII, Number 32 • September 1, 2006 www.PleasantonWeekly.com It’s all about Pleasanton ScottishThe arecoming Highland Games bring kilt-wearing action to Pleasanton page 10 Neal to retire Moving on up Travel the tracks Don’t delay Police chief ends Two Foothill grads make Reasons why and why Local Realtor advises 30 years of service their mark in the minors not to skip the plane against waiting to buy page 5 page 19 Section 2 page 30 INSIDE this week this IT’S TIME TO VOTE WHO WILL BE BEST OF PLEASANTON ton W asan eekl Ple y’s VOTE at PleasantonWeekly.com by September 22 • V • O T M E O O .C NL LY INE EEK at PLEASANTONW All you have to do is go to PleasantonWeekly.com It’s easier than being a “Survivor” You don’t even haveto sit through Tribal Council. Just go to PleasantonWeekly.com Page 2 • September 1, 2006 • Pleasanton Weekly Around Pleasanton by Jeb Bing Time Is Money. For a timely sale Toby Brink a good choice AND the best price, choose the right agent! for business group A terrible thing can happen if you choose the oby Brink, who has been to one of the top chambers in the executive director of the state, with strong support from wrong agent-NOTHING! If you're serious about T the San Ramon Chamber of Chevron and AT&T as well as selling, hire an agent with a proven marketing Commerce for the last four years, other major businesses in that city’s has been tapped to take over the reins thriving Bishop Ranch complex. plan and a track record of success. One who'll of the Tri-Valley Business Council He was asked to testify in the hear- Sept. 11 from Tom O’Malley, the ings on the merger of AT&T and give your home 100% market exposure. For a organization’s first executive direc- SBC, a new telecommunications Gina Piper tor and highly regarded regional company that eventually adopted timely sale AND the best price, call . strategist. Brink, whom I’ve known the AT&T corporate name. Brink’s since the days when he built the frequent dealings with the corpo- Tri-Valley and Tri-Cities Junior rate giants in the Valley will add Achievement organization into one influence and contributions to the 925 462 9175 that gained national recognition, is Tri-Valley Council, which can use www.PleasantonRealEstate.com a good choice for a job that requires a boost. Already, Brink is working extensive contacts and knowledge on a Web site matching system, of the local business community with a prototype at the San Ramon and the four cities that also support chamber that corporate leaders the council: Pleasanton, Dublin, like. It’s a match-up system that Livermore and San Ramon. For the Business Council will operate, starters, Brink will have to look at giving companies that are search- the plan that’s driven the council: ing for people with finance, human Vision 2010. At the time it was resources, even public relations initiated back in October 1998, the skills, but don’t want to advertise diverse group of Tri-Valley leaders those positions or take the time to who joined together to develop a review applications. Brink’s system vision for the future of the region has both the companies on one viewed 2010 as a realistic target end and the skilled professional for improving the outreach of the on the other list their attributes Valley to the Bay Area and even without any identification. When national business community. Many a match looks good, Brink’s site of its objectives have been realized allows both sides to take a closer in terms of economic growth and look, and eventually to meet. Gunk vitality. Brink’s job will be to take Brink also plans to work on a another look at the 2010 objectives “branding” program for the Tri- with an eye for moving them out a Valley. We’re behind in that effort, + few more years as he revitalizes the with the Silicon Valley, San Diego Search Google for computer gunk and you Expert advice on notebook council and increases its visibility and even Pittsburgh promot- will see that you’re not the only one who and desktop Windows PCs and viability. ing their business and workplace Brink was born near Stockholm environments in national publica- might be wondering if your Windows PC isn’t + Aggressive support in the war and came to the United States when tions and global meetings. Few against spam, viruses, and he was 4 years old, growing up in have heard of the Tri-Valley, even as fast as it used to be. There are countless Marin County. He went back to groups just across the Bay, and ways that your computer can collect gunk, spyware Sweden to boarding school, and Brink wants to change that by + then returned to obtain a degree promoting the quality of life, eco- from too many email messages stored that Complete configuration and in philosophy from the University nomic vitality and transportation repair for new and old of San Francisco in 1991. He then network here. With the Livermore you’ll never read or care about, to artifacts left joined Dianne Feinstein’s staff for Lab, wine country, top-of-the-line over from programs you have removed, to the systems her first Senatorial campaign, later golf courses and favorable cli- + serving as a case worker on her San mate, Brink thinks there’s much gunkiest of all, spyware that gets installed Microsoft Office support Francisco Senate office staff. He to attract new businesses to the + Hardware troubleshooting became a director of a work study Valley and to keep those that are without your knowledge. No matter how you program at an international lan- here now. I do too and look for- have become gunked, call us to ungunk you. and networking help guage school before joining Junior ward to hearing Brink’s inaugu- + Achievement in 1998. ral presentation at the Tri-Valley We are experts at removing waste, creating And help with all gunk Under Brink’s leadership, the Business Council’s long-overdue known to computingkind San Ramon Chamber has moved membership meeting to be held in organization, and giving you back from a small-town style nonprofit mid-October. ■ performance that meets and exceeds levels of Rick Altman, Director About the Cover a brand new system. Never underestimate the For 141 years, the Caledonian Club of San Francisco has held an annual value of a good degunking... Scottish Gathering and Games, and the last 12 have been in Pleasanton. Thousands will pour into the city this weekend to join in the games, and some may even wear kilts. But what happens during the event, and what exactly is a caber toss? Cover design by Jason Lind. Vol. VII, Number 32 The Pleasanton Weekly is published weekly by Embarcadero Publishing Co., 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. USPS 020407. DIGITAL CONSULTING The Pleasanton Weekly is mailed free upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton. Voluntary subscriptions at $30 per year ($50 for two years) are welcome Three minutes from downtown Pleasanton from Pleasanton residents. Subscription rate for businesses and for residents of other communities is $40 per year. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton 925.398.6210 | [email protected] Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. © 2006 by Embarcadero Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. www.altman.com/support Page 3 • September 1, 2006 • Pleasanton Weekly Pleasanton Weekly • September 1, 2006 • Page 3 Announcing… B eth LaGrant is pleased to announce her affiliation with Streetwise Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton How do you feel about more “Keller Williams is changing the real million-dollar-plus homes estate market nationwide by breaking Q: being built in the hills the traditional broker norms. They surrounding Pleasanton? have a reputation for integrity and a Asked around town proven winning team. This affiliation creates a win-win for us and our Amy Fox clients. My Team and I are thrilled to Owner of Day Art Studio become a part of the Keller Williams I think Pleasanton can benefit from Family.” more homes being built in a variety of areas and values. The issues, I feel, are for existing residents not Call Beth Today & Put This to have their view-shed interrupted and to make sure the City Council Winning Combination looks at balancing affordable hous- ing with the million-dollar-plus to Work for You! homes. Beth LaGrant Hank Jones Certified Residential Specialist Software consultant 925.924.0444 I do not mind million-dollar homes [email protected] being built on the hills as long as www.LaGrantTeam.com they are not high up on the Ridge and they are camouflaged. We need to maintain the natural wonder of the area. I worked to help preserve the Ridgelands area 20 years ago and I would hate to see that beauty destroyed. Lisa Desmond Homemaker I am not opposed to building more homes in the hills, but projects like that should be taken very seriously. We need to evaluate the effect to the surrounding area and the environ- ment. There should be limitations to the size and scale of the project in order to preserve the natural land- scape. Marina Meyere Your Nationally Attorney I live in one of those homes. My Ranked Golf Course particular development was very tastefully built, preserving the green is a great place to get space quite well.