Conservancy Applying for Status As Mitigation Easement Holder
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VOLUME LI, NUMBER 34 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2014 Conservancy Applying for Status as Mitigation Easement Holder By Ron McNicoll Valley Agricultural Plan, granted the easement hold- endangered species. Tri-Valley cities have been Find Out What's Tri-Valley Conservancy said TVC executive direc- ing status. The organization's name urging TVC for years to ex- (TVC) has applied to the tor Laura Mercier. So far If the status were granted, was changed from South pand its easement holdings, Happening California Department of TVC holds easements only state Fish and Wildlife can Livermore Valley Agricul- said Mercier. Residents of Check Out Section A Fish and Wildlife to become within the boundary of the then recommend TVC to tural Land Trust to Tri-Val- Livermore and Dublin have Section A is filled with authorized to hold conserva- South Livermore Valley Ag- public agencies and private ley Conservancy in 2003, sought to preserve open information about arts, tion mitigation easements, ricultural Plan, which was developers looking for con- with an eye toward geo- space near their cities. people, entertainment and enabling it to expand its the purpose of founding the servation easements to offset graphically expanding its Pleasanton residents and special events. There are reach. organization, said Mercier. the inroads their infrastruc- ability to hold easements, the City Council have been education stories, a variety The status would enable Mercier said that TVC ture improvements or hous- even across the Contra Costa interested in preserving of features, and the arts and should hear in the next 30 ing developments make on space in the hills south of entertainment and bulletin TVC to hold easements out- County line into San Ramon. board. side of the South Livermore to 60 days whether it will be the habitat of threatened or Residents of all of the (See CONSERVANCY, page 10) Retirees Need Use of Another Volunteers $75,000 to Continue at Wineries Health Care Suit Is Illegal The retirees group that is suing to restore University At least one local winery of California health care is- has been hit with fines and sued an appeal for funds to penalties for using volun- pay its legal bills and create teers in its operation, raising a reserve. Its goal is to raise concerns that other wineries $75,000. may face similar action. The group consists of According to California former employees of Law- labor laws, to volunteer rence Livermore National legally, an individual must Laboratory, which used to be offer his or her services to a operated by the University public agency or nonprofit with full participation in organization. Businesses UC health care programs. may not legally utilize vol- In 2008, management of unteers. Government and nonprofits are exempt from the Laboratory became the the law. responsibility of a for-prof- In the Livermore Valley, it consortium, Lawrence volunteers work in winery Livermore National Secu- tasting rooms and barrel rity LLC, which set up an rooms to support the local (See RETIREES, page 7) wineries and, in some cases, Photo - Doug Jorgensen to learn the art of wine mak- The harvest is underway in the Livermore Valley. For information aboutr the upcoming Harvest Wine Celebration, ing. see the Independent Magazine. Westover Winery owner Teen's Video Bill Smyth says that it is too much to deal with. "We have Opens Window decided to retire." Starting Labor Day weekend, they on Children of will begin selling inventory Arguments For and Against Measure T with the goal to shut down Deaf Adults by December 24. Arguments for and Dublin Decide Initiative on area, called Doolan Canyon, approve future development He pointed out that he (CODA) against the Let Dublin De- the November 2014 ballot. beyond the City’s adopted in that area without further was unaware that using vol- cide Initiative, Measure T, At the same time, the council urban limit line and imme- voter approval, but only after By Ron McNicoll unteers was illegal. He found offer contrasting views of voted to oppose Let Dublin diately east of the current it approves a comprehensive that was true of other people, Jacob Baer may not be the impact were it adopted. city limits and consisting of plan incorporating specified including an Assemblyman ready for Hollywood yet, Decide (Measure T). The Dublin City Council The ballot question asks: approximately 1,650 acres development restrictions?" who is an attorney. "I was but the incoming junior at told that government is not Amador Valley High School voted unanimously to adopt "Shall an ordinance be ad- of primarily agricultural and Signing the arguments in the Dublin Open Space Ini- opted that directs the City open space lands; and would opposition to Measure T are in the business of putting already has screen credits businesses out of business. as a video director, script tiative and to place the Let to pursue annexation of an allow the City Council to writer and editor. (See MEASURE T, page 10) (See VOLUNTEERS, page 5) Jacob produced a nine- minute video "CODA Pride" about children of deaf adults, and what it is National Labs like to grow up bilingual in a way not commonly associ- ated with bilingualism. Launch Study of All of the deaf couples' children in the video, rang- ing from their teens to Climate Change middle age, learned Ameri- can Sign Language (ASL) High performance com- and new High Performance as their first language. Only puting (HPC) will be used to Computing machines as they later did they learn the Eng- develop and apply the most become available. lish spoken language, so complete climate and Earth The initial focus will be that they could live in the system model to address on three climate change sci- larger society beyond the climate change issues. ence drivers and correspond- family. Eight national labora- ing questions to be answered "CODA Pride" will be tories, including Lawrence during the project’s initial shown in New York City Livermore, are combining phase: as part of the 2014 Varsity forces with the National • Water Cycle: How do Brands All-American High Center for Atmospheric the hydrological cycle and School Film Festival Oct. Research, four academic water resources interact 24-27. institutions and one private- with the climate system on Just being included in sector company in the new local to global scales? How the festival speaks to the effort. Other participating will more realistic portray- Pictured are Judy and Fred Porta with Quentin, Emery, Vivian, Aze, Madelyn and Iris high quality of the film. The national laboratories include als of features important to from the Las Positas College Early Childhood Development Center. The Portas have entire field of entries was Argonne, Brookhaven, Law- the water cycle (resolution, made a half million dollar support grant to the Center. Standing are Dr. Barry Russell, comprised of thousands of rence Berkeley, Los Alamos, clouds, aerosols, snowpack, President of LPC and Dr. Lynn Seppala, Chair of the LPCF Foundation. submissions from 45 states Oak Ridge, Pacific North- river routing, land use) affect and 15 nations. west and Sandia. river flow and associated Jacob's sisters Rachael The project, called Ac- freshwater supplies at the Las Positas College Foundation and Sarah Baer assisted celerated Climate Modeling watershed scale? him, with Rachael narrating for Energy, or ACME, is • Biogeochemistry: How the film. All three children designed to accelerate the do biogeochemical cycles Has Received $500,000 Gift can hear. Their parents, Julie development and application interact with global climate Las Positas College hood educations of children next five years. and Joey, are deaf. Some 90 of fully coupled, state-of- change? How do carbon, (LPC) Foundation CEO, of LPC Student-Parents. The announcement, and percent of deaf parents have the-science Earth system nitrogen and phosphorus Ted Kaye, announced last Judith U. ("Judy") and Fred introduction of Mr. and hearing children, according models for scientific and en- cycles regulate climate sys- week that $500,000 has been R. Porta have pledged that Mrs. Porta was made to to Millie Brother, founder of ergy applications. The plan is tem feedbacks, and how invested though the founda- amount to be given to the the faculty and staff of Las CODA International. to utilize advanced software (See CLIMATE, page 10) tion to assist the early child- college foundation over the The video, which in- cludes subtitles, consists of interviews with children of PET OF THE WEEK deaf adults. Some say they Inside Summer will never end with Sanibel in your life! A prefer to use ASL, because sandy blond two-year-old, she’s surfing the tides it is their native language. SECTION A Editorial..............................4 of fortune in search of a forever home. Sanibel is They naturally think in it, FIV+; she must live indoors and be the only cat in and can express themselves Art & Entertainment...........8 Mailbox...............................4 the household. Her adoption fee has been waived by better in it. Others say they Bulletin Board...................10 Roundup...............................3 a generous sponsor. Make waves to meet Sanibel! have no preference. For more information, visit valleyhumane.org, drop Milestones ...............10 & 12 Short Notes.....................8 One of the adult children by Valley Humane Society at 3670 Nevada St. in of deaf parents, Michael MAIN SECTION Sports..................................6 Pleasanton, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to (See VIDEO, page 5) Classifieds.......................11 Obituaries.......................9 4 pm, or call (925) 426-8656. Valley Humane Society/K. Jacoby PAGE 2 - The Independent, AUGUST 21, 2014 Looking for Homeowners to Qualify for a FREE Home Solar Installation Own Your Own Home Have a Southerly-Facing Roof Little to No Shading Pay an Electric Bill The U.S.