Versatile Bio-Detector to Look for Pathogens
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VOLUME LII, NUMBER 25 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015 Versatile Bio-detector To Look For Pathogens By Jeff Garberson gens – mostly bacteria and Study Group last week in analysis techniques that genetic DNA or RNA has A bio-detector is under viruses, but also parasites, Pleasanton. compare the genetic struc- been analyzed and pub- Check Out Section A development at Lawrence fungi, protozoa and primi- Because it can identify so ture of pathogens to detailed lished – it is in Livermore’s Includes notices of art Livermore National Labora- tive bacteria called archaea, many pathogens, typically information that has been database, making it possible and entertainment tory with the goal of iden- according to Tom Slezak, in a day or less, the Array is collected from databases for a viable sample to be tifying any pathogen, from who leads the computational a valuable addition to exist- compiled by universities, events as well as club identified by the Microbial deadly human disease germs side of the bio-detector de- ing methods of examining research laboratories and Detection Array. and church information. to viruses that endanger velopment effort. medical or environmental governments around the Shakespeare in the Park is Key to the process ranch animals and agricul- Slezak described the bio- samples – in the case of an world. has been development of the cover story. Inside look tural crops. detector, called the Law- epidemic, for example, or a If a bacterium or virus hundreds of thousands of for Scout activities and a Today, the bio-detec- rence Livermore Microbial potential terrorist attack. has been “sequenced” – that “probes” that recognize and column about a local tor can identify more than Detection Array, to a month- The system works by is, if the detailed pattern of combine with segments of couples experience with 10,000 species of patho- ly meeting of the Valley applying sophisticated data molecules that make up its (See DETECTOR, page 4) the Berlin Wall. LAVTA Tributes Seeking Pour Out Input On for Ahmadi Transit at Last The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority Meeting (LAVTA) is conducting a By Ron McNicoll study to analyze bus routes Pleasanton Unified and transportation demand School District Superinten- to make improvements to dent Parvin Ahmadi spent the public transit system. her last school board meet- The comprehensive plan- ing listening to tributes rec- ognizing her work on behalf ning effort is titled Wheels of the district for the past Forward. five years. LAVTA operates the District employees and Wheels bus system. community members talked The highest priority for about the difference she the planning efforts is a made in leading the district. All five school board mem- (See LAVTA, page 7) bers recognized her service with their own compliments at the June 9 meeting. Increasing Helping make Pleasanton an inclusive district was Demand for a theme for some of the sentiments. Trustee Jamie Safety Net Hintzke said that she first Services a knew Ahmadi when Ahmadi Photo - Doug Jorgensen was an assistant superinten- dent in Fremont, and she Concern Floats were part of the annual Livermore Rodeo Parade held last Saturday in downtown Livermore. The parade is encouraged Ahmadi to apply The proposed Alameda presented by the Rotary Club of Livermore. For more photos, go to page 5. to Pleasanton. County Budget for FY 2015- Hintzke said that when 16 totals $2.7 billion for she first ran for the school programs and services and board in 2008, one of the planks in her platform was, supports a workforce of Court Sides with Tri-Valley Learning Corporation "Institutionalized racism more than 9,500 full-time was something to be ad- equivalent positions. The A controversy involving unanimously to accept an Diego Superior Court by a the Brown Act by making Old Town Academy (OTA) dressed in this district. I proposed budget closes a offer to join TVLC effec- law firm claiming to rep- decisions that were not le- in San Diego and the Tri- tive July 1, 2014. A memo- gally noticed. knew Parvin could address funding gap of $65.1 million resent Old Town Academy that, and she did, and that Valley Learning Corporation randum of understanding (OTA) and the OTA Presi- A restraining order was without significant program (TVLC), which oversees the put us on a different track. (MOU) was signed on July dent and Executive Director requested to prevent TVLC I'm grateful." Hintzke was reductions or staff layoffs. OTA school, has developed 30, 2014 by OTA and on from having access to the Administrator Susan S. Thomas Donahue alleges the first Asian-American resulting in lawsuits filed by Aug. 2 by Chief Executive that Tri-Valley Learning OTA school site, records and Muranishi said the fund- elected to the Pleasanton both sides. The judge in the Officer Bill Batchelor on Corporation (TVLC) and bank accounts. ing gap is the smallest the school board. case has agreed with TVLC. behalf of TVLC. OTA Board Member Chris- Tri-Valley Learning Cen- Trustee Joan Laursen County has faced in eight The OTA board voted One lawsuit filed in San topher Celentino violated sounded a similar theme. years. However, she noted, (See COURT, page 4) optimism about ongoing (See TRIBUTES, page 5) economic growth must be balanced with concerns about continued high de- Eastside Planning Taken Celebrating One Million Hours of Service mand for safety net services By Carol Graham "We had hoped for 200 received a call saying I bet- and the reality that surging Off Council Priority List Although it took 100 people, and nearly 1,000 ter get down here. CNN was State revenues will result in years to happen, it turned showed up," recalled one here. ABC was here. NBC Planning and environ- addition, it was pointed out little additional support for out to be a party worth wait- organizer of the 2001 party. and CBS were here. There mental work for the Eastside that the city does not need to ing for. "At 3:30 in the morning, I these programs. Pleasanton Specific Plan was zone the area for housing. It were live feeds to Katie The Budget includes a officially ended on a 3 to 0 of currently has enough land Couric and Peter Jennings $71 million increase in Gen- the Pleasanton City Council. to meet its regional housing in New York." eral Fund spending over The vote included removing needs assessment (RHNA) The guest of honor was 2014-15. It also provides 3 the plan from the council's numbers through 2022. positively glowing, just as percent increases for many priority list for at least two During the public hear- it had been since 1901. The of the Community Based years. ing on Tuesday, Kay Ayala honoree, you see, was a light Organizations (CBOs) that Kathy Narum was ab- suggested that before the bulb - the Centennial Light Bulb, the longest burning receive County General sent for vote at Tuesday's plan goes back on a priority meeting. Arnie Olson was list, the proposal should be light bulb on the planet. Fund support. This brings recused because he lives agendized and considered "People love items with annual spending by the adjacent to the planning area. in a very public way. a good story, and we're in- County to about $485 mil- In addition to ending all In other action, the coun- trigued by pieces of our past lion for CBOs providing a work on the plan, the reso- cil approved an increase in that persist in our present," range of services to County lution includes a provision developer user fees. The said Jeffrey Kaskey, Presi- residents, including health to disband the Eastside Task building and development dent of the Livermore Heri- and human services pro- Force after thanking it for permit fees cover the costs tage Guild. "Also, there's grams, as well as housing, its work. At such time as a of plan review, engineering the ever-present element of community development, council may want to restart associated with site devel- suspense; it could go out at and public safety programs. the process, the proposal opment, fire prevention, would be part of a priority inspections, and other costs any instant." The improving economy setting session. incurred in the building de- This year marks another has helped to boost County The effort has been con- velopment process. milestone in the Centennial revenue streams as well as troversial since it began. The vote was 5 to 0, with Bulb's existence: one mil- the State’s fiscal situation. Issues raised by members of one change in staff's recom- lion hours of service. On Even with boosted property the public during the process mendation. The new fees Saturday, June 27th, all are tax revenue that comes from include the availability of become effective August invited to a free, family- a surge in local home prices, water, school overcrowding, 17, 2015. Photo - Doug Jorgensen friendly celebration hosted the County’s $65.1 million traffic, and the need to move The change resulted from Tom Bramell looks through his book about the by the Centennial Light Bulb the urban growth boundary council's concern that rais- budget gap is still signifi- Centennial Light Bulb. (See LIGHT BULB, page 2) cant and reflects a structural to accommodate growth. In (See PRIORITY, page 5) deficit in which State and federal funding combined PET OF THE WEEK with County’s limited dis- Inside Have a ball with happy-go-lucky, Humphrey! This cretionary revenues fail to five-month-old Cocker Spaniel will brighten your meet rising costs.