Thursday, SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 VOLUME LVI, NUMBER 36 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Plans for Road to Connect Dublin To Livermore Move Forward A $147 million project to build a about $117.6 million to cover about “Without (Livermore’s) sup- David Haubert told residents of new stretch of road between Dublin 80% of the extension project’s cost. port, the project would not go his city. and Livermore is moving forward. Typically, Alameda County would ahead,” Khan said. The link will also provide a The Dublin City Council voted be expected to pick up the tab for The Dublin stretch is expected route from Livermore to the East See Inside Section A unanimously on Aug. 20 to ap- the rest of the extension, which to have six lanes. It’ll narrow to Dublin/Pleasanton BART station Section A is filled with prove environmental and design runs through an unincorporated four through the unincorporated that doesn't require drivers to take information about arts, plans that are required before con- area that’s not part of either city, area to North Canyons Parkway. Interstate-580. It’ll also allow the people, entertainment and struction of the mile and a half long Dublin Transportation and Opera- “You won’t have to drive on the Wheels Rapid Bus to bypass the special events. There are education stories, a variety extension of Dublin Boulevard to tions Manager Obaid Khan said. freeway anymore to get to Costco freeway. of features, and the arts North Canyons Parkway can begin. Instead, Livermore has agreed to in north Livermore,” Dublin Mayor (See NEW ROAD, page 2) and entertainment and Dublin has agreed to put in pay the remaining $29.4 million. bulletin board. Tesla Off-Road 10,203 Signed Vehicle Park Petitions to Sale Is Delayed, Vote on City But Not Dead Hotel Agreement By Jeff Garberson A Livermore group has turned To the surprise of many observ- in 10,203 signatures so that voters ers, the state Assembly Appropria- can decide whether to overturn tions Committee didn't vote last the city’s development agreement week on a bill that would allow the with Presidio Companies to build the 3,100-acre expansion area of a hotel on the east side of Liver- the Carnegie off-road vehicle park more Avenue. to be sold. Lawmakers left Senate As part of its plan to revital- Bill 767 to be considered when the ize downtown, the City Council legislature reconvenes in January. The expansion area is known as approved the agreement in July. Tesla for the historic nearby town Supporters of an alternative pro- that once thrived close to a rich posal for Livermore, the Central coal deposit. Park Plan, organized the signature The state-operated Carnegie gathering effort. They want a off-road vehicle park has been developer to build a larger, higher- in operation since 1979. The end hotel with a restaurant on the California Department of Parks west side of Livermore Avenue. and Recreation started running it The group supporting the Cen- after the state purchased private tral Park Plan estimates the Alam- land off-roaders had been using eda County Registrar of Voters for years. will validate at least 7,000 of the The proposed expansion of Carnegie into the large, rugged signatures that were turned into Over Labor Day weekend, the 154th Scottish Highland Gathering & Games took place at the Alameda the city last week. If so, that’s County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Pictured is a “weight for distance” competitor – part of the Scottish (See TESLA, page 2) almost 33% more than the 5,269 signatures required to qualify the Games’ heavy athletic contests. More photos on page 8. (Photo - Doug Jorgensen) referendum on the ballot. Dublin Honors If the county qualifies the mea- sure, the council can either repeal Contributions its development agreement with Presidio, or put the referendum Help Kids Kick Cancer: Give Blood Of Muslims on the ballot and let voters decide. The city of Dublin recently Backers of the referendum say honored the contributions of the number of signatures collected To Do Good and to Look Good American Muslims in California show the community supports By Carol Graham anemic and were instructed to take apy treatments. He has since gone and the United States. their effort to protect more open Spojni Nasin and Eman Tai, space and provide better parking him to the emergency room. Five through multiple rounds of chemo- When Beth and Matt Corbeau’s grueling hours later, the Corbeaus therapy. He has received numerous both board members of the Coun- downtown, both made possible 2-year-old son, Jackson, was run- were introduced to a new doctor. units of blood and platelets during cil on American-Islamic Relations by the location of the hotel on the ning a high fever two years ago, “As soon as she introduced his treatment. (CAIR), were invited to the City west side. they took him to an urgent care cen- herself as a pediatric oncologist, I September is Childhood Cancer Council meeting on Aug. 20, when Livermore Mayor John March- ter where he was diagnosed with felt the room get extremely small,” Awareness Month. The American the elected leaders proclaimed and did not respond to a request an ear infection and prescribed Beth Corbeau said. “I don’t re- Red Cross is encouraging eligible August as Muslim Awareness and for comment by press time on antibiotics. member anything that was said that donors to give blood to support Appreciation Month. They asked Tuesday. However, during his Several days later, Jackson’s afternoon after she said the word kids, teens and young adults bat- residents to extend the “respect State of the City talk on May 23, fever was still high, and he was ‘leukemia.’” tling cancer — as well as others in and camaraderie every American he said the community has no growing increasingly lethargic. In the first few days after diag- need of transfusions. deserves” to Muslims. interest in delaying the downtown Jackson’s parents decided to have nosis, Jackson received red blood This month, donors can “do “More than ever, we are glad project or redesigning the plan at him seen again. After a quick visit cell and platelet transfusions to good and look good” when they to have the support of community the ballot box. to Jackson’s primary care physi- prepare him to have a port placed give blood or platelets with the leaders,” Nasin said, noting the cian, they were advised that he was in his chest to receive chemother- Red Cross and get a free-haircut. contrast with federal anti-Muslim (See CANCER, page 7) (See MUSLIMS, page 2) Independent Names New Editing Team A new editing team has been ap- the Huntington Beach News. A pointed following the death of Janet graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Armantrout, The Independent’s Frank’s career has always focused editor since 1989. She worked until on local news and local readers, the week before she died on Aug. including reporting for weekly 24. She was a determined force, yet newspapers in several Orange gentle interacting with the public. County cities. The change will continue The Frank spent several years cover- Independent’s 56-year-long legacy ing news for the Orange County as the Tri-Valley’s newspaper of Register, following two years as record and devotion to the com- an editor at English-language daily munity. newspapers in Greece and Italy. “I am very pleased to have found He served as city editor at the San an editorial management team Gabriel Valley Tribune in West that understands the values of our Covina, Calif., then led award- unique communities, and is com- winning newsrooms in Bellevue, mitted to carrying them forward,” Wash. and Everett, Wash. said Joan Seppala, publisher and Assistant Editor Amy Nile founder. “Both bring broad experi- brings a depth of experience to ence in local journalism. They will The Independent. Nile and Frank provide an outside perspective previously worked together at The gained from their years of covering Daily Herald in Everett, where a range of cities and towns.” Frank hired Nile after she’d spent Ushering in harvest season in the valley, the Harvest Wine Celebration takes place each year during Consulting editor Robert Frank two years sharpening her investi- Labor Day weekend. Winetasting, music, shopping and food are offered at dozens of wineries in the started his newspaper career in gative skills at a small but scrappy region. Here, visitors to BoaVentura de Caires Winery enjoy discovering some of the region’s best. 1979 with his hometown weekly, (See INDEPENDENT, page 8) See Section A for story on Wine Harvest by Laura Ness . (Photo - Doug Jorgensen) PET OF THE WEEK CABBAGE Cabbage is getting physical…physical! Come sweat it out with this INSIDE plus-size feline who owns her curves! Cabbage is a 3 year old domestic shorthair committed to her diet; her exercise plan includes daily romps MAIN SECTION Sports .................................... 6 with her spring toy and an hour per night chasing a wand toy. No need Classifieds........................... 10 for an expensive gym plan, Cabbage will be your workout buddy SECTION A any day. Meet Cabbage at Valley Humane Society, 3670 Nevada Street Editorial ................................. 4 Art & Entertainment .............. 8 in Pleasanton. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Mailbox .................................. 4 Bulletin Board ..................... 10 Visit valleyhumane.org or call (925) 426-8656 for more information. Obituaries .............................. 9 Milestones ........................... 12 Photo credit: Valley Humane Society / E. Scholz 2 The Independent • SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 Federal Firearms Raid Branning Drops Out Disturbs Neighbors Of State Senate Race Around Livermore Park By Bruce Gach Branning plans to contin- Livermore Democrat ue his work toward ending By Lloyd Alaban law enforcement blocked the teen vaping epidemic, the street for federal agents Evan Branning is suspend- Neighbors around Jack ing his campaign for state reducing homelessness, Williams Park in Livermore who arrested a suspect and addressing transportation searched his home.