County Reaffirms Decision on 3-Year Extension on Altamont Turbines Alameda County Su- the Vote at the Board's Its Earlier Decision
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VOLUME LII, NUMBER 19 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 County Reaffirms Decision on 3-year Extension on Altamont Turbines Alameda County Su- The vote at the board's its earlier decision. The bers at nearby Brushy Peak, merous other studies pervisors reaffirmed their meeting May 5 was 3-2 with requests pointed to the nega- Morgan Territory, Ohlone The motion on May 5 was earlier voted to grant Al- Supervisors Scott Haggerty, tive impact on birds. The and other regional parks, the second reading of the Find Out What's tamont Winds Inc. (AWI) a Nate Miley and Richard newer turbines are more effi- and feast on the plethora of March 26 decision. As part permit extension to continue Valle in the majority. Keith cient. In addition, the newer- ground squirrels and jack of the approval on March Happening operation of 828 old-style Carson and Wilma Chan dis- model turbines – which are rabbits in the area. 26, supervisors asked the turbines in the Altamont sented. It was the same vote larger but have fewer blades EBRPD pointed out in its staff to write findings that Check Out Section A over the next three years. cast at the board's meeting - kill up to 70 percent fewer appeal for the supervisors were part of the hearing, and Section A is filled with At the end of the period March 26. birds than older turbines, not to grant the permit ex- insert them into the approval information about arts, in 2018, the towers are ex- Supervisors had been according to several studies. tension that 5,000 to 10,000 document for the conditional people, entertainment and pected to be shut down. The asked by the East Bay Altamont Pass is home to birds – including up to 2,000 use permit extension. Staff special events. There are replacement will consist of Regional Park District some of the oldest, and most raptors - die annually at then did so. education stories, a variety 33 new turbines producing a (EBRPD), the Livermore plentiful, wind turbines in Altamont Pass wind farms, Several audience speak- of features, and the arts and entertainment and bulletin maximum of 54 megawatts Area Recreation and Park North America. The area is according to a 2004 report ers, including California board. of power, said AWI presi- District and many environ- also a favorite spot for rap- by the California Energy Deputy Attorney General dent Rick Koebbe. mental groups to reverse tors, who roost in large num- Commission as well as nu- (See ALTAMONT, page 5) Federal Bill Brown to Would Make Reduce Music Core Environmental Subject Work on Music would join other Core Curriculum subjects Delta Plan in a proposed Senate Bill By Ron McNicoll that intends to reauthorize California Gov. Jerry the federal No Child Left Brown has announced that Behind Act (NCLB). The he will scale back plans for act expired in 2007. the amount of wetlands and The National Associa- wildlife habitat restoration tion for Music Education that has been part of the (NAfME) led a letter-writ- state's proposed major plan ing campaign among its to fix the Delta. 10,000 members to urge Environmentalists ex- inclusion of music in the bill pressed opposition to the alongside such established proposal, stating that core subjects as math, sci- Brown's idea would siphon ence and English. public and private funds After hearing that the from such things as recycled (See MUSIC, page 10) water projects, without de- livering new water, or a better water system. They also say it will probably drain water flows from the Delta, causing harm to the environment. Under the new proposal, Photo - Doug Jorgensen Brown would retain the The park, located at the corner of Vervais Avenue and Main Street at the Main Street bridge over the Arroyo del Valle, portion of his plan -- the was renamed and dedicated as Rotary Park in ceremonies held last Friday. In addition to the park, a free-standing construction of two 30-mile clock was unveiled. The clock was presented as a gift to the City of Pleasanton by its three Rotary clubs--Rotary tunnels, each 40 feet wide Club of Pleasanton, Pleasanton North Rotary and Tri-Valley Rotary--as part of this year's 50 Years of Pleasanton -- to bypass the Delta, and celebration. The clubs raised the money to purchase the clock; the city funded the installation. Future plans for link the Sacramento River to the park include landscaping, two bocce courts, and picnic tables. On hand for the dedication was Mayor Jerry water facilities in the South Thorne (shown speaking in the photo). Delta. From there, the water would go to water agencies Robbee Kosak southward, including the Valley's wholesaler, Zone 7 Water Agency. The tunnels New President College to Offer Large Summer Session are expected to cost $25 Named For million, and would be paid Las Positas College is offering its largest summer ses- Positas aims to help students reach their educational goals for by the benefitting water Hertz sion in years. this summer. Forty-four of the courses are being offered agencies. "We're very happy about being able to do so, this sum- online; 35 will be held in the evening. Brown said on April 30 Foundation mer," said Jim Wright, Interim Vice President of Academic This summer's session is heavily focused on general in a speech at a state build- Robbee Kosak, Vice Services. "We want to really let people know that there will education requirements, something all students need regard- ing in downtown Oakland President of Advancement be more spaces available in classes." less whether their educational goals are to graduate with that he will revise the envi- at Carnegie Mellon Univer- With 152 course offerings, up from 116 last year, Las a two-year degree or move on to a four-year university, sity , was named president (See SUMMER, page 10) (See DELTA, page 10) of Livermore-based Hertz Foundation, which offers Friends of Tesla Park elite fellowships for gradu- ate education in the sciences. Kosak will start in the Lack of Information Leads position on June 8, replacing Jay Davis, who has held the to Request for Extension post for more than five years. Davis will remain with Hertz as president emeritus and of DEIR Comment Period senior fellow. Friends of Tesla Park has off-highway uses into a In a telephone interview sent a letter to the California 3,100-acre area. from Pittsburgh, Pa., where State Parks Off Highway The expansion proposal she is preparing to move Motor Vehicle Recreation has been controversial. Off- to the Tri-Valley, Kosak Division requesting that it road enthusiasts, who sup- described herself as “very re-notice and extend the port the project, say they excited” to take over the comment period for the need more places to accom- reins at Hertz. Even before Carnegie State Vehicular modate the growing sport. competing for the Founda- Recreation Area (SVRA) Opponents, led by Friends of tion’s presidency, she had Tesla Park, claim the expan- long been aware of its activi- Draft Environmental Impact ties because some of her fac- Report (DEIR). sion would threaten wildlife, ulty colleagues at Carnegie Friends of Tesla Park, ecological resources, and Mellon were Hertz Fellows, in the letter, points out that historic sites. she said. documents referenced in the A call to the Off High- Her responsibilities at DEIR have not been made way Division provided the Carnegie Mellon, where she available. The organization information that a formal has worked for the past 15 writes that requests for the response to the letter is in years, include fundraising reports under the freedom the works. No details were Photo - Doug Jorgensen and marketing university of information act have not provided on when it would Melissa Santala, PhD talks to some of the students about her career. programs internationally. been provided to Friends of be issued or what might be She has worked in compa- Tesla. The group points out included in the letter. rable positions at Bucknell that the documents are nec- Friends of Tesla made the Students Learn about Careers University, Rensselaer Poly- essary in order for Friends of request for changes in the technic Institute, Northwest- Tesla and others to analyze process because of what it By Carol Graham about my education and and why I find it exciting ern University and Illinois the DEIR. says is a failure on the part The high school girls, 44 professional history, what I and rewarding," said Regina Institute of Technology. The DEIR looks at po- of the parks department to in all, came with plenty of do in my day-to-day profes- Soufli, a physicist at Law- She considers scientific tential impacts related to provide documents it has questions. sional life, my reasons for rence Livermore National progress to be “key to the the proposed expansion of "They wanted to know choosing this career path, Laboratory (LLNL). "The quality of our future and the (See OFF-ROAD PARK, page 10) (See DINNER, page 8) future around the world,” and believes that the Foun- dation makes an important PET OF THE WEEK contribution by supporting Inside Kiss me, Kate! You can’t resist the adorable freckles on outstanding young scientists. this sweet, three-month-old Australian Cattle Dog mix. Hertz Fellowship win- SECTION A Editorial..............................4 And those ears! Kate is available on a foster-to-adopt ners are selected not only basis. She enjoys children and other dogs, but gets for academic merit but for Art & Entertainment..........