Scottish Games Page 15 VOL. XVIII, NUMBER 32 • SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 WWW.PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM 5 NEWS Council likes Costco roadwork financing concept 16 TRI VALLEY LIFE Ride along with LPFD 18 SPORTS Local team wins 3rd straight World Series DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION Page 2 • September 1, 2017 • Pleasanton Weekly TIM TALK $200K Price Reduction! BY TIM HUNT Challenges for retailers are reflected in city’s revenues leasanton officials are starting It’s designed by celebrity architect to sound the alarm about the Renzo Piano. The goal is creating an Peffects of online shopping, environment and space that people plus regional competition, on the will want to return to routinely, not city’s sales tax revenue. just when they want to go shopping. Mayor Jerry Thorne cited these Dublin has a similar concept in concerns during the Tri-Valley progress for the long-vacant parcel Mayors’ Summit last month, while at the corner of I-580 and Tassajara 471 St. Mary Street City Manager Nelson Fialho ex- Road that has been owned for de- panded on them at a recent meet- cades by the John Di Manto family. ing of retired church-going men. The 76-acre parcel is being dubbed Pamela Ott, the city’s econom- “At Dublin.” Historical Downtown Landmark with ic development director, shared The partnership of Shea Proper- the 10-year sales tax revenues for ties and SCS Development is pro- Development Potential Stoneridge Shopping Center with posing an entertainment-focused me. Those revenues hit a pre-reces- environment with movie theaters, 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, 2,632 Sq Ft sion high of $4.4 million in the fis- a public plaza, a village green plus 2 Parcels Totaling 25,000 Sq Ft cal year ending in June 2007. They hotels and housing. had fallen to $3.9 million by 2009 The Dublin project will have up and then climbed back to an all- to 400,000 square feet of retail and time high of $4.6 million in 2014. entertainment that will also include The concern for city leaders is a bowling alley. The developers Gina Piper that sales tax revenues there fell to hope to line up tenants that will $4.3 million despite a very healthy provide quality meals before or 925.200.0202 economy in 2016 (figures for 2017 after the movies. are not available). The proposal, which has not been www.PleasantonRealEstate.com The companies with the anchor submitted to the city, also is planned retail stores at Stoneridge are strug- to include 700 units of housing. Better Homes & Gardens Tri-Valley Realty / BRE#: 01201349 gling across the country and clos- This is the type of competition, ing stores that are not profitable. plus the outlets in Livermore, that Sears and J.C. Penney are having a Stoneridge is facing. Under Simon’s particularly hard time, but Macy’s ownership, Stoneridge has broad- The Caledonian Club of San Francisco presents...... and Nordstrom are not immune. ened its restaurant offerings, but it The changes driven by online could really use an entertainment 152nd Scottish Highland Gathering & Games shopping and the shift in shopping feature as a drawing card. behavior is taking its toll. Many One retail sector that is flourish- women and teenagers no longer ing is the low-price stores such as September 2 & 3• Pleasanton consider hanging out at the mall a Ross Stores and TJX (TJ Maxx and Alameda County Fairgrounds • 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. leisure time activity. Marshalls). For the second quarter, Macy’s already has announced it Ross sales increased 4%, while TJX 35+ Pipe Bands from the U.S. & Canada in daily show.* is closing its men’s store off Union was up 3%. By contrast, Macy’s was 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band & L.A. Scots Pipe Band in concert Square in San Francisco and ex- off 2.8%. J.C. Penney and Kohl’s * ploring other uses for some of its were also down. 43rd U.S. Invitational Heavy Events Championship flagship store on Union Square. Having been part of an indus- * Grandstand Show Daily at 4 p.m. Consider the big-box sporting try that has been wrecked by the goods stores — only Dick’s Sport- internet (traditional newspapers), ing Goods is still operating. Both I can appreciate what is going on Sports Authority (Dublin and San for major retailers and shopping Ramon) and Sports Chalet (Pleas- centers. Advertising revenue for anton) have closed their stores. newspapers hit its all-time high in 22 Attractions.... There’s a profound shift in the 2006 and has dropped every quar- retail environment and shoppers ter since then. •Living History with Mary Queen of Scots are looking for something differ- It’s going to take a major shift in •Western U.S. Highland Dancing Championships ent than the traditional enclosed strategy for the traditional retailers mall. If you check out the website to continue to survive — let alone •Seven Stages Continual Entertainment for Simon’s stores (owners of both flourish — in today’s new market. Q •100+ Vendors..... and so much more! Stoneridge and the San Francisco Editor’s note: Journalist Tim Hunt Premium Outlets in Livermore), it has written columns on the Tri- stressed the “Simon experience.” Valley community for more than That shift also is being seen in 40 years. He grew up in the valley the City Center Bishop Ranch that and lives in Pleasanton. His “Tim will mix retail, restaurants and en- Talk” blog appears twice a week at tertainment with an open plaza. PleasantonWeekly.com. Special Guest www. About the Cover Graham McTavish McGrail Vineyards and Winery winemaker Mark Clarin inspects Cabernet ‘OUTLANDER” TheScottishGames Sauvignon wine grapes growing on the winery’s Livermore property. McGrail “The Hobbit Triology” is just one of the wineries participating in the 36th annual Harvest Wine Celebration happening this Sunday and Monday. Photo by Julia Reis. Cover Autograph Sessions .com design by Paul Llewellyn. Vol. XVIII, Number 32 Pleasanton Weekly • September 1, 2017 • Page 3 Labor Day Weekend Sale Streetwise Save 20% storewide... ASKED AROUND DOWNTOWN PLEASANTON Plus, we pay the sales tax! Save on landscapel d plants,l soils,l fertilizers,f l What fills your heart garden gifts, fountains...everything in stock. Look for additional savings on seasonal clearance items. Now through Labor day with joy? Open Labor Day 9-4:30 Kim Harding High school student • Fountains & Pots • Garden Art • Container Gardening • Plants & Flowers • Local Honey When I do helpful things for other people • Seasonal Gift Shop • Vegetables • Water Plants • Fruit Trees & Berries and I see how appreciative they are. Whether helping an older person to cross the street 2756 Vineyard Ave., Pleasanton • 925.462.1760 safely or reaching for something on a high www.westerngardennursery.com shelf at the store for a person in a wheelchair 2017 PLEASANTON or making my mom’s life a little easier by WEEKLY facebook.com/wgnursery unloading the dishwasher and folding the Open daily 9-5:30. Open Labor Day 9-4:30 laundry. I guess anything I can do that less- ens someone else’s burden in life. Judith Bahr Retired Mostly my heart is filled with joy every morning when I wake up and find myself alive, able to get out of bed and inde- pendently capable of taking care of all of my own basic needs. If I can do all of that, I know it is going to be a great day, and everything on top of that is icing on the cake. Esther Jobrack, with Armani Retired 9-1-1 dispatcher I find joy in virtually everything I choose to do and choose to see. Seeing my dogs’ smiling faces each day fills me with joy. So does seeing the flowers in my gar- den, dancing in the breeze. Stella Beck Business owner Touching other people, whether physically or otherwise through my actions. I feel strongly that every good deed I do helps to fix our broken world and brings me closer to others. I especially love holding my great-grandchildren because it keeps me connected with the younger generations who are our future. I have 23 great-grand- children, and a 24th on the way. Cathy Kessler Chef/baker When I’m singing with my choir, hearing the beautiful voices that surround me, I feel joy in my heart. Sometimes I wish I could just sing forever. —Compiled by Nancy Lewis and Jenny Lyness Have a Streetwise question? Email [email protected] LET’S DISCUSS: The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Read the latest local news headlines and Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rate, USPS 020407. The Weekly is mailed upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton. talk about the issues at Town Square at Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100 for two years. Go toPleasantonWeekly.com to sign up and for more information. PleasantonWeekly.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. ©2017 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Page 4 • September 1, 2017 • Pleasanton Weekly Newsfront DIGEST Council offers early support to roadwork Mines Road fire financing deal with Costco A vegetation fire that sparked Sunday in unincorporated Alam- Poised to give final direction on proposed term sheet Sept. 18 eda County has been fully con- tained after burning 44 acres, BY JEREMY WALSH infrastructure financing in place be- provide feedback publicly before we don’t have exposure.” Cal Fire officials confirmed A majority of the Pleasanton City fore moving forward with finalizing city staff returns seeking final coun- “We did have an election, and the Wednesday.