VOLUME L, NUMBER 20 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN • LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013 Two High Schools Chosen For Equity & Excellence Project The Livermore Valley country to close race and Placement (AP) and Inter- defined in many ways, EOS uitable access to all classes, Joint Unified School District income enrollment and suc- national Baccalaureate (IB) focuses on the AP and IB and processes in place to (LVJUSD) has been selected cess gaps in challenging on college completion for programs, which provide the achieve the effort to close Find Out What's to participate in the Equal high school courses and ad- Latino, African American, clearest measurable standard the gap. One example of Opportunity Schools (OES) vanced classes. The goal is and low-income students. aligned with college-level a program in place is the Happening AP/IB Equity & Excellence to improve student engage- The 79 selected high schools work. green engineering academy Check Out Section A Project. ment, achievement, college will receive match-funded The cost to the district is at Livermore High School. Section A is filled with The program is part of readiness and success. technical assistance and $18,000 in matching funds. Half of the students enrolled information about arts, the Google Global Impact Granada and Livermore capacity-building support Livermore Superinten- fall into the at risk category. people, entertainment and Award Project. High Schools are two of to fully close AP and IB dent Kelly Bowers told the Bowers and both compre- special events. There are Equal Opportunity only 79 high schools from participation gaps and raise school board last week that hensive high school princi- education stories, a variety Schools partner with school, across the U.S. that were student success. to qualify for the program, pals attended an invitation of features, and the arts and selected to participate in the there first has to be an iden- only Google Global Impact entertainment and bulletin district, county, state, and Although “challenging board. national leaders around the most rigorous study to date high school courses” and tified gap, a demonstrated Award Project meeting to on the impact of Advanced “advanced classes" can be commitment to provide eq- (See SCHOOLS, page 9) Summer Market Opens Livermore In Livermore Seeks to Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 8 p.m., The City of Liver- 'Smooth' more, Livermore Downtown Inc. and the Pacific Coast Rate Hike Farmers Market Association Garbage rates will be will be celebrating PCF- changing in Livermore for MA’s 25th Anniversary of those who use smaller con- managing Markets through- tainers. The city council on out the San Francisco Bay Monday approved recom- Area. PCFMA has been mendations by staff to adjust Livermore Downtown Inc.’s rates to reflect changes in managing partner in down- customer use. The new rates town Livermore since 1997. will go into effect July 1. At 5:00 PM, Mayor John The current waste and re- Marchand, Vice Mayor Stu cycling contract with Liver- Gary, City Manager Marc more Sanitation is designed Roberts, Livermore Down- so that ratepayer revenue town Inc. Board President covers the cost of provid- Ivy Faught , LDI Executive ing the service. However, revenues generated by rates Director Rachael Snedecor are not matching the costs and Alameda County Su- due to on-going residential pervisor Scott Haggerty’s service downsizing and the Office will be on hand for the practice of large commercial official season ribbon cutting accounts “opting out” of and launch of the Thursday the system by self-hauling Night Market Season. Rib- Photo - Doug Jorgensen materials. bon Cutting will take place at Students at the Livermore Valley Charter School have created bicycle wheel art under the direction of their teacher, Judy Erlandson, Public the Band Performance area Works Manager, told the on the Fourth Street side of Regina Leyva. The work will be displayed this Saturday during the Amgen Tour. council that if there were Carnegie Park. no rate increase above the This will be the first amount allowed in the con- Thirsty Thursday of the year Livermore Gears Up for Amgen Event tract each year, by year eight from 5 to 8 p.m. Live music By Carol Graham of the contract, customers To celebrate being cho- Center Manager and Lo- patients, care givers and the would see a huge spike in will be provided by Crawdad Livermore will host the sen as one of eight staging cal Organizing Committee public including prevention Republic, a local southern the cost of service. That Amgen Tour of California cities for the race, the city, Chair for the Amgen Tour. education, patient care, ad- would occur, because the rock and Cajun fusion band. bicycling race this Saturday, area businesses and local as- "Livermore is one of the four vocacy support and financial Wine tasting will feature contract does not require a May 18. It is an event that sociations are offering day- stages chosen for the walk, resources. The other stag- balance between revenue Concannon Vineyard, Save brings international atten- long festivities throughout and we're the only one that's ing cities hosting the walk Me San Francisco, Cupcake and cost until year eight. At tion and countless visitors the downtown area. maxed out so far with 150 this year are Escondido, that time revenue and costs and Darcie Kent. Beer tast- to the city. The day kicks off with participants." Santa Clarita and Santa must balance. ing will be by Sierra Nevada The Amgen Tour of Cali- the Breakaway from Cancer Breakaway from Cancer Barbara. Because rate year 4 (FY and Schubros Breweries. fornia is a Tour de France- Walk at 10 a.m. is a complementary com- The Amgen Tour's Trav- 13/14) is an index-based (See MARKET, page 2) style cycling road race. The "The half-mile walking ponent to the Amgen race. eling Lifestyle Festival will year, the city council is City is hosting the start of course begins at the Carn- It's designed to increase provide a central gathering required to approve a mini- Stage 7 from Downtown egie Park start line," said awareness of the important area for attendees and spec- mum rate increase of 0.8% to Coments Livermore to the top of Mt. David Rashe, City Permit resources available to cancer (See AMGEN, page 2) reflect the allowed indexed Asked on Diablo. (See HIKE, page 4) Wheels Service The Livermore Amador Uncertain legal future Pleasanton Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), operator of the Wheels bus service, is seek- $2.7 Million Awarded To Schools Put ing public input on proposed service changes planned to Former Lab Employees STEAM Into take effect in August 2013. Service changes are pro- By Jeff Garberson that operates the Labora- posed for the routes 1, 2, 3, An Alameda County jury tory far more than the $2.7 Community 8, 9, 10, 11, 12(v), 14, 18, awarded five former em- million jury award – or that 70x(xv), 501, and 701. ployees of Lawrence Liver- might melt away and cost it Event Proposals to be consid- more National Laboratory little or nothing. The Pleasanton Unified ered include changes to a total of $2.7 million last The company that op- School District put plenty of alignments and adjustments week in compensation for erates the Laboratory is STEAM into its presentation to schedules and frequen- estimated losses suffered called Lawrence Livermore to community and business cies to make the system when they were laid off in National Security. It issued leaders who were invited easier to navigate. Routes 11 2008, allegedly in violation to an education summit at and 701 will potentially be a statement saying that it of an employment contract. “respectfully disagrees” Amador Valley High School. discontinued. Details of the The jury decision appears proposed service changes with the jury’s verdict and Nearly 100 attended the are available online at www. to be the tip of a complex the $2.7 million award. event on May 8 designed wheelsbus.com and at the legal iceberg that has the po- The statement also said to show the audience how tential to cost the company the district is carrying out Livermore Transit Cen- (See LAWSUIT, page 9) ter, LAVTA Administrative the curriculum for the 21st Office, and all Tri-Valley Century, explained superin- libraries. tendent Parvin Ahmadi. Public meetings will Extra Tax For Future In recent years, school be held at the following districts have focused on times and locations: Mon., Residents Is in Negotiation classes called STEM, refer- May 20, 5 to 7 p.m. Dublin ring to the initials for Sci- Library, 200 Civic Plaza; By Ron McNicoll on 187 acres surplused by ence, Technology, Engineer- Tues., May 21, 5 to 7 p.m. Dublin City Council- the Army at Camp Parks. ing and Math. Pleasanton Veterans Memorial Build- members have given staff The plan has been in has added an A -- the Arts ing, Pleasanton; and Wed., direction concerning choices negotiation since last May, -- to show equal status with May 22, 5 to 7 p.m. Robert in the Dublin Crossings when the city council then the sciences, said Ahmadi. Livermore Community Cen- development proposed by was consulted. The matter Photo - Doug Jorgensen To demonstrate that, the ter, 4444 East Ave. Irvine-based SunCal. Dublin was brought back to the Pleasanton residents tried their skills at chalk painting district displayed art work In addition, a public hear- Crossings is being created (See DUBLIN, page 5) during last Saturdays "Big Draw" in the downtown. ing will be held in con- (See STEAM, page 2) nection with the LAVTA Board Meeting at 4 p.m.