Guest Anniversary Enjoy an artist at run rocks afternoon Fremont out of Western Art Swing music Association Page 25 Page 39 Page 39 The newspaper for the new millennium 510-494-1999 [email protected] www.tricityvoice.com February 24, 2015 Vol. 14 No. 8 BY JESSICA NOEL CHAPIN PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISH AMITOJ KAUR What comes to mind when you think of theater? Perhaps you recall fond memories of high school drama class, a song from a favorite musical, or a touching storyline. Theater is a bound- less source of entertainment, but it can also boost confidence of kids who par- ticipate. It is this unique aspect of the- ater that drew Ish Amitoj Kaur to found The Theater Factory. The Theater Factory is a place for children to learn the skills of drama while building self-confidence and lead- ership skills. Kaur, who has a profes- sional background and training in the performing arts, was inspired to start a theater-training group for children in the Bay Area after the birth of her son. After many years of traveling around the United States for various theater continued on page 14 SUBMITTED BY GEOFF LANDREAU Mt. Eden Gallery of Art (MEGA) is proud to present the finest BY DAVID R. NEWMAN United States Secretary of Labor Tom Perez has work from seniors in Advanced Placement (AP) Studio: Drawing PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN SUGAYAN warned of a decline in the skilled trade workforce as people retire over the next seven years. There is and AP Studio: 3D Design. This show features work from our top therefore a great need for more apprenticeship pro- artists; it’s the only opportunity they have to show their best pieces The Cypress Mandela Training Center, a nation- before they are mailed in their AP portfolio. We hope you can join ally-recognized nonprofit that specializes in job train- grams nationwide. Cypress Mandela Training Cen- ter offers a 16-week, free pre-apprenticeship us to celebrate these outstanding artistic achievements! ing for disadvantaged youth, has just opened a satellite The show features 75 pieces from 16 students; all graduating sen- branch at the former Barnard White Middle School in program for anyone over the age of 18. Training is both hands-on and classroom, with a boot camp iors in AP Drawing with teacher Carrie King and Geoff Landreau’s Union City. The program is based in West Oakland, AP 3D Design (sculpture) class. Participating students also submit a and will now serve south Alameda County. style that gives students discipline and focus to help them become successful in life. portfolio of work to be considered for college credit. Drawing stu- The new center, which officially opened Mon- dents must submit some digital and some actual work, while Sculp- day, February 9, is the result of a lengthy collabora- The unique program specializes in construction skills, including plumbing, electrical, cement, fram- ture students submit all works digitally. Several student artists have tive process between the City of Union City, New applied to art colleges and are waiting for final decisions. Many have Haven Unified School District, and Cypress Man- ing, and solar that not only trains applicants, but places them in high-paying jobs as well, with an im- already received pre-approval at California College of the Arts, School dela. At the opening ceremony, Union City Mayor of the Art Institute of Chicago, and other schools. Carol Dutra-Vernaci announced, “The program is pressive 85 to 90 percent job placement rate. going to benefit the entire region. We’re helping to continued on page 5 continued on page 14 establish the next generation of the workforce.” INDEX Classified. 35 It’s a date . 21 Public Notices. 36 Arts & Entertainment . 21 Community Bulletin Board . 34 Kid Scoop . 16 Real Estate. 15 Contact Us . 29 Mind Twisters . 18 Sports . 26 Bookmobile Schedule . 23 Editorial/Opinion . 29 Obituary . 31 Subscribe . 7 Business . 10 Home & Garden . 13 Protective Services . 33 Page 2 WHAT’S HAPPENING’S TRI-CITY VOICE February 24, 2015 Healing the Heart Successful Quintuple Bypass and Cardiac Rehabilitation Restore Healthy Heart Function for Patient with ‘Premature Coronary Artery Disease’ oronary artery disease is a days later he went for a walk and Dr. Shashank Jolly, the cardio- condition usually associ- once again experienced lighthead- thoracic surgeon who performed C ated with aging. Erwin edness and nausea. His wife took the surgery at Washington Hospi- Fajardo was only age 34, however, him to the hospital in Hayward tal, explains that Mr. Fajardo’s se- when he was diagnosed in 2001 where he stayed overnight. rious coronary artery condition with a blocked right coronary ar- “His blood tests showed no was unusual for a man his age. Dr. Shashank Jolly, a cardiothoracic surgeon from the Washington Township Medical tery. This artery supplies blood into sign of a heart attack, and a stress “Mr. Fajardo doesn’t have dia- Foundation performed quintuple bypass surgery on Erwin Fajardo (photographed) during a 10-hour procedure at Washington Hospital. the right ventricle – the lower test showed no problems, so they betes, and only has mild high chamber of the heart that pumps released him from the hospital,” blood pressure and cholesterol lev- says Mr. Fajardo. “He explained passed by, he always took time to oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. Mrs. Fajardo notes. “He was els,” says Dr. Jolly. “He had not the results of the angiogram and assure us that this was the reason “I was feeling lightheaded and lightheaded off and on for the done anything wrong – he ate a the need for bypass surgery, as why. Dr. Jolly constantly updated nauseated, so I decided to lie down next month. We thought maybe healthy diet, he exercised regularly, well as all the risks involved with us during surgery and prepared and rest,” he recalls. “When the it had something to do with his and he was slim. The problem was surgery. He also said that if there us for what to expect within 24 feeling didn’t go away, my wife Ce- medications. I finally asked his he had developed coronary artery were any additional problems hours after surgery. He even as- cilia took me to our local hospital doctor to be an advocate for my disease prematurely – his coronary that he discovered during surgery, sured us that he would be avail- in Hayward. My cardiologist, Dr. husband.” arteries were aging faster than his he would fix them, too. He an- able anytime if anything Steven DeGalan, performed an an- The problem was not his med- chronological age, as evidenced by swered all our questions and was happened since he was only two giogram and found the blockage. ications. A coronary angiogram the need for having a stent inserted straight to the point. He came to miles from the hospital. He also works at Washington Hos- performed at Washington Hospi- when he was just 34.” see me every day while we were “I observed Dr. Jolly during pital in Fremont, where I was tal discovered multiple blockages A family history of early heart waiting for the surgery.” my husband's stay in the Coro- transferred to have the stent in- in arteries leading to the heart. disease also may have been a fac- The open-heart surgery nary Care Unit and he was very serted into the blocked artery. “They told me the artery lead- tor. Mr. Fajardo reports that his lasted about 10 hours. hands-on not only with my hus- After that, I didn’t have any prob- ing to the right ventricle was 100 father was in his 40s when he had “Dr. Jolly did his very best to band, but also with all of his pa- lems at all until last September.” percent blocked, and four arteries a type of heart valve surgery. put our family's mind at ease, tients,” she adds. “His The Fajardos had spent a good on the left side were also about Waiting to undergo major sur- even given the seriousness of the interactions with patients and portion of last summer hiking 95 percent blocked,” Mr. Fajardo gery can be a daunting experi- situation,” says Mrs. Fajardo. their families, as well as with the around Zion and Bryce Canyon says. “At the time, I was on a ence, but the Fajardos note that “The most significant thing that nurses, were wonderful. He is National Parks in Utah, and he blood-thinning medication, so Dr. Jolly and the rest of the staff stood out was his confidence and calm, very professional, caring reports feeling just fine through- they decided to take me off the at Washington Hospital helped meticulousness during surgery. and always has a smile on his out those excursions. Then, at medication and have me wait sev- put them at ease. He took time to perform the sur- face. Our family is so thankful home on his 48th birthday, he eral days to perform quintuple “We met Dr. Jolly on the day gery as perfectly and as safely as suffered a bad headache. Two bypass surgery.” the angiogram was performed,” possible. And when the hours continued on page 5 InHealth broadcasts on Comcast Channel 78 in Fremont, Newark and Union City and online at www.inhealth.tv The full schedule of InHealth programs listed below can also be viewed in real time on the Washington Hospital website, www.whhs.com TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY 02/24/15 02/25/15 02/26/15 02/27/15 02/28/15 03/01/15 03/02/15 12:00 PM Diabetes Matters: Insulin: Sports-Related Skin Cancer Meatless Mondays 12:00 AM Everything You Want to Know Concussions Sidelined by Back Pain? GERD & Your Risk of Sidelined by Back Pain? Get 12:30 PM Get Back in the Game Esophageal Cancer Back in the Game Surgical Treatment of 12:30 AM Snack Attack Obstructive Sleep Apnea Keeping Your Heart on 1:00 PM the