VOLUME XLVII, NUMBER 49 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 Agreement Will Reduce Bird Deaths An agreement has been negotiating the agreement that outdated, inefficient and deadly search Program and half to East er turbines operating at Altamont reached with wind energy opera- addresses the state’s need for to thousands of birds each year. Bay Regional Park District and Pass killed an estimated 1,766 to tors owned by NextEra Energy renewable wind energy and Under the agreement, NextEra the Livermore Area Regional 4,271 birds annually, including Resources, LLC, to expedite the state’s obligation to protect will replace some 2,400 turbines Park District for raptor habitat between 881 and 1330 raptors the replacement of old wind tur- resident and migratory birds. over the next four years and will creation. such as golden eagles — which bines in the Altamont Pass Wind Attorney General Edmund G. shut down all its existing turbines Rich Cimino, Ohlone Audu- are protected under federal law Resource Area with new, larger Brown Jr. announced the agree- no later than 2015. The company bon Eastern Alameda Coun- — hawks, falcons and owls. The wind turbines that are less likely ment Monday. also has agreed to erect the new ty Conservation Chairman, is bird fatalities at Altamont Pass, to harm birds. The Altamont Pass Wind turbines in environmentally pleased with the agreement. “I an important raptor breeding area Golden Gate Audubon, Santa Resources Area in Alameda and friendly locations. think at this point, it’s the best that lies on a major migratory Find Out What's Clara Valley Audubon, Mt. Dia- Contra Costa counties is the site NextEra agreed to pay $2.5 compromise.” route, are greater than on any blo Audubon, Ohlone Audubon, of the world’s first wind turbines. million in mitigation fees, half A 2004 study commissioned other wind farm in the country. Happening and Marin Audubon joined the These units, constructed more to the state Energy Commission’s by the California Energy Com- In September 2005, Alameda Check out the Attorney General’s Office in than three decades ago, are now Public Integrated Energy Re- mission found that the 5,400 old- (See WIND POWER, page 4) second section Section II is filled with infor- mation about arts, entertainment and special events. There are education stories, a variety of Cities, features, and the arts and enter- tainment and bulletin board list Schools Dealing With Pension ByCosts Ron McNicoll Growing concern about the future obligations of pension plans and post-retirement medi- cal coverage has surfaced in the Valley during the past few months. Pleasanton City Council can- "Two Dancers" by Greg didate Karla Brown and may- Hawthorne is one of three oral candidate Cindy McGovern proposed for purchase. raised the issue of dealing with unfunded future liability during the campaign. McGovern also Pleasanton OKs raised this issue in the past, as did Kay Ayala, when she was on 10-Year Public Art the city council. Pleasanton resident Bart Acquisition Plan Hughes has addressed the city Pleasanton residents Nancy council about his views on the and Gary Harrington have pro- topic. Hughes and Brown spoke posed a 10-year public art acqui- Photo - Doug Jorgensen to the council at its meeting Dec. sition plan for the city. Cubs and Boy Scouts from Troop 939 took part in the annual Livermore holiday parade. For more photos, see page 2. (See PENSIONS, page 4) The Pleasanton City Council reviewed and approved phase one of the plan at its Dec. 7 meeting. Phase one includes the pur- Wide Spectrum Contributes to East Bay Economic Health chase of three sculptures. Fund- By Ron McNicoll Bay provides the public with a week by the East Bay Economic acting in concert because both government, non-profits and phi- ing has been provided by the A report that calls for a co- big-picture profile of what has Development Alliance (EBEDA) job development and various lanthropy to solve long-term eco- Harringtons. Cost to the city operative effort among govern- happened to the area in the past and the East Bay Community human services are important nomic problems for the region, would involve site prepara- ment, business, philanthropy 10 years, and shows trends that Foundation (EBCF). It was the for the residents of the East Bay. which is comprised of Alameda tion, installation and/or signage. and non-profit groups in solving give hope in the current troubled first time that the two organiza- They are united in perceiving and Contra Costa counties. Staff estimates the cost would the job, education, and social times. tions have issued a joint report. that there really is no separation As a whole, the area sank a be around $7500 per sculpture. services problems of the East The report was issued last The two organizations are between the efforts of business, (See EAST BAY, page 4) Funds are available in the city’s public art acquisition fund. The Harringtons have pro- posed including several sculp- tures and murals. Their goal is Pleasanton Mayor, Council- to raise financial support through a process of collaboration with members Sworn In local businesses. As part of the Pleasanton Mayor Jennifer in two areas. One will be main- funding campaign, the Har- Hosterman and Councilmembers taining the fiscal health of the ringtons are willing to match any Jerry Thorne and Cheryl Cook- community. She stated. “I am donation of $3500 or more until Kallio took their oaths of office grateful to my fellow mayors for sufficient funding for a particu- for the positions they will hold working with me on projects to lar sculpture or mural has been for the final time at Tuesday’s city help to create local jobs.” achieved. council meeting. A second focus will be deal- The three sculptures to be Hosterman will serve two ing with pension reform. Hos- acquired under phase one are more years, Thorne and Cook- terman said there are plans to Two Dancers by artist Greg Kallio four years before they hold workshops. She invited the Hawthorne; Spiral Motion III reach term limits. entire community to be part of by artist Jon Seeman, and Cobalt All three thanked those who the discussions concerning those One-Two Kids by artist Dominic. helped to re-elect them. reforms.. This phase will serve as the start Hosterman stated, “I drove Cook-Kallio said that when of establishing a sculpture walk through downtown on my way to she first ran four years ago, she within the downtown area. The the meeting. It is truly lovely. We wanted to have a conversation sculpture walk is proposed to have a lot to be proud of and to be about Pleasanton. “All of the evolve over time as artworks thankful for in Pleasanton.” candidates should be congratu- become available and locations Over the next two years, Hos- lated. It is difficult to put yourself are identified. terman said her focus would be (See PLEASANTON, page 5) Two Dancers will be located at the Firehouse Arts Center. The Harringtons provided Photo - Karen Vizzard examples of some of the work Retired Scientists Help Sean Hesler examines a sick child held by its grandmother. The child is one of 7 orphaned by that could be purchased. Prices the death of their mother. Unable to care for them, the grandmother is looking for homes to for range from $45,000 for a cast them. granite piece to $18,000 for fused Livermore Schools glass pieces. A program in the Livermore Retired scientists from Law- Councilmember Cheryl Cook- Valley Joint Unified School Dis- rence Livermore National Lab- Kallio commented, “This is truly trict has found a way to provide oratory (LLNL) and Sandia Back to Haiti: Livermore Doctor an exciting program for the city. excellent science teaching at no National Laboratories volunteer The Harringtons have been truly cost to the district. their time in science classrooms Returns After Narrow Escape (See ART, page 5) The program, TOPS (Teach- in Livermore and in San Joa- A young, natural-medicine are rare and often prohibitively employed a ruse worthy of an ad- ing Opportunities for Partners quin County. Every Livermore doctor from Livermore returned expensive. venture novel to escape the coun- in Science) has been in use for elementary and middle school to Haiti with his wife this week to Sean and Sarah Preston Hesler try when Haitians were rioting many years. It was begun by the has one of the volunteers, said provide medical help to pregnant are directors of a birthing clinic and threatening strangers over Final Meeting San Joaquin County Office of Art Krakowsky, one of the vol- women and children in a region sponsored by a U.S. nonprofit suspicions that United Nations Looks At South Education. (See SCIENTISTS, page 5) where doctors and hospitals organization. Last month, they (See HAITI, page 9) Livermore Plan PET OF THE WEEK The final session in a series Inside Monet is as pretty as a picture and is looking for her forever home. of town hall meetings sponsored She arrived here last February as a shy kitty and has grown into by Alameda County to possibly an outgoing cat. She’s not a big fan of the shelter atmosphere expand some of the uses allowed Art & Entertainment....... Section II Mailbox...................................4 in the South Livermore plan will and really needs a space to call her own. If you adopted Monet, Bulletin Board............... Section II Short Notes.............................9 be held at 6 p.m., Dec. 14. town you would be very lucky to own such a spirited and extraordinary hall meeting at the Martinelli Classifieds...........................10 Sports......................................6 kitty.