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Pleasanton Weekly 07.30.2010 - Section 1
Section 1 of the July 30, 2010 edition of the Pleasanton Weekly
Pleasanton Weekly 2010 READERS CHOICE I N SI D E Budget backup: Sycamore Fund not a source for loans, says former superintendent PAGE 5 Water issues: Mayor Hosterman bringing U.S. Water Council to meet here in October PAGE 6 WWW.PLEASANTONWEEKLY.COM The race is over! Find out who our readers named tops in town PAGE 10 THE 2011 VOLVO C70 July 30 house rockers rock & soul AUG 6 TOP SECRET BAND MOTOWN R&B Sponsored by DATA RESCUE CENTER 5 YEAR WARRANTY + 5 YEAR WEAR & TEAR 5 YEAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE + 5 YEAR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE For further details, please contact our sales department at 925.939.3333 or visit our website at www.lawrencevolvo.com Sponsored by cupid's tooth Get All of This Plus More Great Offers from Volvo! 925.939.3333 2791 North Main St., Walnut Creek, CA www.lawrencevolvo.com Elegant and Relaxing Personalized Professional Nail Care Livermore location BOLLINGER NAIL SALON LOCATIONS Livermore (next to the Bankhead Theater) 2375 Railroad Ave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (925) 455-6800 Pleasanton (across from Tully's Coffee) 310 Main Street Suite D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (925) 484-4300 Host a Party--For birthdays, bridal showers or friends who want to have a unique and fun get together, arrange a private party at Bollinger Nail Salon. www.Bollingernailsalon.com Page 2 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly AROUND PLEASANTON BY JEB BING generation computer devices from China. He also ran a national distributorship called Giftronics, which gave him broad marketing skills. But he still kept eyeing that Los Gatos any of us no doubt remeat market as the ideal small entremember the family-owned preneurship where he could bring all butcher shops in the com- of his experience together. Now, with munities where we grew up, often Hoff handling the butcher needs, he just down the street from an open and his partner Tony Nora take care air fruit and vegetable store and a of the business needs with Bob Maas, bakery. Nothing was frozen, which formerly the owner of the 12-store made frequent trips necessary to RyNck tire chain, taking over as genkeep our refrigerators stocked with eral manager. our favorite foods. That's what With customer traffic already quaMatt Shockley remembers from his druple Shockley's expectations for days growing up in Los Gatos -- July, he is eyeing a second store and the small butcher shop that always even the long-empty lot across Main seemed busy with customers even Street where its owners are still lookwith supermarkets opening up all ing for a tenant for a building the around. city has already approved. Shockley Now Shockley has his own. His also has started home delivery serMain Street Meat & Fish Market vice after some of his elderly and opened July 1 in what was once a partially-disabled customers asked if real estate office and before that a they could call in their orders. bank building at 700 Main St., at the Shockley spends much of his corner of Spring Street in the heart time in the field, working with of downtown Pleasanton. It's sort of premium purveyors and checking a fish and meat specialty shop with a their farm suppliers to verify the long glass display case where butcher quality he wants. He's especially Scott Hoff serves customers an array concerned about chicken farms, of all natural cuts of beef, lamb, veal which have been known to have and chicken. Shockley only buys food safety problems. Lamb also is from dishigh on his tributors and check list. meat purHe uses only veyors who Califor niaserve the top grown lamb, restaurants citing inin the Bay creased conArea, giving cerns over him a selecAustralian tion of meats lamb which, that is a few though less grades above JEB BING e x p e n s i v e , what you're Main Street Meat & Fish Market owner Matt no longer likely to find Shockley (right) joins his partner Tony Nora meets the in the self- (left) and butcher Scott Hoff in front of store's taste test serve coun- meat counter. and has ters at local some health supermarkets. Of course, his prices concerns. He also buys only whole are higher, too. "All Natural," he fish, cutting them up in his Pleasexplains, comes from farms where anton store rather than buying preanimals graze freely on ample acre- cut filets from suppliers as most age where they're not in close contact grocery stores do. Cutting whole with others so don't require the an- fish is risky, he admits, because tibiotic shots and other medications much of the fish can't be used needed when cattle are shoved into but you still pay the full price by the large stockades that you see off weight. His supplier is based in San major highways. Those cattle pens, Francisco but also ships Columbia such as the ones seen along I-5, are River salmon to the Pleasanton what Shockley calls "finishing" lots store now that it's in season. Fish where cattle meet faster-growing and not sold during the day is tossed weight-gain methods to make them and Shockley calls his supplier ready for butchering quicker. each night for a fresh delivery of Shockley learned the importance fish the next morning. of quality control when he took a Since not all of his customers are job in the electronics business after "eco-friendly," as he puts it, Shockhigh school, becoming one of the ley also offers certified Angus beef youngest managers in the field when that's about 20 percent less expenhe turned 20. Now 42, he said qual- sive, though not all natural. Both ity and precision were essential in provide tasty chops and steaks in a his early businesses, including later small downtown butcher shop that when he opened a supply business in has added a new food boutique in Los Gatos where he imported early- Pleasanton. Workbench TrueValue Hardware 1807 Santa Rita Rd Phone (925) 846-0660 www.truevalue.com TOM LEW Lamb chops on Main Street DICK FRED EUGENE BILL M MIKE JIM TOM CHUCK DAVE PROPANE TANK EXCHANGE (Some Restrictions Apply) $19 .99 SHARPEN & BALANCE Rotary Lawn $5 . 00 Mower Blade We Are Committed To: Exceptional Customer Service 925.462.1207 Showroom and Factory located at 4225 Stanley Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566 www.window-ology.com Contractor's License #904282 2010 About the Cover Lions Wayside Park is the Best Place to Picnic during Concerts in the Park as demonstrated last week by (l-r) Karen Dixon, Grace Wierbinski and Kim Balcioni who enjoy dinner -- and some wine -- while waiting for the music to begin. The concerts run through Sept. 3. Photo by Glenn Wohltmann. Vol. XI, Number 29 Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 3 Amador Valley Optometric Complete eyecare for Men, Women, Teens, & Children 1st Anniversary in our new location! Serving Your Entire Family Streetwise Jessica Kaut ASKED DOWNTOWN Has the Gulf oil crisis dampened your taste for seafood? Prescription Sunglasses Convenient Weekday & Evening Hours Drawing for prizes for the month of July. 925-462-1464 1024 Serpentine Lane #114 www.tadrosdental.com Not really, actually. I don't give it any thought. I don't like mussels or anything that I've heard has significantly been affected, but it hasn't changed my eating habits of fish I normally consume. The Perfect Blend THE INDEPENDENCE YOU WANT, THE ASSISTANCE YOU NEED. Most Vision Plans Accepted Medicare Assignment Accepted Sandy Avila Dental office associate It hasn't bothered me too much, but I don't think a lot of my seafood comes from the Gulf; most of it comes from the Pacific. I do think it could be a problem later. Keep Your Eyecare Local! Serving Pleasanton for more than 25 years Dr. Barry C. Winston Faculty, UC Berkeley School of Optometry Certified in the Treatment of Ocular Disease Are you caring for an aging parent? Would you like to really understand terms like Medi-Cal, VA Benefits and Asset Protection? Do you need guidance with the confusion and responsibility? Girish Vhatia Project manager It hasn't changed my consumption of seafood at all, probably because I'm so far from the affected waters. If you've answered "yes" to at least one of these questions, join us for our Elder Law Workshop on Friday, August 13, 2010 from 2 � 3:30 pm Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Space is limited! Call today to reserve your seat. The Parkview presents this workshop as a public service to our residents and the community, but does not endorse any speaker or the topics discussed. We strongly urge consulting with your attorney and accountant prior to making any decision. Black Avenue Professional Offices 4450-C Black Avenue, Pleasanton off Santa Rita Road behind Lynne Wood Methodist Church 925.462.2600 925-461-3042 Donald Hammonds License #015601283 100 VALLEY AVE (AT SUNOL BLVD), PLEASANTON WWW.ESKATON.ORG MANAGED BY ESKATON Analyst No, but I know eventually it will. I am conscious of it, and I'm waiting for the time that we'll see the effects. Meghan Ott Cupid's Tooth associate I don't eat seafood to begin with, so it hasn't really changed my opinion. --Compiled by Kerry Nally Have a Streetwise question? E-mail email@example.com The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd., 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. Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100 for two years. Go to www.PleasantonWeekly.com to sign up and for more information. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. � 2010 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Page 4 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly Newsfront DIGEST Grants go to cancer patients The Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Foundation has distributed its 24th grant on its recent first anniversary. The grants, of $1,000 each, provide complementary cancer therapies including acupuncture, acupressure, therapeutic massage, guided/visual imagery and/or deep breathing meditation. The foundation is now accepting 2010 grant applications. The applicant must be diagnosed with cancer; be under the care of a physician; be receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment; reside in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon or Danville; and not have medical insurance that covers the complementary services. Apply at www.healingtherapiesfoundation.org or call (866) 862-7270. The Foundation is supported by donations to the Sandra J. Wing Healing Therapies Charitable Fund, a component fund of the Tri-Valley Community Foundation. Sycamore Fund not a source for loans, former superintendent says Schools special fund has dropped nearly $2.4 million since 2001 The Pleasanton school district's Sycamore Fund was never intended to be the source for revolving loans that it has become, according to the superintendent in charge of the district at the time. Bill James, who headed the district from 1985-98, said the fund came from sale of the property on Sycamore Road near the intersection of Amber Road. It had been purchased with the idea that Pleasanton would continue to grow and a new high school would be needed. "The property was taken by eminent domain," said Julie Testa, who has lobbied for a new high school. She said she's been in touch with the landowner, who's upset that the district profited by selling the 42.5acre site, claiming that the money was to be his retirement fund. James said demographic studies that began in the mid-'80s showed the expected growth never happened. "It became evident that a high school wasn't going to be needed," James said, adding the property was sold in either 1986 or 1987. BY GLENN WOHLTMANN Shots for students The Pleasanton school district is asking parents to be sure their pre-teen students have the vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the immunizations are not required for school entry, they will add protection to a child's health, district spokeswoman Myla Y. Grasso said in a statement. CDC recommends: Meningococcal vaccine: For ages 11-12, protection against meningitis. Tdap vaccine, a booster for tetanus and diphtheria that offers protection against pertussis or "whooping cough," which is on the rise. Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine: For girls 11-12, for protection against the most common types of cervical cancer. Learn more online at the Alameda County Public Health Department's website, www. acphd.org, or call the Alameda County Immunization Assistance Project at (510) 267-3230. School records on the fund only go back to 2001. "We set up the fund to make sure that all our technology needs would be met forever, so that students would always be kept up to date," James said. That idea was the brainchild of Juanita Haugen, he added. Haugen was first elected to the old Amador Valley Joint Union High School District board in 1979. Following the school district unification in 1988, she continued her service with the new board, and was the longest serving board member at the time of her death. To ensure the money wouldn't be treated as a slush fund, James said a super majority was established from the beginning, requiring votes from four of the five school board members. This was done to protect the money -- at that time called the "special fund" -- from being raided by future boards. "We wanted to be sure they took it seriously," James said. He said if it had been available for other uses, the fund would have been drained a long time before now and not saved for its purpose. "If the school board at that time had intended it for other uses, it would have been put into the general fund," he said. Pleasanton school documents show the fund at more than $7.2 million in 2001, which brought the district nearly $421,000 in interest that year. The fund peaked at almost $7.5 million in 2002, and has been steadily declining since. The Sycamore Fund was used exclusively for technology until 2005, and for several years it spent more on technology than it received in interest. In 2005, however, a precedent was set when the district borrowed nearly $980,000 to go toward the state teacher's retirement system (STRS); that same year, a partial repayment of about $144,000 toward the STRS loan was made from the school's general fund. Longtime Trustee Pat Kernan, who was on the board then, recalled that Haugen was ultimately convinced to dip into the fund. "Based on what we were finding at that time, we weren't happy to do it, but we had to," Kernan said. With interest earnings and repay- ments of the STRS loan, the fund grew from about $6.15 million in 2005 to nearly $6.4 million in 2007. In 2008, though, the board borrowed $230,000 for the Hearst Elementary School roof, and loaned itself $472,123 to cover shortfalls in its capital facilities fund, its food services fund and instructional materials. That left the fund at a little more than $5.9 million. Similarly, in 2009, despite transfers in to repay loans from the previous year, the board borrowed again: more than $1.1 million for its capital facilities fund; about $103,000 for food services; and more than $435,000 for instructional materials. Kernan said that last item, for textbooks, prompted "long and hard discussions about tapping into that reserve." In 2010, the board borrowed $100,000 for solar panels -- a project already under way at Foothill High School; nearly $308,000 for the capital facilities fund; and about $422,000 toward a mold remediation project at Hearst. See SYCAMORE on Page 7 First Wednesday street party next week Aug. 4 theme is `Dog Days of summer' Calling all dog lovers. Next week's First Wednesday in downtown Pleasanton is themed "Dog Days of Summer" and will kick off at 6 p.m. Aug. 4 with a Pooch Parade up Main Street beginning at Abbie. As the summer progresses, Pleasanton Downtown Association continues to improve its popular street party. "The fourth First Wednesday has been tweaked a bit," said Alisha Perdue, PDA events coordinator. One new feature will be the family area at the north end of Main Street, in front of the Pleasanton Hotel, Main Street Brewery, Emilio's, Oasis and the Rose Hotel. Main Street will be closed to Del Valle Parkway. "We will not extend the booth space but are removing the family area out of the beer and wine area to the north end," said Perdue. She hopes to provide live entertainment in the family area as well as other activities. Another change is that the Beer and Wine Garden in the Round Table Pizza parking lot will no longer have seating. "Plus no dogs will be allowed," Perdue said. Pleasanton police suggested the BY DOLORES FOX CIARDELLI Pleasanton hosting swimmers Pleasanton's Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center will be the host site for the annual Tri-Valley Swim League Championships tomorrow. The meet is expected to draw about 900 swimmers and spectators. City staff has developed a traffic flow system for the Aquatic Center to facilitate competitor dropoff, and participants have been notified of parking locations that would reduce the impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods. GLENN WOHLTMANN Seeking Stand Down help Volunteers Rich Ghera, American Legion 237 adjutant, and Dan Soria, Past Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars 6298, show one of the ditty bags colored by school kids over the last few months as gifts for homeless and needy veterans at next week's East Bay Stand Down. The Stand Down will provide new clothing, boots and other basic needs including health and dental care for the vets from Aug. 5-8 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Organizers are still accepting donations and volunteers for the event, which is expected to bring in 350 to 500 veterans. Donations can be as little as $1; people or companies can also purchase, plan, prepare, serve and share a meal with the participating veterans and volunteers or sponsor a tent. Organizers also are looking for legal advisors to help out. For more information, visit www.eastbaystanddown.org. "no animals policy" in the Beer and Wine Garden as it became more crowded each month, she explained, although dogs are still welcome at the rest of the event. "We like downtown to be dog friendly," Perdue said, "but we were getting to the point where it was becoming dangerous for the animals." Also some people became afraid if a dog barked, she noted. "We are trying to prevent anything from happening." The Pooch Paraders will gather at 5 p.m. at Lions Wayside Park on First Street, and goodie bags will be given to the first 150 entries. The cost is $10 entry per category to benefit Tri Valley Guide Dog Puppy Raisers. Judging will be done at the park in seven categories: Most Creative Costume; Cute Enough As Is (naked pooch under 30 pounds); Best Team Outfit (human and pooch); Cute Enough As Is (naked pooch over 30 pounds); Puppy Fun (pooches under 2); Senior Pooch (10 years and older); and Best Trick (all ages). Entry forms are at trivalleyguidedogs.com. The featured band in the Beer and Wine Garden will be Public Eye playing rock `n' roll hits from the '60s through today. July 30, 2010 Page 5 Pleasanton Weekly NEWS Mayors on U.S. Water Council to meet here in October City to host national conference that Hosterman co-chairs Mayors from around the country will converge on Pleasanton in mid-October for a meeting of the Mayors Water Council to discuss national and state water issues and the funds that will be required to meet future needs. The semi-annual meeting is being hosted by Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, who co-chairs the council with Mayor Brian Stratton of Schenectady, N.Y. Hosterman said the council will meet Thursday, Oct. 15, to considBY JEB BING er federal water issues, and then reconvene on Friday, Oct. 16, to look at California's water issues and the state's Water Bond Proposition 18 that is on the Nov. 2 General Election ballot. The measure, known by its supporters as the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010, if approved, would allow the state government to borrow $11.1 billion to overhaul the state's water system. Although part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors organization, the Mayors Water Council functions as an independent committee with its own budget and a Washington, D.C., staff. A recent study it commissioned indicates that local government spending on water and sewer infrastructure to comply with water laws over the next 20 years could be one-and-a-half to three-times what it spent over the last 53 years. "What this report said is that in the last 53 years, from 19562008, we have spent $1.8 trillion in water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure," Hosterman said. "But over the next 20 years, starting with 2008 and out to 2028, we will be required to spend somewhere between $2.5 and $4.8 trillion." Besides focusing on the national funding needs of U.S. cities, Hosterman said her group also will look at issues facing the California Delta and sewer capacity that's occasionally used up during heavy rains. Regulatory issues, including federal laws that determine what constitutes protected and navigable waters, also will be examined. Some waters, including a seasonal pond on the Dublin side of I-580 that was found to have harbored small marine critters during the month it actually contained water, were determined by federal regulators to be protected waters and off limits to developers. "Within a month, the weather warmed up and the water disappeared along with whatever lived in it for a short time," Hosterman said of the Dublin pond. "These are rules cities face all the time." The Water Council's keynote speaker at a Thursday evening session will be Robert F Kennedy Jr., . son of the late senator who has gained a reputation as a resolute defender of the environment. He serves as chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and as president of Waterkeeper Alliance. Leading off the conference will be Joshua Bloom, a San Francisco attorney who has been practicing environmental and transactional law since 1990. He is well known for his expertise with regard to the Clean Water Act, endangered species and overall environmental regulatory matters. Hosterman said she has also invited Andrea A. Matarazzo to speak at a session of the water council dealing with water supply. An attorney with the Sacramento law firm of Diepenbrock Harrison, she handles the firm's Land Use and Environmental Law Department. Matarazzo's practice focuses on land use issues and project permitting, with particular emphasis on issues arising under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Another invited speaker is Jason Peltier, chief deputy general manager of the Westlands Water District in Fresno. He is scheduled to speak on the impact of litigation and regulatory constraints affecting water supplies. He will also outline possible actions to be taken in the event the state bond fails to pass in the upcoming election. Hosterman said sewer capacity and structural concerns are especially troubling in the older Midwestern and Eastern cities. Cities such as Philadelphia and Boston have sewer pipes that are more than 100 years old, yet lack the funds to replace them. She described a Catch-22 situation involving many cities and the Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Department of Justice. "The EPA has been promulgating new regulations that say cities must ensure that their sewer lines don't have problems, which in effect is telling these cities that they have to rip up the streets and replace these old pipes," Hosterman said. "So cities put the projects off for lack of funds. Then the Justice Department comes along and sues the cities for failing to comply with the EPA's orders." "These are the concerns we have as mayors and what we hope to address in the fall water council meeting," she added. TAKE US ALONG Capital reading: Erin and Grant Hickok read their Weekly in the shadow of the Lincoln Monument while visiting Washington, D.C., last year during spring break. Page 6 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly NEWS Amador High musician joins jazz summer tour Monterey Jazz Festival sponsors performances in four cities Traveling to four cities in 10 days and playing with a prestigious jazz band comprised of talented high school performers sounds like an entertaining way to start the summer. Amador Valley High School junior Chris Palowitch, 16, did just that. The 2010 Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (NGJO) sponsored by the Monterey Jazz Festival features 21 skilled high school jazz musicians from around the country. Palowitch first heard about the NGJO when his brother John toured with the group in 2006. "This is my second time trying out," he said. "I tried out last year but I wasn't expecting to make it, although I would have been excited if I had. I just wanted to get my name out there." In order to prepare for the tryout, Palowitch practiced additional hours, took a few extra lessons, and received feedback from his music teachers. "I am excited to hang out with people who share the same interests with me and travel around to the different places to play music." Palowitch said. BY BRITTANY HERSH Palowitch played bass trombone and trombone on the 10-day tour that started June 3 and ended July 7, with stops in Cleveland, Toronto, Montreal and New York City. Although all the members are either in high school or just graduated, Palowitch is one of the younger players and hopes to learn from the older members of the group. Pleasanton folks can enjoy his music when his John Palowitch Trio gives a free performance at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Pleasanton Public Library. The trio features Palowitch on saxophone, Jonathan Stein on bass, and Jeff Marrs on drums. It is in the traditional jazz horn trio setting with influences from modern jazz, classical music, pop-rock and beyond. At Amador, Palowitch plays lead trombone in the jazz-A band, combo and full orchestra, and tenor trombone in the wind ensemble. He studied saxophone with Daniel Zinn and also plays piano, flute, and clarinet. In addition, he has won multiple awards from state jazz competitions and participated in state bands such as the California Band Directors Association Symphonic Bands and Wind Symphonies, the North- COURTESY PALOWITCH FAMILY John Palowitch plays with Jazz Next Generation in New York City earlier this month. ern California Band Association's All-Northern Honor Band and the 2010 CBDA/California Alliance for Jazz All-State Jazz Band. In the future Palowitch would like to major in trombone performance or music production but is open to new ideas. "One opportunity about participating in NGJO is that I can see what other young musicians are planning on doing after college," Palowitch said. The band only met once to practice as a full ensemble before heading off on tour, so Palowitch had to prepare ahead of time. "This set-up is giving me practice playing in bands where we may not have time to rehearse before hand," Palowitch said. NGJO will also perform at the 53rd annual Monterey Jazz Festival on Sept. 19. SYCAMORE Continued from Page 5 Despite interest and repayments of loans the district made to itself, the balance dropped to just over $4.8 million, although outstanding loans from the district should, in theory, ultimately bring the Sycamore Fund back to well over $7.1 million. James, however, is unsure the district will ever be able to repay it. He said schools across California went though a similar budget crisis in 1990 and Pleasanton didn't tap the fund. "We never even dreamed of touching that money. It was very specific when we set it up," he said, adding that the goal was for every child in Pleasanton schools to have a computer. "It's tragic that it's not being maintained for the purpose it was set out for," James said. Chuck Eddinger was on the board at that time, and although the fund wasn't touched, he said the district faced similar hard choices. "You really have to look at every single item in the budget and decide what's important. When you start with that premise, that you have to make cuts, you have to decide what has the least negative impact on the student," Eddinger said. The Sycamore Fund was a contentious item at a recent school board meeting, when the trustees split 3 to 2 over spending money for textbooks for some advanced classes, and about loaning the CORE (Community OutReach for Education) campaign enough to bump tech support workers for elementary and middle schools to half time. Because the vote wasn't a super majority, as required, those motions failed when board members Jamie Hintzke and Valerie Arkin opposed them. Kernan called that a first. "In the past, I can't ever recall it not being a unanimous vote," he said. "When the budget started going further and further south, we just felt we had to. It's a question of priorities." Learn to DANCE and have FUN doing it. Learn to dance from Arthur Murray's professional dance teachers with personal one-on-one lessons, group classes, and practice parties. Call today! SMOG INSPECTION Spe cial FIRST LESSON FREE! Gift ertificates C Available Couples & Singles www.ArthurMurrayLive.com Invited Hayward Livermore Redwood City 510-537-8706 925-456-5556 650-216-7501 $45 with + $8.25 CERT. coupon ( ) Harry's Auto Repair Test Only � Gold Shield Station 925-462-3237 We can smog any vehicle! Don't just hand your teen the car keys. Have them sign for it. Ask me how. Over 4,000 teen drivers die in car crashes every year. Just talking to them can change that. Call or drop by for the Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract. It will help you and your teen start the conversation about safe driving. No Appointments Necessary! Mon-Sat 8-4pm BOB MCGLINCHY, CLU Insurance Agent 925.846.0880 1987 Santa Rita Road Ste E, Pleasanton firstname.lastname@example.com CA Lic: 0627529 Discounts are subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Allstate Indemnity Company, Northbrook, IL. � 2009 Allstate Insurance Company 183-A Wyoming St., Pleasanton www.harrysautorepair.com Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 7 Opinion LETTERS Seniors say: Stop postponing project Dear Editor, We were pleased to see Pleasanton named as one of America's 100 Best Small Cities in the August 2010 Money magazine. We have enjoyed living here and working here for the last 26 years and feel we have made a contribution to the city through our many years of volunteer service to the Firehouse campaign, the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, the Amador Valley Assistance League, numerous civic committees, etc. Consequently we were thrilled to learn we could stay here indefinitely in the Stoneridge Creek Continuing Life Community. Imagine our dismay when we have watched the City Council needlessly postpone and dither for more than five years over approval of this worthwhile project. It will bring jobs and extra income to the city with little expense. Most importantly it will provide security and stability to our deserving seniors who know they can stay in their beloved city which has benefited so much from their many years of service. Please, please, City Council, approve this now without further delay. We have earned your prompt support! Rudy and Marge Johnson EDITORIAL Can't afford arts center opening Dear Editor, I was most excited to receive my invitation to the firehouse arts center opening night gala until I saw the ticket price. It seems to me that during the raising of donations phase, the firehouse arts center was sold as a "for the people, by the people, of the people" theater but ticket prices for the opening night gala demonstrate quite a different story. At $125 per person, the word "community" doesn't fit as well as say, "elite." That said, I've been watching the old firehouse transforming into this beautiful theater on nearly a daily basis and it has inspired the outline of my first children's musical (in progress). I'd love to attend -- but can't on my starving artist budget. So, if you know anyone who would like to sponsor or treat me, call my contact info at WriteousMom.com. Thank you! Sandra Kay THE OPINION OF THE WEEKLY The $2.5-million settlement Pleasanton Weekly PRESIDENT Gina Channell-Allen, Ext. 119 PUBLISHER Jeb Bing, Ext. 118 EDITORIAL Editor Jeb Bing, Ext. 118 Managing Editor Dolores Fox Ciardelli, Ext. 111 Online/Community Editor Emily West, Ext. 229 Reporter Glenn Wohltmann, Ext. 121 Intern Brittany Hersh, Ext. 234 Contributors Don Colman Deborah Grossman Jerri Pantages Long Dennis Miller Kerry Nally Joe Ramirez ART & PRODUCTION Lead Designer Katrina Cannon, Ext. 130 Designers Lili Cao, Ext. 120 Kristin Herman, Ext. 114 ADVERTISING Advertising Sales Manager Mary Hantos, Ext. 123 Account Executives Paul Crawford, Ext. 113 Karen Klein, Ext. 122 Barbara Lindsey, Ext. 226 Real Estate Sales Andrea Heggelund, Ext. 110 Ad Services Cammie Clark, Ext. 116 BUSINESS Business Associate Lisa Oefelein, Ext. 126 Circulation Director Bob Lampkin, Ext. 141 Front Office Coordinator Kathy Martin, Ext. 124 HOW TO REACH THE WEEKLY Phone: (925) 600-0840 Fax: (925) 600-9559 Editorial e-mail: email@example.com firstname.lastname@example.com Display Sales e-mail: email@example.com Classifieds Sales e-mail: email@example.com Circulation e-mail: circulation@ PleasantonWeekly.com T Kitchen Special $13,999 Includes: Marvette construction (925) 784-1800 Pleasanton Weekly For all your remodeling needs he City Council has approved paying legal fees totaling $2.5 million as part of a settlement agreement with two affordable housing coalitions that successfully sued Pleasanton to remove the city's long-standing, 29,000-unit housing cap. A total of $1.9 million will go to Urban Habitat and Public Advocates to partly reimburse those agencies for legal costs they claim were more than $4 million. The rest has already been spent in legal fees incurred by Attorney Tom Brown, an outside legal counsel who represented the city of Pleasanton in lawsuits dating back to 2006. As troubling as these payments are in a recessionary environment when the growth trend for municipal revenue is falling, it could have been worse. By accepting the ruling of Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch, who declared the housing cap illegal under state law, the council avoided legal costs that could have been far greater had the city appealed Roesch's ruling. Defending the housing cap ordinance to the state Court of Appeal or beyond would have been foolhardy, especially when all of the professional legal advice given to the city said an appeal would be a losing effort. The housing cap, recommended by former mayors Ben Tarver and Tom Pico and approved by more than 80 percent of the voters who cast ballots in a 1996 referendum, was the first and only such law adopted by any city in California and probably would have been declared illegal then if they and the then-City Attorney Michael Roush had tested its validity. Even so, the cap served a purpose by limiting the rapid residential growth of the mid-1990s and allowing the school district and utility agencies to plan an orderly expansion of schools and sewer, water and roadways deemed necessary when the city reached build-out at 29,000 homes. That hasn't happened yet, but with 27,000 homes and apartments already built, the cap put the city at odds with newer state housing requirements that want Pleasanton to build more than 2,000 units in the near future to accommodate its growing workforce and affordable housing needs. Nor will the elimination of the cap lead to runaway growth as looked possible in 1996. Growth management strategies already in place will limit new housing permits to no more than 350 a year, a number Pleasanton hasn't seen in recent years, and there's no reason that allowance can't be reduced if "boom times" come again. Other cities have those kinds of growth management rules in place and they have not been challenged by the state. Instead of battling out Judge Roesch's decision in court, the City Council, in its wisdom, appointed a negotiating team consisting of Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and Councilwoman Cindy McGovern, along with City Manager Nelson Fialho and new City Attorney Jonathan Lowell, to meet with the affordable housing coalitions to develop a constructive settlement. That agreement, due to be officially approved at the Aug. 17 council meeting, gives the city continued control over its residential building and expansion policies while also meeting state guidelines. The conciliatory approach not only removes all legal threats against the city over its housing policies, it has also brought the affordable housing coalition and even State Attorney General Jerry Brown to a bargaining table that works to the benefit of all parties and serves as a model for cooperative efforts statewide. As Brown said after the agreement was reached: "This agreement clears the way for new jobs, less congested freeways and cleaner air (in Pleasanton). It requires homes to be built closer to where people work to reduce long commutes and create a more neighborly urban environment." Last Thursday, the council met with the 22 members of its Hacienda Task Force who have been reviewing development plans for three highdensity housing developments in the business park that will include 870 rental units with 130 of them reserved for very low income tenants in subsidized units that will be dispersed throughout the complex under the city's inclusionary housing ordinance. Where at first Roesch's ruling and the affordable housing coalitions' demands were ordering that development to proceed without city input, the comprehensive agreement now in place gives the task force time to complete its work with the likelihood that all who eventually live in this new development will benefit with properly planned parks, retail outlets and trails leading to the BART station nearby. It shows that sometimes court decisions, even when you lose, can have a lasting benefit. The Pleasanton Weekly is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566; (925) 600-0840. Mailed at Periodicals Postage Rate, USPS 020407. The Pleasanton Weekly is mailed upon request to homes and apartments in Pleasanton. Community support of the Pleasanton Weekly is welcomed and encouraged through memberships at levels of $5, $8 or $10 per month through automatic credit card charges. Print subscriptions for businesses or residents of other communities are $60 per year or $100 for two years. Go to www.PleasantonWeekly.com to sign up and for more information. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Pleasanton Weekly, 5506 Sunol Blvd., Suite 100, Pleasanton, CA 94566. � 2010 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. www.marvetteconstruction.com License #886695 Visit Town Square at PleasantonWeekly.com to comment on the editorial. Page 8 July 30, 2010 COMMUNIT Y PULSE TRANSITIONS POLICE BULLETIN Cars burglarized at local motel The Residence Inn on Dublin Canyon Road was targeted by automotive burglars July 23, according to police reports. Three cars were hit overnight, with a total of nearly $2,000 in goods taken. The single biggest item was a pro- jector valued at $1,500, which was taken between 1 p.m. July 23 and noon July 24, police said. Also taken was a power adapter and game charger, along with $5 cash. A GPS valued at $175, miscellaneous clothing, cosmetics and jewelry worth an estimated $200, an iPod adapter worth $50, and a security gate opener valued at $50 were taken from another car between 9 p.m. July 23 and 11 a.m. the following day. Clothing and a container, for a total value of $50, were taken from a third car between 8:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. July 24. Why Pay More? Hay Feed Tack Grooming HAY Starting as low as $8.95/bale (31+) SHAVINGS FEED EQUINE SENIOR POLICE REPORT The Pleasanton Police Department made the following information available. Under the law, those charged with offenses are considered innocent until convicted. Starting as low as Stoneridge Mall Road; petty theft, shoplifting 7:55 p.m. in the 1300 block of Stoneridge Mall Road; theft Burglary 11:37 a.m. in the 6400 block of Alvord Way Hit-and-run 3:28 a.m. in the 300 block of Ewing Drive Vandalism 9:27 a.m. in the 5600 block of Owens Drive Drug/alcohol charges 1:08 a.m. in the 5800 block of Valley Avenue; DUI 2:03 a.m. in the 5100 block of Hopyard Road; DUI 4:18 a.m. at the intersection of Paseo Santa Cruz and Paseo Catalina; public drunkenness 9:54 p.m. in the 500 block of Case Avenue; public drunkenness 11:37 p.m. in the 4500 block of Rosewood Drive; public drunkenness $5.25/bale (31+) $16.95 (50# bag) WE DELIVER to the Bay Area, including: Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore, Woodside, Portola Valley, La Honda Menlo Park & Salinas July 21 Theft 10:02 a.m. in the 4300 block Krause Stret; grand larceny 10:16 a.m. in the 4100 block of Francisco Street; grand larceny 11:45 a.m. in the 4400 block of Valley Avenue; identity theft 9:23 a.m. in the 4500 block of Rosewood Drive; petty theft, shoplifting, burglary Vandalism 9:51 a.m. in the 3100 block of Persimmon Circle Drug/alcohol charges 12:28 a.m. in the 4300 block of Valley Avenue; public drunkenness 1:12 a.m. at the intersection of Dublin Canyon Road and Canyon Creek Circle; marijuana possession 8:47 a.m. at the intersection of Santa Rita Road and Valley Avenue; driving with marijuana 11:42 p.m. in the 5100 block of Hopyard Road; public drunkenness July 19 Theft 8:16 a.m. in the 4900 block of Pleasanton Avenue; auto theft 12:18 p.m. in the 4500 block of Pleasanton Avenue; possession of stolen property, burglary 8:33 p.m. in the 600 block of Johnson Drive; embezzlement, possession of a controlled substance Burglary 6:36 a.m. in the 7700 block of Chestnut Way Drug/alcohol charges 7:21 p.m. at the intersection of Peters Avenue and St. Mary Street; under the influence of a controlled substance (408) 289-8626 GANADOFEED.com July 20 Theft 8:13 a.m. in the 1500 block of Calle Enrique; grand theft 9:23 a.m. in the first block of California Avenue; theft 6:04 p.m. in the 300 block of Main Street; grand theft 7:29 p.m. in the 1300 block of Stoneridge Mall Road; theft Drug/alcohol charges 12:15 a.m. in the 4200 block of Valley Avenue; DUI 1:09 a.m. in the 1800 block of Santa Rita Road; DUI, public drunkenness 3:40 a.m. at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Black Avenue; public drunkenness July 24 Theft 11:29 a.m. in the 2100 block of Raven Road; identity theft 3:39 p.m. in the 1500 block of Stoneridge Mall Road; petty theft 8:25 p.m. in the 2300 block of Stoneridge Mall Road; grand theft Drug/alcohol charges 2:52 p.m. in the 1700 block of Santa Rita Road; DUI, under the influence of a controlled substance July 26 Theft 2:07 p.m. in the 4500 block of Gatetree Circle; petty theft 6:27 p.m. in the 3900 block of Stoneridge Drive; auto theft Burglary 10:55 a.m. in the 4100 block of Holland Drive Vandalism 6:09 a.m. at the intersection of W. Las Positas Boulevard and Santa Rita Road 7:35 a.m. in the 7300 block of Johnson Drive 9:30 a.m. in the 1000 block of Kottinger Drive City Council WEEKLY MEETING NOTICES Civic Arts Commission July 25 Theft 2:55 p.m. in the 1300 block of The following commission and committee meetings have been cancelled: OBITUARIES Peg A. Lofland Pleasanton resident Peg A. Lofland died July 25 at the age of 85 with her three children visiting her on her final day. She was born Feb. 27, 1925, in Brooklyn N.Y. As a young adult she traveled to Hawaii where she was a "Rosie the Riveter" working on airplanes. She met her husband Johnson (Bud) James Lofland V, a survivor of the Pearl Harbor Attack, and they were married in Hawaii in 1945; she was widowed in 1996. Mrs. Lofland loved the ocean, and the family spent many days at Hermosa and Oxnard Beaches in Southern California. She was very health conscious, a pioneer in organic foods, and started her own Food Co-op in the 1960s. A respected former dancer and choreographer, she taught Belly Dance in the community and on television. She also believed in Spiritual Healing and self understanding, and instructed and consulted groups of people. She and Bud also enjoyed following their daughter Dana at LPGA tournaments around the country. She is survived by her three children, Dana Dormann (John) and Blaise Lofland (Amy) of Pleasanton, and Wendy Lofland (Geoff Dann) of Venture; seven grandchildren; and sister Jeanne Igneri and her family of Atlantic Beach, N.Y. Services are being held for the immediate family. Donations may be made to a favorite charity. Timothy Robert Lundell Timothy Robert Lundell died peacefully July 24 at the age of 58 after living and working with tonsil cancer for two-and-a-half years. He was born Feb. 16, 1952, in Detroit, Mich., to James and Viola Lundell, and spent his childhood and early married life in the area. In 1974 he completed his bachelor of science degree at Kettering Uni- versity (formally General Motors Institute) and in 1980 received his master of business administration from the University of Michigan. After careers in both the motor vehicle and computer technology industries, he founded two separate companies; his last, DataLab, provides chemical and mechanical analysis. At the age of 19, he met his wife, Jeanie, to whom he was married for 38 years on July 28. In 1985 he moved to Pleasanton with his two children, Gregory and Melinda, where he remained the rest of his years. Through the course of his life he enjoyed skiing, fly fishing, wood working and bow hunting, always involving anyone who showed even a slight interest. Mr. Lundell is survived by his mother, Viola; siblings Paul, Mark and Esther; wife Jean; children Gregory (Anjanette) and Melinda; and two grandchildren. Family and friends are welcome to celebrate his life at 2 p.m., Aug. 1, at Valley Community Church; 4455 Del Valle Parkway, Pleasanton. Donations may be made to Mission Aviation Fellowship (www.maf.org). GENERAL INFORMATION Employment Opportunity City of Pleasanton Parks and Community Services Preschool Aide (Part-time/temporary - limited to 1000 hours per fiscal year) Starting Wage: $9.77 (hourly) Position: Preschool teacher for 3-year-old and 4-year-old program Hours: Between 8:30 a.m. � 2:45 p.m. (Approx 6 to 12 hours per week depending on placement. First Aid & CPR � upon final hiring process. TB Test � upon final hiring process. Fingerprint Clearance upon final hiring process Submit applications to: Parks and Community Services, Attn: Gingerbread Preschool, P.O. Box 520, Pleasanton, CA 94566 Closing Date: Wednesday August 4, 2010 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ALL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PUBLIC COMMENT IS WELCOME The above represents a sampling of upcoming meeting items. For complete information, please visit www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/community/calendar Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 9 READERS CHOICE 2010 READERS CHOICE GLENN WOHLTMANN Ken Rocha and his daughters 1-year-old Karlie, center and 3-year-old Kaylee dine and drink while waiting for the Friday Concert in the Park to start. The event was chosen by Pleasanton Weekly readers as Best Place for a Picnic and Best Place for Live Music. The race is over! Find out who our readers named tops in town The race is over and readers have chosen their favorite places and things in our annual Readers Choice contest. Readers voted on a wide range of choices, from the best golfing experience at Callippe, to the best soft serve ice cream downtown at Meadowlark Dairy, to the best Chinese food at PF Chang's at the Stoneridge Shopping Center, and to Trader Joe's at Santa Rita and Pimlico, which readers picked as their favorite grocery store. With 31,846 confirmed votes throughout the Tri-Valley, readers of the Pleasanton Weekly and pleasantonweekly.com cast their ballots in categories that included best place to get together, to meet new people, to dance and to have an after-work drink. Education, pets, personal care, car care, home Page 10 July 30, 2010 BY DOLORES CIARDELLI, JEB BING AND GLENN WOHLTMANN furnishings and services top the lists of what appeals to those of us who live, work and shop Pleasanton. They include from small "mom and pop" shops and eateries to larger independents and chains and company-owned stores. By far, the largest number of votes came in the people-meeting category with the Pleasanton Downtown Association's summertime Concerts in the Park leading the list. With so many saying this is where they go for outdoor fun and entertainment, we wondered what they did the rest of the year. Not to worry, one reader told us. Main Street and all of the shops and restaurants on the street and side streets are just as popular, winning in the best place to people watch category, as well as having the best yoga (Downtown Yoga), best place to have a first date (Blue Agave), and best in just a good place to get together with friends. The enthusiasm, the number of categories and Readers Choice candidates far exceeded last year as interest in the annual contest continues to grow. Despite the record-high number of votes, there were only two ties: Little Home Thai and Lux Thai restaurants, and Marylou Edwards and Brian LeBars for the title of best mortgage professional. Here are the winners of the Pleasanton Weekly's 2010 Readers Choice competition. best for the third year running. Best Auto Repair: Precision Auto Repair Whether you're holding on to your Honda or keeping your Camry, if you want your car around as long as possible, Precision Auto Repair is our Readers Choice. Tell Tyler we sent you. Best Auto Detail: California Shine Company Our Readers Choice for the third year straight. Hector will go over your car from top to bottom and make that old car look brand new. Best Car Wash: Pleasanton Hand Car Wash For that quick clean, Pleasanton Hand Car Wash will get you in and out in about a half hour. Plus, you can kick back and watch their plasma TV or multi-task and hit Trader Joe's across the street while you wait. Best Computer Repair: TriValley PC Medic Ken Cook has 20 years of experience and this marks the fourth straight year his company's been named the best. If your computer's sick, call PC medic. He'll come to your house or business. Best Golf Course: Callippe Preserve Owned by the city and named by Golfweek Magazine as one of the top municipal courses in the country, Callippe has a butterfly habitat and walking trails and is one more reason it's great to live in Pleasanton. Best Mortgage Company: Landmark Mortgage Group Mortgage companies have gotten Around town Best Auto Dealership: Lexus of Pleasanton Combining performance and luxury, Lexus has become synonymous with style, and Lexus of Pleasanton has become synonymous with the Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE some bad press lately, but there are some that still have a good reputation. If you can't tell a Fannie Mae from a Freddie Mac, Landmark and runner up RPM can help you sort them out. ing a fur coat all summer. Get your pooch groomed and not only will you see more tail wagging, but less shedding. Cinda and Michael from Shear Magic are not only our Readers Choice -- they're our readers dogs' choice. offers lessons in Jazz and tap dancing, but owner Sherri Sweetnam and her staff also teach ballet, modern dance and even hip hop in small classes. Boys too! Best Mortgage Professional: Marylou Edwards/Brian LeBars (tie) When it comes to individuals, two names stand out among our readers. Both Marylou of Diversified Mortgage Group and Brian of Green Mortgage Group offer personalized services and will meet one-on-one to discuss mortgage options. They want to be your "loan arrangers." Hi-yo, Silver! Best Pet Groomer: Shear Magic It may be hot, but imagine wear- Best Photographer: Bella Luna Studios Digital cameras are nice but can't compare to a formal portrait from a professional. This makes the third straight year that Bella Luna has won our Readers Choice award; both Christina Gray at Bella Luna and runners up Robyn and Randy at Cazihna Studios can make you look great. Best Place for Dance Lessons: Jazz N Taps As its name implies, Jazz N Taps Best Place to Get a Traffic Ticket: Anywhere in Pleasanton No one likes to see those blue lights go on behind them, but Pleasanton police say traffic stops cut other types of crime. Ease up on the gas and let the guy who just flew past you get the ticket instead. Best Place to Have a First Date: Blue Agave Offering "alta cocina" -- high cuisine -- owners Alexandro, with more than 25 years in the restaurant business, and his wife, dietician Susan Garcia, blend tra- 2010 Thank you for voting us The Best again! 2009 PLEASANTON (925) 426-9600 3015-H Hopyard Road SAN RAMON (925) 277-9600 See our menu at M ANICURED FAIRWAYS MEANDER EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH LUSH VINEYARDS. AWARD-WINNING CULINARY CREATIONS PROMISE AN EXPERIENCE NO ONE COULD EVER FORGET. HEADLINER PERFORMANCES SO CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH THE STARS. EXCHANGE OF VOWS. NEW BEGINNINGS EMBRACED WITH THE CHERISHED AND, TO SAVOR IT ALL, PREMIUM ESTATE GROWN WINES FROM A HALLMARK OF CALIFORNIA WINERIES. WENTE VINEYARDS. A DESTINATION ALL ITS OWN. Thank you for voting for us! 2010 Best Home Furnishings! 2009 Unique Gifts Pictures Mirrors Lamps Furniture Home Decor Jewelry $5 OFF any purchase of $20 or more One coupon per purchase. One per customer. Coupon for regular priced merchandise. Expires 8/15/10 Clover Creek Clover Creek Gifts & Home Accents Accents 670 Main Street Pleasanton (925) 462-0814 Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 11 READERS CHOICE ditional Mexican flavors and California style. Great tequila drinks and margaritas. Careful though -- a little tequila can go a long way. Best Veterinarian: Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital Both our Readers Choice winner Pleasanton Veterinary Hospital and close runner-up Town and Country Veterinary Hospital have been in the community for a long time. Pleasanton Veterinary is celebrating its 25th anniversary -- that's 175 dog years -- while Town and Country has been here for more than 30. Both offer everything from acupuncture to X-rays. 2010 2009 2010 Readers Choice "Best Place to Buy a Gift" thank you for voting the berry patch the Best Place to People Watch: Main Street Whether it's First Wednesday or after work on Friday or all the times in between, Main Street has tons of restaurants and lots of room to stroll. Bring that iced, double-shot, whipped-cream-covered mochachino outside and watch the world walk by. Best Real Estate Office: Keller Williams A real estate firm with a code of ethics, Keller Williams is also one of the fastest growing real estate companies in the world. Ask an agent what WI4C2TS means. Best Tire Store/Service Center: Big O Tires Sure, Big O sells lots of tires and does alignments, brakes and oil changes. But did you know that the company also supports pediatric and breast cancer research? In business since 1962, Owner Dave Cherry and son Todd work hard to earn your confidence. Best Tutoring School: Sylvan Learning Center Sylvan can help improve your child's math, reading, writing and homework skills plus help him or her test better. Ask about a personalized learning program. special offer! TAX FREE TUESDAYS Shop Tuesdays in August and we'll pay the sales tax. Personal Care Best Acupuncture: Body in Balance Does it hurt? The Body in Balance Community Acupuncture Center assures us that acupuncture needles are so fine, they simply glide into the energetic point. The center aims at simple and affordable treatments. No wonder our readers like it. (925) 846-0155 350-A Main St., Pleasanton, CA 94566 Best Dry Cleaners: VIP Cleaners This cleaners must treat its customers like VIPs because it's won for the last five years. All the work is done on the premises and it offers same-day service as well as alterations with quick turn-around available. Best Hair Salon for Men: Cosmo's Barber Shop Folks come from far and wide to Cosmo's on First Street for the $10 price tag and the fast, friendly service. Another perennial winner -- and our readers always look great. Best Hair Salon for Women: Gary Patrick Salon Enter with hope, exit feeling beautiful. This downtown establishment offers great stylists and is also dedicated to being green, taking measures to use less power and recycling all possible products. Best Manicure/Pedicure: Bollinger Nails Relax with a mani and pedi at this popular nail salon that now has eight locations, including one on Main Street. Traditional and "spa" manicures and pedicures are available. Best Massage: Healthy Necessity Massage There's Swedish, therapeutic, deep tissue, stretch and massage, perfect hot lava shell massage, hot stone, pregnancy (pre) and pregnancy (post). And these are just a few of the services offered at this Main Street establishment. Best Medical Spa: MD Spa Dr. Robert Gray is another favorite in town, offering everything from laser surgery to cosmetic surgery and everything in between. Dr. Gray is in the top 1 percent of Botox practices in the entire country, per his website. www.berrypatchPleasanton.com Thank you for your vote and support! 2010 To show my appreciation, all visits will be $20 for the week of August 9-13. Book online at pleasantoncommunityacupuncture.com (925) 417-8800 4133 Mohr Ave, St E, Pleasanton M-T: 3-7; Wed-Fri 10-3; Sat by appointment only www.PleasantonCommunityAcupuncture.com KRISTINE BUCKLEY, L.Ac FREE Estimates! DIABLO FLOORING, INC Diablo Flooring Inc. is here to bring the best possible pricing with the most beautiful and complete installation to the Bay Area. We are a small store which lets us give you the attention needed for a more professional experience. We cater to residential & commercial customers, designer, contractors, and developers. CARPET � HARDWOOD � LAMINATE � TILE � VINYL 2010 2 LOCATIONS! (925) 426-RUGS (7847) 5600-D Sunol Blvd, Pleasanton, CA 94566 (925) 988-WOOD (9663) 2009 THANK YOU FOR VOTING FOR US: Best Flooring Store Specialty Retail Best Art Gallery: Studio 7 Let Studio 7 help you select art for your home, or frame the art you al- VISIT OUR SHOWROOM OR Shop@Home WWW.DIABLOFLOORING.COM License #898787 Page 12 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly Regional American Cuisine Handcrafted Artisan Beverages Old World Hospitality Thank you Pleasanton for voting us "Best American Food" and "Best Meal Under $20" for three years in a row! "High-end" Mexican Cuisine 2010 Thank you to our loyal customers for voting us THE BEST... 5 YEARS IN A ROW! 2010 2009 Best Main Street Restaurant Best Atmosphere 2009 Best Outdoor Dining Best Place to Have a First Date Best Margarita 4889 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton (925) 469-6266 2417 First Street, Livermore (925) 373-6650 www.opentable.com www.EddiePapas.com 2010 Thank You for Voting Us The Best Mortgage Company Denise Colvin 925.600.2035 The perfect combination to provide you the best mortgage experience! Laurie Christeson risteson 925.600.2029 2029 Dana Mesarchik sarchik 2004 925.600.2004 Margie Lupo 2017 925.600.2017 Eileen Borton 925.600.2034 Julie Thall hall 2033 925.600.2033 Rick Goss 925.600.2005 2005 6800 Koll Center Pkwy. #100 � Pleasanton � 925.600.2000 � www.lmglending.com Residential Mortgage Lender, DRE #01458652 Pleasanton Weekly Scott Eaton 925.600.2002 July 30, 2010 Tom Vinson 925.600.2006 � Our Town: Pleasanton - Best 100 places to live in the US (Money Magazine) � Our Company: Landmark Mortgage Group - "Best Mortgage Company" (Pleasanton Weekly) � Our Bank: Opes Advisors - "Best Workplace" for medium-sized companies (SF Bus Times) Yvonne Herbeck 925.600.2015 Arcy Ledezma 925.600.2009 Rick Benitez 925.583.2503 Todd Allen 925.583.2502 Tony Russo 925.583.2505 Page 13 One of America's BEST GOLF COURSES right in your own backyard Based on Golfweek Magazine's G statewide statew ranking of "Public Access Courses" Public published publish March 2006 READERS CHOICE ready have. The gallery takes pride in offering the best customer service as well as fine art by well known artists, handmade crafts, jewelry and collectible glass. A must-see on any Main Street stroll. inventory of fresh flowers, tropicals, plants and more. Service is its business but it does suggest placing orders one day in advance for holidays. 2010 2009 Best Bicycle Shop: Bicycles! Pleasanton Let these experts put the exclamation point in your cycling by helping you choose the perfect bike and all the accessories, such as a helmet -- and a rack to get you and your bicycle to your starting point. Best Bookstore: Towne Center Books Judy Wheeler maintains this independent bookstore with the best reads and personal service right on Main Street. It has exciting author visits including the popular Read It and Eat, which includes having lunch with a writer. Best Consignment Store: Savvy Seconds Be stylish for less money plus be green by recycling clothes. This upscale consignment shop is fun and trendy -- good quality at a good price. And if your closet is already full, Savvy can sell your surplus clothing for you. Best Florist: Alexandria's A rose is a rose is a rose and you can say the same about the other flowers, too. This family-owned floral shop specializes in a large Best Grocery Store: Trader Joe's Its image is Joe himself on the back of a mule searching worldwide for natural, healthy foods. Nuts, cheeses and wines are great, and there's always something new. Prices are good, and readymade foods make entertaining easy. Gene's Fine Foods was a close second: Its deli offers 40 salads, made from scratch, and great sandwiches; its meat counter also gets rave reviews. Best Health Food Store: Valley Health Mill Eat healthy, be healthy. This store not only has the brands our readers want to buy, it has nutritionists onsite to answer questions and give advice on products. It carries minerals, herbs, glutenfree foods, and natural cosmetics and body care products. Best Hobby/Crafts Store: Michael's Arts & Crafts This store in Dublin with its vast inventory appealed to our craftier readers, with supplies for art, framing, scrapbooking, celebrations and floral projects plus beads, bakeware and home d�cor. Looking for a craft project? Look no further. Check out the classes to learn new skills. Thank you for voting us Best Golf Course again! --Robert, Pleasanton "One of the best --Leonard, Livermore --Kevin, Cupertino Celebrating 10 Years in Downtown Pleasanton 2010 The authentic New York-style steak house in Downtown Pleasanton. At Hap's Original, we select only USDA dry-aged certified Angus midwestern corn-fed beef aged 21-28 days. In addition, we proudly offer fresh seasonal fish specials and lobster prepared to order. Hap's Original wine list consists of more than 300 wines, each one "the best of the best!" With Hap's superb service, inviting and comfortable decor, you'll find everything you need for that special night on the town www.hapsoriginal.com (925) 600-9200 122 West Neal Street, Pleasanton Page 14 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE Best Jewelry Store: Cardinal Jewelers Not only are diamonds a girl's best friend. To bring lasting pleasure to you or your honey, consider investing in fine gemstones -- Cardinal has unique ones. You'll discover sparkle that fits any budget! Best Pet Store: Murphy's Paw Animals and those that love them voted this Main Street shop the best. It offers holistic food, allnatural treats, toys, apparel, beds, carriers, collars, leashes and more. It has a Kitty Korner, too. Two bronze Labradors welcome customers. Best Place to Buy a Gift: Berry Patch Main Street has many places to buy gifts but our readers named Berry Patch the best with Clover Creek a close second. The Berry Patch provides a place for artisans to show their work -- which means unique, handcrafted items. Best Place to Buy Athletic Equipment: Sports Chalet This chalet is huge, with everything from clothes to equipment for all sports, summer, winter, spring and fall, from ping pong to mountain climbing, from biking to workout gear. It even offers scuba courses. Best Toy Store: Golden Apple Learning Center This store shows that learning is playing and playing is learning for little ones. Current best sellers include Rainbow Ants, an ant farm with colored sand so the insects form colorful designs, and a Fallingwater Lego structure that replicates Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece. Wow! Best Wine Store: Wine Steward So much wine, so little time. More than one thousand thoughtfully chosen wines from around the world, to be exact. This Main Street store, located in Pleasanton's old Roxy Theater, also carries good-value wine for under $10. It has a wine club, wine classes and a wine bar Friday and Saturday evenings. Best Women's Clothing Store: Savvy Seconds This consignment shop is fun to shop in and its inventory turns over often. Again, our readers must like to shop on Main Street because a close second was the Passionate Athlete, also on Main. It specializes in active casual wear but offers clothing that is different from that offered at chains. PHOTOS BY GLENN WOHLTMANN Flowers and art line the windowsills at Alexandria's Flowers, chosen Best Florist. Dylan Devr� displays a meal at PF Chang's, which was chosen Best Chinese Restaurant. Thank you for another year as your Best Art Gallery 2007 2008 2010 2009 Epicure Best American Food Restaurant: Eddie Papa's American Hangout When our readers chose Eddie Papa's, they knew that American food can mean anything from Southern fried chicken to Hawaiian Ahi. Chef and Culinary Director Glenn Hewitt oversees everything to make sure it's done right. 20 OFF 20% discount on custom framing. Let us create a timeless piece of art with your treasured memories. Place your order today Offer expires September 1, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 15 READERS CHOICE Cardinal Jewelers "A world of fine gems." Thank You for voting us Best Jewelry Store in Pleasanton 2010 2009 Best Atmosphere: Blue Agave Club Whether it's outdoors sipping margaritas, under heaters on the patio, or indoors sampling tequila from a brandy snifter, the Blue Agave has a style all its own, and the food is arranged to look as good as it tastes. Best Barbecue: Red Smoke Grill Jim Painter and Ken Hinshaw brought more than 30 years of experience to their concept restaurant here in Pleasanton, and it shows. You really can't go wrong with anything, from the tri-tips to the pulled pork to ribs so tender the meat literally falls off the bone. Envy Lovel ights Lovell ights New Customers and our Current Customers Bring this ad in for Best Bakery: Bibiane Bakery With fresh and natural ingredients and old world care, Bibiane is the place to go for everything from breads to cakes like Caf� au Lait, a caramel cake soaked in Kailua, and espresso, an apricot filling and coffee buttercream. Best Breakfast: Jim's Country Style Restaurant Huge portions, reasonable prices, French toast so good you can skip the syrup, and great omelets. Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you THANK YOU to the readers of Pleasanton Weekly for Voting Bella Luna Studios Best Photographer for the last three years 2009 2010 25% OFF any single item of $200 or more One Coupon per person. Some restrictions apply. Expires 8-31-10 (925) 416-1111 3003-B Hopyard Rd. Pleasanton, CA 33 Years in Pleasanton Original Owner Trust. Honesty. Integrity. Confidence. Expertise. Certain values can only be found at Master IJO Jeweler. bella luna studios Photography Visit us at www.bellalunastudios.com or call Christina Gray at 925.998.1171 for session details In The Hopyard Village Shopping Center BR ILLI A NCE YOU DESERVE� Your Home Financing Expert Whether you are purchasing a new home or investment property or refinancing your current mortgage, the right loan can make all the difference. As your Loan Specialist, my business focuses on technology, client satisfaction and strong business relationships to ensure that my clients receive the best combination of price and service. eadowlark Dairy M Pleasanton, Cowifornia Diversified Mortgage Group Features: Simply put, my unparalleled service, technology, and professional staff make a successful loan transaction. Thank You for Voting Us Call me today and experience the difference. Voted Best Mortgage Professional 2010 Marylou Edwards 2010 MORTGAGE PLANNER 925.285.5333 5199 JOHNSON DRIVE, SUITE 110 PLEASANTON, CA 94588 A Licensed Real Estate Broker, California Department of Real Estate License #01131197 BEST Ice Cream! Summer 8am to 9pm Everyday Meadowlark Dairy Drive-in Page 16 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE eat at Jim's, you can probably skip lunch. Best Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop: Meadowlark Dairy Soft-serve ice cream at its best. Our readers love the drive through, which is especially nice on a hot day, and the fact that Meadowlark Dairy has groceries doesn't hurt, either. Best Burger: In-n-Out Burger What can we say about In-n-Out Burger other than it's a California institution, in the best sense of the word? The secret is simplicity: All they serve is burgers, fries, sodas and shakes. Best Burrito: High Tech Burrito Being named best burrito around here is like getting named best New York Strip in Manhattan. High Tech is fast and fresh, and if you can't make it to the restaurant at other times, you can always pick one up at First Wednesday. Best Chinese Restaurant: PF Chang's This restaurant at Stoneridge Shopping Center may be a chain but every dish is prepared to order using fresh ingredients, and the results are delicious. Also the d�cor is always fun. Locally run Chinese Szechwan, which opened in 1987, came in a close second. Best French Fries: Hop Yard Alehouse and Grill If you haven't had the garlic fries at the Hop Yard, you haven't had fries. Hot, crispy and just a little spicy, there's a reason our readers have chosen the fries here for eight straight years. margaritas -- on the Blue Agave Club's menu, you can tailor your own by choosing a tequila and liqueur to mix with it. More salt, please. Best Independent Coffee House: Peet's Peet's has been raising the expectations of coffee drinkers since Alfred Peet brewed his first pot in Berkeley in 1966. An East Bay staple, Peet's brews great coffees and teas. Best Italian Restaurant: La Vite Ristorante La Vite Ristorante on Hopyard has a seriously huge menu with offerings from both northern and southern Italy. Our readers know authentic Italian cuisine when they taste it. Best Main Street Restaurant: Blue Agave Club Relax on the patio, enjoy a cold drink among Blue Agave's eclectic art fixtures, and watch the people on Main Street go by. Did we mention the ginormous selection of tequilas? Best Margarita: Blue Agave Club More like 50 of the best margaritas. Not only can you choose from the selection of 50 -- seriously, 50 Best Meal Under $20: Eddie Papa's You have to love a place that offers great food and does it inexpensively. Our readers love this place on Hopyard. Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Food: Oasis Grill Mediterranean cuisine with a modern flair, with everything from kabobs to vegetarian dishes and exotic cocktails. And there really is an oasis of a sort there, with lush greens and summer roses for al fresco dining on a warm night. Best Mexican Restaurant: Casa Orozco A family-owned restaurant for more than 20 years, Casa Orozco in Dublin features margaritas with a choice of more than 130 tequilas, a festive atmosphere, and good prices. You can never go wrong with the chicken enchilada soup. Best Outdoor Dining: Blue Agave Club If it looks like Blue Agave is getting a lot of mentions this year, you're right. Our readers clearly love it, and the patio is one more reason why. PHOTOS BY GLENN WOHLTMANN Matt Northcutt looks over the selection of bikes at Bicycles! Pleasanton, Readers Choice for Best Bicycle Shop. A milk truck is part of the mural decorating Meadowlark Dairy, chosen Best Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop by Pleasanton Weekly readers. UNEXPECTED FINDS...UNCOMMON TREASURES IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN PLEASANTON! FRIDAY CONCERTS IN THE PARK Best Place for a Picnic Best Place for Live Music 2009 2010 DOWNTOWN PLEASANTON Best Place to Get Together with Friends Best Place to Meet New People For a complete listing of businesses, downtown events & activities... visit our website www.pleasantondowntown.net Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 17 READERS CHOICE Best Pizza: Gay '90s Pizza Company Built in one of Pleasanton's first commercial buildings, this place was a stagecoach stop and a general store before it became a pizzeria. Pizzas made from scratch and sourdough specialty pizzas, and local legend says there's even a ghost on the premises. Best Romantic Restaurant: Barones Even Barones calls itself "the most romantic continental cuisine restaurant" and has worked hard at making it true. In addition to the atmosphere and great food, Barones has its own organic spice garden and live music under the stars on summer Thursday nights. Best Place for a Business Lunch: Stacey's Cafe Stacey's has great d�cor and linen napkins to impress that big client, and the quips on the menus can make sure you don't take that whole business thing too seriously. Great food, too! Best Prepared Meal Service: GourMade Cookery If you hate cooking and don't want to eat out every night, GourMade is a great alternative. Get a month's worth of meals for an average of $4 per serving. Living well really is the best revenge. Best Seafood Restaurant: Strizzi's The Strizzi family has come a long way from its Italian Deli and shoe shop in Greensburg, Pa. In honor of his grandparents, Ray Bartolomucci Jr. opened the first of his restaurants in 1986 and Strizzi's debuted in Pleasanton in 1989. Fresh fish entrees and an amazing seafood fettuccine. Best Steakhouse: Haps Original Steaks Haps Original serves certified Angus steaks that have been aged for 28 days, and owners Michael Connors, Paris Connors, James Wilson and Chef Wilson Miller make a point of mingling with guests, just to see that everything's perfect. Best Sushi/Japanese Restaurant: Sato Japanese Cuisine This authentic Japanese restaurant serves great classic sushi, sashimi, tempura and teriyaki. Sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef work or just enjoy the ambiance, designed to look like a Japanese home. Best Take-out Restaurant: In-n-Out Burger It's hard to beat a Double-Double with cheese and a chocolate shake from In-n-Out Burger after a hard day at work or shuttling the kids to and from practice. Somehow the fries never make it home, though. Best Thai Restaurant: Little Home Thai/Lux Thai (tie) It doesn't matter if you like your curry green, red or yellow, hot or mild, Lux and Little Home offer some of the best Thai food in the East Bay. Lunch and dinner specials, too. Try the corn chowder soup at Lux or the Tom Yum soup at Little Home. Best Vegetarian Cuisine: Sweet Tomatoes Soups, salads, pasta and more with tons of vegetarian choices. Don't worry -- Sweet Tomatoes also has dishes with meat for the carnivore in your life. Not to mention an array of desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth. Best Winery: Wente Vineyards It looks like our readers don't mind the trip to Livermore for a wine adventure, but with five generations of experience, it's not hard to see why Wente is our Readers Choice. Plus you can see everyone from Liza Minnelli to ZZ Top at the winery's summer concert series. JEB BING Music fans fill Lions Wayside Park for the Friday night concerts, spilling over into Delucchi Park across Neal Street. Besides the music, many come early and stay late to picnic, enjoy refreshments and chat with others they've met for the first time at the summer concert events. 2010 2009 C e l e br a t i n g of Dance 20 Years Tap Jazz Ballet Hip-Hop Musical Theater Modern Tumbling Ages 2.5--Adult Free Registration For fall classes Please check our website for our fall schedule www.jazzntaps.com Offer good until August 15 u k yo t aning us Bese Th vot anc for e for D Plac ssons in ! Le anton s Plea www.Jazzntaps.com 484-0678 Page 18 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE Let's Get Physical Best Health Club: ClubSport ClubSport Pleasanton has indoor and outdoor tennis courts and year-round swimming lessons, a state-of-the-art fitness center, kids' activities and even offers wellness seminars and nutrition counseling. Best Place to Walk, Jog or Bike: Pleasanton Ridge This is truly a spot for all three. You can take a moderate walk or a short run. It's two miles to the top of the ridge for some great views, or, if you're a mountain biker or are in training for a marathon, go for the whole loop, which is a little over 20 miles. Downtown, Pleasanton's Favorite Local Eatery! Stacey's offers seasonal California cuisine using the freshest ingredients. We offer a fresh variety of delicious dishes including seafood, pasta, meat, and even vegetarian choices. We try to make sure we have something great for everyone. Best Martial Arts Studio: Jue's Taekwon-Do Master Gordon Jue is a seventh degree black belt who began his Taekwon-Do training in September 1979. He started his Do Jang (school) in Pleasanton in 1993 and has added kickboxing, a great aerobic workout that actually teaches self defense. Get fit, build character, and learn how to break a board with your foot. Best personal trainer: Daniel Elias It's not always easy to get in shape by yourself and our readers chose Daniel as the best personal trainer. He teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boxing at Crispin BJJ. Meet him at their First Wednesday booth. Best Place to Walk a Dog: Any Pleasanton Park Our readers know all the parks in Pleasanton are dog friendly. Some are friendlier than others, though, and our favorite is Muirwood Community Park, which is spacious with water, shade and cleanup bags. Best Yoga/Pilates: Downtown Yoga Kate Coughlin and her staff at Downtown Yoga offer the range of classes, from beginner to expert, retreats and vacations, and you can even learn to be a yoga instructor here. Namaste! At home Best Carpet Cleaners: Glover's Steam Cleaning It's amazing what a good carpet cleaner can do to create a "new" house. This family-owned business, open since 1959, also offers protectants, repairs, 24-hour water damage emergency service and mattress cleaning. It specializes in dog and cat odor removal. Thank You for voting us, "Best Place for a Business Lunch" 2009 Best Carpet Store: S&G Carpet When it's time to redo your flooring, our readers rave about S&G, and Carpetland came in a close second. S&G stocks hundreds of styles and has thousands available. S&G also will bring carpet selec- 2010 Now Open for Breakfast Sat & Sun 8-11am 310 Main Street, Ste. A, Pleasanton A heartfelt thank you to all who voted for us! On the heels of tremendous growth Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty is honored to be awarded the Readers Choice BEST REAL ESTATE OFFICE for 2010. 2010 We make it our business to be in business with the best. To help our agents excel in a shifting market we offer innovative thinking, education and support. With our unique business model we have outpaced the downward trend in the real estate market and continue to grow. It is with great pride that we announce the additions to our family... Tony Arsondi Marisa Balfour Lori Barry Tracy Bonal Dorothy Broderson Jeanine Brown Karla Brown Tracey Buescher Patricia Burns Choo Carmichael Armando Cervantes Mike Chandler Wendy Chen Marc Collopy Connie Cox Rebecca Crane Wraijean Crane Dan Dahlheim Toni Dalrymple Louise Davis Jill Denton Harman Dhillon Narinder Dhillon Karam Dhillon Mary Evans Steve Fast Helia Fletcher Tom Fox Soledad Garcia Dolores Gragg Pat Griffin Frank Harmon Andy Hartman Jim Hitcher Leigh Anne Hoffman Carla Hunter Jo Hunter Cristin Kiper-Sanchez Michiyo Krause Jerry & Toni Kreutzer Tony Leavens Richard Lee Ken Lewis Jessica Liao Connie Long Carolynn Machi Bobbie Manning Roger Manning Nicholas Maurice Joanne McIntyre George McKean Helen McNutt-Gentile Danelle Medeiros Yasmene Mian Charles Mortimer Kam Moshari Patricia Norris Ted Novinfar Angela Ochs Fran Oliver Mats Palsson Danielle Peel Sherri Platter Janki Patel Ali Rad Pamela Northup Virginia Rauch Chris Rugado Sonali Sethna Pauline Shah Katey Shinn Rosa Sierra Jeff Slayter Lisa Sterling Tess Tiongson Tim Totah Tom Unger Brad & Ann Walker Brandon Wallace Wendy Washburn Steve Wilhite Young Hargrove Donna Zarrillo We are thrilled to be part of a company that is serious about growth & success. Thank you for your continued support. If you or anyone you know is interested in a career in Real Estate contact Team Leader Bob Shapiro at email@example.com or call (925) 397-4200. 5994 W. LAS POSITAS BLVD, SUITE 101, PLEASANTON 459 MAIN STREET, PLEASANTON 2300 FIRST STREET, SUITE 216, LIVERMORE Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 19 Thank for voting us Best Martial Arts Studio Again! READERS CHOICE tions to your home. Best Flooring Store: Diablo Flooring Visit the showroom on Sunol Boulevard. Property managers, Realtors and designers like this store -- and so do our readers. Again, Carpetland was a close second. Best Hardware Store: Workbench TrueValue Hardware To plan a home improvement project or to pick up a few nails, this hardware store is great. It has plenty of experts around to give advice or head you to the right aisle. Plus each month it has special bargains. Best Home Consignment Shop: Home Consignment Center Our readers like this spot for buying or selling quality furniture. You have to check back often, but that's the fun of it. And such deals -- give one room or your whole house a makeover. It has wonderful jewelry, too. Best Home Furnishings: Clover Creek Once the furniture is in place, check out this shop on Main Street for the finishing touches. Clover Creek is known for offering imaginative accessories to create wonderful rooms for your family to call home. And it has one-of-a-kind furniture and lamps. Jue's Taekwon-Do took 9 students to Korea for the ITF World Championship July 3 - July 8. Congratulations to our Students! Patterns Jr. Female, II Dan - Catherine Jue - Gold, Julianne Lim - Bronze Sr. Male, I Dan - Lance Mendes - Silver Sr. Male, V Dan - Chad Morishita - Silver Sparring Jr. Female, Micro - Rishika Baral - Bronze Jr. Female, Middle - Julianne Lim - Silver Sr. Male, Middle - Lance Mendes - Bronze Jr. Female Team Patterns - Silver Catherine Jue, Julianne Lim, Helen Lee, Swathi Narahari, Rishika Baral Jr. Female Team Specialty Break - Bronze Catherine Jue, Helen Lee 2009 2010 2009 2010 5460 Sunol Blvd., Ste. 8 Pleasanton 925.484.0308 juestkd.com 531 Main Street, Downtown Pleasanton Thank you! All cleaning done on site. Quick turn around, clothes dropped off before 9am have same day service, weekends excluded. Alterations also done on premises with quick turn around. Wedding dress, leather & suede blankets, comforters We have been chosen "Best Dry Cleaners" again by Pleasanton Weekly readers. We know you have options and are honored by this distinction. Thank you to the best customers in Pleasanton. VIP CLEANERS 2010 Thank you Pleasanton for voting us "Best Pizza" 2009 2009 30% OFF Dry Cleaning First Time Customers with an order over $15. 2010 Early Dinner Special (Served from 4-6pm daily) Any Large Two-Topping Pizza and a Pitcher of Soda for only $25.00 (plus Tax) 1809 SANTA RITA RD. #F 846-4335 3120 SANTA RITA RD. #E 462-8838 www.vip-cleaners.com Page 20 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE Best Kitchen/Bath Remodeler: KDC Kitchens Nothing freshens up a house like a remodeled kitchen or bathroom. KDS can handle the whole project, from choosing what you want to designing it to fit into your home. The Pleasanton showroom offers a free consultation with a designer. Best Outdoor Furniture Store: Patioworld The latest trend is to extend your living space into the great outdoors, for an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Furniture now reflects this fashion, and this store, on Johnson Avenue, offers what you want -- traditional, transitional and contemporary. YOUR HEALTH IS IN RELIABLE HANDS! Best Landscaper/Designer: Western Gardens Why do we live here? For the weather! So making the most of our gardens is important to us. In addition to landscape consultation, design and installation, Western Garden nursery offers fresh, healthy plants, pottery and fountains. Best Plumber: Valley Plumbing We don't think about plumbing -- until something goes wrong. Then our readers call Valley Plumbing. It is centrally located in the historic building on Rose Avenue off Main. Drop in the showroom to see the latest fixtures and talk to Little Home Thai Cuisine Best Thai Food in the Bay Area Since 1996 N 580 Santa Rita Rd. McDonald's Pimlico Dr. CERTIFIED MASSAGE THERAPIST Michelle Pe�a 4000 Pimlico Dr., Ste. 106 Pleasanton ( 925 ) 251-9877 Fax (925) 251-9881 Dinner Special 2 entree minimum. Not valid with any other offer or on take out. One coupon per table. Expires 8/31/10 6601 Dublin Blvd., Ste.B Dublin 925 ) 828-8218 ( Fax (925) 825-8221 15% BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 925-413-2629 Cer Gift tifi Ava cates ilab le Off THANK YOU FOR VOTING US 2010 2009 BEST MASSAGE! www.littlehomethai.com Voted "Best Thai Restaurant" 2010 610 MAIN STREET SUITE E, PLEASANTON, CA 94566 WWW.HEALTHYNECESSITY.COM Thank You for Voting for Us! BEST WOMEN'S CLOTHING BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE 2010 2010 Best Carpet Cleaning THE ORIGINAL We're #1! 2009 Family Owned & Operated DEEP Steam 2009 ODOR REMOVAL SPECIALIST 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE IF YOU DON'T SEE IT HERE, JUST ASK! Debbie Lopes Bring in a friend and receive Girl Friend Coupon Purchase of $50.00 or more. One coupon per person. Expires 8-17-10 $10.00 OFF John A. Glover For Free Estimate Call 462-4262 925.846.6600 560 Main St. Downtown Pleasanton Monday through Saturday 10-7, and Sunday 11-5 Soil Extracted, Not Scrubbed Deeper "That's The Difference!" shopsavvyseconds.com Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 21 READERS CHOICE the staff about projects. Best Roofer: Tri-City Roofing/Sierra Roofing (tie) Tri-City, located in Fremont, offers a list of its projects on its website so you can check them out before calling for a free estimate. It tied with Sierra Roofing of Dublin, which also has a leak-free 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Let it rain! Stepping Out Sides Small Side Salad French Fries Roasted Corn Salad Potato Salad Creamy Cole Slaw Santa Maria Style Beans Chicken Tortilla Soup Mashed Potatoes Best Place for a Picnic: Friday Concerts in the Park What a combo -- dinner and entertainment. But dinner is the food and beverages you bring to enjoy in the summer evenings. With the friendliness of fellow picnickers, what could be more fun? Reserve a spot by laying out your blanket at Lions Wayside Park early in the day. Family Meals To Go Meals include four corn muffins and two large sides. Rotisserie Chicken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16.99 Tri-Tip 1 1/2 pound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.99 2 pound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.99 Slab-and-a-Half of Ribs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $28.99 One Pound Tri-Tip and Whole Chicken . . . . . . . $32.99 Full Slab of Ribs & Whole Chicken . . . . . . . . . . $32.99 One Pound Tri-Tip and Whole Slab . . . . . . . . . . $36.99 4501 Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton 734-0307 Open daily from 11am www.redsmokegrill.com 2010 Best Place for an AfterWork Drink: Hop Yard Alehouse & Grill This popular spot at Hopyard and Valley has swept the Readers Choice survey since it began almost 10 years ago. The list of beers on tap is extensive and the appetizers are to die for: parmesan garlic fries, onion rings, buffalo wings, mesquite chicken quesadilla rolls and more. Its motto is, "Come in for the beer, come back for the food." GLENN WOHLTMANN Josephina Goehmann and Carol Richardson look over a selection of hand-decorated handbags at Studio 7, chosen as Best Art Gallery. Best Place for Dancing: Redcoats This British pub has an extensive JAPANESE CUISINE 2009 2010 Thank you for voting for us: Best Sushi/Japanese Restaurant Authentic Japanese Sushi Bar Lunch Tempura Dinner Teriyaki Sushi Catering Owner Operated Since 1983 Makoto Sato Open Tuesday � Sunday 925.462.3131 3015-K Hopyard Rd., Pleasanton (in the Hopyard Village Shopping Center) Page 22 July 30, 2010 Pleasanton Weekly READERS CHOICE menu and welcomes families -- and dogs outside -- during the day and evening. Then at 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays it turns into an adult venue, with dancing until 1 a.m. with DJs. Best Place to Get Together with Friends: Downtown Pleasanton Meet you downtown! For coffee, lunch, dinner, drinks or to shop, it's sure to be a pleasant encounter. Farmers market is fun with friends, as are all the downtown events. 2010 Best Place for Live Music: Concerts in the Park Music fills the air each Friday night from 7-8:30 in downtown Pleasanton as popular bands perform at Lions Wayside Park. These weekly events are a great way to start enjoying the weekend, through Sept. 3 this year, with rock 'n' roll, reggae, Latin beat and more. 2009 Best Place to Meet New People: Main Street Main Street Pleasanton is the type of place where you can turn to a fellow stroller or shopper and start to talk. Even when alone, you can experience the camaraderie of living in a small town. Servicing your vehicle involves much more than just replacing the fluids and changing the parts. Every time you bring your vehicle to Precision Auto Repair a certified technician inspects your vehicle noting any preventative maintenance or repair that can save you valuable time and money. By specializing in your type of vehicle we are experts at recognizing common failures of components based on your vehicle type. We are able to foresee many of these malfunctions before they occur. Our 30 years of experience demonstrate why Precision Auto Repair is the right place for all of your vehicles needs--from oil changes to major repairs. Thank You For Voting Us Best Car Repair in Pleasanton Again! Your child's next report card can be a great one! ACURA, HONDA, LEXUS & TOYOTA OWNERS! Honesty and Reliability you can count on! CALL NOW! 925.485.1000 GET 50% OFF 6654 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 185 OUR SYLVAN SKILLS ASSESSMENT TEST. Pleasanton, CA 94566 Mention this offer when scheduling SylvanPleasanton.com assessment. 2010 Sylvan will develop an individualzed learning plan for your child. Our highly personalized approach builds the skills, habits and attitudes your child needs to succeed in school and life. 164-A Wyoming Street, Pleasanton See our website for special offers & coupons. (925) 462-7440 Develops independent work habits Improves attitudes Motivates learning Provides feedback for parents and teachers Reading, Math, Writing, Study Skills, Test-Taking, SAT/ACT and More! www.PrecisionAutoRepair.com Family Owned & Operated Since 1979 Thank you Pleasanton for voting for us Best Bookstore again! Bring in this coupon or mention this ad! 2010 20% off! Offer expires 8-31-10 Thank you Pleasanton for choosing us "The Best Carpet Store" for the fifth year in a row 2010 Coffee & Conversation with Joshua Braff 11:00am Friday August 6 Our first ever Intergenerational Book Club 7:00pm Thursday, August 12 Ages 8-108 846-8826 www.townecenterbooks.com Pleasanton Weekly July 30, 2010 Page 23 You wouldn't use a phone this old ... You may have furniture that's even older! 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Blog your thoughts and opinions here.
Hey everyone. As usual, thanks for reading and comments are welcome. These are just the thoughts I've been having on the title picture in WWE. I'm not going to go into the Diva's or Tag Team Championships. Maybe I would if these girls could actually wrestle and it was the Women's Championship. And as for the Tag Team Titles... let's just not talk about it.
And this isn't a super-serious
Updated 05-20-2012 at 08:01 AM by Frank
Hey everyone. I haven't had a chance to post the next part of the TOP 30 FINISHERS IN WWE TODAY because I have been on holidays. But I am back and will post the next part in the next couple of days. For now, here's my predictions for Over The Limit this weekend.
[B]WWE Championship
CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan
For the third time in WWE, CM Punk squares off with
Hey folks, Taneel here about what should happen and what will likely happen at Over the Limit PPV this Sunday. Leave your comments.
1. Ryder vs. Kane: This match should have happened at Wrestlemania, it would have made sense then. Instead, they gave Kane vs Orton at Mania which made no sense and this match now makes no sense.
What will happen likely - Kane dominates and wins a quick
Hey Wrestling Fans. The Saviour here debuting my new weekly series blog entitled Sudden Impact. The idea behind this is to focus solely on TNA Impact Wrestling. I'll give opinions on story lines I'd like to see, give my commentary on the direction I think they're headed, and basically touch on other aspects involving the company. Sometimes it'll resemble my other weekly blog, The Abdominal Stretch.
Hi Guys, B-ri here once again and this is a follow up blog to my previous blog centred around TNA and how it's transitioned from the future to the past. PS this is just a short blog and does have some very important aspects at the bottom so thanks for checking it out!
If you didn't see it first time around here's a link to the blog. It features a video of the changes between TNA pre 2010
This blog is on my main problem with the Wwe at the moment and it's not twitter.
My problem is that they aren't currently delivering good storylines and we don't have reasons to cheer or boo each wrestler.
Going into Over the limit there are 6 matches book:
Kane vs Zack Ryder
Cm Punk vs Daniel Bryan
R truth and Kofi vs Zigswag
Sheamus vs Orton vs
Updated 05-17-2012 at 07:18 PM by Frank
I have planned to do something like this for a while, but after Mania.....everyone was doing it. So I waited and did something else til it cooled down a bit. If you sit there and see all these HIAC blogs, odds are you won't want to read all of them which is why I waited til now to do this. Top 5 worst and best HIAC matches of all-time. Now, my criteria isn't based on mat wrestling here. It is going
It is infuriating to be watching a Raw match and then the commentary gets interrupted because Michael Cole has to tell us what is trending on Twitter. The WWE literally wants to interrupt a match so that we know that #FutureEndeavored is trending on a website. Wait wait, i want to know what is going on in the match...
The internet is hurting the business in so many ways. To start, WWE
Ok, I will admit to the deep, dark secret…I like to read. Maybe it is not for everyone I will grant you that, but ever since I was a little tike dragging around Dr. Seuss I have discovered an immeasurable amount of satisfaction sitting down to a good book and getting lost in the pages. Thankfully, there always seems to be a plethora of worlds to choose from in the areas of fiction
Updated 05-17-2012 at 08:54 AM by scribblerking
What to do with Chris Jericho..
What he's been doing as of late...
Beginning in November 2011, WWE aired six cryptic vignettes that implied that someone would be returning to the company during the broadcast of the January 2, 2012 episode of Raw. The eerie videos
Updated 05-17-2012 at 01:05 PM by Callum
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