And the grapes were blessed
Winegrowers, a rabbi and a minister gathered this morning in vineyards on the outskirts of Livermore for the annual Blessing of the Grapes. The Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association used the opportunity to unveil new wine region signage and to launch an iPhone app to help guests find their way around the Livermore Valley Wine Region. (Thursday, 1:49 PM)

Sen. Boxer, Republican challenger Fiorina face off at St. Mary's College debate
Sen. Barbara Boxer and former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina squared off last night on jobs, global warming, immigration reform, gay marriage and other issues in their first—and likely only-- senatorial debate. (Thursday, 7:51 AM)

Police setting up checkpoint tomorrow
The Pleasanton Police Department will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. Friday on a roadway known for its DUI problems. It will help reduce the number of impaired drivers plus educate the public. (Thursday, 12:37 PM)

AC Transit could cut weekend bus service due to budget woes
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit officials are proposing to cut weekend bus service nearly in half and make other reductions to improve the
agency's bleak financial outlook (Thursday, 7:56 AM)

This weekend, everyone's Scottish
Bring on the bagpipes! And the highland dancers and heavy weight athletes. Don't forget the fish 'n' chips -- and the ale. This weekend is the 145th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games at the Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, an event presented by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco that gives everyone a chance to enjoy a wee taste of Glasgow and beyond. (Thursday, 7:59 AM)

S.F. again asks to opt out of fingerprint program it fears targets illegal immigrants
San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey and immigration rights advocates Wednesday renewed their call to allow San Francisco to opt out of a new federal fingerprint reporting program aimed at criminals suspected of being in the country illegally. (Thursday, 8:26 AM)

Travel agent testifies she fears airline merger will reduce flights, increase fares
A Nevada travel agent who sued United and Continental airlines to block their merger testified in federal court in San Francisco Wednesday that she joined the case because she feared higher fares and reduced flights. (Thursday, 7:55 AM)

Food, wine and equine fun to help SonRise foundation
The fourth annual Wine and Equine Festival will bring together Esin Restaurant and Wente Vineyards, Murietta's Well and Drake's Brewing Company to raise money for SonRise Equestrian Foundation. It takes place from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Charles Wilhelm Training Center in Castro Valley, will also include demonstrations and a horse show. (Thursday, 7:55 AM)

Bowser prepared for difficult school board race during difficult times
Pleasanton school board candidate Jeff Bowser is hoping to bring his educational and business experience to the district. Bowser, who lost the race in 2008, said deciding to run again was a difficult decision.
(Thursday, 7:54 AM)

Sample Livermore Valley's best wine this Labor Day weekend
The Livermore Valley Wine Country's annual Labor Day weekend Harvest Celebration is back for its 29th year. From noon to 5 p.m., Sunday and Monday, Sept. 5 and 6, sample the wine, food, art and music that the more than 30 wineries are offering. (Thursday, 7:54 AM)

Victorious 'Devils' from Amador Valley
Eleven students from Amador Valley High School were among the 140-plus members of the 2010 Blue Devils B Corps drum and bugle corps based in Concord who won this year's championships in Indianapolis. (Thursday, 7:54 AM)

Planners OK new Safeway 'Lifestyle' store near Fairgrounds
The Pleasanton Planning Commission Wednesday gave its unanimous approval to plans by Safeway to build one of its new "Lifestyle" supermarkets in Pleasanton with a scheduled opening of November next year. (Saturday, 8:07 AM)

Supervisor calls for state measure to track skydivers to safe landings
A Contra Costa County supervisor is calling for reforms to the skydiving industry after a Martinez resident took a fatal dive last week from Byron Airport. (Tuesday, 6:45 AM)

BART to delay scheduled fare increase in 2012
BART directors voted Thursday to delay the agency's next regularly scheduled fare increase in 2012 after receiving unexpected funding from the state earlier this year, spokesman Linton Johnson said. (Saturday, 8:08 AM)

Cook-Kallio launches re-election bid at downtown park rally
Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio combined her birthday celebration with a campaign for re-election Sunday at a festive ice cream social at Lions Wayside Park. (Tuesday, 6:43 AM)

DSRSD says recently approved worker bonuses not likely
Even though the Dublin San Ramon Services District board of directors recently approved plans to award workers with bonuses - some as high as $30,000 - they say it doesn't necessarily mean any of the district's employees will be receiving any. (Tuesday, 6:31 AM)

Judge allows S.F. workers' pension, health care reform to go on Nov. 2 ballot
A San Francisco Superior Court judge Monday agreed to let a city pension and health care reform measure promoted by Public Defender Jeff Adachi onto the city's November ballot. (Tuesday, 6:25 AM)

School board candidate Sandy Piderit wants new ways of thinking about education
Concern for the future of education in Pleasanton led Sandy Piderit to run for the school board, she told a small crowd at her kickoff event Friday. (Tuesday, 7:34 AM)

Pleasanton school board candidate Joan Laursen ready to work for change
Pleasanton school board candidate Joan Laursen said the experience she already has working with schools makes her "uniquely qualified" for the board. (Tuesday, 7:35 AM)

Livermore soccer coach jailed on child pornography charges
The head coach of a Livermore youth soccer team was arrested Thursday afternoon and locked up in Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on suspicion of the possession and distribution of child pornography after police detectives discovered the lewd material on his computer, police said. (Saturday, 8:08 AM)

New DUI policy could revoke licenses for 10 years
Drunken drivers might sober up in September over a bill that aims to revoke licenses from repeat offenders who drive under the influence. (Friday, 7:23 AM)

Investigators link body found near Niles Canyon Road to East Palo Alto disappearance
Investigators are trying to determine if a decomposed body found in unincorporated Fremont is that of a 27-year-old East Palo Alto man who was reported missing in February, an Alameda County Sheriff's spokesman said Friday. (Saturday, 8:26 AM)

Forum to celebrate success of summer jobs for youths
Nearly 200 Tri-Valley young people were employed over the past two summers in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), conducted by the Tri-Valley Community Foundation in partnership with Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), and Las Positas College. Leveraging economic stimulus funding, this year's program targeted young people in families hit hardest by the current economic downturn. (Wednesday, 7:59 AM)

Going natural
Farmer Shawn Seufert, who has fields in Pleasanton and Sunol, sells his organic produce to local restaurants and at farmers markets but mostly to members of his Community Supported Agriculture program. (Wednesday, 7:55 AM)

Local girl goes native in The Gambia
Imagine living in a small village in Africa, staying in a mud hut, sleeping on a grass mat, using an outdoor pit latrine and, occasionally, chasing baboons from the local garden. Now imagine doing it by choice. Clearly, it's not for everyone, but it's a dream job for 2005 Amador Valley High School graduate Joanna LaFrancesca. (Friday, 7:37 AM)

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