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‘Think Big & Shop Small’
With Small Business Saturday arriving this weekend in the wake of the corporate commercial craze of Black Friday, the Pleasanton Downtown Association and city of Pleasanton have unveiled their new campaign to encourage people to shop, dine and explore local this holiday season.
“‘Think Big & Shop Small’ is a celebration of downtown Pleasanton’s small businesses, ranging from retail stores and restaurants to fitness studios, salons, and everything in between,” PDA officials said.
“We are asking our community to make the pledge to Shop Small and Support Local,” they added. “When you Shop Small you do something Big! For every $1 spent at a small business, $0.67 stays in the community.”
Participating downtown merchants will have special offers, deals and a commemorative custom Pleasanton tote (limited supply) in coordination with the campaign.
Threat not credible
Last Friday morning, a mass phishing email was sent regarding a bomb threat targeting two Livermore private schools. As a precaution, the schools took action and the police department assisted, Livermore police said. The threat was ultimately deemed non-credible.
The police department confirmed that Valley Montessori School was one of the campuses involved as police were spotted on the scene Friday.
Parents on social media named Our Savior Lutheran School as the other campus to receive the email threat but LPD officials declined to confirm.
Some parents also believed St. Michael School was involved, however, LPD clarified that the school did not receive the email but the principal notified parents that it had been sent to other campuses.
Tesla Park input
California State Parks officials are in the middle of collecting public feedback about the future of the Alameda-Tesla property outside Livermore, following the legislative deal two years ago to preserve the swath of land from becoming an expansion of the adjacent Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area.
An online survey is now open to “provide insight into the public’s preferences for the types and intensity of future activities and experiences at the Alameda-Tesla property, provide initial understanding of the public’s vision for the future of the Alameda-Tesla property, and increase the project team’s knowledge of the population that is interested in this project.”
There will also be a virtual workshop next Tuesday (Nov. 28) from 6-7:30 p.m. for residents to learn more about the project and share their ideas.
For more information, visit alamedateslaplan.com.
‘An Evening with Kim Budil’
The Bankhead Theater will celebrate one of the most significant accomplishments in Livermore history next week with a special presentation featuring Kim Budil, director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
“An Evening with Kim Budil” — set for next Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 7:30 p.m. — will seek the director reflect on when lab scientists achieved fusion ignition for the first time in human history nearly one year ago, as well as the work since. A second successful occurrence of the scientific energy breakeven was recorded at LLNL in July.
“This breakthrough opens new realms of scientific exploration, helping to ensure U.S. national security and laying the groundwork for inertial fusion energy. Join LLNL Director Kim Budil to learn more about ignition and its place in the lab’s 70-year history,” said Livermore Valley Arts officials, whose Bankhead Presents series is presenting Budil’s appearance.
The event is free, but tickets are required — and currently wait-listed. Learn more at livermorearts.org.
California Teachers of the Year
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond last month announced the five winners of the state’s Teachers of the Year award program, a list that included one Bay Area educator.
Among the five recipients revealed on Oct. 16 was Joseph Alvarico from Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District. The other winners included three from Los Angeles County and one from Santa Barbara County.
Amador Valley High School math and science teacher Kevin Kiyoi was one of the two Alameda County Teachers of the Year who advanced all the way to the state competition this fall. However, he was not among the five winners and five other finalists selected by state officials.