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T H E S U N O L I A NFROM SUBMITTED REPORTS oard of Education is pleased to announce that Shay Galletti hasbeen selected as the finalist to fill theposition of Superintendent/Principalfollowing the retirement of MolleenBarnes. Galletti brings over twenty-four years of experience in the fieldof education, starting as anelementary school teacher andprogressing to roles in schoolBContinued on page 2RETIREMENT PARTYBRINGS ACCOLADESAND COLLEAGUESACROSS THE YEARS NEW SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCEDFROM SGUSD PRESS RELEASE t was a rocking good time at the May 11 retirement party for Sunol Glen School’sMolleen Barnes at Livermore’s Da Boccery,where colleagues from year’s past as well asformer and current Sunol Glen staff, teachers,students and volunteers, along with friends andfamily celebrated Barnes’ 37 years of service toeducation in Fremont, Brentwood, Antioch andSunol, as her June 30 retirement dateapproaches.Lindsey Knight, on hand for Supervisor DavidHaubert’s office, presented a proclamationhonoring Barnes’ accomplishments. With about160 guests in attendance, the jubilant crowdwas treated to stories from Barnes’ childhoodall the way to her professional years. IFrom Left to Right: Mary Conant, Minister at Little BrownChurch of Sunol and member of the Sunol Citizens’ AdvisoryCouncil; Lindsey Knight, Assistant to Supervisor David Haubert,BOS District 1; Molleen Barnes, Principal & Superintendent ofSunol Glen Unified School District and Connie De Grange, Chairof the Sunol Citizens’ Advisory Council. Photo by The Sunolian staffadministration and district-levelleadership.A graduate of Saint Mary's Collegewith a Master's Degree in EarlyChildhood Education, Galletti hasdemonstrated a strong commitmentto educational innovation andstudent success throughout hercareer. Her strong, diverseFor more photos, see page 12Distributed Photo

This newsletter is published on or around the5th of each month and is available for sale inan online subscription format only, via ourpublishing platform, SimpleBooklet. Currentyear’s back issues, including previous year’sarchives, will also be available for a feethrough SimpleBooklet. The goal of thispublication was, is and will continue to be to“Promote a more informed Sunol.” Oursubscription fees cover our production costs,while our advertising fees are donatedannually to a local organization of ourchoosing. Our objective is to provide access toall Sunolians, both readers and writers. Allsubmissions and contributions are subject toethical fact checking and verification. Allgroups in town are invited to submit monthlycolumns for publication, and we invite stories,comments, letters, photos, inquiries and otherinformation that would be of interest to thecommunity, and all contributions are subjectto approval and/or correction, guidance,delay or refusal. This paper is dedicated toproviding all points of view within thefollowing guidelines: (1) All submissions are tobe respectful, supported by factualinformation (when applicable) and signed; (2)All submissions will be confirmed by theeditor; (3) Space for Letters to the Editor islimited to 250 words maximum. We reservethe right to accept or refuse submissions andedit for context and length. We also reservethe right to refuse advertising that in ouropinion does not reflect the standards orvalues of the newsletter and Managing Team.The opinions expressed, whether by paidadvertisement or editorial content does notnecessarily reflect the views of thisnewspaper. Content submitted may bereprinted and acknowledged without consentin future publications.T H E S U N O L I A NP A G E 2background includes rolesas an elementary schoolteacher, elementary schoolprincipal, district-levelDirector of ElementaryEducation, and Coordinatorof Literacy and Numeracy invarious educational settings.Galletti brings a wealth ofknowledge and experienceto our historic school. Herfocus on literacy and earlychildhood development,combined with heroutstanding personalqualities, set her apart as theideal candidate to upholdand advance the tradition ofeducational excellence thatdefines Sunol Glen School.Galletti began her careerteaching fifth grade at AlisalElementary, then HearstElementary. She later movedfrom the Pleasanton UnifiedSchool District (PUSD) to theTri-Valley ROP and taughthigh school ROP atLivermore, Granada, Foothilland Amador Valley for abouta decade. Later, she becamethe program coordinator forTri- Valley ROP and was incharge of evaluating andcoordinating all of thedistrict’s programs at areaschools."I am honored to have beenchosen as the finalist forthe Superintendent /Principal position at SunolGlen School District," saidGalletti. "I look forward tocollaborating with thededicated staff, students,NEW SUPERINTENDENTANNOUNCEDJ U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4This issue was guest editedGuest Edited,Geraldine Baldassarre,Publisher EmeritaGeneral ManagerOpen until filled,manager@thesunolian.comIssue Contributors:Kristen Bobertz, Victoria Cloutier, Lisa BallContributing ReporterN.B. Burke,nb.burke@thesunolian.comGeneral Leads:nb_burke@proton.meSecure email:Neil Davies,Publisher-At-Largepublisher@thesunolian.comContinued from page 1and community membersto continue the tradition ofacademic excellence andstudent-centered learningthat defines Sunol GlenSchool."The board expressedunanimous support forGalletti's appointment, citingher exemplary leadershipqualities, dedication tostudent achievement, andfocus on early childhooddevelopment as key factorsin the selection process.Galletti's vision forenhancing literacy initiativesand fostering a culture ofinnovation aligns with thedistrict's goals forcontinuous improvementand communityengagement.“The three members of theSunol Glen School Board areall, with consensus, thrilledwith the opportunity topresent Ms. Shay Galletti asour choice for finalist toserve as the nextSuperintendent/Principal ofour impressive historicschool," said BoardPresident Ryan Jergensen.Galletti's appointment issubject to the final approvalby the Board, with an officialstart date to be determined.The district looks forward tothe leadership and visionthat Galletti will bring toSunol Glen School as itcontinues its tradition ofacademic excellence andstudent-centered learning.

N.B. BURKE, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTT H E S U N O L I A NTRUSTEES UP FOR RECALL VOICE COMPLAINTS ATREGISTRAR OF VOTERS’ TIM DUPUIS— DONNA ZIEGLER, COUNTY COUNSEL TO THEALAMEDA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS(BOS), DISCUSSING COMMENTS FROM MEMBERSOF THE PUBLIC AT THE JUNE 4 BOS MEETING The Sunol speakers were not really talking aboutsecurity–they were talking about a different issue,so they did hijack that item and they turned it intothe item that they wanted to talk about.Left to Right: Tim Dupuis, Chief Information Officer andRegistrar of Voters at Alameda County; Donna Ziegler, CountyCounsel, Alameda County Board of Supervisors; and ElisaMárquez, Alameda County Supervisor for District 2.Alameda County Staff PhotosUPCOMING MEETINGSRegular BOS MeetingJune 18, 2024 - 9:30amIn-Person: 1221 Oak St, Fifth Floor, Room 512, OaklandRemote Participation: Click here for GuidelinesEmail written comments by3pm Monday before meetingto add to official record: CBS@acgov.orgIn-Person: Sunol Glen Elementary School CafeteriaSunol Citizens’Advisory CouncilJune 26, 2024 - 6:30pmJ ust about 24 hours ago, Sunol Glen School Board Trustees Ryan Jergensen and LindaHurley, currently up for recall, were part of agroup of public commenters at the AlamedaCounty Board of Supervisors’ (BOS) meetingat which County Counsel, Donna Ziegler,claimed the group “hijacked” an agenda item.Agenda Item 71, meant to re-authorize astandard agreement between the County ofAlameda and the California Secretary of Stateby entering into the ‘Help America Vote Act’,otherwise known as HAVA (a Cybersecurityprogram), included many public commentswhich deviated widely from the topic.Jergensen, as well as Hurley and others, putforth concerns that Ed Code 5421 andElection Code 11041 (both in part addresselection costs) were not being adhered tosince final election costs have not yet beenprovided to Sunol for its recall and a budgethas not yet been approved by the BOS. Jergensen asserted "election costs must bedetermined by the county elections officialand approved by the Board of Supervisors.”However, an examination of the language inthose codes indicates flexibility on when costsmust be finalized and approved, leaving thecost for a special election as an estimate––seemingly to anticipate logistical changesthroughout an election, although theRegistrar of Voters’ website does provide costestimates for planning purposes. County Counsel, Donna Ziegler, advised theBOS in detail on the language of Ed Code5421, saying “As the statute is written, itdoesn’t specify that your board needs toapprove that budget before or after [anelection]. It's not detailed in that nature, so Iwill defer to ROV. I mean, it says what it says.”In the County’s ‘Procedures for Recalling Stateand Local Officials’ guide, costs of an electionContinued on next pageP A G E 3J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

are also addressed solely as estimates, stating:“Upon notification by the Secretary of State thatthe petition has the requisite number of validsignatures to initiate a recall, the Department ofFinance shall, within 30 business days, inconsultation with the affected county electionsofficials and the Secretary of State, estimate thecosts of the recall election and submit thisestimate to the Governor, the Secretary of State,and the Chairperson of the Joint LegislativeBudget Committee. The Joint Legislative BudgetCommittee [then] has 30 days to review andcomment on the estimate provided to them bythe Department of Finance.”Jergensen also contended that county electionofficials had not held a consultation with thedistrict regarding costs, citing Election Code11041 which states in part: “the estimate of thecounty elections official, in consultation with theschool district, of the cost of conducting a specialelection”. The statute, however, pertains to therequirements that a petitioner must include whenfiling for a recall––and does not apply to theelection process itself.Jergensen, who stated during his introduction thatT H E S U N O L I A Nhe was speaking on behalf of himself and not onbehalf of the board, said near the end of hiscomment, “the Sunol Glen School Board will likelynot pay for this after the fact.”Hurley, during her second comment at themeeting and using a tactic commonly associatedwith the Trump Administration and the GOPduring the 2020 election in an attempt todisenfranchise voters, made a public request for a100% manual tally of votes “on the same day”,presumably meaning the same day as theelection. However, taking into consideration that,provisional ballots require a number of days toverify after an election closes, and that “Vote-by-mail ballots that are mailed must be postmarkedon or before Election Day and received by theRegistrar of Voters office no later than 7 daysafter Election Day", many votes would likely be leftuncounted under Hurley’s request.Two days after election day in 2020, Trumpfamously tweeted (all caps, his): "ANY VOTE THATCAME IN AFTER ELECTION DAY WILL NOT BECOUNTED!" X (formerly known as Twitter) flaggedthe comment as potentially misleading.About 89% of California voters use mail in ballots,including those serving in the military.Above: County Counsel, Donna Ziegler, responds to Elisa Marquéz's (Alameda County Supervisor for District 2) inquiryregarding public commenters from Sunol repeating their comments at different times on the Agenda and straying offtopic from the Agenda Item, at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors Meeting on June 6, 2024.P A G E 4 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4Continued from previous page

T H E S U N O L I A NP A G E 5J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

OPINIONT H E S U N O L I A NEditorial deadline & publication scheduleSubmission guidelines for Opinion (Guest) EssaysSubmission guidelines for Letters to the EditorThis issue was Guest EditedNeil Davies, Publisher-At-LargeT H E S U N O L I A NC O M M U N I T Y M E M B E RSubmit your request to join our Editorial Board tohelp determine this paper’s position on local issues:editor+board@thesunolian.comE D I T O R I A L B O A R DThe opinions, views, and perspectivesexpressed in articles, editorials, and lettersto the editor within The Sunolian are thoseof the individual authors and do notnecessarily reflect the official stance oropinions of the publication, its editorialboard, or its staff. The Sunolian iscommitted to providing a platform for–andto seeking out–diverse voices and opinions,fostering open dialogue and discoursewithin the community. However, thepublication does not endorse or takeresponsibility for the accuracy or validity ofthe viewpoints expressed by contributors.Readers are encouraged to criticallyevaluate the content and form their owninformed opinions.P A G E 6 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

OPINIONG U E S T E S S A YScott Chong, ContributorWHEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HIDE BEHIND ‘ATTORNEYS’ FOR PERSONAL GAIN hortly before declining to vote on a resolution to remove Debbie Ferrari from the Citizen’s BondOversight Committee (CBOC), Trustee Linda Hurleycalled it a farce.I am in complete agreement. After the Feb. 4 incident,it took over three months to resolve a simple issue. During this time, we saw Trustees Ryan Jergensen andHurley arrive at a meeting completely unprepared todiscuss this item on the agenda. Neither hadbothered to request a copy of the offensive emailprior to the meeting. We all watched blatantfavoritism as Jergensen allowed Ferrari to speak lastfor unlimited time while restricting all others to twominutes.Subsequently, there was a claim an investigation wasbeing conducted. But when asked who wasinvestigating and what they were investigating, therewas no response. There were also multiple claims of speaking to legalcounsel. When specifically asked which counsel sincethe previous one dropped Sunol Glen as a client,there was no response.At the most recent meeting on May 14, Jergensenfinally did provide a slide of a statement that he sayswas “written by the attorney for our District” [Editor’snote: after inquiring with the District, it was confirmedthat, at least, from May 1-14, CSBA was the only legalfirm advising the District and the School Board in Sunol;we reached out to Chief Legal Counsel, Robert Tuerck, forcomment and have not heard back as of thispublication] stating that personal statements throughpersonal social media were allowed, but the Boardstill had the authority to remove a member for cause.It was a curious error for legal counsel to make, as itwas well established that the offendingcommunication was a direct email to a work emailaddress, not a post on social media. Since we were not shown the exact wording, itappears the request was deliberately crafted in a wayto highlight the term ‘social media’, therebyminimizing Ferrari’s heinous behavior. Even curiouser, Hurley then claimed to also havespoken to legal counsel but said that she was toldthat the Board had no authority over CBOC. As bothTrustees would seemingly have the same counsel, yetHurley provided nothing written, it appears that herfavorite excuse was a complete fabrication. Taking a step back, if the Board has no authority overCBOC and the CBOC chair has no authority overCBOC, then a CBOC member could theoreticallyassault someone at a meeting and there would be noway to discipline them. This is obviously ludicrous, butit is the falsehood that Hurley wants us all to swallow.Ignoring the argument ‘was this offensive email racistenough?’, the fact remains a sitting CBOC membersent a rage-email at 3am berating a communitymember for daring to write an Op Ed. This act alonemerited a serious discussion and immediateresolution. They could have discussed censure,probation, rehabilitation, education or otheralternative solutions besides removal. But instead, Jergensen and Hurley punted. They ignored the issueuntil pressed, equivocated, scoffed, delayed whilemaking unproven claims of unseen investigations,and tried to shield themselves behind attorneys––both real and theoretical.Only this time, they got caught and exposedthemselves by having two different stories from whatshould have been the same counsel. Naturally, onemust think about all the times they've used “legalcounsel” as justification for their actions and raise thequestion of legitimacy.Without transparency and without proof, how cananyone trust anything that Jergensen or Hurley claim?Sadly, this is but one of many instances where theyhave blatantly bent rules and put self-interest overthe good of the community. Their self-serving versionof ineffective leadership is indeed a farce. Thestudents, staff, and citizens of Sunol Glen deservebetter.Trustees Jergensen and Hurley must be recalled.T H E S U N O L I A NSP A G E 7J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NS U P E R I N T E N D E N T ’ SC O R N E RMolleen Barnes,Superintendent/PrincipalSunol Glen Unified School District On Wednesday, May 29, the Sunol Glen Schoolstaff celebrated our extraordinary and fabulousvolunteers with a tea in our very own Dillon’sGarden on the school campus. Our volunteers were serenaded by our wonderfulJunior Choir, led by music teacher Mrs. Davel. Wealso shared our winners for the annual “Volunteerof the Year” awards. Sunol Glen School chooses avolunteer that we feel has gone above and beyondduring the current school year. There were manychoices this year––we have been blessed withamazing volunteers that went out of their way toensure that our staff and students and familieswere taken care of throughout the year! Votingtook place during the month of May.Our Sunol Glen Community Club honored tworecipients with “Lifetime Achievement” Awards.These awards are given to parent volunteers thathave students leaving Sunol Glen School and havethroughout their time with us, given us so much oftheir time and care. Thank you to all of our volunteers and parents! Weare grateful to all of you that have chosen todonate your time and talents to our sweet school!Your support of Sunol Glen School means somuch! We hope to see you all at more volunteerevents in the future!During the last Community Club meeting,nominations were held for the upcomingCentennial Sunol Glen School year. The followingparents will be your Sunol Glen Community ClubExecutive Board: Chrissy Ogimachi (President),Annie Bonderson (Vice President), Alex Chiang(Treasurer), Sirena Lueker-Boden (Secretary), andMelissa Roth (Volunteer Coordinator). Also electedwere members for Dillon’s Garden Committee:Kisten Bobertz, Kaye Wagner, Sirena Lueker-Bodenand Jennifer Lawrence.Volunteer of the Year: And the Winner is....The 2023-24 Volunteer of the Year has been a partof the Eagle Family for SEVEN years (!) and hasspent COUNTLESS hours volunteering at ourschool in a variety of ways. As one person put it,“The sheer number of hours she puts in goes wayabove and beyond!” Here are some notable detailsabout this year’s recipient:She pretty much lives here––you are hard pressedto be on campus on any given day and not see herhere! She works in our school garden, isinstrumental in Walk-a-thon, Spring Fling, ourCommunity Club, and, she always is one of the firstpeople to sign up for anything.She is incredibly talented! She has beeninstrumental in our school’s Trashion Showfor all the years she has been involved and putsforth tremendous effort and time to ensure thateach of the participants have enough ‘trash’ to feelconfident walking the runway.She has not only helped out in each of herchildren’s classrooms each year––she is everpresent, runs last minute errands for the teacher,and in a sense, ‘co-teaches’ the classes with theteacher... and I am not kidding! It is incredible... andevery time I thank her for the million things shedoes, she waves off my gratitude, conveying thatshe is committed not for the glory and accolades,but because she truly cares and thrives on the actof volunteering.She spreads positivity and care like no one else! Ijust cannot say enough about her. I absolutelyadore her and am going to miss her like crazy. Thisyear’s recipient: Annie Bonderson!PARENT OFFICERS ELECTED, AWARDS ANNOUNCEDAt Left: AnnieBonderson is SunolGlen School’s 2023-24Volunteer of the Year. Submitted photoContinued on next pageP A G E 8 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

To begin, one would need toask, what hasn’t Cheryl done?She is amazing and here arejust a few of her contributions:Community Club President4 years & member for 12yearsLed Earth Week ActivitiesLed Staff Morale WeekActivitiesCoordinated SG FloodRecovery Clean Up DayeventRoom Parent for 13 yearsCoordinated Walk-a-thon,Spring Fling, TrashionShow, Auctions for schoolfundraising, STEAM NightParticipates in the GardenProgram, Book Fair,Spelling Bee ~ really, anyand all school activities!Coordinated the Washington, DC field trip for our families and 7th & 8th graders the past few years!Cheryl is incredibly dedicated,has great ideas andencourages everyone aroundher to get involved. As oneparent noted, “If Cherylapproaches you in the parkinglot, you know you will beagreeing to help out in someway or fashion!” So, anotherone of her gifts to the school isthe ‘ripple effect’ of garneringmore volunteers, which thusallows our students to benefiteven more! She is amazing andabsolutely deserving of thishonored recognition! I am sograteful for Cheryl and ALL heryears of service to Sunol Glen!LIFETIME VOLUNTEERS’ NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONST H E S U N O L I A NLifetime Volunteer for Sunol Glen: Cheryl ThompsonLifetime Volunteer for Sunol Glen: Rene StilwellRene Stilwell’s contributionshave been many and varied!Her passion for educationextends to the school, theprograms, the oversight. What Ilove about her contributionsthe most is all that she hasdone for our library andpromoting literacy with ourstudents! Indeed, Rene hasbeen our Book Faircoordinator for several yearsand always steps up to help inthe classrooms and on campusin this endeavor.Additionally, she has taken onseveral leadership roles beingour Community Club Presidentand our Vice-President, alongwith being our Volunteer co-Coordinator. She workstirelessly as a classroomvolunteer, ensuring that herstudent’s teacher is supportedand provided with what theyneed to optimize studentsuccess. Additionally, sheserved on our School SiteCouncil adding her vision toour committee.Lastly, Rene has beeninstrumental in the Viola BlytheSunol Glen Gives Back program,which helps our school make adifference beyond our owndoors to other neighboringareas. This essential program enables students toexperience the value of caringfor others and ‘giving back’! Weare so grateful for Rene’s care,commitment and leadership -she is most deserving of thisrecognition!Above: Cheryl Thompson is arecipient of Sunol Glen School’sLifetime Volunteer award. Staff photo from SGUSDAbove: Rene Stilwell is a recipientof Sunol Glen School’s LifetimeVolunteer award. Staff photo from SGUSDP A G E 9J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

MU S E U M O N M A I N , P LE A S A N T O NT H E S U N O L I A NMUSEUM WELCOMES WORKS FROM VIETNAMESE DIASPORAThrough contemporary art and writings, the newtraveling exhibit Textures of Remembrance:Vietnamese Artists and Writers Reflect on theVietnamese Diaspora explores a date that impactsmany Vietnamese Americans: April 30, 1975, theend of the Vietnam War. Featuring works by 25Vietnamese artists and writers, these narrativestexturize the Vietnamese diasporic experience, inwhich refugees are not objects of rescue butinstead subjects of artistic and politicaltransformation. Textures of Remembrance opens atMuseum on Main on June 6 and will be on viewthrough September 21.April 30 is a date often remembered poignantly,especially by those of South Vietnamese descent;as well, it is a date that denotes new beginnings.On this date in 1975, North Vietnamese forcescaptured Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam,marking the end of the Vietnam War. Reflecting onthis day from past to present through writtenwords, visual creations, and audiovisualcomponents, this interdisciplinary exhibit revealsan intimate perspective of the diasporicexperience that has been gathered, created,collected and re-collected, and imagined and re-imagined since 1975.The creative pieces showcased – curated by theDiasporic Vietnamese Artists Network – revealpersonal struggles and memories, demonstratingthe continued effects of the Vietnam War onidentity, sense of family and community, andrepresentation. Importantly, this exhibition sharesworks made within and for the Vietnamesediasporic community to humanize the refugeeexperience from the inside out. The project aimsto present a humanities-driven exploration of theimpact of the Vietnam War, collect and sharestories in the diasporic Vietnamese community tofoster healing and connection, buildintergenerational and cross-culturalunderstanding, and counter stereotypes of andracism towards Vietnamese Americans andrefugees.Executive director Sarah Schaefer notes that theContinued on next pageWork from ViSonh Tre, "TheStories WeCarry." Courtesy ofExhibit Envoyand the artistP A G E 1 0 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NMuseum is particularly excited to host Textures ofRemembrance. “Understandably, much of ourframework in the US for the Vietnam War hascome through the experiences of Americans whoserved in it. This exhibit gives us a uniqueopportunity to learn from the perspectives ofthose Vietnamese who had to flee their country atthe end of the war and became refugees.” TheMuseum is always trying to bring a variety ofvoices and experiences to the community throughits programming and exhibits, especially of peoplewho despite their compelling stories often remainunheard. Curator Ken MacLennan adds, “We alsohope that these reflections on the experience offlight, of seeking refuge from catastrophe, willresonate with a lot of people whose families cameto America from elsewhere, or that they will sparkempathy in people who don’t recognize apersonal connection to the refugee experience.”Information about programs to support Texturesof Remembrance will be available on the Museumon Main website (www.museumonmain.org) andwill be announced on other social media outletssuch as its Facebook page.Exhibition SupportTextures of Remembrance is a traveling exhibitcreated in partnership by the DiasporicVietnamese Artists Network, Exhibit Envoy, andOakland Asian Cultural Center. This project wasmade possible with support from CaliforniaHumanities, a non-profit partner of the NationalEndowment for the Humanities, and CaliforniaArts Council. Visit calhum.org and arts.ca.gov. About Exhibit EnvoyExhibit Envoy provides traveling exhibitions andprofessional services to museums throughoutCalifornia. For more information, visitwww.exhibitenvoy.org. About the Diasporic Vietnamese Artists NetworkThe Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN)celebrates and fosters diasporic Vietnameseliterary voices. DVAN promotes nonfiction, fiction,and poetry to empower Vietnamese artists in thediaspora to inspire understanding and dialoguewithin our community, and with others. Visitwww.dvan.org.Continued from previous pageP A G E 1 1J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NPictured left to right, are sisters ShelaghFredenburg, Molleen Barnes, Colleen Donlon andRose CadeContinued from page 1RETIREMENT PARTY BRINGS THE ACCOLADESFrom Left to Right: Nancy Chiprich, GinWesener and Julia Harris.From Left to Right: Gin Wesener, Rene Stilwell, Wanda Conner,Vivian Sam, Angeli Macdonald and Cheryl Thompson.Above Left: A cake fit for a “queen”. Above Right: Erin Choin andCrystal Diamond.Above: Soon-to-retire Sunol Glen Superintendent/PrincipalMolleen Barenes and Alysse Castro, Superintendent of AlamedaCounty Office of Education.P A G E 1 2 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

NEW FOOD CONTEST COMES TO THE 2024 FAIRT H E S U N O L I A NA bacon-wrapped pizza on a stick,a red, white, and blue CheeseDog, and a “Celebration” Bobadrink are just a few of thecontenders for the AlamedaCounty Fair’s new food contest.The Foodie’s Choice Awards,running from June 14-30, willfeature fun, crazy, and deliciousfood and beverage items fromseveral of the Fair’s food vendors.Food and beverage vendors willenter their creations to thecontest in the categories of “CrazyNew Item” and “Red, White, andBlue”, and can submit either food,drink, or dessert options. Patrons at the Fair will vote forthe winners by scanning a QRcode on the food booths, taking abrief vendor survey, and votingfor their favorite items. Votingends on June 30. There will be sixfirst place winners: each categorywill be awarded first place forfood, drink, and dessert. FirstPlace winners will receive abespoke trophy and a stand-upflag to be displayed on theirbooth for the rest of the Fair.Winners will be announced with avirtual ceremony on the AlamedaCounty Fair’s Facebook Live onJune 30. They will also behighlighted on Alameda CountyFair’s website, social mediachannels, and in a blog post. The goal of the contest is tocelebrate the creativity andpassion for one of the topreasons people attend the Fairevery year: Fair food. F R O M P R E S S R E L E A S EFairgoers can try the contest’sFirst Place winning foods throughthe end of Fair on July 7. The fulllist of participating vendors ishereannual.alamedacountyfair.com/food-contests. The Fair has added to its culinaryexperience by featuring a newfood and wine pairing guide. Didyou know that a Viognier, withmedium acidity and tropicalflavors, pairs incredibly well withLobster Fries? Or that Elote, withits grilled, sweet, and salty flavorsof cotija and herbaceous cilantro,would pair perfectly with thebright acidity and grassy notes ofan Albarino or Sauvignon Blanc?Check out the official pairingguide here for more unique andmouthwatering food andbeverage options.The Fair will also bring back its $3Fair Food Bites on Thursday, June20 and 27. Fair-goers can sampleselect bite-sized treats and tastea wide variety of flavors for a tinyprice tag. “From the classicfavorites like funnel cakes, corndogs or deep fried oreos to freshglobal cuisine like gyros, ceviche,or pineapple teriyaki bowls, weare proud to offer such a widevariety of Fair foods,” said AngelMoore, COO of the AlamedaCounty Fair. “With over 100different food and drink booths,there is something for everyone’staste buds.” For additional information, pleasevisit alamedacountyfair.com.P A G E 1 3J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

Livermore, City HallA look at June Pride in the Tri-ValleyWhile Sunol Glen Unified School District’s 2023pride flag ban brought forth passionate viewpointsfrom members of the community––many of whomcited the United States Supreme Court case Shurtleffv. City of Boston as possible case law exposing Sunolto litigation––other municipalities and schooldistricts in the immediate Tri-Valley area (andbeyond) do not hold the same reservations. In fact,so far, just two school districts in the entire state ofCalifornia have banned the flag––Sunol andTemecula Valley.Elsewhere in the U.S., the GOP-led state ofTennessee attempted to legislate schools to fly onlythe U.S. flag and official state flag, but failed tosecure a simple majority. Similar proposals havefailed to gain traction this year in both Utah andFlorida.Pleasanton, City HallPUSDT H E S U N O L I A NCELEBRATING PRIDE IN THE TRI-VALLEY & BEYONDFROM ONLINE REPORTSAbove: To recognize and support June as Pride Month,the City of Pleasanton is flying the LGBTQ ProgressFlag at City Hall. As shared on social media, the Citysays, “Join us in celebrating diversity, promotinginclusion, and fostering a community where everyonefeels welcome and valued. From City of PleasantonFacebook pageTop Left: Civic Center Campus at Livermore’s City Hall.Livermore says the “flag is a colorful reminder of howour City is strengthened and enriched by the diversity ofits residents, business owners and students. From City ofLivermore Facebook page.Top Right: Pleasanton Unified School Districtunanimously voted in 2021 to fly the LGBTQ ProgressFlag at their District office and on each school campusfor the month of June. From PUSD Facebook page.Above: Alameda County District 1 Supervisor David Haubertacknowledged Pride month on his social media channels,stating, “Happy Pride Month! This month, let us celebrate loveand diversity across Alameda County.” From SupervisorDavid Haubert Facebook pageP A G E 1 4 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

T H E S U N O L I A NRed = LifeRed winged blackbirds are one of the many living things that call Del Valle home.The males have a showy red shoulder patch bordered in yellow. They live inmarshy areas amongst cattails along the shores of the lake. Photo courtesy JerryTing on Flickr.A RAINBOW OF COLORS FOUND ON EAST BAY TRAILSIn celebration of Pride Month, thePark District will raise the PrideFlag in parks where flagpoles arepresent. Join the Park District incelebrating diversity in parks andcreating welcoming spaces foreveryone. Our Regional Parks protect manydiverse ecosystems where plantsand animals thrive. They are alsoplaces that welcome andcelebrate diversity. Join us as we celebrate Pride Month andexplore the meaning behind thecolors in the pride flag.FR O M E B P A R K S D I S T RI C TFR O M E B P A R K S . O R G , “ A L L A R E WE L C O M E H E RE ”Orange = HealingAs the land heals after a fire, wind poppies will add pops of orange color in thespring as they are “fire-followers.” The seeds wait in the soil for heat, smoke, orcharred wood before sprouting. They are less common than the well lovedCalifornia poppy but no less beautiful. Photo courtesy Jerry Ting on Flickr.Yellow = SunlightWhat would life be like without the sun? Not only does it allow plants to grow butit also keeps us warm. In the heat of the summer, remember to drink plenty ofwater, find shade, and wear sunscreen. Photo courtesy Steven Christenson onFlickr.Green = NatureNature is all around and we are thankful to have these open spaces in the EastBay. No matter the season, it’s always a great time outside. Photo courtesy JerryTing on Flickr.Blue = SerenityThere’s no doubt that humans are drawn to water. Looking out at the blue waterglistening while feeling the breeze on your face leaves you with a sense of calm totackle the stresses of your day or appreciate the joys in your life. Photo courtesyJanet Norris on Flickr.Purple = SpiritLike ecosystems that recover after a fire or flooding, the human spirit is resilientin the face of adversities through connection to nature, to family and community,to the power of love, to inner strengths, and to a vision of life bigger than thepresent circumstances. Photo courtesy Bill Clark on Flickr.P A G E 1 5J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

FROM ONLINE REPORTST H E S U N O L I A NMEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATIONS HONOR HEROESVeterans assemble in Stockmen’s Park for Livermore’s recent Memorial Day remembrance. City of Livermore photoThe City of Livermore launched a MilitaryBanner Program to honor veterans andactive-duty service members. This specialopportunity will recognize individuals whohave served our nation through militaryservice. The banners will be displayed alongVeterans Way from Memorial Day toVeterans Day starting in 2025.Afterward, they'll be presented to thehonoree's family at a City Council meeting.Applications are open now through Nov. 1,2024, for the 2025 display period. Spacesare limited; each banner costs $185.For more info and to apply, click here.Collage of photos from Pleasanton’s Memorial Day celebrations.. Photos from KarlaBrown, Mayor of PleasantonHonoring the brave thispast Memorial Day, Livermore stood unitedin gratitude by honoringthose who served andthose who continue toserve in the UnitedStates military.Community membersgathered in Stockmen’sPark to pay tribute to thebrave people who madethe ultimate sacrifice, and City leaders extendedtheir heartfelt thanks tothe families who havelost their loved ones inservice.In Pleasanton, MayorKarla Brown joined localveterans and militarymembers in reverence atthe city’s annualMemorial DayRemembrance Ceremonyoutside the PleasantonSenior Center. Brownremarked, “I am proud,honored, and humbledto celebrate our fallenheroes during MemorialDay.”P A G E 1 6 J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4

February, Vol. 7, Special Issue https://midd.me/shLWMarch, Vol. 7, Iss. 2 https://midd.me/shLWFebruary, Vol. 7, Iss. 1https://midd.me/QAtZClick or scan below for our 2024 issues availableonline:T H E S U N O L I A NWE GOT ISSUES: CHECK IT OUT ONLINEOur 2024 issues are now available in print and online. Ouronline format includes interactive, multimedia andembedded videos, and is presented as an onscreen,digital, flippable booklet. Our digital version convenientlyincludes reference links throughout.April, Vol. 7, Iss. 3 https://midd.me/ICLxCONTACT PUBLISHER TO ADVERTISEAdvertising Rates for the 2024 Feb, Mar, Apr and May editions are on the house during our inaugural re-launch. You may contact the Publisher, Neil Davies (publisher@thesunolian.com) regarding advertisingrates past the May issue. For advertising sizes and artwork requirements, contact the Editor & LayoutDesigner, Cammie O’Connor (editor@thesunolian.com) for specs and file types. P A G E 1 7J U N E 5 , 2 0 2 4Be sure to follow us onFacebook where weannounce all of our issuesMay, Vol. 7, Iss. 4https://midd.me/d8x5