Archive for March, 2009
by John M. Zukoski on March 30, 2009 | 
2 Comments | Topics: Announcements
Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti recently launched a new site at http://www.timsbranti.info/ to provide residents and business owners with City updates and information about his activities. Mayor Sbranti has complemented this new site with a Facebook page, as well (to become a Facebook friend with Mayor Sbranti, please search for Tim Sbranti on Facebook and send an invitation to become friends).
The new site has a plethora of helpful information including:
- Dublin Updates – summaries of previous and upcoming events such as the Dublin Real Estate Town Hall meeting at the new Shannon Community Center and the expanded partnership between the City, Police Services, and property owners to eliminate crime at apartment complexes.
- Mayor’s Report – a traditional blog of all the events and meetings that Mayor Sbranti has attended.
- News Recap – selected Dublin-related articles from local publications such as the Tri-Valley Herald, Pleasanton Weekly, and Contra Costa Times.
- Community Events – a list of upcoming events with additional details and insights from the Mayor.
It is wonderful to see this real-time insider’s guide to all the exciting developments and activities in Dublin.
by John M. Zukoski on March 28, 2009 | 3 Comments | Topics: Sustainability
Do you have an old computer, printer, or car battery that you want to get rid of? How about that stereo system that you bought 10 years ago that’s bigger than your new entertainment center furniture? Electronic Waste Management Services is having an e-waste recycling event at the Diablo Valley College (DVC) campus in San Ramon (corner of Watermill Road & Bollinger Canyon Road) on April 4th from 9am-1pm. The event will be held in the back parking lot. Nearly all electronic items will be accepted with the exception of appliances.
Electronic Waste Management Services hosts these free events at the San Ramon DVC on the first Saturday of every month (except holidays). Please check out their website or call 866-335-3373 for more details.
by John M. Zukoski on March 25, 2009 | 17 Comments | Topics: Parks
The Dublin City Council recently approved plans to begin construction on Phase I of the Fallon Sports Park. The illustration above provides a view to the Phase I project plan in the greater context of the entire park master plan. Please click on the image above for a larger and more detailed view of what will be included in Phase I (surrounded by the dotted red line) and what is scheduled to be included in subsequent phases.
For more information, please call the Dublin Parks and Community Services department at (925) 833-6645.
by John M. Zukoski on March 23, 2009 | 1 Comment | Topics: Things To Do
Kids ages 3-10 will have a fun and enriching time at the Dublin Heritage Center (6600 Donlon Way) on Saturday April 4th from 2-4pm exploring some of Japan’s traditions and popular culture. The folks at Sakura Garden Japanese Language School will be leading the workshop. Here are some of the events that your kids can enjoy:
- Make origami
- Write Japanese
- Sing Japanese songs
- Learn about the abacus
- Make and taste Japanese foods
This event only costs $5/person. Please call 925-452-2100 for more details about this event.
by John M. Zukoski on March 21, 2009 | No Comments | Topics: Profiles
The Dublin Rotary Club provides service to residents of all ages in the local and international communities. Dublin Rotary’s service to the senior community of Dublin has been especially prolific. Here are just a few of the services and programs sponsored by the Dublin Rotary Club that benefit the senior community:
Smoke Alarm Maintenance and Replacement – the Dublin Rotary Club and volunteers from Dublin’s high schools will be replacing smoke alarm batteries smoke alarm units in the homes of seniors throughout Dublin on April 25th starting at 9am.
Wheelchair Donations – the Dublin Rotary Club most recently donated a wheelchair to the Dublin Senior Center to assist non-ambulatory visitors that want to take full advantage of all the fantastic programs that the Senior Center has to offer. The picture to the left was taken of a gentleman that took advantage of the wheelchair on the same day of the donation.
Host Special Lunches for Seniors – the Dublin Rotary Club hosts a special theme lunch every second Thursday of the month at the Dublin Senior Center. The most recent lunch had a St. Patrick’s Day theme and was accompanied by live Irish music. The Dublin Senior Center serves the best corned beef and cabbage that you’ll find this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dublin Rotary Club is just one of many service organizations that help make the fabric our community strong.
by John M. Zukoski on March 18, 2009 | 10 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks
The Dublin City Council unanimously voted to award the roughly $10M Fallon Sports Park Phase I project to Robert A. Bothman, Incorporated. Phase I will include:
- 2 softball fields
- 2 little league baseball fields
- 2 soccer fields (with artificial turf)
- A BMX track
- 4 tennis courts
- 4 basketball courts
In addition to these main features, the Council also approved the construction of a shade structure at the soccer fields, a batting cage at the little league fields, pedestrian lighting at the Fallon Road / Gleason Drive entryway, and a walkway bridge over the stream corridor from the park to Lockhart Street.
In light of the current shortage of development impact fees to fund Phase I, the Council also authorized a loan from Dublin’s General Fund if needed and deferred the design of the Emerald Glen Park Recreation and Aquatic Center for at least one year. The Council was able to take advantage of the favorable construction bid environment and saved residents over $3M by approving the Fallon Sports Park Phase I construction Tuesday night.
by John M. Zukoski on March 16, 2009 | 44 Comments | Topics: Restaurants
Buffalo Wild Wings (B-Dubs) is planning to open their 5,700 sq. ft. grill & bar at Grafton Station in Dublin on April 6th – the same day as the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship game. The first 100 customers to arrive at B-Dubs on the morning of April 6th will receive a coupon booklet for 6 free wings per week for 1 year!
B-Dubs will be installing kitchen equipment at their Dublin site this week and if all goes well this week they will have all the inspection and licensing sign-offs in place by Friday March 27th. After the grand opening, B-Dubs may go back to the Planning Commission to request permission to make signage and awning improvements to enhance the restaurant “look and feel”.
by John M. Zukoski on March 15, 2009 | 8 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Parks
UPDATE – Iroonet’s request to operate a boarding house in Dublin Ranch was approved. Please visit Dublin Townhall for more details.
The Dublin City Council will consider deferring Phase I of the Fallon Sports Park during their Tuesday, March 17th meeting. While the lowest bid to build Phase I came in roughly 20% below the initial estimates, Dublin has had a precipitous drop in public facility impact fees due to reduced development. While Dublin could borrow the necessary funds to complete Phase I of the Sports Park (until impact fees start flowing in again), it is likely that the City Council will defer funding the project and hope to receive a Measure WW grant or funding from President Obama’s Reinvestment and Recovery stimulus program.
In addition to the Fallon Sports Park decision, Tuesday night’s meeting will include many controversial items:
- Boarding House in Dublin Ranch – an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to not approve Iroonet’s request to open a boarding house in Dublin Ranch.
- Springfield Montessori Daycare – consideration to approve Springfield Montessori’s request to build a 16,000 sq. ft. daycare and playground next to Fallon Middle School and the Sonata community.
- City Budget Updates – a presentation on Dublin’s city finances. The City now expects to have a $2.3M general fund deficit for the 2008-2009 fiscal year, primarily due to a nearly $3M reduction in estimated sales tax revenue (from the closure of car dealerships and large stores like Mervyn’s, Circuit City, Expo, and Shoe Pavilion).
- Shamrock Preschool – consideration to affirm Dublin’s Parks and Community Services commission and City Staff recommendation to continue the operation of Shamrock Preschool at Emerald Glen park. The current plan is to close Shamrock Preschool at Emerald Glen and open Shannon Preschool at the Shannon Community Center.
Be sure to arrive early – seats and copies of the agenda will be in short supply Tuesday night.
by John M. Zukoski on March 14, 2009 | No Comments | Topics: Things To Do
LEARN TO USE “SOCIAL MEDIA”
TO BUILD COMMUNITY & BUSINESS
Participation in local government is important. It’s the only way to influence policies that may affect you, it keeps politicians accountable, and local government decisions and community effort are key to driving local business development.
One of the ways to break down the barriers is Citizen 2.0. This is a community member engaged through simple Web communication tools to know what’s going on in their City, with the means to quickly and easily add meaningful input. Citizen 2.0 is streamlined activism for modern life. It is bringing people together around community and economic development in non-traditional ways.
Social media is the Web-tool enabled culture that drives Citizen 2.0. We’ll cover the culture of collaboration, transparency and immediacy of Web 2.0, and give an overview of blogging and an introduction to tools such as Facebook, Skype, Yelp, Twitter and Google Alerts. This demo will include how to “talk the talk” when it comes to getting started with these tools.
EVENT FREE FOR ALL LIGHT REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED RAFFLE SPONSORS WELCOMEMarch 29, Sunday, 1-3 p.m.
5501 Demarcus Blvd. • Dublin • Community Room
RSVP to adriel@adrielhampton.com
