Archive for 2010
by John M. Zukoski on September 2, 2010 | 
No Comments | Topics: Schools
The Bay Area is home to many top colleges and universities. This abundance of world-class higher education institutions is a key factor ensuring that the Bay Area will continue to innovate and thrive in the years ahead. A college education is one of the most important and costly investments that prospective students will ever make. For this reason, the editors of U.S. News provide students and their families with as much information as possible about the comparative merits of the educational programs at America’s colleges and universities. Many Bay Area and Central Valley institutions made it to U.S. News’ top colleges listing for 2011.
Continue Reading
by Around Dublin Team on September 1, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements
The Bunny Art Show at East Bay SPCA has been a huge hit in Dublin, CA. The concept of the Bunny Art Show was to have local artists create portraits of East Bay SPCA rabbits looking for forever homes. The artists are all animal lovers but most have never had pet rabbits. In response to the overwhelming interest in the Bunny Art Show, many of the artists are adding more artwork this month.
Michelle Chan, Eileen Crowley, Valerie Daft, Carol Hart, Kathleen Hill, Lenore Kreit, Diana Marion, Christine McCall, Linda Ryan, Marcy Schaaf and Shelly Yen have already created more than 60 portraits of adoptable bunnies offered by the House Rabbit Society, Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary, select local shelters, and individual rescues. The next adoption event is Saturday, Sept 4th.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 31, 2010 | 14 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Opinions
Located at the corner of Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road in Dublin, CA, Tralee Village is a stunning retail and residential mixed-use infill project that combines timeless architecture with the ultimate in accessibility and convenience. While most of the retail space at Tralee Village has been leased out, nearly all of the 233 residential units sit vacant. The project’s developer, Pinn Brothers, defaulted on its loan, and lender Wells Fargo has assumed ownership of the Shops at Tralee and the unsold condos and townhomes.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 30, 2010 | 5 Comments | Topics: Development
Dublin’s Planning Commission recently approved D.R. Horton’s request to have an option to build either a 105-unit townhouse project named Esprit or 300-unit condo project named Metropolitan. The 15,000 square feet of retail space at the East Dublin BART Station transit village originally proposed for Metropolitan will be dropped for Esprit. The 4.13 acre site for Esprit/Metropolitan is directly across from the Avalon apartment complex on the corner of Dublin Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway.
If approved by the Dublin City Council, D.R. Horton’s new option would not include the 15,000 square feet of retail space that had initially been planned for the parcel. This decision is based on the fact that there has not been any demand for the existing retail space that sits vacant on the first floor of the Avalon community.
The Esprit project has five plan designs that include two to three bedrooms ranging from 1,174 square feet to 1,610 square feet.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 29, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Schools
On September 1, 2010, Chevron will be launching its one-month-long Fuel Your School program in partnership with DonorsChoose.org. Chevron hopes to provide public schools in Alameda County and Contra Costa County with funding up to $1M for projects that focus on science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). Obtaining funding is easy. Teachers simply submit their science, technology, engineering, or math projects to DonorsChoose.org. Projects are approved and funded by DonorsChoose.org up to $2,000 per project in the order that they are received. Participating Chevron stations donate $1 for every 8-gallon or more fill-up to the projects in the city where the gas stations are located.
Dublin, for example, has two participating Chevron gas stations at 7007 San Ramon Valley Boulevard and 7100 Dougherty Road. If 10,000 customers fill-up at these two stations, Chevron will contribute $10,000 to classroom projects in Dublin’s public schools.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 28, 2010 | 8 Comments | Topics: Opinions
With home affordability increasing and interest rates at all time lows, many Tri-Valley residents are considering the possibility of renting out their current homes, so they can buy another primary residence at an attractive price. Meanwhile, people are looking to rent in safe neighborhoods with great schools at an affordable price. Many experts anticipate that the number of renters will increase nationally by 10% over the next year or so.
If you are ready to become a landlord, here are the top five tips to consider when renting out your home:
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 26, 2010 | 11 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues
The City of Pleasanton recently approved plans to extend Stoneridge Drive out to El Charro Road at the future site of Staples Ranch. Once completed, Staples Ranch is expected to showcase an 11-acre retail plaza, 17-acres of parkland (including an ice skating complex), the 45-acre Stoneridge Creek Pleasanton senior continuing care community, and Hendrick Automotive Group’s 37-acre luxury auto mall.
While the City of Pleasanton may have approved the extension, it gave itself a contingency clause. Pleasanton will extend Stoneridge Drive to El Charro Road only if Livermore connects Jack London Boulevard to El Charro Road. The Jack London Boulevard extension has been put on hold until development begins at the Prime Outlet Mall on El Charro Road. This conditional approval is not the first time Pleasanton has used an “out” clause to delay the extension of Stoneridge Drive. For years the City of Pleasanton has blocked this critical road extension, in spite of Supervisor Scott Haggerty’s promise to have Alameda County pay for it.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 25, 2010 | 19 Comments | Topics: Local Issues · Opinions
A leading factor in Dublin’s City budget woes is that police expenses have continued to skyrocket, while tax revenues have dropped precipitously. In order to balance its budget, the City of Dublin may have to pass a local tax eventually, if it cannot keep the cost of police services down. Dublin currently contracts with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for police services, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has continued to pass along exponential cost increases to Dublin, seemingly without providing any additional services. One strategy to keep Alameda County’s pricing competitive is to allow police agencies in neighboring cities like Pleasanton and San Ramon, Sheriff’s Offices in other counties, and private armed security firms to bid on Dublin’s police services contract.
Private police forces have operated throughout the United States for decades. Many cities such as Portland, OR and New Orleans, LA have already augmented their existing police forces with armed private security guards. Former public police officers, military veterans, and other highly-trained individuals typically comprise these private armed forces. As recently as last year, the City of Oakland hired armed private security guards to patrol its most dangerous areas. According to the Wall Street Journal, while Oakland spends about $250K per year on each police officer, it only cost $200K per year for Oakland to hire four armed private guards.
Continue Reading
by John M. Zukoski on August 23, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Schools
Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) is moving quickly to complete construction on the $28M Kolb Elementary School. The eagerly-awaited school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2011 with students in grades K-3, according to the March 23, 2010 report by the SCI Consulting Group. The K-3 students that were going to be attending nearby Fallon School will relocate to Kolb Elementary School, and Fallon School will only serve grades 4-8 for the 2011-2012 school year. Grades 4 and 5 will likely be added to Kolb Elementary School, as the initial 3rd grade class advances over the following two school years.
Continue Reading
