Weekly Newsletter • June 24, 2022

Hi <<First Name>>,

Welcome to this week’s issue of the Alameda Post newsletter. Articles this week include controversy over the application to block construction of the McKay Ave. Wellness Center, City Council approves the plan to resurface Grand Street, the meaning of Pride, and much more.

I’d like to ask you to please share our posts and articles on social media. It really helps us to ensure that our community sees our stories and articles. Our goal is to provide Alameda with accurate and timely information. Your shares help, because many social media algorithms do not show every post to our followers. When you can, please share our content with your friends on NextDoor, on Twitter, in Facebook groups and your feed, on LinkedIn or in an email. Your friends will surely appreciate the information. And we appreciate the help. Thanks!

Alameda’s Changing Shoreline Walking Tours

Our history walking tours are led by award-winning East Bay historian and Alameda Post Editor Dennis Evanosky.

This Saturday, June 25 – $15 We will discuss Utah Construction and the creation of South Shore in the mid-1950s. Meet at Otis Drive and Grand Street. Tickets still available.

Tour starts at 10 a.m. and continues until about 12:30 p.m. We will cover a distance of one–three miles, depending on the location. Well-behaved dogs, strollers, and mobility devices welcome. Tickets may be available on the day of the tour, if space permits, for $20 per person at the start of the tour.

Visit our tour information page at AlamedaPost.com/Tours for details of upcoming tours throughout the summer.

Tours and Ticket Info

Whose Application Is It, Anyway?

It remains unclear how involved the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society (AAPS) is with the controversial application filed to prevent the construction of the McKay Avenue wellness center.

One of the buildings on the site proposed for the wellness center for 100 unhoused seniors on McKay Avenue. Photo City of Alameda.

This rendering from the City's presentation shows what Grand Street will look like after the project is complete.

Grand Street Resurfacing Project Approved

Alameda’s City Council approved the Grand Street resurfacing project from Shore Line Drive to Encinal Avenue Tuesday evening, with an amendment to include an ADA review. Karin K. Jensen reports.

What Does Pride Mean?

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride month and SF's parade is on Sunday. Publisher Adam Gillitt writes about visibility, why he is proud to be queer, and why Pride matters.

This colorful float celebrating Pride participated in the 2016 July Fourth Parade in Alameda, CA. Photo Adam Gillitt.

Pride, Clement, and Warriors All Continue

Mouf celebrates Pride, another title for the Warriors, checks out the new Clement Avenue extension, and gets a head start on Halloween - Jeff Cambra with Bear’s-Eye View for June 19, 2022.

South Shore Rises

Dennis Evanosky explains how Utah Construction dredged the San Francisco Bay for over a million cubic yards of sand to create what's now known as South Shore. Join us for Saturday’s tour to learn more.

Aerial photo showing construction of Alameda lagoons.

Video from our June 18 walking tour of Alameda’s lost baths and Neptune Beach

Alameda's forgotten baths and Neptune Beach walking tour with Dennis Evanosky from the Alameda Post.

Many who can't attend our tours in person asked if we will post videos… And now we have a five-minute clip for you from last week’s walking tour about Alameda’s lost baths and Neptune Beach with “Tour Guy” Dennis Evanosky.

Please support the Alameda Post

We hope you enjoy reading the content in this newsletter and on our website! It takes many people and resources to bring you the coverage you already enjoy from us, to produce this newsletter, our website, and our podcasts, as well as to produce our history walking tours. We have made a commitment to serve our community by growing and hiring local contributors and reporters and we need your support to carry out our mission.

Will you step up and donate to support our work?

YES, I WILL MAKE A DONATION NOW!

You may also mail a check made out to Alameda Post Inc. 1801 Clement Ave., Suite 201, Alameda, CA 94501. We thank you for your support!

Water is Life

Drink water! Staying hydrated is essential during hotter summer months. And, Denise Lum says, drinking water has many other benefits, too!

The Alameda Soda Water Co. bottle the author found at the Red Barn museum. Photo Steve Gorman.

2301 Buena Vista Ave. — Today’s Alameda Treasure

A bottle Steve Gorman found in a museum in Calaveras County leads to the story of the “Soda Works building at 2301 Buena Vista Ave. in Alameda.

AUSD Makes Measure B Statement

AUSD released a statement on Wednesday stating “We are cautiously optimistic that Measure B will maintain the required threshold of 55% approval and that it will be certified.” The county has not released an updated count since June 15, which tallied 56.34% in favor. The County has until July 7 to certify the vote.

News Bites

New drought-tolerant plantings at City Hall. Photo Scott Piehler

New Landscaping at City Hall

Drought tolerant landscaping is being installed at Alameda’s City Hall at the corner of Santa Clara Avenue and Oak Street. Photo from Alameda PostCast host, Scott Piehler.

AFD Squelches Two Fires

The Alameda Fire Department put out two fires on Monday. The first fire was on the 3100 block of El Portal on Bay Farm Island. The second was on Main Street at the Navy Way entrance to Alameda Point. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported.

Still from video shot by Alameda Fire Department at a fire on Main Street

Aerial view of Oakland International Airport

OAK Airport Noise Predicted

The Port of Oakland announced Runway 12/30 at the Oakland International Airport will close for routine maintenance weekly on Mondays from 12–6:00 a.m. North Field runways will be used during that time. The Port asks those with aircraft noise concerns to call their Noise Hotline, 510-563-6436.

Memories of Bay Farm Island and the AFD

Retired Alameda firefighter Dave LeMoine grew up on Bay Farm Island in the 40s and 50s, before he joined the Alameda Fire Department in the 60s. He has shared his memories with the Post to serialize. We post new installments every Friday.

Saving Six; Watch Your Head!

Dave LeMoine’s eyewitness account of the near-fatal January 24, 1984 fire at 2519 Eagle Ave., plus some anecdotes about firefighters’ close calls.

Old Alameda Fire Station Three at Grand Street and Pacific Avenue. Photo Adam Gillitt

Don’t forget to listen to this week’s episode of the Alameda PostCast, which was released this morning. It’s ten minutes of your time well-spent, including interesting details and coverage not on the website. Visit our Podcast page to listen now, otherwise it’s available in all podcast players or by asking your smart speaker to “Play the Alameda Postcast podcast.”

Upcoming Events / Community Calendar

The Keeper – We Players, Alameda Point, Weekends thru June 26.
The Quality of Life – Altarena Playhouse, Weekends thru June 26.
Books for Friends Grand Opening – Friends of the Free Library, Main Library, June 23 - 25, 12–4 p.m.
Used Book Pop-Up Sale – Summer Reading Selection – Friends of the Free Library, Main Library, Sat. June 25, 12–4 p.m.
The Intersection of Juneteenth and Pride with Dr. Cindy Acker – Alameda Chamber, Café Jolie, Tue. June 28, 5 p.m.
Alameda Job Fair – Home2 Suites, Wed. June 29, 3–6 p.m.

Our community calendar is located at AlamedaPost.com/Events. If you’re interested in posting your own events, register at AlamedaPost.com/Submit-Event.

Alameda News on the Web

Oakland A’s score a win for Howard Terminal ballpark after state agency recommends approval – S.F. Chronicle
July 4th Fireworks 2022 Near Alameda – Patch
A message from APD’s Investigations Division – City of Alameda
DJM and PGIM Acquire Bridgeside Shopping Center – Businesswire
Alameda Parcel Offers Rare and One of the Last Chances for Innovative Development Along the Waterfront – The Registry SF
Alameda’s 40-year-old dim sum restaurant comes to Walnut Creek – SJ Mercury News
Alameda Free Library Event Alert – July 2022 – City of Alameda
Around the Island: Rabbi takes supplies to Ukrainian refugees – East Bay Times
Two women arrested on suspicion of armed robbery – KRON 4
Monkeypox: Alameda County, Bay Area Officials Urge Awareness – Patch

As always, If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback, please reply to this email, and I will respond.

Thank you again for supporting independent and nonprofit Alameda news!

Sincerely,

Adam Gillitt
Publisher, Alameda Post