Alameda briefs: USS Hornet to host ‘Steel Beach BBQ’ event on July 4
ALAMEDA
USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum officials invite the public to join them July 4 as they celebrate Independence Day with a big “Steel Beach BBQ” on the retired U.S. Navy aircraft carrier’s flight deck with music, food and nonalcoholic beverages.
The flight deck will be converted into a steel beach barbecue party that will also feaure games for guests to play and in the afternoon and a flyover by the Memorial Squadron. In the hangar bay, all the normally accessible areas of the ship will be available for self-touring.
Guests can see the rest of the aircraft and artifacts from the Hornet’s involvement in NASA’s Apollo lunar program (including the Apollo Block 1 capsule, the Mobile Quarantine Facility and the SeaKing helicopter used in the filming of “Apollo 13”) and the museum’s newest acquisition, an F/A-18C aircraft.
On the second deck guests can visit the Hornet’s torpedo workshop, sick bay, officers wardroom, exhibits such as “African Americans in the Military,” “Women in the Military,” “Air Group 11” and many more. On the pier there will be a collection of military vehicles that will come over after the city of Alameda’s annual July Fourth parade. For tickets and details online, visit uss-hornet.org/event/fourth-of-july-celebration.
— USS Hornet
Rock & Roll Beer Stroll downtown set for Saturday afternoon
Join the Downtown Alameda Business Association (DABA) from 1 to 5 p.m. this Saturday for the city’s Rock & Roll Beer Stroll, an unforgettable experience discovering new places and supporting local businesses. This event will feature more than 12 unique locations, each offering something special to enjoy. As you stroll through Downtown Alameda, indulge in savory or sweet bites at select stops.
Participating breweries are the Alameda Brewing Co., Almanac Beer Co., Bike Dog Brewing Co., BrewBilt Brewing, Canyon Club Brewery, Drake’s Brewing Co., East Brother Beer Co., English Ales Brewery, Faction Brewing, Fathers Brewing, Humble Sea Brewing Co., Old Caz Beer, Olfactory Brewing Co., Standard Deviant Brewing, Urban Roots Brewing.
Participating downtown businesses are Bonne Vie, Bullseye Glass, Cinema Grill, Coffee Cultures, CRAFT Beer & Wine, Dragon Rouge Bistro, Hobnob, Karibu Wine Lounge, Keller Williams, Moxie Steak House, Subpar Miniature Golf, Pampered Pup, Park Station and more. For online tickets and details, visit alamedastrolls.com.
— DABA
Islanders compete in Special Olympics regional spring games
The Alameda Islanders competed in the recent Special Olympics Northern California Regional Spring Games at Freedom High School in Oakley.
All nine Bay Area counties sent delegations, as did San Joaquin, Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The meet was a joint swim and track-and-field event, with lunch furnished for the athletes, coaches and volunteers by Special Olympics Northern California. Opening ceremonies featured the Special Olympics Athlete Oath pledged by the participants: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”.
Coach Susan Tremain led the Islander swimmers. Tremain was recognized for her 49 years of service to Special Olympics. Coaches Richard Wright and Cliff Owyoung (track-and-field) assisted in organizing the team’s heats along with and Pat Bowen from the Kiwanis Club of Alameda and Stephanie Grissom (swim).
In a spirit of competition and sportsmanship, Special Olympians competed in a variety of swimming skills and stroke events: assisted and unassisted swim, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and freestyle. Alameda Islanders Sara Alexander, Stephanie Ashby, Lauren Dare, Danny Dodson, Robert Erion, Dania Leyva, and Marletta Williams received gold, silver and/or bronze medals in their heats.
In track and field, Special Olympians competed in various contests: sprints, walks and the softball and turbo javelin throws. Alameda Islanders Paul Archuletta, Dhonny Au, Bernadette Hanson, Erica Jacob, Jesus Ramos, Pablo Ramos, Danny Thach and Steven Thach received gold, silver and/or bronze medals in their events.
Despite injury which precluded all but turbo javelin, Bernadette Hanson received a gold medal for her perfect throw. Erica Jacob won golds for two assisted walk events and softball throw. Many medals for first, second and third place were awarded.
The Alameda Islanders practice many sports in six-week cycles: bowling, bocce ball, soccer, softball, swimming, track & field, to name a few. The culmination of each sport is a regional event such as the recent Special Olympics Northern California Regional Spring Games in Oakley, for which Islanders officials are very proud of their athletes’ performance.
— Kiwanis Club of Alameda
ACLC graduate awarded Van Sickle foundation scholarship
Natalie Sun, a graduate of the Alameda Community Learning Center, has been named the 38th annual winner of the $6,000 Ken and Shirley Van Sickle Scholarship.
Sun was a top student at ACLC, was responsible for some of the school’s student clubs and was a member of its judicial board. In the latter role she led the effort to update student disciplinary procedures for the first time in decades. She has also been very active in Alameda County’s Safe Routes to School program. Sun plans to attend UC Davis and study business administration.
In addition to Sun, Van Sickle Scholarship Foundation officials chose three other students as scholarship finalists — Janelle Banaria, Geronimo Coffin and Amy Nguyen from Alameda High School.
The scholarship honors Ken and Shirley Van Sickle, two distinguished high school teachers who devoted their careers to Alameda’s students. Applicants to the scholarship are judged on a combination of academic achievement, leadership and financial need.
“We are very pleased to support Natalie as she pursues her dream of a college education,” said Keith Van Sickle, the scholarship foundation’s president. “She is truly outstanding and has demonstrated both academic talent and leadership in her school and community.”
— Van Sickle Scholarship Foundation
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