LPD will focus on mature driver safety in July

At what age does one become "mature"?

Sixty-five, according to the Livermore Police Department.

July is Mature Driver Safety Month in Livermore, when, as part of an on-going traffic safety program, police will focus on educational efforts for drivers over the age of 65.

The program includes an event called CarFit, where a team of trained technicians work with each participant to ensure they "fit" their vehicle properly. The 20-minute check-up includes a 12-point checklist with the driver's vehicle, during which the technicians recommend vehicle adjustments and adaptations aimed at enhancing safety.

An LPD statement concedes that older drivers are often the safest because they're more likely to buckle up and less likely to drink and drive and speed. But it also points out that the elderly are more prone to serious injury and death in car accidents because they're more fragile.

LPD's CarFit Event
Vineyard Village Senior Apartments
3700 Pacific Avenue
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 443-9270

Tuesday, July 19, 2011
11:00 am to 12:00 noon

For licensed drivers 65 and older who own a registered vehicle.
To make an appointment, stop by the front desk.

DUI checkpoint planned for 4th of July weekend

The Livermore Police Department is planning a DUI and Driver's License Checkpoint this 4th of July weekend.

An LPD statement says the checkpoint will take place Friday, July 1st in the evening hours, "traffic volume" and weather permitting. All vehicles driving through will be checked, and anyone LPD suspects of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be arrested.

Further, police are asking anyone who spots a suspected drunk driver to call 911.

The location for Friday night's checkpoint has not been released, other than to say it "will be conducted at a location which has been identified as having a high occurrence of DUI collisions/arrests."

Funding for the checkpoint comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Livermore man takes top prize in shooting competition

Livermore's John Bagakis,via AmmoLand.com

A Livermore man continues to prove he's a "big shot".

According to AmmoLand.com, John Bagakis has won the longest contest title we've ever heard of: the International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts’ (ICORE) Smith & Wesson Rocky Mountain Regional Revolver Championship.

The event took place this past weekend at Weld County Fish & Wildlife High Plains Shooting Range in Galeton, Colorado. Bagakis won all eight stages of this match. He also won two previous matches this season; the Smith & Wesson Southwest Revolver Regional and the Smith & Wesson International Revolver Championship. Bagakis shoots for team Smith & Wesson.

“John continues to stake his claim as the top Limited division revolver shooter in the nation," Ron Joslin of ICORE told AmmoLand.com. "His dominating performance at the Rocky Mountain Regional is a testament to the hard work and dedication John has put in to mastering the wheelgun.”

You can congratulate John on his Facebook page.

Livermore couple on HGTV's "My First Place"

A Livermore couple's First Place,
Courtesy: Neighborcity.com

A Livermore couple was recently featured on HGTV, once again putting our city in the national spotlight.

Kelly and Phabian were searching for their first home on the cable network's "My First Place". From the show's website:

Kelly and Phabian have already made 8 offers in their search for a place for their family in Livermore, CA, but are still waiting for a ''yes.'' Just when they think their luck is changing, they get bad news about their dream house. The couple must face big decisions if they are to achieve their goal of home ownership.

The bad news about their dream house is pretty ugly-- the short sale home was vandalised. The couple had already put an offer in on the home, only to find the appliances stolen, holes in the walls and tiles broken, and the upstairs flooded and urinated all over.

The couple reluctantly gives up that home before settling on a Springtown home, pictured above (we've withheld their address for their privacy).

Tri-Valley Realtor MaryJane Billowitch is also featured in the episode.

The show premiered on June 7th, and is not among the espisodes available to view online. But knowing HGTV, it'll likely pop up in repeats, so keep an eye out for it!

Livermore's most expensive properties

Livermore may have a reputation as a cow town among other East Bay cities (we think they're just jealous!), but between our historic vineyards and LLNL's high number of Ph.D's, we've got plenty of people who live the high life in Livermore, too. That's evidenced in the city's large number of higher-end homes.

And high end doesn't even begin to describe the most expensive Livermore home currently on the market. Coming in at just under 4 million dollars-- $3,988,000 to be exact-- the price tag may have more to do with the size of the estate's lot (it's 16.84 acres). Although at 8,950 square feet, the mansion is pretty expansive, too.

So, what fills up that nearly nine-thousand square feet? The house may only have four bedrooms, but it has 5.5 baths, salt water aquariums, a wine tasting room, two bars, a game room, and a nine car garage. It was built just last year and is priced to sell because it was just "reduced by over a million dollars!"

Located at 7123 Cedar Mountain Drive, in it's one of the Tri-Valley's more exclusive gated communities. In fact, it's so exclusive, there's only seven home behind these gates, and a press release states that homes there "rarely go on the market". Too bad the release is trying to sell another home in the same community.


That home is located at 7795 Cedar Mountain Road, and with a price tag just slightly lower than the first one at $3,950,000, it's the second-most expensive home currently on the Livermore MLS. Built in 1999, the 6,671 square foot "Tuscan farmhouse" boasts seven bedrooms, while the 16.2 acre lot holds "14-plus acres of income-producing grapes".

Virtual tours of each home are available on the listing agent websites-- the closest we'll ever come to seeing how Livermore's other half lives.

UPDATE 6/28/2011: Since we've written this article, the price was reduced on Livermore's most expensive home. The estate at 7123 Cedar Mountain Drive is now listed at $3,688,000, meaning these two properties have flip-flopped and 7795 Cedar Mountain is now Livermore's most expensive home.

Livermore, Kentucky: A look at other Livermores

We've looked at Livermore, Colorado and Livermore, Iowa. Now we turn to the South.

I once met a person new to the Tri-Valley who liked to call our Livermore "Livertucky". Little did he know, there really is a Livermore, Kentucky... the next city in our series exploring other Livermores in America.



Livermore, KY is located
on two rivers.
Courtesy: CityofLivermore.info

LIVERMORE, KENTUCKY
Population: 1,413 in 2009
Founded: 1837

Zip Code: 42352

Named for:
While the ever-untrustworthy Wikipedia claims this Livermore was named after a pioneer named James Livermore, the city's own website says Livermore, Kentucky was named after someone else. Founder William A. Brown "chose the name of Livermore after his friend Alonzo Livermore."

Known for:
The third-largest "Other Livermore" we're exploring, Livermore, Kentucky has very little in common with our own Livermore in that it's situated on a waterfront, where the Green River and Rough Rivers meet. With just over 14-hundred people, Livermore, KY is the largest city in McLean County, Kenutcky.

The Wikipedia page for this particular Livermore doesn't offer up much besides the typical population data, other than this disturbing tidbit:

Livermore achieved national and international notoriety in the second decade of the twentieth century for one of the more bizarre public lynchings in American history. In April, 1911, Will Porter, a black man, allegedly shot and killed a white man in a barroom fight. Fearing a lynch mob, the sheriff hid Porter in the basement of a local theatre, but he was discovered and dragged upstairs to the stage by an angry crowd. The organizers of the lynching then charged admission and allowed armed patrons to open fire from their seats on the hapless prisoner, who was bound in the center of the stage.

Livermore Bridge
Courtesy: CityofLivermore.info

Why the Wikipedia author chose to add that trivia, but not that a bridge near the city was featured in "Ripley's Believe it or Not" is a Mystery. Livermore Bridge was printed in the Ripley's strip for being the only bridge in the world that spans two counties and two rivers. The bridge begins in McLean County, crosses over a sliver of Ohio County, then ends back in McLean again, all while crossing over the Green and Rough Rivers. Believe it, or not!

2011 Alameda County Fair hours

The Alameda County Fair opened Wednesday, June 22, and continues through Sunday, July 10th. It's open Mondays through Thursdays from 11am to 10pm, but closed Tuesdays. On Fridays through Sundays, the hours are 10am to 10pm.

On the 4th of July, the hours are 10am to 9pm, but remember there will be no fireworks on July 4th. The fireworks will instead be on Friday, July 1st. A "Red, White, and Blues" event will take the place of fireworks on the actual holiday.

More information about the fair's hours, as well as ticket info, can be found on the Alameda County Fair website.

Alameda County Fair Hours 2011
Mondays - Thursdays (Closed Tuesdays) 11am - 10pm
Fridays - Sundays 10am - 10pm
July 4th 10am - 9pm

John Stamos will join the Beach Boys at Wente Concert

John Stamos will appear with The Beach Boys at
Wente this week. Photo via Wente Facebook Page

America's favorite Uncle Jesse will be popping up in Livermore on Tuesday in the form of John Stamos.

Rebecca Romain's ex-husband will be joining the Beach Boys at their Wente Vineyards concert on Tuesday.

To celebrate, Wente is giving away tickets to the event on their Facebook page. To enter, simply comment on this photo with your favorite Uncle Jesse moment from "Full House". The comment with the most "likes" wins, but you only have until 10 tomorrow morning to participate, so you better get your Little Deuce Coup over there.

You can also purchase tickets while supplies last through Ticketmaster or by calling (295) 456-2424.

THE BEACH BOYS (WITH JOHN STAMOS) AT WENTE VINEYARD
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Time: 8:15 pm
Prices: Available here
Tickets: Available here
Location:
Wente Vineyards
5050 Arroyo Road
Livermore, CA 94550

Livermore soldier has close call in Afghanistan minefield

From left, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Terrazas, from Lake Orion, Mich.,
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Vinny Estes from Pensacola, Fla.,
and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent from Livermore, Calif.,
all members of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron,
April 14 outside Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Courtesy: dvidshub.net

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Sargent recently had a close call in a minefield in Afghanistan.

The Livermore man was among a group responding to a report of an "individual digging", which, according the Military's Public Affairs office, is a common method for emplacing mines and improvised explosive devices.

The team had done this before, but this time was different: the mines were not marked, nor was the area marked on the map as a minefield. Usually, the minefields are clearly marked.

Two of the mines ended up going off, but Sargent escaped injury.

Two of his colleagues weren't so lucky.

“There was a big poof of smoke and then an eerie silence,” Sargent told a military journalist. “It’s just like you hear about: everything slows down drastically. There was the eerie silence and then came the yelling. I looked back and saw [the airman]. The first thing I noticed was the tattered bone and flesh off his left leg. He was trying to sit up, and his face was ghostly white underneath the black soot.”

The minefield bordered the base, and the explosions could be heard from within it's walls.

“In a span of what seemed like five minutes, which was actually only a minute and a half, the military working dog handler [stepped on another landmine],” Sargent said. “It’s a weird feeling calling for casualty evacuation right outside the wall of the base.”

Both men struck by the mines survived with serious injuries and are still recovering in an Army hospital in Washington DC.

Sargent attributes his ability to stay calm as the events unfolded to both his age (39) and his experience. He spent eight years as an infantry soldier in the Army, including four years in the historic Old Guard drill and ceremony detachment in Arlington before joining the 118th Security Forces Squadron in Nashville about three years ago.

You can read the entire Public Affairs article here.

Livermore, Iowa: A look at other Livermores

While Livermore, CA may not be the only town named Livermore, looking at other Livermores can help us appreciate what makes our city so special.

Today we continue our look at at other "Livermore, USA" communities. Yesterday, we took a ride on the Overland Trail to Livermore, Colorado. Today, it's Livermore, Iowa's turn.

LIVERMORE, IOWA
Population: 373 in 2009
Founded: 1879
Zip Code: 50558
Named for: ?
This information doesn't seem to be readily available-- or maybe we've lost our sleuthing skills. If you know how Livermore, IA got it's name, please leave a comment!

Known for:
This tiny Livermore seems to best known as the hometown of football player Dallas Clark, who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts.

Located in present-day Humboldt County (no, not that Humboldt), Livermore, Iowa apparently got it's start as the settlement of an illegal trader named Henry Lott. Lott was engaged in an altercation with local Indians and eventually ended up massacring an entire Indian family. That was in the 1850s, several decades before Livermore was officially founded, but the local creek is still called Lott's Creek.

Railway accident mar
Livermore's IA's history.
Courtesy: LivermoreIowa.org

Livermore's ugly history didn't stop there. Lott's Creek was the site of more ugly fatalities in 1924, when a passenger train derailment killed at least eight and injured scores more. Then, in 1968, another accident on the rails killed two and inured several.

On a much, much lighter note, this Livermore apparently has quite the golfing community. The 18-hole Spring Valley Golf Club is located north of Livermore. And the annual "Livermore Daze", a festival, parade, street concert, mud run, and car show, happens every July.

A historic school is torched
in Livermore, IA.
Courtesy: LivermoreIowa.org

This Livermore's Wikipedia Page claims the town's population continues to dwindle, something our research supports. So much so, the town even burned down an old school earlier this year. We hate to hear that a fellow City of Livermore may disappear, and wish this Livermore the best.

Deadlines approaching for participation in 2011 LARPD Children's Fair

Thursday is the last day to sign up to be a vendor for LARPD's 2011 Children's Fair. The park district is looking for local organizations and businesses to participate with kid-friendly booths that fall into the following categories:

• Food (nonprofit agency): $180
• Food (commercial): $225
• Nonprofit agency (selling or providing an activity): $55
• Commercial (selling child-oriented goods approved by LARPD): $150
• Commercial (information/giveaway; no sales): $80
• Information/Make-It & Take-It crafts (no sales): $40 refundable deposit (returned after the event if vendor participates both days)

The application for a vendor booth is due June 30th and is available here.

Thousands typically attend the annual two-day event, which also features Livermore Police Department K-9 demonstrations, car seat checks, inflatable jump houses and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department safety trailer and fire truck.

This year's Children's Fair takes place September 17th and 18th at the Robert Livermore Community Center on East Avenue.

Livermore, Colorado: A look at other Livermores

Livermore, CA is known for three main things: a national laboratory with the world's largest laser, the "World's Fastest" rodeo, and for being California's oldest wine region. Just take a look at the city seal, and you'll see all three prominently represented.

Add to the mix a few other quirky facts, including that it's the hometown of boxer Max Baer, it houses the world's longest-burning light bulb, it's the filming site of several random movies including 1982's TRON, and it holds what was at one point the country's largest wind farm (which was also the sight of the ill-fated "Woodstock West"), and you've got Livermore, California.

But, despite all the things we've got to be famous for, we're not the only Livermore... just one of the better known ones. And that may have to do more with population size than any of the above reasons. Which is why we're launching this series taking a look at the country's other Livermores, starting with Livermore, CO.

Original Livermore, CO post office,
courtesy ActiveRain.com

LIVERMORE, COLORADO
Population: 5,370 in 2007

Founded: ?

Sometime in the mid-to-late 1800s, there are varying dates available on the Internet. If you know, leave a comment!

Named for: "Two mineral prospectors who first built a one-room cabin on the site", according to Colorado's tourism website. Adolphus Livernash and Stephen Moore built their cabin in 1863.

Known for:

Being a post office. According to this Livermore’s Wikipedia page, it’s an unincorporated city and a post office.

While that makes it seems like no people actually live there, my recent beat checks revealed there's at least one hungry bear-- and enough people for this mischievous bear to steal pic-a-nic baskets from.

The Forks at Livermore,
courtesy WhitleyAuction.com

If he gets too hungry, he could always try the town's historic hotel and cafe. Built in 1874, The Forks Hotel and Cafe is named for it's location at a fork on the Overland Trail. It apparently burnt down in 1985 and was rebuilt, only to be put up for auction sometime last year.

And much like our own Livermore, our Colorado cousin is a ranching community.

The Centennial Bulb lights up the "Late Show" monologue

Thanks in part to it's recent 110th birthday, Livermore's Centennial Bulb continues to make the comedy show rounds.

Earlier this month it was an appearance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. And last night, it made the big time with a reference in David Letterman's July 23 monologue:

First turned on in 1901. Coincidentally, I think that's when Barbara Walters was first turned on... 

The only other light bulb that's had that kind of a workout in it's life is the light bulb in Kirstie Alley's refrigerator.

The Centennial Bulb gets it's moment in the spotlight starting at the 2:50 mark in the above video.

What's going in the old Mervyn's?

Livermore Mervyn's,
courtesy MerchantCircle.com

You may've noticed all the construction happening at 580 Plaza... something is finally going into the former Mervyn's location, filling one of Livermore's long-empty commercial spots.

So what exactly is going into 4500 Las Positas Rd? We'll give you a hint: it's Where the Pets Go.

After hearing several rumors that it may be a Petsmart, we emailed their PR, only to get this response:

We have a number of stores opening in California in 2011 but the city of Livermore is not listed as one of them.  Is there another city/ town name that neighbors Livermore that may be the appropriate city for the location in question?

In other words, it's not a Petsmart. But a little more digging around revealed it is a PETCO, at least according to several documents readily available online. We've emailed them for conformation, but have yet to hear back.

Meanwhile, other rumors state that a TJ Maxx and a Big Lots may also be joing the new big box pet store. Good news for one of Livermore's largest commercial spaces, which has been empty since Mervyn's closed in 2008 (except for the occasional, temporary, Spirit Halloween Store).

Now's your chance to run for Livermore City Council

An anonymous commenter said on of our posts last year "Please fire the entire Livermore City Council. They smell like dirty money...!!!"

Well Anonymous, you may not be able to fire them, but you can replace them.

Come the November election, Livermore residents will be voting on two City Council slots, as well as to elect a new Mayor.

Interested in running? Why not attend a meeting next week?

The City Clerk's Office will hold an informational meeting for all persons who are interested in running for office. The purpose of the meeting is to provide information on the election, such as the nomination process, conflict of interest and campaign reporting requirements, the City's election ordinance and campaign signs.
Persons interested in running for office, their campaign managers, treasurers, and other interested parties are invited to attend this informational meeting.

The meeting takes place Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at 3575 Pacific Avenue.

City Council members make $980 a month while the Mayor makes $1400. The city also pays $1839 in medical, dental, and vision insurance, among other benefits.

Mayor Marshall Kamena terms out this year. He was initially elected as Mayor in 2001 (he'd served on the council in the past), before the 2003 introduction of the eight-year consecutive term limit. That means he's served five consecutive terms, one more than currently allowed. He's eligible to run again in two years.

The Council slots up for grabs are those of Marj Leider, who's termed out but can run again in two years, and Jeff Williams, who can run again this year.

Mayor Marshall Kamena,
courtesy cityoflivermore.net

Councilmember Jeff Williams,
courtesy cityoflivermore.net

Councilmember Marj Leider,
courtesy cityoflivermore.net

No 2011 fireworks in Livermore

2010's 4th of July Celebration flyer.

For the first time in decades, fireworks will not be flying over Livermore's skies this July 4th.

Citing "budget restraints", LARPD and the city of Livermore have pulled the plug on the annual Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, according to a notice on LARPD's website. The event has been held for 27 years, most recently taking place at Robertson Park.

The notice on LARPD's website points residents to several other local celebrations, including the fireworks display at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on July 1st. The Red, White, and Blues event will also take place at the fair on the July 4th. Both events are free with fair admission.

That means the only fireworks display in the Tri-Valley on July 4th will be in San Ramon. The "Star-Spangled Spectacular" will take place from 1 to 10 p.m. at Central Park on Alcosta Blvd.

You may remember last year, when Livermore Links posted that Livermore's 2010 fireworks display may be it's last.

Centennial Bulb, LLNL, make "The Colbert Report"

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Congressmember John Garamendi (D) is interviewed for Stephen Colbert's "Better Know a District" segment, but Livermore's most famous lightbulb and LLNL's giant laser are the real show-stealers! Watch the segment above or on the Colbert Nation website.

Two arrested in AM/PM shooting, victim still sought

Two males are in custody in connection with a shooting at the Stanley Boulevard AM/PM last month.

Ramon Corona Perez, 19, is in Santa Rita jail, while an unidentified juvenile is in Juvenile Hall.

Police say both were seen on surveillance footage shooting at a third person, before taking off in a red Mazda B4000 pickup truck. The victim also reportedly fled the scene. The events unfolded just before midnight on May 21st following a verbal altercation.

The duo was arrested after police executed two search warrants. The warrants also turned up three handguns, one of which matches the weapon used in the shooting and was stolen in what police call an "unrelated residential burglary".

A police statement says the victim still hasn't been identified, although witnesses told detectives the victim likely wasn't injured. Police are asking for any additional witnesses to contact the police department.

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