ALAMEDA
Officials from the Alameda-based West End Arts District (WEAD) organization have announced the third annual Fiesta Alameda, a free one-day festival celebrating Latin music, dance, food and drinks.
Related Articles
In brief: Peralta district appoints new president for College of Alameda
Alameda briefs: Street resurfacing to start soon, last through August
Alameda briefs: Interim chief named for city-owned electricity provider
Taking place at Radium Runway on Alameda Point (the former Naval Air Station Alameda) with its unique views of the San Francisco Bay, the crowd will be jumping to the beats of regional Latin performers from 12 to 6 p.m. July 21.
Musical performances scheduled are Petate (Indian, Latin Fusion) from noon to 1 p.m., Radio Café (Afro-Peruvian psychedelic rock) from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Sang Matiz (“Afro-Latin tropical spice”) from 3 to 4 p.m. and VibraSÓN (Latin vibraphone and salsa) from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Other entertainment will be provided by Per Sia (Fiesta Alameda’s emcee) from 1 to 1:15 p.m., Grupo Folklorico Tlapalli (Mexican folk dancing) from 1:15 to 1:45 p.m., Batalá San Francisco (Samba Reggae, Afro-Brazilian) from 2:45 to 3 p.m. and In Lak’ech Dance Academy from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
In Lak’ech Dance Academy will also teach free dance classes during the day, and festival emcee Per Sia will keep the audience entertained between musical performances. She is a Latinx and nonbinary youth educator, drag queen and storyteller extraordinaire.
What’s a festival without a great bar? Fiesta Alameda features hometown Latino-owned Building 43 Winery serving their wines and craft brews from Latino-owned Del Cielo Brewery. Margaritas and more mixed with award-winning tequilas Olmeca Altos and Código 1530 will be available at the bar. A host of local craft beers, wines, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages will also be available.
Experience the festival from the Fiesta Fanaticas VIP Zone with spectacular views of the stage, two drink tickets, a private bar and spacious seating. This is a great place to bring your food, hang with friends and family and to enjoy the entertainment on the music stage. Not only will you have a great time, you will also help support this cultural arts festival financially, helping to keep it admission-free for all ages to enjoy.
Michael Lane Homes is sponsoring the kids’ crafting zone. Kids of all ages will get crafty and creative with Rhythmix Cultural Works. The USS Hornet’s jet cockpit from an F8 Crusader will be available for attendees to sit in at the pilot’s seat and for photo opportunities.
Families will also be able to browse from dozens of artisan vendors selling art, body products, apparel, jewelry and more. Festival info, drink tickets, volunteer and vendor applications and more are online at westendartsdistrict.org/fiesta-alameda.
— WEAD
Woman, 90, wins President’s Cup golf tournament on birthday
Jan Peyrot became a Bay Area golf legend last week, especially to those who follow women’s golf. Peyrot turned 90 on June 20 and on the same day competed in and won the two-day President’s Cup tournament against a field of women, many of whom were 30 to 40 years younger than her.
(photo courtesy of Patricia Bowen)Jan Peyrot won Alameda’s two-day President’s Cup tournament on her 90th birthday.
Played in Alameda since 1953, Peyrot was 19 when the President’s Cup tournament began, and her name will be added to it now at age 90. Peyrot says that golf is what got her through COVID-19 pandemic closure because courses were open to play during much of the pandemic.
She she has made friendships from playing golf and that the physical part of the game keeps her walking, swinging, bending and laughing a lot. Having served previously as a school principal, Peyrot says she uses her skills to help other golfers learn the game.
She was met during the tournament on the 18th hole by fellow golfers, who surprised her by wearing masks of her face and cheering as she approached the green. Peyrot’s oldest friend from Virginia flew in to celebrate her birthday and watched as she sunk the last putt to win by six strokes over the closest competitor.
Peyrot took her hard-earned trophy home to admire it over the weekend and share it with family and friends to celebrate 90 years of good living with her. On a side note, Peyrot also won her flight in match play last month. She is at the top of her game right now and thankful for golf, her health and her many friends she has made playing golf.
Alameda is home to the Bay Area’s oldest and largest women’s golf club, in which more than 100 members compete weekly in various types of competition or just for the fun of the game.
— Denise Gasti
Peralta district appoints new College of Alameda president
At their regular meeting June 11, the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Melanie Dixon as the College of Alameda’s new president, effective July 15.
Ms. Dixon is a seasoned higher education leader with a proven track record of success in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In her previous roles, she has championed student success and fostered open, transparent communication within a collaborative learning environment.
“We are thrilled to welcome Melanie Dixon to the Peralta Community College District,” said PCCD Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson.
Dixon previously served as the president of American River College in the Sacramento area, where she oversaw all aspects of the college’s instruction and operations. Also in the Sacramento area before that, she held the position of associate vice chancellor of educational services and student cuccess at Los Rios Community College District.
“I am super-excited about coming to College of Alameda,” Dixon said. “The local community thinks highly of the college. … And COA is already one of the top Bay Area colleges for students accepted into the University of California and Cal State University systems.
“But there’s more work to be done, particularly with an equity lens. I believe in the California community college system as the great equalizer as it relates to economic status in our communities.”
In her new role, Dixon will be responsible for providing strategic leadership on campus to ensure its continued growth and success. She will work closely with faculty, classified professional staff, administrators and students within the College of Alameda and with the other PCCD campuses including Berkeley City College and Oakland’s Laney and Merritt colleges, to create a vibrant and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for transfer to four-year universities or successful careers in their chosen fields.
— PCCD
City prosecutors, police focus enforcement against car theft
On June 12, Alameda’s Assistant City Prosecutor Montague Hung filed criminal charges of attempted car theft and resisting arrest against Defendant Casey Curnutt.
Based on the probable cause declaration filed with the court, Alameda Police Department (APD) officers were dispatched around 5 a.m. June 6 to Marina Drive for a reported vehicle theft in progress on the city’s East End, where they saw Curnutt exiting the victim’s vehicle.
Officers say when they tried to contact him, he fled on foot but that they pursued and ultimately apprehended him. While on scene, a witness is said to have positively identified the defendant whose vehicle in a subsequent search had evidence of burglary activities, including tools and wires being cut below the steering column.
Since taking office in 2022, Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi has implemented a data-driven and evidence-based approach to targeting police resources to ensure maximum impact on public safety.
As part of that effort, the APD has dedicated significant resources to combating vehicle theft in Alameda and carefully calibrated its resource allocation to ensure the fastest possible response time to ongoing criminal activities.
“I am incredibly proud of the work of APD’s response to this and like incidents, and I appreciate the outstanding collaboration and support from the Alameda City Attorney’s Office,” Joshi said. “Unlike any other city in Northern California, APD is lucky to have cases prosecuted by our city attorney.
“Our community should know our City Attorney believes in accountability. This unique partnership meaningfully enhances public safety in the city of Alameda.”
For more information online, visit bit.ly/4b8QXEv.
— city of Alameda
To submit an item for our “In brief” section, please email it, at least three days before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.