Meet Your Neighbor - Keli Arnold

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Keli Arnold, I work at the T-Shirt factory which is a family owned business of mine. My Mom and my Dad started it and my sister owns it now. I help run the store. I volunteer with San Leandro Relay for Life, I have been doing it for 13 years now. I also coach at San Leandro High School (cheer).

What do you love about San Leandro?

There are a lot of small businesses that have been around for a long time, that have stayed around, that's my favorite part. Being part of a small business I know how hard it is. San Leandro is very community based. 

Tell me more about the relay, you have been doing it for 13 years, you put your heart and soul into it.

Everyone has a reason they do it, everyone has been effected by cancer.  I choose relay because it's for all cancer. Cancer  that I have been effected by isn't breast cancer, that's what everybody knows about. I feel it's really important to do Relay because it's every single caner. I know about childhood cancer and brain cancer that no one knows about. 

This year I will be working with Jessi Cutter and Evelyn Gonzalez, all 3 of us are leading it this year (San Leandro Relay for life), it's a great team.  We are on the same page of making it all cancers, not just breast cancer.

How can people get involved or put together a team for May 30th?

So the website www.relayforlife.org/sanleandroca . Anybody can make a team.  Last year I had an 8 year old child who started a team, their parents helped them, this year we have the police department. So however you want to make your team, it's very community based, it's a bunch of people from San Leandro getting together for one purpose.

Your other passion is coaching the high school cheer leaders, tell us about that.

I have about 50 daughters every year, we do it because we love it. All three coaches went to San Leandro High (Jenna Hewitt and Jessica Potchenco). Jenna had a different experience than me, she had several coaches I had one amazing coach when I went there. I just want to be able to give them that stability, some girls really need that, maybe at home they don't have that. Yes it's cheerleading woow hoo! that's great, but at the end of the day some of the girls really need that stability. They have a coach that they can talk to. That's why I do it.

It never seems that it's just cheerleading for you or your girls, they are really engaged.

They help at Roosevelt, they do a team at Relay for Life. I really like them to do community stuff. It's not just about cheerleading, they are representing their city and their school. Not just cute in their skirts at the games but involved in the community.

How long have you been a coach?

I did it in 2007 then came back in 2012, this is the first year that we have had our freshmen become seniors. We have done the whole loop.

Final quote or words of wisdom?

I would say get your kids involved with community stuff, my son doesn't know anything but Relay, when people say they aren't doing Relay he is so confused. I think a lot more kids and youth should be involved in community, find things they can volunteer with.  It's important that kids learn that at a young age.

Meet Your Neighbor - Ruben DaSilva

Who are you and what do you do?

I'm Ruben Dasilva and I own Rubiano's.  I make pizzas and pastas.

What do you love about San Leandro?

I love that San Leandro is a close knit community, I know a lot of people here, I was born and raised here.  It's in the middle of a big metropolitan area but it still feels like a little town.

You went to school here?

I did, I went to St Leander's for a couple of years, also Garfield and John Muir. I graduated from San Leandro High School in 95

Before you opened your restaurant you worked with Mike Wiesner?

Rubin and His Staff at Taste of San Leandro

I started working for Mike Wiesner when I was 16 years old at Sergio's on Davis Street, that was a long time ago.  That was the original Sergio's.  I helped Mike build Paradiso when he got the lease there, helped him with painting and everything else to get it up and running.  Then I went off to school in Santa Barbra, came back.  Worked with my Dad doing building maintenance.  Then we opened this (gestured to Rubiano's).

What was your inspiration behind opening a pizza restaurant?

The building maintenance started to slow down and I was ready to do something new, do something different.  I have always wanted to do a pizzeria.

Rubiano's creation for my children (chocolate and marshmallow)

We love that its somewhere you can bring the children and not have to worry about them being noisy, not just pizza, you can get pasta, salads.  You always have some specials.

Every once in a while I will make some different pizzas that are a little unique and odd.  How many places have you gone to that make a crab Rangoon pizza.  What I have found is a lot of people are scared of trying them sometimes.  I will make a pizza and have everybody (the wait staff)  hand it out. People say  "Wow, I can't believe how good that is" It really tastes like a Crab Rangoon. We have a floating potato pizza that is really good.

You have beer on tap, but it's not your typical Budweiser?

I try to keep stuff local, not too much big dig chain stuff.  Try and keep it small and local, little mom and pop beers.  Trying to get another cooler so we can get four more beers in here.

Word of wisdom?

Keep doing what you love to do and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Lot of people told me that I wouldn't be able to do this and that I would not survive here.  We survived, we are still kicking and screaming.

Rubiano's

600 Dutton Ave Suite C, 

San Leandro, California

510 553 1000

Find them on Facebook

Meet Your Neighbor - Susan Levenson

The first time I met Susan she was dressed as a fish at a Chamber of Commerce coffee connection. 

She is passionate about natural resources in San Leandro. I caught up with Susan at the Friends of San Leandro Creek Watershed Festival at Root Park.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Susan Levenson and I am the Watershed Awareness Coordinator for friends of San Leandro Creek

What do you love about San Leandro?

Oh my gosh!  This is my home town, I grew up a block away, played in that creek when I was a kid.  What's not to love, it's a great community.  My mom still lives here.

Tell me more about friends of San Leandro Creek

Friends of San Leandro creek is a great organization that help bring up this creek, make it available for the community, make the creek itself healthier. Highlight all this goodness in the middle of an urban area.

What did we find today?

We found a gorgeous 8 inch rainbow trout right below the bridge at Root Park  (the area where the trout was found was drying up). We took it up near Chabot Park where there is riffles and deep pools, tons of insects and we let him out there, so exciting.

What the grand vision for San Leandro Creek?

There are so many things we are working on right now (Susan was called away to MC the raffle).

from their web site  “…is to restore and enhance San Leandro Creek, to increase its potential as a visual and recreational amenity, to preserve its cultural and natural history and to make San Leandro Creek an economically attractive resource, and to promote a healthy environment for its native flora and fauna.”

If someone wants to get involved what do they need to do?

Rainbow trout was found in this small pool

Real simple, look at my website or call my office. www.fslc.org

Words of Wisdom

Search out a little bit of nature, it's all around, even in urban places like this. Sometimes it's such a beautiful surprise like we had today.  We find a native Rainbow trout.

Meet Your Neighbor - Bowie McPet

Who are you and what do you do?

My Full name is Bowie Girl Dawg McPet, I mostly sit around and play all day.  Sleeping, eating and walks.

What do you love about San Leandro?

I just love the hills, the creeks and things to climb and get wet in.  Pond, lakes, I just like to swim.

What type of dog are you Bowie?

I am an Australian Shepherd

Is that an Australian dog?

No, I have nothing to do with Australia. I'm an American breed.

What is your favorite walk?

This one, we usually walk to this huge tree which has fallen down and chopped into pieces, we call it big log.  We also walk to the lake.

How old are you Bowie?

I am 5 human years old. In dog years that's about 33.

Do you like to bark at the postman

Yes, I also rip up my human's mail. The junk mail mostly.  I don't like anything that comes through the slot.

When you hear the mail trucks can you tell the difference between FedEx, UPS and the US Mail?

Of course I can... I'm a dog!

I hear you have a Facebook  page?

I have a page attached to my human, the pictures are of our walks, pictures of me swimming, before and after grooming, and pictures of me making friends with other dogs.

Any words of wisdom or closing remarks?

Well my human does not dress me in clothes, for that I am thankful.  I sometimes wear a bandanna, I have lots of different styles depending on the season.  At Halloween I get a pumpkin one.

Do you like Halloween?

Oh course I do, I get to see all the kids dressed up, some of them are scary.

Do you steal their candy?

Maybe... Thanksgiving is also a great holiday, I get to steal my human's food.

I have heard you are a little bit of a food snatcher.  I hear your humans had a party and you stole the cheese

Yeah, cheese cubes, I got into them twice (looking proud).

I want to say one more thing, I am honored to be part of This is San Leandro

Thank you Bowie, that's very sweet.

Your welcome... ruff!

Bowie looks after 4 humans, loves getting groomed at Classy Canine in Castro Valley, has a Facebook page and business cards to give her new friends.

Meet Your Neighbor - Breanna Hatcher

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Breanna Hatcher and I am a life coach and trainer.  I'm also the program director of Leadership San Leandro.

What do you love about San Leandro?

To me it's the tight knit community, given that we are 80,000 people you don't feel that way. You feel like you are part of something, part of a group of people who really cares about each other and want to make a difference in their town.

Tell me more about Leadership San Leandro. What is your involvement and where leadership programs originally came from?

I am the program director.  I came in a year and a half ago, my vision was that we would add a professional development component to the program and seize the opportunity of the 9 Fridays that we have with people. Be able to develop their skills, talents and passions over time by giving them insight into who they are, what their strengths are and insight into what they could do in the community and then connect them with the key movers and shakers.

Where did the leadership programs originate from?

Our program is 20 years old, which isn't uncommon.  They have been around for a while. Chambers started them because a group of leaders from one city unfortunately all passed (died) in a plane crash and they realized they had no succession planning.  They had no one to replace these leaders for their city.  So it originated for a city wanting to make sure they have leadership to follow in the footsteps of other leaders.

To me it's not just political, our city needs people who are interested in every aspect of San Leandro, from the non profits to the for profit businesses, we have a  huge manufacturing base.  We want to ignite, spark and explore the talents of people. If the city is succeeding we are all succeeding .  Not just the political entities but all the business, nonprofit and public entities .

Leadership San Leandro is an amazing program, I am actually part of this year's class.  The

program is subsidized and we have an event coming up that help the subsidy

We have the Taste of San Leandro which is the only fundraiser for Leadership San Leandro.  The charming story is that Jack Papazian (who was the director of the program) had the idea  of bringing food and wine together and getting people to pay a set price for that,  get tray of cheese and set them out. 

Now we have about 28 wine, food and beer vendors coming for the Taste of San Leandro.  It is about bringing the community together with great food, wine and beer.  We have 3 micro breweries that are somewhat famous, or becoming famous. Twenty First Amendment, Drakes and Cleophus which is a new brewery, we are becoming a hub for breweries.  All this you get for $40, all the food you can eat for 3 hours, it pretty miraculous. It's a great way to come together and meet people you  who not meet otherwise.

It's interesting how San Leandro hasn't tried to copy Alameda and do the wine thing, we have the beer thing, it's neat

  21st Amendment are trying to partner with Cleophus and create a downtown of food tasting and craft breweries.  Get people to come as an attraction, to come and taste beer, not to see them (the other breweries) as competitors, seeing them as colleagues and collaborators.  It's super cool.

With your business, you don't just do professional development for business people, you do life coaching.  Many people, including myself have so many wonderful things to say about your sessions.  Tell us a little more about what you do?

I was in Human resources for 15 years, I have a Masters in Organizational Development, which is about making organizations better. I realized after years and years of doing that, talking about how the meeting was bad, and the meeting about the meeting was bad.  It was not igniting people or sparking a passion or helping them see how they could utilize their strengths or be their best self.  That is why I wanted to go into the coaching to leverage people for who they are.  If people are being their best self and utilizing their strengths and have the skills and vision to execute on that, be it in an organization, any organization, our families, our volunteer work.  That's why I love the individual one on one, and that to me is everything, never boring, never a bad day in the shop, it's always a good day. 

Even in people darkest moments there is always a spark of hope and I love being the person who helps to support that and show them what's possible, what's next and what they already have inside of them that can make that happen.

Final words of wisdom?

Just speaking of the City. If you spend a little time getting to know San Leandro you will really love it.  Previously in my corporate life I didn't have that opportunity, I didn't know my neighbors.  If you just take a moment to reach out I think San Leandro embraces you, supports you and shows you that whatever you want to do you can go do it, and you can go do it here!

Meet Your Neighbor - Michael Rojas

 I caught up with Michael Rojas at Triple Play indoor batting cages in San Leandro

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Michael Rojas, I own the batting cages here, I'm a full time student working 3 jobs, I work here, also as a valet and I work at Fisher Investments in San Mateo.

What do you love about San Leandro?

I have lived here my whole life, the neighborhood I live in is a very tight neighborhood (near Roosevelt Elementary). So my neighbors and the people around we grew up having block parties.  It's just a great place to live, close to everything.  I like playing Basketball on Saturdays at Bancroft.  Tuesdays and Thursdays I get together a group 20 to 25 guys and have a basketball thing. Stay fit a little bit while I'm busy.

I heard you played on some local high school sports team?

I went to Castro Valley high school, I played football, baseball and basketball over there.  Football is kind of my main sport, I was a quarterback .  That was my best sport, but I was more passionate about basketball.  I follow the Warriors a lot, play basketball all the time. Coached basketball for my sister team, wasn't able to coach this year but next year I'm planning on coaching again.

This place (triple play), you love sport, this is the perfect place for you.

I get to watch the Warriors games, it's the perfect place.

Your studying right now?

I am taking a couple of finance classes at East Bay.  I just finished up at Chabot, so now I am transferring over to East Bay.  Investment analysis, marketing, my major is finance. I want to get into sales.  I have overseen a couple of departments.  As a JA  I work for client programs they let you oversee for a day with  the IC's (investment Councilors). Any opportunity I get within that company, I really like working there.

What else do you do around the community?

I have done reading partners at my Mom's school, I worked with the Boys and Girls club for a couple of summers.  I try and be involved with San Leandro.

I hear from your Mother that you have aspirations in San Leandro?

I do want to be the Mayor one day of San Leandro, that is my dream.

Is that something you have thought about since you were young?

Just growing up, I plan on living in San Leandro for the rest of my life, I plan on buying a house, I been looking to buy a house within the next couple of years.  That's one of my goals.  To graduate and buy a house.  I have been saving up.  I really want to stay in San Leandro. It's been one of my dreams, to be Mayor of San Leandro.

Any Parting words?

Be positive, always strive for your goals... and no matter what, even if you might not accomplish them, just stay positive at all times.

Meet your Neighbor - Robert West

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Robert West and I am a multimedia production and designer.

What do you love about San Leandro?

I 've lived here almost my whole life, one of the big things I love about San Leandro is the weather.  I'm always telling people, call New York, tell them how nice it is.

How long have you been in San Leandro?

I was born in Oakland and my first 5 years were in Oakland, then we moved to Rochester Minnesota where my Dad did his residency, we were there for a couple of years. I went back to Oakland for first grade at Howard Elementary through 6th. Then we moved to San Leandro.

You went away and served you country and then chose to come back to San Leandro?

I always knew I was coming back to San Leandro,  no matter how far I travelled I considered San Leandro home.

You are very involved with the scouts, how long have you been involved with that?

I have over 15 years of experience, maybe 20, with scouts.  I have been a scout master, a scout leader for at least 12 years, cub scouts, boy scout.  I work at the council, district and troop level as a volunteer.

You are an Artist, you studied in San Francisco?

I have a degree in computer arts new media design from the Academy of Art. 

(You can see Roberts work on Robertbwest.com and on Facebook)

You are also a photographer?

Yes

What is your favorite medium?

Photoshop, I take my photographs and often manipulate them in Photoshop, my favorite files to use in Photoshop are accidental photographs.  Maybe a blurry image I did not intend, I love the randomness of it, it didn't come out right, and I try and make gold out of the random junk.

You have a few of those on Facebook, I love those images. I love the symmetry. Hard to guess where it came from.

Yes, making patterns.  I have another folder called SIDD, that stands for "Same Image Different Day", there are 25 images there and they all came from one image.  It's a way to practice Photoshop, pull the image up, start messing with it. tweaking it, cutting it, pasting it, putting it back together again. (Click here to see)

Parting words of wisdom or a quote?

Live in the moment and work at finding good in everything you see

Thanks Bob, I really appreciate you helping with "This is San Leandro", I feel you have a lot of passion. 

(You can see Roberts work on Robertbwest.com and on Facebook)