I am Roy Childress and I am owner of the Englander Sports
Pub and Restaurant.
What do you love about
San Leandro?
I love the progress that San Leandro is really getting
into. The community, it’s a nice
community. San Leandro is growing; they
are putting new buildings up, new businesses, new housing which helps our
business of course, and everyone around here.
Very cool. What I love about the Englander is that you
always have a variety of sports games on TV.
You have the Womens World Cup coming up.
Are you getting large crowds in for that?
Yes, the ladie’s games are drawing big crowds. The women’s USA team brings in a big
crowd. The COPA America has a big crowd
and then we have the Gold Cup next month which should be really good for us and
all of our patrons that love soccer.
And then there are The
Warriors!
Amazing!
Wow
And you know what was nice about it, there were NO problems
at all. There were no issues at
all. It was wonderful, it really
was. Every seat was taken in the house
and it was really good for us. And of
course the Warriors fans were wonderful.
It’s been a long time
coming.
It sure was. 40
years. I was at the first two games back
in 1975. My father actually took me to
both of those games. They actually won
in a sweep – 4 games.
You guys have always
supported the community. How many
organizations come in here and use your facility?
Quite a few, I’ve never really counted them. There is a lot! The Ski Club, Soroptomist, Rotary, Kiwanis,
Book Club, GTO club, MG club, I mean a lot.
They will have usually lunch or dinner. It’s good for us, it’s good for the
community.
My name is Brian Bishop, I am the Assistant General Manager
here at Monarch Bay Golf Club. I oversee the operations, staffing for the golf
shop, outside services, food and beverage.
I assist with the merchandising , accounting, anything to do with operating a
facility of this sort. I work with our general manager Kevin Kobayashi.
What do you love about San Leandro?
The location, we have a beautiful place here in the East
Bay, we are by the water. We are very lucky to have a beautiful golf course on
the bay overlooking the downtown skyline (SF).
We have a very generous community that comes in here and gives us great patronage.
We are lucky to be in a beautiful place in Northern California.
There are some great things about this facility, The main course, the
executive course, footgolf and a Junior Golf Program. Tell us a little about
that?
As you pointed out the 9 hole executive course we do have 18
holes of footgolf. It's a new craze that is going on within the golf community,
it's a way of bringing a younger demographic to the game of golf. Those who may
not have picked up a club or been shown the game, a lot of them play soccer.
The golf community has melded foot golf into our courses. It's been great, we
have hosted some tournaments for footgolf, we have got some great feedback from
the community of San Leandro, it's something new, it's something fun.
It's a lot easier than golf!
Yes (Laughs) the hole is much wider, you can get out of the
hazard a lot easier, out of the sand bunkers, especially if you get a good kick
on it.
We also have the junior golf program, we are currently
starting our Nike camp. Last week was our first week, that runs through the whole
of August. Junior from 6 all the way to 13/14 years old. It's a wonderful opportunity
to expose your child to the game of golf. You learn the fundamentals of the
swing, fundamentals of chipping and putting, everything to engross them into
the game of golf. We really reinforce having fun on the golf course, not taking
themselves or the game to seriously. Setting them up with the skills of not
only being a good golfer but a good individual, to respect the etiquette of the
game.
What do you think about the US Open and the finish?
You hate to see someone lose it, Jordan is a wonderful
champion. Everyone was putting on the same greens, there was some controversy
based on the rolling surfaces... It's all you could ask for, last group, 18th
hole, putt to win the championship, you wouldn't even think he would 3 putt to
lose it. The flat stick is the great equalizer. Shows you where to spend your
time while you practice.
Like the US Open course this year we have a links style course here.
We do, and we have poa annua greens like Chambers Bay, maybe
not as bumpy (smiles). We have a links style course, dried out a little bit
like Chambers Bay without the extravagant elevation changes.
I was out here the other day, I noticed they are working on a couple of
the fairways, number 2. The course is in great condition right now.
We are doing quite well, we have been doing a re-sodding
project in the last month so we are filling up some of the bare spots. Greens
are in great shape. We are really proud with what our superintendant has been
doing.
Any Words of wisdom?
Specifically for golf? Enjoy it and have fun. For Juniors
and Adults if you take yourself or your game too seriously you lose the
enjoyment, the vigor, the importance of what we come out here to do. Go out
have fun with your friend and family, enjoy a beautiful day right on the bay
with a wonderful backdrop. Enjoy that and you will have a better golf
experience.
I am Jan Woycheshin. Its pronounced like your wristwatch, "a"
and then the sun. I do a lot of things, I am a small business owner, my Husband
and I are partners in J & P Video Productions, we produce corporate event
and training videos along with audio reinforcement, background music for
receptions and parties. I also volunteer at the Chamber 2 days a week, I am
also at the Chamber for event coordination. I am on the board of Friends of San
Leandro creek. We organize creek cleanups and are stewards for the creek. I am
on the San Leandro Senior Commission, I am the chair for that. I am on the
board of directors for a nonprofit called the Acme Foundation out of Lake
County, they provide monetary assistance for the elderly and disabled for their
seriously ill dog and cats (Jan is also a Chamber Ambassador)
What do you love about San Leandro?
I love San Leandro because it is so centralized to
everything, its 25 minutes from San Francisco, its 4 hours from the mountains.
I love the weather. I love the people. It has a small town feels, but it's a
big town. It's a good place to live, the weather is great and I like being involved
in the community, it's a very community oriented city.
You have been involved in Coffee connection for a long time, tell us
about that?
I took over coffee connection in 2005 when we were still at
the Davis street location, there was only about 3 people in attendance, it was
just coffee, we tried to get people to talk about their business. Especially
for the small business owners. I thought
if you feed them, they will come, let's have an open house at the Chamber. So that December we had what I thought would
be just an open house, during the course of it the then CEO said "Let's
get the meeting started". I had not planned on a meeting. That is how I started out with Coffee
Connection. It grew, we out grew the conference
room. For a while we had our meeting at the Englander, when the Englander
couldn't accommodate us any more we started moving the venue around.
That works out better. Each month we have a speaker that can
talk about their business, they must be a Chamber member and the venue must be
a Chamber member . Changing the venue allows each venue to show off their place
of business.
It seems a fairly relaxed networking event.
It's a networking opportunity for about 20 minutes, then the
speaker gets about 25 minutes, then everyone gets a chance to introduce
themselves. Coffee connections tend to be anywhere from 20 to 60 people
depending on the venue and what is going on.
If someone wants to attend a coffee connection do they have to be a Chamber
member?
No. The Chamber does not have a prospective membership or orientation
meeting. I tell people that if they are interested in finding out what the
Chamber is about, come to a coffee connection. You will get a taste of the
people who are in the Chamber, you will find out what we do, you will find a
mix of people. Each coffee connection is about an hour, sometime people hang
out a little longer networking. A lot of people have connected through coffee
connection, it's not always who you know, it's who other people know.
You recently received an award?
Last year I received the leadership award for district 3
from San Leandro City council for some of the things I have done
Any final Words of Wisdom?
Come to San Leandro, It's a growing city, a growing
community. It's a wonderful place to live. I have lived here since 1975 and I
have seen a lot of changes, and things are still changing and I don't see them
stopping for a very long time. I think everyone who comes here will fit right
in.
I am Jonathan Davis from San Leandro California. I am a
manager at Orbit Skate Boutique and I love what I do. I travel, I am a wide
eyed wanderer.
What do you love about San Leandro?
I was raised here, I was born in Alameda but raised here. I love the diversity. It's the city element,
being the suburbs of Oakland and San Francisco. It has a little bit of
everything, it has the hiphop, you can go to the Englander, go to the skateshop.
There is so much to do.
Back in the day my Dad said they had a roller-rink across
the street from here. They had Neil Young, and The Byrds play. That was in San
Leandro, not in Oakland or San Francisco.
You have younger
sponsored skaters and a program for children keeping their grades up?
We do have a sponsor program. On top of that we have a GPA
program, which we have been doing since 2001. You bring in your report card at
the end of the year, K - 12 and we will give you a free gift. You have a 4.0
you get a free skateboard deck. 3.0 a free sticker pack and then gifts in-between.
We get people who come from the Central Valley. It's a great incentive for the
kids.
The shop always feels so friendly, doesn't matter if you are coming in
to browse or to buy something. Where do you think that comes from?
We are a family. We work in a great work environment,
everyone is really happy, everyone has been here for a while, we love what we
do. Everything we carry we are really, really into. From the skate people to
people coming to buy statues.
Final Quote?
Live in the positive of life, live in the good, live in the
essence, live in the moment. Take everything for what it is and try to always
effect yourself in the positive. There
is the neutral and then the middle but try and push yourself in the positive
for everything you do.
Orbit is Celebrating it's 20th Birthday, they are having a street party on July 15th with Pro Skateboarders. From Dawn until Dusk
My name is Kate Livson and I teach here at San Leandro High
School. I teach a class call Forensic Biology. This is my tenth year, it is an incredible
class. I teach students how to solve crimes using science. It's exciting, it's
a great way to learn life science, to learn Biology. You can see around the
room the children have made their own mug shots. There is Goergie the skeleton.
We do a lot of labs, it's very hands on.
I am also the coordinator for the Season of Service period
of peace program at the school this year, this is our 7th year. We celebrate
season of Service between Martin Luther King's Birthday and Caesar Chavez
birthday. During those 10 weeks groups, clubs and classes around the school get
together to create some projects that has to do with non violence, peace and
educating our community. Bringing non violence and peace to this school, this community
.
This year more than 1000 students participated at San
Leandro high School. We have now included both middle schools, John Muir and
Bancroft and Jefferson Elementary. We have commitment from these students to
learn about non violence, to learn about peace and to bring what they have leant
out into their schools and communities.
Wednesday at 7pm San Leandro High School Performing Arts
Center the students will perform and present all that they have done (FREE and
open to the public)
What do you love about San Leandro?
This is my 10th year and I wouldn't teach at any other high
School, I love this place, it's my home. The students are open and inquisitive,
they are smart, competent. There is a certain spirit to San Leandro High School
that I have never seen in any other school. These students are open to looking
further, to questioning more, standing up and telling the truth.
I am the adviser to Club Rainbow (Gay straight alliance) and
over the years I have has as many at 50 to 60 students in this classroom
looking at changing the culture. We have alliance with the football team. My
students have gone into classrooms to talk about gender and bullying. It's an incredible
safe and welcoming place, and when it isn't these students always look deeper
and wonder how can we educate this person. It's an honor to work here.
Your role with Season of Service, period of peace and with Rainbow seem
to have some similarities, can be brought together in part?
In part. It was an opportunity to coordinate it (Season of
service). I was able to teach, coordinate Season of Service and be the adviser
for the Club Rainbow. As teacher we are often isolated in our own classrooms.
We seen 150 students every day over 5 periods, it's like tides, students come
in and they go out. There are days I don't speak to another adult all day long,
but as coordinator I have got to know all the advisers and I get out a little
more.
What have you learnt most from the experience?
Students learn best from each other, things are changing. It
used to be that we could write about what we wanted the children to understand,
or we would talk about it the way adults talk about things. The way I
understand social justice issues, issues of community and of non violence. It's
really different the way they process these very important issues. When I say
to the club "Why don't we make a Flyer and explain to the students?",
"no Ms Livson that's not how we teach this".
I have learnt so much about how to communicate.
It's a new generation with teenagers use of technology.
It's extraordinary, we are invited to use computers in our
classrooms. Every teacher has access to computers for every student. It's a challenge
because students are on their phone, their screen time is 24/7. It's hard for
me, an old woman, to give them more
screen time, but what they have taught me is that they don't learn best with
words, we don't want all this language. There are other ways of communicating. Just look at the Club Rainbow season of
service video
Most of my curriculum is hands on but I recognize that there
is another road in learning.
We are all about project based learning and getting students
to learn skills and collaboration, working through problems, how to learn and
what to learn. This is easy for me as my students solve crimes all day. Here is
the evidence, here are the clues, use your science and determine (who did it).
As a district we are moving towards project based learning.
Final quote or words of wisdom?
Don't be afraid of this place (San Leandro High School).These
students are extraordinary people, they are our future. This place is full of
wonderful, smart, competent, intelligent people. I think people think about
high school is hooligan, they have concerns. I would invite folks in San
Leandro to come here and experience what we are doing. They should come and experience
it on Wednesday.
My name is Leah Hall and I am a community activist.
Excellent. What do you love
about San Leandro?
I love the location of San Leandro and the size of it. I think it’s in a great place for working
people. Ummm, it’s situated between
Silicon Valley and San Francisco and other areas. It has a great climate and great people.
Very good. You are part of the
Durant Task Force. Can you tell us a
little bit more about that and what you guys are trying to do?
Yes, the Durant Avenue Task Force was the brain child of a
guy that I work with, Gus Roldan who noticed commercial trucks going down his
street and other people had a hard time believing that was happening since it
was such a thin road. I think people saw
all of the traffic going on there but he was the first to actually document the
trucks, put stuff on YouTube, got some local news media involved and we were
able to work together positively with the city to actually……. we had some real
data in our hands…… and start to improve the street and by getting real with
what was going on there.
Right.
We learned that there are about 6000 cars travelling there a
day, if I’ve got the number right, which it doesn’t make any sense but if you
also can take a walk on Durant you’ll see that it doesn’t make any sense from
that perspective either and along with those commercial trucks. So, things that we have done, we learned that
it is border of Oakland and San Leandro.
The line is drawn right down the middle of the street so this creates
some coordination problems, to say the least, with Oakland and San
Leandro. But we did get the cities to
work together to approve some new speed bumps to slow down the traffic. It hasn’t gone away but it has slowed down a
bit. We also had a joint neighborhood
block party last year that we are really proud of. We had city workers from both sides, police
departments, elected officials, and everyone had a really great time.
I saw some of the photos – that looked like a lot of fun.
It was.
You were part of the Leadership San Leandro program a few years ago and
you actually presented this year at one of the classes. What was your experience with that?
Leah presenting at Leadership San Leandro
I was drawn to Leadership San Leandro. My background is in architecture and urban
planning and I really wanted to use some of the skills I was using in
neighboring cities here in my own community and Leadership San Leandro gave me
a way, um, when I was very new to the community to meet, um, learn more about
the government here, how it works, and also meet people working in and out of
government, business owners. When we
were there, the project I worked on with my classmates was putting a library
table in the courtyard of the then, newly remodeled main library, which me and
my daughter who was about two at the time, would just thoroughly enjoy. So we wanted to give something back to the
library. It was very exciting to have a
team and do something nice for the library.
That was very nice. Your latest
project where you are trying to get a parklet.
Can you explain what a parket is and how you think that would be great
for San Leandro?
Yes. We are really
lucky. In San Francisco, though parklets
are new, I’d say about 2010 they were granted.
There were only about five in the city.
Now they have exploded all over San Francisco!
Right!
So we are seeing lots of examples of what is a good and bad
parklet. Basically a parklet is
considered street furniture. It’s a
cheaper, faster way to build public space into a neighborhood that is starving
for public space. It provides some
beautifying and a greening element that an area wouldn’t otherwise have. But it is a public space so it is
interesting… a private business, like a coffee shop, has to make sure that it
is clean and taken care of. It still
gets a sign on it that says that this is a public space so that anybody can
come and enjoy it.
Very cool. You ran for city council.
How was that experience?
It was great! I mean
I was kind of drawing on my love of getting into being a youth advisor at San Leandro
High School as a YMCA Youth in government advisor. I did that with this guy over here for one
year (points to Derek Lee). (Laughs)
Hi Derek!
So I did that. I’ve
been on the Human Services Commission for four years and I just really wanted
to put my money where my mouth was, you know, public speaking, and really
building a platform for things you are passionate about. What I was passionate about was livable
neighborhoods and I really still see that as a city planning element that the
community can really help each other by enhancing public space and enhancing
health and wellness by getting people out of their cars and, you know, enjoying
the beauty of their city.
If someone wants to help you with you project on parklets, how do they
contact you?
A great way to contact me is by e-mail which is llahhael@yahoo.com
or search for me or Durant Avenue Task Force on Facebook . Any of those ways
are fine.
Very good. Do you have any final
quotes or words or wisdom?
I think that it is really important in this day and age to
think of partnerships. You know, the
government really is us. Government is
of the people. So if we want change, in
today’s world, at the local level, get involved, get engaged, and surround
yourself with your tribe!
Who are you and what
do you do?
