The Dublin Days of Summer

Dear residents and friends of Dublin,  

I hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July weekend. I spent the weekend working the fireworks booth for the Dublin High School Alumni Association (DHSAlums on Facebook) and attending the grand opening of the Dublin Heritage Park & Museums. I did find some time for BBQ, swimming, hanging out with family and applying lots of aloe vera (after four hours at the heritage park). 

I'm also excited that progress is being made on connecting Dublin to the Livermore Valley Wine Region (more below). As always, please contact me if I can better serve you or update you on Dublin Doin's.   

Eric    

Coming Up:  

Dublin Farmers' Market -- First Thursday (Wine & Concerts!): This Thursday, July 7 from 4pm to 8pm come out to Emerald Glen for First Thursdays at the Dublin Farmers' Market. This Thursday will feature wine pouring from local wineries (Little Valley, Fenestra, Nottingham Cellars, and Sterling Albert Winery) and a live concert by Tom Rigney and Flambeau (starting at 6:30p.m.). Admission is free. You can purchase a souvenir wine glass for $10, which includes five tasting tickets.  Additional tickets can be purchased for $1.00 each.   

Don't miss the Alameda County Fair! It wraps up this Sunday, July 10.  For more info check out: http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2011fair/home/index.php    

Dublin Happenings  

Dublin's 2011-2012 Budget: I am proud to report that the city council balanced its budget at our June 21 meeting. We did not cut any positions, will keep police and fire staffed at their current levels, and for the first time in a few years, will NOT have to use economic reserves to balance the budget. Also, Dublin's own city employees who will now be paying a portion of their salary into their pension fund -- a necessary step (state and nationwide) for public employees if we're going to fund retirement pensions down the road. As a public employee myself with the District Attorney's Office, I am proud of those who work for and serve Dublin -- I will continue to work as a councilman to ensure their hard work is fairly compensated and that their pensions will be there when they retire.   

Connecting Dublin to the Livermore Valley Wine Region (Update): I am proud to report that a piece of the 2011-2012 budget now designates a staff member to work on ways Dublin can connect with the Livermore Valley Wine Region. As you probably know, connecting Dublin to the region is one of my key initiatives ().  It will help diversify what Dublin has to offer its residents and the Tri-Valley as far as a destination point, will offer alternative ways to save our hills in the East, and will add a new sales tax base to Dublin. This positive step will allow city staff to look at how we can zone land to entice wineries and vineyards as well as ways to work and partner with the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. I look forward to keeping you updated on other ideas I have for bringing Dublin into the region.  Stay tuned!   

Honoring our Past -- Grand Opening of the Dublin Heritage Park & Museums  This past weekend Dublin celebrated the Fourth of July by honoring our own history with the grand opening of the Dublin Heritage Park & Museums -- located at: intersection of Dublin Blvd. and Donlon Way. Several hundred residents and visitors witnessed the park's opening. The event included a ribbon cutting, arts and crafts, wagon rides and German music and food (the park features the Kolb family & their house -- in recognition of the Kolb family's Bavarian heritage). Volunteering with my fellow Dublin Lions Club members, I think I prepared over 300 bratwursts! The site also features the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse, the 1859 St. Raymond's Church and a Pioneer Cemetery.  

Grand Opening of Sprouts Market: Last week Dublin welcomed another grocery store, Sprouts, diversifying what we offer our residents. Sprouts features produce and food from local farmers. Visit Sprouts at the intersection of Amador Valley Boulevard and Amador Plaza Rd. From the looks of the jammed parking lot, they're doing pretty good! I personally enjoy their pollo asada and price of limes (4 for $1.00!).     

Re-Cap of First Annual Councilman Swalwell's Bowling Tournament  

The first annual bowling tournament was a hit!  We had over 200 attendees bowling on about 40 lanes. Not to mention the firefighters from Local 55 -- Alameda County Firefighters. They had an engine and a an antique fire truck converted to a grill. Thanks to Ted Hoffman, owner of Earl Anthony's Dublin Bowl for being such an amazing host. Now if he could only build about 20 more lanes to accommodate us for next year! I also would like to address a whisper campaign going around. Some people, in an attempt to smear my good name and love for bowling, have suggested I only hit one pin in my opening roll. While that may or may not be true, let's just say I did (for argument's sake, of course), isn't it harder to hit just one pin than to hit all of the others? Try it and get back to me. Also, check out the photos below or on my Facebook page, highlighting an evening of fun on the lanes.    

Don't miss: Second Annual Poker Tournament For Fallen Families of Alameda County -- Wed., July 27 at 5:30p.m. at The Warehouse -- 402 Webster St., Oakland:

Join me as Deputy District Attorneys of the Alameda Co. District Attorney's Office host our Second Annual Poker Tournament benefiting fallen families of law enforcement in Alameda County. Last year we raised over $5,000 to send the OPD families 3/21/09 to the law enforcement memorial in Washington, D.C. This year's proceeds will benefit county-wide agencies. One particular family who will benefit will be that of ACSO Deputy Marco Ortiz, who died in late December 2010 on his way home from work in a car accident. His wife was pregnant at the time and the family's life insurance was not to take effect until January 1, 2011.

Cost: $75 includes $50 worth of chips and dinner & drink tickets Prizes: There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place finishers. Last year's winner received a round-trip ticket from Southwest Airlines.

If you're not a poker player, you can still eat, drink and support this cause.  RSVP to me at: eswalwell@gmail.com