April 2022
Happy Spring! I hope you all enjoyed the return of our beloved St. Patrick's Day Celebration as much as I did. It was wonderful to see all of the smiling faces at the pancake breakfast, parade, festival, and new Shamrock Gala! We look forward to celebrating more events in the coming months.
In this edition of Backyard Brief, you'll find information about upcoming meetings to discuss development projects; the completion of renovations at Dublin Heritage Park and Pioneer Cemetery; upcoming City events, including Dublin Pride Week; Volunteer Recognition winners; and more.
Learn More About the Inspiration Drive Memory Care and Assisted Living Projects
The City of Dublin will host two study sessions to discuss the Inspiration Drive Memory Care and Assisted Living projects, proposed by Fulcrum Development. The City Council study session will be held on Tuesday, April 5, at 6:00 p.m., in the Regional Meeting Room at Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza). The Planning Commission study session will be held during their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber at Dublin Civic Center.
The two proposed projects include the development of a 55-bed memory care facility (above, left) and an 84-bed assisted living facility (above, right) on the Valley Christian Center property. For additional details on the projects, visit https://dublin-development.icitywork.com/.
City of Dublin to Host Two Community Meetings to Discuss the Dublin Senior Living Project
South Bay Partners proposes to develop a 5.74-acre site located at 5751 Arnold Road within the Hacienda Gateway Planning Subarea of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. The proposal includes a two story, 152-unit senior living project consisting of 114 assisted living units and 38 memory care units with associated common space amenity areas. The application includes planning entitlements for a Planned Development Rezone and Site Development Review Permit.
The City of Dublin will host two virtual, one-hour meetings on Wednesday, April 20, at 6:00 p.m., and Thursday, April 21, at 7:00 p.m., to share the project details and provide the community with an opportunity to provide feedback on the project.
For links to both virtual community meetings, please visit:
https://www.dublin.ca.gov/174/Development-Activity
Renovation Projects Completed at Dublin Heritage Park and Museums
In Fall 2020, the Dublin City Council approved plans for the renovation of the Dublin Pioneer Cemetery. Plans also included renovating the space adjacent to Old St. Raymond Church to include a pergola with shaded seating and an enhanced gathering space. A ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 15, to unveil the new upgrades.
While the cemetery, located on Donlon Way, is an active cemetery, there are no plots available for purchase. However, residents have the opportunity to memorialize a loved one with the purchase of a memorial paver or a plaque, placed next to one of the many hawthorn trees lining the new pathway through the cemetery. For information on purchasing a paver or plaque, visit https://www.dublin.ca.gov/2274/Pioneer-Cemetery.
Dublin Farmers' Market and Summer Concert Series Return to Emerald Glen Park
The seasonal Dublin Farmers' Market will make its annual return to Emerald Glen Park on Thursday, April 7. The Market will run each Thursday, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., rain or shine, through September 29. Come out to find your market favorites, such as locally grown fresh produce, delicious baked goods, honey, kettle corn, nuts, eggs, and more.
In addition to the Thursday night markets, the City of Dublin is excited to bring back the Summer Concert Series to the Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater, running every Thursday from June 16 through August 4. Concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. The lineup includes:
June 16: The Spazmatics ('80s cover band)
June 23: Zepparella (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
June 30: Cisco Kid (A Tribute to Lowrider)
July 7: Locked-n-Loaded (Northern California's Premier Country Cover Band)
July 14: Hip Service (Soul dance music of the '60s to today)
July 21: Night Train (Rocking Dance Party band)
July 28: Tortilla Soup (A mix of Latin, Cumbia, Salsa, R&B, Blues, Funk, Soul)
August 4: Mustache Harbor (Classic hits from the '70s and '80s)
The Dublin Benefit Concert, a wonderful family-friendly event that showcases inter-generational talent to raise funds for Dublin's Youth and Senior Fee Assistance programs, will take place at opening night of the Dublin Farmers' Market, at 6:00 p.m., at the Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater. Donations welcomed!
Enjoy Springtime Fun at the Annual Spring Eggstravaganza!
Bring the kids and grandkids out to Dublin Heritage Park and Museums (6600 Donlon Way) on Saturday, April 16, for the City of Dublin's annual Spring Eggstravaganza! Children will hunt for eggs, play games, meet Flopsy and Peter Rabbit, and enjoy arts and crafts. Registration is now open, and space is limited for each session.
Choose from one of three available time slots: 9:00 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m.
Residents: $15 per child
Non-residents: $18 per child
Children must be pre-registered to participate. (Parents and grandparents are free.) Onsite registration is not available.
Photo credit: Tae Hyun Moon
Deadline Approaching to Submit Photos for the "Nature in Our Backyard" Photography Contest
Show your "view" of our community by participating in Dublin's "Nature in Our Backyard" photography contest. Submit your creek, wildlife, or nature photo taken in Dublin to be entered to win.
Contest Guidelines:
Photographer does not need to be a Dublin resident, but the submission must be a photograph taken in Dublin, CA. • Location of where the photograph was taken must be included. • Photographs should represent the scene that is photographed (i.e, no removal or insertion of objects using software is allowed). It is acceptable to change the exposure or use software to highlight various parts of a photograph. • Photographs must have been taken within the last 12 months (no earlier than April 1, 2021). • Limit of five (5) entries per individual. One form submission is required for each photograph.
The deadline to submit pictures is no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2022. Submit photographs here. Photo credit: Jay Huang
Volunteers Needed to Help with Dublin Pride Week Activities
Dublin Pride Week, the City of Dublin’s annual week-long series of events, which promotes volunteerism and environmental awareness, will be held Saturday, April 23, through Saturday, April 30. The theme of Dublin Pride Week this year is, “40 Years of CommUNITY,” referring to Dublin’s 40th Anniversary of Incorporation.
Volunteer Day, when Dublin residents help to clean up Dublin creeks, parks, and schools, will take place on Saturday, April 23, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. All ages are welcome to participate, but safety guidelines require that anyone under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers must register here.
Dublin Pride Week will also include a Volunteer Resource Fair, a food drive for the Children's Emergency Food Bank, a Plogging Challenge, a Drug Take-Back event, a poster and essay contest, and more. Visit www.dublinprideweek.com for more information.
Dublin Police Services to Host a Drug Take-Back Event on April 30
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day takes place this year on Saturday, April 30. Dublin Police Services will be doing its part in addressing this public safety and public health crisis by holding its bi-annual Drug Take-Back event at the Dublin Civic Center (100 Civic Plaza), 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This is a free and anonymous collection. Dublin Police will collect tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of prescription medication, no questions asked. Intravenous solutions, injectables, and syringes will not be accepted.
The Drug Take-Back event addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Prescription drug abuse in the United States is at an alarming rate, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, usually by people raiding medicine cabinets. Additionally, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards. This free, anonymous service will help keep homes safe and could save lives. More information can be found at https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.
Join the City of Dublin and Alameda County Fire Department for a Personal Emergency Preparedness Class
A disaster could strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any time. How would you respond? Join the City of Dublin and Alameda County Fire Department for a virtual Personal Emergency Preparedness workshop on Thursday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m.
In the workshop, you'll learn how to minimize potential dangers in your home, prepare disaster kits, and create emergency preparedness plans for you and your family.
To register, visit www.acfdcert.eventbrite.com.
Pictured, left: Collapsed building following the 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, the last major earthquake to hit the San Francisco Bay Area
City of Dublin Announces the 2021 Citizen, Young Citizen, and Organization of the Year
The City of Dublin has announced the 2021 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Organization of the Year.
Citizen: Steve Wright
Young Citizen: Summer Shi
Organization: Breaking BEARriers
Mayor’s Award: John Samples
Mayor’s Legacy Award: Eddie Jo Mack
The winners were announced at an evening event held at the Shannon Community Center on Thursday, March 3.
The purpose of these awards is to recognize outstanding individuals and groups who have contributed to the quality of life in Dublin this past year. Nomination criteria for both the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Awards are based on 10 Characteristics: Responsibility, Caring, Respectfulness, Giving, Positive Attitude, Trustworthiness, Cooperation, Doing One’s Best, Honesty, and Self-Discipline. The Young Citizen of the Year recognizes the service of Dublin’s youth in 1st – 12th grade.
The Mayor’s Award is a special award that Mayor Hernandez presents to someone whom she believes has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Dublin community in the previous calendar year. The Mayor’s Legacy Award is an award that the Mayor presents to a group or individual to recognize extraordinary, long-term dedication to the Dublin community.
Award recipients were also recognized at the March 15, 2022, City Council meeting. The Organization of the Year received a $500 cash prize, and a $300 donation was given to each of the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year’s favorite non-profit organization. Mr. Wright requested that his prize be given to Open Heart Kitchen; Ms. Shi's prize was given to the Dublin Senior Foundation. Information on each of the award recipients (and the other nominees) can be found on the City’s website – www.dublin.ca.gov/volunteers.