Posted on Thu, Mar. 24, 2005
AROUND DUBLIN: ALAN ELIAS
GOT A HANKERING to explore Dublin's Wild West roots? How about a little poetry -- California style? Well then, I have the perfect program for you.
California Stories Uncovered is a new statewide campaign designed to use the art of storytelling to strengthen the historical bonds in communities. In our case, the Dublin Library is the place where a series of sessions will take place during April and May.
"The library is having five special programs and holding two book discussion groups as a part of this series," says Lee Jouthas, the library manager. "Through the book discussion groups and listening, and telling our own stories of arrival and survival in California, we can reveal shared experiences, hopes and dreams, and in doing so, discover a little more about who we are as a community."
The series begins April 2 with "Wagon Train 1846." Local historian William Harlan will tell the story of his great-great-grandfather's difficult journey to California. That session begins at 2 p.m.
At 2 p.m. April 17, there will be stories about Camp Parks. Tommie Simpson, a volunteer at the Camp Parks History Center, will share stories about the history of what is basically now the center of our rectangular-shaped city, and the impact that Camp Parks has had on the surrounding area.
Other sessions include family stories told by Olga Loya, which she heard from her Mexican grandmother and father, and family stories from an Asian-American perspective as recounted by author Gail Tsukiyama.
There's also going to be a chance for Dublin residents to tell their own stories by filling out questionnaires which are available at the library as well as at the Dublin Heritage Center. Once completed, these flyers will be preserved at the Heritage Center as a "historical snapshot" of Dublin at the beginning of the 21st century.
The centerpiece of the project is a book called "California Uncovered: Stories for the 21st Century," which features essays, interviews, poems and memoirs from a number of famous and less well known Californians. Eight different book discussion groups will be held to explore the California experience.
For more information on the program, log on to the Alameda County Library Web site at www.aclibrary.org , and then click on the tab for the Dublin Library.
FIRST ANNUAL EVENTS -- Three different Dublin schools -- including one still being built -- will be the beneficiaries of a couple of inaugural fund-raising efforts.
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 30, Wells Middle School will hold its first Wells Flea Market. Proceeds will help the school's Parent Faculty Club. If you would be interested in being a seller, spaces (15 by 18 feet) go on sale beginning April 4. Seller's pay $20.
Meantime, a rather unique fund-raiser is being staged by the Dougherty Elementary School Parent Faculty Club, with proceeds going to support both Dougherty and the still under-construction Fallon School.
The "Mask-Our-Aid Gala" will be 6 p.m. to midnight April 23 at the Radisson Hotel, 6680 Regional St., Dublin. Tickets are $45, or you can get a table of 10 for $450 (see how those math skills come in handy?). In addition to a dinner and auction, there will also be dancing and faux casino gaming.
For more info, contact Stephanie Theard at 925-200-5966.
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