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Encinal High School seniors Z’haria Anderson and Sesina Haile have been named the 37th annual winners of the $5,000 Ken and Shirley Van Sickle Scholarship. Each will receive a full award.
Haile is a top student at Encinal High and this year’s class salutatorian. She has been president of the school’s DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) business club and the ACCYF (Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families) Youth Advocacy Committee.
She has also been a student intern for the League of Women Voters and a leader in a number of other school and community organizations. Haile plans to attend UCLA and study public affairs.
Anderson is also a top student at Encinal High and an officer of the Black Student Union, where she was active in a project that dramatically increased the school’s collection of books written by and for African Americans.
She has been active in student government, a peer counselor and gave a widely praised speech at the city’s Season for Nonviolence Speech contest. Anderson plans to attend USC and study business administration.
In addition to Haile and Anderson, two other students were selected as scholarship finalists — Encinal High’s Allen Liao and Alameda High School’s Bryan Lam. The scholarship honors Ken and Shirley Van Sickle, two distinguished high school teachers who devoted their careers to Alameda’s students.
Applicants to the scholarship are judged on a combination of academic achievement, leadership and financial need.
“We are delighted to support Z’haria and Sesina as they pursue their dreams of a college education,” said Keith Van Sickle, the scholarship foundation’s president. “They both have outstanding records of accomplishment and will go far.”
— Keith Van Sickle
Radium Presents has announced a Saturday summer concert series to take place at Radium Runway, its outdoor performance venue on Alameda Point with stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and distinct large-scale murals.
Oakland’s own La Misa Negra will launch the summer series June 15 with their high-energy Afro-Latin and Cumbia grooves. Powered by horn and accordion-driven riffs and a fierce rhythm section, La Misa Negra has shared stages and festival appearances with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz and more. Samba- reggae-funk band SambaDá will open for them.
On July 20, Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Sunny War will headline. Her emotional mix of gospel, blues, folk and rock are delivered with her signature innovative guitar style about which L.A. Weekly’s Michael Simmons proclaims, “I haven’t heard a young guitarist this dexterous … in eons.” San Francisco singer-songwriter and guitarist Diana Gameros will open for this concert.
For the Aug. 17 concert, Jazz Mafia’s Grateful Brass reimagines the iconic music of the Grateful Dead with instrumentation of brass, drums and vocals digging deep into the Grateful Dead discography with creative reimaginations infused with the ebullient spirit of New Orleans Second Line, Afrobeat grooves, energetic Afro-Cuban polyrhythms and Balkan brass, all sitting on top of a heavy foundation of funk. Modern micro brass band The SticklerPhonics will join the bill for this show.
Closing out the series Sept. 21 will be popular Seattle-based funk and soul act True Loves. The band has been called “simply one of the best bands in Seattle” by KEXP’s John Richards. Opening for the final concert is Bay Area soul duo Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan.
All concerts will take place at 3 p.m. on Alameda Point at Radium Runway, 2151 Ferry Point in Alameda. General admission tickets are $20 in advance, $25 on show day and free for ages 13 or younger. For more online details, visit radiumpresents.org/radiumrunway.
— Radium Presents
The West Alameda Business Association (WABA) has proudly announced the launch of its vibrant new summer series, “West is Best,” which is meant to celebrate the spirit of community, art and live music in the heart of West Alameda. The series will feature three events and up to six mini-events.
Kicking off June 16 at WABA’s community gathering space, The Healing Garden (1435 Webster St.), the summer series promises an array of electrifying performances and engaging activities for all ages. Pop Rocks will headline the inaugural event from 4 to 6 p.m., delivering a dynamic blend of high-energy hits from the Motown era to the 1990s.
Following the much-anticipated Alameda July Fourth parade, the series will continue with Hat Trick taking the stage from 2 to 4 p.m. July 4. This vintage classic rock band guarantees an unforgettable experience with triple shots of iconic artists like the Grateful Dead, Joe Walsh and Neil Young.
On Aug. 18, the tribute band Midnight Flyer will enchant the audience from 4 to 6 p.m. with their heartfelt renditions of the Eagles’ greatest hits, showcasing their passion and energy.
In addition to the stellar musical lineup, the “West is Best” series will feature vintage markets curated by Webster Street antique stoer Patina + Rust Alameda, cocktails by The Fireside Lounge, local artisans showcasing their talents and kids’ activities to ensure fun for the whole family.
— WABA
In service to the community, the Alameda Kiwanis Foundation (AKF) encourages nonprofit organizations serving Alameda to apply for its community grants, entirely funded by its annual chili cookoff. The application deadline is July 1, and the grants awards will be presented at a Kiwanis meeting Aug. 7.
Mail your completed application to Alameda Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 1217, Alameda CA 94501. Grant requests must be postmarked by July 1. For information and an application, email leadingedgealameda@comcast.net or call 510-909-4444.
— AKF
Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) has announced the departure of General Manager Nicolas Procos to pursue a new opportunity after nearly seven years with the city. City Manager Jennifer Ott has appointed Tim Haines to the role of interim general manager while leading the search for a permanent replacement.
During his tenure, Procos led AMP to an improved financial position with lower-on-average rate increases, a transition to 100% clean energy and a new focus on energy efficiency and electrification. As the interim general manager, Haines will leverage his comprehensive background in energy resources to work with executive staff and the Public Utilities Board to ensure AMP’s continued mission to deliver safe, reliable, low-cost and environmentally responsible electricity to the city of Alameda.
“Tim’s strategic management experience and extensive knowledge of energy resources will help ensure the continued stable and reliable operations of the city’s municipal utility,” said Ott. “We look forward to having him at the helm of AMP as we work through this leadership transition.”
Haines began his career with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District in transmission engineering for critical reliability projects. Serving at the state level, Haines was directly involved in California’s response and recovery to the Enron energy crisis and implemented a major redesign of the California Independent System Operator market, guiding large energy consumers through decarbonization policies, including utilization of renewable power.
He has held several strategic leadership roles with public agencies including serving as deputy general manager of State Water Contractors, deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources and interim general manager of California Community Power. The city thanks Procos for his service, and Haines is now leading AMP.
— city of Alameda
The HUB sports club last recently hosted a grand opening celebration for their new pickleball and fitness facility with 15 pickleball courts and a full gym, sauna and steam room in the Bladium building on Alameda Point near the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum.
The club held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a pro pickleball exhibition match and hosted some skill contests and other fun. The club’s address is 800 W. Tower Ave. on Alameda Point in Alameda. For more information online, visit thehubpickleball.com.
— The Hub
The public is invited this Saturday and Sunday to the Summer East Bay Open Studios event. Check out art, meet the artists and have fun at the Jingletown Arts Community’s annual open studio event that highlights the work of artists who live and/or work in Jingletown, a small but mighty arts neighborhood in Oakland on Alameda’s border. This event is free and open to the public.
Many artists will offer affordable and one-of-a-kind pieces, including photography, cards, paintings, prints, jewelry, glassware and more. Bring your family and friends to this special event that lets you glimpse into the creative worlds of many talented artists in Jingletown’s special artist community.
Also, don’t miss a chance to win an original piece of art in the Jingletown raffle, for which participating artists will have raffle cards in their studios. Not only will there be great art throughout the neighborhood, but visitors can get a slice of Gabba Gabba Pizza too and taste award-winning wine offered by Jingletown’s own Drawbridge Cellars while listening to the cool tunes of Stephen Dreyfuss and Company in the parking lot of Ford Street Studios. For online details, visit jingletown.org/open-studios.
— Gray Loft Gallery
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