I’m late in posting this. A story ran Tuesday looking at the life of Felipe “Phil” Galvan, who died March 25. He was 87.

It almost feels like an understatement to say he was a fixture in the Mission San Jose district, and in Fremont, in general. In talking to his family, friends and neighbors, it was clear that Galvan was much admired and respected.

If you have any memories of Mr. Galvan, please feel free to share them.

For more of the story that ran earlier this week, click here.

Aaron Lewis and his wife, Binbin Wang, needed a nanny to take care of their twin toddlers. What they got was someone more interested in their finances than their offspring.

The couple said the woman who came into their San Francisco home on Jan. 2 logged onto Wang’s computer and tried to steal thousands of dollars from an online account, attempted to take more funds from a bank account, created a phony email address and then tried to delete the computer’s Web history. The computer was damaged beyond repair, they said.

Making matters worse, the couple say, the child care company they hired — and the Fremont subcontractor that provided the nanny –  since have done little to repair the damage done to their lives.

“As a parent, this is the most sacred thing, trusting someone with your kids,” Lewis said. “But they allowed a criminal to come into our home and turn our lives upside down.”

For more of the story, click here.

The city of Newark could save as much as $115,000 by holding its elections in even years, according to a city staff report.

Newark’s next mayoral and council election is scheduled for November, making it the only Alameda County city holding elections in odd years. But the rising costs of elections might prompt Newark to change that. If the city goes it alone on Election Day, it would pay from $192,000 to $230,000, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters. But if Newark held the election a year later, in November 2014, its tab would drop to between $76,788 and $115,182.

The costs would be lower because Newark would split the bill with nine other cities and school districts in Alameda County, as well as other counties, the state and the federal government.

Councilman Luis Freitas requested last fall that staff employees start analyzing the benefits of switching. City Manager John Becker is scheduled to deliver a presentation on the issue to council members Thursday, but they are not expected to vote on it.

“When you look at the additional costs, I think it would be very difficult to continue with holding odd-year elections,” Becker said. “But we’ll see what the City Council says. Our recommendation is for them to discuss the item and provide any necessary direction to staff.”

Press release from the city of Fremont today:

Fremont City Manager Fred Diaz announced the appointment of Richard Lucero as Police Chief for the City of Fremont. Lucero has been serving as Interim Police Chief since Dec. 31, 2012, when Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler retired. Lucero’s career with the Fremont Police Department began in April 1987.

Chief Lucero is responsible for all aspects of the Fremont Police Department, including emergency services provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of overall management of the department, the Chief of Police has direct oversight of the Offices of Business Services, Professional Standards and Accountability, Special Investigations, and the Media Relations/PIO function. The Fremont Police Department has 286 full time employees of which 185 are sworn positions.  The Fremont Police Department is a full service law enforcement agency and also provides some services by contract to other agencies.

Chief Lucero has been a police officer for 26 years, serving his entire career with Fremont. His assignments have included working Patrol, S.W.A.T., Narcotics, Internal Affairs, and Street Crimes. He has served as the commander of both major divisions within the Fremont Police Department: the Patrol Division and the Special Operations and Investigations Division.

“I am pleased to appoint Richard Lucero as Fremont’s Police Chief,” said City Manager Fred Diaz. “Rich has worked his way up through the ranks of the Fremont Police Department and has demonstrated his keen leadership skills while serving the Fremont community. He is sincere, intelligent, and approachable and will serve the Fremont Police Department and our City with dedication and skill.”

“The Fremont Police Department is an exceptional police agency serving a community with a great deal of opportunity. I am proud of my affiliation with the department,” said Police Chief Richard Lucero. “I am extraordinarily grateful for this opportunity.”

Chief Lucero is a graduate of POST Command College, Class 40, and a lifetime member of the California Narcotic Officers’ Association. He is also a graduate of San Jose State University and Santa Clara University School of Law. He received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in the study of local government law and is a member of the State Bar of California.  Chief Lucero is a volunteer with Officers Give Hope, a law enforcement-oriented nonprofit organization dedicated to having peace officers join the National Marrow Donor Registry. In addition, he is the First Vice President of the California Peace Officers’ Association.  Most of Chief Lucero’s time away from the department is dedicated to his family.

Chief Lucero has had many opportunities to work with the community to address significant issues and has valued that interaction. He welcomes direct contact from members of the community.  He can be reached at (510) 790-6811 or by email at rlucero@fremont.gov.   

 Details for a badge-pinning ceremony are forthcoming.

Hey, Mario Andretti, slow down. That’s the message (kind of) to Fremont motorists from the SFPUC tomorrow morning and the following two Saturdays. Actually, they were way more polite in their press release, but you get the point.

As construction continues to upgrade SFPUC’s aging pipes near Mission Boulevard, Interstate 680 and Curtner Road in south Fremont,  construction crews will be positioning guide beams in the area from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday (tomorrow, March 30), as well as April 6 and 13.

The beam is being installed as part of the construction of a temporary bridge for the on-ramp to I-680. With all this construction, the SFPUC is asking motorists to slow down while driving in the area. Also, because the northbound Mission Blvd. sidewalk will be closed, due to the operation of heavy machinery and and excavated pits. Pedestrians should cross the street and use the southbound sidewalk.

Have a good, safe weekend everybody.

Mayor Bill Harrison, usually so jocular, was all business in the State of the City speech Thursday, listing the city’s successes and describing Fremont as a “city on the move.”

I suppose that if one’s goal is to attract businesses, then it’s fitting to be “all business” in the rookie mayor’s first State of the City address.

It was a good turnout  — around 300 people, including media — to see the 24-minute speech. These types of speeches/events are rarely groundbreaking but even those who did not back Harrison in the election had to have appreciated the semblance of sincere regained optimism brimming around the city.

There are still plenty of problems, of course, and room for improvement. For the first time in half a decade, though, I appreciate that it’s no longer fully depressing (only partly) to attend city council and school board meetings. Sure, a lot of places needed to learn how to trim the fat, but far too many places have been chipping at bone, and doing it for years. Anyway …

For the print story, click here.

The Newark City Council and Planning Commission have scheduled a special meeting Thursday evening to discuss updates on the city’s general plan. The meeting will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Community Meeting Room at the Silliman Family and Acquatic Center, at 6800 Mowry Ave.

A regular City Council meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m. at Newark City Hall at 37101 Newark Blvd.

The city’s general plan is the document that lays out the city’s vision for future land-use decisions for the next two decades. The next general plan work session is scheduled for May 9.

For more information, go to www.newark.org or call 510-578-4266.

Community members are invited to attend a “Coffee with the Cops” event scheduled from 8 to 9 a.m. Wednesday. It will take place at Ardenwood Forest Club House, at 5016 Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont.

Interim police Chief Richard Lucero, his command staff and other officers will be there to discuss neighborhood issues and concerns in an informal setting.

For more information, call 510-790-6740.