If you’re looking for a cool place on a hot summer day, one of the best is McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, which is operated on behalf of the state by the East Bay Regional Park District.
Among the East Bay Regional Park District visitor centers offering programs as pandemic-related restrictions ease is the one at Oakley’s Big Break Regional Shoreline.
Dig Deep Farms, a nonprofit program of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs’ Activities League, has been granted a five-year lease to engage in organic heritage farming at the East Bay Regional Park District’s Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont. Dig Deep will continue a farming program at Ardenwood that had been operated by J.E. Perry Farms since the mid-1980s. Perry Farms’ tenure ended when the owner retired in 2020.
The other day we were sitting on a bench eating lunch at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, when another hiker with two big, friendly dogs came past on the trail. One of the dogs saw us and made a beeline for the food. My reflexes were fast enough that I covered our lunch just in time. Won by a nose. Its owner called the dog back, and all was well, but it did remind us of some dog-related rules of the road.
With the coming of warmer weather as spring gives way to summer, it’s time for the annual advisory about rattlesnakes.
This year’s wildflower season is well under way, and while the displays aren’t as spectacular as in some past years, there’s still plenty to see. If you can arrange it, go on a weekday. Weekends tend to be very crowded in the parks. I haven’t visited all of them yet, but below are some suggested East Bay Regional Park District spots for wildflower viewing.
When the fire rekindled, Oakland Deputy Chief Matthews had assumed command as operations chief, Battalion Chief Riley, who later was killed, was assigned as division commander, and Battalion Chief Ronald Campos coordinated logistics from Oakland’s fire dispatch center.