April 11, 2005

Here in Sunol we would like to feel that we are somehow beyond the reach of senseless vandalism and theft, so it's a shame that in early March a storage container located in the Sunol Community Park was broken into. What did the ruthless thieves take? Nothing of value really except items that we Sunolians may enjoy during the holidays such as a few of the town's Christmas decorations; some were even cherished homemade items that cannot be replaced.

The container is used by the Sunol Business Guild and the Grandmothers Club and is used for storage of, besides the towns decorations, items that are used for the famed Chili Cook-off and Bed races, paper products, canopies, tables, ice chests, etc.

The most valuable, in terms of sentimental value, were several beautiful throw blankets that depicted a sample of some of the town's oldest establishments. How ironic is it that the Grandmothers Club sold these blankets to raise funds for the town's decorations? If anyone has any information regarding this theft, please contact the Alameda County Sheriff's office.

After fundraising for over a year, Sunol Glen School's eighth grade class finally took their highly anticipated spring break trip. Traditionally each year the school's eighth grade class tours Washington DC and surrounding area. This year's trip included a tour of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, President Jefferson's home at Monticello, President Washington's home at Mt. Vernon, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam and Korean War Memorial, the World War II Memorial, Arlington Cemetery and of course they toured our nation's Capitol.

While touring the National Archives Museum on April 1, the guards on duty convinced a few students to play a trick on the parent chaperones. The solemn faced guards and prankster students informed the parents that the students had broken a display at the museum. According to parent Lisa Harper they were immediately horrified and could not believe that their students would break something. After a few moments though and some harsh looks between the parents and students, the guards laughing told the parents that it was just an April Fools joke.

Another highlight of the trip was the visit to Yorktown, VA where eighth-grade student, Jovan Beard, was chosen to be dressed as an American Revolution soldier. The students learned about life as a soldier, the equipment that was used and how it took 42 steps to load a musket. Of the uniform, Jovan says, "It was heavy, it choked you, all the stuff around my neck was choking me; it was very uncomfortable and itchy. I carried a knapsack, two canteens, a musket ball container, and something that held the gunpowder. In the knapsack was a type of hard bread that you could not chew but had to suck on. It was in the shape of a disk, it was extremely small". They also ate rice and beans and besides water, they would fill their canteens with whiskey or brandy. For utensils they had a spoon made out of the horn of a bison".

Student, Ryan Harper, said, "I enjoyed seeing the Holocaust Museum the most because I actually saw what horrors went on. I liked to see Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown because I got to see the way soldiers lived." Ryan's Mom Lisa said, "We had a great bus driver; he was 72 yrs young and a walking encyclopedia of knowledge. It was a whirlwind trip, fast paced. It's an awesome trip."