Fremont Update: August

The Globe

Saigon Village
Cyclo Cafe (Open Soon)
Pho Appetit (Open 2-3 weeks)
Orchid Restaurant
Taste of Asia/Vietnam - Food Court (Open September-October)
Rice Museum
Miss Saigon
Royal Thai

Fremont Times Square
Navlet's Garden Centers (Demolish August-September) The ground-breaking is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Pacific Commons
Asian Pearl (Open Mid-Late August)

Suburbs may make you fatter

New research suggests that it might for those who reside in neighborhoods designed more for cars than foot traffic.

People in the study who lived in the most walkable neighborhoods weighed an average of 8 pounds less than people who lived in the least walkable areas.

Neighborhoods built before 1950 tended to have sidewalks and other characteristics that made them more accessible to pedestrians, including being more densely populated and having restaurants and other businesses nearby, lead researcher Ken R. Smith, PhD, tells WebMD.

In general, newer neighborhoods offered fewer opportunities for walking.

The study appears in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“We aren’t saying the move from older to newer neighborhoods is the cause of the obesity epidemic, but it may be a factor,” Smith says.

Walk Less, Weigh More

In an effort to test the theory, Smith and colleagues calculated the body mass index (BMI) of 453,927 residents of Salt Lake County, Utah, using height and weight data from their driver’s license applications. Adults between the ages of 25 and 64 were included in the analysis.

The researchers also reviewed census data that included information about the neighborhoods where the residents lived.

In general, the research suggested that the more walkable a neighborhood was, the less likely its residents were to become overweight or obese.

Based upon the analysis, a man of average height and weight who lived in the most walkable neighborhood in Salt Lake County would be expected to weigh an average of 10 pounds less than a man living in the least walkable neighborhood. For women, the difference would be 6 pounds.

Smith says the growing emphasis on designing pedestrian-friendly places for people to live, work, and play could have a large, positive impact on health in the future.

He cites a recent report from the Brookings Institution predicting that by the year 2030 half the buildings in the United States will have been built since 2000.

“That represents a huge opportunity to think about how we are building our communities and to make them better places, both from a health and an environmental standpoint,” he says.

Walkability a Goal

This is the goal of the CDC’s ‘Healthy Places’ initiative, says Andrew Dannenberg, MD, MPH, of the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health.

“Our mission is to get health on the table when building decisions are being made,” he says. “This has not been done much in the past, but awareness is growing.”

The recent stratospheric rise in gas prices and concerns about climate change have helped focus attention on the subject, but it is still too soon to know if the attention will lead to change, Dannenberg says.

The CDC’s ‘Healthy Places’ web site makes it clear that the challenge is daunting, as it calls for substantive changes with regard to future growth.

“Today, typical suburban homes sit in cul-de-sac subdivisions that empty out onto high volume roads,” it reads. “Zoning laws encourage the separation of residential areas from schools and shopping malls by long and often dangerous travel distances. Elementary school bicycle racks stand empty as parents fear for their children’s safety on narrow or traffic-laden roads. (And) pedestrians take risks as they cross dangerous intersections in communities where safe crosswalks are all but nonexistent,” the CDC statement reads.

Fremont fall election

Fremont's elections are shaping up as a free-for-all, with establishment candidates competing against each other and against opponents from ends of the political spectrum that often aren't represented.

In Fremont, the mayor's race is a veritable battle of the titans with Mayor Bob Wasserman squaring off against former Mayor Gus Morrison and Councilmember Steve Cho.

Expected to be at the center of the debate is the Oakland A's ballpark village proposal, which Cho and Wasserman support and Morrison opposes. The A's are acting like a campaign already is under way. The club has sent residents two glossy mailers this year touting the team's potential contribution to Fremont.

As for the council, incumbent Bob Wieckowski has said he wants to seek another term, and he will face at least two challengers for either his seat or Cho's seat.

In Fremont, however, Cho is being termed out of his council seat this year. Planning Commissioner Suzanne Chan would be considered a favorite for the seat, but she said "I am doing my homework and assessing the pros and cons of running for public office. This is not an easy decision, but I am getting closer to a decision."

Another planning commissioner, Dirk Lorenz, already has declared his candidacy. Lorenz, a pro-business Republican who owns Fremont Flowers.

Also in the race is Sierra Club member Vinnie Bacon. Bacon, a former transportation planner who now works in technology, has criticized city development policies and promised not to take contributions from developers.

New Retail Center in Fremont, Ca

New Retail Center
Osgood Retail Center-Auto Mall Parkway, Fremont, California
3350 Mowry Avenue
Old Mission Courtyard

Stevenson Row
Charles Schwab
Fuzio Universal Pasta

Fremont Update: Part 1

Pacific Commons

Yogurt Swirl (Now Opened)
Asian Pearl (Mid July or Late July)
Chez Nous Bakery (June or July)
Dickey's Barbeque Pit ( Open July 7, 2008) Please note the date change

The Globe

Saigon Village
Cyclo Cafe (Open June or July)
Pho Appetit (Open 2-3 weeks)
Orchid Restaurant
Taste of Asia/Vietnam - Food Court (Open August)
Rice Museum
Miss Saigon
Royal Thai
1 New Tenant (Unknown)

Fremont Times Square
Navlet's Garden Centers (Demolish July)

Coming Soon

Straw Hat Grill ( formerly Pizzeria SFO Bar & Grill, next to Sweet Tomatoes)

Fremont Bank Aqua Adventure Water Park: June 2008 Construction

Photobucket Album

Fundraiser for Bob Wasserman at Japra Mahal

India Post News Service

The current Mayor of Fremont, Bob Wasserman runs against former Fremont mayor Gus Morrison and Councilman Steve Cho.

Under Wasserman's leadership, the city, the fourth largest in the Bay area, is now a hub for arts to sports to fine dining to high tech companies.

Many in Fremont are keen to see Wasserman serve again as Mayor and on Sunday, June 8, in a bid to help the re-election of Wasserman as Mayor, Dr Romesh Japra hosted a fundraising dinner at his residence, Japra Mahal. Also present were Vice Mayor Bill Harrison and Council Member Bob Wieckowski, and Council Member, Anu Natarajan, the first Indian to be elected to the City Council.

The Vice-Mayor and council members spoke highly of Wasserman's leadership skills, political acumen, and his dedication to serving the city of Fremont. 'Please come back Mayor', smiled Anu Natarajan. Bob Wasserman remarked it would be an honor to serve Fremont again as Mayor. He spoke glowingly of his team, saying that interaction with his Council members has always been fruitful if there has been criticism; it's been healthy, constructive criticism.

He said Fremont is slowly but surely flourishing, becoming more business friendly, and the home of several high tech companies. Currently, the city of Fremont is working closely with the A's, and the A's now have completed the land transaction and control 226-acres of land in the City of Fremont where the new Cisco Field ballpark and the urban village will be built. In addition, the A's will continue to work with the City staff on the steps necessary to commence the public application process.