Lahaina residents begin returning to homes in fire zone

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Lahaina residents begin returning to homes in fire zone By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher | Associated PressLAHAINA, Hawaii — Some Lahaina residents returned to their devastated properties Monday for the first time since the Hawaii town was destroyed by wildfire nearly seven weeks ago.The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina, the historic capital of the former Hawaiian kingdom, and overcame people stuck in traffic trying to escape.The Aug. 8 wildfire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and sheltered in the waves as hot black smoke blotted out the sun.Officials urged residents returning to the area not to sift through the ashes for fear of raising toxic dust. The first area to be cleared for reentry was a zone of about two dozen parcels in the northern part of Lahaina. Residents were allowed to return on supervised visits between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday...

Big Mountain View office building at choice site faces loan default

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Big Mountain View office building at choice site faces loan default MOUNTAIN VIEW — A prominent and empty office building in Mountain View has tumbled into a default on its loan, fresh evidence that financial woes have widened for the Bay Area’s wobbly commercial real estate market.The office building that’s in default is located at 590 East Middlefield Road at the corner of Logue Avenue, according to documents filed on Sept. 21 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.The structure totals 99,600 square feet and is deemed to be a Class A office building, a marketing brochure states. The office building is empty at present.Office building totaling 99,600 square feet, located at 590 East Middlefield Road in Mountain View. (Google Maps)The property owner group that defaulted on the loan is SHP Middlefield, an LLC that’s affiliated with Sand Hill Property Co., one of the Bay Area’s most successful and active developers.“There are many nice buildings like ours sitting vacant,” said Peter Pau, prin...

Mother slain at East Bay auto center ‘did nothing but smile’

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Mother slain at East Bay auto center ‘did nothing but smile’ RICHMOND — A small collection of burning candles remained on the ground Monday morning after a gathering the day before in the Richmond neighborhood where Alonna Gallon lived.Mourners had remembered the slain woman and watched as balloons flew skyward in her memory, according to Yuvonda Gallon, Alonna’s mother. Immediately after the release, Alonna’s 7-year-old son, King Walker, crouched down in front of the candles and began to cry.“We’re all just trying to look out for him for now,” Yuvonda Gallon said Monday morning. “My daughter’s life — it was all about her son and what she could do to give him what he needed and wanted.”Alonna Gallon’s life ended Friday, when a gunman entered the Berkeley Toyota service dealership at 1025 Eastshore Highway and fatally shot her. Her family identified the 24-year-old woman to this news organization Monday.Within minutes, police were on the scene; five Berkeley officers confronted ...

Single family residence sells for $1.6 million in Danville

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Single family residence sells for $1.6 million in Danville 1323 Greenbrook Drive – Google Street ViewA 1,979-square-foot house built in 1976 has changed hands. The property located in the 1300 block of Greenbrook Drive in Danville was sold on Aug. 25, 2023. The $1,630,000 purchase price works out to $824 per square foot. This two-story home offers a roomy layout with four bedrooms and three baths. Additionally, the house is equipped with an attached two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.These nearby houses have also recently been purchased:A 2,752-square-foot home on the 200 block of Milwaukee Place in Danville sold in June 2023, for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $763. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In February 2023, a 1,803-square-foot home on McCloud Place in Danville sold for $1,550,000, a price per square foot of $860. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On McCloud Place, Danville, in April 2023, a 2,281-square-foot home was sold for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $811. The ho...

Photos: Modest San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Photos: Modest San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million A multi-unit property that recalls San Jose’s history as a farming community was sold for $2.305 million. The sale included a main house, two one-bedroom units and a barn converted into an artist’s studio, “perfect for the city farmer.”San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million. (Marvin Morris) San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million. (Marvin Morris) The property built in 1900 sits behind an electric gate on 1.7 acres of land. The listing also says keeping a horse on the property is “possible.”San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million. (Marvin Morris) San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million. (Marvin Morris) The 1,660-square-foot main house has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a remodeled kitchen. The entire parcel was last sold in 1985 for $191,000.San Jose ‘farm’ listed for first time in 39 years sells for $2.3 million. (Marvin Morris)&nb...

Oakland police searching for missing at-risk teen girl

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Oakland police searching for missing at-risk teen girl (KRON) -- The Oakland Police Department Missing Persons Unit is searching for a 14-year-old girl last seen on Sept. 20. She is considered at-risk due to her age.Roxana Ramirez Jimenez is a missing 14-year-old Latina girl who is 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds, according to Oakland police. She is described as having black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, green pants and dark shoes.Jimenez was last seen on Sept. 20 just after 8:30 a.m. on the 4300 block of Broadway. The address given is near the intersection with Mather Steet and close to Blue Bottle Coffee. Her family said that she is in good physical and mental condition.Anyone with information is asked to contact Oakland PD’s Missing Persons Unit at 510-238-3641.

Windsor shelter-in-place lifted following natural gas leak

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Windsor shelter-in-place lifted following natural gas leak (BCN) -- A shelter-in-place has been lifted but a stretch of Old Redwood Highway in Windsor remains closed on Monday following an earlier natural gas leak, authorities said.The gas leak was reported near the 8500 block of Old Redwood Highway, the Sonoma County Fire District said in a social media post about 11 a.m. Young mother slain at Bay Area Toyota service center identified The gas was shut off and a shelter in place lifted shortly before noon, authorities said. Old Redwood Highway is still closed in the area and PG&E and fire crews are still at the scene.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Biden tells Pacific islands leaders that he hears their warnings about climate change and will act

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Biden tells Pacific islands leaders that he hears their warnings about climate change and will act WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday told leaders from the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum that he has heard their warnings about the impact of climate change on their region and that his administration is committed to helping them meet the challenge. Pacific islands leaders gathered Monday for the start of a two-day Washington summit. Many have been critical of rich countries for not doing enough to control climate change despite being responsible for much of the problem, and for profiting from loans provided to vulnerable nations to mitigate the effects.At the summit’s start, Biden said that his administration is requesting Congress approve $200 million in new assistance for the region, including financing to help the islands prepare for climate and natural hazards and improve infrastructure. Biden has put a premium on improving ties in the Pacific amid rising U.S. concern about China’s growing military and economic influence.“I want you to know I hear you, the people i...

Amazon opening 2 operations facilities in Virginia Beach, creating over 1,000 jobs, Youngkin says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Amazon opening 2 operations facilities in Virginia Beach, creating over 1,000 jobs, Youngkin says RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two new Amazon operations facilities are coming to Virginia Beach, expected to eventually employ over 1,000 people, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday. The retailer will establish a robotics fulfillment center expected to launch in 2025 and a delivery station expected to be running in time for the 2024 holiday season, the Republican governor’s office said in a news release. The new facilities will be Amazon’s 14th fulfillment and sorting center in Virginia and the 17th delivery station. The company, which has a headquarters in Arlington, has invested more than $109 billion in Virginia since 2010, including infrastructure and employee compensation, Youngkin’s office said. “Amazon’s cutting-edge fulfillment centers generate major capital investment and thousands of jobs and strengthen Virginia’s position as a logistics industry leader on the East Coast,” Youngkin said in a statement. “We see Amazon’s expanding footprint impacting econo...

Diversity and inclusion celebrated in Milan with refrain: Make more space for color, curves

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:37:57 GMT

Diversity and inclusion celebrated in Milan with refrain: Make more space for color, curves MILAN (AP) — More curvy models than ever showed up on Milan runways this season, due mostly to a single show by Brazilian designer Karoline Vitto, while designers of color showcased their work at collateral events meant to promote their visibility in the backrooms of Italian fashion.Wherever diversity and inclusion were being celebrated during Milan Fashion Week, which ended Sunday, there was one underlying refrain: Make more space. CURVY MODELS GET OUTING AT KAROLINE VITTO“We made history! It was incredible,’’ world-renown curvy model Ashley Graham gushed as she embraced London-based Vitto after Sunday’s show. Plus-size models like Graham, Precious Lee and Paloma Elsesser are often the only curvy models on fashion runways for any given show, but for Vitto’s preview Graham led an entire cast of models ranging in size from UK 10 to UK 24 (US 6 to US 20). Vogue Business reported in March that just .06% of 9,137 Fall-Winter 2023-24 looks across 219 shows in four fashion cities fe...