East Bay Unemployment Drops; So Do Number of Jobs

The East Bay's jobless rate for April fell to 9.0 percent while the region lost 2,100 jobs from the month before

The unemployment rate in the East Bay fell significantly in April, but the region also lost more than 2,000 jobs. The state Employment Development Department reported the East Bay's jobless rate dropped to 9.0 percent last month. That compares to 9.8 percent in March. In Alameda County, the figure was 8.9 percent, down from 9.7 percent. In Contra Costa County, it was 9.1 percent, compared to 9.9 percent. However, the East Bay also shed 2,100 jobs in April, leaving it with a total of 959,900 people employed. In March, it gained 6,200 jobs. The biggest decline was seen in private education and health services, which lost 1,000 jobs last month. In addition, financial activities dropped by 800 jobs while leisure and hospitality services lost …

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Lion's Club Event Raises Money for Community

Fifteen Local Restaurants Offer Samples

The Union City Lion's Club, in partnership with fifteen Union City Restaurants, held its third annual Restaurant Stroll last night. For $15, attendees had the opportunity to sample dishes from each restaurant.  The Stroll was held at 5:30 pm at Union Landing. With around 300 people in attendance, it was a sold-out event that raised approximately $4,500. The Lion's Club will use all of the money to support Union City and its residents. "[The money] will be returned to the community through grants to deserving organizations," said Lion's Club President Tony Acosta. Many of the organizations and programs chosen to receive donations support local youth. These include local Scout troops, youth sports, co-curricular programs sponsored by schools…

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Sprouts & Shutters

Purple Monkey Yoga Brings Bliss, Community to Union City

Barely two weeks after opening their doors, Purple Monkey Yoga appears to be delighting customers, and already dreaming up ways to give back to the community of Union City.

Having a serious case of the Mondays? Or Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, for that matter? Well, according to some of the studio's first customers, the brand-new Purple Monkey Yoga on Horner Street in Union City provides the perfect cure. "[Thanks to Purple Monkey Yoga], my case of the Mondays was turned into yoga fever!" said Yelp.com reviewer "Zeestacers" from San Francisco when he took his first class there on the studio's opening day, May 7. "I'll be back soon. I was cured!" Purple Monkey opened its doors on May 7. Owner Rebecca Gatanis says, yoga fills her heart with joy, and therefore she wanted to share that joy with the community of Union City. "Yoga and all the bliss that comes with practice, should be accessible to …

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Two Quizno's Stores Have Closed - What Should Replace Them?

Two Quizno's sandwich shops located on Whipple and Alvarado Niles roads have closed up and moved out. What would you like to see in its place?

You may have noticed that the Quizno's sandwich shops on Whipple Road and Alvarado Niles Road are suddenly gone. Abruptly, the stores closed up shop and moved on out recently, leaving both store sites vacant, with the signs peeled off the awning. Quizno's on Whipple Road shared space in a small strip mall with Nayong Filippino Restaurant and a few other small businesses, while the shop on Alvarado Niles Road is near Mexico Lindo and Rose Garden. What would you like to see replace the two Quizno's in their empty spaces? A sushi restaurant? Another sandwich shop? A taco place? Or, some other type of business altogether? Share your thoughts in the comments section below on the closing of two Quizno's locations, and what you would most like to…

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Free Martial Arts Classes Open to 30 Local Kids this Summer

Hernandez Martial Arts in Union City will give 30 local kids the chance to participate in its 90-Day 'Transform' Class, beginning June 1, for free.

30 kids. Three months. One goal - transform. That's the motto of the newest class being offered by Hernandez Martial Arts in Union City. It's called "Transform," and it will be offered to 30 local kids for free this summer. "We're looking to make a big impact on the community," said co-owners Bob Hernandez Sr. and Bobby Hernandez Jr. "We want to guide kids and lead them through a martial arts training regimen that doesn’t support the use of punching and kicking, but rather advocates the use of 'common sense before self-defense.'" Another motto of the studio's is that it not only develops champions of the ring, but champions of life, by instilling confidence and strong moral values in its students. “Fighting is a very small part of being a …

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Get Your Restaurant Stroll Tickets - Before they Sell Out!

The third annual event takes place next Wednesday, May 16, and only 300 ticket books will be sold.

These days, $15 can barely get you a meal at one restaurant, let alone 15. The one exception would be this year's third annual Lion's Club Restaurant Stroll on Wednesday, May 16, in which $15 will get you food from yes, count 'em, 15 Union City restaurants. In other words, for just $1 per restaurant, you'll get to sample a dish at every restaurant on this list: In addition to promoting the fine restaurants of Union City, the Restaurant Stroll also benefits the Lion's Club of Union City, which works tirelessly year-round to further important community causes.  Lion's Club representatives say, proceeds of this event will be given back to the community by means of donations to local youth groups, community projects, funding of the club's …

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In Photos: Hundreds Raid Local Comic Shop for Free Comic Book Day

Comic and Figure Addicts gave away close to 1,500 comic books during the May 5 event.

While many were cleaning their barbecues and stocking up on Coronas for Cinco de Mayo festivities, a few hundred people were raiding a local comic book shop in hopes of snagging free comic books. According to Juan Lecaros, owner of Comic and Figure Addicts on Smith Street, the store gave away close to 1,500 comic books for Free Comic Book Day. He estimates that more than 700 people stopped by throughout the day as each person was limited to two books per person. “When I closed at 7 p.m., I had eight comic books left,” Lecaros said. Free Comic Book Day is a nationwide event that takes place the first Saturday in May each year at many comic book stores. According to Lecaros, the comic book connoisseurs’ holiday began in 2002 at Flying Colors…

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