Week in Review: National Night Out, Flash Mob, Health Food Stores

Here's a list of top stories from our coverage in the past week:

Sunday, July 31

Two new health food stores will soon find homes in the Tri-Cities. Sunflower Farmers Market is scheduled to open in Fremont in 2012. Whole Foods is also scheduled to open in Fremont as one of several new locations that will open in "2012 and beyond." Find out more details .

Purple banners, posters and ribbons lined Alvarado-Niles Road in an effort to "Paint Union City Purple" and raise awareness for the upcoming . The event was held Saturday at Mexico Lindo, where a percentage of proceeds were given to Relay for Life, to be held Aug. 27 and 28 at James Logan High School. Check out photos from the event .

Monday, Aug. 1

Patch contributor AJ Flores hit the Hayward Executive Airport's open house over the weekend. The event featured vintage airplanes and members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American World War II pilots. Check out the highlights in our photo gallery .

Monday marked the first day of fasting for Muslims all over the world in observance of Ramadan. Learn more about the traditions of Ramadan . As often happens with the topic of religion, the story sparked a lot of religious debate in the comments section.

Tuesday, Aug. 2

Residents driving along Mission Boulevard reported seeing smoke emanating from the Mission Hills. It turned out to be fire near a Hayward golf club, which was started by sparks from a weed whacker. The Hayward Fire Department, with assistance from Union City units, contained the fire in an hour. The blaze could have spread to Union City homes if it hadn't been contained in time, officials said.

We announced the New Haven Unified School District's "," a school supply drive to be held Aug. 12-14 at Wal-Mart. Shoppers will be able to donate items from a list of needed supplies and literally fill a school bus with much-needed supplies for students.

We reported on Monday night's police activity, which included , all within a 30-minute span in various locations throughout Union City.

A 28-year-old Union City parolee who had a warrant for his arrest outstanding, was chased by police in Castro Valley. The chase began around 1 p.m. as a Castro Valley hotel and ended when he was captured by a sheriff's department K-9 unit as he attempted to hop fences in backyards. Read the full report via Castro Valley Patch.

Also on Tuesday, we shared info about , a 16-week program that launched last week to encourage Tri-City seniors to stay active.

Wednesday, Aug. 3

Hundreds gathered at multiple locations throughout the city to take a stand against crime during National Night Out, an annual celebration that aims to strengthen communities. Law enforcement and city officials hit four "official" locations, giving SWAT and K-9 demos and speaking one-on-one with residents. We visited a couple of locations, and readers submitted photos from the parties we couldn't hit. Check out the highlights in our photo gallery .

Giselle Esteban, a Union City woman identified by police as a “person of interest” in the disappearance of nursing student Michelle Le, was granted permission to see her daughter Tuesday in an unrelated court case. The woman had a restraining order issued against her on May 24, just three days before Le went missing, by the father of her child. The father alleges bizarre behavior by Esteban, including stalking him threatening to shoot herself and entering his home unannounced. Read the full story .

Using the news from earlier in the week that two new health food stores are coming to the Tri-Cities, columnist Neena Barreto ponders the affects it might have on the communities.

Police issued a warning on Wednesday after an attempted home burglary in which the suspect rang the doorbell and, after no one answered, attempted to break in. A resident, however, was home and called the police. A UCPD lieutenant advised readers that and call police if the person appears to be a threat.

Thursday, Aug. 4

A new choral program recently launched to serve local children. Jennifer Carini, the choir teacher at Cesar Chavez Middle School, is the founder of the . The program costs $50 a month. Those who can't afford the fee can negotiate with Carini. The first rehearsal will be held Sept. 6 at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Fremont.

A woman was . She was later identified as 53-year-old Maria Villalpando of Fremont.

Friday, Aug. 5

We can't even take credit for one of our most popular posts this week. We found some footage online of a flash mob held at Union City Eats the previous night. The surprise dance routine was organized by members of TRU Dance Studio, a new studio in Union City. Watch the video .

Union City artist Francisco Javier Martinez, 67, is featured in a new exhibit at NewPark Mall's NPM Cultural Corner. The artist doesn't ascribe to any particular technique and is often inspired by the moment, with his work spanning from watercolor landscapes to abstract oil paintings. Learn more about the artist .

We also ran a brief obituary on , who passed away in his El Dorado County home on July 29. Stone served as a City Council member from 1976 to 1980 and helped shape Union City into what it is today.

Saturday, Aug. 6

Hayward Councilman that will be left vacant when Mary Hayashi is termed out next year. Due to redistricting, Union City, which is currently in Bob Wieckowski's 20th State Assembly District, will split from the Tri-Cities and enter Hayashi's district. Hayward doctor Jennifer Ong is also running for the position and Union City Mark Green said he is strongly considering a run as well.

We took readers inside a that teaches nursing students how to respond crises during labor.

We also announced the launch of our newest feature: . The weekly column will feature animals up for adoption at the Tri-City Animal Shelter. You’ll learn more about the animals, what their personalities are like and what kind of home they need.