Jim Otto's "00" Liquors

Jim Otto, Oakland Raiders football legend owned two liquor stores that he doesn't anymore. He played in Super Bowl II with a dislocated knee, broken fingers, broken ribs, a broken jaw and double pneumonia. He was a charter member of both the American Football League and the Oakland Raiders.

Fireworks Stand

One of three cities in Alameda county to allow fireworks, Union City is filled with fireworks stands. There are more fireworks stands in Union City during this time than there are Starbucks in Seattle (maybe). Fireworks are not permitted east of Mission Boulevard, in public parks, or on public streets.

Masonic Home

The Masonic Homes of California's Union City community occupies a beautiful 305-acre hilltop site 40 miles east of San Francisco. The grounds are gated and include 10 buildings. This campus offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, secure Alzheimer's/Dementia care and hospice to approximately 300 residents.
I had the opportunity to visit the campus yesterday for a sing-out with the New Dimension Chorus. The main building, the Ralph Head Building is more elaborate inside than any hotel I've ever been in.
This magnificent house on the hill is easily recognizable to anyone who down Mission Boulevard in Union City.

Dry Creek Garden

This is Dry Creek and we bid you welcome… Famed in the early 1880s for the spirit of gaiety that reigned here in festival days, guests poured in from the rural districts of the whole county to greet their friends and make merry…
And so today, we pray you to maintain with us that holiday spirit; leave care and worry behind you; enjoy the beauties of nature here in your midst; and pause for a moment in your rush through life to give thanks to the great artist who painted this ever-changing picture of the hills and fields and streams.

—Edith Meyers, of the Meyers Ranch family

Dry Creek Cottage was a popular summer home of Edith, Mildred, and Jeanette Meyers, three sisters of Alameda who were very involved in local charities and fundraisers during the early and mid 1900s. The sisters also owned the 1,200-acre Dry Creek Ranch, which was donated to the Park District in 1979 and later opened as Dry Creek Regional Park. Upon the passing of the last surviving Meyers sister, the Dry Creek Cottage and its garden was also donated to the Park District. This beautifully restored garden and cottage sits at the end of May Road off Mission Boulevard in Hayward, and provide access to trails at the south end of Dry Creek Regional Park, which is adjacent to Garin Regional Park.

In addition to restoring the garden, pathways were rebuilt and footbridges were reconstructed over the creek, and a new parking area was built. The two-acre garden is home to nearly 200 native and exotic plants, with something in bloom just about every day of the year.

The Park District plans to eventually open the cottage for receptions, weddings, and similar events, and will also house a small visitor center inside.

The garden is open to the public every Thursday and the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parking lot is open all week until dusk, offering easy access to the park's southern trails.

Flight 93 Memorial

The Union City Flight 93 Memorial in the Sugar Mill Landing park at the corner of Alvarado-Niles and Dyer Streets in Union City stands as a poingnant reminder at this busy intersection of those who gave their lives to prevent more lives' being lost.

The tragic events on the morning of September 11th, 2001 will forever shape world events of the 21st century. The events of that day are close to the hearts of all United States citizens and many of our friends around the world. In particular, United Airlines flight 93 bound for San Francisco, California has special significance fo those of us in the Bay Area where many of the heroes lived, worked or were traveling to that day. The individual lives on Flight 93 upon close inspection reveal lives of richness and honor. A collaborative effort and individual life stories have forever elevated the crew and passengers of Flight 93 into the consciousness and history of the United States of America. Heroism family love, strength and lives of deep meaning were revealed on Flight 93.

This memorial offers a place for feelings of remembrance for loved ones lost and thoughts of a positive hope for the future. There is an individual stone representing each passenger and crew member lost on Flight 93 accompanied by a mirror to inspire thought and reflection. The memorial encompasses several elements to help visitors remember the ultimate price each hero paid to save the lives of countless others.

The stones stand together flowing in unity with one another and in relation to the path, indicating one's life path, ever changing with direction and transition. The back and edges of the remembrance stone have been left rough hewn signifying unfinished lives. The remembrance stones begin at a "Plaza of Remembrance." Expressing strength, life and rebirth, the stones flow to the "Plaza of Hope," where visions of the future are expressed.

This memorial was built through the efforts of the City of Union city, the hero's families, local and national businesses, local trade and labor unions, and caring individuals. Our hope is that everyone who visits this memorial will reflect, be inspired and healed by the honorable and heroic lives and actions of the crew and passengers of United Flight 93.

Click image for full sized photo, then learn how to see 3D photos like this.

N 37° 35.843 W 122° 04.285

Totem Pole

The totem pole at Dry Creek Apartments, nestled on the east side of Mission Boulevard, stands overlooking the Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park parking lot on May Street. Dry Creek Apartments also features its own covered wagon and giant cowboy sculpture. It is about a hundred feet away from the entrance to the Dry Creek Garden and cottage.

Union City Sign

 

This is the Union City sign, at the corner of Whipple and Second streets. I guess it's there in case you forget what city that you're in.

Bay Star Auto Care

 

Here is Gary's shop. I find him to be an honest guy with a great price who does great work on a car. I'm not sure that he uses the name brand parts, but with my car, who would?
Bay Star Auto Care, 1275 Atlantic Street.

May 2008 Update

Update! As you can tell, I have not been able to post my weekly photos in quite a while. The biggest reason for that was that my car was non-operational, and if I were to only take pictures of where I could walk, you would get pretty bored looking at the same three places. However, since my car is now fixed, I will be back to the Union City Weekly Photo Blog quickly.