Over 60 fifth-grade students from Fairlands Elementary School in Pleasanton made a powerful impact on their school and city through a showcase of student-led service projects at the annual CAP Fair. Held on May 20, the fair gave students a platform to present 19 group initiatives that addressed pressing local and global issues. Students spent months identifying problems in their communities, researching solutions, an

San Ramon residents and others in Contra Costa County are being asked to help shape the future of local mental health and behavioral services. As the county prepares to redesign its Behavioral Health system for the 2026–2029 cycle, officials are inviting the public to participate in a survey and virtual town hall forums to gather input. The initiative is led by Contra Costa Health Services, which is seeking input on topics such as access to mental health care, substance use tr

The majority of Livermore residents are satisfied with their quality of life, according to the results of the 2025 National Community Survey. The survey, conducted by the National Research Center at Polco, randomly selected 3,000 households in Livermore, with 374 responding. The results were carefully weighted to ensure diversity across age, gender, race, ethnicity, housing status, and geography. According to the findings, 95% of residents expressed satisfaction with living in Liver

Sunnyvale residents are raising serious concerns as new housing developments threaten to displace grocery stores in their northern neighborhoods, pushing the area closer to becoming a food desert. The latest project, proposed by True Life Companies, aims to construct 101 townhomes at the current site of Lakewood Shopping Center—one of the few places offering accessible groceries in North Sunnyvale. This plan would result in the demolition of the New Wing Yuan Market, a vital grocery sou

A controversial proposal to build a slaughterhouse in Wonder Lake, Illinois has triggered a wave of strong opposition from local residents, who voiced their concerns during a recent McHenry County zoning board meeting. The project, proposed by Sergiy Bazlyuk, aims to process chickens and pigs on a parcel of land located within one mile of at least two residential subdivisions and less than a mile from Greenwood Elementary School. Many attendees at the meeting expressed alarm over the potentia

Austin’s beloved Barton Springs Pool will keep its late-night hours, allowing residents and visitors to continue enjoying evening swims and the famously quirky full moon howling events. A recent proposal to end nightly access at 9 p.m., eliminating the 9 to 10 p.m. free swim hour, has been withdrawn following public concern and a reassessment by city officials. Over the weekend, a sign at Barton Springs indicated that new operating hours would begin June 1, closing the pool ni

A 175-year-old family farm in Cranbury Township, New Jersey, faces the threat of seizure by eminent domain, sparking a community-wide debate over heritage, affordable housing, and responsible urban planning. For Andy Henry and his family, the farm on South River Road is not just land—it is a deeply personal and historical cornerstone that has stood the test of nearly two centuries. The township’s recent decision to acquire the property for public use has triggered emotional resist

Despite a significant investment of $350,000, a recent study funded by the city of San Jose to explore community-based alternatives for addressing domestic violence has come up short on actionable solutions. The city had initially allocated $400,000 for the research project titled “Community-Led Solutions to Domestic Violence,” which was aimed at developing methods to support survivors without involving law enforcement. The study, released on May 20, was conducted by a nonprofit o

A grassroots community effort in Cupertino has transformed the simple act of harvesting backyard fruit into a powerful mission to support local families experiencing food insecurity. Organized by a local climate action group and supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, the initiative harvested approximately 250 pounds of fruit in just three and a half hours from residential trees in the area. The late-April pilot harvest saw local volunteers come together to collect fruit that

Dublin, California is launching an exciting new community event this fall the Dublin Night Market and is now inviting local vendors to be part of it. The vibrant new market will light up St. Pat's Row on three Friday nights this fall: September 26, October 24, and November 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Designed to celebrate creativity, culture, and community spirit, the Dublin Night Market will feature an eclectic blend of handmade goods, artisan crafts, vintage finds, gourmet

San Ramon, California is set to honor the memory and sacrifice of fallen service members with a heartfelt Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26 at 9 a.m. The commemorative event will take place at San Ramon Memorial Park and is expected to last for about an hour. As part of a longstanding tradition of remembrance, the city invites the community to come together for a meaningful morning filled with music, tribute, and personal reflection. This year’s ceremony promises to be a

This Saturday, May 17, the city of Dublin will host Utsavi, a vibrant festival celebrating women’s empowerment, creativity, and community leadership. Organized by Agomoni, a community-driven nonprofit, the event will take place at Frederiksen Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Utsavi, which means "joyful celebration" in Sanskrit, aims to bring together women from all walks of life to share knowledge, develop wellness practices, promote entrepreneurship, and build meaning

The City of Pleasanton has officially launched FlashVote, an online community survey tool designed to gather quick, confidential feedback from residents on important local topics. The initiative aims to make it easier for citizens to contribute to city decisions, shaping policies that align with public needs. FlashVote allows Pleasanton residents to participate in brief surveys that typically take just one minute to complete. Each survey remains open for 48 hours and can be answered

When Ali Shirkhodaei arrived in the United States from Iran in 2006, he had no idea how difficult life would be as a new immigrant, even with a molecular biology degree. At 28 years old, he faced a long and discouraging year of unemployment, struggling to land any job in a foreign land. But what he did know was that he wanted to build a life that reflected the kindness he grew up with in the streets of Tehran. Almost two decades later, that spirit continues to define his journey, now as the o

On a bright and warm day in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood, Father Michael Pfleger commemorated his 50th anniversary in the priesthood in a way that perfectly embodied his decades of dedication—not with a lavish ceremony or personal accolades, but with an outpouring of generosity and love directed at the people he has served for half a century. Rather than center the occasion around himself, Father Pfleger chose to give back, organizing a day full of impactful community eve

Pleasanton, CA is taking its library on the road with a brand new 28-foot step van named Zippy, a mobile library that will bring books, resources, and community engagement directly into neighborhoods across the city. Officially launching on May 31, Zippy will make monthly rounds throughout Pleasanton, offering a wide range of materials and services for residents of all ages. Zippy is a major addition to Pleasanton’s libra

In a hard-fought community effort, residents of West Jefferson, Ohio, have successfully stopped a proposed biodigester project that had stirred deep concerns over environmental risks and its proximity to residential neighborhoods. After months of advocacy, the company behind the project withdrew its plans, signaling a major win for local voices who refused to be sidelined. The proposed facility, intended for Madison County, would have processed cow manure and food waste into renewable natural ga

The devastating attack at a Filipino festival in Vancouver, which tragically claimed the lives of 11 people, including a 5-year-old girl, has deeply shaken Filipino American communities across the Bay Area. Despite the pain and fear stirred by the violence, Filipino American leaders and organizations are responding with resilience, cultural celebration, and a renewed commitment to safeguarding their communities. In San Francisco’s SOMA Pilipinas Cultural Heritage District, the

A recent outbreak of disorder involving large groups of teenagers in Washington, D.C.'s Navy Yard neighborhood has led to mounting concern among residents and public officials. The disturbances, which took place on a Friday night, saw hundreds of teens gathering near the Southwest Waterfront. Law enforcement responded with a heavy presence, resulting in several arrests and calls for stronger preventive measures moving forward. Community members and local leaders gathered the f

 Columbus, Ohio is experiencing a remarkable and hopeful shift in public safety, with the city's current homicide rate falling to its lowest point in more than a decade. Local officials and community leaders say the steady decline in deadly violence is the result of persistent collaboration, data-driven policing, and grassroots engagement that has been years in the making. So far in 2025, only 16 homicides have been reported in the city — a significant drop from the