Anchored-out vessels, the Alameda Gallery & Collective, and Kiwanis Club awards
Anchored-out vessels on the Estuary
To the Editor:
Anyone who has been on the Estuary or spent any time on the Oakland shore has seen the number of abandoned and/or sunk boats littering the waterway. This problem is now quickly spreading to the Alameda side.
On Sunday, March 15, there were two boats anchored in Encinal Basin and another one right up against the bulkhead. There were also three boats tied up to the Alameda Water Shuttle dock. Occasionally, there may be a legitimate sailor using the dock to make a grocery run to Target or Safeway, however, the majority appear to be derelict boats being used as living quarters.
Now is the time for the City of Alameda to use the necessary resources to nip this problem in the bud before it is totally out of control. The damage from an environmental perspective, in addition to creating a hazard to navigation for tugs, barges, ferries, the Coast Guard, and recreational boaters, should not be underestimated.
While there is a sign posted at the Water Shuttle dock, it is so generic as to be totally useless. Alameda needs to quickly let these people know what the rules are and that they will be strictly enforced. If additional help is needed with funding or laws on the state level, perhaps the Bontas can move to see that this problem is addressed and Alameda is given whatever tools are necessary.
Cris Baker
Alameda
Introducing the Alameda Gallery & Collective
To the Editor:
I want to introduce a new creative space that is taking root in Alameda’s West End. The Alameda Gallery & Collective, founded by Sandy of Fireside Lounge, is bringing together local artists, makers, and community members through a mix of curated art, hands-on workshops, and collaborative events.
Designed to feel welcoming and accessible, the Gallery invites visitors to engage with art in a more personal way, not just by viewing it, but by creating it.
“This space is really about community,” says Sandy. “We wanted to build something where people feel comfortable walking in, exploring, and getting involved.”
The Gallery features a rotating collection of local artists, including jewelry designers, mixed media creators, and handcrafted goods. Visitors can shop locally made pieces while also meeting the artists behind them.
A key part of the space is its growing lineup of beginner-friendly classes, including polymer clay, jewelry-making, and embossed wall art. These workshops are designed to be social, approachable, and open to all skill levels.
The Collective also brings together a network of local creatives, many of whom teach classes or collaborate on events. I, Siobhan Kelly, a member of the Collective and host of the Alameda-based podcast Ducking Realitea, help highlight the artists and stories behind the space.
It’s all connected. The people in the Gallery are the same people building this creative community across Alameda, we just get to bring it all into one place.
With plans for expanded events, collaborations, and community programming, the Alameda Gallery & Collective is quickly becoming a new gathering space for creativity and connection.
Siobhan Kelly
Alameda Kiwanis Club hosts 28th Annual Hope of America Awards
To the Editor:
On March 11, the Kiwanis Club of Alameda celebrated eight exceptional eighth graders as Hope of America awardees for 2026. The club invited the students, their teachers, and their families to a luncheon held at the Elks Lodge in Alameda. Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Alameda Unified School Board President Ryan LaLonde offered their congratulations and remarks. Each student received a plaque from Kiwanis President Laila Grassley, and the Mayor’s official certificate.
The honored students were Shea Chhoth (Wood Middle School), Carver Cruz (NEA), Dylan Cruz (Saint Joseph Elementary), Josephine Gilmore (Encinal Junior Jets), DeVonn Harding (Academy of Alameda), Isabelle Kim (Coastline Christian School), Elena Svec (Saint Philip Neri), and Kairi Williams (Wood Middle School).
The Hope of America Award is given to outstanding eighth grade students who continuously demonstrate leadership, character, peer outreach, community service, and school spirit. Every school in Alameda with an eighth-grade class invites teachers to nominate students matching these criteria. These young people inspire their peers to respect and welcome all students. They are the Hope of America.
For more information about the Kiwanis Club os Alameda, please visit our website.
Sincerely,
Patricia Bowen
Alameda Kiwanis
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