Inside
February is teen dating violence awareness month
TRICITYVOICE.COM
VOL 24 NO 9
4
OPINION
What are the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship? 8
OBITUARIES
27
LEGAL LISTINGS
28
CLASSIFIED ADS
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League of Women Voters presents lecture on reproductive freedoms
FEBRUARY 25 - MARCH 3, 2025
The League’s position is that all people should have access to quality healthcare. 9
Families seek 5150 holds to protect loved ones ● Fremont residents grapple with limited access to 72-hour holds for mental health crises By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa After his adult son struck him in the face, leaving him bloodied and shaken, Sameer Nagwekar faced an agonizing decision. His son’s schizophrenia was spiraling out of control, but with no access to emergency psychiatric care, police suggested a restraining order. Today, his son lives alone—an arrangement Nagwekar says protects his family, but is only further harming his son’s condition. “ We were lef t w it h no choice,” Nagwekar said. Families across Fremont are urgently demanding increased access to 72-hour psychiatric holds, known as 5150 holds, to ensure their loved ones with mental illnesses receive immediate direct care. In November, representatives from National A lliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) testified before the city council hoping to get these concerns on the agenda for future meetings. — More on page 15
CELEBRATION PIECE LC Howard works on a painting for Black History Month. The painting was commissioned by Studio 11 and will be displayed at the venue.
Black History Month exhibit features Bay Area artists ● Locals bring art, food and dance to share and celebrate their culture By Roelle Balan
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miles, laughter and joy were the central themes for an art exhibit celebrating Black History Month. The showcase took place Saturday, Feb.15 at Studio 11 in Union City, a space operated by the city’s Community and Recreation Services Department. The event was called “Bridges of Hope: Building Community Through Black History and Art.”
Paintings and other works of art decorated the walls of the studio. Bordering the studio, vendors sold their original art, a children’s book and plants. Students from Guy Emanuele Elementary helped color the background of a banner with historical Black leaders. Community members chatted and laughed inside the spacious venue with the afternoon sun shining through tall glass windows. Several artists
showed up in-person to talk about their art. Local contemporary visual artist Will Francis of Union City shared two pieces at the event, both created using mixed media. Francis said mixed media is a collage that can be made out of paper, spray paint, inks, chalks, acrylic paint or oil paint. According to Francis, the f irst piece, “Mosaic of Us” showed “fragmented pieces of our lives and the things we take for granted.” He used bold colors to express his — More on page 12
Roelle Balan
Dance group the House of Daniel Royal performs at the Black History Month Art Showcase event.
Dmitri Grudsky shares mixed media techniques An accomplished and versatile artist and educator, Grudsky specializes in water media and mosaic art. 11
Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Valley passes torch “As an educational society, we show things and help to educate the public.” 18