Inside
Nonprofit of the year Friends of Children with
Special Needs receives special recognition. 14
TRICITYVOICE.COM
VOL 24 NO 23
OBITUARIES
25
CLASSIFIED ADS
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LEGAL LISTINGS
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Vine Time As a potted plant, Pothos is iconic and easy to care for. 6
Baby Hero
● Mediated agreement secures raises and healthcare contribution for educators
Newark resident donates breast milk to nonprofit bank. 8
Newark State of the City Address Courtesy of Herb Chiu
By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa
— More on page 10
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JUNE 3-9, 2025
Union cuts deal, but class sizes remain an issue here
After more than 18 months of negotiations and a recent strike authorization vote, the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association (FUDTA) has reached a tentative agreement with Fremont Unified School District, union leaders announced on Wednesday, April 30. The deal comes after a prolonged stalemate in which district negotiators reportedly declined several invitations to return to the bargaining table, even after the impasse process had concluded. It wasn’t until the A lameda Count y Superintendent stepped in to mediate that both parties reconvened. However, union representatives say the district still refused to engage on one of the most pressing issues for teachers: class size caps.
OPINION
Mayor Hannon discusses
city’s budget and housing. 10
BANDING TOGETHER Chiu’s IdeaBand formed serendipitously when he and a dental patient discovered a shared passion for music.
Local dentist and leader ● Herb Chiu celebrates cultural diversity and upholds community engagement in Fremont
By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa
F
or nearly four decades, Herbert Chiu has been a familiar face in Fremont— both as a trusted dentist and an engaged community leader. Born in Shanghai and raised in Hong Kong, Chiu came to the U.S. to pursue higher education, earning a pharmacy
degree from Oregon State before attending the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. He moved to Fremont in 1979 and opened his practice in 1986. “I grew up in a medical family—my grandfather was a dermatologist, my father a physician and my daughter a veterinarian,” Chiu said.
Chiu said dentistry appealed to him because it allows him to build personal connections with patients. He enjoys helping people improve their smiles and confidence. Chiu operates two dental offices with a team of 14 to 15 staff members. He acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a cohesive team amid rising Bay Area rents, which have priced out many qualif ied workers. Still, he balances — More on page 12
Scout gives back Castro Valley student creates native garden. 13
Summer sports Fremont Football and Cheer League opens 61st season. 24