Sanestina Hunter


Featured Articles

Reporting samples from The Independent, a local newspaper in Livermore, CA

The Independent •

BART Finishes Installation of Modernized Fare Gates at All Stations Ahead of Schedule

DUBLIN — BART completed the installation of new fare gates at all 50 of its stations four months ahead of schedule. The $90 million project, part of a system-wide modernization strategy, improves accessibility, safety and the efficiency of proper payment.BART representatives and city leaders marked the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Dublin/Pleasanton Station, which finished its new gates on Aug. 4.“This is the latest in a string of victories for riders that are transforming...
The Independent •

CVS Skills Lab Teams with PUSD WorkAbility Program

PLEASANTON — A new mock CVS store at Valley Village High School is giving students with intellectual disabilities real-world experience in retail and customer service.The Skills Lab, run by Pleasanton Unified School District’s (PUSD) WorkAbility Program in partnership with CVS Health, provides students with intellectual disabilities hands-on retail experience while preparing them for workplace independence. The lab opened on Sept.17 at Valley Village.About 35 students from Pleasanton’s three hig...
The Independent •

Limitless Axes & Ales Venue Shutters After Nearly Five Years in Pleasanton Location

PLEASANTON — Limitless Axes & Ales has closed its Pleasanton location at 1808 Santa Rita Road after almost five years. Its Brentwood and Stockton axe-throwing venues will remain open.Owned by Michael and Brook Hill, the business operated in the Valley Plaza Shopping Center. The Hills will continue running Limitless Escape Games next door. It remains open with puzzle-solving and interactive challenges.“After an incredible run, our Pleasanton axe-throwing location has officially closed with the co...
The Independent •

Oracle Plans To Lay Off 45 Pleasanton Employees as Part of Bay Area Job Cuts

PLEASANTON — Oracle Corp. plans to lay off 45 employees at its Pleasanton office, effective Oct. 13.The software company submitted a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) on Aug. 13, according to state filings. Federal law requires employers to provide 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs take effect.The Pleasanton layoffs are part of a wave of Bay Area reductions also affecting 244 other workers. Oracle is cutting 143 jobs in Redwood City and 101 in Santa Clara, according to the C...
The Independent •

A Popular Pleasanton Fashion Boutique Pop-Up Closes Doors

PLEASANTON — PRIMM Boutique, a boho-style clothing store, recently closed its downtown pop-up at 400 Main Street after the city ordered its original location at 520 Main Street to shut down due to structural concerns.Owner Marissa Ringman is relocating the business to Paso Robles, a city in San Luis Obispo County. She ran PRIMM at 520 Main Street for 12 years before opening the pop-up as a temporary solution earlier this year.The 125-year-old building at 520 Main Street, where PRIMM operated, sh...
The Independent •

Main Street Brewery Closing Doors After Nearly 30 Years

PLEASANTON — Main Street Brewery, a popular bar-style restaurant, is scheduled to close Sept. 21 after nearly three decades in business.Bar owners Sharon and Matt Billings announced the closure in a Facebook post on Aug. 29.“It is with heavy hearts that we will soon be saying goodbye,” they wrote, noting that serving families has been one of their greatest joys and that friendships and memories made at the bar will last a lifetime.The post drew dozens of comments from longtime patrons, some shoc...
The Independent •

Dublin Unveils Community Park Dedicated to Pickleball Players

DUBLIN — The City of Dublin earlier this month opened its 25th public park, and its first with dedicated pickleball courts.Wallis Ranch Community Park spans 8.85 acres on Rutherford Drive in the Wallis Ranch neighborhood. The park features four dedicated pickleball courts, four overlay courts that can also be used for tennis, fitness stations, a basketball court, picnic areas, walking paths, restrooms and open space for community gatherings.The park also marks Dublin’s third dog park, giving pet...
The Independent •

Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Hosts 9/11 Ceremonies

TRI-VALLEY — The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department (LPFD) hosted its annual Sept. 11 remembrance ceremonies last week, honoring victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks alongside local police officers and community members.Police personnel joined firefighters at the cities’ 10 stations to reflect on courage, honor resilience and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.The ceremonies paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed, including 343 firefighters and 72 law enforcement officers who died in the...