Fremont
will turn 50 years old Jan. 23. Two major
events within the week will kick off what
promises to be a year full of
commemorations.
The big event
at the forefront of the discussion is the
Gala Fundraiser Event under a tent at
Central Park Friday, Jan. 20.
The event has
been heavily touted by Celebrate Fremont,
the group formed to head up 50th anniversary
activities.
The fundraiser
is black-tie optional, but the focus of the
evening has been the carpeted tent in which
festivities will take place.
The tent will
be erected Tuesday.
Event
organizers are hoping to have as many as 700
people attend. At press time, there were
about 175 tickets left.
Tickets are
$175 per person and includes a dinner by
Splurge Catering, a 5-foot, 6-inch cake
created by Vienna Bakery and Cafe and
after-dinner entertainment provided by Bay
Area contemporary band the Groove Doctors.
In addition,
local artist Jan Schafir will auction a
painting.
Also, a local
jeweler has created a commemorative piece
that represents the city's past present and
future. It will be sold to the highest
bidder at one of two auctions.
There will be
a total of 25 pieces of art for auction.
The event
officially begins at 6:30 p.m., but those
who have donated between $1,000 to $50,000
will be granted entry to a 5:45 p.m.
reception.
The event will
end at midnight.
Proceeds from
the gala will help fund the admission-free
main event called "Celebrate Fremont @ the
Park," scheduled Sept. 9-10, 2006.
"Fifty years
is a milestone for Fremont, and we wanted to
celebrate it in the best way we could,"
event co-chair Fran Stone said. "It's just
going to be fun. And it will be lavishly
decorated so there will be a lot of oohs and
aahs."
The group is
most looking forward to the event that will
kick off the golden anniversary the
following Monday, Jan. 23.
That evening,
in the white tent at Central Park East (1110
Stevenson Blvd., behind the softball
fields), Celebrate Fremont will be holding
an open house, which will be free for all
who live and work in Fremont.
Running from
6:30 to 8 p.m., the evening will give
residents a chance for everything that has
been planned, with presentations and
displays from the group's several committees
and teams.
Residents will
also be treated to prizes and an anniversary
cake that Mayor Bob Wasserman will cut to
mark the historic occasion.
Also next
week, Fremont Main Library will begin a
speaker series featuring the city's history
and growth.
Andrew A.
Galvan, Ohlone Indian descendant and curator
of Old Mission Dolores in San Francisco,
will present "The Founding of Mission San
Jose and the end of Tribal Life in the San
Francisco East Bay," at 7 p.m. Wednesday,
Jan. 18.
Felipe "Phil"
Galvan, The Ohlone Indian Tribe Inc.
executive director and caretaker of The
Ohlone Indian Cemetery at Mission San Jose,
will be the honored guest. The event will
also mark Felipe Galvan's 80th birthday.
For more
information on any of Celebrate Fremont's
upcoming anniversary events, call 790-9352
or visit
http://www.celebratefremont.org.
