Week in Review: Man Completes Bike Ride to New York; Rash of Strong-Arm Gold Necklace Robberies

FREMONT

Among the new businesses that opened in Fremont recently are the Cheese Steak Shop and Twinkie Boba Cafe. The Cheese Steak shop opened Sept. 11, replacing Quiznos on Fremont Boulevard next to Round Table. According to the company, Cheese Steak Shop is a California-based chain that has been serving “Real Philly” cheese steaks since 1982. Fremont’s new Twinkle Boba Café is like a serve-yourself frozen yogurt bar: You partially fill your cup with boba and other “sinkers” and then staff tops it off with your choice of drink. The new Twinkle replaced Quickly on Sept. 25. See what other businesses recently opened in the Tri-Cities here.  

Pair of Women Robbed of Necklaces in Weekend Muggings

Police are advising residents to avoid wearing jewelry when going on walks after a string of gold necklace snatchings occurred last weekend. A woman was robbed Friday afternoon on the 500 block of Deep Creek Road when two men yanked a gold necklace off of the woman. A similar strong-arm robbery occurred nearby on the 4900 block of Paseo Padre Parkway on Saturday when a suspect snatched two necklaces off of a woman’s neck and knocked her down. Another robbery was attempted Sunday evening when a female victim was walking home near Nordvik Park, located at 34300 Ardenwood Blvd. Read the full report here.

Missing Teen Sierra LaMar's 16th Birthday Was Friday

Missing teenager Sierra LaMar's 16th birthday was Friday, an event marred by her unknown whereabouts after more than seven months of searching. Sierra, who grew up in Fremont, disappeared on her way to her high school in Morgan Hill on the morning of March 16. This week also marked seven months since Sierra's disappearance — another so-called "milestone" that KlaasKids founder Marc Klaas said "are reminders of what you can't forget." Klaas commiserated with Sierra's parents, Marlene and Steve, that occasions such as birthdays can be difficult. "They would so much rather be celebrating by singing 'Happy Birthday' to her," he said.

UNION CITY

'Zumba for Zoe' to Fund Scholarship Program

The family of late teen Zoe Inciong is keeping her memory alive by starting a scholarship fund in her honor. Zoe, who battled Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, passed away in July. On Saturday, family and friends held “Zumba for Zoe,” a zumba fitness event at Alvarado Elementary School. The money raised from the event will benefit the Zoe Inciong Memorial Scholarship. “For our family, it’s really heartwarming to have her legacy live on so quickly,” said Maria Inciong, Zoe’s mother. Read the full story here.

Esteban Trial: Computer Showed Hundreds of Searches for 'Michelle Le'

An expert testified that a computer belonging to Giselle Esteban, the Union City woman accused of murdering nursing student Michelle Le last year, showed hundreds of searches for Le's name shortly before she disappeared, as well as searches for ways to harm someone.FBI computer forensic examiner Jann Hayes testified that when she examined Esteban's computer shortly after Le went missing in May 2011, she found about 300 Internet searches for Le's name. In addition the computer showed that someone had researched ways of inducing a heart attack without leaving a trace, how to follow someone without being caught, and how to break locks, deadbolts and doors.

Motorcyclist Severely Injured in Car Crash

A motorcyclist sustained major injuries after a traffic collision with a vehicle Tuesday evening in Union City. Police were dispatched to the collision at the intersection of Alvarado-Niles Road and Sherman Drive at about 7:03 p.m. Upon arrival at the scene, police determined that the motorcyclist had been traveling westbound when he collided with an eastbound vehicle turning left onto Sherman Drive. The motorcyclist, a 23-year-old Union City man, was transported to a local hospital with major injuries, according to police.

NEWARK

Newark Native Bikes to New York For Lauren's Ride

John Byrne set out to bike to New York from San Francisco on Sept. 9 as a pledge to raise $50,000 to purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for his sister, 22-year-old Lauren Byrne, who became quadriplegic at the age of 15 after an accident in her home’s swimming pool. A little more than a month later, he’s reached both goals. To raise the money, the 26-year-old Nipoma firefighter went on a bicycle ride from Golden Gate Bridge to Brooklyn Bridge. It became known as “Lauren’s Ride.” On Oct. 14, John Byrne made it to the Brooklyn Bridge. In front of the Staten Island Elks Lodge, John Byrne expressed his gratitude for everyone’s support since the start of his trip. Lauren’s Ride has raised more than $55,000, he said.

Police Commander Leaves Newark to Serve 'Home County'

Cmdr. Tom Milner is resigning after 10 years with the Newark Police Department, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stop serving the community at large. Milner, who oversaw the department’s support services sector, will take on a new role as a senior inspector with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. The new position is a bit of a homecoming for Milner, who began his 29-year law enforcement career as a deputy sheriff for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department. “[It’s an] opportunity to be closer to home,” Milner said.

Police SWAT teams and the FBI arrested a man at a home in Newark Friday afternoon. The joint operation between the FBI, Newark police and Union City police served a search warrant in the 37000 block of Birch Street around 3 p.m., according to Newark police. By 6 p.m. a man had been arrested there and the operation had concluded, police said. A neighbor told reporters that the man lived on the block for 30 years with his wife and dog. Read the full report here.

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