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Meon Valley, a perfect backdrop for your special day

Set in 225 wooded acres in the rolling Hampshire countryside just north of Fareham, Meon Valley offers 2 beautifully designed banqueting rooms for both Civil Wedding Ceremonies and Wedding Breakfasts.




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Winchester Bloke runs from the buses...

The old saying; ‘You might get run over by a bus tomorrow’ took on a sinister edge recently...












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Downloadable Poster: Put On Your Mask


Click the following text to download a letter-sized version of our poster.…






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Thursday's Briefing: BART anticipates huge budget deficit next year; San Leandro Police release body-camera video of fatal shooting at Walmart



News you don't want to miss for April 23:

1. BART learned on Thursday that $250 million in recent federal relief funds will allow it to balance its budget for this fiscal year, with $78 million remaining, BART Board Director Rebecca Saltzman said.…







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Parachute Journalism

The LA Times drops into Richmond and gets it all wrong. Richmond, the second largest city in Contra Costa County, has had remarkable success fighting the coronavirus — so much so that it and the county are national models. Officials acted quickly and decisively to mobilize resources, info, and healthcare services while providing economic protections for renters and homeowners.…



  • News & Opinion/News

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Wednesday's Briefing: Alameda County to allow some outdoor activities to resume; Layoffs hit Bay Area tech companies



News you don't want to miss for April 29:

1. Alameda County and five other Bay Area counties issued a revised shelter in place order on Wednesday that will allow for some outdoor activities to resume, such as, construction work, landscaping, gardening, golf and tennis, SFGate reports.…




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Thursday's Briefing: Fired Oakland officers reinstated after Police Commission violated Brown Act; Covid-19 ICU cases down in the Bay Area



News you don't want to miss for April 30:

1. The five fired Oakland police officers involved in the shooting of Joshua Pawlik in 2018 were reinstated after it was found the Oakland Police Commission violated the Brown Act, the state law for transparency in public meetings, KPIX reports.…






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Ike's Love & Sandwiches Feeds Entire Hospital, Nursing Home Staffs for Free


To celebrate National Nurses' Week, Ike's Love & Sandwiches is offering all healthcare workers with ID 50 percent off the price of their in-store takeout orders tomorrow, May 6.

Boasting over seventy locations in five states — including locations in Berkeley and Oakland — the cult-favorite San Francisco-based sandwich outfit is also donating hundreds of sandwiches throughout the next seven days to healthcare facilities throughout California and Arizona.…



  • Blogs/Food & Drink


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How to Bike Shop in a Pandemic

You may not yet be able to bike to work, but that's all the more reason to embrace cycling Buying a bicycle has always been a life-changing experience for many, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, it can bring a heightened sense of freedom and control to one's life. Lydia Felt was previously too terrified to ride a bicycle on roadways.…



  • News & Opinion/News

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Don't Impede the Future of Care

There is no good reason to create unnecessary barriers for dental telehealth services As many Californians know from getting braces or filling cavities, dental care can be a huge investment. Cost concerns are at top of mind when considering visiting the dentist; one study found that it was the main barrier to dental care even for adults with private insurance.…



  • News & Opinion/Guest Editorials

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Impossible Burger Hugely Expands Its Retail Presence

Impossible Foods, whose huge production facility is ion 85th Street in Oakland, has just announced a huge retail expansion, with its mega-popular plant-based Impossible Burger being rolled out this week at over 1,700 grocery stores nationwide.

All of those stores are owned by The Kroger Co., which operates in 28 states under many different brands including Pay Less, Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Fred Meyer, and many more.…



  • Blogs/Food & Drink

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Wednesday's Briefing: Fired Oakland police chief files whistleblower lawsuit; Alameda's Fourth of July parade is canceled



News you don't want to miss for May 6:

1. Former Oakland Chief of Police Anne Kirkpatrick filed a lawsuit alleging the Oakland Police Commission, which fired her earlier this year, did so as retaliation for Kirkpatrick blowing the whistle on their own wrongdoing, including seeking personal favors, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.…





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ACTIVELY CONTROLLED PERFORMANCE CLOTHING

A method includes embedding clothing with at least one sensor and at least one control unit; a power unit powering on the at least one sensor and the at least one control unit; the at least one sensor monitoring a sensed condition; the at least one control unit conducting a heat prediction based on the sensed condition; and the at least one control unit controlling threads within the clothing based on the heat prediction to actively adjust properties of the clothing.




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Garment With Front and Back Zipper

This disclosure relates to a garment having zippers for separating the garment into two halves. The garment has a zipper on the front and a zipper on the back. The halves can be mixed and matched according to preference for color, surface ornamentation, or material. Each half has an inside pocket that can be used for storing an additional garment half. The garment may optionally include a hood. In embodiments where the garment has a hood, the back zipper may unzip as the slider is moved in the downward direction, thereby allowing the user to separate the hood and fold the hood into a collar.




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CONVERTIBLE SWIMSUIT TOP

A convertible swimsuit top may include a top portion, a mid-portion, and a slider. The top portion may include a lower edge and a row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion. The mid-portion may include an upper edge and a row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion. The row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion and the row of protruding teeth along the upper edge of the mid-portion may be configured to engage and disengage one another via the slider. The row of protruding teeth along the lower edge of the top portion and the row of teeth along the upper edge of the mid portion may extend for less than the entire length of the lower edge of the top portion.




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METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING GLOVE FAILURE

A system and method for identifying areas of a processing plant in which a glove is damaged. The system includes utilizing color-coded sets of gloves in different areas or processing steps within the plant. All the gloves used in a particular plant are provided with a unique identifier. If a piece of a glove is located in the product within the plant, the color of that piece indicates the area or process of the plant in which the glove was used. If a piece of a damaged glove is located in the product at a remote destination, the unique identifier in that piece is matched with a registry to determine the plant in which the glove was used. The color of the piece then helps the plant to identify where the damaged glove was used. The system and method are particularly helpful in the food processing industry, especially meat processing.




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DATA SECURITY POCKET AND GARMENT

A data security pocket and garment is disclosed for better positioning and protecting data and information contained in a card or device for housing such information from its theft or misappropriation when it is placed in the pocket portion of the invention. The pocket portion of the invention is specially positioned on and secured to a portion of the garment or clothing surface near or adjacent to the arm-pit area with which it is used in combination, with its own design, to provide a more protective pocket environment for placement and transportation of a card, chip or other data/information carrying or storing device or means. The pocket and the garment in combination make up four layers from which the pocket is constructed, secured and positioned. These layers include the top pocket layer (12); the top security layer (14) and the bottom security layer (16), each fabricated from security anti-RFID material; and the garment, clothing or base layer (18). These layers are connected one to the other so that the pocket portion has a first accessible opening (40) and a second accessible opening (42) when secured in proper position on the garment (18). Further provided is the trim security flap cover (22), also fabricated from security anti-RFID material, and the upper cover enclosure (20), each of which is secured above the pocket portion on the garment layer (18), and which pivot and close over the top pocket layer (12). Coupling is provided for both the upper cover enclosure (20) and the top pocket layer (12); and the trim security flap cover (22) and the top pocket layer (12). In another aspect of the invention an auxiliary security area (39) is provided on the top pocket layer (12) adjacent or near the coupling for the trim security flap (22).




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Hat with Absorbent Attachment

A preferred embodiment of the present invention contemplates a baseball cap-type hat having a head covering portion as well as a forward facing bill. A sweat or liquid absorbing element preferably a terry cloth towel is removably attached to the bill or permanently affixed using hook and pile fastening means. In a preferred embodiment, the hook and pile fastening means half attached to the bill includes an opening to provide a storage compartment in which a key, coin, or other small object may be stored. If desired, the towel may be permanently stitched to the underside of the bill of the cap. In a further alternative, the towel may be made of a hyper-evaporative material.




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PROTECTIVE HELMET WITH MULTIPLE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LINERS

A helmet for rotational energy management can include an outer energy management layer comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface can comprise a first slidable finish comprising a first glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm). An inner energy management layer can be disposed within the outer energy management layer and further comprise an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface can comprise a second slidable finish that directly contacts the first slidable finish. The second slidable finish can comprise a second glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm. A space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish can be devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer.




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CONVERTIBLE INTEGRAL HELMET AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING THE CONSTITUENT PARTS THEREOF

An integral helmet, in particular a so-called full-face helmet, that is preferably designed with a shell construction, comprising a helmet upper-shell unit with an integrated neck unit and a chin protection unit with a jaw clamp, wherein the chin protection unit is detachably connectable to the helmet upper-shell unit so as to form the integral helmet, wherein the chin protection unit is designed for connection to the neck unit as an open chin bar unit with end areas that are separated from one another at a distance so that, in the assembled state, the end areas form a completely closed unit together with the neck unit. Also, a method for connecting and/or disconnecting, without the use of tools, a chin protection unit having a jaw clamp to, or from, a helmet upper-shell unit having an integrated neck unit, so as to form an integral helmet, in particular an integral helmet.




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PROTECTIVE GLOVE HAVING A GLOVE TIGHTENING SYSTEM

A protective glove including a cable joined with a spool that is joined with the glove. At least one protective pad can be joined with the hand portion to protect the cable and a wearer's hand. The spool can include a rotatable dial to wind and/or unwind the cable onto or off from the spool to increase and/or decrease the tension applied to the cable. In turn, this adjusts at least one of a lateral dimension and a longitudinal dimension of the hand portion of the glove to custom fit the wearer's hand.




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Garment Having Integrated Sweat-Eliminating Front Section or Sections

Provided is a shirt garment,—a short-sleeved, or long-sleeved, waist-length, hip-length, or tunic-length—shirt, which is made of material that is a relatively non-absorbent or hydrophobic substance able to wick perspiration off of the wearer's body, and which also contains an integrated section on the front of the shirt, and at the bottom one-third, to bottom one-half of the front of the shirt, but which may extend beyond this region, which is made of a relatively absorbent or hydrophilic substance, which, when grasped by the wearer, and lifted upward by the wearer and towards the wearer's face, is capable of wiping off the sweat from the wearer's face, eyes, eyebrows, and forehead, thereby absorbing sweat from this area, all the while the wearer continues to engage in his or her physical activity. In a second scenario, and using these same principles, the absorbent layer is detachable, and while detached, is used by the wearer to wipe sweat away from the wearer's face, brow and neck. It is then re-attached all the while the wearer continues to pursue the physical activity.




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Combined Collar Stabilizer and Button Closure Tool

A combined collar stabilizer and button closure tool adds a utility that facilitates securing a button to an accessory that fits into the collar pocket of a shirt, and provides an aesthetically pleasing, straight, crisp, well-groomed appearance of the shirt collar. The combined collar stabilizer and button closure tool increases the efficiency and eases the process required to secure the button closure of a shirt for buttons with a range of diameters needed for buttons of various sizes. The combined tool is made of a substantial material without limiting pliability, is a single form, consists of two distinct ends, and is shaped to substantially fit within the collar stay pocket. One end of the tool is angular in shape and accommodates the angle of the collar pocket tip. The other end, proximate to the end of the collar pocket, is designed to facilitate the closure of a button closure system.




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Umbrella Weather Pack

The disclosed herein is a personal rain protection device that serves as an umbrella combined and connected with a vest. The umbrella and vest combination can function in all types of rainstorms. The vest aspect is located at the torso of a wearer and extends from the users shoulders. The vest element also includes relatively light weights at the tail end of the vest to protect against succumbing to powerful wind gusts. The present invention, including the umbrella, is not handheld, but rather it is worn along with the vest to which the umbrella is attached to.




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SWIM SUIT, PARTICULARLY FOR COMPETITION SWIMMING

A swimsuit (1) has an outer shell (2) made of a flexible stretchable fabric and forms a tubular trunk portion (6) and two tubular thigh portions (7), the swimsuit (1) comprising two back stiffening lines (8) continuously connected to the outer shell (2) and extending each in a generally longitudinal direction of a one of the thigh portions (7) from a rear region (9) of the thigh portion (7) across a rear region of the trunk portion (6), in which said back stiffening lines (8) have a tensile stiffness greater than a tensile stiffness of said outer shell (2).




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Computer game controller thumb cover and protector

For computer game controller thumb protection, a sheath of resilient, breathable fabric is tailored to conform closely to the distal and proximal thumb phalanx profiles. Stitched to the sheath is a single, continuous strip of thin, elastomer permeated fabric as a taction pad. Taction pad stitching follows the pad edge perimeter. The taction pad covers the pad area of the distal phalanx with a dog-leg extension over the first interproximal joint and proximal phalanx. A hook and loop swatch at a loose distal end of the dog-leg secures the end of the extension to a corresponding swatch of hook and loop material secured to the sheath.




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GARMENT HAVING INTERCHANGEABLE PORTIONS

A garment worn on the upper body is disclosed having a right and left body portions that are joined at the front and rear by a corresponding fastening mechanism. This allows the right body portion and left body portion to separated from one another and interchanged with other body portions to vary the visual characteristics of the garment. The right and left body portions can have different visual characteristics.




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GLOVE WITH SLEEVE AND PRODUCTION METHOD OF THE SAME

A glove with a sleeve is provided in which the bonding strength between the glove main body and the sleeve is great, allowing easy wearing and removal as well as easy overlapping of the glove main body and the sleeve upon bonding. The glove with a sleeve includes: a glove main body compromising rubber or a resin as a principal component; and a cylindrical sleeve comprising a thermoplastic resin as a principal component that is arranged to protrude from a cuff portion of the glove main body, in which the cuff portion of the glove main body is bonded to one end portion of the sleeve through a moisture-curing urethane-based hot melt adhesive. The moisture-curing urethane-based hot melt adhesive is preferably crosslinked. A post-curing thermal deformation temperature of the moisture-curing urethane-based hot melt adhesive is preferably no less than 80° C.




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COLOR-CODED ACCESSORIES INDICATING A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OF A PATIENT AND ENHANCING PATIENT SAFETY

The present invention provides color-coded accessories such as wristbands, bibs, and other patient wearables, color-coded pillows and pillow cases, and a universal chart wherein the color code is associated with a specific medical diagnosis. These accessories alert healthcare providers to the medical diagnosis of the patient and enhance patient safety by reducing medical errors during administration of treatments and medicines to the patients. These accessories also provide protection to healthcare providers assisting them to identify diagnostic categories and alerting them to take proper precautions with patients, for example those with infectious diseases, thereby decreasing or preventing transmission of infectious diseases.




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SLEEVE GUSSET FOR AN APPAREL ITEM

A sleeve gusset for securing an exterior shell layer of an apparel item and an inner liner layer of an apparel item to a sleeve of an apparel item and a method of manufacturing a sleeve gusset is provided. The sleeve gusset comprises an interior facing with a sleeve edge and a body edge and an exterior facing with a sleeve edge and a body edge. The sleeve edge of the exterior facing is coupled to the exterior shell layer of the apparel item while the sleeve edge of the interior facing is coupled to the sleeve. The body edge of the exterior facing is coupled to the body edge of the interior facing. The body edge of the interior facing is further coupled to the inner liner layer.




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ABSORBENT GARMENT UNDERARM INLAYS AND GARMENT COMPRISING SAME

The invention relates to an absorbent garment inlay configured for attachment within an underarm portion of a shirt. The inlay includes an inner layer having a wicking material, configured to wick moisture therethrough, and an outer layer having an absorbent material. The outer layer is configured to absorb moisture wicked through the inner layer.




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HELMET

A helmet comprises an outer shell, an impact absorbing liner (10) inside the outer shell to receive loads from the outer shell and an inner liner (12) disposed inside the impact absorbing liner (10), with the inner liner (12) configured to slide relative to the impact absorbing liner (10). The inner liner (12) defines a number of apertures (16) and a deflector (14) inside each aperture. Each deflector (14) comprises: a body (20) that is connectable to the impact absorbing liner (12); a peripheral border (18) that is connectable to the aperture (16) in which it is received; and a number of deformable spokes (22) extending between the body (20) and the border (18).




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PROTECTIVE HELMETS FOR DISASTER SITUATIONS

In one embodiment, a protective helmet for disaster situation includes a rigid outer shell and an electronic system integrated into the helmet that includes an electronic location system configured to transmit electromagnetic signals that can be used to locate the wearer of the helmet.