ALAMEDA

Chabad of Alameda will light a public Hanukkah menorah made entirely of cans of food — to be donated to charity — at 4:30 p.m Sunday, the first night of the eight-day Festival of Lights, at Alameda’s Rittler Park.

The community will be joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and the event will feature a fire juggling show, an inflatable gym and slides, make-your-own-menorah crafts, lively music and photos with “Dreidel Man.” Latkes (potato pancakes), chocolate gelt and other Hanukkah goodies will be served. Complimentary Hanukkah menorahs and candles will be distributed as well for participants to light at home. Participants can RSVP to the free event at jewishalameda.com/chanukah.

As Alameda sees increasing economic hardship amid global financial uncertainty, Chabad of Alameda will use the Hanukkah celebration as a time to give to those in need, as they have embarked on a drive for donations of 15-ounce cans of food, which will be used to create the giant “Can-orah” featured at the event. After the Can-orah is lit, it will be taken apart and the cans donated to the Alameda Food Bank.

“During Hanukkah, a time of joyous celebration, it’s important that we keep those in need at the forefront of our thoughts,” said Rabbi Meir Shmotkin, who directs Chabad of Alameda with his wife, Mushki. “The menorah made of cans is a way to combine our celebration of Jewish pride with meaningful charitable giving.”

The public Hanukkah celebration is also being heralded as a response to the worrisome rise in antisemitic rhetoric nationally and the consequent concerns many have expressed with celebrating Hanukkah proudly this year.

“Our response to hatred must never be to cower or hide our faith; we must hold our heads high and live proudly as Jews,” said Shmotkin. “They want us to be afraid; but our victory will be to stand tall and proud, gathering in greater numbers than ever to celebrate our Judaism in public.”

— Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center

Hornet’s New Year’s Eve gala fundraiser to last till 1 a.m.

USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum officials and staff will ring in the new year Dec. 31 with their annual New Year’s Eve party, the Hornet’s largest fundraising event of the year.

The party will be from 7:30 p.m (doors open at 7:15 p.m.) till 1 a.m. and will feature 3 O’Clock Jump, an 18-member big band specializing in danceable jazz from the swing era and later. There will be multiple dance floors in the large, heated hangar bay, a countdown to midnight, food and drink concessions available for purchase, a silent auction and more. Black ties are optional, and plenty of free parking will be available.

— USS Hornet

Apply by Dec. 31 for Kiwanis Foundation community grants

In celebration of its 100th anniversary of service to the community, the Alameda Kiwanis Foundation encourages nonprofit organizations serving Alameda to apply for its community grants, which will be awarded in early February.

Mail your application to: Alameda Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 1217, Alameda CA 94501. The application period is open and will close on Dec. 31, by which date applications must be postmarked and complete. Information and application forms can be found at alamedakiwanis.org.

Leisure Club enjoys holiday shopping trip at South Shore

In preparation for the holidays, the Leisure Club of Alameda bought gifts for family and friends Dec. 1 at the South Shore Shopping Center. Accompanied by Alameda Kiwanis Club volunteers and Leisure Club leaders, they made their purchases and then celebrated with hot chocolate and sugar cookies at the local Starbucks.

The Leisure Club is an activity-based program of the Alameda Parks & Recreation Department that is specifically designed to meet the specialized recreational needs of the developmentally disabled in our community. For more details, visit bayareane.ws/alaleisureclub online.

— Patricia Bowen

Students can apply by Jan. 14 for $5K Van Sickle Scholarship

Applications are now open for the $5,000 Ken and Shirley Van Sickle Scholarship.

This college scholarship is open to graduating seniors who live in Alameda and attend one of its public high schools. Selection is based on a combination of academic achievement, leadership ability and financial need.

The scholarship is named in honor of Ken and Shirley Van Sickle, two distinguished educators who devoted many years to the education of Alameda’s students. Now in its 36th year, the scholarship was established by their son, Keith, a 1976 Alameda High School alumnus who later earned degrees at Stanford and Harvard.

Last year the scholarship was awarded to David Velasquez of the Alameda Community Learning Center. Now a freshman at San Jose State University, Velasquez is studying business. The deadline for applications is Jan. 14. Application forms are available from each high school’s counseling office. For more details, email ckvansickle@gmail.com.

— Keith Van Sickle

Shop Later Thursdays this month at downtown businesses

Downtown Alameda’s shops are making it easier to check off items on your holiday gift-giving list by joining restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in staying open till 7 p.m. (or later) on Thursdays during this holiday season.

Visitors can grab a bite to eat, catch a movie or toast the holidays with co-workers and then get a little holiday shopping done afterwards as part of the Downtown Alameda Business Association’s (DABA) Shop Later Thursdays promotion. Downtown will be filled with the season’s sounds on December’s Thursday nights. Enjoy music from JimBo Trout, Who’s Feeling Young Now and The Nep-Tunes as you stroll from shop to shop. In addition, look for Santa Claus to be out and about handing out treats.

Speaking of Santa, have your cameras ready, as he has promised to be part of DABA’s Shop Later Thursdays. He’ll be strolling the district popping into businesses, handing out treats and posing for photos from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays from now till Christmas. Santa’s tentative schedule on Park Street is on Thursday this week between Encinal and Central avenues and on Thursday next week between Santa Clara and Lincoln avenues.

— DABA

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