San Francisco Fleet Week roars into town with the Blue Angels Air Show among the most popular events this weekend. But plenty of other, less noisy, activities are also planned.
U.S. Navy ships began arriving Sunday. Lieutenant Commander Chloe Morgan, U.S. Navy public affairs officer, stated in a news release that a tribute was paid to 9/11 victims on the flight deck of USS Somerset, named after Somerset County in Pennsylvania, where the Flight 93 National Memorial is located. (Mark Bingham, a gay man, was one of the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who tried to stop the hijackers. The plane was en route to San Francisco.) The numbers "93" were spelled out on the flight deck, Morgan stated.
As for the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron will hold its shows from noon to 4 p.m. October 11-13. The Blue Angels will also make several survey flights over the Bay Area Thursday, October 10, in the afternoon, the release stated.
People can also tour the ships from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The USS Somerset will be at Pier 27, and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bertholf will be berthed at Pier 35. Additionally, the USS Tripoli at Pier 30/32 will be open for tours on Saturday. The Royal Canadian Navy Frigate HMCS Regina will be at Pier 15/17 and open for tours Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There will be no tours on Friday, but people can watch the parade of ships, which takes place from 11 to 11:30 a.m. The parade will be viewable from Marina Green, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and the Embarcadero, the release stated.
New this year, Fleet Fest will take place Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Pier 30/32 next to the USS Tripoli. Fleet Fest will feature special performances and exhibitions by the 1st Marine Division Marching Band and Brass Band, the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, and the 191st Army Brass and Jazz Bands.
The aforementioned United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-man rifle platoon, often referred to as The Marching Twenty-Four, the release stated. The unit performs a unique silent precision exhibition drill. The purpose of the platoon is to exemplify the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps, according to the release. The public is invited to watch them perform at various locations October 11-13. For details on the schedule, visit fleetweek.org/events/silent-drill-platoon.
For more information about Fleet Week, go to fleetweeksf.org.
Ballot measure forum at Openhouse
Openhouse, the LGBTQ senior agency, will have a forum on ballot measures Monday, October 21, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the agency's community space at 75 Laguna Street. The forum will be held by the League of Women Voters, a century-old, nonpartisan organization that works to educate the public on policy issues, ballot measures, and the importance of voting, an announcement stated. The league does not support or oppose candidates, but does take positions on some ballot measures at the state and local levels.
To RSVP, contact [email protected] or (415) 231-5871.
State unveils new 'homepage'
Governor Gavin Newsom on October 4 announced the launch of the newly redesigned website, CA.gov, the official flagship website for the State of California. This overhaul is the latest milestone in the state's ongoing digital strategy to improve user experience, accessibility, and service delivery for millions of Californians, according to a news release.
As the state continues to lead the way on digital innovation, this redesign reflects a commitment to making government services more efficient, accessible, and user-friendly, the release stated. By leveraging technology, California is transforming how residents interact with their government and ensuring that services are always within reach.
SamTrans seeks public board members
The San Mateo County Transit District Board of Directors is seeking applicants to fill two public member seats. A news release stated that successful candidates will be responsible for setting policy for the district, which operates SamTrans bus, paratransit, and micro transit services; oversees shuttles and other contract-operated supplemental transit services; and generally, serves as the mobility manager for San Mateo County.
Applicants must be residents of San Mateo County outside of the coastal region and must not have held elective office within the past year, the release stated. Incumbent board members may re-apply.
The board consists of nine members: three appointed by the Board of Supervisors; three who are appointed by the City Selection Committee, who are council members representing the northern, central, and southern portions of the county; and three public members, one of whom is a coastside resident. Regular meetings are scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.
Applications are available online or by calling (650) 551-6108. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 1, at 5 p.m. Each appointment has a four-year term.
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