High Street Bridge Closes for Repairs

The Alameda County Public Works Agency will begin repair work on the High Street Bridge on Monday, March 2. The bridge will close to traffic Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The county expects to complete the work by April 27. 
The work is also expected to affect maritime traffic. The county urges boaters to consult the Coast Guard’s weekly notices to mariners. Detour signs will be in place to guide motorists. The schedule is subject to change. Up-to-date information is available online at www.acgov.org/pwa/updates/high-park_bridge_project.htm

Toastmasters Compete This Month

The Island City Toastmasters Club will be conducting a table topic contest and tryouts for the International Speech Contest at its Monday, Feb. 23, meeting at Waters Edge Lodge, 801 Island Drive.

The meeting takes place from 7 to 9 p.m.; the public is welcome to attend and observe speakers who have benefited from their Toastmasters training.

The Table Topics Contest speeches are shorter, impromptu presentations lasting one to two minutes. Each contestant speaks on the same surprise topic. The results are often humorous.

The International Speech Contest proceeds from the club level up through three levels to the World Championship of Public Speaking. This event is held each August at the Toastmasters International convention. Contestants prepare an original, often deeply moving presentation lasting from five to seven minutes.

For further information about Toastmasters, email Mari Clark at toast57@prodigy.net.

Spirits Alley Could Win Travel Award

In a brand-new contest, the city of Alameda’s newly designated “Spirits Alley” neighborhood has been named a finalist for the “Best Municipal Makeover” award. In its inaugural Sunset Travel Awards Contest, Sunset Magazine chose Spirits Alley as one of five finalists for the category. 

Spirits Alley is a neighborhood of well-known distilleries and wineries that now occupy a row of historic airplane hangars at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. Since the base closed in 1997, the hangars had been under-utilized as places for light-industrial and warehousing businesses. 

“We are fortunate that artisan wineries, distilleries and a craft brewery have located here, recognizing the natural beauty of Alameda Point and embracing our history as a Naval Air Station,” said Mayor Trish Spencer. “Their success, along with complementary food establishments, brings renewed vibrancy to the Point. We are proud of their recognition as one of the top visitor attractions in the Western U.S.”

Visitors enjoy world-class views of the San Francisco skyline while touring the distilleries and visiting the tasting rooms at Spirits Alley, including: Hangar 1 Vodka, Rock Wall Wine Company and Faction Brewing Company.

The travel award winners will be announced in May and featured in the June 2015 issue of Sunset. The finalists were selected from nominees covering the 13 western states as well as British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. For more information about the travel awards, visit www.sunset.com/travel/sunset-travel-awards.