2012 Toyota Prius PHV Media Preview - Bob Carter

(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 16 -- Toyota USA issued the following news release: 2012 Toyota Prius PHV Media Preview Green Drive Expo Craneway Pavilion, Richmond, Calif.

Sept. 16, 2011 Bob Carter - Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager Good morning everyone, and thanks again for spending the day with us at the Craneway Pavilion, as we debut a unique vehicle for a unique owner.

As some of you know, Toyota is a major sponsor of tomorrow's Green Drive Expo - just as we were last year during the event's inaugural year - and it is a great opportunity for us to showcase our environmental efforts to an enthusiastic group of people. It's those enthusiasts who really helped make the Prius the success it is today.

This unique facility is an example of automotive contrasts. The Craneway opened in 1932 as a Ford assembly plant, the same year the company introduced the flathead V8. It was a freewheeling time in the auto industry, when there were no emissions regulations and gas was 10 cents a gallon. Total vehicle sales that year were around 920,000.

While this building is a ghost of the past, the Prius Family is the spirit of the future.

Ultimately, it is our customers who will be making Prius a family. All family members will have the same Prius DNA that you've come to know well over the last decade, but each will have distinct differences that deliver unique benefits to a variety of ages and lifestyles. And all four Prius models will hold a unique place in the family.

Here's a spot that will start running nationally next Monday that captures the unique characteristics of the Prius Family.

While each will have their own personality, they will have a "family resemblance" that will be distinctly Prius. Besides sharing our tried and true Hybrid Synergy Drive technology, we expect every Prius to have class-leading fuel economy.

Unlike 1932, CO2 emissions and energy policies are now a big factor, and Toyota is the industry leader in environmental and fuel-conservation technology.

Toyota made a commitment to the environment more than 20 years ago by investing in hybrid technology, and the first Prius went on sale in Japan in 1997. Three years later, Prius reached the U.S., and there were some in our industry that didn't give it a serious thought.

But it was those enthusiastic early adopters I spoke of before, who had a passion and advocacy for the Prius, who helped quickly make it an enthusiast's car for a new kind of enthusiast. One who wasn't drawn to horsepower or 0-60 times, but had a passion for new technology that was not just cleaner and more efficient, but by a large margin! The Bay Area was home to many of those early Prius enthusiasts. The first buyers of Prius included environmentally conscious people but also technology engineers in and around Silicon Valley. Early on, 1 of 3 Prius was sold in California; popularity still remains high with 1 of 4 today. While Camry is widely known for being our best selling model in the U.S., Prius has actually outsold Camry in Northern California the last four years and so far this year as well.

If I asked you to guess which dealership was the first to sell more Prius than Camry, you probably wouldn't be surprised to find out it was a dealership here in the east Bay. But if you had to guess when that first occurred, most of you would be surprised that it was as early as 2001 the second year of Prius existence here in America.

Last year, our San Francisco Region, which works with all the area dealerships, sold 32 percent more Prius than Camry, while the rest of the U.S. was only selling half as many Prius as Camry.

It's due to this success of Prius that we will have four distinct family members within the next 6-9 months the Prius Liftback, Prius v, Prius Plug-in and the Prius c. As a family with four distinct members, I could see Prius outselling Camry throughout the U.S. by the end of the decade, just like they do here in the Bay Area.

Prius has the highest brand awareness of any hybrid, literally defining what a "hybrid vehicle is," with one out of every two hybrids sold in the U.S. being a Prius. Since it first went on sale, more than two million have been sold worldwide, including more than 1 million here in the U.S. And one of the things I'm most proud of, and an area some early skeptics questioned, is that in the U.S., 97-percent of all Prius sold are still on the road today.

In addition to helping set the path for all other hybrids by building consumer trust in hybrid technology, the Prius has truly changed what a vehicle's impact, or lack of impact, can really be.

For instance, compared to the average car, Prius has saved an estimated $2.5 billion on fuel in the U.S. since 2000. According to a recent study, if everyone in the U.S. drove a Prius, we could reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 70 percent. In addition to the approximately 900-million gallons of gas saved since its launch, Prius has also saved more than 14-millons tons of CO2 emissions based on the EPA's estimates.

These are many of the reasons why we are going to expand Prius into a family of vehicles, and the first new model to join the flagship Liftback is the Prius v, which goes on sale the end of next month.

During the 11 years Prius has been on sale in the U.S, we've listened to our customers and also those who considered Prius but decided not to buy one. Some of those people told us that they loved the Prius, they wanted something with more space.

Since we first showed the Prius v in January, the feedback we've received has been outstanding. The "v" will be an unmatched combination of versatility and fuel efficiency in a midsize package that's a perfect fit for young families who value space, comfort, fuel efficiency and technology. With 58-percent more cargo space than the Liftback to meet the needs of these young families, the Prius v has more cargo space than 80-percent of the small SUVs on the road today.

In addition to meeting their needs, the Prius v will also be a great value to them. Today, we're announcing for the first time the pricing for the "v", which will start at $26,400.

With all the additional useable space and convenience, the Prius v will be competitively priced compared to cross-shopped vehicles while getting twice the fuel economy.

The Prius v will be followed by the Prius Plug-in next March, and the Prius c will follow in the Spring. The Prius c will offer expressive styling in a city-friendly vehicle that we believe will be the most fuel efficient hybrid without a plug in the U.S. While we showed you a "c Concept" at this year's Detroit Auto Show, we will be debuting the production Prius c for the first time in Detroit this coming January.

Today, in addition to the Prius Plug-in, we're also showing for the first time in the U.S. third-generation Prius Liftback, which gets a strong refresh for the new model year. It will continue to be a highly advanced vehicle that delivers a combined 50 miles-per-gallon, the best fuel economy of any cordless vehicle sold in the U.S. Since it was launched in May of 2009, more than 300,000 have been sold, and it continues to be a benchmark for all hybrids that follow.

This iconic vehicle will be the patriarch of the Prius Family and the flagship of its nameplate. In 2012, the Prius Liftback will receive a new look in the front, including the front fascia, bumper and lower grill opening. In addition, the headlamps and tail lamps are also restyled. The popular Prius Two grade will get newly styled 15-inch wheel covers and standard daytime Running Lights.

Inside, the Prius driver will see new unique additions and improvements to the Multi-information Display, including revised graphics and colors in the Energy Monitor.

The Prius Liftback - like the Prius v - will receive our new Display Audio System. In addition to great features like a 6.1-inch touch screen and an optional integrated back-up camera, Display Audio will allow the Prius to offer our acclaimed Entune multimedia system.

With features that many consumers have grown accustomed to with their smart phones, Entune offers seamless integration into their vehicle. It features unique apps that help make owners lives easier like Open Table or MovieTickets.com and more enjoyable with music selections from Pandora and I-heart-radio. Here's a short video to show you how it works.

In case you haven't had a chance to experience Entune, we have some vehicles today that will allow you to see it for yourself.

And based on customer feedback over the last two years since its launch, the Prius Liftback will now include some available features at higher trim levels that buyers strongly requested, like Heads-Up Display, a Power Driver's Seat, and SofTex-trimmed seats.

While we think Prius' new changes this year will help it maintain its hybrid leadership, the main reason we invited you here today was to be the first to see and experience the production Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

The Plug-in will be the Prius family member that represents the best of both worlds: superior fuel economy of the Prius with added EV driving capability.

We call it the car with no compromises: When the EV power runs out, the proven Prius Hybrid Synergy Drive System takes over, giving the driver the same fantastic Prius out on the road today. It a better overall package, with more passenger convenience, comfort and utility than other plug-ins or EVs on the market today.

The Prius Plug-in that will go on sale next March can be driven about 15 miles on battery power alone, which is about 15-percent more than the demonstration vehicles that have been out on the road this past year, and at speeds up to 62 miles-per-hour on pure EV. An EV drive-mode button will conveniently allow the driver to select when battery power is used, giving them more flexibility.

In our internal testing, the Plug-in has achieved at least 87 miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe), and when the gas-electric Hybrid Synergy Drive takes over, the Prius Plug-in still gets an outstanding 49 mpg combined. The Plug-in will also earn an enhanced AT-PZEV emissions rating, which qualifies it for California HOV lane access.

The new lighter weight, more compact Lithium-ion battery can be fully recharged from depletion in just three hours on standard 120 Volt and about half that time on 240 Volt, significantly shorter charge times than any other plug-in or EV on the market today.

We've also made it easier for Prius Plug-in owners on the go to cut their charge time in half. Last month, we announced our selection of Leviton as an approved provider of Level 2 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment for our customers and dealers. Leviton will offer a variety of charging solutions, as well as a certified installation team, industry-leading warranty, and extensive customer service center. The Leviton 240-volt product will be available at an industry-best price starting at $999 for the 16 amp, level 2 charging station, including installation. And they will be available to our customers through Leviton beginning in early October.

The Prius Plug-in will mirror the 2012 Prius in the new styling features, but it will have its own unique details to help differentiate it as the Plug-in. It will feature a new Hybrid Synergy Drive Plug-in badge and a uniquely styled 15-inch alloy wheel. The Plug-in will have unique chrome grille and bumper garnishes, as well as blue-accent headlamps.

The Prius Plug-in will also receive the Multi-information Display changes that were included in the Liftback, along with an EV icon that will indicate when the gas engine is off, and an EV state-of-charge indicator will let the driver know how much pure-electric capacity is available.

Like, the 2012 Liftback, the Prius Plug-in will receive the Display Audio system and Entune capability.

The Plug-in will also launch our newest telematics applications for Entune, specifically designed for Plug-in Hybrid needs. We'll have more details to share with you in the future, but the new applications will include Charge Management, Remote Air Conditioning System, Charging Station Map, Vehicle Finder and Eco Dashboard, all available from the owner's smart phone.

One of the reasons we're announcing specific details about the Prius Plug-in today is that we'll begin taking online orders for the first cars next month.

Last April, we launched the Priority Registration site on Earth Day, and received a great response with 42,000 people expressing strong interest in the Prius Plug-in. Our goal was to provide a great customer experience for our early adopters and provide the first steps leading to picking up their new Plug-in at their local Toyota dealer.

Here's a video, which will go live today on Toyota.com that shows you how easily the ordering process will work.

As we've mentioned in the past, the Prius Plug-in will initially be available in 14 west and east coast states at launch next Spring. And it will become available in all 50 States in 2013.

The Plug-in will be for a specific Prius buyer. It's a perfect car for someone like me who commutes just 7 miles a day but also wants to be able to visit family in Santa Barbara on the weekends. And, for those consumers who make regular trips of 15 miles or less and then recharge, it's possible they wouldn't ever use any gas. We expect to sell about 15,000 Prius Plug-ins the first full year.

When it goes on sale, the Plug-in will be the lowest-priced plug-in hybrid or pure EV vehicle on the market, starting at $32,000. But when you deduct the $2,500 federal tax credit, it will come in under $30,000.

I've said in the past, that I see the Prius Family meeting customer needs so well that it collectively will eventually pass Camry as our top selling nameplate, but were not stopping there when it comes to new products. Our comprehensive portfolio of hybrid and electric vehicles will include the new Camry Hybrid - which will arrive later this fall - and the RAV4 EV next year.

While the iQ EV will be a fleet vehicle providing urban driver's a specific need, the Rav4 EV will have a wider application in its second generation.

The first-generation RAV4 EV launched in 1997, and about 1,500 were sold and leased. Nearly 50-percent of those units are still in operation.

In July of last year, Toyota and Tesla announced a partnership and plans to jointly develop an electric version of the RAV4, and last November the first pre-production prototype Rav4 EV debuted at the LA Auto Show.

Beginning in February of this year, Tesla delivered the first of 31 converted demonstration vehicles. The design and technical features of the vehicle on display here today are targets for the fully engineered production version that will be offered next year.

The Bay Area has embraced battery electric vehicles in the past, including the first-generation Rav4 EV. And we plan on launching the first phase of the RAV4 EV program here in California, where we see the early adopters living and working.

I want to thank you again for spending the day with us. You'll be the first to drive the new Prius Plug-in, and we're also happy to offer our other hybrids as well, including the new Camry Hybrid, our Prius Liftback, and the Highlander Hybrid, all of which have the top mpg in their respective segments.

I'd like to turn it over to Dave Lee from the University of Toyota, who will give you a closer look at the Prius Plug-in and refreshed 2012 Prius TNS aa88aa88 110921-3593153 71AfzalAli (c) 2011 Targeted News Service

Qigong:Awaken Your True Power of Vitality, Joy and Wellness

Qigong Workshop Event with Master Gu
Sunday, Sept 25, 2011
11am - 5pm
Craneway Pavilion
1414 Harbour Way South

Would you like more energy, enthusiasm and health everyday?
Learn how to thrive in the 21st century at the largest Northern California Wisdom Healing Qigong Event of the Year led by Master Mingtong Gu. Qigong rejuvenates vitality to awaken your future.

During this one day workshop, learn the ancient Qigong Teachings, Practice and Sound Healing to survive and thrive through stress, illness and aging. Master Gu trained in China in the proven mind-body practice and rare sounds that awaken your inner wisdom. He was awarded 2011 Qigong Master of the Year by 13th World Congress on Qigong. Guest musicians.

Suited to all abilities and health conditions.
For more information visit www.chicenter.com

Tickets: $44 ( before Sep 20) $55 (after Sep 20)

R3 solar rebate program for Richmond residents

The City of Richmond is offering a program that provides a rebate to homeowners for solar installations! The program offers two rebate amounts:

1) generous rebates for any income homeowners, and
2) free solar installations for qualifying lower income homeowners. Find out more about R3.

Richmond Art Center: Benefit Reunion Saturday September 24

Benefit Reunion Saturday September 24 from 11am to 2pm at the Richmond Art Center. More info:

TheRAC.org

Point Richmond Music Series: Friday Sept 23

Point Richmond Music Series Friday September 23rd 5pm 8pm featuring:

Michael O’Neill, Jazz renowned saxphonist and quintet, www.mosax.com

Tom Rigney & Flambeau, specializing in blazing Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky New Orleans grooves, Boogie Woogie piano, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes, www.rigomania.com

More info:

PointRichmondMusic.com

Photos from September 9th Concert below:

Bob Carter on Toyota Prius Plug-in preview at Green Drive Expo

Torque News
Submitted by Don Bain
www.torquenews.com/397/bob-carter-toyota-prius-plug-preview-green-drive-expo-toyota

Bob Carter, Toyota Division Group vice president and general manager, was on hand for the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in media preview at the Green Drive Expo, held today in the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond CA. Among the usual promotional hype Carter had a few interesting things to say.

Notably Toyota is a major sponsor of the Green Drive Expo, slated for tomorrow and was last year as well.

“It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our environmental efforts to an enthusiastic group of people,” Carter said. “It’s those enthusiasts who really helped make the Prius the success it is today.”

The Craneway Pavilion was first a Ford assembly plant that opened in 1932, the same year the brand introduced the flathead V8. There wasn’t even a thought of emissions regulations and gas went for an unbelievable 10 cents a gallon. In 1932 total car and truck sales were around 920,000.

“While this building is a ghost of the past, the Prius Family is the spirit of the future," he said. “Unlike 1932, CO2 emissions and energy policies are now a big factor, and Toyota is the industry leader in environmental and fuel-conservation technology.

“Toyota made a commitment to the environment more than 20 years ago by investing in hybrid technology, and the first Prius went on sale in Japan in 1997. Three years later, Prius reached the U.S., and there were some in our industry that didn’t give it a serious thought.”

Today most major auto manufacturers have at least one hybrid in their line if not several. Much of the Toyota Prius’ early success came from sales in the San Francisco region where the Green Drive Expo is taking place. That was a portent of the million hybrids the Toyota Prius line would sell in the U.S. over the next 11 years.

“The Bay Area was home to many of those early Prius enthusiasts,” Carter added. “The first buyers of Prius included environmentally conscious people but also technology engineers in and around Silicon Valley. Early on, 1 of 3 Prius were sold in California; popularity still remains high with 1 of 4 today. While Camry is widely known for being our best selling model in the U.S., Prius has actually outsold Camry in Northern California the last four years and so far this year as well.

“If I asked you to guess which dealership was the first to sell more Prius than Camry, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to find out it was a dealership here in the east Bay. But if you had to guess when that first occurred, most of you would be surprised that it was as early as 2001… the second year of Prius existence here in America.”

He revealed that in the San Francisco Region, they sold 32 percent more Prius than Camry models last year. In the rest of the country Camry outsold Prius two to one.

“Prius has the highest brand awareness of any hybrid, literally defining what a hybrid vehicle is, with one out of every two hybrids sold in the U.S. being a Prius. Since it first went on sale, more than two million have been sold worldwide, including more than 1 million here in the U.S. And one of the things I’m most proud of, and an area some early skeptics questioned, is that in the U.S., 97-percent of all Prius sold are still on the road today.”

Part of the impetus for the media event today is the simple fact the company will begin taking online order for the Toyota Prius Plug-in next month.

“Last April, we launched the Priority Registration site on Earth Day, and received a great response with 42,000 people expressing strong interest in the Prius Plug-in,” Carter added. “Our goal was to provide a great customer experience for our early adopters and provide the first steps leading to picking up their new Plug-in at their local Toyota dealer.”

Carter closed out his comments with a reference to the next “green vehicles” coming from the brand. These include the iQ EV and the collaborative effort with Tesla on theToyota RAV 4 EV, which had its pre-production debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November.

ShareBay Area Green Drive Expo is Tomorrow!

Green Drive Expo

By Zach McDonald · September 16, 2011

www.plugincars.com/bay-area-green-drive-expo-tomorrow-107877.html

The second annual Bay Area Green Drive Expo will take place tomorrow at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, Calif. Green Drive Expo is the San Francisco Bay Area's first and largest consumer event for hybrid and electric vehicles, featuring test drives of some of the most highly anticipated green cars and guest speakers specializing in a range of topics from energy independence to hybrid battery repair.

PluginCars.com is a proud sponsor of the event, and our own Brad Berman will serve as master of ceremonies on Saturday. In 2007, Brad did a three-part interview with keynote speaker Lisa Margonelli on the subject of oil dependence. Margonelli is the author of Oil on the Brain: Adventures from the Pump to the Pipeline, and one of the nation's leading experts on the subject.

Other speakers include CalCars founder Felix Kramer (a frequent PluginCars.com source and commenter); Ron DeLong, inventor of the gas mileage monitoring device, ScanGauge; Pat Cadam and Nicholas Rothman of GreenGears; Jason Smith, Bay Area manager of the EV Project; and Ron Hansen of Hybrid-Battery-Repair.com, who will do a live demonstration of a hybrid battery replacement.

Over in the test drive area, Green Drive Expo will host the North American debut of the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in. Guests will also get a chance to drive the Prius v and the new Toyota Camry hybrid, among others.

Register for free at GreenDriveExpo.com using the coupon code “PCBA11.” See you there!

Green Drive Expo Ticket Promotion

Register online now and admission is FREE when you enter code PCBA11 at www.GreenDriveExpo.com. Parking $5.

Go green!

Here's your chance to explore the latest hybrid, plug-in and other high-tech, eco-friendly vehicles. They'll be on display at the Green Drive Expo 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday in Richmond's Craneway Pavilion. Check out the full range of green alternative vehicles. Admission is $10 at the door. Parking is $5. Stay Tuned for FREE ticket promotion. Info: 608-729-4082, www.greendriveexpo.com/bay-area-expo.

The Bay area is a hotspot for green car activity, Green Drive Expo

Madison, Wis. (PRWEB) September 15, 2011

Bay-area drivers can learn how to reduce transportation costs and test drive new eco-friendly vehicles at the second annual Green Drive Expo, which takes place from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, Calif.

“The Bay area is a hotspot for green car activity, as evidenced by our large turnout last year,” Green Drive Expo Founder Eric Powers said. “Whether you’re an enthusiast or just curious about eco-friendly vehicles, this event will be a fun and educational experience.”

Attendees will be able to explore the full range of green alternative transportation, from concept cars to purchase-ready vehicles such as hybrids and biodiesel. For example, Green Drive Expo is the first time Bay-area consumers will get a chance to drive Toyota's Prius v, Camry Hybrid and the North American debut of the 2012 Prius Plug-in hybrid.

Speakers include Felix Kramer of the California Cars Initiative (CalCars), who will discuss the future of plug-in vehicles, and Ron DeLong of ScanGuage, which helps consumers save up to one-third in fuel costs.

Toyota is the Diamond Sponsor, while Chevrolet, Luscious Garage, Nissan and PluginCars.com are the Gold Sponsors.

A similar expo held in July in Madison, Wis., exceeded a Guinness World Record for the longest hybrid vehicle parade with 208 vehicles.

WHAT: Green Drive Expo
WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
WHERE: Craneway Pavilion, 1414 Harbour Way S, Richmond, Calif.
ADMISSION: $10 for adults; free for children 16 and under
INFO: http://www.GreenDriveExpo.com

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/GreenDriveExpo/2011/prweb8796757.htm

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/421800#ixzz1Y1wTKWbp

The North American debut of the 2012 Prius Plug-in hybrid at Green Drive Expo hosted at the Craneawy Pavilion

Drive the 2012 Prius Plug-in hybrid and many more new cars from Toyota and other electric car makers at the Green Drive Expo. More info:

www.greendriveexpo.com

Casino project dead, Richmond weighs options for Pt. Molate

By Hannah Dreier
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 09/13/2011 03:09:55 PM PDT

RICHMOND -- With the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians barred from building a casino on a scenic shoreline property, a fight is brewing over whether or how the city should develop Point Molate.

Even the city's ability to pursue new visions for Point Molate is in dispute. The developer of the casino plan insists that it still has an exclusive right to develop the 412-acre property.

The Guidiville Band had sought to build a sprawling, Las Vegas-style casino and resort at the former Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot just north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

In 2004, the city selected Upstream Investments as the developer for the site. The company has paid Richmond $15 million toward the $50 million cost for the land.

Last month, in a decision Upstream says came as a shock, the federal government decided that the Guidiville Band lacked the historical connection to the land that would enable it to build a casino there.

Five months before, the City Council had voted 5-2 to reject further consideration of the project, citing crime and environmental concerns and public opposition.

At the time, supporters grumbled that the project would have turned Point Molate into an economic force generating thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue.

Now these same critics fear that city leaders will forgo other development opportunities to preserve the property as open space.

Councilman Nat Bates, who supported the casino, would like to see housing or an educational facility built on the shoreline, but he believes the environmentalists will prevail.

"My voice is smaller and smaller on that council," he said. "Open space doesn't provide any jobs, it doesn't produce any revenue. It doesn't provide anything but a bunch of weeds."

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin appears to speak for the majority of the council when she says she would like to see a mix of small-scale development and open space at Point Molate.

"We do want to have some revenue generation but we also want to protect the treasured environment that exists there," she said.

A good first step might be to open the Point Molate beach to the public.

McLaughlin said she would welcome an open food market, a performing arts center, a community garden or a research and development business on the property. She also wants to add recreational infrastructure that will allow residents to hike and kayak.

This is the kind of thinking that upsets Don Gosney, a former member of the Point Molate Restoration Advisory Board who believes it would be a waste to discourage major development there.

"They talk about the beach," he said. "This isn't a beach like Santa Monica, this is just where the bay happens to meet the land."

The city's right to develop the land at all also remains in dispute.

The city's attorneys and a majority of the City Council believe the council's vote against the casino triggered a 120-day period of exclusive negotiation between the city and its developer, which ended this month.

Upstream Investments argues that because the project was tied up in an environmental lawsuit for two years, the period of its exclusive rights to the property should be extended through 2013.

In July, Upstream sent a letter to the city proposing to build homes and a renewable energy office park on two-thirds of the Point Molate property and return the rest to Richmond.

The city has asked a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge to determine its rights and responsibilities.

Upstream managing partner Jim Levine said he hopes the city decides to negotiate with him instead of forcing him to litigate.

"Telling us, 'We're done, it's time for you to walk away,' just seems so ridiculous to me," he said. "There is obviously a way to team up and move the ball forward so everyone can get some value out of it. I just don't know if that's what the city wants."

A significant voyage coming for historic Richmond ship

By Chris Treadway
Contra Costa Times

The monthly pancake breakfast on board the SS Red Oak Victory, originally scheduled for Sunday, has been canceled because the ship's volunteers have something bigger on their plate than flapjacks.The Red Oak is being readied for towing to dry dock in San Francisco, a long-awaited appointment that is scheduled Thursday morning.

The historic World War II cargo ship will have work done on its hull, including cleaning, repairing and painting the steel plates originally welded together during the ship's construction at the Kaiser shipyards in Richmond 67 years ago. Damaged plates will be replaced, a newer propeller will be installed and, if all goes right, the ship will be seaworthy for the first time since it was removed from service in 1969. The ship saw duty during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars and also plied the seas for private cargo concerns.

Preparation for the dry dock trip means halting all events at its mooring at the Port of Richmond until the Red Oak's scheduled return, expected in time for the Home Front Festival by the Bay on Oct. 15.The public is invited to see the ship off, with the two tugboats expected to start the towing about 10 a.m. Thursday at 1337 Canal Blvd. in the Port of Richmond.Asked whether there will be an official send-off ceremony, Lois Boyle, president of the Richmond Museum Association, said, "No, we're going to be busy enough just to get it going."Gear is being stored, items secured and the Red Oak volunteers are getting a helping hand from local oil refinery employees during Chevron's annual Week of Caring outreach."It's a memorable day for sure," Boyle said. "It's something we've worked for 10 years."

The Red Oak isn't the only restoration project on the plate of the Richmond Museum of History, which is raising funds to buy and deliver an original firetruck that originally saw duty at the Kaiser shipyards. The 1944 Ford Open Cab truck, which still has the "Shipyard No. 3" marking on its hood, is in Spanish Fork, Utah, and the goal is to raise $5,000 by Thursday to bring it home. Tax-deductible donations can be made to Richmond Museum of History, P.O. Box 1267, Richmond, CA 94802, or call 510-235-7387 for more details.

Thrive Movie: What on Earth Will It Take?

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce the release of our new trailer and poster. Check them out on our website - www.thrivemovement.com - and please share with others.

Tickets also go on sale today for the 11/11/11 San Francisco Bay Area Premiere of THRIVE: What on Earth Will It Take? There are 500 seats available and are for people 16 years and older. This event is likely to sell out very quickly. To purchase tickets, click here.

If you are coming from out of town and need a place to stay, there are 30 rooms available at a discounted rate at the Argonaut Hotel on the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The price is $180 plus tax for the night and the rooms are reserved under the name of THRIVE Movie. Please call to book your room soon. It will be first come, first serve.



If you can't make it to the Premiere, we'll have information on October 10, 2011 for how to host a home screening.

To share this message with friends, click on the forward button at the bottom of this email to include all text and images.

Thank you!

- Foster, Kimberly and the THRIVE Team

Rocktagon MMA Amateur Elite Fight Series Makes its West Coast Return on September10th with "Battle on the Bay 2"

MMA fans get ready, we are back! The nations premier mixed martial arts promotion, Rocktagon MMA, is returning its highly touted "Amateur Elite" MMA series to California. The "Battle on the Bay 2" will be Rocktagon MMA's second event in California. The fight card is stacked with compelling match-ups and talent that is making nose on the national MMA scene. You may even spot a celebraty guest or two in the crowd as Rocktagon Shows attract not only A-List talent but A-List Celebraties. "Battle on the Bay 2" will take place on September 10, 2011 at the striking Craneway Pavilion in Point Richmond, California.

Rocktagon MMA has sold out many East Coast shows and continues to mold MMA fighters from local to the National level. The popularity of this fast-rising mixed martial arts organization has grown exponentially over the last year and has now exploded onto the national scene with shows being held and planned in California, Ohio, Arizona, Florida, and is in talks for shows at the International Level in 2012.

The "Battle on the Bay 2" will feature many of those rising stars, including a main event title bout between two hard-hitting California knock out artists in the 145lb division. Richmond native Joe "Nine Lives" Neal of Crispim BJJ will battle Casey Jackson of Undispituted Gladiators. Who will emerge victorious and take home the gold? The Co-Main event will feature another 145lb war as Tommy "Bam Bam" Pho of Tito Ortiz's Team Punishment takes on Tyler Cronin of Team Black. You will not want to leave your seats when the cage door locks.

Rocktagon CEO James Jeda stated "California has some of the toughest and highly dedicated fighters in the nation. The gyms here not only prepare a fighter for battle, they have a proven record of discovering and developing top talent in the MMA world. We are not only looking forward to this show but to showcase our California talent nationally against our other fighters from around the nation." Jeda added "The fans at the Crainway Pavillion are some of the best in the world. It is because of them that Rocktagon is able to take over the MMA World, and for that we thank you."

The "Battle on the Bay" fight card will showcase elite amateur MMA talent from California's top MMA fight camps including: Tito Ortiz's Team Punishment, Combat Sports Academy under Kirian Fitzgibbons, SMAC MMA, BeatDown MMA, Crispim BJJ under Alexander Crispim, Undisputed Gladiators under Eugene Jackson, Team Black under Dan Black & Cesar Gracie Camp, FightKore under Sean Sharkey, and Team Voodoo under Gene Fields.

Fight fans will not want to miss this event!

The event will take place on Saturday, September 10th at Craneway Pavilion in Point Richmond, California. Doors open at 5:00pm and fights begin at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now! VIP tables are also available. Please call 925-689-0800 for more information. To learn more about Rocktagon MMA, please visit www.rocktagonmma.com.


About Rocktagon MMA:

Rocktagon MMA is a premier mixed martial arts and entrainment group dedicated to hosting quality events and taking highly skilled MMA fighters from obscurity to the National level. At Rocktagon MMA we treat each fighter like an individual business. We focus on the fighter, their skills, and their image, as we help them build a strong presence in the mixed martial arts arena. The popular fight organization has quickly made a name for itself in the mixed martial arts industry and has exploded onto the national scene.