Summer is coming and that means it's time to start this year's Spare the Air campaign. This year, the program kicks off on Thursday, June 10 with Drill Day a chance to practice your alternative commute before the real Spare the Air days begin.

"Spare the Air days come up a lot during the summer, and sometimes it's on short notice we usually don't know until 1:00 p.m. that the next day might be a Spare the Air day," explains Teresa Lee of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "Drill Day gives people a chance to familiarize themselves with their commute options."

Free Tickets for BART

In conjunction with Drill Day, the Hacienda Owners Association is giving away 50 BART tickets to employees of businesses in the park.

"We support the Spare the Air campaign and encourage companies in the park to participate," says James Paxson, general manager of the Association. "We're happy that BART is helping us with that goal."

To enter a drawing for the tickets, park employees can call the Transportation Hotline at (925) 734-6551 and follow the prompts. It's also possible to enter via the Hacienda web site transportation materials page.

Reasons to Spare the Air

The Spare the Air program, which offers free promotional materials to employers and prizes to employees, promotes clean air by encouraging the use of environmentally friendly alternatives in commuting, home maintenance, and other activities.

Summer can be particularly rough on air quality. The increased levels of heat and sunlight combine with volatile organic compounds from petroleum products and nitrogen oxides from burning fuel to form ground-level ozone. Unlike stratospheric ozone, which serves to protect the planet, ground-level ozone is a pollutant and health hazard.

The use of pump sprays instead of aerosols, electric lawn mowers instead of gas, avoiding the use of charcoal lighter fluid, and using alternative commutes can all help Spare the Air.

Get with the Program!

Individuals can enroll in the Spare the Air program by calling the BAAQMD at (415) 771-6000 or through their web site. Notifications of Spare the Air days will come via e-mail or through company transportation coordinators.

"By signing up for e-mail notification, people are automatically registered to win a lot of prizes, including a weekend getaway, a bicycle, software and more," adds Lee.

Beginning June 1, commuters can call 1-800-HELP AIR for information on the full menu of transit alternatives between any two points in the area.

Also in this issue ...

• Zantaz Creates the Electronic "Paper Trail"
• Culver Personnel is Selling in Sales
• Business Bits
• Executive Profile - Marian Stetson-Rodriguez, Charis Intercultural Training Corp.
• Spare the Air Program Kicks Off with Drill Day on June 10
• Pleasanton's Historic Heritage is Evident from Architecture, Landmarks, Place Names
• There's One More ?Una Mas! for Mexican Food in Hacienda
• First Wednesday Street Parties Return to Downtown Pleasanton
• Wheels of Thunder Bike Races Take Place June 5
• Hacienda Index