Week in Review: Digital Billboards Project OKed; Firework Sales Begin

Here's a round up of the most popular stories during the week of June 25.

City Council unanimously approved a proposal for Clear Channel, Inc. to build two LED billboards and one auto mall identification pylon sign along freeways that pass through the city at its meeting Thursday night. While some residents spoke against the project after calling the signs distracting, others said it could help bring more business into Newark. The signs are scheduled to be completed by December.

Firework sales began in Newark and Dublin Thursday, with Newark having a total of 10 firework sales booths. Each booth is run by . While the city permits the use of safe and sane fireworks, police and fire officials this week urged the general public to take precaution with fireworks and emphasized the agencies’ zero tolerance policy on illegal fireworks.

Newark police announced this week that a hotline to report the use of illegal fireworks has been established. The purpose of the hotline is to allow residents to report illegal fireworks while keeping the police department’s emergency line open for calls. The hotline number to call on July 4 is 866-520-7233. Before July 4, Newark police asks the community to report fireworks use by calling its non-emergency line at 578-4237.

The fourth annual SummerFest, featuring artisan microbrews and wine, returns to NewPark Mall this summer and the event will also feature food served by gourmet food trucks with the Food Truck Mafia, commercial vendors, arts and crafts and a Kids Zone. Newark Patch readers got a sneak peek this week on which bands will be entertaining the crowds and which food trucks will be serving up food throughout the two-day festival.

The mother of missing South Bay teen Sierra LaMar offered words of advice to the general public who would like to help in the efforts to find the 15-year-old who was last seen in Morgan Hill on March 16. Marlene LaMar offered a variety of tips to people who live outside of the Morgan Hill area to help in the search for Sierra, who grew up in Fremont. .

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