Mark is delighted that some of his LEGO was found and returned, saying “It’s great they found much of it, but all of the 8-wide trains, trees and baseplates are still missing. Adding, “I hope they find the rest when they catch the crooks,” Benz said.

About the LEGO creations themselves, he said: ”Some are in fair shape while others are completely wrecked.” Only about two-thirds of the stolen LEGO creations were retrieved, and many reduced to a pile of LEGO “rubble”. Ghirardelli Square and two other models were broken into several large pieces. The Conservatory of Flowers and other model SF landmarks are now only a 50 pound box, about the size of a bar refrigerator, of seemly random LEGO. All of the stolen LEGO trains, along with hundreds of LEGO trees, and other items remain missing.

Nevertheless, he’s excited to soon have some of the LEGO back, and plans to rebuild as many of the famous SF Landmarks as he can in time to display them at the Bricks by the Bay LEGO Fan Convention at the Fremont Marriott, in April. A recovery segment was shown recently on Channel 4 TV, with accompanying article.

I’d very much like to thank all the BayLUG members and ALL (not just Adult) Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) who’ve expressed condolences and sent pictures and support concerning this theft.

A $500 Reward is offered. Today, the Fremont Police Department released their report, and request for assistance from the public. Please contact Detective Bill Veteran at (510) 790-6972.

An Argus Newspaper article appeared, and apparently this news has also made the wire services, and may appear on local TV and radio across the country on a slow news day. A story on The Brothers Brick has also been published. Please be on the lookout for sellers offering these models, or collections of parts that may have come from them, on eBay or Craigslist or local garage sales and flea markets.

Pictures of The Stolen Goods:

\(8-wide Zephyr only)

Not shown: SF Conservatory of Flowers

FEBRUARY
BayLUG Meeting, February 20, at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro

MARCH
BayLTC at Train Collectors Association Cal Stewart Meet, March 12-14. Public Day March 14, at Santa Clara Convention Center. Admission charge.

APRIL
Bricks By the Bay LEGO Convention, Fremont, April 9-11

MAY
BayLUG Meeting, May 15 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in the Maker Faire, May 22-23, San Mateo

JUNE
BayLUG Meeting,  June 20 at MoAH in Palo Alto
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in Johannes’ LEGO Show tentatively June 25 through July 25 at his Church in San Leandro. Set up starting on June 20th after 2 PM, and the rest of that week

JULY
BayLUG and BayLTC at MoAH Vintage Vehicles, July 25, Palo Alto, across El Camino from Stanford Mall.

AUGUST
BayLUG Meeting ,August 22 at MoAH in Palo Alto.

SEPTEMBER
BayLUG Meeting, September 18 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro.
BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Date TBA, San Jose.

OCTOBER
BayLUG Anniversary Meeting, October 30 at MoAH in Palo Alto.

NOVEMBER
BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Nov 26-28? Pleasanton.

DECEMBER
BayLUG and BayLTC present 8^th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” Holiday Show, at MoAH in Palo Alto.
Set up Dec 3-4.  MoAH Members Party Dec  5.  Show opens to public Friday Dec 10.  Open every Fri, Sat & Sun, except Holidays through Jan 9, 2011.
Show closes 1 week earlier than this year to avoid MLK weekend.

• President – Mark Benz
• Vice President – Jim Olson
• Treasurer – Paul Sinasohn
• Secretary – Johannes van Galen
• Quartermaster – Bruce Chamberlain

There will be a public exhibition on Sunday, April 11 with a huge hotel ballroom full of LEGO exhibits from all over the country and maybe even overseas! For the serious hobbyist, the convention will run Friday through Sunday, April 9-11.

Location: Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont, CA. For more info, see our event details page or visit bricksbythebay.com

We’re getting more and more publicity each week, and the public attendance has been growing accordingly. We were interviewed Friday morning (December 18) for a Spanish language TV station KDTV Univision (Channel 14) which will be broadcast at 6am on Tuesday, December 29. We were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Mateo Daily Journal as well.

So come out and see the show, open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (except New Years’ Day) through January 17!

See you this weekend at Maker Faire!

1. February 21, 2009 (Saturday) we will have a meeting, instead of Sunday the 22nd as originally announced.
2. October 4, 2009 (Sunday) we will be meeting a week earlier than the originally-announced date of the 11th.

Be sure to join our announce mailing list to get all the latest updates by email!

The annual event is fun for the whole family, and grows larger every year. This year, BayLTC presents a 12 by 25 foot, fully sceniced LEGO train layout with trains running through well known San Francisco, town and suburban scenes. In addition, BayLUG members have a WIDE variety of their own cool LEGO creations and models on display, from huge cranes and dragons, to classic cars and Santa.

The show, in the Museum’s Livermore Learning Center, is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 December 2008 through 11 January 2009 from 11am to 4pm ONLY.

Free admission, though donations to the museum are always appreciated. The Museum is located at 351 Homer Ave. Palo Alto, CA. For more information please see www.baylug.org or www.MoAH.org or call (650) 321-1004.