Art & Soul, This Weekend August 15-16, Noon to 6 pm-- The Bay Area's coolest festival moves to a new weekend (August 15 & 16, due to the Labor Day closure of the Bay Bridge) and returns with a stellar lineup. This year's lineup continues the diverse and wonderful variety that has made Art & Soul the region's most popular music festival.

Shawn Colvin /Will Downing
                                                                           
 

• Fresh Start for Oakland is a FREE community event, Saturday August 15, 10 am-4 pm, Merritt College Campus, sponsored by Oakland Native Basketball Great Leon Powe. Special free events/vendors include:
  • Home Depot's "Build It & Keep It" clinics for children
  • Live performances by: Vernon Hall Jazz Band, Dwight Taylor a.k.a. Transparent, Hip Learning & The Taylor Boys
  • Merritt Farmers Market
  • Yoshi's Family Jazz Cafe
  • Cookin' It Up with Doggie High
  • Jones BBQ
  • Hourly raffle prizes
  • Family Health/Wellness venue: includes Kaiser's Health Education and free chair massages by Effleurage Day Spa

• Back to School Rally for Elementary Students, Saturday, August 15, Family & Community Office, 2111 International Blvd., 11 am- 2 pm: Backpack giveaway, registration, parent information, student workshops and carnival. See Item # 9 for event for Secondary School Students.

Dramatic Reading of New Play in Progress on Pullman Porters, Saturday, August 15, 2-4 pm, Oakland Main Library's West Auditorium, 125 14th Street (at Madison): 

• 100th Anniversary of the Altenheim, Saturday, August 15, 3:30 pm, 1720 MacArthur Blvd.: Hosted by The Excelsior German Center featuring Distinguished Guest Speakers; Children's Theatrical Performance; Performance by Pacific Sangerbund Traditional German Food & Drink; Live Music & Dancing. >>The original Altenheim building. 

Singin' in the Rain at Woodminster This Weekend: This is the final run of Woodminster Summer Theater's production of Singin' In the Rain, a stage musical based on the 1952 MGM Film. Shows begin at 8 pm Saturday and Sunday at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Purchase tickets on line or at the door. A reminder to pre-theater picnickers--last week someone forgot to extinguish their BBQ and left a fire going. Fortunately, Ranger Kent McNab happened to stop by and spotted the fire.
 

• Maxwell Park NCPC Third Sunday Clean Up, Sunday, August 16 9 am-Noon,Courtland and Redding: Ongoing "Adopt" projects - pick up trash, weed, plant, have fun!!

• Special Kids' Story Time at A Great Good Place for Books, Sunday, August 16, 11 am: Mac Barnett will be hosting a special storytime during the Montclair Farmers' Market. He will be discussing his book, Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem. A Great Good Place for Books is located at 6121 La Salle Avenue in Montclair.

• Joaquin Miller Elementary's TLC Day/ Meet New Principal, Sunday, August 16, 10-2 pm:  Spend the day with new and returning JM families sprucing up the school.  Help install new, parent-funded playground equipment, weed the gardens, and other small tasks. Most important, come meet Principal Paulette Smith. Parents, students and the community welcomed! Enjoy lunch at Noon.

• Public Comment Forum for SMI/Homeless Population in Alameda County - Wednesday, August 19, 1-3 pm, Howie the Harp Homeless Self-Help Center, 580 18th Street Oakland:  This will be a process to gather consumer, provider and community input on how to better serve those individuals utilizing Howie the Harp.  The planning process will put forth recommendations to Alameda County Behavioral Health Care for significant changes in its operation.Contact  Colette Winlock, Health and Human Resource Education Center (HHREC) at 459-1179 or Marveta Allen, Kirkland A. Smith and Associates (KASA) at 565-9249.

• Do Your Part to Save our Planet Tomorrow--Recovery at Ground Level - Lead by Example Environmental Issues Forum, Wednesday, August 19, 5:30-7:30 pm, Healthy Oakland, 2580 San Pablo Avenue, West Oakland: The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle environmental issues forum will work to educate and empower residents and community leaders the need to do our part today to save our planet tomorrow.Hear from environmental organizational leaders and their exciting programs & services for you to save and make money all while protecting the environment. 
  Confirmed Speakers:
  • KEMBA SHAKUR, Urban Releaf
  • REBCECCA PARNES, Alameda County Waste Management 
  • TOM GUARINO, Pacific Gas and Electric 
  • COOKIE ROBLES-WONG, Keep Oakland Beautiful
  RSVP by August 16 &/or for more information, email staff@bwopa.org
  or call Elaine D. Smith at 763-9523.

• A Great Good Place for Books this week, 6121 La Salle Avenue in Montclair:
  • Wednesday, August 19, 7pm: Jonathan Tropper, the author of The Book of Joe (GGP'S #1 selling book of all timewill be reading from his new book, This Is Where I Leave You. 
  • Thursday, August 20, 7 pm: Lev Grossman will be reading from his new novel, The Magicians.

• KBLX's Kevin Brown's Backpack Birthday Party, Thursday, August 20, 6 pm- Midnight, Kimball's Carnival in Jack London Square. This is another Backpack Birthday  Party to benefit the non-profit, lend-A-Hand Foundation, helping children with special needs get the tools they require for school this year. Doors open at 6 pm; show at 7 pm $10 and a backpack filled with school supplies or $20 at the door. Live performances by Sam Bostic, Donnie Williams, Jay King, Lenny Williams and special guest Al. B. Sure!

• Last Chance to Visit the Oakland Museum Until Next April:  The Museum is undergoing major remodeling and will be closed after next week.  Check out their website.
   

• There will be no disruption to Art and Soul traffic this weekend, as the strike will take affect on Monday at midnight.

• The West Grand Avenue on-ramp to the Bay Bridge in Oakland will be limited to buses, commercial trucks, carpool vehicles, and FasTrak users during the weekday commute hours of 5-10 am and 3-7 pm.  BART shuttle hours are 5-9 pm and 3-8 p.m. and will only run towards commuter direction. Other vehicles headed for the Bay Bridge will be detoured to either the I-880 on-ramp on Union Street near 7th Street or the I-980/580 on-ramp on Northgate Avenue.

• BART will begin chartering buses on Monday, August 17 from four East Bay stations to San Francisco in the morning and reverse the operation in the afternoon.  Although riders will be transferred to another bus in West Oakland, the majority of the boarding passes will be sold at the four East Bay stations in the morning. The boarding location in San Francisco is the intersection of Fremont and Folsom streets; the four East Bay BART stations will be Fremont, Dublin/Pleasanton, Walnut Creek, and El Cerrito del Norte.

• The Oakland Airport will suspend AirBART operations.
   

• Nama Celebrates First Anniversary With Discounts, Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15:  From the beginning of our efforts to revitalize the Dimond, residents voiced a desire to recruit a sushi restaurant for the neighborhood.  Help us celebrate Nama's first birthday and show appreciation for the big investment the Kim family has made in the neighborhood. They will be offering discounts, gifts, and other promotions. Our family favorite is the Nama Roll, crab over tuna & shrimp with a spicy sauce (pictured).
   
  • Friday:- (dinner time only) Choose 1 free appetizer from the following* : Cucumber Sunomono, Gyoza, Edamame, or Chicken Hotwings
  • Saturday:- All beverages are 50% off (except for cold sake) all day

- Choose 1 free appetizer from the following * (dinner only): Cucumber Sunomono, Gyoza, Edamame, & Chicken Hotwings

                    Receive a free gift*

Also, at the end of your meal you be given the opportunity to participate in our raffle to win $50, $25, or $15 gift certificates! Winners will be announced on Sunday the 16th at 8pm and posted at our blog: www.namadimond.blogspot.com

• A Big Thank You from the Laurel District Association: This is one of my photos of the Bikes for Peace group at the Laurel Festival.  The Laurel Street Fair Online Photo Contest is still going on for this week.  If you'd like to share yours, or vote for your favorites, go here:

You can vote by simply commenting on the picture. Please limit your comments to your top five favorites, and comment only once per photo. Winners with the most comments by August 22nd will have their photos printed poster size, mounted with your credit and contact info, and showcased in the windows at Laurel Bookstore, as well as other participating stores in the Laurel. Last reminder is that there is a 10% off deal at all stores, restaurants and businesses in the Laurel with an orange "Laurel Street Fair 10% Discount" sign in their windows. Please shop local! Money you spend in the Laurel helps the Laurel District Association fund public art and youth projects that beautify our neighborhood and inspire the community.

 

• >>New Melrose Mural on the front of the Flux 53 cultural space.  This is one of a series on Foothill; it reflections native medicinal herbs.
   
• Alarm Solicitors Must Be Licensed : This month the listservs were buzzing with reports of young solicitors knocking on doors to drum up business for an upcoming meeting on security systems made by GE Security but sold by "Safe and Sound."  Thanks to everyone's eagle eyes, Problem Solving Officer Maureen Vergara reported that OPD made contact with the owner of GE Security who was unaware of Oakland's solicitation permit requirement. He said he would cease operations until he could get a permit, but added that some people had already expressed interest in their program. This poses a dilemma--if we want to be consistent in prohibiting people from soliciting without a permit, than we need to avoid encouraging them. As long as residents sign up for whatever is being sold, solicitors will continue to knock on our doors--with or without a permit. Meanwhile, to report solicitors in the neighborhood, call the OPD non-emergency line at 777-3333 and also report it to your Problem Solving Officer or Beat Patrol Officer (through your NCPC.)
  • These door to door companies must also have an Oakland business license.  This is a new protection so that we can keep track of responsible firms.  We find that these companies from out of town often use subcontractors and are hard to track down for complaints.
  • Some firms falsely say that neighbors are buying their system and they are offering you a group discount.  They will ask you to let them put up their sign so they can make this claim.
  • For more information on Solicitation Guidelines the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council website is a good source.

• Community Rallies to Send Student to Washington:  Eamon Usher of the Firefighters Union, and Pastor Ron Thompson of Prayer Tower Church presented their contributions to Jasiri Gibson of Horace Mann School. Terry Kulka (center), Oakmore realtor and leader, donated frequent flier miles for Kasiri and his mother after he was nominated and accepted into a national student civics program in Washington.

• Stop Garden Trash and Dumping: We have received many postings on the Montclair listserv about illegal dumping of garden refuse and construction debris along the roads. It's seems it may be time to remind folks about insisting on a receipt from the Davis Street Dump whenever you hire someone to haul your bulky waste or large garden refuse.  Make your contractor show you his receipt also.  If you see any illegal dumping please help us get license plate numbers.
   
• Montclair & Dimond Post Office Stations Threatened by Federal Cuts: The Save Our Dimond Post Office campaign is underway in zipcode 94602.  Petitions and postcards are ready for signatures.  These will be mailed to US Representative Barbara Lee and to post office representatives. Download a petition from website: sodpo.wordpress.com and get 15 neighbors and friends to sign.  Postcard signing on Saturday, August 15.  Tables with postcards will be located on MacArthur (near post office) and on Fruitvale.  For more information go to website (see above) or email krussell@russell-gordon.com or call 842-3200.  Please return your petitions by Aug 25 (return addresses on back of petition).  To volunteer to help with petition and postcard signing for next weekend email hqstallman@yahoo.com.
  Decisions to cut stations are based on pure volume of sales for the most part, so we encourage you to use our local Post Office locations to buy your postage.  You can also write:

City of Oakland Postmaster Lowana Gooch
201 13th St., Rm 212
Oakland CA 94612-9998

Kim Fernandez, District Manager
Bay-Valley District, USPS
1675 7th St.
Rm. 307
Oakland 94615

The Honorable Barbara Lee
United States House of Representatives
2444 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0509
 

• Tree Thinning in Redwood Park East Ridge Trail: In early September, tree thinning work will resume on East Ridge Trail in Redwood Regional Park. The trail will be closed between Skyline Gate and Prince Trail from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, except holidays. More information is at
  http://www.ebparks.org/node/1156

• Summer Reading with Laurel Book Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel:
  • Kid's Story Time, Wednesdays at 3:30 pm: Bring the little ones for a nice afternoon treat.
  
   
• Order Books Online at a Great Good Place for Books: Stay home AND shop local!  A Great Good Place for Books just went live with on-line ordering capacity!15% discount between now and September 15. You can have books sent to your home or pick up in the store.

• Lower Merriewood Stairs Cleanup, Saturday, September 12, 8 am: The more the merrier! Contact Jim Dexter at 339-2184.

• Most Recent City Budget Cuts:  Since October 2008, a total of 424 positions have been impacted by cuts/ downgrades. The City  faced a COMBINED shortfall of $142 million, which was bridged through $29 million in revenue increases and $113million in expenditure cuts. At the last meeting of the year, July 28th, the Council had to close a gap in police funding when the federal grant for police, while the largest in the nation, fell short of what the City hoped for.
  
  At the last Council meeting of the legislative year on July 28th, the Council considered additional cuts proposed by the administration, all departments were asked to offer another 10 percent.  Many of the proposals were clearly unthinkable but they represent how difficult it becomes as we face near rounds of cuts. With almost $20 million in COPS grants and about $11 million in give backs from the Police union, we still had  an $8 million gap to fill at our last meeting before Council recess.  The alternative proposal that I introduced with co-sponsorship by Council Members Brunner, Delafuente, and Kernighan essentially cut about $4 million in overtime, helicopter, and other administrative costs to be determined by the Chief from the Police Department but did not layoff any officers.  The remaining $4 million was spread among other departments mainly by eliminating vacant positions, taking unspent or other one-time funds, and reducing services.  We saved all current Neighborhood Service Coordinators but eliminated one vacant positions, we also eliminated two Police Technicians (one vacant).  We rejected the Department's recommendation to eliminate the Rangers; we also rejected the idea of closing the Main Library two days a week.

• Federal Stimulus Grants $10.6 Million for Public Housing Improvements:  The Oakland Housing Authority is an independent agency but its board is appointed by the Mayor.  This week Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Deputy Secretary Ron Sims announced today that Oakland will receive $10.6 million in stimulus funding for six public housing developments throughout the city and will create approximately 120 jobs. The projects will modernize energy usage and make basic repairs and improvements: Harrison Street Senior Housing ($350,000), Adele Court ($600,000),   Campbell Village ($480,000), Lockwood Gardens ($2,070,000), Palo Vista Gardens ($4,450,000) and Peralta Villa ($1,500,000).   

• City Website Tracks Federal Stimulus Grants:  The City just updated this website  on the Federal Stimulus Grants; it tracks City of Oakland applications, links to federal sites, and will have postings of  local opportunities. 

 

• Check out the Oakland Budget Challenge, an online budget balancing exercise where you get to choose your priorities. We are the first city in the state to use this software, this has been a special project of my office and the Finance Committee staff person Sabrina Landreth. (Above)
• Send in your suggestions at budgetsuggestions@oaklandnet.com

• Polystyrene Bans Grow:   Mill Valley became the 24th city to ban polystyrene packaging for fast food in California.  Two countywide bans, Santa Cruz and soon Marin County, has also passed.  Many of these are based on the legislation I passed two years ago. Many of the cities are coastal cities like us concerned about the pollution of our waterways and poisoning of sealife.  The EPA is now reviewing Canadian and European research on the potential links to cancer suppressed by the Bush administration.  Meanwhile, remember this is a complaint driven ban, please report polystrene use at fast food locations to recycling@oaklandnet.com ;  owners are given a warning before the first fine of $100.

• Plastic Bag EIR Now a Coalition Effort:  A coalition of environmental groups now joined by StopWaste.org is pooling resources to develop an environment impact report on the banning of plastic take out bags for California. When state legislators stopped simple fees on shopping bags after the Plastic Industry lobbying, San Francisco and Oakland passed a ban on plastic shopping bags.  Oakland's legislation was challenged by the plastics industry on the basis that the City had not done an environmental impact study.  Since then we have worked with a coalition of environmental groups so the City would not have to bear the costs which could run $200,000.

• Lead Safety Classes Offered by Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program:
   
  • Lead Safety for Remodeling, Repair and Painting, Saturday, August 15, 8 am- 5 pm (registration at 7:45 am), Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, 2000 Embarcadero, #300, Oakland. HUD and EPA approved 1- day course, recommended for remodelers, renovators, painters and maintenance workers doing painting and minor repairs. Free to owners (and their employed maintenance crews) of residential property built before 1978 in Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville or Oakland. For a limited time, this class is also FREE to all who live, own property or are tradespeople with an office located in Alameda County. Call 567-8280 to register.
    
     
• Sign up for Creek to Bay Day 2009, September 19, 9 am-Noon: Site coordinators will meet on August 12, 7-9 pm  at 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 5th floor Fox Conference Room for training. August 14 is the deadline for requesting loans of tools. One registered, tools may be picked up September 16, 17 and 18th. For details, contact Daniel Chau at 238-6222.

• Fall Neighborhood Plant Exchange, Saturday, October 17, Noon - 4 pm, 3811 Lakeshore Avenue: Have plants you must prune or divide? How about trading your excess with others in your neighborhood? Take home new plants for your yard and have an instant new garden! All types of plants are welcome, from cuttings up to full size. Garden accessories and accents welcome: umbrellas, clippers, books on gardening, pots, stepping stones, tools and supplies-- even goldfish! Last year 300 people attended and more than 1500 plants, large and small, found new homes. For details, contact Odette Pollar at 866-8482.
   

• A white van, similar to a Dodge Caravan, is suspected in possible wifi data theft.  An Oakmore resident reported seeing "sitting in front of our house...two young white men were in the rear seat, both with laptops and actively working on them."  When he approached the, they fled.

• If you park your car on Joaquin Miller Road or Skyline Blvd. to hike in the park, please do not leave valuables in your car. There has been an increase in auto break-ins along the park perimeter.

• OPD Warns of Rash of "Jamaican Switch" Scams: Victims are elderly persons contacted in front of the Home Depot, 4000 Alameda Ave, Fruitvale Ave and MacArthur Blvd area and p/lot of Grocery Outlet, 2900 Broadway. Suspect #1 is a male, Black, 5'8", 160, 30-35 yrs, blk, bro, no facial hair, med comp, well dressed and may be speaking with an accent. Suspect #2 is male, Black, 5'10"-6'0", 180-190, 70 yrs, graying hr with light, well trimmed beard. Uses a cane when walking. These guys have conned $46k from victims so far and are probably working with at least one other suspect in a red SUV trail vehicle. 

• City Crime Continues to Run about 14% Below Last Year With the Exception of Burglaries:  Murders continue to run 25% less than last year; car thefts are also down by over a fifth.  Remember to shut all windows in this warm weather.  Help us with descriptions of people who might be casing the neighborhood.  In our meeting with Captain Orozco this month, he says the the neighbors that described a "group of Latino teens in a red, older American car missing a hub cap" in an arrest where the car trunk contained several stolen lap tops, was seen by neighbors in the previous weeks but they had not called them in.

• New Online Citizen Reporting at www.oaklandpolice.com: If you've been a reader of our newsletter, you know how frequently we encourage residents to report crime. The reports generate the data that OPD uses to set priorities, as well as provide practical information to help police spot crime trends and solve crime. You don't have to wait for an officer to show up at your door, or download a form and fax it back to complete a crime report. Oakland's has been up and running for several months now to report certain property crimes:
  • Lost Property
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Vehicle Burglary
  • Vehicle Burglary
  • Vehicle Tampering
     

• Laurel 25x: Ryan Kabahit RKabahit@oaklandnet.com
• Dimond 22x: Rick Coglio RCoglio@oaklandnet.com
• Bret Harte/Joaquin Miller 22y: Ann Pierce Apierce@oaklandnet.com
• Jefferson 24x: Joseph Fong JFong@oaklandnet.com
• Montclair 13z: Maureen Vergara MVergara@oaklandnet.com
• Maxwell Park 28x: Keith Clement JClement@oaklandnet.com
• Melrose 27x: Greg Loud GLoud@oaklandnet.com
• North Hills 13y: John Haney JHaney@oaklandnet.com
• Allendale 24y: Richard McNeely RMcNeely@oaklandnet.com

• Program Your Cell Phone for the Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch:  In addition to 777-3211, which will connect you directly to the Police Dispatchers from your cell phone when you are in Oakland (9-1-1 on your cell connects you to the Highway Patrol),  you may also want to program into your cell phone Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch at 444-1616.

• Back to School Rally for Middle & High School Students, Sunday, August 23, 1- 5 pm, Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, City Hall: Backpack giveaway, registration, parent information, student workshops and carnival. Parents: Please bring the following documents to register your student:

• Parent/Guardian picture ID
• 3 documents to prove home address
• Report card or transcript from last school
• Birth certificate, passport or I-94 original of student
• Immunization/health record of student
   

• Back to School Tips: Thanks to reader Sharon Higgins for passing along the following:

• If you'd like to help some Oakland's public school students get off to a better start, you can make a contribution to Oakland Natives Give Back, an active partner with OUSD's "Attend and Achieve" program. They are currently collecting donations of school supplies, backpacks, etc. which will be given away to students later this month. To find out what they need, and to make a donation, go to http://www.oaklandnatives.com/index.html.
• If you would like to help fund an item for a specific public school teacher, you may do so by visiting Donors Choose (http://www.donorschoose.org/). Just enter "Oakland" in the "search projects" bar and you'll see a list of teachers, the schools they work at, and their requests. Please be advised that some of the teachers work at traditional public schools, while others work at charter schools. You may, or may not, have a preference in this regard. 
• Please be advised that the first day of classes for OUSD schools is Monday, August 31. You may wish to mark your calendars for the following No School fall dates:
   

• Parents and neighbors, now is the time our kids need us the most.  We are getting back local control during the worst state school cuts in recent history. Please consider ways you can support our schools--by volunteering, donating funds, designating your local school as a recipient of your escrip, or by participating in the local PTA or site committee. I am working with the Police and District to focus on truancy this fall and encourage all Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils to connect with their local schools. Starting September, all Problem Solving Officers will visit their local schools so that our students will get to know "their" officer as a real person.

• Pre-School Play Groups:  A good way to build support for public schools and prepare your child for school is to organize or join a play group for your school. Here are two groups organized for local schools:
  • Glenview 2009 Kindergarten: Every Saturday morning, 10 a.m.- noon, from July 11 through August 22, Glenview Elementary School, lower back yard play structure. Contact Megan (415)309.7367 or m@meganleighsimmons.com

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie at Children's Fairyland, July 23-August 16: Active Arts Theatre for Young Audiences launches its first summer season with a new production at Children's Fairyland. The highly-regarded theater company will perform If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a play based on the book by Laura Numeroff. The popular book was adapted for the stage by Jody Davidson and the play is directed by Nina Meehan. As a special treat for families, every ticket to the show includes one hour free admission to Children's Fairyland prior to the show.  The park is open for picnicking from 5-6 pm on Fridays prior to the 6 pm show.  On other days, the park will be open through the 4 pm showtime.

• Back to School Garden Work Party at Glenview, Saturday, August 29, 9 am-3 pm: The garden is ready to be taken to another level. The irrigation is in but the drip system needs to be completed, beds need to be made, chips spread, more fun shapes to be cut out for the fence all to get ready for the many projects the little ones will soon be doing! Contact Delana Toler.

• Walking Tours of Oakland: A great way to introduce our fair city to your visitors, or to learn more about the richness of Oakland yourself: All tours are free and being promptly at 10 am. Reservations are encouraged. Call 238-3234.
   
  • Saturday, August 15 New Era/New Politics
  • Wednesday, August 19 Churches & Temples
  • Saturday, August 22 Old Oakland
  • Wednesday, August 26 Chinatown
  • Saturday, August 29 Waterfront
  
   
• Oakland Heritage Alliance Tours of Oakland-- Learn about your home town from the local experts! Please meet 15 minutes before listed time for registration. Donation: $10 OHA members; $15 general for most tours. Members may purchase a 5-tour pass for $40. Sign up or renew your membership on the day of the tour and the tour is free. Comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen are recommended. bring water. In case of rain, the tour will be cancelled.
   
  • Walking the Key System's C Line, Saturday, August 15, 10 a -Noon: meet at MacArthur BART Station underpass on 40th Street. Tour does not loop.
  • Scaling Leona Heights, Sunday, August 16, 10 am -1:30 pm: meet at McDonell Avenue and Mountain Blvd.
  • Oakland Heritage Alliance House & Garden Tour 2009 in Oakland's Fernwood Neighborhood, Sunday, October 4, 1-5:30 pm. For details, call 763-9218
     

• Elder Circle Oral History Project, Oakland Main Library, West Auditorium, Saturday, August 22, 1-3 pm: Come share the experience of listening to Oakland seniors tell their stories as part of the Elder Circle Oral History Project. The book, Pioneering Spirits-A Legacy of Courage, captures the voices of twelve seniors who sat in circle and shared their life stories, challenges, lessons learned, and accomplishments. Their personal reflections, biographical profiles, and photographs have been compiled into a spiral-bound book that is available for sale to the public. Please join us as we honor the contributions Oakland seniors have made to the city's rich cultural history. For more information call 268-1146.
   

• Keep Cool in the Summer at the Oakland Ice Rink, 519 10th Street in Downtown Oakland:
  • Friday Theme Nights, 7:15-9:15: Come dressed in theme and receive a 10% discount off of admission: 8:15-Jersey Night; 8/22-Tribute to the Stars; 8/29: Show Your True Teal.
     
  • Sizzling Hot Summer Nights on Wednesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm: Aged 18 or older public skating sessions, July 8-August 26.$7 admission; $2.50 skate rental; $16 for two (includes skate rental).

• Deepening the Dialogue~Stimulating Conversation to Awaken Community Change~, Saturday, August 29, 10-4 pm; Registration at 9 am, Malcolm X Elementary School, 1731 Prince Street Berkeley: Our Deepening the Dialogue events strive to build community partnerships, celebrate African American traditions and empower socioeconomically disadvantaged women and families through access to culturally sensitive, high quality mental health and supportive services. BBQ Lunch ~ Reggae Music ~  Inspiring Closing Keynote by Dr. Gloria Morrow
   ~ Chair Massage ~ Networking ~ Fun!!! For more information call Emily Esparza:   985-2694 ext. 3.

Grandparents' Day at the Oakland Zoo, Sunday, September 13, 10 am.



 


 

• Eighth Annual Light of Lights Candlelighting Ceremony,Wednesday, September 16, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm,  St. Benedict's Church, 82nd and Bancroft: This uplifting, multicultural ceremony, sponsored by the Oakland Fire Critical Incident Stress Management Team, brings us together as community to honor the loss, and celebrate the lives, of our loved ones who have died. You will take home your candles to continue this tradition for yourself and your family. Refreshments will be served. This event is free of charge.For more information, please call 238-4040 or (408) 278-2512.

• Finding Neverland Outdoor Movie at Dunsmuir House, Friday, September 25, 6 pm: Come to the Great Meadow and bring a picnic and blanket. Once it's dark enough, outdoor movie will begin.

• Jazz on the Green, Lake Chabot Golf Course, Saturday, August 22: Relax with family, friends, food and good entertainment at this affordable event. 11450 Golf Links Road.
   
   
   

Chinatown Street Fest, Saturday & Sunday, August 22 & 23, 10 am-6-pm: Celebrate the year of the Ox, Chinese lion dances, Japanese taiko drumming and Tahitian dance as Oakland's Chinatown (the oldest Chinatown in the state) celebrates! This 22nd annual event covers nearly 10 blocks and includes three stages and hundreds of food booths. For details, check out their website.

• East Bay Evolution Eat Real Bike Tour, Saturday, August 29 or Sunday, August 30, Noon to 4 pm: Join a tour for two-wheeled foodies! Begin and end at the Eat Real Festival at Jack London Square. Peddle along Oakland's waterfront and meet local culinary artisans, learn about their specialties and sample their creations. Members of East Bay Bicycle Coalition or Walk Oakland Bike Oakland receive $10 off cost. Bike rentals available from Bay Area Bikes.$40. Contact Karen Hester for details. 

• 4th Annual Day in the Park, Maxwell Park, Saturday, September 12, Noon- 5 pm: Featuring local musicians, kids' games, bike repair, BBQ and a lot more. If you would like to help sponsor the event, please send checks in any denomination to the Maxwell Park NCPC,  3145 Courtland Avenue, Oakland 94619. Volunteers are also needed. Please contact Helen da Silva at 207-2958 or Krista Gulbransen at 304-3575.

Sunday, September 13, 11 am-6 pm:

• Sundays in the Redwoods 2009! Mark your calendars now for the four FREE concerts held at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. All concerts are great family events-- even for toddlers, who can run around in the back! To reserve a picnic table, contact Renee Tucker at 238-4720. Bring sunscreen, hats and water-- it can get very hot in the sun. Gates open at 1:30-- concerts start at 3.
  • Sunday, September 20: Latin Jazz with John Santos
  • Sunday, September 27: The Oakland East Bay Symphony with Michael Morgan, conductor
     
  • Sunday, October 4: Classical Jazz with James Newton and John Jang
  • Sunday, October 11: Neo Soul with Ledisi
     

Oaktoberfest in the Dimond, Saturday, October 10, 11am-6pm, MacArthur Blvd. at Fruitvale Avenue

• Help Purchase Back Packs for School-aged Foster kids: Families That Care, located in West Oakland, seeks donations or actual backpacks as follows (but not black or red, since the schools ban these colors:
  • High School Children (9th-12th): Male- 8                          Female- 10
  • Middle School Children (6-8th): Male-  1                           Female-   4 
  • Elementary/Grade School Children (K-5th):Male-  2         Female- 0

Help Feed the Hungry:

• Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation Seeks Volunteer Administrative Assistant: If you've recently retired or have time on your hands, consider volunteering with the Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation. This 501(c)3 raises funds for capital projects in Oakland's parks, and also serves as the fiscal agent for a number of individual park support groups--including Shepherd Canyon Park, Joaquin Miller Park and Maxwell Park in District 4. Paula Ramsey, the new Executive Director, is looking for someone with experienced computer skills (particularly Quickbooks and an accounting background) who can keep up with correspondence and maintain data bases. For details, please contact Paula at 465-1850.

• Allendale Park NCPC- cleans up streets, tree wells and storm drains on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays 38th Street between Nevil and Suter Streets. Call Steve Reuss at 536-9551.

• Keep Dimond Clean Every Week: 22x NCPC Beautification Efforts: Residents are invited to join neighborhood volunteers on Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful volunteer clean up walks:

Safe Walk to School Monitors/Volunteers Needed: Pedestrian safety at our local schools is a constant concern. The City's Safe Walk to School Program experienced cutbacks in funding, but is interested in retirees willing to dedicate 1 to 1 1/2 hours twice a day to help serve as Safe Walk to School Monitors at intersections in front of our schools. We are especially looking for a volunteer to work at Bret Harte Middle School, a District 4 school that is in real need of additional adult presence during the crossing times. For details, contact Carmella Chase at 238-7992.
 

• Edna Brewer Middle School Wish List: School will be starting soon and there are two wish list items:
   
  • Refrigerators--The school is in need of 3 refrigerators - used but in good working condition would be grand. They have one in the teacher's lounge that is barely working.
  • Gardening Tools--This year we made quite a dent in the landscaping and we are in dire need of having the garden tools sharpened. Any volunteers available to sharpen some (a lot) tools?
     

 

• School Volunteer Fair, September 12, Main Library's West Auditorium, 11 am-2 pm:   Last year the OUSD Volunteer program closed due to program problems. Currently there is no easy way for the community to volunteer to work in the public schools.  The Montclair Community Action Group,  a neighborhood group that grew out of the Obama campaign, is planning a Volunteer Fair, Saturday September 12th at the Main Library's West Auditorium. School based non-profits, who have a variety of great programs currently in the schools, will be on hand. They train volunteers and make it easy to tutor a child, be a mentor, classroom aide, help in school libraries and more. All interested volunteers are invited to come the Fair talk with the school based groups and sign-up for the  program that meets their time availability and interests.