Free Gospel Concert Sunday, October 7, 3-6 pm: Many generations of great Oakland performers have their roots in the African American church.  This week's concert features a range of Gospel styles at Woodminster Amphitheater. This is an outdoor theater, so please be sure to bring hats, umbrellas, sun screen, sun glasses, and drinks. We have vendors selling gelato and drinks, but you might want to pack a picnic.

Gates open at 2 pm, concerts begin at 3 pm. Children are welcome -- the Office of Parks & Recreation has a special kids' arts and crafts table set up in the back should your children need a chance of pace. Schedule for free shuttle from Fruitvale BART.
 

Click on poster above for more information on the blockbuster final concert featuring Goapele next Sunday.

 

SUNDAY'S PROGRAM:
 

  Sunny Hawkins
Excerpts from her website: "Born in Berkeley...Sunny played the  lead character in the Tony Award-winning, Broadway musical Rent...She is a regularly requested session singer performing with Chaka Khan, Anastacia, Deborah Cox, the late Ray Charles,  Tramaine Hawkins, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, and Liza Minelli among others...She recently wrote and sang background vocals on "The Only Thing Missin," the first single on Aretha Franklin's album, So Damn Happy (2003), and "Good Lovin," featured on Patti LaBelle's Timeless Journey (2004). ...Sunny calls her sound "urban inspirational"

Co-written and produced by Sunny and her hit-making husband, Jamie Hawkins-the vanguard of the next generation of gospel's legendary, decade-spanning Hawkins Family-More of You

 

The Allen Temple Baptist Male Choir
 

The Men's Choir of one of Oakland's largest and most socially active churches has recorded its own CD's, "Wonderful" and "Blessed."  Over the decades many well-known Oakland singers have passed through the church's choirs.


KC & Company
 

<< KC or Kathy Coleman at last year's Gospel Sunday.

 

  Joaquin Miller Dog Park will be closed Saturday, October 7 at 6 pm for the Concert. It will reopen Monday, October 8 at 10 am. The Dog Park will close at the same time each of the following weekend to accommodate the last Sundays in the Redwoods concert. Many thanks to our dog friends and their guardians for sharing the space.  Special thanks to our O'Dog volunteers and the City's Public Works Agency staff for keeping the dog park sparkling clean!
 

 

• Councilmember Jean Quan, Public Safety Committee 
• Officer Randy White - Oakland Special Victims Unit
• Sharmin Bock - Alameda County District Attorney's Office
• Nadia Lockyer - Domestic Violence Collaborative
• Alicia Perez - Safe Passages
• Nola Brantley - Safe Place Alternative for Teens
   
• Teen Panelists

If you know someone or if you are being abused please seek help. Here is a link to our resources and services we have compiled in a special edition of our newsletter.

"We've seen it in SoMa, downtown LA, and Brooklyn: An edgy hipster vibe combines with growing affluence and burst of development to transform a raw urban landscape into the place to be.  And now it's Oakland's turn."
                                                       SF Magazine

If you haven't seen it, this month's San Francisco Magazine is about Oakland.  Yes it's strange to get recognition of the good things happening in the city, but Oakland is one of few cities in the Bay Area projected by economists  to continue to grow relatively steadily in jobs and housing over the next decade. Reactions of my friends and family range from "gloating" to "we better buy a house now before more San Franciscans drive up the prices and ruin the neighborhood."  Two District Four neighborhoods - Laurel District Redwood Heights (Sunny Diversity for the Middle Class and Up) and Piedmont Pines (Nature for Folks with Serious Cash) - are featured in the neighborhood section which starts out with, "The good life just got calmer, sunnier and cheaper."  It also covers Crocker, Glenview, and has some of the best writing on the New Downtown that I've seen.
 

• Willie Monroe Features Laurel House in ABC Story on the New Retrofit Program:  Watch Willie Monroe's story on this week's Retrofit Workshops; it does a great job describing the program in a very short clip.  It features a duplex in the Laurel being remodeled for sale and now also retrofitted (because of the rebate.)  We think it will be the first home to complete its retrofit and receive the rebate. There will be an open house next week, we'll announce the time and address. (Above)  District 4 Staff Sue Piper and Steve Edrington display the simple handrawn page of Plan Set A approved for basic retrofits in the City of Oakland at this week's retrofit workshop.
   

• Oakland Magazine has included Sunday's in the Redwoods in its blog section.  Leave your comments here and help us build awareness and audience.

• Chronicle Watch usually catches the things we haven't done...Thanks to Jim Zamora, a Redwood Hts resident, this week it ran a "Help Wanted Story" about out Joaquin Miller Trail Project (see #2).
   

Sharks Take Over Oakland Ice Center Management: Eleven years ago the Oakland Redevelopment Agency lent the funds to build and operate the Oakland Ice Center, described as one of the ten best public rinks in the nation to skate by Kristi Yamaguchi. "Featuring two huge indoor rinks - an Olympic-size figure skating rink and an NHL-size one - the OIC offers public skating, hockey programs and figure-skating instruction year-round. "My Olympic coach is here, and when I'm home in California, I still skate here says. I might even take my 2-year-old out on the ice soon."

  A year later the Center went bankrupt and City took over; hiring a series of management firms, subsidizing operating deficits but not able to pay off the construction loans. Perhaps as disturbing as the financial issues, the Council found that very few Oaklanders used the facility.  The majority of regular figure skaters, hockey teams, and others came from out of town; many of them vocally opposed a change in management. As the chair of Finance, working with Council Members Delafuente and Kernighan over the last year, we negotiated in improved 3 year contract with the San Jose Sharks passed this week that requires:

• Ten percent discounts for Oakland residents and additional discounts for schools.
   
• At least 1000 Oakland public school students will be offered free lessons at no cost to the School District; plus at least four opportunities for after school programs/year and additional scholarship opportunities for OUSD students.
• The Sharks will work with OUSD to create at least one high school hockey team.
   
• No more subsidies for operations and profit sharing if the revenues go over costs.
• The Sharks will contribute at least $100,000 for capital improvements.
• There will be no increase in skating fees for at least 6 months; thereafter, increases must be in line with area facilities and must be approved by City staff.
• A community advisory group will be established.

DOGS ON MONTCLAIR TRAIL APPROVED, OTHER CHANGES STAY IN COMMITTEE:  The Council approved the Montclair Railroad Trail name for Shepherd Canyon trail into Montclair and its use by dogs on leash.  Our office is working the the Office of Parks & Recreation on developing new signage for the trail that makes it clear that dogs are to be on leash on the trail.

Proposed changes to the City's regulations concerning Dogs at Large (OMC Chapter 6 6.04.070), specifically questions about tethering dogs on public property, have been held over to the October 9th, 6 pm, Life Enrichment Committee to allow additional time for comment.Questions? Contact Sue Piper in our office at 238-7042.  This is a summary of proposed changes:
 

A requirement that dog guardians pick up after their dogs on public property and private property that they do not own and that they dispose of the waste properly.   A prohibition of the use of chain leashes and tethers. A change from leashes being no longer than 6 feet to a requirement that the dog be held on leash no longer than 6 feet away from the dog guardian, and that the leash be attached to a collar or harness. A change in the prohibition of tethering dogs on public property.  The current OMC makes no allowance for tethering of dogs on public property.  This proposal would permit dog guardians 15 minutes to tether their dog on public property to run quick errands. This is not to be confused with a new State Law that allows a maximum of 3 hours of tethering a dog on private property. The new proposed  fines for violations  -- $50 for first offense, $100 for a second offense in one year, and $500 for a third offense within one year.  A section, "Dogs in Vehicles,"  included the new State Law making it illegal for  owners to leave their animals in an enclosed vehicle under dangerous conditions. PROPOSED SMOKING CHANGES STALLED OVER OUTDOOR SMOKING ON GOLF COURSES AND OUTSIDE BARS:  A debate over how far from the front door/window of a bar patrons must be to smoke and over whether public golf courses should be included in the outdoor park bans have been delayed to the October 16th Council meeting.  Staff will bring options of 5 to 25 feet for bars and a choice of including or excluding the public golf courses.

• Volunteer Adult Advisors needed for Oakland Youth Advisory Commission: The Youth Advisory Commission is looking for members and three adult advisors to serve in a non-voting capacity. Staff and advisors support the 25 young members in implementing a variety of civic engagement/community projects. The Youth Advisory Commission meets Monday nights from 5 to 7 pm. For details, contact Andrea Tacdol, Youth Leadership Coordinator, at 238-3320.

• Ethics Commission Needs Members: The 7 member commission, 3 nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council and 4 chosen by the commissioners, has two commission nominated vacancies for three year terms (January 27, 2008 through January 21, 2011). Members must be Oakland residents and registered to vote in Oakland. Duties include:  monthly meetings, committee meetings, oversight of campaign related ordinances, conflict of interest regulations, review of ethics laws and recommendations of amendments to the Council, developing public outreach & educational programs, and annually adjusting Council salaries. For applications due Friday, October 26, 5 pm.

• The 2008-2009 Cultural Funding Program Applications and Workshop schedule is now available.  In addition to our regular City Hall workshops, this year a special community workshop has been scheduled for District 4 on October 24 at the Allendale Recreation Center at 6 pm.  We hope artists and non-profits from District 4 will attend to learn about funding opportunities.  For details, call  Kathy Littles at 238-7531 or go to their website.

• Love Your Parks Survey Day, October 13: The Oakland Parks Coalition (OPC) sponsors Love Your Parks Day on October 13, where volunteers do an annual Oakland parks maintenance assessment. The data is pulled together into a report that is later presented to the Council's Public Works Committee. To volunteer or for more information about OPC.

• Teen Center Considered for Brookdale Park:  A major initiative of the new budget was to allocate $500,000 in capital funds to establish at least one teen center in each Council district using redevelopment funds.  In District 4 Brookdale and Allendale Rec Centers are the two most likely prospects.  My office and Recreation staff are recommending some equipment upgrades for Allendale and a major expansion of space for teens at Brookdale. It is likely that we will have to seek matching funds to complete the projects. Over the next months we will work with the Citizen's Advisory groups and Teen Groups at each center to explore the possibilities.  

This year we worked with the Brookdale Advisory Group and neighbors to start long term planning for the park. (Left) This week the group presented Jean with a thank you certificate for her help in funding the first phase:  fence and lighting repairs for safety, vegetation maintenance and new windows to improve staff views of the park and to improve the quality of light in the building.

 

• Preliminary Work Begins on New Leimert Pocket Park on Park Blvd.: Last year our office held a community meeting to talk about creating a biking/hiking trail along Park Blvd. (Leimert  to Monterey) to provide a better connection between Glenview/Oakmore and Montclair while providing opportunities to enjoy Dimond Canyon from above. Since then, we've been working on soil surveys and other details for the first phase -- a pocket park near the bus stop just beyond Leimert Blvd. (The next phases have to wait until the City completes seismic retrofit of the viaducts along Park Blvd over the next two years.) In the next weeks we begin processing tree removal permits for several acacia trees over hanging the pathway that pose a fire risk and block canyon views.  They will be replaced with native Oaks, Toyon and Buckeye trees. We still have much more planning and design work, but hope to recruit volunteers to plant other native plants and spread mulch by next Earth Day (April) and Creek to Bay Day (September).

<<Supervisor Nate Miley joins Jean, Officer Sayaputha, Principal Newling, and young volunteers on Walk to School Day.
 

Thank you Walk to School Volunteers!
Every year we ask parents to walk with their children to school to help us assess safety and traffic issues in the neighborhood that our kids face.  Even if you missed the official date, it's still a good thing to do.  It helps make all of us drivers aware of pedestrians and their safety, its good exercise.  This year almost all of the District 4 schools participated, let us know your thoughts on what you learned.
 

The Oakland Bike Master Plan is in its final stages of approval.  To become involved in the Citizens Advisory Group or to comment contact Jason Patton or call 238-7049 to receive occasional updates and announcements. Bicycle Master Plan Hearing Schedule:

• October 17, 2007: Public Hearing at Planning Commission
• November 13, 2007: Consideration of Plan adoption by CED Committe
• December 4, 2007: City Council - Public hearing on Final EIR; EIR certification; Plan adoption (project completion)

Citizen Radar Traffic Volunteers Needed:  Speeding on neighborhood streets is a major complaint.  The problem is especially dangerous during commute times.  After working on several traffic hotspots with various neighborhood and school groups, we have decided to try a pilot program using Citizen Radar Traffic Volunteers in cooperation with out Traffic Officers.  This is how it works:

Volunteers will be trained by Oakland Police to properly use a hand-held radar gun purchased by our office for the program. Groups of three will go out to previously selected "hot spots" where speeding is common. Speeders will be clocked and the license numbers will be given to the police, who will then generate a warning letter informing speeders that they've been spotted by their neighbors exceeding the speed limit.  They will be asked to slow down for everyone's safety. Volunteers will not have access to drivers information.

If you and your neighbors (or other parents in the case of schools) would like to participate, contact Jennifer Crawford in our office 238-4742. Training will take place over two days. One day's training will be in a classroom setting and the second day will be practical training using the radar unit. Anyone over the age of 21 is welcome to participate.  Our first pilot location will be 35^th Avenue in the Redwood Heights area; they still need a few more volunteers. Another group is organizing for Skyline Blvd.
 

• Who to Contact If You Are a Victim or Suspect Domestic Violence:
  Almost monthly we talk to neighbors who are concerned about children who are home alone or not going to school, seniors whose relatives have taken over their homes, or women seeking refuge from their partners.  Here are a few useful numbers, check out this month's special newsletter on Domestic Violence for more information.
   
  • Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate physical harm
  • Oakland Sexual Assault / Child Abuse Tip Line 637-0238
  • The Oakland Police Special Victims Unit Direct Line is 238-7910
  • To report Senior Abuse, contact Adult Protective Services 577-3500

• How to Run More Effective Meetings: Attend a free Meeting Facilitation Workshop for active NCPC members on Saturday, October 20 from 8:30 am to 3 pm in Hearing Room 4 at City Hall. Free parking in the Clay Street Garage at 14th Street. Learn simple tools for running effective, interesting and dynamic NCPC meetings. Space is limited. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Spanish interpretation will be available. Register by October 10 with your Neighborhood Services Coordinator or with NSC Hoang Banh at 238-6566.

• Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) Surveys:  Oakland's Neighborhood Services Division (NSD) is doing an assessment of our NCPCs citywide. The NSD wants to learn how you feel we are doing at reaching the goals of making change in our neighborhoods, empowering residents, linking people to city services, and creating strong NCPCs. They also want to know what the obstacles to success are. If you have attended even one Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting please fill out this survey. The survey takes about 15 minutes. If you have not participated in a Neighborhood Council, fill out this separate survey.   Kim Gilhuly, survey consultant, if you have any questions, concerns, or further feedback. 

• For a complete list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils in District 4.

• How to file a Police Report:  Police use crime reports to plan patrols and follow crime trends. Commanders determine their priorities based on the number and severity of crimes reported. You don't have to rely on the police to actually make the report; for non-urgent crimes such as auto break-ins or after the fact home break-ins you can download a citizen's crime report  from the City's website.

• What's With Those Sirens? Our office frequently receives calls during the first week of the month, wondering why the sirens that go off at noon on the first Wednesday of the month mean, and what people should do.They are part of the City's Emergency Alert system. If you should hear them at any other time than the first of the month test, shelter in place (stay inside, shut doors and windows) and tune in to your emergency radio station -- AM 530 is the City's station, but reception in the hills is spotty. Your best bet is KCBS 740 AM.

• Don't Throw Away Those Yellow Pages:  This year's Yellow Pages include a tabbed section with Emergency Preparedness information. It also has information on our new Retrofit program under "Earthquakes." <<Rene Domingo of the Office of Emergency Services and Jeanne Perkins of the Association of Bay Area Governments display the new Yellow Pages on preparedness.
   

• Earthquake Retrofit Workshops to Be Repeated: Our first round of Earthquake Retrofit Workshops were well attended this week.  Based on the feedback we will schedule another round with both real estate professionals and homeowners in the next few months. We were able to tape one of the workshops and hope to broadcast it on KTOP, Channel 10. >>Tool kit from the Temescal Tool Lending Library on display at this week's workshop. 
   

• Join or start a CORE group on your block -- first step is to get to know each other and share contact information. Learn more at the City's website for Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE). If you are already CORE trained, consider taking additional training through CORE or the American Red Cross. Consider the following CORE courses (all require advanced registration):
   
  • CORE Refresher (required for all 2003-2004 CORE graduates) - October 13, 9 am -1 pm
  • Managing Stress During Emergencies - October 27, 9 am - 1 pm
  • Managing Your Neighborhood Command Center Operations Effectively - November 10, 9 am - 3 pm

• Montclair-wide CORE/MON exercise on Saturday, November 17: Montclair has organized more than 50 blocks of CORE or Neighborhood Alert Groups under a program called MON (Montclair Organized Neighbors). They are running a simulated disaster exercise on Saturday, November 17 from 9 am to 11 am. For details, please contact Doug Mosher at 530-0774.

• Prevent Sewer Back ups this Rainy Season: Your home is at risk if, at its lowest level, it is not at least one foot above the nearest upstream manhole of the sewer main. Find out how you can prevent back-ups during the upcoming rainy season by going to www.sewersmart.org.

• 16th Annual Native American Culture Day at the Library, Saturday, October 27: Come to the Cesar E. Chavez Branch Library, 3301 East 12th Street, Second Floor, near the Fruitvale BART station, from noon to 5 pm on Saturday, October 27 for a free celebration of our Native American culture. This year's theme is "Sacred Ground, Sacred Sites" with emphasis on the Bay Area shell mounds and features native speakers, performers, dancers, artwork and films. For details, call 238-3134 or go to the Library's website.

• Oakland Public Library Celebrates Halloween and Day of the Dead: The Three Witches will return to the Dimond Branch Library on Tuesday, October 30 at 7 pm  with scary stories, songs and riddles.  Open to children ages six and older -- come in costume. Day of the Dead Altar Workshop at Melrose Branch on Tuesday, October 23, 3:30 pm. For additional information, call 238-3134 or go to the Oakland Public Library's website.

• 8th Biennial State of the Estuary Conference, October 16-18: The public is invited to a biennial ecological assessment of  the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary -- the latest information about the estuary's changing watersheds,  major stressors, recovery programs for species and habitats & emerging issues. Scottish Rite Center, 1547 Lakeside Drive. For information, 622-2398 or sign up online.

• E-waste Drop off, Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 at Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church: The Glenview Neighborhood Association and the Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church have contracted with Universal Waste Management, a California- certified eWaste Company, for an easy, drive-thru e-waste drop off on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.
   

• Re-Create Art Contest for Oakland students, K-12: Re-Create is a recycled art competition and exhibition that is open to students (K-12) in Oakland schools. Students are invited to create artwork using discarded or reused materials and to compete for prizes. Practice the 4R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot (Compost) to meet Oakland's zero waste goal. The Art Contest & Exhibition is sponsored by the City's Public Works Agency.  For details, call 465-8770, ext. 310 or visit MOCHA's website. >>Last year's winners at artist's reception.  
   

• Saturday, November 10, Noon- 4 pm -- make art at the Re-Create Workshop at MOCHA, 548 9th Street.
• Friday-Sunday, November 9-11, 2 - 5 pm: Deliver all entries to 472 Water Street (Jack London Square)
• Thursday, November 15, 5:30-7:30 pm: Artist's Reception. Award winners announced at 472 Water Street (Jack London Square)
• Exhibition Gallery Hours -- November 15-December 16, Fridays, 3 - 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 2 pm.

Daffodil Days 2007: This year's daffodil pickup date is Sunday, October 28. Over the past three years, Oaklanders have planted 150,000 daffodils, and another 50,000 are going to be available to plant in medians, school gardens and other public places.  Contact Cookie Robles- Wong at 434-5126.  Deadline for ordering bulbs is October 5, 2007.

• Native Plant Fair Saturday, October 20 & Sunday, October 21: The East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society hosts its annual Native Plant Fair at the Native Here Nursery in Tilden Park in Berkeley. Thousands of plants native to Alameda and Contra Costa County, as well as books, free presentations and beautiful plant themed arts and crafts. Please bring boxes for carrying your plant purchases; cash or check only. Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm; Sunday, Noon - 3 pm. For details, visit their website.

• Metro Garden Club's Garden Swap, Saturday, October 20: Bring plants, cuttings, seeds, garden equipment, books, garden art, flowers, harvested goodies, questions...to share with other gardeners when the Metro Garden Club (the area of Oakland covered by the MacArthur Metro) hosts its event at a home garden in the Laurel District. Contact Adina by October 16 for details.

• AB 45 Approved by Senate; goes to Governor for Signature: Sandre Swanson's bill calling for the return of local control of Oakland Unified School District to the School Board by July 1, 2008  cleared the final legislative hurdle and sits on Governor Schwarzenegger's desk for signature. . Contact Governor Schwarzenegger and ask him to sign the bill.

Young dancers from the Lincoln Park with their Lion and Dragon at City Hall this week.
 

• Tilden Redesign Meeting, this Tuesday, October 9, 6-7:30 pm, childcare will be provided and dinner will be served. Three years ago we worked with the community to save Tilden/John Swett School from closing.  Part of the experiment was to do a small school blended with special education students with very small classes.  The district has given the school a grant to develop the concept further, according to the Principal Jocelyn Johnson, "The purpose is to develop a vision for the school with community input, research model schools, then develop a plan of action.   This process has traditionally been for Program Improvement Schools but Tilden is participating because of the need for a more balanced general ed/special education population."  The community, especially those with children are invited; please attend this first meeting.

• Sequoia School Garden Work Day, Saturday, October 13: Nearby neighbors are invited to join parents and students in helping to keep the Sequoia Elementary School garden "green". Neighbors willing to provide space in their green bins with the green waste from the clean up are invited to contact Sequoia's Garden Teacher at  sequoiagarden@yahoo.com >>Working the in the Sequoia garden on Earth Day.

• Auditions for "A Christmas Carol"-- The Golden Gate Children's Theatre announces auditions for a Hip-Hop-A-Rama Re-telling of The Story of Ebenezer Scrooge in their 2007 presentation of A Christmas Carol. All actors and actresses -- children and adults -- are encouraged to audition Tuesday, October 9 at 4:15 pm or Saturday, October 13 at 1 pm at the Golden Gate Recreation Center, 1075-62nd Street. Call 597-5032 for details. Registration: $5 if cast.

• DOOF-A-Palooza at Google, Saturday, October 20, 11 am - 4 pm:  The Alameda County Public Health Department invites families with children ages 6 to 9 to a one-of-a-kind food celebration on Google's Mountain View Campus and get messy in a range of activities with some of the Bay Area's top growers, chefs, purveyors and cookbook authors. DooF-a-Palooza is a fund raising event to help DooF (that's "food" spelled backwards) to produce a new kind of public television show that gets kids excited about good food and promotes healthy eating. For details:
   

• Good Cents for Oakland host City-wide Service Planet at Dimond Park, Sunday, October 28, 9:30 am-Noon:  Good Cents for Oakland teaches young children how to make Oakland a better place through community service. In its Penny Roundup Program, students select where they want to donate their pennies and learn about leadership, philanthropy and making a difference. Families will clean and beautify Dimond Park; launch a community garden; collect materials that would go into the landfill and donate them to East Bay Depot for Creative Use; learn about open space, recycling and the importance of the Sausal Creek watershed; and create a Halloween-themed art project using materials from East Bay Depot for Creative Use.  For details call 444-7100 or check out their website.

• Bret Harte Autumn Work Day, Saturday, October 27:  The Bret Harte Middle School Site Improvement Committee is developing plans for the Autumn Work Day set for Saturday, October 27.Neighbors are welcome to join in.

• Dogs, kids, and adults are invited to the 4th Annual Dimond Howl-o-ween Pet Parade and Costume Party, 6-9 pm: Meet in front of Paws & Claws, 2023 MacArthur Blvd., at 6 pm and parade through the Dimond District collecting treats. Then return to Paws & Claws for an outdoor party behind the store with a campfire and spooky games for kids. Dress warmly! Donations will be accepted for the Oakland Animal Shelter.
• Redwood Heights Harvest for Learning Auction, Saturday, November 3: in the Mills College Faculty Lounge. This year, the Redwood Heights Elementary School hopes to raise $45,000 for additional enrichment programs for students. This is a great opportunity to complete your holiday shopping while supporting one of our local schools. For details, contact Ferdinand Ramos at 332-8871 or email him.

• Meet Mollie Katzen, author of the Mosswood Cookbook, at GGP on October 10: A Great Good Place for Books proudly invites you to come celebrate the publication of The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without withon Wednesday, October 10th at 7 pm, 6201 La Salle Avenue in Montclair.

• Neighborhood author Dennis Evanosky will discuss his new book Oakland's Laurel District at the Laurel Book Store October 12, 7:30. Plenty of history and wonderful old photos are included as well as tips for where you can go to see many of the old sites.  Upcoming events at the Laurel Book Store:
  •  Tuesday, October 16, 7:30 pm  Alice Wilson-Fried and Outside Child, a novel of murder and New Orleans
  • Tuesday, October 23, 7:30 pm  The Ecstasy of Influence, a group of local authors will be trying out new material.

• PERALTA HACIENDA annual member's meeting - Saturday, October 13, 12:30 pm:  Members and the public are invited to the Annual Member's Meeting for a review of the organization's goals and plans for preserving Oakland's birthplace and election of Board Members. Attendees will also get a sneak peek of the new Peralta House exhibits opening in Spring 2008. Light refreshments will be served. Immediately following the meeting is the monthly Family Fun Day.

  Family Fun Days, Second Saturday of Every Month, 2-4 pm: Free food, entertainment, and art activities for children. Docents will be available for tours of the historic 1870 Antonio Peralta House and the new outdoor exhibits. This event is free and open to the public.

• Kaiser Permanente Health Fair for Women and Girls -"Living Whole, Well, and Wise" - Saturday, October 13, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway. FREE EVENT specially created for girls and women. Learn about healthy eating, active living, sports medicine and fitness, skin care, tai chi, self-defense, stress relief, and other great topics. Keynote speaker Marci Shimoff is one of the nation's leading motivational experts and author of the bestseller "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul".

• Free Harbor Tours at the Port of Oakland, Thursday, October 18: 10:30 and 1 pm. Boarding time is 30 minutes prior to departure. Families, schools, civic groups and individuals are invited to cruise along the Oakland Estuary and experience the insider's view of the Port's newest super-post Panamax container cranes (241 feet tall), Middle Harbor Shoreline Park and the action involved in moving international cargo at the 4th largest container port in the United States. Please make reservations online or by calling 627-1188. Meet at the Oakland Ferry Terminal, located at the foot of Clay Street in Jack London Square for the 90-minute tour. 

• Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project Exhibition Opening: Saturday, October 20, 2 pm. See amazing stories, insights and artifacts unearthed through this Oakland Asian Cultural Center pilot program. The Oakland Asian Cultural Center is located at 388 9th Street #290. 

• Last Film in the Outdoor Movie Series, October 20:  The Old Oakland Outdoor Cinema Series ends  with the screening of "Babe" the family comedy about the exploits of a shepherding piglet and his talking barnyard friends (1995). Free parking at 8th and Washington Streets. Bring chairs and blankets to the "theater" at 9th between Broadway and Washington, beginning at dusk.

• Bonsai Garden & Bento Dinner celebrates Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association and The Golden State Bonsai Collection North:  Lakeside Park Garden Center (666 Bellevue Avenue) on Sunday, October 21st to visit the Bonsai Garden and magnificent Torii Gate, dedicated in the memory of the late Oakland City Council Member Frank Ogawa (1917-1994). Reserve a Japanese "Bento" box dinner for $15, and enjoy the free entertainment of the Bando Mitsuhiro Kai Monterey classical Japanese Kabuki dance, Taiko drumming by Tatsumaki Taiko and performances by the delegates from Asian Pacific Children's Convention & High School Exchange (6:30 pm). Telescopic viewing of the Moon and other celestial points of interest provided by the East Bay Astronomical  Society starting at 7:30 pm. Deadline to reserve the dinner is October 15. Call 530-3945 or email info@oakland-fukuoka.org for details.

• Bay Area Premier of Tears Of A Clown at Oakland International Film Festival, Monday, October 22: 8:45 pm at the Grand Lake Theatre. This Tony Spires Film is inspired by the true story of the legendary Oakland comedian Cole Black. An expose into the world of funny business, Tears Of A Clown examines the subjects of dignity, loyalty, love, betrayal and reversal of fortune. For details...
   

• What's New at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)?  For details, go to the OMCA website.
  • October 10 - December 2- Ancient Roots/Urban Journeys: Expressions for Dias de los Muertos.
  • October 13 - March 16, 2008 Artists of Invention: A Century of CCA -- celebration the 100th anniversary of the California College of Arts, one of Oakland's nationally recognized colleges.
  • Sunday, October 21, Noon - 5 pm: 14th Annual Community Celebration for the Days of the Dead -- Participation in the celebration is free; admission to the museum galleries will be half-price all day. 

• MTC/ABAG "Bay Area on the Move" Forum, Friday, October 26:  The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) invite the public to a forum on Friday, October 26, 8:30 am to Noon. Join elected officials, community and business leaders and transportation and smart growth advocates for a preview of major decisions anticipated as part of an update to MTC's long-range transportation policy and investment blueprint, known as Transportation 2035. The event is located at the Oakland Marriott City Center Hotel at 1001 Broadway. For details, call 817-5757 or sign up online.

• The Distaff Singers' 70th Annual Benefit Concert, Saturday, November 3: The Distaff Singers, public school teachers, celebrate their 70th year raising scholarship funds for Oakland students with their benefit concert, "A Tribute to Oakland", on Saturday, November 3, 4:00 pm at Skyline High School.  Tickets are $15 adults, $12 students and seniors.  Call 510-547-8083 or visit www.distaffsingers.org  for more information or to inquire about applying for scholarship funding.

• Still Time to Subscribe to the Oakland East Bay Symphony Season -- but not for long as single tickets for the 2007-2008 season go on sale starting Tuesday, October 2. Save up to 31% off the price of single tickets by becoming a subscriber. Mini-series of 3, 4 or 5 concerts are available, or sign up for all 6 concerts.  The season opens on Friday, November 9 at the Paramount Theatre with performances of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Leonard Bernstein's Fancy Free, and arias sung by soprano Hope Briggs.  To subscribe on line...or call 444-0801.