• Sausal Creek Environmental Council Earth Day Outreach: Our office is working closely with the Friends of Sausal Creek under a grant from PG&E to expand outreach throughout the entire Sausal Creek watershed. As part of that program, more than 5,000 students from 13 schools within the watershed have been invited to participate in Earthday Events throughout the watershed. Participants are invited to a BBQ picnic at Dimond Park or Josie de la Cruz Park from Noon until 2 pm. Students in the afterschool circus program at Laurel Elementary School and Manzanita Seed/Manzanita Community School will also be performing at Josie de la Cruz Park at 1:30 pm.  In addition to many of the sites above in District 4, there are several Earth Day Events in the Sausal Creek Watershed from District 5:
  • Barry Place and E 27th Street
  • Carmen Flores Recreation Center (Josie de la Cruz Park, 1637 Fruitvale Avenue
  • Fruitvale Plaza Park and 35th Avenue & International Blvd.
  • Jingletown Arts & Business Community, Chapman & Derby Street
  • William Wood Park, 2920 McKillop Road

• E-Waste Pick up at Joaquin Miller School, 9am-Noon: E-Waste is your electronics plus just about anything that plugs into a wall.  TDR E-Recycling is the fee-free agent selected by Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association as a partner.  Questions:  http://www.tdrelectronicrecycling.com

• Earth Day 2009 at the Oakland Zoo, "We're All Connected," Sunday10 am-3 pm:  Join the Oakland Zoo and many Bay Area environmental organizations as we explore our delicate connections. See how we all can hold up our end of the web. Enjoy more than forty earth stations, hands-on learning, crafts, face-painting, Wildlife Theater presentations and a performance by the dazzling EarthCapades environmental vaudeville.  
  
   

Three schools also have events planned for next Saturday, April 25:

• Horace Mann Elementary School--contact Jeanne Nixon at 533-3120  Please come to help create 5 Mediterranean Garden Venues at Horace Mann School on April 25 from 9 - 11.  It will take many hands to get 200 plants into the ground and apply "guerilla bark". >>Tending vegetable planters last year at Horace Mann.
• Melrose Community Day School--contact Gehry Oatey at 395-5525
• Sequoia Elementary--to finish up their garden on Scenic Avenue. Contact Nancy Deming. >>Past Earth Day in Sequoia School Garden.

• Earth Week at Mills College: Mills College, which is just on the edge of District 4, offers a host of activities starting Sunday, April 19 through Friday, April 24, from a lecture on Environmentalism and Social Justice on Wednesday, April 22 from Noon - 2 pm at the Student Union  and an Earth Day Film Fest that evening from 6 -9:30 pm at Lisser Theater, to a Lion Creek Habitat Restoration on Thursday, April 24 from 10 am-2 pm  and Creek tour at 2 pm  to a Community Garden Gathering on Friday, April 24,10 am-2 pm, at Mills' Botanic Garden. For details, contact Brian Harrington at 430-3166.

• Redwood Heights Elementary School's 61st (!) Variety Show, Friday April 17, 7 pm: An evening of singing, dancing, comedy, poetry, magic, martial arts and instrumental music by students and special guests. $3 per person.  For details, contact, Paul Farrington, 482-6362.

• The Ups and Downs of Hillside Gardening, Saturday, April 18, 11- 4 pm: The Hillside Gardeners of Montclair offer a self-guided tour of eight fabulous Oakland gardens. The gardens range from tiny and personal to large and household-sustaining, with lots of variety in between. Each garden has a different way of using water wisely, including drought-tolerant plants, a home-made rain barrel, a well and a sophisticated rainwater collection and distribution system! Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of. For tickets, call  530-1681 or email hgmgardens@gmail.com.

• Magic Journeys, Performance for the Entire Family, Saturday, April 18, 6:30 pm, Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Fallon Streets: Opera Piccola's 20th Anniversary season with a performance of "Magic Journeys" at Oakland Museum's James Moore Theatre. Based on a selection of ethnic folktales and contemporary myths, "Magic Journeys" explores ageless themes of the human condition. Volunteers from ages 2 to 102 will don costumes and join professional actors to experience the magic of becoming characters, such as a cloud, a cook, a kitten, or a ghost from Oakland's past.  (No rehearsal or prior experience in acting needed!)  Suggested Donation:  $5 to $25 Box Office/Advance Tickets call  482-0967, ext 303.
   

Rebuilding Together To Repair 32 Homes/8 Facilities in Oakland, Saturday, April 18 and Saturday April 25, 8 am - 5 pm: Twice a year, Rebuilding Together Oakland mobilizes hundreds of volunteers across Oakland to repair the houses of low income homeowners and the facilities of non-profit organizations that provide services to low-income communities.Eight of the projects are in District 4. This tremendous effort is generously supported by Oakland's corporate and faith-based communities and the City of Oakland. For details and to volunteer, call 625-0316.

• Coffee with the League of Women Voters, Monday, April 20, 2-4 pm, Whole Foods Market, 230 Bay Place: Are you new to the League? An old-timer who would like to find out how to be more active? A mid-timer who would like to know more about the League? Or are you new to Oakland? The League of Women Voters is a great way to get to know your city. Drop ins welcome.
   

• 22X NCPC Meeting (Dimond, Lincoln Heights, Montera, Oakmore, Woodminster): Monday, April 20, 7-8:30 pm at Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave:  Featured speakers: Fania Davis of Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth; and Lynn Mueller, Writer Coach, Oakland Unified Schools.  Also, a brief CORE reminder about city wide disaster drill on April 25.

• The 3rd Annual Music in Schools Today Golf Tournament, Hosted by Tré Cool at the beautiful Sequoia Country Club, Monday, April 20: Proceeds of the event will fund the Music Integrated Learning Environment program in the Oakland Unified School District. Includes a full day: lunch, a round of golf at one of the Bay area's best private clubs, and dinner! Golf with Tré Cool, Mike Dirnt, Bobby Hutcherson, Lawrence Karnow, John Kessler, Tom Luce, Butch Vig, and Vinnie and Icky from RadioAlice, among many others. For more information, visit the web page.

• Project Re-Connect & Think College Now Offers Special Classes for Parents of Teens, Tuesday, April 21, 5:45-8 pm: Do you fear your child may be hanging out with the wrong crowd? Do you live in a neighborhood where crime is prevalent? Do you know your child's friends? Come to this special program on Self-esteem and Communication for parents at Think College Now, 2825 International Blvd. Call 482-1738 for additional information on this and the series of classes held Tuesdays between April 28 and June 2.

 

• Montclair Restaurant Walk, April 21: The Montclair Lions Club and the Montclair Village Association have organized a Montclair Restaurant Walk on April 21. Participating restaurants and food/beverage outlets are providing tasting of their best offerings.  The Lions Club is selling $25 coupon books for the event.  Local music groups are providing entertainment on the streets. Proceeds from the event support local nonprofits, including Montclair schools. For details go to the MVA website.

• Acting Police Chief Howard Jordan Featured at Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee Meeting, Wednesday, April 22, 6:30-8:30 pm, Hearing Room 4, City Hall: The public is welcome to attend this monthly meeting of the Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee. RSVP to Felicia Verdin at 238-3128.

• Laurel Books Celebrates Poetry Month, Wednesday, April 22, 7 pm:   Paul Corman-Roberts and Melissa Hansen will be at Laurel Books, 4100 MacArthur Blvd., for an evening of poetry to celebrate Poetry Month.

• Central Estuary Plan Community Workshop #2--Visioning and Healthy Development--Wednesday, April 22, 7-9 p.m, Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center, 3301 E 12th Street, Suite 201: The City of Oakland is developing a Specific Plan that will help define a common vision for the Oakland Central Estuary. This plan will provide a framework to support development and enhancement of the area, balancing land-use goals with the environmental, economic, quality of life and health-related interests. For inquiries, contact 238-7737.

• Merritt to Host 2009 Sustainability Conference, Friday, April 24:  The 3rd Annual Peralta Conference on Urban Sustainability will be a free, interactive event, loaded with experts discussing local issues of sustainability: green jobs, local food, water shortages, truck pollution, asthma rates, mercury in fish, and creativity for sustainability.  Two especially green names will anchor the day-long free event: Phil Angelides will speak in the morning. A gubernatorial candidate in 2006 against Governor Schwarzenegger, Mr. Angelides is now chairman of the Apollo Alliance, a national advocacy group for green jobs. Bill Gallegos will speak in the afternoon. Mr. Gallegos is director of California-based Communities for a Better Environment, a group that has brought national attention to the issue of toxic pollution in Communities of Color. The organizing committees at Merritt College and Sustainable Peralta Initiative have generously offered participants free breakfast and lunch if they register early on the Conference website: http://www.sustainableperalta.org/conference.

• Food Distribution for Low Income Families and Seniors, Friday, April 24: The City of Oakland Hunger Program and the Emergency Food Providers Advisory Committee sponsor a food distribution for low income families and seniors on Friday, April 24 at the following locations:
  Fruitvale: 
  • Agnes Memorial Church 24th Ave at International Blvd, 533-1101
  • St. Elizabeth's School, 1500 34th Avenue, 536-1266
  Central Oakland: Peter's Rock Church, 4739 Foothill Blvd., 533-7731
  San Antonio: Good Samaritan Home, 1615 -10th Avenue, 536-9750
  Central East Oakland
  • East Oakland Food/Project Outreach, 6629 Bancroft Avenue, 382-1360
  • Wings of Love Church, 7007 MacArthur Blvd, 569-0223
  Western Oakland
  • Town Center at Acorn 1143 10th Street, 444-8942
  • Antioch Baptist Church, 1004 14th Street, 452-3028
  • Howie Harp Center, 580 18th Street, 444-6834
  Elmhurst
  • Elmhurst Presbyterian (April 25th) 1332 98th Avenue, 568-7861
  • Elmhurst Food Pantry, 9437 International Blvd., 632-4357
  • Unity Outreach Church, 9941 "D" Street, 652-0789
  North Oakland
  • Downs Memorial Church, 6026 Idaho Street, 654-5858
  • Great Gospel Church, 6241 San PabloAvenue, 601-8043

• Lunar Lounge: 2nd Annual Science & Art Appreciation Night at Chabot Science Center, Friday, April 24, 7-11 pm:  Consider this a great date option, you can end the evening under the stars gazing at the moon and other heavenly bodies through Chabot's many telescopes. Great art is often inspired by discoveries in science. Join us for the infusion of Art & Science with an evening filled with displays from local artists and photographers, live music, beer, wine and food available for purchase. Plus final showings of DomeFest 2008, an immersive experience that leaves necks craning, heads spinning, and a special feature of the Make: Television Profiles of Bay Area Artists at 7 pm and 8 pm in our MegaDome theater.   Tickets include all access pass to Chabot. It's an experience you will remember long past the night.  Tickets: $20 Adults / $15 Students / $8 Members.

 

Creating a balanced budget for Oakland is a painful challenge this year. With an $83 million budget deficit, and only $150 million in general fund monies that the Mayor and Council can move, every City program is going to face cuts. In addition employees will face about 10 percent in wage or benefit cuts, several hundred jobs may  be eliminated, and new revenues must be found.  No one strategy will balance the budget. While the Council has the final say on a budget; we really cannot do this alone. We are taking extraordinary steps this year to ask for public input and creative thinking. There are four ways you can weigh in:

• Attend one or more of the many public meetings and hearings (see below)
• 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 staffperson Sabrina Landreth. (Above)
• Keep up to date at http://oaklandbudget.blogspot.com
• Send in your suggestions at budgetsuggestions@oaklandnet.com
   

We will know more when we receive our Third Quarter report on revenues later this month, but the County is now predicting we will receive less property taxes than last year by about two percent. We have not seen a decline in property tax revenues for over three decades. The City counts on the slow creep up in property taxes as homes are sold, but the current real estate crisis has led to lower assessments. This and other lower tax revenues mean that the City may now face a $80 plus million deficit. 

 These are some opportunities to be heard on budget priorities: 

• The Mayor and City Council Members will hold several joint hearings in April before he releases his proposed budget in May. There are two more:
  •  Monday, April 20, 6:30 pm (Brewer Middle School)
  • Monday, April 27, 6:30 pm (Lakeside Garden Center)

• Council Schedule for Budget Approval
  • Presentation of the Mayor's Proposed Budget,Wednesday, May 13, 4-7pm, Council Chambers
  • Budget Workshop #1, Thursday, May 28, 4-7pm, Council Chambers
  • Budget Workshop #2, Monday, June 1, 4-7pm, Council Chambers
  •  Final Budget Adoption and First Reading of Ordinances, Tuesday, June 16, 6 pm, Council Chambers
  • Second Reading of Ordinances, Tuesday, June 30, 6 pm, Council Chambers
     
• In addition, there will be a live televised "Budget Townhall" on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 pm during which KTOP viewers can call-in to have their budget questions answered on-air.

• The Council approved a series of cuts and delayed projects that will fill the gap of a $8 million deficit projected for this year just as staff warned that continued higher Police costs, the first decrease in property taxes in 30 years, and other reduced revenues may bring another $20 million gap, bringing the total deficit for next year to over $70 million.  The ballot measures below would only fill the gap by $8-16 million if they all pass.

• OPC Develops Campaign to Help Support City Parks: Partnering for Better Parks will be held at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue, Saturday, May 16, from 9:30-noon. With current and future cutbacks to the City's budget for park maintenance, the Oakland Parks Coalition has organized Partnering for Better Parks, a Saturday morning forum to provide volunteers with all the organizing tools necessary to make your park a community gem:
  • Learn about City resources that are at your disposal for cleaning and greening your park
  • Hear about our on-line support group for volunteers
  •  Take home a handy OPC Toolkit for Park Stewards
  • Learn from other neighborhood groups how to galvanize support for your park and how to connect with groups looking for volunteer hours
  • Sign up to report your own volunteer hours so your efforts can be officially counted.  

If you've worked on an Earthday Project, helped survey a park during the Love Your Parks day in October, or otherwise worked on a park clean-up or planting project, please come to this event-- and bring your friends. Contact OPC for details.

• Three other measures were approved to go to the full Council on April 21st:
  • A parcel tax to replace the Landscape and Lighting District (LLAD) increase which was approved last year but not enacted by the City because of a San Jose lawsuit challenging how taxes were determined by household. As a result about 80 employees and positions (about half of the LLAD staff) were eliminated from public works and more cuts are expected next year. Because of the likely  legal challenges caused by this ruling, a parcel tax for about $46 would be substituted to restore park and lighting maintenance to last year's level.  Without this measure staffing for these services would be about half of what we had last year. This will only enable us to rehire some maintenance employees and avoid further layoffs in the next budget.  Since the original LLAD was passed in 1993 there has been no increase, but over 300 acres of new parks have been added as well as 9,000 more lights and 11,000 more trees.  The recent passage of the Regional Parks District WW will add even more park facilities.
  • An Alternative to a Parcel Tax Above might be a Temporary General Sales Tax Increase of one quarter or half cent for three years which could fund a wider spectrum of services including police, senior, road and sewer repairs as well as parks has also been drafted.  This would also tax a wider spectrum of citizens than a parcel tax because it would include renters (about half our population) and day workers.  The disadvantage is that the state has just raised the sales tax and sales taxes are generally regressive, taxing a higher percentage for lower income families and Alameda County has already passed additional sales taxes for AC Transit and Highland Hospital.  Each quarter cent represents about $8 million in revenues.
  • The final measure would increase the  Medical Marijuana Club tax rates.  This measure would bring in about a half million in revenues.

• Annual CORE Exercise, Saturday, April 25, 9-11:30 am:  This is a great way to test your neighborhood's readiness for a disaster--it's not a test, but a learning exercise! If you are part of an organized CORE group and want to participate, please contact Kaity Booth at 238-6351 for details. If you aren't part of an organized group, but would like to volunteer as a "victim" or observer, please contact Kaity.

• North Hills NCPC Town Hall Meeting on Solicitation and Construction Site Complaints, Wednesday, May 6, 7 pm, Highlands Country Club, 110 Hiller Drive: Antoinette Renwick, manager of the City's construction complaint/code compliance unit, and Barbara Kiley of the City Administrator's office will address increasing concerns about solicitors and construction site complaints. Town Hall Meetings are held 3 times a year and are open to the public.

• Beat 13Y Neighborhood Watch Block Captains Summit, Saturday, May 16, 10-11:30 am. Contact Barry Pilger.

• Anti Speeding Campaign on Skyline, Motorcycle Outreach along Joaquin Miller Park Saturday, April 18, 11am- 4 pm:  Ever since a bicyclist was fatally injured in collision with a speeding motorcyclist along Skyline Blvd. a few years ago, local residents, our office and the OPD have been working on a campaign to remind all drivers to slow down. This weekend, the Park Rangers and OPD are hosting an outreach event with 1Rider, a motorcycle safety initiative formed by concerned bay area motorcyclists. A speed trailer will clock vehicles as they drive by, and hopefully some will stop by the big canopy to talk with a team of people about why driving at 45 mph or more on curvy Skyline Blvd. is not safe. While many of the motorcyclists, bicyclists and automobile drivers come from out of the area to enjoy Skyline's many attributes, this also serves as a reminder to local residents how important it is to be aware of the residential nature of the roadway, and to drive carefully.

• Resource Fair for the Fifth Decade (50+) and Above at Lincoln Court, Wednesday, April 29, 2-5 pm: 2400 MacArthur Blvd.  Resources are provided by the Center for Elders Independence --PACED Program, Alliance for Health,  Legal Assistance for Seniors TEAM (Telecommunications Education and Assistance in Multiple Languages), Dimond Improvement Association and ASSETS (Senior Employment Program).   For details, contact Beverly A. Karnatz, special projects coordinator for Self-help for the Elderly, at 336-1952.

 

• Brand New 2 Bedrooms and 3 Bedrooms in Fruitvale for $500 Down: East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) has brand new two and three bedroom homes for sale in the Fruitvale/Lower San Antonio neighborhood of Oakland.  The Sausal Creek Homes, built with assistance from the City of Oakland, are offered to first-time homebuyers for as little as $500 down. The homes are currently priced at $237,400 for the two bedrooms and $265,100 for the three bedrooms.  EBALDC will work very closely with the potential homebuyers to help them with their credit, down payment and loan approvals. If you know of any renters who are interested in purchasing but haven't been able to find the right home or can't quite take that step towards buying a home, EBALDC will work with them to purchase these homes. These homes are newly constructed and have a one year warranty.

Jasiri Gibson is going to Washington, DC!

• Vote for Montclair's 2009-2010 Pet Mayor: This annual event raises funds for the Montclair Veterinary Hospital Pet & Wildlife Fund. Nominations for the next "Pet Mayor" of Montclair are accepted between April 1 and April 30. All entries must be accompanied by a $25 entry fee and a CD with a digital photo of your pet. The Primary is May 3-May 31; Mayor's Race Voting is June 1-June 28 with the winner announced at 1 pm on June 28. For details, contact Lee Richter at 339-2400.

• THE SPACE, a New Community Music and Art Venue, Opens in the Laurel, Saturday, April 18, 7 pm: The Space ("Laurel Jujitsu" on the front at 4148 MacArthur Blvd.) launches this Saturday with the Karen Mullaly Band. Donation $15-20 sliding scale. Everyone welcome. For more inform, call 436-4277.

Plastic Bags vs. Reusable Bags: Two years ago, I co-sponsored Oakland's Plastic Bag initiative in an effort to reduce the use of "t-shirt" plastic bags at grocery stores in Oakland. A suit requiring Environment Impact (EIR) studies stalled full implementation while a statewide EIR is being planned.  Meanwhile, we have made inroads in decreasing the use of plastic bags by encouraging the use of reusable bags and many local stores have stopped using plastic bags, including Whole Foods which made it a national policy after our efforts. Meanwhile, new state legislation is moving forward to help cities with the clean-up of plastic bags.  Take a look at the new Youtube video that Save the Bay has just launched. Also check out the article on the Huffingtonpost.  (Above) "Plastic lady" at the Earth Expo this week in front of City Hall.

• Free "Green House Calls" from California Youth Energy Services (CYES): A CYES 'green house call' is a great way to save money, help the environment, and support young people all at the same time. Teams of professionally trained Energy Specialists will visit your home, install FREE energy saving equipment, and provide you with a personalized energy-saving plan.The California Youth Energy Services program is funded through the East Bay and Marin Energy Watches, Pacific Gas & Electric Company partnerships. The program is funded by California utility rate payers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The summer program runs for six weeks starting June 30th, so call early to reserve your appointment! Call 665-1501 ext10 to sign up, or visit their website at www.risingsunenergy.org

• 500 Extra Free Bulky Pick Up Opportunities: Are you putting off your Spring cleaning? Don't wait! Waste Management is giving away 500 extra bulky waste pickups. When they're done, they're done. Individual home owners are already eligible for one bulky waste pick up a year. This would be an additional opportunity. Call 613-8710 to schedule an extra pick up.

• Free Drought Goodies from EBMUD:Check out EBMUD's website for a list of great drought saving goodies-- from audit kits and mirror signs to garden hose nozzles and low flow showerhead with on/off switch.
   
  
  
   

• 16th Annual Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 14, 7-9am: Each year I join District 4 residents at Cycles of Justice in Montclair and meet up with Council Member Pat Kernighan's riders by Lake Merritt to City Hall for a free pancake breakfast and raffle drawing. Mark you calendars now!
   

• Bay Friendly Spring Gardening Workshops: Find out how to build healthy soil, minimize fertilizer use and select appropriate plants at these FREE, hands-on workshops running from March 14-June 2. You can register on-line now.
  
   
• UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale:  Saturday, April 25, 10 am-2 pm. The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden has an incredible number of beautiful and unusual plants that are sure to make a spectacular addition to your garden. Check out their website for a list of practical workshops.

• 21st Annual Heart of the Home Tour Supports Children Support League, Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25: Visit 5 homes-- 3 in Oakland and 2 in Piedmont--and help raise much needed funds for children's agencies in Oakland. Tickets are $40 for the tour only and $50 for the tour and lunch.(Lunch will be at the Piedmont Community Center). They also have a special ticket that will allow you to come into our 7000 square foot timbered estate home one hour early and get a tour of the whole house by the architect.  This ticket is $65 which includes lunch and a special raffle ticket. For details, email Barbara Levin.

• Bay-Friendly School Garden Bus Tour, Saturday, April 25, 8:30 am-4 pm: Visit Bay-Friendly School Gardens in Alameda County that demonstrate sustainable gardening practices will engaging students in interdisciplinary activities. Registration for the tour and a $20 fee is required. Transportation, lunch and a packet containing curriculum and Bay-Friendly Gardening resources will be provided. Space is limited and available to educators and volunteers supporting school gardens in Alameda County. Please register before April 9. Call 891-5900 for details.
  
  Bay-Friendly Garden Tour Showcasing Natural Gardening Techniques, Sunday, April 26, 10 am-4 pm: The 6th Annual FREE garden tour continues to celebrate the diverse styles of Bay-Friendly with a new crop of garden clusters throughout Alameda County. Highlights include:
   
  • Backyard orchards and kitchen gardens
  • Urban habitats for butterflies, birds and bees
  • Drought tolerant replacements for water-thirsty lawns

• Bring Back the Natives Tour, Sunday, May 3, 2009: This free, award-winning tour features 50 pesticide-free gardens that conserve water, provide habitat for wildlife, and contain 50% or more native plants.  The Native Plant Sale Extravaganza will take place throughout the week end of May 2 and 3.  Gardens are being sought for the May, 2010 Tour--The application can be found here. The Tour is also seeking a volunteer webmistress/webmaster; experience with HTML and CSS, and editing size and resolution of digital images is necessary. If interested, contact Kathy Kramer at 236-9558 between 9 am and 9 pm.

• Merritt College Horticulture Club Spring Plant Sale, Saturday, May 9, 9 am-3pm: Come to 12500 Campus Drive for the annual Merritt College Spring Plant Sale, featuring Mediterranean plants, California natives, bamboo, vegetable starts and a silent auction of gardening books. Volunteers needed. Call 436-2491 to volunteer. or 436-2418 for general information.
  
  For a list of 25 ways to Keep Oakland Green....
   

The Hidden Crime in Montclair: On Tuesday, Nola Brantley of MISSSEY and Cherri Allison of the Family Violence Law Center spoke about the issue of domestic violence and commercially sexually exploited children to a small gathering of members of Beats 13 X,Y,Z and 12Y. While we have always heard that domestic violence happens in all neighborhoods, those who attended where blown away when we heard that the Family Violence Law Center received 626 calls from Montclair alone between July 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009-- that's 45% of all of their calls for the entire City of Oakland! These statistics do not always show up in the OPD crime reports, although there are typically several reported instances of domestic violence in each of the Beat 13 areas every month. There were three points made to the group:

• Domestic violence isn't about anger, it's about physical and emotional power and control over an individual.
•  If you suspect domestic violence, show support to the victim by letting her (usually it's a woman) know that you have access to information about local resources. Recognize that it is up to the victim to make the call for help, but at least be there to listen, be non-judgemental and provide information about resources.
•  MISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Serving, and Supporting  Sexually Exploited Youth) seeks volunteers as mentors, public speakers, office helpers, and those with professional skills. For details, check out their website at www.misssey.org.

• Census Workers Now Going Door-to-Door: Starting this month, US Census workers are going door-to-door in the neighborhoods and mapping "Living Quarters" via GPS. This is supposed to make the actual count next year much easier. The Census Workers are easily identified-- they carry a hand-held GPS unit and   wear around their neck a white plastic ID card without photos but with the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census log, in red or blue. They also carry a black bag with "U.S. Census Bureau" in huge white letters on the side. They won't necessarily contact the homeowner or resident unless they have a question. Please be aware they may be checking to see if there are other "living" quarters in the back of the house. The local police have been notified, but if you are suspicious, please don't hesitate to ask for their ID and to call the police.
   

• Neighbor Reports Help Catch Recent Burglars:  This month there was an increase in burglaries in the Laurel and Allendale area.  We have asked Captain Orozco for increase patrols in this area and he asks neighbors to keep an eye out and to continue to report suspicious activities.  Descriptions of individuals and cars have been critical in recent arrests.  This is a chart that helps improve eyewitness descriptions.

•  District Problem Solving Officers:  Have a chronic issue that involves criminal activity?  Let your beat's PSO know:

• 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: Anthony Burns (temp) ABurns@oaklandnet.com
• North Hills 13y: Maureen Vergara MVergara@oaklandnet.com
• Allendale 24y: Richard McNeely RMcNeely@oaklandnet.com

• Crime Stats Continue to Be Below Last Year: While the tracking stats can be misleading  and may not reflect all unfiled reports, this week's  report shows citywide crime is still down about 22% in the year to date comparison with last year.  As of this week homicides are down 30%, there were 28 murders this year compared to 40 at this time; auto theft is down 31%, burglary 13%, and robbery is down 25%.  We owe the trend to the work of our peace officers and their partnership with growing numbers of  neighborhood safety groups.
   
• Truancy Hotline - 879-8172:  This hotline runs in 7 languages by the school district and helps the schools and police target chronic truants.  They will not respond immediately.  But if you know there is a location where truants usually gather, a home, store, park, etc.  Give them the location, names if known, and times they gather.  This helps the police and school officials plan sweeps and visits to families.
   
• The Measure Y website and e-newsletter contain a wealth of practical information and an area list of services and programs, www.MeasureY.org.
• Daily Crime Reports Posted On-line:  One of the 200 plus daily emails I read each day are the cumulative statistics of crime reports. The police are now posting them online.  Basically they track what we call "Part 1 Crimes," which are collected nationally by the Department of Justice.
• 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.
   
• Lists of phone numbers for Area and Problem Solving Officers/Beats.
   
• For a list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils in District 4.
• To organize a Neighborhood Watch Group on your street call 238-3091.
• 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. 
• Make anonymous calls for drug activity to 238-DRUG.

• Community Reading Events This Week at Glenview Elementary School: La Cresta at Hampel off of Park Blvd., will host their annual Spring Scholastic Book Fair starting next Wednesday, April 22nd and running through next Friday, April 24th. This is an important fundraiser for their library and a great time to buy books for your child's summer reading. Book Fair Hours: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm each night. Glenview has made the week full of fun special events:
   
  • Family Reading Night, Wednesday, April 22, 5:30-7 pm: Free dinner, Author Rachel Rodriguez kid-friendly presentation of her book Through Georgia's Eyes about Georgia O'Keefe's life and art, raffle, free books for each child.  Ms. Rodriguez's books will be available for purchase and signing. Wear your pajamas, come with an adult.
  • Author Night, Thursday, April 23, 6:30 pm: Best-selling, local Author/Graphic Novelist Scott Morse will demonstrate the fantastic cartooning style of his popular series, The Magic Pickle.  All are welcome - kids come with an adult. Mr. Morse's books will be available for purchase (most are paperback $5-$10) and signing.
  • Breakfast at the Book Fair, Friday, April 24, 8:30 am: Bagels, books and coffee!  What better combination to wake up to!  Breakfast is offered free of charge, so start your morning with a delicious cup of coffee, a bagel and cream cheese, and browse our book fair.
  • Family Games Night, 6-8:30 pm: Bring your favorite game and something to share to drink.   Everyone has a great time, and it is the last night to shop at the Book Fair. 
     
• Lloyd's BBQ-Camp in the City Benefits Oakland Feather River Campz (OFRC), Saturday, August 25, Noon -2:30 pm, Mosswood Recreation Center: You don't have to wait until summer to chow down on some of Lloyd's Famous BBQ'd ribs or chicken because. The Second Annual Bar-B-Que Youth Camp Fundraiser is right around the corner!!  (Vegetarian options also provided!).OFRC commits to keeping camper fees low and since they only cover 75% of our budget we need your help to serve the youth!   Just by buying a ticket (or several!!) you are making a difference.  Once you do, wander on over to Mosswood Park on April 25th.  You will be supporting our Scholarship Fund and the Oakland Youth who will be able to come to camp because of your generous spirit! Adults: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; Kids ages 4-12:$10.Buy tickets by calling 336-2267 or online:www.FeatherRiverCamp.com.  Once you are on the Camp website, go to the EVENTS page, click on Pay Pal to purchase your tickets.  Pay Pal will notify us of your purchase and your tickets will be waiting at the door for you.
  
   

A Cistern for Sequoia Campaign:

• Compassionate Volunteers Wanted to Counsel Sexually Exploited Minors: MISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually Exploited Youth) is offering a 60-Hour CSEC Crisis Counselor Training at the Alameda County Family Justice Center, 470 27th Street. Once certified, volunteers will be equipped to respond to commercially sexually exploited children in crisis who are referred to MISSSEY.  The training will be held between May 29th and June 28th 2009. The entire training will be sixty (60) hours and include evening and weekend sessions. The continued commitment includes twelve hours of training within one year after certification and a monthly 8-hour on-call shift.Training limited to 20 volunteers.  For an application and more information please send an e-mail to volunteer@misssey.org with "Crisis Counselor" in the subject line or call 510-267-8840 and ask for Nisha.
   

• Sequoia Dad's Club Annual Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, May 3, 9 am -Noon: Bring family, friends and neighbors for a complete breakfast and plenty of conversation! Proceeds support Sequoia students and school activities. Children, $3, Adults $5, kindergarten and under FREE.  For additional information, contact Scott Wikstrom at 531-4245.

• Bret Harte Expo, Saturday, May 9, 10 am-2pm, 3700 Coolidge Avenue in the Laurel: Neighbors and friends are invited to an open house at Bret Harte Middle School--music, food and games.

Oakland Youth Orchestra Auditions, Tuesday, May 5,Wednesday, May 6 and  Saturday, May 9:

• Applications Now Available for Free Youth Leadership Forum for Disabled Students in Sacramento, July 26-30: California high school juniors and seniors who have disabilities will have the opportunity to live on a college campus  and join more than 900 alumni from across the state that have been a part of this unique five-day program created specifically for young leaders with disabilities.For details and to download the application, go to www.youthleadership.kintera.org .

• Oakland Feather River Camp Recruiting Teens for Teen-in-Job-Training, June 29-July 20, 2009:  The 2009 Teen-in-Job-Training (TJT) Program is a dynamic leadership and job-in-nature-training program for youth from 15 to 17 years old. It will be held at Oakland Feather River Camp, located in the Plumas National Forest near Quincy, California, approximately 200 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area. Teens will receive a $400 monetary stipend for their work. For an application, call 336-2267 or email Feather River Camp.
   

• Help Celebrate the MacArthur Metro's 20th Anniversary, Saturday, April 25, 6-8 pm, Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, 2735 MacArthur Boulevard (@ Coolidge): Meet neighbors from the community and Metro volunteers. Enjoy light finger food and beverages donated by neighborhood merchants. See 20 years of MacArthur Metro print newspapers. Purchase autographed books by Metro authors, partial proceeds to the Metro. Buy a newly-designed 20th Anniversary t-shirt. Suggested donation: $5. Please also bring a canned good or non-perishable food item for COPE, the Community Organized Pantry for Emergencies (the Fruitvale Presbyterian church emergency good distribution program).  f you plan to attend, RSVP by April 17 to macmetro20@prodigy.net: or leave a message at the MacArthur Metro voicemail at  287-2655.

• Piedmont Avenue's 4th Annual Tulip & Art Festival,with Spring on the Plaza, Saturday, April 25, 11 am-3 pm: Avenue Merchants hosting  local Artists all month long. Take a stroll through the Tulips at Mountain View Cemetery. Spring on the Plaza offers music, dance, fun, food, artisans and merchants at Key route plaza - 41st and Piedmont.
  
   

• Firefighters Random Acts' 8th Annual Awards and Dinner Fund Raiser, Saturday, April 25, Greek Orthodox Cathedral,4700 Lincoln Ave.: This year's charitable benefit will honor Oakland Children's Hospital Oncology 5-South Unit, Citizen Hero Andy Pumphrey, and the Albuquerque Firefighters Random Acts program that they started after being inspired by the Oakland model that has been duplicated in other fire departments across the country.  The program will include many other special presentations and recognition. Cocktails and silent auction runs from 5-6:30, Presentations start at 6:30 and Dinner starts at 7. Tickets are $75 per person. For Tickets & Information Contact the Random Acts Office at 465-8422.

• Rainwater Harvesting Workshop Series This Month:  Laura Wildheart Gardens, EcoHeart Landscapes and Water Assets presents...Harvesting Water: Rainwater Catchment, Rain Gardens, Workshop Series! Hands on experience in the creation of site-specific designs to optimize water use for your landscape.
  • The principles of successful rainwater harvesting
  • Rainwater basics-catchment surfaces, calculations, storage and use.
     
  • Install a 200 gallon water barrel to irrigate fruit trees.
  • How to dig a swale to catch and infiltrate rainwater
  • The principles of successful rainwater harvesting
     
  • Rainwater basics-catchment surfaces, calculations, storage and use.
  • Harvest rainwater, pipe it to a diversion swale, and to a rain garden of bamboo
  • How to welcome rainwater into your landscape
  • Dig swales to infiltrate water

• The Miracle of the Negro Spiritual, Sunday, April 26, 2 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway: An Afternoon of Lecture and Song featuring Professor Lucy Kinchen, Soloists, and The Lucy Kinchen Chorale. Lucy Kinchen is a well known expert on, and superb musician/director of, Negro Spirituals-she also teaches Voice at Laney College. The program is free.

• 2009 Destination Oakland Photography Competition Now Open for Entries: Photographers are invited to enter the 2009 Destination Oakland Photography Competition to share their best images of Oakland's many views. A total of $3,000 in prize money will be distributed, including a Grand Prize of $1,000. In addition, photographers will receive payments if their photos are used by Oakland organizations or Oakland-based commercial businesses, such as Oakland hotels, who have requested use to promote travel to Oakland through the OCVB. All proceeds paid to the OCVB for the use of the photos will be split between the OCVB and photographers on a 50/50 basis.The photographers retain rights for other uses.  Entry is free. For details, email destinationoakland@yahoo.com.

• Free Screening of The Garden, Thursday, April 30, 5:45 pm, Grand Lake Theater: The Garden is the Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature. "From the ashes of the L.A. Riots arose a lush, 14-acre community garden, the largest of its kind in the United States.  Now bulldozers threaten its future. If everyone told you to give up, would you?"Screening followed by a panel discussion with the Garden Farm leaders, Rufina Juarez and Tezozomac, sponsored by the Public Health Institute. For details, contact Andrea Binger.
  
   

• Native Californians Bless Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve and The Peralta Hacienda's New Exhibit--"Becoming California, Becoming America", Saturday, May 9, 9 am: Ohlone elder Marvin Marine, along with Gilbert Ramirez and Paul Mondragon, will lead a blessing of a trail that runs through Leona Canyon Regional Open Space reserve.  Michael Chernofsky will lead a walk up to the trail. Later that day, they will bless the opening of the Peralta Hacienda's new exhibit, "Becoming California, Becoming America". From noon until 3 pm, Marvin will be at the Hacienda to teach California Indian dances, alternating with members of the Calicanto Singers teaching dances of Oakland's early Spanish settlers. Peralta Hacienda's staff will offer traditional children's games, crafts, cooking demonstrations and more from Oakland's past. No charge or reservations for the walk or dance, Reservations are needed to view Peralta's new exhibit at a charge of $1. Reserve your tickets by calling 532-9142.

Book Signing at Laurel Books Store, Thursday, May 21, 7 pm, 4100 MacArthur Blvd.:

• Walk to End Poverty & Violence, Saturday, May 30, 9 am, Lake Merritt Bandstand: Stop by for the Community Fair at 10 am. For details, contact City of Oakland Community Action Partnership at 238-2362 or download forms from the web at www.oaklandCAP.org.

• Garden with the Friends of  Sausal Creek--Harvest seeds of native plants, help propagate seeds at the native plant nursery, work to remove invasives throughout the Sausal Creek Watershed or attend their bimonthly educational workshops. There's something happening several days a week and on most weekends, in Dimond Canyon, Joaquin Miller Park and Beaconsfield Canyon. Check out their monthly calendar of events at the FOSC website.
   

• Free Programs for Toddlers and Children at the Dimond Library:

• Toddler Time, Wednesday mornings, 10:15 am, songs, books and movement for ages 0-2
• Preschool Storytime: Wednesday mornings, 11 am, stories, songs and finger plays for children ages 3-5.
• Family Storytime: every Tuesday evening, 7 pm, stories, songs and finger plays for ages 0-6
• Teen Time: every Thursday, 3:30-4:30 pm, games, music, food and crafts for teens 12 and up.
•  1-on-1 Basic Computer Training,  Thursdays, 11-Noon, Fridays, 4-5 pm: Do computers freak you out? Are you confused about using email, sending attachments or submitting online job applications? For more information call 482-7844. 

 
• Poets in the Library Celebrates National Poetry Month, Saturday, April 25, 2-4:30 pm, Oakland Main branch.  This event upholds a tradition that began with Ina Coolbrith, who was both the first Director of the Oakland Public Library and the first Poet Laureate of the State of California. Andrew Demcak (Zero Summer), Nina Lindsay (Today's Special Dish), Steve Lavoie (Dawn Through a Rear View Mirror), Teya Schaffer (A Ritual of Drowning), and Alan Bern (Waterwalking in Berkeley) will be on hand to share their verse. All of these accomplished poets work at the Oakland Public Library, with the exception of Bern (who formerly worked for the Oakland Public Library and is now employed at the Berkeley Public Library). The Oakland Library has been a source of encouragement to many writers, including Jack London, Joaquin Miller, and Bret Harte, who were close friends of Ms. Coolbrith. For information call the library at (510) 238-3136, or visit the Oakland Public Library's Website at www.oaklandlibrary.org.

• Laurel Books Celebrates Children's Book Week, May 10-16: Meet Elizabeth Partridge, Christina Meldrum, Lea Lyon and Debra Sartell. Children's authors will be featured at 50 different book stores throughout Northern California under the sponsorship of the No. CA. Children's Booksellers' Association. Note that the store hosts a story time for young children every Wednesday at 3:30 pm. Laurel Books is located at 4100 MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel.