• Joaquin Miller Elementary School Annual Yard Sale, Saturday, May 2, 8 am- 2 pm, 5525 Ascot Drive:  Donations are tax deductible, proceeds benefit the school.
   
• Skyline's Farnsworth Theater (TLC) Spring Cleaning, Saturday, May 2, 9 am- 1 pm:  Thanks to parents and alumni that include Tom Hanks, Skyline has one of the best high school theaters in the East Bay. Twice a year, volunteers sweep, clean the carpet, inspect the seating, and do general tidying. Parents and neighbors welcome!
   
• Save the Bay Spring Weeding Project at MLK Shoreline Park, Saturday, May 2, 9 am-Noon.  Free event in partnership with the East Bay Regional Parks District. Volunteers will remove non-native, invasive species from the marshes, as well as perform other activities like shoreline clean-ups, watering and work in our on-site native plant nursery. To sign up or for future Save the Bay events, check out their website.
   
• Free Child Car Seat Inspection, Lake Merritt Boat House, Saturday, May 2, 10 am-2 pm, 568 Bellevue Ave, Off Grand Avenue: 90% of all car seats in Alameda County are not installed correctly. Make sure your child is safe. Have your car seat properly inspected for FREE. Free Child kits available. RSVP by email or call  251-9510.
   
• Seasonal Dishes Workshops Launch Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center:  Eight Saturday morning workshops, 10 am- 1:30 pm, will take you on a gastronomical tour of Asian cuisines focusing on tradition food cultures and seasonal local ingredients.  This Saturday starts the series with fresh Bamboo Shoots and Watercress Salad from Laos.  A sliding scale, $5-30 to cover materials, but no one is turned away. Contact April Kim at 637-0462 to register, akim@oacc.cc
   
• Free Comic Book Day at Many Library Branches, Satuday, May 2, 10 am to 3 pm:  Come in and get a free comic book from the Main Library Teen Zone, 125 14th St; Asian Branch, 388 9th St., Ste. 190; Cesar Chavez Branch, 3301 East 12th St., Ste. 271; Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave; Martin L. King Jr. Branch, 6833 International Blvd; Rockridge, 5366 College Ave.
  
   
• Free City Walking Tours Start This Saturday, May 2nd, 10 am:  Spring means the City's free walking tours begin, check here for the May through October schedule.  You have a choice of 8 tours; this Saturday's tour features Old Oakland.  Walk through what was once the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad! Formerly Oakland's bustling downtown district in the days of railroads and streetcars, this area's grand, brick, commercial Victorian buildings, now restored, continue to thrive as offices, galleries and eateries. Visit the historic Washington Inn, G.B. Ratto & Co. International Grocers, Swans Marketplace and the "Friends of the Library" bookstore.  Tour begins at 10 am in front of G.B. Ratto & Co., 821 Washington Street.

• Free  Bilingual (Spanish/English) Parent Support Group on Gang Awareness Workshop, Saturday, May 2, 10 am-2 pm, Fremont Federation-Mandela Campus, 4610 Foothill Blvd.: California Youth Outreach, in cooperation with  OUSD's Office of Alternative Education and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention sponsors this free workshop for parents concerned about their children getting involved with gangs. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited, so please register with Shirley Yee or call Henry Woods at  377-5121.
   

• Sequoia School Rummage Sale, Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3: Stop by for bargains on bikes, furniture, small appliances, books/CDs, jewelry, clothes, shoes and much more.  All profits from Sequoia's Rummage Sale support Sequoia Students and School Activities.
   

40th Annual California Wildflower Show, Saturday, May 2, 10 am -5 pm; Sunday, May 3, Noon to 5 pm at the Oakland Museum:

• Astronomy Day at Chabot Space & Science Center: Free with Admission. Activities include free material to learn about Astronomy, including information on joining clubs, online resources and experts on Astronomy to answer all your questions. Also enter to win a Meade ETX-80 telescope and enter to win the grand prize: a Meade 8-inch LX90 telescope.       

• BART Police Civilian Oversight Committee Holds First Public Meeting, Saturday, May 2, 1 pm, Joseph P.  Bort Metro Center: This is an opportunity for the public to learn about civilian oversight models as part of the process to determine the best structure for BART. Panelists from established police citizen oversight offices and the ACLU will talk about the importance of civilian oversight and explain how different models function.  
  • City and County of San Francisco Police Commission and Office of Citizens' Complaints
  • City of Richmond's Confidential Investigative and Appeals Office
  • City of Oakland Citizen's Review Board
  • City of Sacramento Office of Public Safety Accountability
  • City of San Jose Office of Independent Police Auditor Northern California ACLU

The public will also be invited to provide input.  This is the first in a series of public meetings on civilian oversight.  For details go to the BART website.

• Oakland East Bay Symphony's FREE Forum on Race Relations in Art, Saturday, May 2, 2-4 pm, Downtown Oakland Senior Center, 200 Grand Ave:  The forum will focus on two musical works featured in the 2008/09 season of OEBS, Show Boat, the first racially integrated musical on Broadway (1927) and Otello, Verdi's thrilling opera of passion, treachery and deceit, first performed in 1887 and based on William Shakespeare's play, Othello. The forum explores the race relations themes of both of these great works with film clips and a panel of music, social and legal experts. Among other topics discussed, the forum will tie the historical issue of the "Loving Law" into the contemporary issue of the recent ban on same sex marriages. Hear Michael Morgan, OEBS Music Director; Rachel Moran, UC Irvine Law Professor; Paul von Blum, UCLA, senior lecturer in African American studies and expert on Paul Robeson, renowned 20th century African American actor, singer and speaker, and Reginald Daniel, UC Santa Barbara professor of racial and ethnic sociology. Call 510-444-0801 or visit www.oebs.org for details.

• Redwood Heights Community Picnic, Saturday, May 2, 4-6 pm, Redwood Heights Recreation Center: Live music, fabulous foor. $5 per person. Seniors free compliments of the Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association. All proceeds support the Dad's Club at Redwood Heights Elementary School. Come meet your neighbors!
   
• Sequoia Dad's Club Annual Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, May 3, 9 am -Noon:  I love this Dimond tradition and may sneak by before office hours. 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.
  
   
• 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.
   
• California Habitats Tour for Children, Sunday, May 3, 12:30-2 pm:: Visit the UC Botanical Garden's outstanding collection of California native plants to learn how they adapted to specific areas within the Golden State. Free with Garden Admission. Space is limited; registration required.
   
• WCRC Annual El Dia de Las Madres Celebración de La Vida/ Mother's Day Celebration of Life for Women Living with Cancer in Alameda County, Sunday, May 3, 2:30 - 5:30 pm, Oakland Senior Center (Veteran's Memorial Building Ballroom): Cancer survivor activists and community health advocates at the Women's Cancer Resource Center who working hard to eliminate health disparities in our communities celebrate this memorable occasion with fun, food and fellowship. For details, call Joanna Cuevas Ingram, Latina Program Coordinator, Women's Cancer Resource Center, at 697-7954.
   
• 2009 Grizzly Peak Century Bike Ride, Sunday, May 3-- Skyline Blvd.  Bicycle riders come from all over to participate--so you may want to avoid Skyline Blvd if you aren't into cheering on bicyclists. OPD Problem Solving Officers will be on hand. This is not a race, but a bicycle ride sponsored by Grizzly Peak Cyclists with three routes.  For details, go to
   

• Farewell to old Fire Station #18 on Monday, May 4, 11 am:  After 85 years of service to the Oakland community, Fire Station 18, located at 1700 50th Avenue will be recognized for its historical role in the Melrose district. Last year I worked to make the replacement of this station a priority for redevelopment funds because it was too small to hold a modern fire engine and the old engine was dying.  I'll be on hand with Interim Fire Chief Gerald Simon, Swinerton Builders and Kawasaki Architects for a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Station 18. Questions will be fielded immediately following the ceremony. The new station will be constructed on an expanded parcel of land at the 50th Avenue location.  This will be a final opportunity to view old Station #18 before demolition. (Above) Architect's drawing of the New Station 18.

• Oakmore Homes Association Hosts League of Women Voters' Discussion on the May 19 Ballot, Tuesday, May 5, 7 pm, Wells & Bennett Realty, corner of Leimert Blvd. and Oakmore Rd.: Hear the Pros and Cons on the upcoming ballot. The public is invited.
   

• Oakland Youth Orchestra Auditions, Tuesday, May 5, Wednesday, May 6 and Saturday, May 9: Whether you have never auditioned or previously auditioned, if you would like the opportunity to try for a position with the Oakland Youth Orchestra, this is the time to do it. We will be hearing candidates on the late afternoons and evenings of Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 6 and on the morning of Saturday, May 9. Full details, applications and musical excerpts can be found at www.oyo.org.

EBBC Bike Safety--Street Skills Workshop, Tuesday, May 5:

• Eat Out & Support Bret Harte Middle School, Tuesday, May 5-Thursday, May 7: Eat at Red Boy Pizza at Lincoln Square, 4100 Redwood Road, present a flyer and 15% of the tab (minus alcohol), goes to Bret Harte Middle School. Sponsored by the PTA. A fun way to raise a little 'dough' for your local public school. Contact Charles Seliger for details at 703-9004.

• 1st Annual Latino/a Student Conference at Merritt College, Thursday, May 7, 9 am-3 pm, Newton-Seale Student Lounge, Student Center,  Bldg. R, Merritt College,2500 Campus Dr:. "Demystifying the Myths" is a free program for high school and older students thinking about going to college but worried about the perceived barriers.
   
  • Continental breakfast including Pan dulce and lunch
  •  Latino student panel will discuss their experience at Merritt.
  • Meet Merritt College professors in mini lecture presentations.
  • Workshops on how to apply, register for classes and Financial Aid.
  •  Network with Merritt College faculty and staff.

Call 436-2419,  by cellular at (661) 754-1699, or email Rona Young if you plan to attend!
 

 

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 staff person 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: 

Revised Council Schedule for Budget Approval

• Presentation of the Mayor's Proposed Budget, May 5, 4 pm
• Workshop on 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.

<<

• 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.

• Four Ballot Measure Go To Oakland Voters in An All Mail Vote: 

• A proposal to increase Medical Marijuana Club business tax rates was the last item approved for the ballot. The measure raises the taxes comparable to alcohol outlets.
• The Real Estate Transfer Tax proposal for a technical fix to make sure corporations pay the same real estate transfer tax as individuals was also approved for the ballot.
• A Hotel Tax to provide a 3% increase to fund the Oakland Museum, Zoo Chabot Science Center, art and cultural festivals, and Convention Services will provide $3 million a year to these vital cultural and educational institutions and help market our tourist industry.
• A compromise Kids First measure will repeal Measure OO but still provide a small increase for youth programs, saves $3 million this year and up to $17 million in future years.

If all four of the ballot measures pass the City will save $6-7 million, a small but significant part of the $80 plus million deficit.
 

• <<Neighborhood youth remembers Marlon Mayorga's engagement with kids in the area.

Champion Tragedy Unites Neighborhood:  My district rarely has a random murder; this week on the border with Ignacio's district the shooting of Marlon Mayorga walking near Champion and Harold along the 580 freeway was an exception.  Tuesday, around 10:35 pm Mayorga was walking his German Shepherd towards his home. It is hoped that someone exiting the freeway there may have seen something that will help us understand what happened. Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $10,000 in reward money in each killing for information leading to the arrest of  the suspect. Anyone with information can call police at 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at 777-8572 or  777-3211. 

On Wednesday, neighbors gathered by the Neighborhood Alert leaders organized a vigil.  I was struck by the love that neighbors offered, calling the UCSF social worker a happy and positive influence on the neighborhood who enjoyed kids and dancing.  "We must turn this into something positive, we know that's what Marlon would want."  "We need to reach out to our youth and stop the violence."  "We need to let the shooter know that he has hurt a family with a 3 year old child, that he would have done anything he could to help him."
 

• Beaconsfield Canyon Restoration Featured in The Monthly: Check out the link this month's The Monthly for a wonderful salute to the Beaconsfield Canyon neighbors and the Friends of Sausal Creek. They work in the canyon the last Saturday of the month. For details, contact Richard Kauffman.

• Laurel Farmer's Market Every Saturday,10 am-2 pm, 4173 MacArthur Blvd: The Oakland Community Farmers' Market is held in the Laurel District on Saturdays YEAR ROUND from 10am-2pm. The market is at 4173 Macarthur Blvd (near Maybelle St) in the parking lot of the Laurel Office Center/Trattoria Laurellinos. Stop by to check out the new vendors in the coming weeks!
  • Khaled of Bee Healthy Honey
  • Christopher of Kai Fresh Farms
  • Eric of Schletewitz Farms
  • small farmers Ana and Eleazar Juarez of Rio de Parras Organic Farms!

• Dimond Clean Merchant Program: Keep Oakland Beautiful pilot CLEAN MERCHANT in Dimond recognizes merchants who consistently
  keep their property clean and litter-free.  For information about program benefits, contact  Stan Dodson.  Residents are encouraged to patronize and acknowledge merchants who display the CLEAN MERCHANT decal in their window.  Request the CLEAN MERCHANT brochure at a participating location to read about "The Dimond in Action".
  
   

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

• Family Yard Sale to Benefit Butters Canyon, Sunday, May 17, from 10- 3 pm: The Yard Sale is back by popular demand after last year's successful event.  Do a little Spring Cleaning to find things you no longer need and put them to good use in support of this local treasure.  Proceeds will go to help preserve Butters Canyon for all of us who enjoy this unique space and for those who will follow in our footsteps and bike tire tracks.The primary site will be along Robinson Dr. close to the intersection with Butters Dr. For details, email butterslandtrust@aol.com

• Vote for Montclair's 2009-2010 Pet Mayor: This annual event raises funds for the Montclair Veterinary Hospital Pet & Wildlife Fund. 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.

• 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.
   

• 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.
  
  For a list of 25 ways to Keep Oakland Green....
   

• Car Thefts Up:  While crime is still down about 20 percent from last year and car thefts are down over 30% citywide, there has been a slight upswing in recent weeks.  I've noticed increased  reports above Hwy 13.  Lock your car and park in you garage or close to the house (within the area of a motion detector light if possible.) 

• 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

• 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.

•  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: John Haney Jhaney@oakland.net
• Allendale 24y: Richard McNeely RMcNeely@oaklandnet.com

• Truancy Hotline - 879-8172: This number should be used for locations where truancy is a chronic issue or for locations where you suspect school aged children are not being allowed to attend school. 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.
   
• 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  or report online from the City's website. 
• Make anonymous calls for drug activity to 238-DRUG.

• Port of Oakland Summer Internship Program for High School & College Students, Deadline is Friday, May 8: This is a 9-week paid internship for 15-20 interns, selected on a competitive basis.Duties are varied and include clerical, and may include some computer skills. Internships start June 22 and end August 24 For details, contact 627-1317.

• On-line Help for Parents as Students Prepare for the California Standards Test: Here's a great resource for parents to help their school-aged kids prepare for the upcoming California Standards Test (CST) which began April 20 and ends May 15.

• Hershey Track & Field Games for Oakland's Youth, Saturday, May 9th, Laney College: Participants can enter two track and one field event or two field and one track event,up to and including the State/Provincial Final.Please check the event that you wish to participate in at this meet.The relay counts as a run event. To participate, call for entry form at 238-3897 and return it by May 1,2009. Forms can also be turned in to your Coach or Recreation Leader at any school site or OPR Recreation Center. Register for events at. For more information, contact the OPR City-Wide Sports unit at 238-3897.  

• Bret Harte Expo, Saturday, May 9, 10 am-2pm, 3700 Coolidge Avenue in the Laurel: Book Fair · Open House · Academic Contest · Musical Presentation · BBQ and Potluck · Bake Sale · Art Shows · Games · Craft booths · Peace Wall. The community, Bret Harte families (present, past, and future), and 4th grade parents are especially welcome!

• Community Input Meetings to Help Plan Future of Oakland Fund for Children & Youth, May 9 and May 16:  The Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) was created in 1996 and allocates 2.5%, roughly $10 million, of the city's general funds to services for youth between the ages of 0-20.  OFCY supports early childhood development, after school programs, tutoring, arts, sports, mentoring, employment, leadership, health and other programs designed to help Oakland youth succeed in school, prepare for the world of college and work and contribute to the community. OFCY seeks public input on priorities for the next 4 years of Kids' First grants. Please try to attend one of the two community meetings where OFCY hopes to gain valuable input from Oakland residents, both youth and adults, regarding the needs of youth in Oakland. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to 986-0990 x209 or ofcy@gibsonandassociates.com.
  • Saturday, May 9, 11:30-3 pm, East Oakland Youth Development Center, 8200 International Blvd.,
  • Saturday, May 16, 11:30-3 pm, Howard Community Center at St. Patrick's Church, 1630 10th St.
     

Stagebridge 30th Anniversary Showcase, May 7-10

• 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.  For information and to book a tour, contact Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park at 532-9142.  
   
• Oakland Unwrapped's 2009 Indies Awards Celebrates Local Artists and Businesses, Friday, May 15, 5:30-8:30 pm at The Crucible, 1260 7th Street: Nominate your favorite local businesses and artists who are giving back to the community by March 25. Then celebrate the winners at a great night's entertainment on Friday, May 15. Tickets purchased before April 1 are $15 per person, 2 for $25, after April 1, tickets are $20 per person. Details at the Oakland Unwrapped website.
   
• Oakland Greek Festival, May 15-17, Greek Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue: Enjoy the REAL GREEK EXPERIENCE - three days of Greece by the Bay! Fabulous Greek food, drink, music and dance and much, much more.

• Public Meetings on Restoration Work in the Redwood Regional Park Serpentine Prairie,  Richard C. Trudeau Center,11500 Skyline Boulevard,Redwood Regional Park: (>>Endangered Presidio Clarkia is found at this Redwood Park site) The East Bay Regional Park District has prepared a3-4 year  restoration plan for Redwood Regional Park Serpentine Prairie that will bring back the vitality and botanical diversity of the Serpentine Prairie, including the endangered Presidio clarkia, while continuing to provide for the enjoyment of park users.  It will include removal of trees not endemic to prairie habitat, closing severely impacted areas for recovery, removal of informal trails and creation of a new Serpentine Prairie loop trail and interpretive overlook, installation of informational signage, and may include  limited future prescribed burns and sheep grazing as part of a long-term adaptive management program. You can view these documents on the Park District's website, www.ebparks.org
   
  • Monday, May 11, 6-8 pm-Open House & Presentation
  • Sunday, May 17, 2-4 pm-Interpretive Field Walk 
  • Saturday,June 13, 3-4 pm-Interpretive Field Walk

Sudden Oak Death (SOD) Blitz in Joaquin Miller Park and other East Bay Parks, Saturday, May 16, 10 am-Noon: Bay Laurel trees are hosts to Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a serious exotic disease, that threatens the survival of tanoak and several oak species in California. .Right--an infected Bay laurel leaf.)  SOD-blitzes inform and educate the community about Sudden Oak Death, get locals involved in detecting the disease, and produce detailed local maps of disease distribution. If you would like to participate, contact Sue Rosenthal and plan to meet  Saturday, May 16, 10 am-Noon at Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Wildcat Canyon Road at S. Park Drive, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley.
 

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

• Walk to End Poverty & Violence, Saturday, May 30, 8 am, Lake Merritt Bandstand:.Meet at the Lake Merritt Bandstand to register for the walk between 8 and 9 am. First 400 to bring a non-perishable food donation for the Alameda County Community Food Bank who register to walk will receive a free t-shirt.  Walk around the lake (9-10am), enjoy water and a snack and visit the Community Fair (10 am-2pm) with local agencies offering help and advice to those in need. For details, contact City of Oakland Community Action Partnership at 238-2362 or download forms from the web at Nomination forms for Community Action Leadership, Community Service and Youth Service Awards to be awarded during the annual Walk to End Poverty on Saturday, May 30, 2009.  are available 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.

• 140th Anniversary of the Golden Spike Explored at Main Library, Sunday, May 10, 2-4:30 pm: Celebrate the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, America's most ambitious and significant 19th-century infrastructure project. Join local historian Dennis Evanosky, Oakland History Room librarian Kathleen DiGiovanni, Chinese-American historian Ernest Chann, and Camron-Stanford House historian Frances Rhodes, as the library celebrates the 140th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869. The FREE event includes talks at the Oakland Main Library, 125 14th Street, West Auditorium, followed by a reception at the Camron-Stanford House, 1418 Lakeside Drive, just across the street from the library. (Above: Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, May 10, 1868.)
  
  Laurel Books Celebrates Children's Book Week, May 10-16: Meet Elizabeth Partridge, Christina Meldrum, Lea Lyon and Debra Sartell. 52 children's authors will be featured at 12 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.
   
• Oakland History Room Presents Filipinos in the East Bay Thursday, May 14, from 6:30 to 7:45 pm, in the West Auditorium at the Main Library, 125 14th Street: East Bay chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society presents an illustrated lecture featuring Evangeline Canonizado Buell, Evelyn Luluquisen, and Eleanor Luis, authors of Filipinos in the East Bay. For more information, please contact the Oakland History Room at 238-3222, or see the Oakland Public Library's Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org.

• Lakeview Branch Library Commemorates 60th Anniversary, Saturday, May 16, 11 am-3pm: Lakeview Branch will celebrate six decades at its 550 El Embarcadero home, on Lake Merritt, with a huge party. All are welcome to listen to local dignitaries speak, hear original literary works, see a play, knit, play chess, and dance to funky music!