• A proposed Alternative to Mayor's Budget from Council Members Brunner, Delafuente, Kernighan and myself is posted on the Council Agenda for next Tuesday.  The changing economic situation, state legislative actions, federal funding and electoral outcomes will necessitate changes in this budget over the next several months; specifically:
   
   1)  This budget anticipates the passage of 4 City Measures C, D, G & H, which will provide between $6-7 to the City and city institutions.  The all mail ballot election deadline is July 21st.  We should know soon after that date whether additional budget reductions must be made.
   
  2)  The State of California is proposing to "borrow" 8 percent of our property tax revenues or $11.8 million.  Additionally, the Governor has called for taking 75% of the city gas tax revenues, about $6 million, which the city uses for street and traffic maintenance.  The State is anticipated to run out our money July, we should know by then how much the state plans to take from local governments.
   
  3)  The Mayor's budget funds the Police Department at current levels only through October.  If federal funds are not granted for 140 officers in September, the City faces difficult decisions over policing levels.
   
  4)  County property tax values have decreased for the first time in their recorded history.  If the trend of lower reassessments continues into next year, and if sales and real estate taxes continue to decline, we will have to make quarterly or mid -year adjustments.

Summary of Major Differences with the Mayor's Budget:

• We will not increase the debt in our internal funds -- basically spending down our reserves by $22.5 million.
• We will not borrow through bonds another $6 million; we found this very costly and too similar to the road the state has gone down for last four years.
• Instead, we have proposed a mix of cuts and revenue increases of $31 million.
• We restore the Rangers, CORE position, and 12 of the nearly one hundred park/tree maintenance staff cut this year (4 tree, 8 park maintenance.)  The Parks are particularly had hit, this will help but not make up for the huge deficit in the Landscape & Lighting District.
• All branch libraries will stay open 5 days instead of 2-3 days for some branches; the main library remains open 7 days a week.(See below).
• We made some additional cuts across remaining departments including the Mayor, Council, City Attorney, and Auditor's Offices.  The final amount for voluntary pay cut by elected officials has not been set until negotiations are settled.
• Mayor and Council PayGo are suspended for this budget:  This is $1.5 million in capital funds that we can designate for capital projects.  Most Council members have some reserves; in my case it is money set aside for matching grants.  This means we will have very little money to pay for additional lights, signs, or planning designs to apply for grants.
• Over 100 city cars will be eliminated.
• Parking fines will generally be increased, except for the basic Parking Meter fine.  Earlier this year we passed on the $10/ticket surchage required by the Perata bill to finance court house buildings; raising the tickets to $45.  The Mayor's proposal would have increased it to $55. However, to balance this we did agree to extend parking meters to 8 pm.
• The most difficult income increase is a proposal to put a 10% surcharge on tickets at the Coliseum and Arena to pay for the cost of capital improvements.  The City pays about $12 million each year because of the Raiders deal.  This fee would bring the City about $9 million a year.  We are talking to our County partners about this.
   

• Last week I held a meeting of the Library Coalition to consider Alternatives to the Mayor's Proposal to Cut 6 Libraries from 6 to 2 or 3 Days:  Over 60 advocates and staff members from the City's 17 sites attended.  The last time we met was 6 years ago when Mayor Brown and City Administrator Robert Bobb proposed to close a third of the branches.  At that time the Library Coalition agreed to have all branches open less days --five -- rather than close any branch. Later that year we organized to pass Measure Q and expanded library days to 6 days a week and increasing the materials budget by nearly four fold.  Many people came from Melrose and the other libraries slated for reductions --Lakeview, Temescal, Elmhurst, Golden Gate and Martin Luther King, Jr. After laying out some the of the options we agreed to propose:
  • All Branches stay open 5 days a week, Tu-Sat or Mon-Friday. (Cost: $380,000).
  • That 10 percent of the materials budget be cut to help pay for this, $190,000, and that a united "Friends Campaign" be organized to try to make up for this.
  • The remainder would come from cutting the General Funds from the Literacy Program  ($150K), leaving the grant funding (about $240K) and pursuing joint opportunities to sponsor literacy programs with the Oakland Public School Adult Ed which is also facing cuts.
  • Because the City may face additional cuts we plan to stay organized; we will have a follow up meeting of Friends Organizations, organizing new groups for branches that do not have a Friends group like Melrose and coordinating Citywide activities to continue to organize and fundraise as the budget processes continue through the year.
  • See related story in #6, bring your own bags to Whole Foods to benefit library.
     
• Fire Department To Use Grants and other Options to Fill CORE Positions:  The Fire Department confirm this week that grant funds will be use to continue CORE (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) programs.  In addition, the Chief indicated he will expand the program by asking firehouse staffs from two of the least busy station to start providing CORE training as part of their duties.

• City Website Tracks Federal Stimulus Grants:  The City put up this week a website on the Federal Stimulus Grants; it includes a list of Oakland applications, links to federal sites, and will eventually have postings of  local opportunities.

• Mayor's Budget Proposes 319 Positions for Elimination; Counts on Passage of OO Compromise, COPS Funding from the Feds and other Revenue: The complete FY 2009-11 Proposed Policy Budget is available on the Mayor's web site and the City's home page. You can also find copies in the City Clerk's Office or at City libraries. 
  • The largest and most difficult issue in the FY2009-11 budget is the $83 million shortfall in the General Purpose Fund, although serious financial problems also exist in many other funds. Across all funds, a total of 319 positions are proposed for elimination (193 positions from the General Fund and the remainder from other funds). About 250 of these 319 positions are currently filled; this brings the number of city positions eliminated in the last four years to about 600 positions.
     
  • Anticipated Federal Funding to Avoid Police Layoffs ($23 million)  The City's current fiscal reality means that the only way to address the unprecedented budget deficit is to cut public safety costs, which now account for two-thirds of the available General Purpose Fund revenues, or get substantial outside funding.
     
    The City has applied for about $23 million in annual funding for three years from the federal government from the COPS grant, which is only available to forestall the firing of police officers or to hire new officers. If these grant funds do not materialize, the City would be forced to lay off 140 sworn police officers effective October 1, 2009 or find alternative cuts. Grant notification is expected by August or September.

 

• 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

Revised Council Schedule for Budget Approval

• First Reading of Ordinances, Tuesday, June 16, 6 pm, Council Chambers
• First or Second Reading of Ordinances, Tuesday, June 30, 6 pm, Council Chambers
• Possible additional meeting TBD
   

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

• Measure C:  A Hotel Tax to provide a 3% increase to fund the Oakland Museum, Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, and Convention Services will provide $3 million a year to these vital cultural and educational institutions and help stimulate and market our tourist industry.

• Measure D:  A compromise Kids First measure will repeal Measure OO but still provide a small increase for youth programs, saves $4 million this year and up to $17 million in future years.  >>Break dancing competition at Eastside Festival .

• Measure F:  A proposal to increase Medical Marijuana Club business tax rates was the last item approved for the ballot. The measure raised the taxes comparable to alcohol outlets.
   
• Measure H: The Real Estate Transfer Tax proposal for a technical fix to make sure corporations pay the same real estate transfer tax as individuals homeowners.

• As the co-author of the City's ordinance banning polystyrene foodware at fast food restaurants, and the effort to use reusable grocery bags at grocery stores, I especially support the City's educational campaign to inform the public about residential food scraps recycling, and distributing reusable cloth bags at our 10 Farmer's Markets throughout the City. I've been observing patrons at the Montclair Farmer's Market, and clearly more and more of you are bringing your own cloth bags to bring home the fresh produce and other foods at that Sunday market. If for some reason you don't have a supply of resuable bags, representatives from the City's Environmental Services Division will be on hand on Sunday, July 19 with bags available for purchase.Above, Council Member Nancy Nadel, myself and Raul Godinez, II, Director of Oakland's Public Works Agency, at the July 2007 Press Conference announcing the City's efforts to encourage shoppers eschew plastic grocery bags for reusable bags.

• Bring Your Own Bag to Whole Foods & Benefit the Libraries: The Friends of the Oakland Public Library has been selected as this month's Nickels for Non-Profits recipient at Whole Foods Market on Bay Street!  Now and until July 5, customers who bring in their own bags for purchases, have the option of either receiving a five cent credit (per bag) or donating the five cents to the Friends of the Oakland Public Library. The proceeds from this program will be used to purchase library books and other materials for the new East Oakland at 81st Avenue Branch Library.  

• Pack Your Own Trash When You Use Our Parks--due to the 50% cutback in staffing for park maintenance (see item #3 above), the City is asking anyone who uses our parks to be sure to take home any trash they may generate. A large number of parks will no longer have trash containers available, because the City no longer has sufficient staff to do the trash pick ups. So if you are planning a picnic, be sure to bring sufficient trash bags and take your trash home.
   

• Farmer Joe's in Dimond celebrates their 3rd Anniversary, Saturday, June 20, from 1-4 pm: Please join friends and neighbors for the festivities at Farmer Joe's, 3426 Fruitvale Avenue. >>Original opening 3 years ago at Farmer Joes.

• Community Meeting about Redwood Hill, Wednesday, June 24, Note New Time 6:30 pm, St. Lawrence O'Toole: Redwood Hill is a 16-unit low-and moderate-income development proposed by Habitat for Humanity for the corner of MacArthur and Calaveras. It was previously approved for a larger project, this is slightly smaller with individual units.  It will still be an home ownership project. They are currently seeking community approval for their design at a meeting to be held at St. Lawrence O'Toole 7 pm on the evening of June 24. For further information, contact Richard Cowan of my office.

• Montclair Library Reopens Monday, July 6: After receiving extensive mold abatement, the Montclair Branch Library will be back in operation starting Monday, July 6, when it will return to its regular schedule.  Library materials will be moved back to the branch in the coming weeks, and between 6,000-10,000 items will need to be re-shelved.  In addition, custodial and maintenance crews will be working to ensure that the library facility will be in tip-top condition when it reopens to the public next month.  For more information, contact Acting Branch Supervising Librarian Sally Bean, 238-3670.
   

• Help Improve Dimond Canyon/Camp Out in Dimond Park, Friday, June 26-Sunday, June 28: Volunteers for Outdoors-California, who transformed two trails in Joaquin Miller Park in one weekend two years ago, return to District 4 this June. This time, they will be removing invasive plants and improving trails along Dimond Canyon. At night, volunteers can camp out in Dimond Park, and enjoy gourmet food prepared by V-O-Cal's outstanding camping chefs. We're looking for 200 volunteers.  To sign up, go to www.v-o-cal.org  (Above) Planting natives on Earth Day in Dimond Park.

• Dimond's Clean Merchant Program: is sponsored by Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful and the Dimond Merchant Association. These businesses are working everyday to help keep Dimond clean. Residents are asked to  patronize these companies: Stable Core Pilates + Physical Therapy; Perpetuo Z Taylor, CPA;7-Eleven; Citibank; Paws &Claws Natural Pet Food Store; Dimond Kitchen; La Farine Bakery; Natural Home Cleaning Professionals; Dr. Aaron Thornton, ODCompanies and volunteers can participate in this program by contacting stankdodson@yahoo.com or call 710-5985.

• Bridgeview Trail Clean Up, Monday, June 30, 6-8 pm - Do you enjoy picking blackberries, walking your dog (on leash), taking a hike along Bridgeview Trail?  If so please help keep this trail looking good.  Join your neighbors and Friends of Sausal Creek (FOSC) to help clean-up non-natives, spread mulch and pick up litter during the Summer Evening Restoration Project. For details, contact Melissa Evans.
   

• Radar, Radar and More Radar!: Last week a car drove off the Cabot Rd into the canyon.  Every day we hear about accidents, please slow down!  In the past year we've had great success in training volunteers to use a radar gun as part of a District 4 pilot project. After our last radar training  Officer Dan Tirapelli, and he recommended that High Street be divided into two sections; one section from Foothill to Brookdale, and one section from Brookdale to MacArthur. So, if you regularly drive down High Street, watch your speed. You never know when the radar gun team will be on duty--monitoring speeding cars and sending the information to OPD, who then run the license plates via the DMV and send warning letters to the owners of the cars caught driving above the speed limit. If you have been radar-trained and would like to participate as a volunteer, contact Michael Johnson in our office. If you have not, he can also put you on our list for future trainings. 
   

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

Gordon Piper (Community Gardner and District 4 "in-law") Honored by OUSD:

•  In recent budget hearings Acting Chief Jordan Discussed His Proposed Cut of the Rangers:  Jordan believes problem solving officers can fill in the duties in the parks.  I and other Council Members argued that:  1) Rangers have special trail, wildlife, and other knowledge.  2) They cost half of what an police officer costs.  3) Large parks, open space, and creeks are not easily patroled by regular police.  Currently, two rangers remain because we have not trained an additional rangers in recent academies. We are meeting region by region to discuss how Problem Solving Officers can work with rangers to meet some of our needs.  Rangers were restored in the proposed budget.
   
  2) The Oakland Police Department is not closing the Ranger Station in Joaquin Miller.  Rangers and other officers will continue to use the station and have a citywide jurisdiction.  Some equipment, not currently used such as Ranger cars will be used by other officers. Under the consent decree, each ranger must report to a supervising sergeant and will be part of a team of Problem Solving Officers; they will be checking in and fulfill their administrative tasks at the Downtown or Eastmont stations. We are discussing with Deputy Chief Kozicki park coverage and scheduling.  There hours will be changes with the summer schedule. You can reach Deputy Chief Kozicki at dkozicki@oaklandnet.com

The ranger situation is very tough now that the numbers are so low and those of us who support rangers will have to advocate for new rangers in the next academy and funding in the worst budget in three decades.

 

• Graduation Pranks, Vandalism, and Parties:  In the next weeks high school graduates will be celebrating.  Unfortunately each year we see some dangerous traditions.  If you have graduating teenagers, please help us keep them safe:
  • Do not let them drink and drive.  It seems we have a serious accident every year.
  • It is a tradition to have parties in our parks often starting dangerous bonfires for their party. The kids are often from out of town including Piedmont, Moraga, etc.  Our parks are closed at dusk.  If you see large numbers of cars in any park lot or along Skyline, please call the police.
  • There has been a strange pattern of vandalism of cars:  In the past bats, pellet gusn and this year a bowl ball was used to knock off mirror or break car windows.  I don't understand the tradition, I can just tell you that as both a school board member and council member it happens around this time.  In past years we have caught juveniles and it was pretty expensive for their parents.

• Sign Up for National Night Out Now, Tuesday, August 4, 7-9pm:  
  Last year we had over 100 NNO Parties in our district!  Let's see if we can break that record.  It is a great way to meet you neighbors, have fun, and make your community safer.

• While City Crime is down by about 20 percent, home burglaries are up.  Take Time This Weekend to Do a Safety Audit of Your Home:  With summer many of us forget to secure windows and doors. With the recession crimes like burglaries appear to be on the rise across the nation. We continued to have a rash of quick smash and run burglaries.  Do not leave lap tops and expensive equipment visible from windows.  Check your doors, it is weak doors that are the target.   This is a useful checklist to consider.
   

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

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

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

• Skyline Seniors Earn Nearly $1 Million in College Scholarships:
  Community members presented almost a million dollars of scholarship money as nearly six dozen Skyline High seniors were honored at the school's 2009 Senior Scholarship Award Ceremony last week. In total, sixty-nine college-bound students earned a record $925,000 toward their post-secondary studies. Congratulations to our graduating scholars!

• Summer Family Nights at the Dimond Library, start Tuesday, June 16 at 7 pm: Bring the entire family to 3565 Fruitvale Ave for an evening of fun
   
  • June 16: Puppet Art Theater, "Tale of the Dragon's Tale"
  • June 23: Buki the Clown
  • June 30: Dance and Arts of India
  • July 7: The Bubble Lady
  • July 14: Magician Timothy James
  • July 2t: DRUMM (group drumming and African percussion)
  • July 28: Magic by Andrew
  • August 4: National Night Out (outside stories and sidewalk art fun)
  • August 11: Fratello Marionettes
    
     
•  Effective Parenting Series starting June 23, Carmen Flores Recreation Center, 5:30-7:45 pm: Do you fear that your child might be hanging out with the wrong crowd-- or be attracted to or involved in a gang? Project Re-Connect in collaboration with United For Success Academy offers a series of effective parenting classes on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:45 pm, 1637 Fruitvale Avenue inside Josie De La Cruz Park. Programs include:
  • June 23,                   Self Esteem: Communication      
  • June 30                    Violence Prevention 911- 411     
  • July 07                     Conflict Resolution
  • July 14                     Substance use and abuse
  • July 21                     When Stress Gets Your Best
  • July 28                      Putting it all Together
  • August 04                 Celebration
     
• Free Summer Meal Program at District 4 Schools: Free meals will be available for all young people up to 18 years old (excluding infants) at Oakland schools this summer. In other words, in addition to our summer school students, young people throughout the community can visit one of these sites for a free meal. Please note school sites, dates, and serving times that the program is available:
   
  • Allendale, 3670 Penniman Ave.  June 23 - July 17
    9:30-9:45 am ; Noon-12:30 pm
  • Bret Harte Middle, 3700 Coolidge Ave.  June 15 - July 17
    8:15-8:30 am; 10:30-11:00 am
                                                               August 17-August 20
  •  8:15-8:30 am, 10:30-11:00 am
  • Bridges @ Melrose, 1325 53rd Ave       June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:15 am; 11:30-Noon
  • Fremont/Mandela High, 4610 Foothill Blvd. June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:15 am; Noon - 1 pm
  • Fruitvale,  3200 Boston Ave.          June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am; 11:00-11:30 pm
  • Glenview, 4215 La Cresta Ave.        June 22 - July 17
    9:30-9:45 am; 12:15-12:45 pm
  • Laurel,  3750 Brown Ave.             June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am; 10:30-10:50 am
  • Maxwell Park Elementary, 4730 Fleming Ave.  June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am; 11:00-11:30 am
  • Melrose Leadership @ Sherman, 5328 Brann St.June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:15 am; 12:30-1:00 pm
  • Montera Middle School, 5555 Ascot Dr.     June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:15 am; 12:30-1:00 pm
  • Redwood Heights Elementary,4401 39th Ave.  June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am;11:00-11:30 am
  • Sequoia, 3730 Lincoln Ave.        June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am; 11:00-11:30 am
  • Skyline High, 12250 Skyline Blvd.    June 22 - July 17
    8:30-9:05 am; 11:30-Noon
  • Tilden Elementary,4551 Steele St.   June 22 - July 17
    8:00-8:25 am;  11:00-11:30 am
     
• Sequoia and Joaquin Miller Schools Part of Caring School Initiative at OUSD: Oakland Unified School District has been accepted for the Caring School Community™ Initiative (CSC), a program of The Developmental Studies Center (DSC). The CSC Initiative is a Robert Wood Johnson grant-funded opportunity to help districts and schools create caring and inclusive learning environments, foster children's academic and social/ethical learning, and strengthen the connections among students, between students and teachers, and between home and school. The program will be held at 13 OUSD schools next fall, including Sequoia and Joaquin Miller Elementary Schools in District 4.
   
• Good Cents for Oakland-Students Giving Back: Through a year-long project at local schools under the umbrella of the nonprofit Good Cents for Oakland, students at several District 4 schools have collected their pennies and gone through a process to decide what civic projects they want to support. Since 2005, students in the program have made over $35,000 in grants to local organizations.This year:
  • Montclair Elementary School gave a grant to the East Oakland Food Pantry
  • Redwood Day School gave a grant to East Oakland Community Project
  • Joaquin Miller Elementary School gave a grant to East Bay SPCA.
     
• Music  & Drama are Alive and Well in OUSD: The Claremont Middle School Band and Orchestra traveled to the Great America Music in the Parks Festival hoping to make a strong impression and returned with praise that was music to their ears. The Oakland middle school emerged from the competition with a slew of awards including first place honors for the Claremont Band - which was voted Best Overall Middle School Band - and second place honors for the Claremont Orchestra.The Oakland Technical High School Drama Department under the direction of Jessa Brie Berkner has been selected as one of the fifty best high school drama departments in the United States and will perform as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF) in the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world's largest and most prestigious arts festival.
   
• Teach Tomorrow in Oakland, a partnership between the Oakland School District and City, has won a $2.1 million federal grant to recruit and train residents to become teachers in Oakland schools.  The program was created as part of an effort to reduce teacher turnover; in recent years, the school district's attrition rate has been about 14 percent. 
   

• Walking Tours of Oakland: A great way to introduce our fair city to your visitors, or to learn more about the richness of Oakland yourself: All tours are free and being promptly at 10 am. Reservations are encouraged. Call 238-3234.
  • Saturday, June 13 Uptown to the Lake, with an emphasis on Art Deco. Meet in front of the Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway.
     
  • Wednesday, June 17, City Center. Meet in front of Oakland City Hall, One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza.
     
  • Saturday, June 27, Old Oakland. Meet in front of G. G. Ratto & Co, 821 Washington Street.
  • Wednesday, July 8, Preservation Park,. Meet at park entrance, 13 Street and Martin Luther King, Jr.  Way
     

• 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.

•  June at Laurel Books: Stop by Laurel Books, 4100 MacAthur for two exciting book events:
   
  • Saturday, June 20, 4 pm: Vegan Soul Kitchen with Bryant Terry, Oakland chef and neighbor. Hey!  Special guest Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of Joy of Vegan Baking.
  • Tuesday, June 23, 7 pm: Pam Allyn and her book What to Read When. This is a great book for parents and teachers with a wealth of suggestions for every need or topic written by an expert in the reading field. 

   

• Be Part of the California History Gallery Community Event, Thursday, June 25, 11 am- 2 pm: Free admission to the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. Call 238-2200 for details.

• Free Circus Bella Performances in Oakland, Friday, June 26 at City Hall, Saturday, July 19 in Dimond Park and Saturday, July 25 at DeFremery Park. Circus Bella will be performing the family friendly show, DOINK!, complete with aerial and balancing acts, clowns, great music  and more.(See Item #11.)
  
   
  June at Joaquin Miller Park:

   Annual Woodminster Cross Country Trail Race at Joaquin Miller, Redwood Regional Parks, Sunday, June 21: The 44th annual Dick Houston Memorial Woodminster Cross Country race is a challenging 9-mile hilly loop trail course that runs through the Oakland Hills.  Call 655-8228 for details.

• ORCA Field Day in Sequoia Arena, Thursday-Sunday, June 25-27, The Oakland Radio Communications Association will be communicating with as many other Ham radio operators around the world as possible. A great opportunity to bring kids and neighbors to see our back-up communications plans during and after emergencies.
• Great American Backyard Campout at Joaquin Miller Park, Saturday, June 27-Sunday, June 28: Oakland Parks and Recreation and the National Wildlife Federation invite Oakland families, friends and neighbors to come campout overnight at The Great American Backyard Campout at Joaquin Miller Park! Take a hike, enjoy nature activities, sing around the campfire - experience family fun in the great outdoors! Includes dinner, camp snacks and continental breakfast. No pets, radios, kerosene lanterns or cooking gear. $8 per person. Sign up here.
• Woodminster Amphitheater Bookfair at Jack London Square Barnes & Noble, Sunday, June 28, 9 am-10 pm: Actors from Peter Pan, appearing at Woodminster Amphitheater July 10-19, will be on hand to sing songs and read stories from 11 am -2 pm! Present the Woodminster voucher when you make your purchase, and a percentage of what you spend will be donated to Woodminster. For your free voucher, click here.

• First Fridays After Five! at the Oakland Museum of California, Friday, July 3, 5-9 pm: Admission Fee. 1000 Oak Avenue.Live music in the café all evening. At 7, see films exploring the topic of the African presence in Mexico. At 6:30, Aazura Nour teaches a crash course in belly dancing. At 7:30, Opera Piccola (Italian for "Small Works"), an Oakland educational theater company, presents The Play's the Thing, a staged reading of new short plays by well-known Oakland writers Judith Offer, Jay Chee and Julie Rainbow, and Nicole Shaw, a senior at Oakland Technical High School. Full cash bar-museum store and café open. Call 238-2200.

• Splash into Summer, Lake Merritt Boating Center, Saturday, July 18, 1-3 pm: The Lake Merritt Boating Center, 568 Bellevue Avenue, cordially invites you to their "Splash Into Summer" Open House. Celebrate National Recreation & Parks Month at Lake Merritt Boating Center!
   
• Free Family-Oriented Outdoor Movies at East Bay Regional Parks: Enjoy FREE, family oriented outdoor movies in beautiful park settings. Movies are family oriented, rated PG, and begin shortly after sunset. Arrive early for a good seat. Bring a flashlight, warm clothes, snacks, and a blanket or chair. Each location offers a unique experience. No pets. Rain cancels. More information: recreation@ebparks.org, or 530-8241.
  • Saturday, July 25, Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Oakland: Featuring The Neverending Story, rated PG, 93 minutes, 1984. Come early for arts & crafts. Snacks available for sale. Expected movie start time is 9 pm.

4th Annual Laurel Summer Solstice Festival

• 6th Annual Healthy Living Festival and Walk-A-Thon  for Seniors and Those Who Love Them, Friday, June 26, 9 am-2 pm, Lake Merritt Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue:  Over 3,000 older adults have participated in past Festivals, and walked well over 6,000 miles around Lake Merritt--including the 1,400 older adults who walked around the lake last year, logging over 1,800 miles! Cheer your favorite senior on and visit the more than 140 public and private exhibits. Registration begins at 9 am; Tai Chi demonstration and warm-up begins at 9:15; walk-a-thon begins at 10.

• Pacific Fine Arts Festival in Montclair Village, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, June 26-28, starting at 10 am:  The Village sidewalks come alive with fine art and crafts from this juried Festival. Stroll along Mountain Blvd., La Salle Ave. and Antioch Court to see some of the finest art for your home or for a special gift. More than 90 professional artists from across the western US arrive in one of the East Bay's most scenic locations. Presented by the Montclair Village Association and Bay Area Newsgroup, this free festival is one of the highlights of the year in the Village. The Village Garage at the top of La Salle will be open until 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, and until 7 pm on Sunday to accommodate shoppers.

• 9th Annual Fine Arts Festival at The Crucible, Wednesday, July 15-Saturday, July 18, 8 pm-Midnight, New Fire Arts Arena off West Grand Avenue, near Port of Oakland: Scorching showcase of incendiary performances and largest collection of outdoor fire and light sculptures on the West Coast. Four fire-filled nights of spectacular art installations, music, great food and libations, and the world premiere of The Rootabaga Opera by Dan Cantrell. All proceeds benefit The Crucible's art education programs for youth and adults. Admission $35-$55. Call 444-0919 or visit their website.

• Dimond Picnic and Circus Bella, Saturday, July 19: Each year the Dimond Improvement Association hosts a wonderful BBQ picnic in Mid July at Dimond Park. This year's entertainment is Circus Bella, performing DOINK! The show offers up elegant aerial displays, daring balancing feats, clown mayhem, fantastic music, and more.After the show, Kids can participate in a hands on juggling station after the show. Our office will also be on hand with handouts and other practical information.
   

• 100th Anniversary of Oakland Parks & Recreation-Family Day at deFremery Recreation Center, Saturday, July 25, Noon-6pm, 1651 Adeline Street. Activities include access to the pool, food vendors, crafts, music and performances by local artists and recreation performing arts programs, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
   

• Art & Soul, August 14-16-- This year Oakland's celebrated art and music festival surrounding City Hall will be held early due to retrofit construction on the Bay Bridge over the Labor Day Weekend.
   

• Oaktoberfest in the Dimond, Saturday, October 10, 11am-6pm, Macarthur Blvd. at Fruitvale Avenue: Last year more than 5,000 people came to the first celebration. Enjoy German and local craft beers, Kid's Rootbier Garten, Gourmet German Food, Entertainment and Raffle, Sausal Creek Eco Fair, and new this year, Homebrew Competition. Check it out at oaktoberfest.org.