John Handy and friends (right) delighted the audience at last Sunday's Concert in the Redwoods.

This week's pull out magazine  in the East Bay Express  featuring Oakland's growing restaurant scene is worth keeping. This article explains why Oakland is becoming one of the most vibrant dining destinations in the nation. << James Syhabout, owner of the new Commis Restaurant on Piedmont Avenue. Photo by Sonya Revell

      Walk to School Day This Week: On Tuesday, October 6, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley and OUSD School Board Member Gary Yee will join me at Montclair Elementary School for the annual Walk Your Child to School Day. The day is being celebrated nationally and throughout the city on Wednesday, October 7. It is a special effort to remind parents and students about the benefits of walking and biking to school, and to remind drivers to be extra careful when commuting along the routes that our students take to school. As the days grow shorter, please slow down and drive carefully.
 

 

Tribune sports writer Monte Poole  picks the winner of Raider's tickets at this week's Butters Canyon Benefit.

 

    We want to thank the many supporters who came by the Butters Conservancy fundraiser this week to help us buy the last undeveloped lots in this haven for wildlife (see #4).  I want to thank the Montclair Bistro for hosting us and teaching me how to make a Cosmo in my stint as celebrity bartender.  I've been taping and watching the beautiful Ken Burns series on the National Parks on public television; its a wonderful reminder of how preserving "wild" areas is a critical foundation of the American experience.

 

    Many Oakland families have ties to Samoa, the Phillipines, and Indonesia. Each time I see an earthquake around the world, I remember as a neighbor to the Hayward fault the help we received from around the world during the Loma Prieta recovery.  This website gives tips on how to donate to the recent victims of earthquakes and tsunami's.

 

    This weekend, Sue Piper and I  host our last outdoors Office Hours at the Montclair Farmer's Market for the year; we'll be there from 9 until about 12:30 pm. Come by and savor the autumn harvest or pick up a picnic for our afternoon concert.  Then until spring we will hold our First Sunday office hours indoors at the Alain Pinel offices at 6221 La Salle Avenue, next to the city parking lot. The hours are shorter as well,  from 10 am until Noon starting Sunday, November 1. We will continue to meet there on the first Sunday of the month through Sunday, March 7.
 

Jean Quan, Oakland City Council Member

• Pacific Fine Arts & Crafts Fest in Montclair, Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4. 10 am-6 pm: Great chance to start your holiday gift giving. Sponsored by the Montclair Village Association, this free event offers works from more than 80 artists and crafters who line the streets of Mountain Blvd., La Salle Ave., and Antioch Court in the Village. The fall celebration features a wide array of garments, sculptures, photography, watercolor and oil paintings, jewelry, ceramics and more.

• Walkathon to Save Oakland's Only Domestic Violence Shelter, 8 am-Noon, Lake Merritt Boathouse:  It's probably too late to get a T-Shirt but if you are in the area, consider making a donation, cheer on the walkers, or go to the Safe Place website. In August Gov. Schwarzeneger's used his line item veto to cut the entire $16 million state budget for domestic violence programs, Safe Place lost half of its funding; many shelters across the state have closed.  Domestic violence rises during tough times, please help us save our shelter.

• Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Swim a Mile for WCRC, Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 10 am-4 pm, Mills College Pool, 5000 MacArthur Blvd.:  The annual Swim a Mile is the Women's Cancer Resource Center's (WCRC) major fundraising event and helps the organization operate the spectrum of free services that have assisted more than 70,000 women with cancer and their supporters since 1986. For more information please call 601-4040 ext.180 or log onto www.wcrc.org.

• Car Wash at Edna Brewer Middle School, Saturday, October 3, 9 am-1pm: Support Edna Brewer Middle School by stopping by for a car wash--donation requested ($10, 20, cash or check).

• A Day of FREE Financial Planning, Saturday, October 3, 10 am-4 pm, Oakland City Hall:  California State Controller John Chiang, Senator Loni Hancock, Assemblymember Sandre Swanson, Mayor Ron Dellums, the Financial Planning Association of the Bay Area and Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards sponsor this free day-long clinic. Do you need help planning for your or your child's education? Are you struggling with debt and mortgage payments? Do you need advice on how to wisely invest? Do you have questions about estate planning? Register on-site starting at 9 am. Details, call Iesha Powell at 286-1670.
   
• Baboon Cliffs Exhibit Opens Today at the Zoo:  One more reason to visit northern California's best zoo. The 8100 square foot Baboon Cliffs Exhibit includes a cascading waterfall, climbing structures, a spacious area for the baboons to roam, a night house facility, and  a large viewing deck for the public.
  The Hamadryas Baboons are generally 24 - 30 inches in length and can weigh up to 40 pounds. They eat vegetables, protein-rich insects, and some red meat and live to be around 30 - 40 years of age. They are found in Ethiopia, Somolia, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. . 
  
   
• 36th Annual Black Cowboy Parade, Saturday, October 3: Celebrate the cowboys who helped settle the West with a parade of cowboys and cowgirls in traditional attire. Downtown Oakland. (Left-- 2005 Black Cowboy Parade)

• 24th Annual Longevity Walk-a-Thon Benefits Self-Help for the Elderly, Saturday, October 3, 9 am, Union Square, San Francisco: Self-Help for the Elderly, the service provider and program coordinator at the Lincoln Court Center, located at 2400 MacArthur, will be holding its 24th Annual Longevity Walkathon. The event begins at 9 am with registration and warm-up exercises. The Walk takes place within the scenic shopping district of Union Square. 1,200 older adults per month participate in the computer classes and exercise programs that Self-Help provides in partnership with the Adult and Career Program of the Oakland Unified School District. It is one of two sites in Oakland to offer the nationally recognized Posit Brain Fitness program.  Self-Help receives no City or County support; operating totally on private donations.  www.selfhelpelderly.org  

• Celebrate Michael Morgan's 20th Anniversary with Oakland East Bay Symphony, Saturday, October 3, 8:30 pm:  To raise funds for the Oakland School program, the incomparable mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves joins Michael Morgan and the OEBS in a gala concert.  Graves will sing a range of musical selections from popular favorites to moving spirituals to her signature operatic role as Carmen. Tickets $60-$125 ($125 ticket includes post-concert reception and dancing. Call 644-GALA for information or go to www.oebs.org. (Above) Maestro Morgan and Youth Competition winner at last Sunday's concert.

• An Evening of the Blues--Lisa Cohen in Concert with Legendary Composer and Artist Mary Watkins at The Space, 4148 MacArthur Blvd., Saturday, October 3, 8-10 pm: Our own District 4 blues, jazz & gospel vocalist will not only perform with Mary Watkins, but will share the bill with Rhythm & Blues guitarist Pat Wilder at our local performance location, The Space (Laurel Jujitsu) in the Laurel. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets $15-$20. For more information, call 436-4277.

• Oakland Heritage Alliance House & Garden Tour 2009 in Oakland's Fernwood Neighborhood in Montclair, Sunday, October 4, 1-5:30 pm.  Nine "story book" homes will be open in this unique neighborhood. Once part of the estate of Texas Ranger leader Jack Hays and then water tycoon William Dingee who bought trees and plants from the 1915 San Francisco Worlds Fair for landscaping. Annalee Allen's column gives a great history. For details, call 763-9218 or visit the OHA website.

• A Taste of Montclair Village Restaurant Walk, Tuesday, October 6, 6-8 pm:  Support local restaurants and literally get a taste of the wide variety of choices in Montclair. The first walk, held in in April, was a sellout!  The Montclair Village Association and Lions Club are cosponsors.  Participating restaurants and food/beverage outlets are providing tastings of their best offerings to all who purchase a $25 coupon book for the event. Local music groups will be providing entertainment on the streets. For details and a list of where to purchase a coupon book, go to the MVA website.
  
   
• Redwood Heights Rec Center's Free Movie in the Park, Monsters,
  Friday, October 9, 7:30-ish:  Purchase a hotdog, drink and chips for $2 between 6:30 and 7:45. Proceeds support the Rec Center's scholarship fund for summer camp and the afterschool Rockets programs (this past summer, they gave over $6000 in partial scholarships for our Summer Day camps). Remember to dress warm, bring a blanket and or lawn chair. The movie is free. 

• Watch the NASA Moon Probe Live Landing at Chabot Space and Science Center, Friday, October 9, 3 am:  NASA's LCROSS Mission to investigate the presence of water on the moon will be visible to Chabot's telescopes and is expected to create a debris plume which we will broadcast in our planetarium.  Get up early and join us.  FREE to members, $3 for other guests. Call 336-7373 to register.

• Lend a Hand Foundation's Seafood Fest to Raise Funds for 300 Transitional Youth, Friday, October 9, California Ballroom, 1736 Franklin Street, #300. Advance tickets only $40. Contact 553-1262.

The City of Oakland celebrated its long cultural and trade ties with China on the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic on Wednesday.

• Proposal to Roll Parking Hours Back to 6 pm to Be Reconsidered Tuesday:   Since July my office and staff have been working to find the $1.3 million to roll back the parking hours to 6 pm in response to the feedback and ideas from merchants and constituents. Most merchants and neighbors want us to roll back the hours without cutting vital services.
  • As we balanced the budget in July--cutting $140 million, eliminating more than 400 jobs, cutting all departments at least 10-15 percent, and negotiating 10 percent give backs from all employees without cutting police officers or senior programs or closing libraries or parks-- we also tried to avoid raising parking ticket fees another $10 to $65 as proposed by the Mayor. 
  • In January we passed on the $10/ticket surcharges required by the state including Perata bill to finance court house buildings, making tickets $55.  Extended hours were one solution and while I was personally skeptical that this would work citywide, some areas had restaurateurs who were interested in longer areas where they have local neighbors filling up commercial spaces after 6 pm and leaving no spaces for their customers.
  • At the last council meeting our proposal to roll back the hours fell short by one vote. Council member Reid joined Brunner, Brunner, Kernighan and I in voting "yes," Council member Delafuente was absent.  Council members Brooks voted no, Council members Nadel and Kaplan abstained.
  • This week I put forward a modified proposal with Council Members Brunner, Delafuente, and Kernighan to roll back the hours to 6 pm and fund the difference with other parking revenues and newly proposed billboard revenues. Our proposal recommends several ideas that we have discussed with merchant groups and staff including:  adding 250 meters citywide, stepping up enforcement against illegal use of handicapped placards freeing up at least 100 meters citywide, renting out at least 100 overnight garage parking to the growing population downtown, saving contractor costs by automating garages, increasing night time garage revenues in the entertainment/ downtown district, and advertising revenue including a new back source of funding from new billboards.   I am confident that our estimates were conservative, but if they do not meet our goals, we can readjust in January.  I believe the longer we delay, the more likely they will fall short.
    
     
• Confronting Domestic Violence with Limited Resources--Brown Bag Forum, Friday, October 16, 11 am-1 pm, City Council Chambers, City Hall: Each year for the past 5 years during Domestic Violence Month in October, I have hosted a special brown bag forum on Domestic Violence, which until recently, was the hidden crime in our community.  Working with the DA's Office, Alameda County Health Services, the Oakland Police Department and  a number of non profits, our office has spearheaded efforts to provide comprehensive intervention and support to victims of domestic violence. Most recently, California's State Budget and our national economy have caused grim consequences to social services, particularly on the issue of Domestic Violence.  Many organizations have been impacted on the services they provide to survivors and loved ones.  
  At this forum, you will learn from a variety of people who are on the front lines handling this difficult matter during this historical economic period and still reaching out to those who have been scarred emotionally and/or physically by someone they know and love.  Guest speakers include
  • Jacqueline Orpilla - Field Representative, Assemblyman Sandrè Swanson
  • Raeanne Passantino - Assistant Director, Family Justice Center
  • Carolyn Russell - Executive Director, A Safe Place
  • Sgt.  Robert Chan and Officer Randy White - Oakland Police Department's Special Victim's Unit (SVU)
  • Erin Scott, Attorney - Family Violence Law Center
  • Survivors
    For details or to RSVP, contact Terrie Gillen in our office at 238-4742.

• Travel Expenses Drop by Half Million:  This week the Finance & Management Committee received its first report after making drastic budget cuts and new regulations that I authored last year. This resulted in a reduction of over half a million in travel with the remaining expenses primarily mandated police training and reimbursed/required grant funded travel.  The new regulations implemented last were similar to the recommendations of the Grand Jury this summer and in some cases more extensive: 
  • All travel must be approved by the City Administrator or City Council.
  • No more that 3 staff members may attend a specific conference without a rationale approved by the City Administrator.
  • Limits on reimbursements including economy travel levels and standard room rates were set. 

• Library Card Update:  Oaklanders have a high percentage of library card use. All Library Patrons, please plan on visiting your library branch between October 9 and October 31 to update or confirm your contact information in order to maintain a current library card. This cannot be done on line or over the phone. The library is updating its patron data base beginning November 1 and will purge its files of anyone who has not used the library in the past 3 years.
   

• Billions Could Go Back to Public Transportation:  Another blow against the money grabs by the State came this week when the California Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling that raids on funding for bus and train service are illegal. It denied an appeal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, which was seeking the right to divert $3.4 billion in transit funds to the general fund to ease the state budget deficit. AC Transit has trimmed bus service by 15 percent; if the state does not appeal this decision current planned cuts might be delayed.

• State Drops Appeal in 2008 Redevelopment Case, Upholds Ruling that the $350 Million State Raid of Redevelopment Funds was Unconstitutional:  Last year the State seized $350 million in redevelopment funds, including $8 million from Oakland.  Lower courts ruled the seizure was unconstitutional, stating that redevelopment tax increment funds can only be used for specified redevelopment activities, specifically "to finance or refinance  redevelopment projects."  This week the State decided not to appeal that decision.  This, however, did not prevent the state from trying to take $41 million in redevelopment funds from the City this year. A second lawsuit by a coalition of Redevelopment Agencies and the League of Cities will be filed before the second attempted grab takes place in May.
   
• The State Legislature is likely to hold a special session to finish business.  The budget remains at least $500 million short, key water decisions, and other issues are expected to return. 
   
• 130,000 senior and disabled citizens will receive notices in October that their In Home Service grants will be cut effective November 1st.  36,000 will lose all services, 97,000 will lose certain services. 
   
• According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released this month:
  • An overwhelming 87 percent of voters responded that they are either very or somewhat concerned about "the effects of spending cuts on local government services - those provided by city and county governments and public schools."
  • Eighty-four percent of California voters say they think the state budget process is in need of "major" changes.
  • Approval ratings for State government are at record lows:  30 percent for Schwarzenegger and 21 percent for the Legislature, 

• Artwork Sought for Public Display in Dimond: The Dimond Improvement Association (DIA) is working with the owner of the vacant Blockbuster to hang art in the large windows facing MacArthur. The building is empty with no public access, this would be an opportunity to have art viewed by passers by, allowing the artist to promote themselves and/or sell the featured piece. If access is granted artists must:
  • Have art ready to install by Thursday, October 8 and be available to assist
  • Release liability for any damage or theft (the building is locked and secure).

Contact Daniel Swafford for details.

• Oaktoberfest Needs Volunteers:  Next Saturday, October 10th, 11 am - 6 pm, we will be celebrating the renaissance of the Dimond District with our annual Oaktoberfest Street Fair.  The Dimond Improvement Association needs volunteers.  Please sign up here.  Come and enjoy over 20 micro brew beers, music, food, and a section dedicated to green, environmental initiatives.  We'll be there all day with our booth!

• Dimond History Walking Tour with Dennis Evanovsky, Saturday, October 3 , 10 am and Saturday, October 10 during Oaktoberfest: Join local historian Dennis Evanosky at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park this Saturday, October 3 at 10 a.m. for a 90-minute walking tour of Dimond. Dennis is currently writing a book about the Dimond and Fruitvale districts and will share some surprising new information he's uncovered about Dimond. He will also be at the History Booth at the Oaktoberfest on Saturday, October 10. There will be history photos available for sale and Dennis will share information about his new book. Dennis will give a 60-minute walking tour of Dimond that emphasizes the Dimond's beer gardens.
   

• Special Meeting on Blair Park, Monday, October 12, 7 pm, Montclair Elementary School: Our office has been monitoring the issues surrounding the City of Piedmont's plans for a major park expansion on our Oakland border and the impact of the project on Moraga Canyon.  We are holding a meeting to make sure that our resident's concerns are well represented in the City of Oakland's response to the Blair Park Environmental Impact Report (EIR). We are working closely with Council Member Brunner's office and the City's Community and Economic Development Office (CEDA) to develop a list of issues that CEDA will submit.  Representatives from the City's planning and transportation services staff will be on hand to explain the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) scoping process, what types of issues are typically researched in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and to take notes on your concerns so that the City's letter can be as complete as possible. If you are affected by this, I encourage you to attend.  Please send an RSVP via email to Ellen Dillard in in our Office at edillard@oaklandnet.com
  • Interesting blog on Moraga Canyon issues
     

• Maxwell Park NCPC Neighborhood Watch Organization Fair, Wednesday, October 14, 7-9 pm, Melrose Leadership Academy on Brann Street @ 55th:  Studies have shown that neighborhoods that are organized through neighborhood alerts, phone trees, and other neighborhood watch activities, show decreased crime. Learn how easy it is to start a Neighborhood Watch for your block or find out if your block already has a Neighborhood Watch. Learn how to use Neighborhood Watch to be prepared for a natural disaster. Interact with your neighbors with our Group Activity.
   

• Dimond Post Office Update: "Save Our Dimond Post Office" supporters listened as Ms. Lowana Gooch, Postmaster, City of Oakland,
  answered questions from the community about the Postal Service and possible closing of Dimond Post Office. This meeting was held on Sept 17 at Lincoln Court in the Dimond merchant area.  Total of 6,956 signatures on petitions have been mailed to Postal Service representatives and Congresswoman Barbara Lee in an effort to remove the Dimond Post Office from the closure list.  The Postal Service will publish an updated list on Oct. 2.  For more information about this campaign go to sodpo.wordpress.com.  Photo by Ken Gibson.

• Upcoming Events at  A Great Good Place for Books in Montclair: Check out these literary events at Montclair's independent bookstore, located at 6121 La Salle Avenue:
  • June Schachner and Skippyjon Jones, Saturday, October 3, 11 am. Author Judy Schacner reads from her new book, Skippyjon Jones Lost in Spice.
  • Amber Tamblyn Reads From Bang Ditto, Monday, October 5, 7 pm, Hear author Tamblyn reads from her latest poetry collection.
  • David Murphy Talks About Zombies, Saturday, October 10, 7 pm, Great Good Place for Books proudly welcomes David P. Murphy as he reads from his hilarious new book, Zombies for Zombies: Advise and Eitquette for the Livings Dead.
     

• Laurel Farmer's Market, Every Saturday Year Round from  10 am-2 pm, at 4173 MacArthur Blvd.: Stop by for locally grown organic produce as well as information from local and youth businesses and organizations! New vendors: Free massage from Katy of Skin by Maisha (3623 Macarthur Blvd Suite D), and Oakland Garden School will be on hand once a month-- starting September 19 to share their program and to facilitate youth and family days. Please feel out the survey to help provide input to the Farmer's Market. Questions? Contact Tori at 482-1898.

• Laurel Book Store Now Open on Sundays, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel:
  • Kid's Story Time, Wednesdays at 3:30 pm: Bring the little ones for a nice afternoon treat.
  • Tuesday, October 6, 7 pm: Diane Frankenstein will read from her book Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read
  • Saturday, October 10, 6:30 pm: Laurel author Pat St. Onge, author of Embracing Cultural Competency; A Roadmap for Nonprofit Capacity Builders.
  • Friday, October 23, 7 pm: Authors Ann Laughlin, Cliffi Henderson and Lucy Jane Bledsoe.
  • Friday, October 30, 7 pm: Julia Usher, author of Cookie Swap. 
  
   
• Montclair RR Trail Planning Workshop, Saturday, October 17, 1-3 pm, Montclair Rec Center:  If you walk the pathway from Shepherd Canyon to Montclair Village that was the old road bed for the Sacramento-Northern Railroad, then please join friends and neighbors to plan future work projects to enhance what is now known as the Montclair RR Trail. Please RSVP to Sue Piper at 238-7042.
  
   

• October is an auspicious month for the Bay Area--October 17 will be the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake and October 20 will be the 18th anniversary of the Oakland Firestorm. For tips on emergency preparedness, check out the City's CORE (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) website as well as the front of your phone book for a handy list of items to keep on hand. Also check out our 20 Tips for Emergency Preparedess.

• This week's fire in Orinda by Highway 24 was a not so gentle reminder that High Fire Season is upon us. For those living in the Wildfire Prevention District, please inspect your property to be sure that vegetation growth over the summer has not impinged on your defensible space. And wherever you live in the city, ensure that your house address is large enough, lit and visible from the street. Every minute counts in a fire or medical emergency. Firefighters and paramedics need to be able to locate your address through fog, smoke and the black of night. Our office will be working closely with the Wildfire Prevention District and Oakland Fire Department staff to ensure that there is a clear policy on identifying houses that front one street and have access from another. For details about requirements, check out the Wildfire Prevention District website.
  
  
  Register today for the City of Oakland Get Ready to ShakeOut, Thursday, October 15, 10:15 am: This is the moment that millions of Californians will "Drop,Cover and Hold On" in The Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill ever! Oakland is joining hundreds of other cities in this annual event. Nearly 5.5 million Southern Californians participated in the 2008 ShakeOut. It's easy-- just "Drop,Cover and Hold On" at 10:15 am on 10/15/09! For details and to register, go to www.ShakeOut.org

• "ShakeOut" Earthquake Preparedness Neighborhood BLOCK PARTY, Sunday, October 11, 3-6:00 pm, St. Lawrence O'Toole-St. Cyril Rectory Parking Lot, 3725 High St:  St. Lawrence O'Toole - St. Cyril Parish is working with the Red Cross and Core to become a disaster relief shelter and anticipation of October the 20th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake  and in preparation for the Great California "ShakeOut" Drill to take place on October 15, 2009 at 10:15am.  All interested individuals welcomed to attend the event on Sunday, October 11. American Red Cross and Core Representatives, Emergency Response and Local Resources will be present to answer questions and give out free information. Free Raffle, Give Aways, and Refreshments. For more information, 530-0761.

Reflect. Honor. Prepare--Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake, Saturday, October 17, 3-5:30 pm,

• An Ounce of Prevention--Retrofitting Saves Lives: Two years ago, our office co-sponsored an ordinance that offered incentives to new homeowners and low income homeowners to retrofit their one to two-family wood frame homes. In addition, the City lowered the seismic retrofit permit fee to a flat $250. The New Homeowner Program was extremely successful--369 new homeowners took advantage of the program. However, funds to cover the reimbursement portion of the incentive program have since run out. On the other hand, our office and the City is working with the Association of Bay Area Governments and the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) to find other revenue sources that can be used to help defray the cost of retrofitting. We are hopeful that Oakland will participate in a pilot program through the CEA that will provide some financial support to property owners who retrofit their homes. (Above) Our office helped the Temescal Tool Lending Library put together  5 Seismic Retrofit Kits for do-it-yourselfers.
  
  In addition, the City is working closely with the Rental Housing Association of Northern Alameda County to implement a  multi-family soft story screening program that will help us identify properties that are at risk of collapse in a major earthquake. It will be the first part of a phased program where we hope to provide incentives to property owners to retrofit their soft-story apartment buildings and condominiums. These buildings, with large open spaces on the first floor (usually for parking), are probably the most vulnerable in a major earthquake. They represent about 20,000 dwelling units or two-thirds of the dwelling units forecast to fail in a major earthquake.

• 20th Anniversary of Loma Prieta Earthquake Symposium, Saturday, October 17, 8:30 am-3:30 pm Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco: Here what progress has been made since the 1989 earthquake and what work remains to make our built environment safe from future earthquakes.  It will showcase a wide variety of topics including seismology, lifelines, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, long-term recovery, government response, community resilience, earthquake prediction science and the future of performance based engineering. Register before September 15 for the $50 advanced registration price which includes breakfast, lunch and the full day of educational presentations.  Registration at:  http://peer.berkeley.edu/events/2009/loma_prieta/registration.html

• The Earthquake Retrofit Institute is trying to map retrofit projects completed since the Loma Pieta earthquake.  Go to this site to register your project. 

Organize Your Neighborhood:  If you and your neighbors have not attended one of the CORE training classes-- or need a refresher-- there are openings  for CORE I's on September 23 and November 3, and CORE II's on September 30 and November 10.  The other CORE III series will occur on October 7, 14, 21 and 24.


 

• Public Invited to Wildfire Prevention District Retreat, Tuesday, October 27, 8-5 pm, Richard C. Trudeau Center, 11500 Skyline Boulevard: Residents who live in the Wildfire Prevention District (generally above Highways 13 and 580 and adjacent to Dimond Canyon) are welcome to attend a retreat of the Wildfire Prevention District Advisory Committee. Learn how your $65 a year assessment is leveraged to help reduce vegetation and protect Oakland public and private properties from devastating wildfires. Please RSVP so that we can ensure sufficient refreshments. Contact Yeda Altes at 238-7388.

• Precautions for H1N1(Swine Flue) Flu Virus: Apparently the H1N1 Flu which appeared last winter gained strength in the southern hemisphere and is expected to have greater debilitating impact on residents in the northern hemisphere this fall and winter. Novel H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) cases have been reported in 168 countries, all 50 states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia. Although H1N1 cases continue to be mild in Alameda County, the County Public Health Department advises residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to reduce the risk of getting H1N1 or other influenza. For tips on how to prevent the spread of this virulent flu virus, check out Alameda County Public Health Department's website.
   

• 6th Annual Planting of Spring Bulbs, Sign Up Today: For the past 5 years, Keep Oakland Beautiful has sponsored Daffodil Days, and many thousands of yellow daffodils have been planted in Oakland's medians, freeway entrances and schools.  This year, they are offering aromatic and multicolored freesias. Due to the economic climate, KOB has purchased half the amount of bulbs as compared to prior years. Thus, each adopter will be limited in the number available. Planting instructions are available on line. Deadline to sign up is October 7. Call 434-5131.
   

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

California Native Plant Society Sale, Saturday, October 10, 10 am-3 pm and Sunday, October 11, Noon-3 pm, Native Here Nursery, 101 Golf Course Drive, Tilden Park, Berkeley:

• Where to Drop Off Outdated Medications: We've all heard that throwing outdated medications down the toilet is not an acceptable way of disposing outdated medication; nor is throwing it into the trash. Even though wastewater is treated, many drugs contain persistent chemicals that cannot be removed before wastewater is discharged to our waterways. As a result, over 80% of our waterways show traces of medications, and the impacts on our human
  and environmental health are of great concern.Now you can drop off unwanted medication in the lobby of the Elihu M. Harris State Building at 1515 Clay Street during business hours.

• FOSC Fall Native Plant Sale, Saturday, October 17, 10 am-3 pm, Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery, in Joaquin Miller Park.  Here's a chance to purchase native plants for your own garden. For details, contact nursery@sausalcreek.org.

>>Volunteers for Creek to Bay Day at the FOSC Native Plant Nursery.

 

 

 

• Maxwell Park Robbery:  Last week this description was posted of a late evening robbery.  Two fairly young teenagers, approximately 14-16 years old, driving a dark colored 4 door Jeep Cherokee robbed a couple as they were exiting their car taking a purse and book bag. One of the youth might have a gold tooth.
   

• Red-light Camera Violations Now Enforced at High and Foothill:  In an effort to reduce red-light related accidents, OPD announced it installed a Red Light Camera Enforcement System (RLCES)  at High St. and Foothill Blvd.  Now that the 30-day warning period has passed, citations will be issued for red light violations at this location.
   

• Mail Theft Alert:  A Skyline resident saw a green Toyota Tercel with out-of-state plates (Nevada maybe) stealing mail from boxes.  When she saw them toss out some envelopes they had addresses from Snake and other Montclair streets. If you have a curbside mail box or unlocked mail box, consider getting a locked box.  The Montclair Safety and Improvement Council has a good webpage on this issue.

• Please call 777-3333 if you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood, or contact your problem solving officer directly,  While crime in Oakland has been down by 14%, home  burglaries and domestic violence are up. Learn more by attending your neighborhood's monthly Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting.
   

 District Problem Solving Officers:  Have a chronic issue that involves criminal activity?  Let your beat's PSO know. Check here for a map to determine which Beat covers your neighborhood:

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

• Free Outdoor Adventure Slot at Redwood Heights Recreation Center-need 12 enrolled children by Tuesday, October 6!: Outdoor Adventures Recreation Program is open to children enrolled in grades 4-8 who will have the opportunity to boat on Lake Merritt, hike in Joaquin Miller Park and rock climb at Touchstone Climbing Gym. It's FREE for up to 12 children. The program runs Monday, October 12, Wednesday, October 14 and Friday, October 16, 3:30-5:30 pm. Students will be picked up and dropped off at the Redwood Heights Recreation Center.  Please enroll at Redwood Heights Rec Center by Tuesday, October 6. For details call 482-7827.

• Celebrate Black Panther Party History Month at the Oakland Public Library: West Oakland Branch gets things started with a month-long exhibit, Movement Papers of the '60s and '70s, a retrospective of the homegrown newspapers serving the black and poor communities and student newspapers that grew out of underground movements here in the Bay Area. On display are Black Panther Party newspapers, the Berkeley Barb, the Sun Reporter, Merritt College BSU newsletters, the Berkeley Tribe, SF Good Times, and Flatlands. West Oakland Branch is located at 1801 Adeline Street. Call 238-7352 for information.
  • Women of the Black Panther Party and Beyond, Thursday, October 15, Main Branch: Black Panther Party alumnus Bill Jennings has put together displays in honor of the many women who helped the party's efforts to improve the community - many of whom were leaders in the party. The display opens at 2 pm with a brief reception; a forum, featuring activists who were instrumental in the party, begins at 6 pm Come hear them describe their role in making this history happen, and how they built 40 different service programs that served as the prototypes for breakfast programs, and community schools for decades to follow. The Main Library is at 125 14th St. This event will take place in the West Auditorium. Call 238-3136 for information.
     

• It's about Time presents the Black Panther Film Fest, Saturday, October 17, 1-5 pm, West Oakland Branch: Three films will be screened: Legacy of Torture: The War Against The Black Liberation Movement; Merritt College: Home of the Black Panthers; and Lord of the Revolution.  West Oakland Branch is located at 1801 Adeline Street. This event will take place in the branch's multipurpose room. Call 238-7352 for information.

• Sequoia School's Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 24, 10 am-2 pm: Celebrate the fall with lots of fun games and activities, including music! If you would like to perform, contact Nancy Deming at 29--4875 or Suzanna Farver at 387-1452.

• Check Out the New E-Newsletter from Friends of Oakland Public Library: Don't wait to hear what's happening at our library. Sign up for the new E-Newsletter from the Friends of the Oakland Public Library (FOPL).  Here's what's in this month's newsletter:
  • Sign up/Verify Library Cards in September: Beginning this month, as part of Library Card Sign-up Month, staff will ask patrons to verify their contact information.
     

• Kids Events at the Library Celebrate Hispanic American Heritage Month: Hispanic American Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, marks the national independence days of several Latin American nations and celebrates the cultural contributions of the diverse Spanish-speaking people who reside in the US.
   

• Lawyers in the Library: The Lawyers in the Library program makes legal information and referral available to the public for free. (If further legal help is required, clients are referred to the Bar Association Referral Service.) The program is co-sponsored by the Alameda County Bar Association. Sessions are popular, and getting an appointment often requires showing up early for advance sign-ups. Call your local branch for the schedule.
  
   

• Redwood Heights "Day Camp" for OUSD Students on Friday, October 9-- that is a professional development day for students in Oakland public schools. The Redwood Heights Recreation Center has planned a field trip to either the Jack London Movie Theater or Grand Lake Theater to watch a movie in addition to activities at the recreation center. They need a minimum enrollment of 15 by September 29. If they do not reach the minimum, then we will need to cancel the day. $30 + $10 excursion fee ($40 total). You may register in person at Redwood Heights Recreation Center or online www.oaklandnet.com/parks
  Activity # 22208.201 Call 482-7827 for more information.

Oakland's Re-Create 2009 Art Contest Open to All Students (K-12: This annual art contest and exhibition is open to all Oakland youth who use discarded materials in a creative application of the 4Rs-- reduce, recycle and rot. November 8, 2009 is the deadline for submitting artwork to the contest. For locations and dates of the workshops, please visit www.oaklandrecylces.com. For additional information, contact Ferial Mosley,Recycling Specialist, at 238-7433.
 

Help out Oakland East Bay Symphony & Get a Free Subscription: The Oakland East Bay Symphony (OEBS) is running a campaign to increase regular season subscribers. They're asking each current subscriber to "tell four friends" and one of the subscriptions will be free next season (2010-2011. The person who refers the most new subscribers will get 2 free ticket vouchers on Southwest Airlines for domestic travel. For details, check out their website or call 444-0801.
 

• Walking Tours of Oakland: A great way to introduce our fair city to yourvisitors, 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, October 3: Old Oakland
  • Wednesday, October 7: City Center
  • Saturday, October 10: Uptown
  • Wednesday, October 14: Churches & Temples
  • Saturday, October 17: New Era/New Politics
  • Wednesday, October 21: Chinatown
  • Saturday, October 24: Waterfront
  • Wednesday, October 28: Preservation Park
  • Saturday, October 31: City Center
    
     

• Breezin' on Two Wheels: African American Bikers in Oakland, African American Museum & Library (AAMLO), 659 14th Street Through October 10: An exhilarating look at a seldom examined topic that is historically appropriate for Oakland: the relationship between a small segment of the African American community and their preferred mode of transportation, the motorcycle. Includes artifacts, historical documentation and some wonderful vintage photographs and footage. 
   

• Cultivating Common Ground-Restoring Our Communities, Breakfast Sponsored by SEEDS Community Resolution Center, Thursday, October 15, 7:30-9:30 am, Nile Hall, Preservation Park, 1233 Preservation Park Way: SEEDS' Cultivating Common Ground event is an annual series of programs and workshops open to the community in celebration of 
  National Conflict Resolution Day. The breakfast honors Judge Gail Bereola,
  Alameda County Juvenile Court, with keynote address from Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson.Tickets are $35 each. For details go to seedsbreakfast2009.eventbrite.com.
  
   

• Diaspora Tale #2: 1969 Debut at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Saturday, October 17, 8-10 pm, 388 Ninth Street: I will be one of the panelists at a discussion following the debut of Diaspora Tale #2: 1969, an interdisciplinary jazz composition by saxophonist and composer Francis Wong. It will be performed by the Francis Wong Unit with contributions by spoken word artist A.K. Black and dancer/ choreographer Lenora Lee. "1969" commemorates the 40th anniversary of the UC Berkeley Third World Strike for ethnic studies. Wong's brother, along with my husband Floyd Huen and I, were a participants in the Third World Strike and the composition is dedicated in part to Wong's brother. For ticket information and reservations, call 637-0455.

• Come Home to the Y, Celebrating 130 years of the YMCA in the East Bay, Wednesday October 21, 5:30-8:30 pm at Scott's Seafood at Jack London Square: Join friends and neighbors to recognize the YMCA of the East Bay's outstanding adult and youth volunteers and celebrate 130 years of building the spirit, mind and body of individuals and families throughout Alameda and west Contra Costa Counties. Tickets $40 if purchased by October 1; $45 thereafter. Contact Ginni Ring at 451-8039 ext. 139 or email her to register today.
   

• Oakland Shopping Night, Friday, October 23: Many retail districts will encouraging their shops to stay open until 8 pm in order to encourage people to shop locally. 

• Out of the Darkness Walk to Prevent Suicide, Saturday, October 24, 6:30 -8:30 am: The recent death of Officer Murray Hoyle, and another suicide in one of our neighborhoods brings to light the need for greater community awareness about suicide prevention. Friends of a recent suicide victim have organized the East Bay's first Out of the Darkness Community Walk in conjunction with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Meet at Belleue & Grant Avenue near Oakland's Lake Merritt and walk into the dawn, out of the darkness. I will be attending as a guest speaker. Registration starts at 6 am. Contact Alanna Coyote at 387-1040.
   

• Vacancy on Public Ethics Commission: The City of Oakland Public Ethics Commission is seeking applicants for the one open of four  Commission-selected seats. The term begins on January 22, 2010 and expires on January 21, 2013. Applicants must reside in Oakland and be registered to vote in Oakland. The Commission was created by a voter-approved City Charter amendment in 1996 to "assure fairness, openness, honesty and integrity in City government." For details or to obtain an application, contact Dan Purnell at 238-3593. Applications and resumes must be received no later than Friday, October 30 at 5 pm.
   
• Library Seeks Volunteer Storyreaders: Books for Wider Horizons is seeking adult volunteers to read to children once a week at a local preschool or childcare center. Participants must complete a 7-session training at Rockridge branch before they are placed. Please call 238-7453 for more information or to sign up! The fall schedule for classes is:
   
  • October 17,  9 - 11:30 am
  • October 19, 20, 6 - 8:15 pm
  • November 3, 4, 6, 6 - 8:15 pm
  • November 7, 9 am - 3 pm
     

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

• Brewer Middle School Beautification Day, Saturday, October 10, 9 am-1 pm: Come join community supporters, Brewer parents, students, staff in weeding, trimming, picking up trash, etc. Bring work gloves, push brooms, garden tools, and hand tools (marked with your name). Care to donate money, plants, or supplies? Need more information? Please contact Lisa Young: lyoung@advent.com.

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

• Dimond Volunteer Clean-Up Walks in Dimond Park Every Monday: 11am-Noon: Dimond Park Clean-up. Sponsored by Dimond Park Advisory Council (DPAC): meet at Scout Hut (Wellington/Canon entrance). Contact: Michelle Doppelt, Recreation Supervisor Dimond Park; mdoppelt@oaklandnet.com; cell 510-681-5129; office 510-482-7831. Volunteers participating in Dimond/Dimond Park clean-up walks receive a complimentary card from La Farine Bakery/Dimond for 2 pastries or rolls/2 drinks.

• Maxwell Park--Daily clean up by Friends of Maxwell Park. Contact Nancy Karigaca at 436-6680.

• Maxwell Park NCPC Monthly Clean Up, Third Sunday of the Month, 9 am.
   

• Peralta Creek Park (Corner of Rettig and Wisconsin): Meet the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 pm.
   

• 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 at the Native Plant Nursery and Beaconsfield Canyon. Check out their monthly calendar of events at the FOSC website
   

• Horace Mann Garden Workday,  Saturday, November 14, 9-11 am:  Help weed the hillside gardens the NCPC/School Community planted in April. They'll also replace several plants that died when the irrigation wasn't working properly. Two hours of your time will make a difference in the appearance of our neighborhood school, so please plan to come! Horace Mann School is located at 5222 Ygnacio Avenue.

Experience Corps Seeks Volunteers 55+: Experience Corps seeks Baby Boomer volunteers to tutor and mentor students at our underserved elementary schools. They currently support students in seven elementary schools throughout North and East Oakland (Civicorps, Cleveland, Emerson, Monarch Academy, Piedmont Ave, Santa Fe, Think College Now) and they could use your time, talent and life experience.  As little as 2 hours a week can make a huge difference and scheduling is flexible.  No prior experience tutoring or working with kids necessary - full training and on-site support is provided, as are paid stipends for volunteers who serve 10+ hours a week!For more information, contact David Moren at  495-4966