DISTRICT 4 NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS #93    

 

September 23, 2004 –Creek-to-Bay Day Thanks, Walk your Child to School Day, Fall Planting in the Community!

 

1.       Laurel/Redwood Heights 2nd Annual Picnic Builds Neighborhood Ties!

2.       Bouquets to All Who Volunteered on Creek-to-Bay Day

3.       Billboard Removed

4.       Other Dimond District Updates: New Farmer Joes, Grant, & Clean-ups

5.       Update on Oakland Business Tax

6.       Truancy Hotline: 879-8172

7.       Skyline High School 11th Grade Car Wash, Saturday, September 25th 10am-4pm at St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church

8.       Charity Dog Wash, September 29

9.       Museum of African American Technology Grand Opening, Saturday, September 25, 408 14th Street.

10.  Third Annual Light of Lights Candle Lighting Ceremony, Thursday, September 30th 6:30pm-8:30pm

11.  Walk Against Domestic Violence, Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m., Lake Merritt

12.  Merritt College Annual Plant Sale, Saturday, October 2, 9a.m. – 3 p.m.,

13.  Free Street Trees in Maxwell Park

14.  Swim a Mile 2004, October 2 and 3, Mills College

15.  Walk Your Child to School Day, October 5, 8 -9 a.m., Sequoia School

 

Laurel & Redwood neighbors enjoy E&J BBQ, Domino’s pizza, popcorn, music & games at Jordan Park.

 

 

 

1.                Over 300 Neighbors Celebrate at the Laurel/Redwood Heights 2nd Annual Community Picnic: Last year we decided to build ties and cooperation between the adjacent Laurel and Redwood Hts districts with our first picnic and were pleased that about 200 attended. This year we estimate that over 300 neighbors showed up and we apologize to latecomers who didn’t get any of the delicious Everett & Jones BBQ or Domino’s Pizza. We enjoyed music, magic shows, old fashioned 3 legged races and a water balloon toss (yes, I did get soaked). Congratulations to the Redwood Heights Improvement Association, the Laurel Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, Laurel Merchants and Richard & Claudia from my staff for making the day such a success!  We’ll post more pictures later.

 

 

Clearing the trail in Dimond Park, hauling a bed out of Peralta Creek.

 

2.                Bouquets to All Who Volunteered on Creek-to-Bay Day:  Thank you to all the hundreds of volunteers who came out to six District 4 sites to help beautify our creeks and community.

 

  • More than 100 Friends of Sausal Creek worked in Dimond Park. They removed 5 truck loads of invasive plants from the watershed, not to mention the approximately 75 bags of garbage that came from many points along the creek. This year, FOSC held their “Most Unusual Object Found” contest and the winner was a five-year-old from the neighborhood who found a tiny blue heart in the center of the creek and was awarded one of the wonderful Coastal Clean Up posters.
  • Teams of volunteers also labored at the Friends of Sausal Creek native plant nursery in Joaquin Miller Park, preparing seedlings for future watershed plantings.  Both Sausal Creek sites need volunteers almost every Saturday, http://www.sausalcreek.org/

Courtland Creek volunteers share pizza after a hard morning of work.

 

  •  The youngest crew included about 60 young people and neighbors from the Courtland Creek area and the Discovery Science Center in Courtland Creek Park.
  • Butters Canyon (upper Peralta Creek) neighbors hauled a discarded engine and bed springs out of the creek and cleared loads of non-native vegetation. http://www.butterslandtrust.org/
  • The Piedmont Pines Association cleaned up in the Sulphur Springs area and reported less garbage than past years but still filled up a dumpster that our office provided with vegetation.
  • For citywide coverage  

 

3.                Notice Something Missing?  Earlier this year, the City Council negotiated with Clear Channel for the removal of billboards from neighborhood streets.  We asked for nominations and considered closeness to schools, overall impact on the look of the neighborhood, etc. Our two choices were Lincoln at MacArthur and Magee/MacArthur.  They were removed in the last two weeks.

 

New Look:  With the removal of the Hillcrest Motel(right corner)  and the Clear Channel billboard (left corner)…and the neighbor planted mini gardens, this gateway intersection to Lincoln Hts and the Dimond is looking good.

 

4.                More Dimond News:  It is finally official, negotiations have been completed for the opening of a second Farmer Joes in the Dimond at the old Albertson’s site.  The popular Laurel market sells fresh produce, cheese, and gourmet foods.  The Dimond Improvement Association has started a forum on the web to support the effort and make suggestions.  The neighborhood feels this rounds out the shopping choices and complements the renovation and expansion of the Safeway down the street. 

·        The Dimond area has been awarded an Environmental grant to improve the traffic and pedestrian conditions on the MacArthur and Fruitvale corridors.  A planner will work with the Dimond Merchant and Improvement Associations, city staff, and others to submit a proposal for street improvements.  A similar process made the current improvements in the Laurel possible.

·        Finally, Dimond Improvement Association members and Dimond merchants cleaned up the MacArthur-Fruitvale shopping district on Creek Day.  The creek flows right through this area; you can see it from the overlook on MacArthur at the intersection at Mac/Canon and across from the free City Parking Lot on Dimond near the freeway entrance.  More Clean Ups are planned. For more information on these projects, contact Richard Cowan of our office rcowan@oaklandnet.com or 238-7041.

 

5.                Update on City of Oakland Business Tax: With the passage of Assembly Bill 63, individuals and businesses who reported business income and/or expense on their 2001or 2002 State Income Tax Returns were notified that may be subject to local business taxes and are not paying it. The enforcement of the City of Oakland Business Tax came as a surprise to many residents doing business out of their homes. The Oakland Municipal Code, Chapter 5.04, requires anyone conducting business within the City of Oakland to register with the City and remit an annual business tax. This includes commercial/industrial and residential rental property owners, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, service companies, self-employed individuals, independent contractors, home-based businesses and non-profit organizations. Councilmember Wan and myself are attempting to add an amendment that would exempt those grossing less than $2500.

 

New 2003 data has been received and the City is preparing to repeat the process.  So if you do business in Oakland from your home, the portion of your business conducted in the city may be taxable—we advise that you visit the City’s website at http://www.oaklandnet.com  or contact the City’s Tax Compliance Office at (510) 238-7474 for further information.

 

6.                You Can Help Reduce Truancy: Last year I helped convene a task force with school, city and county officials to focus on truancy.  As a result a coordinated effort has been launched this year:  a new truancy hotline, truancy center, police sweeps, additional staff at 10 pilot schools, and a truancy court with possible parent fines have been implemented for this year.  If you notice school-aged kids in the neighborhood instead of at school, call the Oakland Public Schools truancy tip-line -- 879-8172—where you can leave information about the time, date, location and description of the student. Data shows that if students attend school regularly, they are likely to earn a B or better in their coursework. Students who are frequently absent have difficulty maintaining a D average.

 

7.                Skyline High School 11th Grade Car Wash: Skyline 11th Graders will be conducting a fund raising car wash at St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 25th from 10am-4pm at 7900 Mountain Boulevard, on                      the Keller Avenue exit from I-580.  Please come out to show your support!

 

8.                Charity Dog Wash, Saturday, September 25th, 11 am – 3 pm: Paws & Claws at 2023 MacArthur Blvd. (2Blks west of Fruitvale) is sponsoring a Team ‘Ruff House’ Fund-raiser for the 2004 Doggone Fun Run.  $15.00 per dog.  Proceeds benefit Pets are WonderFul Support & Pets Unlimited. Call (510)336-0105 for details.

 

9.                Museum of African American Technology Grand Opening: If you or your kids are interested in science, engineering or technology, this is the place to be on Saturday, September 25. Dr. Guion Bluford, the first African American astronaut, will be available to talk to students from 2 to 3 p.m. There will be live music and a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. with special guest Ed Dwight, an aeronautical engineer, test pilot and astronaut trainee. For details, call 893-6426 or nccbpe@attglobal.net. The Museum is located at 408 14th Street in downtown Oakland.

 

10.           Third Annual Light of Lights Candle Lighting Ceremony: On Thursday, September 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. this uplifting multicultural ceremony helps individuals and communities come together in a safe and life-affirming way with others experiencing grief. Community candles will be lit for individuals and groups living with loss. The event, held at the Scottish Rite Center at 1547 Lakeside Drive, is free of charge. For more information, call (510) 238-4040. Sponsored by the Oakland Fire Department, the Oakland Fire Critical Incident Stress Team, the Centre for Living with Dying, and the Scottish Rite Center.

 

11.           3rd Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence, Saturday, October 2: A Safe Place, a domestic violence assistance program located in Oakland, is hosting the 3rd Annual Walk-a-Thon to raise funds for their counseling center. Sign-ups for the walk begin at 8 a.m. and the walk around Lake Merritt begins at 9 a.m. For details, e-mail aspdred@pacbell.net and leave your phone number, or call 986-8600.

 

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12.           Merritt College Annual Plant Sale: Fall is the best time for planting. Saturday, October 2, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. the Annual Plant Sale at Merritt College offers be exotic plants, yummy vegetables, lots of bulbs, misc. perennials, annual flowers, natives, and rare trees/shrubs.  This is more like a community party with free advice, good music and lots of food.  All proceeds benefit the landscape horticulture department which, like every other college, is facing dwindling budgets for equipment and supplies. Most importantly the proceeds help fund  student interns providing hands on experience in the field.  Call 436-2418 or log on to http://www.merrittlandhort.com/   The next day, Sunday, October 3rd, Merritt College will host a seven garden horticultural tour.  Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the tour, 436-2491.

 

 

13.           Free Street Trees for Maxwell Park: Maxwell Park neighbors are organizing tree planting in their area.  The City is offering free street trees.  If you are a property owner and are willing to cut open the sidewalk and remove the concrete, backfill well after cutting, water the tree for 3 years, keep the tree well free of weeds and litter and keep wood chips or mulch on the soil around the tree, the City will select an appropriate tree species, install a free 15-gallon tree and classify the tree as “official” (the city will provide ongoing maintenance).  Deadline to request a tree is October 31. For details, contact Nommi at nommi@dropbeat.com or (510)599-5533.

 

 

14.           Swim a Mile 2004 and Support the Women’s Cancer Resource Center: Each year, the Women’s Cancer Resource Center runs a fun, non-competitive fundraising pledge event for all ages and ability levels.  Swim a Mile 2004 raises funds so that the Women’s Cancer Resource Center can provide services free of charge. Anyone can participate in this year’s event—women, men, children, family, friends, old, young, fast and slow—all are welcome. The event will be held at Mills College on October 2 and 3. For details, check out http://www.wcrc.org

 

 

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15.           Walk Your Child to School Day—Week of October 4th: Several schools in District 4 will participate in this national safety event. On Tuesday, October 5, our office will join Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley at Sequoia Elementary School on Lincoln. The Montclair Safety & Improvement Council is also planning a similar event at Joaquin Miller Elementary/Montera Middle during the week, as well. We want to thank the many volunteers who have helped us post “Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25” signs near major intersections close to schools throughout District 4 to remind all drivers to slow down.

 

For more information:

JEAN QUAN

Council Member, District 4

City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza

Oakland, CA 94612

510 238-7004, 986-2765 fax

www.jeanquan.org