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Dear Neighbor,
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We are expecting over 200 neighbors to join us
tonight 6:30-9:30 pm at the Chabot
Science Center...if you didn't RSVP, you can still come by. You may
not be able get into Immersive
Space. the planetarium show that takes you to
the edge of the universe, but there are other shows. Please drive carefully,
the road can be dark and deer frequently cross the road near the center.
I'm expecting our new Assembly Representative Sandre Swanson and the Oaktown Jazz Workshop will
be playing. The rain is suppose to clear by the
afternoon so you should be able to peer into the universe through one
Chabot's three telescopes, the most powerful open to the public in the U.S.
We know you will enjoy this opportunity to meet other wonderful neighbors
throughout the district who are working to make Oakland a better city.
I, my staff, and family are doing the cooking.
We want to thank Farmer Joes, Everett & Jones, Semifreddis,
World Grounds, Il Porcelino, Sushi Zone, and others
who are donating additional food.
Jean Quan
Vice Mayor, District 4 Council Member
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1 -See
You Tonight, Holiday Office Hours,
Inauguration January 8th
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 • We'll be
celebrating 4 years of working together for city tonight. All proceeds
benefit our District 4 Office & Organizing Fund which pays for
projects not covered by the city: our District Offices in the Laurel &
Dimond, weekly email newsletters, our website, multilingual publications,
community surveys, beautification projects such as Earth Day, litter
clean-ups, and school playgrounds, hosting community planning meetings like
Envisioning MacArthur or the Joaquin Miller Park Task Force, and citywide
campaigns like organizing Emergency Preparedness or Home Alert groups. Your
donation covers expenses and the cost of the planetarium show (about
$10/person). If you can give more to help our Office Fund, we would
appreciate it but give as much or little as you decide. Any donation is
welcome, just come! Leaflet
• Because of the holiday season, we will only
hold office hours on the regular schedule through December 21. We will
take a holiday break between December 23 and January 3. We will resume
regular office hours starting Wednesday, January 6.
• Inauguration on Monday, January 8th, 11 am: We will have some invitations for the reserved seats at
the Paramount theater for the inauguration.
Please contact us if you wish to attend. Mayor Dellums,
the new auditor and returning Council members will be sworn in. There will
also be open seating.
(Above) Neighboring galaxy Andromeda can be
seen through the Chabot telescopes.
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2
-Weekend Events
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Student volunteers monitor water quality in Sausal Creek.
• FOSC Solstice Work Party, Saturday, December 16, 8:45 a.m -12:30 pm. Join Friends of Sausal Creek on
Saturday, December 16 as they plant natives from their nursery in 8 different
restoration areas throughout the Sausal Creek watershed. Meet in Dimond Park at the Scout Hut at 8:45 am and
work until noon, followed by lunch back at the Dimond Park Recreation center
at 12:30. Heavy rain at 8:45 am cancels. Contact Kathren M. Stevenson to RSVP.
• Shepherd
Canyon Ecopullers and Planters at Escher Gate, Saturday,
December 16 from 9 -11 am for big native
replanting. Dress warmly in layers. Bring gloves and water. For further
information and directions, contact Adrienne Bryant or call her at 339-0985.
• The Secret Nutcracker, December 15-17. Ronn Guidi's annual performance by
his pre-professional students (including Richard Cowan's daughter) at the
Valley Theater, Holy Names College: Friday, December 15, 8 pm; Saturday,
December 16, 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, December 17, 11 am and 5 pm. Tickets
are $20 each, $18 for groups of 10 or more. According to Richard, this
version is perfect for families with very young children. You can download an
order
form http://www.rgfpa.org/performances/ nut_holynames_form.html or call
530-7516.
• 21st Annual Revels. If you enjoy beautiful music, exciting dancing,
thrilling storytelling and creating community through the shared experience
of live musical theatre, then celebrate the Winter Solstice and holiday
traditions here. The audience is invited to sing and dance along with the
show, and it is a great show for families. December 15-17 at the Scottish
Rite Theatre on Lake
Merritt. Tickets are
$15 - $42 at www.calrevel
s.org or www.goldstar
events.com for special discounts!
• Oakland
Interfaith Youth Gospel Choir Concert.Their 10th Annual Christmas Concert will be held at the First
Unitarian Church of Oakland on Saturday, December 16 at 6 pm. For details, go
to www.oigc.org.
• A Christmas Carol at Mills College,
December 15-17. Some matinees and
evening shows-- 2 pm and 7 pm. Ticke ts online or call
338-0810.
• Fairy Winterland
at Children's Fairyland , December
15-23, Noon - 7 pm featuring live performances; holiday celebrations from
many cultures; daily appearance by Santa Claus; special decorations and
thousands of twinkling lights; rides, puppet shoes, arts and crafts; last
minute holiday shopping in the Magic Lamp gift shop, and free holiday treats,
cider and hot cocoa and more! For
details, Children's Fairyland is located at 699 Bellevue Avenue near Lake Merritt.
• Redwood
Heights Elementary's
Holiday Tree and Wreath Sale ,
December 16. We're ordering our tree from them this year! Great prices and
delivery direct to homes available. Order by December 15 for pick or delivery
on December 16. Pick up between 10 am and noon at Redwood Heights
School. Check out the school's website for
details, prices and order forms.
• Lower Merriewood
Stairs Work Party, Sunday, December 17, 8 am. Heavy rain will cancel. Meet in front of 5612 Merriewood
Drive (top of the stairs on 'lower' Merriewood Drive).
Bring gloves. Please contact Jim Dexter
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3 -
Holiday Sharing; Mayor's Toy
Drive
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 Tap dancing
Christmas Trees at the Laurel Santa Stroll last Saturday. They also appeared
at the Montclair Holiday
Stroll on Thursday.
• Mayor's Toy Drive: Drop New Unwrapped toys at many Fire Stations and at the
Oaklanders
Assistance Center
in City Hall, Rm 123. Volunteers are needed on
December 20, 21 and 22. You may also donate money. Contact Al
Lujan for more information, 238-7366.
• Skyline
High School's Holiday
Concert, Wednesday, December 20, 7:30 pm: Whether
your taste extends to the soaring violins of the Orchestra, the swinging
horns of the Jazz Band, or the yuletide carols of the Choir, you will
certainly enjoy this event at the Rawley T.
Farnsworth Theater on campus. Tickets $5 for adults, $3 for children under
12.
• Shop Oakland
for the Holidays! Shopping with our
local businesses and artists not only keeps money and jobs in our community,
it also makes Oakland
a more interesting and wonder place to live! Here are a few resources: Shop
Oakland Website - www.shopoakland.com-- includes hundreds of local stores
in our business districts. Search the site by product, category, neighborhood
and more! Get directions, phone numbers, hours,
everything you need to make it easy. Note: Free parking in downtown city
garages on Saturdays during December! Oakland
Unwrapped--learn about fun Oakland
shops, incredible artists and designers, and holiday gift fairs where you can
buy the most creative gifts around. Join their newsletter to get upcoming
holiday gift guides, and check their website for a complete
listing of all their past Hot Spots.
• Tips on Simplifying the Holidays: If you are looking for ways to reduce the stress of the
holidays, or for more "green" gift giving, check out the NewAmerican Dream website.
• Twelve Days of Christmas- Emergency
Preparedness Gifts for the Family: The
Red Cross has developed a handy
website with ideas for stocking stuffers.
• Holiday Gift Certificate Distribution for
Low Income Families: The City of Oakland Hunger Program
and the Emergency Food Providers Advisory Committee sponsor a holiday
distribution of food gift certificates for low income families and seniors.
Call 986-2721 for details.
• Stop Hunger Year Round: Many groups receive donations at this time of year, but
hunger is a year round problem in our community. 35% of the Alameda Food
Bank's clients are children. 25% of households with children reported they
went without food at least once in the last year. One third of the clients at
emergency food programs are seniors. 38% of the families have at least one
working member. 41% are unemployed. Consider a donation to the Alameda
County Food Bank.
• Nutcracker at the Paramount Theatre: Former Director of the Oakland Ballet Ronn
Guidi has revived a professional troupe to perform
this perennial favorite Friday, December 22 at 8 pm, Saturday, December 23 at
2 and 8 pm, and Sunday, December 24 at 11 am. For information, contact the Paramount
Theatre at 465-6400 or Ticketmaster
For
more information about Hunger in our community....
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4 -
Prepare for Winter Storms; Prevent Heating Equipment Fires; Caution about
Wood Burning Fireplaces
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 • Check Drainage: Public
Works reports a new home slide in the East Oakland
hills. Check around your home perimeter this weekend while its
raining. Are your rain gutters clear of leaves? Is water draining away far
enough from your foundation? Is there any earth movement?
• Sand Bags and Plastic Sheeting Still
Available: For locations.
• Report flooding or other storm problems to the Public Works Call Center at (510) 615-5566 24
hours.
• Volunteer
to Maintain-A-Drain: Heavy rains wash a large amount of
garbage, litter, and pollution into storm drains (inlets). We call all help
by putting leaves in gutters into the green bin. Clogged storm drains cause flooding. Public Works will provide you with rain
gear and a tools if you go a step further and
volunteer to help them keep an inlet on your street clear. (Above) Student
paints "No dumping, flows to Sausal Creek" near storm drain.
• Heating equipment is the leading cause of
winter home fires--take precautions! In just the last week, the Oakland
Fire Department has responded to a number of home fires that could have been
prevented by taking the following steps:
- Keep space heaters a
minimum of 3 feet from anything that can burn.
- Portable heaters
should shut off automatically if tipped over. If not, replace with a
newer model that does.
- When leaving a room or
going to bed, TURN OFF all portable heaters.
- Hire a qualified
technician to clean and service your furnace.
- Hire a professional
chimney sweep to inspect and clean your fireplace and chimney.
- Keep children away
from heaters.
- Keep combustibles in
your home to a minimum.
- Ensure that every
level of your home has a working smoke detector alarm, and be sure to
check and clean it once a month.
Contact the Oakland Fire
Prevention Bureau for additional information at 238-3851.
• Reduce Wood Smoke Pollution: As the nights get cold, before you get nostalgic and
light a fire in your fire place, think about this: most wood stoves and
fireplaces in hour homes release far more air pollution indoors and out, than
heaters using other fuels. Oaklanders have high
rates of asthma, especially children. You can make a difference:
- Stop burning wood;
switch to a gas fireplace or insert.
- If you must burn wood,
use less by weatherizing your house, or replacing your old woodstove or
fireplace with a new certified model.
- Burn only clean,
seasoned wood and nonglossy white paper.
- Build small, hot fires
instead of large smoldering ones.
- Burn seasoned
cordwood, densified logs and firelogs
- Watch your chimney for
smoke and have it inspected often
- Don't use your fireplace
or stove on Spare the Air nights.
For
More Winter Storm Information...
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5 -
Community Policing Updates: Open House, Fingerprinting, Toy Gun Exchange
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 • Hundreds
Attend Police Department Open House: Crime
prevention council and home alert members got a chance to meet command staff
and problem solving officers (PSO's) Wednesday.
Currently 33 of the 56 beats have their Measure Y funded beat officers. PSO's presented displays on problem sites in their areas
and how they were working with the community resolve problems. Everyone
agreed it should be an annual event.
• Finger Printing: The Chief has agreed to post a formal response to media
stories this week on the Finger Printing unit. In the interim here are a few
points. The reports made it appear that police were not taking finger prints in
crimes because they do not have crime lab staff:
- Police and
technicians do take finger prints in the field. Why they do or do
not take them in any particular case is an issue to raise
with Lieutenants in each district.
- This summer several criminalists in the OPD lab left for other jobs, so
they are contracting with Contra Costa.
- In recent years the
police department funded many lab positions with grants. While this
started before my time on the Council, I suspect they did this to
preserve more funding for overtime, more police on the street.
- Last year during the
budget process, police leaders told me that because the funding for the
lab appeared to be year-to-year, it made it harder for them to recruit
and retain technicians. For those who read my newsletter, you will
remember that I led the budget fight to add permanent lab technicians (5
finger printing and DNA positions.) Many of you contacted the council in
support of these positions.
- Now that the positions
are funded, Deputy Chief Jordan says OPD has decided to upgrade these
positions to make the city more competitive, so they have been
negotiating changes in the civil service descriptions. The DNA criminalist positions are in the process of
recruitment now, finger printing criminalist positions are almost finalized. The City
Administrator said in committee this week that she will work with them
to expedite the hiring process. A report will come back to the Finance
and Public Safety Committees in January.
• Fruitvale Students Exchange Toy Guns: (Above) Police and fire fighters exchanged
non-violent toys for toy guns at Fruitvale Elementary this week. Parents are
reminded that realistic "toy" or facsimile guns are illegal.
Many robberies in our neighborhoods have involved these "toy" guns.
More importantly police may not be were not aware that the "guns"
are "toys" and this has led to tragic incidences in other cities.
Also, paint guns and B-B guns lead to mandatory expulsion from public
schools.
• Know your neighbors: The holiday season is a perfect time to introduce
yourself, if you haven't already. I noticed that some in the Dimond are
trying to combine this with Christmas caroling. Put together a contact list
with names, phone numbers, email addresses. If most of your neighbors use
email, organize a listserv that allows you to communicate instantaneously.
Many blocks in District 4 use their listservs to
alert neighbors to unusual events-- such as aggressive magazine salespeople
(all solicitors should have a permit from the police), possible casing of
homes, or stolen cars. Keep in mind that the police don't always monitor the listservs, so it is important to call the police and file
a complaint at 777-333 or on
line so that there is an official record. The police, traffic engineering
and other departments use these reports to allocate resources.
For
details about organizing a Neighborhood Watch Group
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6 -
Neighborhood Updates: Joaquin
Miller Dog
Park Opens
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 • Joaquin
Miller Dog Play Area Now Open: Thanks to
the work of the Joaquin Miller Task Force, especially Emily Rosenberg, Dale Risden and Sue Piper... dog lovers are welcome to bring
their dogs to the new off-leash dog play area in Joaquin Miller Park, located
in parking lots 4 and 5 near Woodminster
Amphitheater. One is for smaller dogs, the other for larger pets.
This off-leash dog play area is a pilot
project to show that the space can be successfully shared for the dog
park and for use as a parking lot. The shared use requires special
cooperation and volunteer efforts by dog park users. Key points to the
agreement with the City are:
- Dog owners clean up
after their dogs immediately year
- Dog owners observe
other rules posted at dog play area.
- Dog park will be
closed about 30 days a year for use as a
- Dog park may not be
used by any dog during the closed
Dog Park Rules:
- Always bring a plastic
bag and pick up after your dog
- Limit three dogs per
adult
- Small Dog Area for
dogs under 30 pounds and elderly dogs
- Dogs must be leashed
to and from fenced area
- Adult handler must be
in fenced area with dog at all times
- Keep dogs in sight and
maintain voice control
- Children under 12 must
be accompanied by an adult
- Children may not run,
sit on the ground or use wheeled
- Dog must be licensed
and have shots
- No dogs under four
months old
- Dogs showing repeated
aggressive behavior must be leashed
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the
dog play area. Contact Dale
Risden We are still planning to add a few
benches. A "grand opening" is being planned for around Valentine's
Day.
For
more information, Oakland Dog Owners Group (ODOG)
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7 -
Traffic Issues
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In the past months, our office has sponsored
many neighborhood meetings on traffic issues including Skyline Blvd where there was a fatality
last summer. The Traffic Engineering Department is now in the process of
developing a comprehensive plan for several streets. In the case of Skyline,
our office will be coordinating a small group representing residents to work
with the City to develop creative ways to slow down the speeding traffic as
it has become a regional attraction for motorcyclists and bicyclists creating
additional hazards for drivers and hikers on the road.
On Snake
Road, a long, winding, steep road connecting
Skyline with Mountain Blvd.
in Montclair,
it's not only the speeding cars, but also daredevil skateboarders and
bicyclists that are of concern! These issues pertain to every road that goes
from the hills to Interstate 580, from Thornhill to
High Street, including 35th
Avenue. On 35th we are working on new several
dangerous curves and intersections between Hwy 13 and Mac Arthur...please
slow down! Finally, we are still working on finalizing the plant selection
for the new traffic barriers in the Melrose
neighborhood.
Our office has allocated funds for three
permanent new radar speed feedback signs similar to the one on Lincoln Avenue.
This is a pilot project in an effort to slow down traffic on the fastest down
hill areas. It takes about 90 days from placing the order to installation; we
are ordering these radar speed feedback signs on Joaquin Miller Road above the tot lot,
on 35th Avenue
at Victor and at an as-yet-to-be determined on Redwood Road between Crestmont and the Warren Freeway.
At the same time, there are many things that
individuals can do to help:
- Obey the speed
limit--25 MPH in residential zones- - use low gear on the steep hills!
- Leave home a few
minutes earlier to avoid known traffic jams (such as those near schools
during drop off and pick up times).
- Park your car in your
garage--instead of using your garage for storage, park
your car off street, especially critical on narrow streets. It's also a
way to prevent auto theft--just remember to keep your garage door
closed.
- Cut low hanging
vegetation that's blocking signs, sidewalks or on street parking.
- Sweep up dead leaves
and other debris from the road in front of your house to avoid bicycle
or other accidents on slippery surfaces.
- Adhere to posted
signs: if it says no parking, find another spot to park.
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8 -School
and Youth News
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 << Students,
parents, neighbors and volunteers from UC Berkeley planted 25 trees and many
plants on the hillside above Horace Mann's Schoolyard. Many thanks to
neighbor Jeanne Nixon and her compatriots, who organized the event.
• Skyline's Performing Arts
Academy Presents Hamlet, December 13 through December 16th, each evening at 7 pm
at the Rawley T. Farnsworth Theater on the Skyline
campus. Tickets are $9 adults, $7 children under 11.
• Free and Inexpensive Things to Do With Your
Kids in December c/o Art Is Education. Art Is Education, the Alameda
County Office of Education's Alliance for Arts Learning Leadership, lists a
number of good ideas for family activities during the holiday season,
including a Winter Festival at the Oakland Museum of California (December 10,
1-4 pm, to day camps during the winter break. For details, go to Art
Is Education.
• Sequoia
School Art Card
Fundraiser. Use these beautiful cards featuring artwork by Sequoia school
children for thank-you notes, birthday cards, invitations, get-well cards,
holiday greetings or just to tell someone you love them. The cards feature
Animal Masks (the famous Sequoia puppets) and self-portaits--all
by Sequoia students. Stop by the school office between 8 am and 4 pm to pick
your cards, $1 each.
• Check out new OUSD website
. The URL is the same--http://www.ousd.
k12.ca.us- but the look
and feel is different. This online resource provides useful and user-friendly
information, in particular, resources to help
parents and guardians understand test scores, get involved in education, give
first-rate academic support and guide students toward graduation and college.
Special links will connect you to resources for teachers and detailed
information about schools, including performance data, contact numbers and
calendars. Check it out.
• Student Exchanges with our Sister City,
Fukouka,
Japan.
The Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association will select six Oakland 5th
graders to spend two weeks next summer in Fukuoka, Japan-- Oakland's sister
city. This is an all expenses paid trip to an international Children's Convention
with over 40 countries represented that is tentatively scheduled for July
13-25, 2007. Also,The
Annual Oakland
Fukuoka High
School Student Exchange Program is a 10-12 day Program
in Fukuoka, Japan,
Oakland's Sister City.
Applications are now being accepted for 15 students. The estimated Program
Cost may be up to $2,000.00 (depends on airfare cost) which includes airfare,
room & board (home- stays), organized activities while in Fukuoka, and travel
insurance. Students will be responsible for any personal expenses (purchases,
gifts, snacks, etc.). Students must be entering high school in the fall of
2007, currently enrolled in high school or have just graduated in the summer
of 2007. Deadline for applicants to either program is January 12, 2007. Applications
may be downloaded from the Oakland
Fukuoka Sister City website
• Maxwell Park Community Open House at
Scholastic Book Fair: Saturday, December 16, 10 am until 2 pm, Maxwell Park Elementary School,
4730 Fleming Avenue.
• East
Bay Warriors Win in Florida! The East
Bay Warriors was the only Pop Warner Football team in the entire country to
have two football teams in the National Championships and one of a handful to
have both Cheer and Football teams at Nationals. Three of the four teams
brought home trophies: East Bay Jr. Pee Wee Football- Wranglers ranked 2nd in
the nation at the Jr. Pee Wee Division; East Bay Pee Wee Football-Wolfpack ranked third in the nation in Pee Wee Division
1; East Bay Midget Cheer-Warriors ranked 5th in the Large Novice Pop Warner
Cheer Nationals; and the East Bay Jr. Pee Wee Cheer-Wolverines ranked 11 in
the Large Novice Pop Warer Cheer Nationals.
Congratulations. You can check out the many photos at their website:
http://www.eastbaywarriors.org.
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9 - More
Community Events
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 Mark Rauzon (left), incoming President of Friends of Sausal
Creek, led a walk through Dimond Park and Dimond Canyon last Saturday as part
of a grant from my office to survey oak trees in the area. The grant and
"Oak Walk" grew out of last year's removal of Oakland's
oldest Oak Tree-- the so called "Champagne
Oak"--which was dying from a major fungal infection. The remains of the
tree can be found near the stairs to the parking lot by Lyons Pool.
• Free desks! Roger Boaz has 10 slightly used desks (42" by 24")
available for use by a nonprofit. Please contact
him or call him at 531-1561 for details.
• Dog Volunteers needed for Doggy Play Group:
The Oakland Animal Shelter runs a Doggy
Play Group, an extremely important activity for the dogs because it gives them
social contact and exercise. Volunteers are needed to supervise. For details,
contact Megan Webb, Community Outreach
Program Manager at Oakland Animal Services at 535-5604.
• Chabot 7th Annual Balloon Drop, Sunday,
December 31, 3:45 to 5 pm: Free with
General Admission. Space is limited, advance tickets are required. Ring in
the New Year at this annual event. At the strike of 4 pm (midnight Greenwich
Mean Time), celebrate the start of the real New Year with music and balloons
dropping from the Chabot Rotunda, many filled with prizes. Note that Chabot
will be open during the winter break from December 26 - January 7, but will
be closed Christmas Day, December 25. For details, Visit
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10 -Give
Gifts of Preparedness & More Classes
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• Give the Gift of Preparedness. The American Red Cross, Bay Area is undertaking a
comprehensive program to train one million Bay Area residents in Disaster
Preparedness. They have launched the "Give the Gift of
Preparedness" Campaign. Consider disaster kits, a First Aid/CPR class, a
pet First Aid kit or sponsor emergency preparedness training to your
neighborhood, school, business or place of worship. I’m thinking of giving
the hand cranked flashlights and radios to everyone in our family. Go to the ARCBA
shopping website for great gifts and supplies that will protect you and
support the campaign. Enter Promotional Code, “GIFT” for a 20% Discount.
Expires 2/28/2007
• Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE)
Classes: Sign up via the website below
or email: core@oaklandnet ..com or call 238-6351.
• Montclair
Neighborhood CORE Leaders Meeting, January 23. If you are considering organizing a CORE (Citizens of Oakland
Respond to Emergencies) group on your block and you live in Montclair,
consider attending the next Montclair Neighborhood CORE Leaders Meeting on
Tuesday, January 23 at 7 pm at the Montclair
Community Play
Center, 5815 Thornhill
Drive. For details, contact Sandy
Pohutsky.
• Citywide CORE Neighborhood Exercise planned
for Saturday, April 28, 2007. Mark your
calendar if you have a CORE group. And if you have any ideas about how to
make the experience more effective, contact Roger
Vickery, chair of the Montclair Safety & Improvement Council (MSIC),
who is the MSIC representative to the CORE Exercise Planning Team.
For
more information about Emergency Preparedness Classes
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11- News
for Seniors
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• Strong Bodies Stay Young: Amy Aldrich, certified Strong Women Stay Young instructor
and and Oakland Adult Education Instruction,
presents a series of simple and effective exercises from a program deigned at
Tufts University specifically to aid people at risk for osteoporosis. Come to
class and learn your own strength. Men and women are welcome. This is an
ongoing, drop in class that is free. Class begins Wednesday, January 10 from
3:30 to 5:30 pm at Lincoln Court Senior Apartments, 2400 MacArthur Blvd., in the large
activity room. To register, call Beverly
at 336-1952.
• Free Group Activities to Homebound Seniors
via Telephone Conference Calls: Senior
Center Without Walls offers a unique support group activity for homebound
seniors. Facilitators lead discussion on various challenges for seniors--
from depression and isolation to .... They are
currently seeking qualified individuals to facilitate a group on the
telephone on a weekly or biweekly basis for three months (February through
April). Facilitators call in toll-free to the groups from home or office and
the phone meetings can be scheduled weekdays, evenings or weekends. Contact Senior Center Without Walls
or call toll-free at 1-877-797- 7299. Or check out
their website
• Free Health Insurance Counseling for
Seniors: The Health Insurance Counseling
& Advocacy program (HICAP) offers free counseling on
- Medicare
- Medigap
polices
- HMOs
- Prescription drug
resources
- Low-income assistance
programs
- Other health insurance
questions
HICAP counselor Gerry Eiselman holds office hours at Lincoln Court
Center, 2400 MacArthur Blvd,
the first Monday of the month between 9 and 11 am. Call 839- 0393 or 1-800-434-0222
for an appointment.
• Legal Assistance for Seniors: Another local resource is Legal Assistance for Seniors, a
nonprofit organization serving seniors in Alameda County.
If you or someone you know has a legal issue, call 832-3040 or email Legal
Assistance for Seniors, located at 464 7th Street.
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