• Montclair Office Hours are THIS Sunday, February 11, 10 am-Noon at 6211 La Salle Avenue. We normally hold office hours the first Sunday in Montclair; however, we were so busy preparing for several neighborhood/park workshops last week and forgot to publicize office hours. So Sue and I hope to answer questions and listen this Sunday.

• Regular Office Hours Cancelled Next Week: We normally staff the Laurel District office at 4173 MacArthur Blvd., 2nd floor on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to noon. Richard Cowan holds weekly office hours at the Dimond Police Substation at Safeway on Thursdays from 4 to 6 pm. Because of staff vacations and the Lunar New Year Holiday, we will not hold office hours next Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday.

• Local Heroes -Nomination deadline February 14: With less than a week to go, we have about 30 nominations for Local Heroes. Do you know a deserving neighbor? Go to our website to see last year's nominees and send your nomination to Jennifer Argueta in our office. Please provide the name, address and contact information for both yourself and the nominee, along with a brief paragraph describing why you believe this person or group deserves recognition.

The awards will be presented at our District Office on February 24th as part of the Lunar New Year celebration in the Laurel. All nominees receive Oakland A's or Warriors tickets. The top awardees are allowed to designate up to $1000 in District 4 Council Capital funds to any public project.

The Lunar New Year falls on February 18th this year. It is the most important holiday for many of Oakland's Asian groups. The Chinese community is our largest, but the Vietnamese celebrate Tet, the Koreans call it Solnal, and the Mien call it Jiex Siang-Hnyangx.

• Chinatown Lunar New Year Street Bazaar, February 10-11, 10 am- 5 pm, 9th & Franklin Streets. Over 100 booths and live cultural performances make this one of the most colorful events of the year. You can buy lucky signs, cakes, flowers and everything you need to celebrate the holiday. www.oaklandchinatownchamber.org

• Oakland Tet Festival, February 11, 10 am- 6 pm, Clinton Square Park, 1230 Sixth Ave: Vietnamese games, booths, festivals, singing and dancing. www.vaced.org

• Celebrate Chinese New Year in the Laurel on Saturday, February 17: Stop by the Zhi Dao Guan, the Taoist Center, at 3824 MacArthur Blvd. on Saturday, February 17 for a pot luck dinner at 7 pm. There will be salsa dancing (that's Oakland's multiculturalism for you!) and lessons provided. For details, call 336-0129.

• Oakland Museum Family Exploration, February 18, 1-5 pm: multi-Asian performances, book readings, food, crafts. www.museumca.org

• Laurel Lion Dancing & Local Heroes, Saturday, February 25, 10 am - Noon: The Lions will visit Laurel merchants bring good luck for the new year, they usually make it to our office around noon just in time to be the finale for Our Local Heroes celebration.

In the fall of last year our office hosted a lively meeting on the proposed AMG Senior Apartments at High and MacArthur. At that time representatives from the developer, the Planning Department, and the public discussed the project. Taking the input from that meeting, a subsequent Planning Commission Meeting, additional feedback from our office and other community members, and the Planning Department, AMG has revised its project. The new plan eliminates a floor, adds more retail, and proposes landscape and art for its senior housing project at High and MacArthur. The proposal will go back to the Planning Commission in early March. Come to a community meeting on Thursday evening, February 15, 7 PM at the Jean Quan Council District Office, 4173 MacArthur Blvd. City Planning staff will also be present to answer questions.

• Soul Food Sunday, February 11, 11 am-4 pm Barnes & Noble, 98 Broadway, Jack London Square. celebrate and taste the rich contributions that African Americans have made to Oakland's and America's culinary arts, enjoy African Drumming performances (12:30 pm & 2 pm), author/chef Bryant Terry's presentation " In Search of Soul Grub" (1 pm), African story time with actor Gregory Bonds (2:15 pm), and the Zion Tabernacle Church Choir (3 pm). Nearby the Renaissance School's art exhibit titled, "Through The Eyes of Children: Unique Perspectives on Art as a Celebration of Black Culture," demonstrate the global impact of African art. Additional Gallery hours: February 15, 16, 18 and 25, 10 am-2 pm, 474 Water Street. 531 -8566.

• Monday Night Blues Lectures and Performance, February 12, 8 pm-midnight, Kimball's Carnival, 522 Second Street: Admission: $5 donation Lecture on the history of Oakland Blues and performance. Series held every Monday during Black History Month. Presented by the Bay Area Blues Society. (510) 836-2227/(707) 647-3962 or www.bay areabluessociety.net (Above) Oakland record producer Bob Geddins, "godfather of the Oakland Blues."

• History of San Francisco's Bayview/Hunters Point, Tuesday, February 13, 10:30 am-Noon, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street. The African American Genealogical Society looks at the early history of Bayview/Hunters Point. Before, during and after World War II, the shipping industry shaped the area's identity and the people, churches, schools and businesses that thrived there. The family history of Sam Jordan (a.k.a. "Mayor of Butchertown"), one of Bayview/Hunters Point's most celebrated African American citizens, will also be examined. In collaboration with the museum's Docent Council. Free Admission. (510) 238-2200 or www.museumca.org

• New Era/New Politics Walking Tour, Saturday, February 14th & 24th, 10 am. Tour starts at African American Museum and Library, 659 14th St. A 90- minute walk in downtown Oakland highlighting African American leaders such as C.L. Dellums, Ron Dellums and Lionel Wilson. 238-3234 or www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours Free.
 

For more Black History Month events...

• Bring your favorite dog and join us at the grand opening of the Joaquin Miller Park Dog Play Area on Sunday, February 18 from 11 am until 2 pm in parking lots 4 and 5. The event is co- sponsored by the Joaquin Miller Park Dog Owners Group (JMPDog), ODOG, Councilmember Henry Chang and my office. There will be contests (look alike, kissing) a 4-H Agility Demonstration and informational booths. Just remember that your dog must be licensed and no more than three dogs per adult. If you would like to help out, please contact Emily Rosenberg. There will be prizes and snacks for all (two and four legged participants). In case of rain, the event will be held on Sunday, February 25, 11 am to 2 pm. Leaflet.

• Smooch With Your Pooch at Paws & Claws, Saturday, February 10, 6:30 - 9 pm: This is a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day with those pets that you adore and to help raise funds for double gates at the new Joaquin Miller Park Dog Play Area. Entry fee is $10-$20 There'll be a kissing contests, a love song contest, a best costume contest, food, fun and music. For details,  here or call 336-0105.

• "Problem" or "Drug Houses": Earlier this week, police conducted a drug raid on Lincoln Avenue, directly across from Sequoia School and another home taken over by drug dealers on Eastman was boarded up by city building services. Police found 300-400 marijuana plants on Lincoln; the raid was linked to four other sites. Often, when there is a rise in auto theft or home burglaries in a residential neighborhood, it's due to nearby drug activity. Large scale marijuana cultivation and meth labs are sprouting up in all kinds of cities and neighborhoods. This is another reason to be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity to your your Home Alert Group AND to the police. To report drug activity call 238-DRUG.

• Tobacco Shop Moratorium: This week the Council enacted a moratorium on new "tobacco" shops. The 45 day moratorium with give city planners a chance to see how we can improve regulation. Recent police stings have shown a relatively high rate of sales to youth violations. More disturbing is the trend of seeing the kind of drug activity we have focused on at liquor stores move to small shops selling mostly tobacco and junk food.

The Police are seeking teen volunteers to work as decoys in their tobacco and alcohol stings. Contact the ABAT Unit at 777-8680.

• Tour the OPD Dispatch Center on Thursday, February 15 at 5:45 pm: Ever want to see how the city's Police Dispatch Center works? Contact Edith Guillen, Neighborhood Services Coordinator at 238-7159 to reserve a space on a first come, first served basis.

• Citizen's Police Academy starts February 17: If you live or work in Oakland, attending the Citizens' Police Academy is a great way to find out more about the people and policies of the Oakland Police Department. Learn about criminal law, police procedures and crime prevention techniques. Classes meet at the Eastmont Station, 2651 73rd Avenue, every Saturday from 9 am until Noon, for 14 weeks, starting February 17 through May 19. For more information, contact Paula White at 238-4523.

For information on jobs with the Oakland Police...

In May 2006, a landslide destroyed a home at 2866 McKillop Avenue in the Dimond District. Adjacent buildings were red and yellow-tagged to prevent additional damage. Last week, the City of Oakland filed a lawsuit against the East Bay Municipal Utility District to compel EBMUD to repair the 100-year-old Central Reservoir, just two blocks north of the slide. The reservoir is 13 acres across and over 20 feet deep, containing 164-million gallons of water. Leakage from the reservoir has been documented, with known leaks temporarily patched.

The City is currently working to save the paved street on McKillop Avenue, which has eroded since the slide. The repair is estimated to cost $3 million. Meanwhile, the City received a $2.6 million grant from FEMA to build a retaining wall and fix sewer pipes and storm drains damaged in the slide. The funds are only for city repairs, not for private property repairs.

<< Jean welcomes City Volunteers at the Public Works event last week including Don Hamilton & Steve Reuss/Allendale (left), Jim Dexter(ctr) and Theresa Gibbons, chair of the Keep Oakland Beautiful Board.

• Horace Mann Elementary Wins 2007 National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grant: Thanks to the work of Jeanne Nixon and her dedicated team of volunteers, Horace Mann Elementary School was one of 200 schools nationwide to win this year's National Gardening Association Youth Garden grants. They'll be using their $250 grant (plus a matching $250 from the Eagle Foundation) to create a 32' x 32' butterfly garden.

• Maxwell Park Redesign-Monday, February 12: Last week, parents and neighbors met with school staff to discuss next steps in redesigning the school. It was designated by the District as requiring "intervention" and has declining enrollment. The goal is to energize the school, strengthening the parent, teacher, neighborhood community to help the school improve. Other schools that have gone through this process and in our talks with District Administration they are impressed by the community support. If you live near Maxwell Park School, whether you are a parent or not, please plan on attending the next meeting on Monday, February 12 at 6 pm at the school, 4730 Fleming Avenue to help develop the school's recommendation to the State Administrator, due on February 28. For details, contact Ashley at 532-2070 or Lucia 261-7230

• Glenview School Yard Sale Donations Needed: The annual Glenview School Yard Sale Fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 28 from 9 am-2 pm. Donations are needed. Contributions should be saleable. No computers, matresses (including futons) and no adult clothing. Items may be dropped off at the school at 4215 La Cuesta Avenue on Saturday, February 24, March 24 and April 21 between 8 am and 10 am. For details, contact Jennifer Beeckman.

• Scholarships for College-bound Seniors: OUSD has listed new scholarship and grant information at the OUSD Student Website.

• Buy a Brick for the Joaquin Miller School Teaching Garden: After many years of planning, the school hopes to construct new landscaping in front of the school and add a teaching garden this spring. Our office added a $5,000 matching grant to donations from Hillside Gardeners, Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association, Chevron, Wells Fargo and the Joaquin Miller School PTA. Neighbors, parents of former, current and soon-to-be students--can lend your support as well. Each 4"x 8" brick is $50 and can have up to 3 lines of copy, 20 characters in length. My family plans to buy 2! For details, contact Steve Woodard  at 482-1495.

• New Maps for the Laurel and Dimond Commercial Districts: Amazing small businesses are opening up throughout the city. The Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau has just added the easy to use maps showing the businesses in each district. Visit this site and shop Oakland!

• New Parking Meters Approved: Broken parking meters are a frequent complaint. Relief should be on its way. Over the last 2 years the city has put tested several brands of new meters. This week we approved a contract with the company who currently provides them for Berkeley. The new meters accept cash or credit cards and require parkers to place the receipt on their dash boards. They "call in" daily reports on revenues and report problems. Over the next year about 40% of city's parking areas will have these new meters.

• The Community Development Block Grant Central Oakland District is recruiting new Board Members. Meetings are currently held on the first Monday of each month from 7 - 9 pm. Board Members must be a District 4 resident, business owner or property owner within the boundaries of Central District (MacArthur Blvd and west). The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 5, 7-9 pm at Project Re-connect, 3350 MacArthur Blvd. Lease Wong, 482-5921, or Bill Miller, 534-4500 (before 7 pm only please).

 

• FOSC Nursery Opportunities: On Saturday, February 10 and February 17, the Friends of Sausal Creek (FOSC) nursery will be open from 1:30 until 4 for volunteers to help with plant propagation and other nursery activites. Saturday, February 17, (9 am-Noon) FOSC will be removing Blackberry, ivy and elm sprouts in Dimond Canyon. Meet at the El Centro Trailhead. Contact Kathren Stevenson, Restoration Coordinator,or visit the FOSC website. On Sunday, February 18, 9 am - Noon, FOSC will be sampling aquatic insects and monitoring Sausal Creek. Contact Emma Brown at 527-2507 for details.

• FOSC 10th Anniversary Party, March 24, 4-7 pm: Tickets are now on sale to the Friends of Sausal Creek's 10th Anniversary party, at the Joaquin Miller Community Center. Email Sara Marcellino Tickets are $20 per person and directly fund FOSC's wonderful nursery and restoration programs. Donations for the auction are needed.

• Brookdale Park Summary: (Left) About 20 neighbors and city staff members met last Saturday to review plans for Brookdale Park improvements. Many neighbors from adjacent Nevil Street raised several safety issues and concerns about installing new equipment at that end of the park. Staff raised the need to have more visibility from the center over the park. Surveys returned to us expressed the desire for more picnic areas and expanded space for the Discovery Science Program. Staff will return to a March meeting of the Brookdale Recreation Center Advisory Committee with recommendations and cost estimates for possible projects. We hope to use the resulting list as a basis for community projects and grant proposals.

• Park Blvd Trail: Our office is developing plans for an Earth Day Project on the trail on upper Park Blvd. The hike/bike trail concept is being further refined with more work on traffic safety and other issues. For details & updates, go to our website and scroll down to Park Blvd.Trail.

 

• Parkway Theater Celebrates 87th Birthday of the League of Women Voters, Sunday, February 11: See this film about the suffragist fight for the right of women to vote, Iron Jawed Angels, in honor of the League of Women Voters' 87th birthday. 1:15- Theater opens for food and talk; 1:45 pm pre- film introduction; 2- 4 pm film. The Parkway Theater is at 1834 Park Blvd., just a block above East 18th St.

• LWV Seeks Nominations for Making Democracy Work Awards: Each year, the LWV of Oakland celebrates community leaders--individuals and organizations that have envisioned a way to improve Oakland and have mobilized others to work with them to effect a change that has benefited the broader community. Two individuals/organizations will be honored this year at the LWV's annual luncheon on April 18. All applications must be received by the LWV by March 5, 2007. For additional information, please contact the LWV at 834- 7640

 

• Sneak Preview of "The Astronaut Farmer" starring Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen at Chabot Space Science Center: on Monday, February 12, 7 pm. Actor Billy Bob Thornton and Writer/Director Michael Polish will participate in a Q & A following the screening. RSVP required, call (415) 273-2992 or go to Chabot's website for details.

• Chabot's Annual "Love Mission to Mars" This Saturday and Sunday:Take your sweetheart on a Valentine's date that is out of this world! Enjoy a 1 hour space mission in the Challenger Center, general admission to Chabot and one planetarium show for 2. Chocolates, beverages and a souvenir will be available before the mission. Saturday, February 10 at 3:30 pm and Sunday, February 11, 1:30 and 3:30 pm. $75 per couple. Call 336-7311 or email to register.

• The Bat Lady at Chabot Saturday, February 24th, 1:15 PM: The California Bat Conservation Fund will conduct a one-hour live bat demonstration inside Chabot's Biology Lab as part of the centers new exhibit "In the Dark." Bats named Dizzy, Screech and Snow will entertain visitors.

• 4th Annual Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation "Taste of Spring" Fundraiser April 26th, Rotunda in downtown Oakland. This year's special honoree is Phil Tagami, managing general partner of California Commercial Investments and a District 4 resident. This event raises funds for important park projects: Phase 2 of the Rockridge Greenbelt, interpretive signage for the FM Smith mule Team Renovation, design & fundraising for Raimondi Park and more than $27,500 in grant funding. FOPR provided the funds to print 5,000 of our new maps/brochure for Joaquin Miller Park, and they serve as the fiscal intermediary for many local park projects in District 4. For details, contact Kathryn Raymond at 465-1850.

• Fourth Annual Bay-Friendly Garden Tour, Sunday, April 29: This year's tour continues to celebrate the diverse styles of Bay-Friendly, pesticide free gardens. These gardens contain at least 30% native plants. Registration is required. Registrants receive a tour guide book with garden directions and descriptions by mail. Volunteers are needed for the day of the tour. If interested, please contact Lawrence Grodeska at 614-1699.

•Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Sunday, May 6: Not only do you get to tour home gardens throughout the East Bay, but you can by plants at the Friends of Sausal Creek's Native Plant Nursery Sale. For details, go to the Bringing Back The Natives website.
 

For more information on Bay Friendly Gardening....

 

• Citywide CORE Neighborhood Exercise planned for Saturday, April 28th, 9am-Noon, based on a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault. CORE groups, ham radio operators, and fire fighters will test their capacity of:

1. 1. CORE neighborhood communications team members to gather, document and transmit information about incidents in their neighborhood to the Neighborhood Incident Commander (NIC)
2. 2. CORE neighborhood communications team leaders to convey critical information to the amateur radio operator at the nearest fire station,
3. 3. CORE neighborhood communications team members to operate two-way radios, establish relays, manage possible interference and problem-solve,
4. 4. Neighborhood Incident Commander to dispatch response teams and make decisions based on information that the response team leaders report back to the NIC.

 

In addition, each CORE Group can determine if they want to test additional response strategies, such as neighborhood evacuation, fire drill or setting up a first aid station. For more information, contact CORE at 510 238-6351 or core@oaklandnet.com.

• Free Red Cross CPR Training Saturday, March 3: American Red Cross Bay Area holds its annual CPR Preparedness Saturday throughout the Bay Area. Classes will be offered in English, Chinese (San Francisco) and Spanish (Alameda County). You'll learn Adult CPR, Rescue Breathing, Care for choking victims and how to better prepare yourself and your family for disasters. Register on line or call (800) 520-5433.

• The 2 minute Disaster Preparedness Exercise: A record breaking 3200 Oaklanders participated in CORE (Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies) last year, over 900 in District 4. Tonight, at the dinner table, or the next time you gather with friends, take a minute to think about how you would respond to these questions--your answers could save a life:

• An large earthquake hits during the day when you are at work in San Francisco. The bridges are closed. How will you get back to Oakland?
• Your children are at school; you are at work when the earthquake hits. How can you ensure your children's safety?
• If you had to evacuate your home, what one or two items would you be able to hand carry if you only had 10 minutes to leave? Do you know where they are?

There are no correct answers, but thinking about these questions will help you and your family formulate a plan. Even better, take a CORE class and learn more about disaster preparedness. Call 238-6351 or register online.

 

Email: jquan@oaklandnet.com

Phone: 510 238-7004

web: http://www.jeanquan.org