<< Lions greet the Vietnamese community at Tet in Clinton Park last weekend.

• No Office Hours Until February 24th: Because of the President's holiday weekend there are no office hours today Saturday, February 17. Because Richard and Ann are out this week, we will not hold the Wednesday Dimond or Thursday Laurel office hours.

• Over 30 Local Heroes Nominated, Join Us Saturday, February 24 10-Noon to honor them and to celebrate the Lunar New Year in the Laurel. This is our favorite event of the year, meet some of the nicest people in Oakland and be inspired by their work for the city. We serve Chinese snacks and are visited by the Chinese Lions!

• 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 Celebrates Lunar New Year, Sunday, February 18, 1-5 pm: Multi-Asian performances, book readings, food, crafts. www.museumca.org

• Bill Wong Presents Slides from his Oakland's Chinatown Photo History Book: Author Bill Wong will show slide images from his Oakland's Chinatown photo history book at 1:30 pm in the History Gallery as part of the Oakland Museum's event above. A great way to showcase Oakland's legacy with family and friends and get an autographed copy!

• Laurel Lion Dancing & Local Heroes, Saturday, February 24, 10 am - Noon: The Lions will visit Laurel merchants to 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.

• SF Chinese New Year Parade, Saturday, March 3, 6 pm: I don't often list things in that "other city," but children of all ages should see the 100 person Golden Dragon dance at least once. You can also watch it on KTVU 2 or Cable Channel KTSF26 from 6-8 pm.

• Bring your favorite dog and join us at the grand opening of Oakland's second Dog Park, Joaquin Miller Park tomorrow, Sunday, February 18 from 11 am-2 pm in parking lots 4 and 5. There will be "doggie bags" for all our 4 legged guests, cake and cookies for the others. Sue Piper has been baking dog and bone shaped cookies all week.

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 tables. Prizes range from a weekend getaway, to dinners, and dog treats of all kinds. Just remember that your dog must be licensed and no more than three dogs per adult.

• Rain Check: Forecasts predict clouds but no rain; however, if they are wrong our rain date is next Sunday, February 25th. Call 531-7387.

•Joaquin Miller Community Center Open House: Tuesday, February 27, 7-9 pm: Do you have wedding plans, a big family celebration or corporate event in your future? Come to the Open House at the Joaquin Miller Community Center at 3594 Sanborn Drive in Joaquin Miller Park to tour the facility and obtain information about local caterers. Live music by ensemble groups as well. For facility or rental information, contact the Central Reservations Unit at 238-3187.

>> "Put Together," Pieced by Rosie Lee Tompkins, Richmond, CA, 1985. Quilted by Willia Ette Graham, Oakland, CA, 1986. From the "Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Four Generations of African-American Quiltmakers," Museum of Craft and Folk Art, SF, 2006.

• "Through the Eyes of Children: Unique Perspectives on Art as a Celebration of Black Culture": The Renaissance School's art exhibit, 472 Water Street in Jack London Square, demonstrates the global impact of African art. Gallery hours: February 18 and 25, 10 am-2 pm. 531 -8566.

• Monday Night Blues Lectures and Performance, February 19, 8 pm-midnight: Kimball's Carnival, 522 Second St, $5 donation. Lecture on Blues Today and Yesterday and performances. Series held every Monday during Black History Month. Presented by the Bay Area Blues Society. (510) 836-2227/(707) 647-3962 or www.bayareabluessociety.net

• Screening of American Blackout, Wednesday, February 21, 7-10:30 pm, Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, $12 in advance at independent bookstores, $15 at the door. Former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) will deliver remarks at 7 pm. The 2006 Sundance Film Festival award-winning film follows at 8:30 pm. The film features McKinney's career in the U.S. House of Representatives and deals with the historical suppression of black voters. (415) 255-7296 ext. 253 or www.globalexchange.org.

• We Are Africa and Africa Is Us, Thursday, February 22, 10 am and 11:30 am: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street Renowned storyteller, actor, writer, director and griot Marijo presents African folk tales, American stories and instruments from Africa that have now become part of our musical landscape. This interactive performance will entertain audiences of all ages. (510) 238-2200 or www.museumca.org

• New Era/New Politics Walking Tour, Saturday, February 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.

• African American Quilters Demonstration & Workshop, Saturday, February 24, Noon-3pm, West Oakland Library, 1801 Adeline St, 238-7352. Members of this long-time Oakland group can help anyone get started quilting or develop their skills. Supplies will be provided. The African American Quilters meet monthly to share their experience with the public and swap resources. The group meets on the last Saturday of the month, noon-3 pm, same location.
 

For more Black History Month events...

<< Proposed Senior Development from High St: Ground Floor (l-r) Cafe/store, lobby, kiosk space for flower/news vendor, 2nd lobby, roll up gate. The project surrounds an open court yard.

• On Thursday night some 50 people met with the developer, City planning staff and our office to discuss changes in the senior residence proposed for High and MacArthur. In response to community input from a meeting we hosted last fall and from the Planning Commission Design Committee, AMG has:

• Removed a floor decreasing the size to 112 units.
• Nearly tripled commercial space on the ground floor.
• Increased parking to 2:1, as opposed to the 4:1 minimum requirement for senior housing. They are also negotiating for additional spaces in the neighborhood for weekend guests.
• The landscape firm that designed the Laurel arches is designing complementary metal art for the building. Matching tree grates, cans, and benches from the Laurel district will be used.

 

This meeting was designed to solicit more community input prior to a final hearing at the Planning Commission on February 28. The discussion was lively and suggestions were made on security, placement of the bus stop, exterior materials, and parking flexibility between residents and retail shoppers. Some clear differences came out between those who see the Laurel area continuing to be two story buildings based on the old zoning versus those who see mixed use buildings with housing above retail on major high traffic boulevards according to the city's general plan. This parallels a debate now happening in the Temescal district and other parts of the city. Some people remain opposed to senior housing at the site. On the whole, most people who attended supported the project.

• Peets Files Design with Planning: The Dimond Peets has formally started the process for remodeling the old bookstore site across from Farmer Joe's. With luck I'll be sipping my favorite coffee there by late spring, early summer.

• Allendale Recreation Center Director Michael Foster will be honored by the Community Policing Advisory Board March 7, 6 pm: At the next CPAB meeting Michael Foster will be honored for hosting the monthly Allendale Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meetings at the Recreation Center and for his work discussing the roots of violence in the community. Well-wishers are invited to attend the CPAB meeting, held at City Hall. It's an opportunity to see the CPAB at work. If you park at 1414 Clay Street, your parking ticket will be validated.

• Tobacco Shop Moratorium: Last 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 focussed on at liquor stores move to small shops selling mostly tobacco and junk food. The Police need teen volunteers to work as decoys in their tobacco and alcohol sale stings. Contact the ABAT Unit at 777-8680.

• "Don't Leave Checks and Mail on Your Mail Box, Full" Mailboxes: Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes, don't leave your mail especially credit card bills and check on your home mail box. Use "on the go" mailboxes in your neighborhood. This helps us preserve them. In recent years the Post Office has eliminated mail boxes with low usage. A word of caution, however---if you are mailing a bunch of letters, please take the extra time to only put a few into the slot at a time. A large batch of letters-- complete with the rubber band--stuffed into the slot, or a folded manila envelope surrounding other mail can block the channel and keep mail from falling into the box.

For information on jobs with the Oakland Police...

 

Three and a half years ago the Oakland schools were forced to take a state loan and a state administrator took control. The first piece of legislation introduced by Assemblyman Sandre Swanson AB45 calls for return of the Oakland Schools to local control as of January 2008, with the State Administrator retaining control over Fiscal Management. It would essentially allow the School Board to hire a Superintendent and return control over academic programs, school closures, sale of facilities, hiring of principals and teachers, etc. to Oakland citizens. The bill will be heard in Sacramento sometime in the next few weeks. Send letters of support to: Assemblyman Swanson, 1515 Clay St, Suite 2204, Oakland, CA 94612. 286-1670, 286-1888 (Fax).

 

• Horace Mann Elementary Wins 2007 National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grant: Thanks to the work of Jeanne Nixon (left) 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. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jeanne Nixon.

• Maxwell Park Together Forms to Redesign the School: Last week, parents and neighbors continued to meet with school staff to discuss next steps in redesigning the school and increasing enrollment. They have formed a coalition, Maxwell Park Together, and are asking to reconstitute the school for the fall, building on the progress made on a restructuring plan. Reconstitution requires all staff to reapply for their positions and to agree to the plan. OUSD Elementary Executive Director Sharon Casanares will meet with parents, teachers and neighbors at the school, 4730 Fleming Avenue, on Wednesday, February 21 at 6 pm to discuss the community's recommendation. The State Administrator will announce her final decision at the State Administrator/Board meeting on Wednesday, February 28, 4-8 pm at 1025 Second Avenue. For details, contact Ashley at 532-2070 or Lucia 261-7230

• Sequoia School-Community Emergency Preparedness Night: Neighbors and parents are invited to Sequoia Elementary School at 3730 Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday, February 21, 6-8 pm, for a Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Overview. For details, contact Chuck Seliger at 703-9004

• Sequoia School Multicultural Festival and Silent Auction, Saturday, April 28, 4-8 pm: Come join the fun and help raise funds for new play structures at the school. There will be performers, great food, and wonderful items to bid on. The committee still needs donations or services for the Silent Auction. Contact Giovanna Queeto. Or advertise in their auction catalog: $40 business card size; $75 for 1/4 page size; $150 for 1/2 page ads and $300 for full page ads. Direct donations for the new play structure are also welcome.

• Auditions for the 7th Annual All Oakland Talent Show: Poets, dancers, musicians, theater groups, martial artists, capoeiristas, video makers, visual artists, and other Oakland youth performers are invited to audition:

• Thursday, March 29, 4-8 pm at ASCEND School, 3709 E 12th Street
• Tuesday, April 3, 4-7:30 pm, Youth Uprising, 8711 MacArthur Blvd.
• Friday, April 20, 4-8 pm, Destiny Arts, 1000 42nd Street

The show will be Friday, May 11, 7-9:30 pm at the Oakland Museum. All proceeds benefit Oakland Peace Camp 2007, an arts & summer camping program teaching non-violence . For details, 433-5989 or contact Jackson Porretta.

 

• 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, mattresses (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.

• Buy a Brick for the Joaquin Miller School Teaching Garden: Help construct new landscaping and teaching gardens this spring. Join our office, Hillside Gardeners, Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association, Chevron, Wells Fargo and the Joaquin Miller School PTA. Buy a 4"x 8" brick for with up to 3 lines of copy, 20 characters in length, for $50. My family plans to buy 2! For details, contact Steve Woodard at 482-1495.

• Scholarships for College-bound Seniors:

• Reminder to Seniors, Apply for Cal Grants--the deadline to register for your Cal Grant is March 2. Cal Grants are guaranteed to every high school senior or recent graduate who meets academic, financial and eligibility requirements and provide $9,700 a year to pay for college expenses at any qualifying college, university, career or technical school in California. For more information on how to apply, students may contact the California Student Aid Commission at 1-888-224-7268 or visit their website . OUSD has listed more scholarship and grant information at the OUSD student Website.

• Seeking a District 4 rep to the City Budget Advisory Committee: The City's Budget Advisory Committee meets once a month to provide community input on the City budget and budget process. As Chair of the Finance Committee, I am filling the position vacated by our new Auditor Courtney Ruby. Interested candidates should send a letter to my office listing your qualifications and interest in serving on the BAC.

• Opening on the Oakland Fund for Children & Youth Advisory Board: I want to acknowledge and thank Marcia Henry , a long-time parent activist and youth advocate, for representing our district for the last 4 years. The OFCY Board, comprised of youth and adults, oversees Kids' First Funding, 2.5 percent of the city budget or about $11 million dedicated to after school and youth funding. I am now accepting applications for my adult appointment. Please send a letter with your qualifications and why you are interested to Jennifer Argueta in our office.

• The Community Development Block Grant Central Oakland District seeks 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. For details, Lease Wong, 482-5921, or Bill Miller, 534-4500 (before 7 pm only please).

•
 FOSC Nursery Opportunities: On Saturday, 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 activities. 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.

• Volunteers needed to help with Allendale Clean-up: Don Hamilton (above), one of our Local Hero winners last year, has been single-handedly cleaning up the blocks surrounding Allendale School and Allendale Rec Center on a DAILY basis. He needs volunteers to assist in his continuing campaign of litter pick up. If interested, contact Jennifer Argueta in our office at 238-7004.

• Park Blvd Trail: Our office is developing plans for Earth Day Project/Creek-to-Bay Day projects 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. In the interim our workshop participants asked the thousands of drivers on Park Blvd to share the road with both bikers and hikers along this area. We hope to add signs reminding motorists. For details & updates, go to our website and scroll down to Park Blvd.Trail.

• Oakland Parks Coalition Honored: The California Association of Park Recreation will present a special award to Oakland Parks Coalition at a banquet on Friday, March 9 in Sacramento. OPC is being honored for their work on raising public awareness about park maintenance in Oakland. OPC does the annual Parks assessment that was recently presented to the city and reported in this newsletter. Congratulations to OPC volunteers!

• Brookdale Park : Based on our recent meeting and surveys, staff will return to the 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.

 

• League of Women Voters Seeks Nominations for Making Democracy Work Awards: Each year, the LWV of Oakland celebrates community leaders--individuals and organizations that envision a way to improve Oakland and mobilize others to work with them to effect a change that benefits 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.

 

•Allendale's Family Day Valentine's Day Dance, tonight Saturday, February 17, 6 pm - midnight: Come to the Allendale Recreation Center at 3711 Suter Street for an evening of music and fun. For details, contact Michael Foster at 535-5635.

• The Bat Lady at Chabot Saturday, February 24th, 1:15 PM: Thirteen (of course) kinds of bats live in the Bay Area. 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.

• Oakland Museum's White Elephant Sale, March 3 and 4: If you've never been to the White Elephant Sale, plan on going this year. This world- famous sale offers practically EVERYTHING. (Sue Piper says she and her husband decorated their walls of their post-fire house with art from the sale.) Proceeds from the sale, sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women's Board, support many of the Museum's exhibitions and activities. The White Elephant Sale Warehouse is at 333 Lancaster Street at Glassock in Oakland and is free. Saturday, March 3, 9 am-4pm; Sunday, March 4, 11 am-4 pm.

• Oakland Youth Orchestra Benefit March 4: The Oakland Youth Orchestra will be sending 80 young musicians to Greece this summer to perform five concerts. They need funds for the tour; here are two ways you can help:

• March 4, 2007-Fund Raising Benefit at Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. Live and silence auctions, great Greek food and wines. Tickets $75 each or a table for 10 at $700.
• March 28: Mayor Delllums' hosts a Gala Fundraising Cocktail party at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel

For details, contact Maurice Arnold, president of the Oakland Youth Orchestra at 836-7478.

 

• 4th Annual Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation "Taste of Spring" Fundraiser April 26th, Rotunda in downtown Oakland. This event raises funds for important park projects. 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: 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 buy plants at the Friends of Sausal Creek's Native Plant Nursery Sale and support native plant restoration in watersheds throughout Oakland. For details, go to the Bringing Back The Natives website.
 

For more information on Bay Friendly Gardening....

• Tax Help at the Library: Oakland Public Library, in partnership with the American Association for Retired Persons, offers free tax assistance from through April 16, 2007. Trained volunteers are ready to help at the following library locations. Be sure to bring copies of your last year’s federal and state tax returns and all materials pertaining to your 2006 tax forms (and your spouse, if filing jointly!). Seniors, ages 60 plus, will be given preference at walk-in sites only. Please call ahead to confirm times:

• Oakland Main Library: 125 14th St, Mondays, 10 am-1:30 pm; Fridays, 12:30- pm; Saturdays, 10 am-3 pm; 238-3134. Walk-ins only; no advance appointments .
• Dimond Branch Library:3565 Fruitvale Ave; Tuesdays, 12:30-5 pm; Thursdays, 10 am-3 pm; 482-7844. Call for appointment; some walk-ins accepted.

For more locations.

 

• Earned Income Tax Credit Help: Did you know that in the Bay Area, over $75 million in Earn Income Tax Credits goes unclaimed each year? If your family earned less than $39,000 in 2006, you could be eligible for $4,400 or more in federal tax credits. The City participates in a program coordinated by the United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! Save it! program, providing free tax preparation assistance to help hard-working families claim these credits and build financial security. Tax center locations. To learn more : Call 800-358-8852 or email vita@uwba.org. US citizenship NOT required.

• March 1 Deadline for Oakland Business Tax:Just a reminder that if you own a business or do business out of your home that grosses more than $2,500 a year, you need to obtain a business license from the City of Oakland and pay business tax by March 1. Tax payments not received by the deadline are subject to a 10% penalty plus interest. The interest increases to 25% if taxes are not paid by May 1, 2007. For details, contact 238-3704 or email the Oakland Business Tax Customer Service Center.

 

• Sequoia School-Community Emergency Preparedness Night: Most schools will become emergency centers in a major disaster. Partnerships like this are very important. Neighbors and parents are invited to Sequoia Elementary School at 3730 Lincoln Avenue on Wednesday, February 21, 6-8 pm, for a Red Cross Emergency Preparedness Overview. For details, contact Chuck Seliger at 703-9004

• 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.

• Citywide CORE Neighborhood Exercise planned for Saturday, April 28th, 9am-Noon, based on a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault. Is your neighborhood organized? Sign-up for classes or the citywide exercise here.

• REMINDER-Daylight Savings Time Changes at midnight Saturday, March 2!--This year, Daylight Savings Time has been extended; it comes a month earlier and several weeks later-- from the 2nd weekend in March through the first Sunday in November. This could cause a problem for your computerized equipment that is automatically set to change to Daylight Savings Time. You may have to manually make the change.