Office Hours Resume Wednesday, February 28: This Saturday we will be hosting our annual Local Heroes Awards Ceremony at our Laurel Office during our usual Saturday office hours. Office hours will resume on Wednesday at the Laurel District Office (4173 MacArthur Blvd.) from 4-6 pm. Richard Cowan will be at the Police Substation at the Dimond Safeway on Thursday, March 1 from 4-6 pm, and Sue Piper will staff our Saturday office hours at the Laurel Office on Saturday, March 3 from 10 am until Noon.

• Laurel Lion Dancing & Local Heroes, Saturday, February 24, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm: When you're shopping the Laurel today watch out for the Chinese Lions. 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 KTSF 26 from 6-8 pm.

An incredible variety of more than 300 dogs and about twice as many human friends turned out for the Grand Opening of the new off-leash dog park in Joaquin Miller Park. It was a joyous occasion, with informational booths, dog games and prizes, and cake and dog shaped cookies for people. Thanks to all who came and helped make this a memorable day.

Just over four years ago as I was campaigning door-to-door, I met many residents who asked me about dog parks. I especially remember one elderly woman recovering from hip surgery, who was so concerned she wouldn't be able to walk her best friend and might have to give her away. Then I met neighbor Emily Rosenberg, who told me the city only had one small dog park. I didn't realize then how long it would take to open a new park. Changing city ordinances, finding a place, getting neighbor acceptance and official approval, finding a design we could afford, and organizing stewards for this venture took my first term in office! It would not have been possible without the work and guidance of Emily Rosenberg and Dale Risden (above) of Joaquin Miller Park Dog Owners Group, (JMPDOG) an affiliate of Oakland Dog Owners Group (ODOG) and the detailed work of fellow dog owner Sue Piper of our office. For updates on the park or to support JMPDOG, contact Dale Risden.

•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.

<< Oakland Pullman Porters from the collection of the African American Museum and Library . The Pullman Porters Union led the nation's fight for equality in the union movement and civil rights for all.

• 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.

• "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 25, 10 am-2 pm. 531 -8566.

For more Black History Month events...

• The developers, who are building the café and live-work townhouses at 35th Avenue and MacArthur Blvd, are proposing a similar but smaller project down the street for 35th Avenue and School Street. The project will build 7-8 condominium apartments with retail on the corner. It replaces the former gas station/car wash closed because of code violations and nuisance complaints about drug dealing; it is now being used as a motorcycle club. Our office will host a meeting at the Allendale Recreation Center before it goes to the Planning Commission.

• The AMG Senior Apartments proposed for High and MacArthur goes to the Planning Commission on February 28th. In response to community input and suggestions 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; will negotiate additional spaces in the neighborhood for guests.
• The Laurel Arch designer will make complementary metal art for the building. Matching tree grates, cans, and benches from the Laurel district will be used.

 

At the discussion we hosted 2 weeks ago, suggestions were made on security, placement of the bus stop, exterior materials, and parking flexibility between residents and retail shoppers. Some clear differences remain between those who see the Laurel area continuing to be two story retail buildings based on the old zoning versus those who see higher mixed use buildings with housing above retail according to the city's general plan for major traffic boulevards. This parallels a debate now happening in the Temescal district and other parts of the city. Unlike the Temescal, where the business association supports mixed use, the Laurel businesses are divided. Some fear that residential buildings will dilute the business district, others feel the high cost of land along MacArthur requires mixed income (residential & retail) and denser use to finance major improvements or expansions and to encourage more night life along the boulevard.

• 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.

• Public Tour of the Dispatch Center, March 6 & 13: See how our Oakland Police Department Dispatch Center works -- Tuesday, March 6 or March 13 at 5:45 pm. Tours run between 1.5-3 hours. Space is limited; reservations are required. Meet at the Fruitvale Substation at 3002 E 9th Street, (between Albertson's and the laundromat). Call Edith Guillen at 238-7159 to reserve your space.

• Tobacco Shop Moratorium: This 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.

For information on jobs with the Oakland Police...

 

• State Superintendent O’Connell and State Administrator Kimberly Stratham announced this week the State attempt to sell the Downtown Headquarters and Schools has ended. Last year the state began talks to sell the four acre site that holds 5 schools and the central administration buildings, supposedly to pay down the debt to the State. Pat Kernighan and I authored a City Council resolution opposing the sale without the elected School Board’s approval. We questioned whether the amount being offered would even pay for the replacement costs of the schools and buildings, much less help pay off the debt. I found the State Superintendent’s comments that ending the talks “might delay the return to local control”, a good example of why this kind decision needs to be made by citizens of Oakland and not Sacramento. The district might have lost some of its most valuable land as well, disrupted 5 schools, and earned very little to pay off its debt. Ironically, at the same time former State Administrator Ward was representing to the City that the Oak to Ninth Street Project did not need any schools over the next 20 years because the students could go to La Escuelita, which would have been sold!!

• All of the above are good reasons to support Assemblyman Sandre Swanson’s first bill, AB45  for return of Oakland Schools to local control by January 2008, with the State Administrator retaining only 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).

 

• Bret Harte Middle School Career Explorations Needs Volunteers: Today, many of our youth have limited exposure to adults who work in a variety of careers and professions. The school is looking for adults of color, especially men, to talk with students about their own careers, Thursday, March 1, 12:30pm – 3:30pm. Contact Sharon Higgins at bhparentcenter@yahoo.com or call 879-2068.

• Maxwell Park School Update: During the past month, parents and neighbors who formed Maxwell Park Together worked with the principal and OUSD to determine the future of the elementary school. While improving on its test scores, the school was still on a "probation" list under the Federal No Child Left Behind law. One of the issues was its declining enrollment, which is occurring at a number of other schools in the area as well, including nearby Elisabeth Sherman Elementary on Brann St. At a special meeting this week, District Director Sharon Casanaves explained that she will recommend to the State Administrator that the school go through an "incubation" process rather than a "reconstitution" process, as the community had requested. She based her recommendation on the fact that Sherman Elementary will be combined into Maxwell Park School next school year. Incubation will allow the new, consolidated school to spend 2007- 2008 building on current reform efforts and designing a new school to "open" in the fall of 2008-2009. Teachers and staff will have to reapply for their positions at the new school in the spring of 2008. 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 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.

<< March down Broadway with Harry Belafonte, Congresswoman Lee, and Danny Glover.
As we approach the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, local groups are mobilizing:

• On Saturday March 24th, 10am-Noon, Congresswoman Lee will holding her annual Town Hall Meeting on the War at the Grand Lake Theater,.

• Following the Town Hall meeting there will be March to City Hall at Noon (starting at Lake Merritt across from the Farmer’s Market).

• A short Rally at City Hall, 1-2pm will address how the cost of the war and resulting budget cuts at home are linked to the violence in Oakland.

• Envisioning Peace Concert, music and spoken word to inspire peace, 7 pm at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church, 2735 MacArthur Blvd at Coolidge. Music by Damond Moodie, the Apple Pie Hopes, Phoenix & Luke Thomas of After Buffalo, and the Renaissance School Chorus. Donations $5-10, youth free. 530-0915.

Upcoming FOSC Projects:

Saturday, March 3, 9 am-Noon; grassland site restoration--cutting and covering cotoneaster stumps, pulling broom and whacking acacia resprouts; 1:30-4:30 pm, help with site preparation at the Nursery for the annual plant sale on Sunday, May 6.

Saturday, March 10, 9 am-Noon; Riparian Site Restoration at El Centro Trailhead, removing weeds to provide improved wildlife habitat; 1:30-4:30, site preparation at Nursery for annual plant sale.

Saturday, March 31, 9 am-4:30 pm, Restoration and Nursery Programs meet at Joaquin Miller Park Nursery to prepare for the May 6 annual plant sale.

 

• 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. www.sausalcreek.org

• 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. This week at the monthly Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting, members of the Allendale Walking Group volunteered to help pick-up as they walk. If you are interested, contact Jennifer Argueta in our office at 238-7004.

For more information on Friends of Sausal Creek activities...

 

• 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).

 

• Free Foot & Health Clinic at Lincoln Court Apartments Tuesday, February 27, from 1-3:30 pm: The Over 60 Health Center provides free toe nail trimming and filing, Diabetes check, blood pressure, nutrition and medication review. Lincoln Court Apartments is located at 2400 MacArthur Blvd. Call 336-1952 for information.

• California Public Utilities Commission Bill Fair for at Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center, Wednesday, March 7, 3-8 pm: Free information on bills, services and low income programs for telephone, gas, electricity, water and cell phones. Representatives from the California Public Utilities Commission, AT & T, Cingular, Sprint, PG & E, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, East Bay MUD, and Alameda Power & Telecom. The Fruitvale-San Antonio Senior Center is located at 3301 E 12th Street.

• Strong Bodies, Stay Young for the 50+ Crowd at Lincoln Courts: These free drop in classes offer a series of simple and effective exercises. Held every Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm in the large activity room at Lincoln Court Apartments, 2400 MacArthur Blvd. call Beverly Kamatz at 336-1952 for details.

• Line Dance at Lincoln Court: Enjoy no-partner dancing and have fund socializing every Monday from 3:30-5:30 pm. This is a tuition free class sponsored by the Pleasant Valley Adult School. Questions: call Beverly Kamatz at 336-1952.

• Free Health Insurance Counseling the first Monday of the month at Lincoln Courts: The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) offers free services the first Monday of the Month at Lincoln Courts, 2400 MacArthur Blvd., from 9 am-Noon. Please call the HICAP office at 839-0393 to schedule an appointment.

Because of the attack last month by a mountain lion the far northern city of Arcata, some of our residents have asked about the dangers here in Oakland. Our local park rangers report that there have been occasional sightings of mountain lions in the East Bay hill areas, but are rarely seen because they generally avoid and retreat from human contact. The East Bay Region Park’s Volunteer Patrol has good information and frequently asked questions on its website: http://parkpatrol.org/cougars.htm Mountain lion attacks on humans are very rare and there have been no recorded reports of attacks in Alameda County. Many of you are avid hikers, these are their tips just in case:

• Stand tall and face the animal, but do not approach it; back away slowly, but do not run or walk away from or past it
• Make eye contact, talk at the lion in a loud, firm voice
• Make yourself appear as large as possible: wave your arms slowly up and down or open your coat
• Pick up any small children or pets without crouching down or turning your back to do
• Leave a route for the lion to use as an escape
• Throw sticks or rocks at the animal, but don't crouch down or turn your back to pick them up
• If you are attacked: fight back, try to remain on your feet, protect your head and neck and poke or hit the animal with anything available -- a rock, your walking stick, or your fist.

 

• 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 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.  For 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.

• 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. 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.

• OOPS and a REMINDER-Daylight Savings Time Changes Sunday, March 11, 2 am ! This year, Daylight Savings Time has been extended; it comes a month earlier and several weeks later-- from the 2nd Sunday in March (not the first as we mistakenly reported it in last week's newsletter) through the first in November or Sunday, November 4, 2 am. 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.

Email: jquan@oaklandnet.com

Phone: 510 238-7004

web: http://www.jeanquan.org