• Share Your Ideas for Oakland Parks at OPR Community Focus Group Meetings: The Department of Oakland Parks & Recreation is hosting a series of community focus group meetings throughout the City to meet with your City Representatives and to hear your suggestions to improve our parks and recreation programs. Representatives from Public Works (who maintain our parks), as well as from the Recreation and Parks Task Forces will present their findings and recommendations. The District 4 sessions will be held at the Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Avenue on Wednesday, April 18, 6:30-8 pm, and during the May 5th Day in Joaquin Miller Park, Noon -4 pm.

            For more information, contact the Office of the Mayor at 238-3141.

• Celebrate Sun & Earth Day at Chabot Science Center--Kids Go Green, Be Part of the Solution today April 14  11 am-4 pm. Wear green and receive $1 off each admission. Bring in your inkjet cartridges and receive a coupon to purchase our own quality compost for 99 cents in the Starry nights Gift Shop. Learn more about global climate change  4-5 pm.  Dan Kammen, director of University of California's   Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory will show kids and their families how fast the climate is changing and what they can do to make a real contribution in the fight against the global warming crisis simply by making a few day-to-day changes!  For more information on the monthly Kids Go Green series at the Chabot Space & Science Center.

• More Climate Change Actions Today:  The Chabot event above is one of 1300 climate change actions nationally.  Another is taking the AC Transit Bus 15 from Montclair to Lake Merritt from 10 am to 2 pm to support public transportation.  At the Lake's Boathouse, 568 Bellevue Avenue, a slide show based on Gore's Inconvenient Truth, speakers and literature will be available. www.StepItUp2007.org

• FOSC Talks about Global Warming, Wednesday, April 18:  Friends of Sausal Creek's April meeting on Wednesday 7-9 pm,  Dimond Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave, features Dr. Andy Gunther, trained by Vice President Al Gore. He will present an hour-long show  based on "An Inconvenient Truth" as part of a goal to educate one million people in the next 12 months about global warming. 
   

• Battery Recycling Made Easy in Oakland: State law bans batteries from residential garbage so consider buying rechargeable flashlights and batteries.  Meanwhile, I have been pleased to work with Stop Waste and our Public Works Department to have Battery Recycling Containers placed at public libraries, recreation centers, fire stations and other public buildings so that you can easily drop off your batteries for recycling. It's part of our effort to reach Zero Waste by 2020! Acceptable batteries: alkaline, carbon zinc and zinc air (AA, AAA, C, D, 9V and button batteries) as well as disposable lithium batteries (con cells and photo batteries). Rechargeable batteries--lithium Ion -(LI-ion), Nickel MetalHydride (NiMH) and Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) ARE NOT acceptable.

• Free Mercury Thermometer Exchange and Unwanted Medicine Collection on Saturday, May 19: East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) announces a free mercury thermometer exchange, as well as disposal of unwanted medicine on Saturday, May 19 from 9 am-3 pm at 6475 Christie Way (at 65th Street, Powell Street exit).

• The Energy Problem-- Special Talk Monday, April 23 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, 5:30-7 pm: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director and Nobel Prize Winner Steven Chu talks about the lab's Helios Project, an aggressive research program to transform the existing and future energy systems away from technologies that emit greenhouse gases. The Helios Talks series, is sponsored by the Berkeley Lab Friends of Science, UC Berkeley, Chabot Space & Science Center, The Exploratorium, Science Departments of Berkeley, Oakland and Albany High Schools.

• Water Rationing this Summer? Rebates and Free Water Conservation Aids:  2.4 million residents relying on the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for water (San Francisco, the Peninsula and San Jose) must cut back their water usage by10% by June or face water restrictions. The unusually dry winter has authorities worried. While most of the state's reservoirs are reasonably full, authorities are concerned about a possible second dry winter next year. EBMUD provides water to 1.2 million customers in Oakland and the rest of the East Bay and is also considering water rationing. A decision won't be made for a few more weeks. EBMUD is offering rebates up to $150 on new water conserving washing machines and toilets, free inspections and publications. For more information on rebates & programs.

• Bike to Work Day, Thursday, May 17: Each year I and my staff join hundreds of other Oaklanders in celebrating Bike to Work Day. If you would like to join us on Thursday, May 17, meet at Wheels of Justice in Montclair at 7:30 am and we'll meet up with Councilmember Pat Kernighan and her crew at the Grand Lake Theater and finish up at City Hall.

• 35 Projects to Choose From:  From a few neighbors sweeping the block or weeding the median strip, joining the hundred plus volunteers along Sausal Creek, or a major project like building a school garden in one day; there is a project for you.  This is our current list. If your project is not on it, please contact Jennifer Argueta at our office, 238-7273.

• Earth Expo, Wednesday, April 18, 10 am-2pm: Over 100 dynamic businesses and organizations will join city staff to showcase their contributions to Oakland's sustainable urban environment. Last year, Oakland was named the 5th most sustainable city in the nation. Learn how you can help us achieve our goal of Zero Waste by 2020. Taste organic produce, touch green building materials, see Bay-friendly landscaping ideas, listen to a "chalk talk" by the City's energy efficiency expert, take a look at hybrid cars, and get energy saving tips.

• Stop by Joaquin Miller School on Earth Day for Refreshing Lemonade & Help Support Fund Raising Efforts for Joaquin Miller/Montera School Trail: Take a break from your hard work and stop by the school on Saturday, April 21 around 10:30 or 11. Students will be selling refreshing lemonade to raise funds for the school trail that we are proposing to make it safer for students and families to walk from Joaquin Miller and Montera Schools to Montclair

• Register now for Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, May 5-6: Registrants receive passes to more than 60 bird- and butterfly-friendly, pesticide-free, water conserving, low maintenance gardens that contain 30% or more native plants. The gardens will be open on Sunday, May 6 from 10 am-5 pm at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.  A number of native plant nurseries (including FOSC's Native Plant Nursery in Joaquin Miller Park) will be having sales on May 5 & 6.

• Merritt College Annual Plant Fair, Saturday, April 28, 9 am-3 pm. There will be exotic plants, yummy vegetables, miscellaneous perennials, annual flowers and rare trees and shrubs, along with free advice, good music and lots of food. All proceeds benefit the Landscape Horticultural Department at Merritt College. For details, call 436-2418.

• MAIL BOX THEFT ALERT: David Green from the local Post Office, called to report  that the mailbox at the tennis courts on Mountain at Colton was vandalized, with mail stolen between 5 pm Monday and 2:30 pm on Tuesday, April 10.  USPS removed the damaged box and inspectors are looking into it.  If you mailed anything during those times, please follow up with intended recipients and follow reporting procedures to notify USPS.  There is a link to the report on the  MSIC website. Contrary to rumor, the mailbox will be replaced as soon as possible.

• April Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee Meeting, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 4, 2^nd Floor (next to the City Administrator's Office).  Parking validated for the Clay Street Garage, corner of 14th and Clay Streets.   The Meeting will be devoted to earthquake (disaster) preparedness and response. Speakers from the Fire Department will discuss how to organize your neighborhood. RSVP to Felicia Verdin at fverdin@oaklandnet.com , 238-3128, or you may e-mail NVigilante@msn.com. 
• Evening Robberies Along MacArthur:  A few weeks ago we reminded evening shoppers to be careful when they drove home, noticing a pattern of robbers following single shoppers home and approaching them just as they left their cars with hands full.  We see a similar pattern of patrons leaving MacArthur businesses in the evening being approached as they walk to darker, side streets to their cars streets.  This week a World Grounds worker was robbed as he went to his car.  The Laurel Merchants have hired a private patrol agency for the evenings and there will be extra police patrols in the area. We encourage neighbors to park on MacArthur whenever possible in the evening, always be alert about your surroundings and whether you are being followed, and walk with friends or in groups when parked on side streets.
• Suspicious Door-to-Door Salesmen are Back in Town, Be Alert: As the days lengthen, door-to-door "salesmen" seem to proliferate. Things are not always what they seem--sometimes the "salesmen" are actually casing the area. Often young people are being exploited; this week Glenview residents reported a group presenting themselves as sending a youth team to a tournament was actually a fraud. Remember that anyone going door-to-door must carry a permit from the police department. Ask them for it; or better yet, just tell them you don't talk to solicitors. The more uncomfortable they feel in your neighborhood, the less likely they will remain. If you are approached by a suspicious solicitor, try to get a good description and call 777-3333, the police non-emergency number to report someone suspicious in your neighborhood. Use list servs and telephone trees to alert your neighbors.

• No Child Left Behind?? Can it be made helpful? What should it include? How can you help? Hear Monty Neill, Executive Director of FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, and co-author of Failing Our Children, a report analyzing the NCLB. He'll be speaking on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 pm at Oakland High School, 1023 MacArthur Blvd. $10 at the door. Sponsors include  CalCARE, the Oakland Education Association, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and Oakland Parents Together.
• Big Tots Program at Redwood Heights Rec Center Needs Kids: This is a drop-off care program for children 3-5 years old and potty trained. It runs between 8:45 am and Noon Monday through Thursday and only costs $15 per day. Currently, there are only between 3 and 6 kids a day--the program needs 10 a day to continue. So please spread the word. For details, call the Redwood Heights Recreation Center at 428-7827.
• Glenview Elementary Gears Up for World Competition at Odyssey of the Mind Finals: Seven Glenview Elementary students just won a bid for the championship at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University, May 23-26. After winning first place in the Regional competition they placed second in the statewide competition. However, they need to raise fund s to cover the cost of airfare, food, housing and shipping of their props. If you or your company are interested in sponsoring the team, please contact Carla Moore. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students. It encourages students to analyze a situation, imagine all the possibilities, and develop a workable solution.

• Help Save Bret Harte's Yosemite Leadership Program: For the past 14 years, Bret Hart Middle School has been sending students to the Yosemite Institute. Unfortunately this year, the school cannot subsidize the cost. The Bret Harte PTA needs $3000 to fill the funding gap. Please help support this program by sending a tax deductible donation to the Bret Harte PTA, c/o Lesley Johnson-Gelb, 315 Lenox Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, and indicate that you are contributing to the "Yosemite Leadership Fund."
• Montclair School Unveils Innovative Obesity Prevention Effort on Friday, April 27: I'll be joining students, faculty and parents at Montclair Elementary School at 10:40 am on Friday, April 27 for a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new "hydration station" designed to increase access to drinking water. The PTA developed the station and raised the funds, including a matching grant from my office, in an effort to improve student health. Students are able to fill up water bottles at the station to take to class or into the lunchroom. Stop by to take a look--and perhaps a taste!

• 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 or ads for the program. Contact Giovanna Queeto.
  
• Youth Uprising Celebrates its 2nd Anniversary, Wednesday, May 2, 4-7 pm, 8711 MacArthur Blvd. Please RSVP by April 23 to 777-9909, ext. 171. Youth Uprising receives Measure Y funds and provides youth leadership, violence prevention and community building training and job opportunities.
 

• East Bay College Fair, Saturday, May 5, 1- 4 pm: Free event for high school students and families at California State University, East Bay, Hayward Hills Campus at the University Gymnasium, 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard. Representatives from more than 150 colleges and universities, along with valuable college planning and informational workshops on financial aid and admissions. Hosted by the Western Association for College Admission Counseling & California State University, East Bay.
• Asthma Camp Registration: There are 90 openings for the 2007 American Lung Association's Greater Bay Area Asthma Camp-- July 29 - August 1 (4 days, 3 nights).  Applicants will be accepted on a first come basis, sign up as soon as possible. Registration is $25. To be eligible, the child must be between the ages of 8 and 12 and be diagnosed with asthma. For details, contact Barron Pagtakhan at the American Lung Association at 893-5474, ext.  239.

• 6th Annual Oakland Firefighters Random Acts Awards & Dinner Dance,  Tonight, Saturday, April 21 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Lincoln Avenue. This is the group's largest fundraiser of the year, and includes a Citizen hero of the Year award presentation and recognition of a person in the Oakland Community for their many Random Acts of Kindness.  This  tax-exempt charitable organization provides funds and resources for Oakland Firefighters to provide "Random Acts of Kindness" when they encounter people in need on  Emergency 911 calls and elsewhere  To make a tax deductible donation, call 465-8422.

•  Free Hepatitis B Screening/Cancer Workshops at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Saturday, April 21, 1-4 pm: The American Cancer Society and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University host this free workshop in conjunction with Minority Cancer Awareness Month. Cantonese translation will be available.  Spaces are limited. Pre-register through the American Cancer Society, Northern California Chinese Unite at 1-888-666-6222.
   
• 4th Annual Taste of Spring Fundraiser for FOPRThursday, April 26,  the Friends of Oakland Parks Recreation's 4th Annual Taste of Spring Fundraiser at the Rotunda in downtown Oakland. This fundraiser supports Oakland's parks and recreation centers. Last year FOPR provided more than $27,500 a year in grant funding. District 4's Phil Tagami of California Commercial Investments, is this year's honoree. For details, call 465-1850.

• Celebrate the first human space flight and come party under the stars at Chabot's monthly nocturnal celebration-The Lunar Lounge Express! Featuring live music, refreshments, activities and fun:  Full access to Chabot exhibits, SonicVision - a new alternative music Planetarium show, telescope, cash bar $3 micro-brews from Buffalo Bill's Brewery and $3 wine, hear a recording of the transmission of the 1st human space flight, and view an authentic Russian space suit. Tickets - $15 adult, $10 student, $8 member. FEATURING: The Variable Stars, Belle & Sebastian meet the Smiths. Poppy and catchy indie rock. Add A Comet Collision Mission!  Don't miss your chance to embark on a daring exploration of comets aboard the C.L.C. Spacecraft! The mission's objective is to plot a course to rendezvous with a comet and launch a probe to collect scientific data. Drinks will be served during the mission briefing. To complete your mission, your team of astronauts must overcome any unforeseen challenges and unexpected emergencies.  Mission briefing including 2 drinks, 1 hour simulated mission. 
   
•  San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers in Concert, Friday, April 27, 8 pm, Holy Names College: Some local neighbors are part of the San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers and their director, renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. More than 100 musicians -- with the massed ranks of fiddles joined by cellos, guitars, drums, harps, flutes, basses, piano, and harmonicas -- fill the hall with melodies of Celtic music while dancers and singers round out the program. Audiences are encouraged to join in.

• Authors at A Great Good Place for Books:  Local author Ron Saxen will be reading from his memoir, The Good Eater: The True Story of a Male Model's Struggle with Binge Eating Disorders, on Saturday, April 28 at 7 pm. Monica Wood, author of Any Bitter Thing, will speak on Monday, April 30 at 7 pm. All events take place at A Great Good Place For Books, 6120 La Salle Avenue in Montclair.

• 2nd Annual Expo for New Business Startups Thursday, May 3, 11 am-3 pm: Come to Frank Ogawa Plaza at City Hall to learn how you can open your own business, meet graduates of Oakland Adult Education's Entrepreneurship Institute, check out services available to new businesses in Oakland and to get the facts about the hands-on training courses available. The free event is presented by Oakland Adult and Career Education in partnership with Urban Voice. For more information, call 879-4020
   
• Joaquin Miller Park Open House, May 5: Bring friends and family to the Meadow in Joaquin Miller Park for a picnic and day of fun from Noon - 4 pm. Learn about the wonders in  Joaquin Miller Park--our little bit of the Sierra right in our back yard-- as well as about services of the local neighborhood prevention council and other groups.