Biking to Work on Thursday was a "mini critical mass" demonstration of the growing bike movement in our city.  I want to thank Rick Rickard who led our Montclair group, Howard Neal (who joins me every year, then bikes back up the hill to work in his Montclair law offices) and Doug Sovern (KCBS reporter and neighbor) for riding with me all the way to City Hall. Special thanks to Justice, Dan, and the whole Wheels of Justice crew  for hosting the Montclair station. Finally, congratulations to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition for a great day!
 

All along the way we picked up other bike commuters and it was clear we were changing the traffic culture as cars and buses carefully drove by our large swarm.  With gas heading upward towards $4/gallon, I'm sure more of us occasional bikers are considering doing this more often.

Another busy Oakland weekend is upon us and I especially encourage you to support your local school  carnivals, enjoy the wonderful homemade Greek food at the Greek Festival , check out the new Yosemite exhibit at the Museum, or enjoy a romantic peek at the rings of Saturn through the Chabot telescopes.
 

 Ms. Colleen Brown, (surrounded by admirers left)  is Oakland's 2007 Mother of the Year. She was nominated by the Community Policing Board of which she is a member. Coleen, a scientist for Bayer, was told that the "job" of block captain came with her new home in the Burbank-Millsbrae neighborhood.  She not only took on the job but went on to organize the  Crime Prevention Council and served on the Oakland Home Alert Coalition. Although she doesn't have biological children, Coleen has worked with hundreds of Oakland youth.

• Public Works Week:  The Public Works Agency (PWA) is one of City's most important departments.  They are rarely recognized for their good work and often take the blame for funding cuts as they struggle to maintain our parks, streets, lights, storm drains, and sidewalks with shrinking budgets.  Once a year the "downtown" staff joins the crews in the field to clean up one spot.  This week Dimond Park got the "blitz" treatment as nearly a hundred PWA workers planted flowers, picked up garbage, cut back trees and bushes and even scrubbed the barbeque grills.

At an awards luncheon afterwards outstanding workers were recognized.  (Left) Waver Garrett and the crew of the Traffic Sign and Maintenance group was recognized for their quick response to the "maze collapse."  Almost overnight they produced and put up the traffic detour signs that smoothly guides hundreds of thousands of commuters through our city. 

• Open Hydrants- A Serious Problem: This summer Parks & Rec wants to work with communities to provide more water play.  Opening fire hydrants on a hot summer day is illegal and dangerous. Water shoots from hydrants at very high pressure and can lead to accidents and injuries. Oakland Ordinance No. 12414 makes tampering with a fire hydrant punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Please report open hydrants immediately to 1-866-403-2683 or report online. Open hydrants also:

  • Lower pressure in nearby homes and makes it harder to fight fires.  

  • Waste water which can mean water shortages, especially during droughts.

  • Can damage the water system and increase water bills

• Vacation Tips--Before Leaving, Secure Your Residence:

  •  Have good locks on doors and windows.
  • Make sure your house looks lived in, not empty.
  • Leave shades and blinds in a normal position.
  • Ask a neighbor to watch your house.
  • Test your smoke and burglar alarms.
  • Stop ALL deliveries--mail, newspaper, etc.
  • Arrange for someone to mow your lawn.
  • Have your neighbor put your garbage cans out/in.
  • Plug in timers to turn lights and a radio or TV on/off.
  • If you have call forwarding on your phone, forward your phone calls to a trusted friend or relative.
  • Don't announce your absence on your answering machine.
  • Ask the police department to place your house on VACATION WATCH, by calling 239-3455.

• Vacation Tips--On the Road:
  • Never carry large amounts of cash; use travelers checks.
  • Do not stop to offer help to a stranded motorist. Go to the nearest telephone and call for help or use your cell phone.
  • If your car breaks down, raise your hood and attach a white flag to the antenna or door handle. If someone stops to help, it is advisable that you stay in your locked car and ask them to call the police or a garage. If you must abandon your car, keep all passengers together.
  • Carry your purse under your arms.

More Crime Prevention Tips for Summer
 

• Talk to your children about strangers; advise them to say "no" if they are promised a gift, run away as fast as possible, and tell a trusted adult immediately.
• Talk to your kids about fireworks and matches.
• Do not let your children play alone.
• Do not leave your garage door open.
• Many burglaries are committed through open windows, especially kitchen and bathroom windows.  Check them before leaving home.
• In summer we open more windows and doors, make sure you have window locks or other protections.
• When home alone or with your children, keep doors locked.
• If you leave the residence to do yard work, lock the door behind you.
• At parks and community pools, do not leave children or valuables unattended (or wrapped in a towel).
• Keep an eye on all of your valuables while shopping or attending area festivals. Watch out for pickpockets.

• The Police have made some arrests involving local robberies recently.  If you have information that could help police, contact your local lieutenant, problem solving officer or neighborhood services coordinator.  You can find their information by clicking on the map at:  http://www.oaklandpolice.com/youroff/contoff.html

• If you witness a robbery or crime, this Identification Sheet might help police get the information we need to make an arrest. More Robbery Tips
• Use Your NCPC to Help Set Community Safety Priorities: Our office tries to monitor the many listservs in our District where neighbors register concerns about crime and traffic safety but you cannot consider this the same as contacting police or our office directly. Police beat priorities are set at the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils (NCPCs). We encourage neighborhoods and representatives from Neighborhood Watch Groups to participate in their NCPC's. Schedule

• 35th Avenue Enforcement:  Last week we held a neighborhood meeting to discuss ways to improve traffic safety along 35th Avenue. At that time neighbors requested more enforcement; we want to thank the Traffic Officers for responding quickly with motorcycled officers issuing tickets this week.

• Sponsor a Skyline Student to the National Student Leadership Conference:  Felicia Luong, a sophomore at Skyline High School, has been selected to attend the prestigious National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) at American University in Washington, DC this summer. Students are selected for this program based on academic achievements, extracurricular involvement and demonstrated leadership potential. The tuition is $2,195. Felicia still needs to raise $1,195 to fully fund the trip. She has served as the Freshman Class Treasurer and Sophomore Class President at Skyline, volunteers at Kaiser Medical Center and has received three awards from the National Piano Playing Auditions in the past two years. If you are interested helping to sponsor one of Oakland's dedicated students, contact Felicia at (800) 994-6752.

• Oakland Family Fun Day, Saturday, June 9:  Hosted by Mayor Ron Dellums and the City of Oakland, Oakland families can take advantage of FREE admission to our four premier family attractions: the Oakland Zoo, the Oakland Museum of California, Chabot Space & Science Center and Children's Fairyland.  Each venue will host special activities that day as they roll out the red carpet for families to experience the magic of Oakland together. I'll be up at the Chabot Space & Science Center, please come by. http://www.oaklandnet.com/familyday/

• Library's Summer Reading Game Kick's Off with Celebration ot Thacher Hurd Mural:  On Saturday, June 9, at 11 am the Library will celebrate the completion of author/illustrator Thacher Hurd's colorful paintings on the walls of the Main Library's Children's Room and the start of the 2007 Reading Game, "Get a Clue @ Your  Library." The artist will discuss his work and lead a brief tour to showcase his lovable characters. The mural project was funded by the Zimmer Family Foundation and other sources. For details, call 238-3615 or visit their website.      Photos

• Family Camp Out in the Large Meadow, Saturday, June 23 through Sunday, June 24: You don't have to drive far to have a "Sierra" camping experience. Bring your tents and the kids and camp in Joaquin Miller Park! This is a rare opportunity, as the park does not usually allow overnight camping. For details, contact Stephanie Benavidez at 867-0669.

• Sign up for Oakland Feather River Camp: Family Camp programs at Oakland's camping site outside of Quincy in the Sierras run from July 1 to August 5. There are daily activities for all ages, along with special themes each week with guest instructors from Chabot Space and Science Center, Stagebridge and the Rotary Science Center. For horse lovers, there is Wrangler Camp, for campers ages 10-15. Oakland Feather River Camp, with space for 350 campers, is available for rental groups large and small. For information, call 336-CAMP or visit their website.

• Help Develop Alameda County's Long-term Strategic Health Plan: Come to an interactive community forum sponsored by the Alameda County Public Health Department on Tuesday, May 22, 6-8:30 pm at the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, 1827 MLK Jr. Way, Oakland. Give your input and ideas about how Alameda County can improve the health status of all people in the county. Dinner and child care will be provided. The event is sponsored by the Alameda County Public Health Department, Public Health Commission and District 5 Board of Supervisor Keith Carson. For details or to reserve child care, contact Gail Potier, ACPHD at 267-8099.
• Older Americans Month Celebration, Wednesday, May 23rd, 11am-2 pm:  The Bay Area usually ranks as the best area in the country for senior living.  Oakland always ranks in the top 50, 43rd last time I saw the rankings. Put on a hat and sunscreen and come down to Frank Ogawa Plaza to celebrate Older Americans with entertainment, community resource booths and more. Keynote speakers include United Farmworkers Vice President Dolores Huerta and the Lavender Seniors of the East Bay and their Lavender Scrolls Project.
   

• Montclair Village Directories Now Available: The 2007-08 Montclair Village Director is available at Montclair Stores now or download it from their website.