• Free Computer Giveaway at OTXWest, Saturday, September 8, 9 am- Noon: OTXWest refurbishes used computers and gives them to students and families. Their next free giveaway is today at their facilities at 1680 14th Street. OTXWest was started by volunteer Bruce Buckelew, a retired IBM exec at Oakland Tech High School more than 10 years ago. Recently, they installed computers at the Brookdale Recreation Center and at Glenview School, and have worked with many students and families from Edna Brewer and Montera.
   

• Salud! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health & Community, Saturday, September 8, 10 am - 2 pm -- at the WCRC Gallery, 5741 Telegraph Avenue, sponsored by the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Women's Cancer Resource Center and The American Cancer Society. Food by La Cocina Poblana, arts & crafts mercado, health information, entertainment and raffle. For details, call 601-4040 x111.

• Dimond Park Dedication as a Park for Peace, today Saturday, September 8, 11 am-2 pm: Dimond Park is one of 23 Oakland parks to be dedicated as a Park for Peace, part of the "Community of Spirit Project" and Project Mosaic. Community and staff will declare each drug free and designate support and life-giving activities for youth and their families. Help fold 1,000 origami cranes to hang in the recreation center as a symbol of peace. Create a poster promoting peace in our community and enter it in the Kids Art Contest. Peace Pole Planting, refreshments and more. Details, contact Michelle Doppelt at 482-7831.

Last month Paster Sally Juarez leads neighborhood church leaders and neighbors in prayers at the Peace Pole (right) installed at Brookdale Park.
 

• District 5 Picnic, Saturday, September 8, Noon - 5 pm: Peralta Hacienda Historical Park: 2465 34th Avenue, near Coolidge Ave & Hyde Street, close to the 43, 54, and 14 AC Transit Bus Lines. Free food, activities for kids, tours of Peralta Haciend and music. Bring a blanket, friends and family. For details, call 532-9142.

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Woodminster Amphitheater, September 7-16: This final production of the 2007 season opens this weekend. Children free with paid adult tickets. For  information....
   

• Joaquin Miller Dog Park closed for final Woodminster Show;  reopens by 10 am on Monday, September 17. ODOG volunteers have found that things work most smoothly to keep the dog park closed throughout the entire run of each theater production. Contact ODOG for more information.

• Montclair Office Hours This Sunday at the Farmer's Market: Sue Piper and I will be staffing our booth at the Montclair Farmer's Market on Sunday, September 9 from 9 am until 1 pm. Other regular office hours resume this week:
  • Wednesdays, 4 - 6 pm, Laurel District 4 Office, 4173 MacArthur Blvd. 2nd Floor
  • Thursdays, 4 - 6 pm, Dimond District Office in the Police Substation at the Dimond Safeway 3550 Fruitvale Avenue
  • Saturdays, 10 am-Noon, Laurel District 4 Office, 4173 MacArthur Blvd, 2nd Fl. Note: No office hours September 15, Creek to Bay Day.

• Earthquake Benefit for Peru: >> Mother with injured son in shelter, Pisco, Peru, NY Times photo.  I noticed this local benefit for the victims of the recent southern Peru earthquake on the Redwood Hts listserv at the new women's bar Velvet  located at 3411 MacArthur Blvd at 35th Ave in the Laurel District, Wednesday September 12, 8 pm to closing :  "We're raising money to support the victims of last month's earthquake in southern Peru. We're asking a $10 donation, but no one will be turned away. Please be as generous as possible. We're hoping to raise $2,000. All funds will be donated to OxFam. I'll be spinning música criolla, samba, salsa, etc., and later on DJ Flavor Fav will hook up the Rock en Español and 80s hits.--Mr. Alarcon"
   

Sign up Now for Creek to Bay Day, September 15:  Last year 1,030 volunteers participated in a range of Oakland Creek to Bay Day projects at 20 locations around the City: 5 tons of trash were removed from Oakland's creeks and Lake Merritt; 207 cubic yards of non-native green waste was removed from our riparian (creek) corridors to make way for native plants to flourish; 250 storm drains were stenciled with the message "No Dumping, Drains to Bay (or Creek)" to remind people that our storm drains should carry only stormwater to our creeks and the San Francisco Bay.

Oakland residents who participate in this event, which is held as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, join thousands of volunteers in all 50 states and 90 countries around the world in taking part in the largest waterway and beach cleanup of the year.

District 4 has several major creeks running through it:  Sausal Creek, Temescal Creek, Peralta Creek, Courtland Creek and their tributaries.  If you are planning a project in our district and would like help and support, please contact Jennifer Argueta in our office and  the Creek-to-Bay Watershed coordinator, 238-7611

Currently, the following sites in District 4 have signed up for Creek-to-Bay Day. Feel free to contact the organizer for details:

• Friends of Sausal Creek seeks crew leaders for Creek to Bay Day on September 15. They regularly attract 100 or more volunteers. If you would like to volunteer as a crew leader, email FOSC Restoration Coordinator  Kathren Stevenson.
   

  >>A view of Dimond Canyon, where FOSC has made a world of difference over the past 10 years.
   

• Seeking Creek-to-Bay Cleanups Suitable for Very Young Children: Please let our office know if your locale would be suitable for preschoolers under parental supervision. We've received inquiries from parents who want to instill environmentalism early in their children's lives. Please contact Jennifer Argueta.

• Sausal Creek Monitoring/Aquatic Insect Sampling, Sunday, September 16, 9:30 am-Noon: Call Emma Brown at 527-2507 to confirm.

• Sausal Creek Quarterly Water Quality Monitoring, Sunday, September 22, 9 am - Noon: Call Nick Kirsh for details at 530-4490. Friends of Sausal Creek Field and Nursery programs are on hiatus in August but restart in September. For details.

National Night Out on Georgia Street last month.
 

• Thank You Party for National Night Out Hosts and Volunteers: Come to City Hall, Hearing Room 3 on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30 pm for a  Thank You Party with light refreshments, dessert and comments by Assistant Chief Howard Jordan. RSVP 238-3128 or to Felicia Verdin.

• Beats 13 Y and13 Z Welcome Back PSO Debbie Mack: The North Hills NCPC and Montclair Safety and Improvement Council welcome back Problem Solving Officer Debbie Mack, who had been off on maternity leave. As a PSO, she works closely with the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils to deal with ongoing issues in her beat rather than responding to 911 police calls.

• Transportation the topic at MSIC's September 13 meeting: The quarterly Montclair Safety & Improvement Council (MSIC) public meeting Thursday, September 13, 7 pm, Montclair School host representatives from the City's Traffic Engineering Department and the OPD Traffic Patrol Unit. They will discuss how they work with residents to address speeding, parking,and other traffic issues. The proposed stoplight at Mountain and La Salle will be addressed, as well. The second half of the meeting will be dedicated to questions and the identification of other traffic hot spots. For details...

•  TheMeasure Y website  has been updated with summaries of past meetings, and a listing of upcoming meetings. The public is always welcome to attend these meetings.

• How to file a Police Report:  Police use crime reports to plan patrols and follow crime trends. Commanders determine their priorities based on the number and severity of crimes reported. You don't have to rely on the police to actually make the report; for non-urgent crimes such as auto break-ins or after the fact home break-ins you can download a citizen's crime report  from the City's website.

• For a complete list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils in District 4.

We recently held a community meeting to solicit input from dog owners and groups on updating City laws to conform to new State regulations. We continue to receive emails from people with thoughts on the proposed changes to the City's regulations  Dogs at Large (OMC Chapter 6 6.070) and Dogs at Large in Parks (OMC Chapter 6 6.080). We are hoping to bring the measure to the City's Life Enrichment Committee, September 25, 6 pm, Hearing Room 1, City Hall. Public comments are welcome.

There are basically two NEW requirements:

• The leash be attached to a collar or harness, and
• Dog guardians must pick up ("pooper scooper" requirement) after their dogs on public or private property (other than their own personal private property).  We have had some concerns about exempting personal property.  If there is an unsanitary situation, odors, etc. current laws would already cover these situations.

As a result of citizen input we are modifying two existing provisions:

• We are giving dog owners the ability to tether their dogs for a 15 minute grace period. The current leash law requires dog guardians to have their dogs on leash (and attached to the hand of the dog guardian) at all times when on public property. It also prohibits dogs from creating a nuisance and requires that dogs not block sidewalks or cause harm to themselves, other animals, people or property. We hope the 15 minute grade period will encourage people to get out with their dogs, but not to leave them unreasonably unattended. The guiding principle here is that the dog must be under the control of its guardian at all times when on public property.
• We are changing the requirement that the leashes should be no longer than 6 feet to that dogs should be on leash and no more than 6 feet from their guardian to accomodate differences in leash styles and the size of owners and their dogs.
   

<< Collapse of "soft story" building in Peru last month. NYT photo.








 

• September is National Preparedness Month: Come to Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall on Wednesday, September 12,12:30-2:30 pm, for a National Preparedness Month Fair. Firefighters will demonstrate how to use a fire extinguisher, perform disaster first aid and cribbing techniques, while CORE-trained volunteers will demonstrate how to shut off gas meters and use two-way radios.  Volunteers will also staff information tables and vendors will have emergency supplies to purchase. Oakland Animal Services will introduce their new Pet Preparedness Packet: A "How-To" Guide that outlines practical steps to keep your pet safe during a disaster. Copies are free and downloadable. For details on the other events below, call 238-6351:

• Small Business Emergency Preparedness Walk-through and Discussion, Friday, September 14, 11 am, Pacific National Bank, 1998 Mountain Blvd.
• Emergency Preparedness Night with the Oakland Athletics, Monday, September 17, 6 pm-10 pm
• Emergency Preparedness Information for Special Needs Populations, Thursday, September 17, 1- 4 pm, North Oakland Senior Center, 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way..

• As people begin applying for the City's new retrofit reimbursement program, there seems to be some confusion about what's involved. New homeowners of older homes have 60 days in which to register their interest in the program. Completed retrofit plans are not required at the time you apply, but you must submit your application within 60 days after the transfer of ownership.
  
  To apply, bring the following to the Building Permit Counter on the 2nd floor at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza:
   
  • Copy of your closing papers (to establish the purchase price of the home -- which is used to calculate the .5% reimbursement value).
  • Copy of any documentation that shows you now own the property.
  • Pictures of the house from all sides, showing all floors and roof, the slope of the land. These provide the building officials with a visual of the type of house you own and the surrounding conditions.
  • Measurements of the home's foot-print -- length and width.

You will be asked to file an application for a retrofit permit (a new lower flat fee of $250), following which  you have 6 months in which to submit your retrofit plans. A building official will arrange a site visit to assess your under-the-house conditions and advise whether you can use a prescriptive retrofit plan (the Association of Bay Area Governments has an easy to understand Plan Set A) or will require a custom engineered plan. You will have one year from the date of the approved retrofit permit to complete the retrofit. For Frequently Asked Questions About Our Retrofit Program

• Learn More about Oakland's New Retrofit Program, Wednesday, October 3, from 6 to 8 pm: at the office of the Oakland Association of Realtors, 1528 Webster. Space is limited to first 75 people. Call Sue Piper in our office at 238-7042 or email her. Please help us spread the word to your neighbors and Oakland friends.

• Join or start a CORE group on your block -- first step is to get to know each other and share contact information. Learn more at the City's website for Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE). If you are already CORE trained, consider taking additional training through CORE or the American Red Cross. Consider the following CORE courses (all require advanced registration):
  • CORE Refresher (required for all 2003-2004 CORE graduates) - October 13, 9 am -1 pm
  • Disaster First Aid - September 22, 9 am - 4 pm
  • Managing Stress During Emergencies - October 27, 9 am - 1 pm
  • Managing Your Neighborhood Command Center Operations Effectively - November 10, 9 am - 3 pm

• Invest in an automatic gas shut off or gas interrupt valve.  Fires from broken gas lines are a high risk following a major earthquake. Know where your gas meter is located and how to shut if off manually, if you don't have an automatic shut off valve. 

• Bolt bookcases, other tall, heavy items to the wall -- injuries following a major earthquake are primarily due to falling and flying objects. A great resource is 72hours.org

• Even if you have retrofitted your home, you might want to consider a professional inspection.  Some studies suggest that as many as two thirds of retrofitted homes in Oakland do not meet today's standards. Some earthquake insurance companies offer discounts to homes that have been retrofitted.

• Earthquake Fault and Liquefaction Maps and other information

• Altenheim Grand Opening Wednesday, September 19, 3:30 pm: The Altenheim is a National Register-listed historic landmark located in Oakland's Dimond District. Citizens Housing Corporation working with the Excelsior German Center and the City of Oakland has restored this architectural treasure to new use as independent affordable housing for seniors. The Altenheim is located at 1720 MacArthur Blvd.

• Two Programs for Seniors at Dimond Branch Library in September: The Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Avenue, is sponsoring two free discussion programs presented by the Alameda County Senior Injury Prevention Program (SIPP):
   
  • Friday, September 14, 2 pm -- Preventing Falls discusses simple things to reduce your risk of falling; receive a free Falls Prevention Manual. 
  • Tuesday, September 18, 2 pm -- Older Driver Safety, things you can do to maintain your driving skills as you get older and an open discussion about the issue of mobility as we age. Designed for Older Adults, their family members or professionals working with Older Adults.
  For more information, please call 482-7844.

• OUSD Adult Ed's New Brain Fitness Program for Seniors: This program is a scientifically validated to improve memory, thinking and communication in mature adults. It begins September 17 and meets Monday through Friday, 3:30-5 pm for 9 weeks (ends November 14) at the Downtown Oakland Senior Center, 200 Grand Avenue. For information, call 879-4090.

• Brain Aerobics Class: Get your morning workout  Tuesday mornings, 10-11:30 am at the Downtown Oakland Senior Center or Wednesday mornings, 9:30-10:30 am at the North Oakland Senior Center.The goal of the class is to help stimulate the mind, improve memory and have fun in a safe and non-competitive environment. Exercises include Sudoko, Brain Bats, Brain Teasers, critical thinking puzzles and more. This is an ongoing class. Call Joan Adams at 879-4090

• Council Office Support to Seniors: Something for readers to note is that along with his other duties, Richard Cowan uses his expertise in senior issues to informally help out in this area.  He is a member of the Dimond Senior Council which plans the development of senior facilities in this neighborhood, and he can also assist in personal issues from elder abuse to paratransit. He may be reached at 238-7041.

• College Environmental Internships for Fall at Chabot Space & Science Center: Applications are currently being accepted for three paid fall college internship positions at Chabot Space & ScienceCenter in Oakland. An interview is required. Positions must be filled by October 1^st  2007, and 200 hours must be completed by February 1^st  2008.  For details,contact Eric R. Havel at 336-7326 or go to the website.

<<Last year at Horace Mann Elementary
 

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• Walk Your Child to School Day October 3/4: Each year Oakland schools participate in National Walk Your Child To School Day as a way to promote healthy exercise and safe travel habits as parents and students go to school. This is when you typically see those "Drive 25, Keep Kids Alive" signs popping up-- it's a reminder to slow down and take those extra minutes so that you can drive safely whether you are dropping your kids off at school or commuting to work. This year, the following District 4 schools are participating in the City's effort:
  • Allendale Elementary School
  • Fruitvale Elementary School
  • Glenview Elementary School
  • Horace Mann Elementary School
  • Sequoia Elementary School
  • Joaquin Miller Elementary School
  • Maxwell Park Elementary School - (Supervisor Nate Miley and I will join students, parents and staff on Thursday, October 4)
  • Montclair Elementary School
  • Thornhill Elementary School

• Homework Assistance for Teens at Libraries starts September 4th. The Oakland Public Library launches free drop-in Homework Assistance for teens,  12- 18 years old. Teens who want help in English, math, research and science from  experienced volunteer tutors can come to one of six Oakland libraries for help. No advance registration is needed:
  • Asian Branch: 388 9th Street, Suite 190, Mondays 7pm, Tuesdays, 6 - 8pm (math only)
  • Dimond Branch: 3565 Fruitvale Ave, Saturdays, 10 am - Noon
  • Main Library-West Auditorium: 125 14th Street: Wednesdays & Thursdays, 6-8 pm
  • Melrose Branch: 4805 Foothill Blvd.: Mondays, 5-7 pm

For more information and locations, please call 238-7233 or the above libraries.

• AB 45 Approved by Senate Appropriates, goes to full Senate: Sandre Swanson's bill calling for the return of local control of Oakland Unified School District to the School Board by July 1, 2008 was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and now goes to Senate Floor for approval by September 14 (when this year's legislative session is slated to close), following which it will go to the governor for his approval..

• Sister Cities International September 11 Concert, Tuesday, 11:30 am- 1:30 pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza: For the first time, Oakland will join 50 US cities and 35 international communities in a series of concerts. The date carries special significance for Oakland and its 8 Sister Cities. On September 11, 1956,  President Eisenhower delivered a speech during the White House Summit on Citizen Diplomacy calling for people-to-people ties; his call for peace and global understanding remains relevant today.  Oakland's Sister Cities:
  • DALIAN,CHINA
  • FUKUOKA,JAPAN
  • NAKHODKA,RUSSIA
  • OCHO RIOS, JAMAICA
  • SANTIAGO DE CUBA, CUBA
  • SEKONDI-TAKORADI,GHANA
  • AGADIR,MORROCO
  • ULAANBAATAR,MONGOLIA

• Sports and Entertainment in Emeryville on Display at Oakland Public Library History Room: A new exhibition, Sports and Entertainment in Emeryville: 1870-1970, opening September 15 through December 15, 2007 in the Oakland History Room of the Oakland Main Library. The Emeryville Historical Society draws from its growing collection of photographs and other materials to document the excitement of Pacific Coast League baseball games at Oaks Park, prize fights in the exposition building at Shellmound Park, world champion-level horse racing at the Oakland Trotting Park, along with dance marathons, theater productions, live music, air shows, auto races, rodeos, and a wide variety of other activities. The History Room is on the 2nd floor of the Oakland Main Library.
   
• Maxwell Park's Annual Day in the Park, September 15 -- from Noon to 5 pm. Lots of food, fun, entertainment and children and youth activities. If you've got a business and you'd like to share it with the rest of Maxwell Park at the upcoming Day in the Park event on September 15,  for just $25 you can have a table at the event so that you can show others what you do! Contact Krista Gulbranson, Event Coordinator, at  304-3575. 

• Maxwell Park NCPC Clean Up at Walgreen's on High Street: The next clean up will be Sunday, September 16. Contact Jan Hetherington for details.

• Meet the Author at Laurel Book Store,September 18, 7:30 pm: The Laurel Book Store, 4100 McArthur Blvd, invites you to hear Deborah Davis, author of Not Like You -- a young adult novel enjoying high praise with reviewers -- will be talking about writing for the YA market as well as her new book.   
• Neighborhood author Dennis Evanosky will discuss his new book Oakland's Laurel District a the Laurel Book Store October 12, 7:30.Plenty of history and wonderful old photos are included as well as tips for where you can go to see many of the old sites. 

• Semi-Annual Book Sale by Friends of Oakland Public Library, September 19: The Friends of the Oakland Public Library is having its semi-annual sale from September 19 to 22.  30% off everything in the store! Come check out 17,000 books from East Bay estates and private libraries.  Sale proceeds benefit the Oakland Public Library! If you are a member of the Friends, you get 30% during the Member's First Choice Day on Tuesday, September 18.
   

•  National Run @ Work Day: On September 21, 2007, the Road Runners Club of America, the largest grassroots running organization in the country, will promote the 2nd Annual RRCA National Run@Work Day®. The purpose of National Run@Work Day is to promote physical activity and healthy living through running or walking. For details.
   

• Get Outdoors. Give Back. Volunteer to Improve Joaquin Miller Park -- Saturday,  October 6 through Sunday, October 7: Volunteers for Outdoors -California (V-O-Cal), the City of Oakland and my office are organizing a camp out and volunteer trail stewardship weekend in Joaquin Miller Park, as part of the ongoing work of our Joaquin Miller Working Group. Help create safer trail connections using hand tools, enjoy great fun, tasty food and evening entertainment for teens and adults. Thirty-three people have already signed up.  Volunteers camp for free Friday and Saturday nights. Camping is optional and you can participate for one day, but we encourage you to come for the entire weekend. Register online.

• Free Film at Oakland Museum of California-First Fridays After Five: See Piece by Piece, a groundbreaking film documenting San Francisco's highly controversial graffiti art movement,Friday, October 5, 6:30 pm. For  information.

• Love Your Parks Survey Day, October 13: The Oakland Parks Coalition (OPC) sponsors Love Your Parks Day on October 13, where volunteers do an annual Oakland parks maintenance assessment. The data is pulled together into a report that is later presented to the Council's Public Works Committee. To volunteer for Love Your Parks Day or more information about OPC.

Daffodil Days 2007: This year's daffodil pickup date is Sunday, October 28. Over the past three years, Oaklanders have planted 150,000 daffodils, and another 50,000 are going to be available to plant in medians, school gardens and other public places.  Contact Cookie Robles- Wong at 434-5126. An on-line sign up should be posted next week. Deadline for ordering bulbs is October 5, 2007.

• Montclair Wine & Jazz Festival, Sunday, September 16, 11 am -6 pm: Jazz Legend Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, Sonando Project, Slammin All- Body Band, Fasmania Big Band, Monk's Music, Wine Village tasting Noon-5 pm, Artisan Lane, Kid's Town and more at the Montclair Village Jazz & Wine Festival.

• Allendale Park NCPC Picnic - September 19.

• Save the Dates --Sundays in the Redwoods starts Sunday, September 23: Here's the perfect way to build community and have a great time. Organize a pot luck with friends and neighbors at one of the upcoming free concerts at the Woodminster Amphitheater. Gates open at 2, concerts begin at 3 pm. Get there early--with this year's line-up, we expect large crowds.