• Gang Awareness and Education for Families, Saturday, April 12, 9 am-Noon:  at St. Anthony Church, 1535 16th Avenue. Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and Oakland Community Organizations present a workshop for parents to help them identify the signs of high-risk behaviors and gang involvement. The workshop will also provide assistance to parents on re-directing their youth's high-risk, gang-related behaviors.  Free day care, continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

•  2^nd Annual Mayor Ronald V. Dellums Invitational Youth Track Meet,  Saturday, April 12, 9 am, Laney College Track: Participants, ages 4 -14, will compete in  track and field activities after opening ceremonies with Mayor Ron Dellums.

• Second Annual Mills College Native American Pow Wow, Saturday, April 12, 10 am- 6 pm: The Mills College Pow Wow is a gathering that celebrates Native American community and culture. The Mills College PowWow is a longstanding community event supported by the Bay Area's Native American community and one of few Pow Wows held in the Bay Area by and for the urban American Indian community. To be held at Toyon Meadow. Contact Jean Wong at 430-2080 or email for additional information.

• Arroyo Viejo Creek Restoration at the Zoo:  If you haven't been to our Zoo recently, take the family and spend the day to see why it was voted the  best family attraction in the Bay Area.  This Saturday, April 12, Noon, stop by for the grand opening of the Creek Restoration which includes 6 outdoor classroon with interpretive signage, a parallel trail, and replanting over a 1000 sq ft of native plant restoration. The $1 million restoration project was funded by grants from the California Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Alameda County Flood Control District, and the City of Oakland Measure DD Bond. 

• Chabot Science Center, Saturday, April 12, 11 am - 4 pm: Rush-in for Yuri's Day!  Genuine Russian space artifacts on display (including the MIR Space Station toilet!) at Chabot's "Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space" exhibit. Chabot will also be showing rare audio and archival footage of the first person in space, Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

• Compost Boot Camp, Chabot's Kids Go Green program: Kids will get into the magic and fun of dirt! Learn how composting at home can turn your old, rotten fruit and vegetable scraps into "black gold." Get up close and personal with composting worms and other critters, by viewing them at work with our special video microscope. Activities are free with General Admission.

• 9th Grade Students Celebrate Book Release, Saturday, April 12, 1 pm at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Jack London Square: Come celebrate the book release of Voices from the Middle, a poetry anthology written by 9th grade students in Oakland. Barnes & Noble will donate a percentage of every sale to SOAR's scholarship fund to further the education of Oakland students. 
   

• Saturday, April 12, 2-4 pm: Second Saturdays @ Peralta Hacienda-- Music and Crafts the Ohlone Way-- Meet Ohlone Elder Ruth Orta; Marvin Marine and the Maidu-Miwok Dance Group and Dino Labiste of East Bay Regional Parks. Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Avenue. 

• Oakland Firefighters Random Acts 7th Annual Awards & Dinner Dance, Saturday, April 12: Live & silent auctions, delicious buffet dinner and ice cream from Fenton's to raise funds for the Oakland Firefighters Random Acts,a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization that provides funds and resources for Oakland Firefighters to create a Random Act of Kindness when they encounter people in need in the community. Mistress of Ceremonies is Diane Dwyer, NBC11 news. Cocktails 5:30; Dinner 7 pm. $75 per person. Call 465-8422 or check  their website.

   

   

• Hollywood Chinese at the Grand Lake Theater, April 12, 7:15 pm: Fresh from its international film festival tour, Arthur Dong's great documentary, Hollywood Chinese, will be featured at the Grand Lake Theater this Saturday night. The film has special Oakland connections-- it highlights The Curse of Quon Gwon, the first feature film (1916) by a Chinese American Filmmaker, Marion Wong, who made her pioneering film in Oakland and perhaps other parts of the East Bay. Filmmaker Arthur Dong will attend in person.

• GREASE, the smash hit musical with clearly Oaktown tones, finishes its run at Skyline High, Saturday, April 12, 7:30 pm, Farnsworth Theater,12250 Skyline Blvd. A great way to introduce kids to live theater for less than the cost of a movie, and free parking!  Tickets: $9

  
   

• 8th Annual All Oakland Talent Show for Students Auditions:   Tuesday, April 15, 4-6 pm, Oakland School for the Arts, 1800 San Pablo Blvd. For more information....
   
•  One World, One Dream - 100 Student Performers from China at Zellerbach Hall, April 15: The sights and sounds of modern and ancient China will fill Zellerbach Hall when 100 students from Beijing University and eight other colleges across China bring their original production One World, One Dream, an Olympic spectacular, to the UC Berkeley campus Tuesday, April 15 at 8 pm   The theatrical event through music, dance, theater and martial arts traces the history of the Olympics. .Tickets-- $20, $25 & $40. Call the Ticket office at Zellerbach Hall at 642-9988. Half-price tickets are available for purchase by UC students, faculty and staff, senior citizens, other students. UC Alumni Association members receive a $5 discount. 
   

• Earth Expo at City Hall--Wednesday, April 16, 10am-2pm:  The City invites over 100 community and environmental groups and agencies to showcase their contributions to our "Sustainable Urban Environment"  at Earth Expo. Oakland was rated this year as the fourth most sustainable city in the nation.  Join us for this regional kick-off to Earth Day activities.

• Symphony Tickets for 20% Off for Friday, April 18, 8 pm:  This is not your parent's symphony.  Local treasure Michael Maestro Morgan combines classical and world music in a way that inspires, teaches, and makes you laugh whatever your musical tastes.  You can get 20% off this concert by ordering here. Use the Promotion Code DISC20.  This week's concert features:
  • Brahm's Piano Concerto #2
  • Schoenberg's Verklarte Nacht (Transfigured Night)
  • World Premiere of Roberto Sierro's Carnaval for Orchestra, a Puerto Rican-American composer and recording artist

• Voluntary Gun Search Program Goes to Council: A six month pilot program modeled on a similar program in Washington D.C. is heading for Council on Tuesday.  The program would allow a small unit of the current officers assigned to schools to conduct a Voluntary Gun Search Program after special training, aimed at reducing access to guns. Officers will visit homes where there is suspicion the youth are involved in criminal activity, often at the request of guardians or others with a relationship to a youth suspected of possessing a gun.  If permission is allowed to search and guns are found, the guns are seized with no follow-up prosecution unless it was used in a shooting or homicide.  Use of the gun in crimes where the gun was not discharged would not be charged. This trading amnesty for reduction of guns is the main controversy.

• Kids First or Measure K is being recommended for a ten year extension as allowed by the measure.  Measure K passed in 1996 provides 2.5 percent of City's unrestricted General Fund--about $12 million -- for Youth Programs distributed on a competitive process recommended by a Youth-Adult Commission and approved by the Council. These funds are exclusive of City spending for youth programs in parks & recreation, libraries, arts, summer job programs, internships and other directly funded  programs.  If the Council decides not to extend the program, it is required to put in back on the ballot for a public vote. Highlights of the report include:
  • 103 programs were funded
  • 27 million hours of programs were provided at about $5.48/hour
  • Last years $12M was matched by $17M is state, county, or federal funds and other grants

The Life Enrichment Committee did not recommend the new ballot measure being circulated by Youth Programs which would approximately double the amount of funding for the Kids First Program.  While the petition appears to be similar to the current program it requires 2.5% of the entire general fund including restricted funds.  Since the much of the general fund is restricted (legally limited for what it can be spent on) the 2.5% of those funds would have to come form the unrestricted funds essentially making it closer to 5% and requiring cutting of other programs.

• Community Service for Parking Tickets: Work by Council Members Brunner, Nadel and myself have resulted in a 6 month pilot program allowing low income residents to do community service to "pay" off parking tickets also goes to Council next week.  To qualify the following conditions must be met:
  • The car receiving the tickets must be registered in Oakland
  • The registered owner must sign up for the program in the original bail period, delinquent tickets are not eligible for community service. Citations for parking in a disabled zone are not eligible.
  • The registered owner must be certified as low income and a maximum of five tickets or $250 in fines may be worked off.
  • Community service must be performed in Oakland, more credit per hour will be allowed for service with City agencies.

   

• SB 1508--Seismic Retrofit Standards for Residential Housing--sponsored by Oakland passes Senate Committee. Senator Ellen Corbett's bill establishes state standards for earthquake retrofits.  A survey by the Association of Bay Area Governments  (ABAG) revealed that  from 1/3 to 2/3 of retrofitted homes in Oakland were not adequately prepared for a future quake.  This bill appropriates existing funds from the California Earthquake Authority to the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop statewide guidelines and standards for seismic repairs of cripple walls in residential homes; to codify and publish these guidelines within the California Building Standards Code, and to adopt a training and testing program. I have been working with the ABAG, which has joined us in supporting SB 1508, to lobby state legislators and this week Sue Piper filled in for me testifying before the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee while I was chairing our Finance Committee.  If passed, these standards will strengthen our Retrofit Program.  For a description of Oakland's program...

• Do you have taxi complaints?  Over the last months we noticed increased complaints about taxis refusing to go to or to pick up from certain neighborhoods.  Such violations could lead to the loss of taxi permits by the offending companies.  Several complaints in my district were specifically about Yellow Cab and a hearing will be scheduled soon.  If you have a complaint about refusal of service from Yellow or any other company, please contact Barbara Killey, bkilley@oaklandnet.com

Blight Fines for Garbage Cans?  The news reported on a case where a person who received previous warnings was fined $2000 for failing to remove garbage cans from the street.  Without getting into the specifics of this case, we thought it would be useful to discuss some of the issues:

• The current fee is set as a violation of the blight ordinance which requires an inspector and is fairly high, after a warning it is $600.  I am working with staff to set and  introduce a more specific fine for garbage cans which are more in line with the problem and  in time for the mid-budget adjustment in June.
• Computer problems inadvertently failed to clear resolved complaints and charged some residents additional fines.  If you believe this has happened to you, please contact the City and copy our office..
• This fine is almost always levied because of neighbor complaints.  We do not have inspectors roving the streets looking for cans.  If you have a problem on your street, we would suggest you speak to your neighbor first.  If you like, you could call us, we have mediated many of these disputes.
• In neighborhoods with narrow streets or sidewalks, garbage cans are a real safety hazard or blight.  If you cannot take in your can (vacations, etc) see if a neighbor or friend will take it in for you.  Some of my neighbors assist elderly residents on my street.
• Remember that backyard service is available free for the physically impaired and for others it is available for a fee.
• If you have a question about the size of your can or other garbage issue not related to your bill, contact recycling@oaklandnet.com

• Oakland Creekside Park at Beaconsfield Canyon Complete: The City of Oakland has acquired the last privately held property within the Beaconsfield Canyon Open Space eliminating the final threat of development to this small, quiet canyon.  Funding was provided by Measure DD, Oakland Trust for Clean Water and Safe Parks.  This acquisition completes a park that is home to dozens of native plant species and contains a dynamic section of Sausal Creek. A team of local volunteers, headed by Richard Kauffman and Wendy Tokuda, is working hard to remove invasive plants from the area (especially Scotch Broom above) under the guidance of Friends of Sausal Creek.

• Piedmont Pines Undergrounding Goes to Council Tuesday: Approved by the Council in 2000, this is the last formal approval of the engineers report by Council before the plan goes to the Piedmont Pines neighbors for a vote in July.  At the Committee this week Council Member Brooks raised objections, stating that the priority for these funds should go to commercial districts.  Former Councilman Spees and I raised the necessity for arterial streets in the hills to be undergrounded for safety.  Full Council approval is needed.

• Welcome to our New Business District Leaders: Ada Chang recently became the Director of the Laurel Business District and Roger Vickery will become Director of the Montclair Village Association. Roger, who was the Chair of the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council (MSIC) has stepped down from that role.  MSIC is looking for a new co-chair to work with Nick Vigilante, the other co-chair.  Both replace Helen Wyman, who is moving on to start an events coordination business in Oakland.

• Central Oakland Senior Council: One of the recommendations of our Envisioning MacArthur Conference 3 years ago was the formation of a Senior Council.  After over a year's planning the Central Oakland Senior Council (COSC) had its kick off meeting April 2 at the Fruitvale Senior Center.  The initial meeting addressed budget cuts in senior services and how they would affect Central Oakland seniors.  Made up of providers, governmental representatives, and seniors, COSC will join all the Senior Centers in the San Antonio, Fruitvale and Dimond into one consortium to provide joint services and advocate for seniors in all of these neighborhoods.  COSC is currently filling spots in its Steering Committee.  If you are interested, write a letter of interest to Richard Cowan, who is the District 4 representative on this Committee.
• Lincoln Courts Named One of the Best Affordable Housing Units by SF Business Journal: Lincoln Courts, the senior apartment complex at the corner of Lincoln and MacArthur, was named as one of the best in the Bay Area and was recognized for its positive role in the development of the neighborhood.

• Goats Begin Grazing in District 4: Now that the grass is growing, it's time to begin thinking about vegetation management. The Wildfire Prevention District notes that the goats will be returning to District 4 starting in the next few weeks to devour hazardous undegrowth in Castle Canyon, Piedmont Pines and parts of Shepherd Canyon. For ideas of what you can do on your own property, check out the Wildfire Prevention District website.
   

• Wildlife News:  Sausal Creek Steelhead Trout have been spotted in at least two areas of the creek.  Many of us worried after the fish kill earlier this year when contractors poured paint thinner down the storm drain in the Glenview area and killed eleven of these rare native Oakland fish.  The company was identified and were charged.  Meanwhile, our annual vistors to the creek mallards and other ducks have also arrived.  This picture is by Tim Chapman of the Dimond Forum.

• Fred Finch Youth Center Emancipation Village Meetings: Community Advisory Council meetings for the proposed Emancipation Village for aging-out foster children at the Fred Finch Youth Center, 3800 Coolidge Avenue, will be held the third Thursday of every month at 6:30 pm: April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18. RSVP to Aimee Johnson at 485-5308.

• Support the Allendale Krusherz! District 4 Girls Softball Team: Our office, with the help of another nine individuals in District 4, sponsors this 8 and under Girls Fast Pitch Softball Team based at the Allendale Recreation Center. Come join us to cheer them on at the following games:
  • Saturday, April 12, 9 am, Oakland Krusherz! vs. Alameda #4  at Krusi 4
  • Saturday, April 19, 9 am,  Oakland Krusherz! vs. Oakland #3 at Marshall Field
  • Saturday, April 26, 1 pm, Oakland Krusherz! vs. San Lorenzo #2 at Duck Pond #1
  • Saturday, May 3, 9 am, Oakland #1 vs. Oakland Krusherz! at Marshall Field
  • Saturday, May 10, 11 am,  Oakland #4 vs. Oakland Krusherz! at Marshall Field.
     

• Free Tour of OPD Communications Dispatch, Wednesday, April 23, 6:30-8:30 pm: The Oakland Neighborhood Watch Steering Committee invites the public to tour the OPD Communications Dispatch Center. Find out how they manage between 1,000 and 2,000 calls a day. RSVP to Felicia Verdin at 238-3128.
• Police Academies on Schedule So Far:  This week OPD reported on its recruitment and training progress.  28 officers graduated from the Police Academy yesterday, 30 more are expected to graduate in July.  Two concurrent academies begin May 19th. One of the academies slated to be held at the Alameda County Sherriff's Department will be conducted by the Santa Clara Sheiff's Department instead. A class of 6 lateral (officers from other jurisdictions coming to Oakland) is also underway; these classes typically only require 6 weeks.

• Laurel Corridor Focus:   On Thursday we walked MacArthur between the arches with a City Service Delivery Team comprised of police including command staff, blight, and public works staff talking to merchants & neighborhood leaders.  This is part of an upcoming focus on recent problems in the neighborhood including graffiti, shop lifting, and complaints regarding youth obstructing businesses.  We need neighbors to help by documenting complaints and identifying persons responsible for the graffiti.  The Problem Solving Officer for this area is Officer Ann Pierce at 773-6863.  The Neighborhood Services Coordinator is Rene Sykes at 773-0468.
• "Club Campaign" Planned for the Laurel:  We monitor the crime trends in each of out neighborhoods on a regular basis. Last month the Laurel neighborhood area was hard hit with car thefts and car break-in's. In cooperation with the NCPC and the Laurel ACE hardware we are planning a campaign to increase the number of residents using a "club" type device and for more eyes on the street. The Laurel ACE will give a 20% discount, we are producing a bilingual leaflet which we hope to walk door-to-door with this month.  The beat officer recently made an arrest catching some young people breaking into a trunk and the stats have fallen, but car thefts come and go in cycles. It is best to be prepared.  If you would like to help distribute the leaflets, please contact Michael Johnson in our office 238-4742.

• We Have Seen Increased Reports of Mail Theft:  Just a reminder to take precautions to avoid mail theft.
  • Purchase a locked mail box to protect incoming mail.
  • Drop off outgoing mail at an official USPS mail box or go to the post office. Do not put outgoing mail into your personal mail box.
  • Promptly remove your mail from the mail box once it has been delivered.If you won't be home in time, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to assist.
  • Have your local post office hold your mail if you are away for an extended time, or ask a trusted neighbor to pick it up daily.
  • If you don't receive a check or important mail you are expecting in a timely fashion, contact the sender immediately and ask them to trace it.
  • If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector. You'll be asked to file a formal complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint. By analyzing information collected from the form, Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood--and it may help Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.

• Oakland Seeks Volunteers to Help Recruit Police Officers: Citizens interested in lending a hand to help the City of Oakland reach its goal of having 803 police officers by the end of 2008 have an opportunity to participate in this important effort. The Oakland Police Department needs community volunteers to serve as oral board panel assessors for the hiring of Police Officer Trainees. Interested candidates must meet one of the following criteria 1) live in Oakland, 2) work in Oakland or 3) own a business in Oakland.The upcoming oral board dates are currently scheduled for:
  • Monday, July 21, 2008
  • Monday, August 25, 2008
  • Monday, September 22, 2008
  • Monday, October 20, 2008
  • Monday, November 17, 2008

• Stop by the Montclair Recreation Center (6300 Moraga Avenue) on Saturday, April 26, 11 am- 2 pm  for a Park for Peace pole dedication and ceremony. The program includes dedication of the peace pole, a custom car show, live entertainment, guest speakers, community resources and more.

• Save the Date, Saturday, May 31, for the  Neighborhood Services Division Summit 2008-- My Block, My Community, My Responsibility!-- The Neighborhood Services Division (NSD) will be hosting this year's Summit at Laney College at 200 Fallon Street on Saturday, May 31 8:30 am-2 pm. There will be several workshops, including a session on Gang Interventions and Sexually Exploited Minors. Free breakfast, lunch and day-care will be provided. Translations will be available. BART, AC Transit and accessible to the differently abled. Contact Michael Johnson (238-4742) in our office for more information or to sign up.
   
• New Phone Numbers for the Reorganization:  Now that most assignments are completed, the Police Department is trying to update its website.  In the interim they have posted lists of new phone numbers for Area and Problem Solving Officers/Beats. 
• The Measure Y website and e-newsletter contain a wealth of practical information and an area by area list of services and programs, www.MeasureY.org
• For a list of Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils in District 4.
• To organize a Neighborhood Watch Group on your street call 510-238-3091.
• 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.
• Make anonymous calls for drug activity to 238-DRUG.
• Truancy Tip Hotline is 879-8172.

• Public Workshops on Estuary Crossing Feasibility Study: The City of Alameda, with support from the City of Oakland, is conducting a study to determine alternatives to the Posey Tube for bicyclists and pedestrians wishing to cross the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. For more information, go to their website.
   

• How Well Do You Know Your Bike Safety Rules? The recent bicycle tragedy in the South Bay, and the death on Skyline of Ed Weiss two years ago demonstrate the need for better bicycle safety awareness for bicyclists, motorcyclists and car and truck drivers. Oakland, fortunately, ranks as the fourth safest city for bicycling in California with a population over 60,000. See pages Oakland in State Perspective on 35-36 of the Oakland Bike Plan for additional information. The East Bay Bicycle Coalition has a great safety quiz available in English, Spanish and Chinese as a pdf and online in English.

• Bike Safety Courses: The East Bay Bicycle Coalition offers bike safety courses throughout Alameda County beginning in late March and continuing through May. There's a "Day 1 in classroom session" at Oakland Kaiser on  May 1.

• Save the Date: Bike to Work Day is Thursday, May 15, 7-9 am: Every year, I join members of the Bicycle Coalition on a trip from Montclair leaving around 7:30 am to City Hall in celebrating Oakland's 15th annual Bike to Work Day. Sign up at any official site and get a free bike bag and other useful gifts. Please join us! Along the way we usually meet up with a team lead by Council Member Pat Kernighan on Grand Avenue as we wind our way to City Hall. As in past years, the City will host a free pancake breakfast and raffle drawing in Frank Ogawa Plaza. Stay tuned for details about our route starting from Montclair Village. Additional resources:

Additional resources:

• More Oakland Biking Information
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission
• League of American Bicyclists

Facing state cuts from California's $16 Billion shortfall, the impact of the recession and housing slowdown, many cities are making across the board cuts and layoffs.  Oakland is projected to face a $9.5 million deficit in the current fiscal year (ends June 30) due to lost income primarily due to a decline in real estate transfers and vehicle license fees.  The Finance Committee has asked the City Administrator to return with a report on actions taken and options to reduce expenses and balance the budget. So far all vacant non public safety positions are frozen unless approved by the Administrator.

Next year the budget shortfall could range from $20-$50 million based on state and federal cuts, an expected continuation of a weak real estate market, the results of ballot measures, the growing gap in the Landscape and Lighting Assessment District and rising costs. Departments are being asked to plan for a minimum of a 4 percent cut or enhancement of revenues.  Finance Report

• LANDSCAPE & LIGHTING DISTRICT (LLAD) TO GO BACK OUT TO A VOTE:  In an attempt to maintain current levels of park, median, tree, open space maintenance, and safe lighting; the Council voted this week to put the Landscape and Lighting Assessment District back out to property owners for a vote.  This new measure will only attempt to maintain current maintenance, unlike the last attempt which would have increased maintenance and facilities.  It includes a set of maintenance standards.

Funding for the current Landscape and Lighting Assessment District has not increased since 1993.  For the last six years there has been a growing  gap because costs have risen and because the City has added over 350 acres of parks (DD purchases of Bay Trail & Creek Watershed like Castle Canyon & Butters, the Mandela Parkway, etc), over 10,000 new street lights to improve safety, and over 9,000 new trees.  The Council funded the LLAD gap and added some staff with the windfall tax increases from the real estate boom; but real estate taxes have crashed and will fall $20 million short of what we projected for this year.  Next year real estate sales are expected to continue to be down, while the LLAD gap is expected to rise to $9.8 million. (Above) Recently refurbished horse at Montclair'Park's Western Town.

• BUDGET WORKSHOP & HEARING SCHEDULE:  The public is encouraged to attend the Council's budget workshops in Council Chambers at City Hall; additionally I will hold at least one hearing in the district:  
   

• Workshops to Discuss Conceptual Issues, Receive Direction from Council
  • Thursday, April 24, 2-4 pm
  • Thursday, May 1, 2-4 pm (if necessary)

• Workshops/Budget Hearings re FY 2008-09 Budget Amendments
  • Thursday, May 15, 5-8 pm
  • Thursday, May 29, 5-8 pm

• Adoption of Budget Amendments, Related Budget Legislation
  • Tuesday, June 17, 6-7 pm

• Annual California Wildflower Show at the Oakland Museum of California, Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20: Savor the colors and fragrances of hundreds of freshly collected native flowers at the 50th Anniversary of this show-- flowers from the entire state! The weekend includes slide shows and lectures about California's native flora and horticulture and a chance to talk with experts. Presented with the California Native Plant Society, the Jepson Herbarium of UC Berkeley, and the UC Botanical Garden. Included with museum admission.

• Friends of Sausal Creek Projects for April:
  • Sunday, April 20, 8 am-Noon-Bird Monitoring, call Mark Rauzon at 531-3887 to confirm.
  • Saturday, April 26, 9 am-4:30 pm, Joaquin Mille Park Native Plant Nursery, propagate native species and other nursery work. Call Molly Bolt at 501-3672.
     

• Bay Friendly Garden Tour, April 27, 10am-4pm: Find out how varied and beautiful Bay-Friendly Gardens are on this FREE, self-guided tour. Over 30 public and private gardens will be featured in geographic clusters throughout Oakland and the rest of Alameda County. Several of the garden clusters are walkable and/or bikeable. Register Now. 
   
   

• Friends of Sausal Creek Annual Native Plant Sale:  Sunday, April 27, 10 am- 5 pm. This year, FOSC joins with the Bay Friendly Gardening Tour and holds its annual FOSC Native Plant Sale at the nursery in Joaquin Miller Park. Details about the Bay Friendly Gardening Tour 

• Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, Sunday, May 4, 10 am-5 pm: A free, self-guided tour of 60 Alameda and Contra Costa county gardens. Details

2nd Annual Oakland Indie Awards, Friday, May 2, 5:30-8 pm at the historic Sweets Ballroom, 1933 Broadway.The Oakland Indie Awards event will recognize the contributions of Oakland's local independent businesses and artists and will provide Oaklanders with an opportunity to celebrate their passion for our City. You can nominate businesses and artists. The Oakland Indie Awards is a program of One California Foundation, which encourages people to support Oakland's locally-owned businesses and artists instead of chain stores.

Jack London Aquatic Center Courses in May:

Please check out their website more additional class information, at www.jlac.org. Or give them a call at 208-6060.
 

• Save the Date-FOPR Taste of Spring, May 8, 5:30-8 pm, The Rotunda Building, 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza:  The Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation's annual fundraiser to support projects throughout Oakland. Live entertainment, wine tasting, appetizers, live and silent auction. To purchase tickets call 465-1850.
• Letter Carriers Food Drive, Saturday, May 10: Stamp out hunger with the National Association of Letter Carriers' 16th Annual Food Drive. Put a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up or take a bag of food to your local post office. Food Bank inventory is depleted this time of year, so the Alameda County Food Bank depends on this food drive to help us through the summer months when low-income children don't have access to school meals

• 6th Annual Older Americans Month Celebration: Celebrate Aging-Making Oakland a Great Place to Grow Old--save the date for a celebration at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza on Friday, May 16, 11 am-2 pm, sponsored by the Aging & Adult Services Division, of the City's Department of Human Services.
• Educate Your Palate, Educate A Child--Sequoia Elementary's Silent Auction at Joaquin Miller Community Center, Saturday, May 17:   Parent or neighbor,  here's a great way to support one of our District 4 schools. If you have items of value to donate, please contact Kelly McGrath to download donation forms. Then plan on attending-- your $20 donation will help the school raise $16,000 to provide supplemental support to Sequoia Elementary School, located at 3730 Lincoln Avenue.
   

• Oakland Parks & Recreation--offers a wide range of programs at their 25 Recreation Centers for kids of all ages. Call 238-7275 or download the 2008 catalog.

• MOCHA Summer Art Camp-- June 16-August 22 (kids Ages 6 and above). MOCHA camps provide age-appropriate, fun and enriching art activities; no previous art experience is required. Call 465-8770 for a catalog.

• Oakland Fine Arts Summer Session: Parents need to enroll students in both sessions - morning program is at Glenview Elementary School 8:30am-12:45pm, and an afternoon program at Oakland Parks & Recreation 12:45-5:30 pm. Download both applications from on-line registration.

• Parents Press offers a fairly comprehensive listing of opportunities.

• The City of Oakland's Shining Stars catalog is another great resource.

• Youth Summer Jobs for Oakland Residents (Ages 14-21): The Mayor's Summer Job Program is a collaboration that brings together the Youth Employment Partnership (YEP), Scotlan Center and Youth UpRising to make an investment in Oakland's future workforce by providing opportunities for youth in the City's job market. Young Oakland Residents (ages 14-21) need to submit an application prior to the June 10th deadline. Applications and program information available at 533-3447, the Mayor's Web site or at:
  • YEP, 2300 International Blvd.
  • West Oakland Hub-Scotlan Center, 1324 A