• CORE Citywide Exercise on Saturday, April 26: 13 different CORE Groups in District 4 are participating in the annual exercise, which this year emphasizes command center operation and First-Aid Team response. There will be a citywide debriefing at Mills College, Noon - 2pm. A major disaster will overwhelm first responders, leaving many citizens on their own for the first 72 hours or longer after the emergency. Since its inception in 1990, the CORE program has provided free, community-based training to more than 18,000 residents. Residents  interested in forming CORE groups in their neighborhoods can contact CORE at 238-6351 or core@oaklandnet.com. (Above) Conducting a search and rescue from last year.
  
   
• Annual Clean Up of Skyline's Farnsworth Theater, Saturday, April 26, 9 am-2 pm: This is where local boy Tom Hanks got his start. Thanks to parent and alumni efforts(including Hanks) this is one of best high school theaters in the area. This clean up preps the Farnsworth Theater for the last series of Performing Arts events of the school year. Bring gloves and elbow grease! Lunch will be served. Please let Elizabeth Benhardt know in advance.

• Rebuilding Oakland Together will renovate 29 homes of low income senior/disabled citizens and some community facilities on Saturday,  April 26.  They will do a variety work so they will be able to live safe, comfortable and independent lives.  From building wheel chair ramps, to painting, gardening and more skilled construction work, they can use volunteers of all skills.  Three projects in our district are:
  • Fred Finch Youth Program, 3800 Coolidge Ave  (Bret Harte area)
  • 4318 Arden Place  (Oakmore)
  • 4840 Gordon  (Maxwell Park)

   

• 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. Sue Piper will be hosting a booth with information about upcoming District 4 events, city programs and more.
• Tryouts for Youth In Motion 1st Annual Dance Competition, Saturday, April 26, 9 am-5 pm, DeFremery Recreation Center: Do you know a group of youth or young adults, ages 14 - 21, who would love to "bring it" in the dance forms of Stomp, Crump, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Cheer or Step? The Office of Parks & Recreation is looking for the best in the Bay Area to participate in our 1st Annual Youth In Motion Dance Competition on Saturday, May 17, 2008. For details and an entry form...

• Friends of Sausal Creek, Saturday, April 26, 9 am-4:30 pm, Joaquin Miller Park Native Plant Nursery, propagate native species and help prepare for Sunday's plant sale. (See below) >>Volunteer at the nursery on Earth Day.
• 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. It is too late to sign up for this free tour, but hosts are often liberal about letting  people tour their gardens, if you notice one in the neighborhood. Details about the Bay Friendly Gardening Tour

• Oakland School of the Arts (OSA) Spring Dance Concert, April 26-27: The OSA Dance Troupe, Foundation Troupe and OSA Middle School will be performing at this annual event, featuring choreography by the Senior class of 2008, Omar Carmichael, Jarrod Mayo and Alexa Tyler. The Friday and Saturday concerts start at 7 pm; Sunday's concert starts at 3 pm. Tickets ($10 for adults/$5 for students) available at the door.

• "Poets of the Library", Saturday, April 26, 2-4:30 pm at the Oakland Main Library: 125 14th Street, first floor. As part of National Library Week, published poets who work at the Oakland Public Library will read selections from their poetry in a public celebration of American poetry. The "Poets of the Library" event also upholds a tradition that began with Ina Coolbrith, who was both the first Director of the Oakland Public Library and the first Poet Laureate of the State of California. Andrew Demcak (Catching Tigers in Red Weather), Garry Lambrev (Dogstar and Poems from Other Planets), Nina Lindsay (Today's Special Dish), Steve Lavoie (winner of the Mark Twain Prize for poets of the Mississippi Valley and the Doris Green Award), Teya Schaffer, Giovanna Capone (contributor to Unsettling America: an Anthology of Contemporary Multicultural Poetry), and Alan Bern (No no the saddest) will be on hand to share their work. (Above) Nikki Giovanni read poems to an overflow crowd at the Oakland Museum this week to kick-off  National Library Week poetry.

• Free Youth and Young Adult Financial Education Seminar, Wednesday, April 30, Oakland City Hall: Betty Yee, Vice Chair of  the State Board of Equalization; Assembly Member Sandre Swanson; Mayor Ron Dellums, and the Oakland Youth Advisory Committee offer this free seminar called How to Get Your Money On. Free workshops on filing income tax returns, establishing credit, entrepreneurship and writing a business plan, employment opportunities, and local resources. Refreshments at 4 pm; Program from 4:15-6 pm in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. Call 238-3245 for details.

• Rally Against the Governor's $5 Billion Cut to Education, Wednesday, April 30, 4 pm, Hunter Hall, 1025 Second Avenue:  Join the Board of Education, the State Administrator, educators, parents, students, members of the business and faith communities, legislative, labor and city leaders to hear how the proposed cuts will impact students in OUSD. The proposed cut would reduce spending by $800 per student. California currently--without the budget cuts--spends $1,900 less per student than the national average. California ranks 46th in education funding, behind Louisiana and Mississippi. OUSD would have to cut $23 million form the budget for the 2008-09 school year. For details...
• Anniversary of Mills College Listen Up! Youth Poetry Slam, Wednesday, May 1, 6 pm: If you appreciate our newest and youngest staff member, Michael Johnson, help support this event. Michael is a product of the Upward Bound program.  This exciting, multicultural event features youth poets from the Mills College Upward Bound Program. Youth poets present their realities in Oakland and the event usually draws artists from all over the Bay Area. The event kicks off with a dinner at 6pm followed by poetry reading at 7pm. This anniversary event is especially important because this college preparatory program was shut down last year due to Federal budget cuts. Come prepared to be amazed by the depth of the performances. The suggested donation for this event is from $5-25.

• Be Sugar Savvy Workshop, Thursday, May 1, Thursday, May 12, 8:30 -11:30 am, 1000 Broadway, 5th Floor, Conference Room A & B, State Health Department  workshop to launch Soda Free Summer for 2008.  Soda is the #1 source of sugar in the American diet, and the average person consumes almost 175 pounds of sugar a year-- about a half pound of sugar a day! The extra calories from all that sugar lead to weight gain and puts people at risk for lifelong health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.  Call Gail Wax at 595-6585 for details.
•  

   

• Oakland Partnership Economic Summit, May 2, Marriott, 1001 Broadway, 7:30 am-2 pm:  City staff, the Oakland Chamber, labor and industry representatives have worked on a strategic plan to bring 10,000 jobs to Oakland over the next 5 years.  The plan strategically looks at Health Care & Life Sciences, International Trade & Logistics, Green Technology, and Art, Design & Digital Media.  Register at www.oaklandchamber.com

  
  
   

  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.

The Governor announced that State shortfall was larger than expect by another $2 billion. San Francisco has announced 300 layoffs, Sacramento 400 plus, and Los Angeles 800 plus. 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. To close the immediate gap all vacant non public safety positions are frozen unless approved by the City Administrator.

On Thursday, the City Administrator predicted that next years shortfall would be about $15 million.  If the City approved closures and negotiated no raises for employees the amount could be reduced to about $6.7 million.   This however did not include possible failure of the Landscape and Lighting District (about $10 million, increased state and federal budget cuts,  utility tax changes, and employee benefit costs that could range from $20-$70 million.  Departments are being asked to plan for a minimum of a 4 percent cut or enhancement of revenues; other reductions are expected. The Administrator's goal is to reduce the budget additionally through attrition rather than layoffs. Budget Report

• LANDSCAPE & LIGHTING DISTRICT (LLAD) GOES 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 to put the Landscape and Lighting Assessment District back out to property owners for a vote, mail ballots arrived this month.  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) Weeding on Earth Day around a new tree planted last year at Horace Mann School.  Oakland has planted over 9,000 new trees since the original LLAD was passed.

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/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

• City Sues Bank of America and other Banks for Rigging Bids:   In recent months federal investigations have led to an admission by B of A that since 1992, they collaborated with other financial institutions to fix bids at less than the market rate for interest bearing GIC's (Guaranteed Investment Contracts) that cities use to park bond monies.  For example in our city we sell bonds to finance sewers, parks, affordable housing, redevelopment projects, building improvements, etc.  After the sale of bonds we put the money in GIC's ,which yield more than savings accounts, until we spend it.  The City expects other California cities to join us in a massive class action suit.

• Kids First or Measure K was renewed 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 by a competitive process recommended by a Youth-Adult Public Oversight Committee and approved by the Council. These funds are exclusive of over $5 million the City spends for youth programs in parks & recreation, and more for libraries, arts, summer job programs, internships and other directly funded  programs. Nor does it include millions spent  for preventing youth violence in Measure Y and   Measure Q Library funding for teen sections and other children's programs. Highlights of the report include: 
  • 103 Measure K programs were funded
  • 27 million hours of programs were provided for about $5.48/hour
  • Last years $12M was matched by $17M in state, county, or federal funds and other grants

Despite the approval, a new ballot measure is being circulated by Youth Programs that would more than double the amount of funding for the Kids First Program from about $12M to $27M. As much as I have supported many programs for youth, I do not think it is fair for these programs to make the City the sole source of so much funding when we are facing a $20-50M deficit.   This $15M increase would be equal to the entire amount spent on the Parks & Recreation Department.  Their petition appears to be similar to the current program, but it requires 2.5% of the entire general fund including restricted funds.  Since 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 from the unrestricted funds essentially making it 5% or more and thus requiring cuts to other programs.  Tribune Article

• Community Service for Parking Tickets Stalled in a Tie: A proposal for a 6 month pilot program allowing seniors and other low income residents to do community service to "pay" off parking tickets ended in a tie. Council Member Nadel and I will work on modifications and try again if the Mayor does not break the tie.

Do you have taxi complaints? 

• Piedmont Pines Undergrounding Passes Committee But the Future of Other Projects May Be Up in the Air: 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 asked to change the criteria for selection, stating that the priority for these funds should go to commercial districts.  Former Councilman Spees and I raised that safety has always been a priority for Oakland and that if additional criteria were added then safety had to be considered. It is especially a necessity for arterial streets in the hills to be undergrounded for safe evacuation in case of fire or earthquake.  Full Council vote on Piedmont Pines will be Tuesday, May 6th, 7 pm. 

• Central Oakland Senior Council: A key recommendation 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 this month. The initial meeting addressed budget cuts in senior services and how they would affect Central Oakland seniors.  Made up of providers, government 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.  COSC needs volunteers for its Steering Committee.  If you are interested, write a letter of interest to Richard Cowan, who is the District 4 representative on this Committee.

• California Savings Changes Its Name to Pacific National Bank But Remains Open as Community Center:  Over the last few years the Montclair merchants, my office and others have needed meeting space in Montclair and the staff at California Savings has lent us their space.  They even gave a desk to the Oakland Police Walking officer.  This week their newly remodeled space officially opened with their new name, but the staff and company remain the same.  They proudly point out that the new decor will be even more comfortable as a meeting space.  We want to thank them for their continued community support. (Above) Ribbon cutting this week.

• New bench and Pathway at Shepherd Canyon Park: Many thanks to the Shepherd Canyon Homeowners Association, Service Volunteers for Peace and neighbor Larry Trovinger for building a new stone bench above the upper meadow. The bench faces east to see the sunrise over the upper meadow and ccomplements the west facing sunset bench at the scenic overlook. The bench is made from rubble on the site, stone and mortar mixed with rainwater. A crew of 25 volunteers spent Earth Day removing rubble in Shepherd Creek in preparation for a Measure DD Creek Restoration project this spring. (Photos by Mike Petouhoff)
• We could be  less than $5,000 away from the Shepherd Canyon Parking Lot!   Nearby thanks to generous donations from Council Member Henry Chang, the Montclair Soccer Club, Montclair Safety & Improvement Council, Phil Tagami and local residents, as well as my office, we are very close to completing fund raising for the long-needed additional parking in Shepherd Canyon Park. Overfill parking often dangerously narrows access on this key artery into Montclair.  If you can help, please make checks out to the Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation (FOPR), Shepherd Canyon Park and send them to Sue Piper in our office at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 94612.

• 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 undergrowth 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.
   

Nominate a Pet for the Fifth Annual Montclair Pet Mayor Race: The Montclair Veterinary Hospital Pet & Wildlife Fund invites local businesses to sponsor an entry in this annual fund raising event. Your candidate-- dog, cat, bird, rabbit--can win the title of Pet Mayor of Montclair for 2008-2009. Nominations close at the end of April. For details, go to the Pet and Wildlife Fund website.
 

• 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 (right). Come join us to cheer them on at the following games:
  • 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.

• Police are assigning undercover officers to cover Oakland restaurants.
• Extra patrols have been assigned to commercial areas.
• Under the new geographic system most officers are required to do some walking each day, I have noticed more patrol officers walking in commercial areas.
• We are working with merchants in our area to organize Merchant Alert Groups, this includes discussing more area-wide security cameras, improving lighting, and closing off unused parking lots in the evening.
• In the Laurel we are helping to reach Asian merchants and residents,  providing more bilingual city staff and police.
• Merchant associations are hiring additional private security firms for evening patrols. The Laurel District Association has just replaced their firm and they are applying for grants for redevelopment funded "escorts" who can assist customers to their cars.
• We have joined neighborhood groups in encouraging neighbors to support merchants who are open in the evening, especially, the stores that have been robbed. Generally, busier areas are not targeted for this kind of crime.
• Police believe the robbers park near the restaurants; unbelievably one Oakmore neighbor noticed a group of young men put on ski masks and hoods but did not think to call police or take down the license plate. Call 911.  
• Finally, Oakland Police and Crime Stoppers has increased rewards to $7500 reward in each of the restaurant robberies. Anyone with information can call police at 510-238-3326 or Crime Stoppers at 510-777-3211 or 510-777-8572.

• Sexually Exploited Minors:  As a school board member I ran into children who sexually exploited  by their parents and guardians.  But in recent years the industry has grown to sophisticated networks and culturally very young boys think it's OK to pimp their girl friends.  As a member of Public Safety Committee I rode along with police and looked at our procedures.  Girls were booked as "prostitutes" and were frequently out and back with their pimps on the same night. Many concerned leaders across agencies working with the girls began a push for a change.  We didn't think girls under 18 should be treated as criminals, we wanted to offer them resources as victims and give them a chance to get off the streets. We wanted tougher prosecution of pimps, both male and female, and to charge men who flock to certain neighborhoods specializing in girls under 18 to be charged as pedophiles.   The series in the Tribune and several radio programs this week report on the changes and some progress. (Tribune Photo)

WHO ARE THE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED MINORS?  A 2007 survey of 100 minors served by Oakland-based Sexually Abused and Commercially Exploited Youth found:

 

88 percent had run away from home or from caretakers
 

75 percent had been raped some time in their lives
 

70 percent have been assaulted while working the streets
 

53 percent had lived in a foster care group home at some time
 

48 percent had been physically abused

Five years later this issue is no longer a secret or easy to push under the rug. A special DA Sharmin Bock, featured in the series, is prosecuting the pimps and getting sentences up to 15 years. A small group of five women and one man has grown to a network of over 30 agencies that regularly meet to coordinate strategies-- the DA, police, health, social service, and advocacy groups.  OPD officers have been trained to treat the girls as victims and have resource cards and numbers to offer.  Thanks to Measure Y funds the first diversion program for the girls have started and have some promising results.  Girls are asked to attend a program for a month in exchange for dropping legal charges.  Roughly a third of the girls are from out of town, often working a circuit, and they seem to disappear. Another third finish the program and leave.  The remaining third are actively trying to get off the streets and continue with educational, employment and counseling programs.

We are now trying to coordinate with other cities around the Bay and the state.  One of the great needs is to find funds for "safe houses" where the girls can get away from their pimps.  It is not unusual to hear of pimps literally grabbing a girl out of a group home.  Measure Y has provided some funds now matched by the County and we are on a mission to raise the remaining amount.  This is a project that I am doing solicitations for and would appreciate any tips, contributions or funding leads from this newsletter network.  Finally, we are encouraging Neighborhood Council and groups to invite speakers from the Sexually Exploited Minors Network (SEMS) to speak at your meetings. Contact Michael Johnson of my office for  more information, 238-4742.

• Central Foothills Alert: Listserv's in the Bret Harte area report that an African American woman in her 40-50's, driving a white car, has robbed women in this area during the day. In one case she stopped the victim to ask for directions, then stole her purse.

• 22X Off to a Good Start:  Our last area to form a crime council is off to a good start because it is bringing together several strong neighborhood and block groups.  This week Chief Tucker and the entire command staff for the area attended their meeting at Sequoia School, over 120 neighbors attended.

• North Hills NCPC (Beat 13Y) Town Hall Meeting, Wednesday, May 7, 7 pm, Highlands Country Club: 110 Hiller Drive. The focus will be on mail theft, identity theft and bank fraud, featuring OPD Sgt. Rhee and Wells Fargo Bank officer Nancy Pagen.  
   
• 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

Community members interested in serving on the boards should email opdjobs@oaklandnet.com with their contact information, including name, address, phone number and email address and note the dates they are available. 

• Laurel Corridor Focus:  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 238-2053.  The Neighborhood Services Coordinator is Renee Sykes at 238-7929.
• "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-ins. In cooperation with the NCPC and the Laurel ACE hardware we are walking next week 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 will walk door-to-door.  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.

• Save the Date, Saturday, May 31, for the  Neighborhood Services Division Community 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.

• Two competing State Propositions on Eminent Domain.  The City Council and League of California Cities supports Proposition 99.  Both defend individual homeowners from government taking private homes to transfer to a private developer, but the rival Proposition 98 contains hidden agendas that would:
   
  • According to the Attorney General's analysis eliminate Rent Control and other Renter Protections.
  • Would threaten use of eminent domain for Public water projects.
  • Is written so broadly that most environmental protection laws would be threatened and almost all zoning decisions would be open to legal challenge.
• City Council and School Board Races in Districts 1,3,5, and 7 and the At-large City Council Race
• A hot race for the State Senator representing Oakland, Hancock v Chan. 

• 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.

• 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. (Above) Demonstrating free bike bags distributed by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.  Additional resources:

Additional resources:

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

• Fiori D'Amore Orchid Sale for Mothers Day, May 3-10, 9am-4pm, 4526 Fair Ave:  (Closed Mother's Day)  This Redwood Heights business sells orchids once a year from their greenhouses in the neighborhood. You've seen them at Farmer's Markets. If you love orchids its worth it just to visit.

• 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  >>Native California Iris.

• Lake Merritt Breakfast Club Work Day at Children's Fairyland, May 10 & May 31:  Volunteers, under the direction of the Park's Chief Horticulturist, Robin Taylor, will help with weeding, moving compost, planting preparation, and actual planting (probably on the 2nd Sat.) in anticipation of the Grand Opening of the new Aesop's Children's Theatre in June. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own hand-tools and gloves. See Dan Altemus to sign up and get further details. 893-4676.

• Ygnacio Traffic Circles:  After five years of scraping together funds, choosing the design, and recruiting volunteers the Ygnacio Traffic Circles are almost done.  The boulders and mulch were done last week. We were not able to put in the native plants on Earth Day, but some volunteers are starting this weekend.  The circles will not only beautify the street, but slow traffic in front of Horace Mann School and hopefully give the neighborhood some protection from sideshows on this street.
   

• 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