• Collect phone numbers (work, home, cell and emergency contact) for your neighbors and program them into your cell phone. Hiller neighbors activated their informal and formal alert systems--email, listserv, telephones and even knocking on neighbors' doors--to be sure that residents knew what was going on.
   
• Know who in neighborhood has special needs: If you've taken CORE, you know that in addition to putting together a contact list, you also want to list neighbors with special needs-- seniors, those with medical or mobility issues, families with young children. Make sure you have their emergency contact numbers as well. Encourage them to register with the City's Special Needs Registry. (The police actually came to the door of one of Sue's neighbors who was listed as a special needs resident to see that he was okay.)

• Put together a disaster plan and make sure everyone knows what to do:
  • Know what important papers and items you want to take if you have to evacuate, and make sure everyone knows where they are located.
  • Pick an out-of-area meeting place
  • Pick an out-of-area contact person, in case phone lines are jammed. It's more likely that you'll be able to connect with someone out of state faster than within the City. That person can relay information.
     
• Sign up for CORE training.
• More photos from Hiller Highlands Neighbor
   

Did a careless smoker start this week's fire?   Fire inspectors believe that a cigarette butt at the bottom of the hill near Tunnel Road started this week's fire.  If you saw anything suspicious or linked to the fire in this area contact the Fire Investigators 238-4031.

Red flags, designed by the Diablo Fire Safe Council, are flown at hills fire stations on red flag days.>>

Use Common Sense on Red Flag Days:  Park Ranger Kent McNab reported that on Tuesday, that in the midst of the Red Flag notice, several young people were cited for lighting a bonfire in Joaquin Miller Park!  Please discuss the meaning of Red Flag Days with members of your family especially young people who may gather at parks this summer.

•  First, don't ignore the "park closed" signs. Joaquin Miller Park closes on Red Flag days.
• Second, fires in the park except for charcoal fires in designated barbecue pits, are prohibited.
• Third, fires of any kind anywhere in the hills are prohibited on Red Flag days.

ProArts Open Studios, June 14-15:

• Allendale Park Dedicated as a Park For Peace, Saturday, June 14, 11 am- 2 pm:  Opening Ceremony with Native American Drumming, Music, Free Everett & Jones BBQ, community pot luck, sports demonstrations, peace pole planting, Ribbons for Peace Project and more. Jean and staff will be on hand.

• Oakland's Housing Fair, Saturday, June 14, 10 am-2 pm: Do you rent in Oakland? Are you a landlord? Are you dreaming of owning a home? Are you looking to renovate your home? Don't miss this free Housing Fair at Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of City Hall. For additional information, call 238-3909.

• Friends of Sausal Creek Projects:
  • Saturday, June 14, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday at Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. RSVP for groups over 6. Email nursery@sausalcreek.org
  • Sunday, June 15, 9:30 am -Noon--Aquatic Insect Sampling. Call Emma Brown at 527-2507 to confirm. 

• Bike Tour of Oakland, Sunday, June 15, 10 am: Join the Oakland Museum of California's bike riding docents on a free tour around Oakland. The four-hour tour is about five miles long, no hills. Learn about Oakland's history from a new perspective. Meet at the 10th Street entrance at 10 am. Reservations required. Call 238-3514 or email the docent center.  Free.

• Maxwell Park NCPC Cleanup Up at Courtland and Redding, Sunday, June 15, 9 am-Noon: The MPNCPC meets at this location the third Sunday of the month for regular clean ups.
• <<Family checks in for Earth Day Clean-up.
   

• Father's Day Jazz Golf Tournament and Concert, Sunday, June 15 at Lake Chabot Golf Course: Noon Golf Tournament, 6 pm. Dinner and Live Jazz Concert featuring the Oakland School for the Arts Jazz Combo and Saxophonist Matt Morish & His Quartet.  Sponsored by the City of Oakland Office of Parks & Recreation and "the Quiet Storm" 102.9 KBLX. Proceeds from the golf tournament and concert benefit the 2008 U.S. Youth Games here in Oakland in July. For details, call 238-2082 or visit the Office of Parks & Recreation Website. Lake Chabot Golf Course is located at 11450 Golf Links Road off of Highway 580. 
   

• Father's Day Cruise on the USS Potomac, Sunday, June 15: This special cruise starting and ending at Jack London Square includes a gourmet box lunch, coffee, soda and bottled water, Noon- 3 pm, $65. Call 627-1215 for reservations.

• Islands in the Park, Sunday, June 15: A concert, family day and Caribbean Picnic at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean through music. Picnic at noon, showtime at 2 pm. $30 in advance; Student, 13 and under $24 at door only.  Tickets available from Art's Jamaican Market, 4042 Broadway (652-2168); Jumbi Productions, 436-14th Street, Suite 1114, (910-4038); CBTV1 , 510 3rd Street, Suite 100 (832-5400), or Ticket Web.

• Join a "Conversation In Maxwell Park, Sunday, June 22, 3:30 pm: The Park NAT (Neighborhood Action Team) of the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council, with the support of the city of Oakland and the Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, is going through a park improvement process.  This is a great opportunity for busy  neighbors and busy families to have some input on improvement possibilities. During the event, participants will:
  • Walk around the park to gather ideas and fill out surveys from the design team of the park improvement group
  •  Brainstorm improvement possibilities
  •  Hear about park history and past work
  • Learn about how to support the park improvement team

Please bring a plate of finger food to share if you can, but this isn't a requirement. We want lots of folks to come! Drinks and paper products will be provided. An RSVP to nicmail@pacbell.net

•  4th Annual Summer Soulstice at Oasis Bar & Club, Sunday, June 22,   8 pm -Midnight:  The annual celebration of Bay Area educators, teaching artists, youth organizers and activists. Get down to funk, hip hop, reggae and soul with the Bay Area's best DJs, featuring a little taste of social justice centered performance art. The Oasis Bar & Club, 135 12th Street, between Madison and Oak Streets.  

• Community Development for Youth Forum, Wednesday, June 18: 6:30-8:30 pm, Hearing Room 2, at City Hall: Anyone interested in youth and young adult programs is invited to attend an information forum and discussion on community development for youth, sponsored by the Community Development Block Grant Program District Board for Eastlake/Chinatown/San Antonio.Call 238-3716 for more information.

• A 3 percent across the board reduction or enhancement of funds by each department; and
• A 12 day or monthly shut down of all non-essential services during the next fiscal year starting July.  The shutdown is basically a service reduction and almost a 5 percent pay cut for all city employees except for 24/7 positions such as police officers, fire fighters, or 911 staff. 
• Increasing the number of vacant city positions from 4 to 6 percent, essentially freezing hiring in many areas.
•  Delaying over $3 million in capital projects. 
• Where to find the budget reports?   

Controversy over the 12 day shutdown: 

In this week's budget workshop several Council members, including myself, questioned the one day per month shut down of non-essential services estimated to save $4.4 million because:
1.      Closing services would put a hardship on our citizens.  At my community budget meeting in the district on Monday several people talked about how important the libraries were for students and the estimated 25-40 percent of residents who depend on libraries for internet access. The same is true for senior programs, parks and recreation, etc.  Shutdowns would put us further behind in infrastructure maintenance.
2.      The shut down is effectively a pay cut for some workers, but not others.  It would disproportionately affect our lowest paid workers.  Our highest paid workers police and fire, as well as 911, animal control, Headstart, and others would get raises; while  some of our lowest paid workers would effectively have their pay cut by at least 1.7 percent.
3.      One proposal would cut the funds budgeted for wage increases and negotiations.  The Mayor opposes this because we are now in negotiations with all employees except police; he feels we must allow sufficient funds to bargain fairly.  (The police are governed by a different binding arbitration process which just awarded them a 4 percent raise in exchange for substantially more control by the Chief of assignments and scheduling.)
4.      Other proposals would be to make some hard choices in cutting personnel or programs.  Next year the budget is likely to be even tougher; it makes some sense to begin the process of reducing our workforce.  We could begin by looking at vacant and frozen positions and still avoid layoffs. 

•  The Council may reject some of the proposed fee hikes for Park facilities.
• The Finance & Management Committee has set a policy to reduce our fleet and increase use of a motor pool and car share options.  Additionally, we expect to replace older cars with more fuel efficient and alternative fuel cars.  The Council will immediately eliminate 50 cars and staff will work to eliminate up to another 64 vehicles which are used less than 400 miles/month over the next three months.
• Police cars and motorcycles may no longer be driven home except for a handful explicitly approved by the Chief.  Currently several dozen are driven home.
• My proposal to adopt a specific $50 fine for leaving garbage cans out instead of charging the $600 blight inspection fee appears to have enough support for adoption.  The first complaint would generate a warning, a second $50 fine, a third $100, and thereafter $150
• I have also introduced resolutions requiring regular public reports on overtime, vacancies, travel and management benefits.

• The projections for Real Estate Transfer Tax and Property Taxes may be too high based on recent county information.
• Oakland and most state and local agencies face rising pension costs; one issue is whether we start addressing this now or push it into the future realizing costs will compound.
• We face a major shortage in public safety vehicles due to increased numbers of officers and unbudgeted maintenance and replacement costs.
• Any adjustments would be made in the fall when we close our books and know whether we met our budget for this year or have more deficits or a surplus.

• Mayor Dellums will officiate Alameda County's first gay/lesbian wedding ceremonies on Monday, June 16th starting at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Chambers. Congresswoman Barbara Lee and myself will join him as official witnesses.

• District 4 Celebrates the Same Sex Marriage Ruling: My district is home to one of the largest concentration of LGBT residents and families in the country.  Almost lost in the waves of other political change this year, the May 15th decision of the California Supreme Court opens the way for same sex marriages beginning June 17.  Our office discussed how we can celebrate the diversity of District 4 families and have decided to host an informal party at the Velvet Lounge, 3411 MacArthur Blvd on Sunday, June 22, 4-7 pm.  We will provide cake and a no-host bar. We are asking people to bring finger foods for potluck. Everyone--gay or straight, female and male--is welcome as we toast what promises to be a new era and an important advancement of civil rights. For details and to RSVP (so we know how much cake to provide), contact Leslie Bonett, 238-7273.
   
• Food Distribution Program for Low Income Families (and Seniors), Friday, June 20: The City of Oakland's Hunger Program  will distribute food to low income families and seniors on Friday, June 20th at several locations throughout the City, including Peter's Rock Church, 4739 Foothill Boulevard, in District 4 (533-7731. Food is distributed on this day only on a first come, first served basis. Proof of residence in one of the City's 7 Community Development Districts is required. For details, call 986-2721.
• Fire Inspection Notices Out--Inspections Begin June 15:  Now's the time to work on your 30-foot defensible zones, if you haven't already trimmed back your vegetation. Santa Clara fire fighters battling wildfires last month said that having defensible space was a key factor in the homes they chose to make a stand at. Keep in mind that you must comply with regulations concerning creekside properties and preservation of rare and endangered species (pallid manzanita, Tiburon buckwheat, presidio clarkia and the most beautiful jewel flower). Free curbside tree and brush chipping service is available for residents of the Wildfire Prevention District.  Call 238-7388 to schedule. Check out the handy new and practical WPD home fire safety and protection calendar. For details about the Wildfire Prevention District and how to enhance your vegetation management, check out their website.
• When does the City cut our areas?  With the drought we are getting more questions about when do contractors with the Wildfire Prevention District hit certain neighborhoods.  The goats above are now in North Oakland and have a schedule through August.  Median and roadside work is sometimes delayed until native poppies and presidio clarkia (right) have seeded.
  
   
• New Hours for the Animal Shelter: The Oakland Animal Shelter is now open 7 days a week--Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Noon-7 pm; Thursday, Noon-8 pm and Friday, Saturday and Sunday Noon-4 pm.

• Summit on Diabetes and Obesity, Friday, June 27, 9 am-2 pm, Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay Street in Downtown Oakland: Assemblymember Sandre Swanson and the Legislative Black Caucus Foundation sponsor a day-long Health Summit on Diabetes & Obesity:--The Growing Epidemic Among California's Minority Communities. Hear from researchers from California's top universities; legislators, hospitals and community health organizations, Assembly Health Committee members and pharmaceutical representatives. Registration deadline is Monday, June 23. Call 323-294-2700 or register online.
   
• Free Re-Assessment of Your Property:  Since real estate values have been declining recently, the Alameda County Assessor's Office  is reviewing their upcoming 2008-2009 Proposition 13 assessments to determine if a reduction can be provided. All property owners will receive a pre-tax bill notification in July, detailing their 2008-2009 assessment and indicating any reduction provided. Many property taxpayers in Alameda County have recently received a solicitation from a private company that charges $95 for an opinion of value of properties that the Alameda County Assessor is reviewing at no charge, without even being asked.

  If property taxpayers wish to request an individual informal review of their property's 2008-2009 assessed value, they may do so by returning a simple, printable form available on the Assessor's website http://www.acgov.org/assessor/Prop8. This completed form is the same document being submitted to the Assessor by the private company after receiving $95 from the homeowner. The Assessor estimates thousands of properties will receive reductions in assessment without any need for costly assistance from outside parties. Questions? Call 272-3787 weekdays between 8:30 am and 5 pm.

• Wide Mouthed Plastic Containers Go Into Gray Bin Starting July 1:   After last year's Waste Management lock out was settled, I reported in this newsletter that the City negotiated curbside recycling of wide mouth plastic containers. This includes yogurt, cottage cheese, dip and many other food containers. This expanded recycling begins July 1. Look for information in your next bill from Waste Management of Alameda County.
  
   
• Many East Bay Cities Join Styrofoam Ban:   Almost every week I am contacted by another city considering the ban of styrofoam foodware.  The city of Albany and Hayward are the latest; last year San Francisoc, Alameda and Emeryville joined Berkeley and Oakland.  I expect most Alameda County cities will join us by next year.

• More BPA Warnings:  One of the many reasons I proposed the styrofoam ban was because the medical studies showing that Bisphenol A or BPA was dangerous to our health. This chemical is released when from styrofoam and other plastics when exposed to high heat from microwaves, dishwashers, and some hot  foods.  Recent warning about plastic baby bottles join the list.  

Bill Moyers Journal on PBS just exposed the most outrageous information about the bias of federal government panels, literally controlled by representatives of the plastics industry, in suppressing consideration of studies indicating medical consequences!

Two Parking Meters Still Active in Montclair Village:

•  Nominate Local Stores:  I'm often annoyed that restaurant reviewers never seem to get past College or Piedmont Avenues. For example Phnom Penh or Full House Cafe in the Laurel, Southern Cafe or Tacqueria Comales in the Dimond, and Italian Colours in Montclair are some of the city's best. Support our local businesses by voting in the East Bay Express' Best of the Bay Awards Program. It takes just a couple of  minutes to fill out their online voting form (they require a name and email address), or you can print out a pdf form and mail it in.  Deadline for ballots is June 16. The winners will be published in the June 25th edition.

"The Federal Transit Administration proposed to ban public transit agencies from providing supplemental school service.  AC Transit provides 60,000 school trips a day.  Some are on regular lines, but most are on our supplemental school service. The proposed policy would make all of AC's supplemental service (lines with 600 numbers) illegal.  The most dramatic of the banned service would be the 22 buses waiting at Skyline High in Oakland every day to take students home.  Those students would either have to walk to MacArthur Boulevard or the School District would have to set up its own bus system.  The intended beneficiary of this proposed policy are the private (often non-union) companies that contract with school districts to provide "yellow school bus" service.  The Feds seem unaware ...that most of the private companies are not interested in providing service in difficult urban areas.  It also seems to be unaware that urban school districts around the country, but particularly in California, do not have the millions of dollars it would take for them to operate their own bus service."

•  Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov   Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
• U.S. Post or Express Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

For Further Information:  Linda Lasley, Assistant Chief Counsel, Legislation and Regulations Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Av, SE, 5th Fl, East Building, Washington, DC 20590. Linda.Lasley@dot.gov  (202) 366-1674.

• Upcoming Training for District 4 Pilot Radar Gun Program:  Our office is currently seeking more volunteers for the Citizens Pilot Radar Program. During our first phase of this program, with the help of Officer Dan Tirapelli from OPD's Traffic Division, we taught 16 citizens to use a traffic radar gun and eventually sent out over 300 warning letters to drivers who were caught speeding along 35th Avenue. The program has been so successful that we are now seeking to train many more volunteers to work in other areas of our district that have been impacted by speeding. If you are interested, please contact Michael Johnson at 238-4742 to sign up.

• Caution When Parking Near Tot Lots: A word of caution to parents driving to tot lots anywhere in the city, but especially if you frequent the tot lot on Joaquin Miller Road. Please be careful about traffic and ALWAYS have your children exit the car on the side opposite the traffic. The Joaquin Miller Park tot lot is particularly challenging, because a curve in the very steep road limits visibility of drivers coming down the hill. Please take a few minutes to be extra careful.

• Butters Neighbors Raise over $3K with Yard Sale:  It was nice to note that neighbors who joined efforts to clean out their garages, raised about $3600 to help pay for the recent purchase of the Butters Land Trust which has bought additional parcels adjoining the city's purchases with Measure DD funds that included watershed preservation in the bond that are renovating Lake Merritt and finishing the Bay Estuary Trail.  The proceeds will help reduce their indebtedness of $60,000 incurred in 2007 when two canyon lots came on the market.  Both acquisitions were critical pieces of the canyon puzzle.  In 2007 the neighborhood raised over $40,000 to cover down payment and closing costs for the first parcel that came on the market for $100,000.  With donations since that time and the proceeds from this sale the total funds raised for that purchase come to approximately $46,000.  Any donations, fund raising or financing ideas you have to help retire the remaining debt or contributions to help would be much appreciated. 
   

• Broadway Off Ramp Repair: The Broadway ramp off of Hwy 13 is closed for repairs  Monday through Friday, 9 am - 3 pm. Vehicles are directed to the Moraga/Thornhill off ramp as a detour. According to CalTrans, this southbound  off ramp  to  Broadway  Terrace  had  9  guardrail  accidents during the three year period from 2003 through 2005, with speeding as the primary collision factor; this is higher than the state average. CalTrans is installing  transverse  Rumble Strips (ground in) to alert motorists to slow down.  Diagonal or chevron markings will be installed on the gore area and  left  shoulder of the off-ramp to discourage motorists entering this area and the off-ramp will be widened, replacing the existing  metal  beam  guardrail  with a concrete  barrier.  Construction began on the $400,000 project should end by August 22.
   
• EBMUD Hosts 5th Meeting for Public Input on 5 Different Approaches to Renovating Estates Reservoir,Wednesday, June 25, 7 pm at the Joaquin Miller Community Center. East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) has scheduled a 5th Public Meeting on the five different approaches to renovating the Estates Reservoir first released on May 8. One version kept the roof top fountain in place; two versions employed adaptive reuse of the fountain, and two versions were completely new designs. Given the current water rationing situation, however, if the first version were selected, it would not have a water feature, as EBMUD will no longer permit fountains on its property. Consequently, versions #4 and #5--the new designs--seemed to have the strongest favorable response. See last week's newsletter for sketches. Following the June 25 meeting, EBMUD will begin the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process using the design that has the most community interest. To comment, contact Michelle Blackwell, EBMUD community relations representative at mblackwe@ebmud.com

Sign up Now for National Night Out, August 2:

• Daily Crime Reports Posted On-line:  One of the 200 plus daily emails I read each day are the cumulative statistics of crime reports. The police are now posting them online.  Basically they track what we call "Part 1 Crimes," which are tracked nationally by the Department of Justice. For Oakland these crimes reached a high in the early nineties and declined until a trend up in the last two years. In recent months these crime stats have been relatively flat except for murders.  In the last two years rising murders mostly involve young men killed in gang and drug crimes or women victims of domestic violence.  Encouragingly since the reorganization of the police 3 months ago, quality of life crimes have declined slightly.  As of yesterday: car thefts (-5), home burglaries (-8) and robberies (-1). 

Aggravated assaults are up by 8 percent, but much of this reflects the increased trend of charging in domestic violence cases which have tripled in the last three years. Most professionals working in this area believe it is largely the result of the better police training and more support to victims funded by Measure Y and the new Family Justice Center.  While domestic violence may be up because of the stresses of the recession, etc., no one thinks it has tripled.  At the same time homicides due to domestic violence countywide are at a 10 year low.

• While the official deadline isn't until July 1, we encourage drivers to practice using hands-free telephone devices when driving. Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle. It will be the state law as of July 1, 2008.

• Program Your Cell Phone for the Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch:  In addition to 777-3211, which will connect you directly to the Police Dispatchers from your cell phone when you are in Oakland (9-1-1 on your cell connects you to the Highway Patrol),  you may also want to program into your cell phone Oakland Fire Department and Medical Dispatch at 444-1616.
   
• 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 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 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.

• FEMA Safety & Preparedness Expo, Wednesday, June 25, 11 am-3 pm on the plaza at City Hall:  Free demonstrations and displays on citizen preparedness, urban preparedness, health & wellness and safety. More than 30 vendors and exhibitions. door prizes and give-aways, sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security and the City of Oakland.

• Retrofit Program Picks Up:  As we near our first year of the program that I authored, the number of homes applying for a permit for a retrofit at the flat fee of $250 will reach about 200; up from only 7 applications last year.  Details of the next phase of the program -- matching grants up to $10,000 for low income owners in the redevelopment district -- will be available by the month's end. 

• Organizing Your Neighbors/Preparing Your Family: Sometimes thinking about what do to in an disaster is so overwhelming that people avoid any planning. Sue Piper, who has chaired her neighborhood CORE group since 1993 and is a 1991 Firestorm survivor, suggests that people take a few minutes to plan every time they hear or read of a disaster somewhere else in the world. What would you do if you were in China during the earthquake, or Myanmar during the Cyclone, or Santa Cruz during the fire? Your first response will likely be the same no matter what the disaster --earthquake, hurricane or fire. (See Item #1.) The American Red Cross offers an easy to follow list of questions that will help you make your personal disaster plan, or stop by our booth at the Montclair Farmer's Market on first Sunday's to pick up an easy-to-use form. Then, take a look at the various workshops offered by Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies  (CORE). Call 238-6351 or go to the CORE website.
   

• Friends of Sausal Creek's June Schedule: Join friends and neighbors and learn more about the native habitat of Sausal Creek:
   
  • Saturday, June 28, 9 am- Noon--Restoration Workday at Dimond Park. Meet at the Scout Hut in Dimond Park for invasive plant removal and creek access in the area immediately adjacent to the tot lot. Email field@sausalcreek.org to RSVP.

• Saturday, June 28, 9am-Noon--Beaconsfield Canyon Restoration, part of the upper Sausal Creek Watershed. The little-known, 5-acre canyon runs between Ascot and Chelton Drives. You can help clear fallen debris and invasive plants, reduce the fuel load, extend trails and learn about native plants. <<Wendy Tokuda exhibits dangerous broom plant removed from the canyon. No experience necessary. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants and sleeves. Bring work gloves and hand garden tools if you have them. Meet at the end of Beaconsfield Place, second street on the right as you go up Chelton from Ascot. From Hwy 13, exit Park Blvd. Go east to dead end and turn right on Mountain. Bear left as it becomes Ascot Drive. Then left on Chelton and right on Beaconsfield. Contact Richard Kauffman for details.

• FOSC Free House & Garden Audit Presentation to Neighborhood Groups: Friends of Sausal Creek will present, free of charge, a fast-paced, mostly-pictures PowerPoint, introduction to The House and Garden Audit: Protecting Your Family's Health and Improving the Environment by Laurel Marcus, a long-time watershed consultant. It offers a comprehensive overview of actions that individuals can take in the house and garden to help keep themselves and our creeks and watersheds healthy. It has lots of photos, lots of tables that provide a great reference, and lots of websites and other sources for people who want more. Call Karen Paulsell at 655-0818 for details.

• Allendale Beautification Team:  Saturday, June 21, 10:30am-12 noon,
  Starts at Allendale Park Triangle, 38th Avenue and Suter Street intersection.
   

• Catch the Reading Bug Summer Reading Program:  Kids, ages 13 and under are encouraged to buzz on in to one of our branches, the bookmobile, or the Main Library's Children's Room to sign-up and start reading their way to valuable prizes, including books and tickets to some of Oakland's hottest attractions. Pre-readers can participate by having someone read to them.  AND, for the FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, ADULTS can also Catch the Reading Bug

• Measure K, Kids First! Seeks Youth Members for the Planning & Oversight Committee (POC): The POC is the only city committee in which young people can directly decide where to allocate 2.5% of unrestricted City of Oakland general fund revenues (roughly $12-$14 million a year). Students must be between the ages of 14 and 21 years, live in Oakland, and be able to attend 3 hour meetings on the 1st or 2nd Wednesday of the month.  We are especially seeking someone from District 4. For more information, call or email Jasmine Dawson at 238-2209. Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to Oakland Fund for Children & Youth, Attention: Jasmine Dawson, 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite 4216, Oakland, CA 94612.
   

• Free Lunch Program at 57 OUSD School Sites: Starting between June 23 and June 30, 57 OUSD schools will offer free meals for youth, except infants, during the summer. This allows children under the age of 18 to take advantage of the free meals, regardless of their income level or enrollment status in OUSD summer programs. The program is a project of OUSD, Alameda County Community Food Bank, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, and AT & T. For details, call Jennifer LeBarre at OUSD, 879-8345. District 4 (and nearby) school sites include Allendale--June 24-July18;  Fremont Federation--June 29-August 1; Fruitvale--June 24-July 18; Glenview--June 23-August 1; Horace Mann--June 24-July 18; Melrose Leadership--June 24-July 18.
   

• Library Celebrates Gay Pride Month: Throughout June, the Main Library (125 14th Street) will exhibit the Lavender Scrolls Project. These illustrated scrolls portray the lives of 8 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders. Each scroll features photographs, live-story excerpts and quotations that defy stereotypes about being old and gay, while also demonstrating the realities common to all elders. The project is presented by Oakland personal historian Cathy Cade.
  • Saturday, June 14, Noon - 2 pm, LGBT Elders Dialogue with Teens will take place in the Main Library's West Auditorium. For details, 238-7352 or visit the library's website. 
  
   
• The Radical Jack London at the Oakland History Room at the Main Branch, Thursday, June 19, 6:30-7:45 pm: To help launch this book, newly published by the University of California press, editor Jonah Raskin will discuss the often overlooked political writings of Oakland's best-known literary figure, Jack London.  The Oakland Public Library Main Branch is located at 125 14th Street.

Kids Come Free at Woodminster This Summer:

• July 11-20  Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
• August 9-17 Seussical
• September 5-14 Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance

• 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. 
   
  • Summer Sailstice Open House at the Lake Merritt Boating Center, Saturday, June 21, 6:30-9:30 pm: Lake Merritt Boating Center, 568 Bellevue Avenue, 238-2196.
     
  • Play Day on the Plaza, Friday, June 27 11 am-2pm, Frank Ogawa Plaza-- the official kick-off event celebrating National Recreation & Parks Month in July.
• 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.
• Chabot Space Explorers Summer Camp: Chabot Space & Science Center offers week long half-day and full-day camps for young people ages 6 - 13 (entering grades 1-8) interested in having fun with science! Camp dates from July 7 - August 15. Camps for 2008 include the Green Avengers and Kitchen Science. To receive a catalog email camp@chabotspace.org or see the entire list of options on their web site.
• Parents Press offers a fairly comprehensive listing of opportunities.
• The City of Oakland's Shining Stars catalog is another great resource.

• Summer U.S. Youth Games hosted by Oakland in 2008! Oakland Hosts the 42nd Annual U.S. Youth Games July 16-19. The U.S. Youth Games host thousands of youth from across the nation, participating in Olympic-style competitions.
  • General Information & Team Registration: Melvin Landry  238-4722
     

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival: Free Activities at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, 2nd Floor, 388 9th St., Suite 290. National Dishes Workshops-- Register by calling 637-0462:June 21, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Chinese Dumplings

• 3rd Annual Summer Solstice Music Festival in the Laurel, Saturday, June 21, 1-7 pm: Come join the fun. Volunteers are also needed. The festival is free and open to the public and takes place along MacArthur Blvd and other select sites nearby in the Laurel District. Call Sar