• Community Job Fair, Saturday, June 28- 10 am-2 pm: St. Anthony's Elementary School at 1535 16th Avenue and Foothill Blvd. Join hundreds of Oakland residents and meet with employers, union apprenticeship and training programs. Come dressed for success. Workshops, vocational training, educational and legal resources as well as childcare resources. For details and to register, call 444-2489.

• Children's Fairyland Amphitheater Grand Opening, June 28 & 29:  For a festival of wonderful children's theater come to the opening weekend of the amazing Measure DD project, one of many Lake Merritt restorations to come! I'll be there Saturday afternoon.  >>Figurines of fairy tale favorites overlooking the new Aesop Theater.

• A Clean Sweep: Thermometers, Medicine, and E-Waste Disposal!  Saturday, June 28, 9am-3pm, Montera Middle School Parking Lot, 5555 Ascot Drive, Oakland. Free, environmentally friendly disposal of household items that can pollute the Bay: unwanted/expired medication, mercury thermometers, and electronic waste, such as TVs, computers, monitors, cell phones and fax machines. No appliances. Bring thermometers sealed in two plastic zipper bags, and bring medication in original containers with your name marked out.  Sponsored by EBMUD and Save The Bay.  See www.ebmud.com/cleanbay for more information.  Please direct any questions to Athena Honore.

• 33rd Annual Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival in Montclair, June 27, 28 and 29 on Mountain Blvd. at La Salle. 10 am- 6 pm, Friday and Saturday; 10 am - 5 pm on Sunday. Need a wedding present?  Love arts and crafts?  This annual fair of top western artists is always fun.  Sponsored by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.

• 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.  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.

• Saturday, June 28, 4 pm at Laurel Book Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd: Leah Waarvik, who has written a book entitled I Sit and Stay,  to help kids remain safe in the outdoors, especially if they are lost in the wilderness or woods.  Leah and her dog help with search and rescue missions.  It comes with a small whistle, pocket mirror and bright yellow plastic bag to use for protection and rescue.  Bring the kids to talk about outdoor safety.
• Book Signing of Love, Grandma, Grandmothers Against the War--Saturday, June 28, 3 pm at the AAMLO. Come listen to the life stories, poems, expressions of hope and grief, war and peace, social action and history from the hearts and lives of grandmothers as activists. Free at the African American Museum & Library at Oakland, 659 14th St. RSVP 673-0200.

• Great American Back Yard Camp Out in Joaquin Miller Park, Saturday, June 28-Sunday, June 29: There are still some spaces, show up at 3 pm to register in the great meadow (first right). It's a rare treat to camp out under the stars in the meadow at Joaquin Miller Park. Bring your tent and the whole family to this 2nd annual Great American Camp Out. City Naturalist Stephanie Benavidez will thrill you with stories about the park and its flora and fauna, moon light camp songs, and S'mores.  Chabot Science Center will bring down some small telescopes.  (Above) Family at our first event last year.

• Oakland Marches in San Francisco's LGBT Pride Parade, Sunday, June 29: Join Oakland Mayor Ron V. Dellums, Oakland Fire Department, the Port of Oakland and hundreds of proud Oakland residents as we march down Market Street during San Francisco's LGBT Pride Parade and celebration on Sunday June 29 th. All are welcome to join the Oakland contingent. Wear your Oakland gear such as your Raiders jersey, your A's ball cap, even your Warriors short-shorts. Anything that identifies you as a proud Oakland resident is encouraged.   The Oakland contingent #75 meets at 10:30 am at Beale Street Area J between Market and Mission.  Don't forget your water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes.
   
• Jazz Vespers at High Street Presbyterian Church, Sunday, June 29, 5 pm: Kat Parra will present her brand of jazz fusion with an Afro-Latin beat in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Finger food provided at this free event; donations accepted. High Street Presbyterian Church is located at 1945 High Street.

• Just a reminder that Sue Piper and I will be back at the Montclair Farmer's Market next weekend Sunday, July 6 between 9 am and 1 pm for our regular once-a-month Montclair Office Hours. Please stop by to check out the many free handouts about City services and local events, or to talk with us about your concerns.

• Hands-Free Phone Use When Driving: As of July 1, drivers must use hands-free telephone devices when driving. Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device such as speaker phone or ear phone devices. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle.

• Curbside Battery Recycling: After last year's Waste Management lock out was settled, I reported in this newsletter that the City negotiated additional curbside recycling. Starting July resident can recycle their batteries by putting them into a resealable clear plastic bag on top of their brown can starting July 1st.  

• Wide Mouthed Plastic Containers Also Go Into Gray Bin Starting July 1:   This is an issue I have been working on for a long time. As the recycling industry develops more plastics are beginning to be recycled, we are now adding wide mouth containers such as yogurt, cottage cheese, dip and many other food containers. Bottles of all kinds continue to be recycled.  This expanded recycling begins July 1. Look for more information in this month's bill from Waste Management of Alameda County.

• Seismic Retrofit Grants for Low Income Homeowners: Starting July 1, eligible homeowners may apply for up to $10,000 matching grant to seismically strengthen their older home. Homeowners must meet the City's low income threshold (family of 2 not exceeding $53,00 a year, for example) and live in one of the City's Redevelopment Project Areas. (see Item # 10).

• Mayor's Police Proposal Goes to Council for Fall Ballot:  Both the Mayor and I have criticized a proposed measure that would have required the City to add 300 new officers without new revenues.  The estimated cost would have increased police costs to about half of the city general fund, making public safety or police and fire about three quarters of the entire City budget. If both this proposal and the new Kids First initiative to double funding were passed, the rest of the city would have to run on less than 20 percent.  Sounds like Vallejo?

In response the Mayor, working with the Police Chief,  has sent this week a proposal to the Council for a fall ballot measure.  In January we will have reached police staffing that matched our fully budgeted positions.  To maintain these positions and to reach the number estimated by Chief Tucker as the desired level of staffing the proposal would increase police staffing by 35 officers and 25 police technicians for three years for a total of 105 police and 75 police technicians.  This would bring our police force to 908 sworn officers and about 130 police technicians.

• The cost to a single family house would be phased in at an average of $86 more per year for a total increase of $266.
• The use of police technicians would improve investigations and give faster service to citizens at a lower cost than more police alone.
• Police technicians are especially effective in collecting and analyzing data on crime trends to help us focus police resources and can do much of the tracking and follow-up needed to monitor parolees and sex offenders.
• This would free police up for more crime response, less paper work.
• It would bring the police to citizen ratio up to one of the higher ratios in California.
• It would in addition require the City to increase the police as new housing and population increase.
• It is a reasonable schedule for training and recruitment at currently budgeted levels, given the highly competitive market for police and expected retirement levels.

We do not know whether the citizens of Oakland will support new taxes for police or not, however, this is a relatively balanced cost effective proposal for those who want more police.  I will be interested to hear your comments.

• Courts Uphold City Police Retention Policy:  The State Court of Appeal upheld the City's policy requiring Police Academy graduates to pay for the cost of their training if they serve less than five years on the police force. To protect taxpayer dollars and maintain a more experienced police force, Oakland requires academy graduates to reimburse the city for training costs if they leave before completing five years of service. In 2001, Oakland sued a former officer who resigned after less than a year on the job and then refused to pay back the city. Former officer Kenny Hassey filed a cross-action complaint against the city in 2002 challenging the provision. The Court of Appeals upheld those rulings on June 17th.
   
• Pilot Graffiti Abatement for Neighborhoods: The graffiti on public and private buildings over the last few months has increased dramatically.  The main way to stop it is to take it off as quickly as possible and repeatedly but Public Works is drowned in requests. The Public Works Agency's  Keep Oakland Clean and Beautiful Division has initiated a  graffiti abatement pilot program for volunteers.  Interested volunteers simply need to complete the Adopt A Spot form on the City's website.  Volunteers in the Laurel and Allendale are currently running similar projects. Check off "Graffiti" and then fax the form to the number listed.  Keep Oakland Beautiful will supply you with cleaning supplies and instructions in a kit. (Above) Student artist demonstrates spray paint art that is more permanent without vandalizing buildings at the Allendale Parks for Peace event two weeks ago.  Send us photos of graffiti in your area or anyone you see defacing public property with markers or paint.
   
• Free Re-Assessment of Your Property:  Since real estate values have been declining, the Alameda County Assessor's Office is reviewing their upcoming 2008-2009 Proposition 13 assessments to determine if reductions can be provided. All property owners will receive a pre-tax bill notification in July, detailing their 2008-2009 assessment and indicating any reductions. 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 from the Assessor http://www.acgov.org/assessor/Prop8. This form is the same document being submitted to the Assessor by the private company for $95. Questions? Call 272-3787 weekdays 8:30 am-5 pm.

• 1.5 percent across the board reduction or enhancement of funds by each department; and
• 5 day or monthly shut down of all non-essential services during the week between Christmas and New Years; employees may use vacation for one day. We felt this was less disruptive than the Mayor's proposal of one day each month and would have less impact on services and on our lowest paid workers.
• Eliminating 28 vacant positions from the budget:  By permanently eliminating these positions we are beginning what we believe will be a necessary downsizing of the city workforce during this economic downturn.  We tried to focus on jobs that had been vacant for over a year; some of the data was incomplete and we invited the administration to provide an alternate list by July 15 for Council's approval and expect some revisions at that time.
• Rejecting some of the proposed fee hikes for Park facilities. Approving parking fees for Lake Merritt aimed at charging commuters while minimizing costs to park users.
• Restoring the second year cuts to the 2-1-1 system, School of the Arts, and the Seismic Program. 
•  Delaying over $3 million in capital projects. 
•  Replace older cars with more fuel efficient and alternative fuel cars.  Immediately eliminate 50 cars and increase car pool and car share options. Another 90 cars which are used less than 400 miles/month will be assessed over the next three months for elimination.
• Approving purchase of police cars for new recruits and emergency vehicles for the fire department by use of restricted reserves and other funds.
•  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 was adopted.  The first complaint would generate a warning, a second $50 fine, a third $100, and thereafter $150.
• My resolutions requiring regular public reports on overtime, vacancies, travel and management benefits were also adopted.

There are  revenue uncertainties and other factors which might require further cuts in the fall: 

• The projections for next year's Real Estate Transfer Tax and Property Taxes may be too high based on recent county information.
•  Rising gas prices, police overtime, and other factors may put this year in further deficit.  We will know when we get our year end report in the fall.
• The State budget will not likely be settled for several more months and may include more cuts.

>>Nancy Karigaca and Laura Nicodemus led a brainstorming planning session among neighbors and park users last Sunday at Maxwell Park. If you still haven't weighed in on what improvements you'd like to see in the park, you can complete an online survey or call  Nancy Karigaca at

• AC Transit Board to Discuss Changes to Line 53 Route at July 9th Board Meeting: Werner Ct. residents have complained that the turn about now being used is too narrow.  We have been working with AC Transit for an alternative at Joaquin Miller Park that would also improve public access to programs there. Nancy Skowbo, AC Transit Deputy General Manager, noted that her staff  needs a bit more time to analyze the options under consideration; including  questions relating to the proposed turnaround at Sanborn Road in Joaquin Miller Park. Staff plans to present their analysis and recommendations at the July 9 Board meeting.  That meeting is scheduled to start at 5 pm.  The agenda will be posted on their website (www.actransit.org).
   

• Brookdale Teen Center Moves Forward: Last week our staff held a focus group, with pizza and root beer floats as incentives, to gather young people's input on the design and programmatic ideas for the future site of the Brookdale Teen Center. The input gathered will bring the design phase to a close as we begin to get cost estimates for this project. I have agreed to designate nearly half of a million dollars of funds for a teen center to transform and "green" this facility to better serve our youth.

• Radar Gun Training For Volunteers Set for Monday, June 30, 6-9 pm: at Eastmont Police Substation. Our office is sponsoring a pilot project where volunteers clock speeding vehicles on selected streets and then forward the information to the Police Department, who then send warning letters to the speeders. We would like to train volunteers for our third location -- Foothill  between 50th Avenue and Cole. Our first effort on 35th Avenue, Redwood Road netted 300 warnings. The second effort is occurring on Skyline Blvd. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Michael Johnson at 238-4742.

• Speeders Beware:  Lt. Anthony Banks, who supervises the City's Traffic Patrol, reported that OPR handed out 164 traffic citations on Skyline Blvd. between March 30 and June 14-- 40 of them on Saturday, May 3 alone! You may want to take note-- between the Radar Gun Warning Program and OPR's actual ticketing operation, if you speed on Skyline you better beware!

• <<New Uphill Radar Sign for 35th Ave: These Drivers are Over the Speed Limit.  Redwood Road/35th Avenue has been one of our office's top traffic calming priorities. This week, the City installed a second radar uphill speed feedback sign, this tijme on the uphill side based on feedback from a series of community meetings. Our office paid for this and the downhill radar speed feedback sign that was installed last year. Other efforts included a new traffic barrier and additional chevrons at the curve on the downhill side. More than 300 speeders were sent warnings this spring as a result of our first pilot volunteer radar gun effort.  In most instances, the speeders were local residents. Please take an extra few minutes and drive the speed limit--30 MPH.
   

• Pass it on---For those of you entering retirement-- or just cleaning your closets--Allyson Rickard proposed a great suggestion for passing on suits and other office attire that is in good condition--Wardrobe for Opportunity even has a drop off site at Bank of the West in Montclair.

• 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.

• Fund Raising for New Tot Lot at Dimond Park Get's a Boost: After months of planning, the Dimond Park Advisory Council recently launched a fund raising campaign to install a new tot lot play area in place of the fire engine now located in Dimond Park---and immediately received a $9,259 grant from Salesforce.com. One of their employees lives in the neighborhood and took a chance by asking her employer to support the project! Think how creative you can be in helping to raise funds! The new tot lot will include:

• safe, enclosed play area for 2-5-year-olds
• sand box
• 2 play houses'
• 3 slides
• multiple climbing features
• interactive panels
• learning lab
• cushioned rubber surface

If you would like to make a contribution, make checks payable to the Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation Dimond Tot Lot, and send it to Michelle Doppelt, Recreation Director at Dimond Park, Dimond Park, 3860 Hanly Rd, Oakland, CA 94602
 

• 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. Construction began on the $400,000 project should end by August 22.

• EBMUD Reveals Selected Option for Renovation of Estates Reservoir: About 20 neighbors met with EBMUD officials and their landscape designers to review the proposed option for renovating the Estates Reservoir. The selected plan  incorporated feedback from neighbors during meetings earlier this year. The plan removes the fountain (made obsolete by EBMUD's policy of eliminating any fountains from their property in order to conserve water); buries the two new water tanks  and landscapes the area with native grasses. Trees currently on the site will remain, however, will be limbed for firesafety, which may also improve views to the Bay for some residents. A looped pathway will be installed along Estates Drive  on one end of the EBMUD property. The next step in the process will be to present the plans to the EBMUD Board and then start an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process. The current schedule calls for the draft EIR to be released in the spring of 2009. To comment, contact Michelle Blackwell, EBMUD community relations representative at mblackwe@ebmud.com

<<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 recently, 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.

Additional  Tips for "Fire Weather Watch Alert" or Red Flag Day: Red Flag Day means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. As a resident, there is nothing specifically you need to do, but you can be extra vigilant around your own property.

• Please have any maintenance or construction crews who are working for you to be extremely cautious of sparks caused by equipment (which has historically been a primary cause of fires).   They are required to have at least 2.5 gallons of water and a fire extinguisher at hand.
•  Keep roadways free of construction materials, dumpsters, and equipment that could block access by responding emergency vehicles.
•  Please have your family, guests and neighbors obey all parking regulations so that streets and roadways remain open.

 Level 1 - Fire Danger Restrictions

•  No Smoking
• No  Open Flame Fires (BBQs Permitted in Designated Areas)
•  Increased Monitoring and Patrol B park Rangers, Park Personnel And Fire Inspectors
•  No Cross Country/Off Road Travel
• Additional "No Parking" Areas Designated on Specific Narrow or"Loop/Dead End Streets
   

Level 2 - Very High Fire Hazard  Prescriptions:  All of above requirements plus

• Restricted use of Open Space and Trails/Unimproved Areas
• No Power Tools or Gasoline Powered Tools in Affected Areas
• Roving Patrols Activated

Level 3 - Extreme Fire Hazard Prescriptions:   All of above requirements plus

• Road Closures as Specified
• Park and Facilities Closures as Specified
• Contractors Working in Area Must be Supervised by OFD 

• Sign up Now for National Night Out, August 5: Sign up with the City, your group will be visited by a representative from the Police, Fire and/or Public Works Department, as well as our office. We all usually bring freebies (last year it was free compact fluorescent light bulbs and whistles). But most importantly, you begin to build community, which is the first step in organizing your block for both crime prevention , emergency preparedness and fun.

We are happy to announce that we have secured free tubs of Dreyer's Ice Cream again.  We have 20 tubs, contact Michael Johnson if your group would like one. Here's a perfect way to get to know your neighbors--invite them to a pot luck, ice cream social or coffee and desserts as part of the 25th Annual National Night Out event. Last year, District 4  had 79 different National Night Out parties! When you

• 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 (-4), home burglaries (-8) and robberies (-1).   

• 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:   Lists of 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.

• Amateur Radio Field Day in Sequoia Arena, in Joaquin Miller Park, Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29:  This week is Amateur Radio Week, this  weekend  June 28-29 amateur radio will conduct its annual Field Day disaster-response exercise all across the US and Canada. Oakland's ham radio club (Oakland Radio Communications Association--ORCA in their booth at this week's FEMA Fair) will participate. Visitors, especially Oakland CORE trainees, are encouraged to observe and participate. During Field Day, ham radio operators simulate a disaster response by assembling two-way radio stations quickly, outdoors, and off the commercial power grid. They then make as many contacts as they can with other ham radio operators across North America and even overseas. The contacts can be by voice, Morse code, or any of several digital methods. No WiFi or cellular phone signal is used: it is all done by radio waves, independent of the telephone network and Internet. Actual radio operations will extend from 11 am Saturday to 11 am Sunday. ORCA members will be camping on the site near the Chabot Science Center and will operate during much of the 24-hour period, duly taking some time off to sleep and eat.

• Organizing Your Neighbors/Preparing Your Family: Sometimes thinking about what do to in an disaster is so overwhelming that people avoid any planning. Your first response will likely be the same no matter what the disaster --earthquake, hurricane or fire.  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 July Schedule: Join friends and neighbors and learn more about the native habitat of Sausal Creek:
   
  • Friday, July 4, 9:30 am-12:30 pm: Seed Hike in the Sausal Creek Watershed. Contact  for details.
     
  • Saturday, July 5, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday in the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other tasks. RSVP for groups over 6.  Contact  for details.
  • Friday, July 11, 9;30 am-12:30 pm: Seed Hike in the Sausal Creek Watershed. Contact  for details.
  • Saturday, July 12, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday in the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other tasks. RSVP for groups over 6.  Contact  for details.
  • Saturday, July 19, 9 am-Noon: Restoration Workday in Dimond Park. Meet at the Scout Hut to work on invasive plant removal and the installation of erosion control along the creek banks in Dimond Park. Email Kathren Stevenson to RSVP.
  • Saturday, July 19, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday in the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other tasks. RSVP for groups over 6.  Contact  for details.
  • Sunday, July 20, 9:30-Noon: Aquatic Insect Sampling. Call Emma Brown to convirm at 527-2507.
  • Saturday, July 26, 9 am-Noon: Restoration Workday at Beaconsfield Canyon. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants to help clear debris for fire prevention, pull invasive plants, plant and mark natives, and extend trails. Contact Richard Kauffman (531-1237) 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.

• 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 City Recreation Centers & OUSD School Sites: Starting between June 23 and July 30, 41 Recreation Centers or churches and 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. To find the summer lunch program near you, please call the Oaklanders' Assistance Center at 510-444-C-I-T-Y or call Jennifer LeBarre at OUSD, 879-8345. District 4 (and nearby) sites include:
  • Recreation Centers
     
  • Allendale Recreation Center - June 16-August 15 (noon - 1 pm)
  • Brookdale Recreation Center - June 16-August 15 (noon - 1 pm)
  • Boy & Girls Club-Ana Marie Branch-June 16-Aug 15 (12 - 1pm)
     
  • Schools
  •  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
     

• Planning your Calendar for the Family for Next School Year? You can now download the OUSD school calendar for 2008-09 at their website.

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. 
   
• A Few Spots Remain for Chabot's Summer Camps! Send Your Child on an Unforgettable Adventure this Summer- Sign up for Space Explorers Summer Camp Now!  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, Green Dollhouses and Fun in the Sun. 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.

• Thursday Night Live in Old Oakland, 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 5:30-9 pm, June - October: Thursday Night Live takes place inside and outside the food establishments along 9th and Washington in Old Oakland. Besides the usual drink specials associated with happy hour, there's a stage featuring live music, outdoor concession stands, and beer and beverage "gardens" where people can mix and socialize. Free to the public.
   

• 33rd Annual Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival in Montclair, June 27, 28 and 29 on Mountain Blvd. at La Salle. 10 am- 6 pm, Friday and Saturday; 10 am - 5 pm on Sunday. Sponsored by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.

• Annual Dimond Picnic in the Park, Sunday, July 27. Bring friends and family to this annual event, sponsored by the Dimond Improvement Association.

• 
   
• Lakefest '08 Wine Art and Wine Festival., Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 3. Showcases 30 wineries along with live music and an arts and crafts fair with over 100 artisans and local vendors. Admission is free,food and wine tasting packages begin at $10.At the crossroads of Lakshore and Grand Avenues.
   

• Laurel Street Festival, Saturday, August 9, 1-6 pm:  Celebrate Oakland's Diversity in the heart of Oakland-- the Laurel District-- MacArthur Blvd. between 35th Avenue and High Street. Details to come.>>Last year's event

• 6th Annual Montclair Jazz and Wine Festival 2008, Sunday, September 7, 11 am-6 pm. Admission to the Festival is free. Wine Tasting 1-6 pm-wine tasting tickets are $30; $5 off coupon on the website. Couples package$50. Beer is available at the Beer Garden from 11 am-6 pm, $4.00.

• Dimond Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 4, 11 am- 4 pm on MacArthur Blvd.

• Maxwell Park Day, Saturday, September 13-- a day in Maxwell Park, 4618 Allendale Avenue. Details to come.
   

• 14th Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Fall Fest in Montclair, October 4-5: Mountain Blvd. at La Salle, 10 am- 6 pm, Saturday; 10 am-5 pm, Sunday. Sponsored by Pacific Fine Arts Festivals.
   

• Mark Your Calendar for These Dog Park Closing Dates: As you know, the Joaquin Miller Park Dog Play Areas are used as parking lots when the Woodminster Amphitheater is active. On those dates, the Dog Park closes at dusk the day before and reopens 10 am the day after:

   

  • July:
    • Friday, July 11- Sunday, July 20   "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" Musical at Woodminster Amphitheater
    • Saturday, July 26 - OPR Special Event
  • August:
    • Friday, August 8-Sunday, August 17  "Seussical the Musical"  at Woodminster Amphitheater
    • Saturday, August 23: OPR Special Even
       
• BadRap's Code597 Comes to Oakland: The City's Animal Services Department is about to launch Code597, a partnership with BadRap (Bay Area Dog owners Responsible About Pitbulls) and players from the Oakland Raiders. The name is taken from CA penal code 597, the code that addresses animal cruelty.  The goal of this program is to combine the knowledge we have collectively about proper animal care along with the resources and celebrity the Oakland Raider's Players to educate dog owners and provide assistance to them so that they can learn to become more responsible and humane guardians.  For details, contact Adam Parascandola, Director of Animal Services, at 535-5640.