• The Black College Expo, Saturday, January 30, 9 am-4 pm, Marriott Convention Center: The College Expo brings Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other colleges and universities to major venues across the country to provide high school and college students with a unique educational and entertaining experience during which many students are admitted to colleges on the spot. There is also a Career Recruitment Pavilion, featuring top companies looking to recruit college-bound students and seminars from 10 am-4 pm. The KFC Step Show, featuring high school and Greek step teams, A Dance Competition, and musical performances runs from 4-6 pm. Admission $10, online tickets only $8. Children 11 and under are free. 

• Disney Give a Day, Get A Day at Beaconsfield Canyon, Saturday, January 30, 9-Noon: Friends of Sausal Creek will be working with at least 25 volunteers at Beaconsfield Canyon in the hills of Montclair. They will be pulling hemlock, Himalayan blackberry, vinca, and other invasives. The Disney program rewards volunteers with a pass to Disneyland in return for community service. For details about the Beaconsfield Event, contact Richard Kauffman at 531-1237.

Plant Trees in Oakland, Saturday, January 30, 9 am-Noon, 836 Milton Street:

• Parent and NCPC Leaders, Public Invited to Special Presentation on OUSD Secondary School Safety Program, Saturday, January 30, 10-Noon, Dimond Library: Hear about OUSD's new program to enhance safety at secondary schools, including installation of security cameras. School Board Director Gary Yee, District 4, will join me and Michael Moore of OUSD to learn about the program and answer questions. Please RSVP to Sue Piper. Tribune article covers the security camera program.

• OUSD District 2 Academic & Fiscal Solvency Meeting, Saturday, January 30, 10-Noon, Garfield Elementary School, 1640 22nd Avenue: OUSD Board member David Kakishiba invites the public to a Town Hall Meeting with new Superintendent Tony Smith. Learn about Oakland's education priorities, upcoming budget cuts, provide your ideas, and compare notes with other public school supporters. Free and open to all.
   

Oakland Word offers Free Creative Writing Workshops at Oakland Public Library, Saturday, January 30 at 1 pm, Main Library, 125 14th Street: To provoke dialogue and encourage creativity among underrepresented youths and adults, the Oakland Public Library is offering free writing workshops during the months of February and March.  See item # 11 below for other dates.

 

Oakland Speaks, Haitian Relief Benefit Concert, The New Parrish, 579 18th St & San Pablo: ethnic, hip-hop, poet, and other cultural artists come together with community organizations to support grassroots rebuilding efforts in Haiti.

 

The Full Moon & Mars Close Tonight:  The latest forecast predicts it just may be clear enough to catch a close ups look tonight, especially if you go up to the Chabot Science Center for the free telescope viewing.  The moon will be 15 percent bigger and 30 brighter than the moon at the average distance. Mars will be in opposition, directly opposite of the sun, it will look bigger than any time between 2008 and 2012. Tribune Photo

• First Annual Winter Brews Festival, Saturday, January 30, 1-8 pm, Linden St. Brewery, 95 Linden St. Suite 7/8: Partnering with Linden St. Brewery in Oakland, The Brewing Network festival combines the love of seasonal beers with the enthusiasm of the local craft beer scene. With barrels from breweries such as Russian River, Firestone Walker, the 21st Amendment, Speakeasy, Linden St., Moonlight Brewing, Magnolia, and many more, this Winter Brews Fest promises to provide big, malty beers to ignite the taste buds of beer lovers, new and experienced. $25 tickets sold at the door. Additional tickets are 3 for $35.

 

• The Oakland Museum's White Elephant Preview Sale, Sunday, January 31, 10 am-4pm, 333 Lancaster near the Fruitvale BART:  If you love this annual fundraiser for the Museum, you know why we are willing to pay $12.50 to get to the preview sale.  The treasures from the City's closets, attics, and basements are bargains!  I almost always pick up something for the kitchen or dining table, retro jewelry or something to wear.
   

• Friday, February 5, 6-9 pm, The Space, 4148 MacArthur Blvd. ( between 39th Ave and Maybelle ), presents a photography show by Cathy Austin (www.cathyaustinphoto.com ),  an Oakland artist. In this show she focuses on her eye for tranquilty. Join the artist on "First Friday" ( Oakland's night out for the visual arts )  . You will be greeted with snacks, drinks, wonderful art and good company. 
   

The Oakland Art Murmur is the First Friday, February 5th:  Haven't been downtown for dinner or to see the new galleries and night life.  This is a fun and leisurely way to do it.  If you want to see rave reviews about Uptown, check out this month's Sunset magazine.  It features all my favorite new restaurants.
 

<<Vigil at the Federal Building on MLK Day
The out pouring of creative events continues as in the Bay Area discussions are moving from emergency charity towards lasting ties to help Haiti move beyond the incredible poverty.  Even before the earthquake, 80 percent of Haitians had no regular access to clean water.  Congresswoman Lee and others urge support to groups like Haiti Action for continued support of democratic change.

• Our original list of aid groups can be found here.

• Another Donation Source is MedShare: a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the environment and healthcare through the efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to underserved healthcare facilities in developing countries. Their shipments of medical supplies and equipment have brought healing and the promise of better lives to 80 countries and countless patients.  MedShare is a top ranked charity by Charity Navigator, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with a second distribution center in San Leandro.
   

• American Red Cross Fund Raiser at Olivetto Cafe & Restaurant, 5655 College Avenue, Saturday, January 30, 11 am-2 pm: Food and drinks, including wine, provided. Guest speakers Blaine Bookey, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux (BAI) Legal Fellow and Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) Development Director  and Walter Riley (Center at Sweets Ballroom fundraiser this week), prominent Civil Rights Attorney in Oakland and Chair of the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund in Berkeley. I will be attending as the Silent Auctioneer. Raffles ($2/ticket or $10/6 tickets at the door)/ Silent Auction, Great prizes (including dinners, spa gift certificate, special wines). Cash or checks payable to:"American Red Cross" (write Haiti Earthquake in memo).  For questions, contact Adelmise Warner at 415-378-6613. RSVP to Claire Nisbett at 547-5356.

• Montclair Bistro Raising Money for American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund: Dine at Montclair Bistro, 6118 Medau Place, Wednesday,  February 3. All profits will go to the American Red Cross Relief Fund. Details or for reservations, call 482-8282.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Concerts by Kalbass Kreyol & Friends, Monday, February 15 at Yoshi's in Oakland:

 

• 10 facts from the IRS About Donating to Haiti:

1. A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.
2. The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. 
3. To be eligible for a deduction on the 2009 tax return, donations must be made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
4. In order to be deductible, contributions must be made to qualified charities and can not be designated for the benefit of specific individuals or families.
5. The new law applies only to cash contributions. 
6. Cash contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card may be claimed on your federal tax return.
7. You must itemize your deductions in order to claim these donations on your tax return. 
8. You have the option of deducting these contributions on either your 2009 or 2010 tax return, but not both. 
9. Contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. You can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development
    
10. Federal law requires that you keep a record of any deductible donations you make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it shows the name of the organization receiving your donation, the date of the contribution, and the amount given. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check or a receipt from the charity. Receipts should show the name of the charity, the date and amount of the contribution.
     

For more information see IRS Publication 526
 

Charitable Contributions and Publication 3833 Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations.
 

To determine if an organization is a qualified charity visit IRS.gov, keyword "Search for Charities". Note that some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov.  >>Jean at last week's vigil for Haiti at the Federal Building.
 

Oakland Parks & Rec Conducts Focus Groups to Plan the Future of Our Parks:  The next focus group will look at Lake Merritt, February 18, 7-8:30 pm, at the Garden Center.  To find our when your favorite park will be discussed, check out this schedule.

• City Website Updated: This week the Police Department's section was updated. After a long wait the City's website has finally gotten a makeover.  A beta version was launched this week.  Let the designer know what you think at feedback@oaklandnet.com

• The Oakland Arts Website is a project that has been on a parallel development and is linked to the City Website.  It is part of an effort to develop a joint and comprehensive marketing campaign for the Oakland multicultural arts scene.

• Central Estuary Plan Alternative Goes to Committee Tuesday:  Sorry, this meeting has been changed repeatedly.  After a year of meetings the Council will be voting on an alternative plan for the future of Oakland Central Sanctuary area.  The plan includes 2,450 new residential units, industrial uses for biotech and food industry (but a loss of almost a million square ft of industrial space, 260,000 square ft of commercial office and retail space (mostly along High), increased mixed work/live residential areas, extension of the Bay Trail and biking trails, estuary park spaces, and a PG&E green jobs training center.Meetings are:
  • February 9, 2 pm  Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee, Hearing Room 1, Oakland City Hall
  • February 16, 7 pm City Council (Pending approval by the CED Committee, Council Chambers, City Hall.

• New IRV Controversy:  City Attorney John Russo is proposing that Campaign Contribution Limits be doubled, raising the maximum from $600 to $1200.  His rationale is that under the old system there were two periods allowing $600 for both the primary and the general election.  He also claims candidates will spend money educating voters about the new system.  I will be opposing the proposal because:
  • The point of IRV and Voting Reform is to level the playing field.  Few average citizens can afford to contribute $600 much less $1200. This gives wealthy special interests an advantage.
  • The most typical cost of elections goes primarily to  mailed campaign literature.  With one rather than two elections there is no need to double the mail.
  • In the past most candidates have been elected in the June Primary, few candidates went to run-off.
     
  • The proposal has not been vetted by the Public Ethics Commission whose responsibilities include overseeing Campaign Contribution Limits.
  • While not noticed for Council discussion, the recommendation is in a report going to the Rules Committee on Thursday, February 4th, 10:45 am.
     
• Instant Run-Off Voting (IRV) Set for November 2, San Leandro and Berkeley to Share Costs: After a long campaign to stop the implementation of IRV passed by 69% of the voters in 2006; Instant Run-off Voting for Oakland municipal elections passed its last hurdle this month. Last week the San Leandro City Council voted to proceed with IRV and Berkeley's City Manager confirmed they, too, would be participating. This means the three cities will share the costs of implementing the new program including software and equipment costs not to exceed $1.3 million; Oakland's share will be about $900K maximum or just a bit more than a June primary. The mayor's race and elections for Council districts 2 (Kernighan), 4 (Quan), and 6 (Brooks) will be held on November 2nd without a June primary.  Voters will be asked to rank their 3 top choices in the fall when nearly twice the number of Oaklanders vote. (See IRV in Upcoming Events, Item #11.)
   

• Council Sets Second Budget Workshop for February 16; Needs About $9 M More to Balance Budget for This Year:  In Oakland with lower tax revenues in a continuing recession, budget overruns including police overtime, disputes with Coliseum teams over parking and ticket taxes, and needed funding for a police academy, the Administration projects budget shortfalls ranging from $18  million for FY 2009-2010 and  $25 million for FY 2010-2011.

Last month we made less controversial adjustments including:  1) Transferring unused funds balances from past bonds or projects, 2) Requiring all departments that are over budget to reduce expenses and stay within budget or come back to the Council with a request to increase expense (Police, IT, and the Mayor's Offices); 3) To return with a report on non-controversial, realistic surplus property sales.   One such property under consideration includes the old fire house in the Dimond that is now used for storage.


On February 16, 5 pm, the Council will  consider more proposals to get the budget in balance before the end of the year. (Note this is a new date to give staff more time to develop proposals.)
 

• Some program cuts will most likely be considered.  Although the Mayor suggest no cuts until the end of the fiscal year, I and others worry that will just increase our debt.
• Freezing all hiring
   
• A settlement with the Coliseum teams and the County would provide the additional revenues from the unpaid parking taxes, $1 million.
   
• New billboard contracts, $1-2 million
• New more efficient collection and billing systems, $2 million.
• Eliminating the renting of facilities for city programs, $.5 million
• President Jane Brunner suggested a new tax for police. I am recommending a citywide poll on priorities that can be used for reorganizing city services or if there is support, considering ballot measures.
• I am recommending a blue ribbon committee of community and city staff to make recommendations on the City's long term structural budget deficits.

• Sign the Petition to Major League Baseball for A New Oakland Site:  A waterfront ballpark would augment the billions of dollars in direct investment into the Jack London Square area, and the planned new neighborhood near Oak and 9th streets with 3,000 residences, parks, retail space and a new marina. This Tribune article includes maps of the locations.
   

A MLB committee is expected to make a recommendation soon. The A's owner favors San Jose in the Giants franchise area. The Mayor and Council agree that a new Oakland stadium would have to be funded from combined private and non-general fund sources unlike the Raider deal which costs the City and County $24 million each year.  Redevelopment funds (which come from bonds based on future taxes from structural improvements) and possible federal infrastructure funds could be tapped.   To sign a petition to Major League Baseball, go to Let's Go Oakland!
 

• Montera Middle School Celebrates 50th Anniversary of its Woodshop Program, Thursday, February 4, 6:30-8 pm: This is the last remaining middle school woodshop program in the District, thanks to the support of the Parent Teacher Organization, students and friends. Please come by to celebrate and thank supporters.

• Dig In: Montera to (re)Landscape the Front of School: Thanks to a matching $5,000 grant from my office, the Montera PTO is set to landscape the front of the school. Montera parent and landscape designer, Susan Harder, has created a plan to transform into a reality during a series of Saturday work days over the next few months. Can you pitch in? Please e-mail PTO Facilities Chair, Jon Carresse at facilities@monterapto.com.

• Planning Meeting for Zero Litter Week in Dimond is Thursday, February 4, 7 pm, Asia House, 2141 MacArthur Blvd: The goal of this week (May 2-8) is to
  raise litter awareness among youth, residents, visitors and merchants.
  Suggestions made to date: message for youth ("save the bay"); puppet show;
  street skits to reach youth at bus stops; youth group litter walks (teams,
  scouts, schools); demonstrations at community meeting on May 5: litter
  "route" to bay; compost; recycle. Campaign coordinators: Keep Dimond Clean
  co-chairs Marcia Leath and Kathleen Russell. If there is a litter route you want to walk on a regular basis in 2010 and you need bags and gloves, email Kathleen Russell.

• "Growing the Laurel" Program, The Chapel at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, Tuesday, February 9, 7 -8:30 pm:  The Laurel Village Association meeting will showcase 3-dimensional models prepared by Mills College students to provide a "user-friendly" approach to understanding the city's update of its zoning code.The Mills College Public Policy program is conducting community workshops to demonstrate how the updates to building heights, density and uses might impact MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel and to collect community input. All are welcome to attend the meeting at 3725 High Street.

• LAMMP Project Begins: With funding from MTC and my office, the formal design project for the Laurel Access for Mills and Maxwell Park project (LAMMP) was officially introduced to the Maxwell Park NCPC by Clair Antonetti of its Blight and Beautification Neighborhood Action Team, the consultants, Kimley-Horn and Associates, and Richard Cowan of my office.  LAAMP will study pedestrian and bicycle access from High Street to Seminary Boulevard on MacArthur Boulevard, with an eye toward constructing a fully landscaped path oriented toward pedestrian and bicycle safety over this stretch of congested roadway.  This project has been a long-standing public-private partnership with the Maxwell Park NCPC and Mills College.  The first public meeting of LAMMP will take place in about a month and will be announced in my newsletter.

• February Events at Laurel Book Store: Check out what's happening at Laurel Book Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. Call 531-2073 for details.
   
  • Friday, February 12, 7 pm: Local author Page Hodel celebrates her new book Monday Hearts for Madelene.
  • Saturday, February 27, 6 pm: Meet local author Elaine Beale as she discusses her new novel Another Life Altogether.
  • Kid's Story Time, Wednesdays at 3:30 pm: Bring the little ones for a nice afternoon treat.

• Nominate a Local Hero: Each year, we honor outstanding volunteers from our different neighborhoods as Local Heroes. We'll be honoring the 2010 Local Heroes on Saturday, February 20 from 10 until Noon. Please send in your nominations for a volunteer who has gone above and beyond in community services. This year we plan to make awards to at least 3 citywide heroes in addition to those from our neighborhoods. Last year's nominees can be found here.

We ask that you describe the nominee's outstanding volunteer accomplishments. Please include a digital photo and contact information for both the nominee and yourself. Check out previous winners for ideas (Note, previous winners may only be nominated for new projects). Deadline for nominations has been extended to February 5.  Nominations should be sent to Ellen Dillard in our office at edillard@oaklandnet.com  
 

The middle of March you will be receiving one of the most important documents of the coming decade.  March 17 and 18, 2010 the Census Bureau will be mailing out its every-ten-years survey of all Americans. This year's version claims to be the simplest form ever devised, with 10 easy questions that will count and categorize the residents of the United States. It should take less than 10 minutes to complete, then just mail it back to the Census Bureau. Only if the form is not returned, will the census workers pay you a visit.  More detailed socioeconomic information will be gleaned from a small percentage of the population through the American Community Survey which IS done on a monthly basis.
 
Everything is fast, easy and entirely confidential, but it is also very important.  Every year the federal government allocates more than $400 billion based in part on census data, so how much federal money Oakland might receive is tied to the census count. According to the Census Bureau, data is also used to determine locations for schools, hospitals, retail stores and other community facilities, and this data also determines boundaries for state and local and legislative and congressional districts.

Some key cautions:
 

• Legitimate Census Takers at your door can easily be identified:
  • They wear a Census t-shirt
  • They are carrying a lap top
  • Ask for their 2 forms of identification
     

• The Census Bureau DOES NOT conduct the 2010 Survey by email. You may receive an email requesting that you participate however:
  • The Census Bureau does not request detailed personal information through email.
  • The Census Bureau does not send email requesting PIN codes, passwords social security numbers or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.
  • If you receive an email or find a web site that you suspect is falsely representing the Census Bureau:
    • Do not reply or click on any links within the email.
    • Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain code that could infect your computer.
    • Forward the email or web site URL to the Census Bureau at itso.fraud.reporting@census.gov.
    • After you forward the email, delete the message.

• Coalition Starts Gathering Signatures for Fall 2010 Measure to Prohibit the State from Taking, Borrowing or Redirecting Local Taxpayer Funds dedicated to public safety, emergency response and other vital local government services.  The Oakland City Council endorsed the measure; we voted to join the coalition because it may be the only way to keep the state from constantly taking local property taxes, redevelopment money, gasoline taxes, highway funds and other revenue to balance its budget.  The Measure will specifically stop this year's state grab of more than $41 million in Oakland Redevelopment funds.  For more information.

• Governor releases the first version of the FY 2010-11 State Budget.  Faced with a projected state deficit of $20 billion, the Governor's proposed budget calls for permanently cutting state worker salaries, deep reductions to Medi-Cal and welfare and numerous other cuts while simultaneously seeking to procure supplementary revenues from the federal government.
  • • 

    State funding formulas would  reduce payments to schools by $2.4 billion.
  • 4.8% surcharge on residential and commercial property insurance to pay for fire protection, reviving a past proposal that lawmakers have rejected. The surcharge would raise $238 million this fiscal year and $479 million in the next one.
  • The state's current 6 percent sales tax on a gallon of gasoline would be dropped, and replaced by a 10.8-cent increase in per-gallon excise taxes. In complicated swap and switch, gas would go down a few cents but the state would take the rest cutting out the share that now goes to cities to fix roads, public transit authorities like AC Transit, and to schools.
  • The fastest-growing segment of state spending over the past decade - prisons - would be cut by $1.2 billion, most of it through reducing medical costs to prisoners. That could trigger even more legal battles with federal judges and a court-appointed federal receiver who are overseeing California's prison health system causing even more prisoner releases. Jerry Brown's stump speech for governor puts this in sober perspective, "When I was governor the state spent 17% of the budget on higher education, 3% on prisons...today we spend 7% on our colleges and 11% on prisons."
  • State parks, which Schwarzenegger proposed closing last year, would be financed through additional state revenues from increased oil drilling off the California coast, an idea that was rejected last year by legislators.
  • Funding for Medi-Cal and services to Californians whose ability to care for themselves is limited would be reduced.
  • If the feds don't come through with the extra money - and indications are that they won't - social service and health programs from CalWORKS (the state's welfare-to-work program) to Healthy Families (which provides medical insurance to children of low-income families) would be eliminated or severely slashed.

• Try the California Budget Challenge.  This is the same software we used to develop our Oakland Budget Challenge.
   

• How Do our State Legislators Vote?  The Sacramento Bee has a new web link that lets you check:  http://www.sacbee.com/votingrecord/

• Donate Fallen Trees to the Oakland Zoo: If the rain is bringing down trees in your neighborhood, you can donate many species of fallen trees to provide snacks to the animals at the Oakland Zoo.
   
• Rain Forecast Through February 6; Free Sandbags and Plastic Sheeting: Residents can pick up a maximum of 20 sandbags and 50 feet of plastic sheeting (per household/business) at the City's Municipal Service Center and at the Public Works Drainage Maintenance Satellite Office. Proof of Oakland residency is required to obtain the sandbags and sheeting. 
  MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER, 7101 EDGEWATER DR.
    Monday - Friday                                                       8 am - 4 pm
    Saturday and Sunday                                                4:30 pm - 8 am
    After Hours (in front of entry gate)                          4:30 pm - 8 am 
   

   
  MAINTENANCE SATELLITE OFFICE, 5921 SHEPHERD CANYON RD
    Monday - Friday                                                       8 am - 4 pm
    After Hours (in front of entry gate)                          4:30 pm - 8 am

• This is the perfect time to check on your emergency supplies. We recommend having enough food and water for 72 hours. Power outages, flooding, slides, and closed roads are common during storms. Do you have flashlights, batteries, water, food, medications and other supplies in case your power or telephone lines are down?  Do you live on street where access might be blocked by fallen trees, flooding, or slides?  This is a good site for suggested emergency supplies.
   

• Protect Your Investment in Your Home, Consider One of Oakland's Seismic Retrofit Programs: Because Oakland is considered a leader in encouraging residents to seismically retrofit their homes, our office was invited to Washington, DC to talk to California legislators about the Oakland's successful outreach efforts.  Sue Piper filled in for me to discuss opportunities for federal resources to help fund incentive programs for both single family homeowners and for property owners of soft-story multiple family buildings. Taking this proactive measure now, before the next big earthquake, could greatly reduce the anticipated loss of 26,000 homes. Retrofitting saves lives, livelihoods and the character of city (because, as we learned with Hurricane Katrina, if people don't have a place to live, they will move away.)

• Flat seismic retrofit building permit - call 238-3891
   
• Program for low-income homeowners - call 238-3909
   
• Multi-family, soft-story building mandatory screening program (letters requiring property owners to complete the screening to be mailed soon)--238-3891 or contact Sue Piper in our office at 238-7042.

• Organize Your Neighborhood:  Each year the city trains over 2000 citizens to prepare for disasters. More than 19,000 residents have been trained since CORE began. These are recent graduates from one of our Chinese language classes. Now's the time to sign up for  CORE training classes.

Please call 777-3333 if you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood, or contact your problem solving officer directly.  While crime in Oakland has been down by 10%, home  burglaries and domestic violence are up. Learn more by attending your neighborhood's monthly Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council meeting.

• Laurel 25x: Ryan Kabahit RKabahit@oaklandnet.com
• Dimond 22x: Rick Coglio RCoglio@oaklandnet.com
• Bret Harte/Joaquin Miller 22y: Ann Pierce Apierce@oaklandnet.com
• Jefferson 24x: Joseph Fong JFong@oaklandnet.com
• Montclair 13z: Maureen Vergara MVergara@oaklandnet.com
• Maxwell Park 28x: Keith Clement JClement@oaklandnet.com
• Melrose 27x: Greg Loud GLoud@oaklandnet.com
• North Hills 13y: John Haney JHaney@oaklandnet.com
• Allendale 24y: Richard McNeely rmcneely@oaklandnet.com

• Principal Fishbowl for Parents, Thursday, February 25, 7:30-9 pm, The Bellevue Club at Lake Merritt, 525 Bellevue Avenue: Would you like to know what it takes to run a school in an under-resourced Oakland neighborhood? Listen in as principals discuss their daily experiences with kids, families, and teachers, the challenges of being a school CEO, and the future of education in Oakland. On site parking available.RSVP! Call 510-534-7613 or email natasha@oaklandschoolsfoundation.org.

• Library Requires All Patrons to Update Records By March 11: All patrons checking out material will be asked for current address and contact information, which may cause a somewhat slower check-out process but ultimately will result in expanded library services. While re-registering their accounts, patrons can opt for receiving phone or email notifications three days prior to due dates for materials they have checked out. Patrons who have placed holds on materials can also opt to receive phone or email notification when those items become available.
   

• Oakland Word offers Free Creative Writing Workshops at Oakland Public Library: To provoke dialogue and encourage creativity among underrepresented youths and adults, the Oakland Public Library is offering free writing workshops during the months of February and March. The program, called Oakland Word, launches on Saturday, January 30 at 1 pm with a kick-off party at the main library. During the 1st two sessions, a variety of Oakland Word workshops will be available at three Library locations starting February 3 and concluding March 6:
  • Asian Branch, 388 9th Street (238-3400)
    • Intro to Writing Short Fiction (Fridays, 4-5:30 pm)
    • Writing Life Stories (Saturdays, 4-5:30 pm)
    • Teens: Blogging 101 Seminar (one day only, Saturday, March 6, 12:30-3:30 pm)
  • Cesar E. Chavez Branch, 3301 East 12th Street, Ste. 271 (535-5620)
    • Urban Fiction: $Elements of Short Story Writing (Saturdays, 2:15-3:45 pm)
    • Take Charge of Your Work: Career Development (Saturdays, 4-5:30 pm)
  • Main Library, 125 14th Street (238-3134)
    • Life Stories in Poetry and Prose (Thursdays, 6-7:30 pm)
    • Writing and Speaking Word: Poetry and Spoken Word (Saturdays, 3:30-5 pm)
    • Soul Song: Song Writing Seminar (one day only, Sunday, February 28, 2-5 pm)
    • From the Heart: Love Poetry Seminar (one day only: Sunday, February 14, 2-5 pm)

To register in advance, call 238-6572 or email theoaklandword@gmail.com. Information is also available on line at www.oaklandword.org. For information in Spanish, call the Chavez Branch at 535-5620.
 

• Oakland's Next Leaders Meeting: Impact of IRV-Rank Choice Voting on 2010 November Election, Wednesday, February 3, 5:30-8 pm, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Avenue: Light refreshments will be served. Call 568.5899 by February 1 to RSVP.

• Oakland Chambers: Building New Business Together, Thursday, February 4, Noon-2pm, Hilton Oakland Airport, One Hegenberger Road: Hear about the City's perspective on business with Mayor Ron Dellums, City Administrator Dan Lindheim and CEDA Director Walter Cohen. Sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County, Korean Business Association, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and the Clorox Company. $65 individual ticket. by February 2.

• Paramount Theatre Movie Classics Present 2010 Winter Movie Classics Series: 8 pm: Escape the winter blues for only $5. Box office opens at 6 pm. The Paramount Theatre is located at 2025 Broadway:
  • Friday, February 5- Rebecca
  • Friday, February 19-The Lady from Shanghai
  • Friday, March 5- Wait Until Dark
  • Friday, March 26-Captain Blood
     

 

• Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar, Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7, 10 am - 5 pm, 9th & Franklin Streets and Pacific Renaissance Plaza. Continuous Live Entertainment: Little Prince & Princess Contest by Oakland Chinatown Lions Club Lion Dance, Shaolin Martial Arts, Asian Cultural Dances & Music. Vendors selling Flowers, Gifts, Food, Clothing,Toys and valuable Community Information. Free.

2010 Oaklandish Tour de Taco in the Fruitvale, Saturday, February 20, 11 am-5 pm: Hosted by Cyrus Farivar of californiatacotrucks.com and the East Bay Bike Coalition, the Oaklandish Tour De Taco is a gastronomical quest on wheels through the Fruitvale district of Oakland. Bring your friends, your bikes, and an empty stomach to Fruitvale BART, Saturday, February 20 at 11 am. Whether you're a taco truck veteran or a mobile food newb, the Oaklandish Tour De Taco is not to be missed!
 

• Black History Month Events in Oakland:  February is Black History Month, this link lists events in Oakland.
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• 
   
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• Free Days at the Aquarium of the Bay for Alameda County Residents, February 22-25, 10 am-6 pm:  In celebration of its recent transition into a nonprofit nature center, Aquarium of the Bay is hosting a series of free days for Alameda County residents.  As the only Aquarium dedicated to the diverse aquatic life of the San Francisco Bay, residents are encouraged to come out and meet their underwater neighbors. Just bring a photo ID with Alameda County address, or a recently utility or phone bill with your Alameda County address, and ID. Call (415) 623-5300 for additional information.
   

• Shaping the Future of OPR: Community Focus Group Meetings: Meet your neighbors, provide suggestions on activities and improvements you would like to see and develop development at your local recreation center. The District 4 event will be at the Dimond Recreation Center on Wednesday, February 24 from 7-8:30 pm. Click her for the full schedule.

• Free Immigration Workshop, Saturday, February 27, 10 am-3 pm, City Hall: Private consultation with immigration attorneys to the first 200 participants. Training on how to avoid fraud. Presented by Neighborhood Law Corps, Centro Legal de la Raza, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Asian Law Caucus, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, International Institute of the East Bay and Law Office of Virginia K. Sung. Languages offered: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese. Free parking in Clay Street Garage. Questions, contact Jesse Newmark at 238-7030.

• Save the Date for Earth Day 2010, Saturday, April 17, 9-Noon: If you would like to organize an event, monitor the Keep Oakland Beautiful Earthday website for details.  The 2010 Earth Expo in City Hall Plaza is set for Wednesday, April 14 from 10-2 pm. We know that Horace Mann School already has plans to add new plants on the Vicksburg side of the campus, weed the Congress Avenue hillside and do general weed 'n clean. This is their 6th year of beautification at the school. For details, contact Jeanne Nixon.

Registration Now Open for May 2, 2010 Bringing Back the Natives Tour:

We've learned over the years that when neighbors work together, they build a stronger community. Whether you are a teen looking for work experience, or a new retiree with time on your hands, here are a number of ways you can meet neighbors and make a difference in the city we love. >>Sue Piper of our office recruiting volunteers for Community Projects.

 

• Budget Advisory Committee and the Community Policing Advisory Board:  I need new representatives to these important advisory groups.  My appointee to the Budget group need not be a resident of District 4.  Please contact Ellen Dillard in my office at 238-7273.
   

• Be a Reader at Sequoia Elementary's DEAR Day--Drop Everything and Read Day, February 10, 8:45 am-1 pm: One day during Sequoia's Sizzling Readers Read-a-thon, February 2 to February 12, students bring their favorite books, come dressed in pjs or in character, and listen to guest readers. You can be one of those guest readers. The school is looking for people whose professions somehow are connected to reading or writing OR people whose shoes students may want to fill some day  AND multicultural, multilingual guest readers. Be prepared to spend 2 hours reading to two different classes. Bring your favorite book, and be ready to share something about your work. For details, contact Giovanna Queeto.

• Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center (ODALC) seeks inspirational and influential speakers from the digital/business community  as part of educational workshop and computer-training sessions for young adults in Oakland.
   

• Keep Oakland Beautiful (KOB): KOB is looking for enthusiastic leaders to join in its efforts to make Oakland cleaner, greener, more beautiful and litter-free. The Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at City Hall and they are also active on subcommittees. Board members serve a two year term and may reapply for successive two-year terms. Interested applicants can obtain more info and an application from Cookie Robles-Wong, 434-5126.
   

Piedmont Pines Association recruiting for the many Adopt A Park projects in their area at their annual meeting.>>>



Tender Loving Care

• Allendale Park NCPC- cleans up streets, tree wells and storm drains on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays 38th Street between Nevil and Suter Streets. Call Steve Reuss at 536-9551.
• Keep Dimond Clean:  Keep Dimond Clean: Join neighborhood volunteers in helping to Keep Dimond Clean. Participating volunteers receive a complimentary card from La Farine Bakery/Dimond for 2 pastries or rolls/2 drinks. To join on-going litter walks on Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat, and for gardening schedule, email krussell@russell-gordon.com or call 842-3200. >>Keep Dimond Clean Volunteers find an ancient artifact at their last clean up.
   
• Maxwell Park--Daily clean up by Friends of Maxwell Park. Contact Nancy Karigaca at 436-6680.
• Maxwell Park NCPC Monthly Clean Up, Third Sunday of the Month, 9 am.
   
• Montclair RR Trail Clean Up, Third Saturday of the Month, 9 am.
   
• Peralta Creek Park (Corner of Rettig and Wisconsin): Meet the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 pm.
• Garden with the Friends of  Sausal Creek--Harvest seeds of native plants, help propagate seeds at the native plant nursery, work to remove invasives throughout the Sausal Creek Watershed or attend their bimonthly educational workshops. There's something happening several days a week and on most weekends, in Dimond Canyon, Joaquin Miller Park at the Native Plant Nursery and Beaconsfield Canyon. Check out their monthly calendar of events at the FOSC website
   
• Experience Corps Seeks Volunteers 55+: Experience Corps seeks Baby Boomer volunteers to tutor and mentor students at our underserved elementary schools. They currently support students in seven elementary schools throughout North and East Oakland (Civicorps, Cleveland, Emerson, Monarch Academy, Piedmont Ave, Santa Fe, Think College Now) and they could use your time, talent and life experience.  As little as 2 hours a week can make a huge difference and scheduling is flexible.  No prior experience tutoring or working with kids necessary - full training and on-site support is provided, as are paid stipends for volunteers who serve 10+ hours a week!For more information, contact David Moren at  495-4966