• Kids Come Free to SEUSSICAL! at Woodminster, Friday,  August 15-17: For SEUSSICAL only, Producer Associates' long-standing KIDS COME FREE program has been DOUBLED! Each adult paying full price may bring TWO kids 16 or younger for free! Free tickets are only issued the evening of the performance. If you have purchased your adult ticket in advance, free tickets will be as close as possible to your adult ticket, but not together. To guarantee all your seats will be together, purchase your adult ticket on the night of the performance. More information about Kids . Performances August  14, 15, 16, 17. All performances at 8 p.m. Note, the Joaquin Miller Dog Park will be closed through August 17, reopening Monday, August 18.

• The Promise and Progress of Single Payer Health Care, Friday, August 15: 6:30 pm at Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street. The public is invited to a discussion with Assemblymembers Loni Hancock and Sandre Swanson, Assembly District 14 Candidate Nancy Skinner, and  Sara Rogers,  health consultant to SB840 author, Senator Sheila Kuehl. For more information, contact Judy Pope at 652-6130 or Don Belcher at 415-695-7891.

• Metropolitan Horseman's Association Dressage Show Saturday, August 16, 9 am  at the Sequoia Arena in Joaquin Miller Park. Free!

• Meet Downtown Guide:  First check out this directory of places to eat, play, sense and meet downtown.  If you haven't tried any of the new restaurants downtown or haven't been to any of great specialty Chinatown restaurants, you are in for a treat.

• Free Harbor Tours:  The Port sponsors comfortable ferryboat rides with open-air decks that cruise through the Oakland Estuary and the outer harbor. You'll see the giant cranes that just barely made it under the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge on the way to our new terminals, Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, more than 40-acres of parkland designed for public enjoyment and the 180-acre Middle Harbor Enhancement Area, home to a growing population of natural habitat ranging from eelgrass to birds.  
   
• This month the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO), 659 14th St,  kicks off a series of afternoon jazz concerts that is sure to be a great way to spend a few Saturday afternoons. The series will feature the talents of keyboardist Sandor Moss, bassist Ron Belcher, and guitarist/composer Wayne Anderson. Call  510-237-0200  for information.
  • Saturday August 16,  4 - 6 pm
  • Saturday August 30,  4 - 6 pm
  • Saturday September 13,  4 - 6 pm
  • Saturday September 27,  4 - 6 pm

• Visions Towards Tomorrow: The African American Community in Oakland, 1890-1990.  Whether you come for a concert above or otherwise, don't miss this exhibit of over 100 historical photographs, films, home movies, and period music, that immerse you in the experience of Oakland's African American community over the past century.  Four interactive touch-screen stations feature first-person narratives of over 50 contemporary residents, including dancer Ruth Beckford, Superior Court judge Gordon Baranco, and the Reverend J. Alfred Smith, Jr. 

• 'Hiroshima Peace Culture Photo Exhibit,'  City Hall Rotunda, 3rd Floor, through August 15.  I co-sponsored this exhibit provided by the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation  as part of 'Nuclear-Free Future Month' on the eve of the 63rd anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the Western States Legal Foundation.  Opening the exhibit this week Rev. Nobu Hanaoka spoke of his experiences as a hibakusha, atomic bomb survivor, an infant who survived the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. His mother, a sister, and his brother were not so lucky, they all died from the effects of radiation before he was a teenager. "The general public may be under the impression that we're no longer under a nuclear threat because the Cold War has ended. But we are, in fact, under a greater threat of nuclear disaster because of the destructive power of the nuclear weapons that we have now. The Hiroshima bomb was 40 kilotons. But the smallest ICBM today carries three nuclear bombs with a total destructive power of 180 megatons. We have at least 10,000 such weapons, and the rest of the world combined has another 10,000 that we know of, so the destructive power is definitely increasing.

• Live Jazz in Downtown Oakland Every Monday Night, at Ed Kelly Hall, Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin Street. Open to players or listeners. $5. Pre-session improvisation workshop 6-7 pm. Performance begins at 7 pm.

• Homegrown Blues Series, Every Thursday, 5:30-7 pm, in front of City Hall through August.  Wonderful blues music by the Bay Area Blues Society.   I admit I work late on Thursday to hear the great blues sounds of West Oakland and Mississippi through my window.

• Third Thursday Open Art Galleries:  Over twenty art galleries from Jack London Square to Downtown stay open 5-8 pm on the third Thursday's.  They often feature artist talks, lectures, and music.

• 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.

  8/21/08 - Saoco Dos Four, Cuban reggaeton

  9/04/08 - Fito Reinoso, Latin

  9/18/08 - The Sonando Project, Latin Jazz

  10/02/08 - Bayonics, funk and reggae

  10/16/08 - Julio Bravo, salsa.

• First Friday's at the Oakland Museum is a good way to ease yourself into downtown night life.  Music, lectures, films, wine, food as well as the regular exhibits often attract up to a thousand people of all ages.  I'm hoping to finish my newsletter early one Friday, so I can go on a date with my husband.  Regular Museum admission covers all but food and drinks.

• The Great Wall of Oakland shows "the finest alternative and experimental films and videos" free the first Friday of each month, half an hour after sunset, on the 100'x100' back wall of Metrovation's 2201 Broadway Building (Grand Avenue between Broadway & Valley). Bring a chair and popcorn.

• Fourth Friday Summer Nights @ The Dunsmuir: Movie Night, Friday August 22, 6:30-9:30 pm: With the mansion as your backdrop, the community is invited to bring a picnic supper, family and friends to enjoy a movie on the 50-acre estate lawn! This month's feature is So I Married An Axe Murderer, a comedy with Mike Myers & Nancy Travis. Grounds open at 6 pm; movie at dusk. Admission: $5 at the gate. Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate is located at 2960 Peralta Oaks Court.
   

• Saturday Night Dive in Movies: Get your swimsuit and jump in the pool for a "dive-in" movie! Bring your favorite floating toy and head down to your local pool to enjoy a movie -- while you swim! Movies start at 9 pm; Admission: Adults $3; Youth (18 and under) $1.    DIVE-IN MOVIE SCHEDULE:  August 16 - Shark Tale | Live Oak Pool, 1055 MacArthur Blvd. | 238-2292 August 23 - The Incredibles | McClymonds Pool, 2607 Myrtle St. | 879-8050 August 30 - The Little Mermaid | Lions Pool, 3860 Hanly Rd. | 482-7852 September 6 - The Water Horse | Temescal Pool, 371 - 45th St. |  597-5013   For more information, contact the OPR Aquatics office at  238-2196

• Prop 42 Transportation funds dedicate gas taxes to improving transportation.  It is our major source of funding for street repairs.  Since its passage in 2002 much of these funds have been diverted to balance the state budget.  Oakland has almost $4 million at stake.
• Property taxes:  Currently, Oakland receives about 26 cents of each property tax dollar that you pay.  Over the years the state has reduced the percentage of property taxes that go to local government.
• Redevelopment funds:  Redevelopment areas use increased taxes from improvements to pay off long terms economic investments such as affordable housing and other infrastructure.  Recently, the state has been diverting those funds.  This cuts funds for economic investment, affordable housing, and bond payments.

You can help by contacting the Governor and our legislators.  The League of Cities hopes to have its website on this issue up by Monday:  www.cutupthecard.com

• California Budget Project - http://www.cbp.org/
• Links from Assemblymembers Swanson & Hancock
• California League of Cities
   

• New Citizen's Academy:  Want to know more about City government and talk to top officials?  The next academy is August 23 through November 22nd, 9 am-Noon, contact Paula White at 238-4523 for an application.

• Habitat for Humanity East Bay will hold orientation meetings in September, for people interested in owning their own home in Sobrante Park , East Oakland and Fruitvale. Habitat offers a 0% interest loan with a 30 year mortgage on brand new, green built, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes. Eleven homes are available in Sobrante Park and one home in Fruitvale. Applicants must need housing assistance, be able to make the payments, work with Habitat (construction, volunteering, etc.) and attend one of the following orientations.  For information: homeowner@habitateb.org or call 251-6304 x367.  The meetings are:
  • Wednesday, September 3rd, First Presbyterian Church, 2619 Broadway (Enter 27th St.), 6:30-8 pm. Translation provided in Spanish.
  • Saturday, September 6th, Cosmopolitan Baptist Church, 988 85th Ave, 11am-12:30 pm. Translation provided in Chinese.
  •  Monday September 8th, Community Reformed Church, 457 Capistrano Dr, 6:30-8:00 pm .  Translation provided in Chinese.
  • Saturday September 13th, Community Reformed Church, 457 Capistrano Dr, 11 am-12:30 pm. Translation provided in Spanish. 

• Dimond Tot Lot Campaign:

• I have designated $10,000 in District 4 PayGo Funds for a match.   You or your group can sponsor a panel in the new play structure for the tot lot and get your name or any person you wish to honor inscribed on it. Check this list and send a check to:  "Oakland Parks and Rec/Dimond Tot Lot."  Write your panel choice in the memo line. Then either mail or hand deliver your check to:  Michelle Doppelt, Recreation Supervisor, Dimond Recreation Center & Park, 3860 Hanly Rd, Oakland, CA 94602 
   
• Scholarships Available for Boys & Girls Club--deadline is August 15: The Melrose-High Hopes NCPC (Beat 27x) recently raised money for 30 full-year scholarships to the Boys and Girls Club on High Street. Ten are still available for 6-16 year olds in zip codes 94601 and 94619. Please contact Jeanne Nixon if you are interested.
   
• Warren Freeway Landscaping Update: CalTrans officials say they are waiting until the fall to plant the trees and shrubs planned for the Highway 13 median. Progress has been slow but they finished installing irrigation last month.  They say the last step, planting, will happen as close to the start of winter rains as possible.
   
• Why Fish Died in McCrea Park Fishing Ponds: Earlier this month, we heard reports of a number of dead fish found floating in the trout ponds at McCrea Park. Each year, the ponds are stocked with "catch and release" fish for the Police Activities League (PAL) summer program. Apparently, too much food was distributed to the fish, which resulted in decomposition and contamination of the water.  If you or your children visit the McCrea Park, please do not feed the fish.

• Reminder about Conserving Water:   We continue to receive complaints about broken water systems and violations of the drought restrictions; for example using a hose to wash down lawn trimmings.  You can contact EBMUD to report water wasters; contact them here.  For other tips on how to conserve water in your neighborhood check out their website.

Healthy Living for Life Website

• The Drug House Next Door?  We've had a string of Drug House busts in some very quiet neighborhoods.  One of the reasons I encourage every neighborhood to consider National Night Out Parties, organizing Neighborhood Watch or Disaster Preparedness is because some neighbors in every area of my district have very little contact with each other.  People have asked us what to look for;  Michael Johnson in our office did an internet search and found these interesting resources:
  •  Drug House Brochure with Log Sheet
  • Marijuana Growing Operation
  • Methamphetamine Lab

• State Seeks Input on Scoping for the Revised Notice of Preparation for the Light Brown Apple Moth Environmental Impact Report-- click here. Due to time limits mandated by State law, your written response must be sent at the earliest possible date, but no later than August 23. Send responses to Jim Rains, Staff Environmental Scientist, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division, 1220 N. Street, Room A-316, Sacramento, CA 95814.

• Safeguard Your Windows:  While burglaries are down 12% from last year, summer time usually shows an increase because of open windows.  Recently we had several reports of burglars entering through open windows and back doors including one where the burglars came and left without disturbing the sleeping residents!
  • If you must crack open your windows get simple hardware guards that do not allow windows to open more than 4-5 inches.  Some sophisticated alarm systems will detect movement through an open window.
  • Don't forget upstairs windows; don't leave ladders or garbage cans or other objects that let someone easily climb onto a second floor deck or window. 
  • Consider getting a stronger "screen" door that can't be easily cut or pushed in. Many of us leave back doors open with only flimsy "screen" doors.

105 Additional Officers and 75 Police Techs Over Three Years: Both the Mayor and I have criticized a proposed measure that would have required the City to add 300 new officers without new revenues. It 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 pass in November, the rest of the City would have to run on less than 20 percent of the budget. Does this sound like Vallejo?

Before January, we will reach police staffing that matches our fully budgeted 803 positions including the additional 63 Measure Y officers. 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 each year 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.  (Above) Traffic stop on a recent ride along with OPD.  This car was stopped and later towed for sideshow activities.  We waited about 20 minutes for a police tech to complete towing the car, without a Police Service Technician we might have been held up for an hour or more.  This is one example of how police tech support can support police work. 

• The cost to a single family house would be phased in at an average of about $88 more per year for a total increase of $266 at the end of three years.
• The increased use of civilian police technicians would improve investigations and give faster service to citizens at 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 up police for more crime response & investigations, less paper work.
• It would bring the police-to-citizen ratio up to one of the higher ratios in California.
• It would require the City to increase the police as new housing and the population both 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.

• The Measure Y website and e-newsletter contain a wealth of practical information and an area list of services and programs, www.MeasureY.org.

• 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 6 months ago, quality of life crimes have declined.  Statistics from this Friday's report: car thefts (-4), home burglaries (-13) 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.
   
• 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.

• New CORE Newsletter; Summer Schedule of Disaster Preparation Classes:   Trying to save money? the Citizens Organized to Respond to Emergencies (CORE) Newsletter is now available on-line here.  Take a look for updates, a full schedule of classes including new classes on issues like "Managing Stress During Emergencies."

• Now there are more ways the City can assist homeowners seismically strengthen their older homes:
  
  1. New Homeowners--may apply for the New Homeowners Seismic Strengthening Incentive Program, but must sign up within the first 60 days of taking ownership. If you meet all the requirements, you can be eligible for up to $5,000 reimbursement . Please help us spread the word--we occasionally hear from new homeowners who didn't hear about the program until after the 60-day eligibility period; so if someone new moves into your neighborhood, please take a minute to let them know about this program.)
  
  2. Low Income/Fixed 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 $53,000 a year, for example) and live in one of the City's Redevelopment Project Areas.
  
  3. All homeowners who retrofit according to the City's standards are eligible for a flat $250 retrofit permit fee--saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
  
  Interested homeowners should first contact the City of Oakland's Building Department at 238-3891 for information about the City's Seismic Retrofit Program.  Eligible low-income homeowners will then be referred to the City's Residential Lending and Housing Rehabilitation Services Program, which also offers no-interest loans for other home construction improvement projects (including foundation work). >> Students experience a 8.0 earthquake at FEMA Fair last month.
   
• The Association of Bay Area Governments provides an easy to understand overview of retrofitting basics.
   

The Great Hayward Earthquake-- of 1868: The 1868 Hayward Earthquake Alliance is hosting a number of events this summer and fall in commemoration of what was considered the Great Bay Area Earthquake until 1906-- the 1868 Earthquake on the Hayward Fault. This is the 140th anniversary of that quake--and experts have reported that the Hayward Fault has a history of having a major earthquake every 140 years! Among the upcoming events are:

• Three day conference on earthquake hazards in the East San Francisco Bay area, CSU East Bay Campus, Wednesday, October 22- Friday, October 24.
   
  • FREE public forum in the evening of October 23.
  • Teacher workshops on earthquake science held on October 25.
  • Geology and Engineering field trips in the East Bay on October 25
• Field Trip on the Southern Segment of the Hayward Fault, Friday, October 31. Meet at the San Jose Convention Center, 150 W San Carlos Street. Visit Old City Hall in Hayward, Corner of Baylis Drive and Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont and the Otter Tank in Oakland Zoo. Details...
• You can find out more by going to their website.
   

Got Fruit? Donate It to Seniors:  If you have excess fruit, vegetables or herbs in your yard and would like to donate what you can't use to those in our community who lack access to fresh produce, you can be one of the first donors to an innovative pilot program of PUEBLO (People United for a Better Life in Oakland) and Cycles of Change, in collaboration with Mayor Dellums' Summer Jobs Program.  To arrange for a pick up or gleaning of your excess produce at a convenient time, contact PUEBLO at 452-2010.

• Friends of Sausal Creek's August Schedule: Join friends and neighbors and learn more about the native habitat of Sausal Creek:
  • Saturday, August 16, 1:30-4:30 pm: Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. RSVP for groups over 6. Email Molly Bolt for more info.
  • Sunday, August 17, 9:30 am-Noon: Aquatic Insect Sampling. Call Emma Brown to confirm, 527-2507. S
  • Saturday, August 30, 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 Kauffmann at 531-1237 for details.
  • Saturday, August 30, 1:30-4:30 pm Propagation Workday. Join us at the Joaquin Miller Native Plant Nursery for an afternoon workday. Sowing, transplanting, weeding and other nursery tasks. No experience needed; just bring a water bottle. Contact Molly Bolt for more info.

• Updates Sought for New Creek & Watershed Map of Oakland: The Oakland Museum is updating its Creek and Watershed Map of Oakland and Berkeley, and seeks input on changes made to the creek since its last printing (Sausal Watershed). If anyone knows of small changes that they'd like to share, please contact Christopher Richard at the Oakland Museum. 

• Keep Oakland Beautiful Grants: Designed to foster local solutions and community improvement, grants in the amount of $200 - $500 will be distributed from funds raised by Keep Oakland Beautiful. There are two funding cycles: summer and winter. Deadlines are April 30 (Summer) and September 30 (Winter). Grants will be awarded to individuals or groups that demonstrate creativity and/or community renewal. Evidence of sustainability of the project after the grant funding terminates is also a criteria. The use of partnerships to leverage the scope of the project and public visibility are also factors which will affect how the applications are ranked by the organization. For details contact Keep Oakland Beautiful at 434-5126.

• Merritt College Offers Environmental Courses for Fall 2008: Take a single class, transfer, prepare for graduate school or receive a certificate or degree. Courses available on Environmental Jobs, Energy Alternatives, Green Building, Outdoor Education, Sustainable Urban Planning, Native Plants & Restoration, Growing Sustainable Food and Environmental Justice. All ages welcome, low cost and fee waivers available. Fall semester begins mid-August. For details call 434-3840 or go to the website for the Merritt College Environmental Program.

• Plant Exchange Needs Tables for Upcoming Free Exchange in October: The Lakeshore Avenue Plant Exchange offers free plant exchanges twice a year so that Oaklanders can share the abundance from their gardens and tool sheds. They could use additional folding tables to accommodate all the donations for their next exchange, which will be in October. Any size, any shape, old and battered as long as they are sturdy. Card tables, 6 and 8 foot tables, metal tables-- all are welcomed. For details, contact Odette at 866-8582.
   

Chabot Science Center  Voted Best Museum for Teens

• Measure K, Kids First!, Seeks Youth Members for the Planning and 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.

• Chabot Sunday Family Hikes, Sunday, August 24: "Redwood to Cosmos" 9 am-11 am (8 years & up); "Little Tike Family Hike" 1:30-2:30 pm (5 years & up). Earth and sky unite in an outing that is out of this world, led by the East Bay Regional Park District. Advanced reservations are required. Call 336-7373. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Remember, Oakland Public Schools Reopen Monday, August 25th: For details, check your local school or the OUSD website.

• 2nd annual Family City-wide Service Day for the Planet, Dimond Park, Sunday, September 28, 1-4 pm: Families! Join us for family-friendly volunteering and environmental activities and games for kids that teach about the 4Rs, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot and solar power.  Work together to plant seedlings for community gardens and clean Dimond park.  Then, kids can build and take home a solar power project, make art with reusable materials, play fun games and win great prizes! Sponsored by Good Cents for Oakland, PG&E, Bank of the West and Young Entrepreneurs at Haas, in partnership with Oakland Parks and Recreation, Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, Oakland Discovery Center and East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse.

• 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. July's Schedule:

• Oakland Chinatown StreetFest 2008, Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, 10 am-5:30 pm: Continuous live entertainment on 3 stages, a cultural village coordinated by Oakland Asian Cultural Center, arts & crafts, ethnic food, kids carnival, community organizations displays, fun for the whole family. Located in Oakland's Chinatown, on Franklin Street between 7th and 11th, and on 8-9th Streets between Broadway and Harrison. For details...

• Art & Soul , August 30, 31 and September 1 in Downtown Oakland: You won't want to miss Oakland's big music celebration on Labor Day Weekend Noon to 6 pm. Adults $10, kids $5. Click here for details...

• ¡Salud! A Celebration of Latino Art, Health & Community, Saturday, September 6, 10 am - 2 pm, Women's Cancer Resource Center (WCRC), 5741 Telegraph Avenue. This Latino Heritage Month event features a health and art fair with information about health, wellness and cancer in English and Spanish; a visual art show with art by more than 12 local Latino artists; delicious food; Latin American music and performance art; a free raffle and more information from local Latino organizations and health and wellness services in our communities.  Wheelchair accessible. For details, call Joanna Cuevas Ingram at  420.7900 ext. 109.

• 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.

Sundays in the Redwoods--2008:

• World Music - September 21, 2008: Skyline High School, Rank-N-Screw, OBA JIMI, 2 Four y Los Mios (Cuban Jazz), Julius Melendez

• A Thousand Strings - September 28, 2008: Strings of Soul and the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan conductor    

• The Sounds of Inspiration - October 5, 2008: Castleers from Castlemont High School, Kindom Travelers, Kathy Copeland - KC and Company, James Newton and Jon Jang

• Jazz Neo Soul - October 12, 2008: Oakland School of the Arts, Matrix, Khalil Shaheed

• 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.

Dogs on Leash; It's the Law!  We've received several reports of off-leash dogs attacking on-leash dogs in Dimond Canyon. This is a serious problem throughout the City. Responsible dog owners know that the City requires dogs to be on  leash, no longer than 6 feet from the guardian, and under the control of the guardian at all times when not on the guardian's private property. In general, dogs are not allowed in City parks, except for: Joaquin Miller and Leona Parks east of Mountain Boulevard, Dimond Park east of El Centro Avenue, Knowland Park east of Golf Links Road, Glen Daniel/King Estate Park, north of Fontaine Street, and the Montclair Railroad Trail. And when in these parks, they must be on leash, except for the City's three off-leash areas:

•     Hardy Park
•     Joaquin Miller Park
•     Mosswood Park

Dogs  can be unpredictable and at least when they are on leash, they can be better controlled. Citations for this offense can get expensive: $50 for the first offense; $100 for a second offense within one year, $500 for a third offense within one year. As set forth at Section 1.28.020B, "any violation beyond the third conviction within a one-year period may be charged by the City Attorney or the District Attorney as a misdemeanor and the penalty for conviction of the same shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than six months or by both."  OMC 6.04.070 & .080
 

• Friday, August 8-Sunday, August 17-- Seussical the Musical at Woodminster Amphitheater.
• Saturday August 23, OPR Special Event.