New
Waterfront Park on the Estuary at 66th Avenue Gateway
Monday, June 23: East Bay Community Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Stopping the Moth Spray. Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pmSaturday, June 28: Mayor Dellums' Community Job Fair Event at St. Anthony's School. 10 am to 2 pm
Sunday, June 29: Oakland contingent to march in San Francisco Gay Pride Parade 2008
...And Coming in July
Friday, July 4 and First Friday of Each Month Through 2008, in Conjunction With Art Murmur: The Great Wall of Oakland: Screenings of Short Alternative and Experimental Art Films
Tuesday, July 8: Public Works Committee to Consider Construction Contract for Park and Street Improvements for Municipal Boathouse and Lakeside Drive Project Funded by Measure DD
Wednesday, July 9: Eastlake Cleanup Action Day, Sponsored by City's SDS Team
REPORTS
Sculpture Park and Trailhead on Bay Trail at 66th Avenue Gateway: Another Completed Measure DD Project
City Auditor to Hold Community Meetings regarding Performance Audit of the Public Works AgencyOakland-Alameda Map of Waterfront Parks, Trails and Public Access
Grand Opening of Woody's Cafe, Across From Parkway Theater
Got Fruit? Share Your Backyard Produce
28th Annual Oakland Heritage Alliance Summer Walking Tours
MacArthur Blvd Bikeway Gap Closure Project
Oakland Public Library Launches Adult Summer Reading Program
National Night Out, August 5th – Get Ready for Oakland’s Citywide Block Parties
Oakland Animal Shelter’s New Hours
Lincoln Square Recreation Center Gets TLC as Recipient of Deloitte's 2008 Impact Volunteer Day
Monday, June
23: East Bay Community Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Stopping the Moth
Spray. Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, 7:00 pm - 9:00
pm
Learn about the latest legal and legislative strategies to protect our communities from the spraying program for Light Brown Apple Moth. Hear the most up-to-date science and health information. Learn how to get involved in the local movement to stop the spray.
Speakers will include:John Russo - Oakland City Attorney ~ providing the most current information on legal strategies to stop the spray in the Bay Area
Douglas MacLean, Communications Director, Assemblyman Sandré Swanson’s office ~ reporting on legislative strategies to stop the spray.
Daniel Harder, Ph.D., Executive Director, Arboretum UC Santa Cruz, ~ providing scientific evidence the moth is not a threat
Lawrence Rose, MD, MPH, former Senior Public Medical Officer for Cal-OSHA and part of the UCSF Occupational/Environmental Medicine Department ~ discussing toxicity of the spray and health effects
Websites for more information: www.stopthespray.org or www.stopthespray.org
Email here more information.
Tuesday, June
24: Construction Contract for Measure DD Improvements at El Embarcadero
and Lakeshore Avenue to go before the Public Works Committee
Tuesday, June 24: Public Works Committee will consider a construction contract for El Embarcadero and Lakeshore Avenue Improvements funded by Measure DD. The project will make improvements along Lakeshore Ave from E. 18th St to El Embarcadero and adjacent to El Embarcadero between the Lakeview Branch Library and the Pergola. The improvements include new recreational pathways; planting of more than 100 new trees including street trees along Lakeshore; renovation of 9.2 acres of existing plantings and irrigation; traffic calming measures along Lakeshore including on-street bike lanes and reducing the number of traffic lanes from four to three: one in each direction with a continuous turn lane; and a new plaza near the Pergola to emphasize the creek heritage of the area; and installation of numerous seating areas throughout the park. Committee meeting will start at 12:00 pm. To review the staff report, go here.
Saturday,
June 28: Mayor Dellums' Community Job Fair Event at St. Anthony's School.
10 am to 2 pm
Community Job Fair at St. Anthony’s School gymnasium, 1535 16th Ave @ Foothill Blvd. 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. For more information or to register please contact 444-CITY (2489).
Job seekers, this is your one opportunity to meet with employers, learn about union apprenticeships & training programs! Come dressed for success and bring your resume (although there will be a workshop at the job fair to help you create or fine-tune your resume)!
Workshops include:
• Creating Your Resume
• Interviewing Skills
• Completing Applications
Additional services include:
• Childcare Resources
• Educational And Legal Services
• Vocational Training
Children's area
Click here for the brochure.
Sunday, June 29: Oakland Contingent to march in San Francisco Gay (LGBTQ)
Pride Parade 2008
Join Councilmember Pat Kernighan and Mayor Ron Dellums, who will lead the City of Oakland contingent in the parade. This is the 38th year of the Pride Parade; this year’s theme is “United by Pride, Bound for Equality”. Marching will start at 10:30 am on Market St.
For more information about the exact starting location of the City’s contingent, email Miguel Bustos here.
...And Coming in Early July
Friday, July 4 and First Friday of Each Month Through 2008 in Conjunction
With Art Murmur: The Great Wall of Oakland: Screenings of Short Alternative
and Experimental Art Films
The videos will be shown on a 100 X 100’outdoor ‘screen’, namely the back wall of the 2201 Broadway building, facing Grand between Broadway and Telegraph. Artwork themes change monthly. Theme for July 4th: independence. Show begins approximately 30 minutes after sunset. For more information visit the Cultural Arts and Marketing website here.
Tuesday, July 8: Public
Works Committee to Consider Construction Contract for Park and Street
Improvements for Municipal Boathouse and Lakeside Drive Project
Funded by Measure DD
The project involves the renovation of about 4 acres of parkland on the east side of Lake Merritt, including planting and irrigation, construction of a multi-use pathway within the park and an entry stairway funded by the Oakland Rotary Club leading from the street to the Municipal Boathouse. On Lakeside Drive, traffic lanes will be reduced from four lanes to two; on-street bike lanes and additional pedestrian safety improvements will be installed. Also included are removal of the two existing parking lots adjacent to boathouse, and construction of a 28-space parking lot with a bioswale to filter runoff and an on-street parking aisle adjacent to Lakeside Drive.
Construction is expected to begin in late August – early September, and scheduled for
completion by April 2009, to coincide with the opening of the Municipal Boathouse restaurant.The committee meeting usually starts at 12:30 pm. To confirm the starting time and review the staff report, go here after close of business on Friday, June 27.
Wednesday, July 9: SDS III Eastlake Cleanup Action Day, Sponsored by City's
SDS Team
The SDS 3 team - a City of Oakland inter-agency collaborative effort - will be cleaning up the Eastlake area between 5th and 10th Avenue on Wednesday, July 9, between 9 am and noon. Look for City crews painting curbs, filling pot holes, picking up letter, removing graffiti and more! All volunteers are welcome. To volunteer, call Sun-Kwong Sze or Edith Guillen, Neighborhood Services Coordinators for Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Beat 19, at 238-7957 and 238-7159. Regular parking enforcement and abandoned auto towing will be enforced.
Click here for the flyer and here for the NCPC and PSO contact information for Beat 19, which covers the Eastlake area. Also contact Kevin Liao at 238-7022 or email here in the District 2 Council office for for more information or learn how you can join the action.
REPORTS
Sculpture Park and Trailhead on Bay Trail at 66th Avenue Gateway: Another
Completed Measure DD Project
Waterfront trail users and nature lovers of all ages already have discovered this recently dedicated jewel of a mini-park. It sits on the Oakland Waterfront Trail, part of the proposed 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail, and is within the East Bay Regional Park District’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Park. When you go, you can look forward to resting on wavy (yes, and they are comfortable!) benches to look out over the San Leandro Bay mudflats at the abundant birdlife.
The 66th Avenue Gateway to the Waterfront Trail is a joint project of the City of Oakland’s Measure DD Program (the Oakland Trust for Clean Water and Safe Parks) and the East Bay Regional Park District. The gateway design takes its inspiration from migratory bird patterns, tidal fluctuations and views of Arrowhead Marsh. Public art elements include the “Pacific Current” stainless steel viewing shelter, large carved-granite sculptures that represent small plants and animals of the wetlands doubling as seating, and, set into the boardwalk, a carved-stone “Core Sample” sculpture with the pattern of mud flats etched into its top.
To get there by car, take the 66th Ave exit from I-880 and drive one block on Oakport St to Zhone Way where you will find the park. The park is less than a mile from the Coliseum BART station. A future bike trail running up 66th Avenue will make for an easy connection between the two.
City Auditor to Hold
Community Meetings regarding Performance Audit of the Public Works Agency
City Auditor Courtney Ruby is conducting community meetings as part of preparing a performance audit of the Public Works Agency. I encourage you to attend one of these meetings to voice your thoughts and experiences regarding the work of this important City agency. The Public Works Agency is responsible for park maintenance, streets and sidewalks, street trees, sewers and storm drains, among other things. The Auditor originally scheduled 3 meetings, but is adding a fourth on July 19, at the request of myself and others. Details will be published later. Following is Ms. Ruby’s open letter:
- Sidewalk maintenance and repair
- Tree trimming
- Street paving and pothole repair
- Storm drainage and flooding
- Maintenance of parks and medians
- Street lights
- Recycling
- Graffiti abatement and
- Other public works functions
At the meeting, I will introduce you to the audit team including members from Matrix Consulting Group, a national research firm with a long history of evaluating public works departments, and Gibson & Associates, a local Oakland firm. The intent of the meeting is to gather honest feedback from residents. To ensure an open forum, no employees from the Public Works Agency will attend the meetings. The community meetings will be held at three locations at the end of June. The locations, addresses, dates, and times for these meetings are listed below.Allendale Recreation Center
3711 Suter Street Oakland , CA
Tuesday, June 24
6:00-7:30 pmArroyo Viejo Recreation Center
7701 Krause Avenue Oakland , CA
Thursday, June 26
6:00-7:30 pmBushrod Recreation Center
560 59th Street
Oakland , CA
Saturday, June 28
11:00 am-12:30 pmPlease circulate this letter to members of your community group or organization-citizen feedback is critical to ensuring that the community's voice is heard and that the audit addresses its concerns.
If you have any questions regarding the community meetings, please contact my office at (510) 238-3378.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. If you would like to receive updates about the Public Works Agency Audit and/or any other audits, please send an email here to join my email list.
Sincerely,
Courtney A. Ruby, CPA
Oakland City Auditor
Dear Oakland resident,
I am conducting an audit of the City's Public Works Agency and I would like your input on the quality of services the Public Works Agency provides to Oakland residents. As your elected City Auditor, I will be hosting three open community meetings to provide a forum at which residents can express their views on:
It is also possible to submit your comments regarding the Public Works Agency in writing to the City Auditor. Her email is: cityauditor@oaklandnet.com You may also consult their website here.
Oakland-Alameda Map
of Waterfront Parks, Trails and Public Access
Waterfront Action, a local non-profit that promotes public access to the Oakland-Alameda Estuary and Lake Merritt, has just released its Oakland-Alameda Map of Waterfront Parks, Trails, and Public Access venues. This beautiful map highlights parks, Measure DD-funded waterfront projects, the San Francisco Bay Trail, and mixed-use waterfront projects. The map is available in an 11”x17” printed version as well as an online version, which has enhanced detail and interactive features. A dandy feature of the online version allows you to track progress on waterfront access projects. For instance, if you want to know about the progress on restoration of the Municipal Boat House on Lake Merritt, this is an excellent resource for finding the answer.
Go here to see the online interactive version.
Pick up your free printed copy at:
- California Canoe and Kayak, 409 Water St. , Oakland
- Jack London Aquatic Center, 115 Embarcadero, Oakland
- Jack London Mail, 248 3rd St. Oakland
- City of Alameda main library, 1550 Oak St. Alameda
For more information about Waterfront Action, go here.
Grand Opening of Woody's Cafe, Across From Parkway Theater
Brought to you by the owners of Woody’s Laundromat - a community landmark in the E.18th St/Park Blvd business district, Woody's Cafe, located at 1841A Park Blvd (right next to Woody's Laundromat), features rustic Italian-inspired décor and terra cotta-lined roofs which provide a refreshing sensation for outdoor seating. Take a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of your hectic day and step in to enjoy a rich espresso, creamy latte, decadent pastry and their hot Panini and cold sandwiches.
Woody’s Laundromat has been serving the neighborhood since in 1962, providing excellent customer service as well as fostering lifelong friendships with their customers and the community.
Click here for the cafe's menu.
Got Fruit? Share Your Backyard
Produce
If you have excess fruit, vegetables or herbs in your yard and would like to donate what you can’t use to those 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.
Instead of letting all of that produce go to waste, let PUEBLO collect it and deliver it to Oakland’s senior citizens who have need of fresh produce to maintain good health! Those zucchinis that you can’t give away to your neighbors in August can help make a nutritious meal for someone in need.
To arrange for PUEBLO to glean or pick up your excess produce at a convenient time, call 510.452.2010 or email here.
Call for Mural Artists
to Submit Proposals For 8th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland - Deadline
Friday June 27
Oakland Art Gallery is accepting proposals from artists to create TWO separate 4' high x 24' long murals to be painted by the general public under the artist’s supervision during the Art & Soul festival, Labor Day Weekend, Downtown Oakland. Proposals should embody the festival's celebration of the arts. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel and the selected artists receive an artist honorarium.
Criteria
- The Artist must be available to attend the entire Art & Soul festival August 29, 30, 31, and Sept. 1, 2008 (no exceptions)
- Open to all artists who live or work in Oakland
- Prior mural experience is not required, but the panelists will be
looking for artists who demonstrate the ability to conceptualize and
create a large scale outline. Materials will be provided by the Art
& Soul festival
Submissions are accepted by e-mail and hard copy, and must include:
- one page description of proposed idea
- images of past projects (if available)
- for email submissions, do not attach files, send a link to images or websites
- for mailed submissions, OAG will accept digital files or prints, no slides
- artist resume(s).
- SASE (self-addressed stamp envelope) with enough postage for return
of materials; if no SASE is included, OAG with retain the submission
Send proposals by email to: kjohnson@oaklandartgallery.org; include Art and Soul Mural open call in subject line
Or by mail to: Oakland Art Gallery
199 Kahn's Alley
Oakland, CA 94612
Attn: Art & Soul Mural Open Call
Deadline to receive submissions is June 27th, 2008.
28th Annual Oakland
Heritage Alliance Summer Walking Tours
Coming in July are wonderful tours by some of Oakland’s most knowledgeable guides, members of the Oakland Heritage Alliance. For information about tickets, call 510.763.9218 or go here.
TEMESCAL-Saturday, July 12, 10am-1:30pm
• Meet at Genova Delicatessen, 5095 Telegraph Ave, Temescal Shopping Plaza
Explore the commercial district that developed around the Oakland Street Railway car barn, built in 1870. Visit the sites of pioneering enterprises, including a hotel and brewery. See Victorian and early 20th century stores, still in use. Discover residential streets with period homes. Though close to the commercial bustle their setting is
remarkably tranquil. Tour guide: Ray RainieriMOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY-Sunday, July 13th, 10am-12:30pm
• Meet at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave.
Walk into the past in California’s most historic cemetery to meet some of our state’s early movers and shakers along with monuments that preserve their memory. Charles Crocker, Domingo Ghirardelli and Samuel Merritt are among those you will
encounter. A hilly walk. Tour guides: Barbara Smith & Michael CroweFLAVORS OF FRUITVALE-Saturday, July 19th, 10am-1pm
• Meet at the Fruitvale BART Station
Named for its early orchards, the Fruitvale has long been associated with food-with its ranchos, dairies, farms and canneries. Immigrants after World War ll gave the neighborhood its current flavor, bringing the Mexican street food tradition
north. Join us for history and international food. Meet the Tamale Queen, taste Vietnamese sandwiches, huaraches a la Mexico City and New Orleans’ beignets. Stay for homemade ice cream. Tour guides: Betty Marvin & Pamela Magnuson-PeddleRAIL MEETS WATER: THEN & NOW-Saturday, July 26th, 10am-12:30pm
• Follow 7th St. west to Middle Harbor Shoreline Park.
Meet in the parking lot. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park preserves a wealth of Oakland history.
Moles and wharves met passengers and freight riding the trans-continental railroads. See the wall that “trained” the Oakland estuary for ship traffic. Walk the footprint of the Oakland Naval Supply Center, the largest facility of its kind in the world. See the Hanjin
container terminal, today’s meeting of rail and water in Oakland. Hear front-line staff talk about preservation of history as well as the challenges if the present and future. Tour guide: Celia McCarthyWEST LAKE MERRITT TO THE BANDSTAND-Sunday, July 27th, 11am-1pm
• Meet at the El Embarcadero Pergola across from Lakeview Branch Library
NEW! The history of Oakland’s jewel, from Ohlone habitation to the coming of the Spanish, the transformation from tidal slough to residential enclave and the era of public improvements paid for by voter bond measures. Linger afterwards and enjoy the free summer concert in Lakeside Park at the Edoff Memorial Bandstand, sponsored by Friends of the Oakland Municipal Band, from 1-3pm. Annalee Allen
MacArthur Blvd Bikeway
Gap Closure Project
If you are eager for improved bicycle access along MacArthur Blvd between Park Blvd and Lincoln Ave, read on. The City’s Bicycle Master Plan recommends closing a gap between two existing bike lane segments to form a continuous three-mile bikeway that would link the Grand Lake, Dimond and Laurel commercial districts and Lake Merritt. In the eastbound direction, the project would follow MacArthur Blvd. In the westbound direction, the project would follow MacArthur Blvd and then jog on Ardley Ave to Excelsior Ave (to avoid the hills and freeway traffic on Chatham Rd). Installation of the bikeway gap closure project is proposed to be part of a 2009 repaving project. Click here for a pdf for more details and maps. To learn more about the process for developing bikeway projects, go here. If you have comments about this project, please get them to here.
Oakland Public Library Launches Adult Summer Reading Program
For the first time, adults are invited to “Catch the Reading Bug” this summer and take part in the Oakland Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The goal is to have fun while encouraging reading and use of the library. The program will run from June 7 to August 9, 2008. The Main Library and all library branches are participating, as will the library’s bookmobile.
The program broadly follows the format of the Children’s Summer Reading Program, a hugely popular event held every summer. Responding to widespread comments received from patrons who expressed an interest in a similar program for adults, participating patrons can fill out a raffle ticket each time they read a book and become eligible to win prizes at monthly drawings held at each library location. Prizes include gift certificates that, in part, support local businesses such as Laurel Books, Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe, and Calaca Loca Taquería.
Patrons who wish to do so may also write brief reviews of the books they have read to share with others. If permission is given by the writer, their reviews will be used at library locations to promote community recommendations. Participants will be free to read any books and types of material of their choice.
For more information, call 510.238.3615, or visit the Oakland Public Library’s Website here.
National Night Out,
August 5th – Get Ready for Oakland’s Citywide Block Parties
Last August there were more than 200 block parties throughout the City. It’s time to get ready for this year’s party – enjoy a sweet time getting to know your neighbors. Interested? Keep reading.
It's time to get ready for National Night Out 2008! This is your invitation to organize a block party in your neighborhood
1. How can I register for National Night Out? Register your party online here, or contact Brenda Ivey with the Oakland Police Department at 238-3091. The deadline to register is 5:00 pm on Monday, July 28th. Only registered groups will be eligible for a visit!
2. What is National Night Out? National Night Out is the nation's night out against crime. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, residents are encouraged to join with their neighbors to have a neighborhood block party, ice cream social or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity - which is the first defense against crime. Research shows that when neighbors know each other and look out for each other crime goes down.
3. Block Party Guide. Click here to download this fun and informative guide to successful neighborhood parties!
4. When is National Night Out? National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. It is always held the first Tuesday in August.
5. Who can host a National Night Out party? The City of Oakland welcomes the participation of any neighborhood or community group in National Night Out, and encourages you to utilize this event as a way to bring people together and to have fun! City of Oakland elected officials, police officers, and city employees enjoy visiting National Night Out events as a way to strengthen the ties between residents and the Oakland Police Department. This year every party will receive at least one visit from a team of city officials, police officers, or city employees, so register early!
6. I've never organized a block party before. How do I do it? It is easy, see #1, above, and download the Block Party Guide!
Oakland Animal Shelter’s
New Hours
Greta, one of many adorable cats, dogs and rabbits waiting for a loving home at the Oakland Animal Shelter
Have you been longing for a pet, thinking you’d like to go to the pound but not sure when the Oakland Animal Shelter is open? The Shelter is now open seven days a week and open later into the evening to make it easier for people to get here during the week. The news hours are:Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The Shelter is located at 1101 29th Ave.
Lincoln School Recognized as 2008 Distinguished School Award Honoree by
State of California Department of Education
District 2 is very proud of Lincoln Elementary School, as well as Think College Now in District 5 and Hillcrest Elementary in District 1, for being awardees of this year's 2008 Distinguished School Award, given by the State of California's Department of Education.
The California School Recognition Program, now in its 23rd year, has identified and honored the state's most exemplary and inspiring public schools with the California Distinguished School
Award. 839 elementary schools throughout California submitted applications and were identified for eligibility on the basis of their Academic Performance Index test scores and Adequate Yearly Progress results, which take into account the school’s environment, its on-site programs, teaching methodology, etc. The rigorous process selected 343 exemplary California public elementary schools from 189 districts in 39 counties as 2008 California Distinguished Schools. Many of the schools recognized as the ”best of the best” have overcome significant educational challenges, showing that it is possible to provide opportunities for success to all students. This year, 87.4 percent of the award-winning schools serve populations high in minority student representation and 53.1 percent of them are educating students who are learning English.I congratulate the students, parents, principal, faculty, mentors and tutors of Lincoln Elementary School for earning this great honor. I am very pleased that their hard work and commitment to education has been honored by receiving the 2008 California Distinguished School Award.
Lincoln Square Recreation
Center Gets TLC as Recipient of Deloitte's 2008 Impact Volunteer Day
On Friday, June 6, Lincoln Square Recreation Center was the lucky recipient of Deloitte's IMPACT Day, a day of volunteering held annually in June during which 30,000 Deloitte employees nationwide volunteer to make a difference in the community by working with local nonprofits. Deloitte, in conjunction with OASES, selected Lincoln Square Recreation Center, located in the heart of Oakland Chinatown, as one of its 2008 Impact Day sites. The group of Deloitte volunteers painted the surrounding play areas and walls, as well as performed general landscaping and general clean-up.
Deloitte provides audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients, and conducts business through four primary subsidiaries, operating nearly 100 offices in about 90 US cities, with its first US office dating back to 1900.
On behalf of Oakland Chinatown, I thank Deloitte and its employee-volunteers for selecting Oakland Chinatown and helping to beautify Lincoln Square Recreation Center.