UPCOMING EVENTS
November 4: Native American Culture Day/Library
November 5, 12: Daffodil plantings
November 6: CORE II training/Bella Vista
November 8: Oakland/San Leandro Working Together: Adult & Youth Job FairNovember 8: International Latino Film Festival, Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Avenue
November 11: Oakland Talent Show, Historic Sweet's Ballroom, 1933 BroadwayNovember 16: Free Green Food Ware Fair, Oakland Asian Cultural Center - 388 9th St.
Groundbreaking at Clinton Park
REPORTS
Oakland's First Trader Joe's to Land on Lakeshore Early in 2007Lakeshore Avenue Halloween Parade is a Fun Time for All
Thanks for Inviting Me to Chinatown Clean-Up Day
Kiosk example – Your Comments Are Invited
Law Center Walk-In Clinic for Families Moves to Every Thursday Morning
Oakland High School Gets a Facelift
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 4 : Native American
Culture Day/Library at Main Library, 125 14th Street, noon to 5 pm
Native American Culture Day, an annual afternoon of native performances, information, and exhibits, will take place Saturday, November 4, from noon to 5 pm at the West Auditorium of the Main Library, located at 125-14th Street at Madison. As part of this year's theme, Without Borders/Sin Fronteras: Natives Across the Americas, Arnoldo Garcia of the National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights will speak on the topic of Native Americans and immigration. Other highlights include the Medicine Warriors Dance Troupe, All Nations Singers, East Bay Baile Folklorico Juvenil, Wally Johnson Flute Music, and Corrina Gould of the 2006 Shellmound Group.
For more information, call (510) 482-7844, or see the Library's Web site: www.oaklandlibrary.org. Please refrain from wearing scented products to library events. To request sign interpretation, or other accommodation, call the number above or (510) 834-7446 (TTY). The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.
November 5 and 11: Daffodil
plantings, mornings
For the third year in a row, Keep Oakland Beautiful is teaming up with Home Depot to make daffodil bulbs available to community groups committed to beautifying public spaces in Oakland. District 2 schools (Bella Vista, Cleveland, Franklin, La Escuelita and Lakeview) and recreation centers (FM Smith and Lincoln Square) will blossom next spring, thanks to bulbs planted on November 5th (or in the case of Bella Vista, the 11th). Friends of Cleveland Cascade and Grimebusters will participate in the annual planting, too. Click here for a complete listing of sites by zip code. If this is the community activity for you, bring your gardening gloves, an extra shovel or trowel when you go. If you don't have the tools, some will be supplied. Please call ahead of time so the organizers know how many volunteers to expect and how many tools to order.
For more information, you can contact the following sites:
Bella Vista Elementary School – brazilamazon@hotmail.com
Cleveland Cascade - 763-4406
Cleveland Elementary School - 251-1344
Franklin Elementary School - 879-1160
FM Smith Recreation Center- 238-7742
Grand Lake– Grimebusters/menavas@comcast.net (meet at Grand Lake Neighborhood Center, 530 Lake Park, at 9:00 am)
La Escuelita Elementary School - 879-1210
Lakeview Elementary School - 879-1300
Lincoln Square Recreation Center - 238-7738
November 6 : CORE II Neighborhood
Preparedness and Response Class at Bella Vista Elementary School, 7:00
to 9:00 pm
•Would you know what to do in the event of an earthquake?
•Do you have an emergency response plan for your neighborhood?
•Do you have emergency response skills to help yourself and your neighbors?Learn how to:
•Organize residents in your neighborhood to respond to an emergency
•Create a neighborhood emergency response plan
•Set up a Neighborhood Command Center
•Create emergency response teamsThis FREE training class, sponsored by the Oakland Fire Department, is open to anyone who has completed CORE I training. For more information, call 510.238.6351 or visit the CORE web site at www.oaklandcore.org
If you are interested in attending, RSVP to Karen Whitman @ 415-637-5044.
Food, refreshments, door prizes, and more await you!
November 8: Oakland/San
Leandro Working Together: Adult & Youth Job Fair, East Side Club,
Oakland/Alameda County McAfee Coliseum, 11:30 am – 4:30 pm
Looking for work? Please bring copies of your resume and be ready to interview on the spot at the job fair! And if you are an employer looking to hire, it’s not too late to sign up for this annual event sponsored by the Cities of Oakland and San Leandro, the Oakland Workforce Investment Board and District 7 Councilmember Larry Reid. Click here for more details.
November 8: Parks &
Recreation Advisory Commission regarding Interim Improvements to Madison
Square Park, 4:30 pm, Lakeside Park Garden Room at the Garden Center,
666 Bellevue Ave
After several months of meetings, discussions and planning, we are one step closer to improving Madison Square Park for the Tai-Chi exercisers. My office has just submitted a report to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, the official body that approves any changes to City parks. The Commission will address the report during its November 8 meeting, at the end of which it will vote to approve or deny our recommended changes.
As many of you know by now, after learning that BART will begin demolition of its Administration building located at the Lake Merrit station in the summer of 2007, Tai-Chi exercisers approached my office for assistance in making Madison Square Park a suitable alternative site. The exercisers have been using the BART plaza for over 20 years as a gathering place for various activities that improve the physical well-being principally of seniors and other adults. The activities include cultural dance lessons, tai-chi and martial art
exercises, and other activities.The proposed short-term improvements to the Park are the culmination of meetings called by my office and attended by the exercisers, Chinatown community groups, nearby residents and BART representatives. Specifically, 8200 square feet of the park will be made level and paved. When this additionally paved area is added to the existing hard surfaces, there will be more than 20,000 square feet of space usable for the exercisers, an amount comparable that available at the BART plaza. Planned improvements also include trees to line the paved areas and painted grids on the surfaces for children’s play areas.
I will allocate $75,000 for Madison Square Park improvements from my discretionary “Pay Go” funds. The exercisers have pledged to contribute approximately $30,000, and BART has offered a matching contribution of $30,000, for a total of almost $135,000, the projected cost of this short-term improvement project.
There has been a significant community outreach for this project already. Community members, composed of Chinatown Chamber of Commerce representatives, Tai-Chi group representatives, Oakland Chinatown Asian Health Services representatives, and other non-profit groups approached Councilmember Kernighan’s Office in June 2006. A community meeting, attended by more than 100 individuals, was convened on September 30th. During that meeting, both Public Works Agency staff and BART representatives made presentations and answered questions. Plans and specifications will be completed by the end of this calendar year. The project is proposed to be ready for construction sometime in the first half of 2007. That timetable will permit completion no later than July 2007, in time for the exercisers to move to Madison Square Park before the BART demolition commences.
November 8: International Latino Film Festival, Grand Lake Theater, 3200
Grand Avenue
The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and the Latino International Film Festival presents two engaging panels with local Latino emerging filmmakers in this year’s edition of the Latino International Film Festival. After each show filmmakers will share with the audience their process and challenges during production, post-production and funding that empowered them to get their films made.
Date: Wednesday, November 8
Location: Grand Lake Theater, Oakland, 3200 Grand Avenue Film
Time: Screening starts at 5 pm Shorts Panel: 6:10-6:40; Documentary Panel: 7:30-8:00
Films
Ritual - Carlos Isael Gutierrez
Manifesting our Destiny - Claudia Gomez-Arteaga
Layers: The Art of Javier - Francisco Loza
My Golden Cage - Cristy Paez
Radio Grito - Michael Seely
Two Birds - Juan Jose Rivera
Del Cielo - Julie Rubio
Epifanía- Gabriel Restrepo
Larrylandia - Karim Scarlata
Soledad Is Gone Forever - Mabel Valdiviezo
November 11: Oakland Talent Show, Historic Sweet's Ballroom, 1933 Broadway
For all of you budding young stars out there, I just received notice that the Bay Area Center for Independent Culture is presenting the Oakland Talent Show. Now in its fifth year in the Oakland/San Francisco/Bay Area and in its 25th year in New York City, the All Stars Talent Show Network uses a "performance-learning" approach to foster the emotional and social development of young people. Each year, more than twelve thousand urban youth across the U.S. between the ages of 5 and 25 participate in All Stars events including auditions, rehearsals, talent shows and development workshops.
The show will be held on Saturday, November 11 at the Historic Sweet’s Ballroom, 1933 Broadway (between 19th & 20th Streets). Performers arrive @ 11:30 am and doors open to the public at 2:30 pm.
To perform in the talent show, you must pre-register by Friday, November 10th. Call Eddy @ 415-986-2565 ext 3. The registration fee is $5 for each performer, all performers need to be between 5 – 25 years of age, and performers are expected to stay at the event from 11:30 am until approximately 5:00 pm. Audience tickets are $8 per person (adult and child). For more information, go to www.bacic.org
November 13: Project Homeless
Connect at Howie Harp Center, 18th Street and San Pablo Avenue, 9:30 am
to 3:30 pm
Oakland’s third Project Homeless Connect is in need of 300 volunteers to assist with all aspects of the event. Based on a successful San Francisco model, Project Homeless Connect will bring medical, behavioral health and social services to homeless clients in the field where they are needed most. Project Homeless Connect. Volunteers will meet and greet homeless clients, assist with paperwork, and give away coats and clothing, among other tasks. Two hour shifts are available for volunteers in these and other areas. To volunteer, please contact Seven Generations at (510) 530-2522.
Project Homeless Connect grows out of an idea adopted and nurtured by Oakland community groups and neighborhood crime prevention councils. It features a number of providers of services such as medical screening and acute care, flu shots, behavioral health assessments and referrals, harm reduction services (including hygiene kits, warm coats, clothing and socks), and offers access to such social services as benefits advocacy, senior and veterans services, jobs programs, drug and alcohol programs, a special session of the homeless court, and legal services.
A partial list of agencies collaborating with the City of Oakland on Project Homeless Connect includes the City of Berkeley, Alameda County Social Services Agency, Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, Lifelong Medical Clinic, Samuel Merritt Hospital, Options Recovery Program, Operation Dignity, Howie Harp Center, St. Mary’s Center and many others.
Click here for more information.
November 16: Free Green Food Ware Fair, Oakland Asian Cultural Center
- 388 9th St.
Food service ware is a large contributor to litter, blight and waste throughout Oakland. In addition, many food service ware products made from plastic may be hazardous to our health. To make our city cleaner and healthier and help our community achieve zero waste, the Oakland City Council adopted a cutting-edge disposable food packaging ordinance. Similar ordinances are now being adopted across California.
The Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance takes effect starting January 1, 2007. At that time Oakland food vendors may no longer use polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) disposable food service ware, and disposable food service ware used by all Oakland food vendors must transition to biodegradable or compostable ware as it becomes affordable.
To help prepare food vendors to meet this ordinance, District 4 Councilmember Jean Quan, author of the ordinance, is sponsoring a FREE Green Food Ware Fair, which will:
• Help food vendors understand Oakland’s new food packaging ordinance
• Help food vendors explore different kinds of disposable food packaging
• Help food vendors learn about organics recycling
• Allow organizations working to green our businesses to provide zero waste outreach to food vendors
For more information, chick here. Flyers for the event are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. To inquire about being an exhibitor, contact Ratna Amin at ramin@oaklandnet.com or call 510-238-2984. Learn more about Oakland's Zero Waste goal at www.zerowasteoakland.com.
November: Groundbreaking at Clinton Park
I am pleased to announce that Clinton tot lot, located at the Clinton Park on International Blvd, is ready for groundbreaking. The City’s Public Works Agency has reached an agreement with a well-established contractor, and they intend to start the construction project for the Clinton play lot in November.
During my office's discussions with Public Works, I stressed the importance of features that provide for and enhance the enjoyment, safety and aesthetics of the overall project. I am happy to say that the final plans will include 2 sets of play structures, 2 sets of swings, and a rubber safety surface to protect against bruises from falling, amongst others.
REPORTS
Oakland's First Trader
Joe's to Land on Lakeshore Early in 2007
You’ve probably heard the good news that Trader Joe's will open its first Oakland store in the old Lakeshore Avenue Albertsons building in early 2007. After considerable community advocacy organized by my office and 10 months of negotiations, leaseholder Sansome Pacific and Trader Joe's signed a lease last week.The store’s exterior will get a facelift, and at my insistence, a loading dock will be created on Lakepark Ave so that deliveries don’t disturb Wesley Way residents and block traffic there as happened with Albertsons and Lucky’s.
Many Grand Lake seniors and other folks without cars will be very happy that once again they can buy groceries within walking distance of their homes. And I've heard from many, many moms and dads with young families that they will be frequent customers. I am very pleased that we were successful in getting a store that the community really wanted.
The neighborhood has long hoped for this result. In response to my on-line survey, over 800 people wrote in to say that they wanted a food store in that location, and the great majority favored a Trader Joe's. For months, the question I'm most often asked is, "What's happening at the old Albertsons? Can you get a Trader Joe's?" It took a long time, and it wasn't easy, but the answer is YES, TRADER JOE'S IS COMING … HOORAY! My hat is off to all of you who worked with me on attracting Trader Joe’s. We can be justifiably proud.
Please be sure to check my web site in the coming weeks for more information and updates about the timetable for Trader Joe’s opening.
Lakeshore Avenue Halloween Parade is a Fun
Time for All
This year’s traditional Halloween parade again filled Lakeshore Avenue with a variety of angels, super heroes, lady bugs, goblins and other spooky creatures. I met many of the kids and their families at the Mandana Plaza Park. We then paraded down Lakeshore Avenue, took a detour at the big fire engine and went trick or treating at the many stores who generously passed out candy to everyone.
Many thanks to the Lakeshore/Lake Park Avenues Business Improvements District for sponsoring this wonderful event every year.
Thanks for Inviting Me to Chinatown Clean-Up Day
What I love about District 2 is the way constituents find a project and then just work to make that project happen. Isabella Leung decided that Chinatown needed a little sprucing up, so on Saturday, October 21, I gathered with some other volunteers and together we helped pick up litter and trash throughout the Chinatown area.
If you would like to organize a neighborhood clean-up, please let us know so we can join you and offer some help. Please contact my scheduler, Kathy Dwyer at kdwyer@oaklandnet.com or 510-238-7246 with the event, date and time.
Prototype Waterfront
Kiosk – Your Comments Are Invited
Shortly, the City will publish Draft Waterfront Trail Development Standards prepared for by EDAW for use in building Oakland’s stretch of the Bay Trail (http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page798.aspx). The standards call for as many as 52 markers in the eight miles: way-finding stations, entry arches and interpretive kiosks.
The kiosks are to be located every mile or so between Jack London Square and the 66th Ave trail head. A prototype of a kiosk is now on display at the Jack London Aquatic Center in Estuary Park. Each kiosk will have a trail map and interpretive panels. Local artist Mildred Howard has designed two of the three panels on each kiosk. By mid-November a sample of the guard rail will be installed there, too. Guard rails are proposed to be used along the trail at locations where there are steep drop-offs. If you have comments, please e-mail them to eathornton@oaklandnet.com
Law Center Walk-In Clinic for Families Moves to Every Thursday Morning
Law Center for Families is a non-profit legal service that provides legal assistance to low-income and/or immigrant community residents of Alameda County. Its specialties include language access rights, consumer law, family law/domestic violence, and housing. Its family law practice includes providing legal advice, separation, domestic violence restraining orders, custody and support. Fees for services are based on a sliding fee scale; that is, depending on a client’s income, the Law Service may or may not charge for its legal services.
Law Center for Families' a walk-in clinic, formerly every Friday morning, now occurs every THURSDAY from 9:00am until Noon.
Contact information for the Law Center for Families:
510 – 16th Street, Suite 300
Oakland, Ca 94612
510-451-9261
www.lcff.org
Oakland High School Gets a Facelift
When driving on MacArthur or Park Blvds., you may have noticed handsome new landscaping around Oakland High School. A lot has been going on at the school they would like to share their good news. This past summer the gym, theater and dance studio were renovated with beautiful new floors in each location. They have a new football field and bleachers and have also remodeled the bathrooms. The school has an active PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) and you can visit their web site at www.ohsptsa.org. To see what is happening at Oakland High you can visit http://oaklandhigh.ousd.k23.ca.us
