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Hot Dates (*see articles for details) |
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4/15: 7 p.m.
City Council to vote on Piedmont Pines Phase 1 Undergrounding of Utilities.* See article below.
4/16: 10 - 2
Oakland's Earth Expo*
4/19, 9-noon:
Earth Day*
4/26 9-noon:
Citywide earthquake drill*
Recurring "Beauty Days"
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1st Monday + 3rd Saturday each month, 10 - 1:
Marj Saunders Park beautification Ascot at Chelton. More info, contact Elaine Geffen.
- Last Saturday, each month, 9 - noon: Beaconsfield Canyon restoration. End of Beaconsfield Pl--second street off Chelton after Painted Rocks. More info, contact Richard Kauffmann
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Dear Piedmont Pines Residents, |
If you missed our Piedmont Pines Annual Meeting, you might not know that your association has launched a significant initiative to become the greenest neighborhood in the Bay Area. The standing- room-only attendance was testament to our community's commitment to save the environment, starting at home.
Visitors to our Go Green Expo could test their water samples for lead, learn how to convert to fire safe landscaping, eliminate invasive plants, reduce energy consumption, preserve our parks and open space, generate electricity through solar solutions, purchase emergency supply kits and much more!
The first residents to pay dues for 2008 were offered a free Piedmont Pines "Go Green" canvas bag, an offer so popular that we had to re-order 100 bags.
Dawn Benson, our EBMUD exhibitor, e-mailed us the next day, "The Piedmont Pines HOA event last night was the busiest event I've ever attended...Your homeowners hovered over our table...They didn't want the free goodies but information on our programs, drought-tolerant landscaping, irrigation controllers and some indoor fixture rebates." Dawn has extended an offer to our members with high water consumption for a free landscape survey. To take advantage of this offer, e-mail Dawn Benson.
And from our friend William Rose at SPG Solar came this e-mail: "I want to thank you for having me at your neighborhood event last night. Frankly, I was quite impressed with the turnout and the enthusiasm of the group. Obviously, this community has a strong bond and commitment. I'm happy to announce that 18 residents signed up for site evaluations." Contact William Rose to learn more.
To download and view the slides from the meeting, click here, then on the far right, under Newsworthy, you'll see the link.
Dick Spees
President |
| Paid your 2008 dues yet? |
By the end of March, 526 Piedmont Pines households (of 1300+) had paid their 2008 dues. THANK YOU! If you're not among them, there's still time. Pay online through PayPal on the button above, or send your $20 dues check to:
Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association
2843 Burton Dr
Oakland, CA 94611
And a HUGE thanks to our 38 generous donors who contributed more than their dues, boosting our checkbook by $1540! | |
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| April 15: City Council to Vote on Phase 1 Undergrounding in Piedmont Pines |
| Progress made, but we need your help!
In January, a majority of residents in Phase 1* of Piedmont Pines' undergrounding project signed the petition to move the project ahead. On April 8th, it went before two City committees: Public Works and Finance. In the Public Works meeting, a hitch was thrown our way that we're working hard to overcome, and you can help. Public Works Committee member, and Council member, Desley Brooks believes strongly that undergrounding funding should be reserved for commercial corridors and non-hills areas. We gave up our spot once for the undergrounding project along MacArthur, and we strongly believe that it's now time to get the ballot process moving so that the residents can decide for themselves. We filed our application in 1987. It's time to move ahead.
How you can help. The Council will vote on our application on Tuesday. If you're as tired of all the delays as your Board is, come join us on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, 3rd floor. While we don't know what time the vote will come up, we're asking interested speakers to join Dick Spees and Ryan Hatcher at the front door to Council Chambers.
Once the Council votes to establish a Piedmont Pines Phase 1 Utility Undergrounding Assessment District, official ballots will then be mailed to Phase 1 property owners.
*To see the complete list of addresses in Phase 1, click here. To review the history (a long one!) of this project and view a map of all three phases, click here. |
| Earth Day 2008 Celebration 4/19 in Piedmont Pines |
 Saturday, April 19, 9am to 12 noon
This year, there are four opportunities to celebrate Earth Day in Piedmont Pines this year! Sponsored by the City of Oakland and supported by District 4 Councilmember Jean Quan's office, we will again have a chance to make improvements in our neighborhood.
At Marj Saunders Park, "The Rock" at Chelton and Ascot, we will be cleaning up, removing non-native plants and planting a butterfly garden area. We need people with pick axes for planting, and pole saws for pruning the waterfall area. We hope to have enough people to send out French broom Removal Brigades,since that pesty yellow flower is blooming so profusely this year! Bring gloves and tools, wear long sleeves.
We will have a large debris box for plant material from Friday 4/18 through Monday. This is a chance to get rid of large tree parts and get more fire fuel out of your own yard. Please use paper bags, since plastic will not decompose.
Contact: Elaine Geffen
At Beaconsfield Canyon (Beaconsfield Place off Chelton) we'll be clearing ivy, other invasive plants, and fallen debris, and extending trails.
Contact Richard Kauffman
Castle Canyon will have its annual clean up gathering, with a green debris box at the foot of the canyon on Mastlands at the intersection of Larry Lane. Come join your neighbors in a fun and productive outing! We'll also clean out the creekside along Larry Lane. Bring work gloves, children, and the desire to haul light debris out of the canyon. It's a great time to schmooze, get some light exercise, play with dogs and children, and beautify the canyon.
Contact Jeff Sharp jgilesharp@aol.com
At Joaquin Miller School, The Montera Association will bag green debris from the path that leads to the village and the section of Mountain Blvd. where Ascot begins. Families with small children are welcome. Please bring rakes and gloves.
Contact Mary Ann Fake |
| Join in: Citywide Emergency Response Exercise, April 26 |
Of all the region's large faults, the Hayward Fault system is considered most likely to create the next major destructive earthquake in the region. Highway 13 sits directly on top of the fault. There's no better way to practice your emergency response skills than to participate in the April 26th citywide simulated earthquake.
This year's earthquake drill will focus on each CORE Group's ability to establish, operate and manage an Incident Command Center, with an emphasis on the First Aid Response Team. If you are a member of a neighborhood CORE Group, please register with the city by calling 510 238-6351, providing the name of your group, and the name and email address of your neighborhood leaders.
If you are not going to participate with your neighborhood but would like to observe another Piedmont Pines neighborhood during the drill, send us an e-mail, including the name of your street, and we'll let you know some streets to visit. Or, use the day to begin organizing your neighborhood.
Piedmont Pines is encouraging ALL our neighborhoods to organize for whatever purpose serves them best--working out solutions to parking problems, cleaning up open spaces, protecting against crime, or just having fun. It can be as simple as an street party. Organizing to get CORE training is a great way to start. If you want to organize your neighborhood but don't know where to start, contact Ryan Hatcher.
For a full schedule of CORE classes and events, click here. You can register for classes using the online form or by calling 510-238-6351. |
| City of Oakland 14th EarthExpo, April 16 |
If you missed Piedmont Pines' Go Green Expo at the annual meeting, you can get lots of information at The Sustainable Urban Environment
Wednesday, April 16th, 10 am - 2 pm
Frank Ogawa Plaza (14th & Broadway)
Be part of Oakland's green wave charting the path to a sustainable future. 100 exhibitors. "Tell the story of your reusable bag" video booth. Products & tips to: green your workplace, drive less, remodel green, reduce energy use, be a greener consumer, restore our creeks, practice bay-friendly gardening, reduce waste, compost, hold a Zero Waste event, reduce your carbon footprint, more! Exchange mercury thermometers for a digital thermometer. Recycle used household batteries, cell phones. Farmers' Market. Prizes. Free. Learn more, click here. |
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