December 2012 E-News and Events
 
Happy Holidays! 
From All of Us in District 2
 
Front: Pat and Mandalyn 
Back: Jennie and Sarah 
 

     

Reports & Events
Some Scrooge-Like Thoughts on Crime in This Holiday Season
Holiday Safety Tips from the Oakland Police Department
Open House re Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan
Community Meeting on the Economy Inn
Cleveland Elementary School Tours & Picnic
Volunteers Sought for Alameda County's Biennial Homeless Count
Free Holiday Parking Through December; New Technology and Grace Period Make Parking in Oakland More Convenient
Take the Mobile Food Vending Survey About Where You'd Like to See Mobile Food Vendors
Prepare for Wet Weather - Where to Get Sandbags
Update on Highland Hospital Acute Tower Replacement Project
Opportunities to Donate Gifts, Food or Funds to Those in Need for the Holidays
2012 Oakland Holiday Parade
Hanukkah Party & Menorah Lighting at Splash Pad Park
Zoo Lights at the Oakland Zoo
Neighborhood Christmas Party @ Clinton Park
Holiday at the Dunsmir-Hellman Historic Estate
Holiday Caroling on Lake Merritt
Fairy Winterland & Puppet Show
Holiday Lights by the Bay
Family Holiday Craft Exchange @ Malonga Casquelourd Center of Arts
Holiday Season on Lakeshore Avenue
3rd Annual Creche Festival at the Cathedral of Christ the Light
New Year Balloon Drop at Chabot Space and Science Center
Annual Pruning of the Roses
Learn to Double-Dutch Jump Rope
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Some Scrooge-Like Thoughts on Crime in This Holiday Season

 

While most of us are trying to keep up with, and hopefully enjoy, the holiday season, we do so with the backdrop that our city is under a siege of crime.  In many neighborhoods, including the areas in our district east of the Lake, the robberies and shootings are having a profound impact of everyone's peace of mind and physical safety. Even the hill areas, which have historically had little crime, are seeing rashes of car thefts and break-ins and a significant increase in burglaries. Public safety is a decidedly un-Christmas-y topic, but one that I must address. If you don't want to read this now, save it for January.

The reality that the crime rate has been steadily increasing for over a year is not lost on anyone at City Hall. We know it is a crisis and we are trying hard to figure out how to have some impact quickly as will as over the long term.

Here is what we have initiated so far:

--City Administrator Deanna Santana has hired a law enforcement consultant team to review OPD practices and recommend changes that would make the best use of sworn staff to reduce crime. This team is here now and working with OPD command staff on everything from management practices, crime analysis and work in the field. These folks are policing experts and will help our department implement best practices used by successful police departments in other cities. 

 
--We know that a primary factor in the increase of crime is the severe under-staffing of our Police Department. In the very short term, there are several initiatives underway to bolster OPD ranks with officers from outside agencies. The CHP is already assisting. In addition, the City Council will soon vote on a contract with the Alameda County Sheriff's department for some of their officers to do special assignments for OPD.  This proposal is from Councilmember Libby Schaaf and the Police Chief. I heartily support it. The Chief also proposes hiring 20 civilian police technicians immediately.  They would respond to reports of burglaries and collect evidence. This is a task that has often been left undone due to the high level of calls for service. I anticipate broad support among the Councilmembers for these measures. 


I also want to mention that our Measure Y violence prevention programs are working hard at their tasks. These programs are even more under-funded than the police department, but they are having success with the individuals they are able to serve. We can have a policy discussion on that another time, but I wanted to note that they are part of the City's effort to reduce repeat offenses and retaliatory violent crime.

These are all small steps in the right direction. But we must also address the fundamental task of growing the size of the police department on a permanent, sustainable basis to a size that is comparable to other cities. The Council has already approved funds to hold two Police training academies per year, each to yield about 45 officers.  This will grow the department, but not fast enough to deal with our immediate crime problem.  Because of normal attrition, it would take at least four years to get to 800 officers from our current 624. Thus, I see that the City's primary focus during this spring's budget deliberations is to find the funds necessary to hire and train officers even faster. It is likely to require a combination of cuts and a tax measure in the next year or two. This will take a lot of careful planning, education and buy-in from the community.  I will be writing much more about this in the next several months. And I will continue to be in regular communication with our Police Chief and City Administrator in our joint efforts to make Oakland safer.

For now, try to stay safe and enjoy your holiday celebrations.

PK sig  

Holiday Safety Tips from the Oakland Police Department

 

With the holiday season upon us, the Oakland Police Department would like to ensure a safe and happy time for everyone. The Department has increased patrols and will be using a variety of enforcement techniques.

 

It will continue its partnerships with BART, the California Highway Patrol, Alameda County Sheriff's Office, the California Department of Justice and members of the community to reduce crime.

 

Even during this season of giving, criminals will take advantage of easy targets. Please keep in mind the following personal safety tips throughout the holidays:

 

-Always be aware of your surroundings. Don't be distracted by cell

phones and electronic devices.

 

-Stay in well lit, populated areas.

 

- Stay alert and keep your shopping bags nearby -don't leave bags

unattended.

 

- Do not leave packages, shopping bags or other items of value visible in your vehicle.

 

- Avoid showing large amounts of cash when making purchases.

 

- Be especially alert when entering and exiting your vehicle.

 

-Remember to lock your car door after entering your vehicle.

 

- Let people know when you intend to arrive at your destination, so they can keep an eye out for you.

 

-If someone or something looks suspicious call the police on OPD's non-emergency number 510.777.3333.

 

Nixle Tip Watch allows tipsters to send OPD a tip four ways:

1. Text TIP OAKLANDPD to 888777 from your cell phone

2. Call our toll-free tip hotline at 855.TIPS.247 (855.847.7247)

3. Respond to OPD's Nixle messages

 

For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at 510.238.7230 or [email protected] or visit Nixle.com to receive Oakland Police Department alerts, advisories and community messages, or follow OPD on Twitter @oaklandpoliceca.  

   

Open House re Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan - Laney College Student Center/Cafeteria

 

Saturday, December 15: Open House re Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan - Laney College Student Center/Cafeteria, 900 Fallon St @ 9th St - 9:00 am to 12:00 noon

 

Please join us at the City of Oakland's OPEN HOUSE to learn about the plans for street and open space improvements, and guidelines for new development in the area within half a mile radius from the Lake Merritt BART Station. The draft proposals, along with identification of funding and implementation mechanisms are based on an ongoing community process, in collaboration with BART and Peralta Community College District, to create a Station Area Plan that will help guide how this area develops into the future.  

 

The event will begin with a presentation. Various staffed information stations will also illustrate the Draft Plan proposals. Light refreshments will be served.

 

Interpreters will be available during the presentation and materials will be available in English, Chinese and Vietnamese.

 

Email: [email protected]

Telephone Message Line: (510) 238-7904

Project Website: http://www.business2oakland.com/lakemerrittsap

 

 LM BART

 

Community Meeting on the Economy Inn

 

As of August 1, 2012 the Superior Court ordered the Economy Inn, located at 122 E. 12th Street to close for one year because of on-going prostitution at the site. The Inn's owner has proposed a new business plan to the court, which will be the subject of the community meeting.  

 

 



     
Cleveland Elementary School Tours & Picnic! 

 

The Cleveland Elementary School is an award-winning school with a vibrant community and hosts several community and cultural events throughout the year to help foster strong relationships between parents, students and the school. Their approach to education includes core reading, writing and math, also science and hands-on environmental learning experiences in the Ecoliteracy program, regular art classes through MOCHA, music classes through Cantare and MILE music with instrument and choral lessons in grades 4 and 5. They work with a team of tutors from Experience Corps that provide students with one-on-one instructions in needed areas.

 

 

  

Tuesdays, January 8 and 15: Cleveland Elementary School Tours,
 745 Cleveland Street, 8:00 am and 9:00 am
 

The Cleveland School's PTA will be hosting school tours on January 8 and 15 at 9:00 am. They will also be holding a picnic for prospective families on January 6 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. 


Classes will be in session during the tours. The morning tours are for adults only. All tours have translation services upon request. There is no need to register in advance. 

  

 

Sunday, January 6: School Picnic, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (RAIN DATE - Sunday January 13, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm)

 

Meet Cleveland parents and students at a picnic on campus by the lower play structure. School information will be provided as well as parent Q&A. Children are welcome. RSVP for the open house with Mahasin at [email protected] or 510.735.9100.

 

For more information, contact Lisa at [email protected] or 510.333.0017. 

 

These events are sponsored by the Cleveland PTA. 

 

Volunteers Sought for Alameda County's Biennial Homeless Count

 

On January 30, 2013, EveryOne Home will conduct its biennial Homeless Count across all of Alameda County. This endeavor requires 250 volunteers at over 30 locations countywide. The count is a vital way to measure progress towards ending homelessness and essential to maintain funding for homeless services. The commitment of volunteering requires that individuals attend one volunteer training session during January prior to participating in the homeless count on January 30. Volunteer recruitment will continue through January. Training sessions will be offered at several dates, times and locations. Volunteers will serve as interviewers of homeless service users by asking a series of survey questions. Participation is anonymous and voluntary for homeless service users. EveryOne Home will do their best to match your time and location preferences with site operating hours. For more information, please contact EveryOne Home at 510.670.9796 or [email protected].       

 

Free Holiday Parking through December; New Technology and Grace Period Make Parking in Oakland More Convenient

 

Free holiday parking and a variety of enhancements make it easier to pay for parking, avoid parking tickets and enjoy the offerings of Oakland's vibrant commercial districts. These include:

  • A holiday parking promotion to encourage people to shop in Oakland
  • New pay-by-phone technology
  • A five-minute grace period pilot program
  • Self-serve payment kiosks in garages
  • New meters that accept credit/debit cards

Free Holiday Parking

 

To support and stimulate shopping in Oakland's commercial districts this holiday season, there is free parking at meters and in City-owned garages every Saturday through December. Parking at all City-metered spaces throughout Oakland will be free for the time period posted on the meter or kiosk (30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours or 4 hours). The free parking "holidays" apply to both standard meters and the multi-space parking kiosks located in many commercial districts. The free holiday parking also applies to the following City-owned lots equipped with meters:

  • Grand Avenue Lot in the 3200 block of Grand Avenue
  • Lake Park Lot under I-580 between Grand and Lakeshore avenues
  • Parkway Lot on Wayne Avenue near Park Boulevard and E. 18th Street
  • Piedmont Avenue Lot on Howe Street between 40th and 41st streets

The free holiday parking program will also offer two hours of free parking on the designated Saturdays at the following City-owned garages:

  • Franklin Street Garage, 1719 Franklin Street
  • Montclair Parking Garage, 6235 LaSalle Avenue
  • Frank G. Mar Garage, 12th & Harrison streets

Standard parking rules and time limits apply. If shoppers need additional parking time, they will need to move their car across the street if it is a two-way street, or park around the block if it is a one-way street. The City will be monitoring parked cars on a regular basis. Stickers on the meters, fliers on the multi-space kiosks and signs or banners at the lots and garages will promote the free Saturday parking. For more information, please visit www.oaklandnet.com.

   

Take the Mobile Food Vending Survey About Where You'd like to See Mobile Food Vendors

Mobile Food Vendors  

 

NEW!  FEED ME: Mobile Food Vending Locations and Schedule. 

 

Check out the new map and weekly schedule of mobile food truck/vendor locations.   Find out which mobile food vendors are vending at each approved location by clicking on the links in the map or schedule. Help the City identify good locations and times of operations for mobile food vendors in Oakland! 

 

What places in Oakland would you like to see mobile food vendors? 

Help identify good locations in Oakland for mobile food vendors. 

 

Visit: http://www.engageoakland.com/mobilefoodvending and fill out a short survey.   The survey will be posted through January 31, 2013. 

 

Please share this site widely - the City Planners want to hear from as many people as we can!

 

FOR MORE UPDATES visit: www.oaklandnet.com/mobilefoodvending

         Mobile Food Vending Group Site Program Survey Report (November 2012)     

         Extension of the current MFV Group Site permit program   

         Status of further revisions to the City's Mobile Food Regulations 

 

Prepare for Wet Weather - Where to Get Sandbags

 

In preparation for the start of the rainy season, the Oakland Public Works Agency is taking proactive measures to prepare for wet weather. Annually, Public Works crews remove debris from storm drains, inlets, culverts, creeks and drainage structures in preparation for the winter months. Crews are also prepared to address other storm-related issues. In addition, there are opportunities available for volunteers to assist during the rainy season (see below).

 

A maximum of 20 sandbags and 50 feet of plastic sheeting (per household/business) are be available for pickup at the City's Municipal Service Center and the Public Works Drainage Division facility (see addresses and hours below; proof of Oakland residency is required to obtain sandbags and sheeting).

 

Oakland Fire Stations will join in storm preparations by distributing sandbags to residents. A limit of five sandbags (per household) will be available for pickup at fire stations (see below for addresses and distribution hours).

 

During the winter months, just before an expected rain event, Public Works may extend service hours to make sandbags and plastic sheeting available to residents and businesses to help them protect their properties from weather-related damage.

 

How Residents Can Help

  • Check & clean your private drainage systems, including roof gutters & downspouts.
  • Keep your curb & gutters free of leaves & debris.
  • Do not place leaves, debris or lawn clippings near storm drains.
  • Place leaves & green trimmings in your green cart for weekly pickup.
  • Keep natural waterways such as creeks & ditches free from obstructions.
  • Do not obstruct access to storm drain inlets with your vehicle(s).
  • Report flooding problems to Public Works Call Center at 510.615.5566.

Volunteer Opportunities

 

Public Works is renewing its call for volunteers to join the Oakland Adopt a Spot program and keep a storm drain in their neighborhood free of debris. By keeping storm drains clean, volunteers can help prevent flooding of streets and sidewalks while allowing the City to focus storm-response activities on the most critical problems. Public Works will support volunteer adopters with supplies and debris bags, should they need them, to get the job done. Remember, "if it is plugged, it will flood."  To adopt a storm drain, visit www.oaklandadoptaspot.org or call 510.238.7630.

 

Sandbags (up to 20) & plastic sheeting (up to 50 feet) can be picked up at the following locations & times when inclement weather is forecasted:

 

Municipal Service Center, 7101 Edgewater Drive

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

After Hours (in front of entry gate) 4:30 pm to 8:00 am

 

Drainage Division Facility, 5921 Shepherd Canyon Road

Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

After Hours (in front of entry gate) 4:30 pm to 8:00 am (before inclement weather)

 

Sandbags can be picked up at these Fire Stations when inclement weather is forecasted:

 

Fire Station Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Fire Station # 3, 1445 -14th Street

Fire Station # 6, 7080 Colton Boulevard

Fire Station # 7, 1006 Amite Avenue

Fire Station # 8, 463 - 51st Street

Fire Station # 10, 172 Santa Clara Avenue

Fire Station # 16, 3608 -13th Avenue

Fire Station # 17, 3344 High Street

Fire Station # 20, 1408 - 98th Avenue

Fire Station # 21, 13150 Skylines Boulevard

Fire Station # 26, 2611 - 98th Avenue

Fire Station # 28, 4615 Grass Valley Road

 

In an emergency or to report storm damage, Oakland residents should call the Public Works Agency Call Center at 510.615.5566. 

 

Update on Highland Hospital Acute Tower Replacement Project

 

Opportunities to Donate Gifts, Food or Funds to Those in Need for the Holidays

 

-- The City is sponsoring several programs to benefit those in need this holiday season. If you know of people who are hungry or families who cannot afford to buy toys for their children, please let them know of the opportunities below to receive assistance.

For those of you who would like to help provide toys for children, I ask you to donate cash or unwrapped toys to the Mayor's Toy Drive. (Information below.) The toy drive will be giving toys to over 8,000 children this year. We also need volunteers to help bag and distribute the toys. 

 

 

Friday, December 14: The Department of Human Services' Hunger Program's Sponsorship of Food Distribution for Low-Income Families and Seniors at Multiple Sites Throughout Oakland

  

Bags consist of frozen poultry, fresh produce and dried goods and will weigh approximately 15 pounds each. To be eligible, families must reside in one of the seven Community Development (CD) Districts in the City of Oakland. Proof of residence in the CD District of distribution is required. For specific distribution site locations, please visit www2.oaklandnet.com/w/oak038921. Please call specific sites for distribution times. For more information, please contact Mike Church, Program Analyst, at 510.238.6590 or [email protected].

 

Food Distribution 

  

Volunteers and Tube Socks Needed 

Tube Socks 

Through December, the Department of Human Services (DHS) is partnering with EveryOne Home to collect new packages of adult men's tube socks (both men and women-prefer the men's). A donation bin is located in the lobby of the Wilson Building at 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza. These socks will be distributed to homeless service users in the community when EveryOne Home conducts its biennial homeless count. 

 

 

 

There is Still Time to Register for the Mayor's Toy Drive

Toy Drive

While more than 700 low-income families registered at City Hall recently, there is still time to sign up your children, ages 0-12, for this year's toy drive:
  

Low-income Oakland residents should stop by Oakland City Hall, Oaklander's Assistance Center (1st floor by the 14th Street Entrance) between 9:00 am to 5:00 pm until December 17th.

 

You must bring the following:

  • Bring a picture ID
  • Proof of Oakland residence
  • Proof of income
  • Proof of age for the children you want to sign up for toys. 

To ensure the City can serve the projected 8,000 children this year, your help is needed! Donations can be monetary (donate online here) or you can send a check to:

 

Oaklanders Assistance Center

1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Room 123

Oakland, CA 94612

 

you may also bring an unwrapped toy to City Hall that is suitable for a child between the ages of 0-12 to the locations below:

 

City and Port Locations:

Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank H. Ogawa
City of Oakland's Dalziel Building, 250 Frank H. Ogawa
City of Oakland's Wilson Building, 150 Frank H. Ogawa

Any Oakland Fire Station
Oakland Police Administration Building, 455 Seventh Street
Oakland Police Eastmont Substation, 2651 73rd Avenue

Oakland Public Library, 125 14th Street
C�sar Ch�vez Branch Library, 3301 East 12th Street
Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Avenue

Port of Oakland Headquarters, 530 Water Street

 

Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Boulevard

Children's Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland Ice Center, 519 18th Street
Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street

 

 

Select Retailers and Corporate Partners:


A Great Good Place For Books, 6120 LaSalle Avenue 
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Patient Care Pavilion, 350 Hawthorne Avenue
Boxer & Gerson, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 500
City Center buildings at 555 12th Street and 1212 Broadway
East Bay Express, 620 Third Street 
EndGame, 921 Washington Street
Grand Lake Caf�, 440 Grand Avenue
Jack London Square building lobbies at 66 Franklin Street, 70 Broadway and 55 Harrison Street
Komodo Toys, 4004 MacArthur Boulevard 
Oakland Housing Authority, 1619 Harrison Street
Ramsell Holding Corporation, 200 Webster Street
Schintzer Steel, 1101 Embarcadero West
Silver Lining Jewelry, 3340 Lakeshore Avenue
Water Lilies, 3935 Piedmont Avenue
Wells & Bennett Realtors, 1451 Leimert Boulevard

 

If you are interested in volunteering to bag or distribute toys or know someone in the community who would like to help, please email Toy Drive Volunteer Coordinator, Sue Piper at [email protected] or call 510.548.5729.

 

Events: 2012 Oakland Holiday Parade

 

 

This year's Holiday Parade was a success. There was no rain until after the Parade was over! This year, the parade featured a train from Fairyland and Visit Oakland, a BART train, Macy's, many excellent marching bands from around the State, a giant Santa, and many more characters. My staff, volunteers and I had a good work out pushing and steering a giant Bugs Bunny opening a present, and a Christmas ornament from Jefferson Street to Snow Park. The best part was the team work and seeing the excitement from the kids and families as we approached.

 

Pat Bugs Bunny

 Photo: Pat Kernighan, District 2 staff Sarah Lin, Donna Hom of the Fire Department and  volunteers pulling a giant Bugs Bunny down the parade route.

 

 

 Snowball

  Photo: City staff and volunteers from "The Happy Hour" group.

 

 Visit Oakland Train

  Photo: A holiday train by Visit Oakland.

 

 

The event will be broadcast around the world!

  

If you missed it in person, you can view it on KTVU Channel 2 and KICU Channel 36 on the following dates and times:

 

Saturday, 12/15 at 2:00 pm (KTVU)

Saturday, 12/16 at 1:00 pm (KICU)

Saturday, 12/22 at 1:00 pm (KTVU)

Sunday, 12/23 at 2:00 pm (KICU)

 

You can also view it on Peralta TV:

 

Channel 28: Oakland

AT&T U-Verse Channel 99

 

12/08 (Sat) @ 4:00 pm

12/12 (Wed) @ 5:00 pm

12/16 (Sun) @ 11:30 am

12/21 (Fri) @ 1:00 pm

12/25 (Tue) @ 1:00 pm

12/26 (Wed) @ 1:00 am

12/29 (Sat) @ 11:00 am

12/30 (Sun) @ 3:00 pm

 

Events: Hanukkah Party & Menorah Lighting at Splash Pad Park

 

Last Sunday, Councilmember Kernighan and Councilmember-elect Dan Kalb of District 1 joined community members and Mayor Quan at a Menorah Lighting ceremony and Hanukkah party at Splash Park. Some of the themes of Hanukkah that had special meaning for us as Oaklanders were resilience, fighting for good against difficult odds, the preservation of our unique cultures, and the faith that miracles can happen!

 
Here is a fun photo of the Mayor lighting the giant menorah.

Splash Pad Menorah

Zoo Lights at the Oakland Zoo

Now through Monday, December 31: ZooLights - Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Road - 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm  

 

Hundreds of thousands of LED lights brighten Oakland's night sky. Highlights include a candy-cane-lane themed rides area, a night time adventure on the Outback Express train, rocking around the Christmas trees in the Children's Zoo, and a light show that is sure to blow out any bah hum bugs. Closed on December 24 and 25. For more information, please visit www.oaklandzoo.org or call 510.632.9525, ext. 100. 

 

 


Neighborhood Christmas Party @ Clinton Park

 

Sunday, December 16: Neighborhood Christmas Party, Clinton Park - 6th Avenue and International Boulevard, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm 

 

 

Holiday at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate

 

Saturdays & Sundays, now until December 16: Holiday Tradition at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Estate - 2960 Peralta Oaks Court, 11:00 am to 4:30 pm

 

Dunsmir Hellman

See the 37-room mansion, featuring turn-of-the-20th-century holiday decorations and holiday teas. Ride the horse-drawn carriage while being entertained by holiday performers. The mansion gift shop or the Carriage House crafters will be open. 

 

Holiday Tradition dates & times:

Saturdays, December 15th 11:00 am to 4:30 pm
Sundays, December 16th 11:00 am to 4:30 pm
 
Holiday Adult Teas dates & times:
Saturdays, December 15th 1:30 pm
Sundays, December 16th 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
 
Children's Teas dates & times:
Saturdays, December 15th 11:15 am
 
For more information, please visit www.dunsmuir-hellman.com or call 925.244.1599.  

 

Holiday Caroling on Lake Merritt

Lake Merritt Caroling  

 

 

Fairy Winterland & Puppet Show

 

Friday, December 14: Fairy Winterland & Puppet Show, Children's Fairyland - 699 Bellevue Avenue, 5:30 pm

  

One Wacky Winter, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" followed by "Fairy Winterland," the celebration of winter holidays of many cultures: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Diwali, and Chinese New Year with stories, crafts, a festival of lights and a visit from Santa.

  

Admission fee required.

 

Visit www.fairyland.org for more information.

 

Holiday Lights by the Bay

  

 

Family Holiday Craft Exchange

Sunday, December 16: Family Holiday Craft Exchange, The Malonga Casquelourd Arts Center - 1428 Alice Street, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Family Crafts

Bring your family together to make this a merry holiday season. Enjoy making handmade holiday ornaments as gifts to exchange.

 

Entrance fee of $5 per person and $10 for a family of 2 or more.

Visit here for past events and information or call 510.238.7526.

 

Holiday Season on Lakeshore Avenue

Lakeshore  

 

3rd Annual Creche Festival at The Cathedral of Christ the Light

 

Friday to Sunday, December 14 to December 16: 3rd Annual Cr�che FestivalThe Cathedral of Christ the Light - 2121 Harrison Street, various times

 

Creche Festival  

The Third Annual Cr�che Festival celebrates the holiday season with a unique, three-day event in celebration of the nativity scene. Local floral designers and artists will showcase their unique cr�che displays in each of the meditation chapels in the Cathedral.

 

Visit www.ctlcathedral.org/visit/creche11 for more information on the event, the Starlight Festival, Chanticleer Concert, or the San Francisco Boys Chorus Concert.

 

Balloon Ball Drop at Chabot Space and Science Center

Chabot Ball Drop  

Monday, December 31: Balloon Drop, Chabot Space and Science Center, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm

 

Ring in the New Year without staying up all night and celebrate strokes of midnight around the world at 11am, 1pm, and 4pm! Kids count down and catch colorful balloons as they drop from the ceiling to receive a special prize.

 

Visit website at www.chabotspace.org for more information.

 

Annual Pruning of the Roses

 

Saturday, January 12: Annual Pruning of the Roses - Morcom Rose Garden, 700 Jean St - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

 

Every January all 3500 rose bushes in the Morcom Rose Garden must be pruned. Don't know this garden? It's an All-American Rose Society-designated Public AARS Garden where you can see the rose varieties that thrive in Oakland's climate. The roses won't be blooming in January, of course, but you'll learn lots about roses.

 

This will be an excellent opportunity for novices to learn how to prune rose bushes and for experienced gardeners to brush up on their pruning skills. Volunteers from the East Bay Rose Society will be on hand to give expert and informative demonstrations and to coach.

 

Come and bring your hand pruners. Don't have pruners? Come anyway. There is much weeding to be done, made lots easier by recent rains.

 

Learn to Double-Dutch Jump Rope

 

Tuesdays and Thursdays through January 17, 2013: Learn to Double-Dutch Jump Rope - San Antonio Recreation Center, 1701 E 19th Street

 

Join a free, four-week clinic on Double-Dutch jump roping and learn jump rope techniques, turning techniques, the history of double-dutch and the importance of building character with physical fitness. Maximum of 10 enrollees per session. Tuesday sessions are for girls ages 7-10; Thursday sessions will cater to girls ages 11-14. Both weekly sessions will run from 4:15 pm to 5:45 pm. For more information, please contact Coach Love, Recreation Specialist, at 510.535.5608.