Join Our List |  |
September Events
|
Every Friday Night: Friday Nights @ OMCA - 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
|
First Friday, September 6, 6:00 - 9:00 pm: Fairyland Drawn Together
|
Friday, September 6, 7:15 pm: Outdoor Movie On the Parkway Featuring...Coraline!
|
Saturday, September 7, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm: 5th Annual Volunteer Fair Sponsored by Volunteering in Oakland
|
September 5 - 8: Town Hall Meetings re Redistricting
|
Wednesday, September 11: Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission to consider the City's application for a Snow Park Dog Play Area
|
Friday, September 15, 7:00 pm: Woodminister Amphitheater Presents "Legally Blond, the Musical"
|
Wednesday, September 18: Celebrate a Year of the Closing of the National Lodge!
|
Saturday, September 21: Love Your Neighbors: Help End Gun Violence Forum
|
Thursday, September 22: 2013 NCNCA...2013 NCNCA Oakland Grand Prix
|
Friday - Sunday, September 27 - 29: Eat Real Festival
|
Saturday, September 21: Oakland Creek to Bay Day 2013
|
Saturday, October 19, 12 Noon - 4:00 pm: Fall Plant Exchange!
|
|
|
Reports 
|
|
|
Friday Nights @ The Oakland Museum of California 
|
|
Every Friday Night: Friday Nights @ OMCA - 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Join OMCA and Off the Grid on 10th Street every Friday for a family-friendly take on a festive night market. Savor California beer and wine around the Koi Pond while enjoying live music, art activities, pub trivia, Garden Explorations, and more! Bring the whole family to OMCA for a sampling of the best in Bay Area curbside cuisine-and all that OMCA has to offer! What to expect on September 6:
- Gourmet food trucks from Off the Grid featuring the best in local cuisine
- Local beer and wine specials in the Blue Oak beer garden
- DJ spinning the hits from 5:00 to 7:00 pm
- Family-friendly drop-in workshop with hands-on bridge building activity from 5:00 to 8:00 pm
- Makers & Tasters Series with a book signing, featuring a book from the OMCA Store, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm
- Dance lessons and more in the amphitheater from 6:30 to 7:00 pm
- Live bluegrass, blues, and jazz bands from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
- Extended hours in the galleries and special exhibitions
- The swanky East Bay Express lounge where you can kick back and take it all in
Cost: Half-price gallery admission for adults, ages 18 and under are free. Admission for Members is always free. Cash bar. Prices vary for Off the Grid food trucks.
Transportation: OMCA is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART Station. Event parking is available at the Museum garage for a $5 flat fee after 5:00 pm.
See more at: http://www.museumca.org/friday-nights-omca#sthash.wELp7GCP.dpuf
Back to Top
|
First Friday, September 6, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Fairyland Drawn Together
|
|
First Friday, September 6: Fairyland Drawn Together - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join dozens of the Bay Area's most exciting artists for an evening of live art-making, music, food, and Fairyland magic. Participating artists will be drawing, painting, and even making finger puppets live and in person for this adults-only event at Children's Fairyland.
The art that they make will be available for a fixed, accessible price, and all proceeds benefit Fairyland's outreach program, which provides free field trips and crucial social programs to local low-income kids.
The event will featuring goodies for purchase by Feel Good Bakery, Sugar Knife Bakery, Stroopie Gourmet, and Red Boy Pizza, food trucks TBA and music by James and Evander and Coco and Jaysonic from Hot Tub.
Participating artists include: Alexis Amann, Nicholas Bohac, Michaela Coffield, Susan Chen, Michaela Coffield, Serena Cole, Randy Colosky, Amanda Curreri, Christian Davies, FICTILIS, Welly Fletcher, Sean Ford, Erica Gangsei,Tim Giang, Josh Hagler, Justin Hayes, Daniel Healey, Carrie Hott, Kelly Falzone Inouye, Mary Anne Kluth, Jon Lady, Peter Max Lawrence, Elise Mahan, Vanessa Marsh, Christine Monohan, Crystal Morey, Blake Morse, Lauren Napolitano, Nayeli Nava, Emily Rassmussen, Darren Russell, Nathaniel Parsons, Jerry Pierson, Bunnie Reiss, Stephanie Rohlfs, Allegra Rush, Maja Ruznic, Reece Santos, Crystal Silva, Clare Szydlowski, Shannon Taylor, Tallulah Terryll, Meredith Tromble, Bryan Von Reuter, Annie Wong, Daniel Woodling, and many more!
For more information, visit www.fairyland.org or go directly to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/437446.
Admission: $15.00
|
Friday, September 6, 7:15 pm: Outdoor Movie On the Parkway Featuring...Coraline!
|
|
Friday, September 6:
Outdoor Movie on the Parkway Featuring...Coraline!
@ 1841 Park Blvd. starting at 7:15 pm
This time is the FIRST Friday of the month. Beginning at 7:15 pm with live music over at the pop-up parklet in front of Woody's Cafe at 1841 Park Blvd. Bring yourself, your family, your friends, your pets and your bike!
The last one of this series will be on Sept 28.
Schedule for volunteers:
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Movie screen set up - needs 6-10 volunteers
5:00 - 6:00 pm
Roll out the red carpet, rope blocks and projector
6:00 pm
Bring your bike for the free bikes repair mobile unit and bike powered smoothie machine - Check out www.ebbc.org/coraline.
6:30 pm
Live portrait painting by local artists. Come write or draw on the portable mural!
7:00 pm
Live music by local musicians, "Glow in the Dark Jars" making for kids - Check out www.hobbiesonabudget.com/2012/10/04/glow-in-the-dark-jars/jar (Parents and kids - please bring your own 8 oz - 32 oz empty glass jars with LIDS)
8:15 pm
Back-to-School short video featuring Oakland School kids
8:20 pm
Movie showing!
|
Saturday, September 7, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm: 5th Annual Volunteer Fair Sponsored by Volunteering in Oakland
|
|
Saturday, September 7: 5th Annual Volunteer Fair Sponsored by Volunteering in Oakland - Lakeview School Auditorium @ 746 Grand Avenue from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Fair is a forum for Oaklanders interested in volunteering to meet with approximately 25 organizations to find a good fit for their volunteer efforts. Most of the volunteer opportunities are in the Oakland Unified School District although some focus on at-risk youth no longer in school.
Questions? Please contact Ed Gerber at egerber@psln.com or Natalie Van Tassel at natalie.vantassel@gmail.com.
|
September 5 - 8: Town Hall Meetings re Redistricting
|
|
September 5-8: Town Hall Meetings re Redistricting - see below for information
In the Fall the City Council will hold formal hearings on proposed redistricting maps in order to accomplish redistricting of City Council Districts. So far, there have been three Town Hall Meetings in July to gather information and concerns from the community. This month, there will be three more opportunities for you to express your ideas in order to accomplish redistricting of City Council districts:
- Saturday, September 7 from 10:00 am to Noon @ Frick Middle School - 2845 64th Avenue
- Saturday, September 7 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm @ the Oakland Public Library - Main Library Auditorium - 125 14th Street (Interpretation services will be provided in Cantonese and Vietnamese)
- Sunday, September 8 from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm @ Claremont Middle School - 5750 College Avenue
Information submitted by the community will be used to prepare draft Council district maps for the public to consider.
For detailed information, visit here.
You may also leave a voice message on the redistricting hotline at 510.238.3079.
|
Wednesday, September 11: Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission to consider the City's application for a Snow Park dog play area
|
|
Wednesday, September 11: Parks 7 Recreation Advisory Commission to consider the City's application for a Snow Park dog play area
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission will consider the City's application for a Snow Park dog play area - Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, 4:30 pm - Item 9.C on the agenda. The staff report is available here. Attachment A to the report will be available at the meeting.
|
September 6 - 15 - 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm: Woodminister Amphitheater Presents "Legally Blond, the Musical" 
|
|
Friday, September 6 - 15: Woodminister Amphitheater Presents "Legally Blond, the Musical" - 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, 7:00 pm or 8:00 pm
 Performances: September 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 pm Thursday and Sundays @ 7 pm
Legally Blonde is the story of famously perky Elle Woods, whose perfect life is turned upside down when her boyfriend dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law School and pursue a career in politics. Visit website: http://www.woodminster.com |
Wednesday, September 18: Celebrate a Year of the Closing of the National Lodge!  |
|
Wednesday, September 18: Celebrate a Year of the Closing of the National Lodge - 1711 International Blvd. (at the old National Lodge) from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
National Lodge Update: Hotel Sold to New Owners
In February 2012, the Oakland City Attorney's Office went to trial to shut down the National Lodge, located at 1711 International Boulevard, for running a business that relied on prostitution as a business model. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte ruled in the City's favor, closing the National Lodge in July 2012 for the maximum period of one year as provided by state law. During the year of closure, the owner of the property was to make improvements to the premises and come up with a future business model that did not include illegal activity.
The owner of the National Lodge walked away from the property and, in May 2013, the judge granted the City's petition to force a sale of the property. After many offers, escrow closed at the end of July 2013. The new owners, Enoch Shin and Bruce Van Vuong, are local merchants who have great vision for improvement of the neighborhood and hope that their purchase of the hotel will be a catalyst for that vision. They plan to turn the building into office and retail space.
A celebratory Safety Walk, sponsored by the East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC), will take place on September 18, 2013 from 6:pm to 7:30 pm at 1711 International Blvd (the old National Lodge). Everyone is invited and encouraged to walk in celebration of this victory against prostitution. For more information, please contact Xavier Sibaja, Program Manager at EBAYC, at 510.533.1092 ext 14 or xavier@ebayc.org.
Neighbors are encouraged to report prostitution activity to the Oakland Police Department at 510.777.3333. Calls can also be made anonymously to the police department's Prostitution Hotline at 510.238.2373.
Celebrate a Year of the Closing of the National Lodge
In August 2012 united San Antonio residents and businesses closed the National Lodge for allowing prostitution. The new owners of the building are committed to find a community-friendly use for this property.
So, please...
COME WALK WITH YOUR FAMILY, NEIGHBORS AND EBAYC TO CELEBRATE THIS COMMUNITY VICTORY.
Together, we CAN make a difference!
Invited guests: Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent, City Council President Pat Kernighan, City Attorney Barbara Parker, and Area 3 Captain Ricardo Orozco.
Join your neighbors in expressing your continued commitment to stop prostitution in San Antonio.
This presentation will be offered in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. For questions, contact: Xavier Sibaja at 510.533.1092 ext. 14 or xavier@ebayc.org
Back to Top
|
Saturday, September 21: Love Your Neighbors: Help End Gun Violence Forum  |
|

Love Your Neighbors: help end gun violence forum
Saturday, September 21, 2013 from 9:30am-3:00pm @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church - 114 Montecito Ave, Oakland
Come Learn What is Being Done and How You Can Help to End Gun Violence
|
Thursday, September 22: 2013 NCNCA  |
|
2013 NCNCA Oakland Grand Prix
The 0.9 mile course brings some of the best cyclists from Northern California and Nevada to Oakland once a year. The Oakland Grand Prix offers a technical, downtown course, with an uphill finish on 20th and Harrison at Snow Park, where spectators will find plenty of room to see the final sprint to the finish.
Click here for the schedule: http://www.ncnca.org/ncncaevent/oakland-grand-prix-1
|
Friday - Sunday, September 27 - 29: Eat Real Festival  |
|
Friday - Sunday, September 27 - 29: Eat Real Festival (see below for the schedule)
The Schedule:
Friday, September 27 from 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Saturday, September 28 from 1030 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday, September 29 from 10:30 am - 5:00 pm
The Eat Real Festival celebrates all things tasty, fresh, and handmade with a focus on street food, local wines, handcrafted beers, and traditional food craft - all featuring the Bay Area's best street food vendors cooking up their amazing and affordable dishes: tacos in a hundred different ways, BBQ, curry, falafel, ice-cream, and more! Hit up the Food Craft Marketplace for some take-home treats and handmade goods.
Website: http://www.eatrealfest.com
|
Saturday, September 21: 2013 Oakland Creek to Bay Day |
|
Saturday, September 21: 2013 Oakland Creek to Bay Day
It's the annual Oakland Creek to Bay Day again! Go here for a listing of the various registered locations throughout the city. For more information about this year's Creek to Bay Day, go here.
|
Saturday, October 19, 12 Noon - 4:00 pm: Fall Plant Exchange! |
|
Save the date, the fall Plant Exchange is just around the corner!
Saturday, October 19 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 pm

Do you have plants you must prune or divide? How about trading your excess with others in your neighborhood! Take home new plants for your yard and have an instant new garden!The location will be at 3811 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland and comes with easy free parking. All kinds of plants are welcome, of any size: seedlings, cuttings, or fully grown. Packets of seeds are welcome too. Want to donate plants before the event? No problem. Contact us to arrange to drop off your plants ahead of time. Garden accessories and accents are also welcome: Umbrellas, clippers, pots, books and magazines on gardening, stepping stones, tools and supplies - even goldfish.
|
September Message from Councilmember Kernighan
|
|
September Greetings,
I hope you have had a good summer and are settling in to the new school year and other autumn beginnings. I was able to get away for part of August after a very intense spring and summer working on the City budget and labor negotiations. I have returned feeling rested and ready to tackle the work ahead at the City Council.
I want to apologize to anyone who emailed me during the past six months to request assistance and didn't get a reply. I hope there were not many of those, but I know there were some. If ever you email me and don't get a reply from me or my staff within 4 days, please send it again!
Now that the budget and labor negotiations are behind me I can concentrate solely on the biggest issue in the city -- public safety. The adopted budget made some progress in that direction by funding two police academies a year and the hiring of civilian police technicians and dispatchers. However, those measures will take time to implement, while we have a crisis NOW, especially as to street robberies. The number of robberies has been escalating steadily citywide for almost two years and is now a problem in every neighborhood I represent, as well as everywhere else in the Oakland. (But note that not all the crime news is bad--residential burglaries are down by 17% this year compared to last year at this time.)
I want you to know that every elected official in Oakland recognizes the extremity of the problem and is exploring every possible avenue to solve it. The Police Department is also focused on stopping the robberies and throwing everything they have at it. They are doing a number of things that should help somewhat in the coming months, but until they have more officers to work with they cannot increase their street presence beyond what it is now.
So, while we work to get more officers on the street, I encourage people to engage in self-help strategies. I am seeing many discussions of this on the neighborhood listserves. People are getting more organized with neighbors on their block to communicate and be more vigilant, making their homes more resistant to break-ins, being more observant while on the street, and exploring the use of security cameras and private security patrols. I hate to see people having to resort to private security in residential neighborhoods, as it is not an equitable long-term solution for the whole city, but I understand that in this situation, people are going to do what they feel is necessary to protect themselves and their families.
If you want more information on how to find an active neighborhood crime prevention group near you, please see the OPD website or email me.
But ultimately it is the responsibility of City government to provide a safe environment for its citizens. This is what I and the rest of the City Council will be focusing on this fall.
If you are interested in hearing more about what the Police Department is doing, I encourage you to tune in to next Tuesday's Public Safety Committee meeting at 6:00 PM, September 10. All five Area Captains will be presenting to the Committee members (four Councilmembers) on what they are doing in their areas to address the current crime patterns. It is Item 3 on the agenda.
You can watch the Public Safety Committee meeting on Cable TV Channel 10 or watch the streaming video via the City website, www.oaklandnet.com. (Go to City Council section).
I will be writing more in the coming weeks about public safety and what choices are before us. Until then, be well and be safe, pkernighan@oaklandnet.com |
Fall Core Training Series
|
|
If you've put off preparing your family and household for The Big One, what better time than now to take a CORE training class? Don't know what CORE is? CORE stands for Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies. It's the City's Office of Community Service's free training in preparing for emergencies. Already 18,000 residents have been trained. Isn't it time you did so, too?
FALL CORE TRAINING SERIES
If you've taken CORE I, you can sign up for CORE II and then CORE III. See more below about how to do so. If you have not taken any CORE training, or if it has been awhile since your last CORE class, please consider attending. You can register online at www.oaklandcore.org, or by emailing your contact information and Oakland address to core@oaklandnet.com.
CORE REFRESHER CLASSES
If you are a CORE III graduate and your CORE ID has expired (two year run), you are encouraged to refresh your skills and update your ID card status. CORE presently offer two ways to do this: first is the Standard Refresher, which is a one-day hands on training class. Second is the Advanced Refresher, which is a two-day training class incorporating the CORE III series in addition to the hands-on training class. Please note that while you have taken this training previously, the content of the training does change over time and attending a refresher course will ensure that you are up-to-date with the latest information. Either version you choose will allow you to renew your CORE volunteer certification and ID card for two years. You can register online.
CORE TRAINING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
CORE will conduct a CORE I Home and Family Preparedness class and a CORE II Neighborhood Preparedness and Response class in your neighborhood if you can gather 15 people to attend (friends, co-workers, etc.). Please contact the CORE office (core@oaklandnet.com) for details.
THIRD THURSDAY MONTHLY TRAINING SERIES
Third Thursday trainings for the Fall will be held at the ESMD Media room, 1605 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland. These two-hour classes will begin at 6:30 p.m., and will include both classroom training and simulated hands-on training. The general topics will be: Cribbing Method/Technique, Heavy Rain/Flooding Prep and Response, and Neighborhood Radio Communications. Moving forward, there is still space for this coming Cribbing class on September 19th with the focus on team member roles, size up and creative resources. Take advantage of this important training and sign up now!
TRAIN THE TRAINER SERIES
If you are a CORE III graduate and have ever considered teaching CORE to your fellow citizens, we would like to invite you to attend our upcoming Train the Trainer series this September. This is a series of three consecutive Tuesdays, September 10th, 17th, and 24th from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm and will cover all aspects of training from public speaking to the curriculum, to the use of flip charts and power points for your presentation. This is taught by fellow CORE instructors and is a great way to learn ways that will enhance your teaching knowledge. Being a CORE instructor is a rewarding and enjoyable experience knowing that you are helping make folks safer if, and when, a major disaster occurs. Please call the CORE office at 510.238.6351, to register for this event ASAP.
- Based on a CORE announcement
|
Report Property Crimes Online
|
|
You can report most property crimes online by clicking www.oaklandpolice.com. Look under "New Features," and click on "Download and Submit a Citizen Crime Report Form." You can report the following:
- Lost property
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Vehicle burglary
- Vehicle tampering
For "Abandoned Autos," (vehicles that have been parked on the street for more than 72 hours without being moved), you can email the information to abandonedauto@oaklandnet.com or call the Oakland Police Department's Abandoned Auto Unit at 510.238.6030.
|
Oakland Animal Services Has the Perfect Pet for You
|
|

Interested in adding a new furry friend to your family? Please consider adopting from the Oakland Animal Services (OAS.) OAS is responsible for handling all of Oakland's animal-related calls for service, including neglected, injured, and abandoned animals. The City's animal shelter has many loving dogs, cats and rabbits who are in need of forever homes. Information about OAS hours and location can be found here.
Meet Ruthie!
This month OAS is featuring Ruthie, a pit bull terrier mix with a gentle soul and loving personality. Ruthie is seven years old and came to the shelter as a stray. She also may be able to live with a cat! Ruthie is a sponsored dog, which means that a generous donor has covered her adoption costs. OAS is hoping that Ruthie, who is a volunteer favorite, can find a fantastic forever home. Learn more about Ruthie at: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/26131110
Want to Volunteer for Oakland Animal Services?
Volunteers are essential to Oakland Animal Services (OAS). Not only do OAS volunteers benefit from a fun and rewarding experience, but they also significantly improve the lives of the shelter animals. Spending time with the animals, increasing adoptions by helping citizens find the right animal to join their family, and making new friends along the way, volunteers are a driving force behind OAS.
Volunteers can train to work with cat, dogs or rabbits. Volunteers learn skills for handling each type of animal and techniques for talking with the public about adoptions of them. Learn more about volunteering at: http://oaklandanimalservices.org/volunteer/
|
Mary Moore, Former District 2 Councilmember, 1933-2013
|
|
Former District 2 Oakland City Councilmember Mary Moore passed away in August. She was a longtime community activist and politician. In 1977, Mary became only the third woman elected to the Oakland City Council, and the first in 28 years to hold that position. Her election was part of a movement that ushered in a new progressive era in Oakland. During her 17 years on the Council, she was a constant champion for neighborhood preservation, describing healthy neighborhoods as "central to the survival of the core city."
Mary and her former husband the late Judge Vern Moore, began their political activism in the early 1960's, campaigning against California's Proposition 14, which overturned the 1963 Rumford Fair Housing Act. Throughout her lifetime, Mary was a champion of civil rights and civil liberties. In 1979 she was honored as a Jewish Woman of Distinction by Oakland's Temple Sinai and Woman of the Year by the city's Allen Temple Baptist Church.
A native of the Bronx, Mary was the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants Gershen and Sarah Brondz. She came to California from New York in 1950 and graduated from Berkeley High School in 1951. She attended UC Berkeley where she met her core group of lifelong friends as a staff member at the Daily Californian.
Mary is survived by her children Alison Moore, Hilary Nally and Adam Moore; their spouses Jesse Ragent, David Nally and Leila Alpars Moore; grandchildren Josh and Mia Ragent, Brenna and Rierah Nally and Asa and Dimitri Moore, and her sister and brother-in-law Rose and Galen Smith. The family plans a gathering to remember Mary later this fall. Those interested in sharing memories or learning more about the gathering may send emails to alisonmoore6@gmail.com.
Although not religious per se, Mary was a lover of the Old Testament and especially this from the Book of Ecclesiastes (by way of Pete Seeger): "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven."
Mary's deepest regret was that she would not be here to see the election of the first woman president. In keeping with Mary's passion, the family suggests donation in her name to ReadyforHillary.com, the campaign to elect Hillary Clinton president. Donations may also be sent in Mary's name to local public radio stations KQED and KALW.
- Based on obituary provided by her family
|
Graffiti Abatement Program's One-time "Courtesy" Abatement
|
|
The Graffiti Abatement program is responsible for the abatement of graffiti on public property. The Graffiti Abatement program will perform one "courtesy" abatement on private property. Subsequent instances of graffiti on the same private property will be referred to Oakland's Building Services to enforce under the Oakland Municipal Code §8.10.080. Graffiti on the property of other agencies will be referred to them for abatement.
Examples of Public Property:
- Streetlight poles
- Traffic signal poles
- City utility boxes (at traffic signals)
- Sidewalks, curb and streets
- Tunnels (e.g., 105th Ave)
- Walls (underpasses, etc.)
- City-owned facilities (parks, etc.)
Private Property:
- Commercial
- Industrial
- Residential
Other Partner Agencies:
- AT&T
- US Postal Service
- CalTrans
- BART
- Union Pacific Railroad
- EBMUD
- PG&E
- Port of Oakland
- Oakland Unified School District
- Peralta Community College District
To report graffiti in the public right-of-way, please do one of the following:
Removal of graffiti on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. To report private property graffiti, please contact the City of Oakland Building Services at 510.238.3381, Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 4:00pm or email inspectioncounter@oaklandnet.com.
|
Latham Square Pilot Pedestrian Plaza 
|
|
The new construction on Latham Square Pilot Pedestrian Plaza started in July. Now that it's completed, Telegraph Avenue vehicle traffic is diverted onto 16th Street and are prevented from turning left onto Telegraph from Broadway near 15th Street during this pedestrian plaza experiment.

The experiment will run at least until October 2013. Staff will be taking citizen input as the pilot plaza goes along, and making adjustments as needed to respond to concerns. In October, staff will report to Council on the experience of the plaza, including whether a version of the pilot plaza experiment should be created as a permanent pedestrian plaza within the next year.
|
Coffee Table Book of Erik Niemann's Extraordinary Aerial Photography Documenting the Transformation at the South End of the Lake is Now Available:
Oakland 12th Street/Lake Merritt Boulevard Reconstruction Project: May 2010 to June 2013
|
|
Over the three years of transformation of the south end of Lake Merritt, you may have watched the deconstruction of the Frickstad dam and the construction of the new bridges and four-acre park. But have you seen the aerial photographs of the entire project? Erik Niemann documented the transformation with weekly and sometimes daily aerial photographs taken from the 11th floor of 1200 Lakeshore. His coffee table book is now available. You can go here for a free preview of the entire 100 pages of the best of his 25,000 photographs of the project. (It's best to preview the book in "full screen"). And then you can order the coffee table style book, 11"x 13", via Blurb. A hard copy photographic record of the project is available in three forms. There is an inexpensive PDF instant download option ($4.99) and two physical book options, dust jacket ($135.99) or image wrap ($100.81) for the hard cover book. Tax and shipping are extra. All ordering or issues are between you and Blurb. The book has been a labor of love for Erik who has declined any profit on book sales in order to make them more available. Go here to order.
|
October: WriterCoach Connection Training Volunteers to Become Student Coaches
|
|
Are you looking for a great way to help students in Oakland? WriterCoach Connection runs a terrific program that matches trained community volunteers with middle and high school students to work one-on-one on their English assignments.
Our volunteers emphasize essential writing and critical thinking skills. We work with students at Oakland's Fremont High School and at schools in Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, and El Cerrito. Get to know some wonderful Oakland students and enjoy the satisfaction of helping a student succeed.
You do not have to be a writer or teacher to volunteer. WCC's in-depth training provides the strategies and practice you'll need to be a great coach. Training sessions for new Oakland volunteers begins in September. Coaching starts in October. For more information please visit, www.writercoachconnection.org or call 510.524.2319.
Questions? Email catherineoconnellwcc@gmail.com
|
Four Branch Libraries Now Open on Mondays 
|
|
In order to increase the public's access to neighborhood library branches, Oakland Public Library will be implementing a schedule change soon at four of the library's 16 branch locations. Effective Monday, September 16, the Brookfield, Eastmont, Golden Gate, and Piedmont Avenue branch libraries will be open Monday through Friday. All other branches will keep their current Tuesday through Saturday schedules and the Main Library will continue to be open seven days a week.
The four branches that are shifting to a Monday through Friday schedule will be open on Monday evenings, instead of their current Tuesday evenings, with the following Monday hours:
* Brookfield and Eastmont branches: 11:30 am - 7:00 pm
* Golden Gate and Piedmont Avenue branches: 12:30 pm - 8:00 pm
All Tuesday-Saturday branches will continue to be open on Tuesday evenings, and the Main Library will continue to be open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
To view current branch schedules, visit the library's website at: http://oaklandlibrary.org/using-library/locations-hours.
|
First West Nile Virus Positive Birds for 2013 Found in Alameda County
|
|
The Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District is reporting 2 dead birds that tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). This is the County's first indication of active virus transmission this year. The birds were both American Crows, one of which was picked up in Zip Code 94602.
Since West Nile Virus is a mosquito-transmitted disease, controlling the mosquito population is paramount. District staff routinely inspect and treat all known mosquito sources, including but not limited to storm drains, catch basins, and neglected swimming pools.
Residents may contact the District if they are being bothered by mosquitoes or know of a potential mosquito breeding source.
As part of an on-going surveillance program, the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District is asking the public to report any dead tree squirrels or wild birds, especially crows, ravens, jays, magpies and birds of prey that have been dead less than 48 hours (and show no signs of decomposition), to the California Department of Public Health. Their website address for reporting the dead birds is www.westnile.ca.gov. They can also be reached by phone: (877)WNV-BIRD/(877)968-2473.
The public can access information about mosquitoes, West Nile Virus, and mosquitofish on our website: www.mosquitoes.org. Residents can also pick up FREE mosquito-larvae eating fish at our District office from 7:30-4:30pm for their ornamental ponds, horse troughs, or neglected swimming pools. We are located in Hayward at 23187 Connecticut St. Our phone number is 510.783.7744.
|
Grand Opening of the New Asian Health Services Building
|
|
In August, Asian Health Services (AHS) had a grand opening of a multi-million dollar clinic in the former Silver Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown. The new location is right across the street from their original clinic and is located at 835 Webster Street.
The much needed expansion will help service more patients who have been on the waiting list and current patients in need of more medical care as the aging population grows.
The new facility has 20 new exam rooms and a central space where doctors and caseworkers meet to diagnose patients' health conditions. The new clinic is estimated to be able to help 10,000 patients per year. On the second floor, there are 10 exam rooms for geriatric care.
Asian Health Services' mission is to provide health care for people regardless of income, insurance status, immigration status, or language.
Visit their website at http://www.asianhealthservices.org.
|
|
|