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Serving the neighborhoods from Fruitvale Avenue to Seminary Avenue and from Foothill Boulevard to Warren Freeway since 1989Volume 20 Number 9 November 2008
A Nonprofit Community Newspaper • www.macarthurmetro.org
Pamela E. Baker, Elda C. Cavagnolo, Rabbi Steven A. & Leona Chester, Nancy R. & Clifford A. Cowan, Adrienne Debisschop,Atlener (Lena) Duckett, Wilbur C. McEachin, Betty R. Golden, Robin Goodfellow, Amy Graybeal, Helen L. Hadley & Christopher P. Bersie,
Leslie Ann Jones, Muigai & Nancy Karigaca, Vickie Kawakami, Maxine Kent, James V. Lee III, Helen M. Lore, Maria Mangini,Jason Patton, Constance D. Pheil, Helen M. Pokorny, Margaret Welch
You, too, can become a friend of the Metro. See page 2.
Your support helps keep the Metro alive! Become one of the Thousand Friends.
Post Office Box 19046, Oakland, California 94619 • (510) 287-2655
p 35th Ave. and just acrossHighway 13 on MountainBlvd. is the entrance
to Conservatory of Vocal/Instrumental Music (COVA),Oakland’s charter music school,now beginning its second year.Using the vacated premisesof the Seventh Day AdventistAcademy, up a long, woodeddriveway, COVA aims to bringback to at least one Oaklandpublic school the music trainingthat once permeated the entiresystem.
COVA’s principal andco-founder, Dr. Valerie Abad,grew up in Oakland, attendingSequoia, Bret Harte, and Oak-land High. “Oakland had a fabu-lous music program,” she said.“When I later taught in severalOakland public schools, I wassickened by the closing down ofthe music in the schools. Whenthe charter system got going, I
COVA Music School Starts Second Year
cont inued on page 2
any in our neighbor-hoods celebrated whenthe California Supreme
Court ruled earlier this year thatthe state Constitution protectsa fundamental right to marry.The May 15, 2008 decision legal-ized same-sex marriage andextended legal equal protectionto these families.
Together for four and a halfyears, Laurel residents DeborahJue and Jennifer Greene couldn’t
VOTE November 4, 2008.Be informed when you vote in this historic election.
Read the ballot propositions. Learn what you canabout all the candidates. Every vote counts.
Photos of you reading the MacArthur Metro in interesting placesfor our annual photo display in the December-January issue.
Send print photos to MacArthur Metro, P.O. Box 19046,Oakland, CA 94619. If you want your photo returned, includea self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Send digital photos in JPEG format (1280x960, or 4 x 6 inchat 200 pixels/inch or higher resolution) to Andreas [email protected]. Some lower-resolution photos willwork, as well as other formats, so e-mail any questions to thesame address.
Please include your name and phone number. Also includethe names of the persons in the photo, where the photo wastaken, and the name of the photographer.
WANTED FOR“The Metro Gets Around”
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B Y J U D I T H O F F E R realized this was an opportunityto establish a strong music pro-gram in at least one school.”
It took Dr. Abad and herhusband and co-founder, Mehdi,four years to wend their way,application in hand, through thehearings, community meetings,county and state approvals, andfacilities search needed to estab-lish COVA. Last fall, they openedwith 50 fifth-through-eighthgraders. Normally, a new schoolstarts with the earliest grades inorder to inculcate its philosophyand procedures most easily,but, Dr. Abad said, “We neededthe older children right away.The parents and officials neededto see performances, and perfor-mances by kindergartenersweren’t going to cut it.”
This year the school has150 kindergarten-through-eighth graders. Classes arespread among the woodsy,light-filled hillside buildings,which have large rooms and a
well-appointed auditorium withexcellent acoustics.
Students at COVA have anormal school day from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m.—reading, math, sci-ence, and so forth, with oneaddition: every class has vocaltraining every day. The vocalmusic instructor, Kate Offer [fulldisclosure: this reporter’s daugh-ter], took her training, a Masterof Music, at Holy Names Univer-sity, which is, by delightful coin-cidence, the next property to thewest. Holy Names’ Departmentof Music Pedagogy instructs itsstudents in the Kodaly Method,a careful, step-by-step procedureto teach singing in tune, rhythm,and the mysteries of writtenmusic. Besides lifelong apprecia-tion of and ability to make music,learning to sing well preparesthe student for learning to playinstruments, which they start inthe third grade.
Coincidentally, the long-timeMusic makers at COVA.
The Face of Equality
Mwait to marry. The couple wedin a ceremony before friends andboth of their families at RobertsRegional Park. Jennifer remem-bers the busy preparations.“Friends helped, but there wasstill a lot of work.” Deborahadded that “the wedding wascreative and personalized—Jenremade two sheet cakes into awedding cake, and I workedout the music. We also did ourown flowers, and Jen did herown dress alterations!”
Lincoln Heights residentsRyan James and Moe Perez havehad three weddings in the pastfour years. They first marriedin 2004, when San Francisco be-gan marrying all couples. A courtlater ruled that the city lacked thepower to issue marriage licensesto same-sex couples, whichinvalidated their marriage.
After the May 15 StateSupreme Court ruling, they ap-plied for a marriage license andplanned a large wedding andreception with their families.Before that wedding, however,they received a call from CityHall. Mayor Ron Dellums wasofficiating Oakland’s firstDeborah Jue and Jennifer Greene.
Ryan James and Moe Perez.
weddings since the ruling. Ryanremembers accepting the invita-tion. “It was empowering tosee the mayor at City Hall and[U.S. Representative] BarbaraLee there as witness.” Their thirdwedding followed later that sum-mer as planned, with their largeextended families and friends.
Both couples had beenregistered domestic partners andexplained that domestic partner-ship wasn’t equal to marriage.“Becoming domestic partners
cont inued on page 4
Meredith Floriantakes her Metro
diving atLittle Cayman.
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2November 2008
HOT NUMBERSPUBLIC AGENCIES
ABAT—the Alcoholic 777-8670Beverage Action Team
Graffiti hotline 238-4703
Abandoned cars 238-6030
O.P.D. Non-emergency 777-3333
Animal control 535-5602
Beat Health (drugs) 777-8630
Crime Stoppers 238-6946
Drug Hotline 238-DRUG
Public Works 615-5566
Truancy Tip Line 879-8172
Noise Hotline: 238-6777(Oakland CEDA,property complaint line)
C.O.R.E. 238-6351(Citizens of OaklandRespond to Emergencies)
City Tree Unit 615-5850
Oaklanders Assistance 444-CITYCenter can direct you tothe appropriate governmentalservices in Oakland.
PRIVATE AGENCIES
A Safe Place 536-7233(domestic violence)
East Bay Community 548-2377Mediation (neighborhood disputes)
Managing EditorSheila D’AmicoCopy EditorsAnne FoxEmily DoskowDiane StoneFinances/BookkeepingReuben GoldbergAdvertising ManagerKrista GulbransenArt DirectorAndreas JonesWord ProcessingBaby DjojonegoroPhotographyNick LostraccoJody BerkeBryan FarleyNikki MortimerDistributionopen position—volunteers wantedMailingGloria WilmerCalendarMarilyn GreenFriends and Money HoneysGloria WilmerEditor EmeritusToni Locke
�
Board of DirectorsReuben GoldbergMarcia HenryBrian HolmesJudith OfferErnest VillafrancaBart Wright�
A special thanks to allresidents, associations, andmerchants for their support.
Also, a special thanks to allvolunteer writers, artists,photographers, and distributors.
Printing by Wesco Graphics, Inc.,Tracy, California, (209) 832-1000.Opinions expressed in the MacArthurMetro are those of the contributorsand do not necessarily reflect theviews held by the publication.©2008 by the MacArthur Metro,P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619,www.macarthurmetro.org,(510) 287-2655.
We welcome yournews and ads;
deadline the 15th.
Publication in thefirst week of each
month exceptJanuary and July.
ISSN 1091-1111
To contribute by credit card, go to www.macarthurmetro.org. Click on Network for Good.
How to Reachthe Metro
WRITE US A LETTER. Sendyour comments to Lettersto the Editor, MacArthurMetro, P.O. Box 19046,Oakland, CA 94619; or [email protected]
GIVE US A CALL. Our voice-mail number is: 287-2655.
Letters may be edited forlength or clarity. Please in-clude name, address andphone number. We do notprint anonymous letters.
IWTFHAATHHSMDY
editor of this newspaper, ToniLocke, in fact literally “wrotethe book” that Ms. Offer uses.[see sidebar on Ms. Locke.]
From 2 to 4 p.m., every daybut Wednesday, COVA schoolbecomes a beehive of artisticand physical activity with instru-mental lessons, musical grouppractices, visual arts classes,and yoga, sports, dance, andplayground games. There are ajazz band, a drum corps, and anumber of classical ensembles,and an all-school choir.
No audition or musical testis needed to enroll in COVA.The children of COVA are sim-ply children who live in Oaklandwhose parents would particu-larly like them to develop musicskills. As a charter school, COVAalso charges no tuition—it is apublic school, paid for with statefunds. There is a higher percent-age of musically gifted students,but there are also children whoseparents simply wanted a moreorganized and structured pro-gram. It is an often-verified factthat learning music improveslogic and math reasoning andprovides emotional focus. “Wewatched the children’s mathscores go up and up last year,”remarked Dr. Abad. “Havingthe structure and the disciplineof music has been provenover and over to assist in the
COVAC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1
oni Locke, the long-timeMacArthur Metro editor,started her self-described
“first life” as a piano teacherand mother of three in Massa-chusetts, where most of herfamily still lives. In her mid-fifties, divorced and lookingfor a “second life,” she enrolledin the Kodaly Music TrainingInstitute at Wellesley College,which was not far from herhome. The training includeda year in Hungary, where theprogram originated. There,she learned of the need for acollection of American folksongs that could be used toteach American children howto sing. At the time Toni com-pleted her training and waslooking for a job, Holy NamesCollege was seeking someoneto research and organize their
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understanding of math con-cepts.”
Dr. Abad says that the schoolemphasizes performance skillsnot only to create good musicians,but in order to help the childrenwith life skills. She tells them,“You know when you performedsomething well, and that’s what’simportant. Your audience, whichis comprised here of your parents,relatives and friends, will always
burgeoning folk music collection.This led her to research suchmusic around the country and towrite a book called 155 Folk Songsto Sing, Read and Play, the bookused by COVA.
Meanwhile, Toni, who
Retired Metro Editor “Wrote the Book” for KodalyB Y J U D I T H O F F E R
give you a big applause. That’snice, but you can’t pay too muchattention. You have to do yourbest and then ask yourself howyou think you did. It’s an invalu-able life skill to be able to evaluateyour own performance honestlyand therefore know when towork on fixing something andwhen to feel satisfied.”
Dr. Abad sees a tremendousdifference between the students
returning for the second yearand this year’s new arrivals. Sheis looking forward to next year,when 80 percent of the studentbody will be trained in COVA’sphilosophy and discipline, andthe incoming kindergartenerswill have all the other studentsas models. “What we put in placeis working,” she states with greatsatisfaction. “Now we just needto do it.”
describes herself as an old thir-ties leftist, had become involvedin her neighborhood, the LaurelDistrict, with the MacArthurCoalition, a citizens group thatworked on whatever improvedthe neighborhood. When theMacArthur Metro was havingproblems and appeared to beshutting down, the MacArthurCoalition stepped in to rescueit, and Toni became the de factomanaging editor. “While I hadno training,” she notes, “myfamily did have five generationsof ownership of a small paperin the upstate New York townof Ballston. So I guess it was inmy blood.” She also admits toan “urge to try something new.”
MacArthur Metro readerswho meet Toni around town canask her about her latest venturein a 91-year-long life of learning,music, and community involve-ment: lessons on the recorder.
Toni Locke with Metro in front ofYosemite’s Half Dome
NOVEMBER HAPPENINGSAT FRUITVALEPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2735 MacArthur Blvd. (at Coolidge) • 530-0915 • www.fvpc.org
Day of the Dead Sunday, November 2nd @ 11amAnnual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Sunday, November 23rd @ 1pmSenior Center: Every Wednesday 8:30am-1:30pm
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Pogo Stick Contestat the Creek
As I returned home from BART,the spots on my windshielddidn’t bode well for the nextmorning’s Creek to Bay Daycleanup, but instead, the cloudsprovided a wonderfully coolcover for the event. When themorning was over, CourtlandCreek and the adjacent parkwere cleaner and tidier thanksto more than 40 energetic volun-teers. The native-plant areaalong the path near Brookdalehad been cut back and manybags of green cuttings linedup at the curb. Branches weredragged from the creek bed anda eucalyptus tree was cut intodumpster-sized pieces. Thisyear’s treasures included a giantstuffed lion, a terra cotta pot, apumpkin PEZ head, a headlessEgyptian dog (that now adornsa neighbor’s deck-in-progress),sewing machines, a car bumper,a water heater, and a pogo stick.After eating the pizza, providedby Councilmember Jean Quan’soffice, the kids took the pogostick into the cul de sac and com-peted to see who could jump thelongest. Participants took homecloth grocery bags and T-shirtswith a great fish graphic.
What’s Your Exchange?Some of us can remember whentelephone numbers beganwith letters, and before that, ex-changes. Here in Maxwell Park
B Y A D E L L E F O L E Y
High Street Neighborhood News
some of our phone numbersbegin with 532 or 533. In our ga-rage we discovered an old metalsign that translated our exchangeto Kellogg (or perhaps moreproperly KEllogg). Do you knowyour exchange? If you do, sendme an email with the numbersand the exchange, and I’ll pub-lish a list in a future column.
Radar on Foothill Blvd.Late one Sunday afternoon threeof us stood on a corner of Foot-hill Blvd. with a radar gun, aclipboard holding a log, and adesire to calm the traffic. Theflow of traffic was fairly slowthat afternoon, especially whenthey saw us in our attractive,lime-green, one-size-fits-all,safety vests. A woman cameup to thank us and give ussuggestions when to comeback and catch the speeders.After dusk, it was hard to readthe license plates. We logged
some speeders, who will receiveletters from the Oakland PoliceDepartment. But we’ll be back,and we hope more neighborssign up for the training.
NeighborhoodSchools Briefs
Melrose Academy has begunto plan for the kindergartenclass that will start school inAugust 2009. This will be thefirst bilingual class. Each yearthe school will add anothergrade until it becomes a bilin-gual K-8 program. The MaxwellPark International Academywelcomed the new VicePrincipal Earl Walls.
‘Tis autumnBright blue morning skiesDry leaves swirl along the streetPumpkins on the porch ——————————————Adelle Foley can be reached [email protected].
Redwood Heights SchoolHarvest for Learning Auction:
Saturday, November 8Don’t miss this year’s Harvestfor Learning Auction hosted bythe Redwood Heights School(RHS) PTA. The auction, oneof most popular annual eventsfor parents, residents, andneighbors in the community,is also one of the biggestfundraisers for RHS. The pro-ceeds from the auction fundthe school’s art program, fieldtrips, enrichment programscholarships, and much more.
The goods and services forthe auction are made possibleby generous donations frommembers of the community.Several local businesses donate
items, but many goods andservices come from familiesand neighbors in the commu-nity. Sure, you can bid on a“Dinner at Olivetto,” butyou also might be just asinterested in the “Ride toand from the Airport” thata neighbor has donated.Alternately, you might liketo bid on a “Custom BirthdayCake/Dessert” donation forthe holidays or the specialoccasion at your home.
Mark your calendar andget your babysitters now forthis adult-only evening thatwill be at Mills College from7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday,November 8.
For more informationabout the Auction, visit theRHS web page at www.rhs.ousd.ca.campusgrid.net.
Redwood HeightsNeighborhood News
B Y D E N I S E D A V I L A
ig news in Leona Heights:Leona Street, the northernsection, at the time this went
to press, was finally in the processof being repaved. Hooray! Andby the time you read this, youmay be one of the lucky oneswho enjoy this improvement toour neighborhood on a daily basis.Now, we have a brand-new mainwater line, courtesy of East BayMunicipal Utility District, andanother brand-new street surfaceto join other streets that have beenredone in recent years. This newstreet surface benefits drivers aswell as everybody in our neigh-borhood who takes walks or ridesbicycles. Even the many localdogs who take their ownersout for regular walks must beappreciating the smooth surface.Our thanks to our CouncilwomanDesley Brooks and the leaders ofour City of Oakland Engineering/Street Department.
In other big news, Octobercame and went, and that meansthat we had another outstandingneighborhood get-together coordi-nated by Marilyn King, with thehelp of many other neighbors,including the great Pedro. Thisis such a valuable event for ourneighborhood as it brings so manypeople together who might not
B Y G O R D O N L A V E R T Y otherwise have the time to evensee each other. Grateful thanksgo to Marilyn and her committee.
And finally, though we alllive adjacent to an interstatefreeway and a state highway,we’re not far removed from ournatural world. If you take a walkon any given evening over by
Leona Park, you’re more thanlikely to see at least one deer andpossibly other critters who callour area home, like raccoons,skunks, and opossums.
Please keep your eyes peeledas you drive Mountain Blvd.past the dip in the road that goes
Leona Heights Neighborhood News
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cont inued on page 6
4November 2008
PauletteAvery,
R.N., M.S.N.,I.B.C.L.C.
To Your Health
igns posted all over myworkplace remind patientsand employees that it is
time to get the flu vaccine.Current recommendations forwho should get the flu vaccineinclude children from six monthsto 18 years old, adults over 50years of age, all health-careworkers, women who will bepregnant during flu season,people with chronic health con-ditions and their caretakers, resi-dents of nursing homes or otherlong-term care facilities, house-hold contacts and caregivers ofpeople 50 or older and of chil-dren from birth to age five. Inother words, almost everyone!Even if you don’t fall into one ofthose categories, you can still getthe flu vaccine. It may help youavoid becoming ill from the in-fluenza virus or at least minimizeyour symptoms if you get it.
You should avoid the vaccineif you are in any of the followingcategories:
• You are highly allergic tochicken eggs
• You have had a severereaction to influenza vaccine
• You developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeksof getting the influenza vaccine
• You are a child less thansix months old
• You have a moderate tosevere illness with a fever. Waituntil you feel better.
The best time to get vacci-nated is from October to Decem-ber, but getting the vaccine laterin the season can still help toprotect you. Officials say thereis plenty of vaccine available thisyear, so the shortages we experi-enced a few years ago should notbe a problem. And getting pro-tection no longer always meansgetting a shot. FluMist, a nasalspray, is an option for “peopletwo to 49 years of age who arehealthy and who are not preg-nant,” according to the informa-tion on the Web site of the Cen-ters for Disease Control and Pre-vention. FluMist is made from aweakened flu virus in contrastto the vaccine used for flu shots,
which is made from killed virus.Besides getting the flu vac-
cine, what else can you do to stayhealthy during the flu season?Based on what I’ve been reading,taking adequate amounts ofvitamin D is probably one of thebest things to do. Doing so mayeven be more protective thanthe vaccine, according to Dr. JohnCannell of the Vitamin D Coun-cil, because it raises the effective-ness of the body’s innate immunesystem. I’ve mentioned Dr.Cannell and his excellent Website at www.vitamindcouncil.com several times in this column.He and several colleaguesauthored an article publishedthis year in the Journal of Virologytitled “On the Epidemiologyof Influenza.” In it, they proposethe possibility that one of theprimary factors in seasonal influ-enza cases is the vitamin D defi-ciency that occurs during the falland winter months, when muchof the world has less sun expo-sure and therefore a lower levelof vitamin D. One study dis-cussed in the article found thatamong 104 African Americanwomen, those taking 2000 IUof vitamin D a day had virtuallyno reports of colds or flu. Youcan access the entire article athis Web site by typing the titleinto the site’s search engine.
As a reminder, be sure thevitamin D you purchase is vita-min D3, also known as cholecal-ciferol. Taking enough vitamin Dwill not only help prevent the flu,but will also contribute to betterhealth in many other ways. Thegrowing volume of research onvitamin D has convinced methat getting adequate amountsthrough moderate sun exposureand supplements is extremelyimportant.
And remember the old standbys. Frequent handwashing, eating a healthy diet, getting adequatesleep, and exercising regularlyalso help maintain your health. ——————————————Paulette Avery is a registered nurseand a freelance writer who special-izes in health issues.
StayHealthyDuringFlu Season
DIA Celebrates 55 YearsSince inception in 1953 theDimond Improvement Associa-tion (DIA) has advocated forresidents and businesses inthe Dimond area. Beginning asa group of homeowners affectedby a landslide at McKillop andSheffield, the DIA evolved towork on city planning inDimond, blighted propertiesand business attraction, crimeand public safety concerns,and community building events.
The DIA currently has anumber of active projects thanksin part to the wonderful traditionof volunteerism in the area.Visit DimondNews.org for his-tory and work in progress. Whileat the Web site sign up or renewyour membership and contributeto the history of one of Oakland’soldest volunteer-run communityassociations.
On Friday, November 14,7 p.m. at Full Moon SeafoodHouse, 2042 Macarthur Blvd. atDimond Ave., the DIA will hosta 55th Anniversary Party andCommunity Mixer. Join friends,neighbors, and business ownersfor appetizers, drinks, and livesoulful jazz, in a relaxing, socialenvironment. All are welcome.Proceeds from the silent auctionof historic Dimond photos willgo directly back to the commu-nity. Come out and enjoy theDimond. Celebrate a history ofinvolvement.
22X NeighborhoodCoalition for Positive ChangeMonday, November 17, 7 p.m.,at the Greek Orthodox Church,will be the last general meetingof 2008 for the 22X NCPC.Attendees will vote on the2009 Steering Committee slate.
Dimond Neighborhood NewsFollowing the vote, Oakland CityAttorney John Russo will speakabout the current direction ofOakland’s Misdemeanor Courtand steps being taken to preventpetty criminals from progressingto more heinous offenses.
To make a nomination for theSteering Committee, contact theNominating Committee [email protected].
Additional projects underwayby the NCPC working groupsthat need community, especiallyDimond, involvement are:
Nov 1: Planting at DimondGateway garden (MacArthur/Lincoln); 9:30 a.m. Supervisedby garden designer TriciaChristopher.
Nov 8: Planting at Hwy 13,Joaquin Miller exit (Montereyside); 9 a.m.
Nov 15: Dimond area cleanupwalk at MacArthur/Fruitvale,10 a.m.; bring gloves. For moreinfo on all events, [email protected] small contribution makesa big difference.
2009 Dimond HistoryCalendar
Does your 2009 calendar havepolice contacts and helpful phonenumbers for your neighborhood,important dates of local eventsand activities, rare historic photosof your street, maybe your house?It will if you purchase the 2009Dimond History Calendar.The best part of your calendarpurchase is that all proceedsgo toward beautification projectsand economic development inthe Dimond area.
The 2009 calendar will beavailable by Thanksgiving atFarmer Joe’s, La Farine, and Paws& Claws. DIA members receivea discount and can preorder byemailing [email protected].
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seemed so businesslike,”Deborah explained. “We wentto the state Web site and down-loaded a form and brought itto a notary. It was very differentfrom standing with othercouples in a beautiful CityHall applying for our marriagelicense.” Jennifer recalls howthis status confused others. “I’dintroduce Deb as my partner,leaving some wondering: didI mean business partner?”
Ryan remembered that,even after six and a half years,Moe’s family was unsure whatto call him. “Was I his roommateor maybe his boyfriend? Onlyafter the wedding ceremonydid they get it and begin callingme their brother-in-law.”
“Marriage is the meldingof two families,” Moe said. “Itis universally understood whatit means to be married.”
Like most lesbian and gaycouples, neither couple acceptsthe arguments of those againsttheir marriages. Jennifer notesthat court rulings have extendedmarriage equality in the past.“My mother is Chinese, myfather European-American.Without a court ruling strikingdown the ban on interracialunions, their marriage wouldhave been illegal.”
On the position thatmarriage is only to raise chil-dren, Moe said, “There aregay families raising children,and heterosexual marriageswithout children.” He addedthat “I grew up in a Catholicfamily, so I know that Godloves us all equally.”
Proposition 8 on the Novem-ber 4 ballot seeks to amend thestate Constitution to define mar-riage as between only “one manand one woman.” If passed, the
Face of EqualityC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1
cont inued on page 5
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November 2008
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Offices for Lease. Move your homeoffice to a professional building inthe Laurel District. 3215 MacArthurBlvd., Oakland. Janitorial, parking,utilities included. $300 per month.Call Bill at (510) 289-0200.
SERVICES
African-American manicurist,located in the Laurel District,specializing in manicures, pedicuresw/paraffin wax treatments, sculp-tured nails, silk and fiberglass wraps.Over 20 years experience andservice in this area. Call (510)482-3229 for appointment.
Bernice & Joe Playschool. For nearly29 years, play-based learning in ourearthquake retrofitted, home-like cen-ter near Mills College. The park-likequarter-acre setting has pine andfruit trees, vegetable garden, red-wood playhouse, 20-foot sailboat,two-story wooden rocket ship,outdoor art and block rooms.Curriculum includes pre-reading, pre-math enrichment, field trips, F.I.T.gymnastics, music and Spanish les-sons. Emphasis put on socialization,verbalization. Sibling discount.Lunch, snacks provided. Ages 2 to 5years. License #010214258. Bro-chure. (510) 638-3529. Visit us atw w w . b e r n i c e a n d j o e -playschool.com.
Saxophone & Piano. Play musicfor the joy of it! Have fun learningjazz, blues, improvisation. Patient,supportive teacher. Ages 10 & up.Speciality: Adult beginners. Eva 436-0504.
DRUM LESSONS!! Experienced,patient, and fun teacher. All levels.Ages 8 through adult. Lessonsare at my Laurel home studio. CallLance at (510) 479-7484 or [email protected].
Past Issues of the Metrowith a searchable database
available online atmacarthurmetro.org
B Y J O H N F R A N D O A N D
K A T H L E E N R O L I N S O N
Laurel Neighborhood News
KayakingEnjoy a different view of the cityand refreshing perspective onlife by paddling quietly alongthe Alameda estuary and to thebird sanctuary at Martin LutherKing Jr. Regional Shoreline withPastor Paul Holt and PilgrimLutheran Church. Pastor Holtreminds us that he is still leadingkayaking trips. He has beenkayaking with his family forover ten years. All ages and expe-rience levels are welcome. Formore information, call 531-3715,or go to Pilgrimlutherans.org.
Daffodil PlantingEvery year the Laurel Village As-sociation participates in the city-wide daffodil bulb planting spon-sored by the Keep Oakland Beau-tiful program of Oakland PublicWorks. The city provides flowerbulbs and support to neighbor-hood volunteers who plant thebulbs and agree to help maintainthe site throughout the year.
On Saturday, November 22between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., weinvite everyone to join us at thelittle pocket park at 35th Ave. andDelaware St. Work gloves, safetyvests, tools, and light refresh-ments will be provided. Contact
Stella at [email protected].
Laurel DistrictFarmers’ Market
Everyone seems to love the newfarmers’ market in the Laurel.On Saturdays between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m., the parking lot besidethe Laurel Office Building (4173MacArthur) is transformed intoa market with fresh, organic pro-duce, live music, and delicious,wholesome food by the PurpleLawn Café. It’s a fun addition tothe grocery options in the Laurel.
You can talk directly to thegrowers about the produce andmeet and chat with neighbors.Someone pointed me toEpicurious.com for a recipe withthe small pumpkin and colorfulwinter squash I bought.
Pumpkin with Wild Rice,Leeks, and Corn
9 ounces wild rice2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
3 1/2 cups pumpkin (or butternutsquash), peeled and cut into1/2-inch cubes
6 tablespoons butter11/2 cups finely chopped leeks11/2 cups frozen white corn,
thawed1 tablespoon chopped fresh
Italian parsley
Rinse rice in strainer undercold water, drain. Bring 6 cupsof water and 2 teaspoons salt toboil in a large sauce pan. Addrice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat,simmering uncovered until ricegrains begin to split and becometender but still slightly chewy—40 to 45 minutes. Watch closelyand test rice before draining.Drain and spread on a bakingsheet to cool. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Remove cooled rice from bakingsheet and set aside. Oil bakingsheet. Toss pumpkin cubes in a
CLASSIFIED RATES: Classified ads are$.50 per word. Discounted pricesare available for five- and ten-issuefrequencies. Send your copy alongwith payment to The MacArthurMetro, PO Box 19046, Oakland,94619 or email your copy [email protected]. Dead-line for submission and payment isthe 15th of the month. For additionalinformation on discounts or other in-formation contact Krista Gulbransenat 287-2655, fax 291-2944.
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A Ministry of United LutheranChurch of Oakland
California Constitution will be
changed to eliminate the right forcouples like Deborah and Jenni-fer and Ryan and Moe to marry.
“We are just like other
Face of EqualityC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 4
married couples, fixing up ourhouse and working hard to paya mortgage,” Moe said. “Howcan anyone be against that?”
Purple Lawn Cafe: youth interns Sephia and Cesar cook and plate delicious,wholesome food for hungry patrons at the Laurel District Farmers’ Market.
cont inued on page 6
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JOH
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6November 2008
Calendar of Community Events
BY MARILYN GREEN, COORDINATOR
The MacArthur Metro calendar welcomes a range of listings. We empha-size community meetings and actions that address neighborhood concernsas well as cultural events that enrich our lives. To have your event listed,please contact Marilyn Green no later than the 12th of the preceding monthat 531-9233 or [email protected].
Neighborhood Crime Prevention CouncilsMaxwell Park NCPC: Wednesday, November 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m., LDSChurch, 4705 Virginia Ave. at Knowland. Check our Web site http://maxwellparknc.com or call Jan Hetherington at 534-4978 for more info.
Allendale Park NCPC Meeting: Wednesday November 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m.Allendale Rec Center 3711 Suter St.
Melrose-High Hopes NCPC: Thursday, November 20, 7 p.m., Horace MannSchool, Ygnacio and Congress. Annual potluck. Bring a dish of food toshare and a nonperishable grocery item for Thanksgiving baskets for theneedy. http://www.ncpcbeat27x.org/.
Dimond Library3565 Fruitvale Ave. Information: 482-7844.Family Storytimes: Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m., 10:15 a.m. for toddlersup to 2 years; 11 a.m. for ages 3 to 5 years. Stories, songs, and fingerplay.
Teen Time: Thursdays, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Games, music, food, and crafts forteens 12 and up.
Lawyers in the Library: Tuesday, November 4, 6 to 8 p.m.; sign up for lotteryat 5:45 p.m. Free legal information. Please call in advance to confirm on theday of the program.
Continuing Spanish Conversation Group: Tuesdays, November 4 and 18,6:30 to 7:30 p.m., contact Sarah Hodgson, [email protected] should be familiar with the basics. Drop-ins welcome.
Friends Of Dimond Library Board Meeting: Saturday, November 8, 11:30a.m. Contact: Karen Long, Chairman, [email protected]. Allwelcome. www.dimondnews.org.
Book Discussion Group: Monday, November 10, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A LessonBefore Dying, by Ernest Gaines. Group meets the second Monday of eachmonth.
Making Sense of Medicare: Understanding the A’s, B’s, C’s and D’s: SaturdayNovember 15, 10:30 a.m. Understand how plans differ; discussion ofprescription drug plans. Denise Lombard. This is the conclusion of a three-partseries.
Friends of Sausal Creek Environmental Speaker Series: Sunday, November19, 7 to 9 p.m. Board member Mark Rauzon will talk about seabirds of theBering Sea and Alaska’s Marine National Wildlife Refuges, climate change,and why we should or should not drill in these areas. For more info, contact501-3672 or [email protected].
Melrose Library4805 Foothill Blvd. Information: 535-5623.Teen Homework Assistance Program: Mondays, 5 to 7 p.m. High schooland middle school students (ages 12-18) can drop in for free help in math,English, and science.
Tween Time: Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Fun activities for ages 8-12.
Book Discussion Group: Monday, November 24, 6 to 7 p.m. Call for currenttitle. Meets fourth Monday of each month.
General CalendarJoin the Oakland Strokes Rowing Crew: Ongoing. Open to all high schoolstudents. No prior experience necessary. For more information, contact PhilCaruthers at [email protected] or 527-4595.
Fall Exhibitions at the Mills College Art Museum: Through December 7.Mills College Art Museum, 5000 MacArthur. The Offering Table: WomenActivist Artists from Korea and Ginger Wolfe-Suarez: As Long as I Live YouWill Live. Museum info: 430-2164 or www.mills.edu/museum.
Water Exercise Classes: Sundays, 9 to 10 a.m. Mills College,5000 MacArthur Blvd. Fun and exercise, outdoor pool. No swimmingskills needed. $10/class or $80 for 10 classes. Ongoing. For moreinformation go to http://aqua-maids.com.
St. Jarlath Senior Center: Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Fruitvale andPleasant. 532-2068.
Fruitvale Presbyterian Church Senior Center: Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30p.m., 2734 MacArthur Blvd. 530-0915.
Storytime: Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. Laurel Book Store. 4100 MacArthur Blvd.,531-2073.
Planting at Dimond Gateway garden: Saturday, November 1, 9:30 a.m.MacArthur and Lincoln. Info, email [email protected].
Job recruitment: Thursday, November 6, 4 to 6 p.m., World Ground Café,3726 MacArthur Blvd. Michael Johnson, City Council District 4 Policy Ana-lyst, says he and multiple employers will be present for this “Jobs throughJean” monthly recruitment and information program. Contact:[email protected] or 238-4742.
Planting at Hwy 13: Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. Joaquin Miller exit(Monterey side). For more info, email [email protected].
W
NEW Oak Knoll Produce Market–Harvest Festival: Saturday, November 8 and22, 10 to 11 a.m. St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church, 7932 Mountain Blvd.(at Keller Ave.) Great fruit and vegetables. Nov 8: raffle, Kids’ Jump, balloons.www.stcuthbertsoakland.org.
Dimond area “Don’t Trash Oakland . . . It’s Home” cleanup walk: Saturday,November 15, 10 a.m. Meet at MacArthur and Fruitvale. Bring gloves. Formore info, email [email protected].
Book Reading: Saturday, November 15, 7 p.m. Laurel Book Store, 4100MacArthur Blvd. Mary B. Morrison reads from her latest work, Who’s LovingYou. NY Times bestseller and literacy activist, she’s also an Oaklander.531-2073.
Allendale Park Beautification: Saturday November 22, 10:30 a.m. Meetat Suter and 38th Streets Triangle.
Quiet Time in the GardenFall is my favorite time of year.Something about the sharp colorsin the late afternoon that cast aglow on whatever’s left of thetomatoes, the dahlias, the ever-blooming tibouchina. The weatheris warm and cold at the sametime, and since we were luckyenough to get a hint of rain, eventhe rocks and fallen leaves shine.
I write this column on YomKippur—the holiest of days inmy religion, though I am not areligious person and feel moreconnected to spirituality in thesanctity of nature than inside abuilding. Walking through mygarden, I decide against picking
TheImperfectGardener
AdinaSara
up the trowel and loppers—asmall concession to honoringthe rules of my faith on this day.
I notice a few small tomatoeson the ground, barely attachedto a wilted stem. This particulartomato plant landed on its ownaccord in a large pot where thelime tree lives. As soon as the to-mato volunteer sprang up, I knewit was the wrong place for it anddoubted I’d ever see a tomato onit. I was busy tending tomatoesin the real tomato bed across theway and never gave this volun-teer much attention. So here it is.The end of the season and threelovely bright red prizes, almostmissed, but captured just in time.
The rose geranium bed isgnarly and will require morethan my fingers to reshape andclean. I will save that task foranother day.
Around the corner, I see thatthe climbing rose needs pruning.It has reached the top of the roof,where one cluster of red andwhite flowers waves like a flagon a tentative stem. I’m not quitesure how to prune this beautifulmonster and know only that itwill not be today.
I notice the plants that thrived:the dahlia that keeps on bloomingand the one white hollyhock, stillwaving its flowers, when all theothers have already turned theirbacks on last year. I notice thingsI can’t explain: how the heuchera
that grows out of reach of thewatering system is doing just aswell as the ones being watered;how the winter squash producedbeautifully in the summer butwe didn’t get a single zucchini.
It is hard not to pick up thetrowel—it takes discipline to walkaround a garden with the intentionof doing nothing. I listen (the jaysare holding a convention in thebamboo). I smell the mint, laven-der, even the compost, which hasa bit too much of somethingin it, but I’m not sure what. I touchthe dry leaves of the apple treeand appreciate how this has beenone of its greatest years. I gaveaway buckets and buckets (toobad I don’t bake) and still therewere more. More than enough forthe birds and the worms as well.
No matter what form of prayerone chooses, the growing andtending of a garden is a sure wayto remind us that we are a smallpart of something much greater.
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through the park. Deer cross thatroad on a regular basis. And ifyou haven’t gotten out for a walkin our neighborhood lately, nowmight be a good time to do so.There sure is a lot to see. ——————————————Gordon Laverty can be reachedat [email protected].
bowl with olive oil to coat.Spread cubes on baking sheet;sprinkle with salt and pepper.Roast until tender, but firmenough to hold its shape—10 to15 minutes. Cool, and set aside.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in alarge skillet over medium heat.
Add leeks and 3/4 cup water.Simmer until leeks are tender—5 to 7 minutes. Add corn, sim-mering a couple minutes longer.Add rice and squash. Stir inremaining butter and parsley.Season with salt and pepper.Transfer to bowl and serve. ——————————————Kathleen Rolinson can be reachedat at [email protected], andJohn Frando at [email protected].
continued at right
Leona NewsC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 3
Laurel NewsC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 5
November 2008
7
$500 and aboveMaureen P. DorseyWorld Ground Café
Full House Cafe
$150 and aboveJanet S. & John A. Broughton
Bart WrightFrederick M. Russillo
Val and Mel JonesIgnacio De La FuenteNancy Sidebotham
John CoffeyDouglas Ferguson
Anonymous, in Honor ofDiana & Joe Tam
& staff at Farmer Joe’sKate Phillips
$50 up to $150Shoshana & Dave Finacom
Michael L. WirglerPhil Wong & Lisa Lemus
Andrew Cohn &Christine Dell-Cohn
William A. & Nancy Scott-InceReuben Goldberg &
Eileen Carlin-GoldbergMarcia Henry & Gary Delgado
Millicent Morris ChaneyScott H. & Stella Roda Lamb
Bonnie R. HenriquezLawrence J. & Margaret O.
BowermanRichard B. & Joanna Roberts
Peggy StinnettEleanor DuVivier Dunn
Dwight & Diane Earl McCanKeiko ShimadaScheberies, Inc
Jeff Liu & Hung KelleyDal & Virginia Sellman
Karen M. SchroederVee & Ashley Thomsak
Anne StaffordMark A. BaldwinHoang Le Banh
Adina SaraElizabeth CallawayVito & Katy Vanoni
Maya J. SinclairWilliam Milny
Mary V. & Anna L. SeastrandPatricia & Jim Quinn
Lesley & Gloria WilmerVirginia S. & Wade Sherwood
Roussel SargentJohn R. Elk and Claude M. Elk
The Metro acknowledges contributions of $50 or more by listing your name orbusiness as a Money Honey for 10 issues. You keep our paper alive and well.
MONEY HONEYS
Our neighborhood hasa number of community eventsgoing on, including last month’sfantastic Oktoberfest onMacArthur and Fruitvale. I don’tthink I have seen that manypeople come to the Dimonddistrict before, and thank youto everyone who worked sohard putting the festival to-gether. What a wonderful day.
Two Star Liquors, at 2020MacArthur Blvd., plans on feed-ing the neighborhood again thisyear for Thanksgiving. I spokewith Abdo, owner of the market,who said the event will be heldon Thanksgiving Day in theirparking lot. People can stop bybefore Thanksgiving to checkon the time and find out if anyvolunteers are needed. Abdoand his family have always beenso thoughtful and generouswith food donations. BetweenThanksgiving and the DimondPicnic, they feed many peoplein our area. Their store has agreat selection of small microbrews and specialty drinks, veryconvenient for people shoppinglocally. Their number is 531-3576.
Over at What A Find!consignment, 4140 MacArthurBlvd., I found some great homedecor items and other treasures.Owner Sheree Stewart andmanager Myrtle Hendersonhave acquired great items, bothcottagey and more modern. They
$50 up to $150 (continued)
Kathleen RolinsonEugene Crenshaw
Beverly JamesRichard C. & Kathleen Cowan
Laurie UmehRuth Malone
Carolyn R. AdamsBeverly Smith
Margaret ElizaresJoan Dark & Cliff FalloonAnonymous, in memory
of Chauncey BaileySarah A. FinneganPatricia PattersonPhillis Robbiano
David J. PittaM.A. Dreiling
Renais Winter & Doug StoneAmerican Legion,
East Oakland Post 471Margaret O’Halloran
Toni LockeChiye Azuma
Larry & Meg BowermanKathy & Phil Caskey
Leslie Ann JonesSteven B. Leikin
Joanna & Richard RobertsSusan & William Bagwell
Mike FerroBrian Holmes
Wendy JacobsenNancy & Vic MiloslavichMadeline Smith Moore
Jeanne NixonMary Edna StevensMargaret Welch &
Fruitvale Presbyterian ChurchCraig Franklin Cooper
Emily RosenbergLydia Palmin & Tom Daley
Helen & William R.Shyvers. Jr.
Donald Braden & Sue MorganBette R. Golden
Erin HughesJane L. StallmanJohn SteinfirstVictoria Wake
Anonymous in honor ofDavid Raich
Anonymous in honor ofDouglas Ferguson
Jim & Patty EgglestonLenore Kish
Chris & Donna OldagRochelle Rodgers
have clothes and jewelry too,and the hours are Wednesdaythru Friday, 1 to 6 p.m., Saturday12 to 5 p.m., and sometimeshours on Sundays. Call tokeep updated, at 336-0367.
The Food Mill celebrated75 years of business in October,with an open house of samplesand discounts for customers.That’s a milestone and showshow ahead of the times founderJ.A Denis was in 1933. Theyhave lots of information ontheir Web site also, atwww.foodmillonline.com,including their hours, productinformation, recipes, and healthnews. Their address is 3033MacArthur Blvd., at Maple. Ihave heard the Mill is tryingto get a regular chair massageperson at the store, somethingthis author is in dire need of.
If you haven’t signedup for a CORE (Citizens of Oak-land Respond to Emergencies)training, there are ongoing timesfor learning the valuable skillsneeded for neighborhood disas-ter response. You can also checkout the Red Cross Web site fortips. And Luan at Laurel BookStore has two books on emer-gency preparedness, includinglocal author Nancy Overton’s,A Checklist/Making a Plan forEmergencies. Also find out aboutthe city’s Seismic Safety Incen-tive Program (SSIP) Contacts:
[email protected] 531-2073; [email protected] or 238-6351;www.redcross.org; SSIP 238-3891or http://quake.abag.ca.gov/fixit.
And finally, there’s aNursery Propagation TrainingProgram offered by Friends ofSausal Creek, which will takeplace the first four Sundays ofNovember. If you are at least 14years old and can commit to at-tend at least three of four classesas well as 12 workdays over thenext year as a propagator or crewleader, then this program is foryou. The training will educatepeople about native plants andhow to grow them, as well asidentifying those in our local eco-system. There is a sliding scalefor enrollment, from free to $20.Classes will be held at the JMNPNursery from 12 to 3 p.m., onSunday, November 2, 9, 16, and23. All students will get a Friendsof Sausal Creek T-shirt, too. Seewww.sausalcreek.org for moredetails, or call 928-6675 to speakwith Molly Bolt.
By Tracey Rolandelli
THANK YOUto all the donors of timeand money who keep
the Metro going:Money Honeys andFriends, advertisers,
board members, staff,and distributors.
The Metro wouldn’t behere without the
contributions of all thesepeople. A special
Thanksgiving toast thisyear to the people who
distribute the Metroin their neighborhoods
and to the manybusinesses, schools,and organizations
in our area.
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November 2008
8
Jaraad Moore—It Takes a Village
A few hours into Saturday morn-ing and the car-detailing businessis booming for one busy youngresident in Maxwell Park. It’sthe way Jaraad Moore, youngentrepreneur and active young-adult member of Allendale [Ave.]Neighbor’s Network (ANN),kicks into gear on a weekend.
Nineteen-year-old Mooreand his activities with his neigh-borhood watch group—ANN —show how any community cancause “win-win” benefits bysupporting and including ouryouth in its activities.
A long-time resident onAllendale, Jaraad has had tieswith his community since hewas a toddler. He receivedANN’s Young Entrepreneur’s
Dr. Alex Feng LAc, PhD, OMD“One of the Ten Best ComplementaryMedicine Practitioners in the Bay Area” —SF Focus Magazine
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• Feng Shui reading of the home or business
Gift Certificates available at The Taoist Centerand at www.thetaoistcenter.com
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Award for starting and maintain-ing his own car detail business,and he can proudly talk aboutwhat it means to be active andincluded in a community.
Jaraad has strong supportfrom his parents. The “it takes avillage” adage rings true. Overthe years, he’s attended and par-ticipated in various neighbor-hood watch events and made hisname known to all on the block.An old photo shows a youngJaraad playing at a block partywith his dad, who helped himonto the visiting fire truck.
He began connecting tocommunity by offering to washneighbors’ cars. A neighborhelped him by creating businesscards and flyers. At 13, his dreamwas to someday make $2,500,to buy his first car. He met hisgoal and purchased his owncar several years ago.
Jaraad was asked to be the
youth representative at neighbor-hood meetings, and he providedyouth perspectives. Becausehe showed real entrepreneurialspirit and a great work ethic, thegroup gave him a special certifi-cate of achievement: “AllendaleYoung Entrepreneur’s Award.”The group knew he needed asmall vacuum for his business,so a neighbor donated it. Aneighbor also pointed him tothe Haas School of Business’Young Entrepreneurial Programat UC Berkeley, where he learnedabout business planning. Hisparents and neighbors alsoencouraged him to continue onto college, which is in his plans.
He is ANN’s example ofkeeping youth involved in ourcommunities. The group recog-nizes that it could probablydo more in this area. We found,when youth are included, webenefit from a willing, able andenergetic group of neighbors,with many of the same needsand wants as adults.
“I still benefit from all thehelp I receive from my neighborsup and down Allendale,” statesJaraad. “There are rare occasionswhen I am without work. Itdoesn’t matter if I’m movingboxes, painting, detailing cars,cutting grass, or helping withdifferent neighborhoodevents, I always stay busy.”
When asked about his rela-tionship to the neighborhood,Jaraad summed it up:
“Whenever I am in need, myneighbors come through for me.I have to especially thank neigh-bors Gary and Samantha Wise.At the last minute when I didn’thave a ride to the prom, theyallowed me to use their car anddrive all the way to Sacramento.I look at my Allendale neighborsas family. I’m there for them
and they are there for me.”He also suggested, “Don’t
make assumptions about youth,and be open to us.”
Jaraad’s currently workingat FedEx and also helps hiscousin repair motorcycles.He’s planning to attend LaneyCollege to work on his coresubjects before pursuing hiscareer in either radiology orcriminal law. His business isJaraad’s Detailing, 978-6400.
Maxwell Park Neighborhood News
Tue.-Sat. 12-6pm4004 MacArthur Blvd
510-482-5921Email:
Making a difference, just a little bit at a time
Toys & H
obbies • Making a difference, just a little bit at a tim
e • La
Dolce
Vita ••
Toys
& H
obbi
es •
La
Dol
ceV
ita •
Mak
ing
a di
ffer
ence
, ju
st a
litt
le b
it at
a t
ime
With Warmestand Heartfelt
Thanks For AllYour Support!
Thank You ForContinuing
to Shop Localin the Laurel!
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Ay*ur*vedaMarisol
Victoria Alara Alcosetwellness advisor
510•579•[email protected]
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deep healing
I enjoy recreating what life hasto offer, capturing the momentsthat life presents and bringingthem back. I not only capturethe image, I also provide lastingmemories of the moment.
Nick Lostracco PhotographyNick Lostracco Photography510.434.0725 • www.lostracco.com510.434.0725 • www.lostracco.com
B Y P A T P A T T E R S O N
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Clockwise from lower left: Jaraad More; Jaraad at work washing a car;Toddler Jaraad in 1991 held up by Pat Patterson at a block party.
