Editor’s Note: This month, inspired by the election of Kamala Harris, a child of immigrants who was born here in Oakland, we’re extremely pleased to be sharing articles by Marcia Lam and the Patel Family – the first in a series of posts about some of the many immigrant families who own and operate Grand Lake businesses and who are such an integral part of this community. We’re also happy to welcome to our ranks as a new contributor, Ashley Ragus, the Outreach Coordinator for the Cleveland Heights Neighborhood Council – 15x. And lastly, how about a round of applause for Eve Lurie, who walked us (step by step) through a major upgrade of the Splash Pad News format.
From Vietnam to the Land of Opportunity
by Marcia Lam – I was born in North Vietnam. In February 1978, as property was being confiscated and relations with China were deteriorating, my parents (like thousands of other ethnic Chinese) decided to leave with their four kids (ages 8, 6, 4, and 2) plus one in my mom’s tummy. We were accompanied by…
Festival at the Lake: The Early Years
by C. J. Hirschfield – Gather ‘round, young‘uns, while I tell you the story of a magical event that was born way back in the early eighties, the likes of which we haven’t seen here in Oakland since. It was billed as a multicultural extravaganza, with art-making, foods, sports, art, dance, a flower show—and music….
From Gujarat to Lakeshore: Living the American Dream
by the Patel family – In Gujarat, India, Jessie’s family tended to a sugarcane and rice farm, which may help explain why she still loves working in her garden. In 1974, when still a teenager, she emigrated to the United States along with her parents and four siblings in search of better economic opportunities and…
David Gans: Every Silver Lining’s Got a Touch of Grey
by C. J. Hirschfield – Pre-pandemic, you’d find local singer/songwriter/producer/author/Grateful Dead historian David Gans on the road approximately 80 days a year. He’s been a performer for half a century, and has done live concerts in 45 out of 50 states. But if you think that sheltering in place has in any way slowed down his…
Lakeshore Home for the Holidays
by Kira Pascoe – November was a pivotal month giving much of Oakland a burst of homegrown pride as we continue to weather the challenges of 2020. Oakland native Kamala Harris, daughter of two immigrants, is the first South Asian, African American, and female vice-president-elect (that is three firsts!). December’s blog celebrates the beautiful diversity right here…
Grand Avenue Business Report – December 2020
WALDEN POND – New hours for browsing will be 10 am–7 pm every day beginning December 1st.Rare Book Room (where the Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum held its very first meeting in 1999) open Noon – 5 pm Friday through Monday. Now carrying popular adult board games and puzzles, which have witnessed a revival due to…
Farmers Market Update – December 2020
by Dan Foster – The Native American Health Center will be providing free Covid testing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to anyone–no appointment or insurance needed–the first three Saturdays of December. We have been able to find space for some of our Category 3 Artisans (Jewelry & Clothing) to sell for the holidays. Attached is…
Movies Free With an Oakland Library Card
by Sheila McCormick – For more than thirty years I have been keeping a running list of quirky, or funny, or in-some-way amazing movies to recommend to friends. Some are available on the standard streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix, so do check there first if you already subscribe. If you don’t have a streaming…
Grand Lake Neighbors Meeting Summary – December 2020
by Eric Hughes – At the November 2020 meeting, we were introduced to Officer Milagro Loyola, our new Community Resource Officer (CRO) for beat 16. Loyola’s short-term priority will be to meet neighbors and to schedule a couple of CPTED (“Community Protection Through Environmental Design”) walks. CPTED walks are organized by OPD for either neighbors…
Cleveland Heights Neighborhood Council Meeting Summary
by Ashley Ragus – At the November Cleveland Heights Neighborhood Council meeting, the theme was community safety. Community members participated in a survey about Neighborhood Council Priorities and identified safety as a primary focus area. One way the NC will address this is with safety walks planned over the next few months when the community…
Splash Pad’s California Native Garden
A message from Mary Jo Sutton:The California native plant beds in Splash Pad Park are maintained solely by volunteers. If you are interested in learning about native plants and have a little time to spare, please join us on the 4th Sunday of every month. We work from 9 am – 12 pm but some…
Rotary Oakland: Three December Speakers & Lots of Giving
by Isaac Kos-Read – This month the Rotary Club of Oakland has an interesting line-up for its weekly Civic Thursday gatherings, which of course remain virtual. You can connect via Zoom as a Rotary guest or watch and engage live on Facebook every Thursday 12:30-1:30pm. This week they’re welcoming Nikki Shaw, an executive chef working with…
Odds and Ends
For the July 2017 Splash Pad News, Margo Rosenbaum, then a student at Piedmont High, penned this wonderful article about Colonial Donuts. It was so well written, we could have predicted that a great career would follow. Sure enough, she’s now Managing Editor of The Aggie at UC Davis. Here’s a sample of her recent…
As always, the newsletter gives a feeling of community, which is especially welcome in a time when we are all separated. Thanks to everyone who contributes and to Ken for his faithful leadership.