by Ken Katz – The best Grand Avenue news this month came in the form an article in The Oaklandside by C. J. Hirschfield announcing that the annual City Noir Film Festival was moving from San Francisco to the Grand Lake Theatre. Produced, programmed, and hosted by “Noir Czar” Eddie Muller, this year’s festival, titled “They Tried to Warn Us!,” showcases 12 movies from mid-20th century Hollywood that explore still-timely themes involving megalomaniacal politicians, corrupt businessmen, neo-Nazis, racism, anti-Semitism, sexual predators, serial killers, police brutality–even a viral epidemic. The festival launches on Thursday, January 20 with a double-bill featuring All the King’s Men and The Argyle Secrets. CONTINUE READING.
by Kira Pascoe – As 2021 ended with much-needed rain, Lakeshore and Lake Park merchants provided warm, cozy food, gifts, and cheer. On 12/16, we had the second annual Holiday Lakeshore Stroll featuring carolers from the Oakland School for the Arts and elves and reindeer from the Oakland Keys Club. It was wonderful community engagement and especially lovely with another challenging year coming to a close. A special thanks to Unleashed and Lakeshore Beauty for providing prizes for our raffle (all proceeds went to Alameda Community Food Bank). A big shout out to Colonial Donuts for providing donuts to carolers and volunteers. Also to Shakewell, Bardo Lounge and Supper Club, and Lin Jia… CONTINUE READING.Splash Pad News: Past, Present, Future – Part 2
by Ken Katz – Last month, I wrote about Splash Pad Park with an eye to its 20th anniversary in October 2023. This month’s follow-up discussion focuses on the past, present, and future of the SplashPad.org website and its namesake publication, The Splash Pad News. Each originated in late 1999 when the newly created Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum began discussing improvements to the existing blighted park that was essentially designed by CalTrans as a glorified traffic island and not much more. Responses to a survey SPNF circulated regarding usage and design introduced us to an impressive list of individuals with great ideas and/or professional credentials whose contributions to the Design and Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committees… CONTINUE READING
Farmers Market Updates – January 2022
by Dan Foster – New Market Participants joining soon:
Fogline Farm – renowned ranch in Santa Cruz that mainly raises chickens
Oya Organics – organic farm from Hollister selling row crops and a variety of value-added items made from their crops
Entertainment Schedule:
1/8 The Dewayne Oakley Blues Ensemble
1/15 Jimbo Trout
1/22 Ashley Jemison
1/29 Aloha Uke Squad CONTINUE READING.
Odds and Ends – January 2022 Highlights
*The East Bay Express published an excellent article about murals flourishing citywide featuring Chris Granillo.
* The Oaklandside reports on Chris Rachal, the co-owner of M2 on Grand and his plans for the rebirth of Mexicali Rose.
* More about the new Walgreens/Trader Joe’s Mural.
* Oakland’s Tree Division came through big time.
* Wilma Chan’s Memorial to Her Legacy is available online. CONTINUE READING.
Splash Pad Calendar
by Sheila McCormick
January 6, Thursday 12:35pm-1:30pm: *LIVE EVENT via ZOOM and Facebook*
Oakland Rotary Club Civic Thursday
Mayor Libby Schaaf will be presenting to the Club a State of the City address. The Zoom link will be provided to members via email. Guests may request the Zoom link up to an hour before the meeting by contacting the Executive Director here. Guests also may view the live-streamed meeting on Facebook here. In addition, guests may later view the recorded meeting on Facebook or Youtube via this link.
January 7, Friday 7:00pm: *LIVE EVENT via ZOOM*
Rotary Nature Center Friends
Lakeside Chat #14 – The Lake’s Most Famous Animal: The Enigmatic Story (and the 100th Anniversary!) of the Lake Merritt Tubeworm
Join us as Dr. James T. Carlton, Professor of Marine Sciences Emeritus at Williams College, tells the fascinating story of a marine species found to this day in Lake Merritt. First discovered in Lake Merritt 100 years ago, the brackish-water tubeworm Ficopomatus enigmaticus (known before the 1980s to Lake naturalists as Mercierella enigmatcia) has a long and fascinating global history. What exactly is it, what does it eat, and how does it reproduce? Where did it come from and how did it get to San Francisco Bay? Why did a French scientist give it the name enigmaticus? And why did the tubeworm remain only in San Francisco Bay until the 1990s, after which it began to appear elsewhere in California? Today the Lake Merritt tubeworm is also found in Europe, the North American Atlantic coast, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Hawaii, and elsewhere. We’ll explore some of the scientific techniques that have been used to explore where its (probable) original home port was. Register here.
January 9, Sunday, 2:00-4:00pm *LIVE EVENT via ZOOM*
Ashby Village Arts and Culture Series Event, Co-sponsored by Ashby Village Elder Action and Village Movement California
Engaging Elders in Climate Action
Since 1989, with his bestseller The End of Nature, New Yorker writer and climate visionary Bill McKibben has been at the forefront of inspiring climate action. In 2008, along with university students and friends, he co-founded 350.org, now a grassroots global network mobilizing millions of young people in the existential crisis of our lifetimes: the survival of humanity. So far, it’s been mostly young people who’ve spoken out about the climate crisis. But recently, McKibben has focused on engaging an older generation of Americans that might help tip the balance in time. As he and his colleague Akaya Windwood recently wrote in a Los Angeles Times op-ed, it’s time for us to step up to seek an impact on climate via Third Act, a new national network of elders supporting younger activists. He promises to inform us how to tap our strengths— our experience, networks, time, and wisdom—for our most valuable legacy: protecting the future of our children, grandchildren and the human species. RSVP to info@ashbyvillage.org; Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86710807483
January 13, Thursday 12:35-1:30pm *Via ZOOM and Facebook live*
Oakland Rotary Civic Thursday
Roy Neal on Presidential Transitions – Roy Neel is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University, where he teaches courses in Presidential Transitions and Presidential Leadership. Professor Neel’s distinguished public career includes having served as Vice President Al Gore’s Chief of Staff and then President Bill Clinton’s Deputy White House Chief of Staff. Don’t miss the Professor’s keen insights into how to — and how not to — transition from one presidency to the next.
January 19, Wednesday 7:00-8:30pm via ZOOM
Grand Lake Neighbors Meeting
Guest speaker will be Josie Ahrens, Transportation Planner for the Complete Streets Paving & Sidewalks Great Streets Division. She will be talking about the Grand Avenue Complete Streets Paving Project.
Look for login information on their Facebook page
January 20, Thursday 12:35-1:30pm *Live Via ZOOM and Facebook*
Oakland Rotary Civic Thursday
Guest speaker: Regina Jackson, Chair of the Oakland Police Commission
January 22, Saturday, 4:00-5:00pm *LIVE EVENT*
Environmental Volunteers
“Nature Photography – Baylands and Beyond”
In this informative, engaging virtual art exhibit, experience the photography of Chris Stevens-Yu and his commentary. Learn about what makes the Baylands Nature Preserve and other Northern California open spaces special for photography. Register here.
January 23, Sunday, 9:00am- Noon
Splash Pad Park
Grand Crew volunteer work day in the park’s California Native Garden. Gloves and tools provided.
January 27, Thursday 12:35-1:30pm *Live Via ZOOM and Facebook*
Oakland Rotary Civic Thursday
Guest speaker: Larry Biel of ABC Channel 7 News Bay Area on “The Business of College Sports.”
Sheila McCormick is an Adjunct Professor Emerita in Cal’s Department of Plant and Microbial Biology. Prior to her retirement in January 2016, she had a research lab at the USDA/ARS-UC-Berkeley Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, studying the molecular biology of plant reproduction. She also helps with editing and is a frequent contributor to the Splash Pad News, beginning with a series of seven neighborhood walks – the first of which was posted in April 2017.
