Donate Work Duds To Job Seekers

Here’s a simple and practical way to help others: donate your unused work duds to Oaklanders who need them for job interviews. Just take a look in your closet for old work suits, shirts, skirts and office-appropriate accessories. Clothes should be in relatively conservative styles, and in ready-to-wear condition.

Source: Today in Montclair, 94611 · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

My indoor plant license should be revoked

Although I’m a renter, my landlord is a condo owner, and it’s a condo building, complete with everything that comes along with it: sterilely manicured open space, a list of approved movers to use when entering or leaving the premises with your worldly belongings, and, although I will admit I haven’t asked the question, an absolutely-not policy on putting tomato plants on the roof.

Source: The Inadvertent Gardener · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

8/8 O-Scene Weekend

The Laurel Street festival, anniversary parties, art openings, and performances that are intellectual journeys — Oaklanders are cooking up all kinds of exciting events and shows this weekend.

Source: The OakBook · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Refugee, asylee students find a common language at Oakland soccer camp

The weeklong camp held at the new Oakland International High School was organized by the volunteer organization Soccer Without Borders to help the students adjust to life in the United States. It was co-sponsored by the Oakland Unified School District’s Refugee and Asylee Student Assistance Program, the International Rescue Committee and the Refugee Transitions organization

Source: Oakland Tribune · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Catholic Charities’ Crisis Response and Support Network (CRSN) Needs You

Catholic Charities’ Crisis Response and Support Network (CRSN) is in urgent need of volunteers to serve as First Responder Crisis Counselors - providing compassionate support to the families and friends of homicide victims in Oakland.

Source: Oakland Focus · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Venerable newsstand man die

Charles DeLauer, former owner of the iconic DeLauer’s Super Newsstand, died Thursday evening at Summit Hospital. He was 91.

Source: Oakland Tribune · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Oakland on edge after string of holdups

As Oakland reels from a string of takeover robberies at restaurants, police promised Friday to beef up patrols and use Guardian Angels in commercial areas, while merchants were asked to increase security with cameras and vigilance.

Related: Oakland police offer rewards, increased patrols, to catch brazen armed restaurant bandits, Oakland Tribune

Source: San Francisco Chronicle · August 9, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Dellums: Poor Criminals Just Need A Better Economy

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums appears intent on digging the hole he’s standing in as deep as possible.

Today, this man claimed that the recent rash of restaurant-takeover robberies should be blamed on people desperate due to economic circumstances, not on the real culprit: anti-social men with no sense of normal human decency (sound familiar?). (more…)

Source: East Bay Conservative · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

The Novato Quarry terrane

Here’s a deeper look at the local bedrock. The hill on which Piedmont and its surrounding neighborhoods sit is held up by a body of Franciscan rocks, roughly 100-150 million years old. It’s mostly sandstone, as shown in the Dracena Park quarry pit, and mélange, as shown in the Mountain View Cemetery grounds. But the huge Franciscan Complex consists of a subset of nine different bedrock packages or terranes.

Source: Oakland Geology · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Liveblogging the news

So, I’m sitting in Cafe Di Bartolo (a shout out to free-wifi-purveyors everywhere) and NBC news walks in to interview the owner about crime. How many times have you been burgled, robbed etc..? It got me thinking. I believe that part of the reason I’ve been lax in my blogging is that my enthusiasm for Oakland boosterism is flagging.

Source: OaklandGoods · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Oakland air quality held hostage to state budget

I might’ve overreacted yesterday in blogging about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s vow not to sign any more bills until the Legislature sends him a budget he likes – not in calling it a stunt, which I still believe it is, but in evaluating its seriousness….Still, I think I’ll start periodically noting some of the bills potentially important to the Bay Area that the governor is trying to hold hostage.

Source: Political Blotter · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Publish your family history workshop, Saturday

Readers in or near Oakland may be interested in this California Genealogical Society workshop, “Hints on Publishing Your Family History.” It takes place this Saturday, August 9, from 10:30am-2:30pm at the CGS Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland. A few spots are still available.

Source: Tracing the Tribe: The Jewish Genealogy Blog · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · 1 Comment »

Urban Homesteading: Learn All About It

Agitate, Educate, Pollinate! That’s the battle cry for the new Institute of Urban Homesteading in Oakland California. It doesn’t matter what you call it–urban homesteading, urban farming, or just plain growing your own vegetables–everyone wants to learn how to do it. The Institute’s goal is to “preserve a slower, more intentional, more sustainable and more pleasurable way of life, rescue the lost arts of the garden, the kitchen and things done by hand and imbue everyday tasks with wonder and beauty.”

Source: TreeHugger · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Family hikes offered around Chabot

MY SON and I were introduced to a banana slug last weekend and we’ve been talking about it ever since! We got up close and personal with the slug on the trails near Chabot, thanks to a naturalist who even put the gooey gastropod on a glass plate for us. From the forest floor to the depths of space, at Chabot we educate and inspire students of all ages about planet Earth and the universe.

Source: Montclarion · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Residents and city are at odds over Broadway Terrace traffic

Scholtz was so concerned about the fast-moving traffic on Broadway Terrace, especially on down hill from Highway 13 to Clarewood Drive, that she peppered the neighborhood in early July with fliers designed to drum up interest in nudging city officials to take measures that would slow motorists and increase crosswalk safety.

Source: Montclarion · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · 1 Comment »

Dellums pushed to “ban the box”

Mayor Ron Dellums is facing pressure once again to move more quickly to “ban the box” on city employment applications that asks if an applicant has been convicted of a felony.

Source: Oakland Tribune · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Hunting for Oakland’s signature cocktail

Tribune to host mix-off to find a drink to represent city’s complexity

Source: Oakland Tribune · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

Oakland crackdown on restaurant robberies

Several new restaurant takeover robberies in Oakland, including some this week, have prompted Police Chief Wayne Tucker and Mayor Ron Dellums to produce a plan to stem the violence.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

The Sipping News: Wine List Watch on Oakland’s Wood Tavern

From the outside, Wood Tavern appears like the quintessential neighborhood joint. But this quickly established mainstay of Oakland’s College Avenue made clear from the start that even if it wore casual clothes, it had loftier ambitions. Same with the wine list, composed by co-owner Rich Wood, which is pitch-perfect for the setting

Source: San Francisco Chronicle · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »

And the Zoning Award goes to…

Seriously, if someone can explain to me the process by which a gas station ends up next to a century-old church, I’m all ears. (This is at the corner of Telegraph and 22nd St.)

Source: Oakland Streets · August 8, 2008 (2 weeks ago) · No Comments »