Serving the neighborhoods from Fruitvale Avenue to Seminary Avenue and from Foothill Boulevard to Warren Freeway since 1989Volume 16 Number 6 August 2004

A Community Newspaper • P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619 • (510) 287-2655

Millicent Morris Chaney, Marilyn Miller, Michelle and Alvara Moralez

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.

This is a point of view in theongoing discussion about thefuture of the Rettig/Peralta Creekarea. More in the September issue.

landslide that seemedlike a violent earthquakeshook our home at 4 a.m.

on April 9, 1998. This was thethird of the three slides thatoccurred that year whichstarted from the backyards ofthe houses on Norton Ave andspilled over to Rettig Ave.The slide material has blockedRettig Ave since then. Thefollowing year, our home washit again. Though we havetaken all the temporary safetymeasures that engineers haveadvised, including coveringthe whole hill with plastic, ourproblems have not stopped,and our home is still in danger.

Our home was not the onlyone that suffered from theslide. Five other properties

were seriously damaged. Thehouse of one neighbor, who is ateacher, was so badly damagedthat it was red tagged by theCity, and he was forced toabandon it because he couldnot afford the magnitude ofthe repair. He lost all the sweatand labor that he had put intothat house.

During the last six yearswe have lived in a nightmareand have spent $80,000 in legalfees, engineer fees, and otherexpert fees, as well as tempo-rary safety measures. Duringthe same six years we haveexplored every possible alterna-tive to find the financing tohave the slide repaired sincethe city refused to help, claim-ing that it was up to the privateproperty owners. Finally, inMarch of this year, we securedthe financing to have the sliderepaired and protect our homes

More on Rettig Avenue from One Property Owner

This house was destroyed by the Rettig Avenue slide.

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Laurel Merchant Association members atthe Laurel Streetscape groundbreaking(from left to right): Dorothy Okamoto,Joann Strang, Jain Williams, Maureen

Dorsey, Gerry Goeres, Luan Stauss,Lease Wong, Kim In and Tim Lan.

See page 5.

www.macarthurmetro.org

B Y A N N A S A K K I S , R E T T I G A V E N U E

Toward the end of the school year, Sequoia School teacher Jan Donnelly brought her class to beekeeper Russell Bruno, her neighbor on Bayo Street, to learn about the busy insects that can sting.

Sequoia First Graders Visit Laurel Bee Keeper

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Dear Metro Readersgain we turn to our readers and friendsfor help. You have always responded!

We need a new volunteer to step for-ward to be advertising manager. Our belovedBeverley Brown wants to move into a new line ofpublic service in her retirement years. We all willmiss her but wish her the best in her new ven-ture. She will continue to serve the Metro as amember of the board.

The advertising manager links the Metro toits main support group, the small businesses inthe Laurel and the Dimond, accepts ads throughvoicemail applications, sends out monthly bills,transmits receipts to our treasurer, and keepsrecords. About 20 hours a month, plus atten-dance at a monthly staff meeting, are required.Some business experience, a computer, and plea-sure in dealing with people are essential. TheMetro pays $225 per issue, a token for what is acommunity service, not a paid job.

Please call our voicemail, 287-2655, and signup for an interview. Without volunteers we can-not continue to publish. We are ready to wel-come a new neighbor to the team.

AP H O T O G R A P H E D B Y C L I F F O R D S T E V E N S O N , M E T R O S T A F F P H O T O G R A P H E R

Russel Bruno, Laurel bee keeper.

Bruno removes a “frame” from the hive where beesleave honey.

A process called “smoking” calms bees, used alsofor removing them from the hive. Each hive holds40,000-60,000 bees.

Fatima, Omari, Bertha, Ryan Yort, Tami, RyanLampley, and the rest of the children listen carefully.

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2August 2004

HOT NUMBERSCITY OF OAKLAND AGENCIES

ABAT—the Alcoholic 777-8670Beverage Action Team

Graffiti hotline 238-4703

Abandoned cars 238-6030

O.P.D. Non-emergency 238-3333

Animal control 535-5602

Beat Health (drugs) 777-8630

Drug Hotline 238-DRUG

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 knows the answerto all problems with cityand other governmentalservices in Oakland.

PRIVATE AGENCIES

A Safe Place 536-7233(domestic violence)

Conciliation 763-2117Services of Oakland(neighborhood disputes)

Sentinel Fair Housing 836-2687(free landlord-tenantcounseling anddiscrimination investigation)

Managing EditorToni Locke

Associate EditorSheila D’Amico

Copy EditorsAnne Fox, Roussel SargentFinances/BookkeepingReuben GoldbergAdvertising ManagerBeverley BrownArt DirectorAndreas JonesWord ProcessingDavid RaichPhotographyJody Berke, Clifford StevensonDistributionPeter BondMailingDiane TrostCalendarKaty MurphyFriends and Money HoneysMary Seastrand

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Board of DirectorsSheila D’AmicoDouglas FergusonReuben GoldbergBettie GrandisonMarcia HenryBrian HolmesRashaun Raymond

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A special thanks to allresidents, associations, andmerchants for their support.

Also, a special thanks to allvolunteer writers, artists,photographers, and distributors.

Imagesetting by Green Graphics,Oakland, California, (510) 923-0000.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.©2004 by the MacArthur Metro,P.O. Box 19046, Oakland, CA 94619(510) 287-2655.

We welcome yournews and ads;

deadline the 15th.

Publication in thefirst week of each

month exceptJanuary and July.

ISSN 1091-1111

How to Reachthe Metro

WRITE US A LETTER. Sendyour comments to Lettersto the Editor, MacArthurMetro, P.O. Box 19046,Oakland, CA 94619.

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.

little over a month ago,I discovered that Laurelresidents were using the

Web to discuss their concernsin an open forum. When I inves-tigated further, I was delightedto learn that many forum partici-pants had organized a neighbor-hood group.

The group has been meetingat 7 p.m., the last Thursday ofthe month, at World GroundCafé. I decided to join them lastmonth and found a dedicated

group of concerned people whowant to create a formal, indepen-dent association, apart fromofficial city bureaucracies, thatcan speak for its residents. Thatkind of independent group is inthe Laurel tradition. In the 1980sthe Laurel had the MacArthurcoalition; in the 1990s, L-CAP.

I’d like to suggest an actionplan to the new group. First,formally assert your existence:Choose a name and elect officers.Then draft and vote on a verystrong statement of purpose.

Take a cue from the CityCouncil, and begin each meetingwith an open forum, gleaningaction items from this forum.I favor a strict agenda endingwith this question: What onething are we all going to do thismonth to forward our goals?Pick one thing and do it.

In order to take effectiveaction, you might dedicate

DennisEvanosky

Shenaniganson the Boulevard

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Laurelsome time to education.

First, learn exactly howthe City Council works. Thebest way to accomplish this isto attend City Council meetings.If you can’t make the meetings,then turn on Channel 10, andwatch at home.

Second, learn how the Cityof Oakland functions. The bestresource is the city’s own Website. This site provides a wealthof information. Over time, youwill know just what to do whena problem arises.

Third, get to know the Oak-land Police Department well.When you do, you’ll find a dedi-cated group of men and womenwilling to help. You’ll also find,however, that OPD is a bit likethe military, so it’s important toget to know the chief, the lieuten-ants, and captains as well as thesergeants and the patrol officers.

You also need to know just

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how OPD works. How is theorganization set up? What canyou do to strip through the bu-reaucracy and get to the peoplewho can really help? Go to theNCPC meetings as a first step.Form Home Alert groups inyour neighborhoods.

Finally, use the neighbor-hood resources you have allaround you. Well-establishedneighborhood associationssurround the Laurel: RedwoodHeights Neighborhood Associa-tion, Dimond ImprovementAssociation, High Street Neigh-borhood Alliance, LeonaHeights, Allendale. Learnwhere they are. Go online tothe Metro Web site, and readtheir articles, attend their meet-ings. Ask for their help.

These are just suggestions.I’m sure you’ll find your ownways to solve the problemsthat face the Laurel.

Below right: What’s a field trip without somethingto take home? Each student was given a personalhoney bear.

Below left: Fatima, Mahlia, and Omari ask ques-tions

Right: This is what the bees leave when the work isdone

from further damage. Four neigh-bors have put our resourcestogether to end this disaster.We have submitted engineeringplans to the city for permits.

However, some neighborswho have enjoyed the peacethat the lack of traffic offersdo not want the street reopenedto vehicular traffic. We do notoppose this. The closing of thestreet to vehicular traffic is acompletely separate issue fromthe slide repair and is up to thePublic Works and Fire Depart-ments. In my opinion, somepeople want to delay the sliderepair in order to get the city topromise the closure of the streetto traffic. They may not realizethe dangers that this slide andtheir actions to delay its repairpose to the sewer, water, andgas lines, as well as to the creekand the road itself, besides ourhomes. I think it is ironic tothink that the people who wantto protect the creek and thebeauty of our street could causefurther damage to it by blockingthe slide repair that endangersit. Their good intentions but

Rettig LandslideC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1

Sequoia First Graders & BeesC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 1

just want to thankMeredith Florian for herarticle “History Rushes

Towards You at RanchoPeralta Historical Park”in the April issue. It wasa great article, and it will

really help the neighbor-hood understand what weare doing.Holly AlonsoExecutive Director,Friends of Rancho PeraltaHistorical Park

Letterto theEditor

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hirty-five interestedneighbors met on July12 at the old Chabot Ob-

servatory site to learn about theplans of the Oakland UnifiedSchool District (OUSD) for acommunity school there. Themeeting was arranged jointlyby Marilyn Rhodes of BermudaAvenue and Monica Vaughn,OUSD official.

The intent of the meeting,chaired by Ms. Vaughn, was tooutline for neighbors the OUSDplans for curricula, security,transportation, and similar sub-jects. However, as the agendaproceeded, it became clear thatneighbors were primarily inter-ested in OUSD plans for secu-rity at the school and for theneighborhood. These domi-nated the two-hour session.

Israel Macias, principalof the proposed communityschool, helped with explana-tions and answering of inquir-ies. The school is planned for“at risk” children in grades6 through 12, defined as thosenot suitable for regular classschools due to attendance,sociological, behavioral, or

B Y G O R D O N L A V E R T Y A Grand Openingon High Street

After walking past the construc-tion site at 3300 High Streetevery weekend, I was excitedto finally get inside the AnnaMarie Whalen Branch of theBoys and Girls Club.

Before a small child wieldeda giant pair of scissors to cutthe ribbon on the stage, direc-tors, alumni, benefactors, staff,and community membersnibbled a variety of goodiesfrom tables covered in red orwhite tablecloths under sky-lights in the gleaming newgymnasium. Executive DirectorCal Stanley greeted the guestslike a proud papa after shep-herding the transformation froman empty funeral home to thefirst new Oakland clubhousein 50 years. He expects to wel-come members from six to 17to the new facility in August.

At the barbecue next day,enthusiastic children of all ages,their parents, and neighborschecked out the facility. Bythe time eight-year-old JordanShelby had taken the tour threetimes, she was ready to assistOffice Manager Katie Weldonguiding us into storage closets(where she found a ping-pongtable), around pool tables,past the 50-inch TV (still in itsbox), and into a kitchen any ofus would love to have. Wechecked out the “brain room”

(for homework), computer cen-ter, arts and crafts room, anda space where teens will gatheraway from the little kids.

As we looked out at the traf-fic on High Street, Katie assuredus that children will be pickedup and dropped off in the park-ing lot, not in front of the club.The club wants to work withthe community helping ourchildren to make good choiceswhile giving them somethingto do.

Volunteers are welcome,and engraved bricks for theentryway are available forsale. For more information, call444-8211.

Reading Is HotThis Summer

The Melrose Branch has beena popular destination thissummer. Over 200 youngstersare participating in the summerreading program, and theanimal shapes on the door

West-Side Revival:MacArthur Blvd. Businesses

Pho SaigonThe western end of the businessdistrict along MacArthur Blvd.between Dimond and CanonAvenues is coming back to life.

Pho Saigon, a family-ownedVietnamese restaurant, hadits grand opening on June 6, re-placing an Asian restaurant thatkept changing its menu andname. Pho Saigon is a refresh-ing change with an excellentmenu and very friendly staff.

Paws and ClawsOn June 13, the Dimond com-munity celebrated the openingof Paws and Claws, a naturalpet-food store and bathhouse.Dimond residents and newbusiness owners RuthVillasenor and Diane Pfilehosted an opening-day partywith refreshments to showcasetheir unique organic and bio-degradable products and self-serve pet bathing stations. Theparticipants joined in a blessingceremony, enjoyed a danceperformance from the MedicineWarriors (a native-Americandance troupe), and heard asong from Bosco, the singingdachshund.

The store is also a revolvingart gallery of local artists. Anyproceeds from art sales will bedonated to charity benefitingpet rescue/animal protection.The art of Julia L. Kay is cur-rently showcased at the shop,complementing the brightprimary-color decor.

Ruth and Diane told of

Dimond Neighborhood NewsB Y H O A N G L E B A N H

B Y A D E L L E F O L E Y

plans to develop a monthlycalendar regarding pet careand management classes as wellas a Dimond Dogs and Catsnewsletter. Already in the shopthere is a community event bill-board regarding pets/animals,which recently included petportrait day.

Sweet!Nearby, with new paint anda big sign, the Crème Centercandy store looked ready forbusiness in July. Across thestreet, the site of the old HairGraphix on East 38th St. andCanon Ave. is looking better.Repairs have been made aftera fire several months ago. Theproperty owners are searchingfor a new tenant and expressedinterest in a café. As with otherproperty owners, DIA has sentthem a copy of the Dimond sur-vey results to give them moreideas of what the neighborhoodwould like.

Two Star LiquorTaking Suggestions

Two Star Liquor has repaintedits façade, and the owner hasplaced a suggestion box in thestore. Suggestions on storeofferings are also welcome onthe Dimond message board(www.dimondnews.org/fo-rum).

learning problems. Sixty to 125students would begin use of theschool this fall.

Meeting attendees exhibitedconcern for the education ofsuch students but were quitedetermined in their questionsand statements about why therehad been no discussions withneighbors “prior to presentingus with a done deal.” Concernsincluded adequacy of schooladult staffing, assurance offunding to continue explainedprograms, past real-time obser-vations of students over theprevious two years from theschool, physical plant ad-equacy, and how so manystudents could be at a siteabandoned due to its being inthe middle of the trace of theHayward earthquake fault.

The meeting concludedwith the thoughts that theOUSD would hold anothermeeting within several weeksthat Dr. Randolph Ward wouldattend, and prior to that meet-ing, the Leona Heights groupwould clarify its position basedon information presented atthe July 12 meeting.

Stay tuned, and we’ll keepyou informed.

Leona HeightsNeighborhood News

High Street Neighborhood News

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represent 20 children who fin-ished their reading commitmentby mid-July.

The Wednesday afternoonevents have attracted crowds of50 to 70. They will continue intoAugust at 3:30 p.m., with artsand crafts on August 4 and aclosing party with magicianAlex Gonzalez on August 11.Children’s librarian SharonSensor told me that it’s been funwith the kids in and out all day.

Branch Manager RodrigoQuintanilla is planning addi-tional outreach to serve thecommunity in Spanish andEnglish. I’m particularly happyto hear that the library will onceagain open on Saturdays begin-ning about mid-September.

Brookdale Rec Is HummingWith drama, crafts, and pee-weesoftball full up, Director DanniGamidge told me that it’s stillpossible to sign up for theShorties day camp, which runsfrom 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondaythrough Friday, until schoolbegins.

In September the HealthyStarts cooking class will be back.Instructor Christian Chiappcadiscovered that he’s a diabetic.His response was to researchhealthy eating and share theinformation with the children.For more information, stop in,or call 535-5632. —————————————Adelle Foley can be reached atjasfoley@aol.com.

n behalf of the RedwoodHeights community,we are delighted to sub-

mit our first column. We lookforward to sharing the newsand events of the neighborhoodwith Metro readers.

August Programs at theRecreation Center

There’s still time to enroll kids(grades one through six) forthe Rec’s 13th Annual Art &Discovery Camp. Session I:August 9 to 13; session II:August 16 to 20. In this camp,which runs from 9:30 a.m. to2:30 p.m., professional artistshelp children explore a varietyof art forms in a supportiveand creative environment.

Registration for RedwoodRockets, a K-6 after-school pro-gram for children in need ofsupervision, (3 to 6 p.m.),begins August 9. The programfills quickly and starts onthe first day of school, Septem-ber 7.

Registration for Fall BigTots, The Rec’s fun, activity-based preschool program,also begins on August 9.

Be sure to check out theprograms for adults, too.

For more informationabout the Redwood HeightsRecreation Center, call482-7827, or visit http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/facilities/rc_redwoodheights.asp

Director Cal Stanley and donor DanWhalen with Jean Quan at the Boysand Girls Club grand opening.

Redwood HeightsNeighborhood News

B Y D E N I S E D A V I L A

ORedwood Heights& Laurel Softball

Come out and root for our lo-cal softball team on Thursdaynights. Just in its second sea-son, our coed team is off to agreat start. For a schedule oflocal games, visit our Web site.

To find out how to join theteam next season, call EricJorgenson at 336-3399. Hopeto see you at the ballpark.

Neighborhood NightsThe Redwood Heights Im-provement Association (RHIA)is pleased to coordinate thefirst annual NeighborhoodNights for Woodminster’s sea-son of summer musicals. Over60 people joined in to see Anniein July. With picnics and blan-kets, everyone enjoyed a funevening. All are invited for thenext Neighborhood Night atWoodminster on Sunday,September 5, for the musicalFlower Drum Song. To applyfor a neighborhood discount,please call Denise at 531-3930,or e-mail d2davila@yahoo.comby August 10.

Save the DateThe Redwood Heights/LaurelNCPC Annual Picnic is sched-uled for September 18, at theAvenue Terrace park on JordanRoad. Bring the family andmeet neighbors for an after-noon of food, music, and funactivities. Look for more detailsin next month’s edition of theMetro.

LAUREL HARDWARE4024 MacArthur 530-1966

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BrainScienceBreakthroughs

PauletteAvery,

R.N., M.S.N.,I.B.C.L.C.

To Your Health

ot too long ago scientistsbelieved nerve cells inthe body could not regen-

erate. But recent research indi-cates not only that nerve cellsdo regenerate, but in healthyindividuals they do so daily.And better yet, there are thingswe can do to maximize theprocess.

Much of the informationin this month’s column comesfrom a recent ABC Radiointerview with ProfessorPerry Bartlett, Director of theQueensland Brain Institute atThe University of Queensland,Australia. The topic was “HowTo Save Your Brain.” Accord-ing to Professor Bartlett, recentstudies done with rodentsindicate that antidepressantdrugs work by stimulating thegrowth of new neurons in thebrain. This would explain, hesays, the fact that antidepres-sants take about a month tobecome effective. Before thisdiscovery, it was believed thatantidepressants worked bychanging brain chemistry. Butwhen scientists blocked theproduction of new nerve cells,they found that antidepressantslike Prozac had no effect. Com-menting on this finding, Profes-sor Bartlett says, “That’s a fairlydramatic finding, and I thinkmore importantly, it’s not somuch about the antidepressant,it actually says that perhapsjust normal well-being is basedon the production of new nervecells.” That is, it may be thatdepression results when ourbrains are not producing a suf-ficient number of new neurons.

So what else stimulatesnew neuron growth? Appar-ently many things do. Perrysays that each day our brainsgenerate about 10,000 newneurons just in response to

smells we encounter in the envi-ronment. Many of these newcells die off, while those thatsurvive are “getting appropriateinputs from the environment.” Iinterpret this to mean that whenour noses detect a certain smellagain, the neurons produced inresponse to that particular odorare the ones that survive. Pro-fessor Perry theorizes that ourbrains are continually adaptingto the outside environment, andthat sounds very logical to me.

His theory has not yet beenproved, but there is evidence tosupport it. For instance, he saysyou can take a rodent out of itslittle cage and place it in a richenvironment where it can runand encounter lots of new expe-riences, and, as a result, manynew neurons will be produced.Again most of those will diewithin two weeks. But whenthe rodent continues to receivesufficient stimulation throughexposure to new smells, sights,and activities, more of the cellswill survive.

How does this apply toour brains? What can we do tostimulate and maintain braingrowth? Apparently, the bestthing we can do is to seek newexperiences and a rich varietyof sensual, emotional, and intel-lectual stimulation. It also helpsto get plenty of exercise, anotherstimulant to brain growth, andyou might want to includesexual activity in the mix be-cause, says Perry, “Certainmolecules produced during sexalso appear to be highly stimu-latory of neuronal production.”To read the entire interview, goto www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ss/stories/s1121140.htm. —————————————Paulette Avery is a registerednurse and a freelance writerwho specializes in health issues.

B Y P E T E R B O N D

Dear readers: This writer doessearch for individuals andbusinesses worthy of inclusion inthis column, but he relies mostlyon input from others. So, pleasee-mail your ideas for Onions& Orchids to bpbond@aol.com.

Orchids to EnterpriseRental Car Company for theirmonetary contribution to thenew Boys and Girls Club onHigh Street and to Nate Thomasand Martin Bond from Enterprisefor their personal contributionsof time, effort, and BBQ skills atthe inaugural BBQ on July 10.

Orchids to OPD Traffic Di-vision and Traffic Control OfficerSgt. Wallace for their response toChampion Street/School Streetneighbors’ request to intervenein the blatant disregard of thefour-way stop signs at this inter-section and of the speed limiton these streets. Many ticketswere written, and the neighborsstated, “It was like having theLone Ranger taking care of us.”

Orchids to CarolynVallerga of the Dimond Improve-ment Association. She makes anheroic effort to keep her cornerof the Dimond District, whereSchool and Champion Streetscross, clean and protected fromincessant litter and vandalism.

Orchids to Reiner Bohlenfor his volunteer beautificationefforts in the vacant lot on35th Ave. near the corner ofMacArthur. Reiner, on his owninitiative, has planted and con-tinues to water sunflowers onthis otherwise neglected lot.

Orchids to the MaybelleAvenue Association for theirpersistent efforts to have speedbumps installed on their street.This was particularly difficultbecause of the need to obtainsignatures from a large numberof absentee landlords and condoowners in this high-density area.Orchids also to CouncilmemberJean Quan for her financialhelp with PayGo funds for theinstallation.

Onions to Bank of Americain the Laurel for consistentfailure to clean up the litter infront of and on the side of theirbuilding.

Onions (the third time—a “strike out”?) to the propertyowners of the vacant lots onMacArthur and High: AlexHahn, the old Laurel Liquorssite; Roland Malone, the oldShell gas station site. These prop-erties are becoming increasinglylittered and unsightly. Perhaps

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On June 29th, Metro photographer Clifford Stevenson was able toobtain a press pass and take photos at the book signing at Cody’sfor former President Clinton’s memoir, “My Life.”

he 38th Season of theWoodminster Summer Mu-sicals will continue with

The Will Rogers Follies. This stagemusical is based on the humor ofactor and populist philosopherWill Rogers. The show runs be-tween August 6 and 15 (see Cal-endar).

The show tells the life storyand homespun wisdom of Ameri-can humor icon Will Rogers. Fea-tured musical numbers include “INever Met A Man I Didn’t Like”and “Give A Man Enough Rope.”

The show recreates the gentle hu-mor of this radio and film actor,complete with lasso tricks andtap-dancing cowboys. It was pre-viously produced atWoodminster in 1995.

Woodminster’s Will Rogerscast includes over 30 professionaland nonprofessional actors,adults and children, from 17 dif-ferent Bay Area cities. The lead-ing roles of Will Rogers and thelove of his life, Betty Blake, willbe performed by Woodminsterfavorites Ric Iverson of Milpitasand Susan Himes Powers of SanFrancisco. The two played the

Woodminster Summer MusicalsPresents The Will Rogers Follies

Melody McArtor and Ric Iverson in The Will Rogers Follies.

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August 2004

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METROCLASSIFIED ADS

INSTRUCTION

RENTALS

Five-piece black Ludwig Accentdrum set with Sabian cymbalsand seat, $450. Max 482-5212.

Interior Painting. Jacob Hart,530-6247. Lic.#705262.

African-American manicurist,located in the Laurel District,specializing in manicures, pedi-cures w/paraffin wax treatments,sculptured nails, silk and fiberglasswraps. Over 15 years experienceand service in this area. Call (510)482-3229 for appointment.

Fast, neat interior painting bywoman, 534-9772.

Your local fiduciary. SuccessorTrustee, Executor, Conservator ofestate, SS or VA payee. Trustwor-thy, knowledgeable, I can do it allor provide crucial help. ElizabethCallaway Trust Services. 530-1720.

Affordable local licensed therapist.Individual, couple, family and childtherapy for the Metro/Oaklandcommunity. Everyone needs helpsometimes. Supportive; practical;sliding scale. Helen MontgomeryLockwood MFCC #27283, (510)874-4722.

Licensed marriage and child thera-pist. Life transitions should be anopportunity for new challenges andexciting changes. Counseling/Psy-chotherapy may help facilitate thattransition. Please call LawrenceFoster, M.S. (LMFT #29517), 261-7167 (Maxwell Park Area).

S.I. Computers. Repairs/Upgrades/Retail. Hablamos Español. 510-530-0204, 2710 MacArthur Blvd,Oakland, www.sicomputers.net

Psychotherapy. Individual, Family,Child, English, Spanish, SlidingScale, Free Initial ConsultationAvailable. Dora Grisetti MA. MFTI44065. (510) 869-2600.

Dog walking and vacation petcare. Skyline student. Referencesavailable. Maya 482-5212.

Personal Assistant and Petsitting.Light sewing, errands, home andoffice organization, word process-ing. $15/hour. References. Call(510) 533-5235.

SERVICES

Bernice & Joe Playschool. Fornearly 25 years, play-based learn-ing in our earthquake retrofittedhome-like center near Mills Col-lege. The park-like quarter-acresetting has pine and fruit trees,vegetable garden, redwood play-house, 20-foot sailboat, two-storywooden rocket ship, outdoor artand block rooms. Curriculum in-cludes pre-reading, pre-math en-richment, field trips, F.I.T. gymnas-tics, music and Spanish lessons.Emphasis put on socialization, ver-balization. Sibling, discount. Lunch,snacks provided. Ages 2 to 5years. License #010214258. Bro-chure. (510) 638-3529.

Saxophone & Piano. Play musicfor the joy of it! Have fun learningjazz, blues, improvisation. Patient,supportive teacher. Ages 10 & up.Speciality: Adult beginners. Eva436-0504.

Piano lessons. Classically trainedpianist with 30 years’ teachingexperience in a variety of styles.Age 7 and up. Free interview, les-son. Andrea Simms, 336-1556.

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Mendoc ino coas t co t tage :Charming, furnished, 1BR plus liv-ing room sofabed, fireplace fullyequipped kitchen, $90/night(three-night minimum), $550/week. (510) 482-5577.

Professional office suites forlease. Refurbished, janitorial,parking, utilities included, squarefootage 380-1170 for $800 up.(510) 289-0200.

Room For Rent. Single student—nopets. Private home near Mills,Merritt & Patten Campuses. Call530-6003.

Classified RatesThe rate for classified ads is $.50 per word.Discounted prices available for five- and ten-issue frequencies. Please type or write yourcopy clearly and mail it with your check toThe MacArthur Metro, P.O. Box 19406, Oak-land, 94619. Deadline is the 15th of themonth. For classified-ad frequency discountsand display-ad information, please contactBeverley Brown at 287-2655, fax: 531-6629.

aurel merchants, neigh-bors, project designers,engineers, and city officials

gathered on the morning ofJune 18 for ceremonialgroundbreaking for the LaurelStreetscape. Construction ofthe Streetscape has begun atMacArthur Blvd. and 35thAve. and is expected to takeabout 96 days to complete.

Acknowledgments weremade and thanks given to allwho had put so much time,effort, money, and heart intothe project. Stephanie Johnsonfrom CEDA said the Street-scape showed that “change inneighborhoods happens whenpeople like you are involved.”She also acknowledged thecity’s significant investment.

The idea for the project hadstarted back in 1995 when six

Members of Laurel Merchants Association, CEDA, City Council, Public Works, Landscaping, Engineering,and Streetscape construction contractors at the Laurel Streetscape groundbreaking ceremony.

Laurel Streetscapefolks gathered around RuthMalone’s kitchen table todiscuss how to revitalize theLaurel community after theMacArthur Coalition of the’80s had died off. They sawthe business district as themodern equivalent of the oldpublic square.

“We saw that the Laurelwas a lively, interestingneighborhood,” Malone says.“Income levels were good,the neighborhood affordable.Block by block the Laurel isthe most diverse neighborhoodin the city.”

They had a vision that in-cluded the Streetscape andnew businesses such as a book-store, which is now open, anda park, which is not yet in theworks.

Dr. Maureen Dorsey,the Laurel Merchant Associa-tion contact for the project,

reminded the gathering that theconstruction would cause somedisruption, “But bear with it.It will be worth it.” FerdinandCiceron, Civil Engineer fromthe Public Works Agency, wasintroduced as “the face youwill see to make sure the workgoes on without a hitch.” Whenasked if he would like to makea comment he replied, “There’sgoing to be some noise.”

City CouncilmembersJean Quan, Henry Chang,and Ignacio De La Fuente,who had all helped to assurethe project’s completion, werepresent, although formerCouncilmember Dick Spees,who had facilitated the projectat its start, was regrettablyabsent, so he was unable toreceive kudos in person.

The Streetscape plans arein the window of Laurel BookStore on the corner ofMacArthur and 39th Ave.Past stories on the LaurelStreetscape are atwww.macarthurmetro.org.

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the owners should be cited un-der the City’s Blight Ordinance.

Orchids to Dimond Im-provement Association leaderTim Chapman. After a secondround of spray paint vandalizedtheir stores, he teamed up withthe victimized business peopleto identify the perpetrator.Together they called Lt. EricBreshears of OPD after neitherthe Neighborhood ServicesCoordinator nor the ProblemSolving Officer could be reached.Breshears promptly sent an of-ficer-in-training to respond.The vandal was led away inhandcuffs. Way to go, DIA!

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ay 22 was a red-letterday at John SwettSchool, where 100

students, parents, teachers,and staff of the 1926-2004 eramet for a grand time. The re-union, cochaired by parentMarge Laverty and OaklandCity Councilmember JeanQuan, provided a solid two-hour program hearing frompast students, teachers, andstaff, as well as a skit bypresent students, and, oh yes,

refreshments, including alovely Quan special picturecake.

In the school auditorium,tables identified by ten-yearperiods, 1920 through thepresent, were gatheringplaces for returning alumsof their year, and of othersinterested in looking at al-bums of photos. In one 1960salbum, Tom Hanks andfriends were shown. (Hankswas unable to attend due toproduction work.)

Ten teachers who had

been at Swett mingled withtheir former students andparents in pleasant conversa-tion. Three principals alsoattended: Jonas Waxman,Aloysia Rochon, and JocelynJohnson.

While the school namehas been dropped, and de-tails of name and preciseclasses to be at the schoolwill not be known until mid-August, it is believed that theTilden Preschool and special-studies classes will be housedon the old Swett property.

MOnions and OrchidsC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 4

Final John Swett School Reunion a Great SuccessB Y G O R D O N L A V E R T Y

6August 2004

Calendar of Community Events

B Y K A T Y M U R P H Y , C O O R D I N A T O R

The MacArthur Metro calendar welcomes a range of listings. Weemphasize community meetings and actions that address neighborhoodconcerns as well as cultural events that enrich our surroundings.

To have your event listed, please contact Katy Murphy no laterthan the 12th of the preceding month at kmmurphy@hotmail.com or534-5330. Please include the word “Metro” in the subject line of e-mail.

August 2004Friends of the Melrose Library: Monday, August 2, 6 p.m., MelroseBranch Library, Foothill and 48th Ave.

Senior Activities: Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Jarlath SeniorCenter, 2620 Pleasant St. Quilting, crafts, line dancing, exercise,and more. Call 532-2068 for more information.

Drop-in Writers’ Group: Tuesdays, August 3 and 17, 6 to 8 p.m.,Laurel Book Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd., led by Marnie Webb.Bring writing to read to the group for supportive criticism.

Melrose Library Special Events: Wednesdays, August 4 and 11, 3:30p.m., Melrose Branch Library, Foothill and 48th Ave. August 4,arts & crafts with Pete and Sharon. August 11, closing party withmagician Alex Gonzalez.

Bret Harte/Joaquin Miller NCPC (beat 22Y): Thursday, August 5, 7 p.m.,Imani Church, 3300 MacArthur Blvd. An informal gathering. Pleasebring a dish and be prepared to discuss leadership roles for the 2004-2005 year. Contact Renee Sykes, 777-8718, for more information

The Will Rogers Follies: August 6 to 8 and 12 to 15, 8 p.m.,Woodminster Theater, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd. Second of thesummer series musicals. Upcoming in September: Flower Drum Song.For tickets and information, call 531-9597.

Mills College Art Museum Family Day: Saturdays, August 7 and 14,11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Free art-making activitiesfor families. Call 430-2164.

Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council: Wednesday, August 11, 7 to8:30 p.m., Mills College, 5000 MacArthur at Pierson. Check in atmain gate for meeting location. Call Jan Hetherington, 534-4978,for information.

Laurel/Redwood Heights NCPC (beat 25X): Thursday, August 12, 7p.m., Redwood Heights Recreation Center, 3883 Aliso Rd. Loiteringat Lincoln Square, upcoming Community picnic, and status of theLaurel Streetscape project. Contact Bobbie Bond, 914-1171, orRenee Sykes, 777-8718, for more information.

Walking Tour of the Laurel: Sunday, August 15, 10 a.m. to 12:30p.m., meet at Albertson’s parking lot, 4055 MacArthur Boulevard.Tour highlights Laurel’s history and architectural heritage, led byDennis Evanosky and Pamela Magnuson-Peddle. Call 763-9218,or e-mail info@oaklandheritage.org. Sponsored by the OaklandHeritage Alliance; $5 for OHA members; $10 for nonmembers.

Allendale NCPC: Wednesday, August 18, 7 p.m., Allendale Recre-ation Center, 3711 Suter St. All Allendale residents are welcome;contact Elaine Beale, 532-1317, for information.

She Speaks: Wednesday, August 18, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Laurel BookStore, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. Women’s open mic; share poetry,prose, and song in a supportive, diverse, all-woman environment.Featured performers monthly.

Rummage Sale Benefit for Kairos Outside: Saturday, August 21,8 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Cuthbert’s, 7900 Mountain Blvd. Call NancyMarzillo, (650) 994-8798, for more information.

Reading by Kristie Helms: Saturday, August 21, 7:30 p.m., LaurelBook Store, 4100 MacArthur Blvd. The author will read from her firstnovel, Dish it Up, Baby!, following a young woman from Kansas toNew York City, away from an abusive marriage and into her own.

Friends of Dimond Library: Saturday, August 28, 11:30 a.m., DimondLibrary community room, 3565 Fruitvale Ave. Come be an “official”friend and help us spend our book-sales money. Call Dal Sellman,531-2690, for more information.

Laurel HistoryC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 8

1930s, when two new Safeways(now Launderland, and thedemolished Laurel Liquors)were built. Two movie theatersopened in 1939. The LaurelTheater, now home to VictoryOutreach, opened on March 16.The Hopkins Theater’s inaugu-ration (now Hollywood Video,)was a three-day celebration en-livened by appearances of theGoodyear blimp and Sally Rand,famous for her “Nude Ranch”at the Treasure Island Fair. Theelegant, very deco Hopkins wasdesigned by S. Charles Lee,a well-known Los Angelesarchitect, and had a local devel-oper, Lawrence H. Goldsmith,owner and operator of thenearby Allendale theater on38th Avenue.

In the ’40s and ’50s autotravel altered the streetscape.Sections of Moss Avenue,Hopkins Street, and FoothillBoulevard were linked asU.S. Highway 50, a central

Content cows graze on the hill above the Laurel. These bovines belonged to Miss Powers, whose dairy farm encompassedthe property bordered by Bayo, Patterson and Franklin streets and the crest of the hill. The Laurel School is visible down thehill to the right. The streets visible below are Liese (38th Avenue) and Patterson streets. Franklin Street became 39th Avenue.

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cross-country route. Gasolinestations, snack food restaurants,and motels sprang up. A clusterof 1940s-’50s motels of the travelboom were until recently visibleon MacArthur at the edges ofthe Laurel at Lincoln and justbeyond High Street near MillsCollege.

In 1943 Hopkins was linkedwith sections of Foothill, Semi-nary, and Camden and renamedMacArthur Boulevard. The4116-4166 block was developedin a modern style by WilliamClinnick and still has its distinc-tive angular storefronts withplate-glass windows.

After World War II, indus-tries and jobs slowly left the city.With the 580/MacArthur Free-way bypassing the commercialarea in the 1960s and peoplemoving to the suburbs, the Lau-rel struggled, but signs of devel-opment continued. Lucky built a

large store in 1965; Laurel Hard-ware built their current store in1971; Citizens Savings Bank (nowCal Fed) built a branch, designedby the San Francisco firm ofHertzka and Knowles, in 1975.Mom-and-pop businesses keptthe district alive, and churchesfilled vacant storefronts.

Today, unique cafes, restau-rants, beauty salons, and inde-pendent grocery stores make thisa lively neighborhood. The com-mercial district draws customersfrom the hills and the flatlands,near East Oakland and far. Anethnically diverse populationjoins to make the strong sense ofcommunity. The once rural landknown as Key Route Heights re-mains one of Oakland’s most dis-tinctive and vibrant districts. —————————————Pamela Magnuson-Peddle joinsDennis Evanosky in leading awalking tour Sunday, August 15.

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roles of the evil Miss Hanniganand her shifty brother Roosterin Woodminster’s 2004 seasonopener, Annie.

Tickets are $19-$31, with dis-counts for groups, seniors, and

those aged 16 and under. Seasontickets are also available andprovide a significant discountfor people who wish to see allthree shows. Woodminster alsohas a “Kids Come Free” program,where a child 16 or younger canattend free, accompanied by apaying adult. For informationabout tickets, call 531-9597, orvisit www.woodminster.com.

Will RogersC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 4

August 2004

7

Christine and Andrew CohnHung Liu and Jeff Kelley

Lucky DonutsPhillip W. WongMarcia Henry &Gary DelgadoCeleste BurtonLisa Ruhland &Michael Cowan

Karen Marie SchroederDolphin WaletzkyWilliam A. Ince &Nancy Scott-Ince

Keiko ShimadaEugene Crenshaw

HamachiSharon Toth

Richard L. WeinsteinBarbara A. Ginsberg

Roussel SargentJacob & Linda Hart

Knud DanildJoan Dark

Deborah CooperElaine Lyford-Nojima &

Dana NojimaRochelle Wald &

Sara WynneRussell Bruno & Susanne LeaLydia Palmin & Tom Daley

Richard CowanJeff Kelley & Hung Liu

William & Susan BagnellLeslie Bialik & Gene Tucci

John Elk lllRichard & Nancy Banker

Dimond ImprovementAssociation

Doug FergusonPhillip Wong & Lisa Lemus

Nancy MeyerLaura Stern

Michael FerroMary Lee Peterson

John CoffeyDiane Earl McCan

David Vahlstrom/LaurelHardware

The Metro acknowledges contri-butions of $50 or more by listingyour name or business as a MoneyHoney for 10 issues. You keepour paper alive and well.

MONEYHONEYS

Concordia Park/BrannStreet neighbors in District 6have full support from the BabeRuth Little Leaguers in a driveto save their precious open playspace from a rather sneaky citygiveaway of a significant por-tion. The recipient, Girls Inc.,a reputable mentoring service,needs to find a different sitefor a new building. Over 100neighbors have signed petitionsto save Concordia Park.

Coach Lease Wong ofKomodo Toys says her TazAngels are sorely disappointedat the cancellation of Oakland’sDragon Boats festival held eachAugust in the estuary at JackLondon Square. For six yearsthis team, comprised mostly ofmerchants and residents fromthe Laurel, has competed in the“Recreation Class.” Lease saysone of the best things about therace is that this most diversegroup of people came togetheras an effective team, pushedthemselves beyond where theythought they must stop, beyondexhaustion, and kept going un-til they succeeded. Isn’t that adescription of the Laurel itself?

Diners at Pho Saigon,the new Vietnamese restaurantthat’s opened up in the Dimondon MacArthur, two blockswest of Fruitvale, are sendingin reports of good eating.

Meanwhile, no reports of anykind of eating at the Laurel’syet-to-be opened Phnom Penh.

KT Graham, from Para-dise Books on Fruitvale in theDimond, has replaced the pot ofgeraniums that a thief stole fromthe store entrance with a heavyplanter of geraniums, marigolds,petunias, and snapdragons. Shehelped the Dimond Improve-ment Association to securethe arrest of a suspect who alsocommitted other acts of vandal-ism in the neighborhood.

A stop to talk with someyoung men sitting on a benchat the new bus shelter on Highin front of Brookdale Rec Centerelicited a rave review for theshelter. But, one said, “Tell AC[transit] the fare’s too high; itneeds to be reduced by 25cents.”

Shoppers can find excel-lent fresh produce and flowers,and listen to talented teen musi-cians from Oaktown Jazz Work-shops at the Millsmont Farmers’Market at MacArthur and Semi-nary on Saturdays from 10 to 2.But vendors, some who drivefrom as far away as Fresno,have dwindled, so the Marketis just the length of one block.Josie Franco, from Franco Farmsin Dinuba, said the vendors aretrying to hang in to give the

Market a chance to catch on.Shopper Betty Perez remindedus that “you don’t shop at aFarmers’ Market to get bargains;you shop to get fresh food andhelp the farmers.”

More than 75 personsattended a meeting chaired byRichard Cowan from Council-member Quan’s office to discussthe Rettig Avenue landslideissue. Engineers for privateproperty owners affected bythe slide explained stabilizationplans. The question of whetheror not Rettig should remain apermanently closed road wasnot on the agenda for discussionbut was brought up in com-ments by an attorney for Friendsof Peralta Creek and discussedbriefly by the Fire Marshall andothers. Participants also notedthat the project design changedafter the public comment periodclosed. The city agreed and willissue a new public notice anda new date for more publiccomment.

With vigorous supportfrom the community, Council-member Jane Brunner’s cam-paign to save Oakland streettrees moved a step toward acomprehensive, citywide planwhen the City Council passedan ordinance on July 20 to helpsave existing trees.

By Sheila D’Amico and Toni Locke

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New and NewerA few shops away, the newHair Graphix opened up, andjust steps from there, Skin Syn-ergy will soon open to providefacials and other skin care needs.

Full Moon RisingTo top it all off, Full MoonSeafood House, a Dimond-family-owned restaurant whichclosed in early February dueto fire, is almost ready to reopenand brighten the corner ofMacArthur Blvd. and DimondAve. again.

Senior Housing on the WayOn June 2 the Planning Com-mission unanimously approvedthe Lincoln Court senior hous-ing project. Groundbreakingat the site of the former HillcrestMotel is now expected in Sep-tember. Construction will takea little over a year.

The Altenheim senior hous-ing project unanimously passeddesign review at the Landmarksboard meeting on July 12.Neighbors still want to discusswith the developer, CitizensHousing, the setback of building8 on Excelsior Ave. Parking andtraffic concerns also remain andwill be addressed prior to thePlanning Commission publichearing on August 18, whenfinal approval of the projectwill take place. —————————————Hoang can be reached athbanh@lmi.net, and more news isavailable at www.dimondnews.org.

Dimond NewsC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 3

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Rettig LandslideC O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 2

8August 2004

he Laurel district is arelatively late bloomerin Oakland’s commercial

neighborhoods. By the late1800s both Dimond andFruitvale had established com-mercial blocks, but in 1906 theonly store in the Laurel was ageneral store at the corner of38th Avenue near HopkinsStreet (now MacArthur), and itwas surrounded by farms, dair-ies, and widely scattered houses.

The 1910 extension of the38th Avenue/Leisle street carline, connecting Hopkinswith the thriving Fruitvalecommercial district, and thento downtown, opened Laurelto development. Auto plantsand other industries cameto East Oakland around thesame time.

Housing constructionboomed to provide homes forworkers. “Key Route Heights(the area east of Hopkins

A Walk Through Laurel History between 35th and 38th Avenues)is being offered upon a plan tostimulate home building,” an-nounced the August 15, 1920Oakland Tribune. Easy financingfor both lot and home meanthouses in Laurel were affordableto both the factory worker andthe middle class. Neighborhoodsof stucco and clapboard bunga-lows testify to the enduringeffects of this development.

By the 1920s Hopkins Streetbecame a busy thoroughfarethat linked East Oakland’sneighborhoods. The Laureldistrict boasted hardwareand drug stores, restaurants,a planing mill, and a coal, hay,and feed shop. Small commer-cial buildings with multiplestorefronts created a charming“Main Street.” Gold-toned brick,stucco, and glazed tiles werefavorite building materials,and many stores today arerecognizable as built in the1920s and ’30s.

The boom continued into theThe Laurel Elementary School was built in 1911 to accommodate the rising population in an area recentlyincorporated into the City of Oakland. This Beaux Arts structure with its Corinthian pilasters served the districtuntil the 1950s. It stood on the site of the present-day Laurel Elemenatary School facing Kansas street.

BY PAMELA MAGNUSON-PEDDLE

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