Splash Pad Park

The park continues to look great thanks to the two Disney work days and also thanks to to the generosity of Tim Drew, who maintains a small, backyard nursery off upper Lakeshore that specializes in California Natives. Tim donated a ton of plants in 4" and 1 gallon pots to Odette Pollar's Plant Exchange. I grabbed a quantity specifically for Splash Pad including some Lupines, Mimulus, a Great Valley Gumplant and a Creambush. Tim does business as Chochenyo Gardens. If you're interested in California Natives, I'd encourage you to check out his website.

When I wrote in the last newsletter about the Disney volunteer days, I neglected to mention two members of the community who had participated. This was particularly unforgivable since Dave and Susan Elliott have been two of our most dependable volunteers over the past several years. Susan, I hope all is forgiven. We still have a pair of loppers with your name on it.

Jerry Barclay and the Splash Pad Farmers Market Advisory Committee have scheduled two work days including one this Sunday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Some tools will be available but your own gloves and favorite weeding tools would be welcomed. There will be an additional volunteer day on Sunday, June 6th followed by volunteer days the first Sunday of even-numbered months i.e. August, October, December, etc.

We're really anxious to get into the plant beds and the decomposed granite walkways to build on what was accomplished at the two big Disney Give a Day events. The new weeds that popped up in the areas that were just worked come out quite easily--particularly after the continuing rains. If you want more information about volunteering at Splash Pad, please contact Jerry at jerryandcaryn@gmail.com.

New Park Supervisors Appointed

Two Public Works employees were recently promoted to new positions effective this week. Tora Rocha is now the Park Supervisor I in charge of Lake Merritt and West Oakland. Her promotion was a validation of all that she's accomplished over the many years that she's worked for the city--but particularly so, for the extent to which the Morcom Rose Garden has been transformed under her stewardship.

She leaves Morcom in the care of a big cadre of dedicated volunteers who will now be working in support of John Montgomery, the city gardener who has been working at Morcom and elsewhere alongside Tora.

The other newly installed Park Supervisor I is Herman Miller who is now responsible for a big swath of parks and medians that includes the Rose Garden and Splash Pad Park. Herman comes to us from Desley Brook's district in East Oakland. At the get-together two weeks ago honoring community volunteers, Desley did something I very much appreciated as she chose to honor park employees who do more than is required of them. One of those honored was Herman Miller and, judging by what Desley said, their loss is our gain.

Since Splash Pad Park is not on the Priority Maintenance List, I'm assuming Jerry Barclay and his Splash Pad Advisory Committee will be working with Mr. Miller to figure out how community volunteers can work with city staff to maintain and improve the park.

Farmers Market News

As we reported in last month's newsletter, Nessia has resigned to join the Peace Corps. This photo shows Nessia and Brad Burger (the new Market Manager) on her last day at the market. Thus far, the transition has been quite seamless.

The market's permanent storage container has been installed under the freeway to house supplies and equipment including plywood panels to help protect the grass in vendors' booths, as well as bins for the market's soon to be instituted composting and recycling program. According to Brad, they're lining up students to oversee the bins at least temporarily to make sure that the right materials end up in the appropriate place.

This past Saturday, Brad Gates' daughter posed for me holding a big bunch of Lilacs. Due to the vacillating temperatures and late rains, this may be the last of this year's Lilacs. If so, it will be awhile before Wild Boar Farms returns with their ever popular heirloom tomatoes.

Also this past Saturday, I stopped at the Hillcrest Ranch booth and eavesdropped on a conversation that vendor Jessie Amaya was having with a potential customer. I hadn't realized that their olive oil was pressed on site in nearby Sunol and that the olives were grown on 100 year-old trees. Jessie also mentioned that the ranch is open for tours sometime in November. Please contact the owner for details.

Grand Lake Merchant News

After being closed for several months for remodeling, Mimosa at 462 Santa Clara has reopened under new ownership and with a new menu and an expanded moniker--Mimosa Ethiopian Restaurant.

Things are hopping on Lake Park Avenue. The Heart and Dagger Saloon and Lanesplitter Pizza are about to get a new neighbor. Dan Brajkovich, who previously operated La Taza de Cafe, has leased what was most recently, the Neighborhood Center as well as the vacant storefront next door. The smaller space will become a Cuban take-out restaurant with moderate prices while the larger space will serve as a cabaret.

Dan has undertaken a major restoration of the facade exposing the original tiles and clerestory windows as well as a vintage sign that is probably circa 1950. Unless the cost is totally prohibitive, Dan intends to restore the Mabel's Knit Blocking sign to its former glory with a new paint job and neon tubing.

When this stretch of sidewalk on Lakepark is landscaped and widened by 8 feet early next year, we will finally begin to see the kind of pedestrian-friendly environment that Walter Hood had envisioned as Phase II of the Splash Pad project.

Over on Grand, Daily Delectables, the doughnut shop at 3249 Grand, has closed and will be replaced shortly by a gluten-free bakery called "Good Chemistry Baking". The owner, Jane O'Hara is a Glenview resident. She told me that they're planning (or at least hoping) to be open by May 28th in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

Obviously full of energy and enthusiasm, Jane plans to be open Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 to 4:00. The bakery will be totally dedicated to gluten-free products which will include muffins, scones, lemon-bars and cupcakes.

I asked her about the taste of the gluten-free baked goods and she assured me that you won't be able to taste the difference. That's where the "good chemistry" comes in apparently. In any case, the proof is in the pudding or more accurately perhaps, in the lemon-bars. Jane's realtor, Kevin Nakahara ( a Crocker Highlands grad) was treated to a sample and he told me they were incredible.

After some 20 years in the same location, Sunset Cosmetics at 3411 Lakeshore has closed but they do still have an online presence at www.sunsetskincare.com.

The space that they vacated has been undergoing extensive remodeling and will open shortly as a new beauty shop.

Across the street, the haircutting parlor next to Colonial Doughnuts has a new owner and a new name. "Altogether U" specializes in hair weaving and coloring.

Oakland Running Festival A Huge Success

Just before the 5k race around Lake Merritt that launched the two-day running festival, I stumbled across the two main honchos from Corrigan Sports and thanked them for coming to Oakland. I was surprised at how ebullient they were over the welcome they had already received. They suggested, as diplomatically as possible, that Oakland needs a new PR person to better promote a city that they found totally unlike its prevailing image. In and of itself, this annual festival will go a long way towards spreading this message.

In addition to being a wonderful event for runners, volunteers and spectators, the festival also provided some marvelous photo opportunities. Of the photos I posted on Flickr, I particularly liked the kids' 100 yard dash and the one depicting Oakland-resident, Steve Moreno, as he passed the Oakland Fox Theatre just before crossing the finish line as winner of the Half Marathon. The juxtaposition of the two seemed in a way symbolic of Oakland's ongoing Renaissance. If we aren't yet to the finish line, maybe we can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel--particularly with a 300 power lens.

Oakland Museum Reopens this Saturday

One additional element in this civic Renaissance, the reinvented Oakland Museum, opens its doors Saturday morning at 11:00 am after undergoing a $62 million renovation. The museum was the subject of several articles in this Sunday's Tribune including this article by Angela Hill. Festivities will continue non-stop for 31 hours with overnight dancing, candle-light tours and a morning Yoga session.

One earlier news release encouraged late-night revelers to come in pajamas. Not me! I learned my lesson in 1976 when I showed up at a Bicentennial Crafts Fair in Concord dressed in period costume (knickers and a frilly blouse) as required by the promoter. Only one other vendor was in costume and all day long, potential customers went out of their way to avoid me. When I occasionally managed to corral people, I asked "Do you know why I'm dressed like this?" The most common reply: "We figured you live in Berkeley"--which just goes to show that things never really change.

Grand Lake Entertainment Calendar

My New Year's resolution was to keep the Grand Lake Entertainment Calendar up to date--but I might as well as have sworn off beer.

Two upcoming performances did, however, shame me into finding the time to post a schedule for the next five weeks.

The Foggy Gulch Band will be appearing at the market for the first time on May 15. This group is led by Eric Hughes who is the head of the Grand Lake Improvements Committee--as well as a faithful volunteer at our Splash Pad work days. If you have a chance, please be sure to give Eric a pat on the back for all he and his group have accomplished in the commercial district over the last two years. If you're interested in getting involved, introduce yourself and ask for his card with a link to his Facebook account.

On June 5, the Westlake Middle School Concert Band, String Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble will be performing a total of 100 numbers as part of a fund-raising "Playathon".

Randy Porter, a music instructor at Westlake who is spear-heading this concert, told me that the fundraising effort is essential to cover a myriad of expenses including instruments, repairs and sheet music. He and the Westlake students are excited to have the opportunity to perform at the market. While playing his cards close to the vest, Mr. Porter told me they were hoping to be joined by at least one "big-name" guest artist, but had not yet received confirmation.

While I was active in the Dad's Club at Crocker Highlands many moons ago, we were in the same boat. The Oakland A's promised us a player to be named later for an event in the Auditorium. Someone started the rumor (no, it wasn't me) that the surprise guest would be Ricky Henderson. Not surprisingly, the room was filled to the rafters for (drum roll, please) Chris Codiroli.

My advice regarding June 5: forget the big-name guest. If this concert is anything like the one provided by Brewer Middle School last year, we're all in for a treat that will help restore (if needed) your faith in the future of the musical arts and our society in general.

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