Although they aren't in the immediate neighborhood, I also have to mention two "graduates" of the Grand Lake Market:

While we're on the subject, I'd encourage you to put the Best of the East Bay Party on your calendar for August 6. I'm told it's a great way to meet girls so (from 5 until 8) you'll find me behind the bar serving beer and wine for the California One Foundation. As an additional perk, I take home a free T-shirt.

There are a few other things going on in the Grand Lake business district that are worth noting:

Jean Quan has established a campaign office at 3237 Grand (next to Urban Furniture) while the Meg Whitman campaign has opened one at 3217 Lakeshore--next to Subway Sandwich. Just up the block, Izek Day Spa Salon at 3319 Lakeshore has (at their own expense) installed a raised planter around the tree well in front of their shop. I think it looks fabulous. If you agree and are so inclined, pop your head in and tell Jacqueline Thomas (the owner) that you appreciate her efforts.

Although it's well outside my usual beat, I have to give a plug for Garden Hortica since one of my neighbors on Balfour is a part owner. It's on a small plot on 7th Street at the base of Highway 24. They boast a great selection of cacti and exotic Australian natives. Jeffrey tells me they will be having an open house today (July 24) from 2 to 5 featuring free hot dogs and hamburgers.

Last, but certainly not least on my extended list of good news is that last month's Fiber Festival in Splash Pad Park was a huge success and a repeat performance is looming (sorry for that) in the future. If you want a taste of what transpired, check out my Flickr photo set and/or read the recap I wrote for Oakland Local. The latter was never published as it arrived late amidst a flurry of news about the Oscar Grant verdict and subsequent demonstration with the coup de grace delivered by a crazed gunman from Groveland.

The Bad News

The previous sentence provides a fitting segue for our list of bad news. Topping that list is Oakland's continuing budget crisis which necessitated the layoff of eighty of our least senior police officers. In addition, our Problem Solving Officers have been reassigned to patrol as was the Grand Lake Walking Beat Officer, Jeff Tom, who grew up in the neighborhood and attended Crocker Highlands School.

In addition, five Neighborhood Service Coordinators are supposedly scheduled for pink slips. One of them, Hoang Banh, has been working the Grand Lake neighborhood for about five years. She's one of the most dedicated and effective public servants I've had the pleasure of knowing. Those of us who have been actively involved in community organizing will have a much tougher row to hoe if she is, in fact, laid off.

To further complicate matters, there has been a rash of daytime robberies in this area--mostly east of Lakeshore in the Lakeshore Homes district. Victims have all been women (two with children) with the exception of one older gentleman who was robbed in the Trader Joe's parking lot after withdrawing a substantial sum of cash. These incidents actually began well before the police layoffs and are unfortunately continuing with at least two different sets of perpetrators. Best advice is to be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

If you're interested in keeping tabs on what's going on in precincts 14Y and 16X (above 580 from about Oakland Avenue to Park Blvd), I'd highly recommend becoming a member of the Grand Lake Yahoo Group. There isn't really a lot of traffic and messages typically range from crime reports to missing pets to noise complaints. If you're interested in joining, contact Grand Lake Neighbors Chair, David Flack at mdavidflack@yahoo.com.

You may also want to attend a community meeting called by Pat Kernighan specifically to discuss how OPD and the community can work together to prevent any further street robberies . It's scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, at 6:30pm at Barnett Hall (next to Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church). Area 2 Commander Paul Figueroa will be participating.

Unfortunately, we have more bad news on a very different front. In the June Newsletter, I mentioned that three of the Canary Palms in Splash Pad Park were in obvious distress. The Tree Services division of Public Works hired an arborist to examine and test these trees. According to her report, all three tested positive for Fusarium Wilt--a highly contagious and invariably fatal fungal infection. As this photo graphically demonstrates, the fungus is rapidly exacting its toll. Plans are to post all three palms for removal as required.

Most common means of infection for the Canary Palms is through infected cutting tools, but any kind of damage leaves an open wound that invites infection. The success of the Farmers Market is therefore a bit problematic. You can help out in a small way by keeping kids from swinging on the fronds to the point that they break and also diplomatically ask anyone poised to prune back a frond that they absolutely shouldn't be doing so.

Upcoming Events

The upcoming events section logically should have been grouped with the good news but this way we end on a positive bent.

Paula Wirth is an Oakland photographer best known, I think, for documenting local events including the Indie Awards. Paula has helped organize an exhibit of Oakland images at Woody's Cafe on Park Blvd. across from the Parkway Theater. Oakland Lost & Found features the work of seven talented photographers and is open through August 18.

As an aside (speaking of photographs), yours truly is now officially an award-winning photographer thanks to the photo contest sponsored by the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau.

No, the awards are not going to my head--well, maybe just a little bit. Realistically, I think I fared better than some far superior photographers by knowing what they didn't want. Photos of the San Francisco skyline--even if they were taken from Oakland--had to be toxic. The same with photos of graffiti and other urban grit. Basically, they were looking for images that make Oakland look attractive and interesting. What's really great is that precious little effort is required to do so.

The San Francisco Mime Troupe will be performing "Posibilidad" or "Death of the Worker" at Lakeside Park on August 4 and 5 with music beginning at 6:30. For a complete list of performances at other locations, visit their website at www.sfmt.org.

National Night Out is August 3 from 7 to 9PM. Grand Avenue will not be participating so this is a perfect opportunity to organize a neighborhood block party if you don't already have one scheduled. You can register online anytime before this coming Monday at 5 PM.

Best of the East Bay Party in Jack London Square on August 6 beginning at 5 PM.

The Art and Soul Festival in downtown Oakland August 21 and 22.

If you have friends or neighbors who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward this link: www.splashpad.org/mostrecent.html and invite them to subscribe by sending an email to info@splashpad.org.