Splash Pad Park News The little park that could will be celebrating the 6th Anniversary of its rebirth on October 20. Considering the intensive use it gets on Saturdays, it's held up amazingly well. There are, however, a couple of initiatives underway that will hopefully resolve some of the more obvious problems. For starters, Council member Kernighan (in consultation with Jerry Barclay's Splash Pad/Farmers Market Advisory Committee) will be meeting with the Marin County Farmers Market Association to discuss their providing financial assistance towards the maintenance of the park--particularly the wear and tear that is directly attributable to the market. In addition, SPFMAC is beginning to explore some possible modifications and improvements in the landscaping and in the infrastructure. The first step was a very productive meeting this past week with Walter Hood to get his input and discuss our options. If you're interested in more details, please attend the upcoming Advisory Committee meeting on October 21 at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church beginning at 7:00 PM. You can also contribute in a more hands-on fashion by volunteering to work a one or two-hour shift at Splash Pad on Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Plan is to dig up the weeds in the California Native Plant Bed which volunteers have done more times than I can remember. To make this a more permanent remedy, we will also be adding soil amendments; and then covering with cardboard. Once 6" of mulch is added, we should finally have the upper hand on this problem. Work gloves and some tools will be available--but weeding implements are always in short supply. Beverages and snacks will be provided.
Latest News on Parking The City Council meeting two weeks ago was easily the most vitriolic I've ever seen with emotions driven to a feverish pitch by Oakland's efforts to increase revenue through expanded parking fees, hours and fines. This week's discussion on the same issue was far more cordial as it was a foregone conclusion that a majority of the members would vote to roll back enforcement hours to 6 PM and request an overall analysis of the city's parking policies. After the measure passed, Council member Kernighan asked the City Administrator to implement the rollback immediately. So please remember, it's once again, Six in the City! Merchant News Impetus for the parking hour rollback came mainly from Oakland's business community which cited lost revenues averaging 30%. This is a result that economist (and Cleveland Cascade's chief honcho) Jim Ratliff predicted in a July 31 email to the Grand Lake NeighborsYahoo Group. He noted in part: "I haven't seen any evidence that the City did a valid analysis that would show that the increase in, and extension of hours of, parking fees would raise ANY additional revenue, rather than be a net negative, particularly once you factor in the loss of sales-tax revenue resulting from the decrease in shopping." Merchants and restaurants in the Grand Lake commercial district were amongst those who have been most seriously affected by the parking fiasco further complicating their efforts to survive an already shaky economy. In order to address these concerns citywide, Pamela Drake (Director of the Lakeshore Business Improvement District) is helping coordinate a merchant/community appreciation day on October 23 from 5 to 8:00 PM. Please watch for additional publicity, but tentative plans call for street musicians, food tastings, special sales, etc. As an aside, Pamela emailed me a couple of days ago for input. My reaction: "Impossible to pull off in such a short time frame". You can do Pamela and your neighborhood merchants a big favor and in the process force me to concede that (just this once) I was mistaken. Please mark October 23 down in your calendars and then go out shopping and/or eating and/or drinking with a movie thrown in for good measure. Last month, I wrote about the upcoming opening of Brian Hill's Taste of Joy restaurant at 3909 Grand and posted a photo of Inka Pullen working on a mural in the front room adjacent to the bar. Here's a photo of the completed mural that also reveals brightly colored walls and sleek furnishings. Brian and his wife have done a great job sprucing up and decorating this space inside and out. If all goes according to schedule, you can get your fix of great Southern cuisine right here in the Grand Lake starting later this month. Further down the street at 3241 Grand, a new shop has just opened called Urban Furniture which is operated by a non-profit agency called Urban University. I dropped in last Sunday and talked to Tracey Weaver who is their Chief Executive Officer. Their intention is to employ their clients, who are typically single mothers, as sales people, cashiers and managers in order to develop skills that can lead to long-term careers. This seems like a really good project providing a much-needed service. Please stop in and give Tracey a big welcome and, if you're so inclined, come back frequently to check out the new furnishings. Another key to their success will be a constant flow of new merchandise. If you have used furniture or accessories in good useable condition, give them a call at 835-3165. Rose Garden Celebration and Work Day In last month's Newsletter, I gave an enthusiastic plug for the Woodstock to Rootstock celebration at the Morcom Rose Garden on September 12. The Splash Pad mailing list turned out to be a drop in the bucket compared to the results of the efforts of public relations maven, Jo Ann Driscoll. The Tribune did a very nice background article on the 10th and the Chronicle did a follow-up story on the 21st. Perhaps, the most intriguing account, however, was penned by Paige R. Ricks for the Oakland North website. Despite all the free publicity, the turnout at the Woodstock to Rootstock event was rather disappointing due to a freak, unseasonal rainstorm and also due to the fact that lots of potential volunteers (including me) were out of town for the holiday weekend. The 50 volunteers who did show up were in for a treat. Those who had completed their "deadheading" training received their tie-dyed aprons and everyone then adjourned to the Grand Tavern where Temoor served delectable appetizers washed down with good wines. This Saturday is another of the regular volunteer workdays at the Rose Garden scheduled from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. As a fundraiser, friends of the Oakland Rose Garden will be selling tie-dyed shirts with the Rose Garden logo and t-shirts that feature a reproduction of a photo that recently turned up in the Rose Garden shed depicting the park still under construction in the 1930's. The latter shirts were donated through the cooperative efforts of long-time neighborhood benefactor, Arvi Dorsey, Queen at 3338 Grand and Elida Scola from Galleria Scola. Our good friends at Oaklandish also chipped in with a substantial discount on their silk-screen services. Farmers Market News I don't have much to report in the way of first-hand information as I've rarely made it to the market for the past six weeks or so. A bicycle club called the Easy Riders that frequently meets on Saturdays is partially to blame and big chunk of September was consumed with my bike/train tour of the California coast that I documented on Flickr. In Santa Barbara, I did get a Farmers Market fix but it didn't compare to the one here at Splash Pad. This Saturday, I'll be there with camera (and shopping bags) in hand trying to make up for lost time. One of the things I missed seeing this past Saturday was David Gans' performance. David may be just about the most unflappable and unstoppable guy I know. Late in August, he suffered a heart attack while on a road tour--an experience which he described on his Grateful Dead Hour blog. A week or so later, he was back on stage and in the studios at KPFA interviewing Tora about the Deadheaders at the Rose Garden and on the 12th, he provided musical accompaniment for the Woodstock to Rootstock festivities at the Grand Tavern. Hang in there, David. All those heirloom tomatoes and weird looking veggies need you as their advocate. Entertainment at the market this Saturday (October 10) will be provided by the Quake City Jug Band and Harry Best on steel drums. On October 17, the Anderson-Gram Band will be making what I think is their debut performance. This is a husband/wife duo who specialize in folk and bluegrass. On the 24th, look for the Brasshoppers and Susan Holland. Tara Linda is scheduled for the 31st as is Roscoe Williams. Speaking of entertainment, L'Amyx on Lakeshore continues to feature live music on Saturday evenings. On October 17, if you're looking for a stage, L'Amyx is the place to be as they're hosting an open mic for aspiring musicians, singers or poets. Free Neighborhood Plant Exchange, October 17 We're very much in debt to Odette for originating the idea of a free plant exchange and then turning it into something of an institution in just a couple of years. Just about everything you need to know is on her website. Only thing I'd add is that this event is also lots of fun and a great way to get acquainted with your neighbors. Splash Pad Newsletter Subscriptions If you have friends, relatives, neighbors or co-workers who may be interested in today's newsletter, please send them this link: http://www.splashpad.org/mostrecent.html. If they choose to do so, they can then subscribe by sending an email to info@splashpad.org. |