Hyim Ross at Stern Grove June 24

Many of you may remember that a young Oakland resident named Hyim Ross conducted a five day fast and vigil at Splash Pad Park last year protesting the amount of money spent on the Iraq War at the expense of education. In addition to his career as a school teacher, Hyim is an accomplished singer/songwriter who is doing great things. Last month he journeyed to Poland where he was a featured performer at the re-dedication of a Jewish cemetery destroyed in World War II and on June 24, his Fat Foakland Orchestra will be the opening act at the venerable Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco.

Farmers Market News

In its annual "Best of Oakland" edition, "Oakland Magazine" named our farmers market the best in Oakland describing it as:

Home to colorful characters and colorful food, there is no place like the Grand Lake Farmers Market.

Entertainment this week will be provided by the very popular Lacy Baker and The Black Diamond Blues Band as well as Susan Holland on folk guitar featuring songs for children. Next Saturday, June 16th, look for Big Dog and the Bite plus Rob Robinson, the R & B keyboardist.

In an article in the Grand Lake Guardian in late January, I wrote about how the statewide freeze had severely impacted local growers, but noted in passing that the cold temperatures would ultimately benefit stone fruits--particularly cherries. Eddie Chavez's (from EGB Farms ) prediction is borne out by this year's unusually plentiful and high quality cherry crop. Enjoy! Half a dozen vendors should continue picking through the month of June.

Almost as sweet--the very first of the season, just-picked white corn at the market beginning this past week.

Peggy and Helen from Kassenhoff Growers are done for the season. In their absence, you can continue to purchase tomatoes and herbs from Organic ....based in Richmond.

Lakeview Mural

This month's issue of Oakland Magazine also included a very complimentary article about the newly-completed Lakeview Mural Project. In actuality, the mural is almost complete. It still needs a protective coat of varnish and because of the vast size of the mural, that's a substantial expense--some $5,000 according to Peter Lee, the lead artist on the project. You can make a donation through their website.

Crime Alert

Unfortunately, our Grand Lake neighborhood is in the midst of a serious crime wave that prompted a community meeting a couple of weeks ago that drew some 140 concerned neighborhood residents. The central concern is over a string of seven armed robberies of pedestrians in the early evening hours over a period of about six weeks. All have occurred on quiet side streets off Lakeshore and Grand just above the freeway. Please be alert and report suspicious activity to the OPD non-emergency number (777-3333) or if the circumstances warrant it, call 911. On a cell phone, be sure to call not 911, but 777-3211. Otherwise, your call will be routed through the CHP.

This issue will be the primary item on the agenda of the Grand Lake Community Council meeting this Thursday at the Community Center (530 Lake Park Avenue) beginning at 7 PM. If you can't attend, but want more information about the neighborhood walking patrols that have been initiated or about the Neighborhood Watch Program, contact the GLCC chair, Jana Hardy at ?.