Temescal News & Views

ThE vOIcE OF nOrTh OaklanDs TEMEscal nEIGhBOrhOOD March/april 2012

Published bimonthly by Temescal Neighbors Together (TNT)
Our MIssIOn

TNT seeks to enhance the quality of life in our diverse community through revitalization of our homes, business, schools, and public services by providing an ongoing forum for community education, interaction, and empowerment.
EDITOrIal POlIcy

FROG Park Big Build, October 2001.

TN&V publishes submissions from community members. We do not fact-check, although we correct inaccuracies when we find them. We strive to achieve an unbiased tone and may edit articles accordingly, but ultimately TN&V reflects the point of view of the authors and not that of the editors. Please email submissions to: temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com. Editor: Dana Hull Layout: Lasell Whipple Copy Editor: Phoebe Weiss Distribution: Tomi Kobara Advisors: Viki Maxwell, Jeff Norman Printing: Piedmont Copy

10th anniversary of FrOG Park april 21

ave the date: FROG Parks 10th anniversary celebration and the annual Earth Day maintenance and work party will be held on April 21. Over 10 years ago, in October 2001, community volunteers finished building the play structures at FROG Park, which is now a central feature linking the Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods. Prior to 2001, it was mostly a fenced and heavily weeded area with dilapidated basketball courts. More than 1,300 volunteers joined together for ten days, working from dawn until after dark, to build the custom-designed play structures in what became known as the Big Build. Community volunteers assembled every bit of wood and Trex, every screw and nail, the mosaic turtle and wall, each painted wooden butterfly, flower and leaf and all of the fencing. Local businesses, garden clubs, UC Berkeley students, the Junior League, Oakland Firefighters

Thank You!
This issue of Temescal News & Views has been generously funded by
The Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District (BID)

and volunteers from throughout the city gave their time and energy to make this park a reality. On April 21, well kick off the day with the annual Earth Day maintenance activities from 9 a.m. until noon. From noon until 2 p.m., well have a special FROG 10th Anniversary Celebration to celebrate the people who made FROG Park and the play structures possible. It will be a full day with many family-friendly activities including entertainers, crafts and games. We hope all FROG volunteers from the original Big Build can attend, as we want to celebrate their work and dedication to the community. Were also planning to survey the community to confirm park improvement priorities, and we are working with several DMV-area neighbors to replant trees and restore the creekside area. Please email us at info@frogpark.org for more information and to get involved with specific projects that utilize your expertise or can involve the whole family! The FROG 10th Anniversary Celebration will be Saturday April 21 in the Big FROG grassy area. Earth Day maintenance and work party from 9 a.m. until noon; celebration from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome! u
Theresa Nelson and Carol Behr, FROG (Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt) Chair and Committee Member

FROG Park Opening Day.

March/aPrIl 2012

save Energy and Money While supporting local schools

n innovative new fundraiser is helping Temescal schools raise money while promoting energy efficiency. Sponsored by Energy Upgrade California, the statewide rebate program that helps homeowners save money on energy upgrades to their homes, Energize for the Prize offers neighborhood schools, PTAs and other school-related organizations throughout Alameda County the opportunity to earn $100 for every home that signs up for an energy upgrade. The school organization with the most upgrades by Earth Day will earn an additional $5,000. There is no cap to how much money schools can raise with Energize for the Prize and no limit to the number

of upgrades a school can benefit from. Several schools in Temescal and surrounding neighborhoods are participating in Energize for the Prize, including Chabot, Emerson, Peralta, Hillcrest, Park Day School and Claremont Middle School. We are thrilled to be participating in Energize for the Prize, said Diana Downton, a Temescal resident and Energy Ambassador at Emerson Elementary School. It is a great opportunity to raise money for our school while promoting a program that supports the environmentally friendly practices taught in our school. Energy upgrades like attic insulation and duct sealing can reduce energy use and lower utility bills, make homes

healthier and more comfortable and reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions. Homeowners have to pay for the improvements, but rebates of up to $4,000 are available through Energy Upgrade California. Participating contractors can be found online at EnergyUpgradeCA. org. Schools and school organizations can learn more by visiting EnergizeForThePrize.org. Energy Upgrade California and Energize for the Prize will be featured at the Rockridge Community Planning Councils town hall meeting, held at the Rockridge Library, on Thursday March 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. u Edie Irons, StopWaste.Org

Oakland Techs This Is It! auction March 24

onderful food, friendship, entertainment and the chance to bid on an enticing array of auction items await you at This is It!, Oakland Technical High Schools 2012 Auction. Sponsored by the schools Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), the auction is Oakland Techs main fundraising event and provides crucial support for the school, recently hailed in a front page Oakland Tribune article as Oaklands new it school. Oakland Techs Academic Performance Index (API) scores have steadily increased in recent years, and Oakland Tech now has the highest API score of all the traditional high schools in Oakland Unified. Funds raised by the auction provide necessary support to all areas of the school and its students, including classroom needs, athletics, music, lab supplies, technology and more. This year, we hope to raise over $52,000 and surpass last years total. We encourage everyone to participate in whatever way appeals to you. Local businesses or community members can sponsor

our event, donate merchandise and services or purchase a catalog ad. Neighbors from Temescal and communities throughout the city are invited to the party.

Prospective Families of Emerson Elementary school

Do you have kids starting kindergarten in the coming years? Are you curious about Temescals Emerson Elementary School? Would you like to meet other families in the neighborhood who are thinking about elementary school? Join this neighborhood contact list of 55 neighborhood families and 70 children who care about education. The list is organized by the year each child starts kindergarten to help families see themselves as part of a cohort. People use the contact list to meet their neighbors down the street with kids the same age; or organize a play date at the playground; or work collaboratively to [insert your great idea here]. For more information, contact Jason Patton at patton@alum.rpi.edu. u Jason Patton, 44th & Shafter

Oakland Tech was recently hailed as Oaklands new it school.

The event is Saturday, March 24, between 6:00-10:30 p.m., at the Uptown Body and Fender building at 401 26th Street in Oakland. Tickets are $25 per person until February 29, and $35 afterward. For more information or to donate an item, contact auction@oaklandtech. com or visit: www.oaklandtech.com/ ptsa/auction-2012. u Diane Heinze, Oakland Tech Parent

TEMEscal nEWs & vIEWs

lawton Developer responds to neighbors concerns

Editors note: The January/February issue of Temescal News & Views featured a story about opposition to a proposed development at 4812 Lawton Avenue. Tom Anthony, the developer, has written an article in response.

ecently, it came to my attention that some Temescal residents are concerned about my planned development at 4812 Lawton Avenue. I understand that the primary concerns are about the scale and potential impact that the two homes may have on the neighborhoods character. As the owner of Anthony Associates, a boutique real estate brokerage and development company located at 5666 Telegraph Ave. and former long-time Temescal resident, I share the communitys goal of preserving the character of the neighborhood. I have worked with the neighbors and City staff to reduce the size, height and bulk of the homes so that they will have minimal impact on the sunlight, privacy and livability of neighboring properties. The current designs are in scale with the neighborhood and comply with all zoning regulations for the site. We arent

Proposed development: 4812 Lawton Avenue.

seeking a single variance for the project. The precedent of a diverse housing stock is well established in the Lawton area. Therefore, our proposed homes are in line with the existing pattern of the neighborhood. The housing stock consists of two- and three-story homes, plus multi-unit properties existing next to one-story homes. Additionally, there are former single-story bungalows whose owners have added second stories to accommodate the needs of modern living (i.e., home office, new baby, etc.). I care deeply about the context and design of homes that we build. Our homes arent tract homes or cheap quick flips. We have a proven record of quality

construction, attention to detail and stunning landscape design. Our work includes The Painted Ladies of Temescal off of Shattuck on 48th Street. Formerly a block of dilapidated houses, we built 3 homes that blend with the adjacent Edwardian and Victorian homes. We painted neighbors homes, planted trees and added value to the block. There was the derelict duplex at 4945-4947 Shafter Avenue, which we renovated into side-by-side 2-story townhouses. As is common in Temescal, these townhouses are next door to single- and three-story homes. We transformed the run-down property, known for criminal activity, into two residences that helped restore the value to the area. View the quality of our homes at: www.557-48thstreet.com and www.4947 shafterave.com. I am happy to meet with interested neighbors to review the 4812 Lawton Avenue plans. u Tom Anthony, Anthony Associates, 653-6000

alley cats
ith the Telegraph Ave. corridor hopping with thriving restaurants and retail space at a premium, enterprising merchants have taken to the districts alleys for their business ventures. Two alleys in particular are now thriving: Alley 49, a cluster of five shops directly behind the Bank of the West building at 49th and Telegraph, and Temescal Alley, where 10 unique businesses have settled in. Alley 49 used to be filled with garages and before that livery stables for the old key car horses. Now five entrepreneurs have set up shop, including photographer Hasain Rasheed, whose studio portraits will light up your eyes with their humanity. On one side of Hasains studio is Somat-

ic Arts, a yoga and pilates center, and on the other is a meditation center. Crimson Horticultural Rarities is more than plants, a curiosity shop with oodles of creative eye candy, bursting with art and artifacts. A new caf and donut shop is opening soon as well. Finally, at Alley 49s entrance is Esqueleto, featuring fine jewelry from local artisans and monthly art shows. The shops down Alley 49 are relatively small, but one could spend hours sifting through the quirky and wondrous wares being displayed. If you are looking for the unique, the one-of-a-kind, the creative gift for self and/or other, you might find your way down Alley 49. Just a few feet further up 49th Street is Temescal Alley, the larger of the alleys. About ten unique businesses are settled in, including the old-fashioned but new-

styled barber shop; The Little Shop On The Alley, an eclectic general store of artifacts; Marissa Haskal designs, a jeweler and artisan; Oakland Dry Goods, with homemade granola and pickled veggies; and on the street side, Lot 49, with nifty used furniture, toys, knickknacks and paddy whacks. Temescal Alley sports a large sculpture that looks like a metal tree with a giant metallic red bird. Quirky is as quirky does. Both alleys are teeming with life and commerce and make a great stroll after knocking down a fried chicken sandwich at Bakesale Bettys, a salad at the Mixing Bowl or paella at Barlata. Bring your credit card; you might want to adopt something and bring it home. u Gary Turchin

March/aPrIl 2012

TEMEscal cOMMunITy calEnDar

safety1st Joins Temescals Team

Its Safety1st for the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District (BID) in more ways than one. Safety1st is the new community development and outreach firm that the Temescal Telegraph BID has hired to help with maintenance and clean-up within the BID boundaries: Telegraph Avenue from 40th to 66th Street, including small portions of Shattuck Ave, 51st, and Claremont Ave. But Safety1st has a dual mission: it will also be monitoring security in the district. While Safety1st crews perform standard neighborhood maintenance operations, including graffiti abatement, they will also be providing neighborhood watch and reporting, and, when needed, incident management. If someone should need directions, community information or resources or social service assistance, then the Safety1st team members become community liaisons who are there to help. They will be the neighborhoods eyes, ears and helping hands. The Safety1st team comes to Temescal with the experience of serving the Koreatown-Northgate (KONO) District. Since Safety1st arrived in the KONO District, crime and reported incidents are down 75%. Keep an eye out for the Safety1st crew: their bright yellow uniforms should help you readily identify them. Introduce yourself and get to know them, as they are working for us all. Youll see them walking the neighborhood, picking up litter, engaging community members, riding E-bikes and providing services with a smile. You can reach Safety1st on the same phone number you call the BID at 860-7327 x2. u

Got AN itEm for thE CAlENdAr? E-mail: temescalnewsandviews@gmail.com

Every sunday, 9 am 1 pm. Temescal Farmers Market, 5300 Claremont Ave., DMV parking lot. Bring your own bags. The farmers market also accepts WIC coupons. sundays, 9 am. Keep Temescal Clean &

Tuesday March 13, 5:30 pm. Emerson

Beautiful meets to pick up trash and clean graffiti. 43rd & Shafter. Rain cancels. Gloves, bags and litter pick-up tools are provided. Call Tim Anderson at 698-2393 or AndersTim@gmail. com with questions. More information at http:// www.facebook.com/KeepTemescalClean.

Elementary monthly PTO meeting. Potluck dinner at 5:30; meeting in the library at 6 pm. Childcare provided and everyone is welcome. 4803 Lawton Ave., 654-7373. Repeats on Tuesday April 3.

Thursday March 15, 7:30 9 pm. Energy

Upgrade California and Energize for the Prize will be featured at the Rockridge Community Planning Councils town hall meeting, held at the Rockridge Library. Technical High School annual auction at the Uptown Body and Fender building, 401 26th St. Tickets are $25 per person until Feb. 29 and $35 afterward. For more information or to donate an item, contact auction@oaklandtech. com for visit: www.oaklandtech.com/ptsa/ auction-2012.

Every Monday, 5:30 6:45 pm. Donationbased Community Hatha Yoga Class at Heartwalker Studio, 4920 Telegraph Ave. (upstairs). Suggested donations, $10-15; no one turned away for lack of funds. Classes also held Tuesday mornings. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3 6 pm. The East Bay Childrens Book Project, which gives books free of charge to professionals who work with children in need, is open in its new location at the Mosswood Recreation Center, 3612 Webster St. Info: 408-READ or www.ebcbp.org. Wednesdays, 10:30 am. Preschool story time.

saturday March 24, 6 - 10:30 pm. Oakland

Temescal Branch Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave., 597-5049. Tool Lending Library meet at the Kingfish pub, 5227 Claremont Ave. Repeats April 4.

sunday, March 25, 7:30 am. The Oakland Marathon kicks off downtown, and Temescal is part of the course early on. The marathon course includes Telegraph Ave. from 41st to 51st St.: come out early and cheer them on! For more information go to www.oaklandmarathon.com. saturday april 12, 2 pm. Memorial Tabernacle

Wednesday March 7, 7 pm. Friends of the

Friday March 9, 7:30 pm. Poetry Saloon

Church invites you to an Easter Eggstravaganza with games/activities for youth of all ages, light refreshments, arts & crafts and an Easter Egg hunt for children age 8 and younger. 5801 Racine St. Call 652-4915 for more information.

meets at 472 44th St. Potluck dinner at 6 pm, reading at 7:30 pm. Bring poems by you and others to share, or come just to enjoy. Repeats April 13 and second Friday of every month. Call 654-6495 with questions.

saturday april 21, 9 am. The FROG Park 10th

Anniversary Celebration in the Big FROG grassy area. Earth Day maintenance and work party from 9 a.m. until noon; celebration from noon until 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome!

out this newsletterbut we still need to pay the printer! If you value this community publication, please consider making a donation. Any amount will help. Make your check payable to TNT, and send it with this form to: TNT, c/o 477 Rich St., Oakland, CA 94609. Thank You!

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Gary Turchin

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