Towne Crier #11
WELCOME!
We have three new neighbors and one relocated tenant.
GREG TSUTAOKA has moved back from Seattle into his Loft 311, with his bride ANNABELLE. He commutes to Sacramento for his work in computer software, and she works in a San Francisco health club.
WENDY TINSLEY, who was living in Loft 311, has moved into Loft 405 owned by CATHERINE CHASE, where her mother had a studio.
KELLY has moved into Loft 208. She has relocated with her job at Carolyn Williams Public Relations, from Atlanta to Oakland. Kelly had previously lived in Berkeley for a while, but has always wanted to live in Jack London Square.
PAUL and MARGERY, who had lived in Loft 208, have moved to Emeryville.
Welcome neighbors!
ALOHA
It's not really good-bye, as he's moving his office just down the street. CHO KWAN CPA from the third floor is moving down to 111 Fourth Street, on the ground floor at Sierra Lofts, and will be renting out Loft 307.
TRASH BASH
It went well with a group of 37 folks from all around the neighborhood including Allegro, Brickhouse Lofts, Egg Crate Building, Fourth Street Lofts, Greeno Building, Phoenix Lofts, Sierra Lofts, and Tower Lofts. Afterwards we gathered on the new rooftop of Tower Lofts for a Barbecue hosted by Steve of Prime Smoked Meats. And by the time we were done socializing, the City of Oakland had already hauled away the huge pile of trash we'd piled on the corner.
Thanks to everyone who turned out, including the four from Fourth Street Lofts - JEAN PHEMISTER/Loft #309, Wendy/Loft #405, MIKE FACKOVEC/Loft #305 and yours truly.
ROOF GARDEN INTEREST?
The Architectural Committee is looking into suggestions that our roof be utilized more, perhaps with a Roof Garden. There are a lot of issues to be researched. Before the Committee moves forward with the research, time and effort, it wanted to know if there was an interest in using the roof area. It would be nice if the committee could have some idea of the interest level to take to the next FSL BoD meeting on next Monday 27 October 2003 at 7pm.
You can call, email or drop a note in the mail box of Chairman MIKE FACKOVEC/#305, ROBBIE RENDAHL/#410 or yours truly in #103.
Watch the Mail Room, Bulletin Board for the location and Agenda of the October Meeting of the Fourth Street Lofts Home Owners' Association Board of Directors.
In the meantime, the roof is a great place to watch the sunsets. We've had some spectacular sunsets this past week.
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
Yes, Virginia, there is an end to the retrofitting of the Posey Tube, which is our access into Alameda. After two long years, it seems that it will indeed be a Happy Halloween for all the landlocked residents of Jack London Square. Starting on that date, the Posey Tube (from Oakland to the island of Alameda) will again be open 24/7. It has been shut down week nights 9pm to 6am for the past two years.
The tube reopening makes it easier for those of us who go over to Marina Village for grocery shopping, ice cream cones, pizza and other foods, the drug store, cleaners, etc. Kinko's is also nearby, although they've cut back their hours. They're now only open 6am-11pm week days and 10am-6pm weekends. The days of 24/7 are long gone. But it still is a resource if you need printer cartridges after 9pm when Office Depot down at Fruitvale Square has closed.
COMCAST CABLE CLARITY
Is it my imagination or does the cable signal seem clearer since the Cable Company upgraded the wiring in our building on Wednesday this week? That doesn't mean we still won't have signal interruptions, but at least they're clearer.
And now "they" are telling us on our TV Guide channel that as of 29 October 2003, some channels "will be moving" We have to watch that same TV Guide Channel to find our favorite programs. I hope that means the upgrade is on its way and we can expect more and better channels. Such as Motorsports.
JACK LONDON SQUARE UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 25 October 2003 is United Nations Day, 11am-12 noon with guest speakers and a parade of world flags.
Looking ahead a bit, there's the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday 28 November 2003 - almost a month before Christmas. The tree is 70 feet tall.
The Lighted Yacht Parade is Saturday 6 December 2003, which is great viewed from our roof. And for those who want to go all out, there's a $100 package deal on the Potomac, which is berthed down next to the Ferry Terminal.
NEIGHBORHOOD UPCOMING EVENTS
The Oakland Museum is holding its Tenth Annual Community Celebration of Dias de los Meurtos (Days of the Dead) this Sunday 26 October 2003, noon to 4pm in the Museum Gardens at 1000 Oak Street in Oakland. This is within walking distance. Participation is free.
Among the participants will be Ballet Folklorico Mexicano, Zaguia, Ixim Tinamit, and Yolanda Aranda Coria. The activities will include demonstrations, crafts, music, dance, ceremonia and a mercado.
Due to the city budgetary crisis, the Museum will have to charge half price admission for the exhibition galleries on Sunday.
NEWSPAPER STAND
We have a brand new green paper stand nailed to the sidewalk, right outside the Mail Room Door. It holds the SF Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, SF Express and SF Weekly. It replaces the four separate stands we used to have.
THE CRUCIBLE
This is a shop, classroom and gallery located in a nearby warehouse in our own zip code, at 1260 Seventh Street in Oakland. The Phone is 510/444-0919. The website is www.the crucible.org.
The Crucible was featured recently on KPIX Evening Magazine and KRON's Bay Area Back Roads (http://kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1466977). Robbie has attended exhibitions and Mike Fackovec is taking a Neon class. Other classes include Blacksmithing, Ceramics, Drawing & Painting, Foundry and Mold making, Glass, Jewelry, Kinetics & Machine Shop, Welding, Woodworking, and others.
NEON SIGNS
Speaking of neon signs, if you've missed the Fat Tire sign across the street in the Greeno Building, not to worry. The Cuckoo's Nest has one of its own, right inside the premises.
STUDIO ONE
This is another source of artsy-crafty classes, through the Oakland Recreation Department. Studio One is located in a building behind Oakland Technical High School, at 365 45th Street. The phone is 510/597-5027. It conducts classes at very reasonable prices, and has been ongoing for more than 30 years. Subjects include ceramics, fitness, glass, landscape photography, metals, painting & drawing, soap making, water colors, and the ever popular affixing mosaic to a shoe. The classes are eight-nine weeks long per quarter. I took jewelry classes there at least 25 years ago.
KALA ART INSTITUTE
Yet another place to spend time taking classes and enjoying art. It currently has an exhibition of the Phelan Award winners through the end of this month. There are two more exhibitions this year, one in November - the Krishna Reddy Retrospective in November; and the Kala Artists' Annual in December and next January. The Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 12 noon-5:30pm and Saturdays noon to 4:30pm.
Kala has a variety of classes, including Carving, Color Intaglio, Etching, Mezzotint, Mixed Media, Monoprints, Monotypes, Photoshop, Screen Printing, Watercolor, and Wood Engraving,
Kala Art Institute is located at 1060 Heinz Avenue in West Berkeley 94710. The phone number is 510/542-2977. The website is www.jacklondistrict.org.
If you don't think your voice counts, just remember that Allegro One, the building hovering outside our windows, would have been even closer and much uglier had not the neighborhood voices been raised. And every time you look across the street at that empty lot, remember it could have been a nine-story building had not the neighborhood been involved.
There is an important meeting next Tuesday at 4pm at City Hall, of the Community and Economic Development Committee of the Oakland City Council. The discussion will concern the 'major deal points' on this big planned development for Jack London Square. The Status Report can be found at http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/2605.pdf. It's worth reading - folks have really big plans for this neighborhood and environs.
FOOD FOR BAY AREA FAMILIES
Although it's a year-around problem, it's that time of year when folks start thinking of providing food for families in need. It's a year around problem. The website www.foodbayarea.org tells different ways people can help, such as leaving food at Albertson's Grocery Stores. This food then goes to the Alameda County Food Bank for free distribution to 130 charitable organizations within the county.
Our nearby Albertson's at 815 Marina Village Parkway through the Posey Tube in Alameda (3.02 miles) and the Albertsons's down the Nimitz Freeway at Fruitvale Square at 3000 East Ninth Street in Oakland (4.38 miles) are the easiest/closest drop off places. There are several others, down by the Lake in Oakland or at Southshore in Alameda, but they require more city traffic driving.
Peanut butter is one particularly nutritious product which doesn't spoil and goes a long way, especially for children. Down the street at the Cash and Carry grocery on Oak, they have Family Size Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter (4 Pounds) for about $6.50. It seems big enough to feed a Pre School for a week.
SLIGHT FERRY TICKET INCREASE
There will be a 25 cent increase per regular/Junior Ferry tickets from Oakland to San Francisco. An adult will now pay $5.25 and a Junior 5-12 years will now pay $2.50. All other categories remain the same. It's a great way to get to San Francisco, Pac Bell Park or Angel Island, and just a scenic way to see the Bay from both angles.
GARAGE PLUMBING LEAK
It seems to have stopped so until it reoccurs, there is no need to work on it, especially since the plumber can't ascertain from whence it came.
TRASH TALK
The Trash Room is getting trashy again, and I don't just mean because Waste Management 'forgot' to pick up Friday. Waste Management will come on Monday, and in the meantime, feel free to call them at 510/430-8509 and tell them what you think.
Folks, especially those moving in and out, are again leaving inappropriate items in the trash room, and we are accumulating more junk which can't be put into the Trash Compactor. This is a No No. The residents and tenants are responsible for disposing of large items. They are not to be left in the Trash Room or garage or hallways.
I'm having some unwanted items hauled away next Wednesday morning by the folks we had this summer - 1-800 GOT-JUNK. If anyone wants to join with me and add to the pile, please let me know by Tuesday. They charge by the amount of space used up in the truck. Thanks.
Household Hazardous Waste items are also the personal responsibility of the tenants/residents. Such items as printer cartridges don't belong in the recycling bins. And toxic items as batteries, fluorescent light bulbs and paint do not belong in the Trash Compactor.
The County of Alameda has a free Household Hazardous Waste disposal site, a couple of miles away from here at 2100 East Seventh Street, near the 23rd Avenue exit off Highway 880. The county has a recycling website, www.stopwaste.org.
The next drop off dates this month are Thursday-Saturday 23-25 October. The hours are 9am-1pm. Just download the form and stay in the drive-thru line. (They also have forms there) Someone takes your materials and you're on your way. No muss, no fuss, no charge.
We have some great weather upcoming, marvelous for walking, day or night.
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!
LYNNE