Stars & Gripes

by Tom Van Demark

To submit your nomination, call 436-4545 and leave details and your name and phone number. Stars to local-hero teens (and one near-teen) who foiled a robber near Fruitvale and Costello. These boys gave chase after seeing a robbery on the street, flagged down OPD officers, and basically made the arrest happen. Our heroes are Cory Porter, Eric Newson, Robert Peterson, John Flint, and Francisco Calderon. Stars to Public Works for a stoplight at last. Follow MacArthur below the Mills campus and see this latest addition to public safety at the point where 55th Avenue branches off MacArthur. Too bad yet another car went fence-crashing into the backyard of the house at MacArthur and 55th. This happens at least once a year. Stars to Mills College students who put their energies into median care and planting in areas near MacArthur, 35th Avenue, and the freeway entrance. Slow down and note the bulbs coming into bloom. Among the neighborhood volunteers for this project we add the names of Mills students Kate Eltridge, Lisa Pena, Caitlin Stanton, Denieal Williams, Tania Lee, Amelia Hicks, and Tara Dias. Our sources say they did the heavy digging while the old-timers were looking for the daisies to bloom. Stars to LaFranchi Liquors on the corner of 35th and MacArthur for their new paint job. Coral, or is it salmon-colored, or cantaloupe perhaps? A nudge (not yet a gripe) to PG&E and the Laurel Liquors developer. How long will it take to conclude negotiations on the PG&E lot to move this prime (High and MacArthur) spot back to life? We reserve a Star for your announcement.