High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

NCPC Election Results

Congratulations to the newly-elected officers of the Melrose/High Hopes NCPC: Chair ; Vice Chair, ; Secretary, Brenda Cooper; Membership Coordinator, Chris Ralls; and Treasurer, La Verne Kuess. The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 20, at Horace Mann Elementary School, Ygnacio and Congress.

Neighborhood Lifeline

The little bus that makes its rounds from Mills or Leona Heights to BART (and back again) plays an important part in the life of the neighborhood. Many mornings, it's standing room only on the way to BART. The passengers come in all sizes a baby with the endearing tendency to hold on to a handy finger; a little girl who thanks the driver without being prompted. School kids move their backpacks when someone needs the seat. A passenger loans her copy of the Tribune funnies to a middle-school kid for the duration of the ride. It's a crucial connection with the outside world on a daily basis, or when a car is out of service.

Seven Days a Week

Since mid-October, service on the 48 Line from Leona Heights down High Street to Fruitvale BART has become available on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The heroines of this story are our neighbors, Frances Nappo and Edna Barner, who circulated a petition and wrote to AC Transit, cheered on by the High Street Neighborhood Alliance. So spread the word and hop on the bus. It runs every half hour from dawn to dusk.

Disclosure: In the interest of truth in reporting, I'll admit that my day job is at AC Transit. But I turn into pure customer as soon as I approach the bus stop.

And to Think That I Saw it on East 14th Street

A few blocks from High Street, I discovered "Think Modern," tangible evidence of Oakland's restoration of landmark buildings. It's worth a visit to 4820 International Blvd. just to see the beautiful fa?ade. Inside Think Modern, Meyer Shacter will show you furniture and furnishings from the '40s through the '60s, talk about the art on his high walls, and tell you about his positive experience working with CEDA. This new, one-man retail operation is generally open weekday afternoons, but Shacter honors requests for appointments at other times. Try his store phone (532-1213) or his cell phone (919-7300).