Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

Celebration of the 100th birthday anniversary of Melba Sibley Bernard, a Leona Street resident, was a high point at a Leona Lodge party in mid-August. Melba and her family are indeed pioneers of the Leona area, having lived in the neighborhood since 1942. The event was attended by 78 family members and 22 friends.

The Leona Heights Improvement Association provided written comments to the Oakland Planning Commission staff by the July 30 deadline on the draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the proposed Leona Quarry development. We are grateful for the fine work done by Marilyn King on behalf of our residents living adjacent to the quarry property. Marilyn's work included liaison with leaders of other homeowner groups, so that we presented solidarity of position with regard to access, traffic, drainage, and similar issues impacted by the proposal.

Now, another building subject: We note with general approval the work done by Harry and Carolyn Sells in the construction of one new-sale home and the sensitive renovation of the old Joe and Nina Stern residence at 5601 Leona Street. The old residence was a pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco and was cut into six sections and brought across the Bay by barge after the Exposition. We acknowledge Harry's expertise in this latter detail. Both properties are examples of sensitive growth in an historic and romantic area where horses once dominated transportation and recreation.

Let's keep the streets clean.