Onions & Orchids

by Peter Bond

Dear readers: This writer does search for individuals and businesses worthy of inclusion in this column, but he relies mostly on input from others. So please e-mail your ideas for Onions & Orchids to bpbond\@aol.com.

Onions to the EBMUD Crew (a.k.a. the Keystone Kops) currently working on installing new pipe on Maybelle Avenue. Besides disrupting ingress and egress to the street and driveways, in a period of three days: a runaway piece of EBMUD equipment totaled a parked car; another piece of equipment tore limbs from a tree; another piece of manned equipment flipped over; and a homeowner had his sewer line broken and unrepaired for two days.

Onions to the City of Oakland, Department of Public Works, Pothole Repair who were notified by phone but have taken no action on repairing the huge potholes at the intersection of 39th Avenue and Victor and on 39th Avenue between Victor and Selkirk.

Onions to the City of Oakland Traffic Maintenance (parking meters) and Traffic Maintenance worker, van #4053, and this worker's supervisor. Despite repeated reports of broken parking meters on MacArthur Blvd., they have not been repaired. The Traffic Maintenance worker was seen parking his vehicle, walking by the broken meter(s), taking a bag off the top of the meter, throwing it on the ground and continuing on his way. Income for a city with a budget deficit? Apparently not needed.

Orchids To Surinder Walia, the guard at Bank of America on MacArthur Blvd. Mr. Walia is ever watchful for things that are happening not just at the Bank but also at Albertson's, Laurel Hardware, and the rest of this block. He knows the people who shop in the area and is aware of suspicious activities. He routinely talks with the Beat Officer to let him know what he observes.

Orchids to the many Laurel District shoppers who, during the holiday season, shopped in the Laurel neighborhood. Orchids also to the Laurel merchants who gave away cloth shopping bags to shoppers who spent $100 or more in the Laurel District. Many of these bags were distributed and should be used with pride.

Orchids to CalTrans, Bart Desai and Jeff Morales, for improved maintenance in the Dimond along the ramps to Highway 580.

Orchids to Luan Stauss of Laurel Book Store for encouraging local residents to be "angels" for St. Elizabeth Elementary School students. Luan wrapped and delivered over 40 wish-list books purchased by her customers just in time for Christmas.