High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

We'll Miss You, Jane

The Friends of Melrose Branch tried to keep to the agenda, but it was hard to absorb the news that branch manager Jane Gonzalez was leaving early in May to take over the helm of the new César Chávez Branch at Fruitvale Village. During almost three years at Melrose, Jane has provided steady, creative, and energetic leadership to the Branch and became a real part of our community. We wish her well, and we're looking forward to meeting Rodrigo Quintanilla, the new Melrose branch manager.

By mid-June school will be out and the summer reading program will be inviting children to "go wild with books." Based on hours of reading, youngsters will be awarded notebooks, pencils, books, and other prizes. Additional hours will earn raffle tickets for A's games and trips to the zoo. Teenagers can write book reviews for other students to read.

Children's librarian Sharon Sensor has put together a weekly series of summer activities opening on Monday June 14 with storyteller Willy Claflin, and then moving to Wednesdays with arts and crafts (June 23) and music from Latin America (June 30). During July the Branch will host the Amazing Bubble Man (July 7), making animal masks (July 14), arts and crafts (July 21), and the zoomobile (July 28). All programs are at 3:30 p.m.

Summertime at Brookdale Rec

The popular Shorties day camp for children five to 12 will open June 14 and run through mid-August. For $65, each week's program includes a trip, swimming, sports, crafts, cooking, and activities organized around a theme such as the New Orleans Mardi Gras. Other ongoing activities include T-Ball for five-to-seven-year-olds, the drill team on Monday and Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., and weekly art with Mario. Drop in or call 535-5632 for more information.

Opening Soon on High Street

If you've passed the construction site at 3300 High Street recently, you know that the Boys and Girls Clubhouse is all but finished. Executive director Cal Stanley confirmed that the target completion date is the end of June, and the opening ceremony should take place in July. Look for media announcements and flyers in local stores inviting you to check out our new neighbor. The community will also have a chance to show its support by purchasing a brick for the entry plaza. Call 444-8211 for information.

A Beautiful Day at the Creek

What's gray and 15 inches long, with scary-looking teeth? Courtland Creeks Plastics, a new genus of shark found in Courtland Creek on Earth Day. The toy shark amused the more than 60 neighbors, ranging from Discovery Center children to seniors, who enjoyed the beautiful weather. Hard-working crews of Fremont High Junior ROTC students planted eight plum trees, which will be watered by neighbors to help the trees through their first summer. Another group planted sticky monkey flower, Douglas iris, and manzanita on the former weed-patch hill near Brookdale. A third group scrambled down to clear the creek.

High Street Neighborhood Association organizers Laurie Umeh, Natalya Nicoloff, and Chris Rawls were delighted to report that Fremont Junior ROTC has formally adopted the Creek Park, will participate in Earth Day and fall Creek to Bay Day cleanups, and will help to maintain the park.

Adelle Foley can be reached at jasfoley\@aol.com.