High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

Anniversary Walk

Maxwell Park celebrated the first anniversary of its neighborhood walks with a Saturday stroll to a midmorning brunch at the home of the walks' originator and organizer, Walter Williams. The group handed out flyers along the way, waved at a couple replacing a roof, and chatted with Councilmember Desley Brooks. We admired the energy of our neighbors, who were scraping, painting, pruning and digging on a lovely weekend morning.

A Big Check for the Boys and Girls Club

Oakland A's coach Ron Washington and centerfielder Mark Kotsay presented an oversized check for $100,000 to the Boys and Girls High Street Clubhouse. The A's gift will advance the organization's mission to develop our community's youth into positive contributors to society.

Melrose Library Summer Program

At midsummer, the Melrose Branch Library staff is working double time to serve the community without a manager. Children's Librarian Sharon Sensor is in charge of overall operations as well as the special summer activities. During August the Branch will host a family reading night on August 1, at 5 p.m., Magician Timothy James on August 3, and Opera Piccola's African folk tale on August 8, both at 3:30 p.m.

A Shiny Clean Brookdale Park

The banner on the corner of High and Brookdale reads, "Thank you Service for Peace." It's letting the community know that Jose Ortiz led about 80 adults, teens, and Brookdale Rec's Junior Leaders on a Saturday cleanup of Brookdale Park. Junior Leaders help out and learn office skills in the Brookdale office. The good news is that Natalya Nicoloff and Laurie Umeh told me the lovely mystery flowers were trumpet vines. The bad news is that the well-meaning cleanup crew cut the vines from the fence. A lighter hand and more gardening knowledge could keep our parks beautiful as well as tidy.

Jose Ortiz is starting Auto Mechanics 101 for adults on Sundays. The popular teen class will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 2 p.m. The last week of Shortey's camp will begin August 12 and, five-to-seven-year-olds can ask for coach "D" to sign up for T-ball.

Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.