Dimond Neighborhood News

by Carol Lundgaard

New Businesses Farmer Joe's is coming soon. An ad hoc committee of the Dimond Improvement Association met February 13 to plan its involvement in the opening ceremony. To volunteer or submit your ideas, e-mail carolynvallerga\@yahoo.com. Bottie Qinchers (3228 Fruitvale Avenue), a day spa owned and operated by Dottie Moore, daughter of locally renowned Everett & Jones and National Holistic Massage Institute graduate. Call 261-0777 for details, and get pampered. Caltrans Park & Ride Ten new bike lockers have been installed at the parking lot, corner of Champion and Harold Streets, with more possible, depending on demand. Phone Adrian Levy (622-0109) for a locker agreement; return signed agreement and $25 deposit to receive your key. Smooch with Your Pooch Party animals Paws & Claws hosted a fundraiser for Smiley Dog Rescue on February 10. Forty dogs and their humans sang love songs, smooched, and posed in observance of Valentine's Day, raising over $1000 for homeless dogs rescued from Bay Area Animal Shelters. Sequoia School Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Fest, an assembly of songs, music, poems, and speeches reflecting Dr. King's philosophy and performed by talented student singers, musicians, and poets, was held January 26. Congratulations to Jordan Holly, Fatima Jelks, Kenya Jelks, Liliana Schmitt, and Seydina Seck, who will now compete at the District level. Dynamic parent-teacher duo Kristen Caven and Evan Nichols have created a terrific Internet resource for parents, teachers, and students. Every classroom has its own Web page featuring student artwork. You'll also find the Sentinel, their 'zine, here. Hosted by the Bay Area Writing Project, the address is www.bayareawritingproject.org/sequoia. Visit the site and sign up with your Safeway card; your purchases benefit the school. Safeway District 4 Neighborhood Services Coordinator Ren?e Sykes met with store manager Ed Cabral, Jr., Ron Barajas of Safeway Loss Prevention, Officer Valladon, and Ed Goehring on January 9 to address aggressive panhandling and other customer issues. Results to date are that unauthorized vehicles are being removed, graffiti are covered regularly, aggressive panhandling has been minimized, and 80 hours per week are devoted to cleanup. The following are being discussed: Customer newsletter as outreach and to communicate Safeway's efforts. Use parking lot for community events such as pet adoption. Move police parking sign nearer the entrance. Study eliminating access via May Court. Ed Cabral to attend March Dimond Public Safety Council meeting. Friends of Sausal Creek FOSC held education programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January during which students planted over 150 native plants in the area below the parking lot and mulched trails. Neighborhood schools participating included Sequoia and Glenview. Dimond Improvement Association At the January 4 meeting, Edward Goehring was named Volunteer of the Month for assuming leadership of the Dimond Public Safety Council as of September 2005. We extend our appreciation to the District 4 Local Heroes: Dimond Improvement Association leaders Hoang Banh and Carolyn Vallerga, Friends of Sausal Creek leaders Karen Paulsell and Mark Rauzon, and Sequoia Elementary School volunteer librarian Ruth Harteneck. Visit www.dimondnews.org and joining the mailing list. Write Carol at dimond.metro\@gmail.com.