Boulevard Bites

by Sheila D'Amico

### Congratulations to St. Lawrence O'Toole sixth-grade students and their teacher, Lou Richie, on the publication of Diverse Stories: From the Imagination of Sixth Graders. You can find their book of stories and poems at Laurel Book Store as well as other booksellers. ### It's nice to see that Seay's Furniture on High Street has reopened after a brief but well deserved break. The new fa?ade looks great and brightens up the block. ### The building that used to house Nationwide Insurance at the corner of MacArthur Blvd. and Maybelle now houses the Laurel Office Center on the second floor. If you are looking for small offices with easy access in the neighborhood, call Kevin Rath, 499-6136, to check it out. ### The Oakland League of Women Voters lets us know that the LWV will host a free showing of Iron Jawed Angels at the Parkway Theater on Sunday, February 11. This is a movie about the second wave of woman suffragists who argued, lobbied, politely pleaded, picketed, protested, went to prison, engaged in hunger strikes, and were ultimately responsible for the passage of the 19th Amendment (guaranteeing women the right to vote) in 1920. For more information on this event that celebrates the 87th anniversary of the LWV and of woman suffrage, call the LWV, 934-7640, or go to the Parkway Web site at http://www.parkway-speakeasy.com/index.php, then click on Sunday Salon. ### The Mills College MacArthur Corridor Portrait Project is now on display at the campus. You can see selected photos of business owners and storefronts on MacArthur Blvd. from Seminary to Fruitvale. The exhibit is up until June 30 on the second floor of Mills Hall. The Mills campus is at 5000 MacArthur Blvd. ### By now we know that Oakland did not show its best face to the world at January's inaugural ceremonies. The accompanying Board meetings at Mayor Dellums' swearing-in were marred by inappropriate behavior. Mayor Dellums calls on us to become a model city. Is that possible? In the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., who left us a legacy of inspiration, perhaps we can go even further and become the Beloved Community Dr. King envisioned. That would require us to really see each other, to speak the truth, to look beyond appearances, to act nonviolently, to treat each other equally. Well, if any people can do it, we can. ### If your organization is working to end the violence through arts, education, sports, or direct services, let the Metro know at metroreaders\@earthlink.net. Put "nonviolence" in the subject line.