Boulevard Bites

by Sheila D'Amico

### A federal court recently delivered another legal setback to former Redwood Heights resident and medical cannabis patient Angel Raich. Raich, who suffers from an incurable brain tumor and scoliosis, sought a ruling that she would be immune from federal prosecution for use of what she says is the only medicine that affords her relief from constant pain. Although California law permits such use, federal law pre-empts state law and makes her use, even though it may be life-saving, a crime. See the December 2005 Metro story at www.macarthurmetro.org

### Former long-time editor of the Metro, Toni Locke will be a featured panelist at the League of Women Voters annual luncheon on Wednesday, April 18. She joins KTVU's Randy Shandobil, East Bay Express's Robert Gammon, and the Oakland Tribune's Brenda Payton to discuss The Role of the Media in Making Democracy Work in Oakland. For more information on the League, see www.lwvoakland.org.

### This April marks the 101st anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Many of us will be engaging in disaster preparedness exercises and restocking our emergency supplies. It might also be a good time to check on the preparedness of your child's schools. What is the school's plan for your child? Will students be released or kept at school? Do all the parents, teachers, and administrators, and older students know the plan? Also, is your child's school seismically sound? If not, what needs to be done?

### Allendale residents Jack and Ayda Lucero Fleck are justly proud of their son, Jack Fleck. Growing up, Fleck attended schools in the Laurel. Now he's a screenwriter who co-wrote the script for Half Nelson. Fleck's movie earned an Academy Award best-actor nomination for its star, Ryan Gosling, whose character uses techniques borrowed from Jack Lucero Fleck's Web site. Check out www.dialectics4kids.com. The movie is out on DVD.

### If you're in the market for books, the annual Friends of the Oakland Public Library used book sale is going on from April 4 through 7. Bookmark Bookstore is at 721 Washington St. If you miss the sale, you can always stop by the Dimond Branch, where used books go for as little as 25 and 50 cents. You can also drop off your unwanted books inside, and you can leave and pick up used magazines in the boxes just outside the door. For more information, www.fopl.org.