Mayor's Summer Jobs Program/High Street Discovery Center
Madeline Smith Moore
This year, the Mayor's Summer Jobs Program nearly doubled its previous capacity. Working in collaboration with several nonprofit youth employment organizations such as the Youth Employment Partnership, Leadership Excellence, Youth Uprising, and Scotlan Youth Center, the program worked hard to achieve Mayor Ron Dellums' goal of expanding its capacity in an effort to substantially increase employment opportunities for youth.

Redwood Heights Neighborhood News
Denise Davila
Rettig Ave UpdateThe City has responded to the community and recommends that Rettig Ave. be reopened to vehicle traffic.

Maxwell Park Neighborhood News
Sarah Hipolito
Diversity & Outreach NAT is FormedOur neighborhood council includes many different neighbors, but we notice the lack of diversity in meetings.

High Street Neighborhood News
Adelle Foley
Reinventing Our Schools' Last spring our community learned of the decision to close Elisabeth Sherman School and to "incubate" a new school at Maxwell Park.

Leona Heights Neighborhood News''
Gordon Laverty
'In 2007, many Leona Heights residents put out special effort and money to improve their properties. We think they deserve applause for their efforts.

Laurel Neighborhood News
John Frando and Kathleen Rolinson
Let's Go Kayaking!Pilgrim Lutheran Church has a new kayaking fellowship, and first-time and experienced paddlers are welcome to join.

Dimond Neighborhood News
Karen-Marie Schroeder and Daniel Swafford'
Local HistoryWas Fruitvale annexed to Oakland in 1907, '08, '09? Historical retelling varies, but we know that Fruitvale was named Fruit Vale by Henderson...

How the Laurel Got Its Name
Dennis Evanosky
By 1900, a string of real estate developments dotted the area that would become the Laurel District. One of these was Laurel Grove Park—the residential...

Imperfect Gardener
Adina Sara
At the time of this writing, the MetroGardenClub's semi-annual plant exchange is still weeks away. I am beginning to spruce things up outside in anticipation of...

Blessing of the Animals
Gordon Laverty
'Pastor Monte McClain blessed animals at Fruitvale Presbyterian Church on October 13.'Cristina Ramirez brought her cat, Baby Panda, for a traditional blessing of ...

To Your Health
Paulette Avery, R.N., M.S.N., I.B.C.L.C.
Childhood Obesity"It is plausible that we're going to see for the first time in 100 years that the generation coming behind us will have a shorter life...

Letters To The Editor
Please thank Madeline Smith Moore for the very nice article in the September 2007 issue on "The 9/11 Quilt." This quilt was truly a labor of love and grief and...

Boulevard Bites
Deborah Francis
### Farmer Joe's has a grill in their parking lot on Fruitvale Avenue. They offer freshly grilled meat and vegetarian sandwiches every day except Tuesday and...