High Street Neighborhood Newsby Adelle Foley | |||
The bucket brigade moves the mulch at Horace Mann School. Photo by Adelle Foley.
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Melrose Branch on Hold
' Instead of gearing up for a full summer of children's programs and planning new adult offerings, Melrose branch has been caught in Oakland's fiscal crisis, which has brought these plans to a screeching halt. As this column nears its deadline, the city is proposing to pair smaller branches, including Melrose, providing funding for a shared staff and shuttering each branch for half the week. A concerned community is spreading the word and preparing to support its precious library resources. The outcome may be clear by the time you read these words.
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School Transitions and E-waste Recycling
' As the school year winds down, Melrose Leadership Academy (MLA) is preparing for the transition to a dual immersion Spanish school with the kindergarten class entering the school in August. It's not too late for parents to enroll their children in this first class. Contact the school at 879-1530. MLA encourages its neighbors to bring their old printers, VCRs and other electronic waste to Walgreens parking lot at High and Redding, on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proceeds from the event will help the school to upgrade its kitchen to accommodate a salad bar.'
Maxwell Park International Academy is also going through a transition, which will bring a new principal to the school for the 2009-2010 school year. For more information. contact the school at 879-1390.
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Turning our Community Green
' Earth Day lasted for over a week this year. On April 18 Courtland Creek Park yielded a treasure trove of discards—a Curious George plaque, a small (but very heavy) safe, part of a motorcycle uncovered by the Discovery Center kids, two mattresses, and a wicker table. Thanks to organizer Laurie Umeh's initiative, there was live entertainment, led by Skyline High Instrumental Music Director and keyboardist Vincent Tolliver. He was joined by Jeff on trombone and Dave on guitar.
' Around the Walgreens parking lot at Redding near High Street, another group ended the morning with an amazing collection of bags of weeds and litter. Site coordinator Jan Hetherington pointed out the progress of the plants and flowers that have transformed this former dumping ground.
' A week later, over 75 students, parents, teachers and community members dug holes next to Horace Mann School and filled them with plants from Australia, California, Chile, the Mediterranean, and South Africa. Orchestrated by Jeanne Nixon, the planting is part of a broad multiyear effort. During the morning, a mountain of 10 cubic yards of mulch moved from the school yard to cover the entire planting area using the old-fashioned, but very efficient, method of a bucket brigade. Landscape designer Pete Dittmer can picture the scene in three years when the plants and trees cover the hillside.'
Celebrate Wellness
' Miracles of Faith Lutheran Church invites the community to celebrate the grand opening of the new Wellness Center on Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m. The Church is at 4335 Virginia, just above High Street.