High Street Neighborhood News

by Adelle Foley

Neighbors plant the community vegetable garden at the dedication of the WellnessCenter. Photo Courtesy Pastor Gregg Brown.

Melrose Friends Reborn

' At the Melrose-High Hopes NCPC meeting, Evan Zubritsky and Jess Munoz heard that Oakland's looming budget deficit might reduce the Melrose Branch Library to half time with a shared staff. They rallied their neighbors, talked to Branch Manager Sandra Toscano, and attended a meeting with others who believed in public libraries. When they discovered that there was no active Friends of the Melrose Branch they decided to turn the fiscal crisis into an opportunity to start again.'

Working with the umbrella Friends of the Public Library (FOPL), they've taken the lead. Their goals are fund raising, rounding up volunteers, and generally getting out the word. The Branch needs supplies, a full time children's librarian and after-school programs for youngsters. The response has been positive, and they hope to enhance the library as a center of the community. To get involved or just to find out what's happening, they recommend going on line to the new Web site—friendsofmelroselibrary.org, emailing contact\@friendsofmelroselibrary.org or calling Jess at 261-4745.'

' They are also delighted with Oakland's decision to maintain the branch on a five-day-a-week schedule.

'

Healing Inside and Out

'On a beautiful June afternoon an enthusiastic crowd filled Miracles of Faith Community Church for the dedication of the Wellness Center. The center grew out of the vision of Pastor Gregg Brown and Assistant Pastor Dr. Ramona Tascoe, who combines a calling to medicine and the church. Her objective involves breaking the culture of inequity, changing the way people eat, live, and understand their own well-being, not simply doling out pills. The examining room is modest, the exercise equipment shares the meeting room, but this beginning is viewed as a mustard seed that can change the community, forge partnerships, and serve as a model for the entire nation. The Wellness Center is named in honor of Sister Maxine Morgan, an LVN and long-time active church member.

' The gathering included church leaders of many faiths, including Muslim and Buddhist and nursing students in white, like angels. Youngsters like Alex Silvestra helped out as greeters. After the ceremony the congregation planted seeds beside the church in the Community Vegetable Garden, munched on healthy refreshments, and enjoyed jazz, blues, and Ricardo Scales on the keyboard. Community members are welcome to use the Wellness Center, to volunteer their help or to add their ideas to this new dream.

'

Celebrate National Night Out

' You'll find a lot of National Night Out parties on Tuesday, August 4, to celebrate and cement our community. An unusual one will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Brookdale Park. There, the Melrose-High Hopes NCPC invites all neighbors to a tree planting in gratitude for our fallen officers and our beat officers who put their lives on the line for us every day. Bring beverages and a dessert to share.

'

Maxwell Park Mosaic

'

Press them on the wall

Colorful pieces of tile

A jigsaw puzzle

Step back, look again

The colors transform into

Children in the park

' Adelle Foley can be reached at jandafoley\@sbcglobal.net.