March 2022 edition • Issue No. 12
Produced by the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC)
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Hello, Maxwell Park neighbors!
If you depart 580 East at the High Street exit, it's very likely you have noticed positive changes: less debris, mulch along the exit, and the ground is being prepped for planting. This work has been done by the High Street Coalition, a volunteer community of neighbors who live in the Laurel, Allendale, Maxwell Park, and beyond. Thank you to these neighbors for their efforts to improve the neighborhood! Read on for photos and ways to join them.
While we've had some chillier mornings lately, Spring is right around the corner. Don't forget to "spring ahead" one hour this Sunday, March 13, as Daylight Savings Time begins. We'll have more light in the evening, which means more opportunity to get outside, take a walk, and say hello to your neighbors.
If you are looking for ways to support our distant neighbors in Ukraine, we share this Guardian article and the efforts of the World Central Kitchen. May peace prevail.
In this issue we share:
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Join the next Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council community meeting:
Wednesday, March 9, 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Guest speaker: Jessica Feil, Emergency Services Management Division Manager
Topic: Emergency Preparedness
Register with the button below or at www.maxwellparknc.org.
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May peace prevail in Ukraine. May peace prevail on Earth. (The sunflower is the National Flower of Ukraine.)
Photo by Barbara Hartford. Flower on Morcom near Pierson.
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Lights in support of Ukraine. Photo by Jan Hetherington.
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Please share this newsletter with a neighbor, who can subscribe here. If you have any neighborhood-related concerns or want to get involved as a community volunteer, please reach out to the MPNC.
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Join the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT) contact list:
email MPERT.info@gmail.com or call/text: 510-917-9994
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Preparedness is Power
The Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team (MPERT) is a community volunteer organization engaged in helping ourselves and our neighborhood prepare for major emergencies, such as earthquakes or fire storms.
Ways You Can Prepare:
- Establish an exit plan for your family and store emergency supplies. MPERT can help!
- Sign up for the MPNC newsletter, and attend our next Zoom meeting, featuring a speaker from the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program who will answer questions: www.maxwellparknc.org
- Get on the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Contact List. Email: MPERT.info@gmail.com
- Sign up for the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program: https://www.oaklandca.gov/services/readyoakland#emergency-preparedness-response-training
- Get a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) Radio and license. Email: ocpr@oaklandfiresafecouncil.org
- Sign up for Alameda County Emergency Alerts (AC alerts): www.acalert.org
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The High Street Coalition is creating a new succulent garden on the High Street offramp. Photo by High Street Coalition.
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Less Trash, More Plants
The High Street Coalition is hosting its second Mulching/Gardening Day on Saturday, March 12 to build a community succulent garden at the High Street exit. The coalition kicked off the mulching and gardening project with its first successful and fun workday on February 26. The project is in need of volunteers, gardening supplies and native plant/succulent donations. Come join the effort from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the High Street offramp.
Plus, March 12 is a clean-up day from 8:30-10:30 a.m. The coalition -- a group of neighbors in the Laurel, Allendale, Maxwell Park, and beyond -- started in 2020 with bi-monthly clean-up events to address the accumulation of trash around High Street. The clean-ups are held the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Walgreens on High Street. To join the coalition and for more information, see the coalition's website www.highstcoalition.org, Instagram, or Gofundme.
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Volunteers at the February 26 Mulching/Gardening Day. Photo by High Street Coalition.
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#IGotJuiced in the Laurel
Green Ivy. Killer B. Chilly Verde. These are a few of the smoothie offerings at Got Juice at 3843 Macarthur Blvd in the Laurel District. This newsletter's editor recently enjoyed the Old Faithful smoothie, and highly recommends it if you're a peanut butter fan. Terrell, one of the owners, said the "don’t miss" item on the menu is the acai bowl with a peanut butter addition; fulfilling and delicious. Black Magic is the local favorite smoothie, and for juices you can’t go wrong with The Cleaner, a healthy green drink.
Got Juice owners Brandon and Terrell grew up in East Oakland and both went to Skyline High School. Terrell is also the owner of Body Mechanix gym, two doors down from Got Juice. He has been at the gym for seven years, and has trained hundreds of people in the Maxwell Park and Laurel communities.
As a local business owner, Terrell said it is important to him to "inspire my community and keep everyone healthy through nutrition and fitness. Some parts of Oakland are food deserts for healthy options. That’s why we we wanted to change that with something that is healthy but also fun and enjoyable. You don’t like to eat your greens, OK, then drink them in this delicious drink."
Check out the Got Juice menu at www.gotjuiceoak.com or stop by the shop.
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Interior and exterior of Got Juice on MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel district. Photos by Annemarie Henning.
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Cast Your Council Board Vote
The Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council will hold its Board election at the MPNC meeting on May 11 at 7pm on Zoom. Please join the meeting and cast your ballot. Voting will be by electronic means. The Board consists of the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Membership Secretary, Minutes Secretary, Treasurer, and three At-Large Members. The description of these offices are contained in the bylaws on the MPNC website. Board members serve for two years, with one half of the Board up for election each year.
The following Board positions are up for election this year. The current members listed below are all running again. In addition, new nominations are welcome. Please email nominations to: Donald Dalke, dondalke42@att.net.
- Vice Chair: Robert McGillis
- Membership Secretary: Jan Hetherington
- At-Large Member #2: Bill Urban
- At-Large Member #3: Anthony Mack
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ECO Tip: Fewer Thirsty Plants
from our neighborhood environmentalist
UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab at Donner Pass says more than 35 straight days have passed with no rain or snow, a new record for our Winter season. Besides being dry, some of our temperatures have been 10 to 20 degrees above average for this time of year, drying out vegetation. This adds up to more drought going forward unless we get lucky in March and April. So continue to remove thirsty plants from your yard.
EBMUD rebates: up to $2,000 for lawn conversion: www.ebmud.com/rebates or 866-403-2683
Contact Calscape.org for a native plant garden planner for your zip code.
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Park and Pierson Traffic Circle Progress
from Nancy Karigaca, Adopter of the Pierson St. Traffic Circle and Friends of Maxwell Park
Maxwell Park Projects
A couple outstanding projects are finally moving forward in Maxwell Park on Fleming Avenue. First, the dead tree that had been lingering for almost a year was cut down recently; all that remains is a tall stump camouflaged by the surrounding trees. Second, a potable water line, rather than the current irrigation water line, will be connected to the new blue sand play spigot. The installation of this new line has required the temporary removal of the garden -- planted by Friends of Maxwell Park -- because the line must go through that area. Thanks to volunteers Jon Ward, Paul Chin, Laurie Umeh, and Aiden Karigaca for their work removing the garden. Once the line is installed, a workday will be held to replant the garden. Please considering joining us!
Pierson Traffic Circle
Fabulous news about water to the traffic circle: After a long period of uncertainty and a period of no water, a dependable water supply is back. The Oakland Housing Authority had offered to install a spigot on their nearby building to water the circle; now the spigot is functioning, and we are once again watering the plants and trees. If you see orange cones while driving down Pierson, please slow down for the water hose lying across the street when watering is in process. Stay tuned for details about an upcoming weeding workday at the circle.
To help out at the Park or traffic circle, please email Nancy Karigaca (nkarigaca@comcast.net).
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Volunteers at a recent workday at Maxwell Park. Photos by Nancy Karigaca.
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News from Mills College
from Renee Jadushlever, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Operations, Mills College
We are pleased to announce that the Mills College pool has reopened for public usage, after a long closure period, due to the pandemic. We are currently using sign up genius for lap swim lane sign-ups and are hoping to add more hours as staffing allows. Here is a link to our landing page, which has the most information: https://millscyclones.com/facilities/pool. We look forward to welcoming you back!
Signal Flow 2022
March 12, 2022 | 7:00–10:00 pm | Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Concert Hall & Live Stream
Signal Flow 2022 is a student-run collective concert of live electronic music and multimedia performance held each spring, celebrating the collective research and praxis of the MFA and MA graduates of the Music Department at Mills College. Join the performances by this year’s graduates: Adam Troy, Angie Edwards, Jefferson Doyle, Krishna Jhaveri, and Stan Summy.
Signal Flow 2022 not only celebrates the individual accomplishments of its graduating music students, but also the collective and historic spirit of the Center for Contemporary Music (CCM). For over 50 years, the CCM has been a collaborative hub of innovation and experimentation in electroacoustics, performance, media, and sound art. The CCM was established in 1966 after The San Francisco Tape Music Center partnered with Mills College. Join with us in celebrating sound, and experience a night of living history. Register for this free event here.
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Oxalis runneth over, for a little while longer. Photos by Barbara Hartford.
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Update from Councilmember Taylor
Hey Maxwell Parkers,
It is such a pleasure to share highlights of what is happening in our beautiful city! Below you will find updates on Oakland's new City Council and School Board Districts, Howard Terminal and the County's Point-In-Time Count. If you have not done so already, make sure you also subscribe to our newsletter and check out our latest edition. As always, please reach out to my office at district6@oaklandca.gov with any questions and I look forward to connecting with you all again soon.
Yours in Service,
Councilmember Loren Taylor
Oakland's New City Council & School Board Districts Are Officially Approved
Thank you to everyone who wrote emails, called in, and especially the commissioners who volunteered many late nights for Oakland's redistricting process. Last month, the Commission adopted Map F5 as the final boundaries for Oakland's new City Council and School Board Districts, which will remain in place for the next ten years. Some of the major impacts on District 6 include the following:
- The return of the Oakland Coliseum to District 6
- The inclusion of the portion of Toler Heights that is West of 98th Avenue
- Maintenance of Maxwell Park in District 6
I recognize coming to the decision to include the Coliseum in either District 6 or 7 was very difficult. It is my hope that those leading the development of this major economic engine, will continue to incorporate the feedback of residents across the City, particularly those who will be most impacted.
City Council Approves the Environmental Impact Report for Howard Terminal
With the approval of the EIR, Oakland is one step closer to realizing significant benefits from the Howard Terminal Development, which will include an Oakland A's Ballpark. As a third generation Oaklander, I look forward to watching my children and grandchildren share in the same experience of going to an A's game that I had as a child. I also look forward to engaging with residents, organizations and other key stakeholders to ensure we optimize affordable housing, job accessibility, green space, and other positive impacts for community members throughout Oakland.
Become a part of the ESO Family
After successfully securing $8M in capital from the State of California, ESO Ventures is looking for a Growth Manager to help them lead the charge in strengthening East Oakland's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Their responsibilities will include:
- Relationship Building
- Recruitment & Marketing
- Events
- Strategy
Click here to learn more and apply for the Growth Manager position. Additionally, ESO is also recruiting for its next cohort of entrepreneurs. If you are small business owner in East Oakland looking for key business development resources, relationships and capital, I strongly encourage you to apply. Applications are available at www.eso-ventures.com/apply
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Reducing Fire Risk Event
The Oakland Firesafe Council is offering "Reducing Fire Risks Part 1: Around Town" about working together as a community on local landscaping and vegetation management projects to create more fire-safe areas. Plus tips on planting with the future in mind. Guest speaker: Steven Swain, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, UC ANR.
Thursday, March 17, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Event info and Register
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Colorful houses around Maxwell Park. Photos by Barbara Hartford.
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What would you like to see?
Any suggestions for the newsletter? Would you like to contribute? We want it to be a helpful resource for building community and keeping you informed of what’s happening in Maxwell Park. Community involvement can build a better quality of life for us all. Please share with us at maxwellparknewsletter@gmail.com.
The MPNC is dedicated to improving the quality of life and safety in Maxwell Park (Police Beat 28X). The MPNC consists of a Board of Directors and a number of Neighborhood Action Teams that address neighborhood concerns such as blight, traffic, and emergency preparedness. As an authorized City of Oakland Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, we work cooperatively with the City Council and Police Department on priority safety issues. New participants are always welcome!
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Please share this newsletter with a neighbor. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.
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