August 2024 edition • Issue No. 26
The newsletter is a resource for connecting neighbors, building community, and sharing neighborhood news and updates from the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC)
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Hello neighbors!
🥳 National Night Out was celebrated on more than a dozen blocks around Maxwell Park on Tuesday, August 6. What a festive evening! Streets were closed off and neighbors were out socializing, grilling, dancing, and enjoying our community. Newsletter photographers, Barbara Hartford and Vikki Richardson, stopped by many of the parties and captured photos that you'll see throughout the newsletter. Thank you, Barb and Vikki! If your block didn't have a party, consider hosting next year. It's fun and easy!
Here are a few upcoming events near us, several this weekend...
- Laurel Street Fair: Saturday, August 10, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. along MacArthur Blvd. in the Laurel. More info
- High Street Coalition Clean-Up: Saturday, August 10, 8:30 a.m., meet at Walgreens on High Street. More info
- USS Hornet Museum Arts & Crafts Faire: Sunday, August 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. More info
- Live in the Laurel, the outdoor free summer concert series continues for a few more months. Next concert is on August 24. Check out the schedule.
Thanks for reading! Enjoy the rest of summer. We'll be back with the next issue in early October. In this issue:
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Festive and Fun National Night Out
See more photos at the end of the newsletter!
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Save the date: Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council Community Meeting
Wednesday, September 11, 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Registration details and agenda will be included in the MPNC Updates email in early September and posted at www.maxwellparknc.com.
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Board Election Results
Each year, the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC) elects half of its Board for a two-year term. This year's election was held at the MPNC meeting on July 10. Neighbors were elected for the Board as follows:
Vice Chair: Tom Van Demark. Tom is a long-time resident and block captain on Normandie Ave. Tom brings his professional background in pedestrian planning and safety for the City of Oakland and community organizing to the Board.
Membership Secretary: Toni Bird. Toni resides on Birdsall Ave. She is committed to keeping our streets and neighborhood safe. She founded Safer Streets Maxwell Park and is a key member of the MPNC Public Safety Neighborhood Action Team.
Member At-Large #2: Annemarie Henning. Annemarie lives on Knowland Ave. In May 2020, she started the bi-monthly Maxwell Park newsletter; since then 25 issues have been published and distribution continues to grow.
Member At-Large #3: Jan Hetherington. Jan resides on Maxwell Ave. She rejoins the Board after a short break, having served as Membership Secretary for many years and as an active participant on neighborhood projects, including tree plantings, monthly Adopt-a-Spot cleanups, and "Day in the Park."
These new members join the existing Board members, currently one year into their two-year terms:
Chair: José Dorado
Treasurer: Matt Hennagin
Member At-Large #1: Donald Dalke
Read more about what the MPNC does here, and contact the Board with questions, ideas, or to get involved.
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Neighborhood Security Alternative
from José Dorado, MPNC Chair
We continue to have incidents in our beautiful neighborhood that require a serious look at our most viable alternatives for protecting our families and homes. An alternative that we have literally at our doorstep is to take advantage of our proximity to Mills/Northeastern and the Barbier Security Group guards that you encounter at the front gate and throughout the campus. They are contracted by the college and under the direct supervision of Captain Clay Burch who spent decades in the Oakland Police Department before retiring to head security at Mills/Northeastern.
Barbier can provide Maxwell Park with a trained professional Officer in a marked car for a full eight hours for less than forty dollars a month if we can find 350 households to commit to this service. I am confident that under the supervision of Captain Burch, especially with his experience in Community Policing, that this Officer would operate at the highest professional standards in our neighborhood. In my opinion it is a serious answer to the serious question of crime in our neighborhood and warrants our most sober consideration. Please contact me at joseadorado48@gmail.com for further information and if you have the slightest interest in exploring this serious alternative.
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Photos from Neighbors
Lis McKinley on Madera captured the skyline of fireworks at the top of Madera on the 4th of July. Do you have a photo to share? Email it our way.
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ECO Tip: Kids & Nature
from our neighborhood environmentalist
Here are are a couple of age-appropriate suggestions for kids to enjoy and appreciate nature:
- As her name implies, Flora Forager creates images of nature made from items foraged from the natural world in her children’s picture book ABC (ages 2-5): sasquatchbooks.com/little-bigfoot/books/flora-forager-abc/ (Flora has books for adults as well.)
- Science News Explores includes nature and STEM articles for kids. Check out the magazine and website (ages 9 to 14): www.snexplores.org
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Halloween on Camden 👻
Planning for the annual Halloween Party on Camden is underway, and the organizers are seeking volunteers to help with set up, games, and more. Various roles and shifts are available between 4 and 8 p.m. on October 31. To grab a shift, email Ryn at rynbeeley@gmail.com or sign up on this google doc.
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D6 Councilmember Jenkins Secures Funding for Maxwell Park Traffic Study
The Maxwell Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC) is pleased to announce the launch of a traffic study in response to the community’s concerns about speeding and unsafe driving in our neighborhood. Recognizing the need for safer and calmer streets in Maxwell Park, Councilman Kevin Jenkins has partnered with city officials to secure funding for this important initiative, which will be conducted by the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT).
“Speeding on our neighborhood streets is a serious concern for our community,” said Councilman Kevin Jenkins. “Maxwell Park deserves safe streets where residents can walk, bike, visit, and drive without worry. I’m proud to stand with our community and support OakDOT’s efforts to make the neighborhood safer for everyone.”
This traffic study will include a thorough data collection process across up to 50 locations, in-depth field observations, and several meetings with the MPNC to gather community input and present findings. The primary objective is to develop a priority-based traffic calming plan that not only addresses standard residential streets but also considers the unique challenges of streets with steep grades or bus routes, where traditional speed bumps may not be feasible.
In this Q&A, Joe Wang from OakDOT provides an overview of the traffic study, its scope, and the vital role that residents will play in shaping the future of traffic safety in Maxwell Park.
What is the ideal traffic volume and speed for a residential neighborhood like Maxwell Park?
While there isn’t a standard “ideal” traffic volume or speed for residential neighborhoods, residential streets should primarily serve the people who live, go to school, and visit there—not those looking for shortcuts. In Oakland, the default speed limit on residential streets is 25 mph, and 15 mph in school zones during school hours. OakDOT often implements traffic calming measures like speed bumps to encourage slower speeds where needed.
How does Maxwell Park compare to other parts of Oakland in terms of traffic calming measures?
Traffic calming can include various strategies like speed bumps, traffic circles, and curb extensions, making it hard to quantify citywide. Maxwell Park has been a focus of these efforts, especially since the City began installing speed bumps in the early 1990s, with Maxwell Park being one of the first neighborhoods to benefit.
When was the last traffic study conducted in Maxwell Park, and what were the outcomes?
There hasn’t been a study as comprehensive as this in the past. However, the City has worked with residents on various traffic safety improvements over the years.
What elements make a traffic study successful?
A successful traffic study is data-driven, involves key stakeholders, and results in realistic, actionable recommendations. OakDOT has seen success with past studies like the Ney Avenue corridor study in East Oakland, which is being implemented in phases.
What is the timeline for the Maxwell Park traffic study?
The study will take into account field data, seasonal traffic variations, and resident engagement, with an anticipated completion by the end of June 2025. This timeline could change due to unforeseen circumstances or prioritization shifts.
How will this traffic study improve safety in Maxwell Park?
The study will focus on the most urgent traffic safety issues identified by residents. While it may have additional public safety benefits, its primary goal is to improve traffic safety outcomes in the neighborhood.
How can residents contribute to the traffic study?
The selected consultant will attend NCPC meetings as part of the study to gather input on data collection and locations. Resident feedback is valuable, and we encourage participation through the District 6 Council Office and the MPNC.
Can residents provide input on areas they’d like to see studied?
Absolutely! We anticipate a range of opinions and will rely on the District 6 Council Office and MPNC to help facilitate communication and ensure all voices are heard.
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Music in Maxwell Park
Come join the music jam in Maxwell Park on Sunday, September 8 from Noon to 5 p.m. Regulars from the East Bay Fiddlin & Pickin Potlucks will be there with their instruments and voices, and neighbors are invited to join in playing, singing, or just listening. Words for some of the songs will be provided. You can also lead or choose songs, yourselves, if you like. Since this is a potluck, please bring food or drink to share. Also, please bring your own chairs if possible. For more information on the potlucks, including other dates and locations, check out pickinpotlucks.com or contact Nancy Karigaca at nkarigaca@comcast.net.
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Music Jam in Maxwell Park, Sept. 2023. Photo by Nancy Karigaca.
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Northeastern University Oakland News
Submitted by Renée Jadushlever, Vice President for Campus Administration and Strategic Initiatives
Oakland Opportunity Scholarship
We are pleased to announce that seven students from Oakland Unified School District have accepted the inaugural Northeastern University Oakland Opportunity Scholarship which provides each of them full tuition room and board for four years. These scholarships will be awarded annually to up to 10 OUSD graduates and allow students to attend Northeastern's Oakland campus and study at any of the university's other 13 campuses including London, Toronto, and Seattle during their time at Northeastern. Two of the recipients will be interviewed on campus by KTVU on August 21.
To qualify for this scholarship, applicants must graduate from an Oakland Unified School District High School or be a Pell eligible resident in the city of Oakland. Applicants may be nominated by their high school or identified by the admissions staff through Northeastern’s general application evaluation process. In addition to academic achievement, applicants must demonstrate extensive engagement in their school’s community and make a commitment to service within the city. Interested in learning more? Contact us at: studentfinance.northeastern.edu or oaklandadmissions@northeastern.
Welcoming New Students
We look forward to welcoming about 800 first-year students to campus between August 29-30 for move-in, followed by orientation and weeks of welcome to get them acclimated to the campus. This is always an exciting time of year!
Construction on Campus
If you have been to campus over the summer, you will have seen that many construction projects are underway. We are almost finished with an improved front entrance, with wider lanes and technology improvements. Campus blue light poles have been installed around campus to utilize in case of an emergency. For those of you who are swimmers, we are in the process of resurfacing the pool in time for the beginning of the school year and will be open again for business soon.
In addition to construction projects, we had several hundred goats on campus, again this year, to assist with fire abatement. You can see them at work in the photo below!
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Houses on the Market
from Martin Kojnok, neighbor and Realtor® in Maxwell Park
Below is some information about the most recent real estate activity in our neighborhood. Whether you're considering preparing your home for the market, would like to get a sense of its current value, you’d like to chat about the market and your goals, or just need a home-related opinion or recommendation, feel free to reach out. Enjoy the great weather and dwell well my friends.
Martin Kojnok
CORCORAN ICON PROPERTIES
MBA | REALTOR® | DRE 01941661
martin@martinkojnok.com m: 510.593.3370 www.martinkojnok.com
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Keeping our Streets Clean
🗑 WHAT: Volunteer litter pickup; sanitized vests 🦺, work gloves🧤, bags, and litter grabbers provided!
👷🏿♀️👨🏽🌾 WHO: All are welcomed! Even if you don't live in the neighborhood!
High Street Coalition Cleanup
🗑WHEN: second and fourth Saturday of every month from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Next cleanups: August 10, August 24, September 14, September 28
🗑 WHERE: Walgreens (at High and Redding Streets)
Follow the High Street Coalition on Nextdoor, Instagram, or email highstreetcoalition@gmail.com to be added to the email distribution list.
MacArthur Boulevard Cleanup
🗑WHEN: last Saturday of every month from 9-10:30 a.m. Next cleanup: August 31
🗑 WHERE: Chevron station (at Pierson and MacArthur Boulevard) Focus is on cleaning up the stretch of MacArthur Boulevard along I-580 from Mills College to 55th Avenue. Email carolynaddison@yahoo.com with questions.
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What’s in Your Go Bag?
A “Go” bag is for emergency supplies to ensure you have ready the bare necessities that you can easily carry during an emergency evacuation. It should contain necessities for you, your family, and pets. Make sure you store the bag where you can easily access it, even if your house is damaged, such as near the front door or in an accessory storage unit. Store the bag in a dry place, and contained in a backpack, rolling suitcase, or other easy to carry container.
Important items to include:
- First-aid kit
- Prescription medications
- Unique medical equipment (and basic instructions)
- Copies of important documents like prescriptions, insurance papers, Social Security cards and birth certificates
- Cash
- Flashlights (and/or battery-powered lantern) with extra batteries
- Device chargers
- Warm clothing like hat, gloves, jackets; blankets; and hand warmers
- Small amount of non-perishable food and water (must refresh regularly)
- Pet supplies
- Personal protection equipment (PPE) like N95 masks, sturdy shoes, antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer mosquito repellent or sunscreen
- Portable radio and batteries
Do you have other items in your Go Bag? Send your suggestions to: MPERT.info@gmail.com
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Join the Maxwell Park Emergency Response Team
contact list:
email MPERT.info@gmail.com or call/text: 510-917-9994
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Festive and Fun National Night Out
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Suggestions? Feedback?
Is there anything you would like to see in the newsletter? Would you like to be a part of the newsletter team as a content contributor, writer, or photographer? Contact newsletter editor Annemarie Henning 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, 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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