Month: June 2008

Hiller Fire Photos, 2008

Nothing like a fire to support the first Red Flag Warning this season. In all seriousness, we are better prepared than in 1991 – and equally lucky we didn’t incur the wind god’s wrath last Thursday.

Joe Dougherty snapped a complete set of Hiller fire photos, including the fire crews and helicopter water drops. Here’s a preview of the fire, before it was controlled:

While the fire was around three acres – and extinguished quickly – it was very close to us. It’s time to pay attention to the brush around your homes, as this season could be a scorcher.

Make Montclair Village Shine

We are a vocal bunch about ways to improve the Montclair Village streetscape – but our voices are merely mumbles among friends and neighbors. Now we’re getting organized.

Tonight there’s a joint meeting between the Montclair Village Association (MVA) and Montclair Safety & Improvement Council (MSIC), to bring “shoppers and merchants together to brainstorm ways to improve the look and ambiance of the Village.”

The meeting takes place at Zion Lutheran Church (5201 Park Blvd, map), at 6:30 pm tonight. If you can’t attend, then send ideas to MVA Executive Director, Roger Vickery: MontclairVillage@sbcglobal.net.

MVA and MSIC want to consider everything that beautifies the town. Some of the topics include views, traffic flows, intersections, signs, benches, and other forms of spit-shine.

I think its safe to say that we need better “hang out” space. I like the idea of pedestrian areas without cars, but I’m sure there are opponents. Anyway, let’s see what we can develop collectively.

After ideas are gathered, a landscape architect will prepare drawings and costs and share them publicly. A master plan will be finalized – to trigger the funding, permits and actual improvements.

What are your hot buttons? How would you improve the Village? Please comment here, thanks.

First Fire Warning Tonight

The National Weather Service has declared a “Red Flag Warning” tonight, due to very high winds. According to the Oakland Park Ranger, Kent McNab, this is the first fire warning of the season.

Between 9pm tonight and 6am tomorrow, all Oakland Hills residents should be a bit more careful. Simply put, please don’t start any outside fires – the embers could catch.

Within Oakland’s jurisdiction, Joaquin Miller Park will be closed to the public. No barbeques or even cigarettes are permitted during this alert. Welcome to summer in the hills.

Fixing The Sink Holes

Don’t hold your breath, but Oakland’s going to permanently fix the Shepherd Canyon sink holes. After numerous road repairs over the years, an appropriation should be approved tomorrow:

These sink holes appear on a regular basis, when there’s plenty of rain that isn’t diverted properly. Apparently, the storm drainage pipes buried underground are nearly 60 years old and have seen better days.

Based on this resolution, the pipes will eventually get replaced. The real question is…when?

** At nearly $1 million, this fix could get delayed by budget snafus. The City says it will cover part of the cost, and likely seek assistance from State and Federal coffers too.

** With funding, construction bids are set for next February. This means we can look forward to another winter with sink hole possibilities, before this fix is in the ground.

At least we’re on the radar screen, as part of Oakland’s storm drainage capital plans. If you’d like more info about the Shepherd mess, please read the full resolution.

Brian Copeland’s Here, Sunday at 2pm

One of our East Bay celebs, Brian Copeland, will be at A Great Good Place for Books (map) tomorrow. It’s worth going to see him – even if you normally don’t “do” bookstore readings.

KGO listeners know Brian pretty well. He airs commentaries during the afternoons and also hosts a show on Sundays, from 9-11am (KGO-AM 810).

Copeland will discuss Not a Genuine Black Man, based on his one-man show about racism. Learn more in this NPR interview with Farai Chideya, or CBS5 profile by Barbara Rodgers.

The book and show reflect Brian’s feelings about the East Bay, too. He grew up as one of the few African-Americans in a white suburb: San Leandro in the early 1970s. While the place didn’t welcome him, 35+ years have passed and he still lives there today.

Brian’s a comedian and has a wry take on life. As proof, here’s a KGO audio clip called 7 Words, which is all about the dirty words you’re not supposed to say on air. Who needs bombastic or offensive ways to say the same thing?

Anyway, Copeland will begin speaking after the Farmers Market wraps up, at 2pm. I hope A Great Good Place won’t be too crowded – it’s not that large a shop.