OAKLAND
The Montclair Village Association (MVA) is raising money to help increase security for visitors, patrons and merchants in Montclair Village by installing security cameras in public areas. Their goal is to install cameras at intersections and along the streets and pedestrian ways of the Village, where images from the cameras will be used to combat and deter crime and help ensure the safety of all who live, work or shop in Montclair.
Lucky California has kicked off the program with a $10,000 donation. This will pay for two or three high-quality installations capturing images that have already led to arrests. MVA officials want to install cameras in another two or three locations and request contributions to achieve a comprehensive coverage plan.
Reaching a $5,000 goal will let a significant amount of the streets and sidewalks be covered, according to the MVA, which reports that they are committed to protecting personal privacy and that their security campaign will follow industry-best privacy practices concerning the collection, use and storage of surveillance footage. MVA officials request contributions of $50 or $100 to quickly reach their funding goal but say any donation is appreciated.
— Montclair Village Association
PIEDMONT
Big Art Show fundraiser for schools set to start March 16
The third annual Big Art Show, hosted by the Piedmont Arts Fund as a fundraiser, will kick off at 6 p.m. March 16 in the Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. The opening will include a wine-and-cheese reception from 6 to 8 p.m.; no ticket is required. The opening is also a reception for the Piedmont’s Got Talent show that begins at 4:30 p.m. at Veterans Hall, 401 Highland Ave. in Piedmont.
The Big Art Show will be open during gallery hours until March 30. Ceramic garden flowers will be available for purchase at the opening and during gallery hours. Art in its myriad forms may be purchased on-site or online.
Several demonstrations are planned — silk screening from noon to 3 p.m. March 17; quilting from 3 to 5 p.m. March 22; Marvel comics illustrator Yancey Labat from noon to 3 p.m. March 23; watercolors from noon to 3 p.m. March 24; kid’s art from 3 to 5 p.m. March 28; drawing from noon to 3 p.m. March 30. The Piedmont Arts Fund contributed $65,000 this past year to the Piedmont schools to fund art supplies, music instruction, band, a capella singing, theater, film and more.
Capital improvement projects’ public input encouraged
Piedmont is in the process of developing a list of proposed capital improvement projects. Public input is encouraged through an online survey, writing or in-person suggestions. The CIP committee will collect suggestions through April. The prioritized list will be presented to the City Council at their May budget hearing. Present ideas in person at the 7 p.m. council meeting April 9.
Arts center offering several musical event this month
Musical events galore are scheduled in March at the Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. Free Flute Friday is at 6 p.m. March 8, featuring cierzo flutes; refreshments will be available. Duke Chorale will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. March 10.
A folkloric concert at 7 p.m. March 14 has Bill Kalinkos on clarinet and Allegra Chapman on piano, performing works by Stravinsky, Bach, Chen Yi and other composers. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $10 for students. Buy tickets at brownpapertickets.com. The Alexander String Quartet will perform Mozart at 5 p.m. March 17. Tickets for that are available at gcplayers.org.
March 14 workshop for parents of differently abled kids
There is a free workshop for parents of children with learning differences from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 14 at Havens Elementary School’s library. Carrie Poole will facilitate group discussions on ways parents can prepare their students to transition to high school and beyond. What are some alternatives for students not headed to a university? How can these students develop independence skills? These and other topics will be explored.
Apply by March 20 for open seats on various city panels
Residents may apply for several vacancies on Piedmont’s committees and commissions. Visit www.ci.piedmont.ca.us to download an application, or obtain one from the City Clerk at 120 Vista Ave. in Piedmont. Applications must be received by March 20 at City Hall.
The budget advisory and financial planning committee has vacancies for three members and one alternate. The two incumbents are eligible for reappointment. The CIP review committee has one vacancy; that incumbent is eligible for reappointment. The civil service commission has two vacancies. The park commission has three vacancies; the three incumbents are eligible for reappointment.
The planning commission has vacancies for two regular members and one alternate. One regular and one alternate on that commission are eligible for reappointment. The public safety committee has two vacancies; those two incumbents are eligible for reappointment. The recreation commission has three vacancies; the three incumbents are eligible for reappointment.
Party like it’s 1985, benefit Piedmont Middle on March 23
Piedmont Middle School parents are invited to the Totally ’80s March Mingle from 7 to 11 p.m. March 23 at Piedmont Veterans Hall, 401 Highland Ave. Party like it’s 1985, get in the groove to support Piedmont Middle in this themed evening of fun, food and dancing. Tickets are $150 per person and can be bought at piedmontmarchmingle.org.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
OAKLAND
Mayor Schaaf kicks off season of free tax preparation
For the 17th year, low- to moderate-income Oakland residents can have their taxes prepared for free through the United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! Save It! (EKS) program. More than 200 EKS centers in eight counties help families access the California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which leverages the federal EITC in the communities that need it the most.
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, in partnership with United Way Bay Area and the Alameda County EITC Coalition, have kicked off the 2019 free tax preparation season. With the support of trained, IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers, EKS centers provide free tax preparation to individuals and families earning less than $55,000 per year at more than 200 locations throughout Alameda County as well as Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano counties.
EKS is again offering a convenient “drop-off” tax preparation service launched last year with 17 intake locations across the Bay Area. Volunteer preparers working at central preparation sites then interview the taxpayers by phone and prepare their returns. The taxpayers go back to the intake location to sign and pick up their completed returns a week later. Visit earnitkeepitsaveit.org for intake locations.
— United Way Bay Area
