PIEDMONT
The Piedmont Education Foundation (PEF) will award $3,070,000 to the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) for use in the 2019-20 school year. The PEF is dedicated to fundraising to sustain financial support to the schools, and its Giving Campaign raised a record-breaking $2.8 million this year. A grants committee shepherds allocations through close partnership with the PUSD.
The primary focus is teachers, with 69 percent allocated; 28 percent will be used for support staff, including counselors, intervention and differentiation specialists and instructional aides. PEF granted $2.7 million for the 2018-19 school year. PEF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization led by a 25-member board of directors.
New Chamber Orchestra to present free concert June 15
The newly formed Piedmont Chamber Orchestra will present a free concert at 4 p.m. June 15 at the Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont. Under the baton of Martha Stoddard, the orchestra will play works from the classical repertoire — Mozart, Elgar and Dvorak.
The group was formed in 2018 as a place for Piedmont’s processional musicians, retired players and talented amateurs to gather together. All and all ages are welcome to attend. Among Piedmonters in the orchestra are Debbie Dare, Michael Goldstein, Joe Gold, Molly Lehrkind, Nancy DeRoche, Stuart Gronningen and Bert Tuan.
Scouts to host July 4 pancake breakfast, march in parade
The Piedmont Council BSA is participating in several festive activities for July Fourth. The council’s community service crew will host a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. July 4 at Veterans Hall, serving pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit, orange juice and coffee for a nominal charge.
Troop and crew food stands will operate from noon to 3 p.m. at Piedmont Park. Join the Cub Scout kazoo band and march in the parade. A Scouting flag brigade will lead the young Scouts, and kazoos provided. If interested meet in uniform at 10:30 a.m. on the upside of Park and Highland avenues. The parade starts at 11 a.m. For details, call the Scouts’ office at 510-547-4493.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
OAKLAND
Beer, Wine & Music Festival coming June 15 to Montclair
The Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival will be June 15 from 12 to 6 p.m. in the Oakland hills. Attendees can kick off the summer with a family-friendly festival featuring:
- more than 40 craft beers and artisan wines; an unlimited tasting package will include a commemorative glass;
- Mister Beever’s Paws & Claws Stage featuring JetBlacq at noon, JAX at 1:30 p.m., Mio Flores and The Latin Jazz All Stars at 2:30 p.m. and Andre Thierry and His Accordion Soul Music at 4:15 p.m.;
- a pedal-powered sound system provided by Rock the Bike (all riders are welcome);
- a Play Palooza Fun Zone provided by Giant Puppets Save the World (including interactive art with giant butterflies, bird kite puppets, stilt walking, silk flags and bubbles).
Proceeds will support the Montclair Village Plaza Campaign, a $750,000 fundraiser to create a public plaza for the arts, culture and community. Help build the plaza, by getting a brick at MontclairBricks.com. For more information or to buy an unlimited tasting package, visit MontclairVillage.com.
— Montclair Village Association
Japanese sister-city group takes part in local area events
The Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association has participated in various events in the past few months. For the Asian Pacific Children’s Convention (consisting of fifth-grade students), spring and summer high school student ambassadors and their families staffed an entire water station for the Oakland Running Festival in March. Students also marched in the annual San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival in Japantown in April. The elementary and high school students will leave this summer to experience a cultural exchange with Oakland’s sister city in Fukuoka. For more information please visit oakland-fukuoka.org.
— Oakland Fukuoka Sister City Association
Celebrate principal’s retirement
The public is invited to celebrate the retirement of Nancy Bloom, who has been the principal of Montclair Elementary and Skyline high schools. An open house will be held in her honor June 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 212 La Salle Ave. in Piedmont. Refreshments and coffee will be provided, and attendees are asked to bring a dessert to share and photos to add to a scrapbook for Bloom.
— Mimi Rohr, correspondent
‘101 Dalmatians’ remake to launch free movies in park
Enjoy Piedmont Recreation Department’s first free Movie in the Park this season. Featured is the 1996 Disney remake of the 1961 classic “101 Dalmatians,” starring Glenn Close and Jeff Daniels. The evil Cruella DeVille, played by Close, has a plot to steal Dalmatian puppies to make a fur coat. Her efforts are thwarted by the puppies’ protectors.
The movie will run from 8:45 to 10:30 p.m. June 7 at Piedmont Park, 711 Highland Ave. The snack bar will open 20 minutes before the show. Bring low lawn chairs or a picnic blanket to enjoy the family-friendly movie.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
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