OAKLAND
The Oakland Public Library Montclair Branch will celebrate National Poetry Month by inviting six local poets to read their poetry. A short open mic session will follow the reading. It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 23 at the Montclair Library. Special thanks goes to the Friends of Montclair Library for sponsoring this event. The invited poets include Sheryl J. Bize Boutte, Grace Marie Grafton, John Rowe, Leticia Garcia Bradford, Gary Turchin, Tobey Kaplan.
— Oakland Public Library Montclair Branch
PIEDMONT
Climate Action Fair set for April 24 at community hall
The city of Piedmont and Piedmont Connect are hosting “Tasting a Sustainable Future: Piedmont Climate Action Fair and reception” from 7 to 9 p.m. April 24 at community hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont.
Consumption is a large portion of emissions that are emitted in Piedmont. The April event will showcase different sectors of consumption: transportation, food, water, home energy, clothes and waste.
Residents attending will learn how to purchase more sustainably, reduce their food waste, conserve water, travel greener and electrify their homes. The East Bay Municipal Utility District, Bay Area Air Quality Management, East Bay Community Energy and StopWaste will provide information at the event.
Attendees will be able to meet Piedmont chef Paul Arenstam of Summer Kitchen and San Francisco chef Nick Balla of Bar Tartine, who will serve sustainable snacks from Balla’s new Smokebread project. Also, sample Patagonia Provision’s new Long Root Wit beer made from climate-friendly grain kernza. Register to attend through tastingasustainablefuture.eventbrite.com. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information contact Climate Fellow Brooke Edell at 510-420-3050.
Community pool egg dive April 14 on Magnolia Avenue
Dive into fun at Piedmont’s community pool egg dive from 1 to 3 p.m. April 14 at community pool, 777 Magnolia Ave. The fee is $10 per participant. Hunts will take place at the medium pool and baby pool for younger swimmers. The event includes spring holiday crafts and activities. For more information, call Piedmont’s recreation department at 510-420-3070.
Makers group, Arts Fund hosting STEAM fair April 28
The Piedmont Makers are hosting their sixth annual School Maker Faire from 11 to 3 p.m. April 28 at Beach Elementary School, 100 Lake Ave. in Piedmont. In collaboration with the Piedmont Arts Fund, the fair is a celebration of K-12 science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).
Students are encouraged to submit their STEAM project, a performance or their own project. Interactive exhibits are encouraged, those that highlight the process of making things or that a student and family took pride in making. For more information, visit piedmontmakers.org/2019-call-for-makers or contact Dave Ragones at dragones@gmail.com.
Student wins Daughters of American Revolution award
Piedmont High School student Maeve Gilbert, daughter of Jamie Pehanich and Len Gilbert, has won a Good Citizen award from the Piedmont Chapter National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR). One candidate from each participating school is nominated by school staff based on dependability, service, leadership and patriotism to receive the Good Citizen award.
Gilbert entered the scholarship contest, for which she described how she has manifested the qualities of a good citizen, accompanied by a grade transcript and two recommendation letters from an adult associate. She also wrote an essay supervised by a proctor to be completed in two hours. Its theme was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It.”
The winning entry receives a small scholarship and advances through state and national judging. Grace Blair, daughter of Courtney and Wesley Blair, a San Leandro High student, also won a Good Citizen award from the Piedmont chapter. The NSDAR was founded in 1890 with the mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. More than 930,000 members have been admitted since its founding.
Three artists display works at exhibit
Three talented artists will exhibit their works April 12-14 at Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave., Piedmont. Artists are Valerie Corvin, Dee Tivenan and Katie Korotzer, with the theme of “Personal Truth.” There is a reception from 5-8 p.m. April 12 at the center, gallery open noon to 3 p.m. April 13 and closing reception noon to 3 p.m. April 14.
Passover Seder scheduled for April 20
Kehilla Community Synagogue in Piedmont will hold a Passover Seder at 4:45 p.m. April 20 with Rabbis David J. Cooper and Burt Jacobson with a special message from Rabi’a Keeble, founder of Qal’bu Maryam Women’s Mosque. Keeble is a social activist and spiritual leader. The mosque honors women as religious teachers. Share a Sephardic Seder meal. For details call Kehilla at 510-547-2424.
Planning commission design guidelines
The planning commission will discuss updating design guidelines in its May 13 meeting at City Hall, 120 Vista Ave. in Piedmont. Public input is requested in person or by contacting planning Director Kevin Jackson at kjackson@piedmont.ca.gov.
City council selects committee members
The following individuals were appointed to city commissions and committees following interviews conducted by the City Council on March 25. Budget advisory and financial planning committee: Chris Kwei, Christina Paul, Maya Rath, Frank Ryan. CIP review committee: Michael Henn and John Lenahan. Civil service commission: Claudia Harrison and David Hobstetter. Park commission: Betsy Goodman, Jim Horner and Brian Mahaney. Planning commission: Rani Batra, Yildiz Duransoy and Douglas Strout. Public safety committee: Shanti Brien, Lori Elefant and Lynne Wright. Recreation commission: Glyn Burge, Jeffrey Dorman, Vincent Fisher.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
