EAST BAY
On May 4, more than a dozen East Bay animal shelters will join forces to “Empty the Shelters.” Pet adoption fees have been reduced to $25, and the Bissell Pet Foundation will make an additional donation for every animal adopted.
Participating shelters include Antioch Animal Services, Berkeley Animal Care Services, the Berkeley Humane Society, Contra Costa Animal Services, the East Bay SPCA Oakland, East County Animal Shelter, Fremont Animal Services, Haven Humane Society, Hayward Animal Services, Oakland Animal Services, Solano County Animal Shelter, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation and Valley Humane Society. For hours and more details visit bissellpetfoundation.org/empty-the-shelters.
— Berkeley Humane Society
PIEDMONT
City’s former fire Chief Tubbs dies, was living in Idaho
Ed Tubbs, who served as Piedmont and Albany’s fire chief from August 2011 through May 2013, died this past weekend. All flags in Albany were be flown at half-staff May 1 to honor his life that he dedicated to fire service. Before joining the Albany and Piedmont fire departments, Tubbs has served as an assistant fire chief with the city of Dixon. He’d begun his career with the Davis Fire Department, working his way up from firefighter to captain over the course of 10 years.
Tubbs had a bachelor’s degree in communications from Sacramento State University and a variety of certifications in fire prevention and other related subjects. After leaving the Albany and Piedmont fire departments, he moved to Idaho, where he was the fire marshal for the Timberlake Fire Protection District. Before his death, he was still a senior member of the Timberlake district. Details for his remembrance and memorial service have yet to be determined.
— city of Albany
Retirement party for Murphy at Hampton Field on May 5
All are welcome to attend the retirement party for Schoolmates “legend” Michael Murphy from 1 to 3 p.m. May 5 at Hampton Field in Piedmont. Murphy is retiring after 37 years of service with the city of Piedmont. There will be refreshments and kudos to Murphy for all the service he has provided to students over the years. For questions, email the city of Piedmont’s Recreation Department at prd@piedmont.ca.gov.
Three musical performances coming soon to arts center
Mothers, kids and grandparents are encouraged to attend a Mother’s Day performance at 4 p.m. May 12 in the Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont. The show will feature the Fratello Marionettes performing the story of “Aladdin.” Tickets are $15 at the door, with $5 for students 18 and younger, or but tickets online at brownpapertickets.com. For questions, call 510-414-7356.
Also at the center, acclaimed violin soloist Julian Rhee will appear at 8 p.m. May 18, accompanied by pianist Miles Graber. Rhee will play works of Brahms, Mozart and Schumann. Tickets at the door are $25, or $15 for students. To buy tickets online, visit brownpapertickets.com/event/4211277.
And the award-winning Gold Coast Chamber Players Telegraph Quartet will perform their season finale at 5 p.m. May 19 in the arts center, featuring works by Dvorak, Mozart and Mendelssohn. Visit gcplayers.org for tickets and more information.
Scouts participate in Maker Faire at Beach Elementary
The Piedmont BSA Scouts joined several other students at the April 28 Maker Faire held at Piedmont’s Beach Elementary School. Peter and Joey Ichimaru helped the Scouts make wristbands and necklaces at the leather working table. The Maker Faire featured other activities such as a Lego table, a racetrack, miniature golf area and more, allowing participants to try something new and expand their horizons.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
OAKLAND
SHINDIG benefit May 9 for county foster, LGBTQ youth
Join the group Side by Side for their SHINDIG event from 6 to 8 p.m. May 9 at Starline Social Club in Oakland to benefit local LGBTQ and foster youth. The event at 2236 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland will celebrate youth voices, benefit at-risk Alameda County youth and support their work with Our Space, an LGBTQ youth community center, and Real Alternatives, a transitional housing program for youth exiting the foster system. Programs feature peer support groups, community-based mental health services, intergenerational community-building activities and paid youth leadership opportunities.
Our Space is a vibrant safe space for LGBTQ youth serving more than 500 each year, 75 percent of whom are youth of color. Real Alternatives offers a continuum of transitional housing for foster youth and youth on probation. The program provides a safe environment for participants to take responsibility for their lives and develop goals for their future. Tickets for admission, which includes craft cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, spoken word, music and a silent auction, are $50 per person and available online at sidebysideyouth.org/event/shindig.
— Side by Side Youth
Gift shop Mischief holding two-year anniversary event
Staff at the Mischief gift shop will celebrate the store’s two-year anniversary in a big way from 12 to 4 p.m. May 4 in the city’s Laurel district with free makers events and giveaways. Mischief, at 3908 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland, has been a destination for area shoppers looking for unique and handcrafted retail items and gifts. Local artists and craft makers are featured at this mom-and-pop shop that frequently hosts artist meet-and-greets, maker events, workshops and even a new parent group called the “Monthly Momma Meetup.”
Mischief owners Laura and Julian Shields invite the public to celebrate their free, family-friendly milestone anniversary event. There will be a free craft station and free ice cream (while supplies last). There will also be cocktails and other beverages and prizes with every purchase. The event is made possible by contributions from the Laurel District Association. For more details, contact Laura Shields at info@shopmischief.com
— Laurel District Association
Piedmont Pines group to talk home wildfire protection
The Paradise fire spread at a rate of 60 football fields a minute. Can we protect against such devastation? The Oakland Firesafe Council and Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association are sponsoring a community meeting to raise awareness of how residents can make their families, homes and neighborhoods safer and explain how and why recent fires have become more devastating.
The Fire Safety Forum will be from 9 a.m. to noon May 4 at Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Drive in Oakland. Attendees are also invited to come early, at 8 a.m., to partake in the Scouts’ pancake breakfast at the church. Topics and items include:
- Why mega-fires are happening, what the experts have learned
- Is your insurance adequate?
- How to “harden” your home to resist embers
- Is your defensible space really defensible given the change in the mega-fire landscape?
- How to make your home and neighborhood more resistant
- Touring a local neighborhood with experts to learn what to watch for how to better prepare.
For more information, contact info@piedmontpines.org.
— Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association
PIEDMONT
Reserve spot for Women Voters League’s yearly meeting
The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is holding their annual meeting and luncheon from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 10 at 40 Highland Ave., Piedmont. The guest speaker is Lateefah Simon, president of Akonadi Foundation, an organization dedicated to the development of social change movements to eliminate racism and transform the climate in Oakland to one of compassion, respect and dignity.
Simon has received numerous awards for her work including the MacArthur Genius Fellowship, Woman of the Year by California State Assembly and the National Organization for Women. The meeting will start at 10 a.m., followed by Simon’s address at 11 a.m. and lunch at noon. Lunch is $30. Reserve a spot by May 3 at LVWPiedmont.org. The meeting is open to public, and there is no fee for the speaker portion of the program.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
