Earth Day Planting

Hi!

I wanted to see if you could get the word out there regarding the start of a few beautification projects that I hope to roll out in our neighborhood this year (the first hopefully for Earth Day) and I also am looking for volunteers to help out in a variety of roles.

 

One of the projects is taking over the medians that block some of the intersections and landscape them as neighbors in the same manner as the Buddha garden at the intersection of E 19th Avenue and 11th Avenue. I have my eye on the one at E 20th and 12th Avenue and I know there are others. We would like to landscape at least one of these for Earth Day on the Weekend of April 20/21. What I need is for someone at one of these intersection to act as the lead and be a block captain in the surrounding block to drop fliers in mailboxes and speak to neighbors to get their contact info, tell them the date and get them to show up on planting day. Once emails are collected from neighbors I can coordinate from there. We'll also have a potluck afterwards to celebrate the new planted space(s). 

 

The other project I need block captains for to do outreach to neighbors upfront is landscaping of the sidewalk strips between the sidewalk and the street curbs. We can plant trees (do the appropriate approval from the City) and also plant drought tolerant plants in the spaces and then fill the top with decomposed granite which will keep the weeds out and the moisture in. We've done this in San Francisco many times and it transforms a block when it is all nicely landscaped and maintained. And my partner, Josh, is a landscape designer so he will work with each neighbor to design a garden that needs minimal water (like once a week) and little maintenance free of charge. We will remove cement in the spaces where new gardens can be placed but most homes already have areas ready to plant. We will be working with a non profit that plants city trees for a reduced price to bring down the cost where we plant trees

 

Please contact me @ skopff@sbcglobal.net or 510 479-3660 to ask more info or volunteer for any of the roles. We also will be looking for donations (which should be tax-deductible since I've set up a non profit) to help the neighbors who want to participate but need a little financial assistance as well as to fund the landscaping of the public spaces.

Steven J. Kopff, CPA
1218 E. 21st Street
Oakland, CA 94606
510 479-3660

Quick note from Sasha

Hi Lake Neighbors...

SO MUCH fun at the 3rd annual Valentines Pancake Cookout this Sunday -- thank you to all of you who showed up and we will see you all at the next events coming up for those of you who could not make it.  : )

Speaking of next events, there were some good ideas people came up with at the pancake party and they either echo or fit right into some of what we have forming for this year.  I am working on a calendar that I want to get out to everyone in the next week...so stay tuned.

AND speaking of tuned...I saw this today and wanted to send it out.  See below (highlighted) !!!  

MUCH Friendship!, Sasha

KGO 810 is proud to announce the launch of a new feature segment called “Good News in Oakland.”

These special reports will air during the KGO News at 6:46am, 1:46pm, and 5:46pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. They will be produced by KGO Reporter Tihanna McCleese and Good News in Oakland founder Sean Kennedy. Each story will highlight a person or organization in Oakland that has made a difference in creating a positive image for the East Bay’s largest city.

KGO Program & News Director Paul Hosley said, “We’re thrilled to enter into this partnership with Good News in Oakland. This collaboration will give KGO listeners an opportunity to hear about the positive side of the city…stories that have not been told before.”

Good News in Oakland founder, Kennedy said KGO “made ’Good News in Oakland‘ a part of its programming because they critically analyzed the society & community around them, came to a conclusion that negative media goes uninterrupted, and decided it was time for news that envisioned new possibilities for Oakland, the greater Bay Area, and the world.”

Kennedy added that the series will highlight positive aspects of Oakland government, businesses, organizations, and what the people of the city are doing to make Oakland a better place to work and live.

Have a tip or want to share some gtood news in Oakland, email Tihanna McCleese:   kgotihanna@gmail.com

Valentines Day Pictures

Great time celebrating Valentines day with Pancakes and great Neighbors!

3rd Annual Valentine's Day pancake breakfast

 

 

The THIRD ANNUAL...

Neighborhood Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast !

 

At the corner of E. 19^th  St.  & 11^th Avenue

Sunday February 17^th from 10:30am...

‘Til we run out of pancakes!

ALL are Welcome!

The THIRD ANNUAL...

Neighborhood Valentine's Day Pancake Breakfast !

 

At the corner of E. 19^th  St.  & 11^th Avenue

Sunday February 17^th from 10:30am...

‘Til we run out of pancakes!

ALL are Welcome!

Lake Neighbors 2013 Meetings

Our first meeting is Thursday, January 17^th – 6:30 to 8:30pm @ Regeneration Church (thank you great neighbor Regen!) 238 E. 15^th Street @ the corner of E. 15^th & 3^rd Ave. in their Chapel room.

Thursday, January 17  -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd) 

Thursday, March 7 -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, May 16  -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, July 18 -  6:30 to 8:30pm   (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, Oct 3 -  6:30 to 8:30pm   (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)

Happy 2013 - Here's the plan!

HI LAKE NEIGHBORS!!!

2013 begins and our brand new year unfolds – we look forward to a year full of events that bring us together more and more.   Our first meeting of the year is coming right up:  Thursday, January 26^th – 6:30 to 8:30pm @ Regeneration Church (thank you great neighbor Regen!) 238 E. 15^th Street @ the corner of E. 15^th & 3^rd Ave. in their Chapel room.

What ideas do you have for what you would like to see happen this year?  Actions and or events?  An outdoor movie is one we hear a lot – also a new idea for projecting an outdoor movie onto the Parkway Theater somehow (a group is currently trying to work that out) and a movie night at Portal restaurant (they seemed really interested).  We have had clean up days and outdoor pancake breakfast block parties (usually on Valentines Day and Mother’s Day) and safety/emergency prep trainings – we have had meetings, too!  We have 5 this year.  Here are the dates:

Thursday, January 17  -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd) 

Thursday, March 7 -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, May 16  -  6:30 to 8:30pm  (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, July 18 -  6:30 to 8:30pm   (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)
Thursday, Oct 3 -  6:30 to 8:30pm   (238 E 15th St @ corner of E 15th St & 3^rd)

They will include dinner – although we have agreed to try something different this year with the meetings which is to have neighbors volunteer to run them instead of me!  We have the first 2 meetings covered and if you are interested in running a meeting let us know and we can get you signed onto one of them – instructions are to involve everyone in speaking and keep things pro-active and away from extensive talk about the problems we already know well are going on – most of what we cover will be about what we want to do and how/who will do it…if you have an idea, put it out there but also get into action on it and seek support for it.  

We have over 350 members in our Lake Neighbors listserve sofar, so that is a lot of people that care about what happens here.  The meetings are kept positive – do not confront someone for their opinion or idea, no judgment – just respect, and positive regard and a focus on action.  This is so tough when everyone is so busy, so no guilt on anyone ever with level of effort put in – just keep at it, do all you can and whatever you do, it should be something that resonates for you and it can be big or small.  E-participation – as always – is very much appreciated and encouraged…write in and be involved in that way if that is all you can get to right now.  Participate and contribute your voice.

A few things we could use right now:

·                                    A person who can make dinner happen at meetings (if you have a food connection                                              someplace?  We can advertise for the donor)

·                                   A few people to push events through the shoot – track them, plan then and support                              events others want to create...

I want to again thank Regeneration Church, who has let us use their space for our meetings in their chapel room right off the sanctuary.  Regen is a great neighbor and has never said no to ANY of our needs or requests no matter how odd and never any mention of membership.  This group is not affiliated with any church – only all neighbors. 

Okay, so that is it for the moment!  Thank you for reading and I hope we all see eachother a lot!  See you at the next meeting…

MUCH Friendship,

Sasha

Great Holiday Party 2012