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Find Yourself By: Robert A. Wilkins, CEO and President, YMCA of the East Bay “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” said Mohandas K. Gandhi.   As he was with so many things, Mahatma Gandhi was right.   Volunteering makes a difference, not only in someone else’s life, but also in your own. I should know.   My organization – The YMCA of the East Bay – has helped a lot of people find themselves over the years.   Without volunteers, we could not exist.   Nor could countless other nonprofits.   Last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 64.5 million people volunteered through, or for, an organization at least once.   If you are one of those 64.5 million, you can, if you wish, stop reading now.   You already made a difference. But if you are one of the 73 percent of the population who didn’t volunteer to help a community group, a church, a nonprofit, a school or other organization at least once last year, you need to read on a

The San Francisco Waterfront’s very history is said to hang in the balance with Proposition B and Proposition C, but the reality is anything but that. The truth is that only one proposed development is impacted by the vote this Tuesday, and that is 8 Washington. 8 Washington will add 134 luxury condominiums on a 3.2-acre lot which currently contains a tennis club I’ve played at many times and is roughly the same land size of our home grounds in Georgia. 8 Washington sits near to the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Justin Herman Plaza, and several condo developments just roughly 80 feet behind it. All 8 Washington does is fill in a kind of weird donut hole of airspace and land. That’s it. Look, a yes vote on B or C has zero to do with any growth agenda for San Francisco – nothing. It will not solve the affordable housing problem overnight, either (Sorry, it won’t and it’s time to be honest about that, too.) It’s just one development – and in point of fact, there’s room along the San Franc

Jen Biesty and Tim Nugent According to Zennie62.com, Shakewell, when it opens at the current Mezze space at 3407 Lakeshore Ave, will be the second “Top Chef” restaurant in Oakland, and a sign that our city’s presence as a foodie capital is only growing. “Top Chef” restaurants are those owned and founded by alumns of the “Top Chef” television show. Foodies around the World make special stops at these eateries when they visit major cities, and one friend of mine has a co-worker she travels with and who keeps a personal list of their locations. So when she’s in Atlanta, she’s already made reservations at a “Top Chef” place. In Oakland, of course, the first Top Chef restaurant is owned by Preeti Mistry and is the Juhu Beach Club at 5179 Telegraph Ave in the Temescal District. Shakewell is the name of what will replace Mezze and is owned by chef Jen Biesty and pastry chef Tim Nugent. Shakewell raised much of its funding via a Kickstarter initiative that combined 443 donors and took

Local children and their families are invited to a Halloween “Spook”tacular event at Hillsdale Shopping Center! Hillsdale is at 60 31st Avenue, San Mateo, California. To kick-off the festivities, participating stores will hand out treats to costumed children ages 12 and under from 5-6 p.m. Kids will also enjoy Halloween themed special events including a “Frankenswine” performance by Puppet Arts, Comedy Magic show by Count Dracula, balloon twisting, crafts and spooky science projects hosted by Mad Science of the Bay Area. For more information: 650-345-8222.

The Oakland City Council is to take up the annually thorny issue of city council district boundary changes, or what’s called “redistricting.” Tonight, as I sit here at Oakland City Council, there nine different scenarios the City Council has been asked to consider: Maps 18 and 21 through 28. What follows is a summary, based on what was written at the website at the City of Oakland’s webpage by the planning and zoning department. Map 18: “At the October 3, 2013 Rules and Legislation Committee of the City Council, the consultant produced a map, based on Map #17, which proposes the Maxwell Park neighborhood be combined into District 4; Map #18 proposes changes to Districts 5 and 6 which balance the population changes resulting from Maxwell Park being combined into District 4. Also, Map #18 shows Broadway Terrace as the boundary between Districts 1 and 4, which it was in 1993; and the map leaves the current border between Districts 1 & 3 the same as it is today: the Mosswood neighbo

Oakland, CA – October 28, 2013 – Recently, Paul Tutwiler & Mabel Hom of the  Downtown Oakland  and  Lake Merritt/Uptown  community benefit districts’ Senior Citizen Task Force, recently renamed R.O.A.R, Resources for Oakland’s Active Retirees, were awarded the YMCA of the East Bay’s “You are the Difference” award at the Y’s 134 th  annual meeting and volunteer recognition ceremony. Last June, Tutwiler, among others, contacted the Downtown Oakland & Lake Merritt/Uptown CBDs to suggest a collaboration between the districts and local seniors.  Their goal was to get local seniors involved in the community by organizing weekly walks, beautification projects, recreational activities and more.  Since then, the program has proved to be a great success. “It’s nice to see Paul, Mabel and the senior citizen task force getting the recognition they deserve.  Together, we are happy to have been able to organize a great program for our local seniors to get involved in the districts

Artesa Winery Artesa Winery, which has perhaps the most breath-taking winery in California, has come out fighting in a Sonoma Coast California property battle against Friends of the Gualala River. Artesa Winery is fighting to improve and protect a neglected Sonoma, California property in the face of strident opposition from a controversial local group, Friends of the Gualala River. Sonoma County is a place known both for its excellent wine and its natural beauty. But, the conversation has turned ugly over the effort by one well-regarded winery to renovate part of an abandoned Sonoma property into a vineyard and preserve and protect remainder of it. Artesa Vineyard and Winery has owned the 324 acre property since 1999 when it purchased the lot with the intention to use it to grow Pinot Noir. The property has fallen into disrepair since it was used as an apple orchard in the early 1960’s. In 2009 Artesa submitted a proposal to convert 173 acres of this former orchard into v

At Oakland FitnessSF , a man who's name I will leave out of this, harassed a couple over, of all things, how the woman was about to use a machine at the Grand Avenue facility, and the idea that he was supposed to use it before her just because he says he was a gym member for a longer period of time. I'm not kidding.  I can't believe I saw it. But as I was doing chest presses with weights, a I overheard an angry man behind me talking loudly to a man and woman (who I also know, and I'm leaving their names out of it) behind me. The angry man (Angry Man, from here on) was upset that the woman was about to use a clasp device to place on the top bar of a machine that's designed such that one can also pull weights from either side toward the person's body, or just do arm-focused lifts. The Angry Man was not even near the machine at first - he was clear over on the other side of the gym's second floor. But as soon as she started to use the machine, and he

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said this to the National Journal’s Sophie Quinton: “And so, you asked me what my challenge is. Well, my challenge is to let people know what the new Oakland looks like. Somebody just sent me an email saying, ‘Oh, you should have more black police since more than 50 percent of your residents are black.’ And I’m like, ‘Actually, no, 28 percent of my residents are black, but we’re pretty evenly divided between blacks, whites, Latinos, and Asians these days.’ But that’s their image of Oakland–and this is somebody who lives in the Bay Area.” (National Journal, October 6, 2013) In other words Quan’s saying ‘I don’t want you to think Oakland’s a black town’ because that’s a bad thing. Really? So it was bad for Oakland to be a city that elected a black Mayor in Lionel Wilson early on, and back in the 70s? It was bad for Oakland to have been the home of the Black Filmmakers’s Hall Of Fame? Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Thinks Black Oakland

Dr. Death, the epitome of Oakland Raiders Black Hole fandom, came to the Oakland City Council (along with about 60 other Raiders fans), and gave a classic, passionate speech imploring the elected officials to support the extension of the Coliseum City ENA. Look at it, because it's not likely you're going to see a presentation like this one for some time. Or until Summer of 2014.

Taste of Oakland! And,  Zennie62 says thanks to Helen Wyman and Lamont Dawson, it’s about time, after Taste of Atlanta, Taste of San Francisco, and Taste of Chicago. And it’s this weekend! A Taste of Oakland: Uptown Block Party is a collaboration between East Bay Loop and Vail Event Services (the organizers of the Oakland Block Party, a bar crawl held in Uptown for the last three years) and A Taste of Oakland, an event series that showcases and highlights the offerings of restaurants, retailers and galleries located in Oakland’s neighborhood commercial districts. Over 20 Uptown venues will provide “a taste” of a specialty dish or cocktail included in the ticket price of $20, which is a really great deal. Partial proceeds will benefit Youth Radio and the Visual Arts Department at Oakland School for the Arts. The Taste Of Oakland Website explains the founder’s vision: A Taste of Oakland is an event series that showcases and highlights the offerings of restaurants, retailers and

UNIQLO, the global clothing retailer, will open its new store at Hillsdale Shopping Center at 60 31st Ave., San Mateo, CA on Friday, October 11th at 10 a.m. UNIQLO Hillsdale San Mateo will welcome customers with entertainment and activities during Grand Opening weekend (this Friday through Sunday). Activities include a free tote bag to the first 300 customers each day and a free Heattech item with a purchase of $50 or more, and Japanese Taiko drum performances accompanied by popular DJs for a fresh perspective on an old tradition. More at Zennie62.com: UNIQLO Grand Opening At Hillsdale Shopping Center, San Mateo, CA

Polo For Lyme is this weekend at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, California. The  Bay Area Lyme Foundation hopes you can join us, and here’s the full information share for you: ATHERTON, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Bay Area Lyme Foundation will host its second annual Polo for Lyme benefit on Sunday, October 13th from 12:00 to 5:00p.m at the Menlo Circus Club in Atherton with 100% of the contributions going directly to the Foundation’s research and educational programs. More at Zennie62.com: Polo For Lyme: Bay Area Lyme Foundation Benefit Sunday, October 13th - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/10/09/polo-for-lyme-bay-area-lyme-foundation-benefit-sunday-october-13th-93930/

On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council will meet in public with the Bay Investment Group, which seeks an exclusive negotiating agreement that, if granted, will allow the organization the right to work to develop, “Coliseum City” a campus containing stadium homes for the Oakland Raiders and The Oakland A’s and perhaps The Golden State Warriors. But the idea of Coliseum City really started in 2009, and before Oakland Mayor Jean Quan. Here's the truth: Frank Dobson, Bob Leste, Steve Lowe Had Oakland A’s Stadium Plan Before Coliseum City - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/10/07/frank-dobson-bob-leste-steve-lowe-had-oakland-as-stadium-plan-before-coliseum-city-56582/

Chevron Richmond announced the start of a $15.5 million Community Revitalization Initiative, a five-year plan to stimulate the city’s economy by creating jobs, encouraging small business development and expanding job training opportunities. According to Zennie62.com, at held a press conference Tuesday morning at Richmond’s Community Greenspace Garden, Chevron officials said that $10 million will be spent on economic development, while the remaining $5.5 million will be invested in Chevron Richmond Announces $15 Million Community Revitalization Initiative - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/10/01/chevron-richmond-announces-15-million-community-revitalization-initiative-14227/

Rashid Al Malik According to Zennie62.com, The Coliseum City Project (the focus of an Oakland City Council closed session meeting today, Tuesday October 1st) just got the “middle eastern investor” Oakland's District Seven Councilmember Larry Reid was working on securing as far back as four months ago. That  “middle eastern investor” is Rashid Al Malik, and he’s teamed with an organization, Colony Capital LLC to form the Bay Investment Group. The Bay Investment Group’s website tells little other than that they’re located in The San Francisco Bay Area, but reads: “Bay Investment Group has experienced tremendous growth and at the urging of many investors, we are now negotiating possible investment strategy partnerships.” While none of those investment strategy partnerships are listed, one of them is the Coliseum City Project. For the rest of the story on Rashid Al Malik, visit Zennie62.com

Marina Shifrin's "An Interpretive Dance For My Boss Set To Kanye West" is a hit, having amassed over 3.8 million views since it was posted on Saturday. To read more indepth visit Zennie62.com: http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/10/01/on-an-interpretive-dance-for-my-boss-set-to-kanye-west-by-marina-shifrin-90098/

The UC Berkeley Explosion and fire that happened Monday at 6:30 PM PST was said to have resulted from a theft of copper wire that occurred over the weekend. According to a number of sources, and on Twitter, the explosion happened below California Hall on campus. Students were asked to leave the grounds immediately. But 20 who were trapped on elevators because of a power outage were rescused two hours later, at 8:30 PM. The power went out at 4:40 PM, but the fireworks happened after crews tried to turn the power on again. "Essentially there was a massive fireball that erupted," Colin Ho, a UC Berkeley Student said to NBC Bay Area. "The fireball was two times the height of the building, and everyone just got the hell out of there." Uh oh. Stay safe guys. " @2kdei : There was just a huge explosion on campus #cal #ucberkeley campus police evacuating pic.twitter.com/RP26AChJlj " — ~^~LILITHI§Ri§en\Δ/ (@RenagadeGirl) October 1, 2013 RT @Eric_Rasmu

According to Zennie62.com, Oakland’s Michael A. LeNoir, M.D., a well-known practicing Pediatrician and Allergist in the San Francisco Bay Area, was installed as the 114th president of the National Medical Association during the organization’s 111th Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly in Toronto, Canada. The National Medical Association promotes the collective interests of over 32,000 physicians of African descent and is a leading force for parity in medicine, elimination of health disparities and promotion of optimal health. “There is no superior collective association of physicians or of health professionals to carry out the fight against health disparities, improving the pipeline for African American students. More at Zennie62.com:  Oakland’s Michael A Lenoir 114th President Of The National Medical Association - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/09/13/oaklands-michael-a-lenoir-114th-president-of-the-national-medical-association-41906/

Alexandre Desplat is the Godzilla 2014 composer, and that was directly from a call this Zennie62 blogger made to Kraft-Engel, where Laura Engel is Mr. Desplat’s agent. The news that Mr. Desplat was going to score the next Godzilla movie came from a source on a message board called FSM Board, or Film Score Monthly. And that source was said to have been “Legendary Pictures Online” – but there was no official word from Legendary Pictures. The details at Zennie62.com: Alexandre Desplat Is Godzilla 2014 Composer, Says His Agent At Kraft-Engel - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/08/30/alexandre-desplat-is-godzilla-2014-composer-says-his-agent-at-kraft-engel-72513/

The City Of Oakland’s in huge trouble, to the tune of $170 million, unless it can successfully challenge John Chiang, The State Of California Controller’s claim that it failed to transfer $170 million to a specifically designated “successor agency”, as part of the elimination of the Oakland Redevelopment Agency in 2011. More at Zennie62.com: Oakland’s $170 Million Redevelopment Budget Controversy Makes CAO Look Bad - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/08/23/oaklands-170-million-redevelopment-budget-controversy-makes-cao-look-bad-36750/

Tony Earley, the PG&E Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who’s name could be the start of a hip-hop song that goes “Tony Earley. Tony Earley. Tony Earley” is totally wrong when he says that the San Bruno CPUC Penalty for the damage caused by the San Bruno Fire would require PG&E shareholders to sell billions in additional stock and, if shares failed to sell, could land PG&E in bankruptcy. Tony Earley told that to Bloomberg News on Tuesday, and it seems they bought it hook-line-and-sinker. More at Zennie62.com: Tony Earley: PG&E CEO Wrong; San Bruno Fire CPUC Penalty Will Not Bankruptcy Utility - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/08/22/tony-earley-pg-san-bruno-fire-cpuc-penalty-will-not-bankruptcy-utility-87310/

Peaches Headlines 40th Castro Street Fair SF: The minders of the famous San Francisco Castro Street Fair passed along the exciting news that Peaches, the Canadian electronic musician who provided guest vocals on Pink's album Try This , will be the headliner for the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the great event, October 6th. More at Zennie62.com: Castro Street Fair SF: Peaches Is Headliner For 40th Anniversary Celebration - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/08/21/castro-street-fair-sf-peaches-is-headliner-for-40th-anniversary-celebration-95191/

Disco Volante Oakland is closing.   For some reason, that epic, kick-ass burger’s going to be a thing of Oakland legend after today, Monday, August 19th. About 16 hours ago, this was posted on the Disco Volante Facebook Page: We are sad to say that Disco Volante will be closed for business for good starting Tue morning. That being said we are having a blow out Monday night! Everything on the shelf will be $5, so come in and get your last hamburger, great stiff drinks and some good laughs. Thank you, thank you, for all the great times and support! This wasn’t planned. It was abrupt. The Disco Volante website noted a full list of scheduled events for the month of August – nothing about closing its doors. Disco Volante Oakland Closes Abruptly; Monday Last Day - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/08/19/disco-volante-oakland-closes-abruptly-monday-last-day-65413/

This was emailed to me today: We are asking for merchant and resident assistance in connection with an armed robbery that just occurred. At 12:41pm, Oakland Police Department dispatchers received a call reporting an armed robbery near the intersection of Euclid Ave and Van Buren Ave. Officers arrived on-scene at 12:47pm and began searching for the suspect who reportedly stole a victim's purse and cell phone at gun point. The suspect is described as a male Black, approximately 20-years-old, 5'11'', 160lbs, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans. The suspect reportedly ran to Bellevue and toward Palm following the offense. Area 2 officers are focused on the prevention and investigation of robberies in this area and others due to recent crime trends. We ask that persons who have access to video surveillance cameras near or in the area report any potential leads or tips to the Oakland Police Department. Anonymous tips may also be submitted. Contact Inform

In an op-ed appearing in the Bay Area News Group, State Assemblymembers Rob Bonta (D-Oakland), Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), and Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) addressed BART negotiations, calling for good-faith bargaining in order to reach a solution before the Sunday night deadline. The East Bay legislators highlighted workplace safety issues, missed revenue opportunities and the bargaining tactics of BART’s lead negotiator Thomas Hock. “Before the two sides lock heads again, it’s time for the Board to ask pointed questions about BART’s negotiating tactics, how it values safety and the potential for new revenue opportunities. Respect for the Bay Area working families who keep the trains running and get riders where they need to go needs to underpin these negotiations. Meanwhile, we in the State Assembly have asked the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to investigate BART’s financial status. It’s time for the numbers to come out, so that we can ensure that taxpayer dollars are being p

BART, the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, held a march in Oakland, and prior to their Thursday night negotiations and planned strike on Sunday.  As the average BART worker makes over $80,000,  it's hard for this blogger to get behind their reasons for wanting to shut down the system.  There are people in Oakland who would kill for those jobs, and some would argue that happens.  Here's the march that was held, courtesy of a KRON video: Stay tuned.

From Zennie62.com: Downtown Oakland was once again the focus of the window smashing work of anarchists, some who have been incorrectly identified as being with Occupy Oakland. Bar Dogwood on 17th and Telegraph got the brunt of the violence, as its windows were smashed, once again. That is a small, woman-owned establishment trying to make a go of it in Oakland. There was no reason to attack Bar Dogwood, or any Oakland business. The people who did this should seek ways to change laws and improve race relations. But this doesn't help anyone. More at Zennie62.com: George Zimmerman Verdict: Bar Dogwood In Downtown Oakland’s Windows Smashed - http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/07/14/george-zimmerman-verdict-bar-dogwood-in-downtown-oaklands-windows-smashed/