Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 17

SUNDAY. April 12. 1998 THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE locals: Buffalo Soldier helps reveal Americas secrets sssndgr: JfcjL KB3L -4J Gwendolyn Collins, OCCUR staffer Anita Gall Camefi, and OCCUR andsr look on as John CoMm points out a mistake In the flag. Oakland's youth to see the titanic In such places as Salt Lake City, displays of hidden secrets and she Invited him to become aware treasures Collins has discovered. of the vast research resources I When Mce heard Cdllris talk available at the Family History U-of his book, game, military ad- brary at The Church of The ventures and ministerial activities Latter Day Saints In Oakland, AmAENHKTAMNT Today FASHON FAB 40 nul Bxny Ftehion Ftr factoring ftohionc of jn wtin1 sond by th Oddmd Bay Ana Chapter Linkt 12.30 to 5 pun, Oxktoid Mwrio.

Emalyn K. Jawed Bahoom, for tickaci ca 568-5201. Tuesday ART SHOW Wort by Em Biy; women rim open kxfcy through Jun 7, dl iky, Aka BaM Medkal Canter, 2540 AahbyAva, Berkeley Chances to learn Today BUOOHSTPRACnCE Buddhiatteach- ingi on ganaraaity and giving, 6 pm, TV baton Nyingma Irwtitoto, IBIS MgNand' Place, Berkeley, 843-6812. Monday COMMUNITY FORUM Dtoam thV impict of wafara rafarni, 7 to 9 pm, Uni 1 torim Ummatet Fetowhip 1624. Cedw Creek, Bwtatoy, 7045293.

Hi Meetings Monday COMMUNITY POUCWG WORKSHOP --Lam to identify nd daccribe Mpecfe 7 JO punAdimi Pont Prwtovstiori Society, Rnuiraction Lutheran Church, Eucfd md Van Buran, Oakland. SUPPORT GROUP Meeting far man fving with prcetote cancer, 1 to 3 fun, high-' hnd General Hoipitol Conference Room 1411 Eect31ct St, OektoxL 4374547. Tuesday BART MffTWG Bawd meeting md edmintoralion committee, 9 ejn, 800 Med-icon St, Firet Floor Board Room, Oektond, 4645000, Miscellaneous Today H0PAL0NGAMMAL RESCUE -Mobb-adoption program far doge and cato from -the Oakland Animal Shaker, 11 am to 3 pm, Safeway, 6310 Cohga Am, Oakland 4822724 tor cote end 339-2514 far dogt Have a listing for the daily calendar? Send il two iveeks in-advance to Community Cal-' endar, The Oakland Tribune, P.O. Bar 28884, Oakland CA 94604, or call 2084451. Fax information to 208-6477.

-vt. STAFF PHOTO Sondra. Phillips Alex- where she volunteers. Collins and Price talked of tying race, religion and roots to-. Please see Cobb, LOCAL-4 fore going out on his own.

He de- prlmarily In the central district; perhaps his best known project still standing Is the California Hotel on San Pablo. It, too. Is Mediterranean in style. Another Interesting example of Burrnl's work Is the Cox Cadillac Showroom on Harrison (cur- renfly vacant). The showroom was originally a car house for the Consolidated Piedmont Cable Co.

(during Oakland's short-lived cable car era). Burrell transformed the utilitarian bam Into an elegant showcase for luxury -automobiles. Burrell worked on many of his projects with the Sommarstrom Brothers construction firm. Survey research has documented 130 of the brothers' (Matthew, Felix and Hugo's) commercial buildings. As survey work con- -tlnues.

more will certainly come to light The loft building on Grand was used by various furniture and household-item, busl- Please see Alan, LOCAL-5 goodwill The are EASTER Good News veals can be found In the High Achiever Black American Trivia game he Invented In 1985. Among the numerous 'eye openers' Is a question about Martin Luther King's name before his father changed their names to Martin Luther King Sr. and Martin Luther King Jr. Collins, who believes In verifying every historical claim from source documents, displays a mint condition copy of a February 1957 Time magazine article revealing dial his birth name, was Michael until age 6. Collins knows how to make -history come alive, become Inter- rating and serve to motivate people, especially youth, causing them to want to culturally define themselves.

While visiting Oakland from his home In Madera, Collins talked with the League of African American Voters (LAAV) and nationally renowned Oakland genealogist, Electra Price. Price and OCCUR want Landmarks The exterior of textured stucco punctuated with scattered projections and topped by an.orange- KUle roof Is readily visible across the lake and lends a European tone to the Grand-Lake Commercial District. The wing east of the entrance features a hexagon-shaped tower. Hand-painted polychrome tile squares accentuate the stair risers leading to the upper levels. Wooden windows with casements and transoms are still Intact in most Instances.

Developer Wll-. llam Greuner commissioned prominent local architect Clay days a week he ilew to Las Vegas after working a full day in the office. In the evenings he performed with Bing Crosby and Bob Newhartvpntll 5 a.ra. Then he'd grab a little sleep tie-fore catching a plane back to Oakland. He Joined the Rotary Club In 1968 mostly out of duty, King admitted.

He wanted to give something back to the community, In part because he had learned many of his public speaking skills from an Optimist Gub mentor. He was a funeral parlor dl-. rector had King practice rig speeches to the dead In caskets. "Now Rick, I want ttils talk to raise the dead," King recalled his mentor saying before each speech. King's sense of obligation turned Into true desire alter he took a Rotary trip to India In 1980, when he fed a group id businessmen on a cultural exchange.

I had never seen such poverty," King said. "Children were crawling In the gutter with their Business Career a Accounting One of the last remaining Buffalo Soldiers raje into Oakland last week to reveal some of America's best-kept secrets. John Collins, numismatist, writer, author, inventor and collector of African-Americana memorabilia and source documents, has been busy as a lecturer In school classrooms, churches and organizations, revealing a treasure trove of hidden (acts about ourcountiy. Teachers and students learn that African Americans are written Into the U.S. Constitution eight times, with specific references such as the slave trade cutoff date set for Jan.

1, 1808. Of course we know It continued for nearly a half century beyond that date. Collins graphically shows how the Constitution states that three white men equalled five black men when It came to picking congressional representation and for tax purposes. He shows how three-fifths of the blacks that were freed after the Civil War chose names of prominent whites such as Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, Lee and Mad- Ison, even though they were each Individually considered only three-fifths of a man Just 24 -hours prior to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Most of the secrets Collins re- Legal Assistance for Seniors, a nonprofit organization bunded In 1976, has grown from a grass-roots "storefront start-up to a social service agency serving 8,000 seniors per year.

LAS Is the only legal services program In Alameda County devoted exclusively to providing free legal advice and representation to at-risk elderly citizens lacing Issues with housing, health benefits and even elder abuse. County residents 60 years and older are eligible for the assistance, and wfll find a warm and welcoming atmosphere when ittng the agencys headquarters at 614 Grand near Lake Merritt. LAS Is located on the fourth floor of the Imposing Medlterra- -nean-style loft building rated a (of major Importance) on the Cultural Heritage Survey. It Is a primary contributor to a potential Lake Merritt Historic District and appears eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. By Heather Cartoon STtfF WRIER Richard King was Juggling a burgeoning law practice with singing gigs in Las Vegas when he made a decision' that changed the rest of his life.

The decision was to go to a Rotary Club meeting. The Fremont resident Joined the service group In 1968 and now travels the world as one of 13 trustees in charge of the Rotary International Foundation. In January he returned from a nine-week trip to countries In-, eluding Germany, Malaysia, Nepal and Africa, where he visited Immunization sites and eye clinics. He's back to practicing law in San Leandro until his next trip to England In the Hall 59, said he never ex-' pected to Join the Rotary Club. He went to his first meeting because the Invitation came from Paul EhreL a former San Lo-' renzo school superintendent whom he greatly admired.

The then-thlrtysomething King was reluctant because six AAS Degree in 18 Months Lifetime Job Placement Assistance Day and Evaning Claeses Financial Aid If Qualified Tlw building it 600 Grand Ave. Burrell to design the structure In 1927 and was Inspired (so say the files) by similar buildings he had seen In Southern California, Architect Burrell was a member of one of Oakland's plo- neer families; His gsndfather, Al- rib cages sticking He spoke loudly and clearly, -as If telling a well-rehearsed story to an. audience or Rota' rians. King and his wife have traveled to more than 60 nations, where they give speeches, help vaccinate children against polio and teach people to farm or GOODWILL STORES having an SPECIAL EVENT Sunday, April 12 In Oakland has a historic (Mil fred Burrell, figured prominently In early city affelrs, building the first hotel on the "Contra Costa side of the Bay." Grandson Clay was born In Oakland In 1881 and apprenticed as a draftsman in local firms be- build Irrigation systems. Though his life.

may seem exhausting, King Insists that doing good is selfish. By way of explanation, he adds, "The more you give the more you get The biggest thing that comes back to you Is the feeling you get back, and It can't be purchased." JlcSiPIg Bookcases, Lamps, Fans, Teak-Sofas, On-Reception Furniture, Mora Pick a Bonus Easter Egg and win up to 50 off your purchase 1 Raffles for Gift Easter Baskets Hours 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Donl miss these great values! Store Locations: 15 at llam-Worid Vtow Systems Corpv-114 Ssnsoms St, 7th flr Bte. 700-Ssn Francisco, (off Bush)-30 Harman Millar AO Wrk Stations, 65 Oak-Ma-iagny Desks, 125 SteefaaseSuperior Task-Ofc Chra, Hp Laowprintore, Pentium 486 Pea Servers, EMC Bymatrics BOgtol DtatoRay Storage Byatem, Computer Racks, 10 Conference Round This, 10x10 Trade Show Booms, Ergonomic Kaybrd Trays, Minolta Copiers EP 076O-EP432, 3 Rm Air Conditioners, Color VGASVGA Traya, Minolta Copiers Monitors, Vtowto Focus Led Granite Modular Recaption Station, 2319 Lincoln Avcntu Alameda 6624 San Pablo Avenue North Oakland 2058 Univenity Avenue Berkeley 14750 East 14th St.

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