Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 32

2 LOCAL THE OAKLAND TXIBUNE SUNDAY, Fabrooiy 8. 2004 Firefighters to hold Random Acts Awards, Sweetheart Ball 7 LANDMARKS these ambitious construction projects, prominently visible from around the Bay Area, the site has earned the nickname Temple Hill. Annafet ALLEN THE GREEK Orthodox Church Community Center will be the location for the Oak-land Firefighters Random Acts third annual Awards and Sweetheart Ball this Saturday. It starts at with. Master of Ceremonies Noel Cisneros of KRON-TV (Channel 4), who will Intro- duce guest of honor Dennis Smith, author of "Report -From Ground Zero and editor of Firehouse Magazine.

The evening will Include refreshments. dancing, door prizes, a raffle and the chance tp bid on Silent Auction Items, Including firehouse meals, oooked and served by Oakland firelighters, and a luxury box dt an Oakland A game. The iflle drawing grand prize Is a one-week getaway for two at Fueblo Bonilo in Cabo San Lucas Mexico (Including air- 1 fere). Ai the files, was another religion affiliated complex, the new campus of the College of formerly located since the 1860s next to Lake Merritt). The new milllon-dollar Greek Orthodox church.

In the so-called Modern Byzantine i style with Its 65-foot-tall ribbed copper dome and cruciform plan (designed by San FYandsco architect Robert (H-well), received raves and accolades throughout the world when It opened In December 1960. It was patterned, Cul- tural Heritage Survey files say i after Hagfila Sophia In Istanbul. Another notable ture of the structure is the -gold anodized aluminum sheathing of the dome's lnte- rior celling and the striking portraits of Christ and the Apostles, glimmering overhead. For more Information on the Firefighters' Ball, call 465-8422 or log on to wwv.ofran-domacts.org. Tickets are $75 perperson.

For Information on the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, call 531-3400, or visit on the Web www.as- The organization's board is made up of department members of various ranks, all serving on a volunteer basis. Their mission statement, Is to create a positive difference In the lives of Individuals through random acts of kind-, ness. According to Oakland Library History Room files, the Mormons were the first to acquire acreage hi the hills where Lincoln Avenlie (originally a pioneer-era wagon road) meets the Warren Freeway (Highway 13). This happened shortly after the end of World War II. Mormons were among the earliest settlers In Alameda County, files say.

staking claims near present-day Fremont, and pursuing logging In the redwood groves In the East Bay hills. Church member Thomas Eager Is recorded as establishing a sawmill in Redwood Canyon In 1854, becoming a leading supplier of the lumber that built Oakland and San Francisco. THE OAKLAND FIREFIGHTERS Random Acts Sweetheart Ball will be held Feb. 14 in the Community Center of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension. continually growing congregation Into the mid-1950s.

The Community Center where the gala will take dace Is a multipurpose building (completed In 1978), and part of a 614-acre complex on Lincoln Avenue, dedicated to the Greek Orthodox Church Cathedral of the Both the cathedral and Its Immediate neighbor further up the street the Church of Latter-day Saints were erected In the early 1960s. As a result of. land's earliest period. When the Gold Rush days were long past the churches continued to nurture the needs of the -community, especially immigrant groups such as Italians. Portuguese, Germans, Mexicans and Greeks, says Bag-well.

The first Greek Orthodox Church in Oakland opened for worship in 1920 on Brush near 10th Street It served its In 1958, after mounting a fund-raising campaign, members of the Greek church acquired the hillside property adjacent to where the Latter-day Saints were building their complex. All proceeds go to Random Acts now In Its fourth year founded by a group Oakland firefighters who believed they could make a positive difference In ways beyond their-Job-related emergency response work. History author Beth Bag-well recounts how churches affiliated with Immigrant ar- rivals were active as social and cultural centers from Oak Also under construction nearby during this time, say Groups undecided on measures Honors for CSUH official, ranger MAYOR, from Local 1 WOMEN, from Local 1 Nancy of Oakland, chief assistant district attorney for Alameda County and former head of foe countys sexual assault unit. She advocates for Justice for domestic violence victims. Susan Muscarella of Berkeley, founder and director of Jazzschool, which Is dedicated to the study arid performance of America's Indigenous music, Jazz and related styles of music.

Tammy Jemigan of Pleasanton, an astronaut and veteran of five Space Shuttle missions. She is principal deputy director of phyr a and advanced technologies at Lawrence Ltverm jtc National another $125 $195 per year to pay Oakland teachers, buy textbooks and maintain school libraries, music am) aria programs, got a mheyri response. The vote wasn't taken because State-appointed Oakland schools administrator Randolph Ward was unable to attend. Ward has promised to meet with OCO members at 000 headquarters In Eastmont Mall at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

School board president Dan Kegel and school, board member Noel Gallo (District 5) appeared and Bpoke on opposite sides of foe Issue. "After much soul searching I have decided Sonjai Parker Redmond of Hayward, vice president of student allairs at California State University. Hayward, who has been a voice for student access and equity for more than 25 years. Both Alameda County Supervisor Nate Mlley and Oakland City Council President Ignacio de la Fuente urged support for Measure A. Oakland City Coundlmember Nancy Nadel (Downtown, West Oakland) and Police Chief Richard Word urged support for Measure the family youth and violence measure that would place a $90 tax a year on single fondly parcels in Oakland, and a tax up to $180 on other properties.

It would raise about $11 million a year, 40 percent to hire more officers and expand drug abatement task forces: 40 percent for services and programs for youth and 20 percent for Job training for parolees and for young adults. About half of the people present supported P. But many opposed It No straw vote was taken on Measure which would assess Oakland property owners June A. Cook of Oakland, golf and business director of LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club, who works through the Upward Bound program to give young people opportunities to play golf. Sandy Ferreira of Fremont the citys senior park ranger for the last 15 years and district manager of Alameda Countys California Wood Duck Program.

She led volunteers In the creation to oppose Measure Siegel said' He said Ward to act accountable to no one In Oakland. His of the Tree Swallow Nest Box Program at Fre- i with local mont's Central Park and works Erin Nikok Gums of Oakland, a senior at; Athenian School In Danville. Erin maintains a 4.7 gj grade point average while performing more than jj. 200 hours of community service a year, Including building homes for low-income families In Mexico. decision to close five schools demonstrates that lack of accountability.

Siegel said. But board member Gallo said he strongly supports Measure E. The kids in our schools need all they help they can Gallo said. Scout projects. Rebecca, Denison of Berkeley, founder of WORLD, or Women Organized to Respond to Life-Threatening Diseases, which works with women around the globe who are Infected with HIV.

WORLD began in Denison's living roan 13 years ago- Tlw women be honored at an awaids caremony, March 6 at the Marriott Hotel in Oakland. Tickets are $55 and the public may attend Cal 535-7414 lor reservations or more information. MznERh aaaoiBag mmm i Celebrate Crime cut during last third of 2003 i SECURE, from Local 1 said. They're too busy with major crimes. But If we get a call from a business owner or apartment landlord who doesn't want people hanging out In front, we will Across foe cltjr, some merchants keep weapons at their businesses to combat crime, tlw comiqu-nlty leaders said, but many believe guns are not the answer.

Instead, they want to see more police patrols and bed response times. Oakland has an estimated 5,000 private security guards, but most do not cany weapons tjnd cannot make arrests. They are basically ob- to Highway patrol Oak! Oakland streets it would continue to help servers who make reports and call foe poltye, Ife city sakl Montalvo, a native New Yorker. We and make traffic-related stops. The Alameda riffs Department County Sheriff's Department has also been active weapons and we have made In hlgh-crime areas of East Oakland mid police say the combined patrols helped reduce crime during foe last four months of 2003.

i He is not critical of police department response time. Instead, he says he is understanding of foe police work load, and complimentary. They art doing the be they can, he said. However; these law enforcement agencies can only-be on Oakland streets several days a week. classroom! You need a proactive security force In Oakland," said Montalvo.

We are In patrol cars and we respond to calls In Los Angeles, the police department has formed LEAPS Law Enforcement and Private Security, in which radio yhannels are Shared by police and private security companies. Oakland, with about 750 police officers, Is understaffed, said Police Chief Richard Wo nL We could use 100 to 200 more officers," he said, noting it would cost $12 million for 100 officers and resources are strained. The company started 10 years ago, and the number of calls has Increased by 30 percent since terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Montalvo said. For more Information, call (800) 590-6532 or write Intervention Agency, P.O.

Box 28521. Oakland 94604. omen have ShapeUIn bring Women of Achievement into your classroom at no cost to you or your school. Sign up toay. Its free! We will provide you and your class with a 34-page curriculum guide, interactive lessons, and a weekly class-set of newspapers -Ml the tools you need to bring the lives erf some of history's most famous women to your students.

Women of Achievement is a very popular program, so orders will be delivered on a first-come, first-served basis. Youll receive your dass-s of newspapers every Friday, March 5 through March 26, 2004. Teachers Visit NewsSchooLcom for quick and easy ordering or. complete and return the coupon below. Eton Educstioail Sexvices The Oakland Wbune fokfod, CA 9461240 7 A.

Partners vow commitment to citys revival HOMES, from Local 1 City Coundlmember Larry Rdd Oakland) pushed to make Covington Manor a reality. East Oakland Is on foe move, he said. Palm Villas 1st completing foe final phase of a ll W' llfl i 4 78-unit housing development Signature Properties has a $95 million housing and retailing development at Durant Square. And with the new streetscaping and underground placement of utilities, foe entire area Is beginning to see positive changes that will add to foe quality of life. Branch and Baines, who has also built homes In West Oakland, committed to the citys Development based In downtown Oakland.

The average price for a new home will be $350,000. We didn't want to build townhouses. but single-family said Branch, who worked with redevelopment officials for several years during the planning stages. His development and management resume Includes a Four Seasons Hotel and the Sony Metreon project Ih.San Francisco. There's a lot that needs to be done In Branch said, and we wanted to make homes available so that first time middle-class hone buyers in Oakland don't have to go to An- YmI Si8nmeup for the FREE WonmafAcUevaneM program sponsored by SfapdLhdnytries.

100! Please send my teacher's guide and deliver my class-sets of newspapers oo-bor Fridays: Much 5 foraogh March 26, 2004 Teamed with business partner Ronnie Turner an experienced developer of retail and office Uoch or Pittsburg. We wanted to address the overwhelming need for well-designed, attractive, yet obtainable housing for Four blocks away on MacArfour Boulevard there's Palm Villas. space as well as residential properties Branch aiso Is building 45 one- and two-bedroom copdoe for 14th and Jackson streets downtown. His $15 It Is also part of a sweeping neighborhood by redevelopment officials and Oakland-b by redevelopment officials and Oakland-based million Jackson Courtyard development will bring back a lot left by a former Taco Bell restau-ranL The condos will sell for between $400,000 and $425,000 and should be completed by lift developers, Including Michael Baines, who to building Palm Villas near 90th Avenue, where impressive landscaping and new' street Improvements accent the new homes. At 98th Avenue and MacArfour Boulevard, Oakland Community Housing Inc.

-Is planning to build another 14 to 16 new homes. In the spring, Branch and Turner are going to start a 25-unlt loft development at 65th Street and San Pablo Avenue. The $8.5 million development should be complete by toll 2005. I i I I I I I 1 I I Ait aj i.