Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 8

8 NEWS LOCAL REGION SUNDAY March 2 2008 THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE Rancho experience comes to life at Peralta Hacienda marches by the Spanish are a source of pride for individuals descended from the early Californios as these first settlers including the Peraltas would come to be called they can also be a source of sadness from the perspective of the indigenous peoples of the area says Shannon Petrello of the riends of Peralta Historical Park A way of life known to count less generations of native peoples (it is estimated that there has been human activity here dating back Annafee ALLEN OU CAN experience tradi tional California rancho life with free live music and hands on activities for the whole family next weekend at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park The activi ties from 2 to 4 bring to life the era when present day Oakland was part of the vast 19th century Peraita cattle ranch Park visitors at amily un Day can make corn husk dolls candles tortillas from fresh corn and adobe bricks to take home The Calicanto Singers dressed in colorful costumes will perform Mex ican folk dances Their director is Lance Beeson who counts among his ancestors members of the famous Anza Expedition who traveled to California from Mexico in 1776 The event is part of a widespread series of performances lectures and cultural events hosted by a cross cul tural studies project taking place along the Anza Trail at what would have been points of contact between American Indians and Spanish ex plorers According to history files a small party of soldiers led by Capt Pedro ages set out to explore the as the East Bay was then known in late March 1772 They marched along the HaywardOakland foothills up to San Pablo and Mar tinez men returned south via ban Ramon and Niles Canyon This would be the first documented inter action between local native people and people of European descent' according to historical files our years later again in March Juan Bautista de Anza led a party of soldiers and their families overland from Arizona to Monterey then trav eled farther north following route to Antioch and the Livermore Valley Once again native popula tions in the region would be seeing Europeans for the first time While these first exploratory National Trail and a new Held trip program for fourth graders is cur rently under way Petrello says Stu dents are immersed in the life and times of the rancho era roping hay bale cattle grinding corn to make tortillas dressing in authentic garb and learning fandango folk dances Every second Saturday of the month riends host community events at the park offering some thing of interest for the entire family Volunteers are encouraged to sign up to help with the "Peralta Rancho field trips and various other activi ties held throughout the year or in stance in celebration of Earth Day in April volunteers can join a work party to help beautify the park and clean nearby Peralta Creek 4 or more information and to learn about volunteer opportunities go to wwwperaltahaclendaorg or call 532 9142 The park is 2465 35th Ave 15000 years) would change forever on the San Juan Bautista de Anza once me Europeans arrived Luis Maria Peralta was 1 7 when he joined those traveling in group His future wife Maria Loreto A viso and her familv were also i making the trek The young couple wed on eb 23 1784 and would is eventually have 17 children nine of whom four sons and five daugh ters lived to adulthood Don Luis served 40 years in the military and was awarded (as was then cus ternary) a land grant upon his retlre mpnt The 44800 acres stretching from what is today San Leandro north to the city of Albany was used primarily for grazing livestock 8000 head of cattle and 2000 horses according to historical re cords Tpday the 6 acre park and his toric house once belonging to the Peralta clan forms an outdoor arts and educational hub for local fami lies and youth It is a designated stop J'! Sports Center Celebration Teachers brace for possibility of layoff notices State budget cuts mean bad news for interns temporary workers By Keil Gonzales STA WRITER IUERAMIUI LOCAL RESIDENTS (above) enjoy a friendly game of hoops Saturday during the Anniversary Open House at Union City Sports Center in Union City Massage therapist Erin Ewing (top) gives Jeane Zhang of Union City a free massage MmMw I few I i i' 7 Bb 1 JHMBB i aHw W' IBM i Jessica Lease has worked as a nanny college tour guide and substitute teacher She could always go back to those jobs if she is let go as an intern teacher at Kennedy Middle School in Redwood City because of statewide budget cuts to education know I'm going to get pink said Lease 23 who teaches sixth grade math and science I'll be busy on Craigslist for the next couple of Lease is among thethousands of teachers across Cali fornia bracing for layoff notices to be issued by March 15 While many teachers are expected to survive actual lay offs local school leaders and others say the job uncertainty triggered by the latest state budget crisis will strike a lasting blow to the teaching profession send a hopeful message" said Margaret Gaston president of the Center for the uture of Teaching and Learning a Santa Cruz based nonprofit think tank are concerned with teacher morale school districts' ability to recruit teachers and ability to enroll candidates for teacher preparation programs" The Redwood City School District may need to cut $39 million from its 2008 09 budget according to Chief Business Officer Raul Parungao Among the first places it could look to do that is in the ranks of 67 temporary teachers such as Lease Although a pink slip doesn't necessarily mean a teacher will be laid off it can cause a serious toll to a district The teacher could start seeking work in other districts or leave the field altogether Parungao said don't want good teachers gone and want to be unable to hire them If she is cut Lease hopes to be rehired jdown the line could do something else and then come back to teaching because I know eventually need teachers she said If he is laid off Peter Clifford another temporary teacher at Kennedy Middle is confident find other work if not teaching I have other options" said Clif ford 26 They include possibly workingas a camp coun selor Still the prospect of pink slips is and puts people he said do I do in the meantime? Or will I be asked to come back? I 1 Community Calendar TODAY March 2 Animal of the Day Come up close and learn about' one of our animal friends $6 per person infants free 1 to 1:20 pm airyland 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland 452 2259 wwwfairylandorg Art Exhibit California College of the Arts presents Emma Prince Wilson's BA Photography Exhibition through March Opening Reception: 530 to 7:30 pmMarch 5 California College of the Arts North Gallery 5241 College Ave Oakland Book Signing An evening honoring the work of Melanie KayeKantrowiz in cludes reading conversation and book signing of Colors of sliding scale $5 to $25 7 pm Kehilla Community Synagogue 1300 Grand Ave Piedmont 547 2424 ext 100 Dance irst Sunday Dance with Nob Hitl Sounds $8 3 to 6 pm free les sons at 2 pm Lake Merritt Dance Center 200 Grand Ave Oakland 504 2792 lady dancealotglobalnet Live Music Remo with special guest performance by Imerald Bay and more 9 pm La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave Berkeley 849 2568 wwwlapena org Performance Children's airyland presents Dana Smith and his dog Lacey who sings and dances $6 per person in fants free 1 :30 pm and 2:30 pm Child airyland 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland 452 2259 wwwfairylandorg Performance Canadian harpsi chordist Luc Beauserjour performs music of orqueray Couperin Rameau and Duphly $18 general $15 members sen lors students 5 pm MusicSources 1000 The Alameda Berkeley reservations: 528 1685' Puppet Show The Princess and the Pea puppets and script by Randal Metz zc $6 per person infants under 1 free 1 1 am 2 pm and 4 pm Children's airy land 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland 452 2259 wwwfairylandorg White Elephant Sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women's Board free admission 10 am to 4 pm The White El ephant Sale Warehouse 333 Lancaster St Oakland free shuttle bus from ruitvale BART Arts and Crafts The Manlynn Arts and Crafts Center open with activities geared toward children and their families $6 per person infants under 1 free npon to 3 pm Children's airyland 699 Bellevue Ave Oakland 452 2259 wwwfairyland org MONDAY I March 3 Mobile Blood Drive The American Red Cross blood drive is open to the public noon to 6 pm UC Berkeley West Pauley Ballroom MLK Student Union Berkeley go to wwwbeadonorcom (Code: UCB) to schedule an appointment Early Literacy Night or kids 1 to 5 and their parents storytime crafts and tips on getting young children to learn how to read free 5:30 to 6:30 pm Martin King Jr branch library 6833 International Blvd Oakland 61 5 5728 wwwoaklandlibrar yorg Urban The Santa Bar and Grill offers free training in urban gar KTOP TV Today's government programming 10:30 am Public Works Com on Oakland's KTOP TV (cable mittee 2262008 Channel 10) includes: 1 12:30 pm inance and Manage 8:30 am Info' Access ment Committee 2262008 9 am Rules and Legislation 4 pm Community and Eco 2282008 nomic Develop Comm 2262008 KDOL TV 31 i 1 J4 i it 12 pm Inside the Global Economy Protection vs ree Trade 1 pm NASA Educational ile 1 4 pm OUSD State Administ 9 am The Western What Next? rator andor BOE Meeting 6 pm Education Partnership 2262008 7:30 pm Public Safety Com mittee 2262008 10 pm Info Access loday programming on the Oak The Enlightenment and Society land Public educational The Modem Philosophers access station Channel 27 on Comcast Cable includes: 8 am A Biography of America Crimes and Punishments rftiesThe Sixties 11 am Rural Communities dening 10 am to 4 pm 1310 University Ave Berkeley 841 1 110 amily Storytime Stories and fun for the entire family 6 pm West Oakland branch library 1801 Adeline St 238 7352 Send listings two weeks in ad vance to the Community Calendar coThe Oakland Tribune 7677 Oak port St Suite 950 Oakland 94621 call 510 208 6450 fax 510 208 6477 or mail TribCaloaklandtribu necom Elsewhere the East Palo Alto based Ravenswood City School District was expected to issue notices to about a dozen teachers as a response to a projected $600000 rey enue loss in 2008 09 according to Superintendent Maria De La Vega The San Mateo oster City School District faces the pos sibility of letting go 25 teachers as it stands to lose more than $4 million in the next academic year according to Joan Rosas assistant superintendent of student services J'1 The severe belt tightening in local districts follows Gov' Arnold proposed budget in January which featured cuts of $44 billion from 12 public educa tion for 2008 09 and $360 million this current fiscal year Statewide about 5000 teachers so far expected to re ceive layoff notices according to Mike Myslinski spokesman for the California Teachers Association in Burlingame likely to go much higher" as March 15 approaches Districts have until May 15 to rescind some of those no tlcfes he said In 2003 during the last major period of state fiscal turmoil 20000 teachers got pink slips he said How ever fewer than 3000 were actually laid off Heard About The Come ind Out About Our Customized Actual Patient ns Before After flattie Offices In Danville Hayward Livermore Tracy i i ixi ii i Minimal downtime Local anesthesia No bandages Lower cost 925 736 0401 wwwPlasticSurgerylcom Complimentary Consultations Available Brett Stompro MD Chester Cheng MD Board Certified Plastic Surgeons A 1 Ulri BHHuHH 1 We are not affiliated with Lifestyle Lift It is deregistered trademark of its independent owners i.