OMCA Celebration - 31 hours continuous free programs and events

Celebrate with OMCA! The newly transformed Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) opens Saturday, May 1, with 31 hours of continuous, round-the-clock free programs and events.

The festivities begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, on the street in front of the new Oak Street entrance with a Native American Ohlone blessing, a marching band, Project Bandaloop performing a spectacular aerial dance, and more. And the non-stop celebration continues through 6 p.m. Sunday, May 2.

"Only in California " Saturday afternoon activities highlight the innovative and creative spirit of California .

Saturday evening and overnight activities take on a more adult flavor with dancing, food, a no-host bar, flashlight tours, and conversations on unique California topics---merging into early morning yoga.

Sunday is especially for families with dancing, drumming, juggling, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and more. The new OMCA Store will be open the full 31 hours so visitors can shop throughout the event.

And of course the highlight of the 31 hours will be the excitement of discovering the story of California , the story of you, in the new Galleries of California Art and History.

Visit museumca.org for more information

CORE Citywide Exercise Saturday, April 24th

The annual CORE Citywide Exercise is an opportunity for individuals and organized neighborhood groups to come together and practice responding to a disaster in our community. In 2010, our scenario will be based on a 7.0 magnitude quake on the Hayward Fault, centered in North Oakland.

Answer that door!

Don’t ignore the knock on the door; could it be someone trying to sell something, an evangelist, or could it ... Oh no, a Census Enumerator, there to collect GPS and household data. Oops, I forgot to mail back the Census form. It’s too late, just answer the door!

On Monday, March 15, 2010, I posted “The average American will no longer exist...” that spoke about the 2010 Census activity currently underway.

So how well has the Prescott-Oakland Point neighborhood do?

As of Wednesday, April 21, 2010, the 2010 Census National Participation Rate was 71% (compared to 2000 which was 72%); California 69% (2000 - 73%); Alameda County 70% (2000 - 72%); Oakland 66% (2000 - 65%)

Those living in Prescott-Oakland Point:

Tract 06001401700 – boundaries are Wood Street, 14th street, Peralta Street, 7th Street, 880-580 Freeway Maze, Bay Bridge area and Oakland Outer Harbor water.

58% (2000 - 45%)

Tract 06001401800 – boundaries are Wood Street, 14th street, Peralta Street and 7th Street.

47% (2000 - 42%)

Tract 06001401900 – boundaries are 7th Street, Adeline Street, Oakland Middle and Inner Harbor water. This includes the “South Prescott” area.

58% (2000 - 48%)

Tract 06001402200 – boundaries are 7th Street, Peralta Street, Mandela Parkway, and West Grand intersection.

54% (2000 - 46%)

Since April 16th was the last day to mail back your census, we will now see census enumerators throughout the neighborhoods to conduct home visits.

The cost of the mailed-back census form was 42 cents, compared to $57 for home visits.

The estimated cost of the 2010 Census is $14.5 billion which covers fiscal years 2001 through 2013 and includes the cost of the American Community Survey for each of these years.

Questions regarding the amount in federal funds distributed each year to states and communities based in part on census population data, can be answered at http://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/govsrr2009-1.pdf and any additional information found at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/014611.html

The 2010 Census Calendar can be found at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/pdf/2010calendar_rev.pdf

Gateway Park planned at base of new Bay Bridge

As John King, Chronicle Urban Design Writer reported in his March 1st article titled, Big ideas sought for Oakland Bay Bridge Park, “There's no design and no budget - yet. The public process is only now getting under way."

In February, Oakland, Emeryville and greater Bay Area community members were invited to a public workshop to help plan Gateway Park planned at the base of the new Bay Bridge East Span. The next public workshop will be held in June 2010.

Gateway Park will provide a new landscape at the entrance to Oakland and the East Bay. It will be a place of history, grandeur, and inspiration and will offer a departure point for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to Yerba Buena Island and Treasure Island. The proposed park is envisioned to draw visitors from the Bay Area and around the world.

Gateway Park has many potential uses, such as: inclusion of a museum, space for recreational sports, public art, or simply as a place to relax.

Design ideas are beginning to be developed, but there is still time for you to tell us what you would like to see at Gateway Park.

To view the February workshop materials and other information, please visit BayBridgeGatewayPark.org.

If you have an interest in weighing in on the deisgn of Gateway Park, complete their on-line survey by April 19, 2010.

On April 9th, Prescott Circus Theatre presents...

Attention: My First Place (HGTV) in the Bay Area!

My First Place Is Looking for First-time Homebuyers to be on HGTV!

HGTV will be in the Bay Area and has asked if I can help locate some first time home buyers.

One of HGTV’s most popular weekly series, “My First Place” is coming to San Francisco for its EIGHTH season to tape first-time homebuyers through all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and ultimately buying their first place!

Each half-hour episode features people making the dream of homeownership a reality!

They are currently looking for homebuyers who are:

* Buying their FIRST place—the first home they’ve purchased.
* Fun, interesting people who are excited to be a part of this show.
* People willing to share their personal financial struggles with viewers and consider their lives an “open book.”
* Buyers that are going to be closing by the end of summer, 2010.
* Will be buying within a 60 to 90-minute radius of downtown San Francisco.

**Candidates who are selected to appear on the show will receive a surprise housewarming gift as part of taping and also a DVD copy of their episode after it airs on HGTV!

Singles, couples and families buying their first place are all encouraged to apply!

Contact:
               Cole Schneider
               Associate Producer, Casting
               "My First Place"--HGTV
               303.712.3100
               cschneider@highnoontv.com