The city of Oakland’s Sunday meter enforcement has begun in earnest, catching many motorists by surprise.
The warning period has ended, and tickets started being issued this past Sunday, with parking enforcement officers slapping $64 fines on car windshields. The evidence shows that not only is there a lack of awareness about the new meter enforcement from 12 to 6 p.m. Sundays but that many motorists don’t know that the city-owned parking garage in Montclair is free all day on Sundays.
Fired up: Just in time for Earth Day on April 22, the city of Oakland has hired workers to remove several storm-damaged trees that cracked and fell around Montclair’s historic storybook fire station. Project spearhead Nancy Lehrkind says they’re a wonderful crew of hard-working young people.
“We keep taking them bagels and Gatorade and [give them] much appreciation and encouragement.”
Meanwhile, volunteers are being requested for the next outdoor work day, on Saturday, May 2, and should bring gloves, shovels and rakes. You can make a donation and find more information on the grassroots effort to restore the fire station at montclairfirehouseartscenter.org.
Also for Earth Day: The aptly named Frog Park is getting some love on April 18 as volunteers come together for an Earth Day cleaning. The event is from 9 to noon, the group Friends of Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt will provide the gloves and tools and free coffee and snacks will be available. For more information, visit frogpark.org online.
Bakery buzz: Montclair’s Full Belly Bakery has been featured in a television segment on KRON4, highlighting owner and executive pastry chef Eve Allen, who shows off her cupcakes and gives a shout out to the neighborhood and the recent Taste of Montclair Village.
The district’s next big event is the Montclair Village Art Walk on the weekend of April 25-26. This will be the 49th year for the sidewalk arts and crafts sale, which features local artisans and everything from jewelry to paintings and ceramics.
In memoriam: Beloved longtime teacher Jeanne Mulgrew is being remembered for her many years of service at Montclair Elementary School.
Mulgrew died Feb. 11 and taught at elementary school for 51 years, 47 of them at the Montclair campus. She was an Oakland native, attending St. Cyril’s Grammar School and Holy Names High School and University. She retired in 2011 but continued to volunteer at Montclair Elementary and was often seen in Montclair Village visiting with the many people she knew.
Ginny Prior can be reached at ginnyprior@hotmail.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.