In brief: 2024 Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival happening June 15
OAKLAND
The Montclair Village Association (MVA) and generous presenting sponsor Ken Betts Co. are excited to announce the 10th annual Montclair Beer, Wine & Music Festival from 12 to 6 p.m. June 15 in the Oakland hills’ Montclair Village business district.
Several blocks will be closed for this community celebration and fundraiser that drew more than 3,000 attendees last year. Proceeds will benefit the MVA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has served the Montclair Village district and surrounding community for 75 years.
Funds raised will help improve safety, beautification and ensure free family-friendly gatherings continue throughout the year. For tickets and more details online, visit bit.ly/3wtvwzM.
— Jody Colley
Youth community group expands anti-violence program
Recent positive headlines on Oakland crime shine a light on the strength of community-based violence prevention strategies like the expansion of CURYJ (Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice) to Oakland’s Rudsdale Continuation High School of the group’s violence interruption program that began in the city’s Fremont High.
CURYJ (curyj.org) is a community-based Oakland organization working to unlock the leadership of young people to dream beyond bars. The expansion of violence prevention efforts emphasizes building with the community to help divert students from harmful behaviors and open the doors to healing and unlocking their true potential.
At Fremont High, life coaches with CURYJ were involved with on-site, weekly activities focused on preventing gun violence; real-time responses with students to reduce truancy, along with fights and other forms of violence; and support of prom, graduation and other pro-social, cultural activities.
A total of 41 Fremont High students received intensive support: 26 students enrolled in CURYJ life coaching, 12 were referred to employment opportunity services, 10 to additional academic support, three to counseling and two joined CURYJ’s Homies4Justice Leadership Development Internship.
— CURYJ
Grand opening celebrated for renovated, larger Roberts Pool
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) celebrated the grand opening of the new Roberts Pool at Roberts Regional Recreation Area recently with visitors and special guests. The Oakland hills pool is now open to the public for swimming on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The newly renovated pool provides additional swimming opportunities for the community. Visitors can now enjoy the increased size of the pool, including additional shallow areas for recreational activity, swim lessons and other training along with an upgraded changing room.
The original Roberts Pool was built for the park’s opening in 1953 and served as a public recreational facility until its recent closure for this renovation. Programs traditionally offered at the pool include group and private swim lessons, recreational swimming and special times set aside exclusively for swimmers with disabilities.
The Roberts Pool Renovation Project was made possible through funding from California State Parks, Measure WW, Regional Parks Foundation, the EBRPD and a generous bequest from John and Ellen Sutter.
The pool capacity has doubled from the original size, with additional shallow areas for recreation, swim lessons and training. It is a significant improvement over the previous pool, as the new configuration accommodates lap swimming and swim lessons or other programming simultaneously in the shallow end of the pool.
Visitors can also now enjoy a new public changing room building and restrooms with gender-neutral facilities and access compliant with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act. The pool will also be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting June 10. Visit ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/roberts online for more information.
“What could be more inviting than an outdoor pool in such a beautiful setting as Roberts Regional Recreation Area, surrounded by redwoods?” asked Sabrina Landreth, the EBRPD’s general manager. “We hope the award-winning facility will continue to provide the public with enjoyment for many years to come.”
— EBRPD
PIEDMONT
City participating next week in Bay Area Bike to Wherever Day
Join thousands across the Bay Area in biking to work, to school, to run errands, or anywhere else you’re going on May 16, the 30th annual Bay Area Bike to Wherever Day.
This yearly celebration of pedal-powered transportation aims to help fledgling riders find new routes and experience what it’s like to use a bike for daily mobility while also building community among active cyclists. With roughly half of Piedmont’s in-territory greenhouse gas emissions coming from transportation, getting more residents to adopt cleaner commute options is a critical piece of meeting the City’s Climate Action goals.
Whether biking to the office, accompanying the kids to school, or just taking a coffee break while working from home, roll over to the Piedmont Sustainability Division’s energizer station at Highland and Vista avenues to say hello from 7 to 9 a.m.
Energizer station visitors will get a free Bike to Wherever tote bag (while supplies last), raffle entry to win a bike cleaning kit and refreshments courtesy of Mulberry’s Market. For more information about Bike to Wherever Day, visit BikeEastBay.org/BTWD.
— city of Piedmont
Student awarded scholarship to attend UWC Red Cross Nordic
Piedmont High School 10th-grader Bryson Cheney has been awarded the Davis Scholarship to attend UWC Red Cross Nordic. His selection for this esteemed scholarship places him among a group of 58 U.S. students recognized for their academic merit and potential to foster international understanding.
UWC operates 18 campuses globally, offering the International Baccalaureate to students ages 16 to 19. It’s dedicated to uniting cultures through education to build a peaceful and sustainable future. The diverse student body represents up to 90 countries, including many from regions of conflict.
Bryson’s commitment to debate exemplifies his dedication to the UWC mission of peace and sustainability. Through debate, he has honed skills in argument, persuasion, listening, and acknowledgment. He aspires to use these abilities to promote greater understanding and acceptance in his daily life.
His involvement with the Piedmont Community Service Crew underscores his commitment to community service, amassing more than 100 hours of volunteer work, and he is recognized within the organization for his significant contributions.
Bryson has excelled academically, maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA and standing out in classes such as history, chemistry and English. The son of Piedmont’s Gina Lambright and John Cheney, he is a member of Piedmont High’s Honors Society and has a deep appreciation for learning and understanding diverse global perspectives.
“I am eager to embrace the UWC education, which I believe will expand my world view and enable me to contribute effectively to global challenges,” he said.
For more details online about UWC schools, their mission and UWC-USA, visit uwc-usa.org.
— UWC-USA
OAKLAND
Rockridge thrift shop raffle to benefit children’s hospital
While supporting the Bambino Thrift Shop and in turn UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, The Bambino is celebrating 30 years in business on College Avenue in North Oakland’s Rockridge district with a raffle that has roughly 30 prizes for players to win. Tickets are on sale now through May 18.
Prizes include a night’s stay at Berkeley’s Claremont luxury hotel, a selection of wines, sessions with a personal trainer, a session with an acupuncturist, hair and nail care, coffee and chocolate baskets, restaurant packages and a grand prize of a 30% discount once a month for a year on any full-price item not already discounted at the shop.
The raffle drawing will take place between noon and 4 p.m. May 18, when cookies, tea and and lemonade will be served. Players needn’t be present to win, but the event will be more fun if they are.
All proceeds will support Children’s Hospital Oakland’s requests for specialized equipment to provide care for injured and ill kids throughout Northern California. The hospital never turns away families for any inability to pay. Raffle prize restrictions apply. For more information, visit bambinothriftshop.org online.
— Bambino Thrift Shop
CRUfit rowing team places second in recent world contest
During the 2024 World Erg Challenge from March 15 through April 15, 101 members of Montclair Village fitness studio CRUfit collectively rowed more than 10.25 million meters. This secured CRUfit’s position as the second-ranked team globally in the health-and-fitness category, outperforming 62 other teams.
CRUfit also clinched the 14th spot overall among all 407 teams worldwide. Team CRUfit comprises athletes of all fitness levels ranging in age from 13 to 86. For more details about CRUfit’s rowing program, visit bit.ly/3JE8jOm online.
The team aims to expand its roster by recruiting 30 more rowers before Sept. 15 to surpass the larger, first-place Greenville, South Carolina, team during the 2024 Fall Erg Challenge from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.
— MJ Broadbent
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