Community

Historic Lady Washington tall ship sails into Oakland’s Jack London Square

The 1700s sailed into port at Oakland’s Jack London Square aboard the brig Lady Washington for a nine-day stay this month. With a crew of 13 at her helm, the 112-foot wooden ship, a replica of its namesake from the American Revolutionary War, has been a tour and education site while docked in Oakland. Capt. Ken Lazarus considers the ship, a 1989 replica of the original Lady Washington Boston trading vessel from the 1780s, the quintessential teaching tool. The captain…

Community photo of the week: Super Stars

Every week, Oakland North will publish a photo submitted by one of our readers. This week’s image was taken by Rae Gedlaman at Reach Academy, and submitted by Daniel Lawlor of Super Stars Literacy. He writes, “Super Stars Literacy provides in school and after school K-2 reading interventions at four public schools in Oakland, as well as organizes family engagement nights celebrating reading. A parent told us, ‘The program has helped foster a love of reading in my son. His confidence in reading is…

Buddha of Oakland

When Dan Stevenson placed a stone Buddha across the street from his house in Oakland’s Eastlake neighborhood, it was out of desperation. “The corner was constantly being filled up with mattress and couches and junk and there was some drug usage, a lot of graffiti, people just standing around doing nothing—just depressing,” said Stevenson.  Stevenson and his wife, Lu, say they are not religious at all, but believe in the power of positive and negative energy, and so decided to…

Oakland teachers protest for raises and smaller class sizes

Oakland educators took to the streets in protest yesterday. At one intersection in North Oakland, one teacher appeared with signs and a neon shirt, then a few others, who brought more signs, as well as snacks. Half an hour later forty teachers and substitutes rallied at Broadway and 51st street.