Community

City Slicker’s farm springs up in West Oakland

Thanks to a $4 million grant from the California State Parks Department, which City Slicker Farms was awarded on November 8, the parcel will soon be transformed into a community farm and park. Although the department allows organizations up to eight years to get their programs established, Finnin estimates that City Slicker Farms will break ground for the community farm at the end of 2011.

Mayor Dellums cancels final public address, moves online

The last state of the city address by outgoing Oakland mayor Ron Dellums, scheduled for this Wednesday, was cancelled on Monday. Instead of a public speech, the mayor will deliver his closing remarks on his four year term in a speech posted online in text and video form.

Oakland fireboat Sea-Wolf navigates a murky future

The deck was full of motion. Firefighters were readying each turret, the giant revolving guns that shoot water instead of bullets. The Sea-Wolf has four turrets; one on either side of the boat’s deck, one in the front, and the largest located on top of the boat. The fireboat has the capacity to shoot out 8,000 gallons of water per minute.

Fall temperatures hit 80 degrees in Oakland

While it seems as if summer skipped the Bay Area this year, on Monday Oakland got a taste of August heat. Temperatures climbed as high as 80 degrees from Bake Sale Betty’s to the Grand Lake Theater, and the warmth lingered into the evening. But don’t worry—a local weather expert says this mini heat wave is nothing to get hot and bothered about. According to San Francisco State meteorology professor Jan Null, an area of high pressure over Nevada is…

Nonprofit program gives local businesses tools to grow

Created In Oakland, a nine month business consulting program, is helping local small businesses grow their businesses through workshops and individual advising. The program, which enrolls roughly 15 businesses each session, has worked with organizations ranging from hair salons to architectural design firms.

Voices of veterans: Former servicemen share their stories

For many of Alameda County’s nearly 75,000 veterans, this Veteran’s Day was more than just an opportunity to fire up the barbecue. It was a time to reflect on the role their military service has played in their lives. Oakland North reporters Roberto Daza, Nicole Jones and Teresa Chin asked four former servicemen to share their stories for this multimedia presentation.

Paramount Theatre brings back movie classics

About once a month, the Paramount Theatre on Broadway hosts a Movie Classics night, at which patrons can enjoy old favorites at the right price: $5. The movie night began thirty years ago, and has long been a favorite of local cinema junkies and Paramount staff. The theater screened its second-to-last classic of 2010 on Friday night, with another tentatively schedule for December. A January film is already lined up, and as far as general manager Leslee Stewart is concerned, the series will go on indefinitely.