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Beginning January 2013, single-use plastic carryout bags won’t be allowed at most stores selling packaged food in Alameda County, and customers will have to pay for their paper bags at the checkout counter. The Reusable Bag Ordinance, adopted by Alameda County Waste Management Authority in January of 2012, is an effort to reduce waste in the county and targets stores that traditionally distribute a high volume of single-use plastic bags.
On the weekend of November 2nd through the 4th, halau, or hula schools, from California and beyond traveled to Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton to showcase their artistry.
Zawaya, literally “aspects” in Arabic, a Bay Area non-profit focused on developing multicultural programs and the Arab arts, is organizing “Doorway to Islamic Civilization,” a series of arts and culture workshops that will be held from Nov. 9-11 at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California in Oakland.
On the morning of Tuesday, November 6–election day–Oakland North reporters Aaron Mendelson and Mihir Zaveri headed to a polling location in North Oakland’s Bushrod Community Center, to hear voters talk about Obama, the issues, and what voting means for them this election.
This Halloween, Oakland North asked a few local businesses—Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, Piedmont Grocery and Piedmont Fabric—what they did to prepare for the holiday this year. Business owners said they began preparing for Halloween at least a month ago, and have seen their biggest rush of customers this week.
The Día de Los Muertos celebration in the Fruitvale Village drew people from across the East Bay on Sunday. Azteca dance, Mariachi and Andean music filled the air as thousands of people observed a myriad of altars, which were represented everyone from Oakland homicides in 2011, to grandparents.
Protesters held a community rally in front of the Mi Pueblo Food Center in East Oakland on Saturday to protest the company’s voluntary decision to use the Federal Immigrations and Customs (ICE) program, E-Verify, for all new hires.
PD Active, a local nonprofit that offers programs for people with Parkinson’s disease, has partnered with Danspace in Rockridge to offer weekly Dance for Parkinson’s classes that give participants a chance to challenge their minds, bodies and creative abilities.
At the Rockridge Out and About Festival on Sunday, hundreds of people crowded the boutique-lined blocks of College Avenue to partake in the eclectic mix of music, food, art, and games that were offered in the streets.