Retailers launch Oakland Gift Card to help people shop locally

By Catherine Traywick | December 13, 2011 |
The Oakland Gift Card can be bought and redeemed at 19 local businesses.

A small group of local businesses kicked off the holiday shopping season this month by introducing a new gift card program intended to keep retail sales dollars in Oakland. The “Oakland Gift Card,” which is available in amounts between $20 and $200, is accepted by 19 Oakland businesses, ranging from electronics and apparel stores to restaurants and art galleries.

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Banned books on display and up for debate at Oakland stores and libraries

By Yirmeyah Beckles | September 30, 2011

Over the past year, according to the Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, 46 books have been “banned” in the United States—taken off school and main library shelves, removed as “inappropriate” from class reading lists, attacked by bloggers and family value organizations or re-edited to replace words deemed offensive. All of these books are being showcased this week for a library and bookstore event called Banned Book Week.

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