Environment

“Burn the Turkey” hike at Redwood Park and holiday family fun events at Regional Parks

Published

7 years ago

November 19, 2017

By Ned MacKay

As Thanksgiving approaches, with its sedentary schedule of turkey and television football games, mark your calendar for 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 24.

That’s when naturalist Susan Ramos will “Burn the Turkey” hike at Redwood Regional Park in Oakland. It’s a 2½-mile walk through the trees on the park’s West Ridge, Tres Sendas and Stream Trails, intended to help you lose some calories while enjoying the beauties of nature.Meet Susan at the park’s Skyline Gate, which is on Skyline Boulevard in Oakland, a bit south of the intersection with Shepard (cq) Canyon Road. Heavy rain cancels the hike. For information, call 510-544-3187.

Or you can drop by Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Beach in Alameda. There will be nature-themed activities all day,from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 24. The center is at the end of McKay Avenue off Alameda’s Central Avenue. Call 510-544-3187.

And down at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, “Green Friday Family Fun” is planned from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 at the park visitor center. Help the naturalists create a special “Tree of Thanks” exhibit and make a tree-themed ornament to take home. Parental participation is required. Coyote Hills is at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. Call 510-544-3220 for information.

And what’s more, in partnership with Recreational Equipment Inc., the Park District is declaring the day after Thanksgiving as “Opt Out” Friday, encouraging people to get outdoors instead of shopping. On that day, entry to the regional parks is free for all active and retired military personnel.
* * *
Pre-Thanksgiving, several informative programs are planned at Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley. “Mushroom Blooms” is from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 with interpretive student aide Laura Graham. Learn about the fungi that the rainy season will bring, and craft your own mushroom specimen.

Then from 1 to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, the topic is “Where does our food come from?” with interpretive student aide Brianna Contaxis-Tucker. Find out how much energy is required to get your favorite foods from farm to table.
Both programs meet at Tilden’s Environmental Education Center, which is at the north end of Central Park Drive. Call 510-544-2233 for information.

Speaking of mushrooms, a word of caution. Many varieties grow in the regional parks. Some of them are deadly poisonous. Unless you really know what you are doing, collecting wild mushrooms can be very dangerous. Besides, gathering any plants or animals in the parks is prohibited by District ordinances. The safest place to obtain mushrooms is your supermarket produce counter.

* * *
Birds other than turkeys are the focus of a series of Monday bird-watching walks led by naturalist Anthony Fisher. There’s one from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 20 at Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline in Pt. Richmond. All levels of expertise are welcome. Meet Anthony at the park’s first entrance after the tunnel on Dornan Drive. Call 510-544-2233.

* * *
At Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch, guided tours of the Underground Mining Museum are offered at various times on weekends through the end of November. For safety reasons, children must be age seven or older and accompanied by an adult. The mining museum is closed from December through February; it reopens the first weekend in March.

Registration is required for the tours, and there is a fee. For information, call the Park District reservation department at 888-327-2757, option 2.

* * *
Scatology and recycling are on the agenda at Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley.

Scatology is from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18, with naturalist Cat Taylor. Find out which animals are around by signs they left behind.

Recycling is from 2 to 3 p.m. on the same day. Learn new ways to reuse common household items.

Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. Call 888-327-2757, ext. 3050.

* * *
There are lots of other programs on tap in the Regional Parks. Check them out at www.ebparks.org. And by all means make time to explore your regional parks. This is a great time of year to do so, when the air is fresh and the hills are starting to turn green again.

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

3 weeks ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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Business

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Tackle Rising Electric Bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to help alleviate the financial burden of skyrocketing electric bills on residents. This directive instructs the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Energy Commission to identify strategies to lower electricity costs and prevent rapid increases in the future.

Published

1 month ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the key actions proposed, the governor emphasized a closer examination of utility expenditures related to wildfire mitigation, which accounts for about 13% of residential electric bills.

Newsom underscored the state’s commitment to balancing affordability with environmental goals.

“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” said Newsom. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”

California now has the second-highest electric rates in the country, trailing only Hawaii, with residential bills having surged as much as 110% over the past decade. The largest utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen rate hikes of 20% to 50% in just the last three years, approved by the state’s regulatory bodies.

The executive order also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore increasing the California Climate Credit, which provides some relief on energy costs for residents. Additionally, the PUC is urged to pursue federal funding opportunities to further reduce electric expenses.

While consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s focus on lowering costs, concerns were raised regarding potential cuts to essential clean energy programs. CALPIRG, a consumer group, pointed out that the real issue behind high utility bills is wasteful spending by utilities and urged greater accountability.