In brief: Oakland’s Laurel StreetFair World Music Festival on Aug. 12

OAKLAND

Join the Laurel District Association (LDA) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 12 on MacArthur Boulevard at 35th Avenue as the neighborhood comes together to celebrate the 22nd annual Laurel StreetFair World Music Festival in Oakland’s beautiful Laurel District.

Rich with rhythms from around the globe and around the corner, the Laurel StreetFair is dedicated to celebrating the district’s cultural roots, community and traditions that bring it together — reflecting all that is uniquely and beautifully Oakland.

In these challenging postpandemic times, the district association and its sponsors will bring to life a robust, global music festival spanning more than eight city blocks full of hope, rhythm, art, makers, crafters, cuisine, folkloric traditions and much more.

A destination for all ages and abilities, the festival will shine light on a traditionally underserved Oakland area, demonstrate that joy is always universal and show that art will always be a tool of resilience, healing and connection. For details, visit laureldistrictassociation.org/info.

— LDA

Authors Newhouse, Dolich to discuss book at Montclair library

Explore the rich history and future of professional sports teams in Oakland with Dave Newhouse and Andy Dolich as they discuss their new book, “Goodbye, Oakland:  Winning, Wanderlust and a Sports Town’s Fight for Survival” at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 23 in the Montclair branch of the Oakland Public Library.

Featuring numerous interviews with luminaries across the sports spectrum, the authors try to examine why the city with such a history of success (10 league championships across the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball) now finds itself on the cusp of losing its last professional team.

Oakland resident Newhouse was a longtime sports writer and columnist for The Oakland Tribune, a radio sports talk show host in San Francisco and is the author of 19 books. Dolich has worked over the course of five decades in the professional sports industry, including executive positions in MLB, the NBA and NFL  He once served as the Oakland Athletics’ marketing vice president.

Copies of “Goodbye, Oakland” will be available for sale and signing, courtesy of Montclair bookstore A Great Good Place for Books. This event is free and being co-sponsored by the Oakland Public Library and Friends of Montclair Library (FML).

For more information, call 510-482-7810 or visit montclairfriends.org. The Montclair library branch is at 1687 Mountain Blvd. in Oakland.

— FML

PIEDMONT

Recreation Department opens registration for fall programs

The Piedmont Recreation Department’s Fall Activity Guide is published and available online. As of Aug. 1, residents can register online for classes, programs, camps, sports and events offered from September through December (nonresident registration opens Aug. 8).

The department this year offers a wide variety of activities from athletics to the arts for kids, with expanded focus on adaptive programming to meet the needs and interests of neurodiverse school-age children.

The inclusive classes have Teen Sidekicks ages 15 and older assisting experienced instructors as children participate in yoga, football, tennis, arts and crafts, soccer, movie time, social skills playtime and practice, theater and more.

Classes for adults of all ages include art, fitness, mindfulness, cooking, dance, music, photography, and walking, movie and book clubs. For more details, visit bit.ly/43RYKCT online.

See free movie under the stars Aug. 18 at Piedmont Park

As area schools’ summer vacation wraps up, the period’s second-to-last family-friendly film presented by Piedmont’s Recreation Department is Pixar’s “Turning Red.” The film will be presented for free at Piedmont Park starting at 8 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first.

The movie centers on Mei Lee a confident, 13-year-old Asian-American girl caught between being a dutiful daughter and adolescent chaos and a growing desire for independence. As her body, interests and relationships change, the stress causes her to change into a giant red panda.

Parents should note that the coming-of-age story is rated PG and contains material related to menstruation, sexuality and other subjects less suitable for young children. The animated movie received high marks from critics, but viewers cautioned that parental guidance is advised.

Register for Recreation Department’s Schoolmates program

Community feedback has resulted in new options for Schoolmates, the Piedmont Recreation Department’s popular play-based after-school care program. Registration has opened and offers access to the updated program’s new activities, increased capacity and more flexible scheduling options.

“Block Booking” provides a full year of traditional, full afternoon care, and “Flexi-Care” is an opportunity to register in hourly increments and pay only for the care needed. Schedules can be adjusted monthly, depending on space.

The all-new “Camp Kaleidoscope” offers expanded care options to accommodate early dismissal for students in kindergarten through third grade during the school year’s first few weeks. A community survey resulted in more than 200 responses, with most families emphasizing the need for increased capacity and more scheduling alternatives.

The Recreation Department is hiring additional employees and plans to increase its staff-to-children ratio. Program dates, registration, scheduling options, tuition, withdrawals, adjustments, waitlists and details about the Piedmont Unified School District’s transitional kindergarten Minimates program are available online at piedmont.ca.gov/schoolmates.

— Lou Fancher, correspondent

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