In brief: Piedmont taking survey on disaster readiness through March 17

PIEDMONT

Piedmont residents can let the city of know how it can help them be better prepared for emergencies by completing a brief online survey through March 17.

Responses will help city officials better understand baseline levels of preparedness among our community, where gaps exist and how they can best support more residents in taking important steps to prepare for disasters. The survey asks Piedmont residents:

• what type of disasters they’re concerned about;

• what steps they’ve taken to prepare;

• what barriers keep them from becoming better prepared;

• and what type of preparedness-related resources or services from the city would be most helpful.

Responses will inform city officials’ future education, outreach and programming as they strive to build a more prepared and resilient Piedmont. The survey is available at piedmont.ca.gov/DisasterSurvey.

For more information about household emergency readiness, visit piedmont.ca.gov/disaster. For questions about the preparedness survey, email Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan at dbrannigan@piedmont.ca.gov.

— city of Piedmont

OAKLAND

East Bay SPCA seeks large dog adopters and foster owners

The East Bay SPCA is urgently seeking adopters, foster owners and those who can take out large dogs on day trips or for sleepovers in their care.

These large dogs have been with the nonprofit organization for weeks or months and are struggling in the organization’s Oakland and Dublin shelter environments despite the group’s best efforts to provide them with the attention and care they need.

The East Bay SPCA (EBSPCA) is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and the large dogs are available for adoption, fostering, day trips or sleepovers at both of the group’s adoption centers: 8323 Baldwin St. in Oakland and 4651 Gleason Drive in Dublin.

Visit eastbayspca.org/big-dogs online to see the dogs in urgent need of time outside the shelter environment. To foster large dogs, take them on a field trip or take them home for a sleepover, visit eastbayspca.org/how-to-help/become-volunteer-foster or reach out to the foster team at foster@eastbayspca.org.

— EBSPCA

New Tik Tok channel dedicated to criminal justice reform

The Justice Reformatory is a new Tik Tok channel dedicated to criminal justice reform and bringing a new and firsthand account to the criminal justice-impacted community, says co-creator LuzMaria Martinez.

The site (@justicereformatory) is created by Martinez and John Crosthwaite, the latter of whom has been in California’s state prison system for 29 years. Martinez has been at Crosthwaite’s side for 25 years and says this relationship gives their Tik Tok channel a unique perspective.

The two are said to have insight from both sides of criminal justice reform, stay on topic daily and record Crosthwaite live from prison. They say they are actively involved with the Reform Alliance and Ella Baker Center For Human Rights and, though independent of those groups, support and network with both of them.

Martinez says the Justice Reformatory is working on bringing Crosthwaite home, at which time they plan to move their Tik Tok channel to new heights.

— LuzMaria Martinez

PIEDMONT

Adult school offers grandparenting class starting Feb. 29

Today’s grandparents face a unique set of joys and challenges in the ever-evolving landscape of child rearing. A new class at Piedmont Adult School, “Grandparenting Today: Education & Support for New and Not-So-New Grandparents” will address many of the questions that grandparents share.

What’s changed and what hasn’t in the world of child rearing? Has becoming a grandparent been what you had expected? Are you providing child care to your grandchildren (at least occasionally)? What issues are important to young families today, and how do they impact your role as a grandparent?

Participants will discover ways to strengthen family interactions and communicate more effectively with adult children. Consisting of four sessions from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 29 through March 21, the class is designed for grandparents of children ages 0 to 12 years.

Instructor Cynthia Kane, M.S., is a board-certified, licensed genetic counselor with more than 25 years of clinical experience.  A grandmother herself, Kane founded “It’s Their Turn: Wisdom for Grandparents,” a counseling, support and education practice geared specifically for grandparents.

Kane’s writing has appeared in Parents’ Press and Bay Area Parent Magazine, and she has been an advice columnist for More Than Grand, a comprehensive grandparenting website. The class costs $117. To register for it or other classes, visit piedmontadultschool.org or call 510-594-2655.

— Piedmont Adult School

Kehilla synagogue to celebrate 40 years at Berkeley event

Piedmont’s Kehilla Community Synagogue, a spiritual home for politically progressive people, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with “Wellspring: 40 Years of Music, Joy and Social Justice” in an in-person and streaming event starting at 7 p.m. March 5 in Berkeley performance venue Freight & Salvage.

The evening will be filled with inspiring music from internationally acclaimed musician Melanie DeMore, Hazzan Shulamit Wise Fairman, Rabbi Hanna Tiferet Siegel, the Kehilla Klezmer Band and other special guests.

Doors will open at 6 p.m, ahead of the 7 p.m. beginning of performances. Tickets are available online at kehillasynagogue.org/wellspring-kehilla-40th, and Freight & Salvage is at 2020 Addison St. in Berkeley.

— Spark Action Consulting

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