Alameda city council rejects a proposal to rescind Del Monte project Alameda City council rejects a proposed to rescind Del Monte project’s prior approval.  The vote by the council was unanimous.  Mayor Spencer, who put the rescission discussion on the council’s agenda, voted against the repeal, saying concerns about the project could be addressed by the council in other way,” according to the Alamedan.   DEL MONTE DEVELOPMENT MAP According to the Alamedan, Council members Marilyn Essy Ashcraft and Tony Daysog said they felt that even though there are concerns about the project, repealing the project did not outweigh the risk of rescinding the prior council’s approval. Previously, the city was sued by SunCal Companies after council members opted not to extend an exclusive agreement to n... 01/08/2015

Alameda Rental Housing Community Discussion group will meet again for the third time on Wednesday, January 7 at Mastick Senior Center Social Hall from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.   A focus group of tenants and landlords have developed six discussion points to start the conversation about addressing the issues residents are facing. • providing notice of the City’s Rent Review Advisory Committee’s mediation service in rent increase notices. • requiring both tenants and housing providers to attend the mediation session if an application is filed. • requiring both tenants and housing providers to participate in good faith. • creating the opportunity for an expedited mediation process. • preventing housing providers from retaliating against tenants who file an application with the City for a mediation ... 01/07/2015

  Alameda City Council may rescind Del Monte approvals Alameda City Council may rescind Del Monte approvals at the Council meeting tonight, January 6.  The new council may repeal the former councils approval of the master plan and development agreement for the project which includes up to 380 homes and 30,000 square feet of retail space on the 11 acre Del Monte property. The former council approved the plan by a 4-1 vote in December.  Councilman Tony Daysog cast the only no vote.  The new council consisting of new Mayor Trish Spencer and Vice-Mayor Frank Matarrese and Jim Oddie and returning members Tony Daysog and Marilyn Essy Ashcraft.   According to the Alamedan, Spencer said, “This is a way to give the new council an opportunity, if they want an opportunity, to revisit this project.... 01/06/2015

    Market Report of Alameda real estate activity 12/15/14 - 1/5/15   Last week’s totals from 12/15/2014 to………..………….……………………1/5/2015 New homes on the market..................................................................7 Price changes......................................................................................1 Homes that sold................................................................................11 Pending activity - all not just last week...............................................43 All single family homes currently on the market...................................20 Condos currently on the market...........................................................3 Townhouses currently on the market....................................................3 Distressed proper... 01/05/2015

Things to do in Alameda on January 3 and 4, 2014   Things to do in Alameda:  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, January 3 and Tuesday, January 6  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.      Things to do in Alameda:  Alameda South Shore Center and Off the Grid food trucks on January 3, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in the South Shore Center parking lot near Petco.     Things to do in Alameda: First of a series of events celebrating poetry and poets on Saturday, January 3 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at the Alameda Museum at 2324 Alamed... 01/02/2015

    Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda   Since 1938, residents of the 3200 block of Thompson Avenue have been transforming their quiet East End street into a North Pole wonderland.       At some point during the past seven decades the street became known as “Christmas Tree Lane,” with thousands of people from all over the Bay Area coming to see the block's elaborately decorated homes and yard displays.         The Christmas Tree Lane tradition began during the Depression when two families of cousins who lived on the block decided to string lights from their homes to the then-small trees on the avenue’s median strip. They decorated the trees with handmade ornaments and displayed their own Christmas trees in their windows. Soon other neighbors joined in and the street became known around town... 12/31/2014

Things to do in Alameda on Saturday, December 27, 2014   Things to do in Alameda:  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 30  mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, rain or shine.  All the fruits and vegetables are available at great prices.  So good!  Don’t miss the opportunity to shop for delectable fruits, vegetables and flowers.  The market is on Webster Street and Haight Avenue and is open rain or shine.    Things to do in Alameda:  This is the last tour of the season at The Meyer’s House and Garden which will be open on Saturday December 27 at 1:00 to 4:00 pm. The gorgeous colonial revival was built in 1897 for the prominent Alameda architect, Henry H. Meyers.  Mr. Meyers designed many building and churches, schools and the Posey... 12/26/2014

  Things to do in Alameda on December 19, 20 and 21, 2014   Things to do in Alameda:  Santa Claus is coming to Christmas Tree Lane on Thompson Avenue in Alameda every evening from 5:30 to 10 pm.  It is the first night the lights go up.  Santa will be there through December 23rd from 6:30PM to 8PM.  Thompson Avenue is between High and Fernside and most of the homeowners decorate their homes lavishly.  Rain cancels Santa’s visit.   Things to do in Alameda: Thank You Show and Benefit for the Alameda fire victims, on December 19, at 8:00 pm, hosted by Stephen Petersen at Roosters Roadhouse at 1700 Clement Avenue.  Admission is $10.     Things to do in Alameda:  The Alameda’s Farmer’s Market is open to the public Saturday, December 20 and Tuesday, December 23 mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm... 12/19/2014

      Market Report of Alameda real estate activity 12/8/14 - 12/15/14   Last week’s totals from 12/8/2014 to………..………….……………………12/15/2014 New homes on the market.................................................................9 Price changes.....................................................................................1 Homes that sold...............................................................................11 Pending activity - all not just last week..............................................44 All single family homes currently on the market..................................29 Condos currently on the market..........................................................6   Townhouses currently on the market...................................................3 Distressed properti... 12/15/2014

  Things to do in Alameda on December 12 and 13, 2014   Things to do in Alameda:  Santa Claus is coming to Christmas Tree Lane on Thompson Avenue in Alameda on Friday, December 5 from 5:30 to 10 pm.  It is the first night the lights go up.  Santa will be there starting on Tuesday December 9th through December 23rd from 6:30PM to 8PM.  Thompson Avenue is between High and Fernside and most of the homeowners decorate their homes lavishly.     Things to do in Alameda:  Redux Studios and Gallery presents the opening reception of Portraits, new works by Emma Webster on December 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at 2315 Lincoln Avenue in Alameda.  There will also be open studios, delicious food, music and fun. Things to do in Alameda: The Alameda Community Chorus winter concert “Spirit of the Season” wi... 12/12/2014

  The Alameda Community Chorus winter concert “Spirit of the Season” will be performed on Friday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave, Alameda. It's free (donations accepted), and will include music from Africa and Catalonia and music by Bach and Handel, as well as a number of other selections. The youth chorus from Mai Lin School will perform with the chorus. The Alameda Community Band will perform as well.   The Chorus is under the direction of Kathryn Neale-Manalo and has been performing for more than 30 years.     During the concert, The Alameda Music Project, a choral group and free after-school program at Maya Lin Elementary School will perform these songs “For Unto Us A Child Is Born” and the “Ave Maria”. The Alameda Community Band will also perform durin... 12/11/2014

  Santa Claus has come to Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda.  He’s there every day at 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, weather permitting.  Christmas Tree Lane, AKA Thompson Avenue is between High and Fernside and most of the homeowners decorate their homes lavishly.  Homeowners on Christmas Tree Lane will display their lighted homes each evening from 5:30 to 10:00 pm.       The families on Christmas Tree Lane have decorated their homes with fun scenes and lighted holiday figures.  The City owned Alameda Municipal Power provides a portion of the electrical costs free to the neighbors.   The popular Christmas Tree Lane on the 3200 block of Thompson Avenue is always a crowd pleaser.  The residents of Thompson Avenue take pains to decorate their homes with wonderful figures, lights and holiday scenes.  Th... 12/11/2014

  Alameda's Redux Studios and Gallery presents the opening reception of Portraits, new works by Emma Webster on December 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at 2315 Lincoln Avenue in Alameda.  There will also be open studios, delicious food, music and fun.       Emma Webster’s works including the use of mixed media and a “fusion of reclaimed materials and nostalgia, relate layers of narratives,” according to Webster.   “Webster’s experimentations at St. Vincent de Paul’s Recycling Center have caused her to develop a new form of portraiture. Figures like family photographs or yearbook shots, emerged in her work from the gradual gluing, pressing, sanding, and painting of layers, textures, and colors. These new portraits are evocative in their ambiguity. Much like Rorschach blots, the psychological fo... 12/10/2014

    The Alameda Family Service Holiday Home Tour is back for its 44th year.  The 2014 tour is set for Saturday, December 13, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. You have the entire day to bask in the holiday beauty.  There are five charmingly decorated homes to tour, a gift boutique with holiday jewelry and gifts to please your family and friends and a gourmet shop with bakery delights, raffle prizes and scrumptious holiday dessert tea.       The Gift Boutique will be at the Alameda Elks’ Lodge and will feature handcrafted items, unique gift items including photography, delicious foods, collectibles, hand stitched gifts, jewelry, gift baskets, holiday decor children books, soaps and candle and much more.     The Gourmet Shop also at the Elks’ Lodge will provide a wonderful array of gourmet and fre... 12/09/2014

  Market Report of Alameda real estate activity 12/1/14 - 12/8/14 Last week’s totals from 12/1/2014 to………..………….……………………12/8/2014 New homes on the market..................................................................7 Price changes......................................................................................4 Homes that sold................................................................................16 Pending activity - all not just last week................................................56 All single family homes currently on the market...................................28 Condos currently on the market...........................................................7   Townhouses currently on the market....................................................3 Distressed properti... 12/08/2014

  Alameda: An Agricultural History on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 6:30 pm will be the topic at the next Alameda Backyard Growers meeting featuring Eric J. Kos, co-publisher of the Alameda Sun.     Eric, a local historian, will discuss the history of Alameda agriculture through the years. From cornering the Early Knit Pea market to the Fernside back pasture, and squatter strawberries, Eric will tell you all about Alameda’s fascinating farming past.   There will also be potluck holiday treats to celebrate the winter season.  Bring your favorites to share, or just your appetite!         Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) is a community-wide network of gardeners in Alameda, California. The group grow food in their own yards and donate extra produce to the Alameda Food Bank. Participation is fre... 12/08/2014

  Tips to prevent package theft in Alameda.  Package theft is a crime of opportunity.  If you are home and retrieve your packages immediately, a thief can’t steal your gifts. However, most people are not home during the day, so to thwart theft of your packages, you have to devise other strategies. If possible, arrange to have your packages delivered to you where you work.  If your employer allows it you won’t have to worry about your packages. Arrange to have your packages delivered to a secure location, such as a neighbor or trusted friend who is homes most of the time and can received your packages. You can also request that your packages be signed for or have the packages held at the delivery center, do you can pick the package up at your convenience. If you are buying from a large r... 12/06/2014

Things to do in Alameda on December 5, 6 and 7, 2014   Things to do in Alameda:  Santa Claus is coming to Christmas Tree Lane on Thompson Avenue in Alameda on Friday, December 5 from 5:30 to 10 pm.  It is the first night the lights go up.  Santa will be there starting on Tuesday December 9th through December 23rd from 6:30PM to 8PM.  Thompson Avenue is between High and Fernside and most of the homeowners decorate their homes lavishly.   Things to do in Alameda:  Upcycle Alameda’s debut art show at Rhythmix on Friday, December 5 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at 2513 Blanding Avenue.  Artists will display their funky, upcycled gifts.  Admission is free and gifts are $5 to $350.  Please call Joan at 510-913-2732 for more information. Things to do in Alameda:  Transcendence, the artists opening rece... 12/05/2014

  The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Alameda in front of City Hall on Saturday, November 6, at 5:30 am.  City Hall is at the corner of Santa Clara Avenue and Oak Street.   CHRISTMAS TREE AT ALAMEDA CITY HALL Entertainment will start at 4:30 pm and will include the Alameda Community Band, the Alameda Community Chorus, the Tomorrow Youth Repertory Choir, Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, Oakland Youth Repertory and The Mistle Tones. Santa Claus will make an appearance handing out candy canes to good little girls and boys.       This is a free holiday event and will be held rain or shine.  The Tree Lighting ceremony is presented by: Alameda Recreation and Park Department Public Works Department Alameda Municipal Power The Alameda Youth Committee will have warm treats for you to buy. ... 12/04/2014

Learn to make a holiday wreath with Karim Preuss of Dandelion Flowers   Learn to make a holiday wreath with Karim Preuss of Dandelion Flowers at the Alameda Free Library on Saturday, December 6 from 2:00 to 4:00pm.  The library is located at 1550 Oak Street, in Alameda.       Karlm is a talented florist whose shop, Dandelion is at the Park Street Plaza, 1419 Ste. D in Alameda is a wonderful place with flowers, gifts, charming things and cards.   Please bring clippers, floral wire, two wire hangers, decorations for your wreath and ribbon.   Pre-registration is required at jrussell@alamedaca.gov or call 510-747-7713.   Karim is giving floral arrangement classes in December at Dandelion.  Please check her website for information on the classes or call her at 510-522-2275   Alameda is a lov... 12/03/2014