PIEDMONT
The Piedmont Unified School District has named Bradley Smet its new director of athletics, the district announced Oct. 15.
Smet served as the head baseball coach at Atascadero High School in San Luis Obispo County and earlier as an assistant baseball and football coach at Atascadero and Templeton high schools. He also worked as a special education teacher in the Atascadero Unified School District. Smet received his bachelor’s degree in history from Sterling College, in Sterling, Kansas, and a master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration from the University of Concordia at Irvine.
There were 17 applicants for the part-time position. Smet will be responsible for recruiting, hiring, supervising and evaluating coaches; coordinating team schedules; transportation and supplies for 49 teams; and overseeing a program of more than 500 student athletes. He says he is eager to join the PUSD’s athletic program and continue their impressive traditions. Smet will start with an annual salary of $56,663.
“We are fortunate to have a new director with Smet’s passion and enthusiasm for athletics,” said Adam Littlefield, Piedmont High School’s principal.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
Local youth rally to support community pool Measure UU
On Oct. 14 at rush hour, Piedmont youth ranging from first grade to recent Piedmont High School graduates rallied together at the intersection of Highland and Oakland avenues to wave signs and placards in support of Measure UU. Supporters honked, gave them thumbs-up and cheered on the student athletes.
“To many adults in town, Measure UU is just another line on their ballot. Some could even flip a coin on rebuilding the pool. But to Piedmont youth, the outcome of Measure UU will completely change our lives,” said Noah Kwong, the Piedmont High swim team’s captain.
Nearly all Piedmont children use the pool for swim lessons, recreation, summer camps, PE, and athletics. If Piedmont doesn’t rebuild its pool, it will be the only city in Alameda County that doesn’t provide a pool for its families and students. Piedmont Middle School seventh grader Tai March-Cunningham summed up the kids’ perspective. “Adults had a pool when they were growing up. Why wouldn’t they vote for us to have one too?”
— Patty Dunlap
OAKLAND
Shopping by appointment to start at Bookmark Bookstore
The Bookmark Bookstore, operated by the nonprofit Friends of the Oakland Public Library (FOPL), recently announced another way to shop for quality used books, as the Bookmark is now accepting reservations for in-store shopping.
With a $10 deposit, customers get to browse the store for 45 minutes. The deposit will be applied to purchases made at the Bookmark. Each 45-minute reservation may be used for one or two adults, plus children younger than 18. Safety is the Bookmark’s highest priority, and customers are required to follow a few simple rules for the safety of customers, volunteers and staff. Safety measures include wearing a mask, observing social distancing protocols and using hand sanitizer before entering the store.
All the details of in-store shopping and the link to make a reservation are available on the store’s webpage at fopl.org/bookmark-reservations. The Bookmark Bookstore is in Old Oakland at 721 Washington St. Modified store hours for in-store shopping reservations and curbside pickup are Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
— Friends of the Oakland Public Library
Create, drop off fall-themed art in the Montclair Village
Montclair merchants invite you to channel your talent, energy and celebratory spirit to make Halloween special in a safe way through a collective display of community art. We invite you to create a drawing with the theme of autumn, Halloween, Day of the Dead or other related holidays you might celebrate. Businesses around Montclair Village will then display all submitted drawings in storefront windows.
Download the art board at MontclairVillage.com under the We Care tab and draw something you care about. Drop off your drawing at the attendant booth in the Montclair Parking Garage, open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 6235 La Salle Ave. Then look for your art in the Village.
— MVA
Oaktoberfest 2020 extended in city’s Dimond District
Oaktoberfest 2020 in Oakland’s Dimond District, aptly renamed Oaktober2020 for the month-long promotion of shopping and dining locally, has extended the sales of mixed beer packs through the end of October. Available for order online at Oaktoberfest.org and able to be picked up in the Dimond through a partnership with Grand Lake Kitchen Dimond, the 2020 adaptation of the popular annual street festival that showcases food, art, music and community centered around craft beer from as many as 60 breweries this year offered Oaktoberfans a home version with a selection of beers and a gourmet German food feast.
With seasonal and traditional Oktoberfest style beers from more than 13 Bay Area breweries, order your curated collection of craft beer for pickup at the website above now through Oct. 31. And while you are in the neighborhood grab some takeout from a diverse selection of restaurants. Visit DimondNews.org for a full list of businesses.
— Dimond Improvement Association
PIEDMONT
Piedmont Scouts Tree Lot fundraiser to begin Nov. 1
Run by community volunteers for more than 50 years, the Piedmont Scouts Tree Lot has served as a major fundraiser to support Scout youth programs with more than 1,000 young participants in Piedmont: Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorers, Venturers and Piedmont Language School.
Sales will commence Nov. 1 and will be exclusively online at Scouttreelot.org due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions. A limited option to purchase by phone will be available for customers who do not have online access. Because of safety precautions, customers can either choose to pick up their trees or have them delivered to their front doors at home after Thanksgiving.
Buying a real tree can is an environmentally friendly way to celebrate the season. A real tree spends about eight years growing before being harvested, during those years converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, providing wildlife habitat and keeping large spaces green across North America. Unlike artificial alternatives, real trees are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. Please contact Genevieve Bandrowski of the Scouts office at 510-547-4493 or at bsa42trees@gmail.com.
— Laural Fawcett
Recreation Department offers Halloween treasure hunt
Piedmont’s Recreation Department is holding a safe Halloween treasure hunt for kids ages 5 to 11 years old. Join explorer Henry Cavendish in his quest to find Dr. Blackwood’s hidden treasure by participating in a weeklong Halloween hunt by exploring Piedmont’s parks to find the clues, solve the puzzle and collect a prize. The cost is $5 for residents, $7 for nonresidents. Register now at apm.activecommunities.com/piedmontrecreation/Activity_Search/16896 and receive a welcome packet on Oct. 23.
— Linda Davis, correspondent
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