OAKLAND

Cheers to 50 years! The Oakland Museum of California was established 50 years ago as a “Museum of the People,” and staff there have been learning, reflecting, creating, dancing and bringing people together ever since. Don’t miss this very special birthday-bash edition of Friday Nights at OMCA.

Celebrate the “Hella Big 50th Birthday Party” with museum staff as they ring in their 50th birthday in style from 5 to 10 p.m. Sept. 20. Enjoy free gallery admission until 10 p.m., rock out with the Golden State Warriors’ official DJ, DJ D-Sharp, learn your fate with a custom-made fortune cookie, strike a pose with our community portrait project and much more.

— Oakland Museum of California

12th annual Oaktoberfest in the Dimond set for Oct. 5-6

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In brief: Piedmont home to host Filipino cultural celebration Oaktoberfest, Oakland’s two-day family-friendly craft beer festival celebrating art, music, culture and Oakland in a big way, is happening Oct. 5-6 this year at MacArthur Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue in Oakland’s Dimond District. Spanning a full weekend of fun, Oaktoberfest offers four stages of music and dance performances; roaming entertainment; hundreds of vendors, including an outdoor artisan vendor marketplace; a mouthwatering collection of food trucks; and pop-up’s by local kitchens along with traditional German-inspired cuisine.

For those 21 and older, Oaktoberfest boasts more than 200 local craft brews, making the event a destination for beer enthusiasts. From the Bill Brand Biergarten, to the HopTech Homebrewers’ Alley & to the Brewer’s BBQ VIP Area, enthusiasts can enjoy some of the best local and regional brews around. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Drink packages and more information are available online at Oaktoberfest.org.

— Dimond Improvement Association

PIEDMONT

Firefighters put out Warfield Avenue blaze; none hurt

The Piedmont Fire Department responded to a garage fire at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 5 in the 1000 block of Warfield Avenue that caused an estimated $100,000 in damage to the structure and vehicle in the garage.

Several residents reported seeing smoke coming from the structure and called 911. Piedmont fire Chief Bret Black said three people were in the home during the fire and that they all exited safely. There were no reported injuries, and the fire was extinguished quickly. Firefighters also helped get smoke out of the rest of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Residents are encouraged to visit the fire department page on the city website at piedmont.ca.gov/services___departments/fire to learn about fire prevention and free fire extinguisher classes.

‘Flute Friday’ concert on Sept. 13 at Center for the Arts

There will be a free “Flute Friday” concert at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave. in Piedmont. The program will include works by Wouters, Dubois and local conductor/flautist Martha Stoddard. Performers will be Stoddard, Darin Tidwell, Susanne Rublein and Deborah Yates. The third event in the free series, refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Stoddard is now the conductor of the new Piedmont Chamber Orchestra in addition to conducting the Oakland Civic Orchestra.

Lifeguard training, job opportunities at aquatics center

The Piedmont aquatics center is providing pool lifeguard training and employment opportunities. A blended learning class teaches skills to become a certified Red Cross lifeguard trained in CPR, first aid and other health and safety skills. Participants will receive online coursework to complete in advance of the meeting date with pool officials. Visit activenet.active.com/piedmontrecreation, and use registration code 194690. For questions, contact zclavere@piedmont.ca.gov.

Neighbors and Newcomers Club welcome picnic Sept. 14

The Piedmont Neighbors and Newcomers Club is holding a welcome picnic from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Piedmont Recreation Center, 358 Hillside Ave. in Piedmont. The cost is $45 per family. PNNC is a social club; you do not have to be a new resident to join. The club hosts a variety of parties throughout the year, including girls’ and guys’ nights, play groups and supper clubs. There will be food and adult and children’s beverages, plus entertainment for the kids. Buy tickets at piedmontpnnc.org, or for more information email piedmontpnnc@gmail.com.

LWV to host census discussion with Carson on Sept. 18

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson will lead a discussion on the importance of the 2020 census and how citizens can get involved in the process. The free event is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Piedmont, and the public is welcome to attend. It takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave.

A Berkeley native, Carson earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences from UC Berkeley after attending Merritt College. Carson then received his Master of Public Administration degree from Cal State University, East Bay. He has served on the board since 1993. All are encouraged to attend this timely, informative discussion.

PUSD urges telling legislators to back Full and Fair Funding

Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Randy Booker is urging residents to contact state legislators Buffy Wicks, 916-319-2015 and Rob Bonta, 916-319-2018 to ask them to support the issue of Full and Fair Funding by placing a measure on the ballot before they adjourn for fall recess on Sept. 13.

Search online for “Full and Fair Funding letter and script” and “East Bay Coalition for Public Education” for further information. Full and Fair Funding is an education-specific measure that would move California to the national average in per-pupil funding, which is supported by the PUSD and its school board members, teachers and classified employee unions.

Lantern Projects releases this month’s charity wish list

Piedmont-based Lantern Projects releases its September wish list, through which people in need around the world can be helped with modest donations administered by trusted contacts in each country. Send tax-deductible donations to Lantern Projects/51 Glen Alpine Road/Piedmont, CA 94611; include email address and wishes numbers.

Wish #382 would obtain goats at $70 each that provide offspring, milk, cheese and butter to villagers in Haiti. Wish #383 would provide pens and pencils to Afghan children in village schools that accommodate 500 boys and 750 girls. Pens at $1 each and pencils at 25 cents each are not supplied at the school.

Wish #384 would provide sneakers so the children can participate in sports in Nairobi at the Kawangware Children’s Center. The center serves orphans and vulnerable children, and the rubber sole shoes are $4 each. Wish #385 provides slippers and soap at $1 each to combat tropical diseases in children living in primitive villages in the Philippines. Slippers prevent penetration of infections through the feet; soap improves hygiene.

— Linda Davis, correspondent

OAKLAND

Family Sanity group to start holding new monthly meetings

Family Sanity, the parent support group for parents of teens and young adults suffering from mental illness, will hold two new monthly meetings on the third Tuesday evenings of the month starting Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at a private home in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood of Oakland.

Lisa Scimens, Family Sanity’s founder, will moderate the group for parents of young adults. Berkeley-based Parent Coach Sarah MacKay Lynch will facilitate the group for teens. A donation of $25 is suggested. Seating is limited, so please sign up as soon as possible at familysanity.org.

— Family Sanity