All meetings are scheduled to take place at City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave., Council Chambers, third floor unless otherwise noted. For more information see www.alamedaca.gov.
Keep Alameda green this post-holiday season with the help of Alameda Boy Scout Troop 11. The scouts will conduct their 47th annual Christmas Tree Pickup and Recycling Service this Saturday, Jan. 5. The service began as an Eagle Scout project by Harold Zecher in 1972, well before Alameda County offered recycling programs, and has become an Alameda holiday tradition for many families.
The annual service project eases the burden on the county’s tree collection efforts. Oakland-based fragrance company Juniper Ridge donates the use of a wood chipper.
The holidays were extra special for some of Alameda’s youth this year, thanks to the Alameda Police Department (APD).
After being paired with an APD officer, a select group of children in need were given the opportunity to “shop till they dropped” Dec. 13.
The kids were treated to a night of fun, food, gifts and even a visit from the man in red himself, Santa Claus. More than a dozen APD officers volunteered their time to take the children shopping while getting to know each other in a non-emergency situation.
Every year as part of their fundraising projects just before Thanksgiving, the Sea Scouts drive up to the Sierra, and with the help of their parents, collect pine cones. Then just after Thanksgiving they return to the to collect the limbs. With these materials, the Scouts this year built 250 swags,
25 miniature pine trees and 25 door knockers. The scouts then sell these products to fund programs that teach young people about the sea and sailing.
The Alameda Yacht Club has deep roots in the community with a long-standing history of participating in Secret Santa for the children here. This year the club sponsored 25 children, offering them holiday gifts that included bikes, scooters, trains and balls. The elves had so much fun, laughing as they wrapped and stacked the toys under the tree. The club’s members also gave a Safeway gift card to each family. Pictured from left to right are: Dora Strehle, Nicole Drake, Shelly Cramer, Dorothy Mueller, Lenore Walker and Forrest Reed.
