October Happenings 2024

Save the Date | Wildfire Safety | Stewardship Events

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online. Ballot measure MM on November 5th Winning voter approval of Measure MM, the Wildfire Prevention Zone on November 5th is critical. With homeowner insurance rates skyrocketing and wildfires occurring with greater frequency, the $99/parcel for Measure MM is well worth it.  Registered voters will be receiving their ballots the week of October 7th and voting on Measure MM begins. We need two thirds of the votes in favor for this special tax to pass. Every vote counts! Endorsers include the Alameda County Democratic Party, the Claremont Canyon Conservancy, the Greenbelt Alliance, the League of Women Voters, Local 55 of the International Fire Fighters Association, the North Hills Community Association, the Oakland Firesafe Council, the Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association, and SPUR. Join them by visiting MakeOaklandWildfireSafe.com. Sign up to volunteer to knock on doors and/or phone bank, donate so we can get the word out to 44 thousand votes in Oakland’s Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and/or endorse. Questions? Email Elizabeth K. Stage at stage@berkeley.edu. Get Involved Annual Meeting—November 10 from 4-6 p.m.  At the Claremont Resort and Spa We are pleased to announce our invited speaker—Amy Bach, co-founder and executive director of United Policyholders (UP)—a non-profit organization that advocates for insurance consumers. Amy will update us about the homeowner insurance crisis and what can be done to address it. You can read more about her in our fall newsletter and on our website. The meeting will be an opportunity to hear from the Conservancy board and staff about the goings on in Claremont Canyon and to discuss recent fire safety issues. See you there! RSVP at info@ClaremontCanyon.org Save to Calendar Fire safety resources October is historically the highest risk month for wildfires in the East Bay. Is your "go-bag/staybox" ready? For helpful resources, go to the Conservancy's page "What you can do". Consider participating in events like the recent National Night Out 2024 to get to know your neighbors and help each other stay safe. Also visit the Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) page for preparedness education resources, wildfire safety programs, and volunteer opportunities to prepare in advance for disasters and reduce risks. Stay safe! What you can do The Conservancy along with the other members of the East Bay Hills Fire Safe Councils are working with three consultants to develop a budget for studies that, if funded, could pave the way for a vegetation management program. The program could remove wildfire hazardous vegetation and make our communities safer. Thank you volunteers! The Garber Park Stewards celebrated Oakland's 29th Annual Creek to Bay Day on September 21. Volunteers filled up a large green waste bin with invasive plants and larger tree branches and bark from Eucalyptus trees to help make Garber Park safer from a wildfire threat. Stewards also continued removing invasive cape ivy and mulched some of the main trails to help make them easier and safer to walk on. Thanks to the City of Oakland for providing a large green waste bin and to all volunteers! Visit garberparkstewards.blogspot.com to volunteer and to see more photos of the event. If you are a group who is interested in participating in a volunteer event in Garber Park, email Wyllie at gpstewards@gmail.com. (Photo by Alex Frank: Garber Park leads (top row from far left to right) Wyllie Clayson, Shelagh Brodersen, (far right) Mark Seaborn, (bottom row left) Ricardo Marroquin, (bottom row right) Ruby J. Soto Cardona). All levels are welcome! Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers and bring your favorite water bottle. Tools and gloves are provided.  Garber Park Stewards Saturday, October 5th and 19th 9a.m. - 12p.m.  Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round). Meet at the Fireplace below the Evergreen Lane entrance (Map). For more information or questions contact Wyllie. Volunteer at Signpost 29 Saturday, October 26th 10a.m. - 12p.m.  Join us at Signpost 29 for a day of restoration (1.5 miles up Claremont from the intersection of Ashby/Tunnel Rd.) as we work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom and collect litter. More information Here. Questions? Contact us at info@claremontcanyon.org. Hiking the Canyon We would love to hear from our members and others who are out hiking or otherwise observing nature in the canyon. Send us your pictures at info@claremontcanyon.org and we will feature one each month. Cabbage White butterfly (Pieris rapae) resting on a Roughleaf Aster (Eurybia radulina), a California native plant growing on the side along the Willow Trail near the Heritage Oak. (Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona)  Explore Kay Loughman's wildlife website to see more wildlife photos in the Canyon. Share this newsletter with your friends: Do you have a friend who would appreciate receiving our monthly email newsletter? You can easily add new recipients to our mailing list by going here. The photo above was taken by Cheryl Schleifer while hiking in the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve. Trails are open All trails are open and accessible throughout Claremont Canyon. For maps and complete information on trails click here.  You can also take a guided tour here. Please stay safe and take all items and pet waste out with you. For the long-term stewardship of Claremont Canyon Copyright © 2023 Claremont Canyon Conservancy, All rights reserved. This email was sent to {{Recipient Email}}. 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