The community is in need, according to the hard-working folks at the Alameda Food Bank. Fortunately, folks like members of the Alameda Soccer Hooligans have responded.

They collected more than 20 frozen turkeys and other food items on Sunday, November 15, and they plan to keep collecting.

Over the past two years, demand at the Alameda Food Bank has grown from about 3,000 individuals to 5,000 today. And the bad economy means that as people run out of unemployment benefits, the need for food will continue to rise.

But there’s something you can do – pitch in.  If you can stop by a department store, pick up a frozen turkey and some canned goods.  Then head over to the food bank, which is at 1900 Thau Way, off Eagle Avenue, on the West End.

On Tuesday, November 17, for instance, Lucky Supermarket on Marina Village Parkway had frozen turkeys for about $25 each. They also had bags of non-perishable items for $10 and $20.

When this blogger bought a couple birds, the Lucky staff gave me a gift card to say thanks.

That’s the spirit!

The best times to drop food off are between 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, November 20 or Monday, November 23; from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, November 21; and from 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24.

Paul Russell, director of the food bank, says donations are much appreciated after Thanksgiving, too.

The southern sections of Crown Memorial State Beach remain closed due to environmental damage and hazards from the October 30 oil spill in San Francisco Bay.

Northern sections of the beach reopened on Saturday, November 14, between Crab Cove and Westline Drive.

However, according to the East Bay Regional Parks District, the inspectors found many medium-size tar patties, roughly the size of a quarter to half dollar and large pancake-size ones, too, on Tuesday, November 17.  Thus, the cleanup will continue for the rest of this week and through the weekend.

The good news, according to the park district, is that 2.5 pounds of debris were collected on Monday, November 16, whereas 20 pounds were picked up on Friday, November 13.

A fishing ban is in effect from the northern tip of Alameda Point to the southern tip of Harbor Bay, excluding the San Leandro Channel.

This was the scene Saturday night at Eagles Hall.

A crowd of 400 Alameda residents and other supporters in the fight against breast cancer showed up to dance, dine and join in the silent auction as part of the Dance for a Cure event.

DJ Alex Mejia and others kept the crowd hopping.

“It was great to see so many people come out and support us!” said Millie Luz, one of the event organizers.

The group expects to have raised at least $10,000 when all the numbers are tallied.

The effort that led to this successful event, of course, was huge. Just check out a partial list of contributors.

And while Luz says she and others are looking forward to future events, they need a bit of time to recuperate and evaluate how it all came together and turned out.

Such a break, needless to say, is well deserved.

If you’re like me, you may have wondered what sailboat racing on the San Francisco Bay is like.

Well, after getting a spot on a boat, I participated in the first of this season’s Jack Frost Series of sailboat races– hosted by Alameda’s Encinal Yacht Club this Saturday. It turned out to be quite an action-packed experience.

The races start about half a mile west of the end of the Berkeley Pier. They are short-course races that last about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the conditions of the waves, water, wind, weather and crew. During the races, groups of about 10-12 boats take several laps around a series of markers.

Members of the Encinal Yacht Club staff the race committee boat, and they have to signal the start of each race, track the boats around the marks and monitor the finish.  The boats are grouped in fleets by boat model, which generally means that boats of similar lengths and types race against each other.   

I was in the D group, or the fourth group, of boats to sail.

You learn a lot about sailing tactics, maneuvers and sportsmanship through racing. You also get a understanding of yourself, why you like to be out on the water and what you are able — and less able to do — when working as a team member focused on moving a boat as quickly as possible around a course.

And you gain a lot of respect for the efforts of groups like Encincal Yacht Club and what it takes to put on a race, namely lots of planning and other logistical work. In addition, you better appreciate the bay for the crazy mix of micro-climates and conditions that it has to offer sailors.

Finally, you wonder if you’ve pushed yourself enough during such an experience, and when — with your freshly bruised limbs (and/or ego) – you might be up for another nautical competition.

For those who are interested, future races in Encinal’ s Jack Frost Series are scheduled for next year on January 23, February 27 and March 27.

Note: Photo courtesy of http://www.norcalsailing.com 2009.

It’s been a high-profile day for Alamedans.

At 6:30 a.m., Channel 5, the Bay Area’s CBS affiliate, filmed part of its Early Edition by helicopter over Alameda Avenue.

Supporters of tomorrow’s breast cancer fundraiser, Dance for a Cure, formed a pink ribbon and gave the Bay Area a “hi five,” waving pink ballons and reminding the community to come out tomorrow from 5 p.m. to midnight at Eagles Hall.

“They’re going nuts waving!” said one of the broadcasters. “See how creative our Hi Fives are — they are jumping up and down!”

“The tickets are really selling out,” said DJ Alex Mejia, an Alameda native. “We should have at least 400 people.”

Around the corner on Central Avenue, the area around the Alameda Theatre was closed off by police so that GMC could film a commercial for one of its new SUVs.

Watch out for those cameras and film crews as you move around town!

Dance for a Cure, the breast cancer benefit set for 5 p.m.-midnight on Saturday, November 14, at Eagles Hall in Alameda drew a fun crowd Thursday night to the Churchward Pub on Park Street for its pre-event party.

The venue, which used to house the Pop Inn bar, came alive with DJs — several of whom will play Saturday night at the benefit, like Alex Mejia (see lower photo).

Stunna Vodka donated several bottles of its ultra-premium liqueur for Thursday and Saturday night.

“The organizers of Dance for a Cure are really onto something good,” said Tinnikie Bryant, a Stunna Vodka distributor from Fairfield. “We are glad to be a part of it!”

Bryant and distributor J. B. Burrell came to Alameda Thursday to introduce Islanders to the liquer and to support the cause. (See top photo holding a bottle of the drink.)

“It’s so nice of them to do this,” said Millie Luz, one of the Dance for a Cure organizers (shown above, in the top photo on the left).

Also at the event was Silvano Hernandez of La Pinata, who has been very supportive of the upcoming Dance for a Cure event. “They have worked so hard to bring this together,” he said.

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, Alameda residents and other Bay Area community members are invited to see “Rethink Afghanistan” at Auctions by the Bay Theater, 2700 Saratoga Street, on Alameda Point.

The director of “Rethink Afghanistan” is Robert Greenwald.

Following the screening, Norman Solomon, director of the Institute for Public Accuracy – who just returned from Afghanistan – and is an Afghan War member of Iraqi Veterans Against the War will comment  on the film, respond to questions and lead a discussion about what we can do to change the current U.S. course on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Tickets are $9-$25 and can be bought online. 

The event is being held to benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace & Justice (LC4PJ), United for Peace & Justice (UFPJ) and CODEPINK.

For more details, call 510-263-5303 or 415-863-3771.

Also note that this screening will be held one day after a free talk on U.S.-Iranian relations set for 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, at the Alameda Free Library. The speaker is Michael Veiluva, general counsel of the Western States Legan Foundation and author of “Burdens of Proof: Iran, the United States and Nuclear Weapons — A Global View.”

It’s the home stretch: Dance for a Cure just completed its online auction. And now the big benefit is set to take place in three days – from 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, November 14, at Eagles Hall. Tickets are still on sale for the dinner, dance and auction that is being held to benefit breast cancer research.

Lots of items from the successful online auction will be available for purchase through the silent auction set for Saturday, from 5-8:30 p.m. The online auction sold more than $9,500 in goods and services, and hopefully the silent auction will do as good if not better, organizers say.

Be sure to head out to the pre-party at the Churchward Pub, 1515 Park Street, this Thursday night, November 12.

A tasting party featuring Stunna liquor goes on from 9-10: 30 p.m. Plus, there will be three DJs — Alex Mejia, Jose Melendez and Dj Mac G. There’s no cover charge, and Churchward will be holding a raffle for some special liquor — and some giveaways of Cal towels are planned.  

Many thanks to Millie Luz and all the other members of the organizing committee that has brought so many community members into this effort.

Donors and donations include:

Aidells Sausage Company
Alameda Theatre & Cineplex
AMF Bowling Southshore Lane
Big O Tires Alameda, several services
Burger Meister, Alameda
C’era Una Volta, gift certificate
China Gourmet Restaurant & Bar Alameda
Chipotle Alameda
Clinton Chiropractic, consultation and exam
Dance 10, one month of dance instruction
Daphne’s Greek Cafe Alameda
Dawn Adams, series of yoga classes
Dog Bone Alley Alameda
Dreyers Ice Cream Oakland
East Ocean Seafood Restaurant Alameda
Elegant Cargo, Steven A. Grant
Epic Wine
Isabella Fishman, facial
Fort Knox of Alameda, American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins
A Frank Quality Dog Service, Arron Merrell-Owner
Green Belt Alliance-1 year membership and more
Ground Control Private Security
Harbor Bay Landing
J Vineyards & Winery- Vintage Brut Magnum; tasting room for four and more
Genghis Khan Kitchen Alameda
Green Belt Alliance-1 year membership and more
J Vineyards and Winery-2002 J Vintage Brut Magnum; tasting room for four and more
Susan & Claire Kaymon, trail guide book and CD
La Pinata Alameda
La Vals, large pizza with Merlot
Lee Auto Supply of Alameda
Daniel Lewis, DDS, teeth whitening
LITHO Process Alameda
McGee’s donated a Sunday family dinner
Mac Make-Up
Mildred “Millie” Luz Simen, hair products
Monkey Bars Alameda
Nicosia’s Gourmet Products
Nob Hill Alameda
Oakland A’s, outfield vouchers
Oakland Karate & Kickboxing, 3 months Value $395.00 Start Bid $120.00
Panda Restaurant Alameda
Panera Bread Alameda
Sheila Patterson, creative photography, several framed images
Premier Designs – Mildred Luz, gift cards
Lynn Quan, tennis bracelets (see photo, above)
R-Studios/Arturo Ramos, hand-made vase
San Francisco 49ers, #15 Frank Gore laser-autographed football
Scott’s Shoes Alameda
Teresa “Sam” Shaw, commemorative ornaments
Spanks Salon, hair basket
St. George Spirits, gift certificate
Star Pilates-Moraga, gift certificate
Symmetry Chiropractic- Dr. Cynthia Boyd, D.C., perfect pillow
3 Wishes Alameda, gift certificate
A Touch of Class, Deborah Porterfield; jewelry
Usana Health Sciences Products-Stella Price
We Are Hair
Esther Webber, life coach, hypnosis CD, and
Whales & Friends, bamboo jewelry

Birds affected by the oil spill are still being rescued by members of the Oiled Wildlife Care Network, who on Saturday, November 7, successfully captured an American Coot on Bay Farm Island at about 10 a.m.

On Friday, November 6, 2009, the East Bay Regional Park District opened Encinal Beach near Ballena Bay. Crown Memorial State Beach remains closed, and work crews were out on Saturday cleaning and monitoring the area.

The California Department of Fish and Game continues to ban fishing from Alameda Point at the northwest end of Alameda Island to the southern point of Bay Farm Isle.

The U.S. Coast Guard and others involved in the cleanup says it is likely that the oil that had accumulated at the south end of the beach, near the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, was remobilized by wind and high tide cycles that occurred late last week. As a result, access to the beach and mudflats is prohibited.

Oiled wildlife should be reported to 877-823-6926. Rescued birds that are caught will be cared for at a temporary care facility set up near Crab Cove and then moved to the permanent care center in Cordelia.

The past week has been a heart-breaker for all of those Alameda and East Bay residents who love their beaches, their birds and their environment.

For those of us who may have casually wondered before what an oil spill would look like, we unfortunately got our answer.

The U.S. Coast Guard in cooperation with state and county agencies was in charge.

The “guilty party,” meaning the owner of the Dubai Star, outsourced the cleanup. And these outsourced cleaners outsourced much of the hands-on cleanup work on Alameda’s beaches and shoreline.

While it’s true that many local bird-watchers got indirectly involved by staying in touch with wildlife officials and volunteer organizations, there was no real direct work for those Alamedans who care deeply about the local environment and who want to act when they see the environment being devastated.

Certainly, the oil spill was considered hazardous, and the mess that showed up on the Alameda shoreline was toxic.

Still, residents are asking, “Why couldn’t we help?”

Over the next few weeks, that question will be put to local, state and other officials.

It seems that those who most care about their own environment and its impact should be able to have an important role in how it is cared for, especially after a trajedy such as the Dubai Star oil spill.

Such a role needs to be carefully crafted in advance, so that damage to Alameda can be further minimized in the future. It’s worth exploring — not just for the nearly 40 birds that were rescued and lived, or for the 24 birds that have died, but for all the wildlife that’s been affected and the thousands of us who want the environment — our environment — to be protected from such preventable destruction.