Earth-friendly fundraiser

Henry Haight Elementary School is asking for community participation in its new Earth friend fundraiser.

The school will receive 25 percent of all sales of eco-friendly and fair trade products designated for it on www.greenraising.com throughout the year, and 40 percent of all sales through Nov. 14. The school hopes to raise money and awareness.

Greenraising carries a full line of eco-friendly and fair trade products.

For more information on the fundraising drive, contact Costa at haightptapresident@yahoo.com or go to www.greenraising.com.

Civic Orchestra season begins

The Oakland Civic Orchestra, conducted by associate conductor Kate McLoughlin, opens its 2009-2010 season with "Concert Romantique" at 4 p.m. Sunday at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave.

The free concert will include Vieuxtemps' Violin Concerto No 5 in A Minor featuring guest soloist Alina Ming-Kobialka, a finalist in the Oakland-East Bay Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition; Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suite No 2; and Berlioz's Love Scene and Queen Mab from Romeo & Juliet. For more information, call 510-238-7275.

The Oakland Civic Orchestra is celebrating its 18th year of providing free classical music to the community. The

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volunteer community orchestra, with musicians of all ages and backgrounds, relies on funding from the city Parks and Recreation Department, public donations and membership dues. For more information, go to www.oaklandnet.com/parks/programs/ca_civicorchestra.asp.

Citywide merchants' open house

Merchants from the Fruitvale and Laurel to Rockridge, Piedmont Avenue, the Grand Lake area, including Uptown, Old Oakland and south of Broadway, will hold an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. today. The recession and parking woes have hit local stores and restaurants hard, but merchants are hoping to show their appreciation to the neighbors and customers who have supported them. Specials, refreshments and music are part of the festivities.

Halloween on Lakeshore

On Oct. 31, Lakeshore Avenue will celebrate a traditional Halloween with the Tiny Tots Halloween Parade starting from the Mandana Green at Lakeshore and Mandana at 11 a.m. Music will be provided by That Man Fantastic and there will be trick-or-treating on the avenue all day. Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave., will hold a kiddie fair with prizes from the Lakeshore Business Improvement District.

Information night at Skyline High

Skyline High School's Information Night is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3. The evening will offer an opportunity for prospective parents and students to learn more about the school.

Members of Skyline's Class of 2009 were accepted into numerous four-year colleges including Brown, Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Howard, MIT, New York University, Northwestern, Oberlin, Stanford, UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Skyline offers a wide range of academic classes and electives, including Spanish, French and Mandarin. This year Skyline is offering 16 AP and five honors courses, several of which are available to sophomores.

Skyline's Information Night will be held in the Farnsworth Theater at 12250 Skyline Blvd. For information, call 510-879-3060 or go to www.skylinehs.org.