Public meetings on Havens play field

The public is invited to learn more and provide input on plans for the Havens Elementary School play field at separate hearings this month.

The Piedmont Recreation Commission is holding a public hearing to gather input on proposed uses for the play field at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 120 Vista Ave.

The recreation commission will take input and suggestions for use of the field outside school hours. The commission will make a recommendation to the school board after it has considered all public input; a second hearing may be scheduled in October.

And on Sept. 24, the school district's Green Initiative Committee is holding a forum to inform the public of issues regarding the proposed use of synthetic turf at the field, which will be built as part of the reconstruction of the elementary school on Oakland Avenue.

The green committee hearing will address concerns raised over the health, safety and environmental aspects of using turf. The meeting is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Piedmont Middle School Multipurpose Room, 740 Magnolia Ave. For more information, contact Michael Brady at mbrady@piedmont.k12.ca.us

— Linda Davis

DUI crackdown nets 408

Local law enforcement agencies arrested 408 people on suspicion of drunken and drugged driving in the "Avoid the

No fatalities were reported during the campaign, which included law enforcement agencies from Piedmont, Alameda and Oakland, among others.

In a Sept. 5 sobriety checkpoint in Piedmont, officers screened 804 cars, conducted nine DUI investigations and arrested five drivers on suspicion of drunken driving. One of the drivers had $61,000 worth of warrants, said Capt. Scott Wyatt of the Piedmont police. Officers also towed eight cars.

The campaign is named for the 21 law enforcement agencies in the county that participate.

— Staff reports

Movie under the stars

The city of Piedmont recreation department will present its final movie under the stars tonight. The family film "Spy Kids" will be featured. It will begin at dusk, about 7:30 p.m. at Piedmont main park at the foot of Highland Avenue.

The event is free. Families are encouraged to bring blankets or low lawn chairs to enjoy the movie. The orthodontic office of Dr. Frank Helm is sponsor.

— Linda Davis

`Walk and Talk' event Sunday

The Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee invites the community to a "Walk and Talk" event Sunday. Meet at Witter Field on the Piedmont High campus from 4 to 5 p.m. for the first monthly gathering. The event is a way to meet other committee members, talk about diversity issues in an informal setting and get some exercise.

There is no need to make reservations. Children are welcome to play on the field during the "Walk and Talk," but no child care is provided.

For more information about the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee, contact Sue Lin at sueben@gmail.com.

— Linda Davis

Hot lunches available at Beach

Beach school's hot lunch program started this week.

A hot lunch provided by Children's Choice will be served on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $5 each day. On Pizza Fridays, Beach parents will serve pizza from a local vendor with fruit or vegetable sides.

Morning and afternoon kindergartners who attend Beach or Havens Schoolmates may also participate in the three lunch days.

To register for Tuesday or Thursday lunches, visit www.choicelunch.com.

To register for Pizza Friday, pick up forms at the Beach school office, 100 Lake Ave. Cost is $145 per child for the school year, or $174 for the two-slice option. A monthly payment option of $15 to $18 is also available.

Partial financial assistance is available on an as-needed basis. Contact Principal Julie Valdez for details. To volunteer for Pizza Friday, contact Polly Suppiger at psuppiger@comcast.net. For more information about hot lunch program, contact Cathy Girr at cgirr@earthlink.net.

— Linda Davis

Bus route changes coming

Piedmont schools Superintendent Connie Hubbard has issued an advisory about the school bus program and its schedules.

First Student transportation is the provider of the bus service for Havens students being bused to "Havens Jr." campus in Emeryville.

The company has increased from four to six daily buses to accommodate staggered reading times, minimum days and the high number of students using the service.

When staggered reading begins there will be two new routes, purple and yellow. Buses are color-coded by geographical area they serve. Hubbard notes that bus stops will remain the same. But a stop that was previously a red, green, orange or blue route may become part of a new purple or yellow route.

Students affected by the change will receive a new bus pass with the correct bus color soon after the start of staggered reading.

First Student will revise the schedule of early and late afternoon stop times to reflect the actual times the buses leave Havens Jr. each afternoon. Staggered reading will be delayed until Sept. 14 to give the bus drivers time to master their routes and become familiar with both the area and their passengers.

— Linda Davis

Filing period opens Oct. 12

The filing period opens Oct. 12. for candidates interested in running for seats on the Piedmont school board or the Piedmont City Council.

Candidates may take out papers until Nov. 6 for the Feb. 2 election.

The Piedmont Unified School District has two board seats open for election, those of president Ray Gadbois and trustee Roy Tolles. Both men may seek another four-year term.

There also are three open seats on the City Council. Mayor Abe Friedman is termed out, having served two, four-year terms. The seats of Garrett Keating and John Chiang are also up for election. Chiang and Keating also are eligible to seek another term.

Nomination forms for either office must be obtained and returned in person from City Clerk Ann Swift at City Hall, 120 Vista Ave. The forms are not available for download on the city's Web site.

For more information, call Swift at 510-420-3041.

— Linda Davis