OAKLAND
Everyone is invited to attend the annual free Christmas concert presented by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Oakland’s Montclair district.
The 90-minute concert will start at 3 p.m. Dec. 21 in the church at 1880 Mountain Blvd. This year’s theme is from the book of Isaiah, “The government shall be upon his shoulder,” and will feature congregational caroling and Christmas favorites.
Talented Bay Area musicians who will perform are soprano Katy Stephan, mezzo-soprano Tracy Hinman, tenor Michael Belle, baritone Steve Rogino, operachi vocalist Juanita Ulloa (performing carols in Spanish), guitarist Derek Brooker, pianist/organist Michael Moran and Virginia Morgan on viola.
In addition to free admission, the event is wheelchair-accessible with the church’s new ramp and restrooms now compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, and parking is available across the street from the church at Montclair Elementary School.
Bring your neighbors, friends and family — everyone is welcome! For more information, visit christianscienceoakland.org/events online.
— First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oakland
Security officer returns to Montclair Village for holidays
As part of the 2025-26 Montclair Shop Safe Initiative, the Montclair Village Association (MVA) is pleased to welcome returning security officer Nicholas “Nick” Jenkins. As of Nov. 28, Jenkins is patrolling the Montclair Village Commercial District throughout this year’s holiday season.
Jenkins was Montclair Village’s primary daytime walking guard for last year’s holiday season, and MVA officials are happy to have him join their community once more! Jenkings has more than 10 years of security guard experience, specializing in commercial district security, de-escalation and merchant and community engagement.
When you see Jenkins patrolling the Village, please take a moment to say hello and ask any security-related questions you may have. Also, the annual Montclair Village Holiday Stroll was set to take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday this week. For information online about that event, visit montclairvillage.com/holiday-stroll.
— Montclair Village Association
PIEDMONT
Fire Department’s annual holiday toy drive runs until Dec. 23
As the season of giving approaches, help create a brighter holiday for local families in need by donating to the Piedmont Fire Department’s annual holiday toy drive. Donation bins are now available at City Hall and the Piedmont Recreation Department.
By joining hundreds of other Piedmonters in contributing one or more new, unwrapped toys to this longstanding tradition, you can help ensure every child in our area has a gift to open this holiday season.
All toys collected will be distributed to families in Oakland and Alameda County. Toys that were dropped off before Wednesday this week will be distributed through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Toys that were donated on or after Thursday this week will be distributed at the annual Three Wise Men toy giveaway in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood. Bins will remain out for donations through Dec. 23. For details online, visit bit.ly/4iQ8HKb.
Feedback sought on city’s parks for long-term planning
Help the city of Piedmont better understand how community members use local parks and what they value most by completing a brief online survey or talking to staff at a park pop-up event this week.
Responses will inform the city’s Sustainable Park Management Plan, an initiative focused on long-term stewardship and preservation of Piedmont’s existing parks and open spaces. Ultimately, this initiative will create a roadmap for how Piedmont can best sustainably manage its parks so they remain vibrant, well-cared-for community assets for years to come.
The survey, available online at piedmont.ca.gov/parksurvey, asks community members to share how they use Piedmont’s parks; what they value most about these spaces; and what aspects they want to ensure are preserved for the future.
Community members can also speak directly with the project team at a series of pop-up engagement events in parks this week, including one at Crocker Park from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the bottle filling station, another at Piedmont Park from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday behind the Exedra foundation and another at Dracena Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday at the tables in the upper and lower park.
Visit piedmont.ca.gov/sustainableparks for more information.
— city of Piedmont
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