MONTCLARION: May 12, 2017

Psst. The password is 2907. Use it to unlock the box in Montclair Park and you’ll magically turn into a steward.

Fifth-grade Girl Scout Troop 32907 (Montclair, Glenview and Crocker Highlands) dedicated its “U-Clean-It” box in Montclair Park on Monday evening. It’s a bronze award project for the girls, who got the idea from similar boxes at Lake Merritt.

“The idea is that this box will remain in the park for use by the entire community,” says Scout mom Amy Omand. “It has all the supplies you need to do a cleanup in the park.” Pickup claws, gloves, trash bags and buckets and dustpan and broom. Just add yourself and the park will be litter free. Check it out at http://montclairvillage.com/ucleanitbox/ and thanks, Troop 32907!

Trail talk: Speaking of open space, the city is in the midst of clearing the winter mud and landslide muck from the Montclair Railroad Trail. They should be done around May 17, after which PG&E begins work to replace two electrical towers above the trail. Be warned, there be periodic trail closures.

Around town: The Fifth Quarter Charcuterie, 6464 Moraga Ave., should be open in Montclair by midsummer. You can see some of the specialty meats owner Scott Brennan (formerly Cafe Rouge) may sell, on his company Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Fifth-Quarter-Charcuterie-209135572439257/. The butcher shop/ charcuterie is long overdue, according to wish lists by villagers. Now, if we could just get another wish list item, a bakery, next door in the old Quality Cleaners space. It’s especially needed since A.G. Ferrari closed shop May 1.

Charge it: Five electric vehicle charging stations, including two quick chargers, are going in sometime soon in the Montclair Parking Garage. You’ll have to pay for parking and the charge, but the charging price will reportedly be pretty cheap.

Meanwhile, a city grant will pay for several stations around Oakland, the first of which is going in behind Peet’s Coffee in the Dimond District.

Big event: The Oakland Greek Festival is taking shape for the weekend of May 19-21. You can almost smell the gyros. Speaking of which, gyro booth co-chair Anna Wade says they’ve sold over 110,000 of these rotisserie-meat-stuffed-in flatbread treats in 22 years of the festival. Another reason to celebrate? The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Ave., is celebrating 100 years in Oakland. (http://ascension100years.com/).

Got news? You can reach Ginny Prior by email at ginnyprior@hotmail.com or on the web at http://www. ginnyprior.com.