SPRING IS busting out all over. So is my wasteline, but that’s a story for another day. I’d rather concentrate on the beauty that surrounds us when wildflowers emerge from their winter slumber and tulips spring from the ground with their soft pastel petals. It’s a time for rebirth and it brings to mind the work being done at the northernmost entrance to Montclair.

Once just a spot on the Sacramento rail line, the corner of Thornhill and Moraga has gone to seed in recent years — sporting nothing but weeds and an ugly metal fence. But hills resident Jill Broadhurst adopted the lot, lovingly developing a plan for it to shine. With the help of landscape artists Feyerbend and Madden, she’s rounding up volunteers to turn this high profile corner into a little “pocket park.” If you’d like to donate time or money, please contact Jill through the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council at www.montclairsic.org. This is the perfect example of how we really can make a difference in our little village.

SPRING CLEANING: A reader reminded me recently that Mother Mary Ann Wright is still taking in clothing for Oakland’s poor. She’s the saintly woman who, at 84, has been feeding and clothing the disadvantaged since 1980, when she had a middle-of- the-night epiphany. Her foundation is located on 26th Street and you can reach her by calling 510-601-8119.

E-MAIL BAG: Reader Trish Hare tells me her neighbor, June Ko-Dial, has been nominated as a district 4 local hero. “She’s a very strong advocate for elementary ed and one of the most down-to-earth people,” Hare says. Despite personal challenges with her health, Ko-Dial is being honored as someone who puts so much energy into the community — she’s an inspiration to others.

You can see a full list of nominees on Councilwoman Jean Quan’s Web site at www.jeanquan.org.

PUFFED UP: More no-smoking signs are going up around a Glenview coffee shop in the wake of complaints about the “air pollution” outside. Neighbors tell me early morning smokers were ignoring city laws and lighting up within 25 feet of the doors and windows of Ultimate Grounds on Park Boulevard.

Several merchants smoke outside their shops here and one disgruntled person told me he’d be smoking in the street if he complied with the 25-foot minimum.

“If the smoke doesn’t get me, the traffic will,” he laughed.

CUDDLE UP: It’s Valentine’s weekend, but not everyone sees this as the ultimate lover’s holiday. At Glenview Lock and Key there’s a spoof in the window pairing dozens of unlikely couples like Gumby and Godzilla and Sen. Dianne Feinstein and former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein. But the real message is no joke. If you want to love someone on Valentine’s Day — start with yourself.

THE TOWN CRIER sees things and hears things. With ears as big as palm fronds, she is dialed into dialogue that others only dream of knowing. Actually, this isn’t quite true. One source of information is easily available with Internet access. It’s the crime report on the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council Web site. More than just the police blotter that The Montclarion runs each week, this Web site offers a forum for folks who’ve been ripped off.

From burglaries to purse-snatchings, the victims provide valuable information — not only to police — but to anyone who reads their entries. You can join the discussion by logging on to www.montclairsic.org. It’s one more way we can stay a step ahead of the bad guys and keep our village safe for everybody.

E-MAIL BAG: Last week’s item on crime struck a chord with reader Randy Vogel, who wrote that studying martial arts with the Yongmudo Club at UC Berkeley has sharpened his response to real life situations.

“From little things (like being better able to catch accidentally falling objects due to improvements in my perception, reflexes and eye-hand coordination), to bigger ones (losing weight, gaining in overall fitness),” says Randy, he recommends martial arts. He says beginners are welcome and you can get more information on the Web at www.yongmudo.org.

NIGHT LIGHT: When nighttime comes and your street light burns out, who are you going to call? Neighbor Robert Anderson says the answer is Councilwoman Jean Quan, who forwarded his complaint about a broken street standard to the city’s electrical department. A guy was out in no time to shed some light on the situation. If you have a similar problem, you can call the city’s light team directly at 510-615-5430.

MORE E-MAIL: Regarding the subject of movie stars in Montclair, reader Constance Young says her nephew, Owen Granich-Young. is the producer and audio wizard for the upcoming feature film “The Nightingale Princess.” Owen is the son of Montclair photographer Ralph Granich, and at 22 years of age, is also a talented musician and composer. He attended the French American School in Berkeley and is now a senior at Hampshire College. You can see clips of his movie on the Internet at www.thenightingaleprincess.com.

MOUNTAIN MAJESTY: As the weather warms, a mountain nearby is calling us. It’s beautiful Mount Diablo, with its sweeping vistas and endless moods. Perhaps Miss Linda with the Royal Grounders Bike Club puts it best.

An avid local cyclist, she often rides to the top of the “devil mountain,” taking in what she calls “the oak-forested hillsides and undulating landscapes. At the top,” she writes, “looking out to sea — seeing San Francisco and it’s skyline — it draws you back to society, culture and humanity.”

The wildflowers will be popping out soon on the mountain, and I can’t think of a more beautiful ride.

IF YOU LIKE ice cream, you’ve probably seen Clyde Bruff. His face is on the “wall of fame” at the Montclair Malt Shop. Of course, so is mine — yet I somehow manage to walk around each day in virtual anonymity.

Bruff, on the other hand, has one of those looks that just grabs you: big glasses, big smile and big personality. Which probably explains why, after 22 years, he gave up his job as an investment broker to become an actor.

Meeting Bruff at Colonial Donuts the other morning, he could barely contain his enthusiasm. Here was a guy in his mid-50s with the bubbly effervescence of a teenager going to his first prom. Thank goodness I’d ordered the BIG cup of coffee, jacked up with chocolate. Bruff was on a roll and his wit was as sharp as a samurai sword.

“My first film is being released next month,” he told me, revealing that the 61/2-minute performance he gave three years ago had been chopped down to 38 seconds.

Still, it stars Kirk Douglas — not a bad guy to work with when you’re just starting out.

And since then, the parts have been coming at a pretty good clip — some 30 of them in the short time he’s been doing this. One of his favorite films was shot right here in Oakland, creating quite a commotion in the neighborhood around 16th Street.

“‘In Sense of Need,’ I played a guy whose life was absolutely coming apart,” he recalls. “In fact, it was coming apart so deeply when we were filming it on the streets of Oakland, the police were called by the neighbors.”

Going bonkers must have been fun for Bruff, who even in the doughnut shop was slipping in and out of characters. One of them sounded like Mr. Magoo and when I pointed it out, Bruff hammed it up even more.

“This guy really is happy,” I thought to myself, “despite swapping a big money career for one that’s — well — not very reliable.”

But Bruff has never looked back.

“Eventually it comes down to the point where you just want to follow your dream. Of course, you have to have a sense that you can make that dream happen,” he says. For Bruff — I can see it in the cards.

HEAVENLY CALL: Father Larry D’Anjou is looking for a few good men. Not for the Marines but for priests. He’s the director of vocations for the Catholic Diocese of Oakland and says the number of candidates is actually on the upswing from a low point in the 1990s. Still, there are several parishes where churches are strapped for priests, especially in the East Bay’s Vietnamese, Filipino, African-American and Hispanic communities.

E-MAIL BAG: Many apologies for getting the name of the flower shop wrong in last week’s column about local drummer, Katja Cooper.

Reader Sherry Taddei writes: “You may have us mixed up with the Flower Outlet on La Salle.

“No problem, it happens all the time,” she writes, adding that Montclair Florist is the oldest florist in the village — celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Thanks for the note, Sherry, but actually, Katja works for Casa Blanca Florist next to Italian Colors.

AFTER DARK: You don’t always see it when your eyes are on the road, but nighttime is the right time for an animal safari. Reader Debbie Timber says her favorite four-legged friends are two foxes who come out at night on Pinehurst Road through Canyon.

“One is white and the other is red,” she writes, adding they often come up to the road with their beautiful coats shining in the moonlight.

THE POWER of prayer is not to be poo-pooed. Just ask the Dinner Dames, a group of Crocker Highlands and Corpus Christi Church women who specialize in food for the body and soul.

Started by local Realtor and radio personality Katie O’Shea, these ladies are more than just good cooks. They also have a perfect record when it comes to healing.

“We have done dinner and prayers for six people who have had various life-threatening problems,” says member Jean Zika, “and they all pulled through.”

She should know. Her own husband, Pat, was the recipient of one of their heavenly interventions. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last spring and the Dinner Dames went to work. They started a prayer chain that eventually stretched around the world and then they really started cooking, bringing meals to the family twice a week.

The proof was in the pudding. Just hours before Pat’s scheduled surgery, doctors did one last test and determined he didn’t have cancer at all — he had a bile stone. Was it a miracle? Jean thinks so.

“The power of prayer from all the friends and the support from the Dinner Dames — it changed it from something very bad to something that was treatable,” she said.

Whether you’re a believer or not — it’s hard to argue with the outcome. Six people — six little miracles. Life is sweet.

NEW NEIGHBOR: Montclair’s Village Square Shopping Center finally has a tenant to replace the old Montclair Produce. AAA (California State Automobile Association) is opening an office in the oversized space that’s been vacant for a couple of years. Some merchants are concerned about the number of employees and customers the office will bring (parking has always been an issue here). But everyone is glad to finally have a tenant that will bring potential business to the center.

E-MAIL BAG: As Oakland braces for more rainy weather, hills resident Catherine Brady makes this plea to readers: “Would you be so kind as to remind the public that our city employees cannot do all the work that needs to be done.”

She says we all need to go outside and clear the storm drains near our homes, so water has somewhere to flow. It’s good advice that may help prevent another lake from forming at the bottom of Shepherd Canyon Road.

PHONE HANG-UP: It’s tough to communicate when you don’t have phone service. Just ask the folks along Moore and Shepherd Canyon Road, who have been without their telephones since the New Year’s Eve storm. And to make matters worse, reader Steve Fuerch says he had to call SBC more than once to report the problem (apparently there’s a communication problem at the phone company).

By the way, cell phones don’t work in that part of the hills, so these folks are really at a loss for words. Here’s hoping they’ve fixed the problem by the time this column is published.

DÉJÀ VU: What’s old is new again when it comes to recording music. Just ask local musician Mark Abboud, who’s band Genghis Khan has just put out a 45 — as in RPMs. It’s a two-sided platter he had pressed in the Czech Republic for less than a buck a record. But who has the machines to play them?

Abboud says most of his fans borrow record players from their parents, which really makes me feel really old. Still, I’d take mine out of storage if the price were right.

IT’S 2006. Are we having fun yet? Trees are down, there’s muck all around and as I write this, the power is still out at my son’s school. All this is trivial, though, when compared with the loss of a life.

My neighbor died in the storm last week. Dick Crossen loved to work outdoors and had a soft spot for children and animals. He’d feed my cat when she came by, and bought loads of Scout cookies and nuts from my kids — giving them as gifts to family and friends. Often, I’d see him on my neighborhood walks — clearing brush. He always stopped to chat. I’ll miss those conversations. The street will seem sadly quiet now.

NEIGHBORLY WARMTH: Reader Janet Jolley knows what it’s like to have great neighbors. She says her former street, Woodhaven Way, is one of those rare places where everybody knows your name. The neighbor ladies have a Wednesday hiking group that has been in existence for over 25 years.

“These ladies were all in their 50s, 60s and 70s when I met them and now some of them have died but the hiking group continues — with me as the youngest member at 60 and Barbara Sherman the oldest at 80,” Jolley writes. She says they have a great Christmas Party every year with the tackiest white elephants gifts you can imagine. The closeness the experience is reminiscent of a time when so much revolved around family and neighbors.

It’s time to recapture that tradition.

NEW DIGS: Montclair’s romance with Cuba has come to an end. A raise in the rent has reportedly sent La Taza de Café packing. They went out with a bang on New Year’s Eve and will open Feb. 1 in the old Autumn Moon Café at 3909 Grand Ave. More room and lower overhead were the lures. But their presence will be missed. Once again, the music has been silenced in Montclair.

METER MADNESS: An overzealous meter maid has folks hot under the collar in the Glenview.

It’s one thing to circle the streets like a vulture, waiting for meters to expire. But some people are finding tickets on their cars in the two-hour zones when they’ve been parked there less than two hours. There’s nothing like fighting a parking ticket to make you realize you’ve got virtually no voice at city hall.

FINE WINE: A while back I wrote about a hills family that was crushing grapes in their garage. Apparently there’s more wine production than I realized in Montclair. Reader George Troy says he has a vineyard on his property off Colton.

“I only have 40 vines but it looks like a vineyard, anyway,” he writes. Troy had his first harvest and crush last year and is looking forward to his Montclair appellation. “How cool is that?” he says. “It’s a very limited production — no one can afford it.”

ARMCHAIR TRAVEL: If seeing the world is a goal this year, then you’ll want to know about this: Local photographer Don Lyon is hosting a series of travelogues at Chapel of the Chimes.

Using two projectors and live narration, the Tuesday night shows (in January and February) are lively and the setting is perfect. There’s something about this Julia Morgan structure, Don says, that makes it the “perfect spot to contemplate another time and place.”

This season has me thinking about birthdays. Of course, the birthday of Christ comes to mind, but another celebration came up recently – a milestone for a woman who grew up in Montclair and was Oakland’s Mother of the Year in 1965. Gladys Copland turned 90 the other day. A house full of friends and family hid in the hallway as she walked up the steps to her son’s home – and then shouted SURPRISE as she opened the door. A lesser woman might have fainted, but Gladys jumped right into the festivities and was soon telling stories of her life in Montclair.
She was an avid tennis player. She worked as a nurse while raising twin boys and a daughter. And in her spare time, she volunteered at the Montclair Rec Center, as well as Sonoma Hospital. “There were lots of mothers who did more than I did,â€� she said modestly as she looked back on her life. But few in the room would agree. Gladys raised her family, helped her community and inspired everyone who knew her. More than just a Mother of the Year – she’s a mother for all times.

Twinkle Toes: Did you know there are four different dance classes at Montclair Rec Center? Three are free – including ballroom dancing, which the center hasn’t had since Bill Jones used to teach it. The new classes start January 11th from 1-3:30 (Wednesdays) and you don’t have to sign up – just drop in. There’s also German Folk dancing on Thursday nights from 8-10, Greek Dancing on Wednesday mornings from 9:45-11:45 (not free) and Jazz Tap for adults on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:30. Now if we just had a dance hall in Montclair…

Email Bag: Reader Jackie Sisich says the mailbox is back at the Thornhill 7-Eleven – back from medical leave, after getting knocked for a loop by a wayward car a few months ago. Apparently that thick metal jacket doesn’t do much to protect the receptacle from injuries. The stay in the mailbox hospital was lengthy, to say the least.

And reader Mary Feinberg is jubilant over the gingerbread house at Montclair Bistro. “We were there at the end of November and it was under construction�, she writes. “By now it should be done and fabulous.�

Santa Paws: Not everyone likes sitting on Santa’s lap. Just ask Marty Martin, the hills guy who filled in for Santa last week at Montclair’s Pet Food Express. “It was wild,â€� he said. “I had a cat on my lap that was hissing and clawing at my beard.â€� Another photo had him posing with a couple of 120 pound St. Bernards. Pit Bulls and Poodles and kittycats too – it was a regular pet parade at the Smiley Dog Rescue photo booth. And if animals could talk, I wonder what they’d ask Santa for…

Humbug Humdinger: It wouldn’t be Christmas without Scrooge and the annual production of The Christmas Carol at Mills College. A lot of hills folks have parts this year, including Jeanne Dupont who plays Mrs Cratchit. “My kids Leo and Lana are in the Cratchit family with her,â€� says local mom Rebecca Faiola, “and Leslie Manning (one of the producers) has her cute boy “Scott” playing the Poulterer – he’s great!â€� Steve Schaeffer, “The ComputerGuy”, plays Scrooge and 21-year-old Danny Buell is the director. “This is a “broadway-style” song and dance production that moves along quickly and holds your attention,â€� says Faiola. Call 531-5801 for tickets.

Got news? You can reach Ginny Prior by phone at 510-273-9418 or on the web at http://www.ginnyprior.com.

LET’S GIVE IT UP for winter. It took a while to get rid of all the hot air from autumn, but we’re finally into the months that make your cheeks rosy. And your teeth chatter. And your PG&E bill hit the roof. And here’s a toast to every neighbor who has their lights up. Whether it’s the icicle lights that come down in squiggly strands or those old-fashioned bulbs that my parents used to hang — they all make the season bright. There’s nothing like walking in the silent night with a starry sky and homes all a-glow. Even the deer seem to celebrate, as they proudly display their antlers. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

OUR TOWN: Thanks to the merchants who made the village stroll so special. It was a scene out of Currier and Ives as carolers sang and Christmas bells rang and villagers waved from the cable car. Gleeful shoppers popped in and out of warmly lit stores, sipping on wine and nibbling cookies and cheese. I was touched to see all the people in A Great Good Place for Books, remembering the late Debi Echlin. She would have loved this village stroll. She would have soaked up the neighborhood spirit.

PAMPERING PARTY: I’ve heard of some unusual holiday parties, but this one wins — hands down! A group of moms made the most of their annual ornament exchange party recently by bringing their gifts, wine and cheese to Femi Macus Nail Salon in the Glenview. They not only exchanged presents but they got their nails done. A mani/pedi with a glass of wine — now this is an idea worth looking into.

WINE TALK: All my talk about hillside vineyards and backyard winemakers in Montclair has triggered another e-mail, this time from Randy Keyworth. He and partner Jack States have just opened Lost Canyon Winery, near Jack London Square. It’s a big improvement over their old digs: Jack’s garage. Drop by and see how far they’ve come with their tasty pinot noir and syrah — two of my favorites!

E-MAIL BAG: Kids don’t always get the recognition they deserve. That’s why Scott and Karen Senzig (Montclair Mortgage) want readers to know about the sweet thing some local youngsters did recently. It started when Karen told a friend, Peg Kelly, that they needed towels for cleaning up after meals at St. Vincent de Paul’s free dining room.

“She mentioned this to her son, Kevin Huber, and he and his sixth-grade class at Corpus Christi School ran with it and filled three huge plastic bags,” Karen says. The folks at the dining room were so grateful they literally shouted for joy.

“It’s the little things that count,” Karen says.

VANISHING ACT: A few things have “gone missing” in the village lately. For one, the bench in front of Starbucks was stolen the other night, leaving coffee drinkers high and dry as they look for a resting place.

Meanwhile, reader Constance Young says the mailbox by the Thornhill 7-Eleven has disappeared.

“I noticed about a month ago that the mailbox had suffered some sort of minor automotive collision,” she writes. She says that soon after, it was gone altogether. I’ve forwarded her concerns to the Montclair Safety and Improvement Council.

CHRISTMAS CONTEST: It’s a cookie … it’s a bread … it’s a — house! Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread, and the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is hosting its annual Gingerbread House Contest tomorrow. So get out the gumdrops and royal icing. All ages are invited to enter and enjoy the elaborate gingerbread houses that deck the halls of this coastal resort. Wrap up the day with the 5 p.m. tree lighting and you’ve got the makings of a wonderful holiday tradition.

They call this the season of giving. But it’s not just presents being exchanged. Perhaps more than ever, hills folks are offering their help to the victims of poverty, abuse and disaster. Here are some of their stories:

Mel Copland grew up in Montclair. He’s a realtor and a builder and as long as I’ve known him, he’s been a can-do kind of guy. When the Oakland firestorm hit, he was out spraying rooftops and digging trenches. He was one of the first men to volunteer after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. And during the recent spate of hurricanes, he flew to Texas to help the Red Cross for three weeks. Sleeping on the floor of a church with no power and no hot water, you would think he’d be burned out on volunteering for awhile. But he says he can’t wait to help out again, especially in the Bay Area. Needless to say, Mel’s number is at the top of my speed dial.

Rosalie Masuda is a nurse and avid hills tennis player, who just couldn’t rest after Hurricane Katrina hit. She flew into the Dallas/Fort Worth area and took charge of a shelter, treating victims for everything from dehydration to depression. And the depression was worse than the injuries, she said.

“I remember a 71-year-old gentleman who looked daily for two weeks on the Red Cross computer system for his wife, who was placed on a different bus than he. A local attorney hearing about his plight hired a private investigator and located her in Houston in a nursing home,” she recalls. “They were united and he had a cardiac arrest that same week at the shelter.”

After many long days and restless nights, Masuda was grateful to come home to family and friends, who, in return, gave her a wonderful welcome home party.

Justin Miller grew up in Montclair, went to high school at Saint Mary’s and joined the Peace Corps. Now he’s working in Mexico, doing disaster evaluations in 10 tiny villages hit by Hurricane Stan. His mother, Gabby, says the area was cut off by mudslides and the corps went as far as they could by jeep, then traversed rugged mountains for days on end.

“At one point, unable to reach a village before dark, they stumbled about and lost their way, until they found a mountain hut where they spent the night,” she recalls. Dirty and cold, her son and his group huddled together in high winds and below freezing temperatures until sunrise.

“The people in the next village were relieved the next day to see that they had survived, and not fallen into some ravine.” In fact, the villagers were so grateful for the corps’ help, they were made guests of honor at a family Quinseanera.

And while we’re on the subject of local boys making good — Scot Gordon is a young man who I once helped with a broadcast internship. He was a sharp kid who learned quickly and showed great poise and maturity for someone in high school.

He’s gone on to run his own business in Orinda (Quenchers) and start a foundation called ENABLE. One of their projects is helping to modernize a medical facility in Uburu, Nigeria. Scot has secured the help of Dr. John Gentile, the director of medical affairs for Alta Bates and Summit hospitals, who is rounding up medicine, equipment and other supplies. He’s got Cal Evans with Von Hoffman Publishing finding medical textbooks for the hospital. And he’s trying to line up power sources, since the doctors often work by the dim light of a small hand-cranked generator.

“There are several families who live right around here who are from Uburu,” Scot says, and “these guys are amazing — they have PhDs and masters’ degrees, but some of them are collecting toll on the Bay Bridge just to send money home.”

I’m proud to be able to tell the stories of these generous neighbors. It warms my heart at Christmas time. The message of hope is as strong as ever. Peace on Earth, good will toward men.

In an ongoing effort to find out who I am, one thing is clear. I must be part cat. Why else would I love having my head rubbed? This explains why I spend so much time in Dina’s salon on Park Boulevard. She colors and cuts and rejuvenates my scalp and I’m almost purring when she’s done.
But I’m not the only cat on the block who likes having her hair fussed over. Dina’s shop is buzzing with activity as she celebrates 33 years of business in Oakland. That’s a lot of blow drying for a woman who puts in 12-hour days with the same enthusiasm she had when she started three decades ago. And the excitement is contagious. A day at Dina’s is like sitting in Dolly Parton’s salon in the movie “Steel Magnolias.” Women are laughing and swapping stories as the hair dryer hums and the foot bath bubbles and the smell of almond gel lightly scents the room.
Happy anniversary, Dina. Your place is more than just a salon — it’s a warm place to gather and feel good about yourself. The cut and color are the icing on the cake. (Dina wants everyone to know that for her 33rd anniversary, she’s offering a cut and style for $33 through Dec. 10.)

LITERARY LIGHTS: Food, art and literature came together beautifully, the other night, at the Montclair Bistro. Local Realtor and landlord Faye Bidgoli read from her new book “Cracked Pomegranate” as a mostly female audience drank in every word. And the event was a complete Village affair — it was sponsored by A Great Good Place for Books on La Salle Avenue.
Bidgoli’s story revealed her struggle to break free from the oppressive traditions of her homeland, Iran, and forge a new life in Berkeley. But her book wasn’t the only thing that made a lasting impression. Chef Henry Votriede’s presentation of food was magnificent. In a way, it was his debut, too, as he prepares to open a banquet room next to his restaurant.

CUT FOR CANCER: It’s been just over two years since Oakland broadcaster Faith Fancher died of breast cancer. But her legacy lives on, in the form of at least two charities that help underprivileged women fight this disease. On Nov. 21, Gina Khan Salon/Yosh for Hair in San Francisco will donate 100 percent of its profits to one of those groups — the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. The goal is to raise $17,000 in five hours.

DUST TO DUST: Regarding last week’s column on scattering cremated remains in the East Bay Regional Parks, program coordinator Mark Ragatz says only individuals can buy a permit. They won’t be issued to mortuaries, crematoriums, funeral directors or other commercial enterprises. As far as memorials, they’re not allowed in the parks and neither is any digging. In other words, it’s ashes to ashes and dust to dust — and that’s it.

MOVIE PICK: If you’re looking for a homegrown holiday flick, “Bee Season” could fill the bill. Filmed locally, it even features a scene with former Montclarion editorial assistant Ann Fields. There are a couple of other names you may recognize, too — Richard Gere and Juliette Binoche.

YOU’VE HEARD the term “pushing up daisies”? Now you can push up scrub oak, manzanita, huckleberries and thousands of other plants with the new cremation policy in the East Bay Regional Parks.
For $50, your remains can be scattered in your choice of settings — overlooking Lake Chabot, near the newts in Tilden, or along the velvety green hills of Sibley. There are thousands of acres at your disposal, so to speak, and you can even pick your climate — from the warm toasty trails of Del Valle to the fog-kissed forest in Redwood Park. Of course, there are rules, like no remains in the water, or within 500 feet of any public use area. But get past the red tape and it’s a heck of a deal. You’ll always have visitors, even if they’re unaware of your presence.

READERS REACT: Crime is on the mind of retired Montclair real estate agent Catherine Christiansen, who says a friend of hers was attacked by a transient in downtown Oakland last month.
“She was in the hospital all day and had 18 stitches under one eye,” says Christiansen, who says the assault occurred in broad daylight by an unlikely suspect — a well-dressed man. “The victim is a wonderful lady, always helping people – and I thought ‘Why?'”

BODY OF WORK: You can add another energy bar to list of Clif and Luna bars created by hills entrepreneur Gary Erickson. His dad dropped the Builder’s Bar in my mailbox the other day and because it had chocolate, I quickly gave it a try. With 20 grams of protein, what’s not to like? Gary’s dad likes it, too, and he should know. He’s the guy with his name on every bar. And at 80, Cliff is still hiking the hills — with energy bars in his pockets.

ROCK REVIVAL: As a teen, he interviewed musicians like John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix on his radio show. In later years, he worked at the Beatles’ Apple Records, where one of his jobs was testing Paul McCartney’s “weed.” He’s a drummer and DJ and a rock ‘n’ roll icon in his own right. BP Fallon is playing a benefit for the Canyon School tonight at 6 p.m. You can’t beat the price – fifteen bucks gets you dinner, classic rock and a trivia contest! For more information call 925-376-4671.

TOP HATS: You know the ski season has arrived when the wacky hats come out. Montclair Sports has a new line called Screamers, which should get some attention in the lift lines. One hat makes croaking sounds and is shaped like a frog. Another features barking and looks like a dog. I’m waiting for a hat with an air horn. One blast and you’d have the mountain to yourself.