Laurel District Association

by Maureen Dorsey

' The Laurel District Association (LDA) completed the second phase of beautification of the business district with the placement and planting of over forty additional planter pots along MacArthur Blvd. between High and 35th. Our team leader, Joanne Wong-Lam, extends her gratitude for the tremendous support from the volunteers who helped complete this important Public Rights of Way improvement. Laurel resident John Frando once again coordinated the order and delivery of the very heavy pots, and many shoppers watched as we carefully directed their placement. Laurel resident Paul Ferguson has not only been

'tending to the plants for the past several months, but he also assisted LDA in choosing the new varieties and even grew some himself. Watch for the spots of color as the marigolds begin to give us fall blooms. This beautification project is solely the work of the assessment

'district of our business property owners; it is not a City of Oakland project.

' LDA and Lease Wong, owner of Komodo Toys, hosted the most-attended Halloween

'event ever with over 200 children being treated by many of the businesses on the boulevard. Several parents expressed their gratitude that we provided a safe opportunity for their tricksters to dress up and visit shops along MacArthur for candy and prizes. (Parents also note that our business district is the home to three dental practices).

' Retail promotion for the Laurel will continue as we enter into the busiest shopping time of the year. LDA will spruce up the boulevard with holiday banners and lighted wreaths. We will arrange for the jolly guy in the red suit to come and hang around for an afternoon, too. Come to the Laurel District on Saturday, December 15, to have free photos with Santa from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. To help you find him in the throngs of shoppers, we will ask that you follow the Dancing Elves as they dance their way around MacArthur Blvd.

' To find more information about the Laurel District Association, visit our Web site laureldistrictassociation.org. We will be experiencing an upgraded Web site in the next few months as we add new features like our Board of Directors meeting notes, business property openings, a job board, and other business features.

Maureen Dorsey can be reached at comact\@oaklandvet.com.