Ed Brail started as a crime scene technician on Chicago’s mean streets and became a trusted servant of families in grieving.
Author Archives: C.J. Hirschfield
C.J. Hirschfield served for 17 years as Executive Director of Children’s Fairyland, where she was charged with the overall operation of the nation’s first storybook theme park. Prior to that, she served as an executive in the cable television industry, She penned a weekly column for the Piedmont Post for 13 years, wrote regularly for Oakland Local, and has contributed to KQED’s Perspectives series. She now writes for EatDrinkFilms.com and Splash Pad News. She holds a degree in Film and Broadcasting from Stanford University.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Creating a world without sexual exploitation: Leila Mottley in conversation
Mottley, author of the critically acclaimed Nightcrawling, will join Chinaka Hodge and MISSSEY in a discussion about exploitation and survival in Oakland.
Posted inArts & Community
Meet East Oakland’s ‘Ghetto Geppetto’
For the entrepreneur, artist, and collector Roy Miles, success didn’t come easy.
Posted inArts & Community
In a first, several Oakland and East Bay girls become Eagle Scouts
Four young women from Oakland were recognized for their extraordinary service to the community.
Posted inArts & Community
Two Oakland parks are getting big investments
Verdese Carter and Lincoln Square are each getting $8 million in state funds for new landscaping, playgrounds, lighting, and more.
Posted inArts & Community
Meet Lance McGee/Unique Derique: a counselor and a clown who heals with humor
Oakland’s Lance McGee is a trauma-informed school counselor who also performs as Unique Derique the clown.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland puppeteer, organist, and composer William Lewis to play SF Silent Film Fest
The 18-year-old Oakland School for the Arts senior is a prolific artist working at the intersection of film, theater, and music.
Posted inArts & Community
New film examines Black Panther Huey Newton’s 1968 trial
Oakland Filmmaker Lise Pearlman’s “American Justice on Trial” brings the sensational case to life on the big screen.
Posted inArts & Community
‘What is Oakland?’ Amy Schneider, Jeopardy! champ, on the city she loves
From Walden Pond to Heart and Dagger, the winningest Grand Lake resident shares her favorite things about The Town.
Posted inArts & Community
Meet the 16-year-old Skyline student who conducted the Oakland Symphony
Roman St. Gerard is one of Oakland’s most exciting homegrown musical talents.
Posted inArts & Community
Noir City Film Festival moves to Oakland
Held in San Francisco since 2003, the showcase of classic crime flicks will make Grand Lake Theatre its new home.
Posted inBusiness
Hyper-local shopping app expands from Oakland to Berkeley and Alameda
Keep Oakland Alive rebrands as Nearby Bay Area, but continues to offer an alternative to Amazon.
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
These 4 historic Oakland houses are free. You just have to pay to move them
The Town has a long history of relocating old homes, and those who’ve done it say the process can be worth the time and effort it takes.
Posted inArts & Community
These East Bay word nerds don’t just do New York Times crosswords—they make them
These crossword constructors, who thrive on collaboration, would like to see more diverse perspectives represented in the craft.
Posted inArts & Community
Oakland’s Bellevue Club couldn’t survive the pandemic and is being sold
The owners of San Francisco’s The Battery are taking over the historic Lake Merritt social club.
Posted inArts & Community
John Sutter’s lifetime of environmental activism shaped Oakland’s landscape
Friends and colleagues remember Judge John Sutter, who tirelessly advocated for the preservation of open space and parklands.
Posted inHealth & Environment
Kamala Harris surprised an Oakland childcare nonprofit with a major grant
The vice president, born in Oakland, gave $20,000 to the childcare organization BANANAS.
Posted inBusiness
New online store aims to keep Oakland retail alive
Brett Rounsaville and April Underwood started Keep Oakland Alive to provide a local online shopping alternative to Amazon.
Posted inArts & Community
Bar Shiru and others hope new ‘flex streets’ will help with COVID losses
The “flex streets” collaboration, along with fundraising through Cocktail Week (which is actually a month this year), aims at supporting Oakland businesses downtown, Uptown, and beyond.