Welcome to Issue 14 of the Albany Gazette!
While August is in mid-swing, summer is winding down and AUSD’s first day of school is this Wednesday, August 13. Please slow down and drive carefully around our school sites as students and families get back into the groove of things.
Two highlights from this month’s issue:
Albany History: The Blue Glove Crew – For more than sixteen years, a small group of neighbors has walked Solano and San Pablo Avenues three mornings a week, picking up whatever the street left behind. Meet the “Blue Glove Two” who started it all, and the crew still going strong today.
Around Albany: August 2026 – Your guide to everything happening this month, from the return of La Fête de la Rentrée to concerts in the park and more.
Attended a National Night Out block party? If you snapped photos at your block party this year, send them our way at thealbanygazette@gmail.com and we’ll feature them in next month’s Albany’s Society Pages!
Albany History: The Blue Glove Crew
If you walk along Solano Avenue on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday morning, you might catch them: a loose, flowing group of neighbors in matching hats, each holding a blue glove and working their way down the block picking up whatever the street left behind. They’ve been at it for more than sixteen years now, rain or shine, holidays included. But the Blue Glove Crew didn’t start as an organization; it started as one man trying to get a better workout.
Around Albany
Community Bulletin
🗳️ Nomination Period Extended for November Election The candidate nomination period for the 2026 General Municipal Election has been extended to Wednesday, August 12 at 5pm. Up for election this November are 2 seats on Albany City Council and 4 seats on the AUSD Board of Education. Find candidate information at AlbanyCA.gov/Candidates and local ballot measure details at AlbanyCA.gov/Measures, or contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@albanyca.gov or (510) 528-5763.
🚸 Back to School Starts Wednesday, Plus Coffee with a Cop School starts Wednesday, August 12 for the Albany Unified School District, and the Albany Police Department is reminding drivers to slow down near school sites, with extra officers out enforcing traffic laws through the first weeks of the year. Officers will also host Coffee with a Cop during morning drop-off: August 12 at Cornell Elementary, August 13 at Ocean View Elementary, and August 14 at Marin Elementary. Come say hello, ask questions, and share ideas.
🎶 Concerts in the Park Kicks Off Albany’s free, family-friendly Concert in the Park series returns to Memorial Park every Wednesday from 6-7:30pm, starting August 12 with Bay Area group SambaDá and running through September 9. See the full lineup at AlbanyCA.gov/Concerts2026.
🏚️ Earthquake Retrofit Grant Webinar The California Residential Mitigation Program is hosting a free live Zoom webinar on Wednesday, August 12 at noon for owners of older multi-unit residential buildings (5-10 units) about its Earthquake Multi-Unit Retrofit grant, which helps strengthen vulnerable “soft-story” buildings. Especially relevant for wood-framed buildings built before 1991 with tuck-under parking. Register to receive the Zoom link.
📋 Fall Activity Guide The City’s 2026 Fall Activity Guide is live on the City website, featuring Recreation & Community Services classes, programs, and special events running August through December.
🏠 Fair Housing and Homebuyer Workshops ECHO Housing has two offerings this month: a Regional Fair Housing training on Friday, August 21 from 10am-12pm covering federal and state fair housing law, reasonable accommodations, and rental advertising guidelines, and a free First-Time Homebuyer Education Workshop online on Saturday, August 22. Register for the homebuyer workshop by Thursday, August 20 at noon.
♻️ Free Solar Panel Recycling Drop-off The California Product Stewardship Council, partnering with StopWaste, is hosting a one-day residential solar panel drop-off event on Friday, August 21 from 8am-12pm at Pleasanton Garbage Service, 3110 Busch Rd, Pleasanton. Appointment registration is required and it’s open to residential panels only. Visit CALPSC.org/CPSC-SolarStewardship for details and a solar reuse resource map.
🍻 Ivy Room Monday Happy Hour The Ivy Room throws open its doors every Monday at 4pm for a no-fuss happy hour, just good drinks and good company. Free to attend, 860 San Pablo Ave.
🎨 Figure Drawing Fridays Abrams Claghorn Gallery hosts an open figure drawing session every Friday from 6-9pm, starting with short warm-up poses and building to 20-minute poses by the end of the night. Chairs and tables provided; bring your own paper and pencils. $25 fee and registration required.
August Events Calendar
Friday, August 14 | 6pm-8pm
Sip and Stitch
Anahuac, 1501 Solano Ave, Berkeley
Hosted by Albany’s own Avenue Yarns, bring your current project and stitch alongside fellow crafters.
Saturday, August 15 | 1pm-4pm
Nature Journaling Meetup
Albany Bulb
Sketch and observe the flora, birds, and bay views of the Bulb in this session led by urban naturalist Kate Rutter. Sign up for free here. Bring your own journaling supplies.
Saturday, August 15 | 2pm
Bulb Gardening Workday
Albany Bulb, meet by the bathrooms near the parking lot
Part of the ongoing 1st and 3rd Saturday gardening workdays. All skill levels welcome; bring water and your own small gardening tools. Become a garden volunteer.