Events
Flea Market and Beach Revue
The Flea Market first started in 1971.
In 1972 there were 60 merchants and by 1985, the 14th annual Beach School Flea Market on October 6 was the most successful and colorful ever, according to its workers. Pumpkins, corn-stalks, and a scarecrow on a Fall Harvest theme greeted more than 3,000 people who browsed among 140 vendors and the parent-sponsored coun try store and rummage sale.
Winners of the Mothers' Quilt Raffle were Robert and Martha Hiner of Ricardo Ave. in Piedmont. Mike and Rosemary Lynch of Grand Ave. won the top prize of a night at the Campton Place Hotel in the Prize Raffle.
A new feature this year was the Chili Cook-off which proved so popular that most of the contestants had run out of chili in an hour. Judges Steffi Mooers, Cece Dove, and Neil Larsen awarded the trophy for best chili to the Board of Education, The Popular Choice winner was the Piedmont Fire Department. Best Ambiance award went s the High School Parents Club and Best Costumes to the Association of Piedmont Teachers.
Other community groups participating were the parent organizations from the Middle School, Havens, and Beach, Piedmont Language. School which entered both a French and a Spanish chili, CSBA, The Boosters, CHIME, Piedmont Choirs, Piedmont. Peppers and The Piedmonter.
Proceeds Peppers and Chili Cook-off wet to the Piedmont Educational Foundation.
Source: October 16, 1985, Piedmonter Piedmont/Oakland Bulletin
The Oakland Tribune - Wed - Oct. 17, 1979:
Come rain or come shine, the eighth annual Flea Market benefiting Beach School in Piedmont is going to take place this Sunday, according to Candy Gibeaut of Piedmont who is co-chairing the event with Pat Daane.
The affair was rained out last Sunday, much to the planners' despair, although it wasn't a total loss.
Since a cafe set-up ("The Beach Bistro") is part of the fund-raising event and some of the food was perishable, it had to be eaten. So the 133 vendors and planning committee members and their families sat down and ate meals cooked on a barbecue sheltered by an umbrella.
"We all got soaking wet, but it was fun," reports Gibeaut. About $60 also went into the"profit" column of the accounting books. Next Sunday's effort (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school, 100 Lake St.) will feature a carnival and bingo in addition to the flea market and bistro.
Flea Market - 1970s and 80s
Flea Market -1990s
Beach Revue
From a paper in the Beach Archives:
Beach’s annual musical extravaganza had its humble beginnings in 1969. Diana Rossin of 29 Lake initiated the revue as a talent show. It is doubtful that she could imagine decades later is would become a full-school production and a crowning achievement for fifth graders to punctuate their time at Beach. The rich tradition of Beach Revue has been key to pulling parents and students together. In today’s budget constrained public schools having a serious arts endeavor for Beach students is a rare privilege. We are thankful for Ms. Rossin’s seed and moarn her passing in early 2013.