From the Editor

Alameda Bound

Who’s moving to Alameda and why?

    In her first assignment for Alameda Magazine, “Look Who’s Moving to Alameda,” freelancer Katherine Corcoran explores those issues, determining that the Island’s charm, its good schools and the ever-present small-town feel are the leading reasons newcomers cite for setting up housekeeping in Alameda.
    While the Bay Area has experienced a slowdown in the real estate market, Alameda has remained relatively immune, thanks to Island prestige and a diverse housing stock. Sure, houses are on the market longer, and the average price of Alameda homes may have dropped, but houses seem to hold their value well. Plus, the kid-friendly vibe of Alameda beguiles newcomers. Alameda is friendly, and that attribute is among the many that keep Alamedans on the Island once they get here.
    Corcoran talks to suburban Sacramentans who ditched the capital city for the Island city, landing in new digs at Bayport, a neighborhood that has also attracted the likes of former Piedmonters. She also talks to one-time Peninsula dwellers who fell for the quaintness of an East End bungalow. In all three cases, Alameda’s solid education system sealed the deal for these new settlers.
    Alameda’s successful schools are well known in the Bay Area, and Alameda Magazine is doing its part in this issue to celebrate some of the graduating seniors who are reaping the benefits of the Island’s great schools. Julia Park, a former associate editor at Alameda Magazine and the mother of two teens in Alameda schools, pens “Climb Every Mountain,” our annual salute to the outstanding achievements of graduating seniors. These kids are amazing, she says, noting they earn top grades, overcome adversity and make a difference in their own unique worlds. “Whether they are literally scaling peaks or simply holding one person’s hand,” she writes, “these stellar students will fill your heart with pride and joy and awe.” (Thanks to all the help from the hands-on high school counselors—we couldn’t do this project without your assistance.)
    One final note: If you notice some artistic changes in design to Alameda Magazine, that’s the handiwork of our new art director, Debbi Murzyn. She came aboard as our interim art director to produce the March/April issue of Alameda Magazine. We liked her so much that we asked her to take the job permanently. Muryzn most recently was the creative director at Black Diamond Publications and has tons of agency experience as a senior graphic designer.