The Week
News
Volunteers turn slab of concrete into colorful, lively garden
In downtown Berkeley, in the midst of heavy traffic, loud road construction and pedestrians rushing to and from places, there is a narrow walkway that leads you between two buildings. At the end of the walkway, there is a calm, quiet place to take a break. -more-
BHS principal may be reassigned
After one of the most tumultuous years in the school’s history, Berkeley High Principal Theresa Saunders may leave her post to be reassigned to a district position. -more-
One City Council contest heats up
For some, summer sun means barbecues and bucolic vacations. But for others, summer is the time to gear up for fall elections. -more-
Merchants cope with ‘construction zone’
While a series of recent and ongoing construction projects in downtown Berkeley will ultimately bring improvements to the area’s appearance, it has left store and cafe owners with mixed feelings. -more-
Kiwanis Club of Berkeley awards $32,000 to graduating seniors
At a luncheon last week, the Kiwanis Club of Berkeley awarded 12 local graduating high school students with $32,000 in scholarships. -more-
‘Victim of success’
Shambhala Booksellers, the 32-year-old Berkeley bookstore that was a pioneer in offering titles in Eastern and other religions of the world and their sacred traditions, may be forced to close its doors. -more-
Filmmakers focus on a revolutionary
After 14 years in jail, Laura Whitehorn is the star of a movie. And she’s not happy about it. -more-
Spay, neuter or pay
The City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday night requiring pet owners to spay and neuter their animals or pay for the right not to. -more-
Progressives win city budget battle
Sharply divided along traditional faction lines, the council approved a spending plan for the $3.5 million – the “little fringe at the end” of the budget, as Councilmember Polly Armstrong described it – the council is authorized to disburse. -more-
Police arrest man in gutter
Police found a man sleeping in a gutter about 6:30 a.m. Saturday at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Ridge Road. When an officer came up next to him and tried to wake him, he was slow to awaken, but finally shook his head and got up, said Capt. Bobby Miller of the Berkeley Police Department. -more-
Resident foils burglary attempt
A man who gained entrance to a residential hall at 1777 Euclid Ave. Sunday night was thwarted in his burglary attempt. -more-
Stroll to honor ‘Local Legacies’
This year’s annual Solano Avenue Stroll Sept. 10, in addition to the food, entertainment and crafts fair, silent auction and a parade, will highlight the 26-year-old Stroll’s recognition by the Library of Congress. -more-
Barbara T. Christian – Cal professor, literary feminism scholar – dies at 56
Barbara T. Christian, an acclaimed professor of African-American Studies at UC Berkeley, and a pioneer of contemporary American literary feminism, died Sunday at her home in Berkeley from cancer. She was 56. -more-
Hotel robbery attempt foiled
An attempted robbery was foiled about 6 a.m. Monday after three would-be robbers gained entry to rooms at the Ramada Inn at 920 University Ave. -more-
Graffiti is ongoing struggle
The handwriting is on the walls, on the trash cans and on traffic signs – anywhere taggers leave their marks for the world to see – and the city spends more than $250,000 a year to fight it with cleanup crews daily. -more-
Letters to the Editor
Nuclear vs. nuclear weapons research in Berkeley -more-
THEATER AURORA THEATRE “Split” by Mayo Simon, June 1 through July 2. A mordant clear-eyed view of an older couple's love affair.
THEATER -more-
Race and BHS
Much attention has been paid in recent months to the troubling academic achievement gap between white students and students of color at Berkeley High School, but the parallel “discipline gap” at the campus is not being openly addressed. -more-
Forum: ‘E-health care’ faces roadblocks
The Human Genome Project is a perfect example of how the Internet has changed science by making vast databases of information available to scientists at the click of a mouse. In the same way, the Internet could revolutionize America’s dauntingly complex health care industry. -more-
Cal researchers dig into Presidio’s past
SAN FRANCISCO – You are what you eat, right? Well, a few hundred years down the road the only way people might know anything about you is because of the stuff you didn’t eat – the bones, the cans, the bottles. After all, as any sanitation worker, detective or crazed stalker will tell you, one can tell a lot about somebody by sifting through his garbage. -more-
New academic officials chosen at UC Berkeley Two new vice provosts at UC Berkeley, who will play central roles in academic adm
Two new vice provosts at UC Berkeley, who will play central roles in academic administration, have been selected, officials announced Tuesday. -more-
In search of new city manager
The next city manager will be selected by a supermajority if the mayor has her way. -more-
Berkeley must adopt a more functional design for Interstate 80 bridge
An open letter to Mayor Shirley Dean and members of the Berkeley City Council: -more-
Shotgun’s Jungle Book misses mark
Shotgun Players opened its fourth outdoor annual summer theatrical tour Sunday afternoon at Willard Park with an original adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s collection of animal stories “The Jungle Book.” -more-
Home invasion robbery suspect remains at large
A San Jose man was arrested Monday in connection with a botched home invasion robbery in South Berkeley, but his alleged accomplice remained on the loose. -more-
Nader inspires faithful Greens
OAKLAND – Now more than ever, candidates, party officials and voters seem to be saying that it’s getting easier to be Green. -more-
Only organic coffee for ‘City Hall Café’
When the hard hats and dump trucks clear out of City Hall and the public flows back in, citizens may be greeted by more than new furniture, repainted walls and council agendas. -more-
Budget, bonds, pets top council agenda
On this week’s council agenda there are two different proposals to streamline the city’s tortuous council meetings. One was written by City Auditor Ann-Marie Hogan and the other by Mayor Shirley Dean. -more-
Crews start to cut down trees
A plan to spruce up downtown took a highly visible step forward Monday as crews began cutting down trees along University Avenue, part of a taxpayer-funded revitalization effort. -more-
East Bay firefighters train in Tilden Park
The firefighters from six departments who came to Tilden Park Sunday were training to fight a major fire – everyone’s worst nightmare, but always a threat in the East Bay Hills. -more-
Rental issue closer to fall ballot
Balancing property owners’ and tenants’ rights is a delicate dance, especially in today’s tight housing market. -more-
Disabled rights campus gets U.S. funding
The Ed Roberts Campus proposed for the Ashby BART station got a boost from the federal government Saturday, when United States Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater presented the sponsoring organization with a check for $300,000. -more-
Media camp focuses teens’ energy
Barbara Zimmerman, professor of film theory in Ithaca, N.Y., recently described the Bay Area as a “media paradise.” All that flickers and streams and pixilates is in our town, and the East Bay Media Center has begun its annual Summer Media Camp to de-mystify the tools for young people in this virtual Eden. -more-
Opinion
Editorials
New academic officials chosen at UC Berkeley
Two new vice provosts at UC Berkeley, who will play central roles in academic administration, have been selected, officials announced Tuesday. -more-
British diplomat to speak at university
Peter Gooderham, Counsellor of Politico-Military/European Affairs at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., will be the featured speaker at a noontime lecture Thursday on the UC Berkeley campus. -more-