Dave Lyons, president of the Rosa Parks Elementary School PTA, thought he was ready for the first day of school. 

Lyons took his twin daughters along for a school clean up session over the weekend so they would have an opportunity to meet their new teacher before the first day of school. Both are entering the first grade this year. 

In their father’s presence, the girls didn’t seemed the least bit fazed by the change in classrooms and teachers, Lyons said. But Wednesday morning, just minutes after the first day of school had officially begun, one came running to Lyons where he stood greeting people at the front gate to the school. Tears streamed down her face. 

“She couldn’t find Room 14 and she didn’t know where anything was,” Lyons said a half-hour later, after the crisis had been resolved. 

“As a parent, you have a scenario all worked out,” Lyons said. “But you’re not 7, and you do not know what it’s like to be 7!” 

After a summer spent hanging out with friends, visiting family across the country, and attending summer camps, more than 9,000 Berkeley K-12 students headed back to school Wednesday. Parents and guardians gathered at schools throughout the city to usher children into school – and assure themselves that all was well.  

Frances Van, 72, and Sue Brown, 68 – both great aunts of students entering Rosa Parks this year – met for the first time as they waited in front of the school to see that the children arrived safely on the bus. 

“I let her ride the bus for the first time, so I decided to come here and make sure she made it,” Van said. 

“This has been a new start for the both of us,” Van added, explaining that her own daughter is now 38 years old and it’s been a while since she’s gone through the whole first-day-of-school experience. 

Brown said the children she’s responsible for are not only new to Rosa Parks, but new to Berkeley, having just moved here from Oregon. But Brown said she wasn’t too worried about the adjustment they would have to make. 

“I’ve heard good reports about Rosa Parks,” Brown said. 

Mira Santos, a “parent advocate” in Rosa Parks’ Family Resource Center and the mother of two students at the school, said her children could hardly wait to get back. 

“My kids are way ready,” Santos said. “Summers are great, but I think the routine and structure of the school day, for my kids, works pretty well.” 

Fourth grader Corey Cisney and Alex Stevenson greeted each other in front of the school Wednesday after summers spent traveling in different parts of the country. They said they were glad to be back among their friends at Rosa Parks. But Stevenson confessed to being a little nervous about the start of fourth grade. 

“They start piling up the homework, because you’re about to go into middle school,” Stevenson said. “I think it’s going to be harder.” 

Flawless opening at Willard 

Over at Willard Middle School Wednesday, they were having one of the smoothest first days of school in recent memory, according to John Williams, a student safety officer at the school for nearly 20 years. 

With a new principal and vice-principal, and a whole cast of new teachers, there is change afoot at Willard, Williams said. 

“There are a lot of new faces, and a lot of new energy,” he said. “The change is good.” 

Willard English and History teacher Doug Dohrer, a new teacher at Willard hired just a few weeks ago, said he spent the first day of school just trying to get to know his students.  

Middle school students have a tendency to spend the first day of school in “stunned” silence, Dohrer said. So he organized a game where they would have to go from desk to desk introducing themselves to each other.  

The first homework assignment for Dohrer’s students is to write a letter to their new teacher, giving him some biographical information, likes and dislikes, etc. 

“Things like, ‘Don’t ever call in me in class because I’m shy,’” Dohrer said, only half joking. “I need to know those things.” 

Best-dressed meet city’s finest at BHS 

And at Berkeley High School Wednesday, teenagers sporting the latest in youth fashion arrived on campus to find police stationed near the school’s entrances. A rumor had circulated that the first day of school could be marked by a shooting, said Principal Frank Lynch. 

“Once you have that information, you have to plan for it like it’s going to happen,” he said. 

Far from dealing with any violence Wednesday, however, Lynch spent part of his afternoon chasing students into class after they returned late from lunch period. 

“Perfect attendance this year,” Lynch exhorted one group of students. “No tardies.” 

Lynch has launched a new truancy policy at the school this year that spells out clear consequences for what will happen when students miss class repeatedly. The absence of such a policy led to lax enforcement of attendance, according to many Berkeley High parents and staff. 

When Cal women’s soccer coach Kevin Boyd is asked about his biggest concern heading into the 2001 season, he has a hard time coming up with something he’s really worried about. But ask him about the team’s biggest strength, and an answer is immediate. 

“Our attacking potential is just great,” Boyd said Tuesday. “We’ve been playing exceptionally well up front, with our attacking midfielders really doing some great work. We’re just loaded offensively.” 

But although Boyd may be excited about his midfielders, the real optimism comes from having Laura Schott and Kyla Sabo up front. Schott, a junior from Wilsonville, Ore., was named first team All-America last season after leading the Pac-10 in points (47), goals (23) and game-winning goals (9). She spent the summer traveling with the U.S. under-21 national team, scoring her first international goal against Norway, and should be even more of a force this year. 

“”The biggest improvement for Laura has been tactically,” Boyd said. “She reads the game better, and she’s more assertive.” 

Schott needs 21 goals this year to tie the team record for career scores, held by Joy Biefield-Fawcett. 

Slightly overshadowed by Schott’s breakout season was Sabo’s steady play. Starting all 21 games last season, Sabo led the team with eight assists and scored six goals. The senior works well with Schott, as six of her assists led to goals by her strike partner. She was a steadying influence up front, a nice contrast to the explosive All-American. 

Boyd said he will likely play with three forwards this season, with junior Krysti Whalen and sophomore Kassie Doubrava competing for the third spot. But according to Boyd, there are even more options up front for the Bears. 

“Even behind (Doubrava and Whalen) we’ve got some pretty lethal players,” he said. 

Boyd is now in his fifth year with Cal, and this year’s team is the most highly regarded to start the season during his tenure. Most pre-season polls have the Bears in the top 15 nationally, with Soccerbuzz.com ranking them fifth. But that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference for the coach. 

“We’re not looking at the rankings yet. Pre-season rankings don’t mean a hill of beans. It’s where you finish that matters,” Boyd said. 

The biggest question marks come in the back for Boyd’s team, as four-year starting goalkeeper Maite Zabala and two starting fullbacks are gone. While the defensive slots are covered with veterans Kathleen Cain and Kim Stocklmeir, there is a fierce battle taking place for Zabala’s spot in the net, with four candidates bucking for the starting nod. Senior Gabby Ronick would seem to be the front-runner, as she was Zabala’s understudy last year, but true freshman Mallory Moser, from Branson High in Marin County, has looked impressive and could earn significant playing time. 

“It was easy before, as Maite was clearly the strongest goalkeeper we had,” Boyd said. “But competition can be a very healthy thing, make everyone work even harder.” 

Boyd is leaning toward playing with four fullbacks, rather than last year’s three-woman defense. Departed Tami Pivnik was a natural at sweeper, taking control over the defense and cleaning up mistakes, but none of the current defenders can fill that role. Instead, they will play a flat four in back, with sophomore Lucy Brining joining Cain, Stocklmeir and lone returning starter Ashley Mueller. 

The midfield should be a strength, with junior Brittany Kirk and sophomores Kim Yokers and Ashley Valenzuela all holding onto their starting positions. The Bears lost stalwart wing Natalie Stuhlmueller, but will play with three midfielders rather than the four from last season. Kirk was third on the team with 13 points last year, including overtime game-winning goals against Missouri and USC, while the fiery Valenzuela was the team’s Freshman of the Year while starting 19 games.  

But Yokers could be the best of the three this year, as Boyd considers her to be on the verge of a breakout season. An excellent defender, Yokers is much stronger this year and could control the flow of the game from her central position. 

Other players who will compete for playing time in the midfield include junior Lee Ann Morton, one of the team’s fastest players, and freshman Kacy Hornor from University High in San Francisco.

Albatross Pub Sept. 1: David Widelock Jazz Trio; Sept. 5: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 6: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 11: Mad & Eddie Duran Jazz Duo; Sept. 13: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 19: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 20: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 22: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet; Sept. 27: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Free. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473 albatrosspub@mindspring.com 

Anna’s Aug. 30: Christy Dana Quartet; Aug. 31: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Free. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 1801 University Ave. 849-2662  

Ashkenaz Aug. 30: 9 p.m. Samite, Forward Kwenda, $10; Aug. 31: 9:30 p.m. Wawa and the Oneness Kingdom, The Calypsonians, $10; 1317 San Pablo Ave. 525-5054 www.ashkenaz.com  

Café Eclectica Sept. 8: 8 p.m. SF Improv, Free. 1309 Solano Ave. 326-6124 www.sfimprov.com 

Café de la Paz Poetry Nitro, performance showcase with open mike. Sept. 10: Lucy Lang Day; Sept. 17: Marc Hofstadter (book party); Sept. 24: Jim Watson-Gove; All shows free, 7 - 10 p.m. 

Cal Performances Sept. 6: 8 p.m. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, $20 - $32; Sept. 16: 7 p.m. Tania Libertad, $18 - $30; Sept. 30: 7 p.m. Kronos Quartet, David Barron, $30; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; Sept. 3: 2 - 8 p.m. Big West Coast Harmonica Bash, afternoon benefit for Red Archibald. $10 donation; Doors open at 8 p.m. unless noted. 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Sept. 1: Ancient Future, $16.50; Sept. 7: Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin, $16.50; Sept. 8: The House Jacks, $17.50; Sept. 9: Erika Luckett, $16.50; Sept. 11: Don Walser, Slaid Cleaves, $16.50; Sept. 12: Andy Irvine, $17.50; Sept. 13: Piper Heisig birthday revue and fund raiser w/ Kate Brislin, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Carlos Reyes, and Radim Zenkl, $16.50; Sept. 14: Ray Wylie Hubbard, $16.50; Sept. 15: Vocolot, $17.50; All shows start at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

Jupiter Aug. 30: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; Aug. 31: Realistic CD Release Party; Sept. 4: Beth Waters Band; Sept. 5: Presidents Breakfast; Sept. 6 Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 7: Crater; Sept. 10: Ben Graves Trio; Sept. 11: Len Patterson Trio; Sept. 12: Bitches Brew; Sept. 13: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 14: Carlos Washington & Giant People Ensemble; Sept. 15: Kooken & Hoomen; Sept. 18: The Goodbye Flowers; Sept. 19: New Monsoon; Sept. 20: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 21: Netwerk: Electric; Sept. 22: New Garde Philosophers; All music starts at 8:00 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave. 843-7625 www.jupiterbeer.com  

La Peña Cultural Center Sept. 11 & 12: 8 p.m. Irakere, $22; In the Cafe, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 www.lapena.org 

Alice Arts Sept. 8: 7:30 p.m. Benefit concert for freedom of U.S. political prisoners featuring Fred Ho (solo) and The Eddie Gale Unit. $12; 1428 Alice, Oakland, 539-0050 www.thejerichomovement.com/teardownthewalls 

St. John’s Presbyterian Church Sept. 15: George Brooks and Shweta Jhaveri with Uttam Chakraborty on drums. $18 - $25; 2727 College Ave. 843-9600 www.harmoniventures.com 

Sedge Thomson’s West Coast Live Radio Show Sept. 1: Rita Moreno, has won Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy awards for her work on stage and screen. Mark Wing-Davey, director of “36 Views,” opening at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. Kent Nerburn, author of “Road Angels.” The Shotgun Players open a window into their show: “Winesburg Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave.; Sept. 29: Nancy Miford, author of “Savage Beauty.” West African folk music with The Nigerian Brothers. Blues roots piano by Caroline Dahl. The Freight and Salvage, 1111 Addison St. All shows 10 a.m. - noon. 252-9214 www.wcl.org 

“Rose Street Cabaret” Aug. 30 & 31st: 7 - 11 p.m. East Bay Pride and Rose Street House of Music present "Rose Street Cabaret" as part of "Pride Park." Aug. 30: Velvet Janes, Duval-Speck, Littlebird, Melissa Dougherty, Christie McCarthy, Bern, Irina Rivkin, and Helen Chaya; Aug. 31: Shelley Doty, Katharine Chase of Kindness, Laura Chandler, Making Waves, Green, Kristi Martel, and Jill Knight. Unitarian Church of Oakland, Starr King Room, 1685 14th Street. rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com 

“Song of the Lakitan Bird” Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Kulintang Dance Theatre communicates the beauty and refinement of the Southern Philippine culture. $10 Adults, $5 Children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Goddesses” Aug. 31, 8 p.m.; Sept. 1, 8 p.m.; Sept. 2, 3 p.m.; A play by Dorotea Reyna. A poetic drama concerning one mortal woman’s struggle to control the six extraordinary goddesses in her psyche. Based on “Goddesses in Everywoman” by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen. $10. Live Oak Theater, Live Oak Community Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 883-0536 rlcouture@earthlink.net 

Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. All shows 8 p.m. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s and Gabrial Pascal’s “Pygmalion.” Directed by James Schlader, choreographed by Harriet Schlader, under the musical direction of Mark Hanson. $15 - $27. 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. 531-9597 www.woodminster.com 

Squelched.com Presents “Jim Short” Sept. 11: 8 p.m. Jim Short is an Australian expatriate who grew up in Texas. Also appearing: Rob Cantrell, Luke Filose and Sean Keane. Blake’s on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave. 848-0886 show@squelched.com 

“Hecho En Califas Chicano-Latino Teatro Festival” Sept. 6 - 9, 14 - 15; 8 p.m. Original members of El Teatro de La Esperanza. Chicano Theater began out of the need to express the realities of the fields and barrios of Aztlán in the Chicano-Latino community. $10 - $20 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, 849-2568, www.lapena.org  

“Winesburg, Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque” Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, Wed. - Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players and Word For Word team up for a production of Sherwood Anderson’s deceptively simple tale of neglected souls who fade into the shadows around us. $22, Wednesdays are “Pay What You Can.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. 655-0813 www.shotgunplayers.org 

“The Secret Garden” Sept. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 & 23 matinees. The Alameda Civic Light Opera’s fifth summer season ends with the musical of Frances Hodson Burnett’s classic story of life, death, purpose and hope. Adults $22, Students 18 and under $14. Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave., Alameda. www.aclo.com 

“36 Views” Sept. 12 through Oct. 28: Tues. 8 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Thu., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Sat., Sun. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Written by Naomi Lizuka, Directed by Mark Wing-Davey. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. 239-2252 www.acteva.com/go/havefun 

Cal Performances Sept. 8: 8 p.m. & Sept. 9: 3 p.m. - Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia, $20 - $32; Sept. 19 - 20: 8 p.m. American Ballet, “Bruch Violin Concerto,” “Jabula,” “Gong,” and “Black Tuesday.”; Sept. 21: 8 p.m., Sept. 22: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sept. 23: 3 p.m. American Ballet, the full-length 19th Century “Giselle” $36 - $64; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Pacific Film Archive Aug. 31: 7 p.m. The Makioka Sisters, 9:35 p.m. A Woman’s Testament; Gen. Adm.. $7, The New PFA Theatre 2575 Bancroft Way 642-1412 

The Pyramid Alehouse Outdoor Cinema Sept. 1: Breakfast Club; Sept. 2: Pretty in Pink; Sept. 8: Dr. No (come as your favorite Bond character); Sept. 15: Harold and Maude; Sept. 22: Airplane; The Outdoor Cinema features cult classics projected on a large screen in the open-air brewery parking lot. $5 donation. Movies start at 7 p.m. 901 Gilman St. 206-682-8322 x237 www.pyramidbrew.com 

“BACA National Juried Exhibition: Works on Paper” Through Aug. 31: Wed. - Sun. Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“Debbie Moore’s Autobiographical Paintings” Through Sep. 30 at Good Vibrations. Portraits of the artist’s sensual explorations spanning 25 years and reflecting changing ways of intimacy and body play. 2504 San Pablo Avenue 848-1985 

“The Decade of Change: 1900 - 1910” chronicles the transformation of the city of Berkeley in this 10 year period. Thursday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Through September. Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Wheelchair accessible. 848-0181. Free.  

“Census 2000: Asian Pacific Islander Americans” Sept. 5 through Oct. 13, reception Sept. 6, 6 - 8 p.m.; Wed. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Asian Pacific Islander American artists in roughly the demographic proportions indicated by the recent census. Free. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland 763-9470  

“Ten Years Here” Exhibit celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Turn of the Century Fine Arts. Through Sept. 14, Sat & Sun 1-5 p.m. 2510 San Pablo Avenue 849-0950 

Women’s Cancer Resource Gallery “Catastrophe, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions” The photography of Jessamyn Lovell. Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; “TheArthur Wright and Gerald Parker” Reception Sept. 8, Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; Tues. - Thurs. 1 - 7 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m. 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 x307 www.wcrc.org 

“Squared Triangle” Through Oct. 5: noon - 6 p.m. A minimal art exhibit featuring three Bay Area artists working in different mediums while achieving the same elegant simplicity. The Crucible, 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511 www.thecrucible.com 

“Inside Editions” Sept. 6 - Oct. 12: Nine printmakers exhibit their work. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tue. - Fri. Free. Kala Art Insitute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977 kala@kala.org 

“50 Years of Photography in Japan 1951 - 2001” Sept. 5 through Nov. 5: An exhibition from The Yomiuri Shimbun, the world’s largest daily newspaper with a national morning circulation of 10,300,000. Photographs of work, love, community, culture and disasters of Japan as seen by Japanese news photographers. Opening Reception Sept. 5: 6 - 8 p.m. open to the public; Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. U.C. Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism, North Gate Hall, Hearst and Euclid. Free. 642-3383 

“Changing the World, Building New Lives: 1970’s photographs of Lesbians, Feminists, Union Women, Disability Activists and their Supporters” Sept. 15 through Nov. 17: An exhibit of black and white photographs by Oakland photographer Sept. 15, 5 - 8 p.m. Gallery Hours, Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St. Free. 644-1400 cathycade@mindspring.com 

“Musee des Hommages” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

Readings 

Lunch Poems Series Kick-Off Sept. 6: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. UC Berkeley campus figures from a wide variety of fields read and discuss their favorite poems. Free. In the Morrison Library in the Doe Library at UC Berkeley. 642-0137 www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems/ 

Spasso Sept. 3: Theme: dignity of labor; Sept. 10: Sharron Jones-Reid, Fruit of the Spirit Poets, Acoustic Musicians, Comedians, Rappers, Performance Artists, Writers All Welcome is located at 6021 College Ave. Free admission. 

South Branch Berkeley Public Library Sept. 1: 3 - 5 p.m. Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading. 1901 Russell St., 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Art and Soul Festival presents “Literature without Borders” Sept. 2 & 3: 2 - 5 p.m Sun. - Readings by the African American Shakespeare Company and others. Mon. - The prose, music, and poetry of emerging Bay Area authors, actors and musicians. Dalziel Building Lobby, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Free. 525-3948 

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival Sept. 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. An environmental poetry festival with a day of poetry, music and environmental activism featuring Gary Snyder, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Haas, Francisco X. Alarcon, and Earll Kingston as John Wesley Powell. Strawberry Creek Walk at 10 a.m. Oxford and Center. Festival at Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center Street. Free. 526-9105 www.poetryflash.org 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org  

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002. On View until Oct. 1 : “Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture.” “Sites Along the Nile: Rescuing Ancient Egypt.” “The Art of Research: Nelson Graburn and the Aesthetics of Inuit Sculpture.” “Tzintzuntzan, Mexico: Photographs by George Foster.” $2 general; $1 seniors; $.50 children age 17 and under; free on Thursdays. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Ave. 643-7648 or www.qal.berkeley.edu/~hearst/ 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Science in Toyland,” through Sept. 9. Exhibit uses toys to demonstrate scientific principles and to help develop children's thinking processes. Susan Cerny’s collection of over 200 tops from around the world. “Space Weather,” through Sept. 2. Learn about solar cycles, space weather, the cause of the Aurorae and recent discoveries made by leading astronomers. This interactive exhibit lets visitors access near real-time data from the Sun and space, view interactive videos and find out about a variety of solar activities. “Within the Human Brain,” ongoing. Visitors test their cranial nerves, play skeeball, master mazes, match musical tones and construct stories inside a simulated “rat cage” of learning experiments. “Saturday Night Stargazing,” First and third Saturdays each month. 8 - 10 p.m., LHS plaza. Space Weather Exhibit now - Sept. 2; now - Sept. 9 Science in Toyland; Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. 642-5132 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu  

Oakland Museum of California, Made in Oakland: The Furniture of Garry Knox Bennett, through Sept. 2; After the Storm: Bob Walker and the Art of Environmental Photography, through Sept. 16; Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks, through Sept. 23; Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m., Closed Monday and Tuesday. $6 general; $4 youths (6-17), seniors and students with ID. Free for Museum members and children 5 and under. Free admission the second Sunday of the month. 10th & Oak Streets, Oakland. 238-2200 www.museum.org 

The UC Berkeley Art Museum is closed for renovations until the fall. 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694. 

SAN FRANCISCO – On a cable car over Nob Hill the other day, I overheard a blonde, middle-age tourist whisper this confidence to her companion: “It sure ain’t Texas, I can tell you that much.” “No kidding,” mumbled the burly man in a Hawaiian shirt as he continued filming the city with his camcorder. 

The Texan couple’s sense of displacement stems, at least in part, from San Francisco’s unmistakable Oriental twang. For the tourist’s camcorder is sure to capture, amid the city’s Victorians and scenic hills, images that confirm San Francisco’s central place in the Pacific Century: Young Asian students spilling out of grammar schools, video stores displaying the latest Hong Kong thrillers, karaoke bars and sidewalk stalls filled with string beans, bokchoy, ginger, and bitter melons. 

San Francisco is now part of a statewide trend that has resulted in majority becoming minority, with minority continuing to surge and multiply. The latest census showed that whites have slowly shrunk to 41 percent of the population in San Francisco, becoming another minority in a city that has no majority. 

The city’s Asian population, on the other hand, has risen above the 30 percent mark. That is, one in three San Francisco residents has an Asian face. And within a few years, according to demographers, Asians will become San Francisco’s largest ethnic group, surpassing whites and joining Honolulu as the only major U.S. cities with an Asian majority. 

But what does it mean when the city’s compass is pointing increasingly toward the Pacific? For one thing, there is an enormous shift in the cultural landscape. What were once considered private and esoteric passions and practices have, like the bokchoy and string beans, spilled irrevocably into the public domain. 

Take Feng Shui. An architect friend went to Hong Kong recently to take Fengshui lessons. Why? Since many of his clients believe in this art of geomancy, he has to seriously study the Chi, the flow of energy as perceived by Taoist priests, in order to build suburban houses that suit many of his buyers. 

Or take yoga. Yoga studios are enjoying the highest attendance ever, and, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will gladly admit that I am an enthusiast. Every few days or so, I go to sweat and stretch with a diverse group of young practitioners. While the instructor tells us to “find your inner peace” and “breathe, breathe, breathe,” a picture of a smiling yogi from India smiles benevolently at us from above. 

And I breathe in, breathe out. 

But I am also thinking: How things have changed. Arriving as a Vietnamese refugee to San Francisco a quarter of a century ago, I grew up thinking that incense smoke, gongs and Confucian dramas were the private preoccupations of an Asian immigrant. For a while, I resigned myself to the idea that public and private cultures in America would never meet. 

But that old assumption has eroded, giving way to the forces of globalization, which, as far as the San Francisco Bay Area is concerned, involves, in large part, the rising influence of the Far East. 

After all, three decades ago, who would have thought that sushi, raw tuna, salmon, ginger and wasabi would become an indelible part of American taste? Or that Vietnamese fish sauce would be found down aisle three at Safeway? Or that HMOs would accept acupuncture as legitimate therapy? Or that Fengshui would become a household word? 

But perhaps the biggest result in the changing demography is this: An Asian teenager growing up in San Francisco these days does not see himself or herself as a minority in any sense of the word. If anything, they see themselves playing a central role. Since Asians already outnumber whites among the school-age population, the high school football star and homecoming queen are likely to be Asians. Asian students know, in fact, that the West is increasingly relying on the Far East for its sources of inspiration and entertainment, be it Thai food, Tibetan Buddhism or Hong Kong movies. 

Besides, one of the biggest museums here is the Asian Art Museum in Golden Gate Park. It’s among the largest in the Western world, with more than 11,000 artifacts from more than a dozen Asian countries. Two daily newspapers here are in Chinese. And the Examiner, a newspaper once owned by William Randolph Hearst, is now owned by an Asian family named Fang.  

A closer look at the Asian population in America will reveal that almost three out of four are immigrants. And while previous generations of Asian immigrants may have felt the pressure to assimilate, shaving the accent from their tongue, hiding their grandparents’ joss sticks, the reverse seems true with the latest newcomers. For the new Asian immigrants are not just bringing their ambition to America, they are also carrying their civilizations as well. 

And they come at a time when being ethnic is chic, and movement and communications back and forth across the Pacific Ocean are the norm. Also, Asia has in the last three decades begun to shrug off the weight of colonialism, and its inferiority complex to the West, and assert its cultural identity on a global stage. 

An Asian immigrant to the Bay Area does not feel pressure to give up his or her cultural heritage but, in fact, takes pride in keeping it. By sheer dent of living, this immigrant challenges the status quo and changes the Californian landscape. 

Writer Richard Rodriguez once observed that each new wave of immigrants brings changes as radical as Christopher Columbus did to the Indians. This seems quite true if you take into account what I saw one Sunday in Golden Gate Park: a group of middle-aged, white and black Americans doing Tai Chi on the grass, led by an old Chinese woman. Watching them, it occurred to me that the Far East has come very near San Francisco and is beginning to subvert the age old black-white dialogue about identity and race, infusing it with even more complex model -- one informed by a trans-Pacific sensibility. 

PNS Editor Andrew Lam (lam@pacificnews.org ) is a short story writer and journalist. 

Thursday, Aug. 30

Salsa Dance Classes 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Classes every Thursday with live percussionists, light refreshments, DJ playing Latin music. $10 or $15 for two. 

237-9874 

Landmarks Preservation  

Commission - Special Meeting Announcement 

9 a.m. - 10 a.m. 

Transaction Offices 

2065 Kittredge St., Suite A 

Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting. Structural Alteration permit for modifications to a city landmark: The Hinks/ Shattuck Hotel. 705-8111 

Lost in the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Jason Flesher, a Search and Rescue member for almost 20 years, will share his nine rules for surviving in the wilderness. Free. 

527-4140 

Kensington 55+ Activity Center 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Social Hall of Arlington Community Church 

52 Arlington Ave. 

Conversation, Apple II computer instruction, massage therapy, German conversation group, meditation and relaxation techniques, watercolor art class, tea and coffee. Special 11 a.m. program: Music, Hugh Kelly plays harmonica and leads sing-along. 526-9146 

Attic Conversions 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Seminar taught by architect Andus Brandt. $35. 525-7610 

Friday, Aug. 31

Start a Writing  

Group–and Keep It Going 

10 a.m. - noon 

North Branch Berkeley Public Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Dr. Kathy Briccetti will host a workshop on How to Start and Maintain a Writing Group. This free workshop requires pre-registration by Aug. 29. 

644-6850 www.infopeople.org/bpl/ 

James Joyce’s Ulysses 

Reading Group 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

All are welcome, plus the wonderful new tapes. 644-1172 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie on Emma Goldman followed by discussion. 549-1879 

ILGA Global Gay Summit  

– RejuveNation 

7 p.m. 

McGee Avenue Baptist Church 

1640 Stuart St. 

$7 663-3980 www.eastbaypride.org 

Saturday, Sept. 1

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. Sat., Sun. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club gives free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult. www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Sept. 2

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 654-6346 

LesBiGay Prospective Parenting Group 

10:30 a.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Adoption issues, new members welcome. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Monday, Sept. 3

Intensive Production Urban Gardening Training 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Santa Fe Bar & Grill 

1310 University Ave. 

Learn ways to intensively and organically grow produce for your own use or for an urban market garden. A hands-on training in the garden located behind the restaurant and potluck lunch at 1 p.m. 841-1110 

Potluck Picnic and Poetry 

noon - 4 p.m. 

Live Oak Park 

Walnut and Rose streets 

Bay Area Poets Coalition hosts a Labor Day potluck picnic followed by an open poetry reading. All are welcome to bring food and poetry to share. 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Rainbow Berkeley Brunch 

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Celebrate Berkeley’s LGBHTQI community at the 3rd annual Brunch. $10 donation. 548-9235 gspprng@tksvc.com 

East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy: A Labor Day Hearing 

11 a.m. 

North Gate Hall Room 105 

UC Berkeley campus 

East Bay’s crisis of working poverty to be investigated at the hearing. Featuring a panel and audience of East Bay political, religious, labor and community leaders, including: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and others. 893-7106  

Tuesday, Sept. 4

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will center on Friendships: deep, superficial, and what obligations? Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free. 527-5332 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.  

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited, call ahead for a reservation. 

644-6109 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. 

548-3333 

— compiled by Guy Poole 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday.  

655-8863 

ILGA Global Gay Summit - Pride Brunch 

11 a.m. 

Cafe de La Paz 

1600 Shattuck Ave. 

Pride Brunch, $10 - $15 donation. 663-3980 www.eastbaypride.org 

Wednesday, Sept. 5

Berkeley Communicator Toastmasters Club 

7:15 a.m. 

Vault Cafe 

3250 Adeline 

Learn to speak with confidence. Ongoing first and third Wednesdays each month. 527-2337 

Advisory Council Agenda 

10 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Arts Access, Commission on Aging. 644-6107 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/seniors/NBSC/NBSC.htm 

Birthday Party 

1:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

The center will host a birthday party for elderly people whose birthdays fall in Sept. Belly dancer Carrie Schwalbe will perform. 644-6107 

A Taste of the World: Cultural Understanding Through Food 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Enhance your cooking skills and experience the cuisines of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and Israel with Chef Daniel Herskovic. All classes are “hands on.” Class includes meal and cooking lesson. $25. Every Wednesday through Nov. 1. 655-8487 

Socratic Circle Discussions 

5 - 6 p.m. 

1309 Solano Ave. 

Cafe Eclectica 

Does your brain need a work out? All ages welcome. 527-2344 

Femme Rising 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Ongoing discussion on sex, gender identity, politics, nail polish, and other weighty matters. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Thursday, Sept. 6 

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

Butch Time 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

A discussion/ social/ support/ activity group for self-defined butches. Tonight: Butches grow older. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Sahara Sojourn: Following the Ancient Routes of the Salt Caravans of Niger 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Slide presentation from the heart of the Sahara along the ancient routes of the salt caravans of the Tuareg. Free. 527-4140 

Women’s Health Issues 

10:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Two nurses from the city will launch a series of talks on women’s health issues, beginning with the bladder. 644-6107 

Friday, Sept. 7 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie, Song of the Lark followed by discussion. 549-1879 

Reception for Jackie Y. Griffin 

Director of Library Services 

4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. 

City Council Chambers 

2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 2nd Floor 

Community Leader reception. RSVP by Aug. 31, 644-6095 x 10; yvg2@ci.berkeley.ca.us 

Saturday, Sept. 8 

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Civic Center Park 

Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center Street 

A free environmental poetry festival with a day of poetry, music and environmental activism featuring Gary Snyder, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Haas, Francisco X. Alarcon, and Earll Kingston as John Wesley Powell. Strawberry Creek Walk at 10 a.m. Oxford and Center. 526-9105 www.poetryflash.org 

Youth Arts Studio 

2 - 5 p.m. 

All Souls Episcopal Parish 

2220 Cedar St. 

Demonstration classes for after school program in visual arts, creative writing and dramatic arts for students ages 10 - 15. Free. 848-1755 

Luna Kids Dance Open House 

10 - 11 a.m. 

Grace North Church 

2138 Cedar 

Free open house and Parent/ Child classes. Designed to give families a shared dance experience that connects body, mind, and soul. Children will have a chance to play fun dance games, refreshments and register for Fall Session. 525-4339 www.lunakidsdnace.com 

Pack Right, Travel Smart 

1 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Eagle Creek Rep will give you tips on how to best organize your gear and clothing for your next adventure. Free. 527-4140 

Free Emergency Preparedness Class 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

812 Page St. 

Earthquake Retrofitting class. Free to anyone 18 or older, who lives or works in Berkeley. 644-8736 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire.oes.html 

Sunday, Sept. 9 

Solano Stroll 2001 

8 a.m. - 7 p.m. 

Solano Ave. 

27th Annual Berkeley / Albany Festival. 11 a.m. Parade; 8 a.m. pancake breakfast; merchants, entertainers, food, craft alley, game booths, silent auction, climbing wall, bicycle stunt show, ponyrides, giant slide, dunk tank, hot air balloon rides. Free. 527-5358 www.solanostroll.org 

Salsa Lesson and Dance Party 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Salsa lesson and dance party with professional instructors. Israeli food. Novices welcome and no partner required. $12. RSVP 237-9874 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346  

Hands-On Bicycle Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn drive train maintenance and chain repair from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike. Tools are provided. Free  

527-4140 

Monday, Sept. 10 

FTM Book and Discussion Group 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

The Lieutenant Nun: Transgenderism, Lesbian Desire, and Catalina DeErauso by Sherry M. Velasco. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

CubScout Information Night 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Epworth Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

A program that offers outdoor and leadership skills. First through Fifth Grade boys and parents. Free. 525-6058 

Jewish Genealogy: Finding Your Jewish Family History 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Learn basic techniques and resources to trace your family history. 848-0237 

Berkeley Folk Dancers 

7:45 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. 

Live Oak Park 

1301 Shattuck 

New Fall classes starts. Mondays through Oct. 29; $20 

http://geocities.com/bdancers 

Tuesday, Sept. 11 

Ecology of Mediterranean Climate Streams 

5:15 - 6:30 p.m. 

U.C. Berkeley  

212 O’Brien Hall 

Part of the California Colloquium on Water lecture series. Vincent H. Rash, Professor of Entomology and Parasitology will give a lecture including questions and answers. 642-2666 lvida@library.berkeley.edu 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. 

548-3333 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday.  

655-8863 

Dateline: Israel 2001: A middle East Update 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Informative and timely presentation on the current situation in the Middle East with Professor Ze’ev Brinner. 848-0237 

Nutritionist 

11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

City Nutritionist Natalie Krelle-Zepponi willspeak about farm-fresh foods. 644-6107 

Freedom From Tobacco: A Quit Smoking Class 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Free to Berkeley residents and employees. 644-6422 quitnow@ci.berkeley.ca.us 

Free Legal Workshop 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Women’s Cancer Resource Center 

3023 Shattuck Ave.  

“Too Sick to Work: Cash Assistance and Health Insurance if Cancer Prevents You from Working.” This workshop will provide information about State and Federal disability programs that provide cash benefits and health insurance to people unable to work due to a serious health condition. 601-4040 x303 

Wednesday, Sept. 12 

Women’s Group 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Will discuss “In the Name of Salome” by Julia Alvarez. New members welcome. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Fishbowl: Everything You always Wanted to Know About the Opposite Sex But Were Afraid to Ask 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Dating, relationships, religions, sexuality and values. An opportunity to ask anonymous questions in a confidential and supportive environment. Social and Single. $8. 848-0237 

Socratic Circle Discussions 

5 - 6 p.m. 

1309 Solano Ave. 

Cafe Eclectica 

Does your brain need a work out? All ages welcome. 527-2344 

A Taste of the World: Cultural Understanding Through Food 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Enhance your cooking skills and experience the cuisines of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and Israel with Chef Daniel Herskovic. All classes are “hands on.” Class includes meal and cooking lesson. $25. Every Wednesday through Nov. 1. 655-8487 

Thursday, Sept. 13 

Help Save the West Berkeley Shellmound 

2 p.m. 

U.S. Post Office Building 

201 - 13th St., Oakland 

Bring as many people as possible to make a statement before the Court in Oakland in defense of protective landmark status to the oldest dated mound site in the Bay Area. Landmark status is currently being contested by the industrial property owners who originated this lawsuit against the city of Berkeley. Time and place may change, call ahead to confirm: 841-8562  

Orangutans in the Wild: Travel in Borneo 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Professional photographer and writer Christine Krieg will give a slide show of her travels to the Tanjung Puting National Park on the south coast of Central Kalimantan. Free. 527-4140 

Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater 

1930 Allston Way 

Renowned Vietnamese poet, peace activist and Zen master Thich Nhat Hahn will give a public lecture. 433-9928 

Friday, Sept. 14 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: women’s humor. 549-1879 

Yiddish Conversation Group 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

644-6107 

Saturday, Sept. 15 

Bonfire of Reflection 

6:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Marina  

An evening of reflection by the fire. Come for Havdalah. Bring something to burn as a way of letting it go. Share your voice as we sing of seasons, remembering and change. Come with food, drink, and musical instruments. 

Follow signs to the Olympic Circle Sailing Club on Spinnaker Way. At the sign of the Sailing Club, turn left into the parking lot and seek a fish windsock. 848-0237 

The 2001 International Coastal Cleanup 

9 a.m. - noon 

Beaches and waterways 

Every year, volunteers of all ages spend three hours combing beaches and shorelines for trash that pollutes waters, harms marine life, hampers tourism, and poses health risks for beach-users. Over 850,000 volunteers hauled in more than 13.5 million pounds of trash last year. 1-800-262-BEACH www.oceanconservancy.org 

Free Emergency Preparedness Class 

9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

997 Cedar St. 

Basic Personal Preparedness. Free to anyone 18 or older, who lives or works in Berkeley. 644-8736 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire.oes.html 

Sunday, Sept. 16 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

K’tanim, A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families  

with Young Children - Birth to 3 Years Old 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Nurture your child’s joy of Jewish learning. Learn about Jewish ritual and celebration through family activities, songs, stories, crafts and discussion. $10 per session. 549-9447 x104 

Healing Into the New Year: An Experiential Workshop on the Psychological and Mystical Dimensions of the High Holidays 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Using Hassidic teachings and stories, music, and guided meditation, participants will be guided through an inner journey of healing and renewal in preparation for the High Holidays. 848-0237 www.lehrhaus.org 

Monday, Sept. 17 

Women’s Classics Book Group 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

A new group will discuss “The Golden Notebook” by Doris Lessing. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Tuesday, Sept. 18 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Berkeley Fibromyalgia Support Group 

12 - 2 p.m. every 3rd Tuesday 

Alta Bates Medical Center  

Maffly Auditorium - Herrick Campus 

2001 Dwight Way 

“Natural approaches to FM” with Dr. Julie Orman, Network Chiropractor. 

601-0550 www.arthritis.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday.  

655-8863 

Wednesday, Sept. 19 

Berkeley Communicator Toastmasters Club 

7:15 a.m. 

Vault Cafe 

3250 Adeline 

Learn to speak with confidence. Ongoing first and third Wednesdays each month. 527-2337 

Support Group for Family/Friends  

Caring for Older Adults 

4 - 5:30 p.m. - 3rd Wednesday of each month 

Alta Bates Medical Center  

Herrick Campus 

2001 Dwight Way 

3rd floor, Room 3369B (elevator - B) 

The group will focus on the needs of the older adult with serious medical problems, psychiatric illnesses, substance abuse, and their caregivers. Free. 802-1725 

Gay/ Bi Men’s Book Group 

7:30 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Will discuss “Bastard Out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Socratic Circle Discussions 

5 - 6 p.m. 

1309 Solano Ave. 

Cafe Eclectica 

Does your brain need a work out? All ages welcome. 527-2344 

A Taste of the World: Cultural Understanding Through Food 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Enhance your cooking skills and experience the cuisines of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and Israel with Chef Daniel Herskovic. All classes are “hands on.” Class includes meal and cooking lesson. $25. Every Wednesday through Nov. 1. 655-8487 

Thursday, Sept. 20  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month. 869-2547 

Women’s Consciousness Raising Group for the New Century 

7 p.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Cross-generational group and discussions of everything from race, age, class, and sexism to the various waves of feminism in the past.  

559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Friday, Sept. 21 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie, Beloved, followed by discussion of Toni Morrison. 549-1879 

Saturday, Sept. 22 

Free Emergency Preparedness Class 

9 a.m. - noon 

997 Cedar St. 

Disaster Mental Health. Free to anyone 18 or older, who lives or works in Berkeley. 644-8736 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire.oes.html 

Sunday, Sept. 23 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

Hands-On Bicycle Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn how to adjust your brakes from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike, tools are provided. Free. 527-4140 

Monday, Sept. 24 

Free Legal Workshop 

6 - 8 p.m. 

Women’s Cancer Resource Center 

3023 Shattuck Ave. 

Find out about the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disability Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Laws protect you from termination during an experience with cancer or other serious medical condition. 601-4040 x302 

Tuesday, Sept. 25 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. 

548-3333 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday.  

655-8863 

Wednesday, Sept. 26 

A Taste of the World: Cultural Understanding Through Food 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Enhance your cooking skills and experience the cuisines of Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco and Israel with Chef Daniel Herskovic. All classes are “hands on.” Class includes meal and cooking lesson. $25. Every Wednesday through Nov. 1. 655-8487 

Socratic Circle Discussions 

5 - 6 p.m. 

1309 Solano Ave. 

Cafe Eclectica 

Does your brain need a work out? All ages welcome. 527-2344 

Thursday, Sept. 27 

Friday, Sept. 28 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: feminist influence on children. Discussion of Judy Blum’s books for girls. 549-1879 

Saturday, Sept. 29 

Free Emergency Preparedness Class 

9 a.m. - noon 

997 Cedar St. 

Disaster First Aid. Free to anyone 18 or older, who lives or works in Berkeley. 644-8736 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire.oes.html 

Sunday, Sept. 30 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

Tuesday, Oct. 2 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday.  

655-8863 

Thursday, Oct. 4  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

Friday, Oct. 5 

Saturday, Oct. 6  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Oct. 7  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

Tuesday, Oct. 9 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 531-8664 

Thursday, Oct. 11 

Friday, Oct. 12 

Tuesday, Oct. 16 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664  

Thursday, Oct. 18  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month. 869-2547 

Friday, Oct. 19 

Sunday, Oct. 21 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

Tuesday, Oct. 23 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Thursday, Oct. 25 

Friday, Oct. 26 

Sunday, Oct. 28 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

Tuesday, Oct. 30 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Friday, Nov. 2 

Saturday, Nov. 3  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Nov. 4  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org 

Tuesday, Nov. 6 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Thursday, Nov. 8 

Tuesday, Nov. 13 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Friday, Nov. 16 

Tuesday, Nov. 20 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

644-6109 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Thursday, Nov. 22 

Tuesday, Nov. 27 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Saturday, Dec. 1  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Dec. 2 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Friday, Dec. 7 

Friday, Dec. 21 

ONGOING EVENTS 

Sundays 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346  

Mondays 

Tuesdays 

Easy Tilden Trails (?) 

9:30 a.m. 

Tilden Regional Park, in the parking lot that dead ends at the Little Farm 

Join a few seniors, the Tuesday Tilden Walkers, for a stroll around Jewel Lake and the Little Farm Area. Enjoy the beauty of the wildflowers, turtles, and warblers, and waterfowl. 

215-7672; members.home.co 

m/teachme99/tilden/index.html 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

531-8664 

Wednesdays  

Thursdays 

Free Anonymous HIV Testing (?) (?) 

5:15 - 7:15 p.m. 

Check in 5 - 7 p.m. 

University Health Services 

Tang Center  

2222 Bancroft Way 

Drop-in services and limited space is available.  

Call 642-7202  

Fridays 

Saturdays 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Poets Juan Sequeira and Wanna Thibideux Wright 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org August 4 & 5, September 1 & 2, October 6 & 7, November 3 & 4, and December 1&2 

The first day of Berkeley High School’s new student ID policy was far from a booming success, with many students not receiving their identification cards and most of the others disregarding the policy even though they had their tags. 

Last year’s policy said that all students simply had to have their student identification with them at all times. Students were rarely asked for their IDs for reasons other than dances or discount sports tickets. 

This year all students and faculty will be required to wear their identification cards where they can be easily seen. 

Although the policy won’t officially be in effect until Sept. 6, many students said they wouldn’t wear the new cards anyway. 

“The only people who are wearing them are the freshman who haven’t caught on yet,” said junior David Chernicoff. “The new system isn’t going to work because none of the students are going to respect it.” 

According to Principal Frank Lynch, the student ID policy was changed because there were a lot of problems caused last year by non-Berkeley High students who were on campus and couldn’t be identified as non-Berkeley High Students. 

“We found out that we had people on campus who didn’t belong here,” said Lynch, “and the only way we could stop that from happening would be if we could identify them immediately.” 

However, many students who do attend Berkeley High do not like the idea of keeping their ID cards visible. 

“No one is going to want to wear their IDs. They don’t match clothing,” said sophomore Rachaell Castro. “They’re ugly; they’re put on funky little chains; they’re inconvenient.” 

According to Lynch, students who don’t have their ID cards will be treated as non-students – they will be sent off campus and asked to go home to retrieve their identification. 

About 50 law enforcement officers and 24 cadets attended an all-day seminar and training at Oakland City Hall to become more familiar with issues related to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community. 

Organizers said the seminar’s goal was to train officers to better respond to LGBT issues including hate crimes, domestic violence and the transgender community. The training sessions were given by Bay Area law enforcement officers. 

The seminar was presented by the nonprofit East Bay Pride, and the Berkeley and Oakland police departments. The training sessions were held in conjunction with the 21st World Conference of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, which began in Oakland on Aug. 24 and ends Sept. 3. 

“We sent out 99 invitations to police and sheriffs’ departments in 10 Bay Area counties and got a good response,” said Berkeley Police Officer Kelly Gordon, who helped organize the voluntary seminar with Oakland Police Officer Becky Campbell.  

Gordon also helped develop the first-ever, mandatory LGBT training for the Berkeley Police Department.  

“Berkeley’s claim to fame is we were the first Police Department, probably in the world, to mandate LGBT sensitivity training for all department employees both sworn and non-sworn officers, from the chief to the meter maids,” she said.  

Gordon and Campbell were scheduled to be presented with the East Bay Pride Community Service Award at Wednesday’s Lighting of the Lake, an outdoor concert and Enlightenment Ceremony during which the three miles of white lights that surround Lake Merritt are changed to pink. 

Gordon said the three main goals of the seminar were to update police officers on new laws that pertain to the LGBT community, inspire officers to reflect on their respective departments to measure whether they are “gay friendly” and to humanize the LGBT community. 

“Most people either know and quite possibly love someone who is gay or lesbian,” she said, “and it’s important we better understand the LGBT community,” she said.  

In the morning, Sgt. Robin Heinemann, of the Concord Police Department, familiarized the officers with LGBT terms and then presented a cursory overview of LGBT history dating back to the 1940s.  

Heinemann talked about a variety of issues including the extermination of gays and lesbians in Nazi concentration camps, the forming of the first gay rights organization in the 1950s, the Stonewall riots in New York and the impact of AIDS on the LGBT community during the 1980s and 1990s. 

“It was during the stonewall raid that gay patrons said ‘uh uh, no more,’” and a riot ensued,” Heinemann told the audience. “And the anniversary of the riot, which occurred on June 29, 1969, is the date of gay pride parades in San Francisco, New York and several other cities.” 

In the afternoon the officers attended seminars on legal updates, transgender issues and procedures when responding to same-sex domestic violence calls. 

Peter King, founder and president of East Bay Pride, said the seminar would help the attendees be better police officers. 

“It’s an opportunity to work with the police to help them understand that all people should be treated fairly and with understanding and compassion,” he said.  

Oakland Police Officer Brad Miller said the seminar would help him with his duties as a patrol officer. 

“I will be better able to respond to same-sex domestic violence calls,” Miller said. “For the first time I learned of the Pacific Center in Berkeley, a community resource I can now refer victims of domestic violence to,” 

The Pacific Center for Human Growth is a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of community services to the LGBT community. 

Lt. Richard Ridgeway, a 19-year veteran of the San Francisco Sheriffs’ Department, said the most amazing thing about the LGBT seminar was the fact that there was a LGBT seminar. 

“I know that 10 years ago the idea of this seminar would have been laughed at,” Ridgeway said. “This is just excellent.”

By Daniela Mohor 

Daily Planet staff 

As fall approaches, the demand for childcare services traditionally increases in Berkeley. But this year, more people than ever are trying to place their children – and once again childcare providers wish the state were more supportive. 

At this time, dozens of Berkeley families are waiting to hear that slots have opened up for their children in one or another preschool.  

Twenty names are on the Berkeley Hills Nursery School’s waiting list, two dozen are on the Dandelion Cooperative Nursery School list, and 10 families are hoping their kids can get into New School, just to mention a few examples. 

“The demand is higher because we had several places closing last year,” said Suzanne Hagen, Director of New School, a non-profit institution offering preschool and after-school day care in North Berkeley. “So the spaces are fewer for children of age 2 to 5 than there has been in the past.” 

In the span of one year, Berkeley lost four childcare providers, including Dragonfly Preschool, which closed its doors for  

financial reasons last February and Grizzly Peak Childcare. This resulted in the loss of 66 preschool slots and 30 infant-toddler slots. 

However, the shortage of childcare services is not new to Berkeley. It has been an ongoing problem for years that affects the state as a whole. 

“It is a challenge statewide,” said Diane Hirshberg, a researcher at the Policy Analysis for California Education, a think tank based at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. “You’ve got to create spaces that parents can afford.”  

Affordability is indeed the most critical issue, above all in the Bay Area where the cost of living is so high, experts said. 

“When we started in 1973, child care was a family’s first expense,” said Betty Cohen, director of Bananas, a childcare referral and advocacy agency in Oakland. “Now it’s the second after housing.” 

Like Cohen and many childcare service providers in Berkeley, Bananas program director Arlyce Currie believes that the state and federal governments should assign additional funds to early education programs. 

“Parents are paying as much as they can. We need a third payer in order to create more child care and to support the system,” she said. “We need spaces, people to work in them, and we need good quality or training. Right now we’re just struggling to keep up.”  

According to Alameda County childcare coordinator Angie Garling, the county currently has $150 million a year for child care subsidies. It also has a stipend program, the Child Development Corps, funded by Proposition 10 or tobacco-tax money. The program provides a stipend to childcare workers. The purpose is to retain qualified professionals in the field. But these initiatives, said Garling, are not enough. 

“Across the county we have thousands of children and families who are waiting to receive subsidized child care but cannot receive it because there is not enough money,” said Garling. “The funding increased significantly when welfare reform occurred and it has slightly increased over the past five years, but it’s not even close to serve all the families who need it.” 

Garling also said she worried about governor Gray Davis’ intention to reform the state’s subsidized child care programs. 

“One of the possibilities,” she said, “is reducing the amount of money that providers get paid for subsidized care, which would severely threaten the quality of care that children will receive.”  

To Hirshberg, addressing the shortage of child care services is a matter of time. While public schools have existed for more than a century, she said, the United States started realizing the importance of early childhood education for school readiness only three decades ago. It may therefore take some time until this realization is reflected in decision-making. 

One lawmaker stuffed spinach in his milk carton. Another recalled “barfaroni” with distaste. A third learned to love liver. 

Recalling their own school food experiences, Assembly Education Committee members Wednesday approved a bill that attempts to limit junk food served to elementary and middle school students. 

The bill by Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Commerce, originally would have established nutritional standards for all food served in elementary, middle and high schools. However, strong opposition led Escutia to change the bill so it only affects elementary and middle schools. 

Beginning in 2004, the bill would allow elementary schools to sell only full meals at breakfast and lunch, because backers say children are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and less likely to drink sodas. 

It would also require snacks sold in elementary schools during breaks to meet nutritional standards, such as no more than 35 percent of calories from fat or 35 percent of weight in sugar. 

Carbonated beverages could not be sold at middle schools until after lunch. 

The bill would also increase state funds for meals for poor children from 13 cents to 26 cents, also beginning in 2004. High schools that chose to participate in the bill’s restrictions could also get the funding increase. 

Supporters said recent studies have shown that more than 30 percent of California youth are overweight. 

“It’s tough to teach kids when they’re not eating right,” said Bill Collins of the California Teachers Association. 

“Parents need to count on the state not to subject their elementary and middle school kids to junk foods,” said Michael Butler of the California State Parent Teachers Association. 

Schools, however, have had to rely on selling “a la carte” items beyond meals to raise money, said Gary Conover of the School Food Service Association. The state reimbursement has stayed the same since 1980 and should be 45 cents a meal, he said. 

And Bob Achermann of the California Nevada Soft Drink Association opposed the restrictions on soda sales in middle schools. 

“We don’t think it’s fair to demonize soft drinks in this debate,” he said. “Soft drinks can be part of a balanced diet.” 

Assemblyman Mark Wyland, R-Escondido, said he usually prefers letting local school districts make such decisions, but nutrition in schools is “out of control.” 

Schools serve pizza and hot dogs day after day, he said, recalling his own school days of being forced to eat spinach and hiding it in his milk cartons. 

Assemblyman Tom Calderon, D-Montebello, said districts need to serve nutritious yet appetizing meals that teachers will eat to set an example. 

“They’re still serving that ’barfaroni’ they served when I was in school,” he said. 

Assemblywoman Lynne Leach, R-Walnut Creek, opposed the bill, saying districts should be allowed to make the decisions themselves. 

Leach, who didn’t vote on the bill, recalled a talented cafeteria manager in her school days who turned her into “a liver lover in high school.” 

The bill was sent to the Appropriations Committee by an 11-0 vote. 

On the Net: 

Read the bill, SB19, at http://www.sen.ca.gov 

Read about school nutrition programs at http://www.cde.ca.gov/nsd

SAN FRANCISCO — Nine unions representing workers at Safeway and Albertson’s stores in Northern California are in negotiations with the companies regarding new contracts – with a possible strike looming in the background. 

The supermarkets have put up signs advertising for help in the event of a strike, which could involve as many as 22,000 workers in stores from Fresno and San Francisco to the Oregon border. 

“We are preparing for a possible labor dispute,” said Debra Lambert, Safeway’s national spokeswoman. “We’ve posted signs in stores for temporary replacement workers.” 

United Food and Commercial Workers’ officials said they are requesting wage increases of a minimum of $1 an hour to offset the area’s high housing costs, as well as the maintenance of pension and health benefits. 

“Economics are a huge part of the negotiations,” said union spokesman Ron Lind.  

“The stores have been touting a recent contract agreement which had a 50-cent (per hour) wage increase. That type of increase isn’t going to be enough.” 

The high cost of living in the Bay Area and other parts of Northern California is a major concern for the workers, according to union consultant Phil Tucker. 

The union also is requesting that some part-time jobs be turned into full-time jobs, Lind said. 

Lambert would not discuss details of a possible contract proposal, but said prior settlements, such as the 50-cent agreement recently reached with Local 588, do “typically set precedent.” 

In 1997, the Local 588 contract was ratified by Bay Area unions, Lambert said.  

Northern California unions did not ratify the most recent Local 588 contract, which was agreed upon in July. 

Current contracts expire Sept. 1, but Tucker said the deadline could be extended indefinitely. depending on when the companies present proposals and when the unions vote on them. 

“Negotiations are ongoing,” said Lind. “A strike this weekend is unlikely. But we are prepared if the stores’ proposals are unsatisfactory.” 

SACRAMENTO — Democrats proposed new districts Wednesday that would probably allow them to maintain their overwhelming majority in the state Assembly for the next decade. 

But the plan would also strengthen the GOP’s hold on its seats. 

“What you are going to find is this cements in place essentially the (results) of the 2000 election,” said Tony Quinn, a political analyst and former Republican consultant on redistricting. “It reduces considerably any competitive districts. 

“It certainly is an incumbent plan. It has a lot of bipartisan characteristics.” 

The Assembly plan is the first of a series of redistricting proposals that lawmakers are expected to unveil this week. Plans for the state Senate and California’s congressional delegation could be released Thursday. 

Lawmakers are required to draw new districts for the Legislature and the congressional delegation every 10 years to reflect population changes revealed by the federal census. 

Democrats currently hold 50 of the Assembly’s 80 seats, and the plan released Wednesday would create 50 districts with Democratic pluralities or majorities, including an open seat covering Imperial County and part of Riverside County that was recast to favor Democrats. 

“I think we will retain 50 seats in the immediate future,” said the chairman of the Assembly elections committee, Democrat John Longville of Rialto. “It’s certainly possible to forecast (beyond that). Whether those predictions are accurate is something else again.” 

Democrats could conceivably win 51 seats next year if they can take the new Riverside-Imperial district and retain a San Diego-area district that is split almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats. 

That San Diego seat is now held by Democrat Howard Wayne, who is barred from running for re-election by term limits. Assembly Minority Leader Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, said Republicans were still analyzing the plans, but Longville predicted that most Republican lawmakers would end up supporting it. 

“We attempted to take into account the expressed concerns and wishes of members of the Republican Party,” he said. 

Democrats would need the votes of at least four Republicans to pass the plan with a two-thirds majority and prevent the GOP from asking voters to overturn it. 

Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, said the plan was still open for negotiations, calling it a “work in progress” that could be modified after the Assembly holds hearings on it next week. 

Kathay Feng, an attorney at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles, said groups representing Asians and Pacific Islanders might challenge the plan in court if there are no changes. 

She said the plan was a “good first step” but that some districts in the San Francisco and San Diego areas should be altered to avoid splitting up voters of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage. 

“We are willing to work with the Assembly before this map goes to votes to see how many of our concerns are addressed...,” she said. “If there’s absolutely no change, there are some significant communities that will be forced to consider legal action.” 

Amadis Velez, redistricting coordinator for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said his group also might go to court if there are not changes in the plan bolstering the political clout of Latino communities. 

Groups representing Hispanics and Asians and Pacific Islanders have proposed their own plans for redrawing Assembly districts. 

Democrats control redistricting this year because of their big majorities in the state Senate and Assembly and the presence of Democrat Gray Davis in the governor’s office, and they could use that clout to try to draw districts that increase their numbers in Sacramento and Washington. 

But they said that tactic could backfire by spreading loyal Democratic voters too thinly and increasing chances of Republican gains. 

Longville said many districts had to be changed significantly because of uneven growth in the state in the last decade and because of requirements of federal law to maintain minority voting power. 

Under the Democrats’ plan the biggest change apparently would take place in Southern California and involve the 64th District, now a Republican stronghold in western Riverside County represented by Assemblyman Rod Pacheco, R-Riverside, who is termed out next year. 

The Democrats want to move that district to the south and east to include all of Imperial County and the most of eastern Riverside County, including Palm Springs and Indio. 

Democrats would make up just over 47 percent and Republicans about 35 percent of the new district’s voters. In the current district, Republicans have nearly a 46 percent-to-38-percent edge. 

Nearly 35 percent of the new district’s voters would be Hispanics. 

———— 

On the Net: Read the plan at www.assembly.ca.gov/erca 

Patients rate hospital stays statewide 

WALNUT CREEK — A survey of more than 21,000 patients, who had spent at least one night in one of 113 California hospitals from August through October 2000, measured their perceptions of how well caretakers handled their pain, education and emotional support. 

Of the 17 East Bay’s hospitals in the survey, only ValleyCare in the Tri Valley and the San Ramon medical center scored above the survey’s average. 

Kaiser hospitals in Hayward, Oakland and Walnut Creek, as well as Contra Costa County Regional Medical Center in Martinez, scored below average. Alta Bates Medical Center, Eden Medical Center, Kaiser’s Richmond hospital, St. Rose Hospital, Summit Medical Center, Sutter Delta Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Northern California Health Care System received average scores. 

Only the opinions of surgery, maternity, and general medical patients were assessed. The results are to be posted on the Internet at www.chcj.org. 

The survey was conducted by the California Institute for Health Systems Performance and the California HealthCare Foundation. Hospitals participating in the survey did so voluntarily and represented about 30 percent of California’s acute care hospitals. 

Residents want more time to speak out on cleanup 

CONCORD — Residents asked the Environmental Protection Agency and the Navy on Tuesday night to allow more time for public comment on a federal pact signed recently by the two agencies for the cleanup of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. 

The agreement sets up a regulatory framework and enforceable deadlines for the Superfund cleanup of the 13,000-acre site. By law, the pact can only be finalized when a 30-day public comment period ends. 

Some of the work includes capping an old landfill, cleaning ground water and removing contaminated soil. The property’s soil, sediments and surface water are contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals such as zinc, arsenic, copper and lead, according to the EPA. The weapons station was designated a Superfund site in 1994. 

EPA officials said they would grant a 30-day extension on the public comment period – originally scheduled to end Sept. 10 – but added that such an action only delays the EPA’s ability to light a fire under the Navy’s cleanup efforts. 

The Navy has been cleaning up the site since 1980. The work has cost $49 million, according to the Navy. About $10 million to $15 million more is needed to complete and monitor future cleanup of the site. 

School board members recalled in vote 

EMERYVILLE — Residents voted Tuesday night to recall three school board members who presided over the debt-ridden district before the state stepped in this month. 

Two leaders of the recall initiative, Art Hoff and Forrest Gee, as well as social worker Valerie Patton, will replace Emery Unified School trustees Barbara Krzywicki, Gladys Vance and Donald Dorsey, according to the Alameda County registrar of voters. 

Although the results will not be certified until Tuesday, each of the trustees was recalled by at least 85 percent of the voters who turned out. 

The newly elected trustees will serve in an advisory role to a state-appointed administrator overseeing the state’s $2.3 million bailout of the district. 

With only 900 students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade, Emery Unified is one of the smallest school districts in California.

WASHINGTON — At least 40,000 federal tax returns and payments involving $810 million were either lost or destroyed at a Pittsburgh processing facility. 

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Wednesday a previous estimate of 1,800 lost or destroyed payments was “only a small fraction” of the actual total now acknowledged by the Internal Revenue Service. 

“It may be six months or more before the scope and magnitude of this problem is fully known,” Baucus said. 

The tax returns and payments were sent by taxpayers in New England and parts of New York this year to a Pittsburgh lockbox run by Mellon Bank under a contract with the federal government. Earlier this month, Mellon lost its contract to run the facility following what the bank’s chairman called “gross disregard” and failure to follow company policy by some employees. 

The IRS and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the incident, which Baucus said appears to be confined to the Pittsburgh facility. IRS officials declined comment Wednesday on the probe but said they are working with taxpayers to address any problems. 

It remains a mystery exactly what happened to the returns and payments or whether the incident was deliberate or a mistake. All that investigators or Mellon Bank will say publicly is that it does not appear to be a case of identity theft, stolen checks or disclosure of sensitive taxpayer information. 

Mellon’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Martin McGuinn, said in an e-mail that “several” bank employees were fired after an internal probe found taxpayer submissions that were “hidden, and in some cases, destroyed.”  

Loss of the contract resulted in layoffs of 106 other employees. 

The investigation began after taxpayers began contacting the IRS when their payment checks had failed to clear. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the agency has now received 22,000 complaints of uncashed checks. 

Affected taxpayers submitted tax returns and payments this year to the Pittsburgh lockbox from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and parts of New York outside of New York City and Nassau, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester counties. 

Also potentially affected were taxpayers from those areas who submitted estimated tax payments and those who made payments along with a request for an extension to file their returns. 

Baucus said “an untold number” of taxpayers likely aren’t even aware that their returns and checks were lost or destroyed. He recommended they review bank records to determine if any check sent to the IRS failed to clear. 

The IRS has already set up a special unit to handle these cases. Taxpayers who suspect they may be affected should call the agency at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS is asking them to stop payment on the uncashed check and send a new return and check to the IRS service center in Andover, Mass. 

The IRS will treat a replacement check and return as filed on time from affected taxpayers, meaning they won’t owe any penalties or interest. Taxpayers can also get reimbursed by the IRS for any bank fees by filing IRS Form 8546. ———— 

On the Net: 

IRS: http://www.irs.gov ———— 

Affected taxpayers can contact the IRS directly by mail: 

Internal Revenue Service 

Post Office Box 9936 

Andover, MA 01810 

Attn: Nancy Green, Stop 321 

WASHINGTON — Help is coming for the Tumbling Creek cavesnail, relegated to a single cave in Missouri; for Washington state’s showy stickseed herb; for the Mississippi gopher frog, found only in the state’s Harrison County; and for the remaining dozens of pygmy rabbits. 

The Interior Department said Wednesday it has negotiated a deal to avert a legal challenge from three conservation groups by speeding up federal protection for those four species and 25 other rare creatures and plants. 

Under the agreement, Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service will review three species immediately – the cavesnail, pygmy rabbit and the Carson wandering skipper butterfly, found only in California and Nevada – as emergency candidates for the endangered and threatened species lists. 

The agency said it will make final decisions on 14 other species and map critical habitats for another eight species, including the Gila chub in New Mexico and Arizona, and for four freshwater snails in New Mexico. The fate of the Gila chub, a small fish, already is the subject of a lawsuit. 

In addition, the agency promised to issue findings within a year on four other species that groups have petitioned to have listed as endangered or threatened and their critical habitats defined. 

“I hope this can be a model for future agreements,” said Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Her department includes the Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees protection programs for inland fish and land species. 

The preliminary agreement would head off expected lawsuits by the Center for Biological Diversity, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project and the California Native Plant Society. 

A final settlement must be approved by a federal judge acting on advice from Interior and Justice Department officials. 

According to Fish and Wildlife, all the species for which final listing decisions are promised face significant threats. Others among them are: 

• Ohlone tiger beetle of California, found only in Santa Cruz County and thinning due to urban growth and nonnative vegetation. 

• Spalding’s catchfly herb of Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, a carnation dwindling because of habitat loss and trampling by livestock. 

• San Diego ambrosia of southern California, a perennial threatened by highway construction and trampling by horses and humans. 

—Mountain yellow-legged frog of southern California, mysteriously disappearing from 99 percent of its former mountain habitat possibly due to predation by trout introduced to the area or by air pollution. 

—Coastal cutthroat trout of Washington and Oregon, nearly extinct in two rivers and facing habitat loss, hatcheries and overharvesting. 

—Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew of California, of which only about 40 have been sighted, near Bakersfield; it is endangered by agriculture, altered stream use and possible selenium poisoning. 

—Chiricahua leopard frog of Arizona and New Mexico, populations few and scattered and threatened by loss of wetlands and disease. 

—Scaleshell mussel of Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, found only in 13 streams along the Mississippi River basin and facing poor water quality, sand and gravel mining, reservoir construction and river dredging. 

—Vermilion darter of Alabama, a small fish just 3 inches long and surviving in just 7.2 miles of creeks in Jefferson County due to altered stream use and pollutants. 

—Golden sedge of North Carolina, limited to two counties and endangered by industrial development, mining and agriculture. 

—Holmgren milk-vetch and Shivwits milk-vetch herbs of Utah and Arizona, found in just two counties and disturbed by urban growth, off-road vehicles and livestock grazing. 

——— 

On the Net: Fish and Wildlife endangered species program: http://endangered.fws.gov 

Center for Biological Diversity: http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/ 

NEW YORK — Investors sent stocks tumbling Wednesday for a third straight session on a government report showing the economy eked out only a slim gain in the second quarter, its weakest performance in eight years. 

While the economy fared better than expected – some analysts had feared it would be flat or even decline – investors weren’t comforted. After weeks of dismal earnings and negative forecasts from the nation’s biggest companies, Wall Street took the report on the gross domestic product as just another reason not to buy. 

“There is no faith that things are about to improve anytime soon,” said Richard E. Cripps, chief market strategist for Legg Mason of Baltimore. 

Investors were clearly disappointed by the Commerce Department’s report that the GDP – the country’s total output of goods and services – inched up just 0.2 percent in the April-June quarter. 

The resulting selling was spread across the market as frustrated investors stayed away from stocks on worries that business would remain weak for the immediate future. 

Caterpillar fell 97 cents to $51.17, while Gap slipped 60 cents to $19.70 after Banc of America Securities reduced its rating on the retailing stock. 

Pessimistic outlooks from two technology bellwethers intensified the market’s bad mood. 

Chip stocks slipped after Advanced Micro Devices warned that revenue in the current quarter would likely fall about 15 percent from the last quarter, compared to previous projections of 10 to 15 percent losses. AMD fell 66 cents to $14.20, a 4 percent loss. 

Networking stock Nortel Networks fell 25 cents to $6.52 after WorldCom’s announced that it would cut its 2002 capital spending to $6 billion. WorldCom, which fell 53 cents to $12.44, is one of Nortel’s most important customers. 

Also Wednesday, Microsoft lost 45 cents to $60.29 on news that the Justice Department had asked the new judge in its antitrust case against the software company to discuss a schedule for moving the case along. 

There were a few modest winners. Among them was Gateway, which inched up 19 cents to $8.79 after announcing a restructuring plan late Tuesday.  

The computer maker plans to cut 25 percent of its global work force and shutter operations in Asia. 

Women’s clothing retailer Talbots also advanced, rising 89 cents to $37.94. 

But analysts said Wednesday’s session mostly reflected the ambivalence that has come to characterize Wall Street amid unending indications of weak business and a struggling economy. 

All three indexes remain well below where they started 2001: the Dow down 6 percent, the Nasdaq off 25 percent and the S&P off 13 percent.  

And the market’s attempts to rally have fizzled as investors, unconvinced that tough times are over, have cashed in their profits after every advance.  

After months of being burned by stocks that can’t seem to hold their gains, many investors are simply staying out of the market. 

Two announcements after the market closed gave them little incentive to act otherwise. Fiber optics manufacturer Corning said it was cutting 1,000 jobs because of a seen a sudden slowing in orders across all fiber product lines. The stock was down 78 cents, or 5.3 percent, to finish at $13.82 in extended trading, after a regular session loss of 79 cents. 

And Sun Microsystems said it is unlikely it will break even in the first quarter because of soft business. The maker of computer storage and other products dropped 83 cents in the Nasdaq’s late session to finish at $12.60, after a 13-cent decline during the day. 

“We still have just no real reasons for people to be aggressive here,” said Todd Clark, co-head of trading at WR Hambrecht, who also attributed some of the slack to low volume ahead of the Labor Day holiday. 

Declining issues outnumbered advancers nearly 4 to 3 on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 1.17 billion shares, compared with 1.18 billion Tuesday. 

The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of smaller company stocks, fell 0.86 to 473.34. 

Overseas markets were mixed Wednesday. Japan’s Nikkei stock average finished the day down 1.9 percent. Germany’s DAX index was down nearly 0.1 percent, France’s CAC-40 rose 0.4 percent, and Britain’s FT-SE 100 declined 0.3 percent. 

——— 

On the Net: 

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com 

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com 

WASHINGTON — The nation’s economy inched ahead in the spring at the slowest pace in eight years. Still, the fact that there was any growth at all fueled hope that the economy may be ready to begin climbing again – without tipping into recession. 

Gross domestic product – the country’s total output of goods and services – grew at an annual rate of 0.2 percent in the April-June quarter, according to revised figures released by the Commerce Department Wednesday. That’s a lower estimate than the 0.7 percent growth rate the government reported a month ago. 

Even so, the second-quarter performance was better than most analysts were forecasting. Some predicted the economy would stall, while others thought it would slip into reverse, possibly signaling the start of the first recession in the United States in 11 years.  

A recession is usually defined as two consecutive quarters of shrinking GDP. 

“We stayed on the right side of the ledger,” said Bill Cheney, chief economist at John Hancock Financial Services. “I think ... that we’re more likely to find our way back to safer ground than we are to tumble over the edge.” 

But on Wall Street, the slim gain didn’t cheer investors. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 131.13 points to close at 10,090.90. 

Many analysts believe the second quarter will prove to have been the point that the economy showed the greatest danger of dipping into a recession. They predict the economy will rebound to around a 2 percent growth rate in the current quarter and to around 3 percent to 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter. 

Private economists and the Bush administration are counting on nearly $40 billion in tax rebate checks and the aggressive credit easing by the Federal Reserve to lift the economy to higher growth rates in the second half of this year. 

“I’m optimistic — there are some good signs out there,” said Commerce Secretary Don Evans, adding that consumer spending and the housing market have held up during the yearlong slowdown. 

To fight off a possible downturn, the Fed has slashed interest rates seven times this year, with the most recent cut coming last week. Economists believe the Fed might reduce rates again in October. 

One of the main reasons for the lower estimate of second-quarter GDP is that companies did a better job liquidating their inventories than previously estimated. Inventory reduction was valued at $38.4 billion in the second quarter, the biggest decline since the first quarter of 1983. That subtracted 0.4 percentage point from GDP. 

While inventory reduction subtracts from GDP, economists say excess inventories must be whittled before companies can ramp up production, something that would bode well for economic growth down the road. 

“Most of the required inventory liquidation is now behind us, and as a result, the economy now is in a better position to recover over the next several months,” said Lynn Reaser, chief economist at Banc of America Capital Management. 

Another reason for the downward revision was that the trade deficit was slightly worse because exports fell more than previously thought, reducing second quarter GDP by 0.3 percent percentage point. 

Still, much of the overall weakness in the second quarter continued to come from companies cutting back sharply in their investment in plants and equipment in the face of weak sales and plunging profits. 

U.S. companies reduced such investment in the second quarter at a rate of 14.6 percent, the worst showing since the second quarter of 1980. The new estimate was weaker than the 13.6 percent rate of decline previously estimated. 

The reduction in spending on computers and software in the second quarter was an even sharper rate of 15.1 percent, versus the 14.5 percent rate of decline initially thought. 

Spending on new factories and office buildings fell at rate of 13.4 percent. 

Wednesday’s report also showed that after-tax profits of U.S. corporations fell by 2 percent in the second quarter, an improvement over the 7.8 percent decline in the first quarter. 

Consumers were the primary force keeping the country out of recession. Consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity, rose at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the second quarter, stronger than the 2.1 percent rate originally estimated. 

Also helping was a 5.8 percent rate of increase in residential construction, a sector that has remained strong, helped by falling interest rates. 

While second-quarter growth remained positive, the rate of expansion was the weakest since a 0.1 percent rate of decline in the first quarter of 1993, and it trailed the 1.3 percent growth rate posted in the first three months of the year. 

“The economy stayed out of negative territory, and, if anything, that should have some positive psychological impact for consumers and businesses,” said Ken Mayland of ClearView Economics. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Commerce Department GDP report: http://www.bea.doc.gov/bea/dn1.htm 

Nearly 200 people gathered outside KPFA Tuesday morning to show support for “Democracy Now!,” the popular news magazine that recently reheated the crisis within the Pacifica group of listener-sponsored radio stations. 

Listeners from Marin, Oakland, and San Francisco joined Berkeley residents in front of the station at 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way to protest the Pacifica Foundation’s recent decision to stop airing the show. 

“We’re pissed, no shit. We want Democracy now back,” the crowd shouted repeatedly, while cars passed the station honking in support. 

“Democracy Now!” is one of the most popular shows aired by Pacifica, the organization that holds the license to five community radio stations across the country, including KPFA. But in recent weeks, tensions have escalated between the show’s host Amy Goodman and Utrice Leid, the interim station manager at the New York Pacifica station WBAI.  

This has resulted in WBAI’s refusal to air Goodman’s new shows, which are produced outside the New York Pacifica  

station. These shows are broadcast only on KPFA, while reruns are played on the other Pacifica stations. Leid and others have allegedly harassed Goodman and her staff to the point that they decided to produce the show from the alternative studio.  

Pacifica has reportedly suspended the “Democracy Now!” team without pay. Goodman’s union, which first told her to go back to producing the show at the station, now supports her decision to work away from WBAI. 

To the people gathered outside KPFA, the refusal to air new “Democracy Now!” programs is just the latest expression of Pacifica’s ongoing efforts to move community radio towards mainstream programming. 

Tuesday speakers invited the public to fight to protect the network and to participate in a phone bank. By the end of the morning 55 people had used to station’s phones to call Pacifica Board members, to complain about the way Goodman is being treated, and eventually to ask them to resign. 

“We have to do this together,” KPFA reporter Dennis Bernstein told the protesters. “We’re fighting back and we’re going to expand the support for Amy.” 

Bernstein and many others strongly criticized WBAI management for verbally attacking the “Democracy Now!” team. One person, Bernstein contended, threatened physical harm to one of the show’s producers. 

Neither Pacifica executive director Bessie Wash, nor board members were available for comment Tuesday afternoon. However, Deborah Hayes, a spokesperson for Pacifica, said that the Foundation was currently investigating the allegations. “Once the investigation is completed, we will take the appropriate action,” she said. “We look forward to the return of Amy Goodman and her staff.” 

During the demonstration, numerous local activists and community leaders praised Goodman for her work, her ability to ask challenging questions and go deeply into controversial issues. 

“We all look at Amy as a model,” said Linda Rudman, Women’s Desk Director at the National Radio Project, a nonprofit organization that produces public affairs programming. “There are a lot of activist journalists but there aren’t enough of us who are willing to force ourselves to be sharper about our analysis.” 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington praised “Democracy Now!” for being an alternative to mainstream news shows. He also complimented the community for standing against Pacifica. If a similar situation took place in a corporate network, he said, the owners of the station would fire the person who had taken the most popular show off the air. Listeners, he said, are therefore right to ask Pacifica’s board members to resign. 

“I am delighted that you, who are the owner of this corporation, are doing what any responsible corporate agent would do,” he said. 

Similar demonstrations were held Tuesday in different parts of the nation Tuesday, including Houston, New York, and Washington, D.C. 

Wednesday, Aug. 29 

Section 8 Resident Council 

6 - 8 p.m. 

East Bay Community Law Center 

3122 Shattuck Ave. 

First Annual Speak Up. You can effect change, but you must speak up. Refreshments provided. 548-4040 

Bay Area Eco-Crones 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Discussion, ritual, project planning, education. Call for location and directions: 874-4935. 

Socratic Circle Discussions 

5 - 6 p.m. 

1309 Solano Ave. 

Cafe Eclectica 

Does your brain need a workout? All ages welcome. 527-2344 

Thursday, Aug. 30 

Salsa Dance Classes 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Classes every Thursday with live percussionists, light refreshments, DJ playing Latin music. $10 or $15 for two. 

237-9874 

Lost in the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Jason Flesher, a Search and Rescue member for almost 20 years, will share his nine rules for surviving in the wilderness. Free. 

527-4140 

Kensington 55+ Activity Center 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Social Hall of Arlington Community Church 

52 Arlington Ave. 

Conversation, Apple II computer instruction, massage therapy, German conversation group, meditation and relaxation techniques, watercolor art class, tea and coffee. Special 11 a.m. program: Music, Hugh Kelly plays harmonica and leads sing-along. 526-9146 

Attic Conversions 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Seminar taught by architect Andus Brandt. $35. 525-7610 

Friday, Aug. 31 

Start a Writing Group 

–and Keep It Going 

10 a.m. - noon 

North Branch Berkeley Public Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Dr. Kathy Briccetti will host a workshop on How to Start and Maintain a Writing Group. This free workshop requires pre-registration by Aug. 29. 

644-6850 www.infopeople.org/bpl/ 

James Joyce’s Ulysses 

Reading Group 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

All are welcome, plus the wonderful new tapes. 644-1172 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie on Emma Goldman followed by discussion. 549-1879 

ILGA Global Gay Summit - RejuveNation 

7 p.m. 

McGee Avenue Baptist Church 

1640 Stuart St. 

$7 663-3980 www.eastbaypride.org 

Saturday, Sept. 1  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult. www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Sept. 2  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club gives free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

LesBiGay Prospective  

Parenting Group 

10:30 a.m. 

Boadecia’s Books 

398 Colusa Ave. 

Adoption issues, new members welcome. 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Monday, Sept. 3 

Intensive Production Urban Gardening Training 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Santa Fe Bar & Grill 

1310 University Ave. 

Learn ways to intensively and organically grow produce for your own use or for an urban market garden. A hands-on training in the garden located behind the restaurant and potluck lunch at 1 p.m. Free community training, meets the first Monday each month. 841-1110 

Potluck Picnic and Poetry 

noon - 4 p.m. 

Live Oak Park 

Walnut and Rose streets 

Bay Area Poets Coalition hosts a Labor Day potluck picnic followed by an open poetry reading. All are welcome to bring food and poetry to share. 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Rainbow Berkeley Brunch 

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Celebrate Berkeley’s LGBHTQI community at the 3rd Annual Brunch. $10 donation. 548-9235 gspprng@tksvc.com 

East Bay Alliance for a  

Sustainable Economy:  

A Labor Day Hearing 

11 a.m. 

North Gate Hall Room 105 

University of California at Berkeley 

East Bay’s crisis of working poverty to be investigated at the hearing. Featuring a panel and audience of East Bay political, religious, labor and community leaders, including: Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and others. 893-7106  

Tuesday, Sept. 4 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will center on Friendships: deep, superficial, and what obligations? Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free. 527-5332 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m.  

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited, call ahead for a reservation. 

644-6109 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. 

548-3333 

— compiled by Guy Poole 

Setting the record straight on Open Paw 

Editor: 

It was with some irritation that I read your reporter’s lead in to my comment about the Open Paw program in the Berkeley Daily Planet (8/27). I did not say that I had serious concerns about the training techniques of Open Paw. What I said was that I was concerned that their approach excludes any other volunteering opportunities (with dogs) at the Berkeley Animal Shelter. That it was ‘their way or no way.’ 

Open Paw is a great concept - but it does not run the volunteer program at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, and its attempts to tell Director Kate O’ Connor and Volunteer Co-ordinator Amelia Funghi how to do their jobs is what irks many people. 

That the Berkeley Humane Society fully endorses Open Paw is no surprise – their volunteer program has been ineffective for years and given the condition of its facility, and the current state of its hospital – closed – it must be nice to have something to feel good about. 

Open Paw is a fantastic piece in an overall approach to many issues facing Berkeley’s municipal animal shelter including: 

• How to cope with a dog population which is usually 60 -70 percent pitbull or pitbull mix. The organization Bad Rap has begun a program at the Berkeley Shelter, training volunteers how to work with and assess which pitbulls are adoptable and which may have to be euthanised. 

• How to co-ordinate a foster program whereby dogs, pups and underage kittens with minor health or behaviour problems can go into temporary homes to bring them to full health prior to adoption. 

• How to breathe new life into a shelter which until recently was run by the Police Department with enforcement, not adoption as its primary focus. 

• How to build a cohesive program of volunteer involvement for animals other than dogs (far more cats than dogs are killed in municipal shelters). 

• How to persuade the public and politicians alike that Berkeley requires a new facility where the drains aren’t blocked by dog excrement, where bird droppings don’t create a health hazard to employees, where the building environment encourages adoptions and where the kennels are designed so that dogs are less likely to get into arguments with their neighbors. 

Wouldn’t it be great if Berkeley Humane would enter into a fully co-operative agreement with the Berkeley Shelter along the lines of the SF SPCA and SF animal control? Under new director Lisa Fine, hopefully this will happen. 

The possibilities at the Humane are limitless – their hospital could become the city vet, offering low cost spay/neuter to all needy citizens, entering into a contract with the city to provide medical care for shelter animals (currently shelter animals are spayed and neutered at low cost vets in Contra Costa county), and they could offer reduced rates for nonprofit animal organizations. At the moment our shelter does not even have the capability of providing rabies vaccines for dogs. 

Open Paw, whether it likes it or not, is caught up in the politics of the Berkeley Humane Society and the problems this venerable institution faces as it attempts to reform itself. 

At the Berkeley Animal Shelter the euthanasia rate has plummeted in recent months because of increased volunteer participation, ‘rescue’ agreements with organizations like Oakland SPCA, Pets In Need, Bad Rap, and Home At Last Rescue and because of director O’ Connor’s resistance to kill except where necessary. 

For Open Paw’s supporters to imply that the Berkeley Shelter is part of a ‘resistance to change’ is self serving and inaccurate. 

Jill Posener 

Paws For Thought 

Landmark Gaia right now 

Editor:  

I am amused by the controversy over the Gaia Building. It is easily the most attractive building in the neighborhood at this point, drawing admiring glances from all who pass by.  

Clearly, in a few years everyone will be proud that this building will help define downtown Berkeley, so why not just declare it a landmark now? Why wait until it is endangered?  

And that way the preservationists could take a positive position for once, and applaud a thoughtful addition to the urban landscape, instead of quibbling.  

Sarah Stadler 

Berkeley 

Accolades for Patrick Kennedy 

Editor: 

I read Michael Katz’s letter regarding the Gaia building and I just had to reply. I believe that we owe a debt of gratitude to Patrick Kennedy and his crew for the construction of this magnificent building.  

The beauty of this building is that it is not just wonderful to look at, but it is constructed in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.  

It has a steel beam foundation that really should be a requirement for any new building in this earthquake area.  

The management has provided 3 electric cars for the use of the tenants that live there, thus reducing the need for people to own and use traditional vehicles. They have installed stacked garages and have utilized the street level space for a café and theater.  

Furthermore, Mr. Kennedy has doubled the required occupancy of low income, disabled or elderly tenants to 20 percent. I personally know of his offer to help seniors who had faced evictions by assuring them of a place in the Gaia building and of his help to those who found themselves in distressing circumstances. Where would Mr. Katz place these people who were without homes? 

The Gaia building, in my eyes, is a magnificent building that combines beauty, quality, innovation, and care.  

I am proud to see it in the center of Berkeley and I hope it will act as a beacon to other builders to rise to such quality. 

Marcia Poole 

Berkeley 

Tribune editorial appealed to very worst in us 

Editor: 

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to the editor of the Oakland Tribune. 

The Tribune Editorial attacking Berkeley City Councilman Mr. Kriss Worthington appalls me, and the timing of the attack appalls me. The editorial writer may be frightened of someone or something, but it couldn’t be Kriss or Kriss’ work in Berkeley. If the Editorial writer ever met or worked with Kriss, I doubt if the harsh words could have issued. 

This brand of journalism that attempts to destroy public figures by appealing to our worst emotions rather than the record and reality, strikes me as essentially foreign to what this country is all about, and strikes me as despicable. 

Terry Cochrell 

Berkeley 

Albatross Pub Sept. 1: David Widelock Jazz Trio; Sept. 5: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 6: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 11: Mad & Eddie Duran Jazz Duo; Sept. 13: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 19: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 20: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 22: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet; Sept. 27: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Free. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473 albatrosspub@mindspring.com 

Anna’s Aug. 29: Bob Schoen Jazz Quartet; Aug. 30: Christy Dana Quartet; Aug. 31: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Free. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 1801 University Ave. 849-2662  

Ashkenaz Aug. 29: 8 p.m. Earl White Oldtime Band, Bluegrass Intentions, plus clogging lessons. $10, Kids under 12 Free; Aug. 30: 9 p.m. Samite, Forward Kwenda, $10; Aug. 31: 9:30 p.m. Wawa and the Oneness Kingdom, The Calypsonians, $10; 1317 San Pablo Ave. 525-5054 www.ashkenaz.com  

Café Eclectica Sept. 8: 8 p.m. SF Improv, Free. 1309 Solano Ave. 326-6124 www.sfimprov.com 

Café de la Paz Poetry Nitro, performance showcase with open mike. Sept. 10: Lucy Lang Day; Sept. 17: Marc Hofstadter (book party); Sept. 24: Jim Watson-Gove; All shows free, 7 - 10 p.m. 

Cal Performances Sept. 6: 8 p.m. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, $20 - $32; Sept. 16: 7 p.m. Tania Libertad, $18 - $30; Sept. 30: 7 p.m. Kronos Quartet, David Barron, $30; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; Sept. 3: 2 - 8 p.m. Big West Coast Harmonica Bash, afternoon benefit for Red Archibald. $10 donation; Doors open at 8 p.m. unless noted. 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Sept. 1: Ancient Future, $16.50; Sept. 7: Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin, $16.50; Sept. 8: The House Jacks, $17.50; Sept. 9: Erika Luckett, $16.50; Sept. 11: Don Walser, Slaid Cleaves, $16.50; Sept. 12: Andy Irvine, $17.50; Sept. 13: Piper Heisig birthday revue and fund raiser w/ Kate Brislin, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Carlos Reyes, and Radim Zenkl, $16.50; Sept. 14: Ray Wylie Hubbard, $16.50; Sept. 15: Vocolot, $17.50; All shows start at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

Jupiter Aug. 29: Secession; Aug. 30: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; Aug. 31: Realistic CD Release Party; Sept. 4: Beth Waters Band; Sept. 5: Presidents Breakfast; Sept. 6 Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 7: Crater; Sept. 10: Ben Graves Trio; Sept. 11: Len Patterson Trio; Sept. 12: Bitches Brew; Sept. 13: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 14: Carlos Washington & Giant People Ensemble; Sept. 15: Kooken & Hoomen; Sept. 18: The Goodbye Flowers; Sept. 19: New Monsoon; Sept. 20: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 21: Netwerk: Electric; Sept. 22: New Garde Philosophers; All music starts at 8:00 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave. 843-7625 www.jupiterbeer.com  

La Peña Cultural Center Sept. 11 & 12: 8 p.m. Irakere, $22; In the Cafe, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 www.lapena.org 

Alice Arts Sept. 8: 7:30 p.m. Benefit concert for freedom of U.S. political prisoners featuring Fred Ho (solo) and The Eddie Gale Unit. $12; 1428 Alice, Oakland, 539-0050 www.thejerichomovement.com/teardownthewalls 

St. John’s Presbyterian Church Sept. 15: George Brooks and Shweta Jhaveri with Uttam Chakraborty on drums. $18 - $25; 2727 College Ave. 843-9600 www.harmoniventures.com 

“Rose Street Cabaret” Aug. 30 & 31st: 7 - 11 p.m. East Bay Pride and Rose Street House of Music present "Rose Street Cabaret" as part of "Pride Park." Aug. 30: Velvet Janes, Duval-Speck, Littlebird, Melissa Dougherty, Christie McCarthy, Bern, Irina Rivkin, and Helen Chaya; Aug. 31: Shelley Doty, Katharine Chase of Kindness, Laura Chandler, Making Waves, Green, Kristi Martel, and Jill Knight. Unitarian Church of Oakland, Starr King Room, 1685 14th Street. rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com 

“Song of the Lakitan Bird” Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Kulintang Dance Theatre communicates the beauty and refinement of the Southern Philippine culture. $10 Adults, $5 Children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Goddesses” Aug. 31, 8 p.m.; Sept. 1, 8 p.m.; Sept. 2, 3 p.m.; A play by Dorotea Reyna. A poetic drama concerning one mortal woman’s struggle to control the six extraordinary goddesses in her psyche. Based on, Goddesses in Everywoman by Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen. $10. Live Oak Theater, Live Oak Community Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 883-0536 rlcouture@earthlink.net 

Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. All shows 8 p.m. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s and Gabrial Pascal’s “Pygmalion.” Directed by James Schlader, choreographed by Harriet Schlader, under the musical direction of Mark Hanson. $15 - $27. 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. 531-9597 www.woodminster.com 

“Hecho En Califas Chicano-Latino Teatro Festival” Sept. 6 - 9, 14 - 15; 8 p.m. Original members of El Teatro de La Esperanza. Chicano Theater began out of the need to express the realities of the fields and barrios of Aztlán in the Chicano-Latino community. $10 - $20 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, 849-2568, www.lapena.org  

“Winesburg, Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque” Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, Wed. - Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players and Word For Word team up for a production of Sherwood Anderson’s deceptively simple tale of neglected souls who fade into the shadows around us. $22, Wednesdays are “Pay What You Can.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. 655-0813 www.shotgunplayers.org 

Squelched.com Presents “Jim Short” Sept. 11: 8 p.m. Jim Short is an Australian expatriate who grew up in Texas. Also appearing: Rob Cantrell, Luke Filose and Sean Keane. Blake’s on Telegraph, 2367 Telegraph Ave. 848-0886 show@squelched.com 

“36 Views” Sept. 12 through Oct. 28: Tues. 8 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Thu., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Sat., Sun. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Written by Naomi Lizuka, Directed by Mark Wing-Davey. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. 239-2252 www.acteva.com/go/havefun 

Cal Performances Sept. 8: 8 p.m. & Sept. 9: 3 p.m. - Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia, $20 - $32; Sept. 19 - 20: 8 p.m. American Ballet, “Bruch Violin Concerto,” “Jabula,” “Gong,” and “Black Tuesday.”; Sept. 21: 8 p.m., Sept. 22: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sept. 23: 3 p.m. American Ballet, the full-length 19th Century “Giselle” $36 - $64; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Pacific Film Archive Aug. 29: (free screenings) 7:30 p.m. The Horror of Party Beach, 9:15 p.m. The Crater Lake Monster; Aug. 31: 7 p.m. The Makioka Sisters, 9:35 p.m. A Woman’s Testament; Gen. Adm.. $7, The New PFA Theatre 2575 Bancroft Way 642-1412 

The Pyramid Alehouse Outdoor Cinema Sept. 1: Breakfast Club; Sept. 2: Pretty in Pink; Sept. 8: Dr. No (come as your favorite Bond character); Sept. 15: Harold and Maude; Sept. 22: Airplane; The Outdoor Cinema features cult classics projected on a large screen in the open-air brewery parking lot. $5 donation. Movies start at 7 p.m. 901 Gilman St. 206-682-8322 x237 www.pyramidbrew.com 

“BACA National Juried Exhibition: Works on Paper” Through Aug. 31: Wed. - Sun. Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“Debbie Moore’s Autobiographical Paintings” Through Sep. 30 at Good Vibrations. Portraits of the artist’s sensual explorations spanning 25 years and reflecting changing ways of intimacy and body play. 2504 San Pablo Avenue 848-1985 

“The Decade of Change: 1900 - 1910” chronicles the transformation of the city of Berkeley in this 10 year period. Thursday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Through September. Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Wheelchair accessible. 848-0181. Free.  

“Census 2000: Asian Pacific Islander Americans” Sept. 5 through Oct. 13, reception Sept. 6, 6 - 8 p.m.; Wed. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Asian Pacific Islander American artists in roughly the demographic proportions indicated by the recent census. Free. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland 763-9470  

“Ten Years Here” Exhibit celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Turn of the Century Fine Arts. Through Sept. 14, Sat & Sun 1-5 p.m. 2510 San Pablo Avenue 849-0950 

“The Political Art of: Diego Marcial Rios” Through Sept. 20, Addison Street Window Gallery, 2018 Addison St. hdrios@msn.com 

Women’s Cancer Resource Gallery “Catastrophe, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions” The photography of Jessamyn Lovell. Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; “TheArthur Wright and Gerald Parker” Reception Sept. 8, Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; Tues. - Thurs. 1 - 7 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m. 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 x307 www.wcrc.org 

“Squared Triangle” Through Oct. 5: noon - 6 p.m. A minimal art exhibit featuring three Bay Area artists working in different mediums while achieving the same elegant simplicity. The Crucible, 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511 www.thecrucible.com 

“Inside Editions” Sept. 6 - Oct. 12: Nine printmakers exhibit their work. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tue. - Fri. Free. Kala Art Insitute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977 kala@kala.org 

“50 Years of Photography in Japan 1951 - 2001” Sept. 5 through Nov. 5: An exhibition from The Yomiuri Shimbun, the world’s largest daily newspaper with a national morning circulation of 10,300,000. Photographs of work, love, community, culture and disasters of Japan as seen by Japanese news photographers. Opening Reception Sept. 5: 6 - 8 p.m. open to the public; Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. U.C. Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism, North Gate Hall, Hearst and Euclid. Free. 642-3383 

“Changing the World, Building New Lives: 1970’s photographs of Lesbians, Feminists, Union Women, Disability Activists and their Supporters” Sept. 15 through Nov. 17: An exhibit of black and white photographs by Oakland photographer Cathy Cade, who captured the interrelationships of the different struggles for justice and social change. Opening reception Sept. 15, 5 - 8 p.m. Gallery Hours, Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St. Free. 644-1400 cathycade@mindspring.com 

“Musee des Hommages” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

Readings 

Black Oak Books Aug. 29: Sylvia Brownrigg reads from her new novel, “Pages For You”; All shows at 7:30 p.m. free of charge. 1491 Shattuck Avenue 486-0698 

Cody’s Books - Poetry Flash Aug. 29: The New Now Millennium Anthology Reading with Editor H. D. Moe; All are a $2 donation. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-0837 

The Humanist Fellowship Hall  

Aug. 27: 7:30 p.m. “The Ghosts Have Cameras” by H. D. Moe. A reading performance. Free. 390 27th St. 528-8713 

Lunch Poems Series Kick-Off Sept. 6: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. UC Berkeley campus figures from a wide variety of fields read and discuss their favorite poems. Free. In the Morrison Library in the Doe Library at UC Berkeley. 642-0137 www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems/ 

Spasso Sept. 3: Theme: dignity of labor; Sept. 10: Sharron Jones-Reid, Fruit of the Spirit Poets, Acoustic Musicians, Comedians, Rappers, Performance Artists, Writers All Welcome is located at 6021 College Ave. Free admission. 

South Branch Berkeley Public Library Sept. 1: 3 - 5 p.m. Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading. 1901 Russell St., 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Art and Soul Festival presents “Literature without Borders” Sept. 2 & 3: 2 - 5 p.m Sun. - Readings by the African American Shakespeare Company and others. Mon. - The prose, music, and poetry of emerging Bay Area authors, actors and musicians. Dalziel Building Lobby, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland. Free. 525-3948 

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival Sept. 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. An environmental poetry festival with a day of poetry, music and environmental activism featuring Gary Snyder, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Haas, Francisco X. Alarcon, and Earll Kingston as John Wesley Powell. Strawberry Creek Walk at 10 a.m. Oxford and Center. Festival at Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center Street. Free. 526-9105 www.poetryflash.org 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org  

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002. On View until Oct. 1 : “Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture.” “Sites Along the Nile: Rescuing Ancient Egypt.” “The Art of Research: Nelson Graburn and the Aesthetics of Inuit Sculpture.” “Tzintzuntzan, Mexico: Photographs by George Foster.” $2 general; $1 seniors; $.50 children age 17 and under; free on Thursdays. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Ave. 643-7648 or www.qal.berkeley.edu/~hearst/ 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Science in Toyland,” through Sept. 9. Exhibit uses toys to demonstrate scientific principles and to help develop children's thinking processes. Susan Cerny’s collection of over 200 tops from around the world. “Space Weather,” through Sept. 2. Learn about solar cycles, space weather, the cause of the Aurorae and recent discoveries made by leading astronomers. This interactive exhibit lets visitors access near real-time data from the Sun and space, view interactive videos and find out about a variety of solar activities. “Within the Human Brain,” ongoing. Visitors test their cranial nerves, play skeeball, master mazes, match musical tones and construct stories inside a simulated “rat cage” of learning experiments. “Saturday Night Stargazing,” First and third Saturdays each month. 8 - 10 p.m., LHS plaza. Space Weather Exhibit now - Sept. 2; now - Sept. 9 Science in Toyland; Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. 642-5132 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. “How Big Is the Universe?” Aug. 1 through Aug. 24. Learn how to determine the distance of celestial objects, one of the purposes of the Hubble Space Telescope. Daily, 2:15 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5; free children age 2 and younger. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu  

Oakland Museum of California, Made in Oakland: The Furniture of Garry Knox Bennett, through Sept. 2; After the Storm: Bob Walker and the Art of Environmental Photography, through Sept. 16; Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks, through Sept. 23; Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m., Closed Monday and Tuesday. $6 general; $4 youths (6-17), seniors and students with ID. Free for Museum members and children 5 and under. Free admission the second Sunday of the month. 10th & Oak Streets, Oakland. 238-2200 www.museum.org 

The UC Berkeley Art Museum is closed for renovations until the fall. 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694. 

In a special budget workshop Monday night, Alameda County education officials told the Berkeley school board that its 2001-2002 budget will probably not be approved by the state due to a number of errors and inconsistencies. 

“We wanted to make sure that the board understands the seriousness of (the situation),” said Mike Lenahan, county associate superintendent for business services, in an interview Tuesday. 

Lenahan said the budget information provided to the county by the district is so limited and problematic that it is impossible to tell if the district is bankrupt, breaking even or running a surplus. 

Under the state education code, the county office of education will give the Berkeley school district until Sept. 8 to revise its budget before making a recommendation to the state on whether or not the budget should be approved. But Berkeley Superintendent of Schools Michele Lawrence said Tuesday that the deadline simply cannot be met because of continuing problems with the district’s budget information. 

Lawrence said the state is unlikely to approve the district’s budget, which would trigger the intervention of a panel of experts appointed by State Superintendent of Schools Delaine Easton. But far from representing the end of the world, Lawrence said such intervention is something the Berkeley school board and community should welcome. 

“If this is going to happen, then it’s certainly good that it’s happening now, so we can really do an in-depth analysis and not continue to limp along with speculations,” Lawrence said. 

Depending on who you ask, the problems with the district’s budget information are traced to a history of poor record keeping, turn over in the business office, continuing computer woes, or a deadly combination of all three. 

In the Berkeley school district, Y2K struck with a vengeance, even if it wasn’t at the stroke of midnight New Year’s Eve. When district staff told a computer to tally expenditures carried over from the 1999-2000 budget to the 2000-2001 budget last summer, the computer couldn’t process the code references to the year 2000. The error resulted in a horrendous jumbling of data that the district’s business staff have been struggling to untangle ever since.  

Board of Education President Terry Doran said Monday that consultants working with the district to fix the problem say it could be another full year before it’s completely resolved.  

Part of the problem, according to Jerry Kurr, one of the consultants helping the district, is that the district lost its in-house software engineer around the time of the Y2K problem. This put them in the position of having to hire a contractor to come in to study the software system and, in essence, tell them how it worked. 

The situation has been further complicated this month by the departure of district Associate Superintendent for Support Services Cathy James. After 11 years in the district, James was the reigning expert on district finances. 

Superintendent Lawrence told the school board Monday that one of the things the district will need to do to avoid a repeat of its current situation is to institute cross-training so that critical expertise about district operations never comes to reside with one individual alone. Otherwise, Lawrence said, “that person wins the lottery and leaves and you’re up the creek.” 

Lawrence said part of the short-term solution to the district’s budgeting woes will also be getting the manpower in place in the business office to do data entry and other work needed to re-assemble reliable accounting information.  

In the long term, however, Lawrence said the district must move to put policies and systems in place that help clean up the whole budgeting process. 

The district must do more to keep accurate attendance records, Lawrence said Monday, since its state education funding is based on attendance statistics. 

“That’s our bread and butter, and we’re pretty lax in that area,” Lawrence said. 

Another problem, said Lawrence, is a tendency the Berkeley school board has to overspend, in part because it reacts to political arguments for program funding on a case-by-case basis. Instead, Lawrence said, the board needs to create clear, top-down priorities that guide how the district’s money is spent from year to year. 

In a remark that drew applause from the public gathered at Monday’s budget meeting, Lawrence said the district needs to create more accountability for employees, both to boost moral and to make sure that important work is done on a timely basis. 

“There are far too many people who aren’t celebrated for their achievement, nor are they documented for their deficiencies,” Lawrence said. 

Lawrence said she will see that every district employee is given an evaluation by the end of this year, unless prohibited by contract. 

Although some were dismayed by the condition of the school district budget, as revealed at the Monday night meeting, both the school board and members of the public seemed ready to accept Lawrence’s argument that the situation should be viewed as an opportunity. 

Board Director John Selawsky said Monday that he’s been worried about the quality of the district’s budget since he came on the board almost a year ago. “It’s troubled me to no end. And I am really, really gratified that it’s being addressed here,” Selawsky said. 

“I believe we can get this resolved, and we will get this resolved,” he added. 

Board president Terry Doran said he was surprised by the seriousness of the district’s budget problems, as they were presented Monday. 

“From my point of view, it’s a tremendous amount to digest,” he said. “It’s alarming.” 

Doran said the board has been struggling with problems in the district’s budget office for over a year and he had hoped to see the situation resolved by now. 

“I really believe that, as a board, we did respond to many problems that were brought to us by our staff,” Doran said after the meeting. “It’s just that we, in hindsight, were overly optimistic.” 

According to the county officials, there is a possibility that the district will discover in the months ahead, after pulling together more accurate budget information, that it is several million dollars in the hole. If that’s the case, the school board could end this year much as it began it – figuring out how to make program cuts to balance the books. 

This was a gloomy prospect for many in the audience Monday. 

“If it turns out our balance was lower that we thought when we made all those hard cuts (in the spring), then we have to make more hard cuts,” said Nancy Riddle, a member of a citizen advisory committee on the district’s budget and the chief financial officer for Monster Cable Products. 

“We’re not going to find out about them until pretty far in the year, and that’s pretty scary,” Riddle added. 

Touting the resurrection of the commercial nuclear energy industry, Dr. Denis Beller, told a group of 20 people Monday night at UC Berkeley that nuclear power is now safe, clean and affordable.  

Beller, a nuclear engineer and a member of the technical staff at Los Alamos National Laboratory, told the group, comprised mostly of nuclear engineering students, that recent technological advances, safety features and the commitment of the Bush Administration will result in an increase of nuclear-generated energy during the next century. 

The presentation was organized by UC Berkeley engineering student Lance Kim, a member of the Berkeley Student Section of the American Nuclear Society. 

Beller’s claims were challenged by several anti-nuclear activists including retired nuclear engineer Ernest Goitein, who did not attend the presentation, but said on Tuesday that there have been very few advances in nuclear safety in the last 10 years and the industry still has not been able to solve its “biggest problem,” which is how to dispose of the radioactive waste produced by nuclear plants. 

Much of Beller’s hour-long presentation, entitled “The Need For Nuclear Power,” named after an essay he co-wrote with Richard Rhodes for Foreign Affairs magazine, focused on the resurgence of the commercial nuclear industry. 

“There are many people who still think commercial nuclear production died at Three Mile Island and it’s not true,” Beller said. “A nuclear renaissance has begun in the United States.” 

Three Mile Island in Harrisburg, Pa. was the site of a nuclear power plant accident in March, 1979. During the accident, 700,000 gallons of radioactive cooling water escaped from the reactor system of which 400,000 gallons spilled into the Susquehanna River.  

In addition, an unknown amount of radioactive gasses escaped into the atmosphere, some radioactive material passed through four-foot thick walls and a large bubble of hydrogen formed in the reactive core. Had the bubble ignited, the resulting explosion would have cast large quantities of radioactive material for hundreds of miles. 

The result of the accident was increased public concern and heavier regulation of the nuclear power industry. After the accident, Beller said many anti-nuclear organizations thought the end of the nuclear power industry was at hand. 

But Beller said in his essay that despite the claims of anti-nuclear organizations, the industry is alive and well citing that many nations now rely on nuclear power for a significant percentage of their energy. According to his essay, France generates 75 percent of it energy from nuclear power, Belgium 58 percent, Sweden 47 percent and the United State comes in at 20 percent. 

Beller also criticized other energy sources as environmentally harmful or unreliable. Coal is the worst offender spewing 100 million tons of coal ash, which contains arsenic, mercury and chromium, into the atmosphere each year in the United States alone, he said. 

He also criticized renewable sources of energy such as wind farms and photovoltaic solar technologies as expensive and unreliable. 

“Billions have been spent in research and development and there has been very little benefit,” Beller said. “Solar and wind generated power still represents less than one-half a percent of energy worldwide.” 

In contrast Beller said that the process of producing nuclear energy through nuclear fission does not require the release of any toxins into the atmosphere.  

Goitein, who was awarded the Conservationist of the Year Award by the Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation, argued that Beller glossed over the environmental hazards of mining uranium, which he said has caused birth defects and cancer among the Navaho Indians who lived near uranium mines in Arizona and New Mexico.  

But Goitein said major problem Beller didn’t properly address is the problem of what to do with the 72,100 cubic feet of radioactive waste the 103 active nuclear energy plants produce each year.  

Currently most radioactive waste is stored on-site at nuclear plants. To remedy this situation, the U.S Government has spent $6 billion to create a 70,000-metric-ton nuclear waste depository in Yucca Mountain about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The facility has not yet been completed and the government has yet to certify the safety of the depository. 

Goitein said the project experienced a setback when Chorine 36, a radioactive isotope that has been present in rain water since atmospheric nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s and 1960s, was found in the tunnels, which means it is not a sealed environment. He said once the facility is in use it will likely be invaded by water which will become contaminated and seep into the groundwater. 

“The discovery of Chorine 36 means that the Yucca Mountain facility is not a hermetically sealed enclosure as the government would like us to believe,” he said. 

Audience members had mixed reactions to Beller’s presentation. Chemistry major Param Dhillon said she was impressed with the information. “I didn’t know much about the subject before,” she said. “I thought he presented a balanced and convincing argument.” 

Berkeley resident Pam Sihvola said the presentation was unbalanced an pro-nuclear. “I thought it was pure nuclear propaganda,” she said. “It did not go into any type of detail about the decades of negative environmental and health impacts related to nuclear power production.” 

Nuclear engineering and chemistry major Charles Yeamans said the presentation contained some good information but thought Beller glossed over a lot of information that should have been presented in more detail. 

“At one point he used the word ‘cavalier,’ which I thought described some of the presentation.” 

After a summer of overnight sailing adventures and educational voyages on the San Francisco Bay, the 11 graduates from the Pegasus Lifeskills Project celebrated the completion of their program with a barbecue Friday night at the Berkeley Marina. 

The final ceremony was held at The Nautilus Institute, which organized the program along with the Berkeley Boosters and the Shorebird Nature Center. Now in its sixth year, the program is dedicated to exposing local low-income youth to the art of sailing and the science of the San Francisco Bay. 

Peter Hayes, Director of the institute, grew up sailing in Australia and has been behind the project since if first began. 

“There are a lot of skills you have to learn in order to survive out on the water,” said Hayes. “You have to learn discipline, teamwork and many other physical and mental skills.” 

Over the summer, students participated in five over-night voyages and learned to sail on The Pegasus, the 51-foot sail boat belonging to The Nautilus Institute. The boat comfortably seats seven and carries a full complement of the latest safety features. The Pegasus crew takes great pride in the boat’s reputation as one of the safest on the Bay. “We take the fact these parents are entrusting their kids’ lives to us very very very seriously. We are sort of safety crazy,” said Mark Caplan, captain and safety officer of the Pegasus. “We consider ourselves one of the safest boats on the Bay because everyone is in a lifejacket, everyone is on a tether and there’s crew constantly with the kids.” 

Caplan said that this is a great opportunity that all youth should be able to experience, but parents are often wary of letting their children go through with it. 

“Although sailing is inherently safe, a lot of parents are convinced that sailing is dangerous,” he said. “We are trying to reassure them that sailing is not dangerous.” 

The program is active year-round, teaching Berkeley Booster volunteers how to sail from September through December.  

The Boosters that are trained then assist with the younger sailing students during the summer.  

“This is a fabulous program because the kids get the chance to learn about the Bay,” said Berkeley Boosters Executive Director Ove Wittstock.  

“They learn about sailing, ecology and navigation. For the kids, it’s applied history and geography.” 

For all its years of existence, the Berkeley Boosters have supported the Pegasus Program by providing youth volunteers from among their ranks. 

“It’s a wonderful opportunity that the Nautilus Institute makes possible for us,” said Wittstock. “It was an ideal marriage, they have the boat and we have the kids.” 

From January through June 30 students from schools are taken out every day on all-day trips where they are taught a downscaled version of the program’s summer curriculum. 

All of the students graduating from this year’s summer session said they truly enjoyed the sailing experience, many of them for very different reasons. 

“I liked shooting off the water cannon on the fire boat,” said Breck Shattuck. 

“I liked going to Angel Island and seeing all the different animals,” said Lacretia Ferguson. 

Annaka Pettit liked the socializing: “I'm glad I got to meet some new people,” she said, “and I liked raising the sails.”

HOPLAND — A man accused of starting a campfire that burned out of control and led to the death of two air tanker pilots was charged with two counts of murder Tuesday by Mendocino County prosecutors. 

Mendocino County District Attorney Norm Vroman formally filed charges against Frank Brady, 50, of Redwood Valley, Calif. for his suspected role in starting a fire two pilots attempted to put out from the air when they clipped each other and fatally crashed. 

Brady also was charged with attempting to manufacturer methamphetamine after evidence of a drug lab was found near the scene where the fire began, Vroman said. Brady was to be arraigned Wednesday. 

A second man, Richard Mortensen, 43, of San Pablo, was arrested on warrants from a series of drug and weapons charges. 

“We do have (Mortensen) placed with Brady,” Vroman said. The prosecutor was unsure if Mortensen was tied to the alleged drug operation. 

Both suspects declined requests for interviews from The Associated Press. 

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department booked the suspects after two air tanker planes collided Monday evening near Hopland, about 100 miles north of San Francisco. 

The two pilots killed were retired Navy veteran Larry Groff, 55, of Santa Rosa and Lars Stratte, 45, of Chico, both employed by San Joaquin Helicopters, a Delano, Calif.-based company. 

Hopland-area resident Jeff Anderson saw the planes collide from the deck of his home. 

“They looked like they were closing in on each other,” Anderson said. “You could tell immediately that they hit.” 

One plane broke into pieces and plummeted straight down, exploding into flames upon impact, Anderson said. The other crippled plane continued on briefly and crashed less than a quarter-mile away. 

The pilots were flying alone in their Korean War-era Grumman S-2 airplanes when they clipped each other during a pass over a 250-acre brush fire. 

Doug Baker, a fellow pilot with 22 years experience flying the S-2, said one pilot was circling the fire waiting to drop his load when the other flew into the same airspace. 

“We are supposed to know where everybody is,” Baker said. “We are a very close-knit group.” 

The cause of the collision remained under investigation. 

The pilots were attempting to douse flames that had destroyed 12 structures and threatened more than a dozen others, according to the California Department of Forestry. It was 60 percent contained early Tuesday. 

The National Transportation Safety Board lists six accidents since 1995 involving aircraft operated by San Joaquin Helicopters.  

Of those six accidents, two involved minor pilot injuries and one 1998 crash resulted in an air tanker pilot death. 

Jim Josephson, president of San Joaquin Helicopters, expressed his condolences in a statement released Tuesday. 

“They were highly trained, professional pilots who were dedicated to the firefighting mission,” Josephson said. Each pilot had years of experience in aerial firefighting, he added. The company confirmed that the NTSB was investigating the accident. 

Nine aircraft were being used to fight the blaze at the time of the collision, said Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Ron Welch. However, Anderson, who witnessed the crash, told The Associated Press he saw no other planes in the sky at the time of the accident. 

In Southern California, an 1,800-acre brush fire was 80 percent contained Tuesday morning in the hills north of Los Angeles, just west of Interstate 5. No arrests had been made but fire officials were investigating whether an arsonist started the blaze. 

The fire destroyed three structures, including at least one house, and burned to the doorsteps of several luxury homes. Residents were urged to evacuate. 

Elsewhere, Montana crews battling a 23,500-acre wildfire between Livingston and Yellowstone National Park got help Monday from about 200 members of the state’s National Guard, boosting the number of firefighters to roughly 900. 

At Montana’s Glacier National Park, officials closed four campgrounds and banned backpacking trips in the western part of the park as firefighters battled a 14,000-acre blaze that burned just west of Glacier and forced the evacuation of a dozen homes. 

Three large Idaho fires covering about 14,000 acres still were burning Tuesday. The most serious was the 10,500 acre Rough Diamonds fire burning about 70 miles south of Boise that blazed to the edge of a forest road. 

If the blaze crosses the road, it will threaten the historic mining town of Silver City. 

Fires also crackled across parts of several other states in the West, including Nevada, Washington and Wyoming. All major fires burning in Oregon were contained Tuesday. 

——— 

On the Net: 

National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov 

SACRAMENTO— HealthNet of California plans to drop Sutter Health from its Medicare HMO network, and will stop paying for Seniority Plus subscribers’ care from Sutter’s hospitals or doctors after Jan. 1. 

The decision could affect about 25,000 seniors using Sutter’s 26 hospitals and 5,000 doctors, said HealthNet spokeswoman Lisa Kalustian. 

Kalustian said HealthNet regrets ending the service, but has been unable to negotiate a new contract with Sutter Health for non-Medicare patients. The company decided to drop Sutter to allow the Seniority Plus subscribers to have time to change insurers before year’s end, Kalustian said. 

“It is based on the necessity to keep health care affordable,” Kalustian said. 

Sutter spokesman Bill Gleeson said the company was disappointed by HealthNet’s decision, which he said could affect other negotiations with the company. 

If Seniority Plus members want to keep their doctors, they will have to change insurance companies or go with a  

more expensive Medicare policy  

from HealthNet. 

“I’ll have to change health plans,” William McCormack, told the San Jose Mercury News. 

McCormack, a retired director of international education at the University of California, Berkeley, wanted to keep seeing his internist of eight years. 

“I’m experiencing feelings of helplessness. The decisions are outside of my own control,” McCormack said. 

HealthNet is not the first insurance company to drop a Medicare HMO as they grow less profitable. 

In some counties, PacifiCare no longer accepts new subscribers to Secure Horizons, the only other Medicare HMO accepted by Sutter. PacificCare also has said it wants to pull out of its managed-care plan in Mariposa, Merced and parts of Madera counties because costs are too high. If it receives approval from the state Department of Managed Health Care, PacifiCare will withdraw its coverage starting Jan. 1. 

Aetna Inc. also recently announced that it intends to withdraw from 11 counties, including Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare.

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration wants to ensure that a U.N. conference on children does not proclaim support for abortion, officials said Tuesday. It was the latest sign of a prickly relationship between the United States and the United Nations, which already are at odds over a racism meeting. 

The government plans to send a Cabinet-level delegation to the special U.N. General Assembly session on children next month in New York, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. 

In contrast, Secretary of State Colin Powell will not attend a U.N. conference on racism that begins Friday in South Africa because of a planned declaration that accuses Israel of racist policies against Palestinians. The administration has not decided whom, if anybody, to send. 

Boucher insisted the disputes over language before the children’s conference are just part of a regular give and take. “We have every expectation that we can work them out, and that we can be there, and that we will be there at a high level,” Boucher said. 

The administration wants language that “does not support or advance the idea of abortion. So we’re not against family planning language,” he said. 

U.N. officials insisted the draft documents do not address abortion. 

“It is not about abortion; none of the documents refer directly, indirectly or any other way to abortion, and never have,” UNICEF spokeswoman Liza Barrie said. 

The draft document includes a line that says nations should “promote and protect the right of the adolescent to sexual and reproductive health education, information and services in order to ... avoid unwanted or early pregnancies.” 

The two tussles with the United Nations come at a time when many of America’s allies have criticized President Bush’s decision to withhold support for several international treaties and have worried he is moving the United States toward isolationism. 

In Austria, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he hoped the United States would decide to attend the racism conference but said the decision is “the sovereign right of each country.” 

Bush will address the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 24, as presidents traditionally do. His advisers insist the United States is not withdrawing from the world but merely practicing “a la carte multinationalism” — joining allies and participating in global meetings when it suits U.S. interests. 

“Thus far you have to conclude that they’re anorexic, because they haven’t found any dishes that they like,” said Antony Blinken, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former Clinton administration official. 

Since taking office, Bush has rejected the Kyoto climate-change treaty, pushed forward with a missile-defense shield and abandoned talks on enforcing a 1972 treaty against germ warfare. The administration also opposes other treaties, including one to create an international criminal court, the world’s first permanent war crimes tribunal. 

Others believe that it makes sense for the administration to avoid U.N. conferences it opposes as long as it provides alternatives. 

“If you’re bailing out of everything, it reduces the political value of bailing out of things in particular,” said Timothy Crawford, a postdoctoral fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Foreign Policy Studies. 

For its part, the United Nations still resents that the United States has not paid $460 million in back dues, yet still seeks American input, said Richard Falk, an international law professor at Princeton University. 

“There’s a broad recognition that despite the criticism of the United States, the U.S. is a necessary participant in any kind of effective U.N. undertaking,” Falk said. 

The summit on children would be the largest gathering of world leaders this year with 75 heads of government. It will focus on issues such as child health, child soldiers and child labor. 

On the Net: 

Racism conference: http://www.unhchr.ch/html/racism/index.htm

The Associated Press 

WASHINGTON — The government Tuesday approved a groundbreaking new therapy for thousands of congestive heart failure patients, a novel pacemaker-like device that could help their struggling hearts beat more normally. 

Medtronic Inc.’s InSync system works by boosting the heart’s pumping power. The technique is called cardiac resynchronization, and cardiologists estimate it could help some 650,000 advanced heart failure patients who can’t be helped by today’s best medicine. 

“It’s a big breakthrough,” said Dr. David B. DeLurgio, an Emory University cardiologist who helped test the device for Medtronic. “It’s not for every heart failure patient, but a proportion could definitely benefit.” 

Almost 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure. It’s not a heart attack or sudden heart stoppage. Instead, a heart weakened by age, damage from a survived heart attack or some other disease gets flabbier as it struggles to push blood out to the rest of the body. 

Eventually, patients are pressed even to walk across a room. Fluid seeps into their lungs, blocking breathing. Just half survive five years or more. When medications fail, a heart transplant is the only option, but many patients are too old to qualify. Enter the new therapy. 

Pacemakers are widely used to zap hearts that beat too slowly or irregularly into a normal rhythm. Medtronic’s souped-up pacemaker works another way, boosting the beats of weak hearts. Medtronic beat two competing companies to get the device to market. 

Up to half of heart failure patients have hearts whose main pumping chambers, the left and right ventricles, don’t beat simultaneously, sapping the heart’s power. The InSync pacemaker delivers an electrical impulse – from a small pulse generator in the chest down three wires implanted in the heart — that makes the ventricles pump together. In a study of 579 patients, those using the pacemaker experienced significant improvement, Food and Drug Administration reviewers concluded in approving the device. 

One standard heart failure test measures how far patients can walk in six minutes.  

Those whose pacemakers were turned on could walk, on average, 58 more yards than patients in a comparison group whose pacemakers were turned off. 

By another measure, 68 percent of pacemaker patients reported improved quality of life, as opposed to 38 percent in the comparison group. 

The study lasted just six months, and didn’t measure whether the device had any effect on prolonging life. But doctors say that for these patients, improving quality of life in the short term is a big goal. 

“It’s not a new heart but it’s an improvement,” said FDA medical reviewer Dr. Bram Zuckerman. 

InSync is only for advanced patients unaided by the best medical therapy, he said, cautioning that it’s not a replacement for medications. 

Because InSync is different than standard pacemakers, with an additional wire snaked into a different part of the heart, the FDA is requiring Medtronic to specially train cardiologists before doctors can begin implanting the device. 

But Minneapolis-based Medtronic is prepared to begin selling the device to trained physicians immediately, and says the operation should cost between $10,000 and $12,000. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov 

Medtronic: http://www.medtronic.com 

BEIT JALLA, West Bank — Israeli troops seized parts of this Palestinian town and fortified positions with sandbags Tuesday as Israel said it was settling in for an indefinite stay – a first in 11 months of fighting. 

The U.S. government urged Israel to withdraw and the Palestinians to stop shooting at Israeli residential neighborhoods. 

Barely 10 miles away, tens of thousands of Palestinians crying for revenge flooded the streets for the funeral of a senior PLO official killed in an Israeli missile attack a day earlier. 

Despite the Israeli operation to stop Palestinian gunfire from Beit Jalla at the nearby Jewish neighborhood of Gilo, sporadic gunfire continued. A machine gun bullet hit an Israel TV truck, the first time Palestinians have aimed heavy weapons at the Jewish neighborhood. 

Also, three mortar shells fired from Beit Jalla exploded in the neighborhood, causing some damage but no casualties 

In other fighting Tuesday, a member of the Palestinian security forces was killed in a gunbattle with Israeli troops near the West Bank town of Dura. 

Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israeli tanks entered Palestinian territory near the city of Dir al-Balah early Wednesday, according to Palestinian security officials. Requesting anonymity, they said dozens of gunmen opened fire on the tanks. 

Residents said the bulldozers leveled farmland and destroyed greenhouses and a building. The Israeli military said it was cheking. 

In Rafah, near the Gaza-Egypt border, an 18-year-old Palestinian was shot in the head by Israeli gunfire after nightfall and died later in the hospital, Palestinian medical staff said.  

Witnesses said the youth was in a group of people near one of 14 houses torn down by Israeli forces Monday night and was hit by a bullet fired from a nearby Israeli army post. The Israeli military said soldiers opened fire on an armed man planting an explosive device. 

But the deserted streets of Beit Jalla and the seething West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinians held their rally, were the focal points of an escalating conflict marked by increasingly tough Israeli military responses to Palestinian attacks. 

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher called on Israel to pull its forces out of Beit Jalla. 

“The Israelis need to understand that incursions like this will not solve the security problems. They only make the situation worse,” he said at a briefing. But, he added, “the Palestinians need to stop the shootings and attacks against Israelis in Gilo and elsewhere.” 

The latest Israeli actions have pushed the Mideast crisis into uncharted territory, raising the possibility of urban combat. 

But in Beit Jalla, Israeli forces were hunkering down in armored vehicles and atop Palestinian apartments, while Palestinian security forces were lurking only a block or two away on Virgin Mary Street. 

The Israelis also took over a Lutheran Church compound that includes an orphanage with 45 children, ages 6 to 16. The children, who like most of Beit Jalla were placed under curfew, took cover from gunfire in a basement.  

Troops set up a machine gun position on the roof of an adjacent five-story church hostel under construction, witnesses said. 

“We demand that the army immediately withdraw from our church premises,” said Munib Younan, the Lutheran bishop of Jerusalem. 

The army, which wanted the church hostel because of its strategic location and panoramic view, pledged to ensure the safety of the children. 

“Beit Jalla has become a sniper’s nest, and our forces entered in order to clean it up in order to stop the fire,” said Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner. “They will stay there as long as is needed to get the security back.” 

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat charged that Israel is attacking sites holy “not only to Palestinians but to Christians all over the world.” 

Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit said Israel was not planning to reoccupy Beit Jalla, but would do so if there was no other way to stop Palestinian attacks. Israel withdrew from Beit Jalla and most other Palestinian communities in the West Bank in 1995, ending 28 years of military rule. 

For months, Palestinian gunmen have fired at night from Beit Jalla’s hilltops, across a small valley, hitting the Israeli neighborhood of Gilo on the southern edge of Jerusalem. Gilo was built on land Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians want it as part of a future state. 

Thirty-one Israeli apartments and a synagogue in Gilo were hit Monday night, prompting the army send in tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps early Tuesday. One Palestinian was killed and 11 wounded in fierce gunbattles throughout the night. 

Israeli troops have staged multiple incursions into Palestinian territory following Palestinian bombings and shooting attacks. But in all the previous cases, Israel quickly withdrew after knocking down Palestinian security buildings or outposts used by gunmen. 

In Ramallah, tens of thousands of Palestinians thronged to the funeral of Mustafa Zibri, 63, the highest-ranking Palestinian slain in a monthslong Israeli campaign of targeted killings of suspected militants. 

Amid cries for revenge, masked pallbearers bore Zibri’s body through the streets while gunmen shot round after round of automatic-weapons fire into the air. 

Palestinian refugees also staged angry demonstrations Tuesday in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon to protest the killing of Zibri and U.S. support Israel. 

Thousands staged a one-day strike at Syria’s largest Palestinian refugee camp, al-Yarmouk, five miles south of Damascus. 

Zibri – who headed the second-largest PLO faction, the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – was killed Monday when Israeli helicopters fired two missiles into his office while he was sitting at his desk. 

Israel said Zibri had a long history of organizing bomb attacks against Israel. 

SAN DIEGO — Struggling personal computer maker Gateway announced Tuesday it is laying off about 5,000 employees – 25 percent of its global workforce – as it tries to cope with an increasingly bleak market. 

About 15 percent of the company’s U.S. workforce will be cut under the plan, which the company said will help it save $300 million annually. 

The company plans to close customer service and sales centers in Hampton, Va.; Vermillion, S.D.; Salt Lake City; and Lake Forest. It also plans to close an assembly plant in Salt Lake City. 

The company, with 19,000 employees worldwide, also said it will immediately close all of its company-owned operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.  

Earlier this month, Gateway announced plans to close its European headquarters in Ireland. 

“We don’t have to be a global business to succeed,” Gateway founder, chairman and chief executive officer Ted Waitt said in a conference call to analysts Tuesday. “We know we can succeed in the U.S.” 

The computer maker said it will take a one-time charge of $475 million due to the restructuring and layoffs and expect to become profitable again in the fourth quarter of 2001. 

Tuesday’s announcement came after the end of trading as shares of Gateway closed at $8.60, off nearly 88 percent from a 52-week high. 

Eric Rothdeutsch, a computer industry analyst for Robertson Stephens in San Francisco, said he recommends investors “sit on the sidelines” until Gateway has demonstrated it can move away from its core hardware business and into services. 

The restructuring is the equivalent of “changing the company charter,” Rothdeutsch said. 

“I think the jury is going to be out for quite a while until they start to show some results,” he said. 

The layoffs follow an earlier wave of job cuts and a management shake-up which saw Waitt, the son of a cattleman, return to the company he and friend started in 1985 in a farmhouse in Sioux City, Iowa. Gateway’s costs ballooned last year after it opened 100 new Country Stores, with their trademark cowhide spots, in the United States and expanded internationally. In January, Wait returned from semiretirement and the company cut about 3,000 employees. In the spring, it closed 27 – about 10 percent – of its stores. 

Waitt said the layoffs are part of the company’s strategy to diversify its product line and return to profitability by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001. 

“We feel pretty good about the strategic steps we are taking,” Waitt said. 

In July, Gateway said it planned to move beyond PC sales. Waitt said Tuesday Gateway would aggressively work to grow “beyond the box” by marketing home networks, training, software applications and financing packages for consumers, schools and small businesses. 

The PC industry has been hit hard by the slowing economy and saw its first-ever drop in sales this year. Some analysts predict it won’t recover until next year or early 2003. 

Gateway, the nation’s fourth-largest computer maker, has focussed heavily on the U.S. computer market, leaving it vulnerable to deteriorating domestic sales. 

Gateway had total global revenue of $9.6 billion in 2000.

NEW YORK — Consumer confidence dropped for the second consecutive month in August, a sign of growing concern about a lack of jobs and unemployment, a private research group said Tuesday. 

The New York-based Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index eroded to 114.3, down from a revised 116.3 in July. The drop followed gains in May and June and put the index at the lowest level since it hit 109.9 in April. 

“The deteriorating U.S. job market dampened consumer spirits this month,” said Lynn Franco, director of the Conference Board’s Consumer Research Center. “The nation’s employment and unemployment numbers now bear watching, since continued weakness could translate into slower consumer spending.” 

The news sent stocks lower; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 116 points in afternoon trading. 

The Conference Board index, based on a monthly survey of some 5,000 U.S. households, is considered a key indicator because consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of the nation’s economic activity. The index compares results with its base year, 1985, when it stood at 100. 

The August index includes 14.9 percent of consumers rating business conditions as “bad,” compared with 14.6 percent in July. 

The survey found 15.9 percent saying jobs were “hard to get,” up from 14.1 percent in July. The number who said jobs were “plentiful” fell from 35.6 percent to 33.4 percent. 

Layoffs have driven the nation’s unemployment rate from a 30-year-low of 3.9 percent last October to 4.5 percent in July. Many economists are predicting the jobless rate will continue to rise later this year and could surpass 5 percent. 

The downturn in confidence threatens consumer spending, which has been surprisingly buoyant and has kept the economy from sinking into recession, said Sung Won Sohn, chief economist with Wells Fargo & Co. in Minneapolis. 

“If consumers decide to bail out, the economy could go into a recession,” he said. “However, I am hoping that consumer confidence will rebound as the tailwinds, including the tax cut, the effect of lower interest rates and the cheaper cost of energy, help the consumer to move forward.” 

Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of all economic activity. 

Trying to avert a recession, the Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates seven times this year. 

Sohn said he was encouraged by an uptick in consumer optimism about future business conditions, with 18.9 percent saying they expect an improvement in the coming six months, up from 17.2 percent in July. 

On the Net: 

http://www.conferenceboard.org

LOS ANGELES — Jury selection began Tuesday in what was expected to be a mammoth court battle between two partners who helped spawn the biotechnology revolution. 

The nonprofit City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif., is suing biotech giant Genentech Inc. of South San Francisco for what attorneys say could amount to $500 million in unpaid royalties. 

Opening arguments were expected to begin next week in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The trial could last three months, attorneys said. 

The suit involves Genentech’s 1978 funding of two City of Hope researchers, Arthur Riggs and Keiichi Itakura. Some credit them as the first to synthesize human insulin through techniques that since have been used to create some of the building blocks of biotech, including human growth hormone and a hepatitis B vaccine. 

For nearly two decades, Genentech and City of Hope have had a revenue-sharing contract that granted Genentech the patents on the human insulin development technique. City of Hope gets a 2 percent royalty on sales of certain products stemming from those patents. 

But in its suit, City of Hope says Genentech has been bilking the charity out of millions of dollars. 

Genentech withheld information about lucrative deals that were only revealed through the lawsuit, Glenn Krinsky, City of Hope’s general counsel, said Tuesday. 

“We do believe we have been cheated,” Krinsky said. 

Because the money was never paid, City of Hope has been unable to afford free or subsidized treatment to an undetermined number of poor people, Krinsky alleged. 

The lack of payments also threatens the progress of City of Hope researchers, who spend $1 million to $2 million every week, Krinsky claimed. 

Genentech, whose sales reached $1.7 billion last year, counters that it has paid everything it owes and argues that City of Hope is misreading the deal. 

“We have been very open and candid in our interpretation of the agreement for 20 years,” said Sean Johnston, vice president of intellectual property for Genentech.  

“The contract language is clear.” 

Legal experts say the $500 million figure is large — even for the multibillion-dollar biotech industry — but it isn’t unreasonable. 

They also say to expect more battles over royalties as ivory tower researchers grow savvier about the profit-conscious world of business. 

Before the 1980s, most researchers got money from the government and didn’t have to keep an eye on royalties or licenses, said Rochelle Seide, a partner in the intellectual property department of the New York law firm Baker Botts. 

“But things changed in the ’80s, when government funding dried up,” said Seide, who used to represent Genentech as an outside attorney. “Then people became more patent-conscious. The biotech industry really changed that.” 

UC Berkeley students face an easier housing search this fall than last in the wake of the dot-com bust, according to city and university housing officials and local rental agencies – but not necessarily a less expensive one. 

“A lot of people are leaving the Bay Area, and students are no longer competing as much with Silicon Valley and San Francisco computer employees,” said Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board member Paul Hogarth, who graduated from UC Berkeley last year. “That’s put the pressure for newly vacated units slightly down, but the talk about rents going down is a little overly optimistic.” 

Rents rose sharply throughout the Bay Area in the late 1990s, largely due to an influx of technology-industry employees. On Jan. 1, 1999, a state law ended vacancy control in Berkeley and landlords were free to raise rents to market levels when apartments turned over. (Under vacancy control, landlords were allowed to raise rents in Berkeley only as much as the Rent Stabilization Board permitted for the year, whether the apartment was vacated or not.) 

“We saw rents for newly-vacated apartments jump 40 percent in one year” as a result, Hogarth said, “and 2000 was worse.” The impact, he said, fell disproportionately on students, who move frequently. 

This year, however, rental experts say the trend appears to have turned around. Leah Summers, customer service director at Ehousing.com, a rental agency serving the East Bay, said the agency had about 1,200 current listings compared to 400 six months ago. “There are studios

Tuesday, Aug. 28

Rally to support “Democracy Now!” 

8:30 a.m. 

KPFA studio 

1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

As part of a nationwide day of action supporting Pacifica’s news-magazine host Amy Goodman who has accused Pacifica management of physical and psychological harassment, the community will rally in front of KPFA studios. 

Berkeley High Freshman Orientation 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater 

Corner of Allston Way and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Incoming ninth-graders take a tour of campus, get student I.D. cards and lockers, and learn about extracurricular activities available at Berkeley High. Students with last names beginning with A-L attend from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students with last names beginning with M-Z attend from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday morning. 655-8863 

Poetry Through Time II 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Judah L. Magnes Museum 

2911 Russell St. 

Bay Area poets Opal Palmer Adisa, Phyllis Koestenbaum, Reuven Goldfarb, and Martha Evans will read. A brief open reading will conclude the program. 549-6950 www.magnesmuseum.org 

Community Health Commission 

6:45 - 9:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Alta Bates Expansion. 644-6109 

Wednesday, Aug. 29

Section 8 Resident Council 

6 - 8 p.m. 

East Bay Community Law Center 

3122 Shattuck Ave. 

First Annual Speak Up. You can effect change, but you must speak up. Refreshments provided. 548-4040 

Thursday, Aug. 30

Salsa Dance Classes 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Classes every Thursday with live percussionists, light refreshments, DJ playing Latin music. $10 or $15 for two. 

237-9874 

Lost in the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Jason Flesher, a Search and Rescue member for almost 20 years, will share his nine rules for surviving in the wilderness. Free. 

527-4140 

Kensington 55+ Activity Center 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Social Hall of Arlington Community Church 

52 Arlington Ave. 

Conversation, Apple II computer instruction, massage therapy, German conversation group, meditation and relaxation techniques, watercolor art class, tea and coffee. Special 11 a.m. program: Music, Hugh Kelly plays harmonica and leads sing-along. 526-9146 

Attic Conversions 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Seminar taught by architect Andus Brandt. $35. 525-7610 

Editor: 

The Green Party of Alameda County urges everyone to join a nationwide  

Day of Solidarity in support of the Pacifica news program “Democracy Now!” 

Nationwide protests today will include a gathering at 8:30 a.m. in front of KPFA Radio (94.1 FM), 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Participants who have cellular phones are asked to bring them for calling Pacifica board members. 

“Democracy Now!” hosted by award-winning investigative journalist Amy Goodman, is a beacon of light in an otherwise dreary wasteland of radio news coverage. The program, Pacifica's only nationwide production besides the milquetoast daily headlines show, covers the progressive issues other media ignore or skim over.  

Environmentalists, justice activists, advocates of women's right and civil rights, disarmament advocates, the Green Party, and organized labor all owe much of their success to the ground-breaking coverage provided by “Democracy Now!” 

After “Democracy Now!” staff members were threatened with bodily harm and even assaulted by other staff members at New York's WBAI Radio, the program moved to a safer production studio outside the beleaguered Pacifica radio station. Incredibly, while taking no action against those who made the threats and have hurled racist invective against the program on the air, Pacifica management suspended the entire “Democracy Now!” crew without pay and has refused to carry the program on its network. Only KPFA among the five Pacifica-owned stations is carrying the program now; the others are airing reruns. 

We also encourage everyone write letters to the Pacifica governing board defending “Democracy Now!” This irreplaceable treasure must be preserved. An easy way to do this is to visit www.progressiveportal.org. 

Leslie Bonnet, Dana Engen, John Selawsky, B Soffer 

Green Party of Alameda County Council 

Parents and professionals  

are ready to lend a hand 

With students going back to school Wednesday, the Berkeley School Volunteers Office has begun recruiting and training the hundreds of volunteers who lend a hand each year in classrooms, gardens and libraries – both during and after school. 

A partnership between the school district, which provides office space, and the Berkeley Public Education Foundation, which provides the funding, the Berkeley School Volunteers program was launched in 1991, after school administrators decided it was time to take a more proactive role in recruiting volunteers from the community. 

These volunteers aren’t the parents of students in the Berkeley Unified School District, who typically offer their services by approaching their own child’s teacher. Rather, Berkeley School Volunteers are local professionals and retirees, UC Berkeley students and professors, and others who want a break from the weekly routine and a chance to make a difference in kids’ lives. 

“This is direct service with kids, and that’s what most volunteers want to do,” said Berkeley School Volunteers Director Barbara Bowman. “They don’t want to go in and run a Xerox machine all day.” 

Depending on their preference, and how much time they can commit each week, volunteers might assist teachers in the classroom, tutor students after school, exchange letters with a student once a month, or drop in one day a year to read to kids during Berkeley’s popular Drop Everything and Read Day. 

“The idea is to have something that fits everybody, not a one-size-fits-all program,” Bowman said. 

One of the fastest growing volunteer programs is the so-called Writers’ Room, where volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with high school and middle school students, helping students who have a hard time getting words on paper come up with strategies for completing their homework assignments. 

Last year more than 1,200 volunteers helped out in the Berkeley schools, with nearly half of them opting to help out in the classroom of a specific teacher during the day. For a few hours a week, “classroom tutoring” volunteers might sit in with a group of students during group exercises, or read one-on-one with students who need a little extra reading practice. Volunteers are assigned only to classes where the teacher has requested them, Bowman said. 

“The welcome mat is out when our volunteers go,” Bowman said. “I know our teachers want them.” 

At King Middle School, it’s a great big welcome mat, according to King Resource Specialist Teri Gerritz. 

Editor: 

A new state law lets Berkeley set lower speed limits. 

Until recently, cities had to set the speed limit based on the prevailing speed on a street. On streets where drivers habitually drive at unsafe speeds, such as Claremont Ave., the city could not use the speed limit to slow traffic down. 

This law was changed by AB 2767. Now cities can set lower speed limits on streets where it is necessary to protect pedestrians or bicyclists and on streets that meet minimum density requirements. Most streets in Berkeley meet these density requirements. 

For more information about this law, see 

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/asm/ab_2751-2800/ab_2767. 

Now we can set a speed limit of 25 mph on Claremont Ave., and we can send the police there to enforce it until drivers get accustomed to going more slowly. What are we waiting for? 

Charles Siegel 

Berkeley 

Proponents of strengthening a warning against wearing chemical fragrances at public meetings say the city’s current admonition, printed on public meeting agendas, is vague and arbitrary. The council will consider stronger wording when it meets Sept. 11. 

The warning now reads: “Attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various odors, whether natural or manufactured, in products and materials. Please help the city respect these needs.” 

In 1996 the council adopted the current language after much discussion among city staff, fragrance industry representatives and those who suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities, an allergic condition that can be aggravated by chemical scents often found in perfume, cologne and aftershave. 

A recommendation asking the council to strengthen the fragrance warning was unanimously approved by the Commission on Disability in February. 

Proponents want language that states clearly that fragrance products such as cologne and perfume may cause “serious harm” to some meeting attendees.  

Fragrance industry representatives, however, say strengthening the language would unfairly single out manufactured scents while ignoring other triggers for allergies. They also contend MCS is a controversial medical condition that is not accepted by most doctors.  

Arguing that the current language is clear, the city manager recommended in a July 24 report that the council not change the admonition. The manager also pointed out that prior to the adoption of the present language, there was “extensive discussion” and that the council considered more than over 265 pages of material.  

“Today there is no pressing need to reopen the same discussion,” the report says. 

Councilmember Dona Spring, who suffers from MCS, said she supports making the language more explicit. “We get sick when we’re exposed to strong perfume,” Spring said. “This has been an issue for years and has never been resolved.” 

People who suffer from MCS can have a variety of reactions to chemicals commonly found in fragrance products. Reactions include dizziness, severe headaches and breathing problems.  

Some of the chemicals most often found in fragrance products include acetone, camphor and ethanol, all of which were described as toxic in a 1996 report by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.  

Berkeley resident Carol David, who also suffers from MCS, said the current language is unclear. She added that some who read the warning might misinterpret “odors” to mean body odor and could splash on more of the same body scents that the warning is meant to reduce.  

“That language says nothing,” she said. “It’s basically been watered down so it won’t offend the fragrance industry.” 

David proposes the following language, which she said is clear and understandable. 

“Please refrain from wearing scented products (perfume, cologne, aftershave, etc.) to these meetings, as there may be people in attendance who are allergic and can be seriously harmed by exposure to these products.” 

Jon Kaufman, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Solem and Associates, a public relations firm that represents the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, said the language is too specific and unfairly singles out a particular industry. He said if public meeting notices mentioned perfume and cologne, they should also mention other allergy sources like flowers and peanuts. 

He added that there is also little evidence that MCS is a real health condition. 

“(MCS) is a very controversial concept,” he said. “There is no conclusive medical evidence it does exist.” 

David, who said she experiences a sore throat and breathing difficulties when exposed to some fragrance products, conceded that the subject of MCS is controversial, but said those who suffer from MCS have little doubt that it exists.  

Councilmember Miriam Hawley said she is concerned about changing the fragrance warning language. “If we start enumerating fragrances will it end there? It seems to me we have to make sure it’s not an exclusive list.” 

Editor: 

Good luck to the new “Transportation Czar”. Berkeley has a poor track record for sustaining and retaining transportation professionals. 

Instead of playing off one group against another, we need leadership. 

The goal of creating “efficient, environmentally friendly and economically sound transportation” is worthwhile, but the process of achieving the goal is guaranteed to make a lot of people unhappy. This is because we in Berkeley are inconsistent in what we want. 

We want fewer cars on the road, but we don't want to change our “car first” habits. 

We want safer streets, but some of us don't like having speed laws enforced. 

We want plenty of public transit, and things like UC's class pass, but only for “other people” to use. 

The city government itself sets a bad example. Union contracts require provision of reserved parking spaces. Even the City Council has reserved spaces. 

I think I'll apply for the Transportation Czar job. 

If I had the job, I would: 

• Get rid of all the reserved parking spaces for city staff, except for people who use their cars for work during the day. 

• Block out a smaller number of city-paid parking spaces, near city buildings, for staff to use when they have to come to work hauling baggage. Some spaces could be reserved for large car pools and people with some kinds of disabilities. 

• Set up an Eco-Pass arrangement by which any city staff person who asks for it, would get a bus pass for free. 

• Make an “insurance policy” arrangement with a taxi company, to provide a guaranteed ride home. This policy could be sold cheaply to interested staff. 

• Encourage all Berkeley businesses to follow the city's lead. Give the businesses a reduction in taxes if they implement the plan: Eco-Pass, guaranteed ride and the above parking rules. 

• Get the School District going on the same plan. 

• Make getting on the plan a requirement for nonprofit status. 

• Privatize all the parking lots. 

If downtown businesses want lots of parking, let them form a parking corporation to provide it. No subsidies. 

• Ban on-street parking on College, Telegraph, Euclid and other places where parking clogs traffic. 

• Give AC Transit some kind of bonus if their bus lines run on-time over some period; deduct from the bonus every time they are more than 15 minutes late, or miss a run. 

• Build speed bumps on any street that needs “calming”, but find some way to allow a very slow-moving vehicle to bypass the bump (i.e. not lurch when carrying a disabled person). Ideas include “bypass slots” near the curbs, or diagonal “pass slots” in both lanes. 

• Identify any popular trips that create congestion, but are difficult to take using transit, and either get AC Transit to provide the service, or set up a Berkeley-run shuttle van. 

• Give zoning benefits to “car free office buildings.” These would have minimal parking – only shipping/receiving, salespeople and maybe a few carpool slots. The building would be on a bus line, or the management would operate a shuttle. Zoning benefits could be anything from expedited approval to actual money subsidies. 

• Block off sections of downtown as “car-free pedestrian malls”. Encourage sidewalk shops, cafes and such. A good place to start would be over by the Gaia Building. 

• Promote “transit to the arts” at night, by stationing pleasant young people at the BART station to greet theater patrons, and guide them to the show. After the show, guide people back to BART. 

• Promote transit-oriented patronage of shopping districts like Fourth Street. Tell people to leave their cars in Walnut Creek, ride the BART, then take the 9, 65 or 51 bus down to Fourth Street. Look into jump-starting delivery service for customers who come by transit. 

The list goes on... 

Well, am I hired? 

Steve Geller 

Berkeley 

A weekend riot at UC Berkeley has prompted school officials to ban all dances at the school’s main dance hall for the semester, the university announced Monday. 

But some city representatives and business leaders are wondering whether the incident could have been prevented, especially since it shares some similarities with a similar event that happened after police disbanded an overcrowded party held by a different organization last October. 

Police say the most recent disturbance happened at about 2 a.m. Sunday morning, and capped an otherwise benign dance that the Iota Phi Theta fraternity had thrown Saturday inside the Pauley Ballroom, at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Bancroft Way. 

According to police Lt. Cynthia Harris, after the dance ended, some 300 people spilled out onto the street. Some of them then went out of control, vandalizing four businesses in the area near the campus. Cars were also vandalized, and some of the looters broke down doors and rushed into the private residences of people who live nearby. 

In response, university officials Monday announced the creation of a task force that will be charged with finding ways to improve the auditorium’s operations, and to find better access into the venue, which has a 1,000 people capacity. 

But Councilmember Kriss Worthington, in whose district the incident occurred, wondered whether the incident shows a lack of communication between the university and city police departments. This and other questions are the same as those raised after looting happened last fall. 

“These are not new questions,” Worthington said. “I think we’ve been asking these same questions for years, and the UC people are always blaming somebody else.” 

Worthington criticized the campus police department, saying that it has a policy of “dumping” partygoers from the ballroom unto city streets after events. He also wondered whether the campus police notified city authorities promptly once they realized the situation was getting out of hand. 

Worthington said business owners along Telegraph Avenue are dismayed about what happened, and added that the city manager’s office is working to coordinate a meeting among all of the affected parties. 

No one from the university’s police department was available to comment on Worthington’s allegations. Both city and university police are investigating the incident. 

Editor: 

Regarding your Forum story on: how some are using their tax refunds: 

For one thing this is NOT a rebate. It is an advance on what you will get when you file next year. Your refund next year will be “what ever you got” less, or if you owe it, will be that much more. Bush wanted you to have this money NOW for an economic stimulus. Don’t blame the IRS, blame Congress and President Bush. 

Richard Lewis 

Ex-Berkeleyian 

Elyria, Ohio

The National Institutes of Health announced Monday that the University of California at San Francisco is among 10 organizations worldwide that are eligible to receive federal funds for stem cell research. 

Scientists have been eagerly awaiting the list of selected groups since earlier this month when President George W. Bush announced that the federal government would finance research on the human embryonic stem cell lines, or cultures, already in existence by the Aug. 9 deadline. 

In order to qualify for the funding, the research organizations had to derive stem cells from an embryo that was created for reproductive purposes, but was no longer needed. They also had to receive the donor's consent, but could not pay the donor for the embryo. 

NIH administrators say they are implementing the president's new policy and hope that researchers will take advantage of the opportunity to explore the possibility of producing breakthrough therapies.  

The national organization announced that four U.S. laboratories and six others in Sweden, Australia, India and Israel were able to derive cell cultures from a total of 64 embryos by this month's deadline. The NIH reports that the organizations will make information about the stem cell research available to the scientific community at the discretion of the individual laboratories. 

Of the four American labs selected, two are in California. UCSF has derived two stem cell lines, while CyThera, Inc. in San Diego has created nine lines. 

Supporters of the research say the potential benefits include possible cures for Alzheimer's Disease and spinal cord injuries and argue that throwing away thousands of in vitro embryos is a waste of research material. However, opponents of the research say that destroying embryos to develop a stem cell line is equivalent to the taking of a human life.

SAN FRANCISCO — Florence Vangay was once a refugee in search of opportunity. Like thousands of Hmong, she fled her native Laos to escape persecution after the Vietnam War, and eventually settled in California’s Central Valley. Now she has joined a growing wave of Southeast Asian immigrants again on the move, looking for a better life. 

Vangay, 38, left Merced two months ago for St. Paul, Minn. — a path many Hmong have taken over the past decade, according to analysis of recent census numbers. 

“I wanted to find a place for my children ... (where) after they graduate they can find jobs easily,” she said. “After that, we can stay together.” 

California still has the country’s largest populations of Laotians and Hmong, a hill tribe that received refugee status after helping the CIA fight communism in Southeast Asia. But welfare reform and job competition have driven many Hmong to other states, primarily Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Carolina. 

It’s a secondary migration that is reshaping some parts of America. 

Ramsey County, Minn., which includes St. Paul, is now home to the country’s biggest Hmong population. With 24,389 Hmong, during the 1990s Ramsey County overtook Fresno County and its 22,371 Hmong. 

California began the 1990s as home to more than half the country’s Hmong. It now has less than 40 percent. Minnesota and Wisconsin now jointly share 45 percent of the country’s Hmong population. Even so, Census 2000 showed a 39 percent increase in California’s Hmong population totaling 65,095. 

Five years ago, Congress overhauled welfare to require that many aid recipients find work. Denied the same level of public benefits, some Hmong migrated to places with lower costs of living and better job prospects. 

“I think what we saw after 1996 was a secondary migration of people who left California or urban cities to go to places where they could find jobs and affordable housing,” said KaYing Yang, executive director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center in Washington, D.C. “The Hmong left the San Joaquin Valley to seize opportunity.” 

Like many Hmong who live in tight-knit clans, Vangay already had several family members living in Minnesota, making the transition easier for her four children. The Hmong also have a long history of migrations ever since being expelled from China hundreds of years ago. More recently, they scattered across the United States when they began arriving after the Vietnam War. 

Many Hmong eventually came to California’s Central Valley to farm. Laotians also congregated in California from the cities where they were first settled. 

But that trend also began to reverse during the 1990s, census data show. 

The Laotian population in California dropped 4 percent from 58,058 to 55,456 over the decade.  

It has grown primarily in Minnesota, Washington, North Carolina and Illinois. 

“It’s becoming more difficult for people to find good jobs here,” said Khammany Mathavongsy, board member of United Laotian Community Development in Oakland. “People do not have high-tech skills to begin with. They’re moving to the East Coast ... where there are more assembly line jobs.” 

The census counted Southeast Asians from eight groups — Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese. 

Yang said she believes there was an undercount. Even the Vietnamese population, which grew by about 300,000 to nearly 1 million nationwide, is probably low, she said. She attributed the numbers to language barriers and an ingrained fear of submitting personal information to the government. 

“One of our board members had heard an elderly person saying, ’Oh no, they’re counting us again the way the Khmer Rouge counted us just before they started killing us,”’ Yang said. “You never get rid of those kind of fears.” 

Yang’s organization says about 1.3 million Laotian, Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees entered the United States between 1975 and 1998, and estimates that there are 1.5 million living in America today. The 2000 Census puts that population at 1.3 million. 

In California, the Vietnamese population grew 60 percent, with numbers in Orange and Santa Clara counties nearly doubling. 

Unlike the Hmong, many Vietnamese are familiar with urban areas. 

“The Vietnamese are from cities and knew what to expect,” said Leonard Andaya, who teaches Southeast Asian history at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. “The Hmong faces the biggest disadvantages of all refugees.” 

Cambodians increased by 3 percent in California to 70,232, but Yang said that number also is probably low. California, Washington, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania have the largest Cambodian populations. 

Malaysians were the only other group besides Laotians to lose population in California, dropping from 2,204 to 1,948 people. 

Andaya said many Malaysians who come to America are of Chinese descent and often stay only long enough to get an education. 

“The Malaysians have a good economy and a nice lifestyle,” Andaya said. “There were probably economic reasons why many would rather stay in Malaysia.” 

———— 

On the Net: 

http://www.census.gov/ 

http://www.searac.org/ 

Open Paw seeks another ‘doggy’ first 

Over the deafening sound of 60 barking dogs at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, internationally-known animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar was coaching a volunteer trainee as she entered a cage with Riba, a 50-pound pit bull. 

“Remember, there’s nothing wrong with the doggy,” Dunbar yelled in a thick English accent as he closed the gate behind the trainee, “It’s just too friendly.” 

Dunbar, whose long résumé includes a doctorate in animal behavior from UC Berkeley’s Psychology Department, has founded a nonprofit organization, Open Paw, that intends to launch a nationwide campaign to modify the behavior of kenneled dogs to make them more adoptable.  

“We are going to change kennels from being simple animal warehouses to doggy universities,” Dunbar said. 

According to Dunbar, who has written several books on dog training and hosted popular British television series “Dogs with Dunbar,” dogs are often surrendered to kennels because they have minor behavioral problems like barking when left alone, digging up the backyard or chewing furniture. 

Dunbar said kennels often unintentionally contribute to poor behavior. 

“In most kennels dogs are fed twice a day and usually after they’ve been jumping up and barking for three hours,” Dunbar said. “What does that tell the dog?” 

Dunbar has been working with several associates and volunteers to develop inexpensive and effective training techniques that can be applied within the kennel environment. They are largely based on rewarding good behavior in individual dogs with “a bit of kibble.” 

The re-training program includes volunteers going into the kennels twice a day and individually hand-feeding the dogs to encourage good behavior. 

The volunteers are trained to recognize good behavior, which at first could be as simple as not barking or jumping, and then feeding the dog a single piece of food for each demonstration of good behavior.  

“We’ve been designing training techniques that will have the biggest impact in the shortest amount of time,” said Open Paw trainer Kelly Gorman. “A dog’s first choice is always going to be barking, jumping or swinging from a chandelier, but through rewarding good behavior we’re going to shift their priorities pretty quickly.” 

But to change animals’ behavior, Dunbar said Open Paw must first change kennel policies. The kennels must agree to altering the animal feeding patterns and also persuade a host of other volunteer organizations to adhere to Open Paw’s theories.  

“Animal issues can be very emotional issues,” said Citizens Humane Commissioner Sharon Melnyk, who is also on the Open Paw Board of Directors. “We’re asking people to change their way of doing things and people can be quite resistant to change.” 

Berkeley animal activist Jill Posner said she has serious questions about the training techniques Open Paw is promoting. “There are a lot of people who just want to help the animals and they shouldn’t have to be required to go through a 20-hour training course,” she said. “They should just be able to show up and take a dog who has been shut in all day for a walk.” 

Lisa Fine, the East Bay Humane Society’s director, has fully embraced Open Paw training practices. But the Berkeley Animal Shelter will apply the techniques along with several others, according to BAS Director Kate O’Conner. 

Dunbar said volunteers who are unfamiliar with Open Paw training techniques can unwittingly undo behavioral gains if the dogs are fed or taken for walks on a non-reward basis. 

“I understand these people are well-meaning,” Dunbar said. “But they are doing the dogs more harm than good.” 

Melnyk said the changes Open Paw is suggesting will not be harmful to kennel animals and will only improve their chances of being adopted. “It truly perplexes me why some people would resist a program into which so much thought has been put.” 

Dunbar said if Open Paw’s innovative theories are successful in Berkeley’s two kennels he will present the results at a national conference of kennel directors, dog rescue organizations and animal welfare groups this November. 

Berkeley is nationally known for establishing the first public dog park and the first puppy training organization, founded by Dunbar in 1980.  

“This could be another doggy first for Berkeley,” Dunbar said. 

To date, Open Paw has 75 volunteers who have become familiar with kennel training through a four-level instruction course devised by Open Paw.  

Kelly McGuinness, a volunteer coordinator at the East Bay Humane Society, said people volunteer for a variety of reasons. “A lot of volunteers can’t have animals in their apartments,” she said. “A lot of them are students who had to leave their pets back home.” 

Berkeley architect Dana Carder said she decided to volunteer when she accompanied a friend who was adopting a cat.  

“I saw so many animals in desperate need of attention.” she said. “I couldn’t adopt one because pets are not allowed in my apartment, so here I am.” 

Bob Pool, who already owns three dogs, two of which he adopted from animal shelters, said he is volunteering because the job is very rewarding. “I just keep coming back for more.” 

For more information about volunteering for Open Paw call the East Bay Humane Society at (510) 845-7735 ext. 11.

Monday, Aug. 27

Berkeley School Board Holds Special Budget Session 

6:00 p.m. 

District Administrative Offices, Second Floor 

2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Informational meeting to update school board and public on problems with district’s budget for 2001-2002. 

East Bay Heritage Quilters 

7:30 p.m. 

First Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Road-Moeser Lane @ Arlington, Kensington 

Lecture: On the Road to Quiltmaking, a Personal Journey  

Non-members $3. 834-3706 

Tuesday, Aug. 28

Berkeley High Freshman Orientation 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater 

Corner of Allston Way and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Incoming ninth graders take a tour of campus, get student I.D. cards and lockers, and learn about extracurricular activities available at Berkeley High. Students with last names beginning with A-L attend from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students with last names beginning with M-Z attend from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday morning. 655-8863 

Poetry Through Time II 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Judah L. Magnes Museum 

2911 Russell St. 

Bay Area poets Opal Palmer Adisa, Phyllis Koestenbaum, Reuven Goldfarb, and Martha Evans will read. A brief open reading will conclude the program. 549-6950 www.magnesmuseum.org 

Community Health Commission 

6:45 - 9:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Environmental Imapct Report (EIR) for Alta Bates Expansion. 644-6109 

Wednesday, Aug. 29

Section 8 Resident Council 

6 - 8 p.m. 

East Bay Community Law Center 

3122 Shattuck Ave. 

First Annual Speak Up. You can affect change but you must speak up. Refreshments provided. 548-4040 

Thursday, Aug. 30

Salsa Dance Classes 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Classes every Thursday with live percussionists, light refreshments, DJ playing Latin music. $10 or $15 for two. 

237-9874 

Lost in the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Avenue 

Jason Flesher, a Search and Rescue member for almost 20 years, will share his nine rules for surviving in the wilderness. Free. 

527-4140 

Kensington 55+ Activity Center 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Social Hall of Arlington Community Church 

52 Arlington Ave. 

Conversation, Apple II computer instruction, massage therapy, German conversation group, meditation and relaxation techniques, watercolor art class, tea and coffee. Special 11 a.m. program: Music, Hugh Kelly plays harmonica and leads sing-along. 526-9146 

Attic Conversions 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Seminar taught by architect Andus Brandt. $35. 525-7610 

Friday, Aug. 31

Start a Writing Group—and Keep It Going 

10 a.m. - noon 

North Branch Berkeley Public Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Dr. Kathy Briccetti will host a workshop on How to Start and Maintain a Writing Group. This free workshop requires pre-registration by Aug. 29th. 

644-6850 www.infopeople.org/bpl/ 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie on Emma Goldman followed by discussion. 549-1879 

Saturday, Sept. 1

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Sunday, Sept. 2

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 

654-6346 

SAN JOSE, CA. — “‘Til death do us part,” that age-old marriage vow, has always sounded a little, well, non-committal to Confucian ears. In Vietnam, for instance, where I come from, death is not the end of relationships, it only deepens them. 

A traditional Vietnamese worships his ancestors. He talks daily to ghosts. Every morning, every night, he lights incense and offers food and drinks to the spirit of his ancestors, prays for protection and asks for advice. If he claims to have seen his grandfather’s ghost the night before, few would question him. More likely they would help decipher the meaning of the visitation. 

If you travel along rural roads in my homeland, you will see rice fields full of old graves rising above the water line. In the gardens of some houses, people are buried among patches of vegetables and bamboo groves, where children play. 

Life and death co-exist in close proximity in the Confucian cosmology — an intimate dance. 

Though we have spent a quarter of a century now in California, my family and I are still trying to live out some of these Confucian ideals, especially when it comes to the business of burials. This was most evident when we buried our grandparents on my mother’s side in San Jose, California. 

My grandfather died and was buried in Saigon in 1972 — at the height of the war. My grandmother, on the other hand, died recently at the age of 98 in Silicon Valley. 

If grandma had a single wish, it was to be buried side by side with her beloved husband. When grandfather died, she bought a plot of land next to his grave in a cemetery in the center of Saigon called Mac Dinh Chi. On his tombstone she wrote this poem which, translated into English, goes something like this: 

Suddenly the zither’s string broke and disrupted our sweetest harmony yin and yang — apart in one stroke ’lone, alone, trills the nightingale her bitter threnody. 

As a child I had memorized this poem and could recite it on command. I remember it well because almost every Sunday I would go with grandma and my mother to tend grandpa’s grave. There we would set new flowers in a vase, wash the marble tombstone, then light incense and burn paper offerings to grandpa. I also remember helping grandma weed the empty plot next to grandpa's as she prepared it for her final rest. 

Unlike most in their generation, my grandparents’ marriage was a love match — evident in the volumes of poetry they wrote to each other during their 50 years together. One of my favorite childhood memories is of sitting on a cool tiled balcony of their villa with my cousins and siblings during the Autumn Moon festival in Saigon. Grandpa and grandma would recite their favorite poems to one another as they drank tea. 

Alas, grandma’s wish to be buried with her husband was interrupted when communist tanks rolled into Saigon. Grandma was adamant about staying — “who will attend your grandfather's grave if I leave,” she kept asking. 

In perhaps the most Confucian moment of their lives, my mother, uncles and aunts all got down on their knees and begged her to come along. 

Grandma’s love of the living finally won out over her yearning for the dead. At the last hour, before the airport closed, she grabbed her purse and a few dresses and stuffed them in a plastic bag and came along with her children to America. 

The years here for my grandmother were years of longing and regret. She regretted leaving Vietnam, and she missed the Sunday rituals of tending to her husband’s grave. Exile for her was a spiritual amputation — a tearing of her soul. 

Worse, in America, grandma no longer dreamed of grandpa the way she did when she was living in Vietnam. As senility began to show, she often wondered aloud whether ghosts could cross the ocean and, if they could, why grandpa hadn't visited her in her dreams. “Is the ocean too big,” she'd ask? “Has he gone to nirvana? Has he forgotten me?” 

When news arrived from relatives in Saigon that the communists were about to raze the cemetary where grandpa was buried, we hid it from her. Full of southern elites, the cemetary was an eye sore to the northern rulers who wished to erase all memories of the previous regime. Our entire clan pooled together a large sum of money and sent it to a cousin still living back home to have grandpa's remains cremated and placed in a Buddhist temple. When the Cold War ended, we sent yet another cousin in California back to Vietnam to bring grandpa’s urn to the U.S. In another Buddhist temple in Sacramento, grandpa’s urn sat, waiting for my grandmother to live out the rest of her days. 

When she finally died earlier this year, their two urns sat on a Buddhist altar amidst wafting incense smoke and chanting monks in San Jose. At the cemetary pulsing with birdsongs where we buried them, we cried. But we were inwardly glad, too. The dead are now together, and the living had performed their filial duties. 

Finally, grandma’s nightingale can sing a happier melody. 

Pacific News Service Editor Andrew Lam is a short story writer and journalist. 

Albatross Pub Sept. 1: David Widelock Jazz Trio; Sept. 5: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 6: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 11: Mad & Eddie Duran Jazz Duo; Sept. 13: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 19: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 20: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 22: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet; Sept. 27: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Free. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473 albatrosspub@mindspring.com 

Anna’s Aug. 27: The Renegade Sidemen; Aug. 28: The Interface Ensemble; Aug. 29: Bob Schoen Jazz Quartet; Aug. 30: Christy Dana Quartet; Aug. 31: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Free. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 1801 University Ave. 849-2662  

Ashkenaz Aug. 28: 9 p.m. Gerard Landry and the Lariats, $8; Aug. 29: 8 p.m. Earl White Oldtime Band, Bluegrass Intentions, plus clogging lessons. $10, Kids under 12 Free; Aug. 30: 9 p.m. Samite, Forward Kwenda, $10; Aug. 31: 9:30 p.m. Wawa and the Oneness Kingdom, The Calypsonians, $10; 1317 San Pablo Ave. 525-5054 www.ashkenaz.com  

Café Eclectica Sept. 8: 8 p.m. SF Improv, Free. 1309 Solano Ave. 326-6124 www.sfimprov.com 

Café de la Paz Poetry Nitro, performance showcase with open mike. Sept. 10: Lucy Lang Day; Sept. 17: Marc Hofstadter (book party); Sept. 24: Jim Watson-Gove; All shows free, 7 - 10 p.m. 

Cal Performances Sept. 6: 8 p.m. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, $20 - $32; Sept. 16: 7 p.m. Tania Libertad, $18 - $30; Sept. 30: 7 p.m. Kronos Quartet, David Barron, $30; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; Sept. 3: Big West Coast Harmonica Bash, benefit for Red Archibald. $10 donation; Doors open at 8 p.m. 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Sept. 1: Ancient Future, $16.50; Sept. 7: Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin, $16.50; Sept. 8: The House Jacks, $17.50; Sept. 9: Erika Luckett, $16.50; Sept. 11: Don Walser, Slaid Cleaves, $16.50; Sept. 12: Andy Irvine, $17.50; Sept. 13: Piper Heisig birthday revue and fund raiser w/ Kate Brislin, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Carlos Reyes, and Radim Zenkl, $16.50; Sept. 14: Ray Wylie Hubbard, $16.50; Sept. 15: Vocolot, $17.50; All shows start at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

Jupiter Aug. 28: Big Lou and Polka Casserole; Aug. 29: Secession; Aug. 30: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; Aug. 31: Realistic CD Release Party; Sept. 4: Beth Waters Band; Sept. 5: Presidents Breakfast; Sept. 6 Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 7: Crater; Sept. 10: Ben Graves Trio; Sept. 11: Len Patterson Trio; Sept. 12: Bitches Brew; Sept. 13: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 14: Carlos Washington & Giant People Ensemble; Sept. 15: Kooken & Hoomen; Sept. 18: The Goodbye Flowers; Sept. 19: New Monsoon; Sept. 20: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 21: Netwerk: Electric; Sept. 22: New Garde Philosophers; All music starts at 8:00 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave. 843-7625 www.jupiterbeer.com  

La Peña Cultural Center Sept. 11, 12: 8 p.m. Irakere, $22; In the Cafe, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 www.lapena.org 

Alice Arts Sept. 8: 7:30 p.m. Benefit concert for freedom of U.S. political prisoners featuring Fred Ho (solo) and The Eddie Gale Unit. $12; 1428 Alice, Oakland, 539-0050  

www.thejerichomovement.com/teardownthewalls 

“Song of the Lakitan Bird” Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Kulintang Dance Theatre communicates the beauty and refinement of the Southern Philippine culture. $10 Adults, $5 Children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. All shows 8 p.m. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s and Gabrial Pascal’s “Pygmalion.” Directed by James Schlader, choreographed by Harriet Schlader, under the musical direction of Mark Hanson. $15 - $27. 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. 531-9597 www.woodminster.com 

“Hecho En Califas Chicano-Latino Teatro Festival” Sept. 6 - 9, 14 - 15; 8 p.m. Original members of El Teatro de La Esperanza. Chicano Theater began out of the need to express the realities of the fields and barrios of Aztlán in the Chicano-Latino community. $10 - $20 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, 849-2568, www.lapena.org  

“Winesburg, Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque” Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, Wed. - Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players and Word For Word team up for a production of Sherwood Anderson’s deceptively simple tale of neglected souls who fade into the shadows around us. $22, Wednesdays are “Pay What You Can.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. 655-0813 www.shotgunplayers.org 

“36 Views” Sept. 12 through Oct. 28: Tues. 8 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Thu., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Sat., Sun. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Written by Naomi Lizuka, Directed by Mark Wing-Davey. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. 239-2252 www.acteva.com/go/havefun 

Cal Performances Sept. 8: 8 p.m. & Sept. 9: 3 p.m. - Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia, $20 - $32; Sept. 19 - 20: 8 p.m. American Ballet, “Bruch Violin Concerto,” “Jabula,” “Gong,” and “Black Tuesday.”; Sept. 21: 8 p.m., Sept. 22: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sept. 23: 3 p.m. American Ballet, the full-length 19th Century “Giselle” $36 - $64; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Pacific Film Archive Aug. 28: 7:30 p.m. Doodling; Aug. 29: (free screenings) 7:30 p.m. The Horror of Party Beach, 9:15 p.m. The Crater Lake Monster; Aug. 31: 7 p.m. The Makioka Sisters, 9:35 p.m. A Woman’s Testament; Gen. Adm.. $7, The New PFA Theatre 2575 Bancroft Way 642-1412 

The Pyramid Alehouse Outdoor Cinema Sept. 1: Breakfast Club; Sept. 2: Pretty in Pink; Sept. 8: Dr. No (come as your favorite Bond character); Sept. 15: Harold and Maude; Sept. 22: Airplane; The Outdoor Cinema features cult classics projected on a large screen in the open-air brewery parking lot. $5 donation. Movies start at 7 p.m. 901 Gilman St. 206-682-8322 x237 www.pyramidbrew.com 

“BACA National Juried Exhibition: Works on Paper” Through Aug. 31: Wed. - Sun. Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“Debbie Moore’s Autobiographical Paintings” Through Sep. 30 at Good Vibrations. Portraits of the artist’s sensual explorations spanning 25 years and reflecting changing ways of intimacy and body play. 2504 San Pablo Avenue 848-1985 

“The Decade of Change: 1900 - 1910” chronicles the transformation of the city of Berkeley in this 10 year period. Thursday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Through September. Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Wheelchair accessible. 848-0181. Free.  

Two years ago, the Pac-10 was a national joke. Last year, three teams tied for the conference title, had big bowl wins and finished in the top 10 nationally. So with expectations raised sky-high for the conference leaders this season, can Oregon, Oregon State and Washington replicate their super seasons? Or will the league be hit with another down cycle? With eight teams returning their starting quarterbacks and a couple of early Heisman candidates in Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington and Oregon State tailback Ken Simonton, this could be the year that establishes the conference back in the nation’s elite. Here are our predictions for the upcoming season. 

1. Oregon 

Q: Can the Ducks live up to the pre-season hype? 

Head coach Mike Bellotti has led the Ducks to a Pac-10-best 49 wins in his first six seasons in Eugene, but has never faced the expectations he will this year. After finishing last season with a 35-30 Holiday Bowl win over Texas and a No. 7 ranking in the AP poll, the hype coming from the Northwest is deafening. Oregon boosters paid $250,000 for a billboard in Times Square promoting Harrington’s Heisman candidacy, and there is an Oregon football billboard just off of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. 

With eight starters back from last year’s high-powered offense, all the pieces seem to be in place. Harrington led the Pac-10 in total offense last year and threw for 20 touchdowns, and four of his top five receivers are back, as is tailback Maurice Morris, a junior-college transfer who ran for 1,106 yards, and four-fifths of the offensive line. 

The Ducks’ defense is a different story. Just one of the front seven return, end Seth McEwen, and questions abound about who will fill the other six spots. The secondary should be solid with All-Pac-10 cornerback Rashad Bauman and safety Rasuli Webster. How the defense holds up will determine whether Oregon will repeat last year’s performance. 

2. UCLA 

Q: Will all of the Bruins’ talent finally produce some wins? 

Head coach Bob Toledo’s squad heads into the 2001 season once again as one of the most athletically talented teams in the country. But a 10-13 record in the last two seasons indicates a disturbing lack of heart in Los Angeles. 

Toledo presents a myriad of options on offense, which Cory Paus will try to stay healthy enough to run. Paus has separated both shoulders, bruised his ribs and broken his collarbone in his first two years with the Bruins, and backup Ryan McCann led the team to wins over Alabama and Michigan last year. But Paus is clearly Toledo’s guy, so his health is of utmost importance. Tailback DeShaun Foster finally lived up to his reputation last season, rushing for 1,037 yards and being named All-Pac-10. With flashy Freddie Mitchell gone the NFL, wideout Brian Poli-Dixon can step into the spotlight. The gigantic (6-foot-5) senior caught 53 balls for 750 yards last season; look for his production to jump as the number-one guy. 

UCLA returns the entire defensive line, backed by Butkus Award nominee Robert Thomas. If the Bruins can find a cornerback to bookend with Ricky Manning, they could have a dominating defense. Their matchup with Oregon on Nov. 10 could decide the Pac-10 title.  

3. Washington 

Q: How do the Huskies replace Marques Tuiasosopo? 

Well, the straightforward answer is with junior Cody Pickett. After sitting behind the remarkable Tuisasosopo for two years, Pickett has beaten out City College of San Francisco transfer Taylor Barton for the opening-day job. But although Pickett is athletic and has a nice arm, there is no way he can step right into his predecessor’s big shoes. 

Luckily, head coach Rick Neuheisel has a twin threat at tailback to take some pressure off of his new quarterback. Senior Willie Hurst and sophomore Rich Alexis both averaged more than six yards per carry last season. Alexis’s emergence has led to junior Paul Arnold moving to wideout, where he joins Todd Elstrom, Chris Juergens and super freshman Reggie Willams to give Pickett a plethora of targets. 

The Huskies’ defense will revolve around tackle Larry Tripplett, who passed up the chance to be a first-round pick in the NFL draft to return for his senior year in Seattle. The team’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss last year, Tripplett may be the most feared defensive player in the conference. He is joined on the line by fellow senior Marcus Roberson, who had six sacks last year. The rest of the defense is a questionmark, with several players vying for time at nearly every position. 

4. Oregon State 

Q: Are the Beavers the Miami of the West? 

Although Oregon State had the best season in school history last year, what with tying for the conference title and blasting Notre Dame 41-9 in the Fiesta Bowl, the Beavers pranced and preened around the field against the Irish, racking up five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. With former Miami head coach Dennis Erickson in charge, some are reminded of the lawless Hurricanes of the early ’90s, rife with drugs, guns and rumored NCAA violations. 

Despite the new image, Erickson has clearly made the Beavers into a national power with speed and aggressiveness. But the two keys to the team’s success are two smallish, understated players. Simonton, who stands just 5-foot-8, is a Heisman candidate, having gained more than 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, and former walk-on quarterback Jonathan Smith has made himself into a leader despite standing just 5-foot-11 in an era when quarterbacks are supposed to be supersized. 

But no Pac-10 team has to replace more starters than the Beavers’ 14, including seven on offense. The line that cleared the way for Simonton last season returns just two starters, and the top three wideouts are gone. Erickson’s offense depends on speed and timing, so Smith could struggle early as he acquaints himself with his new receivers. 

5. USC 

Q: Can Pete Carroll bring the Trojans back to their former glory? 

Carroll, who was run out of head jobs by the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, is taking his first crack at running a college program. But the laid-back attitude that infuriated NFL fans in the northeast could prove effective at Southern Cal. 

Carroll’s first task will be to turn the Trojans from a track team into a football team. Boasting the fastest group of athletes this side of the Olympics, USC finished dead last in the Pac-10 last year. Carroll must figure out if track athletes necessarily make good football players.  

It would also help if quarterback Carson Palmer cut down on an outrageous 18 interceptions last season. Palmer has the size and arm to be one of the top signal-callers in the country, but struggled mightily last year. Carroll is counting on quarterback guru Norm Chow, who earned his reputation at BYU, to turn Palmer around. 

The defense could benefit from two fresh faces, one old and one new. Cornerback Antuan Simmons was an elite player two years ago, but missed last season after having surgery to remove abdominal tumors. If he can play up to his old standard, it will give the Trojans a lift. The new face is defensive end Shaun Cody, the consensus top prep lineman last year. Cody could step right into a starting spot. 

6. Stanford 

Q: Can the Cardinal defense stop anyone? 

Stanford gave up at least 30 points five out of their last six games last season, and has since lost seniors leaders Willie Howard and Riall Johnson. Seven starters return, but is that a good thing? They will struggle to get to the quarterback without Pac-10 sack leader Johnson, and Howard was the backbone of the defense. Linebacker Coy Wire is back to throw his 215-pound body into the fray, and cornerback Ruben Carter was solid last year. But unless true freshman Michael Craven can step into Johnson’s shoes, the Cardinal will have trouble keeping the opposing teams from lighting up the scoreboard. 

Quarterback Randy Fasani has the potential to be an all-conference player, but missed three games with injuries and was forced to leave two others. Backup Chris Lewis is mobile and led the team to a last-minute win over Texas when Fasani was hurt, but is erratic. The tailback position is deep with Kerry Carter and Brian Allen both capable of starting, but neither is a game-breaker. The offensive line should be outstanding, with all five starters back, as well as talented sophomore Kwame Harris pushing for playing time. 

7. California 

Q: Is this Kyle Boller’s breakout year? 

Junior quarterback Boller should be helped greatly by new offensive coordinator Al Borges, lured away from UCLA with the promise of more responsibility. Borges is known for his innovative, multiple-set offense. If Boller can grasp the new looks, and get some touch on his short passes, he could emerge as a premier quarterback. 

A big obstacle in Boller’s improvement is the lack of a game-breaking wide receiver. Lacking a deep threat last year, the Bears often faced defenses with seven or eight men at the line of scrimmage, putting pressure on Boller to make decisions under pressure. If senior Derek Swafford, junior Charon Arnold or sophomore Geoff McArthur can stretch the field, it will give Boller more time, as well as open more holes for tailback Joe Igber. With four starters back on the offensive line, those holes should come more ofter for the diminutive Igber, who ran for 901 yards last year. 

Cal’s defense will have to deal with the loss of linemen Andre Carter and Jacob Waasdorp, two irreplacable players. But defensive coordinator Lyle Sentencich always seems to find new stars, and has a couple of possibilities in linebacker Scott Fujita and cornerback Jemeel Powell, along with as many as 10 linemen to work in and out of games. 

8. Arizona State 

Q: Will the Sun Devils score enough points to win? 

New head coach Dick Koetter brings a reputation for aggressive offense from Boise State, but the Sun Devils don’t have an abundance of talent on that side of the ball. Former walk-on Jeff Krohn was the starter at quarterback last year, but was alternately ineffective and fragile, while junior Matt Cooper and redshirt freshman Andrew Walter were impressive in spring practice. Whoever ends up behind center should have a multitude of receivers to throw to in Koetter’s offensive scheme. The return of tailback Delvon Flowers, who missed last season with a knee injury, should help out. 

On defense, ASU returns seven starters, but lost leader Adam Archuleta to the NFL. Koetter is installing a new defense that includes five defensive backs, so the defensive line will have to get a good push to keep teams from running all over them. End Terrell Suggs, a first-team All-Freshman last year, should be a force.  

9. Arizona 

Q: Will John Mackovic revive the Wildcats? 

The ’Cats were stagnating under former head coach Dick Tomey, but bringing in former Texas head man Mackovic is anything but a sure thing. Not exactly known for his offensive innovation, Mackovic won’t have much to work with in the way of playmakers, as Arizona hasn’t had a banner recruiting class in years. 

The good news is that the Wildcats will bring their always-punishing defense to the field. Larry MacDuff was the original engineer of the Flex-Eagle defense that led Arizona to national prominence in the early ’90s, and has returned to the school after leaving for two years. The defense, led by linebacker Lance Briggs and cornerback Michael Jolivette, will have to bring back the glory days if the ’Cats are to make a bowl bid. 

10. Washington State 

Q: Can Mike Price engineer an upset this season? 

Price, the Pac-10’s senior head coach, is entering his 13th year at the helm of the Cougars. But since Ryan Leaf led the team to the Rose Bowl in 1997, there has been little joy in Pullman. Price has enjoyed just three conference wins in the last three years, and the feeling is that he’s fighting for his job this season. But with three overtime losses in the conference last year and 17 starters returning, WSU could surprise several teams this year. 

The key to the Cougars’ hopes may depend on who wins the quarterback job. Jason Gesser was the starter for nine games last year until suffering a broken fibula against Oregon. But sophomore Matt Kegel stepped right in and led the team to a win over USC in Los Angeles in his first start. While the mobile Gesser knows the offense well, Kegel is the classic pocket passer Price has had success with in the past (see Drew Bledsoe and Leaf, Kegel’s first cousin). Gesser is the nominal starter as of now, but Price has indicated he may play both quarterbacks during the season. 

The Cougars return nearly their entire offense, with only their receivers gone from last year. The defense returns eight starters, but that might not be good news, considering the unit gave up 4.3 yards per rush last year and had just 23 sacks.

Lamont is nervous. A police officer has stopped him and is asking for his identification. But Lamont refuses to produce his wallet or the I.D that is inside. And the police officer looks like he is getting mad.  

“It’s well known that Cal students come to People’s Park to buy drugs,” says the police officer as his reason for having stopped Lamont. But Lamont knows his rights. He questions the basis of the officer’s suspicion and refuses to have his backpack searched. After a few minutes of tense discussion, the officer lets him go. 

But Lamont wasn’t stopped by a real police officer. The tense interaction between Lamont and the police officer was really a role playing exercise to train new volunteers for Berkeley’s Copwatch this past Saturday. But it was enough to remind him of the bad experiences he’s had in the past. 

Now, thanks to the training, he knows how to protect himself, and others, when police abuse their authority. 

Created in 1990 in response to escalating tension between homeless people and police in the Telegraph Avenue area, Copwatch is a non-profit organization fighting against police brutality. Volunteers document police behavior by bearing witness and filming situations with a video camera.  

Copwatch members say this is the best way to hold police accountable for their actions. 

“We don’t want to exaggerate,” said Andrea Prichett, a Copwatch co-founder. “We only want to expose police misconduct. We really want to talk about what we see to influence the City Council and educate people.” 

Copwatch strategies, Prichett explained, are based on one fundamental principle: first, do not harm. While they never want to contribute to worsening the situation, the volunteers on Saturday were also learning how to hold police accountable to the letter of the law. 

According to the California penal code, citizens are allowed to observe police intervention as long as they do not interfere. Prichett explained a few of the techniques. First, she said, Copwatchers, as the volunteers are called, should always speak directly to the police officers they are only observing. 

They should never approach a policeman from the back or have their hands in their pockets, because it might give the police the impression they are armed. A Copwatcher’s main task on the scene is to write down and videotape as many details as possible, such as the officer’s badge number, the officer’s name, their precinct, the location and time. 

As well, in the case of something going wrong, volunteers are trained to be on the lookout for possible witnesses, who would be willing to speak up and go on record if it is necessary to file a complaint. 

Prichett says it is paramount for the general public to be aware of their rights if stopped by police. The first thing to do when stopped by the police, Prichett said, is to ask the officer whether or not you are free to go. By law, they can detain someone if they have reason to believe that person has broken the law. Prichett said if someone is detained, they are not required by law to give their name and address, but she added, at that point they may want to cooperate.  

Providing any information beyond that is not recommended. Likewise, Prichett pointed out to the 20 trainees that while police are allowed to do a pat search, they are supposed to obtain consent from the detainee in order to search pockets, purses, and backpacks. If someone is placed under arrest, Prichett advises to not say anything until a lawyer or public defender is present.

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to United States President George W. Bush. 

Stem Cell research can lead to a cure for many thousands of paralyzed republican voting architects and other productive consumers and investors — and their wives, voting republican relatives, friends, and contributors. 

Please sneak in a few gigabucks for stem cell research. You’ll be glad you did. This is a real and growing need as millions of Republicans and others grow older and begin to have health problems. 

Many valuable embryonic cells are discarded that could be used. Let us not waste valuable resources like this. It’s a sin to waste, my grandmother used to tell me and my numerous strong, well-to-do Republican uncles. Would you argue with my grandmother? I hope not. 

Terry Cochrell 

Berkeley

For reading 275,462 pages over six months last year – on their own time – John Muir Elementary School students will be awarded $5,000 from the state.  

In the second year of the Governor’s Reading Award Program, John Muir is one of 800 California elementary and middle schools to receive an award. 

Participating schools ask students to keep a weekly log tallying up all the reading they have done at home. Kindergarten and first grade students can count the number of pages that parents or others read to them each night. 

“Students are encouraged to read anyway, but this program got people excited about exceeding that,” said John Muir Principal Nancy D. Waters. “Some students were even reading during recess. 

“We would talk about it in assemblies. We’d say, ‘Even if we don’t get the money, look what we’re going to get for ourselves.’” 

A committee of parents, students, teachers and other school staff will be formed to decide what to do with the $5,000 award. Waters said the money would probably be used to support the school literacy program in one way or another. 

Waters said John Muir students will be encouraged to continue to keep reading logs in the years ahead, as an incentive to read on their own time. 

“We really want out students to be reading, because that opens up the world to them,” Waters said. 

“The students are here.” 

The phrase can be heard, mumbled under the breath, as Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley once again begins to brim with blue and gold, and backpacked figures make their way across campus, lumbering through Sproul Plaza on their way to Sather Gate. 

It’s getting close to the start of the new school year at the University of California at Berkeley. For most of this year's 31,500 students, classes begin today. 

But the arrival of the students, a tradition as true as the yearly return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano, is already evident. 

You can tell that the students are here by the way that around campus and environs, moving trucks are double parked, and the dwarf refrigerators — staples of college life — have begun to make their annual appearance. 

You can tell, too, by the longer lines at Blondie’s and Fat Slice, two by-the slice pizza shops just a block apart from each other along Telegraph Avenue. 

Elias Haro, manager at Fat Slice Pizza, has no doubt that the migration has begun. 

“It gets really busy,” Haro said. “You see just by looking out into the sidewalks that they're here.” 

Over on Bancroft Avenue, at Ned's Berkeley Bookstore, Todd Roe has been experiencing the bustle of it all for five years. A college textbook store is a good barometer of the students’ return, and over the years, Roe has become an expert reader. 

It’s a cycle, he explains, which starts a week before classes begin. The freshmen come in and pick up their books first. There’s only a few of them in the initial days, then toward the middle of the week, the bulk of them come and then fade by Friday. 

The lull is not lasting because it is followed by the “mad dash,” when the rest of the students return and scramble to find the books they need for their classes during the first week of class, Roe says. 

After a couple of weeks, when the book returns and exchanges are complete, the influx is done, and except for the occasional stragglers who decide to wait to look for their books until they need them for midterms, it all slows down, Roe said. 

“Right now we are basically at the bottom of the trough,” Roe said Friday, sounding like a man piling sandbags in preparation for a storm.  

“We’ve finished with the freshmen — about 75 percent of them — and we’re getting ready for the other 75 percent of the students.'' 

This year’s freshman class is made up of 3,955 first-year students, 1,728 transfers and 2,590 students pursuing graduate degrees. 

For a second year in a row, a majority of the first-year students — or about 55 percent — are women, a record-breaker that began last year, and which hadn’t been broken since World War II. 

The youngest incoming student is 15 years old. The incoming class also boasts a 69-year-old woman, who is a transfer student, as well as a 68-year old man, who is also transferring to Cal. 

All of the freshmen students who requested on-campus housing have been offered spaces in the residence halls. 

For returning students who are living off-campus, there is good news on the housing front. 

Finding a place to live will be easier this year than in the recent past. The days of sleeping on friends’ couches and living out of boxes and suitcases because of the tight market seem to be over. 

“[House Hunting] is certainly easier than it was last year,” said Becky White, assistant director at Cal Rentals, the university’s housing referral and counseling center.  

“A lot of it is due to the demise of so many young startups, whose employees were in direct competition with our students for housing.” 

In addition to the lack of competition, prices, too, have gone down, White noted.  

The average student apartment, which was going for $981 a month in July, now rents for $955. One-bedroom apartments, which went for $1,375 rents on average last month, are listed at $1,256. 

By this point, with classes so near, the majority of this year’s students have already secured a place to live. School officials, however, are working to make sure that those dwellings are safe. 

In an effort to prevent any deaths from fires, like the ones that took the lives of two of the university’s students last school year, university officials are making sure that all student housing units — both on and off campus — have working smoke detectors. 

The Berkeley Fire Department is providing the potentially life-saving devices free of charge for students living in the city. It is also providing free window bar testing.

CARLSBAD – Straddling a longboard, Kim Kennis scanned the incoming waves, searching for one packing enough height and force. 

A week earlier, she had stepped off an airplane from Rochester, N.Y., with one goal in mind: Ride a wave just like the women she had seen in the surfing magazines. 

For five days, she had listened, practiced and shared the frustration that came with learning a new sport. Kennis and 20 others are enrolled in Surf Divas, a camp for women. 

Now in the water, the 35-year-old antiques dealer bobbed on her surf board as she looked at the waves rolling in to South Carlsbad State Beach. Then she saw it, a soft swell building in the distance. 

“This isn’t the end — you know, a come-to-California-and-learn-to-surf vacation, and then go home and forget it,” she said later on the beach. “This is the beginning. This is a sport I’m learning, I’m going to continue, and I’m going to invest in.” 

That’s the attitude, industry analysts said, that a growing number of women have been expressing about the sport in recent years. In response, surfing companies increasingly cater to women, sponsoring weeklong camps and clothing lines. 

Analysts point to the rising number of women with disposable incomes, the adventure sports movement and the success of targeted advertising by mainstream retail giants, such as Nike. 

“Suddenly, in the summer of 2001, the climate is just right for a lot of these women to take that step and get out there,” said Elizabeth Glazner, founder and co-editor of Wahine, a women’s surfing magazine. 

“It’s not because somebody created a board short for women. It’s because people have been out in the sand for years watching their kids, their boyfriends, their husbands do it and finally asked, ’Why can’t I do it?”’ 

The Surf Industry Manufacturing Association reported at its annual meeting this spring that the number of businesses offering surfing products for women and girls had increased nearly 75 percent from 1997 to 2000. There are no estimates available on the number of women taking up the sport. 

It also found that major surfing retailers, such as Billabong and Reef, had made significant marketing changes to target women. 

The babes in bikinis who dominated advertisements in the 1980s and 1990s have been replaced by professional and amateur athletes. Most visible are world-ranked competitors such as Lisa Anderson, who became the first female professional surfer with a signature shoe line. 

“Honestly, I think the success of mainstream companies outside of the surf industry has had an effect,” said Jessica Trent, a marketing manager for Billabong. “Using real athletes, real women works. You don’t have to have a cookie-cutter girl.” 

As a result, companies are seeing increased sales. 

Reef, which introduced its women’s footwear line in 1999, expected female sales to surpass its popular men’s line by the end of this fiscal year, said Reef spokeswoman Heather Bensen. 

Christina Shires, 29, of Seattle, is among the women targeted by businesses. A year ago, she had never held a surf board. Today, she owns one. 

“A lot of people asked if I was going through a mid-life crisis,” she said with a laugh. 

While large companies are riding the wave of success, a growing number of women-owned small businesses also is finding a place in the industry. 

At the recent Surf Summit, the surfing industry’s annual gathering in Mexico, more than 70 percent of the businesses represented were owned by women, according to Glazner. 

“There were a lot of stores, companies owned by men who were selling what they thought a woman should buy. Women know what women want to buy, what they need,” said Isabella Califano, co-owner of Chickabiddy, a small surf clothier. 

But perhaps the greatest indicator is the proliferation of women-only surf clinics and camps. 

Five years ago, Surf Divas was one of the only surf schools offering individual instruction, clinics and weeklong camps for women. Today, more than a dozen such schools have popped up around the nation. 

“It’s like trying to learn driving from your dad. There’s no patience” involved, said Isabelle Tihanyi, co-owner of Surf Divas. “These kinds of schools offer patience, that nurturing that’s needed.” 

There are no men at Surf Divas. “Men and women are different. The way they learn is different. Their bodies are different. The way they surf is different,” Tihanyi said. “Surfing by itself can be intimidating. If you throw men in the mix, it can become overwhelming for some women.” 

For about $600 a week, Surf Diva participants receive two three-hour surfing sessions a day with instructors, use of a board and wet suit, and room and board — a tent and outdoor cookouts at South Carlsbad State Beach. 

Cat Beagan-Gorlick, a 30-year-old Web designer from Queens, N.Y., had always heard that surfing was for guys. But by day 4 at Surf Divas, she was ready to do it herself. 

As she popped up on her board, Lesley Gregory, a 46-year-old elementary schoolteacher from Temecula, Calif., cheered her on. Later, Gregory got up on her board to cheers from others in the water. 

“The support the women give each other is important, I think, to the experience. You don’t want to feel alone out there,” she said. 

The camp also teaches surfing etiquette, lingo and fashion do’s and don’ts 

Bikinis, for example, are a no-no. “The wave will just take it right off,” Tihanyi said. Board shorts and wet suits with rash guards, which protect the skin from salt abrasions, are recommended. 

“Our goal is to pass the stoke on,” Tihanyi said. Stoke, she explained, is surf lingo for excitement. 

Kim Kennis, feeling that excitement and finally spotting her wave, turned her board back toward the beach and paddled furiously. 

As the wave caught her, she first raised her upper body, then pulled her legs underneath and pushed herself up. 

For a moment, she was standing. Then she was not, losing her balance and disappearing under the wave’s white water. 

Moments later, she was back on her board, paddling out toward the incoming waves.

Berkeley High School staff arrived back on campus Friday for the first of three “staff development” days, two of which will focus on formulating a response to the criticisms leveled against the school in a recent report by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 

WASC is responsible for accrediting schools throughout the state of California. It grants accreditation for terms of anywhere from one to six years, with short term accreditations coming when a WASC visiting committee is dissatisfied with a particular school’s progress. 

Berkeley High received a two year accreditation in 1999, and a one and a half year extension this spring, after a WASC committee found the school’s progress in key areas to be “at best spotty and fragmented.”  

The WASC committee identified 11 areas where the school must make significant improvements before its next visit, scheduled for October of 2002.  

The WASC committee has consistently praised Berkeley High for its dedicated teaching staff, rich array of electives and standardized test scores well above the state average. But it has criticized the school for its high failure rate among minority students, the lack of clear, measurable goals for what each student will learn by graduation and the apparent absence of a process for making decisions about school policy.  

Other areas of concern include a perception that the school does not have consistent policies for dealing with truancy and student discipline, that it lacks a plan for increasing the use of technology in instruction and that the teaching staff has difficulty collaborating due to existence of “special interest agendas” among various groups of teachers. 

None of this is news to Berkeley High teachers. The WASC committee’s finding are based, in large measure, on interviews with Berkeley High staff.  

The high school has worked to address the problem areas in recent years, with more success in some areas than others.  

To address the achievement gap, the school created a Student Learning Center that provides tutoring, study skills programs, academic enrichment, counseling and other support for all Berkeley High students. But the center focuses particularly on those who are at risk of failing classes. 

This year a new truancy policy will go into effect at the school, setting strict guidelines for what happens when students repeatedly miss class. And a new program begun last year is working to address the WASC committee’s concern that there are two few minorities in Berkeley High’s advanced classes. Known as the AP Project, the program actively recruits minorities for high level classes and gives them extra academic support outside of class to help ensure their success. 

One area where progress has proved illusive is the formulation of school-wide goals for students learning, or, in WASC lingo, “Expected Student Learning Results.” While some individual departments were able to come up with ESLRs for their subject areas, there was no consensus. 

Last fall, a group of a parents and teachers, taking over where previous efforts had left off, came up with one page of ESLRs for the school. On Friday, Berkeley High staff spent half a day in department meetings devising assignments that could be used to measure students progress with the ESLRs. To obtain the goal that each student be able to speak confidently and demonstrate a clear command of language, for example, one group of English teachers suggested students transform an essay into an oral presentation. 

On Monday, to continue to address the other areas of concern identified by the WASC committee, Berkeley High staff will divide into 10 focus groups made up of teachers from different departments, parent volunteers and other high school staff. Meeting once a month for the rest of the year, each focus group will look at specific areas of weakness identified by WASC. 

The timeline, according to Berkeley High Vice Principal Mary Ann Valles, calls for each focus group to submit “action plans” by the end of the first semester, so the school can begin to implement those plans during the second semester. When the WASC committee returns in the fall of next year, it will expect to see that the school has taken clear steps to deal with problem areas, Valles said. 

During the Friday sessions, there was some frustration among Berkeley High staff because they were being asked to give up some much staff development time to plan for the next WASC visit, when they could have used the time to review their own lesson plans for the year ahead. Some wondered when and how the ESLRs they were working so hard to develop would ever be used. 

But Valles said the ESLR discussions, and the focus group meetings planned for the rest of the year, represent a unique opportunity for Berkeley High staff to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t and come up with very specific solutions for problems. 

“We have to understand that WASC is a process that helps us,” Valles said. “It’s just a tool for self-evaluation and improvement.” 

To make the WASC process as effective as possible, Valles is encouraging parents, students and community members to become involved in the focus group discussions. To volunteer to join one of the groups, contact Valles at 644-4566.

Saturday, Aug. 25

Copwatch: Know Your  

Rights Training 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch Office 

2022 Blake St. 

Learn what your rights are when dealing with the police. Learn how to monitor the police safely.  

548-0425 

Astrojax Playday 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science 

UC Berkeley 

Astrojax is part yo-yo, part juggling balls and a lasso. The inventor, theoretical physicist Larry Show, will give a demonstration and instruction. Museum admission $3 - $7. 642-5132 

Cerrito Creek Work Party 

10 a.m. 

Meet at Creekside Park (south end of Belmont Street), El Cerrito 

Join Friends of Five Creeks in removing brush to make a new trail along Cerrito Creek. Bring work gloves and clippers if you have them.  

848-9358, f5creeks@aol.com, www.fivecreeks.org. 

Travel Careers Class 

8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

Vista’s annual one-day class for the public on careers in the travel industry. A full-day seminar. $5.50 981-2931 www.vistacollege.edu 

Sunday, Aug. 26

Healing 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Sylvie Gretchen on “Healing Mind.” Free. 

843-6812 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 654-6346 

3rd annual Berkeley World Music Festival 

noon - 6 p.m. 

Durant Ave., between Telegraph and Bowditch 

Carnival and block party festival with World Music bands, performers and dancers. 649-9500 www.taasite.org 

Monday, Aug. 27

Berkeley School Board Holds Special Budget Session 

6:00 p.m. 

District Administrative Offices, Second Floor 

2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Informational meeting to update school board and public on problems with district’s budget for 2001-2002. 

East Bay Heritage Quilters 

7:30 p.m. 

First Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Road-Moeser Lane @ Arlington, Kensington 

Lecture: On the Road to Quiltmaking, a Personal Journey  

Non-members $3. 834-3706 

Tuesday, Aug. 28

Berkeley High Freshman  

Orientation 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater 

Corner of Allston Way and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Incoming ninth graders take a tour of campus, get student I.D. cards and lockers, and learn about extracurricular activities available at Berkeley High. Students with last names beginning with A-L attend from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students with last names beginning with M-Z attend from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday morning. 655-8863 

Poetry Through Time II 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Judah L. Magnes Museum 

2911 Russell St. 

Bay Area poets Opal Palmer Adisa, Phyllis Koestenbaum, Reuven Goldfarb, and Martha Evans will read. A brief open reading will conclude the program. 549-6950 www.magnesmuseum.org 

Community Health Commission 

6:45 - 9:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Alta Bates Expansion. 644-6109 

Wednesday, Aug. 29

Section 8 Resident Council 

6 - 8 p.m. 

East Bay Community Law Center 

3122 Shattuck Ave. 

First Annual Speak Up. You can affect change but you must speak up. Refreshments provided. 548-4040 

Thursday, Aug. 30

Salsa Dance Classes 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

Classes every Thursday with live percussionists, light refreshments, DJ playing Latin music. $10 or $15 for two. 237-9874 

Lost in the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Avenue 

Jason Flesher, a Search and Rescue member for almost 20 years, will share his nine rules for surviving in the wilderness. Free. 527-4140 

Kensington 55+ Activity Center 

9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Social Hall of Arlington Community Church 

52 Arlington Ave. 

Conversation, Apple II computer instruction, massage therapy, German conversation group, meditation and relaxation techniques, watercolor art class, tea and coffee. Special 11 a.m. program: Music. 526-9146 

Attic Conversions 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

$35. 525-7610 

Friday, Aug. 31

Start a Writing Group – and Keep It Going 

10 a.m. - noon 

North Branch Berkeley Public Library 

1170 The Alameda 

Dr. Kathy Briccetti will host a workshop on How to Start and Maintain a Writing Group.  

Register by Aug. 29th. 644-6850 www.infopeople.org/bpl/ 

— compiled by Guy Poole 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: movie on Emma Goldman followed by discussion. 549-1879

Editor: 

Michael Katz’ 8/15 letter regarding Kennedy’s Gaia Building reflects many of my negative opinions about its scale, design, and impact. I will add my horror of how many more cars this building will generate in the downtown area; I am writing on the moving-in-weekend for UC students as our city’s streets transform into a rat maze; its parking into a nightmare. 

My neighborhood association is struggling with the developer of the Outback Restaurant site at Blake and Sacramento, and we, too, have gotten a taste of the co-mingling of money, power and politics. How about a two-story limit such as the one for both the Elmwood and Solano districts, before only shadows hit the sidewalks and streets and services cannot meet the needs of anyone. 

Nancy Wilson 

Berkeley 

A sudden-death haiku was called for at the Berzerkeley Slam Wednesday night to break a tie between competing poets. The standing room only audience at the Starry Plough’s weekly event snapped their fingers and shouted encouragement to the performers taking their turn at the microphone. 

In the first round, 15 poets competed with original poems, each limited to three minutes in length. Participation is open to anyone on a sign-in basis with lots drawn for position on the program.  

Five poets were selected for a second round by judges drawn at random from the audience. Winners shared $60 in prize money. The judges each received a free beer for their work. 

Poetry slams began in a Chicago jazz club in 1985 when construction worker and poet Mike Smith tried to liven up the traditional open mike poetry readings.  

The weekly event evolved with rules, terminology and a generally accepted format that included such traditions as volunteer judges from the audience.  

Slam popularity grew, and in 1990, the first national slam was held in San Francisco. At the national level, four-person teams compete with other teams from North American and European venues.  

First time slammers and national champions shared the stage in Berkeley.  

Slam organizer, emcee and poet Charles Ellik graciously hosted the evening, giving encouraging words to nervous poets and soliciting positive audience response.  

Last year’s National Champion, Shane Koyczan from Vancouver, British Columbia, was one of three featured, non-competing, poets of the evening. He began his set of poems with “The Importance of Making Lists,” moving to its rhythm, punctuating words with gestures and electrifying the audience. 

“This audience is the best in the United States,” said Koyczan, who is on a national tour of universities and slams. “Yelling, screaming, they support the artist and critique you.  

“No other venue has given me as much love as Berkeley.” 

The generosity of the audience is a reflection of the tone set by Ellik and producer Dani Eurynome. The number one rule for the Berzerkeley Slam is to have fun.  

“Great poetry is not about winning,” said Ellik. “It’s about socializing, creative freedom and cheering them on. 

“And if the poetry doesn’t move you,” he added. “The band will.”  

Backing up emcee Ellik and adding to the festive atmosphere was 3 Blind Mice, a local band recently added to this venue. With the neighborhood locals watching a baseball game at the bar and many of the customers coming for dinner and staying for the poetry, the mixed audience reflected the diversity of the poets.  

“The Bay Area has the biggest diversity of voices of any area and no specific recognizable style like New York or Chicago,” said Eurynome. 

Long time Berkeley street poet Luigi Pistolizi, another of the featured word artists of the evening, wore a four-quart pot on his head “to keep off the cathode rays from the television at the bar.”  

He charmed the audience with agile antics during his humorous readings and his quick wit improvisation based on word suggestions from the audience. 

Karen Ladson, one of the winners in the previous week’s competition, rounded out the featured poets’ portion of the slam with two crowd pleasers, introducing a new poem that used asthma as a metaphor for relationship.  

The high quality of the poets’ creative efforts, the varied content and enthusiastic audience participation made for a grand and entertaining evening.

Albatross Pub Sept. 1: David Widelock Jazz Trio; Sept. 5: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 6: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 11: Mad & Eddie Duran Jazz Duo; Sept. 13: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 19: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 20: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 22: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet; Sept. 27: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Free. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473 albatrosspub@mindspring.com 

Anna’s Aug. Aug. 25: Robin Gregory; 10 p.m. The Distones Jazz Sextet; Aug. 26: Choro Time; Aug. 27: The Renegade Sidemen; Aug. 28: The Interface Ensemble; Aug. 29: Bob Schoen Jazz Quartet; Aug. 30: Christy Dana Quartet; Aug. 31: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Free. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 1801 University Ave. 849-2662  

Ashkenaz Aug. 25: 9 p.m. California Brazil Camp Benefit, $10; Aug. 26: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Middle Eastern Dance Workshops with Ma Shuga Mira Murijan and Nanna Candeleria. $45. 8 p.m. Harmonia, $10; Aug. 28: 9 p.m. Gerard Landry and the Lariats, $8; Aug. 29: 8 p.m. Earl White Oldtime Band, Bluegrass Intentions, plus clogging lessons. $10, Kids under 12 Free; Aug. 30: 9 p.m. Samite, Forward Kwenda, $10; Aug. 31: 9:30 p.m. Wawa and the Oneness Kingdom, The Calypsonians, $10; 1317 San Pablo Ave. 525-5054 www.ashkenaz.com  

Café Eclectica Sept. 8: 8 p.m. SF Improv, Free. 1309 Solano Ave. 326-6124 www.sfimprov.com 

Café de la Paz Poetry Nitro, performance showcase with open mike. Sept. 10: Lucy Lang Day; Sept. 17: Marc Hofstadter (book party); Sept. 24: Jim Watson-Gove; All shows free, 7 - 10 p.m. 

Cal Performances Sept. 6: 8 p.m. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, $20 - $32; Sept. 16: 7 p.m. Tania Libertad, $18 - $30; Sept. 30: 7 p.m. Kronos Quartet, David Barron, $30; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Eli’s Mile High Club Aug. 25: Carlos Zialcita; Every Friday, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; Sept. 3: Big West Coast Harmonica Bash, benefit for Red Archibald. $10 donation; Doors open at 8 p.m. 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Sept. 1: Ancient Future, $16.50; Sept. 7: Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin, $16.50; Sept. 8: The House Jacks, $17.50; Sept. 9: Erika Luckett, $16.50; Sept. 11: Don Walser, Slaid Cleaves, $16.50; Sept. 12: Andy Irvine, $17.50; Sept. 13: Piper Heisig birthday revue and fund raiser w/ Kate Brislin, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Carlos Reyes, and Radim Zenkl, $16.50; Sept. 14: Ray Wylie Hubbard, $16.50; Sept. 15: Vocolot, $17.50; All shows start at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

Jupiter Aug. 25: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Aug. 28: Big Lou and Polka Casserole; Aug. 29: Secession; Aug. 30: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; Aug. 31: Realistic CD Release Party; Sept. 4: Beth Waters Band; Sept. 5: Presidents Breakfast; Sept. 6 Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 7: Crater; Sept. 10: Ben Graves Trio; Sept. 11: Len Patterson Trio; Sept. 12: Bitches Brew; Sept. 13: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 14: Carlos Washington & Giant People Ensemble; Sept. 15: Kooken & Hoomen; Sept. 18: The Goodbye Flowers; Sept. 19: New Monsoon; Sept. 20: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 21: Netwerk: Electric; Sept. 22: New Garde Philosophers; All music starts at 8:00 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave. 843-7625 www.jupiterbeer.com  

La Peña Cultural Center Aug. 25: 9:30 p.m., Edgardo Cambon’s Candela, $10, 8:15 p.m. Salsa dance class w/ Diego Vásquez, $13; Sept. 11, 12: 8 p.m. Irakere, $22; In the Cafe, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 www.lapena.org 

Indigo Event Center Aug. 25: 4:20 p.m. Musicians for Medical Marijuana Benefit concert. Sound Tribe Sector 9, Lost at Last, The Mermen, Ten Ton Chicken, Scott Huckabay, Strawberry Alarmclock, Buzzy Linhart, plus special guests, $25. 1988 Broadway at 19th, Oakland. 869-5391 www.m4mm.org  

TUVA Space Aug. 25: 8 p.m. Vanessa Lowe and the Lowliflies, Ira Marlowe, Hoarhound. 3192 Adeline St. 655-9755 

Alice Arts Sept. 8: 7:30 p.m. Benefit concert for freedom of U.S. political prisoners featuring Fred Ho (solo) and The Eddie Gale Unit. $12; 1428 Alice, Oakland, 539-0050 www.thejerichomovement.com/teardownthewalls 

Theater 

“Frank Olivier’s Twisted Cabaret” Aug. 25, 8 p.m. Frank Olivier is joined by Uncle Paul Nathan and The Twisted Cabaret Band. All tickets $16. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Loot” Through Aug. 25, Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Special Performance Aug. 20, 8 p.m. General Admission: $15, Students / Seniors: $10. La Val’s 1834 Euclid Avenue 655-0813 

“Soul Harmony” Aug. 25: 5 - 7 p.m. A spirited one-woman show of history, culture, and entertainment. Written by Joy Holland, directed by Ava Coaxum. Presented at the Black Repertory Theater. 3201 Adeline St. $10 donation. 652-3399 

“Song of the Lakitan Bird” Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Kulintang Dance Theatre communicates the beauty and refinement of the Southern Philippine culture. $10 Adults, $5 Children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. All shows 8 p.m. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s and Gabrial Pascal’s “Pygmalion.” Directed by James Schlader, choreographed by Harriet Schlader, under the musical direction of Mark Hanson. $15 - $27. 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. 531-9597 www.woodminster.com 

“Hecho En Califas Chicano-Latino Teatro Festival” Sept. 6 - 9, 14 - 15; 8 p.m. Original members of El Teatro de La Esperanza. Chicano Theater began out of the need to express the realities of the fields and barrios of Aztlán in the Chicano-Latino community. $10 - $20 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, 849-2568, www.lapena.org  

“Winesburg, Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque” Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, Wed. - Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players and Word For Word team up for a production of Sherwood Anderson’s deceptively simple tale of neglected souls who fade into the shadows around us. $22, Wednesdays are “Pay What You Can.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. 655-0813 www.shotgunplayers.org 

“36 Views” Sept. 12 through Oct. 28: Tues. 8 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Thu., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Sat., Sun. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Written by Naomi Lizuka, Directed by Mark Wing-Davey. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. 239-2252 www.acteva.com/go/havefun 

Dance 

Cal Performances Sept. 8: 8 p.m. & Sept. 9: 3 p.m. - Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia, $20 - $32; Sept. 19 - 20: 8 p.m. American Ballet, “Bruch Violin Concerto,” “Jabula,” “Gong,” and “Black Tuesday.”; Sept. 21: 8 p.m., Sept. 22: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sept. 23: 3 p.m. American Ballet, the full-length 19th Century “Giselle” $36 - $64; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Films 

Pacific Film Archive Aug. 25: 7 p.m. Moonfleet, 8:45 p.m. The Blue Gardenia; Aug. 26: 3 p.m. Duck Soup, 5:30 p.m. The Wanderers, 7:25 p.m. Dora-Heita; Aug. 28: 7:30 p.m. Doodling; Aug. 29: (free screenings) 7:30 p.m. The Horror of Party Beach, 9:15 p.m. The Crater Lake Monster; Aug. 31: 7 p.m. The Makioka Sisters, 9:35 p.m. A Woman’s Testament; Gen. Adm.. $7, The New PFA Theatre 2575 Bancroft Way 642-1412 

The Pyramid Alehouse Outdoor Cinema Aug. 25: The Shining; Sept. 1: Breakfast Club; Sept. 2: Pretty in Pink; Sept. 8: Dr. No (come as your favorite Bond character); Sept. 15: Harold and Maude; Sept. 22: Airplane; The Outdoor Cinema features cult classics projected on a large screen in the open-air brewery parking lot. $5 donation. Movies start at 7 p.m. 901 Gilman St. 206-682-8322 x237 www.pyramidbrew.com 

Exhibits 

“BACA National Juried Exhibition: Works on Paper” Through Aug. 31: Wed. - Sun. Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“Debbie Moore’s Autobiographical Paintings” Through Sep. 30 at Good Vibrations. Portraits of the artist’s sensual explorations spanning 25 years and reflecting changing ways of intimacy and body play. 2504 San Pablo Avenue 848-1985 

“The Decade of Change: 1900 - 1910” chronicles the transformation of the city of Berkeley in this 10 year period. Thursday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Through September. Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Wheelchair accessible. 848-0181. Free.  

“Census 2000: Asian Pacific Islander Americans” Sept. 5 through Oct. 13, reception Sept. 6, 6 - 8 p.m.; Wed. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Asian Pacific Islander American artists in roughly the demographic proportions indicated by the recent census. Free. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland 763-9470  

“Musee des Hommages” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Ten Years Here” Exhibit celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Turn of the Century Fine Arts. Through Sept. 14, Sat & Sun 1-5 p.m. 2510 San Pablo Avenue 849-0950 

“The Political Art of: Diego Marcial Rios” Through Sept. 20, Addison Street Window Gallery, 2018 Addison St. hdrios@msn.com 

Women’s Cancer Resource Gallery “Catastrophe, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions” The photography of Jessamyn Lovell. Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; “TheArthur Wright and Gerald Parker” Reception Sept. 8, Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; Tues. - Thurs. 1 - 7 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m. 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 x307 www.wcrc.org 

“Squared Triangle” Through Oct. 5: noon - 6 p.m. A minimal art exhibit featuring three Bay Area artists working in different mediums while achieving the same elegant simplicity. The Crucible, 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511 www.thecrucible.com 

“Inside Editions” Sept. 6 - Oct. 12: Nine printmakers exhibit their work. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tue. - Fri. Free. Kala Art Insitute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977 kala@kala.org 

Readings 

Black Oak Books Aug. 27: Catherine Brady, Jean Herlund, Frances Payne Adler, and Marianne Villanueva and others to celebrate CALYX Book’s 25th Anniversary, “Cracking the Earth”; Aug. 28: Kent Nerburn reads from “Road Angels: Searching for Home on America’s Coast of Dreams”; Aug. 29: Sylvia Brownrigg reads from her new novel, “Pages For You”; All shows at 7:30 p.m. free of charge. 1491 Shattuck Avenue 486-0698 

Boadecia’s Books Aug. 25: Ann Bannon reads from her lesbian pulp classic “Beebo Brinker.” All events start at 7:30 p.m. and are free. 398 Colusa Avenue 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Cody’s Books - Poetry Flash Aug. 29: The New Now Millennium Anthology Reading with Editor H. D. Moe; All are a $2 donation. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-0837 

The Humanist Fellowship Hall Aug. 27: 7:30 p.m. “The Ghosts Have Cameras” by H. D. Moe. A reading performance. Free. 390 27th St. 528-8713 

Lunch Poems Series Kick-Off Sept. 6: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. UC Berkeley campus figures from a wide variety of fields read and discuss their favorite poems. Free. In the Morrison Library in the Doe Library at UC Berkeley. 642-0137 www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems/ 

Spasso Aug. 27: Kira Allen; Sept. 3: Theme: dignity of labor; Sept. 10: Sharron Jones-Reid, Fruit of the Spirit Poets, Acoustic Musicians, Comedians, Rappers, Performance Artists, Writers All Welcome is located at 6021 College Ave. Free admission. 

South Branch Berkeley Public Library Sept. 1: 3 - 5 p.m. Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading. 1901 Russell St., 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival Sept. 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. An environmental poetry festival with a day of poetry, music and environmental activism featuring Gary Snyder, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Haas, Francisco X. Alarcon, and Earll Kingston as John Wesley Powell. Strawberry Creek Walk at 10 a.m. Oxford and Center. Festival at Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center Street. Free. 526-9105 www.poetryflash.org 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org  

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002. On View until Oct. 1 : “Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture.” “Sites Along the Nile: Rescuing Ancient Egypt.” “The Art of Research: Nelson Graburn and the Aesthetics of Inuit Sculpture.” “Tzintzuntzan, Mexico: Photographs by George Foster.” $2 general; $1 seniors; $.50 children age 17 and under; free on Thursdays. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Ave. 643-7648 or www.qal.berkeley.edu/~hearst/ 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Science in Toyland,” through Sept. 9. Exhibit uses toys to demonstrate scientific principles and to help develop children's thinking processes. Susan Cerny’s collection of over 200 tops from around the world. “Space Weather,” through Sept. 2. Learn about solar cycles, space weather, the cause of the Aurorae and recent discoveries made by leading astronomers. This interactive exhibit lets visitors access near real-time data from the Sun and space, view interactive videos and find out about a variety of solar activities. “Within the Human Brain,” ongoing. Visitors test their cranial nerves, play skeeball, master mazes, match musical tones and construct stories inside a simulated “rat cage” of learning experiments. “Saturday Night Stargazing,” First and third Saturdays each month. 8 - 10 p.m., LHS plaza. Space Weather Exhibit now - Sept. 2; now - Sept. 9 Science in Toyland; Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. 642-5132 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. “How Big Is the Universe?” Aug. 1 through Aug. 24. Learn how to determine the distance of celestial objects, one of the purposes of the Hubble Space Telescope. Daily, 2:15 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5; free children age 2 and younger. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu  

Oakland Museum of California, Every Worker is an Organizer: Farm Labor and the Resurgence of the United Farm Workers, through Aug. 26; Made in Oakland: The Furniture of Garry Knox Bennett, through Sept. 2; After the Storm: Bob Walker and the Art of Environmental Photography, through Sept. 16; Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks, through Sept. 23; Rustler Ranch Mastodon Project, through June 30, 2002; Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m., Closed Monday and Tuesday. $6 general; $4 youths (6-17), seniors and students with ID. Free for Museum members and children 5 and under. Free admission the second Sunday of the month. 10th & Oak Streets, Oakland. 238-2200 www.museum.org 

The UC Berkeley Art Museum is closed for renovations until the fall. 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694. 

With academics back in order, sophomore cornerback is at the top of the depth chart 

TURLOCK - Atari Callen doesn’t like to sit still for very long. Full of as much energy as any player on the Cal football team, Callen always seems to be in motion. Whether he’s out on the field playing or chatting it up with his teammates on the sidelines, the good-natured sophomore doesn’t seem to want to stop. He’s even more active off the field; Callen is an active participant is several of Cal’s community service programs.  

So when the Golden Bears open their season next weekend, don’t expect Callen to be away from the action much at all.  

As Cal prepares to break training camp in Turlock Friday, Callen is running with the first team at a cornerback spot. He’s also slated to be one of the Bears’ primary kickoff returners.  

“I love returning kicks,” Callen said. “I told coach in spring ball that I want to do kick returns. I want to be back there. I want to be on every special team.”  

For Callen, his third set of preseason workouts on the Cal State Stanislaus campus had a different feel. As a freshman in 1999, Callen wasn’t sure if he would play during the regular season. However, after injuries knocked several front-line players out of games, he gained his first action in Cal’s Pac-10 opener against Arizona State and responded with a key interception in the closing minutes to help seal the 24-23 victory. For the rest of the year, Callen saw spot duty at cornerback and additional time on special teams. He even had a start against Oregon State.  

But last year had a different twist. He knew going into fall camp that he would be forced to take a redshirt year and would spend most of the season going through drills and working on scout teams.  

In the spring, though, Callen realized he had a chance to play a significant role on the 2001 Bears. With injuries pushing fellow cornerbacks Jemeel Powell and LaShaun Ward to the sidelines, Callen got many more reps than he anticipated and emerged with first team status.  

“Spring ball was a good start for me,” said. Callen, who played just one year of cornerback at De La Salle High School. “I knew that I was going to play this year and I had to start off early. I needed to go out there and have fun and work hard like I always do.  

“This year, I knew I was going to play, so I had to focus on getting as good as I could, each practice, each snap, each time I went on the field,” Callen added. “On every play, I have to go out there and give my best effort and get better every day.”  

The effort continued in the summer during workouts with strength and conditioning coach Todd Rice. With almost twice as many players staying in Berkeley as last year, the extra work seems to be paying off.  

“Summer was fun this year,” Callen said. “When you have 70 guys out there working, it takes longer, but it’s fun. That’s how you bond as a team, you’re out there working and sweating with each other.”  

Now, even though Powell, who set a school record with 16 pass deflections last year, and Ward are healthy, Callen has held onto his No.1 spot. However, he knows that all three, plus opposite corner James Bethea, will see plenty of playing time once the Bears put on the pads for real Sept. 1 against Illinois.  

“There’s a lot of depth,” Callen said. “We’re going to go out there and work and fight and battle. This is the deepest we’ve been at Cal. One corner is not going to be able to play the whole game. But you have three other corners behind you who are just as good.”

The city of Berkeley has put out the call for a new transportation czar who will be responsible for all transportation planning, traffic engineering and alternative transit programs. 

The manager for transportation will head up a newly reorganized division. The division, with an annual budget of $500,000, will have eight full-time traffic professionals including planning and engineering specialists as well as consultants. 

Division goals include developing transportation strategies based on the Transportation and Demand Study, which was recently completed by the city and UC Berkeley.  

According to the job advertisement, the study is designed to create “efficient, environmentally friendly, economically sound transportation” for the Downtown and Southside areas. 

The manager for transportation will also be expected to implement the Bicycle Plan, which promotes increased bicycle ridership by increasing the number of bikeways and bicycle education programs. 

The job advertisement, which describes Berkeley as “a very engaged and participatory community,” said the ideal candidate should have excellent communication skills and the ability to deal with “highly motivated citizens.” 

The city began accepting applications for the position on July 30 and the last day to apply is September 7. 

A March 3, 2000 release by the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Task Force report determined Berkeley has twice as many pedestrian accidents as the state average and four times the rate of bicycle accidents.  

Since then, city officials have said that traffic issues are a top priority.  

Councilmember Polly Armstrong, who represents District 8, said her constituents are concerned about heavy traffic through southeastern access routes to UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Alta Bates Hospital. 

“Everywhere I go, anything I do, the first  

question people ask me about is traffic,” said Armstrong. “I have dedicated the six years I’ve been on the council to make it easier to get around without a car and safer to get around if you’re walking.” 

Despite the political will to address traffic safety issues, the city has been plagued by setbacks in implementing a variety of safety measures outlined in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, or BAPS, Task Force Study and Transportation and Demand Study.  

The setbacks have been primarily personnel related. The city’s traffic engineer, Jeff Knolls, quit in December for a better-paying job after being employed by the city for eight months. Then last May, the city’s first transportation planner, Joe Kott, quit less than a month after he was hired. 

Kott, who returned to his former job in Palo Alto, cited organizational problems as the reason for his departure. Knolls said his decision to leave the city was partially based on similar issues. Both said the organizational issues stemmed from disagreements between the Department of Public Works, the Planning and Development Department and at least three commissions that deal with traffic issues.  

“We have lacked leadership on these issues and we desperately need a transportation manager with a vision for the whole city and who is strong enough to override attempts to pit one group against another,” Armstrong said.  

Bicycle and pedestrian activists have complained that despite strong rhetoric about traffic problems, the city has been slow to respond to safety issues.  

Sarah Syed, a member of Bicycle Friendly Berkeley and the local Safe Routes to School project manager said a Planning and Development Department personnel shortage caused the city to miss a May grant deadline to upgrade pedestrian safety features near Malcolm X and Rosa Parks grammar schools.. 

Syed said the culture of city departments that deal with traffic issues is primarily oriented towards automobile-related issues and has a tendency to neglect pedestrian and bicycle problems. She said she is hopeful the new transportation manager is effective in accomplishing the goal of safer streets. 

“City staff says pedestrian and bicycle safety is a top priority but it seems like they are more interested in counting cars than making the city’s streets safer,” Syed said.

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Nancy Conway, the executive director at the Oakland Tribune. 

You probably think it’s fun to write “controversial” editorials and then see what kind of division and pain they can cause in the community. When you wrote your vicious homophobic attack on Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, perhaps you forgot your professional responsibilities as a journalist. Maybe you didn’t realize that there is an epidemic of hate crimes against gay and lesbian people going on in this country. Maybe you just missed the story of Matthew Sheppard — it wouldn’t surprise me, given your apparent lack of sensitivity and awareness. Whatever your issues, your editorial fuels hatred against gay people and makes it easier for homophobes to engage in violent physical attacks against them. When you use the words “despicable” and “coward” you might as well have said “punk” and “faggot.” 

I am a straight man with an 11-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. My partner and I are trying to raise our children in a way that helps them learn respect and kindness toward people who are different from them. We also try to help them understand the importance of taking action against bias and hatred. What kind of example do you think the Oakland Tribune is setting for kids when you attack a person for taking a stand against homophobia? The policy of the Boy Scouts of America against gay scouts is cruel and untenable. The positions of the Mt. Diablo – Silverado Boy Scout Council in defense of the national policy and of the Berkeley Boy Scout Council choosing to remain a part of the national organization are just as horrible. How can you justify spending editorial time spewing hatred at someone who opposes these policies instead of writing your editorials against a group that, on an ongoing basis, is engaging in discrimination? 

I read your newspaper on a regular basis, but I will not do so in the future until I hear that you have issued apologies to Mr. Worthington and to the gay community. 

Jonathon Marley 

East Bay Community Law 

Berkeley 

State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, strongly encouraged women to run for public office during the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville annual community luncheon Friday. 

“Don’t be shy,” she said, addressing the women among the 170 people who attended the event at the HS Lordship on the Berkeley Marina. “No one is going to invite you and you shouldn’t wait for your turn because it will never come.” 

Although the number of women who entered politics steadily increased in the past three decades, Speier said there is still room  

for improvement.  

“While our numbers are up in public office,” she said. “We still have only 23 women serving the Assembly in California out of 80.” Likewise, she said, only 25 percent of the state senate are women. At the federal level, the statistics are even worst. The number of women in the U.S Senate, for instance, reaches only 13 percent.  

Since her election in 1998, Speier has worked on a number of women’s issues. Among other things, she initiated legislation that added contraception methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration to insurer’s prescription benefits. In the past few months, she also held a series of hearings on the gender disparity in the University of California hiring practices.  

With the help of organizations like the League of Woman Voters, she said, issues such as the discrimination against women in wages, or the need for better access to women’s health care, could be better addressed. For years, the League of Women Voters, which in California counts a large number of both male and female members, has influenced public policies and fostered citizens’ participation in government through education and advocacy. Today however, the league needs to adopt new strategies, Speier said. 

“It is time for the league to take out the white gloves,” she said. “It’s time for you to use the power that you have by your label alone.”  

To have more impact, she added, the league should identify three to four issues every year and submit them to the state legislature. The organization could then publish annual reports and rank legislators according to their efficiency in addressing the referred issues.  

“Take that research that you have and use it to change public policies,” she said. 

Local members of the league reacted positively to Speier’s suggestions. Whether her recommendations will be put into practice, however, will be the state league’s decision. 

“I think [the suggestions] are absolutely perfect,” said Jo Ann Price, president of the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville. “We have to have our state league of women voters do that, but it is something we will definitely pursue.” 

Friday was the local League of Women Voters third annual community luncheon. The event is the Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville league’s main fundraiser, but it is also designed as an opportunity to bring together businesses, community members, and elected officials. Although organizers declined to anticipate how much money the league would gather through this event, they expected to raise more than the $6,000 received last year. A number of Berkeley personalities attended the luncheon, including Mayor Shirley Dean, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl, state Assemblywoman Dion Louise Aroner, D-Berkeley, and U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-CA. 

Editor: 

In your article on how Berkeley limits pesticide use (“Parents May Not See Many Pesticide Use Letters”), you quoted Gene LeFevre, head of BUSD maintenance, as saying that the reason “a lot of our properties look so bad” is because the pesticide Roundup is prohibited. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reason much of BUSD properties look neglected is because they’ve been neglected; for too long. In my neighborhood alone, this policy of neglect has not only been an eyesore for years, but has recently fostered a breeding ground for rats. Anyone who has attempted contacting Mr. LeFevre’s office, has not been granted the courtesy of a return phone call.  

Michael Bauce 

Berkeley 

Only three 19th century commercial buildings are still standing on busy University Avenue. 844 and 982 University Avenue are physically intact examples of what was, in the 1880s, a common commercial style. Tall display windows for lighting the interior of the business reflected a technical advance of pane-glass making in the mid-nineteenth century. Surrounding these large windows were carved wood moldings and brackets typical of the Victorian era.  

The Suendermann Plumbing Company building is located at the corner of Eighth Street and University Avenue at 921 University Avenue and was built in the early 1880s or late 1870s. The ground floor retail space has been modernized several times and today incorporates additions to the west and north sides of the building. But despite these extensive ground floor alterations, the building still displays its Victorian origins and its Italianate style on the second floor.  

The building’s rectangular shape, gabled roof, partial false front pediment, shallow overhanging closed eaves with carved brackets below, and tall windows (now aluminum), paired on the front and single on the side, with molded drip hoods and carved brackets are evidence of its early construction.  

These three remaining 19th century commercial buildings were part of a larger 19th century commercial district on lower University Avenue that served Berkeley’s early settlement of Ocean View.  

Susan Cerny writes Berkeley Observed in conjunction with the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.

Editor: 

Leaders in the gay community need to acknowledge that it is not necessarily homophobia or discriminatory when someone disagrees with their views. It is absolutely essential that gays and all minorities be treated with dignity, respect and offered protection from bigotry. However, no group has the right to dictate free speech, or manipulate the spirit of open minds to promote their agenda. Responsible caution must be used when labeling or insinuating an organization or individual as homophobic, since this has the potential to lead down the pathway of prejudice. I will continue to encourage and support the Oakland Tribune to write thought-provoking editorials that provide constructive criticism for our community. 

S. Nielsen 

Berkeley 

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to the school board and superintendent of Berkeley. 

I’m pleasantly surprised to read and see the smoke damaged building B now undergoes “deconstruction.” I’m a little worried that the community had apparently no input into the decision-making process. 

Interestingly (to me at least), I suggest to Jack McLaughlin that it might go. (His response: That’s what I like about you ... Always thinking.”) 

It looks like a hybrid steel frame and cast in place concrete. My question is: Could the steel frame remain and be employed in a mode architects might term “adaptive reuse”? Even if the concrete at first floor has to remain in part, the skeleton might become a landscape element of grace and value. Adobe stucco over the concrete and paint over steel could produce a lovable “ruin” and shade could be added in the form of a slat roof covered with flowering vines in some area for outdoor cafeteria seating, for example. 

Whatever you do there, the space will become a major asset to the campus. Can the floor be saved? Is it a concrete slab? Maybe you’ve already hired a landscape architect to take care of the area... But if not, I hope you do. 

Terry Cochrell 

Berkeley

East Bay lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride conference under way 

More than 40 Berkeley Police officers are expected to attend an August 29 conference that covers lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. 

The all-day seminar is a part of the Safe Communities Project of East Bay Pride and will cover such topics as sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, hate crimes and new state laws on body searches. 

Berkeley police officer Kelly Gordon led a similar workshop for all 330 employees of the Berkeley Police Department in March and April and will be co-chair of Wednesday’s conference.“Events like this are important because, as police officers we have to be able to work with all members of our community,” Gordon said. “The conference will highlight moments from local law enforcement history and will teach how we can improve our community relations for the future.” 

The conference is a collaboration between East Bay Pride, the Oakland Police Department and the Berkeley Police Department and is open to all public law enforcement agencies. 

East Bay Pride is the East Bay’s largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender organization. The seminar is a part of East Bay Pride’s fifth annual Pride Festival, a ten-day-long landmark event. This year’s festival is the world’s first to bring together LGBT individuals from around the world. 

According to East Bay Pride, this event is groundbreaking for another reason. 

“This is the first time the transgender community has been this involved in organizing an event,” said Patricia Kavina-Kili, co-chair of the Organizing Committee and the Transgender Institute. The seminar started this weekend with a youth forum and will continue through the East Bay Pride Celebration on Sept.1.

SACRAMENTO — Police across the nation detained passengers in airports and stopped them on the streets Friday if they bore a passing resemblance to a Ukrainian immigrant accused in Monday’s brutal slayings of six family members. 

Police said they were taking no chances as they continue a manhunt hampered by language, cultural barriers and distrust. 

Authorities at Los Angeles International and Dulles airport near Washington, D.C., each detained a Nikolay Soltys look-alike for several hours Thursday, until thumbprint checks confirmed they had the wrong man. 

Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies fielded complaints from people stopped because they resembled the 27-year-old Slavic-featured man who now tops the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list. A reward for his capture has grown to $70,000. 

San Francisco police poured uniformed and undercover officers into the Richmond District, known for its large Russian and Ukrainian population, after several reported but unconfirmed sightings there. They papered the neighborhood Friday with wanted posters in English and Russian, patterning their search on similar weeklong efforts in Sacramento. 

FBI agents in Oregon concentrated their efforts on large urban Russian and Ukrainian communities. Similar searches were underway in the Seattle, Charlotte, N.C., and Binghamton, N.Y., areas where Soltys once lived or had family ties. 

“Most wanted” posters of Soltys are being posted nationally and internationally, said Richard Baker, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Sacramento office. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service also were seeking Soltys on a federal warrant charging him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. 

Television’s “America’s Most Wanted” prepared to air the case nationally Saturday night, and federal agents expected to help screen an expected flurry of calls to the show. 

“I’m kind of surprised that there haven’t been more (complaints), and apologize for anybody whose sensitivity has been offended because they’ve been detained,” said Sacramento County sheriff’s Capt. John McGinness. 

But, he said, authorities will keep looking, and “anybody who’s going to have a few cocktails and drive over the weekend is, don’t do it in a green Ford Explorer. They are all being stopped.” 

That was the last vehicle in which Soltys was seen, hours after he is alleged to have slashed the throats of his pregnant wife, aunt, uncle and two young cousins Monday. He was seen with his 3-year-old son, who turned up dead, throat slashed, on a rural trash heap a day later. 

Deputies and FBI agents turned a conference room into a makeshift round-the-clock command center. They were fielding 20 to 50 tips an hour on four dedicated phone lines, included one for those who speak Russian and Ukrainian. More than 100 police combed the streets, including Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking officers borrowed from several agencies. 

But except a likely sighting Tuesday afternoon, Soltys had disappeared, most likely into Sacramento’s community of up to 75,000 Ukrainian and Russian immigrants. 

Partly due to his background, Soltys can’t be tracked by some of he typical methods, said Acting Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Figmik.  

He has no known credit cards. His checking account has little money, and it hasn’t been touched. 

Police suspect he may have owned the green Explorer without registering it, and may have access to other unregistered vehicles. There have been no reports of other stolen vehicles connected to his flight. 

Investigators suspect the unemployed Soltys bullied elderly members of the Ukrainian community, including relatives, into giving him money. They are investigating whether he associated with other criminals or Russian-Ukrainian organized crime rings that generally have been associated with auto thefts in the Sacramento area. 

Even criminals who might normally protect a wrongdoer would seem likely to turn on a child-killer who “has crossed every imaginable line,” McGinness said. 

Since the FBI’s “most wanted” list was established in 1950, 437 of its 466 targets have been captured, 139 of them with citizens’ help. 

But investigators are increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of cooperation from relatives and other members of the community, although local Ukrainians say they are cooperating fully and trying to learn more about Soltys’ background in Ukraine. 

“It goes to the level of trust, their trust of us and their loyalty to him,” McGinness said. “What’s perceived as loyalty may actually be more fear of him than loyalty to him.” 

“I think any time you have a group of people who have fled an oppressed nation, in this case under an umbrella of religious persecution, just by virtue of their background there’s a distrust for the institutions” such as police. 

Soltys and nearly 400,000 other evangelical Christians and Jews entered the United States under a special 1989 refugee program that provided easy refugee status to religious groups claiming persecution by the former Soviet Union. 

—— 

On the Net: www.sacsheriff.com 

www.fbi.gov 

Dear Tom and Ray: My wife drives our 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, which has only 60,000 miles of easy driving on it. The car is loaded and is in mint condition.  

It has the 3.4-liter twin dual-cam V6 engine. Recently, we were advised by our local dealer’s service manager to either get rid of the car or have the timing belt replaced, at a cost of about $600.  

He said if the timing belt breaks, the whole engine could be ruined. The owner's manual suggests a change at 60,000 miles. What should we do? Trade? Repair? Or do nothing? — Bob 

TOM: Repair! The service manager is nuts, Bob. Why would you trade in a cream puff with only 60,000 miles? 

RAY: I know: The service manager wants the car for himself. 

TOM: You think so? 

RAY: Yeah. It’s in mint condition. He’s hoping Bob will trade it in for a song, and then HE’LL get to drive it for the next 60,000 miles ... or score points by giving it to his mother-in-law.  

I do this to customers all the time.  

How do you think I got my Dodge Colt Vista with the rust up to the windows? 

TOM: Bob, you should absolutely fix the car.  

The service manager is right when he says that a broken timing belt on this car can ruin the engine.  

But that's not a reason to spend $25,000 on a new car when, for $600, you could have a perfectly good car in mint condition. 

RAY: And you might have to spend another $600 soon – tires, brakes or who knows what? But who cares? When you add it up, it’ll still be cheaper than monthly new-car payments. I guarantee it. 

TOM: So, as long as your old car is safe, is serving your needs and you’re happy with it, repairing it is almost always cheaper than trading it in. So fix it, Bob.  

Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clack by e-mail at the Car Talk section of cars.com on the World Wide Web.

NEW YORK — After languishing through the dog days of August, the stock market finally perked up Friday with the Dow industrials enjoying a 194-point gain. 

But that stellar performance notwithstanding, analysts say investors won’t deviate long from their recent strategy, which has been to trade lightly and cautiously. 

And they’ll keep making short-term decisions that have caused the market to fluctuate – in the end, to stagnate. 

Investors have reason to be careful as summer ends and many companies are expected to reduce their earnings outlooks for the third quarter. 

“One of the most important changes in the market’s performance has been the lack of positive mood, momentum and money flow that characterized the markets of the last four or five years when rallies followed rallies,” said Alan Ackerman, executive vice president of Fahnestock & Co. 

“This market is much more selective,” Ackerman added.  

“It swings to extremes. Traders are quick on the trigger.” 

Investors certainly haven’t maintained any of their enthusiasm for long, and this past week proved that as the Dow alternated between winning and losing days.  

Friday’s advance was an example of the upward extremes the market has enjoyed recently as technology companies – in this case Cisco Systems – have said that business is stabilizing. 

Most analysts believe the market, which has been giving back such gains almost immediately, won’t become strong enough to hold on to them anytime soon. 

“We’ve have just heard that stuff before. How many times have we heard that the worst is behind us in semiconductors?,” said Richard A. Dickson, a technical analyst at Hilliard Lyons in Louisville, Ky.  

“That is all well and good, but we need more than anecdotal things. We need consistent results that things are getting better.” 

However, positive results, and therefore any upward momentum in the stock market, are likely a ways off. 

A steady stream of companies across an array of sectors have already issued profit and revenue warnings for the third quarter and the remainder of the year. 

Analysts who had expected earnings and the economy to turn around in the first half of 2001 now say results won’t show that business has improved until at least the first half of next year. 

“We need to see better revenues and top-line growth. And, it is awfully hard to see when that is going to come,” said Jon Brorson, director of equities at Northern Trust in Chicago. 

Meanwhile, stock traders are having a tough time forming a sound strategy.  

It’s not enough to stay away from riskier tech shares – retailing and auto stocks have been suffering.  

Even safer, defensive issues, namely drug and financial stocks, have been foundering. 

One approach investors have taken this summer has been to keep their commitments small on Wall Street.  

Such trepidation has been apparent in lighter-than-normal trading volume.  

Daily consolidated volume for the New York Stock Exchange this month has mostly been just over 1 billion shares, rather than the more-typical 1.5 billion. And not all of the decline can be attributed to traders being away on vacation. 

Analysts say investors have also been buying and selling at a quicker pace, showing a lack of confidence in the overall market. 

“Few sectors have done well, and stock selectivity appears to be more in vogue for now,” Ackerman said. “It’s tough to find a safe haven.” 

The market’s major indexes posted weekly gains on Friday. 

The Dow Jones industrial average finished the week up 182.39, or 1.8 percent, at 10,423.17, after climbing 194.02 Friday. 

The Nasdaq composite index rose 49.79, or 2.7 percent, to 1,916.80 for the week after advancing 73.83 Friday. 

For the week, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index gained 22.96, a rise of nearly 2 percent, to 1,184.93. The index rose 22.84 on Friday. 

The Russell 2000 index, the barometer of smaller company stocks, advanced 5.16, or 1.1 percent, to 480.81 for the week after rising 7.39 Friday. 

The Wilshire Associates Equity Index, the market value of New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq issues, was $10.948 trillion Friday, up $196.330 billion from the previous week. A year ago the index as $14.096 trillion.

A group of the city’s disabled people are organizing to protest Councilmember Linda Maio’s decision to remove Commissioner Karen Craig from the Commission on Disability earlier this month. 

Maio’s office has received half a dozen electronic messages, one fax and several phone calls requesting the councilmember reconsider her decision. Members of the disabled community are also planning other initiatives. 

After serving on the commission for four years, Craig, one of Berkeley’s most vocal advocates on disability issues, received a letter Aug. 6, informing her that she had been replaced. In the letter that she sent shortly before going on vacation, Maio blamed Craig for creating dissension by opposing some of Easy Does It policies. EDI is the company that the city contracts with to provide disabled people with emergency services.  

“Regarding EDI, I see some fundamental main differences between us,” Maio wrote. “I want to stop browbeating EDI and instead help them be successful.” Maio also criticized Craig for her aggressive attitude. 

“We do our cause and ourselves a great disservice when we are caustic, doctrinaire, inflexible, and accusatory,” she wrote. “People don’t come away with the message of the cause, they come away with a wound or at best a bad taste.” 

Craig’s supporters, however feel that her removal is unjust. In their letters they praise her accomplishments, including recent progress made with EDI, and suggest that the decision is the result of a political deal. 

“This action is both highly unfair and totally unwarranted, and smacks of political cronyism,” Blane Beckwith wrote in an e-mail to Maio. “I am appalled at the type of “machine politics” you and Councilmember Dona Spring are apparently engaged in plotting in Karen (Craig)’s ouster.” Beckwith, like others, believes that Spring, who openly advocated Craig’s removal, feels threatened by Craig’s leadership in the disabled community. 

The letter campaign is only one of the several initiatives Craig’s supporters plan to take. Miya Rodolfo Sioson, chair of the commission, anticipates Craig’s replacement will be one of the items on the agenda at the next meeting. She also said she and others are planning to start a petition drive and to demonstrate at the first City Council meeting in September. 

Maio’s office received only two calls in support of Craig’s removal, and one e-mail congratulating the new appointee, Robert Allamand, according to Maio aide Calvin Fong. 

But according to Councilmember Dona Spring, others like her, are pleased with Craig’s replacement. 

“I was not the only person to advocate Craig’s removal,” she said. “There were several others but they don’t want to come out. They are people who don’t like conflict and who would rather stay out of this.” 

Craig, meanwhile, does not plan to take any specific action on the matter. Even removed from the commission, she said, she will keep working on disability issues. But people’s support cheers her up, she added. 

“As I’m going around in the city I was getting some support from people I had never seen before,” she said. “That is more important to me than anything else.” 

Maio continues to be out of town and Fong declined to defend her position in her absence.

Friday, Aug. 24

Annual Community Luncheon  

of the League of Women Voters 

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

199 Seawall Dr. 

Senator Jackie Speier, 8th District, will be speaking. The League sponsors their Annual Community Luncheon to bring together business, university and community leaders with political officials and League members to discuss issues of mutual interest. $50. 843-8824, lwvbae@pacbell.net 

Yiddish Conversation Group 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

644-6107 www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/hhs/commsvc/seniors.htm 

Even Stronger Women 

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Free weekly cultural discussion class. This week: Poetry. 549-1879 

Basic Electrical Theory and National Electrical Code 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Instructed by “Code Check” author/retired city of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon. $35. 525-7610 

Free Legal Workshop 

6 - 8 p.m. 

Women’s Cancer Resource Center 

3023 Shattuck Ave. 

Learn about the Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disability Act, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and how the laws protect you from termination during an experience with cancer or other serious medical conditions. 601-4040 x302  

Saturday, Aug. 25

Copwatch: Know Your Rights Training 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch Office 

2022 Blake St. 

Learn what your rights are when dealing with the police. Learn how to monitor the police safely.  

548-0425 

Astrojax Playday 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science 

UC Berkeley 

Astrojax is part yo-yo, part juggling balls and a lasso. The inventor, theoretical physicist Larry Show, will give a demonstration and instruction. Museum admission $3 - $7. 642-5132 

Cerrito Creek Work Party 

10 a.m. 

Meet at Creekside Park (south end of Belmont Street), El Cerrito 

Join Friends of Five Creeks in removing brush to make a new trail along Cerrito Creek. Bring work gloves and clippers if you have them.  

848-9358, f5creeks@aol.com, www.fivecreeks.org. 

Travel Careers Class 

8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

Vista’s annual one-day class for the public on careers in the travel industry. A full-day seminar. $5.50 981-2931 www.vistacollege.edu 

Sunday, Aug. 26

Healing 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Sylvie Gretchen on “Healing Mind.” Free. 843-6812 

West Berkeley Market 

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

University Ave., between 3rd and 4th Streets  

Family-oriented weekly market. Crafts, music, produce, and specialty foods. 654-6346 

3rd Annual Berkeley World Music Festival 

noon - 6 p.m. 

Durant Ave., between Telegraph and Bowditch 

Carnival and block party festival with World Music bands, performers and dancers. 649-9500 www.taasite.org 

Monday, Aug. 27

East Bay Heritage Quilters 

7:30 p.m. 

First Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Road-Moeser Lane @ Arlington, Kensington 

Lecture: On the Road to Quiltmaking, a Personal Journey  

Non-members $3. 834-3706 

Tuesday, Aug. 28

Berkeley High  

Freshman Orientation 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater 

Corner of Allston Way and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Incoming ninth graders take a tour of campus, get student I.D. cards and lockers, and learn about extracurricular activities available at Berkeley High. Students with last names beginning with A-L attend from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Students with last names beginning with M-Z attend from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 525-3565 

Free Early Music Group 

10 - 11:30 a.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Small group sings madrigals and other voice harmony every Tuesday morning. 655-8863 

— compiled by Guy Poole 

Poetry Through Time II 

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 

Judah L. Magnes Museum 

2911 Russell St. 

Bay Area poets Opal Palmer Adisa, Phyllis Koestenbaum, Reuven Goldfarb, and Martha Evans will read. A brief open reading will conclude the program. 549-6950 www.magnesmuseum.org 

Community Health Commission 

6:45 - 9:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Environmental Imapct Report (EIR) for Alta Bates Expansion. 644-6109 

Editor: 

I was there when Becky O’Malley planted her feet solidly on the floor at the Planning Commission meeting and said, “I’m so glad they are building the Gaia Building. I’m glad is sticks out like a sore thumb. Because everybody is going to hate it. I’m glad they are building it because the people of Berkeley will never allow another tall build be built here – ever,” in approximately those words. 

But density works. Density is people. Do we want to provide for people, or keep them out of town? 

I like the Gaia Building enough that I voted with my feet and moved in the first day it was open. The following morning from the roof deck the sunrise was the first I ever saw with the bay waters in view, shimmering in bright turquoise and teal. The Golden Gate Bridge was a radiant vermilion red, salmon – pink to slate gray fog drifted around the base of luminous San Francisco buildings reflecting the sun.  

Berkeley’s two story houses, trees and the long walk up to the hills always seemed to get in the way of such fabulous sunrises. 

I’ve called for rooftop accessibility, terracing, trellises and garden like this and higher density near transit for the whole 27 years I’ve lived in Berkeley. And since I never lived in such a building and had to endure taunts of “hypocrite” for not living in the kind of building I said I liked (never mind that none existed yet), it made my conscience feel righteously correct to actually try out the first such building. 

So for me, the Gaia Building is a real breakthrough, a genuine historic step into the future. The terracing, trellises and future rooftop garden are the first to bring life up to rooftop level in the city’s history, to bring a serious addressing of environmental problems smack dab into the public view, and not only that, but with design that is friendly as well as big and transit – oriented. Too bad Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association sat this one out, or rather more accurately, fought vehemently against the only future historic architecture to happen here in a generation or more. 

It is already fun being there – or rather – here. As to Michael Katz’ rant in a recent letter to the editor that the building is “Stalinist” I can only say is ugly, as well as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. I look at the Gaia Building and far from nightmares of oppressive architecture and government I remember my adolescent summers in Bermuda and a large and graceful old hotel across the Bay I used to look at with real pleasure. The Gaia Building has those. 

Its function is rather significant, serving me for one and giving 150 other people the chance to live here, 20 percent of us in lower cost subsidized apartments. 

What some want to keep out of downtown is, in reality, us. They would prefer to maintain the city’s enormous imbalance of commercial space over housing, but fortunately, that balance shifted slightly with the construction of the Gaia Building. All but seven of its apartments are now rented and only six cars are owned by residents at this point. Not totally car free, but well on the way. 

The place is a bit noisy, I’m afraid but that’s because of the big crude beast of the city, the automobile. The Oxford Street parking lot at night is an immense light reflector for the overhead lights and not too much fun to look at with the black oil spots where the cars park by day. There is considerable glare at night from light flooded onto several of the University buildings driving the stars right out of sight. The Gaia Building itself is lit up in a way I don’t approve. 

Better to simply let the building glow in the light of the city. But that’s a quibble compared to the services the building provides. 

Richard Register 

Berkeley 

Have you ever wanted to taste the cultural spices of Boriqua, sip Arabic coffee, invite Yemaya for a stroll, but couldn’t fit a world cruise into your schedule?  

From noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, you can have it all, at the musical block party near Durant and Telegraph avenues. 

The Third annual Berkeley World Music Festival, sponsored by the Telegraph Area Association, features a main stage, at Durant and Bowditch Street. Hosted by radio deejay Avotcja, it will feature: Grupo Ilu Fun Fun (Afro–Cuban), Petit La Croix (Afro–Haitian), Samba Ngo (Congolese), O–Maya (Afro–Latin hip–hop), and Fito Reinoso y Su Ritmo y Armonia (Afro–Cuba).  

A few blocks away, at a stage at Durant and Telegraph the public will experience Mexican, Polynesian, and Indian dance. 

Funny thing about this trip we’ll be taking around the world Sunday afternoon – all of these ensembles call the Bay Area home.  

One group that stands out is O-Maya.  

Just this month folks at Ashkenaz were grooving to its jazzy sounds.  

It’s a hip 10–member dance band that incorporates son, samba, salsa, merengue, reggae into a fresh blend of “forget everything except a good time.”  

Just two years old, the band features: Destani Wolf (vocalist), Rico Pabon (vocalist/MC), Jorge Martinez (vocalist/guitar), Hector Perez (bongo and percussion), David Flores (drums), Steve Hogan (bass), Bill Artola (keyboards, accordion, and sampler), Quincy Griffin (saxophone and flute), Rene Flores (conga). 

They’ll be on the main stage at 4 p.m. Sunday.  

Quincy tells me that the name of the group – O–Maya (www.o–maya.com) – can mean different things depending on who’s translating.  

In Hindi, O–Maya means “the illusion of life,” but illusion in Mexican culture can have a double meaning of aspiration or hope.  

The ‘O’ represents the circle that keeps the members together like a family, which is what the two founding members Quincy and Bill Artola were trying to accomplish two years ago.  

The two men wanted a band that fused the styles of music together that they loved, music that would speak to people of their generation – which they did, that and more. 

“We don’t know who our audience is,” Quincy said. “Some shows are packed with folks in their 20s, and others have old folks and little kids dancing around.  

“I think our main goal is to appeal to crowds that we feel like we have something in common with.  

The diversity of ethnicities and ages (of people who come to our shows) is great and it’s a reflection of who we are: African American, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Puerto Rican, and white.  

It’s true, an O–Maya concert feels like a big houseparty – easy vibe, sometimes one feels like she’s in Bahia – with the djun djun drums and bells, then the next moment the brass horns, reeds, and swinging piano take one somewhere else so take along the dancing shoes Sunday for a fun time. 

Sambo Ngo, born in the Congo, has a long and illustrious career playing with jazz musicians such as Herbie Hancock, and percussionist Bill Summers.  

Ngo came to the states about twenty years ago to form his own band, which features him on guitar and vocals performing music of his homeland in a variety of styles which include acoustic accompaniment on his guitar, or the kisanji – what many call the mbira.  

I hadn’t realized that the “thumb piano” was an instrument indigenous to the Congo, and as it made its rounds to other parts of Africa the name changed to kilamba (Ghana) and imbera (South Africa.)  

Ngo has a unique approach to Congolese music, which many people only know through the songs of veteran singers such as Papa Wemba and Sam Mangwana.  

Ngo says that he has taken the path of least resistance and sings in the style he learned as a boy, writing lyrics that talk about his people and their history.  

Just like O–Maya, Samba Ngo melodies are uplifting because as the bandleader explained: “The music is supposed to do something for you. If the environment is so difficult, music can heal, make one happy, keep one going.”  

With Ngo’s music we can slip out of our cerebral context and become the “thing that we are doing.” This is the way African people have been able to survive, Ngo says. “People don’t know the music from Africa and when they come Sunday, they are going to see what I mean, because they only know soukous, etc.; they know only a few styles. (Congolese) music has a variety of styles, the music I play is music everybody can feel from children to adults.” 

Culture is a wonderful way to share what we know about ourselves with others and there will plenty of opportunities to fill our plates this weekend. For information call 649–9500, or www.taasite.org.

Albatross Pub Sept. 1: David Widelock Jazz Trio; Sept. 5: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 6: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 11: Mad & Eddie Duran Jazz Duo; Sept. 13: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 19: Whiskey Brothers; Sept. 20: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Sept. 22: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet; Sept. 27: Kenji “El Lebrijano” Flamenco Guitar; Free. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 1822 San Pablo Ave.843-2473 albatrosspub@mindspring.com 

Anna’s Aug. Aug. 24: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Aug. 25: Robin Gregory; 10 p.m. The Distones Jazz Sextet; Aug. 26: Choro Time; Aug. 27: The Renegade Sidemen; Aug. 28: The Interface Ensemble; Aug. 29: Bob Schoen Jazz Quartet; Aug. 30: Christy Dana Quartet; Aug. 31: Anna sings jazz standards; 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Free. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 1801 University Ave. 849-2662  

Ashkenaz Aug. 24: 9:30 p.m. Caribbean All Stars $11; Aug. 25: 9 p.m. California Brazil Camp Benefit, $10; Aug. 26: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Middle Eastern Dance Workshops with Ma Shuga Mira Murijan and Nanna Candeleria. $45. 8 p.m. Harmonia, $10; Aug. 28: 9 p.m. Gerard Landry and the Lariats, $8; Aug. 29: 8 p.m. Earl White Oldtime Band, Bluegrass Intentions, plus clogging lessons. $10, Kids under 12 Free; Aug. 30: 9 p.m. Samite, Forward Kwenda, $10; Aug. 31: 9:30 p.m. Wawa and the Oneness Kingdom, The Calypsonians, $10; 1317 San Pablo Ave. 525-5054 www.ashkenaz.com  

Café Eclectica Sept. 8: 8 p.m. SF Improv, Free. 1309 Solano Ave. 326-6124 www.sfimprov.com 

Café de la Paz Poetry Nitro, performance showcase with open mike. Sept. 10: Lucy Lang Day; Sept. 17: Marc Hofstadter (book party); Sept. 24: Jim Watson-Gove; All shows free, 7 - 10 p.m. 

Cal Performances Sept. 6: 8 p.m. King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, $20 - $32; Sept. 16: 7 p.m. Tania Libertad, $18 - $30; Sept. 30: 7 p.m. Kronos Quartet, David Barron, $30; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Eli’s Mile High Club Aug. 25: Carlos Zialcita; Every Friday, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; Sept. 3: Big West Coast Harmonica Bash, benefit for Red Archibald. $10 donation; Doors open at 8 p.m. 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Sept. 1: Ancient Future, $16.50; Sept. 7: Tom Russell w/ Andrew Hardin, $16.50; Sept. 8: The House Jacks, $17.50; Sept. 9: Erika Luckett, $16.50; Sept. 11: Don Walser, Slaid Cleaves, $16.50; Sept. 12: Andy Irvine, $17.50; Sept. 13: Piper Heisig birthday revue and fund raiser w/ Kate Brislin, Sylvia Herold, Tony Marcus, Carlos Reyes, and Radim Zenkl, $16.50; Sept. 14: Ray Wylie Hubbard, $16.50; Sept. 15: Vocolot, $17.50; All shows start at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.com 

Jupiter Aug. 24: 5 Point Plan; Aug. 25: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Aug. 28: Big Lou and Polka Casserole; Aug. 29: Secession; Aug. 30: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; Aug. 31: Realistic CD Release Party; Sept. 4: Beth Waters Band; Sept. 5: Presidents Breakfast; Sept. 6 Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 7: Crater; Sept. 10: Ben Graves Trio; Sept. 11: Len Patterson Trio; Sept. 12: Bitches Brew; Sept. 13: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 14: Carlos Washington & Giant People Ensemble; Sept. 15: Kooken & Hoomen; Sept. 18: The Goodbye Flowers; Sept. 19: New Monsoon; Sept. 20: Beatdown w/ DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; Sept. 21: Netwerk: Electric; Sept. 22: New Garde Philosophers; All music starts at 8:00 p.m. 2181 Shattuck Ave. 843-7625 www.jupiterbeer.com  

La Peña Cultural Center Aug. 24: 8:30 p.m. Professor Terry’s Circus Band Extraordinary, $16; Aug. 25: 9:30 p.m., Edgardo Cambon’s Candela, $10, 8:15 p.m. Salsa dance class w/ Diego Vásquez, $13; Sept. 11, 12: 8 p.m. Irakere, $22; In the Cafe, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 www.lapena.org 

Indigo Event Center Aug. 25: 4:20 p.m. Musicians for Medical Marijuana Benefit concert. Sound Tribe Sector 9, Lost at Last, The Mermen, Ten Ton Chicken, Scott Huckabay, Strawberry Alarmclock, Buzzy Linhart, plus special guests, $25. 1988 Broadway at 19th, Oakland. 869-5391 www.m4mm.org  

TUVA Space Aug. 25: 8 p.m. Vanessa Lowe and the Lowliflies, Ira Marlowe, Hoarhound. 3192 Adeline St. 655-9755 

Alice Arts Sept. 8: 7:30 p.m. Benefit concert for freedom of U.S. political prisoners featuring Fred Ho (solo) and The Eddie Gale Unit. $12; 1428 Alice, Oakland, 539-0050 www.thejerichomovement.com/teardownthewalls 

Theater 

“Frank Olivier’s Twisted Cabaret” Aug. 24 & 25, 8 p.m. Frank Olivier is joined by Uncle Paul Nathan and The Twisted Cabaret Band. All tickets $16. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Loot” Through Aug. 25, Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 7 p.m. Special Performance Aug. 20, 8 p.m. General Admission: $15, Students / Seniors: $10. La Val’s 1834 Euclid Avenue 655-0813 

“Soul Harmony” Aug. 25: 5 - 7 p.m. A spirited one-woman show of history, culture, and entertainment. Written by Joy Holland, directed by Ava Coaxum. Presented at the Black Repertory Theater. 3201 Adeline St. $10 donation. 652-3399 

“Song of the Lakitan Bird” Sept. 2: 2 p.m. Kulintang Dance Theatre communicates the beauty and refinement of the Southern Philippine culture. $10 Adults, $5 Children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. 845-8542 www.juliamorgan.org 

Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” Aug. 31, Sept. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9. All shows 8 p.m. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s and Gabrial Pascal’s “Pygmalion.” Directed by James Schlader, choreographed by Harriet Schlader, under the musical direction of Mark Hanson. $15 - $27. 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., Oakland. 531-9597 www.woodminster.com 

“Hecho En Califas Chicano-Latino Teatro Festival” Sept. 6 - 9, 14 - 15; 8 p.m. Original members of El Teatro de La Esperanza. Chicano Theater began out of the need to express the realities of the fields and barrios of Aztlán in the Chicano-Latino community. $10 - $20 La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, 849-2568, www.lapena.org  

“Winesburg, Ohio: Tales of the Grotesque” Sept. 6 through Sept. 16, Wed. - Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players and Word For Word team up for a production of Sherwood Anderson’s deceptively simple tale of neglected souls who fade into the shadows around us. $22, Wednesdays are “Pay What You Can.” Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Ave. 655-0813 www.shotgunplayers.org 

“36 Views” Sept. 12 through Oct. 28: Tues. 8 p.m., Wed. 7 p.m., Thu. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Thu., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 8 p.m. w/ 2 p.m. matinee every other Sat., Sun. 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Written by Naomi Lizuka, Directed by Mark Wing-Davey. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland. 239-2252 www.acteva.com/go/havefun 

Dance 

Cal Performances Sept. 8: 8 p.m. & Sept. 9: 3 p.m. - Dance, the Spirit of Cambodia, $20 - $32; Sept. 19 - 20: 8 p.m. American Ballet, “Bruch Violin Concerto,” “Jabula,” “Gong,” and “Black Tuesday.”; Sept. 21: 8 p.m., Sept. 22: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sept. 23: 3 p.m. American Ballet, the full-length 19th Century “Giselle” $36 - $64; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Bancroft Way at Telegraph, 642-0212, tickets@calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Films 

Pacific Film Archive Aug. 24: 7 p.m. The Heart, 9:20 p.m. The Outcast; Aug. 25: 7 p.m. Moonfleet, 8:45 p.m. The Blue Gardenia; Aug. 26: 3 p.m. Duck Soup, 5:30 p.m. The Wanderers, 7:25 p.m. Dora-Heita; Aug. 28: 7:30 p.m. Doodling; Aug. 29: (free screenings) 7:30 p.m. The Horror of Party Beach, 9:15 p.m. The Crater Lake Monster; Aug. 31: 7 p.m. The Makioka Sisters, 9:35 p.m. A Woman’s Testament; Gen. Adm.. $7, The New PFA Theatre 2575 Bancroft Way 642-1412 

The Pyramid Alehouse Outdoor Cinema Aug. 25: The Shining; Sept. 1: Breakfast Club; Sept. 2: Pretty in Pink; Sept. 8: Dr. No (come as your favorite Bond character); Sept. 15: Harold and Maude; Sept. 22: Airplane; The Outdoor Cinema features cult classics projected on a large screen in the open-air brewery parking lot. $5 donation. Movies start at 7 p.m. 901 Gilman St. 206-682-8322 x237 www.pyramidbrew.com 

Exhibits 

“A Fine Line” Through Aug. 24, Tuesday - Friday, noon - 5 p.m. or by appointment. An exhibition works by Kala Fellowship winners for the years 2000 and 2001. Kala Art Institute 1060 Heinz Avenue 549-2977 

“Geographies of My Heart” Collage paintings by Jennifer Colby through Aug. 24; Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Road 649-2541 

“BACA National Juried Exhibition: Works on Paper” Through Aug. 31: Wed. - Sun. Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“Debbie Moore’s Autobiographical Paintings” Through Sep. 30 at Good Vibrations. Portraits of the artist’s sensual explorations spanning 25 years and reflecting changing ways of intimacy and body play. 2504 San Pablo Avenue 848-1985 

“The Decade of Change: 1900 - 1910” chronicles the transformation of the city of Berkeley in this 10 year period. Thursday through Saturday, 1 – 4 p.m. Through September. Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Wheelchair accessible. 848-0181. Free.  

“Census 2000: Asian Pacific Islander Americans” Sept. 5 through Oct. 13, reception Sept. 6, 6 - 8 p.m.; Wed. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Asian Pacific Islander American artists in roughly the demographic proportions indicated by the recent census. Free. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland 763-9470  

“Musee des Hommages” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Ten Years Here” Exhibit celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Turn of the Century Fine Arts. Through Sept. 14, Sat & Sun 1-5 p.m. 2510 San Pablo Avenue 849-0950 

“The Political Art of: Diego Marcial Rios” Through Sept. 20, Addison Street Window Gallery, 2018 Addison St. hdrios@msn.com 

Women’s Cancer Resource Gallery “Catastrophe, Crisis, and Other Family Traditions” The photography of Jessamyn Lovell. Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; “TheArthur Wright and Gerald Parker” Reception Sept. 8, Aug. 25 through Sept. 26; Tues. - Thurs. 1 - 7 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m. 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 x307 www.wcrc.org 

“Squared Triangle” Through Oct. 5: noon - 6 p.m. A minimal art exhibit featuring three Bay Area artists working in different mediums while achieving the same elegant simplicity. The Crucible, 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511 www.thecrucible.com 

“Inside Editions” Sept. 6 - Oct. 12: Nine printmakers exhibit their work. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tue. - Fri. Free. Kala Art Insitute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977 kala@kala.org 

Readings 

Black Oak Books Aug. 27: Catherine Brady, Jean Herlund, Frances Payne Adler, and Marianne Villanueva and others to celebrate CALYX Book’s 25th Anniversary, “Cracking the Earth”; Aug. 28: Kent Nerburn reads from “Road Angels: Searching for Home on America’s Coast of Dreams”; Aug. 29: Sylvia Brownrigg reads from her new novel, “Pages For You”; All shows at 7:30 p.m. free of charge. 1491 Shattuck Avenue 486-0698 

Boadecia’s Books Aug. 24: Andrea Gabbard discusses “Girl in the Curl: A Century of Women’s Surfing”; Aug. 25: Ann Bannon reads from her lesbian pulp classic “Beebo Brinker.” All events start at 7:30 p.m. and are free. 398 Colusa Avenue 559-9184 www.bookpride.com 

Cody’s Books - Poetry Flash Aug. 29: The New Now Millennium Anthology Reading with Editor H. D. Moe; All are a $2 donation. Readings at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-0837 

The Humanist Fellowship Hall Aug. 27: 7:30 p.m. “The Ghosts Have Cameras” by H. D. Moe. A reading performance. Free. 390 27th St. 528-8713 

Lunch Poems Series Kick-Off Sept. 6: 12:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. UC Berkeley campus figures from a wide variety of fields read and discuss their favorite poems. Free. In the Morrison Library in the Doe Library at UC Berkeley. 642-0137 www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems/ 

Spasso Aug. 27: Kira Allen; Sept. 3: Theme: dignity of labor; Sept. 10: Sharron Jones-Reid, Fruit of the Spirit Poets, Acoustic Musicians, Comedians, Rappers, Performance Artists, Writers All Welcome is located at 6021 College Ave. Free admission. 

South Branch Berkeley Public Library Sept. 1: 3 - 5 p.m. Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading. 1901 Russell St., 527-9905 poetalk@aol.com 

Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival Sept. 8: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. An environmental poetry festival with a day of poetry, music and environmental activism featuring Gary Snyder, Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Haas, Francisco X. Alarcon, and Earll Kingston as John Wesley Powell. Strawberry Creek Walk at 10 a.m. Oxford and Center. Festival at Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Center Street. Free. 526-9105 www.poetryflash.org 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org  

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology will close its exhibition galleries for renovation. It will reopen in early 2002. On View until Oct. 1 : “Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture.” “Sites Along the Nile: Rescuing Ancient Egypt.” “The Art of Research: Nelson Graburn and the Aesthetics of Inuit Sculpture.” “Tzintzuntzan, Mexico: Photographs by George Foster.” $2 general; $1 seniors; $.50 children age 17 and under; free on Thursdays. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Ave. 643-7648 or www.qal.berkeley.edu/~hearst/ 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Science in Toyland,” through Sept. 9. Exhibit uses toys to demonstrate scientific principles and to help develop children's thinking processes. Susan Cerny’s collection of over 200 tops from around the world. “Space Weather,” through Sept. 2. Learn about solar cycles, space weather, the cause of the Aurorae and recent discoveries made by leading astronomers. This interactive exhibit lets visitors access near real-time data from the Sun and space, view interactive videos and find out about a variety of solar activities. “Within the Human Brain,” ongoing. Visitors test their cranial nerves, play skeeball, master mazes, match musical tones and construct stories inside a simulated “rat cage” of learning experiments. “Saturday Night Stargazing,” First and third Saturdays each month. 8 - 10 p.m., LHS plaza. Space Weather Exhibit now - Sept. 2; now - Sept. 9 Science in Toyland; Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. 642-5132 

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. “How Big Is the Universe?” Aug. 1 through Aug. 24. Learn how to determine the distance of celestial objects, one of the purposes of the Hubble Space Telescope. Daily, 2:15 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5; free children age 2 and younger. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu  

Oakland Museum of California, Every Worker is an Organizer: Farm Labor and the Resurgence of the United Farm Workers, through Aug. 26; Made in Oakland: The Furniture of Garry Knox Bennett, through Sept. 2; After the Storm: Bob Walker and the Art of Environmental Photography, through Sept. 16; Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks, through Sept. 23; Rustler Ranch Mastodon Project, through June 30, 2002; Wednesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, noon - 5 p.m., Closed Monday and Tuesday. $6 general; $4 youths (6-17), seniors and students with ID. Free for Museum members and children 5 and under. Free admission the second Sunday of the month. 10th & Oak Streets, Oakland. 238-2200 www.museum.org 

The UC Berkeley Art Museum is closed for renovations until the fall. 

Send arts events two weeks in advance to Calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.net, 2076 University, Berkeley 94704 or fax to 841-5694. 

A new head coach. A new offensive coordinator. A new quarterback. The Berkeley High football team has a lot of obstacles to overcome if the Yellowjackets are to score many points in the upcoming season. 

But the outlook is better than it was a month ago, when incumbent starting signal-caller Mohammed Nitoto decided to transfer to McClymonds. Berkeley was left without a single quarterback on the roster who had taken a varsity snap. Luckily, an old face has returned to run the offense: senior Raymond Pinkston, a transfer from Detroit who spent his freshman year at Berkeley. Pinkston played quarterback on the junior varsity that year, and was a starter at his high school in Detroit last year, so he brings instant experience to the position. 

Now all Pinkston has to do is learn the multiple-set offense of new offensive coordinator Clarence Johnson. Johnson, formerly the head coach at Mt. Tamalpais High, is encouraged by the progress made so far. 

“I’ve been very suprised at how good the learning curve has been to this point,” Johnson said Thursday. “We’ve installed 42 plays, which is almost the whole playbook.” 

But if Thursday’s practice-ending scrimmage against the first-string defense was any indication, there is still a lot of work to be done before the season opener on Sept. 7 at Foothill High. While there were some spectacular individual efforts, such as wideout Lee Franklin’s cutback run on a reverse that totally fooled the defense, the offensive line provided lackluster protection for Pinkston, who was constantly scrambling away from pass-rushers. 

With weapons like Pinkston, Franklin and tailback Germaine Baird, Johnson has some weapons to use. In addition, three starters return on the offensive line. 

Johnson said he expects to lean heavily on the passing game in the early going, as the ground game has more intricacies to learn. 

“We have some great athletes at quarterback and receiver, and we’ve got some complicated blocking schemes, so we’ll probably do more passing right at the beginning,” he said. “But the line will come along.” 

Both Johnson and head coach Matt Bissell said the team is helped greatly by the large number of players on the squad, which means almost no one has to play both ways. That means Johnson can have his offensive players for the entire practice every day, teaching them his system with free reign. 

“The best thing is that we have more kids than I’m used to, so we’re able to platoon. That has helped the learning curve speed up,” Johnson said. 

Bissell has been encouraged by what he has seen of Johnson’s offense, which will incorporate several successful local schools’ systems. He considers Johnson is a good communicator who has brought the offense along nicely. 

“I can tell you that as a head coach, you don’t get to do that much actual coaching. You do a lot more overseeing, dealing with eligibility and that kind of thing,” Bissell said. “I know that Charles really wanted to get back to coaching the kids closely.”

New Superintendent of Schools Michele Lawrence has scheduled a special budget meeting for Monday to review persistent problems with the district’s budget for the school year beginning Aug. 29. 

Lawrence said Thursday that she hopes to give the school board, union representatives, advisory board chairs and the general public an outline of some short-term and longterm solutions to the problems, although the meeting is purely informational and the school board will not be called upon to take any action. 

“We hope to give the community and our employees an overview of the (district’s) financial status and administrative systems,” Lawrence said. 

Staff at the Alameda County Office of Education have been reviewing the budget submitted by the district earlier this summer - as they do with the budget of each of the county’s 18 school districts.  

They discovered a number of inconsistencies and omissions in the district’s budget calculations that, taken together, might have resulted in the district’s total revenues being overstated by as much as $2.5 million.  

The county officials sent one part of the budget back to the district for a complete revision after they discovered some $17 million in federal revenues and categorical programs completely unaccounted for. 

Lawrence said the budget miscalculations could have an impact on school programs this year, although the precise impact is something to be determined in future school board meetings. 

Lawrence said the district has a pressing need to get everyone on the same page as far as the district’s finances are concerned, and to improve communications going forward.  

Only once the district’s administrative systems are running smoothly will staff be able to avoid future problems with the budget, she said. 

Board of Education Director John Selawsky said in an interview that he was not surprised by any of the problems identified by the county office.  

He voted against certifying the budget earlier this summer because of serious concerns about the quality of budget information in the district. 

One major contributor to the district’s budget problems is an ongoing effort to transfer from an outdated and dysfunctional data processing system to a new system.  

Another factor, school district sources say, could be a high rate of employee turnover in the district’s business office. 

Selawsky said he is encouraged by Lawrence’s apparent resolve to get the budgeting situation under control as soon as possible.  

Having confusion about the budget tends to paralyze the board, Selawsky said, because budget numbers drive so many of the decisions about school programs. 

“We need to put this behind us so that we can deal with the real issues,” he said. 

The budget study session is scheduled for 6 p.m., Monday on the second floor of the district’s administrative offices, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The meeting is open to the public.

Editor: 

This season’s crop of land–use controversies reminds me of shopping with my friends at discount outlets like Ross Dress for Less. We get some great bargains, sometimes, but we make some awful mistakes too. It’s one thing to squeeze into a dress that’s a bit too small, but too small shoes will almost never work out. For would–be builders, there’s a terrible temptation to acquire rights to a “bargain” site, and then to try to cram way too much into a too–tight space.  

The Beth El project is an obvious example. The congregation got a good deal on a piece of property with significant problems: the creek, the historic status, the neighbors. . . After a huge amount of public wrangling that exhausted all parties, the announced solution has Beth El promising to put their project on a diet so that it will fit elegantly into the site by September. I hope they can do it. 

The project that threatens to be the worst example of a dubious bargain is the Oxford lot. Such a deal! A pie–shaped slice of downtown, city – owned, currently used only for parking. Realtor Mickey Tenenbaum, an old friend, told me he estimates the value to be about $6 million on the open market. BUT...everyone in Berkeley wants a piece of it, and if they all get what they want, it will be a mess.  

I counted eight different uses in Mickey’s latest letter to the Planet. To cram them all onto the modest site, he and performance artist George Coates propose expanding the already–crowded concept approved by the Planning Commission to seven stories. The one–size –fits–all arts megaplex seemed to be one of the best ideas of the 1970s, but performer friends tell me it hasn’t worked out all that well at the Yerba Buena Center.  

Common complaints are cramped design and heavy cost burden on performing organizations to compensate for overly optimistic initial business plans.  

The Tenenbaum/Coates proposal would never fit the kind of arts organizations most in need of space in Berkeley, those which attract substantial audiences and pay artists living wages. Their proposed 450–seat theater is exactly the wrong size: too big for equity–exempt experimental cutting edge productions, and too small for larger professional groups. The Berkeley Symphony (a union orchestra) desperately needs a space which would allow two 1,000– seat performances of each concert. For groups such as the Festival Opera, Zellerbach is too big to fill, too pricey to rent and too hard to schedule.  

Just from a spatial perspective, the arts megaplex proposal seems ill –conceived, as letter writers to the Planet have pointed out. One of the best things about downtown Berkeley is the view of the hills from Shattuck over the tops of the buildings. It would be a real shame to sacrifice even more of that just because the city happens to own a piece of land that seems like a bargain to would–be developers.  

Before Berkeley rushes into any more expensive projects which claim to benefit the arts, we need a thorough professional needs assessment. This should have happened before the Berkeley Rep got such a big chunk of public money. We already have a lot of existing small performance spaces in Berkeley which serve the community well. I am happy to be able to walk to the charming Berkeley Opera in the Julia Morgan Theater, and it’s even on the 51 bus line, the only really functioning transit option in town. Why move it to a downtown already too crowded at night with suburban theatergoers and their SUVs? And then what happens to the Julia Morgan? 

If there’s a documented need for a new building, there are still many under – utilized sites close to transit, for example near the Ashby Bart Station. With better planning, we can get better projects which serve the whole arts community, instead of apparent bargains which turn out to be expensive mistakes.  

Becky O’Malley 

Berkeley

NEW YORK — It sounds as surreal as an old Bob Dylan song: Pancho Villa playing center field for a 1930s team called the Boston Fords, taking on such rivals as the Pittsburgh Plymouths and the St. Louis Cadillacs. 

The history books and the record books will lead you nowhere. Villa never bothered with the big leagues and the Fords and their fellow franchises were only legends, roaming the mythic ballparks of a young Jack Kerouac. 

The New York Public Library announced it has acquired the literary and personal archives of Kerouac, who died in 1969. The archives, available to scholars within the next few years, contain thousands of items, including diaries, letters, stories, notebooks and manuscripts for “On the Road” and other novels. 

Most unusual is a labyrinthine fantasy baseball game Kerouac created as a kid growing up in Lowell, Mass., and referred to in his private papers and the novel “Dr. Sax.” Kerouac fans have long wanted to know more about the author’s so-called “Summer League.” 

“This should give you an idea of the breadth, and the richness, of his imaginary life,” said Isaac Gewirtz, curator of the library’s Berg Collection of English and American Literature, which includes manuscripts by Walt Whitman, T.S. Eliot and many others. 

If “On the Road” wasn’t the Great American Novel, then Kerouac can make a fair claim to the Great American Fantasy Baseball League.  

Using blue, orange and plain-colored paper, index cards and the backs of business cards, Kerouac invented a six-team league more complicated than Strat-O-Matic and other popular games. 

He recruited historic figures such as Villa and Lou Gehrig, and imaginary heroes such as Homer Landry, Charley Custer and Luis Tercerero. Kerouac hired himself as manager of the Plymouths. 

There are few specific instructions, but the game apparently called for marbles, toothpicks and white-rubber erasers to be thrown against a target some 40 feet away.  

So detailed was Kerouac’s league that he played each game in virtual real time, not just batter by batter, but pitch by pitch, down to a foul tip off home plate. 

He also published the newsletter “Jack Lewis’s Baseball Chatter,” and produced a broadsheet called the “The Daily Ball,” in which he compiled standings and league leaders and offered summaries of the day’s games. 

“Writers create vast kingdoms for themselves to control and to let their imagination run loose,” said Ann Douglas, a professor of American studies at Columbia University who has written often about the Beats. 

“Think of William Faulkner and his Yoknapatawpha County. Think of Thomas De Quincey and his brother making up whole worlds of imaginary inhabitants who were at war with each other. Writers like to be gods of worlds where great dramas are played out.” 

The son of French Canadians, Kerouac was born in Lowell in 1922. He played baseball and football as a child and was a star athlete in high school.  

In the 1940s, he helped found the “Beat” movement with Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs, whom he met in New York City. 

The Berg collection includes a tombstone-shaped Valentine Kerouac gave his mother in 1933 and a journal from 1939 in which the self-pitying teen announces: “My name is John L. Kerouac, regardless of how little that may matter to the casual reader.” 

His fantasy league dates back at least to the mid-1930s. Kerouac not only kept records of each player’s performance, but compiled scorecards and box scores and even individual salaries and team fiscal data. 

“Only the Pontiacs, Nashes and cellar-dwelling La Salles are in financial condition to buy any minor league players to improve their clubs at this time,” Kerouac reports midway through one season. 

Douglas said that Kerouac didn’t speak English fluently until his teens and considers his fantasy league a classic immigrant experience, using baseball to access American culture. 

Kerouac kept the games going long after he had mastered the language. In one entry, written during his 30s, Kerouac refers in pencil to a season that was to be continued in the next notebook. 

Alas, in a parenthetical aside recorded later in blue ink, he relates that the sequel is no more. It was lost on a trip to Mexico City, with the Cincinnati Blacks in first and Villa leading the league in stolen bases.

City Carshare and the city of Berkeley have decided to launch a scaled-down car sharing program in November rather than waiting for UC Berkeley to approve additional funding for the project. 

The car sharing program, which allows members to use a car when necessary without the hassles of ownership, was originally to begin with 10 cars but organizers reduced that number to five because UC Berkeley is still studying the possibility of subsidizing the program. 

Similar programs have been successful in San Francisco, Portland, Ore. And Seattle, Wash. Palo Alto recently began a car sharing program and Oakland is scheduled to launch a fleet of 10 cars in November. 

City Carshare organizers originally asked Berkeley for $115,000 to start the program. But because university students, professors and staff are expected to be heavy users of the service, the city agreed to fund $54,500 and suggested City Carshare go to the university for the additional funding, according to City Carshare Executive Director  

Elizabeth Sullivan. 

The city approved the $54,500 in June when it adopted its two-year budget. 

According to City Carshare Deputy Director Kate White, the additional funding would allow the program to start with 10 brand new, green and gray Volkswagen Beetles instead of five.  

Some city officials are concerned the university will take advantage of the city by not putting up half of the funding.  

“The entire community should demand that the university fund its fair share of the car-sharing program,” said Councilmember Kriss Worthington. “That and providing free public transportation passes for all of their employees would be the absolute minimum such a large employer could do to be responsible.” 

Worthington said he remains hopeful the UC Transportation Department will decide to help subsidize the program. 

UC transportation planner Kira Stoll said the university received the funding request after the annual budget had been approved. She said they are currently conducting a feasibility study to see if the additional funding is available.  

“We think the car sharing program is an excellent component to a complete alternative transportation program,” Stoll said, “and we hope to have an answer back to the City Carshare people in September.” 

Mayor Shirley Dean said she is encouraging the university to provide the extra dollars. “This will be an excellent program for students and others associated with the university,” she said. “I think It makes an enormous amount of sense for the city and the university.” 

Persons over 25 years old interested in joining City Carshare can put down a $300 refundable deposit, and for an administrative fee of $10 per month, they will be able to use one of the new cars at a rate of $2.50 per hour and 45 cents per mile. The cars will be kept at garages near the UC Berkeley campus and will available 24 hours a day. 

According to Matthew Nicholes, a Berkeley resident who is on the City Carshare Board of Directors, the company’s insurance carrier requires all drivers to be age 25 or older. Nicholes said the nonprofit is researching the possibility of lowering the age requirement. 

Members can reserve cars online or by telephone and then show up at the designated garage with a “smart key” that operates the vehicle and keeps track of time used and distances traveled. 

According to White, two cars will be available at the new Gaia Building where developer Patrick Kennedy has donated parking spaces and another three cars are expected to be available at the city parking lot on Berkeley Way near Shattuck Avenue.  

White said the program would ideally attract car owners who drive less than 10,000 miles a year, although she said many of the initial members in San Francisco joined because they couldn’t afford a car. “Carshare can also be a form of preventive car ownership,” she said. 

The program in San Francisco started in February with 12 new Volkswagen Beetles that were stored in four garages in different parts of town. White said the program has been so popular there are now 25 cars and 700 members. 

White said the immediate goal of the program is to reduce the demand on parking in urban areas. Long-term goals include energy conservation and the creation of more housing at less cost. Most urban areas have ordinances requiring a set number of parking spaces be developed for each residential unit.  

If the car-sharing program is successful, the mandatory number of parking spaces could be reduced thereby freeing up space for residential development. 

Nicholes said he expects to program to do well in Berkeley. He said the city is densely populated and that on average Berkeley households have fewer cars than elsewhere in the Bay Area. 

“All these conditions and the level of environmental consciousness in Berkeley make me believe the program is going to do really well here.” 

For more information about City Carshare call (415) 995-8588 or visit its Web site at www.sfcarshare.org

KPFA-area listeners are planning a response to the suspension without pay of news magazine “Democracy Now!” host Amy Goodman and her staff at WBAI in New York by holding a rally at the Berkeley station Tuesday morning. 

KPFA and WBAI are both listener-sponsored radio stations, whose licenses are held by the Pacifica Foundation. The three other Pacifica stations are in Houston, Texas, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. 

Goodman has alleged that the WBAI station manager physically assaulted her by pushing her and grabbing a camera, according to Tracy Rosenberg, administrative director of Media Alliance in San Francisco, who is helping to organize the Tuesday rally. 

Claiming her workplace is dangerous and hostile, Goodman filed a grievance with her union, the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. The union directed Goodman to continue to work at the station, however, she declined to do so. 

“The ability of WBAI to maintain a safe working environment has not been demonstrated,” Rosenberg said. Instead, of producing her show at the station, Goodman has been hosting it from a nearby community television station. WBAI management has opted not to run these shows, but to air reruns. KPFA is the only Pacifica station airing the newly-produced programs. 

The allegations of physical harassment comes on the heels of the firing and banning from the station of a number of WBAI staff, whom Goodman has supported.  

Tension between Pacifica radio staff and its management erupted at KPFA in Berkeley in spring of 1999 and has spread across the country to other stations. At the heart of the conflict is activists’ demands for the Pacifica Board’s full financial disclosure, democratization of the board and the end to a policy directed toward moderating the stations’ political content in order to broaden their appeal. 

For its part, the KPFA staff union issued a declaration of solidarity with Goodman on Thursday, which said, in part: 

“We the Communication Workers of America, local 9415 KPFA Union staff, deplore the continued drumbeat of harassment and intimidation against the staff of Democracy Now! which now includes threatened and actual violence. We urge Pacifica Executive Director Bessie Wash to take immediate action to stop these attacks, create a safe working environment, reinstate the staff of Democracy Now! and immediately reinstitute distribution of the program nationally.” 

The rally, organized by Media Alliance, will be held Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in front of the station at 1929 Martin Luther King Jr., Way. 

Calls for comment from Pacifica management in Washington, D.C., and to Pacifica spokesperson Michael Powell of Westhill Media Strategies were not returned.

‘Cash for Trash’ wins own award in state contest 

The city’s “Cash for Trash” contests, which gave money to Berkeley residents for routing recyclables out of their trash bins, took third place in the state's Keep California Beautiful contest. 

The state’s first lady, Sharon Davis, was to present the award to Berkeley representatives from the Public Works Department during a ceremony to take place Thursday in Sacramento.  

The contest began on Feb. 14, and five days later, Susan and Roy Bogas were declared the contest's first winners of the year, and were made $500 richer.  

The contest ended in July 12.  

By the time it was over, 18 Berkeley households had received cash prizes ranging from $40 to $2,700.  

The environment, too, was richer for the effort, because city officials say that the overall tonnage of recycled materials in the city rose almost 10 percent over the same period last year. 

Leadership training  

program open to residents  

Alameda County is sponsoring a leadership academy this fall that will give county residents the opportunity to learn first hand about local politics while developing leadership and communication skills, a spokeswoman has announced. 

Alameda County Administrator spokeswoman Patricia Swanson says the Alameda County Leadership Academy is a free, interactive forum entailing meetings with elected officials, panel presentations, small group discussions, building tours and mock public policy exercises focused on the county, its budget, programs and the challenges as it enters its 149th year. 

The program will consist of six nightly sessions, the first on Oct. 11 and the last on Jan. 16.  

It is free and open to anyone who works, lives or owns a business in Alameda County, however, space is limited so only 45 people will be allowed to participate, Swanson says.  

For more information about the Alameda County Leadership Academy, or to obtain an application, visit the Alameda County Web site at www.co.alameda.ca.us or call the county administrator's office at 272-6984. The application deadline is Sept. 18.  

County recognized  

for child support efforts 

The National Child Support Enforcement Association awarded its Outstanding Child Support Program Award to the Family Support Division of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office at the NCSEA annual conference in New York City last week. 

According to NCSEA, the award is given each year to the child support program that best exemplifies child support enforcement through an outstanding performance record.  

Other finalists for the award were mostly state agencies. Maureen Lenahan, Program Administrator of the Family Support Division, said that it is rare for a local child support program to receive the award. 

The Alameda County child support program achieved high performance ratings in five federal performance areas: paternity establishment, establishment of orders, collections on current support due, collection on child support cases due and cost-to-collection ration. 

The county uses a child support computer program that targets delinquent cases for immediate action whenever positive information is received from state and federal sources. 

Police reported they had a suspect in custody in an armed robbery case Thursday evening. The suspect, who had allegedly tried to rob the Walgreen’s Drug Store at San Pablo and Ashby avenues at about 5:30 p.m., fled police who chased him into the surrounding neighborhood, before he was caught. Few details were available Thursday evening.

LOS ANGELES — The South Coast Air Quality Management District can continue its ban on diesel vehicles in public fleets after a federal judge upheld the air quality agency’s policy on Thursday. 

A lawsuit filed by the Engine Manufacturers Association and the Western States Petroleum Association claimed the agency’s rules violated the federal Clean Air Act, but U.S. District Court Judge Florence-Marie Cooper ruled against the associations. 

The Clean Air Act prohibits state or local governments from imposing standards relating to controlling emissions from new motor vehicles. 

“The judge basically determined this is a rule that did not impose any requirements on engine manufacturers,” said Barbara Baird, attorney for the AQMD. 

Under the agency’s current rules, public entities with fleets of 15 or more vehicles must purchase alternative-fuel vehicles when expanding or making replacements to their fleets. 

The rules are aimed at cutting diesel exhaust, a major source of toxic air pollution and oxides of nitrogen that lead to asthma-inducing smog. Even the cleanest diesel systems produce more oxides of nitrogen than natural gas. 

The regulation would cover government agencies from the city to federal level, school districts and universities and transit districts in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 

Vehicles that carry people or cargo in and out of the region’s airports, including taxis and shuttles, are also included in the plan. But it exempts police cars and other emergency vehicles. 

SAN JOSE — American Indians want to be part of the solution to the nation’s energy woes, and are eager to work with energy companies to build power plants and extract fuels on tribal lands. 

But with the federal budget surplus dwindling, they’re worried that lawmakers will ignore their efforts to gain access to some $2 billion in federal tax incentives and loans for major power projects. 

Tribes also are concerned that efforts to update tribal land use regulations could be overshadowed in the haste to develop a national energy policy, leaders said at a national Indian energy conference this week. 

“The procedures, policies and laws with regards to Indian land are 19th century structures; they are impediments,” said A. David Lester, executive director of the Denver-based Council of Energy Resource Tribes, a nonprofit tribal organization. 

While California’s ongoing energy crunch has boosted interest in building on tribal lands, Indians have worked with governments and businesses for decades to bring reliable energy service to residents and to spur economic development, Lester said. 

Power plants and renewable energy farms are being built or are in the permitting process in Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. Power companies say plants can be built quicker on tribal lands where people don’t have the “not in my backyard” attitude of more populated areas. 

Natural gas pipelines and transmission lines often run through reservation land, lowering the cost of both supplying fuel and sending out electricity. These frequently windswept or sunbaked areas are ideal for renewable energy projects as well. 

“They’re sitting on an incredible resource that’s never been quantified,” said Soren Bo Christensen, assistant manager for sales and marketing for Vestas American Wind Technology Inc. “This is the chance to harvest some of their own resources.” 

Tribes have worked with Congress to develop legislation that could resolve how much tribes can charge for power transmitted over their land, how to ensure the tribes have access to the power, and how to set fair prices for fuel. 

Karen Atkinson, senior counsel to Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, said the Senate could review the “Tribal Energy Self-sufficiency Act” as early as September. 

The bill already has been reviewed in the House, though no action was taken. Atkinson said the bill highlights tribal power issues in the hope that lawmakers will insert key aspects into the nation’s overall energy policy. 

Congress should take the tribes seriously, given their energy resources, Lester said. 

“We want to participate in the marketplace ... but Indian tribes aren’t interested in conquest. We’re interested in developing our economy,” Lester said. 

On the Net: 

http://www.cert.org 

http://www.indian.senate.gov

CERES— By the time Rep. Gary Condit’s televised interview with ABC-TV reporter Connie Chung had ended, so, it seemed, had much of his support in his rural Central Valley congressional district. 

“He interviewed the way I expected he would, but I’m disappointed,” said Karen Johnson, a 43-year-old Modesto business owner and former supporter. “He continues to be evasive in his answers, and my perception is that his bigger interest is in protecting his own interests.” 

Condit and his advisers had hoped to save his 29-year political career by sending a letter to his constituents and then following with a series of television and print interviews. 

They hoped to explain Condit’s months-long silence after the disappearance of Chandra Levy, a 24-year-old Modesto resident and former Washington intern. While a police source said Condit admitted having an affair with Levy, Condit evaded questions Thursday night about whether the relationship was sexual. 

If he hoped to help himself, said Bryan Justin Marks, 25, of Ceres, student body president at Modesto Junior College, Condit failed. 

Condit was “extremely evasive,” Marks said. “His body language suggests he has something to hide.” 

“He’s not someone who I would want to represent this district,” said Destiny Alvarez, a 22-year-old Modesto Junior College student. 

Throughout the day Thursday, as Condit’s letter hit district mailboxes and then word of his interview performance spread, the number of vocal supporters shrank while doubters grew. 

Public relations consultants and political professionals also thought Condit blew a critical opportunity. 

“The public is going to view this as entirely self-serving,” said Eve Epstein, a New York-based communications expert who helps government and corporate leaders refine their images. 

Condit, said Harlan Brock, a 49-year-old father of three in Ceres, is still hiding something. 

“I think he has more involvement than he says he has,” said Brock, who said he supported Condit before but not any more. “If you’re innocent, why do you wait so long to prove it?” 

The Chung interview, said University of California, Berkeley, political scientist Bruce Cain, was “horrible” for Condit. He couldn’t even own up to things that are kind of common knowledge,” such as the affair with Levy.  

Active Condit supporters, primarily those involved in Central Valley Democratic politics, said they thought Condit helped his cause Thursday. 

“I thought he cleared up some misinformation; I thought he was honest,” said Sandra Lucas, chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Democratic Central Committee. “On the whole, I thought it was very good.” 

Modesto Mayor Carmen Sabatino, who was unimpressed by Condit’s letter, said Condit did better on television. 

“I think he has mended some fences,” Sabatino said. “I think he has quieted down some curiosity.” 

Condit’s claims of cooperation with authorities and reminders of what he has done for constituents may not be enough, said Joel Aberbach, a UCLA political scientist. 

“If I were one of his constituents I’d be pretty distressed to find out that he isn’t the person that he said he was for so long, and no letter can overcome that,” Aberbach said. 

First elected to the Central Valley congressional district in 1989, Condit has long attracted solid majorities, drawing votes from Democrats as well as Republicans who appreciate his centrist positions. His post-disappearance conduct has provided an opening to opponents, but few serious candidates have emerged. 

That may be the only way for the Democrats, who need only six more seats to take control of the House of Representatives, to preserve what’s left of Condit’s seat, for either him or a successor, said Tony Quinn, a Republican former redistricting consultant and co-editor of the California Target Book, a political guide. 

“He’s trying to get some political credibility back without admitting more than he has to,” Quinn said. “My view is it’s not going to matter because he’s not going to have a district to run from.” 

In 1998, at the height of the controversy surrounding President Clinton’s relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky, Condit criticized Clinton for not being open enough.  

Now, however, Condit is being compared to Clinton and found wanting. 

“Gary Condit is no Bill Clinton,” Epstein said. “He’s no comeback kid.” 

——— 

Associated Press reporter Kiley Russell contributed to this report. 

SAN DIEGO — A Northern California couple say they will pay a British surrogate mother who is suing them for breach of contract. 

Helen Beasley will receive a scheduled payment of approximately $9,000 from Martha Berman and Charles Wheeler of Berkeley, the couple’s attorney, Gerald McMahon, said during a court hearing Thursday. 

With the latest payment, Beasley will have received $10,000 of the $19,000 the couple offered her to bear a child.  

The dispute landed in San Diego Superior Court this summer when the couple asked the 26-year-old legal secretary to abort one of the twins she is carrying, and she refused. 

“They can’t be allowed to turn their backs on the babies just because it suits them,” said Beasley, who is six months pregnant.  

“These people need to be brought to justice and pay for what they’ve done.”

When painting, the color choice or combination of colors (“color palette”) has a significant effect on both the appearance and value of a home. This is true of both interior- and exterior-painting projects. At the exterior, the color configuration can make a narrow house appear wider or a short, stubby house look taller. On the interior, a light color can make a room appear larger, while a dark color has the opposite effect. 

Beyond color, a little paint and a lot of imagination can go a long way in adding to a home. Decorative painting techniques such as rag rolling, graining, marbling, and sponge painting can do wonders to add both depth and interest to a space. 

If your talent does not exceed Rorschach drawings or you failed kindergarten art, you might want to try a simpler, yet equally decorative technique – stencil painting. 

Unlike the other techniques noted, painting with stencils requires little skill. You don’t need to worry about “coloring out of the lines,” and a stencil can be used over and over to create a theme, pattern or border. 

What’s more, your creativity needn’t be limited to your home’s interior. Mailboxes, fences, fountains, flowerpots and trellises can be embellished with flowers, trailing ivy, birds, and butterflies or with whatever your imagination dictates. 

Stencil painting is fun, easy, inexpensive and doesn’t take much time. Start by deciding what you want to decorate and the subject or design that you want to use. Let’s say you want to add a rose and some trailing ivy to a mailbox. Find a drawing of a rose and some ivy in a crafts book, art book or magazine. The size of the original art can be increased or decreased using a copy machine. Once you have the desired size, lay a sheet of clear acetate over the art, tape it into place and trace the design onto the acetate using a medium- to fine-point indelible marker. 

Remove the acetate, tape it onto a sheet of cardboard and carefully cut the stencil with a utility knife. Don’t rush it – the quality of your finished product has everything to do with how well your stencil is cut. 

Plan stencils with one cutout sheet per color. For example, if your subject is a red rose, you will need one stencil for the red-rose petals and one stencil for the green stem and leaves. This will prevent colors that are close to one another or that overlap from “bleeding,” and will ensure better results. Add registration marks (a small cross) to the corners of each stencil so that the various sheets can be aligned to complete the design. 

Poke a small hole at the center of each of the registration marks and use a pencil point to transfer these points to the surface being painted. Align subsequent registration marks with these points. 

Before painting with a stencil, make sure that the object to be painted is clean and has a base color that will be enhanced by the stencil colors. A light color is usually a safe bet. Unfinished surfaces should be sanded, primed and painted with one to two coats of finish. 

Once the finish coat has dried (and before beginning stencil painting), use a pencil to lay out your stencil design and/or repeating pattern on the object to be painted. Tape the first color stencil to the object using blue painters’ tape. It isn’t so sticky, and can be removed without taking paint with it. 

With the stencil securely in place, dip a stencil brush into the first color, remove the excess paint onto a piece of paper and pounce the brush straight up and down onto the stencil. In contrast to a traditional paintbrush, a stencil brush is round and contains short, dense bristles. 

After you complete the first color, carefully remove the first stencil and dry the paint using a hand-held hair dryer. Tape the second stencil into place – aligning with the registration marks – and repeat the process using the appropriate color. Repeat the process for each of the stencils. 

Cleaning the stencils and brushes frequently will prevent paint from smearing and render the best results. 

James and Morris Carey are feature writers for The Associated Press

Liens from contested home improvement projects are unnerving to many homeowners. They risk legal fees, poor credit ratings, and lose their ability to sell their home if the lien is not resolved. 

According to attorney Hans Huessy, there are steps homeowners can take to reduce the chances of contractors filing liens.  

Or, once a lien is filed, there are remedies to defend themselves. Huessy is chief counsel for the Home Service Store, a national home improvement service provider. 

Huessy says homeowners should require contractors and subcontractors to provide lien waivers as part of a written project contract. The contract should require a lien waiver be issued before payment for services. If payments are made to a general contractor in stages for work performed by subcontractors, the homeowner should ask for lien waivers from the various subcontractors as their part of the project is completed. 

Reputable contractors will have waiver forms readily available. If not, local or state consumer advocate organizations may have sample waivers. 

Homeowner diligence shouldn’t stop once lien waivers are signed. Huessy says homeowners should keep accurate records of what has been paid to contractors and who has worked on the job site and when.  

Such astute record keeping can help the homeowner ensure that he/she obtains lien waivers from all necessary parties. 

Unethical contractors sometimes file liens for false amounts, hoping to intimidate the homeowner into paying the disputed amount rather than spending the time and money to fight the lien. 

In most jurisdictions, liens expire after a set period of time so a homeowner may sit tight if the lien is not affecting their use of the property. 

If the lien disrupts use of their property, homeowners can counter a lien by posting the amount claimed with the court.  

This removes the lien from land records and frees up the homeowner’s property. This puts the ball back in the contractor’s court.  

The contractor has a limited amount of time to enforce the lien, often at great legal expense. If he fails to do so within the time period, the court returns the homeowner’s money. 

Huessy also advises homeowners to keep a watchful eye on change orders, the mid-job changes in materials that can drive budgets up. Those amounts should be itemized and figured into payments to contractors. 

In some cases homeowners may also request general contractors to post a performance bond. The bond is like an insurance policy to ensure contractors honor their contract, including obligations to pay all subcontractors and suppliers on time. 

The best defense against liens, says Huessy, is to avoid disputes early on. The best way is to clearly state expectations in a written contract before the project starts.  

On large projects, especially if subcontractors are involved, the contract should require the contractor to give the homeowner lien waivers signed by all subcontractors as they complete their work and before paying for the services. 

(The Home Service Store manages home maintenance, repair and improvement tasks in more than 130 markets nationwide and can be found at www.TrustHSS.com.)

BOSTON — Scientists are questioning the most surprising discovery from last winter’s deciphering of the human genetic code – the assertion that people have only about 30,000 genes, or roughly twice as many as the fruit fly. 

A new analysis suggests that number is too low, and the real total could be considerably bigger. However, researchers who came up with the original figure are sticking with it, at least for now. 

Scientists have long argued over how many genes it takes to build a human. Educated guesses have ranged up to 150,000. 

The issue seemed settled last February, when two competing scientific teams published the first detailed look at virtually the entire library of genetic information contained in every human cell. 

Both groups laid out the 3 billion bits of data that make up the code. Both used computers to distinguish the information that is genes from the look-alike filler. And both came up with roughly the same estimate: between 30,000 and 40,000 genes, with the best bet under 35,000. 

Some speculated that the relatively small number of human genes was good news, because it means less work to understand how they all work and perhaps translate that information into cures and treatments for various diseases. 

To many scientists, the fact that the two groups independently arrived at the same number made it believable. 

However, a team lead by Dr. Michael Cooke of the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego compared the two groups’ findings and found out that they had identified two quite different sets of genes, with only roughly a 50 percent overlap between them. 

The two groups agreed on the existence of about 17,000 genes. But about 25,000 more were found only by one group or the other. 

“It’s a jaw-dropper,” said Cooke, whose findings are published in Friday’s issue of the journal Cell. 

Just how many genes it takes to construct a human is unclear from the latest analysis. While Cooke believes 30,000 is too low, he estimates the total is probably not more than 60,000. 

For now, nobody knows how many genes were missed by both teams or how many of those identified by just one group truly are genes. 

One catalog of genes was compiled by Celera Genomics of Rockville, Md., the other by an international consortium headed by the National Human Genome Research Institute. 

Officials of both Celera and the consortium contend that most of the 25,000 genes found by just one group or the other will turn out to be phonies, so the final answer may still be somewhere around 30,000. 

“It’s way too simplistic to say you can add up the non-overlapping sets and get a bigger number,” said Celera President Craig Venter.  

“They’re probably bogus.” 

Dr. Francis Collins, head of the genome institute, agreed the total is unlikely to grow hugely. “It would not stun me if there turned out to be 50,000,” he said. “It would stun me greatly if there were 100,000.” 

Dr. Gerald Rubin, a fruit fly expert at the University of California at Berkeley, said some scientists suspected all along that the total number would turn out to be higher than 30,000. His guess: Humans will have 54,000 genes, or four times more than the 13,600 in the fruit fly Drosophila. 

Scientists are running a betting pool on what the total will be, and so far 165 have entered. (The cost of a bet rose from $1 to $5 after the release of February’s data.) Right now, their average guess is 61,710 genes. The winner will be chosen in 2003, by which time it is hoped the answer will be clear. 

Collins’ bet, made two years ago, was 48,011. “I’ll hold on,” he said. “I’m not completely retracting that.” 

On the Net: 

Cell: http://www.cell.com 

Betting pool: http://www.ensembl.org/Genesweep

BEIJING — China’s government admitted the growing scale of its AIDS epidemic with rare candor Thursday, saying HIV cases nationwide had surged and confirming that hundreds of people in a single village were infected by a blood-buying operation. 

Yin Dakui, a vice minister of health, chided local officials and the public for not recognizing the dangers of AIDS. His ministry said the virus was spreading especially quickly among drug users and in China’s flourishing sex trade. 

China faces “a very serious epidemic of HIV-AIDS,” Yin said at an unusual government news conference on the issue. 

“In some particular regions, some leaders and also the general public there have not fully realized the hidden dangers of a full-scale epidemic of HIV-AIDS.” 

The unusually detailed public comments by a senior official on AIDS added to recent steps suggesting the government is getting serious about combatting the disease after years of denying it was a problem.  

This month, the government announced a campaign aimed at training health workers and educating the public. 

For the first time, Yin released official details on the outbreak in the central village of Wenlou, saying 43 percent of the residents who sold blood have tested positive for HIV.  

Wenlou is one of at least 10 villages in Henan province that saw infections from the unsanitary blood industry in the 1990s. 

Collectors bought blood from villagers, pooled it and extracted plasma – the liquid part of the blood sought for medical uses. Then, instead of being thrown out as is usually done in donations, the rest of the blood was injected back into the sellers, apparently to limit their blood loss. 

But because the blood was pooled, a single seller with the AIDS virus could contaminate the supply and infect many others. 

“People saw this as a way to improve their lives, raise their living standards,” Yin said of the blood-selling. 

Yin said that local officials had failed to enforce proper health standards. 

Experts estimate more than 600,000 Chinese – in a population of 1.26 billion – were infected by HIV by the end of 2000, and the health ministry has said those figures are likely accurate. 

Of those, 30,000 to 50,000 are thought to have been infected by blood, mostly by selling blood and plasma, Yin said. He said some experts put the number as high as 100,000. 

According to the figures released Thursday, confirmed HIV infections nationwide totaled 26,058 by the end of June. The ministry said 3,541 new infections were reported in the first half of 2001, a 67 percent surge over the 2,115 cases reported in the first six months last year. 

A survey in April of 1,645 Wenlou villagers found that 318 – or 19 percent – were HIV-positive, Yin told reporters after the news conference. Among villagers who sold blood, even a larger proportion were infected – 244 out of 568, or 43 percent. 

The government had been reluctant to release details, though it announced this month that it was setting up a clinic in Wenlou to treat people with AIDS.  

A retired physician who publicized the epidemic in Wenlou was blocked in May from visiting the United States to accept an award for her work. 

Yin angrily denied that the government had tried to suppress news of the Henan crisis, saying rather it was residents who didn’t want it publicized. 

He said local people had told him during a recent visit that they feared publicity would damage their economy. He said villagers already find it hard to sell produce or find jobs outside the area. 

Yin said villagers told him: “You’re actually representing only the interests of those HIV-AIDS patients or people with HIV infections. You simply ignore the interests of the 3,000 people in Wenlou, most of whom are healthy.” 

“I have used a lot of time trying to persuade them and change their way of thinking,” he said. 

Reporting of HIV in China is haphazard.  

Often the only people tested are prostitutes and drug users under arrest. Nevertheless, the reported 67 percent rate of increase was sharply higher than the 30 percent rate recorded last year. 

Intravenous drug abuse is the main source of infection, according to Yin’s ministry. Surveys show that 5 percent of drug users test positive for the virus, up from 0.04 percent in 1995. In the worst-hit areas, the rates are much higher. 

Surveys show that 37 percent of intravenous drug users share needles and syringes, the ministry said. 

“We have not effectively stemmed the epidemic of AIDS through drug use, and we should further strengthen the management of blood” Yin said. 

Sexual transmissions of HIV also are increasing.  

Among prostitutes tested, 1.32 percent were found to have the virus last year, up from none in 1995, the ministry said.  

Only 9.1 percent regularly make clients use condoms — a measure Chinese public health officials encourage to slow the spread of the virus. 

But Yin ruled out legalizing prostitution as a way to stem infections. 

“It is totally impossible for China to legalize illegal prostitution, and we should not do that,” he said.

WASHINGTON — The number of laid-off workers drawing unemployment benefits has hit a nine-year peak, the government reported Thursday, providing stark evidence of the toll the yearlong economic slowdown was taking on the nation’s labor markets. 

The Labor Department said the number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose to 3.18 million in the week ending Aug. 11, the highest level since September 1992, when the country was struggling to emerge from the last recession. 

In addition to those already drawing benefits, the government said the number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for benefits rose by 8,000 last week to 393,000, the highest level since mid-July. 

Private economists said the increase in new claims and the growing number of people receiving benefits were indications of growing strains because of the weak economy. 

“The labor market hasn’t seen the worst of this slowdown,” said Richard Berner, chief U.S. economist at Morgan Stanley. “There are more layoffs to come.” 

The official government figures follow a string of new layoff announcements in recent weeks ranging from Ford, the nation’s No. 2 automaker, to Lucent, the telecommunication equipment giant, and Steelcase, the No. 2 office furniture manufacturer. 

The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.5 percent in July, but economists warned it was likely to rise to 4.6 percent this month and top 5 percent by the end of the year as more companies cut workers in the face of sluggish sales. 

“There has been more deterioration in labor markets. We are not out of the woods yet in terms of whether we will have a recession or not,” said Michael Niemira, chief economist at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in New York. 

The concern is that rising layoff notices could cause a sharp cutback in spending by worried consumers. So far, consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity, has offset a steep slide in business capital spending and kept the country out of a full-blown recession. 

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for a seventh time on Tuesday in an easing cycle that began Jan. 3. However, the rate cut was only a quarter-point, disappointing those on Wall Street who had been hoping for a half-point reduction. 

And at their June 27 meeting, when the Fed also cut rates by a quarter-point, a number of Fed officials expressed the view that the central bank “might well be near the end of its easing cycle,” according to minutes of those discussions released Thursday. 

Both Berner and Niemira said they had not ruled out the possibility that the country will dip into a recession this year.  

Berner said he believed second quarter economic growth, first reported at an extremely weak 0.7 percent, will be placed in negative territory when the government issues its revisions of the gross domestic product next week and he predicted the third quarter to be negative as well. The classic definition of a recession is two consecutive negative quarters of GDP. 

However, other economists insisted there are signs that growth is beginning to pick up. Even if the Fed does not cut rates again at its Oct. 2 meeting, it has already lowered rates enough to guarantee the economy will regain its footing, they said. 

These analysts noted another report Thursday showing 30-year fixed rate mortgages declined to 6.91 percent this week, the second straight week the rate has been below 7 percent. 

Analysts said low interest rates were keeping home sales and auto sales at strong levels despite the economic slowdown, which began last summer. 

The 3.18 million unemployed workers drawing benefits for the week ending Aug. 11 represented a 4.3 percent increase from the previous week, when those receiving benefits totaled 3.05 million. Analysts said this indicated not only a rising number of layoffs but the fact that it was taking longer for the unemployed to find a new job.

SAN JOSE — Airports, schools and hotels might want to look closer at the wireless Internet networks they increasingly have been installing as a convenience for the must-stay-connected crowd. 

A new program called AirSnort, released on the Internet this week, enables enterprising hackers to easily grab passwords and other sensitive data as they are being transmitted through the air – unless certain precautions have been taken. 

“There’s going to be some major events that will occur, some takedowns, things like that,” said Les Owens, a Vienna, Va.-based expert on wireless security. “I would be cautious (on a wireless network in a public place), a lot more cautious than I would be at home.” 

Because wireless networks broadcast signals over the public airwaves like radios and cell phones, security experts have known for a long time that they are vulnerable to snoops. 

But not until AirSnort – and a less-complete tool called WEPCrack that was released earlier – were the means to carry out such an attack made publicly available. 

The programs exploit flaws in a commonly used encryption scheme for securing traffic on a certain kind of wireless network – the one based on a popular standard known as Wi-Fi, or 802.11b. Computers linked with a competing standard, known as Bluetooth, are not susceptible to AirSnort or WEPCrack, but Bluetooth also is considered more vulnerable to spies than hard-wired networks. 

AirSnort’s programmers believe too many wireless network users have shrugged off or couldn’t understand recent research describing flaws in the popular Wi-Fi encryption system – which is known as Wired-Equivalent Privacy, or WEP. 

The AirSnort designers said they wanted to make it clear that businesses should be careful about letting important data get out on wireless networks, and that many networks need security upgrades. 

“It is my firm belief that a false sense of security is worse than no security at all,” said AirSnort co-programmer Jeremy Bruestle, who runs a small computer security firm called Cypher42 in St. Cloud, Minn. “In order to stay ahead of the hackers, people need to make informed decisions.” 

Critics have told Bruestle, 23, and co-author Blake Hegerle, 20, that giving hackers a tool to crack wireless networks doesn’t do much to advance the cause of security. 

“But the truth is the security flaw exists regardless of AirSnort, and it is not a difficult flaw to exploit,” Bruestle said. 

A similar program was developed this summer by researchers at AT&T Labs, who chose not to release their code “for a combination of moral and legal reasons,” said a member of the AT&T team, Adam Stubblefield. 

There are ways to make wireless networks more secure, such as installing virtual private networks, or VPNs. Those methods increase the systems’ cost and complexity, but could become more popular now. 

“If I had to guess, I’d say we’ll see a lot of better-protected networks in the very near future,” Stubblefield said. 

Owens said companies that make wireless Internet equipment must work together on developing more advanced security standards, but it is unlikely to happen until consumers begin insisting on them. 

He compares the situation to the rampant cell phone cloning by criminals a decade ago, before the industry came up with better protections and the government cracked down on the practice. 

“This has the potential to be similar in that you may see the same kind of things,” Owens said, pointing out that many companies expect to begin using wireless data networks for voice transmissions. “It’s a repeat of history.” 

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal grand jury has indicted three executives of a Marin County electronics firm, accusing them of illegally selling gear to India that could be used to make nuclear weapons, prosecutors said Wednesday. 

The indictment charges that the executives of Berkeley Nucleonics Corp. of San Rafael conspired to sale and sold nuclear pulse generators to India without the federal government’s permission between 1999 and 2000. The generators emit electrical pulses and can be used to calibrate radar and nuclear instruments with military applications. 

The firm is among a growing number of companies under fire for exporting to blacklisted countries.  

The list of export violators in recent years includes big-named companies like IBM, Dell Computers, Compaq, Gateway and Alcoa. 

Not long ago, export sanctions applied to just a small number of countries, but the list has broadened during the past five years to include 50 countries. India and Pakistan were added after they conducted nuclear tests in 1998. 

Named in the Marin County indictment were company president David Brown, marketing director Richard Hamilton and Vincent Delfino, Berkeley Nucleonics’ former operation manager. 

In an interview, Hamilton said the company did not know about the restrictions on exports to India, which were imposed during the Clinton administration when India and Pakistan refused to agree to nonproliferation treaties. 

“We did not have the resources to know about it at the time,” Hamilton said. He said the company had a history of selling such devices to India. 

Neither Brown nor Delfino were available for comment.  

A court appearance has not been set, said Matthew Jacobs, a Justice Department spokesman, who declined further comment. 

The government began building its case in 1999 after agents of the Commerce Office of Export Enforcement posed as exporters in a sting operation, according to court documents. 

The indictment accuses the company of shipping the devices to India’s Bhaba Atomic Research Center and the Nuclear Power Corp., both divisions of India’s Department of Atomic Energy. 

SACRAMENTO — This year’s California high school graduates thinking about college increased their scores slightly on their college-entrance tests in English skills, but dropped in math. 

The average SAT I scores for California students in the class of 2001 remained below the national average in verbal skills and above it in math, according to scores being released Tuesday by the College Board. 

However, a higher percentage of California students took the test than the national average – and considerably more minority students and those from families where English is not the first language or with parents who did not finish high school. 

The average 2001 scores for California students were 498 verbal and 517 math. Those compare with 497 verbal and 518 math in 2000. The national averages this year were 506 verbal and 514 math, up one point in verbal and static in math. 

About 51 percent of California high school graduates took the SAT I, one of two major college-entrance exams and one used by California’s public universities. That compares with 45 percent of students who took the test nationwide. 

The new SAT results are similar to other mediocre test scores this year for high schoolers, as the state begins to turn its school-improvement focus to upper grades. Many of the state’s efforts in recent years have been targeted at primary grades and scores on the state Standardized Testing and Reporting exam have improved. 

Not so in high schools. The 2001 STAR test scores released this month showed only 35 percent of ninth-graders and 34 percent of 10th-graders scored at or above the national average in reading, the same as 2000. In math, 45 percent of 10th-graders were at or above the national average in math, down one point from last year. Eleventh-graders dropped two points to 46 percent. 

High school students beginning with the class of 2004 must pass a new high school exam to graduate. That new test was given for the first time last spring. 

As in other tests, SAT I scores were lower for minority students. Black students averaged 436 verbal and 431 math. Mexican-American students averaged 441 verbal and 452 math. In California, 58 percent of the students were nonwhite, compared with 34 percent in the nation. 

Students who learned English as a second language had average scores of 447 verbal and 504 math. Twenty percent of the California test takers learned English as a second language, compared with 9 percent of the national group. 

Scores were also directly related to the education level of the parents. Those whose parents did not graduate from high school had average scores of 404 verbal and 438 math. On the other end, students whose parents had bachelor’s degrees had averages of 522 verbal and 542 math. 

State school Superintendent Delaine Eastin said Tuesday she is pleased that more California students from diverse groups are taking the test, but is concerned that scores for minority groups continue to lag behind. 

“These differences are a powerful reminder that there is much more work to do in California to provide our minority and low-income students with greater access to high-quality education,” she said. 

The new SAT results are similar to those released last month for the other major college-entrance exam, the ACT Assessment. 

The average score for members of the class of 2001 who took the ACT test was 21.4, the same as 2000 and just above the national average of 21.0. Only about 12 percent of California graduates took the ACT. 

California students who took the SAT I had the largest number of their scores sent to University of California and California State University campuses. 

However, UC President Richard Atkinson last winter proposed eliminating the SAT I as an admissions requirement, saying the test is perceived by many as unfair, and can have “a devastating impact on the self esteem and aspirations of young students.” 

The College Board said 161,975 California students took the SAT I test, up from 156,145 who took it in the class of 2000. 

On the Net: 

The College Board is at http://www.collegeboard.com

LOS ANGELES — Steaming, swamp green and topped with whipped cream, the chocolatey “o-cha mocha” drink is the brainchild of Japanese executives hoping to do for green tea what Starbucks has done for coffee. 

Japanese firm Imagene Corp., whose parent owns a Coca-Cola bottling franchise in Tokyo, has plunked down $1 million to finance a flagship Green Tea Terrace store in Westwood that could pave the way for a nationwide chain of shops. 

Set to open next month, Green Tea Terrace will feature dreamy murals with floating cursive writing, baristas serving tea-based espressos and lattes; prepackaged teas to go; and snacks — in this case, Asian-inspired food like sushi, soybean pods and red bean shakes. 

“This store has been my intention since 20 years ago,” said Japanese-born Hiroshi Maeda, who conceived the idea and is partnering with Imagene. 

But industry experts warn that while the ambitious plan may work on either coast, middle America probably isn’t ready for milky green drinks that will cost up to $6.50 each. 

“In major metropolitan areas, there is probably room for these types of things because of the magnitude of the Asian communities,” said Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Counsel of the USA, a group representing the $4.5 billion American tea industry. 

“Whether it’s right for Kansas City, I would say no, not yet,” he said. 

Americans are more familiar with green tea than it might seem. The market now stands at $120 million a year compared to just $200,000 four years ago, Simrany said. 

“People’s tastes are changing,” he said. “Once you taste green tea ... many people like what they taste.” 

Imagene hopes to cash in on that growing popularity and the fact that Americans have proven they’re willing to pay a steep price for their caffeine. 

Seattle-based Starbucks Corp., the nation’s No. 1 specialty coffee retailer, typically charges about $3.50 for a mocha or latte and has seen sales skyrocket 66 percent over three years to reach $2.17 billion in 2000. 

Starbucks has grown so confident that it’s opening 1,200 stores a year — roughly three new locations every day, said spokeswoman Audrey Linkoff. 

Maeda grew up in a family of green tea importers in the Japanese port town of Nagasaki. His mother was well versed in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, an elaborate ritual that involves a powerful blend of green tea called macha that must be whipped into a froth and sipped from a bowl with both hands. 

Maeda said green tea consumption in Japan has suffered since the end of World War II, when the nation got its first taste of Coca-Cola. 

His ultimate goal is to make his special blend of green tea drinks so popular in America that they will also sell in Japan as a result of that nation’s fascination with Western culture. 

“Japanese culture is very deep, and breaking a culture from the inside is hard to do,” he said. 

Oakland’s downtown Chinatown area returned to normal yesterday afternoon following a gas leak that forced the evacuation of numerous businesses along Eighth Street. 

Battalion Chief James Williams said a water district crew digging at 321 Eighth Street between Webster and Harrison streets clipped a 3-inch, high-pressure gas line at 11:48 a.m. yesterday. The leak was capped at about 1:38 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO — State regulators expanded a program to help low-income residents pay their power bills on Thursday, but left unaddressed a laundry list of other issues that will determine the future of California’s electricity market. 

The state Public Utilities Commission voted 5-0 to use some of the $100 million earmarked by the Legislature for low-income energy assistance programs to create and expand such programs for customers of Mountain Utilities, Sierra Pacific Co., PacifiCorps, Southwest Gas Co. and West Coast Gas. 

The commission approved a one-time boost of $4.9 million for the utilities’ Low Income Energy Assistance Programs, $1.2 million for the California Alternate Rates for Energy program and $400,000 toward CARE’s outreach and administrative costs. 

“Although the effects of the energy crisis have somewhat abated this summer, I believe that the commission must continue to take action to protect those customers who are most vulnerable to high energy prices,” said Commissioner Carl Wood. The commission also voted to: 

• Force mobile home park landlords to share natural gas rebates and interest with their tenants in a timely manner. Residents of ten mobile home parks and The Utility Reform Network had filed complaints accusing landlords of withholding that money. 

• Allow Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to lease property to energy companies hoping to build power plants with easy access to fuel pipelines and transmission lines. This is a way of quickly increasing supplies without harm to ratepayers, commissioners said. 

• Exempt tunnels, control centers and municipal railway crossing devices in PG&E and San Diego Gas and Electric’s territory from rolling blackouts. 

The PUC has delayed until Sept. 6 votes on other long-debated issues, including the right for consumers to pick their own electricity provider. 

PUC President Loretta Lynch said the commission needed the extra time to review the high volume of comments from utilities, consumer advocacy groups, as well as trade groups from the agriculture, manufacturing and technology industries. 

Many of these groups oppose a PUC proposal to allow the Department of Water Resources, which buys electricity on behalf of three ailing utiliites, to pass along rate hikes without having to persuade the PUC the new rates are fair and necessary. 

State officials say suspending the PUC’s authority to reject the rate increases is necessary to help sell $12.5 in bonds to recoup the more than $9.5 billion spent on power thus far. California must show Wall Street it has a sufficient inflow of cash and command of the situation. 

Opponents say the department’s actions already are kept secret from the public, and that it’s unfair to California ratepayers to potentially pay more for electricity but not have regulators review and approve the details of those rates. 

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On the Net: 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov