OAKLAND – The Olympic flame may have missed Berkeley in its tour around the Bay Area Friday, but one Berkeley resident did his part to get the fire to Salt Lake City. 

Ilan Biederman of North Berkeley, whose strength and courage in the face of a debilitating disease has been an inspiration to those who know him, carried the torch on its closest approach to the Berkeley border.  

“Ilan-mania” broke out on the corner of Broadway and 51st St. at around 2 p.m., as about 75 of Biederman’s friends and family members – some of whom came from New York, Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles – gathered at the spot where the flame would be passed to their hero. 

Biederman’s fans painted a large banner and wore matching shirts that said “I Y Ilan” on the front and “He Bie de’ Man” on the back. 

The rambunctious crowd was hollering and cheering on their man a good ten minutes before he arrived at the scene.  

“He’s got a big fan club!” shouted Anna Dinaburg, Biederman’s fiancee. 

For the last 10 years, Biederman has suffered from osteoblastoma – a very rare, benign tumor of the bone that has required him to undergo 14 operations, and has left him in severe, near-constant pain. 

“It’s been a very exciting week,” said Dinaburg. “This last year has been a really tough one for us. This has been something that we’ve been able to look forward to.” 

Stephen Lamarca, Biederman’s brother-in-law, came from Seattle to root Biederman on. 

“Ilan is just super-cool,” he said. “He keeps such a positive outlook on life. That’s why people nominated him – he always puts his best foot forward.” 

Knowing Biederman was an Olympics fan, Dinaburg’s sister, Alissa Stolz, nominated him to be a torch carrier several months ago. She told many of Biederman’s friends, but not Biederman himself, about the campaign. About 100 of them contributed letters in support. 

Biederman said on Thursday that when Stolz called him to say he would be carrying the torch he was shocked and amazed and “overwhelmed with emotion.”  

At around 2:40 p.m., when a van pulled up to lower Biederman – who gets around in a wheelchair because of his condition – to his starting point for the relay, the crowd went crazy. Security guards on motorcycles repeatedly requested Ilan fans to take their photographs from the sidewalk. 

The fire-bearer from the previous stretch approached, and Biederman held his torch aloft to receive the flame.  

Fans raced along behind Biederman, snapping photos, the entire length of his stretch of the relay. They battled for the roadway with the security guards and several large promotional vehicles. 

At its end, people carrying cameras asked everyone to line up behind Biederman for a group photo. A good number of faces, including Biederman’s, were in tears. 

“Thank you all so much for coming,” Biederman said. “It’s really all about you guys – it’s not about me.”

The Berkeley Yellowjackets dominated their first-ever meeting with Hercules High on Friday night, winning 65-55 over the brand-new school. 

Kenneth Alexander led the way for the ’Jackets with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and all 12 Berkeley players who saw any playing time scored at least 2 points. Berkeley used a big- size advantage to dominate the boards, beating the Titans 32-19 on rebounds and blocking 6 shots. 

“(Alexander) gave us a nice spark, and Jack (McSweeney) did a nice job inside too,” Berkeley head coach Mike Gragnani said. “We want to get the ball inside against every team we play.” 

Guard Dontae Hall also scored 11 points for Berkeley, with point guard Shaun Burl contributing 10 points and 2 steals. Burl also had several nice assists and is showing signs of becoming a team leader despite being just a sophomore. 

“Shaun’s a very solid player,” Gragnani said. “When he has the ball in his hands, most of the time something good is going to happen.” 

Hercules (3-11, 0-4 ACCAL) was pretty much a two-man show on offense, with guards Brad Nakana and Thomas Mays combining to score 31 of their team’s 55 points. Nakana, who scored 16 points, hit four 3-pointers in the game, with Mays hitting three outside bombs. But the dynamic duo wasn’t nearly enough for the Titans to put a scare into Gragnani’s squad, which jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead to start the game and never trailed. 

Gragnani understands how hard the Hercules coaching staff has it, starting a program at a new school. The Berkeley coach said he went through the same thing when he took his first head coach job at Redwood High in Marin County. 

“I know exactly where they’re at, and it’s not easy,” Gragnani said. “They’re starting from scratch, trying to build the program.” 

Berkeley (9-7, 3-1) caught a break when guard Lee Franklin banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter, staking his team to a 19-8 lead. Although the Titans would cut the lead to as close as six points with two minutes left in the first half, the ’Jackets pulled back out to a 32-21 lead at halftime, then rode McSweeney and Alexander to big second-half leads. 

McSweeney scored all 9 of his points in the third quarter, using every inch of his 6-foot-6 frame to toss in leaners over the smaller Titans. Then Alexander dominated the early part of the fourth, scoring on three straight possessions when Hercules got within 11 points. The capper was a thunderous dunk by sophomore forward Khion Tate off of a nice dish from Hall. 

After suspending seven players for Tuesday’s victory over Alameda for team rules violations, Gragnani kept three on the bench for Friday’s game, including the team’s leading scorer, center Damien Burns. 

“We have some team policy issues right now that we need to get under control,” Gragnani said. “The players have to understand that we say what we mean and we mean what we say. Hopefully the message has gotten through.” 

Despite a rough start to the season, the ’Jackets have shown improvement in ACCAL play, with their only loss coming to league favorite Pinole Valley. Gragnani still considers his team in contention for the league title, an honor the ’Jackets took last season with an undefeated run through the league. 

“We need to get some more energy, but we feel we can defend anyone,” he said. “If we do that, anything can happen.”

Saturday, Jan. 19

Discussion of the U.S. war in Afghanistan 

7 p.m. 

St. Joseph the Worker Church 

2125 Jefferson St. 

“Free Speech Radio News” (Pacifica reporters on strike) journalists report back first hand from Afghanistan 

916-705-7528 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA) 

9:30 - ll a.m. 

Fireside Room, Live Oak Park Center 

1301 Shattuck Ave. 

A citywide caucus and network benefiting the citizens of Berkeley. 849-46l9. 

Vocal Jazz Workshop and  

Jazz Jam 

9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Albany Adult School 

601 San Gabriel St. 

Workshops for singers and instrumentalists led by Richard Kalman to explore Jazz in a small jazz combo format. $5-$12 per class. 524-6796, richkalman@aol.com. 

Building and Remodeling  

Advice 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

A morning lecture entitled “What You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel” will be followed by an afternoon lecture entitled “Choosing to Add On: Pros and Cons of Building an Addition”. 525-7610 

Community Yoga 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Finn Hall 

1970 Chestnut 

Ashley Sharp teaches an all-level yoga class on Saturdays. Please bring a mat. $5-$10. 845-8584, grntoe@hotmail.com. 

Tree Pruning 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. 

A class on the basics of aesthetic ornamental tree pruning. $15 non-members, $10 members. 548-2220 x233. 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerebral palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. 549-1564. 

5th Annual Pancake  

Breakfast Fund Raiser 

8 a.m. - noon 

Frances Albrier Community Center 

2800 Park St. 

Celebrating the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., benefiting the Teen Clubs in the community. $5, children 10 and younger, $3. 981-6640, recreation@ci.berkeley. ca.us. 

Sunday, Jan. 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event 

2:30 - 5:30 p.m. 

Allen Temple Baptist Church 

8501 International Blvd., Oakland 

A celebration of Martin Luther King’s message of nonviolence and reconciliation featuring Rev. James Lawson, Rep. Barbara Lee, and Ron Daniels, as well as multi-cultural performances of music and poetry. 654-6966 

Oakland Jazz Choir 

7:30 p.m. 

First Congregational Church of Oakland 

Corner of 27th and Harrison St. 

A concert, entitled “In the Name of Love”, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. $18. 866-468-3399 to buy tickets. 

World Peace Ceremony 

5 - 6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Pl. 

Eva Casey presents slides and lectures about the Tibetan World Peace Ceremony at Bodh Gaya, India. 843-6812 

Patrice Lumumba  

Commemoration 

2 - 4 p.m. 

Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library 

6501 Telegraph Ave. 

Commemoration of the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Lumumba sponsored by The African Humanists Alliance. 595-7417. 

Buddy Club Presentation 

1 - 2 p.m. 

Berkeley JCC Auditorium 

1414 Walnut St. 

Roy Porfido and his cast of animal assistants perform a comedy and magic act. 236-7469, www.thebuddyclub.com 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, birth to 3 years old. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

University Chorus Auditions 

2 - 6 p.m. and 7 - 9:30 p.m. 

Department of Music 

UC Berkeley 

U-Chorus is open to all singers in the Berkeley community with previous experience. This Spring will feature the Hindemith “Requiem: When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d.” Sign up on the bulletin board outside 104 Morrison Hall. 642-5519, http://music.berkeley. edu/chorus.html. 

Editor: 

I am contemporaneously classified as an African American. The above address (taken out in concern for the writer’s privacy) is my family’s home house, where we have resided since 1958 – four years after the passage of the Byron Rumford Fair Housing Act.  

Our home is located within a two and one-half block radius of Brother’s Liquor Store. Incidentally, there was a time when we were not allowed to live east of Shattuck Avenue.  

I attended elementary school at C. Village, which is now a part of the Cal student housing complex in Albany, when it was a reservation for people of color and poor whites. I attended Burbank Junior High, Berkeley High, and have a degree from Cal. All that is to say that I am a conscious, long-time Berkeley resident. 

I will come straight to the point. Over the years, I have seen the complexion of this community change, but, nothing like what is happening now.  

It appears that the City of Berkeley, which was essentially founded by the University of California, is being invaded by dot.com Yuppies who are economic refugees seeking relief and/or by those seeking refuge from the violence in San Francisco, i.e., the Yuppie Eradication Program in the Mission.  

I have been witnessing what now seems to be a wave of hatemongering Yuppies (Xenophobes) infiltrating the neighborhood and now the neighborhood is in turmoil. These hordes of well-heeled immigrants are gentrifying the neighborhood, forming what looks like little gentrification terrorist cells (community groups like PALE or PAIN or whatever they call themselves, it means the same thing). The modus operandi is reminiscent of those of the infamous White Citizens Councils, the systematic removal of people from their homes and businesses. In fact, in San Francisco, some say that the gentrification process is essentially a form of racial cleansing to make room for more white people. We do know what happened to the Native Americans. 

I only mention the above because I have seen the maladies of Yuppie Cancer and hope and pray that this is not what is happening. The unfounded and unproved allegations lodged against Brother’s Liquor Store will not stand up in High Court.  

What I witnessed at one of the Public Hearings, held in the Old City Hall, was nothing less that a travesty of the law and governing body of the City. The Berkeley Police Department was used or manipulated to set up sting operations to use sting statistics to justify the newcomer’s nefarious paranoia. These tactics are not new in the waging of gentrification wars. The new immigrants even used their little children, making them carry pickets up and down the aisle at the beginning of the meeting. 

As you are well aware, Berkeley is known for its multicultural ethnicity, if you will. I would not like to see us regress to the pre-Byron Rumford Fair Housing issues, or not to have the right to engage in legitimate business where you will, because of the so-called wages of white skin. The issue at hand just may be greater than the Brother’s Liquor Store issue. If the City of Berkeley, in all of its wisdom, allows itself to be used by self-interest groups to close legitimate business or to do whatever, by what ever means (influencing or manipulating by deception, BPD or City Council), we might as well fly the Stars and Bars. 

For the Record, my interest is in the re-establishment of peace and harmony in my community. There must be an amicable meeting of the minds of all the residents for the benefit of all. If the resolution of the issues surrounding Brother’s Liquor Store are not forthcoming, indeed, if they are at an impasse, then, we may need to take all issues to a higher level of adjudication. 

L. Dawud Said 

Berkeley 

cc: Chief "Dash" Butler 

Mr. Weldon Rucker, City Manager 

924 Gilman Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualities, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; Feb. 1: American Steel, Pitch Black, Fleshies, The Blottos, Sexy; Feb. 2: Dead and Gone, Black Cat Music, The Cost, The Frisk; Feb. 8: Divit, Scissorhands, Rufio, Don’t Look Down, Fenway Park; Feb. 9: Pansy Division, Subincision, The Fadeaways; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Jan. 21: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 22: Doug Arrington; Jan. 23: Junebug; Jan. 24: Carl Garrett; Jan. 25: Anna & Ellen Hoffman; Jan. 26: Robin Gregory & Bliss Rodriguez; Jan. 27: “Acoustic Soul”; Jan. 28: “Renegade Sidemen” w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 29: Tangria; Jan. 30: Bob Schoen; Jan. 31: Jason Martineau & Dave Sayen; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Blake’s Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Wildsang, $3; Jan. 23: Mindz Eye, Hebro (Upstairs in the Tinibar), $5; Jan. 24: Electronica w/Ascension, $5; Jan. 25: Shady Lady, Blue Room, $6; Jan. 26: Dank Man Shank, TBA, $5; Jan. 27: Motivators, Funklogic, $3; Jan. 28: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band, $4; Jan. 29: Funkanauts, Len Patterson Trio, $3; Jan. 30: Sunru, Slaptones, DJ Kurse, $10; Jan. 31: Electronica w/ Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 16: Realistic; Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Pena Cultural Center Jan. 16: 7 p.m., Park Day School Winter Music Recital, Free; Jan. 18: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Poets and Musicians collaborate across cultures, Genny Lim, Paul Flores, John Santos, $10; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Aya de Leon, Robert Henry Johnson, $10; Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15; Jan. 24: 7 p.m., Colombian Cultural Explosion, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m., Wild Mango, $12; Jan. 26: 8 p.m., Naked Barbies: The Concert, $10-$15; Jan. 26: 10:30 a.m., Gary Lapow, $4 adults, $3 Children; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Leticia Servín, $10-$8; 3105 Shattack Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, Kana Mimaki; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, Laura Carmichael, $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Gwen Avery House Concert, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Jan. 27: 8 p.m., Jane 

Rigler, $0-$20; TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline, http://sfSound.org/acme.html. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., Eight women’s voices and continuo, also Hugh Davis; $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, 415-979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Oakland Symphony Chorus Jan. 26: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Conductor Tony Pasqua will lead a study of Joseph Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” and Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied.” $25, $30 door; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 6013 Lawton St., Oakland, 465-4199. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St., 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org. 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band”; $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean; $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Dance 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical, modern ballet and hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

Theater 

“Every Inch a King” Through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.org.  

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16., Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 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. 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee; 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; Jan. 19: 7 p.m., The Wings; 8:30 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Film; Jan. 20: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Living in a New Land, 3 p.m., The Dinosaur Hunter; 5:30 p.m., Love and Journalism; 7:45 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Child; Jan. 22: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 1; Jan. 23: 3 p.m., The Terms of Cinema; 7:30 p.m., Telling It, Differently; Jan. 25: 7:30 p.m., The Aviator’s Wife; 9:30 p.m., A Good Marriage; Jan. 26: 6:30 p.m., Patrick Macias; 7 p.m., Battle Royale; 9:30 p.m., Blood and Law; Jan: 27: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Ikingut, 3 p.m., Peter Pan; 5:30 p.m., Sir Arne’s Treasure; 7:35 p.m., Song of the Scarlet Flower; Jan. 28: 3 p.m., The Jazz Singer; 7 p.m., Underground Kisses; Jan. 29: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 2; Jan. 30: 3 p.m., The Nickelodeon; 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 3; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

Exhibits  

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

“Rhythms” Jan. 20 - Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida; Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists; Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

“New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture. Steve Brisco’s paintings. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Traywick Gallery,1316 10th St., 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ton of Joy” Jan. 20 through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Featuring photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com  

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; Jan. 15: Jake Fuchs reads from his new mystery “Death of a Professer.”; Jan. 17: Anthony Bourdain takes a “Cooks Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”; Jan. 18: Luis Rodriguez looks at “Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times.”; Jan. 19: Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia on “My Country Versus Me.”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly, Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Jan. 16: Elliott Hester discusses her book “Plane Insanity”; Jan. 17: Jan Friedman discusses her new book “Eccentric America”; Jan. 22: Lee Foster discusses his new guide “Northern California History Weekends”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Revolution Books Jan. 25: 6:15 p.m., Eric Schlosser, Author of “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the American Meal,” will appear for a book signing. 2425 Channing Way, 848-1196.  

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

Anthology chronicles the ancient spiritual force of the redwoods 

Imagine an anthology of poems, essays, diary entries and stories so consistently well-written, spiritually transformative, fact-filled, honest and comprehensive that it actually meets the challenge of authentically describing the majestic, ancient, and somber beautiful strength of a 2,000 year old, cinnamon-barked, California redwood. 

“Giants in the Earth: The California Redwoods,” edited by Berkeley resident, Peter Johnstone, and just released by local publisher, Heyday Books, is one of those extremely rare books that are actually worth the paper they’re printed on. (From a tree-hugging, organic cloth-wearing, inkjet-recycling, purse-made-out-of-an-inner-tube fanatic like myself, that’s high praise.) 

Contributors include literary icons, such as the Nobel Prize-winning Czeslaw Milosz, the passionate voice of America Walt Whitman, the melancholic nature-loving misanthrope Robinson Jeffers, the adventurous Robert Louis Stevenson and the sparkling Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Tom Wolfe.  

Also included are famous distinguished local writers such as Jack London, the exquisitely observant John Muir, Armistead Maupin, Gary Synder, Jack Kerouac and Julia Butterfly Hill.  

Equally worth reading are the excerpted works of lesser-known documentarians such as Anna M. Lind – who wrote about starting work as a waitress and cook in a Humboldt County logging camp in 1926; and Lucy Thompson (1853-1932), a native of the Yurok village of Pecwan – the U.K.Leguin of the 19th Century, in my opinion -- who tells the story of a custody dispute over a Yurok child who lived among the redwoods.  

This anthology is simply tremendous. Peter Johnstone, Peter M. Palmquist and Malcolm Margolin of Heyday Books did an amazing job.  

Giants in the Earth: The California Redwoods opens with philosophical essays which introduce botanical and other facts about these unusual trees, and which provide the reader with a historical perspective on the logging practices which caused massive destruction, and which continue to threaten this plant species’ future.  

This book contains some of the finest naturalist writing I’ve seen, such as Elna S. Bakker’s ecstatic verbal paeon to the redwood forest floor: "The pink petals of oxalis (redwood sorrel) open tiny whorls among shamrock-shaped leaves. Sword ferns arch green fronds over log and root." Ninetta Eames writes: "we rode through lofty branchless columns keeping their ranks closed in and supporting a plumy roof more than two hundred feet above us." 

Explanations are provided for what is termed: "redwood mysticism and aestheticism." There are descriptions of the different types of redwood groves and of their astonishing longevity. Redwoods date back to the age of the dinosaurs. Their existence predates today’s continental configuration, mountain ranges such as the Alps, and the existence of flowering plants.  

Later in the collection, Peter E. Palmquist describes the challenge photographers face in trying to represent the moist, foggy, fragrant ecosystem and metaphysical grandeur of a redwood grove… using a medium as flat as a photograph. Included in Giants in the Earth are a selection of historical photos from his personal collection.  

Giants in the Earth closes with works such as Dana Gioia’s deeply moving and brilliantly written memorial to his stillborn son: "Planting a Sequoia," a poem with the aboriginal eloquence and stature of the most ancient and silently momentous Sequoia Gigantia. 

An excerpt from Julia Butterfly Hill’s The Legacy of Luna describes the spiritual learning she acquired after sitting hundreds of feet up in a redwood during the fierce lashing of a winter storm. Her words help bring the reader to a most tumultuous and transcendent finish. An unforgettable book. 

Sari Friedman teaches writing at local colleges and can be reached at Sari2@Earthlink.net 

Additional inset: plate 26 with photo credit, will be sent by publisher. 

The City Council voted unanimously to sue UC Berkeley if the university does not work with the city to solve problems expected to arise from a large development and remodeling proposal for the north side of campus. 

“We are acting out of our deep concern about the impact of this project,” Councilmember Linda Maio said. “We expressed out intent to file a law suit if sufficient mitigation is not achieved in this matter.” 

The council decided by an 8-1 vote to sue the university if it does not work with the city to address concerns regarding traffic increases, parking problems and city infrastructure issues, such as sewage system upgrades and the repair of roadways. Councilmember Polly Armstrong left the meeting prior to the vote. The council has until Feb. 19 to file the lawsuit. 

The university’s principal planner of capitol projects, Jennifer Lawrence, did not return calls to the Daily Planet on Friday to comment on the lawsuit, but she did say earlier this week that the university has been trying to work with the city. She pointed to recent meetings with traffic engineering staff to discuss traffic impacts near proposed development. 

But Mayor Shirley Dean disagreed with Lawrence’s statement. “The university has to learn to sit down with the city to see if there’s not a way that we can work these issues out to both our satisfactions,” she said.  

Councilmember Betty Olds who represents District 6 where the majority of the development is proposed, said the university has gone to far. 

“I usually stick up for the university because I know Berkeley wouldn’t be here without them,” she said. “But this is a far more serious problem.” 

Olds said the university should work with the city to make the construction process tolerable for residents of the “quiet side of campus” by not starting construction before 8 a.m. in the morning and repaying the roadways that will be damaged by the four years of construction. 

Councilmember Dona Spring said she would like to see the university initiate the Eco Pass program that would provide faculty and staff with free bus transportation.  

Friday’s was the second closed session meeting the council has held in the last four days on the possible law suit. Last Tuesday, the council scheduled another meeting on Friday to see if the Regents of the University of California approved the Final Environmental Impact Report on the seven proposed projects on Thursday. 

The regents also considered an amendment doubling the proposed development in the university’s 1990 Long Range Development Plan, from 333,300 square feet to 658,000. The expanded square footage will accommodate three of the seven proposed projects totaling 360,000 square feet mostly along Hearst Avenue and Gayly Road.  

Councilmember Dona Spring said fighting the university is the only choice for the city. 

“If we roll over on this one, there eventually won’t be any Berkeley left,” she said. “It will just be the UC Industrial Park.”

Andrew Nackerud scored the Panthers’ first two goals, and St. Mary’s held off a late Salesian push to stay undefeated in BSAL play with a 3-1 win on Friday in Berkeley. 

St. Mary’s dressed just 13 players for the game and were missing five starters, but played their best game as a team against the Chieftans according to their head coach. 

“Our numbers are dwindling, but when we play like a team it doesn’t matter,” Teale Matteson said. “It was beautiful to watch us play so well with people missing and players in unfamiliar positions.” 

Nackerud scored the only goal of the first half in the 15th minute, taking a long free kick from Zack Huddleston and popping the ball into the net with his knee just before a violent collision with Salesian goalkeeper Alex Gomez. Gomez got the worst of the incident, being helped from the field and leaving the game for good. 

Gomez’s replacement, Alan Serrano, did well for the rest of the half with four saves, including a Chris Nicoletti breakaway that Serrano tipped off his goalpost. 

Nackerud nearly had his second goal just after halftime, getting a breakaway from a clearance by sweeper Brendan Slevin, but he shot over the crossbar. Huddleston nearly had a goal of his own off a corner kick, as Pat McMahon headed the ball over Serrano right to Huddleston, but he put the ball just over the bar. 

St. Mary’s (8-9-1, 4-0-1 BSAL) had what looked like a goal minutes later when Slevin launched a throw-in into the Salesian box, and the ball ended up in the net. But the referee ruled that no player touched the ball before it crossed the goal line and negated the goal. 

Nackerud gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the 67th minute, taking a throw-in from Huddleston and chipping Serrano to the back post.  

“Andrew has become our cherry-picker,” Matteson said. “He’s always in the right place at the right time.” 

But the Chieftans (4-6, 2-4) came right back with a garbage goal from speedy midfielder Anthony Butler, who had been stuffed by St. Mary’s goalkeeper Danny Penza on a breakaway seconds earlier. 

Penza filled in nicely for absent starter Nick Osborne, who missed the game with the flu. Penza made 7 saves against Salesian. 

Salesian had a great chance to even the game soon after, as Kyle Batheal used his huge throw-in to put the ball into the St. Mary’s box. Players from both sides hacked at the ball for what seemed like an eternity before the Panthers were able to clear it out. 

“(Salesian) got an adrenaline rush, but our defense rose to the occasion,” Matteson said. “I knew our defense would be smart enough not to do anything foolish that close to the goal.” 

St. Mary’s put the game away just before injury time with a goal from winger Luis Lopez. Midfielder Ben Feldman took a quick free kick to get Lopez behind the Salesian defense, and Lopez dribbled around Serrano before sliding the ball home from a tough angle. 

Editor: 

Hank Resnik’s excellent description of Montpellier in the south of France and his question of why can’t we do it in Berkeley should be considered by all Berkeley citizens. Being a member of the current Transportation Commission for the last year and attending many meetings concerning transportation issues in the City of Berkeley, it seems there is a good reason for our transportation problems. Any discussion concerning the automobile in Berkeley brings out all those who hate the auto industry and what it has done to our society.  

The only proposals heard are – get rid of cars. What to do with them and how to help those who depend on them is ignored. If Hank, the bicycle coalition, and pedestrian organizations want to make Berkeley into a car free City, I would support them.  

The catch is, they must come-up with a plan or solutions on how to solve the problems this would create. The narrowing of streets, barricades, one ways and restrictions on parking will not solve any of the problems. These things have only made matters worse.  

Like Hank and many Berkeley citizens, I have traveled in Europe and experienced the car free city centers and enjoyed them. Venice Italy is a great example of how to avoid cars. Of course the city is small enough to walk everywhere. But the key to success is the huge parking structure outside the city. As Hank points out in his commentary on Montpellier France, you can park your car in one of the many large garages on the periphery of the city.  

This is true of all the cities I have visited. Each has accommodated the automobile by providing large parking areas within walking distance of the city center or provided public transportation to reach it.  

When all of those who want the citizens of Berkeley to get out of their cars come-up with a plan similar to that described by Hank, maybe some progress can be made. Where in Berkeley should we build the large parking structure? How about the Berkeley marina? Is anyone willing to give up the bay views and land for it? Are there any other large open spaces in Berkeley we are willing to create for this purpose? Of course we could discuss the real reasons for the traffic congestion in Berkeley, but no one seems to want to. For instance, what effect does the University of California, Alta Bates Medical Center, and other institutions have on our streets? Anyone notice how quite our streets were during the University holiday season? Was parking a problem? What has happened to the TDM study – anyone heard or seen how it will impact our city? This study was paid for by the City of Berkeley and the University of California. It was to be used as a guide to solve the parking and circulation problems in the downtown and southside areas. Instead it has been put a-side for lack of City staff. What it can do to help solve the problem depends on how willing the University is to make the right decisions.  

It is another example of our lack of leadership and unwillingness to work on the hard problems we face, if we are to reduce car usage in Berkeley. Until the University of California and other institutions decide that Berkeley should be a bicyclists and pedestrian city, Hank and all the rest of us can keep on wondering where the vision and leadership is. 

Why do students at the University need to bring their cars into Berkeley? You can walk to any part of the downtown or the University campus.  

Why do the employees of the University need to drive their cars into Berkeley?  

Shouldn’t the University provide periphery parking and free shuttle service to the campus?  

How about the other institutions doing the same. The City government has taken a first step with the Eco-pass on AC Transit. The actual effects on traffic in Berkeley remains to be seen. If other institutions would follow the cities lead – it may have an impact. It probably won’t help much until we make a car free zone out of our downtown area. I have lived in Berkeley since 1963 and experienced the city when it was a quite college town. It would be nice to see it return, but unless we are willing to make some hard choices it won’t.  

Dean Metzger  

Berkeley, Ca. Transportation Commissioner  

District 8

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1. THE CORRECTIONS 

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2. BOONVILLE 

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3. BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS 

Sijie Dai Knopf $18.00 

4. BASKET CASE 

Carl Hiaasen Knopf $25.95 

5. PORTRAIT IN SEPIA 

Isabel Allende HarperCollins $26 

6. HATESHIP, LOVESHIP, COURTSHIP, LOVESHIP,  

MARRIAGE 

Alice Munro Knopf $24.00 

7. SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD 

Billy Collins Random House $21.95 

8. FALLING ANGELS 

Tracy Chevalier Dutton $24.95 

9. SKIPPING CHRISTMAS 

John Grisham Doubleday $19.95 

10. JACKDAWS 

Ken Follett Dutton $26.95 

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2. THE RED TENT 

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10. THE SHIPPING NEWS 

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1. JOHN ADAMS 

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2. THE SISTERS: THE SAGA OF THE MITFORD FAMILY 

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8. LETTERS TO A YOUNG CONTRARIAN 

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Association

The Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to provide a “negative certification” on the school budget, acknowledging that the district will be unable to meet its financial obligations this year and next without significant budget cuts and revenue growth. 

The vote came after a two-hour budget presentation by officials from the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, or FCMAT, a state agency appointed by the Alameda County Office of Education in October to provide financial advice to the district.  

The county office has fiscal oversight responsibilities for every district in its jurisdiction. 

FCMAT estimates that the district will face a $1.6 million budget shortfall this year. The agency is projecting a $7.8 million deficit next year, and a $16.7 million shortfall the following year if the school board does not take appropriate action. 

Despite the $1.6 million deficit, the district should be able to pay all its bills this year, although it will not meet a state requirement for a three percent budget reserve.  

The projected deficits for the next two years would not only eliminate the district’s reserve, but would cut into its operating budget. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence and board members committed themselves to making the required cuts this year to avoid deficits in the next two years. They indicated at the meeting, and afterward, that layoffs are a possibility. 

Barbara Dean, a FCMAT management analyst who has been working closely with the district for several months, cited a whole host of reasons for the 2001-2002 deficit, and the projected deficits in the coming years. 

Among other things, Dean discussed a $2.5 million hole in the district’s “self-insurance” fund, which covers worker’s compensation and building claims, a $900,000 fee the district owes the state for failure to properly report staff development activities, and a lack of control over payroll services. At one point, Dean said the district needs to make sure that “for every check issued, there is a person alive and working.” 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence agreed that the system’s payment services are dysfunctional. She noted that, in recent weeks, district officials discovered they are dishing out $120,000 per month to cover health and welfare services for people no longer employed by the Berkeley schools. 

Jerry Kurr, associate superintendent of business, said in an interview Friday that the district will attempt to recoup some of those health and welfare funds, paid to local health care providers, in the coming months.  

During the public comment section, several speakers urged the board to take responsibility for the budget difficulties, arguing that they have known about the district’s fiscal problems for a long time.  

“The freight train has been coming for three years,” said Nancy Riddle, vice-chair of the Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee, “and the right thing to do tonight is to take full responsibility.” 

Board members did not directly address the issue at the meeting. But, in an interview Friday, Shirley Issel, president of the board, said the body has taken responsibility by acknowledging the problem and bringing in a talented Superintendent this year to confront it. 

“The public needs a board that knows when something is wrong and takes responsibility for digging into it,” she said. “We acknowledged the problem with the Superintendent search.”  

Issel added that the district’s outdated and inadequate data systems have failed to provide the board with the information they need to make sound policy decisions. 

The district was supposed to transfer its data operations to Quintessential School Systems, or QSS, a processor that handles payroll, personnel, purchasing, and financial information, by June 2001.  

Now, the district is looking to complete the conversion by July 1. Kurr said the payroll and financial components, at a minimum, will be in place by that date. 

During the public comment period, Carol Wilkins, a Berkeley parent, called on the board to include the public in any budget cutting decisions this year. 

“Difficult decisions will be made and they will need to be made quickly,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean they’ll need to be done in the dark.” 

Later in the evening, Lawrence warned that, at this point in the year, the district will have to move quickly to make cuts, allowing for less public input than she would like.  

John Selawsky, a board member, replied that the school leadership should “certainly be as transparent with the public as we can.” 

“Absolutely,” Lawrence said.  

Selawsky recommended some immediate belt-tightening measures Friday morning – calling for an end to non-essential travel and overtime work, the elimination of cell phones in the district and a hiring freeze, with exceptions where needed. 

Selawsky said it is too early to discuss layoffs, but added that “it looks like a possibility.” 

District personnel are already gearing up for a battle over layoffs. Pat Robertson, a store keeper for the schools, and president of the operations unit of Local 1, which represents classified staff in the district, laid the blame for the deficit at the feet of district administrators. He urged the board to begin cutting there, not among custodial and food services employees. 

“A lot of the operational decisions were made by the management on up,” he said. “The cuts ought to be from there on down.” 

SAN JOSE — The San Jose Symphony, which shut down last fall amid a financial crisis, is taking a step toward a comeback with concerts whose proceeds would help fund the organization’s future operations. 

The first of the concerts is set for Feb. 23, though the symphony is still looking for sponsors to cover the musicians’ payments and other costs, spokeswoman Nanci Williams said Friday. The symphony hopes to have three or four more benefit concerts in coming months. 

The benefit concerts were made possible this week when the union representing the symphony’s 89 musicians agreed to forgo $2.5 million they were owed under their contract for rehearsals and performances this season that were canceled. 

Symphony management, now headed by former San Jose Mercury News publisher Jay Harris, had told the union that without the concession, the 122-year-old orchestra would have to file for bankruptcy, according to Kristen Linfante, a viola player who chairs the union negotiating committee. 

The union also agreed the symphony could use fewer than 89 musicians in the benefit concerts, Linfante said. 

“I think it’s the beginning of the return of the symphony, in that the orchestra will be back on stage,” Linfante said. “But I don’t think it’s necessarily going to be enough to relieve the debt that has been incurred or really start a new organization.” 

Harris did not immediately return a call seeking comment. 

The orchestra is believed to be the oldest west of the Mississippi. After years of poor fundraising left it in debt and with an endowment of just $1 million, it shut down in October, making San Jose the biggest U.S. city without a working symphony. 

The musicians, who average about $25,000 for 190 performances and rehearsals a year, have been scrambling to teach more private lessons and playing in other Northern California orchestras. 

“It’s very, very difficult,” Linfante said. “It’s a crisis for many.”

Architecture ‘father’ used Berkeley to grow career 

Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City, is considered the father of Landscape Architecture in the United States. He is primarily associated with the extensive work he did in the New York and Boston areas, and it is a revelation to realize he also worked in California between 1863 and 1865.  

It is also a revelation that it was his work in Berkeley, in particular, that served as a turning point in his career.  

In 1860 the Trustees of the College of California purchased 30-acres of land that would become the future campus of the University. In 1864 they asked Olmsted, already working in California as the manager of a large mining company, to prepare plans for their new campus and an adjacent residential subdivision.  

Olmsted’s plan for the college campus was not used, but his plan for the residential subdivision was followed.  

The Berkeley Property, as the subdivision was called, encompasses the area between College Avenue on the west, Prospect Street on the east, Dwight Way on the south and Strawberry Creek on the north.  

Piedmont Avenue (formally Piedmont Way) is the main divided roadway bisecting the residential subdivision and is the most clearly defined surviving feature of Olmsted’s 1865 plan for the College of California.  

While Piedmont Avenue features a curvilinear plan, with a planted median, rounded corners, and a large garden circle at Channing Way, Olmsted’s street design merges with the existing grid pattern of the streets to the west.  

Piedmont Avenue is the first divided residential boulevard that Olmsted designed. His designs for Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, the Buffalo Parkway system and Boston parkways had their beginnings here.  

During the next 30 years, Olmsted designed hundreds of parks and residential subdivisions where the most important feature was the preservation, enhancement, and use of natural features. Olmsted’s legacy can be seen in residential subdivisions across the country.  

Piedmont Way was designated California Historical Landmark No. 986 in May 1989. A plaque was placed its intersection with Bancroft Avenue in 1990. It is also a city landmark.  

By the first decade of this century, Piedmont Avenue was lined with impressive houses designed by prominent architects and set in lush gardens. Although today these homes are mostly used for student housing, the appearance of the street, with its green median and overhanging trees, retains many of the qualities Olmsted envisioned.  

Susan Cerny is author of “Berkeley Landmarks” and writes Berkeley Observed in conjunction with the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.  

LOS ANGELES — The truth may be out there but “The X-Files” won’t be. 

The television series about FBI agents tracking aliens and other unusual suspects will end its nine-year run on Fox in May with its 201st episode, the network said. 

The decision to wrap up “The X-Files,” which became a signature show for Fox and turned David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson into stars, followed network discussions with creator Chris Carter. 

“It’s the ninth inning. We want to go out on top,” Carter told the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety. “We wanted to go out as a strong show.” 

“We respect Chris’ wishes to end the show this season,” Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow said in a statement. 

Duchovny bowed out of the series last season, leading to the introduction of new cast members Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish as agents working with Dana Scully (Anderson). 

“The X-Files” will end with a two-part episode, written by Carter, which he promised will tie up loose ends. He’d welcome Duchovny’s return for the finale, Carter said in Variety’s Thursday edition. 

The series’ ratings had dropped this season, but Fox still sees life in Carter’s eerie tales of conspiracies and otherworldly events: A second theatrical feature is planned. The first film, “The X-Files,” was a 1998 box-office success.

After several years of neglect, during which proposals have bounced back and forth between neighborhood groups and city government, the ancient, dilapidated sign welcoming visitors to the Berkeley Community Rose Garden appears to be on the verge of renovation.  

“It’s been a long process of getting something everyone can agree on. But I think we’re getting close,” said Gail Keleman, a member of the Friends of the Rose Garden, a community group, which maintains much of the garden. 

No one seems to know when the current sign was built, but everyone involved believe it to be a minor masterpiece of Art Deco design that has fallen into serious disrepair. 

Many of the hand-cut plywood letters are falling off the face of the sign and several of the stylish flourishes that outline the words “Berkeley Rose Garden” are crumbling. Graffiti tags mar the sign’s face. 

Since the Rose Garden is a registered city of Berkeley landmark, the Landmarks Preservation Commission must approve all changes to the site. 

“Our responsibility is to make sure alterations to city landmarks are appropriate,” said Carrie Olson, a member of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

Olson said one new design proposed for the sign several years ago didn’t pass muster because it didn’t take into consideration the look of the existing sign. 

“They came to us with a very beautiful, but sort of brass-and-oak, sign that was completely inappropriate for the site,” she said. 

Bill Moore and Associates, an Albanybased sign-making firm, has offered its services in designing and building the sign for free. The firm chooses a different pro bono project every year as a way of giving to the community. 

The sign that the company has proposed is made of more durable materials, but it is meant to echo the look of the old one. 

Dave Blake, a member of several city architectural commissions and a professional graphic designer, is recommending that the new sign preserve the typeface of the letters that make up the word “Berkeley.” 

He said that the typeface is unknown to local type historians who he consulted, and is probably unique to that sign.  

However, he said, the typeface of the letters that spell out “Rose Garden” were immensely ugly, and should be abandoned when the new sign is made. 

The Friends of the Rose Garden will be paying for a new post and trellis from which to hang the sign. The group has received a $3,000 grant from the city’s Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department. If that proves to be insufficient, the group will try to raise funds at its annual Mother’s Day celebration. 

Jeff Hunt, who works as a stage designer, has been spearheading the effort to replace the sign on behalf of the Friends of the Rose Garden.  

Hunt said he is to blame, in part, for the delay on the new sign. As a volunteer, he said, he must occasionally supplement his work on the garden with remunerative labor. 

Still, Hunt said, he looks forward to the day when a new, proud sign hangs over the entrance to the city’s most famous open space.  

“People come to this town from all over the world, and a lot of them decide to visit the nicest park in Berkeley,” he said. 

“What do they see? A sign falling over, deer nibbling on the plants … It’s an embarrassment.”

Cruise control doesn’t control everything 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

My father-in-law owns a 2001 Ford Taurus SE. He has owned several Tauruses and Sables in the past 10 years, and he insists that the cruise control will hold his speed down when descending a hill. I own a 2000 Taurus and told him that he is full of it. Even after at least one speeding ticket, he still insists that I don't know what I'm talking about and that "at least it USED to hold the speed down." Who's right? – Dave 

TOM: Dave, it's not good for family relations to humiliate your father-in-law. So we'll trust that you'll apply the answer we're about to give you with all due sensitivity, tact and kindness, OK? 

RAY: The old goat is nuts, Dave. The cruise-control system operates the throttle only.  

TOM: Now, having said that, I can tell you why he thinks it's braking for him. Let's say you're driving down a long grade, on a highway, for instance. Normally, if you start to go too fast, you back off the gas pedal. But you rarely back all the way off, because that would be jarring. Instead, you back off a little bit and “accelerate less.” 

RAY: But the cruise control can back all the way off the gas pedal if you exceed the set speed by more than a few miles per hour. And when you let off the gas pedal entirely, you do experience the natural braking action of the engine, which results from the friction of the moving parts and the pistons having to compress air in the cylinders. And that's probably what he’s feeling. 

TOM: So if you have a kind bone in your body, Dave, explain to the old man that what he's feeling is the natural braking action of the engine when it's not accelerating. Tell him it makes perfect sense that he would experience this as braking, and that heright, he can feel a “braking action” of sorts associated with the cruise control. 

RAY: And try not to end the explanation by jumping up and down on his sofa and yelling “naah nah nah naaah nah!” 

Saving the earth with trees 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

In spite of all the advice I’ve heard from you concerning diesels, I bought a 2001 VW Jetta TDI. It's a wonderful car, and it's much easier to drive than my girlfriend's gas-powered Passat. Because I'm a "get us off this imported oil" nut and an air-pollution wacko, I am experimenting with running my car on biodiesel as well. So far, so good – 40 to 50 miles per gallon, and plenty of power. However, I have a question about tires. The car was delivered with what most people consider desirable wheels and tires: big, wide R205/55R16s. I want to improve the mileage even further. Can I use tires that will get me better mileage? – Tom 

P.S. You are free to slander me, I’m used to it. 

RAY: Well, before we slander you, we want to clear up our position on diesels. For the record, we don't hate diesels. We just think they're stinkier, pokier and noisier than gasoline-powered cars. Plus, not every gas station offers diesel fuel, which can be a bummer when the tank's running low. 

TOM: However, by all reports we've read (we haven't driven one), the Jetta TDI is quieter and quicker than most diesels of the past. Although it still burns that primordial ooze with sulfur and dirt chunks in it that we call diesel fuel. 

RAY: As for the tires, the answer is yes, you can get tires that will help you get better mileage. But I wouldn't throw away the tires you've got. Since you're an admitted eco-freak, throwing away your current tires will waste the energy and natural resources it took to make those tires. Plus, you'll be adding to the used-tire-disposal problem. 

TOM: Not to mention the money you'll be wasting, which could be used on “Save the Free-Range Granola” bumper stickers.  

RAY: So keep those tires for now, and study up on the topic of “rolling resistance.” Rolling resistance is drag caused by the friction of the tires on the road when the car is moving.  

TOM: The best way to minimize the rolling resistance of your current tires is simply to keep them properly inflated. If your recommended tire pressure is, say, 35 psi, and you let them go down to 28 psi, you increase your rolling resistance by about 12 percent. That would have a -1 percent to -2 percent effect on your mileage. 

RAY: Eventually, when these tires do wear out, you can shop for some low-rolling-resistance replacement tires. By altering the rubber compounds and using certain tread patterns, tire makers have been able to reduce rolling resistance quite a bit. That might increase your mileage by another few percent – about the same as hitting a few green lights on the way home instead of red ones. 

TOM: And with all the money you save on fuel, perhaps you'll be able to replace all of those gaskets and seals that your biodiesel fuel is eating in your engine. 

RAY: Seriously, Tom, ask your dealer if it's OK to use biodiesel (basically used cooking oil) in this car. I commend you for wanting to reduce air pollution, but that Burger King runoff might be doing a number on your engine.  

Tire pressure; truck pulls to the right 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

Recently, I was told by my mechanic that one should keep one's tire pressure within 15 percent of the maximum stated on the tire. What is your take on this? – Hank 

TOM: My take is that I would take my questions to another mechanic, Hank. 

RAY: The proper tire pressure is listed on the glove-box door or on the driver's door pillar. That's the pressure that represents the best combination of attributes such as handling, braking, comfort and mileage. 

TOM: When you change your tire pressure, you alter that matrix. For instance, if you add more pressure, you might get better mileage, but less comfort and poorer braking. If you put in less than the recommended pressure, you might get a softer ride, but poorer mileage and handling. 

RAY: So unless you have a specific reason to alter the pressure (like you're carrying two mothers-in-law), use the recommended pressure as your guide. 

TOM: The “maximum” pressure listed on the tire is just what it says, a maximum. That's the greatest amount you can safely put in your tire without damaging it. And your mechanic's advice to stay “within” 15 percent of that number suggests that you could be 15 percent ABOVE it as well as below it. And that's absolutely wrong, Hank.  

Dear Tom and Ray: 

I have a 1994 Chevy Silverado truck. It has 80,000 miles on it. I noticed that when I applied the brakes, the truck pulled to the right. It felt like it was the right front wheel, so I had new front pads installed. But I can still feel it pull a little bit. It is a light pull and does not happen every time. I can live with it, but I would like to fix it. Any ideas? – Edgar 

TOM: I'd watch your back, Edgar – the back of the vehicle, that is. 

RAY: You say it felt like the right front wheel, but it could just as easily be the right rear wheel that's causing the pulling. 

TOM: This truck has drum brakes in the rear. And if you have a sticky parking brake, weak brake springs or a lining that's coming apart, any of these things could cause that wheel to lock up early and make the truck pull to the right. 

RAY: Don't feel bad about replacing your pads, Edgar. Chances are, you needed to replace them anyway. And if not, I'm sure your mechanic needed to sell them. But look in back for the problem. Tom and Ray share secrets mechanics don't want you to know in their pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" Send $3 (check or money order) and a stamped (57 cents), self-addressed, No. 10 envelope to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. 

Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clack in care of this newspaper, or e-mail them by visiting the Car Talk section of cars.com on the World Wide Web.

SAN FRANCISCO — A sports figure, a television celebrity and the widow of a local hero transported the Olympic Torch in its 150-mile route through the San Francisco Bay area on Friday. 

San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds, who set baseball’s season home-run record last fall carried the torch through the city, while Santa Rosa resident Deena Burnett ran with the torch in Oakland. Her husband Thomas was aboard United Airlines Flight 93 and apparently participated in a passenger revolt that brought the plane down in a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11. 

Pat O’Brien from the syndicated entertainment news program Access Hollywood, carried the torch through Santa Cruz. 

Friday’s route started at Santa Cruz’s Surfing Museum and continued to San Jose’s Tech Museum of Innovation. The torch is expected to travel north through the East Bay, where after a welcome from Oakland mayor Jerry Brown, it will be ferried to San Francisco’s Justin Hermann Plaza at 7:46 p.m. The torch will travel not just with runners, but also by ferry and cable car. 

Saturday’s runners will carry the flame through the North Bay up to Sacramento. It will then wind its way through Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado before arriving in Salt Lake City on Feb. 8 in time for the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Olympic Games. 

Specific routes and detailed information can be found on the official 2002 Salt Lake City Games Web page at http://www. saltlake2002.com.

SACRAMENTO — Graying and settled into middle age, three former 1970s revolutionaries and members of the Symbionese Liberation Army were arraigned Friday on first-degree murder charges in the 1975 shooting death of a woman during a bank robbery. 

A fourth fought extradition hearings to bring him to California to face the charges. 

In dramatic scenes that played out in three West Coast courtrooms, Sara Jane Olson, Emily Harris, William Harris and Michael Bortin faced judges and prosecutors nearly 30 years after a robbery that left Myrna Opsahl, a 42-year-old mother of four, dead from a shotgun blast. 

Olson pleaded innocent to the murder charges from the April 21, 1975, robbery of the Crocker National Bank branch in suburban Carmichael, Calif. In Sacramento, the Harrises entered no plea. 

Olson, 55, who changed her name from Kathleen Soliah and was a Minnesota housewife until her June 1999 arrest on bomb charges, was arraigned immediately after being sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in Los Angeles Superior Court for conspiring to blow up police cars in 1975. 

Her arraignment followed an emotional sentencing hearing, in which family members tearfully praised Olson as a good wife, mother and daughter. 

For the first time, Olson also expressed remorse for the SLA’s violent actions during the 1970s, telling a judge and others, “Forgive me for the pain I’ve caused you.” 

In Portland, Bortin, 53, a flooring contractor, said he would fight extradition to California because he is not a fugitive. 

“I’ve been a legal resident here for all of 12 and a half years. I have my own business here, family, four kids,” he told Multnomah County Circuit Judge David Smedema. 

Later, in a basement courtroom of the Sacramento County Jail, the formerly married Bill Harris, 56, and Emily Harris, 54, respectively, a private investigator and computer consultant who once led the band of armed urban revolutionaries under the names General Teko and Yolanda, were also arraigned. 

The Harrises didn’t enter a plea during a four-minute hearing at Sacramento Superior Court Friday afternoon.  

They appeared in court handcuffed, wearing orange jail-issue pants and gray t-shirts. 

They will return to court Feb. 1 for a bail hearing and plan to enter pleas then, said Stuart Hanlon, Emily Harris’s attorney. 

“They are not guilty,” Hanlon said. 

William Harris’ wife, Rebecca Young, sat in the front row of the courtroom, but declined to comment. 

Police arrested Bortin and the Harrises Wednesday morning, while Soliah surrendered to authorities Wednesday afternoon. 

James Kilgore, 54, a fifth former SLA member charged with murder Opsahl, has been a fugitive since the 1970s. 

The four entered their courtrooms to answer for old actions during a time that’s greatly changed since the 1970s, when the SLA gained notoriety for its symbol of a seven-headed snake, passions for the poor and minorities and political rhetoric from South American revolutionaries and Communist leaders. Its members killed an Oakland school superintendent, robbed banks and kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst. 

Hearst, now a 48-year-old mother of three who lives in Connecticut, is expected to be the lead witness in the case. 

In a 1976 interview with the FBI, and later in her 1982 book, “Every Secret Thing,” Hearst said Emily Harris shot Opsahl during the bank robbery. 

“Patty Hearst is the only person who can make this case,” Hanlon said. “The jury will decide if Patty Hearst’s book is truth or fantasy. That will be the issue in this trial.” 

Arrest affidavits state that four SLA members allegedly burst into bank, made off with $15,000 and shot Opsahl, who was depositing a church collection. 

Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully, citing Hearst’s FBI interview, named Olson, Bortin, Kilgore and Emily Harris as the robbers inside the bank when Opsahl was shot. She named Bill Harris and Steven Soliah, Olson’s brother, as the lookouts, while Hearst and Wendy Yoshimura drove getaway cars. 

Despite a 1976 federal robbery trial that acquitted Soliah of robbery charges and 1991 grand jury investigation that led to immunity from prosecution for Hearst, Soliah and Yoshimura, no murder charges were ever filed in Opsahl’s death until Wednesday. Sacramento authorities reopened their investigation after Olson’s 1999 arrest in Minnesota. 

After Olson’s sentencing in Los Angeles, her attorney Shawn Snider Chapman called the decision to file charges in Sacramento political. 

Olson made no deal to testify against others in the case and “there’s nothing she can offer,” Chapman said. Sacramento prosecutors have not asked Olson to testify or turn state’s evidence. 

Fresh evidence and new forensic methods will bolster Hearst’s testimony, Scully said. Arrest affidavits note that Olson’s palm print, taken during her 1999 arrest, matches palm prints on the door of a Sacramento garage where the group stored a getaway car. Other items include bullets, shotgun ammunition, hand drawings of banks and instructions to rob banks — all found at an SLA “safe house” in San Francisco. The FBI also linked shotgun pellets found in Opsahl’s body to ammunition from the SLA house. 

SANTA CRUZ — San Francisco no longer tops the list for least-affordable housing in the nation. That distinction now falls an hour and a half to the south to Santa Cruz, famous for its waves and hippies. 

That result comes from the National Association of Home Builders, which compiles the list each year by comparing family incomes and home prices for metropolitan areas around the country. The latest survey is based on third-quarter numbers for 2001. 

The Santa Cruz metro area’s median income is $65,000, and the median home price is $420,000, up $5,000 from the previous quarterly survey. 

San Francisco dropped to second, as its median home price fell $10,000 to $520,000, still the most expensive median home price in the country. 

In fact, nine of the 10 least-affordable markets in the nation are in California. The Salinas metro area in Monterey County was third, followed by San Jose, which has a $450,000 median home price — the second most expensive median home price in the nation. 

Rounding out the top 10 behind San Jose were Santa Rosa, the Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa area, the San Luis-Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles area, Oakland and San Diego. The Portsmouth-Rochester area in New Hampshire and Maine took 10th in the study. 

In contrast, Rockford, Ill., has a median home price of $99,000 and a median family income of $57,100. 

Indianapolis was the most affordable city with more than a million people, with a median home price of $130,000 and a median income of $60,700. 

Santa Cruz has been vehemently anti-growth, but with such an expensive housing market, the Santa Cruz city council is trying to come up with solutions that include environmentally sound and affordable housing.

When the brain is in jeopardy, minutes matter.  

A clogged or broken blood vessel in the brain is an emergency but many people will wait to call 911after experiencing sudden confusion, loss of balance or other stroke symptoms, Deidre Wentworth, a registered nurse, told members of the Berkeley Fire Department at the Cedar Street station on Thursday. 

“The impact of stroke is huge: It is the leading cause of adult disability,” Wentworth said. “Health professionals play a key role in educating the public about the importance of getting to the emergency room early.” 

About 20 Berkeley firefighters, which include emergency medical technicians and paramedics, listened and discussed their experiences with stroke patients during the course given by Wentworth, a consultant for The Stroke Group – a Denver-based organization, which provides education to health care professionals. Wentworth said she she spoke to about 60 of the city’s emergency workers during the two-day seminar. 

Each year, 750,000 people suffer from ischemic strokes, caused by blood clots, and hemorrhagic strokes, caused by ruptured blood vessels, Wentworth said. Drugs intended to break up blood clots can be effective, but they must be administered within three hours after the onset of symptoms, which is why early recognition and timely transport are vital, she said. 

Methods of recognizing some stroke symptoms have changed over the years, said Wentworth, who also manages Mercy Stroke Center for Catholic Health Care West in Sacramento.  

Years ago, patients were asked to squeeze health care workers’ hands as a way to gauge limb strength, but what is considered a firm grasp can be subjective, she said. Today, it is considered more effective to have a patient close their eyes and hold out both their arms.  

This way, health care workers can see if one arm falls from lack of strength, she said. 

Treatments for stroke patients have improved, and paramedics and other emergency workers are always learning about changes in the field, said Ed Pennine, a Berkeley paramedic and firefighter. 

“As first responders, Berkeley is committed to providing continuing education on any procedure, equipment and care to optimize what it provides to citizens,” said Ann-Margaret Moyer, paramedic program supervisor for Berkeley Fire Department. “This class brings everyone up to speed on how debilitating stroke is and how early recognition and intervention are key.” 

According to literature by the National Stroke Association, symptoms of stroke include: 

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. 

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. 

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Wentworth said patients will sometimes “talk about a shade coming over their eye.” 

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. 

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause. 

Strokes are not disorders that affect only older adults, said Karen Ashikeh, a research nurse for the East Bay Region Associates in Neurology.  

Young people and people who use recreational drugs can also experience strokes, she said. 

“When a person thinks they are having a stroke, it is important they call 911 just as if they thought they were having a heart attack,” Ashikeh said. “Sometimes people will call the doctor, or they’ll go to the doctor, but they won't call 911. They think, ‘well, I’m still walking around.’ There is excellent treatment available, but time is limited.”

SAN JOSE — This is the future in America as high-tech leaders see it: People work from home more often. They watch high-definition TV on their computers. They get information on national security instantaneously. 

The key ingredient, the boosters say, is for everyone to have always-on Internet connections that pump data nearly 2,000 times faster than today’s dial-up modems. 

This week, a prominent high-tech lobbying group challenged the government to make that happen by 2010, saying universal broadband access should be a “national imperative” just like the 1960s drive to land on the moon. 

The report from TechNet asks the government to loosen regulations on telecommunications and refrain from imposing new ones. It doesn’t seek subsidies or tax credits for companies that would roll out the technology, only for poor and rural users who otherwise could not afford broadband. 

Not surprisingly, the TechNet initiative has the support of Cisco Systems Inc., Intel Corp., AT&T Corp., Microsoft Corp. and other companies that stand to benefit from a souped-up Internet. 

Others question whether the plan is feasible, worthwhile or does anything to promote competition. 

“It’s not in the consumers’ best interests, but that’s not what this is about,” said Mike Jackman, executive director of the California Internet Service Provider Association, a group of 140 independent Internet companies. “It’s about big companies protecting their big customers.” 

Kathie Hackler, a broadband analyst at Gartner Dataquest, applauded the goal of keeping the United States from falling further behind other countries, such as South Korea and Germany, in broadband deployment. 

But she was skeptical of TechNet’s suggestion that the industry could cooperate better if only the government would eliminate uncertainty over how it will regulate investments in new broadband networks. 

Forrester Research analyst Carl Howe was even more circumspect. 

“There is no proof, in any way, shape or manner, that says if we give more broadband to everybody it’s going to make us more productive,” he said. “It will make us more connected. It might make us happier. But I’m not sure it’s a better use of our money than putting 50,000 more teachers in schools.” 

Forrester says more than 11 million U.S. households have broadband service now, generally through cable TV lines, satellite TV hookups or phone wires that have been transformed into digital subscriber lines, or DSL. 

But only 12 percent of consumers who could get broadband have sought it. Many are put off by service problems and high prices. 

Cable broadband costs an average of $44 a month, while DSL averages $52, according to ARS Inc., a market research firm. 

Many Internet service providers say the telecom giants keep prices artificially high by charging excessive fees for access to the phone lines they control. Telecoms counter that DSL in particular is hindered by a patchwork of local, state and federal fees and taxes. 

Still, the number of broadband households will hit 54 million by 2006 even if no significant changes in government regulation are made, Forrester projects. 

TechNet calls for accelerating that significantly: not only getting broadband to 100 million homes and small businesses by 2010, but at speeds of 100 megabits per second. That is as much as 250 times faster than the typical broadband connection in most American homes now. 

That would require an overhaul of the existing telecommunications infrastructure, digging up streets in neighborhoods across the country to install new fiber-optic cables. The estimated cost: at least $100 billion, perhaps $300 billion. 

But TechNet cites a Brookings Institution study that found that the improvements in education, health and office productivity from universal broadband could generate $500 billion for the economy. 

Though most consumers haven’t embraced broadband yet, TechNet believes just about everyone would want it once new applications are developed to take advantage of super-fast connection speeds. 

In addition to high speeds, broadband has the advantage of being always on — no waiting for a modem connection to quickly check e-mail or download a song. 

With the blazing Internet speeds envisioned by TechNet, home computers could easily facilitate sophisticated video conferencing and quickly download high-quality digital entertainment. 

Congress already is considering several ways of increasing broadband deployment. A bill sponsored by Reps. Billy Tauzin, R-La., and John Dingell, D-Mich., would relax requirements on local phone companies, letting them provide Internet access nationwide without requiring them to share their networks with competitors. 

TechNet is officially neutral on the bill, calling it “a battle of the past.” 

It also suggests the government allocate more of the radio spectrum to wireless broadband networks. 

Every major industrialized country except for the United States and Italy has a national policy to spur broadband deployment — and Italy is developing one, argues TechNet. 

“We are falling behind in our K-through-12 education system, and now we are falling behind in broadband,” Cisco chief executive John Chambers said. “For our nation’s competitiveness and the future of our economic development, we must not fail.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.technet.org 

SAN JOSE — Server giant Sun Microsystems Inc. on Friday announced a smaller-than-expected second-quarter loss and some success as it expands its customer base beyond dot-coms and telecommunications companies. 

The company said it has recently made sales in health care, life sciences, education, government and retail — areas where it has always played, but not to the extent of telecoms and dot-coms in the past. 

“Obviously, no business wants to be horribly dependent on one major segment no matter who it is, so broader is better,” said Michael Lehman, Sun’s chief financial officer. 

For the three months ended Dec. 30, Sun lost $431 million, or 13 cents per share, on revenue of $3.1 billion. That compares with profits of $423 million, or 15 cents a share, on sales of $5.1 billion last year. 

Excluding special items, the company lost $99 million, or 3 cents a share, compared with a profit of $494 million, or 13 cents a share, in the same period last year, the company said Friday. 

Analysts were expecting a loss of 4 cents a share on sales of $3.1 billion, according to a survey by Thomson Financial/First Call. 

In trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Sun shares were down 20 cents at $12.17. 

“We are showing signs of progress,” Lehman said. “Despite economic uncertainties, Sun still is investing in product development and core competencies to promote the long-term growth of the company.” 

In December, the company said it was likely to hit its financial targets for the quarter but stopped short of offering any specific guidance. 

After strong growth during the high-tech boom, Sun was hit hard as large companies reduced spending and dot-coms shut down. In October, Sun said it was laying off 3,900 employees, or 9 percent of its work force. 

On Friday, Sun said it made gains in industries that were behind much of its growth before the downturn. 

“We’re winning more business and getting more design wins than we have in a long time,” said Scott McNealy, Sun’s chief executive. 

Among recent customer wins are the American Hospital Association, De Novo Pharmaceuticals, the University of Southern California, the Census Bureau and the grocery chain Smart and Final. 

“We’re obviously seeing the benefits, but this is not something where you’re going to see big chunks of business,” said Richard Chu, an analyst at SG Cowen Securities. “It’s building brick by brick into classic enterprise businesses.” 

Lehman said the company expects third-quarter revenues to be slightly above the $3.1 billion of the second quarter. Analysts are expecting third-quarter revenues of $3.2 billion. 

Sun executives said the company is on track to return to profitability by its fiscal fourth quarter, which ends in June. 

For the first half of its fiscal year, Sun lost $611 million, or 19 cents a share, versus a profit of $879 million, or 26 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue fell to $5.97 billion from $10.17 billion. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Sun Microsystems: http://www.sun.com 

NEW YORK — Shares of ImClone Systems Inc. plunged nearly a third Friday after being temporarily halted as the beleaguered company disclosed it was the subject of a congressional inquiry. 

ImClone stock has been in a tailspin since late last year, when the Food and Drug Administration refused to accept the company’s application for the colorectal cancer drug Erbitux, which had been touted as a potential blockbuster. 

Earlier this month, information released by a trade publication indicated problems with the application were more serious than ImClone had led investors and analysts to believe when it disclosed the FDA rejection. 

At least four suits have been filed against ImClone alleging it trivialized the extent of the problem. 

At a meeting last week in San Francisco, ImClone chief executive Samuel Waksal said some of the data the FDA wanted did not exist. 

“It’s not an insignificant problem,” he said. “We put together a faulty package and we screwed up.” 

Now a House subcommittee is inquiring into the study, the application and the drug. ImClone said it would cooperate with the investigation. 

The inquiry is also bad news for Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, which invested $1 billion for a 20 percent stake in ImClone last year. 

Under the agreement, Bristol-Myers will co-promote Erbitux and share in its revenues if it is ever approved. 

Shares of Imclone were down $8.93, or 29.70 percent, closing at $21.15 Friday on the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, shares of Bristol-Myers were down 75 cents, or 1.45 percent, closing at $47.94 on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Bust a culmination of several weeks of police surveillance 

Undercover officers from the Berkeley Police Department raided two homes on Wednesday in a multi-city crackdown of an indoor marijuana growing syndicate. 

“This is the biggest bust we’ve had in a while,” said Lt. Allen Yuen of the BPD’s Special Enforcement Unit. 

Yuen said police confiscated more than 350 marijuana plants at both homes, and the plants had an estimated street value of $500,000. 

In addition, police confiscated indoor growing lights, drug literature, three automobiles of recent make, a boat and five ferrets. 

The bust was a culmination of several weeks of undercover police surveillance. Early in the morning, the enforcement unit moved on the first house, which was in Castro Valley. The raid at the Berkeley location – 2811 Eighth St. – occurred later in the afternoon.  

Police arrested Stephen Rios, 34, and Dawn Bazurto, 32, during the raid on the Castro Valley house. 

They have been charged with five counts of marijuana cultivation, two counts of possessing marijuana for distribution and conspiracy to commit the above crimes. 

The two are currently in the Berkeley Jail and may appear in court as early as tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, the case is still being investigated. Lt. Harris of the BPD said that officers are looking into whether Rios and Bazurto may have had additional operations elsewhere in the Bay Area. 

Police said that Rios and Bazurto rented the Eighth Street home and that the owner of the house was not a suspect in the crime. 

On Thursday, the owner – who wished to remain anonymous – said that Rios and Bazurto had been renting the house for about a year, and that he had received numerous complaints from neighbors about the couple.  

He said that the two had initially appeared to be a “nice, clean-cut couple.”  

“When we first interviewed them, we asked them why they were moving from where they were,” he said. “They told us that the landlord was too nosy. I suppose that should have told us something.” 

Later, though, residents of the neighborhood started to call him to say that a dog locked in the house was barking day and night, and no one seemed to be there to take care of it. 

After he called Rios to confront him about the issue, the owner said, the dog disappeared. 

The owner said he was afraid that the house – which he had lived in for 15 years – was ruined. He said he was especially worried about the damage the two ferrets – which are outlawed in the state of California – may have done to his hardwood floors. 

“The ferrets are really the grossest part of this,” he said.  

A neighbor said the couple was rarely seen outside the home, and they rarely said hello or engaged in otherwise neighborly behavior. 

“This is a very friendly block,” the neighbor said. “We have dinner parties and Thanksgiving dinner together, but they never really acknowledged anyone.” 

“They were so unfriendly.” 

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to call Lt. Yuen or Detective Lindenau of the Special Enforcement Unit at 981-5918.  

Friday, Jan. 18

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, instructor Stuart Kandell teaches Storytelling in the Community and in the afternoon he teaches the Scene Study for Performance. Classes meet weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

City Commons Club  

Luncheon 

11:15 a.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Alain Rieu lectures on “France in the European Union”. Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Lunch is served 11:45 - 12:15. Speaker begins at 12:30. $11 - 12.25 with lunch, $1 otherwise. 848-3533 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Celebrating Marlene Dietrich's 100th anniversary with a film showing of “The Blue Angel.” Free. 232-1351. 

From Rio to Johannesburg: How Far Have We Come 

On Global Environmental Goals? 

3 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

103 Mulford Hall 

Dr. Alvaro Umana, Costa Rica’s first Minister of Environment, speaks on the global environment and the progress and goals set at the Rio de Janeiro Conference. Free. 643-4200. 

Saturday, Jan. 19

Discussion of U.S. war in Afghanistan 

7 p.m. 

St. Joseph the Worker Church 

2125 Jefferson St. 

“Free Speech Radio News” (Pacifica reporters on strike) journalists report back first hand from Afghanistan 

916-705-7528 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA) 

9:30 - ll a.m. 

Fireside Room, Live Oak Park Center 

1301 Shattuck Ave. 

A city wide caucus and network benefiting the citizens of Berkeley. 849-46l9. 

Vocal Jazz Workshop and  

Jazz Jam 

9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Albany Adult School 

601 San Gabriel St. 

Workshops for singers and instrumentalists led by Richard Kalman to explore Jazz in a small jazz combo format. $5-$12 per class. 524-6796, richkalman@aol.com. 

Building and Remodeling  

Advice 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

A morning lecture entitled “What You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel” will be followed by an afternoon lecture entitled “Choosing to Add On: Pros and Cons of Building an Addition”. 525-7610 

Community Yoga 

5 - 6:30 p.m. 

Finn Hall 

1970 Chestnut 

Ashley Sharp teaches an all-level yoga class on Saturdays. Please bring a mat. $5-$10. 845-8584, grntoe@hotmail.com. 

Tree Pruning 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. 

A class on the basics of aesthetic ornamental tree pruning. $15 non-members, $10 members. 548-2220 x233. 

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerebral palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. 549-1564. 

5th Annual Pancake  

Breakfast Fundraiser 

8 a.m. - noon 

Frances Albrier Community Center 

2800 Park St. 

Celebrating the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., benefiting the Teen Clubs in the community. $5, children 10 and under $3. 981-6640, recreation@ci.berkeley. ca.us. 

Sunday, Jan. 20

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event 

2:30 - 5:30 p.m. 

Allen Temple Baptist Church 

8501 International Blvd., Oakland 

A celebration of Martin Luther King’s message of nonviolence and reconciliation featuring Rev. James Lawson, Rep. Barbara Lee and Ron Daniels, as well as multi-cultural performances of music and poetry. 654-6966 

Oakland Jazz Choir 

7:30 p.m. 

First Congregational Church of Oakland 

Corner of 27th and Harrison St. 

A concert, entitled “In the Name of Love”, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. $18. 866-468-3399 to buy tickets. 

World Peace Ceremony 

5 - 6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Pl. 

Eva Casey presents slides and lectures about the Tibetan World Peace Ceremony at Bodh Gaya, India. 843-6812 

Patrice Lumumba  

Commemoration 

2 - 4 p.m. 

Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library 

6501 Telegraph Ave. 

Commemoration of the 41st anniversary of the assassination of Lumumba sponsored by The African Humanists Alliance. 595-7417. 

Buddy Club Presentation 

1 - 2 p.m. 

Berkeley JCC Auditorium 

1414 Walnut St. 

Roy Porfido and his cast of animal assistants perform a comedy and magic act. 236-7469, www.thebuddyclub.com 

Jewish Learning Seminar 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St. 

K’Tanim: A Celebration of Jewish Learning for Families with Young Children, birth to 3 years old. Family activities, songs, stories, crafts, and discussions. $10. To register call: 549-9447 x 104. 

– Compiled by Guy Poole 

Dear Mayor Dean, City Officials, Berkeley News Media and Bcc’d Neighbors, 

There was another accident tonight, January 15th, 2002 at Benvenue and Ashby at approximately 5:30 pm. One car was crossing Ashby, going Southbound on Benvenue, when it collided with another car that was going East up Ashby in the parking lane. 

The resulting accident had such force that one of the cars wound up ON the S.E. corner of the SIDEWALK and crashed into the street light. Fortunately, no one was standing on the corner at that moment. There was considerable damage to both cars which were towed away. 

The lady who wound up on the sidewalk stayed in her smoking car until the paramedics arrived. The paramedic's also looked over the toddler son of the other driver. Everyone seemed OK. 

This is the 2nd (SECOND) accident this year at Benvenue and Ashby that I know of. There were 18 last year. There now have been 4 accidents here in under one month (12/19/01, 12/20/01, 1/6/02, 1/15/02). Two of the four are exactly alike. One car is Southbound on Benvenue, crossing Ashby when it gets hit by an Eastbound car on Ashby driving up the parking lane between 4-6 pm. 

Our 5th Traffic Task Force meeting was held yesterday at the Library. 

Reh-Lin says the temporary traffic calming devices have been ordered. They will now be put in sometime in the beginning of March 2002. 

Reh-Lin also said that he now has to go to the City Council to get their approval to remove the 4-6 pm Tow-Away parking signs on the eastbound side of Ashby between Hillegass and College. This would then allow cars to park in the metered spots and stop cars from zooming up the parking lane between 4-6 pm, like they can now. 

Jed will be sending out an email highlighting this 5th Task Force meeting. 

One lady who was at the corner after the accident was upset with drivers on Ashby. She said she was trying to cross Ashby at Benvenue with her child in 

a stroller, and the cars were ignoring her in the cross walk. 

The next Traffic Task Force meeting is scheduled for February 11th, 6:30 p.m., at the Library. 

Paul Tuleja 

Berkeley

As Avon Kirkland spoke to the Daily Planet on his cell phone from Park City, Utah, he was interrupted by an invitation from a PBS television executive to come have a drink. He told them he would join them in a minute. 

Kirkland’s documentary, “Ralph Ellison: An American Journey” is now being screened at the Sundance Film Festival, where meeting with potential exhibitors, comparing war stories with other filmmakers, dialoguing with critics and filmgoers and taking in as many films as possible can make the high-profile, high-altitude film festival a heady swirl of giddy appreciation and thrilling potential. 

“I’m getting over a cold, and getting over the thin air,” said Kirkland last Tuesday, who was busy working on promoting the remaining screenings of his documentary. Kirkland is one of several Berkeley-based filmmakers whose films have been invited to compete at Sundance, one of the world’s more prestigious and certain most lauded film festival showcasing independent and emerging filmmakers, co-founded 20 years ago by movie star Robert Redford. 

Sundance insists its selections be premieres, and “Ralph Ellison: An American Journey,” was completed a scant two weeks ago. Created for the PBS television series “American Masters,” to be broadcast in February, the episode is about the famed and elusive author of Invisible Man, a powerhouse novel about race in America featuring the disoriented and deeply angry protagonist Bigger Thomas. Although Ellison wrote reams of essays in his long writing career, he never completed a second novel and has become as enigmatic as his Bigger in American letters. 

Audiences expressed they learned a lot about Ellison after seeing the film, said Kirkland of the lengthy post-screening question-and-answer sessions the festival schedule allows.  

Meeting directly with a film’s premiere viewers is one of the rewards of the festival, he added. 

Filmmaker Gail Dolgin said the Q&As following the screenings of “Daughter From Danang” were often an hour long. Her film about an American woman reuniting with her Vietnamese mother evoked personal responses, and she said the discussions cut short by festival staff preparing the theater for the next screening often continued in the lobby. 

Dolgin’s story begins in 1975 with Operation Baby Lift, wherein children in Vietnamese orphanages (many fathered by American GIs) were airlifted out of the country to American adoptive parents. Some of those orphans were not really orphans. 

The film’s audiences were touched by the denouement, said Dolgin, “but it’s hard to talk about without giving away the drama.” 

Dolgin, whose office on the fourth floor of the Fantasy Building in West Berkeley is down the hall from Kirkland’s, said the festival’s competition brings with it a thread of anxiety.  

Her film is already slated to be broadcast on the PBS series “American Experience” in early 2003, so when the idea of competition grips her she said she backs off the worrying and remembers the festival is a supportive atmosphere. Simply being accepted at Sundance “boosts any film.” 

“Sundance is on everyone’s radar,” said Johnny Symons, whose documentary about gay partners adopting children, “Daddy and Papa” is also currently screening at the festival. The film has not yet been picked up for distribution or broadcast, and acceptance to Sundance means viewers and critics will see the work and the social and political issues it brings up. He says the film’s future is bright: “Signs are really good that this is the beginning.” 

“Daddy and Papa” follows four gay couples through their adventures in adopting and parenting. One of the subjects is Symons himself, and he said audiences were curious about his family. His partner and two children were in attendance for the early days of the festival, but “Sundance isn’t set up for a 2 year-old and a 3 month-old,” and Symons is spending the rest of the “10-day shmooze fest” without them. 

The House of Docs is the place at Sundance for documentary filmmakers to shmooze and discuss and pat each other on the shoulder. For the past couple years the festival has established the House as a hospitality suite and seminar hall for those filmmakers which are often overlooked in the shadow of the more popular feature narrative filmmakers. 

“We’re increasingly treated well,” said Kirkland, describing the House of Docs as “bigger than any Berkeley hotel lobby.” He said he attended a workshop on art and politics because they are topics at the core of his film. Other seminars include “Filmmaker to Filmmaker: Whose Story Is It?” moderated by Jon Else, “Open Outcry,” head of the documentary department at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism; and “Changing the Subject: Women and Documentary” featuring panelist Frances Reid, maker of “Long Night’s Journey Into Day” and another tenant of the Fantasy Building’s fourth floor. 

The Sundance publicity material says “The House of Docs is a community space designed to increase awareness of documentary film and to provide support to documentary filmmakers.” The filmmakers who attend concur. 

“Sundance is respectful of documentaries,” said Dolgin. “Robert Redford was present at the House of Docs and spoke with great sincerity about how important docs are.” 

“Documentaries from around the globe that bear witness to issues of human rights, social justice, civil liberties and freedom of expression bring forth truth in ways which can have a profound effect on societies and lives,” said Redford in the Sundance publicity material.  

Sundance puts their money where their mouth is. The Sundance Institute – the entity that put on the film festival – announced on January 13 the International Documentary Fund to grant money to filmmakers documenting human rights issues.  

The Sundance Channel, another product of the Sundance Institute which recently became available on Bay Area cable television, will soon launch a documentary cable channel, which will provide another outlet for documentary filmmakers’ work to be seen. Kirkland is hopeful; he’s been shmoozing with the programmers. 

924 Gilman Jan. 18: Christian Reigh, Dystrophy, Stalker Potential, Lower 48, Thought Crime, No Direction; Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualities, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; Feb. 1: American Steel, Pitch Black, Fleshies, The Blottos, Sexy; Feb. 2: Dead and Gone, Black Cat Music, The Cost, The Frisk; Feb. 8: Divit, Scissorhands, Rufio, Don’t Look Down, Fenway Park; Feb. 9: Pansy Division, Subincision, The Fadeaways; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan. 18: Karen Guthrie & Her Trio; 10 p.m., Bluesman Hideo Date; Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Jan. 21: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 22: Doug Arrington; Jan. 23: Junebug; Jan. 24: Carl Garrett; Jan. 25: Anna & Ellen Hoffman; Jan. 26: Robin Gregory & Bliss Rodriguez; Jan. 27: “Acoustic Soul”; Jan. 28: “Renegade Sidemen” w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 29: Tangria; Jan. 30: Bob Schoen; Jan. 31: Jason Martineau & Dave Sayen; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Blake’s Jan. 18: Ten Ton Chicken, Black Dog Band with Peanut Daniels, $5; Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Wildsang, $3; Jan. 23: Mindz Eye, Hebro (Upstairs in the Tinibar), $5; Jan. 24: Electronica w/Ascension, $5; Jan. 25: Shady Lady, Blue Room, $6; Jan. 26: Dank Man Shank, TBA, $5; Jan. 27: Motivators, Funklogic, $3; Jan. 28: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band, $4; Jan. 29: Funkanauts, Len Patterson Trio, $3; Jan. 30: Sunru, Slaptones, DJ Kurse, $10; Jan. 31: Electronica w/ Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 16: Realistic; Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Pena Cultural Center Jan. 16: 7 p.m., Park Day School Winter Music Recital, Free; Jan. 18: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Poets and Musicians collaborate across cultures, Genny Lim, Paul Flores, John Santos, $10; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Aya de Leon, Robert Henry Johnson, $10; Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15; Jan. 24: 7 p.m., Colombian Cultural Explosion, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m., Wild Mango, $12; Jan. 26: 8 p.m., Naked Barbies: The Concert, $10-$15; Jan. 26: 10:30 a.m., Gary Lapow, $4 adults, $3 Children; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Leticia Servín, $10-$8; 3105 Shattack Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, Kana Mimaki; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, Laura Carmichael, $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Gwen Avery House Concert, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Jan. 27: 8 p.m., Jane 

Rigler, $0-$20; TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline, http://sfSound.org/acme.html. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., Eight women’s voices and continuo, also Hugh Davis; $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, 415-979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Oakland Symphony Chorus Jan. 26: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Conductor Tony Pasqua will lead a study of Joseph Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” and Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied.” $25, $30 door; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 6013 Lawton St., Oakland, 465-4199. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St., 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org. 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band”; $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean; $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Dance 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical, modern ballet and hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

Theater 

“Every Inch a King” Through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.org.  

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16., Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 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. 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee; 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; Jan. 19: 7 p.m., The Wings; 8:30 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Film; Jan. 20: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Living in a New Land, 3 p.m., The Dinosaur Hunter; 5:30 p.m., Love and Journalism; 7:45 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Child; Jan. 22: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 1; Jan. 23: 3 p.m., The Terms of Cinema; 7:30 p.m., Telling It, Differently; Jan. 25: 7:30 p.m., The Aviator’s Wife; 9:30 p.m., A Good Marriage; Jan. 26: 6:30 p.m., Patrick Macias; 7 p.m., Battle Royale; 9:30 p.m., Blood and Law; Jan: 27: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Ikingut, 3 p.m., Peter Pan; 5:30 p.m., Sir Arne’s Treasure; 7:35 p.m., Song of the Scarlet Flower; Jan. 28: 3 p.m., The Jazz Singer; 7 p.m., Underground Kisses; Jan. 29: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 2; Jan. 30: 3 p.m., The Nickelodeon; 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 3; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

Exhibits  

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

“Rhythms” Jan. 20 - Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida; Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists; Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

“New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture. Steve Brisco’s paintings. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Traywick Gallery,1316 10th St., 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ton of Joy” Jan. 20 through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; Jan. 15: Jake Fuchs reads from his new mystery “Death of a Professer.”; Jan. 17: Anthony Bourdain takes a “Cooks Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”; Jan. 18: Luis Rodriguez looks at “Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times.”; Jan. 19: Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia on “My Country Versus Me.”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly, Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Jan. 16: Elliott Hester discusses her book “Plane Insanity”; Jan. 17: Jan Friedman discusses her new book “Eccentric America”; Jan. 22: Lee Foster discusses his new guide “Northern California History Weekends”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Revolution Books Jan. 25: 6:15 p.m., Eric Schlosser, Author of “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the American Meal,” will appear for a book signing. 2425 Channing Way, 848-1196.  

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

Freshman has 17 rebounds and 5 blocks 

The Cal Bears held Washington to just five field goals in the second half and freshman center Jamal Sampson set career highs for rebounds and blocks as Cal remained undefeated at home this season with a 62-50 win over the Huskies on Thursday at Haas Pavilion. 

Sampson had 17 rebounds and 5 blocks to go with 15 points in the victory. The rebounds were the second-most ever by a Cal freshman. Shareef Abdur-Raheem had 18 boards at Washington State on Jan. 25, 1996. 

Joe Shipp led the Bears (12-3, 3-2 Pac-10) with 18 points, but it was Sampson who was the game’s dominant force. He led Cal back from a 33-31 deficit at halftime, throwing an outlet pass to Shipp for the first score of the half, then getting the bucket and drawing a foul on a drive. He missed the free throw, but guard Dennis Gates tipped in the miss for a 37-35 lead, and the Huskies would never lead again. Although they would cut the Cal lead to 53-48 with just over two minutes left in the game on a Curtis Allen 3-pointer, the Bears hit their free throws down the stretch to pull away. 

The Bears didn’t exactly light it up on offense either, shooting just 33 percent on the night. Their defense carried them, as it has in most of their wins this season. 

“We’ve struggled on offense, and we’ve been winning ugly lately,” point guard Shantay Legans said. “I’m just waiting for everyone to play good at once.” 

Freshman forward Amit Tamir struggled mightily against the Huskies despite having a big size advantage for most of the night. With 6-foot-6 Grant Leep guarding him, he shot just 1-of-10 and didn’t get to the free-throw line in 26 minutes. He also had only 2 rebounds. 

“Amit got some good looks tonight, but they just didn’t go in,” Braun said. “He rushed a little bit. If he doesn’t get the shot, he has to get the foul.” 

“Sampson obviously had a big impact,” Washington head coach Bob Bender said. “He made us change what we did on defense, and he obviously affected our offense.” 

The Huskies (7-10, 1-6) shot just 16 percent from the field in the second half, as Bender’s only legitimate big man, 6-foot-11 David Dixon, got into foul trouble and played just 13 minutes in the half before fouling out. With no player taller than 6-foot-8 on the floor for Washington, Sampson dominated the boards on both ends and stifled the Huskies’ offense inside. 

Sampson admitted that he has been practicing harder lately because the Cal coaches have been on him about letting Cal’s wingmen like Brian Wethers out-rebound him.  

“I was sick of hearing the coaches say the big men weren’t rebounding,” Sampson said with a smile. “I won’t have to hear that tonight.” 

Cal head coach Ben Braun said Thursday’s effort should be a constant from the freshman. 

“I told Jamal he could have had 20 (rebounds) if he hadn’t let a couple get by him,” Braun said. “Before the game I asked him to get 10-plus tonight, and he did a little better than that.” 

The Huskies looked lost on offense for most of the game, with forward Doug Wrenn their only good threat. Wrenn scored a game-high 19 points, but shot just 6-of-18 from the floor and committed 7 turnovers, facing constant double-teams from the Bears. 

Point guard Allen was the only other Husky to score in double figures with 11 points, but he was invisible after scoring 8 points in the game’s first six minutes. He didn’t score again until his 3-pointer with two minutes left in the game, and had more turnovers than assists. 

Thursday also marked the return of Solomon Hughes to the Cal lineup. The senior center missed the last five games with a knee injury, but looked solid in his limited playing time against Washington, scoring 5 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. 

“Solomon’s going to be fine,” Braun said. “He was a little sore, but he’s okay. I think he’ll get more minutes on Saturday (against Washington State).” 

With the return of Hughes, it will be interesting to see how Braun doles out the minutes between him, Sampson and Tamir. Tamir and Sampson have yet to play their best together in the same game, so Braun could choose to rotate them alongside Hughes.

Superintendent Michele Lawrence met in closed session Tuesday with about 30 teachers from the three major schools-within-a-school at Berkeley High School, where ideas for expanding the autonomy of small schools were discussed. 

Advocates say the changes would strengthen small schools and improve conditions for students and teachers, but some in the district say the proposed reforms are flawed. 

Representatives from the three programs – Common Ground, Communications/Arts/Science and the Computer Academy – focused on six proposals or areas of concern. 

• First, teachers talked of developing a consortium of the small schools, with its own administrative structure, that would be on par with the high school’s central administration. 

• Second, several teachers said they would like small schools classrooms to be in closer proximity to each other. This proximity, they say, would help to develop a sense of community and encourage inter-classroom collaboration. 

• Small schools representatives also called for greater power over curriculum development, hiring decisions and scheduling.  

• In addition, several teachers suggested that the schools-within-a-school should have control over a share of the high school budget commensurate with student enrollment in Common Ground, CAS and the Computer Academy.  

Currently, the programs serve about 800 of 3,200 students at BHS. Each small school emphasizes core subjects like math and English, but organizes itself around a different theme. Common Ground focuses on environmental issues, CAS is centered on social justice and emphasizes the humanities and media literacy and the Computer Academy hones technological skills. 

Several teachers in the existing small schools have clashed with Lawrence this year about a proposal, offered by a community group called the Coalition for Excellence and Equity, to shift BHS to a wall-to-wall small schools model by 2003. Advocates say the reform would help to ease the “achievement gap” separating white and minority students.  

Lawrence has voiced her support for the concept of small schools, but has also argued that a district in budgetary trouble, with basic systems broken, is not yet ready for wholesale change at the high school level. 

Despite the conflict over wall-to-wall reform, several teachers who attended the Tuesday meeting said they were pleased with the Superintendent’s response to their proposals for the existing small schools.  

Lawrence, who convened the Tuesday meeting, has repeatedly indicated that she believes the existing small schools should receive support, even if a rapid, wholesale shift to small schools is not in the cards. 

“I was pretty impressed, actually,” said Bill Pratt, a history teacher in the CAS program, discussing the Superintendent’s conduct in the meeting. “On both sides ... the sense of good will and ability to work together is going to depend on what we’re actually able to accomplish. But, overall, I thought she listened well.” 

The Daily Planet could not reach Lawrence by deadline Thursday, but several people who attended the meeting said the superintendent repeatedly expressed support for the concept of small schools, while warning that the budget crunch might prevent any costly reforms. 

A team of fiscal crisis managers, composed of state and county officials, just announced last week that the district is facing a $1.6 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. The managers are projecting a $7.8 million deficit next year. 

Joaquin Rivera, vice president of the Board of Education, said the deficit would make the creation of a small schools consortium, with its own administrative structure, difficult. 

“At this point, I do not see how the budget situation would allow us to do that,” he said. 

But Dana Richards, a social sciences teacher and director of Common Ground, said that all of the small schools proposals, including the consortium initiative, are cost-neutral. He said that, with administrative responsibility for hundreds of students moving to the small schools office, BHS could simply transfer the appropriate administrative resources from central administration to the small schools. 

Mike Hassett, vice principal at BHS, said he was amenable to some of the proposed reforms. He said the small schools could have greater control over their own curricula, for example, as long as their classes met state standards. 

But, Hassett said he had a problem with the proposal for greater scheduling control. He said the high school’s experience with Common Ground, which moved to a block scheduling system this year, illustrates some of his concerns. 

Students at Common Ground take a limited number of classes each semester, with double periods, finishing a year’s work in several months time. The idea is to focus students attention on a few subjects at a time. 

Hassett said the clash between the Common Ground and larger high school schedules has created a number of problems, particularly for students who want to move in or out of the program at mid-year. 

“There are issues with inconsistent schedules between schools,” Richards acknowledged. “But we’ve been down the path of uniformity, one size fits all, and the result of that is bureaucracy and multiple kinds of failure: The failure of students ... and the failure to inspire.” 

Rick Ayers, head of the CAS program, said the cumulative effect of all the reforms would be to strengthen small schools programs that do not have the autonomy they need to survive. 

“We’re not institutionalized,” he said. “We’re not viable long-term. We’re dependent on the hard work of a small number of teachers.” 

But, not all the small schools teachers are ready to hop on board with the reforms just yet. Leaders of CAS and Common Ground, which are relatively new programs, are actively endorsing the proposed reforms, while acknowledging that there is still much to be worked out. 

Flora Russ, director of the Computer Academy, which has been in existence for 12 years, is more circumspect. She said many of the issues raised Tuesday are important ones, but she emphasized that the discussion has just begun.  

“There were not solutions,” she said, describing the back-and-forth at the Tuesday meeting, “this was opening the discussion.” 

Russ added that the computer Academy has tended to work within the high school system since its inception. 

Lawrence will meet with the small schools teachers again on Jan. 22.  

LAS VEGAS — Would-be contestants answered the call to “come on down” in a big way Thursday, overwhelming “The Price is Right” in hopes of being on the program’s 30th anniversary show. 

“It’s gone way beyond what we expected,” said Henri Bollinger, spokesman for the weekday program that picked Las Vegas for its first-ever taping away from CBS Television City in Hollywood. 

“There are thousands of people out there,” Bollinger said of a line that formed before dawn — more than 14 hours before a scheduled 7 p.m. taping in the Rio hotel-casino’s 1,500-seat Samba Theater. “There’s no way we can get everybody in.” 

Bollinger said 900 tickets were being handed out to potential contestants on a first-come, first-served basis, and 100 more standby tickets would be issued. The remaining seats have been given to 500 invited guests who won’t have a chance to be on the game show. 

Las Vegas police spokesman Tirso Dominguez said the crowd outside the hotel west of the Las Vegas Strip was orderly and no arrests were reported. 

Bob Barker, the show’s host and executive producer, said Wednesday that he thought it would be fun to take the show on the road for the first time in 30 years. 

“The Price is Right” is the longest running game show in television history, surpassing 18 seasons of “What’s My Line?” 

The Las Vegas show was to be taped and aired at 8 p.m. Jan. 31. 

Las Vegas was chosen for the show’s first on-location taping because of its glamour and because the city’s visitors reflect a wide cross-section of the program’s audience, Barker said. 

“The taping will give hundreds of people, who would otherwise be unable to participate, a chance to personally experience the show live,” he said. “And Las Vegas is still one of the most exciting places in the world.” 

Also on hand for the taping will be show announcer Rod Roddy and “Barker’s Beauties,” show models Claudia Jordan, Heather Kozar and Nikki Ziering. 

The audience in the Bob Barker Studio in Hollywood usually numbers 320 people. Bollinger said producers sometimes handle as many as 1,000 contestant hopefuls in a day. 

Barker said Wednesday there were hints that there might be a ticket crush in Las Vegas. 

“The first time I mentioned the Las Vegas show (on the air) was Dec. 17,” he said. “We had a frantic call from the Rio that they were being inundated with phone calls. They had 7,000 calls (from people wanting tickets) that day.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.cbs.com/daytime/price/ 

If you are a car owner tired of orbiting your home and workplace looking for parking, only to return and find a parking ticket that seems to mock you as it flaps in the wind, there may be another option. 

The City Council unanimously approved $55,000 as seed money for the City CarShare program, which will allow members to access an automobile to run errands, pick up groceries or take trips out of town without the economic burden and hassles of car ownership. 

Councilmember Linda Maio said she has been a strong advocate of CarShare and is looking forward to seeing how the program will fair in Berkeley.  

“If we really want to cut down on the number of cars on our streets, this is a great way to do it,” she said.  

For a $300 deposit and a $10 monthly fee, members can have access to a new, lime green Volkswagen Beetle. For each trip, members will also be charged $2.50 per hour and 45 cents for each mile. 

The program starts with two cars in Berkeley, but CarShare’s East Bay Director Daryl Norcott said the goal is to have five cars available within months. Initially one car will be kept at the Oxford-Kittridge parking lot and the other at the Berkeley Way lot between Shattuck Avenue and Milvia Street. Both lots are city owned. CarShare members also have access to 35 cars in the San Francisco program and two in Oakland’s program. 

According to Norcott, CarShare’s goal is to grow the program to include parking lots south of campus and in the Elmwood Neighborhood. He said there are already 30 members in Berkeley’s program. 

“We want to make this program attractive to households who already have one car and don’t want to buy another, and to people who can afford a car but don’t want the hassles of ownership,” he said. “We want to make CarShare as attractive and feasible as possible to people in the low- to moderate-income ranges.” 

Cory Levenberg, who owns 42, INC., a information systems consulting business with eight employees, uses CarShare as company transportation.  

“This program has been economically very valuable,” said Levenberg who renounced personal car ownership in 1999. “Before this we primarily used BART and cabs.” 

Levenberg, who’s office is in the heart of downtown Berkeley, said parking is a challenge here and nearly impossible in San Francisco where his employees often travel for work. 

“Now we just hop on downtown BART and then pick up a car in the city,” he said.  

Deputy City Manager Phil Kamlarz said the city manager has identified transportation, traffic and parking issues as a priority for the upcoming year. 

“We are hopeful that as CarShare becomes more popular, it will reduce the need for car ownership, which will reduce traffic,” Kamlarz said. 

City CarShare’s Executive Director Elizabeth Sullivan said the organization is patterned after Mobility Car Sharing, a Swiss company that was launched in Zurich several years ago.  

“They now have 40,000 members in the entire country, which has about the same population as the Bay Area,” she said. “With those kind of numbers, you can really see how parking and traffic problems can be reduced.” 

Sullivan said Mobility Car Sharing is intimately intertwined with the National Rail System in Switzerland and that the availability of cars at or near rail stations has helped to make the program successful. 

“It’s very important for us to be similarly linked with Bay Area public transportation,” she said. “Currently we are working with BART to make cars available at the Rockridge Station parking lot.” 

For more information about City CarShare call 510-352-0323 or visit their Web site at www.sfcarshare.org.

Local girls lead Boy Scouts to  

Panama 

Two young women from Berkeley, Brianna Georgi and Baily Hopkins, flew to Panama on Saturday, leading a group of five Boy Scouts from the area in an international camping competition. 

Georgi and Baily are both Venture Scouts, a co-ed group under the auspices of the Boy Scouts organization. The Berkeley chapter of the Venture Scouts, known as “Crew 24,” is focused on “high adventure” activities such as backpacking and kayaking. 

Five adults, including parents of the four Boy Scouts, are traveling with the group as chaperones. 

According to Ellen Georgi, Brianna’s mother, scouting teams from the United States, Mexico, and various countries in Central and South America have converged in Panama. All the groups will do community service projects, examine the ecosystem of the Panama Canal, socialize, and compete in various camping activities. 

Ellen Georgi said her daughter should learn some valuable lessons about other cultures. But, she does not expect the Berkeley-area troop to win any of the camping competitions.  

“I think what she’s really getting out of this is realizing that American superiority is highly overrated,” Georgi said. 

The scouts return Monday evening. 

E-mail David Scharfenberg at scharfenberg@ berkeleydailyplanet.net with school news for “Class Notes,”appearing almost every Thursday (or Friday).

PETALUMA— A 19-year-old man’s legs were seriously injured when he fell into a portable cement mixer. 

Authorities said the man was straddling the running machine to clean it at the Pomeroy Corp. when his legs slipped into an augur, which resembles a large, open half pipe with a corkscrew drill running its length. 

The man’s legs were mangled when they were caught between the drill and the frame of the machine. He had to be cut free. 

He was taken by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Officials there would not release his name or information about his condition, citing confidentiality laws. 

——— 

WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Members of the Windsor Town Council sided with angry neighbors Wednesday in voicing their opposition to plans for a 50-home Indian reservation just outside the city limits. 

The council didn’t name the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians or its proposed development on Windsor River Road. 

But council members outlined a letter to the Board of Supervisors, detailing their opposition to building any more homes than allowed under the Sonoma County general plan. 

The proposed reservation property is limited to 10 homes under the general plan. 

Neither the council nor the supervisors has jurisdiction over the tribe’s efforts to acquire and develop the land. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has yet to render a decision. 

In approving the letter, Windsor officials said they wanted to provide their input on a project neighbors fear could significantly alter their rural way of life. 

“I hope to preserve the rural way of life and to preserve agriculture,” Councilwoman Lynn Morehouse said. If that’s threatened, “I feel it’s appropriate to weigh in.”

NOVATO — Breast cancer rates in Marin County have jumped 20 percent in one year, increasing the already-high rates for the county, according to a recent study. 

The increase was mostly among women between 45 and 64 years old. Marin County’s breast cancer rates in that age group have been 58 percent higher than other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and 72 percent higher than other urban areas of California. 

The reasons for the high rates are unclear. They could be due to better health screening, demographic factors or statistical flaws. 

The Northern California Cancer Center compiled statistics on cancer rates using census data and county health records. 

Tina Clarke, an epidemiologist for the center, said the higher rates could be due to a large number of women in the county who have characteristics associated with breast cancer, such as being white, having fewer children, having children later in life, and higher education or household income. 

Also, there could be a wider use of mammograms in Marin, which could mean that more cancer is being caught earlier. 

But more people are dying from breast cancer in Marin. The death rates there are 25 percent higher than around the Bay Area and other urban areas of the state. 

Breast cancer rates in the county increased 60 percent between 1991 and 1999. 

In the spring, Marin Breast Cancer Watch is expected to release its study of adolescent risk factors in developing breast cancer, and it’s also working with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on a study by the county and the Centers for Disease Control to examine the possible relationship between breast cancer risk and exposure to environmental risk factors.

SAN FRANCISCO — Many Californians are concerned government officials will trample on civil liberties in the fight against terrorism, according to a new poll. 

A survey by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 51 percent of people questioned think the government is more likely to excessively restrict civil liberties than it is to fail to enact tough anti-terrorism laws. 

Slightly more than one third, 37 percent, are more concerned about the latter possibility. 

The poll, conducted from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10, posed questions to a random sample of 2,023 people on the social, economic and political forces shaping the state. It marks the first time since Sept. 11 the institute has probed Californians’ opinions about the anti-terrorism effort and civil liberties. 

“Californians by nature are civil libertarians,” said Mark Baldassare, a senior fellow at the institute. “They want the government to play as limited a role as possible in our daily lives.” 

Overall, 68 percent of those polled approve of Gov. Gray Davis’ handling of terrorism and security matters. 

Nearly two-thirds of those polled said they are unwilling to allow government agencies to monitor their telephone calls and e-mail on a regular basis. Slightly more than a third would be willing. 

The survey’s margin for error was plus or minus 2 percent. 

LOS ANGELES — Illegal immigrants and other students who qualify will get a big break in University of California tuition under a plan approved Thursday that will allow them to pay the same amount as California residents. 

After an emotional hearing, the UC Board of Regents voted 17-5 to approve the proposal at the close of its two-day meeting at UCLA. 

The move came only a few months after Gov. Gray Davis and the Legislature approved a bill implementing a similar tuition plan at California State University and community college campuses. 

That created a dilemma for the UC system, which had to weigh financial, legal and moral considerations in joining the initiative. 

“Talk what you will about their status, the reality is industries could not survive without the backbreaking work these people and their parents do,” said California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a member of the board. 

Other regents said the move was a mistake. 

“We’ve got to take care of Americans first,” said David S. Lee. “Now we’re telling the whole world just come in illegally and we will give you a good education. I don’t understand that.” 

To qualify for what amounts to an $11,000 annual tuition subsidy, students must graduate from a California high school after three years of attendance. In addition, illegal immigrants must prove they are in the process of seeking legalized residency status. 

Several hundred students already enrolled at UC campuses will get the subsidy, which reduces their tuition from $14,933 to $3,859 a year. It also opens the way for an unknown number of students to apply for an education they previously could not afford. 

The board estimated the initial cost of the change at $2 million to $4 million at a time when the tight state budget will likely limit raises for faculty and staff members and could lead to tuition increases to fund more competitive salaries. 

During their 30-minute discussion, the regents addressed a variety of issues. A key point was whether the policy will violate a federal rule forbidding in-state tuition for illegal immigrants unless the same fees apply to U.S. citizens in any state. 

“I do think we will be sued,” said regent Joanne Corday Kozberg, who nevertheless voted for the measure. 

During a public comment session earlier in the day, America Yareli Hernandez, an 18-year-old student at Fresno State, told regents she wants to transfer to a UC campus but can’t afford the expensive tuition. 

She said her parents brought her to California from Mexico when she was three months old. Since family members are still classified as temporary residents, she would have to pay out-of-state fees at UC without the new policy. 

“I feel I should have equal opportunity because I have been here all my life,” she said outside the meeting. “It’s not my fault. I didn’t make a conscious effort to arrive illegally.” 

On Wednesday, 300 students staged a boisterous demonstration in favor of the move. 

Waving signs reading “Knowledge not discrimination” and “Education is a human right,” they rallied for an hour outside the building where the regents met. 

Also on Thursday, the board approved an environmental report and master development plan for the new UC Merced campus. 

Groundbreaking is scheduled for May for the first three academic buildings, as the campus readies to receive its first 1,000 students in fall 2004. The cost of that first phase of construction is $225 million. 

UC officials said building the system’s 10th campus — its first since the 1960s — has only begun and could take decades to complete. 

“This is really just an early step in many steps that will have to be taken,” UC President Richard C. Atkinson said. 

OAKLAND — The man accused of driving into five children and a mother in a crosswalk as they headed to school faces several felony counts, including vehicular manslaughter, Oakland police said Thursday. 

Osvaldo Urzua, 41, of Oakland, was arrested Wednesday evening at about the same time a 5-year-old girl died from injuries sustained in the accident a day earlier. 

“He admitted to being in the scene and in the car,” said Oakland Police Chief Richard Word. 

Among the charges police were considering were one count of vehicular manslaughter, six counts of felony hit and run, and several lesser charges. Police said it appeared neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor. 

Investigator Dennis Franckowski said Urzua did not have a drivers license, and a background check turned up no history of prior arrest. Officials were waiting for results of a fingerprint check on Thursday. 

Police believe Urzua came to the United States from Mexico within the last five years, but they were unsure whether he was in the country legally. 

Franckowski said Urzua had shown little interest in the conditions of the victims. 

“He was concerned about the incident, but it was more about what was going to happen to him,” Franckowski said. 

The hit and run happened Tuesday morning when a green 1967 Ford Mustang sped through an Oakland intersection, hitting the six as they crossed the street. 

Witnesses said the driver was speeding, and did not attempt to slow down. The car was abandoned nearby, and the driver fled on foot. 

Ana Cerna was taken off life support at Children’s Hospital in Oakland on Wednesday afternoon, and died soon after. Juan Espinosa, 7; Anylene Espinosa, 10, and Juan Cerna, 11, were listed Thursday in fair condition with broken bones and other injuries, according to hospital spokeswoman Vanya Rainova. One-year-old Kathy Espinosa was released Wednesday. 

The mother of three of the children, Maribel Espinosa, had a broken ankle and knee. 

Urzua, who allegedly borrowed the Mustang without permission from the home where he was staying, said the car had mechanical problems, according to Franckowski. Police were checking the car for defects. 

SACRAMENTO — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. filed a $4.1 billion breach of contract claim against the state of California Thursday, saying it was prohibited from selling power from its power plants at market rates as promised under the state’s 1996 deregulation law. 

A law passed last year during the height of state’s energy crisis violates an agreement between PG&E and the state, utility lawyers said. 

That law, written by Assemblyman John Dutra, D-Fremont, prohibits utilities from selling their generating facilities until at least 2006. 

The 1996 deregulation law required utilities to sell most of their power plants, turn over management of their transmission lines to an independent grid manager and open their distribution system to competition. In return, the utilities would be allowed to sell their power plants or sell energy from their nuclear and hydroelectric plants at market rates. 

“When the state passed Assembly Bill 6x, a year ago today, they broke that agreement,” said PG&E spokesman Ron Low. 

The bill was passed with strong bipartisan support, Dutra said. It cleared the Assembly by a 61-10 vote and the Senate 30-6. 

California lawmakers approved the bill as the state’s three largest utilities, including PG&E, struggled to find energy suppliers who would sell to them. Record-high wholesale prices forced them to incur huge debts, and they couldn’t pass their costs to consumers. 

PG&E had contracts for about one-third of its power needs with renewable generators, another one-third was bought on the spot market, and the remaining power need was met by its own plants, Dutra said. 

If the utility sold its power on the spot market, it could have been purchased by energy marketers who would mark it up and sell it back to the utility at much higher prices, he said. At the time, spot market prices were hitting 60 cents a kilowatt hour. 

Critics of the deregulation plan said having utilities purchase their power from outside suppliers contributed to a huge increase in wholesale energy prices. 

By not selling power from those plants on the open market, PG&E officials estimate, they lost $4.1 billion in potential revenue. 

Dutra said the utility, which declared bankruptcy in April, may want the law repealed to make its proposed reorganization work. 

PG&E’s plan would split it from its parent company, PG&E Corp., and transfer generating and electric and gas transmission assets to form three new companies. 

The plan, Dutra said, is based on their ability to sell or transfer the plants to another company. 

Low said the filing wasn’t connected to the reorganization plan. Instead, the claim “is because of the breach of contract.” As part of the reorganization, PG&E asked the bankruptcy court to “pre-empt the minimum amount of state laws and regulations that would allow our plan to move forward.” 

AB6x was one of those laws, Low said. 

If the reorganization plan proceeds, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s said Thursday, the proposed PG&E affiliates would receive a preliminary investment-grade rating of “BBB,” the lowest rating before junk status. 

That rating, however, depends on the federal bankruptcy judge allowing PG&E to transfer power plants, transmission lines and other assets from state to federal regulation. 

The state Public Utilities Commission opposes the reorganization and called PG&E’s claim against the state “a frivolous act of desperation.” 

“Once it became clear that deregulation meant vastly higher costs of electricity to California consumers and businesses, the Legislature wisely stepped in to prevent PG&E from selling off any more of its generation assets, particularly its extensive hydroelectric facilities,” the PUC said in a statement. 

PG&E’s claim with the State Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board came on the one-year anniversary of the Legislature’s approval of a bill that nullified part of the deregulation law. 

Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis, said the governor’s advisers were reviewing the claim, but it appeared to be “another salvo against the ratepayers of the state, and now the taxpayers of the state.” 

The Victim Compensation Board is funded by tax dollars, he said. 

——— 

On the Net: 

PG&E: http://www.pge.com 

Read AB6x at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov 

TUCSON, Ariz. — Two A-10 attack jets from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base collided and crashed Thursday in a desert area just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, killing one pilot, a military spokesman said. 

Base officials said the second pilot was airlifted to a Sierra Vista hospital, where he was in stable condition. 

The single-seat Thunderbolt II jets, assigned to the 355th Wing at the Tucson base, were on a training mission when they crashed about 25 miles east of Douglas at about 3 p.m. MST, base spokesman Master Sgt. Dan Carpenter said. A third aircraft involved in the mission returned safely to the base. 

There was no immediate word on a possible cause. Neither pilot was identified immediately, pending notification of their families. 

The crash site was in a rugged area north of the U.S.-Mexico border in the southeast corner of Arizona.  

Francisco Honne, a Douglas Fire Department firefighter who went to the crash site, said he could see military helicopters circling the wreckage Thursday afternoon. 

The clinical nursing supervisor at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center said one pilot was brought to the hospital. 

Bridget Schuldies wouldn’t disclose the pilot’s name or injuries. 

“He’s been X-rayed, he’s walking and talking,” said Schuldies. 

Davis-Monthan’s 355th Wing, with more than 6,100 personnel, has six flying squadrons. 

Its fleet and missions include close air support, forward air controllers, air liaison officers, EC-130 aircraft for command, control and communications warfare, air control radar and combat support forces. 

The wing also trains all pilots and crews flying A-10, OA-10 and EC-130 planes. 

The A-10 aircraft, used in close air support of ground forces, gained fame during the Gulf War when they attacked Iraqi tanks. 

The last crash involving an A-10 from Davis-Monthan occurred in May 1998 a few miles southwest of Tucson’s Kitt Peak. 

Capt. Christopher Hamilton of the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., ejected before the crash and suffered only minor injuries. 

Pilot Amy Svoboda died when her A-10 crashed in May 1997 during a night mission over the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range in southwestern Arizona. 

One month earlier, an A-10 Thunderbolt flown by Capt. Craig Button vanished after it mysteriously broke off from a training mission heading for the Goldwater desert range. 

The wreckage of the bomb-laden jet was found 2 1/2 weeks later on a snowy mountainside in the Colorado Rockies, with Button’s remains in the wreckage. 

LOS ANGELES — Nine airport security screeners who could lose their jobs under a new federal law that says only U.S. citizens can work as screeners filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging it is unconstitutional and discriminatory. 

In what lawyers called the first such case in the nation, the screeners are suing Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and John Magaw, the undersecretary of transportation for security, who are responsible for carrying out the new airport security law. 

About 20 percent of the nation’s 28,000 screeners are not citizens. 

A provision of the law discriminates against non-citizens and compromises airport security by eliminating experienced screeners, said Ben Wizner of the ACLU of Southern California, an attorney for the plaintiffs. 

Transportation security administration spokesman Hank Price said he could not comment on ongoing litigation. 

The new law affects the many immigrants who work in low-paying screening jobs, said Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 2,000 screeners in California and several other states. 

“When I learned about this law, I was deeply hurt,” said plaintiff Vicente Crisologo, who has worked at San Francisco International Airport in screening, security and customer service for more than two years. 

“I wonder if our honorable senators and congressmen have forgotten that once upon a time their ancestors or their forefathers were once immigrants, too.” 

Crisologo, a permanent legal resident, came to the United States from the Philippines about three years ago to be closer to his son and two grandchildren. The former pharmaceutical company sales manager won’t be eligible to apply for citizenship for another two years. 

The citizenship requirements will be felt keenly at San Francisco airport, where about 80 percent of its 800 screeners are not citizens, and at Los Angeles International Airport, where an estimated 40 percent of the 1,000 screeners are non-citizens. 

About 70 percent of screeners at Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports are not citizens, and more than 80 percent of screeners at Sacramento and Dulles airports are not citizens, according to the complaint, filed in United States District Court in Los Angeles. 

The citizenship requirements are unfair, Medina said, noting that they don’t apply to others at the airport, including National Guards, pilots, flight attendants and mechanics. 

——  

Associated Press Minority Issues Writer Deborah Kong contributed to this report. 

We live, work and play in the town where we were born and raised — Pittsburg, Calif. 

Urban renewal hit our downtown in the early ’70s. Dozens of turn-of-the century buildings were leveled to make room for a new waterfront complex and new housing developments. What was once our local business district — and the epitome of small-town America — disappeared. Since then there have been repeated attempts to revive the old area. And although several of the old buildings have been restored, the downtown area as we once knew it has vaporized. 

Only one of the original businesses still survives — The New Mecca Cafe. It’s been there since we were kids. The man who owns it is from Mexico and its food is known for hundreds of miles around. Everyone knows where the Mecca is. The food served there today tastes as it did 30 years ago. Even the metal ceiling — an excellent example of restoration (restored about 20 years ago) — looks precisely as it did when the old building was originally built in the early 1900s. 

Our downtown may not have survived, but experts say there is a resurgence of interest in old-fashioned architectural finishes — and in particular, metal ceilings. 

The Internet lists many companies that offer metal ceiling tiles in all shapes and sizes. Ceiling tiles aren’t made just of metal anymore. New offerings are available in plastic and in fibrous acoustic materials. For more on what’s available on the Internet, go to your favorite search engine and type in “metal ceiling tile.” 

Metal tiles used to be made of plated brass and painted copper and were usually found in 1-by-1, 1-by-2, 2-by-4 and 4-by-8 sizes (all sizes are in feet). They were tacked to wooden furring strips spaced 12 inches apart. Crown moldings, borders and center medallions also were available. 

All of those shapes, sizes and accessories still are available. You now can make a ceiling in your home look like the turn-of-the-century ceiling you used to see at the old five-and-dime store. Wall panels still can be found as well. 

However, ornate as they might be, metal panels are not acoustically sound. You could be asking for reverberations galore by installing metal surfaces in some modern homes. Metal ceilings most often were used in commercial buildings, and therefore were usually 20 to 30 feet up. It’s hard to see installation details (nails and seams) from such a distance. And the acoustics in a store with a high ceiling are quite different from those in a home with a much lower ceiling. 

We love metal ceilings, but there is a place for everything and everything has its place. Metal ceiling tiles work well on large, high ceilings. The reason is that the smallest tile is 1-foot square — not small by tile standards. Using large metal tiles in small rooms and halls was once popular, but today’s ceilings are lower, and that can make a difference. 

If you have the right place for a metal tile ceiling, you will need to install a grid of wooden furring strips. The spacing of the strips will depend on the size of the tiles that you purchase. Some sculpted tiles that can be glued into place are available. How easy can it get? In any event, you must select the tile before deciding on the installation method. 

Tiling a ceiling is no different from tiling a floor or a counter. A good job cannot be achieved unless the tiles are laid out first. In most cases, you will start with the first tile centered in both directions in the room. In this way, opposing edges will match in width, and the result will be more uniform. By drawing an X in the room (from corner to corner) you can locate the center.  

To make the job a little easier, draw the ceiling to scale on a piece of paper. It will give you a better idea of where things eventually will be placed. 

For more home improvement tips and information visit our Web site at www.onthehouse.com. 

Tips of the week:  

Toilet Flush

If your toilet is not flushing properly, you might think it’s low water pressure that’s causing the problem. But pressure has nothing to do with it. The water in the tank does the job. It fills the bowl and starts the flush-and-siphon action, and the p-trap below completes it. Gravity starts a flush, and natural siphoning draws it through. When a toilet doesn’t work right, something is inhibiting water flow. Maybe a line is blocked; or water ports under the rim are clogged; or the tank is not full enough. First check the tank’s water level. If it’s low, adjust it by raising the float. Then try cleaning the water ports using white vinegar and a coat hanger. If that doesn’t do it, call in a sewer and drain specialist.  

Low-voltage Lighting

Are your outdoor security lights on all night? Beautify, protect and save energy with low-voltage lighting instead. It’s a smart replacement for outdoor floor lighting. Do-it-yourself systems are easy to install, and they plug into any standard 110-volt outlet. Sets have walkway lights with optional floodlights and color lenses for dramatic landscape lighting. Versatile and beautiful when in place, some sets use only 11 watts per light, and cost less than a single 110-volt floodlight to operate. And, because they don’t use enough current to be dangerous, even a novice can install them without concern for fire or shock. It isn’t necessary to remove your old security lights. Instead, add a motion-sensor switch on each, and you’ll have the best of both worlds — beautiful low voltage, energy-saving lighting and brilliant 110-volt security when things go bump in the night.

You either like the look of a tree that has been pollarded, or you do not. It’s not a natural look. This time of year, a pollarded tree presents a trunk capped by a clubbed head, or a trunk with short limbs that are capped by clubbed heads. 

In summer, a mass of vigorous shoots wildly bursts forth from that head or heads. Pollarding is useful for lending a formal appearance to a tree, and for controlling the size of an otherwise large-growing tree. 

Pollarding, which originated centuries ago in Europe, is a specialized technique arrived out of need, as a means to harvest firewood without killing a tree or letting sprouts near ground level be munched by grazing animals. 

Deciduous, fast-growing trees that do not mind being cut, repeatedly are ideal candidates for pollarding. Such trees include tree-of-heaven, black locust, catalpa, chestnut, horse chestnut, linden, London plane tree, princess tree, sycamore and willow. 

You can start creating a pollarded tree right now. Remove branches along the trunk of a young tree to give the tree a high head, with at least 5 or 6 feet of clear trunk. You determine how high a head you want for your tree — it’s all for looks. 

For the pollarded tree destined to become a trunk with a clubbed head, cut back the trunk sometime in winter to the height you want for that head. 

If your pollarded tree is to have stubby limbs growing off the trunk, still plan for a clear trunk of at least 5 or 6 feet. 

But above that length of clear trunk, select some well-spaced limbs.  

Cut off the trunk above the top limb, as well as any other limbs, then shorten limbs that you saved to 2 feet to 5 feet. Also remove any side branches growing off saved limbs. 

A pollarded tree needs to be pruned every winter, or at least every second or third winter.  

Pruning is easy: Just lop all young stems back to within a half-inch or so of where they began growing the previous season. Repeatedly lopping stems back to that point is what develops a knob atop the trunk or at the ends of the scaffold limbs. 

Prune early enough each winter so that you can enjoy the curious look of your pollarded tree when it is leafless.

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has denounced AT&T’s private system of resolving disputes as an “illegal and unconscionable” attempt to deprive telephone customers of their legal rights. 

On Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bernard Zimmerman found that AT&T’s arbitration system puts long-distance customers at a disadvantage. Binding arbitration is a quasi-legal process of resolving disputes without laws, juries or constitutional rights. 

Zimmerman’s ruling strikes down AT&T’s attempt in August to impose rules on California customers that would have barred them from joining in class-action suits, limited damages for fraud and other intentional wrongdoing and made filing complaints in certain cases prohibitively expensive. 

“It is not just that AT&T wants to litigate in the forum of its choice — arbitration,” Zimmerman wrote. “It is that AT&T wants to make it very difficult for anyone to effectively vindicate her rights, even in that forum.” 

AT&T spokesman Gordon Diamond said Thursday that binding arbitration is a quick and convenient way to resolve disputes and that AT&T settles the overwhelming majority of its disputes over the phone. 

“This is a process that’s widely used in the wireless industry, the credit card industry, it’s not something that’s unique to AT&T,” Diamond said. AT&T plans to appeal the decision, he said. 

Zimmerman’s decision came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an arbitration agreement could not block a federal agency from seeking damages in court for victims of employment discrimination. 

Together, the cases indicate a potential shift in the consistent support from federal courts for corporate policies that force employees, stockholders, patients and other consumers into binding arbitration.

SAN JOSE — Two days after reporting record profits, eBay Inc. said Thursday it will raise many of the fees it charges to sell items on the site. 

Starting Jan. 31, eBay will take a commission of 5.25 percent, instead of 5 percent, on items that sell for less than $25. The rate is rising to 2.75 percent, from 2.5 percent, on items between $25 and $1,000, and to 1.50 percent, from 1.25 percent, on sales of more than $1,000. 

The San Jose-based company also will begin charging five cents for all products listed with the “buy it now” feature rather than in the typical auction format. EBay says 45 percent of all items on the site are sold with that fixed-price option. 

Among the other increases: it will cost $40, up from $25, to offer and to sell a car on eBay, with an extra 50 cents for motorcycles sold with the “buy it now” option and $1 for other vehicles sold that way. 

San Jose-based eBay said in a message posted on the site that “we do not raise fees lightly or without considering the impact to our community.” But it said the higher fees would help the company invest in better technology, marketing and customer support, and did not rule out the possibility more increases could come this year. 

Some of eBay’s 42.4 million registered users posted critical comments about the fee increases on the site’s message boards almost immediately. 

One seller estimated the new fee structure would increase his or her monthly costs by $100, more than 6 percent. Another wrote: “You know, it isn’t much, but it seems a slap in the face when they have to KNOW how most of us are struggling.” 

But eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said most eBay users will realize the increases are reasonable. 

“Many of them are running a business, too. They understand the need for businesses to adjust fees from time to time,” Pursglove said. “The dustbins of the New Economy are crowded with companies that didn’t take the appropriate financial or fiduciary steps to bring in new revenues.” 

EBay said Tuesday it earned $90.4 million in 2001, on revenue of $748.8 million. The company expects to break through the $1 billion sales mark this year. 

Although the use of the “buy it now” function helps eBay by increasing the pace at which items are sold on the site, Pursglove said it was fair to begin charging a fee for it because sellers who use it have another way of drawing attention to their products that auction sellers do not. 

Shares of eBay rose $1.67, nearly 3 percent, to $61.61 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

TORONTO — Nortel Networks posted a $1.83 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2001, bringing its total loss for 2001 to $27.3 billion, the company announced Thursday. 

The results included a loss of 57 cents a share in the final quarter of a year in which Nortel saw its work force cut by half and stock prices fall from triple digits to below $10 a share. 

Despite the losses, the results were better than a forecast issued Dec. 21 that predicted a fourth-quarter loss of 61 cents a share. 

Revenue for the quarter was $3.46 billion, far less than the $8.2 billion in the same quarter a year ago but better than the $3.4 billion forecast last month. 

In its announcement, Nortel said it expected to return a profit in the fourth quarter of 2002. 

The company’s stock has plunged 90 percent in less than a year, losing more than $300 billion in market value. 

Nortel has been troubled for almost a year because of problems that have dominated the meltdown of the technology industry: misguided acquisitions at sky-high prices, overly aggressive expansion, risky lending practices with new customers and a tendency toward exuberant forecasts. 

The company is cutting its work force to 45,000 from nearly 95,000 workers.

SAN FRANCISCO — Hammered by a high-tech bust that shrank incomes and lengthened unemployment lines, Silicon Valley apartment rents dropped 22 percent during 2001, the biggest change in the West, according to a real estate study obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. 

The average monthly rent for an apartment in Santa Clara County — the Silicon Valley’s heart — stood at $1,507 in the fourth quarter, down from $1,935 a year earlier, according to RealFacts, a Novato-based firm that surveyed 6,000 apartment complexes in 19 major markets west of the Mississippi River. 

The San Francisco Bay area was the only major Western market where average rents fell in 2001, although the increases weren’t significant in most other regions, according to the study. 

RealFacts said average rents in 2001 fluctuated by less than 4 percent in every major market outside California except Seattle and Oklahoma City, where rents climbed by 4.1 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. 

The about-face in Santa Clara County’s apartment rents — adding up to an average annual savings of $5,136 in housing costs — illustrates the severity of a high-tech downturn that has trimmed the paychecks of many Silicon Valley workers and left a growing number without jobs. 

The fallout also depressed rents in two other tech-driven markets — the San Francisco metropolitan area, where average monthly rents fell to $1,738, down 15 percent from the prior year, and the Oakland metropolitan area, where rents dropped to $1,269, down 8 percent. 

Even with four consecutive quarters of declining rents, the three-county San Francisco metro area remains by far the most expensive market in the West, RealFacts said. Santa Clara County and the two-county Oakland metro area are the next most expensive. 

Los Angeles County, where 2001 rents rose 4 percent to $1,220 per month, is the West’s most expensive market outside the San Francisco Bay area, RealFacts said. 

The Sacramento metropolitan area — home to California’s original Gold Rush in the 19th century — emerged as the West’s hottest rental market during 2001. Rents in the three-county market located 90 miles east of San Francisco averaged $843 per month in the fourth quarter, a 10 percent increase from $769 in the prior year. 

The next-strongest market was at the other end of California, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where fourth-quarter rents averaged $831 per month, a 7.4 percent increase from the prior year. 

Rents typically move in inverse direction of the unemployment rate — a pattern holding true in the San Francisco Bay area, where the high-tech industry accounts for 11 percent of the region’s nonfarm jobs and nearly one-third of the wages, according to a Federal Reserve Bank study. 

When the high-tech industry’s fortunes were soaring in 2000, just about everyone who wanted a job in the Silicon Valley had one and demand for housing was at its peak, enabling landlords to demand a premium price for a place to live. 

In December 2000, the unemployment rate in Santa Clara County was just 1.3 percent, according to state statistics. A year later, Santa Clara County’s unemployment stood at 6.1 percent, translating into an additional 48,100 people looking for work. 

The meltdown is driving many renters out of the area, with some fleeing to less expensive markets such as the Sacramento metro area, where December’s unemployment rate of 4.1 percent remained unchanged from the prior year. 

The apartment vacancy rate in Santa Clara County rose to 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 1.5 percent in the prior year, RealFacts said. Meanwhile, Sacramento’s apartment vacancy rate was 4.4 percent in the fourth quarter, up from 2.9 percent in the prior year. 

A vacancy rate of 5 percent or less usually gives landlords the leverage to raise rents, RealFacts said. 

With vacancy rates rising, Silicon Valley rents are falling at an accelerating rate. Santa Clara County’s average rent fell 10.6 percent from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31 — the sharpest three-month decline during the 12 years that RealFacts has been tracking that market. 

San Francisco Bay area landlords still collect far more money than they did a few years ago, when a proliferation of free-spending Internet start-ups injected billions of dollars into the local economy. In 1995, Santa Clara County rents averaged $906 per month and the San Francisco metro area averaged $972, RealFacts said. 

——— 

On The Net: 

http://www.realfacts.com 

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court appeared ready Thursday to pull the plug on two California city ordinances regulating fees that banks can charge ATM users. 

The fees in question are those levied by banks on customers who use their ATM machines but do not have an account with that bank. The fees can be as much as $2.50 a transaction. The banks do not charge their own customers such fees. 

During an hour of oral arguments Thursday before a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the judges appeared unmoved by lawyers defending the ordinances banning those fees in San Francisco and Santa Monica. 

“What’s the constitutional problem to charge what you want?” Judge Joseph Sneed asked. 

Judge Stephen Trott added: “You are asking them to provide a free service?” 

In July 2000, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco struck down the two ATM fee bans — one approved by San Francisco voters and another approved by Santa Monica’s City Council that year. 

Walker ruled that any local ordinances restricting automated teller machine surcharges violate both the National Banking Act and the Home Owners Loan Act, which govern nationally chartered banks and federal savings banks. 

In essence, Walker said that those congressional acts precluded local entities from enacting such legislation. 

San Francisco and Santa Monica noted that federal banking laws do bar local governments from enacting a host of rules on banks, such as regulating certain advertising practices, where they can place ATM machines and whether they can sell insurance. 

But they argued to the appeals judges that they can ban the ATM charges under state consumer protection laws. The states, San Francisco attorney Owen Martikan said, hold the “right to protect the interests of their consumers.” 

Trott later responded: “You’re prohibiting what federal law allows.” 

California cities are not the only ones embroiled in such litigation. 

Several banking concerns are suing Iowa to overturn that state’s ban on ATM surcharges. And Arkansas, Missouri and Wyoming regulate the amount of those fees the banks can charge. 

Banks say they need the surcharges to pay for expanding their ATM networks. Consumer organizations that sponsored the San Francisco and Santa Monica bans, the first by U.S. cities, say the fees merely pad bank profits. 

The circuit did not indicate when it would rule. 

The case is Bank of America v. Santa Monica, 00-16355.

SAN FRANCISCO — In his first public comments since his release from prison, former Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee quipped Thursday that if he could turn the clock back 20 years, he would go to work for IBM or Intel, develop semiconductors and “make big money.” 

Lee spoke briefly and answered a few questions from a crowd of about 100 who had gathered at a downtown bookstore. 

San Francisco was the second stop for Lee and his co-author, Helen Zia, who were promoting Lee’s memoir, “My Country Versus Me.” 

“I wrote the book because I want to tell all the American people the true story of my ordeal, step by step, and how I went through all this,” said Lee, 62, a Taiwanese-born naturalized citizen. 

Lee was arrested in December 1999 and indicted on 59 felony counts alleging he transferred nuclear weapons information to unsecure computers and tape. He was held in solitary confinement for nine months, though never charged with spying. 

He read a short passage from his book about his first time in prison: 

“Not knowing my rights as an American to be free of cruel and unusual punishment,” Lee read, “I was constantly cold, shivering most of the time because all I had was a red jumpsuit ... an undershirt and two very thin blankets.” 

Lee, who believes the FBI wanted him to be “as miserable as possible,” said that during his incarceration he worried most about his lost reputation. 

“You don’t know how important reputation and dignity are until you’ve lost them,” he said. 

In September 2000, Lee pleaded guilty to a single count of downloading sensitive material and was set free. 

He said Thursday he had downloaded the files for “safety reasons” because he had lost files in the past after Los Alamos changed computer systems. 

“If I could turn my clock back 20 years, I would probably go to work in industry,” he said. “IBM or Intel ... and make big money.” 

Despite his experiences, Lee, dressed in a suit and tie, was gracious, soft-spoken and appreciative of his audience. 

“I do believe the American system is the best system in the world,” he said. “However, I want to say when the system is handled by the wrong people, our lives can be very miserable. ... I hope they don’t make a mistake again.” 

The Lee investigation caused nearly two years of controversy and heated exchanges in Congress over the alleged loss of nuclear secrets to China and lax security at the Energy Department’s nuclear weapons laboratories.

SACRAMENTO — The shotgun pressed against Myrna Opsahl’s left side and went off with a loud explosion. Then, fallen flat on the floor of Crocker National Bank, she began to bleed. 

“She was torn up,” said Terry Dyer, then chief of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department robbery unit. 

Opsahl was shot shortly after 9 a.m. on April 21, 1975, when four armed and masked robbers burst into the bank’s branch in suburban Carmichael. 

As she announced first-degree murder charges against five former Symbionese Liberation Army members almost 27 years later, Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully said the robbers pointed weapons “at customers and employees and threats and demands were made.” 

In Los Angeles, Oakland and Portland, Ore., Wednesday, police arrested former SLA members Emily Harris, William Harris and Michael Bortin. Sara Jane Olson, facing sentencing Friday for a failed 1975 plot to bomb a Los Angeles police car, also surrendered to police. Also charged was former SLA member James Kilgore, who’s been a fugitive since the 1970s. 

Olson’s sentencing is set for 10 a.m. Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. She faces 20 years to life in prison for the bombing attempt, which she said was to avenge the death of six colleagues in a 1974 police shootout in Los Angeles. 

Opsahl, 42 and a mother of four, arrived at the bank as she frequently did, to drop off a collection from her Carmichael Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

But her routine collided with the SLA and its radical agenda, a notorious after-echo of the 1960s anti-war movement. Using a seven-headed snake as its symbol, the SLA was a volatile mix of black ex-convicts and middle-class college students that achieved notoriety for bank robberies, kidnapping newspaper heiress Patty Hearst and forcing her wealthy parents, Randolph and Catherine Hearst, to distribute millions of dollars of food to the needy. 

The April 1975 robbery, Patty Hearst wrote in her 1982 book, “Every Secret Thing,” was the group’s second in Sacramento. Two months earlier, they had robbed the nearby Guild Savings and Loan for more than $3,700. 

Now, using guns bought from that heist, Hearst wrote, they were doing it again. 

As Opsahl lay dying, “the robbers stole cash from the tellers’ drawers and fled from the bank with about $15,000 in cash,” Scully said this week. 

They had a car parked across the street, former Sacramento Sheriff’s Capt. Larry Stamm recalled, and lookouts were ready to kill police who responded to the robbery. 

“They were well prepared to do that,” Stamm said. 

Bill Harris and Steven Soliah watched outside, Hearst wrote, while she and Wendy Yoshimura drove the getaway cars. Scully, using Hearst’s book and testimony she gave to authorities after her September 1975 arrest, named Emily Harris, Bortin, Kilgore and Olson, then going by her original name, Kathleen Soliah, as the robbers. Hearst also said Emily Harris shot Opsahl. 

Hearst, who now goes by her married name of Patricia Hearst Shaw, is expected to be the leading witness against the five. She, Steven Soliah and Yoshimura were granted immunity for their involvement in the robbery in exchange for their testimony before a 1991 grand jury, Scully said. 

After the robbery, Hearst wrote, the group pointed fingers over Opsahl’s killing. One called the robbery a “sloppy job” that could lead them to the gas chamber. A “simple stickup” had become a huge problem. 

Emily Harris, Hearst wrote, said the shotgun went off by accident, but that it didn’t matter. Opsahl, Hearst quoted Emily Harris as saying, “was a bourgeois pig anyway.” 

Compounding the Opsahls’ agony that day was that her husband, Trygve, was the surgeon on duty at the hospital where his wounded wife arrived. He couldn’t save her. 

Sheriff’s patrols arrived minutes after the robbers fled the scene. Dyer, whose staff was short on resources, welcomed the FBI’s help. And a federal detective, Fred Shirasago, broke a nearly 2 1/2-month mystery when he identified a fingerprint on the back of a license plate as that of an SLA member. 

“After we narrowed it down to the SLA,” Dyer said, “we knew what we were doing.” 

That led to the 1976 federal trial of Steven Soliah, who was acquitted. Soliah, claiming an alibi, said he wasn’t at the scene. Scully called his alibi “bogus” Wednesday. 

Since then, authorities have faced a long dry period. 

The 1991 grand jury failed to produce indictments. Indeed, four district attorneys didn’t bring criminal charges, Scully said, “for various legal reasons” she declined to define. 

It was the June 1999 arrest of Olson, the name Kathleen Soliah took after she fled California for a new life as a Minnesota housewife, led to a fresh review. The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office reported it provided new evidence to Sacramento authorities. Opsahl’s son, Riverside doctor John Opsahl, who was 15 when his mother was killed, also publicly pressured Scully. 

After Olson pleaded guilty in October to the attempted Los Angeles bombing, Scully said, she assigned investigators to re-examine the 1975 case. That review included new evidence. 

Affidavits filed in Sacramento Superior Court for Wednesday’s arrests revealed many of the details, including items found at the SLA’s San Francisco “safe house.” The FBI also linked shotgun pellets found in Myrna Opsahl to ammunition from the SLA house. 

The files also say Olson’s palm print, taken during her 1999 arrest, matches palm prints on the door of a Sacramento garage where the group stored a getaway car. 

The City Council declared Brothers Liquors in south Berkeley a public nuisance and then revoked its operating license Tuesday after hearing contradicting public comments that told a “tale of two Brothers.” 

The store’s manager, Monsoor Ghanem, was appealing an Oct. 25 Zoning Adjustments Board decision that imposed 11 operating conditions on the business because of repeated complaints of drug dealing, excessive noise, public drunkenness and prostitution on or near its Shattuck Avenue parking lot.  

According to Ghanem’s appeal, two of the operating conditions, mandatory 9 p.m. closing time and the posting of a full-time security guard during all hours of operation, were too economically punitive and would cause Brothers Liquors to go out of business. 

Three courses of action had been available to the council: removing or modifying the 11 conditions; enforcing them as is; or closing the store by revoking its operating license. 

The council heard from more than 40 neighbors, former neighbors and customers both in support and in opposition to the liquor store located at 3039 Shattuck Ave. The council also heard a presentation by Police Lt. Allen Yuen, who said there had been 19 felony arrests on or near the store in a one-year period.  

After closing the hearing, the council broke from its usual practice of waiting until the following council meeting to take action and revoked the store’s license by a vote of 8 -1. Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek, who said she did not feel prepared to vote on the issue, was the sole vote in opposition. 

Mayor Shirley Dean had little doubt about the issue.  

“It seems to me we ought to vote tonight and we ought to vote to revoke,” Dean said. “It appears the owner has no intention of calming things down and that really makes me mad.” 

Ghanem, who operates the store for his father, Abdo Aldafari, would say only that he was shocked at the council’s decision. 

Ghanem’s attorney Thomas Swihart said his client intends to challenge the revocation in court. 

“The decision is really bizarre,” he said. “It’s like they’ve put us in a better position by revoking the license, because this will never hold up in court.” 

Once the council confirms the revocation on Jan. 22, Ghanem will have the option of appealing the decision in court or accepting the city’s order to close the store. According to Current Planning Manager Mark Rhoades, if the council decision is challenged in court, the store could stay open during its normal operating hours for as long as two years while the appeal works its way through the court system. 

“Two Brothers”  

The council heard conflicting comments from the public about the store’s impact on the neighborhood. 

Supporters described Ghanem as a hardworking benevolent store manager always considerate of his customers and the neighborhood. They also said that neighbors had exaggerated problems, claiming that they never see drug dealers, prostitutes or anyone else hanging out in front of the store. 

“I live three houses away from Brothers and I’ve never had any problem at the store,” said Theresa Heckathorne adding that “The only time I lose any sleep is when there’s a band playing at the Starry Plough.”  

The Starry Plough Pub, located at 1301 Shattuck Ave., is a block away from Brothers Liquors 

But the majority of speakers described Brothers Liquors as a hub for drug dealers, drunks, prostitutes and vandals who have had the neighborhood under siege for years. They also described Ghanem as generally hostile to neighbors and some even admitted they are afraid of him. 

“Mr. Ghanem has a long history of hostile and aggressive behavior,” said neighbor Dean Smith who said he has lived on the same block as the store for 11 years. “There has been a pattern of threats and implied violence since 1992. We are concerned for our safety and our property.” 

After the public hearing, Councilmember Kriss Worthington said he was concerned that revoking the store’s license, would not hold up in court because of the conflicting testimony. 

“Tonight we heard a tale of two Brothers,” said Worthington, who then asked City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque: “Is the evidence so dramatic and irreconcilable that we can shut the store down?” 

Albuquerque told the council there was enough evidence to close the store. “We have enough of a record here to do the entire range of remedies, including revocation,” she said.  

Albuquerque did advise the council to ask Ghanem’s attorney if his client would be willing to accept the 11 ZAB-imposed conditions prior to voting.  

Swihart said his client was not willing to accept the conditions. “They are too extreme and would, in effect, shut down the store,” he said.

Parras Vega racked up a hat trick and four other St. Mary’s players scored goals in a runaway 7-0 win over John Swett on Wednesday in Berkeley. 

The Panthers evened their BSAL record at 2-2 on the season (5-3 overall), while John Swett dropped to 0-5 overall. 

The tone of the game was set right away, as Vega took the kickoff, played a give-and-go with a teammate, then dribbled past four Swett players before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Stevani Verducci. 

“I didn’t even see the first goal,” St. Mary’s coach Donny McGuire said. “I was looking at some paperwork, and the whistle blew. I looked up and we were running back to the center circle. I had to ask one of my players what happened.” 

The Panthers would score two more goals in quick succession. The goals came from Alythea Morrell and Chelsea Sera, with Sera’s coming from a rebound off of a Vega shot. 

The only reason the score wasn’t out of hand at halftime was the solid play of Verducci, who made 12 saves in the half on her way to 19 in the game. But with the Panthers constantly knocking at the doorstep of the goal, Verducci was eventually worn down. She started snapping at her defenders for letting St. Mary’s attackers through, and looked exhausted by the end of the game. She got the worst of several collisions with Panther players, mostly on breakaways. 

Although the Panthers would score four more goals in the second half, it was clear that McGuire took it easy, pulling Vega and freshman striker Margot Davis back into defensive positions for most of the half.  

“We’ve been in the situation where you’re getting shelled, and it’s not the right thing to do,” McGuire said. “There’s no reason to keep piling on the goals when you’ve clearly got the game won.” 

But for the short time Davis was up front, she was a force. Vega set her free for a 50-yard solo run early in the half, and the freshman calmly dribbled around the diving Verducci for her only goal of the game. 

Even when the Panthers made a mistake, it usually turned out for the best. Vega tried to put a throw-in to Davis’s feet, but Davis missed the trap. The ball, however, bounced between two Swett players straight to St. Mary’s Caelin Boman in front of the goal, and it was an easy score. Vega scored the final two goals of the game, both on breakaways, to complete her hat trick. 

“Today was good practice for us, and a confidence-builder,” McGuire said of his team’s romp over its winless opponent. “We got to work on our positioning, our passing, and setting up goals during a live game, and that’s very helpful.”

Thursday, Jan. 17

Landmarks Preservation  

Commission 

10:45 a.m. 

Entrance to the Rose Garden at Euclid Ave. 

Special Meeting Announcement: AD HOC Committee, Municipal Rose Garden, Structural Alteration permit for modifications to an existing Landmark. 705-8114, www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/landmarks. 

Globalization: Chiapas and  

the Zapatistas 

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center 

3105 Shattuck Ave. 

Global Exchange's Carleen Pickard will discuss the pros and cons of globalization in Mexico, focusing on the state of Chiapas. $5 - $10 sliding scale. 653-7882. 

Berkeley Special Education  

Parents Group (BSPED) 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ala Costa Center 

1300 Rose St. 

Guest speakers from the Regional Center for the East Bay and the East Bay Learning Disabilities Association. 558-8933, sandstep@earthlink.net. 

Climbing Nepal’s Imja Tse 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Rob Chang gives a slide presentation sharing highlights of his team’s recent trek to the summit of Imja Tse. 527-4140 

Adventure Travel Course 

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

The course will cover various kinds of adventure travel: Hard adventure, soft adventure, and cultural/spiritual adventure. Classes will meet every Thursday through May 23. $22. 981-2931, josemarty@yahoo.com 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

City Council Chambers 

2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Citywide Informational meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility Districts. 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

“Stuff - Do You Own It or Does It Own You?” Several people will talk about their successes and difficulties in managing “stuff.” 549-3509, or go to www.seedsofsimplicity.org. 

Fair Campaign Practices  

Commission 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Agenda includes: Discussion and action regarding adoption of revisions to FCPC Regulations and the Campaign Filing Manual. 981-6950, attorney@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Toastmaster Meeting 

12:05 p.m. 

Department of Human Health Service 

Toastmaster Club of State Health Branch 

Rm. 804 

Learn ways to improve your public speaking skills and boost your self-confidence. 665-1611. 

People’s Park Community  

Advisory Board 

7:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Unit 2 Residence Halls Rec. Rm.  

2650 Haste St. 

Monthly meeting, community invited. The PP CAB reviews and makes recommendations on park policies, programs, and improvements. 642-7860, http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu. 

2X2 Committee 

12:30 p.m. 

Redwood Conference Room, 6th floor 

2180 Milvia St. 

Seven items are on the meeting’s agenda. 

Housing Advisory Commission 

7:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center Dining Room 

2939 Ellis St. 

A special meeting is planned to discuss several matters. 

Elderly and Disabled Advisory Committee 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter 

101 8th Street, Oakland 

The Committee advises the Metropolitan Transportation Commission on projects and programs that affect transportation for persons with disabilities and older adults. 

Open Source Programmer Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Au Coquelet Cafe (back room) 

2000 University Ave. 

Open invitation to attend a free informal monthly get-together to discuss issues relevant to open source programmers. 235-2397, www.movieeditor.com/open-source-programmer/. 

Friday, Jan. 18

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, Instructor Stuart Kandell teaches Storytelling in he Community and in the afternoon he teaches the Scene Study for Performance. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

City Commons Club  

Luncheon 

11:15 a.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Alain Rieu lectures on “France in the European Union.” Social hour begins at 11:15. Lunch is served 11:45 - 12:15. Speaker begins at 12:30. $11 - 12.25 with lunch, $1 otherwise. 848-3533 

Editor: 

“Goodbye my friend In Honor of Alberta Godfrey” (Jan. 11) written by Geneva Gates Foote was a beautiful, moving piece and I think it was wonderful she took the time to tell the world how another human being affected her life. I think we should pay more attention to people we meet if, “only for a season,” who impact us as we roll through this hard world. We might find we have more in common than we thought.  

Pamela Foster 

El Sobrante 

924 Gilman Jan. 18: Christian Reigh, Dystrophy, Stalker Potential, Lower 48, Thought Crime, No Direction; Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualities, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; Feb. 1: American Steel, Pitch Black, Fleshies, The Blottos, Sexy; Feb. 2: Dead and Gone, Black Cat Music, The Cost, The Frisk; Feb. 8: Divit, Scissorhands, Rufio, Don’t Look Down, Fenway Park; Feb. 9: Pansy Division, Subincision, The Fadeaways; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan. 17: Christy Dana Jazz Duo; Jan. 18: Karen Guthrie & Her Trio; 10 p.m., Bluesman Hideo Date; Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Jan. 21: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 22: Doug Arrington; Jan. 23: Junebug; Jan. 24: Carl Garrett; Jan. 25: Anna & Ellen Hoffman; Jan. 26: Robin Gregory & Bliss Rodriguez; Jan. 27: “Acoustic Soul”; Jan. 28: “Renegade Sidemen” w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 29: Tangria; Jan. 30: Bob Schoen; Jan. 31: Jason Martineau & Dave Sayen; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Blake’s Jan. 17: Electronica with Ascension, $5; Jan. 18: Ten Ton Chicken, Black Dog Band with Peanut Daniels, $5; Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Wildsang, $3; Jan. 23: Mindz Eye, Hebro (Upstairs in the Tinibar), $5; Jan. 24: Electronica w/Ascension, $5; Jan. 25: Shady Lady, Blue Room, $6; Jan. 26: Dank Man Shank, TBA, $5; Jan. 27: Motivators, Funklogic, $3; Jan. 28: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band, $4; Jan. 29: Funkanauts, Len Patterson Trio, $3; Jan. 30: Sunru, Slaptones, DJ Kurse, $10; Jan. 31: Electronica w/ Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@ yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Peña Cultural Center Jan. 18: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Poets and Musicians collaborate across cultures, Genny Lim, Paul Flores, John Santos, $10; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Word Descarga: Aya de Leon, Robert Henry Johnson, $10; Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15; Jan. 24: 7 p.m., Colombian Cultural Explosion, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m., Wild Mango, $12; Jan. 26: 8 p.m., Naked Barbies: The Concert, $10-$15; Jan. 26: 10:30 a.m., Gary Lapow, $4 adults, $3 Children; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Leticia Servín, $10-$8; 3105 Shattack Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, Kana Mimaki; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, Laura Carmichael, $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Gwen Avery House Concert, $5-$15; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Jan. 27: 8 p.m., Jane 

Rigler, $0-$20; TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline, http://sfSound.org/acme.html. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., Eight women’s voices and continuo, also Hugh Davis; $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, 415-979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Oakland Symphony Chorus Jan. 26: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Conductor Tony Pasqua will lead a study of Joseph Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” and Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied.” $25, $30 door; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 6013 Lawton St., Oakland, 465-4199. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St., 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org. 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band”; $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean; $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Dance 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical, modern ballet and hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

Theater 

“Every Inch a King” Through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.org.  

“Sisters” Through Feb. 16., Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., The Prozorov sisters look at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 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. 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee; 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; Jan. 19: 7 p.m., The Wings; 8:30 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Film; Jan. 20: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Living in a New Land, 3 p.m., The Dinosaur Hunter; 5:30 p.m., Love and Journalism; 7:45 p.m., Thomas Graal’s Best Child; Jan. 22: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 1; Jan. 23: 3 p.m., The Terms of Cinema; 7:30 p.m., Telling It, Differently; Jan. 25: 7:30 p.m., The Aviator’s Wife; 9:30 p.m., A Good Marriage; Jan. 26: 6:30 p.m., Patrick Macias; 7 p.m., Battle Royale; 9:30 p.m., Blood and Law; Jan: 27: Children’s Film Festival, 1 p.m., Ikingut, 3 p.m., Peter Pan; 5:30 p.m., Sir Arne’s Treasure; 7:35 p.m., Song of the Scarlet Flower; Jan. 28: 3 p.m., The Jazz Singer; 7 p.m., Underground Kisses; Jan. 29: 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 2; Jan. 30: 3 p.m., The Nickelodeon; 7:30 p.m., New Arab Video 3; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

Exhibits  

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

“Rhythms” Jan. 20 - Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida; Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists; Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

“New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture. Steve Brisco’s paintings. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Traywick Gallery,1316 10th St., 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“Envisioning Ecology” Through Feb. 15: Paintings by Michelle Waters. Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave., 548-2220 x233. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ton of Joy” Jan. 20 through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; Jan. 15: Jake Fuchs reads from his new mystery “Death of a Professer.”; Jan. 17: Anthony Bourdain takes a “Cooks Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”; Jan. 18: Luis Rodriguez looks at “Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times.”; Jan. 19: Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia on “My Country Versus Me.”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly, Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd, Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell, Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Jan. 16: Elliott Hester discusses her book “Plane Insanity”; Jan. 17: Jan Friedman discusses her new book “Eccentric America”; Jan. 22: Lee Foster discusses his new guide “Northern California History Weekends”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Revolution Books Jan. 25: 6:15 p.m., Eric Schlosser, Author of “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the American Meal,” will appear for a book signing. 2425 Channing Way, 848-1196.  

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

Lazarus Ortega, the sometime Berkeley resident who was accused last month of the murder of his adoptive mother, Charlotte Ortega of Berkeley, briefly appeared in court Wednesday morning. 

Ortega, 21, did not enter his plea in the case, as had been expected. The Public Defender’s office, which is representing Ortega, asked for a two-week extension, which Judge John Zlyka of the Alameda County Superior Court’s Berkeley Courthouse granted. 

Public Defender Michael McCormick told Zlyka that his colleague, James McWilliams, had been assigned to the case, but could not make the arraignment because of a scheduling conflict. 

The date was rescheduled for Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. at the Berkeley Courthouse. 

McCormick filed a motion for discovery with the court on behalf of the public defender’s office. The motion, routinely filed in criminal cases, commands the district attorney to share evidence. 

District Attorney Jason Sjoberg said on Wednesday that his office is still awaiting the results of forensic tests that are being performed on articles found in Charlotte Ortega’s home and in her van.  

Police reports in the case said blood was found in both locations. 

Charlotte Ortega’s body was found floating in the bay, near the Berkeley Pier, on Dec. 30. She was a teacher in the Oakland Unified School District, an advocate for the disabled and the director of a Christian mission that established a low-cost health clinic for the poor in Lagos, Nigeria.

Having broken their road curse with a win at Oregon State last weekend, the Cal men’s basketball team will now tend to their own turf, hosting Washington and Washington State this week. The Bears have yet to lose at Haas Pavilion this season. 

The Bears will first take on the Huskies tonight at 7:30 p.m. Washington is just 1-5 in Pac-10 play this season, but may be the victim of a tough early schedule. They have already completed their season series with both UCLA and USC, resulting in four losses, with the other defeat coming at the hands of Arizona. 

The Huskies have a dynamic duo in forward Doug Wrenn and point guard Curtis Allen, but little to back them up. Wrenn, a 6-foot-8 transfer from Connecticut, is the team’s leading scorer at 16.6 points per game and has excellent athleticism. He will be a tough matchup for the Bears, especially if Cal center Solomon Hughes is still out with a knee injury. It could be left up to freshman Jamal Sampson, who has the quickness and range to guard Wrenn, to be the defensive stopper for the Bears. 

The Bears have been good defensively for the most part this season, with the notable exception of losses to Stanford and Oregon. They have already exceeded last season’s total for blocked shots, but have also excelled in the less glamorous areas of defense, such as taking charges and consistently challenging shots. 

“We’re not going to make national magazines (by being defense-oriented), you’re not going to make highlight center,” Cal head coach Ben Braun said. “Guys taking charges, it’s not going to be a headline for a story. Deflections, that’s not showing up anywhere. Challenging a shot, there’s no statistic that shows a (shot challenge).” 

The Bears’ main concern on defense against Washington should be the super-quick Allen. The sophomore has been a revelation at the point for the Huskies, amazing spectators with his speed since becoming the starter halfway through last season. He is a bit careless with the ball, with an assist/turnover ratio of just 1.1, but has brought a playmaking ability that the team has sorely lacked in recent years. He was the top returning scorer, but has let Wrenn step to the forefront so far this year. 

Guard Grant Leep is the Huskies’ best hope for points outside of Wrenn and Allen, leading the Pac-10 in 3-point shooting at 60 percent. But Leep should be neutralized by the Bears’ perimeter players, as he doesn’t have the quickness to get his own shot. Unless Allen can break down the defense, it should be a long night for Washington. 

The outlook is even worse for Washington State. The Cougars are winless in conference play, right where most observers predicted. They visit Haas on Saturday at 5 p.m. 

The Cougars are much like Cal on offense: they spread the scoring around and don’t have a go-to guy. Four players average double-figures in points for Washington State, with freshman point guard Marcus Moore leading the way with 14.4 ppg. 

Moore is an odd story. As a high school player in Inglewood, he was one of California’s top prep players, recruited by loads of big college programs. But he ended up choosing to spend his college years in the Paloose, and has made an immediate impact. He is not only the team’s leading scorer, he leads in assists and steals and is fourth in rebounding. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the team isn’t quite up to Moore’s level. Forward Mike Bush, an outstanding receiver for the school’s football team, is athletic but lacks some basketball instincts. He gets by on quickness and leaping ability to the tune of 11.5 points per game. But overall, the Cougars shouldn’t be a threat unless the Bears have a terrible game. 

The relatively weak competition this week should give Hughes a chance to work his way back into game shape, assuming he can play at all. He has missed the last four games, and Braun was non-commital as of Monday as to whether Hughes would play. 

“(Hughes) was on the floor (Sunday) testing. He was able to go up and down without significant pain,” Braun said. “We’re going to work him back into practice slowly and surely this week. I expect him to get some minutes. It depends on getting his timing back.” 

Hughes’ absence has made worse an already weak rebounding squad for Braun. The Bears have been out-rebounded in four of their last five games despite the addition of 6-foot-10 Amit Tamir, and Braun knows working the glass will be important for the remainder of the season. 

“I think it’s concentration. I think it’s mindset,” Braun said. “If we could really solidify the rebounding, that would help us.” 

One player who clearly has the right mindset for rebounding is wingman Brian Wethers. Although just 6-foot-5, Wethers has been one of the team’s best rebounders, fourth on the squad with 4.2 per game, including 7 against Oregon State and a team-best 8 in the upset of Stanford. 

“Brian is actually going after the boards a lot harder. He’s made that a personal mission. He’s taken that on as part of his identity,” Braun said. “It’s something that he is capable of doing, and he’s going out now and doing it.”

Editor: 

In a persistent and fanatical bid to engineer Berkeley schools, the powerful and liberal status quo continues to debate the efficacy of “small schools.”  

This on-going debate is pure foolishness. Does anyone still think that serving up lunchroom size, homogenized education will actually improve student achievement? What nonsense. The billions of dollars spent over 40 years of grand experimentation demonstrates the failure to achieve its objective. 

How do we know this? Just examine the dialog. “Achievement scores are down and class size is up. California scores are at rock bottom and there is a widening achievement gap.” The same old worn out liberal mantra with the same old bleating for more federal and state cash bail-out grants.  

Do they actually expect anyone to believe this? Now, the Berkeley Daily Planet accusingly reports that the achievement gap exists only between white kids and minorities. What a blatant, and racist assumption. It’s like saying that sure, minority students can “hoop it up,” but they don’t have the talent to excel scholastically.  

Frankly, any such conclusion offends me. Students excel because they are motivated and want to do well, not because their roots are found in one ethnicity or another. Some students discover their motivational fuel in deeply held personal goals.  

Believe it or not, many young people aspire to a life work that is lofty and seemingly unattainable. Hurray for them! The benevolent thing to do would be to support their positive direction and not sidetrack them into a political labyrinth in a money-grubbing search for smaller schools. 

School kids that are motivated are the same kids that are encouraged at home.  

Imagine that, young people with moms and dads that actually care do well in school. Reputable studies prove this out. Regardless of your race, creed or color, if your mom and dad get involved with your schooling, you will be academically successful. 

Miraculously, there are students who find a way to carve out an education despite overwhelming odds shoved in their faces at school. I know, because I’ve seen it first hand. Schools and many all too willing teachers start the madness by shuffling achievement oriented kids with students who don’t give a rip about learning! 

This transparent maneuver gets nearly everyone off the hook and it’s so easy to explain. Get this! These “masters of manipulation” say that achieving students with good study skills and motivation will serve to elevate those kids not as equally endowed.  

Isn’t this wonderful! Kids helping kids...who could argue with that? What a load of trash. In reality, it’s the motivated student that gets bushwhacked by the ne’er-do-well. 

The class troublemakers are made wards of the achievement-oriented students.  

The yoking of the want-to-learn kids with a “Lex Luthor Wanna Be” is the exact circumstance that erodes and demolishes any possibility of learning. Maybe if we get rid of such bankrupt notions as “achievement gaps” and the “small schools” solution, kids will have more time for learning and less distraction from hyperbolic political hoopla. 

G.W. Seegmiller 

Berkeley 

Berkeley’s public schools had a mixed showing in statewide rankings, based on standardized test scores, released Wednesday by the California Department of Education. 

These rankings are based upon the results of two tests students across the state took last spring. They are the Stanford Achievement Test, Ninth Edition, or SAT-9, and the California Standards Test in English Language Arts, or CST ELA. Both tests’ results are combined in a system called the Academic Performance Index, or API. 

The state released the SAT-9 and CST ELA results in August, but the comparative, API rankings are new. 

Eleven of Berkeley’s 15 schools were in the 50th percentile or higher when compared to schools statewide. But, only one school, John Muir, improved from last year’s ranking. Four schools saw their state rankings decrease. 

Seven of 15 ranked in the 50th percentile or higher, when compared to schools with similar demographic qualities around California. Malcolm X, John Muir, King Middle, Longfellow Middle, and Berkeley High School were all in the 80th percentile or higher. 

But, “similar school” rankings dropped for nine of the 15 schools, and improved for only three. 

The state created pools of “similar schools” by looking at the ethnicity and socioeconomic status of students, the number of credentialed teachers and the average class size, among other things, for each school. 

Jason Lustig, principal at Cragmont, said that similar school rankings provide teachers and administrators with an important sense for where they stand. “This forces schools to step back,” he said. “This forces more reflection.” 

Cragmont School, despite improving its API scores for the third year in a row, and holding steady on its statewide ranking, watched its similar schools ranking declined from the 60th to 70th percentile last year, to the 30th to 40th percentile this year. 

“It’s both disappointing and inspirational,” said Lustig. “That gives us motivation to improve.” 

Lustig said the school will continue to build on its efforts at professional development in math and reading, and integration of technology into the curriculum, in an attempt to boost performance. 

Nancy D. Waters, principal of John Muir School, which was in the 90th to 100th percentile in similar school rankings was pleased, but downplayed the result. 

“It’s wonderful,” she said, “but I do think we need to put it in perspective.” Waters said the test results are just one of many important measures of a school’s success. 

Barry Fike, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, said that testing can provide a useful snapshot of student and teacher performance. But, he emphasized that testing can only go so far in improving that performance. 

“It’s seen as this panacea, as a short-cut to healing all the ills in our schools,” he said, “and it really isn’t.” 

“We have this high stakes mania in the state and around the country,” added Terry Doran, a member of the Board of Education, arguing that standardized testing can encourage instructors to “teach to the test.” 

But Shirley Issel, president of the school board, said the API results can be very helpful for administrators. “It gives us a sense for what best practices are in the district, which is essential information if you’re going to provide guidance and make policy,” she said. 

This year’s API rankings are the first to include the California Standards Test in English Language Arts. Previous rankings have been based only on performance on the SAT-9, a nationwide test. 

California educators have complained for years that the SAT-9 test, as a national exam, does not accurately reflect the state curriculum and standards. The CST ELA test is more closely aligned with California standards, and Berkeley leaders say the new rankings, combining SAT-9 and ELA results, now reflect reality more accurately. 

“It’s much sounder,” said Chris Lim, associate superintendent for instruction. 

But Fike said the addition of the ELA test marks only a small improvement. “It could be considered a step forward, in a sense, but it’s a baby step forward,” he said, arguing that the inclusion of more tests will only eat up more valuable instruction time in the classroom. 

California plans to add several other tests into the API equation in the next two years, including math, history and social science tests in line with the state standards, and the high school exit exam. 

Starting in 2004, students will have to pass the high school exit exam in order to graduate.

The following letter was addressed to the mayor and City Council: 

There was another accident tonight, Jan. 15, at Benvenue and Ashby avenues at approximately 5:30 p.m. One car was crossing Ashby, going south on Benvenue, when it collided with another car that was going east up Ashby in the parking lane. 

The resulting accident had such force that one of the cars wound up on the southeast corner of the sidewalk and crashed into the street light. Fortunately, no one was standing on the corner at that moment. There was considerable damage to both cars which were towed away. 

The lady who wound up on the sidewalk stayed in her smoking car until the paramedics arrived. The paramedics also looked over the toddler son of the other driver. Everyone seemed OK. 

This is the second accident this year at Benvenue and Ashby that I know of. There were 18 last year. There now have been four accidents here in less than one month (12/19/01, 12/20/01, 1/6/02, 1/15/02). Two of the four were exactly alike. One car is southbound on Benvenue, crossing Ashby when it gets hit by an eastbound car on Ashby driving up the parking lane between 4 and 6 p.m. 

Our fifth Traffic Task Force meeting was held yesterday at the Claremont Library. 

Traffic engineer Reh-Lin says the temporary traffic calming devices have been ordered. They will now be put in sometime in the beginning of March 2002. Reh-Lin also said that he now has to go to the City Council to get its approval to remove the 4-6 p.m. Tow-Away parking signs on the eastbound side of Ashby between Hillegass and College. This would then allow cars to park in the metered spots and stop cars from zooming up the parking lane between 4-6 pm, like they can now. 

Jed will be sending out an email highlighting this fifth Task Force meeting. 

One lady who was at the corner after the accident was upset with drivers on Ashby. She said she was trying to cross Ashby at Benvenue with her child in a stroller, and the cars were ignoring her in the cross walk. 

The next Traffic Task Force meeting is scheduled for Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., at the Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 

Paul Tuleja 

Berkeley 

Charles Smith insists he has nothing against trees. But when the long-time Berkeley resident pointed toward a set of towering eucalyptus at Indian Rock Park while sitting in his Berkeley hills home, he described the trees’ impending disasters. 

“People coming up the Indian Rock are all in danger,” Smith, a retired traffic engineer, said, citing a host of concerns about the trees. “That’s why I’m urging the State of California to have hazardous tree laws.” 

Smith said recent reports of several trees falling and hitting cars confirmed his growing fears that Berkeley is not doing enough to prevent tree tragedies. His proposed solution includes a new hazardous tree ordinance for the city, which he said should require removal of dangerous trees, better monitoring of “tall trees that could be hazardous,” and more education for land owners trying to decide which trees to plant on their properties. 

“Some of us believe all those eucs should be taken down,” Smith said.  

Despite Smith’s active lobbying, city employees have said they have no plans to pass any hazardous tree ordinance. And Jerry Koch, forestry supervisor for the city, said city staff don’t intend to remove any of the Indian Rock Park eucalyptus trees, nor do they want to tell people which trees to plant on private property. 

“We already manage our trees,” Koch said, adding that the city already has three ordinances that deals with trees. “If we knew of something that was going to fall and we were really concerned about it, we would contact the owner. But this often happens during storms, without advance warning.” 

Koch said he feels the existing tree-related ordinances, which regulate street trees, manage solar access and view disputes between neighbors, and regulate removal of coast live oaks, sufficiently handle Berkeley’s urban forestry issues. He added that while there has been a “little damage to some vehicles” this year, tree troubles have been mild compared to other years. For example, one storm during October, 2000, caused 400 “incidents,” according to the city forestry department. 

Koch said the city recently hired a consulting arborist to do an evaluation of one of the Indian Rock eucalyptus trees, due to complaints from Smith, and found no problems with it. 

Unlike Berkeley, Oakland does have a specific hazardous tree ordinance much like the one Smith is proposing, in addition to several other tree-related laws. Dan Gallagher, Oakland tree supervisor, said the hazardous tree ordinance has given those concerned about trees important legal rights, even if the perennial is on someone else’s property 

“You can’t prevent trees from falling,” Gallagher said. “But the hazardous tree ordinance was adopted to allow property owners to have a legal means to have hazardous trees removed.” 

He said this has helped those living near hazardous trees get them removed before they can fall and cause injury or damage. But Gallagher said city tree section employees does not serve as “free landscape architects” or tell people which trees to plant. Like Berkeley, they provide a list of suggestions including native and non-native species. 

Berkeley and Oakland employees and other tree specialists said experts sometimes have trouble predicting which trees are going to fall, mainly because many different factors can cause a tree to topple. 

“Trees are so designed that they don’t fall, but when we don’t grow them under natural conditions, they have problems with wind, excessively wet soil and poor pruning,” said Bob Raabe, a retired plant pathologist who still works at the University of California at Berkeley. “It’s very difficult to pinpoint what causes a tree to fall. Sometimes a tree has just snapped. We don’t know why.” 

Current research led by specialists like Dr. Larry Costello and others at the UC Cooperative Extension program may help demystify falling trees. Costello organizes an annual California Tree Failure Report Program, a group of arborists and scientists who analyze why trees fall or become hazardous. The group met last Thursday. 

Each year the program examines case studies of tree failures, with hopes of understanding why some trees topple or break apart while others retain a strong structure. Costello said his group has a database detailing more than 33,000 failures, and may be the largest urban tree failure database in the world. 

“We use that information to analyze and ask questions,” Costello said. “It’s too difficult to generalize about the genera. You have to evaluate trees on a case-by-case basis.” 

For example, Costello said it isn’t fair to make sweeping generalizations about all eucalyptus being dangerous or having a “high-failure potential.” 

Still, Charles Smith has a stack of documents detailing the problems with eucalyptus trees and other examples of hazardous trees. And as a “newspaper junkie,” bibliographer, and pamphleteer, he is determined to gather information and continue distributing it to his neighbors and others in the community.  

He also sends all of the information he gathers about the potential hazards of planting the wrong tree in the wrong place to a legislative analyst in Sacramento, in case legislators decide to make hazardous tree ordinances a statewide issue. Currently, few cities have a hazardous tree ordinance. But Smith said cities like Berkeley need better guidelines than following the whims of “tree-huggers.” 

“I consider him (Jerry Koch) to be a tree-hugger,” Smith said, adding. “There are a lot of people that worship trees.” 

Editor: 

Killing human beings is not a good idea. In fact, it is even against one of the ten commandments. 

Jane Stillwater 

Berkeley 

On Tuesday, the City Council reworked a five-year-old notice aimed at helping people with multiple chemical sensitivities attend public meetings. 

The notice is placed at the bottom of the agenda of every city-sponsored meeting and allows those with chemical sensitivities to attend the meetings without being exposed to undue amounts of chemical perfumes. 

The wording the city has used for five years says simply that “attendees may be sensitive to various odors, whether natural or manufactured, in products or materials.” 

With guidelines that broad, one might imagine that the Landmark Preservation Commission’s field trip to the Berkeley Rose Garden today could be considered in violation of the policy. 

The new language, drafted by the city manager’s office, is more direct. 

“The City Council requests that people refrain from wearing scented products to meetings,” it reads. 

Councilmember Dona Spring, who spearheaded the effort to reform the language, said she was satisfied by the action.  

“What we’ve got is certainly better than the confusing language we had,” she said.  

Spring said she was disappointed, though, that the stronger version of the notice drafted by the Commission on Disability several months ago, was not given more serious consideration. 

The commission’s version gives examples of various scented products – perfume, cologne, after-shave – and states that some people may be “seriously harmed” by exposure to them.  

“I don’t think (the city manager’s version) goes far enough in educating the public about the fact that some people are so allergic to chemical products that they can be sick for days by exposure to scents,” Spring said on Wednesday.  

Jon Kaufman, executive vice-president of Solem and Associates, disputed that claim, and excoriated the City Council’s new version of the notice. 

“I don’t know that there’s any other city in the country that has language that’s more objectionable,” said Kaufman, whose firm represents the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association. 

Kaufman said there was no proof that moderate amounts of scented products causes physical damage to others. 

“There is really no medical basis for thinking that perfume causes these problems,” he said. 

Kaufman said his firm had not opposed the city’s original version of the notice because “scented products” were not mentioned by name. 

He added that he opposed the very principle of chemical sensitivity notices on governmental meeting notices. 

“While individuals are sometimes affected by someone else’s perfume, people usually work it out on a person-by-person basis,” he said. “We just think it’s better that way.” 

Spring disputed the notion, saying that multiple chemical sensitivity has been recognized as an illness in the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

“There is so much discrimination against these people, because the medical establishment, until recently, thought of it as a mental illness,” she said. 

The city manager’s office notes that notices similar to the one passed by the City Council are used by the city of Oakland and BART trustees.

Editor: 

National and state legislative bodies will soon discuss human cloning. Many safe methods are already open to those wanting a child, while informed reason and the animal clones born to date warn of grave dangers – physical, psychological, and societal – all but certain to attend the birth and consequent life of a cloned human baby. Conversely, animal research with stem cells garnered from clones but a few days old offers promise of cures in humans for diabetes, Parkinsonism, neural destruction, etc. – without tissue rejection, if stem cells from a patient’s own early-stage clone are used. 

Therefore, compassionate and socially responsible legislators (the overwhelming majority, I hope) should speedily support legislation strictly banning reproductive human cloning, at least for the foreseeable future, while permitting therapeutic human cloning research to be unrestricted, save for required destruction of all but stem cells by at most little more than 14 days after inception. 

Judith Segard Hunt 

Berkeley

SANTA CLARA — A judge declared on Wednesday that Cathline Repunte, the San Jose school bus driver accused of killing a co-worker and injuring three others, is mentally incompetent to stand trial. 

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Lane Liroff believes that with proper therapeutic medication in a state mental hospital Repunte will be found fit for trial within three to six months. 

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Hugh Mullin made his ruling based on the reports of two doctors. 

“(The ruling) is not a final finding,” Liroff said. “The proceedings have been suspended until her competency is restored. Properly medicated, she will be restored to competency and we will able to continue with the prosecution.” 

Last May, Repunte, 36, pleaded innocent to charges of murder and attempted murder at the Laidlaw bus yard in San Jose. The shooting took place on April 23. 

Mullin is expected to select the facility where Repunte will be relocated on Feb. 6.  

She now is being held at the Santa Clara County jail.

LOS ANGELES — A tight state budget will likely limit raises for faculty and staff members in the University of California system and could lead to tuition increases to fund more competitive salaries, UC officials said Wednesday. 

At the start of a two-day Board of Regents meeting at UCLA, system President Richard C. Atkinson said the budget proposed by Gov. Gray Davis keeps merit increases modest. 

“The biggest disappointment ... is that we have not received funding for the kind of salary increases we would like to provide,” Atkinson said. 

Board Chairwoman S. Sue Johnson said that will make it difficult to recruit top professors, and the solution may be raising student fees to increase revenue. 

“We can’t jettison the quality of the institution,” she told the board. 

The regents took no action but directed staff to press legislators to allocate as much funding as possible while considering the budget proposed by Davis. 

In November, the regents approved a 2002-03 state-funded operating budget of $3.65 billion — an increase of 8.7 percent from last year. Included in the proposal was $125 million for merit raises and cost of living and parity adjustments. 

The budget Davis submitted to the Legislature last week included $3.4 billion for the UC system, with $44.8 million for merit raises and no money for other wage increases. 

The funding would provide an average merit increase of 1.5 percent for qualified faculty and staff members, according to figures provided by Larry Hershman, UC vice president for budget. 

“For a few years, we’ll be facing some very tight budgets,” he said. 

Though Davis slashed money requested for raises, he did pencil in nearly $64 million to fund enrollment growth of 7,100 full-time students. That amounts to a 4.3 percent increase over the 2001-02 allocation and was nearly equal to the amount requested by the board. 

Davis asked the board to hold the line on tuition increases, as did several regents on Wednesday. 

“If we can do without an increase in tuition, I would go for that,” said David S. Lee. 

The regents meeting is scheduled to continue Thursday with a discussion and vote on a proposal that would allow undocumented immigrants and others who have graduated from a California high school after three years of attendance to pay in-state tuition. 

Undocumented immigrants would have to file for legalized status to qualify. 

Davis and the Legislature approved a bill last year implementing the plan at the California State University and community college systems. 

Atkinson supports the measure as a way to align UC policies with those of other state systems, said Brad Hayward, a UC spokesman. However, the Board of Regents has yet to take a position. 

On Wednesday, 300 students staged a boisterous demonstration in favor of the measure. 

Waving signs reading “Knowledge not discrimination” and “Education is a human right,” they rallied for an hour outside the building while the regents ate lunch. 

“The people most affected are the people who contribute the most because they are competitive and at the top of their class,’ said Vanessa Sifuentes, a member of MEChA, a Chicano student group that participated in the rally.

Indian making its own engines 

GILROY — The Indian Motorcycle Company has begun producing its own engine. 

The company was criticized for using engines made by a separate company which closely resemble the engines in Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Indian has been working to produce its own engine almost since it began making bikes. 

Indian was a major American motorcycle manufacturer during the first half of the 20th century before ceasing production in 1953. The company was reborn in 1998. 

The new 100-cubic-inch V-Twin will be used in the company’s 2002 Indian Chief model. 

According to a statement, the company’s sales figures rose 77 percent from 2000 to 2001. 

Indian Motorcycle currently designs, manufactures and markets three premium heavy weight motorcycles and a broad range of related products, parts and accessories, riding gear and lifestyle apparel. 

Activists want to block importation of  

elephants to Marine World 

VALLEJO — An animal rights group wants a federal agency to block the import of two Asian elephants by the Six Flags Marine World theme park in Vallejo. 

The Marine World Foundation is asking permission to bring the two young pachyderms into the country for research. The foundations says the research will help protect the survival of the species — and the animals won’t be used to make money at the park. 

But in a letter sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday, the Performing Animal Welfare Society said the foundation is located at the theme park where elephant rides are conducted and elephants are on display. 

PAWS indicates research should not be conducted at a noisy theme park and argues Marine World’s facilities are not adequate for the animals housed there. 

PAWS opposed a similar case two years ago, when Marine World imported an elephant for breeding purposes. PAWS says the elephant died at the facility later that year.

ALAMEDA — Marine safety officials have eliminated raw crude escaping from fissures in the sea floor as a possible source of a mysterious oil spill that is contaminating birds from Monterey up to Point Reyes. 

“(We) are concentrating on historical shipwrecks as a possible source,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kara Satra of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Marine Safety Office in Alameda. 

The affected birds are mostly common murres, flightless birds that live at sea. 

The latest count of oiled birds put the total at 1,210. The majority were dead when found on the beaches or dead on arrival at the Oiled Wildlife Care and Education Center near Fairfield. 

Of the 505 found alive, 284 died, 90 are receiving care — cleaning, feeding and rehydrating — and 113 have been returned to the wild, including 18 that were released Friday at Crissy Field. 

According to Lt. j.g. Tim Callister, a Marine Safety Office spokesman, the oil on the birds seems to have the characteristics of bunker fuel or heavy fuel oil. 

“If it’s a ship that’s down 1,200 feet or whatever, it’s pretty cold down there,” Callister said. “That fuel normally has to be heated to a high temperature to flow and burn. So that’s another confusing issue.” 

All the agencies involved have been searching historical records for clues about wrecks lying on the sea bottom, Callister said. 

SAN FRANCISCO— Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and California power regulators vented their frustration with one another before a federal bankruptcy judge Wednesday, as the state sought permission to develop an alternative plan under which PG&E would emerge from bankruptcy. 

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali allowed PG&E to continue as the sole designer of a plan to emerge from its $13.2 billion bankruptcy and pay its thousands of creditors. 

However, Montali decided to give the state Public Utilities Commission nearly a month to prove they have a “sensible” plan worthy of competing with PG&E’s. 

Montali’s decision came after more than two hours of debate, during which PG&E complained that the state, disenchanted with PG&E’s reorganization plan, only wants to stall the bankruptcy process. 

“What the PUC is doing today, your honor, is opening another front in the war against PG&E,” said Jim Lopes, an attorney representing the utility. “They are attempting to manipulate the bankruptcy court to their end to defeat our plan on any basis.” 

Lopes said PG&E should retain “exclusivity” in designing a reorganization plan because of how far it has progressed since filing for federal bankruptcy protection last April. Competing plans only would confuse creditors and slow PG&E’s return to financial stability, he said. 

Alan Kornberg, an attorney representing the PUC, said the state’s goal is to prevent PG&E from transferring its transmission lines, power plants and other assets from state to federal regulation and pay creditors. The PUC believes it can accomplish this without overly delaying the bankruptcy process, Kornberg said. 

At Montali’s order, the PUC will provide an outline of an alternate plan by Feb. 13. Kornberg lacked details of the state’s proposal, but said some creditors would be paid using millions of dollars in cash PG&E already has on hand. 

“Progress is in the eye of the beholder,” Kornberg said of PG&E’s claims to expediency. “I don’t believe we are whizzing along.” 

PG&E says switching its assets from state to federal regulation would allow the utility to raise enough money to pay its creditors in full. 

The state argues the plan is PG&E’s gambit to free itself from PUC control and charge more for electricity from its hydroelectric and nuclear power plants. 

“The reason we’re here is the problems were not solved by the state and PUC before we had to file for bankruptcy,” Lopes countered. 

Both sides admit they have done little to build consensus between them. Montali ordered the two sides to come prepared Jan. 25 to argue why he shouldn’t appoint a mediator to try and resolve some of their myriad issues. 

“I’ve thought about the perfect person, and that person would be knowlegable in bankruptcy law, constitutional law, energy law and mediation skills. Unfortunately, I’m not available,” Montali joked. 

Regardless of the merits of PG&E’s plan, its feasibility rests on whether Montali decides next week to ignore precedent in federal bankruptcy code and allow PG&E to override state law to put its plan in motion. Even with Montali’s blessing, Kornberg argued creditors could have to wait months to get paid as the case languishes in appellate court, at the expense of millions of dollars to PG&E’s estate in legal fees. 

“We have a vested interest in seeing PG&E emerge from bankruptcy as soon as possible,” Kornberg said, referring to the billions of dollars the state has spent buying electricity for PG&E’s customers over the past year. 

Robert Moore, an attorney representing the official creditors committee, said creditors are backing PG&E’s plan because the utility has promised to resolve the bankruptcy quickly. Alternate plans would delay the process, he said. 

Creditors, Montali, federal regulators and possibly state regulators would have to approve PG&E’s plan before it can go into effect. 

California’s largest utility filed for federal bankruptcy protection nine months ago after its inability to collect the full cost of spiking power prices from its customers drove it into debt. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov 

http://www.pge.com 

http://www.canb.uscourts.gov 

NEW YORK — A murky forecast from Intel sent stocks sharply lower Wednesday on worries that a recovery would take longer than expected and that the market had risen too high, too fast. 

The Dow Jones industrials tumbled more than 200 points to their weakest finish in 1 1/2 months with selling that spread across the market and intensified late in the session. Analysts said investors were collecting profits rather than risk a loss if an economic turnaround is delayed. 

“It’s the combination of an uncertain outlook and the relatively high stock valuations out there right now,” said Matt Brown, head of equity management at Wilmington Trust. “If the market were dirt cheap, investors might be more comfortable taking risks.” 

The Dow closed down 211.88, or 2.1 percent, at 9,712.27, its lowest close since Nov. 28, when the index was at 9,711.86. The loss was the biggest point drop since Oct. 29, when the index fell 275. 

The decline was more severe for the technology-focused Nasdaq composite index, which slid 56.47, or 2.8 percent, to 1,944.44. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 18.62, or 1.6 percent, to 1,127.57. 

The selloff extended what has been a frustrating string of sessions for Wall Street this month as investors try to gauge the direction of the economy and the market. Stocks advanced rapidly during the last quarter of 2001 on a rebound from the post-terror attacks selloff and on rising expectations that business was improving. 

With the onset of fourth-quarter earnings season, investors have become cautious again, reluctant to extend themselves too much in a market that many analysts say reflects expensive, rather than realistic, short-term expectations. 

Wednesday’s downturn was prompted by Intel, which reported fourth-quarter results better than estimates but which also indicated it’s too early to tell if an economic recovery has started. 

The news upset investors who had sent the sector higher on anticipation that it was about to turn around and would resume the strong growth of the late 1990s. The hope was that Intel would be the first of many tech companies to indicate business was improving. 

“The Street has been hoping it would get something like, ’The worst is behind us,’ from Intel. Instead, the company said it doesn’t see that business is really improving a whole lot,” said Todd Clark, head of listed equity trading at Wells Fargo Securities. “That spooked a lot of people, and that’s why you’re seeing a lot of this selling.” 

Intel, which had advanced considerably in anticipation of a more upbeat forecast, fell 97 cents to $33.71. Other tech stocks also suffered, including Advanced Micro Devices, which reported a smaller quarterly loss than expected after the market closed. The stock rose $1.23 in extended trading, or 6.8 percent, regaining some of its $1.24 loss during the regular session. 

EBay, which beat Wall Street’s fourth-quarter estimates and forecast a profitable 2002, dropped $4.09 to $59.94 in the regular session. 

Among broader issues, J.P. Morgan Chase slid $1.67 to $36.20 after missing fourth-quarter estimates and reporting a fourth-quarter decline of $332 million because of losses attributable to the Enron bankruptcy, Argentina’s debt default and other equity investment losses. 

And Kmart tumbled 89 cents to $1.56 on news it would be removed from the Standard & Poor’s 500 index at the end of the session. The discounter, which many fear is headed for bankruptcy, was being dropped because of its low stock price and financial problems. 

A Federal Reserve report released during the session offered little incentive to buy. The report, known as the Beige Book, indicated that although there are some signs a recovery will begin by mid-year, its “timing and strength are uncertain.” 

Also Wednesday, the Labor Department reported consumer prices edged down 0.2 percent in December. A dramatic drop in energy prices — reflecting weak demand amid a worldwide economic slump — was a key reason. 

Declining issues led advancers more than 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 1.81 billion shares, compared with 1.68 billion Tuesday. 

The Russell 2000 index slid 8.58 to 476.42. 

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average lost 0.3 percent. In Europe, Germany’s DAX index dropped 1.5 percent, Britain’s FT-SE 100 fell 0.7 percent, and France’s CAC-40 slipped 2.1 percent. 

——— 

On the Net: 

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

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

SAN JOSE — Fourth-quarter losses narrowed considerably at Yahoo! Inc. and beat Wall Street expectations, and the Internet bellwether said Wednesday it is on track to see its fortunes rebound in 2002. 

Separately, president and chief operating officer Jeff Mallett, who joined Yahoo in 1995 as employee No. 12, said he is stepping down in April to spend more time with his wife and two young daughters and to pursue outside business opportunities. 

Yahoo reported its fifth consecutive quarter in the red, losing $8.7 million, or 2 cents per share, on revenue of $188.9 million in the three months ending Dec. 31. In the comparable period in 2000, Yahoo lost $97.8 million, or 17 cents per share, on sales of $310.9 million. 

Excluding restructuring charges and other one-time events, Yahoo said it would have earned $16.7 million, or 3 cents per share. Analysts had been expecting 1 cent per share, on revenue of $170.7 million, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. 

Yahoo shares sank $1.60, or 8 percent, to $17.87 on the Nasdaq Stock Market before the earnings report, but jumped to $18.83 in after-hours trading. 

The quarter capped an eventful year at the company, which moved into new headquarters in Sunnyvale; saw Internet advertising plummet with the economy; staged two rounds of layoffs; dealt with the departures of several key executives; realigned its business structure under new CEO Terry Semel, and pulled off a last-minute, $436 million bid for HotJobs.com. 

For all of 2001, Yahoo lost $92.8 million, or 16 cents per share, on revenue of $717.4 million. Those marks were well off the company’s record showing in 2001, when it earned $70.8 million, or 12 cents per share, on revenue of $1.1 billion. 

But Yahoo raised its targets for this year. Executives predicted Yahoo would earn 1 or 2 cents per share in the current quarter, excluding charges, on revenue between $160 million and $180 million. Analysts had been predicting 1 cent per share and sales of $163.8 million, according to First Call. 

The company also predicted that 2002 revenue would rise to between $750 million and $800 million, with earnings excluding charges of 7 to 10 cents per share. Those estimates, which exclude potential increases from the addition of HotJobs, surpass the current consensus forecast of 9 cents per share and sales of $735 million. 

Semel said he has a “quiet confidence” about Yahoo’s position and is seeing signs the advertising market may have stabilized. 

But even without an economic turnaround, Semel expects Yahoo’s results to improve as the company offers new packages of subscription services to its 219 million registered users, ramps up sales of listings on its search pages and reaps the benefits of improved relationships with ad agencies. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.yahoo.com 

HOUSTON — Compaq Computer Corp. easily topped Wall Street’s fourth-quarter 2001 earnings expectations, announcing Wednesday that it earned $92 million for the period. 

The Houston-based computer maker, which informed investors last week it likely would make money, turned a profit of 5 cents per share, beating the 1-cent consensus of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call. 

The earnings figure includes a charge of $36 million, or 1 cent per share, related to Compaq’s pending merger with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Hewlett-Packard Co. 

Compaq’s earnings were down 82 percent from the $515 million, or 30 cents a share, it made in the final quarter of 2000, not including a $1.8 million writedown because of devaluation of its large stake in CMGI Inc. 

Chairman and chief executive Michael Capellas also predicted Compaq would bring in about $7.6 billion in revenue and earn a penny a share in the current quarter.  

Analysts anticipated a break-even period. 

“While we did see some strengthening of the (information technology) market in the fourth quarter, first half growth will be moderate and pent-up demand should drive a stronger recovery in the second half of the year,” Capellas said. 

The company, which entered the year struggling with slow computer sales, shed 8,500 jobs in a massive restructuring. On the year, the company lost $563 million, compared to a $595 million profit in 2000. 

Revenues for the October-December quarter of 2001 totaled $8.46 billion, down 26 percent from the $11.48 billion in sales it posted in the last three months of 2000. 

Full-year revenues totaled $33.55 billion, down 21 percent from the $42.22 billion that came in during 2000. 

The proposed $24 billion merger of Compaq and Hewlett-Packard faces opposition by the Hewlett and Packard families and a Packard foundation that control a combined 18 percent of HP shares. 

HP announced plans to buy Compaq on Sept. 3. The companies said they believe merging will make them a leader in key technology segments, improve their offerings for corporate customers and speed their pace of innovation. HP and Compaq are awaiting regulatory approval before setting a date for a shareholder vote. 

Compaq shares were down 30 cents to $11.10 on the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s results were released after the close of trading. 

——— 

On the Net: http://www.compaq.com 

More than 300 students from Emerson School took to the streets Tuesday morning to participate in an annual march honoring the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., born Jan. 15, 1929. 

Carrying signs reading “Free at last” and “Equal rights for all,” students walked from the school at 2800 Forest Ave. down to College Avenue and back to the school yard, where they joined hands in a large circle and sang the signature civil rights song: “We Shall Overcome.” 

“Martin Luther King would be very proud of us if he saw us today,” said Raja Sutherland, a fifth-grader at Emerson, discussing the multi-racial group of students who came together to honor his legacy. “His dream has come true, essentially.” 

“I think if it wasn’t for Dr. King, I couldn’t be friends with African-Americans,” added Chandler Williams, a white fifth-grader, hailing the effects of the desegregation movement when King had much of his momentum. 

The Emerson march is an annual event that stretches back at least 10 years, said Jamie Carlson, who organized the walk and teaches first grade. 

In the days leading up to the event, teachers and students focused on King in the classroom. Pupils read poetry about civil rights, wrote essays about their hopes for a peaceful future and prepared for an assembly, to take place Friday, that will feature student readings from King’s speeches. 

Carlson said that, when she played a few of King’s speeches for her students, she was impressed with their reaction. “When we play Dr. King’s speeches, even on CD, it’s remarkable to see the effect,” she said, recalling how quiet her pupils were when the compact disc played. 

Susan Hodge, a second grade teacher at Emerson, said that instructors have attempted to make King’s teachings relevant to students’ lives. 

“We try to personalize it and make it an everyday way of being,” she said. Hodge said she taught her students to treat their classmates, and those they do not know so well, with respect. 

She said the celebration was particularly meaningful this year given the events of Sept. 11. “That was very scary and fragmenting to them,” she said. “Whenever we do these things, it helps bring them back together and lets them know there’s hope.” 

Students said King’s message applies in today’s world. “We should have peace in the world,” said Michelle Jones, a fifth grader. 

Dori Schmidt, parent of an Emerson student, and co-president of the Parent-Teacher Association, said she was very pleased with the event. 

“I love this community, and I like for the community outside the school to see how we’re living the dream,” she said, discussing a spirit of multi-racial cooperation at Emerson. “I grew up in southern California in lilly-white schools, and this has been a wonderful education for me.” 

But, Schmidt said that there is room for growth. While children cross racial lines to work and play together at school, she said, play dates outside of school tend to be less diverse. 

Lori Perenon, an African-American fourth grade teacher at Emerson, said the school tries to integrate themes of respect and tolerance throughout the year, not just around Martin Luther King’s birthday. 

“It’s not, we’re going to celebrate this today, and forget about it tomorrow,” she said, “There has to be some consistency.” 

Perenon said lessons about Cesar Chavez, the Latino labor leader, and readings from the poetry of Langston Hughes, an African-American author, are just a couple of examples from a year-round curriculum that focuses on the issues raised by King. 

Students said they hope to pursue the civil rights leader’s vision. “There is still a lot of racism in the world,” said Sutherland. “Everyone should be seen as equal.” 

Berkeley schools will be closed Monday to honor King’s birthday.  

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Avalanche Safety Course 

6 - 9:30 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Dick Penniman presents a slide lecture and video presentation on the fundamentals of avalanche safety. $20. 527-4140 

Baby Bounce and Toddler  

Tales 

7 p.m. 

Public Library, West Branch 

1125 University Ave. 

A participatory program for families with children up to age 3. Stories, songs and fingerplays as entertainment and as a way for parents to learn some new material to share with their young ones. 981-6270. 

B.A.R.K. Chapter of American  

Civil Liberties Union 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Rd., Kensington 

January meeting. 558-0377.  

Amnesty International  

Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library 

2940 Benevides Ave. 

Berkeley chapter’s first meeting of the year. 872-0768 

Peace Walk and Vigil 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley BART Station 

A peace walk and vigil to demonstrate opposition to U.S. bombing of Afghanistan. Ends at MLK Civic Center Park. www.indymedia.org. 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Location to be announced 

Informational Meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility District for the El Dorado proposed District 

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, instructor Linda Spector teaches Drama Games and Improvisation and in the afternoon she teaches the Fundamentals of Acting. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

Debtors Anonymous 

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. 

Mandana Community Recovery Center 

3989 Howe St., Oakland 

Weekly Meeting. 415-522-9099 

Commission on Aging 

1:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Agenda includes – Senior Housing Issues; Bicycle Riding on Sidewalks; Proposal to Reduce Traffic Congestion in Berkeley. 981-5178, lploss@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Thursday, Jan. 17

Globalization: Chiapas and  

the Zapatistas 

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center 

3105 Shattuck Ave. 

Global Exchange's Carleen Pickard will discuss the pros and cons of  

globalization in Mexico, focusing on the state of Chiapas. $5 - $10 sliding scale. 653-7882. 

Berkeley Special Education  

Parents Group (BSPED) 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ala Costa Center 

1300 Rose St. 

Guest speakers from the Regional Center for the East Bay and the East Bay Learning Disabilities Association. 558-8933, sandstep@earthlink.net. 

Climbing Nepal’s Imja Tse 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Rob Chang gives a slide presentation sharing highlights of his team’s recent trek to the summit of Imja Tse. 527-4140 

Adventure Travel Course 

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

The course will cover various kinds of adventure travel: Hard adventure, soft adventure, and cultural/spiritual adventure. Classes will meet every Thursday through May 23. $22. 981-2931, josemarty@yahoo.com 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

City Council Chambers 

2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Citywide Informational meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility Districts. 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

“Stuff – Do You Own It or Does It Own You?” Several people will talk about their successes and difficulties in managing “stuff.” 549-3509, or go to www.seedsofsimplicity.org. 

Toastmaster Meeting 

12:05 p.m. 

Department of Human Health Service 

Toastmaster Club of State Health Branch 

Rm. 804 

Learn ways to improve your public speaking skills and boost your self-confidence. 665-1611. 

People’s Park Community Advisory Board 

7:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Unit 2 Residence Halls Rec. Rm.  

2650 Haste St. 

Monthly meeting, community invited. The PP CAB reviews and makes recommendations on park policies, programs and improvements. 642-7860, http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu. 

Friday, Jan. 18

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, instructor Stuart Kandell teaches Storytelling in the Community and in the afternoon he teaches the Scene Study for Performance. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

City Commons Club  

Luncheon 

11:15 a.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Alain Rieu lectures on “France in the European Union.” Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Lunch is served 11:45 - 12:15. Speaker begins at 12:30. $11 - 12.25 with lunch, $1 otherwise. 848-3533 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Celebrating Marlene Dietrich’s 100th anniversary with a film showing of “The Blue Angel.” Free. 232-1351. 

From Rio to Johannesburg: How Far Have We Come on Global Environmental Goals? 

3 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

103 Mulford Hall 

Dr. Alvaro Umana, Costa Rica’s first Minister of Environment, speaks on the global environment and the progress and goals set at the Rio de Janeiro Conference. Free. 643-4200. 

Saturday, Jan. 19

Vocal Jazz Workshop and  

Jazz Jam 

9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Albany Adult School 

601 San Gabriel St. 

Workshops for singers and instrumentalists led by Richard Kalman to explore Jazz in a small jazz combo format. $5-$12 per class. 524-6796, richkalman@aol.com. 

Building and Remodeling  

Advice 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

A morning lecture entitled “What You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel” will be followed by an afternoon lecture entitled “Choosing to Add On: Pros and Cons of Building an Addition.” 525-7610 

Tree Pruning 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. 

A class designed to instruct students on the basics of aesthetic ornamental tree pruning. $15 non-members, $10 members. 548-2220 x233  

An Alabama judge’s ruling that an ex-Klansman is competent to stand trial for the murder of four black girls in a church bombing 39 years ago is an important step toward closing the books on the wave of murders that rocked the South during the civil rights era. 

But a conviction in the case would leave open nine other murder cases and at least 300 bombings and assaults between 1960 and 1965. These victims were not solely victims of Klan terrorists or hostile local and state officials. They also fell victim to a racially indifferent federal government. Alabama circuit court Judge James Garrett ruled on Jan. 3 that Bobby Frank Cherry – whose age is listed as both 71 and 72 in court records – was mentally competent to stand trial for the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, the most grotesque murder of the civil rights era. The same week of the ruling, the cable TV movie “The Sins of the Father” portrayed Cherry’s son coming to the realization that his father may have taken part in the bombing. 

Last May, Thomas E. Blanton Jr., 62, was convicted of first-degree murder in the case, and was slapped with a life sentence. Another former clansman had been convicted of murder in the bombing in 1977. 

In recent years, several civil rights-era murderers have been brought to justice. State prosecutors in Mississippi convicted Byron de la Beckwith in 1994 for the 1963 murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. Former Klan Imperial Wizard Sam Bowers, 76, was convicted in 1998 for the 1965 firebomb murder of Vernon Dahmer, a Mississippi NAACP official. Beckwith died at age 80 in prison. 

But for years the murdered men’s relatives had pressed prosecutors to bring charges against the killers.  

Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson reluctantly pushed the FBI to make arrests and the Justice Department to bring indictments in the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi and Army Major Lemeul Penn in Georgia, and civil rights worker Viola Liuzzo in Alabama in 1965. But these murders triggered national outrage. When pressed for more prosecutions, federal officials claimed that the states were solely responsible for prosecuting these crimes and if they wouldn’t, there was little they could do about it. This was blatant legal evasion. 

Two federal statutes gave the Justice Department the power to prosecute public officials and law enforcement officers who committed or conspired with others to commit acts of racial violence. The statutes were enacted by Congress immediately after the Civil War and were aimed at specifically punishing racial attacks against blacks. 

In many of the racial killings, local sheriffs and police officers directly participated in the attacks or aided and abetted the killers. Federal officials also could have prosecuted many of the killers under the Lindberg Act, passed in 1934, which made kidnapping a federal offense. 

Many of the victims of the Klan hit squads were abducted at gunpoint and later killed. Some of the assailants were known, and some even openly boasted of their acts. Blanton’s case was a textbook example of legal indifference. Within days after the church bombing, the FBI, through wiretaps and informants, had identified Blanton as well as other probable church bombers, but blocked state action for a decade. 

The Birmingham church bombing case is not the only example of an unsolved or unprosecuted case in which law enforcement or state officials were complicit in the murders of blacks, or the victims were kidnapped and transported across state lines, and the FBI and state officials knew or had strong suspicion who the killers were. 

• In 1959, Mack Charles Parker was seized from a Mississippi jail by a group of armed white men. Parker was accused of raping a white woman. Ten days later, his mutilated body was fished out of a river in Louisiana. Within three weeks of the killing, FBI agents identified his killers. They had solid evidence that the murderers had crossed state lines and that law enforcement officers had conspired with the killers. No state or federal charges were ever brought. 

• In 1965, Jimmy Lee Jackson, a black church deacon, was gunned down by an Alabama state trooper following a voting-rights protest march and rally in Marion, Alabama. Eyewitnesses insisted that Jackson was unarmed and did not threaten the officer. No state or federal charges were ever brought. 

• In 1961, Herbert Lee, an NAACP worker, was murdered by a white Mississippi state representative on an open highway during a traffic dispute. He was unarmed. No state or federal charges were ever brought. 

The conviction of Blanton and the possible conviction of Cherry, again magnifies an ugly reflection on the period in the South when blacks were beaten, murdered, and their churches burned and bombed with the tacit approval of Southern state officials and the blind-eye of the federal government. It’s time for state and federal prosecutors to close these cases. 

PNS contributor Earl Ofari Hutchinson, (ehutchi344@aol.com) is an author and nationally syndicated columnist.

924 Gilman Jan. 18: Christian Reigh, Dystrophy, Stalker Potential, Lower 48, Thought Crime, No Direction; Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualties, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; Feb. 1: American Steel, Pitch Black, Fleshies, The Blottos, Sexy; Feb. 2: Dead and Gone, Black Cat Music, The Cost, The Frisk; Feb. 8: Divit, Scissorhands, Rufio, Don’t Look Down, Fenway Park; Feb. 9: Pansy Division, Subincision, The Fadeaways; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan. 16: Bob Schoen Jazz Sextet; Jan. 17: Christy Dana Jazz Duo; Jan. 18: Karen Guthrie & Her Trio; 10 p.m., Bluesman Hideo Date; Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Jan. 21: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 22: Doug Arrington; Jan. 23: Junebug; Jan. 24: Carl Garrett; Jan. 25: Anna & Ellen Hoffman; Jan. 26: Robin Gregory & Bliss Rodriguez; Jan. 27: “Acoustic Soul”; Jan. 28: “Renegade Sidemen” w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 29: Tangria; Jan. 30: Bob Schoen; Jan. 31: Jason Martineau & Dave Sayen; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Blake’s Jan. 16: Zion Rock, Hebro, $3; Jan. 17: Electronica with Ascension, $5; Jan. 18: Ten Ton Chicken, Black Dog Band with Peanut Daniels, $5; Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Wildsang, $3; Jan. 23: Mindz Eye, Hebro (Upstairs in the Tinibar), $5; Jan. 24: Electronica w/Ascension, $5; Jan. 25: Shady Lady, Blue Room, $6; Jan. 26: Dank Man Shank, TBA, $5; Jan. 27: Motivators, Funklogic, $3; Jan. 28: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band, $4; Jan. 29: Funkanauts, Len Patterson Trio, $3; Jan. 30: Sunru, Slaptones, DJ Kurse, $10; Jan. 31: Electronica w/ Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@ yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 16: Realistic; Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Peña Cultural Center Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15. 3105 Shattuck Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, flute, Kana Mimaki, piano, will perform Prokofiev’s Sonata #2 for flute and piano, and Ceasar Franck’s Sonata in A Major; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, cello, Laura Carmichael, clarinet, perform otherworldly and intense duos by Xenakis and Kaaija Saariaho. $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab, special guests and live performances; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord, Bach, Buxtehude and Pachelbel; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., eight women’s voices and continuo, also baritone Hugh Davis will sing priest’s acclamations. $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, 415-979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Oakland Symphony Chorus Jan. 26: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Conductor Tony Pasqua will lead a study of Joseph Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” and Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied.” $25, $30 door; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 6013 Lawton St., Oakland, 465-4199. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Music Director Kent Nagano, continues its 31st season with two performances of Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St. 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band,” teenage recording artist from the Bay Area. $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean performs Ferscobaldi, Froberger and Bach. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical and modern ballet to hard-core hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

“Every Inch a King” Jan. 11 through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.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 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragi-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

“Sisters” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 16. The story of the Prozorov sisters looking in a very human way at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee, 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

“Rhythms” Jan. 20 - Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida. Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

Traywick Gallery: “New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture explores memory as the building block of consciousness, learning and experience. Steve Brisco’s paintings on paper address issues of identity through evocative combinations of text and imagery. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., 1316 10th St. 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Reception and presentation by the elders Thurs. Nov. 15, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Reception for artist, Jan. 12: 6 - 8 p.m., Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography. Wed, Fri. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thur. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

“Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado” Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: Over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. $4 - $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Jan. 11 through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Her serious of work range from large abstract paintings to intimate boxes with collections of found objects, Jan.13 through Apr. 4th Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany,524-9283 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; Jan. 15: Jake Fuchs reads from his new mystery “Death of a Professer.”; Jan. 17: Anthony Bourdain takes a “Cooks Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”; Jan. 18: Luis Rodriguez looks at “Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times.”; Jan. 19: Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia on “My Country Versus Me.”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly and Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd and Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell and Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Jan. 16: Elliott Hester discusses “Plane Insanity.”; Jan. 17: Jan Friedman discusses her new book “Eccentric America.”; Jan. 22: Lee Foster discusses his new guide, “Northern California History Weekends.”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

Patrick Kennedy, Berkeley’s most controversial builder, is kicking off the new year with a bang. 

Of the seven proposed buildings to be heard during Thursday night’s meeting of the Design Review Committee, four are projects proposed by Kennedy’s firm – Panoramic Interests – and all are ambitious. 

For instance, there’s the striking five-story building planned for 2119 University Ave., at the corner of Shattuck Square – probably the highest-profile intersection in the city. 

The building currently occupying the site is a long-defunct brick structure, which once a year houses a Halloween supply store. It’s probably best known for the billboard sitting atop it. 

The architect of this project is Kirk Peterson, who teamed with Kennedy on the Gaia Building at 2116 Allston Way.  

Like Gaia, 2119 University Ave. will be a mixed-use project, with retail space on the bottom floor and four upper floors of apartments, totaling 44 units 

It will have a rooftop garden, this time with a reflecting pool and a stand of bamboo. 

The project has not yet been named, but Kennedy jokingly floated the idea of calling it “The Worthington Building” in an attempt to gain the support of Councilmember Kriss Worthington. 

Kennedy said it was his goal to design a building reminiscent of the work of prominent Berkeley Arts-and-Crafts era architects like Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan. 

“With this building, we asked ourselves: What would Maybeck do, if he were building apartment apartment buildings today?” he mused. “We’re mindful of the need to build handsome and aesthetically inspiring buildings.” 

However, some members of the DRC have questioned the look of the building, faulting it for “false historicism.” 

Committee member Carrie Olson said that she would probably support the building “if it were toned down a bit.” 

She said that the charge of “false historicism,” which was closer to the heart of some other DRC members, arose from the fact that the building may have too literally “quoted” designs from the past. 

“Kevin Peterson is a very talented architect, and he has a great appreciation of the beauty of older architecture,” she said. “I just don’t want people to look at it and say – Oh, is that a Julia Morgan?” 

“I don’t want it to overpower the town’s true landmark buildings.” 

Relations between the architect and the DRC have been somewhat tense at times. In a Dec. 4 letter to the committee, Peterson explained to the committee that his client wanted the building to have a “classic Berkeley look.” 

“The design reflects this intent, and is yet distinctly in the ‘Kirk Peterson’ style,” Peterson wrote. “No architecture critics or architectural historians have yet attempted to define this style in words, but some people feel that my work has a recognizable character.” 

On Tuesday, Peterson said that the DRC’s anti-historicist criticism was based in “academic fads.” 

“Some people are concerned that someone could walk down the street and be fooled into thinking this building is from 1920 instead off 2002,” he said. “The person who is educated about these kinds of things wouldn’t think that, but what does it matter anyway?” 

“I don’t believe there is such a thing as false historicism. There is just good architecture and bad architecture.” 

Evan McDonald, Panoramic project manager for 2119 University, said that Peterson’s use of historical models is born of a commitment to beautiful architecture. 

“There’s not many people doing historicist design right now,” he said. “(Peterson) does it well, because he believes it is important.” 

The other Panoramic projects currently in development are the Fine Arts Building at 2451 Shattuck Ave., the Jubilee Building at 2700 San Pablo Ave. and a redevelopment of the Darling Flower Shop at 2006 University Ave. 

If they are all built, the four buildings together will contain 211 apartments. 

“This represents an enormous amount of housing,” said Olson, who added that Kennedy with such a large push at once, Kennedy was placing his credibility on the line. 

"If they don’t do a great job on these next projects, they may lose public support,” she said. “And – as they found out with the Gaia Building – public support is an important thing to have in Berkeley.”

Sunday, Jan. 20

“Take Back the Dream” 

2:30 - 5:30 p.m. 

Allen Temple Baptist Church 

8501 International Blvd., Oakland 

A celebration of Martin Luther King’s message of nonviolence and reconciliation featuring Rev. James Lawson, senior advisor to King, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, with music by Jose Luis Orzco, Linda Hirschhorn and more. 654-6966 

Monday, Jan. 21

“Embracing the Dream” 

5 p.m. entertainment; soul food dinner at 7:15 p.m. 

Lake Merritt United Methodist Church 

First Avenue and Lakeshore Blvd., Oakland 

A benefit for the People Living with HIV Committee 

763-9711 

Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Celebration 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church  

1188 12th St. 

The University of Creation Spirituality hosts its fourth annual celebration bringing the community together to remember and further Dr. King’s struggle for a more humane world. Donations welcomed. 83504827 x31, www.creationspirituality.com 

Peace by Peace 

9 - 10 a.m. 

Crosscountry walkers for peace will gather at the peace walk in Martin Luther King Jr. Park, then head south on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way on the first leg of their cross-country journey for peace. 

http: www.peacebypeace.com

Editor: 

Numbering highway exits has been the subject of some controversy inside Caltrans for many years. I suggested it in 1960 when the new governor Pat Brown set up a six-month Work Improvement Program for all state employees. (In 1959, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, with the assistance of Ralph Nader, had written an article for The Reporter magazine titled "Epidemic on the Highways" which discussed how one of the low-priced three (Ford, Chevrolet, and Plymouth) had an accident rate double the others.) 

The biggest problem was integrating the post mile system in with the numbers of exists. Post miles are used to locate all items on highways within each county right down to the 1/000th of a mile, with notations painted on most bridge markers, culvert delineator, etc (This was long before computers.) 

Post mile markers are used in many ways. All accidents on highways are reviewed to see if there is a cluster of accidents that might indicate a highway defect which might contribute to accidents at a specific location. 

The $40 million estimate for exit numbers is nothing compared to the vast amounts that Caltrans has spent on sign bridges at hundreds of interchanges, with many bridges stretching all the way across wide freeways and costing as much as $100,000 each. 

The monthly wage costs of a whole staff of signing engineers in each of the 12 Caltrans Districts and of the cost of making the big signs, transportation to the sites, erecting them, often in the middle of the night, also needs to be considered among the savings with numbering exits. 

The accident costs of the confusion from named exits is no small consideration. Up until the late 1960s the CHP published an annual Statistical Bulletin which showed details. The accident rate of out-of-state drivers was very high, especially with truck drivers. Names are hard to remember, compared to numbers. 

Charles Smith 

Berkeley

The City Council met in closed session Tuesday to discuss filing litigation against UC Berkeley for deficiencies in the Final Environmental Impact Report on the university’s proposed development on “the quiet side of campus.” 

The executive session included Trent Orr, consulting attorney. It was held in advance of a Thursday Regents of the University of California meeting, where the FEIR for seven proposed projects along Hearst Avenue and Gayley Road on the north side of campus could be approved. 

Councilmembers say the projects would create more traffic, but not accommodate it by providing additional parking. 

The council won’t decide whether to file a lawsuit until after the regents meet. Orr is flying to Los Angeles to observe the meeting. 

If the regents certify the FEIR, it is then expected that they will approve an amendment increasing the amount of development permitted in the university’s 1990 Long Range Development Plan, from 333,300 square feet to 658,000 square feet in order to accommodate three of the seven projects. 

The city is considering litigation against the university for not proposing solutions in the FEIR to the projects’ possible impacts to neighborhoods. 

“I’m very concerned about these development plans,” said Mayor Shirley Dean. “They want to double the amount of square footage in their long range plan and I’m concerned about what the sheer size of this proposed development is going to do to traffic on the north side of campus, which has traditionally been the quiet side of campus.” 

But the university’s Principal Planner of Capital Projects Jennifer Lawrence said the projects, which will bring 550 new employees to the area while adding only 139 new parking spaces, will cause very little impact on traffic in the area.  

“I don’t think there’s ground for expecting traffic will be intensified in that area,” she said. “We don’t have any numbers that indicate employees will park on that side of campus.” 

The largest proposed project is the Stanley Hall Replacement Building on Gayley Road. According to the FEIR, the building, which will primarily house research laboratories for biological sciences, engineering, physics and chemistry, will be 285,000 square feet in bulk and seven stories high, not including the penthouse. The existing Stanley Hall is 65,000 square feet. 

Another project is the 145,00-square-foot Davis Hall North Replacement Building, which will include more research laboratories, offices, classrooms and a integrated microfabrication laboratory.  

In addition there will be a 33,000-square-foot expansion of Soda Hall at the corner of Hearst and Le Roy avenues. The remaining projects are renovations of existing buildings that will not expand square footage, but are expected to intensify usage, according to the FEIR. The projects are scheduled to be completed in 2005. 

“This project will have a massive impact on us,” said Councilmember Betty Olds. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington said the project is likely to have a huge traffic impact on not only the neighborhood north of campus but also on downtown Berkeley. He added the FEIR does not appear to offer any solutions for problems that might be caused in nearby off-campus neighborhoods. 

“This is one of the largest development plans anyone can remember the university proposing,” he said. “These projects will significantly increase traffic and decrease the air quality north of campus.” 

Worthington said one possible solution might be university-issued free bus and BART passes to faculty and staff. 

Lawrence said that while free bus passes were not offered as a solution in the FEIR, the university has aggressively promoted alternate transportation for students, faculty and staff. 

“The campus is committed to innovative means of transportation,” she said. “The university leads the way on the Class Pass program, which the city is just now catching up with its Eco Pass program.” 

The Class Pass program was initiated in 1999 and allows students unlimited transportation on AC Transit for an annual registration fee of $18. 

Jim Sharp, a resident of the north-of-campus area and member of Daley’s Scenic Park Association of Neighbors, said he does not see how this project can possibly be considered without improved public transportation to the area.  

Sharp said it is already impossible to park in his neighborhood after 8 a.m. and that gridlock is already the norm during commute hours for roadways to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories. 

He also said the university does not appear to be concerned about neighborhood impact.  

“If the university was serious in working with the neighborhood they would acknowledge our quality of life is going to be taking an even bigger hit than it does already,” he said. “I think an enlightened university would make sure there would be some lessening of the impact these projects are bound to have.” 

Lawrence disagreed saying university staff has attended many community meetings. 

“We have gone to lots of commission meetings and our offer to go over the project with the Planning Commission was declined,” said Lawrence who added the university met with city traffic engineering staff earlier this month to discuss the projects’ traffic impacts. “The campus is working hard with the city on traffic issues.” 

The city has one month from the time the regents certify the FEIR to initiate litigation and Councilmember Olds said she is ready to fight. “We will not lie down and submit on this one,” she said. 

How about a little lite reading for your pleasure? You might want to start with “Building the Bay Area’s future: a study of the economic impact of the University of California, Berkeley.”  

A fast read. And informative: Our esteemed university spends $412 million in the nine-county Bay Area, creates 22,000 jobs (minus the 24 just laid off from University Extension), nurtures scientists, restaurateurs and academicians who share their genius with the rest of us. UC Berkeley also provides tutors for our kids. And puts on a great Easter egg hunt every year, which the report somehow missed. 

But the slim missive – authored by the San Francisco- and Los Angeles-based Sedway Group (available free on campus at 101 Sproul Hall) – leaves out some basics. Sedway did what profs teaching the revered institution’s Econ 1A courses used to call a cost-benefit analysis - at least they did half of it. The benefit half. Guess they’ll do the cost side when the governor hikes the university budget. Seems like there are a lot of costs to having the university here that could be factored in along with the good stuff, if anyone sat down to do the numbers – like making our cops work a little harder, wearing out our roads a little faster, jacking up housing costs, removing private property from the tax rolls... 

And what about the costs of that giant project with the poetic name - Northeast Quadrant Safety Services Project – there’s a bunch of citizens and all nine councilmembers who say the huge project’s gonna clog Northside with traffic, dust, noise, more students, employees…..  

But maybe in the era of celebrating spin doctors, it’s OK for the big U to omit what it costs to bring those kids to town.  

*** 

Speaking of kids, they’re such a worry. We’re always checking in on them to make sure they’re following The Rules. But there’s a bigger worry.  

Big folk.  

You’ve gotta ask questions when those charged with keeping the littler, liter ones following the straight and narrow, do not themselves follow rules. Like when the school board didn’t let the student board member second a motion at a recent meeting. Oh, yeah, they forgot she was allowed to do that...the dog ate the rule book, I guess. And then, did you know that same board elected its officers in CLOSED SESSION. Get these folks a copy of the Brown Act! 

**** 

Meanwhile – don’t know whether to be proud or what? – Lite got the call. 

No, not from God or the FBI - but almost. It was little Johnny Ashcroft Jr. from the Emeryville Express. The guy claimed to be Will Harper – but I know Will from back in the early ’90s when he was at the “Berkeley Voice” – so I know he’s a bona fide reporter and a real reporter wouldn’t stoop that low – demanding to know, in no uncertain terms, whether I am now or ever was a commie pinko. Wow! I didn’t know Emeryville was so far from Berkeley. Maybe we should set up a border patrol…. 

**** 

But Emeryville’s not the only area out-of-step. Noticed the Christmas decorations downtown? Good way to save city bucks. No work to put’em up next year. 

**** 

Here’s a rumor for you. Some say the Landmarks Commission’s gonna name the communication tower at the Public Safety Building a historic landmark. True? 

**** 

And, to end, a song for City Hall: “This little lite of mine….” Ever noticed the bulbs at 2180 Milvia glow 24/7. The guy in charge doesn’t disagree. “I’ve had the same feeling myself,” Public Works Director Rene Cardinaux told the Lite. And now, he’s gonna do something about the lights that don’t shut off. “You put a dig in my conscience,” he said.  

That’s all Berkeley Lite’s ever desired. 

SAN RAFAEL — The parents of John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban who now faces charges that could lead to life in prison, said Tuesday they are eager to be reunited and to “give him the love and support he needs.” 

Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh expressed thanks to U.S. military officials for the medical care their son has received since being captured in December in Afghanistan but concern about their inability to contact him for the past six weeks. 

“We are anxious to see him, to know his condition first-hand and to tell him we love him,” the parents said in a statement issued through their attorney. “We now hope that we will see our son soon and give him the love and support he needs. 

“We are grateful to live in a nation that presumes innocence and withholds judgment until all of the facts are presented, and we pray for a just resolution of this case.” 

Lindh, 20, who fought with the Taliban in Afghanistan, was charged Tuesday with conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens. He will be tried in a civilian court and could face life in prison.  

After weeks of deliberations, the Bush administration opted against a military trial or charges that would carry the death penalty. 

Steven Hyland, who met Lindh in 1998 when the Californian studied at the Yemen Language Center, said in a phone interview from his Texas home that he was not happy with the severity of the charges facing Lindh. 

“I am concerned for the kid. He was a very naive kid, and now 3 1/2 years later he is looking at 60 years incarceration,” Hyland said. 

A lawyer in the office that includes James Brosnahan, the attorney hired by Lindh’s parents, called on government officials to “cease their public speculation about this case and respect the presumption of innocence and the fair procedures that our constitution guarantees to all American citizens.” 

The lawyer, George C. Harris, and Lindh’s parents said in prepared statements that Lindh had been interrogated repeatedly during six weeks in U.S. custody, but has not been given access to an attorney. 

“The government has held and interrogated John for 45 days without allowing him any messages from his family or access to his attorney. We have written numerous letters to John since his capture on Dec. 1,” the parents said. 

“In those letters, we told John that we love him and support him. We also told him that he has a lawyer who is trying to see him and help him.”

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer today urged Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to authorize $14 million in emergency funding to fight Sudden Oak Death Syndrome because scientists recently said the state's redwood trees might be at risk. 

“I urge you to make this a top priority. Time is of the essence. We must act now,” Boxer said. 

The disease, believed to be caused by a fungus, has killed tens of thousands of oak trees in California from Monterey to the Oregon border. The disease affects fifteen plant species. 

Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley and UC Davis are conducting tests to determine whether the Phytophthora fungus spores found on dead redwood tree sprouts in Big Sur and on the UC Berkeley campus have infected and killed the trees. 

“If this proves true, the economic and ecological costs to California would be incalculable. The majestic redwoods draw visitors to the state from around the world. They also play an essential role in the state’s timber industry,” Boxer said in a letter to Veneman. 

Concern about the disease has led to a quarantine on the shipment of wood products from infected areas. It is uncertain how the disease spreads. 

Boxer said she has introduced a bill authorizing $70 million in additional Sudden Oak Death funding over the next five years and to create a task force to provide a coordinated response. 

Rather than wait for the passage of that legislation, Boxer asked Veneman to release the $14 million under the Plant Protection Act from the Commodity Credit Corporation.

OAKLAND — Five children were seriously injured Tuesday when a speeding car struck them and their two mothers in a crosswalk on their way to school. 

The hit-and-run accident happened about 8 a.m. when a 1967 Mustang sped through an intersection and struck the seven as they crossed the street, said officer Arturo Bautista. 

Two of the children, ages 1 and 5, were in critical condition at Children’s Hospital with head, chest and abdominal injuries. 

Three others, ages 7, 10 and 11, were in serious condition with head injuries and broken bones. 

The mother of three of the children was treated at Highland Hospital for a broken ankle and knee. The mother of the other two was struck but not injured. 

Police found the car parked around the corner but they did not immediately locate the driver.

SAN JOSE — To animal rights groups, Ringling Bros. circus owner Kenneth Feld is a secretly sinister force in the family entertainment business, a man they would love to bring down if they could. 

Not only have critics claimed for years that circuses mistreat animals, they also have accused Feld himself of some outrageous conduct, such as spying on his opponents. 

Now, after the recent acquittal in San Jose of a star Ringling trainer accused of elephant abuse, Feld is fighting back. In full-page newspaper ads this month, he told animal activists to back off. 

“Use your money and resources where they are needed most, and stop targeting responsible animal care providers for political reasons,” Feld wrote. “No one is more concerned with the well-being of animals than Ringling Bros.” 

As the head of Vienna, Va.-based Feld Entertainment Inc., Feld is the man behind the curtain at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice and Siegfried & Roy. He says 25 million people worldwide attend those shows each year. 

Forbes magazine estimates the private company earned $80 million on $776 million in revenue in 2000, and that Feld himself is worth $780 million — No. 333 on the list of the richest Americans. 

Feld, 53, inherited the business from his father, Irvin, a music promoter who bought the 132-year-old circus from the Ringling family in 1967. He hopes to pass it on to his three daughters; the eldest, Nicole, 24, recently left People magazine to join the company. 

“I have between the two circus units, 800 people on the road. I know every single one of them,” Feld recently told The Associated Press. “I don’t call it work. It’s a way of life for me.” 

Some animal advocates cast Feld in a less wholesome light. 

“We’ve kind of lifted the lid off the big top, and I think he’s a man who’s not used to being challenged,” said Lisa Lange, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “He is scrambling.” 

Several groups say tigers, elephants and other wildlife should be eliminated from circuses because they are trained with brutal methods and excessively confined. 

Ringling’s record is not spotless. The company gave $20,000 to elephant causes in 1998 to settle U.S. Department of Agriculture allegations that an ill elephant was made to perform before he could be examined by a veterinarian. The animal died. 

Opponents also cite a 1999 USDA report that found scars on two baby elephants who were chained in Ringling’s Florida breeding facility, restricted from any movement but side-to-side swaying, as they were being separated from their mothers. Ringling disputes details of the report. 

Feld says he welcomes the scrutiny of government inspections, and says he gives elephants better lives in captivity than they would have in the shrinking wild. 

“They have a real purpose. It’s like anyone else that has a job — they get up in the morning, they have things to do,” Feld said. “You can look at the animals. You do not get an 8,000-pound elephant to do something against its will.” 

He is especially proud that 12 endangered Asian elephants have been born at Ringling’s breeding facility in the last nine years. Fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants are left in the world. 

“What we’re trying to do is preserve the species in any way that we can. Part of that goes to seeing the human-animal relationship,” he said. “That’s what we demonstrate at the Greatest Show on Earth.” 

Ringling carries a top-notch reputation among people who work with animals, said Chuck Doyle, curator of a zoo in Syracuse, N.Y., and director of the Elephant Managers Association, a group of handlers and trainers. 

“If there was systematic abuse going on, it would be obvious,” he said. “You can’t be so high profile and flout the law. I can’t believe that they are.” 

But opponents say circuses don’t really engender respect for animals or promote conservation. 

“Yes, they have a conservation facility and they breed elephants, but they’re never going to be re-released back into the wild — Ringling is breeding to continue to have a stock of elephants to perform,” said Lisa Weisberg, head of government affairs for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

The ASPCA and two other groups sued Ringling last April, seeking to require the circus to stop training animals in an abusive fashion. The groups cite former Ringling employees who say they witnessed routine beatings of elephants. 

The case, which was dismissed but being appealed, is not the only one pending against Feld. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is suing him for allegedly hiring people to infiltrate the group and spy on its activities. 

That case developed from a similar one brought by the Performing Animal Welfare Society, which was settled out of court. Ringling agreed to donate retired elephants to the group’s sanctuary and pay for their care. 

In a suit in Washington, D.C., Feld is accused of having a former CIA agent and other associates meticulously harass a writer who exposed unflattering aspects of the company. The writer, Jan Pottker, who seeks millions in damages, says the men distracted her from further investigations of Ringling by having a phony publishing agent facilitate a book on a different topic. 

Feld describes the lawsuits — and the recent San Jose case against trainer Mark Gebel, who was cleared of a charge that he wounded an elephant with a hooked stick — as a campaign by activists to inflict “death by 1,000 cuts.” 

“If I can go and find somebody to be shot out of a cannon, you can find anybody to say anything you want about how we operate. That doesn’t take a genius,” he said. 

“These people are not going to bring me down, and I’m as sure as hell not going to let them bring down a 132-year-old American institution. There’s no way. This is a vocal minority that does not represent the feelings of the people of this country.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.feldentertainment.com 

Humane Society on circuses: 

http://www.hsus.org/current/biglie—bigtop.html 

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis’ budget plan relies on “overly optimistic” assumptions and could result in a multi-billion dollar deficit in the future, Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill said Tuesday. 

Davis overestimated revenues and the federal money California will receive and his estimate of education costs is too low, according to the initial analysis by the Legislature’s top economic adviser. 

Also, because the Davis plan relies on one-time solutions and deferred spending to plug budget gaps, it could leave the state with a $4 billion shortfall in the budget year after next, Hill said. 

“We do not see the current situation as being a temporary imbalance, but rather an ongoing budget problem that requires ongoing solutions,” Hill said. 

Last week, Davis released his 2002-03 spending plan, which would go into effect July 1.  

It must be approved by the Legislature. Hill, who advises the Legislature on economic and budgetary matters, will give lawmakers her complete budget analysis on Feb. 20. 

The $100 billion plan uses spending cuts, deferred spending and loans to fill an estimated $12.5 billion budget shortfall over the next 18 months. The budget proposal includes $5.2 billion in spending cuts, including deep reductions to health and welfare programs. 

It also counts on an economic upswing within the next year and the sale of bonds to repay the state treasury for buying electricity during last year’s energy crisis. 

Tim Gage, Davis’ budget chief, disagreed with Hill Tuesday. 

“We took a very cautious and moderate view when we put the numbers together in December,” Gage said. 

Davis’ budget is “basically a balancing act” between attacking a budget shortfall and “at the same time not devastating programs,” Gage said. 

The budget also used slightly older economic data than Hill, Gage said. Davis will revise his budget plan in May after receiving information from the April sales and income tax receipts, Gage said. 

Hill said she agrees the economy will recover this spring, but said “the budget imbalance remains in part because we’ve dug such a big hole in the current fiscal year.” 

The analyst’s forecast assumes the state will receive $3 billion less in revenues this budget year than the governor’s budget assumes, Hill said. She said her figures are based on revenues in the first half of the fiscal year and cash payments to the state in December. 

She believes only half of the $1.1 billion in federal funds Davis expects to receive will materialize, and that the state will be forced to pay more than predicted to fulfill its minimum schools funding requirements. 

And Hill said one-time solutions, such as issuing bonds against state’s tobacco settlement payments and postponing payments of the state’s retirement contributions, could strap the state with increased costs in the future. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Hill’s analysis can be found at http://www.lao.ca.gov and Davis’ budget plan is at http://www.dof.ca.gov 

Supervisors approve de Young museum 

SAN FRANCISCO — After a seven-year battle to build a new M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park, the Board of Supervisors have approved the project. 

The approval came Monday after fights at the ballot box, in the courts and at more than a dozen public hearings. The museum, badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, was closed to the public a year ago. 

The demolition of the old museum complex will begin this spring. Plans are for the new building to open in the summer of 2005. The $185 million project will be privately financed. 

Dede Wilsey, president of the board of trustees for the fine arts museums, has led a money-raising campaign that already has secured more than $150 million in donations. 

Nude woman found dead in the Mission 

SAN FRANCISCO — Police are investigating the death of a woman whose nude body was found earlier this week on a Mission District sidewalk. 

San Francisco Police Lt. Judie Pursell said the woman showed no obvious injuries. Her body was found at 4:40 a.m. Monday alongside a parked car at Alabama and 18th streets. 

“At this point we don’t know what happened to her, and the case is being investigated,” Pursell said. 

A San Francisco police officer found the body and called for backup. It was unknown how long the woman’s body had been on the street, Pursell said. 

The neighborhood is known for prostitution and several of the responding officers said they recognized the victim as a prostitute, Pursell said. Her name was not released pending the investigation. 

Oh, those Raiders fans 

OAKLAND — Oakland authorities have issued several citations to Oakland Raiders fans for fraudulently using handicap placards to park closer to the Network Associates Coliseum. 

“So many people were coming in with these things, it was like shooting ducks in a pond — the abuse was outrageous,” Oakland Police Lt. Dave Kozicki said Monday. 

Officers have issued 66 citations at the last three Raiders home games. Violators who use or alter somebody else’s placard can face a $1,000 fine, and the placard is revoked for a year, Kozicki said. 

Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Gary Schellenberg said deputies have handed out another 94 citations. 

Kozicki and Schellenberg said the number of citations handed out dwindled at Saturday’s playoff triumph against the New York Jets. 

GILROY — Americans love garlic, but growers here say illegal Chinese imports, unpredictable weather and soaring land costs are threatening to squeeze the domestic garlic industry right out of its stinky business. 

The Fresh Garlic Producers Association complained last month to the U.S. Customs Service that Chinese garlic — which is supposed to pay a 376 percent tariff before it enters the country — is slipping its way through ports in New York, Miami, Long Beach, Calif., and Puerto Rico in shipping containers from Thailand and Vietnam. 

The garlic in those containers, said association spokesman Jim Provost, is being sold — without tariffs — for about 30 percent below domestic prices. 

“We’re facing a looming threat from these illegal imports,” Provost said. 

Customs Service officials confirmed they’re looking into the complaints, the latest development in what has been a decade-long challenge to restrict illegal Chinese garlic imports. 

“As long as there is a demand for garlic in the U.S. and a supply in China, they’re going to try to get it in,” said Kevin McCann, an international trade specialist with Customs Service in Washington, D.C.. “But they’re certainly not going to pay the 376 percent tariff, so they’ll try other things.” 

McCann said investigators have been working in recent weeks in Long Beach, the primary port for garlic imports, and that some type of intervention action will be taking place in the near future. 

Chinese trade ministry officials in Beijing said they had prepared answers to questions raised by the Associated Press about garlic, but had not received approval to release those responses. 

At Christopher Ranch, the nation’s leading fresh garlic producer about 100 miles south of San Francisco in Gilroy, spokeswoman Patsy Ross said trade transgressions are not their only problem. 

“This is a fragile industry,” she said, standing in a bustling garlic-packing warehouse thick with fumes. “There are a lot of things that are out of our control.” 

El Nino’s 1997 torrential rains, for example, left floods in the fields and a rusty fungus on the garlic, wiping out about a third of the 1998 harvest. And increasing property values — particularly in California where 84 percent of U.S. garlic is grown — have pushed farmers off their fields and out of the industry. 

But the largest threat of all has come from China, the largest garlic producer in the world with 13 billion pounds a year, accounting for 66 percent of the world output. 

U.S. garlic growers fought for and won relief from cheap Chinese imports in 1994, when the International Trade Commission issued an antidumping order and imposed the highest tariff in existence on any agricultural product — 376 percent. 

Those limits initially slowed the flood of Chinese garlic that had gone from about 3 million pounds a year in 1992 to 64 million pounds — almost half the entire U.S. market at the time — by 1994. 

But since 1994, there have been regular attempts to dodge the tariff, according to researchers at the National Food and Agriculture Policy Project in Mesa, Ariz. 

For example, in April 1997, some traders said their Chinese garlic imports originated from Vietnam, Taiwan or Thailand to avoid paying duties. Laboratory tests of minerals in the garlic were able to show the true source. 

In February 1997, two California importers of Chinese garlic pleaded guilty to avoiding more than $9 million in customs duties.  

In that case, importer Jimmy Tani of LaPuente, Calif., was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for circumventing U.S. trade laws. 

Garlic industry attorney Mike Coursey said imports from Thailand suspiciously shot up last year, and that domestic garlic producers estimate between 10 and 15 million pounds of Chinese garlic leaked into the United States illegally. 

“There’s been a ferocious increase coming in shipping containers supposedly filled with Thai garlic, and there’s no way that the product coming in is actually Thai,” he said. “It’s beautiful Chinese garlic, quite different from what’s grown in Thailand. There’s just no doubt about it.” 

The United States isn’t the only country to scuffle with China over garlic. Thailand, Canada, Mexico, Israel, and most of Europe have tariffs in place against Chinese garlic, which reaches those markets at just 15 cents a pound, about one-fourth of what it costs other countries to produce. 

And just last year, garlic became a key issue in a Chinese trade dispute with South Korea. The two countries had been wrangling over the issue since June 2000, when South Korea imposed a 315-percent tariff on cheap Chinese garlic to protect its farmers. 

In Gilroy, the “Garlic Capital of the World,” locals pay close attention to threats to the industry, and look forward to additional federal action. One thing that helps, say garlic industry experts, is that demand continues to increase. 

Last year, U.S. citizens averaged two pounds of garlic each, according to the Department of Agriculture. And, on any given day, one out of five people in this country eat some garlic, more than french fries or ketchup. 

Joann Kessler, who helps organize the Gilroy Garlic Festival that brings more than $7 million and 125,000 people to town each year, said threats to garlic are no joking matter. 

“We take our garlic very seriously here,” she said. 

——— 

On the Net: 

USDA garlic data: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/AgOutlook/Jun2000/ao272e.pdf 

U.S. Customs Service: http://www.customs.treas.gov/ 

Gilroy Garlic Festival: http://www.gilroygarlicfestival.com/ 

SACRAMENTO — An accounting firm’s destruction of some of energy giant Enron’s financial documents may have violated a state Senate committee’s subpoena, senators investigating the state’s energy crisis said Tuesday. 

Sen. Joe Dunn, chairman of the Senate Select Committee to Investigate Price Manipulation in the Wholesale Energy Market, said he’ll ask for subpoenas to require officials from Enron and Arthur Andersen LLP, Enron’s accountants, to appear for depositions about the destroyed documents. 

The accounting firm has admitted that it destroyed some Enron documents after federal securities regulators asked for information about Enron. 

“We believe that some of the documents that have been destroyed by Arthur Andersen ... are covered by the subpoena served upon Enron last June,” Dunn said. “Destruction of any documents that were under subpoena by this legislative committee is a violation of California law.” 

On Tuesday, Andersen fired its lead auditor of Enron and put three others on leave pending an internal inquiry. Officials with Andersen didn’t immediately return phone calls by The Associated Press seeking comment. 

Enron spokeswoman Karen Denne said the company had cooperated and would continue to cooperate “with all inquiries and investigations.” 

Dunn’s committee has questioned Enron and five other major energy companies as it looks into whether power suppliers influenced the market enough to run up wholesale energy prices last year. 

A huge jump in wholesale electricity prices caused the state’s three largest utilities to incur billions in debts that a deregulation law kept them from passing to consumers. 

The energy companies haven’t signed “non-destruct” agreement regarding documents the committee has subpoenaed, Dunn said, but only Enron has also refused to agree to save relevant financial papers. 

“When things are missing and you say ’the dog ate my homework,’ it means there was an accident,” said committee member Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica. “What Andersen and Enron have essentially said is ’I fed the dog my homework’ and that is something that cannot stand.” 

Dunn planned to ask the Senate Rules Committee Wednesday to issue the subpoenas for testimony, but admitted that he didn’t expect “great compliance” from Enron executives. 

Last spring, the committee demanded several types of documents from the companies, and in September, Enron agreed to comply. Since then, investigators have reviewed Enron’s offerings and found them “woefully inadequate,” Dunn said. 

The 133,464 documents turned over to California investigators included mostly public records, such as filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and none of the internal papers that would show if the company held any sway over the wholesale market, Dunn said. 

Hearings on Enron’s compliance with subpoena will be held soon, Dunn said, adding he was seeking a Legislative Counsel’s opinion about what the state should seek against Enron or Andersen. 

The state Legislature hasn’t imposed sanctions for contempt charges since 1929, when the Senate voted to jail reluctant witnesses during a committee investigation of price fixing and price gouging involving cement sales to the state. 

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration will charge American Taliban John Walker Lindh with conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens in Afghanistan and will ask for life imprisonment rather than the death penalty, Attorney General John Ashcroft said Tuesday. 

Lindh will be charged in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., rather than in a military tribunal. Other charges against him will include providing support to terrorist organizations and engaging in prohibited transactions with the Taliban, Ashcroft said. 

The attorney general said that while the United States continues to seek justice against foreigners responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, “we cannot overlook attacks on America when they come from U.S. citizens.” 

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush “is supportive of the process put in place. He is confident that the process will end in justice.” 

The charges were recommended to Bush by the National Security Council, which mediated advice from the Justice Department, the Pentagon and the State Department. 

“Youth is not absolution for treachery,” Ashcroft told reporters. “Misdirected Americans cannot receive direction in murderous ideology.” 

Lindh, 20, of San Anselmo, Calif., was captured in November fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was taken into custody by U.S. forces after a prison uprising at a fortress in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Lindh since then has been held on the amphibious attack ship USS Bataan in the Arabian Sea. 

Lindh’s mother appeared briefly Tuesday afternoon at her home in Fairfax, but had no comment regarding her son. James Brosnahan, an attorney hired by Lindh’s parents, was not available for comment. A spokeswoman at Brosnahan’s law office in San Francisco said he was “issuing no statements at this time.” 

A baptized Roman Catholic who converted to Islam at 16, Lindh sent a letter to his parents in December saying he was safe and regretted not contacting them sooner.  

He apparently dictated the letter, dated Dec. 3, to an International Red Cross volunteer. 

Ashcroft said the charges against Lindh were based for the most part on his own statements to FBI investigators. 

According to Ashcroft, Lindh told agents that he joined a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan last May and spent seven months there.  

Osama bin Laden visited the camp several times and met Lindh on one occasion, Lindh said.

SACRAMENTO — Critics of the state’s three-strikes law proposed a bill and a statewide initiative to change it Tuesday, but the law’s supporters, including Gov. Gray Davis, said the law should remain as it is. 

During a morning news conference, the grandfather of Polly Klaas, the Petaluma 12-year-old who was kidnapped, raped and murdered in 1993, called the law excessive and supported an initiative to make the third strike apply only to violent felonies. 

Joe Klaas said he didn’t want his granddaughter’s legacy to be “a grandfather now serving 25 years to life for shoplifting seven bottles of shampoo.” 

Klaas was joined by representatives from Citizens Against Violent Crime, a two-year-old Orange County-based coalition seeking to amend the law. The group will now start gathering the 419,260 signatures needed to qualify for the November ballot. 

“As long as we can stay away from the name calling, then I think we can move forward with this measure,” said Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles. 

But the initiative and a proposed bill to change the law were attacked by both Davis and Secretary of State Bill Jones, who helped write the 1994 law while he was a member of the state Assembly. 

If the Legislature approves any change, Davis won’t sign it, said Byron Tucker, a Davis spokesman. He “sees no need to revise” the law. 

California voters and lawmakers approved the three-strikes law amid a furor over Polly Klaas’ murder. Richard Allen Davis, a repeat offender on parole at the time of the kidnapping, was convicted of the murder and was sentenced to death. 

Since the law took effect, there have been several highly publicized cases involving offenders whose third strike was a nonviolent crime and then who were sentenced to minimum terms of 25 years to life.  

Those led to the initiative and a bill introduced by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles. 

Goldberg said her bill would change the three-strikes law to apply only to violent and serious offenders. It also would allow inmates to request a resentencing hearing if they were imprisoned for a nonviolent offense. 

“This is so that people who steal AA batteries do not get life in prison,” Goldberg said. 

The law allows for a minimum of a 25-years-to-life term for defendants convicted of any felony if they have already been convicted of two serious or violent felonies. A serious felony, for example, includes burglary of an unoccupied house. 

More than 6,500 Californians have been sentenced to life terms under the law, according to the Department of Corrections. Nine percent have received life terms because their third strike was a misdemeanor, such as check fraud or shoplifting. Forty percent of the third strikes were violent crimes, 30 percent were for property crimes and 18 percent were drug offenses, the department said. 

Republican Assemblyman Phil Wyman of Tehachapi said the law doesn’t need to be changed. 

“If you have two violent felonies and then commit another felony, then society says enough,” Wyman said. “I think they should just leave it alone. They are smoking or dreaming something that isn’t appropriate.” 

Jones’ office said that since the birth of the three-strikes law in 1994, California’s crime rate has dropped 41 percent, more than double that of the nation. 

It takes more than stealing a piece of pizza or batteries to get a life sentence, said Jones spokesman Alfred Charles. An offender must have two previous violent felony convictions before stealing to get a life sentence. 

“No one goes to jail for minor theft charges,” Charles said. “I think the public is informed enough to know that.”

SACRAMENTO — The turf war over a novel tax-sharing bill proposed for metropolitan Sacramento turned a new direction Tuesday when Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, unveiled a compromise bill to mollify opposition. 

Opponents say they aren’t budging. 

Steinberg, who introduced a bill last year requiring cities and counties of the capital region to share sales tax revenues, produced a rewrite Tuesday, requiring them to share only the growth in sales taxes after 2002. 

Flanked by supporting council members from Davis, Citrus Heights, Sacramento and Loomis, Steinberg called the state’s sales tax system “an addiction to poor planning.” Backers say cities fight each other for stores and car dealers instead of cooperating toward a regional vision. 

Steinberg also added language calling for a study of the tax-sharing experiment in 2010. Responding to critics who fear the bill will spark similar proposals statewide, Steinberg says they should wait until the 2010 study. 

“The bill ought not be replicated in the state until that review takes place,” he said. But the suggestion carries no binding authority. 

Steinberg, facing a Jan. 31 deadline to move the bill out of the Assembly or see it die, also announced a report by a Bay Area think tank, Policy Link, supporting the tax-sharing vision. The idea is bitterly dividing cities in the six-county region, pitting older neighborhoods against new suburbs rich with auto malls and regional shopping centers. 

Craig Robinson, assistant city manager of suburban Roseville, said afterward he sees no problem with competition among cities. Roseville and other opposing cities are putting up $90,000 for a public relations offensive against the bill. Sacramento and Sacramento County have pledged $120,000 for the same.

SAN FRANCISCO — You can drive high in Idaho, as long as you can drive straight. 

In overturning an impaired driving conviction, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that a loophole in Idaho law means marijuana users can drive legally as long as they don’t drive erratically and can pass a field sobriety test. 

A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based court wrote that Idaho’s impaired driving law makes it illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and narcotics. But Idaho doesn’t list marijuana as a narcotic. 

The court said that because marijuana is not listed as a narcotic, Matthew Patzer could not automatically be presumed impaired, like motorists who have been drinking alcohol. 

In overturning the 21-year-old’s conviction, the court wrote that he was pulled over for a broken tailgate light, wasn’t driving erratically and passed a field sobriety test. 

“Given the distinction drawn by the statute, there is no basis to conclude that impairment may be presumed upon admission of use of a non-narcotic drug,” the appeals court wrote. 

After a New Plymouth police officer noticed his glassy eyes, Patzer admitted to smoking marijuana at a party on Sept. 27, 1998. Patzer passed two field sobriety tests before being arrested for driving impaired. 

Idaho Senate Judiciary Chairman Denton Darrington said he had assumed marijuana was a narcotic under state law, and that the statute might need to be reviewed. But he questioned whether Monday’s decision would hold up on appeal. 

“My guess is, in light of the record of the 9th Circuit with the U.S. Supreme Court ... that the government will take it on up,” Darrington said. “We may have to evaluate our law, but first we’ll see what the government does here.” 

Darrington was referring to the circuit’s reputation of being overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Patzer’s attorney, Fredilyn Sison of the office of the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho, applauded the decision. 

“Just having smoked marijuana doesn’t give somebody cause to arrest you for that when driving,” Sison said. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Fica, in Pocatello, Idaho, said the government was considering asking the circuit to review its decision or requesting the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. 

The circuit’s decision also reverses Patzer’s illegal weapons convictions. In his Chevrolet Blazer, police found four illegal homemade grenades, a sawed-off shotgun and a modified rifle with a homemade silencer. 

The court said that because of his unlawful arrest, authorities illegally searched his vehicle. The decision reverses U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge. 

“Patzer’s arrest was unlawful. The evidence obtained after his arrest ... were ’fruit of the poisonous tree’ and should have been suppressed by the district court,” the three-judge panel wrote. 

The case is United States v. Patzer, 00-30360.

SALT LAKE CITY — Australia’s team won’t be allowed to open mail during the Winter Olympics. Other countries are hastily hiring security people to guard their athletes. 

And almost everyone is stocking up on Cipro. 

Despite promises by security officials that the Salt Lake City Games will be as safe as humanly possible, many countries are taking extra precautions to make sure no harm befalls their athletes next month. 

With the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the anthrax scare fresh in their minds, foreign delegations are taking no chances as they prepare to travel to the Olympics. 

“There is an elevated concern,” said Deborah Allen, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Olympic Committee. 

Canada has made arrangements with a drug company to have additional Cipro in stock if needed, and the country’s Olympic officials say they have taken other steps to protect Canadian athletes. 

Like other countries, though, they are reluctant to reveal just what they are doing. 

“Some of the specifics of the plan we can’t discuss because that sort of defeats the whole purpose of having a security plan,” said Caroline Assalian, team captain of Canada’s mission staff. 

Australia’s team will bring two different types of anthrax antibiotics to Salt Lake City for its 60 athletes and officials. 

The Australians will also have their own security director for the first time, and their athletes have been told they will not be allowed to open mail while in the United States. 

Norway hired its own security director last week to travel with the team and evaluate possible threats to Norwegian athletes, said Aasne Havnelid, an Olympian and deputy head of the country’s top sports center. 

But Havnelid said no exceptional precautions would be taken and that Norway is confident of Salt Lake’s security measures. 

“We have good faith in the organizing committee and know that the authorities have put a lot of resources in this,” she said. 

That confidence was echoed by British Olympic Association spokesman Philip Pope, who said his country’s plans have been double-checked but not changed much. 

“We have spoken with the relevant agencies in this country as a precaution,” Pope said. “The attention to detail in respect to security has been heightened, but we are very comfortable with security in Salt Lake.” 

Both Olympic organizers and U.S. government officials have gone out of their way to try to reassure foreign athletes that they will be safe coming to the Olympics in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. 

In October, Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney wrote to all of the 80-plus nations attending the games, telling them everything would be done to make the Olympics safe. Olympic security officials also have stockpiled antibiotics for any anthrax threats. 

Last week, U.S. domestic security chief Tom Ridge reviewed the $300 million security plan for the games and said every conceivable precaution has been taken. 

“I believe one of the safest places on the globe from the beginning to the end of February will be Salt Lake City,” Ridge said. 

Those assurances didn’t stop Japan from making plans to bring high-tech gas masks to Salt Lake City before publicity about the masks prompted a change of heart. 

The Japanese will bring additional antibiotics for anthrax, though, and are warning athletes to keep a low profile in Salt Lake City. 

Other countries aren’t particularly concerned. That includes Sweden, which will bring 103 athletes and another 40-50 officials, one of the biggest teams, to Salt Lake. 

Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman Bjorn Folin said no extra precautions would be taken. 

“We trust the organizers completely,” Folin said. 

So does the Polish team, which is using charter flights to avoid unnecessary security controls that could be faced on commercial airlines but is otherwise taking no special precautions. 

German Olympic spokesman Stefan Volknant said there was “a lot more awareness” about security but said he wasn’t aware of any new precautions being taken. 

Even if he was, Volknant said, he wouldn’t be saying. 

“If we tell you and other media about any new measures, they wouldn’t be secret any more and they would not serve their purpose,” he said.

BOISE, Idaho — Pilots and passengers taking private or charter aircraft to Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics will have to detour through one of four gateway airports for security checks, and pilots must undergo background checks, the Federal Aviation Administration said. 

An FAA spokesman said the rule applies to all civil aircraft other than commercial airliners, from corporate jets to single-engine Cessnas. They must first stop in either Boise; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Grand Junction, Colo.; or Las Vegas. 

Passengers and pilots will be required to leave the aircraft and submit to personal searches. In Boise, no magnetometer or baggage X-ray machine will be available; each person will be individually searched and each bag will be hand inspected, said Lew Sanders, assistant manager at the FAA’s Boise office. 

“We’re going to do this in 15 minutes a plane — or at least that’s what we’re hoping. We may be dreaming. If you’ve got high rollers with bags filled to the back of the airplane, it’s going to take a while,” Sanders said. 

Security checks also will be required of pilots and passengers leaving the Salt Lake International Airport. 

One Idaho air taxi company said the restrictions may keep its aircraft out of Utah entirely. 

John Blakely, owner and pilot of the 35-employee Avcenter Inc., has 15 planes based in Boise, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Blakely said he is certain that the FAA’s security regulations will result in loss of business for his company. 

“Our problems come from people who want to go to Salt Lake from Jackson (Wyo.) or Sun Valley, and we have to bring them to Boise first,” Blakely said. “We used to think the Olympics might be a good thing. But I don’t know if they’re going to want to jump through all those hoops.” 

Blakely charges $1,000 an hour for his turboprop air service. It usually takes about 45 minutes to fly from Sun Valley to Salt Lake City. But the additional stop in Boise will cost about $1,500 more. 

“We don’t know if we’ll do one trip to Salt Lake,” Blakely said. 

Pilots must also pass extensive background checks. Forty-eight hours before takeoff, they must call a U.S. Customs Service phone number in Salt Lake City and reserve a time for the security checks at one of the four gateway airports. 

The Boise airport will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Nine National Guardsmen, four FAA security specialists, and local police will perform the checks. Pilots will also be required to show proof that they have passed the federal background check. 

All flights will be restricted within 45 miles of the Salt Lake Airport from Feb. 8 through Feb. 24, Sanders said. Another spokesman said airspace near the Olympic venues will be restricted beginning Feb. 6, and airspace near the Olympic Village at the University of Utah campus will be restricted beginning Jan. 25. 

LOS ANGELES – The Olympic flame returned Tuesday to a city that has hosted the Games twice. 

Excited crowds turned out to watch torch bearers relay the flame through downtown on the Southern California leg of its journey to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. 

“Los Angeles, better than any other city, has shown that people from all over the world can live side by side, can live in harmony, can live in peace,” City Councilman Alex Padilla told a crowd at historic Olvera Street. “So we take that spirit, the spirit of Los Angeles, and we offer it to the Olympics.” 

The torch relay rekindled memories of the Olympic history of Los Angeles, which staged the Summer Games in 1932 and 1984. 

The torch relay route included a stop at Memorial Coliseum, where track and field events of city’s two Olympics were held. The day’s run was to end with a nighttime event at Universal City’s CityWalk. 

Earlier, the torch was carried through Orange County. Among the runners was Lance Bass, a member of the group ’N Sync. 

As screaming female fans ran nearby to keep up, he used the torch to ignite a cauldron on the back of a pickup that drove the flame from Costa Mesa to Olvera Street, where runners resumed the relay. 

The flame was ignited in Olympia, Greece, and arrived in the United States at Atlanta on Dec. 4. The flame will have been relayed across 46 states and 13,500 miles by the time it reaches Salt Lake City on Feb. 8. for the Winter Games’ opening ceremonies. 

The torch was scheduled to hit the road again on Wednesday, leaving Los Angeles for Pasadena before heading for the Central Coast and ending the day in San Luis Obispo.

With the economy in trouble and the state education budget in question, administrators at Emerson School are fighting to maintain a successful, three-year-old mentoring program that serves almost half the school’s student body. 

“This school has shown what a little bit of money can do to mobilize massive resources around us,” said Terri Waller, Healthy Start resources coordinator at Emerson. “We’re hoping that in this next budget year, the governor and legislature continue to show financial support for these programs.” 

With a four-year, $450,000 Healthy Start grant from the state, Emerson began planning the mentoring program, and a host of other support programs at the school, five years ago. That grant ran out in June.  

A three-year, $75,000 state grant, called the Academic Volunteer and Mentor Service Program Grant, has paid for staffing, training and materials for the program since the 1999-2000 school year. The grant runs out at the end of this year. 

Gov. Gray Davis’ budget proposal, released last week, retains the mentor grant program at its current level of $10 million per year. But, with the state’s $12.2 billion deficit, the future of the program and many others like it, is unclear, according to Waller. 

Given the uncertainty, Emerson is preparing to approach area foundations and corporations for grants to keep the mentoring program, and other support services – including nutritional, mental health and after school programs – in place. 

Emerson’s Academic Volunteer and Mentor Program coordinates the work of about 130 mentors, drawn from several local institutions, including UC Berkeley, Caltrans, the First Presbyterian Church, Redwood Gardens, a retirement community, and the Oakland-based Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay. The federation is a co-sponsor of a nationwide mentoring initiative called the Jewish Coalition for Literacy. 

The program serves 137 students, and program coordinator Monica Santos hopes to provide mentors for 13 more students by the end of the year. Mentors provide one-on-one tutoring, focusing heavily on math and reading, both during the day and after school.  

Administrators, teachers, mentors, and parents, like Velisa Parks, mother of second grader Trae Casey, say the program has been effective.  

Parks said the program has been effective for her son who has had difficulty learning to read. “He enjoys reading now, where last year he really didn’t enjoy it. It was a chore for him.” 

Bara Samuels, one of Casey’s two mentors, said she also gets something from the experience. “Just knowing that I’m helping is satisfaction,” she said. 

Wendy Dorband, a former middle school and high school teacher who now mentors second grader Shannon Harris, said the Emerson program is important because it targets students at a young age. 

“You really have to do intervention early,” she said, “because you really can’t teach a kid in middle school or high school how to read.” 

Mentors, teachers and administrators said part of the reason for the program’s success is a high degree of organization. 

“Monica and her team are great,” said Emerson Principal Rebecca Cheung. “They’re very well-organized. They’re on top of things.”  

Santos and her staff, consisting of two Americorps volunteers, maintain binders for each student, complete with a profile of the pupil’s needs, provide continuous feedback to mentors and coordinate curriculum and schedules with teachers. 

Santos said it took some time to win the support of teachers, who are often leery of support staff pulling children out of their classrooms. But now, she said, teachers are highly cooperative, providing mentors with materials for individual students and volunteering their time to train large groups of mentors.  

Jamie Carlson, a first grade teacher at Emerson, said program staff’s willingness to work with teachers on scheduling issues has won their support. “They’re very flexible,” she said. “We’re very respected as individuals.” 

Carlson also had high praise for the mentors themselves. “They really come ready to interact, and be there for the children,” she said. 

Santos said she hopes to boost the work of mentors with more training. She said that providing teachers with stipends for the time they spend coaching tutors would be particularly helpful. 

But that, of course, requires funding. And starting next year, Emerson, and thousands of schools across the state, may have trouble finding state dollars.

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Fibromyalgia Support Group 

12 - 2 p.m. 

Alta Bates Medical Center, Maffly Auditorium 

2001 Dwight Way 

Monthly meeting features Sandi Alstrand, Certified Acupressure Therapist. 601-0550 

Workers’ Compensation  

Medical and Legal Rights 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Back in Action Chiropractic Center 

2500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Dr. Ethan Feldman and Patricia Jones present a forum. 843-2584 

Freedom From Tobacco 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

The first of six quit smoking classes with the option of Acupuncture, using ear points to assist in quitting. 644-6422, quitnow@ci.berkeley. ca.us 

Berkeley Garden Club 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Annie Hayes, owner of Annie’s Annuals, will introduce “New and Cool Plants.” Free. 524-4374. 

Camera Club Meeting 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Weekly meeting of the Berkeley Camera Club offers the opportunity to share slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 547-4514 

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Avalanche Safety Course 

6 - 9:30 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Dick Penniman presents a slide lecture and video presentation on the fundamentals of avalanche safety. $20. 527-4140 

Baby Bounce and Toddler  

Tales 

7 p.m. 

Public Library, West Branch 

1125 University Ave. 

A participatory program for families with children up to age 3. Stories, songs and fingerplays as entertainment and as a way for parents to learn some new material to share with their young ones. 981-6270. 

B.A.R.K. Chapter of American  

Civil Liberties Union 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Rd., Kensington 

January meeting. 558-0377.  

Amnesty International  

Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library 

2940 Benevides Ave. 

Berkeley chapter’s first meeting of the year. 872-0768 

Peace Walk and Vigil 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley BART Station 

A peace walk and vigil to demonstrate opposition to U.S. bombing of Afghanistan. Ends at MLK Civic Center Park. www.indymedia.org. 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Location to be announced 

Informational Meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility District for the El Dorado proposed District 

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, instructor Linda Spector teaches Drama Games and Improvisation and in the afternoon she teaches the Fundamentals of Acting. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

Debtors Anonymous 

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. 

Mandana Community Recovery Center 

3989 Howe St., Oakland 

Weekly Meeting. 415-522-9099 

Commission on Aging 

1:30 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

Agenda includes – Senior Housing Issues; Bicycle Riding on Sidewalks; Proposal to Reduce Traffic Congestion in Berkeley. 981-5178, lploss@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Thursday, Jan. 17

Globalization: Chiapas and  

the Zapatistas 

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center 

3105 Shattuck Ave. 

Global Exchange's Carleen Pickard will discuss the pros and cons of  

globalization in Mexico, focusing on the state of Chiapas. $5 - $10 sliding scale. 653-7882. 

Berkeley Special Education  

Parents Group (BSPED) 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ala Costa Center 

1300 Rose St. 

Guest speakers from the Regional Center for the East Bay and the East Bay Learning Disabilities Association. 558-8933, sandstep@earthlink.net. 

Climbing Nepal’s Imja Tse 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Rob Chang gives a slide presentation sharing highlights of his team’s recent trek to the summit of Imja Tse. 527-4140 

Adventure Travel Course 

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

The course will cover various kinds of adventure travel: Hard adventure, soft adventure, and cultural/spiritual adventure. Classes will meet every Thursday through May 23. $22. 981-2931, josemarty@yahoo.com 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

City Council Chambers 

2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Citywide Informational meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility Districts. 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

“Stuff – Do You Own It or Does It Own You?” Several people will talk about their successes and difficulties in managing “stuff.” 549-3509, or go to www.seedsofsimplicity.org. 

Toastmaster Meeting 

12:05 p.m. 

Department of Human Health Service 

Toastmaster Club of State Health Branch 

Rm. 804 

Learn ways to improve your public speaking skills and boost your self-confidence. 665-1611. 

People’s Park Community Advisory Board 

7:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

Unit 2 Residence Halls Rec. Rm.  

2650 Haste St. 

Monthly meeting, community invited. The PP CAB reviews and makes recommendations on park policies, programs and improvements. 642-7860, http://communityrelations.berkeley.edu. 

Friday, Jan. 18

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, instructor Stuart Kandell teaches Storytelling in the Community and in the afternoon he teaches the Scene Study for Performance. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

City Commons Club  

Luncheon 

11:15 a.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Alain Rieu lectures on “France in the European Union.” Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Lunch is served 11:45 - 12:15. Speaker begins at 12:30. $11 - 12.25 with lunch, $1 otherwise. 848-3533 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Celebrating Marlene Dietrich’s 100th anniversary with a film showing of “The Blue Angel.” Free. 232-1351. 

From Rio to Johannesburg: How Far Have We Come on Global Environmental Goals? 

3 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

103 Mulford Hall 

Dr. Alvaro Umana, Costa Rica’s first Minister of Environment, speaks on the global environment and the progress and goals set at the Rio de Janeiro Conference. Free. 643-4200. 

Saturday, Jan. 19

Vocal Jazz Workshop and  

Jazz Jam 

9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Albany Adult School 

601 San Gabriel St. 

Workshops for singers and instrumentalists led by Richard Kalman to explore Jazz in a small jazz combo format. $5-$12 per class. 524-6796, richkalman@aol.com. 

Building and Remodeling  

Advice 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

A morning lecture entitled “What You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel” will be followed by an afternoon lecture entitled “Choosing to Add On: Pros and Cons of Building an Addition.” 525-7610 

Tree Pruning 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. 

A class designed to instruct students on the basics of aesthetic ornamental tree pruning. $15 non-members, $10 members. 548-2220 x233  

Puppet Show 

1:30 and 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health 

2230 Shattuck Ave. 

Includes puppets from diverse cultures and with such conditions as cerebral palsy, blindness, and Down syndrome. 549-1564. 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA) 

9:30 - ll a.m. 

Fireside room, Live Oak Park Center, 

Shattuck and Berryman Streets, 

A city wide caucus and network. 849-46l9. 

Editor: 

Last week, the Berkeley Police Review Commission recommended that Berkeley not cooperate with Department of Justice requests to interview individuals in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The commission has oversimplified this issue, and in the process has missed an opportunity to make a positive contribution. 

The Sept. 11 attacks are changing how the United States approaches its security. Doing that while respecting civil liberties and the rule of law involves hard choices. The new balance that emerges over the next year will be with us for a long time, and as a country we need to get it right. By focusing on only one side of this issue, the Police Review Commission has effectively thrown away any chance of having a constructive influence. 

When similar questions arose at the university, the faculty representatives made a quite different statement: 

In response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act and other political authorities are taking additional steps with the goal of enhancing the security of the United States. These steps, intended to protect, have caused concern amongst some of our students, especially our international students, who fear that their records may be requested. We are deeply concerned for our students and we are attentive to any activities that may infringe on their civil liberties and academic freedom. 

Civil liberties and academic freedom are vital to a university. But the freedoms of individuals are not absolute. Heavily weighted though they must be, civil liberties and academic freedom must be balanced against other important principles such as national security.  

Striking the perfect balance between civil liberties and academic freedom and the desire to improve internal security is an enduring, complex and difficult challenge. 

The faculty statement goes on to propose a group to address the difficult details of achieving this balance. Berkeley needs to adopt a similar approach of coming to grips with these hard questions of balance. The City Council should insist that the Police Review Commission do so.  

Bob Jacobsen 

Berkeley 

924 Gilman Jan. 18: Christian Reigh, Dystrophy, Stalker Potential, Lower 48, Thought Crime, No Direction; Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualities, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; Feb. 1: American Steel, Pitch Black, Fleshies, The Blottos, Sexy; Feb. 2: Dead and Gone, Black Cat Music, The Cost, The Frisk; Feb. 8: Divit, Scissorhands, Rufio, Don’t Look Down, Fenway Park; Feb. 9: Pansy Division, Subincision, The Fadeaways; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan.15: Mark Murphy’s jazz vocal workshop; Jan. 16: Bob Schoen Jazz Sextet; Jan. 17: Christy Dana Jazz Duo; Jan. 18: Karen Guthrie & Her Trio; 10 p.m., Bluesman Hideo Date; Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Jan. 21: Renegade Sidemen w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 22: Doug Arrington; Jan. 23: Junebug; Jan. 24: Carl Garrett; Jan. 25: Anna & Ellen Hoffman; Jan. 26: Robin Gregory & Bliss Rodriguez; Jan. 27: “Acoustic Soul”; Jan. 28: “Renegade Sidemen” w/Calvin Keyes; Jan. 29: Tangria; Jan. 30: Bob Schoen; Jan. 31: Jason Martineau & Dave Sayen; Music starts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Blake’s Jan. 15: View From Here, $3; Jan. 16: Zion Rock, Hebro, $3; Jan. 17: Electronica with Ascension, $5; Jan. 18: Ten Ton Chicken, Black Dog Band with Peanut Daniels, $5; Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: Hot Buttered Rum String Band, Wildsang, $3; Jan. 23: Mindz Eye, Hebro (Upstairs in the Tinibar), $5; Jan. 24: Electronica w/Ascension, $5; Jan. 25: Shady Lady, Blue Room, $6; Jan. 26: Dank Man Shank, TBA, $5; Jan. 27: Motivators, Funklogic, $3; Jan. 28: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band, $4; Jan. 29: Funkanauts, Len Patterson Trio, $3; Jan. 30: Sunru, Slaptones, DJ Kurse, $10; Jan. 31: Electronica w/ Ascension, $5; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@ yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 16: Realistic; Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Pena Cultural Center Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15. 3105 Shattack Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, flute, Kana Mimaki, piano, will perform Prokofiev’s Sonata #2 for flute and piano, and Ceasar Franck’s Sonata in A Major; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, cello, Laura Carmichael, clarinet, perform otherworldly and intense duos by Xenakis and Kaaija Saariaho. $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St., 594-4000 x687, rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab, special guests and live performances; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord, Bach, Buxtehude and Pachelbel; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., eight women’s voices and continuo, also baritone Hugh Davis will sing priest’s acclamations. $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, 415-979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Oakland Symphony Chorus Jan. 26: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Conductor Tony Pasqua will lead a study of Joseph Haydn’s “Harmoniemesse” and Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied.” $25, $30 door; St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 6013 Lawton St., Oakland, 465-4199. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Music Director Kent Nagano, continues its 31st season with two performances of Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St. 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band,” teenage recording artist from the Bay Area. $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean performs Ferscobaldi, Froberger and Bach. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Dance 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical and modern ballet to hard-core hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

Theater 

“Every Inch a King” Jan. 11 through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.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 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragi-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

“Sisters” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 16. The story of the Prozorov sisters looking in a very human way at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee, 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

Exhibits  

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

“Rhythms” Jan. 20 - Feb. 2: Art installation of sculpture, neon, music and video projections by Kati Casida. Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St., 845-5373 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: Exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

Traywick Gallery: “New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture explores memory as the building block of consciousness, learning and experience. Steve Brisco’s paintings on paper address issues of identity through evocative combinations of text and imagery. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., 1316 10th St. 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Reception and presentation by the elders Thurs. Nov. 15, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Reception for artist, Jan. 12: 6 - 8 p.m., Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography. Wed, Fri. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thur. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

“Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado” Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: Over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. $4 - $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Jan. 11 through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Her serious of work range from large abstract paintings to intimate boxes with collections of found objects, Jan.13 through Apr. 4th Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany,524-9283 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; Jan. 15: Jake Fuchs reads from his new mystery “Death of a Professer.”; Jan. 17: Anthony Bourdain takes a “Cooks Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal”; Jan. 18: Luis Rodriguez looks at “Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times.”; Jan. 19: Wen Ho Lee with Helen Zia on “My Country Versus Me.”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly and Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd and Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell and Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Jan. 16: Elliott Hester discusses “Plane Insanity.”; Jan. 17: Jan Friedman discusses her new book “Eccentric America.”; Jan. 22: Lee Foster discusses his new guide, “Northern California History Weekends.”; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

The call is out for poems about Searching, the theme of the 76th Poets’ Dinner contest. Other poem categories are Beginnings and Endings, Humor, Nature, Love, Spaces and Places, People, and Poets’ Choice. 

Poems must be original, unpublished, in English, and not previous prize or honorable mention winners. Maximum 40 lines each poem, and the maximum entry is three; one poem per category.  

There is no entry fee and the contest is open to all entries with a Jan. 16 postmark deadline. 

Entries must be typed on 8 1/2-by-11- inch sheet of paper, one side only, with the chosen category shown in the upper- right-hand corner of each page.  

Send without author’s name. Mail three copies of each entry to Joyce Odam, 2432 48th Ave., Sacramento, CA 95882.  

The Poets’ Dinner will announce winners on March 16 at the Holiday Inn, Emeryville. For more information call 841-1217.  

The City Council will hold a public hearing tonight on Brothers Liquors, deemed by the Zoning Adjustments Board to be a nuisance to its South Berkeley neighborhood. The ZAB placed a number of restrictions on the business, but the owners, appealing the conditions placed on the business, claim the restrictions will ruin the store. 

Neighbors say Brothers Liquors has been a hub for illegal activity, including drug dealing, prostitution and public drunkenness. On Oct. 25, the ZAB agreed with them and declared the business at 3039 Shattuck Ave. a public nuisance. On Nov. 5, it imposed 11 operating restrictions on it. 

“I would say the restrictions are very reasonable given the history of code violations at the site,” said Senior Code Enforcement Officer Victoria Johnson. 

Prior to voting, the ZAB heard multiple testimonials, mostly from a neighborhood group called PAIN, or People Against Insanity in the Neighborhood, which described regular drug activity, public drunkenness, prostitution, vandalism and disturbances of the peace.  

The manager and operator of the liquor store, Monsoor Ghanem, is appealing the ZAB restrictions claiming they were imposed without due process, and that they are designed to make his business not economically feasible to operate. Ghanem is the son of owner Abdo Aldafari, who purchased the store in 1991. 

Attached to the appeal Ghanem submitted to the planning department was a petition signed by 400 neighbors or patrons who support the current management and policies of the store. 

Because of the appeal, the operating restrictions have not gone into effect  

According to a report by the Department of Planning and Development, the city attorney stands by the ZAB’s action and recommended the council reject Ghanem’s appeal and activate the restrictions. 

After tonight’s public hearing, the council could take three actions, according to the staff report. It can uphold the restrictions, remove the restrictions altogether or order the business closed. The council usually waits until the meeting following a public hearing to take action. 

The operating restrictions included a mandatory store closure at 9 p.m. and the posting of a city-approved security guard. Another requirement is a ZAB review every three months for next 18 months. If the ZAB determines the police have been called to the store four times in any 30-day period for verified illegal activity, a public hearing would be triggered, which would probably result in additional restrictions or the forced closure of the liquor store.  

According to the appeal submitted by Ghanem’s lawyer, Thomas Swihart of Berkeley-based Thomas Swihart & Associates, the early closing and the security guard requirement would threaten Ghanem’s ability to stay in business. 

“The condition that will deal a fatal blow to that business is the requirement that Brothers close every night (including weekend nights) at 9 p.m.,” Swihart wrote.  

Swihart claims that Ghanem would lose up to 70 percent of his liquor profits because the majority of liquor sales occur after 9 p.m. In addition, Swihart said that the estimated $74,000 it would cost to have a security guard posted on site during all hours of operation would be financially punitive. 

Contacted by phone, Ghanem said he preferred not to comment because of the pending appeal and referred all questions to Swihart who did not return calls to the Daily Planet on Monday.  

According to the report, problems have continued at the store since ZAB’s declaration of public nuisance.

Editor: 

Semir Zeki’s contention that art appreciation starts in the brain, not the heart, suggests that we, as human beings, are nothing more than robotic slaves (”Artists, Academics, Explain Arts Appeal” Daily Planet). The current scientific mentality, which seems to dominate the modern understanding of just about everything, looks to explain all reality simply by weighing, measuring and counting.  

Now that some modern artists have also jumped on the scientific bandwagon, we may now look forward to art that doesn’t appeal to our spiritual nature, but is crafted from the wisdom of machines and computers.  

Artist Sarah Filley’s comment that “science is at the forefront as to where we are going as a culture” is certainly correct. We haven’t hit rock bottom just yet.  

Michael Bauce 

Berkeley 

... And they lived happily ever after. 

Don’t believe it happens? Even hard-nosed cynics at Berkeley’s KPFA radio are saying such endings are possible. 

At a weekend Pacifica Board Foundation meeting in New York, former Pacifica Network News director Dan Coughlin – fired for airing a 30-second news piece on protests at the network – was named executive director of the foundation. 

Fired programmer-turned-volunteer Larry Bensky was brought back onto the paid staff at KPFA and fired or banned staff and volunteers at Pacifica’s New York station, WBAI, are coming back to work.  

The station headquarters, moved from Berkeley to Washington, D.C. in the heat of the clash between the local station and national management, might come home to the offices adjacent to KPFA’s office at 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. This will be discussed during the March board meeting in Los Angeles. 

In a phone interview Monday, Bensky applauded Coughlin’s hiring.  

“This is a major, positive step,” he said. “It signifies a return to Pacifica’s basic mission.” 

KPFA, the oldest of the five listener-sponsored stations, was founded in Berkeley in 1949 by Pacifist Lew Hill. But the Pacifica Foundation Board was taken over several years ago by people who did not have Hill’s vision in mind, according to Bensky. The board changed its bylaws and became self-perpetuating, no longer including representation from the various local advisory boards.  

A popular KPFA station manager was terminated in 1999, causing listeners and programmers to take to the streets and the airwaves in protest. The movement to make the board more democratic and accountable to listeners spread across the country. Lawsuits were filed and recently settled through mediation in an Alameda County courtroom. 

“It’s an amazing turn of events,” said Coughlin, 38, speaking on Monday from New York.  

His goal? “To restore accountability, the democratic process and transparency to Pacifica.” 

The board is in the process of changing into one in which at least five of the members will be elected by local advisory boards of the five stations. “Pacifica will become the first national media organization to be democratically run,” Coughlin said. 

The new executive director, whose interim position is in place for just 60 days, has a daunting task before him. “The organization is functionally bankrupt,” he said. The former board is thought to have squandered its listener-generated funds on lawyers to fight the listener and staff-sponsored law suits, security guards to keep those fired and banned out of the stations, consultants and public relations firms. 

“The rebels have come down from the hills to find the (bad guys) have looted” the treasury, he said. 

But Coughlin said he’s ready to face the challenge, noting that KPFA came out of its crisis stronger than ever. 

An outstanding question, yet to be examined by the board, is whether the headquarters will be brought back to Berkeley. “In our view, it’s an essential part of the process of justice and reconciliation,” Coughlin said. 

Editors: 

I recently became a casualty of the current recession and lost half of my income. Without BREAD hours, I would not have been able to pay for a repair of my leaky roof. I’m happy to say that my house is now warmer and drier because of BREAD. I am disappointed that your article (Jan. 14 “BREAD criticized for diverting tax dollars) focused on an imaginary weakness of the local currency rather than highlighting the many positive contributions that BREAD makes to our community. 

Using BREAD Hours is the taxable equivalent of using federal cash. I’m sure your paper would not print an article examining the ways that U.S. dollars allow for tax evasion. Far more newsworthy is the fact that BREAD Hours are an important resource for local residents and businesses, allowing us to pay for needed goods and services in a way that supports one another. 

BREAD helps to create a resilient economy that is less vulnerable to shifts in the national and multinational arena, reinvesting in the local community rather than draining resources into large corporations.  

I hope your readers ignore the inflammatory overtones of your article and discover how helpful and easy to use BREAD Hours really are. 

Jovida Ross 

Berkeley 

Some of the issues waiting for the City Council upon its return tonight from winter recess include a car-sharing agreement, a residential energy conservation contest and a proposed architectural study of the stately Old City Hall for a possible seismic upgrade, face lift and expansion. 

Car sharing available next month 

The council is expected to approve a $54,000 agreement with City CarShare to provide and manage a minimum of five cars for a program that will allow members to share vehicles, thereby saving the cost and hassle of car ownership. 

“Car-sharing is an innovative mobility service that brings individuals, families and businesses the benefits of access to a car on a per-use basis without the costs and responsibilities of ownership,” the city manager’s resolution reads. 

The agreement calls for the program to begin on Feb. 1 and continue through Jan. 31, 2003.  

According to a brochure accompanying the resolution, the program has proven a success in several cities including Seattle, Montreal and San Francisco.  

Eligible applicants for membership in the CarShare program must be 25 years old, hold a valid drivers license and be acceptable to CarShare’s auto insurance company.  

Members can make advance reservations for an automobile, which will be a brand new Volkswagen Beetle, and then pick the car up at either the Oxford/Kittredge or the Berkeley Way parking lots, both of which are easily accessible from downtown or the UC Berkeley campus. Membership cost will include a monthly fee plus a usage rate. 

Energy conservation contest 

The Energy Commission has recommended the council approve a residential energy contest designed to showcase some of the innovative techniques Berkeley residents developed to conserve power during the recent energy crisis.  

According to the resolution the contest is “meant to provide an opportunity for Berkeley residents to learn from their neighbors.” It is more about but more about “publicizing creative (and we hope contagious) local efforts to reduce residential energy consumption” and less about choosing a winner. 

Contestants will be asked to produce a PG&E bill that shows they paid less than $12.50 for the month of January or produce a PG&E bill that shows they reduced their electricity consumption by 40 percent from the previous January. 

The Energy Commission will judge the contest entries and select 10 finalists. Each finalist will receive a $75 gift certificate for products available through the Berkeley Conservation and Energy Program. The cost to city is estimated at about $4,000. 

The grand old hall 

The council will likely authorize a $100,000 contract with ELS Architects to study two possible renovation plans for Old City Hall. Both plans will include a seismic retrofit and one will examine a possible expansion and modification of the City Council Chambers.  

Councilmembers have long expressed a desire to update the chambers with current technology as well as expand its size to accommodate larger numbers of people. 

ELS Architects will present the city with two possible renovation scenarios. One will seismically upgrade the building and restore it as it currently exists. The second will do the same but will also include designs and costs for an expansion of one of the building’s wings to increase the size of the City Council Chambers.  

The resolution to authorize the contract with ELS does not include estimates of what the two renovation scenarios might cost. 

Other items 

• The council will likely authorize a $396,000 contract with Gilbert-Morad for construction of the Shorebird Environmental Learning Center at the Marina. 

• The council is expected to adopt the first reading of an ordinance that will limit fast-food outlets on San Pablo Avenue. 

• The council will consider requiring the police department to send district crime reports to each council representative and a citywide crime report to the mayor each week. 

• The council will consider a request from the Commission on Disability to change the scent warning on city meeting notices to be more specific about health hazards related to scented products. 

• The council will hear an informational report from the Department of Planning and Development on the status of the bus shelters, which had been scheduled to be in place before this year’s rainy season. 

Closed session meeting 

The City Council will conduct an executive session meeting at 5:30 p.m. at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in the second floor conference room to discuss possible litigation against the University of California if the UC Regents approve the Northeast Quadrant Science and Safety Projects and the 1990 Long Range Development Plan Amendment. 

UC is proposing a 325,000-square-foot project on both sides of Hearst Avenue between Gayley Road and Oxford Street that will include several buildings that will provide new academic and laboratory space and a parking structure. 

There will be 10 minutes set aside prior to the council recessing into closed session for members of the public interested in commenting in the issue. 

Berkeley Housing Authority meeting 

The Berkeley Housing Authority will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers to discuss several issues related to the 75 units of city-owned housing. Housing Director Stephen Barton will ask the authority for authorization to issue a Request for Proposals to property management companies interested in taking over the management of the public units.  

Also Barton will ask the authority to issue another call for those interested in the maintenance contract for the 75 units. If authorized the contract will be for one year and no more than $80,000. It is also expected that the authority will approve a $155,000 contract with Mosto Construction, Inc. for the Sojourner Truth Court Public Housing Storm Drainage Improvement Project.  

The City Council meeting will be held tonight at 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting will also be broadcast live on KPFB Radio, 89.3 and Cable C-TV, Channel 78. 

Editor, 

As a member of BREAD, I would like to offer a correction to the front-page story about the local currency project on Jan. 14. The article misrepresents BREAD as a program that “allows for small-scale tax evasion.”  

On the contrary, local currencies have been in existence for more than a decade and are completely lawful. BREAD is a local currency system that puts the community in control of its money - keeping wealth within our regional economy and providing low-income people with access to goods and services. BREAD members participate in order to build community and boost our local economy, not to avoid paying taxes. 

Upon joining the local exchange program each participant receives a new member kit that explains how to report his/her BREAD income on the Schedule C or C-EZ of IRS Form 1040. BREAD also provides its members with access to IRS resources, such as Publication 525 Taxable and Nontaxable Income for additional information.  

Similar to earning tips as restaurant employees or federal dollars as independent contractors, BREAD participants must report their barter income at fair market value. Participants in the Bay Area’s local currency project are generally conscientious and have a vision of creating a better community.  

Like me, most BREAD members would be upset that the Berkeley Daily Planet inaccurately portrayed us as ignoring our civic responsibilities of paying income taxes. Please correct the implication that BREAD allows people to ignore their tax responsibilities. To both the nonprofit organization that publishes the BREAD directory and the participants it is clear that BREAD is a lawful currency and that members are obligated to report their barter income. 

Additionally, BREAD should be celebrated for its achievements in providing disabled people with access to goods and services, training underemployed people for jobs in the workforce, supporting locally-owned businesses and supplementing low-income families with access to healthy food, among other benefits.  

Local currencies are a boon to the country’s social welfare and to our local community and environment. 

Miyo Sakashita 

Berkeley 

Energy conservation measures in your home or business can save you money, energy and even help to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels as a source of power. The trick is in finding out what measures you should take. Then you can find the right products to help conserve energy. 

Perform your own energy self-audit in your home or business. It takes less than an hour, and can end up saving you energy and money and make your home or office a more comfortable place to be. And, of course, you will be doing your part to reduce our reliance on oil and gas and the pressure to import or drill in wildlife areas. You will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from burning fuel.  

What to do 

The main categories are: lighting; heating/cooling systems; insulation, hot water use; and plug loads (appliances and equipment that plug in). You can set up a chart for each category, and leave room for quantities of each item on your checklist. 

Commercial buildings will have other things, like walk-in refrigerators or hard-wired specialty equipment. For assistance on items or areas not covered by this article, contact Berkeley’s Energy Office at 981-5435. For TDD, 510-981-6903. 

Lighting 

Is there sufficient light from windows in areas where overhead lights could be turned off during the day or light sensors installed? Do you have a lot of incandescent bulbs? Incandescent bulbs are the traditional light bulbs that get very hot. 

Incandescent bulbs consume a great deal of energy. All that heat coming from each bulb is wasted energy. Incandescent bulbs can usually be replaced by compact fluorescent lamps, which use one-quarter of the energy for the same amount of light. Mark down the number of lamps that have incandescent bulbs, and their wattage. Remember to look for ceiling fixtures, small occasional lamps and bathroom lights. Once you’ve identified all the incandescent lamps, mark down the quantities of each watt size to be replaced.  

Replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps is simple in most cases. To find the correct watt size in CFLs, simply divide the existing bulb’s watts by four. So, to replace a 100-watt incandescent lamp, use a 25-watt CFL. It’s that easy, and you will save three-quarters of the energy per lamp you replace. That might be as much as $15 per month, depending on the number of CFLs you install. Inexpensive, high-quality CFLs are available from the Berkeley Conservation and Energy Program, through the Ecology Center, at all Berkeley Farmer’s Markets an other retailers in Berkeley.  

Heating 

Next look at the heating/cooling system. Is your thermostat programmable? What are the set points for daytime versus nighttime? Daytime temperatures should be about 68 degrees Fahrenheit, higher for the elderly, very young infants, or someone suffering from an illness where the cold would contribute to the illness.  

For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you’ll save up to 5 percent on heating costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  

If you feel chilly, layer your clothes. It’s the trapped air inside the layers of clothing that will keep you warmer. Nighttime, or unoccupied building temperatures should be reduced to 55 degrees. Set your thermostat to these temperatures for weekdays. For weekends, set the temperatures to reflect the building’s actual occupancy – if you are not home on weekends, then set the thermostat to vacation mode, or 55 degrees. Programmable thermostats are relatively inexpensive (about $30) and available through the BC&E program. 

Air conditioners should be set to kick on at 80 degrees. Fortunately Berkeley has very few days that require air conditioning.  

Check heating ducts for leaks – don’t use duct tape, as ironically, it dries out quickly and looses its sealing capabilities. Replace bent and poorly-fitting ducts, and seal with a foil-based or mastic approved for heating ducts. 

The building’s envelope is another area to check. Do exit doors have a bottom weatherstrip in good condition and a raised threshold? Note those that don’t, and measure their width (32 inches, 34 inches, 36 inches, etc.) and thickness (1-1/2 inch, 1-5/8 inch, etc.). 

Windows should be checked for air leaks, dry rot, and cracks. Broken windows should be replaced. Homeowners who have single-pane, double-hung windows (sashes slide up and down) where the wood needs replacing should take advantage of the opportunity to replace them with wooden, double-pane, insulated windows. Kits are available for between $225 and $350 per window, depending on size. Double pane windows will make your home much more comfortable by reducing drafts and conductive heat losses. See the Energy Office’s Web site article on the Cold Wall Effect. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ENERGY/coldwall.htm. Measure windows for weatherstripping as needed, or complete replacement. 

Metal-framed windows actually conduct the heat out of a building faster than any other type of frame. 

When possible, replace your metal windows with wooden framed ones, which have the highest insulating value. Vinyl windows are better at insulating than metal, but have other problems associated with them, including off-gassing toxins as they heat up, which contributes to poor indoor air quality. (See the EPA’s Web site on Sick Building Syndrome, www.epa. gov/ebtpages/airindoosickbuildingsyndrome.html). Wood is still the best solution for window frames. 

Attics should be insulated to a minimum of R-30; more is better if there is sufficient room. Never pack insulation into a space, or block eaves or ventilation holes. Doing so will trap moisture and create a habitat for termites, powder post beetles and other pests. Walls and crawl spaces should also be insulated. See the Energy Office’s Powerplay article on insulating at www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/ENERGY/10insulate. 

All outlets and wall switches should have insulating foam gaskets. These take only a minute to install, and will help eliminate drafts, especially on outer walls. Note the number of outlets and switches in each room, and mark them down. 

Hot water heaters should be inspected. Note whether your tank is gas or electric, and whether or not it has an insulation blanket on it. A blanket can save as much as 15 percent of water heating costs. Set the thermostat to between 112 and 120 degrees. (Be sure the tank has those earthquake straps securely holding it to the wall.) Check the pipes running to and from the tank: there should be insulation on all the hot water outlet pipes for as far as you can reach and insulation on the first five feet of the cold water inlet pipe. Heat is lost through the inlet pipe, so insulating it will save energy. Measure the amount of insulation you will need, and mark it down.  

Check your sink and shower aerators – if they aren’t low-flow, you are wasting money and energy. Note how many need replacing. 

Plug loads 

Plug loads are the fastest-growing category of energy use in homes and businesses. There are more computers, copiers, FAX machines and printers in homes and businesses than ever before. Check each computer for screen savers and “sleep” modes. Be sure the EnergyStar features are activated.  

Check televisions, VCRs, stereos, DVD players and anything else that works with a remote, and plug each one into a power strip that has a “kill” switch, and turn the equipment off there when you aren’t using it. The reason these things work with the remote is that they aren’t really “off,” they are in a stand-by mode, waiting for you to power them up again. 

Check the number of large appliances you have. Large appliances, such as vending machines and refrigerators should be plugged into a “watt squasher” or vending miser, a simple device that plugs into an outlet, and compresses the current flowing to your appliance. This reduces the amount of energy needed for refrigerators, vending machines and water coolers. Watt squashers cost about $35 each, but a study done at Rutgers University showed that one of these used on a vending machine can save approximately 50 percent of the energy used on average; about 2,000 kilowatt hours a year.  

Shopping wisely 

Now that you have a list of the items, you can organize a shopping trip. Note that the items that will have the fasted payoff are compact fluorescent lamps. If you have a limited budget, start with these. 

For a list of residential energy conservation products, go to www.ecologycenter.org and check out the energy-saving products listed in the BC&E program. These products are available at wholesale prices to anyone, and can be found at Berkeley Farmers’ Markets, the Ecology Center, and various retailers in Berkeley.  

For commercial assistance, contact the City of Berkeley’s Energy Office at 510-981-5435. 

Alice La Pierre is an energy analyst for the city’s Energy Office. Her column appears as a public service the first and third Tuesdays of the month. 

The Berkeley police arrested 10 adult women and one teen-ager for soliciting for prostitution Saturday.  

The arrests, in response to citizen and business complaints, were all along San Pablo Avenue.  

The minor was a 16-year-old runaway from the south peninsula area. 

No “Johns” patronizing the prostitutes were arrested.  

“The focus this time was on the women,” said Lt. Cynthia Harris, adding, “we do both.” 

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and its creditors spent hours in bankruptcy court Monday poring over the nitty gritty of the utility’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy. 

Months before California’s largest utility can put its plan in motion, it must get U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali’s approval of its disclosure statement — an explanation of how it plans to reorganize itself and pay its creditors. 

Montali could approve the statement as early as Wednesday. 

The statement will serve as a type of voter’s guide for PG&E’s thousands of creditors as they decide whether to support or reject the utility’s plan. 

Attorneys representing major banks, disabled workers and power companies told Montali various details they’d like to see fleshed out before they vote. Creditors whose claims have yet to be resolved questioned whether the utility is setting aside enough money to pay them if they should prevail. 

Former PG&E employees expressed concern about whether they will receive workers’ compensation from PG&E, or from the new companies it hopes to spin off. 

The largest creditors are to have 60 percent of their debts paid in cash, and 40 percent in long-term bank notes. Some told Montali they wonder if the value of those notes would slide if a flood of notes hits the market simultaneously. 

PG&E attorney Jim Lopes assured Montali the notes would trade at full value. The utility also reported it has successfully resolved 23 of the 73 objections it has received to the rough draft of its disclosure statement. 

The true test for PG&E’s plan comes on Jan. 25. State officials will argue that PG&E’s plan requires Montali to override state law — which is frowned upon in the bankruptcy code. 

Montali will have to rule whether PG&E’s plan is feasible enough to merit pre-empting state law to allow PG&E to transfer power plants, transmission lines and other assets from state to federal regulation. 

PG&E says the transfers will allow it to raise the $13.2 billion it needs to pay all its debts and resume buying its own electricity without a rate increase. The state spent billions of dollars buying power for PG&E and two other financially troubled utilities last year. 

Consumer advocates and members of the Public Utilities Commission worry that the transfers will push electricity prices higher, since the state no longer would set the price of power that PG&E sells from its plants. 

PG&E filed for federal bankruptcy protection nine months ago, after a state-ordered rate freeze prevented it from collecting the full cost of electricity and natural gas from its customers. 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.canb.uscourts.gov 

http://www.pge.com 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov 

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis on Monday rejected federal efforts to settle a lawsuit over the state’s right to review oil and gas leases off California’s coast. 

The U.S Department of the Interior is appealing a federal judge’s June decision that upheld the state’s right to review leases granted by the federal government decades ago. 

Davis rejected the proposed settlement because it would have required the state to give up that right, said Resources Secretary Mary Nichols. 

“The governor plans to fight this tooth and nail, all the way up to the Supreme Court if necessary,” said Davis spokesman Steve Maviglio. 

The state sued in November 1999 to block the Interior Department from reissuing, without state review, 36 leases originally issued between 18 and 34 years ago. The tracts range from northern Ventura County to southern San Luis Obispo County. 

The Interior Department referred calls Monday to the Justice Department, which is representing the federal government in the suit. A spokeswoman there had no immediate comment. 

However, the federal government previously has said the state will get a chance to review the 36 leases later, perhaps when the oil companies submit revised exploration plans if they eventually decide to drill. The leases let the companies do exploration and development work, which typically takes five to 10 years, but no drilling. 

Renewal constitutes “a very grave risk to the state of California and to our environment,” Nichols contended. Since the leases were first granted, California has established two marine sanctuaries and several species, including the southern sea otter, have been added to the endangered species list. In addition, a spill would damage the state’s beaches and commercial fishing industry, she said. 

Currently 20 massive oil and gas platforms operate off California’s coast, where they are visible from shore. Nichols said that proves the state is contributing enough to the nation’s energy needs — a sensitive topic since the state’s power woes last year led at times to rolling blackouts and calls for federal assistance. 

Much of the light crude has already been pumped, leaving behind “something that is closer to asphalt than something that you would put in your car,” Nichols said. “Basically this stuff is deadly to marine life, and it’s very hard to clean up.” 

SUNNYVALE — Tim Koogle, the former chief executive of Yahoo! Inc., made $31.9 million exercising stock options in late November. 

Koogle, who stepped down from the CEO post when Terry Semel took over last May but remains a director, bought 2 million shares for just a fraction of a cent each and sold them for between $15.51 and $15.64 a share, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. 

Around the same time, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang sold 350,000 shares for $5.5 million. Yang still holds more than 44 million Yahoo shares, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. 

Yahoo stock fell $1.15, nearly 6 percent, to close at $19.01 a share in trading Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Yahoo is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter earnings Wednesday afternoon.

SAN FRANCISCO — John Walker Lindh bumbled his way through his first trip to the Middle East, unwittingly insulting other Muslims and repeatedly getting into trouble with authorities, say those who encountered the California teen-ager in Yemen. 

Ultimately, he came to feel that the brand of Islam he encountered in Yemen’s capital was not fervent enough — he even objected to having women in his classes, according to students and administrators at the school where he studied Arabic. 

Lindh, the 20-year-old American who was captured in November fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan, traveled alone to Yemen at 17 in the summer of 1998. A recent Muslim convert, he stepped off the plane full of zeal. 

He donned white robes and sandals, wore a full beard, and even pretended to speak broken English with an Arabic accent before abandoning the school where his parents had paid thousands of dollars for a year’s stay. 

Lindh instead sought more fundamentalist teachings in the country’s dangerous northern mountains, but was repeatedly turned back by Yemen’s military, said Steven Hyland, who taught English and studied Arabic at the Yemen Language Center. 

“This is an individual whose idealism led to ideology and he lost all ability for pragmatic thought,” Hyland said by telephone from Texas. 

It was not the first time he embarrassed the school, situated in the capital of San‘a. 

That came the morning after his arrival, after he exchanged several hundred dollars — a substantial sum in a country where the average civil servant earns about $75 a month. On his way back from the money market, Lindh saw beggars and decided to pay alms to the poor, one of the five pillars of Islam. 

“When you give money to beggars in the street, you give them about 10 rials,” Hyland said. “He starts passing out 200-rial notes, which is way, way, way too much.” 

Lindh was mobbed. A woman who worked at the school had to break up the crowd to protect the young American. 

“John is in the middle of this whirlwind of people,” Hyland recalled. “He’s much taller than the average Yemeni, with a fist full of cash just raised in the air with his left hand and with his right hand just duking the Yemenis away.” 

After that incident, Lindh told other students he was disenchanted with aspects of Yemeni culture and began skipping classes at the school, where about 15 language teachers instruct four or five students each in several elegant buildings near the city’s center. 

“From that point on, Yemenis weren’t Muslims and that was the argument that he tried to make,” Hyland said. 

Josh Mortensen, another student, said from Cairo that Lindh asked peers to call him Suleiman, affected a “bogus” Arabic accent and wore traditional Muslim garb unlike that of most Yemenis. Other foreign students at the school mockingly nicknamed him “Yusuf Islam,” the name pop singer Cat Stevens took when he became a Muslim and rejected his music career. 

“That whole convert thing just doesn’t compute for lifelong Muslims. It’s almost like they’re being made fun of in a way,” Mortensen said. “He was so clueless and so rigid, and it was almost patronizing. He adopts all these ridiculous stereotypes.” 

Lindh slipped up again by approaching another student, Rizwan Mawani, who happens to be a Shia Muslim, and asking for directions to a Sunni mosque. Lindh was adamant about not wanting to pray with Shiites, who are part of the other main branch of Islam. 

“I wasn’t insulted. I found it quite humorous,” Mawani recalled in a telephone interview from London. In Yemen, Mawani said, Shia and Sunni Muslims typically pray side by side. 

Lindh was frustrated when he saw some Yemeni Muslims ignoring the calls to prayer, students said. He was particularly bothered when Mawani told Lindh he was more interested in taking a nap, Mawani recalled. 

Mawani said Lindh considered himself a Salafi, part of a movement whose members believe they are promulgating the true Islamic faith as taught by the prophet Muhammad in seventh-century Arabia. 

“Yemenis speak one of the purist forms of Arabic, but it’s not a fanatical country,” said Barbara Bodine, U.S. ambassador at the time. “Somebody looking for that fire-and-brimstone approach would get to Yemen and be very unhappy. It’s simply not there.” 

The language center’s owner, Sabri Saleem, said Lindh disappeared after complaining that his classes included women and that the secular school did not offer the Islamic studies he craved. 

Lindh’s goal, other students said, was to reach the mountains of northern Yemen, a risky venture for an American teen-ager. Militants there have kidnapped or killed numerous Western tourists. 

“John was problematic for the center because he kept trying to steal away to the northern part of the country because there was an Islamic theologian there that he wanted to study under,” Hyland said. 

Saleem, interviewed by telephone recently while visiting the United States, said Lindh did not surface until police caught him at the airport months later. He had overstayed his visa and failed to get an exit visa. 

Lindh came home to Marin County, north of San Francisco, in the spring of 1999. Eight months later, he returned to Yemen, then went to Pakistan and then Afghanistan, where he fought with the Taliban. Now he is being held by the U.S. military as the Bush administration decides how to deal with him. 

Lindh’s parents referred all questions to their lawyer, James Brosnahan. His spokeswoman had no comment on Lindh’s stay in Yemen. 

Islamic experts said that in his naivete, Lindh, a baptized Roman Catholic who converted to Islam at 16, fell into a trap so common that Muhammad himself predicted it. 

“A person who might have been living a typical happy-go-lucky life and then he really gets very much attracted to the teaching of Islam and its ideal, but then he wants to change overnight — that’s what the prophet actually was teaching against,” said Jamal Badawi of the Islamic Information Foundation in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “He said, ‘Go gently.”’ 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.ylcint.com 

WASHINGTON — John Walker Lindh, the young Californian caught holed up with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, remains aboard a naval ship at sea, military officials confirmed Monday. 

While other detainees were being taken to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba, Lindh’s immediate future was less certain. 

Officials said 464 al-Qaida and Taliban detainees are in U.S. custody altogether — 413 in Afghanistan, the 20 in Cuba, the 30 in transit and Lindh on the USS Bataan in the Arabian Sea. 

Rear Adm. John Stufflebeem confirmed that Lindh, 20, is the only detainee on the USS Bataan. He said there has been no decision on where he will be taken next, or whether he will be charged. 

“He is the only individual that’s on USS Bataan at this moment,” Stufflebeem said. “His status is still being determined.” 

Lindh was found with captured Taliban fighters after northern alliance forces quelled a prison uprising in northern Afghanistan.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Christian Longo — on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for allegedly killing his wife and three children and dumping their bodies into coastal waters — was arrested at a grass-hut camp at a beach resort in Mexico, the FBI said Monday. 

Longo surrendered peacefully to about 20 FBI agents and Mexican police Sunday night at the grass-hut camp in Tulum, about 60 miles south of Cancun, the FBI said. 

The 27-year-old Longo, who has a history of petty crime and debt, had been on the run since the bodies of his wife and children were found in shallow areas of the Oregon coast in December. 

Authorities were able to track him down on a tip from a vacationer who returned to her home in Canada and recognized the fugitive’s picture on the FBI’s Web site, said Charles Mathews, the agency’s special agent in charge for Oregon. 

Longo was placed on the Most Wanted list on Friday. 

Longo agreed to return voluntarily to the United States, and was flown to Houston accompanied by FBI agents on Monday, Mathews said. He is jailed in Houston pending arraignment on federal charges and a return to Oregon. 

He is accused of the December murders of MaryJane Longo, 35, and their children: Zachary, 4, Sadie Ann, 3, and Madison, 2. Their bodies were found in Alsea Bay near Waldport and at a marina at Yaquina Bay at Newport, both on the central Oregon coast. 

Authorities will not say how they died. Longo is charged with aggravated murder. 

Longo was arrested at a place described by Mathews as “a beach camp of very modest resources” in Tulum. Famed for its Maya ruins, Tulum caters to a wide range of tourists — from beach campers to big spenders. 

Longo’s fate was sealed on Dec. 27, when he met a woman from the Montreal area at Hostel Mexico in Cancun. Longo identified himself as Brad but later said his name was Mike, Mathews said. 

The Canadian woman, who has not been identified, returned home on Dec. 29. 

Longo later moved to the Tulum beach camp using the name Michael Longo, and was staying in what Mathews called a “grass hut” with another person who didn’t know Longo was wanted. 

Publicity about the search for Longo prompted the Canadian woman to check the FBI’s Web site, which shows the agency’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. 

She recognized Longo and called the FBI, Mathews said. 

By volunteering to return to the United States, Longo apparently voids the sometimes-sticky issue of extradition from Mexico and the death penalty. Mexico does not extradite fugitives who might face a death sentence since it has no such penalty of its own. 

District Attorney Bernice Barnett of Lincoln County, where the murdered bodies were found, said Monday she has decided whether she will seek the death penalty. But she refused to disclose what her decision is. 

Longo drove a stolen vehicle to San Francisco and flew from there to Cancun on Dec. 27, using the stolen identification of a Newport man, the FBI said. 

Longo was asked to leave the Hostel Mexico in Cancun on Jan. 7 after some money was reported stolen, Mathews said, although the theft apparently was not directly associated with Longo. 

Mathews said Longo is to be arraigned on federal charges of illegal flight to avoid prosecution and then will be turned over to Texas authorities for extradition to Oregon. 

When Longo returns to Oregon will depend on whether he fights extradition, Mathews said. 

The body of Zachary Longo was found in a coastal inlet near Waldport on Dec. 19. The body of Sadie Ann was discovered in the same shallow inlet three days later. 

Divers found the bodies of Mary Jane and Madison two days later in a marina in Newport. Authorities launched a nationwide manhunt. 

A Dodge Durango that Longo allegedly stole from an Oregon car lot was found at the San Francisco airport, and Longo had been spotted in San Francisco twice in late December. 

Longo, who owned a construction cleaning business in Michigan, is named in six lawsuits seeking more than $30,000 and is wanted on two warrants in Michigan for probation violation and a larceny charge. When the Longos moved west last year, they reportedly left behind $60,000 in debts. 

The Longo family moved to Oregon from Ypsilanti, Mich. about three months earlier. 

Mathews said the woman who turned Longo in did so before Saturday night’s broadcast of “America’s Most Wanted” featured the fugitive but said she was asked to watch the program to confirm whether it was indeed Longo that she had seen. 

——— 

On the Net: 

FBI: http://www.fbi.gov 

The East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club made its endorsements Saturday for the March 5 primaries, which includes casting their approval for the upcoming Governor, Lieutenent Governor, Attorney General and Secretary of State races as well as assembly seats in district 14 and 16. 

As expected the club primarily endorsed candidates who have a history of supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. 

“Generally we endorse the candidates who we have a history with,” said club President Brenda Crawford. "Those candidates who take us seriously, we take seriously.”  

The club endorsed about 19 hopefuls including U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, Lonnie Hancock, who is running for the seat currently occupied by state Assembly member Dion Aroner, D-Berkeley, and former teacher Jacki Ruby Fox who is challenging incumbent Jerome Wiggins for his seat on the Alameda County Board of Education representing District 1. 

Democratic assembly candidate Charles Ramsey, who is running a tight race against Lonnie Hancock, the former mayor of Berkeley, said he was unable to attend the endorsement meeting because of a “scheduling snafu.” 

Club members said the issues they were most concerned about were problems of acceptance in the school system for LGBT youth, government services for LGBT seniors and, more locally, the lack of a public LGBT center in Berkeley that would serve as an information hub and meeting place for the LGBT community. 

About 25 members of the club, which has a total membership of 250, heard from Democratic candidates at the North Berkeley Senior Center prior to casting their endorsement votes. In order to receive the club's endorsement, candidates had to win 60 percent approval by the voting members. 

Lee won a unanimous endorsement from the club over challenger Kevin Green, vice chair of the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee. 

“I have always valued the endorsement of this club,” Lee said. “Not only because it wins elections but because I've been able to be very aggressive on important matters because of the input from this club.” 

Crawford said a pressing concern for the group is the discrimination aging members of the LGBT community face in senior-assisted living facilities.  

“Many people who fought hard for the rights the LGBT community now enjoy are getting older,” Crawford said. “And yet, they are among the most under-served.” 

Crawford said in some senior facilities life-long partners are not always allowed to live in the same quarters. She added that many single seniors feel it is necessary to “go back in the closet” to avoid discrimination.  

“I can assure you that I will come to you and ask what we need to do to make sure all seniors are treated equally,” Lee said. “I want your help in finding out what laws need to be changed.” 

Former Berkeley Mayor Lonnie Hancock also received overwhelming approval from a field of three other candidates. It may have helped that her primary opponent, Charles Ramsey, an attorney and member of the West Contra Costa School Board, did not attend the meeting.  

Assembly candidate Dave Brown, a former teacher who was the chief of staff for Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, did attend the meeting but failed to win the club's endorsement. 

“I am happy to have the endorsement of this hard-working and effective Democratic club,” Hancock said by telephone on Sunday. “I look forward to working with them to achieve full civil rights and full recognition for all people regardless of sexual orientation.” 

Hancock cited her long history of advocating for gay rights including the time in the early 1990s when she was arrested outside the Federal Building in San Francisco while protesting the lack of federal funding for HIV/AIDS research. 

“I kept a photo of the arrest on the wall of my office in the very same building a few years later when I worked for the Clinton Administration in the U.S. Department of 

Education,” she said. 

Hancock was the mayor of Berkeley from 1986 to 

1994. 

EBLG Club Secretary Ted Gartner asked the candidates if they would support a LGBT center in Berkeley. He said a center is badly needed to help strengthen the local LGBT community. He said a meeting center would be helpful in including developing leadership skills among LGBT youth and valuable networking place for entrepreneurs to strategize how to initiate more LGBT-owned, and more LGBT-serving businesses in Berkeley.  

“Right now there is no place to meet,” he said. “We need a gathering place similar to the one in San Francisco.” 

Hancock said that she supported the idea and added she would work with the Pacific Center for Human Growth, a Berkeley nonprofit that provides a host of services to the LGBT community, to secure funds for an assessment study for the project.  

Ramsey said he was distressed that he could not attend the meeting but there had been some confusion in his scheduling. 

“I was under the impression that the endorsement meeting had been canceled so it wouldn't conflict with a Democratic rally in Oakland,” Ramsey said by phone on Saturday. “I am a strong supporter of the East Bay Lesbian/Gay Democratic Club and I hope, even if I don't win their endorsement, they will allow me to meet with them so I can tell them what I'm about and hear about public policies they want to see accomplished.”  

The club also endorsed Jacki Fox Ruby for trustee on the Alameda County Board of Education. Ruby is a former teacher who has also won the endorsements of Mayor Shirley Dean and councilmembers Linda Maio, Polly Armstrong and Dona Spring. Ruby is challenging the current trustee Jerome Wiggins.  

“I am absolutely thrilled,” Ruby said. “Many of the issues facing students of varying sexual persuasions are issues that I've been working on for years as a teacher and children's advocate in Berkeley.” 

The primary elections will be held on March 5th and will be followed by the Nov. 5 elections. 

Most coaches would be thrilled with a 21-point win over a solid opponent. But when you’ve got the tradition of excellence of the Berkeley High girls’ program, it simply isn’t enough. 

The Lady ’Jackets used a 11-0 second-quarter run to put away the Freedom Falcons on Saturday night, but Berkeley head coach Gene Nakamura wasn’t pleased with the way his team played. Despite a huge size advantage, Berkeley’s inside duo of senior Sabrina Keys and Devanei Hampton scored a total of 19 points against the Falcons, and the ’Jackets seemed content to sit on their lead in the second half rather than blow out their opponent. 

Nakamura’s list of his team’s faults was long and painstaking. 

“We’re not communicating, we’re not blocking out, we’re careless with the ball, and we’ve got terrible decision-making,” Nakamura said. “You can only go so far with the way we’re playing, and that’s not very.” 

For a program that has made back-to-back appearances in the state championship game and two state titles in the 1990s, anything less than perfection meets with harsh criticism. This year’s team is sitting at 8-7, and no one is particularly happy with how the season is going. 

“It looks like they’ve never even played together at times,” Nakamura said. “Our JVs and freshmen make better decisions than we do.” 

Saturday’s game was never really in doubt, with Berkeley having an obvious advantage in size and athleticism. Although the Falcons stayed close for a while thanks to some great shooting by guard Angie Montenegro, who hit 3 3-pointers in the first quarter on her way to a game-high 20 points, the ’Jackets were getting layups and putbacks and held at 16-12 lead after the period. 

Berkeley’s Angelita Hutton keyed the run that put the game away in the second quarter, scoring 9 points and an assist during the 11-0 run that made the score 27-12. The Falcons didn’t score in the quarter until Montenegro hit another 3-pointer with 2:30 left in the half, and they wouldn’t get any closer for the rest of the game. 

But rather than piling on the points, the ’Jackets let Freedom hang around, giving Montenegro, her team’s only offensive threat, open looks at the basket.  

“We didn’t defend the three today, and (Montenegro) took advantage,” Nakamura said. “I don’t know if she always shoots like that, but she was great today, just unconscious.” 

Both Montenegro and center Lindsey Leroy, who played stiff defense on the Berkeley post players, picked up their fourth personal fouls late in the quarter. But even with them on the bench, Nakamura’s team couldn’t extend its lead until the final minutes of the game, when play became ragged and both teams started running and turning the ball over. 

“We should have dominated inside,” Nakamura said. “They were doubling and tripling, and we practiced how to combat that all week. We just didn’t execute.” 

Hutton led the way for Berkeley 15 points, but missed 8 of 9 shots in the second half, many of them out-of-control drives to the basket. Hampton scored 10 points, but the freshman grew frustrated as the game went on as she missed some easy shots and didn’t get foul calls. Keys showed her frustration in the third quarter, drawing a techical foul for talking with a Freedom player at the foul line. That opened the door a crack for the Falcons, who could have cut Berkeley’s lead to single digits, but they missed all four ensuing free throws. 

Monday, Jan. 14

Berkeley Community Chorus:  

Singers Wanted 

7 - 10 p.m. 

First Congregational Church 

Dana St., Between Durant and Channing 

BCCO commences rehearsals for its Spring production of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. No auditions. Wheelchair accessible. 964-0665 or download registration form: www.bcco.org. 

Interfaith Women For Peace 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Durant House 

2330 Durant 

A group of progressive women of diverse faith traditions who are 

committed to peace and justice. 527-6162. 

Tuesday, Jan. 15

Fibromyalgia Support Group 

12 - 2 p.m. 

Alta Bates Medical Center, Maffly Auditorium 

2001 Dwight Way 

Monthly meeting features Sandi Alstrand, Certified Accupressure Therapist. 601-0550 

Workers’ Compensation  

Medical and Legal Rights 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Back in Action Chiropractic Center 

2500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Dr. Ethan Feldman and Patricia Jones present a forum. 843-2584 

Freedom From Tobacco 

6 - 8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

The first of six quit smoking classes with the option of Acupuncture, using ear points to assist in quitting. 644-6422, quitnow@ci.berkeley.ca.us 

Berkeley Garden Club 

1 p.m. 

Epworth United Methodist Church 

1953 Hopkins St. 

Annie Hayes, owner of Annie’s Annuals, will introduce “New and Cool Plants.” Free. 524-4374. 

Camera Club Meeting 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church 

941 The Alameda 

Weekly meeting of the Berkeley Camera Club offers the opportunity to share slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 547-4514 

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Avalanche Safety Course 

6 - 9:30 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Dick Penniman presents a slide lecture and video presentation on the fundamentals of avalanche safety. $20. 527-4140 

Baby Bounce and Toddler  

Tales 

7 p.m. 

Public Library, West Branch 

1125 University Ave. 

A participatory program for families with children up to age 3. Stories, songs and fingerplays as entertainment and as a way for parents to learn some new material to share with their young ones. 981-6270. 

B.A.R.K. Chapter of American  

Civil Liberties Union 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Church 

1 Lawson Rd., Kensington 

January meeting. 558-0377.  

Amnesty International  

Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Claremont Branch of the Berkeley Public Library 

2940 Benevides Ave. 

Berkeley chapter’s first meeting of the year. 872-0768 

Peace Walk and Vigil 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley BART Station 

A peace walk and vigil to demonstrate opposition to U.S. bombing of Afghanistan. Ends at MLK Civic Center Park. www.indymedia.org. 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Location to be announced 

Informational Meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility District for the El Dorado proposed District 

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, Instructor Linda Spector teaches Drama Games and Improvisation and in the afternoon she teaches the Fundamentals of Acting. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

Debtors Anonymous 

6:30 - 7:45 p.m. 

Mandana Community Recovery Center 

3989 Howe St., Oakland 

Weekly Meeting. 415-522-9099 

Thursday, Jan. 17

Globalization: Chiapas and  

the Zapatistas 

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center 

3105 Shattuck Ave. 

Global Exchange's Carleen Pickard will discuss the pros and cons of  

globalization in Mexico, focusing on the state of Chiapas. $5 - $10 sliding scale. 653-7882. 

Berkeley Special Education  

Parents Group (BSPED) 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ala Costa Center 

1300 Rose St. 

Guest speakers from the Regional Center for the East Bay and the East Bay Learning Disabilities Association. 558-8933, sandstep@earthlink.net. 

Climbing Nepal’s Imja Tse 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc. 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Rob Chang gives a slide presentation sharing highlights of his team’s recent trek to the summit of Imja Tse. 527-4140 

Adventure Travel Course 

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 

Vista Community College 

2020 Milvia St. 

The course will cover various kinds of adventure travel: Hard adventure, soft adventure, and cultural/spiritual adventure. Classes will meet every Thursday through May 23. $22. 981-2931, josemarty@yahoo.com 

Public Works Commission 

7 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

City Council Chambers 

2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

Citywide Informational meeting on Applicant Financed Underground Utility Districts. 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Claremont Branch Library 

2940 Benvenue Ave. 

"Stuff - Do You Own It or Does It Own You?" Several people will talk about their successes and difficulties in managing "stuff". 549-3509, or go to www.seedsofsimplicity.org. 

Friday, Jan. 18

Acting and Storytelling  

Classes for Seniors 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Stagebridge 

2501 Harrison St., Oakland 

For the morning class, Instructor Stuart Kandell teaches Storytelling in he Community and in the afternoon he teaches the Scene Study for Performance. Classes are weekly and may be joined at any time. 444-4755, www.stagebridge.org 

City Commons Club  

Luncheon 

11:15 a.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Alain Rieu lectures on “France in the European Union”. Social hour begins at 11:15. Lunch is served 11:45 - 12:15. Speaker begins at 12:30. $11 - 12.25 with lunch, $1 otherwise. 848-3533 

Saturday, Jan. 19

Vocal Jazz Workshop and  

Jazz Jam 

9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Albany Adult School 

601 San Gabriel St. 

Workshops for singers and instrumentalists led by Richard Kalman to explore Jazz in a small jazz combo format. $5-$12 per class. 524-6796, richkalman@aol.com. 

Building and Remodeling  

Advice 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

A morning lecture entitled “What You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel” will be followed by an afternoon lecture entitled “Choosing to Add On: Pros and Cons of Building an Addition”. 525-7610 

United Nations and American diplomacy have scored a major success by persuading the major Afghan factions to accept a provisional coalition central government, and by inducing neighboring states to accept it. But these initial achievements may soon be lost if there is not a swift and energetic initiative to give the new central government substance. A test will be whether the United States gives priority to the need to coordinate an aid program for the restoration of Afghanistan, or continues to search for a wider war. 

There are already signs that the new Afghan coalition will fall apart if left to itself. The worst sign came on Dec. 30, when Ismail Khan, the regional warlord of Herat in Northwestern Afghanistan, said that no international troops would be allowed into his territory. This followed quibbles in Kabul over how many British soldiers could be stationed there, and whether Northern Alliance troops would withdraw from Kabul as provided for by the U.N.-brokered agreement. 

And there are symptoms indicating that the foreign states around Afghanistan – all of which have legitimate stakes in that country’s future – have not yet ironed out their own differences as successfully as the Afghan tribal factions did at Bonn. 

Ismail Khan has for 20 years ignored Kabul and ruled Herat as an autonomous region, being backed in this by neighboring Iran. The Northern Alliance army of General Muhammad Fahim occupied Kabul in defiance of President Bush’s orders not to do so; this was clearly done with the backing of Russia, which immediately sent planes with supplies and humanitarian workers in support. China in response has expressed its support for Pakistan, which has made efforts to ensure that members of the Pashtun tribal group are not ignored in the new coalition, clearly dominated for now by the non-Pashtun Northern Alliance. 

The new coalition government is clearly more balanced and better established than the ill-fated Interim Government of February 1989, set up in Pakistan as the Soviet armies withdrew. The council of that coalition – created by Pakistani and Saudi intelligence – was composed almost entirely of pro-Pakistan Pashtuns and excluded the Shia Moslem parties altogether. The coalition lasted less than a year, and lapsed into internecine warfare. 

The fatal weakness of peacemaking in that period, in the eyes of many experts, was the failure to achieve a framework of multinational cooperation, to shut down aid to competing factions and create an international aid program for reconstruction. Observers have called for a similar international effort today, estimating that it will cost billions. 

The problem in 1989 was compounded by factionalism in Washington. It was divided then, as now, between those who favored diplomacy and a “political” approach, and those who pressed for a military victory. As the shrewd observer Ahmed Rashid wrote at the time in the London Independent, “The U.S. administration is deeply divided, with the CIA and right-wing congressmen still insisting on a military victory for the guerrillas.” The American scholar Barnett Rubin, also blaming the operations wing of the CIA, wrote that, “In practice, U.S. maintenance of the arms pipeline continued to strengthen the Afghan groups that U.S. policy allegedly had abandoned.” Soon after, the United States went on to fight the Gulf War, and Afghanistan in the end was forgotten. 

There are more grounds for hope today than in 1989. Above all the success of the anti-Taliban military campaign was due in large part to much better international collaboration, with help from Pakistan, Russia, and importantly from Iran. Shia Iran’s differences with the United States were less acute than with the Sunni Moslem Taliban, with whom Iran had been close to war since 1996. 

Confirmation of Iran’s help came from Vincent Cannistraro, the CIA’s former counterterrorism chief, who told the Boston Globe, “We got information from the Iranians. They did it very quietly.” But Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, also warned against a retaliatory campaign that would lead to human suffering. 

Today, unfortunately, there are clear signs that international cooperation may break down with the defeat of the Taliban. Once again a major reason for that breakdown may be differences between the “political” faction in Washington, represented by Colin Powell at State, and the “military,” represented by Donald Rumsfeld at Defense. 

One symptom of this is the continuation of the bombing campaign for increasingly petty aims such as killing specific Taliban commanders, when more and more of Afghanistan’s new political leaders, along with Muslim statesmen abroad, have called for that campaign to cease. 

Even more important is the question of whether U.S. resources should now focus on a reconstruction budget for Afghanistan, or be used in possible new campaigns against other countries, such as Yemen or Somalia (where some U.S. troops are allegedly already active). We are hearing far less about reconstruction spending than on the possibility of new campaigns. 

The worst news for peace in Afghanistan would be U.S. government endorsement of the ideas of Rumsfeld’s top adviser Richard Perle, chairman of the administration’s Defense Policy Board. Perle has called publicly for action against three major Muslim nations: Syria, Iraq, and even our recent collaborator Iran. It is too early to tell if recent news leaks about “United States intelligence reports” of a bin Laden-Iran connection are signs of a move in this direction. 

What can be said at this stage is that the United States has the skill and resources to empower a peaceful post-Taliban regime in Afghanistan. 

Clearly it also has the resources to continue at war, as both President Bush and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld have indicated is likely. 

But in 2002 as in 1989, it may prove impossible to establish peace and fight a major war simultaneously. 

Peter Dale Scott is a UC Berkeley professor in the English Department, an author and former Canadian diplomat who writes frequently for Pacific News Service.

924 Gilman Jan. 18: Christian Reigh, Dystrophy, Stalker Potential, Lower 48, Thought Crime, No Direction; Jan. 19: Capitalist Casualities, Phobia, Pig Destroyer, Index, Strong Intention; Jan. 25: Ludicra, Brain Oil, Creuvo, Scurvy Dogs, Arftificum Sanguis; Jan. 26: Mile Marker, Yaphet Kotto, Pirx the Pilot, Himsa, Confidante; Jan. 27: Bane, Over My Dead Body, Striking Distance, Breath In; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

Anna’s Bistro Jan.14: “Renagade Sidemen” w/ Calvin Keyes: Jan.15: Mark Murphy’s jazz vocal workshop; Jan. 16: Bob Schoen Jazz Sextet; Jan. 17: Christy Dana Jazz Duo; Jan. 18: Karen Guthrie & Her Trio/ 10 p.m. Bluesman Hideo Date; Jan. 19: Vicki Burns & Felice York/ 10 p.m. Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Jan. 20: Aleph Null; Music starts at 8p.m., every night, second band at 10p.m., 1801 University Ave., 849-ANNA 

Blake’s Jan. 14: All Star Jam Featuring The Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 15: View From Here, $3; Jan. 16: Zion Rock, Hebro, $3; Jan. 17: Electronica with Ascension, $5; Jan. 18: Ten Ton Chicken, Black Dog Band with Peanut Daniels, $5; Jan. 19: Solemite, Monky, $5; Jan. 20: First Circle, The Locals, $6; Jan. 21: All Star Jam Featuring the Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Jan. 22: WildSang; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Jan. 18 and 19: 8 p.m., The National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.; Jan. 20: 3 p.m., Midori and Robert McDonald. $28 -$48. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way at Telegraph. 642-9988 

Club Jjang-Ga Jan. 19: Dick, Multiply, Mental Case, Nine Pound Grind, The Elegy; Jan. 26: Krenshaw, Bearing, Lucid Inc., Zodiacal Circle; 400 29th Ave., Oakland, 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Jazzschool Jan. 20: 4:30 p.m., Madeline Eastman, $6-$12. Jan. 27: 4:30 p.m., Michael Zilber, Sons of Bitches Brew; $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Jan. 16: Realistic; Jan. 17: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 18: Bigfoot In Paris Trio; Jan. 19: Netwerk: Electric; Jan. 23: Mitch Marcus Quintet; Jan. 24: Chris Shot Group; Jan. 25: The Sardonics; Jan. 26: Berkeley Jazz School Presents: Fourtet; Jan. 30: Joel Harrison Quartet; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Pena Cultural Center Jan. 20: 7 p.m., A Hip/Trip Hop Benefit for the Prison Activist Resource Center: Black Dot Artists Collective, COINTELPRO, DJ So Much Soul, EK Trip, Prophets of Rage and Renaissance. $10-$15. 3105 Shattack Ave, 893-4648.  

Live Oaks Concerts: Berkeley Art Center Jan. 20: 7:30 p.m., Marvin Sanders, flute, Kana Mimaki, piano, will perform Prokofiev’s Sonata #2 for flute and piano, and Ceasar Franck’s Sonata in A Major; Jan. 27: 7:30 p.m., Elaine Kreston, cello, Laura Carmichael, clarinet, perform otherworldly and intense duos by Xenakis and Kaaija Saariaho. $10, BACA Members $8, Students and Seniors $9. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., 644-6893. 

Rose Street House Jan. 17: 7:30 p.m., Allette Brooks; Jan. 25: 8 p.m. DivaBands Showcase: Bern, Elin Jr., Roberta Donnay, Christy Claxton and Tiger Zane. $8-$20. 1839 Rose St. 594-4000 x687rosestreetmusic@yahoo.com. 

Fellowship Coffee House Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Carol Denney, open mike. $3 -$5. Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar St. 

Off Da Hook! Party Jan. 19: 9 p.m., DJ’s SAKE1, Ab, special guests and live performances; $8-$15. 2670 Union St, West Oakland, 464-1011. 

Trinity Chapel Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Janine Johnson, harpsichord, Bach, Buxtehude and Pachelbel; 2320 Dana St., 549-3864. 

First Congregational Church Jan. 19: 8p.m., eight women’s voices and continuo, also baritone Hugh Davis will sing priest’s acclamations. $12- $25; First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, Berkeley, (415) 979-4500. 

Mama Bears Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m., WildSang; 6536 Telegraph Ave. 595-4642. 

Roda Theatre Jan. 22 and 23: both at 8 p.m., The Berkeley Symphony, Music Director Kent Nagano, continues its 31st season with two performances of Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. $21, $32, $45, $10 students. 2015 Addison St. 841-2800, www.berkeleysymphony.org 

Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre Jan. 26: 6:30 - 10 p.m., The City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Black Repertory Theatre pay tribute to and welcome the return of “The Dru Band,” teenage recording artist from the Bay Area. $5. 3201 Adeline St., 625-2120. 

Organ Music Jan. 27: 5 p.m., Ron McKean performs Ferscobaldi, Froberger and Bach. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685. 

Berkeley High School Dance Production Jan. 18 &19: 7:30 p.m., Diverse mix of classical and modern ballet to hard-core hip-hop. $5. Florence Schwimley Little Theatre, Allston way and MLK., 644-6120 

“Every Inch a King” Jan. 11 through Feb. 9: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m.; Three sisters have to make a decision as their father approaches death in this comedy presented by the Central Works Theater Ensemble. $8 - $18. LeValls Subterranean, 1834 Euclid Ave. 558-138, www.centralworks.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 

“Rhinoceros” Jan. 23 through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragi-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

“Sisters” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 16. The story of the Prozorov sisters looking in a very human way at the gap between hope and fulfillment in their lives. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattack, www.actorsensemleofbkerkeley.com. 

Pacific Film Archive Jan. 16: 7:30 p.m., So, To Speak: Videoworks of Jacqueline Goss; Jan. 17: 7 p.m., The Marquise of O...; Jan. 18: 7:30 p.m., Claire’s Knee, 9:30 p.m., Chloe in the Afternoon; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema Jan. 18: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., Life And Debt, filmmaker Stephanie Black will speak. 2230 Shattuck Ave., 843-3456, www.landmarktheatres.com. 

Parkway Theatre Jan. 29: 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., Boom! The Sound Of Eviction, a Just Cause Oakland benefit screening. $6-$20. 1843 Park Blvd., Oakland, 464-1011. 

“Analogous Biology: Balance and Use,” Mark J. Leavitt Through Jan. 19; Tue. - Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland. 836-0831, www.artolio.com. 

GTU Exhibit: “Holocaust Series” by Cleve Gray Through Jan. 25: Comprised of 21 works on paper that constitute “a catharsis... for all of humanity.” Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m., Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 7 p.m.; Free. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, Graduate Theological Union, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 www.gtu.edu. 

“Prints and Paintings by Liao Shiou-Ping” on view through Jan. 31; Tues. to Fri.10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat.10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388-9th St., Suite 290, Oakland, 238-4491. 

Pro Arts: “Juried Annual 2001-02” Through Feb. 2: An exhibition of painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography and more by Bay Area and regional artists. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., www.proartsgallery.org. 

“All Grown Up” Through Feb. 2: New paintings and drawings by Amy Chan. Thurs. 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., Fri -Sun 1 p.m. -6 p.m., 21 Grand Ave., Oakland, 444-7263 

“Water Media” Through Feb. 8: An exhibit by Christine “Caipirinha” Mulder. Capoeira Arts Cafe Gallery, 2026 Center St., 666-1349 for hours. 

Traywick Gallery: “New Work by Dennis Begg and Steve Briscoe” Through Feb. 9: Dennis Begg’s sculpture explores memory as the building block of consciousness, learning and experience. Steve Brisco’s paintings on paper address issues of identity through evocative combinations of text and imagery. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., 1316 10th St. 527-1214. 

“Enduring Wisdom: Artwork and Stories by Homeless and Formerly Homeless Seniors” Through Feb. 15: 18 homeless and formerly homeless elders reveal how they learned and applied wisdom that is timeless. Mon. - Fri. and Sundays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Reception and presentation by the elders Thurs. Nov. 15, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Free. St. Mary’s Center, 635 22nd St., Oakland, 893-4723 x222. 

“The Other 364 Days: A Day in the Life of the Queer Community” Through Feb. 16: An exhibit of black and white photographs by East Bay photographer Limor Inbar-Hansen. Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Reception for artist, Jan. 12: 6 - 8 p.m., Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400, limor@indelible-images.com. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Jan.24 - Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography. Wed, Fri. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thur. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

“Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado” Jan. 16 through Mar. 24: Over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. $4 - $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Jan. 11 through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Her serious of work range from large abstract paintings to intimate boxes with collections of found objects, Jan.13 through Apr. 4th Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany,524-9283 

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

Readings 

AK Press Jan. 19: 8 p.m., Joel Schalit dissects the New World Order and the rise of religious fundamentalism in his new book “Jerusalem Calling”. 674-A 23rd St., Oakland, 208-1700, molly@akpress.org 

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Jan. 14: Pamela Logan talks about “Tibetan Rescue: A Woman’s Quest to Save the Fabulous Art Treasures of Pewar Monastery”; All events are free and start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Coffee With a Beat Jan. 19: Tim Donnelly and Anna May Stanley; Jan. 26: Paradise and 2nd feature TBA; Feb. 2: Julia Vinograd and Shauna Rogan; Feb. 9: Sydney Bell and Debrale Pagan; All readings 7-9 p.m., free and followed by open mike. 458 Perkins at Grand, Oakland, 526-5985.  

Jewish Community Center Jan. 14: 7:30-9 p.m., Emily Rose interweaves the family chronicle of her ancestors with the political and social events of the 18th and 19th centuries; Jan. 16: 7:30-8:30 p.m., Elizabeth Rosner will read from her debut novel “The Speed of of Light.” 1414 Walnut St. 

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Jan. 16: Tea Party magazine reading with Ariel, Rita Boagert, Daniel Y. Harris, Denise Mewbourne, Judith Offer, Andrena Zawinski; Jan. 23: Paul Hoover and Elizabeth Robinson; Jan. 27: Wanda Coleman, Austin Straus and Kate Gale; Jan. 30 Ralph Angel and George Higgins; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852. 

Tours 

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

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. 

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. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

Oakland Museum of California “Kwanzaa Community Celebration” Dec. 30: 12-4 p.m., Nia Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that honors black family history; Through Jan. 13: Grand Lyricist: The Art of Elmer Bischoff, featuring paintings and works on paper that trace the evolution of Bischoff’s career. $6 adults, $4 seniors and students, children under 5 free. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. noon - 5 p.m.; 1000 Oak St., Oakland, 238-2200, www.museumca.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 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.  

University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive “Martin Puryear: Sculpture of the 1990s” through Jan. 13; “The Dream of the Audience: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (1951 - 1982)” through Dec. 16; “Face of Buddha: Sculpture from India, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia” ongoing rotation through 2003; “Matrix 194: Jessica Bronson, Heaps, layers, and curls” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; “Matrix 192: Ceal Floyer 37’4”” Sept. 16 through Nov. 11; Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science Through Jan. 26: Scream Machines: The Science of Roller Coasters; “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; Open daily, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $7 for adults; $5 for children 5-18; $3 for children 3-4. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org. 

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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

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

Approximately a dozen mental health patients and their advocates picketed a major symposium on mental health and public policy held at the UC Berkeley campus on Saturday, citing a familiar slogan of the disabled community – “nothing about us without us.”  

The California Network of Mental Health Clients and several independent patients protested their exclusion from the organization of the event entitled “Coping with Mental Illness and Crafting Public Policy.” It was put together by the UC’s Institute for Governmental Studies, and included researchers from UCLA and UCSF. 

Activists also picketed outside UCLA, where several of the presenters at the conference delivered their papers to the Berkeley audience through teleconferencing. 

Fred Martin, Jr., a visiting IGS scholar who organized the symposium, said that it was a first-of its-kind effort to introduce lawmakers and other government figures to cutting-edge research into mental illness. 

‘This is a world-class conference,” he said. “It was put together to bring together the best academic minds in the field.” 

“The research shows that there is a possibility of finding a way to prevent these terrible conditions. Think of the effect that would have on people’s lives.” 

Scientists presented papers ranging from the diagnosis of schizophrenia to the treatment of dual-diagnosed patients -- those that have a drug addiction and a mental disorder. 

However, protesters outside Wheeler Auditorium said that no conference on mental health should be attempted without participation from those who suffer from mental illness. 

“We are the experts about how we feel and what goes on in treatment programs,” said Sally Zinman, executive director of the California Network of Mental Health Clients. “The academic analysis of these programs should involve us.” 

Zinman said that after several months of lobbying to be included in the conference, organizers agreed last week to put Dave Hosseini, executive director of a Sacramento-based patient advocacy group, on one of the day’s panels. 

When his time came, Hosseini delivered an impassioned speech that called for an increased voice for mental health patients. 

“It is important that policy makers listen to the people that have the most experience - and the most interest -- in improving mental health services,” he said. 

He also spoke against “Laura’s Law,” an impending bill in the California state legislature. The law would expand, to some degree, the number of state residents that could be treated for mental illnesses against their will. 

“(The bill) is divisive, ill-advised, poorly thought-out and frightening to those of us who do remember the past and are afraid to repeat it,” said Hosseini. 

Dr. Alexander Young, a psychiatrist and researcher who was chairing he panel from Los Angeles, noted that of all the groups interested in increasing funding for mental health treatment -- doctors, academics and lawmakers -- patients’ groups have been the most successful in lobbying the government for these programs. 

Young said that everyone would benefit if scientists were able to unite with patients’ groups when it came time to ask legislators for funding. 

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Joe Shipp scored 14 points, and A.J. Diggs hit the clinching shot with just under 25 seconds left as Cal defeated Oregon State 61-53 Saturday night. 

Dennis Gates and Brian Wethers added 10 points each as the Golden Bears (11-3, 2-2 Pac-10) won on the road for the first time in four tries this season. 

Brian Jackson scored 16 points and Jimmie Haywood added 13 and nine rebounds for the Beavers (8-8, 1-5), who have lost four straight overall and seven in a row to the Bears. 

Oregon State had an eight-point lead in the second half and led 51-47 when the Bears went on an 8-0 run, sparked by consecutive 3-pointers by Shantay Legans and Amit Tamir. A dunk by Shipp gave Cal a 55-51 lead with 3:35 to play. 

The Beavers answered with two free throws from Philip Ricci to get within two points, but Diggs hit an open 18-foot jumper with 24.7 seconds left. The officials conferred and decided that Diggs’ foot was just over the line. 

Shipp made four free throws to seal the victory. 

Shipp, averaging 18.1 points over the last eight games, scored California’s first five points, but he sat on the bench for the final 18:53 of the first half after picking up two quick fouls. 

Oregon State missed its last seven shots of the half, and the Beavers shot 34 percent for the game. They also turned the ball over 20 times.

Editor: 

I’d like to make one correction to a balanced and otherwise accurate front-page story of Friday, January 11 about the placement of Advisory Committee comment on School Board meeting agendas. The article stated that the “Superintendent...and members of the Berkeley Board of Education backed away from a controversial change in board procedures...” and that the “board intended to change the order of its bi-weekly agenda...” These statements are not quite accurate: the agenda change was made by Superintendent Lawrence, as she indicated at the Board meeting of January 11, without prior consultation with Board members. I had intended to raise the issue during my Board comment period and/or during Board requests, and I did so after the Superintendent had already acknowledged that a Board discussion was in order on the subject.  

I personally believe the practice of allowing a five-minute comment to District Advisory Committees at the beginning of Board meetings has advantages of informing the Board and the public before Board discussions or votes on proposals, as well as allowing working parents the convenience of a set, known time that is consistent from meeting to meeting. I will support retaining the five-minute comment period in its customary place. 

I write as an individual Board member, and do not necessarily speak for other Board members. 

John Selawsky 

Director, Berkeley School Board 

A local currency called “bread” is slowly rising even though some worry that it allows for small-scale tax evasion. 

The currency, launched by a Berkeley-based group called Bay Area Regional Exchange and Development in 1997, is used by about 280 members in the area who participate in a barter system.  

Advocates say it creates communitywenty local currencies in circulation in the United States, according to Dina Mackin, project coordinator for Bay Area Regional Exchange.  

A group in Ithaca, New York launched the first American currency of its type, 'Ithaca Hours,' in 1991.  

In both programs members provide goods and services in exchange for bread, and in turn, use the bread to buy goods and services from other participants. Most members are individuals providing a wide-range of services – from massage, to accounting, to garden work.  

But a few local businesses, including a cafe, a bakery and bike messenger service, take part as well. Bread is measured in hours, and comes in denominations ranging from one-twelfth of an hour to two hours. An hour of labor is generally worth an hour of bread, but members are free to negotiate fees. 

Advocates say the currency, which is legal under federal law, helps to build a sense of community, support the local economy, and, by promoting the purchase of goods made in the Bay Area, cut down on the pollution caused by trucks and tankers hauling products over long distances. 

But Fred Collignan, professor of city and regional planning at UC Berkeley, said the use of local currencies, which generally operate without much public attention, can provide openings for tax evasion. 

Bay Area Regional Development has set the value of the currency at $12 per bread hour and Mackin said that members are responsible for reporting bread as income and paying taxes. 

Miyo Sakashita, a volunteer for the organization, and consistent user of the local currency, said it is easy to keep track of bread income and pay taxes properly.  

But, some local users said they take in relatively small amounts of bread, and do not bother to report it to the state and federal government.  

“I ignore that,” said Karen Rose, a Berkeley resident who trades career counseling services for the local currency. 

Shane Rhodes, co-owner of Pedal Express, a Berkeley bike messenger service, said the company takes in only meager amounts of bread, and uses it to buy food for messengers.  

The company does not use bread to pay its employees, Rhodes said, making payroll taxes on Social Security and Medicare a non-issue. Still, the bread the company receives qualifies as income, and Rhodes says Pedal Express has not bothered to report it.  

Bill Lambert, Berkeley’s manager of economic development, said he is unconcerned about the effect on local government fees, like business licenses, that are assessed based on a company’s income.  

“I can’t imagine the amount that we’re talking about is significant,” he said.  

But Jesse Weller, spokesperson for the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Internal Revenue Service, said that tax evasion, no matter how minor, raises concerns. 

“Certainly we’re concerned in any event that taxable earnings go unreported,” he said. 

Collignan, the UC Berkeley professor, also suggested that local currencies can actually harm small businesses by depriving them of much-needed dollars. 

“Small businesses live and die on cash flow,” he said, arguing that a fledgling company cannot hope to grow, or survive a sudden crisis, without a solid reserve of standard currency. 

Local entrepreneurs who accept bread say they have addressed the concern by asking for a mix of cash and local currency from their customers. 

David Melly, who worked repairing string instruments until recently, said that the bread community actually provided him with a niche in the economy. 

“I had a business that was relatively young and it actually helped,” he said. “I had a couple hundred people, who, if they wanted to spend bread, and they had instruments, they came to me.” 

But Melly said the real benefit of bread lies in its ability to bring together people who exchange services.  

“Meeting my neighbors and getting a sense of community,” he said, “it’s the number one thing.” 

Sakashita said the use of local currency also represents an important political step. “It’s a really pro-active solution to some of the problems presented by globalization,” she said, arguing that support for local business means less money for international corporations that might exploit workers or clear-cut forests. 

Mackin said Bay Area Regional Exchange is better poised than ever to make economic and political change. This summer, she said, the organization opened its first office, centralized its database, hired her as its first paid employee, and purged about 200 members who had moved out of town or were not actively participating in the system. 

“Everything has become a lot more efficient,” Mackin said. 

The organization has also stepped up its fundraising efforts, Mackin said, taking in roughly $50,000 in the last twelve months, compared to the $19,000 it averaged in previous years. 

In the future, Mackin said, Bay Area Regional Exchange hopes to use “bread,” and its focus on local economics, to educate people about their role in the global economy. 

“Every day, we trade in dollars,” she said, “and we don’t even think about the consequences.” 

For more information on bread, or to become a member, call Bay Area Regional Exchange and Development at 644-0367.

Cal turned in an uncharacteristically bad defensive performance in Oregon State’s 80-52 win at Haas Pavilion on Saturday night.  

The Cal women’s basketball team was used to playing tough defense and losing to teams in the last few minutes of games. Before playing the Beavers, Cal held opponents to just 58.2 points per game and a 40 percent field goal percentage in compiling a 5-9 record. This time, an opponent jumped on the Golden Bears from the outset and gave them their 10th loss.  

Sparked by star guard Felicia Ragland, Oregon State shot 48.5 percent and scored from the outside, from the inside and in transition in the Bears’ 28-point loss, its most lopsided defeat of the season. Ragland and teammate Leilani Estavan each scored a game-high 14 points, while post players Hollye Chapman, Brina Chaney and Ericka Cook combined to score 27 points.  

Cook, often passing to Chapman and Chaney, wound up with a career-high eight assists.  

“We couldn’t stop them,” Cal head coach Caren Horstmeyer said. “The one thing we talked about taking away – Ragland will get her points, but we have to take away their high-low game. That was a focus we had. We did not do that, and I think they probably remembered last year. We beat them twice.” 

“I am very glad that we have another shot at them [Feb. 7 at OSU], because I think we’re better than we played tonight and I hope our team wants to have another shot at them. I hope they’re willing to fight to get another shot at them.” Horstmeyer added. “It is completely unacceptable to get beat by that many points.”  

The Beavers’ 80 points marks the first time an opponent scored 70 or more against Cal. USC and Cal Poly had the previous high of 69. The Women of Troy defeated Cal, 69-53, on Dec. 28, and the Bears edged the Mustangs, 71-69, on Nov. 20.  

Cal also turned over the ball 28 times, which was the sixth time in the last seven games Cal has had at least 26 turnovers.  

There were few bright spots in the loss, but they included the play of Cal point guard Kristin Iwanaga and reserve forward Audrey Watler. Iwanaga shot 3-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-2 from the three-point line, and made two free throws to lead the Bears with 10 points. It was only the third time this season – and only the first time since the second game of the season – that Iwanaga has scored in double figures. Watler was active in her 14 minutes, shooting 3-for-3, grabbing three rebounds, blocking one shot, assisting on one basket and picking up one foul.  

If Cal is going to have any success this season, it obviously needs to get back to its normal defensive excellence. But it also needs players other than season leading scorer Ami Forney, who had just 8 points vs. OSU, and LaTasha O’Keith, also with 8 against the Beavers, to hit some shots. Both Iwanaga, who often doesn’t look to shoot, particularly from the perimeter, and Watler, who has mainly provided good defense and rebounding in her limited minutes off the bench, have the potential to be scorers.  

“I thought (Iwanaga) fought, and K.I. hit some big shots,” Horstmeyer said. “I like the fight that K.I. has and I want K.I. to continue to fight that way. And we need players to play with her who will fight.  

“Audrey has fight, and she is a scorer and has a scorer’s mentality. It’s just taken her time to know what I want and what we want with our team.”  

Despite suffering her 10th loss in 11 games, and this one of the blowout variety, Horstmeyer wasn’t willing to concede that the season was over. Cal was in a similar hole last season, Horstemeyer’s first in Berkeley, when the Bears had a 6-11 record. They won their next five to even their record.  

This season, they also have the first Pac-10 tournament to look forward to. She talked about giving more minutes to players who hustle, reserve players like Watler, Luana Coloma and Olga Volkova.  

“We can hang our head right now, but we recruited winners,” Horstmeyer said. ‘”Winners don’t hang their heads and winners will fight.”

Editor: 

As a progressive I must agree with former chief of staff for the Republican Party Tom Cole when he referred to the Enron mess saying, “And particularly in the wake of Sept. 11, this stuff seems pretty trivial.” (”Parties Weigh Political Price Of Enron’s Fall”, New York Times, January 12) 

Indeed we all remember when the Taliban were willing to negotiate the terms under which they would hand over bin Laden. We all remember our government saying it would not negotiate. How fortunate indeed for Bush’s oil buddies that the Taliban are now gone and a compliant government in Afghanistan is ready to pave the way for oil profits from the Caspian Sea to reach U. S. corporate coffers. With bin Laden still nursing his subpar kidneys in obscurity, I am led to wonder at the true intentions of the Bush administration.  

Following this line of thinking, one can conclude that the Bush administration was willing to 

trade the lives of more than 3700 Afghan civilians (not to mention uncounted American and Afghani military lives) for oil and military profits. By comparison any corruption uncovered in the Enron matter will certainly seem “pretty trivial.” 

George Palen 

Berkeley

By Paul Glader 

The Associated Press 

BERKELEY — Artists, proverbially struggling and eclectic, may not be as haphazard as once thought. A flowering scientific movement suggests that art appreciation and production starts in the brain, not the heart. 

“All visual art, from execution to perception, are functions of the visual brain,” said Semir Zeki, professor of Neurobiology at University College London. 

His research in “neuroesthetics” suggests the reason Claude Monet’s “Waterlillies” may stir one person’s soul and not someone else’s is explainable by science, more than sentiment. 

Cultural upbringing, cultivated tastes and personal interests do affect how people see art. But certain works of art have a universal appeal because of how the human brain works, Zeki said. And artists often unwittingly stumble upon those triggers. 

Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter who used a lot of straight lines in his work, appealed to people because straight lines with ordered space are stimuli appealing to the eye and visual brain cells, Zeki said. 

“He was discovering a physiological truth,” Zeki said. “He did not know it was the brain, but it was.” 

The same was true of American artist Alexander Calder who built mobiles, which stimulates brain physiology. 

Zeki suggests that understanding how the brain works helps us understand how we perceive art. 

French Fauvist painters in the early 1900s experimented with bold colors, perhaps unwittingly triggering responses from the brain’s color center. 

Oakland Sarah Filley, 30, was among about 250 artists and academics who attended the first International Conference on Neuroesthetics Saturday at the University of California, Berkeley. 

“Science is at the forefront as to where we are going as a culture,” she said. 

The one-day meeting, sponsored by Berkeley-based Minerva Foundation and the Institute of Neuroesthetics in London, included speakers who shared research explaining why people are attracted to certain types of art. 

Filley, a sculptor and photographer, said she’s glad more artists are embracing a more scientific approach. 

Zeki, who coined the term neuroesthetics in his 1999 book “Inner Vision: An Exploration of Art and the Brain,” and others say studying art’s relation to neurology explains what makes people value art. 

He said one-third of the brain relates to visual knowledge. Although most is in the brain tissue in the back of a person’s head, the brain cells responsible for recording, scanning and imaging colors and matter are distributed in different parts of the brain. If we understand the brain, we better understand behavior, Zeki said. 

But beauty itself is a very individual ideal. “There is no yardstick for beauty except what’s in our own brains,” he said. 

SAN FRANCISCO – Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel, the couple accused in last year’s fatal dog mauling of Diane Whipple, will ask a judge Monday to grant them separate trials. 

Their trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 22 in Los Angeles, but they filed severance requests earlier this month. A superior court judge is scheduled to hear arguments Monday. 

Whipple was attacked Jan. 26, 2001, by two massive presa canarios that chased her down and mauled her in the apartment hallway she shared with Knoller and Noel. 

Knoller and Noel, both lawyers, face charges of involuntary manslaughter and keeping a vicious dog. Knoller also is charged with second-degree murder. 

Now, neither spouse wants to be associated with the other in court. 

Knoller argued that comments made by her husband to neighbors and the media, including calling Whipple a “timorous mousy blonde,” will prejudice jurors against her. 

Noel says he was not present during the attack and it was his wife who failed to muzzle or control the dogs that day. It was she who failed to call the paramedics and who seemed calm throughout the incident, he said. 

Prosecutor Jim Hammer has said he will vigorously fight the motions. 

Also Monday, Judge James Warren will hear arguments about evidence the couple thinks should be excluded from their trial, which was moved to Los Angeles after the judge decided it would be extremely difficult to find impartial jurors in San Francisco. 

Evidence that Knoller and Noel want excluded from their trial includes: 

• testimony about whether Bane and Hera, the dogs involved in the attack on Whipple, were naturally aggressive. 

• photographs of Bane’s teeth. 

• testimony regarding the couple’s adoption of Pelican Bay inmate Paul “Cornfed” Schneider or Schneider’s involvement in a prison gang. Schneider and Dale Bretches were accused of running a dog breeding ring from prison. Bane and Hera were among their dogs, but allegedly weren’t fit for fighting. 

• any sex-related testimony. Evidence of bestiality reportedly was found during the investigation, but testimony to the grand jury about sex has not been released to the public. 

• evidence or testimony about Whipple’s previous encounter with Noel and the dogs. Whipple’s partner, Sharon Smith, claims Whipple was previously bitten by one of the dogs.

SAN FRANCISCO – Many of the state’s regions have switched to public transportation powered by alternative fuels, but the San Francisco Bay area has opted to keep the noisier, dirtier diesel-burning buses. 

The state Air Resources Board had considered having large transit agencies stop buying diesel buses completely and have them use cleaner compressed or liquefied natural gas buses instead. Then it would have required the transit agencies to use buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells. 

Southern California air-quality officials as well as environmentalists pushed for the ban, but Bay Area transit operators lobbied to keep the option to buy diesel buses until 2015, which won out. 

Thirteen of the Bay Area’s 15 transit agencies are staying with diesel, but the Air Resources Board is considering eliminating the diesel option. It will vote in March on whether to require all agencies to buy only natural gas and other alternative fuel buses. 

Diesel exhaust, mostly from trucks and buses, is responsible for 70 percent of the cancer risk from air pollution, and nitrogen oxide from diesel trucks and buses is a prime ingredient in smog. 

Bay Area transit officials, however, say it’s not cost effective to convert to alternative-fuel buses, and then again to fuel cells. 

About 88 percent of the Bay Area bus fleet is diesel. Los Angeles’ fleet is 50 percent diesel, and Sacramento’s is 35 percent.

SAN FRANCISCO – The battle of the bike coasts into a courtroom Monday as the organizer of the California AIDS Ride and two charities try to settle their differences over a new bike-a-thon planned for this summer. 

Pallotta Teamworks, the AIDS Ride organizer for the past eight years, has sued the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center to stop the competing ride, which is scheduled just two weeks before the AIDS Ride. 

The nonprofit agencies planned the AIDS/LifeCycle Ride after accusing Pallotta of overspending and mismanaging last year’s event. 

They received just 50 cents of every dollar raised by riders, who spend a week riding 575 miles down Highway 1. 

Expenses generally should not exceed 35 cents per dollar, according to the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance. 

Pallotta acknowledged it ran 8 percent or 9 percent over budget, but said the charities are overstepping their bounds. The company’s contract with the charities specifically prohibits them from organizing their own bike-a-thon. 

Pallotta President Steve Bennett said two competing rides will alienate riders and will further shrink revenue for the charities.

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gray Davis won a round of applause in his State of the State speech last week with a flag-waving promise to support the peacekeepers called to duty after last fall’s terrorist attacks. 

“The citizen-soldiers of the National Guard should not have to pay for the privilege of protecting us against terrorism,” Davis said while calling for the state to pay the difference between civilian and guard pay for state employees called to active duty. 

It’s a safe promise to keep even in these tight budgetary times: Though about 500 state employees have been called to active duty by the president, Davis’ Department of Finance acknowledged they already are being compensated. Davis’ proposal applies only to about 10 guardsmen activated by the governor, at a cost of roughly $30,000. 

The promise is among a flurry of headline-grabbing proposals by Davis and lawmakers to protect the state and honor victims and peacekeepers. 

Yet several are equally likely to matter little even if adopted. 

Some lawmakers and civil liberties reacted sharply when Davis proposed the state let police monitor e-mail, Internet sites and multiple cell phones used by criminal and terrorism suspects. 

But Davis’ proposals just mirror federal roving wiretap laws already used in most cases. A fellow Democrat, Senate leader John Burton of San Francisco, accused the governor of grandstanding with a proposal he and other critics said would make state law redundant to federal law. 

George Vinson, Davis’ security adviser, said the state rarely uses its wiretap law. Last year, only 88 wiretap orders were issues under the more restrictive law, 79 of them in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the state attorney general. 

Burton also said Davis’ proposals for tougher penalties for terrorism or hoaxes also simply duplicated federal laws for the same violations. 

A day after Davis called for making state law “at least as tough as national law,” Burton created a special Senate committee to oversee counter-terror proposals “so we aren’t running around in an election year duplicating a lot of (federal) stuff.” 

Davis’ get-tough measures echo those proposed by Assembly Republicans last month, though Vinson predicted the governor will find Democratic sponsors for the legislation. 

But while the Republicans propose to make terrorists eligible for the state death penalty, Vinson said Davis won’t fight that battle, which would require voters’ approval statewide. 

“So far it does not appear death has been a big deterrent to people associated with (alleged terrorist mastermind) Osama bin Laden,” said Assembly Democratic spokesman Luke Breit. 

Assembly Republicans beat the Democrats with their early 17-point package of anti-terrorism bills, but they’re outnumbered in the Legislature. Any of their proposals with a chance of passing will likely be fused into a pending package being developed by Democrats who held a series of statewide committee hearings after Sept. 11. 

Breit expects Democrats to initially concentrate on victim assistance, jobless benefits and finding money for existing programs that need increases to prepare for terrorist attacks, such as public health. 

“The committees are taking a look at what’s going to actually be helpful,” Breit said – “helpful to people right away.”

SAN FRANCISCO – After years of ignoring people caught damaging the environment in Northern California, federal prosecutors are cracking down on tree poachers, salmon snatchers, illegal trail cutters, oil dumpers and other polluters. 

The U.S. attorney’s office in San Francisco, responsible for enforcing federal law from the once-pristine redwood forests at the Oregon border to the protected waters of the Monterey Bay, has gone from being the worst in the country for prosecuting environmental crimes to one of the best. 

“There were some people who assumed that paying fines was part of the cost of doing business,” said Mike Gonzales, special agent in charge of the National Marine Fisheries Service law enforcement office in Long Beach. “But those same people don’t want to go to jail.” 

Since 1998, the office has steadily increased its environmental criminal caseload, filing more than three dozen last year, according to the records obtained by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. 

That’s a substantial increase from 1986 through 1997, when only four cases were filed in a region renowned for its gorgeous environment – ancient redwood trees, glacier-carved lakes, fern-lined trails, granite mountains and a rugged, sweeping coastline. Those resources coexist with major logging, fishing, recreational and shipping industries. 

At times the two clash, but for more than a decade, there was minimal federal action taken against violators. That changed three years ago. 

“The prosecution of environmental criminal cases has been a priority for this office since 1998 and will continue as long as I am the U.S. attorney,” said U.S. Attorney David Shapiro in San Francisco. 

The result, say federal pollution police, is a cleaner, safer environment. 

Cases brought by the Coast Guard against shipping companies last year are a case in point. One company was caught illegally transporting hazardous materials, another convicted of operating its ship with oil leaking into the ballast tanks, causing a serious risk of explosion, and a third firm pleaded guilty to six felonies and paid $3 million in fines after it was caught leaking oil and lying about it. 

The new commitment also has resulted in tough punishments for some Northern California residents. 

Fishermen and hunters have been sent to federal prison for trying to fool authorities about their catch. Manufacturers have been forced to restore wetlands after trying to build over them. 

And in September, Robert Bonner of Livermore was sentenced to three years probation and a $100,000 fine for allowing his metal finishing company to violate the Clean Water Act by discharging contaminated wastewater into the sewer. By November the company had filed for bankruptcy. 

In August, three mountain bikers – Michael More, 47, of San Rafael, William McBride, 50, of Ross, and Neal Daskal, 46, of Oakland – were sentenced to three years probation, a $34,000 fine and hundreds of hours of community service for cutting an illegal trail through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin County. 

“I thought the charges were extremely trumped up,” said Marty Beckins, board member of the Marin Bicycle Trails Council. “Nobody has ever been tried for this before, and they were facing federal felony charges. I think the prosecutors must have been pressured by zealots.” 

Carol Yeston, district ranger for the Point Reyes National Seashore, said she brought the case to federal prosecutors but wasn’t at all sure they would take it. 

“They have priorities,” she said. “Drug dealers, mafia, all sorts of stuff. So I was pretty excited when they took this so willingly.” 

Just one of these cases goes a long way in deterring other would-be scofflaws, said Bill Curtiss, program director for Earthjustice, a San Francisco-based environmental law firm. 

“When there was no criminal prosecutions, before 1998, there was a real vacuum in what would be consequences for destructive actions,” he said. “Now the Justice Department is sending a signal that individuals are going to be subject to the process and treated as criminals.” 

Law enforcement agents at the Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI, the Coast Guard and other government entities routinely bring evidence of crimes to the U.S. attorney’s office. Environmental groups from the mainstream Sierra Club to the militant Earth First! also clamor to put polluters behind bars. 

Federal prosecutors took one out of every four cases brought to them last year in Northern California, a huge increase from past years when more than 95 percent of cases – including companies dumping sewage in San Francisco Bay, pulp mills dumping waste into the Pacific and nuclear power plants cooking their books – were turned away. 

In contrast, California’s other three U.S. attorneys – in Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego – together filed 39 environmental criminal cases last year, and turned away 45 others brought to them by law enforcement. 

The impetus to change in Northern California came in 1998, when Robert Mueller, who now heads the FBI, replaced then-U.S. Attorney Michael Yamaguchi. At the time, The Associated Press published a widely used story describing the lack of environmental prosecutions in Northern California. Mueller didn’t dispute the data, but promised to improve. 

Mueller told the AP then that one of his top priorities was to begin enforcing federal environmental crime laws. He brought in an environmental prosecutor and hired several other prosecutors with EPA and environmental law experience for his white collar crime team. He also told law enforcement agencies that his office would be more receptive. 

Two years later, Mueller had doubled the number of criminal cases filed. The civil division, went from collecting just under $7 million in damages in 1998 to $208 million in 2000, a spokeswoman said. 

Shapiro, Mueller’s criminal chief before taking his place in September, said he’s committed to continuing take on environmental cases, despite pressures from all directions. 

“While I am the U.S. attorney, environmental criminal cases will remain an important priority,” he said. “Obviously, the office now has a very significant responsibility to devote resources to terrorism investigations and to continue our active prosecution of violent criminals and firearms violators. 

“The white collar part of our portfolio – including environmental cases – will also continue unabated.”

SAN JOSE – After years of people advocating it, California will finally number its highway exits. 

The state has long avoided numbering exits, as the federal government requires, for 40 years, even seeking an exemption to the law. 

In 1999, California estimated that it would cost $40 million to put up the signs, but many seem to think it’s worth it. 

“This is a great idea,” said Lt. Scott Howland, an interim commander of the California Highway Patrol office in San Jose. “Anything that gives motorists a better idea of where they are and how to get where they are going is worth it.” 

Keeping motorists from getting lost isn’t the only benefit. Police say numbered exits will make it easier to find accidents and disabled cars. 

The state Department of Transportation will put up some of the new signs in a few weeks and will announce the new policy this month. 

State officials say that exit signs generate more complaints than any other issue. 

Highway 101 will be one of the first numbered. The others to be numbered first include the busiest interstates beginning in Eureka and San Diego. 

The state currently marks exits by the names of local streets. But that can get confusing if streets have more than one name or if, as with San Antonio Road and San Antonio overpass in the South Bay, more than one spot has the same name.

SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. poultry growers have a chicken-and-egg dilemma. 

For decades, people who raise chickens for dinner tables have been honing their “selective breeding” skills and have gotten pretty good at growing the fattest bird possible. 

But meatier and faster-growing birds lay fewer eggs, and prolific egg-layers tend to be skinny. Chicken producers would love to increase production of meatier chickens by minimizing the influence of the skinny genes. 

Origen Therapeutics and AviGenics are among biotech companies considering this dilemma as they pursue the perfectly engineered bird. And their solution is sure to rile a number of advocacy groups, because it involves not just genetically modified food but also cloning and embryonic stem cells. 

The idea is to create identical copies of eggs with desirable traits that can roll off assembly lines by the billions. The hatched chickens would be identically disease-resistant and grow and eat at the same exact rate. 

This goal has yet to be fully embraced. 

Biotechnology opponents fear that genetically modified organisms are little understood, that the potential for harm to humans is great. Animal rights activists argue that the science simply provides a more efficient way to harm chickens. 

“We strenuously object to the mass production of chickens in the first place,” said Jessica Sandler of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals. “Animals aren’t machines. Genetic engineering will only exacerbate the problem.” 

But with an estimated eight billion chickens bred in the U.S. for food annually, these biotechnology companies see an industry ripe for their technology. 

Besides, they argue, engineering chickens is no different from selectively breeding them, as the industry does now. 

“There is very little that is natural” in the current breeding process, said Robert Etches, vice president of research at Origen. 

To prove his point, he grabs from his office bookshelf the American Poultry Association’s “American Standard of Perfection,” which is wedged between “The Life of Birds” and “The Poultry Production Guide.” 

The book lists and pictures more than 800 different breeds of chickens. Etches points to a photograph of the Chinese Silkie – a chicken with a white afro covered in fluffy hair-like feathers that resembles a poodle. 

“Many things have been bred at the hand of man,” he said, snapping the book shut. 

Etches and his colleagues at Burlingame-based Origen Therapeutics Inc. aim to create a robotic assembly line that injects embryonic stem cells from meaty chickens into millions of eggs to duplicate nearly identical birds. 

The process does not involve any genetic manipulation. 

“We call it metacloning,” said Origen chief executive Robert Kay. 

Embryonic stem cells are identical “blank slates” formed in the first days of pregnancy that blossom into all the cells that make up an animal. 

Scientists studying all forms of embryonic stem cells – including the human version – believe they can someday manipulate these primordial cells into any adult tissue of their choosing. 

Origen hopes to breed bigger chickens faster by extracting embryonic stem cells from the fastest growing and biggest chickens and injecting them into fertilized eggs of the skinnier egg-laying chickens. 

Origen scientists hope they can coax the embryonic stem cells to take genetic control of the skinny chicken’s egg, suppressing the parents’ genetic expression, and create a meaty chicken. 

It’s not nuclear transfer – the best-known cloning technique – but Kay said the company someday hopes to consistently create chickens that are nearly carbon copies of the embryonic stem cell donors. 

Kay would not explain Origen’s methods, and said the technology is still years from fruition. 

At the moment, the company’s dozen researchers cut open the eggs and manually add embryonic stem cells to embryos, creating chicks with the genes of four parents. 

Ultimately, they hope to automate the process without opening the eggs. 

In July, the National Institute of Science and Technology awarded Origen and another biotech company, Embrex of Research Triangle Park, N.C., a joint $4.7 million research grant. Embrex’s role is to develop the industrial injection assembly line that will employ Origen’s technology. 

Embrex already makes machines that can inject vaccines into 50,000 eggs an hour. 

In Athens, Ga., meanwhile, scientists at AviGenics are attempting to get around the egg problem by cloning chickens destined for digestion with favorable traits such as large breasts. AviGenics does employ nuclear transfer, the technology that brought the world Dolly the sheep. 

Anthony Cruz, an AviGenics vice president, said the company has yet to successfully clone a chicken and won’t predict when that may occur. 

“There is still a lot of work to do,” he said. 

Indeed, these biotechnology companies readily concede they face years of technical and regulatory obstacles before they can revolutionize the poultry industry. 

And first, they must convince chicken and egg producers their technology is needed – and that it won’t, for example, backfire and create genetically uniform animal populations that could be wiped out with a single fatal epidemic. 

Besides the technical and regulatory issues, public reception to genetically modified food has been tepid at best. 

“Our industry is always looking for efficiencies,” said Richard Lobb, a spokesman with the Washington D.C.-based National Chicken Council. “But I think our companies are taking a wait-and-see approach. There are many hurdles still to overcome.”

LOS ANGELES – The ghostly Hispanic legend of “La Llorona,” Spanish for The Weeping Woman, will be used by California milk producers in an advertising campaign. 

The $2 million blitz will make references to the legend that centers on a ghost who cries for her children who she drowned after being spurned by her husband. 

The legend is deeply ingrained in Hispanic culture, so much so that parents can correct the behavior of unruly children just by warning, “If you don’t behave, La Llorona will come for you.” 

In the commercial that will begin airing Monday, the shrouded ghost goes to the refrigerator for milk, finds the carton empty and leaves weeping. 

The campaign was developed by four Hispanic students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. 

“It’s overwhelming,” said one of the students, 27-year-old Tania Sosa. “I never thought I’d have a commercial so soon.” 

Some wonder if incorporating the cultural legend into a mainstream ad campaign makes sense. 

“My grandmother used to say, ’La Llorona is coming to get you,”’ said Gabriela Lemus, director of policy for the League of United Latin American Citizens in Washington. “I don’t know if I’d buy milk from someone who was trying to kill me.” 

The only word spoken by the ghost is leche, Spanish for milk. 

The ad will be one of the few attempts in which Spanish is used to sell a product on English-language television, said Jeff Manning, spokesman for the California Milk Advisory Board. 

The board is hoping to reverse a trend that shows teen-agers are drinking less milk. 

“Are we taking a chance? Absolutely,” said Manning. “I hope it’s an intelligent risk.” 

Milk producers decided to let students at the Art Center design the campaign in an attempt to reach younger milk drinkers. 

The center gathered Hispanic students, Sosa, Jose Rennard, David Delgado and Ali Alvarez. 

The La Llorona idea came up early. 

“All of us knew the story,” Sosa said. “That’s how we knew we might have something.” 

The legend surrounds a young woman who has two children with her husband. After he loses interest, she becomes disconsolate and drowns her children in a river in despair. Then, realizing what she’s done, she kills herself. Her pathetic ghost then walks the planet, crying and looking for her children. 

In other accounts, she is more of a villain, with the ghost seeking revenge on men and children. 

The commercial will run first in California, but also will be offered to other regions.

OAKLAND — A Livermore man convicted of threatening to release anthrax into the federal building in Oakland was sentenced to five years in prison Friday. 

Charles Redden, 33, was indicted by a grand jury on April 20, 2000, for calling the clerk’s office for the U.S. District Court in January 1999 and saying anthrax had been released into the building’s air conditioning system. The threat was a hoax. 

Redden will begin the sentence after he finishes serving a sentence for a previous conviction in Hawaii. 

Redden’s threat came before the tougher federal sentences for bioterrorism crimes. Under the new guidelines, someone convicted of sending a biological or chemical agent through the mail could face 30 years to life in prison. Before the new rules, the maximum sentence was 17 1/2 years. 

Sentencing guidelines also have been stiffened for those who threaten such crimes.

BERKELEY — The first question for many people after young American John Walker Lindh was found fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan was: What was he doing there? But the next question was: Where were his parents in all of this? 

What were they thinking when they bankrolled their son’s travels in search of an Islamic ideal, first in Yemen as a 17-year-old and later in Pakistan and Afghanistan as a young adult? 

After practically every school shooting or other act of wrongdoing by a teen-ager, the sins of the children are visited on their fathers and mothers in sometimes fiercely critical post-mortems of their parenting. 

“People assume that there’s a very direct correspondence between what kids do and what their parents did for them or to them,” said James Garbarino, who talked with the parents of one of the Columbine High School gunmen for his recent book, “Parents Under Siege.” For his part, Garbarino says that parents are not necessarily to blame for what their children do. 

In recent weeks, the spotlight has been put on the parents of Charles Bishop, the 15-year-old who crashed a small plane into a Tampa, Fla., high-rise, leaving a suicide note expressing support for Osama bin Laden. Also in the news were the parents of Richard Reid, the 28-year-old accused of trying to detonate explosives in sneakers during a trans-Atlantic flight. 

The criticism of Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh, Lindh’s estranged parents, has been scathing, and has been aimed at both their actions and their environment — liberal, wealthy Marin County just north of San Francisco. 

There has been speculation that Lindh lost his moorings amid the confusion of his parents’ separation and his mother’s own spiritual wanderings, which ultimately led her to convert to Buddhism. 

It didn’t help when his parents said immediately after their son’s arrest that he is a “good boy” and that they had supported his pilgrimage to world trouble spots. 

Lindh’s “road to treason and jihad didn’t begin in Afghanistan. It began in Marin County, with parents who never said, ‘no,”’ columnist Jeff Jacoby wrote in The Boston Globe. 

The 20-year-old Lindh, who was captured in November, was charged Tuesday with conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and could get life in prison. The Bush administration decided against a military trial or charges that carry the death penalty. 

His parents, after weeks of silence, said through their lawyer that they still love and support their son. 

Lindh’s parents had paid for his solo trip to Yemen, one of the world’s most dangerous places for Westerners, despite misgivings that prompted Marilyn Walker to repeatedly call representatives of the Yemen Language School, seeking assurances that he would be OK. 

Lindh repeatedly got in trouble with authorities there. He considered himself a more pious Muslim than most Yemenis, and made illegal attempts to meet with militants, according to those who encountered him. 

During a second trip to the Middle East eight months later, he sent an e-mail from Pakistan asking for more money. His father wired him $1,200, and Lindh was off to meet bin Laden. Lindh’s parents did not see him again until he appeared on CNN, a wounded and disheveled prisoner. 

“Clueless,” is one of the milder epithets that has been aimed at Lindh’s parents. 

The parents of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the teen-agers who in 1999 killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School and then committed suicide, were similarly criticized. In that case, the criticism was not that the parents were too tolerant, but that they were ignorant — they should have known about their boys’ dark fantasies and weapons cache. 

Phyllis York, co-founder of Toughlove International, which urges parents to set limits on unruly offspring, said she is not surprised at the criticism. “We live in a culture where parents don’t count, yet they’re blamed as scapegoats,” she said. 

Child psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Berger sees fear behind the outrage. 

“When a person in an unexpected way does something grotesque, it is terrifying,” she said. “Everyone says, ‘Lord, there but for the grace go I.’ Rather than tussling with that humbling and humanitarian idea, frequently they push that away by asserting — ‘This could not possibly be me.”’ 

Child experts agree: Teens are good at fooling their parents. 

Garbarino asked freshmen at Cornell University, presumably a group of high-achievers, if they had hidden anything scary from their parents.  

They had, everything from suicidal leanings to drug busts. 

Berger, author of “Raising Children With Character,” would not comment on the Lindh household and said no outsider can deliver a clinical analysis of what is surely a complex situation. 

She said she does not absolve parents from all responsibility, but in general, “one cannot work backward from a troubled offspring and assert that the parents zigged when they should have zagged.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

Toughlove: http://www.toughlove.org 

Berger’s site: http://www.parentingbyheart.com 

OAKLAND — A 5-year-old girl died Wednesday after she and four other children, along with two mothers, were struck by a speeding hit-and-run driver in a crosswalk on their way to school. 

The little girl died after being removed from life support, said nursing supervisor Valerie Tucker from Children’s Hospital in Oakland. 

The hit-and-run happened Tuesday morning when a green 1967 Ford Mustang sped through an Oakland intersection, mowing down the seven as they crossed the street, said Oakland Sgt. Arturo Bautista. 

Police found the car parked around a nearby corner but they did not immediately locate the driver. A $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest. 

Three other children, ages 11, 10 and 7, remain hospitalized in fair and stable condition with broken bones and other injuries.  

A 1-year-old girl has been released, Tucker said. 

The mother of three of the children was in stable condition Wednesday at Highland Hospital where she’s being treated for a broken ankle and knee. The mother of the other two was struck but not injured.

Add the University of California at Berkeley's extension school to the list of casualties hurt by the downturn in the high tech industry and the sagging economy. 

Acting UC Berkeley Extension Dean George DePuy announced Monday that a 17- percent drop in enrollment revenue will force the school, which is the adult education arm of UC Berkeley, to lay off the equivalent of 35 full-time employees. 

The program, which is self-supported and receives no financial assistance from the university or the state, is projecting a $5.6-million deficit for the current fiscal year. 

The cutbacks will affect nearly 10 percent of the school’s employees. The school will cut 24 full-time employees from its workforce of 374. Further cutbacks will be achieved by downgrading some positions from full time to part time status.  

The school says the first signs of the downturn were felt last summer, when there was a sharp drop in enrollment in high technology courses, mirroring what was happening in the Bay Area’s high tech industry. 

The recession furthered the school's financial woes, which were crippled even more by the adverse impact that the events of Sept. 11 has had on the school's international enrollments. 

“We regret having to take this action, and regret the loss of loyal employees,” DePuy said. “We have worked to put together the best possible package we can in the hopes that this will help ease their transition.” 

All non-probationary employees who are laid off will be given 60-day notices. 

In addition, the school promises to offer them employment counseling services, access to campus office space and computer workstations for an extended period, as well as free UC Berkeley Extension courses for a period of two years after the layoffs occur.

The California Highway Patrol was involved in a two-vehicle crash this morning at the connector ramp between state Highway 24 and eastbound Interstate 580 in Oakland while pursuing a stolen vehicle. The chase started when Vallejo police spotted the vehicle at 2:30 a.m. 

“(The Vallejo police) turned it over to California Highway Patrol units when the Contra Costa CHP got involved,” said Sgt. Lum of the Oakland CHP. 

The chase effectively ended when the primary CHP unit lost control and spun out, slamming into a sidewall. The accident caused a second CHP unit to crash into the opposing sidewall to avoid a collision with the lead unit.  

Oakland Officer Travis Herbert and Sgt. B.J. Whittan were both involved in the accident, but emerged unscathed. 

The chase from Vallejo to Oakland lasted roughly 20 minutes.  

“It doesn’t take very long at 125 mph,” said Lum. 

The stolen vehicle, a Honda Prelude, was recovered Monday morning intact at 58th Street and Shattuck Avenue. 

According to Lum, they “have a pretty good idea” who the suspect is, though they declined to release the suspect’s name. 

The connector ramp was reopened about an hour after the chase ended.  

At deadline, the suspect had not been taken into custody.

SAN BRUNO – Police have arrested a man who holds the lease on a San Bruno apartment, where four men were found dead. 

Jaime DeAlba, 27, is not a suspect in the multiple homicide but a material witness to the case. Police arrested him on suspicion of possession of narcotics Saturday at his parent’s residence in San Bruno after finding drug evidence. 

DeAlba had rented the apartment where the homicide took place for more than a year. Police have not yet found a woman also listed in the single-bedroom apartment lease. 

Neighbors had called police about 7:15 p.m. Friday after spotting people lying on the apartment floor and not moving, said San Bruno Police Capt. Russ Nicolopulos. 

The victims appeared to be Hispanic men in their 20s and each had been shot in the head, police said. Three of the four men had their hands tied behind their backs, and police are investigating the deaths as homicides. 

“At this point, we really don’t have a suspect or any leads that point to a specific suspect,” Nicolopulos said. 

Police said they found narcotics in the residence, but declined to say what kind and what kind of weapons were used in the crime. 

“We’re still trying to piece everything together as to what has occurred,” Nicolopulos said. “We don’t know what the motive is.” 

Police are withholding names of the dead men until autopsies are completed. They were still trying to pinpoint when the crime took place. 

At least one neighbor reported hearing “a loud sound” some time between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Nicolopulos said. A neighbor reported seeing a white Cadillac with tinted windows and four occupants in the area Friday afternoon, when the killings were believed to have occurred. 

“It’s a tragic situation,” Nicolopulos said. “You have it all isolated in one place. It’s not a random-type occurrence.” 

The apartment complex where the homicides took place was surrounded by single-family homes in a city that hasn’t reported a homicide since 1999. San Bruno is a small city about 10 miles south of San Francisco.