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Latin dance... not just another trend

Peter Crimmins
Monday July 22, 2002

A few years ago, at the height of the swing dance revival, Bay Area hipsters could find live music for lindy-hops and rock-steps seven nights a week. But as its popularity ebbed, many hung up their zoot suits and saddle shoes for a different kind of dance. 

Today, salsa and its Caribbean kindred samba have fast become a Bay Area favorite, and a Berkeley nightclub has been attracting young and old, novice and experienced, to step into its polyrhythms. 

Salsa and samba are not, or course, new to the area. The annual Brazilian Carnival celebration in San Francisco’s Mission District has been attracting large and spirited crowds for years. After the last Brazilian Carnival in May, the Down Low club on Shattuck Avenue hosted an evening of Afro-Carribean dancing to keep the energy of the carnival going, said organizer Theo Williams. 

Saturday Williams and his company Cuice Y Clave returned to the Down Low for the third time, presenting “Salsamba Carnival,” which, as the title suggests, is a mixture of Cuban Salsa and Brazilian Samba. 

And the crowd turned out. The club, formerly Mr. E’s, was filled with young and old dancers. Most of the tables were open because few people were sitting down. The dance floor was packed. 

Performing on stage was Oakland-based, Cuban band Orquesta Charanson, whose name comes from another mixture of musical styles – charanga and son. Charanga is a traditional Cuban music played with violin and flute. Son is the type of music made popular in the United States by the Buena Vista Social Club movie and soundtrack. 

With added saxophone, percussion and upright electric bass, the Orquesta Charanson never lost the crowd’s enthusiasm. Between sets the band broke for a DJ to spin music, but the dance floor did not clear. The salsa turned to Carribean-styled hip-hop and the crowd kept swiveling and spinning. 

One of the great appeals of salsa dancing – which it shares with swing– is that it is a partner dance. Rather than the frenetic freestyle bouncing and gyrating of techno or hip-hop dancing, the discipline of salsa steps require response and reaction from a partner – which is why it is also a sexy dance. 

 

A performance by a Carnival troupe showed another reason why salsa is sexy. In full costume of feathered headgear and sequined G-strings, Sambadat put on a show in space on the dance floor cleared by the crowd. Headed by Tedje Rose, a professional dancer and instructor, Sambadat performed showcase dancing in a chorus line and solo routines. 

The night also featured a freestyle solo performance by Silfredo la o Vigo, a dancer from a small village near Santiago de Cuba who mixed styles and movements in an Afro-Caribbean stream of physical consciousness. 

Williams said the Bay Area is a magnet for performers and enthusiasts, coming from Cuba and all over the Caribbean and Latin America, and even a Peruvian company nearby. And because Down Low used to be Mr. E’s where Caribbean music was a mainstay, people are accustomed to coming to the corner of Shattuck and Bancroft to hear salsa and samba. 

Williams said that there will be more nights like this. “We’re pumping (the Brazilian) Carnival all year long.”


Listen to the point

Staff
Monday July 22, 2002

To the Editor: 

The July 5 article on the Police Tower missed the point. The tower is not on the roof but is in the rear of the residentially zoned block. Without consulting neighbors, city staff, not residents, proposed the council item for further study of the tower. 

The new tower was not publicly reviewed in 1997 (and remains out of compliance) and in 2000 was erected on the weekend (also our of compliance). It violated the processes of review in multiple ways. 

Who expected the historic civic center to have a massive 170-foot industrial structure? No other city has had the bad taste to have erected such an embarrassing structure in its city center. It is humiliating to live in a city that has so little sense of taste or respect for itself.  

Would Gordon Wozniak's neighborhood tolerate placement of such a ridiculous structure or such a lack of process? I think not. 

 

Wendy Alfsen 

Berkeley


Monday July 22, 2002

Monday, July 22 

An evening of song & resistance 

7 p.m.  

AK Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St. Oakland 

With music from Samsara, James Tracy and David Rovics 

208-1700, or akpres@akpress.org 

$5 donation 

 

Tuesday, July 23 

Myanmar (formerly Burma): "The Golden Land" 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Ricky Fishman gives a slide presentation/talk about this isolated and remote land. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Q & A with a Personal/Business Coach 

noon to 1 p.m. 

YWCA Turning Point Career Center, 2600 Bancroft Way 

For those interested in professional coaching careers, speak with a pro. 

848-6370 

$3 

 

Wednesday, July 24 

Berkeley Gray Panthers General Meeting 

1:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. 

Pharmacist Fred Mayer prescriptions and their costs, etc. 

548-9696  

Free 

 

Getting Help When You Need It 

7:30 to 9 p.m.  

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annex A 

350 Hawthorne Ave. Oakland 

Free interactive workshop to help caregivers obtain free assistance, deal with paid in-home help, and create plans to care for loved ones. 

869-6737 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6:30 to 8 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Meeting Room A, 2090 Kittredge 

Henry Siegel, Architect, on how to use building materials that are healthier for your family and the environment.  

614-1699 

 

Thursday, July 25 

Combat Medic: World War II 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Memoir presentation by San Francisco physician John Kerner, describing experiences as a combat medic in World War II.  

843-3533 

Free 

 

California Landscapes: A Geologist's Perspective 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

John Karachewski presents an educational slide show on such amazing places as the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges the Great Valley and Cascades 

For more information: (510) 527- 4140. 

Free 

Saturday, July 27 

Test Ride Kestrel Bicycles 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Pristine Sandusky of Kestrel, a premier manufacturer of high-end, carbon-fiber road and mountain bikes, introduces their latest design. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

Graywater Workshop  

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave 

Learn the ins and outs of reusing water with the Guerrilla Graywater Girls 

548-2220 x233  

$10 members, $15 non ( no one turned away for lack of funds) 

 

Santa Fe Right of Way Path Walk 

10 a.m. 

Meet at the Ohlone Greenway at Cedar St, in Cedar Rose Park. 

A new path opportunity, recently funded by the City Council. 

649-9874, or http://www.internettime.com/path 

 

"Neon: The Living Flame" 

7:00 p.m.  

Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave.  

The Alameda Museum presents Michael Crowe, author, and neon artist Karl Hauser 

lecture by Michael Crowe 

748-0796 or 841-8489.  

Members free, non-members $5  

 

Grand Summer Rummage Sale 

9 a.m. to 4 p.m 

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Cedar and Bonita Streets 

A benefit for ANSWER- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. Donations and volunteers are needed 

(415) 821-6545. 

 

Sunday, July 28 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair  

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

(510) 527-4140 Free 

 

Tuesday, July 30 

The Birdhouse Chronicles: Surviving the Joys of Country Life 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Reading and discussion of Cathleen Miller's personal account of moving from San Francisco to Amish Pennsylvania to restore an old house. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Wednesday, July 31 

Twilight Tours at UC Botanical Gardens 

(through August 28) 5:30 p.m.  

200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA.  

Tour the garden at twilight with an expert horticulturist every Wednesday. 

643-2755  

Free with garden admission.  

Mountain Adventure Seminars: Introduction to Rock Climbing 

7 p.m.-9 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 

Thursday, August 1 

Putting it Together 

7:00 p.m. 

Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Ave. 

Middle school students of Berkeley/Oakland AileyCamp perform dance techniques, spoken word, theater. 

642-9988 

Free 

 

Public Meeting to Plan New National Historic Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Senior Center, 2525 Macdonald Ave. 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Nutrition Career Open House 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

Institute of Educational Therapy, 706 Gilman St. 

Become a Nutrition Educator or Nutrition Consultant. 

558-1711 for reservations 

Free 

 

Saturday, August 3 

Mountain Adventure Seminars: Introduction to Rock Climbing 

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 

10th Annual Stroll for Epilepsy 

Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo 

The public is invited to join the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California at Six Flags Marine World for a 5K walk/fundraiser. 

1-800-632-3532 for registration 

 

Storytelling at the Berkeley Public Library 

10:30 a.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch 

2090 Kittredge St. 

Storyteller Joel Ben Izzy will present a variety of stories filled with warmth, humor, drama in the Children's Story Room. 

981-6223 

 

Sick Plant Clinic 

9 a.m. to Noon  

200 Centennial Drive 

UC Botanical Garden; First Saturday of every month. UC plant pathology and entomology experts will diagnose what ails your plant. 

643 - 2755. 

Free 

 

Sunday, August 4 

Top of the Bay Family Days 

1 to 3 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive, above UC campus 

Enjoy an afternoon outdoor concert in our family picnic area as well as art and science activities and hands-on exhibits inside LHS. 

643-5961 

$8 adults 

 

Monday, August 5 

National Organization for Women East Bay Chapter monthly meeting 

6:30 p.m. 

Mama Bears Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 6536 Telegraph Ave. 

Discussion of harassment of females employed by the City of Oakland Fire Department 

Monthly meeting: NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN Oakland 

549-2970, 287-8948  

 

Arts Education Department Open House 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave, Richmond 

Meet teachers, see studios/galleries, info about classes in the arts. 

620-6772 

Free 

 

Public Meeting to Plan a New National Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Public Library, Whittlesey Room 

325 Civic Center Plaza (near Macdonald Ave. and 25th St.) 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Saturday, August 10 

Poetry in the Plaza 

2:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch, 2090 Kittredge 

Quarter hour readings by well-known poets, dedicated to June Jordan. 

981-6100 

Free 

 

Tomato Tasting 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Farmers' Market 

Center Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Tasting and cooking demonstrations  

Free 

 

Tea Bag Folding 

2 to 4 p.m.  

Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave, Albany 

Drop-in crafts program for ages 5 to adult.  

526-3720 ext 19. 

Free 

 

Sunday, August 11 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair 

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

West Berkeley arts Festival 

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

4th and University Ave. 

Explore the many resident artists located in Berkeley 

Free. 

 

Monday, August 12 

The First East Bay Senior Games 

10:30 a.m. clinic, 12:30 p.m. tee-off (approximate times) 

Mira Vista Golf and Country Club 

7901 Cutting Blvd. El Cerrito 

A golfing event for the 50+ crowd, in association with the California and National Senior Games Association. 

891-8033 (registration deadline July 29) 

Varying entry fees. 

 

Tuesday, August 13 

Tomato Tasting 

Tasting & cooking demonstrations 

Berkeley Farmers' Market 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Derby Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way  

Free 

 

Berkeley Camera Club Weekly Meeting 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share slides, prints with other photographers 

(510) 525-3565 

Free 

 

Saturday, August 17 

Author Reading and Signing: Haunani-Kay Trask 

3 p.m.  

Eastwind Books, 2066 University Ave., Berkeley 

Meet Hawaiian author Haunani-Kay Trask. 

548-2350 

Free 

 

Cajun & More 

Four Live Bands, crafts fair, Cajun food, dance lessons, micro-brewery beer & dance floor. 

10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Farmers' Market 

Center Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Free 

 

Sunday, August 18 

Top of the Bay Family Days 

1 to 3 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive, above UC campus 

Enjoy an afternoon outdoor concert in our family picnic area as well as art and science activities and hands-on exhibits inside LHS. 

643-5961 

$8 adults 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair 

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustment and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-7470 

 

Thursday, August 22 

Film: "Ralph Ellison: An American Journey" 

8 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

2090 Kittredge St. 

Berkeley filmmaker Avon Kirkland's stirring documentary about the great American author, Ralph Ellison. 

981-6205 

Free 

 

Friday, August 23 

Teen Playreaders present Bizarre Shorts 

(through August 24) 7 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - North Branch 

1170 The Alameda 

Playreaders present 20 short, bizarre plays, contemporary and classic. 

644-6850 

Free 

 

Saturday, August 24 

Roller Derby & Big Time Wrestling 

6:30 p.m. 

Richmond Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza 

Roller Derby: Bay Bombers vs. Brooklyn Red Devils, Big Time Wrestling superstars 

636-9300 

$10 Advance, $20 Door 

 

Monday, September 2 

National Organization for Women Oakland/East Bay Chapter  

6:30 PM.  

Mama Bears Bookstore and Coffeehouse, 6536 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley  

Chapter’s monthly meeting. Speaker: multicultural historian, Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum, received 

the prestigious Valitutti Award for non fiction.  

549-2970 

Free 

 

Sunday, September 8 

Lifelong Medical Care First Annual 5K Fun Run/Walk Fundraiser 

9 a.m. to noon 

West Berkeley 

Individual and team participation, a health fair, food, prizes, live music, free insurance eligibility screening - fun for all ages. 

704-6010 

 


A little bit of Mexico, right here in Berkeley

Jared Green
Monday July 22, 2002

Mexican Premier League teams Morelia and Atlas played in front of a raucous crowd at Cal’s Edwards Stadium on Sunday, giving Bay Area fans a rare glimpse at soccer tradition and passion. 

The exhibition game was a bit of a snoozer, with just one goal and few opportunities, but that didn’t matter to the fans of the two teams, who came decked out in red and black (for Atlas) or yellow and red (for Morelia). Plastic trumpets blared constantly from thirty minutes before the kickoff until the final whistle and the crowd cheered loudly for their favorites and booed lustily at the villains. 

Atlas won the game on an early goal from Jose Luis Calderon, who received a feathery flick-on from Martin Machon and slid the ball under Morelia goalkeeper Moises Muñoz. Morelia had a golden opportunity to equalize late in the first half when Hernan Bujan was pulled down in the penalty area, but Tato Antonio Noriega shanked the ensuing penalty kick wide left. Each team hit the woodwork in the second half, but no more goals were scored. 

There were distinct factions to the crowd, which numbered approximately 2,500. Most of the fans seemed to be rooting for one team or the other, but there were scattered faces that was there simply to see good soccer. Cal assistant coach Brad Agoos was one of those, although Sunday’s game could hardly compare to his last experience as a fan. Agoos returned not long ago from watching his brother Jeff and the rest of the U.S. men’s national team at the World Cup in Asia. 

Agoos has played soccer all over the globe, including in our own domestic league, the fledgling Major League Soccer. According to him, the main difference between a Mexican game and an MLS game is the atmosphere. 

“Just look at how many fans showed up with just week’s notice,” Agoos said. “That’s a big part of soccer. Mexicans are a passionate people, and they don’t hold back. There’s not a lot of etiquette at these games.” 

Fremont’s Jorge Parra was wearing an Atlas jersey and hat, clearly identifying which side he was on. But for Parra, 47, the game was mainly a chance to relive memories of watching games as a teenager in Monterrey, Mexico. 

“I haven’t seen a live Mexican game since I was 18,” he said. “Mexican soccer is the best in the world outside of Europe.” 

Daniel Montero, 36, moved to Oakland from Mexico a decade ago, and his son, Eddie, had never seen a Mexican game in person.  

“He’s been to MLS games, but I wanted him to see a Mexican game,” Montero said of his 9-year-old son. “It helps him understand where he comes from. Soccer is life in Mexico. This feels like real soccer.”


International trio talks trash in Berkeley

Brian Kluepfel
Monday July 22, 2002

Scholars from around the globe come to Berkeley to study a variety of subjects. This month, one of those subjects was trash. 

Sonia Mendoza came from the Philippines. Zini Mokhine came from South Africa. And Shibu Nair came from India. Supported by Berkeley’s Ecology Center and the Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance’s Zero Waste Fellowship, the visitors spent three weeks gaining first-hand insights into Berkeley’s waste removal and recycling programs. 

While Berkeley has had recycling and composting programs in place for nearly three decades, less developed nations are just beginning to address the growing piles of waste in their homeland. 

 

We don’t have anything like [these recycling programs]. Everything [in South Africa] goes in one container," said Mokhine, who works for Earthlife Africa, one of the oldest environmental organizations in South Africa. “I learned quite a lot here.” 

What they learned in Berkeley was to reduce, reuse and recycle and to ‘please don’t burn.’ 

Mokhine marveled at Berkeley’s recycling infrastructure. “Recycling is quite an accomplished process here," he said. “The other thing that was an inspiration to me is the reuse." He pointed to the Urban Ore site as an example of this kind of thrift. 

But the South African man also said that American ways could be improved and that the United States has trash problems too. 

There is a lot of waste because there’s a lot of unnecessary consumption, driven by the profit-making American psyche,” he said. “When you look at some of the materials that are discarded, it totally explains the [attitude]. I wouldn’t copy America on that score.” 

Mendoza, who works for Mother Earth Unlimited in Manila, echoed Mokine’s sentiments. “I learned that people [in the United States] are disciplined, putting plastics #1 and #2 in the right containers,” she said. “But there’s still a lot of waste... directly proportional to per capita income level. We generate a lot less in Philippines.”  

Nair, who works for Thanal Conservation Action Network in India, also offered perspective on America’s ways. 

“[Here in the United States] I saw glass bottles, perfect in shape, being crushed and melted for making glass,” he said. “Actually, that is energy lost. In India [that is] employment for washing and cleaning.” 

Nair offered some positive sentiments about Berkeley as well. “Berkeley has a lot of community-based activities and lots of laws. Americans have 30 years of experience.” 

The common goal of the visiting scholars is to introduce “Zero Waste” programs in their homes. 

While the focus of Berkeley’s Ecology Center is reuse and recycling, the international GAIA’s goal is to eliminate incineration as a waste-disposal means. Incineration is hardly common in the West, but many developing nations are being asked by manufacturers to consider burning as a quick-fix method of getting rid of mounting consumer and industrial debris. 

Incinerators are banned in the Philippines, but not in South Africa or India. 

Dave Williamson, operations manager of the Ecology Center, said the international fellowships were a good platform for information exchange. 

“We got a feeling of solidarity and of confidence. They [the visiting scholars] learned a lot about the people of the United States,” he said. 

Williamson said he learned from the visitors. 

“With plastic, there’s not much you can do with it, so in India they are replacing it with jute,” a fiber for sacking and cordage obtained from two Asian plants, he said. “They also use banana leaves to make disposable utensils [which] are different looking, but first world Americans would feel comfortable using them.” 

The Ecology Center and GAIA have plans to train as many as 100 international colleagues through similar programs.


Americans must examine the corporate power

Monday July 22, 2002

To the Editor: 

At time when Americans have just caught sight of the tip of the iceberg of corporate malfeasance on Wall Street, it's a bracing exercise to pry our eyes from the balance sheet and glance at what's happening in the far reaches of our global empire where, when people lose out to corrupt corporate management, they pay not merely with their life savings, but with their very lives. 

Remember that at the Bhopal insecticide plant run by Union Carbide in the 1980s, emergency alert systems were deliberately turned off as part of cost-cutting measures meant to protect the bottom line. 

Nearly 18 years later, the death toll from the largest industrial catastrophe in history stands at 20,000. And it is not over yet. 

Now, under pressure from the Union Carbide Corporation, and its parent, the Dow Chemical Corporation, the Indian government is seeking to use part of the Bhopal disaster victim reparations fund to clean up the contaminated soil and water of the region – a financial burden that ought to be borne not by the surviving, disease-ridden victims, but by Union Carbide and Dow. Moreover, as a sweetener to its Hindu voter base, the government wishes to stretch the limited reparations fund to include several districts, populated predominately by Hindus, which are thought never to have been exposed to the toxic clouds. 

Finally, and in a spirit wholly subservient to Wall Street hubris, it seems clear that the Indian authorities will succeed in diluting or dismissing the culpable homicide charges against Warren Anderson, former CEO of Union Carbide. 

What started as a case of sensational corporate negligence far removed from the American public's eye has evolved into a case of election manipulation and government corruption encouraged by unbridled corporate power – a destructive force that Americans have only just begun to examine critically.  

 

Sheila Newbery 

Berkeley 


Rangers beat A’s to snap eight-game losing streak

Monday July 22, 2002

By Greg Beacham 

The Associated Press 

 

OAKLAND – Precious little luck has run the Texas Rangers’ way since Alex Rodriguez joined them before last season. 

When a big dose of good fortune helped the Rangers snap their eight-game losing streak on Sunday with a remarkable victory, Rodriguez hoped it was the start of a bigger change. 

Ivan Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded single in the 12th as the Rangers survived three straight innings of peril before rallying for a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics. 

Gabe Kapler had a two-run single and Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI triple in a five-run burst in the 12th as the Rangers escaped the Coliseum with just their second victory since the All-Star break. 

The final score made it look easy, but the 16 runners left on base by the A’s — including nine in the final four innings — suggested otherwise. On almost every key play, the Rangers got the break. 

“It felt so good to sneak one out,” said Alex Rodriguez, who went 3-for-5. “I think we’ve hit rock-bottom. It was nice to come up with a big win. Hopefully, we’re on the way up now. This could change a lot of things for us.” 

Oakland wasted another strong start by Mark Mulder and several chances to claim their fourth straight victory. The A’s stranded two runners in the ninth and left the bases loaded in the 10th and 11th. 

“We finally got some big outs when we needed them,” Texas manager Jerry Narron said. “When you do that, you win ballgames.” 

In the 12th, Jim Mecir (3-2) allowed Ivan Rodriguez’s drive to center field and Michael Young’s sacrifice fly before Kapler and Alex Rodriguez put it out of reach. 

Jay Powell (2-1) allowed three hits and three intentional walks while pitching out of two jams for the victory, giving Texas a rare dose of resilient relief pitching. 

“All it takes is one hit. They got it, we didn’t,” Oakland manager Art Howe said. “It looked like we were taking strikes and swinging at balls.” 

Adam Piatt had an RBI single in the 12th against Todd Van Poppel.


County supe throws support behind Bates

John Geluardi
Monday July 22, 2002

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson made an official endorsement of Berkeley mayoral candidate Tom Bates at a rally Saturday. He told about 60 of the candidate’s supporters that he was endorsing the former state assemblyman because of their political like-mindedness and their long personal friendship. 

Carson, who said he has had a productive working relationship with incumbent Mayor Shirley Dean, did not endorse a Berkeley mayoral candidate in the last two elections, which were both won by Dean. 

“I didn’t have to give a second thought about supporting Tom Bates,” Carson said, citing their 20-year political and personal relationship. “Tom has focused in on the issues that affect people like affordable housing and the disparity of health care especially among people of color.” 

Also attending the rally were city councilmembers Linda Maio, Kriss Worthington, Dona Spring and Bates’ wife, Loni Hancock. Hancock is running for the 14th District state Assembly seat, the same position her husband held for 20 years before he was forced out by term limits in 1996. 

Carson joins a growing list of political incumbents who have endorsed Bates, including U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee and 14th District state Assemblywoman Dion Aroner.  

Carson said the state is facing a $26 billion deficit that is bound to impact critical housing, health and education programs. He said the personal working alliance he has formed with Bates and Hancock will help the city and county attain state funds. 

“We have to focus in on how we are going to help the least of us, the homeless, the battered, the hungry and the unemployed,” Carson said. “I think, with the economic state of affairs, it’s important to have the best possible collaboration with federal, state and local bodies to figure out ways to deal with our fiscal challenges.” 

Dean, who plans to launch her re-election campaign in August, said that like Bates, she has enjoyed a productive working relationship with Carson while collaborating on such issues as the Alameda County Courthouse, health disparities and affordable housing. But Dean admitted that she wasn’t surprised when Carson endorsed Bates.  

She said in the last election she won 60 percent of the vote without any endorsements from the “political machine” and she’s confident she can do it again. 

“I’m energized to take my campaign to the streets,” Dean said. “I have been a 24-7 mayor and have worked really, really, really hard to bring this city back from the precipice and people can see the difference.” 

Bates said Carson’s endorsement doesn’t have anything to do with a “political machine” and reflects simply what the supervisor feels is best for Berkeley residents.  

“Eight years she’s been mayor and the people are ready for a change and now is a good opportunity,” he said.  

Bates said he has spent nearly 24 hours walking the precincts since his campaign launch July 13. He has discovered that the issue people are most concerned with is education, and he has already begun devising plans to address the issue. 

If elected, he will not draw a salary because he would have to forfeit his state pension plan from the state Assembly, he said. “Instead I’ll take the money that would have gone to my salary and assign a deputy mayor to deal with education issues such as the development of Vista College downtown,” he said. “I want somebody in my office day in and day out to be accountable.”


This country needs to think

Monday July 22, 2002

To the Editor: 

The eruptive surfacing of the corporate accounting scandals in the past few months exposes a much deeper pathology in the human family. Unfortunately, what it demonstrates is that we are not acting like a family at all. With American big-business practices leading the charge, it has become painfully clear that, for the most part, the players on the world stage have yet to see beyond their atomized self-interest and reconcile themselves to the fact that actions have consequences for the entire fabric of human society, including the perpetrators of the socially solipsistic self-serving mantra of the ‘marketplace.’ 

Greed, avarice and stupidity are nothing new in the denouement of this planet’s evolution, or perhaps lack thereof. What is new is the spiraling, momentous effects of unbridled ignorance, in the spirit of infinite opportunism, infesting the mythology that suggests anyone and everyone can have it all.  

Despite appearances, this pathetic condition “inhumane” is not confined to American capitalism. Corruption and the hoarding of economic power has earmarked virtually every social-political community from the inception of the agricultural era and what is commonly accepted as the beginning of history. But it is in American capitalism that the moral pathogens display themselves with such inglorious abandon. Moreover, the technology and communications revolution that the western economic fortress has spawned, has thrown its ugly ethical emptiness smack back in the face of its pollyanna poses and counterfeit commercial smiles. 

In what may be evolution’s greatest ploy, it is this irony wherein lies our greatest hope: To see ourselves for what we are becoming while having the presence of mind and resolve to act upon ourselves before we are all girdled in passive witness to an orgy of rapacious, elitist entitlement and the complicit, convulsive consumption that has come to define modern man and his aiding abetting, better half. 

 

Marcus O'Realius 

Oakland


News of the Weird

Monday July 22, 2002

Plastic pistol packer files suit 

MINNEAPOLIS — A 72-year-old man has filed a lawsuit over an incident last year in which he was arrested for carrying a plastic pistol while delivering a singing telegram. 

Fritz Herring said he told deputies at the Hennepin County Government Center why he was there and they retrieved paperwork from his pocket that had information about his telegram appointment. 

Still, he was taken to jail and held for nearly 12 hours, he says. 

In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Minneapolis, Herring seeks damages for false imprisonment and defamation, among other claims. 

 

Man bites pit bull 

NEW YORK — Man bites dog. Really. 

Police said a Long Island man bit a pit bull that was attacking his pet Siberian husky, and may have saved the pooch’s life. 

Richard Robbins, 44, said he was walking his three dogs Saturday morning when three pit bulls dashed from their owner’s side and one attacked his husky, Gina Marie. 

Robbins sank his teeth into the attacking pit bull’s head. He suffered multiple puncture wounds in the attack. 

“I wasn’t going to watch my dog die,” Robbins said. 

Suffolk County Police Lt. Kenneth Fasano said Gina Maria “would have been severely injured or even killed” without Robbins’ intervention. 

 

Judge finds a jury of ‘Gs’ unfair 

MIAMI — A man who won a new trial on federal gun charges because his jury had too many people whose last names started with the letter “G” has been acquitted. 

Roderick B. Carter, 24, of Opa-Locka, had been charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Adalberto Jordan granted Carter a new trial after Carter’s attorney argued that his client’s right to a jury of his peers had been violated. 

Federal jury pools in Miami are selected by dividing potential jurists alphabetically by the first letter of their last name and then selecting letters randomly. 

Carter’s attorney, David O. Markus, argued that because the jury pool was full of Hispanic names that started with “G” — such as Garcia, Gomez, Gonzalez and Gutierrez — Carter, who is black, could not have gotten a fair trial because the jury did not have a fair cross sample. 

The judge declared a mistrial in May. The original 12-person jury had seven Hispanic members; last week, Carter was acquitted by a jury of six blacks, two whites and four Hispanics.


Vietnam an ultimate journey for Berkeley students

Katie Flynn
Monday July 22, 2002

By Katie Flynn 

Daily Planet Intern 

 

Vietnam was a country that Berkeley High School teacher Rick Ayers never thought he'd visit. But after five months of planning and a 20-hour plane ride, Ayers made the journey. It was the ultimate field trip for 13 of his students who explored the bustling cities and wet rice paddies. 

“Vietnam was far more advanced than I expected,” said Arose Umar-Bey, a senior at Berkeley High. “You think of a third world country lacking technology, but really it was almost like being at home: People were going to work, going CD shopping.” 

For two weeks last month, the students and four teachers toured the country by bus and stayed in inexpensive hotels. Tran Tuong Nhu, a Vietnamese-born Berkeley High parent, and Lan Cao, a professor at Hanoi University, helped guide the group. 

They traveled to Halong Bay where they swam in the warm ocean water. They visited a traditional Moung village and went to Hanoi and saw the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Min's Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace. In Danang, they met the family from the film “A Girl from Danang.” And in Hui, the group saw Buddhist pagodas.  

They met with Vietnamese war veterans who told the group about how they won the Vietnam War, which they call the “American War,” through determination and guerrilla fighting. 

“I use to idealize Vietnamese like the ultimate jungle warriors that couldn't be beat,” Ayers said. “But I learned they got beat up too. They just kept going back at it.” 

The group visited the Amsterdam School, where a class of mostly girls was learning English and hoping to one day attend an American college. The United States and Vietnamese students paired up, sang songs, taught each other dances, and went to a karaoke bar that night. 

“It was so great to meet other high school kids,” said Umar-Bey. “We realized we had a lot of things in common and we talked about boyfriends and crushes and parties.” 

The group also met children at the Peace Village, a school for people born with disabilities blamed on Agent Orange, a toxin that Americans used to defoliate the Vietnam jungles during the war. 

“Seeing kids who had these huge physical deformities like the wrong size head or eyes, made such an impression on us... We all started crying when we first got there,” Umar-Bey said. “It’s like looking at what carelessness can do.” 

When summer vacation is over, the Berkeley High students plan to focus on sending funds to the Peace Village, as well as teaching others about it. 

“We got a sense of responsibility and how it is our job to help at the Peace Village,” said Gabby Miller, a senior who has visited Vietnam three times before. Miller said she wished they could have done more for the Peace Village while in Vietnam. 

A highlight of the trip was an unexpected meeting with the vice president of Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Binh, who was a friend of Nhu.  

For Ayers, Binh represented the many years of fighting with the National Liberation Front, the group that opposed the United States’ involvement in Vietnam. 

Ayers and two students met Binh in her office and discussed Vietnam's history while eating litchi nuts and drinking tea. 

“The idea that I, a high school English teacher who was a rather small light in the peace movement of 30 years ago, should be sitting having a cup of tea with Mme. Binh and a few students, seemed almost unbelievable to me,” Ayers wrote in an e-mail about the meeting. 

Next year, the students will present their trip photos, videos and notes to other students. 

“Vietnam is this country filled with amazing stories. Everyone has a story of war, determination and pride,” Miller said. “You almost become jealous that you are not a part of such a proud culture.” 

The trip cost about $1,600 for each person, with some of the expense offset by fundraising. 

“For me it was a real pilgrimage, a trip of a life time,” said Ayers. “I never thought it would happen.”


Unattended bag prompts LA airport terminal evacuation

Monday July 22, 2002

LOS ANGELES — An unattended suitcase prompted the evacuation Sunday of part of a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. 

The Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad was notified about 5 p.m. of a suspicious suitcase in the upper level of Terminal 3, said Officer Don Cox, a police spokesman. 

Only the upper level of the terminal, for departing flights, was evacuated, Cox said. The lower level arrival area and all other terminals continued to operate normally, he said. 

“They’re trying to determine who it belongs to and what might be there,” said Cox. “There are no threats, they don’t have anything to indicate that it is a device.” 

Several airlines operate out of Terminal 3, including: Alaska, American, Frontier, Horizon and Midwest Express. 


Brifs

Monday July 22, 2002

San Jose woman sentenced  

to jail for hate crime 

SAN JOSE — A San Jose woman was sentenced to nine months in jail after being convicted of a hate crime in which she attacked a man of Middle Eastern descent while shouting slurs during a road rage incident. 

Angel Ann Coley, 28, also was ordered Friday to pay restitution to Mohamed Aram, the 31-year-old man she kicked, bit, and punched in November after using her car to ram Aram’s limousine into an intersection for not getting out of her way at a red light. 

Witnesses told police Coley got out of her car and confronted Aram. She bit his hand, kicked him in the groin and punched him, they said. During the attack Coley called Aram, who emigrated from Egypt six years ago, a “towel head” and “foreigner.” 

Aram tried tossing his cell phone to a passerby to call 911, but the man took the phone and left the scene. 

During her trial Coley maintained that Aram refused to show his identification after his vehicle hit her car — which conflicted with evidence and testimony from witnesses. 

Coley’s sentence comes three weeks after a Superior Court jury found her guilty of committing a hate crime resulting in injury, making threats to commit death or injury, hit-and-run, and battery. 

 

Fourth week without budget 

SACRAMENTO — California is entering the fourth week without a state budget, which is putting the squeeze on state workers. Legislative employees were the first to go without a paycheck last week, leaving others to wonder who’s next. 

Still, Assembly Republicans maintain they will not vote for the state spending plan that uses tax hikes to help fill a $23.6 billion budget hole. 

Man accused of stealing car caught  

after demanding air 

FAIRFIELD — A man accused of stealing a truck was caught after he threatened a service station clerk with a sawed-off shotgun and demanded two quarters to put air in his tires. 

Shane V. Cavalin was ordered to stand trial on robbery and auto theft charges, which carry a possible eight years in prison. Using the shotgun could tack on an additional 10 years. 

Cavalin allegedly went into a gas station on May 4 and asked to use the air machine for the tires of the stolen truck he was driving. 

The cashier told him he needed two quarters for the machine. Vacaville police officer Brian Larsen testified at a preliminary hearing Friday that Cavalin returned a moment later toting a sawed-off shotgun and ordered the cashier to empty the cash register. 


Materials to build radioactive explosives abound in California

Staff
Monday July 22, 2002

ACRAMENTO — There are plenty of ingredients easily accessible in California to assemble a “dirty bomb,” or explosives laced with radioactive material, according to a newspaper’s investigation. 

The Sacramento Bee reported Sunday that radioactive materials are scattered across the state at thousands of sites, and hundreds of them hold enough for a “dirty bomb,” according to state and federal records. 

Machines that operate using large amounts of radioactivity have become commonplace in medicine, research and construction. Radioactive material can be found in the lunchbox-sized construction tool used to peer inside pipelines and walls; in the giant irradiators used to purify foods and sterilize medical supplies; in the medical equipment used to cut brain tumors and treat blood. 

In some places, such equipment is left unattended for hours or days behind locked doors, the Bee reported. 

With the exception of nuclear plants and weapons sites, the nation’s system of radiological safeguards is aimed at preventing accidents, not thwarting well-planned thefts. 

“Safety is different from security. We need to do a much better job of controlling the radioactive materials we have out there,” said Steven E. Koonin, a nuclear physicist and provost at the California Institute of Technology who has advised the government on security issues. 

A “dirty bomb,” known formally as a radiation dispersal device, probably would kill no more people than a conventional blast. It would cause far fewer deaths than a chemical or biological attack, experts say. 

But some predict the dirty bomb is one of the likeliest weapons to be unleashed by terrorists because the ingredients are so easy to get and the potential damage in panic and cleanup costs are so huge. 

“I would be surprised if we didn’t see one within a decade,” Koonin said. 

Although medical and industrial uses of radiation are widely documented, The Bee chose not to identify the owners of significant quantities in light of concerns about how simple it might be to gather enough radioactivity to create a “dirty bomb.” 

People have to take safety courses before getting a license to own even small amounts of radioactive materials, but they do not need to undergo criminal or background checks. A federal law to require background checks for hazardous materials haulers is at least two months away from being implemented. 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently reduced the frequency of inspections for most radioactive materials license holders and does not fully check large inventories to ensure their owners know what is on hand. 


Natural gas use expected to increase 50 percent by 2010

Monday July 22, 2002

SACRAMENTO — California relies too heavily on natural gas to fuel the power plants that generate nearly half of its electricity, leaving the state’s consumers vulnerable to price swings, a new study has found. 

In pursuit of cleaner power, California increasingly has switched to natural gas for its power plants during the past 20 years. But that means higher prices and even electricity shortages if the gas supply dwindles, according to RAND, a nonpartisan Santa Monica-based research organization. 

California produces only 15 percent of its natural gas, importing the rest from Canada, the Rocky Mountain states and New Mexico. 

Consumers already saw their natural gas bills zoom upward during late 2000 and early 2001 because of tight supply, which state power regulators blamed on gas sellers not using pipelines to their full capacity. The industry has denied any wrongdoing. The shortage, however, raised electricity prices because gas fuels 45 percent of power plants in the state. 

RAND, which wrote the report for the Energy Foundation, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, projects the state’s natural gas consumption will increase between 18 percent and 50 percent by 2010, mostly due to new power plants. Researchers say there could be supply bottlenecks unless more pipelines are built or existing pipes widened. 

Rather than completely shift away from the fuel, the state should speed the permitting process, boost reliance renewable energy and expand incentives for electricity conservation, the study recommended. 

Coal and nuclear power fuel a third of the state’s power plants. Hydroelectric dams and alternative energy sources comprise the rest. 


Giant cane grows fast, sucking up state’s water

Monday July 22, 2002

RIVERSIDE — A giant cane, the largest member of the grass family, swallows up gallons of water, grows up to a foot a day and is stubbornly resisting efforts around California to control it. 

“It’s kind of unstoppable,” said Kyle Washburn, who was working with crews using tractors to cut through dense growth of the grass known as Arundo donax along the San Jacinto River in western Riverside County. 

So far, the oversized reed has taken over 20,000 acres of riverbed in three Southern California counties. The plant, which is not native to California, sends up new shoots when it is cut down. It also becomes a natural fire carrier when it dries out. 

“The only thing I can compare it to is cancer. It spreads so fast, and it won’t let anything else live in its midst,” said Kerwin Russell, an environmental horticulturist with the Riverside-Corona regional conservation district. 

The cane, with its firm, straight structure, was first mentioned in the Bible and Greek myths, and is considered the best material available for clarinets and other reed instruments. 

No one is sure when or how the plant first came to the United States, but Spanish settlers used it as building material for California missions. 

Since 1960, when the federal government started planting Arundo along riverbanks to control erosion, the cane has spread dramatically. It is now spotted as far north as Willamette, Ore., and as far east as New Orleans. 

“They had the right idea, but they put it near water,” Russell said. “It loves water, and it has no natural enemies here.” 

To control the cane, stalks must be bulldozed, then shredded and, finally, pesticides must be applied to keep the plant from coming back, Russell said. 


Fire near Lake Isabella damages 10 homes

Monday July 22, 2002

LAKE ISABELLA— A 350-acre wildfire damaged or destroyed 10 homes Sunday afternoon and forced the evacuation of residents, officials said. 

Evacuations are underway in the area near Erskine Creek, near Lake Isabella, as the fire moves in a southeasterly direction, said Tomas Patlan, a spokesman with the Kern County Fire Department. It is not known how many homes are in the area and how many people are being evacuated, he said. 

About 75 firefighters and three helicopters are working to save homes in the area, he added. No injuries have been reported. 

The fire erupted about 2 p.m. and the cause is under investigation, he said. 

Authorities are warning residents to stay out of the area. 

Lake Isabella is about 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles and about 30 miles northeast of Bakersfield. 

In another blaze, firefighters contained a wildfire that burned 25 acres of brush and destroyed two structures in the hills northeast of San Diego, authorities said Sunday. 

The fire, which began Saturday, briefly threatened the popular Angel’s Landing Country Inn and Resort. 

Two structures, possibly trailers or mobile homes, were destroyed, said Chris Hess of the California Department of Forestry. 

No injuries were reported. 

At its peak, more than 250 firefighters worked to contain the blaze. 

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, Hess said. 


Plummeting stock market tests investors’ nerves

Monday July 22, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO – As the stock market’s losses piled up last year, brokerage executive Charles Schwab began appearing in television commercials urging individual investors to remain calm. But by early last week, he realized people aren’t heeding his advice. 

“You can start to see people get a sense of panic now,” Schwab said in an interview last week. “You see it in the market, you (hear) it in conversation, you see it in the writings to the letters to the editor. For some investors, it’s getting pretty desperate. Of course, that’s the time you just got to hold your cool.” 

Remaining levelheaded is getting tougher for individual investors caught in the maelstrom of accounting scandals, terrorism fears and economic queasiness that shoved last week’s stock market to its lowest levels in nearly four years. 

Logic says the market should be reaching a bottom, that Monday should yield great deals for investors with extra cash and the desire to buy blue-chip stocks deeply discounted by the waves of selling that have washed over Wall Street. 

But emotions might drive even more people out of the market as they ruminate over the losses reflected in their second-quarter investment statements and realize the damage got even worse during the last two weeks. 

All of the stock market’s bellwether indexes have been badly battered during the last two weeks. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the most famous index of all, got hit the hardest, dropping by 1,360 points, or 14.5 percent, to fall to 8,019. Meanwhile, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index shed 141 points, or 14.3 percent, and the technology-driven Nasdaq composite index dropped by 129 points, or 8.9 percent. 

The rapid descent, combined with substantial erosion that had already occurred since the stock market’s March 2000 peak, is bound to cause a lot of soul searching among investors, said Tom Lydon, president of Global Trend Investments in Newport Beach. 

“There are going to be a lot of couples sitting across from each their dining room tables this weekend and one spouse is going to say to the other, ’That’s it. We’ve had it. Let’s get out of the market and take something off the table while we still can,”’ he said. 

This kind of behavior is known as “capitulation” — a phrase used in the stock market to describe a time when exasperated investors throw up their hands and sell all their holdings regardless of the economic circumstances. This phenomenon is the polar opposite of the giddiness — famously described by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan as “irrational exuberance” — that propels markets to staggering highs. 

Historically, the moment of investor capitulation heralds the end of a bear market. That’s the good news. The bad news is no one really recognizes the moment of capitulation until it’s already occurred. 

“I’ve been thinking the market had capitulated for the last three weeks, but it just keeps capitulating,” said Richard Del Monte, an investment adviser in Danville. He said three more of his clients threw in the towel after Friday’s sell-off, telling him to sell all their stocks. 

Most money managers think this is a time savvy investors should be seeking out bargains in the market. “You might see opportunities out there that you won’t see again for years,” Lydon said. 

But don’t tread into the market turbulence unless you have a cast-iron stomach because investment professionals warn the market might plummet even further in the next few days. 

“To buy stocks now, you have to be like the people who traveled across the country during the Gold Rush of 1849,” Del Monte said. “It takes a lot of courage.” 

Canan Korustan of Alamo is already on the prowl for bargains. During Friday’s sell-off, she picked up stock in General Electric and discount retailer Target. If the market falls further Monday, she is eyeing investments in drug company Pfizer Inc. and perhaps a cable company. 

By buying now, she hopes to offset some of her losses on past investments in high-tech companies. The value of her holdings in one-time high-fliers like BroadVision Inc. and Exodus Communications have fallen from $20,000 at the market’s peak to $200 today. 

Korustan, 46, is trying not to glance back as she forges ahead. 

“I haven’t even looked at my stock portfolio in the last three weeks because every time I do I just get kind of nervous and upset,” she said. “I start thinking I was stupid for not getting out a long time ago.”


West Coast ports connected to every aspect of U.S. business

Monday July 22, 2002

LOS ANGELES – Acres of brown, blue, red and yellow 40-foot containers fill the shipyards. They run as far as the eye can see, stacked three high, forming long steel corridors down the length of the docks. 

Their contents include nearly everything a consumer could imagine — furniture, clothing, toys, tractors, computers, waste paper, pet food. 

Some goods are on their way to low-cost manufacturers in Asia, such as 2,389 cubic feet of raw cotton destined for Jakarta. 

Others are inbound to shops in nearly every town across America, such as the boxes of butane lighter fluid just arrived from China. 

The profound scale of the operation leaves no doubt that a labor disruption during ongoing contract talks between carriers and longshoremen would reverberate in every corner of the U.S. economy. 

“The effect could be chaotic,” said Monroe Milstein, founder and chief executive of the Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse. 

The New Jersey-based chain of 294 department stores receives about 60 percent of its product through West Coast ports. 

The contract between carriers and West Coast longshoremen expired July 1. Since then, the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been extending the contract on a 24-hour basis at each negotiating session. So far, the union has disavowed any intent to stage a slowdown, and it has not yet taken a strike vote among its members. 

The PMA has argued that West Coast ports are becoming bottlenecks in the supply chain of goods from Asia because the union has spurned technological improvements in an effort to save about 2,100 clerk jobs. The ILWU says it’s not against technology, but the new jobs must stay within the union. 

Together, goods crossing the docks at the combined Los Angeles and Long Beach ports — the third-largest complex in the world — and at smaller West Coast ports from San Diego to Seattle, represent nearly 8 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. 

Some 4 million jobs around the country rely on the smooth flow of goods through those ports. 

West Coast ports have helped sustain the national economy by funneling billions of dollars worth of furniture, automobiles and automobile parts into the country — the key ingredients of the consumer spending binge that kept the recession mild — said Larry Keller, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. 

The ports also are the gateway to Asia for businesses across the country. 

A large percentage of Asian goods destined for the eastern United States come through the West because it’s often cheaper to put them on cross-country trucks or trains than to send them on longer routes through the Suez Canal and across the Atlantic Ocean. 

The top imports by dollar value through the Port of Los Angeles last year were apparel, toys, computers and office machines, and furniture. The leading exports were resin, raw cotton, waste paper, scrap metal and pet and animal food. 

A work stoppage on the West Coast wouldn’t create much damage if it lasted less than two weeks, Milstein said. But anything beyond that would disrupt his company’s supply of clothes, handbags, belts, perfumes, shoes, furniture and other merchandise coming from Asia, he said. 

“Most everything today comes through West Coast ports,” he said. “Twenty years ago at least half of it was made in the United States.” 

Each year, about 5,500 vessels move through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, some more than 1,000 feet long. Each holds several thousand containers, or “cans,” which are unloaded by 105-foot high cranes that permanently hover above the ships’ berths on the docks. 

Some 34,000 trucks line up each day to deliver exports and haul away the incoming merchandise. 

The Port of Los Angeles on its own sprawls over 3,800 acres of water and another 3,700 acres of land. Eighty shipping lines moved $113.9 billion worth of goods through the facility in 2001 — 35 percent of the nation’s container traffic. 

For business owners like Charlie Woo, founder and chief executive of Megatoys, the port is an irreplaceable life line to his suppliers in China, offering the fastest and cheapest travel time for his goods. 

“The port has made my business competitive in L.A. Without it I wouldn’t be able to survive in this industry,” said Woo. 

Megatoys has found its niche selling toys to small retailers that giant toy companies such as Mattel don’t serve. In 13 years, Woo has built a $25 million-a-year import business that employs 70 people. 

The firm imports dolls, radio-controlled cars and other battery toys from manufacturers in China’s special Shenzhen economic zone. 

The merchandise is loaded into 40-foot containers, which hold several thousand toys each. The containers travel by truck to the south China port of Yantian, and 12 days later they arrive in Los Angeles. Door-to-door delivery costs him $1,500 per container, Woo said. 

Last month Woo brought in an extra $1 million of inventory to cushion his business during any labor disruption, he said. 

“I have no other contingency plans because they would not be economical,” he said.


Critics: New essay could hurt some minorities

Michelle Locke
Monday July 22, 2002

The decision to add a written essay to the widely taken SAT college entrance exam has raised new questions. 

Can someone from a home where another language is spoken whip out polished prose in English in 25 minutes? If not, does that mean he or she doesn’t deserve to go to a competitive college? 

“The time limit is particularly difficult for kids who have to translate in their head,” says Robert Schaeffer of Fair Test, a Massachusetts-based group that advocates less reliance on standardized tests. In the real world of college, he argues, “if you write slowly or need a dictionary or have to stay up all night, you can do it.” 

On the other hand, the writing test “gets at real behavior,” and the ability to speak, read and write in English is key to undergraduate success, says Wayne Camara, vice president for research at the College Board, the New York-based nonprofit that owns the SAT. 

The SAT changes were prompted when University of California President Richard C. Atkinson proposed dropping the SAT. With 150,000 undergrads, UC is the test’s biggest user. 

UC faculty proved reluctant to go test-free, suggesting development of a new exam, an ambitious plan that never really flowered. Meanwhile, the College Board and Iowa-based ACT, Inc., makers of the rival ACT entrance exam, made changes. 

ACT is adding an essay for California students only; its officials are still working on the format. 

The point is not to keep English-learners out of college, but to measure their ability to write, says ACT spokesman Ken Gullette. “They will need the skills, so to measure the skills and to give them information to help them improve their skills is a good thing.” 

The SAT makeover, which included dropping the often-criticized analogy section and making math questions tougher, was heralded by Atkinson as “a transforming event in the nature of education.” 

But at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, executive director Margaret Fung has heard from several concerned parents and students. 

“It’s clear that Asian families want to be sure their children speak English. It just seems as if that (essay requirement) may put people at a disadvantage,” she says. 

At the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, officials say it’s too soon to know if the new requirement will be a problem, “but at a minimum we know the essay will not improve the situation,” says attorney Victor Viramontes. “The older version of the SAT discriminates against English-learners and on its face the changes do not address the problem.” 

A 2001 College Board report found that students whose first language was not English had a mean score of 455 on the SAT verbal test, compared to a mean score of 517 for those who spoke English first. 

The report also found that students from Hispanic or Asian backgrounds in general had lower verbal scores than white students. 

The essay requirement isn’t a change for UC-bound students. UC already requires the SAT II writing test, which also includes an essay, a requirement that likely will be dropped now. 

The SAT is a “reasoning test” that tries to measure overall academic ability. The SAT IIs are “subject tests,” that try to assess what students have learned in the classroom. UC requires three SAT IIs, writing, math and a third to be chosen from a variety of subjects. 

Patrick Hayashi, associate president of UC, says making the essay a national requirement, along with the other SAT changes, has “the potential of actually helping nonnative speakers because I think it will encourage the development of better writing classes.” 

As for the time-limit complaint, “I think you have plenty of time to write that essay,” he says. 

The SAT IIs have also been criticized, with complaints focusing on the Chinese and Spanish language tests, which are among the options students can choose for the third test. Critics say students from homes where those languages are spoken ace the tests even though they didn’t study the languages in high school. 

SAT II scores count twice as much as regular SAT scores at UC. But UC officials note that any one SAT II score makes up only 25 percent of the total test battery and also point out that mastering a second language is an academic skill. 

UC research shows the language tests don’t have a big impact on the ethnic makeup of students admitted — a hot-button issue at UC, where race-based admissions have been banned since 1998. 

The number of black and Hispanic students dropped sharply immediately after the ban, especially at highly competitive Berkeley and UCLA. Since then, the numbers have increased, although Berkeley still admits far fewer black students. 

Meanwhile, Asian-Americans, who did not get affirmative action, comprise the largest single group at four of UC’s eight undergraduate campuses; at one of those, UC Irvine, they are the majority at 55 percent of the student body. Statewide, Asian-Americans make up about 11 percent of the population. 

Berkeley ethnic studies professor Ling-Chi Wang says he has heard from some who worry that the emphasis on writing is a way to boost diversity by curbing admission of Asian-Americans. 

UC and testing officials deny that. 

Wang, meanwhile, says he is not troubled by the issue, because “I personally strongly support the notion of diversity,” and because he expects Asian-Americans will meet the new challenge. 

Some think it’s a bad idea to put too much faith in testing, revamped or not. 

At Bates College, a small liberal arts college in Maine where applicants aren’t required to submit test scores, students who don’t submit scores end up having slightly higher grade point averages. 

“Do the tests screen out more students who would be successful in college than they help you find? Bates’ answer to that question is a clear, ringing, ’Yes,”’ says Bill Hiss, the college’s vice president for external and alumni affairs. 

Hiss recalls the case of an applicant with a very low SAT verbal score of 400. The student, a Vietnamese immigrant who was valedictorian of her high school class, was accepted, graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in biology, took a year off to found a mentoring program for immigrant students and went on to medical school. 

UC has switched to “comprehensive review” admissions which means they can consider hardships a student has overcome, so it’s possible they, too, would have admitted that student. 

Still, Hiss asks, “Is a controlled writing sample going to help Latino and international and immigrant kids? For most of them it won’t. A writing sample is going to help youngsters who are at the best suburban high schools and prep schools.”


Honors class prompts resignation, ‘tracking’ debate

Jessica Brice
Monday July 22, 2002

SACRAMENTO – A Gilroy high school’s move toward “academic tracking” that prompted the surprise resignation of the school’s top officials has stirred the debate among educators who say tracking unfairly excludes low-income and minority students. 

So-called academic tracking is a classification system in which students are placed in groups based on their academic ability, with the brightest kids taking separate classes or receiving more challenging coursework. 

Historically, students were placed in high or low “tracks” in elementary school and stayed in those same groups throughout their educational careers. Lower tracks often focused on vocational training rather than intense academic work. 

Although tracking has evolved into many different forms, it still exists around the country today, according to Sylvia Seidel, who runs a professional school development program for the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. 

While schools rarely categorize kids as high- and low-performing any more, many districts do offer continuous honors courses starting in elementary school and running through high school. 

“Tracking is still one of the most highly debated issues,” Seidel said. “There are vestiges of it everywhere, but the trend is moving away from tracking.” 

Most educators agree that students learn best when course work is geared toward individual ability, but critics worry that some students won’t have equal access to the classes if they are deemed as low achieving early on. 

In California, many districts say they are trying to focus on a tough curriculum for all kids, not just the brightest few. 

So when the board of the Gilroy Unified School District announced last week that it would implement a pilot honors program that includes separate classes for some of its ninth-graders, school principal Wendy Gudalewicz promptly resigned, calling the decision “morally and educationally wrong.” 

“At our high school, we’ve made dramatic gains. We’ve doubled the number of students going to college,” Gudalewicz said. “We’ve met (state testing) targets, and all the subgroups have met the targets. When that happens, why put something in place that is going to turn us backward?” 

Gudalewicz, along with assistant principals Cec Bell and Rosa Nieto, resigned to protest the decision, citing fears the district is reinstating academic tracking. 

The ninth-grade pilot program will close the gap in the district’s honors programs, giving priority to kids who took honors classes in eighth-grade and helping pave the way for Advanced Placement classes in 11th- and 12th-grade. 

Gudalewicz maintains that low-income or minority kids who didn’t get into honors classes early on would have trouble breaking into them in high school. 

The program, which will start this fall, was approved after a group of parents turned in a petition with more than 200 signatures and packed school board meetings pushing for the change. 

Jackie Caldwell, who is sending her 14-year-old son, Austin, to a private school rather than Gilroy High so he would have more challenging classes, said tracking is not about race. 

“As an African-American, I support the program,” said Caldwell, who is a member of the parent group that turned in the petition. “Both my husband and I were tracked in the 60s and 70s, and we do not see this a race issue.” 

Caldwell, who attended California public schools all her life, says the move away from tracking hurts high-performing students. 

“We have a daughter in junior high who is also a high achieving student,” Caldwell said. “We’re waiting to see if the curriculum is going to be changed before deciding if she goes (to Gilroy High.) They would have to have an honors program if she did.” 

Gilroy Superintendent Edwin Diaz said that although he was disappointed with Gudalewicz’s resignation, the classes are needed to bring Gilroy High students up to speed. 

“This isn’t such a huge leap,” Diaz said. “The typical model in Santa Clara County and the state is to have some sort of accelerated class.” 

Gilroy, which is south of San Jose, is a rural area that is quickly turning into a bedroom community for Silicon Valley workers. By 2000, Gilroy’s population had grown by 29 percent compared to a decade before. 

At the same time, Gilroy has also seen a rise in low-income and minority residents. More than half of Gilroy residents are Hispanic. 

Diaz said he’s concerned that some parents will choose to pull their kids out of public schools unless the schools offers classes for higher-achieving students. 

“If we’re not able to meet the needs of the whole spectrum of kids, then the public education system is falling apart,” Diaz said. “We’ve spent the last two years improving the achievement of students below grade level. We also have to be mindful and diligent to students that are already performing well.” 

But many school districts, like Sacramento City Unified School District, which groups kids of all levels together in a single class, maintain that students can benefit from a heterogeneous learning environment. 

Lee Yang, assistant principal at Pacific Elementary School, said classes at the school have an equal mix of high- and low-performing students. The high-performing students get extra work tacked onto their homework assignments, while students who have difficulty with the work get extra help from classroom tutors. 

“It’s beneficial to both groups,” Yang said. “Lower-end students get more tutoring and they also get help from kids who are doing well in the class. At the same time, it gives the higher-end kids a chance to apply what they’ve learned.” 

Diaz said Gilroy’s pilot program will benefit lower-achieving students, allowing teachers to devote more time to help them reach their potential. He said that people can sometimes overlook the benefits because the discussion often is centered around “issues relating to access and race and privilege” 

“I made it very clear that if we do end up with these classes, they will be open to everyone,” he said.


Bay Area blamed for San Joaquin Valley pollution

Monday July 22, 2002

By Brian Melley 

The Associated Press 

 

ALTAMONT PASS – The seemingly benevolent breezes that power giant windmills on these hills also carry pollution inland to one of America’s smoggiest regions, fueling a battle between rich and poor. 

At the center of the dispute is something central to California: the automobile. 

Lawsuits and legislation are pending that would require San Francisco area cars to undergo the same stiffer auto emissions tests required in every other urban area of California. 

“You have the greenest, wealthiest area dumping pollution into one of the poorest areas,” said Bruce Nilles, a former Earthjustice lawyer who has worked toward improving air quality in the valley. 

The Bay Area, which sends significant pollution as far as the Sierra Nevada foothills, has escaped the requirement because of an exemption written into state law by a former lawmaker from the coastal region. 

It doesn’t take sophisticated air monitoring equipment to witness the pollution. 

Nate Moehlman, an engineer and private pilot from Fresno, said that when he flies over the valley, he can follow a path of “gunk” all the way from the Bay Area to Bakersfield. 

Ocean breezes blow east, through the Carquinez Straits to Sacramento and points north, and through the Altamont Pass south to the mountains that rim the valley’s southern border. Currents swirl in an eddy of concentrated pollution east and south of Fresno, which has some the highest smog levels in the nation. 

The debate has illuminated the distrust and even contempt that has existed for decades between the industrial farm region and the city by the bay. 

Valley folk have sensed a holier-than-thou attitude among Bay Area lawmakers and environmentalists they believe are forcing a liberal agenda on hard-working families who farm the nation’s most productive land. 

To Bay Area denizens, the Central Valley is the hot, dusty, backward plain that must be endured on the drive to Lake Tahoe or Yosemite National Park. 

When Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, filed a bill this year require Bay Area residents to pass the stiffer emissions test, Assemblywoman Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, blamed part of the problem on tire fires and junk heaps in the valley. 

The Fresno Bee responded with an editorial headlined “Bay Area airhead.” 

Migden said the legislation is punitive, not supported by science and is motivated by “an irresistible impulse to pick on the Bay Area.” 

Still, the state Air Resources Board has found that the Bay Area has had an “overwhelming” impact on inland pollution — 27 percent of the smog in Stockton came from the Bay Area. In the southern end of the valley, where air pollution is worse, the figure drops to slightly less than 10 percent. 

Air pollution control districts in the Central Valley haven’t challenged a state exemption for agriculture that has allowed farms to remain largely unregulated for years. But they have sued the state board to reverse the Bay Area’s smog exemption, which was written during a brief period when the Bay Area met federal Clean Air Act standards for smog. 

The enhanced Smog Check II checks required for every other metropolitan area in California cost most motorists about $10, but much more for repairs if the cars fail to meet the standard. 

Ending the exemption would eliminate an estimated 27 tons of pollutants which contribute to smog downwind, said Ellen Garvey, air pollution control officer for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. 

“It doesn’t do anything to help us but it does help them,” Garvey said. “I think we ultimately want to do the right thing for clean air and we want to do the right thing for our neighbors.” 

A study should be complete by the end of the month on how much of those smog-forming emissions are contributing to inland pollution. 

Garvey said her agency is trying to determine what is cost effective. The enhanced smog check would cost about $5,500 to remove each ton of pollution-forming gases. The same goal could be achieved for $900 a ton if diesel-burning boats on the bay were equipped with cleaner burning engines. 

The legislation passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly, 57-4, in May. It stands a good chance of passage in the upper house. Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, D-San Francisco, said he might make some changes to the legislation but he will not block it. 

“It’s an issue of fundamental equity,” said Mike Lynch, chief of staff for Rep. Gary Condit, D-Ceres, who fought for years to bring the Bay Area into compliance. “They think they’re special and they think everyone should give them a break because they’re special. Unfortunately, the break comes at the expense of our health and our jobs.” 

Even if the legislation is passed, it is only expected to make a small dent — less than 10 percent — in the valley’s pollution problems. The San Joaquin Valley has failed for years to meet federal standards and needs to remove about 300 tons of pollution, a third of its daily total.


DNA evidence links suspected killer to murdered girl

Monday July 22, 2002

By Chelsea J. Carter 

The Associated Press 

 

STANTON – DNA evidence found on the body of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion matches that of the man arrested in her killing, The Associated Press learned Saturday. 

A source close to the investigation, who declined to be identified, confirmed a report in the Los Angeles Times Saturday that DNA from the girl’s body matched that of Alejandro Avila. 

The source would not elaborate on the type of genetic material that was used for the match. 

Jim Amormino, a spokesman with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, would not specifically confirm or deny the report, but did say authorities were “100 percent sure we have the right man.” 

“Forensic testing has confirmed our initial suspicion. DNA is a component of forensic testing,” he said. 

Avila, 27, was arrested Friday for investigation of kidnapping and killing Samantha. He has denied the charges and claims he was at a shopping mall on Monday evening when the girl was abducted. His sister, 22-year-old Elvira Avila, told the Orange County Register that he unexpectedly missed a family dinner Monday night, when Samantha was kidnapped. 

The district attorney’s office was expected to file formal charges by Tuesday. 

Samantha was playing with a 5-year-old friend just yards from her home when a man claiming to look for a lost puppy carried her away, kicking and screaming. 

The DNA evidence helped seal a rapid investigation following the discovery of Samantha’s body on Tuesday about 10 miles from Avila’s home. 

A tip naming Avila came into the Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, and by that evening he was under surveillance, Amormino said. 

Friday’s arrest did not end the emotional turmoil of Southern California parents and children who have taken in Samantha as one of their own. 

Hushed mourners gathered Saturday at an impromptu memorial in the courtyard of the townhome complex where Samantha lived. 

Samantha’s mother ended nearly four days of seclusion to thank the gathered crowd for the support. 

“We will have a service as soon as we can. It has to be perfect. I’m sure you can understand,” she said between tears. “So thank you. It really has been helpful.” 

Tables overflowing with flowers, balloons, cards and stuffed animals have become a magnet for many in the community trying to cope with the fear and frustration brought by the little girl’s murder. An estimated 1,000 people had visited in the past day. 

“If there’s one (killer), there will be another,” said Kathleen Siliuta, 30, who brought her 6-year-old daughter, Alexis. 

Juan Rivera, 36, of Stanton, said his visit was a life lesson for his 7-year-old daughter, Arias. 

“I wanted to bring her to see you’ve got to be careful,” he said. 

“I have to scream and run” if attacked, Arias said. 

Laurance Montgomery, 53, passed out flyers of his daughter, Daniela, who was 14 when she disappeared from her Riverside home ten months ago. 

He hoped the attention to missing children from Samantha’s case might help generate leads to his daughter’s disappearance. 

“Unfortunately, it’s not a good time for the Runnion family or the rest of the community,” he said. 

Several other child murders in Southern California remain unsolved. 

Jahi Turner, 2, came to San Diego from Frederick, Md. just days before his April 25 disappearance from a playground in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Turner, who is still missing, was left alone by his stepfather, Teiray Jones, who told police the boy disappeared when he left to buy a soda. 

Victoria Angelica Ramirez, 10, of the Central California agricultural town of Hanford, vanished at a swap meet in nearby Visalia in 1994. Witnesses said she had argued with her mother and ran off. Her body was later found 30 miles away in an irrigation canal. The case remains unsolved. 

Riverside County authorities have sought a suspect in the kidnapping and killing of Anthony Martinez since April 1997. Martinez was abducted as he played in the front of his home. His body was found in a shallow grave two weeks later near Palm Springs.  

They believe the case is unrelated.


Roadshow pulls into town

By Brian Kluepfel, Special to the Daily Planet
Thursday July 18, 2002

Doctors Without Borders 

 

“Today, I was diagnosed with tuberculosis. I will have to stay in the hospital six months in order to be cured. Since I’ve been diagnosed fairly early, the chances of my recovery are good,” said a role player in a game put on by health organization Doctors Without Borders. 

The role-player’s anticipated recovery cannot be shared by many who get what is sometimes referred to as “the White Plague.” Every minute, four people around the globe die from this treatable disease, according to the international health care group. 

The volunteer organization was in Berkeley this week as part of a 30-city, yearlong tour of Access Expo, an exhibit that spotlights a lack of medical access in the developing world.  

Each year up to 14 million people die from treatable, infectious diseases, organizers said. 

The aim of the Access Expo is to collect one million signatures to send to President George W. Bush, and encourage pharmaceutical companies to consider health care before profits. Petitions, due in the Spring of 2003, will also go to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. People visiting the Access Expos’ 48-foot truck this week are asked to deposit signed postcards in pill-box shaped bins. 

The tour of the truck starts with participants spinning the “Wheel of Misfortune,” which determines the disease the participant must feign. One person’s spin comes up green.  

He is given a plastic laminated green card detailing his symptoms: “I live in Uzbekistan and have a continual cough, night sweats, and experience dizzy spells.” 

The participant enters the exhibit to learn about the illness. He reads about Lida from the Republic of Georgia who now has a multidrug resistant form of TB (many persons like Lida stop taking pills before the treatment is complete, resulting in these dangerous strains).  

The participant passes by a bank of eerily ticking clocks that show the number of people who die of worldwide maladies each minute.  

Then it’s time for the participant’s consultation.  

At a table at the rear of the truck, he describes his symptoms to Annie Whitehouse, a volunteer nurse with Doctors Without Borders. Whitehouse has spent the last year in the Republic of Abkhazia, which broke off from Georgia in the ’90s and is feeling the effect of the breakup of the former Soviet Union and years of civil war.  

Annie tells the participant that his prognosis is good if he keeps taking the pills. However, there is a catch. He has to stay in the hospital for six months. (The TB bacilli is spread most often through coughing or sneezing.) And the hospital is 15 miles away. 

“We’re dealing with medicines where the length of treatment is too long... what happens usually, is that they start the treatment, and then they stop it,” Whitehouse said. 

Brigg Reilley, an epidemiologist from Los Angeles, explained, “The problem we’re looking at with malaria and tuberculosis is that the main drugs are decades old – no new TB drugs have been developed in 30 years. Drug companies are going where the money is... drugs like Viagra and Rogaine. As a result, we’re worse off than we were in infectious diseases 10 years ago.”  

This is what the organization calls the “10/90 disequilibrium.” Doctors Without Borders statistics show that only 10 percent of global health research is devoted to conditions that account for 90 percent of global disease.  

Maria Vargas, a 17-year old senior at Ukiah High School, hopes to become a pediatrician. She is on campus visiting the UC Berkeley School of Medicine, and the exhibit opened this prospective doctor’s eyes. 

“I heard of this disease before but I never knew how bad it was,” she said. “We have to get the pharmaceutical companies aware that we need new medicines for these people.”


It’s not over yet

Sheila Newbery
Thursday July 18, 2002

To the Editor: 

At time when Americans have just caught sight of the tip of the iceberg of corporate malfeasance on Wall Street, it's a bracing exercise to pry our eyes from the balance sheet and glance at what's happening in the far reaches of our global empire where, when people lose out to corrupt corporate management, they pay not merely with their life savings, but with their very lives. 

Remember that at the Bhopal insecticide plant run by Union Carbide in the 1980s, emergency alert systems were deliberately turned off as part of cost-cutting measures meant to protect the bottom line. 

Nearly eighteen years later, the death toll from the largest industrial catastrophe in history stands at 20,000. And it is not over yet. 

Now, under pressure from the Union Carbide Corporation, and its parent, the Dow Chemical Corporation, the Indian government is seeking to use part of the Bhopal disaster victim reparations fund to clean up the contaminated soil and water of the region – a financial burden that ought to be borne not by the surviving, disease-ridden victims, but by Union Carbide and Dow. Moreover, as a sweetener to its Hindu voter base, the government wishes to stretch the limited reparations fund to include several districts, populated predominately by Hindus, which are thought never to have been exposed to the toxic clouds. 

Finally, and in a spirit wholly subservient to Wall Street hubris, it seems clear that the Indian authorities will succeed in diluting or dismissing the culpable homicide charges against Warren Anderson, former CEO of Union Carbide. 

What started as a case of sensational corporate negligence far removed from the American public's eye has evolved into a case of election manipulation and government corruption encouraged by unbridled corporate power – a destructive force that Americans have only just begun to examine critically.  

 

Sheila Newbery 

Berkeley 


Improvisation troupe makes fun out of current events

By Robert Hall, Special to the Daily Planet
Thursday July 18, 2002

‘Ripped from the News’ 

 

We’re in Vietnam in the 1960s, as a tough U.S. marine bends over the trembling local girl he’s about to ravish. “I’m an American,” he growls, leaning ominously nearer, “and this is what we do.” The line is about as politically incorrect as you can get these days—no one is supposed to poke fun at American imperialism—but as the climax of a wild and woolly satire, it brought down the house at the Magic Theater last weekend. 

Want to see this far-out, funny show for yourself? 

Sorry, you can’t. It will never be performed again. 

So why read about a play you can’t see? Because you can see the actors who created it, and that’s what counts. Called “True Fiction Magazine,” they’re a talented local troupe that invents a completely different show each night out of scraps of paper. 

The results are mixed, dud moments alternating with explosions of wit, but if you’re willing to ride out the dead spots, you’ll have a pretty good time. 

“True Fiction Magazine” has been around for fifteen years. Most improv groups specialize in skits, five or 10 minutes at most, but “Magazine” aims for sustained, evening-long narratives. It takes nerve to play this tricky game, but the troupe hits the target often, scoring bull’s-eyes along the way. 

In the show I saw, evil corporate execs kidnapped children and dogs to keep unruly employees in line. That’s just one sample of the off-beat flavor. 

“Magazine” calls its latest outing “Ripped from the News,” for reasons that become obvious once you enter the theater. There you’re greeted by a pile of newspapers, from which you’re invited to tear out a story. These cuttings are then tacked up around the play space, and the actors improvise from them. 

The results? On opening night the stories featured man-made viruses, walking fish, rapacious sea gulls and corporate greed.  

Impossible to meld these into a coherent narrative? “True Fiction Magazine” did it, sort of, by shooting for fun rather than sense, with predictably wacky results. Conjuring a homicidal mom, a fanatic EPA watchdog, a macho pilot, and a dysfunctional brat, they bounced from an Asian street market to a World Com board room to a Kabul-bound plane loaded with bubonic plague. 

They’ve got stopovers in a troubled household where all the servants were named Matilda. 

The effect was mind-bogglingly surreal. Lines like, “I’ve overstepped my intelligence,” tripped over lines like, “Someone has stolen Fluffy,” and, “If I don’t die inside a week, you’re in big trouble.” There were improvised songs, too: “The Walking Fish Blues,” and one that rhymed “Matilda” with “killed ya.” 

The five players, Paul Killam, Craig Neibaur, Diane Rachel, Regina Saisi and Barbara Scott are bright and skilled, and they work together well, giving one another time to slip in and out of every opportunity in the loopy narrative. Joshua Raoul Brody’s mocking music enhances the silliness, and Mark Rachel dims, brightens and tints the lighting effectively. Yet they, and their creation, were a little too polite. I longed for the manic invention of someone like Robin Williams. “True Fiction Magazine” inspired giggles and the occasional bellylaugh, but its material wore thin, and its careful method didn’t take enough chances, so that instead of being shot into the stratosphere, we circled pleasantly before landing with a gentle bounce. 

That’s not bad, and “True Fiction” is a likeable troupe, but I wanted them to lift me out of my seat. That isn’t to say their next one-of-a-kind fabrication won’t fly higher, and I would be unfair if I didn’t report a conversation with a Magic Theater V.I.P., who shall remain nameless. He’d seen “Ripped from the News” a couple of times already. “One night they were good,” he reported, “but the next night they were brilliant.” 

Maybe that’s the way it is with improv: you take your chances, and in the case of “True Fiction Magazine,” the choice between good and brilliant is better than lots of theaters offer. 


Arts Calendar

Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

 

July 25 

Midsummer Motzart  

Festival Orchestra 

8 p.m. 

First Congregational Church 

2345 Channing Way 

Divertimento in D, Piano concerto #17, Symphony #38 “Prague” 

(415) 292-9624 for tickets 

$25-50 

Saturday, August 3 

Bata Ketu 

8 p.m.  

Alice Arts Center,  

1428 Alice St. 

Oakland. 

Interplay of Cuban and Brazilian  

music and dance  

www.lapena.org 

$20 

 

“Red Rivers Run Through Us”  

Until Aug. 11,  

Wed. - Sun.  

Noon to 5 p.m. 

Berkeley Art Center,  

1275 Walnut St. 

Art and writing from Maxine Hong Kingston's veterans' writing group 

Reception, 2 to 4 p.m.  

644-6893 

 

From the Attic: Preserving  

and Sharing our Past 

Until July 26, Thur.-Sat. 1 to 4 p.m. 

Veterans Memorial Building 

1931 Center St. 

Exhibit shows the 'inside' of museum work 

848-0181 

Free 

 

The Creation of People’s Park 

Through Aug. 31, Mon.-Thur. 9 to 9 p.m., Fri. 9 to 5 p.m., Sat. 1 to 5 p.m. Sun. 3 to 7 p.m. 

The Free Movement Speech Cafe  

UC Berkeley campus 

A photo exhibition, curated  

by Harold Adler 

hjadler@yahoo.com 

Free 

 

Jan Wurm: Paintings and Drawings 

Mon. and Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tues.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Flora Hewlett Library at the Graduate Theological Union 

2400 Ridge Road 

649-1417 

Saturday, July 20 

“First Anniversary  

Group Show”  

July 18 to Aug. 17 

Ardency Gallery, Aki Lot, 8th Street 

Reception, 5 to 8 p.m. 

13 local artists display work ranging from sculpture to mixed media 

836-0831 

 

Antony and Cleopatra 

Directed by Joy Meads 

Through July 20,  

Thurs.-Fri. 8 p.m. 

La Vals Subterranean Theater  

1834 Euclid 

234-6046 for reservations 

$14 general, $10 student 

 

 

Grease 

Through Aug. 10, Sunday matinees  

July 21,28 Aug. 4 

Contra Costa Civic Theater,  

951 Pomona Ave. El Cerrito 

Directed by Andrew Gabel 

524-9132 for reservations 

$17 general, $10 for under 16 and under 

 

Don Pasquale Opera 

July 17, 19 at 8 p.m.  

July 21 at 2 p.m. 

Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek 

From the Festival Opera  

Association, a comedy by  

Gaetano Donizetti about an arranged marriage 

www.festivalopera.com 

 

Benefactors 

July 18 to Aug. 18, Wed.-Sat. 8 p.m. Sun. 2 and 7 p.m. 

Previews: July 12-14 and 17 

Michael Frayn's comedy of two neighboring couple's interactions 

Aurora Theatre Company  

2081 Addison St. 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org  

for reservations. $26 - $35  

 

The Shape of Things 

Sept. 13 to Oct. 20 

Aurora Theatre Company,  

2081 Addison St. 

Neil LaBute's love story  

about two students 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26 - $35  

 

 

 

The Heidi Chronicles 

Through Aug. 10 Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m. 

Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley present Wendy Wasserstein’s play about change. 

528-5620 

$10 

 

A Thousand and One Arabian Nights 

Through Sept. 28, Fri.-Sun. 8 p.m. Sun. 4 p.m. 

Forest Meadows Outdoor Amphitheater, Grand Avenue at the Dominican University, San Raphael 

Marin Shakespeare Company’s presents this classic story with original Arabic music. 

(415) 499-4488 for tickets 

$12, youth; $20 senior; $22 general 

 

Alarms and Excursions 

Nov. 15 to Dec. 22 

Aurora Theatre Company,  

2081 Addison St. 

Michael Frayn's comedy about the irony of modern technology 

843-4822, www.auroratheater.org for reservations 

$26 - $35  

 

 

 

 

Poetry Diversified 

First and third Tuesdays,  

7:30 to 9 p.m. 

World Ground Cafe,  

3726 Mac Arthur Blvd., Oakland 

Open mic and featured readers 

 

Boas Writing Group 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody's, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

Stefani Barber, Jean Lieske  

and many more 

845-7852 

$2 

 

Open Mike and Featured Poet 

7 to 9 P.M. First Thursdays and second Wednesdays each month  

Albany Library 1247 Marin Ave 

Thursday, July 11: Poets Tenesha Smith-Douglas and Judith Annenbaum. 

Second Wednesdays are a monthly Poetry Writing Workshop, led by Alison Seevak.  

526-3720 Ext. 19 

Free 


Out & About Calendar

Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002


Thursday, July 18

 

Intro to Accessible  

Software and Hardware  

3 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

Electronic Classroom (3rd Floor) 2090 Kittredge Ave.  

Non-profit training organization for software and hardware useful to seniors and disabled people in Berkeley. 

981-6121 for reservations 

Free 

 

art.Sites Paris 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Slide show by Sidra Stich offers overview of Paris' exciting innovative changes, new museums, new art and media centers, parks etc. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Mystique of the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Phil Arnot presents slides from over 50 years of exploring such places as Alaska, New Zealand, the Sierra and the Rockies. 

527-4140 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6 to 8 p.m.  

Building Education Center, 812 Page Street 

With speaker Greg VanMechelen, Architect, VanMechelen Architects 

614-1699 or lclarke@stopwaste.org 

Free 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 to 8:30 p.m.  

Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave.  

Topic is the Cost of various life choices to the Planet well as to our Happiness, Pocketbook and Community. 

549-3509, or www.simpleliving.net. 

Free 

 

Introduction to Accessible  

Software and Hardware  

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library Electronic Classroom, 2090 Kittredge Street 

RSVP to 981-6121 

 


Friday, July 19

 

Berkeley Women in Black 

Noon to 1 p.m. 

Telegraph and Bancroft 

In solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian Women in Black to urge an end to the occupation  

548-6310, wibberkeley.org 

 


Saturday, July 20

 

Public Meeting to Plan a New  

National Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Oakland Museum, Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak St. (at Lake Merritt BART) 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Puppet Shows 

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level) 

The Kids on the Block educational puppet troupe present a show about accepting and understanding physical, mental, medical and cultural differences. 

$2 donation, children under 3 free 

 

Emergency Preparedness  

Classes in Berkeley 

Earthquake Retrofitting: Learn how to strengthen your wood frame home. 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

812 Page Street 

981-5605 

Free 

 

Connoisseurs' Marketplace 

(through July 21) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Santa Cruz Ave. Menlo Park (between El Camino Real and Johnson St. 

16th annual mid-summer festival of the arts featuring music, artisans, celebrity chefs, international cuisine, kids' fun zone and more. 

(650) 325-2818 

Free 

 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA)  

9:30 to ll a.m.  

Fireside room, Live Oak Park l30l Shattuck Avenue 

City wide neighborhood meeting on local issues. 

Mtbrcb@pacbell.net 

 


Sunday, July 21

 

Top of the Bay Family Days 

1 to 3 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive, above UC campus 

Enjoy an afternoon outdoor concert in our family picnic area as well as art and science activities and hands-on exhibits inside LHS. 

643-5961 

$8 adults 

 


Monday, July 22

 

An evening of song & resistance 

7 p.m.  

AK Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St. Oakland 

With music from Samsara, James Tracy and David Rovics 

208-1700, or akpres@akpress.org 

$5 donation 

 


Tuesday, July 23

 

Myanmar (formerly Burma):  

"The Golden Land" 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Ricky Fishman gives a slide presentation/talk about this isolated and remote land. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Q & A with a  

Personal/Business Coach 

noon to 1 p.m. 

YWCA Turning Point Career Center, 2600 Bancroft Way 

For those interested in professional coaching careers, speak with a pro. 

848-6370 

$3 

 


Wednesday, July 24

 

Berkeley Gray Panthers  

General Meeting 

1:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. 

Pharmacist Fred Mayer prescriptions and their costs, etc. 

548-9696  

Free 

 

Getting Help When You Need It 

7:30 to 9 p.m.  

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annex A 

350 Hawthorne Ave. Oakland 

Free interactive workshop to help caregivers obtain free assistance, deal with paid in-home help, and create plans to care for loved ones. 

869-6737 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6:30 to 8 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Meeting Room A, 2090 Kittredge 

Henry Siegel, Architect, on how to use building materials that are healthier for your family and the environment.  

614-1699 

 


Thursday, July 25

 

Combat Medic: World War II 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Memoir presentation by San Francisco physician John Kerner, describing experiences as a combat medic in World War II.  

843-3533 

 

California Landscapes:  

A Geologist's Perspective 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

John Karachewski presents an educational slide show on such amazing places as the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges the Great Valley and Cascades 

For more information: (510) 527- 4140. 

Free 

 


Saturday, July 27

 

Test Ride Kestrel Bicycles 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Pristine Sandusky of Kestrel, a premier manufacturer of high-end, carbon-fiber road and mountain bikes, introduces their latest design. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

Graywater Workshop  

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave 

Learn the ins and outs of reusing water with the Guerrilla Graywater Girls 

548-2220 x233  

$10 members, $15 non ( no one turned away for lack of funds) 

 

Santa Fe Right of Way Path Walk 

10 a.m. 

Meet at the Ohlone Greenway at Cedar St, in Cedar Rose Park. 

A new path opportunity, recently funded by the City Council. 

649-9874, 

http://www.internettime.com/path 

 

"Neon: The Living Flame" 

7:00 p.m.  

Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave.  

The Alameda Museum presents Michael Crowe, author, and neon artist Karl Hauser 

lecture by Michael Crowe 

748-0796 or 841-8489.  

Members free, non-members $5  

 

Grand Summer Rummage Sale 

9 a.m. to 4 p.m 

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Cedar and Bonita Streets 

A benefit for ANSWER- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. Donations and volunteers are needed 

(415) 821-6545. 

 


Sunday, July 28

 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair  

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 


Tuesday, July 30

 

The Birdhouse Chronicles:  

Surviving the Joys of Country Life 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Reading and discussion of Cathleen Miller's personal account of moving from San Francisco to Amish Pennsylvania to restore an old house. 

843-3533 

Free 

 


Wednesday, July 31

 

Twilight Tours at UC Botanical Gardens 

through Aug. 28 5:30 p.m.  

200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA.  

Tour the garden at twilight with an expert horticulturist every Wednesday. 

643-2755  

Free with garden admission.  

 

Mountain Adventure Seminars:  

Introduction to Rock Climbing 

7 p.m.-9 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 


Thursday, August 1

 

Public Meeting to Plan New  

National Historic Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Senior Center,  

2525 Macdonald Ave. 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517


Mountain View puts an end to Lions’ season

By Jared Green, Daily Planet Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Depleted Berkeley/Albany lineup can’t solve
Mountain View pitchers in state tournament
 

 

The Berkeley/Albany Lions’ season ended Wednesday night in a 3-1 loss to Mountain View in the Babe Ruth state tournament in San Leandro. 

The Lions, playing with a weakened lineup due to several key absences, managed to scratch across just one unearned run in the sixth inning as Mountain View’s Brian Johnson and Todd Frassotti combined to allow just three hits in the game. 

Berkeley/Albany’s best chance came right out of the gate, as a walk and two singles loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. But Benny Goldenberg struck out and Joe Storno grounded out to end the inning without a run crossing the plate. 

“They did a pretty good job pitching against us today,” Berkeley manager Joe Pinguelo said. “We weren’t able to hit them very well. When we didn’t produce in the first inning, that really hurt us.” 

While the Lions were doing nothing with a lot of baserunners, Mountain View was efficient in the first three innings, taking advantage of three walks by Lions starter Randy Renn. Matt Martinez led off the first with a free pass, advanced to third on two groundouts and scored on an opposite field flare by Matt Means. 

Mountain View scored the deciding runs in the third. After two quick outs, Renn lost the plate and walked two batters. Means followed with another single, this one a line drive just over the leap of second baseman Derek Yow, scoring Jack Chapman from second.  

Bryan Beres’ single to center scored Johnson, although Berkeley/Albany centerfielder Chase Moore gunned down Means at the plate for the third out. Renn didn’t allow another hit in the game, but the three runs stood up. 

Moore led off with a double to start the next inning, but was called out for leaving early while tagging up on a flyball despite the protests of the Lions coaching staff. 

Franklin led off the sixth with his third straight walk and went to second on a wild pitch before scoring on an error by Mountain View shortstop Will Norton. The Lions had two men on with two outs, but Storno grounded out to second base. 

Three missing starters depleted the Berkeley/Albany bench, forcing Pinguelo to put every available player in the lineup. The result was an 0-for-13 day by the last five batters in the Lions order, which effectively snuffed any chance of an extended rally. 

“I definitely think that if we had our full roster here, we would have won this game,” said Pinguelo, who had to work the phones all afternoon just to get a full lineup. “It’s tough when you only have nine ballplayers show up.” 

Ricky Arias extended a ray of hope with a leadoff walk in the seventh, but Frassetti struck out the next three batters to end the game. 

Regardless of the disappointing finish, Pinguelo said he was satisfied with the summer season. The Lions advanced to the state tournament for the third straight year and were just two wins away from the championship game. 

“It’s been a fantastic season,” he said. “To get back to the state championships and come in in the top four, it’s nice to see for the kids.”


10 years later, firehouse OK’d

By Kurtis Alexander, Daily Planet Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Ten years after Berkeley voters supported a $55 million bond to improve fire protection, City Council approved a long-awaited plan for a fire station in the Berkeley hills. The unanimous decision came Tuesday night. 

“We’ve had four fires already in the month of June that could have been major problems in the hills, and we haven’t seen the worst of it yet,” said Berkeley Mayor Shirely Dean. “We need to keep the fire station project moving forward.” 

The station’s approval came after city leaders shot down arguments from residents who claimed the proposed firehouse does not live up to terms specified in the voter-approved 1992 Measure G bond. 

Critics have charged that the new station does not embrace the promised partnership with neighboring jurisdictions that includes, among other things, sharing costs.  

Additionally, some have argued that the new firehouse does not adequately address its goal of combating wildland fire threats, and instead merely replaces a nearby neighborhood station that has been left in disrepair. 

“We voted for what was promised in Measure G and that is not what is planned,” said Berkeley resident Cindy Fulton at Tuesday’s council meeting. She claimed the city’s actions were a case of “bait and switch.” 

But safety concerns lingering from the devastating hills fire of 1991 won out, and Tuesday night, City Council dismissed two legal appeals to the proposed fire station and certified the long-debated environmental impact report. 

City officials are still deciding whether they need approval from a county judge before moving forward with the project, given that changes have been made to the plan since voters approved it in 1992. 

“I believe that nothing significant was changed,” Dean said. 

The new fire station is blueprinted to be a two-story building cut into the hillside at 3000 Shasta Road and encompass 6,800 square feet of space for four fire vehicles. The city is expected to house a year-round city fire crew at the facility and host summer firefighters from the East Bay Regional Park District. 

City fire officials did not return repeated phone calls to discuss the station’s firefighting capacity. Chief Reginald Garcia, at Tuesday night’s council meeting, though, said the proposed station “represents a significant increase and improvement in fire protection in the hills area.” 

The chief’s plea to approve the station was backed by city planners who said in a staff report that “there is no basis to the appeal [of the project].” 

Specifically, at Tuesday’s meeting, protest to the project was packaged as an appeal of two city use permits, a building variance and the project’s environmental impact report. 

Noise, loss of scenery and an incomplete study of alternative projects were cited as problems, in an appeal filed by Berkeley resident Peter Cukor. 

The second appeal of the project challenged the project’s landscaping and requested that only native plants be used to dress up the site. The city agreed to the request. 

City leaders have also scheduled a public hearing July 23 regarding the amendment of a tree ordinance, which would allow relocation of a live oak tree from the building site. 

The city’s fire department would not say when it hopes to start construction of the new fire station. 

 


Racial data impacts public policy

Tom Bates
Thursday July 18, 2002

To the Editor: 

The Racial Privacy Initiative is very much alive and is one to watch. The initiative cleverly wraps itself in the banner of individual rights and protecting personal privacy. But it is not at all about rights. It’s about denial: denial that racial inequalities continue to persist in our society. If passed, the initiative will amend the California Constitution to prohibit the state government from collecting information on the race and ethnicity of people needing or receiving government services. 

The major reason for the government to collect racial data is to allow us to evaluate the effects of special policies and actions taken by the government and the private sector. For example, physicians and epidemiologists have demonstrated that collecting data about race and ethnicity is of great importance in improving public health measures. The social and economic health of our citizens is no less important, and indeed, directly impacts physical health. 

Racial data are essential to assure that bank loans and mortgages are made in accordance with nondiscrimination laws, and to see where our educational delivery may be falling short. We need to collect racial data to assure that everyone is being treated in a fair and equitable way. Why would we not want to have this information? We all benefit when public health programs target specific ethnic groups with appropriate health education, based on their experiences and needs. We all benefit when public contract money is distributed in a fair and racially nondiscriminatory way. We all benefit when our friends and neighbors are treated ethically by lending institutions. We need to continue to know if our policies and actions are increasing or decreasing the health and well-being of different racial groups. Our obligation to know is directly linked to the 14th Amendment, which guarantees “equal protection” of all citizens. 

I’ve had to ask myself why the Racial Privacy Initiative would be placed on the ballot. Even if the sponsors and supporters of this initiative have the best motives (which they assert is to try to reduce racial inequality) the effect of its passage would mean that we will not be able to identify racially discriminatory practices. By making it illegal for racial data to be collected, the Initiative would deprive policy makers and the public of the only way we can follow compliance with long-standing nondiscrimination laws. If we don’t gather information we won’t know, and if we don’t know, as a society we certainly won’t be able to act. 

 

Tom Bates 

former state Assemblyman


Concert receipts increase with ticket prices

By Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

NEW YORK — Concert grosses for the first half of the year were up 17 percent, but so were ticket prices — the average cost of a ticket for top tours was about $51, compared to $47 last year, according to an industry report. 

Attendance at concerts was down for a second straight year, according to the survey released Friday by Pollstar, a weekly trade publication. 

The survey of the top 50 tours, including those by Paul McCartney, ’N Sync, the Dave Matthews Band and Creed, showed that from January to June, the top tours recorded about $538 million in sales, compared to last year’s $508 million. 

The record for that period was in 2000, when $579 million worth of tickets were sold. 

But the survey also showed that the top 50 concerts combined sold about 10.6 million tickets, down 300,000, or 3 percent, from last year. In 2000, 12.9 million tickets were sold in the first half of the year. 

“When you’ve lost essentially 2 million ticket buyers in the space of a couple of years, you have to wonder where those people went and what it will take to bring them back,” Gary Bongiovanni of Pollstar said Monday. 

The top-grossing tour was Paul McCartney’s, which grossed about $53 million. That was followed by Billy Joel and Elton John; the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunion tour; ’N Sync; and the Dave Matthews Band.


Angels edge ahead of A’s with 10-4 victory

By Greg Beacham, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

OAKLAND – Garret Anderson homered and doubled, and light-hitting Jorge Fabregas drove in the go-ahead run Wednesday night as the Anaheim Angels edged back ahead of Oakland in the AL West standings, beating the Athletics 10-4. 

David Eckstein hit a three-run homer and reached base five times for the Angels, who jumped all over Tim Hudson for a rare victory over their upstate rivals. Anaheim has won just four of its last 19 meetings with the A’s. 

In the first of two games at the Coliseum, Anaheim (55-38) moved in front of the A’s (55-40) for second place in the tight division race. The Angels also got a good start to a string of 11 straight games against Oakland and Seattle. 

Anaheim’s lengthy injury list got longer with the pregame addition of catcher Bengie Molina, who went on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Fabregas, who entered the game hitting .206, went 1-for-4 in Molina’s place, but he got the game’s key hit against Hudson (7-8) in the sixth. 

Miguel Tejada, Jermaine Dye and John Mabry homered for the A’s, who might have been feeling the effects of a 3 a.m. arrival in Oakland on Wednesday following a cross-country flight from Tampa Bay. The A’s, who went 5-1 on their road trip, lost for just the third time in 11 games. 

The Angels rallied from a 3-2 deficit by batting around in a three-run sixth. Scott Spiezio, who had three hits and three runs scored, had an RBI double before Fabregas put Anaheim ahead with a single up the middle off Hudson, who allowed eight hits and walked three in 5 1-3 lackluster innings. 

It was a distubring turn for Hudson, who was back in the dismal form he showed during an eight-game winless skid in May and June. He had won four of his previous six starts, allowing just one run in his last three. 

Anaheim added four more while batting around again in the eighth. Eckstein, the Angels’ diminutive leadoff hitter, cracked his fifth homer of the season over the left-field fence against reliever Mike Venafro. 

Former A’s starter Kevin Appier (8-7) allowed seven hits and four walks over six shaky innings, but he kept the A’s off the scoreboard except on their two homers. 

Anderson put the Angels up 2-0 in the first after Hudson threw high and tight with a 2-2 pitch. Anderson glared at Hudson, dusted himself off and launched the next pitch past the right-field pole. It was his 18th homer. 

Notes: OF Darin Erstad didn’t start, but he was available to pinch-hit for Anaheim. Erstad, who’s in an 0-for-17 slump, had a blood blister drained from the top of his left foot on Tuesday. ... Attendance at the Coliseum, helped by $1 hot dogs, was a surprisingly robust 38,547. ... Eric Chavez went hitless in four at-bats. He’s in the middle of an 0-for-25 skid — the worst of his career. ... Angels closer Troy Percival and relievers Dennis Cook and Al Levine also are injured.


Claremont gets ‘landmark’ status

By Kurtis Alexander, Daily Planet Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Neighbors show mixed reactions 

 

Berkeley residents showed strong, varied reactions to protection measures put in place Tuesday to preserve the historical facade of the Claremont Resort and Spa. 

Surrounded on three sides by the city of Berkeley, but sitting on a finger of Oakland, the Claremont was granted “landmark” status by Oakland City Council for its stately, 85-year-old physical structure. The designation puts extensive restrictions on the changes that can be made to it. 

While the “landmark” designation was widely celebrated, many neighbors were disappointed that Oakland leaders failed to grant the same protection to the resort’s 15-acre grounds.  

Critics fear that the resort owner, Palm Spring-based KSL Resorts Corp., could build additional facilities on the property and ruin the Claremont’s historical integrity. 

“Buildings on the grounds could drastically affect views, ambiance and open sight lines,” neighbor Wendy Markel said. 

Neighbor Ellen Peterson noted that the hotel has expressed interest in building a three-story parking garage and condominiums on the site. 

In lieu of granting “landmark” status to the property, Oakland’s City Council strengthened the zoning standards in an attempt to prevent overdevelopment.  

“Our measures give a much higher level of protection for the grounds than if they were not there,” said Oakland Councilmember Jane Brunner, who represents north Oakland. 

Anything built on the Claremont property is required to be “in harmony” with the main building, she said. 

“My preference would have been to landmark the entire grounds or at least a part of it but I wasn’t going to get that [support from other councilmembers],” Brunner said. “As it stands, it gives the hotel the right to manage it’s property but still gives the community certain protections.” 

Claremont officials applauded council’s action. The hotel had been on record for supporting neighborhood calls to grant “landmark” status to their building, but not the grounds. 

“We’re very pleased with the decision taken by the Oakland City Council,” the resort said in a written statement. 

Neighbors, formally organized as the Berkeley Oakland Neighbors of the Claremont, had gathered 900 signatures on a petition calling for “landmark” designation for both the hotel and the grounds. 

For this reason, Berkeley Councilmember Kriss Worthington was critical of Oakland’s decision. 

“I’m glad the building was landmarked, but I don’t think the grounds decision respects the concerns of the community or the magnificence of the property,” he said. 

“Oakland’s decision tells KSL that the Oakland City Council will blink,” Worthington said. “A one block difference in the Claremont’s location would have made a big difference [in the outcome of the ‘landmark’ decision].” 


Increase in mass transit ridership could boost newspaper readership

Rose M. Green
Thursday July 18, 2002

To the Editor: 

First, accept my compliments for the great improvement you’ve made in the paper. One thing in particular impresses me and that is your sticking to the “Letters to the Editor” rule that only 350 words or less are acceptable. Though I complained to your predecessor, I never saw any change. You now have room for three and often more letters on the page. Thank you. 

Second, I think the Daily Planet and other publications eager to increase their circulation should support mass transit. People driving in cars don’t read; they listen to the radio. 

It’s so obvious that AC Transit and BART riders are your best bet for more readership, I’ve often wondered why newspapers and magazines don’t see it. As a nondriver myself, I never board a bus or train without something to read. 

Keep up the good work. 

 

Rose M. Green 

Berkeley


Classical guitar duo to perform at Freight & Salvage

By Ian Stewart, Special to the Daily Planet
Thursday July 18, 2002

Sure, summer is here. And even though the fog sometimes plays havoc with the concept of the perfect, dreamy summer dusk – you know the kind where you can sit on a porch and lazily watch the sun set, batting away flies and listening to deep, melodic tunes – the concept of dreamy isn't lost to musicians Paolo Giordano and Michael Manring. Their music, which swirls like a firefly out of reach, sets the perfect tone for a twilight of gazing, reflection and pure dreaminess, even if there is fog. To promote their new CD "Kids in a Toyshop (Step Musique)," Italian acoustic guitarist Paolo Giordano and Oakland bassist Michael Manring are playing a show at Berkeley's Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse this evening. 

On the CD, Giordano plays acoustic and slide guitar and performs the vocals, while Manring is strictly bass. Though the album also features Jacqueline Perkins on vocals and Alex Acuna on percussion, tonight just Giordano and Manring will be playing– though that should satisfy pretty much anyone interested in a night of astonishing, ambient music. 

Giordano and Manring have a long history of producing absorbing music, both together and separately with various solo efforts. This may be the second CD collaboration between them but it sounds like they've been playing together for years, and they have– for nearly a decade. This is their second United States tour. 

Their musical resumes cover a huge swath of varying musical styles and distinct musicians. Giordano, mostly known for classical guitar, has worked with guitarists such as Pierre Bensusan, Peter Finger, Alex De Grassim, Michael Hedges and Lucio Dalla. He also has worked with singer Patti Cathcart, from the duo known as Tuck & Patti. 

Manring, on the other hand, known for his unorthodox tunings, techniques and methodologies, has worked with the Yo Miles group, New Age keyboardist Suzanne Ciani, Henry Kaiser, John Gorka, and with the late Michael Hedges, with whom he had a fifteen-year collaboration. He has recorded with the experimental post-metal trio, Attention Deficit, which features Tim Alexander of Primus and Alex Skolnick of Testament. Manring also plays with the Seattle punk-jazz trio Sadhappy and has published four solo albums through Windham Hill records, where he was the house bassist. He has two gold records, Grammy and Bammie nominations and is a Berkeley School of Music Distinguished Alumni Award winner. He has also been featured on a recent PBS documentary, "The Artist's Profile: Michael Manring." 


Council candidate urges ‘transparency’

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

This story is part of a series that will profile city election candidates. 

 

For Anne Wagley, City Council candidate in District 8, it’s all about process. 

“I’m very concerned with fair process and transparency,” said Wagley. “I would like to make sure that when a decision is made, everyone who had an interest felt they were heard.” 

Wagley’s supporters say it is her commitment to process, and her ability to listen, that attracts them to her candidacy. 

“She’ll probably vote for projects I don’t like,” said Tim Hansen, who serves on the board of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. “But she’ll be fair. And I think that’s all you can ask.” 

Supporters say that fairness and transparency will be a relief to neighbors who often feel left in the dark as development projects move through the system. 

“I am looking for candidates who are going to understand neighborhood points-of-view, and Anne has proven she cares,” said Landmarks Commission Chairperson Carrie Olson.  

Wagley, 46, currently heads the Peace and Justice Commission. She also serves on the board of a local human rights group and family foundation, the Dallas-based Partnership Foundation, that has funneled $300,000 in grants to East Bay organizations focused on social justice issues. 

Wagley faces three rivals in her bid for the District 8 seat – Planning Commissioner Gordon Wozniak, Zoning Adjustments Board Commissioner Andy Katz and Housing Advisory Commissioner Jay Vega. Incumbent Polly Armstrong will not run for re-election. 

The district, located in southeast Berkeley, has a tradition of producing moderate councilmembers like Armstrong. But progressive Chris Kavanagh nearly unseated Armstrong in 1996. Observers say the district is almost evenly split between moderate and progressive voters. 

“I know it’s not as easy a district for us as we always thought it was,” said moderate councilmember Betty Olds, who is backing Wozniak. 

In a district of both moderates and progressives, homeowners and renters, seniors and students, candidates have worked to place themselves in the middle, shunning the traditional “moderate” and “progressive” labels and arguing that the two sides must come together. 

Still, those traditional labels have begun to creep into the campaign. Wozniak said Wednesday that his base is in the moderate camp. Katz said that tenants’ rights will be a guiding theme for his candidacy. Vega could not be reached for comment. 

Wagley, who aligns herself with the upstart Berkeley Party, sought to place herself outside the fray. She will not seek endorsements from sitting City Councilmembers, in an attempt to distance herself from the notoriously divided body, she said. 

Progressive Councilmember Dona Spring, who has endorsed Katz, said Wagley could be effective at bridging the divide on the council. 

“I think she has the potential to work with people coming from different political views – spanning the political spectrum from progressive, liberal to moderate, conservative,” Spring said, adding that Katz could bring similar skills to the council. 

But Wagley said transparency and bridging the progressive-moderate gulf will not be her only issues. A recent wave of car break-ins in the neighborhood is also a concern, she said. 

“We think we’re fairly isolated here, but we’re not,” she said. 

Wagley said the police will probably have to remain focused on other neighborhoods with higher crime rates. But she suggested that residents look out for each other and refrain from leaving cell phones and loose change in their cars. 

Wozniak said he has also picked up on the issue, making the rounds in the neighborhood. He suggested that the police might temporarily beef up their presence in the area during the crime wave. 

All the candidates say traffic is an issue in the district. Wagley said she supports transit passes, or “Eco Passes,” for the employees of UC Berkeley and other large employers in the area to ease traffic. Katz, who helped negotiate an EcoPass deal for UC Berkeley students, and Wozniak also voiced support for the concept. 

Wagley, who worked as a financial analyst for Chemical Bank in the late 1970s and early 1980s, said she will also bring budget expertise to bear as the city faces a $3 million shortfall. 

But ultimately, she said, it will be about listening to neighbors. 

“I’m a very open, friendly person,” she said. “I’m approachable and I’m a good listener.”


News of the Weird

Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Brooklyn Bridge for sale? 

 

BROOKLYN, Iowa — Wanna buy the Brooklyn Bridge? 

Not the New York City landmark — but the one in Brooklyn, Iowa. 

Mayor Jim Rhinehart thinks the bridge over Little Bear Creek could be resold now that a $1.7 million replacement is on the way. 

“We’re trying to figure out what to do with that bridge,” said Rhinehart, mayor of the town of 1,367 people about 40 miles west of Iowa City. 

The narrow steel truss, built in 1927, could be used as a driveway, for example, or put in a park or recreation area. 

“I thought we should put it on the Internet,” said local businessman Alex Wehrle. “There aren’t too many Brooklyn Bridges for sale.” 

 

Canine not a qualified elector 

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — It’s back to the doghouse for one aspiring House candidate. 

State election officials refused to qualify Percy, a 5-year-old border collie mix, as a rival to Secretary of State Katherine Harris in her bid for Congress. 

Percy barked loudly when veteran elections official Ed Kast told the dog’s owner, Wayne Genthner, his dog didn’t meet the state’s elections requirements. 

“He’s a canine and therefore not a qualified elector,” Kast said. 

Genthner, a Republican, then decided he’d run himself as a write-in candidate. The 42-year-old charter boat captain said he was frustrated with highly financed, sterile campaigns that avoid meaningful debate. 

“People are almost disdainful of the political system as it is now,” Genthner said. “Percy exists to me as a binding none-of-the above ballot selection.” 

Percy and his volunteer campaign staff had been handing out flyers with slogans such as, “Never made a mess in the House! Never will!” and “PERCY! Putting the LICK back into Republican.” 

Harris, who drew worldwide attention in her role as Florida’s chief elections officer during the 2000 presidential recount, is a heavy favorite to win the race. 


Radical Delacour joins school board race

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Michael Delacour, a four-time candidate for mayor, has joined the school board race. And he’s got a radical message. 

“I run on a working-class program,” Delacour said, arguing that the schools need to stop “creating slaves for the corporate machine.” 

Delacour said, as a school board member, he would push for more working-class history in the schools. He would also provide education for students who might end up outside the system. 

“Let’s prepare them for being homeless,” he said. 

Delacour did not take a position on getting the district out of its financial mess – prefering to look beyond the numbers at the general direction of the school system. He also declined to take a position on converting Berkeley High School to a series of small schools by fall 2003.


CSU drafting tougher policies for smokers

The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

LONG BEACH — California State University’s board of trustees took its first step Wednesday toward adopting tougher policies for smokers at its 23 campuses. 

The trustees directed committee members to draft a policy that would give CSU presidents the authority to set smoking regulations, such as banning smoking within 20 feet of campus buildings, said CSU spokeswoman Clara Potes-Fellow. 

The 20-foot rule has been heavily lobbied by anti-smoking advocates and CSU students, who petitioned the trustees earlier this year to adopt stricter smoking policies. 

“It doesn’t mean each president will create a rule that says you can’t smoke 20 feet from the building. But it means they will have the authority to decide,” she said. “It could be a longer distance or a shorter distance.” 

The trustees are expected to adopt the policy at their September meeting. 

Under the policy, Potes-Fellow said CSU presidents could ban smoking altogether on campuses. 

“It’s an option they would have,” she said, adding that an outright ban was unlikely. 

Potes-Fellow also said campus presidents would be required to consult with faculty and staff before making any policy change because it would affect working conditions. 

“The campus presidents will have to work with the faculty, staff and students to come up with an acceptable policy,” she said. 

Smoking has been banned in California’s public buildings since 1994. CSU prohibits smoking within five feet of the entrances and exits of buildings, a limit set by state law. Some campuses have implemented even stricter guidelines, limiting smokers to 15 feet to 30 feet from campus buildings.


Politics fuels controversy in Pledge decision

By Linda Deutsch, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

CORONADO — When a plane trailing a banner declaring “One Nation Under God” flew over the home of an appellate judge and demonstrators surrounded the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal, the two jurists who sparked the reaction were surprised. 

“It’s the noisiest thing I’ve ever experienced,” said Circuit Judge Alfred T. Goodwin who, with his colleague, Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt, heard plenty of feedback about their Pledge of Allegiance decision at this week’s annual 9th Circuit conference. 

“I think it’s a bit excessive,” said Reinhardt, who was at his office last Saturday when he heard about crowds of demonstrators and a plane with a banner flying over his home. 

Reinhardt quipped that the controversy may be more heated because “It’s the middle of the summer and there are no scandals.” 

But he and Goodwin said that politics, notably the upcoming congressional elections, are fueling the controversy. 

“I can’t think of any decision where the entire Congress immediately rushes to condemn a decision by the court,” Reinhardt said. “It’s getting to be election time and this gives everyone in Congress a chance to prove they are patriotic.” 

Goodwin noted that, “The climate of public opinion is different after 9/11. There’s anxiety. There’s fear and it’s an even numbered year so you have a political reality.” 

Goodwin, who wrote the decision, said criticism also was exacerbated by misleading news reports. 

“The first sound bites that went out said the court had ruled the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional, which it didn’t,” said Goodwin. He said the only thing ruled unconstitutional was the phrase “one nation under God” being required during recitations in schools by school children. 

The lawsuit that brought the decision was filed by a California atheist, Michael Newdow, who did not want his second-grade daughter to be forced to listen to the pledge. the 2-1 decision held that the phrase amounts to a government endorsement of religion. The words “under God” were inserted by Congress in 1954 after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, a Roman Catholic organization. 

The dissenting judge on the pledge decision, Ferdinand Fernandez, did not attend the gathering of the nation’s largest circuit court which drew hundreds of jurists. 

The 78-year-old Goodwin noted that when he learned the pledge, the phrase “under God” was not included and until the case was brought before the court, “I can’t recall giving it much thought.”


Energy regulators increase power price cap in West

The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

WASHINGTON — Federal energy regulators on Wednesday capped electricity prices in California and other western states at $250 per megawatt hour, beginning on Oct. 1. 

However, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also put in place a process that could lower wholesale power prices when they top $92 per megawatt hour — if certain criteria are met. 

Power prices currently are capped at $92 per megawatt hour through September. 

A megawatt is enough to power about 750 homes. 

California power officials and political leaders had asked FERC to leave the lower limits in place. 

FERC said it would maintain a requirement that power generators make all their power available for sale, preventing them from withholding power as a way to force prices to rise. 

The commission also voted to overhaul the board of the California Independent System Operator, which manages most of the state’s electricity grid. 

FERC said the board is not independent. 

 


Apple announces big-screen iMac, MP3 player

By Peter Svensson, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

NEW YORK — Apple Computer Inc. Wednesday announced Windows versions of the acclaimed iPod digital music players, moving Apple more firmly into the PC peripherals market. 

Chief executive Steven Jobs, speaking at the MacWorld Expo and Conference here, also unveiled a new iMac computer with a larger display. 

The iMac, available in two weeks, has a 17-inch flat-panel display and a DVD-burning drive. It will sell for $1999. 

The most expensive of the existing iMac models, which have 15-inch screens, had its price reduced by $100 to $1799. 

Jobs also announced $100 price cuts on the slim white iPod MP3 players, bringing the 5-gigabyte model to $299 and the 10-gigabyte model to $399. A 20-gigabyte model, holding approximately 4,000 songs, will be introduced in early August. 

Current iPod models are made to connect only to Apple’s Macintosh computers. Windows versions of all three models will be available at the end of August. 

On Tuesday, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple reported disappointing second quarter sales, reflecting an industrywide slowdown. 

“We are investing, and we are going to innovate ourselves out of this downturn,” Jobs said in his keynote speech. 

At midday on the Nasdaq Stock Market, Apple shares were down $2.36, or 13 percent, at $15.50. 

Noting that most Web sites that once provided free file storage and e-mail now charge fees for some or all of their services, Jobs said Apple will start charging $99 a year for its iTools services in September. 

ITools, which includes e-mail, file storage and online photo albums, will be expanded with calendar, backup and antivirus functions, and its name will be changed to ”.mac,” Job said. 

“Where did we get this name? Well, Microsoft has .NET, which is about Internet services, and that’s what iTools is all about,” he said, referring to Microsoft’s program of tying Internet services to its software. 

Jobs also touted the new version its OS X operating system, called Version 10.2 Jaguar. It will go on sale Aug. 24 for $129. It has incremental improvements in several areas, including file organization and networking. 

Responding to media reports that users have been adopting OS X slowly since its introduction last year, Jobs said the transition from older operating systems was “going well.” 

He projected that 20 percent, or 5 million, of all Macintosh computers would be running OS X by the end of the year. 

The keynote speech opened with video testimonials by Windows users who had switched to Macintosh, echoing a current marketing campaign. 

“The response we’ve had to this campaign is off the chart,” Jobs said, noting that a Web site set up in connection with the campaign has been visited by 1 million Windows users since set up June 10. 


Regents object to including K-12 in master plan

By Michelle Locke, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — University of California officials are reacting warily to an ambitious proposal to bring the entire state education system, from preschool to Ph.D.s, under the same organizational framework. 

Major concerns include a proposal to drop extra credit for honors courses and a plan to create a new commission responsible for approving all education programs. 

California’s public universities and community colleges now operate under principles set out in the 40-year-old Master Plan for Higher Education. 

The new project, started in 1999 and being carried out by a legislative committee, would extend that planning document to include the K-12 system. 

On Wednesday, UC regents meeting for their regular session in San Francisco raised a number of objections to a rough draft of the new plan released in May. 

“My main concern is that ... we don’t destroy the benefits that the current plan has given us,” said Regent John Davies. 

Calls by The Associated Press to the committee working on the report were not immediately returned Wednesday. 

The master plan was written to cope with the wave of college-aged Baby Boomers that added 600,000 students to the higher education system within a single decade. 

Legislators say bringing California’s troubled K-12 system under the plan will provide a coherent framework for improvement. Several other states have already streamlined their system. In Florida, for instance, all public education is under a single state board. 

UC officials agree higher education must collaborate with the K-12 system, but they have problems with some of the changes proposed in the draft report. 

Regents indicated they’d be unlikely to support a proposal to eliminate extra credit for advanced-placement classes. Many California public universities give five points for an “A” in such a course because it is more difficult than a regular class. 

Legislators say that’s unfair, since about 15 percent of the state’s public high schools didn’t offer advanced-placement courses in the 1999-2000 school year. Schools without the courses tended to be predominantly made up of minority and low-income students. 

In 1999, regents rejected a proposal to drop the extra credit from one point to half a point. 

Regardless of what the plan ultimately says on extra points, regents must approve any change to UC admissions policy, since the system is not required under state law to follow all policies passed by the Legislature. 

Another change that UC opposes is a plan to replace the California Postsecondary Education Commission with a new commission responsible for approving K-16 educational programs. UC officials say they’re worried that the new commission will be overwhelmed by the problems of the K-12 system. 

UC is proposing keeping the postsecondary commission and giving the new commission review rather than approval power over higher education. 

UC President Richard C. Atkinson said some of the draft report wording may be inadvertent. 

For instance, a section of the draft referring to transferring community college students says they can go to “any” CSU or UC campus. In fact, admission to the top campuses in UC’s nine-campus system is very competitive. 

UC has representatives working with the legislative committee on the new report, but regents said their comments don’t always make it into the final report. 

“Many of the conclusions that seem to be written into the report are not the result of the committees that met,” said Regent Judith Hopkinson. “There are hidden agendas here.” 


Killer of Stanton girl likely to strike again, FBI says

By Chelsea J. Carter, The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

STANTON— The body of a kidnapped 5-year-old girl was dumped in the open near a rural highway like a “calling card” warning that the killer intends to strike again, investigators said Wednesday. 

Samantha Runnion was believed to have been sexually assaulted and there were signs of trauma to her nude body but no clear cause of death, Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona told a press conference near the girl’s home. An autopsy was under way. 

“Don’t sleep, don’t eat, because we’re coming after you,” Carona warned the killer, saying he is likely both a serial rapist and serial killer. 

A sexual predator who kills is going to do it again, FBI agent Richard Garcia said. The body was found Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the kidnapping. 

“The way the body was found, the fact it was not buried, not hidden and such, and how it was left is almost like a calling card, like a challenge: ’I’m here and I’m coming back again.’ This is the reason why we’re saying this person is going to strike again,” he said. 

Samantha’s 27-year-old mother, Erin Runnion, who made an anguished plea for the return of her daughter a day earlier, stayed in seclusion after the body’s identification. 

The news spread fear in Stanton, a city of 38,000 southeast of Los Angeles. 

Tammie Fike, 31, clutched the hand of her 6-year-old son, Anthony, as she headed to a memorial to say a prayer for Samantha. “I’m scared to let him go out,” said Fike, who instructed her son to yell “fire” and to run if a stranger approached him. 

“I’m only allowed to talk to friends of my mom,” Anthony said. 

Brenda van Dam, whose daughter Danielle was abducted and killed in February in San Diego, said she spoke with Samantha’s mother to offer consolation. 

“They were both sweet, wonderful girls who loved life and their family,” van Dam said in a statement released to reporters. 

Garcia addressed the unknown killer directly during the televised news conference. 

“The individual is in fact watching us right now. I want to tell you ... we will find you and we will bring you to justice,” Garcia said. 

The kidnapper was described as Hispanic, but used Americanized language that indicated he was probably not foreign-born. He had slicked-back black hair and a thin black mustache and wore a powder blue button-down shirt at the time. 

Samantha’s abduction Monday evening was the nation’s fourth high-profile disappearance of a child this year. Her remains were identified by her grandmother through photos from the site where the body was found. 

The body was discovered Tuesday afternoon in neighboring Riverside County near two-lane Highway 74 on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest, about 50 miles from Stanton. The road is a heavily traveled route between the two counties. 

Two men spotted the body about 3 p.m. in a ravine near a hang-gliding launch site. 

“Because the body was found very quickly, we have a high expectation that there will be significant forensic evidence found at the scene and significant forensic evidence found on the body of Samantha Runnion,” the sheriff said. 

Samantha and friend Sarah Ahn, 5, were sitting on a wall playing a guessing game about 150 feet from Samantha’s home Monday evening when a man drove up in a two-door light green Honda or Acura after making a U-turn. The man got out and asked for help finding his puppy, then took off with the kicking and screaming girl. 

Samantha’s mother, a British Petroleum analyst in Long Beach, and stepfather, Ken Donnelly, who works at an investment firm, were at work and her grandmother, Virginia Runnion, was at home at the time. 

Samantha’s biological father, Derek Jackson of Sunderland, Mass., was contacted by authorities and ruled out as a suspect, Erin Runnion said Tuesday. 

Samantha, who was born in Massachusetts, would have turned 6 on July 26. She was an advanced student who had just finished first grade at a private elementary school. 

Her abduction follows the high-profile cases of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in Salt Lake City and 7-year-old Danielle van Dam and 2-year-old Jahi Turner in San Diego. Danielle’ body was found and a neighbor is on trial. Elizabeth and Jahi remain missing. 


Coliform bacteria detected in San Diego’s water provider

The Associated Press
Thursday July 18, 2002

SAN DIEGO — Tests detected the presence of coliform bacteria in the water supply of San Diego County’s main water provider, officials said Wednesday. 

Tests from three treated water pipelines detected coliform, an indicator of the possible presence of fecal or harmful E. coli bacteria. 

The tests did not find any E. coli in the water, leading authorities to suspect the results were error. Results from a second round of tests were expected by Thursday. 

A check of local hospitals and schools didn’t turn up an increase in gastrointestinal complaints that would be an indicator of E. coli contamination, said spokeswoman Donna Nenow. 

“The fact that there’s clean water on both ends and we’re showing a reflection of coliform bacteria in the middle doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Nenow said. 


Interim police chief lays out vision for the city

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Roy Meisner, Berkeley’s new interim police chief, inherited a pile of paperwork when he took over for retired chief Dash Butler this weekend. But he seems more interested in what he calls “people work.” 

“We need to really get to know the community better,” said Meisner. “Part of that is getting out of your car and meeting people.” 

Meisner demurred when asked if he has designs on a permanent placement.  

But he suggested that he will throw his hat in the ring as the city begins a lengthy search for a new chief. 

Meisner said he has been on the go since 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning, visiting the department’s various divisions and discussing his vision of a community-oriented police force. 

He said the new emphasis on getting to know the community is particularly important given that the department has hired 120 new officers since 1995. 

“That’s tremendous turnover,” Meisner said. 

The interim chief, who has served on the force since 1972, said his community focus will also include a new emphasis on Berkeley Boosters, the department’s sports and outdoor activities program for city youth. 

Meisner said he will draw on a long tradition of community policing in Berkeley, dating back to the city’s first chief, August Vollner. 

“Most of law enforcement in the country is built on some of the principles formed here in Berkeley,” said Meisner. 

But community policing will not be Meisner’s only priority. The interim chief said he will also work to bump up enforcement in the traffic division, calling on officers to write more tickets for speeding and illegal turns. 

“I’ve asked our officers to start enforcing the law,” he said. “That’s how you prevent accidents.” 

Meisner said he will also place an emphasis on the larger mission of the police department: public safety and service. 

“Every organization has to stand for something,” he said.  


Thoughts on mayor’s intentions

Anne Marselis
Wednesday July 17, 2002

To the Editor: 

Mayor Dean is not running for mayor of Berkeley because she's been "termed out" at some other job. Mayor Dean is not running for reelection as mayor in order to "boot strap" her way to a "better job". Mayor Dean only wants to be a good, sensible mayor of a small city at the western edge of the United States.  

Mayor Dean doesn'tthink that her job is to run the whole world, but "just" to do a good job of being mayor. How novel. 

 

Anne Marselis 

secretary,  

Saint John's Neighbors


from one West Virginia miner


A memoir tells of forgotten black miners

Books

By Vicki Smith, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Bob Armstead was a gentle man in a rough profession. 

A black miner in decidedly white West Virginia, he toiled in a place where coal companies had recruited tens of thousands of blacks for jobs everyone else thought were too dangerous. 

For 40 years Armstead worked hard, staying underground as racism pushed others out. 

“Some said the black coal dust was a race equalizer,” he wrote. “They said we were all black because of the coal dust, so blacks and whites blended, and there was less prejudice in a coal mine. I really didn’t see it that way.” 

Armstead’s story, “Black Days, Black Dust,” released earlier this year by the University of Tennessee Press, has become the first published memoir of a black American coal miner. 

It’s a story of a quiet, hardworking, cheerful man. It’s also a 255-page primer on coal mining and a window into a nearly forgotten piece of history — those few decades when tens of thousands of blacks moved into the mountains to help make West Virginia’s mines among the most productive in the world. 

In 1880, only 25,886 blacks lived in West Virginia, a state with 592,537 whites. But as miners unionized and went on strike, mine owners recruited blacks by the trainload from the Deep South. 

By 1920, the state’s black population had grown to 86,345. Whites made up nearly 1.4 million. In southern coalfield counties, blacks accounted for more than 68 percent of the population in the 1930 census. 

Four generations of Armstead’s family were part of the great coal mine migration, moving from the iron district of Bessemer, Ala., to north-central West Virginia in 1924. 

Later, when other families moved on, the Armsteads stayed. 

Bob Armstead died in 1998 at the age of 71, but his voice survives on the pages of his book. 

 

“When our shift ended, white miners and black miners took their showers in separate facilities and went their separate ways. I wondered if the company prolonged segregation by having white and colored showers, or if the white men demanded it. Underground we were equal, dependent on each other and friendly. Once we hit the showers, a mental separation took place. We were black men and white men, no longer equal.” 

 

By 1947, when Armstead followed his father into Marion County’s mines, the number of black workers had already dwindled. Machines had begun to replace men, and among those left, white men were preferred. 

“There were people who actually recruited blacks. On this side of the mountain, some owner would have recruited. On the other, they wouldn’t. It’s a polka-dotted pattern,” said Ron Lewis, a history professor at West Virginia University. “But in the end, as a system, it worked as racial preference.” 

Blacks were nudged out, and those who remained were generally low-level laborers in the most dangerous areas of the mine. Often, both their union and their seniority failed to protect them. 

While Italians, Poles and Slovaks were overlooked because they struggled with English, black and Irish workers were frequently considered incapable of adapting. 

“All men who weren’t white native West Virginians faced losing their jobs,” Armstead wrote. 

When he was laid off, Armstead cooked and waited tables. He carried bags as a bellhop. He washed floors. He delivered newspapers. Along the way, he married twice and raised five children. 

He moved from town to town and job to job, but he always returned to the mines. 

Thousands of other black families left, abandoning assimilation in the hills for factory jobs in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Detroit. 

“They just moved on,” Lewis said, “and so they’re lost.” 

So, too, are their stories. 

 

“When those white fellows were out with their families or friends, they didn’t know me. ... I had to change my thinking that they were my ’mine buddies’ and reduce them to my ’former co-workers.’ That truth bothered me for a long time, but I got over it.” 

 

Writer Sharon Gardner believed Armstead’s experiences are worth telling. 

Gardner met Armstead in 1997 and drew his story out in bits, interviewing him three hours at a time every few weeks for 18 months. 

“I had just finished reading a memoir of a white coal miner from Pennsylvania’s anthracite region,” she said. “It was awful. There was a lot of cussing and swearing — the use of the F-word a great deal.” 

Armstead was special. 

“He was gentle and kind,” she said. “I knew it would be a contrast — a racial contrast and the contrast of a gentleman versus ... a rough individual.” 

Gardner, a former teacher and librarian living in Fairmont, W.Va., had been fascinated with coal since moving from her native Bedford, Pa., in 1996 and seeing “trains, as far as you could see.” 

“I wondered what they were doing, where they were going,” she recalled. 

Inspired, Gardner wrote a series of historical features for the local newspaper. 

Armstead read one about the Dakota coal camp and called to talk. He proposed a feature on his family, but after an hour, Gardner had bigger plans. Dozens of pages Armstead had already written soon led to interviews and research. 

In the mines, Armstead had bee`n a laborer, shoveling spilled coal and setting timber roof supports, before moving on to shuttle car driver, foreman and safety inspector. 

He passed on some jobs, too, repeatedly refusing to become the operator of a continuous mining machine. 

“Eight or 10 years ago, they wouldn’t have even offered me this job because I was black,” he wrote. “If I’d been ambitious and gone after the job, they wouldn’t have given it to me because I was black. So I wouldn’t do it now. Pride? Yes. But that’s how I felt.” 

By 1969, however, he’d decided to study for the test that eventually made him a foreman. At the time, he was one of only 10 blacks in a mine with 440 men. Later, at another mine, he became the lone black foreman to 600 men. 

Armstead retired in 1987, succumbing to lung cancer on Dec. 9, 1998. 

 

“Hate is not in my vocabulary. I can honestly say that I’ve never hated anyone. I sometimes felt resentment for things said or done to me, but I never let anyone see my resentment, and I rarely spoke of it. ... I knew from a young age that life was too precious to carry around the burden of hatred and bitterness, so I chose not to do it.” 


Out & About Calendar

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002


Wednesday, July 17

 

BEST, Berkeley Ecological and Safe Transportation coalition  

6 to 8 p.m.  

Berkeley Public Library, Kittredge at Shattuck, Meeting room A, 3rd floor. 

A newly-formed Berkeley-based group concerned with mass transit, land use, pedestrian and bicycle travel issues. Bring food to share, eating utensils to minimize waste.  

652-9462 

Free 

 

San Francisco Bay Crossings Study 

1 to 1:30 p.m. view displays, 1:30 to 4 p.m. public meeting 

Oakland City Council Chambers, City Hall 

One City Hall Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oakland 

Recommendations for Transbay travel in the next 25 years, new facilities/services, as well as funding methods. 

464-7787 

Free 

 

Friends of Calligraphy 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

2090 Kittredge St. Meeting Room B - Third Floor 

Meeting/demonstrations of calligraphy and lettering design by lettering professionals and FOC members. 

528-1709 

Free 

 

Doctors Without Borders 

(Through July 18) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley, Springer Gateway, West Entrance Crescent 

Interactive exhibit explaining medicines for people in developing countries; Film screenings 

www.doctorswithoutborders.org 

Free 

 


Thursday, July 18

 

Intro to Accessible  

Software and Hardware  

3 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

Electronic Classroom (3rd Floor) 2090 Kittredge Ave.  

Non-profit training organization for software and hardware useful to seniors and disabled people in Berkeley. 

981-6121 for reservations 

Free 

 

art.Sites Paris 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Slide show by Sidra Stich offers overview of Paris' exciting innovative changes, new museums, new art and media centers, parks etc. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Mystique of the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Phil Arnot presents slides from over 50 years of exploring such places as Alaska, New Zealand, the Sierra and the Rockies. 

527-4140 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6 to 8 p.m.  

Building Education Center, 812 Page Street 

With speaker Greg VanMechelen, Architect, VanMechelen Architects 

614-1699 or lclarke@stopwaste.org 

Free 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 to 8:30 p.m.  

Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave.  

Topic is the Cost of various life choices to the Planet well as to our Happiness, Pocketbook and Community. 

549-3509, or www.simpleliving.net. 

Free 

 

Introduction to Accessible  

Software and Hardware  

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library Electronic Classroom, 2090 Kittredge Street 

RSVP to 981-6121 

 


Friday, July 19

 

Berkeley Women in Black 

Noon to 1 p.m. 

Telegraph and Bancroft 

In solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian Women in Black to urge an end to the occupation  

548-6310, wibberkeley.org 

 


Saturday, July 20

 

Public Meeting to Plan a New  

National Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Oakland Museum, Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak St. (at Lake Merritt BART) 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Puppet Shows 

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level) 

The Kids on the Block educational puppet troupe present a show about accepting and understanding physical, mental, medical and cultural differences. 

$2 donation, children under 3 free 

 

Emergency Preparedness  

Classes in Berkeley 

Earthquake Retrofitting: Learn how to strengthen your wood frame home. 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

812 Page Street 

981-5605 

Free 

 

Connoisseurs' Marketplace 

(through July 21) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Santa Cruz Ave. Menlo Park (between El Camino Real and Johnson St. 

16th annual mid-summer festival of the arts featuring music, artisans, celebrity chefs, international cuisine, kids' fun zone and more. 

(650) 325-2818 

Free 

 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations (BANA)  

9:30 to ll a.m.  

Fireside room, Live Oak Park l30l Shattuck Avenue 

City wide neighborhood meeting on local issues. 

Mtbrcb@pacbell.net 

 


Sunday, July 21

 

Top of the Bay Family Days 

1 to 3 p.m. 

Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive, above UC campus 

Enjoy an afternoon outdoor concert in our family picnic area as well as art and science activities and hands-on exhibits inside LHS. 

643-5961 

$8 adults 

 


Monday, July 22

 

An evening of song & resistance 

7 p.m.  

AK Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St. Oakland 

With music from Samsara, James Tracy and David Rovics 

208-1700, or akpres@akpress.org 

$5 donation 

 

 


Tuesday, July 23

 

Myanmar (formerly Burma):  

"The Golden Land" 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Ricky Fishman gives a slide presentation/talk about this isolated and remote land. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Q & A with a  

Personal/Business Coach 

noon to 1 p.m. 

YWCA Turning Point Career Center, 2600 Bancroft Way 

For those interested in professional coaching careers, speak with a pro. 

848-6370 

$3 

 


Wednesday, July 24

 

Berkeley Gray Panthers  

General Meeting 

1:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. 

Pharmacist Fred Mayer prescriptions and their costs, etc. 

548-9696  

Free 

 

Getting Help When You Need It 

7:30 to 9 p.m.  

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annex A 

350 Hawthorne Ave. Oakland 

Free interactive workshop to help caregivers obtain free assistance, deal with paid in-home help, and create plans to care for loved ones. 

869-6737 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6:30 to 8 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Meeting Room A, 2090 Kittredge 

Henry Siegel, Architect, on how to use building materials that are healthier for your family and the environment.  

614-1699 

 


Thursday, July 25

 

Combat Medic: World War II 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Memoir presentation by San Francisco physician John Kerner, describing experiences as a combat medic in World War II.  

843-3533 

 

California Landscapes:  

A Geologist's Perspective 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

John Karachewski presents an educational slide show on such amazing places as the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges the Great Valley and Cascades 

For more information: (510) 527- 4140. 

Free 

 


Saturday, July 27

 

Test Ride Kestrel Bicycles 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Pristine Sandusky of Kestrel, a premier manufacturer of high-end, carbon-fiber road and mountain bikes, introduces their latest design. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

Graywater Workshop  

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave 

Learn the ins and outs of reusing water with the Guerrilla Graywater Girls 

548-2220 x233  

$10 members, $15 non ( no one turned away for lack of funds) 

 

Santa Fe Right of Way Path Walk 

10 a.m. 

Meet at the Ohlone Greenway at Cedar St, in Cedar Rose Park. 

A new path opportunity, recently funded by the City Council. 

649-9874, 

http://www.internettime.com/path 

 

"Neon: The Living Flame" 

7:00 p.m.  

Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave.  

The Alameda Museum presents Michael Crowe, author, and neon artist Karl Hauser 

lecture by Michael Crowe 

748-0796 or 841-8489.  

Members free, non-members $5  

 

Grand Summer Rummage Sale 

9 a.m. to 4 p.m 

Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, Cedar and Bonita Streets 

A benefit for ANSWER- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. Donations and volunteers are needed 

(415) 821-6545. 

 

 


Sunday, July 28

 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair  

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 


Tuesday, July 30

 

The Birdhouse Chronicles:  

Surviving the Joys of Country Life 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Reading and discussion of Cathleen Miller's personal account of moving from San Francisco to Amish Pennsylvania to restore an old house. 

843-3533 

Free 

 


Wednesday, July 31

 

Twilight Tours at UC Botanical Gardens 

through Aug. 28 5:30 p.m.  

200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA.  

Tour the garden at twilight with an expert horticulturist every Wednesday. 

643-2755  

Free with garden admission.  

 

Mountain Adventure Seminars:  

Introduction to Rock Climbing 

7 p.m.-9 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 


Thursday, August 1

 

Public Meeting to Plan New  

National Historic Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Senior Center,  

2525 Macdonald Ave. 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Nutrition Career Open House 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

Institute of Educational Therapy, 706 Gilman St. 

Become a Nutrition Educator or Nutrition Consultant. 

558-1711 for reservations 

Free 


Lions slap around bumbling Capitol Valley

By Jared Green, Daily Planet Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Pinguelo throws complete game as opponents make seven errors 

 

The Berkeley/Albany Lions took another step towards the championship game of the Babe Ruth state tournament with a 9-2 win over Capitol Valley on Tuesday night in San Leandro. 

Jeremiah Pinguelo threw a complete game for the Lions, giving up just two hits. Pinguelo’s only rough patch came in the third innings, when he loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batman, then walked home a run. 

“When I’m focused I do well, but when I lose it I start walking guys, and I start hitting guys,” said the Albany High graduate. “I guess I lost it in the third inning.” 

Pinguelo didn’t give up a hit until Josh Hamilton knocked a double to rightfield in the fourth inning. Capitol Valley scratched across one more run in the seventh when Lions catcher Jeremy LeBeau threw a high chopper over first baseman Joe Storno’s head, allowing Justin McKay to score from second.  

But by that time the Lions had the game well in hand. They scored three runs in both the first and second innings, slapping Hamilton all over the park. Benny Goldenberg led the way with two doubles, and catcher Jeremy LeBeau had two RBI on a single and double. Chase Moore scored three runs for the Lions. 

Hamilton didn’t get any help from his defense, as they committed seven errors in just six innings of field work. 

Capitol Valley committed three miscues in the fourth inning alone, nearly allowing the Lions to grab a 10-run lead that would have ended the game after five innings. With a man on first base and one out, McKay muffed a Chase Moore groundball, then third baseman Josh Broder threw wildly to first on Benny Goldenberg’s grounder, allowing a run to score. Joe Storno hit a sacrifice fly, then Ricky Arias’s easy flyball to leftfield was muffed by Matt Lopez. 

“When it’s this late in the season, these kids have been playing full-time for the last five months,” Berkeley/Albany manager Joe Pinguelo said. “They start to stay up late, party, and they get a little tired. You even see it in the pros late in the season.” 

The younger Pinguelo said he had a pretty good idea what to expect from Tuesday’s opponent. 

“I honestly didn’t expect the game to go more than five innings,” he said. “This game was over before it started.” 

But Pinguelo managed to throw all seven innings regardless, leaving the Lions’ pitching staff in good shape to get through the loser’s bracket with two more wins. Up first is a matchup with Mountain View tonight at 8 p.m. 

“With Jeremiah throwing a complete game, it gave everybody else a rest,” Joe Pinguelo said. “Everybody should be ready to go tomorrow.” 

Pinguelo said he will likely start Randy Renn against Mountain View, although the decision wasn’t final as he headed home Tuesday night. 

“I’ll have to go home and use all my managerial skills to figure out who to start,” he said with a smile. 

NOTES: Berkeley/Albany centerfielder Moore, a St. Mary’s High graduate, said he is close to signing a letter of intent to play at Fresno State next season, although he is still considering San Francisco City College. Moore was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft last month, but said he intends to attend college.


Berkeley High accreditation extended three more years

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

School had been told to make improvements School had been told to make improvements 

 

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has extended Berkeley High School’s accreditation by three years, providing a long-awaited vote of confidence in district plans to reform the school. 

“It’s very good news,” said Superintendent Michele Lawrence. “I’m very proud of the entire staff and the community for their support.” 

WASC, a Burlingame-based regional accrediting group, identified 11 problem areas at the high school in 1999, ranging from student safety to the “achievement gap” separating white and black students, and warned that it might remove its seal of approval unless improvements were made. 

As recently as March 2001, WASC warned that the high school administration was making “spotty” progress toward reform. But in May, a five-member WASC team visited Berkeley High, reported several improvements and praised the staff for its commitment to reform.  

At the end of June the WASC Commission, composed of educators from California and Hawaii, extended Berkeley High’s accreditation by three years, the maximum extension allowed. The decision was not publicly available until this week, when WASC sent a letter to the district informing it of the commission’s ruling. 

The commission had the option of terminating accreditation or extending it for one, two or three years. Most Berkeley parents and educators said they were pleased with the three-year accreditation. But many said a shorter extension may have pressured the school to continue its intense reform efforts. 

“In my experience at the high school, unless you are working in a crisis mode, it seems like things get in a rut and don’t really happen,” said Irma Parker, coordinator of Berkeley High’s Parent Resource Center. 

School board President Shirley Issel said the district will not get complacent. 

“The next step has to be taken,” she said. “We have to do it for ourselves, not because people are waiving fingers at us.” 

“I want to believe that we have a committed administration and staff to make that happen,” said school board member Terry Doran. “Only time will tell.” 

English teacher Rick Ayers welcomed the three-year extension. He said the WASC process, while providing a “wake-up call” for the high school, had turned into a distraction for many instructors, soaking up valuable staff development time.  

With a three-year extension, he said, the school may be able to shift from planning reform to actually making significant change. 

“I think it’s time that we be given some time to try some things out,” Ayers said. 

The 11 areas identified by WASC include, among others, the achievement gap, student safety, the decision-making process, communication with the community, and staff development. 

The school has already taken steps in some areas – improving communication through an e-mail tree for district parents and putting new security measures in place in the spring, for example. 

But the WASC team that visited in May identified several lingering problem areas, including an incomplete staff development plan, a lack of assessments to judge high school programs and the achievement gap. 

Lawrence said she convened a group of teachers at the close of the school year, representing all the grades, to discuss a comprehensive, district-wide staff development plan. She said the plan, still in the works, will likely focus on literacy, math and “differentiated instruction” – tailoring teaching to the skill level of every student. 

The superintendent said a newly-created district position, manager of research and evaluation, should help with assessment efforts. 

Lawrence, while acknowledging that there is room for improvement, added that the district is “moving in the right direction” on the achievement gap. She cited efforts to get minority students into Advanced Placement classes and a widely-respected tutoring program, focused on writing skills, that serves students of all backgrounds. 

Still, parents and activists said the high school has a long way to go to close the achievement gap. 

“We all recognize that there has to be additional, on-going work on the achievement gap,” said Berkeley High Parent Teacher Student Association President Joan Edelstein. “That’s been a long-standing problem that must be addressed.” 

School board candidate Cynthia Papermaster said a key will be developing intervention plans for struggling students that get their parents involved. 

School board candidate Sean Dugar, who graduated from Berkeley High in June, criticized the district for cutting Rebound, an intervention program focused on black students, last year. He also warned that the move from a seven- to a six-period day at the high school, scheduled to take effect next year, could lead to harmful cuts in African American studies courses. 

The actual effects of the shift to a six-period day are unknown at this point, but administrators have warned that there will be some reductions in electives courses, like African American studies. 

Berkeley High administrators are on vacation and were unavailable for comment.  


All students should have a chance

Max Alfert
Wednesday July 17, 2002

To the Editor: 

The pro and con arguments about government financing of privately, mainly religious schools have revolved entirely around the constitutional aspects of this matter. But its practical aspects are even more important:  

Private schools charge a lot of money for tuition and they cherry-pick the students they admit. As a result, deficient or otherwise undesirable students will not be admitted.  

Moreover, poor parents will not be able to afford the price of admission, even when they believe that their children would benefit from a better education. 

Thus, the support of private education by the government will mostly benefit middle class and upper income families who already have the means to send their children to private schools; the children of poor families will remain to be excluded from a chance at a better education. 

 

Max Alfert 

Albany


Cal’s Hunt decides 30 years of track coaching is enough

Staff Report
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Cal head track & field coach Erv Hunt will move into an executive administrative role at the university, the Cal Athletic Department announced this week. 

Hunt coached Golden Bear athletes for 30 years. He will continue to assist the program with alumni and fundraising activities, along with new responsibilities within the athletic department. 

“I am excited about this opportunity,” Hunt said. “With my years of experience at Cal, I feel I can do more good at this point in my career in this new capacity than I can as a coach.  

“My time as head coach have been extremely rewarding. I’ve had people tell me to forget about wins and losses. They’ve told me that I’ve served the University and the Cal Track & Field program in the right way. I feel good about that and the success many of the teams and individuals I’ve coached have had.”  

“Erv Hunt is a person of exceptional integrity and great accomplishment, and he is uniquely qualified for this newly-created position,” said Cal Athletic Director Steve Gladstone. “Erv and I have been coaching colleagues and friends since he first arrived at Cal 30 years ago. In recent months, we have engaged in informal conversations about his future wishes and plans. It became quite apparent that the best interests of both Erv and the athletic department could be served by creating this position for him.”  

Gladstone said a national search for Hunt’s successor is already underway.  

In 1996, Hunt received his highest honor when he was named the United States’ head men’s track and field coach for the Atlanta Olympics. Under Hunt’s direction, the U.S. won 16 medals: 10 gold, four silver and two bronze. 

But Hunt’s coaching prowess was recognized on the international stage long before the 1996 Olympics. In 1986, he was tabbed an assistant coach for the U.S. at the Freedom Games in Moscow. This led to additional assistant assignments for the 1989 World Cup Games in Barcelona, Spain, for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and for the 1993 World Championships in Stugardt, Germany. His first head coaching job with USA Track and Field came at the 1995 World University Games in Fukada, Japan.  

Hunt, 55, arrived on the Berkeley campus in 1972 as an assistant coach to head men’s track and field coach Dave Maggard. When Maggard was named athletic director in 1973, he promptly selected Hunt as his successor as he was so impressed with Hunt’s teaching ability, enthusiasm and stability. At the time of Hunt’s hiring as head coach at the age of 25, he was the youngest head coach ever to be named at the university. Prior to his reassignment, Hunt was the senior member of the school’s coaching staff.  

After 19 years at the helm of Cal’s men’s track and field program, Hunt accepted a new challenge in 1992, adding the title of Director of Track & Field to his job description in overseeing the merger of the school’s men’s and women’s programs.  

It has been a storybook 31 seasons for Hunt, who is the winningest men’s and women’s coach in Cal’s 102-year track and field history. The Fresno product boasts a men’s dual-meet record of 247-76 and a women’s mark of 94-40-1. His winning percentages are the best in Cal history.  

At the NCAA championships, Hunt has guided the Bear men to 13 Top 25 team finishes over the years, including eight Top 15 showings and three in the Top 10. In 1988, Cal experienced its greatest success under Hunt, tying for fifth in the country behind a victory from Kari Nisula in the discus and second-place performances from Atlee Mahorn in the 200 and Rod Jett in the 110-meter hurdles. On the women’s side, the Bears’ best result was a tie for 19th in 2000 behind Missy Vanek’s third in the heptathlon and Jennifer Joyce’s fourth in the hammer.  

During Hunt’s tenure, he has directed the progress of 90 All-Americans, including Joyce, Erin Belger (800) and Bubba McLean (pole vault) in 2002. His resume also includes coaching five NCAA individual champions and 51 conference champions.  

Since the 1976 Olympics, Hunt’s first at the helm at Cal, 23 athletes have earned spots on various Olympic teams.  

Hunt has a long-time reputation as one of the finest hurdling coaches in the nation and is a member of the USATF National Olympic Development coaching staff in this area. He also was named the 1981 NCAA District VIII Coach of the Year.  

Born and raised in Fresno, Hunt enjoyed an outstanding prep and collegiate career in his hometown. A three-sport standout at Edison High School, he was a wide receiver in football, played center in basketball and ran the hurdles in track. At Fresno Community College in 1967, Hunt clocked the nation’s fastest junior college time in the 120-yard high hurdles. He later transferred to Fresno State on a football scholarship and was inducted into the Bulldog Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2000, he was enshrined in the city of Fresno’s Hall of Fame.  

The Green Bay Packers drafted Hunt in the sixth round (145th pick overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft. He played two seasons of professional football until a back injury forced an early athletic retirement. After a brief teaching career in the Fresno area, Hunt began his historic coaching career at California.  

He and his wife, Jacquelyn, reside in El Sobrante and have two grown children, Jamie and Ericka.


Bringing together farms and urban neighborhoods

By Kurtis Alexander, Daily Planet Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Over the last year, three alternatives to high-cost, natural-food supermarkets have surfaced in Berkeley. 

While these new food markets may not be as trendy as a chic and tidy whole foods store, but like the (what) they offer a colorful arrangement of organic and locally-grown produce. And the prices, locals say, aren’t as steep. 

“There’s a perception that this kind of food comes only at a high price,” said Joy Moore, a founder of the new food emporias. 

“We’ve tried to eliminate this barrier and make this nutritious food available to communities that don’t normally get it.” 

The new food markets come to three locations in south and west Berkeley: Eighth and Virginia avenues, Allston Way and Bonar Street and Oregon and Grant streets. 

Every Tuesday afternoon a diverse selection of fresh fruits and vegetables is spread across folding tables. The markets are the brainchild of the Berkeley-based Ecology Center, and evolved from a $40,000 state grant aimed to ensure adequate food supplies and boost nutrition. 

The organizers accept cash but encourage customers buy a $7 punch card to help pay the cost of bringing the food to these neighborhoods. 

“The primary food stores in these areas are liquor stores,” said Christine Cherdboonmuang, co-coordinator of the Ecology Center program, dubbed “Farm Fresh Choice.”  

“These are the lower income areas that statistically have higher rates of chronic disease and that’s why we’ve focused our attention here,” she said. 

This week neighbors and organizers gathered to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their flagship market in west Berkeley. 

“I come here just about every Tuesday. I can ride my bike here,” said Margo Schueler, who walked off with a big bag of organic beets. 

Cashier Julio Reynaldo Estevez said that accessibility was the goal of the program. Basing the markets at schools and childcare centers, where many people are bound to go, was an another way to make the market more convenient for neighbors, he said. 

Additional low-cost food markets are in the works for other parts of Berkeley, according to Martin Bourque, executive director of the Ecology Center. San Pablo Park and Malcom X elementary school are possible sites, he said. 

The secret behind the program’s unusually low prices is simple economics with a little goodwill thrown in. 

“We buy are produce wholesale and sell it at wholesale prices. We just don’t make any profit,” Cherdboonmuang said. All of the produce comes from growers at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, so the local agricultural community benefits as well, she said.


Radioactivity causes more concerns

Mark McDonald
Wednesday July 17, 2002

To the Editor: 

The latest rant by Elmer Grossman (July 9), Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s (LBNL) most enthusiastic cheerleader, is long on bluster and name-calling but short on accuracy. His beloved Tritium Facility was actually defunded by the National Institute for Health because the technology was dangerous and out-moded, worthwhile publishable research had ceased and the site had caused a Super-Fund eligible radioactive mess.  

Undaunted, Grossman is still spouting his old tirade about seven studies which has been debunked for some time. The five studies funded by the federal and state governments are laughable for their omissions and manipulations, and just quote LBNL numbers for emissions and recycling of tritium, a deadly hydrogen isotope which is directly linked to cancers like leukemia, infertility and other genetic mutations.  

The city funded Straume report notes higher levels of cancer in affected neighborhoods and the Franke study only looked at the Tritium Facility’s last two years of operation when tritium work was drastically reduced. This was because LBNL’s records for all previous activity was so bungled that probably we will never know what happened to huge quantities of unaccounted tritium that was delivered to the facility but not recycled. 

Presumably that went out the window with the rest which could explain the high contamination levels that started the whole controversy. Franke did say that the number of tritium monitors was grossly inadequate and what they had was not operating correctly. Also stated was that LBNL itself had 119 stacks dumping radioactive poisons into the Berkeley air, most of which are unmonitored. 

Grossman never mentions that the tritium stack is 25 feet from the fence of the Lawrence Hall of Science. We must be the only city in the world that sends their children to a radioactive museum. 

Grossman should be happy since the tritium facility never actually closed but has been converted to a chemical and rad-waste incineration/processing center. This has occurred without any permits or review as required by law because LBNL gave itself an exemption.  

The Committee to Minimize Toxic Waste (CMTW) did accuse LBNL’s representative of lying when she testified to the Berkeley Council that waste treatment/incineration would stop on April 1 (previously they had said early January). CMTW has lab documents dating back to last October containing plans to process rad-waste there for years and possibly indefinitely. 

Now the lab has begun hauling thousands of truckloads of hazardous and radioactive debris from their Bevatron, a huge demolition project and once again they have issued themselves an exemption so as to avoid the normal permit-review process, designed to protect the community.  

Although they are denying it now, LBNL was targeting landfills in Richmond and Livermore to receive the cancer-causing hazardous waste and radioactive debris they consider below regulatory concern. 

I am not aware of anyone calling Grossman a fascist but he does seem to have little patience for the American democratic process where the powerful have to answer to their victims. The nuclear establishment has a long court-proven history of lying to communities about radioactive pollution and the associated risks. Grossman yearns for the early days when they operated with little or no concern for the environment or the unlucky suckers who got caught up in their zany schemes.  

It’s taken a long time, but it is no longer acceptable to treat acne with x-rays, inhale radium for sexual prowess, inject innocents with plutonium or x-ray pregnant women. Grossman and his ilk who shill for LBNL’s unrestrained pollution of Berkeley are a menace to the public. Any reader who shares these concerns please call your city councilmember as LBNL’s overpaid lobbyists have been overly active lately. 

 

Mark McDonald  

Berkeley 

 


Free parking until Jan. on roads near Telegraph Avenue

By Mike Dinoffria, Special to the Daily Planet
Wednesday July 17, 2002

One hundred and sixty parking meters wearing green hoods could be doomed for the gallows if a six-month study concludes that the meters cost more than they earn. 

The Pilot Parking Program will determine whether the city’s parking enforcement staff, without the meters, is able to enforce the vehicle turnover necessary to keep Telegraph Avenue shops hopping. Constant repairs to the meters are suspected to cost more than the meters take in. 

Until mid-January there will be no charge for parking at metered spaces covered by green hoods near Telegraph Avenue on the following avenues: Bancroft, Druant, Piedmont and Dana Avenue.  

But time limits ranging from one half- hour to two hours will be enforced. Meter maids will chalk tires, and owners of vehicles clogging spots intended for high-turnover could face multiple citations in a day.  

The city charges $23 to vehicle owners who overstay. 

If the study finds that the city can effectively enforce parking limits, the city will recommend that the meters be removed, said Lt. Bruce Agnew of the Berkeley Police Department. City Council will decide. 

“The parking in the area is not meant for all day parking,” said Agnew, referring to the area servicing the Telegraph Avenue shopping area that is home to a number of shops and eateries. 

The parking problem has largely been the product of vandalism, city officials said.  

About 8,000 repairs were made to parking meters in the Telegraph area during a 12-month period and about 90 percent of those were due to vandalism, said Kathy Berger of the Telegraph Area Association, the community development organization that at the request of the city put together the project.  

“People were jamming the meters and parking for free all day, preventing the turnover needed for businesses,” said Agnew. Car owners have been leaving their cars in spots with broken meters, some of which were unofficially marked by citizens with paper and plastic bags, way beyond the time allotted. 

One of the hypothesizes of this study is that the cost of the constant repairs of the meters exceeds the potential revenue of the meters. If that is found to be true, it could mean the removal of the disabled meters.  

Local merchants said they do not know how the changes will affect their business yet, but some are optimistic. 

Helen Carr of the University Press Bookstore on Bancroft says that she appreciates the relief from the cumbersome process of handing out change to patrons who want to feed the meter, and said that “half the time the meters are broken anyway.” 

Some area merchants, on the other hand, are rolling their eyes about the study.  

One merchant said that the city would have been better off taking this action a few years ago, when the meters were decapitated by a vandal, and suspected that the unreliability of the meters is more likely the reason behind the city’s involvement in the project than its concern for the merchants. 


News of the Weird

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Nuclear worms
threaten aquatic life
 

 

GAMBRILLS, Md. — First, there was the northern snakehead from China. Now, another potentially harmful alien from Asia is rearing its ugly head: the Vietnamese nuclear worm. 

Anglers around the Chesapeake Bay are using the pink worms, which can stretch up to 5 feet long, as bait. The worms are fat, cheap and juicy, and need no refrigeration even in the heat of summer. 

“They’re no wonder worm,” said Mike Gripkey, company manager for Maryland’s major supplier, Mike’s Wholesale Bait in Gambrills. “But a guy comes into a bait shop and he can spend $7 for a dozen bloodworms or $7 for a big, fat nuke worm that’ll last a couple of days. The nuke worm is more meat for the buck.” 

Biologists fear that the nuclear worms, when dumped from bait buckets into the bay, could harm native aquatic life and humans. 

Preliminary tests conducted this spring by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center indicate the worms and the material they are packed in contain three species of the bacterium Vibrio, one of which attacks oysters and causes serious illness in people. 

“These worms are spooky,” said Julie Thompson, a biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “I use surgical gloves every time I touch them, and I scrub up afterward.” 


West needs to conserve, recycle for more water

By Steve Lawrence, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE— Drought-stricken Western states need to look to water banking, conservation, desalinization and recycling as ways to help increase water supplies, an Interior Department official said Tuesday. 

“Obviously when the pie is bigger or we can reduce some of our needs it does help solve some of the conflicts” over water use, Kit Kimball told a group of Western legislators. 

Kimball, Interior Secretary Gale Norton’s representative to the Western states, said the Bureau of Reclamation “is ready and willing” to build more water projects in the West, but the fate of those projects is up to Congress and the citizens of those states. 

“We think there are other ways to increase water supplies as well,” she added. “We must look at water banking, underground storage and water conservation. I think this secretary understands we cannot continue to use water at the rate we do. ... We do have to apply some conservation principles.” 

Kimball, a former mining industry lobbyist who is based in Denver, said the department wants to cooperate with Western states in solving water problems.


AIDS organization honors U.S. Rep. Lee for service

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee has been honored with an international service award for her AIDS advocacy at the Barcelona International HIV/AIDS Conference in Spain. 

The Family Health International Institute for HIV/AIDS bestowed the honor upon Lee, D-Oakland, for championing the global fight against the devastating disease before Congress. 

"I am deeply humbled and also thrilled to receive this award,'' Lee said. "The people who really deserve this award are those who are on the front-line in the battle against HIV/AIDS.'' 

Lee was one of two honorees. The other was Paul Delay of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Honored agencies included the Ghana Police Service HIV/AIDS Programme, The Spiritia Foundation, Meatho Phum Ko'mah, and the Kenya Girl Guides Association. 


Report says charter schools fail to make improvements

By Lisa Snedeker, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

LAS VEGAS — The majority of the nation’s charter schools have failed to improve student achievement, a report released Wednesday by the American Federation of Teachers concludes. 

Proponents of the nation’s 2,119 charter schools immediately criticized the report, saying its data was flawed. 

The AFT report studied the decade-long movement of publicly funded schools that are operated by community-based groups, private business or groups of educators and parents. It concluded that policy-makers should not expand charter schools until more evidence of their effectiveness and viability is presented. 

“While some are successful and should be used as models, most charter schools don’t improve student achievement, aren’t innovative and are less accountable than the public schools,” AFT president Sandra Feldman said at the teachers union convention in Las Vegas. 

That’s not true in Nevada, said Jill Wells, principal of Reno’s I Can Do Anything Charter High School, the state’s first charter school established in 1998. 

“We’re held as accountable and we have the same tests as any other school in the Washoe County School District,” Wells said. “It’s a luxury to pick the curriculum you want to pick and to have an 18-1 student-teacher ratio, but we are incredibly accountable.” 

The report said Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas have open-ended charter school laws combined with minimal public oversight. 

“The basic promise of less regulation for more accountability has been broken,” Feldman said. 

Gary Larson, communications director for the California Network of Educational Charters, said the AFT report is flawed. 

Larson said there were 358 charter schools in California in October 2001 as opposed to the report’s 350. And he said only 33 charter schools had closed in the state since it adopted the charter school law in 1992, rather than the 45 the report stated.


Teacher pay jumps, beats out national advances

By Jessica Brice, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

State fell to16th when adjusted for cost of living  

 

SACRAMENTO — California teacher salaries jumped to the second highest in the nation but teachers still fare poorly because of the state’s high cost of living, according to a report released Tuesday. 

The American Federation of Teachers found the average California teacher makes around $52,480 a year compared to the nation’s average of $43,250. Only Connecticut teachers make more, with an average salary of $53,507. 

The nation’s lowest paid teachers are in South Dakota, the study found, with an average pay of $30,265. 

The national average inched up by about 3.4 percent over the previous year — the smallest increase in 40 years. California, on the other hand, saw increases of more than 10 percent — the highest increase in years. 

“We had been going along at 1 and 2 percent and sometimes zero growth for so long,” said Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, a union that represents more than 100,000 teachers and school employees in California. “In 1999 and 2000, after a long drought, we were able to get substantial salary increases in most of our districts.” 

Beginning teacher salaries also made advances, increasing 4.4 percent nationally and 9.6 percent in California from 1999 to 2001. The average beginning teacher in California makes $33,121, compared to the national average of $28,986. 

But the state’s high cost of living makes those numbers deceiving, teachers said. When the averages were adjusted to account for the cost of living, California fell to 16th place in the nation. 

Although California’s adjusted salaries were “still respectable,” Bergan said, teachers are bracing for tougher times as state budget problems will limit future gains teachers had hoped for. 

The federation also said teachers are being hurt by the rising cost of health care. The average teacher pays around 7 percent of his or her salary for health care. 

“The biggest battle we’re fighting right now is over health care costs,” Bergan said.By Jessica Brice  

The Associated Press 

 

SACRAMENTO — California teacher salaries jumped to the second highest in the nation but teachers still fare poorly because of the state’s high cost of living, according to a report released Tuesday. 

The American Federation of Teachers found the average California teacher makes around $52,480 a year compared to the nation’s average of $43,250. Only Connecticut teachers make more, with an average salary of $53,507. 

The nation’s lowest paid teachers are in South Dakota, the study found, with an average pay of $30,265. 

The national average inched up by about 3.4 percent over the previous year — the smallest increase in 40 years. California, on the other hand, saw increases of more than 10 percent — the highest increase in years. 

“We had been going along at 1 and 2 percent and sometimes zero growth for so long,” said Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, a union that represents more than 100,000 teachers and school employees in California. “In 1999 and 2000, after a long drought, we were able to get substantial salary increases in most of our districts.” 

Beginning teacher salaries also made advances, increasing 4.4 percent nationally and 9.6 percent in California from 1999 to 2001. The average beginning teacher in California makes $33,121, compared to the national average of $28,986. 

But the state’s high cost of living makes those numbers deceiving, teachers said. When the averages were adjusted to account for the cost of living, California fell to 16th place in the nation. 

Although California’s adjusted salaries were “still respectable,” Bergan said, teachers are bracing for tougher times as state budget problems will limit future gains teachers had hoped for. 

The federation also said teachers are being hurt by the rising cost of health care. The average teacher pays around 7 percent of his or her salary for health care. 

“The biggest battle we’re fighting right now is over health care costs,” Bergan said.


2 held in alleged extortion of nuclear plant 2 held in alleged extortion of nuclear plant

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

FONTANA — Two men were arrested for allegedly trying to extort $92,000 from an Arizona nuclear power plant in exchange for $3 million worth of parts they were sent under a maintenance-related contract, authorities said. 

Kevin Mitlo, 20, of Azusa and Tony Mitchell, 31, of Duarte were jailed Friday in lieu of $2 million bail apiece, said San Bernardino County sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Gonzales. 

They were booked for investigation of extortion, grand theft and conspiracy, according to sheriff’s records. 

Representatives of the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Generating Station in Phoenix filed a complaint Thursday with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, alleging that a Fontana company, All Machines Specialists, failed to return parts that were sent to the company under a contract. 

Mitlo and Mitchell were associated with the All Machines Specialists, but Gonzales could not say what roles they performed for the company. 

A sheriff’s press release said Mitlo misrpresented the company and secured a contract to provide only estimates for repair work on the parts. The statement said the parts are integral to the power plant but did not further identify them. 

When asked to return the parts, Mitlo and Mitchell told Palo Verde officials that they would only return the parts if the power plant paid $92,000 for maintenance work they claimed they performed, Gonzales said. 

After the complaint was forwarded to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, investigators determined that the work was never performed, Gonzales said. 

Sheriff’s deputies accompanied officials of Palo Verde to a meeting with Mitlo and Mitchell at the Three Sisters Truck Stop, where the two men were arrested. 


Intel Corp. to cut 4,000 jobs

By Matthew Fordahl, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

SAN JOSE — Intel Corp., which has managed to avoid mass layoffs during the technology downturn, said Tuesday it’s cutting 4,000 jobs as the chip-making giant posted disappointing second-quarter earnings. 

The world’s largest semiconductor company said continuing softness in demand for the chips that power personal computers prompted the 4.8 percent reduction in its work force. 

“We haven’t seen an economic recovery in our business yet,” said Andy Bryant, Intel’s chief financial officer. “We want to be cautious in our spending.” 

As was the case a year ago, when 5,000 jobs were cut, most of the reductions will be made through attrition, Bryant said in an interview. 

For the three months ended June 29, the company said it earned $446 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with profits of $196 million, or 3 cents a share, in the same period last year. 

Excluding acquisition-related costs, the company earned $620 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with earnings of $854 million, or 12 cents a share, last year. 

Sales were $6.32 billion, slightly lower than the $6.33 billion reported a year ago. 

Analysts were expecting second-quarter profits of 11 cents per share on sales of $6.35 billion, according to a survey by Thomson Financial/First Call. Intel said analyst estimates do not include a $106 million charge announced last month to close Intel Online Services, its Web hosting service. 

Intel had 83,000 employees worldwide at the end of the first quarter, down from 86,000 at the end of 2000. 

Unlike other high-tech firms over the past year, Intel escaped massive layoffs. Instead, the company did not fill vacant positions, slashed discretionary spending such as travel and delayed raises. 

Executives said past downturns had shown that companies could not cut and save their way through a recession and be prepared for an upturn at the other end. 

But in October, chief executive Craig Barrett told employees that the company’s headcount was 20,000 higher than it was in 1999 even though revenues remained roughly the same. 

“On the whole, it’s not as bad as it could have been,” said Douglas Lee, an analyst at Banc of America Securities. “Hopefully, the stock starts to stabilize at this point. (The second-quarter announcement) is not great but not a disaster.” 

Intel did not disclose where the cuts were to be made, said Eric Ross, an analyst at Investec. He said if they were from Intel’s core microprocessor business, it would be a sign of no confidence in a recovery. 

But, he added, the cuts would be appropriate in Intel’s flash memory and networking divisions, which are not expected to recover anytime soon. 

Earlier this month, Intel warned that it would not meet previous its previous sales forecast of $6.4 billion to $7 billion, lowering the range to between $6.2 billion and $6.5 billion. 

At the time, it blamed lower-than-expected sales on soft demand for PC processors in Europe. 

For the third quarter, the company expects sales to be between $6.3 billion and $6.9 billion, within the range of analysts’ estimates. 

Rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. issued two warnings last month that its second-quarter sales would not meet expectations. AMD is expected to release its earnings after the markets close Wednesday. 

Shares of Intel closed down 76 cents, or nearly 4 percent, to $18.36 in Tuesday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. After the announcement, shares gained 26 cents in the extended session. 


Apple forecasts a ‘slight profit’ for this quarter

By May Wong, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

SAN JOSE — Apple Computer Inc. reported third-quarter results Tuesday that were in line with revised Wall Street expectations but did little to buoy the sagging personal computer industry. 

For its quarter ended June 29, the Cupertino-based computer maker said it earned $32 million, or 9 cents a share, on revenue of $1.43 billion. In the year-ago period, Apple earned $61 million, or 17 cents a share, on revenue of $1.47 billion. 

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial/First Call expected earnings of 9 cents a share on revenues of about $1.42 billion. 

The PC market has been “very weak,” said chief financial officer Fred Anderson, who expects for the fourth quarter a “slight profit” and revenues that will be about the same as the third quarter. 

Last month, Apple warned of soft demand and said third-quarter revenues would range between $1.4 billion and $1.45 billion, down some 10 percent from its previous forecast of about $1.6 billion. 

Apple shipped 808,000 Macintosh computers during the third quarter, down 2 percent from the year-ago quarter, the company said. 

The overall personal computer industry is struggling with the economic slowdown. 

Some analysts don’t expect a turnaround in the PC market until late 2003, while the market research firm International Data Corp. forecasts a slight, 2.5 percent increase of PC shipments in the United States this year. 

Industry observers expect that on Wednesday, chief executive Steve Jobs will introduce at Macworld Expo New York new products that could help boost Apple’s near-term revenues. Among them: a new PowerMac computer and possibly a Windows-based version of the iPod portable music player and a larger, 17-inch flat-panel iMac. 

Apple has launched several efforts since last year to try to surpass the 5 percent share it has of the total PC market.


State Farm to close some California offices

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

NEW YORK — State Farm Insurance Cos. said Tuesday that it plans to consolidate some offices in California, affecting more than 1,200 jobs. 

The Bloomington, Ill., mutual insurer plans to close operations centers in Westlake Village and Costa Mesa, and reduce the number of claims locations to 20 from 66 offices in the next 18 to 24 months.  

Company-owned locations that are closed will be sold. 

The restructuring won’t immediately result in loss of jobs. Affected employees are expected to be offered relocation, reassignment and severance opportunities, the company said. 

State Farm employs about 6,000 people in California. The insurer also has about 1,800 independent contract agents in California. 

The move will cut expenses by at least $69 million annually, the company said. 

The restructuring is one of several efforts by State Farm, the nation’s largest property-casualty insurer, to reduce its expenses and underwriting losses. The company lost $5 billion in 2001 as claims costs escalated and weak equity markets cut into its investment income. State Farm reported net income of $400 million in 2000. 

Last month, State Farm, which insures more than 15 million homes nationwide, said it had placed a moratorium on new homeowners policies in 17 states, including California, and had restricted sales of new homeowners policies in six other states. 

The moratoriums and restrictions on new sales are expected to be temporary and reflect profitability and other issues on a state-by-state basis. 


Spanish arrests lead to heightened security

By Don Thompson, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

SACRAMENTO — Patrols around San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge by the California Highway Patrol doubled Tuesday and state officials claimed to have alerted local police near Disneyland and Universal Studios after the sites turned up in what are believed to be terrorist videos. 

But Disneyland and the Anaheim Police Department denied being alerted by state authorities and reported they were taking no unusual security measures. 

Spanish police arrested three Syrians on Tuesday suspected of being al-Qaida members, including one who had videos of the World Trade Center, the California locations, New York’s Statue of Liberty and the Sears Tower in Chicago. 

Within an hour after the news surfaced, California Highway Patrol officers fanned out Tuesday to talk to police in the local jurisdictions, said George Vinson, Gov. Gray Davis’ security adviser. 

But Anaheim Police spokesman, Sgt. Rick Martinez, denied Vinson’s claim. 

“No, we have not heard from them,” he said. He also denied assertions by the California Highway Patrol that they were coordinating special patrols around Disneyland with the Anaheim Police Department. 

“I can confidently say that nothing out of the ordinary is taking place,” he said. “However, nothing is ordinary since September 11.” 

For Disneyland and Universal Studios, Vinson said, the state notified the Anaheim and Los Angeles police departments. Those offices, in turn, notified the security departments for the two theme parks. 

Disneyland officials also denied being alerted by either agency. 

Investigators have previously found similar video tapes, maps and pictures — though not of California sites, Vinson said. 

“We’ve been through this drill a number of times,” Vinson said. “Just possessing that stuff isn’t against the law, and without something further from interviews or whatever, it’s difficult to tell if they were planning an attack.” 

Vinson said he had no further such information from interrogations of the three Syrians. 

Two of the suspects were arrested in Madrid and the other in the eastern town of Castellon, the Spanish Interior Ministry said in a statement. They were identified as Ghasoub Al-Abrash Ghalyoun, Abdalrahman Alarnaot Abu-Aljer and Mohamen Khair Al Saqq. Ghalyoun and Abu-Aljer had Spanish nationality, police said. 

The ministry statement said Ghalyoun belonged to the radical Muslim Brotherhood and had been arrested in Spain in April but later released. 

At the time of his first arrest, police confiscated many videos including five shot by Ghalyoun during a trip to the United States in 1997. 

“The form and type of recording go beyond touristic curiosity as shown by two of the tapes, which are entirely of different angles from different distances of the Twin Towers in New York,” the statement said. 

Other videos were extremely violent and showed Islamic fighters training in camps and during combat scenes in Chechnya, the statement said. 

An FBI task force is working with FBI operatives and local law enforcement in Spain to locate and capture suspected terrorists, a U.S. law enforcement official said. Some of the people the task force is looking to locate are men who might be tied to terrorists and have traveled to the United States in recent years. 

It was not immediately clear why Ghalyoun was released in April or re-arrested Tuesday. 

The arrests were ordered by Judge Baltasar Garzon as part of an operation begun last year with the detention of more than a dozen people across the country between November and April. The judge has accused those arrested then of recruiting members for al-Qaida, financing the group and taking part in preparations for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. 

Spanish authorities are trying to figure out what Mohamed Atta, the Sept. 11 ringleader, was doing during two trips to Spain months before the attacks. 

Meanwhile, Vinson said California will now fine-tune its terror response plan in keeping with the security plan announced Tuesday by President Bush. 

“None of it is a surprise,” he said, because it was developed in consultation with the 50 state security advisers. “Ours is going to fold in nicely because we helped design theirs.” 

Editor’s note: Associated Press Writer Ciaran Giles in Madrid contributed to this report. 


Ex officials warn that U.S. policies threaten repression

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

CORONADO — Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and former FBI and CIA chief William Webster challenged administration policies dealing with terrorism suspects Tuesday, and Christopher warned that secrecy threatens to lead America down a path to repression. 

The former officials spoke to hundreds of judges at the 9th U.S. Circuit’s annual conference where controversy also swirled around a recent decision holding a portion of the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional. 

In a panel discussion of national security and civil rights, Christopher raised the specter of the kind of repression once common in Argentina. 

“When I was in the Carter administration, I was in Argentina and I saw mothers in the streets protesting, asking for the names of those being held, those who had disappeared,” Christopher said. 

“We must be very careful in this country of not holding people without revealing their names. It leads to the ’disappeared,”’ he said. “The names of people should be revealed so that relatives will know what has become of their loved ones. It’s a good precaution against having the ’disappeared.”’ 

Christopher’s comments came during a presentation in which Stanford Law School Dean Kathleen Sullivan posed a hypothetical situation in which an Arab student is detained by authorities. 

The administration spokesman, Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh was challenged by Christopher after he said that detainees were being given extensive information on their rights including the right to have lawyers. 

“I wonder if you would be willing to make the name (of the man detained) available to the press,” Christopher said. 

Dinh replied: “We would not provide a list of persons of interest to us.” 

But after Christopher’s loudly applauded warning about “the disappeared,” Dinh said, “That is such great advice and one I take to heart.”


Energy companies exploited state’s market, GAO says

By Mark Sherman, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

State lawmakers reduced the incentive to conserve power as prices rose 

 

WASHINGTON — Deregulation of electricity in California “created almost textbook conditions” for energy companies to keep power prices unfairly high in 2000 and 2001, a congressional investigation finds. 

“Wholesale electricity suppliers exercised market power by raising prices above competitive levels,” the General Accounting Office concluded in a report released Tuesday. 

The GAO report is the latest of several studies that found that serious structural problems in California’s deregulation paved the way for the soaring electricity prices and rolling power blackouts in 2000 and 2001. 

It was made by public by Democratic Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Jay Inslee of Washington the day before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is expected to adopt new rules aimed at preventing a repeat of the energy crisis, which reverberated across the West in the form of energy price spikes. 

The report blamed several flawed rules for allowing prices to rise even during hours of light demand. 

State lawmakers froze retail prices for consumers, reducing, if not eliminating, the incentive to conserve power as prices rose, the GAO said. 

Until the height of the crisis, California regulators discouraged utilities from entering into long-term contracts for power. The reliance on spot sales enabled power wholesalers to withhold electricity from the market “until it was critically needed,” making it possible to charge exorbitant prices. 

Utilities flirted with financial ruin struggling to meet demand amid wholesale power costs that reached $300 per megawatt hour. One megawatt is enough to power about 750 homes. 

Even when price caps first were imposed in late 2000, they were ineffective, the GAO said, but did not analyze why. The report also did not analyze certain pricing and trading strategies that Western politicians have said allowed Enron Corp. and other companies to manipulate the energy market. 

Western lawmakers sharply criticized FERC for failing to intervene aggressively as wholesale electricity prices soared in 2000 and early 2001. Until last summer, FERC refused to impose any significant price controls, contending price caps would impede energy production, worsening the supply problem. 

Wholesale cost receded after FERC imposed a price cap last summer, utilities and state agencies signed long-term contracts and the price of natural gas, the fuel for many power plants, fell. 


Report: Tight border led to more illegal immigrants

By Ben Fox, The Associated Press
Wednesday July 17, 2002

SAN DIEGO — A costly, nine-year effort to seal portions of the U.S.-Mexico border has failed to reduce illegal immigration, a new study has found. 

The security buildup along the Southwest border also has forced immigrants to cross in dangerous, remote areas, increasing the likelihood of death from exposure and drowning. In addition, it may cause those who enter the country illegally to stay longer, according to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California. 

“The border buildup alone doesn’t solve this problem,” Belinda Reyes, an economist who co-authored the study, said Tuesday. 

Activists on both of the immigration issue have made similar claims in the past, but the institute’s study bases its claims on updated Census data along with information from focus groups and a community survey. The authors planned to present their findings to Democratic members of Congress on Wednesday. 

The study bills itself as the most comprehensive analysis of the a border crackdown that began in 1993 with Operation Hold the Line in El Paso, Texas and Operation Gatekeeper in San Diego in 1994. 

Prompted by public concerns over the relative ease of crossing the border, Congress and the Clinton administration approved the hiring of thousands of additional Border Patrol agents and had new fences, lights, motion sensors and other equipment installed in the most-heavily traversed corridors. 

The annual border enforcement budget tripled between 1995 and 2001 and now exceeds $2.5 billion, according to the report from the nonpartisan policy institute. 

As a result, the numbers of illegal immigrants crossing in cities such as San Diego, El Paso or Brownsville plummeted while they soared in the mountains and deserts in between. 

The policy institute, relying on Census data, found the overall number of illegal immigrants has continued to rise, growing from between 2 million and 3 million in the mid-1980s to between 6 million and 10 million today. 

Mexican immigrants, according to a survey by their government, were more likely to stay in the United States because of the increased risk and cost of crossing the border. A 2000 survey found 11 percent of recent immigrants returned to Mexico within a year compared to 30 percent in 1992, according to the report. 

The availability of jobs in the United States had a “far stronger” effect on illegal immigration than increased border enforcement, the report found. 

The Border Patrol defends its strategy, noting the decline in apprehensions over the past three years as evidence that fewer people are crossing the border. Agency officials say the U.S. government isn’t to blame for the deaths of hundreds of immigrants from drowning and exposure to heat and cold. 

“It’s not the national strategy that moving them, it’s the smugglers who are taking them through treacherous points for financial gain,” said Mario Villarreal, a spokesman in Washington D.C. 

The Border Patrol also maintains that many illegal immigrants enter the country illegally and overstay their visas, said Ben Bauman, an agent in San Diego. 

Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. said the policy institute’s report underscores the “schizophrenic” U.S. immigration policy focused on border control. 

“Our immigration policy features tough border enforcement but no enforcement in the interior,” Krikorian said. “We’re telling illegal aliens that if you get in we are not going to bother you.” 

———— 

 


One-day nurse’s strike averted

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Alta Bates nurses are set to
vote on contract Wednesday
 

 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center reached a tentative contract agreement with the California Nurses Association late Friday night, averting a planned one-day strike Wednesday. 

The three-year contract includes a 21.5 percent raise over the life of the contract, health benefits for early retirees and a guaranteed pension, according to the union. 

The hospital, which employs 1,500 nurses, did not agree to new nurse-to-patient ratios, union officials said, holding out for statewide ratios that will be released later this year.  

Those ratios are currently working through the regulatory process in Sacramento. 

Alta Bates nurses are scheduled to vote on the contract Wednesday. The hospital, which has facilities in Berkeley and Oakland, would not confirm or comment on details of the tentative contract until the vote is complete. But spokesperson Jill Gruen said Alta Bates is “very pleased” that a tentative agreement has been reached. 

Alta Bates nurse Pat Strickland, who served on the negotiating team, said union members are disappointed that there has been no movement on new staffing ratios. But she still expects approval of the tentative contract. 

“There is definite disappointment that immediate staffing issues are not being addressed,” Strickland said. “But I think, in general, people will ratify the contract.” 

Last week, the California Nurses Association authorized a July 17 one-day strike at four area hospitals, all owned by Sutter Health, the Northern California, nonprofit health care giant.  

Late Thursday night, the union reached agreement with St. Luke’s Hospital in San Francisco and called off the strike. Friday night, the Nurses Association inked tentative contracts with Sutter Solano Hospital in Vallejo and Alta Bates, averting work stops at both of those facilities. 

The union still has no contract with Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, but has called off the one-day strike. The hospital issued its final offer late Sunday night and is awaiting the union’s response. 

The union argued, over the course of the Alta Bates negotiations, that a strong contract was necessary to attract and retain nurses. The hospital, swept up in a national nursing shortage, has over 200 unfilled positions. 

Union officials said the new agreement should help to ease the shortage. 

“I think the raise certainly helped in recruiting people, and actually, the retirement package too,” said Strickland. 

The contract includes a guaranteed pension payment, rather than one that is tied to the stock market, said California Nurses Association spokesperson Charles Idelson. 

“This is a major improvement,” he said. “Historically, nurses have had very substandard pension plans.” 

The contract also includes new health benefits for early retirees. In the first year of the contract, according to the union, Alta Bates agreed to pay 80 percent of the first $200 of an early retiree’s monthly health care premium. The $200 ceiling rises to $215 and $225 second and third years of the contract respectively.  

When an early retiree reaches 65 and is eligible for Medicare, the Alta Bates payments will shift to cover supplemental Medicare insurance instead. 

Alta Bates nurse Connie Arburua, who served on the negotiating team, said the health care benefit package marked an improvement over Alta Bates’s original offer. 

Although the union did not win new nurse-to-patient ratios, it did make some gains on other staffing issues. Staffing disagreements can now be referred to an independent arbitrator and “charge nurses,” who head the hospital’s various nursing units will not be included when calculating the existing nurse-to-patient ratios. 

Arburua said the hospital would not budge on new staffing ratios and argued that the union could not have won on this issue unless the membership authorized a long-term strike. 

“I’m not overwhelmingly pleased,” Arburua said. “But I do think the contract was the best we could get without an open-ended, full-blown strike.” 

If the union rejects the tentative contract Wednesday, it will authorize a long-term strike, giving negotiators greater leverage in negotiations.


Put away the card

Michael Fullerton
Tuesday July 16, 2002

To the Editor: 

I encourage all movie goers to pay for their tickets with cash rather than credit cards. This will make the lines move faster, and everyone will be just a little happier. 

 

Michael Fullerton 

Berkeley


Out & About Calendar

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002


Tuesday, July 16

 

Intro to Accessible Software and Hardware  

10:30 a.m. to noon 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

Electronic Classroom (3rd Floor) 2090 Kittredge Ave.  

Non-profit training organization for software and hardware useful to seniors and disabled people in Berkeley. 

981-6121 for reservations 

Free 

 

15th Anniversary Derby Street Farmers Market 

Live music and & stone-fruit and peach tasting 

Tasting & cooking demonstrations. 

Berkeley Farmers' Market 

2 to 7 p.m. 

Derby Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way  

Free 

 

Celebration of the Berkeley Farmers Market and Peach Tasting 

2 to 7 p.m. 

Derby St. @ MLK, Jr. Way 

15th anniversary celebration of the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers' Market and annual peach tasting, featuring music and food. 

548-3333 

Free 

 

Inshallah: In Pursuit of My Father's Youth 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Viviane Wayne will share from her travel/memoir Inshallah, a chronicle  

of her return to Turkey. Turkish sweets served. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Berkeley Camera Club Weekly Meeting 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share slides, prints with other photographers 

525-3565 

Free 

 

Berkeley Salon on Metaphor and Message Now 

7 to 9 p.m. 

Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut Ave. at Rose, Berkeley  

Metaphor Project founder Susan Strong on ways to mainstream messages now.  

848-0237. 

 

Introduction to Accessible Software and Hardware  

10:30 a.m. to noon 

Berkeley Public Library Electronic Classroom, 2090 Kittredge Street 

RSVP to 981-6121- Alan Bern, Special Services Coordinator 

 

Celebration of Gay Pride 

1:15 p.m.  

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst St. (at MLK) 

Mothertongue Feminist Theatre Collective presents "The Experience of Aging," with discussion and refreshments afterward. 

644-0480 

Free 

 


Wednesday, July 17

 

San Francisco Bay Crossings Study 

1 to 1:30 p.m. view displays, 1:30 to 4 p.m. public meeting 

Oakland City Council Chambers, City Hall 

One City Hall Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oakland 

Recommendations for transbay travel in the next 25 years, new facilities/services, as well as funding methods. 

464-7787 

Free 

 

Friends of Calligraphy 

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

2090 Kittredge St. Meeting Room B - Third Floor 

Meeting/demonstrations of calligraphy and lettering design by lettering professionals and FOC members. 

528-1709 

Free 

 

Doctors Without Borders 

(Through July 18) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

UC Berkeley, Springer Gateway, West Entrance Crescent 

Interactive exhibit explaining medicines for people in developing countries; Film screenings 

www.doctorswithoutborders.org 

Free 

 


Thursday, July 18

 

Intro to Accessible Software and Hardware  

3 to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library - Central Branch 

Electronic Classroom (3rd Floor) 2090 Kittredge Ave.  

Non-profit training organization for software and hardware useful to seniors and disabled people in Berkeley. 

981-6121 for reservations 

Free 

 

art.Sites Paris 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Slide show by Sidra Stich offers overview of Paris' exciting innovative changes, new museums, new art and media centers, parks etc. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Mystique of the Wilderness 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Phil Arnot presents slides from over 50 years of exploring such places as Alaska, New Zealand, the Sierra and the Rockies. 

527-4140 

Free 

 

"Green Building" Workshop 

6 to 8 p.m.  

Building Education Center, 812 Page Street 

With speaker Greg VanMechelen, Architect, VanMechelen Architects 

614-1699 or lclarke@stopwaste.org 

Free 

 

Simplicity Forum 

7 to 8:30 p.m.  

Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave.  

Topic is the Cost of various life choices to the Planet well as to our Happiness, Pocketbook and Community. 

549-3509, or www.simpleliving.net. 

Free 

 

Introduction to Accessible Software and Hardware  

3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Public Library Electronic Classroom, 2090 Kittredge Street 

RSVP to 981-6121 

 


Saturday, July 20

 

Public Meeting to Plan a New National Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Oakland Museum, Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak St. (at Lake Merritt BART) 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Puppet Shows 

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. 

Hall of Health, 2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level) 

The Kids on the Block educational puppet troupe present a show about accepting and understanding physical, mental, medical and cultural differences. 

$2 donation, children under 3 free 

 

Emergency Preparedness Classes in Berkeley 

Earthquake Retrofitting: Learn how to strengthen your wood frame home. 

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

812 Page Street 

981-5605 

Free 

 

Connoisseurs' Marketplace 

(through July 21) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Santa Cruz Ave. Menlo Park (between El Camino Real and Johnson St. 

16th annual mid-summer festival of the arts featuring music, artisans, celebrity chefs, international cuisine, kids' fun zone and more. 

(650) 325-2818 

Free 

 


Monday, July 22

 

An evening of song & resistance 

7 p.m.  

AK Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St. Oakland 

With music from Samsara, James Tracy and David Rovics 

208-1700, or akpres@akpress.org 

$5 donation 

 


Tuesday, July 23

 

Myanmar (formerly Burma): "The Golden Land" 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Ricky Fishman gives a slide presentation/talk about this isolated and remote land. 

843-3533 

Free 

 

Q & A with a Personal/Business Coach 

noon to 1 p.m. 

YWCA Turning Point Career Center, 2600 Bancroft Way 

For those interested in professional coaching careers, speak with a pro. 

848-6370 

$3 

 


Wednesday, July 24

 

Getting Help When You Need It 

7:30 to 9 p.m.  

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annex A 

350 Hawthorne Ave. Oakland 

Free interactive workshop to help caregivers obtain free assistance, deal with paid in-home help, and create plans to care for loved ones. 

869-6737 

Free 

 


Thursday, July 25

 

Combat Medic: World War II 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Memoir presentation by San Francisco physician John Kerner, describing experiences as a combat medic in World War II.  

843-3533 

Free 

 

California Landscapes: A Geologist's Perspective 

7 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

John Karachewski presents an educational slide show on such amazing places as the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges the Great Valley and Cascades 

For more information: (510) 527- 4140. 

Free 

 


Saturday, July 27

 

Test Ride Kestrel Bicycles 

11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Pristine Sandusky of Kestrel, a premier manufacturer of high-end, carbon-fiber road and mountain bikes, introduces their latest design. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

"Neon: The Living Flame" 

7:00 p.m.  

Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Ave.  

The Alameda Museum presents Michael Crowe, author, and neon artist Karl Hauser 

lecture by Michael Crowe 

748-0796 or 841-8489.  

Members free, non-members $5  

 


Sunday, July 28

 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair  

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 


Tuesday, July 30

 

The Birdhouse Chronicles: Surviving the Joys of Country Life 

7:30 p.m.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave.  

Reading and discussion of Cathleen Miller's personal account of moving from San Francisco to Amish Pennsylvania to restore an old house. 

843-3533 

Free 

 


Wednesday, July 31

 

Mountain Adventure Seminars: Introduction to Rock Climbing 

7 p.m.-9 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 


Thursday, August 1

 

Public Meeting to Plan New National Historic Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Senior Center, 2525 Macdonald Ave. 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 

Nutrition Career Open House 

7 to 8:30 p.m. 

Institute of Educational Therapy, 706 Gilman St. 

Become a Nutrition Educator or Nutrition Consultant. 

558-1711 for reservations 

Free 

 


Saturday, August 3

 

Mountain Adventure Seminars: Introduction to Rock Climbing 

8 a.m.-3 p.m. 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

An introduction to rock climbing including knot tying, belaying and movement. 

For more information: (209) 753-6556 

$115 REI members; $125 non-members 

 

10th Annual Stroll for Epilepsy 

Six Flags Marine World, Vallejo 

The public is invited to join the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California at Six Flags Marine World for a 5K walk/fundraiser. 

1-800-632-3532 for registration 

 

Storytelling at the Berkeley Public Library 

10:30 a.m. 

Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch 

2090 Kittredge St. 

Storyteller Joel Ben Izzy will present a variety of stories filled with warmth, humor, drama in the Children's Story Room. 

981-6223 

Free 

 


Monday, August 5

 

Public Meeting to Plan a New National Park in Richmond 

1:30 p.m. 

Richmond Public Library, Whittlesey Room 

325 Civic Center Plaza (near Macdonald Ave. and 25th St.) 

Meeting to gather input for National Park Service to prepare plans that will guide development of historic WWII sites in Richmond. 

817-1517 

Free 

 


Saturday, August 10

 

Tomato Tasting 

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Berkeley Farmers' Market 

Center Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way 

Tasting and cooking demonstrations  

Free 

 


Sunday, August 11

 

Hands-on Bicycle Repair 

11 a.m.-12 

REI Berkeley, 1338 San Pablo 

Learn from an REI bike technician basic repairs such as brake adjustments and fixing a flat. 

For more information: (510) 527-4140 

Free 

 

West Berkeley arts Festival 

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

4th and University Ave. 

Explore the many resident artists located in Berkeley 

Free. 

 


Monday, August 12

 

The First East Bay Senior Games 

10:30 a.m. clinic, 12:30 p.m. tee-off (approximate times) 

Mira Vista Golf and Country Club 

7901 Cutting Blvd. El Cerrito 

A golfing event for the 50+ crowd, in association with the California and National Senior Games Association. 

891-8033 (registration deadline July 29) 

Varying entry fees.


‘Outstanding’ Ted Lilly helps A’s beat Devil Rays

The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ted Lilly made an outstanding first impression for the Oakland Athletics. 

The left-hander did not allow a hit for 4 2-3 innings in his Oakland debut as the A’s beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-0 Monday night. 

Lilly, acquired from the New York Yankees on July 5 as part of a three-team, seven-player trade, made his first appearance since a June 29 loss to the New York Mets in which allowed six runs in four innings. 

Lilly (4-6), who pitched a one-hitter and a three-hitter this season for the Yankees, didn’t allow a hit until John Flaherty singled to left with two outs in the fifth inning. He left after the first two batters reached in the seventh. 

“Fantastic,” Oakland manager Art Howe said. “And for such a long layoff, that was an outstanding performance.” 

In all, Lilly allowed three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. 

“I felt pretty good throughout the game,” Lilly said. “I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be out there, so I didn’t try to overthrow and I think that’s one of the things that was effective for me.” 

Chad Bradford, Mike Venafro and Billy Koch finished the four-hitter. 

Miguel Tejada had two RBIs for Oakland, which has won eight of 11. The Athletics are 7-1 against Tampa Bay this season, and have won 11 of their past 12 against the Devils Rays. 

Tampa Bay starter Ryan Rupe (5-10) lasted just 2 1-3 innings — allowing three runs, four hits and three walks — in his first start since June 19. The right-hander aggravated a right knee injury that landed him on the 15-day disabled list last month. 

“If I was guessing, it would probably look that way,” said Rupe, when asked if he thought the injury would put him back on the DL. “I tweaked it pretty good again. It’s frustrating. There’s nothing I can do about it. You keep your head up, and keep going.” 

Rupe, likely to undergo an MRI exam Tuesday, is the second Tampa Bay starter to be hurt in as many days. Wilson Alvarez reported arm discomfort Monday, one day after pitching just 1 2-3 innings. 

The Devil Rays have lost 10 of 11, and have a major league-worst record of 29-61. Tampa Bay has been shutout 11 times, tying Kansas City for the most this season in the majors. 

The latest defeat comes one day after Tampa Bay battled back from a 5-0 deficit against Seattle All-Star Freddy Garcia to tie the game before dropping a 7-6 decision. 

“Our bats were cold,” Tampa Bay manager Hal McRae said. “I thought we would have a good game today. I really did. I’m surprised we didn’t swing the bats better today.”


Mayor candidates seek endorsements

By Kurtis Alexander, Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Lunch dates and phone calls have begun to overwhelm mayoral candidates as they bid for support from their friends in high places. 

In a closely-watched political race pitting two-term incumbent Shirley Dean against 20-year Sacramento veteran Tom Bates, both campaigns acknowledge that political endorsements will be pivotal in the November contest in which slim voting margins are projected. 

The latest endorsement, expected to be made official July 27, comes from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who is expected to throw support behind Bates, Bates’ office said Monday. 

The two-term congresswoman has been popular with her Berkeley/Oakland constituency, especially in light of her recent voting record, which calls to question the war against terrorism. 

Lee’s office would not confirm its support of Bates, but noted the long-standing and positive relationship the congresswoman has had with the former state assemblyman. 

Mayor Dean said Lee’s endorsement of Bates comes as no surprise, and that the list of supporters falling into place on both sides has been predictable. Dean’s highest-ranking endorsement is state Senator Don Perata. 

“I’m working on endorsements but I’m just getting started,” she said. 

County Supervisor Keith Carson, state Assemblywoman Dion Aroner and Bates’ wife, Assembly candidate Loni Hancock, have also come out in support of Bates, his office confirmed. 

“I have a rather impressive lineup at this point,” Bates said. “This support is an indication of your respect and your effectiveness.” 

Bates has also picked up endorsements from former Berkeley Mayor Jeff Lieter, former UC Berkeley Chancellor Mike Hammond and current Alameda County School Board member Jacki Fox Ruby. Berkeley representatives from AC Transit, BART, East Bay Regional Parks and East Bay Municipal Utility District are also on board, he added. 

Dean has also picked up support from representatives of East Bay MUD and East Bay Parks in her young drive for endorsements. 

Beyond the endorsement battle, the mayor hopes her local track record and a strong support base will be enough for her to prevail in the November election. She noted that she sought no endorsements in her successful mayoral bid in 1998. 

Dean, who is known as the leader of Council’s moderate faction, takes what she calls a “more mainstream” approach to issues of housing, education, and redevelopment, and believes her middle-of-the-road position will fare well for her in the election. 

“I’m going to reach out to who I’ve always reached out too... those in the middle, not on the extremes of the right or left,” she said. 

Bates, who has garnered the support of Council’s more progressive faction, said the race is less about specific issues and where voters stand, but about leadership potential. 

A solid reputation for being “reasonable” and “smart” will transcend any position, he said. He expects to win support from moderate voters in the hills and the other more conservative pockets of Berkeley, as well. 

“These people know who I am, and know I’m not too radical,” Bates said.


Keep an eye on the lab

Irmi Meindl and Pamela Sihvola
Tuesday July 16, 2002

To the Editor: 

“Berkeley Lab found research fabricated” was the front page headline of both the San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Tribune on Saturday, July 13, 2002. “The discovery of two new elements was based fraudulent research, the second case of scientific misconduct revealed by the federal [Department of] Energy lab in three years.” 

In light of the above and in response to Elmer Grossman's scathing letter to the editor (Daily Planet, July 9, 2002), surely the community should not be criticized for expressing healthy skepticism about the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's monitoring, analyzing and reporting of Tritium emissions from the National Tritium Labeling Facility operations, which in the past few years have included the burning/oxidizing of radioactive mixed Tritium waste. 

 

Irmi Meindl 

Pamela Sihvola 

Berkeley


Lance Armstrong fails to finish first in Tour time-trial

By Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

LORIENT, France — Lance Armstrong isn’t the dominating force he used to be in Tour de France time trials. 

The three-time Tour winner recorded a rare second-place finish in Monday’s ninth stage, taking 11 seconds more than Colombian Santiago Botero to complete a wind-swept course through Brittany. 

Armstrong’s performance allowed him to move up six spots into second place overall, 26 seconds behind Spain’s Igor Gonzalez Galdeano. The Spaniard finished 19 seconds behind Botero. 

While the 30-year-old Texan remains the overwhelming favorite to win a fourth consecutive Tour, his rivals see the second-place finish as a dent in the Armstrong armor. 

“The Tour has changed — Armstrong isn’t as strong in the time trial as he was a year ago,” said Gonzalez Galdeano, who finished fourth in the stage to retain the overall leader’s yellow jersey. “The race has become more open.” 

Here’s a measure of Armstrong’s dominance in individual time trials: Since his first Tour victory in 1999, he had won seven of the last nine coming into Monday’s stage. Not counting two quick prologues, he was seven for seven. 

“The Tour isn’t monotone after all,” Armstrong said. “It’s not like everybody had said it was — there are other riders out there.” 

Monday’s stage marked the end of a flat, speedy first week full of crashes. The race now heads to the mountains, one of Armstrong’s other strengths. 

Armstrong dominated in the mountains last year, winning the Tour with a final advantage of more than 6 1/2 minutes. 

Tuesday is a rest day, when the riders fly down to southwestern France. The race resumes Wednesday with a 91.1-mile trek from Bazas to Pau. The Tour enters the Pyrenees on Thursday, for the first of six mountain stages this year. 

“We’ll now see if he’s as unbeatable as he once was in the mountains,” Gonzalez Galdeano said. 

Botero, of the Kelme team, clocked a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes and 18 seconds for the 32.24-mile loop through Brittany from Lanester to Lorient. It was the 29-year-old’s second stage victory.


State helps small businesses reduce energy costs

By Ethan Bliss, Special to the Daily Planet
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Energy-efficient lights save
$1,000 a year, program says
 

 

Since enrolling in the Smart Lights Program last November, Black Oak Books on Shattuck Avenue has saved the energy that three single family homes would use in a year. 

“It’s a no-brainer,” bookstore manager Nick Setka said of investing in the program. “It’s like asking people to invest $1,000 in their car so that they can save more than a third of their cost in gas. And we’re saving electricity, so it’s something good for the environment.” 

The nonprofit Community Energy Services Corporation of Berkeley runs the Smart Lights Program of Berkeley and Oakland. It is distributing $2 million that the state set aside last year for energy conservation programs for small businesses. All told the state allocated $700 million for businesses in California. 

The program offsets rising energy costs. In 2001, energy costs for small businesses rose 40 percent.  

“It’s simple from a client’s perspective,” said Neal De Snoo, an energy officer for Smart Lights. “Often, it’s hard for a small business to research or analyze their own energy efficiency. We bring a uniform program out to them.” 

Smart Lights is working with the California Public Utilities Commission. “The small business sector has not been a traditional target for energy rebate programs,” said Maria Sanders, program manager for Smart Lights.  

Smart Lights hires contractors to analyze which lights will be most efficient for each business. In addition, Smart Lights gives businesses a discount on installation and retrofitting, along with an estimate of how much money the business will save with the new lights. 

Savings for small businesses are estimated at about $1,000 each year. Typically, a business recovers the cost of installation in a year. 

The process was not complex for Kim Moore at Uncommon Grounds Gourmet Coffee in Berkeley. “They look at existing scenarios with regards to lighting, the possibility of switching lights and then help determine the net savings,” Moore said. 

Six months ago, Uncommon Grounds Gourmet Coffee on Seventh Street replaced many of its lights. “The savings have been significant,” Moore said. 

Typical upgrades include replacing traditional fluorescent and incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights. 

With a goal of consulting 31 businesses a week, the group is on track to saving businesses in the state more than $1 million. Sanders said. 

“Our goal of 1,000 businesses by the middle of next year is huge,” said Sanders.  

Berkeley or Oakland business owners interested in the Smart Lights Program can call 981-8955.


Not under god

Ken Norwood
Tuesday July 16, 2002

To the Editor: 

It is time to hear more from the WW II /”Greatest Generation” about “under God” being removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. I am 78 years wise, and in all my years and on back to the beginning of this country, “under God” was not in the pledge, until 1954 and the super patriotic McCarthy Era. I grew up reciting the pledge in the Boy Scouts, in my schools, and in the U.S. Amy Air Force — but our ideas on "God" remained separated, the way the founding fathers set forth — “separation of Church and State.” During WW II I suffered aerial combat, one year as a POW in Germany, earned the purple heart, and lost buddies to the Nazis. I also learned then to dispute the blatant dishonesty of the patriotic rhetoric that “God is on our side.” Now, in our post 9-11 rash of God imbued patriotism, there are those who wrap the our flag around their God, and defy the constitution. I entrust you all to contact your congress members and request that “under God” be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance — for once and for ever — Amen. 

 

Ken Norwood  

Berkeley


The Crucible center works to repair relationship with community

By Devona Walker, Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Berkeley promoter Eugene Cockerham Jr. is synonymous with the word swindler in the eyes of many city officials.  

Cockerham, a 31-year-old former bouncer, allegedly rented the space where gunfire broke at The Crucible arts center on Ashby Avenue July 6. 

Cockerham has not broken the law but he is believed to have misrepresented himself and breached a contract. 

“No one has made a criminal complaint against him,” said Berkeley Police Department Acting Chief Roy Meisner. 

According to The Crucible staff, Cockerham gave false identification and insurance policies when he rented the space.  

“We’ve been traumatized by them and threatened by them,” said Michael Sturtz, the executive director of The Crucible about Cockerham and the security staff he brought to The Crucible. 

The Crucible is a nonprofit that provides low-cost art classes and training to the community.  

“He told us that his event was going to be a gospel dance party and fundraiser for the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity,” Sturtz said. “We were also assured there would be no alcohol involved. And the main thing that he did that goes towards premeditation is that he said there would be no advertisement for the event. And as it turned out he had heavily fliered all the area high schools advertising a hip hop show.” 

It was estimated that at one point more than 1,300 people packed the 300-person capacity event. 

Sturtz said that Crucible staff made several attempts to stop people from entering the party after it had reached capacity, and that they tried to stop people from serving alcohol to minors, but they were threatened with physical violence by the security staff.  

In addition to the two people injured at The Crucible two weeks ago, city officials said that many of Cockerham’s past events have been plagued by violence. 

Just last May, a man was killed in Concord directly outside a Cockerham party at the Chronicle Pavilion. In the year 2000, there were two parties in Sunnyvale that ended in looting, violent clashes with the police and shootings. And back in 1996, there was another violent outbreak after a rap concert promoted by Cockerham. 

Investigators have verified that Cockerham has in the past presented property managers with false information about the events he promotes and about himself. 

City officials said Cockerham is a crook, but it wasn’t all his fault. 

“The guy was clearly a crook and the police know who he is,” said Michael Kaplan of Neighborhood Services for the city of Berkeley. “He routinely rents spaces under false circumstances. But [The Crucible] was in violation of their use permit which prohibits them from leasing a space to a third party.” 

Kaplan said the city has received many phone calls from neighbors and business owners concerned about the shooting. Yesterday, city officials talked about what to do. A follow-up meeting with Sturtz is scheduled for next week. According to Sturtz, The Crucible had not intended to rent to Cockerham. 

“It was not our intention to be renting out to a third party. It was our intention to co-sponsor an event with the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and to be doing something good for the community,” Sturtz said. 

Sturtz said he is looking to rebuild a relationship with the community and the city that has taken years to establish. 

“We want to leave this behind us, and we want to focus from here on out on what we do,” Sturtz said. “This has been a terrible tragedy from our perspective. I know there are a lot of people who are disappointed in us right now for being associated with a guy like this.” 

At present, Sturtz has no intention of pressing criminal charges against Cockerham or his security force. According to Lt. Cynthia Harris, the Berkeley Police Department was never made aware of any threats made by Cockerham.


Get down on one knee

Alan Estrada
Tuesday July 16, 2002

To The Editor: 

This is a reply to a Forum letter from the July 8, 2002, publication of the Berkeley Daily Planet. 

The rational, national pledge of allegiance by Gerta (Greta?) Farber of Berkeley is without-a-doubt better than the arrogant Manifest Destiny that continues to cut at our current culture and state of affairs here and abroad. Can we take the pledge further? How about, “We symbolically promise alliance to the United States of America via this flag, and for the public, which it represents, one land, with liberty to choose how much you want to make, with justice for most.” And I say we put both hands over our heart when we make this pledge, and kneel on one knee. 

 

Alan Estrada 

Berkeley


News of the Weird

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Jump was so much fun that
skydiver lost his teeth
 

 

ADDISON, Vt. — Carl Root wishes he’d kept his mouth shut. 

Root, 34, let out a war whoop and lost his false teeth at 9,000 feet during his maiden skydiving jump as a cameraman documenting his tumble to earth. 

“It’s a very expensive learning lesson,” said Root, who vows never to jump with his dentures again. 

By the time he landed, Root had narrowed the search for his wayward teeth to Addison County’s 770 square miles. But he wasn’t sure where to begin. 

“Chances of them ever being found are pretty slim,” he said. 

He called his dentist and ordered a new set. He got his new upper teeth Thursday after going without for nearly a week. 

Root said he was determined not to let a minor mishap like losing his $1,200 teeth spoil his day. He said he’s hooked on skydiving and plans to jump again in October. 

In the meantime, Root and his friends have run the videotape scores of times, and they never fail to get a good laugh at the sight of Root’s dentures tumbling from his mouth and setting off for the wild blue yonder. 

“If you slow it down,” said Root, “you can really see those teeth going.” 

 

You may no longer kiss the
bride if you are in jail
 

 

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A new bride who wed her jailed groom behind bars is accused of passing methamphetamine during the kiss that sealed their vows. 

Vivian Frazier, 32, is charged with transferring 2 grams of meth in a balloon to her new spouse, Jeremy Guinther, as they puckered up July 5 at the Vigo County Jail. 

A guard became suspicious after noticing that Guinther had a slight bulge in his cheek after the kiss, according to a police report. 

When ordered to open his mouth, the 26-year-old Guinther swallowed, police said. He later admitted to ingesting meth, the report said. 

The drug was later recovered during a hospital stay, police said. 

Frazier, who was arrested Thursday, was charged Friday with trafficking with an inmate. 

Frazier denied the accusation. “Why would someone give something that could kill them on their wedding day? It’s supposed to be a happy time,” she said. 

The alleged meth incident has led to a new rule at the jail: no kissing in weddings behind bars. 

“I’ve checked with the ministry. There’s no requirements for kissing,” Sheriff Bill Harris said. 

 

Telephone-toting transient
helps police nab burglar
 

 

LINCOLN, Neb. — A transient with a cellular telephone helped police catch some suspected cigarette thieves in the act. 

“I can’t recall another transient with a cell phone helping us solve a crime in circumstances like this,” Police Chief Tom Casady said. “It just goes to show you how much our culture has changed.” 

The arrests came less than a day after police said someone had committed smash-and-grab cigarette thefts at seven stores. 

The break came — literally — early Friday morning when the sound of shattered glass attracted the attention of the transient, whose name was not released.


Thanks for the help

Jane Stillwater
Tuesday July 16, 2002

To the Editor: 

On July 4, 2002, I went to Washington D.C., to serve a “3-day Notice to Perform or Quit” on the tenants of the White House. Said tenants were not living up to their lease agreement (the U.S. Constitution) and I, as citizen cum landlord, objected to their cavalier disregard for said lease agreement. 

Gingerly, I approached the fence around the White House, expecting at any moment to have Secret Service guys pounce on me and haul me off to jail despite my faith in the First Amendment (the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances). 

Gingerly, I scotch-taped my three-day notice to the fence. 

Nothing happened. 

I had done my civic duty - and had actually gotten away with it. Some nearby tourists even applauded. 

Happily, I turned away from the fence - thinking that perhaps there was some democracy left in the land after all. Happily, I turned to walk toward the mall where the big Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza was about to go off. At that exact point, I tripped on a piece of broken sidewalk and broke my arm. 

So. Where does the Berkeley Daily Planet fit into this melodrama? Read on: The DC emergency room said that the bone I broke didn’t need a cast. The Alta Bates emergency room said that the bone I broke didn’t need a cast. But the bone still hurt. Finally, in desperation, I wrapped a copy of the Berkeley Daily Planet around my arm (the July 7 issue to be exact) tied it up with an ACE bandage and voila, got instant relief. 

So, thank you for your help. And thank you also for having just exactly the right size and shape hometown newspaper to fit safely and snugly between my elbow and wrist. 

 

Jane Stillwater 

Berkeley


Residents who want to run for office can pick up nomination papers

By David Scharfenberg, Daily Planet staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Monday marked the first day for residents who want to run for a public office to pick up nomination papers at the City Clerk’s office.  

Potential candidates have until Aug. 9 to file nomination papers with 20 to 30 signatures from registered Berkeley voters.  

Several prominent incumbents and challengers who have announced their intention to run have not yet picked up papers. If an incumbent for a given office does not file by Aug. 9, the deadline for that office will be extended until Aug. 14. 

All told, 12 candidates took out papers. 

This year, the mayor, the city auditor, City Council districts 1, 4, 7 and 8, three Board of Education seats, and five rent stabilization board commissioner positions are open. The election is scheduled Nov. 5. All of the offices are four-year terms. 

According to the City Clerk’s office, the following is a list of people who took out papers by 5 p.m. Monday.


Man and woman shot, killed in Oakland Safeway

The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

OAKLAND — A man and woman were shot and killed Monday morning in a Safeway grocery store in what police called a murder-suicide. 

The woman was a manager at the store. Her name has not been released, but police spokesman George Phillips said she was in her 40s. 

The man, who was in his 20s, was also an employee at the store. 

The shooting happened at 9:20 a.m. in a rear storage area at the store on Grand Avenue. 

Phillips said police are still looking for a motive.


Man sentenced for fatal hit-and-run

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

OAKLAND — A man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday for a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed a 5-year-old girl and injured five others earlier this year. 

Osvaldo Urzua, 41, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded no contest in and Alameda County Superior Court to one count of vehicular manslaughter. 

The Jan. 15 accident left Ana Cerna, 5, dead and five other people on the side of the road suffering from various injuries. 

Urzua told police at the time of the accident that he sped from the scene when he saw a a patrol car because he did not have a driver’s license.


Lawyer convicted in dog attack remained unapologetic

By Kim Curtis, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Dog owner said victim
could have gotten away
 

 

SAN FRANCISCO — It seemed like everyone in the courtroom wanted to hear her apologize. 

The judge, prosecutors, family and friends of Diane Whipple, and a crowd of reporters who have followed the sensational dog mauling case for more than a year were waiting for Marjorie Knoller to express some regret Monday before she was sentenced for involuntary manslaughter. 

Prosecutor James Hammer nearly lost control, his voice strained with emotion, as he practically begged her to take responsibility and give Whipple’s family “some peace.” 

“Is there anybody else at all in the courtroom ... counsel, family members, parties, who wish to address anybody else,” asked Judge James Warren, watching and waiting expectantly. 

Seconds, then minutes ticked by. Knoller, a 47-year-old attorney with dark circles under her eyes and limp brown hair, jotted down notes, leaned over and whispered to her lawyer, but kept her silence. 

She didn’t even sign the pre-sentencing statement she submitted, the judge noted, possibly to avoid incriminating herself in a wrongful suit filed by Sharon Smith, Whipple’s partner. 

Citing her failure to apologize and the fact that she repeatedly perjured herself, Warren sentenced her to four years in the January 2001 death of 33-year-old Whipple, a college lacrosse coach who was ripped to pieces by two presa canario fighting dogs in Knoller’s presence. 

Her husband Robert Noel, 61, was sentenced to four years in prison on the same charges, involuntary manslaughter and keeping a mischievous animal that kills a person. With credit for good conduct and time served, the lawyer couple will spend about 14 months in state prison. 

“A life sentence won’t bring back Diane Whipple. Four years won’t bring her back,” Hammer said in court, his voice straining. 

“The only thing that would bring some peace, I think, to everyone who knew Diane is if this woman here, this lawyer ... who mocked Diane Whipple and blamed her for her own death, would stand up as a human being and say, ’I’m sorry. I wish I hadn’t done these things. I’m responsible and I’m ready to pay the price.” 

A Los Angeles jury in March also convicted Knoller of second-degree murder for her role in Whipple’s death. But Warren tossed out the murder conviction, saying that Knoller had no way of knowing the dogs would kill someone that day. 

His decision drew cries of injustice from Smith and prosecutors, who appealed. District Attorney Terence Hallinan said it should take about a year for the appeal to work its way through the system. 

The dogs, Bane and Hera, each outweighed the 110-pound victim. Knoller testified that she tried to fling herself between the animals and her neighbor to no avail — one of many statements the judge didn’t believe. 

Knoller denied responsibility and said Whipple could have saved herself simply by going inside her apartment. Noel suggested Whipple may have attracted the dogs’ attention with her perfume or even steroids. 

“She has been an attorney from day one,” Smith said Monday outside court. “She has not acted like a human ... and she’ll be an attorney to the end. She’s not going to say she’s sorry because she doesn’t want to admit, and I think she probably doesn’t even believe, that she’s responsible for this.” 

Hallinan said Monday it’s “probably true” that he will be unable to retry Knoller for murder because of laws against double jeopardy or trying a person twice for the same crime. He’s hoping the appeals court will reinstate Knoller’s murder conviction. 

The case stunned this city and made legal history when Smith won the same right as a spouse to sue for damages. The state Legislature enacted a law to allow wrongful-death lawsuits by gay partners. 

And, for now, a certain kind of justice has been served, prosecutors said. 

“It’s not everything we wanted,” Hammer said of Knoller’s sentence. “But they’ve now received some punishment.” 

Even Smith sounded resigned. 

“Would it have made a difference in the beginning for her to be sorry? Yeah, absolutely,” she said. “Today, I wouldn’t have believed it.” 


SF dog attack judge defends ruling

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO— The trial judge in the dog mauling case on Monday defended his decision to toss out a second-degree murder conviction against Marjorie Knoller. 

Prosecutor James Hammer and Sharon Smith, whose partner Diane Whipple was mauled to death, were among the critics who said that Judge James Warren had “stolen justice” from them by overturning the jury’s decision. 

“There was a statement made that this court has destroyed a sense of justice in the city of San Francisco,” Warren said before sentencing Knoller to four years in prison on the other conviction, involuntary manslaughter. 

“I certainly hope that is correct. I hope that is the result that I accomplished,” Warren said in an unusual soliloquy: 

“A sense of justice is precisely what this court will never become involved in creating. 

“A sense of justice is personal. It is infected with bias, prejudice, public opinion, public feeling, everything that the court should not be involved in. 

“A sense of justice was achieved by vigilante posses. 

“A sense of justice, I suggest, was achieved by Ku Klux Klan members and I daresay a sense of justice was achieved by people who flew airplanes into buildings not so long ago. 

“That is not justice. That is not justice, in fact. It is a sense of justice that is personal. And it is precisely that which this court will seek to avoid. We will administer justice, in fact, in this case without regard to whether anyone feels that a sense of justice on a personal level has been achieved.” 

Warren said he believed he had managed the trial well, given its sensational nature. 

Knoller and her husband, Robert Noel, were caring for the presa canario dogs that killed Whipple, a 33-year-old lacrosse coach, in the hallway of her upscale apartment building in January 2001. They enraged San Francisco by denying responsibility and refusing to apologize. 

“I wish I were superhuman judge but I am not. I do not have every one of the 60 or 70,000 cases dealing with second-degree murder at the tip of my tongue or the tip of my hand,” Warren said.


Judge bars California firm from placing pop-up ads at unauthorized Web sites

By Michael Buettner, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Firm considers appeal and
trial involving 10 media
companies opposing ads
 

 

RICHMOND, Va. — A California software company must stop delivering ads that pop up unauthorized when surfers visit the Web sites of several prominent media companies, a federal judge has ruled. 

U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton in Alexandria, Va., issued the preliminary injunction Friday in a lawsuit that 10 media companies filed last month against Gator Corp. of Redwood City, Calif. 

The plaintiffs, including parents of The Washington Post, The New York Times and USA Today, accused Gator of parasitic behavior. 

No date has been set for trial. 

Janet Collum, an attorney for Gator, said company officials were considering an appeal of the injunction, confident it will win the case at trial. “We believe strongly that the facts and the law are on our side,” she said. 

Gator, which runs an ad network that claims 22 million active users and 400 advertisers, produces pop-up ads that appear when computer owners with its software browse Web sites targeted by Gator’s advertisers. 

Internet users get Gator advertising software when they install a separate product for filling out online forms and remembering passwords. Gator also comes hitched with free software from other companies, including games and file-sharing programs. 

As users surf the Web, Gator runs in the background and delivers advertisements on top of what the surfer would normally get at a site. 

Terence P. Ross, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said the court injunction “is an indication that the judge thinks our case does have merit.” 

The publishers claim Gator’s practices lower their advertising revenue by directing Web surfers to competitors’ sites, hiding legitimate ads and offering deals that directly compete with those of the site’s paid advertisers. 

Ross said Gator’s practice also “causes a loss of content control,” noting that Gator ads might conflict with stories on Web sites and potentially create an appearance of journalistic bias or incompetence. 

But Gator likens its practice with having multiple windows from multiple applications open at once: To ban its ads would be to ban running instant messaging and a Web browser at the same time. 

Last year, the Interactive Advertising Bureau threatened to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission over Gator’s selling of ads that block out the banner ads displayed on other Web sites. 

Gator responded with a federal suit in California against the trade group, seeking the court’s declaration that the practice was legal. Gator ultimately agreed to stop the practice, and the lawsuit was dismissed. 


HP to stop using some infrastructure software lines

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

PALO ALTO — Technology giant Hewlett-Packard Co. announced Monday it is discontinuing software products for corporate networks that came with a $450 million acquisition in 2000. 

The decision affects nearly 500 people in HP’s “middleware” division in Mount Laurel, N.J., outside Philadelphia. Some employees will find work elsewhere in HP, and others will be laid off — though the cuts will be part of the 15,000 already being carried out because of the $19 billion acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp., HP spokeswoman Sherri Stuart said. 

The discontinued products are middleware, which is necessary for Internet-based business applications. Most of the technology came on board when HP bought Bluestone Software Inc. 

HP hoped the Bluestone products would invigorate its software business and support the company’s bid to offer a wider array of Internet services to large companies.


Alliance Entertainment gains larger share of company in Liquid Audio merger pact

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

REDWOOD CITY— Liquid Audio Inc. and Alliance Entertainment Corp. have modified the terms of their merger agreement, giving Alliance a larger share of the combined company. 

Internet music company Liquid Audio said it intends to conduct a self-tender offer, under which it will acquire 10 million of its shares at $3 a share in cash, in connection with the merger. 

After the merger, Liquid Audio stockholders will own 26 percent of the combined enterprise, and Alliance Entertainment stockholders will own 74 percent. 

Privately held Alliance Entertainment, which is based in Coral Springs, Fla., distributes CDs, videos, DVDs and games. 

In the agreement announced in June, Alliance was to receive 67 percent of the new company’s shares, and Liquid Audio was to hold the remaining 33 percent. Alliance will be getting less cash in the merger due to the self-tender and more equity. 

The agreement has been approved boy both companies’ boards. 

Liquid Audio’s board also considered Steel Partners’ proposal to purchase all of the company’s outstanding shares for $2.75 each and determined after consultation with its financial adviser that Steel Partners’ offer is “inadequate.”


Officers must follow guidelines for administering DUI field tests

By Colleen Valles, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court warned Monday that if officers administering field tests to people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol don’t follow the guidelines for administering them, the tests could eventually lose their reliability. 

The justices said police must closely follow rules governing use of breath test machines for the results to be admissible at trial and to ensure future results are reliable. 

“Compliance with the regulations ... guarantees ... quick and certain admission of evidence, eliminating laborious qualification, critical cross-examination, and the risk of exclusion,” Justice Janice Brown wrote for the unanimous court. “Furthermore, compliance will ensure that the tests retain their reliability, and thus their relevance and admissibility in the future.” 

The judgment stems from Steven Vaughn Williams’ 1997 arrest for driving under the influence. 

His lawyers tried to get the breath test results thrown out, saying the arresting officer did not conform to state requirements for administering the tests.


Surprise guilty plea by American-born Taliban Lindh

By Larry Margasak, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — John Walker Lindh, the young convert to Islam who left California to fight alongside the Taliban, pleaded guilty to two felonies Monday in a surprise deal that spares him life in prison and ensures his cooperation with terrorism investigators. 

Lindh faces a maximum of 20 years in prison under the agreement struck between prosecutors and defense lawyers after a weekend of negotiations that ended after midnight — just hours before he was set to appear for court hearing. 

“I provided my services as a soldier to the Taliban last year from about August to November,” Lindh told U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, recounting the two crimes to which he pleaded guilty. 

“During the course of doing so I carried a rifle and two grenades. And I did so knowingly and willingly,” he added. 

In accepting the plea, prosecutors foreclosed the chance for the public to see evidence in the first major trial scheduled from the war on terrorism. 

U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty said prosecutors had a strong case against Lindh but wanted to reserve “limited and very vital resources” for other terrorism cases. 

“This is a tough sentence. This is an appropriate punishment and this case proves that the criminal justice system can be an effective tool in the fight against terrorism,” McNulty said. 

Chief defense lawyer James Brosnahan said Lindh joined the Taliban because he was a devout Muslim. He never fired his rifle and never intended to hurt Americans, the lawyer said. 

“This is not Rambo we’re talking about here,” Brosnahan said. 

Lindh’s mother, Marilyn Walker, broke down outside the courthouse as she called him an “honest, kind, humble and a loving son.” 

Lindh was set to be tried Aug. 26, and now will be sentenced Oct. 4. 

Monday’s events leaves Zacarias Moussaoui, the Frenchman charged with conspiring with the Sept. 11 hijackers, as the lone marquee defendant awaiting trial on terrorism charges. His trial is to begin at the end of September. 

Lindh, 21, entered the courtroom wearing a green prison jumpsuit and offered a quick smile to his parents, older brother and younger sister sitting in the second row. 

The judge had planned to hold hearings this week on whether Lindh’s statements to investigators and the news media in Afghanistan should be kept out of his trial. 

Ellis, who learned of the plea deal shortly before the hearing began, opened court by discussing arrangements for the hearing before Brosnahan interjected, “There is a change in plea.” 

An hour later, Lindh entered his two guilty pleas and ended talks that went so late Sunday that Lindh’s lawyers had to make special arrangements to return to his cell so he could sign off on the deal. 

President Bush was told of a possible deal last Thursday, administration officials said. 

“I plead guilty,” Lindh told Ellis as he entered his plea to one count of supplying services to the Taliban, Afghanistan’s now-ousted strict Muslim rulers. To the charge of carrying explosives during commission of a felony, Lindh said, “I plead guilty, sir.”


Orange Cove man stabbed to death after fight on Kings River

By The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

REEDLEY — An Orange Cove man was stabbed to death after a fight escalated between two groups of men who were floating down the Kings River in inner tubes. 

Carlos Robledo, 32, a father of four, died at an area hospital an hour after the incident Sunday evening, police said. Police did not know what kind of weapon was used, but said it may have been a knife. A man hit with a crowbar also suffered minor injuries. 

Two men were arrested and police were searching for two others, Reedley Lt. Steve Wright said. Police would not release their names. 

Robledo, who was employed at an area packinghouse, was stabbed when he tried to stop the fight. 

A witness told police the men were arguing about gangs. 


Outgoing Miss California goofs at Fresno pageant

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

FRESNO — Miss Greater Bay Area finished second at the Miss California pageant — not bad, since a gaffe almost cost her a place in the finals. 

Nicole Lamarche’s name wasn’t called Saturday as one of the ten finalists because the outgoing Miss California read another contestant’s name by mistake, leaving Lamarche out of the competition. 

After officials realized their goof, Lamarche and Miss Greater East Bay, Rachelle King, hugged and traded places.


Judge refuses to disqualify DA’s office in Winona Ryder case

By Linda Deutsch, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

BEVERLY HILLS — A judge refused Monday to disqualify the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office from prosecuting actress Winona Ryder on shoplifting charges, rejecting her lawyer’s claim that prosecutors have been trying to humiliate her. 

Attorney Mark Geragos specifically accused a prosecution spokeswoman of making inaccurate statements to the press. 

But Superior Court Judge Elden Fox said he would be more concerned if statements were made by attorneys rather than their spokeswoman. 

Ryder did not appear in court Monday. 

The actress was arrested in December at a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills for allegedly possessing painkillers without a prescription and stealing nearly $6,000 worth of designer merchandise. 

Charged with second-degree burglary, grand theft, vandalism and possession of a controlled substance, Ryder could face more than three years in prison if convicted. 

Geragos said that district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons inaccurately described a security videotape from Saks early in the case, alleging that Ryder was seen snipping off anti-theft tags from merchandise. He said there is no such scene on the videotape. 

“You keep referring to a spokesperson. What are you ascribing to the attorneys in the office?” Fox asked Geragos. 

“I’m ascribing to them efforts to humiliate my client and stop her from having the right to a fair trial,” Geragos replied. He then added, “Most people believe the press spokesperson is speaking for the district attorney himself.” 


Neighbor arrested for stabbing deaths of family of four

The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

WHITTIER — Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 23-year-old man for the cruel stabbing deaths of a family of four, including an 8-year-old girl who was molested before she was killed. 

Investigators said the bloody bodies were dragged from room to room and that the victims suffered greatly before they died. 

Alfonso Ignacio Morales, who lived in the victims’ neighborhood, was arrested late Sunday, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Ray Peavy. 

Morales was described as an acquaintance of the family and investigators anticipate more arrests will be made, Peavy said. Morales was booked for investigation of multiple murder and was being held without bail, Peavy said. 

A preliminary investigation has determined young Jasmine Ruiz was “brutally sexually assaulted” before she was killed and at least two assailants carried out the slayings, said Deputy Bill Spear. 

The bodies of Miguel “Mike” Ruiz, 37; his wife, Maritza Trejo, 41; their daughter, Jasmine; and Ruiz’s 70-year-old grandmother, Ana Luisa Martinez, were found Saturday by Trejo’s 21-year-old daughter, investigators said. 

The bodies were found in separate rooms and the family’s Whittier house had been ransacked, with walls and ceilings damaged, furniture overturned and drawers emptied, Peavy said. 

No evidence of forced entry was found, Peavy said. The murder weapon has not been found. Also, no one in the neighborhood had reported unusual sounds, including barking by the family’s two dogs. 

“Whoever did this did not need to inflict so much pain and so much suffering to steal a couple of computers,” Peavy said. 

Investigators believe the family was killed some time Friday. 

Neighbors described the Ruizes as a likable, hardworking family involved in computer and audio equipment sales and repair. 

A computer was found in a neighbor’s backyard, and family members told authorities that computer equipment was missing from the home. 

Peavy said Ruiz had no criminal record and that the family was not involved in “anything out of the ordinary.” 

“My entire family has just been stabbed to death. My brother, my grandma, my baby niece, my sister-in-law,” Olga Ruiz, Miguel’s sister, told the Los Angeles Times as she loaded the family’s two dogs into her sport utility vehicle, stopping to hug neighbors who cried in her arms. 

Ruiz’s friend, tattoo parlor owner Mike Gutierrez, said he last talked to his friend of nine years about 9 p.m. Thursday. 

Guitierrez told the Times that Ruiz worked as a stereo technician at Sound City in Maywood, and fixed computers at home. Trejo also worked in the electronics business, selling audio equipment at a Pomona swap meet. 

“It made his day when he was able to fix (the problem),” Gutierrez said. “He saw the relief in their customers’ faces when he brought the computers back to life. I’m just flabbergasted, I’m having a hard time understanding it.” 

Neighbors said Ruiz fixed his schedule so he could care for his grandmother, who had suffered a stroke, and pick up Jasmine from school. 

“He was always there for his daughter, like a Mr. Mom,” said neighbor Lupe Rivera, 27. 


Yosemite trial opens with warning of ’horrific’ evidence

By Brian Melley, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

SAN JOSE — The prosecutor who wants to put Cary Stayner to death on Monday led jurors on a tour of the lives his victims led up to their degrading deaths. 

Prosecutor George Williamson said the charges were very straightforward — three counts of murder and a count of kidnapping, plus six additional allegations that could trigger the death penalty. But, he said, the facts of the case were twisted. 

“This evidence is going to be horrific,” Williamson told the panel of nine men and three women. “You’re going to remember this for the rest of your lives.” 

Earlier, Stayner’s lawyers lost a bid to get the Yosemite homicides trial moved again just before the final jury was picked. 

Despite publicity so intense that 96 percent of the jury pool said they had seen or read something about the case, Stayner should be able to get a fair trial in Santa Clara County, Judge Thomas C. Hastings said. 

The defense even gave the judge digital photos of the scene outside the courthouse Monday morning, where dozens of reporters and cameramen had gathered, and complained of a circus atmosphere. 

But Hastings said he agreed with a prospective juror who said “you have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know about this case,” and said he’s confident that jurors can set aside their opinions. 

Stayner is being tried for the February 1999 killings of Carole Sund, 42, and her daughter Juli 15, both of Eureka, and of Silvina Pelosso, 16, of Cordoba, Argentina. He is already serving life without parole in federal prison after pleading guilty to killing Yosemite park guide Joie Armstrong. 

Monday afternoon, Williamson told jurors that two factors doomed the trio of women. 

They arrived at Cedar Lodge outside Yosemite National Park on Valentine’s Day weekend when the motel was at capacity, so they were given rooms in its farthest reaches, leaving them isolated once other guests left. 

The second factor, Williamson said, was Stayner. 

“They crossed paths with this defendant,” and his need for control, power and sexual fantasy, Williamson said. “Little did they know they were going to be dead in little more than 24 hours. Never had a clue, zero, zip.” 

The jury of nine men and three women was chosen from a pool of 67 people selected after more than a month of winnowing. Four alternates also were chosen. 


Eldorado, N.M., is the nation’s solar-home capital

By Heather Clark, The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

ELDORADO, N.M.— It’s sizzling outside in the desert heat, yet Fred and Barbara Raznick are nice and cool inside their solar-powered adobe home without air conditioning or ceiling fans. 

The south side of the home is covered with windows that let sunlight in during the winter and keep it out in the summer. 

“You kind of feel like the house takes care of you,” Raznick said. 

According to the 2000 Census, this community of 5,700 people near Santa Fe has the nation’s highest percentage of homes heated mainly by solar power: 13.2 percent. Two Hawaiian villages rank second and third. 

The communities appear to be remnants of a stalled movement with its roots in the 1970s. According to the census, the number of U.S. homes heated primarily by solar energy fell from 54,536 in 1990 to 47,069 a decade later. 

Federal and many state tax credits for solar homes have long since dried up, and some suggest that poorly designed homes have hurt solar power’s reputation. The movement also has been hurt by the growing availability of natural gas. 

In New Mexico, with its often cloudless winter sky, hundreds of solar homes have been built in and around Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Los Alamos and Taos, where KTAO calls itself the only solar-powered radio station on the planet. 

Back in the ’70s, a billboard at the entrance to Eldorado had touted the new development as a solar community, attracting idealists who wanted to put solar power into practice and families looking for affordable housing. 

Homes were oriented toward the south to take advantage of the sun, which shines about 75 percent of daylight hours in New Mexico, where Santa Fe-area temperatures range from 20 degrees in the winter to the 90s in the summer. Many homeowners built the north sides of their houses into the juniper-dotted hillsides for better insulation. 

New Mexico’s solar push in the ’70s was also aided by technical help from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Solar builders were able to tell homeowners how much money they could save with solar or predict what would happen if, for example, windows were moved or curtains added. 

“We weren’t just shooting in the dark, but this was a new methodology behind us,” said Mark Chalom, a Santa Fe architect who designs solar homes. 

By the 1990s, however, Eldorado’s billboard had come down and solar-home construction had slowed to a trickle. 

“The natural gas line came out and that was the end of it all,” said Chalom said. 

Some solar homes have been built in recent years, but in nowhere near the numbers seen in the ’70s. As of 2000, Eldorado had 317 solar homes. 

Solar homes are active or passive or both. The Raznicks heat their home with a passive solar system, which does not use pumps or fans to move hot air or hot water around the house. Their water is heated by an active system that uses solar panels on the roof. 

Sunshine heats the tile floors and interior walls, including waist-high heat-absorbing masonry walls about a foot from the windows. The interior surfaces radiate the heat, much like a sidewalk on a summer evening, and the 2-feet-thick walls provide enough insulation to keep the home warm — or cool. 

“I love it in the winter,” said Raznick, a property broker. “The only time we really turn our heat on is in the bathrooms in the morning if I get up before the sun comes up and there’s a chill in the house.” 

The cost for solar heating, electrical and water heating systems varies widely based on location, the home’s size, type of appliances and how much electricity family members use. Experts said a well-designed passive solar home provides 75 percent to 80 percent of all heating. 

Monte Ogdahl, owner of New Age Energy Research 2000, said a solar system can cost between $20,000 and $75,000, depending on the age of the house, the amount of insulation and the number of energy-efficient appliances. 

Dorothy Schoech and Elizabeth Barnes moved to a solar home built here in 1993. Schoech said “it’s the only way to do it” — no furnace groaning, no hot air from a fan blowing on her. 

“You should take advantage of it on principle,” she said. “You’re not using our limited natural resources.” 


Chief says feds might not pay more for Medicaid

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

BOISE, Idaho — A top federal health official told the nation’s governors Monday not to count on support for one of their key priorities — getting Washington to pick up a greater share of the costs of providing health care to the poor. 

“We can’t always give you more money. I know that’s frustrating,” Medicare Administrator Tom Scully said at a meeting of the National Governors Association. “But we are trying to help you ... make the money you have go as far as you can.” 

Scully delivered the bad news as some 30 governors gathered in Boise in search of ways to cut costs and increase revenue to close budget deficits. 

They had hoped to get some immediate help from the Bush administration through legislation that would increase the amount the federal government contributes to Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor. 

A measure in the Senate would provide an additional $4.5 billion in Medicaid money over the next 18 months and a block grant of $4.4 billion that states could use for health care or social services. 

Governors consider the measure vital, noting that Medicaid spending increased 13 percent in the last fiscal year and now constitutes 20 percent of state budgets.


Bush raises a lot of money

The Associated Press
Tuesday July 16, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – President Bush demolished his own record for a single fund-raising appearance Monday, hauling in nearly $4 million for Alabama’s financially trailing Republican gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Bob Riley. 

The cash infusion could catapult Riley past Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman. According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Siegelman had $4.2 million, compared to $561,661 for Riley.


Opinion

Editorials

Oakland police hunting for parents of abandoned baby

Monday July 22, 2002

OAKLAND— Police were searching Sunday for the parents of a newborn baby who was found dehydrated but alive in a garbage bag in the city’s Fruitvale district. 

The infant was in stable condition Sunday at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, according to a hospital spokeswoman. The newborn girl was treated with antibiotics. 

Oakland police Sgt. Paul Figueroa said the baby was found just hours after birth about 2 a.m. with her umbilical cord still attached.  

She was wrapped in clothing and did not appear premature. 

Figueroa said the baby’s parents could have taken advantage of a new state law that allows parents to leave babies at any California hospital with no questions asked. Since they abandoned the infant, they could now face criminal charges. 


History

Staff
Thursday July 18, 2002

Today’s Highlight in History: 

 

On July 18, 1947, President Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act, which placed the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president. 

On this date: 

In A.D. 64, the Great Fire of Rome began. 

In 1792, American naval hero John Paul Jones died in Paris at age 45. 

In 1927, Ty Cobb hit safely for the 4,000th time in his career. 

In 1932, the United States and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway. 

In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began. 

In 1940, the Democratic national convention in Chicago nominated President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term in office. 

In 1944, Hideki Tojo was removed as Japanese premier and war minister because of setbacks suffered by his country in World War II. 

In 1969, a car driven by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha’s Vineyard; passenger Mary Jo Kopechne died. 

In 1984, a gunman opened fire at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in San Ysidro, Calif., killing 21 people before he was shot dead by police. 

In 1984, Walter F. Mondale won the Democratic presidential nomination in San Francisco. 

Ten years ago: Britain’s opposition Labor Party chose John Smith as its leader to replace Neil Kinnock. 

Five years ago: German businessman Thomas Kramer was slapped with a record $323,000 penalty by the Federal Election Commission for making illegal U.S. political contributions. All key systems on the Russian space station Mir returned to near-normal, about 24 hours after the already disabled spacecraft lost power. 

One year ago: President Bush, en route to an economic summit in Italy, stopped over in Britain as he began his second trip to Europe in a month. 

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Hume Cronyn is 91. Former South African President Nelson Mandela is 84. Former Sen. John Glenn, an Ohio Democrat, is 81. Skating champion and commentator Dick Button is 73. Author-journalist Hunter S. Thompson is 65. Movie director Paul Verhoeven is 64. Singer Brian Auger is 63. Singer Dion DiMucci is 63. Actor James Brolin is 62. Singer Martha Reeves is 61. Blues guitarist Lonnie Mack is 61. Actor Kurt Mann is 55. Singer Ricky Skaggs is 48. Rock musician Nigel Twist (The Alarm) is 44. Actress Audrey Landers is 43. Actress Elizabeth McGovern is 41. Rock musician John Hermann (Widespread Panic) is 40. Rock musician Jack Irons (Pearl Jam) is 40. Actor Vin Diesel is 35. Rock musician Tony Fagenson (Eve 6) is 24. Actor Jason Weaver is 23. 


History

Staff
Wednesday July 17, 2002

Today’s Highlight in History:f 

On July 17, 1981, 114 people were killed when a pair of walkways above the lobby of the Kansas City Hyatt Regency Hotel collapsed during a “tea dance.” 

On this date: 

In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States. 

In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, Spanish troops in Santiago, Cuba, surrendered to U.S. forces. 

In 1917, the British royal family adopted the name “Windsor.” 

In 1938, aviator Douglas Corrigan took off from New York, saying he was headed for California; he ended up in Ireland, earning the nickname “Wrong Way Corrigan.” 

In 1944, 322 people were killed when a pair of ammunition ships exploded in Port Chicago, Calif. Most of them were blacks who were loading the ships. 

In 1955, Disneyland debuted in Anaheim, Calif. 

In 1975, an Apollo spaceship docked with a Soyuz spacecraft in orbit in the first superpower link-up of its kind. 

In 1979, Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza resigned and fled into exile in Miami. 

In 1996, TWA Flight 800, a Paris-bound Boeing 747, exploded and crashed off New York’s Long Island shortly after departing John F. Kennedy International Airport. All 230 people aboard were killed. 

Ten years ago: A historic accord for deep cuts in tanks and other non-nuclear arms in Europe went into effect, nearly two years after it was signed by NATO and the now-defunct Warsaw Pact. 

Five years ago: Woolworth Corp. announced it was closing its 400 remaining five-and-dime stores across the country, ending 117 years in business.  

One year ago: Katharine Graham, chairman of the executive committee of The Washington Post Co., died three days after suffering a head injury in Sun Valley, Idaho. She was 84. 

Today’s Birthdays: Comedian Phyllis Diller is 85. Actor Donald Sutherland is 67. Actor David Hasselhoff is 50. Singer JC (PM Dawn) is 31. Rapper Sole is 29. 


History

Staff
Tuesday July 16, 2002

Today’s Highlight in History: 

 

On July 16, 1945, the United States exploded its first experimental atomic bomb, in the desert of Alamogordo, N.M. 

On this date: 

In 1790, the District of Columbia was established as the seat of the U.S. government. 

In 1862, David G. Farragut became the first rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. 

In 1918, Russia’s Czar Nicholas II, his empress and their five children were executed by the Bolsheviks. 

In 1951, the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger was published. 

In 1964, in accepting the Republican presidential nomination in San Francisco, Barry M. Goldwater said “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice” and that “moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” 

In 1969, Apollo 11 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on the first manned mission to the surface of the moon. 

In 1980, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan won the Republican presidential nomination at the party’s convention in Detroit. 

In 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died when their single-engine plane plunged into the ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. 

Ten years ago: Bill Clinton delivered his acceptance speech a day after winning the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s convention in New York. To the dismay and anger of supporters, Ross Perot announced he would not run for president. He later changed his mind. 

Five years ago: Hundreds of FBI agents, some handing out photos in gay bars and hotels, blanketed south Florida in the continuing hunt for alleged prostitute-turned-serial killer Andrew Phillip Cunanan, who was suspected of gunning down designer Gianni Versace. 

One year ago: South Asian nuclear rivals India and Pakistan failed to reach an accord on their half-century dispute over Kashmir, ending a landmark three-day summit on a solemn note. Russia and China signed their first friendship treaty in more than half a century. Jacques Rogge was elected to succeed Juan Antonio Samaranch as president of the International Olympic Committee. 

Today’s Birthdays: Rock composer-musician Stewart Copeland is 50. Dancer Michael Flatley is 44. Actress Phoebe Cates is 39. Country singer Craig Morgan is 37. Actor-comedian Will Ferrell is 35. Actress Rain Pryor is 33. Actor Corey Feldman is 31. Rock musician Ed Kowalczyk (Live) is 31.