In a small corner of West Berkeley, next to a noisy set of train tracks and behind a copper-colored gate, lies one of the most remarkable sites in the East Bay: a twisting, colorful community garden, overflowing with flowers, artwork and purpose. -more-

TUESDAY, APRIL 29 -more-

FILM -more-

SUPPORT FERRY -more-

It is a week of both celebration and anxiety for homeless advocates in Berkeley. -more-

The article “West Berkeley Struggles to Maintain Character“ (April 25 edition), by John Geluardi, was mostly accurate in its portrayal of the struggle of craftspeople, artists and manufacturers to preserve their important contributions to West Berkeley. However, it was incorrect in asserting that the upcoming public workshop “will, in effect, reconvene the West Berkeley Committee.” -more-

Less than two years after taking over the Department of Planning and Development, Director Carol Barrett submitted her resignation late last week to take a planning job in the city of San Marcos, Texas, her home state. -more-

The vision of the city of Berkeley moving steadily toward ecological health by way of urban redesign and honest assessment of the future is quite different from the vision of Berkeley championed by the O’Malleys’ recast Berkeley Daily Planet. The O’Malley vision aspires to maintain the memory and coziness of the past at all costs. It is the positions of privilege of the established property owners here, the building styles and small sizes acceptable to the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) and the desire of a number of vocal neighborhood activists to keep things from changing. -more-

During a tour of Bay Area churches Sunday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson stopped into Berkeley’s Mt. Zion Baptist Missionary Church to lend his support to local hotel employees who have been without a union contract for nearly two years. -more-

This weekend’s 34th anniversary celebration of the People’s Park riot wouldn’t have been the same without a little controversy. -more-

Forget about furs and champagne. Forget about the world-class singers and spectacular staging on the other side of the bay, and forget about spending $100 or more for a ticket. If you love opera, love the combination of music and theater, do not miss the Berkeley Opera’s flawed but exciting production of “Eugene Onegin” at the Julia Morgan Theater. -more-

Sally Streets, East Bay director emeritus of Berkeley Ballet Theater, received the Isadora Duncan Award for Sustained Achievement Monday night for her work as a dancer, choreographer, instructor and mentor. -more-

For more than a decade, a tiny little hole in the wall on north Shattuck Avenue has been hoppin’ and boppin’ to the melodies of live modern jazz. You won’t find it in the phone book under nightclubs, but the joint is jumpin’ nevertheless. The secret is in the cheese. -more-