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TUESDAY, JAN. 6 

American Red Cross Blood Services volunteer orientation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at 6230 Claremeont Ave., Oakland. Volunteers are needed to support the more than 40 blood drives held each month. Advance sign-up required, 594-5165. 

Dick Penniman’s Avalanche Safety Lecture from 6 to 9 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Fee is $20. 527-4140. For information on additional avalanche safety courses see snowbridge.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7 

Junior Skywatchers Club We’ll take a closer look at the earth’s moon through binoculars, and make moon calendars for the New Year. From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. tnarea@ebparks.org  

Meetup for Howard Dean at 7 p.m. at three Berkeley locations: Au Coquelet, 2000 University Avenue; Raleigh's (Generation Dean youth meeting), 2438 Telegraph Avenue; Sweet Basil Thai Restaurant, 1736 Solano Avenue. Free. Wheelchair accessible. 843-8724. 

Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition Volunteer Night Come help fold newsletters, enter prospective members names into our database, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1336C Channing. 549-7433. vc@bfbc2.org 

Walk with the Berkeley Path Wanderers Meet at Live Oak Park, Walnut and Berryman, at 10 a.m. 981-5367. 

Prose Writers Workshop We're a serious but lively bunch whose focus is on issues of craft. Meets 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut, at Rose. For information call 524-3034. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Sta- 

tion, corner of Shattuck and Center. Vigil at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Amnesty International Berkeley Community Group meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1606 Bonita Ave., at Cedar St. Join fellow human rights activists to help promote social justice one individual at a time. 872-0768. 

Berkeley CopWatch open office hours 7 to 9 p.m. Drop in to file complaints, assistance available. For information call 548-0425. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Hide-A-Way Café, 6430 Telegraph Ave. For information call Fred Garvey, 925-682-1111, ext. 164. 

Free Feldenkrais ATM Classes for adults 55 and older at 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut at Rose. For information call 848-0237. 

THURSDAY, JAN. 8 

The Ecocity Sessions with Richard Register A six- week course meets Tues. evenings introducing ecocity theory. Cost is $150. For information call Kirsten Miller at 419-0850. kleighmi@flash.net 

“Senior Services and the Philosophy of Geriatrics” with Ellen Bloomfield, Emeryville Senior Center, Aisha Boykin, Albany Center, and Lisa Ploss, City of Berkeley, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Albany Public Library, Edith Stone Room,1247 Marin Ave. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters. 843-8824. 

Snowshoeing Workshop for Women at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

East Bay Mac User Group meets on the second Thursday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. in the 3rd floor Community Room, Berkeley Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St. http://ebmug.org 

FRIDAY, JAN. 9 

Celebrate the Dream commemorating the 75th Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Martin Luther King III, son of the legendary civil rights leader, Allen Temple Men’s Choir, the Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church’s mass choir, and Dorothy Morrison signing “Oh Happy Day,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall. www.oaklandnet.com/celebrations 

Shorinji Kempo Martial Arts Demonstration at 8 p.m. at Emeryville Taiko Dojo, 1601-A 63rd. St., Emeryville. 815-0607. www.emeryvilleshorinji.org 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Peter Dumont, co-founder, Star Alliance, on “Comprehensive Approach to Peace.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $11.50 - $12.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020. 

Literary Friends meets at the North Berkeley Senior Center at 1:15 p.m. to discuss Vermeer’s art and tmes, and review “girl in Hyacinth Blue” and Girl with a Pearl Earring.” 232-1351. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com, 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. People of all traditions are welcome to join us. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church at Solano and The Alameda. Parking is free and is handicapped accessible. For information call Katherine, 525-5231. 

Berkeley Critical Mass Bike Ride meets at the Berkeley BART the second Friday of every month at 5:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Players at all levels are welcome. 652-5324. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 10 

“T’ween and Teen Adolescent Girls: Where Do They They Fit In?” Workshop sponsored by Bay Area Children First, from 1 to 3 p.m. at 1400 Shattuck Ave., Suite 7. Fee is $25. For information call 883-9312. 

Cerrito Creek Work Party Help remove blackberries and plant trees on Cerrito Creek north of Albany Hill. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Pacific East Mall, 3288 Pierce St., El Cerrito. For more information, email f5creeks@aol.com 

Broom or Brush? Help us remove invasive species to encourage native plants to flourish. Learn to identify common plants in our study area. Parents of Garden Club kids particularly invited to participate. Call to reserve tools and gloves. From 2 to 4 p.m. in Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. For information call 525-2233. tnarea@ebparks.org  

Kids Garden Club: Plant Protection It’s getting cold out there and the plants need our help. We'll learn about plant defenses, and revitalize our scarecrow. Registration required. From 2 to 4 p.m. in Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $3. For information call 525-2233. tnarea@ebparks.org 

Winter Pruning and Maintenance A class on the critical January tasks of tree and shrub pruning. At 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. 

Overeaters Anonymous will host a Newcomers Information Day from 1 to 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. For more information call 923-9491. 

Shamanic Journeying Meditation using earth’s power centers, plant and mineral energies, Native American medicines, and concepts and principles from different meditation traditions around the globe, at 9 a.m. Free. For information and directions call 525-1272. 

Yoga for Seniors at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St., on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. The class is taught by Rosie Linsky, who at age 72, has practiced yoga for over 40 years. Open to non-members of the club for $8 per class. For further information and to register, call Karen Ray at 848-7800. 

Pet Adoptions, sponsored by Home at Last, from noon to 5 p.m., Hearst and 4th St. 548-9223. 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 11 

Tibetan Buddhism, Bob Byrne on “The Final Words of Longchenpa” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, JAN. 12 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

Women’s Cancer Resource Center, volunteer training, every second Monday of the month, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 5741 Telegraph Ave. To sign up call Emily at 601-4040, ext. 109. emily@wcrc.org 

ONGOING 

Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League offers an exciting opportunity for East Bay girls in grades 1-8 to learn softball, make friends and have fun! Registration starts in January; the season runs March 6 through June 5. For information call 869-4277. www.abgsl.org 

Vista Community College Classes in Computer Software begins Jan. 15. Enrollment is open through Jan. 24. Register on-line at www.peralta.cc.ca.us or at 2020 Milvia St., or call 981-2863. 

Creating Economic Opportunities for Women offers trrining programs for immigrant and refugee women. Orientations held during January, at 655 International Blvd., 2nd flr. Call 879-2949. 

Acting and Storytelling Classes for Seniors, offered by Stagebridge. Wednesdays and Fridays, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., close to BART and AC Transit. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

Free Smoke Detectors for City residents and UC Berkeley students who live off-campus. Applications are available from the Environment, Health & Safety office of UC Berkeley, at any Berkeley Fire Station, or at the Fire Admin. Office located at 2100 MLK, Jr. Way. 981-5585.  

Free Energy Bill Payment Assistance The City of Berkeley has money to help low-income households pay their gas and electric bills. For applications contact the Energy Office at 644-8544. TDD: 981-6903. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/energy 

CITY MEETINGS 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Mon., Jan. 5, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers, Pam Wyche 644-6128 ext. 113. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

Solid Waste Management Commission Special Meeting, Wed. Jan. 7, at 7 p.m., at 1201 Second St. Becky Dowdakin, 981-6357. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/solidwaste 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., Jan. 7, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Ruby Primus, 981-5106. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/women 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7461. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/environmentaladvisory 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/publicworks 

Peace and Justice Commission meets Mon., Jan. 12, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Manuel Hector, 981-5510. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/peaceandjustice