Features

Thursday Diners Contribute to AIDS Services 

Anyone looking to do well by doing good will have an opportunity Thursday when an array of East Bay restaurants—including 14 in Berkeley—are scheduled to contribute between a quarter to a half of your tab to the Center for AIDS Services. 

The Center, located at 5720 Shattuck Ave. in Oakland, provides meals and other services to HIV/AIDS patients and their loved ones. 

Dining Out for Life is one of the Center’s major fund-raising efforts. “Last year we raised $35,000 and this year we hope to raise $50,000,” said event coordinator Simona Fina. 

Some restaurants are participating for a single mealtime (breakfast, lunch or dinner), while others participate for two or more meals. For a complete list of participating restaurants, their addresses and benefit mealtimes, see the Center’s website at thecenter.org (note: not www) and click on the upper right hand corner of the opening page. 

Participating restaurants in Berkeley include Bar Ristorante Raphael, Breads of India & Gourmet Curries, Cafe Cacao, Cesar (which is donating half the tab), Filippo’s, the Claremont Hotel, Juan’s Place, Kirala, Le Theatre, Locanda Olmo, Meal Ticket, Pomegranate, Rick & Ann’s Unicorn Pan Asian Cuisine, Venezia, Venus and Zatar. 

—Richard Brenneman 

Firefighter Loses Cancer Battle 

Veteran Berkeley firefighter Bill Wigmore died last Wednesday after a six-month battle with cancer. Wigmore was 59. 

Wigmore joined the Berkeley Fire Department in 1977 and in 1983 he was promoted to apparatus operator. 

Assistant Chief Michael Migliore joined the department at the same time as Wigmore and remembered his co-worker as completely dedicated to his profession and his colleagues.  

“Bill would extend himself to anyone associated in the fire service,” said Migliore, who recalled Wigmore renting a room in his house to the daughter of a fire captain in Los Angeles until she could find her own place. 

Earlier this month, Wigmore’s fellow Berkeley firefighters shaved their heads to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

Wigmore is survived by his sisters Patti and Linda.  

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday April 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker church located at 1640 Addison St. 

—Matthew Artz