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FRIDAY, MAY 28 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with John M. Letiche, Prof. of Economics on “An Appraisal of Putin’s Works.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $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 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center to discuss Remembering Mother and Father. 232-1351. 

Folk and Radical Politics Extravaganza, a benefit for Project X, with music by Folk This!, The Molotov Mouths, Samsara, and Sean Corkery at 7 p.m. at AK Press Warehouse, 674A 23rd St., Oakland. Donation $8-$20. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

Kol Hadash the Bay Area’s only Jewish Humanistic Congregation meets at 7:30 p.m. for Shabbat, the fourth Friday of every month, at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. 428-1492. www.kolhadash.org 

Signature in -Lieu of Filing Fee Opens for candidates running for local office in the City of Berkeley. Forms may be obtained from the City Clerk, 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. www.cityofberkeleyinfo.elections 

SATURDAY, MAY 29 

Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival along the sidewalks of Solano Ave. 527-5358. www.solanoave.org 

Berkeley Fire Station Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. at Station 6, 999 Cedar St. Tour the station, see a safety presentation, and historical display and enjoy hot dogs and cake. Families and children especially welcome. 981-5506. 

Bay Street Emeryville Arts and Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit Anna Yates Elementary School Library Project. 655-4002. www.baystreetemeryville.com 

Guided Trails Challenge Hike in Claremont Canyon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snakes alive, this canyon is crawling with them! Learn to identify the harmless and poisonous species of serpents in the area. To register call 525-2233. 

Meet My Tarantula From the ferocious to the friendly, meet the arachnid that you will learn to love. At 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. Registration Required 525-2233.  

Permaculture Community Design and Group Processes Integrating permaculture principles we’ll discuss working in groups, group consciousness and process, the art of facilitation, design charettes, networking strategies, community building exercises. Resources will be provided for connecting with and plugging into local permaculture community working groups. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $10 EC members, $15 general, no one turned away for lack of funds. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Berkeley Copwatch Know Your Rights Orientation Join us for this hands-on workshop including: what rights we have when we are stopped by the police, what to look for when someone else is stopped, keeping safe while observing police and more. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. This event is free, wheelchair accessible and open to the public. Donations accepted, but no one turned away. 548-0425. 

Vegetarian Cooking Class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $30. To register call 238-5004. compassionatecooks@yahoo.com 

SUNDAY, MAY 30 

Fire: Friend or Foe? From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Tour a fire engine, meet Smokey Bear, and learn how fire is fought, as we explore the dangers and benefits of fire. 525-2233. 

History and Mystery of Redwoods from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Find out more about California’s State Tree – its history, growth and presence in the Bay Area. We’ll also take a walk to the “moon.” 525-2233. 

Bay Street Emeryville Arts and Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit Anna Yates Elementary School Library Project. 655-4002. www.baystreetemeryville.com 

Holistic Meditation with Ramon V. Albareda, Jorge N. Ferrer, and Marina T. Romero, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 830 Bancroft Way. Cost is $50. To register call 650-520-1123. holisticmeditation@hotmail.com 

Tibetan Buddhism A panel discussion on “Mother of Wisdom, Explorations into the Prajnaparamita” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY MAY 31 

Beginner’s Birdwalk from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Tilden Nature Center. Spring migrants are here and the woods are filled with bright color and song. Binoculars available for loan. 525-2233. 

Environmental Education Center Open House, in Tilden Park, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a variety of activities, homemade ice cream, the great potato chip taste off, and more! 525-2233. 

Holiday Pond Plunge at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. With dip-nets and magnifiers in hand, we’ll discover the “denizens of the deep” – amphibians, insect larvae and more. For ages 4 and older. 525-2233. 

Pentecost: Sacred Circle Dance at 7 p.m. at St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church, 7900 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. StCuddy@aol.com 

Baby Yoga at 11 a.m. and Yoga and Meditation for Children at 2:45 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

Fitness for 55+ A total body workout including aerobics, stretching and strengthening at 1:15 p.m. every Monday at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5170. 

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. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 1 

Funding Excellence in Public Schools: New Possibilities A community forum with Michele Lawrence Superintendent, Berkeley Unified School District and Lawrence Picus, Director, Center for Research in Education Financing, University of Southern California School of Education at 7:30 p.m. at Longfellow Middle School Theater, 1500 Derby St. 

Breaking the Ice, with Doron Erel discussing how a team of Israeli and Palestinian non-climbers journeyed to the ends of the earth and reached the summit of an un-named peak in Antarctica, at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237, ext. 112.  

An Evening with Tom Sinestra on the best Bay Area outdoor adventures at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Baseball for Beginners and Diehard Fans with Jeff Lichtman, El Cerrito resident and author of “Baseball for Rookies.” Special guest will be former major league player, Pumpsie Green, the first African American to play on the Boston Red Sox. At 7 p.m. in the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7512. 

Phone Banking to ReDefeat Bush on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Bring your cell phones. Please RSVP if you can join us. 415-336 8736. dan@redefeatbush.com 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at its office 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Advance sign-up needed. 594-5165. 

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. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Sts every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. A project of BOSS Urban Gardening Institute and Spiral Gardens. For more information call 843-1307. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers We are a few slowpoke seniors who walk between a mile or two each Tuesday, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Farm parking lot. To join us, call 215-7672.  

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

East Bay Theology on Tap meets to discuss “The Catholic Imagination of J.R.R. Tolkein” with Fr. Ayres at 7 p.m. at 4092 Piedmont Ave. Contact Norah at St. Leo the Great 654-6177. 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2 

“Seeds of Deception” with author Jeffrey Smith discussing efforts to keep genetically modified foods out of Alameda County’s ecosystems and food supply, at 7 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Dinner at 6 p.m. Cost is $15. 843-0662. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. For information call Robert Flammia 524-3765. 

Fun with Acting class meets at 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Free, all are welcome. 985-0373. 

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 

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

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, JUNE 3 

Morning Birdwalk from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area. For information, or to reserve binoculars, call 525-2233. 

Community Meeting on the City Budget at 7 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Sponsored by the City Managers Office. 981-7000. 

Quit Smoking Class offered by the City of Berkeley for residents and employees on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Alta Bates/Herrick Camopus, 2001 Dwight Way. To register, call 981-5330. 

Environmental Monitoring in India with Madhu Dutta, Anne Leonard and Denny Larson. The 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal has led to community monitoring of local industries. At 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. www.ecologycenter.org 

Albany Library Annual Prose Night Open readings at 7 p.m. in the Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 20. 

Berkeley Farmer’s Market with all organic produce at Elephant Pharmacy parking lot, 1607 Shattuck Ave., at Cedar from 3 to 7 p.m. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Friends of Faith Fancher, luncheon and celebration of Faith’s life at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant, Jack London Square, in a benefit for the new Breast Health Center at Alta Bates Summit. For tickets and reservations call 204-1667. 

“Why You Should Give a Damn About Gay Marriage” with Davina Koltulski at 7 p.m. at Changemakers, 6536 Telegraph Ave. 655-2405. 

Tea Dancing and Dance Lessons with Barbara and Jerry August from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St., Costis $5, includes refreshments. 925-376-6345. 

“She Who Creates” A logo painting workshop with Shiloh McCloud from 6 to 9 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $40, materials $20. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

ONGOING 

Volunteer Coaches Needed for Twilight Basketball for the 13-15 year-old division on Saturdays at 5 p.m. beginning June 26. Please call Ginsi Bryant at 981-6678. 

Vista College Study Abroad in Mexico Live with a family and learn language skill in a two-week session in July in Guadalajara. For information please call 981-2917 or visit www.peralta.cc.ca.us/interntl/studyabr.htm. 

Berkeley Video and Film Festival is calling for entries. The deadline for last call is July 10. For information please call 843-3699. www.berkeleyvideofilmfest.org 

Radio Summer Camp, four day sessions from June 4 through Sept. 6. Learn how to build and operate a community radio station. Sponsored by Radio Free Berkeley. 625-0314. www.freeradio.org 

Interesting Backyards Do you have a really cool backyard project or unusual sustainable living practice that you’d like to share with others in the East Bay? Consider becoming a stop on the 5th annual Urban Sustainability Bike Tour on Saturday, July 31. Past sites have included features such as graywater systems, chicken coops, bee hives, solar installations and permaculture gardens. For information call Beck at 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Summer Reading Games at the Albany Public Library, from June 14th through August 14th. For information call 526-3700. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Council Agenda Committee meets Tues. June 1, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St., Sherry M. Kelly, city clerk, 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/agenda-committee 

City Council meets Tues., June 1, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers, Sherry M. Kelly, city clerk, 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., June 2, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Ruby Primus, 981-5106. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/women 

Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., June 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 2nd floor. David Orth, 981-5502. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/firesafety 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., June 3, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7461. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/commissions/environmentaladvisory 

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., June 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/housing 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., June 3, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/publicworks 

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