As Jimmy Rogers, 67, sat through a screening of the landmark civil rights documentary Eyes on the Prize Tuesday night in Berkeley, he was quick to point out the faces and names of the people he recognized from the time he spent in the south as a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. 

Next to him on the floor, David Ozer, 9, sat with his mom Sumi, watching footage of Montgomery bus boycott for the first time. 

Both Rogers, who now lives in Oakland, and Ozer, who came from Moraga, had gathered at the Berkeley house of Don Jelinek, a lawyer and civil rights activist, to watch the 14-part film which has been out of circulation for 10 years because of dispute with copyright licensing. 

Along with some 35 other people, they huddled around Jelinek’s desktop PC to watch a pirated digital copy as a way to protest the copyright laws and demand access to what they say is one of the most authoritative accounts of the civil rights movement. 

“I think our story needs to be told and we should have access to it,” said Rogers, who registered voters in Alabama along side Stokely Carmichael. “We should have some control over our history.” 

According to a story that first appeared in Wired News, the film’s production company, Blackside, Inc., has been unable to re-release the film because its temporary lease on copyrighted newsreel footage, photographs and songs, expired. Blackside is trying to raise the money needed to re-license them, but it’s slow going because the cost is high. One estimate put it somewhere around $500,000.  

The illegal screening in Berkeley was one of around 100 around the country that were organized in part by Downhill Battle, a non-profit based in Massachusetts which says its main purpose is to promote “participatory culture.” They had the idea after reading the article in Wired and posted a digital copy of the documentary on their website available for download through a peer-to-peer sharing technique called BitTorrent. That’s how Tom Hunt, one of the organizers of the Berkeley screening, got the copy shown at Jelinek’s house. 

The screenings, described by organizers as acts of civil disobedience, were meant to coincide with Black History month. 

Downhill Battle eventually took the file off their website after being approached by a lawyer from Blackside, but that didn’t stop the screenings across the country, as well as some internationally. Other screenings used copies of the documentary on file at public libraries. 

“I think probably the issue of the 20th century was race. The issue of the 21st century is going to be access to information,” said Bruce Hartford, a former staff member of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a co-organizer of the Berkeley event. “Without access to information, democracy is a myth.” 

Both Hartford and Jelinek belong to an organization called Bay Area Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement. After hearing about the screenings, they passed a resolution during their monthly meeting in support of the events and decided to have their own. 

“To us, knowledge is a human right every bit as important as the right to vote and the right to be treated with courtesy and respect. Therefore, we do not believe that reading, or viewing, or listening is, or should ever become, a crime. Nor should access to information become a luxury sold only to the wealthy,” part of the statement reads. 

After the screening, Rogers spoke, recounting several of the more harrowing events he participated in, such as the picket he marched to protest a segregated restaurant in Alabama. Even though he and others were met by a gang of counter-protestors wielding weapons, Rogers continued to picket and was eventually arrested.  

“I still feel that what I did wasn’t that significant. Other people gave their lives, like Martin Luther King,” he said. 

Next to him, David sat bug-eyed. He was shocked by the footage he saw of the murder of Emmett Till and the stories he was hearing. 

“This will be a good discussion point,” to say the least, said his mom Sumi.

Charging that the Lytton Band of Pomos acquired Casino San Pablo “the wrong way,” maverick Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain announced Thursday evening that he’ll hold hearings on a law that would reverse part of the tribe’s special status. 

According to the Associated Press, McCain will hold special hearings on the casino in the Senate Indian Affairs Committee which he now chairs and take up legislation by California Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein that would reverse an earlier law written by East Bay Congressional Rep. George Miller. 

California Assemblymember Loni Hancock, whose district encompasses San Pablo, welcomed the decision. 

“I fully support the hearings being held by Sen. McCain and I fully support the legislation by [Feinstein]” which seeks to reverse the tribe’s special status, Hancock said. 

A leading opponent of the casino proposal, Hancock said, “It’s great to hear that we’re finally going to sit down and have a serious conversation about urban gambling in California.” 

Feinstein’s legislation would nullify legislation by Rep. George Miller that bestowed a unique legal status on the tribe, allowing them to acquire the land under conditions that would ease the way to building a Las Vegas-style casino. 

Miller tacked on a rider to the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act of 2000, backdating the Lytton Rancheria of Pomos’ claim on land they purchased that year to 1988, making it immediately eligible for a tribal casino. 

McCain’s announcement came the day after the Lyttons’ presented San Pablo City officials and councilmembers with their first look Wednesday at plans for the downscaled casino the Lyttons plan to build at the site of their Casino San Pablo cardroom. 

The mayor, City Council and city manager have embraced the 2,500-slot gambling parlor as the only possible economic salvation for their city, which they say would be forced to disincorporate without it. 

The new plans don’t cut back on the number of slots negotiated between the tribe and the governor, but they do scale back the overall size of the building, which won’t have a separate showroom, swimming pool and other amenities. 

The 9.53-acre San Pablo site only obtained official recognition as a Lytton reservation last June 29, when Aurene M. Martin, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, issued the official proclamation. 

Nevada Democratic Sen. Harry S. Reid, sponsor of the initial federal legislation authorizing Indian gambling legislation, led the fight to reverse the Miller amendment in the 2001 Congress, charging that his law never intended for tribes to be allowed to run casinos on land that was out of their historic areas. 

Sen. Feinstein opposed the measure in the Senate, where it was strongly supported by Pennsylvania Republican Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter. 

Reid withdrew his opposition in October 2001, reportedly under pressure from Senate leaders eager to pass a funding bill for the Department of the Interior, according to stories in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Hancock said the case of Casino San Pablo demonstrates the fatal flaws in Proposition IA, the tribal gambling measure passed by California voters in March 2000. 

Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy warned at the time that the measure would open the gate to urban casinos in California, a claim the measure’s backers had denied.ú

The states’ leading toxics agency has ruled that Campus Bay poses “an imminent or substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or to the environment because of a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance.” 

The finding is contained in a 33-page site investigation order issued late Wednesday by Barbara J. Cook, the Berkeley-based regional branch chief for the State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). 

One of the first tangible results of the order will be a new fence going up around the site in the next 15 days marked by signs declaring “Caution: Hazardous Substances Area. Unauthorized Persons Keep Out.” 

The order also calls for: 

• Removal by April 30 of all contaminated marsh soils now stockpiled on the site along with any other sediments left there in 2004. 

• Repairs to the thin cement-and-shredded-wastepaper cap covering the 350,000 yards of contaminated ash and soil already buried on the site. 

• Thorough examinations of past site conditions and remediation efforts.  

• Preparation of a new site assessment to include toxins and contaminants now present on the site. 

• Risk and potential exposure assessments. 

• Implementation of a public participation program. 

Cook’s action comes just as Richmond City Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin is putting the finishing touches on a proposed Feb. 15 City Council resolution calling on the state to give the DTSC jurisdiction over all of Campus Bay as well as the seriously contaminated Richmond Field Station immediately to the west. 

“This order reinforces the urgency of the need for one agency alone to take the lead on both sites because of the profound nature of the toxicity,” McLaughlin said.  

“It’s an outstanding step toward figuring out what happened in the past, what’s actually there now, and whether remediation steps already taken are adequate,” said Sherry Padgett. 

The chief financial officer for Kray Cabling, Padgett works immediately to the east of the site and is a member of Bay Area Residents for Responsible Development, the group which has led the charge of more regulation. 

“They’re asking questions which should have been asked a long time ago,” she said.  

Ethel Dotson, a Richmond resident and a critic of Campus Bay, has already obtained 80 signatures from the community calling for formation of a Community Advisory Group, the public participation spelled out in DTSC regulations. 

Dotson is scheduled to present the list at the same Richmond City Council meeting that will consider McLaughlin’s resolution.  

“We welcome the DTSC’s action,” said Doug Mosteller, a project manager for Cherokee Investment Partners—the financial firm which has teamed with Marin County developer Russ Pitto to develop the South Richmond site and has proposed to build a 1330-unit housing project at Campus Bay. 

Noting that “the Campus Bay site is highly contaminated,” said East Bay Democratic Assemblymember Loni Hancock, “to protect human health, the site must be cleaned up to a standard that fits the proposed use. 

“The public must have confidence in DTSC to make decisions which will lead to an acceptable cleanup. If DTSC needs a site investigation to achieve this goal, then I support this order.” 

The toxics agency’s order reinforces the suspicions of activists who have been protesting the conduct of ongoing work at the site, as well as the plans to build housing directly above a buried hazardous waste dump on the site. 

According to the order, “The public at risk includes those people who work at or visit the site, those who excavate into contaminated soil or groundwater, and/or persons who otherwise come into contact with, inhale or ingest contaminated air, soil or groundwater” including those who work at business near the suit, San Francisco Bay Trail users and pupils and employees at the Making Waves program.  

Cook said there was no evidence of any exposure for the Making Waves pupils, who meet in a building at the site that formerly served as offices of one of the chemical manufacturing companies that heavily polluted the site over a hundred-year span that ended in 1997.  

The widely acclaimed after-school program is immediately adjacent to the 350,000-cubic-yard concrete-and-paper-pulp-capped hazardous waste dump where Cherokee-Simeon Ventures proposes to build the high-rise condo complex. 

“A lot of things happened at the site, and we need to know what are the current soil and water conditions so we can understand how the site can be restored to a condition safe for development,” Cook said 

The order spells out levels of contaminants identified at the site before the commencement of site remediation efforts. The new DTSC order requires a reexamination of the site to determine the present levels of hazardous substances. 

“This order is the first step,” said Cook, “looking at what’s there now and creating a basic risk assessment. We don’t know what remains and what’s been hauled offsite.” 

The original survey found well over 100 hazardous compounds, including:  

Soil Contaminants 

• Arsenic, which is both a lethal poison and a carcinogen at lower doses, at levels up to 3.4 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s baseline standards defining the threshold for classification as hazardous waste. 

• DDD, a pesticide and a poison when consumed, at levels up to 2,800 times the baseline. 

• DDT, an illegal pesticide and known carcinogen which can be fatal when swallowed, at up to 2100 times the federal baseline. 

• Lead, a metal linked to a whole range of neurological problems in children and a poison with wide-ranging effects, at up to 18 times the federal baseline. 

• Toxaphene, a lethal insecticide which can be absorbed through the skin as well as swallowed and inhaled, at levels up to 46 times the baseline. 

Water Contaminants 

• Arsenic, at up to 4,500 times the acceptable groundwater baseline. 

• Chloroform, a carcinogen lethal at high exposures, at levels up to 340 times baseline. 

• Copper, a possible carcinogen and potential cause of birth defects, at up to 29.2 times baseline. 

• Cis-1,2-dichloroethene, a chemical with anesthetic properties, at up to 146.7 times baseline. 

• Mercury, a neurotoxin known to cause birth defects, at up to 2.9 times baseline. 

• Nickel, a metal known to cause cancer and other health problems, at up to 54 times baseline. 

• 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, a carcinogen, narcotic and liver poison, at up to 120 times baseline. 

• Tetrachloroethene (also known as perchloroethene, or PCE), a known carcinogen and live and kidney poison at levels of up to 20 times baseline. 

• Toluene, a known carcinogen used in paints, thinners, nail polish and adhesives and other products, at levels 47.3 times baseline. 

• Tricholorethene (TCE), a known carcinogen that also causes liver and kidney damage, at 1,140 times the water table baseline, and 

• Vinyl chloride, which causes both cancer and genetic mutations, at 108 times baseline. 

No definitive site examination has occurred since the ensuing cleanup of upland soils under the supervision of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, which handed site jurisdiction to DTSC following scathing criticisms at a Nov. 6 legislative hearing called by Assemblymember Hancock. 

The board retains supervision over the cleanup of the site’s shoreline marsh area and for all of UC Berkeley’s Field Station immediately to the west.  

“A lot of the insecticide and other hot spots have been cleaned up,” said Doug Mosteller, engineering project manager for Cherokee, a venture capital firm that specializes in restoring contaminated sites—so-called brownfields—to conditions where they are safe for development. 

Cherokee and Simeon Properties, a development and property company headed by Russell Pitto of Marin County, created Cherokee-Simeon, a special purpose company for brownfield development in the Bay Area. 

Cherokee-Simeon is also the developer picked by the UC Berkeley to develop the university’s seriously contaminated Richmond Field Station as a corporate/academic research facility featuring two million square feet of new buildings. 

DTSC will have the final say on whether the housing project can go through. 

Asked about the future of site, Mosteller said Cherokee-Simeon is concentrating on the current site remediation efforts and will consider development projects only after the DTSC’s concerns are fully addressed. ›

Berkeley’s newest landmark—technically a structure of merit—poses a potential hitch in plans to build a square block of condos at the University Avenue gateway to the city. 

Prominent Bay Area architect Irwin Johnson designed the building at 2040 Fourth St. in 1946 as the offices of the long-defunct Irwin (no relation) Paint Company. Later, the building was home to the Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts of America and currently houses Celia’s, a Mexican restaurant. 

The Landmarks Preservation Commission decision to designate Celia’s, reached on a 5-4 vote Monday, throws into question the future of a quarter of the site Urban Housing Group (UHG) had picked for a four-story condominium project that would include retail and parking on the ground floor. 

UHG, a recently formed development arm of Marcus & Millichap Co., the nation’s largest real estate investment brokerage, co-founded by University of California Regent George M. Marcus, specializes in developing mixed use housing projects at transportation hubs. 

Landmarks commissioners split on applications to landmark two buildings now standing in the block between Addison Street and University between Fourth Street on the east and the Union Pacific railroad tracks on the west. They approved protection for Celia’s, but denied it for Brennan’s Irish Pub at 720 University Ave. The pub remains as the same business for which the boxy green structure was originally built in 1959 by Berkeley contractor-turned-tavern-keeper John Brennan. 

UHG Director of Devel opment Daniel M. Deibel, backed up by his own architectural historian and allies, argued against both designations, as did his attorney, Rena Rickles of Oakland, whose court stenographer took down a verbatim transcript of the hearing. 

Rickles and her ste nographer are getting to be regular features at the commission, and were there on behalf of Louis Rossetto during the battle over landmarking the Wurster Cottage in January. 

Landmarks commissioners refused to designate Brennan’s, whose owners opposed the landmarking and declared that such a move would mean the end of their business. Margaret Wade, founder John Brennan’s daughter, said the building would require expensive structural renovation and equipment replacement were it forced to remain in the old building. 

Commissioners Lesley Emmington and Patricia Dacey argued for the Brennan’s landmarking, but the seven other commissioners voted against designation. 

For the Celia’s designation, chair Jill Korte, and commissioners Robert Johnson and Carrie Ols on joined Dacey and Emmington in voting for the designation. 

Commissioners Aran Kaufer, Fran Packard, Steven Winkel and James Samuels voted against both designations. 

Landmarking proponents, most drawn from the immediate neighborhood, offered strong sup port for both designations, but it was Brennan’s—a neighborhood as well as a citywide institution—that drew the most emotional support. One fan of the hofbrau-style tavern with the central bar said three generations of his family had been eating at Brennan’s since it first opened. 

Only one speaker mentioned patronizing Celia’s, which has operated in the building in 1977 and is now preparing to move to Hayward, said property owner Stephen Block, who decried the designation of his property. 

The structure of merit designation bestowed on Celia’s is a step down from the full landmark designation, but imposes the same strictures on development. 

Commissioner OIson moved for the lesser designation—one that would be eliminated under the commission’s proposed revisions to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Ordinance now pending before the city Planning Commission. 

Block, who owns the entire block, said he had been blindsided by the designation proposals, since no one informed him when he bought two properties from the railroad four years ago that any properties on the block other than the previously landmarked railroad station had any potential landmark status. 

Preservationist Gale Garcia, who wrote the landmark applications for both structures, said that to her, Brennan’s will always be a landmark in the classical sense of the term, a prominent symbol of both Berkeley and the neighborhood. 

“Celia’s is a beautiful building,” she said, one she has loved since her childhood in the 1950s, when it was known as “the Boy Scout Building.” 

Garcia also wondered why a major developer would be willing to risk so much money “in a market already glutted with multi-unit housing, much of it going vacant.” 

Reached at his San Mateo office late Thursday, Deibel said he’s no t sure what his next step will be. 

“We haven’t finalized any decisions, though I expect we’ll do that sometime next week,” he said.›

Barring a sustained surge in the stock market, city leaders said Tuesday that Berkeley’s employee pension fund will continue to drain the city’s budget. 

“The outlook is pretty dim,” City Manager Phil Kamlarz said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. 

CalPERS, the state retirement system, is closely tied to Wall Street, and when stocks tanked four years ago, Berkeley’s contributions to its employees’ pension funds soared to make up the difference. For police officers, Berkeley went from paying CalPERS four percent of the officers’ base salary in 2001 to a projected 40 percent this year. The price of pension contributions for non-uniform employees has jumped from nothing in 2001 to 17 percent of base pay this year. 

In all, the city estimates it has lost $78 million from the stock collapse, said David Hodgkins, the acting director of human resources. 

This past year, CalPERS netted a 16 percent gain, but that alone won’t be enough to reduce the city’s pension costs, according to a city actuarial report. Assuming that CalPERS meets its expectations of a 7.75 percent investment return through 2011, Berkeley will have to pay CalPERS about 15 percent of wages for each non-uniformed employee, 40 percent for police and 28 percent for firefighters. 

“We can deal with a cost of around 10 to 15 percent,” Hodgkins said. “But when it gets to 30 percent, it’s devastating.” 

Historically, Berkeley faced similarly high rates in the early and mid 1980s. By the 1990s the city’s pension contributions averaged 13 percent of wages for all employees. 

“It will take years of double digit returns to reduce employers contribution rates,” CalPERS spokesperson Darren Hall said Thursday. He said to smoothe the rates which employers pay, CalPERS is spreading this year’s gains over several years. 

Contribution rates which the city pays police and fire department employees have soared, Kamlarz said, in part, because of improved benefits the city offered them in their latest contract allowing them to retire at age 50 with an annual pension equal to a percentage of their highest salary, calculated by multiplying three percentage points by number of years worked. At the time when the state retirement system was well funded, Kamlarz said, CalPERS approved the new retirement deal the city made. 

“They were saying our contribution rates would be zero for 30 years and if we took the new benefit they would be zero for 20 years,” Kamlarz said. With a surge of early retirements for safety officers stemming from the new benefit package, CalPERS raised the city’s rates.  

Numerous cities find themselves in the same bind as Berkeley, although several comparable cities are paying somewhat lower rates, according to CalPERS. While in 2004 Berkeley faced rates of 12.6 percent for non-uniform employees, 40 percent for police and 25 percent for fire; Palo Alto paid 6.44 percent for non-uniform, 21 percent for police and 33 percent for fire; Davis spent 3 percent for non-uniform, 20 percent for police and 22 percent for fire; and Santa Cruz paid 10 percent for non-uniform, 31 percent for police and 39 percent for fire. 

How to compensate for past mistakes was the crux of Tuesday’s meeting. A report from city staff showed that Berkeley has $157 million in unfunded liabilities—obligations which the city doesn’t have enough cash in the bank to cover if they came due all at once. 

In a typical year, payout of unfunded liabilities comprises between $20 to $30 million of the city’s budget Kamlarz said. 

Last year the city paid $1.6 million out of its general fund to 87 disabled former employees who had registered for the now discontinued Supplemental Retirement Income Plan. Established in 1983 as a benefit option to withdraw the city from Social Security, SRIP included a disability benefit that city leaders said gave employees a “huge incentive” to claim disability.  

Under the plan, which was discontinued in 1988, city employees who qualified for a disability benefit, received a monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the highest average salary until death. Employees contributed $324 a year to the plan—not nearly enough to cover the long-term costs, Kamlarz said. 

In more welcome news, the council praised staff for reducing the number of hours and money lost to workers compensation claims. Last year, Berkeley lost 46.7 days due to injury down from 89.5 days the year before. 

“There’s really been a dramatic improvement,” said Councilmember Gordon Wozniak. 

Councilmembers, however, questioned why over the past three years 132 employees filed three or more claims apiece. 

As part of its effort to reduce claims, the city and several unions have agreed on a program to give union employees $535 apiece if their union meets goals for reducing claims. Hodgkins said at the current rate of injury claims affected employees appear set to win the bonus. 

Casino Resolution 

With local television news crews filming, councilmembers took turns blasting casinos as they passed a resolution opposing the gaming industry moving into the Bay Area, specifically targeting a proposed mega-casino in San Pablo. 

The only member not to support the resolution was Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who abstained on the grounds that opposing any casino in the Bay Area was too wide-ranging a statement.

The battle of the Berkeley Bowl—centered on the proposed cloning of the city’s most popular grocery store—heads to yet another round before the city Planning Commission. 

Commissioners voted Wednesday night to add a final Feb. 23 public comment period to cap off a series of combined public workshops and hearings to determine if and how the Berkeley Bowl expands to a second location in West Berkeley. 

Owner Glen Yasuda is seeking amendments to city zoning codes and the West Berkeley Plan to allow him to build a new, larger store and warehouse at Ninth Street and Heinz Avenue. 

Before he can build, Yasuda needs official approval to breach existing regulations and policies that would keep the land zoned for manufacturing and light industrial use. 

While all sides generally agree that a supermarket is needed in West Berkeley, where residents now must leave the area to buy groceries, they divide into four main camps. 

The first offers basically unqualified support for the expansion; the second is willing to accept the proposed site but wants more action to address what they feel will be serious traffic problems; and the third says no to the location altogether and asks for no reduction in manufacturing/industrial property, while the fourth is willing to accept the site but not rezoning and plan amendments. 

But many nearby business owners and others fear that traffic generated by the larger, freeway-close Bowl would cause serious delays on thoroughfares, increase the demand for already scarce parking spaces and imperil the children who attend the Ecole Bilingue (often called the French School), which is located at Ninth and Heinz catercorner from the proposed site. 

A new face at the Wednesday’s workshop was Chris Barlow, a co-owner of much of the land immediately adjacent to the site. 

Though city codes mandate notifications to nearby property owners and residents, Barlow said he was unaware of the expansion plans until he read about them in the Daily Planet. 

“This is the first meeting we’ve been noticed of as a major stakeholder,” Barlow said, “which I find very unfortunate.” 

While he supports the Bowl’s move, he said he has serious concerns about increased traffic which could block access to his own property, which includes the Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker building at 914 Heinz Ave. 

Eugenia Thomson, a traffic engineer hired by Urban Ore, said that traffic estimates reached by the Berkeley Bowl’s consultant underestimated the probable traffic flow by not accounting for the store’s power to draw a clientele from across the East Bay and beyond. 

Traffic to and from the store could total half again as much as the store’s consultants predicted, she said. 

A collection of other major property owners offered strong support for Yasuda’s plans, while former Planning Commissioner Zelda Bronstein, accompanied by attorney Stuart Flashman, had challenged the city’s handling of the proposal. 

John Curl, a West Berkeley cabinetmaker who is a strong supporter of maintaining West Berkeley as a district for light industry, manufacturing and artists, urged the commission to hand the proposal over to the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB). 

ZAB could then issue a conditional use permit that tightly restricts the use of the site and would revert to the current zoning if a new owner bought the site and abandoned or attempted to alter the permitted use. 

Curl also pointed out that city staff had failed to note that an actively used 8,500-square-foot warehouse on the site can’t be demolished unless the owner provides for a similar use elsewhere, which city Planning Director Dan Marks admitted might pose a problem. 

Marks said his staff will prepare a report examining the comments and documents presented during the hearings and making policy recommendations in time for the Feb. 23 meeting. Whatever action the commission takes, the proposal will then head to ZAB for more hearings, fine tuning and final action—barring an appeal, a near-inevitability in controversial land use matters in Berkeley of late. 

t

For months they stood before the City Council trading barbs and doing battle.  

On Monday proponents for doing the utmost to protect Berkeley’s 75,000 feet of creeks and creekside homeowners intent on defending their property rights sat side-by-side to begin the task of forging a consensus on one of Berkeley’s most heated turf wars. 

The first meeting of Berkeley’s 15-member Creeks Task Force Monday ushered in at least the appearance that a cooperative effort is underway to regulate city creeks. 

“I think we all have the city’s best interests at heart,” said Task Force member Diane Crowley, a member of Neighbors on Urban Creeks. “This is not a conspiracy of eco-people versus property owners.”  

Neighbors on Urban Creeks sprang into existence last year after the city released maps showing that an estimated 2,400 homeowners fell under a little-understood ordinance, passed 15 years prior, regulating creekside properties. Notice that their homes fell under the law’s jurisdiction came in the mail to property owners, many of whom never knew that a creek flowed below their home. 

The law, as amended in 2002, forbade homeowners living within 30 feet of an open or underground creek from adding on to their homes, or, as interpreted by city officials, from rebuilding them in the event of an earthquake or fire. Those who live above creeks that have been re-directed away from their natural course are not regulated under the ordinance. Last November, the council amended the law to allow homeowners to rebuild after a disaster, but left other outstanding issues to the task force.  

For the next two months the task force will gather information and present a work plan and budget for council approval to devise a new ordinance. Among numerous issues, they will have to determine which waterways qualify as creeks, how far from open and culverted creeks should development be curtailed, whether creeks that run underground should continue to be regulated as stringently as open creeks, how to best safeguard creek habitat and whether to propose a new creek map to ease the uncertainty for some homeowners who do not definitively know if their property falls under the ordinance. 

Currently residents must pay for a study to determine the exact location of underground creeks. 

Finding a way to balance the concerns of homeowners and creek advocates has proved a difficult task in several California cities. After two years of staff work, Santa Barbara tabled its recommendation for an ordinance when homeowners opposed the proposal they feared would impinge on their property rights. The Santa Barbara plan called for limits on new construction up to 100 feet from a creek bank. 

“Not having public input from the get-go was our big mistake,” said Jill Zachary, Santa Barbara’s Creeks Restoration Manager. 

However, pending litigation will keep the Berkeley task force silent on perhaps the biggest creek issue in the city: Who should pay for the millions in needed repair work for the city’s network of collapsing underground culverts? The city maintains that culverts built in the first three decades of the 20th century by private developers underneath private homes are the responsibility of the homeowners. But neighbors whose homes are at risk of falling into a damaged culvert have filed suit claiming the city must pay for repairs because many culverts are part of the city’s stormwater system. 

The task force also faces monetary constraints. Ditching the city’s current rule—prohibiting new roofed construction within 30-feet from the centerline of a creek—for one based on actual information about the watershed in question would require the city to hire consultants at an estimated cost of $600,000. 

Many task force members have a personal interest in the outcome of their work. Seven of the 15 members live within 30 feet of a creek and are affected by the current rule.  

Each member of the council made one appointment to the task force. Neighbors on Urban Creeks, a collection of creek advocate organizations, and four city commissions also appointed members.  

Four task force members have strong ties to creeks organizations: Phil Price, appointed by the Parks and Recreation Commission; Joshua Brandt appointed by Councilmember Max Anderson; Doug Goetting, appointed by Councilmember Dona Spring; and Tom Kelly, appointed by the creeks groups. Neighbors On Urban Creeks account for three members on the task force: Jana Olson, appointed by Betty Olds; Crowley, appointed by Gordon Wozniak; and Mischa Lorraine, appointed by the group itself. 

While other task force members might not have been active during last year’s battles, most are no strangers to water issues. Mary Selkirk, appointed by Councilmember Linda Maio, is a water policy analyst with a focus in watershed preservation; John Roberts, appointed by Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, works as a landscape architect specializing in creek restoration; Richard Harris, appointed by the Community Environmental Advisory Commission, is the water conservation manager for East Bay Municipal Utilities District; Carlene St. John, appointed by the Public Works Commission is an engineer; and Helen Burke, the commission chair appointed by the Planning Commission, worked for the Regional Water Quality Control Board. 

“The most important thing is that everyone understand where we’re coming from,” Burke said. She proposed that next week task force members detail their key issues and then invite experts to lecture on different subjects. 

Assuming the council approves the task force’s work plan and budget, it then has until May 2006 to propose a new ordinance. If it fails to meet the deadline, the rules barring new construction within 30 feet of a creek that runs underground will expire. 

For Jana Olson, who lives in a historic home beside Codornices Creek, the creek ordinance needs to respect the value of her home as much as the creek that flows beside it. “Berkeley is a city with a rich architectural heritage that adds to the ambiance of the city,” she said. “The current ordinance is written as if it’s dealing with a city that isn’t already developed.” 

Olson and others in Neighbors on Urban Creeks had opposed formation of the task force out of fear that councilmembers and commissions would stack it with creek advocates. Despite the congenial tone of Monday’s meeting, Olson said it was too soon to determine if the commission was balanced. 

Selkirk said the current creek law has served the city well, but she would like to see rules relaxed for homeowners living above culverted creeks. Jon Streeter, a partner at the law firm of Keker and Van Nest, appointed to the task force by Mayor Bates, also raised concerns about the rules for culverted creeks. He thought the current law only needed to be tinkered with to make it more equitable. 

Brandt, the restoration director for Berkeley’s Urban Creeks Council, opposed reducing restrictions on culverts. “Creeks and culverts are all part of one system that we can’t control even if we think we can.” 

Most of the task force members interviewed were hesitant to state policy preferences. “A good number of us don’t fully understand what the ordinance really does,” said Roberts, who lives beside Blackberry Creek. 

“An empty mind is a wonderful thing to have,” said Ted Gartner, Councilmember Darryl Moore’s appointment to the commission. “I don’t know anything about creeks. I have no agenda on this issue.” 

The Creeks Task Force will meet next at 7 p.m. Monday at the North Berkeley Senior Center. The group will meet each Monday until April 14, with the exception of Feb. 21.L

During a week when steel foundation girders had only reached the second of floor above the gaping construction hole on Center Street in downtown Berkeley, Vista College president Judy Walters announced the kickoff of a five-year $10 million fundraising drive for money projected to be used in Vista’s new headquarters. 

Named Foundations of Our Future: Keeping the Promise of Excellence, Vista’s drive kicks off on March 19 with a $50-a-head performance “conversation” with actor Danny Glover at the Berkeley Repertory Theater. Another $50 buys entrance to a smaller affair with Glover following the performance. 

Walters told Peralta Community College District Trustees this week that the first 18 months of the campaign, which will include a digital film festival and the Milvia Street Literary Magazine launch in May, will culminate with a grand opening of the new college during the summer of next year. 

Walters said in a following interview that the date of the actual move from Vista’s Milvia Street headquarters and surrounding facilities to the new campus is still being debated. Originally set for January of next year, the move may be delayed until the first of the summer. 

“Construction was slightly set back over the winter because of the rains,” Walters said. “And since we will be moving classes, we think it would be very disruptive to transfer over in mid-semester.” 

Whatever the date, Walters said she was excited that the college will be tripling its present square footage when it moves onto the new campus. 

The actual square footage of the new building—one floor below ground and four above—will be 160,000, but only 88,000 of that will be initially usable by the college. 

“The state sets the assignable square footage based on your anticipated enrollment,” she said. “Normally a college is not allowed to build so much over that enrollment as we were, because they are on campuses that allow them to put up new buildings as they need to expand. We aren’t. Because our campus is in the middle of downtown, with buildings all around it, this is the maximum we’re going to be able to build, and it was more cost effective to put it up all at once.” 

Walters said that until enrollment at the college grows into all of the new space, excess square footage will be leased out to tenants. 

Walters told Peralta Trustees this week that she thought $10 million was a modest goal, given what she has seen other local colleges accomplish. “The president of Mills College raised something like $150 million in one year for Mills, so I think what we proposed is just a modest beginning,” Walters said. “It’s doable over a five-year period.” 

Of the total goal, $2.1 million is earmarked for furniture and equipment for the new campus building since, according to Walters, “the state gives some money for that purpose, but not enough.” Another $2.6 million will be set aside for scholarships and programs, such as the publication of the Milvia Street Literary Magazine, the Digital Arts Film Festival, and various ethnic festivals. The remaining $5.3 million will be used for specialized equipment in the hi-tec areas of the college’s program. 

Aside from sponsoring fund-raising events, the college is seeking contributions from individuals and corporations. 

Peralta Trustee Nicky González Yuen praised the effort at this week’s trustee meeting, saying, “I hope it becomes a model for the district for private fundraising.” 

›

Motorists speeding down Telegraph Avenue, beware. Officer Bob Rollins and, on occasion, his partners are lurking on side streets, their radar guns firing. 

Wednesday afternoon found Rollins, a Berkeley motorcycle officer, on Carleton Street where he has stationed himself for the better part of the last month. 

“If I find a place where I see a lot of violations, I’m going to stay there until they stop,” he said. 

Rollins’ work on Telegraph, just blocks from Willard Middle School, hasn’t just aggravated lawbreakers. 

“There are sirens going on all day long,” said Thomas Cooper, a Telegraph restaurant owner. 

What angered Cooper most was that the sign alerting northbound motorists that they are approaching a school zone is partially blocked by a tree. 

“Obviously they have to enforce the law because there’s a middle school here, but instead of bleeding money out of people they could do something about the signage,” he said. 

Despite a new sign warning drivers that fines are doubled in the school zone surrounding Willard, Lt. Bruce Agnew said the rule was not yet in effect while city and county officials hammered out accounting procedures.  

Last October, the City Council approved double fine zones for the five school campus determined as the most dangerous for students walking to class: Willard, Malcolm X Elementary, Berkeley High, Berkeley Alternative, and Longfellow Middle. 

Once the double fine rule is in effect, Agnew said police would more actively patrol the school zones. One day last week, he added, all five Berkeley traffic officers performed a sting on Telegraph between Ashby Avenue and Dwight Way citing drivers for numerous violations, including speeding, failing to yield to pedestrians and making illegal U-turns or left turns over double yellow lines. 

Not everyone around Telegraph was upset to learn of the stepped up traffic enforcement. “It sounds like a good idea to me,” said Patricia Dacey, a member of the Willard Neighborhood Association. “Bad drivers and middle school kids don’t mix.” 

Pam Webster, a member of the school district’s traffic safety committee, also supported stepped up enforcement near Willard. “Although I haven’t seen the individual incidents, in theory enforcing traffic laws will make streets safer for pedestrians.” 

Officer Rollins said he came to Telegraph after a woman he pulled over in a different neighborhood told him about bad drivers on the street. Just today, he said, someone he pulled over said a lot of people were running red lights at Woolsey and Telegraph. “That’s where I’m going to go next.”

OAKLAND ANIMAL SHELTER 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Kudos to Matt Artz and the Daily Planet for being among the first to write about the systemic abuses at the Oakland Animal Shelter (Feb. 8-10). Across California, similar abuses against animals are being carried out at our taxpayer funded animal shelters. As recently as 1999, our local animal shelter was described as “Berkeley’s dirty little secret” by an employee. It took political will, citizen action and staff buy-in to complete the transformation we now see at Berkeley’s little cinderblock building on Second Street. 

The word shelter means “a place of refuge.” But in California’s municipal animal shelters, run mostly by law enforcement agencies, that description is laughable. The lesson we can take from Oakland is this: Police departments should get out of the business of running animal shelters—now. Cities need to forge stronger cooperative agreements with local non-profit humane organizations, and politicians should be listening harder—to the citizens who have been yelling about these abuses for years, and to the staff who work in these death houses, who are sick and tired of covering for bad management and political inaction. It isn’t nice to plunge a needle full of fatal drugs into healthy animals.  

Civilian management, transparency in operations, a safe working environment for staff, citizen oversight, and a commitment to end pet overpopulation through spay neuter instead of euthanasia—these are the lessons—when will we ever learn? 

Jill Posener 

• 

FIREARM AT SCHOOL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Daily Planet’s account of the expulsion of a Berkeley High School student for bringing a firearm to school in her backpack raises troubling questions about the facts, and about school officials’ response to the discovery. In concluding the student did not intend to use the weapon, the officials appear to have accepted stories of the student and father at face value. Campus safety required more.  

The father’s claim of entrusting the teenager with a firearm to safeguard the weapon strikes me as an incredibly poor choice for a parent to make. But I don’t believe it happened that way myself. The student’s story of depositing the weapon in her backpack, and then forgetting about it, strikes me as equally undeserving of belief as the father’s story. If she had not shown the weapon to other students in some way, they would not have known of its presence inside the backpack. As for not intending its use, a firearm can be used by its mere display without discharging the bullet. “Speak softly, and carry a big stick.” 

District officials with responsibility for campus safety should have viewed the situation from the perspective of the community which this student’s actions endangered. Even if the excuse offered were not fabricated, the student’s actions showed extreme disregard for the resulting danger to others. As presented in the paper’s columns, the district officials’ sympathy appears misdirected. 

John McDougall 

• 

GET IT IN WRITING! 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Dear residents of the Derby Street/MLK neighborhood: Regardless of the outcome of the debate regarding closure of Derby Street, I can’t emphasize strongly enough that you get in writing some kind of agreement about the use of the new ballpark facilities. 

I live adjacent to the Ohlone Park ballpark. In the late ‘70s before its existence, I worked for five years with city officials and a neighborhood group to create the kind of park we wanted. It was to be a peaceful, quiet green area in the heart of the flatlands. Since the ballpark was an afterthought and it did not fit within the model of the type of park agreed upon, we were promised that it would only be used for neighborhood use and small pick-up games. Signs were posted stating “No League Play.” 

Beginning in the late ‘90s, the Little League suddenly started to appear. For another five years, I struggled with five different agencies and nine different individuals to restore the “No League Play” policy. It is only thanks to Marc Seleznow (now director of parks) that we currently have a moratorium on future growth of ASFU programs in our park. BUT—we still have spring and fall soccer and softball practice five days a week, making parking and quiet activities impossible in this neighborhood. 

Mr. Doug Fielding is to be commended on his dedication to youth sports programs, but let me assure you that he has no respect for promises made or for the concerns of the residents in the communities that adjoin ballparks. 

Carolyn Sell 

• 

DERBY STREET 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Residents of Berkeley who do not live in the East Campus area may well wonder why they should be concerned about the controversy over the proposed hardball field (see op-ed page exchange in recent editions of the Daily Planet).  

The answer: If, despite the protests of the overwhelming majority of neighbors, this field goes through, the city and the School Board cannot help but regard it as carte blanche to do what they want in any neighborhood in Berkeley. That is the real issue here: Does the city and the School Board have the right to force a non-essential public facility on an unwilling neighborhood that has already made a major public contribution (In this case, by being the site of the East Campus and the Farmers’ Market)? 

Residents who think it is not a good idea for the city and School Board to be given such carte blanche should write or phone their councilmember and state clearly and firmly: If the member votes for the closing of Derby Street (and hence for the hardball field) the resident will vote for the defeat of the councilmember when he or she is next up for election. 

Berkeley residents, beware: They’re coming for your neighborhood next. 

Peter Schorer 

• 

APOLOGIES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I want to offer my apologies to Terry Doran if any of my comments on the Derby Field seemed “inflammatory,” certainly not my intention.  

I must also correct his assertion that “both writers constantly refer to ‘a member of the school board’ without giving a name. I can only assume they are referring to me.”  

I have searched the published copy of my commentary and find no such statement, no reference to any individuals except the Daily Planet writer Allen-Taylor, and my City Council representative, Max Anderson, both of whom I name. Furthermore, I do not know Mr. Doran, nor, to my recollection, have I ever seen him or heard him speak. 

However, his error is unimportant, since he goes on to say, “We also do not want anyone to build a ‘fenced, locked, hardball field with night lights and electronic sound system.’” Assuming that the use of the pronoun “We” means that he speaks officially for the entire School Board, it seems clear that I got it all wrong. 

No lights means no night games. No fence means no hardball. No regulation-sized hardball field means no need to close Derby. In other words, no problem. 

My thanks to Mr. Doran for correcting my misunderstanding. My thanks to the Daily Planet for printing his official statement for the entire community to read. 

Dorothy Bryant 

• 

SPECIAL INTERESTS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Your one-sided commentary page on closing Derby Street for a hardball field illustrates how this special interest group of sports enthusiasts have been able to shut neighborhood interests out while advancing their back-door plans. Mr. Doran insists that he has no such agenda, yet he (and others) write a commentary piece attacking my neighbors for even questioning the closure of a city street in an already overly crowded neighborhood. So called “meetings” held were nothing more than rallying events organized by the very architects eager to build and profit from these plans. They came with plans drawn long before any neighbors were included. Does this sound like healthy community inter-action to anyone? If you are so community minded, Mr. Doran, why have you no respect for neighborhoods? Our neighborhood is already littered, congested, noisy and getting more so as time goes on. The school district cannot even maintain the area around King Child Development Center now. We have had to deal with rats and unkempt grounds for years; calls to BUSD maintenance have been unreturned. Why should we trust that you would suddenly recognize your responsibility after a field is built? 

Additionally, Mr. Doran knows very well that night games and bright lights will come next; he’s not about to be honest with us quite yet. He’s learned, in his many years as a seasoned politician, how to get his foot in the door. As neighbors of East Campus, we look to the City Council to again show our neighborhood support in keeping Derby Street open. The school board should be ashamed for not understanding that respecting community includes respect for neighborhoods. 

Michael Bauce 

EDITOR’S NOTE: What the letter-writer refers to as a “one-sided” op-ed page was actually a response to a series of previously published commentaries from neighborhood opponents of the Derby Street plan. We have published every letter we’ve received on the topic in an attempt to air all sides of the issue. 

• 

CORRECTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

David Snippen may wish to deny it, given the company he keeps, but he did indeed apologize publicly for the behavior of Sherry Smith, the previous chair of the Arts Commission, after she angrily tore up hundreds of fliers in the “arts district.” Many others witnessed his public apology. 

The Pepper Spray Times, which takes great pride in its accuracy, will be sure to note for the record Snippen’s subsequent reversal, his enthusiastic support for flier destruction, and his clarification of free speech policies in the “arts district”. As for my “privileged” background, I do feel privileged to be of mountain Appalachian heritage, and to have been born in what many consider to be a slum in East L.A. Snippen’s excuse for making assumptions about my background, when I called and asked him about it, was that the writing was just too good. 

Carol Denney  

AKA Grace Underpressure, 

Pepper Spray Times 

• 

BANK SCHEMES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Regarding your Feb. 4-7 editorial (“How Wells Fargo Took Betty Bunton’s SSI Money Before She Died”): The PBS Frontline program about credit cards that aired this week (and can be accessed online) dealt very explicitly with the current scams and excesses being perpetrated by the banking industry and went on to explain how this was possible. There were two significant court decisions paving the way for this. One allowed rates established in one state to be applied to transactions within another state even though that state’s law forbids such application. The other permitted fee imposition with no caps. The program went on to establish that the office of the comptroller of the currency within the U.S. Treasury Department has total regulatory power over federal banks, but is disinclined to reign them in even when malfeasance is called to its attention. The program includes a conversation with New York’s Elliot Spitzer (my hero) affirming his own frustration with these abuses. 

I am not saying that this program goes directly to Ms. Bunton’s issue, but it provides the context for it. 

In passing, I want to aver that I am a devoted reader of the Daily Planet, and of your editorials. 

Marilyn Talcott 

• 

MORAL BANKRUPTCY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Becky O’Malley is outraged by Wells Fargo’s alleged misuse of the late Betty Bunton’s bank account, but Ms. O’Malley is not particularly upset about a government which gives SSI checks to homeless people and does nothing to ensure that that the recipients do not spend the money on alcohol and illegal drugs. Ms. O’Malley fails to address a couple of obvious questions: Why doesn’t the federal government require drug testing of SSI recipients before sending them checks? If drug treatment had been readily available, would Betty Bunton have voluntarily enrolled in and completed a treatment program? Anybody who bothers to make even a cursory examination of the scientific literature on substance abuse treatment will learn that client non-compliance is the number one obstacle to implementing successful treatment programs. Liberals and progressives must accept the reality that that much of the money spent on the homeless will be wasted if federal and local programs do not apply a strong does of coercion. You can’t blame Wells Fargo for the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of current government homeless programs. 

Eric Tremont 

• 

CALIFORNIA MONTHLY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As I am quoted in Gray Brechin’s generally accurate and useful exposé of recent events at California Monthly, since 1923 the official alumni magazine of the University of California at Berkeley, I would like to correct a couple of understandable misapprehensions.  

The Editorial Advisory Committee to the magazine (now dissolved), which I chaired for the past three years, was never a standing committee of the California Alumni Association, and had no official status either in its by-laws or the minds of its officials. In fact, just last summer the CAA ended the official status of all of its alumni-volunteer committees, both statutory and ad hoc—some of them after many decades of service—in order to focus decision-making power in a small, more efficient number of salaried staff, supported by a few elected officials.  

Our committee, made up primarily of respected professional journalists with major magazine experience, and spanning the political spectrum, was formed at the request of former editor Russell Schoch, and our critiques of each issue and of the magazine’s policy in general were directed specifically to him. Our goals were to insure that what we regarded as the highest journalistic standards were maintained by the Monthly—we criticized its contents almost as often as we praised them—and to serve, insofar as possible, as a guardian of the magazine’s editorial independence and integrity against what we occasionally regarded as misguided and threatening attacks of readers from both inside and outside the Alumni Association and the university. We were also able to take a stand, on occasion, against prior censorship of the magazine’s contents by CAA or university officials.  

But because of our ad hoc, editor-advising status, there was no reason for CAA Executive Director Randy Parent to consult with or inform us about his decision to fire Mr. Schoch. As Mr. Shoch’s direct supervisors, Randy Parent and his deputy Mark Appel were acting within their rights in dismissing him, for whatever reasons they choose to offer. As it turns out, all seven members of the Editorial Advisory Committee—UC professors W. K. Muir and Cynthia Gorney (and myself), and professional editors and reporters Tracy Johnston, Mark Gladstone, Charles Petit and Tim Reiterman—disagreed with the decision to fire and the manner of firing Mr. Schoch, whose work as an editor and spokesman for Cal over almost thirty years we greatly respect. We have received many letters of support for Mr. Schoch and the Monthly from UC faculty and alumni. Some of us (like Mr. Brechin) have severe misgivings about the new, profit-making, general-interest magazine (“from Cal but not about Cal”) intended to replace the California Monthly, proposed and to be edited by Mr. Schoch’s former assistant.  

But members of former editor Russell Schoch’s former Advisory Committee cannot formally criticize the decision of Randy Parent and Mark Appel to fire our founder, since we had no official standing in their eyes.  

David Littlejohn  

Professor Emeritus of Journalism  

Kensington 

• 

KARL LINN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Karl Linn’s life was focused on creating beauty as well as community, by envisioning peaceful spaces. I feel fortunate to have known him for a short time. He was the first community member to introduce himself to me as a newly appointed arts commissioner, extending an invitation to participate in the beautiful Ohlone Greenway Dedication ceremony. The Ohlone Greenway is an extension of his original work, the Peralta Community Art Garden, which houses sculptures and gardens that are created by loving hands and thoughtful people. I will never forget the air of inclusiveness that permeated the event and how wonderful that felt.  

In the Peralta Garden after the event, Karl’s passionate dedication to his work was as evident as the twinkle in his eye, as we shared the Native American inspired soup. The multi-colored peace pole with its various colored flags flew overhead, reflecting the diversity of the group gathered below and the convictions that he lived by, melding diversity and beauty by creating peaceful spaces.  

Karl enjoyed promoting cultural awareness and enhancing community engagement on many levels. His work is a testament to the inclusion possibilities of Public Art Projects when they include historic, artistic, educational, and humanitarian aspects. He enjoyed specifically recognizing and involving all people who were related in any way to the projects he was working on. Their lives were then enriched by the beauty, art, and appreciation of living things within the community. He made a particularly dedicated effort to include the California Native American community in his last project on the Ohlone Greenway. As a Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibway tribal member, I am especially appreciative of his inclusive invitation. 

I, as well as many other community members, will treasure the memory of Karl’s talent and the humanitarian commitment he expressed while creating thoughtful beauty. His work will live on, continuing to inspire me, as well as others, for generations. Working in the garden will serve to connect my heart with my mind, and then with the earth, and I will think of his generosity.  

Lori Taguma 

• 

MORE ON KARL LINN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

My son, John Hawkridge, a member of the Peralta/Northside Gardens, sent me the sad news of Karl Linn’s passing. It was a year ago that I went to visit my son in Berkeley (I’m from the East Coast). 

He invited me to go with him to the garden and see how wonderful it was and to meet Karl. I was fortunate enough to be there that day when Karl called for a meeting. Everyone introduced themselves and volunteered their ideas and services. 

As I sat there listening to everyone, I thought what a wonderful, warm, friendly intelligent person this Karl Linn is. 

I felt an immediate connection and wished I could have stayed in California and joined the garden club. And most of all, after the meeting was over, he personally walked over to me to introduce himself. We had a nice chat and he told me some things about his life. 

Although I only met him that day, I felt I’d known him forever. I only hope there will be more Karl Linns in this world. We need them! My heartfelt prayers go out to his family. 

Jeanne Douglas 

New Jersey 

• 

PROPOSITION 71 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Proposition 71 should have contained a provision that the results of its publicly funded research be placed in the public domain and not patented. After being paid for doing the research, companies will hold patents on the discoveries, and the public will pay once more to benefit from them. 

If the pious hopes of Barglow, Lowe, and Schiffenbauer (“Proposition 71’s Medical Research Will Be in the Public Interest,” Daily Planet, Jan. 28-31) are borne out, the research won’t involve excessive profits and CEO salaries. Still, the public will end up paying twice for whatever it gets. 

Richard Wiebe 

• 

SOCIAL SECURITY REVENGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Many people wonder why Bush is so rabid about attacking our eminently successful Social Security program and replacing it with a privatized program that would eventually be nibbled to death by stockbroker commissions, management fees and churning. 

There may be an element of payback and revenge in this seeming Bush lunacy of attacking the Social Security legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), for, back in 1942, FDR stopped Bush’s grandfather, Prescott Bush and Bush’s great-grandfather, George Herbert Walker, from doing any further business with Nazi Germany by invoking the “Trading with the Enemy Act.” Just do a Google search on the terms, “Prescott Bush” or “Bush family links to Nazi Germany” and you will find many details about the sordid Bush family infatuation with and unsavory support for Hitler and Nazi Germany. This information may help put the present actions of Bush into better perspective.  

James K. Sayre 

Oakland

Click here to view the latest work by Justin DeFreitas

Berkeley High’s new small-school SSJE (School of Social Justice and Ecology) is scheduled to open this fall with a curriculum that emphasizes “critical thinking.” Though it’s a good idea, “critical thinking” is one of those terms that has lost all meaning by repeated overuse. Plainly put, it simply means not necessarily accepting the conclusions put before you, but assembling (or re-assembling) the available facts, looking for the “contradictions” (another useful but much abused word), and making up your own mind as to what it all might mean. 

Given all that, a good morning exercise in “critical thinking” for SSJE teachers might be just to get their students to open the daily newspapers. 

Begin the lesson. 

This week, a San Francisco Chronicle headline under an “Oakland” banner announced that a “Man With Pregnant Wife Killed In Sideshow Shooting.” The story reported that 23-year-old Eric Ramon Baeza was “fatally shot early Sunday [Feb. 6] in the vicinity of a sideshow, the name commonly used to refer to illegal car rallies that often feature reckless driving. The killing occurred about 1 a.m. on Foothill Boulevard at Havenscourt Boulevard on a stretch of road where numerous intersections bear the black arcing marks of squealing tires from drivers spinning in circles.” 

If you read this headline and paragraph quickly, you are lead to a specific conclusion: Eric Baeza was shot and killed at 1 a.m. at a sideshow in which drivers were spinning their squealing cars in circles. And so, if you’ve been to a “sideshow” or seen “sideshow” footage on the news, you have already gotten a picture of the scene in your mind. At least, you think you do. 

There’s a bit of a “contradiction” in the Chronicle headline and story—the part that stays the shooting actually happened in the “vicinity of a sideshow”—but that goes by so fast the average reader might miss it, and not stop to ask does that mean the shooting happened at a sideshow or during a sideshow or simply down the street from a sideshow? It does make a difference, after all. 

It also leaves out a longstanding problem often pointed out in this column: What exactly is a sideshow? Like Alice in the rabbit hole, the definition seems to expand or contract, depending on the needs of the definer at the time. 

But for the purposes of this discussion, I will use the working definition e-mailed to me in 2002 by Oakland Police Department Lt. David Kozicki, who often acts as the OPD spokesperson on this issue: “Here is the general definition that I use,” Lt. Kozicki wrote, in answer to my question. “Sideshows are gatherings of pedestrians and vehicles for the purpose of engaging in and watching incidents of reckless driving and exhibitions of speed.” In its Baeza shooting story, the Chronicle expands on that idea, calling sideshows “illegal car rallies” and “impromptu, late-night convergences of motorists that frequently draw thousands of people and feature high-speed and stunt driving.” 

Let us move on to the Oakland Tribune account of the Baeza shooting, which the Tribune described as having been caused by “a minor accident tied to ‘sideshow’ traffic.” (The Tribune often puts “sideshow” in quotation marks, an odd habit that may indicate that the newspaper itself has trouble defining the term.) 

According to Oakland Homicide Sgt. Phil Green, Baeza got “caught up in sideshow activity”—apparently unintentionally—while driving some friends home in his van. Quoting from the Tribune: “[A]nother van pulled alongside the van Baeza and his friends were in while the traffic light was red. According to Green, some of Baeza’s passengers said the other van was ‘dipping,’ a street term meaning the driver would ‘hit the gas, then brake, then swerve to make it rock.’ [Sgt.] Green said the other van then apparently pulled in front of the van Baeza and the others were in when the traffic light turned green. Baeza did not react immediately and sideswiped the other van’s driver’s door, traveling no more than 10 mph, Green said. For the next few feet, the driver of the other van tried to block the van Baeza was driving. He then pulled out a pistol and fired several shots at Baeza and the others, Green said.” This is slightly different from the Chronicle’s account, also attributed to Sgt. Green, which said that the shooting occurred after “another van swerved past and clipped the vehicle Baeza was in.” 

But disregarding who hit who, we see that the Baeza shooting began with two vans stopped at a traffic light—one of the drivers repeatedly braking to make his van dip and rock while they waited—and then proceeded to a “minor” traffic accident at 10 miles per hour. 

“Dipping” as described in the Tribune account happens at sideshows, but it is not exclusive to sideshows (same thing for spinning donuts in a car). Concluding that because somebody was “dipping” or spinning donuts means that a sideshow must have been going on is like saying that because someone was eating a hotdog, a baseball game must have been going on. Not necessarily. 

And while the description of the shooter’s dipping and rocking his van might be described as “reckless” and “stunt driving” by some, where was the “exhibition of speed” or “high-speed” driving, the other elements of the sideshow definition? And where was the “rally” or “convergence of motorists” as described in the Chronicle? If those things were happening either before or during the Baeza shooting, they didn’t get reported in the newspaper accounts. 

Maybe there was a sideshow going on during the time Mr. Baeza was shot and killed at Havenscourt and Foothill this weekend. Maybe not. But a reasonable question to ask is why the shooting wasn’t attributed to possible road rage—which happens unrelated to sideshows—or, since Baeza was identified as an ex-gang member, why not to possible gang violence? Could there be unstated reasons why bad happenings keep getting blamed on whatever it is that we call “sideshows?” 

I don’t know, friends. To answer those questions, you’re going to have to do your own critical thinking. That sounds like a homework assignment. 

o

Murder Attempt Charged 

Two men were charged with the attempted murder of a 49-year-old Berkeley woman following a brutal assault on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of University Avenue, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Police were summoned to the scene shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday, where they found the woman bleeding and critically injured. 

An area search turned up three suspects—two adults and a juvenile. 

Jarell Maurice Johnson, 18, and Lawrence Allen Dillon were each charged with attempted murder. Additional charges of giving a false identification to and interfering with a police officer were filed against Dillon, Okies said. 

The juvenile suspect was charged with interfering with an officer. 

The victim remains in the hospital is serious condition, he said. 

When Girlfriends Collide 

When two woman collided early Tuesday evening at the Grocery Outlet in the 2000 block of Fourth Street—one the current flame of that special guy and the other his ex-girlfriend—more than sparks flew, said Officer Shira Warren. 

The girlfriend of the moment produced a can of chemical Mace and sprayed her putative rival with a blast of the nasty compound and officers were quickly summoned. 

The sprayer and sprayee both earned free rides to the cop shop, where sprayee was photographed for evidence and the alleged sprayer was booked on suspicion of violating Section 244 of the California Penal code, assault by acid or a disfiguring chemical. 

Painful Pier Pounding 

Police arrested a 23-year-old man and a juvenile on the Berkeley Pier late Tuesday for an assault on two fishermen, said Officer Warren. 

The attack involved fists and a knife, which could lead to some serious hard time for the adult and a long stretch in juvie for the minor. 

Assault with Deadly Phone 

Police booked a Berkeley man in his 20s on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon after he battered his roommate with a cell phone and charger and then attempted to choke her. 

Summoned to the residence near the corner of Russell Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, officers clamped irons on the man and led him away.  

The roommate is now sleeping on a much softer mattress than her ex-housemate.

On Feb. 1, King Gyanendra of Nepal dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, and claimed absolute power. Political opponents were arrested, including Prime Minister Deuba who was placed under house arrest. Army troops are patrolling the st reets and have occupied the parliament building, radio stations and newspaper offices. Freedom of the press and other forms of free speech, such as the right of assembly and the right to criticize the government, no longer exist according to announcements from the palace.  

What does this mean for people in the U.S. who may not be planning on climbing Mount Everest, located in Nepal? Does it really matter to the average American? It should matter to all who care about justice. 

Unfortunately our governmen t has been supporting the Nepalese government and army with millions of dollars in aid and weapons ever since the president declared war on “terrorism.” Over 12,000 have died in this war in Nepal.  

In the last month, Bush has stated that he wants to spre ad democracy and freedom throughout the world. He now has the chance to let his actions speak as loud as his words by cutting off military aid to Nepal. But do not hold your breath while waiting for this to happen. Nepal has been caught up in the war of t error. In the war of terror we have supported many other non-democratic governments such as Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, just to mention a few. Will Nepal be an exception? 

Military aid has been flowing to Nepal since then Secretary of State Colin Po well visited the country in January 2002, the first visit of a secretary of state to that country in over 30 years. Powell held a series of meetings with the king, the now arrested prime minister, and Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) leaders before pledging significant military aid to combat Maoist rebels fighting a civil war against the government. After Powell’s visit, the prime minister met with Bush in the White House. The U.S. also put the Maoist rebels on its official terrorist list. 

Since then the U. S. has supplied money, weapons, and military advisors to the government of Nepal. In addition, Britain, India, Russia and China, have also supplied military aid. But this international aid has not led to success for the government of Nepal. By many accounts, the Maoist rebels control a majority of the countryside. Last year the rebels called for a blockade of Kathmandu, the capital, and without firing a shot brought traffic to a standstill.  

Meanwhile, while the army had not beaten the rebels, it has raised its human rights abuses to new levels. Massacres, torture, rape, imprisonment, and over 2000 extra-judicial executions and disappearances, have all been charges made against the army by human rights groups. Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission has documented many of these atrocities, as have groups such as Amnesty International. The record of abuse has been so bad that late last year Congress passed a bill linking military aid to Nepal to improvements in human rights. But aid continues to flow. 

But despite the record of abuse, then-U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Michael Malinowski spoke to the BBC last year and defended U.S. support for Nepal. He stated, “It’s a long way from the United States, but were concerned that areas in Nepal don’t get out of contr ol, don’t become a vacuum where terrorists groups can move into and use Nepal for whatever.” He conceded, “The RNA has a lot more to do, a long way to go, especially on human rights. But progress is being made and I don’t think we should apologize for tha t. I think we should be proud of it.” 

But I am not proud. If the U.S. is really concerned about human rights, freedom, democracy and all the other code words used by the Bush administration to justify intervention around the world, now is the time to put up or shut up. There can be no justification for supporting a feudal monarch who has just taken dictatorial powers into his hands. All aid, particularly military assistance, to Nepal must cease immediately. 

Kenneth J. Theisen writes on many issues of government waste and abuse.  

o

President Bush’s program to privatize Social Security gives progressives an opportunity to advocate for an alternative approach, one which will instead increase the economic security of working people rather than fan their anxieties. It would also lift the benefits for all retirees without undermining the soundness of the social security trust fund. Indeed, rather than our energies being completely absorbed in defensive battles, it is incumbent upon us to project a progressive vision. Otherwise, we are allowing conservatives to define the issues, which lock us into a poverty of low expectations. 

The main problem with how the social security program is funded is the regressive character of its taxes. In contrast to the federal income tax, in which all sources of income are supposed to be subject to taxation no matter how high, social security tax policy favors the well-to-do as well as employers, who must match the contributions made by working people. Only earnings from work are subject to taxes, and to an annual limit of $90,000. Income from rent, dividends, and other investments are excluded 

The ceiling on social security should be lifted, and all income should be subjected to the social security tax. The social security trust fund will then be able to achieve an even larger surplus, and will be able to afford better pension benefits for all retirees. The objection frequently made is that social security was never meant to provide the only source of income for retirees. Well, that view deserves to be challenged. Currently, the great majority of retirees depend on social security for more than half their income. For those who had earned lower wages, their entire income depends upon social security. Women particularly suffer from woefully inadequate pensions. Moreover, as pension rights in the private sector are evaporating, more retirees will need social security to sustain themselves. 

In recent years, over one hundred municipalities have required some employers to pay their workers a living wage rather than the poverty level minimum wage. Just as all workers should be receiving a living wage, they should be entitled to a living pension. In a society with our abundant resources, the hardship and economic deprivation that many of our senior citizens endure is shameful. If progressive people like ourselves fail to address these issues, then who else will?  

Harry Brill is a member of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club’s Social Security Committee.P

I don’t normally comment on projects in other neighborhoods, as I don’t like people outside my neighborhood telling me what’s best for mine. I feel we each know our area the best. However, with the “expansion” of the Berkeley Bowl I will take an exception. 

I worked many years ago with the West Berkeley neighborhood Development Corporation members Willie Smith, Margaret Breland and Betsy Morris to develop their PrideGuide. At that time my neighborhood was loosing its only grocery store and the community was actively trying to work with the company to persuade them to stay (it turned out the city had set the stage for their departure years earlier). Willie and Betsy were very interested in our progress or lack thereof because they wanted a full-service grocery store in West Berkeley. 

It’s fashionable to trash the Economic Development Office as a bunch of political/developer wannabes. But thanks to Dave Forgarty, the Berkeley Bowl agreed to move into the old Safeway store and expand to a full-service grocery store. It was a big undertaking for the Yasudas; one that gave them many sleepless nights and worries. 

Of course, we now know it’s a huge success. But there are problems with the new site. It’s so popular that shopper parking is impacting the surrounding streets and people come from out of town to buy the unusual and organic items sold only at the Bowl. Warehousing is also a problem. The parking lot is the loading dock for the store and delivery trucks arrive almost all day long. 

The need for a nearby place to warehouse items for the store, the need to be near the freeway for easy delivery of goods and the need for West Berkeley to have a grocery store neatly dovetailed into a plan to accomplish all goals. 

I have respected and taken the advice of Charles Siegel seriously for many years. But in this case I feel he is missing the point. There needs to be a better system and place for warehousing goods than the parking lot at the existing Bowl and judging from the success of the first Bowl, it would be foolhardy to build a small store. The current Bowl could be even bigger judging from all the shoppers who come. By being near the freeway, the new store will cut down on semis driving through. People gotta eat but semis don’t have to roam through town. The Bowl already is a regional draw (one woman I chatted with in the checkout line was from Fairfield). The new Bowl, hopefully, will be used by those who come by freeway and lessen the impact on the Oregon store. 

Yes, it’s possible to grocery shop on a bicycle, but not when you’re feeding a family of four. A lot of those who propose public transit or bicycle for an exclusive means of travel don’t have families and have extra time to go to the store three or four times a week. This is a luxury working families lack. And, IF you feel parents of families should be shopping by bus, take the 51 through Alameda to see how horrible an experience THAT is for both the shopper (watch the eggs) and fellow riders. 

Lastly, I served many years on the Environmental Commission and the Ecole Billingue would occasionally complain about development in that part of town. Unfortunately, the school should not be located in the area. It is highly polluted by the manufacturing/industrial residents and exhaust from the freeway. That this project will add more traffic and exhaust is inevitable, but for the sake of a part of town that has been wanting a grocery store for over ten years and a green grocer who succeeded in providing quality, low cost food beyond his wildest dreams, the school should not be allowed to derail this project because they located in the wrong place. 

b

With a little more than a week to go before their biggest challenge of the school year, members of the Berkeley High Debate Squad sit through their lunch period in an upstairs classroom, munch sandwiches, and plot strategy for the 32nd Annual Cal Berkeley Invitational Debate Tournament. 

Over four days next weekend, Jan. 19 through 22, students representing some 300 high schools from as far away as Utah and Iowa will compete through eight preliminary rounds, hoping to be among the 32 debate teams making it to the elimination round on the last day. 

“It’s the biggest and best tournament in the country,” says BHS Debate Squad advisor and BHS teacher Josephine Balakrishnan. “Most tournaments we enter are for one day and last only four rounds. But this one is pretty rough. Next week, we’re going to be meeting every day to get them ready.” 

Sitting with a handful of students in a near-empty science class (there are eight active members of the team), Balakrishnan’s preparation for the UC Berkeley tournament seems every bit as intricate as Bill Belichek getting the Patriots ready for the Superbowl. 

Josh Gagan, a member of the UC Berkeley debate team who is helping the BHS squad as a coach, passes on research tips to the students on the debate topic: “Should the United States support the United Nations peacekeeping efforts?” He rattles off points to be made on both sides of the issue, interspersed with Internet URLs to be accessed. 

“The reason U.N. peacekeeping isn’t working now is because it’s not being funded properly,” he says, “but you need to find examples of that.” 

He mentions civil wars in the Congo and Sudan in a sort of shorthand which the students appear to understand. Still, Balakrishnan breaks in every few moments to ask, “Did you understand that? Did you get that?” 

She explains that she’s been monitoring websites where competing schools have been refining their debate points. “You’re going against people who are not novices at this,” she tells the students. “Everybody’s going to have to clear their plates in the next week, and figure out what you’re going to do so we don’t get our backs broken.” 

The students nod, ask quiet questions, and munch on. The introduction of a new line of argument, suggested by Gagan, is quickly rejected on the grounds that it is too late to prepare. To an outside observer, it goes by almost too fast to be intelligible, but the students seem unfazed. 

The 45-minute lunch period goes quickly. After the students leave, Balakrishnan explains her concerns. 

“We’re really just getting the debate team back started,” she says. “And we’re going to be competing with teams who spend the summer going to debate camps, getting ready for these events. But it will be good for the kids. They’re going to be moving up a big step.” 

Balakrishnan says that Berkeley High has a “long and distinguished record as one of the top forensic teams in the country”—forensics, she explains, is the proper name for debating, even though current popular use conjures images of Crime Scene Investigators and dead bodies. But the school’s debate program disappeared for some 20 years, and was only revived this fall by BHS principal Jim Slemp. Balakrishnan, a speech and language teacher who once competed on the UC Berkeley debate squad herself, was brought in to coach, and it is clearly a labor of love. 

“John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Jane Paley, and Lee Iacoca all said that forensics was the foundation of their success,” she writes in a promotional e-mail for the program. She says that in addition to teaching students how to present arguments in a public forum—something that will be useful to them in later life—participation on the debate squad also sharpens their research skills. 

“It gives them the ability to find resources quickly, as well as exposing them to information that most adults don’t access,” she said, explaining that on some topics, as an example, students pull the text of Congressional floor debates from the Internet. “They’re forced to get their information from diverse areas, in order to compete with the other teams.” 

She adds that the word “diverse” raises another concern, a need for more diversity on the squad. While six of the eight BHS debate team members are women, it is short on minority students. 

“It used to be that mostly males participated on debate squads, at least back in the ‘50s,” says coach Josh Gagan. “In fact, it was dominated not just by males, but by white males.” He said that the trend is changing on the college scene, with some teams introducing hip hop into their debate arguments, and other colleges taking on the challenge of women and minority participation as a debate topic itself. 

“It’s a little unusual for a high school debate team to have so many women,” Balakrishnan said. “But in Berkeley, I suppose women don’t feel intimidated about speaking out.” 

She said that one of the factors holding back more participation in the debate squad is the lack of a public speaking course at Berkeley High, and setting up such a course is one of her goals. “A lot of kids are very nervous about getting up and speaking,” she said, “even though it is clear that they have the skills and talent to do so.” 

Following next weekend’s UC Berkeley tournament, the BHS debate squad will have little time to rest. On Saturday, Feb. 26, Berkeley High holds its own one day debate tournament, inviting schools from the Golden Gate Speech Association where the BHS squad is a member. Following that will be preparation for the California State Championship Tournament sponsored by the California High School Speech Association during the last weekend in April, and the national tournament sponsored by the National Forensic League in late June. The six day June tournament is considered the Superbowl of high school debate contests. 

›

It may appear small-minded to dwell on the point, but it does feel good to know that in Berkeley, you can actually see live drama for 10 (count’em 10!) bucks in a perfectly charming, completely traditional, theater. This seeming piece of magic occurs with absolute regularity in the Actors Ensemble productions at the Live Oak Theater in the Arts Building at 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman. 

Now, to add to the glow, you can even feel civic-minded when you pay for the ticket. Starting with the current production, Sam Shepard’s Seduced, every play will benefit a local charity, either by a donation or by service, or both. Fifty percent of all proceeds from the Sunday, Feb. 13 matinee (2 p.m.) will go to Berkeley Meals on Wheels which takes food to housebound Senior Citizens. 

The secret behind AE’s position is longevity. By far the oldest theater company in Berkeley, they have an unbroken production record going back to the 1957-1958 season. In 1967, the company began performing at the City’s Live Oak Theatre, which their volunteers now manage. In 1978, the theater was saved from closure when AE assumed responsibility for its management. (The city was unable to continue meeting the costs of operating the theater due to the budget cuts necessitated by the passage of Proposition 13). 

Clearly, volunteers are the lifeblood of this company. That does not mean that either the quality of the productions, or their selection, lack sophistication. Sam Shepard, the author of AE’s current production, Seduced, is the darling of both New York and Hollywood. Even a very condensed account of Shepherd’s stature has to note that before he was thirty years old over thirty of his plays had been produced in New York. He’s received a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and both his screenplays and his acting have been successful in Hollywood. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as an actor in The Right Stuff. 

Seduced reached the New York stage three years after Howard Hughes’ death had brought public attention to the bizarre extremes of the ga-zillionaire’s lifestyle during the final decades of his life. Although the play calls the dominating character Henry Hackamore and makes no claim to historical accuracy, it doesn’t stray far from the extraordinary behaviors detailed in the national press after Hughes’ death.  

Both acts take place in the claustrophobic, barren room somewhere outside of the United States, where Hackamore has withdrawn into a life of absolute isolation, confined to a quasi/wheelchair/table, totally dependent upon the assistance of his servant, Raul. 

Duane Schirmer is literally stage center throughout both acts as he embodies the terrified, totally dependent, and totally arrogant Hackamore, swinging back and forth from one extreme to another. 

It is a demanding role, which he does well.  

Hackamore’s servant, Raul (effectively played by AE veteran David Fenerty) is, of course, the absolute rock maintaining the pair’s lifestyle, the quiet, seemingly subservient person who appears to have no purpose other than to exist for Hughes’ needs. He is the one person whom the paranoid Hughes trusts to any degree; and his behavior is critical to the major action of the plot. 

AE has been able to locate two actresses whose physical appearance alone, quite aside from their unquestioned talent, make them fully believable as old flames of the man who once seemed to be one of the best “catches” in the world. Wendy Welch plays Luna, the more polished of the two, and the first to respond to Hackamore’s invitation to re-enter his life.  

It does become a bit startling when Welch is then given the task of creating a fairly intelligent and sound woman who seems unrelated to the character who originally comes on stage. She does both well; but should she have to? 

Suraya Keating, a veteran actress who deserves better, has been cast as Miami a “blonde bombshell.” It’s a role which she handles well, if you’re willing to believe in the blonde bombshell stereotype.  

Ultimately one must fault Shepard, not the four person ensemble, for any weaknesses in this production. It seems to be a classic case of good actors doing the best that can be done with basically unwieldy materials. Quite aside from Shepard’s seeming lack of acquaintance with real live women, he appears to have mistaken a case study of Howard Hughes’ for a drama.  

Even Pulitzer Prize winners don’t always win them all.  

Actors Ensemble’s production of Sam Shepard’s Seduced runs Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 19 a the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 649/5999. www.aeofberkeley.org.l

Lovers of Caribbean sounds, and world music listeners in general, are in for a pre-Valentine’s Day treat when Andy Narell brings the 14-piece steel drum band Calypsociation from Paris to the Chabot College Little Theater in Hayward for two shows Sun. Feb. 13 (at 2 p.m. and 7 p. m.) with local steel drummers The Chabot Panhandlers, under Jim Munzenrider’s direction, opening. 

Narell, a Berkeley resident for 20-some years, has been in Paris the past three, working with Calypsociation (said with a French pronunciation). “They play what Andy’d play if he could play all 14 drums by himself,” says Munzenrider. Narell and his brother Jeff (leader of the popular Berkeley band Rhythm ‘n Steel) learned to play the “pans” while still boys when their father, Brooklyn social worker Murray Narell, encouraged steel drum pioneer Ellie Mannette to come to the United States to help found bands for socially at-risk youth. 

Andy Narell performed with Bay Area groups (like Mel Martin’s Listen!) in the ‘70s, and has recorded a series of about a dozen albums as a leader (Stickman perhaps the most famous), with the participation of internationally-known jazz players. Calypsociation’s first CD, The Passage, on Heads Up label, features saxophonists Michael Brecker and Paquito D’Rivera, as well as trumpeter Hugh Masekela. 

Narell was also the first non-Trinidadian to arrange for competition in 1999 at “Panorama,” the international festival of steel drumming held just before Carnival every year at Port-of-Spain. Besides his credits as composer, arranger, player and bandleader, Narell has pioneered using recording techniques like surround-sound to capture the notoriously elusive sound of pans on disk. 

Founded by Jim Munzenrider in 1987, The Chabot Panhandlers is a 25-plus player community steel drum orchestra, with members from around the Bay Area. Youngest of The Panhandlers—and player of the 6-bass pan—is Berkeley High sophomore Antonio Beroldo, whose mother teaches science at the Berkeley Montessori School. Other Berkeley residents include Anna Talamo (double tenor), a case worker with Alameda County Social Services, and Helen Finkelstein (double second), who teaches English at San Francisco State. 

“That’s what I like about The Panhandlers,” says Gail Morrison (lead), Richmond resident and retired horticulturalist, “It really is a community band, with a smattering of professional musicians, but mostly other people with other jobs who just love the sounds of it.” 

Sticks, the latest Chabot Panhandlers CD (they have four out) from last year, on Oakland’s Ramajay Records, includes tunes by Narell and Ray Holman, one of the most famed composer-arrangers for steel drum bands. Holman has worked directly with The Panhandlers, as has legendary pan player and composer Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. 

Munzenrider maintains musical association and friendship with Calypsonians like David Rudder, and plans to produce a show in the near future with Barbados singer Crazy (Edwin Ayoung)—whose hit recording, Nani Wine, is only second to Arrow’s Hot Hot Hot as an international Calypso hit—performing with The Panhandlers. Crazy, who’s performed around the East Bay (occasionally with Jeff Narell) over the past two decades, is now a San Jose resident and is frequently in the audience at Panhandlers’ shows, where “he’s been known to jump up and sing a song from time to time.” 

Listening to Calypsociation’s The Passage and Chabot Panhandlers’ Sticks, the piquant clangor of the metal reminds the listener that steel bands are both primitive (the instrument was made out of a 55-gallon oil drum from a Naval base—possibly first by Ellie Mannette—in the late 1930s to early ‘40s) and yet harmonically sophisticated, sharing their unique, metallic orchestral sound only distantly with Indonesian gamelans and Filipino kulingtang (and, maybe by analogy, New Orleans Brass bands). 

“It’s a humbling thing for a trained musician like me,” says Jim Munzenrider, “To work with these great players and composers—and I consider Boogsie Sharpe the Charlie Parker of this music—knowing they can come up with all this harmonic complexity, yet mostly can’t read. Ray Holman, when he worked with us, came in with great arrangements, not as charts, but written out like descriptions of what we were to play. When I’ve praised the great things they do in music theory terms, they say, ‘So that’s what you call it!’ In any case, all I do anymore is teach and play the steel drums. Only that.” 

Andy Narell and Calypsociation 

with The Chabot Panhandlers 

2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. 

$18 general, $15 seniors & $12 

for children under 12. 

Chabot College Little Theater 

25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward. 

843-4342 

www.chabotsteeldrums.com.

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Lithography of Toko Shinoda” Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Schurman Gallery, 1659 San Pablo Ave. Exhibition runs through Mar. 31. 524-0623. www.schurmanfineartgallery.com 

Chantal de Felice and Morgan Wick, narrative portraits in acrylic and ink, opens at 7 p.m. at auto3321 art gallery, 3321 Telegraph Ave., through Feb. 25. 593-8489. 

“Ritz and Stewart: Two Artists of the Courtroom” sketches from trials in the 1970s and 1980s at Doe Library, UC Campus. Exhibit runs through March 31. 643-5651. 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, “Seduced” by Sam Shepard opens at 8 p.m. at the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman, and runs Fri. and Sat. through Feb. 19. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Albany High School, “Oklahoma!” at 8 p.m. at Albany High Little Theater, 603 Key Route Blvd., Albany. Also on Sat. and 2 and 8 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5-$10. 558-2575. 

Alchemy Works “The Wisdom of Eve” A tale of an ingenue understudy gone bad. Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. Runs through Feb. 20. 845-5576. 

"Bridge & Tunnel" workshop performances by Sarah Jones at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 20 at Berkeley Repertory Theater’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $30-$40. 647-2949.  

Aurora Theatre, “Dublin Carol” by Conor McPherson, Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun at 2 and 7 p.m. through March 6 at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Repertory Theater, “Fêtes de la Nuit” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Runs through Feb. 27. Tickets are $43-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “The Mousetrap” Agatha Christie’s classic mystery Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 19 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $10-$15. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Impact Theatre, “Othello” at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid. Thurs.- Sat. through March 19. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Laney College Theater, “Knockers,” a candid look at breasts, with partial proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Fund, at 8 p.m. at 900 Fallon St. Tickets are $10. 415-281-0547. 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Serpent” theater with movement, masks and puppetry, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., through Feb. 19, at the Eighth Street Studios, 2525 8th St. Tickets are $10-$20 sliding scale. 527-8119. www.raggedwing.org 

“The Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m. at Dwinelle Hall, Room 155, UC Campus. Also Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., and Mon. Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium. Cost is $10. Sponsored by Gender Equity Resource Center. berkeleyVM2005@lists.berkeley.edu 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 7 p.m. and “Waiting for Happiness” at 9:25 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

De Rompe y Raja, Afro-Peruvian music and dance at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Slammin’ body music, beatboxing and a cappella at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Tracy Grammer, post-modern American music, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

Jill Knight at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Nagg, The Look, The Sort Outs, Ride the Blinds at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886.  

Tempest, Druid Sister’s Tea Party at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

Dan Barrett & Friends at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

DJ & Brook, jazz trio, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Brown Baggin’ at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Joshi Marshall and Friends at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Monster Squad, Try Failing, Whiskey Sunday, Giant Haystacks at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Abbey Lincoln at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Mon. Cost is $22-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, FEB. 12 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Dan Goldensohn at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $3-$4. 849-2568.  

THEATER 

Laney College Theater, “Knockers,” a candid look at breasts, with partial proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Fund, at 8 p.m. at 900 Fallon St. Tickets are $10. 415-281-0547. 

Traveling Jewish Theater, “The Wonders” at 8 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Also on Sun. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22-$35. 415-285-8080. www.atjt.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

Mary Robinson will discuss her technique of paint layering and use of a variety of tools. From 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Group Show at the Gallery of Urban Art, with works by Alena Rudolph, Hillary Kantmann, Gina Gaiser, Teresa Clark, Joso Vidal and John Holland. Reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1266 66th St., Emeryville. 596-0020. www.thegalleryofurbanart.com 

“The Art of Cappuccino” photographs by Arden Petrov, at the French Hotel Cafe/Gallery, 1538 Shattuck Ave., to March 26. 524-0646. 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 6:30 p.m. and “Faat-Kine” at 9:15 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rosemary Gong introduces “The Good Luck Life” a guide to Chinese American celebrations and culture at 4 p.m. at Eastwind Books, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trinity Chamber Concert with Davide Verotta, piano, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St., between Bancroft and Durant. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. http://trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Sacred & Profane Song of Solomon Choral Settings from Medieval to Modern at 8 p.m. at St. Ambrose Church, 1145 Gilman St. at Cornell. Tickets are $12-$18. 524-3611. www.sacredprofane.org 

Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert with Patti Weiss, Francis Lockwood, Katya Roemer, Miles Graber and others at 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. Donation $20-$30, all of which will go to the Red Cross. 333-0474. 

Early Chamber Music with Jeanne Johnson, violin; Joanna Blendulf, cello, Yuko Tanaka, harpsichord at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 528-1725. www.sfems.org  

Open Hearts Benefit for Tsumani Relief with music by Ancent Future, Sasha Butterfly, Soulsalaam and others at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Donation $15-$100 benefits the Seva South Asia Emergency Fund. RSVP to 843-2787. www.seva.org 

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $28-$56. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Valentine’s Day Cabaret at 7 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $30-$35. 845-8542. www.juliamorgan.org 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 7 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Also on Feb. 13-14. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700.  

Ramona the Pest, Nellie Bly, TaraLinda & Friends at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.  

Juju Stars, African, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Forthmorning, Sleep in Fame, Omissa, hard rock, metal at 9:30 at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $10. 848-0886.  

Mariospeedwagon and Lemon Juju at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Beatropolis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

www.freightandsalvage.org 

pickPocket Ensemble at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Beatsauce, turntablism, at 10 p.m. at Club Oasis, 135 12th St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 763-0404. 

Aya de León’s Love Fest at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Steven Bernstein, “Direct from NYC” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com  

Mardi Gras Celebration with Lady Mem’fis and Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz New Orleans Band at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Iron Lung, Lords of Light, Takaru, Laudanum at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, FEB. 13 

EXHIBITIONS 

Reception for New Exhibitions at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 3 p.m. and “Enthusiasm” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“More Binding Ties: The Migration Suite” a spoken-word performance by Michael Copeland Sydnor about Bay Area African Americans who worked as Pullman porters and maids at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200.  

Poetry Flash with Rusty Morrison, Devin Johnston and Martha Ronk at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852.  

“The People and the Book” a panel discussion in conjunction with the exhibition of paintings and rare books at 2 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $7-$10. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $28-$56. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Daniel Müller-Schott, cello at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $46. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Schubertiade” at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Free admission. 415-248-1640. www.sfchamberorchestra.org 

Wei He, violinist, Yun-Jie Liu, violist, at 4 p.m. at the Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Tickets are $12, free for children. 559-6910. www.crowdenmusiccenter.org 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 6 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Also on Feb. 14. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700.  

The Gospel Hummingbirds at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Dan K. Harvest, hip hop, at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5-$7. 848-0886.  

Wayne Wallace 4th Dimension at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373.  

Papa Gianni and the North Beach Band at 2 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Hurricane Sam Rudin, boogie, blues and jazz piano, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

Eric Van James, solo jazz piano, at 6 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

MONDAY, FEB. 14 

FILM 

Seeing Through the Screen: Buddhism and Film: “Fearless” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Maggie Morley and Friends, poetry reading, followed by an open mic, at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Buzzy Jackson describes “A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Poetry Express, featuring The Poet JC, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Four shows beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700. www.cafedelapaz.net 

Trovatore, traditional Italian songs, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Songwriters Symposium at 8:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Sylvia & The Silvertones at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

TUESDAY, FEB. 15 

FILM 

Alternative Visions: “Empathy” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Brian Green describes “The Fabric of the Cosmos,” Einstein’s impact on science, in conversation with Dr. Moira Gunn, host of public radio’s “Tech Nation” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Brad Reynolds discusses “Embracing Reality: The Integral Vision of Ken Wilber” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

“Word Tripping: Literature for the Quantum Age” with author Roy Doughty at 7 p.m. at Unity of Berkeley, 2075 Eunice St. Cost is $10. 528-8844. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Sauce Piquante, Cajun/zydeco at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson with Diana Castillo at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Gary Rowe, solo piano, at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Madera Road, Motel Fresno, Bob Harp, Americana country, at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174. www.storkcluboakland.com 

Bill Charlap Trio plays the music of Leonard Bernstein at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Wed. Cost is $8-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16 

THEATER 

“Bright River” A hip-hop retelling of Dante’s Inferno, every Wed. through March 16 at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Tickets are $12-$35 available from 415-256-8499. www.inhousetickets.com 

FILM 

Film 50: History of Cinema: “The Love Parade” at 3 p.m. and Games People Play: “Westworld” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Elisabeth Robinson introduces her novel “The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Laura Splan Artist’s talk and slide lecture at 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

Marc Sapir reads from his novel “The Last Tale of Mendel Abbe: Sonny Bush and the Wise Men of Chelm” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryplough.com 

Café Poetry with Paradise at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with the Chamber Chorus at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Del Sol String Quartet, contemporary chamber miusic, at 8 p.m. at Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. 415-831-5672. www.delsolquartet.com  

Ned Boynton Trio at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

La Verdada, salsa, at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Wil Blades Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Balkan Folkdance at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $6. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Carla Kihlstedt’s 2 Foot Yard at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Hobo Gobbelins, underground music, at 10 p.m. at The Ivy Room, 858 San Pablo Ave. at Solano Ave. 524-9220. www.ivyroom.com 

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Mixed Signals, Mister Loveless,The Catholic Comb, indie rock, at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $6. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 



It’s a tantalizingly warm winter day. I’m walking toward the sound of power—water tumbling down, around and across a series of rocks. Is this a canyon at 6,000 feet in the Sierras? No, I’m just one hour from home, approaching Little Yosemite, one of many natural wonders to discover at Sunol Regional Wilderness. 

Somehow, after a lifetime enjoying the outdoors, this is my first trip to this remote hidden wilderness in Alameda County, and now is the season to visit. Plan to come on a dry day following some serious rain and enjoy all the benefits—velvet-green carpeted grasslands and hillsides, water-kissed foliage, swollen creeks, fresh-smelling air—signs of renewed life will surround you. 

East of Highway 680, the 6,580 acres of the Sunol Wilderness landscape were formed by the action of erosion and the Calaveras fault system creating high-rising escarpments and deep-cut canyons and valleys. From Rose Peak, at 3,800 feet, sandstone and basalt outcrops and huge boulders of greenstone, schist and metachart provide evidence of massive land movement. 

Sunol’s cultural history reads like a story often heard in Northern California: Taucan Indian villages along Alameda Creek, Spanish missionaries and Mexican rancheros grazing cattle and post Gold Rush homesteaders farming the land. Though lifestyle and the environment have changed over time, much of the landscape, flora and fauna remain the same, preserved as wilderness. 

To put these new sites in context I begin at the Old Green Barn Visitor Center, quaint and unassuming, nestled below graceful oaks. Inside, well prepared illustrated exhibits and some hands-on activities give me an overview. Subjects range from the requisite size of wilderness, as large as the San Francisco Bay to a mere drop of water; the natural communities of grassland, chaparral, oak woodland and streamside within the park; resident species like the acorn woodpecker, fence lizard and long-horned beetle, and introduced species such as feral pigs and the wild turkeys who greeted me at the gate. 

The Old Green Barn is a valuable resource center providing lists for birders anxious to add the 20 to 40 species visible throughout the year, a Wildflower ID Kit for budding botanists and a booklet for the Indian Joe Creek Self-Guided Nature Trail. 

Like most kids or those young at heart, I’m a sucker for numbered posts. “You’re never too old to learn” holds true here. The one-mile nature loop along Alameda Creek to Indian Joe Creek winds through grassland and wooded canyon. Twelve numbered posts corresponding to booklet narratives are a perfect introduction to Sunol’s history and landscape. 

The amazing western sycamore, a stately tree with patchy white bark standing out like a beacon in the low creek-side light, can lose up to 50 gallons of water on a warm day, explaining why its habitat must be near water, neighbor to white alder and willow. Home to red-breasted sapsucker, acorn woodpecker, bluebird, kestrel, starling and yellow-billed magpies, the sycamore would be sorely missed. 

Along the trail I pass only a few walkers though two cows graze happily on the hillside. Sounds of modern life are far away, only the water moving through the creek and the rustling leaves overhead. Thickets of blue oak and coast live oak cluster in carved canyons, dressed in soft-hued lichens, while the fuzzy leaves of chaparral hold on to all available moisture. At Flag Hill, formed from a slab of ancient seafloor, the south and north canyon walls are a study in contrast. On the dryer south slope, only grass and chaparral can survive, while trees thrive on the moisture-rich north.  

The nature trail is ideal for a short hike through a beautiful, tranquil landscape, easily accessible and moderate in difficulty, with few inclines. Just the place to introduce visitors, children or yourself to a new wilderness experience. 

From the close at hand, I switch my focus to unmatched views of open country, as far as the eye can see. Canyon View Trail, 1.4 miles to Little Yosemite, stretches my focal length as I follow the trail up and along the canyon rim, feasting on rolling green contours, cliffs of weathered serpentine, massive oaks with exposed branches harboring huge balls of mistletoe and water rushing along creeks and their tributaries. Contrasting colors shimmer in bright sunlight: vivid orange lichen crusting dark gray stones jutting from the ground, mustard liverworts slimy against a downed log, the season’s first sunny yellow buttercups against emerald moss and the stark-white sycamore bark against cerulean sky. 

Reaching Little Yosemite through an ancient tree-cloaked hill, I marvel at the gorge before me where huge boulders appear to have been tossed down by a giant. 

What violent force created their arrangement? Sound echoes off the walls as the waterfall courses through a series of pools and shoots. You can access the creek in several places but most require a steep scramble. Following Camp Ohlone fire road back to the trailhead offers much visual and audible access and creates a loop hike rather than backtracking. 

Little Yosemite is the park’s main draw and Camp Ohlone Road the most populous trail. Wide, gravel and level, this option appeals to a broad range of visitors. Many smaller trails lead off toward the creek offering more of a wilderness experience but may not lead all the way to the trailhead. 

Following the road back to the Old Green Barn, you pass a lovely spot, the Alameda Grove Picnic Area. Extensive in size with widely spaced picnic tables and grills, many creek-side and almost all shaded by broad sweeping trees, you’ll find it hard to not linger. Make sure to allow time for a picnic, a cookout or a short rest to enjoy the scenery. 

With a park of this size, one day just isn’t enough. On my visit, touring the Old Green Barn and nature trail and the loop hike to Little Yosemite with a stop for lunch was just right for a moderate hiking day. I look forward to other hikes in the future. Indian Joe Creek Nature Trail climbs to the impressive Cave Rocks, natural formations in basalt outcroppings. Eagles’ View Trail, as the name implies, climbs through the Valley of the Giants to an eagle’s view of the park. 

What can be better than a day of discovery? Discovering wilderness in an unexpected place—all 6,580 acres of it. Discovering Yosemite so much closer to home. Discovering saturated color—orange lichen, yellow buttercups and liverworts, green moss and miner’s lettuce, blue water and sky. The time for this discovery is now when water is plentiful and the sun is kind. Don’t put it off—and don’t forget those hot dogs! 

Getting There: Drive east on I-580 to the junction with I-680 in Pleasanton. At the junction, go south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Hwy 84 just south of the town of Pleasanton. Turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed to Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. 

Sunol Regional Wilderness: $4. Day use, dog fee $1. 

Sunol Wilderness : 

(925) 862-2244  

Sunol Interpretive Center: 

(925) 862-2601  

Camping also available: (510) 636-1684; $12/night. 

Hours: 7 a.m. to dusk 

www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol.htm 

For free brochure/map, phone East Bay Parks District at 562-7275 ext. 2 X

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Robert Scalapino, Prof. emeritus, UCB, on “Developments in Far Eastern Asia, and Challenges.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020.  

Fundraiser for Tsunami Victims with music and speeches from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lower Sproul Plaza, UC Campus. ahopeforrecovery.org 

“Maestro: Tom Dowd and the Language of Music” a free screening followed by discussion at 7 p.m. at The College Preparatory School, Buttner Auditorium, 6100 Broadway, north. 658-5202. 

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 East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

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

SATURDAY, FEB. 12 

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program from 10 to 11 a.m., for ages 4-6 years; accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $5-$7. Registration required. 525-2233. 

Animal Amore! Annual adult only walking tour of the Oakland Zoo to learn the courting and mating habits of the residents. From 9 to 11 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Cost is $10 and registration is required. 632-9525, ext. 142. www.oaklandzoo.org 

Gondwanaland in the Garden Explore the UCBG’s plants from the ancestral range of Gondwanaland, the giant southern landmass which began drifting apart during the Eocene epoch. From 1 to 2 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Cost is $8-$12. Registration required. 643-2755. 

The Wonderful World of Camilias with Garth Jacober on planting, care and pruning at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Berkeley Public Library Foundation’s 3rd Annual Authors Dinner Reception at 7 p.m. Tickets for reception still available for $125. 981-6115. www.bplf.org/events.html  

Lunar New Year Festival from noon to 4 p.m. at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., Oakland. www.oacc.cc 

Service Dogs for the Blind and the Deaf A special presentation for all ages at 11 a.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. http://ccclib.org  

Tsunami Relief Garage and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine at 1809 Bancroft Ave. at Grant. All proceeds will go to the relief effort. Sponsored by Berkwood Hedge School. 

Emergency Response Training Class on “Light Search and Rescue” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fire Dept. Training Center, 997 Cedar St. To register call 981-5606. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html 

5K Run for Tsunami Victims at 10 a.m. beginning at Sather Gate, UC Campus. 502-7995. ahopeforrecovery.org 

Pre-School Storytime for ages 3-5 at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17.  

Winter Color in the Garden at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

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, FEB. 13 

Valentine’s Day History Hike to look for mating activity at 10 a.m. in Tilden Nature Area. 525-2233. 

See Our Snakes We’ll look at our resident snakes and learn about their behavior at 10:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Valentine’s Day for Your Dog A special salon with a bath, combing and nail trimming for your dog, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, 2700 Ninth St. Benefit for homeless dogs and cats. 845-7735. www.berkeleyhumane.org 

Singing Valentine Grams with the UC Choral Ensembles today and Mon. Cost is $20-$50. For information and reservations call 642-3880. 

“More Binding Ties: The Migration Suite” a spoken-word performance by Michael Copeland Sydnor about Bay Area African Americans who worked as Pullman porters and maids at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

A Bridge to Babylon: Judeo-Arabic Music in the Middle East workshop with YairDalal at Epic Arts Studios, 1923 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $15. All ages welcome. Advance tickets available through InhouseTickets.com 

57th Annual Festival of the Oaks, International Folk Dance Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with workshops, open folk dancing and exhibition dancing, at Laney College Gym, 901 Fallon St., Oakland. Donation requested. 527-2177. meldancing@aol.com 

Valentine’s Day Card Workshop Make a card or two and learn about the cultural history of Valentine’s Day. From 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Materials provided. Cost is $5-$7. 525-2233. 

Celebrate Black History Month with African mask making at Habitot, 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $5-$6. 647-111. www.habitot.org 

Free Sailboat Rides between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring warm waterproof clothes. www.cal-sailing.org 

“Follow Me Home” a film exploring race and identity at 3 and 6 p.m. at the Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland. Post-screening discussion with Lakota Henderson. Cost is $7. Benefits eighth graders at Melrose Leadership Academy. 967-8799. 

Green Sunday, on steps cities can take to select renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency at 5 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. at 65th in North Oakland. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Family Film Sunday Series “The Love Bug” at 11 a.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $5 at the door. 845-8542. www.juliamorgan.org 

“Raising Your Child in an Interfaith Home” at 11:30 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit Street, Oakland. 547-2250. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Sylvia Gretchen on “Using the Mind to Relieve Pain” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, FEB. 14 

“Porter! In Our Own Words” a lecture by Dr. P. Christiaan Klieger on the oral histories of members of The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters at 10:30 a.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public Schools at 5 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

“Franz Kafka: Exemplary Jewish Writer” meets Mon. through March 21 at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $20. 845-6420. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, FEB. 15 

Early Morning Bird Walk on the Albany Bulb meet at the end of Buchanan St. at 7:30 a.m. 525-2233.  

Bird Walk on the Martin Luther King Shoreline from 3 to 5 p.m. Dress for wind and rain. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Garden Club “Aesthetic Pruning of Trees and Shrubs” with Bill Castellon, Instructor at Merritt Horticulture Dept. Meeting at 1 p.m., program at 2 p.m. at Epworth MethodistChurch, 1953 Hopkins St. 524-4374. 

The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society Low Cost Spay/Neuter Day, in recognition of the 11th annual Spay Day. Spay/neuter costs are $5-$10. 845-7735. www.berkeleyhumane.org 

“What’s Really Happening in Iraq” A report-back from the humanitarian aid mission that delivered over $650,000 in aid to Falluja refugees, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship, 1924 Cedar St. at Bonita. Suggested donation $5. 415-255-7296. www.globalexchange.org 

Embracing Diversity Films “Not in our Town II” A documentary on positive community solutions to hate violence and the resurgence of Ku Klux Klan activity. At 7 p.m. at Albany High School, 603 Key Route Blvd. Enter through the main doors on Key Route Blvd., turn left and walk down the hall to Room 109 on the right. Please arrive early as space is limited. Admission is free, donations are welcome. Screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion. 527-1328. 

“Adventure in Alaska: Climbing Denali & More” with professional photographer Jeff Pfluger at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Advance sign-up needed 594-5165. 

Black History Celebration with a showing of “Roots” at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 

School Age Storytime for ages 5 and up at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17.  

Family Story Time at the Kensington Branch Library, Tues. evenings at 7 p.m. at 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Tap Into It Jazz and Rhythm Tap classes at Montclair Recreation Center, 6300 Moraga Ave., Oakland. Experienced at 6:30 p.m., beginners at 7:30 p.m. 482-7812. 

Berkeley Salon Discussion Group discusses “Love and Sex: A Valentine Special” from 7 to 9 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Please bring snacks and soft drinks to share. No peanuts please. 601-6690. 

Teen Book Group meets to discuss “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson at 4 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, West Branch, 1125 University Ave. 981-6270. 

“Healthy Ways to Learn from Emotional Experiences” with Pete Walker, Marriage and Family Therapist, at 7 p.m. at the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7512.  

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

Sing-A-Long every Tues. from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic. All ages welcome. 524-9122. 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16 

Great Decisions 2005: “U.S. Intelligence” with Prof. Emeritus Marshall Windmiller, SF State, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. Cost is $5, $40 for the series. The Great Decisions program will meet for eight Wednesdays. Briefing booklets are available. For information and reservations call 526-2925. 

“Hands Off Social Security” with the Gray Panthers at 7 p.m. at 1403 Addison St. 548-9696. 

“Imaging the Voices of the Past” Using Physics to Restore Early Sound Recordings with Dr. Carl Haber, Senior Scientist, Berkeley Lab Physics Division at 5:30 p.m. at the Berkeley High School Library, Allston Way at Milvia St. 

“Making Governments Provide Better Safety and Accessibility for Bicycle Riders” A panel discussion with the directors of all the Bay Area bicycle coalitions at 8:15 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 527-0450.  

“In The Beginning Were Stories, Not Texts,” with Dr. Choan-Seng Song exploring the idea that life begins with stories and that God is both the “story-teller and story-listener” at 7:30 p.m. in the Richard S. Dinner Boardroom, GTU, Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2420. 

Women’s Health Lecture on “Mood & Menopause” at 6:15 p.m. at the Claremont Resort, 41 Tunnel Rd. Cost is $10-$15. 527-3010. ww.afwh.org/about/ 

claremontlectures.htm 

AARP Free Tax Assistance for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 years and older. From 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. This service will continue through April. Appointments must be made in advance. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets at 7:15 a.m. at Au Cocolait, 200 University Ave. at Milvia. 524-3765. 

WriterCoach Connection Volunteer Training Help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Training session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. To register call 524-2319. Other Trainings on Mar. 8, 15. www.writercoachconnection.org 

Winter Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Artify Ashby Muralist Group meets every Wed. from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, to plan a new mural. New artists are welcome. Call Bonnie at 704-0803. 

Prospective Seminary Students Church Divinity School of the Pacific Open House Feb. 16-18 at 2451 Ridge Rd. To register call 204-0715. www.cdsp.edu 

Argosy University Information Sessions for degree programs in Psychology, Education and Business at 6 p.m. at 999-A Canal Blvd., Point Richmond. To RSVP or for directions to the school, call 215-0277. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch Bring your knitting, crocheting and other handcrafts from 6 to 9 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, FEB. 17 

Berkeley Path Wanderers Susan Schwartz, head of Friends of Five Creeks, shows slides of new and upcoming nature restorations you can explore on city walks, at Berkeley Path Wanderers’ meeting at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Park Recreation Center, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 848-9358. f5creeks@aol.com 

School Choices at Berkeley High An informational night on the school and program choices students have. Current 8th-10th graders and families invited. At 7 p.m. in the Berkeley High Community Theater. 644-6320. 

“Winemaker’s Dance” a lecture by David G. Howell on the influence of the earth in producing good wine at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Golden Gate Audubon Society “Sights and Sounds of Kenya” Slides and sound recordings with Peter Headland at 7:30 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda, between Marin and Solano. 843-2222. 

“Contemporary Brazilian Culture” with Gilberto Gil, Brazilian singer and composer at 7 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Free, but tickets must be picked up at Wheeler box office beginning at 6 p.m. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

“Bridge to Babylon” Judeo-Arabic music in the Middle East at 7:30 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $20. 845-6420. 

ONGOING 

Collect Cleats for All Feet Donate your cleats and other sports equipment to Sports4kids Swap Shop, which works to make sports equipment available to all children who want to play. Donation barrels for cleats at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. Other locations at www.sports4kids.org 

Beginning Tai Chi Class starts Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Large Assembly Room of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. 415-864-0899. www.taichicalifornia.org 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Creeks Task Force meets every Monday at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center through April 4. Erin Dando, 981-7410. 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon. Feb. 14, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. 

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/agenda-committee 

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Mon. Feb. 14, at 5 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410. ww.ci.ber 

keley.ca.us/commissions/zoning   

Berkeley Housing Authority meets Tues., Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. ww.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/housingauthority 

City Council meets Tues., Feb. 15, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601. www.ci.berkeley.ca. us/commissions/humane 

Commission on Aging meets Wed. Feb. 16, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/aging 

Commission on Labor meets Wed., Feb. 16, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Delfina M. Geiken, 981-7550. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/labor 

Fair Campaign Practices Commission meets Thurs., Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Prasanna Rasaih, 981-6950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/faircampaign 

Homeless Commission meets Wed. Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jane Micallef, 981-5426. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/homeless 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed. Feb. 16, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/welfare 

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/transportation™

A remarkable cross section of Berkeley gathered beneath a gingko tree Saturday morning to mourn the death of Carla-Helen Toth and celebrate her remarkable life. 

She was, above all, an adventurer, said her friends, constantly breaking boundaries and capturing her experiences in poetry and prose. 

Toth, 42, a Berkeley native, was killed at 2:45 a.m. Feb. 1 by a freight train that struck her after she stopped her wheelchair on the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on Bancroft Way. She had suffered from cerebral palsy throughout her life, the result of birth injuries. 

To the 80 or so friends who gathered beneath her favorite tree, a majestic gingko outside Giannini Hall, she had become both friend and exemplar, the embodiment of a fierce determination and joyous spirit that confronted and challenged all the obstacles that life threw at her. 

“It was eight months before she could sit up,” said her mother, Erika Toth. “She kept falling forward, and there was a constant wound under her chin because she couldn’t stop. She needed to try and succeed.” 

She was the first pupil with cerebral palsy mainstreamed into Richmond schools, and she graduated from Harry Ells High School to a standing ovation from her fellow students. “There was a huge celebration,” said her mother. “All the students honored her.” 

She left home at 18, the same age at which her parents had fled their native Hungary in the wake of the brutal Soviet suppression of the 1956 revolution. 

“It took her 15 years to finish her Bachelor of Science right here in Giannini Hall,” Toth said. “She met with indifference and later outright hostility, and many times she despaired. Her graduation theme was the gingko tree, and she spent many lovely moments in this spot, dedicated to writing about the environment and to life in all its forms.” 

Carla-Helen Toth wrote poetry, some of which was recited at the memorial, and served as both an editor and writer at Terrain Magazine, the publication of the Ecology Center. 

“I spent hundreds of hours with Carla,” said retired UC instructor Alan Miller. “In 1980 she came up to my office to talk about her major. ‘I hear you’re about trees and the environment,’ she said.” 

Miller retired in 1995, the same year Toth graduated. 

“We set the world’s record for an advisor/advisee relationship,” he quipped. 

One of Miller’s fondest memories was of his first field trip with his new student. “You haven’t seen anything if you haven’t seen Carla dancing with her walker, especially after she’s had a couple of beers or glasses of wine.” 

Whenever Miller showed up after retirement as a guest lecturer, Carla was always there. “I learned much more from her about taking advantage of the moments life gives you than she ever learned from me,” he said. 

“I’ve worked with a lot of good writers,” said former Terrain editor Chris Clark. “But when I think about the years I put in with Terrain, the thing I’ve proudest of is that my last issue had this beautiful article by Carla.” 

Toth’s articles for the publication often focused on her own adventures. Her last offering under Clark’s tenure was a 12-page account of her whitewater rafting trips down the Yampa and Green rivers. 

“She was braver than me,” Clark said. “Sometimes we get to an obstacle that’s too great for us, but I know that at the end, Carla was sitting in the bow, looking straight ahead.” 

Toth was one of the first disabled people to take up skiing, which she began 25 years ago by bolting skis to the feet of her walker, and was on the first trip down the Colorado River after the National Park Service began allowing the disabled to make the arduous journey, family and friends recalled. 

“She was a wildly enthusiastic person, an idealistic person,” said Jory Gessow, an attendant on her river runs. Toth was a regular Friday evening dinner guest at Gessow’s house. 

“She was proud of being a river rat,” said Gessow, raising a flask and drank a toast in her honor. 

“She was the strongest person I’ve ever known,” said Patrick, a friend from her days at the college, “She could see all the injustices of the world, yet she could always see the beauty. It was so beautiful watching her ski. 

“We lost her too soon. I think she just got so depressed that she forgot herself.” 

Then he smiled. “She was such a bad ass,” he chuckled. 

His fellow mourners laughed. 

Toth wasn’t a student of Professor Claudia Carr, but she wandered into her classroom once when she was presenting a slide show, accompanied by recorded tribal music, of hunger-stricken African tribespeople who nonetheless danced. 

She was struck by one of Carr’s photos and asked Carr to bring it and the music out to her gingko tree. They sat quietly, as Toth delighted in the music and the tribe’s ability to celebrate even in adversity. 

After the memorial had ended, Erika Toth talked to a reporter about her daughter. 

Life after graduation had brought its share of disillusion, when prospective employers refused to hire a woman whose speech came slowly and whose body would go into unpredictable spasms. 

“She was trying to find work dealing with environmental issues or doing research for an environmental law firm,” her mother said.  

Then, a few weeks ago, she fell asleep on her couch, stumbled getting up and broke her ankle. After recuperating at her mother’s home in South Lake Tahoe, she returned to Berkeley. 

“She’d had the best time of her life up there, but the Vicodin dragged her down,” her mother said. “And once the depression took hold, no one could reach her.” 

Erika Toth’s own experiences with her daughter and “a wonderful public health nurse” who had cared for Carla inspired her to become a medical social worker, work she plans to continue. 

“I just feel blessed that God gave me her wonderful spirit for the time we had,” she said.›

Father George Crespin abruptly retired from his post as pastor of Berkeley’s St. Joseph The Worker parish last week amid an accusation that he sexually abused a parishioner 30 years ago. 

In a letter read by priests to parishoners Sunday, Crespin denied the charge and questioned the motives of his accuser. 

“Since I know the person making this accusation, I am firmly convinced that this is being done to get money from the church,” he wrote. 

Crespin was out of town for an uncle’s funeral and could not be reached for comment. 

The Diocese of Oakland, which includes Berkeley, refused to disclose the accuser’s gender or specifics about the allegations other than that they were sexual in nature. Diocese officials were also unable to answer which church Crespin was assigned to when the alleged misconduct occurred. Crespin joined St. Joseph’s in 1980, six years after the alleged incident. 

Father Jayson Landeza, pastor of St. Columba’s Church in Oakland, has been named to run St. Joseph’s until church officials find a new pastor, said Father Mark Wiesner, spokesperson for the Oakland diocese. 

Oakland Bishop Allen Vigneron determined last week that the charge against Crespin was “credible,” Wiesner said. In such cases, diocese policy calls for the accused priest to be placed on administrative leave while the diocese conducts an investigation. 

Wiesner said the diocese had reported the allegation to law enforcement, but didn’t expect Crespin to face charges or a lawsuit because the statue of limitations had expired. 

In his letter, Crespin, 69, an ordained priest since 1962, said he had planned to retire within the next two years and chose to do so immediately to spare parishioners a prolonged controversy. 

“I do not want to put the parish or myself through a possibly long protracted process...,” he wrote. 

News of Crespin’s retirement stunned St. Joseph’s 1,600-household congregation. 

“We were all in disbelief,” said Norma Gray, who has attended St. Joseph’s for more than 60 years. “It seems like such a terrible thing to happen for a man with such a distinguished career. Even if he is vindicated this can never be fully erased.” 

Gray said parishioners were committed to sticking together to keep the church strong. “Father [Crespin] was devastated by this,” she said. “We don’t want him to be further devastated by the collapse of the parish.” 

Sharon Girard said she took Crespin at his word. “He’s a man of integrity,” she said. “If he says he has been falsely accused then he’s surely innocent.” 

“I don’t believe it,” said longtime parishioner Charles Robinson. He questioned why someone would press charges 30 years after the alleged abuse took place. 

The Oakland diocese has not been immune to clergy sex scandals that made national headlines in 2002. Currently, the diocese is investigating 44 outstanding sexual misconduct claims against clergymen, Wiesner said. Many of the accusations were made decades after the fact, he added, so several of the priests under investigation are either dead or retired. 

Wiesner said he believed Crespin is eligible to receive his pension while under investigation. Should the inquiry find him guilty, Wiesner said, Bishop Vigneron would decide whether or not to continue providing Crespin with benefits and housing. Crespin will leave his residence at St. Joseph’s and seek accommodations at a local parish, Wiesner said. 

Crespin had been a fixture at St. Joseph’s, which is famous as a bastion of Catholic liberation theology with an emphasis on human rights. Like his longtime colleague and predecessor as pastor, Father Bill O’Donnell, Crespin championed the cause of the poor and oppressed. In 1988, he was the plaintiff in a suit that successfully challenged a State Department of Health Services policy denying MediCal-funded nursing home care to immigrants. 

Born in New Mexico to Mexican-immigrant parents, Crespin was active with local Latino groups, especially in the area of education. In 1995, he partnered with the Multicultural Institute on a program to combat the high drop-out rate for Latinos at Berkeley High. Crespin was also credited with saving St. Joseph’s’ Elementary School, where he helped boost attendance to approximately 124 students this year.à

A former employee at the Oakland Animal Shelter has detailed what she says are systemic abuses by shelter management. The list of wrongdoings include euthanizing dogs that were cleared for adoption, euthanizing dogs without sedatives and in one case mistakenly leaving a live dog in a freezer in a barrel with dead dogs. 

“I just couldn’t be part of that anymore,” said Lori Barnabe, a veterinary technician and animal control officer with Oakland from 1999 through 2004. Barnabe, who now works for an animal hospital in Alameda, detailed her concerns about shelter management to Oakland officials last month in a five-page letter obtained by the Daily Planet. 

“We’re taking these charges very seriously,” said Oakland Deputy City Administrator Niccolo De Luca. He said Oakland Police, which run the shelter, were investigating Barnabe’s accusations and that the city administrator’s office would now take an active role in selecting the shelter’s next director. Last June, former Director Glenn Howell resigned to become Director of Animal Control Services for Contra Costa County. 

In response to the allegations, and the ongoing search for a permanent replacement to Howell, Oakland councilmembers Jane Brunner and Ignacio De La Fuente have called a town-hall meeting Thursday, Feb. 17. 

“We don’t have answers yet, but from what we have seen already in my opinion seems serious and needs serious investigation,” Brunner said. 

Oakland Police and shelter officials did not return phone calls for this story, but are expected to attend the meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at Oakland City Hall. 

In addition to questioning the shelter’s euthanasia practices, Barnabe accused shelter brass of altering critical computer records to hide illegal euthanasias, holding dogs in kennels for cruel lengths of time, violating the rights of residents to retrieve their dogs, releasing stray dogs back to owners unneutered, failing to provide shelter workers with safety gloves, and overall neglect often resulting in unintended animal cruelty. 

“These practices need to be investigated before the hiring process for the shelter top position is complete,” Barnabe concluded in her letter.  

She accused Acting Director and longtime shelter official ReShan McClarty of violating state law governing euthanasia. Last Sept. 26, she wrote, McClarty ordered that 26 dogs be put to sleep even though the shelter had run out of a sedative. Barnabe also charged that the acting director ordered the euthanasia of a dog whose owner had said she would reclaim it.  

Moreover, she wrote, he erased information from computer memos that indicated that a rescue group wanted a particular dog and altered temperament information about the dog, making it seem more violent, after it was euthanized. 

On numerous occasions, she wrote, the shelter supervisor refused to speak to owners of impounded dogs, sometimes resulting in unnecessary boarding frees for owners. In one instance, according to Barnabe, the owner of an aggressive dog impounded by animal control was never given a hearing as required by shelter rules. It was held for over seven months and eventually euthanized, she added. 

A lack of proper procedures endangered both employees and animals at the shelter, Barnabe wrote. Instead of providing shelter workers with disposable rubber gloves when handling animals with communicable diseases like ringworm, scabies and mange, the shelter provided one pair of gloves to be shared by employees. 

Employees, she added, were never reprimanded for mistakes that unintentionally led to animal suffering. In one case, Barnabe wrote that kittens left to the shelter in the night drop box were not retrieved the following day, causing one of them to die from overheating. 

Pam Smith, a volunteer with the group Fix Our Ferals, said shelter management barred her from the shelter last year after she complained about abuses. 

“They’re very worried about their public face,” she said. “Anyone critical of them gets banned.” 

Police traditionally run city animal shelters. Berkeley, which transferred control of its shelter from the BPD to a civilian shelter administrator remains a rare exception. 

›

North Oakland and South Berkeley residents got their first glimpse Saturday of a little-known tribe’s plans to build a major casino next to an environmentally sensitive stretch of shoreline near Oakland International Airport. 

The morning meeting, called by casino foes and Oakland Vice Mayor Jane Brunner, filled the meeting room at Peralta Elementary School at 460 63rd St.  

At the meeting, environmentalist Robert Cheasty vowed to file a lawsuit if the Bureau of Indian Affairs transferred the land to the Koi Rancheria of Pomo tribespeople, which plans a 2,000-slot machine casino on the site. 

“Last summer Jerry Brown asked me to meet with the casino people,” Brunner said, opening the session. “They made two promises. One was that they would never build a casino unless we wanted it, and the other was that it would happen very slowly.” 

Brunner said she was taken by surprise when she learned at Christmas that the Kois were going ahead with the federal environmental impact statement process, with a deadline for all public and official comment of Jan. 22. 

Brunner and four other councilmembers voted on Jan. 11 to oppose the plans of the Koi Rancheria band of Pomos to build their resort complex. Two councilmembers abstained and one was absent. 

The cities of Berkeley, Alameda and San Leandro have joined with Oakland in adopting resolutions against the project, which have no binding force. 

“The major problem is that there is no local jurisdiction or control of the process. Once the land is handed to the tribe, they can do pretty much what they want with it,” Brunner said. 

Tribal chair Daniel Beltran said tribal representatives had met with all members of the City Council to assure them that “your concerns are our concerns. We want to have a positive effect on the community. 

While the tribe has heard from city officials, Beltran said, “we haven’t heard from the community people.” 

The Koi official said the tribe is offering the city an average of $30 million a year, including $5 million for social programs. “This is our sincere offer,” he said. 

Rod Wilson, the tribe’s publicist, offered a Power Point presentation highlighting promises of 2,200 direct jobs with an $80 million annual payroll, purchases of $80 million in goods and services and a $30 million municipal services agreement to reimburse the city for police, fire and other services and to compensate for lost property taxes. 

He also promised mitigations to minimize the impacts of the 2,000-slot machine casino, the 1,000 seat entertainment venue and the four or five restaurants and accompanying luxury hotel which would be built on the protected clapper rail habitat. 

None of these promised seemed to impress Assemblymember Loni Hancock, who has emerged as a leading opponent of urban gambling and recently held her own forum on plans for a 2,500-slot casino at the site of the present San Pablo Casino cardroom. 

“Former Lieutenant Gov. Leo McCarthy led the opposition to Proposition 1A, the ballot measure that allowed Indian gambling in California on the basis that it would open up urban gambling with Las Vegas style casinos. This is precisely what is happening now,” she said. 

Hancock urged Oakland officials to get every promise made by the tribe written in contractual form. She cited the example of the changed plans at San Pablo Casino, which is run by the Lytton Pomo Band. 

She said the Lytton Pomo Band had originally promised that they would only remove the card tables in San Pablo and replace them with slot machines. Then the tribe negotiated a pact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year calling for a 5,000-slot casino which outraged legislators then stalled. That pact didn’t spell out any obligations to the city or to Contra Costa County that couldn’t be eliminated by the State Director of Finance. 

The new proposal, calling for a 2,500-slot casino includes county benefits, but none for hospitals or schools—the latter not mentioned in any California gambling compact. 

Hancock also noted that the Lyttons had promised 6,000 jobs with the 5,000-slot proposal and are promising the same with the new version, even though it has only half the slots. 

In addition, she said, tribal casinos give about 30 percent of casino earnings to the Nevada firms that operate the gaming floors. 

Cheasty, representing Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP, formerly Citizens for the Eastshore State Park), the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club, said the lights, traffic and noise generated by the casino and the rats drawn by garbage pose an extraordinary threat to the shoreline park directly adjacent to the casino site. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline Park, he said, is the most successful habitat for the clapper rail, a bird that once ranged along the whole California coastline and is now confined to the San Francisco Bay and Suisun Marsh. 

The casino would amount to the end of the habitat, Cheasty said.  

“Do you think Martin Luther King Jr. would’ve wanted this kind of development? This is exactly the kind of impact we don’t want if we’re to preserve this endangered bird,” Cheasty said. 

“CESP has sued Harrah’s over the proposed Point Molate casino in Richmond, and if this casino is approved, we will sue to protect the clapper rail,” he continued. “They’re the ones that will disappear when we bring in this kind of development.” 

Richard Elgin of the Oakland City Attorney’s office questioned whether the Kois had had historical connection with the shoreline at all. “The Ohlones claim that they should be the proper tribe,” he said. 

Elgin also voiced his concern that the casino would fall under the jurisdiction of the federal environmental process, which lacks the California Environmental Quality Act’s (CEQA) ability to force a developer to mitigate adverse impacts resulting from a project. 

In addition, he mused, “The tribe says they are willing to give $30 million, but how much money will be going out of Oakland that might otherwise go to other jobs and business. Would it be draining hundreds of millions from our community?” 

The public comment period that followed revealed strong opposition and very little support from those who had come to watch. 

“Now I get to say ‘I told you so,’” said playwright Judith Offer, who wrote a musical three years ago about a casino coming to Oakland. 

George Logan, a retired UC Berkeley economist, said that the promised jobs weren’t likely to offset the loss of local funds that would flow to Nevada casino operators. 

San Francisco Director of Environmental Health Rajiv Bhatia said that casinos produce lingering health impacts on the community and urged Brunner and the council to try to bring the project under CEQA to authorize a social impact study.

An early windfall courtesy of Sacramento and Wall Street could erase a chunk of the city’s looming budget deficit. 

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, councilmembers are expected to accept a plan to receive nearly $1.7 million in vehicle license fees that Gov. Schwarzenegger withheld from cities last year. 

If approved, the move would trim Berkeley’s projected deficit from $7.5 million to about $5.8 million. City Manager Phil Kamlarz said he is recommending that the money go towards street repairs and a new police computer system. 

California cities were due to receive the vehicle license refund next year. However, the state has offered to reimburse cities most of the money right away by selling bonds. Under the proposal, bondholders would pay the cities as early as the end of February and the state would then pay back the bondholders. 

“We don’t trust the state to give it to us,” said Cisco De Vries, aide to Mayor Tom Bates. “This way we get it for sure.” 

As a price for early delivery the city must pay for bond insurance costs and other fees reducing the total payout from $1.77 million to more than $1.65 million. 

With the fiscal year more than half over, the budget will take center stage at Tuesday’s meeting. At a 5 p.m. work session, City Manager Phil Kamlarz will update the status of the city’s workers compensation payments, pension funds for police and fire department employees, and vacation and sick leave for city workers. 

Long criticized for its runaway costs, the workers compensation program has seen a drop in both lost time and injuries over the past year, according to a report by Acting Director of Human Resources David Hodgkins. However, the report found that workers compensation costs in Berkeley remained higher than in most comparable cities. 

From 1997 through 2002 Berkeley averaged 55.2 claims per 1,000 employees, about 12 percent more than comparable cities, according to a Bickmore Risk Services actuarial report. By comparison, Fremont faced 47.5 claims and Pleasanton 45.4 per 1,000 employees. Berkeley lost an average of $1,850 per employee, compared to $1,387 for Fremont and $1,322 for Pleasanton. 

According to the report, city employees filed 44 fewer claims in the first quarter of fiscal year 2005 than in the first quarter of 2004, and the city reduced the average cost per claim from $6,816 in 2003 to $4,861 last year. 

The city has also hired a consultant, Innovative Claim Solutions, to review 178 long-standing cases, some of which go back decades. 

Also Tuesday, the council is scheduled to continue prioritizing which projects to fund over the next two years.  

Outside of budgetary issues, the council will consider a resolution opposing casinos in the Bay Area. The council’s opposition would be symbolic since the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has the final say over casinos owned by Native American tribes.

A memorial service for Karl Linn is planned for March 20 at Northbrae Community Church on The Alameda in Berkeley from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Linn, one of the founders of a series of community gardens in West Berkeley, died last week at the age of 81. 

Those interested in making donations in Linn’s name to support his work are encouraged to make checks out to “Berkeley Partners for Parks” with “Friends of the Westbrae Commons.” 

Berkeley Partners for Parks is a nonprofit agency and the fiscal agent for the Westbrae gardens and greenway projects.  

Donations should be mailed to P.O. Box 13673, Berkeley, 94712.

The City Council Monday named Sara Cox as Berkeley’s new city clerk. 

City Manager Phil Kamlarz recommended Cox, who has been serving as the city’s acting clerk since Sherry Kelly retired last December, after a nationwide search. 

“Sara has a good knowledge of Berkeley and understands the community value of being fair to everyone,” Kamlarz said. He added that Cox was one of seven finalists for the clerk job, out of nearly 40 applicants, which included clerks from other cities. 

“I’m extremely honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the community,” Cox said. 

Cox, who has a law degree and a master’s in library science, began working in Berkeley four years ago as deputy city clerk. Her appointment to the top post won’t be official until the council makes a formal vote at next week’s meeting. 

As city clerk Cox will be responsible for managing city documents, researching inquiries, recording City Council and commission happenings and managing elections—a particularly time-consuming chore in a city with numerous elected offices and a penchant for citizen-intiated ballot measures. 

Cox replaces Kelly, who won wide praise for working some of the longest hours in City Hall to dispense information to the public. 

“I know it’s going to be a challenge following in Sherry Kelly’s footsteps,” Cox said. Her top priorities, she said, would be overseeing an online history of council actions dating back to the beginning of the 20th century and automating the system for formulating current council agendas.  

Cox hoped the new council agenda system and some staff restructuring will ultimately keep her from putting in the same hours as Kelly. 

“I kept hoping maybe there was an easier way to do the job, but so far that hasn’t been the case,” she said. Budget cuts have trimmed the clerk’s office to 11 employees, from 15 when Cox arrived in 2001. 

After promoting Cox to the top post, several councilmembers were sympathetic about her workload. 

“It’s a really killer job,” said Councilmember Dona Spring. “We’ve got to figure out how to restructure it otherwise we’ll keep burning people out.”¢

There were few dry handkerchiefs Friday evening as Berkeley firefighters said their final goodbyes to their loyal partner and best friend. 

Dylan, the department’s search and rescue dog since 1998, was put to sleep last month after battling a degenerative spine condition for the past year. 

“Dylan set the standard for how to do our job,” said Chief Debra Pryor. “He was well groomed, ready for work and never had a hair out of place.” 

While many of the testimonials Friday were tongue-in-cheek, firefighters who knew Dylan, a 10-year-old German Shepherd, came to his memorial with a heavy heart. 

The memorial at Berkeley High’s Little Theater, attended by about 200 people, was identical to services given to deceased human firefighters. A bagpiper led a procession of firefighters to the auditorium. On a table, sat a portrait of Dylan, an American flag, his leash and collar, and pictures of the rescue dog in action. Members of Dylan’s team at Fire Station No. 5 tolled a bell for him and presented his handler Darren Bobrosky, with Dylan’s badge wrapped inside an American flag.  

Most of those in attendance were area firefighters and their friends. Dr. Dennis Hacker, Dylan’s eye doctor, said he would miss his patient and marveled at the number of firefighters at the event, including on duty officers standing at the door waiting for a call. 

“I hope I have this many people at my funeral,” he said. 

“He was a member of our Fire Department,” said Scott McKinney, a Berkeley firefighter explaining why the department chose to give its dog such a regal goodbye. “He’d do his best to do his job just the way we do our best to do our job,” he said. 

“What made Dylan stand out was his desire to do the work,” said Bobrosky, an apparatus operator, who trains search dogs as a hobby. “He loved to search.” 

Bobrosky realized Dylan’s potential and worked to sell former Fire Chief Reginald Garcia and the City Council on making Dylan a member of the team. 

The city had forbidden police dogs for years, so Bobrosky took Dylan to the council to prove he was a different breed. 

“I think the fact that Dylan laid on his rug the whole time really impressed them,” Bobrosky said. The council agreed to accept Dylan so long as Bobrosky paid the costs. Later, the city would pick up the tab for some trainings and veterinarian bills. 

In perhaps his biggest assignment, Dylan was dispatched to Ground Zero shortly after Sept. 11, 2001 to search for possible survivors.  

Dylan didn’t find any survivors among the wreckage as he was trained to do. However, Bobrosky said that if the opportunity had arisen, Dylan would have been up to the task. “It would have been a no brainer,” he said. “He would have treated it like it was just another training session.” 

Bobrosky spent many of his off-days with Dylan practicing search and rescue techniques at rubble yards. In 2002, Dylan was the only dog to find all six victims at his state recertification test, Bobrosky said. 

With few calls for a search and rescue dog, much of Dylan’s duties involved being the department’s ambassador to the community, Bobrosky said. Dylan starred at school assemblies and senior homes, Bobrosky said. He even served as the Grand Marshal in the Solano Stroll. 

He also boosted morale around the firehouse, firefighters said. “Dylan and I had a special rapport,” said Lt. George Fisher, who until last year served as Dylan’s commanding officer. “He’d peek into my room, run in, bite my sheets and growl, and then race out.” 

Fisher said he was the only one who could get the famously well-tempered dog riled up. “I’d whisper in his ear and he’d go wild,” he said. “The guys would all ask what I was saying to him, but I said, ‘It’s between me and the dog.’” 

As his illness, first diagnosed in 2003, progressed to the point that he lost control of his hind legs, Dylan earned admiration for his toughness. “He’d try to drag himself over to the table to be with guys,” recalled Firefighter Paul Cavagnaro. “He didn’t work the last year, but we still loved having him around.” 

Bobrosky said the decision to put Dylan to sleep was the hardest he ever had to make. “He just couldn’t live with the dignity he deserved,” he said.  

Bobrosky is now busy training a possible successor to Dylan. 

Diesel, a three-year-old Rottweiler, has impressed his master with uncanny agility and quickness. If he comes along at the current pace, Bobrosky said, Diesel could be certified in the next 18 months. 

“He’s coming along pretty well,” he said. “But Dylan, he was truly one of a kind.” 

w

A controversial proposal to develop Laney College properties and the Peralta Colleges Administration Building land ran into a significant setback last week when a meeting designed to win over Laney College support instead appeared to stiffen opposition. 

In addition, Oakland developer Alan Dones’ proposed changes in the proposal now bring it into direct conflict with funded development plans already in place for Laney College’s Art Annex. 

Following the meeting, Laney College Athletic Director and former Faculty Senate President Stan Peters said there was “absolutely no support on the Laney campus” for Dones’ proposed development project, and members of the Laney Faculty Senate began circulating a petition on campus which urged the district to “enter into no contracts or compacts to develop [Laney] land or use the facilities for non-college purposes” until the district has developed a strategic education, facilities, and land use plan. 

In a plan presented to the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees last November, Dones proposed putting a high-rise parking facility and a multi-agency administrative complex along the west side of East 8th Street on land currently occupied by Laney faculty and student parking, a “possible medical center” and residential development on land currently occupied by the Peralta Administration offices on East 8th and 5th Avenue, and setting aside the Laney baseball and softball fields as a “future planning area.” 

Peralta’s outgoing Board of Trustees—four of whom chose not to run for re-election last November—voted to authorize Chancellor Elihu Harris to enter into a one-year contract with Dones’ Strategic Urban Development Alliance (SUDA). But last month, after Laney College faculty and student representatives complained that they had never been consulted on the Dones proposal and announced particular opposition to any development of the athletic fields, Harris said he was not ready to enter into the authorized contract negotiations with SUDA, calling them “premature.” 

Dones later said in a telephone interview that opposition to the Laney athletic fields development was due to a “misunderstanding,” and that his company never planned to propose anything more than enhancing the athletic use of the fields. 

Last week, after admitting he had erred in not consulting with Laney representatives before bringing his proposal to the Peralta trustees, Dones held an open meeting at the Laney campus with faculty, staff, students and “members of the community” to try to repair the damage. According to reports from some meeting participants, it did not work. 

“Nothing he showed us was of benefit to the college,” said Laney Faculty Senate President Evelyn Lord. She added that “he’s got so many things in his proposal, it looks far beyond what the limited available land can support.” 

In a presentation, Dones listed a “mixed use parking structure” for the existing faculty and student parking lot as originally presented in November to the Peralta trustees. But the presentation also proposed—and Lord and Peters said that Dones emphasized—placing a high-rise student/faculty parking structure in another location: the existing tennis courts at the southeast corner of the campus on East 10th Street. 

The problem is, last year the Peralta District approved construction of a $7.4 million art annex building on that same tennis court location. An architect and construction manager are already hired, and construction is scheduled to be completed in January of 2006. Construction of the art annex is necessary because CalTrans needs the land housing the present annex for use as a staging area during an upcoming I-880 freeway retrofit project. 

“If you don’t include the art annex construction in the proposal, the rest of the discussion is moot,” athletic director Peters said. 

Faculty Senate President Lord said that Dones acknowledged the conflict with the art annex at the meeting, but his solution was to ask meeting participants to lobby district officials to try to halt the art annex construction. She thought that was a dead end. “He admitted this was coming at the 11th hour,” she said. “I suspect this is past the 11th hour to try to change those types of plans.” 

Lord also accused the developer of being disingenuous in the presentation of his plans to Laney representatives. “He presented the proposed Peralta Administration Building development to us as ‘health care facilities,’” she said. “But in an ad he put out last week in a local newspaper, he said he was going to put a hospital on that land. That set off alarm bells. A hospital would have a huge impact on the Laney campus.” 

Lord said that Laney faculty members were not automatically opposed to any development on Laney lands, just to the particular development proposed by Dones. Both she and Peters agreed that an expanded parking facility was a critical need for the college. “We support a high-rise parking facility,” Lord said. “We just don’t want it on the location [Dones] is now proposing, the site of the new art annex.”  

Peters, who helped lead a successful effort a decade ago to halt plans by Kaiser Hospital to build a medical facility on Laney lands, said that he was going to fight for three principles in any Laney development: “it has to include sufficient parking for now and the future, it has to be compatible with our educational mission, and Laney has to get a bigger share of the proceeds in return for giving up any of our land.”  

In addition, Peters said another reason for his opposition is that approval of the Dones plans would block off any future expansion of Laney’s educational facilities. “We really have too many campuses in the district,” Peters said. “One possible way to correct that imbalance would be to close Merritt College and expand Laney’s campus. But the only place for Laney to expand is in the parking lot and the district administration building.” 

Dones was not available for comment for this article. 

Dones’ new proposals also failed to get the support of Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT) president Michael Mills, who attended the Laney meeting. 

“PFT does not have a position on SUDA’s proposal,” Mills said. “Our position is that the Trustee Board’s original actions in authorizing the SUDA contract were improper. The contract should have been put out to bid.” Mills said that because of the union’s position, he has resisted Dones’ request for a meeting with union representatives to discuss the proposal. “I’m not going to have a sit-down with him,” Mills said. “I’m not going to legitimize the process.” 

Lord said that Dones presented no plans at the end of the Laney meeting as to what the next step in the process would be, but the faculty senate president said “we’re not waiting for him. We’re not going to sit passively back to see what happens.” 

Lord said that she expected representatives of Laney College’s faculty, staff, administration, and students to meet sometime in the near future to plan strategies to block the development proposal. “Our real goal is to get the trustees to rescind their action in approving the SUDA contract negotiations,” she said.›

Planning commissioners will conduct their third hearing Wednesday on plans to build a second Berkeley Bowl near the heavily traveled intersection of Ashby Avenue and Ninth Street. 

The proposal, which calls for two buildings totaling 91,060 square feet, has roused opposition from area residents who fear the additional traffic the store will generate, the loss of parking spaces on nearby streets and the loss of Mixed Use-Light Industrial [MU-LI] land in West Berkeley. 

The project’s architecture has earned the praise of the city’s Design Review Committee and city planning staff have prepared a mitigated negative declaration on the project which finds that potential adverse impacts can be fully addressed without the need for an environmental impact report. 

Before the project can be moved forward, planning commissioners must first rezone the site from MU-LI to Avenue Commercial and amend the West Berkeley Plan, which calls for retention of all MU-LI-zoned property. 

Planning commissioners held hearings on Dec. 15, Jan. 12 and Jan. 26—the last session producing two hours of public comments, mostly negative. 

One of the most frequently raised concerns is that the intrusion of more commercial uses into the neighborhood will drive up rents, driving out the substantial community of artists who live and work in the area. 

West Berkeley is home to the city’s largest concentration of working artists and craftspeople, many of whom fear that economic pressures will drive them out of the city. 

Other residents welcome the opportunity to buy groceries in their own neighborhood. 

The 2.3-acre site at 920 Heinz Ave. currently houses vacant buildings and an asphalt business. 

Berkeley Bowl owner Glen Yasuda has testified that if he is denied the opportunity to build at the site, he will scout out another West Berkeley location and try again. 

A traffic engineering study estimated that the store would generate an additional 3,800 vehicle trips to the neighborhood, most concentrated on Ashby and San Pablo avenues. 

The proposal has drawn the concern of officials of the Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley—more commonly known as the French School—who fear that the additional traffic generated on Heinz Avenue may pose a safety threat to the 503 students who regularly attend class there. 

Wednesday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the North Berkeley Senior Center at 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Planning commissioners will also hold another in their ongoing discussions of proposed changes to the city Landmarks Preservation Ordinance and the accompanying changes to the city Zoning Ordinance. 

ZAB Postponed  

Because Thursday is a non-working day for city officials (a cost-cutting measure to help close the city’s budget gap), the Zoning Adjustments Board meeting normally scheduled for that date has been postponed until 7 p.m. Monday. 

ZAB meets in the second floor City Council chambers in the old city hall building at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

Following approvals by the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, marsh excavations have resumed at the waterfront edge of Richmond’s Campus Bay. 

Work on Stege Marsh had stopped on Feb. 1, a deadline set to ensure that the endangered clapper rail shorebird could nest and reproduce at the site. 

But the excavation of contaminated marsh sediments being conducted by Cherokee Simeon ventures hadn’t concluded as planned, and the developer sought a 30-day continuance. 

With the approval of the two federal agencies, work has resumed under the supervision of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. 

The new deadline for finishing the excavations and replacing the contaminated muck with clean fill soil is March 1. 

Cherokee-Simeon hopes to build a 1,330-unit housing project on the upland portion of the site directly over a landfill containing 350,000 cubic yards of toxics-contaminated soil and building materials created during the site’s century of use as the site of chemical manufacturing operations. 

—Richard Brenneman

MONSTROSITIES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Whose idea, and to whose certain benefit, is it to build towering monstrosities on every existing open space and others opened by tear-downs in Berkeley? Whose privilege is it to decide? 

Certainly not the citizens of Berkeley, because the City Council never asked us, the ones who live here. It’s time we, the residents, took stock of what is happening and demanded a stop to the terminal desecration of our city. 

Dorothy V. Benson 

• 

TAKE DOWN THE PLASTIC 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It’s not as if there is excess space in our schoolyards. At the high school, the open spaces east of the H building have been fenced off since school began. First for construction, yet, while construction ended in October, the grass is still fenced off in orange plastic fencing. The grass is now getting leggy and needs mowing, and dandelions and other weeds have sprouted. 

Willard has suffered the same fate. Its grassy areas and large parts of its garden are also fenced off in orange plastic. The fence around the grass at Washington School came down quickly after a recent letter to the editor commented on it. 

Is the new BUSD policy “No child allowed on the grass”? Shouldn’t it be instead “Schoolyards are for students”? Please take those ugly orange plastic fences down! 

B. Schwartz 

• 

DIVERSIFY COVERAGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As I’ve been reading the Planet ever since its inception, I’m delighted with its constant improvement. However, I must admit being tired of reading about the use and/or abuse of Berkeley’s land. For example, the first few pages of the Jan. 28-31 issue cover the same old stories —the West Berkeley Bowl, the San Pablo Casino, the Derby Street site, the Marin Avenue auto lanes, the law suit against the university, and Caltrans’ plan for the Caldecott Tunnel. These stories may be of interest to the people involved, but they are much too long and drawn out for most of us. A short summary of what happened in the last few days would be enough. 

I would rather see more space filled with human-interest stories—of entrepreneurs like the one on page seven about Rajen and Bijaya Thapa and their new “Taste of the Himalayas” restaurant. Or on page 13, Dorothy Bryant’s article about Lewis Suzuki’s paintings and the gallery he and his wife Mary run. Or Matthew Artz’s recent interview with Mark Tarses, the chocolate-making landlord. I love Susan Parker’s very personal column, especially when she talks about life with her disabled husband, Ralph. And, talking about disability, a story about courageous Dona Spring, our disabled city councilmember, would be most enlightening. 

Rose M. Green 

• 

INSIDE THE BUILDINGS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

There is something wrong with this picture. 

Almost daily we read reports that there is not enough money for teachers, supplies and resources for our public schools. Yet, in a 10-minute drive from my home, in central Berkeley, I can pass eight elementary, junior high and high schools which have either been demolished and rebuilt or completely renovated. Some are still in progress. These are multi-million dollar building projects. 

After the recent elections, the Berkeley Public Library system, even though it receives an equal amount as the schools from our property taxes, announced it was cutting back both hours and employees for lack of funds. But only last year a multi-million dollar project to completely renovate and build an addition to the main library was completed. 

It seem we are concentrating on the buildings instead of what goes on inside them. 

Norma Gray 

• 

MAINSTREAM PRESS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Just checking: 

Recently, reporting on the Davos Economic Summit, the BBC World Service had two interesting spots: 

1. Tony Blair saying clearly that if the U.S. expects the rest of the world to help on terrorism, the rest of the world can expect the U.S. to help on global warming (the acceleration of which mentioned in a set-up). 

2. Bill Clinton saying that with a fraction of the money going into the bottomless sink of Iraq, the U.S. could help all of Africa out of poverty and disease. 

Did these statements make it anywhere into the U.S. press, readers?  

Thank God for our little planetary paper! 

Senta Pugh Chamberlain 

• 

WEST BERKELEY BOWL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The development of new West Berkeley Bowl would be a great benefit to West Berkeley. The area considered for development is basically underdeveloped, mostly disused industrial space. The neighbors who supposedly are against this scale of development have a very limited view of Berkeley and reflect the view of a very small minority of people who basically against change of any kind. 

I live in West Berkeley, my business is in West Berkeley and my kids go to public school in West Berkeley. This is my back yard for most of my life. I’ve seen growth and new families moving in. It’s been a gradual, positive change and I think most folks living here by far look forward to these new developments. 

Glenn Yasuda’s plans will bring life to an area that sits dormant. It will bring a much needed additional grocery store to an area that has very limited shopping options and it will enhance the other businesses in the area. And, he’s not some big chain, he’s local and committed to Berkeley. What city wouldn’t die to have a Berkeley Bowl complex like this available to them? 

In response to the “riled neighbors” here’s what I’d say: 

• Size and traffic. The impact of this store and it’s site will have very limited impact. Just look at the new Target store in Albany. Contrary to my own fears that 200,000-square-foot store has not generated massive traffic jams. And the circulation around the West Berkeley Bowl site is even better. 

• Losing industry. Berkeley, as well as Oakland, Richmond, Emeryville and many other cities, is losing industry. It’s a 60-year historic trend. We need to face the fact that new locating industry, light or otherwise, is generally economically and environmentally impractical. Who wants giant trucks and a warehouse near by anyway? This is a fantasy by a group of folks in Berkeley. Not to mention the vast majority of remaining blue collar jobs in Berkeley go to people who do not live in Berkeley! 

• What about the new jobs the store will create by the way? And the positive impact on small stores and cafes in the area that will reap the benefit of new customers traveling through a once dead zone. 

• Artists losing out. Well I don’t know about this. Who can say whether artists should be located in one place over another? How do you “determine” the impact on artists? This is darn near impossible. And I bet lots of organically oriented artists are going to be buying food at the Bowl. 

Let’s not only accept this project let’s welcome the positive change to the neighborhood and the ability to bring more healthy food outlets to Berkeley. 

I say let’s move forward on this and keep in mind the majority of people, like me, who are looking forward to this great new store. 

Steven Donaldson 

• 

HURRAH FOR WEST BOWL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a long time resident of West Berkeley, I had one response when I heard that Berkeley Bowl was planning to build a new store in my neighborhood: Hurrah! 

In my opinion, this is the highest use of this property; I can think of no other development which could bring so much good to so many people. Currently, the only full service grocery store we have is an Andronico’s on University, and bless ‘em for being in our neighborhood at all, it just isn’t the same. The idea that I wouldn’t have to use fossil fuels to go shopping on the other side of town is compelling, as well. And any business that brings decent citizens to my neighborhood instead of hookers and drug dealers is all right with me, too. 

Christine Staples 

• 

SLIM CHANCE FOR PEACE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Tell the truth, you invented the Avraham Sonenthal character (Letters, Daily Planet, Jan. 28-31). There could not be such a living human being. The Kach party is not virulently anti-Arab, but all Arabs must disappear from the State of Israel. You’re kidding, right? That statement is too ridiculous to be taken seriously.  Becky, you will have to do better if you want to be believed. 

The Sonenthal character flatly states that Arabs see the State of Israel as “erroneously” robbing him of his land. Of course, all historical research of any consequence bears out the fact that many Arabs were evicted from their land by the Israeli’s and/or the Israeli State. But never mind the facts. Any statement to arrive at a pre-ordained conclusion. It’s almost as if Karl Rove were directing the Kach propaganda machine. 

This is one American Jew (by Sonenthal’s definition) who is tired of all that shit. Kach is a collection of liars and madmen, quite similar to the Moslem extremists that think blowing up civilians is a cool kind of politics.   

Face facts: The until-recently-current Israeli government has committed stupid atrocities and over-reacted to Arab provocations. Israel has been less safe from the time Sharon took power then it ever was before. Recently, however, Sharon seems to have come to at least a part of his senses, brought Labor back into the government and started dealing with the Palestinian Authority in a realistic manner. 

Maybe, just maybe, there is finally a slim chance for peace. 

Mal Burnstein 

• 

MEASURE R 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I would like to thank you and Debby Goldsberry for last month’s commentary piece revisiting Measure R. As a disabled Berkeley resident and medical cannabis patient, I was disappointed that Measure R did not receive more support from voters, and equally disappointed at previous poor, misinformed judgments and lack of action by the mayor and city council which prompted this ballot measure. 

While the various election and counting procedures mentioned in the article were informative and noteworthy, in my opinion the recount efforts are somewhat futile since at least half the Berkeley voters voted against Measure R. Unfortunately, the ballot measure was hastily (and therefore perhaps poorly) written and received scant or no support from BCC, city officials, and neighborhood groups. My own picture was sent on a flyer to thousands of Berkeley voters without the time to include my own personally written reasons for supporting the measure. The campaign backers hoped Measure R would be passed as a simple referendum on medial cannabis. I disagreed with this strategy and would have preferred a more informative and upfront campaign. 

At the end of the proverbial day, medical cannabis patients like myself attempting to grow their own medicine, are simply breaking the law in Berkeley. I know of several medical cannabis patients, disabled or otherwise, who are fearful for their job security and community standing due to their use of cannabis as a medicine because of Measure R’s defeat. To my way of thinking, in Berkeley now there is indeed a less compassionate and hostile climate toward medical cannabis fostered by misinformation and political inaction and reaction. Earlier last year when the mayor and BCC refused to heed recommendations from the Alliance of Berkeley Patients (dispensary owners) and other patient advocates like myself, signatures were gathered for the ballot measure. The mayor and BCC had expressed fears of large “grow warehouses” and “a parade of pot clubs.” Their reaction to Measure R getting on the ballot was after the summer recess limiting the number of Berkeley dispensaries to three. “The solution in search of a problem,” as Kriss Worthington so aptly quipped. 

Around half (and maybe more) the Berkeley voters supported Measure R. For this reason, I believe our elected officials, medical cannabis dispensary owners, and other knowledgeable patient advocates should begin a new dialogue this year. Why should the Berkeley Municipal Code be stricter on medical cannabis patients than Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma County? 

Charles Pappas 

• 

TOWN VS. GOWN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Which is more important: bridging a short-term budget gap, or resolving an increasingly expensive, long-term problem? Looked at in purely fiscal terms, the City Council is now facing that choice in deciding its response to the university’s 2020 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP). The city will probably file a lawsuit challenging the 2020 LRDP, but many fear that this may simply be a maneuver to get more money from UC in Mayor Bates’ backroom negotiations with the university. In a time of budget shortfall, people fear that a few million dollars from UC may appeal to the City Council. But “selling out” to UC would be a fiscal disaster. 

The city has identified UC’s ongoing annual cost to the city as over $11 million per year. That would add up to $161 million by 2020, although naturally the costs won’t stop then. Although the legitimacy and sustainability of this subsidy is questionable, let’s call this gift to our wealthy friend our “good neighbor” subsidy, because this figure only covers costs for normal city services and assumes that the university is a good citizen like everyone else and does no special damage to those around it.  

But the university damages its neighbors in ways that are not permitted for any other municipal citizen. The $11 million per year does not include any compensation for past, present, or future damage to Berkeley caused by UC expansion—even assuming that Berkeley citizens were in a mood to “sell” their quality of life and ultimately their city to the university for some additional sum. This part of the equation we can call the “bad neighbor” subsidy, and it appears in both reduced quality of life and fiscal impacts. It is totally different and distinct from the “good neighbor” subsidy, and even less justifiable. 

Loss of livability and long-term fiscal impacts are less direct, less quantifiable, and less observable than an immediate budget shortfall, but they diminish every budget, every service, every program, every goal, and every civic improvement Berkeley tries to provide, now and forever. Some effects will be obvious: the increasing traffic all over town and the damage to neighborhoods around the core campus, for example. But nobody will ever point to some youth program we couldn’t afford, or an unrealized improvement in south Berkeley, or the accumulating drab on University and Telegraph Avenues, or the decline of businesses and family housing, or a new fee on their tax bills, and say, “This is because of UC expansion.” But that is exactly where the costs appear, and over time they add up to hundreds of millions of dollars of increased expenses and lost opportunities. It’s simple math: When UC expands, city services for other citizens decline. 

That is why the only fiscally responsible approach is to address the university’s LRDP in a way that radically and forever changes UC’s behavior. It will be a very tough fight, but we must demand no less from our mayor and City Council. 

Doug Buckwald 

• 

PIONEERING EFFORTS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Matthew Artz’s informative article on Berkeley’s “storied tradition as a national springboard for political innovation” (“Berkeley: The Left’s Test Lab,” Daily Planet, Feb. 4-7) inadvertently omitted several other significant city initiatives, some of which later served as models for U.S. cities nationwide. 

Perhaps one of Berkeley’s most important and pioneering policy initiatives was the city’s role in establishing—in conduction with the Ecology Center—the nation’s first curbside recycling program. Today, curbside recycling is a standard program in nearly every major U.S. city. 

In 2002, Berkeley established the nation’s first 24-hour, universal emergency wheelchair repair program to serve the city’s disabled community. 

Also, Berkeley is one of the few cities of its population size (120,000 or less) to establish its own city Health Department with a network of health clinics to serve the city’s low income citizens on a sliding scale basis. 

These city programs reflect the deep generosity of Berkeley’s residents, and the city’s strong social democratic/justice tradition. 

Hopefully, at some point in the near future, Berkeley voters will pass a “clean money” election campaign reform measure removing special interest/corporate money from city elections. Given that Maine and Arizona have already passed and implemented similar clean money measures, Berkeley, unfortunately, won’t be able to claim a pioneering role.  

Chris Kavanagh 

• 

DERBY STREET FIELD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing to ask the people who are pushing a construction of a hardball field at the East Campus Site on Derby Street to pick another spot. My neighborhood is already heavily occupied. We have Berkeley Bowl, Iceland, the Farmers’ Market, King CDC, and Berkeley Alternative High to name a few. There have been numerous occasions where I could not concentrate on my schoolwork or fall asleep because of the noise level in our neighborhood. A huge baseball stadium complete with lights, night games, and cheering crowds would ensure that I, a Berkeley High student, wouldn’t get any level of peace and quiet.  

Let’s take an example of a residential baseball field in which the planners were disrespectful of neighborhood concerns: the San Pablo Park ballfield. I know of neighbors living adjacent to San Pablo Park who have had to leave their house because of the absence of peace and quiet in their neighborhood. Hardball fields in residential neighborhoods don’t mix. 

Supporters of the Derby Street ballfield contend that the neighbors are anti-youth and out of touch with Berkeley community. Well, I am a neighbor and I go to Berkeley High, but I know that a hardball field doesn’t belong in a residential neighborhood. 

I agree that the demolition of the East Campus buildings has been long overdue, but to build a regulation-size baseball stadium is nothing of a compromise. Perhaps they should leave it how it is until think of a plan that is more agreeable. 

Rio Bauce 

• 

DAVID BROWER CENTER 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thank you for writing about the David Brower Center. Based upon the plans presented, I think that the Brower Center will be a nationally-recognized facility that will be a model for others throughout the country. The proposal is creative, and builds upon many of Berkeley’s greatest strengths. David Brower was a man of unusual wisdom and vision. A state-of-the-art green building at the edge of the campus would be a profound monument to Berkeley’s long-time resident and one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century.  

Michael Green 

• 

CITY BUDGET CRISIS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

City of Berkeley employees earn two weeks of vacation annually and three weeks of vacations starting the fourth year. In addition, they receive 13 regular paid holidays, three floating holidays and 12 days of sick leave annually.  

City employees are allowed to carry over 320 vacation hours to next year. For hours in excess of the 320 hour limit, the city pays its employees at their current salary rate. Therefore, many employees receive thousands of dollars at each year-end due to this unusual policy. 

In contrast, employees at federal agencies, UC Berkeley and the City of San Francisco do not get paid for their excess vacation leave. Their excess leave is use-or-lose.  

If City of Berkeley also adopts a use-or-lose vacation leave policy, it will definitely help solve city’s budget crisis. 

Janet Fricker 

• 

CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Many people should understand that Conservative Christians had been and still are racist reactionaries who use their faith to promote their racist agendas. For example, 40 years ago, these people who claim to be people of faith, were against sharing the water fountain with African Americans in the South. They also didn’t want African Americans into both their swimming pool and beaches. 

Plus, Conservative Christians lynched black men who either dated or married their daughters. They were and still are against the civil rights movement. They are pushing for George W. Bush’s conservative judges to fill future vacant seats on the Supreme Court. These judges will roll back American Indian sovereignty, environmental and civil rights laws. 

Finally, Conservative Christians might pick African American and Latinos as allies in their fight against gay marriage but these same Conservative Christians don’t want these African American men to either date or marry their daughters. In conclusion, many people should beware of the racist agendas that Conservative Christians are promoting, in the name of their faith. 

Billy Trice, Jr. 

Oakland?

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Three days before Christmas I had to fire the two people who helped me with my husband’s care. I broke out in hives the moment I asked them to leave. It was not a good sign.  

I was expecting 17 people for dinner on Christmas day. I was planning to go back east after the holidays for a long visit. I didn’t know how I could do all this and take care of Ralph. The hives were hot and they made me itch. The last time I had suffered from this affliction had been 35 years ago when my first boyfriend dumped me. I hadn’t quite gotten over that experience and now I was faced with this new dilemma. I was worried, scared, and covered in red bumps. 

So I did the only thing I could think of: I called the person I had fired two years ago and asked him to come back. That would be Jerry, the man who came to live with us six months after Ralph’s accident. We had gotten along great for many years, but like most situations in which unlike people live together in close proximity, we had grown peevish, cranky, and intolerant of one another. Nine years into our employer/employee relationship we called it quits. It was not an amicable break-up, but by then Jerry had a place of his own in which to live, and Ralph and I had found new help. 

For the next two years we saw Jerry occasionally and even employed him a few times when our current live-ins didn’t meet their responsibilities. He was subsisting on Social Security and weekly hand-outs from nearby churches. He had lost weight and his hair had grown gray.  

Jerry said he could help. He came into our home and took over. My hives went away. I hung a wreath on the front door, roasted two turkeys, and hoped for the best. 

I was not disappointed. We pulled off Christmas dinner and I came back from my vacation well rested. My house was semi-clean and my husband relatively healthy. My life, though not in order, was not entirely out of control. 

But unbeknownst to me, Jerry had made himself a supervisor and contracted the work out to some of his associates. I returned to a house full of people, some I knew, some I didn’t. Jerry rehired the woman I had just fired, and also employed his friend, Willie. Willie had been living in a van in front of Jerry’s apartment until it was towed away. He didn’t have the cash to get it back. He had lost all his belongings, including his clothes. When I met him he had on my t-shirt and Ralph’s pants. Jerry explained it was better that Willie was wearing our clothes than no clothes at all. I had to agree. 

Willie has moved in and made himself comfortable. Jerry has taught him what to cook for Ralph’s breakfast, how to get him in and out of his bed and wheelchair, what medications to give him and when to hook up the oxygen tanks and night bags. All I have to do is pay Willie for his services, and fill in when he is at his other job.  

Willie works as a cook at a local barbecue joint. It is a position he has held for the past four years. One of the benefits of working at the restaurant is that Willie can take home the leftovers at the end of his shift. Our refrigerator is filled top to bottom with the fruit of Willie’s labor: barbecue ribs and chicken, deep-fried turkey, well-cooked greens, and banana pudding. There is enough food in there for three extended family reunions. I’m not all that fond of barbecue, but I haven’t complained. I’ve had to learn to tolerate a lot of things since Ralph’s accident; learning to love barbecue should be a cinch.›

Door-Buster 

Police are seeking the culprit who kicked in four apartment doors Thursday morning in a building near the corner of Prospect Street and Hillside Avenue, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Gunman Grabs Cell, Cash 

A pistolero wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt approached a 22-year-old pedestrian near the corner of Le Conte and Euclid avenues about 10:58 p.m. Thursday and relieved him of his cell phone and the contents of his wallet. 

Instant Replay 

Just 40 minutes later, a gunman matching the same description approached a 33-year-old man near the corner of Milvia and Vine streets and departed with his wallet and contents. 

Officer Okies said investigators are trying to determine if the same bandit was involved in both incidents. 

Crime Occurs After Report 

Police responded to a report of a brawl at Kip’s Restaurant, 2439 Durant Ave., at 2 a.m. Friday, only to discover that a fracas had ended before their arrival. 

But that didn’t matter. 

Moments later, another bout of battery occurred right in front of the bluecoats, ending with the arrest of the 21-year-old miscreant on charges of battery and public drunkenness. 

High School Heist 

Officers who responded to the report of a fight at Berkeley High School during the Friday lunch hour discovered that they had a strongarm robbery on their hands. The suspected student miscreant was taken into custody. 

Bus Heist 

Police rushed to the corner of Telegraph and Ashby avenues at 10:11 p.m. Saturday, responding to a robbery call. 

After determining that a gunman had taken a passenger’s cell phone, officers summoned the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, which had jurisdiction of all crimes on the bus system, said Officer Okies.

Blaze Erupts During Concert 

A burning candle left in an offstage dressing room ignited a blaze at Berkeley Community Theater Thursday night as 3,000 fans packed the auditorium for a rock concert. 

Fortunately, theater staff spotted the blaze as it began and were able to halt its spread with fire extinguishers. 

The fire department was called at 9:23 p.m., said Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. “It was out by the time we got there,” he said, “so we didn’t have to evacuate the theater.” 

One of the performers from the band Modest Mouse had placed a lighted tea candle into a shot glass, which Orth said was made of a glass that isn’t formulated to withstand the heat of an open flame. 

“The shot glass broke and the burning wax spread onto the cloth covering the dressing room table,” he said. “From there it spread to the wood frames around the mirrors.” 

Structural damage was minimal, and Orth estimated the loss to contents at $1,500. 

Cigarette Sparks Costly Blaze 

A cigarette lit by an unwelcome guest sleeping beneath the rear deck of the home at 1535 Addison St. triggered a $310,000 fire early Sunday morning. 

Firefighters were called at 2:57 a.m. with a report that an exterior rear stairway was ablaze, said Deputy Chief Orth. They arrived to find the rear deck burning and the flames spreading to the interior of the house. 

“There were multiple tenants in the house, and the fire was already inside of one of the bedrooms,” he said. 

Before firefighters had doused the flames, the fire had spread to a second bedroom and into the attic. A workshop underneath the deck was heavily damaged, Orth said. 

“The guest was sleeping on foam mats underneath the deck, and he told us he awoke to find himself surrounded by flames,” Orth said. 

The man changed his story after Orth’s investigation turned up evidence that he’d been smoking, and that the cigarette had probably ignited the bedding. 

Neighbors had repeatedly complained about alleged drug use on the property, Orth said. “They’d been upset with the occupants and their hangers-on for some time.” 

The fire department arranged alternative accommodations for the occupants with the American Red Cross. 

Second Candle Blaze 

The owner of the home at 1209 Delaware St. left a candle burning behind the sofa when she stepped out for a few minutes Sunday night. She arrived home at 9 p.m. to find her sofa in flames. 

“The candle ignited the drapes, which burned up to the curtain rod and then fell off onto the sofa,” said Deputy Chief Orth. 

The fire was quickly extinguished, but not before doing $15,000 in damage to the structure and $10,000 to the contents, he said. 

“This time of year when the weather is cold, people seem to burn candles more, and they cause more fires than at other times of years,” he said. 

During his preliminary investigations of fire scenes, Orth said he always looks for ashtrays and evidence of candles. 

“Sometimes you see a ring burned into the top of a table,” he said. 

Other times, such as the Community Theater fire, he spots the small metal squares used to anchor the wick at the base of tea candles. “I saw four of five of them there,” he said. 

Orth cautions residents not to leave candles burning when they leave the house and to place them away from inflammable materials. 

“I can’t imagine why anyone would leave a burning candle behind a sofa,” he said.

The Berkeley Daily Planet, in the Feb. 1-3 edition, ran two lengthy opinion pieces critical of the attempts to close Derby Street by the School Board and city in order to accommodate a full size baseball field.  

The Berkeley School Board fully concurs w ith several of the allegations in the article. We also do not want anyone to build “a fenced, locked, hardball field with night lights and electronic sound system available seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days a year.” No one on the board has e ver stated they wanted this, regardless of the statements by Mr. Schorer and Ms. Bryant in their opinion pieces. We don’t want anyone to close Derby Street unless there is a dedicated spot for the Farmers Market somewhere on the property, preferably along Martin Luther King Way. And the school district would never let someone build an athletic field on our property to make money. The money to build an athletic field was approved by the citizens of Berkeley when we passed several bond measures to upgrade t he facilities for our students, not to generate income. 

However, after reading Mr. Schorer’s and Ms. Bryant’s opinion pieces one would never believe this to be the case. Also, each writer constantly refers to “a member of the board” without giving a name. I can only assume they are referring to me. I have been the most active School Board member, during my tenure on the School Board, for an athletic facility around Derby Street that could accommodate a full-sized baseball field and guarantee a dedicated s pace for the Tuesday Farmers Market. But I have never advocated a “hardball field with overhead lights and loudspeakers, locked, and available, seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., 365 days of the year.” I have never, ever, suggested that this facility b y used to “make money for the School District” by renting it out to outside organizations. And I have always stated that I would never support any plan that does not guarantee a space for the Farmers Market. 

I also have never accused the neighbors of bei ng NIMBYs, but concerned citizens with legitimate concerns that must be addressed if Derby Street were to be closed. In my mind it is not a done deal. Much needs to be done to build community trust and support before Derby Street could be closed and a lar ge athletic facility built. 

Maybe it is the vision thing. I always thought elected officials were supposed to be leaders and visionaries. I have tried, for over six years on the Berkeley School Board, to live up to these ideals of public office. I also t ry and lead by example. I have always been honest and said exactly what I believe. I have never tried to legislate with back door deals or shove anything down anyone’s throat. I am proud of my record of expressing a vision for a better Berkeley and attempting to convince people of the legitimacy of my positions. I have come to these conclusions after living in Berkeley for over 45 years, teaching at Berkeley High School for 32 years, serving on the School Board for over six years, and working with o thers across this city to make this the best place to live in this state. 

I think it is counterproductive to write inflammatory opinion pieces that are filled with half-truths, at best, and downright false statements, at worst, when important decisions have to be made with the help of thoughtful citizens. 

Most of the residents in South Berkeley, and living near our Derby Street property, are open minded, sincere, and desire the best for our students, our city and their neighborhood. Calling the actions of the School Board and City Council cronyism, lowering property values, catering to the wishes of the wealthy and influential does a disservice to a process that demands respectful conversations and truthful dialogue. 

Even though some would stoop to destructive tactics to derail an important decision making process I will continue to work with everyone for the best possible solution our collective heads can produce. 

Terry Doran is vice president of Berkeley School Board. t

With regard to closing Derby Street, it doesn’t serve the community to have the Berkeley Daily Planet highlighting letters (such as Dorothy Bryant’s and Peter Schorer’s) which give the illusion of informed knowledge but in truth are factually inaccurate. Given that the Daily Planet is used by many of us to become educated about local issues, letters like these do us all a disservice.  

What is being proposed is a multi-purpose athletic field, which includes a full-size baseball field. No lights or sound system has been proposed or advocated by BHS or any other user group. In fact, the Association of Sports Field Users (the group that represents most of the non-BUSD field users in Berkeley) is opposed to lights for general community use at this site. Stat ements about sound systems and “seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. 365 days a year” are factually inaccurate.  

The field will be used for BHS girls’ field hockey and boys’ football in the fall, BHS girls’ and boys’ soccer in the winter, BHS baseball and rugby in the spring, and a multitude of potential BHS and non-BHS uses in the summer. Most likely on Saturdays and Sundays during the fall the field will be used by local youth and adult soccer groups and the community; during the spring the field will most likely be used by youth baseball/softball, youth lacrosse, youth rugby, adult soccer, adult softball/baseball and community use. Statements that this facility will “be used by only about 40 male high school students, plus the various adult teams (“be erballers”)” is not only factually inaccurate but insulting as well. Those adult “beerballers” include women’s rugby, women’s and men’s soccer, softball and baseball players who grew up playing these sports as children—your children. Paw through the trash at any athletic field and you are more likely to find empty bottles of water and Gator-Aid than a bottle of beer.  

The field being fenced and locked has nothing to do with whether Derby is open or closed or its use as a hardball field. The reason for BU SD to fence and lock a field has to do with controlling access and liability. It makes no difference what sport is played or how the field is physically configured, BUSD is not going to have kids kicking soccer balls that might hit the front windshield of a passing car nor are they going to have kids running into the street chasing a ball and getting hit by that same passing car. So even if Derby remains open and no baseball field is built, BUSD will fence the field.  

The letters go on to complain about the noise and traffic and vandalism that will be generated by a baseball field. I would welcome anyone to explain to me or the other readers of the Planet why a high school game of baseball will bring more noise and traffic than a high school game of socc er, rugby or lacrosse. As for vandalism, areas around playing fields actually show a lower crime and vandalism rate mostly because they are occupied. If you had a choice of breaking into a car to steal a radio would you choose a car parked next to 45 chil dren and adults playing a game or would you choose a car in a more isolated location? 

As for the Farmer’s Market, it will not be lost. Instead it will be relocated along MKL to a more highly visible and traffic-friendly location. It will be a better phys ical facility than the Farmer’s Market currently occupies.  

The writers correctly note that BUSD would like to generate income by renting the field to outside users when BUSD is not using it and one writer goes on to state “this is a dubious semi-commerc ial use of school land that will be closed to use by anyone but the Berkeley High baseball team and renters from outside Berkeley.” Everyone reading this should understand that all City of Berkeley and BUSD school fields charge user fees or demand “in kin d” services for reserved slots. These fees are used to help pay for the maintenance of the fields. This is a long-standing policy and not unique to Berkeley. This is an approach that is taken by almost every municipality and school district in the San Fra ncisco Bay Area. And, in contrast to what the writer states, most of these groups are not from outside Berkeley. They include local youth soccer, girl’s softball, Little League baseball, youth rugby, etc.  

“The total cost of the hardball field installati on is estimated to be $2-3 million. (This in a time when the city is facing major budget deficits.)” As someone who has costed and developed nine playing fields, nobody knows what this project is going to cost until plans are developed and costed out. And while the City of Berkeley may be facing budget deficits, this project is being paid for out of a BUSD voter approved capital budget with funds earmarked for this specific project. 

The costs for the project have nothing to do with the City of Berkeley.  

Finally there are the statements of a proposed land swap with San Pablo Park and “they want another city-wide facility—but not in their neighborhood.” And “the truth is there are several good alternative locations.” Actually, as someone who has been inv olved in developing playing fields for almost 15 years, the truth is there are no good alternative locations. Building a multi-purpose field which includes a baseball field that is within walking distance of the high school seems to make much more practic al sense than having high school teams drive past Derby to San Pablo Park which is miles away from the school.  

And please tell all of us why people living around San Pablo Park should continue to bear what are the falsely perceived evils of BHS baseball while the people living around Derby Street should be treated differently? Many of us living in Berkeley (not just those who live around Iceland and the Alternative High School) are impacted, and I would argue much more so, by community serving facilitie s such as Alta Bates, BART stations, UC, commercial areas, etc. It sort of goes with living in an urban area.  

So let us all get past the ill informed and incendiary talk and start having a discussion about what is real.  

Doug Fielding is a chairpers on for the Association of Sports Field Users.›

What’s so impossibly sad about the vitriolic editorial comments in the Daily Planet about the East Campus/Derby Street project, attacking the city, the School Board, and the writers’ fellow Berkeley citizens, is not just that their listed objections have almost no basis in reality. In fact, there is no intended “commercial” use of the proposed facilities, other than of course the use for a commercial “Farmers Market” by a private business, the Ecology Center (which everyone agrees should stay on site); t here are no planned night games or night field lighting; there is no plan for any amplified sound system (other than the Farmer’s Market request for an “entertainment” space to host music); any field, of any size, will need to be fenced for safety reasons; any field, of any size (including a regulation baseball diamond that includes a multi-purpose field) will be available for all of the dozens of sports that boys and girls play in this city; any field, of any size, will bring according to the city’s Envi ronmental Impact Report only a minimal increase in traffic; replacing the dilapidated, vermin infested portables on site now with a field of any size can only increase, not decrease, property values. 

No, what’s really sad is what has been almost completely forgotten in this debate: why we need a larger field. A small field that does not close Derby Street would serve approximately 500 children a month. A larger field that includes a regulation baseball diamond would serve more than 700 children a month, and accommodate at least a half-dozen more sports. That’s an enormous difference, especially when you stop to consider each one of those 200 kids as an individual, each with their own dreams and hopes. Right now, and forever if we don’t build the field, t he City of Berkeley cannot provide a venue for those dreams. Right now, and forever if we don’t build the field, those “rich parents from the hills” that your editorial writers scorn can drive their kids to neighboring cities and programs, and pay for their opportunities, but the low-income and disenfranchised kids of our city have nowhere to go to play. 

Of course, the benefits of serving a greater number of children extend far beyond the sports themselves. Studies show that, in addition to the positive effects of team sports on child and adolescent development (“The Role of Sports in Youth Development,” Carnegie Corporation, 1996), programs that engage school kids in organized school-related activities such as sports are enormously effective in preventi ng youth crime and violence. (“Diverting Children From a Life of Crime,” Greenwood, P., 1998; “After School Programs: Investing in Student Success,” California Department of Education, 2001; “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ” Fox, J., 2001.) The school-related recreational activities for the hundreds of additional children served by a larger field promise increased attachment to school, personal investment in graduation, structured activity during the after-school hours that are the greatest risk for youth crime, and positive peer and adult role models and mentoring. 

The only truly disenfranchised population in our city is our children: they can’t vote. And of that population, the most vulnerable are certainly those who, for social, economic, or other reas ons, are at risk for delinquency, truancy, teen parenthood, and all the other prevailing ills of our desperately materialistic 21st century society. You don’t see letters from these kids in the Planet; you don’t see them at the site committee meetings; th ey aren’t there at the community meetings; when they do show up at City Council meetings, as they did four years ago at the last Derby Street vote, too often it is to see their hopes and dreams rejected. In a society and a city struggling with issues like the disproportionate incarceration of young African-American males, can it really be true that we as a community can’t spare one under-used block of a city street in service to those hopes and dreams? Can it really be true that forever, as now, we as a community will allow access to adequate recreational facilities only to those citizens who have the means to get their kids to for-fee programs in other cities? It’s for the disenfranchised, at-risk youth of our community that we need to build this field; it’s for them that it has meaning and value; it’s by our commitment to them that we, our politicians, and our leaders, will be judged.

The February-March issue of Nick Jr., the national educators’ magazine operated by Nickelodeon children’s channel, lists Berkeley’s LeConte School as operating one of the 10 best elementary school cafeterias in America. 

While that is a significant national honor, the LeConte cafeteria doesn’t even operate the best food establishment at LeConte. That distinction goes to the student cooking class at the Russell Street school. 

On Thursday of last week, while the cafeteria was offering a salad bar and a warm pasta-and-meat dish shipped over from the school district’s central kitchen, students of teacher Jeanette Gearring’s fourth-grade class were putting together a fresh-cooked lunch of Indian cholé and cucumber raita, the curry so succulent you could smell it out in the hallway. It’s no knock on the cafeteria to say that their selections weren’t even in the running. 

Every Thursday at midday, half of the students of Ms. Gearring’s class come down to a cavernous, two-stove kitchen/classroom converted from a science room to spend an hour preparing a dish. The other half of the class spends the hour in one of the school’s three gardens at a Farm and Garden class, switching each week. In fact, every class at Le Conte spends two sessions a month in cooking and gardening classes. 

On Thursday, the cooking lesson starts with an explanation of the ingredients to be used, particularly the spices. Each spice bottle is held up and the taste and function of the contents explained, as well as the country of origin. 

Students are told to be careful of getting one particular spice on their clothes, since it’s used both for seasoning and as a dye. A piece of cloth is held up, one half of it a brilliant yellow, as a demonstration. “That’s what gives curry its yellow color,” the students are told. 

Next it’s on to herb chopping, and a practical tip. 

“I used to cut onions in a restaurant,” cooking teacher Kathy Russell tells the students. “And I couldn’t stop myself from crying. I even had to put on swim goggles. And then somebody told me to put a toothpick in my mouth, and that would stop it.” 

Toothpicks are passed all around, the students clamping them between their teeth after admonitions of “don’t talk with that in your mouth.” After a few moments of intense chopping, one boy pulled the toothpick out and declares, in amazement, “My eyes don’t burn!” Asked for an explanation by Gearring, Russell confesses that she’s not quite sure why. 

The room settles down to a low hum of activity as the students cut onions and garlic. (“Chop it up as small as you can; it’s calling ‘mincing.’”) and scrape seeds from the inside of cucumbers. The students keep a steady conversation among themselves while getting instruction from Russell and her fellow cooking teacher, Brenna Turman. 

Russell and Turman are BUSD employees, part of the regular Le Conte faculty, their salaries paid through funds provided to the district by the California Nutrition Network. Generally, their offerings sound less like classroom instruction, more like Saturday afternoon learning how to cook at your big sister’s house. (“What do you do with the cans, guys? That’s right. Recycle.” Or “How many of you have electric can openers?” And when more than half of the room raises hands: “My goodness! You’re going to get stuck on your next camping trip.”) 

But every so often, the teacher comes out: “Clear your cutting board as you’re working. You want to know what you’re cutting into your dish. Remember: clear, then clean, then cloth.” 

The last instructions are listed in 1, 2, 3 order on the class whiteboard, for emphasis. Meanwhile teacher Gearring sits on the edge of the class, alternately observing, helping with directions, and handling the few minor discipline problems.  

By now, a boy is busy stirring the garlic and onions in a skillet, and it’s beginning to smell like a meal will actually emerge. Soon, a group of students have crowded around the skillet, and Turman (the students call the cooking teachers “Chef Brenna” and “Chef Kathy”) is directing the addition of spices and garbanzo beans while regulating the temperature under the skillet and doing some additional stirring. “There,” she says, “let’s leave that for a minute.” 

Earlier, LeConte Gardening Coordinator Ben Goff (“Farmer Ben” to the students) explained that the cooking class menu is part of a coordinated district effort. “The cooking and gardening coordinators get together in a monthly meeting to decide on the harvest of the month. This month it’s legumes”—thus, the garbanzo beans—“in January it was citrus.” 

Products from the school’s gardens, in fact, end up on the lunch menu (“lettuce goes to the lunchroom for salads; garlic and onions go to the cooking class”), while some of the vegetables, such as carrots, get eaten fresh out in the garden. And later, Turman is found in the garden’s chicken pen, hunting for eggs to make egg salad. 

LeConte principal Patricia Saddler takes a break from a series of meetings to come out into the garden sun to encourage Turman in the egg salad production, which Saddler admits is a favorite dish of hers. Turman comes back with one brown and one white, but is disappointed that she has found no green egg. One hen, she says, regularly produces an egg slightly greener than a robin’s. It’s as if everyone had been dropped into a Dr. Seuss book. 

Meanwhile, back in the cooking class, the dish only takes five minutes or so to cook, about the time it would take to stand in line at the Shattuck Avenue McDonald’s, order your meal, and get it to your table. 

Soon, the teachers have filled small bowls for each student, and the class quiets down to the sound of spoons clinking on porcelain as food goes to mouth in a steady rhythm. The rhythm of teaching, too, continues, as Chef Brenna and Chef Kathy ask the students to identify what different types of tastes they find. “Salty? Spicy? Do you know what ‘savory’ means?” 

As the level in the bowls diminish, the students are asked to grade the dish. They respond silently with mostly thumbs-up signs. Turman explains that they adopted the thumb-signal response “because that cut out a lot of the ‘eeews’ we used to get.” 

The class hour is almost over, the last bit of rice and beans and yellow sauce are being scraped from the bottom of the bowls, and cleanup has begun. Each student is responsible for washing out his or her dish and bowl in preparation for the electric dishwasher, and then the tables are cleared, and wiped off. The students judge each other, critically, at each step: “You call that table clean?” 

The Daily Planet reporter is still working on his meal. A boy looks over at him, asks if he likes it. The student gets the thumbs-up back. It is actually an understatement. This could have been a dish in a restaurant. A good restaurant.

In Mary Shogren’s kindergarten class at LeConte Elementary School, some students can’t understand a single word she says. Sitting on the floor with wide-eyed gazes, they stare at her as she reads a children’s book aloud. Some seem to understand everything, while others look puzzled. 

It’s what she calls the “deer-in-the-headlights” effect. They won’t look like that much longer, Shogren says.  

Most pupils in the Berkeley Unified School District prepared for their first day of school by getting pencils, backpacks and binders. Students in Shogren’s class, however, needed a lot more than a few supplies. They needed another language. 

Shogren teaches lessons almost entirely in Spanish as part of the district’s dual-immersion program, designed to make children proficient in Spanish and English by fifth grade and fluent by eighth. 

Her class includes 10 pupils whose first language is Spanish and 10 who were raised speaking English. Even though only half of the students in her class understand what she says in the beginning of the year, they all begin to comprehend basic Spanish a few months into the program, Shogren said.  

The program also allows native Spanish-speaking students to make a gradual transition to speaking English, says Carla Basom, the district’s director of state and federal projects. 

“The dual-immersion program reverses the traditional roles for the Spanish-speaking students. While the rest of their world is surrounded by a language and culture new to them, they can develop self-confidence and self-esteem in a classroom where they can help the English-speaking students learning Spanish,” Basom says.  

To keep students interested in learning, Shogren uses an animated teaching style. She makes lessons repetitive, relying heavily on pantomime and Spanish-language stories and songs students already know in English, including one of her favorites, the nursery rhyme “Eensy Weensy Spider.” 

On the first day of class this year, one of her students tried desperately (although unsuccessfully) to sing along with the teacher in Spanish, mouthing the words only a few seconds after she uttered them. Instead, he found a chance to participate more vocally when, among a barrage of Spanish words, Shogren says the name of a popular book series.  

“I have books of Clifford. I have a whole bunch of them,” he says. Shogren replies in Spanish.  

Kindergarteners receive 90 percent of instruction in Spanish and 10 percent in English. The ratio becomes more balanced as they progress through elementary school, until half of all lessons are taught in each language by the fifth grade. 

Learning a new language may be daunting for some students, half of whom have no prior knowledge of Spanish. But this year, LeConte’s administrators have appointed an on-site coordinator to improve educational services offered to dual-immersion students and their families.  

Lynda Arnold, the dual-immersion coordinator at LeConte, oversees students learning English as a second language. Her duties include meeting with students individually and in small groups, training teachers, and providing educational materials to parents—additional efforts she hopes will improve students’ reading and writing skills.  

Dual-immersion in the Berkeley school district, envisioned as a kindergarten through eighth grade program, began eight years ago. LeConte’s program, started six years ago, added a fifth class this year. About a quarter of the 320 students at LeConte participate in the program. 

Dual-immersion is also offered at Cragmont and Rosa Parks elementary schools. It has expanded to higher grades each year and is now also offered at Longfellow Middle School. The program prepares students for advanced placement Spanish courses in high school, says school district spokesman Mark Copland.  

This is the eighth in a series profiling the Berkeley elementary schools. The reports are written by students of the UC Berkeley Journalism School. 

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The title for this piece is taken from the Fêtes de la Nuit that I saw in the gardens at Versailles several years ago—fetes that were supposed to recall the sorts of entertainments that Louis XIV staged for his own pleasure ... full of huntsman, hunting dogs, courtiers, ballet dancers, and fireworks. Needless to say, my Fêtes are very different: they are the modern world, the democratic world, the world as seen, not through the eyes of a king, but through the eyes of a citizen. 

— Charles Mee, playwright 

In over 40 scenes that often overlap and spill over with the energy of the actors who play his citizen revelers, Charles Mee installs the tableaux of his Paris—a place of night-time festival, to which his title alludes, as well as intimate vignettes played out in public—on the broad stage of Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theater. 

The often romantic foibles of his cast of Parisian “types” are featured as the performers change expression and tempo as swiftly as the waters of the Seine that flow under the bridges of Paris, in the verses of Apollinaire, with the love that is remembered curiously, but (like the waters) never comes again.  

Director Les Waters joked at a pre-opening night chat with the author that, being English, he could never find that Gallic charm. Instead, he said, he has applied something of the Music Hall tradition of staging to this Ferris Wheel of scenes that plays like revolving comedy sketches, skits, burlesque blackouts and production numbers. 

But these scenes add up to some sort of theatricale at best, not theater. Mee, who has been increasingly hailed as one of the top dramatists of the last decade and of this one, doesn’t exhibit a hint of dramaturgy in his Fêtes, only the kind of silly-putty construction that’s plagued various styles of American theater for decades. It’s just enough material cut-and-pasted together to toss to a cranked-up cast and competent director so that the resulting sound and fury seems to be something—or anything—of import. 

The material in this case, at times amusing enough, isn’t any different from a musical comedy revue—“varietes,” as the French say: variety show. Television’s done it better; Fêtes is sub-Syd Caesar. And the silliness of Fêtes is, too often, less than that of Caesar, Steve Allen, Stan Freeberg, and Jonathan Winters, who all got theirs from the subversively festive silliness of vaudeville via radio and the movies. The play is closer to a giddy talk show host gleefully interrupting his guest to the whoops of the audience, their uneasiness at being out in public relieved by all the distraction. It is Groucho’s bawdy irreverence replaced by Letterman’s smarmy insouciance. So much for festivity. 

Mee, a former historian, in conversation seems by turns pleasantly thoughtful and whimsical (rather than silly or insouciant). He discussed his tactics for making a personal sense of things—whether of the city of Paris or Greek Tragedy—stageworthy. One is to appropriate texts and images, both historical and contemporary, ready-made (though not in Marcel DuChamp’s sense or as Walter Benjamin’s “quoting”). As author of the play bobrauschenbergamerica, it might be expected his plays would be characterized by a random selection and montage of these appropriated materials, like what John Cage promoted as a way to devaluate the dictatorial role of the author’s personality. Instead, as Mee describes it, it’s more like a photo album or diary of impressions: “This is how Paris feels to me.” 

The 14 performers rise—or scramble up—to the occasion, bringing their own special talents to the fore: Dileep Rao pledging unending love at first sight to Maria Dizzia, just hoping she’ll have a coffee with him; Lorri Holt, after failing at a rapprochement with her lover (Michi Barall, the playwright’s wife), going hysteric, then histrionic, bewailing her own unexpected lack of empathy; Danny Scheie (who was featured in Mee’s Orestes 2.0 at San Francisco’s Nourse Auditorium a decade ago) menacingly addressing every spectator in the house, riffing on: “You talkin’ to me?” as he races through the aisles; James Carpenter, over a cigarette or un verre du vin, shrugging and spinning out endless accounts in a running gag that clears the stage, over and over, of his fellow smokers and wine-bibbers; and the excellent dancing, vamping and strutting of Corrine Blum and Sally Clawson (not to mention Jeffrey Lynn McCann’s Hip Hop acrobatics), adorned in Christal Weatherly’s hilarious costumes, in send-ups of production numbers, tango extravaganzas, and ramp shows. 

One scene, “The Intellectual’s Press Conference” (the intellectual well-performed by Joseph Kamal), is lifted from Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless: the airport interview with “the famous Rumanian writer, Parvalescu.” In the movie, Jean-Pierre Melville, improvising an answer to Jean Seberg’s question “What is your ambition?” replies, “To become immortal—then die!” But in Fêtes there’s no byplay between cultures, between older man and younger woman (strange in a piece about love and relationship)—and Kamal/Parvalescu’s reply to the same question, tossed up from an actor standing in the audience, is “To become capable of a great love—then die!” 

Even in Paris, souffles fall flat. And the success of a fête (“feast”) and any of its dishes depends on the ingredients, the company, and the cook of course. Some of Fêtes de la Nuit’s served up raw, some cooked. At its best, it’s culinary entertainment, but from a mixed buffet, both hot and cold.

TUESDAY, FEB. 8 

FILM 

Alternative Visions: “War” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Kundun” Martin Scorsee’s film on Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, followed by discussion at 7:30 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. For tickets call 925-275-9005. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mary Gordon reads from her new novel “Pearl” at noon at Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary & Garden Arts, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. www.mrsdalloways.com 

“Archeology and Arabization of Morocco” with Prof. Elizabeth Fentress, University College, London at 7:30 p.m. at 370 Dwinelle Hall, UC Campus.  

Sam Davis discusses “Designing for the Homeless: Architecture That Works” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Cypress String Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Tickets are $20. 525-5211. 

Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Roy Hargrove and others at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $30-$62. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Martyn Joseph, Welsh contemporary folk troubadour, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

The Sweatshop Band, Baby Buck and Cathy Rivers, Americana country, at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174. www.storkcluboakland.com 

Mose Allison at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Thurs. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Carlos Oliveira Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9 

THEATER 

“Bright River” A hip-hop retelling of Dante’s “Inferno,” every Wed. through March 9 at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Tickets are $12-$35 available from 415-256-8499. www.inhousetickets.com 

FILM 

Film 50: History of Cinema: “Nanook of the North” at 3 p.m. and “Parallel Universum, Part I” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Café Poetry hosted by Kira Allen at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568.  

Jeff Chang describes “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation“ at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam, 5th Annual Erotic Slam at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with the University Symphony Orchestra at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864.  

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Savant Guard at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Bluegrass Old-time Festival at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761.  

Rad Audio, indie nu-wave, at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5. 848-0886.  

Sensual, salsa, at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

THURSDAY, FEB. 10 

EXHIBITIONS 

“You Are Here” paintings, drawings and sculpture examining cultural identity, opens at the Kala Art Institute, and runs through March 26. Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tues.Fri. noon to 5:30 p.m., Sat. to 4:30 p.m. 540-2977. www.kala.org 

“Be Mine” ACCI’s Valentine’s Day show reception for the artists from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1652 Shattuck Ave. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Dirt for Dinner” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

“Kordavision” documentary by Cuban photographer Alberto Díaz at 7 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, off Macdonald Ave. Part of the Latino Film Festival. 620-6561. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Yael Chaver documents Yiddish literature in “What Must Be Forgotten: The Survival of Yiddish in Zionist Palestine” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Elliot Currie talks about “The Road to Whatever: Middle-Class Culture and the Crisis of Adolescence” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Word Beat Reading Series at 7 p.m. with featured readers Julia Montrond and Robert Tricara at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

Alexander Tsygankov and Inna Shevchenko, Russian folk artists on the domra and piano, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15-$20. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Humanzee, The Famous at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

Peter Barshay Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Lithography of Toko Shinoda” Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Schurman Gallery, 1659 San Pablo Ave. Exhibition runs through Mar. 31. 524-0623. www.schurmanfineartgallery.com 

Chantal de Felice and Morgan Wick, narrative portraits in acrylic and ink, opens at 7 p.m. at auto3321 art gallery, 3321 Telegraph Ave., through Feb. 25. 593-8489. 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, “Seduced” by Sam Shepard opens at 8 p.m. at the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman, and runs Fri. and Sat. through Feb. 19. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Alchemy Works “The Wisdom of Eve” A tale of an ingenue understudy gone bad. Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. Runs through Feb. 20. 845-5576. 

"Bridge & Tunnel" workshop performances by Sarah Jones at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 20 at Berkeley Repertory Theater’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Tickets are $30-$40. 647-2949.  

Aurora Theatre, “Dublin Carol” by Conor McPherson, Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun at 2 and 7 p.m. through March 6 at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Repertory Theater, “Fêtes de la Nuit” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Runs through Feb. 27. Tickets are $43-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “The Mousetrap” Agatha Christie’s classic mystery Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 19 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $10-$15. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Impact Theatre, “Othello” at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid. Thurs.- Sat. through March 19. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Laney College Theater, “Knockers,” a candid look at breasts, with partial proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Fund, at 8 p.m. at 900 Fallon St. Tickets are $10. 415-281-0547. 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Serpent” theater with movement, masks and puppetry, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., through Feb. 19, at the Eighth Street Studios, 2525 8th St. Tickets are $10-$20 sliding scale. 527-8119. www.raggedwing.org 

“The Vagina Monologues” at 7 p.m. at Dwinelle Hall, Room 155, UC Campus. Also Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., and Mon. Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium. Cost is $10. Sponsored by Gender Equity Resource Center. berkeleyVM2005@lists.berkeley.edu 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 7 p.m. and “Waiting for Happiness” at 9:25 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

De Rompe y Raja, Afro-Peruvian music and dance at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Slammin’ body music, beatboxing and a cappella at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $11-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Tracy Grammer, post-modern American music, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

Jill Knight at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Nagg, The Look, The Sort Outs, Ride the Blinds at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886.  

Tempest, Druid Sister’s Tea Party at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

Dan Barrett & Friends at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

DJ & Brook, jazz trio, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Brown Baggin’ at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Joshi Marshall and Friends at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Monster Squad, Try Failing, Whiskey Sunday, Giant Haystacks at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Abbey Lincoln at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Mon. Cost is $22-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, FEB. 12 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Dan Goldensohn at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $3-$4. 849-2568.  

THEATER 

Laney College Theater, “Knockers,” a candid look at breasts, with partial proceeds donated to the Breast Cancer Fund, at 8 p.m. at 900 Fallon St. Tickets are $10. 415-281-0547. 

Traveling Jewish Theater, “The Wonders” at 8 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Also on Sun. at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22-$35. 415-285-8080. www.atjt.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

Mary Robinson will discuss her technique of paint layering and use of a variety of tools. From 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Group Show at the Gallery of Urban Art, with works by Alena Rudolph, Hillary Kantmann, Gina Gaiser, Teresa Clark, Joso Vidal and John Holland. Reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1266 66th St., Emeryville. 596-0020. www.thegalleryofurbanart.com 

“The Art of Cappuccino” photographs by Arden Petrov, at the French Hotel Cafe/Gallery, 1538 Shattuck Ave., to March 26. 524-0646. 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 6:30 p.m. and “Faat-Kine” at 9:15 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rosemary Gong introduces “The Good Luck Life” a guide to Chinese American celebrations and culture at 4 p.m. at Eastwind Books, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trinity Chamber Concert with Davide Verotta, piano, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St., between Bancroft and Durant. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. http://trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Sacred & Profane Song of Solomon Choral Settings from Medieval to Modern at 8 p.m. at St. Ambrose Church, 1145 Gilman St. at Cornell. Tickets are $12-$18. 524-3611. www.sacredprofane.org 

Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert with Patti Weiss, Francis Lockwood, Katya Roemer, Miles Graber and others at 7 p.m. at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. Donation $20-$30, all of which will go to the Red Cross. 333-0474. 

Early Chamber Music with Jeanne Johnson, violin; Joanna Blendulf, cello, Yuko Tanaka, harpsichord at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 528-1725. www.sfems.org  

Open Hearts Benefit for Tsumani Relief with music by Ancent Future, Sasha Butterfly, Soulsalaam and others at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Donation $15-$100 beneftits the Seva South Asia Emergency Fund. RSVP to 843-2787. www.seva.org 

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $28-$56. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Valentine’s Day Cabaret at 7 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $30-$35. 845-8542. www.juliamorgan.org 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 7 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Also on Feb. 13-14. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700.  

Ramona the Pest, Nellie Bly, TaraLinda & Friends at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $10. 841-2082.  

Forthmorning, Sleep in Fame, Omissa, hard rock, metal at 9:30 at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $10. 848-0886.  

Mariospeedwagon and Lemon Juju at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Beatropolis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

www.freightandsalvage.org 

pickPocket Ensemble at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Beatsauce, turntablism, at 10 p.m. at Club Oasis, 135 12th St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 763-0404. 

Aya de León’s Love Fest at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Steven Bernstein, “Direct from NYC” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com  

Mardi Gras Celebration with Lady Mem’fis and Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz New Orleans Band at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Iron Lung, Lords of Light, Takaru, Laudanum at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, FEB. 13 

EXHIBITIONS 

Reception for New Exhibitions at 1 p.m. at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Moolaadé” at 3 p.m. and “Enthusiasm” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“More Binding Ties: The Migration Suite” a spoken-word performance by Michael Copeland Sydnor about Bay Area African Americans who worked as Pullman porters and maids at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200.  

Poetry Flash with Rusty Morrison, Devin Johnston and Martha Ronk at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852.  

“The People and the Book” a panel discussion in conjunction with the exhibition of paintings and rare books at 2 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $7-$10. 549-6950. www.magnes.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $28-$56. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Daniel Müller-Schott, cello at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $46. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra “Schubertiade” at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Free admission. 415-248-1640. www.sfchamberorchestra.org 

Wei He, violinist, Yun-Jie Liu, violist, at 4 p.m. at the Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Tickets are $12, free for children. 559-6910. www.crowdenmusiccenter.org 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 6 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Also on Feb. 14. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700.  

The Gospel Hummingbirds at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Dan K. Harvest, hip hop, at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5-$7. 848-0886.  

Wayne Wallace 4th Dimension at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373.  

Papa Gianni and the North Beach Band at 2 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Hurricane Sam Rudin, boogie, blues and jazz piano, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

Eric Van James, solo jazz piano, at 6 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

MONDAY, FEB. 14 

FILM 

Seeing Through the Screen: Buddhism and Film: “Fearless” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Maggie Morley and Friends, poetry reading, followed by an open mic, at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Buzzy Jackson describes “A Bad Woman Feeling Good: Blues and the Women Who Sing Them” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Poetry Express, featuring The Poet JC, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Four shows beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $55-$85. 287-8700. www.cafedelapaz.net 

Trovatore, traditional Italian songs, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Songwriters Symposium at 8:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Sylvia & The Silvertones at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.?

The San Pablo City Council meets Wednesday at noon to consider building plans from the Lytton Band of Pomos for the 2,500-slot machine casino they plan to build at the site of the current Casino San Pablo card room. 

Councilmembers and other city officials have embraced the casino as an economic lifesaver for the ailing community, while others—including East Bay Assemblymember Loni Hancock—are strongly opposed. 

Mayor Joseph Gomes and City Manager Brock Arner are strong supporters. At a forum called by Hancock last month, Arner said that if the casino isn’t approved, “the City of San Pablo will fold.” 

Tribal chair Margie Mejia promised that the tribe would submit plans for a scaled-back operation from the one presented at January meeting, though still including the 2,500 slots promised in the new tribal compact endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and still pending approval by state legislators. 

The Wednesday meeting begins at noon in Maple Hall at San Pablo City Hall, 13831 San Pablo Ave., Building 4. 

—Richard BrennemanÃ

I’m interrupting the trees-of-Berkeley series for a short rant. Nice words about our city’s trees will resume in two weeks. 

Gardens in Berkeley schools have sprouted contention along with the posies for several years. The one on the grounds of Willard School on Telegraph Avenue, planted by volunteers and lately much-altered by the school district, is only the latest. A couple of years ago, a students’ garden at another Berkeley school was demolished without warning, for construction access. Another was removed—though it’s now replanted—when neighbors complained that there were rats in the neighborhood. I live pretty close to that one; there are still rats in the neighborhood and, I suspect, every other neighborhood, too. I’ve seen them playing Flying Wallendas on the utility wires downtown, and yes, I can tell a rat from a squirrel.  

It’s fascinating to me, the way roadkill is fascinating, that there seems to be a widespread or at least influential attitude that a garden is disposable and that the work of making a garden is to be taken for granted and dismissed when convenient. The work I mean is the thoughtful, dirty-hands stuff of dealing with soil and plants and the place they’re in. 

I see a shade of this unpleasant color even in people who should know better, like landscape architects. I have come to prize those who know their plants (“plant materials”) and the place they’re using. When you’ve worked with a few of them, you learn that there are some who understand that they’re working with land, not just rooms without ceilings, and some who, apparently, don’t. This is the Ozymandias School of Garden Design. Remember those “two vast and trunkless legs of stone” that stand over the engraved “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” The works, of course, are long gone; the shattered monument is surrounded by wasteland.  

Landscape architects who concentrate on “hardscape”—walls, walks, accessory buildings, garden stuff that doesn’t grow—to the detriment of actual plants might be doing architecture, but aren’t landscaping. Some seem to think that beneath them; one landscape architect wrote an indignant letter to the San Francisco Chronicle’s magazine when he was referred to as the “landscaper” of a project, huffing that he wasn’t to be mistaken for those guys who dig the holes and plant the shrubs. Indeed, it seems dubious, on reading that letter, that he would have that skill. 

One can almost sympathize, though, because mere plants are so often the first targets of the brickoholics, the people who see empty space wherever there isn’t a building. A stunt building with facings of unused signboards and an automatic gate made of (apparently brand-new) Volvo doors is somehow “green”—but what it replaced was a garden. People who don’t want their gardens shaded out by a high-rise next door are somehow anti-poor NIMBYs. Community gardens are somehow unworthy if all they provide is a place to plant, and if they’re so popular that there’s a waiting list, well, they must be “elitist” and needn’t exist. 

All this happens in an atmosphere of disregard for the real world, where ignorance of our surroundings is accepted as normal. So we have abominations like the word “landfill”—as if the land were empty before we dumped garbage on it!—and the sloppy use of “open space” and “parks” to make golf courses and soccer fields seem equivalent to actual wildlands, to habitat for animals other than us and our rats and roaches and pets.  

And we pretend that all green things are interchangeable, like so many chairs, as if a plant were merely an ornament and not home and sustenance for its own unique wild community. We pretend that taking down a tree is of no more import than moving a lamp. Trees aren’t just pretty; they’re the last chance for habitat in a crowded city, where they manage to fit so much acreage into so small a footprint because they’re vertical. We see that in buildings; how can we fail to see it in organisms? 

How much do we fail to see because it’s convenient to remain ignorant? What else do we close our eyes to, so we can destroy it without caring?  

TUESDAY, FEB. 8 

Early Morning Bird Walk Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Botanic Garden parking lot to look for rufous-crowned sparrows and others in the Big Springs area. 525-2233. 

Mini-Rangers for ages 8-12 for an afternoon of nature study, conservation and rambling through the woods and waters. Meet at 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center. Fee is $6-$8, reservations required. 525-2233. 

Bird Walk at the Martin Luther King Shoreline at 3 p.m. Dress for rain and wind. For more information call 525-2233. 

Extreme Digital Photography with photographer Jonathan Chester at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“The Nature of Indian Water Rights” with Olney Patt, Jr., Executive Director, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, at 5:30 p.m. in 105 North Gate Hall, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Water Resources Center Archives. 642-2666. 

Live From Death Row with Kevin Cooper via speakerphone from San Quentin Prison at 7 p.m. in Room 30, Wheeler Hall, UC Campus. 333-7966. 

“Islamizing the Berbers” Excavations at Volubilis and the first centuries of the Arab conquest of North Africa with Elizabeth Fentress, Prof., Institute of Archaeology, University College, London, at 7:30 p.m. at 370 Dwinelle Hall, UC Campus.  

Black History Celebration with a showing of “Amistad” at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 

CandleLight Vigil for Tsunami Victims at 7 p.m. on Upper Sproul Plaza, UC Campus. 501-7995. 

“Speaking for the Buddha? Buddhism and the Media” a conference Feb. 8-9 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, UC Campus. http://ieas.berkeley.edu/events/speakingforthebuddha” 

Berkeley School Volunteers Workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public Schools at 7 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Sts from 3 to 6 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

“Solomon’s Steps: Applying the Wisdom of Solomon in Resolving Day-to-day Conflicts” Tues. at 7:30 p.m. through Feb. 22, at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $25-$40. 845-6420. 

Rethinking Age An inter-generational workshop at 7:30 p.m. through March 1, at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $30. 845-6420. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 9 

“New Era/New Politics” Walking Tour of Oakland highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. Tour is free and lasts about 90 minutes. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Stop Martial Law in Oakland and for the African Community Everywhere” with Omali Yeshitela, founder of the Uhuru Soldarity Movement at 7 p.m. at Uhuru House, 7911 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 569-9620. 

AARP Free Tax Assistance for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 years and older. From 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. Appointments must be made in advance. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

Chiapas to California Speaking Tour with Ramon Peña Diaz at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Donation $5-$10 sliding scale. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Dark Secrets: Inside Bohemian Grove” An Alex Jones Film presented by Erin McCann at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Free, but $5 donations accepted. 910-0696. 

East Bay Genealogical Society with Jeremy Frankel of the UC Library at 10 a.m. at the Family History Center at 4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. 635-6692. 

WriterCoach Connection Volunteer Training Help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Training session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. To register call 524-2319. Other trainings on Feb. 16, Mar. 8, 15. www.writercoachconnection.org 

Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Artify Ashby Muralist Group meets every Wed. from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, to plan a new mural. New artists are welcome. Call Bonnie at 704-0803. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch Bring your knitting, crocheting and other handcrafts from 6 to 9 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Winter Walk Berkeley for Seniors at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

“The Giants of Assimilation: A Rogue’s Gallery of a Vanishing Jewish Type” with author Mark Cohen at 11:30 a.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 845-6420. 

“You Can’t Fool Mother Nature” Global Climate Change with Dr. Wil Burns at 7:30 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 845-6420. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station. Vigil at 6:30 p.m. Peace Walk at 7 p.m.  

THURSDAY, FEB. 10 

“Ralph Bunche: An American Oddessey” a documentary narrated by Sidney Poitier, at 7 p.m. at 155 Dwinelle Hall, UC Campus. Discussion follows. Free. www.unaeastbay.org 

“Looking Ahead: The Struggle for Justice, Peace and Equality in Palestine/ 

Israel” with Prof. George Bisharat, UC Hastings College of the Law, at 7:30 p.m. at Fellowship Hall at the Unitarian Church, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Donation $5-$20, no one turned away. 465-1777. 

“History from the Point of View of the African People” with Omali Yeshitela, founder of the Uhuru Soldarity Movement at 7 p.m. at Fellowship of Humanity, 390 27th St., Oakland. 625-1106. 

“The Freedom Radio Project: Supporting the Youth Voice in Palestine” A benefit film screening and concert, at 7 p.m. at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. Co-sponsored by KPFA Radio & The Middle East Children’s Alliance Tickets are $15. 452-3556. 

“Language Communities or Cultural Empires” The Impact of European Languages in Former Colonial Territories, a two day conference, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Lipman Room, 8th flr, Barrows Hall, UC Campus. For information contact hsutton@berkeley.edu 

“Bridge to Babylon” Judeo-Arabic music at 7:30 p.m. at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $20. 845-6420. 

“Signs Out of Time” A documentary about the life of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas by Donna Read and Starhawk narrated by Olympia Dukakis at 7 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $5. 883-0600. 

East Bay Mac User Group meets at 6 p.m. at Expression Center for New Media, 6601 Shellmound St. http://ebmug.org 

FRIDAY, FEB. 11 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Robert Scalapino, Prof. emeritus, UCB, on “Developments in Far Eastern Asia, and Challenges.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020.  

Fundraiser for Tsunami Victims with music and speeches from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lower Sproul Plaza, UC Campus. ahopeforrecovery.org 

“Maestro: Tom Dowd and the Language of Music” a free screening followed by discussion at 7 p.m. at The College Preparatory School, Buttner Auditorium, 6100 Broadway, north. 658-5202. 

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 East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

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 

SATURDAY, FEB. 12 

Mini-Farmers in Tilden A farm exploration program from 10 to 11 a.m., for ages 4-6 years; accompanied by an adult. We will explore the Little Farm, care for animals, do crafts and farm chores. Wear boots and dress to get dirty! Fee is $5-$7. Registration required. 525-2233. 

Animal Amore! Annual adult only walking tour of the Oakland Zoo to learn the courting and mating habits of the residents. From 9 to 11 a.m. Sat. and Sun. Cost is $10 and registration is required. 632-9525, ext. 142. www.oaklandzoo.org 

Gondwanaland in the Garden Explore the UCBG’s plants from the ancestral range of Gondwanaland, the giant southern landmass which began drifting apart during the Eocene epoch. From 1 to 2 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Cost is $8-$12. Registration required. 643-2755. 

The Wonderful World of Camilias with Garth Jacober on planting, care and pruning at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 845-4116. www.nativeplants.org 

Berkeley Public Library Foundation’s 3rd Annual Authors Dinner Reception at 7 p.m. Tickets for reception still available for $125. 981-6115. www.bplf.org/events.html  

Lunar New Year Festival from noon to 4 p.m. at Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St., Oakland. www.oacc.cc 

Service Dogs for the Blind and the Deaf A special presentation for all ages at 11 a.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. http://ccclib.org  

Tsunami Relief Garage and Bake Sale from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine at 1809 Bancroft Ave. at Grant. All proceeds will go to the relief effort. Sponsored by Berkwood Hedge School. 

5K Run for Tsunami Victims at 10 a.m. beginning at Sather Gate, UC Campus. 502-7995. ahopeforrecovery.org 

Emergency Response Training Class on “Light Search and Rescue” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fire Dept. Training Center, 997 Cedar St. To register call 981-5606. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/fire/oes.html 

Junior Rangers of Tilden meets Sat. mornings at Tilden Nature Center. For more information call 525-2233. 

Pre-School Storytime for ages 3-5 at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17.  

Winter Color in the Garden at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

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, FEB. 13 

Valentine’s Day History Hike to look for mating activity at 10 a.m. in Tilden Nature Area. 525-2233. 

See Our Snakes We’ll look at our resident snakes and learn about their behavior at 10:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Singing Valentine Grams with the UC Choral Ensembles today and Mon. Cost is $20-$50. For information and reservations call 642-3880. 

“More Binding Ties: The Migration Suite” a spoken-word performance by Michael Copeland Sydnor about Bay Area African Americans who worked as Pullman porters and maids at 2 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

57th Annual Festival of the Oaks, International Folk Dance Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with workshops, open folk dancing and exhibition dancing, at Laney College Gym, 901 Fallon St., Oakland. Donation requested. 527-2177. meldancing@aol.com 

Valentine’s Day Card Workshop Make a card or two and learn about the cultural history of Valentine’s Day. From 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Materials provided. Cost is $5-$7. 525-2233. 

Celebrate Black History Month with African mask making at Habitot, 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $5-$6. 647-111. www.habitot.org 

Free Sailboat Rides between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring warm waterproof clothes. www.cal-sailing.org 

“Follow Me Home” a film exploring race and identity at 3 and 6 p.m. at the Parkway Theater, 1834 Park Blvd., Oakland. Post-screening discussion with Lakota Henderson. Cost is $7. Benefits eighth graders at Melrose Leadership Academy. 967-8799. 

Green Sunday, on steps cities can take to select renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency at 5 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. at 65th in North Oakland. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Family Film Sunday Series “The Love Bug” at 11 a.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $5 at the door. 845-8542. www.juliamorgan.org 

“Raising Your Child in an Interfaith Home” at 11:30 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit Street, Oakland. 547-2250. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Sylvia Gretchen on “Using the Mind to Relieve Pain” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, FEB. 14 

“Porter! In Our Own Words” a lecture by Dr. P. Christiaan Klieger on the oral histories of members of The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters at 10:30 a.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public Schools at 5 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 9:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Join at any time. Cost is $2.50 with refreshments. 524-9122. 

“Franz Kafka: Exemplary Jewish Writer” meets Mon. through March 21 at BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $20. 845-6420. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

ONGOING 

Bay Interpretive Training Ongoing classes on the Bay, the seashore and environment held at the Shorebird Park Nature Center, 160 University Ave. at the Berkeley Marina. 981-6720. www.cityofberkeley.info/marina 

Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League is looking for girls in grades 1-8 to play girls softball. Season runs March 5-June 4. Scholarships available. To register call 869-4277.  

All Net Basketball for boys and girls ages 9 to 11, begins Tues. Mar. 8, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and runs for five weeks. Fee is $10-$15. For information call Berkeley Youth Alternatives, 845-9066. sports@byaonline.org 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

Bike Chain Response is organizing an interfaith bike ride from the Nevada Test Site to Los Alamos National Laboratory, June 19 to July 17, to raise awareness of alternative modes of transportation and the tragedy of the nuclear weapons industry. 505-870-2-ASK. www.lovarchy.org/ride/ 

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour Seeks Host Gardens The Bringing Back the Natives Garden tour, which will be held in the spring of 2005, will showcase Alameda and Contra Costa County gardens that contain at least 30% native plants, don’t use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and provide habitat for wildlife. This tour is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coastal Program, the Urban Creeks Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. To be added to the mailing list, or to receive a host application, contact Kathy Kramer at Kathy@KathyKramerConsulting.net or 236-9558.  

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., Feb. 8, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www. ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Commission on Disability meets Wed., Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Don Brown, 981-6346. TDD: 981-6345. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/disability 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jane Micallef, 981-5426. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/commissions/homeless 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/welfare 

Library Board of Trustees meets Thurs. Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at 1901 Russell St., Jackie Y. Griffin, 981-6195. www.ci.ber- 

keley.ca.us/commissions/library 

Planning Commission meets Wed., Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Janet Homrighausen, 981-7484. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 981-4950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/com 

missions/policereview 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. Cliff Marchetti, 644-6376 ext. 224. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/waterfront 

Community Health Commission meets Thurs, Feb. 10, at 6:45 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/health 

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. Iris Starr, 981-7520. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/westberkeley  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410. www.ci.ber 

keley.ca.us/commissions/zoning  à

Ash Wednesday was this week, the traditional opening day of six weeks of reflection for Christians. And today an old friend e-mailed a link to a website, rememberthesechildren.org, which lists the names and ages of children killed in the ongoing dispute between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The numbers alone are sobering. Since the first of this year, one Israeli child and 16 Palestinian children have died. Since September of 2000, dead Palestinian children number 671, with 118 Israeli kids dead. We’ll get letters, undoubtedly, pointing out that more children have probably died in Darfur, and in the tsunamis, and the letter writers will perhaps therefore try to minimize the impact of the deaths of the children in Israel. Or perhaps they will try to blame the adults who are associated with the dead children, and accuse them of negligence or of fomenting the strife which produced the deaths, or even of sending children on suicide missions. Such partisan argument misses the point: As long as the rest of us in the rest of the world acquiesce in the death of any child anywhere, we are participating in some way in causing these deaths. And in the words of John Dunne, “any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.”  

A well-meaning Berkeleyan has been working on arranging a meeting for us with religious leaders from his community to discuss the Israel-Palestine situation and what they think about how the Daily Planet has presented it on our opinion pages. He’s pretty sure in his own mind that we’re wrong, but he wants us all to discuss it. We have agreed to meet them at any time and place of their choosing, because we think that what’s going on, particularly as innocent children (and adults) are affected, is something that all of us should be concerned about. We’d like to have a similar meeting with religious leaders whose co-religionists are “on the other side” in the controversy. All of us, whether religious or not, need to re-dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to bring an end to the killing.  

One way of doing this is to talk to one another. Karl Linn, a European Jew who narrowly escaped the Holocaust by going to Palestine in the 1930s, participated in Jewish-Palestinian dialogue groups in recent years before his death. As far as we’ve heard, these talks haven’t succeeded in ending the strife, but they are a beginning. The best way to honor Karl’s memory will be for community members who care about what’s going on in the Middle East to keep trying, even though it can often be painful, to talk to one another about our differences, and also, especially, about what we agree on. We can’t afford not to.  

—Becky O’Malleyi

A Berkeley High School student found with a gun last week on campus was arrested and has been expelled, said district officials, who added that the student’s actions were apparently inadvertent and it did not appear that the student intended to use the weapon. 

In an e-mail sent out to BHS faculty and staff last week, Vice Principal of Discipline and Safety Denise Brown said that a student was detained by school safety officers last Thursday after students reported seeing a gun in her backpack. 

Because she is a minor, the student has not been identified by school authorities or Berkeley law enforcement officials. 

“The student who was in possession of the gun was extremely upset because she had forgotten that she had the gun in her backpack,” Brown wrote. “She says, and her father confirmed with me, that he had given her the gun for safekeeping.” 

BUSD Public Information Officer Mark Coplan said it was his understanding that the student’s father had given her the weapon to “put away in a safe place where her younger siblings could not get access to it.” 

Coplan called the situation “a real tragedy. This girl was an ‘A’ student. She wasn’t a troublemaker. But the administration really didn’t have any choice in the matter. They had to expel her.” 

A spokesperson for the Berkeley Police Department said that law enforcement officials had not yet made a decision as to whether to bring criminal charges against the student.