Richard Brenneman
              The city has halted work on developer Gary Feiner’s duplex conversion at 2104 Sixth St., (with tarp), though work continues on his other duplex at 2108 Sixth St.
Richard Brenneman The city has halted work on developer Gary Feiner’s duplex conversion at 2104 Sixth St., (with tarp), though work continues on his other duplex at 2108 Sixth St.

Page One

Commission, Neighbors Unhappy With Sisterna District Projects

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The long-running battle between developer Gary Feiner and residents of the landmarked Sisterna Tract neighborhood has flared up again. -more-



School Board to Consider Layoffs

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The hours of several instructional aides in the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) may get slashed, whereas the Berkeley Board of Education considers pay increases for district administration. -more-



UCB Opens Nation’s First Organic College Kitchen

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Mixed baby greens dressed in Sesame Goddess vinaigrette and soy bacon bits drenched in Miso Ginger dressing paved the way for the nation’s first ever certified organic kitchen on an American college campus at UC Berkeley’s Crossroads dining commons on Thursday. -more-



Report: Housing Authority “Deficient”

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday April 04, 2006


County Secures $250,000 for Arts in Public Schools

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Thanks to a grant from a major national nonprofit, arts education in Alameda County is a quarter of a million dollars richer. -more-



Features

Oakland Teachers’ Union to Ask Support from City Officials

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Teachers, parents, labor supporters and other members of the community will descend upon Oakland City Hall Wednesday at 4 p.m. to demand support from city officials in an ongoing clash over contract negotiations. -more-


Alert Issued for Whooping Cough

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The good news is the student at King Middle School who came down with pertussis—whooping cough to most of us—a couple of weeks ago has taken the prescribed dose of antibiotics, is no longer contagious and is back at school. -more-


West Berkeley Bowl Traffic Study Up for Debate Again

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Due to an administrative snafu, the public has additional opportunity to debate Wednesday the merits of a study assessing traffic patterns at a proposed West Berkeley marketplace. -more-


Union Reports on Medical Center’s Payroll Problems

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday April 04, 2006

There have been “significant improvements” in the payroll problems that have plagued the Alameda County Medical Center in recent weeks, according to a spokesperson for the union representing hospital workers. -more-


Discarded Links: Buyers Bid for Knight Ridder’s Castoffs

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday April 04, 2006

As the dismembering of the once-mighty Knight Ridder newspaper chain progresses, a leading shareholder of one of the nation’s leading homebuilding companies has emerged as a potential buyer of two papers. -more-


Richmond Council to Vote on Marina Bay Condos Plan

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The Richmond City Council will make two key decisions tonight (Tuesday) on the proposed 269-condo Westshore Marina Project at Marina Bay. -more-


County Registrar Urges Voters to Register Early

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The acting registrar of voters for Alameda County urged citizens registering for the first time who want to vote in the June 6 primary and nominating election to get their paperwork in early, expecting numerous delays and problems with California’s new registration requirements. -more-


To Sleep, Perchance to Clean

By Sonja Fitz Special to the Planet
Tuesday April 04, 2006

“Sleep when the baby sleeps” -more-


Berkeley Historical Society Spring Walking Tours

By Steven Finacom Special to the Planet
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Historic neighborhoods coping with change seem to be an informal unifying theme of most of this spring’s Berkeley Historical Society’s walking tours. -more-


Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Bank robber -more-


Fire Department Log

By Richard brenneman
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Fires damaged two Berkeley residences Friday night and almost killed a cat, while mudslides threaten to cut off three homes from emergency services, reports Deputy Fire Chief David P. Orth. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday April 04, 2006

BERKELEY BOWL -more-


Commentary: Wind Turbines Will Kill Birds and Bats

By JAMES K. SAYRE
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Bird-killing guillotines in Berkeley? Your recent article, “Berkeley Plans to Accept ‘Free’ Wind Turbine for Marina” (Daily Planet, March 31) was quite depressing. It seems that the City of Berkeley is planning on allowing Southwest Wind Power, Inc. to install one of its industrial electricity-generating wind turbines on the Marina as part of a “green energy” demonstration project. -more-


Commentary: Affordable Housing: Reality or Myth?

By MARIANNE ROBINSON
Tuesday April 04, 2006

In this progressive City of Berkeley, so-called “affordable housing” is not within reach of people with incomes that hover around the poverty line. Section 8 is a high-odds lottery that’s hanging by a thread. Investing in a condo or TIC is not a possibility for people living on fixed incomes whose nest egg is gone. And for older folks, applying for the scarce senior housing options that exist can mean years of waiting for a one-room studio and saying goodbye to treasured possessions. -more-


Commentary: Ashby Task Force to Make Recommendations

By MARCY GREENHUT
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Kenoli Oleari’s commentary in the March 31 Daily Planet contains erroneous statements about the development-planning grant for the west parking lot of Ashby BART. It concerns me that such misinformation could discourage some people from participating in the planning process. Below are some clarifying comments, correct information and resources for the reader to review on their own. -more-


Editorial

Editorial: Climate Change Mandates Regime Change

By Becky O'Malley
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Rain. Rain. And more rain. We have sure had a lot of it this spring. Around the bay, March’s 31 days produced from 22 to 25 days of rain, depending on where you were standing when you counted, breaking records going all the way back to the middle of the 19th century. The total amount of rain in March set records too, ranging from 7.22 inches at the usually warm and sunny Oakland airport to 8.74 inches in San Francisco, always somewhat damper than the East Bay. And the prediction is that it won’t let up for a while. -more-


Columns

Column: Going to the Movies: A Blair Witch Effort

By Susan Parker
Tuesday April 04, 2006

The Landmark Theatre Act 1 & 2 on Center Street is shutting down and I can’t say that I feel bad about it. Act 1 is inaccessible to wheelchair users due to stairs. Act 2 can be accessed by using a small lift located in the lobby. But the lift doesn’t always work. My husband and I were once refunded our money after getting trapped inside it, unable to go up or down. -more-


Creative Pruning Produces Some Bizarre Results

By RON SULLIVAN Special to the Planet
Tuesday April 04, 2006

There sure are some funny-looking trees in this town. Some of them are the results of whimsical pruning—there’s a big cedar in my general neighborhood, a traffic accident in waiting because I can’t be the only person who reflexively eases up on the gas p edal to stare when passing it. -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Tuesday April 04, 2006

Arts: Alameda’s Virago Reprises ‘Threepenny Opera’

By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Arts: Preschool Placement Leads To Murder in ‘Bright Ideas’

By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet
Tuesday April 04, 2006

Events Listings

Berkeley This Week

Tuesday April 04, 2006

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Editorial: Climate Change Mandates Regime Change 04-04-2006

Editorial: April 1st Brings Memories By Becky O'Malley 03-31-2006

Cartoons

Correction 03-31-2006

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 04-04-2006

Commentary: Wind Turbines Will Kill Birds and Bats By JAMES K. SAYRE 04-04-2006

Commentary: Affordable Housing: Reality or Myth? By MARIANNE ROBINSON 04-04-2006

Commentary: Ashby Task Force to Make Recommendations By MARCY GREENHUT 04-04-2006

Letters to the Editor 03-31-2006

Commentary: Ashby BART Plan Still Ignores the People By KENOLI OLEARI 03-31-2006

Commentary: Blame the City Council By CAROL DENNEY 03-31-2006

News

Commission, Neighbors Unhappy With Sisterna District Projects By Richard Brenneman 04-04-2006

School Board to Consider Layoffs By Suzanne La Barre 04-04-2006

UCB Opens Nation’s First Organic College Kitchen By Riya Bhattacharjee 04-04-2006

Report: Housing Authority “Deficient” By Judith Scherr 04-04-2006

County Secures $250,000 for Arts in Public Schools By Suzanne La Barre 04-04-2006

Oakland Teachers’ Union to Ask Support from City Officials By Suzanne La Barre 04-04-2006

Alert Issued for Whooping Cough By Judith Scherr 04-04-2006

West Berkeley Bowl Traffic Study Up for Debate Again By Suzanne La Barre 04-04-2006

Union Reports on Medical Center’s Payroll Problems By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 04-04-2006

Discarded Links: Buyers Bid for Knight Ridder’s Castoffs By Richard Brenneman 04-04-2006

Richmond Council to Vote on Marina Bay Condos Plan By Richard Brenneman 04-04-2006

County Registrar Urges Voters to Register Early By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 04-04-2006

To Sleep, Perchance to Clean By Sonja Fitz Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Berkeley Historical Society Spring Walking Tours By Steven Finacom Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Police Blotter By Richard Brenneman 04-04-2006

Fire Department Log By Richard brenneman 04-04-2006

Breakfast Club Arrives At Alternative High School By SUZANNE LA BARRE 03-31-2006

Oakland Council Looks at Giant Waterfront Project By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 03-31-2006

Two Arrests Made in Prince Street Murder By Richard Brenneman 03-31-2006

Union Wins Claremont Contracts By Judith Scherr 03-31-2006

Peralta Trustees Explore Takeover of Compton District By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 03-31-2006

Berkeley Woman Slain By Richard Brenneman 03-31-2006

Body Found in Burning Car By Richard Brenneman 03-31-2006

Berkeley Plans to Accept ‘Free’ Wind Turbine for Marina By Judith Scherr 03-31-2006

Union Sets Date for Oakland Teachers Strike By SUZANNE LA BARRE 03-31-2006

Berkeley Challenges Bates By Judith Scherr 03-31-2006

Berkeley Molds Sunshine Ordinance By Judith Scherr 03-31-2006

Radishes in the Springtime By Shirley BarkerSpecial to the Planet 03-31-2006

Legal Limbo for Pot Users? By SUZANNE LA BARRE 03-31-2006

Columns

Column: Going to the Movies: A Blair Witch Effort By Susan Parker 04-04-2006

Creative Pruning Produces Some Bizarre Results By RON SULLIVAN Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Column: Dispatches FromThe Edge: Tales From the South Pacific: Condoleezza Does Indonesia By Conn Hallinan 03-31-2006

Column: Undercurrents: Jerry Brown is Missing in Action at the End of His Term By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 03-31-2006

Berkeley Rushed to Help 1906 Quake Survivors By Richard Schwartz Special to the Planet 03-31-2006

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 04-04-2006

Arts: Alameda’s Virago Reprises ‘Threepenny Opera’ By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Arts: Preschool Placement Leads To Murder in ‘Bright Ideas’ By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Creative Pruning Produces Some Bizarre Results By RON SULLIVAN Special to the Planet 04-04-2006

Berkeley This Week 04-04-2006

Arts Calendar 03-31-2006

Arts: Howard Wiley Brings the Angola Project to San Francisco By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet 03-31-2006

Finnish Jazz Comes to Berkeley By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet 03-31-2006

Moving Pictures: Pacific Film Archive Presents the Work of Jacques Demy By JUSTIN DeFREITAS 03-31-2006

Berkeley Rushed to Help 1906 Quake Survivors By Richard Schwartz Special to the Planet 03-31-2006

Berkeley This Week 03-31-2006

The Inspector’s Secret: Sit Down and Look By MATT CANTOR 03-31-2006

Garden VAriety: The Right Way to Learn About Pruning Trees By RON SULLIVAN 03-31-2006