Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

Reader Contribution Issue

Friday December 29, 2006

Happy New Year! -more-

Peace on Earth Disrupted By Series of Holiday Quakes

By Richard Brenneman

Friday December 29, 2006

It wasn’t holiday presents but a twitching reminder of its potentially destructive presence that the Hayward Fault gave East Bay residents this holiday season, ending—for the moment—with a weak Thursday morning spasm. -more-

Accommodations

By Esther Stone

Friday December 29, 2006

Seventeen years have passed since the day I signed the rental agreement on my one-bedroom apartment in November, 1989. The day before, my husband Ed and I had shared in the Thanks-giving festivities at my brother’s house, and chose not to reveal that we had decided to end our seven-year marriage. But, bright and early on the following day, I set about looking for a suitable apartment for myself. -more-

A Magical Visit to Davies Hall

By Maya Elmer

Friday December 29, 2006

The magic happens the moment I step forward into the acoustical ambiance of a music hall and I hear that first cacophonous onslaught of instrument and musicians. They’re not just tuning up although there’s that, too. Some violinist is frantically last minute practicing a difficult phrase, at the same time the flautist is re-doing a trill. I watch the kettle drummer bending his head to catch the tremors as he taps the taut drum head. The uncorralled musicians of this moment in contrast to the program’s promised presentation ! -more-

Finding Your Story in Writing Class

By Roopa Ramamoorthi

Friday December 29, 2006

I want to write a piece for my writing class but what can I write? It is 6 p.m. on Wednes-day, class begins at 7 p.m. No, I do not have to have something to show this week, after all it is an adult school class, no grades. I have finished with that when I finished with school, no more worrying about grades. -more-

The Fight to Desegregate Berkeley’s Public Schools

By Gilbert G. Bendix

Friday December 29, 2006

Learning to Leave Lycos

By Edith Monk Hallberg

Friday December 29, 2006

On this darkest night

By Mary Wheeler

Friday December 29, 2006

Four Social Poems

By Lowell Moorcroft

Friday December 29, 2006

What is Peace on Earth?

By Fred Foldvary

Friday December 29, 2006

Alaska

By Catherine Freethy

Friday December 29, 2006

What If ...

By Andrew Rosenthal

Friday December 29, 2006

I talk to God

By Myrna Sokolinsky

Friday December 29, 2006

The Connection Between Learning and Teachers

By Marvin Chachere

Friday December 29, 2006

Emma

By Mertis L. Shekeloff

Friday December 29, 2006

An Interesting Story

By David Vasquez

Friday December 29, 2006

Photograph

Friday December 29, 2006

Julia Child Entertains

By Maggie Morley

Friday December 29, 2006

Space Ship

By Lenore Waters

Friday December 29, 2006

DEAR earth commUNity friends

By Bill Trampleasure

Friday December 29, 2006

Getting Going in a Gallery

By Alta Gerrey

Friday December 29, 2006

The Hurrahs of War

By Mary Barrett

Friday December 29, 2006

An Exuberance of Whales

By Sherry K. Bridgman

Friday December 29, 2006

Checking Out Chavez’s Venezuela

By Mel Martynn

Friday December 29, 2006

Night Storm

By Sandra J. Whittaker

Friday December 29, 2006

The Return of Joe’s Nose

By Janis Mitchell

Friday December 29, 2006

The Old Routine: Hu’s on First

By Robert Marsh

Friday December 29, 2006

The Four Forty Second

By Justice Putnam

Friday December 29, 2006

Dream Kitchen performs at Jupiter during the Downtown Berkeley Jazz Festival in August. Photograph by Hali McGrath.

Editorials

Santa on College

Friday December 29, 2006

Santa, a.k.a. Berkeley Daily Planet Publisher Mike O'Malley, greets shoppers Sarah James, Lizzy P. and baby Cassius on College Avenue in the Elmwood before Christmas. Photograph by Anne Wagley. -more-