Effort to Save Historic Japanese Florist Can’t Prevent Demolition
A key piece of pre-World War II Japanese history will be lost amid rubble and concrete next week to make way for the development of condos and retail in West Berkeley. -more-
A key piece of pre-World War II Japanese history will be lost amid rubble and concrete next week to make way for the development of condos and retail in West Berkeley. -more-
Superior Court Judge Barbara J. Miller handed UC Berkeley a legal setback Monday evening, denying its claimed exemption from state law governing buildings on earthquake faults. -more-
Berkeley City Councilmem-bers acted illegally a year ago when they handed developer Patrick Kennedy a victory in the ongoing battle over the cultural uses of the Gaia Building. -more-
If you’re going to “dress for less,” you’ll need to spend your money in Emeryville or El Cerrito. The downtown Berkeley Ross for Less store will be shutting its doors in mid-January, according to Ross spokesperson Katie Loughnot. -more-
In an effort to stop liquor stores, bars and restaurants from selling alcohol to minors—and to make sure these establishments meet specific standards set by the city—the City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to give the city new tools to regulate businesses that sell alcohol. -more-
In a couple of years, the automobile shopper may not have to slog through Berkeley streets to find a new car. There’s likely to be a Volvo/Nissan dealer just a hop off the freeway—and perhaps a Honda dealer will follow. -more-
The Berkeley City Council is getting involved in the case of a Berkeley man who has been screaming at children playing in the Becky Temko Tot Lot on Roosevelt Street for the past six months. -more-
In a special closed session Monday, the Berkeley City Council will consider removing Rent Board Member Chris Kavanagh from office. -more-
Leftover furniture scraps will be hand-crafted into dolls, trains and trucks at the annual Waterside Workshop’s Holiday Sustainability Event this Sunday. -more-
Current and former members of Berkeley’s Sea Scout Ship Farallon and their parents will meet Monday night to discuss resumption of group activities. -more-
A city employee, crossing Solano Avenue at Fresno Avenue Wednesday afternoon was struck and seriously injured by an automobile going east, according to Sgt. Mary Kusmiss, Berkeley Police Department spokesperson. -more-
The first-of-its-kind poll on race relations between blacks, Latinos and Asians, released yesterday in Washington, D.C., revealed that while ugly stereotypes still hold strong between groups, a majority of those in each group said they should put aside their differences to work toward building better communities. -more-
For the second time in two months, some 5,000 nurses are gathered today outside 13 Sutter Health hospitals in the Bay Area, including Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley and Oakland, to advocate issues they say haven’t been adequately addressed since the October strike. -more-
With little fanfare and no dissent, the Oakland Unified School District agreed this week to move forward with the building of a $75.5 million, four-school education complex on 6.5 acres of the district’s East Lake properties. -more-
“He likes hot chocolate,” she said. Feeling cold myself, I approached the local barista and asked her for a large cup of coffee for the seemingly homeless man sitting outside on the cold bench. I say “seemingly” without knowing, but based on the tattered clothes, the unpleasant odor and the worn shoes. “God bless you,” he shyly replied when I offered him the hot drink. It was almost as if he preferred to remain anonymous. -more-
Did you know that by shifting just 10 percent of your purchases to locally owned businesses, you can start a cycle that creates more jobs in Berkeley, lightens the city’s environmental impact, expands your own shopping options, builds a stronger community, and helps keep our city a national innovator? -more-
In a special meeting on Wednesday Dec. 5, the Berkeley Zero Waste Commission approved a controversial bid from a Stockton company to sort all rubbish (dry discards) that now comes through the city’s transfer station at Second and Gilman streets. It would cover about 200 tons a day of the 340 or so now landfilled. After sorting, about half the rubbish would go to landfill, some would be recycled, and some would be burned. -more-
Due to a copyediting error, a figure was misquoted in George Beier’s Dec. 11 commentary, “Option Recovery Services — Fighting the Good Fight.” The article should have stated that eighty percent of Options clients come from Berkeley. -more-
We were talking recently to our new friend, the professor visiting from Spain. We asked what her husband’s job is. He’s a sociologist, she said. And does he teach at your university? Well, he does teach some classes at night, but his day job is working for the government of a small city, about the size of Berkeley, outside of Madrid. -more-
Nothing seems quite so odd as the contention made by advocates on both sides of the “waterboarding” issue that the use of torture is against American tradition. -more-
Among the original Northside residences that survived the Berkeley fire of 1923, the Bentley House at 2683 Le Conte Avenue is one of the least assuming. Built in 1900 by the prominent Berkeley contractor and amateur artist A.H. Broad, this modest Dutch Colonial Revival residence is the quintessential “simple home” advocated by Charles Keeler in his 1904 book of the same name. -more-
Some of the best gifts I’ve ever received have been from people’s gardens. -more-
You’re in the last throws of the deal and it’s time for the home inspection. The inspector finds that the water heater is defective and needs replacement now. You’re a little upset, since you’ve just offered more money to buy this house than your parents have in their retirement fund. You expected the house to be perfect for that kind of money and you’re not about to shell out another dime. -more-
Editorial: This Should Not Be Necessary 12-14-2007
Why Some Kids Go Bad 12-11-2007
Letters to the Editor 12-14-2007
Commentary: Buying Local Improves Our Community By Deborah Badhia 12-14-2007
Commentary: Zero Waste Commission Recommends Rubbish Sorting in Stockton By Mary Lou Van Deventer 12-14-2007
Correction 12-14-2007
Letters to the Editor 12-11-2007
Who Owns The Commons? By Thomas Lord 12-11-2007
Options Recovery Services — Fighting the Good Fight By George Beier 12-11-2007
Who Benefits From the Surge? By Kenneth Thiesen 12-11-2007
A 2020 Vision for Berkeley Education By Santiago Casal and Michael Miller 12-11-2007
Effort to Save Historic Japanese Florist Can’t Prevent Demolition By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-14-2007
Judge Issues Key Ruling In UC Stadium Lawsuit By Richard Brenneman 12-14-2007
Judge Overturns Council Decision On Gaia Building ‘Cultural Bonus’ By Richard Brenneman 12-14-2007
Ross to Leave Downtown Berkeley, Joining Departure of Shoe Pavilion and The Spot By Judith Scherr 12-14-2007
City Council Votes to Curb Alcohol Outlet Problems By Judith Scherr 12-14-2007
City to Allow Auto Sales in West Berkeley, Exempts Transfer Station By Judith Scherr 12-14-2007
Council Looks at Abusive Acts at Tot Lot By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-14-2007
Council Considers Removing Kavanagh from Rent Board By Judith Scherr 12-14-2007
Waterside Workshop This Sunday at Aquatic Park By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-14-2007
Sea Scout Meeting Called for Monday to Discuss Activities 12-14-2007
Woman Severely Injured Crossing Solano Avenue Wednesday By Judith Scherr 12-14-2007
Poll Explores Racial Tensions Among Minority Groups By Christine Senteno, New America Media 12-14-2007
Sutter Nurses Begin Second Walkout in Two Months By Bay City News 12-14-2007
OUSD Agrees to $7.5 Million Education Complex By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-14-2007
First Person: He Likes Hot Chocolate By Tracie de Angelis 12-14-2007
Flash: Judge Issues Key Ruling in UC Stadium Lawsuit By Richard Brenneman 12-11-2007
Cody’s President Steps Down By Judith Scherr 12-11-2007
Council Weighs Condo Conversion Changes, W. Berkeley Auto Sales By Judith Scherr 12-11-2007
East Bay Green Corridor: Industrial Berkeley’s Salvation or Road to Ruin? By ZELDA BRONSTEIN By ZELDA BRONSTEIN, Special to the Planet 12-11-2007
W. Berkeley Zone Change on Commission Agenda By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-11-2007
Sea Scout Leader Makes Bail; Police Ask Public’s Assistance By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-11-2007
Barbara Lee Endorses Obama for President By Judith Scherr 12-11-2007
Landmarks Commission Approves Shattuck Hotel Revamp By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-11-2007
OUSD Considers Moving Forward with New Complex By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-11-2007
Q & A With Oakland Councilmember Wilson Riles By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-11-2007
People’s Park: Competition or Cooperation? By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-11-2007
Trees vs. Security at Berkeley High School By RIO BAUCE, Special to the Planet 12-11-2007
YWCA Touches Lives Through the Giving Tree Project By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-11-2007
Police Blotter By RIO BAUCE 12-11-2007
Critics Ask for More Time to Consider Lab Projects By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-11-2007
UC Berkeley Laguna Street Extension Nominated for National Register By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-11-2007
Zoning Board Hears Complaints About Alta Bates Parking Violations By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-11-2007
In Memoriam: Andrew Imbrie By Robert P. Commanday, San Francisco Classical Voice 12-11-2007
Governor Comes to Oakland to Boost Foreclosure Project By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-11-2007
Column: Undercurrents: There is a Tradition to American Torture By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-14-2007
East Bay Then and Now: The Bentleys of Le Conte Avenue: 96 Years of Service and Art By Daniella Thompson 12-14-2007
Garden Variety: The Gift That Keeps On Living By Ron Sullivan 12-14-2007
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 12-14-2007
About the House: You Broker It, You Fix It: Why Buyers Should Buy ‘As Is’ By Matt Cantor 12-14-2007
2007: The War in Iraq 12-11-2007
Arboreal Estate and a Yule Tradition: Mistletoe By Ron Sullivan 12-11-2007
Arts Calendar 12-14-2007
Thomas Saraceno’s Visionary Art at BAM By Peter Selz, Special to the Planet 12-14-2007
Brookside Rep’s Holiday Shorts at The Claremont This Sunday By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-14-2007
‘Siddhartha, the Bright Path’ at the Marsh By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-14-2007
The Hangman’s Tree By Richard Schwartz, Special to the Planet 12-14-2007
East Bay Then and Now: The Bentleys of Le Conte Avenue: 96 Years of Service and Art By Daniella Thompson 12-14-2007
Garden Variety: The Gift That Keeps On Living By Ron Sullivan 12-14-2007
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 12-14-2007
About the House: You Broker It, You Fix It: Why Buyers Should Buy ‘As Is’ By Matt Cantor 12-14-2007
Berkeley This Week 12-14-2007
Arts Calendar 12-11-2007
Classical Music Shop Celebrates Busoni By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-11-2007
Shift Theatre, BHS Present ‘Noises Off’ By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-11-2007
The Life and Music of a Legendary Singer-Songwriter By Art Goldberg, Special to the Planet 12-11-2007
Nuclear Power in the Wake of Chernobyl 12-11-2007
Arboreal Estate and a Yule Tradition: Mistletoe By Ron Sullivan 12-11-2007
Berkeley This Week 12-11-2007