When a Cal fan heads into Memorial Stadium these days, there’s not much to brag about. The football team hasn’t made a bowl game in four years, and hopes aren’t exactly high for next season. But look a little farther up Strawberry Canyon, just over the east lip of the stadium, and you’ll get a look at what excellence really is. That’s Witter Field, home of the Cal men’s rugby team. 

The nation’s top team heads for Virginia Beach, Va., this weekend to go for its 11th straight national championship. That’s right, 11 straight seasons of being the best in the country. The football program pales in comparison. Heck, no team in college athletics can match a streak like that. 

The Bears face Navy on Saturday, with the winner facing the winner of the Army-Penn State game on Sunday. The three other teams all have multiple appearances in the Final Four, but have been unsuccessful in trying to knock Cal from the top of the mountain. 

In fact, no American team has beaten the Bears since 1996, when Stanford managed to take a game from them. Before that, Clark’s teams had won 98 straight games in the U.S. That adds up to nearly one whole decade with one loss to an American team. 

Jack Clark has coached the team through this unprecedented run, and he feels like this year’s team could be at the top of not just the nation, but of his own personal pantheon of great teams. 

“We’ve first got to bring home a championship, because that, in some ways, will validate us,” Clark said. “But if we do accomplish that, I would say this is one of the best teams I’ve ever coached.” 

Considering the fact that the Bears have won 13 of a possible 17 titles under Clark, and 17 out of 21 total, that would make them one of the top teams in U.S. history.  

Clark said he usually has to shape the team’s playing style to fit his team’s strengths and weaknesses, but this year’s squad is the most complete he’s had. 

“We’ve been pretty flexible in our approach and developed a pattern of play according to what our players do well. We want to highlight what we do best and disguise what we do poorest,” he said. 

“Over last 10 years we’ve played forward-oriented rugby, and we’ve been where we’ve used every available ball to the backs out wide. For some years we had several good kickers, so we were very field-position oriented. This year we’ve got all the parts to a very good rugby team.” 

One key part of the team wasn’t with the team on Thursday and won’t be with them today. Captain Shaun Paga is at a training camp for the Minnesota Vikings, who signed him as a free agent last week. The camp runs through the weekend, but Minnesota head coach Dennis Green is allowing Paga to miss the final two days to finish his Cal rugby career. 

“Denny was kind enough to dismiss him for the weekend, and he’s been very supportive of Shaun playing with us,” Clark said. 

The move has put Clark in an unfamiliar position: leaning on a Stanford man for help. Green coached for the Cardinal before moving to the NFL. 

“I’ve just become a big Denny Green fan,” Clark said. “You let my captain come play in the Final Four and you win my applause.” 

But the fact is that even without Paga, the Bears would be a heavy favorite to take home the trophy this weekend. Clark’s team boasts five players with national team experience, and are deep enough to have dominated this year despite losing several key players to injuries. 

Four of those national team players are forwards, making a dominant pack that can bully just about any team around the field. Prop Mike McDonald, lock Brian Meux and flanker Kort Schubert have all joined Paga in representing the U.S., along with new addition John Buccholz, a versatile back who can move from center to fullback with no problem. 

“We have some stars, but we also put a pretty good supporting cast around those guys,” Clark said. “We’ve got some young guys who can be just as good in the future.” 

In other words, don’t expect the Bears to fall anytime soon. The difficulty of keeping up a strong program was underlined earlier this year, when Stanford decided to cancel their match with Cal because they couldn’t field a competitive side. But Clark doesn’t let his team get complacent, with constant competition for starting spots. 

“We haven’t won 10 straight championships by ever assuming anything,” Clark said. “This is no time for overconfidence, no time for assumption. This is the business end of the year, and if we play our best, we should bring home the trophy.” 

“But wanting to play your best and actually doing it are two different things.”

MUSEUMS: 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels like an earthworm, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins, and become little “dump” workers. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org  

Judah L. Magnes Museum “Telling Time: To Everything There Is A Season” Through May 2002 An exhibit structured around the seasons of the year and the seasons of life with objects ranging from the sacred and the secular, to the provocative and the whimsical 2911 Russell St. 549-6950  

UC Berkeley Art Museum “Joe Brainard: A Retrospective,” Through May 27. The selections include 150 collages, assemblages, paintings, drawings, and book covers. Brainard’s art is characterized by its humor and exhuberant color, and by its combinations of media and subject matter. “Ricky Swallow/Matrix 191,” Including new sculptures and drawings; Through May 27 $6 general; $4 seniors and students age 12 to 18; children age 12 and under free; free Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley 642-0808 

The Asian Galleries “Art of the Sung: Court and Monastery” A display of early Chinese works from the permanent collection. “Chinese Ceramics and Bronzes: The First 3,000 Years,” open-ended. “Works on Extended Loan from Warren King,” open-ended. “Three Towers of Han,” open-ended. $6 general; $4 seniors and students age 12 to 18; free children age 12 and under; free Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 642-0808 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

UC Berkeley Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology “Approaching a Century of Anthropology: The Phoebe Hearst Museum,” open-ended. This new permanent installation will introduce visitors to major topics in the museum’s history.“Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture,” ongoing.$2 general; $1 seniors; $.50 children age 17 and under; free on Thursdays. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Kroeber Hall, Bancroft Way and College Ave. 643-7648  

Holt Planetarium Programs are recommended for age 8 and up; children under age 6 will not be admitted. $2 in addition to regular museum admission. Daily, 3:30 p.m. $7 general; $5 seniors, students, disabled, and youths age 7 to 18; $3 children age 3 to 5 ; free children age 2 and younger. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, UC Berkeley 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu  

Music 

924 Gilman St. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted $5; $2 for a year membership. All ages. May 4: Plan 9, Zodiac Killers, Reverend B. Dangerous Freakshow, Dory Tourette & The Skirtheads, Knockoffs; May 5: Shikabane, Phobia, Harum Scarum, Vulgar Pigeons, Insidious Sorrow; May 11: Subincision, Next to Nothing, Fracus, Thrice, The Average Joe; May 12: The Sick, Impalid, Creuvo, Tearing Down Standards. 525-9926  

Ashkenaz May 4: 9:30 p.m. Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited from Zimbabwe.; May 5: 9:30 California Cajun Orchestra, 8:30 p.m. dance lesson; May 6: 7 p.m.: Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble; May 9: 9 p.m. Billy Dunn and Bluesway, 8 p.m. dance lesson 1370 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman) 525-5054 or www.ashkenaz.com  

Freight & Salvage All music at 8 p.m. May 4: cris Williamson; May 5, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with author P.D. James and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser; May 5: R. Crumb 7 The Cheap Suit Serenaders; May 6: Terry Riley, George Brooks & Gyan Riley; May 8: Duck Baker and Tim Sparks; May 9: Rosalie Sorrels and Terry Garthwaite; May 10: Richard Shindell; May 11: Steve Seskin, Angela Kaset and Don Henry; May 12, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with authors Adair Lara and Janis Newman, and the Accoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet; May 12: Robin Flower and Libby McClaren; May 13, 1 p.m.: The Kathy Kallick Band; May 13, 8 p.m.: The Pine Valley Boy. 1111 Addison St. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool/La Note All music at 4:30 p.m. May 6: David Creamer Trio; May 13: Michael Zilber Group 2377 Shattuck Ave. 845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com 

Jupiter All shows at 8 p.m. May 4: Stolen Bibles; May 5: J Dogs; May 8: The Rum Diary; May 9: Bitches Brew; May 10: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; May 11: Mood Food; May 12: Post Junk Trio; May 15: Chris Shot Group; May 16: Spank; May 17: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; May 18: Will Bernard and Motherbug; May 19: Solomon Grundy; May 22: Willy N’ Mo; May 23: Global Echo; May 24: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; May 25: The Mind Club; May 26: Netwerk: Electric; May 29: The Lost Trio; May 30: Zambambazo 2181 Shattuck Ave 843-8277  

La Pena Cultural Center May 5, 9 p.m.: Chicano de Mayo Celebration dance with O-Maya, Yaksi, DJ Corazon & La Viuda Negra, plus poets Leticia Hernandez and Robert Karimi; May 11, 8 p.m.: Erika Luckett, Irina Rivkin & Making Waves, Gwen Avery, Shelly Doty X-tet; May 12, 10:30 a.m.: Colibri; May 13, 4 p.m.: In the Cafe La Pena - Community Juerga; May 13, 3 p.m.: Juanita Newland-Ulloa and Picante Ensemble; May 17, 8 p.m.: Tribu; May 19, 8 p.m.: Carnaval featuring Company of Prophets, Loco Bloco, Mystic, Los Delicados, DJ Sake One and DJ Namane 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org  

Cal Performances May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.: Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents “Way Station,” “BIPED,” and “Rainforest” $20 - $42 Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley; 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Live Oak Concert May 5, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Stephanie Pan, soprano, Mirta Wymerszberg, baroque flute, Karen Ande, viola de gamba, Meg Cotner, harpsichord performing the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Boismortier, and Ortiz. $8 - $10 Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“The Children’s Hour” May 5 & 12, 8 p.m. and May 13, 4 p.m. The Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Arlene Sagan will perform Julian White’s piece along with Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and selections from Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, poems of Robert Frost set to music. Free St. Joseph the Worker Church 1640 Addison St. 528-2145  

Music & Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m. & May 6, 2 p.m. Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the Bay Area 45-member ensemble, will perform music and dance from Bali under the direction of Balinese guest artists I Made Subandi and Ni Ketut Arini. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

Music of the Big Band Era May 6, 2 p.m. Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Stan Kenton. $15 Longfellow School of the Arts 1500 Derby St. (at Sacramento) 420-4560 

Francesco Trio May 6, 4 p.m. Performing works of Haydn, Brahams and Mel Powell. $10 / under 18 free Crowden School 1475 Rose St. (at Sacramento) 559-6910 or visit www.thecrowdenschool.org 

Young People Chamber Orchestra May 6, 4 p.m. Celebrating the music of J.S. Bach, J. Haydn, Mozart and others. St. Johns Presbyterian Church 2727 College Ave. 595-4688 

New Monsoon and Om May 6, 9:30 p.m. World-influenced jam rock and improv groove/jazz trio respectively. $3 cover charge. Blakes Bar 2367 Telegraph Ave. 848-0886 www.blakesbar.com 

“Three Tenors No Opera” May 7, 8 - 10 p.m. This Bay Area jazz septet with three-sax front line will deconstruct the tenor classics live on KPFA, 94.1 FM 

Berkeley Opera Gala Concert May 12, 7 p.m. Berkeley Opera singers and special guest artists will be joined by Music Director, Jonathan Khuner and members of the Berkeley Opera Orchestra to provide entertainment highlighting the 2001 theme, “Opera Uncensored.” Also a silent auction, balloon raffle, champagne and more. $15 - $40 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

Juanita Newland-Ulloa & Picante Ensemble May 13, 3 p.m. Romantic songs from South America. Luncheon served at 1 p.m. at the Valparaiso Cafe. $13 - $15 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

Mother’s Day Celebration May 13, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Albany Big Band will play from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. followed at 2 p.m. by Wine Country Brass. Picnic fare will be available fom Classic Catering, or bring food from home. Flowers for sale. 525-3005 

Tribu May 17, 8 p.m. Direct from Mexico, Tribu plays a concert of ancestral music of the Mayan, Aztec, Olmec, Zapotec, Purerpecha, Chichimec, Otomi, and Toltec. Tribu have reconstructed and rescued some of the oldest music in the Americas. $12 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

Satsuki Arts Festival and Bazaar May 19, 4 - 10 p.m. & May 20, Noon - 7 p.m. A fundraiser for the Berkeley Buddhist Temple featuring musical entertainment by Julio Bravo & Orquesta Salsabor, Delta Wires, dance presentations by Kaulana Na Pua and Kariyushi Kai, food, arts & crafts, plants & seedlings, and more. Berkeley Buddhist Temple 2121 Channing Way (at Shattuck) 841-1356 

KALW 60th Anniversary Celebration May 20, 8 p.m. An evening of eclectic music and dance that reflects the eclectic nature of the stations’ programming. Performers include Paul Pena, Kathy Kallick & Nina Gerber, Orla & the Gas Men, and the Kennelly Irish Dancers. $19.50 - $20.50 Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 or www.thefreight.org  

Himalayan Fair May 27, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects. $5 donation Live Oak Park 1300 Shattuck Ave. 869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net  

Berkeley Symphony Orchestra June 21, 2001. All performances begin at 8 p.m. Single $19 - $35, Series $52 - $96. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley 841-2800  

Dance 

Music and Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m., May 6, 2 p.m. Forty-five member ensemble Gamelan Sekar Jaya presents rhythms of Balinese gamelan in an orchestra of gongs, drums, flutes and bronze metallophones accompanied by several of Bali’s skilled dancers. $8-$16 Saturday, $5-$10 Sunday Julia Morgan Theatre 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Dance! The Soul Behind the Art” May 11, 8 p.m. The Attitude Dance Company presents jazz, hip hop, lyrical, street funk, modern and tap dancing. $6 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300  

Theater 

“Grease” May 5, 11, 12, 8 p.m. and May 6, 2 p.m. By Berkeley High Performing Arts Department. Rock-musical set in late 1950’s explores teen issues. A classic. $6 Little Theater Allston Way between MLK and Milvia 524-9754  

“The Oresteia” by Aeschylus Through May 6 Directed by Tony Taccone and Stephen Wadsworth, Aeschylus trilogy will be the first production staged on the Berkeley Rep’s new prosenium stage. Please call Berkeley Repertory Theatre for specific dates and times. $15.99 - $117 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2015 Addison St. (at Shattuck) 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Death of a Salesman” Through May 5, Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. plus Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. The ageless story of Willy Loman presented by an African-American cast and staged by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. $10 Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck (at Berryman) 528-5620 

“Big Love” by Charles L. Mee Through June 10 Directed by Les Waters and loosely based on the Greek Drama, “The Suppliant Woman,” by Aeschylus. Fifty brides who are being forced to marry fifty brothers flee to a peaceful villa on the Italian coast in search of sanctuary. $15.99 - $51 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison St. 647-2949 

Shotgun Players “Slings and Arrows: love stories from Shakespearean tragedies” written and directed by Rebecca Goodberg and developed by the ensemble and “Blue Roses” conceptualized and directed by Christian Schneider. Discussions with the audience will follow each show. Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m. through May 5. $10 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid Ave. 655-0813  

Interplay Fest! May 4, 8 p.m. May 5, 3:30 - 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. A full weekend of performances by Wing It! Performance Ensemble, Cultural InterPlay Ensemble, and the Art of InterPlay Ensemble. Weekend Pass: $15, Individual performances, $7 - $10 First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way (at Dana) 814-9584 

“Planet Janet” May 11 - June 10, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 7 p.m. Follows six young urbanites’ struggles in sex and dating. Impact Theatre presentation written by Bret Fetzer, directed by Sarah O’Connell. $7 - $12 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid 464-4468 www.impacttheatre.com 

“The Musical Tree of India” May 13, 2 p.m. Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre present this legend from tribal India. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

“The Misanthrope” by Moliere May 18 - June 10, Fri - Sun, 8 p.m. Berkeley-based Women in Time Productions presents this comic love story full of riotous wooing, venomous scheming and provocative dialogue. All female design and production staff. $17 - $20 Il Teatro 450 449 Powell St. San Francisco 415-433-1172 or visit www.womenintime.com 

The far side of the moon through May 5, 8 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. and May 6, 3 p.m. A solo performance by Canadian writer, actor and director Robert Lepage with an original score by Laurie Anderson. $30 - $46 Zellerbach Playhouse Bancroft at Dana UC Berkeley 642-9988  

Films 

“A Ship with Painted Sails: The Fabulous Animation of Karel Zeman” May 4: 7 p.m. The Stolen Airship, 9:10 p.m. A Jester’s Tale May 5: 7 p.m. Journey to the Beginning of Time, 8:35 p.m. The Treasure of Bird Island May 11: 7 p.m. Zeman Shorts, 8:55 p.m. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne May 12: 7 p.m. Baron Munchausen, 9:10 p.m. Kraba - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice May 13: 5:30 The Thousand and One Nights, 7:05 p.m. The Tale of John and Mary. Admission: $7 for one film, $8.50 for double bills. Pacific Film Archive Theater 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-1412 

“Women’s Evening at the Movies” May 5, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food. $5 donation requested Pacific Center 2712 Telegraph Ave. 548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

“Mirele Efros” May 13, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Jacob Gordin’s classic story set in turn-of the century Grodno. A classic study in family relations. Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Cinema 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Exhibits 

“The Distance Between Us” Through May 4 The photographs of Mimi Chakarova depicting South African townships, inland parishes in Jamaica and her most recent work in Cuba. Photographs about people and their incredible will to survive regardless of the circumstances. Graduate School of Journalism North Gate Hall UC Berkeley 

“The Sands of Time” Arab/Muslim sculptures and ceramics of Khalil Bendib. Through May 5, Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or call for appointment Mussi Artworks Foundry & Gallery 719 Heintz Ave. Space 10 644-2735 

Youth Arts Festival A citywide celebration of art, music, dance and poetry by youth from the Berkeley Unified School District. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics by K-8 students Through May 12, Wednesday - Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St.  

“The Art of Meadowsweet Dairy” Objects found in nature, reworked and turned into objects of art. Through May 15, call for hours Current Gallery at the Crucible 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511  

“Scapes/Escapes” Ink, Acrylic, Mixed Media by Evelyn Glaubman Through June 1 Tuesday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Gallery of the Center for Psychological Studies 1398 Solano Ave. Albany 524-0291 

“Watercolors and Mixed Media” by Pamela Markmann Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. A retrospective of 30 years’ work at Markmann’s Berkeley studio. Red Oak Gallery 2983 College Ave. 526-4613  

“Elemental” The art of Linda Mieko Allen Through June 9, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Reception: May 2, 6 - 8 p.m. Traywick Gallery 1316 Tenth St. 527-1214 www.traywick.com 

Berkeley Potters Guild Spring Show and Sale May 5, 6, 12, 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fifteen artists open their personal studios to the public and offer pieces for sale. Berkeley Potters Guild 731 Jones St. 524-7031 www.berkeleypotters.com 

Ledger drawings of Michael and Sandra Horse. Meet the artists May 18, 19, 20 (call for times). Exhibit runs through June 18. Gathering Tribes Gallery 1573 Solano Ave. 528-9038 www.gatheringtribes.com  

“Alive in Her: Icons of the Goddess” Through June 19, Tuesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photography, collage, and paintings by Joan Beth Clair. Opening reception May 3, 4 - 6 p.m. Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Ave. 848-0528 

Bernard Maisner: Illuminated Manuscripts & Paintings. Through Aug. 8 Maisner works in miniature as well as in large scales, combining his mastery of medieval illumination, gold leafing, and modern painting techniques. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 849-2541 

“Musee des Hommages,” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Geographies of My Heart” Collage paintings by Jennifer Colby May 7 - August 24; Reception event May 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m,: Colby will give a slide-lecture using contemporary women’s art depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe to illustrate her dissertation research in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies - Dinner Board Room; Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

Images of Portugal Paintings by Sofia Berto Villas-Boas of her native land. Open after 5 p.m. Voulez-Vous 2930 College Ave. (at Elmwood) 

Quilt Show through May 12. M-Th, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Twenty-second annual show displays over 60 quilts. Berkeley Public Library’s North Branch. 1170 The Alameda 644-6850 

“Tropical Visions: Images of AfroCaribbean Women in the Quilt Tapestries of Cherrymae Golston” Through May 28, Tu-Th, 1-7 p.m., Sat 12-4 p.m. Women’s Cancer Resource Center Gallery 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 ext 307 

Readings 

Cody’s Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-7852 All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 4: Doris Haddock will read from “Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year” about her 3,200-mile journey across the country; May 8: Geling Yan reads “The Lost Daughter of Happiness” May 10: Ron Hansen talks about “A Stay Against Confusion; May 11: Terry Pratchett reads “Thief of Time”; May 12: Ike Oguine reads “A Squatter’s Tale”; May 14: Edie Meidav reads “The Far Field: A Novel of Ceylon”  

Cody’s Books 1730 Fourth St. 559-9500 All events at 7 p.m., unless noted May 7: Rachel Naomi Remen reads from “My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging”; May 10: Anchee Min reads “Becoming Madame Mao”  

Boadecia’s Books 398 Colusa Ave. Kensington All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 4: Sylvia Brownrigg will read from “Pages for You”; May 11: Suzanne Gold will read from her novel “Daddy’s Girls”; May 12: Krandall Kraus will read “Love’s Last Chance: A Nigel & Nicky Mystery”; May 18: Melinda Given Guttman will read from “The Enigma of Anna O”; May 19: Jessica Barksdale Inclan will read from “Her Daughter’s Eyes” 559-9184 or www.bookpride.com  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 1385 Shattuck Ave. (at Rose) 843-3533 All events at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise May 10: Gray Brechin talks about “Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin”; May 23: Jon Bowermaster discusses his book “Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska’s Islands of Fire and Ice”; May 29, 7 - 9 p.m.: Travel Photo Workshop with Joan Bobkoff. $15 registration fee  

“Strong Women - Writers & Heroes of Literature” Fridays Through June 2001, 1 - 3 p.m. Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 549-2970  

Duomo Reading Series and Open Mic. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9 p.m. May 10: Jamie Kennedy with host Mischell Erickson; May 17: Gregory Listach Gayle with host Mark States; May 24: Stephanie Young with host Louis Cuneo; May 31: Connie Post with host Louis Cuneo Cafe Firenze 2116 Shattuck Ave. 644-0155. 

“New Draft Programme of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA” May 9, 7 p.m. Take part in a discussion of this blueprint for fighting and winning a revolution in the United States. Revolution Books 2425C Channing Way 848-1196 

Paul Polansky and Voice of Roma May 10, 3 p.m. Polansky’s poetry gives voice to the Kosovo Roma and their plight in the aftermath of their plight in the aftermath of the 1999 war. Free Kroeber Hall Gifford Room Second Floor (at College and Bancroft in Anthropology Building) 981-1352 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike May 12, 6:30 p.m. An ongoing open mike series, featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Free Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Berkeley City Club Tours 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. The fourth Sunday of every month, Noon - 4 p.m. $2 848-7800  

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tours All tours begin at 10 a.m. and are restricted to 30 people per tour $5 - $10 per tour May 12: Debra Badhia will lead a tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Arts District; May 19: John Stansfield & Allen Stross will lead a tour of the School for the Deaf and Blind; June 2: Trish Hawthorne will lead a tour of Thousand Oaks School and Neighborhood; June 23: Sue Fernstrom will lead a tour of Strawberry Creek and West of the UC Berkeley campus 848-0181 

Lectures 

California Colloquium on Water Scholars of distinction in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, law and environmental design speak about water resources and hopefully contribute to informed decisions on water in California. May 8, 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.: “What Makes Water Wet?” Richard Saykally, professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley (refreshments served in 410 O’Brien Hall at 4:15 p.m.) 212 O’Brien Hall, UC Berkeley 642-2666  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Free Lectures All lectures begin at 6 p.m. May 6: Sylvia Gretchen on “Faith, Doubt, and Refuge in Buddhist Practice”; May 13: Abbe Blum on “Tapping Into Creativity”; May 20: Miep Cooymans and Dan Jones on “Working with Awareness, Concentration, and Energy”; May 27: Eva Casey on “Getting Calm; Staying Clear”; June 3: Jack van der Meulen on “Healing Through Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)”; June 10: Sylvia Gretchen on “Counteracting Negative Emotions” Tibetan Nyingma Institute 1815 Highland Place 843-6812 

“Hunting T. Rex” May 6, 2 p.m. A talk by Dr. Philip Currie, curator of dinosaurs, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Currie asks the question: Was there social interaction amongst the Tyrannosaurs? $3 - $7 Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 642-5132 or visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

Berkeley 1900 May 7, 7 p.m. Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900, a book about life at the turn of the 19th century, will speak at the Friends of Five Creeks’ monthly meeting. Albany Community Center (downstairs) 1249 Marin 848-9358 

Peopling of the Pacific May 11, 8 p.m. Dr. Patrick Kirch, department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, will review results of archaeological research in the Pacific Islands, providing a current overview of Oceanic prehistory. 370 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley 415-338-1537  

Rally speakers preached hate 

Editor: 

I would like to elaborate on my previous letter that has caused many to voice their opposition. While Will Youmans and Gregory Hoadley (27-4-01) try their best to excuse the anti-Semitic hatred, such talk that came from speakers over Students for Justice in Palestine’s microphone at a recent demonstration. This is inexcusable. SJP brought speakers to the rally to say what they wanted to hear: hate and anti-Semitism. The speaker didn’t call for peace and dialogue – he referred to Jews as a whole as “conniving,” while the pro-Israel protesters called for peace, dialogue and an end to the violence. 

Inconveniencing others (by sitting in at Wheeler Hall) isn’t what gives SJP its “lack of validity.” Their ignorance towards history is. SJP fails to address the background of the refugees. While many refugees were created partly because of the neighboring Arab states, the same number of Jewish refugees were created IN the Arab states, that were settled without a complaint in Israel.  

Why didn’t the Arab countries absorb their brethren into their vast land? I don’t hear the Palestinians turning to their leaders for answers; instead they choose to depend on Israel.  

Mr. Hoadley claims that Israel doesn’t acknowledge 20 percent of its citizens who aren’t Jewish. That is a lie. Every citizen in Israel is treated equal under the law, regardless of religion.  

There are fair and democratic elections (more than the Palestine Authority has) and the Arab sector is free to elect its representatives for the parliament. Every citizen can work and live where they please. Israeli Arabs have far more rights and are better off in Israel than in any other Arab state. To say that there is no racism in Israel is as realistic as saying that there isn’t racism in the United States. Although Israel plays a significant part in Judaism, Judaism isn’t the only religion recognized in Israel, where there is room for pluralism. 

Sarah Weir’s letter to the editor refers to the bypass roads in the territories. She fails to mention their purpose: So Israelis can avoid driving through Arab towns and being lynched. 

I know that the conflict will come to an end. I believe it can end peacefully if both sides negotiate. Israel was willing to make great concessions for peace, only to be slapped in the face. This is not acceptable. The Palestinians must end the violence they initiated and learn to talk. Only then will peace reign. 

Devora Liss 

Berkeley 

SPJ combats racism and two-class Israeli system 

Editor: 

The letter from David Singer (”Another side to the Palestinian/Israeli issue,” April 30) seems to hope that by pointing fingers everywhere else, no one will look at the reality of the Israeli occupation and the need to divest. 

Instead of addressing Student for Justice in Palestine’s actual message of divestment, Singer tries to raise the scepter of “anti-semitism” by singling out a two-minute excerpt from six hours of a rally, an excerpt which does not fit in with anything SJP advocates. 

In fact, SJP is against any form of racism, racism actually entrenched in Israel’s apartheid policies. Israeli law creates two classes, Jews and Palestinians, with very different rights, limiting Palestinians’ ability to buy land, get jobs, have a fair trial, and even walk on some roads. 

Instead of addressing these state policies, the finger is pointed back at the Palestinians, referring to some non-contextual “conflict,” looking away from who is, as defined by international law, the occupier and who the occupied. 

Mr. Singer is right that “any rational person who reads news reports” will think that the violence is two-sided, if that rational person only reads the mainstream American media, which portrays the situation far differently from the consistent human rights abuses and violence of occupation reported in the British, French, international, and even Israeli media, as well as countless human rights reports from everyone from the United Nations to Amnesty International. 

If one read the American media only, one would come to Singer’s conclusions of the Israeli’s offering “the most generous peace ever offered,” while the actual offer gives the Palestinian Authority only 22 percent of the land back, unlivable land dotted with Israeli settlements and access roads, and refusing any refugees rights, a peace without justice. 

Singer keeps us looking everywhere from 2000 years ago to to a sham of a peace, everywhere but at the reality of history and the apartheid and racist Israeli policies in which the United States and University of California invest in daily. 

Robert Chlala 

Berkeley 

City’s medical marijuana law unfair to patients 

Editor 

I would like to draw attention to the unreasonable, unrealistic and unsafe restrictions that Berkeley has imposed on Medical Marijuana patients. The City Council has adopted an ordinance that only allows a patient to cultivate 10 plants in total. This ordinance would put the city in the top 10 worst cities in California. Considering that the city is supposed to be at the liberal forefront, I believe that this ordinance will make Berkeley the laughing stock of California. 

At a City Council meeting in March there was a significant difference of opinion between city staff and the Community Health Commission regarding the number of plants that a qualified patient may cultivate.  

This was primarily due to confusion about the life cycle of cannabis plants and typical methods of cultivation. The life cycle of a cannabis plant can be divided into three stages: (1) the immature stage in which new cuttings root and develop their first branches, (2) the vegetative stage in which plants gain mass, and (3) the flowering stage in which female cannabis plants produce usable medication. The yield of a cannabis plant will depend on the patient’s choice of soil, fertilizer, and light sources. Of course, gardening skills play an enormous role. If some plants die or get diseased, patients in need could be left very short on their medicine. Then it is back to the streets for these patients. 

The CHC voted to recommend our ordinance based on guidelines in use in Oakland. A patient may cultivate 48 flowering plants, and two sets of 48 non-flowering plants. This arrangement allows the patient to have plants in all three stages of growth at any one time. While the guidelines allow a total of 144 plants, only 48 plants will be capable of producing medication at any one time. The other 96 plants will be growing at the two earlier stages. 

Using this system, a patient can provide his or herself with a safe, constant supply of medical cannabis. The Oakland working group that established these standards did not intend for them to be a political compromise. Instead, they represent a real effort, based on empirical research, to determine the legitimate needs of seriously ill people. 

While the city staff’s proposal of a ten-plant limit, which Berkeley has now adopted, is somewhat easier to grasp, it does not allow the average medical cannabis patient safe and affordable access to a constant supply of medication. Establishing a low limit on the number of plants will force patients to rely on the illicit market to meet their needs, placing patients in legal and personal jeopardy. 

I sincerely believe that Berkeley’s newly adopted ordinance will NOT protect patients. 

Basically, it DENIES patients safe and affordable access to their medicine. So, if a patient does cultivate more that 10 plants at one time, and if some other crime occurred at their home, they would be afraid to call the police.  

There will be a demonstration, a public show of support, at the City Council meeting of May 8t, at 6 p.m. We encourage everybody to come and voice their opinion, and show their support.  

Martin O’ Brien – Alliance of Berkeley Patients 

Berkeley 

Berkeley

Friday, May 4

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more. Fridays through May 11.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration  

1 - 3 p.m.  

West Berkeley Senior Center  

1900 Sixth St.  

Featuring Pepe Carrasco, “the man of a thousand voices,” Ruben Martin Rey De La Cancion Ranchera, Alan Sanchez Flores, Ballet Folklorico de Berkeley and more. Free  

644-6037 

International Conference 

Townsend Center 

220 Stephens Hall 

UC Berkeley 

11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

“Cosmopolititanism, Human Rights and Sovereignty in the New Europe” is the topic. Manual Castells of UC Berkeley will speak on “Identity-building as a Material Process: The Construction of the European Identity in a Global Context” at noon. Continues on Saturday. 643-5777 

Berkeley NAACP Youth Council 

African Methodist Episcopal Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

6 p.m. 

Fired Up! And Ready to Go! Mobilization Night. 710-0238 

Saturday, May 5  

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 548-3333 

Tooth Man! 

10:30 a.m.  

Berkeley Main Library  

2121 Allston Way  

Tooth Man, a.k.a. Matt Perry, returns by popular demand to fascinate children with his collection of teeth from animals large and small. 649-3964 

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Author of Adam Dagliesh mysteries, P.D. James, and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. 

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Free Hearing Screening 

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes, A, B & C  

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Health Access/LifeSpan and Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) are co-sponsoring free hearing screenings in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. Free 869-6737  

Owner as Contractor 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Legal aspects discussed by attorney Sterling Johnson. $75. 525-7610 

Painting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

“Tricks of the Trade” taught by painting contractor Scott Perry. $75. 525-7610 

Framing Carpentry 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend. 

525-7610 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Path Wanderers 

10 a.m. 

Remillard Park 

Keeler and Poppy Streets 

Help Berkeley Path Wanderers Association weed and put new chips on Keeler Avenue Path. Bring gloves, weeding tools, shovels, wheelbarrows if you have them. 

848-9358 

International Conference 

Townsend Center 

220 Stephens Hall 

UC Berkeley 

9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. 

“Cosmopolititanism, Human Rights and Sovereignty in the New Europe” is the topic. Alain Touraine of the University of Paris will speak at noon addressing the question, “Is it Possible to Create a European Citizenship?”. Continued from Friday. Free and open to the public. 

643-5777 

Sunday, May 6

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

BAHA House Tour  

1 - 5 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

Sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Tour will include the early work of architects Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck and Henry Gutterson.  

$25 - $32  

841-2242 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Open House  

3 - 5 p.m.  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute  

1815 Highland Place  

A free introduction to Tibetan Buddhist culture including a Tibetan yoga demonstration, a talk on the relevance of Buddhism in today’s world, a prayer wheel and meditation garden tour. Free and open to the public.  

843-6812 

Faith, Doubt and Refuge 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

What does this mean in the Buddhist tradition? Talk by Sylvia Gretchen, dean of Nyingma Studies at the institute. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Framing Carpentry. 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend 

525-7610 

Solar Electricity in Your Home. 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by Gary Gerber, engineer for Sunlight and Power. $75 

525-7610 

Rhododendron Walk 

10 a.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

See more than 200 species. $3 admission. Limited space, call for reservation. 

643-2755 

Monday, May 7

Beginning Bicyclist Workshop  

7 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA  

2001 Allston Way  

Community Room 1, Main Floor  

Jason Meggs and Zed Lopez will teach you how to keep yourself and your bike safe and even how to use your bike for shopping. Free  

Call Jason Meggs, 549-RIDE 

Words Hurt  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi David Ordan will discuss the seriousness of gossip and it’s effects.  

$10  

848-0237 

Skin Cancer Screening Clinic 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit Campus  

2450 Ashby Ave. 

Markstein Cancer Education Center 

Skin cancer screenings are offered only to people who, due to limited or no health insurance, would be able to have a suspicious mole or other skin changes examined. Appointments are required.  

869-8833 

Tuesday, May 8

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Religious Identity for Interfaith Families 

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Explore the process of choosing a religion for parents and children in interfaith families with a minister, and Rabbi Jane Litman.  

$5  

848-0237 x127 

Home Design 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second Tuesday of workshop taught by architect/contractor Barry Wagner. Continues weekly through May 22. $150 for four evenings. 

525-7610 

Blackout Summer 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley’s Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. (at Dwight) 

Bruno Henriquez is from Cuba, which experienced rolling blackouts for more than half a decade and has promoted conservation and alternative energy production. Henriquez is director of Cuba’s solar energy agency. 

548-2220 ext. 234 

Take the Burn Out of Heartburn 

Ashby Campus Auditorium 

2450 Ashby Ave. 

12:30 - 2 p.m. 

Learn about gastro-esophageal reflux disease and surgery to correct the condition. Free. 

869-6737 

Wednesday, May 9

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Buying Land 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Seminar led by real estate agent Dan Maher. $35 

525-7610 

Applying for Grant Money 

6:30 - 8 p.m. 

West Berkeley Senior Center 

1900 6th St. 

West Berkeley Foundation’s annual community meeting will include a presentation on the grant application process for 2001-2002 grant cycle.  

898-1311 

Thursday, May 10

5 - 7:30 p.m. 

H’s Lordships Restaurant  

199 Seawall Drive  

Berkeley Marina  

Showcase 2001, a tradeshow and mixer.  

549-7003 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Friday, May 11

Strong Women - Writers & 

Heroes of Literature 

1 - 3 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 

Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program.  

Call 549-2970  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 12

Be Your Own Boss 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Two day workshop on the basics of starting up a small business, taught by local business owners. 

$50-$100 sliding scale 

Call 415-541-8580 for registration  

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Adair Lara, author of “Hold Me Close, Let Me Go,” Janis Newman, author of “The Russian Word for Snow,” Wavy Gravy, and Accoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet.  

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike 

6:30 p.m. 

Berkley Art Center  

1275 Walnut St.  

An ongoing open mic series featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Sign up at 6:30 and reading at 7 p.m. Free 

Estimating the Cost of Labor and Materials 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by contractor Michael McCutcheon. $75 

525-7610 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Cordornices Creek Work Party 

10 a.m. 

Meet at 10th St. south of Harrison St. 

Join Friends of Five Creeks in removing ivy and reducing erosion as part of National River Cleanup Week. Learn to create creekside trail. Bring work gloves and clippers if possible. 

848-9358 

f5creeks@aol.com  

Sunday, May 13 

Mother’s Day Concert 

3 - 4 p.m. 

Environmental Education Center 

Tilden Regional Park  

Featuring Mary Mische singing children’s songs. Free 

525-2233 

Hands-On Bicycle Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn how to adjust the brakes on your bicycle from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike. Free  

527-4140 

Tapping Into Creativity 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Based on Tarthang Tulku’s “Knowledge of Freedom”, ideas and meditations to inspire creativity. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Monday, May 14  

Seeing Into the Afterlife  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Yossi Offenberg will discuss Judaism’s philosophy on what happens beyond this world.  

$10  

848-0237 

Tuesday, May 15 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will be about the effect of the media on our lives. Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free  

527-5332 

Fibromyalgia Support Group  

Noon - 2 p.m.  

Alta Bates Medical Center 

Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus  

2001 Dwight Way  

Dr. Kathryn Williams, former chairman for the department of rehabilitation, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, will discuss the current understanding of fibromyalgia.  

601-0550 

Business of Seeds 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

How seeds became a commodity and their journey from the fields to the lab to wall street and a discussion of our potential role as urban seed stewards in the global system.  

548-2220 

Basic Electrical Theory and National Electric Code  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St.  

Instructed by author/retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon.  

$35 

Electrical Theory and National Electrical Code 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by author and retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon. $35. 

525-7610  

Wednesday, May 16 

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 17  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

“What is Queer Spirituality?” 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

1798 Scenic Ave.  

Mudd Bldg., Room 100 

Bill Glenn, PSR alumni and leader of Spirit Group, will lead a panel discussion on the dynamic shape of queer spirituality today.  

849-8206 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Library 

Claremont Branch  

2940 Benveue Ave.  

Facilitated by Cecile Andrews, author of “Circles of Simplicty,” learn about this movement whose philosophy is “the examined life richly lived.” Work less, consume less, rush less, and build community with friends and family.  

Call 549-3509 or visit www.seedsofsimplicity.org  

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meeting is the spring barbecue.  

654-5486 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continues Tuesday May 22. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Friday, May 18  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 19 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Annual strawberry tasting 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Get to Know Your Plants 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn what to look for and what and how to record it to more intimately know your plants.  

548-2220 

“Be Your Own Boss” 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Second Saturday of a two day workshop on starting up small businesses (see May 12). 

415-541-8580 

Community Summit on Smaller Learning Communities 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alternative High School  

MLK Jr. Way (at Derby)  

All teachers, students, administrators, parents, and community members are encouraged to attend this meeting on smaller learning communities at Berkeley High. Translation, childcare, and food will be provided.  

540-1252 to RSVP for services 

Campaign for Equality Benefit  

7:30 - 10 p.m. 

Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club  

1650 Mountain Blvd.  

Oakland 

A comedy benefit with performances by Karen Ripley, Julia Jackson, Pippi Lovestocking, Darrick Richardson, and Nick Leonard. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Lesbian Gay Association Scholarship Fund for the 2001 ILGA Summit in Oakland.  

$15 - $20  

466-5050 

Finish Carpentry 

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Carpenter/contractor Kevin Stamm leads workshop. $95. 

525-7610 

Earthquake Retrofitting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by structural engineer Tony DeMascole and seismic contractor Jim Gillett. $75. 

525-7610 

How to Prevent Home Owner Nightmares 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Dispute prevention and early resolution seminar taught by contractor/mediator Ron Kelly. $75. 

525-7610  

Sunday, May 20  

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Working with Awareness, Concentration, Energy 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Nyingma members discuss meditative awareness in everyday life. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Salsa Lesson & Dance Party  

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Kick up your heels and move your hips with professional instructors Mati Mizrachi and Ron Louie. Plus Israeli food provided by the Holy Land Restaurant. Novices encouraged to attend and no partners are required.  

$12  

RSVP: 237-9874 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Monday, May 21  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, founder of L.A.’s SpeedDating will review creation from the reference point of physics and compare this to the description classical Jewish sources have given for our universe and its creation.  

$10  

848-0237 x127 

Tuesday, May 22 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Strawberry tasting 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continued from Thursday May 17. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Wednesday, May 23  

Healthful Building Materials  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by environmental consultant Darrel DeBoer.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Thursday, May 24  

Paddling Adventures  

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Dan Crandell, member of the U.S. National Kayak Surf Team and owner of Current Adventures Kayak School, will introduce attendees to all aspects of kayaking. Free  

527-4140 

A group of UC Berkeley sociology students donned traditional blues garb and took up instruments to mock a congressional agreement approving President George W. Bush’s $1.25 trillion tax cut: 

“The rich are hurting, there’s a dot-com crisis 

Got to bail them out before we’re all ignited 

Help Donald Trump! Save Bill Gates! 

They need a little boost to buy some bigger estates.” 

The Wealth-Weilding Wailers, who put their act together especially for the rally, sang to a crowd of about 200 people outside Sproul Hall at a rally organized by Students for Fair Taxes on Thursday. The SFT wanted to call attention to the compromise agreement Congress made on Wednesday to approve the tax cut that will be instituted over the next 10 years. 

Student supporters carried signs that read “Bush is screwing my grandmother” and “A latte a day keeps Medicare away.” 

The major components of the proposal call for a tax cut for all individual tax payers, a doubling of the child tax credit and the repeal of the estate tax.  

Critics of the proposal say only the wealthiest Americans will benefit from the tax cuts, leaving the working and middle classes to pick up the pieces when social programs such as Social Security and Medicare need huge infusions of cash in coming years. 

The agreement is nonbinding, but the House of Representatives and the Senate will use it as a blueprint while hammering out the details before approving it as part of the $1.98 trillion budget for 2002. 

The tentative tax cut of $1.2 trillion is much lower than the $1.6 trillion Bush originally proposed. 

“Tax cuts are not free,” said Daniel McFadden, a UC professor and Nobel Laureate in Economics who spoke at the rally. “With this tax cut, we are condemning our children to massive taxation in the future and probably the destruction of programs like Social Security and Medicare.” 

McFadden, who has been researching the economic status of the elderly for two decades, said even if this were an equitable tax cut it would still be unhealthy for the economy. “This will end up creating substantial difficulty down the road for all economic classes,” he said. 

League of Women Voters of California Government Director Doris Fine agreed. Addressing the crowd, she said the LWV has been studying taxes for a long time and the tax cut is in conflict with the organization’s longtime tax stance. “We believe that this cut will mostly benefit the wealthy while it has disastrous effects on the environment, education and health care.” 

Robb McFadden, chair of the UC Berkeley College Republicans (no relation to Professor Daniel McFadden), said he disagreed with the gloomy predictions. He said the tax cut was across the board and would benefit the wealthy as well as the those in lower tax brackets. 

He said Bush was the only presidential candidate who offered solid solutions to the problems facing Social Security and Medicare. 

“President Bush has just appointed a commission to examine the privatization of Social Security and I think the commission will come back with some good ideas,” he said. “This tax cut is coming from a surplus and is simply an attempt to return money to the people who earned it.” 

Students for Fair Taxes and their supporters milled around the Sproul Hall steps in the afternoon sun while listening to speakers and enjoying the songs and skits.  

Claudine McLaughlin, a member of Students for Fair Taxes, said she had a hard time understanding how the American people could sit still for the tax cut. “There’s a false sense that we all can get rich,” she said. “People just don’t want to see the long-term effect of this tax cut.” 

Fine said she was a bit surprised at the lack of public demonstration against the proposed tax cut. “People should begin to think about the real effects and not what Bush is trying to sell the American people,” she said. 

The Berkeley High boys’ volleyball team has had a tough year. A collection of underclassmen, some of whom never played organized volleyball before this year, the ’Jackets have yet to win a match. Thursday, ACCAL leaders El Cerrito came calling, and the outcome was fairly predictable, as the Gauchos ran off an easy 15-2, 15-12, 15-2 win. 

The match was never really in doubt, as the taller, more experienced visitors never let the ’Jackets (0-17 overall, 0-8 ACCAL) into the first game and used their second string to hold on to win the second game. With their starters back in for much of the final game, they simply overpowered Berkeley for the victory. 

“That’s pretty much what we expected,” Berkeley coach Justin Caraway said. “They’re the best team in the league, and no one comes close.” 

The Gauchos used their height advantage up front to continually spike kills, with Leland Mapp and Teddy Firestone doing most of the damage. Berkeley’s Robin Roach had five kills, the only ’Jacket with more than one. 

When El Cerrito wasn’t hitting winners, the ’Jackets usually found a way to hand them points with poor passing and errant spikes. But they managed to keep the Gauchos from huge runs, as the visitors never scored more than four points in a row before Berkeley managed a side out. 

“What we have to do is learn to string points and games together,” Caraway said. “We don’t always compete on every point like we should.” 

Roach is the only returning starter for the ’Jackets, and his teammates deferred to him constantly on Thursday, even when he was in poor position to make a play. Caraway said that while Roach is his best player, he’d like to see other players step up. 

“He’s our go-to hitter in the front row, and he sets when he’s in the back row, so it’s natural that they look to him,” he said. “But sometimes we make him work too hard, and that’s a lot of pressure for a sophomore to carry.” 

But the coach thinks the growing pains will pay off in the next two years, as his players grow both physically and tactically. Berkeley doesn’t have a JV program for them to learn slowly, and no Berkeley middle schools have volleyball teams for boys, so they’re getting on-the-job training. 

“We should be okay next year, and the year after that we should be pretty good,” he said. “We can look at some of the teams we’re losing to this year and know that we’ll beat them next year.” 

As for winning a game this year, Caraway didn’t sound too hopeful. 

“It’d be nice to win one, but we’re more concerned with whether we’re getting better as the year goes on. And we definitely are getting better.”

Berkeley Lite is an occasional column illuminating, among others, those who’d like to shine us on.  

Thanks to Mayor Shirley Dean for lightening things up – or should I say lightning up – the usually ho-hum state of the  

city address.  

Having called for unity, our mayor put forward an underground park parking plan her naysayers say will be the lightning rod that galvanizes the opposition of park neighbors, environmentalists, preservationists and wanna-be mayors. 

Apparently, the speech was Shirley’s second State of the City address this year. The first was delivered to the Chamber of Commerce. Actually, the chamber, not the mayor, billed the address as the State of the City speech. The earlier speech wasn’t the real deal, said a mayoral staffer, in the absence of Dean who, Thursday, was traveling to yet another mayor’s conference. 

And for any who may have got the wrong message – an aide to the mayor inadvertently told a few people that the speech was an invitation-only affair – the event was open to all and, if a person had received one of the 1,000 personal invitations, confirmation was not necessary. 

While e-mail trees & letters to the editor since Tuesday’s talk have been punctuated with gasps and gags concerning the mayor’s plan to put parking under the historic Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park – which most of us find easier to keep calling Provo Park – there are a number of elements of the mayor’s proposal that should be considered seriously: closing Allston Way is a beautiful idea, saving high school students from the daily near-death experience of criss-crossing it. And extending the park across MLK, with the street diving underneath, is a wonderfully creative, albeit expensive, idea. Opening up the underground creek would be really cool.  

As for more parking, well, the city hasn’t even started doing what it should to get its staff riding public transit and biking to work. And the idea of a citywide bus pass is still making the rounds through various commissions and committees. The pass, probably one of the best ideas that has come out of city hall, should be brought to fruition before a penny more is spent on proposals for new parking. 

Speaking of spending millions, how ‘bout the beautiful new Longfellow school. OOPS. No lockers. Parents are furious and the kids’ backs are beginning to ache. That’s our tax dollars at work, a real irony if one parent goes through with her threat to sue the school board over it. 

But back to the State of the City speech, and those $7,200-$8,000 drawings depicting the mayor’s vision of downtown underground parking. There are a variety of views on how the drawings came about. Public Works Director Rene Cardinaux says he was already having a draftsman draw up pictures of the civic center, following discussions with the Alameda County Superior Court and downtown businesses. At the mayor’s request, he added the concept of underground parking. The total bill to the draftsman would be about $15,000, he said, with about half of that coming from the mayor’s request for designs of the underground parking. 

When the Daily Planet asked about City Council procedures and whether a mayor or council person could ask for such expensive things, Cardinaux added that before having the drawings executed, he followed the rules and got City Manager Weldon Rucker’s okay. 

Rucker tells it differently. “He’s getting things mixed up,” he said when told what Cardinaux had said. Rucker says he ordered the entire set of drawings, following discussions with the courts, schools and downtown interests. “It did not necessarily come through the mayor,” he said, explaining: “I’m saying that I ordered (the drawings).” 

Mayoral aide Barbara Gilbert had a third recollection. She said she thought the mayor had made use of old drawings from years ago when the underground garage had been discussed. 

While the mayor was doing her thing on Tuesday, down the street – by coincidence? – Dean’s arch rival was holding court, celebrating GLBTQ (gay lesbian bisexual transgender questioning) victories for the year.  

Timing of the event aside, kudos to those who spoke, especially the cop who stood up and “came out,” as they say, to her fellow city staffers and the community. Says something for our fair (just) city and for evolving attitudes in our police department. 

Speaking of kudos, congrats go to John Geluardi, city hall reporter, for picking up an honorable mention in news reporting at the Peninsula Press Club awards event last week.  

The story of this week, however, goes to our sports desk. Figure this – the newly named head of the UC Berkeley Athletics Department not only has minimal management experience, but was on the search team for the job and was not among the finalists. Go Bears. 

••• 

On a very somber note, we at the Daily Planet offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of Nambi Phelps, the Oxford School fourth grader who died Tuesday morning. We made a conscious decision not to go to the school to interview distraught friends and teachers or to contact the grieving family. There is no greater tragedy for a parent than to lose a child. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. 

After months of discussion and hand-wringing, the Board of Education cut more than $4 million from the district’s 2001-2002 budget Wednesday. 

They also approved plans that could boost district revenues by $1.7 million. Taken together, the cuts and increased revenues would eliminate an estimated budget shortfall of $5.2 million and still leave the district a surplus of nearly $1 million to cover unanticipated expenses in the coming year. 

The vote came after more than an hour of discussion on proposed budget cuts. Board members voiced serious concerns about many of the cuts they ultimately approved. 

“I find all of the cuts distasteful,” said Board of Education Vice President Shirley Issel minutes before the vote to approve the cuts. “It’s a very troubling budget.” 

“If you go down the list, every one of the cuts has implications,” said board Director Joaquin Rivera, in an interview Thursday.  

“The easy cuts were back in the ’80s,” Rivera added. “Every cut is very painful right now.” 

Among the more controversial cuts Wednesday were: the  

elimination of one School Safety Officer at both Longfellow and Willard middle schools, for savings of $80,500; the elimination of the on-campus suspension manager at Berkeley High School, for savings of $55,000; and a reduction in Berkeley High School’s teacher staff by the equivalent of 3.6 full-time teachers, for savings of more than $200,000. 

Directors Joaquin Rivera and Ted Schultz expressed particular concern about the decision to cut BHS teaching staff, saying the move could increase class sizes at the school for years to come. 

“The fewer kids in the classroom, I think, the better the academics are going to be,” Schultz said. “I think we really need to hold the line here.” 

Furthermore, said Schultz, if district staff could come up with millions of dollars of cuts in just a few months, then they ought to be able to come up with the few hundred thousand more needed to avoid cutting teaching staff at all. 

“It bothers me to put all the burden on the high school,” Schultz said. “We did that last year (and) got lots of calls about cut classes.” 

“I strongly urge people to step back,” Schultz said. “I really think we can come up with the money.” 

On Schultz’ recommendation, the board voted 3-2 to have the staff come back to them in two weeks with suggestions for other items in the budget that might be cut to keep teaching staff and class sizes unchanged. 

But board members Shirley Issel and John Selawsky opposed the move. They emphasized that district staff has already put a lot of time and effort into coming up with the current budget scenario, and said the time had come to move forward. 

“At this point, I think we have to give people clear direction and not muddy the waters by telling them two different things,” Selawsky said, referring to the fact that high school staff have been waiting for the board decision in order to decide next year’s staffing levels and to begin planning the school’s complicated master schedule. 

Besides, said Selawsky, it is still unclear whether much of the savings expected under the budget scenario approved Wednesday will actually materialize. He cited energy conservation savings as an example. The scenario calls for saving $180,000 by reducing energy use throughout the district by 10 percent, but if energy rates were to soar next year – a distinct possibility – the savings could be erased in months, Selawsky said. 

“We’ve got a lot of uncertainties we’re still dealing with,” Selawsky said Thursday.

Friday 

Swimming – Berkeley at ACCAL Championship, 3 p.m. at Contra Costa College 

Baseball – Berkeley vs. Pinole Valley, 3:30 p.m. at Evans Diamond 

Baseball – St. Mary’s vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s College High School 

Softball – Berkeley vs. Pinole Valley, 3:30 p.m. at Old Grove Park 

Girls’ Lacrosse – Berkeley vs. Davis, 4 p.m. at Berkeley High School 

Saturday 

Swimming – Berkeley at ACCAL Championship, 1 p.m. at Contra Costa College 

Track & Field – Berkeley & St. Mary’s at Meet of Champions, 11 a.m. at Hughes  

Stadium, Sacramento

A suspicious looking package was discovered at an entrance of the Public Safety Building this morning prompting police to close two streets and evacuate employees to the North side of the building. 

At 8:15 a.m., the suspicious box containing a 12-inch toy car was discovered at the nighttime public entrance on the south side Safety Building. A note, that read “Adolph Hitler” was taped to the car. Police closed Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Allston Way to Addison Street and one block of Center Street to Milvia Street. 

Lt. Russell Lopes said the Berkeley Bomb Tech Squad was called in and they destroyed the package, considered a prank, using a specialized high-pressure water device.  

“The area was deemed secure by 10:15 a.m. and the roadways were reopened and everyone went back to work.” Lopes said.  

OAKLAND — A six-alarm fire whipped by 45 mph winds destroyed a four-story building under construction and damaged or destroyed 11 homes early Thursday, fire officials said. 

Four people suffered minor injuries. 

The fire was first reported at 1:11 a.m. at East Grand Avenue near Isabella in a partially completed apartment building. 

The wind rained embers over several blocks of homes in the West Oakland neighborhood, igniting old Victorian wood-frame buildings and sending a huge cloud of smoke and embers into the sky. 

“We have some really significant issues when we have wind conditions like we had tonight. The wind was a major factor in this fire,” said Oakland Fire Chief Gerald Simon, who was at the scene. 

“It was like a tornado, a twister, but it was full of red-hot embers,” said resident Anna Jackson as she stood in the street watching the battle to halt the flames. 

It took several hours to control the flames, and three homes were still reported burning at 6 a.m. A 16-block area was cordoned off. 

The Red Cross was on the scene to provide aid, setting up a shelter at De Fremery Park near the scene for some 60 people left homeless. 

There were 45 engines and 245 firefighters on the scene. Mutual aid brought help from Alameda and Contra Costa counties and other smaller departments. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Simon said damage would be in “the hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

FAIRFIELD — The man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl now claims he kidnapped and killed a 7-year-old in a high-profile case, and said he has snatched 10 other girls off the streets in years past. 

Curtis Dean Anderson, 40, said he abducted and killed 7-year-old Xiana Fairchild, who disappeared from Vallejo in December 1999. Her skull was found in January on a rural road in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

“I’m the only one who knows all of what happened to Xiana,” Anderson told the newspaper. “This is gonna go down like the Zodiac.” 

Anderson was referring to a series of five murders in California in 1969 and 1970 believed to be committed by someone calling himself “Zodiac” in letters to police and newspapers. 

Anderson claims to have kidnapped and sexually assaulted 10 other girls over the past 30 years, but has provided authorities with no evidence to directly link him to other crimes. 

“I was on a good roll for 30 years, enjoying my sexual preferences,” Anderson said. “It was a better way of working for 30 years. This is the first time I’ve been in a courtroom (for such a crime).” 

Anderson said that many of those girls returned home after convincing him that what he had done to them was “no big deal,” he said. 

He remains a suspect in the Xiana case, authorities say, but no charges have been filed. Police say they need credible information to link Anderson to that case. 

“A lot depends on evidence. It’s not necessary to have the body. It’s not essential,” said Vallejo Police Lt. JoAnn West. “It just depends on the information.” 

Anderson’s defense attorney, Carl Spieckerman, said he had no indication his client would make the statements about other abductions, and that doing so would endanger him in prison where pedophiles are treated harshly. 

“It seems like he’s got a death wish,” Spieckerman said. 

Internet auction giant eBay Inc. is banning the sale of artifacts from Nazi Germany, the Ku Klux Klan and notorious criminals, in hopes of avoiding legal problems in other countries. 

EBay already had banned items that promote hate or violence, but allowed artifacts that were more than 50 years old to be listed as “collectibles.” For example, a 1921 sterling silver badge in the shape of a KKK mask was available on eBay for less than $25 Thursday. 

Users were warned not to take bids on Nazi items from people in France, Germany, Austria or Italy because of laws in those countries. Users with French- or German-language Web browsers also were blocked from searching for Nazi-related items, eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove said. 

The new policy, which was announced Thursday and takes effect May 17, eliminates the historical exemption and bans the items altogether. 

As eBay expands overseas, “we are encountering different laws and different points of view as to what constitutes illegal, offensive or inappropriate items,” said Mike Jacobson, eBay’s general counsel. “Given our expansion, as well as feedback we’ve received from our users, we reviewed our policy and concluded that these changes are appropriate.” 

EBay’s move comes as fellow Internet giant Yahoo! Inc. is still trying to untangle itself from suits brought by groups in France. 

A French judge last year ordered Yahoo to block French users from seeing listings of Nazi merchandise on its auction pages and said he would fine the company $13,000 each day it failed to comply. 

Yahoo said the order was impossible to carry out, but ultimately banned auctions of Nazi merchandise when it began charging users to list items on the site.  

Still, Yahoo has asked a federal judge in San Jose to rule that French court decisions cannot be enforced on U.S. companies. 

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, said his organization had been lobbying eBay to stop listing Nazi items for the past two years. Since eBay charges for auction listings and gets a cut of successful sales, the company is morally responsible for what is available on its massive site, Cooper said. 

“There’s an understanding that Wal-Mart could make money off this stuff — it chooses not to,” he said. “There’s been a change in the corporate culture, the corporate outlook at eBay.” 

EBay’s new policy also bans “personal belongings, letters or artwork” by notorious murderers and items bearing the killers’ names or images. 

The site will still allow German coins and stamps from the 1930s and 1940s and other German memorabilia that does not bear Nazi or SS markings. Historical books or movies about Nazi Germany also can be sold, even if a swastika appears on the item. 

——— 

On the Net: 

New policy: http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-offensive.html 

LOS ANGELES — Federal agents broke up a ring that smuggled hundreds of people from the Ukraine into the United States through Mexico and forced some into prostitution, authorities said Thursday. 

Eleven Ukrainian people were arrested and eight others were fugitives, two in California and six in Ukraine or elsewhere, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Saunders said. 

At least 200 people and perhaps as many as 2,000 were smuggled by the ring, he said. The ring charged $7,000 per person, but they were often forced to pay more. “Some of the aliens were young women who upon arrival were sold into prostitution,” he said. “But there were also families, men and children.” 

An affidavit said the ringleaders were Serge Mezheritsky, 35, and Tetyana Komisaruk, 49, of Los Angeles. They were among those under arrest. Komisaruk’s husband, two daughters and a son-in-law were charged as participants. The ring was uncovered by chance after a Ukrainian family accidentally dropped a video camera on a known trail used by smugglers entering the United States from Mexico. The videotape showed the family, speaking in Ukrainian, documenting their trip for a family history. “One of our uniformed agents discovered the video camera laying on the ground,” Fernando Grijalva, supervising agent of the Border Patrol in San Diego, told a press conference at the FBI’s Los Angeles headquarters. Within a short time, Grijalva said, a Mexican-American guide was arrested smuggling five Ukrainians and a special investigation was launched.  

The probe began in 1999 and involved a sting operation. 

The 11 under arrest were charged with conspiracy to smuggle, transport and harbor illegal immigrants. Under U.S. laws governing smuggling for profit, the defendants could face as much as three years in prison per smuggled immigrant, Saunders said.  

Patrick Patterson, the agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI office, said that at least 200 victims had been taken into custody by the Border Patrol and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Patterson said that although the Ukrainians paid for Mexican tourist visas and knew they were being smuggled into the United States, they were considered to be victims because they were misled and forced into servitude once they arrived. 

Patterson said the immigrants typically were brought to Mexico, came across the border by foot, car or boat, then were brought to a holding location in Los Angeles from which they were flown to their ultimate destinations across the United States. 

Some were shipped to New York, Cleveland and Detroit, Saunders said. 

The immigrants were typically charged $7,000 for the smuggling fee, travel documents to Mexico, hotel accommodations and other expenses, Patterson said. But once they arrived, they were often told that the fee had been increased and they would have to pay thousands more. 

“This investigation further underscores the global nature of crime today and the threats we now realize from abroad,” said FBI Assistant Director James DeSarno. “What was a local crime just a few years ago now touches multiple countries” 

Saunders said most of those who bought passage to the United States were seeking either economic betterment or wanted to be reunified with family members already in the country. 

Those who were not forced into prostitution often were charged more but were allowed to travel to parts of the country where they had sponsors or could rejoin families, the prosecutor said. 

The Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble  

Sunday  

7 p.m.  

Ashkenaz Music and Cultural Center, 1319 San Pablo Av. $15, $10 seniors, students, free for children under 13 

Also: 

The Fourth Street Jazz  

Festival ,May 20 

The Florence Schwimley Little Theater,  

1920  

Allston Way,  

May 25 at 7:30. 

Sometimes a great season can lead to inflated expectations for the next year, and then disappointment follows.  

The Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble won several prestigious competitions and earned a flood of rave reviews last year, but then nine seniors graduated from the band.  

It was a tough act to follow, but this year's squad is proving that a winning streak is possible when there is so much talent on the team. 

Of course, many people already know the names of some of the famously successful players who are alumni of this great band: Joshua Redman, Dave Ellis, Peter Apfelbaum and Kito Gamble.  

But the big-band sound is mostly about the collective sense of swing, the feeling of playing together so that the whole is much more than a sum of the parts.  

How does this band of youngsters maintain such a high level of musicality which many more experienced players can only dream of?  

Part of the magic is in the Ensemble's prestige, which drives the students to be worthy of their heritage.  

Another factor is the simple joy of playing high-quality jazz.  

Most of the band members practice several hours each day without needing to be lectured or cajoled: This is serious fun. 

The band was almost disbanded back in 1994 during a financial crisis at Berkeley Unified School District, when the decision was reluctantly made to cancel several facets of the district's music programs.  

Support from parents and the community saved the music programs, which continue to thrive and provide important opportunities for young talents to blossom. 

Some of the charts they play are classics, while others are more daring compositions which most high school bands would not attempt. And the tradition of improvisation is well established: The music isn't all in the charts.  

This jazz is a lively spontaneous creation, as it should be. 

The music stands and swings on its own merit: this is the real thing.  

It is only a secondary attraction that the players are all young virtuosos.  

Which of these kids  

will become shining stars of the jazz world?  

I would wager that several of these youngsters are bound for successful careers in music.  

Won't it be nice someday to be able to say “I heard that kid when she was still in high school and already a monster musician!” 

All proceeds from ticket sales will support the Jazz Ensemble's summer tour through Europe. 

Miko Sloper can be reached at miko@cheerful.com

POUND RIDGE, N.Y.— Lilacs bring mixed emotions, linked in poetry to love but also death. Prized by gardeners in many lands, the flowers’ beauty and fragrance, aside from promptings of joy or sadness, proclaim Spring has fully arrived. 

T.S. Eliot perhaps struck the bluest note with his “April is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire.” 

But Walt Whitman also waxed elegiac in mourning Spring’s passing in “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed.” 

To Victorians who doted on the “language of flowers,” lilacs meant “the emotions of first love,” and the poet Alfred Noyes had that in mind when he wrote, “Go down to Kew in lilac time.” 

Love also imbued the 1928 hit song, still heard occasionally, “Jeannine, I Dream of Lilac Time.” 

Lilacs come in many varieties, but the common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, of Balkan origin, has enjoyed immense popularity since it was introduced into western Europe from Turkey about 1550 and into America by the earliest colonists. By the 18th century, Thomas Jefferson was frequently mentioning lilacs in his garden notes and letters. 

The common lilac’s ability to survive harsh winters and summer droughts with little care – you can practically neglect it – obviously contributed to its widespread adoption.  

Cultivars of the shrub produce flowers of various colors – blue, lilac, magenta, pink, purple, violet, white and yellow – and some bear honorific names of noted men and women. 

A blue one, for example, is called “President Lincoln,” a pink one, “Montaigne,” for the 16th century French essayist, and a lilac-colored one, in French, “Christophe Colomb.” A double-flowered white lilac is named “Edith Cavell” for the British nurse executed by the Germans in World War I for helping to smuggle Allied troops from Belgium to the Dutch border. 

One minus about lilac bushes: There’s not much to attract you after the blooming season, and you could call them boring. Also, the leaves mildew easily in shade, but little if any serious harm results. 

Historians have determined that it really originated in China and was taken to Persia many centuries ago.  

It has more delicate-looking flowers than the common and I fancy that its fragrance is sweeter. This bush rises to a height of about 12 feet at a corner of my house where I can see the pink-violet blooms, in mid-May, both from the kitchen and living room, a sight that has become a longed-for springtime experience. And with Whitman I truly grieve when, each year, the flowers die. 

Most lilacs have the same soil requirements, exposure and culture, which means survival in virtually any soil, doing best in a rich loam midway between slightly acidic and slightly alkaline, or a pH of about 7. The shrubs can stand some shade but need a generous amount of sun for the blooms to thrive. The best time to plant young shrubs is early spring. However, this can be done also in the fall before the ground freezes. Fall plantings should be well watered. 

You can grow your own common lilacs from sucker growth, often abundant, that comes up at the base of established bushes. You dig out a sucker, or sprout, with its root, and plant it in a hole wide enough to accommodate the root without cramping. Fill the hole with topsoil and compost and a little bone meal, and water well for the first season.

LOS ANGELES — Dining-room chairs and statues concealed more than 200 pounds of ivory in the nation’s biggest seizure of elephant tusks since laws banning their import took effect. 

Federal officials displayed some of the ivory Thursday, a day after two Los Angeles men were indicted on charges of smuggling an endangered species product. The total seizure of nearly 260 pounds has an estimated value of $80,000 to $375,000. 

The seizure shows that 12 years after ivory was all but banned in the United States, a lingering appetite for it still motivates poachers and threatens dwindling elephant herds, said Marie E. Palladini, senior special agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

“We must not allow this irreplaceable commodity to disappear,” Palladini said. 

Most of the seized ivory came from two air cargo shipments flown from Nigeria to Los Angeles International Airport. About 40 pounds were taken from the van of one of the arrested men. 

It wasn’t clear how many African elephants would have had to have been killed for so much ivory, but Craig M. Ziegler, resident in charge for the U.S. Customs Service at the airport, said the 38 whole tusks recovered represent roughly one-fourth of the seizure. 

“Some of (the tusks) were very small, 6 to 8 inches long – it was kind of sad,” Ziegler said, adding that others were as long as 3 feet. 

The seizures may be the nation’s biggest ivory bust since its importation became illegal in 1989, Ziegler said. Now people can legally import ivory only if they hunted the elephant legally or if the ivory can be proven to be more than a century old. 

Customs and Fish and Wildlife inspectors discovered the ivory April 9 and 11, when routine X-ray inspections uncovered ring-shaped objects in shipments at the Lufthansa Cargo facility. 

The first shipment was primarily wooden chairs covered with beaded fabric decorated with images of masks, camels and lions.  

They were stuffed with complete tusks and tusk cross-sections – most roughly the size of a roll of duct tape. One of the chairs had a tusk poking out of the top. 

Most of the ivory in the second shipment was stacked up in three tall, gaudy statues. Additional rings of ivory were wrapped in bead-covered fabric. 

Inspectors repacked the shipments, both of which were picked up and taken to a Hollywood storage facility April 17. Authorities said the chair shipment, with more than 180 pounds of ivory inside, was picked up by Ebrima Marigo, 36, and the statue shipment, with about 30 pounds of ivory, was picked up by Bahoreh Kabba, 38. 

Marigo was arrested April 17 at the storage facility, and Kabba was arrested the next day after getting out of a van that held yet more ivory. 

Marigo, who claims Liberian citizenship, was charged with one count of smuggling, and Kabba, who claims Gambian citizenship, was charged with two. If convicted, Margio could face five years in federal prison, and Kabba could face 10, Ziegler said. 

Customs and Fish and Wildlife officials are continuing their investigation, and more arrests are possible, he said. 

Ivory smuggling has been relatively rare in the United States, Ziegler said, adding that elephant tusks are more commonly sought in Japan, Hong Kong and China. 

Palladini said Los Angeles is the nation’s most common entry point for smuggled wildlife. Smugglers traffic in tropical fish, birds, coral, and the skins of crocodiles and caimans, among other illegal items, she said. 

“It’s a very large business — people want what they can’t have,” Palladini said. 

SCARSDALE, N.Y. — Nearly 200 eighth-graders boycotted a state science exam with their parents’ blessing Thursday in this well-to-do community of doctors, corporate executives and other high-achievers. 

The school district in this New York City suburb said 195 of its 290 eighth-graders skipped the test to protest standardized exams and the increasing amount of classroom time spent preparing for them. 

The students in one of the nation’s top-ranked school districts will not face any punishment, though they will likely be offered another chance to take the exam. 

The boycott is part of a nationwide movement against the tests and there have been boycotts in Michigan and Massachusetts. Critics say test preparation is interfering with the curriculum and costing students in-depth instruction in broader subjects.  

Teachers and principals are increasingly being evaluated on how well their students perform on the exams. 

States insist that schools need not revamp their curricula to meet the standards. But tests scores are often published in local newspapers, giving residents and prospective residents a guide to evaluate schools.  

All states now require students to take math and reading tests in at least two grades, and 38 reward or sanction schools and school districts on the basis of student performance, according to the Education Commission of the States. 

Defenders of annual testing say it gives schools valuable information about students’ strengths and weaknesses. President Bush has proposed linking federal school funding to test results. 

The parents in Scarsdale actually have the support of most school officials, who feel their community was doing fine educating its children before the tests came along in recent years. There will be eight days of exams in May and June for eighth-graders alone. 

Superintendent Michael McGill told parents recently that rather than “teaching to the tests,” Scarsdale should go back to a middle school curriculum that emphasizes projects, labs, research and discussion — even if it means lower test scores. 

State education spokesman Tom Dunn was dismayed by Thursday’s boycott. 

“It’s unfortunate that students missed the test because these tests are designed to help determine which students need extra help,” he said. 

The boycott had elements of a military operation. Since school officials had declared that any eighth-graders who were in the building would have to take the exam, parents took turns ferrying children to and from school as each class took the test. 

The windows of some cars displayed miniature “STOP” signs, an acronym for State Testing Opposed by Parents. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Education Commission of the States: http://www.ecs.org 

National Association of State Boards of Education: http://www.nasbe.org 

TRENTON, N.J. — The Senate approved a resolution Thursday urging Supreme Court Justice Peter G. Verniero to resign because he allegedly lied about racial profiling by state police. 

Acting governor and Senate leader Donald T. DiFrancesco, who called for Verniero’s resignation last month, supported the measure, which passed 37-1. The resolution is non-binding; the Senate cannot force Verniero to resign. 

“This makes it very clear. Republicans and Democrats alike feel he should not sit on  

the Supreme Court,” said the resolution’s sponsor, Sen. William L. Gormley. 

Sen. Walter Kavanaugh was the only lawmaker to vote no: “I’m not going to condemn him just because someone puts a piece of paper in front of me.” 

Verniero has repeatedly refused to step down; a telephone call to his lawyer seeking comment Thursday wasn’t immediately returned. 

Last month, DiFrancesco said he believed Verniero misled senators when he was questioned about racial profiling during his 1999 court confirmation hearings. The day before, all 11 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent DiFrancesco a letter saying Verniero should resign. 

Those committee members later sent Assembly Speaker Jack Collins six reasons Verniero should be impeached, including that he withheld information about racial profiling from federal investigators. 

Last week Collins refused to act on impeachment, saying the case against Verniero should be handled by the courts. 

Before Thursday’s vote, Assembly Democrats introduced articles of impeachment against Verniero. They plan to push for a full vote on the matter next week. If the Assembly votes to impeach, the case would be sent to the Senate for a trial. 

WASHINGTON — Federal workers in power-strapped California could be taking the stairs and sweating out the summer under an energy conservation directive signed by President Bush Thursday. 

His order came after criticism of his previous budget cuts in energy efficiency programs. 

“We’ll work to help California in any way we can. And the best way we can is to be good citizens,” Bush said after a Cabinet Room meeting with his top energy-policy advisers. 

He ordered federal facilities in California to cut power use “to the maximum extent consistent with the effective discharge of public responsibilities.” For military facilities, which use 1 percent of the state’s energy load, that means cutting peak-hour usage by one-tenth, said deputy Defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz. 

The president, who has been criticized as doing too little to address California’s energy crisis, dispatched Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham to meet with California Gov. Gray Davis Thursday night in Sacramento and, on Friday, to visit an energy-efficient federal building in San Francisco. 

Even before Abraham left Washington, Davis, a Democrat, sniffed at Bush’s directive. “Surely the federal government can do more and match California’s 20 percent savings at all state buildings,” he said. 

Raising thermostats to 78 degrees, closing “nonessential space,” turning off excess lighting and switching off escalators during so-called “stage 2 alerts” are among the Energy Department’s recommended conservation measures. In California, a stage 2 alert is called when electricity reserves drop or are expected to drop below 5 percent. 

The White House, too, will do its part, Bush said: 

“We’re focused right now on California because that’s a state that’s going to suffer blackouts. But we always have to be mindful of being energy efficient. And since I’ve asked other agencies to review their policy, I’m going to ask the White House to do the same.” All federal offices have 30 days to report to Abraham on their conservation action plans. 

Bush also made federally owned backup and mobile generators available to help in emergency shortages. One idea to have nuclear-powered submarines help support the state’s electricity supplies was among what one White House aide called “wacky proposals” discarded when Cheney’s task force got down to business in February. 

Thursday’s announcement – during a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney, Abraham, Wolfowitz, White House chief of staff Andrew Card, economic adviser Larry Lindsey and others – came four days after Cheney suggested, to the environmentalists’ consternation, that conservation would not be a key part of the president’s long-term energy plan. 

“I think conservation has got to be part of making sure we have got a reasonable energy policy, but what the vice president was saying was we can’t conserve our way to energy independence,” Bush said. “We have got to do both. We’ve got to conserve, but we also have to find new sources of energy.” 

When Cheney and his energy task force report later this month, “I suspect the people will find a balanced approach,” Bush said. 

It was unclear whether Thursday’s order could make a dent in energy consumption, as Bush set no targets. 

“We’re not trying to pick a figure arbitrarily out of the sky,” said Abraham, estimating that the federal government accounts for 1.8 to 2 percent of California’s electricity consumption. 

Democrats on Capitol Hill said Bush had a good idea but it didn’t go far enough. 

“We ought to be using federal agencies that have the power now to hold down on these outrageous price increases that are going on on the West Coast and might spread throughout the whole country,” said House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt. 

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer ruled out price limits, saying they would increase shortages. 

On Capitol Hill, Abraham came under sharp criticism as he testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee, explaining his department’s budget request for the coming year. 

Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said Bush’s plan to cut millions of dollars from programs to develop energy-efficient buildings, more fuel-efficient automobiles, new appliance standards and more efficient lighting don’t make sense. 

Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., cited a General Accounting Office study that concluded $7 billion in energy efficient investments produced $51 billion in energy savings. 

Except for increases for a program that helps low-income people weatherize their homes, “the department’s conservation budget frankly is a disaster,” added Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. 

Abraham defended the cuts as “very justified” and said that many of them were in areas where private companies “are in a position to pick up a greater share of energy research.” 

Later Thursday, Bush met with Mexican President Vicente Fox and, among other things, discussed how the United States, Canada and Mexico could work together to boost energy supplies. 

GENEVA — Despite perceptions that it’s healthier, there is little difference between bottled water and tap water – apart from cost – a conservation group said Thursday. 

“Bottled water may be no safer, or healthier, than tap water in many countries while selling for up to 1,000 times the price,” the World Wildlife Fund said. 

Bottled water is the fastest growing beverage industry in the world, worth up to $22 billion a year, according to the fund. 

A study commissioned by the fund found the “bottled water market is partly fueled by concerns over the safety of municipal water and by the marketing of many brands which portray them as being healthier than tap water.” 

The fund also said bottled water sales were rising because people were worried about pollution. 

“Our attitudes toward tap water are being shaped by the pollution which is choking the rivers and streams,” said the fund’s water campaign director Richard Holland. 

But the study – conducted by University of Geneva researcher Catherine Ferrier – said the only difference between some bottled water and tap water is that it is distributed in bottles rather than pipes. 

But Stephen Kay, spokesman for the International Bottled Water Association, said the fund’s criticism was misguided. 

“The goals are laudable, and we agree totally that people have a right to clean drinking water,” he told The Associated Press by telephone from Alexandria, Va. “But bottled water sales are a symptom of the problem, not the cause itself.” 

“The difference between bottled water and tap water is that bottled water’s quality is consistent,” he said. 

But according to the fund, regulatory standards for European and U.S. tap water are tougher than those applied to the bottled water industry. 

But Kay said this was not the case. 

“Bottled water standards in the United States are at least as protective as those for tap water, and the industry is making a concerted effort to develop international standards,” he said. 

While agreeing bottled water may be safer in areas where tap water may be contaminated, the fund said boiled or filtered tap water is still a better option for people on a lower income. 

Buying bottled water is “not a long term sustainable solution to securing access to healthy water. Protecting rivers will help ensure that tap water remains a service which delivers good quality drinking water for everyone at a fair price,” according to the fund. 

The group added that 1.5 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water every year. “Toxic chemicals can be released into the environment during the manufacture and disposal of bottles,” it said. 

But Kay said the industry was serious about recycling. 

“We are committed to encouraging consumers to recycle, and to making our packing even more recyclable,” he said. 

On the Net: 

World Wildlife Fund, http://www.panda.org 

International Bottled Water  

Association, http://www.bottledwater.org

UNITED NATIONS — The United States lost its seat Thursday on the top U.N. human rights body for the first time since the commission was formed in 1947. 

The 53-member U.N. Human Rights Commission, which usually meets in Geneva, makes recommendations for the protection and promotion of human rights, either on its own initiative or at the request of the General Assembly or the Security Council. 

Regional groups at the United Nations nominate candidates for the commission and the United States came in last among the four candidates nominated for three seats in its group, after France, Austria and Sweden. 

In the balloting, France got 52 votes, Austria 41 votes, Sweden 32 votes and the United States 29 votes. 

“It was an election, understandably, where we’re very disappointed,” acting U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said after the vote. “This won’t at all, of course, affect our commitment to human rights issues in and outside of the United Nations. We’ll continue to pursue them.” 

U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson expressed hope the United States “will return speedily as a member of the commission,” spokesman Jose Luis Diaz said in a statement released in Geneva. 

“The United States of America has made a historic contribution to the Commission on Human Rights,” the statement said, noting that the first U.S. representative on the body, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “helped shape the commission and its vision of an International Bill of Human Rights.” 

Election to seats on U.N. bodies usually involves intense lobbying by diplomats. 

The United States has been at a diplomatic disadvantage since January with the departure of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, an appointee of former President Clinton. President Bush nominated veteran diplomat John Negroponte as U.N. ambassador in March, but his nomination has not yet been sent to the Senate. 

The United States has been in the forefront of efforts to condemn the human rights records of China, Cuba and other countries at the commission’s Geneva meetings. 

Cunningham refused to speculate on whether the U.S. ouster from the commission was the result of growing anger against the United States for taking too many unilateral positions on issues such as a national missile defense shield and pulling out of the 1997 Kyoto treaty to curb global warning. 

“We had too many candidates for too few seats,” he said. “I don’t want to speculate on what might have been the motives underlying the outcome of the election.” 

France lost its seat in 1977 and Britain was voted off in both 1977 and 1991. 

Other countries elected to the commission were Bahrain, South Korea and Pakistan from the Asia Group, and Croatia and Armenia from the Eastern Europe Group. The Latin America Group selected Chile and Mexico without a vote, and the African Group chose Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo and Uganda, also without a vote. 

Asked whether it was awkward for the United States to have lost when Sudan had been chosen for a commission seat, Cunningham refused to comment. 

“We’re disappointed in the outcome. We very much wanted to serve on the commission. I’ll leave it at that for the time being,” he said. 

SAN FRANCISCO — Napster is by no means dead, but the latest usage numbers show the revolutionary song-swapping service is a vastly reduced version of its former bad-boy self. 

An analysis by the Internet research firm Webnoize found that Napster use has plunged 41 percent since the online company added song-screening technology to comply with a federal court order. 

Users downloaded 1.59 billion songs in April, a sharp decline from 2.8 billion in February, according to Matt Bailey, an analyst with Cambridge, Mass.-based Webnoize. Hank Barry, Napster’s chief executive, said the Webnoize numbers illustrate users’ loyalty despite the screening, and don’t reflect a dying company. 

“The most striking fact in the latest Webnoize study is the high number of music consumers who remain loyal to file sharing,” Barry said Wednesday. “Close to 8 million people are using Napster each day with an average of over 1 million using the service at any given time.” 

A million users would be a success for many Internet companies, but it represents a sharp decline in activity for Napster, which has hobbled itself in response to the music industry’s copyright suit. 

Napster, a dorm room experiment that revolutionized the music business, is now struggling to retain its vast user base as it employs tough new screening technology to inhibit the trading of copyright songs. 

In March, users shared 220 song files on average. By April, they shared 37 on average, a decline of more than 80 percent, according to Bailey. 

And since last week, many more songs have been blocked. Napster now screens for a wide range of variations in artist and song names that had allowed copyright music to reappear in its index. 

“That, in turn, has unfortunately caused substantial additional ’overblocking,’ the unintentional removal of otherwise authorized works, for which we apologize to our users and artists,” Napster told its fans. 

The Recording Industry Association of America, which sued Redwood City-based Napster for copyright infringement, said the report does not prove the company is fulfilling its part of the judge’s order to remove copyrighted works from its site. 

“I don’t view that as a significant change,” said Matt Oppenheim, the recording industry trade group’s senior vice president for business and legal affairs. “If those numbers are representative of the amount of downloads, it (says) there is still a substantial amount of piracy going on Napster.” 

There were indeed fewer files being traded in April, and fewer people doing it. 

In February, the zenith of Napster use in the short life-span of the company, there were nearly 1.6 million people logged on to Napster at any given time. In April, there were just more than 1 million users logged on, and they were trading a smaller selection of music, Bailey said. 

Napster is now a shell of its former self in terms of finding hit songs easily. 

Napster, with financial backing from the music industry giant Bertlesmann AG, has sought to shed its renegade image and enter into partnerships with other major music companies, with limited success. 

Now, Napster users often come up empty when they search for even slight variations in the names of many well-known artists and songs — a development that also blocks legitimate music by lesser-known artists with similar names and titles. 

Matt Plotkin, a high school senior in West Hills, Calif., said he has had to work a lot harder to find songs from his favorite artists such as rap group Black Eyed Peas and electronic music specialist DJ Tauscher. 

Users can still find the music they’re looking for “as long as you don’t type in the band name,” Plotkin said. “If you just type in the song title you might get it. Or you can leave out a word.” 

On the Net: 

http://www.napster.com 

http://www.riaa.com 

NEWARK, N.J. — Two Lucent Technologies scientists and another man – all three of them Chinese-born – were arrested by the FBI on Thursday and accused of stealing Lucent software and sharing it with a company largely run by the Chinese government. 

The three formed a joint venture with the Chinese company to market the product and boasted that the business would become “the Cisco of China,” prosecutors said. 

U.S. Attorney Robert Cleary said there are no allegations that the Chinese company, Datang Telecom Technology Co. of Beijing, was aware of the theft. 

The stolen software was for Lucent’s now-discontinued PathStar system, which enables Internet service providers to offer low-cost voice and data services. PathStar had over 90 percent of the market and generated $100 million for Lucent last year, according to court papers. 

The Chinese venture was “ready to roll out with it in September of this year,” Cleary said. “In the information age, it is difficult to imagine anything more dangerous to a company’s business interests.” 

Arrested were Yong-Qing Cheng, 37, who runs an optical networking business, and Lucent employees Hai Lin, 30, and Kai Xu, 33. 

Lin and Xu are Chinese citizens in the United States on business visas, while Cheng is a naturalized citizen, authorities said. 

All three defendants faced a court appearance Thursday and were not immediately available for commnt. They face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

The scientists were designated “distinguished members” of Lucent’s technical staff at the Murray Hill headquarters of the telecommunications giant. 

Lucent spokesman Bill Price could not immediately say what the alleged theft cost the company, or how long the scientists worked at Lucent. He said Lucent notified authorities in February that company equipment and intellectual property had been stolen. 

He also said PathStar was dropped before the theft was discovered. 

Lucent, spun off from AT&T Corp. in 1996, is among the most widely held stocks in the country. 

The case is the latest bad news for Lucent, which last month denied rumors that it plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. 

It also faces class-action lawsuits by shareholders who claim they lost money last year because of company wrongdoing. Lucent lost about $80 billion in market value under chairman and chief executive Richard McGinn, who was fired in October. 

——— 

On the Net: 

U.S. attorney’s office in Newark: http://www.njusao.org/break.html 

Lucent: http://www.lucent.com 

NEW YORK — Disappointing economic and earnings news, proof that companies still face challenges in the coming months, sent stocks sharply lower Thursday. The market was also wary about the government’s employment report due out Friday. 

“There are renewed fears about weakness in the economy. We believe the economy is bottoming, but we are not there yet,” said Alan Skrainka, chief market strategist at Edward Jones of St. Louis. 

The market was troubled by other labor data Thursday. The Labor Department reported that first-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose last week to a five-year high, a sign that employers’ need for workers continues to wane. 

The market’s losses were widespread, in keeping with the fact that most businesses have been hurt by the weakened economy and that many have been forced to lay off workers and slash prices. 

Computer makers suffered as analysts predicted demand would not pick up soon. Dell Computer, which was downgraded by UBS Warburg, fell $1.80 to $24.93. 

Analysts said investors chose to cash in some profits that they reaped in April after hearing companies say that the second quarter – rather than the first – will be the weakest of the year. 

“Everyone has been talking about a recovery being around the corner. But now we may have another disappointing earnings season for the second quarter, as well,” Skrainka said. 

The potential for more bad earnings news weighed on certain stocks, including Newell Rubbermaid and Papa John’s. 

Newell Rubbermaid fell $1.49 to $25.85 after announcing earnings that missed analysts’ expectations and also warning that second-quarter and yearly profits will also fall short. The housewares and consumer products maker also said it plans to cut 3,000 jobs. 

Although investors were worried about the economy, analysts were encouraged that the Dow managed to cut its losses in the last hour of trading.  

— The Associated Press 

They said the selloff moderated because investors also believe the earnings and economic data will compel the Federal Reserve to approve a bigger-than-expected rate cut — a 0.5 percentage point reduction vs. 0.25 percentage point — when it meets May 15. 

Analysts also reasoned that some pullback was expected after an April rally that was triggered by better-than-expected earnings and positive economic data. 

“Today was destined to be a hesitation day. It’s not overly bearish,” said Gregory Nie, technical analyst for First Union Securities. 

Thursday’s losses were minimal compared to the strides the market made in April. Most spectacularly, the Nasdaq has climbed about 31 percent from its closing low for the year, 1,638.80, reached April 4. 

“After a monthlong rally, the stock market is a little tired,” said Skrainka, the strategist at Edward Jones. 

Declining issues outnumbered advancers slightly more than 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 1.33 billion shares, below Wednesday’s 1.60 billion. 

The Russell 2000 index, which measures the performance of smaller companies stocks, fell 5.99 to 485.65. 

Overseas, stocks finished lower Thursday. Germany’s DAX index fell 2.2 percent, France’s CAC-40 slipped 2.1 percent, and Britain’s FT-SE 100 lost 2.2 percent. 

Financial markets in Japan were closed Thursday. 

——— 

On the Net: 

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com 

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com 

ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines pilots will soon begin voting on a new contract now that their union’s leadership has endorsed a tentative agreement that could end the threat of a strike at the nation’s third-largest carrier. 

The decision late Wednesday by Delta’s master executive council, a division of the Air Line Pilots Association, sends the contract to Delta’s 9,800 pilots. 

“I believe this contract recognizes the important part our pilots play in the operations of our corporation and the unique skills, experience and expertise we bring to the cockpit,” said Charles Giambusso, chairman of ALPA’s Delta unit. 

The pilots agreed to the tentative proposal April 22, warding off a strike a week before they had threatened to leave their cockpits.  

A strike by Delta pilots could severely impact U.S. aviation at a time when air traffic is already at record levels of congestion. 

The union and Delta have been working on a contract for more than a year and a half. 

The deal calls for raises of 24 percent to 34 percent for Delta pilots between now and 2005, making them the highest-paid in the industry. It exceeds the current most lucrative contract at United Airlines. 

Delta’s pilots will vote on the contract from May 22 through June 20. 

“We are hopeful that the contract will be ratified in the coming weeks so that all of us at Delta can focus more fully on our customers,” Delta spokesman Russ Williams said. 

Despite the large raise offers, some pilots have harshly criticized the proposed contract because of its terms regarding retirement benefits, crew scheduling and the continuation of a lower-wage pay system at Delta Express. 

Also, some pilots believe the contract will allow Delta to expand the amount of flying it does with Express, a lower-cost unit based in Orlando, Fla., at the expense of the main airline. 

Delta officials maintain they need the separate wage structure to compete with other discount carriers. 

The union now will dispatch leaders to the airline’s eight largest pilot bases to answer questions and try to build support for the contract. 

Union spokesman Andy Deane, a Delta 767 pilot, said some pilots do not yet understand what is in the contract or how it differs from the previous deal in key areas. 

The council meeting started Saturday and had been planned for only three days.  

ALPA officials said the protracted meeting was necessary to analyze and understand each provision of the lengthy contract. 

“The fact that it took five days, I think, tells you that the pilots wanted to go through this thing with a fine-tooth comb,” ALPA spokesman Gregg Holm said. 

On the Net: 

Delta Air Lines: http://www.delta.com 

ALPA Delta unit: http://www.dalpa.com

Mayor Shirley Dean outlined her vision of the city’s future Tuesday, which included a citywide conversion to solar power, creating affordable housing and a controversial 500-space garage under Civic Center Park. 

In Dean’s sixth State of the City Address, she touted accomplishments over the last six-and-one-half years such as the emerging Arts District, the completion of the Public Safety Building and the refurbishing of the Civic Center building. But she also took the opportunity to note a complacency and lack of focus gripping Berkeley.  

“I remind you tonight, our work is not over, as we face a slowing economy and weave our way through another year plagued by ideology and political gamesmanship,” she said. 

Dean said one of the goals of her speech was to call for political unity. “I wanted to inspire people to come together on what’s best for the city,” she said. “We can accomplish so much if we just take a deep breath and work together.” 

In a surprise unveiling, Dean presented drawings of a plan that would transform the historic Civic Center area by constructing a 500-space garage under Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. 

The $22 million project would reroute Martin Luther King Jr. Way though a tunnel from Allston Way to Addison Street. Also Allston Way would be closed between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. Included in the plan’s design, which was drawn up by Director of Public Works Rene Cardinaux, was the daylighting of Strawberry Creek along the southern side of the park.  

The mayor suggested funding the project through a partnership between Vista College, Alameda County Superior Court and the city. 

The plan, which is supported by the Downtown Business Association, is expected to face strong opposition from environmentalists, transit-first advocates and preservationists. In fact, despite the secrecy surrounding the plan before the speech, several audience members held up signs during the mayor’s address saying: “No Parking in our Park!!” 

Dean said energy will be one of her top priorities. She outlined an energy plan, which she and Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek brought to the City Council, to ease energy costs and reduce consumption.  

Dean challenged Berkeley residents and business owners to reduce energy use by 20 percent. “Oakland has set a conservation goal of 10 percent, San Francisco of 7 to 10 percent. Berkeley can do better,” she said. 

She also strongly promoted solar photovotaic power. Dean said she is working with local banks to provide low-interest loans to residents who convert to solar electricity. Currently the California Energy Commission is offering a $3,500 rebate for homeowners who install the systems, which cost an average of $10,000.  

“Solar technologies are projected in the next few years to reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to the amount produced by 850,000 automobiles,” she said. “Berkeley should be the solar capital of the world.” 

Dean also addressed housing, which she said is the biggest problem Berkeley faces. She said she is committed to meeting the housing goals set for Berkeley by the Association of Bay Area Governments, which calls for the construction of 1,269 affordable housing units by 2006. 

Of those, 354 units would be for very-low-income tenants, 150 units for low income, 310 units for moderate income and 455 for “above moderate” income tenants. 

“This is why it is important to support the proposal to build housing over the air rights at the South Berkeley BART Station,” she said. “Teachers qualify as low and moderate income and should have a priority for this housing.” 

Dean indirectly addressed the homeless situation in Berkeley by referring to a letter written by a Berkeley woman who was described as a liberal, middle-income nurse who has worked with the homeless. The letter recounted an incident in Live Oak Park in which a cake, baked by a 10-year-old girl for a birthday party, was stolen from a picnic table by a person who was supposedly homeless. 

Dean quoted the letter as saying “My husband and I have to borrow money to pay the $5,000 per year property taxes to have (Berkeley) be the homeless, mentally-ill capital of California and send our daughter to a high school that looks like Beirut and has permanent substitutes.” 

Dean did not offer any specific solutions to the problem other than to refer to last year’s State of the City Address in which she said: “It’s time to create a city that provides the highest quality of life for every resident in all of our neighborhoods, a city that celebrates its diversity and efficiently, delivers a rich mix of services and activities that sets our community far above the ordinary.” 

She also discussed ongoing problems of violence at Berkeley High School. She spoke of a series of incidents in which students were beaten after cardboard boxes were put over their heads.  

She said she was in favor of increasing the number of uniformed security staff at the high school to 17 from the current 10.  

Dean also discussed other goals such as creating a “world class animal shelter,” the purchase of a hanging sculpture made from handguns confiscated by Bay Area police and the importance of retaining the Berkeley Symphony with an “one-time infusion of $120,000.” 

Thursday, May 3

Berkeley Metaphysical  

Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month. Call 869-2547 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through  

May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

Disaster First Aid 

1 - 4 p.m.  

Emergency Operations Center 

997 Cedar St.  

A free class as part of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). Sponsored by the Berkeley Fire Dept. and the Office of Emergency Services.  

Call 644-8736 

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meetings discussions will center on “Queer Midrash: Exploring Scripture.”  

654-5486 

Climbing Mt. Shasta 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

As a climbing ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, Dan Towner has spent nine seasons exploring Mt. Shasta. He will help to prepare for a safe and successful first climb of Shasta via the Avalanche Gulch route. Free  

527-4140 

Caregivers’ Support Group  

1 - 2:30 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes B & C 

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Come learn about resources for caregivers of older loved ones. Free 

869-6737 

Power to the People  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley City Council Chambers 

2134 MLK Jr. Way  

A Town Hall meeting on taking control of our energy future.  

540-3660 

Small Schools, Past & Present  

7 - 9 p.m.  

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst St. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

A panel of teachers and students from the 1970’s will discuss what small schools were like at Berkeley High, followed by questions from the audience.  

Call 644-4568 

Finding and Assessing  

Fixer-Uppers 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by contractor/fixer-upper Michael Hamman. $35, 525-7610 

Berkeley Special Education Parents Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Thousand Oaks School, Room 19 

1150 Virginia St. 

What to do when the school district does not comply with an IEP. Speaker Wendy Byrne, from Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund. 558-8933 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Planning and Development 

First Floor Conference Room 

2118 Milvia St. 

Among topics to be discussed is the air testing at Harrison Fields -- Chromium 6 sampling location and height question. 981-6900 

Rally Against Bush Tax-Cut 

1 p.m. 

Sproul Plaza 

UC Berkeley 

Activists, musicians, comedians. Nobel-Laureate economist Daniel McFadden will speak, among others. 

Housing Advisory Commission 

South Berkeley Senior Center 

2939 Ellis St. 

7:30 p.m. 

Among topics to be covered, there will be discussion and action on proposed rental housing safety program requiring owner’s self-certification and city housing code and safety compliance inspections. Open to public. 981-5411 

Friday, May 4

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more. Fridays through May 11.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets. 644-6226 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration  

1 - 3 p.m.  

West Berkeley Senior Center  

1900 Sixth St.  

Featuring Pepe Carrasco, “the man of a thousand voices,” Ruben Martin Rey De La Cancion Ranchera, Alan Sanchez Flores, Ballet Folklorico de Berkeley and more. Free  

644-6037 

International Conference 

Townsend Center 

220 Stephens Hall 

UC Berkeley 

11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

“Cosmopolititanism, Human Rights and Sovereignty in the New Europe” is the topic. Manual Castells of UC Berkeley will speak on “Identity-building as a Material Process: The Construction of the European Identity in a Global Context” at noon.643-5777 

Berkeley NAACP Youth Council 

African Methodist Episcopal Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

6 p.m. 

Fired Up! And Ready to Go! Mobilization Night. 710-0238 

Saturday, May 5

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club gives free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

— compiled by  

Chason Wainwright 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Tooth Man! 

10:30 a.m.  

Berkeley Main Library  

2121 Allston Way  

Tooth Man, a.k.a. Matt Perry, returns by popular demand to fascinate children with his collection of teeth from animals large and small. 

649-3964 

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Author of Adam Dagliesh mysteries, P.D. James, and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. 

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Free Hearing Screening 

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes, A, B & C  

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Health Access/LifeSpan and Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) are co-sponsoring free hearing screenings in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. Free  

869-6737  

Women’s Evening at the Movies  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Pacific Center  

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food.  

$5 donation requested  

548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

Owner as Contractor 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Legal aspects discussed by attorney Sterling Johnson. $75. 

525-7610 

Painting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

“Tricks of the Trade” taught by painting contractor Scott Perry. $75. 

525-7610 

Framing Carpentry 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend. 

525-7610 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Path Wanderers 

10 a.m. 

Remillard Park 

Keeler and Poppy Streets 

Help Berkeley Path Wanderers Association weed and put new chips on Keeler Avenue Path. Bring gloves, weeding tools, shovels, wheelbarrows if you have them. 

848-9358 

International Conference 

Townsend Center 

220 Stephens Hall 

UC Berkeley 

9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. 

“Cosmopolititanism, Human Rights and Sovereignty in the New Europe” is the topic. Alain Touraine of the University of Paris will speak at noon addressing the question, “Is it Possible to Create a European Citizenship?”. Continued from Friday. Free and open to the public. 

643-5777 

Sunday, May 6

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

BAHA House Tour  

1 - 5 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

Sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Tour will include the early work of architects Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck and Henry Gutterson.  

$25 - $32  

841-2242 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Open House  

3 - 5 p.m.  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute  

1815 Highland Place  

A free introduction to Tibetan Buddhist culture including a Tibetan yoga demonstration, a talk on the relevance of Buddhism in today’s world, a prayer wheel and meditation garden tour. Free and open to the public.  

843-6812 

Faith, Doubt and Refuge 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

What does this mean in the Buddhist tradition? Talk by Sylvia Gretchen, dean of Nyingma Studies at the institute. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Framing Carpentry. 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend 

525-7610 

Solar Electricity in Your Home. 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by Gary Gerber, engineer for Sunlight and Power. $75 

525-7610 

Rhododendron Walk 

10 a.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

See more than 200 species. $3 admission. Limited space, call for reservation. 

643-2755 

Monday, May 7

Beginning Bicyclist Workshop  

7 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA  

2001 Allston Way  

Community Room 1, Main Floor  

Jason Meggs and Zed Lopez will teach you how to keep yourself and your bike safe and even how to use your bike for shopping. Free  

Call Jason Meggs, 549-RIDE 

Words Hurt  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi David Ordan will discuss the seriousness of gossip and it’s effects.  

$10  

848-0237 

Skin Cancer Screening Clinic 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit Campus  

2450 Ashby Ave. 

Markstein Cancer Education Center 

Skin cancer screenings are offered only to people who, due to limited or no health insurance, would be able to have a suspicious mole or other skin changes examined. Appointments are required.  

869-8833 

It was a mother's worst nightmare. She went to wake her daughter to get up for school, but the child would not wake up. She was unconscious and unresponsive to her mother's panicked reaction. I happened to hear the cry of my West Berkeley neighbor and went out that morning to find out what the matter was. “My baby!” she cried. “Does anyone know CPR!” came the cry from a family immobilized by grief. 

Hearing the call, I rushed to the bedroom of the 9-year-old girl. I had taken a CPR class a decade ago and was certain I had forgotten everything I had learned. Still, I knew I had to do something. The girl was not moving or breathing. I turned her on her back and checked to see if she was choking on something. I couldn't find anything so I started blowing air into her lungs. Then I pushed my palms against her chest several times. I returned to blowing air into her lungs. 

Within minutes, a Berkeley police officer was in the room. We moved her off the mattress and onto the floor. He instructed me to continue blowing into her mouth. I did that until the paramedics arrived. 

The little girl was rushed to Children's Hospital where she died. The police told me that no one could have saved her. I had done the best I could.  

The suspected cause was meningitis. She had shown all the symptoms. Because I had been exposed to her saliva, I was at risk. I was told to go to the hospital to get treated. One of my housemates accidentally drank from my coffee cup that morning. We decided that we should both go for treatment. We were not taking any chances. 

At the hospital, we were informed that the risk of either of us getting meningitis was small. Of the two of us, I was at the greater risk. My mouth came into contact with the girl's saliva. We were reassured that we were only being treated as a precaution. The other members of our household did not need treatment. 

Nandi was a sweet, lovely girl. A couple of weeks ago, she and her sister came to my door, asking me to buy a raffle ticket to raise funds for Oxford school. Nandi attended Oxford. I bought one ticket from each of them. 

She was always kind and friendly to everyone in the neighborhood. And that is how I prefer to remember her; the energetic and always optimistic child, riding her bike down my sidewalk or running to my back yard for the ball that went over the back fence. During the hot, summer months, she had played with my daughter and cooled down over the lawn sprinkler in that same backyard. It was in that back yard that I heard the mother’s cry for help.  

Another one of my housemates is a school bus driver. She drove the Nandi to Oxford everyday. She had just returned from a field trip to Sacramento when she heard the news. She was devastated. 

Even though my attempt to save Nandi’s life was in vain, I would do it again without hesitation. It is better to take the risk and try than it is to do nothing and wonder later if that risk might have made a difference. If it had been a member of my family, I would want someone to take that risk to save a life. I hope that will never happen to anyone else's family. But it can happen, and it does. We all need to be prepared to answer the call when it does. My advice is if you have not taken a CPR class, do so. If you have CPR training, don’t be afraid to use it, no matter how long ago it was or how rusty your skills have become.  

Better yet, take a refresher course. I’m putting it on my agenda.

924 Gilman St. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted $5; $2 for a year membership. All ages. May 4: Plan 9, Zodiac Killers, Reverend B. Dangerous Freakshow, Dory Tourette & The Skirtheads, Knockoffs; May 5: Shikabane, Phobia, Harum Scarum, Vulgar Pigeons, Insidious Sorrow; May 11: Subincision, Next to Nothing, Fracus, Thrice, The Average Joe; May 12: The Sick, Impalid, Creuvo, Tearing Down Standards. 525-9926  

Ashkenaz May 3: 8:30 p.m. and May 4: 9:30 p.m. Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited from Zimbabwe.; May 5: 9:30 California Cajun Orchestra, 8:30 p.m. dance lesson; May 6: 7 p.m.: Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble; May 9: 9 p.m. Billy Dunn and Bluesway, 8 p.m. dance lesson 1370 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman) 525-5054 or www.ashkenaz.com  

Freight & Salvage All music at 8 p.m. May 3: Lorin Rowan Trio; May 4: Cris Williamson; May 5, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with author P.D. James and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser; May 5: R. Crumb 7 The Cheap Suit Serenaders; May 6: Terry Riley, George Brooks & Gyan Riley; May 8: Duck Baker and Tim Sparks; May 9: Rosalie Sorrels and Terry Garthwaite; May 10: Richard Shindell; May 11: Steve Seskin, Angela Kaset and Don Henry; May 12, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with authors Adair Lara and Janis Newman, and the Acoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet 1111 Addison St. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool/La Note All music at 4:30 p.m. May 6: David Creamer Trio; May 13: Michael Zilber Group 2377 Shattuck Ave. 845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com 

Jupiter All shows at 8 p.m. May 3: Beatdown with DJs Delon, Yamu, and Add1; May 4: Stolen Bibles; May 5: J Dogs; May 8: The Rum Diary; May 9: Bitches Brew; May 10: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; May 11: Mood Food; May 12: Post Junk Trio; May 15: Chris Shot Group; May 16: Spank; May 17: Beatdown with DJ’s Delon, Yamu and Add1; May 18: Will Bernard and Motherbug; May 19: Solomon Grundy; May 22: Willy N’ Mo; 2181 Shattuck Ave 843-8277  

La Pena Cultural Center May 3, 8 p.m.: Third Eye Movement presents Deuce, Eclipse, Soul Sista Soul, Red Guard, Jahi, plus others; May 5, 9 p.m.: Chicano de Mayo Celebration dance with O-Maya, Yaksi, DJ Corazon & La Viuda Negra, plus poets Leticia Hernandez and Robert Karim 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org  

Cal Performances May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.: Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents “Way Station,” “BIPED,” and “Rainforest” $20 - $42 Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley; 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Live Oak Concert May 5, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Stephanie Pan, soprano, Mirta Wymerszberg, baroque flute, Karen Ande, viola de gamba, Meg Cotner, harpsichord performing the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Boismortier, and Ortiz. $8 - $10 Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“The Children’s Hour” May 5 & 12, 8 p.m. and May 13, 4 p.m. The Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Arlene Sagan will perform Julian White’s piece along with Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and selections from Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, poems of Robert Frost set to music. Free St. Joseph the Worker Church 1640 Addison St. 528-2145  

Music & Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m. & May 6, 2 p.m. Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the Bay Area 45-member ensemble, will perform music and dance from Bali under the direction of Balinese guest artists I Made Subandi and Ni Ketut Arini. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Grease” May 5, 11, 12, 8 p.m. and May 6, 2 p.m. By Berkeley High Performing Arts Department. Rock-musical set in late 1950’s explores teen issues. A classic. $6 Little Theater Allston Way between MLK and Milvia 524-9754  

“The Oresteia” by Aeschylus Through May 6 Directed by Tony Taccone and Stephen Wadsworth, Aeschylus trilogy will be the first production staged on the Berkeley Rep’s new proscenium stage. Please call Berkeley Repertory Theatre for specific dates and times. $15.99 - $117 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2015 Addison St. (at Shattuck) 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Death of a Salesman” Through May 5, Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. plus Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. The ageless story of Willy Loman presented by an African-American cast and staged by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. $10 Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck (at Berryman) 528-5620 

“Big Love” by Charles L. Mee Through June 10 Directed by Les Waters and loosely based on the Greek Drama, “The Suppliant Woman,” by Aeschylus. Fifty brides who are being forced to marry fifty brothers flee to a peaceful villa on the Italian coast in search of sanctuary. $15.99 - $51 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison St. 647-2949 

“Slings and Arrows: love stories from Shakespearean tragedies” written and directed by Rebecca Goodberg and developed by the ensemble and “Blue Roses” conceptualized and directed by Christian Schneider. Discussions with the audience will follow each show. Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m. through May 5. $10 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid Ave. 655-0813  

Interplay Fest! May 4, 8 p.m. May 5, 3:30 - 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. A full weekend of performances by Wing It! Performance Ensemble, Cultural InterPlay Ensemble, and the Art of InterPlay Ensemble. Weekend Pass: $15, Individual performances, $7 - $10 First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way (at Dana) 814-9584 

The far side of the moon May 3 - 5, 8 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. and May 6, 3 p.m. A solo performance by Canadian writer, actor and director Robert Lepage with an original score by Laurie Anderson. $30 - $46 Zellerbach Playhouse Bancroft at Dana UC Berkeley 642-9988  

San Francisco International Film Festival May 3: 7 p.m. Daresalam, 9:15 p.m. Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors. All $9 Pacific Film Archive 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-5249 

“A Ship with Painted Sails: The Fabulous Animation of Karel Zeman” May 4: 7 p.m. The Stolen Airship, 9:10 p.m. A Jester’s Tale May 5: 7 p.m. Journey to the Beginning of Time, 8:35 p.m. The Treasure of Bird Island May 11: 7 p.m. Zeman Shorts, 8:55 p.m. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne May 12: 7 p.m. Baron Munchausen, 9:10 p.m. Kraba - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice May 13: 5:30 The Thousand and One Nights, 7:05 p.m. The Tale of John and Mary. Admission: $7 for one film, $8.50 for double bills. Pacific Film Archive Theater 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-1412 

“Women’s Evening at the Movies” May 5, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food. $5 donation requested Pacific Center 2712 Telegraph Ave. 548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

“Mirele Efros” May 13, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Jacob Gordin’s classic story set in turn-of the century Grodno. A classic study in family relations. Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Cinema 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Cody’s Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-7852 All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 3: Several authors from the anthology “My Story...Life As A Teen Parent” will read; May 4: Doris Haddock will read from “Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year” about her 3,200-mile journey across the country; May 8: Geling Yan reads “The Lost Daughter of Happiness” May 10: Ron Hansen talks about “A Stay Against Confusion; May 11: Terry Pratchett reads “Thief of Time”; May 12: Ike Oguine reads “A Squatter’s Tale”; May 14: Edie Meidav reads “The Far Field: A Novel of Ceylon”  

‘Strong Women - Writers & Heroes of Literature” Fridays Through June 2001, 1 - 3 p.m. Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 549-2970  

Duomo Reading Series and Open Mic. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9 p.m. May 3: Lucy Lang Day with host Dale Jensen; May 10: Jamie Kennedy with host Mischell Erickson; May 17: Gregory Listach Gayle with host Mark States; May 24: Stephanie Young with host Louis Cuneo; May 31: Connie Post with host Louis Cuneo Cafe Firenze 2116 Shattuck Ave. 644-0155. 

Lunch Poems First Thursday of each month, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. May 3: Student Reading Morrison Room, Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-0137 

“New Draft Programme of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA” May 9, 7 p.m. Take part in a discussion of this blueprint for fighting and winning a revolution in the United States. Revolution Books 2425C Channing Way 848-1196 

Paul Polansky and Voice of Roma May 10, 3 p.m. Polansky’s poetry gives voice to the Kosovo Roma and their plight in the aftermath of their plight in the aftermath of the 1999 war. Free Kroeber Hall Gifford Room Second Floor (at College and Bancroft in Anthropology Building) 981-1352 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike May 12, 6:30 p.m. An ongoing open mike series, featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Free Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Berkeley City Club Tours 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. The fourth Sunday of every month, Noon - 4 p.m. $2 848-7800  

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tours All tours begin at 10 a.m. and are restricted to 30 people per tour $5 - $10 per tour May 12: Debra Badhia will lead a tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Arts District; May 19: John Stansfield & Allen Stross will lead a tour of the School for the Deaf and Blind; June 2: Trish Hawthorne will lead a tour of Thousand Oaks School and Neighborhood; June 23: Sue Fernstrom will lead a tour of Strawberry Creek and West of the UC Berkeley campus 848-0181 

Lectures 

California Colloquium on Water Scholars of distinction in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, law and environmental design speak about water resources and hopefully contribute to informed decisions on water in California. May 8, 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.: “What Makes Water Wet?” Richard Saykally, professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley (refreshments served in 410 O’Brien Hall at 4:15 p.m.) 212 O’Brien Hall, UC Berkeley 642-2666  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Free Lectures All lectures begin at 6 p.m. May 6: Sylvia Gretchen on “Faith, Doubt, and Refuge in Buddhist Practice”; May 13: Abbe Blum on “Tapping Into Creativity”; May 20: Miep Cooymans and Dan Jones on “Working with Awareness, Concentration, and Energy”; May 27: Eva Casey on “Getting Calm; Staying Clear”; June 3: Jack van der Meulen on “Healing Through Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)”; June 10: Sylvia Gretchen on “Counteracting Negative Emotions” Tibetan Nyingma Institute 1815 Highland Place 843-6812 

“Hunting T. Rex” May 6, 2 p.m. A talk by Dr. Philip Currie, curator of dinosaurs, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Currie asks the question: Was there social interaction amongst the Tyrannosaurs? $3 - $7 Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 642-5132 or visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

Berkeley 1900 May 7, 7 p.m. Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900, a book about life at the turn of the 19th century, will speak at the Friends of Five Creeks’ monthly meeting. Albany Community Center (downstairs) 1249 Marin 848-9358 

Peopling of the Pacific May 11, 8 p.m. Dr. Patrick Kirch, department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, will review results of archaeological research in the Pacific Islands, providing a current overview of Oceanic prehistory. 370 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley 415-338-1537  

In a surprise move this week, Cal Chancellor Robert Berdahl announced he had hired crew coach Steve Gladstone to be athletics director of the university. 

The announcement came as a shock to nearly everyone other than Berdahl. Gladstone was never named as a candidate for the job, and was actually a member of the search committee that recommended interim AD Robert Driscoll for the position. 

But Berdahl said he wasn’t satisfied with the two final candidates, Driscoll and Vanderbilt associate AD Bradley Bates, who met with athletics department administrators and coaches last week. He decided to call Gladstone, who had turned down the opportunity to become a candidate early in the process. 

“In the course of our conversations, Steve talked about his vision for the athletics program,” Berdahl said. “The question arose, ‘You have such a compelling vision, why aren’t you a candidate?’” 

Gladstone was in Seattle this weekend to coach his top-ranked men’s team against Washington. Berdahl called him in his hotel room and offered him the job on the spot. He flew back on Sunday and spent the day with Berdahl before accepting the job. 

Gladstone said he changed his mind when he realized the effect he could have on the department. 

“Ultimately, what changed my mind was that significant change could be made,” he said. “Not structural changes, but attitudinal changes.” 

Most surprised, and disappointed, was Driscoll, who was considered the favorite right until the announcement. He has been with Cal for 14 years, and was former athletic director John Kasser’s No. 2 man. Driscoll left the building shortly before the announcement was made and did not attend the press conference. 

“To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement,” Driscoll said. “You compete and operate within a set of ground rules. That’s what you do, and then they don’t follow through with those rules, it’s disheartening.” 

When asked about his future with Cal, Driscoll was short. 

“I will continue to serve Cal athletics as I learn more about the chancellor’s new direction,” he said. 

Driscoll is reportedly in the running for the athletic director position at Harvard. He will continue to serve as Cal’s interim AD until Gladstone takes over on June 1. 

Berdahl said he was sorry the decision had to be painful for Driscoll. 

“He did a wonderful job as our interim athletics director, and he has served the campus well,” Berdahl said. “He has contributed so much. 

“But the decision was mine. I had to make it, and I made it. Steve is exactly the person I wanted.” 

Gladstone said he tried to contact Driscoll before the decision was announced, but was unsuccessful. He termed the events leading to his hiring as “beyond my control.” 

Gladstone’s main function will be as a fundraiser, as the renovation of Memorial Stadium will be on the top of his agenda. The funding for the project is still up in the air, but both Gladstone and Berdahl said the renovation is on schedule. Gladstone said he will continue to coach crew after taking over as AD. 

But both men mostly talked about vague “vision” and “values” for college athletics. 

“Without question, our goal is to create an environment in the department where our student-athletes can express their competitive desires and instincts in the most profound way,” Gladstone said. “There needs to be a very clear vision and support and respect in the work that the coaches are doing. I think small things make a huge difference. And when an individual, whether it be a coach, a student-athlete or an administrator, feels, for a lack of a better phrase, that empowerment, that respect, there is going to be greater effort, greater clarity in their endeavors.” 

Berdahl stressed that Gladstone’s success in his coaching career would help him on the new job. 

“Steve Gladstone is the person who can lead this very good program to the next level, to make it an exemplary championship program in every way,” Berdahl said. “He is a man who has a compelling vision of what athletic competition at the highest levels of achievement can mean in the lives of the young people we are seeking to educate. He is, at his core, an educator.” 

Berdahl also said rowing is a model for any team effort. 

“There’s probably not an athletic competition that requires more of a uniformity than crew,” he said. 

Gladstone, on the other hand, joked that he was making the move to help his teams get some respect. 

“This is the only way I will ever get more ink for crew,” he laughed. “This is my final ploy.” 

Gladstone will oversee a Cal athletics department that includes 27 Division I sports and 25 club teams. The department has a budget of $34 million with a staff of 200. 

Berdahl’s experiment has little precedent. Going from a crew coach to athletic director is unheard of at the major college level. Gladstone’s only administrative experience came at Brown, where he was acting AD for about a year.

Mayor Shirley Dean’s unveiling of a plan to construct a 500-space parking garage under Civic Center Park was barely unveiled before controversy erupted. 

No sooner had the mayor announced the plan, which had been kept tightly under wraps, than several placards denouncing the concept rose above the heads of about 100 people in the City Council Chambers Tuesday night. 

“This is a nightmarish vision for the heart of Berkeley,” said Councilmember Dona Spring on Wednesday. “I was aghast at the repeat of this whole  

scenario. This is an old idea that we dispensed with six years ago.” 

Rauly Butler, vice president of the Downtown Business Association was so inspired by the mayor’s announcement he showed his gratitude by giving her a kiss on the cheek after the speech.  

Butler said there are only three garages downtown, one will be closing and another has been deemed seismically unsafe. He said downtown businesses will suffer if no garages are built.  

“The adage that if you don’t build parking they won’t drive in. Not true,” Butler said. “If you don’t build parking, they won’t come.” 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington said he was so upset by the address overall that he began work Wednesday morning to present a People’s State of the City Address. 

“The mayor’s address is so unreflective of what’s really going on in Berkeley, I’ve decided to put together a team effort,” he said. “We’ll have representatives from the environmental, housing and disabled community who will put forth their vision for the city for the next 10 years.” 

Worthington said the $20 million proposal to build the garage under Civic Center Park was “outrageous.” 

“To divert millions and millions of dollars from important city programs to build a parking garage that will fill the coffers of downtown corporations is an unsound proposal.” 

Worthington said the People’s State of the City Address would likely be presented on May 29 or the following Tuesday, June 5. 

Support and strengthen the United Nations 

Editor: 

Mayor Brown’s rousting of undesireables from United Nations Plaza - a scant block from his office in City Hall - reminded me of the lovely day spent tabling on Earth Day in our own UN Plaza - MLK Jr Park. The sun was out for this communion of ideas and causes focused on the precarious stewardship of this limpid blue life-marble. 

The scouring of Brown’s grand promenade restored to the sight of passersby the granite emblem and dedication statement of an indispensible world body founded nearby at the Opera House, in the closing weeks of World War II. 

To put it bluntly: until that dreamy day when humanity develops an array of global institutions - the new International Criminal Court being a template - operating under a system of democratically-legislated, enforceable world laws that can assure an end to war and atrocity, the vigor of the biosphere, and restraint on other “globalities” such as the global economy and reach of multi-national corporations, the United Nations are just about the best friend Earth has.  

The current Administration isn’t, nor are its big-business palsies. 

The UN must be supported and appreciated, but also strengthened and enhanced as provided in Article 109 of the UN Charter. 

Phil Allen 

Berkeley 

Let’s clean up our own house 

Editor: 

Most of us here in Berkeley are appalled as the Bush administration caves-in to business interests, and rolls back environmental protection. Vice President Cheney throws up his hands and says conservation will never work, so we have to drill for more oil in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. 

Bad Bushies. But here in Berkeley, we're pure, right? 

Well, not all that pure.  

We just ripped up a bunch of trees downtown. 

We are dragging our feet about bus shelters.  

We think parking is more important than reducing congestion. It looks likely that the Oxford lot will have a huge parking garage.  

Local business interests seem to have watered down the part of the General Plan that tries to promote use of public transit, in order to reduce the need for more parking.  

Berkeley looks a lot like Bush when it comes to cutting back on car congestion.  

Our commissions and council cave-in to the business interests and call for more parking lots, instead of trying to be "transit first" (whatever happened to that resolution, anyway?) 

I’d like to see less Bush and more bus. 

Steve Geller 

Berkeley

SAN FRANCISCO – Behind outstanding pitching from freshman right-hander Brian Montalbo and a 17-hit attack, Cal powered past San Francisco, 12-1, Tuesday at Benedetti Diamond. 

The Bears improve to 27-22 overall, while the Dons, who had won 12-straight home games, fall to 24-23. 

Montalbo improved his record to 4-0 by pitching six innings with only one hit, no runs, three walks and four strikeouts. He had a no-hitter going until USF’s Jason Heise got a single on a bad-hop grounder that hit the Bears shortstop Jeff Dragicevich in the head in the sixth inning. The Dons got only three hits on the day, getting their lone run on a solo home run by Jeramy Janz in the seventh inning. 

Clint Hoover got Cal on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning off of USF starter David Seccombe (3-3) and sophomore Brent Cook had a two-run homer in the eighth inning. 

Offensively, sophomore Ben Conley and senior Rob Meyer had four hits apiece. Sophomore Brad Smith went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI and junior Carson White was 1-for-2 with a two-run double and a sacrifice fly. White has now extended his hitting streak to 18-games.  

The Bears will next travel to UCLA for a three-game Pac-10 series, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Students sound off on taking statewide exams 

As Berkeley’s K-11 students diligently fill in bubbles on the statewide standardized test forms this week, administrators are doing what they can to ensure students stay calm and give the tests their best effort. 

“We try to create a relaxed atmosphere,” said Thousand Oaks Primary School Principal Kevin Wooldridge. “The test is enough stress as it is.” 

In general, homework is out during testing weeks and instructional games, movies, and fun stuff are in.  

“We don’t get any real school work,” said Willard Middle School eighth grader Stephanie Stephens Wednesday. 

Part of California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (Star) Program, the tests will help determine schools’ statewide rankings. The results will also give individual school sites a breakdown of how well their students are doing in each subject area, at each grade level. 

While students’ individual results should be reported within about 20 working days from the time all the tests are handed in, scores broken down by grade level, school, district, city, county and so forth don’t have to be posted until Aug. 15.  

Individual results are confidential, but group breakdowns will be posted on the California Department of Education’s Web site.  

One of the greatest difficulties of the standardized tests, which take a total of between seven and eight hours to complete depending on the grade level, is the simple fact that students don’t know what they will be tested on in advance, Wooldridge said. 

“If a fifth-grader has a math test on Friday, then he knows exactly what he needs to study for,” Wooldridge said. 

Standardized tests are held under the strictest secrecy until the moment when a proctor plops them in front of the student clutching his No. 2 pencil. 

Berkeley Unified School District Interim Superintendent Stephen Goldstone has sent a letter home to all Berkeley parents explaining the importance of the standardized tests, but also encouraging both parents and students not to become stressed out. 

“Goldstone has really had a focus on student achievement and encouraged us not to have testing be a chore,” said John Muir Primary School Principal Nancy D. Waters. 

The district has also provided all elementary students with a complimentary organic breakfast this week – delivered right to their testing classrooms – to help boost their energy levels. 

Waters said the test can be particularly hard on the second graders, who are taking standardized tests for the first time and aren’t used to staying focused on one test for up to 55 minutes. 

“It’s really tough on those little guys,” Waters said. “We let them know that they (should) just do their best and everything will be cool.” 

Waters said John Muir teachers have helped their students practice for the tests, using practice materials that help kids become accustomed to the multiple choice format. 

Wooldridge said Wednesday that his students seem to be holding up well so far, halfway through the second day of testing. But he said the tests could begin to weigh on some before the experience is over. 

“Some kids do get stressed, and others just kind of take it in stride,” he said. “It has a lot to do with the personality of the kid.” 

Students typically test for about an hour and a half each morning, so the tests are spread out across six or seven school days. At John Muir, the staff decided to test Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for two weeks in a row.  

“Research shows that Mondays and Fridays aren’t the best test days,” Waters said. 

At a time when a number of teachers and parents say standardized tests are little more than a waste of time, Waters said the tests do provide valuable data to help her tweak her curriculum and better meet student needs. Still, she said, they are one assessment of many and should not be overemphasized. 

“It can really help us in knowing how to prepare the curriculum,” Waters said. “But at the same time it is just one measurement – and some students don’t test well.” 

Willard Middle School Principal Gail Hojo said the tests, while not ideal, are the only means for administrators to see how well their students are learning the new statewide academic standards. 

Hojo said taking standardized tests is a part of life that students need to be prepared for as early as possible. 

“Standardized tests may be considered a necessary evil right now,” Hojo said, pointing to the fact that student scores on such tests are studied carefully by college admissions offices and corporate personnel offices around the country. “Right now in our society it is a way that we use to assess if a person is qualified.”  

After they finished their first day of testing Wednesday (Tuesday’s test had to be postponed due to a shortage of proctors), Willard students expressed a mix of bravado and indifference. 

“I was expecting it to be harder,” said Willard Middle School eighth grader Melondy Bell. “They made it sound harder when they were giving instructions.” 

“I really don’t care” said Willard eighth grader Stephanie Stephens. “It doesn’t affect me getting into college or high school or anything.” 

Still, Stephens said she couldn’t blow the tests off completely, since her mom takes the results seriously. 

“She wants to see how I’m progressing,” she said. 

The California men’s soccer team was blanked by the San Jose Earthquakes, 6-0, Tuesday afternoon in an exhibition at Golden Bear Soccer Field.  

“Today’s game was a great opportunity for our players to play against some of the country’s top players,” said Cal head coach Kevin Grimes. “I told the players after the game this was the best possible training they could get to play against professional players.”  

The Golden Bears trailed only 1-0 at the half with San Jose forward Dwayne DeRosario accounting for the only goal.  

The Quakes’ Landon Donovan entered the game in the second half and proceeded to score his team’s next three goals. DeRosario capped the scoring by adding two more goals of his own.  

“There’s no shame in having two great players like Donovan and DeRosario score hat tricks against you,” said Grimes. “These two players are as good a striker as you’re going to see in MLS.” 

“After the game, our players were happy and proud of the way they played. They would love to play the Earthquakes on a continual basis.”

A 9-year-old girl who died Tuesday morning of bacterial meningitis set off a rapid community response from city health and school officials, who hoped to prevent the spread of both the disease and the rumors it engendered. 

For Tom Yamaguchi, the neighbor who unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the child using CPR, Nambi Phelps was much more than the victim of a ruthless disease. She was “a sweet, lovely girl,” he said. 

“She was always kind and friendly to everyone in the neighborhood,” Yamaguchi wrote in a letter to the Daily Planet (see Forum, p. 4). “And that is how I prefer to remember her; the energetic and always optimistic child, riding her bike down my sidewalk or running to my back yard for the ball that went over the back fence. During the hot, summer months, she had played with my daughter and cooled down over the lawn sprinkler in that same back yard.” 

Responding to the child’s death by meningococcal meningitis, city and school district officials hosted an informational meeting for parents Wednesday evening at Oxford School, the kindergarten through fifth-grade primary school Nambi attended. And they informed the public, through the press, about the nature of the disease. 

At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Interim School Superintendent Steve Goldstone also talked about what the district was doing to help Nambi’s classmates through their grieving. At the beginning of the school day on Wednesday, the students came together in an assembly where the principal explained what happened. She wanted to make sure the children understood that “school is a safe place for them,” Goldstone said.  

“During the day the children participated in making a memorial of artwork to express their love and loss,” he said. 

City officials repeated what they told the press Tuesday, explaining how difficult it is for the disease to spread. 

City Health Officer Dr. Poki Namkung stressed that transmission of the bacteria is limited to “direct contact with a person’s bodily fluids,” during activities such as drinking from the same cup, sharing utensils or kissing. “Meningitis cannot live outside the body. You can’t get it from a drinking fountain,” she said. 

Still, as Goldstone confirmed, the children at Oxford School had been given bottled water to drink on Wednesday. “The bottled water was provided by a parent,” Goldstone said. “It may not have been medically necessary.” 

Because the disease is not easily transmittable, health officials are counseling parents to have their children take a prophylactic medication, an antibiotic the school is offering, only if the child might have been in very close contact with the deceased girl. Oxford School will hold a clinic to dispense the medication on Thursday and Friday.  

Children must have parental permission to get the medication. The health officer said the district is targeting children in Nambi’s school class and after-school class. Others who request the medication will be assessed and counseled by health officials. The medication can have negative side effects and overuse of antibiotics is not recommended, Namkung said. However, no parents who want the medicine for their children will be denied, she added, 

Namkung addressed the question of two Berkeley High School students on the rowing team who had come down with meningitis within the last month. She underscored that they had viral and not bacterial meningitis and therefore the cases could not be related. “There is no direct linkage between the three cases,” she said. “The girls had viral meningitis. It’s very different.” 

Health officials are monitoring the two other children in the family, she added, asking the media not to contact the grieving family. “They are in shock,” Namkung said. 

A hotline at 981-CITY (981-2489) will be available to those with questions on Wednesday. The city’s Web site also has information at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/news/meningitisFAQ.html. 

Panthers sign letters of intent 

Two St. Mary’s track & field seniors have signed letters of intent to universities. Sprinter and triple jumper Asokah Muhammed will head to Arizona State in the fall, while runner Shameka Savage will attend Sacramento State. Hurdler Halihl Guy is expected to make his decision for next year in the coming weeks. 

Lampley looks to impress at camp 

Sean Lampley, Cal’s all-time leading scorer and the 2001 Pac-10 Player of the Year, takes what he hopes to be the next step toward an NBA career this week at the Nike Desert Classic in Phoenix.  

Lampley, a 6-7, 225-pound forward, is one of 42 NBA hopefuls participating in the weeklong sessions at Wells Fargo Arena. The players are divided into four teams and will perform in front of more than 100 scouts in both individual drills and game competition.  

Not everyone eligible for the June 27 draft will be on the court in Phoenix. Players such as Duke’s Shane Battier and Arizona’s Loren Woods, who are expected to be high first round selections, as well as college undergraduates and high school seniors who have declared for the draft, are not participating.

Are you wondering about those two men you saw plunging through the giant plate glass window of north Berkeley’s famous Cheese Board Pizza Wednesday morning? 

No, that was not the carefully choreographed violence of a Hollywood film crew.  

During the morning rush for coffee and pastries at The Cheese Board, right next-door to Cheese Board Pizza, two “mental midgets” got into a shouting match over the last free chair around the restaurant’s sidewalk tables, said Berkeley Police Lt. Russell Lopes. 

A number of muffled obscenities later, the shouting escalated to pushing, and both men fell through the window into the Pizza Board, which was not yet open for business. 

As if borrowing one Hollywood cliché were not enough, both men walked away from the incident with nothing worse than minor cuts, Lopes said. 

“They could have been sliced to ribbons,” Lopes said.  

“All that glass up top has got to come down, (and) it comes down like a guillotine.” 

Yeshi Tenzin, a member of the collective that owns The Cheese Board and Cheese Board Pizza, estimated that the window was about 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. He said it could cost $1,500 or more to replace. 

The Cheese Board proprietors decided not to press charges against the two men. 

“They were our customers,” Tenzin said. “They just did a stupid thing.” 

Besides, said Tenzin, (Wednesday) was a beautiful day for open air dining.  

“It’s really fun to have that open,” he said. “I’m sure the customers had a good time.”

LOS ANGELES — A shooting suspect hijacked a transit bus Wednesday and held a gun to the driver’s head as police chased the bus through downtown until it crashed into a minivan. The van’s driver was killed and seven people were injured, police said. 

Officers shot at the suspect as he fled the bus and quickly took him into custody as he attempted to carjack a sedan. He was taken to a hospital but it was not immediately clear whether he was shot or injured some other way. 

The pursuit through more than a dozen city blocks ended with the bus broadsiding the minivan at an intersection and pushing it violently into a parked United Parcel Service van. The bus veered onto a sidewalk and into more than a dozen cars in a parking lot. The bus driver, the five passengers on the bus and the UPS driver were injured. The minivan driver was a woman in her 30s, police said. 

The five-minute chase began after police detectives heard gunfire and saw a man running with a gun on Eighth Street near Columbia Avenue about 4:20 p.m., said Officer Jason Lee. 

The suspect had allegedly just shot a man, said Sgt. John Pasquariello. 

Detectives attempted to arrest the man, but he got onto the Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, apparently at a bus stop, Lee said. 

Police said the suspect held a semiautomatic handgun to the driver’s head and forced her to drive. “With a gun to her head, it was clear the driver was scared. She was doing whatever she could to stay alive,” Pasquariello said. 

Two witnesses said they followed the pursuit in their car and saw the suspect with his arm clenched around the driver’s neck. “It was like they were filming a movie,” said one of the witnesses, Wilma Jackson. 

Another witness, Rolando Hernandez Gandara, 21, said he watched as the bus plowed into the parking lot and packages scattered from the rear-ended UPS truck. Packages of flour burst and left a white trail along the sidewalk. “It kept going, like an earthquake, it just kept going,” Gandara said. “There was stuff flying everywhere.” 

The bus driver, 48-year-old Ema Gutierrez of Los Angeles, was taken to County-USC Medical Center with a broken nose, a broken collarbone and possibly a broken right knee, said MTA spokesman Jose Ubaldo said. She was in serious condition. 

The UPS driver, a 32-year-old man, was in stable condition at California Hospital Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Sylvia Robledo said. He complained of a headache and abrasions.  

VALLEJO — Curtis Dean Anderson was found guilty Wednesday of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old Vallejo girl who testified that Anderson forced her to drink alcohol before he assaulted her last August. 

Jurors found Anderson, 40, guilty on all the counts he faced – kidnapping and 10 sex-related charges. He could face life in prison when he is sentenced July 12. 

“I hope he does himself a favor and hangs himself in jail,” the girl’s mother said after the verdict was read. 

The girl, whose name is not being used because of the nature of the crime, claimed Anderson kidnapped her on her way home from school last summer, and kept her locked inside his car for 44 hours while he repeatedly sexually assaulted her. 

The girl testified in person last week, and jurors were shown a videotaped interview with the girl made shortly after her escape. 

She said Anderson made her drink alcohol that made her feel “dizzy.” She said he told her to French kiss him, but she didn’t know what he meant. 

She also said on the tape that he made her take off her clothes so he could touch her. She said she lost count of how many times he touched her, and that he was acting mean, wasn’t talking much and was breathing heavily. 

Prosecutor Donna Stashyn pointed a finger at Anderson during her closing argument and called him a “perverse predator” who tortured the third grader. 

Anderson’s lawyer, Carl Spieckerman, asked jurors not to assume the young victim was telling the truth and pointed to a lack of fingerprints or other evidence. 

After the verdict, Spieckerman said he knew after seeing the videotape that Anderson was going to be convicted. 

“Everybody knew it was going to be a bad verdict and he was going to spend the rest of his life in prison,” he said. “There were some things that you knew happened, so there was never any question they would convict him of a lot of stuff and that was going to add up to a lot of years.” 

On Tuesday, Judge Allan P. Carter dismissed the jury foreman after an off-duty police officer reported to the prosecutor that the man had talked about the case. 

The foreman had been exercising at a health club when he told friends he had been appointed foreman and that the trial “had become a zoo,” the (Fairfield) Daily Republic reported. 

The officer is married to a district attorney investigator who has spent the past several months working closely with the young girl’s family. 

“He violated the admonition about talking about the case,” Defense attorney Carl Spieckerman said. “He didn’t say anything bad or improper, it was just the fact that he did discuss the case with someone outside the jury. That’s what the rules are, and we’ve got to stick pretty close to them.” 

The Solano County jury, made up of five women and seven men, deliberated for about two hours Monday, then for about another hour Tuesday before the foreman was dismissed. 

An alternate juror, also a man, was called to the courthouse and deliberations began again from scratch. That alternate juror sat in the courtroom during the entire trial and heard the case. 

Gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles would have to meet the same federal mileage standard as passenger cars under a bill introduced in the Senate. 

A loophole allows light trucks – including SUVs, pickups and minivans – to get lower mileage than cars. The bill introduced Tuesday by Snowe, R-Maine, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would require those vehicles to get 27.5 miles per gallon, 6.8 miles per gallon more than the current standard. 

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, co-sponsored the measure. 

Snowe and Feinstein say the 1975 loophole in the standards, called CAFE – for corporate average fuel economy – was created at time when light trucks were used primarily for agriculture and commerce. Last year, light trucks made up half of all vehicles sold last year. 

“Everybody talks about drilling in the Arctic. Here is a step that we could take almost immediately that would have an enormous impact over the next few years,” Snowe said. 

The car industry says modest gains in mileage are possible, but that light trucks will never match the mileage of cars because they are heavier and built to carry heavier loads. Other conservation proposals include a measure by Sens. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., that would couple higher mileage standards with increased oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and a new natural gas pipeline across Alaska. 

Snowe and Feinstein said their bill could move on its own or be folded into broader energy legislation.

It may be a bit early to announce a verdict, but today’s New Economy of computers, the Internet and telecommunications devices not even imagined a century ago may not measure up. 

Measure up to what? Well, to the very old economy, the turn-of-the-century economy of 100 years ago. Now that, according to an economic working paper, was really something. 

Economist Robert Gordon suggests that the great inventions of 1860 to 1900 had a more pronounced effect on productivity and living standards – and for many more years – than our much acclaimed New Economy of today. 

In fact, says Gordon, whose analysis is described in a working paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research, our modern inventions pale when compared to the great inventions leading to the first New Economy. 

Those inventions – electricity, internal combustion engine,chemical and pharmaceutical industries, entertainment-information-communications industries and urban sanitation – really did change the world. 

Together, they accounted for much of the upsurge in productivity from 1913 to 1972, and they had a more personal impact on lives. 

In 1882, he points out, only 2 percent of New York City houses had water connections.  

Equally bad, many workers tolerated industrial working conditions worse than those in today’s sweatshops in underdeveloped countries.  

Accidents and disease were common, and life spans were abbreviated. 

Citing the impact of just one invention or discovery, he describes how electricity led to creative new manufacturing processes, improved working conditions and a generation of appliances that reduced manual labor. 

It led to refrigeration and reduced food spoilage, and through the development of air conditioning was catalytic in economic development of the South. And, of course, it greatly reduced stair climbing. 

For years, he says, researchers sought to explain a post-1913 surge in productivity growth, a “big wave” that lasted until the beginning of the 1970s.  

Primary attention, he writes, must be paid to the great inventions. 

By comparison, he writes, the latest surge in long-term productivity gains are incremental compared to the cluster of inventions before and after 1900. 

Moreover, he states that recent productivity gains are largely confined to durable manufacturing, including the making of computers and semiconductors, a sector that comprises just 12 percent of the economy. 

His central theme, he says, “is that computers and the Internet do not measure up to the Great Inventions of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.” 

Developing the thought, he adds that in this respect, the latest inventions “do not merit the label of ’Industrial Revolution.’ ” 

Yes, say those who defend the honor and reputation of today’s new economy, but you haven’t seen anything yet. It took a century for the full effects of the earlier inventions to be felt. We’ve got a century to go. 

John Cunniff is a business analyst for The Associated Press

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924 Gilman St. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted $5; $2 for a year membership. All ages. May 4: Plan 9, Zodiac Killers, Reverend B. Dangerous Freakshow, Dory Tourette & The Skirtheads, Knockoffs; May 5: Shikabane, Phobia, Harum Scarum, Vulgar Pigeons, Insidious Sorrow 525-9926  

Ashkenaz May 6, 7 p.m.: Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble 1370 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman) 525-5054 or www.ashkenaz.com  

Freight & Salvage All music at 8 p.m. May 3: Lorin Rowan Trio; May 4: Cris Williamson; May 5, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with author P.D. James and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser; May 5: R. Crumb 7 The Cheap Suit Serenaders; May 6; Terry Riley, George Brooks & Gyan Riley; May 12, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with authors Adair Lara and Janis Newman, and the Acoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet. 1111 Addison St. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool/La Note All music at 4:30 p.m. May 6: David Creamer Trio; May 13: Michael Zilber Group 2377 Shattuck Ave. 845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com  

La Pena Cultural Center May 3, 8 p.m.: Third Eye Movement presents Deuce, Eclipse, Soul Sista Soul, Red Guard, Jahi, plus others; May 5, 9 p.m.: Chicano de Mayo Celebration dance with O-Maya, Yaksi, DJ Corazon & La Viuda Negra, plus poets Leticia Hernandez and Robert Karimi; May 11, 8 p.m.: Erika Luckett, Irina Rivkin & Making Waves, Gwen Avery, Shelly Doty X-tet; May 12, 10:30 a.m.: Colibri; May 13, 4 p.m.: In the Cafe La Pena - Community Juerga; May 17, 8 p.m.: Tribu; May 19, 8 p.m.: Carnaval featuring Company of Prophets, Loco Bloco, Mystic, Los Delicados, DJ Sake One and DJ Namane 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org  

Cal Performances May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.: Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents “Way Station,” “BIPED,” and “Rainforest” $20 - $42 Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley; 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

La Compagnia Rossini May 2, 7:30 p.m. The vocal ensemble from eastern Switzerland, with Director Armin Caduff, will perform works of Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, as well as Swiss folk songs. $10 - $15 2345 Channing Way 415-788-2272 x102 

Live Oak Concert May 5, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Stephanie Pan, soprano, Mirta Wymerszberg, baroque flute, Karen Ande, viola de gamba, Meg Cotner, harpsichord performing the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Boismortier, and Ortiz. $8 - $10 Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“The Children’s Hour” May 5 & 12, 8 p.m. and May 13, 4 p.m. The Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Arlene Sagan will perform Julian White’s piece along with Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and selections from Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, poems of Robert Frost set to music. Free St. Joseph the Worker Church 1640 Addison St. 528-2145  

Music & Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m. & May 6, 2 p.m. Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the Bay Area 45-member ensemble, will perform music and dance from Bali under the direction of Balinese guest artists I Made Subandi and Ni Ketut Arini. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

Music of the Big Band Era May 6, 2 p.m. Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Stan Kenton. $15 Longfellow School of the Arts 1500 Derby St. (at Sacramento) 420-4560 

Francesco Trio May 6, 4 p.m. Performing works of Haydn, Brahams and Mel Powell. $10 / under 18 free Crowden School 1475 Rose St. (at Sacramento) 559-6910 or visit www.thecrowdenschool.org 

Young People Chamber Orchestra May 6, 4 p.m. Celebrating the music of J.S. Bach, J. Haydn, Mozart and others. St. Johns Presbyterian Church 2727 College Ave. 595-4688 

“Three Tenors No Opera” May 7, 8 - 10 p.m. This Bay Area jazz septet with three-sax front line will deconstruct the tenor classics live on KPFA, 94.1 FM 

Berkeley Opera Gala Concert May 12, 7 p.m. Berkeley Opera singers and special guest artists will be joined by Music Director, Jonathan Khuner and members of the Berkeley Opera Orchestra to provide entertainment highlighting the 2001 theme, “Opera Uncensored.” Also a silent auction, balloon raffle, champagne and more. $15 - $40 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

Juanita Newland-Ulloa & Picante Ensemble May 13, 3 p.m. Romantic songs from South America. Luncheon served at 1 p.m. at the Valparaiso Cafe. $13 - $15 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

Tribu May 17, 8 p.m. Direct from Mexico, Tribu plays a concert of ancestral music of the Mayan, Aztec, Olmec, Zapotec, Purerpecha, Chichimec, Otomi, and Toltec. Tribu have reconstructed and rescued some of the oldest music in the Americas. $12 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

Satsuki Arts Festival and Bazaar May 19, 4 - 10 p.m. & May 20, Noon - 7 p.m. A fundraiser for the Berkeley Buddhist Temple featuring musical entertainment by Julio Bravo & Orquesta Salsabor, Delta Wires, dance presentations by Kaulana Na Pua and Kariyushi Kai, food, arts & crafts, plants & seedlings, and more. Berkeley Buddhist Temple 2121 Channing Way (at Shattuck) 841-1356 

KALW 60th Anniversary Celebration May 20, 8 p.m. An evening of eclectic music and dance that reflects the eclectic nature of the stations’ programming. Performers include Paul Pena, Kathy Kallick & Nina Gerber, Orla & the Gas Men, and the Kennelly Irish Dancers. $19.50 - $20.50 Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse 1111 Addison St. 548-1761 or www.thefreight.org  

Himalayan Fair May 27, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects. $5 donation Live Oak Park 1300 Shattuck Ave. 869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net  

Berkeley Symphony Orchestra June 21, 2001. All performances begin at 8 p.m. Single $19 - $35, Series $52 - $96. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley 841-2800  

Music and Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m., May 6, 2 p.m. Forty-five member ensemble Gamelan Sekar Jaya presents rhythms of Balinese gamelan in an orchestra of gongs, drums, flutes and bronze metallophones accompanied by several of Bali’s skilled dancers. $8-$16 Saturday, $5-$10 Sunday Julia Morgan Theatre 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Dance! The Soul Behind the Art” May 11, 8 p.m. The Attitude Dance Company presents jazz, hip hop, lyrical, street funk, modern and tap dancing. $6 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300  

“The Oresteia” by Aeschylus Through May 6 Directed by Tony Taccone and Stephen Wadsworth, Aeschylus trilogy will be the first production staged on the Berkeley Rep’s new prosenium stage. Please call Berkeley Repertory Theatre for specific dates and times. $15.99 - $117 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2015 Addison St. (at Shattuck) 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Death of a Salesman” Through May 5, Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. plus Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. The ageless story of Willy Loman presented by an African-American cast and staged by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. $10 Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck (at Berryman) 528-5620 

“Big Love” by Charles L. Mee Through June 10 Directed by Les Waters and loosely based on the Greek Drama, “The Suppliant Woman,” by Aeschylus. Fifty brides who are being forced to marry fifty brothers flee to a peaceful villa on the Italian coast in search of sanctuary. $15.99 - $51 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison St. 647-2949 

“Slings and Arrows: love stories from Shakespearean tragedies” written and directed by Rebecca Goodberg and developed by the ensemble and “Blue Roses” conceptualized and directed by Christian Schneider. Discussions with the audience will follow each show. Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m. through May 5. $10 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid Ave. 655-0813  

Interplay Fest! May 4, 8 p.m. May 5, 3:30 - 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. A full weekend of performances by Wing It! Performance Ensemble, Cultural InterPlay Ensemble, and the Art of InterPlay Ensemble. Weekend Pass: $15, Individual performances, $7 - $10 First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way (at Dana) 814-9584 

“Planet Janet” May 11 - June 10, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 7 p.m. Follows six young urbanites’ struggles in sex and dating. Impact Theatre presentation written by Bret Fetzer, directed by Sarah O’Connell. $7 - $12 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid 464-4468 www.impacttheatre.com 

“The Musical Tree of India” May 13, 2 p.m. Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre present this legend from tribal India. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

“The Misanthrope” by Moliere May 18 - June 10, Fri - Sun, 8 p.m. Berkeley-based Women in Time Productions presents this comic love story full of riotous wooing, venomous scheming and provocative dialogue. All female design and production staff. $17 - $20 Il Teatro 450 449 Powell St. San Francisco 415-433-1172 or visit www.womenintime.com 

The far side of the moon May 3 - 5, 8 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. and May 6, 3 p.m. A solo performance by Canadian writer, actor and director Robert Lepage with an original score by Laurie Anderson. $30 - $46 Zellerbach Playhouse Bancroft at Dana UC Berkeley 642-9988  

Films 

San Francisco International Film Festival May 2: 7 p.m. The Natural History of the Chicken, 9 p.m. Platform May 3: 7 p.m. Daresalam, 9:15 p.m. Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors. All $9 Pacific Film Archive 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-5249 

“A Ship with Painted Sails: The Fabulous Animation of Karel Zeman” May 4: 7 p.m. The Stolen Airship, 9:10 p.m. A Jester’s Tale May 5: 7 p.m. Journey to the Beginning of Time, 8:35 p.m. The Treasure of Bird Island May 11: 7 p.m. Zeman Shorts, 8:55 p.m. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne May 12: 7 p.m. Baron Munchausen, 9:10 p.m. Kraba - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice May 13: 5:30 The Thousand and One Nights, 7:05 p.m. The Tale of John and Mary. Admission: $7 for one film, $8.50 for double bills. Pacific Film Archive Theater 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-1412 

“Women’s Evening at the Movies” May 5, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food. $5 donation requested Pacific Center 2712 Telegraph Ave. 548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

“Mirele Efros” May 13, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Jacob Gordin’s classic story set in turn-of the century Grodno. A classic study in family relations. Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Cinema 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Exhibits 

“Scenes from The Song of Songs/Images from The Book of Blessings” Landscape and still life oil pastels by poet and artists Marcia Falk Through May 2, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon - 7 p.m. Flora Hewlett Library Graduate Theological Union 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

“The Distance Between Us” Through May 4 The photographs of Mimi Chakarova depicting South African townships, inland parishes in Jamaica and her most recent work in Cuba. Photographs about people and their incredible will to survive regardless of the circumstances. Graduate School of Journalism North Gate Hall UC Berkeley 

“The Sands of Time” Arab/Muslim sculptures and ceramics of Khalil Bendib. Through May 5, Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or call for appointment Mussi Artworks Foundry & Gallery 719 Heintz Ave. Space 10 644-2735 

Youth Arts Festival A city-wide celebration of art, music, dance and poetry by youth from the Berkeley Unified School District. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics by K-8 students Through May 12, Wednesday - Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St.  

“The Art of Meadowsweet Dairy” Objects found in nature, reworked and turned into objects of art. Through May 15, call for hours Current Gallery at the Crucible 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511  

“Scapes/Escapes” Ink, Acrylic, Mixed Media by Evelyn Glaubman Through June 1 Tuesday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Gallery of the Center for Psychological Studies 1398 Solano Ave. Albany 524-0291 

“Watercolors and Mixed Media” by Pamela Markmann Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. A retrospective of 30 years’ work at Markmann’s Berkeley studio. Red Oak Gallery 2983 College Ave. 526-4613  

“Elemental” The art of Linda Mieko Allen May 2 - June 9, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Reception: May 2, 6 - 8 p.m. Traywick Gallery 1316 Tenth St. 527-1214 www.traywick.com 

Berkeley Potters Guild Spring Show and Sale May 5, 6, 12, 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fifteen artists open their personal studios to the public and offer pieces for sale. Berkeley Potters Guild 731 Jones St. 524-7031 www.berkeleypotters.com 

Ledger drawings of Michael and Sandra Horse. Meet the artists May 18, 19, 20 (call for times). Exhibit runs through June 18. Gathering Tribes Gallery 1573 Solano Ave. 528-9038 www.gatheringtribes.com  

“Alive in Her: Icons of the Goddess” Through June 19, Tuesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photography, collage, and paintings by Joan Beth Clair. Opening reception May 3, 4 - 6 p.m. Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Ave. 848-0528 

Bernard Maisner: Illuminated Manuscripts & Paintings. Through Aug. 8 Maisner works in miniature as well as in large scales, combining his mastery of medieval illumination, gold leafing, and modern painting techniques. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 849-2541 

“Musee des Hommages,” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Geographies of My Heart” Collage paintings by Jennifer Colby May 7 - August 24; Reception event May 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m,: Colby will give a slide-lecture using contemporary women’s art depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe to illustrate her dissertation research in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies - Dinner Board Room; Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

Images of Portugal Paintings by Sofia Berto Villas-Boas of her native land. Open after 5 p.m. Voulez-Vous 2930 College Ave. (at Elmwood) 

Quilt Show through May 12. M-Th, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Twenty-second annual show displays over 60 quilts. Berkeley Public Library’s North Branch. 1170 The Alameda 644-6850 

“Tropical Visions: Images of AfroCaribbean Women in the Quilt Tapestries of Cherrymae Golston” Through May 28, Tu-Th, 1-7 p.m., Sat 12-4 p.m. Women’s Cancer Resource Center Gallery 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 ext 307 

Readings 

Cody’s Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-7852 All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 3: Several authors from the anthology “My Story...Life As A Teen Parent” will read; May 4: Doris Haddock will read from “Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year” about her 3,200-mile journey across the country; May 8: Geling Yan reads “The Lost Daughter of Happiness”  

Cody’s Books 1730 Fourth St. 559-9500 All events at 7 p.m., unless noted May 7: Rachel Naomi Remen reads from “My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging”  

Boadecia’s Books 398 Colusa Ave. Kensington All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 4: Sylvia Brownrigg will read from “Pages for You”; May 11: Suzanne Gold will read from her novel “Daddy’s Girls”; May 12: Krandall Kraus will read “Love’s Last Chance: A Nigel & Nicky Mystery”; May 18: Melinda Given Guttman will read from “The Enigma of Anna O”; May 19: Jessica Barksdale Inclan will read from “Her Daughter’s Eyes” 559-9184 or www.bookpride.com  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 1385 Shattuck Ave. (at Rose) 843-3533 All events at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise May 3: Char Miller, editor, will discuss “Water in the West: A High Country News Reader” and “Fluid Arguments: Five Centuries of Western Water Conflict”; May 3: Conner Gorry will discuss the Lonely Planet published “Guatemala”; May 10: Gray Brechin talks about “Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin”; May 23: Jon Bowermaster discusses his book “Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska’s Islands of Fire and Ice”; May 29, 7 - 9 p.m.: Travel Photo Workshop with Joan Bobkoff. $15 registration fee  

“Strong Women - Writers & Heroes of Literature” Fridays Through June 2001, 1 - 3 p.m. Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 549-2970  

Duomo Reading Series and Open Mic. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9 p.m. May 3: Lucy Lang Day with host Dale Jensen; May 10: Jamie Kennedy with host Mischell Erickson; May 17: Gregory Listach Gayle with host Mark States; May 24: Stephanie Young with host Louis Cuneo; May 31: Connie Post with host Louis Cuneo Cafe Firenze 2116 Shattuck Ave. 644-0155. 

Lunch Poems First Thursday of each month, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. May 3: Student Reading Morrison Room, Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-0137 

“New Draft Programme of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA” May 9, 7 p.m. Take part in a discussion of this blueprint for fighting and winning a revolution in the United States. Revolution Books 2425C Channing Way 848-1196 

Paul Polansky and Voice of Roma May 10, 3 p.m. Polansky’s poetry gives voice to the Kosovo Roma and their plight in the aftermath of their plight in the aftermath of the 1999 war. Free Kroeber Hall Gifford Room Second Floor (at College and Bancroft in Anthropology Building) 981-1352 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike May 12, 6:30 p.m. An ongoing open mike series, featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Free Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Berkeley City Club Tours 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. The fourth Sunday of every month, Noon - 4 p.m. $2 848-7800  

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tours All tours begin at 10 a.m. and are restricted to 30 people per tour $5 - $10 per tour May 12: Debra Badhia will lead a tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Arts District; May 19: John Stansfield & Allen Stross will lead a tour of the School for the Deaf and Blind; June 2: Trish Hawthorne will lead a tour of Thousand Oaks School and Neighborhood; June 23: Sue Fernstrom will lead a tour of Strawberry Creek and West of the UC Berkeley campus 848-0181 

Lectures 

California Colloquium on Water Scholars of distinction in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, law and environmental design speak about water resources and hopefully contribute to informed decisions on water in California. May 8, 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.: “What Makes Water Wet?” Richard Saykally, professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley (refreshments served in 410 O’Brien Hall at 4:15 p.m.) 212 O’Brien Hall, UC Berkeley 642-2666  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Free Lectures All lectures begin at 6 p.m. May 6: Sylvia Gretchen on “Faith, Doubt, and Refuge in Buddhist Practice”; May 13: Abbe Blum on “Tapping Into Creativity”; May 20: Miep Cooymans and Dan Jones on “Working with Awareness, Concentration, and Energy”; May 27: Eva Casey on “Getting Calm; Staying Clear”; June 3: Jack van der Meulen on “Healing Through Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)”; June 10: Sylvia Gretchen on “Counteracting Negative Emotions” Tibetan Nyingma Institute 1815 Highland Place 843-6812 

“Reading Technologies” May 2, 4 - 6 p.m. Ivan Illich, visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in anthropology, will talk about the history, visual architecture and meaning of reading from the time of classical print cultures and the medieval monk to the innovation and detachment of today’s digital era. Free Morrison Reading Room Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-5339 

“Hunting T. Rex” May 6, 2 p.m. A talk by Dr. Philip Currie, curator of dinosaurs, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Currie asks the question: Was there social interaction amongst the Tyrannosaurs? $3 - $7 Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 642-5132 or visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

Berkeley 1900 May 7, 7 p.m. Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900, a book about life at the turn of the 19th century, will speak at the Friends of Five Creeks’ monthly meeting. Albany Community Center (downstairs) 1249 Marin 848-9358 

Peopling of the Pacific May 11, 8 p.m. Dr. Patrick Kirch, department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, will review results of archaeological research in the Pacific Islands, providing a current overview of Oceanic prehistory. 370 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley 415-338-1537  

Help collect  

left-over food 

Editor: 

Last year, Carolyn North was given the annual Berkeley Community Award for having founded our terrific organization DAILY BREAD. This year, we need (non-financial) help and some readers of the Daily Planet might want to answer our call. 

DAILY BREAD volunteers pick up donated food from restaurants (Chez Panisse on “down”), bakeries (almost all of them), markets, etc. etc. and we deliver this food to the many churches and shelters in the East Bay which feed the needy. 

Some pick up once a week, some more often if they have the time. It is as simple as that. For the first time in our 18-year existence we need more volunteers. Bette’s Diner on Fourth St. has just asked for food to be picked up on a daily basis. Alas,our network of picker-uppers is stretched thin and at this moment has no time to spare for Bette.  

But we (you?) are not about to let Bette down. If this is something you would like to do (even one time per week),please give me a ring at 339-9811 and I’ll get you started. Welcome to the wondrous world of DAILY BREAD...and to the wondrous world of Berkeley’s Fourth Street. 

Julianne Morris 

DAILY BREAD Coordinator 

New trash cans don’t make the grade 

Editor: 

Today I noticed the new city trash cans which have begun to appear throughout downtown. My first thought: UGLY! My second thought: environmentally unfriendly! My third thought: anti-free speech! And my fourth thought: OUCH! for the backs of the folks at Public Works. 

The new cans have a sickly hourglass shape. They have not got the cute sturdy shape that has become a familiar fixture in Berkeley, with a front door that opens. They evidently cannot be retrofitted with the ingenious recycling pyramids either. And where can a citizen post a flyer on them, one of the few places left to us for reaching out to the grassroots? 

Is this part of the “downtown revitalization” going hand in hand with ripping out bike parking, tearing down our few trees, citing peaceful pedestrians and bicyclists but not crosswalk terrorizing motorcars, and the business clamor for more subsidized congestion, pollution, crime and mayhem (e.g, more car mausoleums otherwise euphemized as “parking”)?  

Most likely the “new designs” go along with the campaign to remove every scrap of public communication from Berkeley (and not even recycle the paper they tear down!) as the old beloved bins offered a handy front panel to affix flyers. Makes sense if the cans were selected as a deterrent to democracy as the “improvements” were rushed through with almost no public involvement. 

I spoke with a kindly gent from Public Works today as he hoisted a load of garden trimmings into a truck and he agreed the new cans are “terrible” and said they are “crap.” He said they are “too much hassle”. When I mentioned that I thought it would hurt people’s backs to hoist the cans out of the top he also agreed. 

Our Public Works Department has already let it be known that they have limited resources, e.g., being unable to fix the potholes we suffer daily. Why are we making things harder for them? And how much will it cost the city in time and money to deal with the disability claims that are sure to result? 

When is the city going to stop causing disabilities on every front and start supporting the basic rights of our people to a healthy, vibrant, accessible, comfortable, inclusive, downtown? Can the new cans! 

Jason Meggs 

Berkeley 

Some weighty ideas for tired young backs 

Editor: 

I’m trying to get the School Board to enact a policy limiting the amount of weight students are allowed to carry on their backs and shoulders, in order to give Longfellow Middle School and all Berkeley students, from kindergarten to high school, some relief from those extremely heavy backpacks they all carry around.  

We don’t have lockers at Longfellow, which creates a very inequitable situation for our kids. I organized a student protest at Longfellow in March, which got some media attention, and I continue to ask the board (without success) to focus on this issue and give our children some relief.  

I have presented medical facts about the risk of permanent injury our students are facing as a result of carrying more than 10 percent of their body weight on their backs and shoulders. Some Longfellow students are carrying 15 percent, 20 percent, and 30 percent of their body weight to and from school and up and down our three-story building each day! (They’re not allowed to use the elevators.)  

School Board President Terry Durand and the other board members have not responded to my request. School Board Vice President Shirley Issel has told me that she does want to push textbook publishers to publish books on Cd-Rom, in sections, or in paperback, which is a good strategy, but that could take years. A policy is needed because that will raise the awareness of teachers, administrators, students and parents of this issue. 

Of course it would be impossible to enforce such a policy, but if students are officially prohibited from carrying more than 10 or 15 percent of their body weight, then at least the schools will have to provide ways to lighten their load-- in any way they can find to do that. 

As a member of the School Site Council Safety Committee at Longfellow, I put together some recommendations for staff approval which include: 

• Having a check-room for student belongings;  

• Purchasing rolling backpacks which could be checked out to students or sold to them at cost: 

• Asking teachers to allow students to leave their things in their classrooms during the day;  

• Holding an assembly to train students in the right way to carry and pack a backpack in order to lighten the load and reduce the risk of serious, permanent injury to their spines, necks and shoulders. 

I am hinting that I may organize a class action lawsuit against the district, but I guess the board doesn’t care if they spend our money defending it instead of retaining teachers or paying them higher salaries.  

I have to say that giving me the silent treatment is not making me very happy.I have the names of nine Longfellow students who have medical expenses, who have lost time from school and whose parents have lost time from work as a result of visits they’ve had to make to doctors and chiropractors due to injuries to their backs, shoulders, and necks from carrying heavy backpacks on a daily basis.  

Cynthia Papermaster 

Berkeley 

Seniors need variety of low income housing  

Editor: 

“City Plans for More Affordable Housing” (April 30) are good plans but ... as many senior citizens will attest – what is needed is something else: low-income housing (for example, but not exclusively, “Section 8” housing).  

Affordable housing and low-income housing are two different things! Not surprisingly, for profit/not for profit developers, who, when pressed by the city, used to make occasional references to low-income and or Section 8 housing, no longer feel the need to do so – in part, we fear, because many Berkeley citizens don’t understand the difference. 

May is Older Americans Month, celebrating the Older Americans Act – with its several Titles providing for almost all aspects of seniors’ lives, for example, meals-on-wheels and senior center hot lunches – all except housing. 

Eleanor Gibson: Vice Chair, Berkeley Commission on Aging 

Helen Wheeler: Member, Berkeley Housing Authority North Berkeley 

Senior Center Advisory Council. 

Wednesday, May 2

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 3

Berkeley Metaphysical  

Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

Disaster First Aid 

1 - 4 p.m.  

Emergency Operations Center 

997 Cedar St.  

A free class as part of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). Sponsored by the Berkeley Fire Dept. and the Office of Emergency Services. 644-8736 

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meetings discussions will center on “Queer Midrash: Exploring Scripture.”  

654-5486 

Climbing Mt. Shasta 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

As a climbing ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, Dan Towner has spent nine seasons exploring Mt. Shasta. He will help to prepare for a safe and successful first climb of Shasta via the Avalanche Gulch route. Free 527-4140 

Caregivers’ Support Group  

1 - 2:30 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical  

Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes B & C 

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Come learn about resources for caregivers of older loved ones. Free 

869-6737 

Power to the People  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley City Council Chambers 

2134 MLK Jr. Way  

A Town Hall meeting on taking control of our energy future.  

540-3660 

Small Schools, Past & Present  

7 - 9 p.m.  

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst St. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

A panel of teachers and students from the 1970’s will discuss what small schools were like at Berkeley High, followed by questions from the audience. 644-4568 

Finding and Assessing  

Fixer-Uppers 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by contractor/fixer-upper Michael Hamman. $35, 525-7610 

Berkeley Special Education Parents Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Thousand Oaks School, Room 19 

1150 Virginia St. 

What to do when the school district does not comply with an IEP. Speaker Wendy Byrne, from Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund. 558-8933 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Planning and Development 

First Floor Conference Room 

2118 Milvia St. 

Among topics to be discussed is the air testing at Harrison Fields -- Chromium 6 sampling location and height question. 

981-6900 

Friday, May 4

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more. Fridays through May 11.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets. 644-6226 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration  

1 - 3 p.m.  

West Berkeley Senior Center  

1900 Sixth St.  

Featuring Pepe Carrasco, “the man of a thousand voices,” Ruben Martin Rey De La Cancion Ranchera, Alan Sanchez Flores, Ballet Folklorico de Berkeley and more. Free  

644-6037 

Saturday, May 5

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Tooth Man! 

10:30 a.m.  

Berkeley Main Library  

2121 Allston Way  

Tooth Man, a.k.a. Matt Perry, returns by popular demand to fascinate children with his collection of teeth from animals large and small. 

649-3964 

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Author of Adam Dagliesh mysteries, P.D. James, and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. 

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Free Hearing Screening 

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes, A, B & C  

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Health Access/LifeSpan and Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) are co-sponsoring free hearing screenings in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. Free 869-6737  

Women’s Evening at the Movies  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Pacific Center  

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food.  

$5 donation requested  

548-8283 www.pacificcenter.org 

Owner as Contractor 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Legal aspects discussed by attorney Sterling Johnson. $75. 

525-7610 

— compiled by  

Chason Wainwright 

Painting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

“Tricks of the Trade” taught by painting contractor Scott Perry. $75. 

525-7610 

Framing Carpentry 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend. 

525-7610 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Sunday, May 6  

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

BAHA House Tour  

1 - 5 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

Sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Tour will include the early work of architects Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck and Henry Gutterson.  

$25 - $32  

841-2242 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Open House  

3 - 5 p.m.  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute  

1815 Highland Place  

A free introduction to Tibetan Buddhist culture including a Tibetan yoga demonstration, a talk on the relevance of Buddhism in today’s world, a prayer wheel and meditation garden tour. Free and open to the public.  

843-6812 

Faith, Doubt and Refuge 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

What does this mean in the Buddhist tradition? Talk by Sylvia Gretchen, dean of Nyingma Studies at the institute. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Framing Carpentry. 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend 

525-7610 

Solar Electricity in Your Home. 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by Gary Gerber, engineer for Sunlight and Power. $75 

525-7610 

Rhododendron Walk 

10 a.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

See more than 200 species. $3 admission. Limited space, call for reservation. 

643-2755 

Monday, May 7  

Beginning Bicyclist Workshop  

7 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA  

2001 Allston Way  

Community Room 1, Main Floor  

Jason Meggs and Zed Lopez will teach you how to keep yourself and your bike safe and even how to use your bike for shopping. Free  

Call Jason Meggs, 549-RIDE 

Words Hurt  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi David Ordan will discuss the seriousness of gossip and it’s effects.  

$10  

848-0237 

Skin Cancer Screening Clinic 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit Campus  

2450 Ashby Ave. 

Markstein Cancer Education Center 

Skin cancer screenings are offered only to people who, due to limited or no health insurance, would be able to have a suspicious mole or other skin changes examined. Appointments are required.  

869-8833 

Tuesday, May 8  

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Religious Identity for Interfaith Families 

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Explore the process of choosing a religion for parents and children in interfaith families with a minister, and Rabbi Jane Litman.  

$5  

848-0237 x127 

Home Design 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second Tuesday of workshop taught by architect/contractor Barry Wagner. Continues weekly through May 22. $150 for four evenings. 

525-7610 

Blackout Summer 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley’s Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. (at Dwight) 

Bruno Henriquez is from Cuba, which experienced rolling blackouts for more than half a decade and has promoted conservation and alternative energy production. Henriquez is director of Cuba’s solar energy agency. 

548-2220 ext. 234 

Wednesday, May 9  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Buying Land 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Seminar led by real estate agent Dan Maher. $35 

525-7610 

Thursday, May 10

5 - 7:30 p.m. 

H’s Lordships Restaurant  

199 Seawall Drive  

Berkeley Marina  

Showcase 2001, a tradeshow and mixer.  

549-7003 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Friday, May 11

Strong Women - Writers & 

Heroes of Literature 

1 - 3 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 

Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program.  

Call 549-2970  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 12 

Be Your Own Boss 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Two day workshop on the basics of starting up a small business, taught by local business owners. 

$50-$100 sliding scale 

Call 415-541-8580 for registration  

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Adair Lara, author of “Hold Me Close, Let Me Go,” Janis Newman, author of “The Russian Word for Snow,” Wavy Gravy, and Accoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet.  

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike 

6:30 p.m. 

Berkley Art Center  

1275 Walnut St.  

An ongoing open mic series featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Sign up at 6:30 and reading at 7 p.m. Free 

Estimating the Cost of Labor and Materials 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by contractor Michael McCutcheon. $75 

525-7610 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Sunday, May 13 

Mother’s Day Concert 

3 - 4 p.m. 

Environmental Education Center 

Tilden Regional Park  

Featuring Mary Mische singing children’s songs. Free 

525-2233 

Hands-On Bicycle Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn how to adjust the brakes on your bicycle from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike. Free  

527-4140 

Tapping Into Creativity 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Based on Tarthang Tulku’s “Knowledge of Freedom”, ideas and meditations to inspire creativity. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Monday, May 14  

Seeing Into the Afterlife  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Yossi Offenberg will discuss Judaism’s philosophy on what happens beyond this world.  

$10  

848-0237 

Tuesday, May 15 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will be about the effect of the media on our lives. Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free  

527-5332 

Fibromyalgia Support Group  

Noon - 2 p.m.  

Alta Bates Medical Center 

Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus  

2001 Dwight Way  

Dr. Kathryn Williams, former chairman for the department of rehabilitation, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, will discuss the current understanding of fibromyalgia.  

601-0550 

Business of Seeds 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

How seeds became a commodity and their journey from the fields to the lab to wall street and a discussion of our potential role as urban seed stewards in the global system.  

548-2220 

Basic Electrical Theory and National Electric Code  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St.  

Instructed by author/retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon.  

$35 

Electrical Theory and National Electrical Code 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by author and retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon. $35. 

525-7610  

Wednesday, May 16 

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 17  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

“What is Queer Spirituality?” 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

1798 Scenic Ave.  

Mudd Bldg., Room 100 

Bill Glenn, PSR alumni and leader of Spirit Group, will lead a panel discussion on the dynamic shape of queer spirituality today.  

849-8206 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Library 

Claremont Branch  

2940 Benveue Ave.  

Facilitated by Cecile Andrews, author of “Circles of Simplicty,” learn about this movement whose philosophy is “the examined life richly lived.” Work less, consume less, rush less, and build community with friends and family.  

Call 549-3509 or visit www.seedsofsimplicity.org  

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meeting is the spring barbecue.  

654-5486 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continues Tuesday May 22. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Friday, May 18  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 19 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Annual strawberry tasting 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Get to Know Your Plants 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn what to look for and what and how to record it to more intimately know your plants.  

548-2220 

“Be Your Own Boss” 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Second Saturday of a two day workshop on starting up small businesses (see May 12). 

415-541-8580 

Community Summit on Smaller Learning Communities 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alternative High School  

MLK Jr. Way (at Derby)  

All teachers, students, administrators, parents, and community members are encouraged to attend this meeting on smaller learning communities at Berkeley High. Translation, childcare, and food will be provided.  

540-1252 to RSVP for services 

Campaign for Equality Benefit  

7:30 - 10 p.m. 

Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club  

1650 Mountain Blvd.  

Oakland 

A comedy benefit with performances by Karen Ripley, Julia Jackson, Pippi Lovestocking, Darrick Richardson, and Nick Leonard. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Lesbian Gay Association Scholarship Fund for the 2001 ILGA Summit in Oakland.  

$15 - $20  

466-5050 

Finish Carpentry 

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Carpenter/contractor Kevin Stamm leads workshop. $95. 

525-7610 

Earthquake Retrofitting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by structural engineer Tony DeMascole and seismic contractor Jim Gillett. $75. 

525-7610 

How to Prevent Home Owner Nightmares 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Dispute prevention and early resolution seminar taught by contractor/mediator Ron Kelly. $75. 

525-7610  

Sunday, May 20  

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Working with Awareness, Concentration, Energy 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Nyingma members discuss meditative awareness in everyday life. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Salsa Lesson & Dance Party  

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Kick up your heels and move your hips with professional instructors Mati Mizrachi and Ron Louie. Plus Israeli food provided by the Holy Land Restaurant. Novices encouraged to attend and no partners are required.  

$12  

RSVP: 237-9874 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Monday, May 21  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, founder of L.A.’s SpeedDating will review creation from the reference point of physics and compare this to the description classical Jewish sources have given for our universe and its creation.  

$10  

848-0237 x127 

Tuesday, May 22 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Strawberry tasting 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continued from Thursday May 17. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Wednesday, May 23  

Healthful Building Materials  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by environmental consultant Darrel DeBoer.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Thursday, May 24  

Paddling Adventures  

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Dan Crandell, member of the U.S. National Kayak Surf Team and owner of Current Adventures Kayak School, will introduce attendees to all aspects of kayaking. Free  

527-4140 

Friday, May 25  

Strong Women - Writers & 

Heroes of Literature 

1 - 3 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 

Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program.  

Call 549-2970  

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 26 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Himalayan Fair 

10 a.m. - 7 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

1300 Shattuck Ave.  

The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects.  

$5 donation 

869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net  

Sunday, May 27  

Himalayan Fair 

10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

1300 Shattuck Ave.  

The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects.  

$5 donation 

869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net 

Getting Calm; Staying Clear 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Discussion of meditation and analysis. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812  

Inside Interior Design  

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by certified interior designer and artist Lori Inman.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Tuesday, May 29 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Wednesday, May 30  

Dream Home for a Song  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by author/contractor/owner-builder David Cook.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Thursday, May 31  

Backpacking in Northern CA.  

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Outdoors Unlimited’s director, Ari Derfel, will give a slide presentation on some of his favorite destinations for three-to-four-day backpacking vacations. Free  

527-4140 

Attic Conversions  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by architect/builder Andus Brandt.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

A 9-year-old Oxford School student died Tuesday morning of bacterial meningitis. 

Speaking at a late-afternoon press conference, the city’s health officer and school superintendent stressed that the disease is highly unusual and, even though a 12-year-old child died recently of bacterial meningitis in Livermore, the rate of meningitis in the area is no higher than it usually is. 

Bacterial meningitis “disease in Berkeley is rare,” Health Officer Dr. Poki Namkung said, explaining that over five years, four people in Berkeley have contracted the illness. “It is not a common disease.” 

There are normally about 200 to 300 cases of meningitis in California each year and 2,400 to 3,000 cases in the United States, she said. 

The girl went to school Friday, then became ill during the day, suffering from a sore throat and a stomach ache, Namkung said. She was ill during the weekend, but did not seem sick enough to be taken to a doctor for treatment. The mother checked on the child at about 4 a.m. Tuesday morning and she seemed to be sleeping well and without a fever, but when she checked again at about 6:40 a.m., the child was non-responsive and the mother called paramedics. She was taken to Children’s Hospital and was pronounced dead at about 7 a.m., Namkung said. 

School Superintendent Stephen Goldstone said a number of measures were being taken to ensure the health of the child’s classmates. This evening, parents were being called to let them know of the death. Later in the week the preventative medication, Rifanpin, will be available at the school to children whose families want them to take it.  

Standardized tests were to be taken today at Oxford, a kindergarten through fifth grade school in the north Berkeley hills, but they will be suspended until next week, Goldstone said. 

Goldstone said there would be school counselors and mental health professionals available to talk to children about the loss of their classmate and about the fears of the disease.  

Bacterial meningitis is characterized by a sudden onset of fever, a stiff neck and rash, Namkung said. It is curable if it is treated early enough with antibiotics, she said. 

An infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord, it “is not a highly contagious disease,” Namkung said, explaining that bacterial meningitis is spread by body fluids, but is not air borne. In fact, 50 percent of the population walk around with the bacteria, but it doesn’t make them sick. “Fifty percent of us are carriers. Most of us remain healthy.” 

“It sounds terrible,” Namkung said, putting the death in perspective, “but it is one isolated case.” 

People with questions can call the city Health Department at 644-6500. 

Most of the U.S. work force labored Tuesday, but at the Inkworks print shop in West Berkeley a banner of Che Guevara billowed across the balcony and members of Berkeley’s worker cooperatives celebrated May Day with the rest of the world.  

“Around the world it’s International Worker’s Day,” said Innosanto Nagara a member of the Berkeley collective Inkworks. “We thought this would be the perfect day for us to celebrate worker culture.”  

Fourteen East Bay collectives and nonprofits co-sponsored the event, with food, live entertainment, and security (thanks to the Suigetsukan Martial Arts School.) 

The contemporary incarnation of May Day as a labor holiday began in commemoration of U.S. laborers fighting for the eight hour work day. Four protesters were hung after clashes in Chicago that left police dead. The international labor movement  

martyred the four activists, and at the Socialist conference in Europe in 1889 May Day was announced an international holiday in honor of the martyred Americans and international workers. 

Throughout the world on May 1 workers spend the day at festivals, marches and rallies. 

Paradoxically, May Day is not a national holiday in the United States. Instead, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is the national holiday recognizing labor. Government recognition of the September date for Labor Day began in the mid 1880s; five states passed legislation recognizing Labor Day in 1887, two years before the 1889 European conference. 

But for many collectives and progressive non-profits the historical links to the struggles for workers mark May Day as an important holiday regardless of governmental recognition. Nagara said that although Tuesday’s event was mostly “for fun” they hoped to expand the celebration next year. “It’s actually to reclaim May Day as a workers holiday,” he said. 

Katya Min from Speak Out!, a nonprofit that books events for progressive speakers and artists, found a deeper irony in the fact that the original May Day martyrs sought an eight hour work day, but many will have spent Tuesday working overtime.  

People have the ability to work only eight hours, she said, “because some men were hung and died for it.”  

Although the economic boom of the past years has left many with large pocketbooks, she said, they don’t realize that quality of life “is actually decreasing when you think about the number of hours you put in.” 

The issues are especially salient now, as a movement towards international free trade competes with national protections of workers rights. Felicia Gustin of Speak Out! said that one of her speakers, a worker in Comayagua, Honduras, marched for workers rights in sweatshops on May Day. 

On an apple green iMac images of violence and solidarity at May Day events around the world flashed across the screen. Switzerland – a crowd fills a plaza. Germany – tanks rumble down the street. South Korea – A young man beats lifts his leg high to kick a blue van. Hungary – bodies fill the screen, marching behind a large pink banner. Japan. East Timor. London. South Korea. 

Bill Mayer, from Inkworks, watched the pictures rotate. The images were supposed to help participants keep in mind the worldwide struggle for labor . For Mayer, they did. “It reminds us what this is about,” he said.

Flying in the face of Proposition 227, the voter-approved 1998 law abolishing bilingual education in California schools, the Berkeley brand of bilingual education has become one of the school district’s most popular programs in recent years. 

The district has had to turn away some parents lining up to get their kids into the so-called “Two-way Immersion” program, which accepts three classes of 20 kindergartners each year districtwide, based on a lottery.  

“Many families see this as an incredible advantage for their children,” said Alison Kelly, coordinator of a federal grant that has helped implement the dual immersion model in Berkeley. 

Each dual immersion class is made up of half native English speakers and half native Spanish speakers. The students are kept together throughout their six years in elementary school, with the idea that much of what they learn they will learn from each other.  

In addition to the primary goal of making all the students fluent in English and Spanish, the program aims to create cross-cultural understanding and to enhance students’ overall capacity to learn. 

Pointing to research from schools where the dual immersion model has been in place for 12 years or more, Kelly said the students, whether their native language is Spanish or English, perform well above average on standardized tests by the time they get to high school. 

Native English speakers do particularly well, she said, “They tend to be in honors and (advanced placement) classes in high school. They’re so much more capable because they’ve had to deal with two languages.” 

The dual immersion program began in 1997 at Rosa Parks and Cragmont elementary schools, where grades K-3 have 20 dual immersion students apiece today. LeConte School has dual immersion class at the kindergarten and first grade levels. All three schools will eventually have dual immersion classes in grades K-5. 

In accordance with Proposition 227, parents must sign a waiver to place their students in the program, where instruction is almost entirely in Spanish during the kindergarten year. The percentage of instruction in Spanish is gradually cut over subsequent years until the fourth and fifth grades, where teachers teach in Spanish 50 percent of the time and English 50 percent of the time.  

The dual immersion curriculum, in math, science and so forth, is the same as that of other Berkeley elementary school classes. 

School administrators say the program’s popularity has contributed to a range of improvements in the overall school atmosphere, from increased parent involvement in school activities to improved relations between Latino students and their peers.  

“There’s a lot of parent involvement, which is almost a given, because parents have researched the program,” said Cragmont Principal Jason Lustig. “They understand what it takes from the family end to be in the program.” 

Lustig said he has noticed increased interaction between Hispanic students and other students on the playground since the program was instituted. Not only can the students communicate freely, where before there was a language barrier, but they seem to have developed a respect for cultural differences that was absent before, Lustig said. 

“Symbolically it really strongly acknowledges the minority language and culture...having English speakers struggle through (the first couple years in Spanish), but participate willingly and excitedly,” Lustig said. 

By beginning instruction primarily in Spanish, Kelly said the program actually reverses the traditional problem of students with limited English beginning school at a disadvantage. Here, it’s the native English speakers who are playing catch up. 

“The English speakers are the one who are in shellshock initially,” Kelly said. “Latinos, in those first two years, are clearly the teachers of the class. 

“We’re trying to building academic proficiency for both groups,” Kelly continued. “It gives greater access to the curriculum (for native Spanish speakers), which they usually don’t have. For the English speakers, it’s basically an enrichment opportunity.” 

Their is ample evidence for the later claim. Native English speakers seem to thrive in the program, logging stronger and stronger test scores as the years go by and demonstrating their Spanish proficiency at every opportunity. 

“My daughter is fluent,” bragged Rosa Parks parent Maureen Katz, whose daughter is finishing her third year in the dual immersion program. “We walk by people who are speaking Spanish just casually on the streets and she’ll start laughing. I ask her what she’s laughing at and she says, ‘Oh, they were telling the funniest joke, mom.’” 

But, as Kelly readily admits, the dual immersion program has not yet impacted the achievement gap between Hispanic students and their peers. After four years in the program, native Spanish speakers at Rosa Parks still scored far lower than native English speakers on the Stanford 9 tests in reading last year. 

Kelly downplayed these results, however, saying research shows that native Spanish speakers in dual immersion programs don’t usually see strong gains in academic performance until the fifth grade and beyond.  

The alternative to dual immersion for Berkeley students with limited English – and the only alternative for many California students under Proposition 227 – is to simply be inserted in regular all English classes from the get go. Kelly said research shows clearly that these students fail to develop the proficiency in either language needed for high level learning, so that their academic performance actually goes into decline in the fifth grade and beyond. 

Lustig said dual immersion program holds a great deal of promise for Berkeley students. 

“I’ve always worked at schools with bilingual programs, and the two way immersion program is by far the best model,” he said. “It’s structurally very clear and it makes sense.” 

The refurbishing of a paved area behind the newly renovated Civic Center building has alarmed park advocates who have been working to create a car-free transition to the park behind the structure. 

Parks and Waterfront Director Lisa Caronna said the current plan is to use the 40-by-250 foot area between the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center building and Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park as a 10-space parking area and a drive through for garbage, recycling and delivery trucks.  

Caronna said there is currently no approved plan that prevents use of the area for parking. Before renovations to the Civic Center, Berkeley’s City Hall, there were 22 parking spaces in the same area. 

Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Carol Thornton said she was shocked to hear there would be parking. Thornton is on the subcommittee that has been working for the last three years on a master plan for the park, which she said did not include parking behind the Civic Center building. The park is on the National Register of Historical Places as part of an ensemble that includes the Veterans Memorial Building, Old City Hall and the Berkeley Community Theater. 

City agency approval of the master plan, including approval by the City Council, has been delayed pending the outcome of a focused Environmental Impact Report evaluating conflicts between the plan and the historical status of the area. An EIR is a state-mandated report which requires developers to mitigate certain impacts of their projects on the environment. 

“I have to say I’m surprised the city didn’t deem it necessary to discuss the parking plan with us,” Thornton said. “It flies in the face of the three years of work we put into the park renovation plan, which never included any parking in that area.” 

Former Parks and Recreation Commissioner Lisa Stephens, who also worked on the plan, said the renovation design called for a transition area that would blend the building with the park.  

“The single thing that everybody agreed on was to unify the park with the building by eliminating the parking and putting in a plaza area of scored cement and landscaping,” Stephens said.  

Capitol Projects Manager John Rosenbach said no new pavement was added to the area. The existing pavement was sealed by a process called slurrying, which cost about $3,500. Rosenbach said the area was refurbished because of a pending open house celebration for the building. 

“We are finishing up and we had to do something to restore the area,” he said. 

Thornton said if the drive through is used for garbage, recycling and delivery trucks, it could create a hazard to park users, especially small children, because the public restrooms for the park will be in a building adjacent to the Civic Center building and on the other side of the road.  

Rosenbach said he had not heard safety concerns from any city officials. Caronna said the issue should probably be addressed. 

Interim Director of Planning and Development Wendy Cosin said the use of the area will ultimately be decided by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the City Council.  

If the LPC denies parking in the area, its decision could be overturned by the City Council, which could raise a conflict of interest because nine of the 10 parking spaces will likely be assigned to the mayor, vice mayor and seven councilmembers.  

If the view from the Bay Bridge looks good from the window of a car, it’s even better with the Bay breezes circling your helmet, cyclists promise.  

A new study released Monday by Caltrans affirmed the feasibility of a bike lane across the Bay Bridge, something that bicycle activists have maintained as a viable option for years. If the bike lanes get created pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross the four mile span on bike or foot, safely and legally. 

“It’s a beautiful ride. The west span has a view of downtown San Francisco, the Golden Gate, Treasure Island,” said Jason Meggs, East Bay coordinator of the Bike the Bridge Coalition. “It’s really unique and a pleasure to be up there.” 

The cost of the two projects presented to the public are $160 million and $320 million, not far off the initial estimates of between $250 and $500 million which Caltrans declared expensive to the point of being impossible. 

But since the original estimates, things have changed.  

The estimated cost of retrofitting the bridge has doubled from $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion, dwarfing the cost of adding a bicycle lane. The state legislature has passed a bill providing funds for the addition of a bike lane to the new eastern span of the bridge, between Yerba Buena island and the East Bay.  

Caltrans Spokesperson Jeff Weiss said that changed the perception about the bike lane on the West span, between the island and San Francisco. “If you’re spending money to build a lane on the eastern span, some may say, why not extend that lane all the way into San Francisco,” he said. 

Most of the arguments against the bridge focus on the cost, said Weiss, as opponents argue that nobody will use the bridge, and that the bridge is too long for cycling.  

But, although the initial vision for the additional lanes focused on their use for cyclists, that picture has changed to a multi-use lane serving cyclists, pedestrians, and Caltrans maintenance vehicles. During the study engineers found that the lanes will be strong enough to support Caltrans vehicles. That means maintenance won’t have to block highway lanes to service the bridge, a sure hit with motorists. 

According to Meggs, the trip from Berkeley to San Francisco via bike takes between 30 to 50 minutes. “But waiting on a toll booth takes that long,” he said, “And (cycling) you know when you’re going to get to work once you leave. It’s not a crapshoot.” 

The fight by bicycle advocates for a bike lane on the bridge goes back several years. Groups such as the East Bay Bicycle Coalition and the Bike the Bridge Coalition have put the issue on the radar screens of local politicians and transportation institutions.  

Weiss said that well over three quarters of the people who attended the public meetings regarding the bike lanes were cyclists. 

“It’s been a tremendous struggle,” said Meggs. The bike lane advocates did a legal analysis and showed Caltrans they could sue if a lane wasn’t included, they had hearings, and got legislation passed to make the lane feasible. 

Jen Collins of the Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition is delighted that the work for a bike lane has finally come to fruition. Beyond the fact that bicycles don’t use gas or cause pollution, she said, there are practical reasons for wanting a bike lane across the bridge. 

“A bike lane across the bridge is necessary because people live on one side and have business on the other,” she said. BART stops running at twelve, but “A lot of people have jobs that end at two o’clock in the morning,” said Collins. “If you don’t have a place to stay in San Francisco it’s either sleep on the street in San Francisco or bike across the bridge. Take your pick which is safer.”  

Caltrans will hold a public presentation of the study today at 6 p.m. at the Public Utilities Commission building, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. 

LONG BEACH — May Day protesters rushed a police line and threw rocks and bottles at officers Tuesday, leading to 125 arrests when the group refused to disperse, authorities said. 

Police in riot gear fired rubber bullets or bean bags at the demonstrators after they charged the police line, police spokeswoman Nancy Tabing said. 

Some of the thrown bottles were filled with feces and urine, she said. There were numerous protesters from a variety of groups, Tabing said. The largest contingent was from a group called the Southern California Anarchist Alliance. 

The protesters carried banners and signs and shouted slogans. 

“They’re observing May Day. I guess this is their way to observe it,” Tabing said. 

The protest was among many around the globe marking the international worker day. 

Another group of May Day marchers gathered west of downtown Los Angeles in Koreatown shortly before 6 p.m. to call for better treatment of immigrants and a new immigrant legalization program. They planned a rally in MacArthur Park. The Long Beach protest disrupted traffic near the shoreline convention complex. 

“It was mass mayhem. They were being stupid,” said Victor Reed, 23, who watched the protest. “As far as what they’re protesting I don’t know. They came in to Long Beach to protest something and cause mayhem,” said fire Capt. Mike Garcia. 

The protesters did not have a permit, and were warned they would be arrested if they did not disperse, Tabing said.  

She said they could face a variety of charges likely including unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor. The protesters gathered in the promenade area about 3 p.m., and police began making arrests around 4:30 p.m., Tabing said. 

Paramedics were on hand but there were no immediate reports of injuries. 

Many of the demonstrators were surrounded outside the Breakers retirement home. 

“My residents are safe,” said Jacie Tallon, executive director of the home. 

VALLEJO — A juror was dismissed early Tuesday from deliberations in the case against Curtis Dean Anderson, who is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old Vallejo girl last August. 

Defense lawyer Carl Spieckerman said Judge Allan P. Carter dismissed a male juror after someone reported to the prosecutor that the man had talked about the case. “He violated the admonition about talking about the case,” Spieckerman said. “He didn’t say anything bad or improper, it was just the fact that he did discuss the case with someone outside the jury. That’s what the rules are, and we’ve got to stick pretty close to them.” 

Late in the day, the jury requested the court clerk read back about two hours of testimony given by the girl. That request was granted by the judge, but he turned down the jury’s additional request to see a transcript of the girl’s police interview given after her daring escape Aug. 12. 

Instead they were allowed to see a videotape of the police interview, since the transcript never was admitted as evidence. 

Anderson, 40, is charged with kidnapping and 10 sex-related charges in the case that went to the jury late Monday. If convicted, he could face life in prison. 

The Vallejo girl, whose name is not being used because of the nature of the crime, claimed Anderson kidnapped her on her way home from school, and kept her locked inside his car for 44 hours while he repeatedly sexually assaulted her. 

The Solano County jury, made up of five women and seven men, deliberated for about two hours Monday, then for about another hour Tuesday before the dismissal. 

An alternate juror, also a man, was called to the courthouse and deliberations were required to begin again from scratch. That alternate juror sat in the courtroom during the entire trial and heard the case. 

SAN JOSE — When Yahoo! Inc. got rid of the adult videos and DVDs on its shopping pages last month, the popular Internet site wasn’t done wrestling with pornography. 

During the last few weeks, Yahoo quietly has reconfigured its adult-themed online clubs and chat rooms, removing links to them and making them harder to find, members say. Many members believe Yahoo wants the clubs off the site altogether. 

Those members say they feel betrayed, and have assembled Internet petitions with thousands of complaints. Some say Yahoo’s action actually makes it easier for children to see adult content. 

A Yahoo spokeswoman said the company still is deciding how best to deal with adult content, but would not comment further. 

The furor illustrates what has long been clear: Looking at porn and talking about it is one of the Web’s most popular activities. And companies such as Yahoo, which boasts that it is devoted to the wishes of its 192 million registered users, find that no matter how they handle the issue, someone is going to be upset. 

“If they completely eliminate adult material from the site, they’re going to lose a lot of members who are interested in that,” said Ken Bradman, a 23-year-old Web developer in Phoenix who has  

organized a protest club on the issue. “I can guarantee you it’s going to be a huge chunk of  

Yahoo’s user base.” 

On the other hand, conservative groups say Yahoo isn’t doing nearly enough to keep its sites clean, especially its GeoCities pages, where users can post pictures and other content. Although Yahoo expressly forbids nudity and pornography on GeoCities, the company doesn’t take down violators’ sites unless someone complains about them directly. 

“They have some extremely hardcore and very gross Web sites, including those that pander themselves as child sex and teen sex,” said Jan LaRue, senior director of legal studies for the Family Research Council in Washington.  

“My larger concern is what they’re making available and what they’re profiting from and that they’re being totally honest with the public.” 

The porn issue bubbled up three weeks ago, when the Los Angeles Times reported that Yahoo had increased the porn flicks on its shopping pages, where the company gets a cut of the sales. 

Yahoo had sold X-rated products for two years and said the increase of those items did not outpace the overall growth of the shopping section.  

But most major Internet companies have kept a greater distance from porn sales, and thousands of users swamped Yahoo with angry e-mails.  

Yahoo announced April 13 that it would cease selling adult products. 

The company also said it would stop accepting banner ads, classifieds and auction items with adult themes and promised to more aggressively police sex-related message boards and clubs. 

Yahoo users can set up online clubs and post messages, pictures and Internet links on just about any topic. The subjects range from the general, such as bluegrass music, to the very specific — such as places in Delaware where people can meet for sex on their lunch breaks. 

It’s unclear how many people use the adult clubs, because Yahoo does not disclose those numbers. America Online, Excite, Terra Lycos and Microsoft’s MSN also host clubs on thousands of subjects, but some Yahoo users say they can more easily find people with similar interests on the massive Yahoo site. 

“The Yahoo adult clubs have made a major positive contribution to society,” one member, who said he was a 56-year-old lawyer and feared giving his name, wrote in an e-mail interview. “The sharing they permit lifts the human spirit and brings people together so that people who were alone no longer are.” 

Users say that in the past few weeks, Yahoo took out a direct link to adult-themed clubs from its overall clubs page. Users had to affirm they were 18 or older to use the link. The members also say Yahoo disabled some search functions that often were used to find the groups. That means that to find a club, users have to know its Internet address and type that in directly. 

Some members have re-listed links to their clubs in other parts of the site, including in mainstream sections open to people of all ages. 

Yahoo certainly isn’t alone in trying to figure out what to do with adult content. Terra Lycos, for example, recently clarified its porn policies, said Jeff Strawbridge, director of customer service. 

“I believe we are entering a very volatile period for personal Web use,” said Yahoo user Alan Schaubel, a 53-year-old married artist in Kenosha, Wis., who collects adult images as a hobby. “The current Yahoo action relative to adult content is only the tip of the cyberberg.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

Clubs page: http://clubs.yahoo.com 

Petition page: http://www.geocities.com/webmastercast/petition.html 

RICHMOND — A chemical leak in Richmond that forced residents to stay inside for much of the day Tuesday has been contained, said Contra Costa County health officials. 

Residents living near the plant were told to stay inside Tuesday while crews worked to contain a cloud of sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide.  

That shelter in place order was lifted shortly after 7 p.m. and officials suggested that residents open their windows to allow their homes to air out. 

At least 25 people went to area hospitals before the leak was contained at 6:20 p.m. Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials officials said they did not consider it a major release. 

The leak started when workers at General Chemical Corp. – which regenerates sulfuric acid – tried to restart operations after a power outage.  

The outage was caused when a vehicle hit a pole at about 2 p.m., knocking down electric lines to the plant. 

A turbine would not come back online when power was restored, causing the leak, said Jim Gallagher, of Contra Costa County Health Services.  

Small amounts of the chemicals leaked from the plant, but it was not a problem until the wind changed, Gallagher said, and the turbine was not fixed. 

“This thing escalated over a course of time,” Gallagher said. 

“Normally these things can be brought back online and corrected quickly. Normal didn’t happen.” 

As the afternoon wore on, the shift in wind caused the chemicals to be carried over a wider area. Contra Costa County declared a level three alert at 4:00 p.m. The county sounded its warning signs and issued a shelter-in-place order. 

People within a half mile radius of the plant – north and east of the Richmond Parkway – were told to stay inside, close their windows and turn off their air conditioners. 

Officials at General Chemical could not be reached for comment. 

The company was told not to bring the plant back online until health officials were notified and assured all problems were corrected, Gallagher said. That could be as soon as Wednesday morning. 

A 1993 oleum leak at General Chemical sent some 24,000 people in West Contra Costa County to seek medical attention.  

After that, the plant reduced oleum storage from 600 tons to 36 tons. 

Richmond, home to numerous oil refineries and chemical companies, has often been the site of chemical releases and other industrial accidents. 

In October, one man was killed and thousands of people told to stay indoors after an explosion and fire rocked a plastics recycling center.

SACRAMENTO — Thirty-three of California’s 58 counties received failing clean-air grades Tuesday from the American Lung Association in its latest report on air pollution levels. 

The study also said that eight of the 25 smoggiest metropolitan areas in the country are in California and that more than 29 million Californians breathe dirty air. 

“Californians’ health remains threatened by air pollution,” said Robert Fick, a physician who heads the California Thoracic Society, the medical section of the American Lung Association of California. 

The report gave A-to-F grades to counties nationwide based on how many times their air was considered unhealthful by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1997 to 1999. 

Figures from those years are the recent accurate data available from the EPA, the Lung Association said. 

Thirty-three California counties received F grades. They are Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura and Yolo. 

Nationwide, 382 counties received failing grades, up from 333 in 2000. 

California’s San Bernardino County had the worst county rating in the country, the report said. 

Eight California metropolitan areas – Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, Sacramento, Merced, San Diego and Redding – were among the 25 most polluted in the country. 

Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno and Visalia-Tulare-Porterville were among the 10 with the dirtiest air. Salinas was among cities with the cleanest, the association said. 

On the Net: Read the report at www.californialung.org

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A former Ku Klux Klansman was convicted of murder Tuesday for the 1963 church bombing that killed four black girls, the deadliest single attack during the civil rights movement. 

Thomas Blanton Jr., 62, was sentenced to life in prison by the same jury that found him guilty after 2 1/2 hours of deliberations. Before he was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, the judge asked him if he had any comment. 

“I guess the good Lord will settle it on judgment day,” Blanton said. 

Blanton is the second former Klansman to be convicted of planting the bomb that went off at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on Sept. 15, 1963, a Sunday morning. 

The bomb ripped through an exterior wall of the brick church. The bodies of Denise McNair, 11, and Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson, all 14, were found in the downstairs lounge. 

Denise’s parents, Chris and Maxine McNair, did not comment as they left the courthouse. Chris McNair was hugged by U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, who fought back tears as he told reporters: “We’re happy for the families. We’re happy for the girls.” 

The Rev. Abraham Woods, a black minister instrumental in getting the FBI to reopen the case in 1993, said he was delighted with the verdict. 

“It makes a statement on how far we’ve come,” said Woods, the local president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 

Defense attorney John Robbins said the swift verdict showed the jury was caught up in the emotion surrounding the notorious case. He said he would seek a new trial, arguing the case should have been moved out of Birmingham and Blanton’s right to a speedy trial had been violated. 

He also said the lack of white men on the jury – eight white women, three black women and one black man returned the verdict – “absolutely hurt Blanton.” The jurors, who were publicly identified only by number, left without comment. 

The case is the latest from the turbulent civil rights era to be revived by prosecutors. Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in 1994 of assassinating civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963 and former Klan imperial wizard Sam Bowers was convicted three years ago of the 1966 firebomb-killing of an NAACP leader. 

But the church bombing was a galvanizing moment of the civil rights movement. Moderates could no longer remain silent and the fight to topple segregation laws gained new momentum. 

During closing arguments, Jones told the jury that it was “never too late for justice.” 

He said Blanton acted in response to months of civil rights demonstrations. The church had become a rallying point for protesters. 

“Tom Blanton saw change and didn’t like it,” Jones said as black-and-white images of the church and the girls dressed in Sunday clothing flashed on video screens in the courtroom. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Posey added: “The defendant didn’t care who he killed as long as he killed someone and as long as that person was black.” 

“These children must not have died in vain,” he said. “Don’t let the deafening blast of his bomb be what’s left ringing in our ears.” 

Robbins argued that the government had proved only that Blanton was once a foul-mouthed segregationist, not a bomber. He said murky tapes of his client secretly recorded by the FBI were illegally obtained and should not have been admitted as evidence. 

The surveillance began after Blanton and other Klansman were identified as suspects within weeks of the bombing. 

The FBI planted a hidden microphone in Blanton’s apartment in 1964 and taped his conversations with Mitchell Burns, a fellow Klansman-turned-informant. 

Posey went over the tapes for jurors, putting transcript excerpts on the video screens. He read from one transcript in which Blanton described himself to Burns as a clean-cut guy: “I like to go shooting, I like to go fishing, I like to go bombing.” 

Posey also quoted Blanton as saying he was through with women. “I am going to stick to bombing churches,” Blanton said, according to Posey. 

On one tape, Blanton was heard telling Burns that he would not be caught “when I bomb my next church.” On another made in his kitchen, he is heard talking with his wife about a meeting where “we planned the bomb.” 

“That is a confession out of this man’s mouth,” said Jones, pointing to Blanton. 

The defense argued that the tape made in Blanton’s kitchen meant nothing because prosecutors failed to play 26 minutes of previous conversation. “You can’t judge a conversation in a vacuum,” Robbins said. 

Robbins also said Blanton’s conversations with Burns were nothing but boasting between “two drunk rednecks.” He dismissed Burns and other prosecution witnesses as liars. 

Another former Klan member, Robert “Dynamite Bob” Chambliss, was convicted of murder in 1977 and died in prison in 1985. 

Another former Klansman, Bobby Frank Cherry, was indicted last year but his trial was delayed after evaluations raised questions about his mental competency. A fourth suspect, Herman Cash, died without being charged. 

The Justice Department concluded 20 years ago that former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had blocked prosecution of Klansmen in the bombing. The case was reopened following a 1993 meeting in Birmingham between FBI officials and black ministers, including Woods. 

The investigation was not revealed publicly until 1997, when agents went to Texas to talk to Cherry. 

WASHINGTON — Top congressional Republicans reached tentative agreement Tuesday on next year’s budget, deciding to include a $1.35 trillion, 11-year tax cut that would give President Bush most of the tax reduction he has long treasured but less than he and GOP leaders wanted. 

The leaders and the White House also tentatively agreed to let spending for many programs grow by about 5.2 percent next year, said a Republican familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. That exceeds the 4 percent boost that Bush has insisted is sufficient, but less than the 8 percent growth approved by the Senate. 

A final decision on spending would remove the last major hurdle to completing a compromise House-Senate budget for 2002 largely reflecting Bush’s fiscal priorities. GOP leaders were hoping to push the budget through Congress this week, clearing the way for the Senate to begin quickly writing tax-cutting legislation. 

“I think we’re going to get it done,” Senate Budget Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., told reporters. 

After failing to persuade pivotal moderate senators to support a deeper tax reduction, the White House and Republican leaders settled for the best they could get: a $1.25 trillion cut for 2002 through 2011, plus $100 billion more for 2001 and 2002 that is supposed to stimulate the economy. 

“This is a great day for the American people and the American taxpayer,” said Bush, who took to the White House Rose Garden to declare victory. He hailed the deal for promising “meaningful, significant, sweeping tax relief, the most tax relief in a generation.” 

Bush had called for a 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax reduction since early in his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 1999, making it the pillar of his economic plan. Only last week did he concede he would have to compromise in the face of opposition in the evenly divided Senate. 

The agreement would let Bush and congressional Republicans claim credit for one of the biggest tax cuts in decades. But it also underscored the limits on the president’s power forced by the Senate’s 50-50 division between the two parties. The new tax figure was only reached after several moderate senators said they would support it and White House aides concluded they could do no better. 

Bush used the tax agreement to cast himself as a leader who can ease partisan differences. 

“Republicans and Democrats have today proven we can work together to do what is right for the American people,” he said. 

On spending, Bush had proposed letting last year’s $635 billion in spending for discretionary programs grow to $661 billion. Those programs, approved by Congress annually, cover one-third of the budget and encompass everything but automatically paid benefits like Social Security. 

Under the tentative deal, those programs would get about $667 billion. 

The tax agreement was virtually identical to what the moderates had been insisting was the biggest package they would support. One of their leaders, Sen. John Breaux, D-La., said he supported the deal and predicted it would garner enough moderates’ votes to ensure its passage. 

“It’s the tax number we recommended,” Breaux said. 

The budget guides Congress’ later tax and spending bills, but is not binding and provides little detail. 

Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said he believed the budget’s tax figure would not be enough “to do all that the president has asked for” in his tax package, but he and other GOP leaders say they will try passing additional tax cuts in separate, smaller bills. 

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said he realized the tax number had to be reduced until it would get enough votes to pass the Senate. 

“That’s the Senate, and we’ll work with them on that,” he said. 

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., who with other top Democrats preferred a 10-year, $750 billion tax reduction, called the new GOP tax plan “a step in the right direction.” 

He said he would still oppose the budget because he believed the tax cut’s size would deplete money needed for prescription drug benefits, education and other priorities. 

In the budget it approved last month and in tax bills it has already passed, the House endorsed Bush’s full $1.6 trillion figure, with many House Republicans calling it the minimum figure that Congress should enact this year. 

The Senate approved just a $1.2 trillion reduction in its budget on April 6. In the end, Bush had to bow to the realities of the divided Senate, in which 14 moderate Democrats and two moderate Republicans ended up wielding decisive power over the size of Bush’s top fiscal priority. 

“It’s a very major step forward to accomplishing many of the major goals that I have,” said Sen. James Jeffords, R-Vt. It was his resistance to a higher tax figure — along with Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I. — that prevented Bush from muscling his entire tax plan through the Senate, with Vice President Dick Cheney to cast the tie-breaking vote. 

Members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee are already holding meetings to decide which of Bush’s — and their own — proposed tax cuts will make it into the big tax package they will begin writing next week. Most Republicans believe Bush’s proposed across-the-board cut in income tax rates is the top priority. 

The budget is important because under congressional rules, a later bill reflecting the budget’s tax number cannot be subject to filibusters, or delays aimed at killing the legislation. It takes the votes of 60 of the 100 senators to end a filibuster — a margin that united Democrats could block. 

NEW YORK — U.S. manufacturing declined for the ninth straight month in April, according to a report Tuesday that shows the sector is the weakest link in the nation’s struggling economy. 

However, the decline was at a slightly slower rate than it was in March, and the overall economy grew modestly, the National Association of Purchasing Management said. 

“For the moment, manufacturing is deep in recession, but there is some slim, positive hope that as we get into the summer months that things will improve,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist with Economy.com in West Chester, Pa. 

Separately, the Commerce Department said construction spending posted a bigger-than-expected gain in March, the fifth monthly increase in a row. 

But there was more bad news from the auto industry: Ford said Tuesday that U.S. sales slid 16 percent in April, dragged down by weak sales of high-profit sport utility vehicles. General Motors and Chrysler were expected to announce similar news later in the day. 

The markets finished higher in trading Tuesday, with the Dow Jones industrial average up 163 points to 10,898 and the Nasdaq composite index up 52 points to 2,168. 

The manufacturing report is based on a survey of purchasing executives who buy raw materials at more than 350 industrial companies. 

The association’s index of business activity rose last month to 43.2 from 43.1 in March. An index above 50 signifies growth in manufacturing, while a figure below 50 shows contraction. An index above 42.7 generally points to growth in the overall economy. 

Norbert Ore, who oversees the monthly survey, said the major concerns among manufacturers are energy costs and softening demand. Of the 20 industries in the manufacturing sector, just three – food, chemicals and a miscellaneous category – reported growth. 

Also, the manufacturing employment index fell for the seventh consecutive month, showing that layoffs are taking effect on the nation’s assembly lines. 

However, new orders were up from March, and manufacturers were paying lower prices for materials.

WASHINGTON — There is plenty of work to be found in places like Las Vegas and San Diego. 

Nevada’s Clark County, home to Las Vegas, and San Diego County in California, had some of the highest rates of job growth among the country’s largest counties between 1998 and 1999, according to Census Bureau reports being released Wednesday. 

Other counties with high job growth tended to be in the South, including Fulton County, Ga., which encompasses Atlanta; and Travis County, Texas, which includes Austin. 

Despite population growth and the recently unsettled economy, there still aren’t enough workers to fill jobs in many of those counties, said Jane Whisner, managing director of the Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies in Las Vegas. Businesses must get more creative with benefits packages to lure and retain people, she said. 

“You can attract people monetarily, but benefits that enhance quality of life retain them,” Whisner said. 

The job growth data is the latest available, and was separate from the 2000 census. But it is not surprising that the 2000 head count showed that most of the top counties in job growth saw their populations surge over the past decade, said Mark Mather, an analyst with the Population Reference Bureau, a private research group. 

Many of the counties saw large increases in their Hispanic population. Many recently arrived immigrants filled positions in construction and low-wage, service-oriented areas, Mather said.  

Non-farm employment in Clark County was up 8.7 percent between 1998 and 1999, according to the Census Bureau report. Nationally, there was 2.4 percent job growth during that period. 

The 2000 census showed that Clark County’s population surged 86 percent over the last decade to nearly 1.4 million. Its Hispanic population went up 264 percent. 

There was 5.7 percent job growth in San Diego County between 1998 and 1999. San Diego County’s population went up 13 percent the past decade, but once-small bedroom communities in neighboring Riverside County saw much faster growth. 

Among the new perks being offered by companies in San Diego and Las Vegas were massages every three months, memberships to wholesale food stores and free shipping services in December.

NEW YORK — Another wave of optimism swept over Wall Street Tuesday, carrying stocks higher and lifting the Dow Jones industrials to their highest level in nearly three months. 

Market watchers said the market’s advance, which gained momentum during the afternoon, reflected growing sentiment that the Federal Reserve will cut rates for a fifth time this year when it meets May 15. 

“There’s a general feeling that the market has begun to act much better ... and it’s a little safer to do some buying,” said Todd Clark, co-head of listed trading at WR Hambrecht. “But I’m hard-pressed to find any news or earnings to explain these gains.” 

The advance appeared to be the latest extension of the rally that began in early April on Wall Street. Convinced that stock prices will start to recover by early 2002, many institutional and individual investors have gradually been coming back into the market. 

— The Associated Press 

Most spectacularly, the battered Nasdaq has risen more than 32 percent from its closing low for the year, 1,638.80, reached less than a month ago on April 4. 

Although the market has had some down days, for the most part it has kept its gains – an encouraging sign to many analysts. 

The release of mixed economic data Tuesday added to Wall Street’s hopes that the Fed would feel compelled to stimulate the economy by lowering interest rates at its May meeting. The Commerce Department said construction spending rose more than expected in March, the fifth straight monthly increase. But the National Association of Purchasing Management reported manufacturing activity declined for the ninth consecutive month in April. 

Gains by airplane manufacturer Boeing and consumer products maker Procter & Gamble led the Dow higher. Boeing rose $1.63 to $63.43, while P&G was up $4.13 at $64.18 on a better-than-expected earnings report. 

Technology stocks also advanced, recovering from a sluggish start earlier in the session. Cisco Systems rose 82 cents to $17.80 and Microsoft, a Dow component, advanced $2.42 to $70.12. Online travel agent Expedia rose $4.11 to $30.12, a nearly 16 percent gain, after announcing it had reached profitability. 

But some investors Tuesday sold stocks to lock in their profits. Oracle fell 12 cents to $16.04. 

And there were a few other disappointments: Ford Motor dropped $1.18 to $28.30 on a steeper-than-expected slide in April auto sales. 

“The market made a very strong advance in April, so I think some of the selling and consolidation we’re seeing is normal,” said Will Braman, chief investment officer at John Hancock Funds. “At the end of the month, people will stop, look at their portfolios, see that a stock’s gained a lot and maybe trim some of their position to buy a cheaper stock.” 

Trading volume was light. Advancing issues led decliners more than 3 to 2 on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 1.40 billion shares, compared with nearly 1.50 billion Monday. 

The Russell 2000 index rose 5.15 to 490.47. 

Overseas, Japan’s Nikkei stock average rose 3.5 percent. Germany’s DAX index was up 1.5 percent, Britain’s FT-SE 100 was down 0.7 percent, and France’s CAC-40 was up 1.2 percent. 

——— 

On the Net: 

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com 

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com 

924 Gilman St. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted $5; $2 for a year membership. All ages. May 4: Plan 9, Zodiac Killers, Reverend B. Dangerous Freakshow, Dory Tourette & The Skirtheads, Knockoffs; May 5: Shikabane, Phobia, Harum Scarum, Vulgar Pigeons, Insidious Sorrow 525-9926  

Ashkenaz May 6, 7 p.m.: Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble 1370 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman) 525-5054 or www.ashkenaz.com  

Freight & Salvage All music at 8 p.m. May 1: Casey Neill Trio, Spiral Bound; may 3: Lorin Rowan Trio; May 4: cris Williamson; May 5, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with author P.D. James and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser; May 5: R. Crumb 7 The Cheap Suit Serenaders; May 6; Terry Riley, George Brooks & Gyan Riley; May 12, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with authors Adair Lara and Janis Newman, and the Acoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet. 1111 Addison St. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool/La Note All music at 4:30 p.m. May 6: David Creamer Trio; May 13: Michael Zilber Group 2377 Shattuck Ave. 845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com  

La Pena Cultural Center May 3, 8 p.m.: Third Eye Movement presents Deuce, Eclipse, Soul Sista Soul, Red Guard, Jahi, plus others; May 5, 9 p.m.: Chicano de Mayo Celebration dance with O-Maya, Yaksi, DJ Corazon & La Viuda Negra, plus poets Leticia Hernandez and Robert Karimi; May 11, 8 p.m.: Erika Luckett, Irina Rivkin & Making Waves, Gwen Avery, Shelly Doty X-tet; May 12, 10:30 a.m.: Colibri; May 13, 4 p.m.: In the Cafe La Pena - Community Juerga 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org  

Cal Performances May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.: Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents “Way Station,” “BIPED,” and “Rainforest” $20 - $42 Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley; 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Chamber Music from Crowden School May 1, 7 - 8 p.m. The final installment of the Young Emerging Artists Series, Crowden presents some of its most talented string-instrument players. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

May Day Celebration May 1, 7:30 p.m. Part of LaborFest’s annual Labor Cultural Arts Festival features a screening of Sri Lankan “Slaves of Free Trade” by Yappa Kashyapa. Also, poet Jack Hirschman, singers Carol Denney, Larry Shaw, Pam Pam, The La Pena Choir, report on Kurdish prisoner and legislator Lela Zana, video on Korean Daewoo auto workers. $7 donation goes to Sri Lankan Women’s Free Trade Zone Center. La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck 415-642-8066 www.laborfest.net  

La Compagnia Rossini May 2, 7:30 p.m. The vocal ensemble from eastern Switzerland, with Director Armin Caduff, will perform works of Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, as well as Swiss folk songs. $10 - $15 2345 Channing Way 415-788-2272 x102 

Live Oak Concert May 5, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Stephanie Pan, soprano, Mirta Wymerszberg, baroque flute, Karen Ande, viola de gamba, Meg Cotner, harpsichord performing the music of Vivaldi, Bach, Boismortier, and Ortiz. $8 - $10 Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 644-6893 

“The Children’s Hour” May 5 & 12, 8 p.m. and May 13, 4 p.m. The Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Arlene Sagan will perform Julian White’s piece along with Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia and selections from Randall Thompson’s Frostiana, poems of Robert Frost set to music. Free St. Joseph the Worker Church 1640 Addison St. 528-2145  

Music & Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m. & May 6, 2 p.m. Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the Bay Area 45-member ensemble, will perform music and dance from Bali under the direction of Balinese guest artists I Made Subandi and Ni Ketut Arini. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

Music of the Big Band Era May 6, 2 p.m. Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Stan Kenton. $15 Longfellow School of the Arts 1500 Derby St. (at Sacramento) 420-4560 

Francesco Trio May 6, 4 p.m. Performing works of Haydn, Brahams and Mel Powell. $10 / under 18 free Crowden School 1475 Rose St. (at Sacramento) 559-6910 or visit www.thecrowdenschool.org 

Young People Chamber Orchestra May 6, 4 p.m. Celebrating the music of J.S. Bach, J. Haydn, Mozart and others. St. Johns Presbyterian Church 2727 College Ave. 595-4688 

“Three Tenors No Opera” May 7, 8 - 10 p.m. This Bay Area jazz septet with three-sax front line will deconstruct the tenor classics live on KPFA, 94.1 FM 

Berkeley Opera Gala Concert May 12, 7 p.m. Berkeley Opera singers and special guest artists will be joined by Music Director, Jonathan Khuner and members of the Berkeley Opera Orchestra to provide entertainment highlighting the 2001 theme, “Opera Uncensored.” Also a silent auction, balloon raffle, champagne and more. $15 - $40 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

Music and Dance of Bali May 5, 8 p.m., May 6, 2 p.m. Forty-five member ensemble Gamelan Sekar Jaya presents rhythms of Balinese gamelan in an orchestra of gongs, drums, flutes and bronze metallophones accompanied by several of Bali’s skilled dancers. $8-$16 Saturday, $5-$10 Sunday Julia Morgan Theatre 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Dance! The Soul Behind the Art” May 11, 8 p.m. The Attitude Dance Company presents jazz, hip hop, lyrical, street funk, modern and tap dancing. $6 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300  

“The Oresteia” by Aeschylus Through May 6 Directed by Tony Taccone and Stephen Wadsworth, Aeschylus trilogy will be the first production staged on the Berkeley Rep’s new prosenium stage. Please call Berkeley Repertory Theatre for specific dates and times. $15.99 - $117 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2015 Addison St. (at Shattuck) 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Death of a Salesman” Through May 5, Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. plus Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. The ageless story of Willy Loman presented by an African-American cast and staged by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. $10 Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck (at Berryman) 528-5620 

“Big Love” by Charles L. Mee Through June 10 Directed by Les Waters and loosely based on the Greek Drama, “The Suppliant Woman,” by Aeschylus. Fifty brides who are being forced to marry fifty brothers flee to a peaceful villa on the Italian coast in search of sanctuary. $15.99 - $51 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison St. 647-2949 

“Slings and Arrows: love stories from Shakespearean tragedies” written and directed by Rebecca Goodberg and developed by the ensemble and “Blue Roses” conceptualized and directed by Christian Schneider. Discussions with the audience will follow each show. Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m. through May 5. $10 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid Ave. 655-0813  

Interplay Fest! May 4, 8 p.m. May 5, 3:30 - 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. A full weekend of performances by Wing It! Performance Ensemble, Cultural InterPlay Ensemble, and the Art of InterPlay Ensemble. Weekend Pass: $15, Individual performances, $7 - $10 First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way (at Dana) 814-9584 

The far side of the moon May 3 - 5, 8 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. and May 6, 3 p.m. A solo performance by Canadian writer, actor and director Robert Lepage with an original score by Laurie Anderson. $30 - $46 Zellerbach Playhouse Bancroft at Dana UC Berkeley 642-9988  

San Francisco International Film Festival May 1: 7 p.m. Such Is Life, 9:30 p.m. Peppermint Candy May 2: 7 p.m. The Natural History of the Chicken, 9 p.m. Platform May 3: 7 p.m. Daresalam, 9:15 p.m. Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors. All $9 Pacific Film Archive 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-5249 

“Slaves of Free Trade” May 1, 7:30 p.m. Also poet Jack Hirschman, singers Carol Denney, Larry Shaw, Pam Pam, and the La Pena Choir. Also a report on Kurdish prisoner and legislator Lela Zana and a video on Korean Daewoo auto workers. A May Day celebration. $7 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck (at Prince) 

“A Ship with Painted Sails: The Fabulous Animation of Karel Zeman” May 4: 7 p.m. The Stolen Airship, 9:10 p.m. A Jester’s Tale May 5: 7 p.m. Journey to the Beginning of Time, 8:35 p.m. The Treasure of Bird Island May 11: 7 p.m. Zeman Shorts, 8:55 p.m. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne May 12: 7 p.m. Baron Munchausen, 9:10 p.m. Kraba - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Admission: $7 for one film, $8.50 for double bills. Pacific Film Archive Theater 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-1412 

“Women’s Evening at the Movies” May 5, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food. $5 donation requested Pacific Center 2712 Telegraph Ave. 548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

“Scenes from The Song of Songs/Images from The Book of Blessings” Landscape and still life oil pastels by poet and artists Marcia Falk Through May 2, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon - 7 p.m. Flora Hewlett Library Graduate Theological Union 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

“The Distance Between Us” Through May 4 The photographs of Mimi Chakarova depicting South African townships, inland parishes in Jamaica and her most recent work in Cuba. Graduate School of Journalism North Gate Hall UC Berkeley 

“The Sands of Time” Arab/Muslim sculptures and ceramics of Khalil Bendib. Through May 5, Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or call for appointment Mussi Artworks Foundry & Gallery 719 Heintz Ave. Space 10 644-2735 

Youth Arts Festival A citywide celebration of art, music, dance and poetry. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics by K-8 students Through May 12, Wednesday - Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St.  

“The Art of Meadowsweet Dairy” Objects found in nature, reworked and turned into objects of art. Through May 15, call for hours Current Gallery at the Crucible 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511  

“Scapes/Escapes” Ink, Acrylic, Mixed Media by Evelyn Glaubman May 1 - June 1 Tuesday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Gallery of the Center for Psychological Studies 1398 Solano Ave. Albany 524-0291 

“Watercolors and Mixed Media” by Pamela Markmann Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. A retrospective of 30 years’ work at Markmann’s Berkeley studio. Red Oak Gallery 2983 College Ave. 526-4613  

“Elemental” The art of Linda Mieko Allen May 2 - June 9, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Reception: May 2, 6 - 8 p.m. Traywick Gallery 1316 Tenth St. 527-1214 www.traywick.com 

Berkeley Potters Guild Spring Show and Sale May 5, 6, 12, 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fifteen artists open their personal studios to the public and offer pieces for sale. Berkeley Potters Guild 731 Jones St. 524-7031 www.berkeleypotters.com 

Ledger drawings of Michael and Sandra Horse. Meet the artists May 18, 19, 20 (call for times). Exhibit runs through June 18. Gathering Tribes Gallery 1573 Solano Ave. 528-9038 www.gatheringtribes.com  

“Alive in Her: Icons of the Goddess” Through June 19, Tuesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photography, collage, and paintings by Joan Beth Clair. Opening reception May 3, 4 - 6 p.m. Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Ave. 848-0528 

Bernard Maisner: Illuminated Manuscripts & Paintings. Through Aug. 8 Maisner works in miniature as well as in large scales, combining his mastery of medieval illumination, gold leafing, and modern painting techniques. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 849-2541 

“Musee des Hommages,” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Geographies of My Heart” Collage paintings by Jennifer Colby May 7 - August 24; Reception event May 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m,: Colby will give a slide-lecture using contemporary women’s art depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe to illustrate her dissertation research in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies - Dinner Board Room; Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

Images of Portugal Paintings by Sofia Berto Villas-Boas of her native land. Open after 5 p.m. Voulez-Vous 2930 College Ave. (at Elmwood) 

Quilt Show through May 12. M-Th, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Twenty-second annual show displays over 60 quilts. Berkeley Public Library’s North Branch. 1170 The Alameda 644-6850 

“Tropical Visions: Images of AfroCaribbean Women in the Quilt Tapestries of Cherrymae Golston” Through May 28, Tu-Th, 1-7 p.m., Sat 12-4 p.m. Women’s Cancer Resource Center Gallery 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 ext 307 

Readings 

Cody’s Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-7852 All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 3: Several authors from the anthology “My Story...Life As A Teen Parent” will read; May 4: Doris Haddock will read from “Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year” about her 3,200-mile journey across the country; May 8: Geling Yan reads “The Lost Daughter of Happiness”  

Cody’s Books 1730 Fourth St. 559-9500 All events at 7 p.m., unless noted May 7: Rachel Naomi Remen reads from “My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging”  

Boadecia’s Books 398 Colusa Ave. Kensington All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 4: Sylvia Brownrigg will read from “Pages for You”; May 11: Suzanne Gold will read from her novel “Daddy’s Girls”; May 12: Krandall Kraus will read “Love’s Last Chance: A Nigel & Nicky Mystery”; May 18: Melinda Given Guttman will read from “The Enigma of Anna O”; May 19: Jessica Barksdale Inclan will read from “Her Daughter’s Eyes” 559-9184 or www.bookpride.com  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 1385 Shattuck Ave. (at Rose) 843-3533 All events at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise May 1: Andrew Horvatt will discuss “Japanese Beyond Words”; May 3: Char Miller, editor, will discuss “Water in the West: A High Country News Reader” and “Fluid Arguments: Five Centuries of Western Water Conflict”; May 3: Conner Gorry will discuss the Lonely Planet published “Guatemala”; May 10: Gray Brechin talks about “Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin”; May 23: Jon Bowermaster discusses his book “Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska’s Islands of Fire and Ice”; May 29, 7 - 9 p.m.: Travel Photo Workshop with Joan Bobkoff. $15 registration fee  

“Strong Women - Writers & Heroes of Literature” Fridays Through June 2001, 1 - 3 p.m. Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 549-2970  

Duomo Reading Series and Open Mic. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9 p.m. May 3: Lucy Lang Day with host Dale Jensen; May 10: Jamie Kennedy with host Mischell Erickson; May 17: Gregory Listach Gayle with host Mark States; May 24: Stephanie Young with host Louis Cuneo; May 31: Connie Post with host Louis Cuneo Cafe Firenze 2116 Shattuck Ave. 644-0155. 

Lunch Poems First Thursday of each month, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. May 3: Student Reading Morrison Room, Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-0137 

“New Draft Programme of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA” May 9, 7 p.m. Take part in a discussion of this blueprint for fighting and winning a revolution in the United States. Revolution Books 2425C Channing Way 848-1196 

Paul Polansky and Voice of Roma May 10, 3 p.m. Polansky’s poetry gives voice to the Kosovo Roma and their plight in the aftermath of their plight in the aftermath of the 1999 war. Free Kroeber Hall Gifford Room Second Floor (at College and Bancroft in Anthropology Building) 981-1352 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike May 12, 6:30 p.m. An ongoing open mike series, featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Free Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Berkeley City Club Tours 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. The fourth Sunday of every month, Noon - 4 p.m. $2 848-7800  

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tours All tours begin at 10 a.m. and are restricted to 30 people per tour $5 - $10 per tour May 12: Debra Badhia will lead a tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Arts District; May 19: John Stansfield & Allen Stross will lead a tour of the School for the Deaf and Blind; June 2: Trish Hawthorne will lead a tour of Thousand Oaks School and Neighborhood; June 23: Sue Fernstrom will lead a tour of Strawberry Creek and West of the UC Berkeley campus 848-0181 

Lectures 

California Colloquium on Water Scholars of distinction in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, law and environmental design speak about water resources and hopefully contribute to informed decisions on water in CA. May 8, 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.: “What Makes Water Wet?” Richard Saykally, professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley (refreshments served in 410 O’Brien Hall at 4:15 p.m.) 212 O’Brien Hall, UC Berkeley 642-2666  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Free Lectures All lectures begin at 6 p.m. May 6: Sylvia Gretchen on “Faith, Doubt, and Refuge in Buddhist Practice”; May 13: Abbe Blum on “Tapping Into Creativity”; May 20: Miep Cooymans and Dan Jones on “Working with Awareness, Concentration, and Energy”; May 27: Eva Casey on “Getting Calm; Staying Clear”; June 3: Jack van der Meulen on “Healing Through Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)”; June 10: Sylvia Gretchen on “Counteracting Negative Emotions” Tibetan Nyingma Institute 1815 Highland Place 843-6812 

“Reading Technologies” May 2, 4 - 6 p.m. Ivan Illich, visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in anthropology, will talk about the history, visual architecture and meaning of reading from the time of classical print cultures and the medieval monk to the innovation and detachment of today’s digital era. Free Morrison Reading Room Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-5339 

“Hunting T. Rex” May 6, 2 p.m. A talk by Dr. Philip Currie, curator of dinosaurs, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Currie asks the question: Was there social interaction amongst the Tyrannosaurs? $3 - $7 Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 642-5132 or visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

Berkeley 1900 May 7, 7 p.m. Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900, a book about life at the turn of the 19th century, will speak at the Friends of Five Creeks’ monthly meeting. Albany Community Center (downstairs) 1249 Marin 848-9358 

Peopling of the Pacific May 11, 8 p.m. Dr. Patrick Kirch, department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, will review results of archaeological research in the Pacific Islands, providing a current overview of Oceanic prehistory. 370 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley 415-338-1537  

Recent revelations by former Sen. Bob Kerrey about his role in the death of women and children in Vietnam underscore how that war refuses to go away for America. The Vietnam War is an everyday remembrance for Thi Quang Lam – one of the four top South Vietnamese generals – who now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His son, Pacific News Service Associate Editor Andrew Lam, finally mustered the courage to ask his father questions he has had since arriving here 26 years ago. 

By Andrew Lam 

Pacific News Service 

As Communist tanks rolled into the city of Saigon early on the evening of April 30, 1975, my father, Thi Quang Lam – a lieutenant general in the South Vietnamese Army – boarded a naval ship with a few hundred other Vietnamese officials and their families and headed out to sea. Nearing the Philippines, where they would ask U.S. authorities for asylum, he put away his army uniform, changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and tossed his gun into the water. 

I was not there. I had left two days earlier with the rest of the family in a C-130 cargo full of panicked refugees heading for Guam. But for years I regarded the moment when my father jettisoned his gun into the sea as a kind of historical marker – the beginning of his exile and my beginning with America. 

My father was 42 years old. I was 11. 

A French-educated man who came from a wealthy, land-owning family in a small town in the Mekong Delta, my father towers over many other Vietnamese men of his generation. Five feet, nine inches tall, he also has the solitary characteristics of those in leadership positions, a presence so cold to those who did not know him well, that I have seen soldiers tremble in his presence. In Vietnam, because of his many victories in battle and his dark skin, the Viet Cong called him the “Black Panther of the South.” 

In America, however, the Black Panther is recognized by few outside his Vietnamese community. Though he managed to remake himself as a banking executive, my father's passion remains extra-territorial. “The U.S.A., for me, is a destination, not a homeland,” he said. 

That is, Vietnam remains always on his mind. As it does for so many of the one million South Vietnamese who fought alongside the Americans, but who were abruptly abandoned in the middle of a battlefield. 

For me, April 30 marked the 26th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. For my father, it is a date filled with feelings and memories that I have always been afraid to confront. Still, his voice remained controlled when I finally gathered the courage to ask, on the eve of this anniversary, about those feelings. 

“I feel both anger and sadness,” he replied evenly, though the hurt clearly ran deep. “Anger because we were abandoned by our allies – the U.S. – at the darkest hour of our history. Sadness, because so many of my comrades-in-arms sacrificed for nothing, many were sent to concentration camps, and the country was ruled by a bloody, repressive regime.” 

We went back in time to the final days, when the French government vainly tried to arrange a coalition government between the existing regime of General Duong Van Minh, the Viet Cong and a third opposition party. But President Minh decided to surrender and ordered all ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) units still fighting in Saigon and 4th Military Region to do the same on April 30. Five ARVN generals committed suicide rather than surrender to the enemy. 

“After hearing the message of surrender, I decided I had to leave,” my father recalled. 

I had to ask. Did my father consider suicide also? And, if not, why not? 

“The generals who committed suicide were corps and division commanders whose units were still combat effective. They committed suicide because they didn't want to surrender their units to the enemy. The reality was that by choosing to die, these generals upheld the highest level of the Confucian concept of honor.” 

And for my father? 

“This was a question of choice. I didn't commit suicide because I was not a unit commander and because I felt (former) President Nguyen Van Thieu should be held responsible for our defeat, not the unit commanders in the field.” 

That choice came with its price: the sting of defeat, and even dishonor, a sting my father salves with bravado predictions. “I bear the loss of the homeland,” he said, “because I know the Marxist system will eventually collapse and I hope I will have the opportunity to come back in a free and democratic Vietnam.” 

But had he forgiven this “destination” for abandoning his own? And how does one forgive when what was lost was one's homeland? 

My father laughed. “I am fully aware that international relations are not based on sentiments and emotions, but on strategic interests. I also know that we didn't have a voice in 1975. But the situation has changed and today, the increasingly powerful overseas Vietnamese communities – financially and politically – can impact U.S. relations with Vietnam. I am confident that, with the continued struggle of the Vietnamese people and involvement of our younger generation, we can put an early end to that bloody aberration (Communism) of the history of mankind.” 

It was, as diplomats might say, a “full and frank exchange.” Yet what I, his son, could not bring myself to ask was if he really believed this “common goal” isn't just wishful thinking. Certainly, we want better living standards and more freedom in Vietnam, but a ‘common goal’ implies a strength of national purpose, be it in Vietnam or among Vietnamese 

Americans, that has probably evaporated along with the end of the Cold War, the opening of more porous borders and the emergence of more complex, multinational and multiethnic identities. 

While my father considers himself an exile living in America, I consider myself an American journalist who happens to make a yearly journey to Vietnam without much emotional fanfare. The irony is that he cannot return to the country to which he owes allegiance, so long as the current regime remains in power, while for me, my country of birth has become a point of departure, an occasional destination, but no longer home. 

I am a product of the suburban America my father chose over the death or reeducation camps that befell many of his peers. For my father, history runs backwards, to a lonely nationalism and the place whence he fled. Mine consists of Disneyland, Tahoe, and my father's first American car, and runs forward from there to a more cosmopolitan reality. 

In a dream I once had, I am a child diving into the blue ocean to retrieve a rusty gun. As I reach out for the gun it dissolves into sand and sifts effortlessly through my fingers. I woke in tears. Its message was clear: one cannot fight the old man's battle; the past is irretrievable. Irretrievable then, still it must be remembered, its lessons to be explored and learned, and rendered into testimonies, into words. 

Tuesday, May 1

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time 548-8283  

www.pacificcenter.org 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will center on balancing work, life and, most importantly, happiness. Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free 527-5332 

PTSA General Membership Meeting  

7:30 p.m.  

Little Theater  

Berkeley High School  

Election of PTSA officers and School Site Council members. Interested parties may place their name in nomination prior to the meeting or be nominated from the floor. To run absentia,  

call 843-7548.  

Looking for Support on HIV Issues 

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.  

Pacific School of Religion  

1798 Scenic Ave., Mudd 103  

“Beating the Bushes for Support on HIV Issues,” a conversation with Earl Curtis, a PSR student and intern at Project Inform.  

849-8229 

Responsibility for Technology  

7 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific 

2451 Ridge Rd.  

Tucson Common Room 

“An Ethic of Responsibility for Technology,” featuring Dr. Normand Laurendeau. Enter from 2450 Le Conte Ave. near Parson’s Hall across from the GTU bookstore.  

848-8152 

LaborFest May Day  

Celebration  

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center  

3105 Shattuck (at Prince)  

A video screening of Sri Lankan “Slaves of Free Trade” by Yappa Kashyapa, poet Jack Hirschman, singers Carol Denney, Larry Shaw, Pam Pam, and The La Pena Choir. Also a report on Turkish hunger strikers and the general strike against privatization and IMF.  

$7 donation 415-642-8066  

“2001 State of the City Address” 

7 p.m. 

City Council Chambers  

Old City Hall  

2134 MLK Jr. Way  

Mayor Shirley Dean will give her annual state of the City address. Light refreshments will be served.  

981-7105 

Home Design 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of workshop taught by architect/contractor Barry Wagner. Continues Tuesdays through May 22. $150 for four evenings. 

525-7610 

Wednesday, May 2

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 3

Berkeley Metaphysical  

Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

869-2547 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

Disaster First Aid 

1 - 4 p.m.  

Emergency Operations Center 

997 Cedar St.  

A free class as part of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). Sponsored by the Berkeley Fire Dept. and the Office of Emergency Services.  

Call 644-8736 

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meetings discussions will center on “Queer Midrash: Exploring Scripture.”  

654-5486 

Climbing Mt. Shasta 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

As a climbing ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, Dan Towner has spent nine seasons exploring Mt. Shasta. He will help to prepare for a safe and successful first climb of Shasta via the Avalanche Gulch route. Free 527-4140 

Caregivers’ Support Group  

1 - 2:30 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes B & C 

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Come learn about resources for caregivers of older loved ones. Free 869-6737 

Power to the People  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley City Council Chambers 

2134 MLK Jr. Way  

A Town Hall meeting hosted by Assemblymember Dion Aroner on taking control of our energy future.  

540-3660 

Small Schools, Past & Present  

7 - 9 p.m.  

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst St. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

A panel of teachers and students from the 1970’s will discuss what small schools were like at Berkeley High, followed by questions from the audience. 644-4568 

Finding and Assessing  

Fixer-Uppers 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by contractor/fixer-upper Michael Hamman. $35, 525-7610 

Berkeley Special Education Parents Group 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Thousand Oaks School, Room 19 

1150 Virginia St. 

What to do when the school district does not comply with an IEP. Speaker Wendy Byrne, from Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund. 

558-8933 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission Meeting 

7 p.m. 

Planning and Development 

First Floor Conference Room 

2118 Milvia St. 

Among topics to be discussed is the air testing at Harrison Fields, including Chromium 6 sampling. 981-6900 

Friday, May 4

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. 

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more. Fridays through May 11.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration  

1 - 3 p.m.  

West Berkeley Senior Center  

1900 Sixth St.  

Featuring Pepe Carrasco, “the man of a thousand voices,” Ruben Martin Rey De La Cancion Ranchera, Alan Sanchez Flores, Ballet Folklorico de Berkeley and more. Free  

644-6037 

Saturday, May 5

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Tooth Man! 

10:30 a.m.  

Berkeley Main Library  

2121 Allston Way  

Tooth Man, a.k.a. Matt Perry, returns by popular demand to fascinate children with his collection of teeth from animals large and small. 

649-3964 

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Author of Adam Dagliesh mysteries, P.D. James, and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. 

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Free Hearing Screening 

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes, A, B & C  

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Health Access/LifeSpan and Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH) are co-sponsoring free hearing screenings in recognition of Better Hearing and Speech Month. Free  

869-6737  

Women’s Evening at the Movies  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Pacific Center  

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food.  

$5 donation requested  

548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

Owner as Contractor 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Legal aspects discussed by attorney Sterling Johnson. $75. 

525-7610 

Painting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

“Tricks of the Trade” taught by painting contractor Scott Perry. $75. 

525-7610 

Framing Carpentry 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend. 

525-7610 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Sunday, May 6

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Free Sailboat Rides  

1 - 4 p.m. 

Cal Sailing Club 

Berkeley Marina 

The Cal Sailing Club, a non-profit sailing and windsurfing cooperative, give free rides on a first come, first served bases on the first full weekend of each month. Wear warm clothes and bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Children must be at least five years old and must be accompanies by an adult.  

Visit www.cal-sailing.org  

BAHA House Tour  

1 - 5 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

Sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society and the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Tour will include the early work of architects Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck and Henry Gutterson.  

$25 - $32  

841-2242 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Open House  

3 - 5 p.m.  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute  

1815 Highland Place  

A free introduction to Tibetan Buddhist culture including a Tibetan yoga demonstration, a talk on the relevance of Buddhism in today’s world, a prayer wheel and meditation garden tour. Free and open to the public.  

843-6812 

Faith, Doubt and Refuge 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

What does this mean in the Buddhist tradition? Talk by Sylvia Gretchen, dean of Nyingma Studies at the institute. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Framing Carpentry. 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop. Carpenter Rodney Kooyman leads instruction on building tool sheds, playhouses, etc. $180 for weekend 

525-7610 

Solar Electricity in Your Home. 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by Gary Gerber, engineer for Sunlight and Power. $75 

525-7610 

Rhododendron Walk 

10 a.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

See more than 200 species. $3 admission. Limited space, call for reservation. 

643-2755 

Monday, May 7

Beginning Bicyclist Workshop  

7 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA  

2001 Allston Way  

Community Room 1, Main Floor  

Jason Meggs and Zed Lopez will teach you how to keep yourself and your bike safe and even how to use your bike for shopping. Free  

Call Jason Meggs, 549-RIDE 

Words Hurt  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi David Ordan will discuss the seriousness of gossip and it’s effects.  

$10  

848-0237 

Skin Cancer Screening Clinic 

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit Campus  

2450 Ashby Ave. 

Markstein Cancer Education Center 

Skin cancer screenings are offered only to people who, due to limited or no health insurance, would be able to have a suspicious mole or other skin changes examined. Appointments are required.  

869-8833 

Tuesday, May 8

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Religious Identity for Interfaith Families 

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Explore the process of choosing a religion for parents and children in interfaith families with a minister, and Rabbi Jane Litman.  

$5  

848-0237 x127 

Home Design 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second Tuesday of workshop taught by architect/contractor Barry Wagner. Continues weekly through May 22. $150 for four evenings. 

525-7610 

Blackout Summer 

7 p.m. 

Berkeley’s Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. (at Dwight) 

Bruno Henriquez is from Cuba, which experienced rolling blackouts for more than half a decade and has promoted conservation and alternative energy production. Henriquez is director of Cuba’s solar energy agency. 

548-2220 ext. 234 

Wednesday, May 9

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Buying Land 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Seminar led by real estate agent Dan Maher. $35 

525-7610 

Thursday, May 10

5 - 7:30 p.m. 

H’s Lordships Restaurant  

199 Seawall Drive  

Berkeley Marina  

Showcase 2001, a tradeshow and mixer.  

549-7003 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Friday, May 11

Strong Women - Writers & 

Heroes of Literature 

1 - 3 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 

Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program.  

Call 549-2970  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

50 Plus Fitness Class  

9:30 a.m. - Noon 

UC Berkeley (varied locations)  

A class for those 50 and over which introduces participants to an array of exercise options. Demonstration and practice will include strength training, Tai Chi, Alexander Technique, and more.  

$10 per individual session 

Pre-register: 642-5461  

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 12

Be Your Own Boss 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Two day workshop on the basics of starting up a small business, taught by local business owners. 

$50-$100 sliding scale 

Call 415-541-8580 for registration  

West Coast Live  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Freight & Salvage  

1111 Addison St. (at San Pablo)  

Adair Lara, author of “Hold Me Close, Let Me Go,” Janis Newman, author of “The Russian Word for Snow,” Wavy Gravy, and Accoustic Guitar Summit guitar quartet.  

Call 415-664-9500 for reservations 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike 

6:30 p.m. 

Berkley Art Center  

1275 Walnut St.  

An ongoing open mic series featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Sign up at 6:30 and reading at 7 p.m. Free 

Estimating the Cost of Labor and Materials 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by contractor Michael McCutcheon. $75 

525-7610 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Sunday, May 13 

Mother’s Day Concert 

3 - 4 p.m. 

Environmental Education Center 

Tilden Regional Park  

Featuring Mary Mische singing children’s songs. Free 

525-2233 

Hands-On Bicycle Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn how to adjust the brakes on your bicycle from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike. Free  

527-4140 

Tapping Into Creativity 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Based on Tarthang Tulku’s “Knowledge of Freedom”, ideas and meditations to inspire creativity. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Carpentry Basics for Women 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by Tracy Weir, professional carpenter. Build your own bookshelf unit. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Ceramic Tile Installation 

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of weekend hands-on workshop taught by tile-setting expert Rod Taylor. $195 for Saturday and Sunday. 

525-7610 

Monday, May 14  

Seeing Into the Afterlife  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Yossi Offenberg will discuss Judaism’s philosophy on what happens beyond this world.  

$10  

848-0237 

Tuesday, May 15 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will be about the effect of the media on our lives. Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free  

527-5332 

Fibromyalgia Support Group  

Noon - 2 p.m.  

Alta Bates Medical Center 

Maffly Auditorium, Herrick Campus  

2001 Dwight Way  

Dr. Kathryn Williams, former chairman for the department of rehabilitation, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, will discuss the current understanding of fibromyalgia.  

601-0550 

Business of Seeds 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

How seeds became a commodity and their journey from the fields to the lab to wall street and a discussion of our potential role as urban seed stewards in the global system.  

548-2220 

Basic Electrical Theory and National Electric Code  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St.  

Instructed by author/retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon.  

$35 

Electrical Theory and National Electrical Code 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by author and retired City of Oakland building inspector Redwood Kardon. $35. 

525-7610  

Wednesday, May 16 

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 17  

Berkeley Metaphysical Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

“What is Queer Spirituality?” 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

1798 Scenic Ave.  

Mudd Bldg., Room 100 

Bill Glenn, PSR alumni and leader of Spirit Group, will lead a panel discussion on the dynamic shape of queer spirituality today.  

849-8206 

Simplicity Forum 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Library 

Claremont Branch  

2940 Benveue Ave.  

Facilitated by Cecile Andrews, author of “Circles of Simplicty,” learn about this movement whose philosophy is “the examined life richly lived.” Work less, consume less, rush less, and build community with friends and family.  

Call 549-3509 or visit www.seedsofsimplicity.org  

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meeting is the spring barbecue.  

654-5486 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continues Tuesday May 22. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Friday, May 18  

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 19 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Annual strawberry tasting 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Get to Know Your Plants 

1 - 4 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn what to look for and what and how to record it to more intimately know your plants.  

548-2220 

“Be Your Own Boss” 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

YWCA 

1515 Webster Street, Oakland 

Second Saturday of a two day workshop on starting up small businesses (see May 12). 

415-541-8580 

Community Summit on Smaller Learning Communities 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Alternative High School  

MLK Jr. Way (at Derby)  

All teachers, students, administrators, parents, and community members are encouraged to attend this meeting on smaller learning communities at Berkeley High. Translation, childcare, and food will be provided.  

540-1252 to RSVP for services 

Campaign for Equality Benefit  

7:30 - 10 p.m. 

Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club  

1650 Mountain Blvd.  

Oakland 

A comedy benefit with performances by Karen Ripley, Julia Jackson, Pippi Lovestocking, Darrick Richardson, and Nick Leonard. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the International Lesbian Gay Association Scholarship Fund for the 2001 ILGA Summit in Oakland.  

$15 - $20  

466-5050 

Finish Carpentry 

9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Carpenter/contractor Kevin Stamm leads workshop. $95. 

525-7610 

Earthquake Retrofitting 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Seminar taught by structural engineer Tony DeMascole and seismic contractor Jim Gillett. $75. 

525-7610 

How to Prevent Home Owner Nightmares 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Dispute prevention and early resolution seminar taught by contractor/mediator Ron Kelly. $75. 

525-7610  

Sunday, May 20  

Reimagining Pacific Cities  

6 - 8:30 p.m. 

New Pacific Studio  

1523 Hearst Ave.  

“How are Pacific cities reshaping their cultural and environmental institutions to better serve the needs and enhance the present and future quality of life of all segments of their societies?” A series of ten seminars linking the Bay Area, Seattle, Portland, and other pacific cities.  

$10 per meeting  

Call 849-0217 

Working with Awareness, Concentration, Energy 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Nyingma members discuss meditative awareness in everyday life. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812 

Salsa Lesson & Dance Party  

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Kick up your heels and move your hips with professional instructors Mati Mizrachi and Ron Louie. Plus Israeli food provided by the Holy Land Restaurant. Novices encouraged to attend and no partners are required.  

$12  

RSVP: 237-9874 

Mediterranean Herbs 

1:30 p.m. 

UC Botanical Garden 

200 Centennial Drive 

Tour of herbs. Learn myths and legends, ideas for planting in home gardens. 

643-1924 

Monday, May 21  

7:30 - 10 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, founder of L.A.’s SpeedDating will review creation from the reference point of physics and compare this to the description classical Jewish sources have given for our universe and its creation.  

$10  

848-0237 x127 

Tuesday, May 22 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Strawberry tasting 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Solving Residential Drainage Problems 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

Second day of two day seminar led by contractor/engineer Eric Burtt. Continued from Thursday May 17. $70 for both days. 

525-7610 

Wednesday, May 23  

Healthful Building Materials  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by environmental consultant Darrel DeBoer.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Thursday, May 24  

Paddling Adventures  

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Dan Crandell, member of the U.S. National Kayak Surf Team and owner of Current Adventures Kayak School, will introduce attendees to all aspects of kayaking. Free  

527-4140 

Friday, May 25  

Strong Women - Writers & 

Heroes of Literature 

1 - 3 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 

Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program.  

Call 549-2970  

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Living Philosophers  

10 a.m. - Noon  

North Berkeley Senior Center  

1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way)  

Hear and entertain the ideas of some modern day philosophers: Jacob Needleman, J. Revel, Hilary Putnam, John Searle, Saul Kripke, Richard Rorty and others. Every Friday, except holidays. Facilitated by H.D. Moe.  

Therapy for Trans Partners  

6 - 7:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center for Human Growth  

2712 Telegraph Ave. (at Derby)  

A group open to partners of those in transition or considering transition. The group is structured to be a safe place to receive support from peers and explore a variety of issues, including sexual orientation, coming out, feelings of isolation, among other topics. Intake process required. Meeting Fridays through August 17.  

$8 - $35 sliding scale per session  

Call 548-8283 x534 or x522 

Saturday, May 26 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Himalayan Fair 

10 a.m. - 7 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

1300 Shattuck Ave.  

The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects.  

$5 donation 

869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net  

Sunday, May 27  

Himalayan Fair 

10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.  

Live Oak Park  

1300 Shattuck Ave.  

The only such event in the world, the fair celebrates the mountain cultures of Tibet, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Ladakh, Mustang and Bhutan. Arts, antiques and modern crafts, live music and dance. Proceeds benefit Indian, Pakistani, Tibetan, and Nepalese grassroots projects.  

$5 donation 

869-3995 or www.himalayanfair.net 

Getting Calm; Staying Clear 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Discussion of meditation and analysis. Free and open to the public. 

843-6812  

Inside Interior Design  

10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar led by certified interior designer and artist Lori Inman.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Tuesday, May 29 

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Wednesday, May 30  

Dream Home for a Song  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by author/contractor/owner-builder David Cook.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

Thursday, May 31  

Backpacking in Northern CA.  

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Outdoors Unlimited’s director, Ari Derfel, will give a slide presentation on some of his favorite destinations for three-to-four-day backpacking vacations. Free  

527-4140 

Attic Conversions  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center  

812 Page St. 

Seminar conducted by architect/builder Andus Brandt.  

$35 per person  

525-7610  

On the occasion of George Bush’s first 100 days, Students for Climate Protection rallied on the UC Berkeley campus Monday, blasting the president for what they called his “disastrous” environmental policies and vowing to do whatever they can locally to save the planet. 

Speakers condemned Bush for not signing the Kyoto protocol, the international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

“Bush is irresponsibly condemning the planet and its residents to a future of rising temperatures and rising sea level,” says an SCP statement. Greenhouse gasses are the result of human activities, such as driving cars and using aerosols, the statement says, citing information on global warming from the Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change. The information can be found at www.ipcc.ch 

“The problem with global warming is far worse than the media told us, but the solutions are easier to obtain,” John Harte, senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley professor in the Energy and Resources Group told the lunchtime crowd in lower Sproul Plaza that grew to an estimated 250 people. 

Harte condemned Bush for being “on the dole of the oil companies,” and therefore ignoring solutions. “We have the technology to drive automobiles that have zero emissions and we’re not doing it,” he said. 

Beyond the arguments against global warming, current energy practices cause smog and they create a dependence on Middle East oil, he said.  

Councilmember Linda Maio also spoke and touted efforts the city has made by reducing its overall use of energy by 21 percent. Maio pointed out that the newly retrofitted Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center building was engineered so that air conditioning is not necessary and the city’s traffic lights now use a technology that uses less energy than the former signals. 

In a separate interview, Maio said she was disappointed that the city’s new Public Safety Building does not use natural ventilation, which was called for in early plans. (Public Works director Rene Cardinaux said the idea was abandoned because of its $1 million price tag.) Maio thanked the students for approving the EcoPass, the bus pass for which all students pay $18 each semester. Those who take advantage of the pass ride AC Transit without cost. “It’s a model for the nation,” Maio said. 

In the spirit of acting locally to attack a global problem, students have mounted a petition drive. 

“California’s public universities are the single largest energy consumer in the state,” according to the SCP. The group’s petition asks the chancellor to “to conduct a complete environmental audit of the university’s practices and operations,” then to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 7 percent by 2004. The petition has been signed by 100 members of the faculty and is circulating among students. It can be found at www.petitiononline.com/UCBGHG/petition.html 

Not everyone condemns George Bush, however. The Berkeley College Republicans say he’s done well during his first 100 days. 

“He’s doing exactly what he said he would do,” said BCR President Robb McFadden, pointing to Bush’s tax cut and education plans. 

As for the environment, McFadden said that Bush was not denying that there are problems. “He’s looking at an alternative to Kyoto,” McFadden said. “He’s taking a realistic and sensible approach,” being sensitive to the environment, while not doing anything extreme that would have an adverse affect on the economy. 

Responding to those who say Bush is in the pocket of the oil companies, McFadden countered that “he is not beholden to special interests.” 

Moreover, in his first 100 days, Bush has shown he can work with people on both sides of the aisle, McFadden said. “He’s set a new tone in Washington.” 

Bush is intent on governing in a straight-forward way, McFadden said. “What you see is what you get.” 

The Berkeley College Republican Web site, www.ocf.berkeley.edu, links to Monday’s NBC interview with Vice President Dick Cheney who laid out a framework for a national energy policy, touting increased domestic oil drilling, expanding the natural gas network and using more nuclear power. 

“Whatever our hopes for developing alternative sources of and for conserving energy,” Cheney said, “the reality is that fossil fuels supply virtually 100 percent of our transportation needs and an overwhelming share of our electricity requirements. For years down the road, this will continue to be true.” 

At a time when many say an overemphasis on high-stakes, standardized tests in public schools perpetuates social and economic inequalities, a panel of experts visiting UC Berkeley last Friday discussed the strengths and drawbacks of perhaps the most infamous test of all: the Scholastic Aptitude Test. 

The UC Berkeley student government convened the panel in the wake of University of California President Richard Atkinson’s call in February for eliminating the SAT from the UC system’s admissions process by 2003. 

Speaking at the American Council on Education’s annual meeting, Atkinson said the UC system ought to use a test based directly college preparatory curriculum, rather than on “undefined notions of aptitude or intelligence.” 

Atkinson also called for a more holistic admissions process that considers many different measures of student achievement. Such an approach, he said, would reduce inherent bias against low-income and minority students, who tend to score lower on the SAT tests. 

On Friday, the panel shed light on the sheer complexity of the standardized testing issue, listing myriad reasons why there can be no easy solution to the problem. 

“Any time we make a change, half the world howls in anguish,” said Rafael Magallan, director of state services for the College Board, the company that makes the SAT. “There is no such thing as a perfect assessment.” 

Seppy Basili, executive director of Kaplan, Inc., a private company that prepares students for tests like the SAT, said a move to a test more directly linked to school curriculum could actually increase the achievement gap between low-income and minority students and others. 

“Let the full population take the content tests and the gaps will only get worse,” he said.  

“The issue we keep skirting is this whole notion of equity,” he added. “The fact is, whatever test anyone puts out there, there will always be an income differential.” 

Jay Rosner, president of the test prep company Princeton Review, said the SAT test actually served to “democratize” higher education when it was instituted in the sixties. It interrupted the “pipeline” that carried the children of wealthy families directly to the nation’s top schools by introducing an element of merit into the admissions process, he said. 

But in today’s America, said Rosner, the SAT test often serves to make higher education less democratic by reducing access for students of certain racial and economic backgrounds to top schools. 

Since Atkinson’s speech launched a debate about the SAT and the admissions process generally, a number of people have defended the need for universities to continue to have highly selective admissions processes.  

Eliminating the use of the SAT “may not be good for UC in terms of having the best students who attract the best faculty,” UC Board of Regents President Sue Johnson told the San Francisco Chronicle in February. 

Panel member Magallan said Friday that the SAT is still one of the best indicators for how students will perform in college. 

But other panelists said, while the SAT may be one of the best indicators, it is not a particularly reliable indicator by an objective analysis. Schools that use the test for that reason are “paying a high price for that in minorities excluded from admissions,” Rosner said. 

Calvin Moore, chair of a faculty committee that helps determine admissions policy at Berkeley, defended the SAT, saying whether it was tied directly to high school curriculum or not it tests mathematical problem solving and reading comprehension, the very things “that should be taught in high school.” 

At a time when new academic standards are being rolled out all over the country by politicians eager to make a name for themselves as education reformers, the SAT has added legitimacy because it is isolated from political pressures, Moore said. 

“The important thing about the SAT tests is that they are removed from politics,” he said. “They have an independent existence.” 

Finally, Moore said that UC Berkeley’s admissions process, unlike that of most UC schools, takes into account the reputation and resources of a student’s secondary school when interpreting SAT scores, thus taking some of the bias out of the test.  

“A 600 verbal means different things depending on a student’s preparatory school,” he said. 

If UC Berkeley stopped using the SAT in admissions tomorrow it would make very little difference because the test is just one of many indicators the school uses to determine a student’s merit, Moore said.  

As proof that Berkeley’s admissions process was not biased against racial minorities, Moore pointed to the following statistic: of the 36,000 applicants to UC Berkeley this year, 16.6 percent were underrepresented minorities. Of the 8,700 admitted, 16.2 percent were underrepresented minorities. 

But panelist Justin Fong, Student Regent on the UC Board of Regents, said such numbers miss the point. 

Before they are even considered for admission to the UC System, graduates of public high schools must rank in the top 12.5 percent of all students, he said – based entirely on their GPA and SAT scores. Thus, the pool of applicants from which UC Berkeley selects its students contains a tiny number of minorities relative to the overall demographics of California’s high schools, Fong said. 

“I think everyone on this panel would agree that you are looking for students that have the drive to learn,” Fong said. “How do we get an admissions process that determines this? That’s something that we’re not getting from these tests.” 

The City Council is pondering grant applications from 15 nonprofit homeless service agencies that are vying for nearly $1.5 million in city and federal funds. 

The funding requests are part the annual Community Development Block Grant program that will allocate more than $7.2 million to 80 nonprofits that provide homeless, housing and health services.  

The applications have been reviewed by three city commissions and the City Manager’s Office. Each has made funding recommendations to the council, which is expected to make a final decision at its May 8 meeting. The council held a public hearing on the issue Thursday.  

Of the $1.5 million for nonprofit homeless services, the city provides $1.1 million and the rest comes from federal programs.  

The largest chunk of funding, $816,000, comes from Measure O funds. Measure O was approved by city voters in 1994 and was designed to address the critical needs of the homeless as well as attendant problems such as  

panhandling in commercial areas. 

According to Councilmember Kriss Worthington, the council has made only slight adjustments to the city manager’s recommendation in the past and, by and large, approves it. For the first time in years, Worthington said, the city manager agreed with each of the Homeless Commission’s recommendations. 

The nonprofit that will likely receive one of the largest grants is Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency, which will receive about $390,000. BOSS manages six homeless programs in Berkeley including Harrison House Shelter and Services, Harrison House Recovery Services and Youth House. The recommendation is that most of the programs are funded at the same level they were last year. 

Executive Director boona cheema said the grant amounts won’t cover cost of living increases. She said with the steep rise in energy and other operational costs, the grants represent a decrease in funding. “It looks like the city is maintaining a level of effort but in the end it’s a cut,” she said.  

BOSS employees are unionized and get a 3 percent raise each year and, cheema said, she wishes she could give them more. “Check out the housing costs around here,” she said. “Some of my staff are in a crisis situation. We have to pay them so they can live here and work here.” 

Homeless Commission Chair Robin Miller said the commission had a limited amount of money to work with. “It’s not like we had an infinite amount of money to allocate,” she said. “I think everybody agrees BOSS does fine work and we did the best we could do.” 

According to city Homeless Coordinator Eric Landes-Brenman, the city will have to struggle to get the same level of funding from the federal government next year.  

“The Bush administration will likely keep the same level of funding for homeless issues at $1.3 million nationwide,” he said. “But some of the rules have changed, for example funding for housing will take precedent over other homeless services like drug and alcohol treatment.” 

Of the 15 nonprofits that applied, only Jubilee Restoration was denied funding in the Homeless Commission and city manager recommendations. According to the Homeless Commission’s report to the council, Jubilee applied for $45,000 to run a drug and alcohol treatment residence for six people. The commission recommended not funding the project because there was no other funding sources and the grant would only have covered 40 percent of the operating costs.  

Several programs were recommended for a decrease in funding from previous years. The Multi-Agency Service Center at 1931 Center St. will likely receive about $33,000 less than it did last year. MASC is a drop-in center where clients can take advantage of a variety of services from taking a shower to scheduling appointments with heath providers. 

The Homeless Commission report said the reason for the cut was MASC’s failure to hire staff for which it had received additional funding in previous years. The report also identified a 51 percent decrease in referrals to drug and alcohol programs.  

MASC Director Robert Long, said the program has been struggling to find a counselor to provide the specialized treatment that MASC offers.  

“We did have a person who was counseling and doing administrative work but he was hired by the city’s Health and Human Services Department in March,” he said. 

MASC uses the Reduced Harm Method for drug and alcohol treatment, which does not require complete abstinence. 

“The truth is there are people out there who are not ready to quit or who have lost all hope and don’t see any reason to completely quit,” Long told the City Council at the public hearing last Thursday. “With the Reduced Harm Method we can still reach out to them and make them feel safe, which is where they have to be if we’re going to help them.” 

Other programs that will likely receive funding are the New Bridge Foundation that provides residential substance abuse treatment and The Women’s Daytime Drop in Center, which provides a variety of services including respite, meals and case management.

At around this time of year in 1969, leaflets appeared on the streets of Berkeley bearing the words: “We are building a park on the land. We will take care of it and guard it, in the spirit of the Costanoan Indians. When the University comes with its land title we will tell them: ‘Your land title is covered with blood. We won’t touch it. Your people ripped off the land from the Indians a long time ago. If you want it back now, you will have to fight for it again.’ ” 

The space in question, a small block of Haste Street near Telegraph Avenue, had recently been purchased, and its buildings razed, by the University of California, which intended to use it for an athletic field. In response, students and activists answered the leaflet’s call, building, planting, and staking a shared claim in the vacant space. As predicted, the university did come, and so did the fight. To refute the people’s claim and enforce its own legal one, the university bulldozed the area and fenced it in. Riots ensued. One died and several people were injured. 

But People’s Park was born. On Sunday, 32 years after its birth, its supporters and self-appointed stewards held its annual anniversary celebration. 

“Can you feel it in your feet?” shouted Terri Compost, a community garden volunteer and one of the event’s organizers. 

“We got our grass back.” On stage and absorbing occasional cheers, she continued, speaking to the steadily growing crowd, “I’m really grateful you all are here today. This is an active place. Today and often…This park is still alive.” 

And so it was. The throng had put the space to good use, gathering, enjoying a pleasant weekend afternoon, recreating, playing with each other or the animals in a portable petting zoo, making some noise, dancing. Access came through a gauntlet of Haste Street outposts: pipes for sale, leaflets and bumper stickers, foodstuffs and anniversary souvenirs. Half of the block was sectioned off for skateboarding – an incline of well-traveled pavement, ramps and quarterpipes. The skateboarders, and many among their attentive audience, seemed aloof to the weighty legacy of People’s Park, more interested in the exhilaration of stunts that defy gravity and fear. But of course the park has seen its share of such stunts as well. 

Across the knoll, displayed photos modulated from black and white scenes of unrest – National Guard troops assembling en masse or independently wrestling people to the ground; demonstrators fleeing clouds of tear gas – to more recent color shots of people dancing and hugging. Visitors studied the pictures, identifying themselves or their kin and reminiscing. 

“It’s important to know where we’ve come from,” said Harold Adler, a photographer whose work appeared on the wall. “These kinds of things can happen. We can take nothing and make it into something. This was just a big muddy hole until people decided to do something and make it beautiful.” 

“This is legacy,” he said. “This is what Berkeley has to be proud of. It should never ever change. It should always stay a park.” 

Meanwhile, on stage, the duties of master of ceremonies had been transferred to Berkeley icon Wavy Gravy, who described himself as an “activist, clown, frozen desert and temple of accumulated error.” He went on to introduce the event’s special guests, a full roster of musicians and activists, which included Rebecca Riots, the Shelley Doty X-tet, and La Tigressa, among others. Song subjects ranged from the park itself to other political causes, related only by a common interest in shared social protest. 

“There is no energy crisis!” one woman shouted. “There’s energy right here.” 

“When people gather, they get to know each other and see what they can do,” said Elisa Smith. Her organization, Food Not Bombs, has enjoyed a strong presence in People’s Park since another, less violent but notably contentious row with the university in 1991, when “there was a need to feed all the people that were out to support the park.” 

“Today is like a reunion and a birthday party,” she said. But for a place like People’s Park, a simple birthday party is not enough. Attending such an event means being reminded that Palestine needs freeing, that Bush needs impeaching, that the city has imposed unreasonable restrictions on the use of medical marijuana, that voting is mandatory but not enough and you should also sign a petition or two, at least, that clothing is optional. 

Mysteriously, or perhaps inevitably – for no other reason than actually being the right place at the right time – People’s Park became a space around which battle lines were drawn, and was forever embroidered into the political, as well as physical, landscape. Regardless of its fate, the park’s status as a focus of civic protest is permanent. 

Still owned by the University of California, People’s Park is clearly an emblem of, among other things, the delicate relationship between a strong-willed university and the strong-willed community in which it is enfolded. 

As is true of many American places, a passing wayfarer might not initially deduce the turbulent history of People’s Park. That is the irony, and, according to the organizers of the park’s annual birthday party, the point: free and peaceful access to their precious public space is the hard won privilege of tireless political advocacy. 

Scarcely into its third year, the Berkeley Daily Planet picked up an award from the Peninsula Press Club on Friday at its 24th annual awards ceremony. The event drew more than 120 club members and contest participants. 

City Hall reporter John Geluardi took an honorable mention for daily newspapers of 75,000 circulation or under for a story on a police-resident clash over parking personal vehicles, which appeared in the October 19, 2000 edition. It was called “Parking debate overheats at meeting.”  

Award winners in the over 75,000 circulation category included first place winner in editorial writing John Diaz of the San Francisco Chronicle. William Carlsen and Sabin Russell of the Chronicle took first place for their news story “Stanford Doctors;” (old) San Francisco Examiner reporter Seth Rosenfeld won a first place for reporting, “Inside the Interrogation Room.” In the sports category, Press Democrat reporter Bob Padecky won first place for “Moving Forward.”  

In the 75,000 or under category, the first place winner for a news story went to the San Mateo Daily News for a story by Elaine Goodman and Emily Richmond called “Law to Protect Children Often Frustrates Parents;” Palo Alto Daily News editor Dave Price got a first place award for an editorial: “Council Should Have Told the Whole Truth.” 

For a complete list of the winners, see http://www.penpressclub.org/contest2001.html

Mayor Shirley Dean will give the annual “State of the City” address tonight and is expected to cover a range of issues including the energy crisis, housing and troubles at Berkeley High School. 

She is also expected unveil a surprise recommendation that will revitalize the civic center area. “It’s a bold and exciting plan to restore the civic center to a place of real pride” said the mayor’s Chief of Staff Jennifer Drapeau.  

“It’s unbelievable and it will solve a lot of problems downtown.” 

The mayor is expected to focus her energy discussion on solar alternatives. A resolution authored by the mayor and Vice Mayor Maudelle Shirek and approved by the council calls for assistance to businesses and homeowners when they change to solar power.  

The mayor is also expected to discuss the city’s failure to build enough housing in recent years. She will discuss a proposal to develop housing over the Ashby BART Station. Dean also is expected to suggest making affordable housing a priority for Berkeley teachers. 

Ongoing problems at Berkeley High School will be another topic Dean will discuss. She may endorse a student identification system that would require each student to wear a card that could be swiped by security personal and provide information about the student’s class schedule and other information. 

Other issues the mayor might address are the condition of city parks and the animal shelter.

The great Cajun-Creole accordion player Danny Poullard died Friday morning of a massive heart attack while in his back yard. He was 63 years old. 

After nearly two decades of playing music with Danny in the California Cajun Orchestra, I have remained fascinated by the way he ornamented Cajun tunes. He was a master at taking the simple and embroidering it in a completely natural sounding way – and now that I think of it, Danny's way of embellishing the tunes was exactly like Danny himself: stylish, but not flashy, elegant, full of power and grace. 

Danny Poullard was born on January 10, 1937 near Eunice, La., where he grew up. His father, John Poullard, played the diatonic accordion and two uncles played regularly for dances in the area. In the early 1960s, Danny moved to the San Francisco area where he began playing with Cajun accordionist John Simeon. After John Simeon’s death, Danny became the leader of the Louisiana Playboys, performing at church dances in the local Creole communities. In 1982 he joined with Eric and Suzy Thompson to form the California Cajun Orchestra. 

Influenced heavily by the playing of Amade Ardoin, Nathan Abshire, Lawrence Walker and Aldus Roger, Danny developed an instantly recognizable accordion style. A virtuoso in speed and groove, Danny also had a uniquely elegant style of ornamentation. He was a mentor and teacher to many accordion players from all over the United States. He also was the major force in creating the thriving Bay Area Cajun-zydeco scene; virtually every diatonic Cajun accordion player here learned to play from Danny Poullard. 

Danny’s recordings include two CDs with the California Cajun Orchestra (both of which won national awards) and a cassette with fiddler Michael Doucet and guitarist Alan Senauke, all on the Arhoolie label.  

Danny was incredibly generous with his music and I know that all of us feel grateful to have experienced that generosity. I can't begin to express how much I will miss hearing him play the accordion. 

There will be a celebration of the life and music of Danny Poullard (1937-2001) with the California Cajun Orchestra and many special guests Saturday, May 5 at the Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center at 1317 San Pablo Av. with a dance lesson at 8:30 p.m. and live music at 9:30 p.m. Call  

848-5018 for information. 

Suzy Thompson is a member of the California Cajun Orchestra

LOS ANGELES — A judge Monday rejected a bid by former Symbionese Liberation Army fugitive Sara Jane Olson to delay her attempted-murder trial for five months but gave lawyers at least a week to file an appeal. 

Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler said he understood the pressures on the defense to analyze extensive evidence, but that the lawyers have had adequate time to prepare. 

“The motion to continue is denied but I will give you a chance to take a writ,” Fidler said. “The Court of Appeal will treat this as a hot writ and we should have a decision next week.” 

Defense attorney J. Tony Serra said the writ would not be filed with the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal until next Monday because of the need to gather documents. 

The judge delayed matters until May 9 and said that unless the appeals court intervenes, he would expect to begin hearing pretrial motions then. The trial itself will not begin until a prospective jury panel is called and questioning of prospects begins. Fidler has indicated there could be a gap of several weeks before that occurs. 

The defense has suggested jury selection will take six weeks and the trial six months. 

Serra said the defense is going to the appeals court “not because we fear the evidence but because we want to be ready. We have an innocent client. We want to be able to absorb all the evidence.” 

Olson, who came to court with her husband, three daughters and her mother as well as a group of supporters, told reporters her family is anxious to get the trial behind them. 

“We have put our lives on hold,” she said. “But my lawyers have not had adequate time to prepare.” 

She said the judge’s decision to allow an exploration of the entire SLA history had complicated the case. 

“This is not an indictment just of me but of a generation,” she said. 

Serra told reporters: “They don’t have a viable, winnable case against Sara Jane Olson so they are prosecuting the SLA. It is a strategy born of desperation.” 

Olson, 54, is accused of attempting to murder Los Angeles police officers by planting bombs under police cars in 1975 in retaliation for the deaths of six SLA members in a fiery shootout in 1974. The bombs did not explode. 

Indicted in 1976 under her former name, Kathleen Soliah, she remained a fugitive until her 1999 capture in Minnesota, where she had taken on her new name and was living as a doctor’s wife, mother and active community member. 

Serra and co-counsel Shawn Chapman brought in another lawyer, Stuart Hanlon, who formerly represented Olson. All emphatically argued they were unprepared to proceed, that Olson would be denied a fair trial if they proceeded now, and that the judge was denying her the right to hire experts by imposing a $200,000 cap on publicly paid defense expenses. 

“I’m not cutting Ms. Olson off,” the judge said. “But you are not entitled to a quote-unquote dream team.” 

Serra said outside court that prosecutors have spent $5 million on the case, an estimate denied by district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons. 

“That’s just plain silly,” said Gibbons. “It would mean that our prosecutors are being paid a heck of a lot more than I thought they were.” 

In addition to two prosecutors, she said, the office is using two full-time investigators, one part-time investigator and a paralegal. 

Deputy District Attorneys Michael Latin and Eleanor Hunter told the judge they are ready for trial whenever a firm date is set. 

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco on Monday became the only city in the nation to pay for its employees to receive sex changes, after the Board of Supervisors narrowly passed the measure. 

“It is landmark legislation,” said Supervisor Mark Leno, who has worked about two years to have the benefits added. “This is not like losing one’s hair. It’s not like displeasure with the size and shape of one’s nose.” 

An audience filled with transgenders and supporters wearing florescent green and pink stickers that read “Transgender Equality” leaped into the air and cheered following the 9-2 roll call. The measure needed nine votes to pass. Supervisors Tony Hall and Leland Yee were the two opposing supervisors on the 11-member board. 

The measure, which awaits the signature of Mayor Willie Brown, will extend up to a $50,000 lifetime cap in benefits to city workers who want to switch their gender. 

San Francisco apparently would be the only governmental body in the nation to make such benefits available. The state of Minnesota offered similar benefits, but the program was phased out in 1998. The issue was discussed in Oregon, but a commission decided against it in 1999. 

“This is just one step against discrimination,” said Theresa Sparks, a transgender commissioner at the city Human Rights Commission. “This is the first step, and it’s an important step. I look forward to working with Supervisor Hall.” 

Hall, who has spoken against the benefits, received countless e-mails and phone calls from the transgender community following his public opposition at a meeting last week. The benefits were scheduled to go to a vote then. The vote was postponed because of Hall’s opposition plus the absence of two supervisors, which would have left the proposal one vote shy of the necessary nine. 

“All of us were born with problems,” Hall said. “This is not society’s problem, and to think otherwise is to discriminate.” 

Hall argued the city’s benefits are meant to cover procedures that are medically necessary. He considers gender reconstruction surgery elective and said the city should not pay for transgender benefits without extending the same coverage to those who suffer from obesity, anorexia and learning disabilities. 

“Once again, the city and county of San Francisco is paying for something that is not necessary,” Hall said following the vote. “I suspect there will be hidden costs that were not revealed in today’s debate.” 

Leno stressed the insurance would not cover cosmetic procedures. It instead would pay for genital reconstruction, hormones and other medical matters such as hysterectomies and mastectomies only after a doctor deems it medically necessary. 

The city currently has 14 identified transgender employees out of its 37,000 workers.  

The insurance changes that would cost $1.70 a month would include items such as infertility drugs, Viagra and acupuncture, in addition to the sex-change benefits. 

The benefits would be available starting July 1 and would cover male-to-female surgery, which costs about $37,000, as well as female-to-male surgery, which runs about $77,000. It also would cover hormones and other procedures. 

Employees would have to work for the city at least one year before they would be eligible. People wanting sex-change surgery would have to pay 15 percent out of pocket if they use a doctor in the city’s health network. If an out-of-network doctor is used, that goes up to 50 percent. 

The term transgender covers a broad range of categories including cross-dressers, transvestites, transsexuals and those born with characteristics of both sexes. 

Veronika Cauley, a transgender commissioner on the city’s Veterans Affairs Commission, said she’s more interested in electrolysis and breast augmentation and isn’t sure what city benefits she will use. But she’s thrilled to know she now has the option. 

“I am who I am. I just have a gender dysphoria issue,” she said. “It’s all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” 

———— 

On the Web: 

San Francisco Human Rights Commission: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfhumanrights/ 

SACRAMENTO — After keeping a low profile since announcing he may run for governor, Los Angeles investment banker William E. Simon Jr. will make his first campaign-style appearances Tuesday. 

Aides said Simon is scheduled to make two private tours of natural gas generation plants near Bakersfield, highlighting the energy crisis issue that has hampered Democratic incumbent Gov. Gray Davis. 

Later in May, Simon aides said the first-time candidate may meet with high-tech executives in Silicon Valley, school children in Los Angeles and farmers in Fresno. Despite his plans to make several campaign-type appearances, Simon’s aides said he has not decided whether he will actually run for governor. Simon formed an exploratory committee in March. 

“All signs are certainly pointing toward him proceeding with the campaign,’ said spokesman Jeff Flint. “This is part of the exploratory process.” 

Simon is the son of William E. Simon, who was treasury secretary during the Ford administration. Before starting an investment banking firm with his father in 1988, Simon was an assistant U.S. attorney in New York. 

Secretary of State Bill Jones has already announced he’s seeking the Republican nomination for governor, while actor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last week he will not run for governor. 

Davis has no announced Democratic opposition. 

LOS ANGELES — With a midnight deadline looming to apply for a visa without leaving the country, thousands of illegal immigrants spent Monday standing in line at Immigration and Naturalization Service offices throughout the state. 

In downtown Los Angeles, more than 2,000 applicants were lined up outside the federal building when it opened at 6 a.m., many having camped out all night. 

“It’s huge. So big,” said Sharon A. Gavin, director of public affairs for the INS in Los Angeles, as she surveyed the crowd. 

The line diminished by midmorning as agents weeded out people who just wanted to hand in forms or who didn’t need to be there first. But the office would stay open until midnight. 

In San Francisco, newspapers, empty soda bottles and fast food bags were strewn around the INS building as people holding blankets and packets of documents stood in lines snaking around a block. 

For Yvette Garcia and her husband, Juan, the wait began at 11 p.m. Sunday, but by noon Monday, they were almost finished – Juan was just waiting to receive his employment authorization card. 

“It was hard, but it was worth it,” said Yvette Garcia, who is jointly sponsoring Juan. “It was an experience. I don’t know how the homeless do it.” 

The Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) Act that took effect in December allows an estimated 640,000 illegal immigrants to apply for visas without first returning to their home countries and applying from there. That is significant because most illegal immigrants are barred from re-entering the United States once they leave. 

A visa allows an immigrant to stay in the country and reserves a place for the immigrant to later apply for a green card, which signifies permanent legal residency. 

To apply, an immigrant must be sponsored and have a close relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Then the immigrant must pay $225 in application and fingerprinting fees and a $1,000 fine for entering the country illegally. 

Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the INS by midnight Monday. 

Marriage to a U.S. citizen is often the easiest way to apply for a visa, and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s office was doing a brisk business in marriage licenses Monday morning. 

At the district office in heavily Latino East Los Angeles, officials had sold more than 260 marriage licenses by noon – about 10 times as many as in a typical day, said Maria D. Lopez, an office supervisor. 

For weeks couples have been showing up asking, ”’Please, please, can you marry us?”’ Lopez said. 

“We had an abundance this morning,” she said. 

Many of the marriage licenses, which cost $66.75 each, are sold to notary publics who are authorized to perform marriages. Some notary publics have been showing up once or twice a day recently to restock, Lopez said. 

But for one couple waiting outside the San Diego INS office Monday, marriage wasn’t the answer. 

Po Chuy Yee Ma, 35, and Yue Ying Lei, 26, got married two months ago, but they said it wasn’t because Yue needs a green card. 

In fact marriage was why the couple was so late in filing with the INS. 

“We didn’t think about this. We were so busy planning our wedding that we didn’t see the news,” Po said. 

Illegal immigrants across the country turned out in extraordinary numbers and stood in line for hours, trying to beat Monday’s deadline for applying for legal residency under a new federal law. 

In Albuquerque, N.M., they camped overnight outside the Immigration and Naturalization Service office. In Charlotte, N.C., parents hoisted infants in their arms in a line that snaked around a building. 

In Philadelphia, they marched into a truck, where application photos were taken assembly-line style. And in New York, about 500 people lined up to file applications. 

“I need papers,” said Abdoulaye Diallo, a taxi driver who arrived in New York in 1995 from Guinea in West Africa. “I didn’t hear before. I found out today from TV.” 

The Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act, which took effect in December, will allow approximately 640,000 illegal immigrants to seek green cards without first returning to their home countries. That is significant because most illegal immigrants who leave the United States are barred from re-entering for up to 10 years. 

To apply, an immigrant must be sponsored by an employer or by a close relative who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. 

Anticipating the rush of immigrants, INS offices from Albany, N.Y., to Yakima, Wash., extended their hours until midnight. 

Among the hundreds of people in lines wrapped around the Detroit office was Rebecca Nava, who traveled 140 miles from Grand Rapids, Mich., seeking legal status for her husband, a Mexican citizen. 

“It seems like everybody that comes over here doesn’t want to go back because life (in Mexico) is so difficult,” she said. 

For immigrants without a sponsor, marriage to a U.S. citizen can be the fastest route to legal status. One byproduct of the new federal law was a rush to the altar in cities with high immigrant populations. 

Paula Pagan, a wedding clerk in New York, said she performed 255 ceremonies last Friday alone and expected a lot more Monday. 

Danny Ang from Malaysia, waiting in the INS line nearby, said he was frustrated that he couldn’t take that route to citizenship. “I’m a gay guy so I can’t get married just for the paper,” Ang said. “I don’t even know if I have the right forms now. Maybe I should just give it up.” 

INS spokeswoman Elaine Komis said the agency would not know for several weeks how many immigrants filed applications. But she said petitions from relatives hoping to sponsor immigrants suggest the applications are on a record pace. The prior record dates to 1998, just before the deadline for a similar law. 

Although many applicants admitted to procrastination, some said it simply took time and money to get their papers in order. 

Henry Harrison, was waiting in Miami with his wife, Kimberly. They said they had known about the deadline since November but needed time to raise the $1,000 application fee and $455 in additional costs. 

“There are a lot of people who want to lead good lives and they shouldn’t be deprived of that chance,” Kimberly Harrison said. 

Mario Russell, director of immigrant services for Catholic Charities in New York, said the agency counseled hundreds of applicants, extending the hours of its immigration hot line and adding eight new languages, including Polish, Turkish and Serbo-Croatian. 

“We expanded our staff, we expanded our hours, and we’ve been working nonstop on this for four months,” Russell said. “Everybody’s pretty tired.” 

In Boston, the INS had accepted about 10 times the average daily number of applications by noon Monday. 

Richmond Akesseh said he came to Boston from Ghana illegally about a year ago. “Even when I was little, I wanted to come and make a family here,” he said. “I want to go to school and finish my courses.” 

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On the Net: 

INS: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov 

On the Net: 

INS: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov 

VALLEJO — A jury began deliberating late Monday in the case against Curtis Dean Anderson, who is accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old Vallejo girl. 

Prosecutor Donna Stashyn pointed a finger at Anderson, 40, and called him a “perverse predator” who tortured the third grader last August. 

“He took away her innocence and taught her some horrible things that an 8-year-old shouldn’t know,” Stashyn said. 

Anderson’s lawyer, Carl Spieckerman, asked jurors not to assume the young victim is telling the truth. 

“That person is simply a witness. She’s not a beautiful little girl who would not lie,” Spieckerman said during his closing argument. “Whether we like it or not, she lied to you.” 

Anderson faces kidnapping charges and 10 sex-related counts. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 250 years to life in prison. 

The Vallejo girl, whose name is not being used because of the nature of the crime, claimed Anderson kidnapped her on her way home from school, and kept her locked inside his car for two days while he repeatedly sexually assaulted her. She testified last week. 

Stashyn said it’s amazing the girl remembers as much as she does about the incident, because Anderson refused to feed her, forced her to drink alcohol and kept her awake all night. 

“Here she is with this stranger who’s threatening her,” Stashyn said. “Think about it through the eyes of an 8-year-old. She was terrified.” 

The girl testified that she managed to escape after 44 hours with Anderson by finding the keys to unlock the chains that bound her ankle to the inside of the car. She said she quickly flagged down a passing truck driver, who rescued her. 

Spieckerman pointed to a lack of evidence, including no fingerprints on any locks, keys or chains, and no fingerprints on the shot glass the girl said she was forced to use to drink wine, beer and root beer schnapps. 

“I hope the last three days of testimony have allowed you to open your minds and get past the outrage,” Spieckerman told the five women and seven men on the jury. 

But Stashyn said the girl had no reason to lie and called the defense’s accusations “absurd.” 

“The law’s not in his favor. The facts aren’t in his favor, so he’s blaming the victim,” she said. “He got caught because (the little girl) was stronger and smarter than he will ever be.” 

Anderson smiled broadly in response. 

Spieckerman told the judge during a break that Anderson had wanted to testify on his own behalf, but agreed not to on the attorney’s advice. 

He told jurors the prosecution had not proven its case and there was no reason for Anderson to testify. 

Spieckerman said he wants to raise enough doubts to get jurors to lessen the charges against Anderson and reduce his prison time. 

“It’s going to be a lot of years unless the jury doesn’t believe anything, which I kind of doubt,” Spieckerman said outside the court.

The Associated Press 

WASHINGTON— Medical residents are pressing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to set limits on the hours they may work each week. 

The physicians-in-training say they regularly clock 95 hours a week and sometimes as many as 136 hours, increasing their risk of auto accidents, depression and other health problems. 

“Any system allowing its workers to be subjected to such direct threats to their well-being is seriously flawed,” said a petition filed Monday by medical residents and health advocates. 

“For OSHA not to regulate resident work hours is to abdicate its responsibility to protect the health of those who care for the nation’s sick and dying.” 

The petition asks OSHA to: 

• Limit work week to 80 hours. 

• Limit shifts to a maximum of 24 consecutive hours. 

• Limit on-call shifts to every third night. 

• Require a minimum of 10 hours off between shifts. 

• Require at least one 24-hour off-duty period per week. 

• Limit shifts to 12 consecutive hours for emergency room residents who work in the busiest hospitals – those with more than 15,000 unscheduled patient visits a year. 

The petition was filed by the consumer and health advocacy group Public Citizen; the Committee of Interns and Residents; the American Medical Student Association; Dr. Bertrand Bell, author of a New York state health code restricting resident work hours; and Dr. Kingman P. Strohl, director of the Center for Sleep Disorders Research at Case Western Reserve University. 

“What organized medicine has told us is that good medicine requires us to choose between our own welfare and the welfare of our patients,” said Sonya Rasminsky, a resident in psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts. “What this petition says is that the best medicine cannot ignore either one.” 

However, a problem the effort faces is that the law by which OSHA regulates –the Occupational Safety and Health Act – does not address the issue of work hours. 

OSHA received the petition and is reviewing it, said spokeswoman Susan Fleming. 

The petition cited various surveys and studies of residents that have found: 

• The average resident reported going as long as 37.6 hours without sleep. 

• A fourth of respondents reported being on call in the hospital more than 80 hours a week. 

• Six out of seven surgical residents reported falling asleep while driving. 

• Nearly a third of residents experienced depression. 

New York is the only state to limit resident work hours through legislation, and it appropriated $168 million for enforcement. Similar attempts in California and Massachusetts have failed. 

The American Medical Students Association has been working with Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., to introduce federal legislation in coming months. 

Six countries and jurisdictions in the last 15 years have limited work hours for medical residents: Australia, to 70 hours; Denmark, fewer than 45 hours; United Kingdom, 56 hours; the European Union, 48 hours by 2003; Germany, 56 hours; and the Netherlands, 48 hours. 

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has created voluntary guidelines to help restrict work hours in the United States, but most hospitals have not implemented them. 

——— 

On the Net: 

American Medical Student Association: http://www.amsa.org 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration: http://www.osha.gov 

BALTIMORE — Children exposed to lead at levels now considered safe scored substantially lower on intelligence tests, according to researchers who suggest one in every 30 children in the United States suffers harmful effects from the metal. 

Children with a lead concentration of less than 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood scored an average of 11.1 points lower on the Stanford-Binet IQ test than the mean of children with a lead concentration of 1 microgram or less, the researchers found. The mean is the intermediate value between the lowest and highest scores. 

“There is no safe level of blood lead,” said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, lead author of the lead study presented Monday at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. 

Lanphear said newborns have lead in their blood because of its presence in their mothers, but children are most commonly exposed to lead by inhaling lead-paint dust or eating paint flakes.  

Lead-based paint was widely used in homes throughout the 1950s and 1960s until it was banned in 1978. 

At high levels, lead can cause kidney damage, seizures, coma and death. 

Before 1970, scientists believed lead poisoning took effect at 60 micrograms per deciliter. But the toxicity standard has been lowered over the years to the point where a concentration of 10 micrograms or less now is considered safe. 

The researchers said their work suggests that lead is a potent toxin at levels previously thought to be harmless. 

Experts predicted the study would prompt federal regulators to lower the acceptable blood-lead standard. 

“This is a wonderful study that has very serious implications for public health in the United States and the rest of the world,” said Dr. Daniel Courey, a pediatrics and developmental behavior professor at Columbus Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. 

Lanphear’s team tracked 276 children in Rochester, N.Y., from ages 6 months to 5 years, measuring blood lead levels every six months and administering the IQ test at age 5. 

The study also found an average 5.5-point decline in IQ for every additional 10-microgram increase in blood-lead concentration, said Lanphear, a physician at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. 

The study adjusted for other predictors of lowered IQ such as the mother’s IQ, tobacco exposure and intellectual environment in the home, Lanphear said. 

Lanphear’s findings confirm what those who work with “lead kids” already know, said Ruth Ann Norton, executive director of the Baltimore-based Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning. 

“There are kids who are disruptive, then there are ’lead kids’ — very disruptive, very low levels of concentration,” Norton said. 

Besides affecting reading and reasoning abilities, lead also is linked to hearing loss, speech delay, balance difficulties and violent tendencies, Norton said. 

——— 

On the Net: 

EPA: http://www.epa.gov/lead 

CECLP: http://www.leadsafe.org 

WASHINGTON — Some of Bob Kerrey’s former Senate colleagues who served in Vietnam said Sunday they have little desire for a Pentagon investigation into his recent admission that civilians were killed during a mission for which he won the Bronze Star. 

“To now talk about an investigation, it seems to me, is just the wrong way to go,” Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., told ABC’s “This Week.” “If the Pentagon asked me, I’d say no.” 

Kerrey, the former Nebraska governor and senator, and five other former members of his Navy SEAL team said in a written statement released over the weekend that what happened on the night of Feb. 25, 1969, at Thanh Phong “was a defining and tragic moment for each of us.” 

“We regret the results of this night. We might do things differently if we could do it over. But we cannot be certain. We were young men then and did what we thought was right and necessary,” they said in the statement issued to The Washington Post. 

Kerrey’s admission came as another former SEAL member, Gerhard Klann, claimed in interviews that civilian women, children and elderly were herded into a group and killed on Kerrey’s order. Two Vietnamese women who said they were witnesses gave a similar account. 

Kerrey and the five squad members said they fired after being fired upon. 

The Pentagon last week left open the possibility of investigating the award of a Bronze Star to Kerrey. Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said he did not believe Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was reviewing the matter, and the Pentagon spokesman said he could not say whether the Pentagon would look into it. 

The citation for the combat medal says 21 Viet Cong were killed and enemy weapons were captured or destroyed. Kerrey said that he told his military superiors his Navy SEAL squad killed civilians. 

Asked whether it was possible that the matter would be investigated, Quigley replied: “Sure.” 

Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., a member of the Armed Services Committee, told ABC he does not think an investigation is warranted, as did Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. “There’s no point in it, I don’t believe. ... Let it play out, but I don’t think we need an investigation here,” Hagel said. 

In an editorial in Sunday’s Washington Post, Kerry, Cleland and Hagel said Kerrey’s admission “demonstrates the courage we all have known in him for years.” 

“Many people have been forced to do things in war that they are deeply ashamed of later. Yet for our country to blame the warrior instead of the war is among the worst, and, regrettably, most frequent mistakes we as a country can make,” they wrote. 

Asked if Kerrey should give back his medal, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a prisoner of war for more than five years, said that would be “a decision that Bob would make.” 

A Kerrey aide, Michael Powell, said Sunday that “it is not my understanding that he’s giving the medal back.” 

Kerrey recently said that because a dozen of the victims turned out to be civilians, “the medal means nothing to me.” After receiving the Bronze Star, he received the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military commendation, for an unrelated mission in Vietnam. 

WASHINGTON — Teens’ drinking and driving has dropped by nearly one-fifth in states with stricter blood-alcohol limits for young people, according to a 30-state survey of high school seniors. 

The survey shows that policies that discourage risky drinking can have an impact on society, said Alexander C. Wagenaar of the University of Minnesota, first author of an account appearing Tuesday in the American Journal of Public Health. 

Wagenaar said that all 50 states have now set the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at .02 percent for drivers under 21 so the effects should eventually be seen in every state. 

There is a different threshold for adults, however. For at least 19 states and the District of Columbia, the legal limit for adults is now .08 percent. A federal law passed last year requires a .08 level in all states by 2004. States that fail to comply could lose federal highway funds. 

“The (BAC) law for young people reinforces the law that moved the legal drinking age up to 21,” said Wagenaar. 

He said data from the new survey is consistent with other studies that have shown a 10 to 20 percent decline in alcohol-related car crashes in states with a .02 blood alcohol level for youthful drivers. 

In the new study, researchers addressed a series of questions about drinking and driving to 5,000 high school seniors in 30 states. The survey is identical in method and questions to one that began in the late 1970s, said Wagenaar.  

As a result, he said, it accurately measures the effects over time of specific laws on the drinking and driving habits of young people. 

The survey compared answers to the questions collected before the youth BAC laws were passed, with answers from after the laws were passed.  

The dates of passage in each state varied, but the surveys were adjusted so that the time pattern was the same, he said. 

The study found that after the BAC laws were passed, 19 percent fewer youthful drivers admitted that they had driven a car, truck or motorcycle after drinking any alcoholic beverage. 

Asked if they had driven after five or more drinks, 23 percent fewer admitted that they had taken the wheel. 

Wagenaar said teens also are showing they are more cautious about others drinking. He said the survey found that 7.1 percent fewer teens admitted riding with drivers who had been drinking, and 13.5 percent fewer said they had ridden with a driver who had consumed five or more drinks. 

“That is a good sign because teens frequently socialize in groups,” said Wagenaar. He said the study suggests that there is an active effort by the teens to avoid riding with someone who is alcohol-impaired. 

In a broader sense, said Wagenaar, the study shows that policies and laws that make alcohol less accessible and which emphasize its possible risks is affecting a gradual shift in the perception of the role of drinking in society. 

“Policies, such as raising the drinking age to 21 or tighter regulation on alcohol sales, help to engender a norm that alcohol is not the same as soda pop, that it can be a risky substance and that it is not without hazards,” said Wagenaar. 

A growing awareness of the hazards of alcohol, he said, “helps create the norm that when you use alcohol, you have to think it through and use it in a low-risk way.” 

The American Journal of Public Health is a monthly publication of the American Public Health Association. 

——— 

On the Net: 

American Public Health Association: http://www.apha.org/ 

WASHINGTON — Girls are being arrested and jailed in record numbers, according to an American Bar Association study released Monday that says the juvenile justice system isn’t equipped to handle the special needs of troubled girls. 

While juvenile crime has dropped overall and the problems of young male offenders tend to get more attention, girls under the age of 18 have become the fastest growing segment of the juvenile justice population, said the ABA report, which is an amalgamation of many studies on girls and crime. 

Arrest, detention and custody data show an increase in both the number and percentage of girls in the juvenile justice system – a trend that runs counter to that of boys, the report said. 

Law enforcement agencies reported 670,800 arrests of girls under age 18 in 1999, which accounted for 27 percent of the total juvenile arrests made that year, the report said. 

Delinquency cases involving girls jumped 83 percent between 1988 and 1997 – with cases involving white girls rising 74 percent and those involving blacks up 106 percent. 

Between 1990 and 1999, arrests of girls increased more than male arrests for curfew and loitering, drug abuse and assault. 

The report suggested that the surge in young female delinquents isn’t necessarily the result of more violent and aggressive behavior among girls. 

Rather, the report blamed the problem on a re-labeling of family conflicts as violent offenses, changes in police practice regarding domestic violence, gender bias in the processing of minor offenses, get-tough policies for curfew violators and a lack of services aimed at helping troubled girls. “Girls are too often placed in settings and institutions that are neither designed for, nor proven effective in, their treatment and rehabilitation,” said Martha Barnett, ABA president. 

The report said: 

• Girls are more likely to be arrested for running away than boys. The report attributed the disparity to bias on the part of police, prosecutors, judges and public agencies that handle runaway cases. 

• Girls are detained for less serious offenses than boys and are more likely to be detained for minor offenses, such as public disorder, probation violations and traffic offenses. 

• Girls are more likely to be sent back to detention after release. 

The ABA recommended that communities develop alternatives to detention and incarceration for girls and revamp policies that send girls into juvenile justice facilities for minor offenses. 

——— 

On the Net: 

ABA report: http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus 

Black Box Productions – “the anarchist wing of Shotgun Players,” joked playwright/director Rebecca Goodberg – is currently presenting two new challenging and thought-provoking short experimental works at LaVal’s Subterranean Theater in Berkeley. 

The first play, “Slings & Arrows,” written and directed by Goodberg, is subtitled “love stories from Shakespearean tragedie.” 

In this series of short scenelets and monologues, all on the theme of unsatisfactory love relationships, six characters from various plays by Shakespeare springboard off of bits from the original plays, and then wing it into modern-language improvisations built around various unlikely romantic pairings. 

There is some gender-bending in the casting. A drunken Romeo (a smooth Joseph Kaneko), for example, picks up Lady Macbeth (played by a man, Alan Coyne) at a bar, and they almost end up in the sack together. 

Elsewhere, Portia (Benjamin Lovejoy) from “Merchant of Venice” and Desdemona (Staci Foley Marengo) from “Othello” swap dysfunctional love-life stories while chatting in the lobby of a sperm bank. 

Even Brutus (Jonathan Krauss) from “Julius Caesar” and Macbeth (Drew Barrymore look-alike Eliza Bell) have a fling, although Portia also falls hard for Brutus who’s studying to get on “Jeopardy.” 

Romeo manages an on-going flirtation throughout the play with aggressive, short-tempered chicken-hawk Desdemona, after he climbs up the wrong balcony into the wrong bedroom. 

Most of these performers are dressed in black and other dark colors, in the LaVal’s black performance space. Fragments from contemporary pop love songs open and close the show. 

Since the modern language segments of “Slings & Arrows” – more than half the play – are improvised, each night the play is different. The acting, which seemed initially a little rough from this youthful cast, smoothed out as the show progressed and the relationships evolved among the characters. It made an interesting evening. 

The second play, Masha Rapoport’s “Blue Roses,” features a dreamy sister Laura (Linda Kim) and drunken poet brother Tom (John Mok) chafe under the authority of their oppressive mother Amanda (Wendee Yung). 

“Blue Roses” is sort of a conceptual piece, like a Jorge Luis Borges story about a classical piece of literature existing in a modified form in a parallel reality. 

The wrinkle here is that “Blue Roses” is told more from the point of view of quiet sister Laura. Director Schneider, who also conceived the piece, said he wanted originally to direct “Glass Menagerie,” but when he went back and reread the script, it was different than he remembered it. 

He was interested, then, in creating a work that commented on how memory of a past experience can lock in the mind as a memory that is different from the original experience. 

The actors do strong work in this show, especially Mok’s intense performance in the role of Tom. He is a fine actor. Giao-Chau M. Ly’s realistic set and Erin McKenna’s realistic costumes give the show a sense of hyper-reality after the stylized staging of the first play. 

A short question and answer discussion session between audience and artists follows each play. This allows the audience members insights into the evolution of each show, and gives them a chance to comment on the results. There is also a chance to meet the actors. The night I attended, these post-play discussions were enlightening. 

In the Black Box series, Shotgun Players is showing its commitment to the encouragement of “firsts”– by actors, directors, playwrights and technical people. With these two productions, the company has planted a few seeds for the future of American theater. The show runs this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Planet theater reviewer John Angell Grant has written for "American Theatre," "Backstage West," "Callboard," and many other publications.  

E-mail him at jagplays@yahoo.com.

There is something to be explained about the popular measurements of consumer confidence. A lot, perhaps, but a beginning would be to explain why people won’t buy a refrigerator but will buy a stock. 

The latest consumer attitudes survey from the University of Michigan indicates two-thirds of consumers believed the economy was in recession in April – one of the worst levels since 1992, when it really was. 

Buying attitudes were said to have declined for homes, appliances, cars, furniture and home electronics – and other studies back this up. But decline is relative, as in declines from extreme, unsustainable highs. 

Almost simultaneously with the consumer confidence report came the surprising news that the economy grew at a 2 percent annual rate during the first quarter, twice as fast as had been anticipated. 

Remember, this was a three-month period during which the word recession was used by officials and commentators almost every day – enough times you might say to brainwash even the most stubborn consumer. But consumers held out, perhaps as long as they could under the dire circumstances being expressed by so-called experts. Car sales and home sales remained near record highs, and confidence even began to rise. 

Now, apparently it has fallen again, even as other indicators suggest the worst might already have occurred, leading to the reasonable suggestion that consumers might be reacting to events rather than forecasting them. If things really are as bad as I’ve been reading, the consumer can be imagined thinking, then I had better get in agreement with the crowd. 

This, however, does not seem to apply to investors, whose growing numbers in this day and age include a large segment of ordinary consumers, the same consumers who are now said to be worried about the future. If so, the worries hardly show up in the trading statistics. After one of the worst crashes ever, and certainly the worst in terms of the number of investors directly involved, optimism remains. Investors don’t make plans to spend their money on what is past. They spend because they believe that the companies they spend on will do better in the future than they’re doing now. Right now, they are eager to spend. 

Inflated expectations, of course, are what Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan had in mind when he referred to irrational exuberance. In the long term, stocks might average 11 percent, but they can experience violent downturns in the meantime. Eleven percent can disguise much interim pain. 

The consumer-investor, however, knows at least a bit about pain, having seen mutual funds and 401(k)s decimated along with glorious plans for the future.  

John Cunniff is a business analyst for The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Computer and video games now represent a $10.5 billion industry that eventually could rival the market for movies, according to a trade organization study. 

Game sales have grown 15 percent a year from 1997 to 2000, according to a state-of-the-industry report released Tuesday by the Interactive Digital Software Association, a group that represents video game makers. 

The industry’s total value was based on game publishing, transportation, wholesale and retail sales, and other related areas. 

The industry also created more than 219,000 jobs and paid $7.2 billion in wages in 2000, according to the study. Retail sales of computer and video game hardware and software totaled about $7.8 billion. 

By comparison, domestic movie ticket sales reached $7.7 billion in 2000, while DVD and videocassette tape sales hit about $10.8 billion, according to firms that track the film industry. 

“The lines will cross soon if the growth projections that we see are true,” said Doug Lowenstein, president of the software association. “This industry is going to be growing at 50 to 75 percent over the next four or five years.” 

Analysts expect a big burst of growth for computer and video games this year, when Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo introduce a new generation of consoles in time for the holidays. 

Depending on the game platform, the equipment will feature high-speed Internet access, the ability to play DVD movies and advanced game-playing capacity. 

All three companies are expected to show off the platforms later this month in Los Angeles at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the largest video game trade show of the year. 

“The gaming industry is going to control more of the living-room dollars,” said P.J. McNealy, a senior analyst with Dataquest. “You start putting a box in front of a TV with a hard drive attached to it, and you can download movies, games, MP3s, anything. And you can watch DVDs. 

“So (gaming and movies) are battling for entertainment dollars.” 

The growth has caught the attention of lawmakers, who are turning more frequently to experts to offer advice on intellectual property and other issues connected to the industry. 

“The entertainment software industry has clearly become more politically involved as it has grown over the last few years,” said U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, a Democrat who represents the Mission Hills area of Los Angeles. 

Some game makers also have come under fire by lawmakers for the level of violence contained in games. The association, however, contends that only a small percentage of games incorporate the kind of extreme violence under scrutiny by Congress. 

SUNNYVALE — A new format for fast wireless networks gained the support Monday of four companies that will help develop and roll out the technology in an increasingly competitive environment. 

Card Access Inc., Intermec Technologies Corp., Proxim Inc. and TDK Corp. each will be allowed early access to the format being developed by Atheros Communications Inc. 

The technology – based on a standard called 802.11a – is one of many emerging formats that connect laptops, desktops, printers and other peripherals at tremendous speeds without wires.  

“These companies are united in their belief that 802.11a is the answer to both today’s market demands and tomorrow’s even more challenging requirements,” said Rich Redelfs, Atheros’ chief executive. 

Atheros’ technology operates at a higher frequency than many of its competitors and can transmit up to 72 megabits per second, the company said. 

Intermec:home.intermec.com 

Proxim: www.proxim.com/ 

Atheros: www.atheros.com 

The Berkeley Bay Festival offers boat rides, art activities and educational experiences each year. And each year new people are stunned by what the Berkeley Marina has to offer. 

Saturday, thousands of people visited the Berkeley Marina for the annual festival. Patty Donald, event organizer, hoped they took something home with them that will remind them that the Bay is right next door, and that it belongs to all of us. 

“If they can't touch [the Bay] they won’t care about it,” said Donald. “If you can hold a crab in your hand, you’re going to think about what you put down the storm drain.” 

Part of her goal for the Berkeley Bay Festival is to teach people the importance of this vital resource, and get them to visit the marina for reasons, “beyond restaurants and boats.” 

Patty Donald herself realizes the truth of that statement. Five generations of her family have lived on the Bay, and her grandparents used the Bay as a port for shipping the products from their food and grain business. 

Donald wanted to ensure that young people and adults alike got to touch and look at parts of the Bay normally out of reach, and teaching through doing permeated the event. Each booth offered a hands-on activity for kids — where they colored pictures of fish, separated trash from sea shells on a small area of sand and distinguished male and female brine shrimp from each other. 

Hands-on learning is a method of education that is growing in popularity, and Susan Sepanik from Save the Bay, an organization fighting for bay preservation, explained that this kind of learning is grounded in extensive research.  

“It’s been proven that experiential education is great for kids,” she said. “They learn a lot more if you get a chance to get out on the water.” And, said Sepanik, her organization is very conscious that the educational technique of getting young people to play in and around the Bay is with the intent of “creating Bay stewards for the future.” 

A group of five girls attached to five blue balloons, visiting the festival for Emma Cox’s 11th birthday party, attested to the success of the educational strategy. Brittany Lai, Isabel Callejo Brighton, Aiyana Price, and Rosa and Emma Cox clamored together, “We like learning about the Bay and stuff. We just love nature, we all like animals and nature and stuff.”  

They added that conservation was important because, “We’d rather see them throughout our lives.”  

As if in accordance with Donald’s wishes, those who came were not the usual marina crowd of fine diners and boaters.  

Adamma Ison, whose boyfriend works in the Adventure Playground, said that not enough people know about the Marina, and so the usual visitors are not, as she put it delicately, a “mix of people.” 

But on Saturday, Ison was delighted that a diverse group came.  

“I wouldn’t mind volunteering next year,” she said.  

One favorite of festival participants were 30 minute boat rides, not to be mistaken for ill-fated three hour tours.  

The Cal Sailing Club, Hornblower Cruise Ship, and Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors, all offered rides for groups from four to 75 people throughout the day. The Disabled Sailors association makes sailing available to people with all disabilities, including extreme limited mobility and blindness. The group has three boats, which berth in both San Francisco and Berkeley. Skipper Mark Evju is paraplegic and has the blond hair and deeply reddish brown skin of the permanently sun-burnt. He’s been a sailor all his life. And he said, his acquired disability hasn’t stopped him.  

“I've been in a chair for ten years and there’s nothing — besides skateboarding and rollerblading — there’s nothing I can’t do.” 

Evju tried other sports before he found the Association for Disabled Sailors, and now he races in Disabled Regattas, and takes people out for tours around the Bay. Saturday, his boat took two to four passengers at a time around the Bay. He explained the depth of water, the means of “tacking” into the wind, and assured passengers that the boat couldn’t tip over. 

Those were comforting words to many new boaters, who sailed for the first time Saturday. Katherine Castillo Segovia was one of these. 

“I liked it when I touched the water. It was so cold,” she said. “Some of the water came to my face.”  

“I basically just flipped,” said Corinne Eno, chair of the Berkeley High school Grounds Committee, describing her reaction when asked to organize a campus clean-up in advance of an Arts Festival today. 

It’s not that Eno hasn’t organized campus clean-ups before. In fact, in her role on the Grounds Committee, she is often called up before big events to organize a last minute effort  

by volunteers. 

But Eno has been after the school district for years to get custodial staff dedicated to the goal of keeping the campus clean year round, so emergency clean ups wouldn’t have to happen. And in all that time nothing has improved, Eno said. 

Friday, describing hedge rows strewn with trash and a stairwell on Allston Way abuzz with flies because of all the trash left there day after day. 

“We’ve made numerous complaints at all levels and nothing is ever done,” Eno said. “It’s an ongoing and horrible problem.” 

Even when the students went away on spring break earlier this month, Eno said the campus was apparently not cleaned up. 

“The trash was still there, even after they’d had a week with no kids,” Eno said.  

Judging from the reaction Eno received after sending a defiant e-mail announcing that should would not organize a campus clean up this time, a lot of Berkeley High parents are just as fed up with the state of the campus. 

“I’ve been deluged with e-mails and phone calls [expressing support]” Eno said. “People are disgusted, they’re frustrated, they’re embarrassed.” 

Eno said one father wrote of his shame when he goes to sporting events at Berkeley High and sees visitors noticing the quantity of garbage around the field. 

When no effort is made to keep the campus regularly, clean students feel no compunction not to litter, Eno said.  

“It leads to this attitude of, well, if it’s filthy it doesn’t matter,” she said. 

“Parents need to say loud and clear that they’re not going to accept this situation any more.” 

District Interim Superintendent Stephen Goldstone said Friday that he has heard the message loud and clear. 

“There’s going to be a major effort [to keep the campus cleaner],” Goldstone said. 

Indeed, after Eno’s e-mail, custodial staff gave the campus a complete going over Wednesday, pruning the shrubbery and picking up litter. 

Goldstone said he took a complete tour of the campus and the perimeter Friday. 

“The perimeter still had a lot of trash and weeds,” he said.

Monday, April 30

Politics of Permits  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Contractor/Mediator Ron Kelly will explain how to get your permit approved.  

$35  

525-7610 

Venus & Mars  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, founder of LA’s speed dating will explain how to pick a mate, make your relationship thrive and how to fight effectively.  

$10  

848-0237 

100 Days of Bush  

Noon - 1 p.m.  

Lower Sproul Hall  

UC Berkeley  

The Students for Climate Protection are marking George W. Bush’s 100th day in office with a rally protesting Bush’s general environmental record in office and specifically focusing on his decision to pull the U.S. out of the global warming treaty negotiations. 

PTA Council Meeting  

7 p.m.  

Malcolm X Library  

1731 Prince (between King & Ellis)  

Introduction and election of PTA Council officers for 2001 - 02. If you would like to be an officer or nominate someone, contact Cynthia, 849-2683. Also, Dr. Goldstone will report on the budget situation and will update the situation on district issues and the superintendent search. 

Claremont Renters  

Neighborhood Meeting  

6 - 8 p.m.  

Claremont Branch Library  

2940 Benvenue Ave.  

Presentation on policies affecting rent ceilings, habitability issues and evictions. Get answers to your rent control questions.  

Tuesday, May 1

Berkeley Camera Club  

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church  

941 The Alameda  

Share your slides and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 

Call Wade, 531-8664 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2 - 7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Young Queer Women’s Group 

8 - 9:30 p.m.  

Pacific Center 

2712 Telegraph Ave.  

Make some new friends, expand your horizons and get support with a bunch of queer women all in the same place at the same time (somewhere between 18 and 25).  

548-8283 or visit www.pacificcenter.org 

Intelligent Conversation  

7 - 9 p.m.  

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

A discussion group open to all, regardless of age, religion, viewpoint, etc. This time the discussion will center on balancing work, life and, most importantly, happiness. Informally led by Robert Berend, who founded similar groups in L.A., Menlo Park, and Prague. Bring light snacks/drinks to share. Free  

527-5332 

PTSA General Membership Meeting  

7:30 p.m.  

Little Theater  

Berkeley High School  

Election of PTSA officers and School Site Council members. Interested parties may place their name in nomination prior to the meeting or be nominated from the floor. To run absentia, call Kristin at 843-7548. The school is also asking for volunteers to create an adult presence on campus.  

Looking for Support on HIV Issues 

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.  

Pacific School of Religion  

1798 Scenic Ave., Mudd 103  

“Beating the Bushes for Support on HIV Issues,” a conversation with Earl Curtis, a PSR student and intern at Project Inform.  

849-8229 

Responsibility for Technology  

7 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific 

2451 Ridge Rd.  

Tucson Common Room 

“An Ethic of Responsibility for Technology,” featuring Dr. Normand Laurendeau. Enter from 2450 Le Conte Ave. near Parson’s Hall across from the GTU bookstore.  

848-8152 

LaborFest May Day  

Celebration  

7:30 p.m. 

La Pena Cultural Center  

3105 Shattuck (at Prince)  

A video screening of Sri Lankan “Slaves of Free Trade” by Yappa Kashyapa, poet Jack Hirschman, singers Carol Denney, Larry Shaw, Pam Pam, and The La Pena Choir. Also a report on Turkish hunger strikers and the general strike against privatization and IMF.  

$7 donation 

415-642-8066  

“2001 State of the City Address” 

7 p.m. 

City Council Chambers  

Old City Hall  

2134 MLK Jr. Way  

Mayor Shirley Dean will give her annual state of the City address. Light refreshments will be served.  

981-7105 

Home Design 

7 - 10 p.m. 

Building Education Center 

812 Page St. 

First day of workshop taught by architect/contractor Barry Wagner. Continues Tuesdays through May 22. $150 for four evenings. 

525-7610 

Wednesday, May 2

Computer Literacy Class 

6 p.m. - 9 p.m.  

MLK Youth Services Center  

1730 Oregon St.  

A free class sponsored by the City of Berkeley’s Young Adult Project. The class will cover basic hardware identification and specification, basic understanding of software, basic word-processing and basic spreadsheets.  

Call 644-6226 

Thursday, May 3

Berkeley Metaphysical  

Toastmasters Club  

6:15 - 7:30 p.m.  

2515 Hillegass Ave.  

Public speaking skills and metaphysics come together. Ongoing first and third Thursdays each month.  

Call 869-2547 

Free Writing, Cashiering & Computer Literacy Class 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.  

AJOB Adult School  

1911 Addison St.  

Free classes offered Monday through Friday. Stop by and register or call 548-6700. 

www.ajob.org 

Free Smoking Cessation Class  

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  

Six Thursday classes through May 17.  

Call 644-6422 to register and for location  

Disaster First Aid 

1 - 4 p.m.  

Emergency Operations Center 

997 Cedar St.  

A free class as part of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). Sponsored by the Berkeley Fire Dept. and the Office of Emergency Services.  

Call 644-8736 

LGBT Catholics Group  

7:30 p.m. 

Newman Hall  

2700 Dwight Way (at College)  

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender Catholics group are “a spiritual community committed to creating justice.” This meetings discussions will center on “Queer Midrash: Exploring Scripture.”  

654-5486 

Climbing Mt. Shasta 

7 p.m. 

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

As a climbing ranger with the U.S. Forest Service, Dan Towner has spent nine seasons exploring Mt. Shasta. He will help to prepare for a safe and successful first climb of Shasta via the Avalanche Gulch route. Free  

527-4140 

Caregivers’ Support Group  

1 - 2:30 p.m.  

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center 

Summit North Pavilion, Cafeteria Annexes B & C 

350 Hawthorne Ave.  

Oakland 

Come learn about resources for caregivers of older loved ones. Free 

869-6737

New Temple Beth El will be good for the community 

Editor: 

The decision about how Congregation Beth El should build its new synagogue and religious school cannot be made by considering only one special interest, as several writers to the Daily Planet have urged in the past few months.  

This is not simply a traffic issue, a noise issue, a creek issue, a size issue, a historical landmark issue, or an issue of the needs of the congregation. All of these factors must be addressed and balanced to make this project work and, after four years of design and re-design, Beth El's plan does address and balance all of these critical factors in the following ways:  

Traffic and Parking Impacts  

When assessing the traffic and parking impacts of the new synagogue, commentators often write as if Beth El were a new organization moving into the area. Yet, Beth El is now located just two blocks away and has been there for more than fifty years!  

The question is, “Does the new location deal with traffic and parking better than the current location?” You be the judge.  

Beth El's plan calls for more than 30 onsite parking places; the present facility has two. The new site has a drive-through so cars and buses can pick up and drop off children, seniors, disabled people and others. At the current site, this must be done on public streets.  

The move will greatly reduce neighborhood traffic and parking impacts.  

Sound  

The new building will be much farther from adjoining houses than the existing synagogue. Outdoor activities will be focused toward the center of the site, lessening sounds for neighbors. Most evenings, the congregation's only activities are a committee meeting or an adult education class. When there is a celebration like a wedding or bar/bat mitzvah, Beth El will, of course, continue to conform with the city's noise ordinance and with its own commitment to be a good neighbor.  

There will be less noise in the neighborhood at the new site.  

The Creek  

The Congregation's plan includes significant improvement of Codornices Creek. For 50+ years, the creek has run through a culvert 27 feet underground into an open section with eroding banks that are overgrown with non-native vegetation. Without the Beth El project, erosion will continue and cause problems downstream. From the very start, the congregation proposed to restore and beautify the creek, at its own expense.  

The City's Environmental Impact Report concludes that Codornices Creek will be in better condition after construction of the synagogue than it is today.  

In fact, Beth El's is the only current proposal to commit to making major improvements in the upper reaches of Codornices Creek.  

Importantly, in the plan approved by Berkeley's Zoning Board, there is no driveway, parking, paving, or building over the creek. Those who say otherwise are not telling the truth. The Congregation will plant the creek corridor naturally and will cooperate with the city to create a place for public viewing of the creek, which is not possible now.  

Beth El will be a responsible steward of what has been a neglected, deteriorating creek and property.  

Size  

Beth El's building will actually cover a smaller percentage of the land than the buildings on the surrounding block. And because of its design and orientation, the building will appear even smaller than it is.  

Some commentators sound the familiar refrain of opponents to virtually all Berkeley building projects: "Make it smaller." That refrain is misplaced here. Congregation Beth El is building a house of worship, education and gathering. It is not constructing an office building or a store where smaller size means less profit. Here, smaller size means cramped classrooms. 

Congregation Beth El's planned building is the size it needs. No more.  

By any reasonable measure, the building size is appropriate.  

Historical Preservation  

Since the Byrne House burned down many years ago, little or nothing has been done to publicly recognize or enhance the site's historical value.  

Beth El will retain and enhance the historical features identified by the Landmark Preservation Commission. The congregation also plans to install artwork and a plaque commemorating the site's history.  

A Balanced Project  

The Beth El building project addresses and balances all key issues and needs.  

It reduces the parking, traffic and sound impacts of Beth El on its neighbors. It improves and beautifies the creek. It is appropriate in size and style for the neighborhood. It celebrates the site's history. And, last but not least, it supports an institution that serves Berkeley's citizens and its values.  

Harry Pollack 

for Congregation Beth El  

Berkeley 

Another side to Israel/Palestine peace issue 

Editor: 

Gregory Hoadley and Will Youmans have used a lot of big words with not one point of backing to give a false impression of both Judaism and Israel (“Distinguish between Judaism and Israel” and “Address Palestinian exclusion from homeland,” April 27). 

First, learned rabbis, not Palestinian activists, decide what is “Jewish.” If you were to ask a group of rabbis whether Zionism and the land of Israel are central to Judaism 99 percent would answer yes, and that they have been so for the past two thousand years of exile. Jerusalem was the birthplace of Judaism, and since the beginning of the Diaspora it has been the center of Jews’ yearning. I won’t tell you what your religion teaches, so please don’t try to teach me mine. 

Second, the anti-Semitic aspects of Student’s for Justice in Palestine’s rally were not “the most trivial aspects that SJP has the least control over,” as is stated. In fact, the most hate-filled moments of the protest came from one of the event’s speakers over SJP’s microphone when he stated that Jews are “conniving” by nature, and that Jews only helped out African-Americans in the Civil Rights Movement for their own benefit. He said all this and received applause, even from the few Jews active in the rally, who are anything but “courageous.” 

Third, the two letters yell and shout to point out and even exaggerate some of the bad acts Israel has carried out while refusing to even concede that Palestinians are anything but saints. Any rational person who reads news reports or has any knowledge of the region’s history knows that the acts of hatred and vengeance are very two-sided. 

Finally, the bottom line is that last summer Israel offered peace; the most generous peace ever offered. Had the Palestinians accepted this peace, or at least given a counter proposal, these futile arguments would no longer be taking place.  

Instead, the Palestinian Authority decided to embark down a path of orchestrated violence to achieve what couldn’t be achieved through negotiations, namely, the destruction of Israel. 

David Singer 

Berkeley  

A capacity crowd of 2413 fans filled Evans Diamond on Sunday to watch the Golden Bears (26-22, 11-10) play the Stanford Cardinal (34-12, 12-6). The Bears, having taken the first two games from Stanford, were looking for a sweep to further their chances at making the post-season.  

For a while, it looked as if Cal would have a chance at a sweep, but after scoring only five runs in the first 24 innings of the series, the Cardinal bats got hot in the seventh inning. Stanford scored six runs, all with two outs, and added another in the eighth. The late hitting, combined with an outstanding pitching performance from Mike Gosling, propelled Stanford to an 8-0 victory. 

Gosling improved his record to a perfect 5-0, pitching a complete game, and scattering four hits and a walk, while striking out 10 Cal batters. 

For the first six innings it looked like a pitching duel between Gosling and David Cash (8-3), starting in place of usual third starter Ryan Atkinson, who was out with a tender shoulder. But Cash ran into trouble in the seventh and never made it out of the inning.  

Cal’s best chance to score - and take an early lead - was in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Ben Conley reached on a dropped third strike that got away from Stanford catcher Ryan Garko and Connor Jackson followed with a single, bringing up freshmen outfielder Brian Horowitz with a runner in scoring position. Horowitz worked the count to 3-0 before hitting a two-hopper down the third base line which Andy Topham backhanded and threw to first, beating Horowitz by a step.  

Stanford scored in the top of the of the fourth when back-to-back doubles scored Carlos Quentin. The game remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh. Quentin led off with a single and Stanford coach Mark Marquess put the hit and run on, which Stanford executed to perfection as designated hitter Jonny Ash hit a ball into the hole vacated by shortstop Jeff Dragicevich. 

Dragicevich missed a change in the defensive coverage assignment sent in by the Cal bench, costing Cal the opportunity at a double play, and leading to a big inning for the Cardinal. After a sacrifice bunt moved Quentin and Ash into scoring position, Cash intentionally walked Brian Hall to load the bases, setting up a possible force at home or a double play. Cash struck out Topham on three pitches, bringing up leadoff hitter Sam Fuld. Fuld hit a single up the middle, driving in both Ash and Quentin. After giving up a RBI single to Chris O’Riordan, Cash was pulled.  

The Cal bullpen gave up two more hits, leading to Stanford’s sixth and seventh runs of the game. After the top of the seventh the Cal the fans began slowly leaving for the exits. All they missed was Stanford scoring the final run of the game on a Topham sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

The St. Mary’s track & field team once again had a good day at a top meet on Saturday, with several wins at the Top 8 Invitational at James Logan High School. 

Leading the way for the Panthers was thrower Kamaiya Warren, who won both the discus and shot put. Also on the girls’ side, Riana Shaw set a personal best in the high jump, winning the event by clearing 5’8”, and Bridget Duffy won the 3,200-meter race. 

For the boys, Chris Dunbar won the 400-meter dash, while Halihl Guy won the 300-meter high hurdles. But Guy finished second to Logan’s Nate Robinson in the 110-meter hurdles, and McClymonds High pulled out a surprise victory in the 4x100-meter relay, which the Panthers have dominated this year.

The city plans to develop 100 affordable housing units in the coming year despite ongoing obstacles facing nonprofit developers such as the rising land and construction costs.  

According to the Draft 2001 Annual Action Strategy for Housing and Community Development, another 104 units are in the pipeline but are not expected to be completed until the following year. And there are another 50-100 projected units that have not yet begun the planning or approval processes.  

The annual strategy report outlines the city’s primary goals of maintaining the city’s ethnic, social and economic diversity through the creation of affordable housing, social services and jobs.  

Besides housing, the report also describes funding sources for housing and homeless programs as well as the development of programs such as the respite care for the homeless. 

Of the 100 units to be completed this year, half will be reserved for tenants who earn 80 percent of the area median income, which is $67,600 for Berkeley households. That means for example, that those units will be available to a family of three that earns about $50,000. The other 50 units will be reserved for family’s who earn 50 percent of the AMI or $30,000 for a family of three.  

The majority of the affordable housing projects are being built by the city’s four nonprofit developers; the Affordable Housing Associates, the Northern California Land Trust, Resources for Community Development and Jubilee Restoration. The four nonprofits are currently being considered for a total of $336, 665 in federal Community Development Block Grant money. The City Council is expected to approve the grants at its May 8 meeting.  

Some of the larger projects in the pipeline include a proposed 30 units at 1725 University Ave. and another 25-35 units proposed for 2517 Sacramento St. Both are Affordable Housing Associate projects. Resources for Community Development has obtained 3222 Adeline St. on which it plans to build 19 units.  

The reports says that the obstacles to creating new affordable housing have increased this year over last year.  

“Unfortunately the trends and conditions that made providing affordable housing so difficult last year have only gotten worse this year.” the report says. “That is, rental and sales costs for housing have increased, as have construction costs. There has also been an increase in commercial rents making it more difficult to nonprofits agencies to operate.” 

Tuning up appliances, opening or closing vents and swapping energy-eating incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent ones are just a few ways Berkeley residents can reduce utility costs in light of California’s energy crisis, a Sierra Club panel said Saturday. 

Other ideas included windmills at Cesar Chavez Park, solar panels on southern facing Berkeley homes and public utility ownership.  

Under the florescent glare of overhead lighting, The Northern Alameda County Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted the panel discussion of energy experts and about 25 community members at its Berkeley office. 

Four speakers presented insights and suggestions toward more effective energy usage. They included, Sierra Club Senior Lobbyist in Sacramento, Bill Magavern, who gave an in-depth overview of the current situation.  

Other panelists included Mark Gorrell, a local architect and member of the Berkeley Ecology Center. Gorrell offered ideas on how to maximize renewable energy sources and minimize energy costs.  

Graham Brownstein from The Utility Reform Network, a California consumer advocacy organization, encouraged community education, involvement, and action. Sierra Club energy conservation expert Paul Craig presented the facts on individual cost-cutting tactics. 

Though environmentalists have emphasized conservation for decades, today’s crisis calls for more proactive solutions. Conservation alone will not end the blackouts that will be rolling in around June 1, according to the Notice of Public Participation Hearings put out by the California Public Utilities Commission last week. Instead, being more efficient and integrating new, sometimes simple, sometimes costly systems into everyday life is the existing challenge. 

“Efficiency is the absolute best investment we can use to get us through this problem,” Brownstein said. “It’s about making the energy you’ve got available, go further.” 

Long term solutions in renewable resources, though discussed, were not the primary focus of the panel. The speakers suggested methods the individual could use to take immediate action against the rising costs of energy. 

Simple tune-up and the cleaning of home appliances like the refrigerator, furnace, and air conditioning system can take dollars off of the monthly PG&E bill. 

Gorrell suggested ways to actually make the power meter go backwards.  

“If you’re willing to spend about 10 minutes a day opening and closing vents. You could do it for free,” Gorrell said. 

Through the use of insulation and solar energy, Gorrell demonstrated how to make a solar water heater for as little as $25. By wrapping an insulated blanket around a heater, reducing the thermostat, and repairing leaky faucets anyone can play a part in lowering electric bills.  

Other helpful hints included replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact florescent ones. One can find florescent bulbs which use only 11 watts of power and produce 60 watts of light at a very affordable cost, Gorrell said. 

Making the transition from the 60 cent incandescent bulb to the $3 florescent bulb is just the beginning. Though the purchasing of newer, more energy efficient appliances may be expensive, they will gradually pay for themselves through more affordable electric bills.  

“Either reduce your demand and pay for (the cost) up front, or pay it in the utility bills,” Brownstein said. 

The simple incentive of lower PG&E bills should encourage more frugal usage.  

“Prices are high and the blackouts are coming. There isn’t the slightest doubt that there will be thousands of mega watts which simply aren’t available,” panelist Craig said.  

Renewable energy sources are the ultimate goal in terms of the future. 

Gorrell suggested wind mills in Cesar Chavez Park, and solar panels a top the thousands of south facing Berkeley homes. All the panelists agreed that taking back public power over the utility companies and incorporating individual energy saving systems into residences are the means by which the energy crisis can be appeased. 

PG&E’s proposed “rate design” could mean still higher utility bills. The proposal going before the California Public Utilities Commission offers an incentive to conserving consumers. It states, "Residential customers who use more than the exempt level of 130 percent baseline in any month will be subject to surcharges that get bigger the more energy they use."  

The CPUC is encouraging attendance to a series of public hearings. All panelists agreed that community action is imperative. 

“We’re not doing our job. The public has got to be involved in running this country or the guys who have been, will run it into the ground,” Brownstein said.  

The nearest public hearing scheduled nearest Berkeley residents will be held in Oakland at the Caltrans District 4 Auditorium at 7 p.m. on May 10.  

For more information, contact the Sierra Club at 848-0800 or PG&E’s Smarter Energy Line at 1-800-933-9555. Or go to their websites: www.sierraclub.org, www.pge.com.

Jay Moody, 22, of North Carolina celebrates the 32nd  

anniversary of People’s Park by catching air over a table on a truck flatbed. Hundreds of people gathered in the park for the day-long event which featured singing, food and skating.

After police arrested five Berkeley High School students in connection with a series of assaults at the school over the last several weeks, city and school district officials announced late Friday a number of extraordinary measures for boosting safety. 

Berkeley Unified School District Interim Superintendent Stephen Goldstone has authorized emergency funding to increase the number of safety officers from seven to 17 patrolling the campus for the rest of the school year.  

The Berkeley Police Deparment will help select and train the new personnel. Until the safety officers are in place, Berkeley Police will be assigned to the campus “to step up security.” 

The school is establishing a telephone and Internet hotline for students to report incidents of violence on the campus — anonymously, if they prefer. 

Ninth and tenth graders will attend special assemblies Tuesday to learn about personal safety and school violence laws.  

“I’m grateful for the fast and energetic help of all our city’s public safety departments,” Berkeley High Principal Frank Lynch said in a prepared statement Friday. “Our goal is a peaceful, respectful campus, and I believe we can achieve it with this extraordinary level of mutual support.” 

“We all want to make Berkeley High a safe place to learn and a good place to be,” added Berkeley City Manager Weldon Rucker in the prepared statement. “We’re going to work together on this, and we hope to see results starting now.” 

One of the reasons for the recent surge in violence at the school could be the loss of space on the campus for students to socialize comfortably, Lynch said. A building damaged by fire was closed last year and much of the east side of the campus is currently off limits during construction. 

“This year, we have been taking away the places students rely on for socializing, studying, and letting off some physical steam,” Lynch said, noting that, at 17-acres, the campus is already a third of the size recommended by the state of California to accommodate its 3,200 students. 

Police believe the recent assaults are the work of 10 to 15 boys, “most if not all of them Berkeley High Students,” according to the prepared statement Friday. Those who have been arrested are reportedly identifying other participants. 

SANTA ROSA – Some send orders to kill through the mail disguised as letters to lawyers. Others scrawl notes in tiny letters on scraps of paper and wrap them in plastic for visitors to hide in their bodies. 

Federal prosecutors say gang leaders have orchestrated hundreds of murders from inside maximum-security prisons. The Corrections Department says there’s little it can do to stop the killings, ordered by inmates who have nothing to lose and nothing but time. 

Authorities say five imprisoned leaders of the powerful Nuestra Familia gang were responsible for the murders of at least five men between 1997 and 1999. They and other members unsuccessfully tried to arrange the killings of at least 10 more men and women. 

“The murders were generally people who were affiliated with the organization,” said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Mark Young. “They weren’t just innocent bystanders that were caught up. They were somehow involved in the organization and somehow fell out of favor with the organization.” 

Operation Black Widow, a three-year, $5 million, local, state and federal investigation began in Santa Rosa and culminated in the 25-count indictment of a total of 12 men and one woman on federal charges of murder, robbery, conspiracy and drug-related crimes. 

Nuestra Familia gang leaders are accused of ordering and carrying out a campaign of intimidation, assaults and killings to control a crime syndicate and drug distribution empire reaching as far south as Bakersfield. 

Authorities say last week’s indictments cover just a few of scores of crimes they can link to the organization. A federal judge on Thursday entered innocent pleas to all charges on behalf of the 13 defendants. 

Eight gang leaders were serving time at Pelican Bay when they gave the orders to kill, prosecutors say. Deemed high-risk, they lived in the 1,056-bed “prison within a prison” known as the SHU, or security housing unit. 

These inmates live alone in antiseptic cells that are painted white with a glass wall so that guards can always see inside. Meals are brought to the cells and they are allowed outside only one hour a day, alone, to exercise in a small concrete yard. 

Clothing, bedding and personal items are X-rayed before they’re placed in a cell. Inmates sleep on a mattress on top of a concrete slab. Toilets are stainless steel, with no removable parts. 

Despite such intense security, gang leaders have managed for years to effectively communicate with members and foot soldiers in other prisons and on the outside, prosecutors said. 

“The hardcore prison gang members recruit these kids,” said Brian Parry, assistant director of the Corrections Department. “We know when certain gang members parole, they go out with a mission or orders to organize drug trafficking, commit robberies for money for the gang and hurt or kill those gang members who didn’t follow orders. Most of these gang members kill each other. They use that as their internal discipline.” 

In California, 160,000 people are in prison, another 120,000 are on parole and at least one-third of the total are gang members, Parry said. 

Inside prison, inmates wear badges that denote their gang affiliation. Whites, blacks, Hispanics from Northern California and Hispanics from Southern California generally don’t mix. They don’t share cells, use the exercise yard at the same time or eat together. 

“I don’t think other states have as big a problem as California does,” Parry said. “The volume is what is difficult to deal with, plus we don’t have the space to move them around like we used to. Other states can move them around and dissipate (the gang’s) power.” 

The gangs have a hand in at least 75 percent of prison violence, Parry added. 

“We do ourselves a disservice if we talk about gangs. This isn’t a bunch of young hoodlums. This is organized crime,” said Commander Scott Swanson of the Santa Rosa Police Department, which traced local murders to Nuestra Familia members at Pelican Bay. 

Nuestra Familia — its members are called “nortenos” — originated within prison walls in 1965 as a means to protect Hispanic inmates from rural Northern California. The rival Mexican Mafia — “surenos” — includes Hispanic prisoners from Southern California. They are the two most powerful gangs in the state prison system, officials say. 

“You can’t just take off the top layer and say ’OK, we’re finished,”’ Swanson said. “There are thousands and thousands of members on the streets.” 

He said 2,000 certified gang members live in Sonoma County alone. At least 1,000 of those are nortenos. 

Also troubling is the highly organized and intricate communication system within the gang’s leadership, authorities said. 

“Here is the most secure prison in California and this is what’s happening inside the walls,” Swanson said. “I don’t want to be a politician and say it’s a crisis. I would prefer to let the facts speak for themselves. But when you talk about a criminal enterprise that’s been responsible for hundreds of murders over the years and thousands of robberies, extortions and what it does to the community, is that a crisis? You decide.” 

Prison resources are already stretched too far, Parry said. 

“We’ve struggled with gangs for 40 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s a never-ending group of young people who want to be in a gang.” 

And in prison, gang members have nothing but time and nothing to lose. 

“They’re at no risk,” said Joseph McGrath, Pelican Bay’s warden. “Many of them are serving life terms. They don’t have to worry about being stabbed or challenged by other inmates because of their secure environment. Yet they can send an order out, and because their structure is so sophisticated they know that if somebody doesn’t carry out their orders, someone else will take care of that person.” 

Investigators uncovered “hit lists” sent through the mail or hand-delivered by parolees. 

Inmates write in urine on the back of innocent-looking drawings. The dried urine remains invisible until held next to a heat source. 

They also send “ghost writings,” using a pointed object on the inside of a manila envelope. The recipient rubs pencil lead lightly over the markings to read the message. 

Investigators also uncovered elaborate codes, including one based on an ancient Aztec language dialect. 

Anyone who refused to obey the group’s rules or directives, or sought to withdraw from the Nuestra Familia, were ordered killed, prosecutors say. 

State Sen. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, in a letter Tuesday, asked Gov. Gray Davis to create a task force “to target prison gangs and the neighborhood violence and terror they have spawned on the North Coast.” 

The request follows criticism by Santa Rosa and Sonoma County law enforcement officials that top state officials ignored pleas for financial help over the past several years. 

Davis spokeswoman Hilary McLean said Friday the governor had not yet responded to Chesbro’s request, but would review it along with all the other funding requests he has received.

SANTA ROSA – Some send orders to kill through the mail disguised as letters to lawyers. Others scrawl notes in tiny letters on scraps of paper and wrap them in plastic for visitors to hide in their bodies. 

Federal prosecutors say gang leaders have orchestrated hundreds of murders from inside maximum-security prisons. The Corrections Department says there’s little it can do to stop the killings, ordered by inmates who have nothing to lose and nothing but time. 

Authorities say five imprisoned leaders of the powerful Nuestra Familia gang were responsible for the murders of at least five men between 1997 and 1999. They and other members unsuccessfully tried to arrange the killings of at least 10 more men and women. 

“The murders were generally people who were affiliated with the organization,” said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Mark Young. “They weren’t just innocent bystanders that were caught up. They were somehow involved in the organization and somehow fell out of favor with the organization.” 

Operation Black Widow, a three-year, $5 million, local, state and federal investigation began in Santa Rosa and culminated in the 25-count indictment of a total of 12 men and one woman on federal charges of murder, robbery, conspiracy and drug-related crimes. 

Nuestra Familia gang leaders are accused of ordering and carrying out a campaign of intimidation, assaults and killings to control a crime syndicate and drug distribution empire reaching as far south as Bakersfield. 

Authorities say last week’s indictments cover just a few of scores of crimes they can link to the organization. A federal judge on Thursday entered innocent pleas to all charges on behalf of the 13 defendants. 

Eight gang leaders were serving time at Pelican Bay when they gave the orders to kill, prosecutors say. Deemed high-risk, they lived in the 1,056-bed “prison within a prison” known as the SHU, or security housing unit. 

These inmates live alone in antiseptic cells that are painted white with a glass wall so that guards can always see inside. Meals are brought to the cells and they are allowed outside only one hour a day, alone, to exercise in a small concrete yard. 

Clothing, bedding and personal items are X-rayed before they’re placed in a cell. Inmates sleep on a mattress on top of a concrete slab. Toilets are stainless steel, with no removable parts. 

Despite such intense security, gang leaders have managed for years to effectively communicate with members and foot soldiers in other prisons and on the outside, prosecutors said. 

“The hardcore prison gang members recruit these kids,” said Brian Parry, assistant director of the Corrections Department. “We know when certain gang members parole, they go out with a mission or orders to organize drug trafficking, commit robberies for money for the gang and hurt or kill those gang members who didn’t follow orders. Most of these gang members kill each other. They use that as their internal discipline.” 

In California, 160,000 people are in prison, another 120,000 are on parole and at least one-third of the total are gang members, Parry said. 

Inside prison, inmates wear badges that denote their gang affiliation. Whites, blacks, Hispanics from Northern California and Hispanics from Southern California generally don’t mix. They don’t share cells, use the exercise yard at the same time or eat together. 

“I don’t think other states have as big a problem as California does,” Parry said. “The volume is what is difficult to deal with, plus we don’t have the space to move them around like we used to. Other states can move them around and dissipate (the gang’s) power.” 

The gangs have a hand in at least 75 percent of prison violence, Parry added. 

“We do ourselves a disservice if we talk about gangs. This isn’t a bunch of young hoodlums. This is organized crime,” said Commander Scott Swanson of the Santa Rosa Police Department, which traced local murders to Nuestra Familia members at Pelican Bay. 

Nuestra Familia — its members are called “nortenos” — originated within prison walls in 1965 as a means to protect Hispanic inmates from rural Northern California. The rival Mexican Mafia — “surenos” — includes Hispanic prisoners from Southern California. They are the two most powerful gangs in the state prison system, officials say. 

“You can’t just take off the top layer and say ’OK, we’re finished,”’ Swanson said. “There are thousands and thousands of members on the streets.” 

He said 2,000 certified gang members live in Sonoma County alone. At least 1,000 of those are nortenos. 

Also troubling is the highly organized and intricate communication system within the gang’s leadership, authorities said. 

“Here is the most secure prison in California and this is what’s happening inside the walls,” Swanson said. “I don’t want to be a politician and say it’s a crisis. I would prefer to let the facts speak for themselves. But when you talk about a criminal enterprise that’s been responsible for hundreds of murders over the years and thousands of robberies, extortions and what it does to the community, is that a crisis? You decide.” 

Prison resources are already stretched too far, Parry said. 

“We’ve struggled with gangs for 40 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s a never-ending group of young people who want to be in a gang.” 

And in prison, gang members have nothing but time and nothing to lose. 

“They’re at no risk,” said Joseph McGrath, Pelican Bay’s warden. “Many of them are serving life terms. They don’t have to worry about being stabbed or challenged by other inmates because of their secure environment. Yet they can send an order out, and because their structure is so sophisticated they know that if somebody doesn’t carry out their orders, someone else will take care of that person.” 

Investigators uncovered “hit lists” sent through the mail or hand-delivered by parolees. 

Inmates write in urine on the back of innocent-looking drawings. The dried urine remains invisible until held next to a heat source. 

They also send “ghost writings,” using a pointed object on the inside of a manila envelope. The recipient rubs pencil lead lightly over the markings to read the message. 

Investigators also uncovered elaborate codes, including one based on an ancient Aztec language dialect. 

Anyone who refused to obey the group’s rules or directives, or sought to withdraw from the Nuestra Familia, were ordered killed, prosecutors say. 

State Sen. Wes Chesbro, D-Arcata, in a letter Tuesday, asked Gov. Gray Davis to create a task force “to target prison gangs and the neighborhood violence and terror they have spawned on the North Coast.” 

The request follows criticism by Santa Rosa and Sonoma County law enforcement officials that top state officials ignored pleas for financial help over the past several years. 

Davis spokeswoman Hilary McLean said Friday the governor had not yet responded to Chesbro’s request, but would review it along with all the other funding requests he has received.

SACRAMENTO – Pacific Gas and Electric’s bankruptcy filing could hurt the state’s efforts to encourage conservation with energy-efficiency rebates. 

Some building contractors were supposed to be paid by the utility for things like installing energy-efficient windows. However, those rebate checks are now among $37 million in utility rebates and vouchers tied up in bankruptcy court. 

The utility says the delay involves only payments that were pending when PG&E filed for bankruptcy protection April 6. Rebate applications and vouchers submitted after that date will be honored as before. 

But the California Public Utilities Commission says the issue is causing uncertainty over existing rebates as the state prepares to spend $110 million to encourage consumers to buy energy-efficient appliances, windows, lights, furnaces and air conditioners. 

Bob Grandinetti, owner of Hall’s Window Center in Sacramento, said the utility owes his company about $80,000. 

“I have to front this money, wait for this money,” Grandinetti said. “I can’t demand 30-day payment; I have to accept their terms. And if I don’t offer (the discount), I’m not competitive.” 

Hall’s Windows is requiring its customers to agree to forfeit the discount if PG&E doesn’t pay. 

The Window Outlet in Woodland won’t provide the utility discount upfront at all — but will reimburse the customer if and when PG&E pays. 

Office manager Gail Burton said six PG&E checks bounced April 17. Though the utility is advising businesses to keep offering the discounts, she labeled the program “a farce.” 

Home Depot salesman Devin Rachac said customers at his Folsom store are lured by the rebate offer to consider costly but high-efficiency appliances, but some worry they’ll never actually see the money. 

PG&E gives rebates directly to consumers for buying Energy Star-labeled refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes dryers. 

It gives consumers discount vouchers to take to any of 296 participating contractors who install energy-efficient windows, exterior doors with glass, and heating and air conditioning systems. Those contractors then send the vouchers to PG&E for reimbursement. 

PG&E processed 14,283 vouchers the first three months of this year, compared to 30,417 all of last year.  

It has received applications for 1,383 appliance rebates in the first two weeks of the program that began in late March, but some of those rebates, like the contractor vouchers, are tied up in the bankruptcy proceedings. 

Customers pay for the rebates and vouchers with a surcharge on their electricity bills, but PG&E lawyer Bob McLennan said the money has been frozen by the bankruptcy filing. 

The utility will ask the bankruptcy judge at a May 16 hearing to pay the rebates and vouchers, McLennan said, but the judge could instead opt to make the money available to other creditors.

SACRAMENTO – More California cities are considering starting their own utilities as the state’s problems with its privately owned power companies drag on. 

Municipal utility drives already are underway in San Francisco, Corona, and San Diego County. 

Proponents say rate hikes, blackouts and bankruptcies are fueling the idea that public power offers cheaper, more reliable service. 

But only a few cities have set up their own electric departments in recent years, and most fall short of full-fledged utilities. 

Cities like Davis, Lincoln and Culver City considered the option during the 1990s and rejected it. State regulators blocked a proposed far Northern California multi-county public power agency when some local governments objected. 

“Is the investment worth the risk? Most of us would say we don’t know yet,” Santa Rosa City Manager Jeffrey Kolin said at a Sacramento gathering of city and county officials this week sponsored in part by the American Public Power Association. 

The flagship effort is in San Francisco, where voters will decide in November whether to create their own utility in the hometown of venerable giant Pacific Gas and Electric, which filed for bankruptcy protection this month. 

Since January, the cities of Hercules in the Bay Area and Corona in Riverside County avoided possible condemnation fights with existing utilities by forming their own utilities to deliver electric service to new neighborhoods. 

Blackouts and appeals from darkened businesses led Corona officials to quickly opt to build several small plants to power city operations and new neighborhoods. 

Glenn Prentice, who heads the new Corona electric utility, said a half-dozen other cities have since contacted him for more information. 

Despite their financial woes, the state’s investor-owned utilities disagree. 

“There’s been much more talk of it, but as soon as most folks sit down and take a look at the realities ... they realize that they would have to buy on the same market, at the same outrageous prices that we and the state have been paying,” said PG&E spokesman John Nelson said. “The talk quickly evaporates.” 

PG&E says public power companies no longer have access to low-cost electricity such as that provided by federal dams. In addition, cities that withdraw from investor-owned utilities still face 15 years of paying off pending state bonds that California officials plan to use to cover this year’s spiraling power costs. 

But advocates of public power say they can charge less because they don’t have to pay taxes or dividends to investors. 

And as electricity prices soar and the lights dim, they also like the idea of deciding locally which customers pay the lowest rates and how to handle rolling blackouts. 

“One of the things this crisis has proved is the value of local control,” said Jerry Jordan, head of the California Municipal Utilities Association.

Companies spending millions on new entertainment tech 

SAN JOSE – What do you get when you combine the features of a cable box, a VCR, a stereo and a computer? Plenty of companies are spending billions of dollars to find out. 

Many consider convergence in digital entertainment or some kind of all-in-one set-top device inevitable. Disagreement and uncertainty arise only over the business model or platform most likely to succeed. 

So reach for your remote. The battle to dominate armchair entertainment has been joined. 

From upstarts to corporate behemoths, companies across multiple industries are honing their strategies and lining up their allies, sometimes befriending opposing sides to hedge their risks. Their eyes are set on pieces of a lucrative pie — 100 million television-viewing households in the United States and millions more abroad. 

“It’s anybody’s game right now,” said Steve Perlman, the entrepreneur behind WebTV, whose latest venture, Rearden Steel Technologies, involves an as-yet undisclosed digital home entertainment product. 

WebTV, which was bought out by Microsoft Corp., allows users to surf the Internet from their televisions and play along with game shows or engage in other types of interactive TV. 

Rearden’s plans remain secret for now, but the endeavor recently won $67 million in a first round of funding — a hefty sum in today’s tight venture capital market and proof the investment throttle remains open in digital entertainment. 

“You’re talking tens of billions of dollars being thrown out there now in these new technologies,” said Sean Badding, an analyst with market research firm The Carmel Group. 

Dozens of companies from the software, hardware, cable, satellite, PC and consumer electronics industries are staking their claim for what may well be the next big digital gold rush. 

Hewlett-Packard Co. and RealNetworks Inc., for instance, announced last month they were working together to create products that will let consumers obtain digital entertainment via the Internet and experience it on their living room stereos and televisions. 

Later this year Nokia Inc. plans to start selling a so-called home infotainment center called the Media Terminal. It’s a set-top box that receives digital TV and video-on-demand, can play MP3 files or connect to a digital camera — and offers Internet access. 

The Media Terminal also will feature the latest technology in television — digital video recording, which allows users to pause live TV or record TV programming onto a hard drive, without the hassle of videotapes. 

With its recent debut of UltimateTV, Microsoft Corp. has also jumped on the DVR bandwagon to compete against sector leader TiVo Inc. UltimateTV combines WebTV with a DirecTV satellite service, DVR technology and two tuners, allowing users to watch one channel while recording another. 

Motorola Corp. and Scientific-Atlanta Inc., the top makers of U.S. cable set-top boxes, are each introducing this year advanced cable boxes featuring DVR, interactive TV, video on demand, e-mail, and high-speed Internet access. The Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8000 also has digital music capabilities and the Motorola DCT 5000 features IP telephony. 

Traditional PC companies Compaq and Dell are also weaving home entertainment into their businesses. 

One business, SONICblue Inc., even reinvented itself a year ago to become a digital media technology company. Formerly a graphics chip maker called S3, SONICblue has positioned itself squarely in the digital convergence race. 

“We want to let people have audio, video, and information in their homes and we want it all to work together,” said Andy Wolfe, SONICblue’s chief technology officer. “We are now poised to develop that all-in-one device but there’s clearly a lot to be done first.” 

SONICblue acquired DVR pioneer ReplayTV Inc. this year, adding to its portfolio that includes Diamond Multimedia, maker of Rio digital audio players; HomeFree, a home network solutions company; and Sensory Science, a small digital entertainment products company. 

Since the company’s makeover, Wolfe has been shopping for technologies. He hasn’t had to look hard; more than 100 companies have knocked on SONICblue’s doors. 

According to Nielsen Media Research, American households spend an average of more than 8 hours a day watching television, and of the 100 million people with Internet access at home, nearly two-thirds spend at least a half hour online every other day. 

A product that successfully combines the two mediums — along with the Internet goodies people increasingly enjoy, such as e-mail, instant messaging, online shopping, downloading MP3 music files and gaming — “that’s the Holy Grail,” Badding said. 

The challenges are daunting, though. 

Previous interactive TV efforts have flopped and digital video recording has yet to prove affordable — recorders currently cost about $500 — and attractive enough for mass adoption. 

In 1997, Time Warner pulled the plug on its three-year interactive TV trial in Orlando, Fla. after spending $100 million. And over its four-year history, WebTV gained about 1 million customers — far below blockbuster market levels. 

Under Microsoft, WebTV has been folded into the MSN Web services division. 

Along with EchoStar Communications, WebTV first introduced personal video recording in 1999. The technology has only started to take off, though, reaching about 400,000 households in 2000. 

Before becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of SONICblue, ReplayTV stumbled under competitive pressure and stopped making its own personal video recorders, deciding to focus instead on licensing its technology — a move analysts say made sense. 

“Where this industry is heading is that this technology will be included in larger TV services,” said Bruce Kasrel, an analyst with Forrester Research. 

That way, consumers won’t get as many bills or need as many boxes connected to their TVs, analysts say. Consumer electronic giants Sony Corp. and Philips Electronics make the boxes that now come packaged with TiVo and DirecTV services. 

And now that AOL, which has a $200 million investment in TiVo, has merged with major cable operator Time Warner, it’s likely TiVo’s DVR services will also be bundled one day with a cable service, analysts say. 

Though specific plans have not been announced, TiVo is working with AOLTV on a joint project that would take features that have been tied to a PC, such as downloading music or managing digital photos, and putting it all on an entertainment system. 

“Some things are better suited to the PC and some things are better suited to the living room,” said Brodie Keast, TiVo’s senior vice president of marketing and sales. 

Lots of money is at stake. 

Forrester Research projects that digital video recorder sales will to reach 53 million units by 2005, making it the fastest-growing product in the personal technology sector. 

Companies and service providers that stand to profit from the converging technologies are making multiple partnerships. 

Satellite broadcast provider DirecTV, for instance, has partnered not only with TiVo, but also with UltimateTV and OpenTV, an interactive TV provider. 

And Rearden Steel’s high-profile list of investors includes AOL Time Warner, Cisco Systems, EchoStar, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and former Netscape chief executive Jim Barksdale. Allen’s Vulcan Ventures was also an investor in TiVo and ReplayTV. 

“There’s no clear-cut winner yet on which device will win in the homes,” said analyst Laurence Bloom of TechTrends Inc. “But our research shows that there is going to be an all-in-one set-top box. Consumers don’t want stacks of set-top boxes and they don’t want cable spaghetti behind their TVs.”

Woman’s statement clashes with Kerrey’s recent account of raid 

THANH PHONG, Vietnam (AP) — Bui Thi Luom says she was 12 years old when seven Americans with guns stormed into her Mekong Delta village, rounding up women and children. She says she watched helplessly as they opened fire, despite her grandmother’s pleas for mercy. 

She was the only survivor in her hut of 16 people — 11 children and five women, she said. 

Luom’s account, told for the first time to journalists on Saturday, follows the public acknowledgment last week by former Sen. Bob Kerrey that civilians were killed during a commando raid by his U.S. Navy SEAL team on this coastal village 32 years ago. 

In an interview with AP on Saturday, Kerrey angrily denied Luom’s allegations. Kerrey, who says he has been privately haunted by the memory of killing civilians, reiterated his assertion that the SEALS opened fire only after being fired on. 

“They (the SEALS) received fire and on returning fire, some innocent civilians were killed. Not once was an order given to round people up and execute them,” he said. 

He also said assertion from another witness, Pham Thi Lanh, that the raiders wore “helmets” was untrue, and showed the “lack of credibility” in her statement. 

However, The New York Times and CBS’s ”60 Minutes II,” in a joint reporting project, quoted another ex-SEAL, Gerhard Klann, as saying the civilians were herded into a group and massacred at Thanh Phong. 

Kerrey, who later served as Nebraska governor and senator, and ran for president in 1992, received a Bronze Star medal for the Feb. 25, 1969 raid. 

Now the president of New York’s New School University, Kerrey says the village was a declared “free-fire zone” where everyone was regarded as hostile. The attack was prompted by intelligence reports saying Viet Cong officials planned a meeting there that night and that no civilians would be present, he says. 

“We fired because we were fired upon,” Kerrey told a New York news conference on Thursday. “We did not go out on a mission to kill innocent people. I feel guilty about what happened.” 

Although Kerrey insists that his written after-action report mentioned civilian deaths, SEAL message exchanges later that day — and his Bronze Star citation — refer only to 21 Viet Cong killed. Radio logs two days later said 24 died, 13 civilians and 11 VC. 

Luom, now 44, told reporters there were no Viet Cong in Thanh Phong, and only the Americans fired weapons. “They only killed civilians, women and children. No VC,” she said. Altogether, 20 people were killed, she said. 

A small woman with a shy smile, Luom lives with her husband and five children in a nearby fishing village. 

Local officials arranged for Luom and a second witness, Lanh, to meet with foreign reporters. A provincial official was present during the interviews. Lanh gave an account that was similar in most details to what she’d said in an earlier interview with CBS, which Kerrey previously said was untrue. 

The Mekong Delta was the wartime stronghold of the National Liberation Front — the Viet Cong — the homegrown Communist insurgency that sought to overthrow the U.S.-backed South Vietnamese government. 

Thanh Phong is a tiny cluster of thatched-roof huts on the coast 100 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Lush groves of coconut and banana trees line the red-dirt road that connects it to Ben Tre province. 

In 1969, it was even poorer, Luom said. There were no men — many had been killed in bombing raids and others had joined the Viet Cong, she said. Viet Cong sympathies were strong, other residents say. One resident recalled that the first sea shipment of arms from Communist North Vietnam to the south arrived in Thanh Phong in 1964. 

The second witness, Lanh, 62, said she hid in a banana grove as the intruders killed an elderly couple and their three grandchildren. The adults, Bui Van Vat, 65, and Luu Thi Canh, 62, were decapitated, she claimed. 

“They killed her first. I saw the soldiers cutting off her head. Then he started screaming and they killed him,” Lanh said. “He was wearing a scarf, and you could still see the skin hanging on his neck.” 

She said she ran to her house and stuffed her children’s mouths with cloth to keep them quiet. After the incident, she said she found a pile of bodies, including eight of her relatives. The next morning, she and other survivors gathered the bodies, wrapped them in straw mats and buried them in a common grave. “We didn’t even have coffins for them,” she said. 

Lanh, whose account had several inconsistencies, said she could not positively identify the men as Americans. “They spoke a language I didn’t understand and they wore helmets and big clothes,” she said. 

Luom said the victims in the hut where she lived included her pregnant aunt and grandmother. Luom was the oldest of 11 children and the youngest was 3 years old, she said. 

“That night I was sleeping inside the shelter. My grandmother woke me up, calling everybody in the shelter to come outside,” Luom said. “I counted them — seven men with guns.” 

The men rounded up the women and children and seated them in a circle near the shelter’s entrance, Luom said. 

“One woman started coughing and the American soldier put a gun to her throat. My grandmother told her not to cough or the soldier would kill her.” 

Luom said they pulled a young girl to her feet, and the girl screamed. Other villagers told her later the girl had been disemboweled, but Luom said she did not see this. 

“My grandmother turned to help her. I saw her kneel in front of the Americans, pleading for mercy. After that, the soldiers began to shoot,” Luom said. 

The Americans stood about three feet away, she said, and as gunfire erupted, she fled into the dugout shelter. Before leaving, she said, they threw an explosive into the shelter. 

“I just heard an explosion. I’m not sure if it was a grenade or gunfire. It hit my knee,” she said, pulling up a pant leg to show a scar on her left knee. “I don’t know if they knew I had escaped. I think they tried to kill anybody left in the shelter.” 

“Of course they had to know” it was only women and children, Luom said bitterly. “They should have been punished. At the time I was too small, but if I could get revenge, I would. If I could have killed them, I would.”

As the June deadline for its 2001-2002 budget draws near, the Berkeley Board of Education will review increasingly specific plans for eliminating an anticipated shortfall of $5.2 million. 

In addition to looking for ways to cut costs, district officials are making plans to bring in more funds.  

Most of the school district’s revenue comes from the state and is allocated according to a formula that distributes funds based on a district’s average annual attendance rate.  

In a preliminary proposal for balancing next year’s budget, district staff has zeroed in on one area where it doesn’t have to rely on Sacramento’s generosity to fill its coffers: staff wants to increase rates to rent BUSD facilities – auditoriums, gymnasium and classrooms – by 10 percent.  

The rates haven’t been increased in years, said Interim Superintendent Stephen Goldstone. 

The district pulls in between $300,000 and $400,000 a year by renting out classrooms and auditoriums for live music, lectures, church services and after-school activities run by nonprofits, said Judson Owens, BUSD property manager.  

The money goes directly into the school district’s general fund to be spent wherever the district needs a little additional cash. 

A night’s lecture at the Community Theater can bring in around $3,500, Owens said. The summers can be particularly profitable. The University of California has been known to pay in the range $40,000 to use district classrooms for a seminar lasting a little over two weeks. The cost for the district to clean up the classrooms afterward is minimal. 

When the building that houses the city of Franklin Elementary School is not being used by the district, it is rented out to a school for the disabled and for other uses. During those years the district’s total rental revenues hit $800,000, Owens said. 

“There are no guarantees that we can rent any of our facilities,” Owens said. 

“First and foremost schools are for our children,” Owens said. 

He said the facilities will only be rented out when “the use does not in any way take away from the delivery of education.” 

Bob Baldock, who organizes public events for nonprofits in Berkeley, pointed out that King Middle School auditorium, a site he often rents for lectures, will not be usable next year, since construction at the school will temporarily interfere with parking. 

Furthermore, said Baldock, although school facilities offer some of the most reasonable rental rates in Berkeley for nonprofits (nonprofits can rent at cut rates if the events support education in some way, Owens said), rates for the Community Theater, at least, are already nearly out of reach for many. 

The budget will be discussed at the regular board meeting, 7:30 p.m., May 2, at the district administrative offices, 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 

Saturday, April 28

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

548-3333 

Berkeley Bay Festival  

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.  

Berkeley Marina  

160 University Ave.  

The Festival, held at the Marina since 1937, has had an environmental education and boating theme for the past 22 of those years. A variety of organizations will be on hand to inform and inspire people to learn how they affect the environment and to take action. Also, live music, food, a climbing wall and free sailing. Free 644-8623 

El Salvador  

Reconstruction Plans  

10 a.m. - 3 p.m.  

Institute of Governmental Studies  

Moses Hall, Room 109  

UC Berkeley  

Four leaders from El Salvador, representing urban and rural community development initiatives will be on hand, along with Senator Liz Figueroa, to discuss facts and priorities of their emergency management/disaster relief efforts in the wake of the recent earthquake. Free 415-970-1033 

Working People Against  

Deregulation 

7:30 p.m. 

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St. (at Broadway) 

Oakland 

Join energy workers, teachers and other workers in a discussion about the issues surrounding the California energy crisis. Speakers include: Drew Bonthius, executive board member Oakland AFT 771, David Walers, power plant worker and member of IBEW 1245, and Eugene Coyle, Energy Economist.  

$3 261-4269 

An Energy Efficient Home 

10 a.m. - Noon  

2530 San Pablo Ave. (at Blake)  

Mark Gorrell, architect/consultant, will discuss how to reduce energy costs in existing houses and design new homes to minimize energy costs.  

$7.50 - $10  

548-2220 x233 

International Family Fair  

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.  

New School of Berkeley  

Bonita St. (between Cedar & Virginia)  

Games and activities for children, a huge raffle, food from Christie’s Vegetarian Cafe, and a variety of live entertainment, including a Capoeira demonstration. Free  

548-9165 

BASA Spring Festival  

5:30 p.m.  

Cesar Chavez Center  

Bancroft & Telegraph  

UC Berkeley  

An evening celebration of African culture featuring student and professional performances, dance, a fashion show, music, poetry, drama, and African cuisine from local African restaurants.  

$5 - $10 including dinner 

595-1307 

Sierra’s Solutions to the Energy Crisis 

10 a.m. - Noon  

2530 San Pablo Ave.  

The Sierra Club presents a panel discussion on energy conservation and a general membership meeting of the club’s Alameda group. Speakers include Graham Brownstein from Toward Utility Rate Normalization (TURN), Paul Craig, a Sierra Club energy expert on energy conservation, and Bill Magavern, Sierra Club senior lobbyist. 527-0176 

Parent Resource Center Workshop 

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Alternative High School  

Martin Luther King Jr. Way (at Derby)  

If you are interested in learning more or want to help with smaller learning communities for Berkeley High, there will be two open meeting sessions on smaller learning communities from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. 644-8524 

Philosophy of Life, A Buddhist Perspective 

2 - 5 p.m. 

10 Evans Hall  

UC Berkeley  

An introduction to Buddhism and the Soka Gakkai International, human revolution, diversity from the Buddhist perspective, mentor-disciple relationship and a video on Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ikeda.  

Sunday, April 29

Berkeley Waterfront Walking Tour  

10 a.m. - Noon  

Led by Susan Schwartz and sponsored by the Berkeley Historical Society.  

848-0181 

Hands-On Bicycle  

Repair Clinics  

11 a.m. - Noon  

Recreational Equipment, Inc.  

1338 San Pablo Ave.  

Learn how to maintain the drive train and to repair the chain of your bicycle from one of REI’s bike technicians. All you need to bring is your bike. Free  

527-4140 

People’s Park 32nd  

anniversary Festival  

12:30 - 6 p.m.  

People’s Park  

Haste St. & Telegraph Ave.  

Performances by, among others, Rebecca Riots, X-Plicit Players, Shelley Doty X-tet, with special guests Wavy Gravy, Frank Moore, Stoney Burke, Kriss Worthington and many more. Also including skateboarding demos, animal petting farm, puppets, and “surprises.” 848-1985 

The Reform Future 

Noon  

Fellowship of Humanity  

390 27th St. (at Broadway)  

Oakland  

Craig Wilson, anti-Buchanan delegate, will discuss the future of the Reform Party.  

655-7962 

The Ornament  

of the Middle Way 

6 p.m.  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

This text by Buddhist master Shantarakshita to be discussed by Barr Rosengerg. 

Free 843-6812 

Celebration of Youth  

Arts Festival  

Noon - 6 p.m.  

Berkeley High Campus 

The community theater will host non-stop performances of instrumental music, chorus, and dance, including the BHS Jazz Band and the Afro-Haitian dancers and drummers. Also, students enrolled in visual or performing arts classes will exhibit or perform their work. Free 548-5335 

Decade of Change  

3 - 5 p.m.  

Berkeley Historical Society  

1931 Center St.  

The Berkeley Historical Society celebrates the opening of their new exhibit, exploring the decade of 1900 - 1910 when Berkeley grew from a town of ten thousand to a city of forty-thousand. Also the 24th annual meeting which will include a review of the past year. 848-0181 

Monday, April 30

Politics of Permits  

7 - 10 p.m.  

Building Education Center 

812 Page St.  

Contractor/Mediator Ron Kelly will explain how to get your permit approved.  

$35  

525-7610 

— compiled by  

Chason Wainwright 

Venus & Mars  

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 

1414 Walnut St.  

Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, founder of LA’s speed dating will explain how to pick a mate, make your relationship thrive and how to fight effectively.  

$10  

848-0237 

100 Days of Bush  

Noon - 1 p.m.  

Lower Sproul Hall  

UC Berkeley  

The Students for Climate Protection are marking George W. Bush’s 100th day in office with a rally protesting Bush’s general environmental record in office and specifically focusing on his decision to pull the U.S. out of the global warming treaty negotiations. 

PTA Council Meeting  

7 p.m.  

Malcolm X Library  

1731 Prince (between King & Ellis)  

Introduction and election of PTA Council officers for 2001 - 02. If you would like to be an officer or nominate someone, contact Cynthia, 849-2683. Also, Dr. Goldstone will report on the budget situation and will update the situation on district issues and the superintendent search. 

Claremont Renters Neighborhood Meeting  

6 - 8 p.m.  

Claremont Branch Library  

2940 Benvenue Ave.  

Presentation on policies affecting rent ceilings, habitability issues and evictions. Get answers to your rent control questions.  

2700 San Pablo Ave. proposal does not conform to zoning 

Editor:  

I would like to clarify a few points regarding your recent article about the appeal of the 2700 San Pablo project to the City Council.  

The design rejected unanimously by the ZAB contained 61 parking spaces.  

The new design offered on appeal to the City Council contains only 33, a 46 percent reduction in parking. The City Council would have to make special allowances for this inadequate parking because by law developers are required to provide a minimum of 44 spaces for this building.  

The West Berkeley Plan permits a maximum of 4 stories at nodal intersection such as Ashby or University. Leaving aside the fact that 2700 San Pablo is not at a node, the City Council should take note that zoning regulations permit a maximum of 4 stories only if the ground floor is commercial.  

Developers are allowed to exceed 3 stories only because ground floor commercial space helps create a thriving street life by providing shops and cafes. In their previous design, the developer had offered 100 percent ground floor commercial. But now in their appeal to City Council, the new design provides only 20.7 percent commercial. The rest of the ground floor is not open to the public. 

The Daily Planet reported that the new design provides 2,605 sq. ft for commercial space (out of 7,225 sq. ft on the ground floor). In my opinion, the design actually provides only 1,495 sq. ft. because the remaining "commercial space" is devoted to the building management office. 

It is questionable whether the West Berkeley Plan allows an office of this sort to qualify as commercial space. This 1,100 sq. ft. private office is larger than many of the homes in this neighborhood!  

Lastly, the developers (who have been waging legal battles to avoid being required to provide any affordable housing in apartment buildings) have used a loophole to provide less than the 20 percent affordable housing required by the city.  

What they have done is to provide 4 live-work spaces that are exempt from the affordable housing calculations -- the developers have carefully avoided stepping over the threshold of 5 or more live-work spaces which would have made them subject to being included in the affordable housing calculations.  

But in reality, affordable units comprise less than 17 percent of the dwelling units.  

This design is just as bad as the design rejected by the ZAB and in some ways worse; the 7-0 ZAB rejection of this project should not be overturned on appeal.  

Michael Goldberg 

Berkeley  

2700 San Pablo neighbors want smaller project  

in back yards 

Editor: 

Developer Patrick Kennedy is resorting to “name calling” and either gross exaggeration or a misunderstanding of the English language in his comments about opposition to his most recent development proposals at 2700 San Pablo Ave. 

First of all, calling those who disagree with him NIMBY's is just “name calling” that side steps the issues at hand. We want the site developed with low income housing! We want it in our back yard! We just want a building of reasonable scale. 

Furthermore, the “virulent” opposition he speaks of is nothing of the sort. Virulence means “an extreme bitterness or malignity of temper” - this in no way characterizes his opposition - who have been thoughtful and persistent. 

Just a few facts to throw in here:  

• The latest proposal is taller than the last one. 

• It does not meet established requirements for parking, 

• The fourth story does not meet zoning requirements unless the first story is all commercial. 

• It takes advantage of a loophole to provide less than 20 percent affordable housing. 

Incidentally, I live within 50 yards of the site. 

Bob Kubik 

Berkeley 

SJP opposes all discrimination 

Editor: 

I am dismayed by the lengths that people will go in accusing groups that speak out against Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians. In her April 26 letter to the editor, Ms. Liss airs several complaints about our recent sit-in on the Berkeley campus, claiming that we (Students for Justice in Palestine) were breeding “anti-semitism,” and accusing us of not addressing “the entire historical context” of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. 

These vague but serious accusations of prejudice are a common way of trying to silence those who dare to suggest that Israel needs to change its treatment of Palestinians. Students for Justice in Palestine is absolutely opposed to anti-semitism, and does not condone any anti-semitism expressed by people who joined us at our rally. In fact, the same principles that cause us to be opposed to anti-semitism compel us to speak out against the conditions under which Palestinians are forced to live.  

Robert Fisk wrote in the London Independent, “(T)here's not much difference between the tactics of the Israeli army in the occupied territories and that of the South African police. The apartheid regime had death squads, just as Israel has today. Yet even they did not use helicopter gunships and missiles.”  

Within Israel, Arab citizens were fired upon with live ammunition while demonstrating, 14 were killed. Israel has built ‘by-pass’ roads connecting the illegal settlements in the occupied territories that Palestinians are not allowed to use. Israel has been condemned for excessive violence, use of torture, and collective punishment by the UN commission on human rights, Amnesty International, and many other well-respected organizations. And yet, the United States still gives over $8 million in taxes to Israel in military aid every day. We, as Americans, are funding Israel’s destruction and dispossession of the Palestinian people and thus all must become aware of the facts of the situation and decide if we still want our aid going to the oppressive Israeli military.  

Sarah Weir 

Berkeley 

TV needs balance 

Editor:  

There are often discussions of various political and other problems being aired by T.V. stations; only the public stations are in the habit of using moderate and polite speakers, one-on-one or as members of panels.  

Commercial stations, more frequently than not, tend to put people with extreme opinions on the screen, thereby arousing strong positive or negative reactions of the audience. This procedure no doubt leads to greater audience interest, an increase in the number of listeners and a higher rating of such programs. The station then can charge more money for advertising. The latter is most probably the motive for using such procedures.  

Let me give a few specific examples: The T.V. and/or radio host Armstrong Williams happens to be a strong supporter of the current administration and is frequently invited to defend a particular conservative position. He may be a darling of right-wingers, but he grates on the conscience of liberal viewers.  

There also is Barbara Olson, the very conservative wife of an equally conservative candidate for a high position in the Justice Department. Olson is entitled to her opinions, but she was on the screen hundreds of times, on various programs, to deride Clinton and his administration throughout the duration of that administration and she exhibited extreme bias.  

When one looks on the other end of the spectrum, one rarely sees truly liberal experts being consulted.  

Max Alfert 

Berkeley 

Albany 

Judah L. Magnes Museum “Telling Time: To Everything There Is A Season” Through May 2002 An exhibit structured around the seasons of the year and the seasons of life with objects ranging from the sacred and the secular, to the provocative and the whimsical 2911 Russell St. 549-6950  

UC Berkeley Art Museum “Joe Brainard: A Retrospective,” Through May 27. The selections include 150 collages, assemblages, paintings, drawings, and book covers. Brainard’s art is characterized by its humor and exuberant color, and by its combinations of media and subject matter; “Muntadas - On Translation: The Audience” Through April 29. This conceptual artist and pioneer of video, installation, and Internet art presents three installations; “Ricky Swallow/Matrix 191,” Including new sculptures and drawings; Through May 27 $6 general; $4 seniors and students age 12 to 18; children age 12 and under free; free Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon and Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley 642-0808 

The Asian Galleries “Art of the Sung: Court and Monastery” A display of early Chinese works from the permanent collection. “Chinese Ceramics and Bronzes: The First 3,000 Years,” open-ended. “Works on Extended Loan from Warren King,” open-ended. “Three Towers of Han,” open-ended. $6 general; $4 seniors and students age 12 to 18; free children age 12 and under; free Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 642-0808 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 by 40-foot replica of the fearsome dinosaur made from casts of bones of the most complete T. Rex skeleton yet excavated. When unearthed in Montana, the bones were all lying in place with only a small piece of the tailbone missing. “Pteranodon” A suspended skeleton of a flying reptile with a wingspan of 22-23 feet. The Pteranodon lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. Free. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821 

924 Gilman St. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless noted $5; $2 for a year membership. All ages. April 28: 7 Seconds, Throwdown, Vitamin X, Over My Dead Body, Breaker Breaker; May 4: Plan 9, Zodiac Killers, Reverend B. Dangerous Freakshow, Dory Tourette & The Skirtheads, Knockoffs; May 5: Shikabane, Phobia, Harum Scarum, Vulgar Pigeons, Insidious Sorrow 525-9926  

Ashkenaz April 28, 9:30 p.m.: Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, 8 p.m. dance lesson; April 29, 9 p.m.: Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band, DJ Edwin The Selector; May 6, 7 p.m.: Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble 1370 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman) 525-5054 or www.ashkenaz.com  

Freight & Salvage All music at 8 p.m. April 28: Roy Rogers & Norton Buffalo; April 29: Bryan Bowers; April 30: Sharon Shannon; May 1: Casey Neill Trio, Spiral Bound; may 3: Lorin Rowan Trio; May 4: cris Williamson; May 5, 10 a.m. - Noon: West Coast Live with author P.D. James and Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser; May 5: R. Crumb 7 The Cheap Suit Serenaders; May 6; Terry Riley, George Brooks & Gyan Riley; 1111 Addison St. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool/La Note All music at 4:30 p.m. May 6: David Creamer Trio; May 13: Michael Zilber Group 2377 Shattuck Ave. 845-5373 or visit www.jazzschool.com  

La Pena Cultural Center May 3, 8 p.m.: Third Eye Movement presents Deuce, Eclipse, Soul Sista Soul, Red Guard, Jahi, plus others; May 5, 9 p.m.: Chicano de Mayo Celebration dance with O-Maya, Yaksi, DJ Corazon & La Viuda Negra, plus poets Leticia Hernandez and Robert Karimi; May 11, 8 p.m.: Erika Luckett, Irina Rivkin & Making Waves, Gwen Avery, Shelly Doty X-tet; 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568 or www.lapena.org  

Cal Performances April 28, 8 p.m.: Vanguard Swing Orchestra, UC Berkeley Big Band $18 - $30; April 29, 3 p.m.: Mezzo-Soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson sings Handel, Lieberson, and Schumann $28 - $48; May 4 & 5, 8 p.m.: Merce Cunningham Dance Company presents “Way Station,” “BIPED,” and “Rainforest” $20 - $42 Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley; 642-9988 or www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Russian Chamber Orchestra April 28, 8 p.m. Featuring Piano Soloist Yakov Kasman, Soprano Svetlana Niktenko, and the Konevets, a vocal quartet from St. Petersburg. First Congregational Church 2345 Channing Way 415-478-2277  

The Pirate Prince April 29, 8 p.m. The first production for the new Hillside Players. Princesses, pirates, witches and modern dialogue in a family-geared show. Free admission, reservations required Hillside Club 2286 Cedar St. 528-2416  

Community Music Day at the Crowden School and Crowden Center for Music April 28, 1-5 p.m. Music and dance performances and storytelling. Families can make their own instruments, watch a master violin maker at work, or go to the Instrument Petting Zoo to try playing different instruments. Rose Street at Sacramento in Berkeley. Free. Call 559-6910.  

Bella Musica April 28, 8 p.m. & April 29, 4 p.m. Hear how various composers through the ages view the plight of the lovelorn, from the ardent exclamations of Morley’s “Fire, Fire” to the intoxication of the “Coolin” by Samuel Barber. $9 - $12 St. Joseph the Worker Church 1640 Addison St. 525-5393 or www.bellamusic.org 

“Music from the Mediterranean and Beyond” April 29, 2 p.m. Zahra combines Arab folk roots with the groove and influences of modern music $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

Community Women’s Orchestra Family Concert April 29, 4 p.m. Conducted by Ann Krinitsky, featuring works by Rossini, Richter, Beethoven. Free or by donation. Piano solo by Dr. Pearl Toy. Malcolm X School 1731 Prince St. 653-1616 

UC Dance Theater Spring 2001 Season Program B: April 28, 29, 2 p.m. “Esplanade” by Paul Taylor, reconstructed by Mary Cochran, “American Decades” by David Wood, “Le Matin sans Minuet” by Christopher Dolder, and “Treading” by Christopher Dolder $6 - $12 Zellerbach Playhouse UC Berkeley 601-8932 

Reflejos de Mexico April 28, 2 p.m. The dance troupe celebrates the vast richness of the Mexican culture. Park of Dance Week. $10 - $12 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

Odissi Dance April 28, 7 p.m. Reputed to be the most lyrical of the seven main forms of Indian classical dance with its liquidity of movement and graceful expression. $18 - $28 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 www.juliamorgan.org 

“Epicenter” April 28 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Premiere of 21-year-old Jonathan Whittle-Utter’s play billed as “A Psychodrama of Paradigm Shifts.” A student production about a troubled marriage, secret society warfare and the end of the world, the degradation of western philosophy. $8-$10 Zellerbach Room 7 Studio (underneath the auditorium) UC Berkeley Campus 444-7063 www.BayStage.com 

“The Oresteia” by Aeschylus Through May 6 Directed by Tony Taccone and Stephen Wadsworth, Aeschylus trilogy will be the first production staged on the Berkeley Rep’s new prosenium stage. Please call Berkeley Repertory Theatre for specific dates and times. $15.99 - $117 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2015 Addison St. 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Death of a Salesman” Through May 5, Friday & Saturday, 8 p.m. plus Thursday, May 3, 8 p.m. The ageless story of Willy Loman presented by an African-American cast and staged by Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. $10 Live Oak Theater 1301 Shattuck (at Berryman) 528-5620 

“Big Love” by Charles L. Mee Through June 10 Directed by Les Waters and loosely based on the Greek Drama, “The Suppliant Woman,” by Aeschylus. Fifty brides who are being forced to marry fifty brothers flee to a peaceful villa on the Italian coast in search of sanctuary. $15.99 - $51 Berkeley Repertory Theatre 2025 Addison St. 647-2949 

Shotgun Players “Slings and Arrows: Love Stories from Shakespearean Tragedies” written and directed by Rebecca Goodberg and developed by the ensemble and “Blue Roses” conceptualized and directed by Christian Schneider. Discussions with the audience will follow each show. Thursday-Sunday, 7 p.m. through May 5. $10 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid Ave. 655-0813  

Interplay Fest! May 4, 8 p.m. May 5, 3:30 - 8 p.m., May 6, 3 p.m. A full weekend of performances by Wing It! Performance Ensemble, Cultural InterPlay Ensemble, and the Art of InterPlay Ensemble. Weekend Pass: $15, Individual performances, $7 - $10 First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way (at Dana) 814-9584 

“Planet Janet” May 11 - June 10, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 7 p.m. Follows six young urbanites’ struggles in sex and dating. Impact Theatre presentation written by Bret Fetzer, directed by Sarah O’Connell. $7 - $12 La Val’s Subterranean Theatre 1834 Euclid 464-4468 www.impacttheatre.com 

“The Musical Tree of India” May 13, 2 p.m. Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre present this legend from tribal India. $5 - $10 Julia Morgan Center for the Arts 2640 College Ave. 925-798-1300 

“The Misanthrope” by Moliere May 18 - June 10, Fri - Sun, 8 p.m. Berkeley-based Women in Time Productions presents this comic love story full of riotous wooing, venomous scheming and provocative dialogue. All female design and production staff. $17 - $20 Il Teatro 450 449 Powell St. San Francisco 415-433-1172 or visit www.womenintime.com 

The far side of the moon May 3 - 5, 8 p.m. May 5, 2 p.m. and May 6, 3 p.m. A solo performance by Canadian writer, actor and director Robert Lepage with an original score by Laurie Anderson. $30 - $46 Zellerbach Playhouse Bancroft at Dana UC Berkeley 642-9988  

Films 

San Francisco International Film Festival April 28: 2 p.m. My Mother Had Fourteen Children, 4 p.m. The Endurance, 6:30 p.m. Maine-Ocean Express, 9:30 p.m. Without a Trace April 29: 2 p.m. Orouet’s Way, 5:30 p.m. Werckmeister Harmonies, 9 p.m. The Season of Men April 30: 7 p.m. Chop Suey, 9:15 p.m. Clouds of May May 1: 7 p.m. Such Is Life, 9:30 p.m. Peppermint Candy May 2: 7 p.m. The Natural History of the Chicken, 9 p.m. Platform May 3: 7 p.m. Daresalam, 9:15 p.m. Virgin Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors. All $9 Pacific Film Archive 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-5249 

“Slaves of Free Trade” May 1, 7:30 p.m. Also poet Jack Hirschman, singers Carol Denney, Larry Shaw, Pam Pam, and the La Pena Choir. Also a report on Kurdish prisoner and legislator Lela Zana and a video on Korean Daewoo auto workers. A May Day celebration. $7 La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck (at Prince) 

“A Ship with Painted Sails: The Fabulous Animation of Karel Zeman” May 4: 7 p.m. The Stolen Airship, 9:10 p.m. A Jester’s Tale May 5: 7 p.m. Journey to the Beginning of Time, 8:35 p.m. The Treasure of Bird Island May 11: 7 p.m. Zeman Shorts, 8:55 p.m. The Fabulous World of Jules Verne May 12: 7 p.m. Baron Munchausen, 9:10 p.m. Kraba - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice May 13: 5:30 The Thousand and One Nights, 7:05 p.m. The Tale of John and Mary. Admission: $7 for one film, $8.50 for double bills. Pacific Film Archive Theater 2575 Bancroft Way (at Bowditch) 642-1412 

“Women’s Evening at the Movies” May 5, 7:30 - 10 p.m. Jennifer Tilly stars in “Bound,” as a mob man’s mistress who becomes lovers with a sexy handywoman. Join a great group of bi, lesbian, transgender and queer women to watch the flick and munch on junk food. $5 donation requested Pacific Center 2712 Telegraph Ave. 548-8283 or www.pacificcenter.org 

“Mirele Efros” May 13, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Jacob Gordin’s classic story set in turn-of the century Grodno. A classic study in family relations. Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Cinema 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Exhibits 

“It’s Not Easy Being Green” The art of Amy Berk and New Color Etchings by James Brown & Caio Fonseca Through April 28, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery 1316 Tenth St. 527-1214 or www.traywick.com 

Art of Maia Huang & Brenda Vanoni Through April 28, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. !hey! Gallery 4920-B Telegraph Ave. (at 51st) Oakland 428-2349 

“Scenes from The Song of Songs/Images from The Book of Blessings” Landscape and still life oil pastels by poet and artists Marcia Falk Through May 2, Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon - 7 p.m. Flora Hewlett Library Graduate Theological Union 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

“The Distance Between Us” Through May 4 The photographs of Mimi Chakarova depicting South African townships, inland parishes in Jamaica and her most recent work in Cuba. Photographs about people and their incredible will to survive regardless of the circumstances. Graduate School of Journalism North Gate Hall UC Berkeley 

“The Sands of Time” Arab/Muslim sculptures and ceramics of Khalil Bendib. Through May 5, Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or call for appointment Mussi Artworks Foundry & Gallery 719 Heintz Ave. Space 10 644-2735 

Youth Arts Festival A city-wide celebration of art, music, dance and poetry by youth from the Berkeley Unified School District. Featuring paintings, drawings, sculpture and ceramics by K-8 students Through May 12, Wednesday - Sunday, Noon - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St.  

“The Art of Meadowsweet Dairy” Objects found in nature, reworked and turned into objects of art. Through May 15, call for hours Current Gallery at the Crucible 1036 Ashby Ave. 843-5511  

“Scapes/Escapes” Ink, Acrylic, Mixed Media by Evelyn Glaubman May 1 - June 1 Tuesday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Gallery of the Center for Psychological Studies 1398 Solano Ave. Albany 524-0291 

“Watercolors and Mixed Media” by Pamela Markmann Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. A retrospective of 30 years’ work at Markmann’s Berkeley studio. Red Oak Gallery 2983 College Ave. 526-4613  

“Elemental” The art of Linda Mieko Allen May 2 - June 9, Tuesday - Saturday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Reception: May 2, 6 - 8 p.m. Traywick Gallery 1316 Tenth St. 527-1214 www.traywick.com 

Berkeley Potters Guild Spring Show and Sale May 5, 6, 12, 13, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fifteen artists open their personal studios to the public and offer pieces for sale. Berkeley Potters Guild 731 Jones St. 524-7031 www.berkeleypotters.com 

Ledger drawings of Michael and Sandra Horse. Meet the artists May 18, 19, 20 (call for times). Exhibit runs through June 18. Gathering Tribes Gallery 1573 Solano Ave. 528-9038 www.gatheringtribes.com  

“Alive in Her: Icons of the Goddess” Through June 19, Tuesday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photography, collage, and paintings by Joan Beth Clair. Opening reception May 3, 4 - 6 p.m. Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Ave. 848-0528 

Bernard Maisner: Illuminated Manuscripts & Paintings. Through Aug. 8 Maisner works in miniature as well as in large scales, combining his mastery of medieval illumination, gold leafing, and modern painting techniques. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 849-2541 

“Musee des Hommages,” Masterworks by Guy Colwell Faithful copies of several artists from the pasts, including Titian’s “The Venus of Urbino,” Cezanne’s “Still Life,” Picasso’s “Woman at a Mirror,” and Boticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours 2028 Ninth St. (at Addison) 841-4210 or visit www.atelier9.com 

“Geographies of My Heart” Collage paintings by Jennifer Colby May 7 - August 24; Reception event May 7, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m,: Colby will give a slide-lecture using contemporary women’s art depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe to illustrate her dissertation research in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies - Dinner Board Room; Flora Lamson Hewlett Library 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2541 

Images of Portugal Paintings by Sofia Berto Villas-Boas of her native land. Open after 5 p.m. Voulez-Vous 2930 College Ave. (at Elmwood) 

Quilt Show through May 12. M-Th, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Twenty-second annual show displays over 60 quilts. Berkeley Public Library’s North Branch. 1170 The Alameda 644-6850 

“Tropical Visions: Images of AfroCaribbean Women in the Quilt Tapestries of Cherrymae Golston” Through May 28, Tu-Th, 1-7 p.m., Sat 12-4 p.m. Women’s Cancer Resource Center Gallery 3023 Shattuck Ave. 548-9286 ext 307 

Readings 

Cody’s Books 2454 Telegraph Ave. 845-7852 All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted April 28: Christopher Hitchens discusses “The Trial of Henry Kissinger”; April 29: Poetry of Gloria Frym & Lewis Warsh; April 30: Jamling Tenzing Norgay discusses “Touching My Father’s Soul”; Han Ong reads “Fixer Chao”; May 3: Several authors from the anthology “My Story...Life As A Teen Parent” will read; May 4: Doris Haddock will read from “Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year” about her 3,200-mile journey across the country; May 8: Geling Yan reads “The Lost Daughter of Happiness”  

Cody’s Books 1730 Fourth St. 559-9500 All events at 7 p.m., unless noted April 30, 11 a.m.: Anthony Browne will chat about writing and illustrating children’s books; May 7: Rachel Naomi Remen reads from “My Grandfather’s Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging”  

Boadecia’s Books 398 Colusa Ave. Kensington All events at 7:30 p.m., unless noted May 4: Sylvia Brownrigg will read from “Pages for You”; May 11: Suzanne Gold will read from her novel “Daddy’s Girls”; May 12: Krandall Kraus will read “Love’s Last Chance: A Nigel & Nicky Mystery”; May 18: Melinda Given Guttman will read from “The Enigma of Anna O”; May 19: Jessica Barksdale Inclan will read from “Her Daughter’s Eyes” 559-9184 or www.bookpride.com  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore 1385 Shattuck Ave. (at Rose) 843-3533 All events at 7:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise May 1: Andrew Horvatt will discuss “Japanese Beyond Words”; May 3: Char Miller, editor, will discuss “Water in the West: A High Country News Reader” and “Fluid Arguments: Five Centuries of Western Water Conflict”; May 3: Conner Gorry will discuss the Lonely Planet published “Guatemala”; May 10: Gray Brechin talks about “Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin”; May 23: Jon Bowermaster discusses his book “Birthplace of the Winds: Adventuring in Alaska’s Islands of Fire and Ice”; May 29, 7 - 9 p.m.: Travel Photo Workshop with Joan Bobkoff. $15 registration fee  

“Strong Women - Writers & Heroes of Literature” Fridays Through June 2001, 1 - 3 p.m. Taught by Dr. Helen Rippier Wheeler, author of “Women and Aging: A Guide to Literature,” this is a free weekly literature course in the Berkeley Adult School’s Older Adults Program. North Berkeley Senior Center 1901 Hearst Ave. (at MLK Jr. Way) 549-2970  

Duomo Reading Series and Open Mic. Thursdays, 6:30 - 9 p.m. May 3: Lucy Lang Day with host Dale Jensen; May 10: Jamie Kennedy with host Mischell Erickson; May 17: Gregory Listach Gayle with host Mark States; May 24: Stephanie Young with host Louis Cuneo; May 31: Connie Post with host Louis Cuneo Cafe Firenze 2116 Shattuck Ave. 644-0155. 

Lunch Poems First Thursday of each month, 12:10 - 12:50 p.m. May 3: Student Reading Morrison Room, Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-0137 

Selected Poetry of Yehuda Amichai April 29, 10:30 a.m. Chana Bloch and Chana Kronfeld, co-translators of Yehuda Amichai’s “Open Closed Open,” will read their translations from the Hebrew. Book signing to follow. $4 - $5 Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 

“New Draft Programme of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA” May 9, 7 p.m. Take part in a discussion of this blueprint for fighting and winning a revolution in the United States. Revolution Books 2425C Channing Way 848-1196 

Paul Polansky and Voice of Roma May 10, 3 p.m. Polansky’s poetry gives voice to the Kosovo Roma and their plight in the aftermath of their plight in the aftermath of the 1999 war. Free Kroeber Hall Gifford Room Second Floor (at College and Bancroft in Anthropology Building) 981-1352 

Rhythm & Muse Open Mike May 12, 6:30 p.m. An ongoing open mike series, featuring poet/artist Anca Hariton. Free Berkeley Art Center 1275 Walnut St. 527-9753 

Tours 

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387 

Berkeley City Club Tours 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. The fourth Sunday of every month, Noon - 4 p.m. $2 848-7800  

Golden Gate Live Steamers Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Lomas Cantadas Drive at the south end of Tilden Regional Park Small locomotives, meticulously scaled to size. Trains run Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides: Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., weather permitting. 486-0623  

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden Centennial Drive, behind Memorial Stadium, a mile below the Lawrence Hall of Science The gardens have displays of exotic and native plants. Through April 29, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. See an amazing display of plants that are sources of commonly used fibers and dyes. Tours, Saturday and Sunday, 1:30 p.m. $3 general; $2 seniors; $1 children; free on Thursday. Daily, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. 643-2755 or www.mip.berkeley.edu/garden/  

Berkeley Historical Society Walking Tours All tours begin at 10 a.m. and are restricted to 30 people per tour $5 - $10 per tour April 29: Susan Schwartz leads a tour of the Berkeley Waterfront; May 12: Debra Badhia will lead a tour of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Arts District; May 19: John Stansfield & Allen Stross will lead a tour of the School for the Deaf and Blind; June 2: Trish Hawthorne will lead a tour of Thousand Oaks School and Neighborhood; June 23: Sue Fernstrom will lead a tour of Strawberry Creek and West of the UC Berkeley campus 848-0181 

Lectures 

City Commons Club Speaker Series All speakers at 12:30 p.m. April 27: Wen-Hsing Yeh, professor of history, UC Berkeley speaks on “The Culture of China in a Changing World” $1 admission with coffee Berkeley City Club 2315 Durant Ave. 848-3533 or 845-4725 

California Colloquium on Water Scholars of distinction in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, law and environmental design speak about water resources and hopefully contribute to informed decisions on water in CA. May 8, 5:15 - 6:30 p.m.: “What Makes Water Wet?” Richard Saykally, professor of Chemistry, UC Berkeley (refreshments served in 410 O’Brien Hall at 4:15 p.m.) 212 O’Brien Hall, UC Berkeley 642-2666  

Tibetan Nyingma Institute Free Lectures All lectures begin at 6 p.m. April 29: Barr Rosenberg on “The Ornament of the Middle Way”; May 6: Sylvia Gretchen on “Faith, Doubt, and Refuge in Buddhist Practice”; May 13: Abbe Blum on “Tapping Into Creativity”; May 20: Miep Cooymans and Dan Jones on “Working with Awareness, Concentration, and Energy”; May 27: Eva Casey on “Getting Calm; Staying Clear”; June 3: Jack van der Meulen on “Healing Through Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)”; June 10: Sylvia Gretchen on “Counteracting Negative Emotions” Tibetan Nyingma Institute 1815 Highland Place 843-6812 

West Coast Regional Spartacist Educational April 28, Noon Jon Wood, of the Spartacist League, will speak: “Defend the Gains of the Cuban Revolution”; 3:30 p.m.: George Foster, central committee, Spartacist League, will speak: “For Socialist Revolution in the Bastion of World Imperialism” 60 Evans, UC Berkeley 839-0851 

“Falun Gong Phenomenon” April 29, 2 - 5 p.m. Chinese columnist and political critic, Hu Ping will speak on the Falun Gong movement. free Moffitt Library 101 UC Berkeley  

“Reading Technologies” May 2, 4 - 6 p.m. Ivan Illich, visiting scholar at UC Berkeley in anthropology, will talk about the history, visual architecture and meaning of reading from the time of classical print cultures and the medieval monk to the innovation and detachment of today’s digital era. Free Morrison Reading Room Doe Library UC Berkeley 642-5339 

“Hunting T. Rex” May 6, 2 p.m. A talk by Dr. Philip Currie, curator of dinosaurs, Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Currie asks the question: Was there social interaction amongst the Tyrannosaurs? $3 - $7 Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 642-5132 or visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

Berkeley 1900 May 7, 7 p.m. Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900, a book about life at the turn of the 19th century, will speak at the Friends of Five Creeks’ monthly meeting. Albany Community Center (downstairs) 1249 Marin 848-9358 

Peopling of the Pacific May 11, 8 p.m. Dr. Patrick Kirch, department of Anthropology, UC Berkeley, will review results of archaeological research in the Pacific Islands, providing a current overview of Oceanic prehistory. 370 Dwinelle Hall UC Berkeley 415-338-1537  

On fire. In a groove. Couldn’t miss with his eyes closed. Any superlative you can come up with, this week it applied to Jeremiah Fielder. 

Three days after throwing a complete game win and going 4 for 4 with two home runs and two doubles earlier this week, the St. Mary’s senior had another banner day on Friday, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, a triple and five RBI against St. Joseph, leading the Panthers to a 11-1 win. 

“I’ve never hit like this before in my life,” Fielder said after Friday’s fireworks. “I usually hit line drives, but I’ve been working on my mechanics and added some power.” 

Fielder’s coach agreed with him. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a player on a run like he’s on,” St. Mary’s head coach Andy Shimabukuro said. “The last two games are probably the best he could have had.” 

Even when Fielder made his only out of the week on Friday, it was a sacrifice fly that brought home a run. Add that to bases-loaded doubles in the fourth and fifth innings, a ringing triple in the first, and two nice plays in the field, and you’ve got a dominating performance. And it could have been even better: Fielder’s first double on Friday went under the outfield fence, and would have been at least a triple and scored an extra run. 

The only thing that rivaled Fielder’s feats was a titanic home run by right fielder Chase Moore in the fifth inning. The two-run blast cleared the left field fence by a good 20 feet, and was part of a five-run inning that put the Panthers (13-9 overall, 7-2 BSAL) out of reach. They tacked the final run on in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the 10-run rule and send the crowd home early. 

St. Mary’s starter Anthony Miyawaki started shakily, giving up a leadoff single to Victor Ramirez. St. Joseph right fielder John Barber followed by pounding a ball into right-center, scoring Ramirez. But Barber was gunned down at third trying for a triple, and Miyawaki settled down, going the distance and giving up just three more hits, walking none and striking out nine Pilots. 

The Panthers pulled even in the bottom of the first when Joe Starkey brought in Fielder with a sacrifice fly, and scored two more in the next inning on an RBI single by catcher Marcus Johnson and Fielder’s sacrifice fly.  

While Miyawaki stifled the Pilots, St. Joseph (3-6 BSAL) starter Chad Freitas was in trouble from the start, as the Panthers scored in every inning but one. But after Fielder’s first bases-loaded double in the fourth, which ended Freitas’ day on the mound, the Panthers ran themselves out of the inning. Omar Young was thrown out trying to score on a routine ground ball, and Fielder fell asleep on a double steal and was caught in a rundown between third base and home to end the inning. 

But the Panthers batted around on reliever Allan Soohoo in the fifth, with the help of two Pilot errors, and the game was no longer in doubt.

’60s icon raises funds for cataract operations  

When he turns 65 on May 15, Wavy Gravy is throwing himself a party, an “ascension to geezerhood” celebration. Idols of rock will perform together at the Berkeley Community Theater – Dr. John, Mickey Hart, Paul Cantina, Jack Casady and more. Wavy will emcee.  

Wavy Gravy, icon of the ’60s, clown and hippie is above all a social activist.  

The birthday gala is just an excuse – the concert is really a fund-raiser in disguise for SEVA, Sanskrit for Service to Human Kind. SEVA is a health organization that provides cataract operations to people in Nepal, India and Tibet. A ticket to the birthday concert is enough to pay for an operation on “one eyeball, 20 bucks,” Wavy says. 

Up the alley from Peet’s on Fourth Street, Wavy’s tidy SEVA office is decorated by, among other things, a light with soft bristles that change color as they revolve and a star fish upon which sits a yellow plastic monk talking on a cell phone. Beautifully framed posters of other SEVA fund-raisers Gravy organized hang in the halls. “Peace through Living” is the subtitle to his book, Something Good for a Change. And his life is an illustration of that concept.  

In jeans and Hawaiian shirt, Wavy describes SEVA and meanders through other details of his most remarkable adventures. 

“The main slice of blindness is curable and preventable,” Wavy says. “Eighty percent of all people who are blind are unnecessarily blind and 80 percent of that 80 percent can regain sight.”  

SEVA was created 23 years ago after Wavy, his Hog Farm commune and Dr. Larry Brilliant, went to Nepal. They had started out for Pakistan to feed people marooned by floods, but because of the war between India and Pakistan they “veered left.” There Brilliant set up a clinic and Wavy blew bubbles. The kids had never seen bubbles before and “chased them through fields of reefer that stretched to the Himalayas trying to escape to the stars. It was such a gift, to be in this beauty, yet the terrain was steep and difficult. It was so easy to fall,” Wavy said. The ironic part was that so many people there were blind. 

Nicole Grasset, a woman legendary in Public Health, (Wavy calls her “one of the great saints, a mother Teresa in a Dior dress, except it’s a ‘knock off’ she washes by hand.”), pitched an idea to Brilliant, Ram Dass and Wavy to do something about the blindness. With an initial $10,000 grant from Steve Jobs at Apple Computer, they were able to go into Nepal and survey where eye camps could be set up.  

Soon after, Wavy happened to be on an airplane with the Grateful Dead and he proposed the idea of a SEVA fund-raiser to them. Bob Weir had already read something in the Whole Earth Catalog about the eye camps. The Dead agreed to a fund-raiser which was a huge success and Bill Graham donated $10,000 too.  

Wavy Gravy has set up such successful fund-raisers that SEVA has been able to expand its health focuses to work with indigenous peoples of the Americas, in diabetes prevention on several American Indian reservations in the United States and with Mayans in Guatemala. 

Never ordinary, Wavy grew up in Princeton, N.J., where, as he tells it, “I was five and airing myself in the front yard. Albert Einstein asked my mother if he might take me for a walk.” It was the first of many walks. Einstein wore tennis shoes and a sweatshirt and told Wavy that “as a young child (he) remembered things like linoleum patterns. I remember Einstein’s smell. Musty,” but more than that. 

When his parents divorced and each remarried and had other families, Wavy, then Hugh Romney, knew he’d have to make his own way through college. He joined the Army and later went to Boston University, on the GI Bill, to study performing arts. There he met the most incredible teachers, people who’d been blackballed by Hollywood during the McCarthy era. Wavy remembers Martha Graham as one of the dance instructors. “I had the hots for her; she had feet like cypress trees.” Top directors would come into the giant theater on campus and cast a play and everyone would have a part or were assigned to the crew.  

But the university administration didn’t want the teachers off in their own space ignoring core curriculum, so they quit. And they took Wavy with them to New York City and got him a scholarship at the Neighborhood Play House. He then became poetry director of the Gas Light Theater. People came in four deep to stare at the beatniks as if they were a geek show. Wavy recited poems he wrote, which got shorter and shorter “until they dissolved into haiku.” 

Eventually, he dropped the poems and just talked about the weird things that had happened to him during the day. He calls what he does ‘Stand Up Philosophy’ or ‘Head Riffs.’ 

His act was so impressive he was invited to open for jazz musicians including John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk. One night in Texas, B.B. King was trying to set up after Wavy (still Hugh Romney) had introduced him and Wavy was in the way. B.B. King clapped him on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry Wavy Gravy, I’ll work around you.” Wavy’d been christened. 

Wavy brought his theater energies west and was a member of The Committee, an improvisational group in San Francisco. Eventually, he and friends formed a commune which was called the Hog Farm because of a gig they had living on a mountain top in California, rent free for slopping the hogs. Wavy and his Hog Farm Commune criss-crossed the country in buses to bring anti-war messages to college campuses.  

No stranger to stardom, he has been in the national eye since Woodstock where he made the famous announcement, “What we’re thinking of is breakfast in bed for 400,000.” He has been on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and Life, as the psychedelic hero, crony to the Merry Pranksters and an original acid test survivor.  

Because of beatings he received during anti-war demonstrations, Wavy had to have several spinal fusions. After the last fusion, he was severally depressed, “bouncing on the bottom,” he called it. 

But someone suggested he work at Children’s Hospital and gave him a red nose to wear there. He went and found the antidote to his depression was the children. (They lit up at the sight of his red nose.)  

The more involved he got with the children, the more he lost track of his own personal pain. He worked at Children’s Hospital for many years. One nurse remembers his devoted readings of Wind in the Willows to a girl who had spina bifida. “He was so unassuming and soft spoken,” said Eileen Barrett (sister of the author). “He came week after week after week, his book tucked under his arm. He was perfect for her.” 

Wavy kept dressing as a clown when he discovered cops didn’t hit him anymore. He’s always touted laughter. “Humor enables people to see things in a new way. When people laugh their defenses go down.” 

When he met his wife, to whom he’s been married 35 years, he knew she was the one because she put peanuts on his hamburger. They bought a ranch in Leggett, and there they run a summer camp for kids called Camp Winnarainbow. The basic idea of the camp is to “set up a palette where people can discover they’re a star.” 

Wavy’s such a famous man, Ben and Jerry designed an ice cream flavor for him, “a very complex blend,” Rob at the Ben and Jerry’s on Oxford Street says. It took about two hundred taste tests to hit the right balance. Money from the ice cream sales is donated to assure diversity at Camp Winnarainbow.  

The camp pays him a monthly salary and his room and board. Although many think he’s a ‘godzillionaire,’ Wavy claims he has only $300 in the bank, that he just deposited. He lives in north Berkeley in a place he calls ‘Hippie Hyannisport’ in a multi-generational communal household. He says he’s thinking of slowing down a little, but right now in addition to the fund-raiser and getting Camp Winnarainbow ready for the summer onslaught, he has an art show hanging in San Francisco at the Laser Reflection Gallery.  

His work, he says, is done out of “pure greed and selfishness. It gets me stoned – a high that is not in the pharmaceutical cabinet.” 

When the phone rings and the caller asks him how he is, his answer “Semi–spectacular” is only semi-accurate. Drop the semi and you’d have the full truth.  

Call SEVA at 845-7382 for information on tickets for the fund-raiser. 

Hutchinson throws complete game 

Pitching on Fridays in the Pac-10 is a tough assignment. Every week, there are staff aces to square off against: USC’s Mark Prior, Arizona State’s Mike Esposito, and Oregon State’s Thad Johnson are a few that have gotten the best of Cal’s Trevor Hutchinson.  

But the junior right-hander was able to turn the tables Friday, striking out 10 Cardinal batters as Cal defeated Stanford, 7-4, yesterday at Evans Diamond. The win puts the Bears in good position to win their first series against Stanford since 1993. 

“For us to contend, we have to face a lot of number one’s (starters), guys with big reputations and big numbers behind them,” Cal head coach David Esquer said. “We have to be good enough to beat them.” 

In addition to Hutchinson (4-6), the Bears (25-21 overall, 10-9 Pac-10) were aided by a power surge in the sixth inning. Rob Meyer was hit by a pitch with one out, then watched designated hitter Brad Smith line a Jeremy Guthrie fastball over the right-centerfield fence, giving Cal a 5-4 lead. One out later, Ben Conley smashed his second home run of the season to leftfield. Conley was 3-4 with two runs scored in the game.  

Cal got out of the gates slowly in the first. A leadoff walk and two singles loaded the bases with no one out for the Cardinal, eventually leading to a run on a sac fly by Ryan Garko. With two outs, Andy Topham struck out, seemingly ending the inning. But the pitch was in the dirt, and catcher John Baker committed a throwing error to allow Stanford to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.  

“Against Stanford, you can’t afford to fall into a hole early, and we did just that,” said Hutchinson. “But we were able to battle back.” 

Cal responded with three runs of their own right away. Conley led off with a double down the leftfield line, and was brought home by Conor Jackson’s single. Brian Horwitz then singled, followed by a strikeout by Baker and a single by Carson White, loading the bases. Clint Hoover then grounded to Scott Dragicevich at shortstop. White was forced out at second, but Chris O’Riordan’s throw to first was in the dirt and escaped Arik Van Zandt at first, allowing Jackson and Horwitz to score and giving Cal a 3-2 lead. The teams combined for five errors in the game.  

The Cardinal (33-11, 11-5) would strike again in the second with one run, and scored again in the fourth when Jackson’s errant throw let in a run. From there, Hutchinson took control, setting down 13 consecutive Cardinal batters. After Jackson’s error in the fourth, the Cardinal did not have another baserunner until Dragicevich’s two-out single in the eighth. The score remained 4-3 until the Bears’ power surge in the sixth.  

“Once we settled down defensively, he (Hutchinson) really got himself on a roll,” said Esquer. “We’re going to need big performances from him.” 

For Cal to advance to the NCAA Regionals, they must win the series against Stanford, but the good news is that the Bears have not lost a series in which they won the opening game this season.  

“Beyond the big picture, we’ve really grown up as a team,” Esquer said. “They’ve shown a lot of poise not falling apart after making some key mistakes and giving (Stanford) runs. They’re starting to figure out what it takes to win.”

The City Council heard from 45 speakers Thursday prior to awarding more than $7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations that provide housing, homeless and health services. 

The hearing was held at the North Berkeley Senior Center, and the council is scheduled to vote on grant funding for the 115 applicants at its May 8 meeting. 

The city received the grant applications months ago and the process of evaluating them began in November. Three city commissions, several city agencies and the City Council have been involved in the evaluation process. The three commissions are the Housing Advisory Commission, the Homeless Commission and the Human Welfare and Community Action Commission. 

The City Manager’s Office and the three commissions sent recommendations to the council outlining the agencies they thought were worthy of grants and the amounts they should get.  

The council will review the recommendations, consider the public comments they heard Thursday night and likely make some adjustments before approving the grant funds. 

The grants come from a variety of federal and local funding sources including the $4.3 million in federal money from the Community Block Development Grant program and $2.4 million from the city’s general fund. The city will distribute nearly $500,000 more than it did last year.  

There are many worthwhile nonprofits in Berkeley and deciding which ones to fund can be a tough task, said Interim Director of Housing Stephen Barton.  

“We fund a lot of excellent services in Berkeley but there are always more excellent services that don’t get funding because there simply isn’t enough money,” he said. 

Many of the speakers at the hearing were representatives from the nonprofits who were there to thank the council and the commissions for recommending grants. They also took the opportunity to remind the council one more time the community value the grant funding would provide. 

Center for Independent Living Executive Director Jan Garret thanked the council for past grants and briefly outlined some projects CIL will pursue if it gets the $204,800 it requested. About $143,000 would go to building residential wheelchair access, $28,400 would go blind services and another $33,700 would be spent on staffing.  

Father Rigobinto Caloca Rivaro of the Multicultural Institute brought along several children who participate in the institute’s after-school program called Mas. Each of them addressed the council with speeches they had written themselves. One student named Miya told the council that if there were more programs like Mas, there would be fewer social ills.  

“I think there has been too much focus on building jails and if there were more programs like Mas, we wouldn’t need jails, because there would be a familiar place where people could go after school and get help with their homework,” she said. 

Some of the public speakers expressed frustration at not receiving any funding at all. The coordinator of the Family Resource Center told the council that the center will fold if it’s not given any seed money. 

According to John Martin, Jr., FRC coordinator, the center applied for $48,500 to help pay therapists who counsel Berkeley Unified School District students in crisis. Martin said the center helped 84 children who needed guidance because one or both of their parents had been jailed or were fighting a drug problem.  

“These kids are sometimes suffering from severe depression or they’re acting out in class,” Martin said. 

He added that the center has been evaluated by the Zelerbach Foundation and has been the focus of a study by UC Berkeley graduate students in Social Welfare. Both found that the center has made a positive difference in its clients’ lives. 

“The irony is that this is a state of the art family center in the middle of the poorest census tract in Berkeley and the city is going to turn us down for funding after it pitched in to help build it,” Martin said. 

Martin said the funding process is too weighted to nonprofits which have received money in the past.  

The application of Jubilee Restoration, a nonprofit housing developer, was one of the few to bring out disagreements between the Housing Advisory Commission and City Manager Weldon Rucker. 

Jubilee requested a grant of $100,800. The HAC reviewed the request and recommended $32,100, saying that Jubilee has had administrative problems. The City Manager doubled HAC’s recommendation for the same reasons. 

“Jubilee has shown some weaknesses but they’ve also showed some strengths,” Rucker told the council. “I don’t know of any new nonprofit developer that didn’t have problems and the extra money will help them straighten things out.”

Development boom began over 100 years ago 

Henry B. Berryman came to California in the 1850s and made his money selling coal brought around the Horn of Africa as ballast in ships. He rented Napoleon Bonaparte Byrne’s elegant house at 1301 Oxford St. in the early 1870s when Byrne moved to the Delta to farm. He eventually purchased Byrne’s house about 1880.  

Berryman’s name is familiar today as the man who developed Berryman Reservoir on Euclid Avenue near the Rose Garden and gave his name to Berryman Street.  

By the late 1870s Berryman had purchased a large section of Byrne’s farmland and subdivided it into building lots.  

To facilitate access to his subdivision he and other businessmen extended the Berkeley Branch spur line of the Central (later Southern) Pacific Railroad from Shattuck Avenue north to Berryman Station at Vine and Rose streets in 1878.  

The population was large enough in 1885 that a neighborhood school was built at Rose and Milvia streets. Moved and enlarged in 1897, the Rose Street School is still standing (a residence since 1905) at 1329 Milvia St.  

Berryman’s subdivision, Berkeley Villa Tract, extended from Rose Street to Eunice Street and from Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to Euclid Avenue and included today’s Live Oak Park.  

There are only a handful of pre-1890 buildings still standing in the area. The majority of the older buildings date from the 1890s and retain their Victorian trimmings, while the simple brown-shingle houses date from around 1900 to 1915.  

May 6, the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association will hold its annual self-guided house tour in the Live Oak Park neighborhood. Call 841-2242 or go to berkeleyheritage.com. 

Susan Cerny writes Berkeley Observed in conjunction with the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association

The Albany Police Department is looking for middle school and high school songwriters to write rap songs about teen driving safety, such as driving under the influence, accidents or using safety belts.  

To enter the contest, students should submit their song on a tape cassette and provide the lyrics on a separate piece of paper. Contestants need not come from Albany. 

Songs must be no longer than three and one half minutes long. No background music is required. 

Winning entries will have their song professionally recorded on compact disc. Cash prizes will be given to the top four songs (first prize $300, second price $200, third prize $150 and fourth prize $100.) The deadline for the contest is  

May 1.

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge overseeing the case against Napster Inc. essentially threw up her hands and appealed for help Friday. For the moment, her memorandum guarantees Napster users can continue downloading copyright music at will. 

The record labels want Napster to remove any copyright songs they identify on the song-swapping service, a position U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel has strongly endorsed in a series of rulings. 

But removing the songs has proven exceptionally difficult, since Napster users constantly make them reappear under different file names, staying one step ahead of Napster’s efforts to remove songs. 

Napster has said it can’t possibly keep up with every variation on its network, which Patel has described as an out-of-control “monster” that should be shut down entirely. 

On Friday, however, Patel effectively acknowledged that unless an appellate court clarifies its ruling in the case, she can’t force Napster to identify and remove all those files. 

In other words, for now, it remains the record labels’ burden to identify infringing songs on Napster’s ever-changing index of file names. 

Patel invited the Recording Industry Association of America to “seek clarification in the court of appeals.” 

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Patel’s July order that Napster remove all copyrighted works from its file-swapping site, but with several key caveats. The appellate court said the record industry trade group must “provide notice to Napster of copyrighted works and files containing such works available on the Napster system before Napster has the duty to disable access to the offending content.” 

Patel ruled Friday that the record labels’ interpretation, that they need not identify individual files, “requires reading more into the paragraph than the Ninth Circuit has made apparent.” 

Napster’s interpretation: it has to screen out songs only after the record labels identify specific infringing files, along with proof of copyright ownership. 

Napster recently began using Gracenote, a Berkeley, Calif.-based company that keeps a huge database of recorded music, to help screen songs. But Gracenote doesn’t compensate for changing song titles and artist name spellings that users twist to get around the screens. 

For example, a search for the Beatles hit “Happiness Is A Warm Gun” returns no results in Napster’s search engine. But type in “Fab Four” as the artist and the song appears, along with many other Beatles hits. 

Unless record labels can prove that a particular file name is infringing – in this example, that these individual “Fab Four” song files are really Beatles’ songs – Napster is not obligated to remove them. 

The industry argues that it need only provide the artist and song name, not the thousands of files appearing on Napster’s indexes. 

Patel also invited both sides to submit more technical guidance on how Napster might prevent newly released songs from appearing on the site, and noted that her own “neutral technology advisor,” A.J. Nichols, is studying the technological issues in the case. 

“The court will reserve making any findings regarding the relevant technology until it has reviewed Dr. Nichols’ report,” she said. A recording industry spokeswoman sought to downplay Patel’s latest ruling.  

“Napster still needs to comply with the order,” said Amy Weiss. 

Napster attorney Robert Silver praised Patel’s reading of the appellate ruling.  

If record labels want to stop the trading of copyright music, it’s crucial that they provide specific file names to Napster. 

“It is the only way that we can maximize the effectiveness of the filtering of noticed works that are actually on the system,” Silver said. 

A total of 17 million Americans — 20 percent of all people using the Internet — used Napster in February, and despite court-ordered screening technology, 12 million people still managed to use it in March, according to the Jupiter Media Metrix research firm. 

Meanwhile, other ways of trading music over the Web are gaining in popularity. People logging on to Bearshare.com, a decentralized network of users communicating directly with each other, grew from 187,000 in February to 520,000 in March, the research firm said. 

The case is In Re Napster, C00-1369. 

On the Net: 

http://www.riaa.org 

http://www.napster.com 

http://www.bearshare.com

SAN FRANCISCO — Frederick D. Smith, a Tuskegee Airman who became San Francisco’s first black public defender, has died following a long illness. He was 84. 

Smith was born in Kansas in 1917 and died April 13 at a convalescent home in San Francisco. 

He attended the University of Iowa in 1936, but left after three years to work in Chicago’s stockyards where he learned to fly planes. 

During World War II, Smith joined the Tuskegee Airmen, graduating in class 45C. After the war, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area to work as a longshoreman. 

In 1951, Smith entered the Hastings School of Law.  

And after graduating in 1956, he earned membership in the California Bar and worked for the law firm of McMurray, Brodsky, Walker, Bancroft and Tepper. 

Smith joined the Office of the Public Defender in 1961, eventually rising to head attorney.  

He ended his career with the office in 1986 at the San Francisco Youth Guidance Center. 

He is survived by his son, Frederick D. Smith Jr.; daughter-in-law, Josefa Matus; and grandson, Frederick D. Smith III, all of San Francisco; a sister, Marjoria Britton, of Pasadena; Mary Roth, his companion of 17 years; and his ex-wife, Mary Ellen Wilcox of Norman, Okla. 

SAN FRANCISCO — The daughter of a missing Antioch grandmother has been arrested on suspicion of murder one day after investigators identified body parts scattered in Solano and Sierra counties as those of the missing woman. 

Kendra Bernard, 38, was arrested Wednesday at an ex-boyfriend’s trailer home in San Leandro.  

She is being held without bail at County Jail in Martinez, according to Detective Corporal Barry Delavan of the Antioch Police Department. 

A man found the head and other body parts of a woman last Friday near the Yolo County border in Solano County. The same day, a 13-year-old boy found the torso of a woman off the side of a road in Sierra County near the Nevada border – some 120 miles away. Deputies there found more remains. 

Realizing the remains might be related, police took them to Solano County for an autopsy Tuesday. 

Margaret Bernard, 62, a word processor with First American Title in Concord, was last seen at her job on April 13. She had worked there for about 15 years. 

Her relatives in Modesto filed a missing persons report Tuesday after they were repeatedly unable to reach their mother or sister by phone, said Margaret’s son, Phil Bernard. 

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office is expected to review the case Friday.

EL CAJON — A judge ruled Friday that the teen-ager charged in a deadly school shooting in suburban San Diego will be tried as an adult, rejecting a challenge to a new, voter-approved California law aimed at cracking down on juvenile crime. 

Charles Andrew “Andy” Williams, 15, pleaded innocent to two counts of murder and 26 other felony charges in the attack March 5 at Santana High. 

Superior Court Judge Herbert R. Exarhos rejected a challenge to Proposition 21, a gang violence and juvenile justice law that requires prosecutors to charge juveniles as adults for certain serious crimes. 

Public defender Randy Mize said he would file a challenge with a state appellate court in San Diego. 

The judge read from his 17-page ruling before a courtroom packed with friends and family wearing stickers and carrying placards featuring photos of Bryan Zuckor and Randy Gordon, the two boys killed in Santee. 

Williams, wearing a jail-issue orange jumpsuit, kept his head bowed through most of the hearing. 

The slightly built teen spoke publicly for the first time, softly uttering “not guilty” and answering “yes” to the judge’s questions about whether he understood the charges. 

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 17. 

After the hearing, Mize said Williams understood the judge had dealt his case a setback, but did not fully comprehend the court proceedings. 

“He certainly did not have a clue as to what the judge said today,” he said.  

“Based on his age, I don’t think he has a clue of what Proposition 21 is and how it applies to him as a 15-year-old.” 

Zuckor’s aunt, Carol Lynn Briens, said she cried tears of relief at the judge’s ruling but thought “all these words, all these legal things” distracted from the truth about Williams. 

“The truth is what he did, and what he did has affected many people’s lives,” she said. 

Williams’ lawyers argued that Proposition 21, approved by 62 percent of voters last year, violated prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment in the California Constitution and gave prosecutors the power of judges. 

In adult prison, defense attorneys argued, Williams would be cruelly targeted for sexual and physical assaults at the hands of older inmates.  

Exarhos disagreed, citing regulations requiring minors  

to be segregated from the  

adult prisoners. 

The judge also said prosecutors properly exercised their discretion when they alleged that Williams was “lying in wait” for his victims and committed multiple murders.  

Under Proposition 21, those circumstances automatically landed the case in adult court. 

“The defendant does not have a constitutional right to have the charges brought in juvenile court,” Exarhos said. 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin Anton said the case belonged in adult court. 

“This case involves horrific crime. It’s the worst thing that can happen to a victim or a family,” Anton said.  

“Even without Proposition 21, we would have proceeded to get this individual into adult court.”

SACRAMENTO — By pushing California to join other Western states in a regional organization to run the states’ power grids, federal energy regulators want something that will neither cut energy costs nor stave off blackouts, Western officials said Friday. 

Plus, officials said, not many states want to join a club with California as a member. 

“Given the problems in California now, I’m not sure who would want California to join them,” said a Western power official who asked to not be quoted by name. 

California officials said Friday they will go to court rather than join a regional transmission organization (RTO) they say would limit California’s ability to control its power grid by giving more authority to the federal government and other Western states. 

“We’re not going to give up our authority to resolve our problems,” said California Independent System Operator board chairman Michael Kahn. 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is illegally trying to force California to join an RTO by making that a condition of limited electricity price caps the commission ordered this week, alleged Kahn and California Public Utilities Commissioner Loretta Lynch. 

That won’t help in the short run, they said, echoing earlier criticism by Gov. Gray Davis. 

Eventually, however, states will move toward RTOs, officials and analysts said. 

This week FERC approved an RTO spanning seven Western states that will control 90 percent of the lines from the Canadian border to southern Nevada. RTO West includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, parts of Nevada and Utah, a tiny portion of Northern California and possibly the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. 

“RTO West can serve as an anchor for the ultimate formation of a West-wide RTO,” the commission said, noting new Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham’s recent support for a Western regional RTO. 

A second RTO known as Desert Star, made up of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, eastern Wyoming and the western Texas panhandle, expects to seek FERC approval next month. 

California should create its own RTO – essentially, the current California Independent System Operator – to work with its neighbors to form the sort of seamless, larger, more efficient energy market FERC envisions, California and other Western officials suggested. 

“As a short-term goal, most people believe there should be three Western RTOs, and as a long-term goal, merge those,” said Desert Star project manager Michael Raezer. 

Western states are too diverse and have too many operational barriers to merge their grids immediately, officials and analysts said. 

Eighty percent of power in the Pacific Northwest, for example, comes from federal hydroelectric plants, while the desert Southwest gets half of its power from publicly owned utilities. Most of California, however, receives its power from investor-owned utilities such as Pacific Gas & Electric, which recently sought bankruptcy protection. 

In theory, a larger regional market would erase the shortages in supply and competition that have driven up prices and prompted four days of rolling blackouts in California so far this year, said Stanford University economist Frank Wolak. 

However, sparsely populated but energy-rich Western states could be overpowered by California and see their relatively cheap energy rates increase in a seamless market, Wolak said. 

Nor is it apparent that a single RTO would bring benefits beyond the cooperation that already exists between states, said Erik Saltmarsh, chief counsel for the California Electricity Oversight Board.  

The minimal cost savings might be offset by the high cost of merging the states’ power grids, he said. 

“Everyday we schedule (power flow) from Montana to Los Angeles and from British Columbia to Phoenix,” Saltmarsh said. “We don’t view that as a problem.” 

FERC, he added, invests an RTO with “magical powers,” as if by joining all of California’s problems will go away. “We don’t think it’s necessary, it doesn’t do anything, it’s a distraction from the key problems and it doesn’t solve them.” 

That’s isolationist thinking that no longer works, said Stephen Angle, a former FERC attorney whose law firm now represents several power generators. 

FERC’s concern, Angle said, is that California has tried to go it alone but created problems “for itself that are spilling into other states.” 

An RTO “is a long-term solution,” Angle said. “They’re not going to be up and running in time for this summer. But there certainly is a need to integrate California into a larger market for the long term.” 

CONSERVATION 

Hoping to set an example for a power-short state, Gov. Gray Davis on Friday announced that state office buildings reduced energy use by an average of 20 percent in January and February. 

The measures have saved taxpayers $286,000, Davis said. 

The amount is paltry sum compared with the more than $5 billion the state has paid since January to keep California’s lights on, and such measures did not stop operators of the state power grid from declaring a Stage 2 power shortage emergency earlier this week. 

But in a news conference packed with state workers who applauded him when he entered, Davis defended the results, saying they came from only two months of effort. 

Davis also repeated promises that the state would escape its power woes within two years. 

At his side were David Freeman, former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, who starts Tuesday as Davis’ energy czar, and Aileen Adams, secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. 

Adams oversaw the state conservation effort. 

She said workers were being barraged with power-saving instructions on everything from hand-written notes to on-hold messages. 

“We are tracking our bills for the first time,” Adams said. 

The message is already spreading to the private sector, Adams said. 

The trade group Building Owners and Managers Association has pledged to conserve energy in its 300 million square feet of California office space, Adams said. And McDonald’s restaurants have begun printing conservation messages on food tray liners. 

Davis also said his wife had managed to conserve power in the governor’s mansion by 34 percent in January and 63 percent in February. 

“Of course, it’s 55 degrees the whole time,” he said. “And I have to go to bed in a heavy sweatshirt and sweatpants, and there’s no light on in any room that we’re not in.” 

SACRAMENTO — One person died and seven were injured Friday in a rush-hour crash on Interstate 5 that officers say was caused by a big-rig driver who didn’t see a car when he tried to change lanes. 

Around 8:10 a.m. the southbound tractor-trailer driven by Kulvir Lehal, 34, of Canada tried to change lanes and hit a passenger car, causing the truck driver to lose control, the California Highway Patrol said. 

The truck crossed a cement median into the northbound lanes, hitting several cars and another big rig and catching fire. 

Median pieces ruptured the truck’s gas tank.  

The truck burned down to its wheels, sending up a thick plume of smoke that could be seen throughout the greater Sacramento area. 

In all, debris from the cement median and the crash itself damaged 14 vehicles. 

Lehal was booked into the Sacramento County jail on misdemeanor manslaughter charges, the CHP said. 

Killed in the crash was John Estrada, 51, of Sacramento, whose new black sports car was one of those smashed in the northbound lanes, the CHP said. The other injuries were minor. 

Witness Michael Via, a driver with Lucent Technologies, said was on northbound I-5 when he saw the big rig sliding sideways toward him. 

“My partner started screaming and hollering ‘Slow down.’ I saw the truck coming in our direction going sideways, smoke billowing out of both sides. It was already on fire,” he said. 

The truck came to a stop when it bumped a small, white passenger vehicle, Via said. 

The driver of the car was already stopped when the truck struck her car. 

She ran out of her car immediately, followed about 30 seconds later by the driver of the big rig, Via said.

FRESNO — The widow of an education professor at California State University, Fresno gave the school $4 million Friday for its teaching programs. 

Marion Kremen gave the money to honor her late husband, Benjamin Kremen, a pioneer in guidance counseling programs at the university. He taught at the school from 1950 to 1976. He died in 1995. 

Kremen said the gift is intended to strengthen the graduate program her husband established, and to create a doctoral program. 

The school currently offers an education doctorate jointly with the University of California at Davis, but is among campuses in the CSU system seeking legislative approval to offer independent doctorates. 

The gift is the second-largest for an academic program at the university. Sid Craig gave $10 million in 1992 for the school of business that bears his name. 

President John D. Welty will ask the CSU Board of Trustees next month to rename the education school The Benjamin and Marion Kremen School of Education and Human Development. 

Marion Kremen, 91, a classical pianist educated at the Peabody Institute of Music in Baltimore has taught elementary school, served as a principal and taught at various universities, including Johns Hopkins, Marshall, Michigan State and Fresno State. 

MODESTO — California’s dairymen continued adding cows to their herds last year, but the increased production led to slumping prices. 

A sharp drop in prices, fueled by the added production, drove down the value of California’s top agricultural commodity to $3.7 billion. 

That was about a 10 percent drop from $4.09 billion in 1999 and the second straight year that revenue fell, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

California dairies had record revenue of $4.29 billion in 1998. 

“I don’t think many dairymen are surprised by this, because we knew herds were growing,” said Merced dairyman Manny Vierra, who milks 610 Holsteins. 

The state’s dairies produced plenty of milk even while prices fell last year, as production jumped 6 percent to 33.24 billion pounds. That continued a steady increase and strengthened California’s position as the nation’s leading milk producer. 

Runner-up Wisconsin, which lost the top spot in 1993, produced 23.25 billion pounds of milk last year. 

The price that dairies receive is based on the market prices for the commodities made from milk: butter, powder and cheese. 

“Demand for dairy products continues to grow, however, so that’s a positive,” said Michael Marsh, chief executive officer of Modesto-based Western United Dairymen, which represents 1,100 of the state’s 2,000 dairies. 

Another positive for dairies is that feed prices remain low, the result of excess corn, soybeans and other grains in the Midwest.

WASHINGTON — Fulfilling President Bush’s proposal to test every student in grades three through eight could cost states as much as $7 billion over the next seven years, the National Association of State Boards of Education says. 

Spokesman David Griffith said education officials believe Bush’s plan asks states to test students more than necessary and, they fear, without adequate funding. 

“They’re just really concerned that ... this whole rush in testing is coming so quickly,” he said. 

In his budget, Bush requested $320 million for test development – a figure that wouldn’t even cover testing in California, let alone all 50 states, according to an association survey. 

Only 15 states currently test students in reading and math in grades three through eight, Griffith said. Most rely at least partially on off-the-shelf tests that aren’t geared to the curriculum, as Bush’s plan proposes. 

According to the survey, states would need to spend as much as $7 billion in the seven-year period following passage of major federal education spending legislation now before Congress. Bush’s education plan requires states to develop the tests by 2004 and give them each year through 2008. 

The survey puts even a conservative cost estimate at $2.7 billion if states opt for rudimentary tests. 

“The costs are staggering, but not surprising to states who have put in place comprehensive assessment systems over the past 10 years,” said Brenda Welburn, NASBE’s executive director. 

The Senate is scheduled next week to debate reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides most of the funding for K-12 education. The Senate version would give states $400 million – slightly more than Bush – while the House version matches Bush’s $320 million request. 

Senate Democrats have proposed giving states more money for the tests, saying the federal government should pick up half the cost. Even a Republican, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, is considering an amendment that would help states pay more testing costs. 

The survey gathered the figures based on per-pupil costs, ranging from $25-$125 per student, to develop tests, and $25-$50 to administer and score them. 

Griffith said the low figures represent “as basic an aligned assessment as you can get.” 

Education Department spokeswoman Lindsey Kozberg said the survey overestimates the cost of administering tests, saying the Houston Independent School District, for instance, spent less than $10 per pupil for off-the-shelf tests. 

“Their low end is more than two-and-a-half times what we know Houston’s costs were,” she said. Education Secretary Rod Paige is a former Houston schools superintendent. 

Griffith said NASBE based the costs on those provided by testing contractors for tests similar to those proposed by Bush. 

“The president’s plan requires so much detail,” he said. “Those demands are actually going to increase administration costs.” 

Kozberg said several states have already developed adequate tests, which could lower their development costs. 

The survey projected the number of students for the 2004-05 school year based on 1999-2000 enrollment data. The estimates do not include the costs of science tests, which would be required in 2007-08. 

In several states, the survey shows, developing and giving even the most basic tests would run well past $100 million. For example, Pennsylvania and Ohio would each need about $106 million. Illinois would have to spend $116 million, while New York would require $159 million. Texas would require $229 million. 

California would need nearly $346 million, more than Bush’s proposed $320 million test development budget for all 50 states. 

According to the survey, about 21.6 million students will be enrolled in grades three through eight in 2004. Bush’s plan would link billions of dollars in federal funds to annual student performance on tests. 

——— 

National Association of State Boards of Education: http://www.nasbe.org 

Bush education budget: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/Budget02 

WASHINGTON — Two newly declassified official reports concerning a raid on a Vietnamese village by Bob Kerrey’s Navy SEAL team make no mention of civilian casualties that the former senator says he included in his initial after-action report on the incident. 

The reports, both dated Feb. 25, 1969 – the day of the raid on Thanh Phong, a coastal hamlet in the Mekong Delta – were released Friday by the Naval Historical Center in Washington. 

They are not signed, but military address codings suggest they are a message from Kerrey’s immediate superior officer to the commander of SEAL Task Force 115 and that officer’s reply. 

Both refer only to ”21 VC KIA (BC),” meaning ”21 Viet (Viet Cong) killed in action (body count).” The senior commander’s reply says the SEALS “have gained a well-deserved spotlight as a result of their successful and highly productive operations,” and praises “the Kerrey Raiders of Market Time,” saying they “not only surprised the enemy in his own sanctuary but struck him a severe and fatal blow. Well done.” 

Market Time was the code name for a U.S. Navy effort to interdict Viet Cong boats carrying ammunition and supplies along the coast of the South China Sea, where the communist forces controlled many populated areas. 

The language is similar to that in a later citation awarding then-Lt. (jg) Kerrey, 25, the Bronze Star, the nation’s fourth-highest award for valor. Kerrey has said recently that because a dozen of the victims turned out to be civilians, “the medal means nothing to me.” 

Kerrey also claimed, most recently at a New York news conference on Thursday, that his written after-action report on the Thang Phong raid included the civilian casualties. 

Kerrey, a Democrat who served as governor and senator from Nebraska and ran for president in 1992, publicly disclosed the incident this week. He said he has been haunted by the memory of the killings and has kept the details private, even from his children. 

Kerrey said Thursday that he and his six-member squad began shooting only after they were fired on in a free-fire zone – an area cleared of civilians by government forces. Anyone remaining was assumed by South Vietnamese and U.S. forces to be the enemy. 

The first teletype message, labeled a “spot report,” says Kerrey’s team “received fire from hooches” and returned fire. Then: “Observed several personnel running from hooches. Took under fire,” it said. 

It said no Americans were hurt and that 21 Viet Cong were killed. It also noted the number of rounds of ammunition the squad had expended and said two hooches had been destroyed and two Chinese carbines captured. 

Civilian casualties were mentioned two days later, Feb. 27, in a radio log obtained by The Associated Press. The log, which reflect military activity in Than Phu district of Kien Hoa province, where the village is located, cited 11 Viet Cong and 13 civilians killed during the raid. 

Later that day, a separate log entry reports that an “old man” from the village came to the district headquarters was seeking restitution for the killings. 

The Vietnam government on Thursday offered conciliatory words for Kerrey. “Mr. Kerrey has shown in his statements about what happened in the past in Vietnam that he was remorseful about his behavior,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said in Hanoi. 

“We think the best way for Mr. Kerrey and other Americans who fought in Vietnam to achieve peace of mind is to contribute to healing the wounds from the war through concrete and realistic actions,” she said. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jurors heard a murky, secretly recorded FBI tape Friday that prosecutors say shows a former Ku Klux Klansman plotted a 1963 church bombing that killed four black girls. 

Thomas Blanton Jr., on trial for murder, can be heard twice uttering the phrase “plan a bomb” or “plan the bomb” on the tape, recorded with a hidden listening device in his kitchen nine months after the explosion at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. 

At one point, he appears to justify a meeting with Klansmen at a river bridge one night shortly before the bombing: “You’ve got to have a meeting to plan a bomb.” 

Jurors listened to the electronically enhanced tape using headphones and were provided with transcripts by prosecutors. The tinny audio was mostly inaudible to spectators in the large, wood-paneled courtroom, but reporters were later allowed to listen to the tape on headphones. Judge James Garrett refused to provide a transcript to the public. 

Defense lawyer John Robbins said prosecutors are taped only part of a conversation, have distorted the meaning of his client’s words and chose not to enhance essential parts that were unintelligible. He said Blanton actually was talking with his then-wife, Carolyn Jeanne Barnes, about being hounded by FBI agents investigating the explosion. 

“You do not know the context of this conversation because the FBI didn’t record the beginning,” Robbins said outside court. “You can’t judge a person’s conversation in a vacuum.” 

The bomb went off outside the church on Sept. 15, 1963, a Sunday. The girls, who were gathered in a downstairs lounge preparing for a youth worship service, died in a storm of brick and other debris. 

The explosion killed Denise McNair, 11, and Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson, all 14. It was one of the most notorious crimes of the civil rights era. 

Blanton, now 62, was identified as a suspect within weeks of the blast. He has always denied any involvement. 

Two FBI agents testified that in June 1964 they secretly placed a microphone against a kitchen wall in an apartment Blanton shared with his wife, whom he has since divorced. 

The tape records Blanton’s response when his wife asked him about going to a Cahaba River bridge on a night before the bombing. She is concerned that Blanton may have been with a former girlfriend, Waylene Vaughn, on the Friday night before the Sunday bombing. 

Blanton says he was at the river bridge meeting, not with Vaughn, and along with saying the phrase “plan a bomb” or “plan the bomb,” he voices the words “making a bomb.” 

Robbins fought hard to keep jurors from hearing the tape. Earlier prosecution testimony sought to show Blanton, a crude-spoken racist at the time, was capable of taking part in the bombing; the FBI tape was supposed to link him directly to it. The courtroom, mostly empty for earlier testimony, was more than half full Friday when the tape was played. 

Robbins argued that the tape should not have been allowed because such recordings were not permitted as evidence in 1963. The judge sided with prosecutor Doug Jones, who contended that a change in the law in 1968 made the tape admissible. 

FBI agent Bill Fleming said the quality of the nearly 37-year-old tape was digitally enhanced using equipment unavailable at the time of the bombing. More than a half-dozen agents, stenographers and an expert listened to the tape dozens of times to complete the transcript, he said. 

After Friday’s testimony, Jones said he will not call Blanton’s former wife as a witness. She has said Blanton was with her the night before the bombing and not with Klansmen planting it. 

Jones indicated her story hasn’t changed. “I don’t need an alibi for Tommy Blanton in my prosecution,” he said. 

By not calling her, Jones will not be able to back up his claim in opening statements that Blanton giggled when she asked him about the bombing. 

Blanton is the second person put on trial in the bombing. Former Klansman Robert “Dynamite Bob” Chambliss was convicted of murder in 1977 and died in prison. 

Ex-Klansman Bobby Frank Cherry was indicted with Blanton last year, but the judge delayed his trial after medical evaluations raised questions about his mental competency. A fourth suspect, Herman Cash, died without ever being charged. 

VIEQUES, Puerto Rico — The U.S. Navy dropped 500-pound dummy bombs from jet fighters and fired shells from ships as it resumed exercises on Vieques island Friday, despite the presence of protesters so close they forced a temporary halt to the fire. 

“They’re risking the lives of our people by dropping bombs,” said Robert Rabin, an organizer of demonstrators who say the exercises harm islanders’ health and environment. Navy officials in the U.S. Caribbean territory insist the training does not hurt the island’s 9,400 people and is vital to save American lives in combat. 

Hundreds of protesters around the entrance to the Navy’s Camp Garcia cut through the fence in nearly a dozen places Friday, and there were at least two violent confrontations. 

Navy police fired rubber bullets and pepper spray at young men who hurled rocks and cow manure over a trampled section of fence. Reporters on the scene said at least one man was injured when a rubber bullet hit him in the abdomen. 

Earlier, U.S. marshals fired pepper gas after 32 protesters cut through the fence, unimpeded by about a dozen Puerto Rico police officers just yards away. 

While the Navy complained about the police inaction, Puerto Rico’s top law enforcer, Police Chief Pierre Vivoni, complained about the marshals: “I saw that they were using pepper gas against the people detained, even when they were already detained, and that is improper.” 

At least 46 people were arrested Thursday and Friday and all would be prosecuted for trespassing on federal land, the Navy said. 

Four Puerto Rican legislators sent by boat to see whether the exercises were violating a local noise law were detained briefly by the U.S. Coast Guard as they approached restricted waters, then allowed to continue sailing outside the military zone. 

Rabin said an unknown number of demonstrators who cut through fences and breached the area by boat remained in the 12,000-acre (4,800-hectare) military zone Friday afternoon. 

The Navy said there were no intruders on the 900-acre firing range on the island’s eastern tip, which federal agents scoured through the night with helicopters, dogs and foot patrols. 

“The range is green ... There’s nobody out there to pose a danger to,” said spokesman Lt. Corey Barker. “They wouldn’t do the exercises unless it was perfectly safe.” 

Nevertheless, eight protesters were discovered on a small island within 100 yards of the target zone, where the exercises began with bombing runs shortly after 9 a.m. 

Navy spokesman Jeff Gordon said the protesters were spotted just before a ship was to begin shelling – “close enough to the range to suspend the exercise.” 

The shelling began about an hour and half later. 

Among protesters who may still be in the restricted area are opposition Sen. Norma Burgos and Myrta Sanes, sister of civilian security guard David Sanes, whose April 1999 death by 500-pound bombs dropped off target on the range provoked an explosion of public anger and anti-U.S. sentiment. 

Protesters occupied the range after the guard’s death, preventing exercises until they were removed by U.S. marshals in May 2000. Since then, training has been limited to inert ammunition and hundreds of protesters have been arrested. 

About 15,000 sailors and Marines are taking part in the latest exercises, which involve the Norfolk, Va.-based aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and about a dozen cruisers and destroyers. They are expected to last several days. 

On Thursday, a federal judge turned down a last-minute court action from the Puerto Rican government complaining that the exercises could harm islanders’ health and violate the new noise law. 

Puerto Rican officials claimed a partial victory in the court case, noting U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler was disturbed by “an implied promise” from Navy officials to postpone the drills until the Department of Health and Human Services completed a review of studies linking noise from the exercises to islanders’ heart problems. 

Friday’s exercises were the first since Gov. Sila Calderon was elected in November, in part because of her demands for an immediate end to the bombing exercises. 

The Navy owns two-thirds of Vieques and says the bombing range, which covers 3 percent of the island, is the only one where it can simultaneously practice amphibious invasions, ship-to-shore shelling and bombing from aircraft. 

——— 

On the Net: 

U.S. government statements on Vieques: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/facilities/vieques 

U.S. Navy site: http://www.navyvieques.navy.mil 

Vieques resident’s site: 

http://www.vieques-island.com/board/navy/study.html 

WASHINGTON — The government is warning manufacturers of drugs used in the treatment of AIDS not to imply too much in their advertising. 

The Food and Drug Administration acted Friday after it determined that some advertisements, particularly on the West Coast, seemed to imply that with modern treatment people did not need to worry about AIDS. 

An ad might, for example, show two people enjoying outdoor recreation, with the caption that they both tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but were still enjoying life. 

The agency’s Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications said it reviewed these direct to consumer ads and concluded that “many do not adequately convey that these drugs neither cure HIV infection not reduce its transmission.” 

The advertising in question needs to be changed within 90 days, FDA said, noting that promoting the drugs without displaying their limitations, and using images not representative of HIV patients, is in violation of the federal Food and Drug Act. 

AIDS deaths have declined sharply in the last few years as the combination of drugs used to treat the disease has improved.  

But treatment can be costly and while it extends the life of the patients it doesn’t cure the disease. In addition most of the drugs need to be taken in combination with other drugs, something the ads didn’t always make clear. 

“Although today’s treatment regimens have transformed HIV infection to a chronic disease in many patients, HIV infection is still associated with significant” illness and death, the letter said. 

It noted that people on therapy can still pass the disease on to others, so precautions must still be taken. 

The letter from Thomas Abrams, director of the division of marketing, advertising and communications, also pointed out that not all people respond to the drugs, and it said some ads minimize side effects of the drugs, which can include redistribution of body fat and facial wasting. 

The FDA did not single out any particular drug maker, saying it sent the advisory to all companies that make drugs to treat AIDS. It asked them to reply by May 18, listing promotional materials to be changed and stating when that would be done. 

Companies making drugs for the treatment of AIDS include Abbott Laboratories, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb, DuPont Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffmann-LaRoche Inc. and Merck & Co. 

On the Net: 

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov

WASHINGTON — Illegal immigrants are flocking to immigration offices to apply for visas as a Monday deadline approaches. 

Some Immigration and Naturalization Service centers are extending hours Saturday and Monday, while immigrant advocacy groups and attorneys are working late to help last-minute filers with their applications. 

“We’re getting long lines at the district offices,” said Elaine Komas, an INS spokeswoman. “We’re getting a tremendous increase in the volume of calls.” 

She said that in March the agency received the largest number of visa applications ever for a one-month period. Over a three-month period the agency has handled more than a million calls per month, a 33 percent increase over the typical month. 

Vanna Slaughter, executive director of Dallas Catholic Charities, said her organization has been inundated with people seeking immigration counseling services. 

“We have handled around 500 people since the first of the year,” she said. “That’s unheard of. We usually do that by end of the year.” 

Mario Ramos, an immigration lawyer in Nashville, Tenn., said some immigrants just learned about the deadline and realized they need to act quickly. 

“They have this really desperate sound in their voice,” he said. 

Members of Congress urged President Bush to issue an executive order extending the deadline, but the White House said Friday changing the law required an act of Congress. Spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House was reviewing the issue. 

“We are working through a high-level working group with Mexico on migration issues such as this and the president previously has made it clear that he supports reuniting families that have been separated,” McClellan said. 

The Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act that took effect in December allows an estimated 640,000 illegal immigrants to apply for visas without first returning to their home countries and applying from there. That is significant because most illegal immigrants are barred from re-entering the United States once they leave. 

A visa allows an immigrant to stay in the country and reserves a place for the immigrant to later apply for a green card, which signifies permanent legal residency. 

To apply for a visa, an immigrant must be sponsored and have a close relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Then the immigrant must pay $225 in application and fingerprinting fees and a $1,000 fine for entering the country illegally. 

Marisol, 24, an illegal immigrant who has lived in Washington for eight years and did not want to give her last name, was among those seeking an application at the INS office in Arlington, Va., on Thursday. 

“This is going to give us the opportunity to be residents here and not have to leave our children,” she said as she held her squirming toddler. 

Applications must be postmarked or delivered to the INS by midnight Monday. Those who miss the deadline risk arrest unless they return to their home country and apply. Many of those who return home will have to wait 10 years before they will be allowed back into the United States. 

Since its inception, the visa application law has touched off a frenzy in the immigrant community. Initially some believed the law was a general amnesty, leading them to be victimized by profiteers. 

The rules governing who may sponsor whom are complex. In certain cases, relatives may sponsor applicants; in some cases employers may do so — but only after proving a job is legitimate and there is a shortage of American workers to fill it. 

Marriage to a U.S. citizen is often the easiest route. Advocates and attorneys say they have been advising immigrants in relationships to get married or move up wedding dates so they can take advantage of the law. As a result, requests for marriage licenses have surged in many areas of the country. 

In Arlington, Circuit Court deputy clerk Aida Duncan said her office has issued 2,000 marriage licenses since January, about double compared to the same period last year. 

The INS has issued warnings that marriage fraud — marrying just to get a green card — carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $260,000 fine. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Immigration and Naturalization Service LIFE Act: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/services/residency/LIFE.htm 

WASHINGTON — The economy surprised the naysayers by turning in a solid growth rate of 2 percent in the first quarter – double what had been expected for a period in which there had been fears a recession might be beginning. 

The Bush administration called the rebound “nothing but good news.” Private economists also found it encouraging but expressed concern that the recession threat was not over. 

The advance in the gross domestic product in the January-March quarter was not only bigger than anticipated but also was double the 1 percent annual rate of growth registered in the last three months of 2000. 

On Wall Street, the news lifted stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 117.70 points to close at 10,810.05. 

“We’re back from the brink,” said a hopeful Richard Yamarone, economist with Argus Research Corp. “The economy, however, remains fragile. Looking ahead, people shouldn’t expect miracles. Economic growth will probably be weaker in the second and third quarters.” 

GDP is the total output of goods and services produced within the United States and is considered the broadest measure of the nation’s economic health. The first-quarter figure, released Friday by the Commerce Department, marked the government’s most up-to-date reading. 

Hardy spending by consumers, especially on costly manufactured goods, such as cars and furniture, and an improved trade performance were major forces boosting first-quarter growth. That helped to offset weaknesses elsewhere, including a drop in business investment in computers and other equipment. 

The Bush administration, which had been concerned that the economy could dip into recession in President Bush’s first months in office, welcomed the pickup. 

“Our 2 percent real growth rate in the first quarter is nothing but good news compared to what most people expected,” said Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill. 

Earlier this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan worried that economic growth might have stalled out, ending the country’s record 10-year-long economic expansion. Others feared that economic output may have actually declined. 

The Fed slashed interest rates four times this year to stave off recession and rejuvenate the economy. Even with the first-quarter bounce back, many economists believe the Fed will cut rates again on May 15. 

With first-quarter GDP in positive territory, economists believe the United States may have escaped the period of maximum danger for recession. 

“The report suggests we have a better chance of achieving a soft landing for the economy than many thought just a few weeks ago,” said Lynn Reaser, chief economist for Banc of America Capital Management. 

Others contend that the threat of a recession remains, with the possibility that rising unemployment in coming months could yet precipitate a plunge in consumer spending, the fuel of economic growth. 

“To date, the economy is recession free,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Economy.com. “But the risks are still very high that the expansion could come unraveled and that we end up in a full-blown downturn.” 

Zandi and other economists predict the economy will lose altitude in the current second quarter, with some saying that GDP may slip into negative territory. “The second quarter is probably going to be the low point for the economy,” Zandi said. 

Still, most analysts believe the economy will return to more healthy growth toward the end of the year. 

An inflation gauge tied to GDP rose at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the first quarter, the fastest pace in a year, reflecting higher costs for services such as medical care and for natural gas and electricity. But the rise didn’t trouble economists, who believe the weak economy will temper inflation pressures in the months ahead. 

In a speech Friday, Greenspan offered another reason not to be alarmed. He predicted the growth in the productivity of U.S. workers would continue, even while the economy slows. Increasing output per hour of work is a key to growth without inflation – and a major factor in growing government surpluses. 

In the first quarter, the economy’s biggest boost came from consumer spending, which rose at an annual rate of 3.1 percent. Leading the way: a big jump in spending on durable goods – such as cars, appliances and furniture – which soared at an annual rate of 11.9 percent after having shrunk at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the fourth quarter. 

“The storm is beginning to subside,” said Jerry Jasinowski, president of the National Association of Manufacturers, whose industry has been hardest hit by the slowdown. 

The biggest drags on first-quarter growth came from a continuing effort by businesses to reduce an overhang of unsold goods. That shaved 2.5 percentage points off growth. A drop in business investment on computers and other equipment, which the Fed cited as a new worry in its latest rate cut on April 18, subtracted 0.2 percentage point from growth. 

On the Net: 

GDP report: http://osecnt13.osec.doc.gov/public.nsf 

DIAMOND BAR — Teenagers are setting the pace for a car-customizing craze that began in California several years ago and has now spread to the East Coast, Texas and the Midwest. 

The big-bucks tinkering often exceeds the original price of the car, with youths sometimes spending as much as $20,000 on aftermarket parts and accessories, including wheels, stereos and low-rider kits. 

Basic gotta-have customizing includes lowering the suspension and adding high-performance tires. For the more adventurous with deep pockets, there are nitrous-oxide injection units to rev up engine performance and 5,000-watt sound systems. 

“These kids are spending $2,000 on a set of wheels,” said Chris Horn of the 4,600-member Specialty Equipment Market Association, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Diamond Bar. 

“Our whole industry is a $24 billion a year business. It’s really growing at an explosive pace,” 

Horn said Thursday that teens with second jobs and mom-and-dad handouts are fueling the custom car spree. 

Rich Cutting recently spent $8,000 on audio for his ride. 

“Nobody wants a stock car,” said the resident of Woodland Hills in suburban Los Angeles. “Your car has to say a lot.” 

Honda, Acura, Lexus and Mitsubishi woo this crowd. 

Leading the explosive growth is the sport-compact portion of the automotive aftermarket industry. SEMA said that segment was worth $1.2 billion in 2000, which compares to $756 million in 1999 and $295 million in 1997. SEMA organizes shows nationwide to introduce car enthusiasts to the latest gee-whiz aftermarket items. It’s granddaddy event is held each November in Las Vegas. 

Manufacturers took notice and many aftermarket items have been incorporated into newer model cars. Fancy wheels, stereo systems, grilles and lighting accessories are just a few of those manufacturer embellishments. 

“Ford has really targeted the Focus as the car that 18- to 20-year-olds can buy and accessorize, and General Motors is focusing on this market,” Horn said.

NEW YORK — With the Dow Jones industrials up nearly 10 percent during April, many individual investors are trying to decide whether to jump into the rally. But buying stocks can be dicey in an uncertain economy and fragile earnings environment. 

So, how do you put together a strategy for a fickle stock market? 

Cautiously and without impulse buying, according to Allan Meyers and Art Bonnel, who each steer mutual funds with hundreds of millions of dollars in assets. Their funds differ in size and approach, but the advice they offer individual investors is similar. Focus on a company’s growth prospects and don’t try to time the market. 

“We look for those companies that are going to have the best earnings going forward, rather than the flyers,” said Meyers, manager of the $600 million Kent Growth and Income Fund, which features a mix of growth and value stocks. “Take a longer-term perspective, and don’t buy the hot stocks just because everyone else is.” 

“It’s very difficult to be in the right place at the right time all the time, even when you’re a professional manager,” notes Bonnel, who manages the $150 million U.S. Global Investors Bonnel Growth Fund. He likens the last nine months, particularly for tech stocks, to the devastation caused by the stock market crash of 1929. 

In a step that paralleled moves by some individual investors, Bonnel pulled his aggressive growth fund partly out of the market in the first quarter of 2001, shifting more than 80 percent of its assets into cash. 

But in April, the combination of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and data suggesting the economy was healthier than anyone had thought lured him back. Today, about 20 percent of the fund’s assets are in cash, with the rest in stocks. 

The makeup of his stock holdings has changed radically from a year ago, though. 

About 3 percent are in technology, compared with 70 percent in the spring of 2000, when tech stocks were still roaring and the fund’s assets reached $350 million. 

Today the fund is down about 23 percent for the year, despite its emphasis on the types of stocks considered safer investments in a questionable economy. 

“We’ve been going into soaps, cleaners, petroleum ... chewing gum, beverages and ammunition,” said Bonnel, a 30-year veteran of the industry. He’d still like to buy technology, but he’s waiting for the earnings picture to get a little clearer. Although the sector has enjoyed a nice run-up, he’s not convinced the worst is over. 

His advice: If you’re going to buy, focus on earnings and a company’s long-term perspective, rather than hype or emotion. 

A year ago, he said, technology earnings prospects were still strong, but even when they weren’t, the momentum and euphoria surrounding the sector made it impossible to resist. 

“Things just got totally out of hand, but you had to keep riding it,” he recalled. “I would tell individual investors today that you have to look at company and say, ’Are they good?’ and ’Will they continue to be good?”’ 

That focus on performance is shared by Meyers, although the Kent Growth and Income Fund he manages took a different strategy to survive the market’s hemorrhaging. 

The fund of mostly large, blue chip stocks stayed with equities throughout 2000 and in 2001, although Meyers did some selling and buying to minimize losses. The fund is currently down more than 6 percent for 2001. 

In February and March, he bought utility, financial and retail stocks. Technology has had less appeal — nearly 19 percent of the fund’s assets are already in tech, in line with the technology weighting on the Standard & Poor’s 500 index. 

“We want to see the earnings prospects turn around on these stocks first,” Meyers said, suggesting individual investors do the same. “You’ll still get a chance to buy them – everyone’s trying to get the low price, but you have to remember that for the last year these stocks have been making new lows.” 

He prefers to hold on to stocks for years and hedge his bets by spreading his money across several sectors – two strategies he contends work especially well for individual investors. 

Individuals also have an advantage over professional money managers, Meyers notes. 

A fund often sells strong stocks to avoid too much concentration in specific sectors or to compensate for other poor performers that might pull down rates of return, a competitive measure used to assess fund performance. Investors don’t face that pressure, though, with their own portfolios. 

“Don’t overweight in any one sector, like technology. Buy different stocks, so that when some are down, others are up,” Meyers said. “And don’t panic. Keep your wits about you no matter what.” 

The market’s major indexes ended the week mixed. 

The Dow finished the week up 230.20, or 2.2 percent, at 10,810.05 on a 117.70 gain Friday. 

The Nasdaq slipped 87.73 or 4.1 percent for the week. It closed Friday at 2,075.68 on a gain of 40.80. 

The S&P 500 index ended the week up 10.07, a 0.8 percent change, after rising 18.53 to 1,253.05 on Friday. The Russell 2000 rose 6.41 to 483.97, ending the week up 17.26 or 3.7 percent. 

The Wilshire Associates Equity Index — which represents the combined market value of all New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq issues — ended the week at $11.508 trillion, up $99 billion from the previous week. A year ago the index was $13.541 trillion. 

End adv for weekend editions 

SAN FRANCISCO — About 1.5 million California seniors covered by Medicare-contracted HMOs got a legal boost Thursday from the state’s highest court, which ruled they can sue their health maintenance organizations for damages. 

California seniors became stuck in a legal limbo in 1998, when a lower court ruled that the disabled and those 65 and older enrolled in a Medicare HMO only could pursue federal administrative claims to get the services they alleged were withheld. 

Legal experts said the 1998 decision was the nation’s only such ruling, which affected California seniors and the disabled who contracted their Medicare benefits to an HMO. 

“This brings California in line with all of the federal courts and the rest of the country,” said Carol S. Jimenez, a Los Alamitos lawyer representing the wife of a deceased Costa Mesa man whose attorneys claimed he was denied a lung transplant for cost reasons. Ruling 5-2, the court said seniors and the disabled on Medicare can sue their HMO in California courts for damages on allegations of injuries sustained because of a lack of care. Those damages could add up to millions of dollars. 

That option generally is not available to the nation’s non-Medicare patients who subscribe to employer-financed HMOs. 

“This decision from the Supreme Court is a very significant patients’ rights case for those on Medicare,” said Jeffrey Ehrlich, a Claremont attorney representing several seniors now free to pursue their damage claims against their Medicare HMOs. 

Jeff Grass, an Upland attorney defending the Southern California physicians in the case, said the decision may usher in more suits against doctors and their HMOs. 

“I don’t think that this is good,” Grass said. “The people I’ve represented have all been patient oriented. I’ve never seen any abuse.” 

The case decided Thursday, signed by Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, concerned the disabled Costa Mesa man on Medicare who sued Pacificare of California Inc. and others for denying the lung transplant. George McCall, who later died, alleged he did not receive one because of cost-cutting moves. 

Pacificare says it did not deny the transplant, but instead denied McCall his choice of hospitals, said Ben Singer, a company spokesman. 

The case is McCall v. Pacificare of California, S082236. 

OAKLAND — A man charged with smuggling two teenage girls from India into the country for a wealthy Berkeley landlord by posing as their father pleaded guilty as part of a deal with federal prosecutors, according to court documents. 

Venkateswara Vemireddy has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to bring illegal immigrants into the United States, which carries a maximum five years in prison with $250,000 in fines. In return, the prosecutors have agreed not to seek additional charges. 

Vemireddy was indicted in March 2000, two months after East Bay landlord Lakireddy Bali Reddy, 63, was arrested on charges of illegally bringing in teen-age girls from India for sex and cheap labor. 

Most of the files in the Vemireddy case were closed to the public.  

However, at the request of the San Francisco Chronicle, U.S. District Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong last Wednesday agreed to unseal some of the documents. 

The case broke when two sisters suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and were found unconscious in a Reddy-owned downtown Berkeley apartment on Nov. 24, 1999. Chanti Prattipati, 17, died, but her younger sister lived.  

The surviving sister and their third roommate told police that Reddy had smuggled them in from India and that he regularly had sex with them.

SACRAMENTO — All school districts should receive more school construction money more often, according to a report released Tuesday by the Legislative Analyst’s Office. 

In order to build new schools or modernize old ones, the state must change the way local districts receive construction money, the analysis recommends. 

Instead of paying 40 percent of school construction costs, the report said, the state should increase that to 50 percent, or about $1.6 billion a year. 

The LAO suggests the money be given out each year on a per-pupil basis. Districts could save the money or spend it immediately. 

Under the current system, the state approves project applications submitted by local districts. That system is unpredictable, slow and has created a $30 billion backlog of needed construction projects, said Marianne O’Malley, an LAO spokeswoman. 

LAO’s proposal, she said, “puts the responsibility on the locals to decide what’s best.” 

About one-third of California students attend school in a classroom that should be fixed or torn down, the report said. 

While it could be a year or more before the recommendations are even shaped into a specific bill, school districts welcomed the proposals. 

The per-student distribution would quiet complaints that the Los Angeles Unified District receives an unfair share of state dollars and forces small districts to depend solely on local bonds, said Robin Thompson, business manager for the Chico Unified School District. About 13,000 kids attend school in the district. 

Because state government issues so many mandates, Thompson said, the Chico board would “like anything that would give us more say on what we could spend money on.” 

Although Chico hasn’t been flooded by new students as much as other districts, nearly all of its buildings need to be updated for energy efficiency, computer wiring or disabled access, Thompson said. 

The LAO’s proposed transition plan to dedicate the next two state school bonds solely to areas where 80 percent of the classrooms need to be modernized or rebuilt pleased officials at the Compton Unified School District, the Los Angeles-area district in state receivership. 

Compton has a 10-year plan for facilities, but “the state always seems to run out of money before we get up to ask for it,” said district spokesman Fausto Capobianco. “We need that money now.” 

But Kevin Gordon with the California Association of School Business Officials said he doubts the proposal would change the historic inequities among school districts. 

Some schools have such bad problems that the new few state bonds might not make much difference, he said, adding that a per-pupil formula incorrectly assumes costs are the same in Los Angeles as they are in Lodi. 

Lawmakers should also wait and see if a recently approved state initiative that lowered the majority needed to pass a local school bond will help solve the problem, Gordon said. 

State officials said they were concerned the transition money would be too little for needy schools and not enough for others. 

“Not all districts are growing and what this could do is give the meat to the healthy and those that are lean and emaciated will always be playing catch up,” said Department of Education spokesman Doug Stone. 

The report was part of the LAO’s continuing effort to re-examine public school financing, O’Malley said. 

On the Net: 

Read the policy recommendation at http://www.lao.ca.gov 

Four of the seven Berkeley girls who ran a marathon in Rome last month to raise money to create a lounge at Oakland Children's Hospital in memory of a friend who died of cancer are at it again. 

Four members of the Berkeley “Breeze,” composed of Alice Brugger, Mariko Holland, Esther Schmidt, Gabriela Casal, Rachel Williams, Chelsea Zussman and Mia Arakaki, are ready to tie up their running shoes and run. 

Their goal of raising money to build a play area and school room at the pediatric hospital's oncology department remains the same, but this time they'll be running closer to home, as they take part in the 24th annual Devil Mountain run on May 6. 

Along with some 4,000 other racers, they expect to make their way up Iron Horse Trail in Danville to benefit the hospital.  

They have already raised some $25,000 from their Italian venture, which leaves them half-way toward achieving their goal. 

Help them out by registering for the 5k or 10k races. More information is available on line at www.kidsfirst.org, of by calling (415) 759-2690.

Nine community organizations and 29 households saved about $500,000 when 1,500 local volunteers completed a flurry of building repairs last Saturday. 

A non-profit organization, Rebuilding Together, held its big workday “Christmas in April” to help elderly, disabled and low-income residents live independently and safely.  

The volunteers throughout Berkeley finished a variety of improvements such as creating windows, landscaping, fixing electrical wires and dealing with wasp nests.  

Some particularly timely improvements came from an ally organization called Positive Energy, which makes energy-efficient changes. They sent “Energy Teams” to each rebuilding site with the goal of saving at least $100 a year for each household. Some of their jobs included pipe insulation, installing water heater blankets and weather-stripping. 

“Not only is this a great community-building effort,” said Marty Lynch, executive director of LifeLong Medical Care, a non-profit group that serves low-income patients without insurance. “In our case, this lets us put our money into doctors and pharmaceuticals instead of into pulling weeds.” 

These exterior improvements are important to their on-site community clinic whose services may be judged by a weedy front lawn or broken doors.  

Neighborhood revitalization is one of the goals for the Rebuilding Together, said Executive Director Jill Davis. Fixing up houses combats the deterioration of low-income neighborhoods, a problem that plagues the country, she said. 

However, making modifications that increase the health, safety, and independence of its clients is the organization's most important goal.  

One resident, Sherleen Brown, 41, had the kind of situation that appealed to Rebuilding Together’s mission. Brown lives in a two-story Berkeley house with her mother, who has Alzheimer's Disease, and her sister, who has Multiple Sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair.  

Before the 60 Rebuilding Together volunteers came and went, she had a wooden ramp that was soft and rotting. Now, it’s been reinforced with concrete so she can trust it with her sister. 

“I really appreciate the work that’s being done, that everyone lends a hand and volunteered their time,” she said. 

Volunteers also repainted her house, put in grab bars and linoleum floors, and fixed her plumbing so that they could have hot water again, even though she did not ask for any of those improvements.  

Since 1991, the Berkeley-Albany-Emeryville chapter has rehabilitated 268 homes and over 63 community facilities. It is part of the national organization that has been around since 1973.  

With the organization’s standing and success, the public support seems to be getting stronger. 

“We had the mayor [of Berkeley] doing errands and the chief of police doing carpentry,” said Davis. “We had great public support. Nobody wants to see [our clientele] lose their independence or be unsafe in their home.” 

Last April 2000, volunteers completed about $84 million worth of work nationwide.  

In Berkeley, Davis said that many interested individuals volunteered. Many more came from a variety of different organizations.  

At Brown's house, for example, the Berkeley Fire Department teamed up with Fantasy Records, an independent jazz record label, and Pi Kappa Phi, a fraternity from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Many businesses or groups “adopt” houses by donating $3,000, the average cost of material and program expenses. Other funding comes from charitable foundations or smaller. 

This year, Rebuilding Together received a record-breaking amount of corporate donations and participation, according to Davis.  

OAKLAND — Dozens of state legislators, more than a million state workers – and even Gov. Gray Davis may be indirectly profiting from California’s power woes. Calpers, the state retirement and pension system, has more than a billion dollars invested in power generators. 

KTVU reports Calpers holds more than $250 million of Enron stock, almost $153 million of Duke Energy, $90 million of El Paso Energy and $62 million in Reliant Energy. 

The governor and other lawmakers have threatened to investigate power producers for gouging California consumers. Many energy producers have been reporting record profits during the power crisis. Jim Knox, of California Common Cause, said Calpers should look at divesting its stock if the companies are profiting at the expense of California consumers. 

“I assume their Enron and Reliant stock has done quite well in the last couple of years, but it has done well at the expense of California consumers,” he said. 

But Pat Macht, a Calpers spokeswoman, says if Calpers were to divest of every stock that had a critic, it would be impossible to manage. 

Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, agreed with Macht. 

“We have been through this before – and it is a very complicated thing,” he said. “But for us to divest of all the energy stocks, I mean, we would be using candles.” 

In the past, Calpers has divested from South African and tobacco stocks. 

Macht said the decision was a purely financial one and that Calpers is so large it has investments in every sector – not just energy. 

It is important to point out that there is no direct conflict of interest for the governor or for any legislature, KTVU reports.